Mainly Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province & Ringing Trips to BahrainEskom's chief generation officer, Matshela Koko, has resigned.

He was implicated in awarding contracts to a company linked to his stepdaughter, as was facing a new disciplinary inquiry on Friday.Koko had returned to the power utility after being acquitted in a disciplinary hearing that was largely seen as a "sham".Eskom spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe confirmed Koko's resignation.The DA welcomed Koko's "long overdue" resignation but said this does not absolve him from facing criminal charges and allegations brought against him by the party.Thereported in 2017 that Impulse International, a company in which his stepdaughter, Koketso Choma, owned a stake, was awarded tenders worth close to R1bn, allegedly without proper processes being followed. Koko said at the time that he had no influence over the awarding of the tenders.An internal disciplinary hearing initially found him not guilty on charges he had acted to benefit his stepdaughter. He was later presented with the ultimatum to resign or be fired by the new board - which he flatly rejected.PR Newswire

PITTSFIELD, Mass., Feb. 16, 2018

PITTSFIELD, Mass., Feb. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of their preparations for a potential one-day strike on February 27, Berkshire Medical Center nurses and community members will hold a Patient Safety Vigil outside the hospital the evening before their strike. Another negotiation session prior to the scheduled strike is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 22.

Patient Safety VigilDate: Monday, Feb. 26Time: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.Location: The main entrance of BMC at 725 North St. in Pittsfield

"For our patients and our community, Berkshire Medical Center needs to protect and improve patient care," said Alex Neary, RN and Co-Chair of the BMC RN Bargaining Committee. "We want to solve the problems nurses have identified by way of progress at the bargaining table, but we are prepared to strike for our patients and our community if necessary."

On February 8, following an 82% strike authorization vote, BMC nurses gave the hospital more than the 10 days' notice required by law and ample opportunity to negotiate before a one-day strike on February 27.

BMC RN's three-part staffing solution:

Charge nurses need to be able to effectively coordinate care and assist other nurses. If their patient assignments are eliminated or reduced but their fellow nurses have even heavier patient assignments, the problems we have identified for years will remain.

Management's counterproposals have fallen short: They want to retain unilateral authority to make staffing worse. Their proposed charge nurse language does not create new commitments on the issue. And although they say they have posted and recruited for positions over the past year, they will not commit to doing so in contract language.

BMC also wants to double the health insurance premium costs for hundreds of our nurses on individual plans. Many nurses on family plans already pay 40 to 70 percent more for health insurance than their managers.

There is no reason Berkshire Medical Center cannot agree to a fair contract, especially considering its enormous profits. Over the last five years, BMC has made a profit of more than $207 million, according to the Center for Health Information and Analysis. In 2016 alone, BMC posted a profit of $47.2 million. That is a margin of 9.7%  more than three times the state and regional averages of 3%, making it a real outlier among profitable hospitals. Read the CHIA BMC data here.

Bargaining Background

The nearly 800 BMC nurses have been negotiating a new contract since September 2016. Nurses held a one-day strike on October 3 and were then locked out of the hospital by BMC management for four additional days. The next bargaining session is scheduled for February 22. Negotiations include a federal mediator.

For more details on negotiations go to http://massnurses.org/news-and-events/p/openItem/10773 or contact Joe Markman at [email protected]

MassNurses.org ? Facebook.com/MassNurses ? Twitter.com/MassNurses ? Instagram.com/MassNurses

Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 23,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/berkshire-medical-center-nurses-schedule-patient-safety-vigil-as-one-day-strike-nears-300600396.html

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Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

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Digital EditorCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived here on Saturday on an eight-day visit at the invitation of his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi.

"Strategic partnership underpinned by shared values of democracy and pluralism! Namaste to the Right Honorable @JustinTrudeau, Prime Minister of Canada as he arrives on the state visit to India from 17-24 February, 2018," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The visit is aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries in key areas of mutual interest trade and investment, energy, science and innovation, higher education, infrastructure development, skill development and space, a ministry statement said.

Co-operation in security and counter-terrorism, as well as exchange of views on global and regional issues of mutual interest, will also form important components of the visit.

Canada is also home to around 1.4 million people of Indian origin.

Modi will hold bilateral talks with Trudeau on February 23 following which a number of agreements are expected to be signed.

The trip comes nearly three years after Modi visited Canada in April 2015. The last visit of a Canadian Prime Minister to India was in November 2012.

During the course of his stay in India, Trudeau will also visit Agra, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Amritsar.

(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 Jason B. Cutshaw

USASMDC/ARSTRAT Public Affairs

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Alabama - Team Redstone chief technology representatives met to explore and collaborate on mutual science and technology interests at Redstone Arsenal to provide better situational awareness of science and technology efforts across the installation's diverse organizations, and potentially leverage related science and technology efforts and core competencies at a CTO Roundup hosted at U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command Feb. 16.

Dr. Steve F. Pierce, chief technology officer, USASMDC/ARSTRAT, began the quarterly meeting with all the CTOs and science and technology leaders on Redstone Arsenal to provide a forum for the senior scientific officers for each command to come together and glean information from each other.

Invited to participate, commands include; Army Materiel Command; NASA; Defense Acquisition University; U.S. Army Missile Research Development and Engineering Center; Program Executive Office - Aviation; Program Executive Office - Missiles and Space; Missiles and Space Intelligence Center; Redstone Test Center; Threat Management Systems Organization; and others located on the installation.

James Johnson, SMDC deputy to the commander, welcomed the guests and thanked them for their dedication to defending the nation.

"This is extremely important," Johnson said. "We can't do everything we want to do by ourselves and that is why it is so important that we have this collaboration. Everybody in this room brings something unique to the table, and that is what we need."

Participants were briefed on Multi-Domain Battle, third offset strategy, space operations, directed energy and cyber technology, as well as participated in open discussions.

"The primary thing we try to accomplish here is cross-fertilizing information and ideas and leveraging the greatest strength we have here at Redstone in our core competencies with the programs, projects and efforts we have going on among all the various commands," Pierce said. "We use this forum to discuss the challenges each one of us have that we can assist each other with. With all the changes occurring in technologies, what we're finding is every organization here is changing in some way every year.

"This is a great opportunity to bring everyone together," he added. "This forum is owned by everyone here at Redstone and it only succeeds if everyone at Redstone participates. It is a great time right now to cooperate and synchronize with each other."

In each of the commands, science and technology officers lead in the development and set direction for weapon systems and cutting-edge technologies. With the responsibility to lead their respective organizations, they are using the CTO Roundup to gain insights and different perspectives from their peers.

"The roundup is a perfect opportunity to collaborate across Team Redstone," said Robert Stone, U.S. Army Redstone Test Center technical director. "We have most of the organizations within the installation represented and the people who deal with various technologies are here. It is a wonderful opportunity to see how others are solving problems.

"These are very beneficial and we have been able to make connections with other organizations we would not have been able to outside of this venue," he added.Tamil Nadu saw mixed reactions over the Supreme Court's Friday order on the sharing of the Cauvery river water, with the farming community and the government looking forward to its implementation while the political parties said the state has been cheated. "In a way, this is a historical judgment where the apex court has said no state can claim ownership over a river. The Central government should now nationalise the rivers," farmer leader P.

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Digital EditorA quick-acting Indian-American maths teacher is being hailed for saving the lives of her students during the shooting rampage at a Florida high school that left 17 dead. When an alarm sounded for the second time on Wednesday afternoon, Shanthi Viswanathan shut the doors to her algebra classroom, made the students crouch on the floor and covered the windows, keeping them out of the reach and sight of the gunman, the Sun-Sentinel reported. "She was quick on her feet.

Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

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As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



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Digital EditorThe year was 2005 and the month, May. A student who shouldve been out celebrating her spectacular class XII results had, instead, buried her face in a pillow to muffle the wailing.

Even with an aggregate of 93 per cent, her chances of getting into a respectable college for the honours course at Delhi University that she had set her sights on were slim. This is a generic scene, one that likely plays itself out in most households come exam season, when hopes and dreams of a shiny, new life are traded in the college marketplace with panic-ridden marksheets, entrance ...India and Iran on Saturday signed agreements including Tehran leasing to New Delhi operational control of part of the Iranian east coast port of Chabahar for 18 months. The $85 million project, just 90 km from the China-sponsored Gwadar port in Pakistan, creates a transit route between India, Iran and Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan. India is trying to develop Chabahar as a way to gain access to the markets of central Asia as well as Afghanistan. But progress is slow because of concern that U.S President Donald Trump's administration in Washington may eventually scrap the ...India and Iran on Saturday inked nine agreements and committed to early completion of the Chabahar port. They decided to find convergence in their views on the issue of terrorism and resolved to improve trade and energy ties.

Apart from these official agreements, four others were signed between industry chambers of the two countries on the sidelines. The highlight was Tehran leasing operational control of Shahid Beheshti port for 18 months to New Delhi, which is the phase one of the Chabahar port. The Chabahar port, a mere 90-km from China-controlled Gwadar port in Pakistan, is of ...Iran has pitched itself as an untapped market with reformed foreign direct investment policies for Indian firms at a time Iran signals it's open for business, woos India Inc with easier FDI norms India is planning to allow investments into Iran through the Rupee. "Iran is a stable and desirable market for meeting a number of basic and livelihood needs for Indian merchants and we have plans to further liberalise our FDI policy." Iranian Minister for Economic Affairs and Finance Masoud Karbasian said on Saturday, adding that the country has received $24 billion worth of ...

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Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

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Digital EditorST. MARTIN, Miss. -- The Jackson County Sheriff's Department arrested and charged four people from Alabama regarding the robbery of a man in a St. Martin hotel, according to Sheriff Mike Ezell.

According to Ezell, deputies responded to the Red Roof Inn on Cook Road at 3:30 a.m. Thursday morning where they found a Gulfport man who says two men robbed him of money, which led to a fight.

A fight ensued between the victim and the two men. The Gulfport man escaped the robbers by running down the stairs to the front desk and called for help.

The victim told deputies he went to the hotel to meet a woman he had met on social media. Once in the woman's room, he said someone knocked on the door and the woman allegedly let in two men he says robbed and attacked him.

Ezell said once deputies got inside the room, they found two men identified as Damion Pierre Maddox, 24, and his brother Darius, Michael Maddox, Jr. 25 -- both of Mobile, Ala.

27-year-old Shavona Cierra Tunstall, also of Mobile, and 15-year-old Quinecia Shanice Perryman, 15, of Atmore, Ala., was also in the room. Perryman has been charged as an adult because of the nature of the crime.

The investigation is ongoing. Bond for the Maddox brothers has been set at $200,000 while bond for Tunstall and Perryman is $100,000 each.Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi on Saturday fired back the allegations made by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in connection with Punjab Bank scam and warned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with a civil and criminal defamation lawsuit.

Singhvi's reaction came after Sitharaman linked him, his wife and his son to Nirav Modi's business.

Threatening Sitharaman with civil and criminal defamation for making 'ignorant and patently false comments', Singhvi said that neither he, his wife nor his sons had anything to do with Gitanjali Gems or Nirav Modi.

In a press release, Singhvi brushed away the allegations calling it a culpable offence.

"Nirmala Sitharaman and her colleagues are liable to civil and criminal defamation for making ignorant and patently false allegations," he said.

"I intend to file a civil and defamation case against the Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her colleagues who are spreading the defamatory allegations, I also intend to take action against the sections of media who are spreading the same," said Singhvi in a press conference soon after.

He also said that no one from his family has anything to do with Gitanjali or Nirav Modi companies.

"Neither My wife, sons nor me have anything whatsoever to do with Gitanjali or Nirav Modi companies. Nirav Modi's company was a tenant of a Kamla Mills property owned by Adwait holdings in which my wife and sons are the directors," said the statement by Singhvi.

Giving details of the "link" revealed by Sitharaman, he said that Nirav Modi's company was a tenant of a Kamala Mills property that was owned by Adwait Holdings, in which his wife and sons are directors.

He further said that Adwait Holding owned a commercial property at Parel, which was rented by Firestone (Firestone Diamond) many years ago.

"Neither Adwait nor my family has any interest with Modi or Firestone. Firestone vacated Parel Kamla Mills premises in December 2017," he added.

Earlier today, the defence minister in an address to the media had alleged that Anita Singhvi, wife of Congress leader A M Singhvi, was a director of one of the private holding firms which has dealing with Nirav Modi's jewellery company in Mumbai.

Punjab Bank detected a 1.77 billion dollars scam in which jeweller Nirav Modi acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking from one of its branches for overseas credit from other Indian lenders.

The scam was started in 2011 and was detected in the third week of January this year, after which the PNB officials reported it to the concerned agencies.

Meanwhile, the PNB filed a second complaint with the CBI on February 13.

The CBI had received the complaint from PNB on January 28 and a case was registered in the case on January 31.

(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.)Rahul Gandhi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the PNB scam allegedly involving Nirav Modi, asking him to explain why it happened and what was he doing about it.

The Congress chief accused the central government of constantly refusing to accept its responsibility and alleged that the prime minister was "destroying" the economy through his actions.

"The PM should come out and say what has happened (on Nirav Modi) and why? And what was he doing about it," he told reporters after the first meeting of the Congress steering committee that will function in place of the working committee (CWC), the highest decision making body of the party.

He rejected the BJP charge that he had personal ties with Nirav Modi and had attended his promotional event, saying "they are trying to divert the issue".

Gandhi said it all started with the prime minister banning currency notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 on November 8, 2016, "when he took out all public money and put it into the banking system".

The Congress chief alleged that businessman Nirav Modi has fled the country with Rs 200 billion of that public money.

"The prime minister teaches children how to take exams for 1.5 hours , but fails to tell the country on who is responsible for this scam", he said.

Gandhi also said while the defence minister and social justice minister were briefing on the issue, "the FM and the PM, who are responsible, have not said anything about it".The Congress on Saturday held the BJP responsible for the Rs 114-billion Punjab Bank scam involving jewellery designer Nirav Modi and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of institutionalising "crony capitalism".

Congress leader Kapil Sibal accused the prime minister and his government of bringing the economy to its knees, and warned that the country's image would get a beating internationally under him.

He also took a dig at Modi, alleging that while he was "sleeping" as the country's watchman, thieves were fleeing with the nation's wealth.

Quoting the second FIR filed by the CBI in the case, the Congress leader said that all letters of understanding (LoUs) to the accused were signed in 2017 under the NDA government, which failed to prevent the scam from happening.

Addressing a joint press conference with Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala, Shaktisinh Gohil and Pawan Khera, Sibal sought to know why Modi refused to divulge details of all those people who accompanied him during his foreign tours.

"Is this the kind of 'Ease of Doing Business' PM Modi talks about?" he asked.

"I challenge BJP to come and talk about UPA's governance and their governance. Because of their ill-intentions, they have brought India's economy to its knees," he told reporters.

Sibal, a former minister and noted lawyer, accused the Prime Minister's office and the finance ministry of turning a blind eye to the multi-crore bank scam, saying they were very much aware of it.

"They were aware of all this. But they turned a blind eye. They were aware that the country was being looted," he alleged.

Sibal also questioned why the HRD Minister and the Social Justice Minister were fielded by the government to defend it on the matter.

"What does a HRD Minister have to do with this? Is the minister very admiring of the quality of the human resource of Nirav Modi? What is the Social Justice Minister have to do with this? What has the Law Ministry to do with this scam?" he asked and said neither the finance ministry nor the RBI has come forward to answer questions.

He also alleged that the market capitalisation of listed companies in the gems and jewellery business is pegged at Rs 41.66 billion, while its gross current debt stands at Rs 94 billion.

"This means that the debt is twice the market capitalisation and that is a scam in itself. Who can say that the government did not know this," he asked.

Nirav Modi, 46, a regular feature on the lists of rich and famous Indians since 2013, was booked by the CBI, along with wife, brother and Choksi on January 31, for allegedly cheating the state-run PNB to the tune of Rs 2.8 billion.

The bank subsequently sent two more complaints to the CBI on Tuesday, saying the scam was worth more than Rs 114 billion.

The jewellery designer is understood to be a citizen of the country but his brother Nishal and wife Ami are not Indian nationals. They all left India between January 1 and 6, the CBI had said.Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday it would adhere to commitments under its 2015 international nuclear agreement, signed with six world powers to limit its disputed nuclear programme. "We will adhere to our commitments made," Rouhani said at an event in New Delhi. "After signing a contract, haggling with it is ridiculous." Under the agreement signed with the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in return for the lifting of many sanctions. US President Donald Trump has ...Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday questioned as to why India with a population of over 1 billion does not enjoy veto rights at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

"Why India with a population of 1.3 billion does not enjoy veto rights and why does the United States (US) have veto rights," Rouhani questioned during his Special Address titled 'The priorities of the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran', organised by Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in association with the Iranian Embassy here.

Rouhani also underscored that at the time of formation of the United Nations (UN), only countries that had a nuclear bomb were given the right to veto, adding that, "If it was based on fairness, it would not have been so."

The Iranian leader used the occasion to underscore the US control over his country.

"Our destiny was in the hands of US for a long period of time. They would decide for our economy, our culture. We did not even have an educational channel on TV. All military centres were in total control of the US," Rouhani said.

Saying ethics should be above interest for a fair foreign policy of any country, the Iranian president warned that wars, aggressions, terrorism would continue in the world unless there is fairness and justice to all countries and people.

Earlier in the day, India and Iran signed nine Memorandums of Understanding (MoU)s following the delegation-level talks in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and Iranian President Rouhani.

The agreements were signed in areas like double taxation avoidance, extradition, agricultural cooperation, port lease, medicine and others.

In addition to this, four MoUs have also been signed between trade bodies.

Prime Minister Modi, in the joint press statement with President Rouhani, said that the MoUs exchanged between India and Iran are reflective of both sides' strong relations and their commitment towards further strengthening it.

Prime Minister Modi also congratulated Rouhani for his leadership and vision in developing Chabahar Port that would give India access to trade with land-locked Afghanistan.

He further said that co-operation between India and Iran would be beneficial to Afghanistan.

President of Iran reciprocated the sentiments in his statement and informed that both countries shared views on two crucial issues, namely transit and economy at the delegation-level talks held earlier in the day.Did an employee at one of the Nirav Modi companies overseas shoot his master in the foot? Highly placed sources point to such an eventuality.

According to sources, the saga unfolded after a bribery complaint by the Hong Kong branch of an Indian bank. An employee of the billionaire told the bank officials that the reason why a particular Letter of Undertaking (LoU) was delayed was that an official of Punjab National Banks (PNBs) Mumbai office in Brady House had asked for a bribe to issue the guarantee.

It was business as usual for the overseas branch to bring this to the notice of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which immediately asked for an explanation from the PNB officials. Upon preliminary investigations, the suspicion for the bribe demand fell upon an employee at the branch. The entire scam fell through after that.

The bank started digging into records of Modis companies and found they had not put the required security deposits needed to issue guarantees. The person who demanded the bribe, now suspended, turned out to be one who was aware of former deputy manager Gokulnath Shettys ways in managing LoUs bypassing the core banking system. Though its not clear at this point if this person was also an accomplice of Shetty in the scam.

In short, the bank employee in question wanted to pull a Shetty-style operation on his own, but Modis representative was a greenhorn to these tricks and decided to play by the rulebook instead, say sources.

Shetty retired last November. The last LoUs raised, according to the CBIs First Information Report (FIR), was in February 2017.

In the FIR, and subsequently in a letter to 30 bank chiefs, the PNB said when a margin of 110 per cent was asked to be deposited, as there was no sanction of any fund or non-fund based limits, the companies insisted they were undertaking such transactions for last so many years.

ALSO READ: After Nirav Modi scam at PNB, fear of sweetheart deals at other banks too

However, it could also be possible that several PNB and other bank officials were well aware of the ongoing scam, but a small change in the RBIs reporting format in January this year threatened to topple the applecart. And then a victim-hunt started.

Going by the RBIs latest reporting format, the scam would have come to light anyway. At least to the RBI by the end of this quarter, just a month before the scam came to light.

The RBI on January 4 said in a notification that instead of multiple filings, should harmonise all their statistics in an easy to read and analytics-friendly data format called eXtensible Business Reporting Language, or XBRL.

Importantly, in the XBRL requirement, the RBI added some heads  Unsecured Guarantees, Non-funded Commitments, and Non-Fund Based Advances.

All guarantees, letters of credit (LCs) and LoUs fall under these categories.

The RBI is yet to respond to a Business Standard query on the issue. In a call with analysts on Friday evening, PNBs MD and CEO Sunil Mehta stuck with the banks version of the story. This papers efforts to reach the management for an official confirmation was not successful. In the call, Mehta hung up after realising the media was also on the call.

A system-wide LC storm brewing?

On Thursday, the entire officer strength of the department of financial services, in the ministry, was roped in for fire-fighting.

Beyond PNB, their immediate job was to figure out how many more state-owned had issued such dubious LCs. They are worried that the arrangement tapped into by the Modi companies could have been used at other as well. Finding rogues, though, would be a tedious task, as that essentially means matching each LC with the collateral or margin money demanded.

While the officers said such a possibility was remote, they also conceded no checks or balances had worked at PNB to prevent the largest banking sector fraud in India.

Another issue that will need to be sorted out is how PNBs human resources department allowed two offenders to continue in their seats for rather long. The bank has a transfer policy, under which each executive has to be transferred after every three years.

ALSO READ: Scam-hit PNB will return to normalcy within six months, assures MD

If the officer has been promoted, he has to be transferred automatically even before the three-year term. One of the two said officials had been promoted to the rank of deputy general manager during the time he serviced the Modi accounts. There was no effort to remove him or his assistant from their posts for years.

An HR department source at the bank said it was difficult to draft in officers willing to work in specialised departments such as forex or large credit appraisals. They claim there was no mala fide in the said officials long run in the chair, until he retired in November 2017.

The recent developments have also effectively nixed the banks plans to merge any other state-owned bank with itself until the scam fire is doused  and that will take quite some time.But before someone turns it into a script, the unfolding story could end up turning the knife deeper into the brand-endorser relationship that has endured a few hard knocks in the recent past. The big question is whether endorsers must be accountable for the frauds, failures and controversies of the brands they endorse? While it is impossible to be fully aware of ...

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Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

We, however, have a request.



As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



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Digital EditorEver since the red flag rose over China in 1949, Roman Catholics there have suffered because of their fidelity to the pope in Rome. Now the Holy Father himself has become a source of tribulation. In its eagerness to reach a deal with China, the Vatican is elevating the persecutors over the persecuted.

Xi Jinping, an atheist and hard-line communist, became leader of China in 2012. The Chinese government has since stepped up its violations of human rights, including religious freedom. This is no accident. In 2016 President Xi declared that all party members should be firm ...Pressure is mounting on the FBI director to resign after his agency admitted it failed to investigate a warning that the man accused of killing 17 people at a Florida high school possessed a gun and the desire to kill. The disclosure spread angry disbelief among residents of the Miami suburb of Parkland where Wednesdays massacre unfolded, and led Floridas governor Rick Scott to call for FBI chief Christopher Wray to resign. The FBIs failure to take action against this killer is unacceptable, Scott, a Republican, said in a statement. We ...Could not establish database connection.

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The administrator has been notified and will resolve the problem ASAP.In September, as the first detailed evidence surfaced of Russias hijacking of social media in the 2016 election, Irina V Kaverzina, one of about 80 Russians working on the project in St. Petersburg, emailed a family member with some news. We had a slight crisis here at work: the FBI. busted our activity (not a joke), she wrote of the project in Russia. So, I got preoccupied with covering tracks together with the colleagues. She added, I created all these pictures and posts, and the Americans believed that it was written by their ...Dozens of pro-opposition supporters have been injured and many were arrested after police in the Maldives broke up countrywide protests demanding the resignation of President Yameen Abdul Gayoom and the release of his political opponents from prison.

Thousands of people took part in the protests in the archipelago nation yesterday despite the country being under a state of emergency.

Several people were hospitalized with injuries and many protesters were arrested, but the hospital and police officials refused to provide numbers.

Police said in a statement Saturday that the demonstrators had ignored warnings that the right to protest has been suspended under the state of emergency.

The Maldives has been in political turmoil since February 1.Qualcomms board said discussions with Broadcom failed to persuade the chipmaker to sign off on a $121 billion takeover offer, making it more likely shareholders will get to decide on the fate of the deal.

At the same time, Qualcomm said it found the meeting on Wednesday to be constructive, and that it would be open to further discussions. The board remains unanimously of the view that this proposal materially undervalues Qualcomm and has an unacceptably high level of risk, and therefore is not in the best interests of Qualcomm stockholders, ...The death toll in Friday's suicide bomb attack in Nigeria's busy market has reached 22.

The attacks were carried out by three suicide bombers on Friday, when they detonated Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Kasuwar Kifi, on the outskirts of Konduga town, the Xinhua reported.

More than 25 people were injured in the deadly attack, according to local media reports.

An eyewitness named Idrissa Bana said that the three bombers simultaneously detonated the explosives on their bodies in the crowded market.

"There were a lot of people doing last-minute shopping when the suicide bombers hit the market," Bana was quoted by various media outlets as saying.

No one has claimed the responsibility for the attack, though several Nigerian analysts opined that the Boko Haram insurgent group could be responsible for the bombings.

The dreaded militant group has stepped up its campaign of suicide bombing by using girls as 'human bombs' to carry out suicide attacks in Nigeria.

Earlier this month, six people were killed and 39 others were injured in a similar attack in the northeastern part of the country.

The Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009 when the militants staged an armed rebellion against the government of Nigeria.

Suicide attacks carried out by the insurgent group have claimed more than 20,000 lives and displaced at least two million people, according to Nigerian vice-president Yemi Osinbajo.

Also, the group has carried out mass abductions, including the kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in April 2014.

The group is also active in the neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu held Pre-Budget meeting for the second day, at the state secretariat here, on Friday.

Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas attended the meeting and discussed needs and expectations of the health department, with the Finance Minister.

Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh and Irrigation Minister Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao also attended the meeting.

Later in the day, Ramakrishnudu met Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and talked about the pre-budget exercise.

The two-day meeting commenced on February 16.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Baloch Republican Party's (BPR) Germany chapter has held a rally and a protest demonstration in Munich on the occasion of a Security Conference conducted in the city.

The Munich Security Conference saw participation of 70 countries including Pakistan.

The protest was aimed at informing the participants of the security conference about the ongoing Pakistani atrocities and human rights violations in Balochistan, BPR Central spokesman, Sher Mohammad Bugti, said, in a statement, adding that a large number of party activists joined the protest and rally.

While addressing the rally, BRP Germany Chapter's President, Jawad Baloch said, "Pakistan is cancer not only for Balochistan but for the entire region, particularly, Afghanistan and India, by harbouring religious extremists group to disturb the peace in the region."

"The recent initiative by the US to put Pakistan on the watch list of terrorists state is a confirmation of our repeated claims that Pakistan sponsors and harbors terrorism," he added.

He further said that Pakistan has joined hands with China in the name of the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project in a step to push Baloch into a minority and occupy their land.

The Pakistan atrocities in Balochistan are continuing from the past 70 years, but those atrocities are escalating on daily basis after Pakistan has joined hands with China, Jawad said adding that "After Sui, China is trying to expand its base in Gwadar in the name of the so-called CPEC."

The statement further read that, "We, the Baloch, as a secular nation urge all the participating countries in this security conference to play a role to stop the unending state atrocities, human rights violations and extra judicial killings in Balochistan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Ahead of the Tripura Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters were allegedly attacked by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM) workers in Chakmaghat area of Teliamura constituency.

"In the Chakmaghat area of Teliamura, we went to have food in a hotel with our candidate, Kalyani Roy, when at least 15 CPIM cadres attacked us," BJP's Bikram Debnath told ANI.

Another supporter, identified as Nirmal Rudra Paul, was referred to GB Pant hospital in Agartala after sustaining severe injuries in the incident.

Similar incidents of the BJP supporters allegedly being attacked by the CPIM cadres were reported from Bagma, Sonamura, and Belonia.

"This time CPIM will be given a perfect answer by the public. They have attacked our people in some places but we will fight back. They are doing such things out of frustration," BJP state president Biplab Kumar Deb told ANI.

Meanwhile, the campaigning for the state legislative assembly election concluded on Friday.

The BJP and the Congress party have been looking to root out the Manik Sarkar-led CPIM government, which has been ruling the state for the past 25 years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Indian Army on Friday flagged off a Chindits Trail Expedition to commemorate the spirit and ethos of Indian troops employed on Burma front in the Second World War.

The expedition, which will conclude on March 8, will cover a total distance of 400 kilometres in four phases over a period of 20 days.

Moving through jungle trails and surviving off the land, without recourse to any modern amenities, the troops plan to truly relive the Chindits experience. The expedition will be led by Captain Sachit Sharma and the team comprises of 25 soldiers for each phase.

The expedition will cover the areas of Deogarh, Shadpur, Damoh, and Nauradehi and will collaborate with the local civil administration and forest department to connect with indigenous tribes inhabiting the region, to spread the message of integration and organise medical camps for their benefit, read an official note.

The remote and inaccessible region of Central India was specially chosen by the British in 1943 during the Second World War to train a Guerilla force called the 'Chindits' to conduct operations behind the lines of Japanese forces in Burma (present-day Myanmar).

The training was conducted in the inhospitable jungle and hilly terrain between Narmada and Betwa river basins, under the legendary General Orde Wingate and comprised mainly of Gorkha troops of the Indian Army. The Chindits operations were crucial in breaking the will of Japanese troops, leading to their ultimate defeat, it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Congress Party on Saturday welcomed back Arvinder Singh Lovely as he got reinstated into the party in the presence of Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken, party leaders P. C. Chacko, Randeep Surjewala and others.

Addressing the press, Surjewala said, "I welcome Sardar Lovely. I request Maken ji to carry out the necessary procedure for his homecoming."

Lovely, who had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in April 2017, said that his decision to switch loyalty was taken at a time of distress.

"This was not a happy decision for me. It was a decision taken at a time of distress, during a weak moment; The very next day I had realised that ideologically, I was a misfit there (BJP)," Lovely said.

Meanwhile, Maken informed that the party officials met Congress President Rahul Gandhi earlier in the day.

He also threw some light on the reason behind Lovely's departure from the party in the past, "When the election for corporation was underway, I myself felt that there was communication gap on my part which hurt Lovely ji."

"When sentiments are hurt, talks begin to do rounds," Surjewala added, and further said that Lovely and his family always had unfailing trust in the vision of Congess.

"It is now time to look ahead and not back," Surjewala remarked.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Iran President Hassan Rouhani inspected a guard of honour at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here on Saturday.

He briefly met President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other government officials.

Later, President Rouhani paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

He arrived in Delhi from Hyderabad on Friday.

The Iranian President addressed a congregation of Muslims after performing Friday prayers at the historic Makkah Masjid in Hyderabad.

He had stressed upon the cooperation between India and Iran in a bid to embolden the bilateral ties and also called for unity among Muslims across the Religious scholars from different schools of thoughts had participated in the session as well.

In addition to this, Rouhani visited the tombs of Qutub Shahi rulers in the Golconda area in the city.

This was the second time that President Rouhani was visiting Hyderabad, and the first visit after assuming charge as the President of Iran in 2013.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)There are many aspects to ensuring good and well-being. While many of us focus on healthy eating, regular exercise, and even practice meditation for good health, we often shy away from taking care of our sexual well-being.

Reproductive and sexual and hygiene is one of the most intrinsic yet ignored features of holistic fitness. Not only is there a lot of ignorance and negligence, but also reluctance to openly discuss these things.

Since reproductive is a matter of a lifetime for both men and women, it is imperative that sexual problems and their remedies be proactively discussed on a regular basis.

"Among the many reproductive health concerns in India include a high rate of unwanted pregnancies, prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and cancers related to the reproductive organs. Sexual education entails much more than just using condoms and other forms of contraceptives to avoid pregnancy," said Dr Parinita Kalita, Gynaecologist, Lybrate.

"Our internal reproductive organs and external genitals are extremely sensitive. Poor sexual health can lead to infections and other serious diseases. Here's how you can ensure that your reproductive health is maintained," she added.

#1 Maintain sexual hygiene

Both women and men should wash their private parts daily while bathing. It is advisable to change into fresh undergarments everyday to prevent bad odor and infection. Invest in quality and well-fitting inner wear, preferably made of cotton. Wash your hands thoroughly both before and after sex. Use a good antiseptic soap. Remember to keep your nails clean and trimmed.

Women must wash their vulva and labia once everyday with water and a mild soap to keep away yeast and fungal infections. It is also imperative to wash from vagina to the anus and not the other way around to avoid infections from the anal opening. Do not use fragranced products on your genitals as this may cause irritation. Do not over indulge in washing as vigorous douching and rubbing with soap can affect the pH balance of the sensitive genital skin.

#2 Track your period

Always keep a record of your period, including the cycle length, duration of menstruation, and the flow. Check for any irregularities such as scanty or excessive bleeding, unusual odor, and presence of clots. If you miss your period but do not get a positive result in a home pregnancy test, consult your doctor without delay. Other than this, it is a must to change wet napkins / tampons every 3 to 6 hours depending upon the flow.

#3 Practice safe sex

Condoms are possibly the best method of contraception as they protect against both pregnancy and STDs. Talk to your medical care provider about other methods of contraception for women such as implants, IUDs, and birth control pills. Communicate with your partner about issues that you or he/she may be facing so that you can choose the ideal contraceptive. An unwanted pregnancy can also be prevented with the use of injectable contraceptives.

In this form of contraception, progesterone is released into the body by injecting it into a muscle to stop pregnancy. Progesterone works by stopping the release of an egg by the ovary (ovulation), making the mucus (sticky fluid) at the opening of the uterus thicker to prevent entry of the sperm, and changing the lining of the uterus so a fertilized egg can't take hold.

Talk to your doctor to get more information regarding STDs. Get routine medical checkups that include screening for STDs for both partners. If you indulge in oral sex, you and your partner need to ensure good oral health. In case of any sores or open wounds in or around the mouth, it is wise to refrain from oral sex to avoid any possible infection.

#4 Don't hold back the urge to urinate

Many people have the habit of holding back urine till it is urgent. Letting out urine on time not only keeps the urinary tract clean and free of germs but also prevents buildup of toxins in the body.

#5 Self-examination and timely health checkups

It is ideal to make medical checkups, for you and your partner, a habit. These can help detect any irregularities such as redness, bumps, lumps, blisters, and warts on the penis, testicles, and vagina. They can also help diagnose and treat anything from common yeast and fungal infections to serious sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and cancer in a timely manner.

Women should self-examine their breasts every month to check for any breast abnormalities and lumps. Both men and women should go for age appropriate wellness management packages that consist of tests tailor-made for different age groups.

Women above the age of 26 must ask for a PAP smear if it is not part of their regular health checkup package. Girls between 11 and 26 years of age should get vaccinated (HPV vaccine) to protect themselves against cervical cancer and genital warts that are caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

"Sexual health is an important part of your complete well-being. These basic tips along with good nutrition and a healthy sexual relationship will ensure that you are on the right path to good reproductive health," Kalita concluded.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Home Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the developments under Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government while addressing a group of students at a university in Bareilly on Saturday.

Rajnath Singh said that under the BJP government India has been able to get a significant position among the world economies.

He said that "All the agencies around the world now believe that India has become the fastest growing economy in the world".

He further blamed certain unnamed groups for tarnishing the global image of the country.

While mentioning the fact that two-thirds of India's population is formed by the youth he said, "This youth has the energy to steer forward the development process in the country".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that India and China share good relations and if any differences crop up between the two nations on border issues, then talks will be held.

"I believe we have good relations with China. If some differences crop up between the two nations on border issues, we hold talks, like we have done from time to time," Singh said here.

Speaking about the recent terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh lauded the Indian Army, asserting that everyone should place their trust on the jawans.

"Our jawans have achieved great success in neutralising terrorists in 2017. We must place our trust on them. Desh ka mastak kabhi jhukne nahi diya jaega (Will not let country's head hang), he added.

Singh's statements come after numerous terrorist attacks in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

On February 12, an encounter broke out at the 23 Battalion Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Srinagar's Karan Nagar.

Earlier this month, terrorists stormed the Sunjwan army camp in Jammu, killing five security personnel and one civilian. Six army personnel and six civilians got injured.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India and Iran on Saturday signed an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) revealed.

The agreement is on similar lines as entered into by India with other countries.

It will stimulate flow of investment, technology and personnel from India to Iran and vice versa, and will prevent double taxation.

The agreement will provide for exchange of information between the two contracting parties as per latest international standards.

It will improve transparency in tax matters and will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance.

The agreement also meets treaty related minimum standards under G-20 OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project, in which India participated on an equal footing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India and Iran on Saturday signed nine Memorandums of Understanding (MoU)s following the delegation-level talks in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, here.

The agreements were signed in areas like double taxation avoidance, extradition, agricultural cooperation, port lease, medicine and others.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the joint statement with President Rouhani, said that the MoUs exchanged between India and Iran are reflective of both sides' strong relations and their commitment towards further strengthening it.

The two sides signed an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. The agreement will avoid burden of double taxation between the two countries in order to promote flow of investment and services.

Both the countries signed an agreement on exemption from visa requirement for holders of diplomatic passports.

An MoU was also signed on the exchange of instrument of ratification of extradition treaty, which brings into effect the extradition treaty signed between India and Iran in 2008.

The two sides signed an agreement on lease contract for Shahid Beheshti Port- Phase 1 of Chabahar during interim period between Iran's Port and Maritime Organization (PMO) and India Ports Global Limited (IPGL).

Chabahar Port would give India access to trade with land-locked Afghanistan.

An MoU on cooperation in the field of traditional systems of medicine was also signed to develop and strengthen cooperation in traditional systems of medicine including regulation of teaching, practice, drugs and drugless therapies.

In a bid to establish a framework of cooperation in the area of trade remedial measures namely, anti-dumping and countervailing duty, both India and Iran signed an MoU on the establishment of an expert group to promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Both the countries signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors.

An MoU was signed on bilateral cooperation in the field of health and medicine as well. The two countries signed an agreement on postal cooperation.

In addition to this, four MoUs have also been signed between trade bodies.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India and Iran on Saturday expressed interest in enhancing cooperation possibilities in the maritime domain.

"Both sides expressed interest in enhancing cooperation possibilities in the maritime domain. It was agreed to hold dialogue to look into measures for cooperation in defence sphere, including port calls by naval ships, training and regular exchanges of defence delegations," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, in a joint statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani welcomed the growing interaction between their National Security Councils and agreed to enhance regular and institutionalized consultations between them and others concerned on terrorism, security and related issues such as organised crime, money-laundering, drug trafficking and cybercrime.

Both the sides "positively" noted the progress achieved in the implementation of the bilateral agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons; the Extradition Treaty by both sides and understanding reached on Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty on Civil and Commercial Matters.

Earlier in the day, India and Iran signed nine Memorandums of Understanding (MoU)s following the delegation-level talks in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and Iranian President Rouhani.

The agreements were signed in areas like double taxation avoidance, extradition, agricultural cooperation, port lease, medicine and others.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the joint statement with President Rouhani, said that the MoUs exchanged between India and Iran are reflective of both sides' strong relations and their commitment towards further strengthening it.

In addition to this, four MoUs have also been signed between trade bodies.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India and Iran on Saturday welcomed the lease contract for Shahid Beheshti port of Chabahar during the interim period between Iran's Port and Maritime Organization (PMO) and India Ports Global Limited (IPGL).

They further directed that the coordination council should meet within the timelines stipulated in the Trilateral Agreement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reiterated their commitment for early and full operationalisation of Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar.

"With a view to fully utilize the potential of the Chabahar Port and its connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia, India conveyed its readiness to support the development of Chabahar- Zahedan Rail line," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, in a joint statement.

The two sides recognized the unique role of Iran and India in promoting multi-modal connectivity within and across the region.

"The successful inauguration of the Phase-1 of Chabahar Port in early December 2017; the ratification of the Trilateral Agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan on Establishment of International Transport and Transit Corridor by all sides; and the successful shipment of wheat assistance from India to Afghanistan through Chabahar Port have opened a new gateway to and from Afghanistan, Central Asia and beyond," the statement added.

Furthermore, the two leaders released a joint postage stamp depicting Deendayal Port, Kandla and Shahid Beheshti Terminal, Chabahar that reflected the enhanced prosperity through greater connectivity.

Earlier in the day, India and Iran signed nine Memorandums of Understanding (MoU)s following the delegation-level talks in the presence of PM Modi and Iranian President Rouhani.

The agreements were signed in areas like double taxation avoidance, extradition, agricultural cooperation, port lease, medicine and others.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the joint statement with President Rouhani, said that the MoUs exchanged between India and Iran are reflective of both sides' strong relations and their commitment towards further strengthening it.

In addition to this, four MoUs have also been signed between trade bodies.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Maple Assist Inc. announces the launch of the innovative mobile app for four leading colleges of Canada, namely Fanshawe College, Durham College, Georgian College and St. Clair College. The app will reach out to the global student market, which includes countries like India, China, Philippines, Japan, Brazil and Mexico. This app is projected to support over 100,000 international students coming to Canada.

The App was created to address a gap in the Canadian system, which has been steadily gaining popularity as a study destination worldwide but was missing a direct interface between potential students and individual colleges and universities.

The Maple Assist App offers the opportunity for international students to access an extensive database of useful information about each Canadian college, their admission process, as well as details on preparing for and settling life in Canada. Created through the insight gained from students' experiences and official sources, the app provides authentic and relevant information at one's fingertips.

Vinay Chaudhry, founder and CEO of Maple Lead EduConnect Pvt. Ltd has initiated this new venture.

Maple Assist has offices in both Canada and India and has been developed in India.

"Being an international student in Canada myself, I wanted to address the need for a genuine database of college information all in one place," said Vinay Chaudhry on the need of such app.

Maple Assist is partnered with Scotia Bank, Air Canada and HDFC Credila, and has gained the interest of some major Canadian telecom companies and other service providers.

The launch of the Maple Assist app is on 21st of February 2018, 6 pm at the Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi.

What users from the beta release have to say about the App:

"This app is very useful for students coming to Canada for the first time." While KuriakoseEldho of Cochin, studying Human Resources in Canada, stated "It's perfect!" said KishanJivani, a resident of Ontario pursuing Practical Elements for Mechanical Engineering.

Review from our first College Partner -

"Fanshawe College is thrilled to be one of the first adopters of the Maple Assist app. As a result, Fanshawe is able to wrap its arms around Indian students earlier in the process, and provide the opportunity for students and their families to make an informed decision about their program, about Fanshawe, and about Canada," said Wendy Curtis, Executive Director (International) of Fanshawe College.

"The app is an extension of who we are and that is 'Fanshawe Cares'. We are immensely proud of our graduates who were recruited in the creation of the Fanshawe Assists app," she added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Posted 2/17/18

From its start as Future Farmers of America to the current National FFA Organization, Lyle, Leon and Makayla Caselman have kept their family involved. They gained skills to excel after high school The new poster of Ajay Devgn starrer 'Raid' is out and sees majority of the star cast in it.

Divided into two parts, the upper half of the poster features Ajay Devgn with his team, while the lower half shows Saurabh Shukla, the negative lead, lounging on a bed, looking disgruntled. A large number of people, presumably the members of his on-screen family, is shown standing behind him.

The movie also stars Ileana D'Cruz in the pivotal role.

The period drama is directed by Raj Kumar Gupta of 'Aamir' and 'No One Killed Jessica' fame.

Set in the early 1980s with Lucknow as the background, the film revolves around a true incident of the longest raid in history.

The movie is slated to release on March 16, 2018.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Newly-elected South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday pledged for an economic and political turnaround and appealed to the citizens that the country was entering a new dawn and promised to turn the tide on corruption, according to media reports.

"We should put behind us the era of diminishing trust in public institutions and weakened confidence in our country's public leaders. We should put all the negativity that has dogged our country behind us because a new dawn is upon," President Ramaphosa said in the South African Parliament.

"This is the year in which we will turn the tide of corruption in our public institutions," he said, while attacking the "plunder of public resources" by South African politicians and business people.

President Ramaphosa praised the police and prosecutors for taking initiatives to deal with those who were engaged in corruption activities, in an apparent reference to the Guptas, an influential business family suspected of using its ties to now ousted President Jacob Zuma to influence cabinet appointments and land state contracts.

On Wednesday, the South African police, the Hawks, raided the house of the Gupta compound in Saxondale, Johannesburg. The police described the area as a "crime scene".

The police also raided the Guptas' Oakbay holding company in Johannesburg's Sandton financial district, according to the local sources. The Guptas have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

The Gupta brothers- Ajay, Atul and Rajesh, migrated from Uttar Pradesh to South Africa in the 1990s and own a business empire spanning from computer equipment, media and mining in South Africa.

In 2016, Atul became the seventh-wealthiest person in South Africa, with an estimated net worth of 10.7 billion South African rands (USD 773.47 million), based on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)-listed holdings.

President Ramaphosa was elected as the new President of South Africa on Thursday after Zuma resigned before a no-confidence motion was to be passed, ending weeks-long power struggle in the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

President Zuma had led the ANC since 2007 and have been South Africa's president since 2009 till he resigned.

The scandal-hit South African leader, faces more than 780 allegations of corruption relating to a 1990s arms deal.

The South African media have been calling President Zuma's inevitable exit as "Zexit".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Uttarakhand government on Saturday denied that they had provided extra security to Indian-origin South African businessman Ajay Gupta and his family.

According to reports, security was beefed up at Ajay Gupta's residence in Dehradun, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Madan Kaushik, however said, "State government has not provided them (Gupta family) with any security. He is a non-resident Indian (NRI), and as per rules security was provided to them in return for payment."

Ajay Gupta is considered to be a close-aid of former South African president Jacob Zuma.

Gupta is wanted in connection with a money laundering investigation related to the Estina dairy farm project in the South African province Free State.

On February 16, officials of South African airport were coordinating with the country's elite high-priority crimes unit Hawks in order to establish the whereabouts of Ajay Gupta.

All South African ports of entry have reportedly been put on high alert.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Maharashtra and Karnataka on February 18 and 19, and will inaugurate various projects in the states.

The Prime Minister will arrive in Mumbai on the afternoon of February 18. He will then attend a function to mark the ceremony of Navi Mumbai International Airport. At the same event, he will also dedicate to the nation the fourth container terminal at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Container Terminal (JNPT).

Prime Minister Modi will also deliver the inaugural address at the Global Investors' Summit - "Magnetic Maharashtra: Convergence 2018" and will inaugurate the Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence, at the University of Mumbai.

Later in the day, he will leave for Mysuru in Karnataka.

On February 19, Prime Minister Modi will address the World Conference on Information Technology, via Video Conference at Hyderabad.

He will visit Shravanabelagola for the Bahubali Mahamasthakabhisheka Mahotsava. At a function at Mysuru Railway Station, he will dedicate to the nation, the electrified Mysuru-Bengaluru Railway Line.

He will also flag off the Palace Queen Humsafar Express between Mysuru and Udaipur and will also address a public meeting at Mysuru.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's clarification on the "Rs 22,000 crore" Punjab Bank (PNB) scam.

Speaking to media after the Steering Committee meeting here, Rahul said, "such a fraud could not be done without a high-level protection."

"This Rs 22,000 crore scam cannot have been done without a high-level protection. It must have been known by the people in government beforehand otherwise it is not possible. Prime Minister will have to come forward and answer questions," he added.

PNB detected the alleged 11,400 crore rupee scam in which businessman Nirav Modi acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking from one of its branches for overseas credit from other Indian lenders.

Nirav Modi and his partner and Geetanjali Gems promoter Mehul Choksi are accused in the scam.

The scam was started in 2011 and was detected in the third week of January this year, after which the PNB officials reported it to the concerned agencies.

The Congress party has been cornering the Centre ever since the scam came to light while alleging that the fraud took place "under the nose of the NDA government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday gifted an animated version of Kalila wa Demna (Farsi translation of the Panchatantra) and a copy of the Mahabharata in Farsi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar took to Twitter to inform about it.

"In a warm gesture, Iranian President Dr Rouhani gifted an animated version of Kalila Wa Demna (Farsi translation of the Panchatantra) and a copy of the Mahabharat in Farsi to PM @narendramodi. #DustemanIran," Kumar tweeted.

Earlier in the day, India and Iran signed nine Memorandums of Understanding (MoU)s following the delegation-level talks in the presence of PM Modi and Iranian President Rouhani.

The agreements were signed in areas like double taxation avoidance, extradition, agricultural cooperation, port lease, medicine and others.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the joint statement with President Rouhani, said that the MoUs exchanged between India and Iran are reflective of both sides' strong relations and their commitment towards further strengthening it.

In addition to this, four MoUs have also been signed between trade bodies.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Canadian Prime Minister and his family, who arrived here on Saturday evening, managed to wow the Indian audience by greeting them with a Namaste from the aircraft.



Canadian Prime Minister will be visiting the Wild Life Century (Elephant Conservation Center) in Mathura's Churmura on Sunday.

Trudeau, his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and their three children, daughter Ella-Grace Margaret Trudeau, and sons Xavier James Trudeau and Hadrien, posed with folded hands for the cameras upon their arrival.

The Trudeaus were greeted by Canada's high commissioner in India Nadir Patel, his wife, Jennifer Graham, and their two-year-old daughter, Nylah.

Photo: Twitter

Trudeau's youngest son Hadrien did his best to steal the show, making off down the red carpet with the flowers handed to his father by an Indian official, leaving the rest of his family to manage the receiving line.

During his week-long State visit to India, the Canadian Prime Minister visit will be focused on job creation and strengthen ties between the two countries.

The visit, which includes stops in Agra, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi, will provide an opportunity for Trudeau to connect with the Indian leaders in government and business, promote empowerment of women and girls, and strengthen Canada and India's close economic ties.

Photo: Twitter

Both the sides will reaffirm the close friendship between the two countries, and discuss ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation.

Trudeau will also participate in several business roundtables to promote further trade and investment between Canada and India, as Canada works closely with Indian leaders to advance economic opportunities in both countries.

While in India, Trudeau will engage with youth and visit several landmarks, including the Taj Mahal, the Jama Masjid, and Swaminarayan Akshardham.Security has been beefed-up near the Indo-Bangladesh border in light of the upcoming assembly polls in Tripura, which will be held on Sunday.

The campaigning for the state legislative assembly election concluded on February 16.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress are looking to root out the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which has been ruling the state for the past 25 years.

While the Manik Sarkar-led government is looking to secure another term in the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in Delhi on Saturday late evening with his family on a week-long State visit to India.

The Canadian Prime Minister's visit will be focused on job creation and strengthening ties between the two countries.

On Thursday, a government delegation from Canada paid a visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar ahead of Trudeau's visit.

Canadian Prime Minister will visit the Golden Temple on February 21.

The visit, which includes stops in Agra, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi, will provide an opportunity for Trudeau to connect with the Indian leaders in government and business, promote empowerment of women and girls, and strengthen Canada and India's close economic ties.

Both the sides will reaffirm the close friendship between the two countries, and discuss ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation.

Trudeau will also participate in several business roundtables to promote further trade and investment between Canada and India, as Canada works closely with Indian leaders to advance economic opportunities in both countries.

While in India, Trudeau will engage with youth and visit several landmarks, including the Taj Mahal, the Jama Masjid, and Swaminarayan Akshardham.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A United States' drone strike targeted a hideout of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, killing a terrorist in Achin district of Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan, the Afghan defence authorities said on Saturday.

According to the 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan Military, the airstrikes were carried out by the US forces using unmanned aerial vehicles targeting the hideout of the IS group near Mamand area of Achin district in Afghanistan, the Khaama Press Agency reported.

The defence authorities confirmed that the hideout was eliminated and the IS terrorist was killed in subsequent airstrikes.

This comes after two IS terrorists were in a similar airstrike in Achin district last week. Also, at least 11 IS terrorists were killed during a military operation launched by the Afghan forces in Nangarhar province last month.

The anti-government armed militant groups including the IS terrorists have not yet reacted to the incident so far.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)- T. S. Eliot

Thoughts After Lambeth

"The World is trying the experiment of attempting to form a civilized but non-Christian mentality. The experiment will fail; but we must be very patient in awaiting its collapse; meanwhile redeeming the time: so that the Faith may be preserved alive through the dark ages before us; to renew and rebuild civilization, and save the World from suicide."The Union Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Sushri Uma Bharti, today said that the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) is an adequately funded programme, and the Government is confident of the realization of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi's vision of an Open Defecation Free (ODF) India by October 2nd, 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of the Mahatma Gandhi.

The Minister introduced a new initiative of the Ministry in the drinking water sector, Swajal. Swajal is a community-owned drinking water programme for sustained drinking water supply, beginning with a pilot in six States. The first pilot will be launched on February 20th, 2018, in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, she said.

The Minister spoke about employment generation expected from the implementation of Swajal and the next level of activities under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), i.e. solid and liquid waste management, under which a convergence-based programme is being launched next week. The programme, named Ganga Gram, will also be launched in Uttarkashi on February 20th, and will be a model for solid and liquid waste management for all Ganga-bank villages as well as other ODF villages in the country.

She also reiterated that many more places of cultural importance will be taken up for elevation to improved standards of cleanliness under the Swachh Iconic Places initiative, as envisaged by the Prime Minister.

She expressed hope that this new range of activities will help create many new jobs in the rural economy of the country.

The Minister assured that behavior change and IEC activities are being given utmost importance and underlined that community engagement and behavior change are the founding principles of all Swachh Bharat Mission activities.

Speaking about the budgetary allocation to Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), she said that the Budgetary Estimate of FY 2018-19 has increased over last year. In addition, she said, that with the expected addition of an extra-budgetary allocation of another Rs 15,000 crore to the Mission, the Ministry was confident of achieving the goal set for it.

The Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in his presentation, Shri Parameswaran Iyer, said that under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), rural sanitation coverage has increased to over twice the coverage at the time of the launch of the Mission, from 39% to 78.5%. Eleven States and Union Territories have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) so far, and this number is expected to rise to 15 by end of March 2018.

The Secretary also spoke about Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources (GOBAR)-dhan, a Waste to Wealth initiative of the Government announced during the Finance Minister's budget address. Under this initiative, 700 districts of the country will be provided access to bio-gas resources to recycle animal waste and convert it into wealth and energy.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Nearly 1,000 students were expelled for cheating during the Class 12 examinations in Bihar, officials said on Saturday.

Anand Kishore, the Chairman of the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), told the media here that more the students were expelled "for adopting unfair means" during the examinations that concluded on Friday.

The examinations had started on February 6.

The chairman said that 25 fake examiners were also caught and FIRs were lodged against guardians for helping their wards to cheat in the examinations.

He claimed the examinations this time were held in a fair manner this time and mass cheating in Bihar was a thing of the past. "It is not possible now."

Nearly 112,07,986 students appeared for the Class 12 exams at 1,384 centres across the state.

Mass cheating has been reported in Bihar for years.

Last year, the Class 12 Arts topper turned out to be a 42-year-old man, who had faked his age to take the test. He was arrested on charges of fraud.

--IANS

ik/ksk/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)At least nine persons have been killed and 18 others injured after two LPG cylinders exploded at a wedding function in Beawar in Rajasthan's Ajmer district, police said.

The incident took place on late Friday night. According to police, six persons were referred to a hospital in Ajmer while 12 were referred to the district hospital in Beawar.

Police said one Surendra Kumar Parecha had organised wedding celebrations at Kumavat Samaj Bhavan in Beawar for his son's wedding.

The guests were staying in a double-storey building. Suddenly, there was a loud blast which brought the entire building down like a pack of cards.

According to some eyewitnesses, the cook was trying to refill the empty LPG cylinder from other cylinder. That caused a fire and it resulted in an explosion.

Post mortems are being done and the bodies are being handed over to their respective families. The groom's mother is also missing.

The search for bodies is underway and once all bodies are found, police will begin an investigation into what led to the blast, an official said.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has expressed condolences over the incident and called it tragic.

She wished a speedy recovery to the injured and prayed for peace to the departed souls.

--IANS

arc/pgh/

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Actors Sidharth Malhotra and Rakul Preet Singh are happy that the audience is warming up to their latest release "Aiyaary". They are hopeful more viewers will be drawn to the theatres.

Sidharth and Rakul attended the launch of a new Carnival Select Lounge Programme here on Friday.

Sidharth said: "People have really liked the message of the film. They are connecting with the message which we have shown in the film and of course, it's a Neeraj Pandey film, so it's just the beginning for it."

"Aiyaary", also featuring Manoj Bajpayee, is a film with a patriotic undertone. It has not got the no-objection certificate for release in Pakistan.

Asked about it, Sidharth said: "It's a producer's thing. There are many (Indian) films which haven't released in Pakistan, so it's not the first timea."

On the audience response for "Aiyaary" in India, Rakul said: "On the whole, the film is getting good compliments. I am happy that after four years, the audience has seen me back on the Hindi film screen and I have got some positive response for that. A lot of people are talking that the film is so authentic in showing the way the army functions.

"People are really appreciating the dialogues as they are very crisp, so we all are very excited and looking forward to a more positive response from the audience."

"Aiyaary" revolves around two strong-minded army officers having completely different views. The film portrays Sidharth as an army officer sharing a mentor-protege bond with Manoj.

--IANS

iv/rb/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A Bangladesh national was arrested here on Saturday on charge of smuggling gold worth Rs 45 lakh, police said.

"Abdul Kalam Azad, 35, had come on Saturday to Agartala from Bangladesh and tried to go to Kolkata by a private airline. When Central Industrial Security Force troopers at the airport checked him, they seized 12 gold biscuits each weighing 108 gram from him," a police official said.

Police suspect the man was going to Kolkata to sell the gold biscuits.

Bangladeshi youths have been arrested in Tripura in the past with gold while on way to Kolkata or Guwahati.

India shares a 856-km border with Bangladesh in Tripura. Except for about 20 km, most of this 856-km border is fenced.

--IANS

sc/tsb

(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.)Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki is delighted with the ongoing dialogue around balancing the gender scale and diversity in Hollywood. Known for "The Great Gatsby" and "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2", she says women are still vulnerable but they have realised the power of working towards change hand-in-hand.

"It is not like people aren't vulnerable any more, but there is an understanding that we are stronger together as women," Debicki told IANS over phone from Los Angeles in an India exclusive interview.

"Women all over the world, from many different types of workplace environments, are understanding that if we come together and voice our collective experience, then we have a lot of power to make change. We don't need to be in the dark any more and we can be heard and we can support each other," added the actress, who is looking forward to Sony Pictures Animation's "Peter Rabbit".

A wave of sexual harassment accusations swept Hollywood following a newsbreak exposing producer Harvey Weinstein. The news about powerful men using their positions to exploit people associated with showbiz hasn't stopped since then.

From Ben Affleck, Brett Ratner, Charlie Sheen, Dustin Hoffman, James Toback to Kevin Spacey and James Franco, several Hollywood men have been accused of sexual assault and harassment. The stir has resulted in initiatives like #MeToo and Time's Up -- with women of Hollywood getting together and demanding equality and more power.

Debicki feels the movements are "gaining a lot of momentum".

"It is such an incredible, important conversation," added the actress, who juggles her personal life in Australia with her professional commitments in the UK and the US.

Debicki, who entered showbiz in 2011 with a small role in "A Few Best Men", stressed the importance of dialogue for diverse representation on-screen, gender balance and women empowerment.

"I am so glad that the dialogue is happening and that people are able to come forward and voice their opinion. The world is a richer place -- the more we have compassion, the more we hear as many voices as possible."

On her stance regarding the diversity debate, she said: "It is really exciting where it is taking us in terms of the type of films which we are making. Even the way the people the film projects. (They are) open to their voices being heard and speaking up and speaking with courage and it is really an exciting time."

From her role as the evil Ayesha in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2", brief appearance as a friend of the female protagonist in "The Great Gatsby", riding instructor Mrs. G in powerful sexual abuse drama "The Tale" to the light-hearted movie "Peter Rabbit" -- Debicki has taken up diverse and varied roles to prove her mettle as an actor.

The 27-year-old says "Peter Rabbit" -- based on the classic tale by Beatrix Potter about Peter Rabbit and his family -- is relevant in the current times.

The film narrates the adventures that Peter Rabbit (voiced by James Corden) and his sisters Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-Tail (Margot Robbie, Debicki and Daisy Ridley) undergo to reclaim their home. It highlights the tussle between humans and animals.

"Peter Rabbit", also starring Domhnall Gleeson and Rose Byrne, is being brought to India by Sony Pictures. It will release in the country on February 23.

"I think the message in 'Peter Rabbit' is really important for children and for adults. The film is about accepting that everybody around you is different. They all have their imperfections. We are all learning in life, but if we can live life with compassion and love people around us then we sort of are happier... we are better people.

"It is such an important thing to teach children. In 'Peter Rabbit', it is about different animals, animals and humans, and the boundaries that have been put out that don't need to be there... and if we can get rid of those boundaries, we will all be happier," she said.

(Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in)

--IANS

sug/rb/sac

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached land worth Rs 115 crore of VGN Developers in Chennai in a case of bank fraud while purchasing the land in 2013, an official said on Saturday.

The agency attached 10.46 acre under-construction land in Guindy, near Chennai, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the State Bank of India (SBI) fraud case related to the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, or the SARFAESI Act.

The land was purchased by VGN Developers Pvt Ltd in 2013 from Hindusthan Teleprinters Ltd, a government of India undertaking, an ED statement said.

"It was alleged that an official of SBI's stressed assets management branch, the company representatives and the buyers conspired among themselves.

"They sold the prime land having a guideline value of Rs 387 crore for sale price of Rs 272 crore and thus caused a wrongful loss to the government to the tune of Rs 115 crore, thereby obtained corresponding wrongful gain to themselves," said the statement.

In its investigations, the ED identified that the proceeds of crime in the form of wrongful gain derived by VGN Developers had been integrated in the construction of multi-storey residential apartments at Guindy for sale to general public in the name of "VGN Fairmont".

The Central Bureau of Investigation had earlier registered an FIR in the case in Chennai for causing wrongful loss of Rs 115 crore by VGN Developers to the central government by acquiring 10.46 acre of vacant land at Guindy from SBI's stressed assets management branch through a private sale treaty under the SARFAESI Act to recover the dues of Hindusthan Teleprinters.

--IANS

rak/nir

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)An Egyptian court sentenced on Saturday 65 loyalists of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi up to 10 years in prison over inciting anti-state riots, protests and violence.

Zagazig Criminal Court sentenced 44 defendants to 10 years in jail and 21 to two years while acquitting eight of the said charges, Xinhua reported.

The convicts are mostly members and supporters of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood group which has been outlawed in Egypt as a terrorist organisation.

Morsi was ousted by the military in early July 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year rule and his Brotherhood group.

His angry supporters attacked many security personnel and churches of the Coptic minority in several provinces, following a heavy crackdown on pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo and Giza in mid-August 2013 which left hundreds dead and thousands arrested.

Most Brotherhood leaders, members and supporters, including Morsi himself and the group's chief Mohamed Badie, are being detained.

Many of them have been given appealable death sentences and lengthy jail terms over charges of inciting violence, murder, espionage and jailbreak.

Morsi is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence over inciting deadly clashes between his supporters and opponents in late 2012 and a 25-year jail term over leaking classified documents to Qatar.

Since Morsi's removal, Egypt has been facing a wave of terrorist attacks that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers before expanded to target hundreds of civilians, mostly at houses of worship.

Most of the terror attacks were carried out by the Wilayat Sinai, a Sinai-based group affiliated with the Islamic State regional terrorist group.

Meanwhile, security forces also killed hundreds of terrorists and arrested thousands of suspects during the country's anti-terror war declared by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, the army chief then, following Morsi's ouster in 2013.

--IANS

qd/

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Governor of Florida state Rick Scott on Saturday urged the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to resign in the wake of the agency's admission that it failed to follow up on an earlier tip over the shooter who killed 17 people in a Florida high school.

"The FBI's failure to take action against this killer is unacceptable," Scott said in a statement.

The remarks were in response to an FBI statement released on Friday, which acknowledged that the law enforcement agency received a tip in January on Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old shooter, but failed to act, Xinhua reported.

"Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isn't going to cut it," Scott said. "An apology will never bring these 17 Floridians back to life or comfort the families who are in pain."

"The FBI Director needs to resign," the Governor said.

The FBI said earlier that a person close to the shooter called the agency's tip line on January 5 to warn about "Cruz's gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behaviour, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting."

The agency said that protocols were not followed for the tip, therefore, the information was not provided to local authorities, and no further investigation was conducted at that time.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said that they are "still investigating the facts."

--IANS

qd/

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old youth who killed 15 students and two staff members with an AR-15 automatic rifle in Florida, told police that voices in his head told him how to carry out the attack, police said on Friday.

Cruz was arrested and charged on Thursday on 17 counts of premeditated murder, after confessing to the mass shooting of students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on February 14, Valentine's Day, Efe reported.

The former student at the same high school remains in custody without the possibility of parole.

The voices Cruz heard were described as "demons" by a police source on the ABC News channel.

As time passes, new information comes to light about Cruz's life before he opened fire with an assault rifle to gun down students at his former high school, from which he was expelled for disciplinary reasons.

The rifle used by Cruz was legally purchased by the youth a year ago at Sunrise Tactical Supply, an arms store at a Coral Springs shopping mall in South Florida.

Douglas Rudman, the attorney representing the store's owners, Michael and Lisa Morrison, said that "Cruz purchased the assault rifle off the rack, in a box, and did not purchase any ammunition with it other than the magazine that came with the gun".

"It is for that reason that no red flags were raised," Rudman said.

"It seems like Cruz made a deliberate attempt to not draw suspicion by not buying too many things from one place," the attorney said.

Authorities confirmed that the gun was purchased legally.

The owners of the gun store had completed the entire security protocol required by the Justice Department, which included obtaining a copy of Cruz's driver's license and having him answer a questionnaire about any mental illness he might have.

"What I understand is that was answered appropriately," said Stuart Kaplan, an attorney who also represents Sunrise Tactical Supply.

--IANS

qd/

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Calendar of Events

Want to know whats happening on campus? Youve come to the right place! From musical performances and thought-provoking lectures to signature events and the Privateers next big game, this new visual calendar gives you an overview of events at the University of New Orleans.Four men were electrocuted while consuming liquor at a party held to celebrate the birthday of daughter of one of them in Punjab's industrial city Ludhiana, police said on Saturday.

The dead included Ranjit Singh, 27, father of the girl whose birthday was being celebrated on Friday night at their residence in Ishwar Colony in Dhandari locality in Ludhiana, around 110 km from here.

Police said Ranjit and his three friends went to the top floor for drinks where they had a heated argument. Ranjit touched a high-tension wire during a scuffle between the group, police said.

As he screamed for help, Sarvjit Singh, Amarjit Singh and Budhraj tried to rescue him but were also electrocuted. The three were aged between 23 and 29.

The victims were said to hail from Bihar and worked as labourers in Ludhiana.

All four died on the spot, Assistant Commissioner of Police Dharampal told the media.

--IANS

js/tsb

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Three trucks with giant signs addressed to US Republican Senator Marco Rubio drove through the streets of Miami on Friday, demanding enact gun control to avoid more massacres like the one that occurred this week at a school in Florida.

"Slaughtered in school...And still no gun control?...How come, Marco Rubio?" is the message distributed across the sides of three trucks on their way to the senator's office, as part of a campaign promoted by the Avaaz activist group and backed by other organisations, Efe reported.

"Many mothers who are crying today for their children would have made these signs. Today we wanted to bring that conversation into the streets, since Rubio represents a political class that still hasn't answered any of our questions," Avaaz spokesman Oscar Soria said.

The project is inspired by the movie "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," about a mother who asks police, on three enormous signs, to give her an explanation for the rape and murder of her daughter.

Three signs were used in a similar fashion by Avaaz, whose President, Emma Ruby-Sachs, slammed the senator's "toothless response to the shooting, calling it 'inexplicable.' We call that 'inexcusable.'"

"Florida has very lax gun laws. Rubio has been supported by the NRA (Natonal Rifle Association) and has never tried to reform those laws. He's one of the senators who has received the most contributions from the NRA, besides having an A-plus rating with that association," Ruby-Sachs said.

"Over the past year there were 334 mass shootings, yet there has been no new federal gun law since 1994," she said.

--IANS

qd/

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday asked all political parties in Kerala to shed the of violence.

"In any country, progress and development take place when there is peace. Development and political murders can't go together. should not be fought with bullets as votes have more power. I appeal to the people of Kerala to isolate violence from politics," Naidu said.

His statement comes at a time when Kannur, the home district of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, witnessed the 22nd political murder ever since Vijayan assumed office 20 months back.

A 30-year-old Congress worker was hacked to death on Monday by suspected Communist Party of India-Marxist workers.

"Politicians should not work as enemies. Instead, they can be opponents with their own ideologies. Even though there will be differences of caste, community, religion, politics, colour and language, we are primarily Indians," the Vice President said.

--IANS

sg/tsb/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)(ATTN EDITORS: This is the ninth in a 10-part "Translating India" series where noted translators -- in articles written exclusively for IANS -- share their experiences of translating from their respective languages.)

By Keerti Ramachandra

Did I always want to be a translator? No. I became a translator by default. When asked if I could translate Jayant Kaikini's short story "Amrithaballi Kashaya", I said, of course!

I know Kannada, my command over English is good, I can easily do it. So, what if I had never translated anything before!

Shock number one -- reading Kannada is very different from speaking Kannada. Some words and phrases Kaikini had used were alien to me since I was familiar with Dharwar Kannada. But I knew Mumbai, and the kind of life people led in its chawls and suburbs. So, armed with Rev. Kittel's Kannada-to-English dictionary, I set off on a journey with Gangadhar and Mayee, Vicki and Bandya and The Golden Frame Works.

Soon I was deeply involved in their lives, they haunted me until I finished my work. The editor stepped in, made changes, leaving me fretting, fuming, ranting. How can she do this? She doesn't know Kannada, that's not how the author says it... I protested. Today I know better. Editing is very much a part of the process of translation.

In 1996, I was commissioned by Vishwas Patil to translate his Sahitya Akademi award-winning novel "Jhadajhadati" into English on a common friend's recommendation. He knew nothing about me, except that I spoke Marathi well, but that I had never studied Marathi, nor did I have even a nodding acquaintance with Marathi (or for that matter Kannada) literature! I knew nothing about him either. (So much for those who say one must be familiar with everything about the author and his work!)

Agreeing to translate "Jhadajhadati" ("A Dirge for the Dammed") seemed like an act of utter foolhardiness. While I knew the customs, rituals, superstitions and beliefs of the people, I was half Maharashtrian after all, everything else was unfamiliar. The setting was rural, much of the dialogue in a dialect, the topography I could not visualise. Serious research was required before I actually started translating. Long telephonic conversations with the author helped. And a fortuitous visit to a farm in rural Maharashtra halfway through the work lent a little more credibility to my effort.

"Jhadajhadati" is a novel I haven't been able to get out of my system. It had integrity, sincerity, empathy, even sentimentality. It was a harsh, cruel reality Patil had portrayed. I knew then that I would always be a heart driven translator. The editor in me would later prune, refine and ground it. The challenges the novel presented were innumerable, but all translators encounter them. But unique to this work was the dialect, a "legitimate" variety of Marathi. There were folk songs and very local idioms and proverbs.

Sometimes the original laboured a point, the emotions were excessive, the situations cliched. All of those were perfectly acceptable in Marathi, but in English they sounded repetitive, exaggerated and excessive. Deciding what to abridge, what to modify, when to take liberties and when to be faithful, was tough. In my attempt to be accurate I chose to retain many Marathi words, which some critics objected to. Some literal translations of idiomatic expressions and proverbs were appreciated. As one reviewer said, such literal translations "enrich the target language". He was not Indian!

After this novel about displacement and rehabilitation, came Patil's fictionalised biography of Subhas Chandra Bose, with its own set of demands. The primary research was in English, the novel was in Marathi and now translated into English. How did one make the Japanese and the Germans not sound like Indians speaking English? In the original, they all spoke the same brand of Marathi!

As a translator, I set great store by dialogue because I feel how a character speaks indicates much more than the mere words she/he utters. Using casual terms of address, the plural for "we" for oneself, the pronunciation of certain words, all indicate the background, the attitude, the relationship of the speaker with the others.

To hear these variations, I need a good "ear", especially because I translate from more than one language. The cadences, rhythm, lilt and melody of Marathi Gadgil differs from that of Kannada Bolwar and Hindi/Urdu Joginder Paul. Also, does Mr Gadgil's voice differ from Mrs Vijaya Rajadhyaksha's? How do I, using the one standard English, ensure that all these writers do not sound like Keerti Ramachandra speaking in English?

I often wonder what my relationship with the author and with the text is. Am I intimidated by the author? Yes. Translation is therefore a huge responsibility to ensure no damage is done to the author's reputation. Am I daunted by the text? Sometimes. Is that why I tend to anchor the translation in the original? Can I set it free without making it my own? Should I?

After 25 years as a translator I find myself asking more questions than I did before. I read something I liked and immediately put pen to paper. Ah, those days of innocence. But I will continue to translate, to ask questions and hope those who have found the answers will share them with me.

(Keerti Ramachandra has many years of editing, writing, teaching and translating. She can be contacted at keertiramachandra@gmail.com)

--IANS

Keerti/ss/sac

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) on Saturday held a rally on the city's outskirts ahead of the Karnataka Assembly elections in late April or early May and accused both the Congress and BJP of failure to serve the state's people.

JD-S supremo and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, party Working President and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati, with whose party the JD-S is in alliance for the polls, spoke on the occasion and urged the people to vote the regional party to power.

"We are positioning our party as an alternative to the two national parties, the Congress and the BJP, which have failed to serve the state's people and at the national level," Kumaraswamy said in his speech.

Charging the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party of failing to govern the southern state during their rule in the past, the JD-S leader claimed people were fed up with both the national parties as they were "most corrupt, myopic and stalled the state's development".

"We will waive all loans of farmers if elected to power and provide jobs for locals in thousands," Kumaraswamy said.

The JD-S was in power in the state from May 2005 to October 2007, first with the Congress support for about 20 months till February 2006 and later with the BJP support for another 20 months.

The JD-S and BSP entered into a poll pact in New Delhi on February 8 to prevent what they called division of secular votes and take on the ruling Congress and opposition BJP in the elections to the 225-member Assembly.

The BSP will contest about 20 reserved constituencies but campaign jointly for candidates of both parties.

The JD-S, which has 40 lawmakers in the outgoing Assembly, secured 20 per cent vote in the 2013 Assembly polls as against 36.5 per cent by the Congress.

--IANS

fb/tsb

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The CPI-M is confident of retaining power in its bastion of Tripura in Sunday's assembly elections and achieving a turnaround in the Left movement across the country, though the BJP is battling tooth and nail to oust the Left Front government.

In India's 65-year-long electoral history, the country's dominant Left party, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), has never been in direct confrontation with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

However, political developments in Tripura in 2016 and 2017 have set the stage for their first face-to-face battle as the saffron outfit has emerged as the key opposition party in this Communist-ruled northeastern state.

All the top leaders of CPI-M, BJP, Congress and Trinamool Congress participated in the hectic two-month long poll campaign that ended on Friday afternoon.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and party's General Secretary in-charge of northeastern states Ram Madhav, the Chief Ministers of five BJP-ruled states, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, many party politburo members including Prakash Karat, Brinda Karat, Biman Bose, addressed a record number of election rallies since December.

Hours before the end of campaign, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and other central leaders boosted the campaign of the Congress party, which has been hit by large numbers of top state party leaders, seven MLAs and huge number of workers joining the BJP since last year.

Trinamool Congress, which allied with two tribal-based parties -- Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura and National Conference of Tripura - boosted its poll campaign by roping in senior leaders and film stars from West Bengal.

Ballotting will take place in 59 of the 60 assembly constituencies. Polling has been deferred in Charilam due to the death of CPI-M candidate Ramendra Narayan Debbarma. It will be held on March 12.

In all 292 candidates, including 23 women and many independents, would be testing their electoral fortunes in Sunday's election. Counting will take place on March 3.

After Tripura become a full fledged state in January 1972 along with Meghalaya and Manipur, the CPI-M dominated Left Front was in power since 1978 except for 11 years (1972-1977 and 1988-1993) when the Congress and the breakaway Congress led by five Chief Ministers ran the state.

During 1988-1993 Congress in alliance with the tribal-based political party - Tripura Upajati Juba Samity - governed the state.

The Congress, which since 1983 fought the elections in alliance with the tribal-based party, is facing the poll battle alone this time.

The BJP, which previously fought elections alone, has aligned with the tribal-based party Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) for Sunday's election. The IPFT has since 2009 been agitating for a separate state containing Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.

The separate state demand has been rejected by all political parties.

The ruling CPI-M has fielded 57 candidates, leaving one seat each to its Left Front partners -- the Communist Party of India, Forward Bloc and Revolutionary Socialist Party.

The BJP is contesting 51 seats and has left nine seats for ally IPFT.

The Congress fielded candidates for all 60 constituencies. However, Congress' official nominee (Sukumar Chandra Das) in Kakraban-Shalgarha assembly seat (Scheduled Caste reserved seat), withdrew his nomination and joined the BJP.

The Trinamool Congress has fielded 24 candidates.

The BJP, which has never won any assembly seat in Tripura so far and secured a mere 1.54 per cent votes in 2013, is very confident of getting a reasonable number of vote share and seats in the elections.

Of the 60 seats, 20 are reserved for tribals and 10 for Scheduled Caste.

One third of Tripura's around 40 lakh populations are tribals. Their official language is tribal 'Kokborok'.

In the 2013 assembly elections, the CPI-M alone had won 49 seats, while CPI secured one. In the 2016 by-elections, CPI-M wrested the Barjala seat from the Congress taking the Left tally to 51.

The Election Commission has appointed 25 general observers, eight police observers and 19 expenditure observers to oversee the poll process.

Over 30,000 civil officials would be engaged in the conduct of the elections.

The poll panel, on the request of the state government, has also deployed more than 30,000 additional central para-military forces.

Tripura Chief Electoral Officer Sriram Taranikanti said that in the election, 2,573,413 electors, including 1,268,027 women and 47,803 first-time voters, are eligible to exercise their franchise.

He said: "To conduct the elections, 3,214 polling stations, including 47 all-women stations, will be set up across Tripura."

Over 300 companies of Central Para-Military troopers, state armed forces from many states besides thousands of Tripura State Rifles and state police personnel have been deployed across the state.

"Opposition parties always depend on the anti-incumbency sentiment of voters... No leader in the state party can even remotely approximate the stature and status of Chief Minister Manik Sarkar," political analyst Rameswar Bhattacharjee said.

CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, referring to the BJP's campaign, told IANS: "The BJP would be stopped in Tripura in its continuing (string of) election victories in the country and this would be its Waterloo."

"The BJP formed governments in Manipur and Goa (earlier last year) by using money power and illegal means. They have used all methods to win in Tripura as they have declared that Left-ruled states, including Kerala, are their main targets," Yechury said.

Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is the BJP's Tripura election in-charge, claimed that Tripura would be the BJP's 20th state.

Besides Sarkar, the other prominent candidates of the Left Front are Health and PWD Minister Badal Chowdhury, Tribal Welfare Minister Aghore Debbarma, party secretary Bijan Dhar and chief spokesman Gautam Das, all CPI-M central committee members, Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty, Power Minister Manik Dey and Lok Sabha member Jitendra Chowdhury.

The Congress' important nominees are state party Chief Birajit Sinha, Congress legislator Gopal Roy and former Minister Laxmi Nag.

--IANS

sc/rn/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Finally, it is official. Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Friday told AIADMK office-bearers in Theni district that he merged his faction with the ruling faction on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

All these days, the two factions -- one led by Panneerselvam and the ruling faction led by Chief Minister K. Palaniswami -- had been saying that the BJP has no role in their internal affairs.

Panneerselvam told partymen that during a courtesy meeting, Modi had suggested to merge his faction with the other to save the party.

The Deputy Chief Minister and party Coordinator Panneerselvam also said that it was on Modi's suggestion that he agreed to become a Minister.

Soon after the death of former Chief Minister J. Jayalaltihaa, the AIADMK broke into three factions -- one led by Panneerselvam and the other two led by Palaniswami and V.K. Sasikala/ T.T.V. Dinakaran.

In 2016, the factions led by Panneerselvam and Palaniswami merged. Post merger the party got its poll symbol -- two leaves -- and its original name.

The Election Commission had frozen the party name and its poll symbol as the factions demanded that they be allotted the name and the symbol.

Asked about Panneerselvam's revelation, Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar (part of the ruling faction led by Palaniswami) said he could not comment on the conversation that happened between Modi and Panneerselvam.

However, he said, whosoever had suggested to keep out the Sasikala family from AIADMK was right.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party chief Tamilisai Soundararajan declined to comment on the issue, but added that Modi might have suggested something during his conversation with Panneerselvam.

According to her, the BJP does not interfere in the affairs of other parties.

--IANS

vj/nir

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday discussed bilateral cooperation across a range of areas and regional issues during a meeting with Iran President Hassan Rouhani here.

Modi welcomed Rouhani at the Hyderabad House here ahead of delegation-level talks between the two sides.

"Both leaders held substantive and productive discussion on cooperation in trade and investment, energy, connectivity, defence and security, and regional issues," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted

Earlier on Saturday, Rouhani, who arrived here on Friday evening from Hyderabad, was a accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

This the first presidential visit from Iran to India in 10 years and comes after the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the West Asian nation in 2016.

Following the ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also called on the visiting dignitary.

"Strengthening cooperation in energy, connectivity, IT, education, culture and people-to-people contact came up for discussion," Kumar said in a separate tweet following that meeting.

--IANS

ab/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday hit out at Meghalaya Home Minister Horju Donkupar Roy Lyngdoh over the alleged gang-rape of a minor girl in his son's guest-house.

Four people reportedly raped the 14-year-old girl at the Marvelene's Inn, the guest house run by Lyngdoh's son Nathaniel Osbert Rymmai.

"The job of a Home Minister is to protect women and children, but in Meghalaya it is a reverse. It is sad and shocking that in Meghalaya, where women are held in high esteem, such an incident has taken place," she said, addressing an election rally here near the India-Bangladesh border.

Irani was campaigning for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Kurosh R. Marak, who is contesting from Dalu constituency in West Garo Hills district. Marak is also a sitting member of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council.

"Meghalaya has a unique culture and tradition and the confidence of women and children is fascinating. Our party believes in empowering women and we will be able to drive the agenda in Meghalaya to further their cause."

Wooing the 9,29,314 women electorate to vote in favour of the BJP, Irani promised that if her party was voted to power, a dedicated women police force would be in place to ensure security of women.

"The pride of women has to be restored and we will ensure that women in Meghalaya feel safe, secure and independent," she said.

Striking a cord with women electorate in Meghalaya's Dalu and Zikzak in Garo hills, she tried to instill hope and reiterated the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure free gas cylinders to poor household.

"Women in India work tirelessly cooking food on traditional 'chula' to bring smile on their children's face. So, Modi decided to provide gas cylinder to poor women to ease their problem," Irani said.

Accusing the Congress-led state government of failing in its responsibilities for 50 years, which "Modi made possible in three years", she said: "In absence of proper healthcare facilities, our people have to avail treatment in neighbouring Bangladesh.

"This is a blot on Congress government that they have not been able to provide healthcare services to its people. Modi has subsidised the rate of crucial medicines, but Mukul Sangma (Chief Minister) has failed to provide those medicines to the people of Meghalaya."

The BJP, which failed to win a single seat in the 2013 assembly elections, has fielded its candidates in 47 out of 60 seats. Among the party's contestants are four former legislators of the ruling Congress-led Meghalaya Alliance.

Elections in the state are due on February 27 and the counting March 3.

--IANS

rrk/nir/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)External Affairs Minister on Saturday called on visiting Iran President Hassan Rouhani and discussed a number of issues, including energy and connectivity.

"Strengthening cooperation in energy, connectivity, IT, education, culture and people-to-people contact came up for discussion," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted following the meeting.

Earlier on Saturday, Rouhani, who arrived here on Friday evening from Hyderabad, was a accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

This the first presidential visit from Iran to India in 10 years and comes after the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the West Asian nation in 2016.

Modi and Rouhani will hold delegation-level talks later in the day following which a number of agreements are expected to be signed.

--IANS

ab/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)This item is available in full to subscribers.

Attention subscribers

We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.

If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.

If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.

Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.Rome, July 17 (IANS/AKI) Italian authorities have deported a 28-year-old Tunisian accused of supporting the Islamic State jihadist group, the Interior Ministry announced.

The suspect was expelled from Italy aboard a direct flight to Tunis and was the 65th foreign national deported this year for alleged Islamic extremism, the ministry said.

During a stop and search operation by police, the Tunisian, who was resident in Sicily's province of Ragusa, was found to be armed and to have on his person images of the IS flag and fighters, according to the ministry.

The Tunisian had prior convictions for drug offences.

A total of 302 suspected Islamic extremists have been deported from Italy since 2015, the ministry said.

--IANS/AKI

vd

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday announced that his country's armed forces had taken control of more than 300 sq.km of Syrian territory inside the Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin, located in northwestern Syria.

Speaking at a public rally, Erdogan touted the progress being made in Turkey's military incursion into Afrin, dubbed 'Operation Olive Branch', the stated aim of which was to create a 30-km-deep (19-mile) buffer zone inside Syria and expel the United States-supported Kurdish YPG militias that hold the enclave, EFE news agency reported.

"The Turkish Army has advanced 300 sq km during 'Operation Olive Branch'," Erdogan said during a televised speech from Afyonkarahisar.

Although the Kurdish YPG played a pivotal role in the campaign against the Islamic State terror organisation in Syria, the group is viewed by Ankara as indistinguishable from the PKK Kurdish separatists who have fought a low-scale guerrilla war in eastern-Turkey for decades.

During his speech Saturday, Erdogan said the PKK has terrorised his country for 40 years and had joined the YPG in terrorising Syria while stressing that these groups do not represent all Kurdish citizens.

Erdogan recounted how some 30 Turkish soldiers had been killed in the fighting in Afrin since the operation began, along with 60 members of Syrian militias allied with Ankara, who call themselves the Free Syrian Army.

Turkish military leadership claimed to have killed 1,595 Kurdish fighters in Afrin.

--IANS

and/nir

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The UN will be making contacts with Maldives leaders in response to the request by the opposition leaders for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to oversee the all-party talks proposed by that nation's President Abdulla Yameen, Guterres's Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Friday.

"We are very aware of the request," he told reporters when asked about the opposition's letter to Guterres. "Contacts will be made in the next few days."

Taking up the Secretary-General on his offer to have the UN facilitate all-party talks, the Joint Opposition wrote to Guterres asking for the mediation between them and the government of President Abdulla Yameen.

Earlier this month Guterres, who called for restoration of democracy on the Indian Ocian nation, reiterated "his belief in finding a solution to the political stalemate in the Maldives through all-party talks, which the United Nations continues to stand ready to facilitate," according to Dujarric.

In the letter to Guterres, the Joint Opposition led by former President Mohamed Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party welcomed the government's offer of a dialogue in principle, but expressed concern that it was a ploy to ease international condemnation over its recent actions, according to the Colombo Gazette.

The opposition asked Guterres to urge the Maldives government to create an acceptable environment for dialogue.

The Gazette reported that according to the opposition, for this to happen the government must fully implement the Supreme Court ruling of February 1, and release Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed, Supreme Court Justice Ali Hameed and other political prisoners and withdraw the military from Parliament allowing it to function fully.

The crackdown began when the Supreme Court unanimously overturned the terrorism conviction of Nasheed as well as the convictions of eight other politicians on several charges.

Yameen clamped down a state of emergency and arrested the judges along with several politicians.

The other three judges left on the Supreme Court overturned their unanimous ruling ordering the release of the nine politicians.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)

--IANS

al/qd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)TDP President and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday reiterated that the Centre should undo the injustice meted out to his state in the Union Budget 2018-19.

Ruling out any compromise on the state's interests, he declared that he is ready to make "any sacrifice".

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should fulfil all commitments made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014 and also the assurances given in Parliament at the time of bifurcation of the state.

Naidu alleged that while the Congress did "injustice" to Andhra Pradesh by dividing the state in an unscientific manner, the BJP had not undone that injustice even after three-and-half years.

"The Prime Minister and the central Ministers should undo the injustice. They should ensure that our sentiments are not hurt. This is the issue of self-respect of five crore Telugu people," he told a public meeting at Narsaropet in Guntur district.

This is the first time that Naidu publicly targeted the BJP and appealed to people to rally behind the state government.

With 15 MPs in the Lok Sabha, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is the second biggest partner in BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government.

He warned that the state could again witness chaotic situation seen before the bifurcation.

Naidu recalled that he had advised people at the time of state's division neither to be disheartened nor drift like Assam and Punjab as the state would be the loser.

The TDP chief said during the last three-and-half years he visited Delhi 29 times to bring the injustices to the notice of the Centre and to demand that all commitments be fulfilled but justice was not done.

"When the last Budget also did injustice, there was no way we could have kept quiet," he said referring to the TDP protests in Parliament during the first leg of the Budget Session.

He vowed to continue to put pressure on the Centre till it fulfils all commitments made in the Act and handholds the state till it comes on par with other southern states.

The TDP MPs have already announced that they would continue their protest when the Budget Session recommences from March 5.

During his speech, Naidu repeatedly said he was demanding justice on behalf of five crore people of the state who are angry.

Referring to statements by some BJP leaders that the Centre had extended all assistance, the Chief Minister said he was ready for a debate on the issue.

Naidu also asserted that the states too have sovereign powers. He took exception to the demand by some BJP leaders to furnish accounts (utilisation certificates) for the funds released by the Centre so far.

"The Centre and states have their own sovereignty. The state is answerable to Assembly and the Centre to Parliament. It's not correct to ask the state to furnish accounts," he said.

--IANS

ms/tsb

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Former Delhi Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely on Saturday returned to the Congress and said he was "ideologically a misfit" in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which he had joined in April last year.

His re-induction in the Congress was announced soon after Lovely, along with Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken, former Delhi Minister Haroon Yusuf and party's spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala called on party President Rahul Gandhi at his residence here.

"It was not an easy decision for me to leave Congress. The decision was taken in pain. Ideologically, I was a misfit there (BJP)," Lovely told the media.

Announcing Lovely's re-induction, Maken said: "We are happy to announce that Lovely has joined Congress back. We welcome him to the party again."

"Congress will be strengthened by his presence again and we will serve the people of Delhi," the Congress leader said.

The former Union Minister also hailed Lovely and his family for their contribution to the party for generations.

"Lovely and his family have contributed to the Congress for long. He has been a strong sepoy of the Congress for generations. He has been the former Delhi unit chief and a former Minister in the Delhi government," Maken added.

Lovely had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in April last year ahead of the MCD polls in the national capital.

A four-time MLA, Lovely was first elected to the Delhi Legislative Assembly in 1998.

Lovely's comeback can be seen as a big boost for the Congress ahead of by-polls to the 20 assembly seats in the national capital.

On February 14, Maken also reunited with three-times Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to highlight the failures of Arvind Kejriwal government in the city.

--IANS

aks/pgh/rn

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)There is probably no truth to rumours that Chinese and Pakistani cybercriminals have hacked Indias government servers. Why would they bother? All the data is available, more or less for the asking.

The Aadhaar database has been not only compromised; it has been commoditised to the point where the entire billion-plus set is available for paltry sums. People mould fake rubber fingerprints when they want to impersonate somebody. The Employees Provident Fund database of some 80 million-odd accounts, complete with PAN, date of birth and individual EPF contributions, has also been ...The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would be well-advised to take the feelings of its alliance partners into account. They are now sniping at the senior partner quite openly.

Recently, when asked if they had a meeting with the Prime Minister, a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP quipped that instead, they had a date with Gandhi-ji  he was referring to the Gandhi statue in Parliament which is the meeting point for all protests. Recently in an interview to the wire.in, Naresh Gujral cautioned the BJP to be more diplomatic in the handling of allies, stating if the BJP wants a ...It was probably the year 2009. We suddenly heard from friends that a huge water body in Santiniketan measuring almost 17 acres, which was public property, was going to be leased to some private party.

Because it was public property, everybody, especially the tribals of that area used it for all their water needs, washing, cleaning and bathing. The alarm bells actually rang when friends passing that way saw this public water body being fenced off. A few enquiries later we realised that the local development authority (SSDA) was handing over this huge water body along with some land ...As many as 13 people were booked and two arrested for thrashing a youth of another community at his house and setting his motorcycle on fire at Sarvat Road area here, the police said today.

The incident took place yesterday when some people forcibly entered the house of Akib Hasan and and beat him up. They also set his motorcycle on fire, SP City Ombir Singh said.

Hasan, who was seriously injured in the attack, has been admitted to a hospital, the police said.

On receiving information about the incident, police personnel rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Security has been tightened in the area, the police said, adding 13 people were booked in connection with the incident and of them 2 were arrested.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A circular issued by the Jawahar Lal Nehru University making 75 per cent attendance mandatory for availing scholarships, fellowships and other facilities including hostel is at the centre of a fresh standoff involving students and the administration of the prominent institution.

It all started with students boycotting classes and taking out processions inside the campus against a university direction that made 75 per cent attendance compulsory for students of all courses including part time.

Amid the protests, another circular was issued on February 3 which stated that 75 per cent attendance was mandatory for availing scholarships and fellowships and other facilities.

Peeved over not being able to meet the Vice Chancellor to discuss issues related to the compulsory attendance order, some students had on Thursday laid seige to the JNU administration block. The Delhi Police yesterday registered two FIRs against the students for restricting two senior officials from leaving the building for hours.

Though other universities and institutions in Delhi have compulsory attendance until post graduation level, more relaxed rules are applicable for MPhil and PhD students.

In Delhi University or its affiliated colleges, an undergraduate student needs a minimum of 66 per cent attendance to sit in a semester exam.

However, it is applicable for undergraduate and post graduate students only and not to research scholars.

"Enforcement of these rules differs from college to college," a professor of Ramjas College said.

Jamia Millia Islamia University has 75 per cent attendance requirement for UG and PG.

"Only for teaching semester, attendance is compulsory for MPhil and PhD students, and They do not have any such rules for other semesters as much field work is involved," Dr Saima Saeed of the university said.

For students of Ambedkar University of Delhi, the rule is relaxed as they move to subsequent years starting from first year UG with minimum requirement of 65 per cent.

Ever since the strike began and culminated in a "gherao" on Thursday, JNU students have been sitting for classes conducted in lawns and other places on the campus.

Students of Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health (CSMCH) even presented their PhD synopsis in front of the faculty in an open lawn yesterday.

"Students are not fighting for the right to not attend classes, we are fighting for the right to learn without pointless and arbitrary regimentation, in the best traditions of JNU. In fact, teachers have been supporting the students' strike by holding classes and even exams in the open air," JNUSU President Geeta Kumari said.

The students say the existing methods in the university already ensure participation of students.

"Continuous evaluation, regular tests, presentations, classroom participation, assignments, tutorials, term papers etc. are already in place. What is the purpose of this ruling which wasn't even passed by Academic Council?" Kumari said.

Speaking to PTI, Chief Proctor Kaushal Kumar said the JNU follows rules and regulations and the direction on compulsory attendance was issued after it received the nod from the Academic Council.

However, JNU students union and teachers association maintain it was not passed in the Academic Council.

Hundreds of students, led by Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU), have picketed outside all the gates of the building and confronted and stopped senior university officials who tried to go out.

Two FIRs have been registered against the JNU students for wrongful restraint of two rectors in the administration block yesterday, a senior police officer said yesterday.

The students and the administration have been at loggerheads over a number of issues since the present VC M Jagadesh Kumar took charge. Their demands include a meeting with the Vice Chancellor. They are also pressing that the Academic Council meet be held as scheduled on February 23 and roll back of compulsory attendance.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A Delhi court today decided to hear on April 7 the CBI's plea seeking a direction to allow it to go for further probe into the politically sensitive Rs 64-crore Bofors payoff case.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ashu Garg deferred the hearing as the documents and records pertaining to the matter were not available with the court and were in the Supreme Court.

The documents were provided to the apex court as it has been seized of an appeal filed by BJP leader Ajay Agrawal challenging the May 31, 2005 verdict of the Delhi High Court quashing all charges against the accused.

Agrawal, who contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Rae Bareli against the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi, had filed the appeal in the apex court after the CBI had failed to challenge the high court verdict in the top court within the mandatory 90 days period.

The CBI had on February 1 moved the trial court seeking permission for further probe into the matter saying it had come across fresh material and evidence.

A day after the agency had also filed an appeal against the high court decision in the Supreme Court.

After the CBI, the BJP leader had also moved the trial court supporting the plea of the probe agency in the case.

The court will also consider, on the next date of hearing, his plea asking it to grant permission to the CBI to reinvestigate the case.

The agency had swung into action to approach the trial court and the apex court after the attorney general orally gave it a go ahead to file the appeal in the case in which it cited the October 2017 interview of private detective Michael Hershman, who alleged that the then Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress government had sabotaged his probe.

Justice R S Sodhi (since retired) of the Delhi High Court on May 31, 2005, had quashed the CBI case in the Bofors pay-off scam.

Before the 2005 verdict of Justice Sodhi, another judge of the Delhi High Court, retired Justice J D Kapoor, had on February 4, 2004 exonerated the late prime minister in the case and directed the framing of charge of forgery under section 465 of the IPC against Bofors company.

The Rs 1,437-crore deal between India and Swedish arms manufacturer AB Bofors for the supply of 400 155mm howitzer guns for the Indian Army was entered into on March 24, 1986.

Swedish Radio on April 16, 1987, had claimed that the company had paid bribes to top Indian politicians and defence personnel.

The CBI on January 22, 1990 had registered the FIR for alleged offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery under the IPC and other sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act against Martin Ardbo, the then president of AB Bofors, alleged middleman Win Chadda and the Hinduja brothers.

It had alleged that certain public servants and private persons in India and abroad had entered into a criminal conspiracy between 1982 and 1987 in pursuance of which the offences of bribery, corruption, cheating and forgery were committed



The first charge sheet in the case was filed on October 22, 1999, against Chadda, Ottavio Quattrocchi, the then defence secretary S K Bhatnagar, Ardbo and the Bofors company.

A supplementary charge sheet was filed against the Hinduja brothers -- S P Hinduja, G P Hinduja and P P Hinduja -- on October 9, 2000.

A special CBI court in Delhi on March 4, 2011, had discharged Quattrocchi from the case, saying the country could not afford to spend hard-earned money on his extradition which had already cost Rs 250 crore.

Quattrocchi, who had fled from India on July 29-30, 1993, never appeared before any court in India to face prosecution.

He passed away on July 13, 2013. The other accused who died are Bhatnagar, Ardbo and Chadda.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A lower court has sentenced six persons to life imprisonment for murdering a man, who had married a woman despite opposition from her family.

The convicts include the mother-in-law of the deceased, R Krishna Kumar, who had fallen in love and married Indhira of his village in Pudukottai district in 2004, despite her family objecting to the marriage.

According to the police, Kumar was hacked to death by his wife's relatives, including her brother, in 2007.

Her brother and two others were arrested later.

Following the high court's intervention, the case was transferred to the Crime Branch-CID in 2008.

Subsequently, Indhira's mother Sellammal, her (Sellammal's) sister and two relatives were arrested and the chargesheet was filed in the case.

District Additional Sessions Court judge M Sumathi Saipriya sentenced the six convicts to life yesterday.

Sellammal's sister, who was also named as an accused in the case, died during the trial.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The AIADMK here today urged the Puducherry government to request the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Water Management Board (CWMB) as per the Supreme Court verdict, for the benefit of the ryots in Karaikal region in the Union Territory.

Addressing reporters here today the party's legislature wing leader A Anbalagan said the territorial government should join hands with Tamil Nadu and ensure the Apex Court direction on the Cauvery river water sharing issue is implemented.

To enable the farmers of Puducherry to get the benefit of the allocation of Cauvery water, the Board should be constituted without any delay, he said.

Earlier, Anbalagan visited the sea port along with the Welfare Minister M Kandasamy to inspect the progress of work to convert it into a satellite port of the Chennai Port Trust to handle container cargo.

Later, he said, "not much progress had been made in providing the necessary infrastructure facilities."



The AIADMK leader said a by-pass road should be available for onward movement of the cargothat would be unloaded at the port here from Chennai.

"The officials concerned with ensuring the port facility were not acting on line with the speed shown by the government," he alleged.

All the deficiencies should be plugged so that the transaction at the port would take place without hiccups, he added.

The Supreme Court had yesterday directed the Karnataka government to release 177.25 tmcft of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from its inter-state Biligundlu dam, which was less than the quantum sought by the latter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Al-Qaeda operative Ibrahim Suleiman Adnan Adam Harun has been sentenced to life in prison, the Department of Justice said today.

The sentencing comes following his conviction by a jury on multiple terrorism offences, including conspiracy to murder American military personnel in Afghanistan and bomb the US embassy in Nigeria.

He was convicted on March 16, 2017.

"The evidence presented at trial established that the defendant and other jihadists attacked a US military patrol in Afghanistan, resulting in the death of two American soldiers and the serious injury of others," Acting Assistant Attorney General James O'Callaghan said.

Commissioner James P. O'Neill of the NYPD said Harun was a dedicated and early soldier in Bin Laden's al-Qaeda, joining just weeks before the September 11 attacks.

"Harun will rightfully spend the rest of his life behind bars. This department with our partners in law enforcement remains deeply committed to combating terrorism from New York to Nigeria and everywhere in between," he said.

As proven at trial, Harun travelled from Saudi Arabia to Afghanistan weeks before September 11, 2001, where he joined al-Qaeda, trained at al-Qaeda training camps, and eventually swore allegiance to Osama bin Laden.

Harun, 47, also known by the nom de guerre "Spin Ghul," a Pashto name meaning "White Rose," then travelled with other al-Qaeda jihadists to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan, where he operated under Abdul Hadi al-Iraqi, one of bin Laden's deputies and a senior al-Qaeda military commander.

On April 25, 2003, Harun and fellow al-Qaeda jihadists ambushed a US military patrol near the Afghan-Pakistan border.Harun fired machinegun rounds and threw grenades at American soldiers and allied Afghan Militia Forces while shouting "Allahu Akhbar" or "God is Great."



Two US servicemen were killed in the attack Private First Class Jerod Dennis, 19, of Oklahoma, and Airman First Class Raymond Losano, 24, of Texas and several other soldiers were seriously wounded.

After the ambush, Harun met with senior al-Qaeda officials including Abu Faraj al-Libi, then al-Qaedas external operations chief to express his desire to commit acts of terror against US interests outside Afghanistan.

He specifically sought to carry out attacks similar to the 1998 al-Qaeda bombings of the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which resulted in more than 200 deaths and 4,000 injuries, federal prosecutors said.

In the summer of 2003, senior al-Qaeda leaders dispatched Harun from Pakistan to Nigeria to bomb the US Embassy in Abuja.

Harun's al-Qaeda handler directed him to obtain one ton of explosives for the bombing operation and to target Americans whom he described as "the head of the snake" at embassies, hotels and other "places where they gather for fun."



Upon arriving in Nigeria, Harun recruited accomplices, scouted the Embassy and other potential Western targets, and sent an accomplice to find explosives.

He also met with local terrorist leaders to expand al-Qaedas terrorist network in West Africa.

In 2004, Harun directed a co-conspirator to courier information and materials from Nigeria to al-Qaeda leaders in Pakistan.

After learning that the co-conspirator had been arrested in Pakistan, Harun fled Nigeria to Libya, from where he planned to enter Europe to carry out terrorist attacks against Western interests.

In early 2005, however, Harun was arrested by Libyan authorities and held in custody until his release in June 2011.

Harun was arrested in June 2011 by Italian authorities.

He was indicted on terrorism changes in the US in February 2012 and extradited from Italy later that year, the Department of Justice said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)As a young boy, every morning Gen Bipin Rawat donned the school uniform, but, he said, in his heart he always desired to wear the Army's olive green uniform.

And, while life came full circle for him, when Rawat rose to become the 27th Army chief, this general, who hails from Uttarakhand, said, he had "not forgotten" the human lessons learned during his early education.

In an interaction, yesterday, with a group of students from Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, Gen Rawat urged them to never comprise on hard work or get disheartened by failures.

"Never underestimate the potential of someone, who has failed. Because, such people, if they resolve, work harder and may move ahead in life farther than those who have succeeded," he said.

The Army chief then walked down memory lane, to his schools days to, emphasise the point.

"There was a student, who was a senior to me by one year. He failed his class, so he came to our class (9th). In class 10, he gave a moderate performance, and passed, but in Class 11, he topped.

"It took us all by surprise. When the results were put up on the board, his name was right there on the top. I was in top five, but his performance and determination showed that people who fail, can end up as a great motivational story," he said.

Rawat, dressed in the olive green uniform, said, that student went on to become a reputed doctor.

Later on the sidelines, sharing his childhood dream, the Army chief said, "Yes, I always wanted to be in the Army and serve the nation." Rawat, who was awarded the prestigious Sword of Honour at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, said, Army life always fascinated him from very young.

Gen Rawat, who took over the baton from Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag on December 31, 2016, has an illustrious career with vast experience in high altitude warfare and counter-insurgency operations.

He commanded an infantry battalion, along the Line of Actual Control in the Eastern Sector, a Rashtriya Rifles Sector and an Infantry Division in the Kashmir Valley, a Corps in the Eastern theatre and the Southern Command.

Rawat was commissioned in the Fifth Battalion of the Eleven Gorkha Rifles in December 1978 from IMA.

An alumnus of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, he has been awarded various medals of high honour for gallantry and distinguished service in a span of nearly 40 years in uniform.

Rawat commanded a Multinational Brigade in a Chapter VII mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While serving with the United Nations, he was twice awarded the Force Commanders Commendation.

But, despite such achievements in the field, this Army chief doesn't intend to rest on his laurels.

"Also, remember that success is short-lived. The period of glory is just for a while, and you have to continue to work hard to stay successful," he told the students.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Social activist is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir before launching an agitation over Jan Lokpal and farmers issues in New Delhi next month, an NGO said on Saturday.

"We have invited him (Hazare) to visit Jammu and he has accepted the invite. We are expecting him to address a public meeting here before the March 23 rally in Delhi," chairperson of International Anti-Corruption and Human Rights Council Manjot Singh Kohli told reporters here.

She said a team of her NGO met the social activist in Delhi last week on his invitation.

"We are happy to be the part of his movement and want everyone especially the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to join us for the success in the crusade against corruption," Kohli 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.)Revenue officials from Andhra Pradesh today seized 450 bags of rice, weighing 24 tonnes, near Sheermahamood village of Jaggaiahpet mandal in Krishna district, officials said.

The rice, originally meant for the Public Distribution System (PDS), was worth Rs 4.50 lakh, said Jaggaiahpet Tehsildar C Narasimha Rao.

He added that the rice bags had markings of Telangana and therefore that state's vigilance and enforcement teams were also part of the raid that led to the seizure.

The seized rice has been sent to the civil supplies godown and the matter had been brought to the notice of the Joint Collector, Tehsildar M Someswara Rao said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Perfecting Love Ministry will host the Youth Explosion on Saturday, March 3, at 6 p.m. at the Kingdom Center at 740 MLK Blvd.

The Youth Explosion gospel program will feature a night of praise and worship for the youth in the Chattanooga area. Live performances by local talent features:

Gospel Rappers: Quantell (Phat Pudda) Lindsey, TruSaint, and Tru Mob

Gospel Mimes: Quentin Lee and Maurice Miller

Spoken Word: Marsha MillsA bank manager posted in Union Bank's Namli branch here was caught by Lokayukta police for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe in return for releasing the first installment of a loan.

Lokayukta Inspector Basant Shrivastava said that bank manager Mahendra Dehria had demanded Rs 25,000 from a person to release the first installment of a loan of Rs 4 lakh under the state's Animal Husbandry Scheme.

Acting on a complaint, the Lokayukta police laid a trap and caught Dehria and his associate Dilip Sharma when they accepted the bribe from the complainant, he said.

A case was registered under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, officials said, adding that the two were released from the spot after they furnished a bond.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)BJP's Bhagalpur district Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC & ST) cell president was gunned down by unidentified miscreants here late last night, police said today.

The victim Manoj Mandal (25) was shot dead while he was asleep in his home in his native village Khawaspur under Pirpainty police station, Kahalgaon Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Ramanand Kumar Kaushal said.

An unnamed FIR has been lodged with Pirpainty police station in this regard, the SDPO said adding that motive behind the killing is yet to be ascertained.

Police have started investigation into the matter, he added.

Mandal was found shot dead in his room by the family members when they became anxious after he did not wake up in the morning. They knocked the door but he did not wake up after which the door was broken and he was found dead.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The bodies of a 17-year-old girl and a 21-year-old man, both of whom had been missing since Valentine's Day on Wednesday, were found today morning in Badnapur tehsil here, police said.

Badnapur Police Inspector Rameshwar Khannal said the bodies of Komal Ashok Garud (17) and Shashank Subash Jaiswal (21), both residents of Aurangabad, were found at Dawalwadi Phatta, adding that a bottle of poison and a suicide note were found near the bodies.

The note stated that the two were in love with each other and were committing suicide, Khannal said, adding that the two, in the note, also asked for forgiveness for the act from their parents.

He said that the two were missing since February 14 and the parents of the girl had filed a case of kidnapping against unknown persons at a local police station.

The official added that the girl was a student of commerce at a local college while Jaiswal was pursuing a Bachelor's degree in computer applications.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The inaugural session of the 6th conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, India Region, here today was marred by a protest by RJD MLAs over a statement of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

The BJP leader had begun his speech talking about the steps taken in the state to ensure transparency in public life. "Ours was the first state in the country where it was made mandatory for the ministers to declare their assets," he said.

As Modi said, "The country is facing a situation, wherein as many as four former chief ministers are behind the bars in corruption cases," the RJD members started raising slogans, alleging that the deputy chief minister was using the event, which was attended by delegates from across the country as well as abroad, as a "political platform".

RJD chief Lalu Prasad, a former Bihar chief minister, is currently in jail in two fodder scam cases.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tried to intervene, reminding the agitated leaders that "this is not the Bihar Vidhan Sabha. You all have been invited here as guests. Please behave with the decency that is expected of respected guests".

Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary also appealed to the opposition leaders to stay calm, saying "this is not the floor of the House".

The RJD members, however, kept raising slogans and left the Samrat Ashok Convention Centre, where the conference was inaugurated in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and veteran parliamentarian Murli Manohar Joshi among others.

As the programme continued, the RJD leaders staged a demonstration outside the convention centre.

"It was a mischievous attempt by the deputy chief minister to settle political scores. If he so wanted to cite examples of corruption, why did he not speak about Nirav Modi and the multi-crore-rupee Punjab National Bank scam," RJD MLA Alok Mehta told reporters outside the venue.

His views were echoed by the other protesters such as RJD MLA Aktharul Islam Shahin and Satyadeo Ram of the CPI(ML) Liberation, who said the deputy chief minister could have avoided making such a remark "if he was speaking with a fair intention".

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Tejashwi Yadav, in a series of tweets, criticised Modi's speech as "illogical and abusive".

"Why did Sushil Modi not speak about his alleged involvement in the Srijan scam and of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in a case of murder," he asked.

Yadav was scheduled to address the inaugural session of the event, but left for Bhojpur district to meet the family members of Mujahid Khan, a CRPF jawan who was killed in an encounter with militants in Jammu and Kashmir earlier this week.

"Delegates attending the conference are welcome to the holy land of Bihar. I was excited about the event, but in deference to public sentiment toward martyr Mujahid Khan, I am leaving for Bhojpur. People are dismayed over the state government's apathy towards the slain CRPF jawan, whose funeral was not attended even by the DM and SP, and about whom a minister has given a shameful statement which has evoked no reaction from the CM and the Deputy CM," the RJD leader said in a statement.

State minister for Mines and Geology Vinod Singh, who is also the in-charge for Bhojpur district, had on Thursday said that his visit to the slain jawan's house would not have brought him back to life.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A case has been registered by the Delhi Police against a TV channel journalist following a complaint of rape by a woman, a senior Delhi Police officer said tonight.

The woman alleged that she came in contact with the man in 2016 and she was offered a job in the channel which she joined in April 2017, Additional Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) B K Singh said.

"She alleged that she was raped by the man on June 9 last year at his residence on the pretext of marriage and several times later on," the officer said.

The woman claimed that in October last year, she learnt that the man was already married and had two children, Singh said.

She filed a complaint against the journalist on February 13 and the case was registered last night at the Tughlak Road police station, the police officer said.

Her statement was recorded before a magistrate, Singh said, adding no arrest has been made.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Cauvery Water Management Board, which the Supreme Court had directed to be set up, can help ensure greater economy and equity in sharing the water of the river, eminent farm scientist M S Swaminathan said here today.

Such a management board, which should include eminent water technologists and agriculture specialists, can help ensure greater economy and equity in sharing Cauvery water, he said.

Towards such equitable sharing, it is important to pay attention to demand management and supply augmentation, he said.

"All the Cauvery basin states should reduce the demand for water by introducing cropping patterns requiring less water and by adopting drip irrigation and other water saving techniques," he said in a statement.

Less water requiring cropping system should pay attention to crops which are in demand in the market and which can enhance the income of farmers per unit of water, he said.

On supply augmentation, the noted scientist referred to the Supreme Court pointing out that there was scope for Tamil Nadu to benefit from its underutilized aquifer.

"One method of augmentation is mandatory rainwater harvesting. Since Tamil Nadu is a rain shadow region and water becomes available largely during the Northeast monsoon period, there is scope for water harvesting and storage."



He said the Cauvery Management Board can give urgent consideration to various opportunities for both demand management and supply augmentation so that the reduced water allocation does not affect the productivity and income security of the numerous small farm of Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu could set-up a Water Security Board inorder to ensure maximum benefits from the Cauvery Management Board proposed by the Supreme Court, he said.

The Supreme Court yesterday delivered a crucial verdict to resolve the decades-old dispute between southern riparian states over Cauvery river water sharing by hiking Karnataka's share by 14.75 tmcft and reducing Tamil Nadu's quantum while compensating it by allowing extraction of 10 tmcft groundwater from the river basin.

The court said the issue of drinking water has to be placed on a "higher pedestal".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Congress today accused Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office of "delaying" the arrest of the culprits involved in the murder of a Youth Congress functionary in Kannur district earlier this week.

Coming down heavily on the CPI(M) over its cadres' alleged role in physically targeting the political rivals in the state, Opposition Leader in the Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the ruling party was becoming a "terror outfit".

"This is a very dangerous situation," Chennithala told reporters here.

He urged the Chief Minister to intervene and give direction to the police to take action against the persons involved in the killing of the Youth Congress functionary Shuhaib.

The Congress had yesterday alleged that there was a mystery behind the alleged grant of parole to 19 murder case accused before Shuhaib was hacked to death at Mattanur in February 13.

Chennithala urged the Chief Minister to relinquish the home portfolio, alleging that he had not allowed the police to function independently in the state.

"The arrest of the murderers" is delayed due to the "interference" of the Chief Minister's Office," he alleged.

He also favoured a CBI probe into the incident.

As part of intensifying the agitation against the "delay" in arresting those behind the murder of Shuhaib, senior Congress leader K Sudhakaran will observe a 48-hour fast from Monday.

Chennithala had earlier alleged that 19 murder case accused had been out on parole when Shuhaib was killed.

Those out on parole included Kodi Suni and T K Rajeesh and Anoop, who are accused in the 2012 murder of RMP leader T P Chandrasekharan, Chennithala had said.

There were 31 hack injuries below the knee of Shuhaib and the brutality was similar to that inflicted on Chandrasekharan when he was murdered, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Congress will hold its plenary session to discuss and evolve the party's future strategy in Delhi on March 16, 17 and 18, its chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said today.

The dates were fixed at a meeting of the Steering Committee, which was formed after dissolving the Central Working Committee. Congress president Rahul Gandhi chaired the first meeting of the Steering Committee.

"The Congress plenary session will be held in Delhi on March 16, 17 and 18," said Surjewala.

Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and senior leaders including A K Antony, Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge attended the meeting.

Asked whether elections for the CWC will take place during the plenary session, Surjewala said whenever such a decision is taken, "we shall inform you".

He said that in the 133 years of the party's history, the elections to the CWC were held only five times. "Even Subhas Chandra Bose was given the authority to have a Congress Working Committee of his choice...," he said.

He said the Steering Committee principally met to decide the date of the plenary session, as also the ideological way forward and the policy focus of the Congress.

"I also assure you that we are the only party in the country on whose elections multiple questions and debates can happen. Has anybody heard ever an election being held for the post of president as far as Amit Shah or any other person in BJP is concerned. The answer perhaps would be no," he said, taking a dig at the ruling party.

Rahul Gandhi had dissolved the Congress Working Committee and formed the 34-member Steering Committee to work in its place till a new CWC was set up.

The party's plenary session will be attended by all AICC delegates who elected the new Congress chief.

While all outgoing CWC members are part of the new committee, some permanent invitees such as Amarinder Singh, Vilas Muttemwar, R K Dhawan, Shivajirao Deshmukh, M V Rajasekharan and Mohsina Kidwai, and all special invitees have been dropped from the new panel.

As per the party's Constitution, the 25-member CWC has 12 elected members and 11 nominated members, besides the Congress president and the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

The new members of the CWC will be elected either at the plenary or after it.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Congress chief Rahul Gandhi today chaired the first meeting of the party's Steering Committee, formed after dissolving the Central Working Committee, to finalise the schedule of plenary session.

Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, besides other leaders like A K Antony, Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge attended the meeting.

Gandhi had dissolved the Congress Working Committee and formed a 34-member Steering Committee to work in its place till a new CWC was set up.

The party's plenary session, to be attended by all AICC delegates who elected the new Congress chief, is likely to be held before March 5 when the second part of Budget Session of Parliament starts.

While all past CWC members are part of the new committee, some permanent invitees like Amarinder Singh, Vilas Muttemwar, RK Dhawan, Shivajirao Deshmukh, MV Rajasekharan and Mohsina Kidwai, and all special invitees have been dropped from the new panel.

As per the party's Constitution, the 25-member CWC has 12 elected members and 11 nominated members, besides the Congress president and the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

The new members of the CWC will be elected either at the plenary or after it.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi today denied any links of his family with jewellery designer Nirav Modi and Gitanjali Group promoter Mehul Choksi, accused in the Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case, and charged the BJP with playing "cheap politics".

"BJP/NDA's cheap sense of politics has reached ludicrous and ridiculous proportions. Neither My wife, sons nor me have anything whatsoever to do with Gitanjali or Nirav Modi companies," he said in a statement.

Singhvi said Nirav Modis company was a tenant of a Kamla Mills property owned by Adwait Holdings in which his wife and sons are directors.

BJP leader and Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman alleged that Nirav Modi-run Firestar Diamond International had taken on lease a property of Adwait Holdings, a company in which Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi's wife is a director.

"What is important that the premises has been used by Firestar Diamond International," she alleged.

Singhvi said Adwait Holdings owns a commercial property at Parel, which was rented by Nirav Modi's company many years ago.

"Neither Adwait nor my family has any interest with Modi or the company. Last August, the company gave notice to quit tenancy and vacated Parel Kamla Mills premises in December 2017," he said.

"Neither I nor any member of my family has any interest in or relation to Nirav Modi or his companies. His company was a tenant in some commercial property owned by our family company. This tenancy ended in December 2017.

"None of us have anything to do even remotely with Gitanjali company, Firestar or any other business of Nirav modi.

"Sensationalism, ignorance and falsehood has exceeded all limits in this irresponsible charge," he said, threatening Sitharaman and her colleagues of civil and criminal defamation for making "ill-considered, ignorant and patently false allegations".

"I reserve my rights to take all such appropriate legal action against the latter and all parts of the media which carry such false and maliciously defamatory allegations," Singhvi said in a statement.

Nirav Modi, 46, a regular feature on the lists of rich and famous Indians since 2013, was booked by the CBI, along with wife, brother and Gitanjali Group promoter Mehul Choksi on January 31, for allegedly cheating the state-run PNB to the tune of Rs 280 crore.

The bank subsequently sent two more complaints to the CBI on Tuesday, saying the scam was worth more than Rs 11,400 crore.

The jewellery designer is understood to be a citizen of the country but his brother Nishal and wife Ami are not Indian nationals. They all left India between January 1 and 6, the CBI had said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will provide a one-hour, ranger-facilitated discussion on the environmental impact of the Civil War on Chattanooga on Sunday, March 4 at 2 p.m. This program will take place at Orchard Knob Reservation in Chattanooga, at the

intersection of Ivy Street and Orchard Knob Avenue.



"In his novel, The Two Towers, author J.R.R. Tolkien described the war-torn land of Mordor as 'a land

defiled, diseased beyond all healing' This fictional land was destroyed by generations of war. The same could almost be said of Chattanooga by the summer of 1865. Large armies encamped in and around the city for the previous two years, stripping away thousands of trees to build cooking fires, fortifications, bridges and buildings. By the time the war ended, the landscape around the city was barren, and affected life in the city for years to come. Join us for this special program as we discuss the relationship between people and their environment during and after the Civil War," officials said.



Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and to bring a portable chair, as this will be a mostly stationary program and there is limited shade at Orchard Knob.



For more information about upcoming programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Lookout Mountain Visitor Center at 423-821-7786 or the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241.



The CPI(M) today dubbed "unusual" the appointment of a special observer for the Assembly election in Tripura and objected to his closed-door meeting with the state BJP president.

A CPI(M) delegation met Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat and expressed concerns over the appointment of the special observer.

The CPI(M) said the appointment "seems an unusual step".

"There have been reports of his closed-door meeting with the state BJP president in the chamber of Chief Electoral Officer, Tripura, which has created confusion among the people," the CPI(M) alleged.

A CPI(M) statement read: "The CEC said he will ask for a written report on the circumstances in which the special observer met the BJP president of Tripura."



The Election Commission has appointed ITBP Director General R K Pachnanda the special observer for the election in Tripura.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Renowned film director Ram Gopal Varma today appeared before the police here in connection with a case lodged against him by an activistover his alleged derogatory remarks about women.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cybercrimes) KCS Raghu Vir said Varma had made the comments in question when his short film "God Sex and Truth" released.

The director is also accused of posting "obscene" pictures related to the film on social media.

"We asked him to come again next Friday. He cooperated well with us during the questioning today. Investigation is going on," Raghu Vir told PTI.

Varma came to the Central Crime Station around noon and left around 4 in the afternoon.

Devi, a Hyderabad-based activist, has lodged a complaint alleging that Varma's decision to cast Mia Malkova, an American adult film actor, in his film itself reflected badly on women. The director subsequently made objectionable remarks against her (Devi) and the women in general during a TV debate, the activist alleged.

Police have registered a case against Varma under section 67 of the Information Technology Act (publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form) and under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for indecent representation of women, Raghu Vir said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today welcomed the return of Arvinder Singh Lovely to the Congress, saying it is good for the party.

"I am glad. He has been a Congressman and worked as Delhi Congress president as well as minister in party government, for a long time. Naturally his coming back is good for the party," the senior Congress leader said.

Lovely today rejoined the party, months after he quit to join the BJP, where he said he was an "ideological misfit".

Lovely, who was a Dikshit loyalist, quit the Congress following differences with Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken.

The Congress does not have any MLA in the Delhi Assembly after it lost power to AAP.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)An alleged drug peddler was today arrested with one kilogram of poppy straw in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

Tilak Raj, a resident of Bari Brahmana, was intercepted while he was moving under suspicious circumstances near Raya Morh Brah in Vijaypur, a police spokesman said.

He was arrested and a case under the NDPS Act registered against him, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Pressing for concerted global action to deal with terrorism, India and Iran today called for ending "selective" approach to combat the menace and said countries that aid, abet and support terror groups should be condemned.

The issue of dealing with the challenge of terrorism figured prominently during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

While Rouhani said India and Iran have a "common stance" in effectively dealing with terrorism and extremism, Modi said the two countries want a terror-free world and that they were committed to stop expansion of the powers which encourage terror.

"Iran and India have a common stance on confronting terrorism and extremism, and we are determined to confront terrorism and extremism through culture and the exchange of information and experience," Rouhani said.

A joint statement said the two leaders expressed their conviction that the fight against terrorism should not only seek to disrupt and eliminate terrorists, terror networks, but should also identify and address conditions conducive to terrorism as well as extremist ideologies.

It said the two leaders called for combating terrorist elements and "complete eradication" of their supportive movements and financial support.

The statement said Modi and Rouhani reiterated their strong commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and stressed that there can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism.

"They urged an immediate end to all support and sanctuaries enjoyed by terrorist groups and individuals and were of the view that States that aid, abet and directly or indirectly support terrorism should be condemned," the joint statement said.

It said the two leaders stressed that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality or ethnic group.

"They called on the international community to end selective or partial approaches to combating terrorism and, in this regard, stressed the need to make every effort to reach an agreement on and conclude a comprehensive convention on international terrorism at the UN General Assembly," the statement said.

It said both sides "endorsed UNGA consensual resolution in 2013 derived from the idea of Iran's President 'World Against Violence and Extremism'(WAVE)" and called for combating terrorist elements and complete eradication of their supportive movements, cutting financial support to terrorist groups in particular.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Family members of Dalit activist Bhanubhai Vankar today refused to accept his body, which was brought for post-mortem to the Gandhinagar civil hospital, till their demands were met.

Hundreds of Dalit protesters gathered outside the hospital to support the family.

Vankar had immolated himself outside the Patan Collectors office on Thursday and had died of burn injuries at a private hospital in Ahmedabad the next day.

Dalit leader and Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani and Leader of the Opposition Paresh Dhanani met Vankar's kin at the Gandhinagar civil hospital. Vankar was part of Mevani's Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch.

Protesters at the site turned away Karshan Solanki, the BJP MLA from Kadi, when he arrived at the hospital.

Talking to reporters, Mevani threatened to launch a protest if the state government did not yield to their demands by today evening.

"We will decide what to do tomorrow if the government does not accept our demands in writing," Mevani said.

He demanded the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), with a member from the Dalit community, to investigate Vankar's death and act against those responsible.

Vankar was fighting for Hemaben Vankar, a landless Dalit farm labourer, who had alleged that authorities were not allotting a plot of land to her family despite collecting Rs 22,236 in 2013.

In a memorandum submitted to the Collector a week ago, Hemaben, along with Vankar, had threatened self-immolation.

Despite deployment of police outside the Patan Collectors office, Mehsana-resident Vankar managed to set himself ablaze.

Gandhinagar Superintendent of Police Virendra Singh Yadav said around 250-300 protesters gathered on the premises of Gandhinagar civil hospital to support Vankar's kin, who refused to claim his body.

"They have been protesting peacefully and are meeting officials over their demands," he said.

The state government had ordered an inquiry into the incident to be helmed by chief secretary JN Singh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The revelation that the FBI botched a potentially life-saving tip on the Florida school shooting suspect is a devastating blow to Americas top law enforcement agency at a time when it is already under extraordinary political pressure.

Even before the startling disclosure that the FBI failed to investigate a warning that the suspect, Nikolas Cruz, could be plotting an attack, the bureau was facing unprecedented criticism from President Donald Trump and other Republicans, who have accused it of partisan bias.

The agency and its supporters had been able to dismiss past criticism as just politics, but this time it had no option but to admit it made a disastrous mistake.

The FBI's acknowledgment that it mishandled the tip prompted a sharp rebuke from its boss, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and a call from Floridas Republican Gov Rick Scott, a Trump ally, for FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign.

Wray, on the job for just six months, had already been in a precarious position defending the bureau from relentless attacks by Trump and other Republicans.

They are still dissatisfied with its decision not to charge Hillary Clinton with crimes related to her use of a private email server, and they see signs of bias in special counsel Robert Muellers probe of possible Trump campaign ties to Russia.

As evidence, theyve cited the former deputy directors connection to Clinton allies, and theyve publicized anti-Trump text messages exchanged between an FBI agent and a bureau lawyer. Democrats have said the accusations are aimed at damaging Muellers investigation and protecting Trump.

Through it all, Wray has repeatedly stood up to Trump, defending the bureaus independence and publicly praising its agents in implicit rebuttals to the presidents criticism.

Wray unsuccessfully fought to block the release of a classified Republican memo accusing the FBI of abusing its surveillance powers in the Russia probe a document Trump wanted aired.

Wray also publicly contradicted White House accounts of how it handled recent domestic abuse allegations involving an aide.

The shooting provides fresh grounds to criticize the FBI. First it was revealed that the FBI failed to delve into a YouTube comment posted by a "Nikolas Cruz" that said, "Im going to be a professional school shooter." The FBI said it could not determine who made it.

Yesterday, the bureau said it had failed to act on a tip that Cruz had a "desire to kill people," disturbing social media posts and access to a gun.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Island nation Fiji today signed a declaration of partnership with India's The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) for assistance in tackling climate change effects and achieving environmental sustainability.

The declaration was made on sidelines of the ongoing World Sustainable Development Conference (WSDS 2018) here.

It was signed by Joshua Wycliff, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Housing and of Fiji and Ajay Mathur, the Director General of TERI.

"The declaration provides a framework for technical collaboration and assistance by TERI to measure, manage, support and pilot activities and models towards achieving Fiji's environmental protection objectives as well as its Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement," TERI said in a statement.

As an island nation in South Pacific Ocean, Fiji is especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

The pacific region, already exposed to extreme weather conditions like cyclones and floods, is likely to see these conditions exacerbated due to climate change, the statement said.

Wycliff said strong partnerships and collaborations such as this are vital components of the global effort to tackle climate change and achieve environmental sustainability.

"We aim to create robust frameworks for sustainable development that can meet the aspirations of our people while also mitigating the effects of climate change," he said.

Under the declaration, TERI seeks to provide technical assistance in a variety of areas including waste and pollution management, developing 'green' energy efficient buildings, remote monitoring and reporting of environmental impact assessments as well as aligning policies with environmental aims.

The approach to sustainable development and climate change mitigation is centred around the twin aims of managing the unavoidable and avoiding the unmanageable, Mathur said.

"On one hand this includes creating resilient infrastructure and strong policy frameworks, and on the other leveraging technology and expertise to move to sustainable practices," he said.

"We hope to create the models that can be replicated across developing countries, and island nations in particular," he added.

This declaration follows the successful India-Pacific Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) held in Suva, Fiji in May 2017.

TERI was the knowledge partner for the SDC, an event that was organised under India's Forum for India-Pacific Islands Co-operation (FIPIC) agenda.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will go on a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia to co-chair the 12th India-Saudi Arabia Joint Commission Meeting (JCM).

The JCM will be held at Riyadh, and the delegation leaves tonight, an official statement said today.

On February 18, Jaitley along with his counterpart from Saudi Arabia will open the 'Saudi-Indian Business Council', it said, adding that the same day he will visit the 'India Pavillion' at the Saudi National Heritage and Cultural Festival Janadriyah.

Jaitley will meet with the Saudi Minister of Trade & Investment, Majid Al-Qassabi on February 19 to discuss the bilateral issues.

He is also likely to meet other high level Saudi dignitaries as well during his visit.

He will return to New Delhi in the evening of February 19.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Following are PTI's top/expected stories at 6:50 pm:



STORIES IN THE PIPELINE:



Canada PM Justin Trudeau's visit to IndiaStories related to PNB scamDEL 18 NIRAVMODI-LD BJPNew Delhi: BJP alleges that the multi-crore PNB scam involving billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi happened during the UPA rule and the Congress was spreading lies to mislead the public.

DEL 17 INDOIRAN-ROUHANI New Delhi: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says India and Iran have a "common stance" in effectively dealing with terrorism and extremism, and called for concerted regional efforts to deal with the challenge.

DEL16 MEA-2NDLD INDOIRAN New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani hold "substantive" talks on key issues of terrorism, security, trade and energy, after which the two sides inked nine pacts, including a lease contract for a part of Chabahar port's operation for 18 months.

DEL13 POL-CONG-NIRAVMODI New Delhi: The Congress held the BJP responsible for the Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank scam involving jewellery designer Nirav Modi and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of institutionalising "crony capitalism".

DEL4 NIRAVMODI-CBI New Delhi: The CBI arrests two officials of Punjab National Bank, including a now retired deputy manager, and an authorised signatory of billionaire Nirav Modi's company in connection with alleged fraudulent transactions of Rs 11,400 crore, officials said.

BOM7 MH-NIRAVMODI-SENA Mumbai: The Shiv Sena attacks Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the multi-crore-rupee Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam and alleged that diamond czar Nirav Modi, who is at the centre of the scandal, had been a "partner" of the BJP and helped it collect funds for elections.

BOM5 MH-NAQVI-MUSLIM GIRLS Mumbai: The school drop-out rate among Muslim girls, which is more than 72 per cent, is a matter of concern for the government, says Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

CAL3 BH-CPA-RJD Patna: The inaugural session of the 6th conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, India Region, here was marred by a protest by RJD MLAs over a statement of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

MDS6KL-NAIDU-EDUCATION Kozhikode: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu calls for furthering human resource development, and said since 65 per cent of India's population was below 35 years of age, education institutes should seize the opportunity in shaping the future of the nation.

LGD1 DL-HC-VADRA New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has rejected the plea of a Delhi-based hospitality firm linked to Robert Vadra challenging an income tax (IT) department notice to it for re-assessment of its profits from land deals in Haryana and Rajasthan for the years 2010-11.

FGN10 PAK-GIRL-SENTENCE



Lahore: An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan sentences to death a serial killer for the brutal rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl that sparked national outrage, the first ever trial in the country's history that concluded in shortest period of four days. (By M Zulqernain)



FGN 8 US-ALQAEDA-LD SENTENCE



Washington: Top Al-Qaeda operative Ibrahim Suleiman Adnan Adam Harun has been sentenced to life for



multiple terrorism offences, including conspiracy to kill American military personnel in Afghanistan and bomb the



US embassy in Nigeria, the Department of Justice says. (By Lalit K Jha)



FGN7 PAK-TROOPS-SAUDI



Islamabad: Pakistan today said the decision to send its troops to Saudi Arabia was taken after clarifying the "rules of engagement" for which negotiations were ongoing for some time. (By Sajjad Hussain).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Voice of the People I find it hard to believe that the majority of Town employees will put their self-interest over the GREATER GOOD which is, the viability of the Town of Chesterton by not getting vaccinated. Our town tried to save money by self-insuring itself. We could be...

Guest Commentary Local coalition aspires to achieve smokefree air for all More than 1 in 5 Indiana adults smoke cigarettes (21.5%), one of the highest rates in the nation, while the number of youths using vaping products remains a concern for anti-smoking advocates. Secondhand smoke is estimated...

Voice of the People Well so much for the Tribune allowing only letters focusing on local issues. Tuesdays letter giving Biden a pass on his totally irrational screw-up of the Afghanistan withdrawal, ends if under the circumstances  if they could do better. The answer is  absolutely. The...

Voice of the People Recently four members of Porter County Board of Zoning Appeals approved to give an Iowa company special exceptions and variances to build a THIRD gas station at U.S. 6 and Indiana 149, on the northwest corner adjacent to Liberty Township. In this growing age of...Assam Rifles have apprehended four over ground workers (OGWs) of the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) during an operation in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, a defence release said today.

AR had launched a special operation yesterday based on preliminary inputs on the presence of suspected OGWs in Malugaon area and apprehended the four along with one .22 pistol, it said.

The four confessed to supplying weapons from Dimapur to Sadiya and Kakopathar and was previously involved in looting, smuggling and extortion of local populace, the release said.

They were handed over to Margherita police station in Assam and an FIR was lodged, the release added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Gujarat government today accepted the demands of family members of Dalit activist Bhanubhai Vankar who had immolated himself on Thursday.

Vankar's kin had refused to accept his body after it was brought for post-mortem to the Gandhinagar civil hospital.

Vankar had set himself ablaze outside the Patan Collector's office on Thursday and had died of burn injuries at a private hospital in Ahmedabad the next day.

Hundreds of Dalit protesters gathered outside the hospital to support the family which was demanding the setting up of a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter and re-granting of land which had been allotted to Dalits across the state but whose ownership titles had not been regularised.

Talking to reporters, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said the land in question would be transferred in the name of the family member.

"We will also constitute a judicial commission under a retired high court judge or form an SIT for investigation, as per the decision of the family, and we will take strict action against those responsible," Patel said.

"A member of the family will be given a government job, and the family will be given Rs 8 lakh as per the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, out of which Rs 4 lakh will be handed over immediately," Patel told reporters.

"The government will, at the earliest, also regrant land which was allotted to beneficiaries across the state but were been given the titles of the land," he added.

Earlier in the day, Dalit leader and Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani and Leader of the Opposition Paresh Dhanani met Vankar's kin at the Gandhinagar civil hospital. Vankar was part of Mevani's Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch.

Mevani had threatened to launch a protest if the state government did not yield to their demands.

Protesters at the site had also turned away Karshan Solanki, the BJP MLA from Kadi, when he arrived at the hospital.

Vankar was fighting for Hemaben Vankar, a landless Dalit farm labourer, who had alleged that authorities were not allotting a plot of land to her family despite collecting Rs 22,236 in 2013.

In a memorandum submitted to the Collector a week ago, Hemaben, along with Vankar, had threatened self-immolation.

Despite deployment of police outside the Patan Collectors office, Mehsana-resident Vankar managed to set himself ablaze.

The state government had ordered an inquiry into the incident to be helmed by chief secretary JN Singh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Top actor Kamal Haasan will address a string of meetings and unveil his party flag at Madurai on February 21, marking the commencement of his political journey.

He will address his first public meeting on February 21 in the afternoon at Ramanathapuram near the iconic palace entrance.

He will later leave for nearby Paramakudi and then Manamadurai and address meetings there before reaching Madurai in the evening, according to itinerary of the actor, released by his publicist here.

The actor will unveil his party flag and hoist it at Madurai and later address a public meeting at night. He is also set to spell out the name of his party that day.

In keeping with his announcement last month, Haasan will first visit the residence of former President A P J Abdul Kalam on February 21 at Rameswaram and then the school where the late leader studied.

Also, he would pay a visit to the memorial of Kalam at Pei Karumbu off Rameswaram.

He will also interact with fishermen community at Ganesh Mahal in Rameswaram.

Announcing his political tour in his weekly column in Tamil weekly "Ananda Vikatan" on January 18 last, the actor had said he too shared the vision of Kalam, who dreamt of a "good Tamil Nadu."



By launching his tour from the residence of Kalam, he would be moving forward towards that goal, he said, writing in his weekly column in Tamil weekly 'Ananda Vikatan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The fire tragedy at the Kamala Mills compound in central Mumbai that claimed 14 lives could not have happened without the connivance of officials in the illegal activities going on there, the Bombay High Court has said.

A bench of justices R M Borde and R G Ketkar yesterday ordered the setting up of a three-member independent committee, headed by a retired high court judge, to probe the December 29 fire at 1 Above and Mojos Bistro roof-top restaurants at the Kamala Mills compound.

The order came in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by former top cop Julio Ribeiro, seeking a judicial inquiry into the case.

"The loss of life is attributable to illegal activities of the operators of the restaurants, in connivance with the owners of Kamala Mills as well as the authorities who are responsible to ensure observance of regulations and the licensing norms," the high court said in its 23-page order.

The detailed order was made available today.

"It is in fact institutional failure of the municipal corporation as well as the state excise department," the court said.

"Considering the scale of violations of rules and regulations, it cannot be visualised that those can occur without the knowledge of the local authority or without any connivance of civic body officials," it added.

Stating that the involvement of civic body officials and the government could not be ruled out, the court said, "We are of the considered opinion that an independent committee, unconnected with the affairs of the municipal corporation and the state government, should be appointed."



The bench added that it went through the policy for roof-top restaurants submitted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

"However, we cannot be unmindful of the shocking incident, taking a toll of 14 lives and we are of the view that the policy adopted by the corporation (allowing such eateries) needs to be implemented with a lot of circumspection," the order said.

According to a report prepared by the BMC commissioner, the flying embers of a hookah, served illegally at Mojos Bistro, had started the fire and illegal alterations at both the restaurants aggravated the tragedy.

Apart from the owners of Kamala Mills and the two restaurants, a fire brigade officer has also been arrested in the case.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Madras High Court has closed a contempt petition filed against Vijayakumar, Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission.

One Senthil had filed the contempt plea praying for punishing the official for his 'wilful disobedience' of a court order.

The matter relates to an order passed by the court in 2016 in connection with the selection of the petitioner to the post of motor vehicle inspector Grade-II.

The order stated that the petitioner should be called for an oral interview within a period of four weeks by constituting an interview board for the purpose.

It further stated that all needful should be done within a total period of three months from the date of copy of the order.

As the above order was not complied with, the petitioner filed the contempt petition in 2017.

After several hearings, the case came up last month.

The court then observed that the time taken by the TNPSC to comply with the order was beyond what has been permitted.

Counsel for the TNPSC sought further time of two weeks to finalise the matter.

When it came up on February 14, it was informed by the counsel that a memo calling for oral interview on February 21 had already been sent to the petitioner.

Counsel for the petitioner submitted that no such memo was received by the petitioner.

Then the counsel for TNPSC submitted that a photocopy of the memo would be handed over to the petitioner's counsel enabling him to attend the interview.

Recording the submission, Justice R Suresh Kumar closed the contempt plea.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Madras High Court has directed the Centre to act on the recommendations made by the MCI on accommodating 144 students of a now-defunct private medical college in any other state-run institute within a week.

Taking serious view of the future of medical students, Justice N Kirubakaran gave the direction on Wednesday while passing interim orders on a batch of pleas from more than 100 affected second year students.

The court had earlier in December last year directed the state government to send a proposal to the Medical Council of India (MCI) to accommodate the students of the Annai Medical College and Hospital Pennalur, Sriperumbudur, in other government medical colleges.

As there was no progress in the matter, the affected students moved the court again with the present pleas.

Their counsel H Rajasekar contended that the inordinate delay on the part of the authorities concerned was causing serious hardship to the students.

The judge then observed that every day is an important day for medical students as each day gives a new clinical experience for them to be used for society in future.

He asked the Centre's standing counsel B Rabu Manohar about the status.

Manohar submitted that the MCI recommendations had been received by the ministry concerned.

"They are under process and the approval of the competent authority will be given within 15 days," he submitted.

As it was already delayed, the judge declined to grant 15 days.

"In spite of this courts orders and the approval by the appropriate authorities in due course, seeking 15 days time will be too long.

"..taking into consideration the interest of the students, it is appropriate to direct the central government to pass the orders on the recommendations of the MCI within a week," justice Kirubakaran said.

The judge then posted the matter for reporting compliance on February 22.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) faced the ire of the Bombay High Court for using a hoarding, which the civic body had itself termed illegal earlier, to advertise an upcoming event that would be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The MCGM used the 90x20 ft hoarding in suburban Bandra for advertisement of the Magnetic Maharashtra Convergence conclave, but it turned out that for the last several years, the civic body had been asking the owners of the hoarding to remove it on the ground it was illegal and exceeded the maximum 40x40 ft size permitted by it.

The conclave would be inaugurated by Modi tomorrow.

In a hearing on Thursday, Justice Gautam Patel, who was presiding over a petition filed by the owner of the hoarding seeking relief, questioned how the civic body had used the hoarding for displaying a government ad when it had been claiming that the hoarding was illegal.

"Till recently the hoardings were blank. On February 6, the petitioner was among several persons who received a notice from the MCGM directing the petitioner to put up on these hoardings what is euphemistically called a civic message," Justice Patel said.

"That expression does violence to the language, for what the petitioner was asked to put up by the MCGM was nothing but a political poster featuring the Hon'ble Chief Minister and the Hon'ble Prime Minister in advance of the Magnetic Maharashtra Convergence 2018," he said.

The MCGM claimed in using the hoarding, it had merely acted on an e-mail from the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporations advertisement section asking it to ensure that "all hoardings between the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and Nariman Point are kept available for advertising or displaying hoardings relating to this conclave."



MCGM lawyer Anil Sakhre told the HC the civic body had a policy allowing a free use of private hoardings for display of a civic message for 15 days in a year.

Justice Patel, however, termed this submission as contradictory.

"This is a contradiction. How can the MCGM make use of hoardings that it itself says are non-conforming with its policy and are without a licence.

"That policy can only apply in respect of a conforming, duly licenced hoarding. The MCGM cannot have it both ways," he said.

"It cannot say that a citizen may not use his hoarding for legitimate commercial purposes because it violates some requirement, rule, specification or guideline, and at the same time say, for what are obviously political purposes, that very non-conforming hoarding should be used, despite being unlicensed and non-conforming, because the state government through one of its entities says so," Justice Patel said.

He said the MCGM using an illegal hoarding for its own purposes would either mean that the hoarding was not illegal, or, that the state and the civic body were together permitting or perpetrating an illegality.

"No authority at any level at the Centre and the state can insist on the use of an unlicensed or illegal hoarding for any purpose whatsoever. If a person may not use it for a legitimate commercial purpose, he or she cannot be forced to serve some state government or political end," the HC said.

"Therefore, in all future matters, the MCGM is not entitled to demand the display of any messages, civic or otherwise, on hoardings other than those that have a valid, existing license," Justice Patel said.

He directed the civic body to permit the petitioner the use of his hoarding since he had already paid the corporation fees for the same for an entire year and had undertaken to reduce its size to meet with its rules.

Justice Patel cautioned the MCGM against violating his order, saying any violation would "immediately invite judicial action, irrespective of who commanded such illicit displays, for whom, and for what purpose.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Himachal Pradesh government today decided to hold walk-in interviews for doctors to fill 200 vacant posts of medical officers (MBBS) in Health and Family Department on contractual basis.

According to an official release, the step is taken to meet the shortage of doctors particularly in rural and far flung areas.

The Cabinet meeting presided over by chief minister Jai Ram Thakur also decided to amend the policy on tendering bond money for MBBS doctors who pursue higher courses, MD/MS degree or diploma, super specialty - - DM/MCH courses and DNB courses --, Master Courses within and outside the state.

It will be a major relief for MBBS doctors undergoing PG courses who were facing hardship in obtaining bank guarantees for their courses, the release said.

It also approved deployment of two medical physicists and four radiotherapist technicians on outsource basis at Government Medical College ,Tanda, to operationalise the sophisticated cancer treatment equipment available there.

The Cabinet also decided to procure four pulses namely Dal Channa, Urad Sabut, Moong Sabut and Malka from National Co-operative Consumers Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF) under State Subsidized Scheme for procurement and distribution of pulses by revising the existing policy, provisions and method of procurement of pulses.

H.P. State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd. and NCCF will execute the MoU in this respect. It would help save Rs 2.63 crore per month only on account of purchase of pulses, the release said.

The Cabinet gave its approval to strengthen H.P. Forest Ecosystem Climate Proofing Project being implemented in Chamba and Kangra districts with the assistance from the KFW Development Bank Germany. This project would cover 600 panchayats for minimizing and mitigating the negative impacts of climate change by increasing biodiversity and sustained income in rural areas through sustainable management of forest resources.

The Rawat Cabinet gave its nod to upgrade Community Health Centre, Bagsaid, to 50 bed Civil Hospital in Mandi district along-with creation of 29 posts of various categories in the hospital. The Cabinet approved upgrading of Civil Hospital, Ani, in Kullu district to 100 bed along with creation of 26 new posts of different categories.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Income-Tax Department today attached nine bank accounts of Gitanjali Gems, its promoter Mehul Choksi and others in connection with a tax evasion probe against them.

The department issued orders for provisional attachment of these accounts in various bank branches in Mumbai under the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961. There are around Rs 80 lakh in these accounts, official sources said.

They said the action was taken to "recover outstanding tax demands".

The accounts, according to an I-T document accessed by PTI, are in the names of Gitanjali Gems Limited (three accounts), Mehul Choksi (3 accounts), Nakshatra World Limited (one account) and Ms Gili India Limited (2 accounts).

The I-T department tester had initiated action against beleaguered diamond jewellery designer Nirav Modi and provisionally attached 29 properties and 105 bank accounts of him, his family and firms as part of its tax evasion probe, officials said.

The department also slapped the new Anti-Black Money Act against him for allegedly holding illegal assets abroad.

Under the new anti-black money law cases of overseas illegal assets, which till recently were probed under the regular and civil Income Tax Act of 1961, attract a steep 120 per cent tax and penalty on undisclosed foreign assets and income besides carrying a jail term of up to 10 years.

The taxman also filed a charge sheet against Modi before a special court in Mumbai under sections 276 C (1) [wilful attempt to evade tax], 277 A (false statement in verification), 278 B (offences by companies) and 278 E (presumption as to culpable mental state) of the Income Tax Act.

The court will take up the case on February 27.

"These attachments have been made keeping in view the huge demand which is likely to be raised in the assessment proceedings which are underway in the case of Nirav Modi, his family members and group concerns," an I-T report had said.

The department had first raided Modi in January last year on charges of alleged tax evasion and had also surveyed Choksi's businesses.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)In a bid to boost bilateral trade, India and Iran today agreed to examine the feasibility of using rupee and rial as currency for trade, and signed pacts to avoid double taxation.

After talks between visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two nations also agreed to look at the feasibility of a Preferential Trade Agreement as well as reviving the Asian Clearing Union which was used for oil and other trade till US imposed sanctions on the Persian Gulf nation.

Both countries agreed for conclusion of Bilateral Investment Treaty in a fixed time frame, according to the joint statement issued after the bilateral meeting of heads of two nations here.

"The two Leaders agreed on the deepening trade and investment cooperation between the two countries. In this context, they recognised the need to put in place an effective banking channel for business transactions. It was noted that permission for the Iranian Pasargadbank to open a branch in India was under advance consideration," it said.

"It was also agreed to set up a Joint Committee of officials to examine feasible options, including Rupee-Rial Arrangement, Asian Clearing Union mechanism to establish functional payment channels," it said.

Noting the complementarity of interests and natural partnership in the energy sector, it was agreed to move beyond traditional buyer-seller relationship and develop it into a long term strategic partnership, both sides agreed to continue and increase the pace of negotiation for reaching appropriate results on energy cooperation, including Farzad B gas field.

"India fully supports the accession of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the World Trade Organization and the ongoing consensus building efforts among WTO members to reactivate the accession process, consistent with the objective of making the Organization universal and inclusive," it said.

Besides, the two Leaders released a joint postage stamp depicting Deendayal Port, Kandla and ShahidBeheshti Terminal, Chabahar that reflected the enhanced prosperity through greater connectivity.

Both sides reiterated their commitment for early and full operationalisation of ShahidBeheshti Port at Chabahar, it said, adding that the Iranian side welcomed the investment of Indian side in setting up plants in sectors such as fertilisers, petrochemicals and metallurgy in Chabahar FTZ on terms mutually beneficial to the concerned parties.

The Iranian side expressed its readiness to enhance enabling environment to attract Indian private/public sector investments, in Chabahar FTZ, the statement said.

In this context, Iran will organise a business promotion event, with participation of countries from the region and beyond, with the objective of showcasing the economic opportunities offered by the Chabahar Port, it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India today sought from Iran a stake in a producing oil field and said it will raise crude oil import from Iran in the financial year beginning April, reversing the 25 per cent reduction it had done in the current fiscal.

Visiting Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh, after talks with his Indian counterpart Dharmendra Pradhan, said he was "optimistic" about signing of an agreement awarding rights of Iran's giant Farzad-B gas field to its discoverer, ONGC Videsh Ltd.

He said Indian public and private sector oil companies will in 2018-19 fiscal buy 0.5 million barrels of crude oil per day (25 million tonnes).

This will be 25 per cent more than current fiscal imports estimated at 370,000 barrels per day (18.5 MT).

India had for the current fiscal cut oil imports from Iran by nearly 25 per cent over delays in award of Farzad-B development rights to OVL. In 2016-17, India had imported 510,000 barrels per day (25.5 million tonnes) of oil from Iran.

"I am very optimistic about the future of the relationship between the two countries and our companies especially for oil and gas fields development," the Iranian Oil Minister said after the meeting.

He said he was optimistic of signing the agreement with Indian companies for developing Farzad-B" within 2018.

On the timelines, he said, "We agreed that next week the Indian team will come to Tehran for finalising some of the points."



Pradhan said Iran has given "good incentives" on crude oil exports to India. "It will be beneficial for India to buy more crude from Iran rather than from other countries. We have agreed that India will buy more crude oil from Iran in coming days."



Like the recent acquisition of 10 per cent stake in 20 million tonnes a year producing oil field in UAE, India made a case for a stake in a producing Iranian oil field, he said adding on Indian horizon was a field like South Azadegan.

"Thirdly, the deadlock we had on the viability of Farzad-B block, its size of capex, return, timeline, we discussed all the three issues. We have exchanged our positions. Next week our business delegation will go to Tehran to discuss all these issues," he said.

The two sides, he said, decided to remove "all the bottlenecks on all the three issues. On the capex, business model and timeline. We have decided today to reopen and re-engage on all three issues again."



A joint statement issued after talks between visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today too called for reaching "appropriate results" on the award of the gas field.

"Noting the complementarity of interests and natural partnership in the energy sector, it was agreed to move beyond traditional buyer-seller relationship and develop it into a long term strategic partnership, both sides agreed to continue and increase the pace of negotiation for reaching appropriate results on energy cooperation, including Farzad B gas field," the joint statement said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India and Iran today signed a significant pact which gives New Delhi operational control of a part of the strategically located Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman for 18 months.

The agreement was signed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, focussing on ramping up regional connectivity and intensifying bilateral trade and investment.

Both sides deliberated extensively on intensifying cooperation in the oil sector and agreed to move beyond traditional "buyer-seller" relationship and develop it into a long-term strategic partnership.

During the talks, it was agreed to continue and increase the pace of negotiation for reaching appropriate results in energy cooperation, including on Farzad-B gas field.

Officials in the Ministry of External Affairs said both the sides were for reaching a conclusion on the Farzad-B gas field issue soon.

Farzad-B was discovered by ONGC Videsh Ltd in the Farsi block about 10 years ago. The project has so far cost the OVL-led consortium, which also includes Oil India Ltd and Indian Oil Corp (IOC), over USD 80 million.

New Delhi is keen that the gas from the field comes to India to feed the vast energy needs and, therefore, OVL in its USD 11 billion master development plan (MDP) proposed drilling wells in Persian Gulf to produce gas, transport it to onshore via sub-sea pipeline and build a plant to liquefy the gas (LNG) for transportation in ships.

On the Chabahar project, a joint statement issued after the Modi-Rouhani talks said both sides reiterated their commitment for early and full operationalisation of Shahid Beheshti Port.

The first phase of the Chabahar port was inaugurated in December last, opening a new strategic route connecting Iran, India and Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan.

The port in the Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich nation's southern coast is easily accessible from India's western coast and is increasingly seen as a counter to Pakistan's Gwadar Port, which is being developed with Chinese investment and is located at distance of around 80 km from Chabahar.

The lease contract for Shahid Beheshti Port -- Phase 1 of Chabahar -- was signed between Port and Maritime Organization of Iran and India Ports Global Limited.

"The Iranian side welcomed the investment of Indian side in setting up plants in sectors such as fertilizers, petrochemicals and metallurgy in Chabahar free trade zone on terms mutually beneficial to the concerned parties," the statement said.

With a view to fully utilise the potential of the Chabahar port and its connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia, India conveyed its readiness to support the development of Chabahar- Zahedan rail line, it said.

Indian Railway Construction International Ltd (IRCON) and Iran's Construction and Development of Transportation Infrastructure Company (CDTIC), which are engaged in discussions, were tasked to finalise the technical parameters and financing options for the project in a time bound manner.

The Chabahar port is being considered by India, Iran and Afghanistan as a gateway to major opportunities for trade with central Asian countries.

India has been closely working with Afghanistan and Iran to create alternative, reliable access routes for trade as Pakistan has been denying transit access to it.

Under the agreement signed between India and Iran in May 2016, India is to equip and operate two berths in Chabahar Port Phase-I with capital investment of USD 85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of USD 22.95 million on a 10-year lease.

In May 2016, India, Iran and Afghanistan had inked a pact which entailed establishment of Transit and Transport Corridor among the three countries using Chabahar Port as one of the regional hubs for sea transportation in Iran, besides multi-modal transport of goods and passengers across the three nations.

The statement said both sides reiterated their commitment to International North- South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and stressed on the need for inclusion of Chabahar within its framework.

It was noted that Iran will hold an early meeting of the INSTC Coordination Meeting in Tehran. India's accession to TIR Convention and Ashgabat agreement was welcomed as additional steps at enhancing regional connectivity and linking regional centers of economic growth," the statement said.

The Convention on International Transport of Goods Under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention) is a multilateral treaty that was concluded at Geneva on November 14, 1975, to simplify and harmonise the administrative formalities of international road transport.

Modi and Rouhani also released a joint postage stamp depicting Deendayal Port, Kandla and Shahid Beheshti Terminal, Chabahar, that reflected the enhanced prosperity through greater connectivity.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The apex body of bankers today met here to discuss the Rs 11,400-crore scam at Punjab National Bank allegedly caused by the absconding diamond trader Nirav Modi and a clutch of his family-run companies.

The meeting of the Indian Banks Association (IBA) was attended by senior officials of public and private sector lenders, sources said this evening.

Interestingly, the meeting, earlier scheduled to be held at the IBA headquarters in Cuffe Parade, south Mumbai, was changed at the last moment to the SBI headquarters at Nariman Point, apparently to avoid the media.

Among those present were Allahabad Bank managing director and chief executive and also IBA chairperson Usha Ananthasubramanian, Bank of India managing director and chief executive Dinabandhu Mohapatra, ICICI Bank chief financial officer N S Kannan and IBA deputy chief executive B Rajkumar.

"The discussion centred around how to recover the money (from those involved in the fraud)," said a banker without disclosing the details.

State-owned PNB has been rocked by a USD 1.77 billion scam where billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi allegedly acquired fraudulent letters of undertakings (LoUs) from the Brady House branch in south Mumbai to secure overseas credit from other lenders.

The other banks which have or have had exposure to the fraud include State Bank of India (over USD 221 million), Allahabad Bank and Axis Bank among others. Some overseas lenders are also believed to have had exposure to the fraud.

Law enforcement agencies are on the lookout for Nirav Modi and his family and also his uncle Mehul Choksi who heads the Gitanjali Group.

The ED claims to have recovered over Rs 5,400 crore worth of diamonds and bullion from the raids on Modi's enterprises since the scam came to light earlier this week.

Modi and his family members left the country in early January and are believed to be in New York.

The enforcement agencies have sought the Interpol help to trace the billionaire jewellery designer and bring him back to the country.

The external affairs ministry yesterday suspended with immediate effect the passports of the diamantaire and his business partner Choksi, both prime accused in the scam, for a month.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Indonesia has inked a billion-dollar deal to buy 11 Sukhoi Su-35 jets from Russia, an official said today.

The contract, signed by both countries representatives in Jakarta on Wednesday, is worth a total $1.14 billion, Indonesia defence ministry spokesman Totok Sugiharto said.

"Two units of Sukhoi jets will be delivered in August 2018," he told AFP.

Another six jets would be delivered 18 months after the contract comes into effect, and the final three a further five months later, he said.

The deal comes after Indonesia said in August that it would seek to trade palm oil, coffee and tea for Russian fighter jets, saying it wanted to capitalise on international sanctions on Moscow.

The EU and US have targeted Russia with sanctions for alleged meddling in the US presidential election and its annexation of Crimea.

However, Indonesias trade minister said the sanctions could be good for his country as Russia is forced to seek new markets to import from.

Indonesia and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding to exchange 11 Russian-made Sukhoi fighters for key commodities in Moscow early August.

It was not announced Saturday in what form payment would be made.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Israeli jets struck the Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources said, after four soldiers were wounded in a blast along the border with the enclave.

Yesterday's explosion which left two of the soldiers severely injured was one of the most serious incidents on the border of the Hamas-ruled enclave since the Islamist movement and Israel fought a war in 2014.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a security conference in Munich called it "very serious" and pledged to "respond appropriately".

A Palestinian security source said air strikes hit three bases belonging to Hamas in the east of the blockaded Gaza enclave, but there were no details on any casualties.

An Israeli military spokesman refused to confirm the air bombardments.

Earlier in the day the army said "two soldiers were severely wounded, one moderately and one slightly" when an improvised explosive device blew up along the border fence with Gaza.

None of the soldiers lives were in danger, a spokesman clarified.

In response Israeli forces said a tank quickly opened fired at an "observation post" in southern Gaza.

Palestinian security sources said the explosion took place east of the city of Khan Yunis, causing no injuries on the Palestinian side.

Spokesman Jonathan Conricus said a "rogue group" had claimed responsibility for the blast, likely indicating one of the more radical Islamist groups, broadly called Salafists, who are present in Gaza.

But he insisted that "from our point of view Hamas is responsible" and said the explosive had been planted during a protest arranged by the group on Friday.

Israel holds the Islamist Palestinian movement Hamas responsible for any fire coming from the blockaded coastal enclave.

Hamas and Israel have fought three wars since 2008, and the last conflict in 2014 was waged in part over tunnels from Gaza that were used to launch attacks.

Israeli aircraft hit Hamas targets in the southern Gaza Strip repeatedly in early February, after it said Palestinians there fired a rocket into the Jewish state.

Rockets are usually fired not by Hamas, but by fringe radical groups.

The Israeli army responds automatically to any strikes on its territory, generally targeting Hamas facilities.

Tensions between the Palestinians and Israel have been high since US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state in December.

Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu will visit the White House next month, a senior US administration official told AFP on Friday.

The March 5 visit comes after a war of words between close allies Israel and the US over settlements, and a scandal that has seen police recommend Netanyahu be indicted for graft.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers has been roped in to play the lead role in mystery thriller "Wake Up".

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film marks the directorial debut of Fedor Lyass, the cinematographer who worked on 2015's first-person perspective action project "Hardcore Henry".

Lyass will co-direct the movie with Aleksandr Chernyaev from a script written by Elan Zeltser.

The film centers around John Doe (Meyers), who wakes in a hospital bed with no recollection of who he is, and soon finds that he is wanted by the police for a series of murders.

With the help of his nurse who believes he is innocent, he escapes from the hospital, and together they did for clues to find the true killer.

Production on the project is set to start in March.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India today inked nine pacts with Iran, including one on getting operational control of the first part of the Chabahar port for 18 months, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held "substantive" talks to broad-base ties in oil, gas and banking sectors.

In their nearly two-hour-long talks, Modi and Rouhani also held extensive deliberations on pressing regional and global issues such as ways to combat terrorism.

The two sides signalled a convergence of strategic interests in the region, including in war-torn Afghanistan.

On whether the kidnapping of Kulbhushan Jadhav, currently on a death row in Pakistan, from Iran was raised in the talks, officials in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the issue did not figure in the deliberations.

Asked if India raised the issue of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir during today's talks, they said there was an understanding by the Iranian side on how India has been a victim of terrorism, indicating that it figured in the deliberations.

Apart from inking of lease contract between Iran's Port and Maritime Organization and India's Ports Global Limited (IPGL) to take over operation of existing facilities at the Shahid Beheshti Port -- Phase 1 of Chabahar -- for 18 months, the two sides signed avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.

Other pacts included ratification of nearly a decade-old extradition treaty, exemption from visa requirement for holders of diplomatic passports, traditional systems of medicine and establishment of an expert group on trade remedy measures.

In addition to the nine pacts, four more pacts were inked on the sidelines of Rouhani's three-day visit, officials said.

Talking about ramping up trade, the two leaders emphasised on the need to put in place an effective banking channel for business transactions.

"It was noted that permission for the Iranian Pasargadbank to open a branch in India was under advance consideration," a joint statement said.

It was also agreed to set up a joint committee of officials to examine feasible options, including Rupee-Rial arrangement and Asian clearing union mechanism to establish functional payment channels, the statement said.

The two countries also agreed to grant the e-visa facility to each other's nationals.

At a joint press event with Rouhani, Modi said India is commited to deepen ties with Tehran, particularly in trade and investment and will support the construction of the Chabahar-Zahedan rail link to improve regional connectivity.

Modi said the two countries want a terror-free world and they were committed to stopping the expansion of those powers which encourage terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, cyber crimes and other international crimes.

On his part, Rouhani said,"We are determined to combat terrorism and extremism."



Trying to reflect on growing congruence in bilateral ties, Rouhani said the two sides deliberated on a range of pressing bilateral, regional and international issues but did not disagree on even a "single topic".

Rouhani's India visit comes nearly a month after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip here, and hosting the Iranian leader is seen as a balancing act by New Delhi.

Calling for an immediate end to all support and sanctuaries enjoyed by terrorist groups and individuals, the two leaders said states that aid, abet and directly or indirectly support terrorism should be condemned, according to the statement.

Recognising the challenges of terrorism and ideologies of violent extremism, the two leaders reiterated their strong commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

"They called on the international community to end selective or partial approaches to combating terrorism and, in this regard, stressed the need to make every effort to reach an agreement on and conclude a comprehensive convention on international terrorism at the UN General Assembly," the joint statement said.

Modi said the visit by the Iranian president shows how the two sides want to deepen cooperation in key areas, including connectivity, and described the strategically-important Chabahar as a "golden gateway", development of which will help in reaching out to land-locked Afghanistan and central Asia.

On Afghanistan, both sides stressed that the interests of peace and stability in the region are best served by a strong, united, prosperous, pluralisitic, democratic and independent Afghanistan and supported the National Unity Government in the country.

"They stressed the significance of strengthening India-Iran-Afghanistan trilateral consultations and coordination, including by suitably supplementing their cooperation on Chabahar.

"In this context, they also called upon the countries of the region to come forward for enhancing regional connectivity and take steps to do away with the obstacles on land transit," the joint statement said.

The two leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council.

They also underscored the need for strengthening and reform of multilateral financial institutions and enhancing the voice and participation of developing countries in international economic decision-making.

The two sides also agreed to enhancing cooperation in the maritime domain.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)With a message to walk the path together, President Ram Nath Kovind today said India and Iran should join hands "firmly and decisively" to defeat the menace of terrorism and ensure peace, stability and security in the region.

In his speech at the banquet hosted in honour of visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Kovind expressed happiness over the deepening of relationship between the two countries.

He said, "Our bilateral trade has expanded. Our energy partnership is growing. Irans abundant hydrocarbon resources and Indias rapidly growing energy demand provide new opportunities."



As developing nations facing similar challenges, India and Iran have much to share and gain from each other, Kovind said.

"Our young people are our biggest strength. They are brimming with ideas, energy and entrepreneurship. We need to bring them together," the president said.

He said both the countries have shared interest in peace, stability and security in the region.

"Terrorism poses a constant and daily challenge to our peace-loving society. Our people have been suffering its violent and inhuman brutality. Let us join hands, firmly and decisively, to defeat these forces."



He assured India's complete support to Iran and said the two countries have expressed strong willingness to lift bilateral relations to a higher level.

"We have stood by Iran during difficult times, and we will continue to support and stand by you in the future. There is strong willingness in our two countries to lift our relations to a higher level," the president said and recited a couplet in Urdu which meant "where there is a will, there is a way. Let us walk the path together".

He said Iran has played an important role in connecting people, cultures and civilizations for centuries and added the Chabahar Port, the Ashgabat Agreement and the International North-South Transport Corridor together would open immense opportunities for development and prosperity, not just in Iran, India and Afghanistan, but way beyond in the larger region.

"These would directly impact the welfare of common people as we have recently seen with the wheat shipment sent to Afghanistan," he said.

The president said in Persian that Iran and India are very old friends and "we wish to remain so ever".

Kovind started his speech with Rabindranath Tagore's views about Iran who had described Persia as an everlasting inspiration. The thought and wisdom of great Persian luminaries deeply moved him.

He quoted Tagore's letter to a friend in which he had said: "Culturally speaking, Persia comes nearer to us than most Asian countries. In language, religion, literature and arts, we have very real affinity and all through the course of past history, communication of the mind has been constant."



The president said Tagore described Indo-Iranian people as 'one' who like a giant river got divided into two streams, one finding its destination to the west of Hindukush and other pouring into the plains of India.

The president said on these strong and deep-rooted cultural links, both the countries have built a modern partnership.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A trio of suicide bombers detonated at a crowded fish market in northern Nigeria, killing at least 20 people, police said today.

Borno state police spokesman Joseph Kwaji confirmed the last night attack to The Associated Press. Hospital officials said two patients later died from their injuries.

The bombers, all believed to be female, left dozens wounded at the fish market in Konduga, just outside the state capital, Maiduguri. The city is the birthplace of the Boko Haram extremist insurgency and has been a frequent target.

Musa Bulama, 32, said he was lucky to have survived the blasts.

"I came to the night market to buy fish for dinner when I heard a loud bang some meters (yards) behind me and I saw myself on the ground, and before I could pick up myself another one went off then, the third one again," he recalled. "I couldn't stand any longer and just laid down but everywhere was in total confusion."



He added: "From the wailings, one can tell that there are many casualties." Boko Haram continues to carry out deadly suicide bombings in Borno state and other parts of northern Nigeria as part of its violent campaign to establish an Islamic state in the West African nation.

The extremists have increasingly used women and youth as bombers, often after abducting and indoctrinating them.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A Garo militant has surrendered before security forces, the police said.

The member of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), who had joined the outfit last year, surrendered yesterday, the police said.

The militant is a resident of Damra of Goalpara district in Assam, a police officer said, adding that the militant surrendered before the Border Security Officials and South Garo Hills (SGH) police.

He deposited one country made shot gun and 26 rounds of ammunition, the police officer said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman today dismissed as absurd the indictments of 13 Russians by the United States for meddling in the US presidential race.

"Thirteen people carried out interference in the US elections? Thirteen against the billion-dollar budgets of the special forces? Against the espionage and counter-espionage, against the newest developments and technologies?... Absurd? Yes. But this is the modern American political reality," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Facebook.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Odisha government today informed the Niti Aayog that the state wanted restoration of central assistance for special KBK plan, IAP and BRGF districts, hike of the Centres share in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and revision of coal royalty besides the special category status, official sources said.

The state's requirement and the demands were placed before Niti Aayog when its vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the state secretariat here.

Apart from demanding revision of coal royalty, Patnaik sought opening of bank branches in 4376 unbanked gram panchayats in the state. He also reiterated Odisha's demand for special category status, the sources said.

During the discussion, Patnaik urged Rajiv Kumar to expand mobile network in 11,200 villages and broadband connectivity in the left wing extremism-hit districts of the state.

Patnaik said the NDA II government at the Centre has stopped central assistance for special plan for poverty stricken KBK (Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput) region and there was no allocation under integrated action plan (IAP) and backward region grant fund (BRGF) districts thought the Centre was earlier funding such schemes.

He also demanded a hike in the Centres share in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) from 75 per cent to 90 per cent with effect from July 1, 2017, the sources said.

Patnaik said that there is a need to relax norms under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana for 38 LWE-hit blocks in the state and demanded adequate funds for development and maintenance of national highways in the state.

The chief minister also told Rajiv Kumar that the Railways should speed up the execution of its projects in the state.

"The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, modeled on the lines of Odishas flagship MAMTA scheme, needs certain modifications for wider coverage of beneficiaries," the sources quoted Patnaik as suggesting.

Patnaik said the Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor may be extended up to Visakhapatnam to connect it to deep water ports. It would also facilitate strategic link between various industrial corridors of the country and there should be advance intimation of the annual allocation for the central sponsored scheme.

Later speaking to reporters, the Niti Aayog vice-chairman said the objective of the meeting was to convince the chief minister to make the Aayog their medium of communication with the Centre so that the states problems are properly addressed.

Stating that there are 9-10 important issues, Kumar said some related to Odisha and the Centre and there were some others like the coal royalty, which concerns some other states. It would be looked into separately.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan today sentenced to death a serial killer for the brutal rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl that sparked national outrage, the first ever trial in the country's history that concluded in shortest period of four days.

Announcing the verdict at the Kot Lakhpat Jail here at in-camera trial amid high security, ATC judge Sajjad Hussain handed down the death sentence to 23-year-old Imran Ali on four grounds - murdering a child, kidnapping a child, rape of a minor, and committing an unnatural act with a minor.

Imran has also been sentenced to seven years in jail with a fine of Rs 1 million for desecrating the body of a minor.

He was arrested in January, two weeks after he raped and killed the 7-year-old girl and threw her body into a garbage dump in Kasur city, some 50 kilometres from Lahore.

The brutal rape and murder of the child had sparked outrage and protests across the country. Her case was the twelfth such incident to occur within a 10 kilometre radius in Kasur city over a 12-month period.

The arrest brought to light eight more such killings and many Pakistanis have demanded he be publicly executed.

Prosecutor General Ehtesham Qadir, who spoke to media after the sentencing, said the accused had been given ample chance to defend himself, but he chose to confess his crimes.

He said the prosecution had presented at least 56 witnesses against him in addition to forensic evidence, including the DNA and polygraph tests.

"It was a fair trial in which the suspect was given a chance to defend himself," Qadir said, adding the ATC has awarded the sentence to the accused only in the case of the seven-year-old girl.

"The suspect had also confessed to the killing of eight other girls. He will be tried in these cases separately, he said, adding this was the first ever trial in the history of Pakistan that concluded in four days.

The girl's father Muhammad Amin expressed satisfaction over the verdict, saying: "We are satisfied on the verdict but we wanted him to be hanged publicly."



The girl's mother said, "We want that the suspect should be stoned to death for his crime as hanging in jail is a punishment which is given to other criminals but this beast deserves either public hanging or stoned to death."



Imran will now have 15 days to approach the court to file an appeal. However, the prosecutor general said he had confessed to his crime and was not interested in challenging the ATC verdict in higher court.

"He regrets for his act. He says he became a pervert after having an addiction of watching child pornography on Internet," Qadir said.

Advocate Mehar Shakeel Multani, the private counsel for the suspect, had withdrawn his power of attorney after the suspect made confession before the trial court.

The lawyer claimed his conscience did not allow him to defend a serial killer.

Later, the court provided the suspect with state counsel to complete the trial proceedings.

Showing concerns about the fairness of the trial inside jail, rights activist and senior lawyer Asad Jamal said the trial could not be held in a free and fair manner unless the suspect was given an ample opportunity to defend himself through a counsel of his choice.

He said the trial had been conducted in camera without access to independent observers, members of the bar and independent legal counsel for the suspect.

He said the prosecution could not propose or nominate a lawyer to defend a suspect, as done in the case, because there had always been a clear conflict of interest.

He said it was against the principles of due process of fair trial guaranteed under Article 10-A of the Constitution.

Advocate Jamal said he had also filed an application with the jail authorities, seeking permission to meet the accused to consult him in private to access the need for the steps to be taken, including representation to defend him to ensure a fair trial.

The Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 also requires a trial court to proceed with the trial on day-to-day basis and decide the case within seven working days.

Prosecutor General Qadir, however, said, "All the requisites of justice and fairness had been strictly observed during the trial proceedings."



He said the private counsel for the suspect had cross- examined at least 22 prosecution witnesses before he withdrew his power of attorney.

"Later, the state lawyer appointed by the court completed the cross-examination of the remaining witnesses.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Pakistan today said the decision to send its troops to Saudi Arabia was taken after clarifying the "rules of engagement" for which negotiations were ongoing for some time.

Defence Minister Khurram Dastigir Khan said the role of Pakistani troops was limited to advisory and training to Saudi forces.

"Negotiations were ongoing regarding the rules of engagement and once we attained clarity on the issue that the troops will be on training and advisory mission to strengthen the ground defence of Saudi Arabia, the troops were sent," he told Geo last night.

He ruled out any involvement in the Yemen civil war but said that Pakistan will not provide any air defence against missiles by Houthi rebels.

"We only want to train their forces and better advise them. The areas bordering Yemen are mountainous, and as Pakistan's army is highly trained in mountain warfare, we will train and advise them," he said.

In a major policy shift, Pakistan decided to deploy troops in Saudi Arabia under an existing bilateral security cooperation agreement with its close ally which is involved in a civil war in neighbouring Yemen.

The Pakistan Army announced the decision to send troops on a training and advise mission to Saudi Arabia after a meeting between Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Saudi ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Saeed Al-Maliki at the army headquarters in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

Separately, the Express Tribune reported that the deployment of troops was sanctioned by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as part of a longstanding defence cooperation between Islamabad and Riyadh.

Currently, there are 1,379 Pakistani troops deployed in Saudi Arabia, most of whom are from Pakistan Army, along with air force and navy officials, according to security sources.

The exact number of troops being sent is not known, but the fresh deployment is said to be slightly over 1,000 soldiers, according to the newspaper.

Security sources also clarified that there is nothing new about the deployment of Pakistani troop in the oil-rich kingdom, as defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia is based on a 1982 bilateral protocol for training and advisory roles.

The report said defence cooperation in the Persian Gulf is not limited to Riyadh, as there is currently a deployment of 627 Pakistani troops in Qatar, including 165 from the army and 462 from the navy and air force.

Islamabad also maintains a similar working relationship with Iran, which currently has 10 pilots in training with the Pakistan military.

The Iranians will be sending five more pilots "sometime in April" and even "more in subsequent years," sources said.

Pakistan has stayed away from the conflict in Yemen where Iran strongly opposes the involvement of the Saudi-led military coalition.

In November last year, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Tehran where he met top Iranian civil and military leaders, including President Hassan Rouhani.

Bajwa has also visited Saudi Arabia five times in his first year in charge.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been involved in a number of joint training exercises in recent months, the most recent being a joint naval exercise in Karachi codenamed Affa Al-Sahil, which concluded on Friday.

The exercise has been performed annually since 2011 and aims to enhance interoperability and sharpen tactical proficiency in countering maritime human trafficking, piracy and terrorism.

Meanwhile, naval exercises are currently underway between Pakistan and Saudi Arabian marines in Saudi waters.

Saudi special services participated in the last Pakistan Day parade, while there are currently 200 Saudi cadets in the Pakistan Military Academy, PAF Academy, and Naval Academy.

A source said that last year, close to 1,500 Saudi officers and soldiers were trained in Pakistan, mostly by the interior ministry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Arunachal Pradesh Congress president Takam Sanjoy has said the people of Lekang Assembly constituency, represented by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, revolted against the BJP government in the state and joined the Congress.

Sanjoy attended a party rally at Mahadevpur in which a large number of people of Lekang constituency in Namsai district joined the Congress yesterday.

"The people are hardworking and energetic. The elected leader did not care for his voters. You have revolted justifiably (against the government) to demand your rights," he said.

Describing this as mass awakening of the people for prosperity of the state, he said the Congress is ready to stand by the people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Pharma and medical devices makers have urged the government to take steps such as differentiated GST rate for pharmaceutical firms and separating medical devices from drugs through a new Act, industry body FICCI said.

Chief executives of pharma and medical devices firms, who met Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar during the third edition of the India Pharma and Medical Device 2018 conclave, also said they are eagerly awaiting the swift implementation of the Ayushman Bharat insurance schemes, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) said in a statement.

CEOs of medical devices firms requested the government to separate medical devices from drugs through a new Act, in accordance with global best practices, it added.

They also stated that India must abide by globally harmonised standards like ISO and IEC which will allow Indian firms to export medical devices and ensure safety of Indian patients.

Chief executives of the sector also requested that "the government draft a Medical Device Policy for inclusive growth of the sector, it added.

They also asked for trade margin rationalisation to ensure affordable medical devices for all and an early decision regarding the matter to end business and strategic uncertainty, the statement said.

The government's move not to increase import duty was also hailed by them as a positive step towards maintaining affordability for the Indian patients in a highly out-of-pocket scenario, it added.

On the other hand, the pharma industry leaders asked for a differentiated GST rate for pharma companies.

CEOs of the pharma firms said the country "urgently needs revival of domestic API industry to reduce dependence on imports. The government needs to encourage innovation and Make in India to promote Indian manufactured drugs.

They also asked for rationalisation of regulators in the pharma sector and greater transparency in the working of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), the statement added.

Pharma industry leaders also strongly urged the government to create a level playing field such as in the case of testing fee for products exported to China as compared to Chinese products.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The finance ministry is working with the Prime Minister's Office to resolve the Rs 11,400 crore scam at Punjab National Bank and the government will try to extradite and punish Nirav Modi -- alleged to be behind the fraud -- Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla said today.

The state-owned PNB has detected a USD 1.77 billion (about Rs 11,400 crore) scam where billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi allegedly acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs) from the Brady House branch of the bank in south Mumbai to secure overseas credit from other lenders.

"The finance ministry is in discussions with the Prime Ministers office and whatever the PMO decides, the finance ministry will implement," Shukla told reporters at an Assocham event here today.

He said the investigation into the PNB fraud is still on, and the government will not spare any guilty person.

"We will try to extradite Nirav Modi and punish him for the fraud he has done," Shukla said.

When asked about Modi being part of the business delegation which attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's events at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month, Shukla said: "He (Nirav Modi) did not accompany the Prime Minister. Various people were called there and so he was also present."



He also said that RBI has categorically stated that if the fault is from the PNB side, then the lender will have to repay all the banks who have borne the brunt of the fraud.

There were media reports that the RBI has directed PNB to meet its commitments under the LoUs to all other banks. However, in a statement issued yesterday the central bank denied having given any such instructions.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Delhi Police has announced a reward for information about the unidentified man who was seen masturbating next to a Delhi University (DU) student in a bus last week, said a senior officer today.

The girl student had filmed the act and uploaded the video on social media causing widespread outcry.

Following the incident, a case under sexual harassment and performing obscene act in public was registered at Vasant Vihar police station on February 10.

Police has appealed to the people to help in catching the accused and anyone providing information leading to his arrest will be rewarded with Rs 25,000, said the officer.

Information regarding the man can be given at Vasant Vihar or any other police station and the name of the Informant will be kept secret, he said.

The DU student while filing a complaint against the man had claimed that no one came forward to help her even after she raised an alarm.

She also alleged that the man tried to touch her waist several times.

"I made a video of his act and even shouted at him, but he did not understand. I even tried to approach people but they ignored it," the girl has said in her complaint.

The incident took place on a bus going from Vasant Vihar to the IIT Gate, where the man got down, she alleged.

"After he got down at the IIT Gate, I again tried to approach people but did not get any cooperation," the girl said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Actor Rebecca Gayheart has filed for divorce from former "Grey's Anatomy" star Eric Dane after 14 years of marriage.

According to court documents obtained by The Blast, the actor, best known for films such as "Jawbreaker" and "Scream 2", filed for divorce on Friday in Los Angeles.

Gayheart cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split but did not say when they separated, instead the date of separation was listed as "TBD" (to be discussed).

She has requested joint legal and physical custody of the couples two daughters: seven-year-old Billie and six-year-old Georgia.

Gayheart is also seeking spousal support, according to the divorce documents.

The duo tied the knot in 2004.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)There was high drama at the inaugural session of the 6th conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, India Region here today as RJD legislators walked out in protest against a comment of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, taking an oblique dig at Lalu Prasad.

The opposition party leaders took exception to the senior BJP leader's remark about "four former chief ministers" in the country serving time in jail in corruption cases.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad, a former Bihar chief minister, is currently lodged in a Ranchi jail in two fodder scam cases.

Speaking at another function later in the day, Sushil Modi said the outrage expressed by the RJD leaders proved the old adage -- "chor ki dadhi mein tinka" (a guilty conscience pricks the mind).

The RJD members had walked out of the Samrat Ashok Convention Centre, where the inaugural session of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, India Region was held in the presence of dignitaries, including Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

They alleged that the deputy chief minister was using the event, which was attended by delegates from across the country as well as abroad, as a "political platform".

Mahajan as well as state Legislative Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary tried to pacify the agitating RJD leaders, reminding them that it was not the Assembly floor, but the ruckus did not stop.

As the programme continued, the RJD leaders staged a demonstration outside the convention centre. They also burnt effigies of Kumar and Sushil Modi at the Income Tax roundabout, a few kilometres away.

Subsequently, at a hurriedly convened press conference, state RJD chief Ramchandra Purve and general secretary Alok Mehta said the members of the party would not take part in the two-day event until the deputy chief minister tendered an apology.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Tejashwi Yadav also criticised the BJP leader's speech, terming it "illogical and abusive".

Yadav was scheduled to address the inaugural session of the event, but left for Bhojpur district to meet the family members of Mujahid Khan, a CRPF jawan who was killed in an encounter with militants in Jammu and Kashmir earlier this week.

Later, addressing a function organised on the occasion of former chief minister and OBC stalwart Karpoori Thakur's birth anniversary, Sushil Modi accused the RJD of "tarnishing the image of Bihar on an international platform by creating a ruckus in support of a convict".

"The RJD has proved the old adage -- chor ki dadhi mein tinka. The leader of the party is in jail, not because he launched a Satyagraha but because he was awarded punishment by a court of law in three corruption cases," he said.

Prasad has been convicted in three fodder scam cases. He has obtained bail in the first one.

The deputy chief minister also launched a frontal attack on Tejashwi Yadav, saying, "Karpoori Thakur died without a pucca house or a bank balance, but those invoking his name own more than 30 benami properties at a young age of 28."



Yadav was named in cases relating to benami land transactions last year while he was the deputy chief minister. This had led to Nitish Kumar severing ties with the RJD-Congress combine and forming a new government in the state with the BJP.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)She has appeared in two of the biggest hits of recent times, "Tiger Zinda Hai" and "Padmaavat", and actor Anupriya Goenka is thankful to Sanjay Leela Bhansali for giving her an opportunity in his film.

Though the actor has featured in films like "Daddy", "Dishoom" among others, it is the Salman Khan-starrer and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus that stands out as the bigger films of her career so far.

"It (offers) would be also dependent on my talent but mainly getting those first few breaks is the most difficult part. Initially, people who show trust in you and give you that opportunity are being very brave.

"Because of them I feel I've got a lot of appreciation, from fans and the industry. It is a heartwarming space and I'm excited to see what happens now," she told PTI.

The actor says part of the struggle in the industry is to constantly search for work.

"There are days when you are busy even without having work as you are going for auditions. So you are not acting in a way. To sustain yourself mentally, physically, emotionally is challenging for sure," she says.

"I come from a corporate space so I'm used to doing certain kind of work on a daily basis but here you are looking for work on a daily basis," she adds.

Bagging two big projects was not an easy task and the actor says it is a case of sheer derivation as well as being at the "right place at the right time".

"It's a combination of how much efforts you put in, how much you're working on a daily basis on your goals and it also has to do with a bit of luck. It's difficult but you've to be very patient. The main thing is perseverance."



In "Tiger Zinda Hai", Anupriya played the role of nurse Poorna and in "Padmaavat", she essayed Nagmati, the first wife of Shahid Kapoor's Raja Rawal Ratan.

She will next be seen in Nagesh Kukunoors "Maaya" in the lead role.

"It's a very intense film. I had a great time shooting for it because it's very interesting story when you've to carry the whole film on your shoulders and to work with a director that closely. I saw myself change through the shoot of the film. I hope it comes out soon.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A local court has acquitted a 26-year-old shop owner from Mumbra near here in a case of possessing 'gutkha', which is banned in Maharashtra.

District and Additional Sessions Judge AS Bhaisare, in his recent order, held that the prosecution has failed to prove the charges against the shop ownerNadim Suhel Ahmed Shaikh under various sectionsof the Indian Penal Code and the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Public Prosecutor Sangita Phad informed the court that on January 28, 2015, police personnel and sleuths of Food and Drug's Administration raided the shop owned by Shaikh and seized from his possession banned goods including'Goa Gutka 1000' and 'Vimal panmasala'.

But after hearing the prosecution and defence, the Judge acquitted Shaikh of all the charges.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Gem Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) today opened a development centre to train students in latest technology and upgrade skills of artisans who are already part of the industry.

The 'Skill Development Centre' has come up at the Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery (IIGJ) in suburban Andheri.

"The new centre has 14 courses with their duration ranging from 120 hours to 540 hours. The courses are aimed at enhancing the skills of those who are already in the industry as well as for the freshers," IIGJ Chairman Kirit Bhansal told PTI here.

He said there is no age bar for enrolling in the courses and the minimum educational qualifications have been kept at Class 8 and 10 to give an opportunity to any artisan who wants to upgrade his skills.

The total capacity of the courses is 630 students annually, he said.

"To start with, we already have applications from 136 students and we are expecting over 300 students in the first year of the short-term courses in the Skill Development Centre," he added.

He said IIGJ has tied up with corporates for enhancing skills of their workers through these short-term courses and is planning to widen their scope to include small jewellers as well as manufactures.

Speaking on the occasion, IIGJ Dean Sanjoy Ghosh said the institute is planning to set up a gems and jewellery university going forward.

"We are looking for land in collaboration with the Maharashtra government and will announce something in this regard in 7-8 months," he said.

Once the university is set up, he said, the current Bachelor of Arts in Gems and Jewellery course will be changed to Bachelor of Arts in Jewellery studies so that students can seek employment in any segment of the industry once they pass out.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' banker- wife Amruta, who was present on the occasion, said the government has identified 25 acres of land in Mumbai to set up a gems and jewellery park.

She said the park, once established, will provide a further boost to the gems and jewellery industry which is a key foreign exchange earner and also employs a large number of people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Sashastra Seema Bal's (SSB) personnel have seized 52 kg ganja worth Rs 15.60 lakh and arrested a Nepalese citizen from Indo-Nepal border of Bihar's West Champaran district late last night.

SSB's 47th battalion Deputy Commandant Amit Kumar said today that the SSB had a tip off that a person carrying contraband had entered into Indian terrotory from Nepal near pillar number 428 on the Indo-Nepal border.

The SSB personnel led by Assistant Commandant Raj Kumar Kumawat arrested the person along with ganja from Jabdi village under Bhangaha police station of the district, the Deputy Commandant said.

During the search, SSB recovered 52 kg of ganja kept in 11 packets worth Rs 15.60 lakh from one Raj Kishore Das, a resident of Mahadeo Patti village in Nepal, he said.

The SSB personnel also seized a knife, Rs 3,000 Nepalese currency and a mobile phone handset.

The SSB later handed over the seized contraband and the smuggler to the local police for further investigation and necessary action, the official added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Haryana government today announced to gift a residential plot to the widow of a soldier, killed in an anti-militancy operation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The state cabinet meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar here today, approved the proposal of Gram Panchayat, Bijopur in Block Ballabhgarh of Faridabad district to gift 200 square yards residential plot to Mamuna, widow of martyr Mohd Sadik, who died in Operation Rakshak Jammu and Kashmir-2000, an official release said.

Approval to gift the plot to Mamuna has been given keeping in view Rule 13 of the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Rules 1964 which provides that a Gram Panchayat with prior approval of the state government can gift land in Shamilat Deh vested in it for residential purposes up to the extent of 200 square yards, to the members of defence forces and paramilitary forces seriously injured and rendered handicapped or to the dependent families of such members killed, in any war or counter insurgency operation during their service, not having sufficient residential accommodation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Madras High Court has imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 on a woman for not letting her estranged husband meet their child during weekends, despite its directive, and said the love and affection of father and mother was necessary for a child to grow up as a good human being.

Justice S Vaidyanathan made the observation when a contempt petition filed by the child's father Selvakumar from Nagapattinam district came up recently.

Based on the records available and the facts stated it is evident that the petitioner's wife has not complied with the court's earlier order, by not allowing him to spend time with the child during weekends, the court said and slapped a fine of Rs 2,000 on her payable on or before March 20.

In case of default in depositing the fine, the woman would face one week simple imprisonment, it added.

The petitioner submitted that his marriage was solemnised on January 30, 2012 and the couple were blessed with a male child in December the same year.

However, due to some differences in opinion his wife left the marital home in 2015, without her child.

She then lodged a complaint with the police in Karaikal district alleging that her husband took away her child without her consent and had also hurt her.

Subsequently, she had moved the High Court seeking custody of her child.

A case was registered against Selvakumar, who challenged it in the High Court.

The court granted him anticipatory bail with a condition that he should handover the child within 48 hours to his wife in front of the Investigation officer.

As per the order, the petitioner handed over the child to his wife.

On October 17, 2015, when he went to meet the child, the mother denied permission for the same, following which the petitioner appraised police of the matter.

As there was no response, Selvakumar filed the contempt petition.

When the matter came up, the Judge asked the woman why she refused to obey the Courts order, to which she replied that the child was of tender age and psychologically affected.

Hence, she was unable to part with the child even temporarily.

She tendered an apology to the court and said she had never committed willful contempt of the order.

The court advised her to allow the child to spend time with the father and made it clear that the observations will not have any bearing in any of the family court matters pertaining to the dispute between the couple.

"If a child has to grow up as a good human being, the love and affection of its father and mother are necessary," it observed.

"In the case on hand, the mother of the child is quite adamant in sending the child with his father. Even assuming that the mother has poisoned the child's mind not to even look at him, certainly, such attitude of the mother is not going to help her," the court noted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Narendra Modi government has decided to fully fund various central projects being implemented in the Northeast, instead of the existing practice of sharing 90 per cent of the cost, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said today.

Addressing a press conference here, Singh said ever since the Narendra Modi dispensation assumed office,the Northeastern region has been given the utmost attention.

"A historic decision has been taken. There will be 100 per cent funding by the central government for projects in the region, which were earlier being undertaken on the basis of centre-state sharing in the ratio of 90:10," he said.

He said the government's "Act East Policy" has enhanced the importance of the region in engaging with South East Asian neighbours.

Highlighting the steps taken for the development of the Northeast in the last four years, Singh said the 90-year-old Indian Forest Act of 1927, which was a legacy of the British Raj, was amended through a decision of the Union Cabinet.

"As a result, bamboo, which was defined as a "tree" under the Indian Forest Act of 1927, was changed, thereby doing away with the requirement of obtaining a permit for cutting of bamboo on non-forest land for economic use," he said.

This, Singh said, is going to be a game-changer for generations to come, by opening new avenues of job generation and entrepreneurship by allowing bamboo cultivation and bamboo use by non-farmers on non-forest land.

The Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) said that under the central government's Bharatmala Pariyojna, as many as 5,301-km roads in the region have been taken up for improvement. Out of this, 3,246-km roads have been marked for development of economic corridor in the Northeast. Also, bidding process for the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway has begun, he said.

Singh said the government has created an exclusive forum at the NITI Aayog for preparing plans for the region, which will be co-chaired by its vice-chairman and the DoNER secretary.

The minister said the forum would look into various proposals both at central and state levels and prepare plans for the speedy development of the Northeast.

He said the railways gauge conversion has been completed, thereby all operational medium gauge sections in the Northeast have been converted to broad gauge.

Agartala-Akhaura (Bangladesh) rail link supported by the DoNER is at tendering stage, he said.

In civil aviation, Singh said, the construction of an airport at Pakyog (Gangtok, Sikkim) is complete.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Tihar Jail is set to enter the perfume market by launching its product 'Wah-O' , with eminent activist and actor Nafisa Ali being its brand ambassador, officials said.

'School of Perfumes and Fragrances' was inaugurated by Director General (Prisons) Ajay Kashyap yesterday, they said.

It will also provide opportunities to inmates to become economically independent and "productive members" of society, officials said.

According to the jail authorities, inmates will also be benefited through profits gained through the sale of 'Wah-O'.

Ten per cent of the profit will go to the Prisoner's Welfare Fund while 25 per cent of the annual profits will also be channelised into the Victims Welfare Fund.

The jail authorities said that Ali has agreed to become the brand ambassador for the Tihar perfumes.

"Nafisa has agreed to be the brand ambassador for the Tihar perfumes which will enter the perfume market under the brand name of Wah-O," an official said.

He said that with little requirement of space and machinery, such units can be set up with a small capital.

The inmate acts as an entrepreneur and an owner rather than a worker or a labourer in another person's factory.

Kashyap said that at present five fragrances (sandal, rose, mogra, jasmine, lavender), and a blend released under the name of Nafis, is being produced by the inmates.

The market of pot-pourri, incense cones, diffusers among others will be tapped in the second phase.

The high-security Tihar Jail, one of Indias largest prisons, produces several products as 'TJ's product'.

Initially, Tihar Jail's products were sold to prisoners and their visitors, who can buy them a store just outside the jail.

Later, they began to appear in stalls in courts. Also, Tihar products are also supplied in government offices. One of its stalls is currently at the Delhi Secretariat, which offers number of TJ's products.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A major fire broke out at Tibet's most sacred Buddhist temple Jokhang Monastery, which is included on UNESCO's World Heritage list.

Jokhang temple in Lhasa, provincial capital of Tibet, caught fire this evening, but there were no reports of any casualties, state-run China Daily reported.

Firefighters have doused the fire and the relics are intact, the brief report said without providing details.

The Jokhang temple also known as the Qoikang Monastery is regarded by the Tibetans as the most sacred and important temple in Tibet.

The temple's architectural style is a mixture of Indian vihara design, Tibetan and Nepalese design.

The temple attracts hundreds of devotees from Tibet and other parts of China and the world.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)President Donald Trump said today he is travelling to Florida "to meet with some of the bravest people on earth."



He was expected to thank first responders to the horrific high school shooting and may come face-to-face with parents, survivors and others, some of whom have angrily called for firm action to prevent future assaults.

Trump tweeted that he will meet with people "whose lives have been totally shattered," but did not elaborate on his plans.

White House officials have not said when he would meet with those affected by the tragedy or whether he would travel to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

He had already been slated to travel to Florida to spend the weekend at his Palm Beach estate, which is about 40 miles from Parkland.

In Florida, parents and a number of students are demanding action in addition to customer offers of thoughts and prayers.

More than 1,000 people attended a candlelight vigil Thursday night near the school, and at one point some began chanting, "No more gun! No more guns!" Lori Alhadeffs 14-year-old daughter Alyssa was killed and invoked the president's 11-year-old son, Barron, as she angrily called for help.

"President Trump, Barron goes to school. Lets protect Barron. And lets also protect all these other kids," she said on CNN, her voice raising to a shout.

"You need to help us, now. We need security now for all these children. We need action, action, action!"



In a departure from the original schedule, first lady Melania Trump arrived at Air Force One separately from her husband for the flight to Florida and boarded the plane while reporters were kept away. A spokeswoman said the change was due to scheduling.

Trump ignored shouted questions from journalists as he departed about a report in The New Yorker magazine that he had affair in 2006 with a Playboy model.

Trump, who frequently boasts about his support for the National Rifle Association, made no mention of gun violence or any new measure to restrict access to firearms during remarks Thursday about the shooting.

He did promise to tackle school safety and "the difficult issue of mental health." He also tweeted yesterday that he was "working with Congress on many fronts," though he offered no details.

But his latest budget request would slash Medicaid, the major source of federal funding for treating mental health problems, and cut school safety programs by more than a third.

Last year, he signed a resolution blocking an Obama-era rule designed to keep guns out of the hands of certain mentally disabled people.

Police said the 19-year-old suspect in Florida, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire with an AR-15 rifle, killing 17 people and injuring 14 more.

Investigators described him as a troubled teenager who posted disturbing material on social media and had been expelled from the high school for "disciplinary reasons," Broward County, Florida, Sheriff Scott Israel said.

The profile photo on Cruzs Instagram account showed a masked face wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat like those associated with Trumps campaign.

The shooting was the nations deadliest at a school since a gunman attacked an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, more than five years ago.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Tragedy hit a family in Pakistan when two brothers died of heart attack hours after the third one committed suicide.

Zahid Ali, 35, committed suicide for unknown reasons by shooting himself, while his two brothers died of heart attacks after his death.

Elder brother Abbas Ali, 40, suffered a stroke following the of his younger brother's suicide and was being moved to the hospital when he passed away en route, Geo reported.

As the two brothers' bodies were brought back to their residence, Saddam Ali, 28, the third and the youngest brother, suffered a stroke and died.

They died yesterday in Ilyas Colony of Gujranwala city of Punjab province.

The tragic put the entire neighbourhood in mourning as the bereaved family prepared for three funerals, the report said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today condemned political killings and asked people to isolate the forces of violence.

"Progress will not be possible without peace. I appeal to the people of Kerala to isolate the forces of violence," he said, speaking at the release of the 100th book of senior BJP leader in Kerala, P S Sreedharan Pillai.

The Vice-President's statement assumes significance in the backdrop of killing of a Youth Congress leader Shuhaib, allegedly by ruling CPI(M) workers, at the politically sensitive Kannur district on February 13.

Coming down heavily on political clashes, Naidu said such attacks were not good.

"Murder and violence affect the social fabric. They will divert attention. I request the Kerala state to isolate violence," he said.

"If there is tension, there cannot be attention towards development", Naidu said and exhorted the people to use the power of the ballot and not that of the bullet.

"Everything should be decided by the ballot, because ballot is stronger than bullet", he said.

Urging for a "full stop" to the violence, Naidu said people should strengthen democratic process in the country.

"We have a long illustrious heritage spanning more than a million years. We as a nation are very young, but as a civilisation we are very old."



Indians believed in "Vasudeva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family, the Vice President said.

Naidu said the essence of Indianness has been defined by noted American writer and philosopher Will Durant, who said "India will teach us the tolerance and gentleness of mature mind, understanding spirit and a unifying, pacifying love for all human being".

"We may differ in language, religion, region and in worshipping Gods and Goddesses. But India is one and we are proud to be Indians", Naidu said.

He said secularism in India was safe not because of the politicians, but because it is bred in the minds of the people. "It is in the DNA of the Indians who have concern for all others", he said.

"People in Kozhikode are concerned about the people in Jammu and Kashmir and people in Kashmir are concerned about their brethren in Kanyakumari", Naidu said.

On the economic front, Naidu said that in seven years, the economy would be the third largest in the world."To achieve this, everyone should make their contribution,he said.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi Naidu said "cleanliness is much more important than political freedom. Mana, Gana and Dhana should be clean".

"If money is clean there will be no tension. If the money earned is not clean then there will always be tension", Naidu said.

India continued to make progress in various fields, he said, addingthe country also has challenges in some sectors, including in public health care and education.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today called for furthering human resource development, and said since 65 per cent of India's population was below 35 years of age, institutes should seize the opportunity in shaping the future of the nation.

Addressing a function at Farook College here, he said was an emancipatory tool that liberates citizens from dependence, restores self-confidence and enhances self-esteem.

Naidu asserted that all religious traditions emphasise on the value of knowledge and learning, and said in fact, the first word of the Holy Quran is "Iqra" or "read" and one of the prayers is "O My Lord, advance me in knowledge."



The Bhagavad Gita also proclaims 'Nahi Gnanena Sadrusham Pavitram Iha Vidyate,' which means there is nothing in this world which is purer than knowledge, the vice president said.

Calling for furthering human resource development in the nation, Naidu said in fact the challenge before us was to enrich the human resource.

Pointing out that 65 per cent of country's population was below 35 years of age, the vice-president said if we can impart the right kind of education, this can be a huge demographic dividend for the country.

"Our educational system, both government as well as private institutions, have to seize this unique opportunity to shape the future of our great country," he observed.

Naidu wanted the educational institutions to provide varied and rich learning experiences, and said, "If we provide our children quality opportunities to acquire skills and knowledge, the country can make a quantum leap in terms of development."



"If not, we may run the risk of a rapid decline in the growth process," he said, adding, "If we don't expand access to good education, we shall have widening gaps between different sections of our society which might negate economic progress.""So, our educational managers, teachers and researchers should help build a system that has equity and quality as the two guiding principles," the vice president said.

Naidu also lauded the contribution made by the Rouzathul Uloom Association in the development of in Kerala with its meritorious service to the community and the nation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A four-member team of women bikers are on a 50-day expedition to some ASEAN countries with the aim of highlighting women's safety and promote road travel, an organiser said here today.

The seven-week-long expedition, supported by Union Ministry of Tourism, started from Hyderabad on February 10 and the bikers will cross some Southeast Asian countries through the India-Myanmar-Thailand highway, and cover a distance of 16,992 kilometre, an official said.

"Through this campaign we are trying to promote road trip and it will help the riders explore places along road side. This will also help in highlighting the issue of Women's safety," Regional Director of Ministry of Tourism J P Shaw said in a statement.

The team reached Kolkata from Hyderabad on February 14. They travelled through Visakhapatnam and Bhubaneswar, Shaw said.

The members of the expedition comprising four women bikers, eight-member support unit, including a production crew to document the expedition, is in Bangladesh and headed for Dhaka at present, he said.

From Bangladesh, the team will go to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, he said.

"This initiative will promote motorbike expedition not just across the country but beyond it, to the ASEAN region," Sudesh Poddar, president of Hotel & Restaurant Association of Eastern India (HRAEI), which is supporting the eastern leg of the expedition, said in a statement here.

The expedition, would pass through Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra after coming back to India.

The journey would cover 19 UNESCO World Heritage sites in the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) countries, the HRAEI statement said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Automation, artificial intelligence and micro-innovation are the three 'megatrends' that will sweep the world beyond 2020 and workplaces need to be prepared to overcome "disruptions" from machine learning, Union minister Satya Pal Singh said.

Addressing a gathering here at the 11th Higher Summit hosted by ASSOCHAM here, he also said it was "high time", institutions put students through entrepreneurship programmes.

"Beyond 2020, three megatrends will sweep the world automation, artificial intelligence and micro innovation. These will have a massive impact on workplaces, and how best we educate and equip people, with appropriate skills since medium and high-skilled jobs will remain in demand," Singh was quoted as saying in a statement by the umbrella business body.

"Therefore, workplaces need to be best prepared to overcome disruptions from machine learning," the Minister of State for HRD said.

He also emphasised on students having a holistic learning, and institutions putting students through entrepreneurship programmes.

"Students have to enhance entrepreneurship because they will rarely see any fulfilling jobs....The point is to imbibe in students the skill of learning," Singh said.

India is one of the youngest productive workforce in the world and the prime minister has also set a target of imparting skill training to 500 million youths by the year 2022, he said.

The challenges before us are how to improve the standards in the country; the problem of accessibility, affordability, accountability, quality and equity.

The minister reiterated the vision of the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) to improve the standard of institutions of higher learning, and to create infrastructure facilities, latest laboratories, quality of faculties.

Singh also mentioned about the 'Atal Tinkering Labs', part of the Atal Innovative Mission, launched by the NITI Aayog.

"The laboratory will offer dedicated work spaces where students can learn innovation skills and develop ideas that will help in the transformation of India," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)One youth injured when a flex board erected to welcome Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palanisamy to a function at a temple here fell on him today, police said.

The incident happened after Palanisamy left for Mettupalayam in Coimbatore district, where he participated in a mass feeding to the general pubic as part of the birth anniversary of late Chief Minister Jayalalaithaa.

The youth, Yasin sustained injuries on the hand, leg and head and was taken to nearby hospital and he was given treatment, police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested two employees at Punjab National Bank believed to be at the centre of a staggering $1.77 billion fraud, a police source said on Saturday, in the first arrests so far in the country's biggest-ever bank scam.The arrests late on Friday come amid an intensifying probe involving various authorities after India's second-largest state-run lender said on Wednesday it had been hit by massive fraud. The two bank employees who were arrested, Gokulnath Shetty and Manoj Kharat, are suspected of steering fraudulent loans to companies ...MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's City Union Bank Ltd said on Saturday it had suffered three "fraudulent remittances" of nearly $2 million that had been pushed through the SWIFT financial platform.City Union said the transfers had been made through correspondent banks even though the Indian lender had not requested the transfers. The Indian lender said it had been able to block a remittance of $500,000. A second transfer of 300,000 euros ($372,150.00) was routed through a Standard Chartered Bank account in Frankfurt to a Turkish account, while a third totalling $1 million was sent through a Bank of ...Hospital Intent on Starving Patient to Death Contact: Alexandra Snyder,



JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018 /



Fr. David Nix, the family's priest and a former EMT and paramedic, encouraged the family to instruct the hospital not to give Joel a heavy dose of narcotics when doctors removed the ventilator, so as not to suppress his ability to breathe. The hospital begrudgingly complied.



Fr. Nix was present to administer last rites. Joel struggled to breathe for a few minutes and then, miraculously, began taking full breaths! He has now been off of artificial respiration for two days and his vital signs are good.



Although Joel has suffered brain damage and is unable to speak, he is awake and is starting to show some response when his family talks to him.



Now the hospital is refusing to provide Joel with proper nutrition and hydration. The family finally convinced doctors to give Joel an IV, but they still refuse to feed Joel. Health care providers have also tried to pressure Joel's parentswho only speak Spanishto sign a form that would only give Joel "comfort" care in an attempt to withdraw all treatment, including food, water, and antibiotics.



As we write this, a Life Legal affiliate attorney is in court, fighting for Joel's life.



"Joel is 33 years old and he was shot in the head. He survived the gunshot and was on a ventilator at Memorial Hospital for two weeks. When he was taken off the ventilator, he immediately began breathing on his own. Joel is even able to make eye contact and he understands us. Joel's projected "quality-of-life" is the reason his physician has decided to withhold all food from this patient. Happily, Alex, his brother recorded this conversation of clear euthanasia. The staff at Memorial Hospital is starving him to death and we are so thankful that Legal Defense Foundation is willing to fight for Joel's life." Fr. Dave Nix



"This is one of the most egregious cases of denial of health care I have ever seen," said Alexandra Snyder, Life Legal Defense Foundation's Executive Director. "Joel's parents are in a particularly vulnerable position because they do not speak English. The hospital is exploiting their inability to question its course of action that are putting Joel's life at risk. Joel is a young man in his early thirties who is showing remarkable signs of recovery, yet the hospital is taking aggressive measures to end his life."



About Life Legal Defense Foundation

Life Legal Defense Foundation was established in 1989, and is a nonprofit organization composed of attorneys and other concerned citizens committed to giving helpless and innocent human beings of any age, and their advocates, a trained and committed voice in the courtrooms of our nation. For more information about the Life Legal Defense Foundation, visit



Share Tweet Contact: Alexandra Snyder, Life Legal Defense Foundation , 202-717-7371JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018 / Christian Newswire / -- A hospital in Jacksonville, Florida wants to withdraw food and water from a patient who recently suffered a gunshot wound. Joel Zuniga was unable to breathe on his own after being shot. Only two weeks after his injury, the hospital unilaterally determined to remove Joel's ventilator, over the objections of his family.Fr. David Nix, the family's priest and a former EMT and paramedic, encouraged the family to instruct the hospital not to give Joel a heavy dose of narcotics when doctors removed the ventilator, so as not to suppress his ability to breathe. The hospital begrudgingly complied.Fr. Nix was present to administer last rites. Joel struggled to breathe for a few minutes and then, miraculously, began taking full breaths! He has now been off of artificial respiration for two days and his vital signs are good.Although Joel has suffered brain damage and is unable to speak, he is awake and is starting to show some response when his family talks to him.Now the hospital is refusing to provide Joel with proper nutrition and hydration. The family finally convinced doctors to give Joel an IV, but they still refuse to feed Joel. Health care providers have also tried to pressure Joel's parentswho only speak Spanishto sign a form that would only give Joel "comfort" care in an attempt to withdraw all treatment, including food, water, and antibiotics.As we write this, a Life Legal affiliate attorney is in court, fighting for Joel's life."Joel is 33 years old and he was shot in the head. He survived the gunshot and was on a ventilator at Memorial Hospital for two weeks. When he was taken off the ventilator, he immediately began breathing on his own. Joel is even able to make eye contact and he understands us. Joel's projected "quality-of-life" is the reason his physician has decided to withhold all food from this patient. Happily, Alex, his brother recorded this conversation of clear euthanasia. The staff at Memorial Hospital is starving him to death and we are so thankful that Legal Defense Foundation is willing to fight for Joel's life." Fr. Dave Nix"This is one of the most egregious cases of denial of health care I have ever seen," said Alexandra Snyder, Life Legal Defense Foundation's Executive Director. "Joel's parents are in a particularly vulnerable position because they do not speak English. The hospital is exploiting their inability to question its course of action that are putting Joel's life at risk. Joel is a young man in his early thirties who is showing remarkable signs of recovery, yet the hospital is taking aggressive measures to end his life."About Life Legal Defense FoundationLife Legal Defense Foundation was established in 1989, and is a nonprofit organization composed of attorneys and other concerned citizens committed to giving helpless and innocent human beings of any age, and their advocates, a trained and committed voice in the courtrooms of our nation. For more information about the Life Legal Defense Foundation, visit www.lldf.orgIn secret, behind locked gates, our Nation's Oldest City dumped a landfill in a lake (Old City Reservoir), while emitting sewage in our rivers and salt marsh. Organized citizens exposed and defeated pollution, racism and cronyism. We elected a new Mayor. We're transforming our City -- advanced citizenship. Ask questions. Make disclosures. Demand answers. Be involved. Expect democracy. Report and expose corruption. Smile! Help enact a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore. We shall overcome!| BY Lynchy |

CB Exclusive  Further to this mornings CB exclusive, South Australian agency partnership, CumminsHybrid have announced that they have completed an acquisition arrangement which sees Hybrid directors Rob Porcaro (third from left) and Craig Jackson (far left) acquire the Cummin&Partners shareholding in the company and will rebrand the agency as Hybrid.

Hybrid and Cummins&Partners came together in 2016 to deliver a unique model in the Adelaide marketplace, as local and national independent agencies combined in delivering end-to-end creative, media and digital services.

Says Porcaro: We are delighted to be able to finalise this deal as it was always in our plans that one agency would take the lead position when we first merged.

The acquisition coincides with recent client wins for SA Health, Tonsley, Red Kangaroo Beverages, Electoral Commission and Department of Premier & Cabinet after competitive pitches. And builds on a client base that already includes brands like Motor Accident Commission, Credit Union South Australia, Cancer Council, TIO (Territory Insurance Office/Allianz), SPASA, Prancing Pony Brewery, Tasting Australia and Shiels Jewellers.

Says Sean Cummins: We loved our time in the market and defied a lot of the naysayers. But no one works better in the South Australian market than South Australians. We wish Hybrid the best of luck and we leave very happy with our time there.Notice for the Postmedia Network

This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.news, latest-news

Bryony Kimmings is in the middle of writing her new play A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer and her four-month-old son Frank is diagnosed with a rare disease called West Syndrome, a type of epilepsy which affects young infants. "It wiped his little brain," she says. "All his development, everything he had learned, gone. It was like he was a newborn again." If her son's illness wasn't enough, she was also diagnosed with anxiety and her relationship with Frank's father, Tim Grayburn, with whom she had collaborated to produce 2015's Fake It Till You Make It, broke down. "F*** me, what a year," she says. Suddenly cancer became something of a chirpy subject to be writing about. Kimmings had been approached by Complicite theatre company to write a play for "the next generation". Producer Judith Dimant had been working with the company, one which actor Emma Thompson once described as the "most trailblazing in our theatrical history", for more than two decades. She had also been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. "I was working with Judith and she was coming in with this bald head and I just asked her up front if she had cancer," Kimmings says. "And she said yes, but I'm a fighter, I'm going to beat it  I became very intrigued by the metaphorical war language around cancer and where it came from and why we use it and whether it's helpful." Kimmings spent months interviewing other cancer patients, attending treatments, following people around asking lots of "brutally honest questions". "We're very protective of people with cancer and for a lot of people that's not particularly helpful, saying you can do this, you can beat it. "People want to say I shit myself three times today but I can't because you just want me to smile and say I'm okay. "The ways we deal with cancer are mostly invented by people who aren't sick, to make people who aren't sick feel okay. "If you actually ask a cancer patient what they'd like to talk about, how they'd like you to talk to them, it's not how people do it." A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer doesn't muck about. Essentially it's a story about death. Give or take the occasional tap-dancing tumour. At the end of the play the audience is given the chance to stand up and speak out loud about how cancer has affected their own lives. People cry and Kimmings loves that. It's about bringing two worlds together - "the kingdom of the well and the kingdom of the sick", a concept she borrowed from Susan Sontag and her book Illness as a Metaphor. They're two very different places, she says. "When Frank got sick it was all very surreal. I suddenly went from one kingdom to the other. "I was like I've been trying to write this guide to cancer, asking all these poorly people to give me their points but actually once you're in there, in the kingdom of the sick, there is no f**king guide and you're hurtling towards who knows what." What got her through this period, ironically, were the cancer sufferers she'd been interviewing for the play. "They were the people who saved me, they knew I needed to howl into a pillow for three days, they bought me food, lots of brilliant things, but other people, my friends in the kingdom of the well, they didn't know what to do." Kimmings has never shied away from taboo topics. Nor telling her own stories. In Sex Idiot she tracked down ex-boyfriends after discovering she had chlamydia (and the audience was asked to clip their own pubic hair); in 7 Day Drunk she spent a week intoxicated to see if would improve her creativity; in Fake It Till You Make It, she and Grayburn discussed his depression. She'd never, however, had any personal experience with cancer. Working with Brian Lobel and Tom Parkinson, they came up with this narrative of someone who is trying to write a guide to cancer, and then her child gets sick, and she's thinking why don't we know about illness until we have it. In the original version of the play they worked with real cancer patients. One had had cancer seven times, another had bowel cancer and was angry that it "wasn't sexy" like breast cancer, one young man was in denial about his lymphoma and continued to party, another had late stage terminal ovarian cancer. They all took to the stage. The version coming to Canberra is scaled down but still as powerful. Kimmings performs with one of the original cast members, Lara Veitch, who, she says, "has become one of her best friends". "It's just two ordinary people on the stage," Kimmings says. "It's a very raw conversation." But these, she says, are exactly the kind of conversations we should be having about cancer. But how do you do that and incorporate song and dance? "In this version it's kind of overt, I've simplified everything, I'm in it, Lara's in it and we're telling the story of what happened. "And then we'll go 'So I wrote her a song', she asks for a country number, so here's the song she needed to process all the shit things that happened to her body that week. "It's not like a musical that goes scene, scene, liftoff, character development  it's more let's rock out about poo. "In musicals songs process something that's bigger than being able to talk about it. When you're dealing with cancer that's very helpful. You can't just sit and moan about poo but if you sing about it, you can say the things you couldn't say if you were just moaning." Kimmings admits that sometimes the audience will be taken to dark corners, "but ultimately it's uplifting". "People leave and go, f**king hell that was intense, but isn't it actually better to say I'm really scared and then people go me too, me too, it's so lovely to be able to be honest rather than hold it all in." Frank is now two. There's been some difficulties with his development and learning, Kimmings says. "I really don't know what's in store. "I just know whatever happens in Frank's life he will always be grinning and making the best of it." That's all you can do. Canberra Theatre Centre presents Complicite in collaboration with the National Theatre, A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer, from February 28-March 3. At the Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, from March 7-8 and Seymour Centre, Sydney, from March 22-29. 1. Try not to say ' What can I do?' or 'How can I help?' Those are too open-ended and it's too easy to reply, 'Don't worry, I'm fine.' What you can say is: 'I'm coming over and I'm going to make dinner and I'm going to clean your kitchen, is that OK?' 2. Understand that the person who is ill is going to react in unexpected ways. Be supportive and understand, please, that sometimes, your support might be thrown in your face. Don't be put off by different and varying reactions. Know that the person sometimes feels irrational and totally mad. 3. Cards with lots of writing and stories and things relating to you are lovely to receive and mean a lot. Cards with just a few words and a generic greeting are weird. 4. Post-surgery food: ask the person what they want to eat before you come. When I'm well I can eat all the chocolate in the world but after surgery all I wanted was melon. So just ask. 5. I personally like to go to all my appointments alone, it's just easier for me, but it's always nice to have the offer of a companion and to feel like you have that option if you want it. But you should never be forced to take people along. Friends keeping track of appointments means a lot to the person who is ill and a text in the morning to say good luck, or a phone call later on to see how it went, is always appreciated. 6. People on chemo often feel very sick. When visiting please don't douse yourself in perfume. Or bring smelly food or candles, unless on request. It could be the most delicious fragrance in the world to you but strong smells of nearly any kind turned my stomach. 7. Please just stay present and there. Don't disappear. Don't be scared of saying the wrong thing. It's so much better to be a friend and be accidentally insensitive than just to not be there at all. Lara Veitch is a collaborator on A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer. She has Li Fraumeni Syndrome, a rare inherited genetic predisposition towards cancer.

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Smoke alarm testing companies are reporting a surge of activity in Canberra as they aim to bring rental properties up to date with legislation introduced by the ACT government last year. Within the past few months, hundreds of rental homes in the capital have been subjected to smoke alarm testing or installation in order to meet compliance with the new legislation before the deadline of August 23. Under the legislation, all rental properties under existing leases must have a smoke alarm if not already installed, while all new contracts are also required to have one. Since the changes came into effect last August, smoke alarm companies have reported carrying out thousands of checks or installations. Smoke Alarm Testing Services national sales manager Brad Hay said workers had been flat out since September and there was no sign of a slow down several months on. "We've literally got thousands and thousands of properties across Canberra being upgraded, and there's been a very large consistency of work since the legislation came through," he said. "We've got about seven different technicians doing up to 15 jobs per day, so that's several hundred installations in a week." The testing service said they had been approached by several Canberra property companies to carry out inspections in the capital since the legislation changes. "It's always busy at this time of year in Canberra, but all the changes has made it even more so," Mr Hay said. Department manager of property company Peter Blackshaw, Danielle Gavin, said 600 of their rental properties had already been inspected. "Safety is our number one priority, and I believe we're about three-quarters of the way through," she said. "Every property, regardless of how old they are, has to be checked." While the ACT has implemented changes recently, Ms Gavin said the capital was many years behind regulations seen in other states. "When I moved to Canberra in 2007, Queensland had only just brought in smoke alarm legislation, so we're 10 years behind," she said. Tenant advocate groups have said the changes in legislation have been a long time coming, with many older properties being at risk. Executive officer of Tenants' Union ACT Deb Pippen has welcomed the sudden surge in compliance checks. "We're very happy to hear that this is happening and that landlords are doing what they're supposed to be doing and having the systems installed," she said. "It was definitely something we saw as something basic that should exist in all properties for the safety of tenants." There have been growing calls for increased tenant safety in recent years and smoke alarms are often required as part of insurance policies.

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A Canberra woman has been remanded in custody after being caught driving while disqualified, for the tenth time. Jodie Marie Alchin, 37, of Braddon, appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with driving while disqualified and drug driving. The woman was on a good behaviour order at the time. It is alleged that police stopped a car that Ms Alchin was driving in Narrabundah on Friday night. She told police she did not have a licence. The court heard the woman was driving because of "urgent circumstances" which were not detailed. Police drug tested her at the scene which returned a positive result, however she denied taking any drugs other than cough medicine recently. The court heard Ms Alchin had a long history of related offences and previous charges of failing to appear before the court. Magistrate Peter Morrison said based on the woman's history, he could not grant her bail. The woman pleaded with the Magistrate, begging him to let her go, saying it was a "one-off". She will reappear before the court later this month.

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Katherine Oakey wants no other parent to have to go through what she has experienced. The Canberra mother is still mourning the loss of her son Jakob. Jakob was involved with Child and Youth Protection Services on a voluntary basis when he died due to a hyperglycaemic episode of his type I diabetes in February 2016. Following his death, Ms Oakey set up the organisation Jakob's Voice. As part of the organisation's work, several outreach programs are conducted to reach out to teenagers in the Canberra community to help ensure their safety. The most recent one was held on Friday on the shores of Lake Ginninderra. "As part of the outreach program we have social workers and quality youth workers on the team who can support the children and we also have peer support groups running as well," Ms Oakey said. The outreach program also includes the opportunity for children to interact with several animals, including horses. "The horses represent Jakob's love of animals, and he was a gentle and kind soul. The horses help to up the profile among the teenagers of the outreach program and gets the awareness." Friday's outreach also coincided with the second anniversary of the death of Canberra boy Bradyn Dillon, who was murdered by his father after suffering a year of abuse at his hands. "In previous years we've done large youth events to commemorate Bradyn's death, but we're keeping it low key this year," Ms Oakey. "Our two families have become close in the time since." Ms Oakey said a key focus of Jakob's Voice was cyber bullying. "We want to be able to give teenagers a safe space and give them positive advice and that's what we're focusing on now," she said. "We've done a lot of outreach, and the rural community had been amazingly supportive." While Jakob's death hasn't become easier to comprehend two years on, Ms Oakey said she would keep fighting to ensure other vulnerable children in the community were kept safe. "One of the biggest things is awareness campaigns, and things won't change unless there's pressure on the government and outcry from the public," she said. Lifeline: 13 11 14 Correction: Details of Jakob's death and interaction with Child and Youth Protection Services have been updated in this article.

/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/bfbdab63-fb5b-46e1-a6a1-5706835930e9/r0_117_2000_1247_w1200_h678_fmax.jpgWill our local "TRUMP CLUB" in St. Johns County discuss this at its next meeting? Have such "useful idiots" betrayed our democracy by supporting DONALD JOHN TRUMP, a barmy billionaire, a certified weird agent, so easily manipulated by a foreign authoritarian power? Sanctions, please.By MATT DIXON and MARC CAPUTO 02/16/2018 07:40 PM EST Updated 02/16/2018 10:02 PM ESTThe scathing indictment unsealed Friday by special counsel Robert Mueller outlines a multi-state scheme to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. But the document makes clear that the operation in Florida, the nations largest swing state, was in a class by itself.The indictment is packed with details of how Russian nationals duped Donald Trump campaign volunteers and grass-roots organizations in Florida into holding rallies they organized and helped fund with foreign cash. And Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio himself was a target of an effort to denigrate him and several other presidential candidates.In total, Mueller indicted 13 Russian nationals and a trio of Russian entities for meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign, an operation that focused on hyping Trump, but also on sowing discord and undermining Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz and Rubio.During the heat of the 2016 race, Trump campaign officials in Florida said they were surprised by all the grass-roots support for the president  which seemed entirely organic at the time. In keeping with those comments in 2016, those same campaign officials say they were never made aware of any Russian involvement.Susie Wiles, one of Trumps top Florida advisers, said staff and volunteers did their due diligence when planning events and coordinating with grass-roots supporters  but detecting Russian impostors wasn't on anyone's radar.Florida Playbook newsletterOur must-read briefing on what's hot, crazy or shady about politics in the Sunshine State.Email Sign UpBy signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time."We looked out for things when people came to rallies," Wiles said in a phone interview. "We weren't looking for fake Americans that were really Russians. The world seems different now."Wiles said she does not remember encountering any groups planning rallies or working in coordination with the campaign that seemed outside the norm of traditional political organizations.ADVERTISINGI dont think anyone had any idea, Wiles said. There are always ways someone can manipulate the system, but this was not something we saw.Sue Snowden, head of the Trump campaigns Palm Beach County operation, said she was not qualified to answer questions about the indictment before hanging up on a POLITICO reporter.I was never approached by the FBI, said Karen Giorno, Trumps campaign manager in Florida, when asked about whether the campaign had any warning of the Russian activity.In the charging documents, Mueller noted specific instances when Russian nationals interacted directly with Trump campaign staff, who were oblivious to the fact they were being hoodwinked by Russian agents.In or around August 2016, defendants and their co-conspirators used false U.S. personas to communicate with Trump campaign staff involved in local community outreach, read the indictment.The interactions were part of planning events that were collectively called Florida Goes Trump rallies, and held throughout the state. Russians also helped organize some of the most recognizable anti-Hillary Clinton displays of the election cycle in Florida.For example, defendants and their co-conspirators asked one U.S. person to build a cage on on a flatbed truck  and another U.S. person to wear a costume portraying Clinton in a prison uniform, the indictment read.Defendants and their co-conspirators paid these individuals to complete the requests, it continued.The caged Clinton stunt was a hit among Trump supporters. On Sept. 23, for instance, NBC2 reported that a Cape Coral man erected a caged Clinton display in his front yard."I feel like I'm doing my little part at least in my little neck of the woods," homeowner Gary Howd said.While many GOP operatives who were working in Florida in 2016 dont recall running across organizations that raised real red flags, some still saw warning signs. Republican consultant and commentator Rick Wilson, for instance, spent months warning about Russian intrusion. And his Tallahassee neighbor, former Republican Party of Florida Executive Director David Johnson, detected something amiss as well.It was all the social media stuff, thats where you could see something was weird, said Johnson, who consulted for Jeb Bushs super PAC in 2016. It was syntax errors and odd ways of saying things that were apparent.The Florida Goes Trump rallies were held in more than 20 cities across the state on Aug. 20, 2016. News releases touting the event were rife with grammatical errors and used language ripped from a traditional Trump stump speech.We want to support our candidate and show the whole country that we must unite and make America great again! read a posting about the rallies. On August 20, we want to gather patriots on the start of Floridian towns and cities and march to unite America and support Donald Trump!Russian-linked Facebook group Being Patriotic sent messages to its followers as it was planning the rallies, stressing the importance of winning Florida.Florida is still a purple state and we need to appoint it red, read the message, according to the indictment. If we lose Florida, we lose America.Beyond the rallies, the Russian scheme also used its social media reach to falsely tie Clinton to voter fraud in South Florida, a region with a long history of voting abnormalities.Russian-linked Twitter accounts on Nov. 2, well into the states early-voting period, blasted out a tweet saying voter fraud was occurring because tens of thousands of ineligible mail in Hillary voters are being reported in Broward County, Florida.Broward County is home to the biggest concentration of registered Democrats in the state.Mueller also said that Russia-linked social media accounts targeted other presidential candidates, including an effort to smear Rubio, though it did not provide specific examples.Last year, during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Rubio indicated that Russians had gone after his campaign staffers.In July of 2016, shortly after I announced that I would seek reelection to the United States Senate, former members of my presidential campaign team who had access to the internal information of my presidential campaign were targeted by IP addresses with an unknown location within Russia. That effort was unsuccessful, Rubio said.Rubios presidential campaign manager, Terry Sullivan, said he wasnt surprised with Russian interference.I feel relatively confident that we were not hacked and nobody had access to our emails and anybody who knows me knows I can say salty things at the time and those would have gotten out, Sullivan said.Alberto Martinez, who was Rubios chief of staff at the time, also said revelations his boss was targeted are not surprising.When you work for someone who is outspoken in condemning the regimes in Moscow, Havana and Beijing, you assume you will be the subject of foreign espionage and influence campaigns, he said.Kyle Cheney contributed to this report.news, latest-news

Beachgoers have been warned hefty waves are set to crash into Sydney beaches as a cyclone swell triggers powerful surf conditions along the NSW coast. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a hazardous surf warning for NSW, warning of dangerous conditions for swimmers, boaters and rock fishermen on Saturday. Senior forecaster Neale Fraser said tropical Cyclone Gita was bearing down on the New Caledonia coast and would whip up the swell as it continued to head west. The category four cyclone brought winds of up to 275km/h and heavy rains when it tore through Fiji several days ago. Massive waves are set to roll into the NSW and Queensland coast on Saturday night before tapering off on Tuesday. Mr Fraser said swells were expected to hover around 2 to 2.5 metres, and while they would be not exceptionally large they would be more powerful than they appear. They won't be huge waves but they'll have a lot of energy because of ... a big wave length so a mass of water in each wave crest. It gets up to ... 18 seconds between waves, which means there's a lot of energy in each wave coming through, so that's the biggest concern. Police said beachgoers should consider staying out of the water and avoid walking near areas exposed to the surf. They also urged fishers to avoid rock platforms exposed to the ocean and encouraged boaters to carry safety equipment and delay plans to cross shallow water and ocean bars.

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It's only February but come the end of the European collections which kicked off in London over the weekend, fashion's photo pits may be empty. Some of the biggest names in high-fashion editorial photography, including Princess Diana's personal photographer Patrick Demarchelier, David Bellemere, Greg Kadel and Seth Sabel, have had allegations levelled at them in a new investigation by The Boston Globe's Spotlight team. For the assignment, published over the weekend titled "Beauty and the Ugly Truth", reporters spoke to more than 50 models about their experiences, many of which were peppered with sexual harassment and misconduct. Some also alleged their agents enabled the abuse. "If people really understood what goes on behind the glamour of the industry, they would be mortified," Australian model and actress Abbey Lee Kershaw said before adding that she is "one of the lucky ones". Kershaw, who has previously said that the modelling industry is "not humane", was the No.1 Australian model in the world during the mid-2000s, working for Victoria's Secret and Chanel. During the 2008 international collections alone she starred in 31 shows which was a record for the time. She then swapped the catwalk for the big screen and went on to star in Mad Max: Fury Road. Prominent Canadian model Coco Rocha also spoke to The Globe. "It's interesting and frustrating that now people want to finally pay attention." Adding that there are "people at the top who no doubt have heard these stories for the last 20 years, and haven't done anything." According to the report one of Demarchelier's former assistants wrote to Vogue editor Anna Wintour last October urging her to prevent the 74-year-old French photographer access to young women after she outlined her experiences of his "relentless advances". Six other women have also come forward with allegations. Demarchelier has denied any wrongdoing. "People lie and they tell stories. It's ridiculous," he told The Globe. "He admitted he believes these allegations can be a model's form of retaliation, stating they 'get frustrated if they don't work'," the report stated. Demarchelier is considered one of the biggest names in fashion photography. He was the first non-British official photographer of the Royal Family when Princess Diana requested he take on the role of her personal photographer. "We became friends," he said an interview with London's Telegraph back in 2008. "She was funny and kind - but fundamentally she was a very simple woman who liked very simple things." After being contacted by the Spotlight team, Vogue, Glamour and GQ in the United States have announced they have stopped working with Demarchelier for now. These new allegations follow previous complaints made against other prominent male photographers including Terry Richardson, Bruce Weber and another favourite of the royal family, Mario Testino.

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Public servants feeling sick and complaining of sore eyes and the smell of poo at the Department of Social Services' new Tuggeranong offices have learnt that grey water vapours have entered their air conditioning. After alerting the agency, staff heard it had found a problem and located the worst of the foul odour in the $172 million building's Quadrant D. An email warned the building's public servants - who moved into the new offices opened last September - to tell bosses if they were "experiencing discomfort" and encouraged them to take short breaks away or move from areas that smelled. The Social Services department said it had moved staff, and that it had "floor walkers" at the national headquarters checking on them. It has relocated thousands of its staff into its expensive new Tuggeranong digs at Athllon Drive, Greenway, but the problem with its grey water system has emerged as an early teething problem for the building. A department spokesman said it began investigating the complaints about the odour immediately this week, and had told staff of the problem right away. He said remediation work was finished by Friday. "The cause of the odour was traced to a grey water ventilation pipe in the vicinity of an air intake vent on the impacted part of the building," he said. But a source close to the agency said to The Canberra Times that staff made numerous complaints to the department before it told them the cause of the problem. An email to staff said the department expected the smell would disappear from the office's floors but that it would monitor the situation. Builders began work in June 2015 on the six storey, 38,400 square metre building, estimated to be worth $260 million. Social Services staff were involved in a major exodus from Woden as part of its new office deal, in another blow to the town centre's ailing economy. The deal to keep thousands of public servants in Tuggeranong was a coup both for developer Cromwell Property Group and for the struggling town centre, but bad news for Woden.

/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/bacce1a7-8c6e-44eb-a3aa-4eb7121900d3/r0_72_2000_1202_w1200_h678_fmax.jpgnews, latest-news

A man has been taken into custody after driving his car on the wrong side of the road and into the path of oncoming traffic outside the Queensland Police Service Headquarters in Brisbane. Police said the man was driving the wrong way along Roma Street about 4pm during peak hour traffic when he parked the car outside their building, facing oncoming traffic. Police officers took the "suspected drink driver" into custody where he was assisting with inquiries. A police spokesman said that the man's behaviour suggested it was "possible that he is intoxicated with some substance". Roma Street was closed while police moved the car off the road. Police said early media reports that the car had tried to drive up the stairs at the front of headquarters were not true. A car did ram the police building on January 29, with a man allegedly trying to reverse his white Ford Territory up the front stairs.

/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/9d9efe75-601c-42aa-81a3-f02197b582cf/r0_96_1016_670_w1200_h678_fmax.jpgTo the editor:

Heres my truth about our children being killed en mass. We can not stop it entirely. We will never get all the guns already distributed to people who should not have them. We do not even know who those people are because none of us can see into the future.

Our politicians have not been willing to defy the NRA with gun safety regulations.

Clearly, praying and having real conversations about it do not seem to work.

We need real action instead.

Lets start with requiring the same security wherever children gather that we provide for our political offices, courthouses and airports.

Then, check all political candidates for their NRA grade. An A+ should be a definite red flag.

Vote in every election. And never give up.

Gloria E. Garber

NaplesUnfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.You could have the missing piece of the puzzle that will help the RCMP put someone behind bars. Here are some recent crimes that Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers hope you can help solve by calling our anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net or text to CRIMES (274637), keyword Ktown.

CRIME: FRAUD

There has been an alarming increase in bank frauds and based on the recent reports to RCMP it seems no one is immune from becoming a victim. While banks are implementing sophisticated measures to protect their customers, thieves are also becoming more and more accomplished in discovering new ways to separate us from our hard earned savings.

Here are a few steps you can take to protect yourself from becoming a victim:

Always insert your chip first instead of swiping the card (this ensures your card cannot be skimmed).

Protect your PIN by shielding your pin-pad entry with your hand and dont lend your card or disclose the PIN number to anyone.

One of the most important precautions you can take is to regularly review your transaction history and periodically change your PIN. Many of the banks have text or email alerts generated when there is an unusual amount of activity on your bank account. See if your bank is capable and sign up.

If you shop online, consider applying for a credit card with a small spending limit and use it only for your online purchases.

If you are waiting for a new or replacement credit card to arrive in the mail, contact the bank if it doesnt arrive in a timely manner.

If you are a victim, contact your bank immediately in order for them to take appropriate actions to protect you and reimburse lost funds.

Photo: Crime Stoppers

If you know anything about this crime, or any other crime, call the Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS or visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net. Your information will be kept confidential and could lead to a reward of up to $2000.00.

CRIME: THEFT FROM VEHICLE

DATE: February 12, 2018

RCMP FILE: 2018-7726

An out of town businessmans rental car was recently broken into while visiting a winery located on Boucherie Road on the evening of February 12th, 2017. The thief stole a black and red carry-on size Briggs & Riley suitcase full of clothes, a grey Tumi briefcase, a MacBook laptop, an American passport and some US cash. The next day a postal worker found the suitcase abandoned nearby on Angus Road and the man was able to recover his passport and some of his other belongings.

You can help catch these suspects and qualify for a reward by calling Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net or text to CRIMES (274637), keyword Ktown.Photo: RCMP

This is a very positive outcome for IHIT."

Seven years after 27-year-old Bradley McPherson was shot and killed at an after-hours party inside a home in Surrey, the man responsible is going to jail.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team announced today that Russell Atma Bidesi was found guilty of second degree murder.

"The dedication and determination shown by our investigators and partners to bring justice in Mr. McPhersons case was paramount, says Cpl. Frank Jang of IHIT.

IHIT's investigation into the death of McPherson eventually lead to the arrest of Bidesi.

IHIT believes in justice for those who have died unfairly. What motivates our investigators are the family members left behind with their pain of loss. If we can do our job and a person is held accountable for murder, we hope that provides some small measure of peace to the family, says Cpl Jang.

Sentencing will be scheduled for a later date.According to the data provided by the company on the slide, the growth of Google Assistant in this 2018 will be 300% in terms of countries, while the growth in terms of languages will be lower, by 213%. While Google has been slowly rolling out new countries for Home hardware and more languages for the Assistant over the a year ago or so, it looks like the company is gearing up to expand its footprint significantly.

The Google Assistant will be expanding to a total of 38 countries (bringing the total number up to 52), but there are some notable exceptions from the list such as Denmark and Austria. The countries that will receive the virtual digital sidekick include Russia, Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Saudi Arabia and more. Of those languages, Dutch, Indian, Arabic and Russian were confirmed. Google recently added the Italian and Spanish languages for Assistant in addition to the already supported English, French, German, Japanese, Korean and Portuguese. It is available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

At the moment, yes, it has not been specified when the arrival of the assistant will occur in the new selected countries, although the deployment will probably take place gradually over the months. Google allegedly revealed a slide at the DNI Summit that showed a map of its expansion plans. You can see that photo at the top of this story. The Assistant will be available in 25 new countries in 2018 which is a significant jump from last year's count of eight.

Google's Assistant and Assistant-powered hardware are a huge convenience, but the limited markets and languages for both have been anything but convenient for many.Photo: Contributed

The President & CEO of Interior Health is retiring.

It was announced in a press release that Chris Mazurkewich handed in his resignation to the IH Board of Directors.

"It has been an honour to work in health care alongside the physicians and staff who provide care to our patients, clients, and residents, wrote Mazurkewich. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of meeting countless individuals who make incredible contributions to the delivery of health care every day. I want to extend my gratitude to each of you  thank you."

Mazurkewich was appointed President & CEO of Interior Health in October 2015. Prior to that he was the executive vice president and COO at Alberta Health Services.

In January an internal memo from Mazurkewich to IH staff was leaked. In the memo, Mazurkewich called into question his own leadership and the culture inside IH.

The memo was in response to an internal survey of almost 600 IH leaders, which indicated a negative view of leadership.

"Your comments were most appreciated and you have collectively spoken very decisively," wrote Mazurkewich. "558 leaders have clearly spoken, with the top 20 ranked comments containing zero positive comments."

Despite the memo and survey, the press release on the pending retirement of Mazurkewich paints the departing CEO in a positive light.

Under his leadership as CEO, Interior Health has implemented services that make health care more accessible in rural areas... support people living with mental illness, and services that meet the needs of our increasingly older population," wrote Interior Healths Board Chair Doug Cochrane. "The partnerships and innovations that are a result of his commitment are a model for all of us going forward."

The replacement process is underway. The board announced it will hire an "executive recruiting firm" to internationally headhunt "the best possible candidates for the role."

In the meantime, Mazurkewich will remain as President & CEO until in the fall.Photo: CTV

UPDATE 7:40 p.m.

British Columbia's attorney general says he's deeply troubled by reports of money laundering and criminal activity in the real estate market.

David Eby has issued a statement saying the government takes reports of money laundering through real estate very seriously.

The comments come after the Globe and Mail published a story alleging that people connected to the fentanyl trade are using B.C. real estate to clean dirty drug money.

Eby says he has already tasked former RCMP deputy commissioner Peter German with reviewing money laundering policies and practices at B.C. casinos.

Last month, German's recommendations prompted the government to announce new rules for high rollers at casinos, including a requirement that anyone spending $10,000 or more within a 24-hour period prove the source of the funds.

Eby says German will also look at whether money laundering has connections with any other sectors, including real estate or tax policy.

-with files from Canadian Press

ORIGINAL 6:31 p.m.

The NDP government sent out a press release late Friday evening from Attorney General David Eby in response to a news report.

"Recent media reports of money laundering through real estate in British Columbia, including today's Globe and Mail story, are very serious and deeply troubling. The nature of these allegations, that this money-laundering activity is actively influencing our real estate market and is connected to the sale of life-destroying fentanyl, underline the critical importance of addressing money laundering urgently and not ignoring it. This story confirms our government's commitment to taking action to crack down on money laundering and criminal activity in B.C.

"Shortly after assuming responsibility for gambling policy in B.C., I hired Peter German to conduct an independent and thorough review of British Columbia's anti-money-laundering policies and practices in relation to B.C. casinos. As part of his review, German is to explore what connection, if any, the issue has with other sectors of B.C.'s economy. This may include areas such as real estate or tax policy.

"Our government will work to determine the scope of this issue, and what must be done to appropriately address it. We will ensure our investigation into money laundering in B.C. casinos is informed by these disturbing revelations."Photo: The Canadian Press Sarah Lockyer at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.

The Department of National Defence is seeking forensic DNA experts and funeral organizers to help its efforts to recover, identify and arrange burials for Canada's nearly 28,000 missing war dead.

The prospective group of anthropologists, archaeologists and genealogists would help the department's Casualty Identification Program analyze DNA from the remains of formerly missing Canadian servicemen discovered around the world.

The program has been identifying and organizing burials for Canada's formerly missing war dead since 2007.

The Armed Force's current contract with Toronto-based mortuary service provider MacKinnon and Bowes Ltd. is set to expire soon and two previous attempts to find new bidders have come up short.

Sarah Lockyer, the head of the identification program and a forensic anthropologist herself, hopes a contractor will come forward soon, as the small group she co-ordinates can't do DNA testing and analysis on their own.

Since Lockyer took the program's lead in 2015, the remains of 22 Canadian Armed Forces service members have been discovered, including one found earlier this month near the French city of Lens, fewer than ten kilometres north of Vimy Ridge. However, only four of the remains have been identified.

"Typically what happens is [the remains] are discovered because of modern farming activity or construction," said Lockyer. "The vast majority of our cases are either from Belgium or France."

Lockyer travels to France twice a year to inspect the remains, then returns with a sample  usually a piece of bone  for forensic analysis.

The bone is then sent to a lab while a genealogist searches for viable DNA donors to match with the bone's. With the help of a historian who narrows down how many service members went missing or died in the area the remains were found, Lockyer then creates a shortlist of possible candidates.

The families of men on that list are then asked to provide a DNA sample for matching. If the match is successful, the program arranges a for a proper military funeral and tombstone.

"It's all about returning their identity and returning their name to them," said Lockyer. "Until now, they're nameless. They're faceless.

"To be able to do that and to give them a proper headstone with their name on it rather than an unknown Canadian is quite a privilege and an honour to be a part of," she said.Photo: Gofundme A Gofundme page has been started to help the Munro family.

An Armstrong family of six escaped a house fire unharmed late Friday night.

But Armstrong/Spallumcheen Fire Chief Ian Cummings said there was significant fire, smoke and water damage to the single-family home.

We were called out to Highland Park just after 11 p.m., said Cummings of the house fire that was fully involved when crews arrived. The back of the structure, the deck was fully involved. We had fire coming out the living room window.

Cummings said the fire was a challenge to knock down and crews spent five hours on scene.

It was problematic. We had snow banks to deal with and it was on a steep hill so it was difficult for our apparatus. The guys did a fantastic job, he said.

When the fire started there were two adults, four young children and some pets in the house, but everyone got out safely.

An initial investigation conducted early Saturday morning did not determine a cause, but Cummings said crews will return later today to try and figure out how the fire started.

A Gofundme page has been started to help the Munro family.

"Jordan, Sarah and the kids lost everything tonight in a house fire. Thankfully everyone got out safely but they were unable to grab anything at all. They do have insurance but any additional financial help would be much appreciated as well as they start from scratch. Thank you for your support and prayers," said a statement on the page.Photo: Contributed

UPDATE: 11:35 a.m.

Rescue divers continue to search the waters near Puerto Vallarta where Vernon's Gloria Miller went missing Thursday.

The family has contracted a private plane to follow the ocean currents out of the bay that Miller went missing from, Los Arcos Marine Park.

Banderas Scuba Republic, the dive shop the family has been working with, has organized their rescue diver friends to help with the search.

ORIGINAL: 10:25 a.m.

The search for a missing Vernon woman is expected to continue today off the coast of Mexico.

Gloria Miller, wife of prominent Vernon business man Dave Chambers of DCT Chambers Trucking, went missing while scuba diving in the waters near Puerto Vallarta.

Miller has been missing since 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

The search for Miller was suspended Friday night at dusk; it was set to resume at first light this morning.

Boats, divers, helicopters and a fixed-wing plane were used in the search.

A post on social media last night provided more details:

"The helicopter from Jalisco State we heard overhead a little while ago is only part of the search effort. Mexico Navy, Vallarta Civil Protection, Jalisco State (helicopter), Canadian Consulate and many boats are searching for Ms. Miller in a very co-ordinated manner. The search is being done using water current maps with the hope of finding her quickly."

The outpouring of support for the family has been tremendous, and the family is thanking the community for its thoughts and prayers.

"We want to thank the support and thoughts of family and friends it has been heartwarming," one family member told Castanet.



MICHELE JURICH/THE CATHOLIC VOICE

Oakland group hopes film will aid sainthood effort

of Mother Mary Lange

The Oblate Sisters of Providence have one photo of their founder, Mother Mary Lange. It's a tintype that's been refurbished. They have two letters; one was likely dictated by her.



But the work of the founder of the first order for women of color in the United States continues to this day. The school she founded in Baltimore in 1828 to serve girls of color  primarily children with African Caribbean roots  today is known as St. Frances Academy, with a student body of young women and young men.



For more information

Learn more about "Sisters of Hope"

www.afrocubaweb.com/

gloriarolando/sisters-of-the-

heart.html



Email:

sohfilmproject@gmail.com



Related Story

Mother Mary Lange The Sisters who succeeded her have extended her legacy, educating children who might not have had that opportunity in the Caribbean and Latin America.



The community she founded is advancing her cause for canonization. She is venerable; the next step would be beatification.



A Cuban filmmaker, whose mother was educated by the Oblate Sisters of Providence, is researching a film focusing on the Sisters' time in Cuba. The Sisters arrived in 1900, and left in 1961, after Fidel Castro came to power.



A group of Bay Area people who don't want to see Mother Lange's legacy lost to history is working to help provide funding for "Sisters of Hope," Gloria Rolando's film project. Rolando spent a month at the convent in Baltimore researching alongside Kathy Knecht, the Sisters' archivist.



It was Rolando's second visit to Baltimore. She is interviewing the Sisters  some in their 90s  who left Cuba in 1961.



Knecht came to the Sisters as an intern in 2001, as she was earning her master's degree. In 2007, she became their archivist.



In her time with the Sisters, she has come to see a clear picture of Mother Lange.



"I think she was a very brave woman who came to this country with four strikes against her," Knecht said. "She was an immigrant in a nativist country; she was a black woman in a slave state; she was a woman in male-dominated society; and she was Catholic in a Protestant country."



When Father James Joubert, SS, asked the then-Elizabeth Lange to open a school, Knecht said, "she didn't hesitate."



Her response was, "We've been waiting 10 years to consecrate our lives to God. Now he's shown us the way."



"She knew this was God's will," Knecht said.



After Father Joubert's death in 1843, the Sisters faced even greater challenges to keep their school open. But they persisted in their vocation.



"We don't know a lot about her personally," Knecht said. They depend on a memoir written in the 1890s. Teresa Willigmann came to the Oblates as a "half orphan" after her mother's death, Knecht said. "She became a sister and lived with Mother Mary for 40 years," she said.



The filmmaker Rolando has been a welcome visitor. "Thankfully she's doing a film," Knecht said.



Knecht has been able to share "remarkably good photographs" the Sisters in Cuba sent back to the motherhouse over the years for inclusion in periodicals the order published.



Of the seven missions in Cuba, one carton of records survives. "When Castro made it so the Sisters couldn't teach there anymore, they left with what they had on their backs," Knecht said.



Like the filmmaker, Margot Dashiell of Berkeley has a personal connection to the Sisters.



"My grandmother, who was born in 1871, was sent from Brownsville, Texas, to Baltimore to be educated by the Oblates at 6 years of age," she said. In Brownsville, she said, "I don't think they had many opportunities for education for African Americans."



The understanding was she stayed there for six years," Dashiell said. "Probably her mother was concerned about her safety while she worked."



Her grandmother's education with Oblate Sisters, Dashiell said, "laid the foundation for her literacy, her capability, her vocational skills later in life. With her husband she was quite a partner and anchor of the family, which set my father up for success."



"It's very dear to me, of course."



Cornelius Moore, a film distributor and curator of films for California Newsreel, met Rolando 15 years ago. "She has a body of work looking at largely the history of people of African descent in Cuba and the Caribbean," he said.



"I wanted to do what I could as a film professional to support what she's doing," he said. "Independent filmmakers, anywhere, it's hard to raise money and get institutional support. In the context of Cuba, and the work Gloria's doing, for various reasons, there's not much money in the country. She has to do much of her work with the support of people who like her work and colleagues around the world."



Willie Thompson, a retired sociology instructor at City College of San Francisco, is engaged in "what I call community development work," he said.



"That's especially among people of African descent, in this country but especially among the Afro Latinos in the Caribbean. South America and Central America," he said.



He seeks "to assist those African people who come to this country to distribute their information and collect resources to support them."



He said he has been impressed with Rolando's work over the years. "She's attempting to tell the story I'm interested in, and I think other people should be interested in."



The Oblates, Thompson said, "seemed to have approached the education of blacks here without consideration of the fact that it was against the law during the enslavement period. That's what intrigues me."



Natalia Fanta Lawrence has visited Cuba, beginning in 1998. "In 2003, I went to Cuba with Barbara Lee on a humanitarian delegation. We spent a couple of afternoons with Gloria."



Part of the work of Richmond Regla, of which Lawrence is a founder, is to support Cuban artists. The Richmond organization has sponsored screenings of Rolando's work. Lawrence has had the opportunity to host the filmmaker, who has become her friend.



"Her emphasis is on creating work that expresses the history and culture, particularly of Afro Cubans, to make sure that that story is available to Cubans but the rest of the world also."



Rolando, Lawrence said, "is well known among film aficionados, Cuban aficionados and intellectuals all around the country. She has many cadres around the country that support her."



The local group has committed to raise a portion of the funds Rolando needs to complete her film, which is expected to cost $200,000.



"As she has gotten into this, and gone into communities," Dashiell said, Rolando has been "finding women are so passionate about seeing this story told. They thought they would die and nobody would know the heroism of these nuns. It's heartfelt."



Of the four, "none of us were raised Catholic," Moore said.



"This whole story has made us fascinated by what went on in the Catholic Church," he said. "We're excited about learning." Mother Mary Lange



Mother Mary Lange, foundress of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, was born Elizabeth Lange around 1794 in Santiago de Cuba, where she lived in a primarily French-speaking community. She received an excellent education and in the early 1800s Elizabeth left Cuba and settled in the United States. By 1813, she was in Baltimore, Maryland, where a large community of French-speaking Catholics from Haiti was established. Lange recognized the children of her fellow immigrants needed an education.



There was no free public education for African American children in Maryland until 1868. She responded to that need by opening a school in her home. She and her friend, Marie Magdaleine Balas (later Sister Frances, OSP) operated the school for more than 10 years.



Rev. James Hector Joubert, SS, who was encouraged by James Whitfield, archbishop of Baltimore, presented Elizabeth Lange with the idea to found a religious congregation for the education of African American girls.



Father Joubert would provide direction, solicit financial assistance and encourage other "women of colour" to become members of this, the first congregation of African American women religious in the history of the Catholic Church. Elizabeth joyfully accepted Father Joubert's idea.



On July 2, 1829, Elizabeth and three other women professed their vows and became the Oblate Sisters of Providence. Elizabeth, foundress and first superior general of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, took the religious name of Mary. She was superior general from 1829 to 1832, and from 1835 to 1841. This congregation would educate and evangelize African Americans.



Thus the Oblate Sisters educated youth and provided a home for orphans. Slaves who had been purchased and then freed were educated and at times admitted into the congregation. They nursed the terminally ill during the cholera epidemic of 1832, sheltered the elderly and even served as domestics at Saint Mary's Seminary.



Mother Mary Lange practiced faith to an extraordinary degree. To her black brothers and sisters she gave herself and her material possessions until she was empty of all but Jesus, whom she shared generously with all by witnessing to His teaching. In close union with Him, she lived through disappointment and opposition until God called her home, Feb. 3, 1882, at Saint Frances Convent in Baltimore, Maryland.



Source: Oblate Sisters of Providence, Mother Mary Lange, foundress of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, was born Elizabeth Lange around 1794 in Santiago de Cuba, where she lived in a primarily French-speaking community. She received an excellent education and in the early 1800s Elizabeth left Cuba and settled in the United States. By 1813, she was in Baltimore, Maryland, where a large community of French-speaking Catholics from Haiti was established. Lange recognized the children of her fellow immigrants needed an education.There was no free public education for African American children in Maryland until 1868. She responded to that need by opening a school in her home. She and her friend, Marie Magdaleine Balas (later Sister Frances, OSP) operated the school for more than 10 years.Rev. James Hector Joubert, SS, who was encouraged by James Whitfield, archbishop of Baltimore, presented Elizabeth Lange with the idea to found a religious congregation for the education of African American girls.Father Joubert would provide direction, solicit financial assistance and encourage other "women of colour" to become members of this, the first congregation of African American women religious in the history of the Catholic Church. Elizabeth joyfully accepted Father Joubert's idea.On July 2, 1829, Elizabeth and three other women professed their vows and became the Oblate Sisters of Providence. Elizabeth, foundress and first superior general of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, took the religious name of Mary. She was superior general from 1829 to 1832, and from 1835 to 1841. This congregation would educate and evangelize African Americans.Thus the Oblate Sisters educated youth and provided a home for orphans. Slaves who had been purchased and then freed were educated and at times admitted into the congregation. They nursed the terminally ill during the cholera epidemic of 1832, sheltered the elderly and even served as domestics at Saint Mary's Seminary.Mother Mary Lange practiced faith to an extraordinary degree. To her black brothers and sisters she gave herself and her material possessions until she was empty of all but Jesus, whom she shared generously with all by witnessing to His teaching. In close union with Him, she lived through disappointment and opposition until God called her home, Feb. 3, 1882, at Saint Frances Convent in Baltimore, Maryland.Source: Oblate Sisters of Providence, www.oblatesisters.com Next Front Page Article back to top home

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 17)  The Philippine National Police (PNP) chief is confident the International Criminal Court (ICC) will find nothing wrong in the country's war on drugs.

"Makikita nila (ang) katotohananna 'yung pagpatay ay hindi totoo 'yan na sinasabi nung mga kritiko natin or 'yung nag-file ng kaso na state-sponsored, na utos ni President," Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said Saturday at the Philippine Military Academy's Alumni Homecoming in Baguio City.

[Translation: "The ICC will know the truth, that the killings are not state-sponsored or ordered by the President, as alleged by critics."]

He said local and international groups who have been critical of the government's anti-drug campaign will be proven wrong.

Dela Rosa has just returned from Indonesia, where he was awarded the "Bintang Bhayangkara Utama" or Medal of Honor, as the "ultimate protector of the state and the people."

This the highest award given by the Indonesian President to a police officer, and Dela Rosa was its first non-Indonesian recipient.

He said the award gave him "a sense of feeling" that what he has been doing is right.

"Naging confident tuloy ako na lahat ng mga decisions na ginawa ko in line with our war on drugs is tama dahil ni-recognize ng isang bansa," he said.

[Translation: "I became confident that the decisions I have made in line with our war on drugs are right because we were recognized by a country."]

READ: Indonesian police chief: Bato inspires us

Nonetheless, he said the police will cooperate with the ICC's preliminary examination and provide the relevant data and information for as long as it does not compromise the anti-drug campaign.

The initial review will determine whether there is basis to proceed with an investigation.

"For all you know 'yung investigation na 'yan ay nagsimula sa paninira, so politically motivated. Ikaw bigay ka lang nang bigay hanggang papasok ka sa trap nila," he said.

[Translation: "For all you know that investigation is politically motivated. You give information and fall into a trap."]

The Philippines is a state party to the ICC, the "court of last resort." It complements national courts and handles what it defines as "the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole," including crimes against humanity.

It is looking into the drug war after Jude Sabio filed a communication in April 2017. Sabio is the lawyer of self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato, who said he killed people in Davao City upon the orders of then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano also filed a supplemental complaint against Duterte for the killings at the ICC in June. They are two of Duterte's strongest critics.

Sabio accused Duterte of "repeatedly, unchangingly, and continuously" committing mass murder.

He said 1,400 individuals were killed by the so-called Davao Death Squad under the leadership of then Mayor Duterte, and 7,000 individuals were killed in the government's war on drugs since Duterte took office.

READ: Duterte welcomes ICC probe: If you find me guilty, so be it

Dela Rosa said Duterte never asked him to kill in the name of the drug war.

"Walang specific instruction si Presidente na 'Bato patayin mo 'yang pusher, adik, drug lord na yan.' Wala, mamatay man ako," he said.

[Translation: "The President has no specific instruction saying 'Bato, kill that pusher, addict, drug lord. I swear."]

He added the President's tough talk was meant to encourage policemen in the conduct of anti-drug operations and serve as a warning for drug suspects.

Local and international human rights groups said Duterte in his public pronouncements ordered or encouraged policemen to kill those involved in the drug trade. They said this resulted in more than 13,000 extrajudicial killings in the drug war.

Malacanang, however, repeatedly said there are no state-sponsored killings and committed to investigate officers who violate and abuse their power.

Around 4,000 suspects were killed in anti-drug operations since the start of the bloody drug war in July 2016, government data show.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 17)  China and other claimants in the South China Sea have promised not to construct on uninhabited features in disputed waters, the Philippines' top diplomat said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said this was discussed during a "no-holds-barred" bilateral consultative meeting on February 13, where representatives from China and the Philippines talked about the "alleged militarization" and other issues.

"There's also a commitment by China and all other parties not to build on uninhabited features in accordance with the declaration of conduct in the South China Sea," Cayetano said in a press briefing on Friday.

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations already signed in 2002 a Declaration on the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea, but they have yet to agree on its implementation.

Cayetano said the government will continue to work on having a legally binding code of conduct (COC), which will identify what claimant countries can and cannot do in the disputed waters.

He further said the country raised "strong objections" to the reported militarization in the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

"Ever since ang stand natin [our stand is] is no to militarization by any country," Cayetano said.

"Not because we are not announcing diplomatic action, does not mean we are not taking it," he said, adding the diplomatic protests are all in the government's record.

In response, Cayetano said Chinese officials found it "unfair" that they are being singled out in the militarization issue, when other claimant countries were also building in contested areas.

China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines have overlapping claims in the Spratlys.

The ASEAN Chairman's statement in November 2017 said the member states "have emphasized the importance of non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states." Duterte was then ASEAN chairman. Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei are member states.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer earlier obtained photos showing that China has "finished transforming seven reefs claimed by the Philippines" in the Spratlys. The photos were taken from June to December 2017, and showed the development of air and naval base structures on the reefs.

It was reported in 2014 that China began massive dredging operations in seven reefs in the Spratly Islands - Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef, Mischief Reef, Cuarteron Reef, Gaven Reef, Hughes Reef, and Johnson South Reef.

Cayetano pointed out the construction began before President Rodrigo Duterte's administration.

"When the admin came in they were already reclaiming and building there...How can we stop it?" he said.

When Duterte assumed the presidency, he got an assurance form China it will no longer build in disputed areas, Cayetano said.

He said the government is working on "stopping it (the construction) from getting worse."

Duterte has said the Philippines cannot afford to declare war against China, maintaining it is best to stay friends with the Asian giant.

In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague awarded to the Philippines areas in the South China Sea that lie within the country's 200-mile exclusive economic zone, including the Spratly Islands.

However, China has refused to acknowledge the arbitral ruling and continues to claim almost the whole South China Sea. Duterte has promised to bring up the ruling with China during his term.Missed Delivery?

If missed delivery or wet paper please call our office 909-628-5501 ext 110 Leave a detailed message with name, address, and phone number. Readers must call before 1 p.m. on Saturday. Re-deliveries are available for Chino residents until 1 p.m. Saturdays.

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Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading.This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questionsMetro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 17)  Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal said the Philippines and China must have a formal agreement before conducting a joint exploration in the disputed South China Sea.

This came after Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said on Friday that the two countries, which are contending over parts of the South China Sea, are "aggressively" pursuing the exploration to find oil and gas reserves.

Read: PH aggressively pursuing joint oil and gas exploration with China

"The word 'aggressively' definitely was not new, but I think that only means they're in a hurry," Batongbacal told CNN Philippines "News Night" on Friday.

"But one thing is certain," he added. "In order for this to even happen, there should first be a formal agreement or treaty between the two countries."

Cayetano added that following bilateral talks on Tuesday, the two nations are working on a unified framework that would "follow the Constitution and withstand scrutiny from the Supreme Court."

Read: PH, China promise to protect sovereignty, sovereign rights in bilateral talks

Batongbacal said although the Philippine government has the discretion to conduct joint explorations with other countries "within its own undisputed territory," constructing a legal framework could take time.

"That, I think, is the reason why they're taking so long," he said. "I don't think they've found a way yet to really put the two together. After all, they announced this over a year ago and still there is no concrete proposal at this point."

The South China Sea dispute

In July 2016, the Arbitral Tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in a case against China's claims to virtually claim all of the South China Sea (known locally as the West Philippine Sea).

Read: PH wins maritime arbitration case vs. China

The Tribunal upheld the Manila's position that China's "nine-dash line" maritime claim is excessive and encroached into the Philippines' 200-nautical mile EEZ.

The "nine-dash line" is China's purported historical boundary that covers about 85 percent of the South China Sea, including 80 percent of the Philippines' EEZ in the South China Sea.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been developing closer ties with China, said in November 2017 that he would raise the arbitral ruling "maybe once" in his term, which ends in 2022.

Read: Duterte will raise arbitral ruling 'maybe once' in his term

However, Duterte also said that month that he wants a legally binding code of conduct in the disputed waters.

Read: Palace: Duterte wants legally binding code of conduct on S. China Sea

On Feb. 6, images surfaced of vertical structures being built on disputed reefs in the South China Sea

Read: Vertical structures built on reefs in S. China Sea - Inquirer reporter

The photos, which appeared in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, were taken from June to December 2017 and showed the development of air and naval base structures on the reefs.

The Palace said the only way to prevent the militarization in the contested waters is through friendly ties.

"Whether or not we like it, they intended to use them as military bases. So, what do you want us to say?" Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here.Google is a global company that has defined the digital age and continues to lead at the cutting edge of the tech economy," Emanuel said in a statement. "The decision to grow in Chicago is a vote of confidence in our citys future and a testament to our position as a thriving hub for talent and innovation."For drivers serving clients like Rietdjik, we recommend Scions legacy, the Corolla iM. A lot of ride-share drivers choose compact cars because theyre cheap and efficient, but a Corolla iM hits those objectives without feeling like a sardine can. This hatchback comes with a lot of standard safety features that cost extra in competitors. It also has a spacious cargo hold, which will please riders like Rietdjik, who mentioned once being picked up at the airport by a car too small to accommodate his luggage. Kelley Blue Book predicts the Corolla iM will have a resale value of 43 percent after three years, which is higher than average, but still more affordable than some competitors.The most revelatory news is that owner Nick Floyd is scouting locations to open a Three Floyds brewpub in Chicago. He has been looking at spaces during the last couple of weeks, and though coy about the where ("anywhere but the Loop") and when ("the near future"), he sounded resolute about it happening.As a medium, comics live in the gutter  thats the gap between two panels where the brain connects a sequence of images into a narrative. Its a fitting metaphor for Chicagos place in the history of comics: here we are in the middle of things, producing some of the genres most meaningful works. The Chicago Literacy Alliance is hoisting up that story right now with A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Punch Line: The Evolution of Chicago Comics into an Art Form, a comprehensive collection of the who, what, when, and why that made this a city where comics ascend."She the People" is a new revue at Second City featuring five women and the subtitle "A Girlfriends' Guide to Sisters Doing It For Themselves." Much of the show was penned before the current #MeToo movement, and its references to Ross and Rachel feel positively quaint. But things pick up in the second half when it snags an audience member for a game show and, inevitably and not unkindly, reveals she knows more about the Kardashians than ISIS. Up-and-comer Maria Randazzo is the natural leader here and her range is striking. She can play a CEO and a quirky, wacky woman  someone who "works with kids, animals or coffee"  and you believe her as both. Through April 1 in the UP Comedy Club at Second City, 230 W. North Ave.; $26-$41 at 312-662-4562 and www.secondcity.comThe older they are, the quicker you should tell them. You want to get in front of any misinformation, as they may have already heard the news from another source, she said in a Loyola news release.They know theyre alone, but they have each other, Angelo said. So after all the rhetoric at the funeral, all the talk in the media, the next day or the next shift they go to roll call, they look around and what do they see? They see each other. And then theyre in the squad car, and whos next to them? Another police officer. The radio goes off, a call comes in, theyre with each other and they answer the call.Lawyers for Jackie Wilson, who is seeking a new trial on allegations that Burge and his crew tortured him into confessing to the 1982 fatal shooting of two Chicago police officers, revealed in court for the first time that Brian Stefanich, once part of ORourkes team, had begun representing Burge in recent months in a lawsuit brought by another alleged torture victim.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 17)  For Sen. Ping Lacson, the presence of American warships in the disputed South China Sea is good news for the Philippines.

"Not being pro-USA and anti-China, the presence of USS Carl Vinson in the West Philippine Sea is a breath of fresh air for those of us, pro-Philippines. It is called, balance of power," Lacson tweeted on Friday.

Lacson's statement came as the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and the guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy arrived in Manila on Friday morning for a routine port visit.

The carrier's public affairs office said in a Friday statement that more than 5,500 sailors from both vessels will visit local attractions and participate in community service projects.

"The crew is looking forward to USS Michael Murphy's first-ever port visit in the Philippines," said Cmdr. Kevin Louis, the ship's commanding officer. "We have a great schedule of tours and events for our sailors to explore the culture and history of Manila."

The Carl Vinson and the Michael Murphy are part of a U.S. strike group operating in the Indo-Pacific region "to work with partners and allies, promote freedom of the seas, and enhance regional security," the Carl Vinson's public affairs office said.

The other members of the strike group are the guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer and the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain.

South China Sea dispute

President Rodrigo Duterte has criticized the U.S. for failing to stop Beijing's building activities in the disputed South China Sea. In a speech in March 2017, he said only the U.S. can confront China as the Philippines has no capability to challenge Beijing's aggressive moves.

READ: Duterte hits U.S. inaction in South China Sea dispute

In July 2016, the Arbitral Tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in a case against China's claims to virtually claim all of the South China Sea, known locally as the West Philippine Sea.

READ: PH wins maritime arbitration case vs. China

The tribunal upheld the Manila's position that China's "nine-dash line" maritime claim is excessive and encroached into the Philippines' 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The "nine-dash line" is China's purported historical boundary that covers about 85 percent of the South China Sea, including 80 percent of the Philippines' EEZ in the South China Sea.

Duterte, who has been developing closer ties with China, said in November 2017 that he would raise the arbitral ruling "maybe once" in his term, which ends in 2022.

READ: Duterte will raise arbitral ruling 'maybe once' in his term

However, Duterte also said that month that he wants a legally binding code of conduct in the disputed waters.

READ: Palace: Duterte wants legally binding code of conduct on S. China Sea

On February 6, images surfaced of vertical structures being built on disputed reefs in the South China Sea

READ: Vertical structures built on reefs in S. China Sea - Inquirer reporter

The photos, which appeared in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, were taken from June to December 2017 and showed the development of air and naval base structures on the reefs.

The Palace said the only way to prevent the militarization in the contested waters is through friendly ties.

"Whether or not we like it, they intended to use them as military bases. So, what do you want us to say?" Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.Through the Illinois state code's required action process for AIM's co-location with Emil G. Hirsch Metropolitan High School, we determined that the financial investment required of AIM is not feasible, backers of the charter said in a statement Friday. Therefore, we have made the decision to pursue another facility in the community to serve as the home to AIM starting this fall.Shomari Legghette is being held without bond on charges of first-degree murder of a peace officer, armed violence, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. According to prosecutors, Legghette's extensive criminal history includes convictions in two drug cases, a gun offense, a misdemeanor battery and an armed robbery in the late 1990s in which he and a co-defendant robbed two people at gunpoint before leading police on a high-speed expressway chase. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison for that offense.The teen is charged with aggravated battery with a firearm in the Sept. 20 shooting at Mattoon High School. Prosecutors have said teacher Angela McQueen grabbed the boy's arm as he fired at a girl. The gunshot missed the girl but hit another student in the upper chest. More shots were fired into the cafeteria ceiling before McQueen subdued the boy.Also on the chopping block under the governors plan is more than $24 million for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program, which provides help paying for food, shelter, utilities and other expenses for pregnant women and families with children. The Rauner administration says that reduction is also due to a drop in caseload  from 47,200 in 2015 to 29,700 in 2017. Opponents questioned whether a new state system has contributed to that decline.And many African-American politicians who were on board early for Berrios are reluctant to back out now, for fear of being seen as people who dont keep their word. Ald. Jason Ervin, whose West Side 28th Ward is home to many low-income residents, said hes concerned about the new, highly critical tax report but is sticking with Berrios because hes been responsive to the concerns of the people he represents.The municipal ID is not yet available to the general public, but Valencia has said it will be in the spring. Most aldermen voted in favor of the program, which is viewed in City Hall circles as a way for Emanuel to boost his standing with Hispanic voters and immigrant rights supporters as he preps a 2019 re-election bid.I would never condone, sweep under the rug or refuse to take any step to ensure we did not eradicate any behavior of this kind. I understand the knock it off mentality is not enough, and we must, and will, do better moving forward, said Madigan, a reference to a phrase he used last fall when the issue of sexual harassment surfaced at the Capitol. We must do better. We will do better."The blood of millions of Jews cries from the earth of Poland over the distortion of history and the escape from blame. Jews were murdered in the Holocaust and Poles took an active part in their murder," Gabbay said. "The government of Israel has to be a voice for the millions of murdered and strongly denounce the Polish prime minister's words.""Because of the change in national rhetoric, it's going to be a really interesting year at the state level, in terms of how states are going to portray themselves as welcoming or not welcoming to certain immigrant populations," said Ann Morse, who oversees an immigration project at the National Conference of State Legislatures. "There is a real public debate going on that is just getting started.""My inquiries to those involved again have confirmed that there are a dozen or more people at Mr. Kushner's level whose process is delayed, that it is not uncommon for this process to take this long in a new administration, that the current backlogs are being addressed, and no concerns were raised about Mr. Kushner's application," he said in a statement.I cant remember a time when I didnt know Lerone Bennett, said Johnson Rice. I grew up in the business and he was always there. I watched him work side by side with my father to create the editorial direction at Ebony. What Ebony stands for today really stands on the foundation of what Lerone Bennett envisioned for the magazine and what he championed for the  years that he worked with us.Conventional wisdom anticipates owners of the John Hancock Center will eventually sell off the naming rights to the highest bidder. Instead, think of the powerful message both those owners and the city of Chicago would send by renaming it the Paul Bauer Building in honor of the police commander who gave his life in the line of duty. Of course, no honor would be too great for Cmdr. Bauer, who, by all accounts, was an outstanding individual on and off the job.Not just long-form nonfiction and drama, in other words, but all manner of niche and specialized content  one of my new favorites, for example, is Get Up in the Cool, a series of interviews with old-time string band musicians. And if you, too, have an offbeat hobby, odds are excellent that theres now at least one podcast about it.The City Council approved the study 11-1, with the lone vote against it cast by Ald. Judd Lofchie, 10th Ward, who said the $55,000  which he said with expenses could get as high as $80,000  was too much to spend.Johnson said the graduation location was a "conundrum." She said there seems to be interest in the community in bringing graduation back to campus and Northern Illinois is a distance from Aurora, but there could be bad weather and NIU offered a larger space. Ultimately, officials needed to consider community and student input, she said."There is always the chance that someone can sue the village. In either case the possibility exists. If you vote it down, it can make the case stronger. I can't tell you how to vote. You make the decision. If someone wants to challenge us they have every right to do so in court," he said.While little else is known about him at this point, a short news story from June 14, 1943, in the Chicago Daily Tribune, noted that his mother, Mrs. August Backman, was awarded a Purple Heart citation at the annual convention of the Illinois Department of the Purple Heart and its auxiliary in Aurora. The mothers of two other Aurora sailors killed in action  Eugene Fitzsimmons, who was aboard the USS Arizona, and Logan Jeffrey Drury  were awarded citations on that day, as well.31795 Hanlon Road, Libertyville: $1,250,000 | Listed: Aug. 3, 2021



This five-bedroom home has four bathrooms, oak floors, a barn, a carriage house and a three-and-a-half car heated garage. The kitchen features double ovens, a Sub Zero refrigerator, a stone backsplash, granite countertops, under-cabinet lighting and an island. A butlers pantry with custom cabinetry and wine refrigerator is adjacent to the kitchen. A dining room that seats 20 has custom built-ins and a fireplace, and the family room has three walls of glass and French doors that open onto a stone patio. The primary bedroom suite has Palladium windows, a walk-in closet with organizers and a bath with a soaker tub, dual vanities and a walk-in shower. A fun feature of this home is the screened childrens playhouse. A front veranda and a portico between the kitchen and the carriage house offer space for outdoor entertaining.



Agent: Millie Kepler and Therese Schaefer, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, 847-490-3052 and 847-878-0963



*Some listing photos are virtually staged, meaning they have been digitally altered to represent different furnishing or decorating options.



To feature your luxury listing of $800,000 or more in Chicago Tribunes Dream Homes, send listing information and high-res photos to ctc-realestate@chicagotribune.com.



Join our Chicago Dream Homes Facebook group for more luxury listings and real estate news."These two departments greatly enjoyed interacting with our community members last year," Buffalo Grove Police Chief Steven Casstevens said in an email. "While kindness can be shown year-round, it is great to set aside one day to truly focus on brightening someone else's day."Jones was out on bond in that case when he was arrested on the same charge in in 2017. In that incident, he was pulled over for speeding on Interstate 355 on June 5 by an Illinois State Police trooper.The quick expulsion or suspension of a student who may be engaging in conduct that actually is very minor misbehavior or confusion  as can happen under zero tolerance  can have the exact opposite of the desired result, Cornell said. It ostracizes and alienates, cuts off the student from the school  and often serves to further enrage the student, he said.When police followed up with McGrath's attorney Patrick Reardon the following day to inquire about McGrath turning the phone over to Providence, Reardon "indicated that he doesn't believe that he (sic) cellular phone exists and that it would be a huge waste of time looking for the cellular phone," according to the report, which goes on to say that Reardon told police he didn't think the phone would "ever turn up.""We brainstormed and came up with an amazing plan to establish an innovative 501 (c) (3) charitable organization that not only will manage this funding for its best use, but will encourage others to make similar donations to help us end the heroin crisis," said Glasgow in the news release.Key cards will replace keys for all other doors and will be given to staff to provide access to certain areas of the buildings, he said. The key cards will allow the district to monitor who is using the building, as well as where and when.In an affidavit attached to one filing, Murphey said he, Niemeyer and Seaman spoke in "generalities" about the lawsuit, and that the attorney knew nothing about the case other than what he had read in media reports about it. He said, according to the affidavit, the conversation did not touch on the merits of the case or what the village's possible defense strategy would be."In large part because of his devotion to democracy," says Rob Shapiro, adjunct professor of political philosophy at Saint Xavier University on Chicago's southwest side. "Although a man of enormous intelligence, a natural genius, he never viewed his intellectual power or other abilities as a reason to lord it over others. One of his greatest sayings was '(a)s I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master.' He understood the vital principle, so lacking in our own day, that no matter how great your intelligence, or your other talents, no one is 'better' than anyone else in our society or has the right to tell others what to do.""Young children do not need to be bombarded with too much information or the details of various tragedies. Instead, a parent might inquire what the child has heard or already knows, and respond with simple answers that are devoid of details. Moreover, parents should pay close attention to the child's media exposure. We as humans have a certain curiosity and desire to learn more about these incidents, however, adults are understanding and processing the information in a much different manner than young children," she said.



1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.

2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.

3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.

4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.

5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.

6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.

7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.

8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.

9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.

10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.

11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)

12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.

13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.

14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.

15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.

16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.

17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.

18. Gain control of all student newspapers.

19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.

20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.

21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.

22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."

23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."

28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."

31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.

32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.

34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.

36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.

37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.

38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand.

39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.

40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems.

43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.

44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.

45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike.Red Barn Basics had a display showing parents what is not allowed on or in car seats. Hopkins says clients are always surprised to learn that car seat accessories like head supports create gaps between the baby and the seat's harness, making it unsafe. Hanging toys, even cute ones, are not a good idea either because they could become a projectile that hurts the baby during a car accident, she said."(He) is not one to back away from any new challenge and I have no doubt he will always excel as a police chief whether it be Fort Collins or continuing here in Elgin," Kozal wrote.Glasder said she and her husband had been able to spend a little time with their son before the weekend competition, having meals with him twice on days prior to the competition. The couple visited what Glasder called an Olympic superstore Saturday afternoon before the ski jump event to shop for souvenirs.A: When my dear friend and also boss announced her retirement, I decided it was time for a professional change. I was looking for an opportunity to work within an organization that was giving back to the community. The work of the YWCA Evanston/ North Shore appealed to me. My admiration for the work and the people doing the work has only grown since then.I know that this has been an icon for a long time, and so Im very happy that we went through the consideration of trying to salvage or do something to keep it in place, Moras said. Even though its something I cant support financially, I just want to thank staff for looking into it."This appointment is a step in the right direction," Davenport said in a news release. "This marks the first time a member of a minority has been appointed by the circuit judges in the history of DuPage County.""We raise money so that other schools and show choirs that are not as well-off can have money in order to come to things like this," she said. "It works as sort of a scholarship, and last year we helped one of the choirs come here. They did so well, they were able to raise money for themselves this year in order to come back. That's what we hope to achieve by advocating for show choirs."Because the investigation centered in Michigan, Jade didn't have the ability to drive back and forth to speak to Munford in person. "It's a very vulnerable position to put yourself into to speak with someone over the phone about something so personal," Jade said. "I felt like I had another person on my side to get from point A to point B."While Tota did not attend the meeting, he said later that he believes, "pour your own is a safer way to dispense beer because every ounce that is poured is tracked and tied back to a specific customer. The beer wall, which is 32 linear feet, is managed and monitored by beer ambassadors that are there to educate and engage customers but also make sure they are pouring responsibly and underage people are not trying to pour.Second on the list is the "west Sibley corridor" project, which consists of a series of enhancements, estimated at $20 million for 100-year flood projection. The project includes a installation of a new, 84-inch storm sewer line along Sibley Avenue from the Sibley Pump Station on the west end of Park Ridge to Home Avenue, allowing for additional projects, including separation of storm and sanitary sewers near Carpenter School and expansion of an existing underground storage vault on the school property. It also includes a proposal to separate sewers in the area of Milton, Babetta and Irwin avenues.Bitcoin hacks are funding North Koreas nuclear missile program; Cryptos now LESS secure than conventional money

The group behind a recent $500 million crypto heist that targeted the Japanese cryptocurrency exchange CoinCheck has been identified as a group of North Korean hackers, new reports indicate.

According to a recent Bloomberg report, an unidentified South Korean lawmaker who wishes to remain anonymous is credited with having nabbed the hacker clan, which may have seized the digital money in an effort to secretly fund the Kim Jong-un regimes ongoing nuclear missile program.

If the intelligence thus far gathered is correct, this same hacker group was likely the culprit in the shutdown of the South Korean cryptocurrency exchange YouBit back in December. This attack followed by a theft reveals just how lacking security is at many crypto exchanges where traders do business.

The CoinCheck breach could also be the straw that breaks the camels back, as reports indicate that its probably the largest theft of cryptocurrency to date  exceeding the amount stolen from Mt. Gox back in 2014 that ultimately led to the exchanges failure.

South Koreas National Intelligence Service has begun the task of investigating what happened at CoinCheck, though the timing couldnt be worse seeing as how the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang have already begun.

But its important to not only track down the culprits and bring justice, but also to figure out a fix to make cryptocurrencies more secure. If North Korea is able to steal enough of them, the money it might gain could end up spelling unspeakable disaster for the rest of the world.

The North is well-known for its hacking prowess, explains ZeroHedge.com. NK-linked hackers are suspected of perpetrating some of the most high-profile hacks of the last five years, including the WannaCry and Petya hacks last spring, and the embarrassing 2014 hack of Sony Pictures.

North Korean hackers may have also installed malware to hijack crypto mining operations

Recognizing that cryptocurrency is decentralized and a lot more anonymous than using traditional bank accounts, North Korean criminals are suspected of pulling other scams in an attempt to finance their acts of aggression against their enemies  one of which involves maliciously installing computer viruses to interfere with crypto mining.

Authorities have expressed concerns that North Korean hackers may have infiltrated computer systems and installed malware viruses that secretly mine cryptocurrencies like the highly untraceable Monero cryptocoin. Some of these mines have already been detected in the computer systems of Russias largest energy pipeline company.

Because the threat is international in nature, international authorities are reportedly helping South Korean officials investigate the breaches. But thus far, not much has been uncovered  including any actual evidence that North Korea had any involvement with this latest crypto theft.

South Koreas spy agency hasnt been able to unearth evidence of North Korean involvement in the CoinCheck case, but was exploring that avenue based on Pyongyangs track record and patterns observed in previous attacks, one report explains, referencing claims made by the anonymous lawmaker.

What this all suggests is that cryptos arent nearly as secure as many people think they are. The precipitous nature of their online storage is believed to have played a factor in Bitcoins recent 60 percent drop in value since late in 2017.

Another factor is countries like China that are cracking down on the use of Bitcoin. Chinese officials are right now attempting to stop Chinese traders from accessing offshore crypto exchanges. India is seeking similar restrictions, as its government officials have promised to do everything in their power to keep Indian people from buying and selling cryptos.

To keep up with the latest cryptocurrency news, including the ever-volatile Bitcoin, be sure to visit BitRaped.com.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

Bloomberg.com

NaturalNews.comWith the death penalty at stake, Kasich said they may question if Vann's case is "the worst of the worst" by looking to see if the death penalty was sought in other cases, primarily in Indiana and Lake County, where a single defendant was charged with multiple murders.Community Hospital has two free upcoming community programs. Foot care for patients with diabetes and Peripheral Vascular Disease will be discussed from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 23 at Hartsfield Village, 10000 Columbia Ave., Munster. Registration is required at 219-836-3477 or 866-836-3477. A Nutrition During Breastfeeding program will be from 9-11 a.m. Feb. 28 at the hospital, 901 MacArthur Blvd., Munster. Registration is required at 219-836-6797. Held during TLC: The Lactation Clinic, new mothers are invited to drop in anytime from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a lactation consultation or a baby weight check without an appointment. More information is at www.comhs.org.Cardosi was found guilty of three counts of murder and two counts of murder while committing a burglary, as well as two counts of assisting a criminal and one count of auto theft, after a seven-day trial.Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, said that during short legislative sessions like this year, it's difficult for bills of substance to advance. Brown said many representatives are gearing up for re-election campaigns and often avoid considering more controversial legislation.The man "disregarded the officers' lawful commands and less lethal force," Mance said in a release Friday. Mance said police used a stun gun on Terry, but it "was ineffective in subduing the subject as he continued his resistive and armed approach towards the officers," according to Mance."There's too much hate out there and the hate has driven both sides so far in opposite directions that we can't have an intelligent discussion about anything, much less guns, and you're not learning much from social media about how to fix it," he said."At the same time, INDOT is working with the auto industry, developers and researchers to modernize and prepare Indiana's highway infrastructure for the next generations of vehicles," he said. "INDOT is excited to work with all stakeholders in taking the steps necessary to support autonomous vehicle research, testing and deployment in Indiana."For Gary, this bill converts the locally-elected school board to an advisory-only board and actually prohibits it from meeting publicly more than once every three months. Surely that is unconstitutional. This blatantly takes away local power, guts community engagement and negates the meaning of any vote for school board. It allows teachers to be fired without notice or due process. And, there is nothing the local community can do to get their schools back from the state. Only the Emergency Manager can petition the state to end the distressed unit status of Gary Schools and return control of schools back to the community.America used to be called The Melting Pot, where diverse people came to our country and melted into the culture as one. In the 80s, I heard it better called a Salad Bowl. This is where diverse people came together, but instead of melting into all the same mess, they came together as one, yet kept their distinct individual differences. All were a part of our culture, yet encouraged to keep their traditions alive, to make for an interesting whole. Now it seems some want our country to be Vanilla Pudding. I am happy to skip the dessert.I wonder what color the sky is on Trumpworld. I also wonder what's different there that allows a growing pile of evidence that Donald Trump and his entourage engaged in illegal campaign activities with a foreign government that has already been found to have meddled with our election constitutes a witch hunt. Final question to Trump supporters: what will it take to get you to finally wake up to the fact that that man is a criminal? And please note, answers with " Clinton " or " Obama " won't be accepted.PW metro board talks budget, possibly water rate increases

From short staffing issues to a need to improve customer service, Pueblo West Metro Board starts looking at next year's budget.People across China Friday celebrated the Spring Festival, the country's most important occasion for family gatherings, with fireworks, greetings, delicious food and performances.











It's a tradition for Beijingers to visit temple fairs during the Lunar New Year holiday.





On Friday, the first day of the Year of the Dog in the 12-animal Chinese zodiac, many visited the bustling, crowded fairs in the Chinese capital, enjoying delicacies and handicraft works and watching traditional performances.





"The traditional culture represents ancient people's aspiration for a good life," said Peng Lei, 33, who visited the Ditan Park temple fair with his little daughter.





"I want my daughter to see with her own eyes and get to know the root of our culture," said Peng, who has lived in Beijing for 18 years.





Some, however, spent the holiday visiting tourist destinations.





On Friday morning, Kong Mingquan and his parents attended the flag-raising ceremony at the Tian'anmen Square in the heart of Beijing.





"I bring my parents to the flag-raising ceremony and pay respect to late Chairman Mao Zedong," said Kong, a native of northeast China's Jilin Province now working in Beijing.





At the square, many waved small national flags and posed for photos. They extended new year greetings to each other as the flag was raised to the top of the flagpole.





In Shanghai, a Buddhist temple launched a charity program to receive children of migrant workers who remain working in the city in the Spring Festival holiday.





"We have learned that most children of the migrant workers are left behind in their hometowns, and they wish to come and see Shanghai with their parents," said Master Hong Yi from Wanfo Temple, which sponsored the program.





There are a lot of people going back to their roots. Migrant worker Wang Dejun and his wife returned home in a village in Jintang County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, to spend the festival with their two sons, aged 7 and 11.





The couple worked in Zhuhai of southern Guangdong Province. They would stay at home for six days.





In southwest China, Tibetans celebrated the Tibetan New Year, which coincided with the Spring Festival this year, making prayers at monasteries and watching Tibetan opera performances Friday.





"It's a tradition of my family to watch Tibetan operas in new clothes," said Soinam Pedron, who watched performances with her two-and-a half-year-old daughter in a park near the Potala Palace in Lhasa, capital of Tibet.



You are here: China

China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) has asked food safety offices at all levels to increase the frequency and scope of food testing during the Spring Festival holiday.







Food providers in school canteens, nursing homes, restaurant chains, tourist destinations and others should be closely watched, said the CFDA.





The administration asked offices to step up inspection on use of antibiotics, chemical compounds and veterinary drugs in animal products.





The Spring Festival holiday characterized by family gatherings, feasts and performances lasts from Feb. 15 to 21.







Details of the cost of war in Afghanistan revealed to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee make an interesting reading. A Pentagon official told lawmakers the conflict is now costing $45 billion a year.





It is a disturbingly exorbitant cost as witnessed by the comments of several senators during a hearing. Democratic Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts said that two months of Afghan spending could fund an opioid center in every county in America.





The interesting part is related to mind-boggling difference between the amount spent on Afghan and American security forces, and providing logistics, compared to the economic assistance being given to the Afghan government.





It was revealed that $5 billion goes to the Afghan forces and $13 billion for around 16,000 American troops stationed in the country, while a paltry sum of $780 million is for economic assistance. The remainder of the $45 billion outlay is for logistics support.





The Committee was also told that the current cost of war is much less than when over 100,000 American servicemen were waging a war on terror in the rugged mountains of Afghanistan. Then, the bill hit $100 billion a year.





That then leads to the question of the total cost of the Afghan war since 2001. Various factors used to calculate the cost tend to change the net expenditures. However, different estimates show American taxpayers have paid between $1 trillion to $2 trillion for this obscure war.





If we add in the war in Iraq, the total figure is close to $5 trillion. However, again, these are not the final figures as various experts use different baselines in making their calculations.





America is still very rich by any standards. Otherwise, how could it funnel huge sums of money into such senseless conflicts? In case of Iraq, at least the administration has the saving grace of officially ending the war and pulling out troops.





Unfortunately, there is no end in sight for the Afghan war, which still rages on in its 17th year. It has been termed as the longest running war in American history (even beyond Vietnam).





The figures for the Afghan or Iraq wars, it should be stressed, are just the cost suffered by the United States. Imagine the human and material cost for Afghanistan, Iraq, NATO allies and the neighbors of these two countries.





For example, Pakistan has officially said that its economy suffered a $123 billion loss since start of the conflict in 2001. It also lost more than 70,000 civilians and over 6,000 security personnel in bombings and fighting against militants.





The downside of the Afghan conflict is that there is no indication, as yet, of who is winning. There is a civilian government in Kabul supported by the international community whose writ, however, is limited.





Taliban militants control vast swathes of countryside, but are unable to topple the government. They cannot win the war militarily while American forces are stationed in Afghanistan.





Equally, the American troops are far away from a decisive win. As the militants detonate bombs in Kabul, Americans are coming under increasing criticism from Afghan politicians for failing to fix the security problem.





Former president Hamid Karzai, in an interview with the Associated Press, accused the Americans of using Afghan soil for their own strategic objectives. He said the purpose of American troops being in Afghanistan was not to stop extremism.





He continued: "In my view, their intention is to keep us divided and weak so they can carry on their objectives in this region.They (Americans) have their global politics and rivalries. They have China as a great rising power. They have Russia as a revitalized, re-energized great power on the world scene, and they feel challenged and even threatened."





It is not for first time Karzai has targeted the U.S. for failures. In another interview he accused it of turning a blind eye towards Da'esh, which controls the border region and has been involved in several lethal attacks inside Afghanistan.





American forces have obviously failed to eliminate the Taliban but they can take credit for decimating al-Qaeda in the region. However, the threat posed by the latter has been taken over by Da'esh.





The details of cost of Afghan war shared with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at least help to partially identify the cause of trouble in Afghanistan. The money given in economic assistance is abysmally low and a reason for failure to stabilize the country.





Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:





http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm





Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.



China's Spring Festival can be said to be as old as time. Stretching as far back as beyond 1,600 B.C., it predates every other event celebrated in every other known calendar worldwide. Its historicity apart, it is simply the most popular festival for all Chinese everywhere.





Every year, Chinese everywhere want to go back home to spend the Spring Festival with their family, making this lengthy celebration the busiest in all respects: Millions travel using any and all forms of transport possible and available, countless numbers doing any and everything possible to observe that one festival that means everything to all.





Families and neighborhoods, communities and villages, towns and cities, provinces and regions  all Chinese at home and abroad do whichever of all the traditional things to celebrate what custom and tradition have handed down over the ages.





From the first day of the last lunar month of each year to the middle of the first lunar month of the next  and especially during the seven-day holiday now prescribed by the state  it's like the world is put on hold. Yes, the globe turns and time passes just like always, but time itself is spent differently, the emphasis being only on ensuring the family has the best time spent together.





Of course, the New Year is welcomed by everyone every year, everywhere else. In that sense, China's Spring Festival is no different. But the big and inimitable difference is in the extent of the celebration and the depth of the family union and reunion.





Most people elsewhere will be satisfied with ushering-in the New Year wherever they are when it comes. Some will head home and many will wish they could. But Chinese who can will definitely head home and even those who cannot, will dare to try.





The stories told of Chinese heading home for the Spring Festival can fill any heart: Time and distance don't matter, nor the route. Some will lose their way and are gladly helped by others. Grandparents and parents wait with certainty that their offspring will spring into the home from the doorstep for the Spring Festival.





Unlike voyages to the unknown, every traveler has a final destination. Air and sea, rail and road transport is never, ever busier. And at the end of the trip, the best food is shared and enjoyed by all.





On the eve of the New Year and on the day itself, it's as if the entire family is born again, the home as if just built anew, good wishes spelt out loud, bad omens wished and washed away with near certainty.





Everyone wishes good, better and best for all. Children are treated extra special by parents and elders. Everyone seems born again.





Chinese abroad are no different. It's the one day they all come together in like form. The festivity is shorter than back home, but on the day itself not one will be expected or made to do anything else but enjoy the best annual holiday of their lives.





Spring Festival is celebrated better than a birthday or wedding day because it's not just a day. Instead, it's an observance that allows each celebrant a period of time to reflect and project, start afresh and face the New Year with renewed energy and enthusiasm.





It's understandably difficult for non-Chinese to understand why Chinese place so much importance on what most others will regard as just another year in the continuing and unending cycle of time.





Christmas is perhaps the closest comparison, as it is celebrated worldwide, even by non-Christians, as an annual holiday season when entire societies are geared for that one period that's celebrated even more widely than the start of a new year.





But the Spring Festival does not celebrate one god. Instead, it originates from sacrifices to all gods and ancestors, of all names and with no names, from times unknown that no one can remember.





All of China's 56 ethnic groups celebrate the same festival with varying customs, each attaching the same importance, wherever they are, however they can.





There's no one history book telling all about China's Spring Festival, yet all Chinese know how best each can and will celebrate that one festivity that means everything to all.





It's a veritable Chinese showcase to the world of how all the people of an entire nation can one by one and family by family, forget their troubles, set aside all problems and simply pay homage to all their early gods and ancestors, known and unknown, past and present, in equal measure.





Verily, the Chinese Spring Festival has no calendar start  and no end in sight.





Like a world without end, it always was  and always will be.





Year after year, from time immemorial to time everlasting, that's just the way it is!





Earl Bousquet is a contributor to china.org.cn, editor-at-large of The Diplomatic Courier and author of an online regional newspaper column entitled Chronicles of a Chronic Caribbean Chronicler.





Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.



 Flash

A traditional Chinese medicine cancer rehabilitation center opened Thursday in the Texas Medical Center (TMC) in Houston in the south central U.S. state of Texas.

Wang Shuxia, founder of the rehabilitation center, also a licensed acupuncturist registered in China's Ministry of Health, told Xinhua that more and more western cancer patients are inclined to traditional Chinese therapy as their health conditions are greatly improved due to Chinese herbs and acupuncture.

"Western therapy has its strong points but traditional Chinese medicine has its own advantages in term of patients' rehabilitation," said Wang.

As essential parts of integrative therapy, herbal medicine can help relieve pain, fatigue and nausea for cancer patients who have received the operations, chemotherapy and other conventional treatment, Wang explained.

She said she hopes that the traditional Chinese medicine cancer rehabilitation center can help improve patients' health and quality of life.

Covering 5.4 square km in Houston, the TMC, one of the largest medical complexes in the world, is at the forefront of advancing life sciences.

As traditional Chinese medicine has been more widely used in the United States, 46 states have legalized acupuncture up to October 2017, and the number of licensed acupuncturists in the country has grown to circa 45,000. Flash

Foreign leaders around the world sent their greetings and good wishes to Chinese celebrating the Chinese New Year, expressing their will to further develop relations with China.





In a video message, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, "Dogs are guards and good companions to human beings. The Year of the Dog symbolizes loyalty and trust. Trust boosts unity and collaboration. That is what our world needs."





"Let us work together for global peace and prosperity. I thank China and the Chinese people for their support for the work of United Nations. I wish you good health, happiness and success in the Year of the Dog," he added.





European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed similar sentiments in another video greeting.





"This is indeed a special year for two reasons," he said. "Firstly, because it is the Year of the Dog, so it will be a year of loyalty, sincerity and harmonious relationships. This is exactly what the European Union (EU) and China will work for this year. We are loyal and sincere friends and we will continue working together in the best harmony possible."





The second important reason is that this is also the first-ever EU-China Tourism Year. "There will be plenty of cultural events and exchanges, so we can learn more about each other's societies and ways of life," Juncker added.





World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who visited China in August as chief of the agency for the first time and held "very efficient talks" with Chinese leaders, thanked China for its continuous support to the WHO and hoped to expand bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.





UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean's Executive Secretary Alicia Barcena said China is of critical importance to Latin America and the Caribbean region. "The people in the region warmly welcome Chinese people to visit and also wish to visit China," she said.





Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen said Chinese communities in Austria not only provide important and valuable service to the economy but also contribute to building a multicultural, open and inclusive country.





Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said he expects China to maintain its friendly relations with countries around the globe, including Slovakia, and wished China greater diplomatic achievement as one of leading countries in the world.





Fijian President Jioji Konrote thanked all Chinese partners in development who strove over the years to promote the mutually beneficial relations between Fiji and China and helped Fiji in dealing with its socio-economic and political challenges.





Maltese President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca acknowledged the Chinese participation in the life of Malta and their contributions to the prosperity and well-being of the Maltese Islands.





Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said he has "every reason to believe that the Year of the Dog will bring us more success and mutual benefits for China-Africa cooperation."





Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena thanked China for its significant contribution to the development of Sri Lanka.





In a statement released on the official website of the government, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy highlighted the contributions of the Chinese community to the shared prosperity in Spain.





"Many Spaniards today see the Chinese and Asian cultures as something much closer than they did in the past," Rajoy said.











A 7.2-magnitude quake jolted southern Mexican state of Oaxaca on Friday afternoon, according to Mexico's National Seismological Service (SSN).





The U.S. Geological Survey also put the magnitude of the quake at 7.2 rather than 7.5.





The strong quake occurred at 5:39 p.m. local time (1139 GMT, Saturday), 11 km south of the coastal town of Pinotepa Nacional in southwest Oaxaca.





Luis Felipe Puente, the national coordinator of civil protection, said that the earthquake was felt in the states of Oaxaca, Chiapas, Puebla, Michoacan and in Mexico City. So far, no injuries or damage have been reported.





A magnitude-5.8 aftershock struck the state of Oaxaca about an hour after the previous 7.2-magnitude quake.





The civil protection authorities activated protocols to review possible damage.





The earthquake triggered a seismic alert of the country's capital, prompting residents to evacuate their homes and offices to take shelter in streets and parks.





Mayor of Mexico City Miguel Angel Mancera said in an interview with the news channel ForoTV that he had no information on incidents after the quake and that only a few people had suffered nervous breakdowns.





On Sept. 7 and 19 last year, Mexico saw two earthquakes of 8.2 and 7.1 magnitude, which killed 471 people and damaged over 180,000 houses in eight states, including Mexico City.



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Password:Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need will shell out 3.6 million British pounds to help 2,000 Christian refugees returning to Iraq's Nineveh Plains rebuild their homes after the Islamic State was defeated in the region.

The money given by ACN will help in the renovation of 1,500 houses in Qaraqosh while 500 homes in Bartella, Bashiqua, and Bahzani will also be rebuilt. The Chaldean, Syriac Orthodox and Syriac Catholic Churches established the Nineveh Reconstruction Committee to supervise the rebuilding project, The Tablet detailed.

The NRC has completed the renovation of almost 3,000 houses in the region since it began in March 2017. ACN financed the rebuilding of 784 of those homes.

ACN's Middle East head Father Andrzej Halemba expressed joy at the return of 35 percent of the Iraqi Christians. However, he acknowledged that there were still challenges to surmount, including the ISIS extremist ideas that had already penetrated some sections of the community.

"It will be possible to achieve the greater objective a namely, to restore 6,000 houses a only if we provide concrete aid together with other players and only if this region is not left to its own devices," Father Halemba added. "This would enable at least each second displaced person of the Christian minority to return."

Meanwhile, Iraq's minister of planning, Salman Al-Jameeli, said $88.2 billion is required to rebuild the areas destroyed in the battle against ISIS. They will need to allot $22.9 billion for the short term reconstruction projects and $65.4 billion for the medium term, CNN reported.

Al-Jameeli's statement was issued during an Iraq donors' conference held in Kuwait on Feb. 13. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who was present during the conference, asked for the help of the anti-ISIS coalition in rebuilding Iraq.

In addition, Tillerson said leaving Iraq and Syria in their devastated conditions would open these places to situations that let the extremist group take over large swathes of land. He also shared the U.S. would allot another $200 million for the stabilization efforts in Syria.A religious discrimination lawsuit has been filed by a Christian magistrate against the Lord Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor at the Croydon Employment Tribunal due to his termination caused by his stance against gay adoption.

In July 2014, Richard Page and two other magistrates reviewed a same-sex couple's application to adopt a child. His fellow magistrates filed a complaint against him and said he had made a decision based on his Christian beliefs. He then explained to BBC that he thought it would be best for the child to have a heterosexual couple as adoptive parents rather than a gay couple, The Telegraph detailed.

In March 2016, Michael Gove, who was the Justice Secretary at the time, and Lord Thomas fired Page for serious misconduct and explained the latter's comments to BBC had illustrated his bias against gay adopters. Page was also suspended by the NHS Trust Development Authority and prevented from performing his duties as the non-executive director of Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust.

Last year, Page lost his legal battle to be reinstated with the NHS after he filed a discrimination complaint with an employment tribunal. He then expressed his dismay with the ruling and vowed to appeal against it, the BBC reported.

A representative from the NHS, on the other hand, said at the time that Board members ought to maintain their standards which include supporting equality and inclusivity.

"While my colleagues are of course entitled to their views that one must be homophobic to disagree with same sex parenting, I am equally entitled to the view that a child needs a mother and a father, and that experimenting with a child is unethical and likely to add to an already unhappy life," Page told the tribunal. "There is a subtle difference between believing that a child should have a mother and a father, and being prejudiced to same sex couples. Sadly I was portrayed as homophobic and I refute this."

The hearing on Page's case is still ongoing.Christian Schools Australia has defended its right to hire teachers and other employees as well as to terminate them and to select students based on their beliefs and adherence to the church doctrine.

In a joint submission with the Adventist Schools Australia to Phillip Ruddock's Religious Freedom Review, CSA said schools should have the ability to choose and eject staff and students based on their adherence to religious codes. The organization specifically pointed to Queensland's anti-discrimination laws that prohibit schools from taking action against staff who may have acted against its religious beliefs, The Guardian detailed.

"If freedom of religion is to remain a legitimate hallmark of Australian education then the rights of school communities to operate in accordance with religious beliefs must be upheld," the CSA said in its submission. "This must include the right to choose all staff based on their belief in, and adherence to, the beliefs, tenets and doctrines of the religion concerned."

Pro-LGBT organizations, including the rights group Just Equal, have called for the scrapping of laws that give religious individuals and groups the right to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Amnesty International also said there should be no exemptions allowing civil marriage celebrants to decline officiating a marriage because of their religious beliefs.

In line with this issue, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference said churches should be allowed to turn down weddings that clash against their religious beliefs. In their submission, they called for freedom of religion to be upheld and Australian laws to be updated to reflect religious exemptions in anti-discrimination laws, The Australian reported.

According to the Catholic bishops' submission, the language talking about exemptions does not see that "religious freedom is not a special permission to discriminate." Rather, it is a basic human right that the Australian government should handle with care, and is something that lets religious groups do things in line with their beliefs.Christian and Buddhist chaplains across Oxford have raised almost 4,000 for a new ark for the Oxford Jewish Congregation (OJC).

The Oxford Jewish Congregation is a community of 300-400 member households that host Orthodox, Progressive and Masorti services, as well as egalitarian Friday nights.

Isaac Garson, one of the leaders of the congregation and the person in charge of the fundraising, said the old ark was no longer secure and it wasn't waterproof, fireproof, or even lockable.

After hearing about the congregation's need to replace the old ark, Rev. Canon Bruce Kinsey, chaplain at Balliol College, responded to Garson's plea for help to serve students of all faiths and none.

To Canon Kinsey, helping the fundraising for OJC's new ark was an unusual opportunity to put their money where their mouths are, saying that the Jewish Congregation, together with the Jewish chaplain of Oxford University play an important role in supporting Jewish students.

Seventeen colleges, churches and a Buddhist group contributed to the fundraising.

Alison Ryde, OJC's president, appreciated "both the gift itself and the thoughts behind it".

Ryde also hoped that the donors would visit the synagogue to see the newly-constructed ark.

Robin Furlong, a local designer and a furniture maker, made the ark.

The OJC said the design reflected their desire to become more than a synagogue and act as a community center.

The OJC will be opened to residents, visitors and university students.

To celebrate the congregation's 175th anniversary and the renewal of the ark, a service will take place at the end of February.Christians should take the time to join fellowships in person even though it is now easier for them to watch televised church services, according to California megachurch pastor Greg Laurie.

In a sermon on Feb. 11, Harvest Christian Fellowship senior pastor Greg Laurie explained the reasons why God created man and why the Church exists. He said humans were made to exalt God, edify the saints, and spread the Gospel throughout the world, The Christian Post detailed.

Pastor Laurie acknowledged that there were Christians who liked to attend church services online or merely listened to sermons on podcasts. There were also those who cannot physically get to the church to participate in the fellowship, but he said there were special things that happened when believers come together to study God's word.

"When we get together and we talk about the Lord, the Lord sort of bends down and eavesdrops on our conversation," Laurie explained. "He loves to hear us talk about Him. When you're walking with God, you want to be with God's people. Let me turn that around: When you're not walking with God as you ought to, you probably don't want to be with God's people as much."

In addition, Laurie said a strong bond with God will be reflected in one's strong relationship with his fellows. Once a person drifts away from his fellowship with the Lord, he will also find himself drifting away from his co-believers.

Lastly, Laurie said televised and online church services should not replace a Christian's personal presence in the fellowship. Instead, these technological tools should enhance a person's relationship with God and fellow believers.

Last year, renowned evangelist Rev. Billy Graham addressed the same issue in a column on his ministry's website. While he was thankful for the convenience that technology presents for people like him who were already old or are suffering from health problems, he said Christians will miss the opportunity to become part of the congregation if they stick to online or televised church services only.

Quoting Hebrews 10:24-25, Rev. Graham said the Bible teaches believers to help each other grow and to not give up in "meeting together." Doing this will also give Christians the chance to serve Jesus Christ together with other believers.Some Christian leaders fear that the deportation of illegal immigrants may affect the survival of churches in the United States amid a continuous decline in church attendance and a dependence on the latter group to fill the empty pews.

As the number of Americans who skip church is increasing, immigrants now make up a bigger portion of the Christian population in the U.S. National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference president Rev. Samuel Rodriguez said this was the biggest factor affecting the growth of American Christianity at present, NPR detailed.

"Mass deportation of current immigrants would do nothing less than cripple American Christianity for generations to come," said Rev. Rodriguez. "If you deport the immigrants, you are deporting the future of Christianity."

Rev. Tim Holland, the head of a nondenominational bilingual church in Texas, echoed the fears of other Christian leaders regarding the effect of mass deportations. His church consists of two congregations. One of them is made up of English speakers and the other is for Spanish speakers. However, Holland said the crackdown on illegal immigrants "would have a massive, massive immediate impact" on Christian congregations like theirs.

Based on surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center, a quarter of the Catholics in the U.S. were born elsewhere. It was also discovered that around 40 percent of the country's Eastern Orthodox Christian congregation were also immigrants. A lot of Hispanic migrants were Catholic as well, and parishes all over the country have opened their doors to these people.

Meanwhile, in New Jersey, a temporary restraining order was issued by U.S. District Judge Esther Salas earlier this month to keep Indonesian Christians there from getting deported. Her ruling gives them another chance to process their asylum applications in the country, USA Today reported.

A federal judge in Massachusetts has also issued a similar ruling siding with Indonesian Christians. They were given 90 days to process their cases once again after they get the documents from their previous application. This means the government cannot deport them until after the Board of Immigration Appeals releases a ruling on these new cases.The family of a Malaysian pastor who was abducted a year ago in broad daylight in Petaling Jaya is still pleading for his release and hoping that they would be reunited in time for the Chinese New Year.

In a statement issued exactly a year after Pastor Raymond Koh was abducted, his wife Susanna Liew pleaded for her husband's release, saying she wished that their family could be together for the Chinese New Year. Koh, who was taken by masked men in Petaling Jaya on Feb. 13, 2017 in an incident captured by security footage, is still missing, Channel News Asia reports.

"My wish is for Raymond to be released so that he can be reunited with his family especially this Chinese New Year," said Liew in her statement. "His mother is ailing and has not seen him for over a year."

Police are investigating whether Pastor Koh's disappearance was connected with proselytization allegations against him, as it is illegal for non-Muslims to preach to Muslims in Malaysia. It is also thought that a human trafficking syndicate could have been involved in his disappearance.

The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) also called for Pastor Koh's release on the anniversary of his abduction. Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, Julian Leow Beng Kim, urged Christians to continue praying for closure on the case of the missing pastor, the Anglican News reported.

Archbishop Kim, who serves as the chairman of CFM, encouraged the faithful to also pray that Pastor Koh would finally be reunited with his family. He also asked them to pray that the Lord would strengthen Koh's family as they endure this difficult time.

CFM called on authorities to urgently and diligently complete their investigations into the case of Pastor Koh and the other Christians who have been reported missing.The World Day of the Sick is commemorated on February 11 of every year.

It was instituted by Pope John Paul II on May 13, 1992 and is considered a feast day of the Roman Catholic Church.

On feast day, Pope Francis reminded the world of the condition of the sick and how Jesus handled the sick with compassion. He recounted, upon reflection of the Gospel, how lepers during Jesus' time were considered lowly and impure before God but asked Jesus to purify them.

The mentality of the time as it related to lepers was particularly painful because of how society made lepers feel. Pope Francis continued that believers cannot comprehend the work of Christ unless they choose to enter Christ's heart, which has always been full of compassion. It is this same compassion, Pope Francis continued, that prompted Jesus to reach out to a leper and say "I want to: be cleansed!"

What is truly fascinating about the situation, he said, was the fact that Jesus chose to touch a leper. Touching a leper meant that a person was consigning oneself to inevitable infection and impurity. This impurity is not just physical but also internal, in line with the beliefs of Jesus' time.

Why did Jesus do it? It all boils down to what kind of compassion Jesus actually possessed. According to Pope Francis, Jesus' compassion was the type that consumed him with a desire to free the man (the leper) from the 'curse' that 'oppresses' him.

Toward the end of reflection, the Pope asked the crowd to pray to be freed from 'diseases of the heart' from which all people need to be cleansed. We turn to Jesus and ask him also: if you want to, you can cleanse me!'American pastor Andrew Brunson, who has been wrongfully jailed in Turkey for 16 months now, has written a heartbreaking message to his wife after a formal meeting with the prosecutor.

Pastor Brunson and his Turkish attorney met with the prosecutor in the country last week for the first time since he was detained 16 months ago. In a letter to his wife written after the formal meeting, the American pastor poured out his heart and his feeling of hopelessness over the lack of development and access to his case file, the American Center for Law and Justice detailed.

"I am very discouraged. Please have prayer for me," Pastor Brunson said in his letter to his wife. "I love you a can't handle the thought of growing old in this place, without you."

As of now, the appeal against Pastor Brunson's wrongful imprisonment offers little hope of a positive result even though it is still pending. What sinks that hope even further is the fact that he can be jailed for a maximum of seven years in Turkey even if no formal charges were to be implemented.

In light of his situation, the ACLJ is asking Christians to pray for Pastor Brunson, his family, and his release. The organization has already elevated his case to Congress, the White House, and the United Nations, and has vowed to continue fighting for his freedom.

Last month, a document was written and signed by 24 members of the Council of Europe who criticized Turkey for the wrongful detention of Pastor Brunson. The declaration also slammed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for treating the American missionary as a "bargaining chip" to repatriate the suspected mastermind in a failed coup attempt from the U.S., World Net Daily reported.

In addition, the document noted the "inhumane" living conditions of the American missionary in jail and the lack of evidence to establish that he had indeed committed a crime. The ACLJ hailed the ministers' move and said the latter's support formed a critical step in its fight for Pastor Brunson's release.Poland is currently in a diplomatic row with the state of Israel after it passed a controversial bill called the Holocaust speech law.

The Holocaust speech law aims to penalize anyone who attributes the atrocities of the Holocaust to Poland. This includes allusions to physical places in the country such as 'Polish death camps.'

Ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) said that the bill has the support of President Andrzej Duda and has 21 days to be signed into law after being passed by the lower house. The rationale for the Holocaust speech law is that Poland supposedly needs to protect its international reputation.

The law has been met with protests locally and globally. In the United States, critics have said that the law could violate freedom of speech. Israel has been increasingly vocal of its opposition to the law, saying that it could easily allow the distortion of history as well as allow the criminalization of historical fact. There is also a chance, critics say, that it could whitewash the role of Poland in the systematic extermination of Jews by Nazi Germany.

At home, Polish Jews are fearing for the future. Anna ChipczyAska, president of the Jewish Community of Warsaw stated that they receive anti-Semitic comments on a daily basis and the members of the Jewish community in Poland feel that their loyalty to the country is being questioned by the passing of the bill. Some members of the Jewish community say that the silence of many other people regarding the bill is hurtful, despite the openness of the attack on Polish Jews.

Pro-Holocaust speech law supporters say that the opposition to the bill is an attack on Poland's reputation by international advocacy groups and institutions, and that these opponents 'wish to break us [the Polish].'U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's Christian beliefs were recently mocked by a female host from ABC News' "The View" who said his claim of Jesus Christ speaking to him was a sign of a "mental illness."

On Tuesday, Feb. 13, the hosts of "The View" showed a video clip of former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman criticizing Pence for claiming that Christ tells him certain things.

While discussing Newman's motive for what she said, Sunny Hostin zeroed in on Pence's character. She mentioned he was "hated" in Indiana and she does not want a vice president who was "speaking in tongues" even though she was a devout Catholic, Fox News detailed.

At that point, Joy Behar turned the topic back to the claim that Pence hears Christ talking to him. She said hearing voices suggests a "mental illness."

"It's one thing to talk to Jesus. It's another thing when Jesus talks to you," said Behar.

Sherri Shepard attempted to defend Pence, explaining that a conversation with Christ involves talking to him and listening to his reply. However, she also wondered out loud how long that talk lasts.

"Can he talk to Mary Magdalene without his wife in the room?" joked Behar.

Meanwhile, Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress slammed the hosts for making fun of Pence's Christian faith. Appearing on "America's Newsroom," he asked what would have happened if the subject of the mockery had been a devout Muslim and not a Christian, Fox News Insider reported.

Jeffress said ABC would have likely terminated Behar if she had mocked a Muslim's faith. He also lamented that it always seemed to be "open season" when it came to the left targeting conservatives.

In addition, Pastor Jeffress said there were many liberals who were bent on promoting tolerance but were actually the least tolerant with opinions that clashed against their own. He said that if the attack on Christians' beliefs continue, Donald Trump could be re-elected in 2020 and Pence could sit as the president in 2024.The Vatican's potential deal with the Chinese government could cause a rift within the Church in China, according to a group of influential Catholics who questioned the integrity of the bishops handpicked by Beijing.

In an open letter to bishops all over the world, 15 leading Catholics said China should not take part in the choosing of bishops for the Church. They warned that the moral integrity of those selected by Beijing - its seven "illicit" bishops - would throw Catholics into confusion and cause division within the Church, The Washington Post detailed.

"They do not have the trust of the faithful, and have never repented publicly," the group said. "If they were to be recognized as legitimate, the faithful in Greater China would be plunged into confusion and pain, and schism would be created in the Church in China."

The open letter was published amid the Vatican's ongoing negotiations with the Chinese Communist Party over the appointment of bishops in China. The deal could reportedly lead to the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two parties, which were severed in 1951.

However, the 15 influential Catholics argued that religious persecution in China had not waned and there were no signs that it would stop even if Vatican seals the deal. They feared that the agreement would harm the Church's freedom and its morality.

"We earnestly ask you, with the love on the people of God, appeal to the Holy See: Please rethink the current agreement, and stop making an irreversible and regrettable mistake," the letter continued.

Guo Xijin, an "underground" bishop who the Vatican had requested to step down from his post, said he would respect the result of the deal between the two parties. However, he warned that Beijing would still have a difficult time dealing with the lack of control over Catholics, The New York Times reported.

Bishop Guo maintained that the ties between the Catholic Church and the Vatican should not be severed. Therefore, he said they must obey the decision of the Holy See on the issue.We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

Go to formWe attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message.Apel de exprimare a interesului privind intentia de participare la serviciile de suport la formarea/consolidarea grupurilor de femei pentru accesarea granturilor din cadrul Proiectului de Rezilienta RuralaAKRON, Ohio - Major improvements are coming to Akron's Central Interchange, with construction scheduled to begin in 2021.

The Ohio Department of Transportation wants the public to weigh in at a public meeting to discuss design and improvements. The public meeting will be from 5- 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 6, at the Glover Community Learning Center cafeteria, at 935 Hammel St. in Akron.

At the root of the project is an in-depth analysis of Akron's freeway system that studied traffic flow, infrastructure condition and other issues. The project will improve traffic flow and safety while replacing aging bridges.

The work will involve:

Ramps from I-76 west to I-77 south, I-76 west to State Route 8 north; and I-76/I-77 east to State Route 8 north will be reconfigured with bridges on the ramps replaced

To accommodate the reconfigured ramps, the Lafollette Street bridge over I-77 is to be replaced with a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over I-77 to serve the future Rubber City Heritage Trail

Coventry Street will be removed between Kipling and Lafollette streets

The I-76 west exit ramp to Inman /Johnston streets and the I-77 south Lovers Lane exit ramp will be closed

Noise walls might be constructed at various locations

The public meeting will an open house with no formal presentation. Attendees can stop in any time from 5-7 p.m. Maps, exhibits and plan information will be on display. ODOT project team members will be on hand to discuss the proposed project and answer questions.

Public comments are due by March 23 and can be submitted by phone, email or mail.

Call Robert Lang, ODOT District 4 Environmental Specialist at 330-786-4975 or send an email to him. Mail comments to: Robert Lang, Environmental Specialist Ohio Department of Transportation - District 4, 2088 South Arlington Road Akron, 44306.

Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.com's Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.AKRON, Ohio -- Detectives are searching for a man accused of shooting and killing a 4-year-old girl Friday night.

Darnell Bitting, 31, is charged with murder and using weapons under disability in the shooting that happened about 10:30 p.m. on Mercer Avenue near Lawton Street, according to a news release from Akron police.

Bitting is not in police custody but warrants were issued.

Police have not identified the name of the girl pending family notification.

Officers observed a 2008 Dodge Avenger with four girls, ages 3, 4, 6 and 7, inside with their grandmother, the release says.

The children's mother told police she pulled up in front of a home on Mercer Avenue, got out of the car and walked to the home to get some of her belongings, the release says.

She broke out several windows when no one answered the door, the release says.

A man came out of the home with a rifle and fired a shot, striking the car, the release says.

The grandmother, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, got into the driver's seat and drove down the street, the release says.

The four-year-old girl was shot while sitting in the back behind the driver's seat.

She was taken to Akron Children's Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Anyone with information on Bitting's whereabouts is asked to call the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490; the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-866-4-WANTED; or the Summit County Crimestoppers Inc. at 330-434-COPS. Tips also can be placed by sending a text to TIPSCO at 274637 (Crimes).

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Saturday's crime and courts comments section.CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Felonious assault, Rushleigh Road: At 10:10 p.m. Feb. 8, an officer was monitoring traffic on Noble Road when he saw a car with a non-working headlight drive by. The officer followed and eventually attempted to make a traffic stop.

The suspect car slowed, but then continued with the officer in pursuit. The officer called for assistance and, at Hartwood and Pembrook roads, the suspect car rammed a police cruiser. The driver, a man, 20, got out and ran.

The suspect was apprehended after a foot chase on Rushleigh Road. After being taken into custody, the suspect vomited in a police cruiser.

In his car, officers found marijuana, a digital scale and an open container of alcohol. The man was cited for these offenses, and was further charged with felonious assault, fleeing and eluding, and obstructing official business.

Criminal mischief, Washington Boulevard: At 6:10 p.m. Feb. 8, a woman reported that she found three of her car's tires slashed in the back lot of a daycare.

The woman said that the same thing had happened to her approximately three weeks earlier. After the previous incident, her former boyfriend had called her asking about her tires.

Overdose, Lancashire Road: At 9:45 a.m. Feb. 9, police were called to an apartment where a man, 61, was found dead.

The man's body was found when Veterans Administration representatives went to the apartment after being unable to contact him. The property manager let the VA people into the apartment, where the man was found dead, cold to the touch and face down on his bedroom floor.

For the previous week, the man's sister, 64, had been staying at the apartment. The woman said she last saw the man alive on Feb. 6, and even though she hadn't left the apartment during the next two days, said she did not know he was dead in his room.

As police spoke with the woman, she became increasingly agitated. An officer noticed in her purse a folded piece of paper commonly used to carry heroin.

Police believe the man's death was caused by an overdose, as heroin packs were found in his room. The county's Heroin Task Force is investigating.

Hit-skip, Northampton Road: At 6:55 p.m. Feb. 10, a man reported that, as he slowed and made a right turn into his driveway, a black Kia coming in the opposite direction attempted to pass and struck the front of his car.

The Kia then continued on its way, with the man following it to Oxford Elementary School. At the school, the man spoke with the Kia driver, a young woman. The woman told the man she had to go and again drove away.

The man's son, a passenger in the car, took down the woman's license plate number and called police.

Police went to the woman's home on East 69th Street in Cleveland. There, a family member told officers of the suspect's whereabouts -- Yellowstone Road in Cleveland Heights.

Police eventually spoke with the suspect, who said she didn't stop after the accident because she was scared of the driver. When asked why she didn't immediately call police, she had no answer.

The woman was charged with hit-skip.

Domestic violence, Caledonia Avenue: At 1:15 a.m. Feb. 13, police were called to a home where a grandmother and her teen granddaughter had argued.

The grandmother said that the girl had been missing and had just returned home. The girl became upset when she learned her grandmother had changed the home's Wi-Fi password. The girl proceeded to pull power cords from the cable TV and Wi-Fi boxes, then threatened to injure her grandmother.

When the girl left the house, her brother followed to determine where she was going. The girl asked her brother why he was following her, then twice said that she "will have somebody shoot that house up."

Police found the girl at a Neladale Road house and returned her home. There, her grandmother told police she wanted to file charges against her granddaughter.

Burglary, Lee Road: At 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12, a boy came home from school to find his home's front door unlocked and the interior ransacked. He went to his grandmother's home and police were called.

Officers found that the home had been entered via a bedroom window. The boy's mother reported that stolen items included three envelopes containing $9,000 in cash, several video games, three TVs, a laptop computer and iPad, two purses and four handbags, earrings, diamond rings and more.

Disorderly conduct, Lee Boulevard: At 1:15 a.m. Feb. 10, police were called to an apartment lobby where two men were arguing. The caller said that the argument looked as if it was about to become physical.

When an officer arrived, he found two men rolling around on the floor, trying to punch one another, and a third, older man, standing and watching.

Police learned that the men fighting are brothers, and the older man, their father.

All three were out that night at a party celebrating their aunt's birthday. The brothers dropped off their father at the apartment and then left in the same car. As they drove, they began to argue. The brother who was driving then drove the auto back to his father's apartment, where the argument became physical.

Both men were cited for disorderly conduct.

If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page.CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cuyahoga County Council President Dan Brady said Friday that he expects to learn more about a corruption probe involving top county officials during a regularly scheduled meeting next week of the human resources committee.

Brady said in a phone interview with cleveland.com that he believes the investigation stems from concerns about the county's human resources policies. But he also said the investigation appears to have broadened into other areas.

The committee hearing will focus on the administration's proposed new employee handbook, which calls for continuing a controversial policy of giving overtime to salaried employees.

"This will not resolve any investigations," Brady said of the committee hearing, but it will lead to a resolution over concerns about human resources issues.

The two subpoenas from public corruption investigators sought information about Budish's outgoing chief of staff, Sharon Sobol Jordan, and the county's head of information technology.

As to why certain companies were mentioned in one of the subpoenas, including Hyland Software and OneCommunity, Brady said he didn't know.

He did say, however, that County Council has been concerned for several months about the oversight of the county's $20 million information-technology program led by Chief Transformation Officer and Chief Information Officer Scot Rourke and that council recently hired its own consultant to review matters.

One of the subpoenas asks for all emails between Rourke and Hyland Software, a Westlake-based county contractor. The subpoena also asks for emails between the county's IT general counsel and director of special initiatives, Emily McNeeley, and Hyland Software.

Included in the subpoena is a request for "any and all paper or electronic records of access by Scot Rourke and Emily McNeeley to documents related to any contract between Cuyahoga County and the following entities: OneCommunity , OneCleveland, Everstream, DigitalC and Hyland.Software, including, but not limited to Server Access Logs."

Rourke is the former chief executive officer of OneCommunity, a nonprofit Internet provider, having stepped down from that role in 2012.

OneCommunity, which also did business as OneCleveland, has as its mission the expansion of high-speed Internet service. OneCommunity obtained a contract for fiber maintenance services in 2014 that extends through Dec. 31, 2018. The contract, however, was approved by County Council before Budish was county executive and before Rourke had been hired.

In 2016, OneCommunity split into Everstream and DigitalC, both of which are mentioned in the subpoena.

County Council approved a contract with Hyland Software last year for no more than $660,245 to provide "for software licenses, maintenance services and professional services for development of a case management system."

Hyland issued a statement Friday saying that the company "will continue to fully cooperate with any requests for information from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office."

A second subpoena requests time sheets and travel records of Sharon Sobol Jordan, who recently announced she is leaving her job as chief of staff to County Executive Armond Budish to work for the nonprofit Unify Project that hopes to combat poverty and other social problems.

Among the information requested in the subpoena are Jordan's time sheets and travel records. The county allowed Jordan to get her executive MBA while chief of staff to Budish and she missed time at work to attend classes and for class-related travel.

Budish issued a statement Friday afternoon in response to the subpoenas.

"While the subpoenas my administration released are part of an ongoing investigation, and while we've not been told of any allegations, or apprised of the purpose of their inquiry, I want to be very clear: I cannot and will not tolerate any bad behavior. If anyone has done anything wrong, we'll get to the bottom of it. To that end, I have asked the Inspector General to assist and coordinate with the authorities to the fullest extent possible."CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish said Friday that he does not know what prompted subpoenas for records about some top officials in his administration, but he will not tolerate improper behavior.

Budish, commenting publicly for the first time about the subpoenas from public corruption investigators, said in an emailed release that he has asked his inspector general to coordinate with authorities to the "fullest extent possible."

"While the subpoenas my administration released are part of an ongoing investigation, and while we've not been told of any allegations, or apprised of the purpose of their inquiry, I want to be very clear: I cannot and will not tolerate any bad behavior," Budish wrote. "If anyone has done anything wrong, we'll get to the bottom of it."

Public-corruption investigators from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office subpoenaed Budish's administration for records from the department of information services and contracts involving Westlake-based Hyland Software.

Separately, investigators also subpoenaed numerous records - including time sheets and travel records -- related to the employment of Budish's chief of staff, Sharon Sobol Jordan, who recently announced she is leaving to take a new job.

The subpoenas, copies of which were provided to cleveland.com on Friday morning, make no mention of what investigators suspect. But the subpoenas do detail the records being sought.

Sources confirmed to cleveland.com that the FBI conducted some interviews with county employees who were questioned during the investigation.

The subpoena involving the department of information services asks for all emails between Chief Transformation Officer and Chief Information Officer Scot Rourke and Hyland Software, a county contractor, and emails between the county's IT general counsel and director of special initiatives, Emily McNeeley, and Hyland Software.

The subpoena seeking information related to Jordan's employment was received February 9, 2018. It primarily seeks details about time Jordan took off from her county job.

Cleveland.com reported this week that the county allowed Jordan to obtain an executive MBA while working as chief of staff. Her course work required her to miss work to attend classes and for class-related travel.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Maple Heights father and his adult son are charged with raping a woman in August.

Marquis Starks Sr., 35, and Marquis Starks Jr., 18, each pleaded not guilty to six counts of rape at their Friday arraignment in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge John P. O'Donnell ordered them held on $50,000 bond.

The charges stem from an Aug. 20 encounter at a home on Raymond Street, where both men live, records say.

Maple Heights police said the woman, who was 19 years old, was unable to consent to the sexual encounter because she was intoxicated.

The father and son are accused of performing multiple acts with the woman and "causing victim to perform" sex acts on them, according to the indictment.

The woman's mother called 911 about just after midnight that night and told police that her daughter was raped. She told the officers where the rape occurred and identified Starks, according to police records.

Police went to the home and asked for an ambulance to take the woman to Hillcrest Hospital for treatment and for a rape-kit exam.

Maple Heights detectives referred the case to Cuyahoga County prosecutors, and a grand jury handed up its indictment on Feb. 2.

To comment on this story, please visit Friday's crime and courts comments page.Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!

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Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.CLEVELAND, Ohio - The new president of Cleveland State University, Harlan Sands, will start earlier that initially planned, allowing the university to avoid paying a consulting fee of up to $125,000, the university announced Friday.

Sands, 54, was appointed Jan. 29 by CSU's board of trustees to succeed the retiring Ronald Berkman.

And while he wasn't scheduled to start until July 1, the university had agreed to pay him for consulting services before taking office to ensure a smooth transition of the presidency. The cost of those services was expected to range from $75,000 to $125,000.

But the university announced Friday that Sands would leave his current job as vice dean and CFO of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania on April 1. He will begin working at Cleveland State on May 1.

The university will avoid paying the consulting fee, but will amend his contract to pay him for starting earlier. Berkman had planned to leave June 30, but now will depart June 1.

That will allow Sands to work with him for one month.

Sands has signed a five-year contract with CSU that will pay him $455,000 a year, $5,000 more than Berkman and $3,000 more than what he was earning at Wharton, one of the top business schools in the country.

Sands served as vice provost at the University of Alabama at Birmingham from 2007 to 2014, when he went to the University of Louisville as senior vice president of finance and administration and chief financial officer.

While there, he worked for and with Neville Pinto, who is now president of the University of Cincinnati.

Sands was contacted by Wharton to fill the CFO position and began working there in March 2017.

He had not intended to leave. He said he was thrilled to get a job at his alma mater and a top business school. But when he was contacted about the CSU position, he could not turn the opportunity.

Berkman has served as CSU president for nine years.PARMA, Ohio -- A Parma man is facing charges in connection with the death of his sister who was found early Friday morning.

Mark Shankle is charged with aggravated murder in the death of his sister, Vicky Zabala, Parma police said in a news release.

Shankle, 55, was arrested in Buffalo by that city's police department, investigators said.

Parma police named Shankle as a suspect in his sister's murder not long after she was found in a house in the 2400 block of Torrington Avenue near State Road.

Authorities said Shankle was living with Zabala at the home at the time of her death.

Shankle is expected to to be extradited back to Ohio sometime next week, police said.

To comment on this story, visit Friday's crime and courts comments page.This week's Statehouse calendar featured a red-letter day for Ohioans who strive to underline Ohio's claim to be the birthplace of aviation: Ohio's House passed a bill requiring Ohio's state seal and coat of arms to carry a depiction of the Wright Brothers' plane.

Rep. Rick Perales, a Beavercreek Republican, sponsored the bipartisan bill, whose co-sponsors include Rep. Fred Strahorn, a Dayton Democrat. To become law, the state Senate would have to approve Perales' bill, then Republican Gov. John Kasich would have to sign it.

Purists may quibble that depicting a plane on Ohio's coat of arms and seal, which portray Mount Logan in Ross County, whose seat, Chillicothe, was the state's first capital, mixes old times with modern times. And adding the Wrights' plane to the rural scene calls to mind a memorable part of Alfred Hitchcock's thriller, "North by Northwest," when a killer crop-duster chases Cary Grant across farmland.

Still, the Wrights changed the world, and having their invention on the seal isn't without a kind of precedent. The Ohio History Connection reports that some earlier versions of Ohio's seal and coat of arms portrayed a canal boat.

The House passed the bill 90-3; voting "no" were Republican Reps. Robert Cupp, of Lima; Mike Duffey, of Worthington; and Gary Scherer, of Circleville. (Much of Ross County is in Scherer's district, the remainder in House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger's district.)

Rosenberger, a Clarksville Republican, didn't vote on the bill. A Rosenberger spokesman said House rules don't require the presiding officer to vote. The spokesman added that "because the current state seal depicts a scene from Ross County, [part of] which is in the speaker's district, some constituents strongly urged against him voting to alter the seal. At the same time, the speaker appreciates and understands the historical significance of the Wright Brothers' achievement and how the creation of the Wright Flyer makes Ohio unique."

So, the House's most powerful member stayed neutral on the bill - didn't take part in deciding it either way - and the House made the decision.

But as Margaret Thatcher said, "It's a funny old world." That's so even in Columbus.

Also last week, although the campaign committees of Republican Supreme Court Justices Terrence O'Donnell and R. Patrick DeWine had each received a past donation from the founder of the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow, the online charter school, the two justices took part anyway in a Supreme Court case that likely will determine ECOT's future.

True, the $3,450 donation to O'Donnell's campaign was made in 2012, and the $3,600 donation to DeWine's campaign was made in 2015. Still ...

***************

When GOP legislators unveiled a bill this week that, among other things, would prune the power of the partly elected, partly appointed State Board of Education, fans of the status quo reached for smelling salts. The board hires Ohio's superintendent of public instruction - the state's chief school officer.

Under the bill, the governor would appoint him or her.

That appointing authority is clearly what Gov. Kasich would like to bequeath his successor.

If anyone can name the State Board of Education's members, she or he qualifies for a MacArthur Foundation genius grant. The Ohio Constitution says that the board shall "be selected in such manner and for such terms as shall be provided by law." That is - though this isn't in the bill - the legislature could create a State Board of Education composed of, say, the governor, lieutenant governor and someone the governor appoints. But that won't happen. It'd make too much sense.

Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens.

To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com, 216-999-4689

Have something to say about this topic? Use the comments to share your thoughts, and stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the Notification Settings (in blue).Head of Delegation and Director of Civil Aviation Mr Joseph Niel(r), Mr Bakoa Kaltongga, First PA, MIPU (c) and Vanuatu's Ambassador to China, Mr. Dennis Nai (l)guy39 said: Yeah, because allowing a person to have due process BEFORE being punished is such bullshit anyway. Click to expand...

Who's talking about removing their due process ?? I'm certainly not. The process should be neither simple nor permanent. We already have a process for judging if an adult is mentally incompetent. It requires doctors and court hearings to determine if someone is in need of third party supervision. The person in question retains the right to have their case revisited if they feel like they have gotten better.This wouldn't be as simple as your soon to be ex wife calling the police and falsely accusing you of making statements that you were gong to hurt yourself or someone else and having them show up and take your guns. Some college guidance counselor couldn't simply label a student as dangerous. Even your own doctor can't single handedly strip your rights. It should require at least two doctors and multiple interviews alone with interviews of family and friend.Originally Posted by Nwolfe35 View Post

I fully and completely admit that I am trying to put a wedge between Trump and his supporters. Desperately trying.



You are openly admitting that you are making conscious effort to undermine the support, and legitimacy of the duly elected President of the United States, that is sedition....



Hillary was not operating an unsecured server???....That is a "conspiracy"....There is not very serious questions about how her investigation was handled by the DOJ and FBI.??...That is conspiracy??....No Jack...Those are facts....Accidents happen. You dropped your partner's favorite coffee mug , your dog destroyed your beloved sweater, your dad erased your video game save file and blamed it on ghosts -- we've all been there. For the most part, we learn to forgive, forget, and move on with our lives ... but that's because our goofy little accidents aren't responsible for annihilating invaluable cultural treasures. Unlike these poor saps ...

5 A Boy Slipped And Punched A Hole Through A $1.5 Million Painting

In 2015, a Taipei arts center hosted an exhibition of 55 valuable paintings donated by collectors. Crucially, the organizers had special permission to let visitors get closer than normal to the exhibits so they could really appreciate the hell out of some art. And thus was born a valuable lesson about the follies of trusting the general public.

A 12-year-old boy was walking past a large 350-year-old still life by Paolo Porpora -- the only work Porpora ever signed, hence its worth of $1.5 million. Suddenly the kid tripped, lost his balance, and flailed around like a cartoon character who stepped on a banana peel. He reached for the closest object he could find to restore his balance, and that was, of course, the incredibly valuable work of art.

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He managed to avoid wiping out, but he also tore a fist-sized hole in a painting worth more than most people will make in their lifetime. The poor kid then had to stand around looking sheepish while everybody figured out what to do with him, probably daydreaming all the while about his new future as a slave in the great art mines.

Luckily, the painting was insured, but while some restoration work was possible, it will never be quite the same. The exhibit's curator was so shocked by the news that he couldn't speak for a few minutes, although he ultimately forgave the boy and his parents, because it is the mark of a mature adult to appreciate a good slapstick routine even in the grimmest of times. The resulting news story actually improved attendance at the exhibit, although the restricted area in front of each painting went back to its original size. Always practice safe gallery attendance, kids.Back in 19th-century Vienna, health official Ignaz Semmelweis came up with the insanely radical, outside-the-box suggestion that doctors should start washing their hands if they handled corpses before they assisted in births. See, nearly 20 percent of births aided by male doctors at the time ended with the baby, the mother, or both dying. In the face of such odds, you'd think "Wash your hands for half a minute. Worst-case scenario, you get clean hands" would be a pretty inoffensive suggestion.

Think again.

Jeno Doby They refused to listen to this mustache. That's how stubborn they were.

The scientific community in Vienna was appalled that Semmelweis would even suggest that their hands were ever anything but perfect, and fought back with some pretty insane arguments. For example, Charles Meigs countered Semmelweis' modest proposal with the logic that since a gentleman's hands were always clean, a doctor (who is also, by his very nature, a "gentleman") didn't need to wash them. Check and mate, buddy.

Semmelweis was removed from his position, and Viennese doctors continued killin' folks with filthy fingers for 21 more years (during which time 14,518 women and children died from puerperal fever alone), until Louis Pasteur was finally able to convince them germs both existed and did not respect Gentleman Status.

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Thereafter, Semmelweis was hailed as a hero and a genius. No wait, he was committed to a mental institution and died of sepsis / syphilis / guard beatings (accounts vary).

Wash your hands. Here's some soap.

If you loved this article and want more content like this, support our site with a visit to our Contribution Page. Please and thank you.

For more check out Cat Bombs: Maybe The Dumbest Idea Of The Middle Ages? and The Wild West Was Not As Murder-Filled As You Imagine.

Also follow us on Facebook. We're good, clean fun.Tomorrow night, the great and the good of the film industry will gather for the Baftas in London.

Hollywoods female stars will again be wearing black to show their support for the #MeToo campaign, the international support group for women who have suffered sexual exploitation or assault.

They will also wear white roses as a sign of peace, hope and reconciliation. For those who forget to bring their own flower, white-rose brooches will be provided.

Which is all very commendable. But why is it that, in comparison to the howls of outrage that followed the Harvey Weinstein scandal, we heard barely a squeak from the #MeToo sisterhood when the veil was lifted this week on a truly terrible sex scandal?

We now know countless employees of Oxfam and other aid organisations have, for years, been using the foreign aid industry as a front to procure sex from the worlds poorest and most vulnerable women and children.

Amanda Platell accuses #MeToo luvvies of turning a blind eye to the systematic abuse of the disaster-traumatised who were exploited by employees of aid charities (Pictured: Roland van Hauwermeiren who was implicated in the Oxfam scandal)

Every day, there is a fresh revelation  only yesterday, we learned that a senior UNICEF childrens rights campaigner has been jailed for raping a 12-year-old boy.

As Professor Andrew MacLeod, an aid expert who worked for the UN and the Red Cross, wrote in this newspaper, this appalling state of affairs shamefully has been common knowledge in aid circles for 30 years. Paedophilia, he added, is the word that dare not speak its name in the charity world.

What is so sickening is the hypocrisy of oh-so liberal quangocrats who preside over the charities.

Shamelessly, they promote their Left-wing agendas about evil capitalism, austerity and food banks  indeed, Oxfam produced a poster on these subjects in 2014.

Yet, at the same time, they turned a blind eye to the systematic abuse of the disaster-traumatised and vulnerable victims of tragedy they are meant to be helping.

Just like the #MeToo luvvies who will be virtue-signalling tomorrow night at the Baftas, these charity bosses are more concerned to show how virtuous they are than running efficient and disciplined organisations.

Meghan Markle has been making secret visits to Grenfell Tower survivors, drawing comparisons with Princess Dianas charity work.

Hopefully the similarity will end there.

While Diana was spending nights either at homeless charities or hospitals, her husband Prince Charles was squiring his mistress Camilla.

It's swift justice

A U.S. judge has ruled that Taylor Swift did not plagiarise the lyrics for her hit single Shake It Off.

The memorable lines Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play / And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate were declared too banal and lacking the modicum of originality and creativity required to be protected. The song still sold 9 million copies.

A U.S. judge has ruled that Taylor Swift did not plagiarise the lyrics for her hit single Shake It Off, saying the lyrics are too banal and lacking the modicum of originality and creativity required to be protected

Don't dredge up history...

Former Formula One boss Max Mosley is attempting to use the data protection laws to delete any references to his German-themed, sadomasochistic sex party involving five young women.

Silly old sausage. Most of us had already relegated it to the darkest dungeons of our minds.

By going to court again ten years later in an attempt to whitewash his colourful sexual history, all Mosley has managed to do is whip up interest in his proclivity for nymphs in uniform.

After Tom Daley and his partner Dustin Lance Black proudly tweeted the first scan of their expected child, some were sceptical about the parenting abilities of gay dads.

Not me. In a pub recently, I witnessed appalling behaviour from some spoilt middle-class kids, with Mum and Dad uncaring and oblivious. Sitting next to me were a gay couple with two beautifully mannered children and a docile labrador.

Your dogs better behaved than those brats, I told them. And they agreed.

Getting your tweet revenge

Hours after giving birth to her fourth child, Coleen Rooney tweeted this picture with the message: So happy to welcome our baby boy.

You can be sure the image was meant not just for her million-plus followers, but also for Laura Simpson, the trollop who canoodled her husband Wayne and almost ended their marriage last September.

Coleen was saying to her: Back off, you witch. Ive got the kids, the husband, the lot.

Hours after giving birth to her fourth child, Coleen Rooney tweeted this picture with the message: So happy to welcome our baby boy

Top Gear legend Jeremy Clarkson returns from a trip to Barbados with his latest girlfriend Lisa Hogan to start filming as presenter for a new series of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

Well, clearly he does if hes stooping this low  he will need every penny he can get if he has to give a 10 million divorce settlement to his wife Frances.

Westminster noticeboard

Our new Defence Secretary is reluctant to allow the two remaining members of the bloodthirsty Islamic State cell nicknamed The Beatles to return to the UK for trial. As Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh have had their passports withdrawn, he wants them to face justice abroad.

While many may agree, the bitter truth is these are British jihadists who relished beheading hostages and they should face justice here. Our country created these monsters; it is our duty to give them a fair trial  then lock them up and throw away the key.

Hot on the heels of the BBCs pay gap row comes news that a former regional presenter has been ordered to pay back 420,000 in tax.

Christa Ackroyd was anchor for BBC Look North in Yorkshire. Like many stars, including Jeremy Paxman and Emily Maitlis, she chose to be self-employed, rather than staff at the Beeb, reducing her tax liability.

Its bad enough that the BBC allowed such practices. But worse that a presenter unknown outside the Yorkshire Dales got some 200,000 a year in the first place.

When asked who should replace the Queen as the head of the Commonwealth, the Aussie PM Malcolm Turnbull said: Prince Charles. Who else is there?

Who else?! Given the opportunity for endless free holidays to sunny climes with a bunch of flunkies catering to your every need, this must be the moment Prince Andrews been grooming Princess Beatrice for.

Hilarious Helen Mirren took a bus to the premiere of her latest movie Winchester as a publicity stunt in Rome

Hilarious that Helen Mirren took a bus to the premiere of her latest movie Winchester as a publicity stunt in Rome.

The only surprise is that the film-star dame  so grand now at 72 that she probably thinks an Oyster card gets you discounts for champagne and seafood  didnt turn out in a bikini.

Just good friends

After just two-and-a-half years, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux have announced the end of their marriage. The decision was mutual and lovingly made.

Now Jens fans have taken to social media demanding a reconciliation with her first husband Brad Pitt  stolen from her by the vampirish Angelina Jolie, whos thrown him out.

Sorry, but a reunions about as likely as either Jen or Brad having another hit movie  i.e. never.A non-smoking mother-of-two has revealed her fear of leaving her children behind after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

Joanna Marshall, 40, from Stirling in Scotland, is appealing for more funding for research into the disease that kills twice as many women as breast and ovarian cancer.

Like Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell, who is also battling the terminal disease, it took Joanna three visits to the doctor to get diagnosed.

And while she is determined to stay positive and live life to the full, Joanna admits she initially considered suicide upon receiving her devastating diagnosis.

'I work full time, I parent my children, I have fun, I do something I enjoy every day,' she said in an emotional video.

Scroll down for video

Joanna Marshall, 40, from Scotland, has appealed for increased funding for lung cancer after battling the disease for three years, admitting she is terrified her two children could be left motherless

'I wouldn't want it to be any different. I think I have made the right choices in regards to my treatment.

'I want to show that it's not just older smokers that get lung cancer. Young mums can get cancer, even if they have never smoked, so I want to bust any myths that might be associated with it,' Joanna added.

'I also want to increase awareness and measures that can be put into place to improve quality of life because as patients survive longer they need support in different ways where perhaps there isn't enough focus on development.

'I don't want my children to me motherless because lung cancer doesn't get enough money for research.

Joanna, who is mother to two children age seven and four with husband Rupert, has now pleaded for increased funding for the deadliest form of the disease, after discovering it attracts less donations and funding than other types of cancer

'I just hope, as each month turns into a longer survival period, that new treatments will be found and I never have to think about ending my life,' she concluded in the heartwrenching video.

Joanna, who works as a manager of a drinks company, initially considered suicide after she was diagnosed with type 3b lung cancer at the age of 37 after suffering from a persistent cough.

Joanna, who is mother to two children age seven and four with husband Rupert, was only given the shock diagnosis after three visits to the doctor, who eventually referred her for a chest x-ray when the 5cm tumour in her right lung was discovered.

At the time doctors estimated that Joanna had been suffering from the disease for five years, but was asymptomatic.

The mother-of-two was only given the shock diagnosis after three visits to the doctor, who eventually referred her for a chest x-ray when the 5cm tumour in her right lung was discovered

'Like so many people who are diagnosed with lung cancer, I had no symptoms at all,' she said in a brave video

What is type 3b lung cancer? Type 3b lung cancer is classified as an advanced stage of cancer that is not usually curable, but is treatable and involves a tumour of any size that has spread to distant lymph nodes or has invaded other structures in the chest. Advertisement

Her plea comes after former Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell, 53, revealed overstretched doctors missed her own lung cancer diagnosis, which claims the lives of 44 women every day.

The star who played Zoe Tate was diagnosed with inoperable and incurable stage 4 lung cancer in 2016 after being rushed to hospital with a swollen abdomen.

Leah, who is currently receiving private cutting-edge treatment in Germany with the help of a Go Fund Me page, told The Daily Star on Wednesday that the NHS needs more funding to help people in her position.

And her plea has inspired other lung cancer fighters to share their own appeals.

'I thought I would probably find a way of committing suicide if I was ever diagnosed with cancer and it wasn't curable,' she admitted before discovering her treatment

Speaking to the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation for the #headhigh campaign, Joanna told her own brave story.

'I was 37 when I was diagnosed and that was in February 2015', she began, explaining: 'At that time my diagnosis was Stage 3b lung cancer and I had a 5cm tumour in my right lung.'

DOES THE NHS RECEIVE ENOUGH FUNDING? Campaigners have argued for years that the NHS is strapped of cash and desperately needs more funding to cope on a day-to-day basis. it is now in the midst of its worst financial crisis in a generation, they warn, as the health service struggles to function on a tightly-constrained budget. A&E waiting times have soared to record levels, tens of thousands of patients have had to wait outside casualty units for treatment and dozens of trusts have reported they have no free beds this winter. NHS England has been allocated 123 billion this financial year from the Budget - but further cash injections have been asked for. Last November, Chancellor Philip Hammond promised the health service a 2.8 billion cash injection over two years  but this was a third of what experts demanded. Health trusts across the country have reported severe financial constraints in recent years as chiefs tightens their purse strings. Advertisement

Type 3b lung cancer is classified as an advanced stage of cancer that is not usually curable, but is treatable and involves a tumour of any size that has spread to distant lymph nodes or has invaded other structures in the chest.

'Unfortunately that did progress after that I had curative radiotherapy which lasted for a wee while, and then unfortunately they found another tumour in my left lung and metastasis in the brain,' she added.

'It was pretty devastating for my family and it has changed relationships. There are positive aspects to it as well but generally it makes life very difficult for everybody.'

Shockingly, she went on to explain there were no symptoms, and she was keen to end misconceptions that lung cancer sufferers are usually older smokers.

'Like so many people who are diagnosed with lung cancer, I had no symptoms at all.

'The doctors thought I'd probably had the cancer for about five years before it was discovered. So I was asymptomatic for four and a half of those five years, absolutely nothing. Healthy young woman.'

And Joanna admitted that she initially considered suicide, unable to deal with the thought of painful treatments.

'So I thought that if was ever diagnosed with cancer that I wouldn't be one of those people who went through years and years of treatments,' she revealed bravely.

'I don't want my children to me motherless because lung cancer doesn't get enough money for research', she said

'I wasn't a fan of chemotherapy, I thought it was chemicals that could do your body more harm than good. I thought I would probably find a way of committing suicide if I was ever diagnosed with cancer and it wasn't curable.'

However she soon changed her mind on beginning treatment, realising her diagnosis was not a 'death sentence'.

'My experiences completely changed all of that and there has been research in the field. Most lung cancer most patients are diagnosed late, most of them have advanced lung cancer because you can be asymptomatic for so long. Now treatments have advanced to the extent that it is not a death sentence.

'I just hope, as each month turns into a longer survival period, that new treatments will be found and I never have to think about ending my life,' she concluded in the heartwrenching video

'There is a chance- it's still a small chance- but there's hope you can survive. Having that hope means that you can stay alive for longer and that you have a quality of life that makes life worth living,' she concluded.

Her husband Rupert added: 'It's been really hard, we've seen one step forward and two steps back. But Jo's strength has really shone through'.

Speaking to Femail she revealed she is currently receiving a new form of chemotherapy, as her lung cancer has developed into another form of form the disease, neuroendocrine cancer. This is apparently extremely rare in non-smokers, so she has been doubly unlucky. However overall, she remains in good spirits and says she's 'not in much pain'.DEAR BEL,

My mum died on Monday, February 5, and Im on my own for the first time. I do feel so very alone, but I just wanted to tell someone what a wonderful mum she has been.

She would have been 81 next week and still worked at Asda. She was a minor celeb in the shop  they were all so kind to her.

Whats hard to remember is that she had such a tough life. She was so tired some days, but the bit of money she earned meant she could stay in the house I was born in 45 years ago and in which my dad passed away 35 years ago.

Like the reader, Bel has been deeply affected' by the death of a very old, dear friend

Mum was widowed when she was 45 and brought up two small children working three jobs. She never remarried but, however hard it must have been, she was always there for us.

My sister emigrated 13 years ago and had little contact with us afterwards. I spoke to or saw Mum every day  and that used to cost me a fortune when I was away on holiday. She got the flu the week before last and I found her collapsed on the floor.

It turned into sepsis and pneumonia and she remained in intensive care until she died, with me by her side. Life support was withdrawn and I held her hand to the end.

My sister came back. We have lost two of Mums sisters in the past nine months, so I have a funeral of the second auntie coming up as well as organising Mums.

My mother was always the first to put money into charity boxes and always kept a pound in her pocket should someone need it more than her (thats what she said).

I dread having to find new homes for her three beloved cats. She would take in any stray animal and try to make it better.

I can celebrate her as the best mum, but perhaps not such a hard life . . .

Perhaps you will be able to help me if you know of a poem that I can dedicate to her. That would be lovely. I do need things to help  anything that you can suggest.

Tears are flowing now so I had better go, but thank you for listening.

ROSE

This week it was impossible not to choose your letter, as I have been left deeply affected by the death (last Sunday) of a very old, dear friend.

Thought for the week Men and boughs break; Praise life while you walk and wake, It is only lent David Campbell (Australian poet, 1915-1979) Advertisement

He was a good, kind, noble spirit, a marvellous husband, father and citizen. Our children grew up together; the world is a worse place without him in it. But then, thats how you feel, too, isnt it, Rose? Every single loss diminishes us, as John Donne so memorably said, but the death of a beloved mother cuts right through the heart.

I am so sorry to read of your sorrow and touched that you chose to write to me just two days later.

Your father died when you were ten and you witnessed how hard your wonderful mother worked to take care of you and your sister. Since your sister emigrated, its all been about you and your mum, hasnt it?

The new emptiness at the centre of your life must loom so dark and cold, and I would not presume to try to offer any easy words of condolence. Yet I will suggest that you dont look back at her life so negatively as to regret that it was hard and tough.

Yes, she grew tired, especially as she was working in the supermarket right up to the end. But that work gave her pride and independence, dont forget  and the fact that her co-workers thought so highly of her must have given her much pleasure.

Would she have changed that aspect of her life? Somehow I doubt it. Im sure she was proud of what she made of things. And of you.

So now comes the time ahead  when, wherever you are, your mum is there, too. There is a lovely little poem by Jeanne Willis that expresses this thought:

Where do people go to when they die?

Somewhere down below, or in the sky?

I cant be sure, said Grandad, but it seems

They simply set up home inside our dreams.

You ask me for a poem for your mum and I could give you an armful, like a bouquet, if I had more space.

I know people can find the wisdom of others comforting  when it seems impossible to find the words to express grief or despair, and when all feels dark and confusing.

But perhaps you could try to write your own. Not rhymes of course, just short thoughts.

Take a piece of paper and write down five things to summon her image to your mind. Did she have an old handbag in which she kept all sorts of essentials? What was her laugh like? Did she wear loose dresses on summer days when you were young?

Memories are powerful. For example, if I close my eyes I remember my grandmother walking along in Liverpool, balanced each side by two heavy shopping bags. Yes, I can see her, even though she died when I was 23.

So what music did your mum sing along to? Play it and write down your own memories, your own poem, your own love.

But, in the meantime, here is an extract from the Victorian poet Matthew Arnold:

Her mirth the world required

She bathed it in smiles of glee.

But her heart was tired, tired,

And now they let her be.

Her life was turning, turning,

In mazes of heat and sound.

But for peace her heart was yearning,

And now peace laps her round.

My cheating boyfriend has a baby son

DEAR BEL,

I am in a relationship, but my boyfriend cheated and had a child by someone else. He did not tell me about the child. I found out what had happened by going through his phone.

I have asked him to get a blood test to prove paternity, but he keeps saying: My mother says he looks like me. I think he may be scared to know one way or the other.

He continues to take care of this child and does not seem to care about how I feel.

I dont feel like I should be in this relationship if he doesnt have enough respect for me to take the DNA test. Can you let me know your opinion on this situation?

Thanks!

MEL

Your very terse email (where I even had to insert words for clarification) made me wonder whether young people like you (Im guessing you are under 30) have, because of texting and social media, lost the ability to communicate properly with anybody.

Its a serious question and not meant in any way to be a put-down.

You see, I would have liked so much more information  such as how old you are, how long you have been dating, whether or not you have moved in together, whether your boyfriend formed a relationship with the other girl or was it a one-night stand? And is he actually paying child support? That kind of thing.

I ask you to consider whether, when you communicate with friends, family and your boyfriend, you give due thought to what you are saying and how you say it.

Please think about this, because in the long run it may help you. You need to give in order to receive.

Without any more information I shall have to reply with a quick, gut-level response. Sometimes those are the best, given the hopeless messes people make of their lives and the convoluted emotional hoops they jump through to justify that chaos. Sometimes you just have to cut to the chase.

So yes, it will be obvious to any sensible person that you certainly should not continue with this relationship.

Your boyfriends mother has met the poor baby he fathered so carelessly, and thinks it looks like him. Does that suggest she doesnt care much about your relationship with her son?

If he doubted the paternity for a minute, then surely hed be willing to take the DNA test? Since he doesnt want to find out, that probably indicates he feels involved with the baby and feels some sort of bond with the mother (and I should jolly well hope so!).

The fact that he cheated on you and is now continuing a sort of relationship with mother and baby seems ample proof that he has no intention of committing himself to you  now or in the future.

Therefore I would like you to look in the mirror for a while and then say aloud: Hey, girlfriend, listen to me  why the hell are you wasting your precious time?

Then repeat it a couple of times more, getting louder.

I think many of us would benefit from this mirror-interrogation. Ask yourself whether that face in the glass looks like someone who is respected, or disrespected, by the man she loves.

But what am I thinking? You didnt use the word love at all.

You might have been in too much of a hurry to press send, or maybe you dont truly care for the man at all, but just want to have a boyfriend. Some women are like that, arent they?

It seems to me that the way forward is to cut your losses, end this entanglement and spend some time on your own to work out who you are, what you can bring to a mature relationship, and what you most want for the rest of your life.

And finally... Hope lifts a heart jaded by history

Twenty-nine years ago, I was preparing to set off for Germany and Romania, alone, for a daunting research project. It resulted in a screenplay, a novel, a story for older children and a magazine short story.

There was snow on the streets of Timisoara (where the uprising against the communist tyrant Ceausescu started) and many little candlelit shrines in Bucharest, marking where people were killed.

I made two long visits to Romania and met cowed people suddenly full of hope. How disappointing it is to realise that today Romania (an EU member) has one of the highest child poverty rates in the developed world . . .

Bel answers readers questions on emotional and relationship problems each week. Write to Bel Mooney, Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT, or email bel.mooney@dailymail.co.uk. A pseudonym will be used if you wish. Bel reads all letters but regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence. Advertisement

Anyway, Ive recently had a delightful email exchange (through my website) with a 12-year-old in Bucharest whos reading my novel, The Voices Of Silence, set in 1989 at the time of the revolution. Im so pleased!

She asked me various questions, including who the main character was based on. Nobody, I replied, because novelists can make things up. She wrote back: I didnt think Flora was a made-up character because she sounds so realistic. I hope that something devastating like the Romanian Revolution doesnt happen again in Romania or in the world.

Ah, my dear, I thought, but it will . . . and sometimes (as in Romania) the upheaval heralds a change for the better.

Surely children in former Eastern Bloc countries are taught what communism was like? When everybody was terrified of the Secret Police? When there was nothing in the shops, and only the elite had access to the all-powerful dollar? That was on-going devastation.

Just lately, dear readers, I confess Ive been feeling jaded. Those of us who have lived through political changes, seen lying leaders come and go, listened to the latest nonsense, witnessed the hypocrisy of the virtuous, heard the angry shrieks of the young . . . no wonder we feel theres nothing new under the sun. Except sad, freshly minted hopes.How and why are possibly the two most frequently used words in my two childrens vocabulary. Why is orange juice orange? or Why do people lie? And my personal favourite: How do you get to heaven  by train or by bus? Such conversations are, in my opinion, the best thing about being a parent.

But honesty took on a different meaning in 2014 when my son was stillborn. There were a lot of questions from Ludo, then aged four, and his sister Iona.

Id spent a week in intensive care, and when I feebly staggered back to the house  my skin still bearing the marks of numerous cannulas and my eyes red and puffy from tears  I felt too fragile to do anything but hug them.

The first time Ludo, now eight, and Iona, now six, asked me how babies get into mummys tummy, I am ashamed to say I fobbed them off with stories of storks and special hugs writes Marina Fogle

But as the days wore on, Ludo complained of feeling sick and of perpetual tummy aches.

We suspected he had caught a bug but I soon realised that it wasnt illness but rather a knot of anxiety in the pit of his stomach.

I spoke to a grief counsellor, who asked if I had spoken to him about what had happened. I responded: No, I dont think I could without breaking down in tears.

But according to the counsellor, neither I nor anyone should fear crying in front of our children. Shielding them from vulnerability is, in fact, detrimental.

If we never cry in front of our children, we are teaching them that it is not OK to cry, however sad or frustrated you are, she says.

I proceeded to have a very difficult conversation with Ludo. We both cried, but he felt comfortable to ask the questions he needed.

Almost miraculously, the knot of anxiety that had been plaguing him was untangled. The simple act of communication brought us closer and my honesty brought him comfort in the knowledge that, however hard it might be to bear, I would tell him the truth.

The first time Ludo, now eight, and Iona, now six, asked me how babies get into mummys tummy, I am ashamed to say I fobbed them off with stories of storks and special hugs, thinking that they were too innocent to be exposed to the world of sex

WE HAVE TO STOP FOBBING CHILDREN OFF ABOUT SEX

This brings me to the issue that causes most parents to lie to their children: sex. The first time Ludo, now eight, and Iona, now six, asked me how babies get into mummys tummy, I am ashamed to say I fobbed them off with stories of storks and special hugs, thinking that they were too innocent to be exposed to the world of sex.

But since witnessing how raw honesty intensified our relationship and helped my son compute grief, I concluded that approaching the sex talk with similar openness would be equally positive. And indeed it was.

I was driving with both children in the car one wet February day and listening to a Radio 4 programme about a story of a baby who developed inside the liver, when Ludo turned to me and asked: But how does the seed actually get inside the mummys tummy?

Seizing my opportunity, I told them the basic truth.

The first big misconception around explaining sex in all its complexities is that it is just a talk

When a man and woman love each other, I began, the man puts his penis into the womans vagina. This makes the mans seed go into the woman which fertilises the egg and makes a baby.

I braced myself for confusion, disgust or more questions. There was a long silence as the children digested the news. What were they thinking, I wondered?

Mummy, piped up Iona. Can we have cheese on toast for supper? My children accepted my explanation in the same way that they accept why we have to stop at red traffic lights.

And so the more Ive learnt about the role of a parent, the more Ive realised that being anything other than honest is a waste of time.

FORGET THE TALK... AND START THE CONVERSATION

The first big misconception around explaining sex in all its complexities is that it is just a talk. In fact, child mental health specialists agree that the subject should comprise hundreds of smaller dialogues over the course of your childs life.

Telling children about sex isnt a one-off piece of information, insists Laura Berman, a sex therapist and author. Its about building a landscape. Before we had children, I once joked with my husband Ben that he would be the one to explain the birds and the bees to our son, as punishment for having come home after a spectacular night on the tiles with a tattoo. But when our children were born, we naturally embarked on a continuous, open conversation, starting with body parts.

To begin with, we described them as front bottom, middle and bottom. My friends still rib me mercilessly about calling a vagina a front bottom, but it meant that if Iona was suffering an itch or a pain, she could explain accurately where it hurt. Now that the children are older, I heed the advice of the experts and call these body parts what they really are  a vagina and a penis.

Parents might be unsure of how to broach the subject of sex. But its not a case of waiting for the right time, but rather a sign of childrens curiosity

Emma Gleadhill, a teacher and expert in child development, argues that parents should use the correct terminology from the age of two.

Why not just give them the anatomically correct vocabulary? she asks. Every three-year-old can say vagina and penis, so why not get it right from the start?

And it is far more than just a name game. Providing children with the right vocabulary enables them to take proud ownership of their bodies. Gleadhill argues: From the outset, young children explore their bodies through touch and work out that these parts of their bodies afford pleasure.

Parents have the delicate task of ensuring that they understand that this pleasure is a private affair.

HOW PREGNANT FRIENDS (AND RIHANNA) CAN HELP

Parents might be unsure of how to broach the subject of sex. But its not a case of waiting for the right time, but rather a sign of childrens curiosity. Gleadhill advises using teachable moments in which the subject of sex arises organically.

For Ben and me, such an opportunity came thanks to my sister Olivia, who recently gave birth to a baby girl.

When the inevitable questions about why auntie Olivia had a baby inside her ensued, we jumped at the chance to answer them candidly. If you think about it, there are hundreds of these moments: a pregnant friend, a new baby, bath time.

The same applies when the kids merrily sing along to a Rihanna song in the car. When she sings, I know you wanna touch and Ludo asks me what she means, I tell him.

Parents may feel awkward, but that need not be the case  children dont think about sex the way we do.

Adults have generally been tarnished by the world of sordid sex, the objectification of women and the sleazy world of the sex industry. If we give them information using vocabulary they understand, sex becomes a straightforward activity thats no different from blowing our noses.

'The Talk': 5 Top Tips for Parents SEIZE THE MOMENT Look for those occasions that might inspire a conversation about sex. For example, if the mother of one of their friends is expecting, you could ask: Have you wondered how that baby got into her tummy? ITS GOOD TO WALK AND TALK Have the chat when youre doing something else. Looking directly into someones eyes makes a conversation a lot more intense. Often the most fruitful and constructive conversations happen when were not focusing directly on each other. Try talking while youre walking, driving or colouring a picture. IT COULD BE A JOB FOR AUNTIE The task doesnt have to fall to a parent  it could be another responsible adult such as an aunt or a godparent. Older children often find it awkward to talk to their parents about the intimate parts of sex. DONT LOSE YOUR COOL If something your child does shocks you, temper your reaction. If you find a used condom in your daughters bin, dont shout. Tell her how proud you are that she is making sensible, safe decisions. This way, you reinforce the notion that you are a trusted source for advice. YOURE IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL Keep the conversation going throughout childhood. This will make further, more complicated, conversations much easier. As your child matures, they will be set up to navigate the incredibly challenging online world that faces children of today. Advertisement

IF YOU DONT TELL THEM, SOMEONE ELSE WILL

Like any mother, I worry about what my children might be exposed to outside of the predictability of our home, despite their lack of interest in social media and the Kardashians. Children are resourceful, and one thing is for certain: if theyre not getting the information from their parents, theyll find it elsewhere. Deborah Roffman, author of Talk To Me First: Everything You Need To Know To Become Your Kids Go-To Person About Sex, insists: If were not deliberately reaching out to kids early, almost everything they learn after that is going to be remedial.

So, at least when it comes to sex, I can be sure that I have provided the basis of their understanding.

Last week, the children spotted a condom in Bens survival kit. They are brilliant for collecting water, said Ben, but I seized the opportunity to reveal their main use.

When men and women have sex and the seed goes into the mother, sometimes they dont want to have a baby, so they use a cover as it means the sperm cant get in, I said. Now they know what a condom is.

According to Emma Gleadhill, the ideal time for such conversations to evolve is between about five and eight years old, as once children reach the age of nine they become grossed out by the idea of discussing sex with their parents. Otherwise, it becomes the task of sex education, taught at age 11. The idea that children have no notion of sex before then is preposterous, but even so, it isnt a conversation you can have fruitfully in a school environment.

WHY BEING NAKED AT HOME IS NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF

Ive never been shy about my body, and Ben and I enjoy piling in to the bath with our children. Ive never been prudish about them seeing me naked, and they certainly arent fazed by it. However, as Ludo matures emotionally and physically, I have wondered whether I ought to reconsider our blase attitude to nudity.

Quite the opposite, Gleadhill insists. There is an increasing amount of research to suggest that children who grow up in households where there is a matter-of-fact approach to nudity have a healthier body image and make better decisions when it comes to sex.

She points to the Netherlands, which has among the lowest teenage pregnancy rates in the world and where cultural attitudes to nudity are more open. As well as potentially providing more of those teachable moments, Gleadhill cites a bigger benefit.

If a child does not see nakedness at home, then their perception of the human body will be based on unrealistic Photoshopped or highly sexualised images that are found online and in the media.

I heave a sigh of relief that my imperfect body  caesarean-scarred and stretch-marked, and with breasts that bear the hallmarks of two well-fed babies  is still serving to give my children a healthy view of what a normal body looks like in a world of Instagram filters.

If my years of parenting have taught me anything, its that honesty, although not always easy, is your friend.

Talking about sex is crucial, and having honest conversations with your children will make them, certainly in the long term, respect you and admire your bravery.The 82-year-old is best known for presenting chat show Parkinson from 1971 to 1982 and 1998 to 2007. He is married with three children.

As a child, I had a quick mind for words  swear words! The boy next door, who was about 11, taught me, when I was about five, how to say b****r, s**t and various other swear words, and Id sometimes blurt them out, much to the embarrassment of my mother.

I had a recurring anxiety dream as a kid. Id be sitting an exam but didnt know any of the answers because I hadnt done the research. Later on, after becoming a chat show host, I had another recurring anxiety dream: walking down the stairs of a TV studio and not knowing who the hell I was interviewing.

As a child, I had a quick mind for words  swear words! The boy next door, who was about 11, taught me, when I was about five, how to say b****r, s**t and various other swear words, and Id sometimes blurt them out, much to the embarrassment of my mother

I did actually forget who I was interviewing one day. All I could think of was the word Duke but I knew it wasnt Duke Ellington because he was a white man. Thankfully, he dropped his name  John Wayne, aka The Duke  into the conversation.

I find it offensive when people hint that Im a phoney Yorkshireman. Yes, Im a Yorkshireman and Im very proud of it, and Ive never tried to disguise it or have elocution lessons.

As a young newspaperman, I travelled to the Belgian Congo where rebel fighters had returned to cannibalism. When my photographer and I showed a bit too much interest, they became really hostile. We were lucky to escape with our lives.

Id love to travel back to Granada Television in 1963. Id just left Fleet Street and landed a job as a producer there. It was such an exciting time. Coronation Street had started there in 1960, and the BBCs Z Cars began in 1962  it was a golden period for television.

Ive always preferred interviewing women to men. Women like to gossip. Some of my best shows involved female guests talking among themselves.

Ive always been known as Parky. But at home as a boy, I was Parky 2  my Dad was Parky 1!A few months ago, a patient Ive known for years came to see me. I immediately knew something was wrong, and before shed even sat down she told me that her daughter had died earlier that week in a car accident.

She stood there, motionless, weeping. I care deeply about this woman and I was devastated for her.

There were no words I could offer her to make her feel better  literally nothing that I could say.

I put my arm round her and, before I knew it, shed flung her arm over my shoulder and was crying uncontrollably.

There were no words I could offer her to make her feel better  literally nothing that I could say. I put my arm round her and, before I knew it, shed flung her arm over my shoulder and was crying uncontrollably

What should I have done? Pushed her away? Told her that it was not appropriate to touch me? Of course not, because it was perfectly appropriate.

When we see another human being in distress, its only natural to comfort them. It doesnt matter if youre a doctor or a dustman, the instinct to touch and console is overwhelming.

Yet, this week, doctors were urged not to hug patients in case they complain. We must be firm in refusing to embrace them. The Medical Defence Union, a body that defends doctors against legal claims, said doctors should instead offer to shake the patients hand.

Have they lost the plot? Oh, your daughters just died, let me shake you by the hand.

These people have no idea what its really like on the coalface.

But the whole thing makes me feel desperate for what is happening to the medical profession and how were being made to feel scared of our own shadows. Of course, Im not going to go round hugging all my patients, but Id like to credit myself with the ability to judge a situation.

There have been many other times when Ive hugged patients or held their hands. Its not uncommon when I discharge patients for them to become emotional and hug me. Theyve often been very ill and close to death, and yet here they are now, well and healthy and being discharged.

Thats an incredibly emotional experience for lots of reasons.

Rebuffing a hug and shaking someones hand in this sort of situation would actually be incredibly rude and damaging. Youve seen this person at their most vulnerable  and yet when it comes to it, you dont even want to touch them? Thats not right.

I think if you treat a patient like a human being, you cant go far wrong. One of the reasons his patients gave for nominating Professor Mike Dixon for the Daily Mails Health Hero awards was that he gives wonderful hugs. Good for him!

There have been many other times when Ive hugged patients or held their hands

A consultant in geriatrics I once worked for used to hug lots of his patients  very often after having to break bad news such as a terminal cancer diagnosis.

I asked him about this, and he replied that many of his patients hadnt been touched in a caring way for months or even years, and that this was a tragedy.

Not everyone has family or friends, he said; some people have no one. When youre told youre going to die, you need to feel for a moment that you are not alone  giving someone a hug is the best way to show them that, he told me.

Yet over the years weve become increasingly wary of human contact. And I fear that the rise of the #MeToo movement and the hideous actions of a few are making us all twitchy about our innocent actions being misconstrued. This week, there was also new guidance on how doctors and midwives should address women in labour. Some of it was sensible  dont use confusing acronyms when speaking to the patient, for example. And dont talk about them as if they arent there.

Fair enough. Though if you need to be told this, then really you shouldnt be caring for patients.

But other advice was to avoid using terms such as good girl to encourage women. Sure, it might be a bit patronising, but its about context. People sometimes call me a boy  and providing its said in the right circumstances, Im delighted! Surely we can leave it to the doctors and nurses to judge a situation and the patient.

Increasingly, medics arent treated as human beings, but automatons to be tightly controlled; more evidence of the contempt those in charge have for those on the ground. It also means patients arent treated like human beings either.

Despite intense efforts, a cure for dementia remains elusive  but now theres a drug to help treat some of the most distressing aspects of the disease.

The drug, pimavanserin, helps stop the terrifying hallucinations and paranoid thoughts that occur in about half of cases. Often its this aspect of the illness thats most upsetting for the patient and their loved ones.

Until now, the only treatment was antipsychotics, which carry an increased risk of stroke and falls. Its an agonising decision: do you treat the paranoia but risk harming the patient, or leave them in distress? The new drug changes all that.

How our phones make us dumber

Should children be made to learn their times tables? This debate has been raging this week, with teachers and teaching unions rubbishing the Governments plans to make children do more rote learning.

Then there was the humiliating interview on ITVs Good Morning Britain in which Schools Minister Nick Gibb refused to answer questions on times tables.

Ah ha! Clearly the policy must be rubbish, as the minister himself doesnt even know his times tables, everyone laughed.

Well, I dont find it a laughing matter, because, to my great shame, I still dont really know my times tables.

Its a lasting legacy of my mediocre primary school, where, in the Eighties, the hippy head didnt like the idea of children being made to learn.

Instead, we did projects that would last for weeks on daft topics such as ties. The idea was that school should be about exploring. Rubbish. All it achieved was woefully to prepare me for secondary school.

While as an 11-year-old, not having to do proper maths classes was great, it also meant I never learned the basic language of mathematics  and Ive struggled ever since.

At secondary school, I was put in the bottom stream for maths and it took me years to catch up. Even now, despite having studied statistics at degree level, its still a weakness because I lack key foundations such as times tables. And its embarrassing struggling to do even basic arithmetic without a calculator.

But there are other reasons why rote learning is important. When, one summer, I worked in a particularly bleak nursing home, I set myself the task of memorising a poem each day. I still remember them now  and if ever Im having a difficult time, I have those words of wisdom at hand to remind me that Im not alone.

Many people will say that in the age of mobile phones  with their calendars, address books and reminders  there is no point in memorising things. Psychologists call this cognitive offloading.

But whats interesting is that when we rely on phones and the internet for complex things, research shows we end up relying on them for simple things, too.

And this is making us dumber: it can stop us thinking for ourselves. Theres evidence that were also losing our focus and attention, so our memory is suffering too.

So, yes, its boring having to memorise times tables  but it teaches the brain how to retain and manipulate information. And that is precisely what we should be teaching in our schools.

Even I put off seeing my GP about a lump

About a year ago, I noticed a strange mark on my cheek. It was no bigger than a grain of rice and very faint, yet I worried about it because I have a family history of skin cancer.

I should get that checked out, I thought to myself; Ill make an appointment to see the doctor tomorrow. Days turned into weeks, but I did nothing.

Every time I looked in the mirror, Id convince myself it was getting bigger. I must get it checked out. Tomorrow.

Reader, it took me six months before I saw a GP, who immediately referred me to a dermatologist. Thankfully, it turned out to be nothing, but why did I wait? If it had been cancer, six months could have been the difference between sitting here writing this and not being here at all. This is a classic example of Fear of Finding Out. In research published this week, nearly two-thirds of people reported theyd consider delaying making a GP appointment for fear of being told they have a serious illness.

Denial is a form of defence mechanism  a strategy the mind uses to cope with difficult situations. Humour is another, allowing us, in an unthreatening way, to talk about things.

But unlike humour, denial doesnt help us deal with a problem. What surprises me is that despite denial first being identified more than 100 years ago, were only just realising its impact on patients delaying treatment.

Given the effect this has on health, its something that we should all be more aware of.Carol Inkpen, 66, of Farnborough, Hants, whose 71-year-old retired lorry driver husband Michael died earlier this month, said treatment which began last March to try to get rid of the vicious infection destroyed his liver and kidney function and left him deaf

A killer blood-eating bacterial infection that may have affected thousands of British heart patients has claimed seven more lives in the past year, The Mail on Sunday has learned.

The death toll from the hospital bug mycobacterium chimaera (MC), spread by contaminated heart surgery machines, continues to rise a year after the problem was exposed by this newspaper.

Meanwhile, devastated families of at least 17 other patients currently fighting the deadly infection are still waiting for answers.

The total number of recognised cases of the infection, which kills by eating its victims red blood cells, rose from 26 in January 2017 to 39 by last November.

Paul Balen, of Freeths solicitors, who is representing 15 of the victims families, is about to issue the first set of proceedings against the manufacturers of the machine on behalf of the relatives of Alan Diplock, 65, from Sussex.

Inquests into the death in 2016 of Mr Diplock and a number of the others have concluded the contaminated machine were to blame.

Public Health England (PHE) will issue updated figures at the end of this month. However it has revealed that while most of the deaths are in adults, one of them involved a seven-year-old child.

The numbers being reported are very small and updating the figures takes time. Treatment [of MC] is not straightforward, a PHE spokesman said.

Michael had heart by-pass and valve replacement surgery at St. Georges Hospital in London in December 2013. He had three years of good health before the spread of the bacteria resulted in it destroying the red cells in his blood

It is feared there will be yet more deaths because despite national alerts issued to almost 50,000 patients and more than 42,000 GPs after this newspapers report, families say many UK doctors have not received information about how to recognise or treat the deadly bug. Symptoms include feeling unusually tired, coughing and night sweats.

This is potentially very worrying, said Ben Bradshaw, a former Labour Health Minister and now a member of the backbench Health Select Committee.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency is meant to oversee the safety of medical devices. I will be writing to NHS England and to PHE to find out what exactly is now being done about this issue.

Stricken patients have endured months of futile efforts to save their lives, involving simultaneous infusions of up to seven potent antibiotics which have themselves caused catastrophic side effects including multi-organ failure and deafness.

Carol Inkpen, 66, of Farnborough, Hampshire, whose 71-year-old retired lorry driver husband Michael died earlier this month, said treatment which began last March to try to get rid of the infection destroyed his liver and kidney function and left him deaf.

I dont want anyone else to suffer the way he did, she said. The doctors just didnt know what to do to get rid of it.

Michael had heart by-pass and valve replacement surgery at St. Georges Hospital in London in December 2013.

He had three years of good health before the spread of the bacteria resulted in it destroying the red cells in his blood.

He had countless blood transfusions and repeated procedures to drain off huge volumes of fluid accumulating in his stomach, said Carol.

The MC infection which killed Michael is believed to have come from a single strain which has contaminated 3T blood heater-cooler units made in Germany by a company called Sorin

At first he was determined to fight the infection but last November they told him he had a maximum of nine months to live, and he more or less gave up.

The MC infection which killed Michael is believed to have come from a single strain which has contaminated 3T blood heater-cooler units made in Germany by a company called Sorin. These machines are used in open heart surgery as blood is channelled outside the body during operations.

Sorin was taken over by a British company called Liva Nova in 2015. There has been no response from the companys lawyers since the scandal emerged.

There have also been unknown numbers of deaths in countries across Europe, Australia and the US. Yet while other European countries issued warnings to all doctors as long ago as 2012, Public Health England took the decision to try to keep the risk quiet.

Other identified MC victims to have died include Brian Smith, 73, from Coventry and Peter Hock, 68, from Weybridge, Surrey. Patricia Line, 67, from Birmingham, is still battling the infection.

A spokesman for St Georges Hospital said: We immediately updated and improved cleaning and disinfection protocols to reduce the risk to our patients, and replaced all the cooler units with new models.

No further instances of this infection have been reported.Anthony Fry: A Retrospective

Holburne Museum, Bath Until May 7

Rating:

Anthony Fry, who died in 2016, was a painter much cherished by collectors and a smallish but enthusiastic public.

Its hard to say why a painter in many ways so expert and enjoyable doesnt ascend to the top rank of critical acclaim, but his reputation never quite matched that of the painters he associated with  Terry Frost, Ivon Hitchens and his cousin Howard Hodgkin.

The Holburne Museum in Bath has mounted a delicious small survey of his work, and it makes you think he might have been underestimated.

Anthony Fry, who died in 2016, was a painter much cherished by collectors and a smallish but enthusiastic public . Above: Fry's Temple On The Beach

The first room is sober, subdued in colour and addicted to complex groupings of figures; the paintings here are expert, with a clear sense of Cezanne and Matisse rendered (mostly) in browns and greys. At some point in the early Seventies, Frys production slowed to a trickle. The paintings in the exhibition that date from his resumption of painting in the Eighties are an explosion of intense colour, blazes of blue, purple skies and red bed frames.

What happened was that Fry, who had always been a keen traveller, started to paint the intensely hot places he loved to go to  Greece, Cochin in India, and Italy and Spain. He wasnt the first painter to be seduced into intense colour by the experience of living in the heat  Matisse and Paul Klees careers were transformed by a first experience of blazingly savage temperatures. In Frys case, it encouraged him to find ever more direct ways of rendering colour.

The paintings in the exhibition that date from his resumption of painting in the Eighties are an explosion of intense colour. Above: Fry's Nude On A Red Indian Bed

He was quite an individual handler of mediums, and among the early paintings here is an attempt to produce a fresco on a canvas. Later on, he often used dry powder directly on the canvas. As the sculptor Anish Kapoor has demonstrated, its often the most powerful way to use a colour.

IT'S A FACT Essex-born Fry was related, through his father, to the founders of the chocolate company JS Fry and Sons, based in Bristol. Advertisement

The subjects are quite simple a figure in a room, or in front of a candy-floss pink wall. We arent really invited to dwell on the meaning even in a painting as lovely as Portrait Of Xavier, a depiction of a family servant in India in a characteristic moment of rest. The subject, almost always, is an excuse to explore the ranges and distinctions of colour, and what happens to colour in different conditions of light.

The curious effects of Maria Venezelos, the sitters face almost black against the brilliant blue sea through the window, is a favourite effect of painters called contre-jour  the subject in deep shadow, the background in brilliant light. Its a thoughtful essay in the variation of colour, and an unmistakably personal one.

I very much like Frys paintings, and though this exhibition is not a large one, it ought to encourage people to look out a little more for his work

Fry was not really a capturer of likenesses in his portraits; you feel that the people are convenient repositories of light and colour effects. Nevertheless a rich humanity underpins everything, and you feel that Xaviers family, or Maria Venezelos, or for that matter Sir Tom Stoppard in another portrait, would recognise themselves in a shot. They are paintings with a particular sort of humane warmth.

I very much like Frys paintings, and though this exhibition is not a large one, it ought to encourage people to look out a little more for his work.

Not a great painter, perhaps, but a very pleasing little master. I bet the collectors who have lent paintings to this show are missing them like mad.

ALSO WORTH SEEING

Richard Hambleton Woodbury House, London

Rating:

In the Seventies and Eighties, he gained attention for his street art of crime scene-style chalk outlines

Richard Hambleton was Banksy before there was a Banksy. In the Seventies and Eighties, he gained attention for his street art of crime scene-style chalk outlines and, in New York, his Shadowman series (Red Devil, below). Now works by the godfather of street art, who died in October, are featuring in a by-appointmentonly exhibition in London this week.

The show is dominated by his distinctive figures but, via a trailer of a new film about him, it also hints at why he disappeared from view. As one critic wrote: Memo to Banksy: You owe Richard Hambleton a small fortune in royalties

Dominic ConnollyAmerican Express has lost a crucial legal appeal which could put some of its most popular rewards cards in jeopardy, including its British Airways credit card.

The European Court of Justice made its final ruling last week on whether's Amex's co-branded rewards cards fall under the same interchange fee cap that forced many credit card providers to pull, or scale back, their rewards schemes in 2015.

The cap limits the amount companies can charge shops and merchants to process a transaction at 0.3 per cent, putting a squeeze on potential profits which many claimed was how the company paid for lucrative rewards or cashback.

Santorini: One of many destinations American Express credit card customers could reach using accrued Avios points

The ruling affects all cards Amex offers in partnership with other brands; the British Airways, Starwood, Nectar, Costco and Harrods cards in its range.

Nothing will change in the short run, according to Amex, and new customers can still sign up for all of its cards online.

Robert Glick, vice president at American Express, says: 'Weve been preparing for the ruling. Our BA American Express cards, including the fee-free card, remain an integral part of our product portfolio.

'Were committed to continuing to offer best-in-class products and services that deliver real value for customers. We are not making any changes to our BA card member benefits at this time.'

However Rob Burgess, of Britain's biggest frequent flyer website Head for Points, warns some cards, including the free British Airways American Express card, may not stick around in the long run.

He explains: It doesn't take a genius to realise that the free British Airways American Express is a dead duck long-term with the 0.3 per cent cap on interchange fees, given that Amex will be paying BA something close to 1p per Avios for the points.'

According to Burgess, until the cap hit other providers in 2015, it was normal for credit card providers to charge merchants around 0.75 per cent or more on interchange fees.

The loss for Amex as a result of having to apply a 0.3 per cent cap is likely to hit the profitability of these cards considerably.

Burgess adds: Interest income, interchange and FX fees from foreign usage are unlikely to fill the gap, especially with 2-4-1 vouchers to fund as well.

Given that the BA Amex cards have billings of over 1billion per month, however, it is a problem that both BA and Amex will need to solve before the current contract expires.'

Is it still worth signing up while you can?

The American Express British Airways credit cards are a popular option, particularly for the free companion vouchers which effectively double the value of your points.

Burgess says: 'It is certainly still worth people signing up for the free BA Amex, or indeed any other Amex with a good bonus, whilst they can.

'I imagine Amex is forced to run the cards until the end of their current contract but any new deal will not be as generous.'

If you are looking for a card that is more secure long term, Burgess thinks the cards with a higher annual fee may be a better option.

He says: The British Airways Premium Plus card, with its 195 fee, looks secure. I can see how the economics of that card continue to make sense in a world of 0.3 per cent merchant fees.

So it still could be worth signing up for this card particularly if you clock up frequent flyer miles from regular trips abroad on business.

Signing up gets you 25,000 bonus Avios once you spend 3,000 within the first three months.

The real bonus is a free companion voucher after a 10,000 spend. Swiping the card gets you 1.5 Avios for every 1 you spend or double when spend on British Airways flights or holidays.

Avios: British Airways has one of the most popular frequent flyer schemes

The Preferred Rewards Gold American Express card could also be a good option for airline rewards offering a bumper 55,000 points in the first year if you spend 1,250 per month on the card.

This includes a 20,000 bonus for spending 2,000 in your first three months, an extra 10,000 bonus after a 15,000 annual spend on top of the one point for every 1 spend on the card.

You can swap these points for the same value to airline reward schemes including BA Avios, Virgin Flying Club and Emirates Skywards.

Trading in 55,000 Avios would be enough for a return trip to the Maldives or two return tickets to Santorini.

The card does cost 140 per year (free for the first year). It is also a charge card rather than a credit card, so you will have to pay the money off at the end of each month, but you should always do this anyway with any rewards credit card.

Which Amex cards are most at risk?

The cards with lower annual fees, or those without annual charges at all may become less profitable for Amex according to Burgess.

This would include the British Airways American Express credit card, the Nectar Amex and the Starwood Preferred Guest credit card.

Below we have taken a look at each of these deals and whether there are any alternatives.

Which cards does that leave? Some of the Amex line up are exempt from the rules - you can read why at the end of the article. These are the cards which escape the cap. The green American Express Credit Card,

American Express Platinum Credit Card,

American Express Platinum Cashback and Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Cards,

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold,

American Express Rewards cards.

British Airways American Express

The British Airways Credit Card comes with 5,000 bonus Avios if you spend 1,000 within the first three months and a companion ticket after a 20,000 annual spend.

You also get 1 Avios for every 1 spent on the card.

The closest alternative is of course its British Airways Premium Plus Credit Card which we have looked at above.

Any Avios earned from the Amex cards are kept in a BA Executive Club account which you can keep even if you close your card. If you were to switch to a new card, you can move the pot with you.

Lloyds Bank currently offers an Avios Credit Card Account with two cards - an Amex paying 1.25 Avios per 1 and a Mastercard paying 1.25 points per 5 spent.

There are no companion vouchers but you get double Avios for six months, no foreign transaction charges and a free upgrade after a 7,000 annual spend.

You can still sign up to this card but according to Burgess it may also not be around for long.

A spokesperson at Lloyds Bank told This is Money: 'American Express has notified European regulators that it intends to discontinue its existing UK licensing arrangements. At present there is no impact on our customers, who can continue to use their American Express credit cards as normal.'

Nectar Credit Card

The Nectar Credit Card pays 20,000 Nectar points to sign up (worth 100). The annual fee is waived in the first year, after that it costs 25 per year.

It pays two points per 1 spend on the card, or double for spends with Nectar partners.

This compares to two points per 1 at Sainsburys stores and one point per 5 spent elsewhere on the Sainsburys Bank Nectar Purchase Credit Card.

This free card also comes with 31 months 0 per cent interest on spending and 1,000 points per 40 spend with the supermarket within the first two months (up to 10,000).

Starwood Preferred Guest American Express

The Starwood Preferred Guest Amex which offers 10,000 Starpoints to sign up  enough for three nights free accommodation.

The card comes with a 75 annual fee and pays one point per 1 spent. The card comes with free cover for delayed baggage and flight cancellations, plus points can be swapped for frequent flyer points with 30 major airlines at the same value including Emirates, British Airways, Etihad and Virgin Atlantic.

However this is likely to change next January when Marriot and Starwood Preferred Guest merge.

One lucrative alternative deal is the Hilton Honors Platinum Visa which offers a free weekend night hotel stay at any hotel in the Hilton portfolio after just a 750 spend.

The card is free and it pays 2 points for every 1 you spend (you get an extra point for spends with Hilton Worldwide). You also get a bonus of 2,500 points for the first four stays with the hotel group within the first year.He revolutionised sheep shearing, proposed a helicopter two decades before that aircraft existed and was the first Aboriginal writer to be published.

South Australian David Unaipon has appeared on the $50 note since 1995 but it is largely forgotten he was once known as the 'black Leonardo da Vinci'.

As well as designing and patenting an improved sheep-shearing comb, Unaipon was fascinated with the then theoretical field of lasers and the development of a still impossible perpetual motion machine.

He invented a centrifugal motor, a multi-radial wheel and a mechanical propulsion device. None of his patents made him money, probably due in large part to the racism of the time.

An interview with Unaipon was published in the Richmond River Herald in 1911 under the headline 'Australia's Cleverest Darkie'.

Inventor and writer David Unaipon has appeared on Australia's polymer $50 note since 1995

David Unaipon proposed a helicopter based on the principles of a boomerang's flight in 1914

The Richmond River Times published an interview with Unaipon as 'Australia's cleverest darkie'

A boomerang made by David Unaipon, steamed into shape and then finished off by hand

Unaipon, a Ngarrindjeri man, was born David Ngunaitponi on the Point McLeay Mission, 80 kilometres south-east of Adelaide in 1872.

The fourth of nine children, it was obvious from an early age he was brilliant but the voracious reader was largely self-taught.

One missionary wrote: 'I only wish the majority of white boys were as bright, intelligent, well-instructed and well-mannered, as the little fellow I am now taking charge of.'

Unaipon left school at 13 and moved to Adelaide to work as a servant with the family of CB Young, who encouraged his interests in science, literature and philosophy.

As an adult Unaipon moved back to Point McLeay in the employ of the Aborigines' Friends Association which ran the mission. He worked as a bootmaker, bookkeeper and storeman.

For decades Unaipon traveled widely throughout south-eastern Australia, lecturing on his scientific ideas and preaching Christian sermons.

David Unaipon was a brilliant inventor who left school at 13 and was largely self-taught

Aboriginal inventor David Unaipon patented a mechanical sheep-shearing comb in 1909

Preacher and scholar David Unaipon as he appears on Australia's original polymer $50 note

A talented organist and lifetime teetotaler, Unaipon also gave talks about Aboriginal legends and customs and called for equal rights for black Australians.

He was the first Aboriginal writer to have his work published and wrote extensively about Aboriginal traditions and myths.

Among his earliest published writing was an article in Sydney's Daily Telegraph titled 'Aboriginals: Their Traditions and Customs' in August 1924.

But it was for his inventions - including a mechanical sheep-shearing handpiece using straight rather than curved blades - that the polymath was best known.

Unaipon anticipated the helicopter as early as 1914 based on the flight principles of the boomerang. The first operational helicopter took flight in 1936.

He told the Daily Herald of his theory: 'An aeroplane can be manufactured that will rise straight into the air from the ground by application of the boomerang principle.'

'The boomerang is shaped to rise in the air according to the velocity with which it is propelled, and so can an aeroplane.'

In the same article Unaipon foresaw the possibility of aircraft carriers.

'This class of flying machine can also be carried on board ships, the immense advantages of which are obvious,' he said.

In the early 1480s Italian genius Leonardo da Vinci designed a machine described as a 'aerial screw' considered an advancement towards vertical flight.

Unaipon's aerodynamic studies helped lead to his title as 'Australia's Leonardo' or the 'black Leonardo da Vinci'.

An illustration of Aboriginal inventor David Unaipon's patented sheep-shearing comb of 1909

He was sometimes given other titles, such as 'The Cleverest Aborigine' and 'Australia's Cleverest Darkie'.

While Unaipon's scientific mind was taken seriously his black skin was often considered incongruous with his fastidious speech and suit and tie.

A gossip item in the Adelaide Advertiser in 1930 reported an exchange Unaipon had with an employee of a department store.

Man on the $50 note David Unaipon was born at South Australia's Point McLeay Mission in 1872. Leaving school at 13 he studied science, literature, philosophy and music in his spare time. Unaipon invented a sheep-shearing comb that revolutionised the wool industry. He also proposed a helicopter based on the principles of boomerang flight as early as 1914. Unaipon spent much of his life trying to invent a perpetual motion machine. He was the first Aboriginal writer to be published in Australia. In 1911 one newspaper described him as 'Australia's cleverest darkie'. Unaipon has featured on the polymer $50 note since 1995. Advertisement

'David walked into one of the big stores in Adelaide, and as he entered one of the departments he was accosted by the manager in this fashion,' the newspaper reported.

'"Well, Jacky, you wantem buy big fella shirt, eh?"

In perfectly polished English the inventor replied: 'Will you kindly direct me to the manager's office?'

'It was worth going a long way to see the expression on the face of the manager, who afterwards admitted that he felt a perfect fool,' the newspaper said.

A new $50 still featuring the visage of Unaipon will be released into general circulation in October with slightly altered graphics.

As with the previously updated $5 and $10 notes, the main difference with the new $50 is the introduction of security features including a top-to-bottom clear window.

David Unaipon died in 1967 aged 94 and was buried in Point McLeay cemetery. The national David Unaipon Award for Aboriginal writers was instituted in 1988.Nikolas Cruz is accused of killing 17 people at a Florida high school on Wednesday, February 14

The teen suspected of killing 17 people at a Florida high school was a member of the school's rifle team, which received grants from the National Rifle Association Foundation.

Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old authorities say gunned down more than a dozen people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, competed on the Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the school.

Former JROTC cadets told the Associated Press that Cruz would train with the four-person varsity marksmanship team after class and traveled to other schools in the area to compete.

'He was a very good shot,' former cadet Aaron Diener said.

The 20-year-old said he would give Cruz a ride to the shooting competitions when they were both on the team in 2016.

The 19-year-old was a member of the Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida

A former cadet said Cruz 'was a very good shot' and liked to talk about his AR-15 and pistols . Pictured is a stash of weapons Cruz posted on his Instagram page

The JROTC Cruz was on was supported by the National Rifle Association Foundation. The program received a $10,000 grant in 2016

'He had an AR-15 he talked about, and pistols,' he told the AP.

When Cruz was arrested, he was wearing a maroon t-shirt with the JROTC's logo on it.

The JROTC marksmanship program uses air rifles special-made for target shooting, typically on indoor ranges at targets the size of a small coin. The program, according to the school's website, is to teach students 'character education, student achievement, wellness, leadership, and diversity'.

Records show that the school's program was backed by the National Rifle Association Foundation and received a $10,827 non-cash grant from the organization's fundraising and charitable arm in 2016, when Cruz was on the team.

That same year Cruz was awarded the N-1-3 Academic Achievement Ribbon for maintaining a grade A in JROTC and a grade 'B' in his other academic classes, according to a Facebook post by the school's program.

While Cruz was in the JROTC he was awarded the N-1-3 Academic Achievement Ribbon for maintaining a grade A in JROTC and a grade 'B' in his other academic classes. Pictured is a target with bullet holes Cruz posted on his Instagram

Authorities said Cruz had been expelled from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High last year for disciplinary reasons

When Cruz was arrested, pictured above, he was wearing a JROTC t-shirt

The NRA Foundation gave nearly $2.2million to schools across 30 states in 2016. A total of 18 schools in Florida received aid from the organization, more than any other state.

In the Broward County School District, which includes Marjory Stoneman Douglas, four other high schools received grants or donations from the NRA.

The day of the shooting, student Colton Haab told the Sun Sentinel that he led more than 90 of his classmates into a JROTC room to protect them from the gunman.

The 17-year-old said he called a retired police officer friend to walk him through what to do to keep everyone safe and with the help of First Sgt. John Navarra, a certified ROTC instructor, they had students hid in the closet behind Kevlar, a material used for marksmanship practice that resembles the material used in bullet-proof vests.

The students then armed themselves with a fire extinguisher and a two-by-four in case Cruz came into the room, but he never did.

Cruz, pictured walking into the Broward County Jail, was charged with 17 counts of murder

Honestly, I wish I could have saved more people, he said. I wish we could have gotten more people in the classroom.;

Authorities said Cruz, who was expelled from Stoneman Douglas last year for disciplinary reasons, opened fire on students and staff at the school with an AR-15 military-style carbine in the Wednesday massacre. He was charged with 17 counts of murder.An Australian expatriate living in Bali has died after he was electrocuted while cleaning his swimming pool.

Anthony Gallagher, from Liverpool, NSW, was killed at his rented property in Jimbaran, Bali, in what Indonesian officials describe as a 'tragic accident'.

The 60-year-old had been living on the tourist island with his Indonesian wife when he plugged in a floor cleaning machine and was immediately electrocuted, according to local Balinese media.

Anthony Gallagher, from Liverpool, NSW, was killed at his rented property in Jimbaran, Bali, in what Indonesian officials describe as a 'tragic accident'.

The 60-year-old had been living on the tourist island (pictured) with his Indonesian wife when he plugged in a floor cleaning machine and was immediately electrocuted

Witnesses told authorities the man had been barefoot and it was lightly raining when he was fatally injured on Wednesday morning.

A member of Mr Gallagher's staff cut the electricity and brought him into the house to lie on the sofa but he had already died.

South Kuta Police chief I Nengah Patrem confirmed Mr Gallagher's death was purely accidental and the Australian consulate had been informed.

'The Australian has died after being electrocuted when he was cleaning the pool. It's an accident,' Mr Patrem said.

South Kuta Police chief I Nengah Patrem confirmed Mr Gallagher's death was purely accidental and the Australian consulate had been informed (Bali pictured)

Mr Gallagher's body was taken to Sanglah hospital (pictured) morgue

'We did not find any crime in the case. It is purely an accident,' he said.

A friend of Mr Gallagher shared an emotional tribute to Facebook following his death.

'Sadly passed away in Bali because of accident in home,' Alan Croft, who lives in Seminyak, wrote.

'Anthony Gallagher rest in peace. Heartfelt condolences to his wife, family and all who have known this fine gentleman.'

Mr Gallagher's body was taken to Sanglah hospital morgue.Disgraced former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer faces being kicked out of his luxurious Sydney mansion due to almost $20,000 in overdue rent.

Mehajer, 31, has failed to make payments on the house in Vaucluse, an exclusive suburb in Sydney's affluent east.

His youngest sister Mary - a former Miss Lebanon Australia - has been living in the house but will be forced to return to Lidcombe in Sydney's west if the $18,000 in rent is not paid, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The controversial property developer was seen relaxing and taking bathrobe selfies on the property's balcony with model and business graduate Melissa Tysoe (left) in January

Mehajer, 31, has failed to make payments on the house (pictured) in Vaucluse, an exclusive suburb in Sydney's affluent east

Mehajer is in police custody over claims he staged a car crash as an elaborate plot to avoid appearing in court on an assault charge.

He was given 21 days to vacate the house in an order granted at the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Friday morning.

Mehajer had failed to make payments on the house on MacDonald Street.

Both a Rolls Royce and a BMW which Mehajer was often seen driving have been removed from the property's garage by the owners of the cars.

The controversial property developer was seen relaxing and taking bathrobe selfies on the property's balcony with model and business graduate Melissa Tysoe in January.

Wearing white bathrobes and designers sunglasses, the pair smiled and took selfies before sitting down for a chat and sharing a snack.

He was given 21 days to vacate the house in an order granted at the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Friday morning

Mehajer's alleged staged car crash accomplices faced court over the incident on Thursday.

Two brothers and their wives briefly appeared in Burwood Local Court in Sydney's inner west charged with conspiring to cheat and defraud.

Michael Moufferrige, 28, wife Nora Anne Bush, 32, brother Elias Moufferrige, 30, and sister-in-law Fakaha Ki Malinda Moufferrige, 31, lashed out at reporters as they left the building.

Mehajer still owes $1million for a marble staircase inside his home in Lidcombe.GPS trackers will be strapped to pet cats in a study that aims to reveal where the felines roam when let out of the house.

The tracking devices will be sent out to 46 cat owners in Albury and Thurgoona, southern New South Wales, who have registered for an Australia-wide study.

Results will be recorded by professor Philip Roetman at the University of South Australia, who is hoping to learn more about cat behaviour and their relationships with their owners.

GPS trackers will be strapped to pet cats in a study that aims to reveal where the felines roam when let out of the house

Dr Roetman said the results could help owners keep their cats safe and mitigate risks, The Border Mail reported.

But an initial trial - conducted by the university and Discovery Circle - also proved disloyalty among some cats.

'We had one cat that stayed home during the day and was out roaming at night and when it was tracked we realised it just popped over the back fence,' Dr Roetman told the publication.

'The owner spoke to the neighbour over the fence and found out the neighbour thought it was their cat who roamed during the day and was home at night.

The tracking devices will be sent out to 46 cat owners in Albury and Thurgoona, southern New South Wales, who have registered for an Australia-wide study (stock image)

'The cat had two different names so the owners actually just renamed the cat and now it has a double-barreled name with both included.'

Dr Roetman said researchers are particularly interested in tracking un-desexed males after the initial trial showed they roamed the furthest.

The amount of interaction cats had with their owners also played a role in how far they travelled, initial studies showed.

The Albury Conservation Company has funding from the New South Wales Department of Industries for 80 cats to participate in the study.An American Airlines employee at Sacramento International Airport saved the lives of two teenage girls who were about to be slaves.

Customer service agent Denice Miracle became concerned when two Vacaville-Fairfield teens, aged 15 and 17, came to her ticket counter on August 31.

With no IDs, the girls had no adults with them and had two first class tickets booked, to New York, by an additional person.

Customer service agent Denice Miracle became concerned when two Vacaville-Fairfield teens, aged 15 and 17, came to her ticket counter on August 31

But the tickets were brought with a fraudulent credit card, according to an airline press release obtained by the Sacbee.com.

'Between the two of them, they had a bunch of small bags. It seemed to me as if they were running away from home,' Miracle said in the release.

'They kept looking at each other in a way that seemed fearful and anxious. I had a gut feeling that something just wasn't right.'

And when the agent refused to fly the two girls, they went to make a call at a nearby Starbucks.

With no IDs, the girls had no adults with them and had two first class tickets booked, to New York, by an additional person named 'Drey'

Miracle preemptively called the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department's Airport Bureau.

She got a hold of Deputy Todd Sanderson, who shared that the two teens had called a man named 'Drey' who they had been in contact with on Instagram.

According to Sanderson, Drey had planned to fly the girls out and pay them $2,000 to be music video models.

But things seemed strange when it was noticed that return flights weren't booked for back to Sacremento, which the girls had not been aware of.

They hadn't told their parents about the offer.

And when the agent refused to fly the two girls, they went to make a call at a nearby Starbucks, contacting 'Drey'

'When I told them that they didn't have a flight home, that's when it kind of sunk in that maybe I was actually telling the truth,' Sanderson added.

'In my opinion, what was going to happen was they were going to go back to New York and become victims of sex trafficking. They said they wouldn't have let that happen, and I said they probably wouldn't have had a choice.'

Drey's instagram page was deleted within minutes of the girl's call to him at Starbucks. Calls also would not go through.

Sanderson asserts that Drey probably used photos of a different person and that the case would likely not be persecuted.

The two girls flew home with their parents on that Thursday.

Im very, very thankful Ms. Miracle with American Airlines was able to use her intuition and concern and actually say something, Sanderson said.

Without her, I wouldnt have been called and we wouldnt have intervened with these girls.The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee says the Obama administration missed an opportunity to issue a more 'forceful' deterrent after the Sony hack - inviting Russian cyber manipulation.

By failing to take more robust action, the U.S. could have failed to warn off other attacks, said Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.

The Obama team identified North Korea as the culprit for the 'brazen cyber attack on Sony pictures, determining it was a form of payback for the mocking comedy, 'The Interview.'

Although the U.S. slapped on sanctions to the already heavily-sanctioned regime, it may not have been enough, the California Democrat told the Council of Foreign Relations Friday.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, speaks to the Council of Foreign Relations about Russia's election interference, Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

'I think that others around the world watched that and determined that cyber is a cost-free intervention,' he said, NBC reported.

He spoke on a day deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein announced indictments of 13 Russians that were part of a troll farm accused of meddling in the elections to benefit Donald Trump.

But Schiff also said Trump's team's willingness to embrace Russia's 'ham-handed' efforts was partly to blame.

'I'm certain that had John McCain or Mitt Romney been the nominee in 2016, they would have said, 'Russia, butt the hell out,'' Schiff said. 'But that's not who Donald Trump was.'

House Intelligence Ranking Member Adam Schiff (D-CA) speaks at the Council On Foreign Relations with Andrea Mitchell, Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent at NBC News on February 16, 2018 in Washington, DC

At the time, the Obama administration took what it said was an unprecedented step of naming North Korea as the culprit, the Washington Post reported at the time.

Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee are 'very close' to reaching agreement with the FBI and Department of Justice on redactions to a memo that seeks to rebut assertions of bias in the probe of U.S. President Donald Trump's ties to Russia, the panel's top Democrat said on Friday.

'I think we're very close to reaching agreement on it,' Representative Adam Schiff said during an appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations think tank. 'I think we resolve that very soon, so we can release this.'

Trump on Feb. 9 blocked release of the classified memorandum. On Twitter the next day, he said the document was 'very political and long' and must be 'heavily redacted' to protect sensitive information.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, speaks to the media with an announcement that the office of special counsel Robert Mueller says a grand jury has charged 13 Russian nationals and several Russian entities, Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

Trump earlier cleared the release of a memo drafted by Intelligence Committee Republicans that alleged partisan bias in the securing of an electronic surveillance warrant on Trump campaign aide Carter Page. The president did so despite opposition from the Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Democrats said the Republican document mischaracterized highly classified information and was intended to discredit the probe by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election.

'I hope we never go down this memo path again,' Schiff said of the process. 'I think my colleagues in the GOP recognize it was a big mistake.'Students may never again have to walk into the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School's building where a gunman killed 17 people on Wednesday, as the district is proposing to tear it down.

'Parents and students have resoundingly told me they can't go back into that building regardless of what we do' Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie told the Sun Sentinel.

'The other piece I heard is that that building will be used as evidence in any type of legal process that goes forward, so we won't be able to access the building for a while anyway.'

Three story, building 12 on the high school's campus was where gunman Nikolas Cruz began his blood bath Wednesday.

Building 12 (to the left) is where most of the 17 students and staff were gunned down, the school district is proposing to tear down the building

The district superintendent said students and parents have told him 'they can't go back into that building regardless of what we do'

Sheer terror: After the horrific deadly shooting left a majority of students under 15-years-old dead in the freshman building the district is looking to tear Building 12 down

It is also where more than half the victims were under 15-years-old.

The three story building was 'for freshmen, predominantly,' according to Lynn University Professor Joe Melita, former executive director of the school district's Special Investigative Unit.

'It looked like he knew where he was going to go,' Melita added.

Runcie and School Board members went to the building following the massacre.

'The three of us just wanted to hold hands and say a prayer. Just looking at that building and talking about it now, I have goosebumps out to my head,' Runcie said.

'I don't know how teachers, students could get back in that building. I don't even know how we're going to open the whole campus, period.'

The building held up to 900 students and the school, and the district are over capacity, as the Parkland area is popular area for families with children.

The district is proposing a memorial on the site of where building 12 stands now.

Superintendent Runcie added that beyond the building he just doesn't know how they're going to open the whole campus after the attack left students and staff traumatized

Runcie told the Sentinel he plans to talk about funding for a replacement building.

School shootings have become common enough that it is not uncommon for massacre sites to either be torn down or revamped and re-purposed.

Sandy Hook Elementary where 20 students and six teachers were killed was demolished after the massacre in 2012.

After the 1999 shooting spree at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, left 12 students and one teacher dead who were mostly killed in the school's library- it was completely overhauled as an atrium.More than 600,000 was paid out in compensation in the last two years to schoolteachers who were injured by violent students.

A survey of councils uncovered a total of 48 pay-outs that were made to teaching staff between 2015 and 2017 - including one to a woman who was attacked with chairs and hit on the head.

In several cases, the teachers injuries were so bad that councils had to shell out tens of thousands of pounds.

One teacher in Bexley, London, was paid 22,485 in compensation for head injuries after a pupil kicked a door at her.

Some teachers were attacked using classroom furniture and equipment, according to details released by councils.

More than 600,000 was paid out in compensation in the last two years to teachers who were injured by violent students (stock photo)

And many of the cases involved teachers trying to restrain violent pupils when they lost their temper, to stop them harming their peers.

Experts believe the figures are under-representative of the true scale of the problem as many town halls used data protection laws to refuse to give specific details on compensation cases.

It comes three years after Leeds teacher Ann Maguire, 61, was stabbed to death by one of her 15-year-old pupils as she taught a class.

And in 2015, a 14-year-old pupil launched a racist knife attack on supply teacher Vincent Uzomah at a school in Bradford.

The latest figures have renewed concerns that discipline is still lax in too many schools - putting staff and children at risk.

Three years ago Leeds teacher Ann Maguire, pictured, was stabbed to death by one of her 15-year-old pupils as she taught a class.

Christopher McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: These compensation awards represent only the tip of iceberg in terms of classroom violence and stress caused to teachers by unacceptable pupil behaviour.

Mostly the problem is covered up by schools worried about their public image. Frequently, teachers themselves are reluctant to complain and simply leave the profession.

There should be zero tolerance of any violence in school, not airy-fairy restorative justice and a no-blame culture that undermines the position of the teacher and protects the thug. Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, added: Schools should be safe places for pupils and staff alike.

It is unacceptable for staff or pupils to be attacked at school and it is shocking that any teachers are injured by pupils while doing their job.

All the evidence shows that schools which manage pupil behaviour best have firm and consistently applied behaviour policies and sanctions which are clearly understood by pupils and parents, and which parents support. The data was obtained under the Freedom of Information act from 124 of 152 councils nationwide which agreed to provide figures.

In one example, 2,000 was paid out by Wolverhampton Council to a woman whose pupil threw books and chairs at her before hitting her in the arm and the head.

In another, Cambridgeshire Council paid 10,000 to one employee who was injured from being kicked in the shin by a student.

In Derbyshire a teacher was paid 20,000 after they were injured as they restrained a violent pupil.

In Haringey, London, 83,000 was paid to a teacher hurt by classroom items thrown at them by a special needs pupil.

And in nearby Newham, 1,300 was paid to a teacher who was injured while breaking up a fight between pupils.

In 2015, a 14-year-old pupil launched a racist knife attack on supply teacher Vincent Uzomah at a school in Bradford (pictured: Mr Uzomah recalling his stabbing ordeal in a documentary)

With the survey uncovering a fraction of what is believed to be the real figure and solicitors costs sometimes coming in at double the compensation payout, it is feared the real cost of these pupil on teacher attacks is in excess of 1 million per year.

The disclosure comes after the GMB union revealed last week the number of serious injuries suffered by education workers following violent assaults has surged by almost a quarter in five years.

The reported injuries included loss of sight, brain damage, loss of consciousness, asphyxia and amputation.

In total, 477 injuries from attacks on education staff were reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in 2016/16, compared to 385 in 2012/13.

A Department for Education spokesman said: This government has taken decisive action to put teachers back in charge of the classroom by giving them the powers they need to tackle poor behaviour and discipline, and has scrapped no touch rules that stopped teachers removing disruptive pupils from classrooms.

Teachers and school staff have a right to feel safe while doing their jobs and violence towards them is completely unacceptable.Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said that he was exhausted with the current climate of victimhood culture in America today.

'At some point, we're going to be fatigued with everybody being the victim,' the 69-year-old justice said during an on-stage interview at the Library of Congress in Washington on Thursday. 'I just get worn down,' he added.

Thomas, the second African American to serve on the Supreme Court, also relayed a recent experience he had with a female college student in Kansas where she told him: 'I'm really tired of having to play the role of being black. I just want to go to school.'

The famously taciturn justice said that his grandfather's resilience inspired him to never take anything for granted

Appointed to the bench in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush, the famously taciturn justice said that his grandfather's resilience inspired him to never take anything for granted.

'When I was a kid, there were tons of people who were in really bad circumstances,' Thomas said. 'My grandfather would not let us wallow in that.'

Born in 1948, Thomas was raised in Georgia coastal lowlands and spent his childhood working on his grandfather's farm.

With most opportunities unavailable in the Jim Crow South to the black community, Thomas said his family did the best that they could with what little they had.

'You always have to play the hand you're dealt,' he said. 'If you're dealt a bad hand, you still have to play it.'

Thomas added that he considers his grandfather 'my hero' and 'the single greatest human being I've ever met... With nine months of education. But he never saw himself as a victim.'

Thomas faced a grueling confirmation process to become a justice on the highest court in the land, being accused of sexual harassment by Anita Hill (Pictured) in 1990

The long-time lawman also touched on the the confirmation process for federal judges, a process he went through five times in ten years which only 'got increasingly worse.'

'I don't think the process is what it ought to be,' Thomas said. 'I think that these are serious jobs, and they should be serious. I don't think they should become spectacles.'

Thomas faced a grueling confirmation process to become a justice on the highest court in the land. Allegations of sexual harassment from a former assistant, Anita Hill, nearly derailed his bid for the seat 28 years ago. Thomas denied the allegations.

'I don't think the process is what it ought to be,' Thomas said. 'I think that these are serious jobs, and they should be serious. I don't think they should become spectacles.'

'This is not the Roman Colosseum,' he continued. 'We're not gladiators. And I think we're going to lose some of our best people who choose not to go through the ordeal. They don't want to have to fight the lion in order to be a judge or to be in government. And I think it's our own fault for allowing this to happen.'An activist backed by Momentum who once called the Queen the countrys biggest welfare scrounger has been made a Labour parliamentary candidate.

Jackie Schneider, a strong supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, was selected on Thursday night to contest the marginal seat of Wimbledon in south-west London.

Analysis of her Twitter feed shows she is an ardent republican and anti-nuclear campaigner who has called for the Trident nuclear deterrent to be cut.

Jackie Schneider, a strong supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, was selected on Thursday night to contest the marginal seat of Wimbledon

She narrowly beat Eleanor Harrison, a charity boss, who won endorsements from leading Blairites including former home secretary Alan Johnson.

Miss Schneider, a music teacher, was backed by Momentum  the hard-Left group which grew out of Mr Corbyns leadership campaign  and the GMB union. She is pictured on her website with Mr Corbyn and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

In one tweet posted in 2016 she called for both Trident and the monarchy to have their funding cut. Plenty of savings to be had  cut Trident, monarchy & tax relief for the super rich, she wrote.

Her Twitter feed shows that she is an ardent supporter of Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) and is in favour of cutting royal funding

In another, commenting on the BBC radio show Any Questions in 2012, she wrote: Long live the republic! Queen is biggest welfare scrounger ever. Miss Schneider has described other members of the Royal Family as useless. In April 2013 she wrote: Why did we let the Queen have so many useless children?

The Wimbledon seat is held by Tory ex-minister Stephen Hammond with a majority of 5,622.

Last week the Daily Mail revealed a hard-Left plot to install candidates loyal to Mr Corbyn in target seats.

Last night Miss Schneider said: I dont remember sending these tweets six years ago but Ive now deleted them and I apologise if Ive caused offence.Campaigners took inspiration from Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri to call for gun control in the wake of a school shooting that killed 17.

The placards were driven around Miami on Friday to put pressure on its Republican senator after the high school massacre this week in Florida.

The signs  reading 'Slaughtered in school', 'And still no gun control?', 'How come, Marco Rubio?'  echoed the Oscar-nominated film where a mother challenges authorities over justice for her daughter who was raped and murdered.

The protest was organised by activist group Avaaz, which highlighted the campaign donations Mr Rubio has accepted from gun advocates the National Rifle Association (NRA).

The placards were driven around Miami on Friday to put pressure on its Republican senator after the high school massacre this week in Florida

The signs  reading 'Slaughtered in school', 'And still no gun control?', 'How come, Marco Rubio?'

Emma Ruby-Sachs, Avaaz's deputy director, said: 'The senator has taken fire across the country for his toothless response to the shooting, calling it 'inexplicable'. We call that inexcusable.

'Florida has notoriously lax gun laws and Rubio, who is supported by the NRA, has never attempted to reform them.

The campaign echoed the Oscar-nominated film where a mother challenges authorities over justice for her daughter who was raped and murdered (Scene from movie)

'There have been 334 mass shootings in last 12 months, and yet no new federal gun laws since 1994.'

The protest followed a similar one in London on Thursday which highlighted the 'lack of progress' made since the Grenfell Tower fire that killed 71 people in June.

Meanwhile, Mr Rubio criticised the FBI after it admitted failing to investigate a tip-off last month that the shooting suspect, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, had a 'desire to kill' and had access to guns.

The teenager has been charged with killing 17 people in the shooting spree at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Wednesday.

Peers described Cruz as a troubled individual and said there had been warning signs, while police have not offered a motive but said he was previously expelled from the school.

Reports, citing law enforcement officials, said Cruz legally purchased the the assault rifle in Florida in February last year having passed a background check.

The massacre has once again sparked a debate over availability of firearms in the US, with the country already having seen eight school shootings that have caused death or injury this year.

A similar protest was held in London the day before over the Grenfell Tower fire

Community-led organisation, Justice4Grenfell, paraded three billboards through central London on the way to Grenfell Tower where they parked outside The Wall of TruthMark Goldring, GB chief executive of Oxfam, ggesting that the uproar over the sex abuse scandal was being motivated by an 'anti-aid agenda'

Oxfam's British boss has been slammed after suggesting an 'anti-aid agenda' drove the uproar over the sex scandal - and that it was not as if aid workers had 'murdered babies in their cots'.

Mark Goldring's outburst came as the Government dramatically blocked 30million handouts to the charity until it proves it has changed.

In addition, a Haitian earthquake victim revealed disgraced Oxfam official Roland van Hauwermeiren had sex with her when she was just 17.

Mr Goldring, the Oxfam GB chief executive, said the reaction to the scandal was 'disproportionate' and the 'scale and intensity' of criticism did not fit the crimes, adding: 'Anything we say is being manipulated.'

Last night critics again called on Mr Goldring to resign, saying that he was trying to 'spin' the crisis to make Oxfam the victim, despite a catalogue of allegations about the behaviour of staff.

It came as International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said the charity would receive no new UK foreign aid until it could prove it met the 'high standards' she expected.

Miss Mordaunt said that while there were 'hundreds of good, brave and compassionate people working for Oxfam', they had been 'poorly served' by the charity's leadership.

Any new Government funding for Oxfam was dramatically stopped last night by International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt following the sex exploitation scandal

The move is a huge blow to Oxfam, which last year received around 30million from the Government, and will pile pressure on its beleaguered Mr Goldring.

It follows a meeting this week when the charity attempted to reassure Miss Mordaunt that it had a grip on the scandal, which has led to ramifications through the entire aid sector.

Oxfam has been rocked by the worst week in its history following reports of sexual exploitation by aid workers in Haiti following the earthquake there in 2010.

On another dramatic day yesterday:

- New claims emerged from an anonymous Oxfam worker that she was twice sexually and physically assaulted by colleagues in Haiti and South Sudan.

- The head of Oxfam International conceded that she couldn't guarantee there were no other sexual predators working for the charity.

- Haiti's president called for investigations into other aid organisations which went to the country after the quake.

Calling for Mr Goldring to step down, Tory MP and aid critic Andrew Bridgen said: 'He needs to resign. He is operating in a parallel reality. He's trying to spin it so Oxfam is the victim in all this. That is the ultimate denial.'

In an attempt to address the crisis the head of Oxfam International, Winnie Byanyima, announced an independent commission to review the charity's culture and practices

In the interview with The Guardian yesterday, Mr Goldring accused critics of 'gunning' for the charity over the Haiti sex scandal. He spoke out after reports that several of the charity's aid workers had used prostitutes in Haiti while providing humanitarian work, following the 2011 earthquake.

He accused those who have spoken out against the alleged crimes of being motivated in part by an 'anti-aid agenda'. Asked if he believed this alleged agenda was responsible for the attacks on the charity, he said: 'The intensity and the ferocity of the attack makes you wonder, what did we do? We murdered babies in their cots?

'Certainly, the scale and the intensity of the attacks feels out of proportion to the level of culpability.

'We are so sorry', Oxfam tells its supporters in advert as it declares 'we are listening' Oxfam has told its supporters we are so sorry and declared we are listening as it pledges to win back the publics trust. The charity admitted it should have been more explicit in revealing the allegations of sexual misconduct made against former staff and said not enough progress has been made since 2011. The admission comes as Penny Mordaunt said the charity would receive no new UK foreign aid until it could prove it met the high standards she expected. In a full-page advertisement published in national newspapers including The Guardian and The Times, the charity said it would triple its safeguarding team to help protect staff. The letter, signed by chair of Trustees Caroline Thomson and chief executive Mark Goldring, said: We are so sorry. To Oxfam supporters, friends and volunteers, we are so sorry for the appalling behaviour that happened in our name. More than anything, we are sorry to the people of Haiti and other places where the conduct of Oxfam staff has been reprehensible. The sexual misconduct of former Oxfam employees in Haiti during 2011 and in Chad during 2006 should never have happened. We should have been more explicit in our reporting of these incidents. As an organisation that supports womens rights, these events are particularly hard to bear. We know that you put your trust in us and that these devastating reports will have damaged that trust. We want you to know that we are working hard to rebuild it. The charity said it would triple the number of safeguarding staff, launch an Independent Global Commission, and look after those who speak out about alleged misconduct. The letter also stated that Oxfam is continuing to help those in need and pledged to win back the trust of the charitys supporters. It said: Please know that Oxfam is still full of amazing, brave, committed staff and volunteers who are making remarkable life-saving, life-changing work happen in desperate situations. The scandal that has hit Oxfam in the past week has been shocking, but we are determined that it must not stop the worlds poorest people getting the help they need. We hope that we will be able to earn back the trust that has been lost. Once again, we are so sorry to all of you. Advertisement

'I struggle to understand it. You think, 'My God, there's something going on there'.'

But when asked if anti-aid MPs such as Jacob Rees-Mogg and Priti Patel were exploiting the crisis, he said: 'What I'm really concerned about is that this is not used as an approach to attack aid.'

Asked about accusations that Oxfam covered up the scandal, he said this decision was 'wrong' but said he could understand why it happened. 'If Oxfam's business is to help save lives, if your organisation is there to actually help make the world a better place, I can see why people thought this was the right thing to do,' he added.

Mr Goldring admitted the organisation's failings but said the 'scale and intensity' of criticism was disproportionate, adding: 'We've been savaged.'

Yesterday he repeated his apology for Oxfam's failings and agreed that major reforms were needed. But he warned that the controversy has already affected donations.

Oxfam has vowed to publish the 2011 internal investigation into staff involved in sexual and other misconduct in the country. It said that the names of the men involved have already been shared with the Haitian authorities.

Following discussions with the Department for International Development, Oxfam yesterday said it would not seek further Government funding.

Miss Mordaunt said: 'Oxfam has agreed to withdraw from bidding for any new UK Government funding until DFID is satisfied that they can meet the high standards we expect of our partners.

'We have been very clear that we will not work with any organisation that does not live up to the high standards on safeguarding and protection that we require.'

In an attempt to address the crisis yesterday the head of Oxfam International, Winnie Byanyima, announced an independent commission to review the charity's culture and practices.

But she conceded that she could not guarantee that there are no more sexual predators working for the charity, although it would 'build a new culture that doesn't tolerate that behaviour'.

She described the allegations as a 'stain' on the charity 'that will shame us for years'.

Last night a former Oxfam worker told the BBC she had been abused by colleagues in Haiti and South Sudan in 2010. Describing one assault, she told the BBC: 'He literally just pinned me up against the wall. It was groping me, grabbing me, kissing me and I was just trying to shove him off.'

She said he 'got mad' when she succeeded and threw a glass at her. Later, she had to travel with him and he attacked her again and her roommate had to intervene, she said.

The same worker was also assaulted at a New Year's Eve party in South Sudan, also in 2010. 'I went into my room I was starting to undress and go to sleep and he just walked in, shoved me on the bed, tried to rip my clothes,' she said.

Haiti's president last night said the Oxfam case was only 'the visible part of the iceberg' and called for investigations into Doctors Without Borders, also known as Medecins Sans Frontieres, and other aid organisations. Jovenel Moise said: 'There are other NGOs (non-governmental organisations) in the same situation, but they hide the information internally.

'For example, Doctors Without Borders had to repatriate about 17 people for misconduct which was not explained.'

Geneva-based Doctors Without Borders said it was looking into his comments.The study suggests that when people choose their own food, there's not much left on the plate

It's a good reason to rustle up food at home rather than grabbing something on the go.

Diners who eat a meal where they can choose their portion size are far more likely to clear their plate, leaving just 3 per cent behind. Eating out, on the other hand, can see almost 40 per cent of a meal end up in the bin when people cannot control how much they are served.

The average person in Britain wastes just over 13 stone (84kg) of food every year.

During a US study, people choosing their own portions, whether eating at home or out, left behind approximately 5.6g of food (3.3 per cent of the meal on average).

But when given pre-packaged food, in a set portion size similar to meal deal options from sandwich shops, participants left more than 200g, with women leaving more than men.

The study, published in the journal PLOS One, involved 50 people aged 18 to 65 who monitored their food intake and waste over about a week.

Professor Brian Roe, the lead author from Ohio State University, said: It suggests that when people are choosing their own food, theres not a lot left on their plate. Better meal planning is a good place to start.Britain's biggest supermarkets are accused of failing to pass on the fall in fuel costs to their customers  despite repeated promises to slash prices.

The average price of petrol and diesel has barely budged, even though the wholesale cost retailers pay has fallen by 4p per litre in recent weeks, an AA report found.

If this had been passed on to motorists at supermarkets it would have taken 2 off the cost of filling up a typical 50-litre family car.

A separate study accuses the entire fuel industry of fleecing motorists out of 6.6million a day by failing to pass on the falls in wholesale costs  equivalent to around 2.4billion a year in excess profits.

A person using an Asda petrol pump in Chelmsford, Essex. The AA said that despite a string of promises, prices on supermarket forecourts had fallen by only half a penny for a litre of petrol and less than a penny for diesel

The AA said that despite a string of promises, prices on supermarket forecourts had fallen by only half a penny for a litre of petrol and less than a penny for diesel.

Some supermarkets had cut the price even less, with Sainsburys shaving just 0.07p off petrol and 0.16p off a litre of diesel, the report said.

Last night Luke Bosdet, from the motoring group, said: As is so often the case, supermarket price wars prove to be a phoney. The term up to is sneaky shorthand for only dropping prices where they have to.

Over the last two weeks, the oil price has dropped by five dollars a barrel, while the wholesale costs have fallen by around 4p.

Despite this, fuel prices at the pumps are currently at their highest level in more than three years. Over the past two years the cost of filling up a petrol car has risen by around 10, and 11 for a diesel.

Last week, Sainsburys, Asda and Morrisons  which have around 1,000 forecourts between them  pledged to cut prices by up to 2p a litre.

Tesco, which has just over 500 petrol stations, did not promise a price cut. But, todays report, said the average price of petrol had barely budged following this round of cuts  with petrol still at 121.60p a litre. Asda  which is the only supermarket to offer a national price cap on fuel  has cut petrol by an average of just 0.17p and diesel by 0.66p. Morrisons has cut 1.03p from petrol and 0.85p off diesel.

Last night, after being approached for comment by the Daily Mail, Sainsburys announced it would slash the price of unleaded again by up to 2p per litre and diesel by up to 1p per litre at its 311 forecourts.

Esso, Shell and BP branded forecourts, many of which are owned by independent firms, have actually increased the price of fuel over the last month according to the AA.

A separate report from the pressure group FairFuelUK has revealed that in the seven weeks since Christmas wholesale diesel prices have dropped 5.2p, while the oil price has fallen almost 9 per cent. But pump prices have risen 0.7p. This means 5.9 p  the equivalent of almost 3 on an average tank  has not been passed to drivers.

Over the same period the wholesale price of petrol has dropped 2.3p, while petrol prices have risen 1.4p  meaning 3.7p per litre has not been passed on.

With drivers using around 45 million litres of petrol and 77 million litres of diesel a day, FairFuelUK said drivers are paying 6.7million a day more than they should be at the pumps.

Last night MPs called on the Competition & Markets Authority to step in to protect drivers.

But a CMA spokesman said: The CMA is not a price regulator  our role is to ensure competition works in the interest of consumers.

Dave Tyrer from Asda said: We are the only supermarket group to operate a price cap, which we have lowered further this week.

That means wherever you shop, customers will not pay more than 116.7p and 118.7p for unleaded and diesel.

Richard Murrell, buying manager for Sainsburys, said: This is the second time weve cut the price of diesel and petrol in as many weeks, which is great news for all our customers. Tesco was unavailable for comment.Ashley Holloway (Pictured), 30, has been missing since February 5 after taking her pet Chihuahua out for a walk

The search for a California mother of three is underway after taking out her dog for a walk around her suburban neighborhood.

Ashley Holloway, 30, has been missing since February 5 after taking her pet Chihuahua, Tinkerbell, out around her Stockton home following a Super Bowl party.

Family members and neighbors have taken to canvassing their neighborhood with flier in hopes of coming across a clue, according to local affiliate CBS 13.

'I've known Ashley since she was a baby so, this ain't like her to be missing like this,' said close family friend Lyda Padilla.

'She's a good mom; I don't know why she disappeared. All I know, hopefully, she'll come home,' she added.

Holloway has three children all under the age of 16, CBS 13 reported, and is known for having her small dog by her side at all times.

'She was walking the dog, and I guess, the dog came back, and she disappeared,' she said.

Family members and neighbors like Lyda Padilla (Pictured) have taken to canvassing their neighborhood with flier in hopes of coming across a clue

Holloway has three children all under the age of 16 and is known for having her small dog, Tinkerbell (Pictured) by her side at all times

Albert Garcia, Holloway's longtime boyfriend, said that they had plans to go out with some friends following the big game.

'She said a couple of words to my son here, and she walks off, and he was actually the last one to see her,' said Garcia.

The Stockton Police Department said in a statement that they have opened an investigation into the incident and detectives are currently tracing her last known whereabouts.

Meanwhile, family and friends say that they hoping for Holloway's safe return.

'I've been worried since she's been gone. I don't know what to think or what to do; we put flyers up everywhere. We asked all the neighborhood, every friend, and person that knows her from the taco truck to the liquor store, everyone we can think of,' said Garcia.

Holloway was wearing a black hoodie sweatshirt and blue jeans, according to the family's missing person flyer. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Stockton Police Department immediately.Lives could be put at risk from crime and terrorism if the EU puts ideology ahead of a practical post-Brexit deal on security, Theresa May will warn today.

In a major speech on the countrys future relationship with Brussels, the Prime Minister will set out her unconditional determination to agree a comprehensive new treaty.

But she will warn the EU not to insist on a powerful role for European judges and other institutions that could restrict security co-operation.

Neither rigid institutional restrictions nor a deep-seated ideology should come before protecting the public, she will say, insisting that Britain and Europes common enemies would like nothing more than to see us fractured.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Mrs May will hail the success of EU-wide co-operation against terrorists, people smugglers and organised crime.

Theresa May (pictured in Berlin yesterday) will speak at the Munich Security Conference to warn the EU against cutting ties on security post-Brexit

She will urge EU leaders to safeguard the practical co-operation we have developed and nurtured over decades, while warning of damaging real world consequences if leaders reject new forms of co-operation outside the writ of European law.

Mrs May wants to preserve arrangements that allow co-operation in areas such as data-sharing between police and security services and extradition of criminal and terror suspects.

These currently come under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and there are fears that Brussels could undermine a deal by making unreasonable demands about the role of the court.

The Prime Ministers comments  in a speech entitled Road to Brexit: A Security Partnership  will be delivered before an address by European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker.

Europes security is our security and that is why I have said that the United Kingdom is unconditionally committed to maintaining it, Mrs May will say.

The challenge for all of us today is finding the way to work together, through a deep and special partnership between the UK and the EU, to retain the co-operation that we have built and go further in meeting the evolving threats we face together.

This cannot be a time when any of us allow competition between partners, rigid institutional restrictions or deep-seated ideology to inhibit our co-operation and jeopardise the security of our citizens.

We must do whatever is most practical and pragmatic in ensuring our collective security. Mrs May will set out the vast contribution Britains policy, security and intelligence agencies currently make to protecting lives across the continent. The UK is one of the biggest contributors of data, intelligence and expertise to Europol. People across Europe are safer because of this co-operation and the unique arrangements we have developed between the UK and EU institutions in recent years, the Prime Minister will say.

So it is in all our interests to find ways to protect the capabilities which underpin this co-operation when the UK becomes a European country outside the EU but in a new partnership with it. To make this happen will require real political will on both sides.

I recognise there is no existing security agreement between the EU and a third country that captures the full depth and breadth of our existing relationship. But there is precedent for comprehensive, strategic relationships between the EU and third countries in other fields, such as trade. And there is no legal or operational reason why such an agreement could not be reached in the area of internal security.

She will say: This cannot be a time when any of us allow competition between partners, rigid institutional restrictions or deep-seated ideology to inhibit our co-operation and jeopardise the security of our citizens' (pictured with Angela Merkel

However, if the priority in the negotiations becomes avoiding any kind of new co-operation with a country outside the EU, then this political doctrine and ideology will have damaging real world consequences for the security of all our people in the UK and the EU. As leaders, we cannot let that happen.

Mrs May will add: Those who threaten our security would like nothing more than to see us fractured. They would like nothing more than to see us put debates about mechanisms and means ahead of doing what is most practical and effective in keeping our people safe. So let our message ring out loud and clear: we will not let that happen.

We will keep our people safe, now and in the years to come. Nothing must get in the way of our helping each other in every hour of every day to keep our people safe. If we put this at the heart of our mission, we can and will find the means.

Todays speech comes after an unprecedented intervention by spy chiefs from Britain, France and Germany who said post-Brexit intelligence co-operation was indispensable. Alex Younger, the head of MI6, and his European counterparts met in public for the first time yesterday to stress the necessity of their close ties when Britain leaves the EU.

They also pushed for an agreement on cross-border information sharing to monitor suspect terrorists, saying failure to mount a collective modern response  including technological innovation  to modern threats would lead to even greater risk. After a meeting in Germany, a statement released by the three spy chiefs said: To have effect, our efforts must be combined in partnership.

Co-operation between European intelligence agencies combined with the values of liberal democracy is indispensable, especially against a background of diverse foreign and security policy challenges.

Even after the UKs exit from the EU, close co-operation and cross-border information sharing must be taken forward on themes such as international terrorism, illegal migration, proliferation and cyber attacks.A tour manager of an all-male revue has revealed how his globetrotting lifestyle has continuously drawn him towards life-threatening events.

Nathan Claridge, 32, travelled across the globe in 2017 as the MC of long-standing Australian strip show Thunder from Down Under.

He revealed how the tour saw him in Las Vegas during the October massacre, Macau a day after a deadly hurricane and Guam as Kim Jong-un threatened nuclear testing, Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

The MC of an Australian strip show Nathan Claridge (pictured), 32, has revealed how he has been continuously drawn towards life-threatening events on tour

Mr Claridge (pictured) travelled across the globe in 2017 as the MC of long-standing Australian strip show Thunder from Down Under

Mr Claridge (right) revealed how the tour saw him in Las Vegas during the October massacre, Macau a day after a deadly hurricane and Guam as Kim Jong-un threatened nuclear testing

'We started calling ourselves The Expendables,' he told the publication.

'We were like "Dont worry guys, well go, well risk ourselves, the show must go on.'

Mr Claridge said he immediately received a call form tour promoter Billy Cross when news broke of 58 people being shot dead at the Route 91 music festival on October 1.

Mr Cross checked in to see if his star performers were okay after Stephen Paddock opened fire on the festival from a room inside the Mandalay Bay hotel.

Mr Claridge said he immediately received a call form tour promoter Billy Cross when news broke of 58 people being shot dead at the Route 91 music festival on October 1 (pictured)

The tour means Mr Claridge never stays in one place for a long time, and he went on to visit places such as Hawaii, South Africa and Thailand last year (pictured is a promotion for Thunder from Down Under)

He said the shows in Thailand were among the most successful, as fans returned every night and even handed him Muay Thai shorts with his name on them

Mr Claridge (right) was back in Las Vegas this week before heading to Germany for six weeks

But the tour means Mr Claridge never stays in one place for a long time, and he went on to visit places such as Hawaii, South Africa and Thailand last year.

He said the shows in Thailand were among the most successful, as fans returned every night and even handed him Muay Thai shorts with his name on them.

The hardest part was turning down drinks with fans after the show because of travel commitments, he told the publication.

'Some days you have a flight next morning at 5am. Its "No thank you". Im lucky Ive worked in hospitality a long time, I know how to deal with it pretty well,' he said.

Mr Claridge was back in Las Vegas this week before heading to Germany for six weeks.The widow of a wealthy British businessman killed in a suspicious hit and run accident in the Ukraine has repaid 21,000 in legal aid after Government lawyers threatened her with court action.

Internet bride Ganna Ziuzina, 39, was granted public funds to fight for a share of her husband Barry Prings 1.5million estate following his death ten years ago.

The former stripper was deemed eligible to claim legal support in the UK three months after Mr Pring, 47, was hit by a car and killed in Ukraine in February 2008, even though she did not move to Britain until he died.

Pictured: Miss Ziuzina and Mr Pring, who were married near Kiev, Ukraine, in 2007

Pictured left and right: Miss Ziuzina poses for photographs

Pictured: Miss Ziuzina by a swimming pool

Details of her legal aid bill were revealed by the Daily Mail a year ago, when the Legal Aid Agency announced it was considering taking court action to recover the money paid to Miss Ziuzina.

At the time, it was unclear how it would claw back the money given that Miss Ziuzina  who now calls herself Julianna Moore - is now living in a luxury villa in Spain with another wealthy British businessman.

But in a rare victory, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has now revealed that Miss Ziuzina  who owns a 700,000 property on the Costa del Sol  has given back the money to the Legal Aid Agency.

The agency said last February it was considering court action against Miss Ziuzina, whose legal aid was revoked in August 2012 after she failed to cooperate with an investigation into her financial means.

It added: She is liable for all the legal aid costs paid out for her case. We continue to take all possible steps to recover the costs.

Mr Prings death was initially treated by Ukrainian police as an accident then upgraded to a murder inquiry after the bungled investigation was exposed by the Mail in 2011. Pictured: Miss Ziuzina and Mr Pring on their wedding day

Details of her legal aid bill followed a Freedom of Information request by the Mail to the Ministry of Justice, which revealed she had received 21,165 aid for probate and inheritance matters - 14,113 for her solicitor, 5,964 for her barrister and 1,088 in expenses to help prepare the case.

IT consultant Mr Pring was run over on a dual carriageway on the outskirts of Kiev as he waited to hail a taxi after he and Miss Ziuzina enjoyed a meal to celebrate their first wedding anniversary.

As she went back inside the restaurant to collect a pair of gloves, Mr Pring, from Battersea, South West London, was killed by a speeding vehicle with no lights and stolen number plates.

Mr Pring is said to have been besotted with Miss Ziuzina, whom he met online.

She has strenuously denied any involvement in Mr Prings death.

A second inquest into his death is due to take place in the UK next year, after the findings of the first one last year were quashed for legal reasons.

A pre-inquest hearing took place in Bristol earlier this month to hear various legal arguments about the case.

Citing the case of Princess Diana, Leslie Blohm QC, for the Pring family, told circuit judge Paul Matthews  who will preside over the new inquest  that it was possible to hold an inquest into a death which had occurred overseas.

He also suggested it was possible to have an inquest into a death in this country where criminal investigations or proceedings were underway.

The Ukrainian police investigation into Mr Prings suspected murder has been dogged by allegations of corruption, incompetence and a cover-up.

Legal sources believe several people may have been involved in a plot to kill him.

Police initially treated Devon-born Mr Prings death as a traffic accident. It was upgraded to a murder inquiry only after a Daily Mail investigation in 2011 exposed the shambolic nature of the investigation.

In a statement, the MoJ confirmed it had recovered the legal aid costs from Miss Ziuzina.

Miss Ziuzinas lawyer, John Cabot, told the Mail: Now the second inquest has been opened by the coroner it is inappropriate for either I or Ms Moore to make statements to the media.

In any event Ms Moore has settled her differences with the LAA and no legal aid costs remain outstanding.A perk of being one of the worlds wealthiest men is you can buy the most expensive of everything  from homes and cars, to yachts, private jets  and, lets not forget, politicians.

So it goes that, when George Soros decided to help the president of an impoverished West African country cement his powerbase a few years back, he agreed to pay big bucks to secure the regular assistance of one Tony Blair.

Financial records produced by the American-Hungarian billionaires non-profit organisation, The Open Society Foundation (formerly Institute), reveal that in 2012 it spent $601,753 (429,000) hiring Blair and his aides to help the leader of Guinea manage and execute his ambitious reform agenda effectively.

The cash was paid to Blairs personal charity, the Africa Governance Initiative. In return, Soross chum (and Guinea president) Alpha Conde received much invaluable advice, including how to handle PR in the aftermath of violent clashes during which government forces shot dead nine opposition activists and injured hundreds more.

George Soros, one of the world's wealthiest men, agreed to pay big bucks to secure the regular assistance of one Tony Blair when he decided to help the president of a West African country

We are losing the communications battle, in part because the government has remained largely silent over these past weeks, spin doctors from Team Blair advised the African politician in early 2013. They suggested he create a new narrative in which we must be seen as the side that has always been open to democratic process and dialogue.

On another occasion, Blair personally contacted Hillary Clinton, who was then U.S. Secretary of State, asking for help persuading the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to speed up moves to relieve Guineas national debt.

My charity is helping the President of Guinea with [the] Soros Foundation, Blair told Mrs Clinton in a leaked February 2012 email, adding that financial assistance would make a big difference since [the] President has elections in early summer . . . any support would be very welcome!

Mrs Clinton passed Blairs chummy request to U.S. Treasury officials, and suggested that Mr Soros personally call the Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to see if strings might be pulled.

A few months later  hey presto!  this cosy networking bore fruit.

The IMF wrote off $2.1billion (1.5billion) of Guineas debt. Not long afterwards, President Conde was successfully re-elected, too.

Having paid Blairs bills, Mr Soros also took a hands-on role in supporting Conde in advance of those elections, setting up meetings between him and foreign power-brokers (one, in September 2011, saw him host the African statesman and his son at his New York apartment). Occasionally during this period, Soros seemed to take it upon himself to act as a quasi-official negotiator for the Guinea government.

Mr Soros' organisation in 2012 429,000 hiring Blair and his aides to help the leader of Guinea, Alpha Conde, manage and execute his ambitious reform agenda effectively

Indeed, he appears to have informally represented the Conde regime at a meeting in London that year with a Brazilian mining firm which had interests in the African country.

In an internal email sent soon afterwards, executives from the company, Vale, said theyd been told by Soros to contribute $250million (178million) to the Guinea government in order to be allowed to continue working there.

The message suggested that Soros was behaving as if the people of Guinea had elected him to run their country. It complained, he has no right to speak on their behalf.

These and other intriguing episodes are expected to feature in a high-profile court case which is currently going through the New York courts.

At its centre is an Israeli diamond tycoon called Benjamin Steinmetz, who alleges that  during the early years of Condes rule  Mr Soros conspired to have him stripped of valuable mining rights in the African country.

Steinmetz claims that Soros used a network of pressure groups that he finances to carry out this campaign, which he alleges was motivated by long-standing antipathy between the two men. Hes now seeking an astonishing $10billion (7.2billion) in compensation.

The lawsuit dramatically dubs Soros a racketeer billionaire who acts in utter disregard of the rule of law and the rights of others.

Soros, for his part, denies wrong-doing. He will argue that Steinmetz was justly punished by the government of Guinea for having corruptly acquired mining rights in the first place. The case (which we shall look at in more detail later) revolves around some disputed episodes in which neither side appears to have an absolute monopoly on either truth or virtue.

Yet perhaps more important than its particular rights and wrongs  in the context of recent events, at least  is what it reveals about the way in which George Soros uses his global philanthropic empire to advance agendas.

For the case offers a rare insight into the methods via which the 87-year-old, whose genius as a financier made him the worlds 29th richest man, has come to be regarded by friends and foe alike as one of the most influential power-brokers of modern times.

George Soros, pictured here with his wife Tamiko Bolton, has been criticised for his Brexit intervention but denies he is attempting to undermine democracy

Last week, of course, it emerged that Soros has donated around 500,000 to a campaign seeking to derail Britains departure from the EU and, by extension, bring down Theresa Mays government.

First, though, some history. George Soros is a Hungarian-born fund manager best known in the UK as the man who broke the Bank of England on Black Wednesday, when he turned a $1billion profit betting that the value of the pound would fall.

His currency speculation, on that day in 1992, helped panic the Major government into devaluing Sterling, forcing Britain out of the Exchange Rate Mechanism and costing taxpayers around 3.3 billion in the process. In other countries, however, Soros is perhaps better known for the extraordinary amount of his personal fortune that has been devoted to philanthropy.

Despite the rapacious industry in which he works, his convictions are largely liberal and he has, over the past three decades, been perhaps the worlds most vigorous supporter of mostly Left-wing causes, ploughing around $14 billion (10 billion) into promoting them.

He runs campaigning affairs via the Open Society Foundation, a grant-making organisation with 1,600 employees and branches in 43 countries, including an office in Londons Millbank Tower, which seeks to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people.

Its coffers contain around $25 billion (15 billion), including $18 billion (13billion) that he transferred to it before Christmas. It will this year spend a fraction over $1 billion (712 million).

To supporters, this represents a uniquely noble endeavour that places Soros firmly in the tradition of such philanthropists as Andrew Carnegie, the Victorian industrialist who used his fortune to build libraries, and Bill Gates, who is devoting trillions to combating malaria and Aids.

Yet critics argue that the avowedly political nature of many causes Soros supports  such as the attempt to sabotage Brexit  can make his activities problematic.

Despite being unelected, and having few obvious ties to many countries where his organisations operate, his financial resources have the potential to subvert (rather than build) democracy, they argue. For example, by supporting individual politicians such as Guineas president, he is, by definition, undermining opposition parties which may be supported by significant portions of a countrys electorate. Though his motives may be honourable, critics say that at the very least, that amounts to meddling.

Were his campaign to succeed in stopping what he calls Brexit calamity it would  to cite another example  have the effect of overturning a referendum which, whatever ones political persuasion, was, with more than 30 million votes cast, one of the most widely-observed exercises in democracy in British history.

Quite how that dovetails with his stated aim to make governments accountable and open to the participation of all people is anyones guess.

Meanwhile, although Soross affection for the EU is doubtless heartfelt, it may also be motivated by a hefty portion of self-interest.

For the EU has in recent years been a helpful ally in advancing causes close to his heart, from the rights of refugees, migrants and other minorities, to freedom of speech, human rights and reforming drug legalisation.

Mr Soros said his experience as a Jew in Hungary under Nazi occupation in 1944 has stressed to him the importance of the kind of political regime that prevails

The relationship between his organisations and Brussels was laid bare last year, with the leak of a 177-page document prepared for Open Society by lobbying firm Kumquat Consulting. Entitled Reliable Allies In The European Parliament, it contained a list of 226 MEPs thought proven or likely to advance the agenda of Soross organisations.

The presence of an MEP in this mapping indicates that they are likely to support Open Societys work, the document advised. Open Society should seek to build lasting and trusting relationships with these European lawmakers.

The list included what its authors regarded as the most reliable allies among Britains 73 MEPs.

Among them was Sinn Feins Martina Anderson, a former IRA member who served 12 years in prison for terror offences before being released via the Good Friday Agreement. The Open Society document notes approvingly that shes interested in regional autonomy, civil liberties, human rights, the rights of all minorities . . . the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and employment issues.

The ten Labour MEPs on the list (there are also six Tories, one Lib Dem, and two Greens) include Claude Moraes who is dubbed an unavoidable actor for civil liberties, justice, and home affairs who may appear easy to win over but will require extensive engagement to ensure commitments are followed up effectively.

Again, the very existence of such a list divides opinion. Some might say it forms part of a well-run lobbying operation that every professional campaigning organisation would be proud of.

Yet critics argue it shows an unhealthy desire to influence MEPs who are supposedly elected to serve the people of their nations, rather than to represent the pet interests of a foreign billionaire.

Equally problematic, in such a context was a second internal document which leaked in 2016 outlining how Open Society had recently sought to advance its agenda in Moldova by spending $141,750 (110,000) supporting then Prime Minister Iurie Leanca.

The memo noted that Leanca is a former board member of the Soros Foundation Moldova.

It further revealed that Open Society was quietly financing four of his key advisers; one was a former director of a think-tank it supported and another had sat on the Soros Foundations board alongside Leanca.

While the rationale for wanting to support the politician was perfectly legitimate  Moldova needed help standing up to Vladimir Putins Russia  the methods via which Soross organisation pursued this aim turned out to be somewhat contentious.

For its against Moldovan law for a prime ministers aides to have their salaries paid by a third party organisation. As a result, the document stated, a way to bypass the rules was found: The advisers will be paid as research consultants within a project run by a German think-tank.

To critics, such financial gymnastics seem contrary to the spirit (if not the letter) of Moldovas law. And, again, the degree of influence they appear to have given Open Society over an elected government raises questions about whether democracy was subverted.

Soros might, quite understandably, argue that the end justifies the means. For life has made him healthily suspicious of authoritarian governments in Russia and elsewhere  and keen to support their opponents.

Born in Hungary in 1930, he grew up first under Nazi then post-war Communist rule before escaping to the UK aged 17.

Over time, Soros' focus became gradually more political. In the Nineties he funded divisive campaigns to legalise marijuana and liberalise abortion in a number of American states

After attending the London School of Economics, he began work in the City of London and then on Wall Street, quickly gaining a reputation as a hugely gifted investor, with a talent for predicting economic trends and betting accordingly, often via currency speculation.

In 1973, he launched an investment firm, Soros Fund Management, and by the Eighties had earned his first billion.

Around the same time he began giving cash away, coming to regard philanthropy as his real purpose in life. He didnt really enjoy making money. Im just good at it, hed say.

At first, Soros devoted his efforts to relatively uncontroversial schemes: paying for black students in apartheid South Africa to have scholarships, or supplying photocopiers to Communist Hungary, thereby breaking its governments hold over information.

But over time, his focus became gradually more political.

In the Nineties he funded divisive campaigns to legalise marijuana and liberalise abortion in a number of American states.

Then, in the 2000s, he began pouring cash into party politics, spending $15 million (10.5 million) attempting (unsuccessfully) to unseat President George W. Bush in 2004.

His donations in more recent years to help Barack Obama and Hillary Clintons presidential bids turned him into a hate figure for American conservatives  just as Right-wing billionaires who finance Republican candidates are the bete noir of liberals.

Even he admits to having what psychologists call a Messiah complex  admitting in a memoir that I have always harboured an exaggerated view of my self-importance. To put it bluntly, I fancied myself as some kind of God.

All of which brings us back to Soross current nemesis Mr Steinmetz, a controversial businessman who turned a family diamond firm into a global mining giant, largely by investing in edgy regions, and became Israels second richest man in the process.

In 2008, the highly corrupt former dictator of Guinea, Lansana Conte, granted one of Steinmetzs firms, BSG, a lucrative concession to mine iron ore there. But two weeks after the deal was signed, Conte died.

When Alpha Conde came to power two years later, via the countrys first proper elections, he decided, with the support of Soros, to review mining deals that had been struck under his predecessor.

During this process, BSG lost its valuable rights, amid allegations that it had originally acquired them by bribing Contes relatives with millions of dollars in cash, plus diamond-encrusted watches and other luxury goods, including, bizarrely, a bejewelled replica Formula One car.

The firm denied such charges. Its lawsuit against Soros now alleges that the financier and his non-profit organisations persuaded Conde to take on Steinmetz as part of a personal vendetta.

The duo fell out over a Russian business deal in the Nineties, it says, adding that as a vigorous supporter of Palestinian causes, Soros disliked Steinmetz for having given large donations to Israeli charities.

At a court hearing last year, Steinmetz claimed Soros had spent $40-50 million (28-36 million) out of his own pocket to destroy me claiming: He has an obsession with me . . . hes nuts.

Soros, for his part, told an interviewer in 2012: I have not met Mr Steinmetz nor have I ever spoken with him. I have no personal grudge against him.

His spokesman has called the entire lawsuit (which accuses Soros of fraud, illegality, defamation and criminal misconduct) a PR stunt.

At various stages, the wider legal battle  which has been raging since 2013  has been costly for both sides.

Steinmetz was briefly placed under house arrest in Israel last year while Guinean bribery allegations were investigated, while a former associate was jailed in the U.S. for two years  following an FBI sting  after admitting corruption related to the affair.

Meanwhile, Soross right-hand man Lord Malloch-Brown  a former Labour minister who is heavily involved in his campaign against Brexit  suffered a costly legal setback in 2013 after Steinmetz accused him of industrial espionage.

A large lobbying firm that the British peer worked for had previously made ugly headlines for Steinmetz by dropping his mining company BSG as a client.

Steinmetz alleged that Malloch-Brown orchestrated this move at the behest of Soros, as part of a smear campaign.

Malloch-Brown and the lobbying firm eventually settled out of court, paying compensation of 72,000 along with legal costs, which were said to run to six figures more. Malloch-Brown did not admit wrongdoing, but Steinmetzs spokesman told reporters: When you are paid to advise people . . . you are not supposed to leak information about them to their enemies.

That point-scoring now sets things up nicely for the blockbuster $10 billion (7 billion) case between Steinmetzs mining firm and Soros, which was, in November, suspended by a New York judge until the conclusion of related litigation in Paris. It is expected to return to court later this year.

Should a full trial ensue, the jury will, to quote the opening paragraph of the lawsuit, be asked whether they agree with Steinmetz that: George Soros epitomises in the 21st century what [the historian] Lord Acton observed two centuries ago: Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.Brexit could be overturned because Leave voters are dying off, the pro-Remain peer Mark Malloch-Brown claimed yesterday.

Lord Malloch-Brown is leading a campaign to try and block Britain leaving the European Union.

There was a huge backlash against his campaign group Best For Britain last week after it emerged it had received 400,000 from the billionaire investor George Soros.

Pro-Remain peer Lord Mark Malloch-Brown has said Brexit could be overturned because Leave voters are dying

Lord Malloch-Brown, a former Labour minister and chairman of Best For Britain, said it would be a reasonable outcome of the campaign if Theresa May resigned as Prime Minister.

He estimated he had a 40 per cent chance of stopping Brexit.

He said yesterday that the campaign could succeed because Brexiteers will die off in a matter of years. And he argued younger people felt hijacked and kidnapped by Brexit.

They are all really angry with older people, he added. They feel utterly betrayed. But the actuarial rules of life are moving in their favour.

Within a matter of four, five or ten years they will be in an overwhelming majority in this country as all the Brexiteers die off, because under 55 there was a huge majority in this country tailing off as you got to 65.

Lord Malloch-Brown said he wanted to give MPs the courage to vote against the terms of Mrs Mays deal.

The former Labour minister has said estimates he has a 40 per cent chance of stopping Brexit

He told The Daily Telegraph: A perfectly reasonable outcome could be a defeat of Mrs Mays Brexit package, an eruption within the Tory Party that leads to a change of leader.

This would lead to the terms of the deal being put to a second referendum, he said, adding: People are feeling themselves hijacked and kidnapped by Brexit. We have got to get beyond that.

We are in an uphill fight. It is probably 60/40 against us at the moment. But is it worth fighting as a democrat and a patriot? I believe it profoundly is. After revelations emerged about Mr Soross donations, the financier said he would match donations from the public to the tune of another 100,000.

The Best For Britain campaign has raised a total of 2million.

Lord Malloch-Brown said he would not rule out Mr Soros giving more money, saying: There will be more from lots of sources and I certainly would not rule out George is one of them. We have other donors who collectively are giving more than George Soros at the moment.

Mr Soros is known as the man who broke the Bank of England after he made more than $1billion betting against the pound in 1992.Nurses could start lobbying the Government for a relaxation of abortion laws.

The Royal College of Nursing is asking its 435,000 members whether they think abortions should be decriminalised.

If the majority are in favour, the College will start campaigning the Government for a change in the law.

They would follow a number of powerful medical organisations who have already come out in favour of decriminalising abortions.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the British Medical Association both changed their policy to be supportive last year.

The Royal College of Midwives announced they were campaigning for a change in the law in 2016, although they failed to consult any of their members.

The Royal College of Nursing is asking its 435,000 members whether they think abortions should be decriminalised (stock photo)

Abortion is currently illegal in England unless a woman obtains consent from two doctors, independently.

They most both agree the procedure is necessary to prevent serious harm to the physical or mental health of the woman or unborn child.

But a growing number of medical professionals say this law is outdated and is preventing women from accessing abortions.

They say terminating a pregnancy should be treated no different from any other surgical procedure.

Campaigners fear that a change in the law will lead to an abortion free for all with women opting to end pregnancies just because they were inconvenient.

Nurses will have until the 18th March to complete a short, online survey which asks if they are in favour of decriminalisation.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) will then assess the results and decide on whether to adopt an official policy to back a relaxation of the law.

Janet Davies, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: Decriminalisation is an important issue for todays society to consider and one the College is committed to having a position on.

As the largest nursing organisation in the United Kingdom, we wish to understand the views of our members.

I encourage all RCN members to complete the survey to help us inform our position.

The current law states that abortions can only take place before 24 weeks of the pregnancy, unless there is a substantial risk to life or severe abnormalities.

Decriminalising abortions would not remove this time limit, most medical professionals agree that this should remain in place.

The RCOGs decision to come out in favour of a change in the law last September prompted mutiny amongst hundreds of doctors.

More than 650 professionals wrote to the organisation criticising the extreme views of its president, Professor Lesley Regan.

She had previously argued that abortions should be made as accessible as any other medical procedure, including something simple as removing a bunion.

Dr Anthony McCarthy of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children said: Many nurses will have personally witnessed the physical reality of abortion, and its effect both on the unborn child and on the woman or girl who will lose that child.

Decriminalisation would lead to even more abortions and we hope that many nurses will oppose it, as against everything the nursing profession stands for.

Mark Bhagwandin, of the charity Life, said a vote in favour of a law change would be a gift for the abortion industry,

We will see the a dramatic rise in the number of abortions should they get their way. Instead of jumping on the decriminalisation bandwagon the RCN should spend its time instead on consulting on whether women have enough support to continue with their pregnancy.Sardesh Hassan, 41, said he was terrified when former superintendent Robert Kirman, 47, began swearing and banging on the glass panel in his taxi

A SENIOR police officer attacked a taxi driver he thought was deliberately using a long route to take him home.

Sardesh Hassan, 41, said he was terrified when former superintendent Robert Kirman, 47, began swearing and banging on the glass panel in his taxi.

The officer, who has since quit the police, was furious that the driver appeared to be taking him and his female companion home the long way in August last year.

In fact, Mr Hassan, an Iraqi Kurd who fled to the UK 15 years ago, had no choice because several roads in Wrexham, north Wales, had been closed off.

The driver said last night: There was a one-way system in town because a circus was being set up.

They started banging on the window behind me in the taxi. They were shouting and swearing, banging with fists on the panel.

They were angry that I was taking the diversion and they wanted to get out. I said: Please calm down, the road is closed.

Mr Hassan eventually stopped near the taxi rank where he worked and called the police.

He claimed Kirman, who was off duty, got out, grabbed him and took his keys.

He was obviously drunk, still shouting, said Mr Hassan. He kept saying I am a police officer. I said: You should not be like this  you dont look like a police officer. I was scared.

He added: It was only a 20-minute taxi journey but it was a nightmare. I escaped Iraq to avoid trouble and it was a shock to find this happening to me in the UK.

When questioned, Kirman allegedly told officers he believed Mr Hassan was kidnapping them.

But CCTV revealed what had really happened and Kirman was charged with assaulting Mr Hassan. He resigned from North Wales Police 12 days after pleading guilty last month to using threatening or abusive behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, causing 366 of damage to Mr Hassans car and common assault.

He is due to be sentenced at Mold Magistrates Court on Monday and will face a police misconduct hearing next month.

When questioned, Kirman allegedly told officers he believed Mr Hassan was kidnapping them

It is understood the woman with Kirman was a police civilian worker who has accepted a caution for threatening behaviour. She has since been sacked for discrediting the force and undermining confidence in policing.

Richard Debicki, assistant chief constable of North Wales Police, said the public and police service had the right to expect the highest standards of personal and professional conduct from their officers and staff on or off duty.

He added: As well as the criminal investigation, North Wales Police also conducted an internal misconduct investigation and although the officer has already resigned from the force, a public misconduct hearing will take place on March 1.Religious education in schools is in crisis after it emerged applications to teach the subject dropped by almost 40 per cent since last year.

In addition, half of all those teaching RE in schools have no post-A-level qualification in the subject, government figures show.

Although applications for teacher training have dropped across the board, the decrease for RE is worse than average.

It suggests that young would-be teachers are shunning the subject in what is becoming an increasingly secular society.

Applications for teacher training have dropped across the board - with the decrease for RE being worse than average (stock photo)

Culham St Gabriel's Trust, a charity working to support RE, is leading the campaign to encourage more entrants by highlighting how interesting it can be.

Kathryn Wright from the charity said: 'Showcasing the intellectual challenge of the subject, and highlighting the rewards for teachers who have the opportunity to tackle complex and sensitive issues with teenagers, really resonates.

'We're hoping to interest more would-be RE teachers, who have a rich understanding of - and interest in - the subject.'

For entry into initial teacher training in 2017, only 405 RE places were filled, making up 63 per cent of the government target of 643 places.

This represents a year-on-year drop of 38 per cent.

Culham St Gabriel's Trust, a charity working to support RE, is leading the campaign to encourage more entrants by highlighting how interesting it can be (stock photo)

The drop is higher than average for teacher recruitment, as recent data published by Ucas reveals that application numbers overall are down by a third compared with a year ago.

The Religious Education Council of England and Wales has urged the government to introduce higher bursaries for RE trainee teachers, in the hope of countering the trend.

Currently, a trainee RE teacher with a first-class degree will receive a 9,000 bursary, and a trainee with a 2.1 degree will receive 4,000.

By contrast, trainees for geography and Classics can receive grants of 26,000.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: 'There are now a record number of teachers in our schools - 15,500 more than in 2010.

'Retention rates have been broadly stable for the past 20 years and the teaching profession continues to be an attractive career.

'Religious Education remains compulsory at each key stage for all state-funded schools, including academies and free schools, and we expect all schools to fulfil their statutory duties.

'In addition, we have changed the law and the requirements in schools so that they have to actively promote mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.'Men dont last as long as their wives  that was always the macho attitude among the miners and the machine workers when I was growing up. We live harder and die younger. Get used to it, son.

Heavy drinking, constant smoking and dangerous work  as well as the natural toughness of a womans body, which was made for child-bearing . . . all these things meant the men died first.

Thats how it was, at least in my working-class district of Yorkshire in the Fifties and Sixties.

But that attitude seems stupidly outdated today, with the decline of the beer-swilling male culture and the massive leaps in medicine.

Indeed, Im constantly amazed that this fatalistic outlook persists, even now.

Michael Parkinson has spoken out about his own battle with prostate cancer, and has said that urgent reforms are needed to save thousands of lives

Millions of blokes take the view, without really understanding why they do it, that somehow it is unmanly to look after their own health.

A blood test or a check-up seems unnecessary for any chap who is tough enough to face life and death as a man should.

Its barmy. Its pathetic. And its killing tens of thousands of British men every year.

I owe my own life to a blood test. It saved me from prostate cancer.

Ever since that lucky escape, five years ago at the age of 78, I have been urging male pals to do what I did  get the test and maybe dodge a bullet. But its an uphill struggle.

Even my sons were reluctant to follow my advice. Most other men just wait for me to stop lecturing them, and change the subject.

This is one of the main factors in the increased prevalence of prostate cancer.

It is now a bigger killer than breast cancer, with one man dying every 45 minutes from the disease in the UK.

Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, compiled by the charity Prostate Cancer UK, show male prostate cancer deaths rose to 11,819 in 2015 (the most recent year for which numbers are available) while breast cancer deaths came down, to 11,442.

We need to celebrate the reduction in female mortality rates  and work out how to achieve the same success with men.

He said: 'Ever since that lucky escape, five years ago at the age of 78, I have been urging male pals to do what I did  get the test and maybe dodge a bullet. But its an uphill struggle'

Theres an urgent need for more urological nurses. At the moment, there are 307 in the NHS and each will have to deal with 166 new cases each year  while breast cancer nurses face 86, about half as many.

Theres a simple answer to that: lets double the number of specialist nurses treating prostate cancer. We know that men have a better chance of a good recovery if a specialist nurse is assigned to their treatment. The statistics prove that. And anyone would have to agree that 300 extra nurses cant be a bad thing.

A more complicated, but equally essential, method would be to improve the drug treatments. Developing new medicines is hugely expensive, but steady progress is being made.

Two experimental drugs are being tested in the U.S., I understand, that can delay the spread of prostate cancer to other parts of the body by about three years.

They arent cheap, of course. One called Xtandi costs about $7,500 (5,300) a month.

But we need the investment because, according to one of the worlds leading prostate surgeons, Professor Roger Kirby at the University of London, mens care now lags anything from 10 to 20 years behind that of women.

Making up that gap will cost money  but not an impossible amount. The best estimate says that an extra 290,000 per week pumped into the health service could cover the shortfall. That would not only help put prostate cancer care on a par with that of breast cancer, but in practical terms it could also save the lives of 7,000 men a year.

Still, thats not going to happen overnight. We blokes have got to do the best we can for ourselves  which starts with the PSA [prostate-specific antigen] test. Thats not going to bankrupt the NHS, at any rate: its a simple and low-cost procedure.

So why dont we do it? One of the biggest factors is that women are less afraid to have their breasts checked, while we fellas are backwards in coming forwards to talk about anything involving our wedding tackle.

He also argues that we need to invest more in drug treatment because mens care now lags anything from 10 to 20 years behind that of women

Women dont have the same hang-ups about their bosoms that men have with their own private parts. This is so infantile that it would be funny, if people werent dying.

Americans are better about it than us Brits, by the way. In the States, about 70 per cent of men know their PSA score. In the UK, Id be surprised if even seven per cent can say the same.

Where I come from around Barnsley in South Yorkshire is one of the UKs blackspots for male cancers  mostly linked to lifestyle factors . . . the booze, the cigarettes, the fatty foods. The statistics worry me, because Yorkshire means so much to me. The memories of my happy and contented childhood there have sustained me throughout my long life, and I want to know that the place is in good health, in every sense.

Luckily for me, Ive long been in the habit of having a general check-up. The PSA blood test, which measures the level of a protein called prostate specific antigen, is one of the regular procedures involved.

Its not infallible, but its a good indicator, an early warning that further tests might be necessary.

Only one in four men with raised PSA will actually have prostate cancer, but if the level keeps going up, thats a warning sign. And thats why its so important to check your score.

My PSA levels had been raised for about three years, when my GP, Jeremy Wheeler, decided it was time to take action and recommended further tests and an MRI scan  the surest way of identifying prostate cancer. This led to a course of radiotherapy.

The first thing my consultant said was: I promise this cancer isnt going to kill you. It had been spotted early and it wasnt an aggressive strain.

He added: 'The ordeal was worse for my wife, Mary (pictured). Weve been married for nearly 60 years and its a relationship weve both come to take somewhat for granted, I suppose'

I tried to laugh it off, telling him he was right, and the cancer wouldnt kill me  because Im so decrepit that something else was bound to get me first. But secretly I was very relieved that I was getting treatment, and equally afraid of what that treatment would involve.

As it turned out, there was little to fear.

Chemotherapy wasnt needed, and I will always be grateful for that. Radiotherapy didnt hurt: it was just boring to lie on my side every day for six weeks and get zapped with invisible waves.

The ordeal was worse for my wife, Mary. Weve been married for nearly 60 years and its a relationship weve both come to take somewhat for granted, I suppose.

The discovery of a life-threatening illness came as a shock for both of us, and it was tougher for her because I, at least, could feel that I was doing something practical about it.

At the beginning of the treatment, I felt the same nerves that Id known before every TV appearance  the sense that something could go wrong, the fear of the unknown. By the end, though, I had convinced myself that Id escaped scot-free . . . and of course, I hadnt.

The prostate gland is right next to the bladder. Its inevitable that six weeks of intensive radio-therapy will have side effects in neighbouring tissue, but I wish the specialists had spelled out more clearly to me the likelihood that Id suffer incontinence. Knowing about it in advance would not have affected my physical symptoms, but it would have helped me to adapt mentally.

These days, I accept the aftermath of the treatment as one of the penalties for growing old. So is erectile dysfunction, which, frankly, hasnt been a huge inconvenience at 83.

In my 40s and 50s, these problems would have felt far more serious. I dont know how well I would have coped. But as I keep reminding myself, its a lot better than the alternative, which is being dead.

The difficulty is that many men feel instinctively that there must be a third way.

They dont want to die from cancer, of course. But they dont fancy facing up to it either. So they take the middle way, and ignore it  blocking out the knowledge that an untreated cancer isnt going to cure itself.

Mr Parkinson said he was 'delighted' to back the Mail's campaign to bring funding for prostate cancer checks in line with breast cancer funding

By the time they do steel themselves to take action, it may be too late. Perhaps it would help if more male celebrities talked about their experiences, but I cant blame them for guarding their privacy. Theres still a taboo about discussing our genitals: no man feels comfortable admitting that hes had difficulties down there.

That doesnt apply to women.

Thanks to the good sense and courage of many female stars, discussion of all sorts of breast treatments, beginning with a regular self-examination for lumps, is open and normal. That has saved countless lives.

And the exemplary bravery of actress Angelina Jolie, who has been fearless in talking about her double mastectomy, puts the shyness of traditional macho males to shame.

Still, it would be wrong to criticise anyone for keeping quiet about their prostate treatment.

The public arena has become a cruel place, far more abusive and disrespectful than it was when I was interviewing stars on TV every week. Social media can be brutal. No one should be made to run that gauntlet unless they are fully prepared for the consequences.

And it would be wrong, too, if we imagined that the only factor behind the rise in the number of prostate cancer deaths is male reticence.

Breast cancer research and treatment is far better funded, and that imbalance must be corrected urgently, with much more investment in diagnoses for men.

Because the PSA test is far from 100 per cent accurate, we need more effective scanner clinics.

He added: 'We need to celebrate the reduction in female mortality rates  and work out how to achieve the same success with men'

Every woman expects to have access to a regular mammogram if she wants it. A similar option isnt available to men, with only about half the hospitals in Britain offering MRI scans for prostate checks. This is an injustice, and it has to be set right.

Its a sad indictment of our society that mens lives are apparently placed so low on the scale.

Thats why Im delighted to back the Mails magnificent campaign to bring funding for prostate cancer checks into line with that of breast cancer and help save 7,000 lives a year.

Its not just us blokes being reluctant to get ourselves examined  there are far-reaching problems with under-funding, treatment and the whole medical infrastructure.

Prostate cancer isnt some mysterious condition baffling doctors. Its very well understood, and treatment is improving all the time  though not fast enough.

And it isnt anything to be ashamed of either.

The cure is not emasculation, and it shouldnt make normal, rugged chaps feel threatened. The majority of cases can be dealt with, leaving very few side-effects.

The initial test takes no more than a few minutes. It isnt invasive, it doesnt hurt.

Surely that brief examination is worthwhile if it saves your life.

On current trends, prostate cancer is the third most deadly form, behind lung and bowel cancers. Within five years, it will have the highest fatality rate of all.

But that isnt inevitable. Every man in Britain has the power to do something about it.

Prostate cancer doesnt have to kill you if you have the courage to tackle it now.

A fee for this article has been donated to Prostate Cancer UK.Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba was struck off the medical register and given a suspended sentence but others are to blame

The handwriting on the form analysing the events that led to the death of six-year-old Jack Adcock looks like it has been hurriedly scribbled, but damning phrases leap from the page nonetheless.

Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba, the junior paediatrician caring for the little boy when he died of sepsis, had, wrote Dr Stephen ORiordan, the senior consultant in charge, compromised a child in her care and demonstrated a failure to monitor Jacks medical needs.

After reeling off a string of her mistakes, ORiordan rounds up his report with the words LACK OF CLEAR COMMUNICATION written confidently in capitals and underlined boldly for effect.

His apparent unwavering certainty as to what had happened that day contrasts starkly with the tentative scrawl of Bawa-Garba that follows on from his words. Part faltering refutation of some of the criticism levelled against her by ORiordan, part candid admission she could have done more to prevent Jacks death, Bawa-Garba, 41  a married mother-of-two with a previously exemplary medical record  wrote the system had failed the young boy and she had learnt a lot from the tragedy.

Neither Bawa-Garba nor ORiordan could have anticipated the lasting ramifications of this four-page document on the day they wrote it; ramifications which  seven years on  threaten to tear the medical profession apart.

A subsequent inquiry at Leicester Royal Infirmary revealed that myriad systemic failures  from IT issues to chronic understaffing  contributed to Jacks death. But it was Bawa-Garba, along with nurse Isabel Amaro  also on duty that day  who shouldered the blame.

After both were arrested and charged with manslaughter through gross negligence, this form was appended to the prosecutions evidence, and some doctors argue its inclusion helped secure Bawa-Garbas unprecedented conviction and two-year suspended prison sentence at Nottingham Crown Court in 2015.

Although the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS)  whose job is to decide whether a doctor is fit to practise  later ruled that she could resume her career after a years suspension, the General Medical Council (GMC) appealed the MPTS decision at Londons High Court, resulting in Bawa-Garba being struck off the medical register last month.

Yet this paperwork is not a witness statement or, indeed, any sort of legal document whatsoever. It is a training encounter form designed purely to help junior doctors improve their performance  and, most doctors strongly assert, should never have been used in the case at all.

After all, ORiordan  who faced no responsibility over Jacks death and moved to Ireland, where he continues to work as a doctor  could just as easily have been implicated. He showed this form to Bawa-Garba just a week after the tragedy, at a time when she would presumably have felt intimidated and vulnerable.

Also, far from being compiled in quiet and confidential contemplation, the report was presented to her in Leicester Royal Infirmarys canteen. Little wonder, perhaps, that Bawa-Garba refused to write her name in the space where her signature was requested.

Jack Adcock, six, tragically died of sepsis while under the care of doctor Dr Bawa-Garba

Hadiza felt uncomfortable being presented with a list of things shed done wrong and asked to sign the form agreeing to them without being given any time to think about it, said Dr Jonathan Cusack, a neonatologist at the infirmary who became Bawa-Garbas supervisor as part of her retraining following Jacks death, in an interview with the Mail.

He added pointedly: Dr ORiordan makes no reference to any of his own efforts on the form. Normally, a training form like this would be filled in together, but it was Hadizas idea to add her recollections to it. She was devastated by what had happened and felt it important to be honest and reflect on what occurred.

No one, least of all Bawa-Garba, denies she made serious mistakes in her treatment of Jack, who had Downs syndrome and a known heart condition, and died of cardiac arrest caused by sepsis 11 hours after being admitted with vomiting and diarrhoea.

Having diagnosed him with gastroenteritis, she failed to act on abnormal blood tests that would have revealed Jack was suffering from sepsis  a condition which can be fatal if left untreated  and took hours to assess an X-ray that revealed he needed antibiotics.

Yet whether her errors were criminal is another matter entirely. So, too, is the question of whether her words on this training form, written with no lawyer present, should have ended up attached to the back of ORiordans witness statement after criminal proceedings started.

Prosecution barristers cross-examined Hadiza in court knowing what shed written to help her reflection, which is fundamentally wrong, believes Dr Cusack.

Senior medical figures across the country claim not only that Bawa-Garba has been made a scapegoat for wider failures in a beleaguered NHS, but that exploiting the training reflection system and criminalising medical error this way will lead to a climate of cover-up where doctors are too terrified to admit to mistakes, let alone learn from them.

Meanwhile, bitter in-fighting is mounting within the medical profession, with more than 8,000 doctors so furious that the GMC fought to expel Bawa-Garba that they have signed a petition stating that the handling of the case will only lessen our chances of preventing a similar death.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt last week ordered an urgent review into manslaughter by gross negligence rulings in the NHS. Leicestershire Police had previously suggested they will discuss with the CPS the possibility of prosecuting University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, in charge of Leicester Royal Infirmary, for corporate manslaughter in the Adcock case. However, prosecutors decided there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction

A neurologist said Dr Stephen O'Riordan (pictured) got Dr Bawa-Garba to effectively 'sign a confession form in the hospital canteen that day'

A crowdfunding appeal has also raised 347,000 in legal funds for Bawa-Garba  something she has said she is humbled by.

She has now employed a new legal team and this week launched an appeal against the High Courts decision to strike her from the medical register. She also plans to appeal against her criminal conviction.

Dr Bawa-Garba was effectively signing a confession form in the hospital canteen that day, says Dr David Nicholl, a consultant neurologist at City Hospital in Birmingham who set up the doctors petition to appeal her erasure from the medical register.

That her words were taken in such an inappropriate manner, from a man she was supposed to trust who had a vested interest in maintaining a certain narrative of events, beggars belief. I cant see how this is a safe conviction.

Yet the GMC successfully argued that public trust in the medical profession would have been ruined if Bawa-Garba  who moved to Britain from Nigeria in 1994 and qualified as a doctor in 2003  was allowed to continue to practise.

But should she really have been convicted of manslaughter in the first place? Considering her conviction within its wider context, it is hard not to harbour doubts.

When Jack was admitted to the hospitals Childrens Assessment Unit at 10am on February 18, 2011, Bawa-Garba was newly returned from maternity leave. She had only recently been transferred to the hospital, where short-staffing meant she had received no induction to familiarise herself with her environment. She was also doing the work of two doctors as another registrar was on leave.

Due to a roster mix-up, consultant paediatrician ORiordan, who was supposed to be on duty all day, was instead lecturing at the university in Warwick and also absent until 4.30 pm.

Due to a mix-up on the day, consultant paediatrician ORiordan wasn't present at the hospital and so Dr Bawa-Garba was left overstretched on the day

Hadiza was responsible for patients in at least five ward areas spanning four floors that day, in addition to dealing with constant calls from GPs and community midwives, says Dr Lyvia Dabydeen, who is now a consultant paediatric neurologist at Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust but worked with Bawa-Garba between 2011 and 2014.

Even fully staffed, this would have been a busy day, she says. Like any new mother, Hadiza was apprehensive about coming back from maternity leave, but looking forward to starting her new post. She had last worked in general paediatrics, dealing with acutely unwell children, several years previously.

Yet the professional devotion of Bawa-Garba was never in doubt.

Parents always commented to me on her caring manner, and she was calm, safe, capable and hard working, says Dabydeen.

She adds that Bawa-Garba had been passionate about medicine since the age of 13: She set up and funded a charity to provide education and health care for disabled children in Nigeria, and, in Britain, used her position to raise HIV and organ donation awareness.

Hardly the conventional profile of a convicted killer, then. It should be noted, too, that on the day Jack died, Bawa-Garba had successfully made dozens of critical decisions involving other patients with life-threatening illnesses.

And, while she failed to spot that Jacks blood tests showed raised levels of urea and creatinine, which suggested he had kidney problems caused by sepsis, and took so long to check his X-ray that it was mid-afternoon by the time he was prescribed antibiotics, other mitigating factors suggest she wasnt solely to blame.

A hospital IT failure meant Bawa-Garba had been forced to write down some 20 complicated blood sample readings by hand, instead of reading them on a computer screen, leading to what Dr Cusack describes as a cognitive error borne of understandable brain fatigue. ORiordan, meanwhile, had also written down Jacks abnormal blood tests and chose not to review the boy, yet was not criticised for his decision.

Another mistake that contributed to Jacks death was purely the fault of hospital procedure.

Shortly before he died, Jack had been given his regular supply of Enalapril, a drug that lowers blood pressure, but actually reverses the bodys natural defence to sepsis and should never have been taken in his condition.

The drug was given without the knowledge of Bawa-Garba, who knew it would be unwise, because hospital culture (which contravened national guidelines) allowed drugs to be taken on site without the hospital doctors approval.

A complex picture, then, but one that had become clear by the time the hospitals serious untoward incident inquiry was concluded in August 2012  by which stage Bawa-Garba, initially suspended for three months, had been allowed to return in a supervised role.

In addition to IT failure and staff shortages, the inquiry revealed deficiencies in handover, accessibility of the data at the bedside and the absence of a mechanism for an automatic consultant review.

It concluded there was no root cause responsible  instead recommending some 23 changes be made at the hospital to remedy the multiple systemic failures.

Initially, the CPS claimed that precisely because there were so many different failings, there were no grounds to charge an individual doctor. Yet at the inquest into Jacks death in July 2013, experts debated the criteria for manslaughter and decided there were sufficient grounds to prosecute.

Perhaps understandably, Jacks parents, Nicola, 43, who works for a retail chain, and Victor, 52, who works for a water company, sought justice for their son.

Dr David Nicholl said: What happened to Jack Adcock is an absolute tragedy, but the GMC has turned it into a disaster'

But if anyone was to be responsible, shouldnt it be the consultant in charge, rather than the junior left to flounder out of her depth?

When Dr ORiordan, the duty consultant, arrived at 4.30pm, Hadiza showed him the test results, says Dr Dabydeen. In the NHS, the consultant carries ultimate responsibility for patient care.

But, she adds, two of the most junior members of staff  who did their very best in impossible circumstances  took the full force of the blame for the tragic outcome.

She says that when Bawa-Garba  already absolutely distraught at Jacks death and willing to admit to her mistakes  was arrested by police in 2014, her younger child was just two weeks old. She was questioned for seven hours at a time when she wasnt in a fit state to sign important documents, says Dabydeen. She felt frightened and isolated.

Once she and nurse Amaro were charged, the well-documented hospital failings were all but discounted by the justice system.

Dr Cusack, who gave evidence at Bawa-Garbas trial at Nottingham Crown Court in November 2015, claims expert witnesses were stopped by prosecution barristers from discussing the improvements University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust made after Jacks death that would have highlighted how many other factors were to blame.

Their job is to find one person responsible, but in health care multiple factors are nearly always involved, says Cusack. Of course, doctors need to be held accountable for their actions, but I dont think manslaughter charges are appropriate here.

Causing wilful and deliberate harm is different from making genuine mistakes, and it would be difficult for a lay jury who dont understand what it is like to work in medicine to understand the key issue of whether Hadizas mistakes were criminal.

Once branded a killer, Bawa-Garba, whose elder son is autistic and whose husband works in aviation in Dubai, struggled to cope. Her address was published in the local press and, living alone with two young children, she feared for her safety, says Dabydeen.

As a Muslim woman with a headscarf, she was subject to vile racist abuse. Shed had her career taken away from her and was facing financial hardship.

One organisation that did show support was the MPTS, which ruled last June that given the wider failings involved, Bawa-Garbas erasure would be disproportionate and that she should be suspended for 12 months instead.

The GMC appealed the MPTS decision, in a move that has angered doctors.

The GMC has allowed doctors on the sex offenders register and with other criminal convictions to continue to practise, says Dr David Nicholl. That they took this action against a doctor whose practice was otherwise exemplary is unbelievable.

What happened to Jack Adcock is an absolute tragedy, but the GMC has turned it into a disaster.

Charlie Massey, chief executive of the GMC, told the Mail their decision to appeal was not taken lightly, adding that while there are a small proportion of doctors on the medical register with convictions, some of which predate the GMCs right to appeal MPTS decisions, for serious convictions such as serious sexual offences, we will now always call for the doctor to be struck off the register.

Andrew Furlong, medical director at Leicesters Hospitals said: Following Jacks death, we carried out a full investigation and implemented improvements to our systems which have reduced the risk of such events occurring again.

The Medical Protection Society  who defended Bawa-Garba during her trial  told the Mail that the training encounter form did not include any admission of liability, or guilt pertaining to gross negligent manslaughter and that this form was not referred to by either the CPS or the defence in the hearing, and was therefore not considered by the trial jury.

But, that, Cusack counters, is missing the point: While the form wasnt shown to the jury, it was shown to prosecution barristers and would have influenced their cross-examination, which would have, in turn, influenced the jury.

Meanwhile, Nicola and Victor Adcock have said they are elated that Bawa-Garba has been struck off. What it means is that, in future, the actions of this doctor cannot put another family through the nightmare we have endured since our sons death, says Nicola.

Yet while their grief must be respected, the wider issue should not be neglected: a dedicated paediatrician who made mistakes has been branded a criminal, and both doctors and patients might well end up the worse off for it.A California woman who gained notoriety in the 1980s for giving birth to the nation's first septuplets has died, her eldest son Joseph Frustaci said.

Patricia Frustaci made headlines in May 1985 when she welcomed seven children - four boys and three girls - at a San Diego hospital. The babies' arrival was said to be the largest multiple birth in the United States at that time.

The former English teacher died on February 10, Joseph said, at a San Diego hospital from complications with pulmonary fibrosis. She was 63.

Joseph, who was four when his seven brothers and sisters were born, told the Mercury News that he thinks the fame his mother received from giving birth to the septuplets took a toll on her.

Patricia Frustaci, the California woman who gave birth to the nation's first septuplets, died at the age of 63 from complications with pulmonary fibrosis. Pictured above from left to right is the surviving septuplets Stephen, Patti and Richard with their father mother Patricia (center) and their father Samuel (back right) and older brother Joseph (back center)

Patricia gave birth to the septuplets - four boys and three girls - in May 1985 after undergoing fertility treatments

One of the septuplets was stillborn and three of the other babies died within weeks of being born. Pictured above is the three surviving septuplets with their older brother, Joseph

The surviving children are said to be doing well. Patricia is married with two children; Stephen lives in Las Vegas with their father and Richard lives independently

He also said the media attention, and criticism, made it difficult for his mother to deal with the pain of losing four of her children.

It was difficult. Shes a normal woman thrust into notoriety  the overall frenzy took its toll, he told the outlet.

Five years after giving birth to the septuplets, Patricia had twins. Pictured above is Patricia with one of her children

Patricia Frustaci gave birth to her septuplets after undergoing fertility treatments. While the births received national attention, the occasion was marked with tremendous sadness for the Frustaci family.

Because the children were delivered 12 weeks early via cesarean-section they had a number of health issues including heart problems, jaundice and hyaline membrane disease, a respiratory ailment.

A girl, named Christina, was stillborn. A baby boy, named David, died about three days after he was born. Another girl, named Bonnie, and a boy named James died before they could leave the hospital.

The three surviving babies were named Stephen, Richard and Patricia.

Joseph told Mercury News that Patricia is married with two kids; Stephen lives in Las Vegas with their father; and Richard lives independently.

Following the births of the septuplets, Patricia Frustaci and her husband Samuel Frustaci struggled to pay the medical bills, which reached $1million.

The arrival of the septuplets was said to be the largest multiple birth in the United States at that time

Patricia is pictured above with her daughter Patti, one of the septuplets, on the day she left the hospital

The family later sued the fertility clinic and doctor alleging wrongful death of the four babies and negligence that led to the surviving children suffering health problems that needed round-the-clock care.

According to the New York Times, Patricia Frustaci believed that she was not closely monitored enough at the beginning of her pregnancy and thought her doctor gave her too high a dose of Pergonal, the medication she received during her fertility treatments.

The clinic never acknowledged any wrongdoing but agreed to pay the family $450,000 and to provide monthly payments to the surviving three children for life.

Patti (pictured) now lives with her husband and their two children

Despite her struggles, Patricia Frustaci gave fertility treatment another shot and in 1990 gave birth to twins, named Jaclyn and Jordan. Soon after their arrival, she divorced from her husband.

Joseph said the twins are college graduates and are doing well.

She (Patricia) was the funniest person Ive ever known. She made regular, mundane errands an adventure,' he told Mercury News. 'We miss her terribly, we miss her deeply.Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his deputy Barnaby Joyce have met in Sydney after their public bickering over Mr Joyce's affair with former staffer Vikki Campion.

The pair met at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices on Saturday to clear the air after their disagreement, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Tony Abbott has criticised Prime Minister Mr Turnbull's actions in the aftermath of Mr Joyce's extra-marital affair - as MPs call for Mr Joyce to stand down.

Mr Abbott said politicians should talk to each other directly when dishing out advice, the ABC reported.

'I am just not going to get into any details about personalities or specifics, but certainly as a general rule one party doesn't give another party public advice.

'That's the general rule that I observed,' he said.

The former Prime Minister also questioned Mr Turnbull's 'sex ban' barring relationships between politicians and their staff, saying the existing code of conduct was sufficient.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his deputy Barnaby Joyce (right) have met in Sydney after their public bickering over Mr Joyce's affair with former staffer Vikki Campion (left)

Mr Joyce launched an extraordinary attack on Mr Turnbull (pictured) over his public criticism of his extra-marital affair

Tony Abbott has criticised Prime Minister Mr Turnbull's actions in the aftermath of Mr Joyce's extra-marital affair - as MPs call for Mr Joyce to stand down

'There was a perfectly good code of conduct in place. I thought the code of conduct as it stands it was a good code of conduct.'

Liberal MPs are calling for Mr Joyce to resign as Deputy Prime Minister.

Queensland Liberal senator Ian Macdonal said Joyce should resign, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

'Clearly in his own interests he'd be better going to the backbench for a while, letting the dust settle and then come back and continue to make a great contribution to Australia,' he said.

'He knows better than I the damage that he's causing. Without attributing judgment to anyone, it's just got to end. Until we get this issue off the front pages the government's just going to bleed.

Senator Macdonald said he and his colleagues were 'tinged with anger' over Mr Joyce's conduct since his affair with former staffer Vikki Campion was revealed.

A defiant Mr Joyce accused Mr Turnbull of adding to the hurt and harm caused by the scandal with his 'inept' and 'unnecessary' comments  likening the PM's intervention to 'pulling a scab off'.

Wearing his signature Akubra, the Nationals leader also hit back at Mr Turnbull's suggestion that Mr Joyce should consider his future, saying there was nothing the junior Coalition partner disliked more than being 'told what to do about its own leadership'.

The Coalition is in open warfare after Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce (pictured) launched an extraordinary attack on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull

The war of words points to a complete breakdown in relations between the Government's two most senior leaders and highlights serious ructions in the Coalition  which governs with the support of both the Liberal and Nationals parties.

Mr Turnbull's comments on Thursday night were viewed by many as an attempt to force the Nationals leader to quit, but a defiant Mr Joyce said he would not be resigning and effectively told the Prime Minister to butt out.

The Prime Minister cannot sack Mr Joyce because it is up to the Nationals MPs to choose their own party leader under the coalition agreement.

'Comments by the Prime Minister yesterday at his press conferencein many instances, they caused further harm,' he said.

'I believe they were in many instances inept and most definitely in many instances unnecessary.

'In regards to the National Party there is nothing we dislike more than implied intervention in the processes of the National Party.'

The war of words points to a complete breakdown in relations between the Government's two most senior leaders (pictured is Ms Campion)

Wearing his signature Akubra, the Nationals leader (pictured) also hit back at Mr Turnbull's suggestion that Mr Joyce should consider his future

Mr Turnbull also came under attack from prominent Nationals MP George Christensen over his plan to introduce a ban on ministers having sex with their staff in the wake of the scandal (pictured is Ms Campion)

Mr Turnbull responded with his own press conference in which he denied he was trying to influence the Nationals' processes and said he had not criticised Mr Joyce's conduct.

'I have not sought in any way to influence the deliberations of the National Party,' said Mr Turnbull.

'Neither I nor my colleagues have made any criticism of the National Party, expressing views of disapproval or criticism of Barnaby's own conduct.

'It is not criticism of the National Party, indeed the sentiments that I expressed yesterday ... are quite consistent with those expressed by many members of the National Party itself.'

HOW THE BARNABY JOYCE AFFAIR UNFOLDED 2016 May - Vikki Campion assists Barnaby Joyce's election campaign as media adviser, having previously worked with NSW government ministers and News Corp August - Campion joins Joyce's staff. She splits with fiance John Bergin, three months before they were due to wed. Friendship develops between Joyce and Campion December - Chief of staff Di Hallam reportedly seeks Joyce's approval to have Campion transferred out of office. Hallam later quits to take up departmental role 2017 February - Campion is photographed in a Sydney bar with Joyce, as revealed by Daily Mail Australia April - Barnaby's wife Natalie reportedly confronts Campion in Tamworth. Campion goes to minister Matt Canavan office as adviser. Natalie and Barnaby seek to make marriage work May - At New South Wales Nationals conference in Broken Hill colleagues describe Joyce as 'a mess' June - Natalie and Barnaby show up together at Canberra press gallery midwinter ball July - Campion leaves her $191,000 job in Mr Canavan's office after he quits frontbench over citizenship. She temporarily goes back to Joyce's office August - Campion moves to Damian Drum's office in a social media adviser position specially created for her. He already has a media adviser. In this time she oversees just 50 posts to Facebook Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is reportedly reassured by Joyce the relationship with Campion is over. Drum says he was told the same thing. Former Joyce chief of staff Di Hallam takes up a senior position with the Inland Rail project September - Natalie reportedly asks family friend, Catholic priest Father Frank Brennan, to counsel Joyce. Campion is seen managing Joyce media events at federal Nationals conference in Canberra October - Campion reportedly takes stress leave. Writ issued for New England by-election after Joyce quits over dual citizenship November - Natalie holidays in Bali with a daughter. Man in a pub in Inverell angers Joyce during election campaign by reportedly saying: 'Say hello to your mistress' December - Joyce wins by-election. Joyce tells parliament during same-sex marriage debate he is separated. Campion's redundancy package is approved. They move into an Armidale property provided rent-free by businessman Greg Maguire 2018 January - Joyce and Campion holiday in north Queensland and NSW north coast February - Joyce tells reporters Campion is now his partner. But denies she was his partner when she worked in Canavan's office March - Joyce casts doubt on the baby's paternity, calling it a 'grey area' and claiming journalists never asked him if Ms Campion's child was his April 16 - Sebastian Joyce born May 8 - Baby boy seen for the first time May 26 - Details emerge of Barnaby Joyce's paid $150,000 interview May 30 - Seven Network reveals Vikki Campion pressured to have abortion June 5 - Joyce announces he intends to re-contest the seat of New England at the next election June 21 - Natalie Joyce speaks out in a tell-all unpaid interview 2019 January 20 - Ms Campion and Mr Joyce announce they are expecting a second son June - The couple welcome their Thomas Michael Timothy Joyce Advertisement

Dr Stewart Jackson from the University of Sydney's Department of Government and International Relations said the clash is a setback from the prime minister.

'Just when Malcolm Turnbull was getting some runs on the board, with tax cuts, with Peter Dutton making progress on the border, then this happens,' he said.

'It's demeaning to the office of the Deputy Prime Minister, it's damaging to Malcolm Turnbull, and it's going to increase people's disillusionment with politics in general.

'If Turnbull wants to stay in government he can't fire Joyce but he can minimise his impact, and he's already doing that with his appointment of Mathias Cormann.'

The dramatic tit-for-tat ensures the scandal, which has dominated Parliament, will continue into a third destabilising week for the Government.

Mr Turnbull's comments on Thursday night were viewed by many as an attempt to force the Nationals leader to quit, but a defiant Mr Joyce (pictured) said he would not be resigning and effectively told the Prime Minister to butt out

Mr Turnbull also came under attack from prominent Nationals MP George Christensen over his plan to introduce a ban on ministers having sex with their staff in the wake of the scandal.

'The ban is bonkers,' he wrote on Facebook.

Mr Christensen said there were far more important issues than 'who's shagging who in Canberra'.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten held a press conference of his own, calling on Mr Turnbull to sack his defiant deputy.

'Quite frankly, the way these two men are behaving, neither of them are fit for the high office they currently hold,' he said.

'Yesterday, Malcolm Turnbull declared war on Mr Joyce. Today, Mr Joyce had has declared war on Mr Turnbull.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten held a press conference of his own, calling on Mr Turnbull to sack his defiant deputy (pictured is Mr Joyce with his estranged wife Natalie and their daughters)

'Australians have every reason to be angry and frustrated when the two most senior Australian leaders are not focused other than anything other than their own jobs.'

'The time has well past for Malcolm Turnbull to show he has the courage to sack his Deputy Prime Minister.

'If Malcolm Turnbull doesnt have the courage to sack Barnaby Joyce, he doesnt have the courage to be Prime Minister of Australia,' said Mr Shorten.

Mr Joyce has been under fire since last week when news broke of his affair with former media adviser Vikki Campion, 33.

The outspoken social conservative admitted in December he was separated from his wife of 24 years, Natalie, and he has since publicly apologised to her and their four daughters.

The ensuing scandal has left Mr Joyce facing questions over former political jobs for Ms Campion, who he now lives with and describes as his partner.

Mr Joyce defended staying rent-free in a townhouse owned by a friend, businessman Greg Maguire, by saying, 'friends do not charge friends rent'.A meat supplier being investigated for concerns around use-by dates is also facing claims it sold foreign beef as British, it emerged last night.

Russell Hume supplied millions of beef, chicken, pork, lamb and steak cuts to the Wetherspoon pub chain, Jamie Olivers restaurants, Hilton hotels, Greene King pubs, schools and care homes.

But, last month it was ordered to halt all deliveries after being suspected of serious non-compliance with food regulations.

Restaurants and other customers with unused meat from Russell Hume were told to dispose of it and companies including Wetherspoon cut ties to the firm.

It was claimed the issue had arisen over concerns surrounding inaccurate use-by dates on products following an inspection from the Food Standards agency.

Russell Hume supplied millions of beef, chicken, pork, lamb and steak cuts to the Wetherspoon pub chain, Jamie Olivers restaurants, Hilton hotels, Greene King pubs, schools and care homes

But a whistleblower last night claimed it had been misleading customers about the meats country of origin. An anonymous worker accused the company of falsely declaring foreign meat to be British to make more money.

The whistleblower told ITV news: Imported beef is a third less in price than British beef so theres an opportunity to make 30 per cent more profit. Its what the industry does and has been doing for a long time.

Falsifying traceability of imported beef and making it into UK beef and then serving it to some of the biggest companies in the country. The former employee claimed the beef was often mislabelled, adding: Youd make sure you had enough beef to service the orders whether it was Botswana, Namibia, Australia and we will make it British.

Russell Hume denied the allegations telling the news channel: As the FSA states on its website, its investigations into Russell Hume are related to procedures and processes relating to use-by dates.

We do not recognise the allegations made in the programme, but in any case we continue to work closely with the FSA in resolving this matter.

The company says it supplies premium meat products from the British Isles and around the globe via reputable sources and only from high quality markets.

Russell Hume denied the allegations telling the news channel: As the FSA states on its website, its investigations into Russell Hume are related to procedures and processes relating to use-by dates

The Derby-based company, which has seven sites across the UK had an unannounced inspection of its Birmingham Factory on January 12.

Chris Mallon, Director of the National Beef Association, said: Most of the industry is reputable. It is only a minority who are causing a problem to those who are abiding by the rules that are set.

The food chain depends on trust and anything at all that takes that away is going to be a problem.A senior Western Australian bikie member doesn't know when he'll return to home to his young family after Federal authorities cancelled his residency visa while he was holidaying in Thailand.

Rebels member Kevin Michael Lawrence, 56, came to Australia from Britain as a child in the 1960s and never applied to become an Australian citizen.

Mr Lawrence left Australia last week to attend a motorcycle show in the Thai resort town of Pattaya and had no idea authorities cancelled his visa until he tried to board his flight home this week.

Senior Rebels member Kevin Michael Lawrence had his residency visa cancelled without notice while he was of the country last week

Mr Lawrence plans to appeal the visa cancellation so he can return home to his partner and three children aged under-12 in Perth

The Perth father-of-three told The Weekend West he had a mortgage to pay, had always worked for a living and had only a limited criminal record for minor offences committed years ago.

He plans to lodge an appeal against the visa cancellation.

Mr Lawrence was one of several senior Rebels who flew to Bangkok on February 8.

State president Nick Martin, and its vice president Mark Rodgers were stopped at the arrival gates and put on the next available flight back to Perth, according to The Weekend West.

Mr Lawrence was one of several senior Rebels who flew to Bangkok on February 8. The state and vice president were stopped at the arrival gates and put on the next available flight back to Perth. Mr Lawrence travelled to the resort town of Pattaya in Thaliand to attend a motorcycle show

A spokesman for the gang claimed Mr Martin and Mr Rodgers were shown paperwork detailing of their roles in the gang and criminal records by Thai immigration officials.

The documents appeared to have been sent to them by the Australian Federal Police while the mens plane had been in the air between Perth and Bangkok.

It's not the first time overseas-born bikie gang members have had their visas cancelled.

The Rebels national president Alex Vella lost his residency visa after flying to Malta for a holiday in 2014.

An Australian Border Force spokesman told Daily Mail Australia that it works closely with the Australian Federal Police and WA Police to disrupt the activities of serious organised crime groups operating in Western Australia.

'There are provisions under the Migration Act 1958 (the Act) that allow the Department of Home Affairs to cancel visas upon a range of grounds,' he said.

'If a foreign nationals visa is cancelled while they are offshore, then the cancellation will occur without any notice. '

The Rebels Motorcycle Club is an outlaw motorcycle club in Australia with around 70 chapters and more than 2,000 members nationwide making it the largest club in the country. The government treats it as a criminal organisationPro-gun messages are being shared on Twitter by Russia-linked bots in hopes to bring disarray following the shooting at a Florida high school.

A tool launched by the Alliance for Securing Democracy, called Hamilton 68, that tracks 'Russian propaganda and disinformation efforts online' found that there was an increase in tweets from these bots in the last 48 hours.

#Falseflag, #fbi, #gunreformnow, #fbigate, #parklandschoolshooting, shooter Nikolas Cruz and Florida were used by the bots to create discord.

The alliance works to 'defend against, deter, and raise the costs on Russian and other actors' efforts to undermine democracy and democratic institutions,' and does not disclose the accounts accused of the post.

#Falseflag, #fbi, #gunreformnow, #fbigate, #parklandschoolshooting, shooter Nikolas Cruz and Florida were used by the bots to create discord

Botcheck.me, a site that tracks social media users that post political propaganda, found that 'gun control,''Nikolas Cruz,''school shooting,''school shooter,''and fake news' were often used by 1,500 bots in 24 hours.

Botcheck.me, a site that tracks social media users that post political propaganda, found that 'gun control,''Nikolas Cruz,''school shooting,''school shooter,''and fake news' were often used by 1,500 bots in 24 hours

But the news is not surprising to cyber security experts.

'This pattern of divisive propaganda is becoming a staple in information warfare fueled by social media, but it isn't exactly new,' Marco T. Bastos, co-author of a paper on pro-Brexit bots, told CNN.

The researcher at City, University of London added: 'Similar campaigns can be traced to at least 2014.'

Christo Grozev, senior researcher at New Bulgarian University's Risk Management Lab, explained that the Russian-bots had been focusing on domestic opinions in 2014-2015.

Grozevhas been looking over 400 Twitter 'troll' accounts disclosed in a Russian leak in 2014.

Their profile descriptions are currently a mix of French and Spanish 'identities', which Grozev added showed that they may have been reused.

'Such hashtags serve mostly as bait: they serve to attract 'opposing view' readers, which results in explosive and discordant online mutual shouting -- in place of any reasonable debate, which would not be in the interest of Russia,' said Christo Grozev

Grozev explained that these accounts rail on issues like the Parkland shooting to promote 'extreme and divisive causes' in an effort to support 'a distracted and weakened US government.'

'Gun control is simply one of those causes,' he added.

'It is not in any way an ideological preference for Russia to have less gun control in the US. It is, however, the perfect divisive cause.'

He added that the hashtags promoting gun control were simply means to create distinct division.

'Such hashtags serve mostly as bait: they serve to attract 'opposing view' readers, which results in explosive and discordant online mutual shouting -- in place of any reasonable debate, which would not be in the interest of Russia,' Grozev explained.Jakob Thornton had his licence suspended four times as a P-plater before he allegedly mowed down two police officers in his van while using his mobile, a court has been told.

The 22-year-old is accused of severing the foot of a policeman and seriously injuring another as he ran through a random breath test site about 8.20pm Friday in Leumeah, in Sydney's west.

He faced Parramatta Bail Court via video link on Saturday, charged with dangerous driving offences, including dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and using a mobile phone when not permitted.

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Jakob Thornton (pictured) had his licence suspended four times as a P-plater before he allegedly mowed down two police officers in his van while using his mobile, court has heard

Mr Thornton - who allegedly severed the foot of a policeman and seriously injured another as he ran through a random breath test site while using his mobile in Sydney's west - was denied bail

One of the senior constables was still fighting for life in Liverpool Hospital on Saturday morning after his leg was partially amputated, police confirmed

The court heard Mr Thornton lost his licence four times in four years, and was fined in 2016 for using his mobile while driving, The Daily Telegraph reported.

He ploughed into senior constables Jonathon Wright and Matthew Foley in his Fiat van at 60km/h while looking at his phone on Friday night, court heard.

Mr Thornton then admitted to police officers he was looking at his phone for 10 to 20 seconds when he crashed into the two officers, court heard.

'Ten to 20 seconds at 60 kilometres an hour, that is a few hundred metres, magistrate John Favretto said, according to Sydney Morning Herald.

Prosecutor senior sergeant Leesa McEvoy told the court police lights and safety measures were in place as the constables set up the road side breath testing site.

Policemen were airlifted to Liverpool Hospital after being struck on Campbelltown Road, in Leumeah on Friday night

The 22-year-old ploughed into senior constables Jonathon Wright and Matthew Foley in his Fiat van at 60km/h while looking at his phone on Friday night, court heard

'The strength of the prosecution case is nothing short of solid,' senior sergeant McEvoy added.

Mr Thornton's application for bail was denied and he was ordered to face Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday.

One of the senior constables was still fighting for life in Liverpool Hospital on Saturday morning after his leg was amputated 15cm above his foot, police confirmed.

The other senior constable - who suffered a 'serious fracture' remains in a stable condition.A woman has spoken out after finding a child in a car at a popular shopping centre on a scorching hot day.

Crystal Hughes saw a young boy in a ute at a shopping centre in Stratton, a Perth suburb.

Ms Hughes said the temperature was 34C on Friday when she saw the boy in the vehicle.

'Sweating his little head off, I have no idea how long he had been there before I arrived,' she said.

Crystal Hughes saw a young boy in a ute at a shopping centre in Stratton, a Perth suburb

The boy can be seen in a car seat in the rear of the vehicle.

The window has been wound down about halfway to allow air into the car.

Ms Hughes said she spoke to the boy for 12 minutes while she waited for his father to return.

'The authorities were called immediately and I stood by him and talked with him through the window making sure he was okay for the time the parent was away.

'He returned to the car and left in a hurry. This behaviour needs to stop.'

Ms Hughes posted photos of the boy in the hot car on Facebook.

People shared their opinions on the woman's actions.

'Did you report the father? That's unacceptable. Even if the window is cracked the heat is still so extreme,' one woman said.

Ms Hughes posted photos of the boy in the hot car on Facebook

People shared their opinions on the woman's actions

'What the f**k is wrong with people to think this is okay.'

'Good on you for staying with him,' another woman said.

'Don't know how people think it's okay to leave a young child unattended in any weather. Some sick f**k could easily unlock the door and abduct him.'

Another commenter suggested locking the boy's father in a car on a hot day to 'see how he likes it'.Another teacher has gone viral for posting a video of her performing personalized handshakes with her students at a Kansas school.

Jerusha Willenborg, began learning a special handshake for each of her 20 students at Mueller Elementary School after one introduced her to his, three years ago.

'He added on to it. Then, everyone wanted a handshake,' the third-grade teacher in Wichita, Kansas, explained to KWCH.

Jerusha Willenborg does a special handshake with each of her students in her third grade class at Mueller Elementary School in Wichita, Kansas

Since then, she has kept to the tradition, learning a new set of handshakes with each new class.

'It makes me feel like Miss Willenborg has my back,' one of the teacher's students, Harmoni, added.

For Willenborg, doing the unique handshakes gives her a chance to share with her students that she still cares.

'The kids don't always make good choices,' she added.

She first started doing the tradition, three years ago and explains that they allow her to stay connected to her students

Video shows that some of the handshakes consists of hugs, while others include intricate hand clapping

'They are amazing kids, but you know, they're kids. At the end of the day, they give me their handshake, whether they had a good day or not, they leave that day knowing I still care about them.'

Her students have even begun making their own handshakes, each with own special move.

'I made a handshake with one of the students here,' said Harmoni.

Her students have even begun making their own handshakes, each with own special move

'Her name is Navaeah. We've been practicing a long, long time. We do our handshake just because it's fun.'

Video shows that some of the handshakes consists of hugs, while others include intricate hand clapping.

Some even incorporate dance moves, with the occasional hip bump and dab.The bikie boss assassinated in broad daylight after a workout was strangely not accompanied by his bodyguards when he was killed.

Mahmoud 'Mick' Hawi unusually left his security behind when he headed to Fitness First in Rockdale, Sydney on Thursday.

After his workout he got into his luxury Mercedes SUV alone and rolled down the window before a masked assassin emptied six bullets into his face and neck.

Gym goers said Hawi usually had three men with him but there was no-one standing by his body after his death.

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Police are investigating why a bikie boss assassinated in broad daylight was not accompanied by his bodyguards when he was killed. Pictured: Mahmoud 'Mick' Hawi

Hawi, 37, was shot by a masked gunman as he got into his luxury Mercedes SUV (pictured) at Fitness First in Rockdale, Sydney after midday on Thursday

Mahmoud 'Mick' Hawi is pictured with his wife Carolina Gonzaelz, who he started dating in High School

'It's a little bit weird, now it's all starting to make sense, like, he used to be with two or three guys but yesterday he was by himself,' Ali Gulzary told the Daily Telegraph.

The security lapse seems unlike the 37-year-old former Comancheros president, who travelled in bulletproof vehicles after surviving assassination when a bullet lodged in his car's headrest outside an Italian restaurant in 2007.

Retired NSW detective chief superintendent Brian Harding said Hawi's refusal to change his routine - despite reports of a bounty being placed on his head - made him an easy target.

'It would seem as if the murder yesterday of Hawi would be in part due to his own arrogance,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

'It would seem as if he had a routine, and a well-known routine at that, which the shooters knew so they just turned up and took him down according to that regular routine.'

Harding said he believes at least three people were involved in the murder of the former Comanchero president, which bears all the hallmarks of a paid hit.

Retired NSW detective chief superintendent Brian Harding today said Hawi's refusal to change his routine - despite reports of a bounty being placed on his head - made him an easy target. Pictured: Hawi

Harding said he believes at least three people were involved in the murder, which bears all the hallmarks of a paid hit. Pictured: The car ridden with bullets

A balaclava-wearing assailant fired multiple bullets at the father-of-two at about 12.10pm Pictured: Alleged suspects fleeing the scene

He questioned whether all three would remain loyal if arrested and questioned over the matter.

'I know from experience that circumstances change and one of the murder team might strike a hurdle and want to cut some sort of a deal to avoid a lengthy jail sentence and will inform on his co-offenders,' he said.

Police are still none the wiser as to why Hawi was killed. Theories include that he was caught up in in-fighting after refusing to re-join the Comanchero gang or that he was targeted by a rival group.

'It could be as easy as him saying something to the wrong person,' a senior police source told the Sydney Morning Herald.

The paper also reported that the gym where Hawi was killed has been affected by gang-related violence before, with a mass fight between Comancheros and a rival gang erupting there in 2008.

Staff were allegedly even told by police not to sack a Comanchero fitness trainer in case of repercussions. The AFP declined to comment.

It comes after the mother of a Hells Angels associate who was killed by Hawi said the bikie boss finally 'got what he deserved' after he was shot dead on Thursday.

Fredericka Bromwich commended the 'boys' who executed Hawi outside a gym in Sydney's south after her son, Anthony Zervas, was bludgeoned to death at Sydney Airport in 2009.

'Mick Hawi got what he deserved, and good on those boys who did it,' she told Seven News.

'It's karma, because what you do in life, comes back to haunt you.'

A masked gunman opened fire on the former Comancheros president, 37, at Fitness First in Rockdale about 12.10pm.

Hawi died hours after being taken to hospital in a critical condition where he was reportedly 'brain dead'.

He was found guilty in 2011 of murdering 29-year-old Anthony Zervas inside Sydney Airport - bashing him with a bollard during a brawl between the rival clubs.

He served time in prison for his role in the killing, however, his murder conviction was quashed in 2014.

Hawi was found guilty in 2011 of murdering 29-year-old Anthony Zervas (pictured) inside Sydney Airport - bashing him with a bollard during a brawl between the rival clubs

Witnesses said Hawi yelled: 'You're dead. You're f***ing dead. Next time we see you, you're going to have bullet holes through you' (airport crime scene pictured)

The melee was described in court as an 'explosion of violence' - featuring a flurry of punches and stabbings, ending in Zervas being knifed in the chest and bludgeoned to death with a 17kg steel bollard.

'You're a dead man, you're f***ing dead,' witnesses recalled underworld figure Hawi screaming at the rival group.

'Next time we see you, you're going to have bullet holes through you. You are a dead man walking'.

Shocked passengers watched as the deadly 'all in brawl' unfolded in front of them. The incident, which sparked international headlines, led to a nationwide crackdown on bikie activities.

Former Bikie boss Mahmoud Hawi (L) arriving with his lawyer at the Supreme Court in Sydney, November 28, 2014

The two gang members had a history dating back to when they were at school with each other, but it did not stop the fight on March 22, 2009 (pictured)

A shot of Sydney Airport following the violent fracas in the terminal in 2009

Hawi was running a car detailing company when he was taken into custody. He had been president of the Comancheros since 2002 but was replaced after going into police custody.

Daily Mail Australia understands he was freed in early 2016. He has two sons aged in their primary school years.

Hawi had kept a low profile since his release - that was until he opened the door of his luxury Mercedes SUV Thursday and was critically injured by a hail of bullets.The scale of abuse by aid workers and peacekeepers overseas was 'significant' and 'chronically under-reported', according to a report published a decade ago.

Save the Children found children were being coerced into sex, trading sex acts for food and other items and being forced into sexual slavery in Haiti, Cote dIvoire and southern Sudan.

In one case cited in the No-One To Turn To report, a 15-year-old girl in Haiti was offered  but refused  100 Haitian gourdes (2) and some chocolate to perform a sex act on 'a couple of humanitarian men'.

The report was published in 2008 but has recently come to light following the scandal over alleged sex abuse by Oxfam workers and a suggestion the charity covered up claims that staff used prostitutes while delivering aid to disaster-stricken Haiti.

The report dates from 2008 but has been unearthed following the alleged abuse scandal at Oxfam

Save the Children spoke to 341 people in the three countries and found 'significant levels of abuse of boys and girls continue in emergencies, with much of it going unreported'.

'The results of this study suggest that existing efforts to keep children safe from sexual exploitation and abuse are inadequate,' the report concluded.

The research found 'every kind of child sexual abuse and exploitation imaginable' was taking place.

It said: 'Children as young as six are trading sex with aid workers and peacekeepers in exchange for food, money, soap and, in a very few cases, luxury items such as mobile phones.'

A young boy in Haiti described how a group of people in the streets decided to make money out of a girl sleeping rough and they took her to a man who worked for an NGO who gave her a dollar and raped her.

The report found the main reasons for the under-reporting of abuse included fears of losing the assistance  one boy from Sudan said: 'People dont report it because they are worried that the agency will stop working here, and we need them'  while stigmatisation and fears of retaliation were also cited as reasons.

A young girl in Haiti added: 'The people who are raping us and the people in the office are the same people.'

Penny Mordaunt has warned that Oxfam will have funding withdrawn if it fails to comply with authorities over safeguarding issues. (Nick Ansell/PA)

Former international development secretary Priti Patel said Oxfam's response to the crisis wasn't strong enough ahead of a lunch she was attending yesterday in Bridgend.

'The anger, for me, was very much aimed at the people who were not taking responsibility and accountability,' she told The Times, adding she had uncovered abuse by United Nations agencies and NGOs through research on the internet last year.

When she found the abuse, she questioned why civil servants at the Department for International Development had not prepared a report on the subject.

'I did challenge on this. I did ask them, "Why the hell didnt anybody bring this to me?" I made that quite clear,' she said. 'I found it extraordinary that before we go for a major replenishment of UN agencies, this issue was not brought to me. I still find that quite astonishing. I really find that quite incredible.'

Save the Children's fieldwork took place in Haiti in 2007, years before alleged abuse was carried out by Oxfam workers.

It concluded: 'Breaking the silence surrounding this problem is an essential step towards its elimination.

'Our research suggests that children and their families are not speaking out because of a mix of stigma, fear, ignorance and powerlessness. In addition, it appears that at the grassroots level international agencies are not yet perceived as responding effectively to allegations  with the consequence that victims and others cannot see the point of reporting abuse.

'Together, these two factors are a major impediment to stamping out this problem.'

It recommended the establishment of a global watchdog to evaluate how agencies tackle abuse, as well as setting up effective complaints mechanisms.

Corinna Csaky, who wrote the report, told the Independent that a copy of the report had been sent to the Oxfam chief executive and other major charities, adding: 'In our cover letter we emphasised that our research revealed a sector-wide problem but we didnt implicate any one particular organisation by name.'

Meanwhile, Oxfams future funding from the taxpayer is in doubt after the charity agreed not to bid for fresh cash following the aid worker sex scandal.

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said funding would not be considered until her department was satisfied that Oxfam can meet the 'high standards' expected.

She added the Government 'reserves the right to take whatever decisions about present or future funding to Oxfam, and any other organisation, that we deem necessary'.

Oxfam received 31.7 million in taxpayer funding in 2016/17.

Haiti's president said yesterday that sexual misconduct by staff of British charity Oxfam was only the tip of an 'iceberg' and called for investigations into Doctors Without Borders - who repatriated 17 workers for misconduct - and other aid groups which came to the country after its 2010 earthquake.

Geneva-based Doctors Without Borders is looking into President Jovenel Moise's comments and welcomes scrutiny, said spokeswoman Analia Lorenzo. She added that the organization had zero tolerance of sexual misconduct.

On Wednesday, Doctors Without Borders said it had dealt with 24 cases of sexual harassment or abuse among its 40,000 staff last year, and dismissed 19 people as a result.

President Moise says the dignity of the Haitian people has been trampled upon and called for action from the UK government

Roland Van Hauwermeiren, the former Oxfam official at the center of the sex abuse scandal, said on Thursday he made mistakes by having a sexual relationship with the sister of a recipient of aid when working in Haiti but denied paying for sex with prostitutes or abusing minors.

In an open letter to a broadcaster in his native Belgium, he said he feared that Oxfam, other aid workers and those they help would suffer from false accusations.

President Moise said 'the dignity of the Haitian people has been trampled on'

'We call on the Belgian and UK government to assume their responsibility, and we call on the whole international community to help make sure those guilty of such misconduct are punished, whether they are Belgian or of another nationality,' he said.

Haitian Justice Minister Heidi Fortune said on Wednesday he had asked Belgium for help in starting legal action against Van Hauwermeiren. He did not say which laws he believed were broken.

Belgium's Justice Ministry said on Thursday it had received no such request and prosecutors said they were not aware of any investigation into Van Hauwermeiren. Belgium does not extradite its citizens to countries outside the European Union.This eastern brown snake found itself in a sticky situation when it got tangled up in duct tape in South Australia.

New video has been released of the deadly reptile which mistakenly thought the tape was a possible love match and was unable get out of its predicament.

For veteran snake catcher Rolly Burrell from rescue group Snake Catchers Adelaide, the January 20 incident in Aberfoyle Park in Adelaide's south was one of the weirdest jobs he was called out to in 20 years in the profession.

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An eastern brown snake got tangled up in duct take in a Aberfoyle Park garage in Adelaide's south in January. The resident told Snake Catchers Adelaide it may have been stuck for up to two weeks

'We received a call early one morning about a snake had been caught in tape,' Snake Catchers Adelaide spokeswoman Ang Broadstock told Daily Mail Australia.

'The woman believed the snake may have been stuck for up to two weeks. We were surprised of how caught up it was. The more it wriggled, the worst it got for the snake.'

It took Mr Burrell and another rescuer half-an-hour to remove the snake by carefully spraying vegetable oil between the snake and the tape.

After a rinse, the snake was closely monitored for a few days by Snake Catchers Adelaide, before it was released back into the wild.

'It sped off like lightning,' Ms Broadstock said.

''It had a one centimetre chunk missing but apart from that, it was fine.'

It took a can of cooking oil, two snake catchers and half an hour to release the deadly reptile from its sticky predicament

The brown snake is considered the world's second-most venomous land snake and is responsible for around 60 per cent of snake bite deaths in Australia.

Envenomation can result in paralysis, uncontrollable bleeding and death if left untreated.Dakota, a three-year-old Poodle mix, had been at a dog park near the Manhattan Bridge in Brooklyn, New York, on Friday afternoon when she ran

Major delays rattled subways going to and from Brooklyn after a dog escaped from a dog park and dashed unto the train tracks, running between stations.

Dakota, a three-year-old Poodle mix, had been at a dog park near the Manhattan Bridge in Brooklyn, New York, on Friday afternoon when she was spooked.

'I think she just got scared and ran,' owner, 27-year-old Caroline Francis, told the New York Daily News.

'I'm worried. I guess I'm in a state of shock. They found her, and we're hoping for the best.'

Francis had been at home working, when Dakota fled around 2.55pm from a dog walker.

The 11lbs pooch ran into the York Street Station and wound up on the tracks, according to a statement to police spokesman, George Tsourovakas, explained to the New York Times.

Francis explained that the dog was familiar with the area and knew how to get to the station. The walker explained what happened, but Francis quickly dismissed playing the blame game.

The 11lb pooch ran from the York Street Station all the way until the Bergen Street Statiom

She caused the F line to stop running for a hour and made the A and C experience delays

Dakota bolted south on the northbound track, but as witnesses began alerting transit workers, the dog made her way to Jay Street station.

The MTA decided to shut down the F lines at those stations and then the A and C trains ran into their own set of delays.

Her owner, Caroline Francis, was at home when the dog walker told her the news

As passengers became more disgruntled, a frantic Dakota made her way to Bergen Street around 4.06pm.

But there, train service supervisor, Sanya Hill, spotted the dog and leapt into action on the tracks.

'I had my flashlight out and I was looking and then I saw the dog,' Hill said to the Daily News.

'I didn't want her to bite me, I didn't want to scare her any more than she was. She was already shaking and already curled up all the way to the back of the platform.'

And Hill scooped the dog up and delivered her into the hands of Francis, who was beyond elated.

'I just patted her to make sure she was calm  me and her, we had an understanding,' Hill explained.

'After I calmed her down a little I just picked her up and took her to the platform.'

Dakota did suffer a minor injury of a fractured jaw and had some respiratory arrest issues due to jumping and running along the tracks.

Francis waited for her pup to hopefully make a speedy recovery at the vet.

'She's got terrible separation anxiety,' said Francis.A brave young father has escaped a frightening encounter with a bull shark which left him with deep puncture wounds to his foot and lower leg.

Adam Hoare, 35, was injured by the two-metre man-eater after taking his young children to a beach on Thursday in Kiama, south of Sydney.

He had just sent his kids, aged three and six, back to shore when the shark knocked him off his feet in shallow waters at Surf beach, Illawarra Mercury reported.

Adam Hoare believes he was not bitten, just hit by what felt like a sledgehammer in the leg when he encountered a shark in a beach near Kiama, New South Wales

'I felt like I was hit with a sledgehammer in the leg. It was like falling on a slippery rock, it was that solid,' he said.

Mr Hoare told the publication the whole ordeal was over in two or three seconds.

'It just sort of went underneath and it was gone... 'I was like ''my foot's still there, so it's all good'',' he said.

Luckily, his two children Matthew, six, and April, three, were unharmed.

Adam Hoare received five puncture wounds (pictured) but believes he was not bitten, only hit by the shark.

Just a few minutes prior to the shark encounter, he had been holding April in the exact same location the shark punctured him.

His children went back to shore and Mr Hoare stayed in, diving under two waves.

Large tuna fish were swimming in the water and Mr Hoare believes was targeting the fish, not him.

Lifeguards and ambulance officers treated Mr Hoare at the scene and he was sent to the local hospital for further treatment.A huge blaze is raging along the coast of one of Sydney's most popular beaches.

The fire is burning about 200 metres of land between Coogee and Gordon's Bay in the city's eastern suburbs.

Thick billows of smoke are engulfing the streets, forcing hundreds of people to flee from their homes.

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A huge blaze (pictured) is burning along the coast of one of Sydney's most popular beaches

The large bush fire is burning about 200 metres of land between Coogee and Gordon's Bay (pictured)

The fire started Saturday afternoon and firefighters struggle to contain the blaze (pictured)

Fire crews have been fighting the 'hectic' blaze on Saturday afternoon, which residents described as 'pretty scary' and like 'a big explosion'.

'Never seen anything like this in Coogee,' one person wrote online.

Thick plumes of smoke were seen from a number of locations along the coast and the airport.

The black smoke filled the sky, making it a stark contrast to the swimmers basking in the sun on the beach.

There were reportedly more than 100 calls made to fire fighters by concerned onlookers.

At least three fire crews and a number of helicopters are fighting the grass fire which started late in the afternoon.

Authorities swept the headland north of Coogee for walkers but reported no one is in danger.

There were reports the blaze may have been started deliberately, though this has not been confirmed.

Fire crews are expected to be working well into the night.

'Never seen anything like this in Coogee,' one person wrote online

Firefighters have been fighting the blaze which locals described as 'pretty scary'

At least three fire crews and a number of helicopters are fighting the grass fire (pictured)

While the popular beach side suburb isn't known for it's bushfires, thick plumes of smoke were seen from a number of locations along the coastThe Florida teen accused shooting and killing 17 people at his former high school on Wednesday was reportedly in a private group chat on Instagram where he regularly discussed his hatred of African Americans and Jewish people and openly talked about his desire to commit murder.

Nikolas Cruz, who allegedly confessed to Wednesdays shooting saying demon voices told him how to pull off the massacre, was one of the members added to Murica (American flag emoji) (eagle emoji) great, a group chat where hatred and violence were often the main topics of discussion.

According to CNN, Cruz joined the private chat around August 2017 and mainly conversed with five of its members. The outlet reports that most of the people in the chat appear to be younger than 18 and refused to reveal their identities.

Nikolas Cruz is accused of killing 17 people at his former high school Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday

Cruz was reportedly in a private Instagram group chat where he talked about his love for guns and violence

The 19-year-old also bragged about killing birds with his gun, one current member of the group told CNN

In one message, Cruz said that he wanted to kill people but later claimed it was a joke after a member told him not to say things like that

With one of his paychecks, Cruz purchased a bullet proof vest, pictured above

CNN also reports that Cruz was the one who gave the chat its name.

In one message Cruz sent to the group the 19-year-old reportedly discussed his hatred for jews, n******, immigrants. He also talked about killing Mexicans and keeping black people in chains and cutting their necks.

One member reportedly joked about Cruzs hatred toward African Americans writing that he hated black people, too, but not to a point I wanna kill the (sic) like nick.

Cruz told the members that he did not like black people simply because they were black. He said his dislike for Jewish people was because he believed they wanted to destroy the world.

In one message, Cruz told the members that his birth mother was Jewish and said he was glad he never met her. Cruz was adopted by Roger and Lynda Cruz when he was a child.

Lynda died in November after getting sick with the flu and pneumonia. Roger died from a heart attack in 2004. Following the deaths of his adoptive parents, Cruz was taken in by James and Kimberly Snead, and their 17-year-old son, who went to school with Cruz.

The confessed killer also expressed his hatred for gay people, at one point writing that they should be shot in the back of the head.

Cruz is pictured above doing target practice outside the Parkland home he was staying at

Cruz purchased his AR-15 at Sunrise Tactical Supply store in Coral Springs, Florida

Cruz also posted numerous photos on his Instagram page of his guns

In one Instagram post, Cruz shared a photo of a target riddled with bullet holes

CNN reports that hundreds of racist messages, videos and memes were shared in the group. Some of the vile messages targeted white women who were in interracial relationships. According to Cruz, they were traitors.

The teen also talked about his love for guns and violence telling members that he used his $330 paycheck to buy body armor. He then asked the group whether it was legal to wear the armor to school.

When someone asked why he wanted to know, he reportedly replied: school shooters.

At one point, Cruz allegedly threatened: 'I think I am going to kill people. He later said he was joking when another member told him not to say things like that.

In another message, Cruz posted about killing animals saying that he killed a number of birds with his gun.

CNN reports that his first message in the chat was to brag about sending a letter to President Donald Trump and allegedly getting a response from the White House.

17 people were killed in Wednesday's massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

Cruz, pictured above during his arrest, was arraigned on 17 counts of murder

White House officials have not said whether Cruz actually did send a letter and get a reply back.

Its unclear if any of the members ever reported Cruzs disturbing messages to Instagram. The company did yet return the Daily Mails request for comment on what, if any, polices are in place to monitor private group messages.

Cruz is accused of killing 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday. He was arraigned on 17 counts of premeditated murder  charges that carry the possibility of the death penalty.The 19-year-old shooter entered Sunrise Tactical Supply in February 2017 to purchase the AR-15 rifle used to slaughter 17

The gun store had been up and running for more than four years before FBI and ATF agent arrived on Thursday to inspect the premises

The couple also said that they will support new legislation designed to keep deadly weapons out of the hands of people with mental health issues

Michael and Lisa Morrison said that they are so 'mortified' over the event, they shuttered their business, Sunrise Tactical Supply, indefinitely on Friday

The gun store owners who sold confessed Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz the semiautomatic refile he used to kill 17 people on Wednesday said their devastated the weapon came from them.

Michael and Lisa Morrison said that they are so 'mortified' over the event, they shuttered their business, Sunrise Tactical Supply, indefinitely on Friday.

The Morrisons lawyer Douglas Rudman said in a statement that the couple are 'completely shocked and mortified that anything like this would happen,' according to The New York Daily News.

Michael and Lisa Morrison said that they are so 'mortified' over the event, they shuttered their business, Sunrise Tactical Supply, indefinitely on Friday

The couple also said that they will support new legislation designed to keep deadly weapons out of the hands of people with mental health issues

'They condemn in the strongest possible fashion anyone who use any weapon in anger and violence,' the statement continued, adding 'They're good family people who would never advocate violence toward anyone.'

The couple also said that they will support new legislation designed to keep deadly weapons out of the hands of people with mental health issues.

'They feel strongly about supporting measures that would require the disclosure of allegations of mental illness to agencies that govern the approval of firearm sales,' the statement said.

The gun store had been up and running for more than four years before FBI and ATF agent arrived on Thursday to inspect the premises

'These measures will be a first step toward taking firearms out of the hands of those who would use them for such reprehensible attacks.'

The gun store located in a Coral Springs, Fla., strip mall was closed for good on Friday as two police officers stood guard outside the premises.

'Out of respect for those affected by this horrible tragedy, Sunshine Tactical will remain closed until further notice,' said Rudman.

The gun store had been up and running for more than four years before FBI and ATF agent arrived on Thursday to inspect the premises as part of their investigation into the deadly shooting.

The 19-year-old shooter entered Sunrise Tactical Supply in February 2017 to purchase the AR-15 rifle used to slaughter 17 people at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the Daily News reported.

'There was nothing about this transaction that raised any suspicions in the minds of the owners or the employees,' said Rudman.

'They performed all appropriate background checks, received all the proper clearances, and held the weapon for the required 5 business day waiting period.'

Cruz reportedly wrote 'no' when asked if he suffered from any mental health issues or was ever institutionalized for treatment on his ATF paperwork used to conduct background checks on prospective gun buyers.

Rudman said that the killer did not provide enough information to the store owners for them to make a truly informed decision on whether to sell Cruz the weapon.

'They were deprived of the information they required to make an informed decision as to whether or not to sell this weapon,' the lawyer said. 'They received no information as to any prior instances of outrageous or inappropriate behavior.'

Rudman added that the couple 'extend their most sincere condolences to everyone affected by this cowardly act.'Almost four million school days were lost in one academic year as parents took their children on holiday in term-time, figures have revealed.

The statistics for 2015/16 show that some 3.65million days were lost to unauthorised holidays in England, an increase of half a million on the previous year.

The rise comes despite a fine of 60 per child for taking pupils out on school days, of which more than 150,000 were issued the same year, according to the Daily Mirror.

It comes after a father who had taken his daughter's school to court over the 60 fine lost his case at the Supreme Court last year.

The statistics for 2015/16 show that some 3.65million days were lost to unauthorised holidays in England, an increase of half a million on the previous year

Jon Platt, 46, launched a legal battle after he was fined and prosecuted by his local council after taking his seven-year-old daughter to Florida in 2015.

He said at the time: 'You're the child's parents. You should be able to make that decision without the state coming along and saying you're wrong about that.'

The High Court found in his favour and said he had no case to answer but top judges said letting Mr Platt take his child out would penalise the parents who stuck to the rules.

The court's then-deputy president Baroness Hale said: 'Any educational system expects people to keep the rules. It is a slap in the face to those obedient parents who do keep the rules, whatever the cost or inconvenience to themselves.'

Jon Platt, pictured with his wife Sally in 2017, launched a legal battle after he was fined and prosecuted by his local council after taking his seven-year-old daughter to Florida in 2015

Taking a break during the busy summer holiday can cost as much as 60 per cent more than going on holiday during term-time.

In June 2017 another father fell foul of the rules when one of his three children was refused permission to take holiday for the father's Greek wedding.

'This was an event where the children's father and stepmother got married, showing commitment to each other and a family,' Dean Dixon, who received the 60 fine, said at the time.

'What was I supposed to do, take two and leave the other behind?'

Dean Dixon had to pay a 60 fine after taking his daughter Katie (far left) out of secondary school so his children could come to his Greek wedding

The same month a headteacher in Teesside took time off from his duties to attend a wedding.

The school said Mark Ryan's holiday was authorised because the wedding was considered 'exceptional circumstances' and would have been allowed for pupils.

But a mother at the school criticised him after she had cut short her holiday to accommodate the school rules.

'I know education is very important for our children and parents do try and avoid taking children away during term time but when cash is tight sometimes it's more suitable to go then.'A week after Barnaby Joyce's affair with his pregnant staffer was made public, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has revealed the truth about his relationship with his deputy.

A short 60 Minutes clip suggests Mr Turnbull will have an in-depth discussion regarding the scandal, while also revealing the secret to a 'good marriage'.

Mr Turnbull said the relationship between himself and Mr Joyce was straightforward.

'It's frank. It's a frank relationship,' he told veteran journalist Liz Hayes.

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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (left) has revealed the truth about his relationship with Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce (right)

The short 60 Minutes clip suggests the Prime Minister (right) will discuss the 'secret' to a 'good marriage' alongside his wife, Lucy, (left)

Mr Turnbull will also give an insight on his relationship with Barnaby Joyce, 50, who had an affair with his pregnant staffer Vicky Campion, 33, (pictured)

Mr Turnbull and wife Lucy, who have been married for almost 38 years, sat together as they laughed in parts of the 20 second video.

The clip suggested the couple would share their secrets to a 'good marriage' on Sunday night.

'Together, forever,' Mr Turnbull said.

According to Fairfax Media, the interview was recorded earlier this year after long negotiations.

Earlier this week it was announced Mr Joyce, 50, had been having an affair with his pregnant former staffer Vicky Campion, 33, - who is due to have their baby in April.

The controversial deputy's 24-year marriage ended with estranged wife Natalie late last year, which Mr Joyce announced in December at Parliament House in Canberra.

The couple had four daughters together.

The two leading men met in Sydney on Saturday to clear the air after their disagreement which saw them both give firey speeches about the affair.

Mr Turnbull (pictured with Lucy Turnbull) told veteran journalist Liz Hayes their 'secrets' to a 'good marriage' while saying his relationship with Mr Joyce was 'frank'

It comes after news broke this week that Mr Joyce and Ms Campion were expecting a baby in April (pictured together)

Mr Turnbull said on Thursday: 'Barnaby made a shocking error of judgment in having an affair with a young woman working in his office'

On Thursday it was announced Mr Joyce would not take over as Acting Prime Minister during Mr Turnbull's trip to the US next week.

Mr Turnbull said on Thursday the ministerial code of conduct had been rewritten and asked Mr Joyce to 'consider his position'.

'The real issue is the terrible hurt and humiliation that Barnaby, by his conduct, has visited on his wife, Natalie and their daughters and indeed, his new partner,' Mr Turnbull told reporters in Canberra.

'Barnaby made a shocking error of judgment in having an affair with a young woman working in his office.

'He has set off a world of woe for those women and appalled all of us.'

The Prime Minister asked Mr Joyce on Thursday (pictured) to 'consider his position'

The controversial deputy's 24-year marriage ended with estranged wife Natalie (pictured together) late last year, which Mr Joyce announced in December

Mr Joyce responded in tit-for-tat style the following day.

'In regards to comments by the Prime Minister yesterday at his press conference, I have to say that in many instances they caused further harm,' Mr Joyce said.

'I believe they were in many instances inept. And most definitely in many instances unnecessary.

'All that is going to do is basically once more pull the scab off for everybody to have a look at.'

The Prime Minister cannot sack his deputy because it is up to the Nationals MPs to choose their leader under the coalition agreement.The homeless man who died yards from Parliament returned to the UK illegally after being jailed for sexually abusing a child and kicked out of the country, it was claimed today.

The former model from Portugal died in freezing temperatures just yards from the entrance to Parliament.

The man, named in his home country overnight as 35-year-old Marcos Amaral Gourgel, was a regular at an emergency shelter run by central London homelessness charity The Connection.

Portuguese government officials confirmed Marcos, who was of Angolan origin, had been deported in 2014 and 2016.

The man was discovered in Westminster underground station by the back entrance (pictured) to the Palace of Westminster, which politicians and their staff walk through every day

Its Ministry of Portuguese Communities Abroad told respected Portuguese daily Expresso: 'In 2014 he was deported to Portugal by the British authorities and assisted on his return.

'In 2016 we were made aware he had been deported again from the UK for being in the country illegally.'

Respected Portuguese daily Correio da Manha claimed his first deportation happened after he served prison time for sexually abusing a child.

It was not made clear how the dead man, who is understood to have had dual Angolan and Portuguese nationality, managed to return to the UK.

Portuguese authorities have not been able to contact next-of-kin yet to tell them about Marcos' death and say they have no record of any family currently living in Portugal.

A source from the Ministry of Portuguese Communities Abroad said: 'No direct relatives of the dead man have been found in Portugal.

'It is known they could be living in other countries, namely Angola, where he had family connections.'

Members of the Labour Leader's office said they would take the man hot food in the morning

Staff at The Connection said they had been helping him try to find a job and he had submitted an application form last week - hoping to become a waiter. They added that although he had 'complex circumstances', he enjoyed singing and regularly attended yoga classes.

A spokesperson for the charity said they were 'deeply saddened' by his death on Wednesday morning.

'He had worked previously as a model and in various hospitality jobs,' they added.

'He put in a job application to be a waiter as recently as last week. Although he had complex circumstances, he enjoyed singing and regularly attended yoga classes.'

Pam Orchard, the charity's chief executive, said: 'These tragic deaths are not just statistics. Everyone who is homeless is someone's son or brother or dad.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn sent flowers and a card reading 'This should never have happened. As a country we must stop walking by. Rest in peace' to the scene of the man's death

'He had strengths, talents and skills but he also had problems and things went very wrong for him. The support shown by the wider public for him and his situation has been very moving.'

The man was discovered in Westminster underground station by the back entrance to the Palace of Westminster, which politicians and their staff walk through every day.

Temperatures plunged to -2.1C in the areas last night, and many homeless people use the station to get shelter from the freezing temperatures outside.

Politicians said they were horrified at the news of the tragedy, and said it should serve as a wake-up call to do more to combat the rising numbers of rough sleepers.

Members of Jeremy Corbyn's office said they knew the man and laid flowers at the scene last night.

Mr Corbyn left a note on a bouquet reading 'This should never have happened. As a country we must stop walking by. Rest in peace'.

Members of Jeremy Corbyn's office said they knew the man and are laid flowers at the scene last night

The Labour leader wrote on Twitter: 'I've just been told about the death of a rough sleeper right by the entrance to Parliament.

'The powerful can't carry on walking by on the other side while people don't have a home to call their own.

'It's time all MPs took up this moral challenge and properly housed everyone.'

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner wrote: 'A homeless man who was seen frequently at the tube entrance to Portcullis House Westminster underground station has been found dead today.

'Whatever the circumstances it's a terrible tragedy that somebody ends their days like this, the govt must do more to combat homelessness.'

Scotland Yard said the death is being treated as unexplained, but not suspicious.

A spokesman for the Ambulance Service said: 'We were called at 7.16am yesterday to Westminster Tube station, to reports of a man not breathing.

'We sent a team leader, an advanced paramedic, a cycle responder and two ambulance crews.

'Sadly, despite resuscitation efforts, he died at the scene.'

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner also tweeted her shock at the tragedy

Tory MP Grant Shapps said the death was 'horrendous news', adding: 'Homelessness is an issue that requires constant attention.

'Reducing rough sleeping is the mark of a civilised society and we must now get to grips with the issue.'

A House of Commons spokesman said: 'We are saddened to hear of the death of an individual this morning at Westminster Tube Station and offer our condolences to their friends and family at this difficult time.'Germany's foreign minister slammed the 'America first' approach of President Donald Trump's administration, saying close US ties with a strong European Union is in the best interest of everyone.

Minister Sigmar Gabriel of Germany told world leaders and defense officials at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday that the United States was no longer the only indisputable superpower.

Instead, he said Washington needed to count on traditional partners in Europe for help.

At the same time, Gabriel said, it is also clear that European nations need the US if they want to 'shape the future and not just endure'.

Foreign Minster Sigmar Gabriel of Germany spoke at the 54th Munich Security Conference on Saturday. He said he didn't recognize the current America with its 'America first' policy

Gabriel said it was in the best interest for all countries to rely on each other stating America was no longer an 'indisputable superpower'. He recommends the US to keep a good relationship with the European Union in order to thrive

'Our strength in Europe is not sufficient for this. Neither the EU nor the US can go it alone. We have to count on our friends and our partners,' Gabriel said on Saturday.

Trump's national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, met one-on-one with Gabriel after his speech. McMaster reassured the forum that the United States still is strongly committed to its traditional alliances, but emphasized that 'we must all share responsibility.'

'International peace and prosperity depends on all nations,' McMaster said. 'For this reason, President Trump has called for stronger alliances and partnerships based on shared values, shared interests, shared responsibilities and shared burdens.'

Trump has pushed strongly for more NATO nations to live up to commitments to spend at least 2 per cent of their gross domestic product on defense spending.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, whose country is one of the five NATO members that does meet the target, said discussing a common European defense policy with other nations is complicated when they are not playing by the same rules.

He said it's not appropriate to 'have those free riders who live under pax Americana but pretend to be self-sufficient in the context of security.'

'I feel very much pro-European. I would like that we live under pax Europa, but this is not the case. It was not the case for 70 years and it is not the case today,' Morawiecki said.

Herbert Raymond McMaster, US National Security Advisor speaks spoke at the Security Conference in Munich, Germany on Saturday. He also met privately with Gabriel and assured the foreign minister that the US was still focusing on its traditional alliances

He added that, following Russian aggression in recent years against Georgia and Ukraine, Europe needs 'more steel tanks and not only think tanks.'

No country in Europe has benefited as much from American help as Germany since World War II, Gabriel said. He said the country 'eagerly learned' principles of democracy, multilateralism, international law and free trade from the relationship with the US.

'Maybe this can explain why we Germans in particular are so perturbed when we look across the Atlantic - because we no longer recognize our America,' he said. 'Is it deeds, is it words, is it tweets we should look at to measure America?'

He urged a return to greater joint cooperation, saying now is not the time for 'just pursuing individual national interests.'

Gabriel suggested the US was going in the opposite direction, drifting toward approaches taken from powers like China and Russia who are 'constantly trying to test or undermine' the EU.

'It is one thing from possible rivals or competitors, but from our friends and partners we expect that they will respect the unity of the EU,' he said. 'No one should try to divide the EU, not Russia, not China, but also not the United States.'

In a meeting on the sidelines of the conference Friday, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis told French Defense Minister Florence Parly that a 'strong Europe is a better security partner' but emphasized that EU defense initiatives should 'complement, not compete with NATO,' the US Defense Department said.

Parly said during an address at the conference Friday that worries about EU defense being in 'opposition to NATO' were a 'false debate'.

Gabriel said there was a need for European nations to work more effectively together so the EU has both the tools and a common strategy to effectively assert its interests globally. He said that while Europe can't rest simply on a military strategy, it also can't ignore military and defense spending.

'As the only vegetarian, we would have a problem in the world of carnivores,' he said.

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Saturday during the conference that he did not agree with Trump's opinion on NATO countries stepping up their defense spending to match the US. He said every country is run differently so the recommendation is unachievableConnor Stubbs had complains of severe headaches for days before his mother noticed he had developed a 'squinty' eye

A mother claims her poorly son faced repeated questioning from A&E staff convinced the teen had taken drugs - only for scans to reveal he had a brain tumour.

Kay Tomlinson called an ambulance for her son Connor Stubbs, who had been complaining of severe headaches for three days, when she noticed his eye go 'squinty' as they sat down for family dinner.

Upon arriving at A&E, 38-year-old Kay said that she and Connor, who was just 15 at the time, faced 'persistent and frustrating' interrogation about whether or not the schoolboy had taken drugs.

It was only after Connor's constant insistence that he had not consumed any illicit substances that doctors agreed to carry out a CT scan, according to mother-of-three Kay.

Scans revealed that Connor had a rare form of fast-growing tumour on his brain - and Kay and her partner Kevin Stubbs, 37, were given the devastating warning that it could be fatal.

As surgery was not an option because the tumour was growing so quickly, Connor was offered an aggressive form of radiotherapy and his parents promised him a puppy if he didn't give up.

The teen, who now has a seven-month-old collie called Poppy, received his three-months all clear just before Christmas 2017.

And proud mother Kay, a 999 call handler, is determined to share Connor's story to raise awareness of the symptoms of brain tumours in children and teenagers to stop others from being 'fobbed off'.

Kay, of Oldham, Greater Manchester, said: 'Connor had been complaining about having a really bad headache for three days which wasn't like him at all.

The brave teenager was rushed to accident and emergency, where his mother claims he was faced with 'persistent and frustrating' interrogating by medics who asked him if he had taken drugs

'He had a cleft palate when he was born but apart from that he's always been a really healthy lad, he's not been sick a day in his life.

'Then one evening we sat down for tea and looking around the table I noticed one of Connor's eyes was moving slower than the other one, it was like he had a squint.

The teenager was put on an aggressive form of chemotherapy, which his mother claims was ten times stronger than breast cancer treatment

'I called an ambulance and he was rushed to A&E. When we got there they kept asking if he had taken drugs.

'Connor kept telling them 'no' and looking at me to say, 'I've been with you the whole time, mum'.

'They were being so persistent. I tried to tell them that he'd been at home every day over Christmas and couldn't have taken anything.

'But they asked to speak to him alone and asked him again if he'd taken drugs or if he might have an STI - apparently syphilis could have caused his eye problem too.

'I understand that if a 16-year-old comes in they have to ask these questions because there are a lot of teenagers taking drugs but it was very frustrating.

'Connor is not like that at all, he's a lovely lad.

'I can't help but feel that if Connor had been just a bit younger they would have taken him symptoms more seriously quicker.

'We had to be a bit pushy but after we insisted enough times that he hadn't taken anything, they sent him for a scan and they told us they'd found a mass on his brain. It was devastating.

'It had never even entered my mind that it could be a tumour. You never think it will happen to your child, it was heartbreaking.'

Connor, who lives with his mother, father and brothers Lewis Stubbs, 18, and Taylor Stubbs, 15, was taken to The Royal Oldham Hospital A&E on December 28.

The teen was referred to the Christie where specialists decided instead to put Connor on a course the aggressive chemotherapy

A CT scan revealed that the brave teen's chronic headache was the result of a tumour blocking the ventricle in the brain that allows spinal fluid to drain away

After emergency surgery to relieve the fluid build-up, Connor was booked in for a lumbar puncture and biopsy and was diagnosed with pineoblastoma, a rare form of fast-growing tumour

A CT scan revealed that the brave teen's chronic headache was the result of a tumour blocking the ventricle in the brain that allows spinal fluid to drain away.

The pressure building up in Connor's skull could have been deadly if not treated immediately.

After emergency surgery to relieve the fluid build-up, Connor was booked in for a lumbar puncture and biopsy on January 6 2017 and was diagnosed with pineoblastoma, a rare form of fast-growing tumour.

Doctors had planned to remove the tumour surgically but in the nine days between his first and second scan, Connor's tumour had grown an inch - growth too rapid to make surgery a viable treatment.

The teen was referred to the Christie where specialists decided instead to put Connor on a course of aggressive chemotherapy, which Kay claims is ten times stronger than breast cancer treatment.

Connor and his family were warned that he would be so poorly that he might want to give up, but the promise of a new puppy kept the schoolboy determined to battle through it.

Connor (centre) lives with his mother Kay (right), father Kevin Stubbs (left) and brothers Lewis Stubbs, 18, and Taylor Stubbs, 15

Connor and his family were warned that he would be so poorly that he might want to give up, but the promise of a new puppy kept the schoolboy determined to battle through it

Kay said: 'Being told they couldn't operate because it was growing too fast was awful. They warned us that if it kept growing like it was, Connor wouldn't have long left.

'Hearing that is every parent's worst nightmare, it was devastating. Kevin and I promised each other we wouldn't tell Connor it could be terminal, we didn't want him to give up.

'But the Christie were sure they could treat him with a new kind of chemotherapy. They told us it is ten times more aggressive than breast cancer treatment.

'The doctor warned Connor that he was going to be so ill that there would be times he'd tell us to stop treating him and let him go.

'He's always been obsessed with Collies, his whole life, so we told him if he kept fighting and didn't give up we'd get him a puppy.

After Connor's incredible journey, Kay is working with the HeadSmart campaign to raise awareness of the symptoms of brain tumours in children and teenagers

'We knew it wasn't going to be easy for him but being given that hope was such a relief. We were over the moon.

'And he fought through it, he never complained or even thought about giving up. We are so proud of him, he has done incredibly.

'They told us he might be in a wheelchair for a bit and that he might have some brain damage but he walked out of that hospital and hasn't had any brain damage at all. It is amazing.

'After Connor being so ill the Christmas before, getting his three-month all clear just before last Christmas was absolutely fantastic.'

After Connor's incredible journey, Kay is working with the HeadSmart campaign to raise awareness of the symptoms of brain tumours in children and teenagers.

Kay, pictured right with Connor and Kevin, said: 'I can't help but feel that if Connor had been just a bit younger they would have taken him symptoms more seriously quicker'

Kay said: 'I think there definitely needs to be more awareness of the symptoms with doctors and nurses.

'I am so glad we were so insistent and pushed for a scan while he was in hospital because if Connor's tumour had been left to grow like it was, it would have killed him.

'And other parents need to be aware of the symptoms too. When the doctors told me Connor had a brain tumour, I was gobsmacked to be honest.

'You would never imagine that your child could have a brain tumour but unfortunately it can and does happen.

'Parents need to trust their instincts and push to get those scans so they don't just get fobbed off.'

The devoted mother (right, with Connor and Kevin) added: 'I think there definitely needs to be more awareness of the symptoms with doctors and nurses'

Connor holds up a picture of himself lying in a hospital bed. HeadSmart is run as a partnership between The Brain Tumour Charity, The Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Group, which runs The Royal Oldham Hospital and Salford Royal, applauded Connor and his family for raising awareness but said it would be 'inappropriate' to comment on individual cases.

A spokesperson for Northern Care Alliance NHS Group said: 'We are extremely pleased to hear that Connor is responding so well to treatment and wish him and his family all the very best for the future.

'It would be inappropriate for us to comment in detail on individual cases due to patient confidentiality, but we know that our staff always strive to provide the very best care for all of our patients.

'We applaud Connor and his family in raising awareness of brain tumours and cancer support and the work of the charity, HeadSmart.'

HeadSmart is run as a partnership between The Brain Tumour Charity, The Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Professor David Walker, co-director of The Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre, said: 'Since developing and launching HeadSmart, we have made real progress, halving the time it takes on average to diagnose a child with a brain tumour across the UK.

'The HeadSmart campaign uses new evidence, justifying a new approach to healthcare professionals, young people and parents of younger children.

'With this revised approach we aim to further accelerate the speed of diagnosis by helping doctors, young people and their families to work better together in selecting those who need a brain scan to diagnose or exclude a brain tumour.'Pictured: Model Olympia Campbell, above at the Cob Gallery in London in March 2016

A British catwalk star has claimed fashion photographers threaten to blacklist models who won't date them.

Olympia Campbell, 22, says her agency Viva warned her about a number of photographers who are known for trying to make a pass at models.

'There are definitely photographers - and I've been warned by my agency - that are renowned for trying to make a move on some of the girls,' she told The Telegraph.

'I don't know who they've made a move on, so I don't know if those were appropriate moves to make.

She said it might be that the photographer is 'flirty', and will ask to meet for a casting then ask the model out for a drink.

She told the paper: 'If you don't go, you're probably not going to get booked on the job again. That doesn't matter so much for me, because I'm doing other things, but I can't imagine what it's like for people who do really want the next job.'

Miss Campbell's comments come after her elder sister Edie - who is also a model - wrote a letter urging the fashion industry to face the problem of sexual harassment.

Edie, 27, wrote: 'We operate within a culture that is too accepting of abuse, in all of its manifestations.'

Her letter followed the news in October last year that Vogue magazine had finally severed ties with controversial photographer Terry Richardson, after almost a decade of allegations of sexual harassment and abuse.

Last month the New York Police Department announced it was investigating Richardson for sexual assault. Mr Richardson has always denied claims.

In the same month, veteran photographer Mario Testino was accused of sexual misconduct towards male models and former assistants.

The New York Times detailed the experiences of 13 men who were allegedly sexually assaulted or harassed by the photographer. Testino denied the claims but multiple luxury brands, including Burberry and Michael Kors, vowed to stop working with him.

Olympia Campbell, 22, says her agency Viva warned her about a number of photographers who are known for trying to make a pass at models

At New York Fashion Week earlier this month, American Wardrobe put on a show in solidarity to the #MeToo movement.

The event featured models who have experienced sexual assault or harassment - walking the runway accompanied by men in pig masks.

The idea came from Myriam Chalek, creative director of American Wardrobe, who wanted to use her label as a platform to benefit women.

While the show featured American Wardrobe fashions, Chalek said the event was nonprofit.

The models were victims or survivors of sexual assault and harassment and told their stories from the catwalk.

Among them was Alicia Kozakiewicz, who was abducted in 2002 near her home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by a man who had groomed her online, a case that made international headlines as one of the first such kidnappings of the internet age.The father of an English girl murdered in France 28 years ago spoke of his relief today after her killer finally confessed.

Roger Parrish has battled for justice for his daughter Joanna since her battered and naked body was found dead in the River Yonne in Auxerre, France, on May 17th 1990.

At the time of her death she was living in the Burgundy town 100 miles south of Paris as part of her French degree course at Leeds University.

Her murderer remained unknown despite intensive police investigations and the efforts of Mr Parrish and his ex-wife Pauline who frequently travelled to Auxerre to hand out leaflets appealing for information. They were determined to keep the case in the public eye.

Joanna's parents, Roger Parrish and Pauline Murrell, continually pushed for the French authorities to carry on with the enquiry, even though it was temporarily closed in 2011

In 2008, mass killer Michel Fourniret, 75, dubbed the 'Ogre of Ardennes', was jailed in France for the kidnapping, raping, and murdering seven other girls over a 14 year period from 1987.

The police and the Parrish family suspected he may also be responsible for Joanna's death. But he has never admitted it until now.

As well as confessing to Joanna's murder in a secret interview in a Paris courtroom he has also allegedly admitted another unsolved murder - that of Marie-Angele Domece, a mentally disabled girl who disappeared on July 8, 1988, and whose body has never been found.

Mr Parrish, a retired Land Registry official of Newnham on Severn, Gloucestershire, said he was relieved that at last it appears he and his family can have closure after almost three decades of fighting for the truth about Joanna's death.

He said he had not received any information from the French police so far about Fourniret's confession but he had heard from his own sources in France and his lawyers in Paris hope to have fuller details within a day or two.

'It's something that we're pleased to hear about. We're relieved in many ways. Let's hope it's something which we can take forward,' he said.

'If we can get that kind of certainty it would be a huge relief. It's the final hurdle that we've faced for the last 27 years.

'We try to get on with our lives as best we can do. But there are times with it comes back when you least expect.'

'Our lawyers are confident that this has a degree of positivity which we've not had up to now,' he said.

'We're being guarded about it because of our past experience.'

It was widely reported in the French press yesterday that Fourniret has admitted the two unsolved murders within the last few days.

Joanna was working as an English teaching assistant at the Jacques-Aymot high school in Auxerre when she was killed. Her naked body was found at Moneteau in the River Yonne. The autopsy revealed that she had been raped and beaten before her death.

Detectives had never been able to prove that he murdered Joanna Parrish (pictured), a Leeds University language student who was killed in Burgundy countryside in eastern France in 1990

Michel Fourniret had always disputed his involvement in this case, including during his trial at the Assize Court of the Ardennes, where he was sentenced on May 28, 2008, to life imprisonment for seven murders. His ex-wife Monique Olivier was also sentenced to life for complicity in five of the murders.

'It's been 28 years since Joanna Parrish passed away - years that we have been fighting for justice on this issue,' said the Parrish family lawyer Didier Seban. 'Michel Fourniret has now confessed to the two murders - for us that's a breakthrough.'

It was during an interview with a magistrate in Paris last week that Fourniret made 'repeated' confessions about the murders of Joanna and Marie-Angele, he said.

Michel Fourniret, 75, (pictured) had already admitted kidnapping, raping and murdering nine girls over a 14 year period from 1987

Retired Gloucestershire police detective chief superintendent Bernie Kinsella, who had helped French police investigate Joanna's death, said he was delighted that the case finally appeared to have been solved.

'Roger, Pauline and Joanna's brother have been to hell and back over the last 28 years,' he said. 'At last they can have closure. This is a long awaited breakthrough.'

Fourniret was the prime suspect in the case for years, and was finally arrested in 2005 with his wife Monique Olivier in connection with the other deaths.

Olivier was also jailed for complicity after it was revealed she would sometimes pick up the victims for him as she drove in their car around the wooden Ardennes area, close to France's border with Germany, with their baby son in the backseat.

It seemed as though the case would come to a close when Olivier made a statement suggesting she was present at the murder of a young woman in Auxerre in 1990.

But Olivier later withdrew her statement claiming it had been made under pressure, after it emerged a prosecutor had slapped her during an interview.

Joanna's parents continually criticised the the French authorities haphazard investigation into the death over the last three decades. In 2015 Pauline Murrell said that there had been 'Absolute cock-ups from beginning to end.'

Referring to the comic detective played by Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther films, she added: 'This is Clouseau-esque. I've said it in France. They knew what I meant.'

The desperate parents, who split up shortly after Jo's death, kept up pressure for a last push from the police to find their daughter's killer.

Their son Barney Parrish, who was 17 when Joanna was murdered, has launched a social media campaign to garner support for their efforts to get justice for Jo.

Fourniret is already serving life in prison, without the possibility of parole, and his latest confessions mean he is unlikely ever to be let out.Drama unfolded at a Perth marina on Saturday when an elderly man was found unconscious in the water.

The 62-year-old was fishing at Ocean Reef near Joondalup, north of Perth, when he was recovered from the water by a Royal Lifesaving jetski at 8am.

A frantic resuscitation effort was not enough to save the Korean man, who later died in hospital.

The man was fishing for abalone on rocks with family members and is suspected to have drowned.

The scene at Ocean Reef where paramedics attempted to resuscitate a man in his 60's

Seven West Media reported a witness saw a 'desperate resuscitation' by paramedics lasted '30 to 40 minutes'.

The family of the man turned up and were 'visibly upset', the witness told the publication.

One man commented on social media he was diving in the area Saturday morning and there were 'hundreds of people on the reef'.

The Western Australian Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

He was fishing at a beautiful Ocean Reef in Joondalup, north of Perth, and had companyThe bodies of hostages murdered by Jihadi John could soon be found after forensic teams made a visit to a mass grave near Raqqa in Syria.

The visit came after the interrogation two British jihadis who were part of the notorious Beatles terror cell US intelligence officers searching for the bodies of the Western hostages murdered by the Islamic State.

US officials have said that Alexanda Kotey, 34, and El Shafee Elsheikh, 29, who were captured by Kurdish forces, have given interrogators the best breakthrough in the hunt for the bodies, CNN reported.

The interrogations of s Alexanda Kotey (left), 34, and El Shafee Elsheikh (right), 29 have yielded information about the location of murdered British and US hostages

Jihadi John murdered British aid worker Alan Henning in 2014. The killer himself died in a US airstrike in Syria a year later

Alan Henning, a former RAF engineer, was also killed by Jihadi John in Syria

Aine Davis, the fourth member of the 'Beatles', is in prison in Turkey after being convicted of being a member of a terrorist organi

Along with Mohammed Emwazi - the killer nicknamed Jihadi John - and Aine Davis, the pair are thought to have been part of a group named 'The Beatles' because of their English accents.

They have given details about the burial locations of David Haines, 44, and Alan Henning, 47 as well as murdered American hostages James Foley, 40, Steven Sotlof, 31, and Peter Kassig, 31.

The sites exact location is not being disclosed because of security concerns ISIS could target the area which is currently under Syrian Democratic Forces control.

Identifying the exact location and remains of individuals maybe hard because the site contains multiple areas where a large number of ISIS victims were buried, CNN reported.

Amber Rudd vows to keep out 'Beatles' jihadis Amber Rudd yesterday signalled her determination to ensure that the last two members of the notorious British terror cell dubbed The Beatles are not tried in Britain. Pledging to put security first, the Home Secretary insisted there were alternatives to bringing Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh back to the UK to face justice. The Islamic State jihadists are suspected of involvement in the torture and beheading of more than 27 hostages in Syria. They were henchmen of Mohammed Emwazi  Jihadi John  who was filmed executing hostages including British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning. Kotey, 34, and Elsheikh, 29, have been stripped of UK citizenship to stop them re-entering Britain. They are being held in Syria by US-backed Kurdish forces while debate rages about where to try them. Advertisement

The jihadi group also took steps to try to disguise the location months ago.

Pentagon officials have said a team of forensic and law enforcement experts will be deployed to a site near Raqqa, ISs former de facto capital,

A US official, who did not want to be named, recently revealed: The two suspects have revealed clues about where the hostages are buried. But that may not be enough.

The US wants to take the men back to the burial site areas so that they pinpoint the graves.

Emwazi himself was killed in a US airstrike in Syria in 2015 while Kotey and Elsheikh, both from West London, were captured by the Western-backed Syrian Defence Force last month as they were fleeing Syria to Turkey disguised as refugees.

The SDF did not know the two Britons were part of the same cell led by Jihadi John, who was killed in a 2015 drone strike.

But after interrogations by US officials, it was discovered that they were the last two members of the Beatles gang, named thus because of their British accents.

The fourth member, Aine Davis, was convicted of being a member of a terrorist organisation and jailed for seven-and-a-half years at a court in Silivri, Turkey, in May 2017.This is the heart-warming moment a baby elephant is rescued after plunging into a three-metre deep well.

The one-year-old calf had stumbled into the pit after wandering into a rubber plantation with a herd of elephants in the early hours of Friday morning.

While rescuers arrived to free the little male elephant, his mother suffered injuries after stumbling into an electric fence.

But after three hours of opening up the well with a digger, the calf scrambled free and rejoined his mother who had recovered from the stun.

The pair scampered back off into the forest to rejoin other elephants just before sunrise yesterday in Chanthaburi province, eastern Thailand.

Siriman Sripen, 29, who lives 200 metres from where the elephant fell, said: 'There are a lot of wild elephants in the area so we're used to this. But I was woken up because I heard the mother elephant was showing distress.

'She was moody and unsettled because the young baby had fallen into the hole. That's when I called the wildlife staff for help.'

A team of around 15 rescue workers, wildlife park rangers and conservationists, arrived and brought with them the backhoe digger to help free the baby elephant.

The one-year-old calf had stumbled into the pit after wandering into a rubber plantation with a herd of elephants in the early hours of Friday morning

After three hours of opening up the well with a digger, the calf scrambled free and rejoined his mother who had recovered from the stun

While rescuers arrived to free the little male elephant, his mother suffered injuries after stumbling into an electric fence

The baby elephant and its mother scampered back off into the forest to rejoin other elephants just before sunrise yesterday in Chanthaburi province, eastern Thailand

Locals said they were woken up by the elephants when the mother was showing signs of distress

A team of around 15 rescue workers, wildlife park rangers and conservationists, arrived and brought with them the backhoe digger to help free the baby elephant

They smashed open the side of the well to create a muddy slope which the calf was able to clamber up.

Boonnak Pimmuang, head of elephant care in the Kaeng Hang Maeo district forest, said: 'We received reports at 3am about the baby elephant trapped in the hole.

'Staff from the park and volunteers arrived to find the elephant in the well, about three metres deep and one metre wide with very little water at the bottom.

'The staff co-ordianted the use of the backhoe to free the calf as quickly as possible. The rescue was successful and the baby rejoined its mother.'

Rescuers smashed open the side of the well to create a muddy slope which the calf was able to clamber up

Siriman Sripen, 29, who lives 200 metres from where the elephant fell, said: 'There are a lot of wild elephants in the area so we're used to this'Brandon Phan has been hailed a hero after pulling an injured truck driver to safety just 30 seconds before his semi trailer burst into flames.

The 23-year-old was driving home from the Melbourne's Crown Casino about 2am Saturday morning when rescue mode kicked in on the West Gate Freeway.

After watching the truck slam into a roadside barrier and skid for 150 metres, Mr Phan set his own safety aside and leaped into action to save the trapped driver.

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Brandon Phan (pictured) was driving home from the Melbourne's Crown Casino about 2am Saturday morning when rescue mode kicked in on the West Gate Freeway

Truck driver Raj Singh (pictured) said he felt very lucky that Brandon Phan stopped to help

'First thing I thought he wasn't getting (him) out of the truck and I thought there would be a massive fire because I saw fuel coming out,' he said.

'You could smell the petrol. It was pretty much like when you are at a petrol station filling up your car - it was coming out like that, just a constant flow coming out.'

The electrician hurled injured 44-year-old, Raj Singh, onto his shoulders and walked him to safety - the truck exploding into flames just moments later.

'I moved him away from the truck as much as I could in case it blew up and it did blow up. I guess it was a good thing that I moved him away,' he said.

After watching the truck slam into a roadside barrier and skid for 150 metres, Mr Phan set his own safety aside and leaped into action to save the trapped driver

The truck, carrying an empty shipping container, ruptured its fuel tank on impact and left petrol gushing onto the road.

'I was speechless. If I was there any earlier or later it could have been a lot more life threatening.'

Mr Phan said the reality of how close he came to certain death only set in once he began making calls to emergency services.

As he waited for help to arrive, the rescuer focused on keeping the driver, who received non-life threatening injuries, conscious by asking him questions.

The truck, carrying an empty shipping container, ruptured its fuel tank on impact and left petrol gushing onto the road

The truckie told Seven News 'I'm lucky that today I'm here. 'If no one helped me (there would be) no chance.'

Police revealed they would recognise Mr Phan's efforts by nominating him for an Australian Bravery Award.

'I would describe the passerby as heroic and he will be nominated for a bravery award,' Senior Sergeant John Mason said.

The crash was still under investigation but early indications were that speed and fatigue could have been factors.

Police revealed they would recognise Mr Phan's efforts by nominating him for an Australian Bravery Award

The truck driver, from Noble Park was taken to the Alfred Hospital with back and shoulder injuries.

Mr Phan's girlfriend, Felicity Wu, was there as the whole incident unfolded and for a moment thought her boyfriend might have been caught in the explosion.

'My heart sunk a bit and I thought, ''are they far enough away from the truck to be safe?'',' the 23-year-old told The Age.

Ms Wu said her boyfriend's heroic actions made her exceptionally proud.

'I can't believe how selfless he is. He didn't even realise that he had saved someone,' she said.The Southampton full-back was caught by a speed camera travelling 56mph in a 30mph zone in his 40,000 black Range Rover Evoque

Premier League ace Sam McQueen has had six points slapped on his driving licence after he was caught doing nearly double the speed limit on a 30mph road.

The Southampton full-back was caught by a speed camera travelling 56mph in a 30mph zone in his 40,000 black Range Rover Evoque.

McQueen, 23, was driving on the A336 between his home in Ringwood and Southampton's training ground in Marchwood, both Hampshire.

Aldershot Magistrates' Court, Hampshire, heard the Saints star was flashed by the camera on August 10 last year, two days before the start of the Premier League season.

McQueen, who joined Saints as an eight-year-old, came off the bench two days later as his side drew 0-0 with Swansea in their opening fixture.

The 23-year-old, who did not appear at court, admitted one count of speeding.

Magistrates handed him six penalty points, fined him 750 and ordered him to pay 85 costs as well as a 75 victim surcharge.

The Saints star, who has played six times this season, broke into the first team last season and made his first full debut against Inter Milan in the Europa League in October 2016.

He also has one international cap, having started at left-back in a 4-0 win for England under-21s against Denmark in March last year.

Struggling Southampton currently sit in the relegation zone having lost 11 matches, drawn 11 and won only five.Smiling with his wife and three young children, this is the policeman who had his foot amputated after a driver smashed into him at a random breath test site last night.

Jonathon and Lisa Wright's family photograph was shared on a GoFundMe page set up by friends to raise money for his recovery.

The page reads: 'Our dear friend Jono, a Senior Constable with the NSW police force, was struck by a car last night whilst at work. He was just a bloke going to work, supporting his family and protecting his community.

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Smiling with his wife and three young children, this is the first picture of the policeman who was mowed down at a random breath test site last night

Jonathon and Lisa Wright's family photograph was shared on a GoFundMe page set up by friends to raise money for his recovery. Pictured: The couple

The GoFundMe page says: 'He was just a bloke going to work, supporting his family and protecting his community'

Constable Wright was on duty at a random breath test site in west Sydney when a driver in a Fiat van allegedly smashed into him and colleague Matthew Foley on Friday night

'He and a colleague were both hit, with Jono sustaining life threatening injuries. Today he is stable in ICU, but facing the reality of life as an amputee.

'Lisa and Jono have a long and arduous road ahead of them. They've been inundated with messages of love and support, all of which I know are so greatly appreciated.

'There have also been dozens of requests for how people can help. We all feel helpless and just want to support this beautiful family.

'Probably the only thing that's actually within our power right now is to help ease their financial stresses so they can focus on what's important, Jono's recovery. If you can spare any amount, no matter how small, I know they'll be eternally grateful.'

As of 1am, the page had raised $29,480, beating the $10,000 goal.

This image shows the random breath test site where Constable Wright was mowed down

One of the constables is pictured being taken into hospital by ambulance after the crash

This is the van that allegedly smashed into the constables as they worked at the breath test site

This image shows Jakob Thornton, the 22-year-old man accused of mowing down the officers

Driver Jakob Thornton, 22, appeared in court on Saturday accused of ploughing into the policemen at 60km/h while looking at his phone

Constable Wright was on duty at a random breath test site in west Sydney when a Fiat van driver allegedly smashed into him and colleague Matthew Foley on Friday night.

He was rushed to hospital where his leg was amputated 15cm above his foot.

A police spokesman on Saturday night told Daily Mail Australia that Constable Wright 'is in stable condition but will be in hospital for some time.'

Constable Foley who suffered a 'serious fracture' remains in a stable condition.

Driver Jakob Thornton, 22, appeared in court today accused of ploughing into the policemen at 60km/h while looking at his phone.

He faced Parramatta Bail Court via video link, charged with dangerous driving offences, including dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and using a mobile phone when not permitted.

The court heard Mr Thornton lost his licence four times in four years, and was fined in 2016 for using his mobile while driving, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Mr Thornton then admitted to police officers he was looking at his phone for 10 to 20 seconds when he crashed into the two officers, the court heard.

'Ten to 20 seconds at 60 kilometres an hour, that is a few hundred metres, magistrate John Favretto said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Prosecutor senior sergeant Leesa McEvoy told the court police lights and safety measures were in place as the constables set up the road side breath testing site.

'The strength of the prosecution case is nothing short of solid,' senior sergeant McEvoy added.

Mr Thornton's application for bail was denied and he was ordered to face Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday.

Jakob Thornton (pictured) had his licence suspended four times as a P-plater, court heard

Mr Thornton's application for bail was denied and he was ordered to face Campbelltown Local Court on WednesdayA dramatic police chase in Sydney's North Shore ended in the arrest of two boys wanted over a spate of alleged armed robberies in Sydney.

Police fired rubber bullets and tasers during what police termed a 'vehicle stop' on St George Crescent Drummoyne.

An allegedly stolen red Prius driven by a 17-year-old with a 15-year-old passenger smashed into a pole as police put the frantic chase to an end.

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A dramatic car chase ended in a car hitting a police in the Sydney suburb of Drummoyne

Police used tasers and rubber bullets in the 'vehicle stop' in the busy Sydney suburb

Just 20 minutes earlier, the boys allegedly threatened the owner of a convenience store with a firearm and machete in an armed robbery at Lane Cove, on Sydney's North Shore.

Cash, cigarettes and more were allegedly stolen by the boys, according to police, who responded to reports of the robbery.

Strike force investigators located a firearm, three bladed-weapons including a machete and sword, and stolen items after searching the stolen car they stopped.

The boys 17, and 15 (pictured) have been charged and will both face court

One of the boys allegedly involved was treated by ambulance at the scene for injuries

The teenagers were treated at the scene by ambulance officers for 'minor injuries,' according to police, and taken to hospital for treatment.

Police also issued search warrants at the homes of the boys in Croydon and Five Dock, where they 'seized items' relevant to the investigation.

A parent of one of the boys told Nine News she was 'very disappointed' with the way 'it was handled'.

'He's got big bites on his back from dogs, he's got his face... it looks like it could be from the glass, and he's got a sore back but he's very traumatised,' she said.

A teenager (pictured) is taken the way from the scene to the hospital on a stretcher

Police issued search warrants on homes at Croydon and Five Dock and seized items

Strike Force Investigators have been investigating a series of armed robberies at service stations in January.

An attendant at a service station received a severed thumb after he was allegedly struck by a sword at Kings Langley in early January.

Two further robberies involving weapons in Toongabbie and North Ryde took place that month where firearms and bladed weapons were allegedly used.

Then in February, strike force investigators discovered a Toyota Prius had allegedly been stolen from an armed carjacking at Lane Cove on Friday 9 February.

The 17-year-old boy involved in the case Friday was charged with a series of offences following his release from hospital after the police chase.

The 15-year-old boy is under police guard at the hospital and is expected to have a bedside court hearing over a number of charges.

Police are continuing to investigate the armed robberies and expect to make further arrests.Alastair Gordon, 37, conned a woman he met through a dating site out of 12,000 and threatened she would be 'got rid of' by MI5

A former soldier who conned a woman he met through a dating site out of 12,000, then threatened she would be got rid of by MI5 if she reported him, has been hauled into court after only paying back 180 in two years.

Alastair Gordon, 37, has now been ordered to pay his victim back at 10 a fortnight - which will take 40 years.

The conman had been living with his wife and child at an army barracks when began an 'intimate relationship' with the woman after chatting her up on a dating site.

Gordon, who was a Royal Artillery gunner, claimed he was a retired army major who had served in Afghanistan and left due to an injury, but continued to work for the army as a fitness instructor.

He first persuaded his 38-year-old victim to hand over 6,000 by promising one of his family members would carry out cosmetic surgery on her stomach, but the surgery never happened.

And when he convinced her to sign up to a 6,000 credit agreement for a motorbike, he instead sold it and used the cash to pay off debts.

The woman did not suspect anything until Gordon went to Canada with the army and she received his 1,500 phone bill.

She called some of the numbers on the itemised bill and spoke to a number of Canadian women, who also believed they were in a relationship with Gordon.

His 'hurt' victim ended the love affair and demanded he return everything she had given him.

A court heard that he claimed he would pay her back but added that he was 'in the process of moving to work for MI5 and as part of that he was going to be getting a new identity and then she would be 'got rid of'.'

The woman, from Gosport, Hampshire, who does not want to be identified said this left her terrified.

Gordon, who earned 1,251 a month while in the army, admitted two charges of fraud in 2015 but denied the MI5 threat.

He was handed a two year jail term suspended for two years and 100 hours unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay 12,491 compensation at 500 monthly installments but a hearing this week was told he had only paid back 180.

Gordon, now of Havant, Hampshire, claimed the case had ruined his life and that after being sacked by the army he had also been let go by a number of gyms following his attempts to forge a career as a personal trainer.

He even said he may only have two or three years left to live as he may have a lung condition similar to that which killed celebrity Keith Chegwin.

Gordon had been living with his wife and child at an army barracks when began an 'intimate relationship' with the woman after chatting her up on a dating site

He said: 'A few months ago I started struggling to breathe and have a notch on my lung that could be a Keith Chegwin-style condition.

'I might only have two or three years left to live. This has not been confirmed by doctors but is something I'm aware of.'

A judge has now ordered Gordon pay his victim back at a rate of only 10 a fortnight.

The court heard the victim has now been contacted by a debt agency over the motorbike credit agreement.

After the case she said: 'It's a disappointing rate he has to pay the money back at - I think I'll be dead before I get it all back as that will work out as about 40 years.'

Following the initial case, she had said: 'It really hurt.

'I had a good financial record and now I have a bad one because of his actions and that's going to affect me for a long long time.

'I won't be able to obtain any credit. One of the most disgusting things is that he described himself as being an army major so I instantly trusted him.

'We are all brought up to respect our armed forces and trust them. The majority are doing a great job and then we get someone like that who uses the army to gain for himself.'A toddler is in a critical condition after nearly drowning in a back yard pool in Queensland Saturday afternoon.

The two-year-old was rushed to hospital following the incident in Nerang, on the Gold Coast, about 5.45pm, Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

The child is being treated for life threatening injuries at Gold Coast University Hospital.Embattled Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce continues to refuse to step aside amid the drama of his affair with his now-pregnant former staffer.

Despite holding crisis talks with Malcolm Turnbull in Sydney on Saturday, the Deputy Prime Minister continues to 'frustrate' the country's leader.

The Prime Minister said he was 'frustrated that Barnaby still doesn't get it,' a source told The Courier Mail.

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The controversial Deputy Prime Minister (pictured) continues to refuse to step aside amid the drama of the former pregnant staffer scandal

Despite talking with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (pictured) in an urgent meeting on Saturday, Barnaby Joyce continues to keep his position, 'frustrating' the country's leader

The heated words back and fourth between the politicians come a week after Mr Joyce's affair with his pregnant staffer Vicky Campion (pictured), 33, became public

Mr Joyce agreed to take personal leave this week which will mean he won't be the acting prime minister while Mr Turnbull is in America.

The heated words back and fourth between the politicians come a week after Mr Joyce's affair with his pregnant staffer Vicky Campion, 33, became public.

Ms Campion is due to have the 50-year-old's baby in April.

'The minister can be the most eligible bachelor or young woman in the country and be absolutely free in terms of who they can have relations with - but if they're a minister in my government they cannot have sexual relations with their staff,' Mr Turnbull said, according to the publication.

Members of the National Party have reportedly been plotting to oust Mr Joyce from leadership through secret conversations on messaging service WhatsApp, The Advertiser reported.

The party has been divided by members planning to rid their leader, while others have praised Mr Joyce.

Mr Joyce (pictured) agreed to take personal leave this week which will mean he won't be the acting prime minister while Mr Turnbull is in America

Members of the National Party have reportedly been plotting to oust Mr Joyce (pictured with Ms Campion) from leadership through secret conversations on WhatsApp

Mr Joyce's 24-year marriage ended with estranged wife Natalie late last year, which he announced in December at Parliament House in Canberra.

The couple had four daughters together.

Mr Turnbull said on Thursday the ministerial code of conduct had been rewritten and asked Mr Joyce to 'consider his position'.

'The real issue is the terrible hurt and humiliation that Barnaby, by his conduct, has visited on his wife, Natalie and their daughters and indeed, his new partner,' Mr Turnbull said in Canberra.

'Barnaby made a shocking error of judgement in having an affair with a young woman working in his office.

'He has set off a world of woe for those women and appalled all of us.'

The Prime Minister asked Mr Joyce on Thursday (pictured) to 'consider his position'

The controversial deputy's 24-year marriage ended with estranged wife Natalie (pictured together) late last year, which Mr Joyce announced in December

Mr Joyce responded in tit-for-tat style the following day.

'In regards to comments by the Prime Minister yesterday at his press conference, I have to say that in many instances they caused further harm,' Mr Joyce said.

'I believe they were in many instances inept. And most definitely in many instances unnecessary.

'All that is going to do is basically once more pull the scab off for everybody to have a look at.'

The Prime Minister cannot sack his deputy because it is up to the Nationals MPs to choose their leader under the coalition agreement.President Trump's National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said on Saturday that Russia's meddling in the election is now 'beyond dispute', conceding the results of Robert Mueller's probe and directly contradicting the US Russian foreign minister who labeled them 'just babble' moments earlier.

McMaster was speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday morning.

He said the evidence that there was interference 'is now incontrovertible' and he credited Mueller's investigation and the sensational, long-awaited indictment for bringing it to the surface.

'As you can see with the FBI indictment, the evidence is now really incontrovertible and available in the public domain.'

Laughing off the notion that the US could work with the Kremlin on the issue of cyber security in the future, he said:

'Im surprised there are any Russian cyber experts available based on how active most of them have been undermining our democracies in the West.

'We would love to have a cyber dialogue when Russia is sincere about curtailing its sophisticated form of espionage.'

Moments earlier on the same stage, foreign minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the indictment and its allegations.

Scroll down for video and the full indictment

National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said on Saturday that Russia's meddling in the 2016 US election was 'beyond dispute' after the FBI's indictment

Minutes earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the indictment was 'just babble' and claimed the facts had not yet been proven

'I have no response. You can publish anything, and we see those indictments multiplying, the statements multiplying,' he said. 'Until we see the facts, everything else is just blabber.'

He said there was an 'irrational myth' that Russia was threatening the West, and said: 'traces' of it 'are found everywhere from Brexit to the Catalan referendum.'

Both were responding to the 37-page indictment returned on Friday by a grand jury which charges 13 Russian individuals and three companies with a series of crimes relating to the interference.

Among those indicted are a businessman nicknamed Putin's 'chef', a woman who acted as a spy for the organization to come to the US in 2014 to gather intel and a computer whiz who used servers to hide 'troll factory's location'.

Mueller's office made the stunning announcement on Friday, saying that the defendants laid the groundwork for targeting U.S. elections in 2014  and that by mid-2016 they were actively 'supporting the presidential campaign of then-candidate Donald J. Trump ... and disparaging Hillary Clinton.'

They did not suggest that there had been any collusion between them and Trump's campaign and stated in the indictment that any member of his campaign that was contacted by the 'trolls' was 'unwitting'.

On Friday, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said: 'There is no allegation in this indictment that any American was a knowing participant in this illegal activity.'

He also said there was no proof that the interference successfully swayed voters.

Trump lamented it on Twitter, repeating what he and his supporters have been saying for months.

The president celebrated the indictment's timeline which said the interference began before he announced his candidacy. It said any of his campaign aides were 'unwitting'

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced the charges at a press conference on Friday (above)

'Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for President. The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong  no collusion!'

The White House issued a longer victory-lap statement afterwards.

Trump, it said, 'has been fully briefed on this matter and is glad to see the Special Counsel's investigation further indicates  that there was NO COLLUSION between the Trump campaign and Russia and that the outcome of the election was not changed or affected.'

Trump said in the statement that 'it is more important than ever before to come together as Americans. We cannot allow those seeking to sow confusion, discord, and rancor to be successful.'

'It's time we stop the outlandish partisan attacks, wild and false allegations, and far-fetched theories, which only serve to further the agendas of bad actors, like Russia, and do nothing to protect the principles of our institutions. We must unite as Americans to protect the integrity of our democracy and our elections.'

Insiders told CBS that the Trump briefing prior to the announcement was held in hopes of keeping Trump from over-reacting on Twitter and ensuring the president would not 'break any glass' over the new information.

Mueller's investigation is still ongoing.

The Special Counsel has not concluded the investigation into whether Trump or his associates colluded with Russia ahead of the 2016 election, an insider told Bloomberg.

Rosenstein said the Russian defendants engaged in 'what they called 'information warfare against the United States,' with the stated goal of spreading distrust toward the candidates and the political system in general.'

He said the indictments are a reminder that 'people are not always who they appear to be'.

Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin, 56, is colloquially known as Putin's chef because the Russian president favors his catering and takes foreign leaders to his restaurant when they are visiting. He owns the 'troll factory' which was the alleged vehicle of the interference

He was later brought on as the go-to caterer for official Kremlin events. Above, Prigozhin serves Putin in 2011

How the Russians meddled in the 2016 election A 37-page indictment released Feb. 16, 2018 by the U.S. Department of Justice accuses 13 Russians and 3 Russian companies of conspiring to compromise the most recent U.S. elections by running online campaigns disguised to look like home-grown activity. A federal grand jury charged that they: posed as both real and nonexistent Americans to operate social media pages and groups supporting Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders

worked to undermine support for Hillary Clinton and at leas two of Trump's Republican rivals

conducted 'information warfare' by stealing identities and buying ads on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter

created niche groups on Facebook to attract hundreds of thousands of Muslims, evangelical Christians, people associated with Black Lives Matter, and Americans from specific regions of the country

organized real-life political rallies to support Trump and oppose Clinton

created Twitter accounts with names meant to appear linked to the Republican Party (one had more than 100,000 followers)

used foreign bank accounts to route more than $1.25 million per month to the project from companies owned by a Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin

never reported the spending to the Federal Election Commission as campaign expenses

never registered as foreign agents with the Justice Department

bought space on computer servers based in America so all their Internet traffic would appear to be domestic Advertisement

The 'Internet Research Agency,' an infamous Russian Internet troll factory, is at the center of the allegations.

Rosenstein said the group set up a virtual private network in the United States to make it appear as though accounts it was running were controlled by people in the US.

Founder Evgeny Prigozhin, a Russian Oligarch and shadowy businessman known as 'Putin's chef,' is among the named defendants. Rosenstein said he funded it through two other companies.

Prigozhin, 56, is said to have used his businesses, Concord Catering and Concord Management and Consulting, to fund the Internet Research Agency, known as the 'Kremlin Troll factory' which was the vehicle for the alleged interference.

The 'chef' paid the salaries of the other 12 defendants who worked for the research company, it is alleged, through this financial backing which prosecutors started in 2014.

Also indicted is Mikhail Bystrov, a retired police colonel and the CEO frontman for the 'troll factory'.

Rosenstein said Moscow was not notified in advance that Prigozhin was being investigated, or that indictments were forthcoming  a suggestion that the Justice Department is delivering a slap to Putin from 4,800 miles away.

In this picture taken on Sunday, April 19, 2015, a women enters the four-story building known as the 'troll factory' in St. Petersburg, Russia, the home of the Internet Research Agency

'We've had no communication with the Russians about this. We'll follow the ordinary process of seeking cooperation and extradition,' he said.

Nebraska Republican Sen. Ben Sasse said after Rosenstein's press conference that Mueller had 'just put Moscow on notice.'

'This ought to be a wakeup call to Washington: Putin's shadow war is aimed at undermining Americans' trust in our institutions. We know Russia is coming back in 2018 and 2020  we have to take this threat seriously.'

The indictment says Prigozhin's organization 'sought, in part, to conduct what it called 'information warfare against the United States of America' through fictitious U.S. personas on social media platforms and other Internet-based media.'

'By in or around May 2014, the organization's strategy included interfering with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, with the stated goal of 'spread[ing] distrust towards the candidates and the political system in general',' according to the indictment.

The indictment includes a list of social media ads that the Russians paid for  all containing anti-Clinton and pro-Trump messages.

The defendants are accused of posting 'derogatory' information' about several candidates in the 2016 presidential election.

Trump said in a statement that 'it is more important than ever before to come together as Americans. We cannot allow those seeking to sow confusion, discord, and rancor to be successful'

By mid-2016, they made posts 'supporting the presidential campaign of then-candidate Donald J. Trump and disparaging Hillary Clinton', the indictment says.

By September of that year, the group had a monthly budget of $125,000 and used Social Security numbers of US citizens without their consent to set up PayPal accounts and buy ads on social media, the indictment says.

'Donald wants to defeat terrorism ... Hillary wants to sponsor it,' read one social media post.

'Hillary Clinton Doesn't Deserve the Black Vote,' blared another.

'Hillary is a Satan, and her crimes and lies had proved just how evil she is,' read a third.

The White House said on Friday afternoon that President Trump had been notified about the Mueller team's indictment.

The indictment claims some of the defendants posed as Americans  and communicated with 'unwitting' individuals associated with the Trump campaign.

It doesn't name those people.

The Russian trolls were dead-set against helping anyone other than Trump or Democratic primary hopeful Bernie Sanders, according to the indictment.

They also tried 'to denigrate other candidates such as Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio,'

People working for the Internet Research Agency were told to 'use any opportunity to criticize Hillary and the rest (except Sanders and Trump- we support them).'

Facebook groups and Twitter bots made up most of the online efforts. Managers at one point criticized the manager of one astroturf Facebook group called 'Secured Borders' for having a 'low number of posts dedicated to criticizing Hillary Clinton.'

'It is imperative to intensify criticizing Hillary Clinton,' the troll was warned.

The 13 Russian nationals charged with interfering in the election: Putin's 'chef', a female spy who came to the US in 2014 to gather intel and a computer whiz who used servers to hide 'troll factory's location' 1. Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin, 56, - The boss, also known as 'Putin's Chef' According to the indictment released on Friday by Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller's office, Prigozhin led the effort. The 56-year-old is said to have used his businesses, Concord Catering and Concord Management and Consulting, to fund the Internet Research Agency, known as the 'Kremlin Troll factory' which was the vehicle for the alleged interference. Prigozhin paid the salaries of the other 12 defendants who worked for the research company, it is alleged, through this financial backing which prosecutors started in 2014. The businessman is given the nickname 'Putin's Chef' because he owns restaurants favored by Putin as the venues for state dinners. A 2016 profile of him by the Russian newsite Meduza described him as an ex-con who graduated from a boarding school only to join a gang and become convicted of attempted robbery and prostitution. He spent nine years in jail. He gained access to St. Petersburg's elite in 1996 when he and a friend opened Staraya Tamozhnya, one of the city's finest restaurants. Until then, he had worked with his father more modesty in grocery stores and selling hot dogs. He opened his New Island, his second restaurant, in 1997. Putin was first drawn to it in 2001 when he took the then French president Jacques Chirac there for a meal and Prigozhin served them. He continued to cater to Putin's staff at the restaurant over the years and grew closer to them. Soon, he became the go-to caterer for official state events in Moscow. In 2010, he launched what was billed as a good-cause initiative to feed hungry schoolchildren in St Petersburg. Putin attended the launch of food factory to celebrate it and the initiative was funded generously by state-owned bank Vnesheconombank. A year into the project, parents became angry when they realized the food being produced was full of additives. He then started feeding other school children in Moscow with more success, having obtained private contracts from the city's mayor. Prigozhin won similarly lucrative contracts with the military. In 2012, he signed a $1.2billion contract which had him provide 90 percent of the meals the Russian army's soldiers consumed. The system of outsourcing the military's meals ended in 2013. It gave him his biggest paycheck and associates said at the time he was known to pay for private jets with cash. Throughout, Prigozhin was a dedicated patriot and was proud of his association to Putin's government. This lucrative relationship with the state carried on until 2013 when the laws changed and outside caterers were no longer brought in to provide the military with meals. By then, Prigozhin had earned more than $1billion from the state through the deal. The 'troll factory' (Internet Research Agency) was founded that same year. Though Mikhail Bystrov was named as its owner and CEO, Russian journalists learned of Prigozhin's connection to it early on. What specifically prompted him to do it or if anyone put him up to it remains unclear. In its genesis, the factory's employees had one job - to post complimentary post on social media about Putin and the government and besmirch the names of their opponents. When Prigozhin's association to the Internet Research Agency was revealed, he faced increased scrutiny from critics. An article in 2015 highlighted how the factory worked and the conflict Prigozhin's relationship to Putin posed. With the bad press about him growing, Prigozhin attempted in 2016 to have himself 'erased' from the internet. It coincided with the introduction of a new bill which gave an individual the right to be forgotten. The law was pushed by Putin and states that websites must delete content such as news stories about an individual if it breaks the law, is false or is 'obsolete'. To date, Prigozhin has filed 15 lawsuits against the Russian search engine Yandex which is uncensored. 2. Mikhail Bystrov, retired police colonel and the CEO frontman for the 'troll factory' Bystrov was listed as the CEO of Internet Research Agency and his name has been linked to other companies which have been tied to the election interference. Little is known of him other than that was an employee of the state who was born in 1958. He, unlike Prigozhin, has not been pictured publicly with Putin and has kept himself out of the spotlight. According to Mueller's investigation, he joined IRC in 2014 as its highest ranking employee. 'Bystrov was the general director. He subsequently served as the head of various other entities used by the organization to mask its activities, for example, Glavset LLC, where he was listed as that entity's general director,' it reads. 3. Mikhail Leonidovich Burchik, aka Mikhail Abramov, the second in command Burchik was Bystrov's right-hand man at the organization, according to Mueller's complaint. He used the name Mikhail Abramov too and was instrumental in orchestrating Project Lakhta, the generously funded project which officials say was the start of the interference. At conception, it had a budget of the equivalent of $1.25million. Lakhta involved both US and Russian-targeted interference, it claimed. He was in charge of meetings, structure and personnel, according to Mueller's indictment, had one-on-ones with Prigozhin. 4. Sergey Pavlovich Polozov, IT whiz who used US servers to hide 'troll factory's' real location in Russia Polozov was in charge of the IT department and his biggest responsibility was hiding the location of the Internet Research's Agency HQ, now known to be 55 Savushkina Street in the Olgina neighborhood of St Petersburg. Prosecutors allege that the posts its employees wrote were designed to look like they had been written by Americans who favored Trump. This was possible, Mueller says, through the 'procurement of US servers' which at first glance made them look like they came from America if they were ever probed. Mueller's indictment alleges: 'Polozov served as the manager of the IT department and oversaw the procurement of US servers and other company infrastructure that masked the organization's Russian location when conducting operations within the United States. 'To hide their Russian identities, [they], particular Polozov, purchased space on computer servers located inside the US in order to set up virtual private networks (VPNs). They connected from Russia to the US-based infrastructure by way of these VPNs and conducted activity in the US, including accessing online social media accounts, opening new accounts, and communicating with real US persons - while masking the Russian origin and control of the activity,' it reads. 5. Aleksandra Yurevna Krylova, female spy who 'came to US in 2013 to gather information and report it back' Mueller's complaint gives little detail of the background lives of the lesser known employees and there is scarce information about them available. It is suggested though that Krylova, one of four women named, was the company's spy. 'In 2014, Krylova traveled to the United States under false pretenses for the purpose of collecting intelligence to inform the organization's operations,' the indictment reads. 6. Anna Vladislavovna Bogacheva, data analyst for alleged US interference dubbed 'the translator project' Bogacheva was tied to what the employees referred to as 'the translator project'. It was part of the larger Project Lakhta but focused only on US audiences, it is claimed. She too is alleged to have traveled to the US under false pretenses to gather information. Bogacheva only worked for the company for three months between April and July 2015 but she is listed as one of the defendants. 7. Maria Anatolyevna Bovda, project manager Bovda is described in the indictment as the 'head' of the translator project, the designated branch of the wider pro-Putin effort which focused on US audiences. She worked there between November 2013 and October 2014, according to the complaint. 8. Robert Sergeyevish Bovda, second in charge of project It is not clear from the indictment whether he and Maria Bovda are related, but he acted beneath her as the second in charge of the 'translator' project and worked at the company over the same dates. He too is accused of trying to enter the US under false pretenses to collect information but he did not obtain a visa and could not make the trip. 9. Dzheykhun Nasimi Ogly, took over before the election Ogly, who also used the names Jayhoon Aslanov and Ajay Aslanov took over when Maria Bovda left the project in late 2014 and he was at its helm during the election, it is claimed. He was also listed as a director for another company which has been tied to interference and is owned by Prigozhin. 10. Vadim Vladimirovich Podkopaev, data analyst Podkopaev joined in June 2014 and drafted social media content to be blasted by the 'trolls'. He also worked as a data analyst, targeting US audiences, according to the complaint. 11. Gleb Igorevich Vasilchenko, pre-election 'troll' Vasilchenko is accused of posting under numerous social media accounts which the factory operated from 2014 until September 2016, two months before the election. He went on to work for 'sub groups' which were also owned by Prigozhin and which also worked to interfere with the election, it is claimed. As per the complaint, he 'was responsible for posting, monitoring and updating the social media content of many organization-controlled accounts while posing as US persons or US grassroots organizations. 12. Irina Viktorovna Kaverzina, 'posed as multiple US voters online' The fourth woman charged, she is alleged to have used multiple social media accounts to pose as an American and make influential posts about politics and Donald Trump. She joined in October 2014. When US officials launched their investigation in 2017, Kaverzine allegedly let slip to a family member that they had been 'busted' and told how she had to spend time 'covering her tracks'. 'We had a slight crisis here at work: the FBI busted our activity (not a joke). So I got preoccupied with covering tracks together with colleagues. I created all these pictures and posts and the Americans believed it was written by their people,' she wrote. 13. Vladimir Venkov, pre-election troll Venkov, one of three designated trolls, allegedly shared the responsibilities of Kaverzina and Vasilchenko to post content online while posing as an American. Advertisement

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova scoffed at the indictment on Friday night.

'Thirteen people intervened in the elections in the US?' she wrote on Facebook. 'Thirteen against the billion-dollar budgets of the intelligence services? Against intelligence and counterintelligence, against the latest developments and technologies?'

'Absurd? Yes,' Zakharova added, 'but this is a modern American political reality.'

Mueller's indictment lists election-related Twitter hashtags that the defendants used, including #Trump2016, #TrumpTrain, #MAGA, #IWontProtectHillary and #Hillary4Prison.

One fake Facebook account called 'Trumpsters United' was launched to whip Trump supporters into a frenzy.

Charges in Friday's indictment include conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

Rosenstein said Friday that some of the social media campaigns 'recruited and paid real Americans'  who didn't know they were communicating with Russians  to stage campaign rallies and engage in other political activities.

Once Trump had defeated Clinton, he said, the defendants 'staged rallies to support the president-elect while simultaneously staging rallies to protest his election.'

He cited two competing events, 'both in New York, on the same day.'

In a related case, Mueller's office said Friday that a California man had pleaded guilty to helping others use stolen identities to skirt the security features of online banking websites.

Richard Pinedo committed identity fraud by selling bank account numbers corresponding to accounts he set up or secured online.

Many of those accounts were created using stolen identities.

By the time Election Day drew near, the Russians were casting Clinton as a friend to Sharia Law-abiding Muslims

This fake Facebook ad promoted a very real rally that Pennsylvanians actually circulated and RSVPed forA dramatic blaze which tore through a building site in London's West End, prompting fears of an explosion, has been brought under control by firefighters.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) said 72 firefighters and officers were sent to Great Portland Street, near Oxford Street and BBC headquarters, following reports of a fire at 12.45pm.

Firefighters fearing a potential explosion set up an emergency exclusion zone after learning gas cylinders are involved in the blaze, LFB said, but no-one was injured.

A column of acrid black smoke could be seen rising from the fire in pictures posted on social media, apparently visible from miles away against the blue afternoon skyline.

A vast blaze has broken out at a building site in the heart of central London with 50 firefighters on the scene

A column of acrid black smoke could be seen rising from the fire in pictures posted on social media, apparently visible from miles away against the blue afternoon skyline

The building had been under refurbishment, the LFB said, with neighbours reporting that it was being converted into flats by developers.

The fire service wrote on Twitter: 'The Great Portland Street fire is in a building under refurbishment.

'There are a number of gas cylinders involved in the blaze.

'A exclusion zone of 25 metres has been set up, as a precaution, as some cylinders can explode when exposed to heat.'

Police were on the scene and told the public to avoid the area if possible, with ten fire engines dispatched to battle the flames.

Firefighters fearing a potential explosion have set up an emergency exclusion zone after learning gas cylinders are involved in the blaze, LFB said

Footage of the scene showed thick smoke and flames leaping up a scaffold structure surrounding the site.

No-one was injured in the fire, Scotland Yard confirmed.

A spokesman for the LFB said the fire was officially declared under control at 1.45pm.

The road is close to Oxford Street - the capital's busiest shopping hub - and the BBC's headquarters.

The building site used to be the home of Bus Stop clothing. David Edward Hughes, inventor of the microphone, lived and worked there.The son of John Ibrahim's bodyguard Semi 'Tongan Sam' Ngata has been shot three months after his father took a bullet to the back outside the Ibrahim family home.

Nemilote Ngata is recovering in hospital after having a number of shot gun pellets removed from his body after the shooting a week ago at Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales north coast.

The 30-year-old was shot in the hand and shoulder outside a property that had been raided by police days earlier, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The son of John Ibrahim's (front right) iconic bodyguard (back left) was shot three months after his father

Semi 'Tongan Sam' Ngata's (right pictured with Mr Ibrahim left) son, Nemilote Ngata, is recovering in hospital after having a number of shot gun pellets removed from his body

The bodyguard's son was reportedly a member of the Nomads bikie group in 2015.

The former bikie was on bail and pending an appeal for affray, assault and traffic charges at the time of the shooting.

The incident comes three months after Ibrahim's bodyguard was shot in the back at the Kings Cross identity's mother's house in Merrylands, west of Sydney.

Tongan Sam, 59, was said to be protecting the bride Aisha Mehajer, sister of disgraced former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer at the time.

The 30-year-old was shot in the hand and shoulder out the front of a house that had been raided by police days earlier. Tongan Sam (left) took a bullet during preparations for Salim Mehajer's (right) wedding

The incident comes three months after the Kings Cross identity's bodyguard (right) was shot in the back at Mr Ibrahim's mother's house in Merrylands, west of Sydney

Tongan Sam, 59, was said to be protecting the bride Aisha Mehajer, (left) sister of disgraced former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer at the time

The 59-year-old (right) spent 11 days in hospital but reportedly refused to talk to police

The scene where Tongan Sam was shot three months ago in Sydney's outer west

The 59-year-old spent 11 days in hospital but reportedly refused to talk to police.

Ngata has worked as a bodyguard for the nightclub boss for more than a decade after they met in Kings Cross in the 1990s.

Authorities have said the shooting of Ngata is a case that may never be solved.Assassinated ex-bikie boss Mick Hawi knew he had a target on his back and trusted no-one, according to an underworld figure.

The former Comanchero kingpin was gunned down as he sat alone in his Mercedes SUV after a workout at Fitness First in Rockdale, Sydney on Thursday.

Days earlier he had allegedly arranged to meet a so-called peacemaker because he knew a rival had put a bounty on his head - but the meeting never happened.

Assassinated ex-bikie boss Mick Hawi knew he had a target on his back and trusted no-one, according to an underworld figure. He is pictured with his wife Carolina Gonzaelz, who he started dating in High School

The former Comanchero kingpin (pictured) was gunned down as he sat alone in his Mercedes SUV after a workout at Fitness First in Rockdale, Sydney on Thursday

One theory is that Hawi had 'bad blood' with his successor Mark Buddle (pictured), who is thought be in the Middle East

'Hawi was literally alone in the end; he trusted no one,' the underworld figure told the Sunday Telegraph.

Police are probing six theories as to why 37-year-old Hawi was killed, the newspaper reports.

One is that he had fallen out with a senior Comanchero in Perth. He apparently frequently flew there from Sydney in recent months even though he had not been in the gang since 2015.

Another is that he had 'bad blood' with his successor Mark Buddle, who is thought be in the Middle East.

A police source told the Sunday Telegraph there a lot of suspects: 'The man had more enemies than I've had hot dinners.'

Police are investigating why a bikie boss assassinated in broad daylight was not accompanied by his bodyguards when he was killed. Pictured: Mahmoud 'Mick' Hawi

Hawi, 37, was shot by a masked gunman as he got into his luxury Mercedes SUV (pictured) at Fitness First in Rockdale, Sydney after midday on Thursday

Strangely, Hawi was without his bodyguards when he was killed. Gym goers said the former gangster usually had three men with him but there was no-one standing by his body after his death.

'It's a little bit weird, now it's all starting to make sense, like, he used to be with two or three guys but yesterday he was by himself,' Ali Gulzary told the Daily Telegraph.

The lapse seemed unlike Hawi, who travelled in bulletproof vehicles after surviving assassination when a bullet lodged in his car's headrest outside an Italian restaurant in 2007.

Retired NSW detective chief superintendent Brian Harding said Hawi's refusal to change his routine - despite reports of a bounty being placed on his head - made him an easy target.

'It would seem as if the murder yesterday of Hawi would be in part due to his own arrogance,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

'It would seem as if he had a routine, and a well-known routine at that, which the shooters knew so they just turned up and took him down according to that regular routine.'

Harding said he believes at least three people were involved in the murder of the former Comanchero president, which bears all the hallmarks of a paid hit.

Harding said he believes at least three people were involved in the murder, which bears all the hallmarks of a paid hit. Pictured: The car ridden with bullets

A balaclava-wearing assailant fired multiple bullets at the father-of-two at about 12.10pm Pictured: Alleged suspects fleeing the scene

He questioned whether all three would remain loyal if arrested and questioned over the matter.

'I know from experience that circumstances change and one of the murder team might strike a hurdle and want to cut some sort of a deal to avoid a lengthy jail sentence and will inform on his co-offenders,' he said.

Police are still none the wiser as to why Hawi was killed. Theories include that he was caught up in in-fighting after refusing to re-join the Comanchero gang or that he was targeted by a rival group.

'It could be as easy as him saying something to the wrong person,' a senior police source told the Sydney Morning Herald.

The paper also reported that the gym where Hawi was killed has been affected by gang-related violence before, with a mass fight between Comancheros and a rival gang erupting there in 2008.

Staff were allegedly even told by police not to sack a Comanchero fitness trainer in case of repercussions. The AFP declined to comment.

A masked gunman opened fire on the former Comancheros president, 37, at Fitness First in Rockdale about 12.10pm.

Hawi died hours after being taken to hospital in a critical condition where he was reportedly 'brain dead'.

He was found guilty in 2011 of murdering 29-year-old Anthony Zervas inside Sydney Airport - bashing him with a bollard during a brawl between the rival clubs.

He served time in prison for his role in the killing but his murder conviction was changed to manslaughter in 2014.

Hawi was found guilty in 2011 of murdering 29-year-old Anthony Zervas (pictured) inside Sydney Airport - bashing him with a bollard during a brawl between the rival clubs

Witnesses said Hawi yelled: 'You're dead. You're f***ing dead. Next time we see you, you're going to have bullet holes through you' (airport crime scene pictured)

The melee was described in court as an 'explosion of violence' - featuring a flurry of punches and stabbings, ending in Zervas being knifed in the chest and bludgeoned to death with a 17kg steel bollard.

'You're a dead man, you're f***ing dead,' witnesses recalled underworld figure Hawi screaming at the rival group.

'Next time we see you, you're going to have bullet holes through you. You are a dead man walking'.

Shocked passengers watched as the deadly 'all in brawl' unfolded in front of them. The incident, which sparked international headlines, led to a nationwide crackdown on bikie activities.

Former Bikie boss Mahmoud Hawi (L) arriving with his lawyer at the Supreme Court in Sydney, November 28, 2014

The two gang members had a history dating back to when they were at school with each other, but it did not stop the fight on March 22, 2009 (pictured)

A shot of Sydney Airport following the violent fracas in the terminal in 2009

Hawi was running a car detailing company when he was taken into custody. He had been president of the Comancheros since 2002 but was replaced after going into police custody.

Daily Mail Australia understands he was freed in early 2016. He has two sons aged in their primary school years.

Hawi had kept a low profile since his release - that was until he opened the door of his luxury Mercedes SUV Thursday and was critically injured by a hail of bullets.Henry Bolton today threatened to sue Ukip after being ousted as leader - as his ex girlfriend Jo Marney hinted they are back together.

The former Army officer, 54, was toppled from the top job when party members decided to support a no confidence vote against him at a crunch meeting today.

His political career ended in scandal after his ex Ms Marney, a former glamour model 30 years his junior, was exposed for sending racist texts about Meghan Markle.

Speaking after today's vote, Mr Bolton revealed he is considering launching legal action against against Ukip's NEC over the way he has been treated.

Meanwhile, Ms Marney - a former glamour model - sent a series of tweets declaring her love for the father-of-three and hinting that they will pick their relationship back up.

She wrote on Twitter: 'I love the bloke and that's that. UKIP leader or dustman.

'I may be many things but shallow isn't one of them. We've stood by each other throughout this and I will continue to do so.'

Henry Bolton (pictured today after losing vote) was today ousted as Ukip leader after his ex girlfriend was exposed for sending racist texts about Meghan Markle

The former Army officer (pictured), 54, was toppled from the top job when party members decided to support a no confidence vote against him at a crunch meeting today

Jo Marney declared her love for the ousted Ukip leader in a series of tweets sent after the result

Jo Marney tweeted shorty after the vote was announced to hint that she would resume her relationship with Henry Bolton now he is no longer Ukip leader

The beleaguered Ukip chief has faced growing calls to quit after his ex girlfriend Jo Marney (who he is pictured with) was exposed for sending racist messages about Meghan Markle

In another message she wrote: 'Pffft. Bunch of muppets. My love for Henry is unconditional of political leaderships. I ain't going anywhere.'

How long did Henry Bolton last as leader and what happened to spark his removal? September 2017: Henry Bolton is elected leader of Ukip in a shock election result. Few people had heard of him outside the party, but Nigel Farage had given the former Army officer his considerable backing. Christmas 2017: He leaves his wife Tatiana Smurova and their two young children to start a relationship with former glamour model Jo Marney. The affair sees him hit the headlines and plunge the crisis-prone party into fresh turmoil. January 2018: Racists texts sent by Ms Marney about Prince Harry's fiance Meghan Markle emerge in the press. In them she said the US actress would 'taint' the Royal Family by joining it. Late January 2018: The Ukip NEC call a meeting at which Mr Bolton's leadership is put to a confidence vote. Every member of the NEC apart from Mr Bolton votes against him - but he vows to carry on as leader. February 2018: Ukip members vote to oust Mr Bolton as leader at an extraordinary general meeting in Birmingham. But Mr Bolton comes out fighting - threatening to launch legal action against the party for how he has been treated. Advertisement

Mr Bolton revealed he had received text messages from both Ms Marney and his estranged wife Tatiana Smurova with words of support for him.

And he vowed to now focus on dealing with his complicated private life, telling reporters: 'I've said all along that once we get the EGM out of the way then I would spend time sorting out my private life.'

He revealed that both Ms Marney and his wife had sent him words of encouragement over text this morning.

He said: 'This morning Jo texted me to wish me good luck, and so did my wife.'

Today members voted at a meeting in Birmingham to back the NEC and boot him out as leader  meaning the party is facing electing its fifth leader in less than two years.

Ukip frontbencher Gerard Batten will fill in as interim leader - and immediately took to the stage to say he thought the right decision had been made.

And asked what his message was to Mr Bolton - who is threatening legal action against Ukip over his treatment, he said it was: 'Get on with the rest of your life.'

But Mr Bolton predicted the party will struggle to survive without him, saying: 'I think it is going to be very difficult to unite the party.'

And he said he is looking at launching legal action against Ukip's NEC over how he has been treated by party collegues.

Some 1,378 Ukip members were given ballots to vote, and 63 per cent voted to ditch Mr Bolton as leader.

He said: 'There are many legal issues that have arisen throughout this process over the last few weeks. I will continue to take legal advice and if it's appropriate may take legal action.'

Interim leader Mr Batten, who did not rule out standing for the leadership on a permanent basis, said he is upbeat about the party's future.

He said: 'I feel optimistic that Ukip can and will grow stronger and more successful because ordinary patriotic people want, need and deserve a party that represents their interests.

Who is Ukip interim leader Gerard Batten and what has he said about Islam? Gerard Batten is a founder member of Ukip who has held nearly ever senior position in the party apart from the leadership. But he is a controversial politician who described Islam as a 'death cult' in the aftermath of the Westminster terror attack. The Ukip MEP has also called for all Muslims to have to sign a declaration a declaration against violence. In a blog post he called for Muslims to reject parts of the Koran which he claims promote 'violent physical jihad'. And he commissioned Sam Solomon, a former Muslim lawyer versed in Sharia law who has since converted to Christianity, to pen the charter. And today he doubled down on the controversial demand. He said: 'I have never made comments about Muslims, I have always talked about ideology and the literalist interpretation of that ideology. 'That is a big problem that is facing not just the UK but Europe ad the Western world.' He has reportedly called gay marriage 'a nightmare' and said migrants with 'highly dangerous' HIV should not be allowed into Britain. Advertisement

'Ukip came into being because it filled a political vacuum. That vacuum still exists. I want Ukip to be a 'populist' party - popular because its policies are what people actually want.'

That would include campaigning for an 'end to the age of mass uncontrolled immigration'.

Mr Batten, who once described Islam as a 'death cult', said: 'I have never made comments about Muslims, I have always talked about ideology and the literalist interpretation of that ideology.

'That is a big problem that is facing not just the UK but Europe and the Western world.'

Speculation is mounting that Mr Bolton's exit could pave the way for the return of Mr Farage.

Ukip now has 90 days to hold a new leadership election to decide who will take over at the helm.

Leadership candidates are expected to throw their hat in the ring over the next few weeks.

Mr Bolton's removal came after he used his speech to the party faithful to tear into his critics who he branded the 'enemy within' and threaten to sue the party.

Media were banned from hearing his speech, but in extracts leaked to Mail Online he told an audience in Birmingham: 'They are the enemy within....These people have used innocent people - harming and disrupting their lives - and deliberately feeding the media frenzy.

'Even though they dress up their motives in a Brexit banner, the only true loyalty these people have is to themselves.'

Ukip members who were in the hall for the speech said Mr Bolton threatened to sue the party's NEC, with one telling Mail Online: 'He lost any fence sitters with that.'

Another said that when Mr Bolton made the threat his words were nearly drowned out with boos from the membership.

Ms Marney, a former glamour model 30 years his junior, was exposed for sending racist texts about Meghan Markle

Henry Bolton (pictured today) was today ousted as Ukip leader at a crunch meeting of the party membership in Birmingham

Henry Bolton (pictured today) took to the stage to launch a blistering attack on party insiders who have tried to oust him from the top job as he made his pitch to stay - but he failed to convince the members

Mr Bolton told the audience that his critics in the party were 'divisive and despicable' adding: 'They have been spearheading an effort to bring about a vote of no confidence, they have used misinformation and subterfuge to do so.

'They have attacked my career record - my military and police careers are a matter of public record.'

Just under 1,500 Ukip members descended on Birmingham to hear Mr Bolton make his final pitch to try to cling on as leader.

Arriving at the conference centre in Birmingham today, Mr Bolton had struck a defiant tone and told a media scrum that he is optimistic that members will back him.

Mr Bolton had won the backing of Nigel Farage who has warned another leadership contest would send Ukip down the road of 'self destruction and irrelevance'.

Up to 2,000 Ukip members (pictured) have descended on Birmingham for the extraordinary general meeting to decide Mr Bolton's future in the party

And it is unclear if Mr Farage will now sever ties with the party altogether now his ally has been ousted.

Meanwhile, party insiders have warned that Ukip is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy and another leadership contest would finish the party.

Mr Bolton's short tenure as Ukip party leader was plunge into crisis over Christmas when he left his wife Tatiana Smurova for Ms Marney - a former glamour model 30 years his junior.

And the father of three sparked fresh controversy last night when he compared himself to Princess Diana as he complained about the the media attention he received.

A Henry Bolton supporter arrives in Birmingham this morning. During his speech the Ukip leader said he has been pursued by an 'enemy within' and urged party members to back him as leader

Henry Bolton's leadership was thrown into crisis after he left his wife Tatiana Smurova (pictured with him) and young children over Christmas

But leading party members hit out at the claim - and say they ousted him because of his woeful leadership.

The row around Ms Marney's messages was 'the last straw' and Mr Bolton's handling of the issue indicates 'he just doesn't get it', he said.

He said the party was already having discussions about an interim leader to replace Mr Bolton and there are 'three people in the frame'.

Mr Bolton hit out at the media interest following the breakdown of his marriage to Tatiana Smurova and his new relationship with Ms Marney.

He told Sky News: 'The only people that are truly affected by that are my wife and children, and I feel deeply, deeply sad for what pain and hurt I've caused them but it's a private matter and it needs to be dealt with privately.

'I understand the scrutiny and public interest but it's been going on for six weeks.

'There's probably been nothing like that since the Profumo There's probably been nothing like that since the Profumo affair or Diana and Dodi (Fayed).'

But Mr Bolton 'does not rule out' running for leader again in the event of losing on Saturday.

Mr Bolton, who has called for sweeping changes to the way the party is run, claimed he was the victim of rivals 'stirring the pot'.

'The people who started complaining about this were people on the NEC, none of whom voted for me in the leadership election,' he said.

'Secondly, there were a small number of individuals within the party, failed leadership contenders, who saw an opportunity in me leaving my wife to go in for the kill - they're stirring the pot... if they were truly dedicated to the party and their country and not to their own they would have stayed at their posts.'A brothel carpark turned into a bloody mess when a 'sex worker' allegedly stabbed a man in the chest.

The man was seen on CCTV footage clinging to his chest and looking for help in the Melbourne suburb of Moorabbin on Saturday morning.

He then collapsed on the ground after walking around 700 metres down the street.

The man who was allegedly stabbed, in his 40's went strolling up the street looking for help

A group of young men who were leaving a nearby pub saw the man and rushed to his aid.

The men were seen running frantically towards the victim before they called an ambulance.

'We saw a guy lying on the gutter, so we just pulled up in the street and ran to help him,' one of the men told 7 News.

The network reported that the incident unfolded after the woman had asked the brothel for work before she was turned away.

Four brave young men were seen on CCTV footage running toward the bleeding man

Police confirmed they arrested a woman in her early twenties following a 'stabbing in Moorabbin.

'The incident took place on Keys Road just before 1am were a woman has allegedly stabbed a man,' police said in a statement.

'The 22-year-old Sydenham woman is currently in custody after being arrested this morning.'

A pull of blood police found the day after the stabbing at the crime scene on Saturday morningPolice are desperately searching for a mother and her young daughter who were last seen days ago.

Tara Inglis, 27, was last seen pushing her 18-month-old daughter in a pink pram between 3 and 4pm on Tuesday south-west of Brisbane.

The mother daughter duo were last seen in Booval, Queensland on Tuesday, February 13.

Tara Inglis, 27, (pictured) was last seen pushing her 18-month-old daughter in a pink pram between 3 and 4pm on Tuesday south-west of Brisbane

Queensland Police said it is believed the pair were seen with a man known to them at Booval Fair Shopping Centre near the Commonwealth Bank.

Police have identified and spoken to the man.

Ms Inglis is described as being about 150 centimetres tall with a very slim build and short dyed red-hair.

The 27-year-old was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt, shorts and thongs.

There are serious concerns for the welfare of the mother and daughter because of medical conditions.

Queensland Police said Ms Inglis may not has items including food and clothing for herself or her toddler.The US Supreme Court on Friday discussed in private how to handle President Donald Trump's appeal of a judge's decision blocking his plan to end protections for young illegal immigrants dubbed 'Dreamers,' and the nine justices could announce as early as Tuesday whether they will take up the case.

Trump's administration is appealing San Francisco-based US District Judge William Alsup's January 9 ruling that halted the president's order to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects from deportation young adults who came into country illegally as children and gives them work permits.

US lawmakers have been working to resolve the fate of the hundreds of thousands of young adults, mostly Hispanics, protected by the program, but legislation that would have done so failed in the Senate on Thursday.

DACA was implemented in 2012 by Democratic former President Barack Obama.

The Supreme Court discussed President Donald Trump's appeal of a decision blocking his plan to end DACA. From left: Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, Anthony Kennedy, Samuel Alito, John Roberts, Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Stephen Breyer

Trump's administration is appealing a ruling that halted an order to end the DACA program, which protects from deportation young adults who came into country illegally as children and gives them work permits. A pro-DACA protest in New York is seen above in September

If the justices agree to hear the appeal by the Republican president, they likely would not rule on the case until late June.

If they turn away the appeal, Alsup's nationwide injunction blocking Trump's plan to rescind DACA would remain in effect while legal challenges to the president's action proceed.

Alsup's injunction was issued in a lawsuit led by California's Democratic attorney general.

Under Trump's order, DACA would begin phasing out on March 5.

If Alsup's decision remains in place, DACA beneficiaries would be able to reapply for protections past that deadline, although the administration is not processing new applications.

On Tuesday, a second US judge issued a similar injunction ordering the Trump administration to keep DACA in place.

Protecting the Dreamers is of paramount importance to Democrats and some Republicans.

If the Supreme Court justices agree to hear the appeal by the Republican president, they likely would not rule on the case until late June. President Trump is seen above boarding Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base on October 7, 2017

Trump himself has backed legislation that would give them a path to citizenship but also would curtail legal immigration.

In a Twitter post on Friday, Trump sought to blame Democrats for the problems created by his order, writing, 'Cannot believe how BADLY DACA recipients have been treated by the Democrats...totally abandoned! Republicans are still working hard.'

Under DACA, about 700,000 young adults receive protections for two-year periods, after which they must reapply.

An estimated 1.8 million people are eligible for the program.

Trump's move to rescind DACA prompted legal challenges by Democratic state attorneys general and various organizations and individuals in multiple federal courts.

His administration argued that Obama exceeded his powers under the Constitution when he bypassed Congress and created DACA.



combined (14,447). On Thursday the Senate Majority Super-PAC, which is controlled by Schumer released 2 videos essentially the same, one for Indiana conservative Joe Donnelly and one for Missouri conservative Claire McCaskill (above). The message of the 2 ads is that the GOP tax scam that both voted against gives 83% of the benefits to the richest one percent of the population while adding $1.5 trillion to the national debt. And the Republicans plan to pay for it by cutting Medicare. Strong messaging-- but these two will need strong messaging in these two red states. Each state has a daunting a PVI of R+9. Trump beat Hillary 1,557,286 (56.8%) to 1,033,126 (37.9%). She only managed to win 4 of Indiana's 92 counties. Indiana was ready for change, not for Hillary's status quo message. In the primaries Bernie had beaten her 335,256 (52.5%) to 303,382 (47.5%)-- even though Wasserman Schultz had fixed the results so that Hillary walked away with a majority of the delegates. In Monroe County (Bloomington) Bernie didn't just beat Hillary 15,166 to 8,063, he beat Trump, Cruz and Kasich(14,447).





Missouri was very much the same story as indiana in November. Trump beat Hillary 1,594,511 (56.8%) to 1,071,068 (38.1%), Hillary winning just 4 of the state's 114 counties. Bernie and Hillary each got just over 49% in the primary, but, again, Wasserman Schulz had rigged the primary so that Bernie got just 34 delegates to Hillary's 47.





Last time McCaskill faced Missouri's voters was in 2012. She lucked out when the GOP ran bizarre sociopath Todd Akin, too much to swallow even for a red state like Missouri. After Akin's self-inflicted wounds about "legitimate rape" followed by him comparing McCaskill to a dog, she beat him 1,484,683 (54.8%) to 1,063,698 (39.1%) on the same day Romney was beating Obama 1,482,440 (53.8%) to 1,223,796 (44.4%). This year McCaskill isn't running against a verifiably insane Republican. The Republicans are running state Attorney General Josh Hawley. In the last half dozen polls, he's run ahead of her in 5 and she beat him-- by one point-- in the 6th. He's no Akin, although Republicans can't quite stay away from their party's war against women. In December he said that the sexual liberation of the 1960s had mitigated the social stigma for sex outside of marriage, which "has led to exploitation of women on a scale that we would never have imagined," leading to slavery of women. Trump loves him.





And yesterday, McCaskill's road to reelection may have gotten even steeper-- as an independent, Craig O'Dear jumped in. When he first formed his exploratory committee in January, Newsweek noted that it could be a game changer.

Geoffrey Skelley, associate editor of Sabatos Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, highlighted the unpredictable nature of an O'Dear candidacy.



If ODear takes disproportionately from Hawley or McCaskill, that could potentially swing the race, Skelley said. In a race that is close, if there is some of that, it might be bad for either candidate.



Skelley further stressed that Democrats need to hold on to the seat to have any chance of securing a Senate majority.



Even with a Republican Senate majority, Trump has had a difficult time pushing through much of his agenda during his first year, often blaming the filibuster rule and calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to repeal it.



If Democrats take control of the upper chamber, Trump will find it almost impossible to get his legislative agenda through Congress. His two biggest achievements, the passage of a tax bill and the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, only barely passed the Senate. A Democrat-controlled Senate would have no incentive to do the president any favors ahead of the 2020 election and would likely refuse to hand him any significant legislative victories.



Republicans currently control the upper chamber by the thinnest of margins, holding 51 seats to the Democrats' 49. For Democrats to wrest majority control from the Republicans, they would need to pick up two Republican-held seats while successfully retaining each seat they are defending. Such a scenario is essentially impossible without a McCaskill victory in Missouri, an outcome made even more uncertain with the addition of a wild card like ODear.



...Despite being a self-described longtime conservative Republican, ODear donated to Hillary Clinton during her 2016 run for president. This is already being used as ammunition by both leading candidates.



The McCaskill campaign is seeking to paint ODear as a staunch conservative driven out of the party by an unpopular president.



Its not surprising that another lifelong Republican is abandoning their party because of Donald Trump, Meira Bernstein, communications director for the McCaskill campaign, said. This is a fight over the soul of the Republican Party.



But the Hawley campaign has other ideas, describing the race as a battle between McCaskill and ODear for Democratic votes.



Sounds like another Hillary-loving liberal to me, Kelli Ford, spokeswoman for the Hawley campaign, said. We look forward to watching the trial lawyer and Senator McCaskill compete to be the liberal standard-bearer.

Yesterday O'Dear pulled the trigger yesterday . To me he sounds like an utterly clueless idiot offering the very worst of the Republican Party mixed with the worst of the conservative Democrats and a big splash of ignorance. On top of that, he doesn't have any kind of political network and isn't known at all-- but still thinks he can win by capturing 35-40% in a 3-way race, a virtually impossible task. He says he was encouraged to run by Greg Orman, an independent running for governor of Kansas. O'Dear had contributed to both Democrats and Republicans, including $3,200 to Republican Gov. Eric Greitens, currently drowning in a scandal about paying hush money to a woman to shut her up about their extramarital affair.

ODear does not plan to caucus with either party if he is elected to the Senate. He said that the fact that the federal government has faced a shutdown twice in the span of two months demonstrates the dysfunction caused by the party system.



The problem in the United States Senate is everything is controlled by two caucuses We have got to find a way to introduce some non-caucus space in this country, he said. ODear said that is a central part of his pitch to voters even if they identify as Republicans or Democrats.



You want to help your party, help get me elected, he said. It will moderate both parties if you help create a center.



McCaskill was one of only five Senate Democrats to vote against shutting down the federal government in January, but ODear contended that her move to the center was part of an election year strategy.



He also criticized President Donald Trump for proposing spending increases after pushing for tax cuts last year, two moves that will increase the countrys deficit.

Prediction: O'Dear won't take 10% of the vote and won't be a real factor in the race, drawing equally from each party. Unless the anti-Trump/anti-GOP is wave is massive, McCaskill will lose. Missouri is a Republican state and behaving like a Republican, the way McCaskill does, won't persuade more Republican voters to switch over to her than it will persuade Democratic voters to sit out her reelection bid. Like her support for the Crapo crap-bailout of big banks. Are Missouri voters dumb enough to buy into her anti-consumer deregulation bullshit?



An out-of-control blaze that destroyed bushland on the Coogee Cliffs in Sydney is now being treated as suspicious.

Emergency services received multiple Triple Zero calls about a fire Dunningham Reserve, Coogee, at about 4.45pm on Saturday.

Police said the fire may have been have been deliberately lit, and have been told several young people were seen in the area about the time the fire broke out.

The huge blaze raged along the coast of the popular spot throughout the afternoon, with fire crews continuing to battle it into the evening.

About 200 square metres of land between Coogee and Gordon's Bay in the city's eastern suburbs was burnt.

Thick billows of smoke engulfed the streets, forced hundreds of people to flee their homes.

Scroll down for video

A huge blaze (pictured) burned along the coast of one of Sydney's most popular beaches

The large bush fire burned about 200 metres of land between Coogee and Gordon's Bay (pictured)

The fire started Saturday afternoon and firefighters struggled to contain the blaze (pictured)

Fire crews fought the 'hectic' blaze Saturday afternoon, which residents described as 'pretty scary' and like 'a big explosion'.

'Never seen anything like this in Coogee,' one person wrote online.

Thick plumes of smoke were seen from a number of locations along the coast and the airport.

The black smoke filled the sky, making it a stark contrast to the swimmers basking in the sun on the beach.

There were reportedly more than 100 calls made to fire fighters by concerned onlookers.

At least three fire crews and a number of helicopters were fighting the grass fire which started late in the afternoon.

Authorities swept the headland north of Coogee for walkers but reported no one was in danger.

Early reports suggested the fire may have been started deliberately.

'Never seen anything like this in Coogee,' one person wrote online

Firefighters have been fighting the blaze which locals described as 'pretty scary'

At least three fire crews and a number of helicopters are fighting the grass fire (pictured)

While the popular beach side suburb isn't known for it's bushfires, thick plumes of smoke were seen from a number of locations along the coastA student was imprisoned inside a flat for five hours by men who stripped him naked and threatened to inject him with heroin and cut his head off.

The 26-year-old was told his testicles would be cut off and threatened with being burned alive.

He managed to escape by jumping out of a taxi at red lights when his increasingly frustrated attackers tried to force him to go to a bank to withdraw money.

Lee Thomas, 35, and a wanted man named in court as Michael Andrews, tricked the student into attending Thomas's flat in Holt Road, Kensington.

Lee Thomas (pictured) threatened to cut off the 26-year-old's testicles and said he would cut off his head

Thomas was handed an extended sentence of 14 and a half years in prison, with an additional three and a half years on licence, at Liverpool Crown Court today after admitting robbery and burglary.

Judge Neil Flewitt, QC, passing sentence, told Thomas: '[The victim] was subjected to a protracted ordeal in excess of five hours.

'He was subjected to degrading and humiliating treatment which, properly in my view, he described as torture.'

Giovanni Mercuri, 32, was locked up for three and a half years after admitting helping Thomas to burgle the victim's home and fraud in relation to trying to transfer money into his account.

The victim had decided to walk to McDonald's from his then home in Fairfield, after a night out on July 15, when he encountered Thomas and Andrews.

Louise McCloskey, prosecuting, said Thomas began a friendly conversation with the student, persuading him to join a gathering at his flat.

The court heard the student agreed and the group walked to an off-licence to buy beers, before heading to a flat on Holt Road, Kensington, where they were recorded on CCTV at 5.13am.

But Ms McCloskey said: 'Once inside, there was no drinking, there was no conversation, the door was closed, and Lee Thomas put his hood up, produced a metal bar and said to [the victim] "you're going to die now mate".'

The terrified student said he had just 30 in his wallet, but was told by Thomas they wanted 1,000 otherwise they would kill him.

The victim was stripped naked, blindfolded with a T-shirt, had his hands tied and was punched and hit with unknown objects.

His wallet, keys and cards were stolen from his clothing, and he was threatened until he gave up his address.

Ms McCloskey said at 5.40am, he made a call to his cousin asking for money to be transferred to his account.

The student, who is black, was carried into another room and thrown on to a bed, where he was subjected to vile racial abuse and told a knife would be 'stuck up his a***'.

A short time later Mercuri, of Beech Street in Kensington, arrived at Thomas's address, although it was accepted by the court that he had no knowledge of the situation.

Giovanni Mercuri, 32, of Beech Street in Kensington was locked up for three and a half years

Despite later claiming to feel 'sorry' for the victim, he agreed to act as a lookout while Thomas burgled the victim's house, stealing an iPad and a laptop containing vital work relating to his studies.

Back at the flat the victim was forced to change his passwords while the racial abuse and threats continued.

Ms McCloskey said: 'He recalled having something like oil poured on to his back and the sound of a lighter being flicked with the words "lets just burn him and leave him here".'

Further calls were made to the victim's cousin, with Thomas taking the phone and suggesting his head would be cut off if 400 was not transferred.

Thomas became increasingly angry after failing to withdraw cash from the victim's account and forced him to call his bank.

Lee Thomas, 35, of Holt Road in Kensington was jailed 14 and-a-half years in prison, with an additional three and a half years on licence, at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting robbery and burglary.

Thomas was handed an extended sentence of 14 and-a-half years in prison, with an additional three and a half years on licence, at Liverpool Crown Court (pictured) today after admitting robbery and burglary

However a suspicious employee refused to transfer funds into the account of Mercuri, so they decided to call a Delta taxi to force the man to attend the bank in person.

The thugs allowed him to dress and forced him to get into a taxi at around 9.30am, with Andrews next to him and Thomas in the front passenger seat.

However he jumped clear of the taxi at a red light, and ran into oncoming traffic to escape the chasing Thomas.

His horrendous ordeal left him with only minor physical injuries, but the court heard he had been forced to leave the city and his studies due to 'severe psychological harm'.

The defendants were arrested in August last year, when Mercuri named his co-accused.

The court heard Mercuri has since been attacked in prison for 'grassing' on Thomas, prompting Judge Flewitt to recommend he be moved to another jail.

Sarah Holt, defending Thomas, said her client had experienced a difficult childhood and had not inflicted serious injuries on the man.

Kate Morley, defending Mercuri, said her client had been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and had not been involved in the threats or violence.

The extended sentence means Thomas must serve at least two thirds of the 14 and a half year sentence in prison, rather than automatically being released on licence at the half-way stage, and can only be released early after applying for parole.

Detective Inspector Steve Christian, of Merseyside Police, said: 'This was a completely unprovoked attack on a student who placed his trust in his attackers, only for that trust to be shattered with a truly shocking ordeal.

'Thomas rightly deserves a lengthy jail term. The victim is still coming to terms with impact of this incident and I hope that this provides him with some closure.'This is the moment Tommy Robinson was confronted in a Cambridge cafe and called a 'racist' and 'fascist' by a member of the public.

A woman shouted at the English Defence League (EDL) founder, real name Stephen Christopher Yaxley, saying he was not welcome to have his breakfast at the Espresso Library cafe and that she was 'embarrassed' he was in the city.

In the video, posted by Robinson on Facebook, a woman says 'fascists are not welcome in Cambridge, we should get rid of them.'

He then questions why the woman thinks he's a fascist. He says it's because he's a member of the EDL, to which he replies he hasn't been in the organisation for four years and says he 'isn't a racist'.

Robinson tells the woman 'we live in a free society, we beat the nazis' as she replies he has a 'Nazi ideology'.

Robinson adds that the woman is 'from a different world' telling her 'you don't know what it's like to grow up in Luton.'

He then says: 'I don't want to argue, I just want to have my breakfast' and then apologies to other customers after the woman leaves.

Espresso Library employee Aurelien told the Cambridge News: 'We were really busy this morning. This woman just stood up and started shouting at these two guys. She recognised him.

A woman shouted at the EDL founder, real name Stephen Christopher Yaxley, saying he was not welcome to have his breakfast at the Espresso Library cafe

In the video, posted by Robinson on Facebook, a woman says 'fascists are not welcome in Cambridge, we should get rid of them'

'I was a bit shocked by it. It lasted about three to four minutes, no-one else joined in, just those two.'

Robinson had stopped in the Cambridge cafe to get a bacon roll on his way to attend a hearing a Cambridge County Court.

He was suing Cambridge Constabulary for harassment.

Later, outside court, he was confronted by Youtuber Ali Dawah.A military helicopter carrying officials including the Mexican interior minister has crashed in south-western Mexico, killing 13 people and injuring 15.

The accident happened as the chopper was assessing damage from a powerful earthquake in the region. Neither the minister nor officials on board the Blackhawk helicopter was killed.

All of the dead were hit by the chopper on the ground as the pilot struggled frantically to perform an emergency landing and it crashed into them.

It was a scene of destruction at the crash site on Saturday in south-western Mexico

Aerial pictures showed the full extent of the carnage following a helicopter crash in Mexico

The possessions of those killed were left strewn over a wide area

A distraught family member was pictured weeping over the coffin of a loved one who was killed when a helicopter fell from the sky and crashed into the ground

Some of the coffins of the 13 people killed when a helicopter crashed into a car in Mexico

Investigators probe the scene of a fatal helicopter crash in Mexico. The aircraft was pictured atop a van after crashed to the ground while assessing damage from an earlier earthquake

Family members mourn the dead of a helicopter crash in Oaxaca state, Mexico

Mourners carried coffins through the streets after 13 people were killed when a military helicopter crashed into the ground in Mexico. None of the casualties were on-board the aircraft

The Oaxaca state prosecutor's office said in a statement that five women, four men and three children were killed at the crash site and another person died later at the hospital.

A state government official said those killed were people who had been spending the night in an open field after a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the area. Aftershocks had caused people to flee their homes for fear they would collapse.

The Defense Department said the Blackhawk helicopter was preparing to land on a vacant lot in the city of Jamiltepec.

It was reported to have crashed on top of two vans in a field while trying to land not far from the epicentre, near the town of Pinotepa de Don Luis.

The craft was carrying Interior Secretary Alfonso Navarrete and Oaxaca Governor Alejandro Murat who were flying to the area to assess quake damage. Neither of them had serious injuries.

A local reporter, who was aboard the helicopter when it crashed, described harrowing moments as the pilot lost control and the helicopter attempted to land in a swirl of dust.

'The moment the helicopter touched down it lost control... it skidded and hit some vehicles that were stationed in the area,' he said.

'In that moment, you couldn't see anything, nothing else was heard beside the sound that iron makes when it scrapes the earth.'

Troops secured the crash site - none of the officials on board the helicopter was killed

The crash is reported to have happened as the pilot struggled frantically to perform an emergency landing

Patients outside the General Hospital in Veracruz, Mexico, after they were evacuated following a powerful quake

The helicopter - carrying Interior Secretary Alfonso Navarrete and Oaxaca Governor Alejandro Murat - landed on top of a van at the site of the crash

The 7.2-magnitude quake's epicentre was in Oaxaca but it shook buildings in Mexico City, 217 miles away

A local reporter, who was aboard the helicopter when it crashed, described harrowing moments as the pilot lost control and the helicopter attempted to land in a swirl of dust

The visiting officials were assessing quake damage when the tragedy happened

Makeshift have been set up in Jamiltepec to treat quake victims

The US Geological Survey originally put the magnitude of Friday's quake at 7.5 but later lowered it to 7.2. It said the epicentre was 33 miles north-east of Pinotepa in southern Oaxaca state, and had a depth of 15 miles.

President Enrique Pena Nieto said via Twitter that both officials and crew were unhurt, although the interior department said that they had light injuries.

The 7.2-magnitude quake's epicentre was in Oaxaca but it shook buildings in Mexico City, 217 miles away.

Mexico is in one of the most earthquake-prone regions in the world.A man allegedly held his girlfriend hostage and threatened to slice off her fingers and toes while barricaded inside a casino hotel room in a nine-hour standoff with police.

Bobby Jo Dennison, 44, was charged with kidnapping early Saturday after the standoff at the Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa in Riverside, Missouri ended in a 1.30am SWAT team raid.

The tense situation was initiated when Riverside police noticed a rental car in the casino parking lot that was overdue for return at the nearby Kansas City International Airport.

Cops staked out the vehicle at about 1.30pm on Friday, and when Dennison drove away in it, he allegedly fled when police tried to pull him over.

Bobby Jo Dennison, 44, was charged with kidnapping early Saturday after the standoff at the Argosy Casino in Riverside, Missouri ended in a 1.30am SWAT team raid

Before the standoff, Dennison allegedly shook a police pursuit by driving a rental car over the Missouri River behind the casino (pictured) into Kansas before returning to the casino

The pursuit was thwarted when the rental car crossed over the Missouri River just behind the casino, into Kansas and out of local police jurisdiction.

Later that day, police learned from the staff at the Argosy that Dennison was staying in room 826.

Dennison (pictured) had multiple outstanding warrants in nearby counties

A background check also revealed that he had two felony warrants for possession of a controlled substance in Wyandotte County, as well as warrants for resisting arrest and stealing out of Kansas City.

Around 4.30pm, believing Dennison had returned to the room, police approached it and knocked on the door.

One woman fled, and the door slammed shut behind her. Dennison remained inside with his girlfriend. The standoff began.

'I have a hostage', Dennison yelled as the police tried to enter the room, according to court records cited by the Kansas City Star.

Dennison barricaded the door and threatened to slice off her fingers and toes, and then cut her throat, if cops didn't give him a car to flee in, according to police.

He was armed with two box knives and a folding knife, and claimed to have a handgun but did not, police later found.

Police took measures to ensure the safety of others in the casino (pictured in a file photo) during the standoff, clearing out not only the eighth floor but the floors above and below

Local NBC affiliate reporter Tom Dempsey captured this shot of the emergency response outside the Argosy at around 10pm on Friday. The standoff dragged on for nine hours

The suspect's proposal was that he and his hostage leave the room and go to the supplied vehicle 'under a blanket, tied together with knives and razor blades', court records said.

'I am done,' cops heard the woman pleading at one point. 'Open the door and let them in. Let me go!'

Dennison demurred, telling her she was his ticket to freedom, cops said.

Negotiations with Dennison dragged on late into the night. Police took measures to ensure the safety of others in the casino, clearing out not only the eighth floor but the floors above and below.

Finally, around 1.30am, a SWAT team composed of officers from multiple agencies stormed the room, taking Dennison into custody.

Other than an injured hand from being grabbed roughly, the female hostage was unharmed.

Dennison was charged with kidnapping in the second degree, tampering with a motor vehicle in the second degree, and resisting arrest. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison on the first two counts and four years in prison for resisting arrest.

He is being held in the Platte County Jail in lieu of a $50,000 cash bond.A family in Mesa, Arizona says police brutally attacked an 84 year-old grandmother on Valentine's Day.

Ashlee Hahn, of Gilbert Arizona posted disturbing photos on Facebook, writing: 'On the night of Feb 14th, my sweet, 84 year old Grandmother was assaulted by Mesa Police Department.'

In her post, Ashlee says police were called to the house, but 'they were specifically asked not to bother or question my grandmother because of her present & very fragile state.'

The pictures show the elderly woman in a hospital bed with a black eye, and bruises all over her arms.

Ashlee Hahn, left, next to her grandmother Virginia tells ABC 15 Arizona that she wants answers

Virginia's eye was bruised, and her arms were bruised and bloodied

Ashlee Hahn posted pictures on Facebook of her grandmother's injuries after a run in with Mesa Police Department

Virginia shows her bruises, she said she didn't know that anyone could 'hold you so hard'

In an interview with ABC 15 Arizona, the grandmother, Virginia - who asked that her last name not be used - said the officer 'grabbed my wrist real hard and... I didn't know anybody could hold you so hard and I said "what are you doing what are you doing?"'

Virginia, who had her fourth stroke in December, told the station that the next thing she knew, she 'was waking up on the asphalt next to the police car'.

Mesa Police have opened an inquiry into the incident, and already there are several discrepancies.

Mesa Police posted their statement on Facebook, promising a full inquiry

Ashlee and her grandmother say that police were called for a 'wellness check' for a family member who lives there.

In a statement on their Facebook page, the Mesa Police Department said: 'We can confirm that the incident in question is related to an emergency call for service on February 14, 2018, in Mesa reference a suicidal subject with a gun.'

Police said the man with the gun was Virginia's grandson and was sitting in a car in front of her house.

The police further say that when they arrived, they saw the 'subject in question' head towards the house. Virginia then came out, and seemed confused and tried to go back inside. That is when, 'in order to keep her out of harms way, a use of force incident occurred with the female, who was injured.'

Officers called for an ambulance and Virginia was transported to the hospital where the pictures were taken.

The 'suicidal' man was found in the house with a BB gun, and he was taken for evaluation.

Virginia has suffered four strokes and is 'shaky and fragile' according to her family

The Mesa Police Department promises a complete review of the events of that night, noting 'our officers are trained to be considerate and respectful of all citizens. These situations are fluid and can pose a risk for anyone involved. Rest assured  we are dedicated to the safety of everyone in our community.'

An upset and angry Ashlee said: 'This shouldn't happen, there should never be any reason for an 84-year-old grandmother, who just had her fourth stroke in December, to be put on the ground like that.'

Virginia is recovering at home.Students will never again walk into the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School's building where a gunman killed 17 people on Wednesday, legislators announced.

Florida legislators said Thursday they will help the school tear down building 12 and replace the site with a memorial to honor the victims and their families.

'This building has to come down,' said Republican Sen. Bill Galvano of Florida to the Miami Herald on Friday after visiting the school.

The three story freshman building on the high school's campus was where gunman Nikolas Cruz began his blood bath Wednesday.

Building 12 (to the left) is where the 17 students and staff were gunned down. Legislators announced they will help the school tear it down for a memorial

The district superintendent said students and parents have told him 'they can't go back into that building regardless of what we do'

Sheer terror: After the horrific deadly shooting left a majority of students under 15-years-old dead in the freshman building the district is planning to replace it with a memorial

Hundreds of people took part in a candlelight vigil at the Amphitheater at Pine Trails Park in Parkland, Florida, on Thursday. The school plans to build a memorial where the shooting occurred in replacement of the current building

The district is proposing a memorial on the site where building 12 stands now. The renovation is estimated to cost between $25 million and $30 million.

Officials are working on plans for the memorial and said they will reveal them to the public by the end of the weekend.

'Parents and students have resoundingly told me they can't go back into that building regardless of what we do,' Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie told the Sun Sentinel.

'The other piece I heard is that that building will be used as evidence in any type of legal process that goes forward, so we won't be able to access the building for a while anyway.'

Superintendent Runcie added that beyond the building he just doesn't know how they're going to open the whole campus after the attack left students and staff traumatized

Currently, there is a memorial site at Pine Trail Park in Parkland, Florida, to honor the victims of the shooting. Many have visited the site since Wednesday to honor the dead

Students signed a poster with photos of Joaquin Oliver, one of the victims of the school shooting. The poster was passed around the candlelight vigil on Thursday

The building was 'for freshmen, predominantly,' according to Lynn University Professor Joe Melita, former executive director of the school district's Special Investigative Unit.

'It looked like he knew where he was going to go,' Melita added.

Runcie and School Board members went to the building following the massacre.

'The three of us just wanted to hold hands and say a prayer. Just looking at that building and talking about it now, I have goosebumps out to my head,' Runcie said.

'I don't know how teachers, students could get back in that building. I don't even know how we're going to open the whole campus, period.'

A photo of Meadow Pollack, one of the 17 victims who was killed during Wednesday's shooting, sits against a cross in the public memorial at Pine Trail Park in Parkland

Mourners gathered at the gravesite for victim Meadow Pollack on Friday after she was shot on Wednesday. Pollack was one of 17 victims killed during Wednesday's massacre

Nikolas Cruz (left) appeared in Broward County court on Thursday with assistant public defender Melisa McNeil (right). He is facing 17 charges of premeditated murder for the mass shooting of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

Cruz was heavily armed and gunned down students and teachers on Wednesday during his killing spree

The building held up to 900 students, and the school, and the district are over capacity, as the Parkland area is popular area for families with children.

Ois not uncommon for massacre sites to either be torn down or revamped and re-purposed.

Sandy Hook Elementary where 20 students and six teachers were killed was demolished after the massacre in 2012.

In the 1999 shooting spree at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, 12 students and one teacher were killed.

They were mostly killed in the school's library and it was completely overhauled as an atrium.A mother is fighting for her life in a coma after 'catching a cold' on a dream holiday in Mexico.

Louise Hutchings, 47, thought she had just caught a common bug when she started feeling under the weather in Cancun.

But she later collapsed on the beach and is now in intensive care in a medically-induced coma.

Louise Hutchings, pictured on her wedding day, is in intensive care in Mexico after falling ill with what she thought was a common bug

Her mother Carol Temme, 70, is now desperately trying to raise the cash she needs to pay for a 10-hour flight to be by her daughter's side.

Carol, of Plymouth, Devon, said: 'As far as I know she enjoyed three days out there on the beach but caught a cold and collapsed.

'She's been out there three or four weeks now and she was only meant to be out there for two weeks.

'Louise is still in intensive care in a coma and the doctors have said she could remain in one for weeks yet. It's very touch and go, the doctors said.'

Carol said she was desperate to be by her daughter's side as she battles the illness which has cost Louise 'half her lung'.

'It's very touch and go, the doctors said': Louise's mother Carol Temme (left) is trying to raise funds to be by her daughter's bedside

She added: 'They've had to take half her lung away because as they tried to inflate them to get her to breathe, bubbles were forming and the tear was just getting bigger.

'And they also found out that she was anaemic because she started to bleed from the inside.'

Doctors told Carol that her daughter, a former hairdresser from Saltash, Cornwall, might not survive the flight home if she was moved to a hospital in the UK.

As a result she remains in Mexico, two weeks after she was supposed to fly home.

Carol has been relying on infrequent messages from Louise's husband Bob and her son Dale who flew from his role in the Royal Navy to be there.

She has been able to speak to the medical director of the Amerimed Hospital a number of times about her daughter's condition but says her only comfort will be to fly to her.

But unfortunately Carol is having difficulty raising funds to cover the necessary costs of the flight, accommodation, insurance and daily living costs involved with an unexpected trip.

The 47-year-old, pictured on her wedding day with her sons, remains in Mexico two weeks after she was supposed to fly back to the UK

She said: 'I'm devastated, I've barely slept since finding out. It's a tragedy really. Myself and my son just want to go out and be with her but I don't like asking for money.

'I'm disabled and I've recently had cancer but I've been given the all clear by my doctor to go out there so we just need even a little bit of money to help us get there.'

Carol explained that her daughter's health has been poor over the last few years.

She said that Louise had a carpal tunnel operation where she suffered complications resulting in excruciating pain in her nerves.

She was fitted with electrodes in her spine and was slowly being weened off her strong medication.

The holiday was a chance for the Louise and husband to have a break, and Louise's husband Bob felt that the warm weather would do his wife some good.

Carol lost her son Andrew - Louise's brother - to a heart attack less than ten years ago and said she 'cannot lose another'.

A GoFundMe page has been set up in a bid to raise money for Carol, Louise's son Ashley and her brother Anthony to take the flight to Mexico.At the center of the indictment against 13 Russian nationals accused of meddling in the US presidential election is the Internet Research Agency, the 'troll factory' where they all worked.

Details about the ominous organization floated around in the international media before Friday's charges were brought, but never before has there been such insight into the operation.

It is headed up by businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, Putin's 'personal chef' who gained access to Russia's political power players through his luxury restaurants in St Petersburg in the mid 2000s.

In 2012, he landed a lucrative contract to provide the country's military soldiers with meals. It only lasted a year but was rumored to be worth around $1.2billion.

With his money, the Agency, which was founded in 2013, flourished. At one stage, former workers say 400 people were working there.

Their job began with pro-Putin posts on social media and, in one department, evolved into pro-Trump, anti-Clinton messages on fake accounts where they pretended to be American.

The 'troll factory': This is the building in Olgina, St Petersburg, which was used as the HQ of the Internet Research Agency

In 2015, a defector who gave her name only as 'Tatiana' explained how it worked.

'You write, write, write from the point of view of anyone' one of the roughly 400 pro-Putin propagandists told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

'You could be posing as a housewife who bakes dumplings and suddenly decides, "I have an opinion about what Putin said!"'

Some of the groups included names like Tennessee GOP and Army of Jesus.

Others were not conservative-focused and represented minorities or different social groups.

While the agency was founded before Trump announced his candidacy, prosecutors say his victory in the November 2016 presidential election became its goal.

You write, you write, you write from the point of view of anyone... you could be posing as a housewife who suddenly decides "I have an opinion about what Putin said!" 'Tatiana', a former Internet Research Agency worker

No one who specifically posted content aimed at US audiences has spoken out.

Vitaly Bespalov, another former worker who worked in the a department focused on Ukraine, told DailyMail.com that none of the people listed in the indictment spoke with the majority of other workers.

He said they were too senior to have mixed with the hundreds of other trolls and represented the agency's highest level.

According to the indictment, that department had a budget of $1.2million by 2016 which was used to pay salaries (a 'troll' at the Agency earned 40,000 rubles a month, around $705).

It also covered expenses including trips to the US for two women who allegedly came into the country in 2014 under false pretenses to act as spies and gather intel.

The money also paid for the Agency to buy space in US servers so they would be able to hide their St. Petersburg location.

They also allegedly stole American identities and used social security numbers to verify subscriptions and accounts that were not theirs.

In some cases, the group arranged political events in American cities.

On one occasion they arranged two events to happen in Houston, Texas, on the same day. One was advertised on a page called 'Stop Islamization of Texas' and the other was on a page called 'United Muslims of America'.

On pages where they posed as black or Muslim Americans, they tried to suppress voter turnout by telling followers to boycott the election.

In Florida, they arranged pro-Trump rallies and once spoke with someone who identified themselves as a campaign director of a county.

Officials there said they were surprised by all the support his campaign appeared to be receiving from what looked like grassroots organizations.

Susie Wiles, one of his top advisers in the state, told Politico they did their best to carry out due diligence but it was never on their radar that the groups were Russian trolls.

'We looked out for things when people came to rallies. We weren't looking for fake Americans that were really Russians. The world seems different now.

'I dont think anyone had any idea. There are always ways someone can manipulate the system, but this was not something we saw,' she said.

Former Republican Party of Florida Executive Director David Johnson said there was something suspicious about the posts.

'It was all the social media stuff, thats where you could see something was weird.It was syntax errors and odd ways of saying things that were apparent,' he told Politico.

Former workers have told how the Agency paid more for people who could speak several languages, including English.

In this message placed on a phony religious Facebook group, Trump-versus-Clinton is described as a battle between Jesus and Satan. It was posted by Internet Research Agency workers

One of the Instagram ads placed by Russians referred to 'Killary Clinton' in the context of the 2012 terror attack in Benghazi, Libya

Friday's indictment includes a list of ad messages that the Russians bought on social media platforms, all calculated to undermine Hillary Clinton and buoy the Trump candidacy

'Being Patriotic' was one group whose messages raised suspicions, including this one issued ahead of an August 20 Florida Goes Trump rally.

It read: 'We want to support our candidate and show the whole country that we must unite and make America great again!

'On August 20, we want to gather patriots on the start of Floridian towns and cities and march to unite America and support Donald Trump!

'Florida is still a purple state and we need to appoint it red. If we lose Florida, we lose America.'

While the Russians never actually attended any rallies, they communicated with followers and encouraged them to dress up in anti-Hillary costumes.

'On or about August 18, 2016, Defendants and their co-conspirators sent money via interstate wire to another real U.S. person recruited by the ORGANIZATION, using one of their false U.S. personas, to build a cage large enough to hold an actress depicting Clinton in a prison uniform,' the indictment reads.

They paid them to complete the request.

By the time Election Day drew near, the Russians were casting Clinton as a friend to Sharia Law-abiding Muslims

This fake Facebook ad promoted a very real rally that Pennsylvanians actually circulated and RSVPed for

The trolls paid some Trump supporters in Florida to create a structure which showed Hillary Clinton in a cage to depict her as a prisoner. It was an identical description to this creation which appeared at an Iowa rally and was in fact the idea of a genuine Trump fan

They efforts were just as much about creating discord and trying to spark panic, they said.

According to the CNN, they hired personal trainers in New York City for one group called Black Fist.

They hired them to hold self-defense classes which would stoke fear and gather contact information for Americans who were susceptible to propaganda.

The efforts were not just limited to fake accounts - they also purchased pricey ads on Facebook and Instagram to promote their propagandic content, and the companies fell for it.

Because they were using US servers, their location did not appear and because they had stolen social security numbers to open PayPal accounts, the transactions were completed in dollars and did not raise any alarm.

Now, companies like PayPal and Facebook are scrambling to make sure the same thing does not happen in the primaries.

Putin associate Yevgeny Prigozhin started the Internet Research Agency in 2014 and used the money he earned providing meals to the Russian military to fund it, it is alleged

Facebook Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer told the AP on Tuesday, before the indictment was published, that it was committed to the issue.

'Election integrity is challenging because again, you're dealing with adversaries.

'They are trying to accomplish a goal and they have smart people who are trying to figure out their way into the system to accomplish that.'

Prigozhin funded the research agency with his other companies, the indictment claims

To monitor how much of an effect the posts were having, they would track the progress online.

Previous 'trolls' have described the strict conditions inside the factory where workers would have 500 rubles subtracted from their pay if they were late.

During a typical 12-hour shift, they were expected to make 135 social media posts.

When the FBI started looking into their activity, the trolls tried to cover their tracks.

According to the indictment, one of them even told a relative about the effort in an email.

'We had a slight crisis here at work: the FBI busted our activity (not a joke).

'So, I got preoccupied with covering tracks together with the colleagues.

'I created all these pictures and posts, and the Americans believed that it was written by their people,' she wrote.

The indictment does not indicate whether the Russians' effort had any actual impact on the election result and it does not, as has been alleged by others in the past, show that anyone from the Trump campaign colluded with them.

Putin must now decide whether to extradite the 13 people named to face charges.

He has not given a public comment about the indictment.

President Trump and the White House have spoken out to celebrate the fact that it exonerates him of collusion.The younger brother of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz has been involuntarily committed to a psychiatric facility, according to reports.

Zachary, who turns 18 next week, was removed from his Lantana home on Friday, days after his brother gunned down 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, sources close to the investigation confirmed to the Palm Beach Post.

He was taken to a mental health facility for treatment under the Baker Act, which allows an individual to be temporarily detained for mental health evaluation either on a voluntary or involuntary basis.

The Act allows minors to be held for up to 12 hours, but whether Zachary has been released remains unclear.

The 17-year-old younger brother of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz (pictured) has been involuntarily committed to a psychiatric facility,

Zachary was removed from Rocxanne Deschamps' Lantana home, where he lived, on Friday

The Cruz brothers moved into family-friend Rocxanne Deschamps' mobile home in Lantana around Thanksgiving, after their adoptive mother Lynda Cruz died of pneumonia on November 1.

But Nikolas decided to move to northern Broward County with James and Kimberly Snead and their 17-year-old son after Deschamps told him he couldn't have his gun inside her house.

'Violence and gun not accepted in my house,' she wrote in a now-deleted Facebook comment.

Zachary, however, had stayed at Deschamps' home, according to the Sneads' lawyer Jim Lewis.

Rocxanne Deschamps, 42, initially took the Cruz brothers in after the death of their mother but kicked Nikolas out for having a gun. Zachary, however, stayed with her

The brothers suffered a major personal tragedy in November when their adoptive mother Lynda Cruz, 68, (pictured with one of her sons) died of pneumonia

Nikolas was still living at the Sneads' home when he went on a murderous rampage on Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 and injuring 15.

The Sneads allowed the shooter to keep the gun in their home, as long as it was kept in a locked cabinet to which he had the key, Lewis said.

Whether that gun is the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle he used to kill 17 people remains unclear.

'We are going through a lot,' James Snead said outside his Parkland home Friday. 'We are hurting right now.'

Lewis said the family was devastated and shocked by Nikolas' actions.

'They had no idea that this kid was capable of this,' he told the Palm Beach Post. 'They were just trying to give him a place to live, and now the world has gone crazy.'

The Sneads have all but gone into hiding since the attack, and Kimberly, who came out in tears, just asked to be left alone.

Nikolas Cruz moved in with James and Kimberly Snead (pictured) and their 17-year-old son after he left Deschamps' home

It is believed the shooter planned the massacre from the Snead family home (pictured)

'I have no comment,' she told The New York Post outside her home Friday morning. 'Please respect my family and my privacy now.'

During the three months Cruz lived with the Sneads, he was respectful and quiet but also sad over his mother's death, Lewis said.

'No indication that anything severe like this was wrong,' Lewis told AP. 'Just a mildly troubled kid who'd lost his mom. He totally kept this from everybody.

'The mother said if they had any suspicion that he was violent, was capable of anything like this, he would have never stepped foot in her house.'

Cruz was supposed to go to GED classes on the morning of the shooting, but when his friend's father woke him up to drop him off on his way to work, the teen said something to the effect of: 'It's Valentine's Day. I don't go to school on Valentine's Day,' according to the lawyer.

The Sneads' lawyer said the family was devastated and shocked by Nikolas' actions

Cruz faced court briefly on Thursday as he was officially charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder over the high school shooting massacre

'They just blew it off,' Lewis said. 'This is some 19-year-old that didn't want to get up and go to school that day, and (they) left it at that.'

Despite the family saying they saw no indication, the troubled teen had already begun showing what may have been warning signs he was bent on violence.

The 19-year-old got expelled last year from the high school for undisclosed disciplinary reasons.

As investigators tried to establish the motive for Wednesday's shooting rampage, students and neighbors portrayed Cruz as an often strange and hostile figure who threatened others, talked about killing animals, and posed with guns in disturbing photos on social media.

People hold the names of some of the 17 people killed during the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 16, 2018 in Boca Raton, Florida

Hundreds of people took part in a candlelight vigil at the Amphitheater at Pine Trails Park in Parkland, Florida, on Thursday

Many have visited a memorial site at Pine Trail Park since Wednesday to honor the dead

Benjamin Bennight, a Mississippi bail bondsman, was concerned enough after seeing the 'professional school shooter' comment on his Youtube channel that he took a screenshot of it on his phone and called the FBI.

Two FBI agents visited Bennight the next day, but authorities said they never spoke to the Florida teen.

'No other information was included in the comment which would indicate a particular time, location or the true identity of the person who posted the comment,' said Brett Carr, a spokesman for the FBI office in Jackson, Mississippi.

'The FBI conducted database reviews and other checks but was unable to further identify the person who posted the comment.'Andrew Lloyd Webber knows a thing or two about theatrical surprises but when Frankie Howerd gave him a lovebite he was caught completely unawares. It did rather take my breath away, he says, sitting quietly in the foyer cafe of one of his London theatres.

The Grand Old Man of Musical Theatre nonchalantly delivers this first extraordinary revelation while discussing his memoir, Unmasked, which he insists he never really wanted to write. I didnt want to hurt anybody, but I wanted to be truthful. I particularly didnt want to write anything that was dissing people, but wanted it to be relatively amusing.

Well, his encounter with the former Carry On star more than ticks those boxes: Frankie just lunged, bit me on my neck and said, Take that home to your wife. 

For almost 50 years he has kept secret this #MeToo moment.

I was 23 and Jesus Christ Superstar was about to happen in London and I didnt want to be remembered then as the man who complained about Frankie Howerd. So I said nothing. In the end I just thought he was a sad old man.

On the cusp of turning 70, Lloyd Webber could not be more cheerful or optimistic as he relays this startling encounter. But he also reveals darker moments in his past: he has contemplated killing himself at least three times, most recently just three years ago.

Madeleine Gurdon, a professional horsewoman, has been Andrew Lloyd Webber's wife for the past 27 years (pictured together). He says: 'She is absolutely a rock to everything in my life'

Crippling health difficulties  prostate cancer followed by agonising back pain  took him to the very edge of endurance. It was absolute agony and utterly despairing, he recalls. I did think of suicide. It was so painful and I couldnt sleep and you go on thinking about it.

You have all those ridiculous painkillers and none of them working and you just think, I shall take the whole lot of them. 

It was a bleak temptation he had not experienced since his troubled teenage years.

As a very young boy at Westminster junior school, and uncertain of his place in the world, he had feared that he might never succeed as a songwriter. I got quite depressed; its something that possibly affects artists. It was one of those moments where I thought everything had got on top of me. These things are illogical, he recalls.

He stole Veganin painkiller tablets from his parents bathroom cupboard, withdrew all 7 of his Post Office savings and bought aspirin from two different chemists, plus a bottle of Lucozade, and set off for what he planned to be a terminal journey on the London Underground.

I felt very alone at the time. It was pretty much at the end of the line, quite literally because I went to the end of the Central Line, but then took a bus to Lavenham, he says.

Miraculously, when he got out at Lavenham station, he was overawed by the beauty of the Suffolk market town (architecture remains a passion) and wandered around dazzled. It sorted me out and I simply got on the train back. It was probably all started by the combination of not really feeling happy at home, wanting to get away from school  all that sort of thing, he said.

As I awoke from my overdose, a doctor asked what the hell I thought I was doing

His second suicidal episode was in the 1960s when he failed the basic army test in the school corps and was accused of sowing seeds of mutiny. His troop commander punished him by stopping him going to a breakthrough appointment to have a song recorded, and Lloyd Webber plunged into despair again. This time he took an overdose of aspirin. I woke to find a doctors face pressed close to mine, demanding what the hell I was doing frightening my parents like this.

Such melancholic moments seem at odds with the most successful composer alive, whose success has brought him a string of West End theatres, the finest pre-Raphaelite collection in Britain, a glorious estate on the Hampshire/Berkshire border, and a back catalogue of songs to which the whole world taps their feet. On the whole, like his memoir, Lloyd Webber talks in fast, open bursts. Unmasked records a colourful London childhood with his bohemian family, most notably his fabulously un-PC Auntie Vi, to whom the book is dedicated. An actress and a cook, she wrote the first gay recipe book  one chapter headed Too many c*cks spoil the breath.

She was a friend of Tony Hancock, who Andrew met while the comedian was trying to teach his parrot to say F*** Mrs Warren to the cleaner he despised. A perfect introduction to the theatre really, he suggests.

The journey to stardom is lightly told  writing the main Superstar song on the back of a napkin after sharing his parents home with a monkey called Mimi (who hated him). He also partly credits the genesis of Cats to his walking South Kensington with a Siamese cat called Perseus on a lead.

He even takes some of the blame for being persecuted at school. Considering I was smaller than the other boys, useless at sport, still played classical music and was the school swot, its not surprising I was bullied. He hints, too, at a relationship with his headmaster that would raise more than a few eyebrows in our hyper-aware age, and not only because it began over a shared bottle of claret, though that was deemed unusual even at that time. I valued my time with him, even if it did sometimes mean sitting very close to him on his sofa.

Indeed he credits another inappropriate incident  this time with a stranger on the Underground  with kick-starting his entire musical career. On the morning in question a saddo tried to fondle me undercover of the tight standing crush on the Underground train.

A saddo tried to fondle me in the crush of the Underground

I was too shocked to make a fuss. But I was furious, so furious that it gave me an idea that may be was big enough to call an epiphany. His reaction was to charge into the school and play six short piano pieces teasingly dedicated to the masters, causing amusement and uproar among the boys.

I was no longer the little school swot. I was Andrew, and I had become Andrew through music.

The book describes the genesis of many of his best-loved works  Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Evita, Starlight Express  but this first volume stops after Phantom in 1986. Lucky for some, he thinks: So the dodgy art dealers who tried to screw me can sleep peacefully.

He remains ambivalent about his memoir and its repercussions. I always want to do new work and not look back. But it was a cathartic process, none the less.

I kept asking questions of myself and Ive never really done that before. That includes discussing the creative tension with his collaborator Tim Rice, who he teases for his unstoppable wandering eye for girls. There have been quite a lot in his life and a few children as well, not that I can say that I havent any! (He has five children and has had three wives).

Lloyd Webber also talks about the creative tension with his collaborator Tim Rice (pictured together), who he teases for his unstoppable wandering eye for girls

They met when Lloyd Webber was at school, with Rice being five years older. Just as Paul McCartney wanted his name before John Lennon so, we learn, did Rice with Lloyd Webber. The fact is Lloyd Webber and Rice is easier to say than Rice and Lloyd Webber. Just as Sullivan and Gilbert would have sounded awful!

And their tensions? I think he will say that I was a nagging perfectionist and worried too much about the sound  a worrier by nature  and Tim was sometimes too much of an easy-going guy. He wouldnt know what I was worrying about.

Such perfectionism could lead to pique, and the composer is frank about his temper and tirades. Ive learnt to tame it now, but I always used to get very concerned in those days that theatre sound was terrible and orchestral playing wasnt as good as it is now. When I started out there was some pretty ropey playing and pretty second-division players. Id scream and say, Look, weve got to make this better. 

But that was all then. Now, he is something of a changed man. For a start he has become teetotal and sold off an astonishing wine cellar.

He realised he was drinking too much and, four years ago, stopped completely. He shed two stone and now feels 101 per cent better, firing on all cylinders. The funny thing is that wine now tastes toxic like acid to me. I cant touch it. The bags under his eyes disappeared and he embraced a new fitness regime, swimming almost daily.

His cancer scare was undoubtedly a traumatic experience that has made him a fervent advocate for all men to have prostate checks  one saved his life.

Almost as a joke he had kept an old set of blood tests, as he was amused that his liver was shown to be perfect even though he was then a heavy drinker. I kept it by my bed with the intention of framing it and giving it to Madeleine [his third wife] for her birthday!

I had another blood test and I was flicking through to make sure everythings normal and I looked at the prostate measurement and noticed that in eight months it had gone up staggeringly  like from two point something to six point six. It was 300 per cent up. I had a biopsy and it was cancerous. It was all a close thing as it was very virulent. They advised me to get it whipped out as soon as possible.

The operation literally saved his life as the cancer had not yet burst beyond the prostate. Prove the wretched cancer has not moved out of that prescribed area and then it is eminently solvable.

It was just as he had turned a corner that he endured the appalling back pain which prompted those suicidal thoughts to return.

As for Sarah Brightman (pictured together), he is still misty-eyed about her voice. 'There is something wonderfully fragile about it. Actually it's very robust and an unusual musical instrument'

He believes that a chiropractor had stuck a needle in his side which nicked a vein that gave him sciatic symptoms. He had an operation on his back which he did not feel he had needed and his back prolapsed.

Then I ran into this extraordinary osteopath and he said Im 99 per cent certain that I can get you back to 95 per cent and within three months he did, he says. Very much thanks to Madeleine discovering what the cause of the whole thing was, it was sorted. She is absolutely a rock to everything in my life, and now hugely involved with the business.

He is honest enough to admit he hasnt always been a good or faithful husband. Andrew deals head-on with leaving his first wife, Sarah, with whom he had fallen in love when she was 17, marrying her when she was 18.

With success and money came temptation. An affair with a female teacher at his old school was a distinct improvement on the master who had taken a shine to me but left him devastated with guilt.

Not so devastated that he didnt begin a subsequent affair with the soprano Sarah Brightman. Their relationship, he reveals, was sealed on a trip to Italy.

I loved the vicarious thrill I got from the waiters in our deserted hotel and of course I loved the sex, he writes candidly. In a bid to keep the marriage going, his wife even offered to turn a blind eye to the infidelity, but it was not to be. Im not the sort of person who can duck and dive, explains Lloyd Webber. Besides, I was head over heels in love.

It was the passages about his relationship with his first wife, Sarah, that he found hardest to write about. There were several moments when I wondered whether to go on with this book and dealing with Sarah was one of them because I didnt want to do anything that hurt her.

As for Brightman, he is still misty-eyed about her voice. There is something wonderfully fragile about it. Actually its very robust and an unusual musical instrument.

I find there are certain things of mine that shes sung that nobody has done any better. Like a lot of performers she is really a gypsy, she likes going from place to place. I dont think she wants to settle down. She is a slightly restless soul who is possibly always looking for something else to try.

Certainly, their marriage was not without its well-publicised complications  including Brightmans affair with a keyboard player. We both realised as we became older that our life together would have been very difficult; she never could have coped with the kind of life that really began with Cats. She would say that now to anybody.

In the end, though, it was Lloyd Webber who brought his second marriage to a close, having fallen in love with Madeleine Gurdon, a professional horsewoman.

Unmasked by Andrew Lloyd Webber is published by HarperCollins on March 8 priced at 20

A friend brought her round to Sydmonton [his country estate] which is how we met. I was asked to a huge amount of dinners and used to take Madeleine with me.

People started asking, Who is this girl? and I grew keener on her and she with me.

She has been his wife for the past 27 years, bringing him a fulfilment he had almost forgotten existed.

When I met Madeleine, it was like getting my life back. A door had been unlocked back into a world that Id missed for years

When I met Madeleine it was almost like getting my life back; a door has been unlocked back into a world that Id perhaps missed in the previous years  people outside the theatre. There is a world outside the Tony Awards and I think thats what Madeleine brings to me.

His life is blessed and he says he knows it. But if he had not hit the musical jackpot in the theatre? I dont think I would even have been number four in the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra because I dont think I would have been good enough to get there.

I would be more likely playing in some bar somewhere.

Unmasked by Andrew Lloyd Webber is published by HarperCollins on March 8 priced at 20. Offer price 16 (20 per cent discount) until March 25. Pre-order at www.mailshop.co.uk/books or call 0844 571 0640, p&p is free on orders over 15.On a broiling day last August, managers of a huge petrochemical plant in Saudi Arabia discovered to their horror that it had been attacked. The consequences could have been catastrophic: the invaders had seized command of its computerised control-and-safety system, and had the power to damage it severely.

The attackers carried no guns, explosives, or conventional weapons. Yet they could have blown up the plant  its exact location remains a secret  from thousands of miles away, killing its workers, crippling the local economy and poisoning the surrounding region.

For they were computer hackers, and their weapon, dubbed both Triton and Trisis by security experts, was a piece of malware, a malicious software program.

In August a group of hackers attacked a huge petrochemical plant in Saudi Arabia (similar to the one pictured). The consequences could have been catastrophic: the invaders had seized command of its computerised control-and-safety system, and had the power to damage it severely

The creators of this attack created a weapon that can kill people, said Brigadier General Danny Bren, the former commander of Israels cyber defence unit, who now advises major corporations.

With something like that, you can create great danger to an oil rig, a refinery, a power station. In effect, you have built a bomb.

The hackers had got into the safety systems firmware, its permanent foundations, and injected a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) which allowed them to burrow into the computer system and issue instructions via a hidden, electronic back door.

The Triton malware was eventually detected only because it contained a tiny flaw that caused part of the system to crash. But its shadowy controllers, said Bren, are still out there, learning from their mistake. Triton represents the next generation of the cyber revolution. Its going to have a big effect.

Inquiries by this newspaper in Britain, the US and Israel, a leading centre of cyber defence, suggest the threat of state-sponsored hacking is growing rapidly. Bren believes the sophistication of the Saudi attack suggests Triton was built by a state  possibly Saudi Arabias enemy, Iran.

Moreover, the dangers it poses to industry and critical infrastructure  real world sabotage and possible loss of life  are not confined to the Middle East. The British power grid, factories and energy plants are also at risk. Experts say RATs may already have infiltrated UK networks.

The hackers had got into the safety systems firmware, its permanent foundations, and injected a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) which allowed them to burrow into the computer system and issue instructions via a hidden, electronic back door

In a recent speech in Belfast, Ciaran Martin, director of the 1.9 billion National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which was established 15 months ago as an offshoot of GCHQ, warned that Britains enemies are trying to preposition on critical national infrastructure so they can act with menace against us in times of tension.

Couched in technical language, his words attracted little attention, and no media coverage.

By prepositioning, he meant hacks such as Triton, hidden penetrations of UK systems by malware which can lie dormant for years. The Triton attack, while rare, is likely to be an example of attempted prepositioning, an NCSC official confirmed. A key part of the NCSCs mission is to ensure the UK is not susceptible to such attacks.

Martin referred again to prepositioning on Radio 4s Today last week, defining it as getting a presence on a computer network which created the potential to use it for destructive attacks in the future.

a new era of warfare a destructive and deadly mix of conventional military might and malicious cyber attacks

Just what is meant by destructive attacks  and the real danger it poses to Britain  is explained by Jeff Bardin, chief intelligence officer of US security firm Treadstone 71, which monitors state-sponsored hacking.

Triton is a combination of espionage and sabotage, and this kind of activity is widespread, he said. It could lead to explosions, oil spills and other environmental disasters, and the problem is, were not geared up to look for it.

The UK is using the same hardware and software as everyone else. Your nuclear plants are probably safe, because their systems are built to a more secure standard. All other critical infrastructure is vulnerable.

State-sponsored attacks with real-world consequences are not new. In 2010, the Stuxnet attack, reportedly by Israel, crippled Irans nuclear programme by destroying the sensitive centrifuges it used to enrich uranium.

In 2012, a single employee clicking on an internet link triggered the collapse of Saudi oil giant Aramcos entire IT network. The hack, which like Triton was blamed on Iran, wiped data from 35,000 computers, forcing the firm to revert to typewriters and faxes for five months. In December 2016, the Russian Crash Override hack cut power to 100,000 Ukrainian homes.

Curse of the charming kittens A common way for hackers, such as Irans Charming Kittens, to penetrate the computer networks of targets is social engineering  the use of fake social media profiles to friend members of the opposite sex. Fake social media profiles have been used to steal contacts, emails and further data They also use more elaborate methods. One recent victim, a prominent academic, was invited to join an online chat group with Valerie Jarrett, a former senior adviser to Barack Obama. This was merely a ploy to steal her password, and gain access to her contacts, emails and other data. The consequences, says Eyal Sela of Israeli cyber security firm ClearSky, can be severe: not just loss of privacy, but the creation of a bridgehead in an enemy network which could trigger a shutdown. Advertisement

For years, interest in cyber security was mainly confined to specialists; now it is going mainstream, with a succession of key figures lining up to highlight the threat. At the end of last year, the NCSC revealed that the WannaCry hack, which knocked out thousands of NHS computers last May and forced vital operations to be cancelled, was the work of North Korea.

The same state, which has a special department, Office 39, devoted to raising money through organised crime, was accused of last months 380 million digital heist from Japans Coincheck crypto- currency exchange, arguably the largest theft in history.

Last month, General Sir Nick Carter, Chief of the General Staff, warned that cyber-warfare can be waged on the battlefield and to disrupt normal peoples lives.

And last week Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson blamed Russia for Junes NotPetya hack, which disabled computers in Ukraine before spreading across Europe, costing businesses 1.2 billion. Britain was embroiled in a new era of warfare a destructive and deadly mix of conventional military might and malicious cyber attacks, Williamson said, accusing Russia of ripping up the rulebook.

In an email to this newspaper, the NCSCs Ciaran Martin added: The Government recognises the impact of cyber attacks as a major threat to the UKs economic and national security. We defend ourselves as necessary, using whichever capability is most appropriate.

So what has changed? One factor is mounting evidence of attempted prepositioning by Russia. Another is Triton  described by one UK official as a key data point not only for the NCSC, but for Americas FBI, Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security and several private cyber security companies, all of which have joined a consortium to investigate it.

It may be going too far to suggest there is an axis of evil in the world of cyber warfare, say British and Israeli security sources, though it is not disputed that Russia and North Korea are at the sharp end of this practice.

These are the countries most likely referred to when Robert Hannigan, who stepped down as head of GCHQ last year, told the MoS: Countries that mean us harm are co-operating with each other, sharing expertise, and using wider criminal groups. The overlap of crime and state actors is one of the most alarming developments of the past few years.

He added: The UK is better protected than most countries, but we are not invulnerable to these kinds of attacks. We have observed attempts by states to get into our national infrastructure for years.

It is also clear that a third name must be added to the list of hostile nations: Iran.

Ciaran Martin, director of the 1.9 billion National Cyber Security Centre, which was established 15 months ago as a GCHQ offshoot, warned Britains enemies are trying to preposition on critical national infrastructure so they can act with menace against us in times of tension.

Ironically, said Bardin, it was Stuxnet that led Iran to enhance its offensive capability: If Stuxnet had happened to the US or UK, it would have been seen as an act of war. In Iran, it made them invest heavily in offensive cyber operations.

He revealed that 18 per cent of Iranian university students are studying computer science  a cyber warfare talent pool.

The results are tracked in Tel Aviv by cyber security firm ClearSky, whose clients include major corporations in Israel, Asia, the Americas and Europe.

ClearSky analyst Eyal Sela showed the MoS some of the high-tech tools the firm uses to unmask hacking groups, by exposing their links and finding evidence of shared hostile source code.

Some of the cells based in Iran have been given cute names, such as Charming Kittens, and their methods can look innocuous: attractive but bogus Facebook profiles  which are known in the trade as avatars  seeking to friend members of the opposite sex who work for enemy targets.

State-sponsored attacks with real-world consequences are not new. In 2010, the Stuxnet attack, reportedly by Israel, crippled Irans nuclear programme by destroying the sensitive centrifuges it used to enrich uranium

Falling for this technique  known as social engineering  can be dangerous. A Facebook chat with an avatar may lead to fake but convincing links from firms such as Google and Dropbox. If you click on them, Sela said, hackers will steal your emails, all your contacts, and use this access to attack your circle. Victims have included Iranian human rights groups. There may be more than information at stake, Sela said. If they create access to victims work internet accounts, social engineering can be used to escalate to full-on company network shutdowns and even physical damage to installations such as that which might have occurred with Triton.

Sela said another Iranian method  revealed here for the first time  is the establishment of a fake BBC News site in Persian, used to spread disinformation.

Another bogus Iranian website is known as British News  supposedly edited in London with a convincing British Lion logo. However, it contains malicious code: If you click on its links, your computer will get infected.

Thus, Triton is part of a wider campaign which has already induced the FBI to issue a criminal indictment for fraud, espionage and damaging computer networks against Iranian hacker Behzad Mesri, allegedly a member of Charming Kittens. It is, however, its most serious element.

In 2012, a single employee clicking on an internet link triggered the collapse of Saudi oil giant Aramcos entire IT network. The hack, which like Triton was blamed on Iran, wiped data from 35,000 computers, forcing the firm to revert to typewriters and faxes for five months

Last month, at a cyber conference in Florida, Schneider Electric, the French multinational that makes the Triconex system that Triton infiltrated, presented the investigative consortiums findings.

According to the firm, the attackers must have been state-sponsored because they had unlimited resources, unlimited skills, and a lot of time. They had gone to great lengths to find out how Triconex worked, and the malware came with features which rendered it unnoticeable, and to throw off forensic experts if they suspected something might be wrong.

Schneider said Triton exploited a zero-day vulnerability  a weakness in the Triconex firmware which was previously unknown. It promised it would be issuing a patch this month to prevent similar attacks.

Preventing hacks is a central part of the NCSCs mission. But doing so is not easy: as GCHQs Robert Hannigan points out, many sensitive targets are private sector companies, and there is a limit to what government can and should do.

For years, interest in cyber security was mainly confined to specialists; now it is going mainstream, with a succession of key figures lining up to highlight the threat

Dr Gabi Siboni, a former colonel who heads both Tel Avivs Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) cyber security research programme and private consultancy firm G Bina, said that in Israel cyber security was designated as a key issue 16 years ago, when the government began trying to protect critical infrastructure.

It considered then that a hit on a utility whose loss might cut GDP by 10 per cent was a question of national security, Dr Siboni said. The rest of the world has taken a while to catch up.

Dr Siboni explained that Israels prime ministers office regulates cyber defence for a list of some 60 critical infrastructure organisations: If we think an attack on your business would generate a risk to national security, you will be subject to rules  the equivalent of having to comply with environmental regulation.

It may be going too far to suggest there is an axis of evil in the world of cyber warfare, say British and Israeli security sources, though it is not disputed that Russia and North Korea are at the sharp end of this practice

Cyber security meant rewriting the relationship between business and the state, he added. Intelligence used to be the prerogative of the state. Its not any more, because private cyber companies have more information than official agencies. The state needs their co-operation. At the same time, we have to figure out how we share information to defend ourselves, without compromising private data.

Britain is already moving in the same direction. Under an EU directive, cyber security for critical installations is mandatory. But as Hannigan admits: Its only a basic level and we need to go much further. Defence of critical services depends on the weakest link getting stronger  and not every major company is there yet.

Meanwhile, the threat is likely to deepen. Fixing this takes political will, and business is always pushing back, because good cyber security adds costs, said Bardin. Ultimately, something is going to blow up.Enemy searchlights had caught its outline as the RAF Whitley reached Nieuport on the coast of Nazi-occupied Belgium, and the German batteries opened up. But unscathed, the pilots pressed on, heading inland as instructed.

Just minutes later, passing above the darkened fields of Flanders, the crucial moment had arrived. The flaps of the aircraft were lowered and, from a height of between 600 and 1,000ft, a British agent parachuted gently to the ground.

This was July 1941, and an extraordinary new development in the intelligence war with the Wehrmacht was in full swing. So important was the information gleaned from this particular mission, it would end up on Churchills desk.

A member of a Royal Air Force aircrew holding a carrier pigeon taking part in Operation Columba beside a Lockheed Hudson of Coastal Command around 1942

An RAF pilot takes a carrier pigeon on board his Halifax bomber before a raid in World War Two - the pigeons were useful - among other things - to take home SOS messages if the plane's radio was shot up (June 1943)

A photo of the Debaillie family in Belgium before they dispatched the pigeon - Marie, the elder sister, is holding a resistance newspaper (left), Margaret is holding the parachute (right) Arseen holds a pencil, Gabriel the British intelligence questionnaire, and Michel clutches the pigeon. In front of them is a chalkboard with the dates of the birds arrival and departure, its ring number and the phrase Via Engeland to mark its destination. And at the top are three capital Vs  the symbol of Victory

Secret messages were packed into cylinders that were attached to pigeons' legs

Yet the figure floating down through the Belgian night was no normal operative, vulnerable to capture, to torture or to worse. For this was Operation Columba, a largely forgotten yet essential weapon in the fight against Nazi Germany, and one that played an important role in turning the fortunes of the War.

And the spy it was despatching behind enemy lines? A pigeon.

I first stumbled across this remarkable tale by chance one morning, while covering a quirky news story for the BBC. The boney leg of a dead pigeon had been found in a chimney in Surrey and attached to it was a message which, after investigation, had stumped even the top code-breakers of GCHQ, unable to decipher a seemingly random series of letters. What might this strange relic mean? No one seemed entirely sure. Could pigeons have been used in the Second World War, perhaps? Again, information was scarce.

My interest piqued, I spent a morning in the National Archives in Kew, West London, pulling up any and every relevant file  and one of the bundles that landed on my desk immediately stood out. Marked with the words Secret and Columba, it contained compelling details of an operation, including tiny pink slips of paper that transpired on closer inspection to be messages from ordinary people living in occupied Europe.

They had clearly been brought back to Britain by pigeon. Filled with the day-to-day realities of wartime, the slips offered an intriguing insight into the small frustrations and dark tragedies of life under occupation.

None of them, however, compared with the one labelled Message Number 37. More like a work of art than an official document, it contained tiny, beautiful inky writing, too small to read with the naked eye and densely packed into an unimaginably small space. And detailed, colourful maps. Who had written it? And what had happened to them? There was little to work with as the message was identified with no more than a code-name  Leopold Vindictive.

After three years of searching, I finally found my answer in rural Belgium. The story of this unlikely spying mission began in April 1941. There had been attempts to drop secret agents behind German lines since the summer of 1940, but they were perilous. Some agents died before they hit the ground. Others were captured all too quickly.

So slim were the intelligence pickings that the secret services were even instructed to see if a Yorkshire astrologer and water diviner known as Smokey Joe could help. MI6 had agents abroad, but the human networks were a mess.

In 1940, it was even claimed that German troops in Norway were practising the bagpipes and training to swim ashore wearing green watertight suits. And so an unlikely new strategy was devised  of dropping homing pigeons into occupied Europe in the hope they would fall into the hands of sympathisers who would send them home with information useful to the Allies.

Each bird would be placed in a special box with a parachute attached, and a tiny green Bakelite cylinder  about the size of a pen top  was placed around one leg.On the outside of each container was an envelope with a questionnaire, written in Dutch or French, some rice paper for the return message, a pencil, and a bag of pigeon food.

The latest edition of a resistance newspaper printed in London was enclosed, or sometimes a copy of the Daily Mail, to prove the bird had come from England.

Details of the operation were kept secret from the pigeon fanciers who volunteered the birds. So who was behind this outlandish mission?

Today, everyone is familiar with MI5 and MI6, but few have heard of MI14, let alone its sub-section MI14(d). Its job was to understand the German occupation of Western Europe. Working out of a basement room in the War Office in Central London, it initially comprised just two officers: Brian Melland, a former theatrical actor, and Sandy Sanderson, who had served with the Highland Division in the First World War. This was the unit in charge of the Secret Pigeon Service.

Operation Columba got under way on the night of April 8, 1941. A Whitley crossed into Belgium near Zeebrugge then headed for the French border, where the pigeons in their containers were pushed out. Two days later, in the bowels of the War Office, at 10.30am, MI14s phone started ringing. The first bird had made its way home to its owner in Kent. Columba message number one was phoned in.

It had come from a village called Le Briel in northern France and contained real information. Pigeon found Wednesday 9th at 8am, it began. The German troop movements are always at night. There are 50 Germans in every Commune. There is a large munitions dump at Herzeele 200 metres from the railway station. Yesterday, a convoy of Horse Artillery passed towards Dunkirk The Bosches do not mention an invasion of England. Their morale is not too good. The RAF should come to bomb the brick works as the proprietor is a  The next word was marked as illegible.

The message ended with I await your return, I am and remain a Frenchman. At 3pm, message number two arrived, this time from Flanders.

Operation Columbas most deadly foe proved to be a natural one - it was the hawk. German hawks were flown along the coast from Belgium, France and the Netherlands to catch and kill Columba birds as they headed for Britain

There are only a few troops here and no petrol dumps, it read. But yesterday some artillery arrived and the men say they are going to Yugoslavia where other troops and wagons are also moving.

After three months, 221 birds had been flown into occupied territory, many from Newmarket racecourse  home to a top-secret RAF squadron whose job was to carry out Special Duties for British intelligence  and released over Flanders, Normandy and Brittany. Forty-six had returned, 19 with messages, of which 17 contained information.

Often people were fearful at discovering a spy pigeon, and understandably so. Many decided it was better the pigeon died than they did. Some villagers even made the choice more palatable by roasting and eating the bird. Others went straight to the local police station or Nazi occupiers in return for a reward.

The people responsible for the remarkable Message 37 were braver than that, and fiercely anti-Nazi. The pigeon and its container had been retrieved in July 1941 from fields near Lichtervelde by an unnamed Belgian farmer. Concealing them in a sack of potatoes, he took them to the Debaillies, a patriotic family of two sisters and three brothers who ran a corner shop.

One of the brothers, Michel, was a pigeon fancier. The Debaillies summoned two family friends, Hector Joye, a former soldier with a love of military maps, and a Catholic priest, Father Joseph Raskin, who had worked as an intelligence gatherer sketching German military positions during the First World War to aid allied reconnaissance. Brothers Arseen and Gabriel drove along the coast and through the neighbourhoods around Bruges, taking notes.

Joye gathered intelligence on a chateau occupied by German troops. Raskin tapped church-goers for information.

After a few days, the priest set about transferring the maps and the wealth of information to the two tiny sheets of rice paper. He worked through the night of July 11 using a magnifying glass and a fine-tipped pen until all the space was filled.

The rice paper was folded and placed inside the cylinder attached to the pigeons foot. Then the group did something contrary to every rule of spycraft: they stood for a family portrait in a courtyard behind the shop. At first sight, it could be any other family picture, but look more closely and you can see that Marie, the elder sister, is holding a resistance newspaper, Margaret is holding the parachute. Arseen holds a pencil, Gabriel the British intelligence questionnaire, and Michel clutches the pigeon.

In front of them, is a chalkboard with the dates of the birds arrival and departure, its ring number and the phrase Via Engeland to mark its destination. And at the top are three capital Vs  the symbol of Victory. Climbing up on to the roof, Michel then released the bird. At 8.15am the pigeon rose high into the sky, circled to get its bearings, then made for the Channel and home. By 3.30pm, it was back at its loft in Lattice Avenue, Ipswich, with the canister arriving in the War Office on July 13.

A British Army carrier pigeon, VC Pigeon, (pictured) was shot by a German sniper during the First World War and is now on display at the Royal Signals Museum in Blandford, Dorset

Homing pigeons played an important role in both world wars - their homing ability, speed and ability to get to high altitudes meant they were often used as military messengers

Between April 1941 and September 1944, a total of 16,554 pigeons would be dropped in an arc from Copenhagen in Denmark to Bordeaux in the South of France - only one in ten made it back alive

The pigeons that survived more than proved their worth, helping to pave the way for D-Day and victory

Melland pulled out the first sheet of paper, nine inches square, and the closer he looked, the more astonished he was. The transcript came to a remarkable 5,000 words and took up 12 pages. It was gold dust. It indicated hidden German emplacements, munitions depots and fuel dumps. It highlighted a telephone exchange and nearly a dozen factories playing a role in the German war effort.

There were precise battle damage assessments of recent British raids in Brussels. A map showed a chateau that was the central communications installation for German High Command in the whole sector. Message 37 rapidly made its way around Whitehall and was shown to Churchill himself. It represented more than just a collection of useful facts. It summed up a spirit of resistance, confirming to Britains leaders that some of those living under the tyranny of Nazi occupation were willing to risk their lives to help.

Mary, a carrier pigeon, was hit by shrapnel, wounded by pellets and attacked by German war hawks as she flew over the Pas De Calais

The message was signed with the codename Leopold Vindictive and asked for a response on the Dutch and Belgian BBC radio news. On July 15, only three days after Michel had set the bird free, the Belgians heard this on their radio: Leopold Vindictive 200, the key fits the lock and the bird is in the lions cage. Sadly, the Leopold Vindictive story does not have a happy ending.

The group of amateur spies gathered more intelligence but future pigeon drops failed to reach them. In growing frustration, they trusted a chain of resistance contacts but the Germans closed in. They arrested and tried Raskin, Joye and Arseen Debaillie. On October 18, 1943, in Dortmund, all three were guillotined.

But still Operation Columba pressed on. Between April 1941 and September 1944, a total of 16,554 pigeons would be dropped in an arc from Copenhagen in Denmark to Bordeaux in the South of France. Only one in ten made it back alive. Some were lost on planes shot down before they had a chance to be released. Some lay unfound in a field.

The Germans responded of course. Rewards were offered and punishments were draconian. An MI6 agent reported that a notice displayed in one Belgian town offered 625 francs to anyone who delivered a British pigeon. Rumours began to emerge that the Germans were planting false pigeons to trap people.

Marksmen were stationed on the coast of northern France while a Columba report from the Loire Valley said that pigeons fell into enemy hands after a German observation post spotted the RAF flight passing overhead.

But Operation Columbas most deadly foe proved to be a natural one. It was the hawk. German hawks were flown along the coast from Belgium, France and the Netherlands to catch and kill Columba birds as they headed for Britain.

Yet the ones that survived more than proved their worth, helping to pave the way for D-Day and victory.

And for the French and the Belgians living under Nazi occupation, there was something else besides: the hope that these remarkable birds, released up into the freedom of the skies, would race back safely to their homes and help free their nation from tyranny.

 Gordon Corera, 2018

Secret Pigeon Service, by Gordon Corera, is published by William Collins, priced 20. Offer price 16 (20 per cent discount, including free p&p) until February 25. Order at mailshop.co.uk/books or call 0844 571 0640.As a female soldier, I was never supposed to get involved in close-quarter combat  until the day I shot dead a Taliban fighter at close range. While serving as a senior medic, I treated dozens of horrifically wounded soldiers from the battlefields of Helmand.

Today, the anguished expressions of those injured troops remain etched in my memory and I still feel guilty about those we couldnt save. Yet for all of that, I dont suffer from any mental or emotional disorder. I am one of the lucky ones.

Lucky because in the past ten years the numbers of troops diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has almost doubled and more than 400 serving soldiers have taken their own lives since 1995  most recently another Afghanistan veteran, Warrant Officer Nathan Hunt, of the Royal Engineers.

Former Army medic Chantelle Taylor, pictured here on the frontline in Afghanistan, is backing calls for a 27-hour helpline for serving troops suffering from PTSD

Enough is enough, I say. What more evidence does one need that the current provision of mental healthcare is lacking than the suicide of yet another respected and experienced soldier?

The Ministry of Defence expects an extremely high level of professionalism from its military so its time for them to meet like with like and care for those who selflessly serve their country.

So today Im backing The Mail on Sundays campaign for round-the clock care, including a 24/7 helpline. Serving sailors, soldiers and airmen suffering from PTSD should not have to rely on charities or the already overburdened NHS to provide lifesaving treatment at night and at weekends. Simple measures like this will save lives.

As a medic, it concerns me deeply that so many troops are being failed by the mental healthcare system, or the lack of it. That is why Ive previously driven through the night to be there for suicidal friends.

It is the norm for people in close-knit military communities to go the extra mile to support their comrades. Yet I cant help thinking the MoD should be keeping a caring eye on our troops too.

So in addition to a helpline, we should introduce routine testing for psychological problems. We test our peoples physical fitness, so why not their mental health, as the Americans already do?

Ms Taylor said serving troops suffering from PTSD should not have to rely on charities or the already overburdened NHS to provide lifesaving treatment at night and at weekends

Across the Armed Forces, tens of thousands of troops who served in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan are still in service. For as long as they remain in uniform, their welfare is the MoDs responsibility. These men and women deserve a dedicated 24/7 helpline, staffed by military experts who are vetted, cleared and supported by a nationwide network of first-responders.

The existing helplines run by military charities are not designed to support serving personnel yet serving members still reach out because they have nowhere else to go. These helplines are not integrated into the MoDs mental healthcare system, so soldiers cannot speak to their allocated care team if they are already receiving treatment.

Defence chiefs fix tanks but ignore us, says war hero who is being medically discharged due to mental illness Military Cross winner Sean Jones, 31, has accused the Army of giving up on traumatised troops A British Army war hero who is being medically discharged due to mental illness has accused top brass of giving up on traumatised troops. Military Cross winner Sean Jones, 31, who suffers from PTSD, said: The provision of mental healthcare isnt good enough. Id liken it to putting a plaster on a catastrophic bleed. We need a 24/7 helpline run by the Armed Forces, round-the-clock care and annual mental health testing for all personnel. 'Testing would prevent a lot of people developing full-blown PTSD. Youve got to wonder why these provisions dont exist. 'Defence chiefs are basically showing the door to anyone who dares admit theyve got mental health issues. They fix tanks but they dont bother fixing soldiers. The Army insists it has a retention positive approach towards soldiers diagnosed with PTSD and other issues. But since 2012, the number of soldiers medically discharged for mental or behavioural problems has more than doubled  to 393 in 2016-17. Figures for mental health discharges have also increased in the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. Last year, an Armed Forces report into medical discharges claimed there was difficulty returning personnel with severe or enduring mental ill-health, given the nature of their role and access to weapons. Colour Sergeant Jones, of 1st Battalion The Princess of Waless Regiment, was awarded the Military Cross in 2012 for leading a bayonet charge against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Many troops who served in Afghanistan will be suffering from mental health problems. Pictured: A casualty is stretchered into a helicopter in Helmand Province, Afghanistan He was later diagnosed with severe PTSD and has recently spent time in residential care due to his illness. He added: In my case, as in many others, early warning signs about my mental health problems were missed  hence why annual tests should be introduced. Initially medical staff thought I was just suffering from stress. By the time I was diagnosed with PTSD, my health was a lot worse. The Army has spent a fortune training me. Me leaving now is a waste of resources given my level of experience and seniority. The MoD said: We take the mental health of our Armed Forces very seriously and are committed to providing the best care possible. 'We are spending 20 million this year on mental health provisions. Advertisement

This isnt good enough. It smacks of a half-hearted attempt to tackle a problem, a money-saving measure which exploits the voluntary sector. As does suggesting traumatised troops should visit their nearest A&E. I couldnt think of anything worse. The MoD is better placed to provide carers with the necessary experience and affinity with combat troops than the NHS.

The officials who baulked at spending 2 million to fund the helpline  which is backed by former Army chief Lord Dannatt  should have considered that sum a worthy investment.

Having invested so much money in training soldiers, why are they so flippant about losing them to mental health issues?

I was never assessed for mental health problems when I left the military so any warning signs that I might later suffer were lost. We cannot leave to chance whether members of our Armed Forces develop such conditions. Waiting for a fatality is not acceptable. Our military has spent the last 20 years at war. We will all need to talk at some point. Thats normal, so a 24/7 helpline is the absolute minimum.

Medics like me didnt do our damnedest to save soldiers lives on the front line to then stand aside when they need help back home. We are all relying heavily on Gavin Williamson, who has made a promising start as Defence Secretary.

Soldiers dont need or want special treatment. They deserve the right treatment.

RUTH DAVIDSON: Our nations debt to courageous soldiers like Ben Parkinson

Last week, as part of The Mail on Sundays excellent campaign to start a 24-hour helpline for traumatised troops, this paper told the story of Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson.

Now 33, Ben suffered more than 40 blast injuries, including severe brain damage, after his Land Rover hit a Taliban anti-tank mine in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in 2006. It was a miracle Ben survived. His mum is rightly backing the papers campaign as she knows the difference round-the-clock access to help and advice would make for her family.

Last week, I visited Helmand province, close to where Ben was hit, to see for myself the damage these mines can cause and to learn from the brave souls working to destroy them.

Hero: Ben Parkinson suffered more than 40 blast injuries, including severe brain damage, after his Land Rover hit a Taliban anti-tank mine in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in 2006

Afghanistan seldom makes the news back home, unless its to report another bomb attack. Yet it still has more UK soldiers on active overseas deployment than any other country on Earth.

I was privileged to spend a morning with 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, who are serving as the British Armys Quick Reaction Force in the country.

Last month, they were deployed during an attack on an international hotel alongside local soldiers and the Oklahoma National Guard. Twenty-two people were killed during the 13-hour siege and 150 either escaped or were rescued.

The biggest NGO working in Afghanistan right now is the Halo Trust. Based in Dumfriesshire. Halo has 3,500 people clearing minefields, destroying arms stockpiles and making land safe.

I travelled with Halo officials to see exactly how UK aid money was being spent. I couldnt have been more impressed.

Scottish Tory Ruth Davidson says heroes like Ben are owed proper assistance once their brave work is over

During my visit, the trust handed back control of 95 million square metres of land in western Afghanistan to the local government, following a ten-year operation to remove landmines and unexploded debris. In all, 600 minefields were cleared.

While I was there, Halo taught me the techniques of mine clearance. It is patient, dangerous, back-breaking work, and much has to be done by hand.

The Afghans I met were brave, disciplined and resilient, putting themselves in harms way to rebuild their country after decades of war.

Ruth Davidson is backing calls for a 24-hour helpline for troops

From the female Afghan MPs fighting to increase girls education to the mine clearers putting their lives on the line, they are helped and supported by UK aid of course, but they are not passive recipients. They want to build Afghanistan back into a safe, stable, agricultural and mercantile nation.

While I respect the right of those who object to Britain spending 0.7 per cent of its budget supporting aid abroad, I politely disagree.

Britain has always shouldered its burden in the world. We have helped to defend those under attack and have fought to liberate the oppressed. But when the fighting stops, we have a duty to stay the course.

What would be the meaning of Ben Parkinsons sacrifice  and the sacrifices of dozens like him  if we simply quit the country when the war fighting is done?

It is also in our own security interests to ensure Afghanistan is a viable state.

As I have seen for myself, British soldiers like Ben and UK aid organisations like the Halo Trust are helping Afghanis build a future for themselves.

We should all be proud of their efforts. But as well as showing that pride, we must ensure that injured servicemen and women get every help and assistance after their brave work is over.

It is why The Mail on Sundays helpline campaign must succeed.

As a nation, we owe soldiers like Ben nothing less.A mother has made a heart-rending plea for the NHS to give her six-year-old son cannabis to treat his epilepsy.

Alfie Dingley has a rare form of the condition, which causes him to suffer up to 30 fits a day. And although he has been successfully treated abroad with cannabis oil, he cannot be given the drug in Britain because it illegal.

Now his mother Hannah Deacon is calling on the Home Office to make an exception  and has won the support of several MPs

Alfie Dingley has a rare form of epilepsy, which causes him to suffer up to 30 fits a day. And although he has been successfully treated abroad with cannabis oil, he cannot be given the drug in Britain because it illegal

Alfie is the only boy in Britain to have the form of epilepsy known as PCDH19, which is caused by a genetic mutation

Alfie is the only boy in Britain to have the form of epilepsy known as PCDH19, which is caused by a genetic mutation. His first attack happened when he was just eight months old. By the age of four he was having seizures every three weeks and in 2016 the frequency increased to almost every week, with multiple fits each time.

Ms Deacon said: You get woken up in the middle of the night by a terrible scream. They come in clusters  between 20 and 30 seizures a day for up to five days at a time.

Doctors treated him with intravenous steroids, but Ms Deacon, a hairdresser, was distressed to see the drugs left Alfie aggressive and at risk of psychosis.

In despair she sought out other treatments and learned about cannabis oil. Ms Deacon, 38, found a doctor in Holland willing to prescribe it, so moved there with Alfie last September. The results were, she says, nothing short of a miracle, bringing his seizures down to about one a month.

Alfie's mother Hannah Deacon said: You get woken up in the middle of the night by a terrible scream. They come in clusters  between 20 and 30 seizures a day for up to five days at a time

By the age of four, Alfie was having seizures every three weeks and in 2016 the frequency increased to almost every week, with multiple fits each time (pictured here as a baby in 2012)

Alfie is the only boy in Britain to have the form of epilepsy known as PCDH19, which is caused by a genetic mutation

The Dutch doctor said the outcome was astounding.

But since Alfie and his mother returned to Britain last month after running out of money, he has been unable to continue the treatment.

Ms Deacon, of Kenilworth, Warwickshire, fears that without the cannabis oil her son will return to having hundreds of seizures a month. She said: We have proved this treatment is successful for him. This is a childs life and health. We need this treatment desperately.

Baroness Meacher, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Drugs Reform, said: It is scandalous that a six-year-old boy is prevented from having the medicine that can transform his life.

Salima Budhani from Bindmans Solicitors, which is representing Alfies family, says there is legal provision for him to be prescribed cannabis oil, as the Home Secretary can make individual exceptions

But since Alfie and his mother returned to Britain last month after running out of money, he has been unable to continue the treatment

Tory MP Crispin Blunt, who advocates for the legalisation of cannabis, added: This position must be reviewed in the UK urgently.

Salima Budhani from Bindmans Solicitors, which is representing Alfies family, says there is legal provision for him to be prescribed cannabis oil, as the Home Secretary can make individual exceptions. She said they would seek a judicial review if Alfie continues to be denied the medication.

The Home Office said last night it would not issue a licence for the personal consumption of a Schedule 1 drug such as cannabis.

Ms Deacon is posting updates about her campaign here.The heartbroken parents of a little girl who has been given months to live but doesn't even know she is ill have made an emotional plea for help.

Isabella Ortiz, three, was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour - diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma - in June last year and given a year to live.

Her parents, Victor Ortiz, 39, and Assunta Trapanese, 42, were told there is no known cure and as the tumour grows their daughter will lose her mobility, speech, ability to eat and eventually she won't be able to breathe for herself.

But they have been given a new hope by an experimental type of treatment available in Mexico that has met with some success.

Isabella Ortiz, three, was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour in June last year and given a year to live. Her parents, Victor Ortiz, and Assunta Trapanese, are trying to raise money for experimental treatment

Isabella is completely oblivious to her illness and now her parents face a race against time to raise the 350,000 to send her to Mexico

And as Isabella continues to behave like a normal little girl, oblivious to her illness, her parents face a desperate race against time to raise the 350,000 necessary to try and save her life.

Mr Ortiz, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, said: 'When we were told we were devastated, the world came to a standstill and we didn't know what to do. We came out of the meeting and burst into tears.

'We said what can we do to save Isabella's life? We will do anything, but they said there was nothing that anyone could do.

'But Isabella is very easy-going, she is so young she doesn't ask questions and doesn't even know she is ill. She is very happy and giggles all the time. She is cheeky and loves playing as a princess.'

Isabella's brain stem tumour, which has a diameter of around 6cm, is in the part of the brain that controls vital functions such as movement and the senses.

This means it cannot be removed as the risk of damage is too high.

The location of Isabella's brain tumour makes surgery too risky. Her best hope is experimental surgery in Mexico

The first sign of Isabella's illness came in December 2016 when she developed a squint but it was only after a scan the following June that the cause was revealed.

She is currently receiving chemotherapy and undergoing a clinical trial at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool.

But it is unclear if this is working and in the meantime worrying signs - such as she has developed a limp - show her condition is progressing.

The treatment at Hospital Los Angeles, in Monterrey, Mexico, is a more experimental form of customised chemotherapy made possible by more relaxed medical rules in the country.

Mr Ortiz says three seriously-ill children have already improved dramatically through it.

But it would cost 30,000 for each of the recommended 10 doses of treatment and these would be a month apart so require a stay in Mexico of nearly a year.

Mr Ortiz, who works in business development, added: 'Children have been saved there. We are busy making memories but this gives us hope there is something out there that we can try to save Isabella's life.'Brig. Gen. Joseph Harrington, former commander of the US Army in Africa, will be forced to retire with one star

A married two-star general has been stripped of one of his stars after he was found to have exchanged inappropriate messages with the wife of a soldier under his jurisdiction, the Army announced on Friday.

An internal investigation revealed Brig. Gen. Joseph Harrington exchanged more than 1,000 'flirtatious' messages with the unidentified woman for at least four months.

Harringon, who led the U.S. Army in Africa from a base in Italy, will now be forced to retire from his 30-year military career with one star for what the Army called 'dissolute and immoral' behavior.

He was suspended back in September, when the relationship was first discovered after USA Today reported on the messages.

According to the Army inspector general's report, the 1,158 reviewed messages showed Harrington commenting on the woman's looks, referencing sexual activity and urging her to delete the messages and keep their relationship secret.

The woman, who was born in Europe and is married to an American soldier, said she did not feel sexually harassed during her text conversations with Harringon, the report said.

An internal investigation revealed Harrington exchanged more than 1,000 'flirtatious' messages with the unidentified woman for at least four months

However, the investigation found the exchange 'negatively impacted the command climate'.

The woman told USA today her relationship with the disgraced general began after they met at the gym, adding that the texts were friendly and related to business at first, but she became concerned when they turned 'suggestive'.

'You seem to have a great modeling resume! Truly! Though I hadn't noticed! Where is your hubby tonight? Work?' one of Harrington's texts read.

After the woman replied saying she had a fight with her husband and he was asleep, Harrington wrote: 'I'm sorry! Make up sex is fun.'

'This behavior reflects poorly on you as a senior officer and commander,' read a letter by Army officials cited by USA Today.

The Army investigation found Harrington's actions 'negatively impacted the command climate'

The letter noted that Harrington has not been found guilty of a crime, but was expected to behave honorably at all times.

In a written statement, Harrington apologized to his family and said his exchanges with the unidentified woman were 'friendship-based.'

'I made a mistake by responding to and entering into a private discussion with a soldier's spouse,' he wrote.

'While we both considered it a friendship-based conversation, it is clear that the discussion should not have occurred. I hope others can learn from and avoid my mistake.'Mourners remembered a slain Chicago Police commander Saturday as a model officer and 'one of the good guys' who was uninterested in self-promotion, even as he moved up the department's ranks.

Of all of Commander Paul Bauer's responsibilities, the ones that mattered the most to him were being a good husband to his wife, Erin, and good father to his daughter, Grace, several speakers said during his open casket funeral at the Nativity of Our Lord Church.

'Erin and Grace were everything,' said former First Deputy Superintendent John Escalante, who grew up with Bauer and served with him for most of Bauer's 31 years on the force. Grace gave one of the first readings in the funeral mass.

Mourners honor fallen commander Paul Bauer, 53 at the Nativity of our Lord church

Police officers from around the country came to honor the man described at a 'model cop'

His daughter Grace Bauer, 13, gave the first reading at her father's funeral at the Nativity of Our Lord Church

It was a sea of blue as officers filled the pews at the Nativity of Our Lord church in Chicago

Bauer, 53, was gunned down Tuesday near a government building in downtown Chicago.

Authorities say he was in a patrol car nearby when he heard a call that a man had run away from tactical officers who had approached to question him about recent drug dealing and a shooting in the area.

They say Bauer spotted the man and chased him to an outer stairwell, where they struggled. Bauer was shot six times and was pronounced dead later that day at a hospital.

Prosecutors have charged Shomari Legghette, 44, with first-degree murder of a peace officer, armed violence, the unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and possession of a controlled substance. Legghette, whose criminal record includes a conviction for armed robbery, is being held without bond.

The Rev. Dan Brandt, a Chicago Police chaplain, described Bauer as a man of faith who attended department Bible study sessions and sat in the front row with his family at Mass. Escalante said Bauer skipped his promotion ceremony when he became a captain because he had a family trip, and didn't want to reschedule the ceremony because he didn't need the public accolade.

Officers look at programs during the funeral service for Paul Bauer

Nativity of our Lord catholic church is pictured during the funeral for Commander Paul Bauer

Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson hugs Grace Bauer, left, while Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel hugs Erin Bauer during the funeral mass

Grace and Erin follow the casket out of the church, leading a procession of mourners

Escorted by a police officer, Grace and Erin Bauer leave the funeral mass

From left, Gov. Bruce Rauner, Superintendent Eddie Johnson and Mayor Rahm Emmanuel wait for the casket to leave the service

A lone bagpiper leads the flag draped coffin of fallen Chicago Police Commander Paul Bauer

Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson recalled Bauer taking time each day to practice English with a department custodian who was learning the language, and that he died doing what came naturally - helping other officers.

'He was a model police officer, and one of the good guys,' Johnson said.

Officers from across the U.S. joined other mourners, including Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Gov. Bruce Rauner and former Mayor Richard Daley, at the service. Gov. Rauner has ordered flags be flown at half-staff to honor Bauer.Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old who confessed to killing 17 people at a Parkland, Florida high school on Wednesday, was investigated by state authorities in 2016 after he filmed himself cutting his own arms on Snapchat and saying he wanted to buy a gun.

Cruz posted the video on the social media app in September 2016, 17 months before he allegedly entered the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and used an AR-15 assault rifle to kill 17 others on Wednesday.

He posted the Snapchat clip just days after turning 18 years of age and shortly after he broke up with his girlfriend who was cheating on him, his mother told investigators.

The news was first reported on Saturday by the Broward County-based South Florida Sun Sentinel newspaper.

Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old who allegedly confessed to killing 17 people at a Parkland, Florida high school on Wednesday, was investigated by state authorities in 2016 after he filmed himself cutting his own arms on Snapchat and saying he wanted to buy a gun

In Florida, 18 is the legal age at which buying a rifle or a shotgun is legal.

After posting the disturbing video, Cruz was investigated by sheriffs deputies as well as officials from welfare authorities and the state Department of Children and Family Services.

Though he was classified as a vulnerable person suffering from mental illness, the state came to the conclusion that Cruz was being adequately cared for as an outpatient at a local mental health facility and deemed low-risk of hurting himself or anyone else.

That means they saw no need to have him committed to a mental health facility.

The revelation shows that all levels of government  state, local, and federal  were aware of Cruzs potential to do harm.

The FBI acknowledged on Friday that it ignored a tip last month from a person close to Cruz who said that Cruz owned a gun and that he had spoken of carrying out a school shooting.

Someone who knew Cruz called the FBIs national tip line on January 5 and expressed concern about his gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting, according to the bureau.

Officials said the information should have been forwarded to the FBI field office in Miami.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered an investigation into how the matter was handled by both the FBI and the Justice Department.

Mr. Cruz has fresh cuts on both his arms, the DCF report reads.

Mr. Cruz stated he plans to go out and buy a gun. It is unknown what he is buying the gun for.

Though he was classified as a vulnerable person suffering from mental illness, the state came to the conclusion that Cruz was being adequately cared for as an outpatient at a local mental health facility

Five months after the Snapchat video, Cruz bought the AR-15 which was allegedly used in Wednesdays massacre.

The report on Cruz stated that he the final level of risk was low.

[Cruzs] final level of risk is low as [he] resides with his mother, attends school and receives counseling through Henderson, the DCF report states.

Cruzs lawyer, Melisa McNeill, who is the Broward County assistant public defender assigned to the case, said the report is further proof that the authorities failed not just her client but also the victims of Wednesdays shooting and their families.

All of this could have been prevented, said McNeill.

Cruz's mother, Lynda (seen above with Nikolas as a baby in this undated photo), told state investigators in September 2016 that her son had broken up with a girlfriend who was 'cheating on him'

It makes me sick to my stomach because there are 17 people, including numerous children, who are dead and several others who are injured.

After the Snapchat video, four agencies were alerted about Cruz  the DCF, the Broward County Sheriffs Office, the Broward school district, and Henderson Behavioral Health, one of the largest providers of mental health services in the country, according to the Sun Sentinel.

Every single red flag was being thrown up by this kid, four days after his 18th birthday, and nothing was done to help him, said the chief assistant public defender, Gordon Weekes.

This community has been devastated. The system didnt only fail him, it failed the entire community.

After the video, Cruzs mother, Lynda Cruz, told investigators that her son had been diagnosed with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, for which he was taking medication.

He had also been treated for depression.

At the time of the investigation, it was not clear if he was still on medication.

Cruzs mother told investigators that she and the mother of his girlfriend both said at the time that it was best to end the relationship because it was unhealthy for everyone.

She also told investigators at the time that her son did not have a gun, though she did take away an air gun he owned because he was misbehaving.

Lynda Cruz also told state investigators that her son had hate signs including the Nazi swastika and words I hate n*****s drawn on his book bag.

This photo posted on the Instagram account of Nikolas Cruz shows weapons lying on a bed. Cruz had spoken about his desire to buy a gun just days after he turned 18 years of age - which is the legal age to buy a rifle or shotgun in Florida

She said at the time that she forced her son to remove the symbols and that her family was not racist.

Last November, Lynda Cruz died of pneumonia at the age of 68.

After Nikolas Cruz got into a fight at school with another boy over a girl, a school counselor told investigators that a mobile crisis unit was called and determined he was not at risk to harm himself or others.

Officials from Henderson who were called to the school concluded that Cruz was stable enough not to be hospitalized.

A DCF spokesperson said: Based on the information at this time, this individual had no involvement with Floridas child welfare system, including foster care.

Other information related to this individual as an adult is confidential.

According to Florida law, a court must order the release of these records.

In the spirit of full transparency, the department has petitioned the court to be allowed to release any and all records we have on this individual.

The FBI also missed another key warning sign months before receiving the information on its tip line.

An early morning fog rises where 17 memorial crosses were placed, for the 17 deceased students and faculty from the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida on Saturday

In September, they were alerted to a comment made by YouTube user Nikolas Cruz proclaiming his desire to be a professional school shooter.

At the same time he was posting photos to his public social media account which showed off an arsenal of weapons, including multiple semi-automatic guns.

And he had not only joined the white nationalist group Republic of Florida but also begun participating in paramilitary training exercises with the organization.

All this, along with the fact that he had know mental health struggles and three school expulsions, was not enough to land Cruz on the FBI's radar.A Jet2 flight from Lanzarote to Birmingham with nearly 200 passengers on board was diverted to Faro Airport in Portugal after a code red alert due to a medical emergency.

The plane, with 194 passengers, touched down just after 5pm local time this afternoon following the on board drama.

A co-pilot on the flight had fallen ill and the plane had to be diverted.

Emergency teams including paramedics were placed on standby and met the plane on the runway when it landed.

A Jet2 flight from Lanzarote to Birmingham with nearly 200 passengers on board was diverted to Faro Airport in Portugal after a code red alert due to a medical emergency

The incident happened on Jet2 flight LS1202, which took off from the Lanzarote capital at 3.30pm local time and was due to arrive at Birmingham at 7.45pm.

A local emergency response official said: 'It was a major operation, We were able to mobilise 34 emergency vehicles and 81 men, among them ambulances, firefighting vehicles and police.

'A traffic lane was freed up between the airport and the hospital and backup teams were called to go to the hospital.

'The response is an automatic response to a code red alert.'

A Jet2 spokesman said the co-pilot was 'okay'. It was not immediately clear if the First Officer had been taken to a local hospital.

The budget airline said: 'Due to the unforeseen nature of this diversion, Jet2.com apologises for any delays experienced by customers whilst onward transport is being arranged.

The incident happened on Jet2 flight LS1202, which took off from the Lanzarote capital at 3.30pm local time and was due to arrive at Birmingham at 7.45pm

'Jet2.com wishes to assure all customers that everything possible is being done to allow customers to continue their journey to Birmingham airport with the least delay possible.

'Despite the disruption caused, we hope customers had a pleasant flight.'

The airline has sent another plane and crew from Manchester to pick up the holidaymakers which was expected to arrive around 8pm local time.

The airline said in a statement: 'Flight LS1202 from Lanzarote to Birmingham had to be diverted to Faro Airport today, due to the First Officer feeling unwell.

'We apologise to all affected customers for any inconvenience and we will have customers on their way as soon as possible.'Ministers are trying to answer the prayers of people fed up with patchy broadband and mobile phone signals  by putting more masts on church spires.

They have sealed a deal with the Church of England to encourage officials to install digital infrastructure on its property.

It follows complaints that many people in rural areas are hindered by technology issues.

Ministers have sealed a deal with the Church of England to place mobile phone masts on top of Anglian church spires

Digital Secretary Matt Hancock said around two-thirds of Anglican churches in England are in rural areas, making them well placed to improve connectivity in some of our hardest to reach areas.

It means that even a 15th Century building can help make Britain fit for the future.

The deal involves drawing up a standard contract for installing the equipment, making it easier for local churches to deal with phone companies.

The Bishop of Chelmsford Stephen Cottrell said the initiative will help tackle two of the biggest issues rural areas face  isolation and sustainability.The husband of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox last night sensationally admitted to being a sex pest  and quit two charities he set up in her name.

Weeping openly, Brendan Cox apologised for the 'hurt and offence' he has caused to women, and said that he was 'deeply apologetic' for his behaviour.

In a highly emotional interview with The Mail on Sunday, he dramatically announced his immediate resignation from the Jo Cox Foundation and More In Common  the charities he launched to honour the memory of his wife.

His confession came as this newspaper uncovered shocking new details of a second sexual assault he allegedly committed.

The accusation relates to his time with Save The Children in the year before his wife was killed by a far-right fanatic during the 2016 Brexit referendum campaign.

Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox (pictured together), has admitted to being a sex pest and resigned from two charities he set up in her honour

It is claimed that Mr Cox drunkenly harassed a female employee at the charity in London, forcing her against a wall outside a bar, holding her by the throat and telling her: 'I want to f*** you.'

The incident led to him being forced to leave the charity in 2015. Save The Children's chief executive Justin Forsyth, a close friend of Mr Cox and former aide to Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown, resigned four months later.

Astonishingly, one month after Mr Cox left the charity, a senior female US Government official told police Mr Cox had carried out a similar alleged assault on her at Harvard University in America  as this newspaper revealed last week. The woman was unaware of the Save The Children incident at the time.

In another development, it emerged yesterday that Mr Forsyth was also the subject of a complaint by a female employee. It related to an 'inappropriate comment' he allegedly made. The complaint was investigated and said to have been resolved 'by consensus'.

Insiders insist Mr Forsyth's subsequent departure from the charity had nothing to do with the complaint against him, nor the handling of the Cox scandal. Mr Forsyth was then appointed deputy executive director of Unicef in New York, a post he still holds.

A Save The Children source said: 'Brendan and Justin were a formidable double act. But they were too big for their boots.'

The disclosures will fuel the current controversy over charity sex scandals and cover-ups.

Mr Cox said in a statement to this newspaper: 'I accept I have made mistakes, behaved badly and caused some women hurt and offence. I take responsibility for what I have done. I apologise unreservedly for my past behaviour and am committed to holding myself to much higher standards of personal conduct in the future.'

He is accused of drunkenly harassing a Save the Children employee in London by forcing her against a wall outside a bar and holding her by the throat (Pictured, Mr Cox during a special service for his wife at Trafalgar Square in June 2016)

It marks a dramatic fall from grace for Mr Cox, who has won praise for the way he has focused on bringing up his and his wife's two young children and thrown himself into charitable work since her death.

He says he is determined to end his 'deeply inappropriate' behaviour and strive harder to keep the vow he made after his wife's murder to 'love and protect our children and fight the hatred that killed Jo'.

But Mr Cox said the furore over his conduct made his charity work more difficult and he would therefore give up public life  for now at least.

Brendan and Jo met while working for Oxfam, where Mr Forsyth had been their boss. Mr Forsyth became Gordon Brown's campaigns chief when he became Prime Minister in 2007, and Mr Cox joined him in Downing Street, while Mrs Cox became an adviser to Sarah Brown. The Coxes married in 2009.

When Labour lost the 2010 Election, Mrs Cox followed her political dream  eventually being elected MP in 2015. Mr Forsyth became Save The Children's chief executive and Mr Cox went with him as director of policy, including responsibility for the 'empowerment of women.'

Some colleagues say he had a reputation for pestering women for sex. 'It wasn't comfortable being on duty alone with him,' said one.

'He would buy women drinks, his hands were everywhere. Everyone knew it was going on, but he was best friends with the boss.'

Matters came to a head after a Save The Children drinks party in July 2015. 'Brendan was dancing provocatively with a woman who told him to leave her alone,' said one source. 'She joined a group of women who went on to a bar. Brendan followed them. He got her outside, pushed her against a wall and tried to force himself on her.'

Another source said: 'He was drunk, said, 'I want to f*** you' and held her by the throat. She was outraged and made a complaint.'

Some female employees are said to have feared Mr Cox was 'shielded' by Mr Forsyth, and threatened to resign unless Mr Cox was fired.

Mr Cox has dramatically announced his immediate resignation from the Jo Cox Foundation and More In Common (pictured: Brendan and Jo outside 10 Downing Street)

Charity chiefs suspended Mr Cox, banned him from the office and set up a disciplinary panel. Mr Forsyth did not sit on the panel because of their close friendship.

But the investigation was effectively scuppered when Mr Cox refused to attend a disciplinary hearing and suddenly resigned. The charity was told they could not find him guilty of misconduct without hearing his side of the story.

The ploy also meant Save The Children could not tell Harvard he had been found guilty of misconduct when he attended a course there four weeks later. This newspaper revealed last week how a woman, whose identity we withheld, complained to US police, accusing Mr Cox of sexual assault while there.

By her account, he cornered her in a bar, plied her with drink, 'grabbed her by the hips, pulled her hair, forced his thumb into her mouth in a sexual way' and later sent her obscene text messages. Police filed her complaint as 'assault and battery', but she told them not to take further action because she 'feared repercussions'.

Mr Cox last week called the allegations 'spurious'. Yesterday he said he did not 'recognise or accept' her claims.

Following the murder of his wife, there were reports that Mr Cox was lined up to succeed her Labour MP for Batley and Spen in Yorkshire, but he did not do so. The Mail on Sunday has been told Labour officials advised against it because of rumours about his behaviour.

Mr Forsyth's successor as Save The Children chief executive, Kevin Watkins, last night announced new measures to stop staff being abused by colleagues in the wake of the allegations about Mr Cox.

He pledged to take charge of a major shake-up of the charity's complaints procedure and vowed a 'zero tolerance of disrespectful behaviour'.

Mr Watkins could face tough questions over the Cox scandal  as well as other allegations of misconduct by aid workers  when he is quizzed by MPs this week.

Mr Forsyth declined to comment last night.

Additional reporting: Charlotte Wace

Was I inappropriate? I thought I was flirtatious. But I overstepped the line: Brendan Cox's astonishing tearful confession over his inappropriate and often drunken behaviour

BY JO MACFARLANE

The strain of the last week is etched plainly on Brendan Cox's face. His manner is as crumpled as his casual black T-shirt and jeans; his eyes heavy and rimmed with red. This is a man in turmoil, struggling to confront some very difficult personal truths.

Today, Brendan sits in the houseboat on the River Thames in London that he shares with his two young children, and holds his head in his hands. He is plagued, he admits, with a sense of crushing guilt.

Guilt that his sexually inappropriate, often drunken behaviour led to damning complaints about him by two women, which is why, he says, he is taking part in this extraordinary and often tearful interview.

But there is clearly shame, too, that this behaviour has now forced him to step away from the work he has been carrying out in memory of his wife, the Labour MP Jo Cox. He has quit the charities the Jo Cox Foundation and More In Common as he withdraws from public life.

It is a remarkable fall from grace. Yet while Brendan is keen to apologise for any offence caused to women by his behaviour, he remains reluctant to face head-on the disturbing details of the sex abuse claims he now faces.

Mr Cox was, until now, a grieving widower, but now finds himself labelled a sexual predator who is accused of trying to take advantage of other women during his marriage

Brendan was, until now, a grieving widower who, in the aftermath of his wife's shocking murder just before the 2016 Brexit vote, had been dedicating himself to campaigning on her behalf. Now, he finds himself labelled a sexual predator who is accused of trying to take advantage of other women during his marriage.

'I know that there are instances when I was working at Save the Children that did make people feel uncomfortable and that they felt was inappropriate,' he concedes. 'And I think that charge is a fair one. There will be people who will put the worst possible spin on this and assume it was malicious or a deliberate act.

'Others will think I behaved unacceptably badly. But that doesn't necessarily mean I'm innately a bad person or that it's not possible to learn from those mistakes.

'I know I've never acted with malice or tried to upset people, but I've clearly made people feel like that.

'The thing I want to say today, to people that I have offended and upset or to those I've let down, is that I am deeply sorry for doing that. I feel that very profoundly.'

The small, cosy living space on the boat, warmed today by a wood-burning stove, is filled with pictures of the family in happier times. They adorn every wall, every surface. There are photographs of a smiling Jo with their children; a photograph of the couple on The Cuillin mountain range in Skye where Jo realised she was pregnant with their eldest son; and a poignant painting of Jo and the kids on the deck of the boat, which, Brendan says, captures her gait perfectly.

Yet this cosy domesticity stands in stark contrast to the damning allegations about his behaviour during their marriage. There were even rumours, which he does not deny, that he slept with other workers at the charity. Did Jo know about any of it?

'I'm not going to talk about my relationship with Jo,' he says, firmly. 'We never pretended that we had the perfect relationship, or the perfect marriage.

Mr Cox said: 'This is about me, and my behaviour  not about her. I'm sure people might advise me to talk about her but it'd be a PR tool and that doesn't feel right'

'We had difficult times, we had amazing times, but I'm not going to recount conversations I had with her because she's not here.

'This is about me, and my behaviour  not about her. I'm sure people might advise me to talk about her but it'd be a PR tool and that doesn't feel right.'

Such declarations are to his credit. And yet Brendan maintains even now that the allegations against him are a 'massive exaggeration' of his actual behaviour. He is today refusing to discuss the details of any incident.

Last week, The Mail on Sunday revealed that a woman complained to police in the US over an alleged sexual assault at Harvard University in October 2015, where Mr Cox was attending a course. Her claims  categorically denied by Brendan  include that he plied her with alcohol, tried to force himself on her, and inserted a thumb in her mouth following a late-night dinner.

Brendan says he is keen not to disclose confidential details of a separate incident in July 2015 involving a colleague at Save the Children. But what he is prepared to concede is that both women saw his behaviour very differently than he did.

Hearing that he was 'known' as a sex pest and that women were reluctant to be on duty alone with him at the charity, appears to come as a shock. Brendan looks visibly uncomfortable and turns away, rubbing his face with his hands.

'It's entirely fair to say that other people felt my presence was different than I meant it to be. The sense that I was physically imposing I don't think I had a good account of that, and how that made people feel in some situations. At the root [of the rumours] was a sense, which is fair, that I could overstep the line.'

To his regret, he failed to acknowledge that at the time. It may seem a weak defence given the seriousness of the allegations, but Brendan insists he saw his behaviour as playful rather than predatory.

'Maybe if I had seriously sat down and thought about it in the cold light of day then I might have been clearer on it. Certainly, I had too much to drink at times. I probably behaved in a way I thought was sort of jokey, or flirtatious. I often wasn't being serious, but that was perceived differently by others.

Hearing that he was 'known' as a sex pest and that women were reluctant to be on duty alone with him at the charity, appears to come as a shock to Mr Cox (pictured during a previous interview with the BBC)

'There was never any malice; any intention to upset or offend people. But the bigger picture is that you do have to face up to how you make people feel, not just what your intention was. I didn't reflect on it  that's not a defence, it's a failing. It's not good enough. With the #MeToo movement, I think people, including me, are reflecting not just on their behaviour but the power imbalance in some encounters. It's a painful thing, if you're one of those people, but ultimately it's a healthy thing to be going through.'

The realisation may have come too late. The allegations are so serious they may end Brendan's public life. 'I didn't want the charities to suffer from my mistakes,' he says. 'They're important both for Jo's legacy and for building stronger communities and that's more important than any individual. I didn't want to be a burden or a distraction to any of that.'

It is hard, too, not to consider what Jo would have made of it all. It is an enormous source of regret to Brendan that she is not here to support him now.

'It would have been a very difficult conversation,' he says. 'But yes, I agree  I'd have drawn so much comfort from it.'

When asked if he feels he has let his late wife down, there is a long pause. When he eventually speaks, his voice is choked, his eyes wet with tears.

'I think that I've let myself down,' he says, quietly. 'I need to take responsibility for that. It's what I'm trying to do.

'With everything that's happened in my own life, and the public conversation, I am a lot more reflective than I would have been. I want to make sure that in the future I hold myself to a much higher standard, and that nothing like this can ever be said of me again.'

A legacy, perhaps, that Jo could be truly proud of.

'I think that I've let myself down,' Mr Cox added. 'I need to take responsibility for that. It's what I'm trying to do' (pictured with his sons on the River Thames)

Dfid 'knew about Oxfam predator 12 years ago but did nothing': Whistleblower raised concerns over disgraced chief but was told: 'People can change'

BY SIMON MURPHY AND NICK CRAVEN

An official at the Department for International Aid and Development failed to heed a warning about the disgraced Oxfam chief at the centre of the aid scandal, according to a whistleblower.

Having raised her concerns over the conduct of Roland van Hauwermeiren  who left Oxfam after being accused of using prostitutes  the whistleblower says Dfid responded: 'People can change.'

The female humanitarian employee who raised the alarm worked under Roland van Hauwermeiren for Merlin  now part of Save The Children  in Liberia in the early 2000s.

When she discovered he had later become Oxfam's Country Director in Chad in 2006, she reported allegations about his past misconduct, but says her concerns fell on deaf ears.

Roland van Hauwermeiren (pictured) left Oxfam after being accused of using prostitutes

Mr van Hauwermeiren later went on to work for Oxfam in Haiti, where he was forced out after being accused of sleeping with prostitutes, a claim he denies.

Mr van Hauwermeiren, country director for health charity Merlin between 2002 and 2004 in Liberia, reportedly used the charity's drivers to ferry him to clubs to meet prostitutes and take them to the villa rented for him using donated funds.

He has admitted dancing with prostitutes in Liberia but denies he had sex with them.

Posting in a Facebook group used by concerned aid workers, the whistleblower wrote: 'I was only 24, in my first field job and I shouted and shouted.

'Even though it was so rife in Monrovia [Liberia's capital], that his behaviour only marginally stood out as crossing a line.

'When I heard he was Oxfam CD [Country Director] in Chad, I told a woman from Dfid about his past. Her response, was that people can change.'

Last night, a Dfid spokeswoman said: 'These allegations were not reported to our whistleblowing or HR departments.'Huge waves generated by Category five Cyclone Gita have been causing havoc on Queensland beaches with one beach goer suffering horrific injuries in the raging seas.

The 55-year-old women was swimming at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast yesterday when monster swell slammed and then dragged her across jagged rocks.

Witness David Cooper told 7 News that the women, a visitor to the area, suffered horrific injuries as a result of the fall.

The 55-year-old tourist was slammed against and then dragged across the jagged edges of Snapper Rocks leaving her with horrific facial injuries

'Half her forehead was off down to her eye,' he said.

Another witness, Pete Gill, said the women was torn apart by the rocks.

'The lady just face-planted all the way down those sharp jagged rocks,' he said.

Witnesses were left stunned by the brutal incident with one witness saying the tourist was 'torn apart' by the rocks

The 55-year-old tourist wasn't the only one to suffer at the hands of the huge seas on the Gold Coast with a surfer escaping serious injury at Burleigh Heads.

'Took off on a wave and pulled in, didn't make it, just popped up and my board was in half,' the surfer told 7 News.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has issued hazardous surf warnings on Fraser Island Coast, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast for Sunday, February 18 and Monday February 19.

Surf Life Saving Queensland is advising people to stay out of the water and where possible avoid the waters edge and boaters should consider changing or delaying their voyage across shallow waters and ocean bars.

One surfer was lucky to escape serious injury when only his surfboard was snapped in two

Boaters should also remember to log on with their local radio base and consider their safety management plan.

'If you're inexperienced don't go in the water  it's just too powerful,' lifeguard Kevin Sole said.Hannibal's crossing of the Alps with 30,000 soldiers, 9,000 cavalry and a herd of elephants remains one of the greatest military feats in history.

Now researchers have proved that the Carthaginian generals achievement was even more remarkable than previously believed, unearthing evidence that he chose a particularly perilous route.

Details of the exact journey he took to make his audacious strike at the heart of the Roman Empire have always been shrouded in mystery. But now the riddle has been solved  thanks to animal dung.

Hannibal crossing the Alps, 218 BC, by Jacopo Ripanda from the Conservatories Palace, Rome

Soil containing traces of horse manure has been carbon dated to 218BC, the time of Hannibals crossing, and shows that he took the Col de la Traversette, a narrow bridle path 9,500ft above sea level that links the Guil Valley in France with the Po Valley in Italy.

Previous speculation that he took this direct route had been discounted because of its sheer difficulty, with gradients as steep as 1:3.

Chris Allen, a microbiologist at Queens University, Belfast, said: It was an absolute revelation to us.

The research will be revealed in Hannibals Elephant Army: The New Evidence on Channel 4 at 8pm next Sunday.An official at the Department for International Aid and Development failed to heed a warning about the disgraced Oxfam chief at the centre of the aid scandal, according to a whistleblower.

Having raised her concerns over the conduct of Roland van Hauwermeiren  who left Oxfam after being accused of using prostitutes  the whistleblower says Dfid responded: People can change. The female humanitarian employee who raised the alarm worked under Roland van Hauwermeiren for Merlin  now part of Save The Children  in Liberia in the early 2000s.

When she discovered he had later become Oxfams Country Director in Chad in 2006, she reported allegations about his past misconduct, but says her concerns fell on deaf ears.

Mr van Hauwermeiren later went on to work for Oxfam in Haiti, where he was forced out after being accused of sleeping with prostitutes, a claim he denies.

A whistleblower has claimed that officials at the Department for International Aid and Development were warned about the conduct of Roland van Hauwermeiren (pictured)

Mr van Hauwermeiren, country director for health charity Merlin between 2002 and 2004 in Liberia, reportedly used the charitys drivers to ferry him to clubs to meet prostitutes and take them to the villa rented for him using donated funds.

He has admitted dancing with prostitutes in Liberia but denies he had sex with them.

Posting in a Facebook group used by concerned aid workers, the whistleblower wrote: I was only 24, in my first field job and I shouted and shouted. Even though it was so rife in Monrovia [Liberias capital], that his behaviour only marginally stood out as crossing a line.

When I heard he was Oxfam CD [Country Director] in Chad, I told a woman from Dfid about his past. Her response, was that people can change.

Last night, a Dfid spokeswoman said: These allegations were not reported to our whistleblowing or HR departments.Advertisement

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took his charm offensive to New Delhi on Saturday, arriving in India with his photogenic family for a week of talks with the country's leader.

Things didn't get off to a great start though, with Twitter commentators quick to point out that the country's PM Narendra Modi failed to meet them at the airport and instead sent a junior agriculture minister.

It was a far cry from when Obama and leaders of Israel and UAE made the trip to the world's largest democracy with Modi patiently waiting for them on the tarmac.

The trip signals Trudeau's intention to improve Canada's relationship with India amid allegations from Indian officials that Canada has been too comfortable with Sikh separatists who want an independent Punjab carved out of northwestern India.

While its long been a matter of contention between the two countries, the fact Trudeau has a large contingent of Sikhs in his cabinet, all of whom are traveling with him, may be adding to the tension.

The two countries also trade meagerly, exchanging around $8billion of goods per year, and Trudeau has not been to India since he took office despite the 1.4million Indians who live in Canada.

On Saturday night, he started by bowing his head and clasping his hands in respect while disembarking his aircraft.

Laying on the charm: Justin Trudeau arrived in New Delhi on Saturday night with his wife Sophie and their three children, three-year-old Hadrien, nine-year-old Ella-Grace and 10-year-old Xavier

The family received a warm welcome from their hosts and reciprocated with keen waves and wide smiles as they disembarked their plane

They bounded down the steps to greet crowds who had waited.

Hadrien, who was dressed sweetly in a denim button down, stole the show as he struggled with a large bouquet of flowers that was given to the family by someone in the crowd.

His father laughed and smiled as they made their way slowly as a family to a waiting car to be whisked away.

Trudeau will spend the week talking with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about how they can boost their relationship.

They will focus talks on civil nuclear cooperation, space, defense, energy and education.

During his visit, Trudeau will meet with top business leaders in Mumbai and visit key Indian monuments, including the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Golden Temple in Amritsar and the Jama Masjid in New Delhi.

As Ella-Grace and Xavier bounded down the steps, three-year-old Hadrian struggled to reach the rails

The youngest Trudeau took his time coming down the steps under the watchful eye of his mother who had dressed patriotically in an all-red outfit

For Hadrien, the long descent from the plane was worth it. He was delighted to receive a large bouquet of flowers once firmly on the ground

The three-year-old smiled as he struggled to carry his bouquet towards the family's waiting car

Sophie kept hold of a smaller bouquet and guided the youngster along as he maneuvered the blooms under one arm, to the frustration of his impatient-looking older sister

Snub? There was no sign of PM Modi on the red carpet when the Trudeaus arrived. Instead the family was greeted by a junior Indian minister

Trudeau will not sit down with India's PM until Monday

President is greeted by PM Modi at Palam Airport, New Delhi January 27, 2015. Pictured right is Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu being warmly received by PM Modi in India on 14th January 2018

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan after the prince arrived at an air force base in New Delhi on February 10, 2016

At Davos last month, while President Donald Trump supported new tariffs on imports, Trudeau and Modi came out forcefully against a drift toward protectionism in the global economy.

In 2017, two-way merchandise trade between Canada and India amounted to $8.4 billion, split equally between exports to and imports from India, according to Indian media.

Canada mainly imports pearls, organic chemicals, pharmaceutical products, textiles, bicycles and motorcycles from India.

It exports vegetables, paper, fertilizers, wood pulp, iron and steel and precious stones to India.

Before his talks with Modi begin, he will visit the famous Taj Mahal with his family on Sunday.

The visit comes three years into Trudeau's leadership and it is his first despite the large contingency of Indians who live in CanadaThe Swiss are making it illegal to boil lobsters, claiming the classic cooking method is cruel because they can 'feel pain'.

A new law due to take effect in March will ban chefs from throwing live lobsters into pots of boiling water, forcing them to 'render them unconscious' first.

Restaurants will instead have to electrocute them or temporarily stun them before stabbing them with a knife.

The new legislation is a world first, making Switzerland the only country to have such strict laws on lobster cooking.

Switzerland is soon to make boiling live lobsters illegal, with new laws coming in from March

It has been designed to uphold the part of the Swiss constitution on 'animal dignity'.

New strict rules also mean cats have to have daily visual contact with other felines and hamsters have to be kept in pairs.

Switzerland's changes come as Britain prepares to make similar amendments to their own animal welfare policy on lobsters.

Earlier this month UK Fisheries Minister George Eustice said the government was looking at bringing in a law that would mean crustaceans had to be either frozen to death or stunned.

Restaurants will instead have to electrocute them or temporarily stun them before killing them with a knife

Campaigners want ministers to change animal welfare laws to include decapod crustaceans for the first time because they say there is evidence they feel pain.

Mr Eustice yesterday said the government was considering amending the legislation. He told BBC Radio 5 Live: 'There is a serious issue.

'We know that among some of the larger crustaceans, such as lobsters, they do not feel conscious pain in the way that we do.

'But there is some evidence that they have a nervous system that enables them to detect stress and this is something that we ought to be considering.

'The RSPCA has issued some very good guidance on the correct way to kill a lobster. You can either gradually freeze them, in which case they literally lull into unconsciousness.

'Or there is even a device called a 'crusta-stun', which is a stunning device that knocks a lobster out.'

He added: 'I've spent many an hour sitting down with our officials and experts. We are looking at this issue but it is a complex one and the evidence is actually quite mixed.'

Campaigners including television presenter Michaela Strachan, RSPCA chief scientific officer Dr Julia Wrathall of the Humane Society International, last month wrote to Environment Secretary Michael Gove about the issue.

In a letter, they said: 'In light of the extreme practices they are subjected to, we call on the government to include decapod crustaceans under the definition of 'animal' in the Animal Welfare Bill (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) and in the Animal Welfare Act 2006.'

More than 32,000 people have already signed a petition online to support a change in the law.A mother from North Carolina arrived on Saturday to the Mecklenburg County jail to serve a week long jail sentence after she decided to baptized her two-year-old daughter.

Kendra Stocks was handed down the punishment on Friday morning after she was found in contempt for violating a court order stemming from her daughter's 2016 baptism at St. Peter's Catholic Church, according to WSOC News.

Court records show that the case centers on a custody battle between Stocks and her estranged husband Paul Schaaf, who never agreed to terms concerning the religious ritual.

Kendra Stocks (shown left embracing her mother) arrived at Mecklenburg County jail after a judge found her in contempt for baptizing her own daughter at a Catholic church

Stocks (pictured) was handed down the sentence on Friday morning after she was found in contempt for violating a court order

The case stemmed from a 2016 custody battle between Stocks and her estranged husband Paul Schaaf

'It's just very sad. It's all just a very sad situation,' Stocks told the local broadcaster just moments before surrendering to authorities in Charlotte.

Stocks was searched by a female deputy and handcuffed, and her mother cried as she walked out of the jail.

Following the ruling, Judge Sean Smith issued a stern warning to Stocks, telling her to respect the court's decision or face sever consequences

'She's wonderful,' said Carol Stocks, Kendra Stocks mother. 'They play all the time. She teaches them things. She's an incredible loving mother.'

According to the court documents, Schaaf was granted final decision-making authority on all legal custody decisions, including decisions concerning religion.

It remains unclear why Schaaf was given primary custody in the case.

Following the ruling, Judge Sean Smith issued a stern warning to Stocks, telling her to respect the court's decision or face sever consequences.

The next day, the 36-year-old mother of two took her baby girl to her local church and baptized the child without Schaaf's knowledge.

Schaaf, a self-described religious Catholic who attends mass on a weekly basis, learned of the incident through Facebook.

Attorney Jonathan Feit, who represent Schaad in the matter, said that 'the mother has acted selfishly by depriving the father of the ability to be present at an event that was extraordinarily important to him.'

'She's wonderful,' said Carol Stocks (pictured), Kendra Stocks mother. 'They play all the time. She teaches them things. She's an incredible loving mother.'

Judge Smith apparently agreed and sentenced Stocks to seven days in jail for contempt. Smith refused to provide comment to WSOC, telling the news station that he cannot speak on cases involving minors.

'Her father and I both agreed on baptizing her,' Stocks told WSOC. 'I regret that he wasn't part of it, but I don't regret raising her in the Catholic faith, which is what we both wanted.'

'I'll get through it and hopefully come out a better person,' Stocks added.

Feit later told The Charlotte Observer that Stocks was being punished not for the baptism, but for defying the court.

'For our system to work, there ought to be consequences for willfully and intentionally violating a court order,' he said. 'I teach my children that. I reject the notion that anybody else is responsible for what is happening besides Ms. Stocks herself.'

, Stock's former husband was granted final decision-making authority on all legal custody decisions (Stocks pictured with her daughter, left, and son)It seems that light sabers might not remain science fiction forever.

In a groundbreaking study, a team of researchers from MIT and Harvard created a new form of light that could be used to build light crystals someday in the future.

What's more likely, however, is that the new form of photonic light will be used to power super fast quantum computers.

The new form of light happens when three photons stick together, which is remarkable given that the light particles typically refuse to interact.

Scroll down for video

A team of researchers from Harvard and MIT have created a new form of light by discovering that three photons stick together when they interact in a 'ultracold' cloud of atoms. An artist's impression is pictured

For example, if you were to shine two flashlights in such a way that their beams cross, nothing would happen.

That's because the photons that make up the light don't interact; instead, they 'pass each other by, like indifferent spirits in the night,' MIT noted in a press release.

In order to get the photons to interact, the scientists shone a weak laser beam through a dense cloud of ultracold atoms.

This slowed the atoms down until they were nearly still, sending only a few photons through the cloud at one time.

The photons exited the cloud bound together in pairs or triplets.

This suggested 'some kind of interaction -- in this case, attraction -- taking place among them,' MIT said.

It isn't the first time the researchers have observed this kind of interaction, however.

In 2013, the same team of researchers found that they could bind two photons together.

But they wanted to know if they could combine more photons.

In order to get the photons to interact, the scientists shone a weak laser beam through an ultracold atom device (pictured). They discovered that photons would bind with atoms, creating 'polaritons,' interact with other polaritons and exit the cloud together

'For example, you can combine oxygen molecules to form O2 and O3 (ozone), but not O4, and for some molecules you cant form even a three-particle molecule,' said Vladan Vuletic, who co-led the study.

'So it was an open question: Can you add more photons to a molecule to make bigger and bigger things?'

The scientists also developed a scenario for why they believe the photons were able to interact.

'As a single photon moves through the cloud of rubidium atoms, it briefly lands on a nearby atom before skipping to another atom, like a bee flitting between flowers, until it reaches the other end,' MIT explained.

When a photon lands on an atom, they can form a hybrid photon-atom or polariton.

HOW DID SCIENTISTS CREATE A NEW FORM OF LIGHT? A team of researchers from MIT and Harvard were able to make photons interact by sending them through an ultracold, dense cloud of rubidium atoms. What they discovered was that the super cold cloud would slow down the photons, causing them to briefly bind to atoms in the cloud. When photons and atoms bind, they create 'polaritons'. In 2013, the same researchers found that they could bind two photons together. Above, a green laser used to calculate the variations of the speed of light is shown These polaritons would interact in the cloud and exit the cloud still bound together. They knew that two photons could bind together, but for the first time, they observed three photons could be bound together. Amazingly, the scientists said this interaction with the atom cloud occurs in just a millionth of a second. Advertisement

If two polaritons are moving through a cloud, they can interact and exit the cloud still bound together.

In a normal scenario, a stream of photons would exit the cloud as single, randomly spaced photons.

The scientists discovered that this phenomenon can also occur with three photons.

According to MIT, this interaction with the atom cloud occurs in just a millionth of a second.

'What's neat about this is, when photons go through the medium, anything that happens in the medium, they 'remember' when they get out,' said Sergio Cantu, a co-author of the study.

Not only did they discover that the photons could interact, they also found that the typically weightless photons gained mass, albeit a fraction of an electron's mass.

WHAT IS QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT? In quantum physics, entangled particles remain connected so that actions performed by one affects the behaviour of the other, even if they are separated by huge distances. This means if you measure, 'up' for the spin of one photon from an entangled pair, the spin of the other, measured an instant later, will be 'down' - even if the two are on opposite sides of the world. Entanglement takes place when a part of particles interact physically. In quantum physics, entangled particles remain connected so that actions performed by one affects the behaviour of the other, even if they are separated by huge distances (artist's impression) For instance, a laser beam fired through a certain type of crystal can cause individual light particles to be split into pairs of entangled photons. The theory that so riled Einstein is also referred to as 'spooky action at a distance'. Einstein wasn't happy with theory, because it suggested that information could travel faster than light. Advertisement

Now that photons have been shown to interact, they could be used in a variety of new applications.

It's possible that one day scientists could make the photons interact in such a way that they can create real-life light sabers, or beams of light that 'pull or push on each other...making a luminous stream,' MIT said.

If scientists can make photons interact in other ways, they could be used to perform 'extremely fast, incredibly complex quantum computations,' MIT added.

The scientists demonstrated that the photons are 'entangled', creating a strong bond that could efficiently carry information in quantum computers.

Google has made a big change to how its search results appear and internet users are enraged.

The tech giant announced on Thursday that it will no longer show a 'view image' option in its image search results.

The button used to appear when users clicked on a picture and would let them view just the image, instead of having to visit the website hosting the image.

Google said the change came about as a result of a settlement it reached with Getty Images, which sells photographers work.

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Instead of a 'view image' button, image search results now prompts users to visit the site. The move is an attempt to appease photographers who complained that users stole images

The deal also included provisions that require Google to show additional copyright information and improve attribution of Getty images.

In place of the 'view image' button, users can still click to through the website by selecting the 'visit' button.

It's great news for photographers and websites who have complained that the 'view image' feature has encouraged users' to steal their work without credit.

Getty made similar complaints, arguing that the feature made it easy for people to find Getty Images photos and steal them without getting appropriate permission first.

But it's bound to annoy users who will now have to click through to the website and find the photo they want to use.

What's more, some websites disable right-clicking, which could make it particularly difficult for users to obtain a specific photo, the Verge noted.

Google said in tweet that the changes were designed to address both parties.

'They are designed to strike a balance between serving user needs and publisher concerns, both stakeholders we value,' the firm said.

Google said on Thursday that it would no longer display the 'view image' button in image search results. The decision was a result of a settlement with photo company Getty Images

That didn't seem to appease Google users who were angry about the change, however.

Many took to Twitter to complain about the removal of the 'view image' button, with some calling it 'the worst change in the history of mankind,' 'awful,' and 'user-unfriendly.'

'Google removing the 'view image' option is legitimately one of the workflow crippling things I've experienced in a while and is so user hostile that either they'll be forced to pull it back or an alternative will need to arrive,' one user wrote.

Cool, so Google got rid of the view image button on Google search. LITERALLY THE ONLY THING I EVER USE . THANKS GOOGLE  Ali H  (@The_AliH) February 16, 2018

One of the few things still useful about Google has been the image search. They just nerfed it for no good reason.https://t.co/NEdpe1YrIW  John Robb (@johnrobb) February 16, 2018

A savvy user even figured out a way to build a Google Chrome extension that adds the 'view image' feature back into the browser.

Google hasn't yet responded to the user criticisms.

The move comes after Google made some other notable changes to the search experience this week.

Google has launched a new platform for creating bite-sized content for viewing on mobile devices. Amp Stories works in a similar way to rival Snapchat's Discover Stories, providing visually rich full-screen tap-through articles

The firm introduced its own ad-blocking technology to Chrome on Friday, which will prevent many of the most 'intrusive' advertisements that users find annoying.

That includes pop-up ads, auto-play ads that automatically play sound and pre-stitial ads that take up a users' entire screen, among others.

Additionally, Google also launched a platform for bite-sized 'visually rich' content for viewing on mobile devices, called Amp Stories.

The move is part of Google's push to speed up the Internet for mobile users, the Accelerated Mobile Pages (Amp) project, first announced in 2015.

Amp Stories steps up these efforts, in an attempt to deliver standalone content rich in visuals, video and animation.A controversial badger cull to stamp out TB in cattle could be extended for the first time across England.

In five years of the cull, around 34,000 badgers have been trapped and shot in and around areas at high risk from TB. But Government officials could now allow culling licences across almost half the country previously exempted and classed as 'low-risk'.

Farmers in large parts of northern and eastern England would be allowed for the first time to apply to cull badgers under Defra plans, although only on the 'rare occasions' when infection is confirmed in the wild animals.

This makes it a reactive cull, rather than proactive culls which have been carried out in high-risk areas.

A controversial badger cull to stamp out TB in cattle could be extended for the first time across England

The environment department also wants to raise the cap on licences from the current 10 a year, and potentially them to last for longer than the current five-year limit.

The Government is seeking to eradicate bovine tuberculosis by 2038, which it says costs taxpayers more than 100 million a year and causes 'devastation and distress' for hard-working farmers.

However conservationists have warned the programme could see badgers wiped out completely in some areas.

Prof Rosie Woodroffe, senior research fellow at the Institute of Zoology, within the Zoological Society of London, said: 'Defra is considering licensing more than 10 new areas a year, so the total cull zone would start to engulf entire counties, and the numbers of badgers killed each year would climb into the many tens of thousands.

'Slaughtering wildlife on this scale needs to be well justified - unfortunately there is not yet robust evidence that the current badger culling policy is helping to control cattle TB.' The badger cull was carried out in 19 zones last year, mainly across the West Country. But farmers have never been allowed licences north of Cheshire and Nottinghamshire.

A consultation launched by Defra would allow applications from farmers across the whole of the north, including in Yorkshire, Cumbria and Northumberland.

The 'low-risk area', previously exempted from culling, also takes in much of the east, including Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent.

The TB strategy consultation states: 'Controlling TB in badgers in areas where it is endemic is an important aspect of the strategy, and there is a strong case that this tool should be available in low-risk areas on the rare occasions when infection is confirmed in badgers.' If approved, a licence in the 'low-risk area' of England would allow farmers or government officials to trap badgers in cages and shoot them.

Current culling licences only last for four or five years, with farmers told to cull badgers each year of that period with an aim to reducing their local badger population by at least 70 per cent.

A consultation launched by Defra would allow applications from farmers across the whole of the north, including in Yorkshire, Cumbria and Northumberland.

But the consultation says culls in the low-risk part of England are likely to take 'several years' and that the licence period should be set on a 'case-by-case' basis.

Defra is also consulting to lift the cap for the number of areas where culls can take place each year.

Keith Taylor MEP, the Green Party's animals spokesman, said: 'Just when you thought the Conservative Government had finally understood just how much the British people care for animals and our precious wildlife, they announce plans to yet again expand a campaign of slaughter based on such a poor understanding of the available evidence.' However ministers say they want to ensure other elements such as cattle vaccination are ready to be deployed in the next phase of the TB strategy.

Farming Minister George Eustice said: 'There is no single measure that will provide an easy answer and that is why we are pursuing a wide range of interventions including cattle movement controls and a cull of badgers in areas where disease is rife.' He added: 'While the badger culls are a necessary part of the strategy, no one wants to be culling badgers forever.'They said the car would pick us up at 11am, and the dining-room clock had just begun to chime when the doorbell rang.

Moments later we were heading for Southampton docks in chauffeured comfort, enveloped by an emotion rarely felt on the opening journey of any holiday  tranquillity.

No timetable panic, no airport drudgery, no lugging of our enormous suitcases or endless airport security checks.

Port of call: Pretty Camara de Lobos in Madeira - one of the calling points on the Saga Pearl II cruise

Two hours later we were being welcomed aboard the Saga Pearl II and directed to our cabin where, later, we would be reunited with our luggage. The ship wouldnt be leaving for another three hours. In the meantime, tea  a sumptuous spread  was being served in the main lounge.

We fell easily into the warm babble of conversation. Derek and Sally had been chauffeured to the ship from Wales (picking up another couple on the way), Ted and Brenda were driven from Knowsley, Liverpool.

And there was Alice and John from Canterbury.

Oh, said Alice in an excited voice, its just like a weekend country house party.

A house party, though, without children. Indeed, most on board were retired. This was a Saga cruise and we were heading for the Canaries.

There was an Agatha Christie moment as my wife and I wondered just who, or what, the others (470 in total) were, or had been. In fact, these people had lived, most of them quite a lot.

Alan, a quiet chap from Surrey aged about 70, casually mentioned hed been in electronics. It emerged hed worked at Nasa on Apollo 13 and subsequent space missions.

Michael had been a local authority director of finance in one of our cities. Chuckling over his pan-fried Mediterranean sole with lobster sauce, he recounted how hed refused to allow his council to use PFI (private finance initiative) to build a hospital because the huge interest on the loan would have bled us dry.

They, like nearly all the other passengers, were Saga regulars. One spirited lady in her 70s, travelling alone, was on her 56th cruise with the company.

So much better than being in an old folks home, she said.

Cruises are never easy for women  this one had no fewer than four formal evenings with the men in black or white tie  but no one seemed to notice, or to care, if a lady wore the same outfit more than once.

My own horrifying, last-minute discovery when dressing for the first formal dinner was that I had no bow tie.

The Saga Pearl II which sets sail from Southampton and passengers are chauffeured to the docks

Rushing down to the dining room I sought advice from Pablito, the head waiter. Calmly he undid his shirt collar, removed his own bow tie and handed it to me, saying I could keep it for the entire cruise.

One lunchtime, having spent the morning reading in the timeless armchair comfort of the well-stocked ships library, we realised it was Sunday.

And then we saw it  the biggest joint of beef we have ever seen, not merely on the bone but still attached to the leg that towered almost 3ft high.

It weighed 32kg when it went into the oven to slow roast for eight hours. The end result was tender and delicious.

In Madeira, we took a run ashore to the marbled splendour of Belmond Reids Palace, its most famous hotel, for coffee on the terrace, and then on around the winding coastal road to Camara de Lobos, the fishing village where Winston Churchill used to set up his easel.

In Tenerife, we stepped aboard a No 910 bus which took us along the coast to the beach resort of San Andres. The young woman driver threw her articulated public vehicle round the bends with a song in her heart, not exactly a comfortable ride.

At Lanzarote we joined a trip to Fire Mountain, in the volcanic islands Timanfaya national park where the magma bubbles just below the surface.

Chicken portions and steaks were being cooked on a grill above a magma well (you could see it frothing and bubbling 50ft below) and water poured into holes burst back up as steam.

In Lisbon, we drove out to the huge statue of Christ on a hill overlooking the beautiful Portuguese capital.

And finally, we were back at Southampton. The car, we were told, would be there at 3.30pm. And there it was. Two hours later we were home. All we had to do was unpack.'I have this intense sense of relaxation and normality here. To lose myself in the bush with what I would call the most down to earth people on the planet, people with no ulterior motives, no agendas, who would sacrifice everything for the betterment of nature

Those were the words of Prince Harry after a recent trip to Africa. He has come a long way from his wild youth.

To many of us, Africa represents a safari destination that offers a once-in-a-lifetime holiday but to Harry and his brother William, it has become a precious sanctuary, a retreat that offered them comfort after their mothers death, and has since become a second home.

ROAMING FREE: Rhinos enjoy the 62,000 acres at the Lewa Conservancy in Kenya - a favourite place of Prince William

Both princes have embraced the continents wide open spaces, its wilderness and its wildlife with a fervour that many conservationists believe will help save Africas endangered species.

You cant exaggerate their importance in Africas conservation wars, says Charlie Mayhew, chief executive of Tusk Trust, the wildlife charity of which William is patron.

Harry says: [Africa] is where I feel more like myself than anywhere in the world. I first came in 1997, straight after my mum died. My dad told my brother and me to pack our bags  we were going to Africa to get away from it all.

That trip established an enduring passion for the continent. William began travelling to Lewa Downs, the wildlife sanctuary run by Kenyan landowner and conservationist Ian Craig. My children were the same age as William and they became firm friends, says Craig. We established a lifelong friendship from there.

William spent some of his gap year at Lewa and dated Craigs glamorous daughter Jecca, his first serious girlfriend. At the same time he developed an on-the-ground knowledge of rhino and elephant poaching, which for decades had blighted Kenya and neighbouring countries. It was this knowledge that convinced him to become Royal patron of Tusk Trust.

Lewa Conservancy has developed dramatically since Craig started it as a 5,000-acre rhino sanctuary in the mid-1980s. It is now spread over 62,000 acres, has World Heritage Site status and, according to Craig, Williams role in its development and international recognition has been crucial.

He has been a massive conduit between conservation here on the ground and the Western leaders he is interacting with on a daily basis, says Craig.

Spreading the word: William at the Lewa Conservancy in Kenya on a visit with charity Tusk, of which he is patron

William spent some of his gap year at Lewa and developed an on-the-ground knowledge of rhino and elephant poaching, which for decades had blighted Kenya

However, Williams attachment to this remote Kenyan outpost was as much personal as it was about pure conservation.

He developed an enduring friendship with the Craig family and their friends. In 2008 he flew to Lewa Downs to attend the wedding of Craigs son Batian and later attended Jeccas big day too. And in 2010, William proposed to Kate Middleton at Rutundu, a remote lodge just a short helicopter ride from Lewa.

It is easy to see what attracts the Prince to Lewa. With Mount Kenya as the backdrop, its endless rolling grasslands and flat-topped acacia trees provide the perfect ecosystem for rhinos, lions, elephants, cheetahs, wild dogs, and the worlds largest population of the endangered Grevys zebra.

At the Lewa Safari Camp, you can relax on the veranda with a G&T, watch the sun set over the golden grasslands and listen to the sounds of the wilderness.

As night falls, you sit around a glowing campfire as lions roar across the open plains and perhaps a herd of elephants will pass silently through the camp, giant ghostly shapes illuminated by the moon.

Meanwhile, Harry cemented his love of Africa during his gap-year trip to Lesotho. So moved was he by the plight of the ragged huddles of dirt-poor children he met  many of them AIDS orphans  that together with Lesothos Prince Seeiso, he formed the charity Sentebale.

Giraffe roam free and graze on the grass in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in northern Kenya

The charity is now ten years old and has expanded its brief to Botswana. Increasingly, Botswana has become the focus of Harrys attentions. As with William, he has combined his love of the country with a desire to be involved in wildlife conservation.

And early last year he also spent several weeks in Malawi working with the non-governmental organisation African Parks.

He helped catch, anaesthetise and load elephants on to trucks before moving them to heavily protected areas. It was the single biggest land mammal translocation ever.

Describing conservation as Gods test, he asked: If we cant save some animals in a wilderness area, what else cant we do?

Soon afterwards he followed in Williams footsteps and became Royal patron of a wildlife charity  Rhino Conservation Botswana  which had been launched the previous year. RCBs founder Map Ives says he was humbled to have Harry on board. He knows well that rhinos can be a standard bearer for the conservation of entire species.

I know his passion and his grasp on the situation on the ground, and his understanding of the importance of wildlife to communities and to humanity.

Elephants trek across the landscape at the Lewa Conservancy. Elephants are also an endangered species

Southern Africa is one of the last wild habitats where African rhino have survived  there are an estimated 25,000 black and white rhino left on the continent. However, in recent years international poaching syndicates have been killing them for their horns at a rate of more than 1,000 a year.

If this killing goes on, extinction of the species is on the horizon. So, as with elephant, the translocation of rhinos to safe areas in taking place, where they are monitored and under 24-hour surveillance by armed guards.

Map Ives believes Harrys involvement will bring international awareness of the work RCB is doing in Botswana, not to say much-needed funding.

Harry has been eager to share his love for Africa with those close to him. Soon after spending time with Map Ives fitting tracking devices to rhinos in 2016, he took Meghan Markle  now his fiancee  to spend a few days at Meno a Kwena, a remote camp on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.

Owner Hennie Rawlinson kept the Royal visit so secret that even his business partners had no idea the couple were at the camp.

When the story finally broke in the media, Meno a Kwena was wrongly described as one of Botswanas luxurious 1,500-a-night safari camps favoured by Hollywood stars and mega-wealthy Wall Street financiers.

Making his mark: Prince Harry in Malawi helping to move endangered elephants to a safe haven

Harry cemented his love of Africa during his gap-year trip to Lesotho, pictured, and has now set up the charity Sentebale

In fact, it is far more modest in price and facilities, and insiders see the Princes choice of Meno  a lovely rustic, 16-bed camp and the location of Africas second largest zebra migration  as evidence of his deep connections with, and understanding of, Africas unspoiled wilderness.

The engagement of the two princes in Africa has also been welcomed by experts such as Colin Bell, founder of Wilderness Safaris and Great Plains Conservation.

He believes the initiatives the brothers are supporting and the benefits their international celebrity bring are going to have a long-term impact on Africas wildlife. William and Harry are taken very seriously, he says. They grab attention. And theyre putting wildlife conservation on the international stage.

In particular Bell cites Williams role as the driving force behind the Elephant Protection Initiative, an international campaign launched in 2014 in the wake of the London Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade.

Says Bell: To agree to no trade in endangered species for ten years  that was such a pivotal moment and I dont think people fully realise how that set the tone.The robot has landed : The Antony Gormley designed sculpture of the Beaumont Hotel

A time-machine to take you back to New York in the 1930s? Imagine stepping into a world of Damon Runyon, hard-bitten private detectives and fun-loving chorus girls.

Theyre still trying to invent time-travel but, amazingly, you can enjoy a gorgeous slice of pre-war Manhattan just a stones throw from Londons Hyde Park and Oxford Street.

At first glance The Beaumont looks more science fiction than film noir. The left side of the buildings facade is dominated by a robot-like Antony Gormley sculpture which actually contains the hotels principal suite.

Once inside, however, you are overwhelmed by what appears to be an Art Deco masterpiece.

Except that until very recently the building housed a car park and the classic style is entirely the work of modern hands and clever minds (principally Chris Corbin and Jeremy King, the geniuses behind The Wolseley).

The back story talks of a Jimmy Beaumont, who apparently fled Prohibition-era Manhattan to open a hotel in London.

Well, thats what it feels like. The only thing missing from the Colony Grill Room is an Algonquin round table with Dorothy Parker swapping Vicious Circle one-liners with Alexander Woollcott. For my money this is the finest place to dine in the whole of London.

The delight continues in the exquisitely appointed bedrooms. Gazing out of the window, I would not have been surprised to see Al Capone turn up.

The Colony Grill Room inside the hotel where you can order the likes of swordfish and shepherd's pie

The place: In Mayfair, close to Hyde Park and the beating heart of London.

The rooms: Stylish, comfortable and surprisingly quiet considering that department store Selfridges is just around the corner.

The food: Im trying hard to think of somewhere better than the Colony Grill Room (cajun-spiced swordfish 19.50, shepherds pie 20), and nothing comes to mind.The Sydney PR queen revealed that she is hopeful to mend her relationship with estranged sister Ruby Davis after publicly falling out 10 years ago.

But Roxy Jacenko has adamantly stated the same can not be said about her estranged father Nick.

The 37-year-old publicist fiercely denied a potential reconciliation with her dad when speaking to Daily Mail Australia: 'Not. A. Chance!'

EXCLUSIVE: 'Not a chance!' Roxy Jacenko won't mend relationship with estranged father Nick as she claims he NEVER enquired about her wellbeing during breast cancer scare and STILL hasn't met her son Hunter, three

Roxys mother Doreen and father Nick separated in 2011 and divorced in 2014 after 38 years of marriage.

She detailed a few reasons for why she was so strongly opposed to the idea, adding it 'says a hell of a lot about a person!'

'How he has treated my mother after 30 years of her dedication to our family and their business endeavours coupled with the fact he hasnt even attempted to meet my son, Hunter or enquire when I got cancer,' the busy mother-of-two claimed.

'Not a chance': The 37-year-old publicist fiercely denied a potential reconciliation with her dad (right) and his wife Lisa Ho (left) when speaking to Daily Mail Australia

No love lost: Roxys mother Doreen (centre) and father Nick separated in 2011 and divorced in 2014 after 38 years of marriage.

Roxy was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2016, mere weeks after her husband Oliver Curtis was jailed for insider trading.

Battling with the scary journey ahead, the Sweaty Betty owner alleges her father didn't reach out to her when she was dealing with the devastating news.

The PR queen underwent radiation treatment for six weeks and documented her surgery to remove the cancer from her breast in a 60 Minutes interview in August.

She was soon after given the all-clear and regularly has MRIs, mammograms and ultrasounds twice a year to keep an eye on her condition.

No way: She detailed a few reasons for why she was so strongly opposed to the idea of reconciling saying hasnt even attempted to meet her son, Hunter (right, with his sister Pixie)

Roxy also claimed father Nick hasn't met her son Hunter, who is turning four in May, while he is known to her daughter Pixie, six.

The Skinny Tan ambassador raises both young children with husband Oliver Curtis in their Sydney home.

Oliver, who was sentenced to two years in prison, was released in June last year after 12 months on a good behaviour bond.

Happier times: Roxy also claimed father Nick hasn't met her son Hunter, who is turning four in May, while he is known to her daughter Pixie, six.

Two years ago, Roxy denied claims she was involved in a violent public dispute with her estranged father Nick in May, 2016.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Nick Jacenko and his fiancee, fashion designer Lisa Ho, claimed the PR Queen verbally and physically assaulted them on the streets of Sydney.

Roxy firmly denied the allegations to Daily Mail Australia at the time. A police investigation into the incident did not result in any charges.

Fighting fit: Battling with the scary journey ahead, the Sweaty Betty owner alleges her father didn't reach out to her when she was dealing with the devastating news

New love: The women Roxy's father Nick is now with - designer Lisa Ho

'There is no basis for these allegations. I can only attribute such comments to a sad quest for public notoriety by my father Nick Jacenko and Lisa Ho,' she told Daily Mail Australia at the time.

Mr Jacenko, who was engaged to Ho, told the Telegraph he crossed paths with his daughter, husband Oliver Curtis and his ex-wife Doreen Davis, while out to dinner in the upscale suburb of Woollahra.

Curtis reportedly told Mr Jacenko and Ms Ho to 'just keep walking' when the two parties walked past each other on the street.

The couple claim Roxy then grabbed the collar of Mr Jacenko's T-shirt and hit him around the head as she verbally abused him by saying: 'You should be ashamed of yourself.'

Ms Ho also claimed the mother-of-two repeatedly hit her in the head and neck with her fist.

According to the Telegraph, Mr Jacenko's ex wife Ms Davis was also involved in incident, reportedly striking his head causing his glasses to fall from his face.

Ms Ho also alleges that Ms Davis physically attacked her too, a claim Ms Davis denied.

Meanwhile, Roxy hopes she can put her differences aside with estranged sister Ruby Davis, telling The Daily Telegraph on Monday their rift has been 'heartbreaking' for her mother, Doreen.

The siblings have famously been at odds in the past, culminating in police bringing an AVO application against Ms Davis on Roxy's behalf several years ago following an incident at a Kings Cross nightclub.

Ruby allegedly punched Roxy twice at a Kings Cross nightclub while trying to get into an event the PR queen was hosting, News Corp previously reported.

The application was later withdrawn.

The PR queen, 37, said: 'I absolutely hope that we can reconcile in time to come, but there is a lot of water under the bridge which needs to be dispersed.'

Ruby was among the first people to contact Roxy when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016.

'She reached out right away to tell me she was sad to hear I had cancer,' Roxy previously said. 'She lives in the US now and is doing really well - married too!'Actress Francia Raisa said Selena Gomez became family to her after she donated a kidney to her last summer in a critical surgery.

The 29-year-old, speaking with Harry Connick Jr. in an episode of Harry due to air Monday, said that she and the Bad Liar star, 25, had the procedure performed in June of 2017, but didn't go public with the news until September.

'We wanted that privacy,' The Secret Life of the American Teenager said. 'It was a big surgery. She felt bad about even having me do that, because we are just friends, I am not her family or anything - well, I am now - she has my blood.'

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Speaking out: Actress Francia Raisa, 29, said Selena Gomez, 25, became family to her after she donated a kidney to her last summer in a critical surgery

The Los Angeles native said that in the wake of the medical procedure - amid Gomez's debilitating battle with lupus - both she and Selena wanted to be in the company of relatives.

'It was cool because now I have a big family,' Raisa said. 'I lost my grandparents when I was younger ... [Selena's] grandparents are my grandparents now and so I have this extension of a family and its been really amazing.'

Raisa said that Gomez had a much quicker recovery that she did, based on the body mechanics of the procedure.

'Its harder as the donor because we are losing something our body didnt need to lose, so trying to recover from that and shes gaining something her body needed - so shes up and at it immediately and I had a hard time,' she said.

Strong bond: Raisa (L) donated her kidney to Gomez (R) last June amid the star's health battle with lupus

Coming soon: Raisa's chat with Connick is slated to air on his show, Harry, on Monday

The Grown-ish star said that her recovery led to some 'very humbling' moments, as she was not able to get up or shower without assistance.

'Im a very very active person, so the fact that my doctor said I couldnt move for two months; two months, I couldnt do anything active,' she said. 'All I could do was walk. That was very hard for me and I have a dog and every day the thing I look forward to is drinking my coffee and walking and I couldnt do that. It was really, really hard.'

Gomez last September said she felt 'incredibly blessed' after Raisa gave to her 'the ultimate gift and sacrifice' in the form of a kidney.

'There arent words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend,' Gomez wrote on Instagram September 14 in a post revealing the surgical procedure. 'I love you so much sis.'

Along with the emotional statement, Selena posted included a shot of herself and Raisa holding hands in adjacent hospital beds.She originally hails from chilly Stockholm, Sweden.

But it seems that Elsa Hosk is still no fan of the cold, as she demonstrated while out walking in New York City on Friday.

The 29-year-old Victoria's Secret model bundled herself up in some toasty apparel.

Staying hot! It seems that Elsa Hosk is still no fan of the cold, as she demonstrated while out walking in New York City on Friday

On top, she layered a red and black moto-style jacket over an oversize grey turtleneck sweater, which she haphazardly tucked into her waistband.

A large white beret no doubt provided even more warmth, while covering most of her golden blonde locks.

Down below, some ripped skinny jeans highlighted the 5ft10in beauty's epically long legs.

Steamy: On top, she layered a red and black moto-style jacket over an oversize grey turtleneck sweater, which she haphazardly tucked into her waistband

Black leather boots with block heels completed her chic, urban ensemble.

She looked to be keeping her accessories to a minimum, and carried only a unique white, red and orange boxy handbag.

The beauty appeared mostly make-up free, save for some rose lipstick.

Happy with her gift? It seemed that even though Valentine's Day was back on Wednesday, the stunner still had the loved-up holiday on the mind, as she took to Instagram to post an image of herself holding a large bouquet of red roses

It seemed that even though Valentine's Day was back on Wednesday, the stunner still had the loved-up holiday on the mind, as she took to Instagram to post an image of herself holding a large bouquet of red roses.

She only captioned the snap with several flower and heart emojis, but it definitely looked to be a belated gift from boyfriend Tom Daly.

Meanwhile, Elsa has been keeping busy as New York Fashion Week has been in full swing.

Better late than never! She only captioned the snap with several flower and heart emojis, but it definitely looked to be a belated gift from boyfriend Tom Daly (pictured together last week)After months of silence, Ferne McCann is finally prepared to speak about her ex-boyfriend, and father of her child, Arthur Collins - and his conviction for committing an acid attack.

Her ITV2 series First Time Mum has been recommissioned for three-part second season, which she starts shooting next week. And the new run of episodes will involve her opening up about her ex.

The TOWIE and I'm A Celeb... star, 27, will address the devastation she feels about Arthur since he was convicted of GBH and ABH against 14 people after spraying party-goers with acid following an argument at the Mangle E8 nightclub in east London last April.

Honest: Ferne McCann has 'agreed to FINALLY address her devastation over her acid attacker ex Arthur Collins'... as reality show First Time Mum is green-lit for a second season

The attack left several clubbers hospitalised and scarred for life, while some required skin grafts. Arthur is currently serving a 20-year jail sentence for the act.

A source told The Sun: 'First Time Mum will be returning this year after fans were left wanting more when the show made its debut with one episode before Christmas.

'During the last series, Ferne spoke about coping with pregnancy at the same time her ex-partner was on trial for an acid attack that took place last April.

'And Fernes already told producers that shes happy to speak about Arthur again following his jail sentence  and her plans of making a life without him.'

Locked up! The TOWIE and I'm A Celeb... star, 27, will address the devastation she feels about Arthur since he was convicted of GBH and ABH against 14 people after spraying acid at Mangle

Opening up: After months of silence, Ferne McCann is finally prepared to speak about her ex-boyfriend, and father of her child, Arthur Collins, and his conviction for an acid attack

With the likes of TOWIE stars James Argent and Billie Faiers set to crop up in the series again, the show will this time run for three times as many episodes, catching up with Ferne now that her daugter Sunday is four months old.

When filming took place on the last season, Arthur had not been sentenced.

Since then he was sent to jail after learning his fate in December.

Arthur's sister has now launched an extraordinary defence of her brother as she claimed his victims 'weren't disfigured'.

Ready to talk: 'During the last series, Ferne spoke about coping with pregnancy at the same time her ex-partner was on trial for an acid attack that took place last April,' a source said

Charmaine Collins (pictured), the sister of Arthur Collins, has launched an extraordinary defence of her acid attacker brother as she claimed his victims 'weren't disfigured'

Sister Charmaine has downplayed the injuries, according to Sun Online, and claimed that reports that people were 'physically disfigured are simply not true'.

In an online post, she wrote: 'Everyone in this country is entitled to their own opinion good or bad. However opinions are being formed based on media fed untruths and misprinting.

'FACT Arthur was moved because Belmarsh is a prison servicing the courts and he is serving over 4 years. FACT No one involved in the incident is blind or disfigured.

'This is by no means making any less of the injuries that the victims suffered.

Speaking out: 'Fernes already told producers that shes happy to speak about Arthur again following his jail sentence  and her plans of making a life without him,' said the source

'I understand the extreme hate and anger felt by anyone affected by this case and to the general public who have followed the trial that's your opinion to which you are entitled but the continuous reporting of people losing eyesight and being physically disfigured is simply not true.'

The horrific incident left 22 innocent clubbers injured, several of whom confronted him in court, with one woman recalling the moment she felt her skin 'come off'.

Arthur claimed he thought he was throwing a date rape drug, but he was labeled a 'calculating liar' who has not shown the 'slightest remorse' by the judge.

Phoebe Georgiou, 23, and Lauren Trent, 22, were celebrating their birthdays on April 17 when they were caught by the acid flung by Collins.

Once active and outgoing, Miss Georgiou now confines herself to her family home in north London and suffers night terrors and anxiety in crowded places.

Phoebe Georgiou said the acid 'instantly started to burn her skin on her chest and arms'

She said: 'I stepped on the step and literally one second after I felt a big splash all over my chest and my arm.

'I looked up and I saw it flying in the air. It was a thick liquid, it was steaming. And then I smelt the smell.'

For Miss Georgiou, the effects of the attack persist through her routine of applying cream three times a day to alleviate tightness of the skin, and twice-daily applications of scar gel.

She wears a pressure garment on her left arm to keep the wounds from thickening, and is due to receive laser therapy on some of the worst-affected areas.

Ms Georgiou who was a victim of the acid attack in the Mangle E8 nightclub in Dalston

A total of 22 people reported injuries to the police, 16 of whom suffered chemical burn injuries and three people were temporarily blinded - one of whom still suffers from blurred vision in one eye.

Victims described a burning smell after the acid was thrown. They said their skin started 'blistering straight away' before everyone started 'screaming, shouting, running'.

The substance was later found to have a rating of pH1 - indicating a strong acid.

After he was jailed, Arthur was recently given an additional eight months added onto his term after he was caught trying to smuggle a phone into prison.They are two of the most glamorous cast members on The Only Way Is Essex.

So of course Yazmin Oukhellou and Amber Turner pulled out all the stops on their busty ensembles for the night at the Eclipse Bar, in South Kensington on Friday.

But James Locke's girlfriend stole the thunder when she put on the most eye-popping display in her plunging vest top which perfectly framed her cleavage.

The TOWIE girls Turn(er) heads! Yazmin Oukhellou showed off her eye-popping cleavage in a plunging top as she joined busty Amber for night out, in South Kensington on Friday

Raring to go for her night to celebrate the Embargo App Fashion Drinks, the TOWIE star showcased her sensational stems in her pointed stiletto heels.

Yazmin put her fashionable foot forward when she dressed to impress in a boucle blazing and matching intricately stitched thigh-skimming shorts.

The Only Way Is Essex star toted a metallic clutch to bring a hint of sparkle to her make-up enhanced appearance.

Racy lady! James Locke's girlfriend stole the thunder when she put on the most eye-popping display in her plunging vest top which perfectly framed her cleavage

Despite always being in the charming company of her hunky beau James, Yazmin stepped out with her girlfriends for a lovely ladies' night.

Although Amber went for a less dramatic look than her co-star, the TOWIE bombshell also put her surgically-enhanced 34D assets in a low-cut playsuit.

Glittering beads were stitched into the garment to ensure the beautiful blonde put on an attention grabbing display on her evening out with the girls.

Glittering girl: Although Amber went for a less dramatic look than her co-star, the TOWIE bombshell also put her surgically-enhanced 34D assets in a low-cut playsuit

Famed for her explosive entrance on TOWIE when she cheated on her lover Jamie Reed with Dan Edgar, so of course she put some of that drama into her attire.

With her pins on parade in the thigh-skimming one-piece, the blonde bombshell added to her height in towering open-toe sandals with studded straps.

Busty Amber tossed her golden curls behind her shoulders to keep her tresses from masking her heavily made-up features.

Intimate details: Glittering beads were stitched into the garment to ensure the beautiful blonde put on an attention grabbing display on her evening out with the girls

They were joined by former TOWIE beauty Pascal Craymer for their fun evening.

The 30-year-old ex-reality show stunner was well and truly in the spirit for London fashion week when she pulled off her quirkiest look yet.

Pascal showed off some serious skin in the snazzy cutaway trousers which she teamed with an equally racy top with a keyhole-inspired neckline.

Keen not to miss out on the fun! They were joined by former TOWIE beauty Pascal Craymer for their fun evening

Trendsetting: The 30-year-old ex-reality show stunner was well and truly in the spirit for London fashion week when she pulled off her quirkiest look yet

Despite leaving the drama of reality television behind her, Pascal showed she could still let her hair down when she bounced around in the ball pit at the venue.

The giddy star looked animated as she levitated in the air before she plummeted into the depths of the ball pit.

Yazmin enjoyed the girls night out with her close TOWIE pals following her romantic Valentine's with her co-star and beau James.

She confessed their celebrations had been 'eventful' because they had spent the day filming but she also admitted she wouldn't have it any other way.

Fabulous fun: Despite leaving the drama of reality television behind her, Pascal showed she could still let her hair down when she bounced around in the ball pit at the venue

Yazmin penned on Instagram: 'Had a very eventful Valentines Day yesterday filming for a tv show but nevertheless it was spent with you.

'And for that Im grateful that I get to work, live and laugh with my best friend & boyfriend each & everyday. You really do make me so happyI love you more and more each day.' (sic)

Elsewhere, Amber had a breast enhancement in Turkey after she felt 'insecure and uncomfortable' for years as a B cup.

Wowee! The giddy star looked animated as she levitated in the air before she plummeted into the depths of the ball pit

Poser! The TOWIE stunner posed for a lovely picture when she perched on the edge of the ball pit

The television beauty gushed she feels '100 times more confident' with her enhanced assets, following her recent break-up with TOWIE co-star Dan Edgar.

Although she said plastic surgery has been 'life changing', the singleton confessed her cleavage hasn't attracted much more attention from men.

She told The Sun: 'I love them, I'm so happy with them. I got them for me, not anyone else, and I feel more 100 times more confident. They've changed my life.

'I haven't really got much more attention from blokes, I just feel better about myself.'

Reach for the stars! Pascal let loose as she threw her arms in the air and partied the night away

Hilarious fun! The ex-reality star couldn't stop laughing when she plunged into the ball pit

Amber confirmed she had a boob job with her 403,000 fans via her Instagram stories in recent weeks.

She wrote: 'As I'm sure you all know 4 weeks ago today I had a breast augmentation.'

The TOWIE star confessed it was something she had been researching and planning for years because of her body insecurities.

Top of the crops! Lauryn Goodman flaunted her incredible figure in a tiny bralet and PVC leggings as she joined the reality starlets at the bash

Posing up a storm: The elder sister of Chloe Goodman looked in high spirits at the party

Legs eleven! Lauryn's skintight leggings ensured all eyes would stay firmly on her

She revealed: 'Every time summer came round the one thing that I felt so so insecure and uncomfortable with was my boobs. I was a 34B so I did have a bit of boob but I felt not in proportion.

'I also had one boob that was slightly smaller than the other (this is very common) & I wanted them both to to be even size.'

Amber shared she was happier than ever with her new curves which now brought her up to a 34D cup.

'I am so so happy four weeks later with the results. I am now a 34D. They are settling more and more every day and I can't recommend them more I am now super happy and confident In my body and that truly is all that matters!'

Having a ball! Lauryn also enjoyed the party's ball pit with her pal

Flying high! The star showed off her skills as she leapt into the ball pit with gusto

Hitting the decks: At the bash she made her way to the DJ decks where MIC's Alex Mytton wasDemi Rose Mawby wowed in white for the kickoff of London Fashion Week on Friday.

The 22-year-old British model attended Wonderland Magazine's party at The Ned Hotel in a body hugging dress and strappy heels.

She walked the red carpet without boyfriend and DJ, Chris Martinez.

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Stunner! Demi Rose Mawby wowed in white for the kickoff of London Fashion Week on Friday

Demi is known for her scandalous outfits, and Friday night's was no exception.

The bodacious model wore a long-sleeve cutout bodycon dress for her appearance at the Ciroc sponsored party.

She paired the ensemble with strappy white heels and a silver clutch.

Va-va-voom! The 22-year-old British model attended Wonderland Magazine's party at The Ned Hotel in a body hugging dress and strappy heels

Mawby went sans undergarments due to her outfit's see-through nature.

Her body was perfectly bronzed and her nails were painted a bright red.

And she served up the perfect pout with a pale pink lip color.

Kylie-look-alike! Demi's claim to fame was her brief fling with Tyga in May 2016

Demi's claim to fame was her brief fling with Tyga in May 2016.

Speaking to The Sun last year, she said, 'It was interesting, it just happened really fast. He had been messaging me then I went to a party in Cannes and bumped into him. He was nice and we got along. And I spent some time with him.

'We ended up spending the rest of our time there together. We really liked each other but logistically it didn't work out in the end.

'But you know, everything happens for a reason. Im not heartbroken though. For now Im just doing me!'

The model confirmed her romance with Chris Martinez just after Christmas when they were seen packing on the PDA in Madrid.Uma Thurman has kept a low profile since she became one of the latest accusers of Harvey Weinstein.

But on Friday, the star stepped out for some quality bonding time with her daughter, Maya Hawke, 19.

The 47-year-old carried an iced tea for a relaxed stroll through New York City.

She's back! On Friday Uma Thurman, 47, stepped out for the first time since sharing her Weinstein allegations in an interview

The Kill Bill actress was definitely bundled up to an extreme degree for the outing.

Uma opted for a thick grey coat which featured massive lapels that ran almost all the way to the knee-length hem.

Underneath she layered a woolly sweater with an oversized turtleneck.

In fact, the neck was so large she actually managed to stuff her entire scarf into the garment.

Perfect pair! She walked along with one of her daughters, Maya Hawke, in New York City

Light grey trousers and some black leather boots completed her wintry ensemble.

The famous blonde had her tresses pulled back into a ponytail, and she looked youthful without make-up, opting for only some light pink lipstick.

Daughter Maya Hawke, 19, who has been keeping busy attending NYFW, also was ready for the chilly weather.

The aspiring actress chose a dark brown tunic which was fastened closed with a tie at her hips.

Fashion fan? Perfect pair! Daughter Maya Hawke, 19, (center-right) has been keeping busy attending NYFW

A white belt held up a pair of wide-leg, dark wash jeans.

Black socks coupled with black sandals were quite an interesting choice of footwear.

It comes weeks after Uma finally spoke out against Harvey Weinstein after hinting for months that she was one of the movie mogul's alleged victims in a riveting New York Times article released in early February.

In an article in The New York Times, Thurman, 47, describes several incidents in which Weinstein forced himself on her in a London hotel room on one occasion and that he led her into a steam room in Paris in another incident but backed away when she asked him what he was doing.

In a riveting New York Times article released in early February, Uma detailed what Harvey Weinstein (pictured in September 2017) allegedly did to her many years before

She says the most aggressive encounter, which took place at London's Savoy Hotel some time between 1994 and 2002, felt like 'a bat to the head'.

'It was such a bat to the head. He pushed me down. He tried to shove himself on me.

'He tried to expose himself. He did all kinds of unpleasant things.

'But he didnt actually put his back into it and force me.

'Youre like an animal wriggling away, like a lizard. I was doing anything I could to get the train back on the track. My track. Not his track,' she said.

Weinstein, through his representative, described the Paris incident as a 'flirtatious exchange' and admits 'making a pass at her' in London afterwards but says it was not violent or even physical.

He has threatened legal action against the actress who he claims has 'embellished' the truth.

In an email to DailyMail.com not long after Thurman's accusations were published by the NYT, Weinstein also pointed to a 'number of images that demonstrate the strong relationship' the pair have shared over the years, adding: 'We wish the New York Times would have published them,' said the spokesman

In the same New York Times article, Uma also alleges that director Quentin Tarantino made her drive an unsafe vehicle on the set of the Harvey Weinstein produced film Kill Bill, which eventually crashed, injuring her.Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart filed for divorce Friday in their native Los Angeles, wrapping up a 14-year marriage that produced two daughters.

Gayheart, 46, is seeking spousal support  according to The Blast  and joint legal and physical custody of their two daughters, Billie, seven, and Georgia, six.

She and Dane, 45, were ensnared in a tabloid brouhaha nine years back when a scandalous video leaked of them with beauty queen Kari Ann Peniche was posted on the now-defunct site Gawker.

Split: Eric Dane, 45, and Rebecca Gayheart, 46, filed for divorce Friday in their native Los Angeles, wrapping up a 14-year marriage that produced two daughters - Billie, seven, (R) and Georgia, six, (L). The family was snapped in LA last year

The split comes as a surprise, as they were seen on a romantic holiday getaway in late December in Hawaii.

Both stars have had difficult stretches throughout the years, as Gayheart was involved in a car accident in Hollywood 2001 that left a nine-year-old boy named Jorge Cruz Jr. dead.

The actress, who was dating director Brett Ratner at the time, received three years of probation, a suspended license for a year, 750 hours of community service and $2,800 in fines in pleading no contest to a vehicular manslaughter charge.

The Beverly Hills, 90210 star suffered more heartache last year when her younger sister Rachel Gayheart, 38, died in a Kentucky jail August 11 as she was in jail in connection with drugs.

'Life has not been easy for you sis but now you can be peaceful,' Rebecca wrote in an Instagram post following her sister's passing. '[I'm] so grateful that I was able to be with my family during this time and want to say thank you to everyone for all of the love and support you've sent to me and my family.'

Out and about: The couple was snapped in Malibu at an event last September

Last-ditch effort? The duo was seen in Hawaii late in December on a tropical holiday vacation

Meanwhile: Dane was seen with a female pal just weeks later in LA

Dane has been open about his woes as well, namely an ongoing battle with depression he candidly talked about last June on The Today Show.

'I was dealing with some depression, which was kind of odd to me,' said the actor. 'I felt very conflicted about it, because I didn't feel like I had anything to be depressed about.'

'It's a very serious thing ... like I said, I felt very conflicted because I couldn't figure out what I was depressed about, but it's very real. And that was the scary thing - when you wake up and you're like, "I don't want to get out of bed."'

Dane revealed that he had went to multiple physicians in feeling there was 'something physically wrong' with him that fueled his doldrums.

'I'd dealt with depression throughout my life, and it was always manageable,' he said. I just felt, you know, everybody feels a little blue.'She is nominated for the BAFTA and Oscar for her role in I, Tonya.

And on Friday, Margot Robbie looked stunning as she attended a screening of the film at the Picturehouse Central in London.

The Australian beauty wowed in a monochrome striped set.

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Star in stripes! On Friday, Margot Robbie, 27, looked stunning as she attended a screening of I, Tonya at the Picturehouse Central in London

Margot paired a long-sleeve blouse with a set of wide leg pants.

The blue-eyed blonde, 27, cinched in her waist with a matching belt.

For make-up, the Focus star highlighted her natural beauty with light-colored shadow and a rose lip.

Her look: The Australian beauty wowed in a monochrome striped set.Margot paired a long-sleeve blouse with a set of wide leg pants

Margot currently stars as former figure skater, Tonya Harding, in the film, I, Tonya.

The based-on-a-true-story drama tells the story of the ice queen, including the scandal involving her and competitor Nancy Kerrigan.

Since its release last month, the beauty has already won several awards, including the Critics' Choice Award for Best Actress in a Comedy. She is also nominated for Best Actress in the BAFTAS and Oscars.

The right addition: The blue-eyed blonde cinched in her waist with a matching belt

Simple: For make-up, the Focus star highlighted her natural beauty with light-colored shadow and a rose lip

In an interview with DailyMail.com, Margot, who is also a producer on the film, said that she had to 'go after' the role herself, in order for her to have it.

'I definitely dont think anybody would have given me this role if I hadnt gone after it and I just wasnt prepared to wait another 10 years for someone to happen to offer me a role like this.'

'It was a difficult script to make from a producerial point of view, it had a lot of challenges and you were never going to get a tonne of money for something so unconventional.

'Its the Olympics, it spans over four decades and theres a lot of things that make it expensive, it was a period script. It was a huge undertaking as new producers. It was amazing and I think taking a gamble like that can pay off.He is one of the world's fittest stars.

So, if anyone is going to conquer an unconquerable mountain it's going to be Chris Hemsworth.

The Thor actor uploaded a video to his Instagram page on Saturday in which he stands with a friend at the top of a mountain cheering the fact that they managed to climb it.

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'They said it couldn't be done but we did it!': Chris Hemsworth celebrates conquering mountain top with hilarious video poking fun at his long-time trainer, Luke Zocchi

In the video, which is filmed by Chris, the 34-year-old hunk pans out across acres of stunning greenery before bringing the camera back to face him.

The star then brings his arm up in an apparent fist-pump before saying 'they said this mountain couldn't be climbed'.

He continued: 'You know what we said?' before blowing a raspberry to the camera.

'Piece of cake' he added cheekily.

'Piece of cake': The Thor actor uploaded a video to his Instagram page on Saturday in which he stands with a friend at the top of a mountain.

We did it!: The star then brings his arm up in an apparent fist-pump before saying 'they said this mountain couldn't be climbed'.

Chris was joined at the mountain top by his friend and trainer Luke Zocchi who he later poked fun at.

The father-of-three ended the video by throwing a shaka before giving a small cheer.

Both Chris and Luke kept their look simple, donning black singlets both which appeared to be made by the Byron Bay surf wear brand Emery.

Stuck with this guy: Chris was joined at the mountain top by his friend and trainer Luke Zocchi (seen) who he later poked fun at

Cuddle time! It's unknown exactly where the mountain was located, but Chris has recently been spending time exploring Kangaroo Island

It's unknown exactly where the mountain was located, but Chris has recently been spending time exploring Kangaroo Island.

Believed to be in partnership with his Tourism Australian ambassador role, Chris shared images of the outing with his 14 million Instagram followers.

Captioning the shot, he wrote: 'Koalas, snakes, sea lions, dolphins, check out #kangarooisland'CNBC newsreader Wilfred Frost, son of the late broadcaster Sir David, followed in the career footsteps of his father because he loved 'the adrenaline that comes from being in front of a camera'.

The 32-year-old clearly shares his dad's love of parties, too, judging by this picture he posted on social media.

Wilf, as he known to friends and family, sandwiches himself between local Bajan women as he dances on a table at Nikki Beach Club in Barbados.

He is on a boys' holiday with his younger brother George, who has his own brand of rum called The Duppy Share, which is distilled on the island.

Wilfred Frost (pictured centre) clearly shares his dad's love of parties, judging by this picture he posted on social media

The good, the bad... and the baa-rking mad!

Everyone is getting into their stride for London Fashion Week, which kicked off yesterday.

Wearing an eccentric outfit that wouldn't have looked out of place on her wacky character Bubble in the sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, actress Jane Horrocks made a star turn on the catwalk at the 2018 Vin & Omi show.

Her eco-contemporary wear seems to have been inspired by the pick 'n' mix bin, however.

Actress Jane Horrocks (pictured left) made a star turn on the catwalk at the 2018 Vin & Omi show. Meanwhile Lily James (pictured right), 28, accompanied by suave, black-tied boyfriend Matt Smith, cut a more elegant swathe by opting for a sapphire dress

Lottie Moss, in Berlin for Bulgari's RVLE Your Night party, left little to the imagination in a black, silk frayed gown, split at waist height

Horrocks, 54, appeared to be wearing a fleecy wig and head-to-toe garb covered in a ram-print pattern, with fleecy slippers  and a toy lamb tucked under her arm.

'Fashion, like all businesses, need to work hard to keep this planet going,' says Horrocks.

Meanwhile, Lottie Moss, in Berlin for Bulgari's RVLE Your Night party, left little to the imagination in a black, silk frayed gown, split at waist height.

Thank goodness for actress Lily James, 28, accompanied by suave, black-tied boyfriend Matt Smith, who cut a more elegant swathe by opting for a sapphire dress by New York brand Hellessy, featuring a decorous floor-skimming skirt, as she and Smith attended the Dunhill & GQ pre-Bafta dinner.

Pass the sick bag, Gwynne

Actress turned lifestyle guru Gwyneth Paltrow is clearly unafraid of public displays of affection as she gives her new fiance Brad Falchuk a big smooch in an image posted on social media

Actress turned lifestyle guru Gwyneth Paltrow is clearly unafraid of public displays of affection as she gives her new fiance Brad Falchuk a big smooch in an image posted on social media.

'V-Day dinner last night,' Brad wrote.

However, it wasn't an intimate dinner for two  the table in front of them was set for five.

Falchuk, now 46, met Gwyneth, 45, when she starred in an episode of musical series Glee, which he produced.

The pair announced their engagement last month after four years of dating. 'We feel incredibly lucky to have come together at this juncture in our lives when our collective successes and failures can serve as building blocks for a healthy and happy relationship,' the couple said.

Paltrow, who runs lifestyle brand Goop, has two children with Coldplay's Chris Martin, to whom she was married until 2014 when they declared they were 'consciously uncoupling'.

Martin, 40, is now in a relationship with Fifty Shades Of Grey actress Dakota Johnson, 28.

Balmoral is cashing in on royal lovebirds of a different kind.

As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle prepare to tie the knot in May, the Queen's private Scottish estate is organising tours to see another courtship, which takes place six days before the wedding.

'An excellent opportunity to observe the intriguing courtship rituals of the black grouse from the comfort of a Land Rover Discovery,' says the advert on the Balmoral Facebook page.

'Event organised as part of the Cairngorms Nature Big Weekend. There is only room for six passengers. Cost is 10 per person.'

Jemima Goldsmith, beware! The daughter of late billionaire Sir James Goldsmith has a doppelganger who is so convincing, even her friends and family are being duped.

Jemima's half- sister, film director Charlotte Colbert, tells me: 'There's a lady who goes to all these parties and she looks like Jemima's twin. I get told I look like Jemima a little bit, but this woman is something else.

'I met her at a party in London and it was the weirdest thing. I literally had to do a double take. When I started talking to her, she said she gets it all the time.

'I've forgotten her name, which is very embarrassing, but she's really lovely.'They are considered the world's most beautiful women.

And Josephine Skriver, Georgia Fowler and Roosmarijn De Kok proved on trend as they were spotted topless for a Victoria's Secret shoot in Miami on Friday.

The supermodels flaunted their enviable figures leaving little to the imagination in risque lingerie.

Top models: Josephine Skriver, 24, Georgia Fowler, 25, and Roosmarijn De Kok, 23, proved on trend as they were spotted topless for a Victoria's Secret shoot in Miami on Friday

Josephine, 24, rocked a pink lingerie set before slipping off her top for the outdoor photo shoot.

Her ample assets took center stage as the bra and underwear set highlighted her svelte physique.

Georgia, 25, swathed her statuesque figure in a white lingerie set as she posed leaning on a glass railing.

Her trademark brunette tresses were left long and loose as they cascaded over her petite shoulders.

Baring beauties: The supermodels flaunted their enviable figures leaving little to the imagination wearing only tiny bikini bottoms

Covering up: Roosmarijn tried to cover herself as she walked away

Roosmarijn, 23, allowed her flawless skin tone to shine in a baby blue underwear set that showcased her bountiful curves.

The Dutch beauty threw her arms behind her head holding back her golden locks in one pose.

Meanwhile, Georgia revealed more of her svelte frame this month, stripping nude for Australia's Harper's Bazaar March issue.

Leggy ladies: The models revealed their gorgeous gams as they waited for the photographer

Designer duds: The bra had a cute palm tree motif

The stunners left little to the imagination as they seductively posed for the black-and-white photo shoot in the magazine's 20th anniversary issue.

New Zealand model Georgia bared her pert derriere as she she sat on a sheet with her back to the camera.

She wore an oversized floppy hat, with her arms strategically concealing her assets from view.

Pretty pose: The Dutch beauty threw her arms behind her head holding back her golden locks in one pose

Snap shot: She looked back over her shoulder in a seductive pose

Pleased with how her image turned out, Georgia shared the shot on Instagram: 'Happy birthday @bazaaraustralia in my birthday suit! What a pleasure to be a part of such an iconic shoot.'

'It was one my dreams to always be in the pages of Harper's Bazaar and to be in the anniversary issue is a real honour,' Georgia told Sydney Morning Herald.

She shot the spread with fellow Victoria's Secret model Victoria Lee.

'It was really nice to be able to shoot with a friend, we could sort of play off each other,' Georgia said.

'It was a really special shoot on the beach, wearing sexy dresses where we got to be more beautiful versions of ourselves ... It really shows that Victoria and I are top girls in our field that we were considered for it.'

Pink delight: Josephine rocked a pink lingerie set before slipping off her top for the outdoor photo shoot

Statuesque: Georgia swathed her statuesque figure in a white lingerie set as she posed leaning on a glass railing

Backside: Roosmarijn showcased her pert derriereShe's the former Bachelor star who amassed a big following on social media thanks to provocative snaps.

And Kiki Morris showcased her curves in a tiny tangerine bikini on her Instagram story.

The 30-year-old looked up to the sky as she proudly flaunted her slender sun-kissed figure.

Summer stunner! Kiki Morris showcased her curves in a tiny tangerine bikini on her Instagram story. The 30-year-old looked up to the sky as she proudly flaunted her slender sun kissed figure

She posed for the camera with her hand combing through her long luscious blonde locks and a bright red hibiscus flower in the other.

In her following snap, the bikini aficionado did a similar pose but this time with boyfriend Jeremy Banks in the background cleaning out the pool.

She tagged him in the post and show him some love by adding a heart emoji.

She posed for the camera with her hand combing through her long luscious blonde locks and a bright red hibiscus flower in the other with boyfriend Jeremy Banks in the background cleaning out the pool

That's a bit cheeky! She recently showcased her curves in a VERY short dress as she stepping out in glamorous form date night with boyfriend Jeremy

This comes after she recently shared another sexy photo of herself heading out on a date night with boyfriend Jeremy Banks.

Kiki showcased her curves in a purple mini dress, pairing her outfit with sky high nude stilettos.

'Date night, date dress from The Only Dress Hire. Out on the town with Bae, Jeremy Banks,' she wrote to her 75,800 Instagram followers.

'Shake it b**ches!' Earlier she stripped off to showcase tiny gold tasseled bikini that struggled to contain her ample assets

The bronzed beauty took to her Instagram story earlier on Friday to flaunt her best assets and surgically enhanced bust, dancing in the short clip as her bikini top made noise.

'It's Friday. Shake it b**ches!,' Kiki captioned the video.

She has previously admitted to getting a boob job, after being teased about being flat-chested.

'I used to get teased for being so flat-chested,' Kiki told OK! magazine in 2016.She's been riding a wave of triumph since winning The Block last year with boyfriend Josh Barker last year.

And Elyse Knowles had further reason to celebrate on Saturday, as she met her friends' newborn baby for the first time in hospital.

The 25-year-old model beamed as she lovingly cradled baby Halle to her chest in a sweet Instagram snap.

Sweet: Elyse Knowles beamed as she met her friends' newborn baby for the first time in hospital on Saturday

Elyse gushed in the caption: 'Baby Halle , you are Devine! @georgieamad @mickjamo__ produced the goods! Time to sort this heart out and get u home possum xxx (sic).'

The blonde beauty looked glowing for the hospital trip, donning a white monogrammed Gucci T-shirt and a red skirt.

Styling her golden tresses in a sleek middle-parting, she showed off her striking features by going make-up free.

Elyse wasn't joined by her boyfriend Josh for the visit, who she has been dating for five years.

Natural beauty: Styling her golden tresses in a sleek middle-parting, she showed off her striking features by going make-up free

Solo outing: Elyse wasn't joined by her boyfriend Josh Barker for the visit, who she has been dating for five years

The couple were rumoured to be getting ready to walk down the aisle, it was claimed in December.

According to New Idea, sources close to the pair said that Josh 'doesn't want to wait anymore'.

'We wouldn't be surprised if there's an announcement in the next few weeks,' reported the insider.

'I know Josh has been taking a lot about popping the question and making it all official. He loves Elyse to bits and know's she's The One.'

Here comes the bride? The couple were rumoured to be getting ready to walk down the aisle, it was claimed in December

And while the publication also revealed the location had been set to the carpenter's hometown of Byron Bay and that he 'didn't want to wait anymore', Elyse was quick to shut down the nuptial rumours.

Taking to Instagram Stories, the former Miss Universe Australia was heard repeatedly saying 'wrong, wrong, wrong' about the content.

'Definitely wrong. Thanks for ruining my chances, douche-bags.'

The news comes after the couple shut down engagement rumours in October whilst speaking to OK! Magazine.

'There's no real rush,' said Josh at the time. 'We've got goals set for the next three, five, 10 years and we know where we want to be and that's what we want to do.

'He says, "Every time you ask, it adds another six months".''Australia's most dysfunctional couple' are set to join the cast of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! on Sunday night.

But ahead of their unveiling, social media has gone into meltdown with viewers trying to determine the identity of the mystery pair.

After Real Housewives of Sydney star Lisa Oldfield denied that she and husband David were the couple in question, a number of surprising and comical new names have begun to crop up.

Who could it be? Fans have flocked to Instagram to speculate on the identity of 'Australia's most dysfunctional couple' who are set to enter I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! on Sunday

On Friday, the official I'm A Celebrity Instagram account shared a picture of the mystery pair's silhouettes, prompting a wave of viewer speculation.

Eccentric millionaire Geoffrey Edelsten and his wife Gabi Grecko seemed be the most popular choice for fans pondering the dysfunctional couple.

Geoffrey, 74, and aspiring rapper Gabi, 28, reportedly rekindled their romance last December, after a 2015 marriage that lasted just months.

Jungle bound? Eccentric millionaire Geoffrey Edelsten and his wife Gabi Grecko seemed be the most popular choice for fans pondering the couple heading into the jungle

Others suspected Sophie Monk and her ex Stu Laundy might head to the jungle in a bid to mend their recently ended romance.

However, that seems incredibly unlikely given Sophie is currently contracted with rival network, Channel Nine, and is soon set to begin hosting the series Love Island.

Another curious viewer tipped that radio power duo Kyle and Jackie O may be appearing on the show.

From the airwaves to South Africa? One viewer guessed Kyle and Jackie O were the mystery intruders

That would certainly be a deceptive twist, given the pair interviewed Lisa Oldfield on Friday, questioning her as to whether she and husband David were the mystery couple in question.

Meanwhile, one fan decided to poke fun by at an unfolding political scandal by referencing two politicians currently hitting headlines for their dysfunctional relationship .

'Malcom Turnbull and Barnaby Joyce,' one hilariously wrote referring to the strained relationship between the Prime Minister and his Deputy, who on Friday called the country's leader 'inept'.Real Housewives Of Sydney Star Krissy Marsh has denied claims her co-star Lisa Oldfield and husband David will star on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!

Rumours began swirling that the Oldfields were set to land in the South African jungle after Channel Ten hinted that a 'dysfunctional couple' were set to enter the competition.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, Krissy said it's highly unlikely Lisa will even be well enough to travel overseas after being hospitalised with a collapsed lung in January.

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'It's not them': RHOS star Krissy Marsh DENIES her co-star Lisa Oldfield and her husband David will be the 'dysfunctional couple' entering I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!

'She wouldn't have been cleared medically,' Krissy told Daily Mail Australia.

Lisa was rushed to hospital at the end of last month suffering from a pulmonary edema as a result of medication she was taking.

Krissy went on to say that entering the jungle is something the couple would've loved to have done.

'She would've jumped at it if asked,' Krissy said.

In a text message supplied to Daily Mail Australia by Krissy, she and her co-star Victoria Rees both appear to be theorising on who will be entering the jungle.

The message begins with a publicity photo provided by Channel Ten hinting at the 'dysfunctional couple'.

It's not them! Krissy poses with her RHOS co-star Victoria Rees (seen)

Guess who! In a text message supplied to Daily Mail Australia by Krissy, she and her co-star Victoria Rees both appear to be theorising on who will be entering the jungle.

The woman in red: Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, Krissy said it's highly unlikely Lisa will even be well enough to travel overseas after being hospitalised with a collapsed lung.

Victoria asks her co-star in the message 'guess who don't sue' to which Krissy replies 'it's not them' referring to the Oldfields.

A stunned Victoria then replies: 'Who is it then'?

On Thursday's episode of I'm A Celebrity, show hosts Chris Brown and Julia Morris revealed 'Australia's most dysfunctional couple' would be entering the jungle on Sunday.

Happy families: At first it was believed that PR maven Roxy Jacenko and her husband, Oliver Curtis (seen alongside their two children Pixie and Hunter), would be entering the jungle

At first it was believed that PR maven Roxy Jacenko and her husband, Oliver Curtis, would be entering the jungle.

But in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia on Thursday Roxy denied the claims, saying 'Lisa and David Oldfield are your couple'.

Lisa has already vehemently denied claims she was heading into the South African jungle telling The Kyle and Jackie O Show that 'I haven't even got a valid passport! I've never been camping in my life!'Search All categories Advertising General Aerospace General Agriculture General Airlines General America - Post 9/11 General Apparel General Apple Products General Architectural General Architecture Architecture Art & Entertainments Books Celebrities Country Music Dance Magazines Movies Museums Music Music Downloads News & Talk Shows Performing Arts Photography Television Web Sites Arts/Culture General Auction General Automotive Aftermarket Classic Autos Consumer Publications General Motorcycle & Bike Racing Recreational Vehicle Repair & Service Trade Publications Blogging & Social Media Blogging & Social Media Business Advertising / Marketing Books Consumer Research Direct Marketing e-Commerce Entrepreneurs Finance Franchise Human Resources Insurance Investment Management Markets Network Marketing Online Marketing / SEO Payday Loans Public Relations Publications Real Estate Retail Stocks Supermarkets Women in Business Careers/HR General Chemical General Coaching / Mentoring Coaching / Mentoring Computers Apple Products Databases Games & Entertainment General Hosting Instruction Linux / GNU "Open Source" Macintosh Microsoft Windows PC Operating Systems Programming Security Software Tablet PCs Utilities Construction General Consumer Gifts and Collectibles Hobbies Web sites / Internet Design Graphic Design Industrial Web E-Cigarette General eCommerce General Economy General Education College / University General Home Schooling K-12 Post Graduate Technical Electronics General Email Marketing General EmailWire Press Releases Press Release Tips Employment/Careers General Engineering General Entertainment General Environment General Events / Trade Shows General Finance General Food General Franchise General Fraud / Identity Theft General Gaming General Government General Judicial Law Enforcement Legislative Local National Public Services Security State Transportation Healthcare General Home and Family Banking / Personal Finance Bereavement / Loss Home Furnishings / Interiors Landscaping & Gardening Marriage / Relationships Money Parenting Payday Loans Pets Taxes Wedding / Bridal Home Schooling General Hotels/Resorts General Household General Industry Aerospace / Defense Agriculture Apparel / Textiles Broadcast Construction / Building Electrical Food Funeral Healthcare Leisure / Hospitality Logistics / Shipping Manufacturing / Production Mining / Metals Oil / Energy Paper / Forest Products Plumbing, Heating & AC Print Media Printing Publishing Radio Restaurants Tobacco Toy Insurance General Internet/Online General Legal General Leisure General Lifestyle Beauty Dating / Singles Diet / Weight Loss Fashion Food / Beverage Health & Fitness Hotel / Resorts Pastimes Restaurants Retirement Travel & Tourism Machinery General Maritime General Medical Addiction Allergies Alternative Medicine Asthma Cancer Cardiology Chiropractic Dental Dermatology Diabetes Emergency Family Medicine General General Geriatrics Hospitals Infectious Diseases Internal Medicine Managed Care / HMO Medical Products Mental Health Neurology Nursing Nutrition OB / GYN Pediatrics Pharmaceuticals Physical Therapy Plastic Surgery Psychology Radiology / Imaging Research Sports Medicine Surgery Vision Military General Mining/Metals General Miscellaneous General Nanotechnology Nanotechnology Non-profit General Occupational Safety Occupational Safety Oil/Energy General Opinion / Editorial Opinion / Editorial Paper Products General Paper/Forest General Pharmaceuticals General Podcasting Announce Tools and Services Politics Politics Print Media General Public Utilities Public Utilities Publishing General Radio General Real Estate General Religion Christian General Islam Jewish Other Restaurants General Retail General RSS & Content Syndication RSS & Content Syndication Science and Research Science and Research Self-Help / Personal Growth Self-Help / Personal Growth Shipbuilding General Society African American Interests Asian Interests Childrens Issues Disabled Issues / Disabilities Gay / Lesbian Hispanic Mens Interests Native American Senior Citizens Social Services Teen Issues/Interests Womens Interest Software General Sports Baseball Basketball Bicycling Boating / Maritime Bowling Boxing Fishing Football Golf Hockey Hunting Martial Arts Outdoors Rugby Soccer Tennis Water Winter/Snow Sports/Fitness General Stocks General Supermarkets General Technology Biotechnology Computer Electronics Enterprise Software Games Graphics/Printing/CAD Hardware / Peripherals Industrial Information Internet Multimedia Networking Public Sector/Government Robotics Semiconductor Software Telecommunications Webmasters Telecom General Wireless Television General Tobacco General Trade General Transportation General Travel General Utilities General Volunteer Volunteer Weather WeatherThey'e the Bachelorette couple who never shy away from publicly flaunting their affection.

And on Saturday, Lee Elliott and Georgia Love were making the most of the scorching Sydney sunshine with a sizzling beach date.

Georgia, 29, appeared to have dozed off during the outing to Bondi Beach, and her handsome boyfriend didn't waste the opportunity to poke fun at her.

'You snooze you lose' Shirtless Bachelorette star Lee Elliott pokes fun at girlfriend Georgia Love for falling asleep during sizzling beach date

Sharing a selfie where Georgia looked asleep on a towel in the background, a shirtless Lee wrote: 'You snooze you lose.'

It's been a loved-up week for the smitten couple, with Georgia and Lee going all out for Valentine's Day.

On Friday, the brunette beauty told the Studio 10 panel that she and Lee enjoyed an extravagant 'glamping' experience atop a Melbourne hotel rooftop.

Loved up! Georgia told Studio 10 on Friday that she organised an extravagant 'glamping' experience atop a Melbourne hotel rooftop to celebrate Valentine's Day

'I had a beautiful Valentine's Day. I planned everything for Lee this year,' Georgia explained.

'There's this really cool place in Melbourne. It's a hotel but it's glamping tents on a rooftop in the city.'

The former reality star also admitted that she gifted Lee a weekend away at a winery for Valentine's Day.

'I had a beautiful Valentine's Day' The duo shared an in-tents experience together

The look of love! The duo are no strangers to flaunting their affection for one another publicly

Meanwhile, Lee took to Instagram on Wednesday to share his affection for Georgia with a sweet post.

'Everyone says you only fall in love once but that's not true because every time I see you, I fall in love all over again,' Lee wrote.

Lee even hinted at a more permanent union with Georgia by adding the hashtag #herestothenextfiftyorsixtyyears.

The photo showed the happy couple sitting on a sandstone step in the romantic Italian city of Florence.She's the controversial Married At First Sight currently star on the quest for love.

But Davina Rankin's reality TV venture isn't the first time she's publicly pursued a romance.

Back in 2015, the 26-year-old featured alongside a fellow model in a Zoo magazine competition, with the pair on the lookout for a reader who could join them on a date.

What would Dean say? MAFS star Davina Rankin shares racy callout for a 'Prince Charming' to join her and a busty gal pal on a triple date in recently resurfaced post

Yahoo Be! has jokingly described the triple date competition as a 'threesome date', with Davina and her gal pal making a titillating pair as they pose together in their lingerie whilst advertising the competition.

The savvy reality star also posted a call-out on her Facebook at the time.

'I WANT TO DATE YOU' Davina began her lengthy caption, adding: '#ZooWeekly is on the hunt to find Chlobo and I one eligible bachelor to spoil on a super cute date (all expenses paid, this ain't no KFC drive-thru business).

Cover girls: Davina and her gal pal made a titillating pair as they posed together in their lingerie whilst advertising the competition in a 2015 video

Win a date! The two lookers no doubt had many men entering the competition

She continued, adding that the date may be a way for her to find her 'Prince Charming' and encouraged her friends to tag an eligible bachelor that they knew.

'My Prince charming may just be out there too busy building a house, in between doing sit ups and saving babies from fires to know that I'm looking for him!'

It appears the lucky man who won that date with Davina wasn't her Mr Right after all, as she went on to star on the reality show First Dates before ending up on Married At First Sight.

Rising star: Davina has been in the public spotlight with her controversial appearance on Married At First Sight

On the look out for love: Savvy Davina shared the competition to her Facebook page, on the look out for her 'Prince Charming'

But after beginning a racy affair with the show's 'alpha male' Dean Wells, it appears their romance may also not work out in the end.

A teaser trailer for Sunday night's episode of the show hints that Dean may dump Davina at the public commitment ceremony.

The Gold Coast based model, who has more than 200,000 Instagram fans, has polarised the country since she debuted on the show earlier this month.

Controversial: A teaser trailer for Sunday night's episode of the show hints that Dean may dump Davina at the public commitment ceremony



He's the handsome reality star who was recently caught getting close to his Bachelor in Paradise co-star, Megan Marx.

But on Saturday, Jake Ellis, 31, stepped out solo to attend the 90.9 Sea FM 'So GC!' cocktail party held at the swanky Marriott Pool Resort.

Cutting a dapper figure, Jake opted for a loose-fitting cream linen shirt which he paired with a pair of stylish ripped jeans.

Where's Megan Marx? Jake Ellis goes solo at Gold Coast cocktail party amid rumoured romance with former Bachelor contestant

The Bachelor in Paradise star completed the outfit with black slip-on shoes, a watch and a ring.

Posing for the camera, Jake beamed as he stood next to a decorate wall of flowers with a glass of champagne at the ritzy hotel.

At one point, he was joined by Bachelor in Paradise co-star Apollo Jackson with the two appearing on good terms as they posed for photos together.

Looking rather snazzy himself, bronzed Apollo opted for a tailored blue blazer with a black silk lapel which he paired with a blue button-down shirt.

Dapper! The reality star opted for a cream linen shirt and a pair of stylishly ripped jeans at the ritzy event

Despite Bachelor in Paradise not hitting the TV screen yet, Jake all but confirmed his relationship with blonde bombshell Megan last month.

Jake and Megan put on an affectionate display as they hung out in Perth with rumoured new Bachelor, Cameron Cranley.

The reality TV stars couldn't keep their hands off each other, with Megan even giving Jake a cheeky touch on the backside.

Unattached? At one point, Jake was joined by fellow hunk, Bachelor in Paradise co-star Apollo Jackson, with the two sharing a joke at the swanky event

They ramped-up their PDA once they left the bar with Megan reaching around her man's midsection and holding him tightly as they walked.

Jake also showed his affection by placing a protective arm around his new love's shoulders.

Rumours of the pair's relationship began swirling last November after they were pictured filming scenes together for the spin-off Bachelor In Paradise in Fiji.

Hunky Jake rose to fame after appearing on The Bachelorette in 2016, making it to the top three before being sent home by Georgia.He got Sophie Monk's attention on The Bachelorette thanks to his very buff physique.

And on Friday Apollo Jackson didn't move a muscle as he posed for photos, attending the 90.9 Sea FM So GC! Hamptons Cocktail Party in the Gold Coast.

The magician cut a dapper figure, wearing a very fitted suit which showcased his bulging biceps.

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Don't move a muscle! The Bachelor's Apollo Jackson showcases his VERY buff physique in a fitted suit as he attends Gold Coast cocktail party

Apollo posed for photos alongside Bachelor In Paradise co-star Jake Ellis, the two men set to star in the TV spin-off later this year.

A preview released this week showed Apollo making quite the entrance on Bachelor In Paradise, arriving shirtless and twirling fire.

The 24-year-old magician previously revealed who he was interested in pursuing prior to filming for the reality spin-off series in an interview with BW magazine in November.

Suave: The magician cut a dapper figure, wearing a very fitted suit which showcased his bulging biceps

Party boys! Apollo attended the event alongside Bachelorette contestant Jake Ellis

Returning to screens: Both Jake and Apollo are appearing on Bachelor In Paradise later this year

The hunky entertainer said former Bachelor 'villain' Keira Maguire doesn't have a shot with him, and that he already has his eyes set on fellow fan favourite Tara Pavlovic.

'I haven't watched much of the previous season, but personality-wise Tara was an absolute cracker, and even though she's got her fun, wild, silly side  which is similar to mine  I think she's mature and grounded as well,' he told The Daily Telegraph publication.

Meanwhile, he said he will keep clear of Keira and other attention-seekers on the island, adding: 'Everyone's personality is different, but I have no time for drama.'

Grabbing the spotlight: A preview released this week showed Apollo making quite the entrance on Bachelor In Paradise, arriving shirtless and twirling fire

'I get a bit lonely': The 24-year-old also admitted to feeling lonely after Sophie's rejection when speaking to the Daily Telegraph publication

He said appearing on the show is his next opportunity at finding a 'special someone', after narrowly losing to 44-year-old millionaire Stu Laundy on The Bachelorette.

The 'Mr Nice Guy' admitted to feeling lonely since his rejection, saying that he has been single for longer than he would like.

'I get a bit lonely and I don't have someone to share my experiences with and spoil. I love going out on dates and organising surprises. I feel like my life is pretty complete but I'm just missing a partner,' he said.

Apollo said that he 'never' received attention from girls when growing up, and would 'dress like Bon Jovi' while doing magic tricks and reading comic books.

Better luck next time! Apollo said appearing on Bachelor in Paradise is his next opportunity at finding a 'special someone', after narrowly losing to 44-year-old millionaire Stu Laundy on The BacheloretteHe recently surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify with his debut album Syre.

And Jaden Smith delivered a show-stopping performance on Friday as he took to the stage at Mountain Dew's Kickstart Rising Stars Game, in collaboration with NBA's All-Star Weekend at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Decked out in his trademark attire, the 19-year-old recording artist sported a rugged denim jacket while he gave the audience a passionate rendition of his chart-topping hit Icon.

Show-stopper: Jaden Smith, 19, took to the stage on Friday at Mountain Dew's Kickstart Rising Stars Game, in collaboration with NBA's All-Star Weekend at the Staples Center in Los Angeles

The son of screen star Will Smith gave it his all while belting Syre's leading track.

Jaden teamed his denim ensemble with a slogan tee, gold twin chokers and a pair of box fresh trainers.

While showcasing his platinum-toned curls, the Batman hitmaker proceeded to flaunt his toned midsection as the crowd watched on with glee.

Electric: Decked out in his trademark attire, the recording artist sported a rugged denim jacket while he gave the audience a passionate rendition of his chart-topping hit Icon

In the moment: Jaden held onto his microwave with sheer passion as he commanded the stage

Taut physique: While showcasing his platinum-toned curls, the Batman hitmaker proceeded to flaunt his toned midsection as the crowd watched on with glee

Style savvy: Jaden teamed his denim ensemble with a slogan tee, gold twin chokers and a pair of box fresh trainers

Breaking records: Jaden recently surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify with his debut album Syre

This performance comes after Jaden's father and acting legend Will Smith posted a tongue-in-cheek recreation of his Icon music video to Instagram last Wednesday.

The Hollywood star, 49, made the video in celebration of the teen garnering 100 million streams on Spotify for his debut hip-hop album, Syre.

Will added the caption: 'It is a Delicious Gift to a Parent to Admire his children. Keep Doin You!'

Poking fun: Clad in a gold chain and denim jacket, Will Smith took inspiration from his son in the almost identical clip

Much to his delight, the Karate Kid actor responded by tweeting: 'I love you.'

Jaden continued to praise the Fresh Prince of Bel Air star: 'Dad this is the funniest thing Ive ever seen in my life youre the best father anyone could ask for.

'Thank you for allowing me to express myself even when I take it too far sometimes... I love you more than you will ever know because you taught me how to love.'They stunned fans when they announced they had split after seven-and-a-half years together on Thursday.

And it has now emerged that Jennifer Aniston was reportedly left 'upset' when pictures emerged of Justin Theroux hugging her pal Naomi Watts last year, with his 'partying lifestyle in New York' being the final straw for the Friends star.

This comes hot on the heels of reports from TMZ which claim the former lovebirds 'never got married.'

Was this the final straw? It has now emerged that Jennifer Aniston, 49, was reportedly left 'upset' when pictures emerged of Justin Theroux, 46, hugging her pal Naomi Watts (pictured)

While they have yet to formally announce their reason behind their split, the National Enquirer has claimed Jennifer was far from happy when her husband was snapped hugging his close friend Naomi Watts in January last year.

The pair were attending The Unveiling: Class by Taryn Toomey at Tribeca Studio with Naomi when they was snapped sharing a warm hug with the Wanderlust actor before having an intense heart to heart with him.

The duo have been close friends for 16 years after starring together in the film Mulholland Drive in 2001.

The claims comes after allegations that the couple never officially tied the knot.

Deep in discussion: The pair, who are pals, attended The Unveiling: Class by Taryn Toomey at Tribeca Studio in January of last year, with Naomi having a heart to heart with him

Intense conversation: The duo have been close friends for 16 years after starring together in the film Mulholland Drive in 2001

Wed? This comes after claims that Jennifer Aniston, 49, and Justin Theroux, 46, 'never got married', according to TMZ

The pair were thought to have wed in a lavish ceremony at their 15million Bel Air mansion in 2015.

However, TMZ reports there is no evidence in the L.A County of their marriage licence, having checked through records since 2010.

And while the Hollywood star could have got a marriage license in the 57 other counties in California, sources have cast doubt, telling the publication there has been discussion that the pair are 'not legally married'.

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Jennifer and Justin for further comment.

Further speculation has grown over Justin's 'party lifestyle' in New York, with sources saying it was the crux of the split.

'The reality is he's been partying with all sorts of people in New York and couldn't have looked less like a married man,' a source told The Sun.

Did they tie the knot? TMZ have reported there is no evidence in the L.A County of their marriage licence, having checked through records since 2010

'He's was telling people he's single': Further speculation has grown over Justin's 'party lifestyle' in New York, with sources saying it was the crux of the split

Over: According to sources, Jennifer and Justin, found they were no longer 'compatible' when their lives became drastically different from one another, which took a 'toll' on them

'He's even been telling people he's single, while she spends most of her time in LA doing yoga, eating healthily and living a quiet life.

'He's been pretty much living in New York full time and growing close to other people, so it was only a matter of time.'

According to sources, Jennifer and Justin, found they were no longer 'compatible' when their lives became drastically different from one another, which took a 'toll' on their relationship.

'Jennifer is more comfortable in Los Angeles with her close-knit group of friends, but Justin doesnt feel as at home in LA, nor with Jennifers friends, he loves New York, and the edgier crowd in the city,' continued the insider' an insider told Page Six.

Wedding bells: The couple were thought to have tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at their Bel Air mansion in 2015

They were last pictured together during a New Year's getaway trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico before announcing their split in a joint statement.

It read: 'In an effort to reduce any further speculation, we have decided to announce our separation. This decision was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year. We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple, but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship.'

'Normally we would do this privately, but given that the gossip industry cannot resist an opportunity to speculate and invent, we wanted to convey the truth directly. Whatever else is printed about us that is not directly from us, is someone else's fictional narrative. Above all, we are determined to maintain the deep respect and love that we have for one another.'He's been keeping a low profile since splitting from his girlfriend Samantha X last month.

But Ryan Phelan doesn't appear to be drowning his sorrows, the Channel Seven reporter in high spirits as he grabbed beers with his mates on Saturday.

The TV personality was all smiles as he relaxed with some male friends at a Sydney bar.

Break up beers? Channel Seven's Ryan Phelan enjoys a boozy get together with mates following his split from former escort Samantha X

Ryan and his mates appeared in high spirits as they drank beers, even posing for a photo together.

The Channel Seven reporter has been keeping a low profile since details of his split with Samantha X, real name Amanda Goff, emerged last month.

The former couple confirmed their romance last November after Amanda revealed she had left the escort industry, despite being one of Australia's highest paid sex workers.

Bottoms up! The TV personality was all smiles as he relaxed with some male friends at a Sydney bar

Cheers! Ryan and his mates appeared in high spirits as they drank beers, even posing for a photo together

However their romance was short lived, with Amanda confirming last month that she and Ryan had parted ways.

'Ryan and I have decided to end our relationship,' she revealed. 'The love was very deep between us, but sometimes love isn't enough.'

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, Amanda said the door was firmly closed on her returning to the escort industry.

High profile couple: The former couple confirmed their romance last November after Amanda revealed she had left the escort industry

'Sometimes love isn't enough': Amanda confirmed last month that she and Ryan had parted ways

'While I miss certain aspects of escorting, the door (to a return to the industry) is firmly closed,' she said.

'Escorting gives you freedom and flexibility, away from the constraints of a "normal job" and while that was exciting and fun, my needs have changed. Im looking for stability now.'

Expanding upon the aspects she missed, Amanda said: 'I miss the friends I made in this colourful industry, particularly the women, and catching up with them for a drink reminds me just how strong and special these women are!'She is currently taking great delight in her sensational Dubai holiday with her three-year-old daughter Sophia.

And Tamara Ecclestone, 33, continued to relish along the picturesque shores with her adorable three-year-old in the popular Middle Eastern city earlier this week.

Flaunting her slender physique in a pale pink bikini, the British socialite bore a striking resemblance with her only child, who was clad in an almost identical swimsuit version of her mother's two-piece.

Taking to the sea! Tamara Ecclestone, 33, relished along the picturesque shores with her adorable three-year-old daughter Sophia in Dubai earlier this week

The daughter of former Formula One Group executive Bernie Ecclestone looked stunning in her revealing attire, which gave onlookers a glimpse at her slimline frame.

With her naturally tanned complexion on display, the television personality wore her brunette tresses in loose waves.

Tamara's sweet tot beamed with joy as she was dressed in a heavily-fringed one-piece, while showcasing her cute temporary tattoo on her leg.

The mother and daughter duo protected their eyes in square-framed glasses as they made a splash by the crystal blue sea.

Slender: The daughter of former Formula One Group executive Bernie Ecclestone looked stunning in her revealing attire, which gave onlookers a glimpse at her slimline frame

Beaming: With her naturally tanned complexion on display, the television personality wore her brunette tresses in loose waves

Doting mother: The reality star looked on at Sophie with glee as the pair played a game of football

Adorable: Tamara's sweet tot beamed with joy as she was dressed in a heavily-fringed one-piece, while showcasing her cute temporary tattoo on her leg

These loving snaps come after Tamara remained defiant in the face of the backlash she faced for her expensive lifestyle.

Along with admitting Sophia had 'never flown economy', Tamara also spoke candidly of her relationship with husband, Jay confessing she wasn't even 'that into' him ahead of their blind date.

Speaking to Heat about their privileged life, Tamara - who lives in a 70million 57-room home in Kensington with husband of four years Jay and Sophia - appeared unfazed by some of the backlash she has found herself subject to recently.

Of her daughter, she admitted: 'No she hasn't ever traveled economy. Her favourite way to travel is by private jet with a Happy Meal. It's really is a beautiful life.'

Showcasing her skills: Sophia displayed her impressive surfboard skills as she balanced on the sporting equipment

'A beautiful life': Tamara recently revealed that her daughter has never traveled economy as she likes to 'travel by private jet with a Happy Meal'

Although the beauty did admit being rich isn't all plain sailing and can come with its difficulties, especially as she likes to give people the benefit of the doubt, with Tamara having her trust broken on multiple occasions in past relationships.

But having found her happily ever after, Tamara, who was at the centre of a blackmail plot in 2013 when her ex Derek Rose tried to extort her of 200,000, revealed: 'I met Jay, but there were tons of bad relationships before that'.

Speaking about her first meeting with Jay, who she married in the South of France in 2013 before they welcomed daughter Sophia in 2014, Tamara admitted that she wasn't 'that into' her beau at first.Davina Rankin and Dean Wells' cheating scandal took her from under-the-radar model to household name this month.

But it looks like the Married At First Sight star has been on one notorious party boy's radar for quit some time.

Way back in 2014, the reality star was sending out a cheeky thank you message to none other than Geordie Shore star Gary 'Gaz' Beadle, after the pair met at an event.

Please explain? Married At First Sight's Davina Rankin sends a cheeky message to 'lady killer' Geordie Shore star Gaz Beadle after the pair met working at an event back in 2014

Turns out Davina was working as a promo girl at one of the UK reality star's meet-and-greet events at surf clothing store City Beach in Brisbane.

They clearly got on like a house on fire, the busty beauty pictured with Gaz multiple times throughout the afternoon.

Following the event, she took to Facebook to send him a very public thanks for the memories.

'Well now I know what the fuss is all about! @gazgshore is most definitely a lady killer,' she wrote following the event.

Thanks for the memories! Turns out Davina was working as a promo girl at one of the UK reality star's meet-and-greet events at surf clothing store City Beach in Brisbane

She gushed over how 'amazing' he was 'with all his fans who turned up to meet him'.

Davina then wrote: 'We had a good little chat and I made sure to ask all those 'Important' questions.'

In addition to placing emphasis on 'important,' the cover girl also included a 'speak-no-evil' monkey emoji and a 'smirking face' emoji.

Fast friends! They clearly got on like a house on fire, the busty beauty pictured with Gaz multiple times throughout the afternoon

Emojipedia, a popular website that suggests the meanings behind each emoticon, suggests Davina may have been holding back with her cryptic note.

'Sometimes used as a playful I didnt want to say that expression, or my lips are sealed / I won't say anything,' the site suggests of the monkey emoji.

Like what? Davina then wrote: 'We had a good little chat and I made sure to ask all those 'Important' questions' and a 'speak-no-evil' emoji and a 'Smirking Face' emoji

'How you do it': She concluded: 'When I'm in the UK you can teach me how you do it!'

When it comes to the 'Smirking' face, Emojipedia thinks it may have been 'A sly smile, often used with a sexual, or smug connotation.'

She concluded: 'When I'm in the UK you can teach me how you do it!'

These days, Gaz is in a happy relationship with Emma McVey, but he may have been single during his 2014 promo tour stop to Australia.

Last month, Gaz and Emily welcomed a son.

On Married At First Sight, Davina is currently caught in a 'cheating scandal' with Dean Wells.

New man: These days, Gaz is in a happy relationship with Emma McVey, but he may have been single during his 2014 promo tour stop to AustraliaShe was recently spotted getting cosy with her Bachelor in Paradise co-star, Jake Ellis.

But on Sunday, Megan Marx, 27, proved she doesn't need a man around to enjoy herself.

Talking to her Instagram Story, the blonde bombshell shared a sizzling snap of her climbing onto a pontoon in a string bikini.

Basking in the sun! Bachelor in Paradise star Megan Marx, 27, has flaunted her incredible lithe frame in a red-and-white stripe string bikini while holidaying in the Maldives

Currently holidaying in the Maldives, the blonde beauty flaunted her lithe frame while basking in the warm sun on the tropical island.

In the snap, the reality star puts one foot the pontoon while stepping out of the calm, tropical waters.

In the past week, the stunning former reality show star has shared a number of bikini-clad snaps of herself in the crystal blue waters of the Island.

On Friday, she posted a snap of herself lazing on the soft sand under a palm tree on the tropical Island.

Another day in paradise! Megan flaunted ample assets and bronzed physique in a tiny red and white bikini during her Maldives trip earlier this week

Bikini babe: Her legions of followers slathered her with a range of compliments on everything from her bikini body, the bronzed glow and the picturesque location, including one who wrote: 'Omg what a view!'

In the caption she told her 140,000 fans: 'Went for a bike ride around the whole island today and found this little spot!,' before spruiking a bottle of tanning oil.

Her legions of followers slathered her with a range of compliments on everything from her bikini body, the bronzed glow and the picturesque location, including one who wrote: 'Omg what a view!'

Another commented: 'Looking stunning! Body goals.'

Luxe life: For the past week Megan has been living it up in luxury at the Kandima resort, sharing plenty of snaps from the remote island

For the past week Megan has been living it up in luxury at the Kandima resort, sharing plenty of snaps from the remote island.

The leggy blonde recently flaunted her figure in a skimpy white bikini.

Laying back on a hammock over the island's turquoise waters, she captioned the post: 'This place is heaven  maybe leisure is the mother of philosophy after all'.

From Fiji to the Maldives! The leggy blonde recently flaunted her figure in a skimpy white bikini while laying back on a hammock over the island's turquoise waters last week

While she is best remembered for her highly publicised romance with fellow Bachelor star Tiffany Scanlon, it is believed Megan has fallen in love with former Bachelorette contestant Jake Ellis.

The two reportedly met while filming Bachelor in Paradise in Fiji late last year.

Megan and Jake have since been spotted getting very touchy-feely at a popular beach side bar in Perth in fellow Bachelor alumn Cam Cranley.

Channel 10 is yet to confirm the official air date for Bachelor in Paradise, but the series is set to return to screens soon.

Living her best life! It is believed Megan has fallen in love with former Bachelorette contestant Jake Ellis after reportedly meeting while filming Bachelor in Paradise in Fiji late last yearShe's the Belgium-born beauty whose relationship with Hollywood actress Kristen Stewart has gone from strength-to-strength since they got together in 2016.

But Australian-raised catwalk queen Stella Maxwell, 27, got a win for her professional life on Sunday.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the Victoria's Secret model will front a new collaboration between Model Co and fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld.

Another day, another campaign! Stella Maxwell to front new beauty campaign helmed by fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld

Launching mid-year, the model will front a 'collectable' range of beauty products that Model Co founder Shelly Sullivan said will 'push beauty industry boundaries.'

'The campaign is a cutting edge technology, digitally focused art piece that will push beauty industry boundaries and play out in a modern sphere,' she told the publication.

'The limited edition collectable beauty collection has been a dream to work on with the Karl Lagerfeld team and we are eagerly awaiting the mid-2018 global launch.'

New campaign! Model Stella Maxwell will front a new campaign for Australia beauty brand Model Co, which will launch limited edition beauty products with fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld

This week, striking model Stella has been ruling the runway at New York Fashion week walking for a number of shows including Zadig & Voltaire.

The model commanding plenty of attention in an all-black leather ensemble for the exclusive Big Apple fashion fete.

Daring to impress, the natural beauty revealed a peek at her delicate decolletage as the neckline plunged low.

Leather lady! It comes after the Australian-raised model walked the catwalk for New York Fashion Week. The model, 27, pictured here walking for Zadig & Voltaire this week

She wore a black bra underneath the jumpsuit as she stomped the catwalk in matching black boots.

Her gorgeous gams were belied by the baggy leather pant legs that were tapered at the bottom.

With a feather hairpiece tucked behind her ears, she kept her trademark blonde tresses long and loose.

The model's Twilight actress girlfriend Kristen Stewart was nowhere to be seen at the show.

Where's Kristen? The Belgium-born beauty was pictured at the New York Fashion Week shows without her famous girlfriend, Hollywood actress Kristen Stewart

Still going strong: Stella is dating former Twilight star Kristen Stewart. They're pictured together in LA in July 2017She proved just how smitten she was when she gifted him a Lamborghini Huracan on Valentine's Day.

And Danielle Lloyd and her electrician fiance Michael ONeill looked undeniably loved-up as they stepped out for a romantic meal in Gaucho in Birmingham on Friday night.

The 34-year-old beauty put on a sexy display for her night out, as she stunned in a semi-sheer baby blue dress which flashed her lean legs.

Lovebirds: Danielle Lloyd, 34, and her electrician fiance Michael ONeill looked undeniably loved-up as they stepped out for a romantic meal in Gaucho in Birmingham on Friday night

Danielle commanded attention in the thigh-skimming number which boasted lace-hems and teased at her figure with sheer detailing.

Clutching onto an oversized blue clutch, Danielle couldn't wipe the smile from her face which was accentuated with a glamorous coat of makeup while her brunette locks billowed in the wind.

The former Miss.England boosted her height in a pair of towering stilettos as she strutted along with other half.

Michael looked like the cat that had got the cream as he sauntered along while also putting on a bold display in a Playboy bunny top, which boasted a topless model on top.

Racy number: The beauty put on a sexy display for her night out, as she stunned in a semi-sheer baby blue dress which flashed her lean legs

Stunning; Clutching onto an oversized blue clutch, Danielle couldn't wipe the smile from her face which was accentuated with a glamorous coat of makeup

Their date night comes after Danielle gifted the hunk a flashy new Lamborghini Huracan on Valentine's Day morning, much to his delight.

Danielle's elaborate gesture comes after it was revealed she and her ex Jamie - with whom she shares sons, Archie, seven, Harry, six, and George, four, with - have seemingly buried the hatchet for the sake of their sons, after what was a very acrimonious 2017.

Jamie - who vowed that 2018 would see them sort out their vehement tiff - has now, according to The Sun, said: 'Were definitely on amicable terms now. Weve exchanged numbers. I havent had her number for a few years and we just communicated via email.'

He went on: 'Its a difficult situation but were trying to work on our communication as parents. Our relationship didnt work out but weve both moved on and weve got three amazing boys who are incredible and we both love very much.

Smitten pair: The pair have been engaged for two years and Danielle gifted the hunk a flashy new Lamborghini Huracan on Valentine's Day

Family of boys! Danielle shares sons, Archie, seven, Harry, six, and George, four, with ex Jamie O'Hara

'At the end of the day I loved her when we were together, but Im not in love with her now. We get on for our three boys.'

Of last year, Jamie reflected: '2017 was quite stressful in terms of the children and mine and Danielles relationship so we both decided this year that we need to work together to make sure the boys are happy and arent creating drama for them.'

Jamie and Danielle dated from 2009 through to 2012 when they married. But after cheating rumours, they split and divorced in 2014.

She got together with Michael in 2015 and become engaged less than a year later.

Let bygones be bygones: Danielle and Jamie have seemingly buried the hatchet for the sake of their sons, after what was a very acrimonious 2017

The couple recently revealed plans to travel to Cyprus, where parents are able to choose the gender of their next child.

Speaking to Emma Barnett on BBC Radio 5 about her controversial decision, she confessed: 'It's always been my dream to have a little girl.

'It's about having that mix and bringing up a little girl. I know she might not be "girlie"  she probably won't be with four brothers  but it's just about having a little mini-me almost.'

She added: 'I could continue to have babies and hope I'd have a girl but I want to be realistic. I've got four boys at the moment and they are a handful.'

While the process of having a 'designer baby' is illegal in the UK, Danielle admitted she had chosen to take the bold step of going public with her decision because 'a lot of people are doing it but they keep it quiet, and that is what is so frustrating for me'.She's been comforting pal Jennifer Aniston after her marriage split.

And Courteney Cox looked to be appreciating her long-term boyfriend as she packed on a PDA at Heathrow airport in London.

The 53-year-old former Friends star couldn't keep her hands off Johnny McDaid, 41, as they were reunited on Saturday.

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Forever Friends! Courteney Cox looked to be appreciating her long-term boyfriend as she packed on a PDA at Heathrow airport in London

The couple puckered up for a kiss - with Courteney even removing her eyeglasses, in case they steamed up from the clinch.

She wrapped herself around the Snow Patrol musician, after jetting in from Los Angeles.

The star was spotted leaving LAX wearing a striped top, but had changed mid-flight into a fresh black top.

Happy: The 53-year-old actress couldn't keep her hands off Johnny McDaid, 41, as they were reunited on Saturday

She was still wearing her boyfriend cut blue denim jeans, which skimmed her bare ankles.

The Friends star added black Puma pumps and a black leather biker jacket.

Her face said it all - as she lit up animatedly whilst looking at the Chasing Cars rocker.

Hotting up! The couple puckered up for a kiss - with Courteney even removing her eyeglasses, in case they steamed up from the clinch

Coquettish: She flirtily played with her hair in front of her beau

Close: She wrapped herself around the Snow Patrol musician, after jetting in from Los Angeles

Blue jeans baby: They looked delighted to see each other

Jetting in: Courteney was greeted by the musician after her transatlantic flight

Checking him out: She looked like she couldn't believe her eyes to see him

So in love: The couple made their way out of the airport together

He got this! Johnny chivalrously wheeled Courteney's luggage

Tailor made: They've even started dressing alike, in dark tops and blue jeans

So sweet: The cute pair giggled like teenagers in love

Johnny, who is from Northern Ireland but lives in London, was the perfect gentleman as he chivalrously wheeled his famous girlfriend's luggage.

The couple have been dating since late 2013, and got engaged in 2014 before hitting the rocks with a 'brutal' split in 2015.

It was reported at the time that Johnny was determined to get away from Tinsel Town and move back to his native United Kingdom, while Courteney did not want to leave Los Angeles, and they couldn't resolve their living plan.

Ready to go! She had changed mid-flight into a fresh black top

In tune: They gazed into each other's eyes after being 6000 miles apart

They've been back on track since April 2016, after the ex-wife of David Arquette reportedly agreed to spend more time in the U.K.

Courteney's BFF Jennifer Aniston apparently had a part to play in convincing the actress to give things another shot.

'Courteney and Johnny argued over trust issues, where to live and Johnny's busy writing, recording and touring schedule,

'But Jen told Court that you can overcome a lot if you are in love. For every flaw that Courteney saw in her relationship with Johnny, Jen could think of two positives that canceled it out.' a source explained to Life & Style.

Ready to go: The star was spotted leaving LAX wearing a striped top on Friday

Meanwhile, Aniston has had her own relationship woes this year, after announcing earlier this week that she split from Justin Theroux after seven years together, two and a half years after they married.

However, doubt has been cast on whether they were even legally married.

The pair were thought to have wed in a lavish ceremony at their 15million Bel Air mansion in 2015.

However, TMZ reports there is no evidence in the L.A County of their marriage licence, having checked through records since 2010.

And while the Hollywood star could have got a marriage license in the 57 other counties in California, sources have cast doubt, telling the publication there has been discussion that the pair are 'not legally married'.

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Jennifer and Justin for further comment.

What Friends are for: Courteney has been comforting pal Jennifer Aniston after her marriage split from Justin Theroux (pictured June 2014)



They have been happily married for two years, after first meeting at the Pride of Britain Awards in 2009.

And Christine Lampard and her husband Frank, both 39, appeared to be enjoying a romantic night to themselves, as they stepped out in London's Mayfair on Friday night.

Christine was effortlessly stylish in all-black look, while Frank also sported a sharp blazer and pinstriped trousers combo.

Loved-up: TV presenter Christine Lampard, 39, was effortlessly chic in all-black on Friday night as she was seen out and about in London's Mayfair with husband Frank, 39

Christine was seen enjoying her romantic evening following a stint hosting Lorraine Kelly's breakfast show, and looked effortlessly chic in all-black.

The former One Show presenter teamed a simple black blazer with matching skinny jeans, along with flat pointed toe shoes and a chain-strap bag.

Keeping her glossy raven locks loosely curled, the Irish host sported a simple black smoky eye and nude lips as she headed into the capital with Frank by her side.

Frank was also looking sharp as he walked into London with his wife, sporting the smart striped trousers with a simple grey t-shirt and blazer combo.

Stylish: Christine sported a classic black blazer and skinny jeans as she headed out for the evening with Frank, who looked sharp in a jacket and pinstriped trousers

Christine and Frank first met at the Pride Of Britain awards back in 2009.

The former sportsman was previously engaged to Spanish model Elen Rivas, with whom he shares two daughters; Luna, 12, and Isla, 10.

Frank and Christine announced their engagement in June 2011, and later tied the knot in a romantic winter wedding at the Arts Club in London's Mayfair in December 2015.

Shocked: Christine made headlines on Thursday after slamming Elizabeth Hurley, 52, as 'odd' for making her son Damien, 15, snap her sexy bikini pictures

Christine made headlines earlier this week during her time hosting ITV's Lorraine, after she slammed Elizabeth Hurley, 52, as 'odd' for making her son Damien, 15, snap all her sexy bikini pictures.

The former Dancing on Ice host struggled to contain her giggles on Thursday after finding out Elizabeth's son was behind the camera.

The WAG said: 'He probably [feels embarrassed] Hes 15 its like "oh mum, not again! It's very odd, very odd. Stick with your friends to take those pictures'.Advertisement

Margot Robbie was one of a slew of stars showing some leg on Saturday, as celebrities descended on London for the BAFTA nominees party in London.

The Aussie beauty joined Gemma Arterton, Salma Hayek and Karen Gillan in flashing their pins in elegant ensembles for the bash ahead of the biggest night in British film on Sunday.

Nominee Margot donned a quirky woven white dress with a furry finish, allowing the outfit to take centre stage with her blonde hair in a chic updo, while both Gemma and Salma contrasted in all-black looks.

On point: (L-R) Margot Robbie, Gemma Arterton, Salma Hayek and Karen Gillan made a statement in a quirky white woven dress as she joined Gemma Arterton and Salma Hayek in the star-studded lineup at the Nespresso BAFTA nominees party

Margot looked as elegant as ever in her white woven frock, which the BAFTA nominee teamed with classic gold strappy heels and quirky silver earrings.

The I, Tonya star showed off her tanned complexion with gold eyeshadow and defined brows, but her beaming smile was the main accessory as she celebrated her nomination for Best Actress.

The BAFTA nomination was the latest in a slew of noms for Margot after her performance in the Tonya Harding biopic, after she was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Gorgeous: Aussie beauty Margot sported a white woved dress with a quirky fur finish, keeping her blonde hair out of the way in a stylish updo

Amazing: Margot accessorised her look with gold strappy heels and stylish silver earrings, showing off her glowing complexion with gold eyeshadow

Stunning: Margot has received critical acclaim for her performance as Tonya Harding in the biopic

Statement: Ahead of Sunday's big awards show, Margot is nominated for Best Actress for her role in i, Tonya

Meanwhile Gemma Arterton also put on a leggy display in a structured sequinned playsuit, which the stunning beauty teamed with strappy black heels, keeping her dark cropped hair effortlessly coiffed.

The Their Finest star also flashed a hint of cleavage in the smart frock as she joined the slew of actors and stars attending the bash in London's Kensington Palace.

Gemma herself was a prior nominee of the Rising Star Award in 2011, which is the only BAFTA voted for by the general public.

Gorgeous: Gemma Arterton chose a contrasting look with a black sequinned blazer, with her dark tresses effortlessly coiffed

Acclaimed: Gemma herself was previously nominated for a Rising Star BAFTA in 2011

Salma Hayek chose a sophisticated black dress with a white neck tie that still managed to show off her slender pins, with her blonde shoulder-length tresses poker straight.

The Mexican actress accessorised her look with a simply clasp clutch bag, along with black suede platform heels.

Salma is no stranger to an awards event or two, having previously received critical acclaim for her role as Frida Kahlo in the 2002 biopic, including a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress.

Elegant: Salma Hayek chose a smarter look, rocking a fitted black dress with a white neck tie as she walked the red carpet in London's Kensington Palace

On point: The classic shaped frock showcased Salma's amazing curves, and she finished off the look with a clasp clutch bag

Karen Gillan oozed glamour on the night as she donned a sequinned black gown with a plunging neckline that flared out into a fishtail shaped tulle hemline .

Flashing a hint of leg, Karen boosted her petite frame with a pair of black satin court shoes that were adorned with a large bejewlled buckle.

The Doctor Who starlet finished off the look by wearing her glossy brunette locks in loose waves that framed her pretty features.

Turning heads: Karen Gillan oozed glamour on the night as she donned a sequinned black gown with a plunging neckline that flared out into a fishtail shaped tulle hemline

Sensational: Flashing a hint of leg, Karen boosted her petite frame with a pair of black satin court shoes that were adorned with a large bejewlled buckle

Millie Mackintosh flashed some serious leg in a stunning black gown, which featured a thigh high split keeping her amazing figure centre stage.

The former Made in Chelsea beauty had her gorgeous brown tresses effortlessly waved, and finished off the look with a long black silk robe.

Also seen putting on a loved-up display were Kate Mara and Jamie Bell, who could not take their eyes off each other as they walked the red carpet together.

Leggy: Millie Mackintosh showed off her incredible figure in a thigh-split black gown, which the beauty teamed with a long black robe

Legs eleven! Millie was a vision of beauty as she posed up a storm on the red carpet in her glamorous gown

The 2018 BAFTA award ceremony will be held on Sunday, February 18, held at the Royal Albert Hall inLondon for the second year in a row, after the move from the Royal Opera House.

The Shape of Water, directed by Guillermo del Toro, has been nominated for a total of 12 awards with Darkest Hour and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri both receiving nine nominations. Blade Runner 2049, Dunkirk, I, Tonya, Call Me by Your Name and Phantom Thread were also nominated for multiple awards.

According to Vogue, members of the Time's Up initiative sent around a letter urging guests 'to wear black to the awards ceremony, to follow suit from our sisters who attended the Golden Globes'.

Loved-up: Actress Kate Mara and husband Jamie Bell could barely take their eyes off each other as they walked the red carpet together

Pretty: Kate flashed her gorgeous pins in a flirty pink minidress with a puffball hem, which she teamed with metallic pointed-toe heels

United: Kate and Jamie tied the knot in July after almost two years together

Just a month ago, most of the stars who attended the Golden Globes wore black in a show of solidarity towards victims of sexual harassment.

And while the dress code was looser for the Grammys, stars walked the red carpet carrying white roses in support of gender equality.

This year's BAFTA Awards are being hosted by Joanna Lumley after Stephen Fry announced he was stepping down after hosting for 12 years, from 2001 to 2006 and again from 2012 to 2017. TV presenter Jonathan Ross presented during the intervening years.

Dressed to impress: Natalie Dormer looked phenomenal in an off the shoulder nude tulle gown with a semi sheer polka dot overlay that skimmed over her incredible figure

She said at the time: 'Honestly how exciting is this? It's just so unbelievably thrilling. I always looked at the BAFTA Awards with Stephen Fry there forever more, so who thought I'd turn into Stephen Fry? I said yes indecently quickly. Thank you, thank you, I'll see you on the night.

And after stepping down from his coveted position, Stephen Fry said: 'Every one of the 12 BAFTA film award ceremonies that I had the privilege of hosting has a place in my memory.

'The mixture of glamour, glory, drama and - occasionally - embarrassment and hiccup holds a unique place in the British film calendar.

Suits you, Annette! Bening was a vision in her two-piece white suit, which flattered her sensational figure, contrasted with her black platform sandals and she added a splash of colour with a slick of red lipstick

Sophisticated: The American actress cut a sophisticated figure on the red carpet, as she paired the tailored suit with a cream pleated silk top

Looking good: She styled her cropped blonde tresses in loosely tousled curls and amped up the glamour with a gold rose-shaped ring and diamond earrings

Leggy lady! Leslie Bibb gave onlookers a good glimpse of her lengthy pins, standing tall in stilettos, in the soaring split of her dress which was slashed to her thigh

Must be love: Leslie was delighted to join her husband of more than ten years Sam Rockwell on the red carpet and the couple larked about in front of the cameras

'Over the last two decades I have especially loved watching the emergence of new young film talent behind and in front of the camera. But after so long a time I felt it only right to stand down and let others take the Baftas on to new heights and greater glories.

'I want to thank all the production staff, Amanda Berry and her wonderful Bafta colleagues, the BBC and all those who helped make every year so enjoyable.

'I reserve especial gratitude and imagination for Ivor Baddiel and Phil Kerr, whose work on the scripts was so skillful it made people think I'd written every line myself.

'What fun it will be to watch BAFTA 2018 without my heart hammering, mouth drying and knees trembling.'

Dazzling darling: Florence Pugh looked amazing when she worked all the different angles in her plunging pink dress, which caressed every inch of her curves, and she span around in her sky-scraper high metallic shoes

Celebrations: Kristin Scott Thomas seemed to give a nod to Chinese New Year in her Chinese dragon-inspired dress which was sewn into the design with different coloured sequins for a dramatic look

Take the plunge! Edith Bowman wowed when she went braless to best showcase her gravity-defying cleavage in her plunging floor-length evening ballgown for the occasion on the red carpet

Vision in lilac: Meanwhile, Jameela Jamil posed up a storm in a strapless lilac gown which teased a glimpse of her enviable cleavage

Perspex: The presenter showed off her lithe limbs with the gown's knee-length split and added a boost to her height with silver perspex heels

Natural beauty: She styled her raven tresses in a sleek straight look and accentuated her glowing complexion with a pale pink eye-shadow and a slick of magenta lipstick

Fabulous looks: Octavia Spencer looked mesmerising when she stepped out in her lace embroidered dress and classy sandals

Dramatically different looks: Hayley Squires looked very lovely in her deep purple velvet dress and matching clutch, Jessie Ware showcased her slender figure in the cinched waistline of her vibrant dress while Celia Imrie went for a quirky vibe

What a man! Dennis Quaid looked as slick as ever in his two-piece suit and Kimberly Quaid showcased her slender legs in the thigh-skimming garment

Suits you! (L-R) Josh O'Connor, Francis Lee and Taron Egerton looked dapper as they graced the red carpet

Here come the boys: Daniel Kaluuya and former presidential candidate Al Gore looked smart at the event

The 2018 BAFTAs will be live on air on BBC One on Sunday. The star-studded ceremony is also being live-streamed on the BAFTAs official Facebook page.

The first BAFTA award ceremony took place in 1949 and presented the initial awards for films made in 1947 and 1948.

Following the nomination announcements back in January, BAFTA was criticised about the absence of women making this years Best Director shortlist.

Beautiful woman! The Game of Thrones star Natalie enjoyed a glass of bubbly inside the glamorous venue among a whole host of stars during the LFW event

People pleaser! Millie Mackintosh, armed with her glass of bubbly, was every inch the social butterfly when she mingled among the stars and she rubbed shoulders with the dapper Darren Kennedy

Beaming buddies: The pair looked utterly relaxed as they enjoyed the star-studded evening ahead of the BAFTAs on Sunday

Glamorous as ever: Former Made In Chelsea star and heiress Millie barely covered her modesty in the semi-sheer lace cutaway across her chest

Beyond beautiful in pink: Anya Taylor-Joy enhanced her stunning features with rosy blusher and a deep shade of pink lipstick which was noticeable in the spotlight at the party

Pretty in pink: The 21-year-old Split star showcased her slender figure and ample assets in her strapless Dolce and Gabbana corset which caressed every inch of her fabulous body

Social butterfly: She cosied up to Ralph Ineson and chatted over their glasses of bubbly inside the glamorous venue

Studded star! Well recognised for her quirky sense of style, it is no surprise Paloma Faith had another dramatically different look up her sleeve as she wowed in a black studded gown for the evening's festivities

Animated! Margot Robbie looked lively as she chatted to guests while toting her glass of bubbly and golden clutch inside the hottest showbiz party of the evening

For the frill of it! Gugu Mbatha-Raw wowed in a colourful dress adorned with layers of pleats to catch the eye at the bash

Sparkling queen: Habiba da Silva looked beyond beauty in her sparkling ensemble which was adorned with lots of beads to catch the best glimpses of the light and consequently the attention of the room

She looks sensational! Caitriona Balfe went for a chic vibe in her silk blouse and buttoned miniskirt for the glitzy occasion

Cheers to the BAFTAs! Hayley Squires looked lovely in her deep purple velvet dress which flattered her fabulous figure

Chatting away: Nicholas Hoult had the attention of others stars as he proved himself to be quite the smooth talker at the bash

Flying in for the trip! Married lovebirds Kate Mara and Jamie Bell, who just jetted in from Los Angeles for the BAFTAs weekend, looked lively as they enjoyed each other's charming company on the evening

It must be love! The married lovebirds cuddled up together for their cosy couple photograph inside the venue

Greta Gerwig, director of Lady Bird, was notably absent from the shortlist despite the film receiving nominations for Original Screenplay, Leading Actress and Supporting Actress and winning two Golden Globes last week.

Angelina Jolie also failed to make the cut for directing First They Killed My Father, nominated for the category of Film Not in the English Language. Other female directors left off include Lucy Cohen, who directed Kingdom of Us, and Rungano Nyoni for I Am Not A Witch  despite both having made it into the Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer category.

Of all the 2018 BAFTA Film nominees in non-gender-specific categories, only around 20 per cent are women.

Kathryn Bigelow is the only woman in history to win the Best Director award  for The Hurt Locker in 2010. BAFTA boss Amanda Berry told yesterdays BBC Radio 4 Today programme: Well, I have to admit there are no female directors in the director category, but there are five female directors nominated elsewhere.

British movies such as Film Stars Don't Die In Liverpool and Paddington 2 have received more attention than at the big US ceremonies.

One category not announced was the EE Rising Star Award, voted for by the public, which will be a battle between Daniel Kaluuya, Florence Pugh, Josh OConnor, Timothee Chalamet and Tessa Thompson.He appeared not once, but twice, on the The Bachelor franchise in a bid to find lasting love.

But now Matthew Johnson, better known to fans as Matty J, will be returning to Network Ten as an on-air personality.

But he won't be handing out any roses this time, according to The Sun-Herald.

Guess who's back: The Bachelor's Matthew Johnson has landed a high profile TV role with Network Ten... but he won't be handing out any roses this time!

Matty had returned to his nine-to-five marketing job after finding love with jewellery designer Laura Byrne on The Bachelor last year.

Believing that would be the last time he crossed paths with Network Ten, a chance meeting with an executive producer led to an unexpected new TV role.

He has been offered a full-time presenting spot on The Living Room alongside Amanda Keller and Grant Denyer.

New direction: Matty had returned to his nine-to-five marketing job after finding love with jewellery designer Laura Byrne on The Bachelor last year

Matty's first job involved heading to New Zealand to film a travel segment.

'I was a bit nervous doing it for the first time,' he said. 'Talking conversationally and being yourself when you're looking down the barrel of the camera is actually so difficult.

'If I can be on TV while still being myself, then that would be the dream gig.'

Exciting! Believing that would be the last time he crossed paths with Network Ten, a chance meeting with an executive producer led to an unexpected new role on The Living Room

It comes after Matty revealed he was planning his engagement to girlfriend Laura.

'There's no question for me, I've found the person I want to be with long-term, the one I hope to be with forever,' Matty told Who earlier this week.

Laura, who owns the Toni May jewellery brand, said that Matty could pick the stone but they would design the rest of the engagement ring together.

Matty's first appearance on The Living Room airs Friday at 7.30pm on TenShe rose to fame on MTV UK's Geordie Shore, before leaving the show in the ninth series.

And Vicky Pattison has told Sydney's Sunday Telegraph she is no longer close with her former co-stars, describing them as simply 'colleagues'.

The 30-year-old said of her departure: 'It's like when you leave any job, when you leave an office you don't keep in touch with Barry from accounts.'

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Ouch! Vicky Pattison (second from left, back row) has told Sydney's Sunday Telegraph she is no longer close with her former Geordie Shore co-stars, describing them as simply 'colleagues'

Vicky - who is currently appearing on Australia's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! - downplayed any feud, however, saying: 'I still think fondly of all the cast.'

But the Ex On The Beach star was quick to add: 'The fact is when you go to your new job you realise Barry from accounts was just your colleague, he wasn't that lifelong friend that you thought he would be.

'We just don't keep in touch as much as we should probably.'

In the past: Vicky said of her departure, 'When you leave an office you don't keep in touch with Barry from accounts'. Pictured: Vicky on Australia's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

It's not the first time Vicky has spoken about her time on Geordie Shore in less than glowing terms.

In 2015, the year after she left the show, the former Queen of the Jungle told The Sun it was like living in a 'plastic environment'.

'I think living in a bubble and living in that plastic environment can drain you and I found I ended up being a caricature of myself,' she said.

'Living in that plastic environment can drain you': It's not the first time Vicky has spoken about her time on Geordie Shore in less than glowing terms

'All my good qualities  the fact I'm maternal and protective of other girls and a good listener  they were all overlooked.'

'Because no one wants to see me sitting there giving someone a cuddle with a cup of green tea on Geordie Shore.'

Vicky recently flew to South Africa alongside Princess Diana's former butler Paul Burrell to film I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

I'm A Celebrity continues Sunday at 7:30pm on Network TenShe's the Geordie lass with the common touch who looked set to live out the enduring fairytale of marrying into Royal circles.

But now the dream is over  with Donna Air revealing she has ended her relationship with the Duchess of Cambridges brother, James.

Donna exclusively told The Mail on Sunday that the rollercoaster romance, which has dominated gossip pages for five years, has finally come to an end  and this time its for good.

She and James quietly uncoupled over Christmas after mutually deciding that a new year should bring a fresh start.

Ending months of speculation, Donna last night confirmed the news, telling this newspaper: James and I are no longer an item. We parted ways in December but remain the very best of friends and always will be.

The couple began telling friends of the news only last week, having gone to great lengths to put on a united front until now. On January 14, James was seen in the audience of ITV reality show Dancing On Ice, cheering Donna on as she made her debut with partner Mark Hanretty. Donna is one of two women who remain in the competition and will be skating for her survival on the show tonight.

Donna Air has confirmed that she has split with James Middleton and said they had made the decision in December, even though he was seen supporting her on Dancing On Ice in January

Donnas rise from humble Newcastle girl to friend-of-the-royals has seemed improbable, prompting speculation that she has been pushing for an engagement to seal her status.

But James said last year: I love Donna very much. Marriage is absolutely not something Im scared of, but it isnt necessarily the be-all and end-all.

Speaking of the relationship, a friend said last night: Donnas down-to-earth nature helped to ease any concerns Jamess mother Carole might have had about them being together. Donna has also been a rock to James as he has worked on his start-up business over the years and has taken him back each time he has had a wobble about their future. Now she is ready to move on.

Donna said: James and I are no longer an item. We parted ways in December but remain the very best of friends and always will be'

The pair met in London private members club 5 Hertford Street in February 2013, and burst on to the social scene as a couple at the Serpentine Summer Party later that year.

Since then, they have become the toast of the celebrity circuit. For a time they regularly posed together on red carpets but resisted joint appearances after The Animal Ball in 2016 when James took a decision  some say influenced by the Royal Family  not to court more attention.

Donna, 38, and James, 30, have survived numerous claims of a split. In 2015, James told the MoS that, despite reports to the contrary: We are still very much a couple and have not parted ways. A year later he and Donna had a brief relationship sabbatical when he moved to Hong Kong to pursue business interests with his marshmallow firm Boomf.

They reunited four months later, but in October last year reports again surfaced suggesting all was off, which the couple again denied.

Donna remains close to her other ex, the casino and wildlife park heir Damian Aspinall. They and their 14-year-old daughter Freya enjoyed a Valentines Day lunch in Chelsea last week.She's a proud mother-of-three.

And Jessica Alba is still getting used to the fact, as she readily admits.

Writing on Instagram alongside a selfie with her three children, she wrote: 'Weekends with my babies. I still cant believe it!'

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'I still can't believe it!' Jessica Alba poses for a selfie with Honor and Haven as they cuddle baby brother Hayes on Saturday in Los Angeles

Oh baby! Nine-year-old Honor was obviously besotted by her new sibling, constantly checking in with the infant

Watch me mom! Haven, six, competed for mom's attention

The Honest Company co-founder tagged her post: 'blessed' and 'family is everything.'

The foursome headed to a park near their Los Angeles home where big sister Honor and Haven played happily while Hayes snoozed in a sling on his mother's chest.

Nine-year-old Honor was obviously besotted by her new sibling, constantly checking in with the infant, while six-year-old Haven ran around.

Sleeping like a baby: The foursome headed to a park near their Los Angeles home where big sister Honor and Haven played happily while Hayes snoozed in a sling on his mother's chest

Got her hands full: As she watched over her older children, Jessica was cradling her infant on her chest in his sling

Stylish momma: Jessica wore camo pants and a denim jacket to the park

Throwing shade: Jessica was careful not to let any direct sunlight on the tot

Keeping hydrated: The family enjoyed drinks together

On Friday Jessica shared a picture of herself breast feeding he son in a Target dressing room, captioning it 'tired eyes'.

The 36-year-old actress welcomed her son with husband Cash Warren on New Year's Eve.

She is taking some time off from acting and her successful baby products business and has joked about using her maternity leave to catch-up on her favorite box sets.

Sister act: The older girls are obviously delighted to have a baby brother

Play time: The family relaxed in the warm California sun

Theme: Jessica and Cash continued the H theme when naming their third

Homeward bound : The girls all left the park together after a whileShe's been a foremost voice in the ongoing culture change in Hollywood.

Rose McGowan was snapped on Saturday leaving the Beverly Hills, California restaurant Cuvee Saturday, where she had lunch in a lithe, stylish ensemble.

The Brave author, 44, wore an oversize long-sleeved creme top with a hood and torn swaths on the side, black leggings, black sneakers and dark black The LB Brand sunglasses that read 'Rise of the Woman' on the round lenses on the daytime outing.

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Rise of the Woman: Rose McGowan, 44, was snapped on Saturday leaving the Beverly Hills, California restaurant Cuvee Saturday, where she had lunch in a lithe, stylish ensemble

Her close-cropped locks were jet black and under her hood as she left the swanky eatery with a black drawstring bag.

It's been an emotional time for McGowan, one of the first of more than 80 women to accuse Hollywood honcho Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment and misconduct amid her claims the producer raped her in 1997. McGowan earlier this week chimed in amid the death of her former manager Jill Messick, who took her own life earlier this month.

Rose said, 'For Jill: May your family find some measure of solace during this pain.'

Referring to Weinstein, she wrote: 'That one man could cause so much damage is astounding, but tragically true. The bad man did this to us both.'

Step by step: The outspoken entertainer has emerged as one of the prime voices in the ongoing cultural shift against sexual abuse and harassment

Pensive: The Charmed actress rummaged through her drawstring purse outside the establishment

She continued, 'May you find peace on the astral plane. May you find serenity with the stars.'

The statement came after Messick's family issued a statement criticizing both Weinstein - who Messick had worked for from 1997 thru 2003 - and McGowan over the chain of events that led to Messick's death at 50.

'Over the past few months, many women have come out with allegations against Harvey Weinstein, including Rose McGowan, who has repeatedly spoken with the press, striking out against not only her alleged attacker, but a great many others,' said the family, who indicated Messick suffering from bipolar disorder. 'One of them was Jill, who chose to remain silent in the face of Roses slanderous statements against her for fear of undermining the many individuals who came forward in truth.'

Breaking her silence: Rose earlier this week posted a message on social media remembering her late manager Jill Messick

Gone but not forgotten: Jill Messick, snapped in 2007, was found dead in LA on February 7

Chiming in: Rose earlier this week lent her thoughts over the school shooting in Parkland, Florida

'She opted not to add to the feeding frenzy, allowing her name and her reputation to be sullied despite having done nothing wrong. She never chose to be a public figure, that choice was taken away from her.'

The family said that for Jill to see 'her name in headlines again and again, as part of one persons attempt to gain more attention for her personal cause, along with Harveys desperate attempt to vindicate himself, was devastating' and 'broke' her.

Rose also chimed in with an impassioned message on Wednesday after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were gunned down at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School by a suspect identified as a 19-year-old who was previously expelled from the school.

'Oh Florida, Oh America,' she wrote. 'Rivers of tears and sorrow caused by men that fear a reality they created.

'Our hearts are so tired of breaking, but they will continue to break because its all that is left to us citizens. Do better. For the love of God, do better. #RIP #Florida.'The Bahrain Forum for Human Rights (BFHR) said that it recorded 995 serious human rights violations between January 1 and January 31, 2018.

(AhlulBayt News Agency) - The Bahrain Forum for Human Rights (BFHR) said that it recorded 995 serious human rights violations between January 1 and January 31, 2018.



In its monthly report, BFHR highlighted that the violations included arbitrary arrests, house raids, unfair trials, suppression of peaceful protests, restrictions on freedom of movement, prohibition of Friday prayers, inflammatory media materials that incite hate speech, enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment.



Arbitrary arrests, raids and restrictions on freedom of movement



121 cases of arbitrary arrest, including 6 children, were recorded,climaxing on January 23, 2018 and amounting to 44 unlawful arrests and 138 raids on houses and residential establishments that were carried out without arrest warrants, and in a manner that spreads terror among citizens. In addition, the freedom of movement was violated through the continuation of the security siege on Duraz for 589 days and the imposition of house arreston the highest religious authority for the Shiite Muslims in Bahrain, Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, for 252 days without a judicial order or administrative decision.



On January 31, 2018, Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim was transferred to the hospital after a13-day deliberate delay by the authorities, as he was scheduled for surgery on January 18, 2018, therefore his rights to treatment and to freedom of movement were violated.



Meanwhile,the security authorities continued to violate freedom of religion and belief by banning Friday prayers at Duraz for 4 times in January, bringing the number to81 preventions since 2016. In addition, 200 Bahraini citizens have been accused or arrested in the Public Prosecution and presented to the Bahraini judiciary for reasons relating to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.



Hate speech: 342 media materials



342 media materials and messages that incite or help to incite hatred against human rights defenders, political activists and Bahraini citizens were observed in January. Those materials are divided into 89 media articles published in the official press and 253 materials published on social media by users that include official and media figures, such as Assistant Undersecretary for Information and Follow-up at the Prime Minister's Court, Ibrahim Al-Dosari,Ministry of Information Affairs' adviser, Sawsan Al-Shaer, former MP Mohammed Khaled, and journalists Faisal Al-Sheikh, Farid Hassan, Mona Mutawa and SaeedAl-Hamad.



The media materials inciting hatred published in local press are as follows: 18 articles in the Bahraini Al-Ayam newspaper, 25 articles in Akhbar Al-Khaleej newspaper, 13 articles in the Bahraini Al-Bilad newspaper, and 33 articles in the Bahraini Al-Watan newspaper.



Torture, ill-treatment, enforced disappearance and destruction of property



18 cases of torture and ill-treatment, which climaxed on January 14, 2018, were observed.The cases include four women and eight children - one of them an infant - who were subjected to ill-treatment while attempting to enter the sieged area of Duraz. In addition, three children from Buri were also subjected to ill-treatment. The detained child, Sayed Hadi Ali Ne'ma from Iskan Aali and detainee Ammar AbdulGhani from Al-Daih were subjected to torture. Moreover, the right to treatment and healthcare of Hasan Mushaima, Secretary General of the Movement for Civil Liberties and Democracy (HAQ), was violated. Moreover, 2 cases of destruction of property were observed on January 24 and January 27, 2018. Also, 17 cases of enforced disappearance of Bahraini citizens were observed, including Ali Hussein Jassem who disappeared for 45 days, Salman Ismail who disappeared for 40 days, Hussain Humaid Madan who disappeared for 28 days, Mustafa Bahr who disappeared for 27 days, Abbas Rahma who disappeared for 20 days and Mansour Al-Dulabi who disappeared for 20 days.The cases of enforced disappearances were regionally distributed as follows:10 cases from Duraz, 3 cases from Nuwaidrat, and 1 case from each of Manama,Abu Saiba, Bilad Al-Qadeem, and Barbar.



Unfair trials



In addition, 77 Bahraini citizens were handed arbitrary sentences, which climaxed on the 24th and 29th of January, 2018, amounting to 24 cases. The total arbitrary sentences amounted to the following: 679 years of imprisonment, 3 years of imprisonment suspended for one year term, total fines of US $268,000, 39 sentences of revoking nationalities, and 10 sentences of deporting citizens whose nationalities were revoked, four of them were deported before January 1, 2018. In addition, the death sentence against Maher Al-Khabaz was upheld,even though four UN experts issued a report saying that he was subjected to torture and ill-treatment. 2 death sentences were issued against Ali Al-Arab and AhmadAl- Mullali. Also, among those who were arbitrarily imprisoned are 4 women.



The trial hearings,which violate the freedom of political action of Bahraini opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman, as well as two former MPs of the Al-Wefaq parliamentary bloc, Sheikh Hassan Sultan and Ali Al-Aswad, continued.The fourth hearing was held on January 4, 2018 and the fifth hearing on January 25, 2018. In the fifth hearing, Sheikh Ali Salman emphasized that the audio recordings which were used as indictments for the charge of spying for Qatar are cut in a way that distorted their contents.



On January 16,2018, Bahrain's Court of Cassation upheld a two-year prison sentence against Nabeel Rajab, head of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and Deputy Secretary-General of the International Federation for Human Rights. A statement by the Bahrain Center for Human Rights said[1],"We are very worried about Nabeel's safety and well-being,"adding, "Authorities should release him immediately, drop the charges against him, and investigate thoroughly his possible ill-treatment in detention."



Appeals hearings at the military judiciary for 17 civilians and one soldier continued to be held,in which civilian victims were tortured and ill-treated. Three appeals hearings were held on January 10, 14 and 31, 2018, and the case was reserved until February 21, 2018 without investigating the torture complaints which include 11 violations: torture by electric shock, enforced disappearance, sleep andbathing deprivation, severe beatings and solitary confinement. On December 25, 2017,the military court sentenced five civilians and one soldier to death in this case, including human rights activist and head of Liberties and Human Rights Department at Al-Wefaq Society, Mohammed Al-Motaghawi, and the personal escort of Sheikh Isa Qassim, communications engineer Sayed Alawi Hussein.













/129A 22-year-old woman has been charged over a fiery head-on crash in the state's central west that last year killed her two passengers.

Police say the woman was driving a Ford sedan south on Gipps Way, near Condobolin, on November 20 last year when her vehicle collided with a truck that was travelling north.

The truck driver, a 59-year-old man, managed to escape before his vehicle caught alight.

The Sedan driver was flown to Westmead Hospital with critical injuries while her passengers, a 34-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man, died at the scene.

Police say she was charged on Friday with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, two counts of negligent driving occasioning death and one count of driving a motor vehicle while disqualified.

She was granted conditional bail to appear at Condobolin Local Court on March 6.Three men have been seriously injured after their allegedly drunk friend crashed a ute into a brick wall before slamming into a parked car and a palm tree.

One of the men was thrown from the tray of the ute onto Noosa Parade, at Noosa Heads, in the Saturday morning crash and all three have were taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a serious condition.

Police were unable to provide details of their injuries.

Their 18-year-old friend, who was behind the wheel, allegedly fled the scene but later returned and has been charged with a range of offences including mid-range drink driving, police said.

He's due to front Noosa Magistrates Court on March 27.Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has met with his deputy Barnaby Joyce in Sydney for talks about the coalition leadership crisis threatening to spiral out of control.

The pair met at the Commonwealth Parliament Offices for over an hour earlier on Saturday, where the two leaders discussed comments the prime minister made about Mr Joyce's affair with a former staffer.

Late on Thursday Mr Turnbull said his deputy had made a "shocking error of judgment" by having a relationship with former media adviser Vikki Campion, and humiliated his wife and daughters.

My Joyce described the comments as "inept" and "unnecessary" at his own press conference on Friday.

It is understood Mr Joyce on Saturday indicated his concern was more about the forcefulness of Mr Turnbull's comments, and less about their substance.

Both agreed to move forward in the national interest.The South Australian election campaign is less than a day old but already there's problems over posters.

Liberal MP and the man trying to resist the challenge from SA-BEST leader Nick Xenophon, Vincent Tarzia, declared 100 of his posters were stolen shortly after going up on Friday night.

Mr Tarzia said he had put the matter in the hands of police even as his political rivals denied any involvement.

Liberal Leader Steven Marshall said if the posters had been removed intentionally it was something that was not welcome in the campaign.

"We don't want to see that. It's not what's needed. We want a clean fight," he said.

Premier Jay Weatherill said the theft was "obviously something that should not happen."

"Beyond that I don't know anything about that," he said.

Mr Xenophon said the first he heard of Mr Tarzia's posters going missing was when the Liberal candidate rang him on Saturday.

The SA-BEST leader said he didn't know of any of his own going missing.

"Anyone that pinches other people's corflutes deserves the full sanction of the law," Mr Xenophon said.

In a separate incident, some criticism was directed to at least one Liberal candidate who jumped the gun, putting up posters early on Friday, several hours before the allowed time.

Mr Marshall dismissed that as just the action of "a couple of over-enthusiastic volunteers".

"They shouldn't have done that. There are rules and they should be abided by," he said.

Hundreds of posters will be put out by most candidates ahead of the March 17 poll with some considering them a short-term blight on the landscape.

However, a recent bid in the SA parliament to ban or limit their use failed to garner much support.A man has died in hospital a week after being assaulted in the Northern Territory.

The 44-year-old went to Tennant Creek hospital on February 9 with injuries, telling staff he had been assaulted.

He was taken to Alice Springs Hospital before being transported to an Adelaide hospital on February 11.

The man died one week later on February 16, a Northern Territory Police spokeswoman told AAP.

Crime detectives are travelling to Tennant Creek to investigate the man's death.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.Melbourne filmmaker, Greta Nash, has won Tropfest for a film inspired by a shopping trip taken with her Mum.

Her short film, Two Piece, was chosen by a jury, headed up by esteemed Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon, to take home the top prize at the annual short film festival in Parramatta Park in Sydney's west on Saturday night.

The film depicts a teenager's shopping trip to find a swimsuit for a family trip to the beach.

"I was inspired to write it after I was at a film festival last year and had to find a dress for opening night," Nash told AAP.

" I found a dress and I loved it but it was a little bit tight but I was told it was the largest size. And so I left, but I took it out on my mum."

Nash captured the teen angst a shopping trip can bring up for a young girl in her seven-minute film.

"For me it's just about not being able to see yourself because of self-esteem issues or body image," she said.

Oscar-winner Sarandon flew in to Sydney a few days before the event to lead the jury of the 26th Tropfest, which included Lion director Garth Davis, actress Rachel Griffiths, documentary maker Jennifer Peedom and actor Rob Collins.

"I will be looking for a creative, courageous, well-executed seven-minute film," Sarandon told AAP before the event.

Nash won out of a total of 16 finalists who incorporated the signature item, a rose, into their film.

This was the second year that Tropfest, which had its beginnings in an inner-city Sydney cafe in 1993, has taken place in Parramatta in the city's west.

It's founder John Polson said the festival was likely to stay at Parramatta.

"Right now we're very committed to Parramatta, as far as I'm concerned it is part of our future," Polson told AAP.

"It feels like a great home for us."

Nash will take home $10,000 in cash and a new Holden car valued at over $45,000.

She will also spend a week in Los Angeles meeting agents and studio executives as part of her prize.Hazardous surf conditions are expected to lash the entire NSW coastline with swimmers, surfers and rock fishers warned to avoid the water.

The warning for Sunday comes as Tropical Cyclone Gita - which damaged parts of southern Fiji - moves from the southwest of New Caledonia towards the Tasman Sea, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

While the cyclone isn't expected to reach NSW, it will cause dangerous surf conditions with swimmers, surfers and rock fishers urged to stay out of the water.

The waves on Sunday won't appear high and dangerous, but the length of time between consecutive waves will be fairly long, increasing the power of each wave, bureau duty forecaster Rob Taggart said.

A big swell is set to come in on Monday and Tuesday as Gita moves into the Tasman Sea.

Surf Lifesaving NSW said beaches on the north coast of the state would likely experience larger swells and urged rock fishers, in particular, to be vigilant and avoid rock fishing in exposed areas.Passengers have rubbished a cruise line's offer for compensation after a South Pacific getaway turned into a nightmare with three days of violence.

The Carnival Legend arrived in its home port in Melbourne on Saturday, a day after a 23-member family was offloaded in an unscheduled stop-off on the NSW South Coast.

The "big Italian family" spent days attacking "Aussies", with people "getting strangled and punched up", passenger Lisa Bolitho told reporters.

"Very violent, they were full-on attacks," she said on Saturday.

Ms Bolitho also questioned the ship management's handling of the incident.

"The captain said 'What do you want me to do about it - throw them overboard?'"

Days of on board fighting during the 10-day cruise preceded the major brawl at the ship's nightclub early on Friday.

Ms Bolitho's son Jarrah was targeted by the family, with the pair fleeing and locking themselves in their cabin.

"I was watching the fight and one guy came up to me and said 'Do you want to go too bro?'" Jarrah said, adding the offenders were in their late teens and early 20s.

"My mum had to drag me away from it all. They were trying to pick on any Aussie they could find."

Carnival Cruise Line said it was offering guests a 25 per cent future cruise credit as a "goodwill gesture".

But some passengers slammed the offer as "unacceptable".

"I won't be travelling Carnival ever again so a 25 per cent off a future cruise in my eyes is unacceptable," Mark Morrison said.

"To add insult to injury ... they charged us a $19.54 credit card convenience fee to settle accounts before disembarkation this morning."

Both Carnival and NSW Police are investigating the incident.

In a statement, the cruise line said: "We sincerely apologise to our guests who were impacted by the disruptive behaviour of the group removed from the ship by the NSW Police in Eden."The Labor faithful will come together as the party officially launches its campaign for the South Australian election.

Premier Jay Weatherill will continue with his theme of standing up for SA when he rallies supporters at the set-piece event on Sunday, less than four weeks from the March 17 poll.

"That's what I think this campaign is about," he said.

"It's about standing up for jobs, standing up for our schools, standing up for our hospitals and also standing up for our renewable energy future.

"This is a very important campaign and we''ll be putting a very positive set of plans in front of the people of South Australia."

The March election is considered one of the most uncertain for many years with a genuine three-way contest looming between the Labor government, the Liberal opposition and Nick Xenophon's SA-BEST party.

Mr Xenophon is planning to run candidates in as many as 36 seats and is hoping to seize the balance of power in the next parliament.

He says South Australians are sick of the Liberal and Labor parties and will look to his group to keep a strong check on the next government.

But Liberal Leader Steven Marshall has ruled out working with the former senator and has urged voters to give him a clear majority.

He's described the election as the most important in the state's history and believes voters want change.

Mr Marshall's chances have also been bolstered by a recent redistribution of electoral boundaries which seem to favour the opposition, nominally handing it a handful of extra seats.

The changes mean for Labor to retain office and win a record fifth term, the party actually needs to increase its vote compared to the results in 2014.Following three indecent assaults in Sydney's inner west, police believe there is a serial offender in the area.

On Saturday afternoon a man told police he had been approached by a woman who said she'd been indecently assaulted nearby at the Bay Run in Lilyfield.

This is the third account of a man exposing himself or intimidating women in the Lilyfield area, with the two earlier incidents reported to the police by the female victims.

Police want to speak with the woman from Saturday's incident, as well as any other women who may have been approached or assaulted near or on the Bay Run area.

The man is described as Caucasian, aged between 20 to 30, about 180cm tall, with short, cropped hair and brown eyes.Bahraini police forces have attacked protesters in several regions across the Persian Gulf kingdom, a few days after large crowds of demonstrators marked the seventh anniversary of their uprising against the ruling Al Khalifah dynasty.

(AhlulBayt News Agency) - Bahraini police forces have attacked protesters in several regions across the Persian Gulf kingdom, a few days after large crowds of demonstrators marked the seventh anniversary of their uprising against the ruling Al Khalifah dynasty.



The demonstrators on Friday called for the release of political prisoners, and expressed solidarity with prominent opposition cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim, who is now living under house arrest since Manama revoked his citizenship in June 2016, prompting protests and sit-ins in his home-town of Diraz.



There were no immediate reports of possible casualties or arrests during the crackdown on Friday.



The rallies came two days after Bahraini people marked the seventh anniversary of their popular uprising with massive protests across the country. Police used tear gas against the demonstrators in several areas, injuring several of them in the ensuing clashes.



Thousands of anti-regime protesters have held numerous demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis ever since the uprising began in the capital Manama in mid-February 2011 and snowballed into a full-fledged movement sweeping the whole Shia-dominated country. They demand that the Al Khalifah dynasty relinquish power and let a just system representing all Bahrainis be established based on political reforms and equality.



Manama has gone to great lengths to clamp down on any sign of dissent. On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to assist Bahrain in its crackdown.



Scores of people have lost their lives and hundreds of others sustained injuries as a result of the Al Khalifah regimes crackdown.



Bahrain has also stripped hundreds of its citizens of their nationality, and has jailed dozens of high-profile activists and religious clerics over the past seven years.









/129The NSW police commissioner has backed tougher penalties for people caught texting and driving after two of his officers were badly injured by an alleged repeat offender in Sydney's southwest.

Jakob Thornton faced six charges after crashing into Jonathan Wright and Matthew Foley in Leumeah on Friday night.

The senior constables were pinned between the car and a police van and surgeons were forced to amputate Mr Wright's right foot and Mr Foley was left with a fractured leg.

Thornton was allegedly looking at his phone for 10-to-20 seconds when he crashed into the two officers setting up a random breath testing station, a court heard on Saturday.

The 22-year-old, who had his provisional licence suspended four times, was denied bail when he appeared via video link at Parramatta Bail Court.

It's not the first time he has been caught using a mobile phone while driving, with an incident two years ago leading to the suspension of his licence.

Thornton is due to appear at Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller visited the less seriously injured officer at Liverpool Hospital on Saturday morning.

He told reporters he was in good spirits, while the other remained in intensive care after having part of one of his legs amputated.

But he rued the fact that an officer almost died because of a driver's "reckless" behaviour.

"There is a cultural problem in this state, where drivers think it's more important to text and drive before considering the potentially life-threatening consequences," Mr Fuller told News Corp Australia.

"As commissioner, it is my role to protect life, so I am open to any solution that will discourage drivers from touching their mobile phones behind the wheel."

In a single day earlier this month, highway officers issued more than 1200 infringement notices to people using their mobile phones while driving.

It followed an announcement by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian that cameras would be used to catch drivers using their phones as part of a broader road safety plan.NSW will trial a new support program for older people suffering abuse, especially at the hands of their carers and family.

Ageing Minister Tanya Davies on Sunday announced $150,000 to pay for case workers to offer assistance to elder abuse victims beyond the normal referral service.

They will help co-ordinate police, health, cultural and community services, among others.

"Older people are often reluctant to report their own children or relatives and may not have the means to address these problems on their own. We hope this trial will demonstrate that we can change this," Ms Davies said in a statement.

The trial, developed from similar programs in the US, Canada and New Zealand, will begin in March.

More than 7000 calls were made to NSW's elder abuse helpline between 2013 and December 2017.Malcolm Turnbull has been courageous in calling out a longstanding political culture with his ban on ministers having sex with their staff, one of his most senior colleagues believes.

Treasurer Scott Morrison said it should be common sense but updating the ministerial code of conduct was good professional practice and followed similar moves from the AFL and corporate Australia.

The prime minister made the move on Thursday, after the government spent more than a week engulfed in the fallout from Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce's extra-marital affair with his former media advisor, Vikki Campion.

"I'm happy to have a prime minister who's been prepared to call out a political culture in this country that has been going on for decades, if not generations," Mr Morrison told ABC TV on Sunday.

He said it was known that affairs went on but people would turn a blind eye, saying it couldn't be policed or that private was private.

"Well, I'm sorry - if you sleep with your staff, it's not private any more. It's public because you're a minister in a position of responsibility and power over those who work for you," he said.

"This is not moral police. It doesn't matter if you're married or single. You shouldn't sleep with your staff. It's a bad practice.

"It's not conducive to the good running of your office and the performance of your duties."

Labor has been cagey on whether it would keep the sex ban in the ministerial code if it won office.

Opposition frontbencher Richard Marles said he agreed in principle that ministers should not be sleeping with their staff.

"But I think what should be the appropriate policies that are put in place ought to be the subject of a proper discussion and not done in a knee-jerk reaction to provide a smoke-screen against the fact that there's a crisis at the top of the government," he told Sky News.

He said Labor had advocated over decades for greater workforce participation for women and a key part of that was making sure workplaces were free of harassment and unwanted sexual advances.Qualcomm chairman Paul Jacobs said the California chipmaker's board rejected anew a $121 billion takeover bid from rival Broadcom, but was open to further discussions

US mobile chipmaking giant Qualcomm on Friday rejected for a second time a hostile $121 billion takeover bid from Singapore's Broadcom, but said it was open to "further discussions" on a tie-up.

Two days after a meeting of top executives of the two computer chipmakers, Qualcomm chairman Paul Jacobs said the recently revised bid remained unacceptable.

But he added that the Qualcomm board "is intensely focused on maximizing value for Qualcomm stockholders" and could reconsider if Broadcom revises its offer.

"Our board is open to further discussions with Broadcom to see if a proposal that appropriately reflects the true value of Qualcomm shares, and ensures an appropriate level of deal certainty, can be obtained," Jacobs said in an open letter to Broadcom chief executive Hock Tan.

Jacobs said the latest offer "has an unacceptably high level of risk," and noted that Broadcom had failed to allay concerns about whether the deal could get approval from antitrust authorities in the United States, Europe and elsewhere.

Broadcom, which made its first offer in November and last week sweetened the proposal, aims to put pressure on its US rival to accept a takeover bid which would be the largest-ever in the technology sector.

If completed, it would create a powerful player in the booming sector fueled by growth in smartphones and an array of connected devices from cars to wearables.

Broadcom is appealing to Qualcomm shareholders ahead of the California-based company's March 6 annual meeting, and is offering a slate of new directors for Qualcomm who would be favorable to the offer.

Broadcom made its first offer on November 6 following a visit by its CEO to the White House, where he met President Donald Trump and announced plans to move the tech company back to the United States from Singapore

The latest offer amounts to $60 per share in cash plus $22 in Broadcom stock, in a deal worth $121 billion, along with the assumption of $25 billion in Qualcomm debt.

Qualcomm is the dominant maker of microprocessors for mobile phones, and has faced a series of antitrust investigations in several countries over its market power.A member of the Iraqi forces holds the Islamic State group flag upside down in Mosul on July 1, 2017

In a classroom of the University of Mosul, in the Islamic State group's former Iraqi capital, around 50 volunteers have undergone a week's training on how to combat the jihadists' ideology.

The ulema, or Islamic scholars, aim to set up "brigades" tasked with ridding Mosul residents of extremist ideas following the city's recapture last July which ended three years of IS rule.

"Mosul must be liberated from the thinking of Daesh after having been liberated militarily," said Mussaab Mahmud, who just completed the course, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

"We were deceived by Daesh ideas and now we are trying to free ourselves from its ideology," said the 30-year-old day labourer.

The first group of volunteers came from all sectors of Mosul society, including mechanics, teachers and a sheikh.

The men aged from 25 to 45 signed up on Facebook for the course run by the Ulema Forum of Mosul, Iraq's second largest city which was left shattered by the months-long battle to expel IS.

Sheikh Saleh al-Obeidi, head of a Muslim scholars forum in Mosul, delivers a speech at a graduation ceremony in the northern Iraqi city on February 8, 2018

The classes are being conducted by five teachers who are experts in Islamic jurisprudence from Mosul and Tikrit, a city to the south that was also previously under brutal IS rule.

"The lessons are concentrated on human rights, human development, peaceful coexistence and communal peace," the forum's president Sheikh Saleh al-Obeidi told AFP.

He said participants were tutored on "faith, Islamic jurisprudence and the Hadith (record of the sayings of the Prophet Mohammad) to allow them to counter the ideas of Daesh and its intellectual terrorism".

- Priority on 'brainwashed' children -

IS imposed its own rigid interpretation of Islamic law on all aspects of everyday life, branding opponents "apostates" who should be killed.

Most members of religious and ethnic minorities who had lived in peace for centuries alongside Mosul's majority Sunni Muslims fled to escape the radicals with their beatings and public executions.

Sheikh Obeidi said the brigades will go out and "combat the extremist ideas on social media and by calling on residents in their homes".

A graduate of an anti-jihadist ideology course in Mosul speaks to new recruits in the northern Iraqi city on February 8, 2018

His forum was established in 2014 in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, to the north of Mosul, by ulema who had fled the city.

They broadcast on private television channels but residents risked the wrath of IS if they were caught tuning in to the forum's programmes.

Sheikh Obeidi said that the classes would expand to cover "all social groups and both sexes", although it was still looking for permanent premises in the war-battered city.

Priority will be the children indoctrinated in IS-run schools where they were taught the jihadist version of Islam and given weapons training.

"As a teacher myself, what I've learnt here will allow me as far as possible to erase the radical Daesh ideas instilled in pupils, because they were the worst affected and influenced," said Ibrahim Mohammad Hamid, 27.

"I will go to the parents because the home and the family play a major role in spreading the idea of tolerance and coexistence," he said.

Mohammad Abaiji, a 24-year-old imam, or prayer leader, said he would run seminars in the mosque for children "to spread enlightened ideas, because Islam is a religion of tolerance".The brawl comes just days after a separate incident forced another cruise liner to return to Sydney

Twenty-three members of the same family have been removed from a cruise ship near Sydney after a brawl that left several injured, reports said, just days after a separate incident forced another liner to return to port.

Police removed the group, which included men, women and children, from the boat on Friday after it docked in Sydney on a 10-day South Pacific cruise.

Video taken by passengers showed more than a dozen people fighting on the ship as crew members struggled to break up the violence.

Other reports said the group had been terrorising other passengers for days.

"People were pulling their children out of the pool because they were crying and scared," one witness told The Herald Sun newspaper.

It said some of the group had been placed under "house arrest" on the ship before being ejected.

One witness told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation she had seen seven separate fights break out during the trip.

Police said they were investigating the incident but no one had been charged.

Jennifer Vandekreeke, a spokeswoman for Carnival Cruise Line, said the trouble involved a single family, adding that disembarking an entire group "is always our last resort".

The incident comes just days after a separate cruise ship was forced to return to Sydney after a fight over a queue for the toilets.

A Russian women was charged on Monday with attacking a man with a wine bottle.Cannabis has been legalized in about 30 US states in one form or another, although it remains outlawed at the federal level

Virgil Grant is riding the high on California's cannabis legalization, with a burgeoning empire that already comprises three dispensaries, two plantations and a line of apparel.

His success has come as some compensation for the six years lost inside the federal prison system for dealing a drug which was outlawed for non-medical use before January 1.

In his discreet boutique in South Los Angeles, he proudly shows off his latest wares -- a reusable tea flask infused with CBD, a non-psychoactive element of cannabis -- and ointments sold in pretty jars.

Grant found himself on the wrong side of the United States's decades-long "war on drugs" before the start of the massive groundswell for cannabis legalization, locked up after being arrested by federal agents in 2008.

"You have a lot of people of color that were arrested and sent to prison and jail, (such) as myself, for marijuana crimes, non-violent drug offenses," he told AFP.

"We're moving forward and we're talking about legalization... there are still people sitting in prison for marijuana crimes, but we're out here selling marijuana legally. You know, that doesn't make sense."

Cannabis has been legalized in about 30 US states in one form or another, although it remains outlawed at the federal level.

Although recent figures are difficult to ascertain, there were more than 11,000 people in federal prisons for cannabis offences in 2012, according to a study by the Urban Institute think tank.

- 'You lose everything' -

"These people should be freed immediately and their records should be expunged. This is not happening fast enough," said Grant, co-founder of the California Minority Alliance (CMA), which advocates for minority rights within the weed-growing industry.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, 8.2 million people were arrested for dealing or using cannabis between 2001 and 2010 -- four black people for every one white, despite similar consumption levels and dealing activity.

Cat Packer, head of LA's department of cannabis regulation, says disproportionate arrests of non-whites have occurred only because police were "more active in those communities."

But the impact on African-Americans and Hispanics has been devastating, plunging entire families into penury.

Cannabis entrepreneur Virgil Grant was locked up for six years in 2008 for dealing cannabis, before the start of the massive groundswell for legalization of the drug

"You lose everything. They take your cars, your money," recalls Grant, who laments missing out on his five daughters growing up.

"Then there's the mental damage you do to these young kids when their father is taken from the home. From leaving a comfortable lifestyle, to have to look for some kind of assistance."

Cannabis offenders often find life on the outside as challenging as incarceration, their drugs convictions a black mark that stops them getting jobs, housing and some benefits, condemning them to remain in crisis.

In areas where cannabis consumption has become legal, authorities say they are gaining awareness of the socio-economic damage of previous regressive policies and, as a result, putting remedial measures in place.

- 'Not the right color' -

Los Angeles, Oakland and Portland, for example, are aiming to give priority when handing out cannabis trading licenses to those who have suffered from the "war on drugs."

Meanwhile the CMA is campaigning throughout the country for disadvantaged minorities to get better access to the embryonic legal cannabis sector.

"It shouldn't take a million dollars to get a license... If we don't put in some provisions it will be a white, male-run industry," Grant argues.

In areas where cannabis consumption has become legal, authorities say they are gaining awareness of the socio-economic damage of previous regressive policies and, as a result, putting remedial measures in place

Cities like San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle want to offer amnesty for thousands of low-level cannabis convictions, while many Californian associations are also organizing "clinics" to help ex-convicts, most of them men from minority backgrounds, get their criminal records expunged.

Eddie Erby, an employee in one of Grant's dispensaries, was arrested at age 18 for selling marijuana and spent 10 years behind bars. Now, at 52, he has turned his life around.

"It was a way of fast money because you couldn't get a job because you're not the right color," he says as he weighs out marijuana for a customer.

Grant regularly hires ex-convicts like Erby and has only basic requirements for prospective employees.

"Be on time, don't steal, and you can have a job," he says.

And there are plenty of cannabis jobs going in a market already estimated to be worth nearly $20 billion in the United States, a figure that is expected to double within three years.Thousands of English-speaking refugees from Cameroon have arrived in Nigeria

For the first time in his life, Victor Obi believes that the only way to win freedom in Cameroon is with a gun.

"I don't want to die, but the only future is our independence, and they will not give it to us," said the student, whose name has been changed for his own safety.

The 25-year-old is camped out in a small Nigerian village just kilometres from his home in Cameroon where authorities have launched a crackdown on English-speaking separatists.

"They killed my sister and my brother," said Obi, his voice heavy with hatred. "I have nothing to lose."

In December, Obi says soldiers invaded his hometown of Kajifu and started shooting indiscriminately at suspected separatists, said to be running a major training camp in the thick equatorial forest surrounding the village.

Kajifu is located in one of Cameroon's two English-speaking regions that have been pushing for independence from the French-speaking elite who rule the West African country.

On October 1, separatists declared the two regions as the self-proclaimed republic of "Ambazonia", marking a turning point for the country's English-speaking minority, which makes up around a fifth of the population.

Cameroon President Paul Biya dispatched troops, combat helicopters and armoured vehicles to root out the dissidents, forcing tens of thousands to flee to neighbouring Nigeria.

At least 26 soldiers have been killed in the violence, according to an AFP tally.

But the civilian death toll isn't known, with non-governmental organisations and independent media barred from the area.

Though the original Ambazonia leaders have dissociated themselves from militant offshoots -- they claim their struggle is peaceful -- there are a growing number of attacks against the government.

- 'Raise an army' -

Cameroonian refugees live in makeshift houses in Cross Rivers State in southeast Nigeria

On Sunday, before a national youth day parade in Batibo, a town near the Nigerian border, a government official was kidnapped and his car was burnt in an attack claimed by separatists.

Lucas Cho Ayaba, leader of the Ambazonian Defence Forces (ADF), took credit for the kidnapping, declaring: "You kill my people, we will chase you to the gates of hell."

The ADF, along with three other militias, represent the main groups which count more than 300 fighters, according to an International Crisis Group (ICG) estimate. There are also 10 much smaller but violent factions engaged in the conflict.

Few claim attacks and it's difficult to know exactly who is responsible, said ICG researcher Hans De Marie Heungoup.

"The main issue for Ambazonian groups is that they really lack finance," he said.

"If they had money to buy weapons, train and feed their people, they could raise an army."

But amidst the chaos, one thing seems certain: the crackdown has radicalised many English-speakers, among them the farmers and managers who have long felt marginalised by Yaounde but have never been interested in politics -- until now.

- 'They are angry' -

Cameroonian refugees eat food made from Cassava in Cross Rivers State in southeast Nigeria

English-speakers in Cameroon have been marginalised for too long, said Pastor John Mbe, one of more than 33,000 refugees in Cross River State, Nigeria.

"Many people have died already, we can't go back home," he said, "young people may not have guns and bullets, but I can tell you they're angry."

A source close to the militants says they have adopted the guerilla philosophy of freedom fighters in Eritrea as well as that of Nelson Mandela's anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.

In Manyu, a region at the epicentre of the conflict, separatists block roads with tyres and tree trunks to ambush and attack military bases.

The militants are armed mostly with homemade rifles, some Kalashnikovs, grenades and other improvised explosive devices.

The few sophisticated weapons they possess have been stolen from police stations.

As a result of the simmering violence, thousands of refugees are arriving in Ikom, a city just over the border in a Nigeria, raising fears that the conflict is spiralling out of control.

- Black magic -

No formal fighter camp has been identified, but according to several witnesses interviewed by AFP, young refugees are performing black magic rituals to prepare for war.

They gather in small groups for "juju" ceremonies, during which they cut their foreheads and rub the bleeding wound with "magic potions" to make them invincible, said a Nigerian soldier who attended one of the ceremonies.

Their presence is a growing concern for Nigeria, an ally of Cameroon, which last month arrested and extradited 47 separatist leaders and deployed soldiers along the border.

Yet that hasn't stopped the rebels from launching attacks from Nigerian territory in recent weeks, according to security sources.

At the end of January, suspected separatists detonated an explosive device at the Cameroon border post of Ekok, partially destroying an office.

"The truth is that many militants are hiding among the refugees, and they just cross the border at will through the forest," said Lawrence Asuquo, head of immigration at Ikom.

"They launch attacks on the Cameroonian army and they run back to Nigeria. It's almost impossible to track them."Philippine lawyer Jude Sabio filed a complaint with the Hague-based International Criminal Court over President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly war on drugs

Philippine lawyer Jude Sabio felt it was his duty to bring President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly war on drugs to the attention of international war crimes prosecutors, but now that a probe into the killings is under way, he fears he too has become a target.

Sabio, who describes himself as penniless and on the run, said he had received death threats from Duterte supporters on social media after filing a petition with the Hague-based International Criminal Court in April last year.

"I'm in a state of constant paranoia because I fear for my life," Sabio, 51, told AFP in an interview. "It could be very possible that a bullet will hit me."

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda launched a "preliminary examination" after receiving Sabio's petition, which alleges around 8,000 extrajudicial killings, and this could lead to a full investigation by the court.

Sabio wants the president arrested.

Duterte won a landslide victory in 2016 elections largely on a pledge to eradicate drugs. He is accused of stoking the killings with inflammatory statements and repeated promises to pardon any police officer charged with murder.

Police say they have killed 4,021 drug suspects in self-defence, but rights groups claim police and shadowy vigilantes have actually killed more than 12,000 people.

Duterte maintains he is beyond the ICC's jurisdiction and has threatened to withdraw his country from the treaty that created it if the tribunal pursues a formal investigation.

"The problem with me is when I see something wrong I fight," said Sabio, who had a low-key legal practice for two decades and unsuccessfully ran for public office twice.

"Now to the question of how it feels to be standing against Goliath, to me the fact that he is president, I'm sorry to say this, doesn't matter to me."

- 'Treacherous -

The unassuming lawyer -- the son of public school teachers of modest means -- lost the 2010 election for mayor of a southern town and was disqualified for being a "nuisance" senatorial candidate in 2016, officially ruled as lacking funds to run his campaign.

But his life started to change course when in October 2016 he agreed to represent Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed assassin whose deposition forms part of the ICC case.

Matobato had spectacularly confessed at a Senate public hearing a month earlier that he was a member of the "Davao Death Squad" that killed at least a thousand people on Duterte's orders when the president was mayor of Davao city.

Philippine police say they have killed 4,021 drug suspects in self-defence, but rights groups claim police and shadowy vigilantes have actually killed more than 12,000 people

The lawyer alleged in the suit that the drug war was the "Davao Death Squad" on a national scale, which Duterte rejects.

"It is targeting a vulnerable civilian population, composed mostly of the poor living in depressed communities," Sabio said.

"The only way to stop the killings is to issue a warrant of arrest. Arrest president Duterte and bring him to The Hague."

Sabio, a short, stocky man with an unruly moustache, has feared for his life ever since and he left his southern home city of Cagayan de Oro for his own safety a year ago -- the last time he saw his 75-year-old mother.

His assassins could be "riding in tandem" he said, referring to gunmen on motorcycles, said by witnesses to be behind many of the unsolved street murders of known small-time drug dealers.

Responding to questions about the threat against Sabio, Duterte's spokesman Harry Roque said Tuesday the president bore no "ill will" against the lawyer.

"Let's make sure that if there's a threat, he should report it to the police," Roque told reporters.

However, Sabio hit back Friday, saying "these people are treacherous".

He said he does not know Duterte personally and denied working for the opposition, taking on the case purely on principle.

But Sabio does not look like a crusader and is battling myriad health problems including diabetes and heart disease -- twice going under the knife, the last in mid-2016, to insert six stents for clogged blood vessels.

He still owes the hospital 900,000 pesos (more than $17,000), and when he flew to the Netherlands to file the case "I had no money so people contributed for my plane ticket, and also for my hotel".

Since leaving Cagayan de Oro, he has missed doctors' appointments as well as meetings with other clients.

"I could have died in that operation," Sabio said. "But I don't know, I was brought to life and maybe this is my mission in life."Eva Demafelis (front 2nd L) weeps as the coffin containing the body of her daughter Joanna, who was found inside a freezer in Kuwait, arrives at Iloilo International Airport

More than a hundred relatives and supporters of a Filipina maid whose body was found stuffed in a freezer in Kuwait brandished banners demanding justice as her coffin was returned home on Saturday.

The family of Joanna Demafelis openly wept as the white casket was unloaded at an airport cargo terminal in the central city of Iloilo.

"Justice for Joanna D. Demafelis," was emblazoned on banners and on T-shirts worn by the crowd which included a congressman and local officials expressing their anger over the death of the Filipina whose body was found in a freezer in Kuwait earlier this month.

The incident worsened a diplomatic flap between the Philippines and Kuwait with President Rodrigo Duterte alleging that Arab employers routinely rape their Filipina workers, force them to work 21 hours a day and feed them scraps.

He has also banned the deployment of new workers to Kuwait and ordered airlines to fly home any of the 252,000 Filipinos working there who wish to return.

About 10 million Filipinos work abroad and the money they remit back is a lifeline of the Philippine economy. Their treatment abroad is often a political issue at home.

Kuwait's foreign minister previously condemned Manila's "escalation," of the issue but Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said Friday the Kuwaiti ambassador had assured him his government was "outraged" over the killing and determined to find those responsible.

A distraught Eva Demafelis could only say "I am sad," when asked by reporters about the death of her daughter.

"She does not deserve the manner in which she died. She was beaten up," said an aunt, Rosela Demafelis Taunan, referring to local news reports about the 29-year-old maid's death.

The death of Joanna Demafelis, whose body was found in a freezer in Kuwait earlier this month, worsened a diplomatic flap between the Philippines and the Gulf state

"She decided to go abroad because she wanted to help her parents repair the house that was damaged by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)," in 2013, the aunt recalled.

The slain maid also wanted to finance the college education of her youngest sister, Joyce, the aunt said.

Residents lined the highway as the funeral convoy escorted by police cars and motorcycles made its way to Demafelis's hometown, about a two hour's drive from the city.

Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello said late Friday that "working groups" from both countries were discussing forging a memorandum for protecting the rights of Filipinos in Kuwait, many of whom are working as maids.

Domestic workers in that country are not covered by ordinary labour legislation, and accounts of Filipinas being subjected to abuse and exploitation in the Middle East have long circulated.Sayyed Hashim returned to his home in Diraz on Saturday from where he was arrested after heavily armed security forces stormed his home in the early hours of January 23.



(AhlulBayt News Agency) - Manama has released Bahraini Shiite cleric Sayyed Adnan al-Sayed Hashim after subjecting him to over three weeks of incommunicado detention.



Sayyed Hashim returned to his home in Diraz on Saturday from where he was arrested after heavily armed security forces stormed his home in the early hours of January 23.



The authorities failed to provide any legal justification for the arrest or charge the cleric with any wrongdoing.



Sayyed Hashims arrest was part of extensive police raids that saw dozens of people detained in a matter of hours.



Earlier this month, Diraz residents voiced their concern over the fate of those arrested, alleging that they were tortured by the security services.

/257At least 20,000 people have been killed and more than 2.6 million others made homeless in Boko Haram's insurgency since 2009.

Three suicide bombers killed 19 people at a fish market in northeast Nigeria, civilian militia leaders said on Saturday, in an attack blamed on Boko Haram jihadists.

Friday's deadly attacks came in the week that hundreds of Boko Haram suspects went on trial at civilian courts at a military base.

One fighter involved in the 2014 abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls from the Borno state town of Chibok was jailed for 15 years.

The suicide blasts happened at about 8:30 pm (1930 GMT) on Friday in Konduga, some 35 kilometres (20 miles) southeast of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri.

Babakura Kolo and Musa Ari, from the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) assisting Nigeria's military against the Islamists, said the bombers were all men.

"We have 19 dead and about 70 others injured... Two of the bombers attacked the Tashan Kifi fish market. Then four minutes later, a third bomber struck nearby," said Kolo.

"The victims included 18 civilians and one soldier. The Tashan Kifi is an informal market which serves as an eatery, market and also hang-out for residents."

Map locating Konduga in northeast Nigeria, where three suicide attacks were carried out at about 8:30 pm (1930 GMT) on Friday

Ari said 22 of the 70 injured were in a critical condition, adding: "There is no question as to who did it: Boko Haram has targeted Konduga several times."

There was no immediate comment from the military or the police in Borno state, which has borne the brunt of the violence in Boko Haram's nearly nine-year insurgency.

At least 20,000 people have been killed and more than 2.6 million others made homeless since 2009. Nigeria's military and government maintains the group is a spent force.

But suicide attacks and raids persist, with civilians in hard-to-reach rural areas and outlying towns at risk.

On January 31, two female suicide bombers blew themselves up at Mandarari village, near Konduga.

- Trials and reward -

The blasts happened shortly after another bomber killed four and injured 44 at a displaced persons' camp in Dalori, 22 kilometres away on the same road to Maiduguri.

A fourth bomber also blew herself up outside the camp.

The Nigerian officer in charge of operations against Boko Haram, Major General Rogers Nicholas, on Wednesday said the Islamic State group affiliate was "in disarray".

The military has offered a reward for information leading to Shekau's arrest.

Operations since the start of this year had flushed them out of their stronghold in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno state, which had previously been cleared in December 2016.

Nicholas called the jihadists "callous" for "forcefully using the most vulnerable in our society... as IED (improvised explosive device) couriers".

On Tuesday, the army claimed Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was "running for his dear life" because of military action against his hideout.

Army spokesman Brigadier General Sani Usman said Shekau was "desperately trying to escape... disguised as a woman" wearing a hijab to avoid detection.

The military said it would give a reward of three million naira ($8,310, 6,697 euros) for "credible information" leading to his arrest.

In 2012, the army had said it would give a 50 million naira reward.

The United States, which considers Shekau an international terrorist, has said it would offer up to $7 million for information on his whereabouts.President John Magufuli, who came to power in 2015 as a corruption-fighting "man of the people", has been increasingly criticised over his authoritarian leadership style

Tanzania's main opposition party Saturday accused police of shooting dead a female university student and seriously injuring at least four other people while trying to disperse a peaceful demonstration in the country's commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

The local police have admitted a person was hit after they fired warning shots on Friday but accused some protesters of throwing stones.

The first-year university student, whose name and photo have circulated on social media, was struck by a bullet while on a bus the day before a fiercely contested parliamentary by-election in the city's Kinondoni constituency, an opposition spokesperson said.

"According to information at our disposal at the moment, a young girl who was not part of our group was killed by a bullet that hit her," said Vincent Mashinji, secretary general of main opposition party Chadema.

Witnesses said police used tear gas and fired live ammunition in an attempt to stop hundreds of Chadema party members from marching towards a local Electoral Commission office. A number of party members were arrested.

"In our ranks, the police have arrested many people, I cannot say how many at the moment. There are at least four seriously wounded who have been hospitalised," said Mashinji.

The police commander in Dar es Salaam, Lazaro Mambosasa, told newspaper Mwananchi: "They (Chadema supporters) blocked the rapid transit buses and started throwing stones. When the police shot into the air, a bullet hit a person."

The violence began after Chadema tried to march to the Electoral Commission to demand accreditation for its nominees to have observer status at the by-election.

"It was not until after dark, after the bloodshed, that the Commission has given authorisation to our observers," said Mashinji, adding that representatives of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party had received accreditation many days earlier.

Earlier this week Chadema said a local party leader, Daniel John, was kidnapped, tortured and then beaten to death after men bundled him into a car.

In September 2017, senior opposition lawmaker Tundu Lissu was shot several times at his home in the capital Dodoma.

Chadema accused the ruling party of being behind that attack, claims rejected by the government.

Tanzanian President John Magufuli, who came to power in 2015 as a corruption-fighting "man of the people", has been increasingly criticised over his authoritarian leadership style, with a clampdown on the opposition, journalists and artists.

Last week, Tanzania's Catholic church accused Magufuli's government of violating democratic norms by limiting freedom of expression.US President Donald Trump and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met at the White House in May 2018

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday dismissed as "blabber" accusations that Moscow had interfered in the US election that brought President Donald Trump to power.

"So as long as we don't see facts, everything else is blabber," Lavrov said at the Munich Security Conference, a day after the US indicted 13 Russians for running a secret campaign to sway the American vote.

The indictments -- which include the first charges laid by US special counsel Robert Mueller for election interference -- detailed a stunning operation launched in 2014 in a bid to sow social division in the United States and influence American politics "including the presidential election of 2016".

Mueller alleges that by mid-2016, the campaign -- under the direction of Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin -- became focused on boosting Trump and demeaning his rivals including Democrat Hillary Clinton.

It allegedly involved hundreds of people working in shifts and with a budget of millions of dollars. Three companies were also indicted.

Mueller charges that members of the group posed as US citizens on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram, posting content that reached "significant numbers" of Americans.

The content was retweeted by the president's two eldest sons Don Jr and Eric, as well as other top campaign officials and members of Trump's inner circle.

The indictments made no judgement however on whether the alleged Russian efforts had altered the outcome of the election.

When asked to comment on the charges at the security gathering in Germany, Lavrov said: "I don't have a reaction because anything and everything can be published. We see how accusations, statements, are multiplying."

But he stressed that US officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, had in the past "denied that any country influenced results of the election".

- 'Incontrovertible' evidence -

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova had earlier rubbished Mueller's allegations as "absurd".

But US National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, taking the stage in Munich immediately after Lavrov, said "evidence" of such attempts to "interfere in our democratic process" would become harder to hide.

"We're becoming more and more adept at tracing the origins of this espionage and subversion, and as you can see with the FBI indictment, the evidence is now really incontrovertible and in the public domain," McMaster said.

While in the past, investigators were wary of divulging their IT intelligence capabilities, "now that this is in the arena of a law enforcement investigation, it's going to be very apparent to everyone," McMaster said.

He also argued that Russian authorities might begin to reconsider attempts to sway foreign elections, "because it's just not working".

The efforts to "polarise our societies" and "pit Western societies against each other, all that has done has appealed to those big fringes while uniting all of our policies actually against Russia and Russian interference," he said.

Trump meanwhile has seized on the indictments as proof that his campaign team did not conspire with Moscow.

"Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for president," he tweeted Friday.

"The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong - no collusion!"

None of the 13 Russian suspects are in US custody.Prosecutors dropped the sex abuse charge citing lack of evidence but fined Kim Ki-duk five million won ($4,600) for assault

A South Korean director in the eye of a #MeToo storm defiantly rejected abuse accusations against him at the Berlin film festival Saturday, saying he ensures no one "suffers" on the sets of his ultraviolent, sexually explicit art movies.

Acclaimed filmmaker Kim Ki-duk, who has picked up prizes at the Cannes, Venice and Berlinale festivals, faced a barrage of reporter questions about allegations of physical and sexual abuse by an actress he worked with in 2013.

His invitation to the Berlinale prompted the actress to accuse festival organisers of "hypocrisy" given the spotlight the 11-day event has said it wants to train on rampant sexual misconduct in the industry.

Kim, 57, insisted that "safety and respect" take top priority in all of his productions.

"We don't want anyone hurt while making a film. We don't want anyone to suffer when making a film," he told a news conference, speaking through an interpreter.

"No matter how fantastic a film is, we must make sure that nobody feels insulted during shooting and that applies for everybody, both cast and crew. That's been my fundamental approach therefore I very much regret this incident."

Asked whether he wished to apologise for his treatment of the actress, who has declined to be publicly named, Kim insisted he was unaware of any wrongdoing on his part.

"What we were actually doing was rehearsing a scene. We were on the set, there were a lot of people present. My crew back then did not object at all or say that it was inappropriate," he said.

"I don't remember exactly what happened but it really was related to artistic performance, to the acting. I believe that the actress interpreted this incident differently than I did."

- 'Don't draw conclusions' -

The actress came forward last year and said Kim forced her into unwanted, unscripted sex and nude scenes and slapped her repeatedly while shooting his 2013 award-winning film "Moebius" -- before replacing her with another actress.

Prosecutors dropped the sex abuse charge citing lack of evidence but fined Kim five million won ($4,600) for assault under a procedure to settle minor cases out of court.

The actress -- who said she had quit acting due to trauma -- has appealed against the decision to dismiss the sex abuse allegation.

But Kim said for him the case was closed.

"There's been a ruling in this case now and I've shouldered the responsibility," he said.

An anonymous South Korean actress speaks from behind a screen during a press conference accusing Kim of abusing her

"I don't entirely agree with the ruling but I believe that these processes are also part and parcel of changing the system and helping us to make progress in the film industry. I'll certainly bear this in mind in future as well."

Kim was in Berlin to present his latest picture "Human, Space, Time and Human", which like many of films includes brutal rape scenes.

He insisted his movies' often violent content did not reflect his own behaviour.

"I would like to be a good human being in my life," he said.

"My daily life is not like my films and I wouldn't like to live that way. So please don't draw conclusions about my personality because of looking at my films."The drone strike came as UAE-backed Yemeni special forces launched a new offensive against Al-Qaeda in southeast Yemen, losing two soldiers

A US drone strike in central Yemen killed two suspected Al-Qaeda members on a motorbike including a local commander, a security official said Saturday.

The strike came as UAE-backed Yemeni special forces launched a new offensive against Al-Qaeda in southeast Yemen, losing two soldiers.

The unmanned aircraft struck the motorcycle carrying the men in Bayda province at around midnight Friday, the official told AFP.

"The strike targeted two Al-Qaeda militants, local commander Abu Hussein al-Theriya and another, Dawoud al-Sanaani, as they rode through the province," he said.

Although the US only sporadically reports on its long-running bombing campaign against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), it is the only force known to operate armed drones over Yemen.

The drone war has intensified since President Donald Trump took office.

Washington also backs a Saudi-led coalition in its military intervention in Yemen, launched in 2015 with the aim of forcing Iran-backed Shiite rebels from the capital and restoring the government to power.

The Saudi-led intervention, in which the United Arab Emirates plays a key role, has expanded to include the fight against Al-Qaeda and other Sunni extremist groups that have flourished in the chaos of the war.

On Saturday, two elite UAE-trained Yemeni troops were killed and others wounded in clashes with Al-Qaeda in the Mesini Valley of Hadramawt province, a military official said.

They were taking part in a new offensive, announced Saturday by Emirati state media, aimed at clearing Al-Qaeda from the southeastern province.

"Special forces have launched operations to clear the Mesini Valley west of Mukalla and Amed Valley in the Hadramawt desert of Al-Qaeda and to cut off its supplies and movements," the official said.

He said an unspecified number of Al-Qaeda members had also been killed.

The UN has labelled Yemen the world's worst humanitarian diaster, tallying more than 9,200 fatalities since the Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015.An explosion at Israel's border with the Gaza Strip wounded four Israeli soldiers on Saturday, the army said, adding it retaliated by targeting an observation post inside the Palestinian enclave.

An army statement said "two soldiers were severely wounded, one moderately and one slightly" in the explosion that took place near the border fence.

It was one of the most serious incidents on the border of the Hamas-ruled blockaded enclave since the Islamist movement and Israel fought a war in 2014.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion.

But army spokesman Jonathan Conricus blamed Hamas for the blast, in remarks on Twitter.

Conricus said Hamas regularly organises protests against Israel along the border and used a demonstration to plant an "IED (improvised explosive device) attached to a flag", which then detonated.

"We hold Hamas responsible for all aggression from Gaza," Conricus added.

An earlier army statement said an Israeli tank opened fire at Gaza after an "explosive device" detonated near soldiers along the border with the Palestinian enclave.

It said the tank targeted an "observation post" in southern Gaza in response to the "detonation of the explosive device adjacent to the security fence" where soldiers were on patrol.

Palestinian security sources said the explosion took place east of the city of Khan Yunis, causing no injuries on the Palestinian side.

Israel holds the Islamist Palestinian movement Hamas, with which it has fought three wars since 2008, responsible for any fire coming from the blockaded coastal enclave.

Hamas and Israel have fought three wars since 2008, and the last conflict in 2014 was waged in part over tunnels from Gaza that were used to launch attacks.Secretary of State Rex Tillerson -- here at a press conference in Ankara -- told the CBS show "60 Minutes" that he is "listening" for signs that North Korea is ready to talk

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in an interview to air Sunday that he is "listening" for signs that North Korea is ready to engage in direct talks.

"My job as chef diplomat is to ensure that the North Koreans know, we keep our channels open," Tillerson told the CBS news show "60 Minutes."

"I am listening. I am not sending a lot of messages back because there's nothing to say to them at this point. So I am listening for you to tell me you are ready to talk," he said, according to excerpts of the interview.

An Olympic-driven thaw in relations between Kim Jong Un's nuclear armed North Korean regime and South Korea has raised speculation that direct talks between Washington and Pyongyang could be on the horizon after months of sharp tension and heated rhetoric.

"They will tell me," Tillerson told "60 Minutes."

"We receive messages from them, and I think it will be very explicit as to how we want to have that first conversation."

The top US diplomat however stressed that no incentive was being offered to get Pyongyang to the table.

"We are not using a carrot to convince them to talk, we are using large sticks -- and that is what they need to understand," he said.

"This pressure campaign is having its bite on North Korea."

The North is subject to a series of UN Security Council sanctions over its banned nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

The United States has previously indicated Washington is open to direct talks, but Tillerson stressed earlier this month that the ball was now in Pyongyang's camp.

"We've said for some time it's really up to the North Koreans to decide when they're ready to engage with us in a sincere way, a meaningful way," Tillerson said on February 12, while on a stop in Cairo.

"They know what has to be on the table for conversations."

Washington says Pyongyang must take concrete steps towards denuclearization before talks can begin, while South Korean President Moon Jae-in has argued for closer involvement to engage the North in talks.

Moon last week received an invitation from Kim Jong Un for a summit in Pyongyang. The invitation was extended by the North Korean leader's younger sister Kim Yo Jong, who was part of a high-level delegation attending the Winter Games in the South.

When asked Saturday about a possible summit, Moon said that, despite the high hopes that have been raised, "I think it is a bit rushed."US President Donald Trump and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met at the White House in May 2018

Moscow on Saturday dismissed as "blabber" and "fantasies" allegations that it interfered in the election that brought President Donald Trump to power, denials that drew immediate scorn from US officials.

The traded barbs, made at the Munich Security Conference, came a day after the United States indicted 13 Russians for running a secret campaign to sway the 2016 vote.

"I am amazed that... the Russians come, send someone every year to basically refute the facts," US Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the Munich attendees about the US charges: "So as long as we don't see facts, everything else is blabber."

The indictments, which include the first charges laid by US special counsel Robert Mueller for election interference, detailed a stunning operation launched in 2014 in a bid to sow division and influence American politics "including the presidential election of 2016".

Mueller alleges that by mid-2016, the campaign -- under the direction of Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin -- became focused on boosting Trump and demeaning his rivals including Democrat Hillary Clinton.

It allegedly involved hundreds of people working in shifts and with a budget of millions of dollars. Three companies were also indicted.

- 'Simply fantasies' -

Mueller charges that members of the group posed as US citizens on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram, posting content that reached "significant numbers" of Americans.

The indictments made no judgement however on whether the alleged Russian efforts had altered the outcome of the election.

When asked to comment on the charges at the gathering in Germany, Lavrov stressed that US officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, had in the past "denied that any country influenced results of the election".

Former Russian ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak was equally dismissive when he took to the stage at the top security gathering in Munich.

"We didn't meddle in the American political life," said Kislyak, who was posted in Washington when Trump's White House win stunned the world.

"Whatever allegations are being mounted against us are simply fantasies that are being used for political reasons inside the United States in the fight between different sides of the political divide," he added.

Kislyak's own name has popped up in Mueller's probe as part of his inquiries into contacts between Russia and the Trump team.

In December, Mueller announced that former Trump national security advisor Michael Flynn had pleaded guilty to lying about his conversations with then-ambassador Kislyak in 2016.

- 'Incontrovertible' evidence -

Despite the vehement Russian denials, US National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, speaking in Munich immediately after Lavrov, said "evidence" of such attempts to "interfere in our democratic process" would become harder to hide.

"We're becoming more and more adept at tracing the origins of this espionage and subversion, and as you can see with the FBI indictment, the evidence is now really incontrovertible and in the public domain," McMaster said.

Former Russian ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak said the allegations were 'fantasies'

While in the past, investigators were wary of divulging their IT intelligence capabilities, "now that this is in the arena of a law enforcement investigation, it's going to be very apparent to everyone," McMaster said.

Trump meanwhile has seized on the indictments as proof that his campaign team did not conspire with Moscow.

"Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for president," he tweeted Friday.

"The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong - no collusion!"

None of the 13 Russian suspects are in US custody.Special Counsel Robert Mueller, pictured in this August 8, 2013 file photo, charged 13 Russians for an alleged conspiracy to defraud the United States

Fake social media accounts, rallies for and against Donald Trump, paid protesters: Russia managed a vast propaganda operation to support the Trump campaign in the 2016 presidential election, according to a court indictment.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller, investigating possible collusion between the campaign and Russia along with other potential wrongdoing, on Friday charged 13 Russians for an alleged conspiracy to defraud the United States.

The indictment details a wide-ranging multi-million-dollar enterprise to interfere with and "sow discord" in the American political system using social media.

Here are facts about the alleged operation, as outlined in the indictment:

- The instigators -

The campaign began in 2014. It was managed by Internet Research Agency LLC, a company based in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and financed by Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin.

Russian media had previously reported on the company and said it was believed to have ties to Russian intelligence.

The Agency aimed, in part, to carry out "information warfare against the United States of America" through fake US identities on internet-based media and social media.

Propagandists were told to create "political intensity through supporting radical groups, users dissatisfied with (the) social and economic situation and opposition social movements."

Starting from the Republican and Democratic primaries, the Agency worked to favor Trump and denigrate his Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton, with a budget that by September 2016 exceeded $1.2 million a month.

- Fake accounts -

The Agency created pages, which sometimes rivaled each other, on Facebook and Instagram about immigration, race relations and religion.

Among the page names were: Secured Borders, Blacktivist, United Muslims of America and Army of Jesus.

The company also controlled "numerous" Twitter accounts designed to appear as if they were operated by Americans.

One even purported to belong to the Tennessee state Republican Party. It issued false information about an inquiry into electoral fraud during the Democratic primaries in North Carolina.

A supporter of Donald Trump wears a shirt that says "Hillary for Prison" as presidential candidate Trump spoke in October 2016 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

There were election-related hashtags including #Trump2016 and #Hillary4Prison.

Several days before the ballot, the Blacktivist Instagram account called on voters to back Jill Stein of the Green Party.

At about the same time, United Muslims of America posted a message which said "most of the American Muslim voters refuse to vote for Hillary Clinton."

- Ad purchases -

The Agency and its staff, concealing their Russian identities, "began to produce, purchase, and post advertisements" on social media and elsewhere online "advocating for the election of then-candidate Trump or expressly opposing Clinton."

To pay for the ads, they fraudulently opened US bank accounts with fake identity papers, and used PayPal and cryptocurrencies.

US law forbids foreigners from buying political ads.

They also "organized and coordinated political rallies," promoted through their fake social media accounts but also by reaching out to large social media groups focused on US politics.

- Organized rallies -

Florida, considered a "swing" state and ultimately won by Trump, was a particular target of those rallies in August 2016, dubbed "Florida Goes Trump."

The accused contacted local Trump supporters, and paid an American "to wear a costume portraying Clinton in a prison uniform" at the rallies.

They also funded her trip to participate in a New York rally while wearing the same costume.

Rallies organized using "false US personas" continued even after the November 2016 election, including two on the same day in New York, one in support of Trump and the other opposed.

- Trump campaign contacts -

The indictment makes no allegation of collusion between Trump's campaign team and Russia.

US President Donald Trump (L) chats with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in November 2017 at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vietnam

It says some of the accused, using fake US identities, communicated with "unwitting individuals associated with the Trump campaign."

- The outcome -

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told reporters there was no allegation that the propaganda campaign altered the outcome of the election, which Trump won.An injured Palestinian man arrives at a hospital to receive treatment following an Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza Strip

Israeli jets struck the Gaza Strip on Saturday after four soldiers were wounded when an improvised explosive device blew up along the border with the Palestinian enclave.

The explosion earlier Saturday, which left two of the Israeli soldiers severely injured, was one of the most serious incidents on the border of the Hamas-ruled enclave since the Islamist movement and Israel fought a war in 2014.

In response Israel's army said "fighter jets targeted 6 military targets in Gaza belonging to Hamas, including: a terror tunnel in the Zaytun area and military compounds near Deir el-Balah and Khan Yunis".

The army then reported a "launch was identified from the Gaza Strip at Israeli territory".

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a security conference in Munich called the Gaza border incident "very serious" and pledged to "respond appropriately".

A Palestinian security source said the Israeli air strikes hit three bases belonging to Hamas in the east of the blockaded Gaza enclave.

Two Palestinians were injured in the raids, Palestinian medical sources said.

Earlier in the day the army said "two soldiers were severely wounded, one moderately and one slightly" when an improvised explosive device blew up along the border fence with Gaza.

None of the soldiers lives were in danger, a spokesman clarified.

In response Israeli forces said a tank quickly opened fired at an "observation post" in southern Gaza, causing no injuries on the Palestinian side.

Palestinian security sources said the explosion took place east of the city of Khan Yunis.

- 'Rogue group' -

Spokesman Jonathan Conricus said a "rogue group" had claimed responsibility for the blast, likely indicating one of the more radical Islamist groups, broadly called Salafists, who are present in Gaza.

But he insisted that "from our point of view Hamas is responsible" and said the explosive had been planted during a protest arranged by the group on Friday.

Israel holds the Islamist Palestinian movement Hamas responsible for any fire coming from the blockaded coastal enclave.

Hamas and Israel have fought three wars since 2008, and the last conflict in 2014 was waged in part over tunnels from Gaza that were used to launch attacks.

Israeli aircraft hit Hamas targets in the southern Gaza Strip repeatedly in early February, after it said Palestinians there fired a rocket into the Jewish state.

Rockets are usually fired not by Hamas, but by fringe radical groups.

The Israeli army responds automatically to any strikes on its territory, generally targeting Hamas facilities.

Tensions between the Palestinians and Israel have been high since US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state in December.

Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu will visit the White House next month, a senior US administration official told AFP on Friday.

The March 5 visit comes after a war of words between close allies Israel and the US over settlements, and a scandal that has seen police recommend Netanyahu be indicted for graft.The Pakistani army said on Thursday that it was sending forces to Saudi Arabia, stressing, however, that the new deployment and nearly 1,000 Pakistani troops already there will not be employed outside KSA (the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).



(AhlulBayt News Agency) - Pakistani lawmakers have blasted a recent government decision to deploy troops to Saudi Arabia, saying the move may violate a parliamentary resolution that urges neutrality in the war on Yemen.



The Pakistani army said on Thursday that it was sending forces to Saudi Arabia, stressing, however, that the new deployment and nearly 1,000 Pakistani troops already there will not be employed outside KSA (the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).



In continuation of ongoing Pak-KSA bilateral security cooperation, a Pakistan Army contingent is being sent to KSA on [a] training and advice mission, the armys Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement.



A resolution was unanimously passed at the Pakistani parliament in April 2015, stipulating that the Asian country had to stay neutral in the conflict in Yemen so as to be able to play a proactive diplomatic role to end the crisis.



The resolution came in response to Saudi Arabias request from Pakistan to provide ships, aircraft, and troops for the Riyadh-led war on Yemen.



On Friday, Pakistani lawmakers criticized the government for potentially bypassing the parliamentary resolution and making unilateral decisions to the detriment of the country.



Senator Farhatullah Babar warned of grave consequences for Pakistan regarding the troop deployment to Saudi Arabia.



Meanwhile, Pakistani Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani summoned the countrys foreign minister to explain the reasons for the deployment of the troops to Saudi Arabia.



Shireen Mazari, a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, also slammed the government decision and sought clarifications to make sure that the initiative would not contravene the countrys neutrality outlined in the parliamentary resolution.



Mr. Speaker, as you know, Saudis themselves are embroiled in the war and it is not reaching any conclusion, she said, demanding the government explain the terms of the security pact with the Saudis and the type of missions Pakistani troops will undertake in the kingdom.



How and on what grounds the government took the decision, or was this decision not taken by the government as such but it was just part of a routine that the military decided to send more troops? she asked.



The Saudi war was launched in March 2015 in support of Yemens former Riyadh-friendly government and against the Houthi Ansarullah movement, which has been running state affairs since the former regime resigned.



The offensive has, however, achieved neither of its goals despite the spending of billions of petrodollars and the enlisting of the cooperation of Saudi Arabias regional and Western allies.



The Saudi-led campaign, which is accompanied by a land, aerial, and naval blockade of Yemen, has so far killed more than 13,600 people and led to a humanitarian crisis.







/257A new law in Poland sets a maximum three-year jail term for anyone who describes Nazi German death camps, such as Auschwitz-Birkenau, as being Polish

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday lashed out at "outrageous" remarks by his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki, who said the Holocaust had involved "Jewish perpetrators" as well as Polish.

The Israeli leader, who like Morawiecki was in Munich for a global security conference, in a statement condemned "an inability to understand history and a lack of sensitivity to the tragedy of our people".

"The Polish Prime Minister's remarks here in Munich are outrageous," he said, adding that he intended to speak to Morawiecki "forthwith" about the matter.

Morawiecki's claim about the Holocaust's perpetrators came amid an unprecedented diplomatic row with Israel sparked by a controversial law passed by Poland's senate this month.

The law sets fines or a maximum three-year jail term for anyone ascribing "responsibility or co-responsibility to the Polish nation or state for crimes committed by the German Third Reich".

- 'Unbelievable' -

Appearing at the Munich Security Conference, Morawiecki was questioned by a journalist who told of his mother's narrow escape from the Gestapo in Poland after learning that neighbours were planning to denounce them.

The journalist, Ronen Bergman, asked if by recounting this, "I am a criminal in your country?" -- garnering a round of applause from the audience.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki says the country's Holocaust law aimed to make clear people knew "there were no Polish death camps...There were German Nazi death camps"

Morawiecki responded: "It's not going to punishable, not going to be seen as criminal, to say that there were Polish perpetrators, as there were Jewish perpetrators, as there were Russian perpetrators, as there were Ukraine and German perpetrators."

He reiterated that the point of the law was to defend Poland's honour by making clear that people knew "there were no Polish death camps... There were German Nazi death camps."

"But we cannot agree with mixing perpetrators with victims, because it would be first of all an offence to all the Jews and all the Poles who suffered greatly during the Second World War."

Several attendees later took to Twitter to assail the remarks.

Bergman himself tweeted that the Polish premier's answer was "unbelievable".

Francois Heisbourg, a London-based diplomacy expert, called the reference to "'Polish perpetrators like there were Jewish perpetrators'" a "shameful response".

Noa Landau, a correspondent for the Israeli daily Haaretz, denounced an "outrageous scene", noting the audience's silence after Morawiecki's comments.Romeo, a Sehuencas water frog (Telmatobius yuracare), alone in his tank at the Natural History Museum in Cochabamba, Bolivia

In the end, Romeo the lonesome Bolivian frog found more love than he could have imagined.

A campaign to raise $15,000 by Valentine's Day to fund a search for Romeo's Juliet before he croaks generated $25,000, an environmental group said.

Romeo is the last known frog of his kind. Given the normal life span of Sehuencas water frogs, he has only about five years left to live, giving urgency to his love quest.

Texas-based Global Wildlife Conservation teamed with dating website Match and the Bolivian Amphibian Initiative to raise money for Romeo's last shot at romance.

"People from around the globe showed their love this Valentine's Day for the world's loneliest amphibian," the environmental group said in a statement dated Friday.

"We are overwhelmed by the support from Match and all of the donors who generously let Romeo into their heart this week," said Arturo Munoz, founder of the Amphibian Initiative, a project of Cochabamba Natural History Museum, where Romeo resides.

"Thanks to the help of everyone that donated, we hope that our next big announcement will be that we found Romeo his Juliet and established a conservation breeding program to save his species from extinction," Munoz said in the statement.

The #Match4Romeo campaign, in which the frog got his own Match profile, generated donations from 32 countries. The profile included a video of the beady-eyed bachelor scampering around in his tank, and lunging at a worm.

Munoz said earlier that when researchers collected Romeo a decade ago they knew that Sehuencas water frogs were "in trouble" but they had no idea that they would not be able to find another one, let alone a partner with which he could mate and preserve the species.

Climate change, habitat loss and other threats have taken their toll on the frogs, like many other creatures.

Munoz said Romeo started to call for a mate about a year after he was brought into captivity a decade ago, "but those calls have slowed in the last few years."

Scientists don't want Romeo to meet the sad fate of "Lonesome George," a childless Galapagos tortoise who died in 2012, taking his entire subspecies with him.

With the money raised, the Amphibian Initiative plans to make 10 expeditions to locations where the species was once common, as well as to similar habitats where nobody has looked before.

The expedition teams plan to start their search as early as June in the eastern Andes forests.

Romeo will be waiting.BEIRUT (AP) - One-month-old Heyim Hassan was receiving treatment for a chest infection in the Afrin general hospital in northern Syria when a shell landed a few meters (feet) away. His panicked father whisked him out of the building and spent hours looking for nebulizers to aid the infant's breathing. No one was killed in the attack, but nearly 30 children had to be evacuated to safety.

It was the third time Heyim's father, Serbest, had to seek shelter for his family in the last month. Four days after the baby was born, Turkey launched an offensive in northwestern Syria, forcing them to flee their home and Serbest's mobile phone shop to find safety in the district's center.

Nearly a month into the offensive in Afrin, hundreds of thousands of Syrians like Hassan and his family are hiding from bombs and airstrikes in caves and basements, trapped in the Kurdish enclave while Turkey and its allies are bogged down in fierce ground battles against formidable opponents.

FILE - This Jan. 28, 2018 file photo, Turkish troops take control of Bursayah hill, which separates the Kurdish-held enclave of Afrin from the Turkey-controlled town of Azaz, Syria. Nearly a month into Turkey's offensive in the Syrian Kurdish enclave of Afrin, hundreds of thousands of Syrians are hiding from bombs and airstrikes in caves and basements, trapped while Turkish troops and their allies are bogged down in fierce ground battles against formidable opponents. (DHA-Depo Photos via AP, File)

Crammed with 40 relatives into their new shelter, a three-bedroom apartment, the baby Heyim contracted the infection. Then the new neighborhood also got shelled while he was evacuated from the hospital.

"This is how it is in Afrin. It is not just me," Hassan said in a series of messages to The Associated Press from inside Afrin, encircled and under attack since Jan. 20.

A slow-moving ground offensive, the assault on Afrin threatens to become a protracted standoff, deepening an already dire humanitarian situation. It could also prove costly for Turkey, diplomatically and militarily. So far, nearly 80 civilians in Afrin, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, and 31 Turkish soldiers have been killed. Seven civilians were killed in rocket attacks launched from Afrin on Turkish border towns.

A senior Turkish government official told the AP that Turkey pays the "utmost attention" to civilian safety, and accused the Kurdish fighters of wearing civilian clothing to hide among locals, preventing civilians from leaving Afrin and even using some as human shields - a charge denied by the Kurdish fighters.

Turkey launched its offensive with more than 70 aircraft. Airstrikes were followed by a ground assault in which an estimated 10,000 allied Syrian rebel fighters took part, backed by Turkish artillery and other troops.

Fighting on six fronts, the Turkey-backed troops have met stiff resistance from the Kurdish People's Defense Units, known as the YPG.

Turkish officials have made conflicting statements about the goals of the offensive, but have said they seek to push the Kurdish militia away from its borders.

The Turkish official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations, said Ankara "periodically" provides information to NATO and the United Nations about the operation, insisting it is "not political" but aims to secure Turkey's borders.

The Kurdish fighters form the backbone of the U.S-backed Syrian Democratic Forces fighting Islamic State group militants in eastern Syria, but are viewed by Turkey as an extension of its own insurgents, the Kurdistan Workers Party or the PKK.

Although Afrin is encircled from all sides by Turkey, the guerrilla fighters - with years to prepare for the defense of their 1,500-square-mile (3,885-square kilometer) district - have proven a challenge.

They targeted Turkish tanks and bases and claimed to have downed at least one helicopter. Eleven soldiers were killed in one day last week. The weather and geography have also slowed down the offensive, with fog and rain grounding jets and obstructing ground advances as fighters grappled with the mountainous terrain.

The Observatory, which monitors in the war in Syria, estimates that Turkey has seized nearly 7 percent of district land along Afrin's outer edges, including a strategic hill in the east, and Bulbul, Hassan's hometown, in the north.

The YPG says 98 of its fighters have been killed. But the Observatory puts the toll at over 160, and estimates that over 200 Turkey-backed Syrian fighters have been killed.

YPG commanders hinted they could open new fronts against Turkey.

"We are in the first phase of the battle now," said YPG commander Sipan Hemo. "This strategic battle will not end ... until we teach the Turkish occupation the right lessons, and they withdraw to their borders."

Noah Bonsey, senior analyst with the International Crisis Group who recently returned from Kurdish-controlled territories in northern Syria, said Turkey may either remain along the edges of Afrin or attempt to gain additional ground inside the enclave.

"This is when things could really turn dangerous," he said. "I think it is unclear where things are moving from here. All eyes are on (U.S. Secretary of State Rex) Tillerson's visit to Ankara."

On Friday, Tillerson urged Turkey to show "restraint" in Afrin to minimize casualties and escalation in the area. He also said he presented several U.S. proposals to deal with "critical issues" between Washington and Ankara before the middle of March, including troop deployment to address Turkish border security concerns. But he offered no specific details.

"We are going to work together going forward," Tillerson said during a press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Ultimately, Ankara wants Washington to halt its support for the Syrian Kurdish militia.

Afrin's offensive has emboldened Washington's adversary, the Syrian government, which with Russia's aid, is presenting itself as the solution to the bloody, unpredictable conundrum. Russia has tried to secure the return of some form of government presence to Afrin, asking the Kurdish militia to cede control of security and borders to Damascus.

Although the YPG rejected the proposal, it remains the only idea on the table and Kurdish commanders have recently called publicly on the Syrian government to assume its role guarding Afrin's borders.

The U.N., which has no access to Afrin, said it was "extremely difficult" to verify numbers of the displaced, estimating in the first week of February that between 15,000 to 30,000 people were uprooted inside the enclave. Estimates for Afrin residents, including those displaced from elsewhere in Syria - range from 300,000 to 800,000 people.

Local Kurdish official Arefeh Bakr said it was a struggle assisting people holed up with relatives in small apartments and caves. She herself is hosting 25 people in her home, relatives displaced from nearby villages.

"We don't want aid or help," Bakr said. "We just want an end to the airstrikes."

Jiwan Mohamed, director of the Afrin general hospital, said a staff of about 250 doctors and nurses, are overwhelmed with injuries, particularly with a lack of blood transfer products and emergency kits. The U.N. said there are four other facilities in the district center, including one operated by a U.N. partner.

Fuel and food supplies have come in through government-held areas, ensuring that prices have not gone up. A water treatment plant was damaged, temporarily affecting supply to one area in the north.

Local authorities are preventing people from leaving Afrin, except for critical medical cases allowed out by them and the Syrian government, the U.N. says. The Turkish official said those who managed to escape reached Turkish-run camps in Syria.

For Hassan, the return the Syrian government to Afrin is the least bad option. Afrin was one of the first areas to join the protests against the Syrian government that eventually turned into the current conflict.

But the prospect of Turkey-backed rebels swarming their town is frightening, he said.

Dozens of videos have surfaced showing Turkey-backed rebels taking hostages in Afrin, mistreating the elderly and mutilating the body of a female Kurdish fighter.

"This shows what will happen to us," Hassan said. "We are waiting in anticipation and watching videos."

In Turkey, the Afrin offensive is popular, playing to nationalist and anti-Kurdish sentiments ahead of the 2019 elections. Turkish opposition lawmaker and member of the defense committee, Dursun Cicek, said the operation is progressing slowly.

"But Turkey is not in any hurry," he said.

_________

Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report.

FILE - This Jan. 28, 2018 file photo, Turkish troops and pro-Turkey Syrian fighters try to take control of Bursayah hill, which separates the Kurdish-held enclave of Afrin from the Turkey-controlled town of Azaz, Syria. Nearly a month into Turkey's offensive in the Syrian Kurdish enclave of Afrin, hundreds of thousands of Syrians are hiding from bombs and airstrikes in caves and basements, trapped while Turkish troops and their allies are bogged down in fierce ground battles against formidable opponents. (AP Photo, File)

This Monday, Feb. 12, 2018 photo, shows Heyim Hassan, a one-month old child from Afrin, northwestern Syria. Heyim was evacuated from the enclave's main hospital, where he was being treated for a chest infection, after a shell landed near the facility. Nearly a month into Turkey's offensive in the Syrian Kurdish enclave of Afrin, hundreds of thousands of Syrians are hiding from bombs and airstrikes in caves and basements, trapped while Turkish troops and their allies are bogged down in fierce ground battles against formidable opponents. (Courtesy of Serbest Hassan via AP)

FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2018 file photo, a plume of smoke rises from inside Syria, during Turkish forces bombardment, on the Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin, Syria, as seen from the border with Syria, in Kilis, Turkey. Nearly a month into Turkey's offensive in the Kurdish enclave of Afrin, hundreds of thousands of Syrians are hiding from bombs and airstrikes in caves and basements, trapped while Turkish troops and their allies are bogged down in fierce ground battles against formidable opponents. (Can Erok/DHA-Depo Photos via AP, File)PARIS (AP) - French carmaker Renault said Friday it made record profits and sales last year, leading the board to give CEO Carlos Ghosn a new four-year term.

Renault's board cited the company's "exceptional results" in recommending that shareholders renew Ghosn's term after his mandate expires in June. Ghosn has been the face and driving force for the alliance among Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi that claimed to be the world's biggest car-seller in 2017.

Renault confirmed to the AP comments by French Finance Minister Bruno Lemaire that Ghosn agreed to take a pay cut of 30 percent. The French government owns a 15.1 percent stake in the car maker.

French car maker Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn presents the company 2017 full-year results in Boulogne-Billancourt, outside Paris, Friday Feb. 16, 2018. Renault says it had record profit and sales last year, boosting its shares and CEO Carlos Ghosn's bid to keep his job. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Renault said its revenue rose 15 percent to 58.7 billion euros while net profit grew 47 percent to 5.2 billion euros, notably thanks to resurgent European demand.

Ghosn said he didn't think Nissan's Japanese management would agree to French government demands for a closer alliance with Nissan.

He named Thierry Bollore in a new deputy post, seen as a potential successor. Ghosn, 63, has headed Renault since 2005.

Renault sold nearly 3.76 million cars last year, a rise of 8.5 percent on the year.

French car maker Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn presents the company 2017 full-year results in Boulogne-Billancourt, outside Paris, Friday Feb. 16, 2018. Renault says it had record profit and sales last year, boosting its shares and CEO Carlos Ghosn's bid to keep his job. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

French car maker Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn, right, and his new deputy Thierry Bollore pose for photographers before the presentation of the company 2017 at the headquarters in Boulogne-Billancourt, outside Paris, Friday Feb. 16, 2018. French carmaker Renault says it had record profit and sales last year, boosting its shares and CEO Carlos Ghosn's bid to keep his job. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

French car maker Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn, right, and his new deputy Thierry Bollore pose for photographers after the presentation of the company 2017 at the headquarters in Boulogne-Billancourt, outside Paris, Friday Feb. 16, 2018. French carmaker Renault says it had record profit and sales last year, boosting its shares and CEO Carlos Ghosn's bid to keep his job. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump's response to the Florida school shooting (all times local):

8:20 p.m.

President Donald Trump says he hopes law enforcement members are "getting the credit" for their response to a deadly Florida high school shooting.

President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla., Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Trump and first lady Melania Trump are in Fort Lauderdale to meet with Broward County Sheriff's officers who responded to Wednesday's shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in nearby Parkland. The president says of the responders, "Give them a raise."

Trump says parents he met earlier at Broward Health North Hospital are "very thankful" for the response.

Melania Trump is thanking the officers and says we need to take care of kids.

The Trumps have been joined by Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.

__

7:20 p.m.

President Donald Trump has met with victims of a school shooting who are recovering at a Florida hospital.

He's praising the "incredible" work of doctors, nurses and first responders who helped victims after the shooting.

Trump is calling the quick response of medical personnel "record-setting" and says some victims reached the hospital in about 20 minutes.

Trump was speaking as he walked with a doctor at the Broward Health North Hospital.

The president says he met with victims and it's "very sad that something like that could happen."

Trump is expected to meet with law enforcement at the Broward County Sheriff's office later Friday.

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6:30 p.m.

President Donald Trump has arrived at a Florida hospital to meet medical professionals two days after a deadly shooting at a Broward County high school.

The president and first lady Melania Trump are visiting Broward Health North Hospital in Pompano Beach. The Trumps are thanking doctors, nurses and medical professionals for their response to Wednesday's mass shooting, when a teen gunman killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, north of Miami.

Trump is expected to meet with officials from the Broward County Sheriff's Office later Friday.

Trump is staying at his Palm Beach club this weekend.

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2:45 p.m.

Vice President Mike Pence says the mass shooting at a Florida school is "every parent's nightmare" and says the nation is praying for the victims and their families.

Pence is addressing the shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school during a stop in San Antonio, Texas. The vice president says "the heartache in Broward County is unimaginable" but it's a heartache that many Texans know from the deadly shooting last year at a church in Sutherland Springs.

The vice president says, "then as now, our hearts were broken. Then as now, heroes were forged."

Pence is traveling in Texas for fundraising and to inspect the U.S.-Mexican border as lawmakers debate immigration proposals.

___

10:01 a.m.

President Donald Trump says he leaves for Florida Friday to "meet with some of the bravest people."

Trump's tweet did not elaborate on his plans. But White House officials are working to arrange a visit to Florida in the wake of this week's deadly school shooting.

Trump writes that he'll meet with "people whose lives have been totally shattered." At least 17 died when a former student opened fire at the school in Parkland, Florida, on Wednesday.

The president also says he's "working with Congress on many fronts." But Trump has not addressed the idea of new gun control measures. He has focused on treatment of mental illness.

Trump was already set to leave Friday for a weekend at his Palm Beach resort.

___

12:47 a.m.

Declaring the nation united and grieving with "one heavy heart," President Donald Trump is promising to tackle school safety and "the difficult issue of mental health" in response to the deadly shooting in Florida. He made no mention of the scourge of gun violence.

Not always a natural in the role of national comforter, Trump spoke deliberately Thursday, at one point directly addressing children who may feel "lost, alone, confused or even scared."

"I want you to know that you are never alone and you never will be," Trump said. "You have people who care about you, who love you, and who will do anything at all to protect you."

The hearse carrying Meadow Pollack, a victim of the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, leaves Temple K'ol Tikvah after her funeral in Parkland, Fla., Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. Nikolas Cruz, a former student, was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder on Thursday. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)PARKLAND, Fla. (AP) - A white nationalist appears to have lied to The Associated Press and other news organizations when he claimed that Florida school-shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz was a member of his obscure group.

Law enforcement officials have said they didn't have any evidence to support the claim that Republic of Florida leader Jordan Jereb made in interviews with several news organizations.

Jereb told The Associated Press on Thursday that Cruz had participated in paramilitary drills in Tallahassee, where his group is based. Jereb said he didn't know Cruz personally and that "he acted on his own behalf of what he just did and he's solely responsible for what he just did."

Jereb told the Miami Herald that he knew "with certainty" that Cruz "had something to do with us." He told the Daily Beast that Cruz "wasn't particularly active" in his group but came to Tallahassee with a "secretive cell" from Clearwater, Florida. ABC News reported that three former schoolmates of Cruz said he was part of the Republic of Florida and was often seen with Jereb.

Law enforcement officials said they hadn't confirmed any such ties.

"We've heard that. We're looking into that," Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said.

Lt. Grady Jordan, a spokesman for the Leon County Sheriff's Office in Tallahassee, said he knew of "no known ties" between Cruz and Jereb's group. Jordan said his office has arrested Jereb at least four times since January 2014 and has been monitoring the group's membership. He says his office has "very solid" information on the group and believes it has never had more than 10 members.

Jereb quickly backed away from his claims. Someone posting under Jereb's name on Gab, a social media site popular with far-right extremists, complained about getting criticized over a "prank."

"There was a legit misunderstanding because we have MULTIPLE people named Nicholas in ROF," the user wrote. "And I got a bunch of conflicting information and I have not slept for like 2 days."

Jereb did not respond to repeated phone calls from AP to clarify.

The Anti-Defamation League also said it spoke with Jereb, who told it that Cruz was associated with his group and had been "brought up" by another member. Later Thursday, however, the ADL noted that someone posting in a discussion forum for far-right extremists said the claims were part of an elaborate attempt to dupe news outlets.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks extremist groups, also said it hadn't confirmed Jereb's claims.

"It may seem odd that Jereb would bring attention to his group by claiming a connection to Cruz, but Jereb has always been somewhat of a publicity seeker. In 2014, in fact, he wrote us to complain that we had not already listed (Republic of Florida) as a hate group," Heidi Beirich, director of the SPLC's Intelligence Project, said in a statement Thursday.MUNICH (AP) - President Donald Trump's national security adviser said Saturday there was "incontrovertible" evidence of a Russian plot to disrupt the 2016 U.S. election, a blunt statement that shows how significantly the new criminal charges leveled by an American investigator have upended the political debate over his inquiry.

The statement by H.R. McMaster at the Munich Security Conference stood in stark contrast to Trump's oft repeated claim that Russian interference in his election victory was a hoax.

"As you can see with the FBI indictment, the evidence is now really incontrovertible and available in the public domain," McMaster told a Russian delegate to the conference.

Herbert Raymond McMaster, U.S. National Security Advisor speaks at the Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)

The detailed document presented the most compelling public evidence to date that the Russian operation was elaborate, expensive and real. Citing emails and conversations by the perpetrators of the plot, it also demonstrated that the ongoing probe may have access to explosive intelligence material gathered on the Russian operations.

McMaster also noted that special counsel Robert Mueller's team had shown that the U.S. was becoming "more and more adept at tracing the origins of this espionage and subversion."

Just minutes before, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had dismissed the indictment as "just blabber."

"I have no response," Lavrov said when asked for comment on the allegations. "You can publish anything, and we see those indictments multiplying, the statements multiplying."

But Lavrov did not say what he specifically disputed in the indictment.

McMaster and Lavrov addressed the annual conference of world leaders, defense officials and diplomats, giving more general back-to-back opening remarks. But both were immediately hit with questions about the U.S. indictment and the broader issue of cyberattacks.

In Russia, news of the indictment was met with more scorn.

"There are no official claims, there is no proof for this. That's why they are just children's statements," Andrei Kutskikh, the presidential envoy for international information security, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

McMaster also scoffed at the suggestion that the U.S. would work with Russia on cyber security issues.

"I'm surprised there are any Russian cyber experts available based on how active most of them have been undermining our democracies in the West," he said to laughter. "So I would just say that we would love to have a cyber dialogue when Russia is sincere."

Lavrov argued that U.S. officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, have said no country influenced the U.S. election results.

"Until we see the facts, everything else is just blabber. I'm sorry for this not very diplomatic expression," Lavrov said.

The indictment charged 13 Russians with running a huge but hidden social media trolling campaign combined with on-the-ground politicking aimed in part at helping Trump defeat his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.

It outlined the first criminal charges against Russians believed to have secretly worked to influence the U.S. election's outcome.

According to the indictment, the Russian organization was funded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a wealthy St. Petersburg businessman with ties to the Russian government and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Lavrov denounced "this irrational myth about this global Russian threat, traces of which are found everywhere - from Brexit to the Catalan referendum."

Russia's former ambassador to the United States, Sergei Kislyak, similarly dismissed the detailed allegations contained in the indictment as "simply fantasies." Kislyak's name has come up in the FBI and congressional investigations of possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Pressed on the election interference that is alleged to have occurred while he was Russia's envoy to Washington, Kislyak said, "I'm not sure I can trust American law enforcement to be the most precise and truthful source of information about what Russians know."

"I have never done anything of this sort, no one in my embassy did," he said during a panel discussion at the Munich conference. "So whatever allegations are being mounted against us are simply fantasies that are being used for political reasons inside the United States in the fight between different sides of the political divide."

Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, pleaded guilty in December to lying to the FBI about his conversations with Kislyak before Trump's inauguration.

In Russia, one of the 13 people indicted said the U.S. justice system is unfair.

Mikhail Burchik was quoted Saturday by the newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda as saying that "I am very surprised that, in the opinion of the Washington court, several Russian people interfered in the elections in the United States. I do not know how the Americans came to this decision."

Burchik was identified in the indictment as executive director of an organization accused of sowing propaganda on social media to try to interfere with the 2016 election.

He was quoted as saying the Amercians "have one-sided justice, and it turns out that you can hang the blame on anyone."

_____

Butler reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Lolita Baldor in Munich, Jim Heintz in Moscow and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.

Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, speaks at the Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)

President Donald Trump gestures to the media as he leaves the White House, Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, in Washington, for a trip to his private Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

A views of the four-story building known as the "troll factory" in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. The U.S. government allege the Internet Research Agency started interfering as early as 2014 in U.S. politics, extending to the 2016 presidential election, saying the agency was funded by a St. Petersburg businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin. (AP Photo/Naira Davlashyan)A serial survivor of scandals, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be in trouble once more after police recommended a range of bribery and other charges against him in two separate investigations. Yet the law doesn't require him to step down until convicted, the process could drag on for months, and the determined, loquacious leader is digging in his heels.

For now, his coalition is lining up behind him, but public opinion could change that. If his Likud Party concludes he has become a liability, minnows could quickly turn into sharks and the party could replace him and retain power with the existing coalition.

Police say there is sufficient evidence to indict Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust, accusations he rejects.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018. (Ronen Zvulun, Pool via AP)

Attorney General Avihai Mandelblit, a Netanyahu ally, now must decide whether to adopt any of the police recommendations to prosecute. If Mandelblit drags his feet long enough, Netanyahu may even be able to call a new election before he faces trial. Indeed, he said this week he will run again in elections that must be held by the end of 2019.

Opinion polls published after Tuesday's police report showed contradictory and perhaps fluid sentiment: Roughly half of Israelis think Netanyahu should resign, but Likud in general maintains its lead.

If he survives, he could well emerge even more powerful, perhaps vindicated in his longstanding claim that Israel's establishment obsessively conspires against him.

But if he goes, the Middle East equation will be reshuffled and new possibilities would open up.

Netanyahu, who will soon become the longest-serving prime minister in total in Israel's history, has been a singular figure in a variety of ways. Perhaps more than anything, he attaches to a fatalistic disposition that sees peace with the Palestinians as impossible for now. Barring a late about-face, he would be remembered as the silver-tongued hard-liner who never made the shift to peacemaker that many hoped for.

WHAT MAKES NETANYAHU SPECIAL?

Central to everything in Israel is the fate of the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, territories captured in 1967 from Jordan and Egypt and claimed, with support of most of the world, by the Palestinians for a future state that would share the Holy Land with Israel.

Most of Israel's establishment supports such a partition, including former security figures who spent their lives keeping Palestinian resistance at bay. Israel's business community, academics, artists and judiciary generally seem to lean the same way.

Netanyahu's right-wing bloc has tried to prevent or at least delay and diminish any pullout from the territories, throughout the decades of efforts by various governments in that direction. The arguments range from religious ones involving God's promise of the land to the Jews to practical concerns about the danger of handing over strategic highland overlooking central Israel, especially at a time when the Middle East is so unstable.

But the right has struggled to articulate a vision on how to preserve the "Jewish state" when the combined Arab and Jewish populations in Israel and the territories are about evenly divided.

Will the Palestinians suffice forever with their disconnected autonomy zones established after peace efforts in the 1990s? If they demand outright annexation and the right to vote, as some Palestinian officials already are suggesting, Israel will be forced to choose between preserving its democracy or its Jewish majority.

Amid the stagnation, the government continues to add Jewish settlers to the West Bank, making a future partition even more difficult in what the center-left opposition considers nothing less than a suicide mission.

Netanyahu's ability to keep this policy ship afloat despite vehement opposition in key quarters, while also enabling Israel to prosper, has required intellectual depth, diplomatic dexterity and political acumen that would be hard to replace among his potential Likud successors. He has used his eloquence and native-level English - acquired during years in the U.S. - to further a host of international projects, most prominently trying to undo the nuclear deal with Iran.

Widely respected if not always admired, popular with his base yet toxic to opponents, Netanyahu has gripped attention like few Israeli leaders before him. Adding to the brew are the bizarre scandals that have beset his family, from household servants suing his wife for various abuses over the years to a lewd recording that emerged last month of his adult son joyriding to strip clubs with a government driver in tow.

WHAT IS THE POLITICAL REALITY IN ISRAEL?

Israel is bewilderingly fractious and complex, but essentially it's divided between a "rightist" bloc composed of Netanyahu's Likud, plus other nationalist and religious parties, versus a "leftist" bloc of more moderate parties plus a grouping representing the Arab minority of some 20 percent.

The right has in recent years appeared to build up a narrow but consistent natural advantage based on two factors. First, the Jewish religious sector, also totaling about 20 percent, has a high birthrate; second, Netanyahu has been effective in arguing that previous governments' failures to close a deal despite far-reaching territorial offers has exposed the Palestinians as irredeemably hostile and intransigent.

In recent years, Netanyahu also has promoted an agenda seeking to overhaul Israel's hard-earned but brittle liberal democracy. To some, he is a member of the emerging pantheon of illiberal-yet-elected global leaders, finding parallels from Russia to Turkey to Hungary and even Donald Trump's United States. In some ways, having for decades made a bogeyman of the "elites," he preceded all those cases.

His cronies have tried to curb the judiciary; hamper the work of liberal nongovernmental organizations; denigrate the media; and argue that the arts, when critical, are tools of turncoat liberals.

These messages resonate with his base, especially the significant chunk of Middle East-descended Jews. They lean conservative and traditional and have long resented Israel's founding European-descended and more secular establishment.

The irony is that Netanyahu is himself a European-descended professor's son who grew up amid privilege, served in an elite military unit, wrote books and has always promoted capitalistic policies that spurred growth but also benefited the rich.

If Netanyahu goes, he will leave his successor a toxic cocktail of resentment and division, not just between Jews and Arabs, but among the competing groups that constitute Israel's Jewish majority.

The highly partisan, good-versus-evil rancor was clear in the reactions this week. Likud lawmaker Miki Zohar said the public "knows that this is an attempted coup." Yair Lapid, head of the opposition Yesh Atid Party, accused Netanyahu of seeking to make Israel "a country where honest people are scared of speaking the truth."

WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN THE REGION?

A decade ago, when Netanyahu led the opposition, he argued that then-premier Ehud Olmert could not stay in office while facing a police investigation, claiming a leader "sunk up to his neck in interrogations" could not govern properly. Olmert stepped down under withering pressure, cutting off peace talks that seemed close to a breakthrough for the Palestinians. He ended up in jail.

After Israel carried out airstrikes in Syria last weekend in response to an aerial incursion by an Iranian drone, some opponents speculated that Netanyahu might try to "heat up" the security situation as a diversion.

But things could break the other way as well. About 15 years ago, Israel was led by another right-winger, Ariel Sharon, also facing corruption allegations. Sharon stunned observers by turning against the occupation of the Palestinians and leading a unilateral pullout from the Gaza Strip. Many people believe the move, welcomed by the same elites who once spurned Sharon, contributed to the decision not to prosecute him.

Today's wild card could be the "deal of the century" touted by Trump, who is believed to be working on a plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian dispute and forge a wider regional rapprochement between Israel and the major Sunni Muslim nations. Cynics would say progress along such a path, with Netanyahu taking genuine risks for peace, could give prosecutors pause.

___

Follow Dan Perry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/perry_dan .

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the International Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Friday, Feb. 16, 2018 during a lunch meeting. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)

Protesters hold signs and flags during a protest against corruption and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Protesters hold signs and flags during a protest against corruption and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Protesters hold signs and flags during a protest against corruption and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Protesters hold sings and flags during a protest against corruption and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - The vice chancellor of Zimbabwe's oldest university has been arrested over the controversial awarding of a doctorate to former first lady Grace Mugabe.

Anti-Corruption Commission spokeswoman Phyllis Chikundura says Levi Nyagura of the University of Zimbabwe was arrested Friday. He appears in court Saturday on abuse of office charges.

Mugabe, whose husband resigned in November under pressure from the military, received a doctorate in 2014 amid allegations she did not study for it. Former president Robert Mugabe was university chancellor.

Chikundura says the university should provide the "paper trail" showing Grace Mugabe's registration and academic progression.

Sociology department lecturers say they have no records of Mugabe's work.

Fears that the unpopular Mugabe was positioning herself to succeed her 93-year-old husband as president led the military to step in last year.JOHANNESBURG (AP) - "Black Panther" has burst onto the screen in Africa, handing a powerful response to the unfortunate remarks about the continent by President Donald Trump.

As the red carpet in South Africa swirled with stunning outfits and exclamations in the local isiXhosa language used in the film's Wakanda kingdom, cast member John Kani laughed at the U.S. president's views, which several African nations have openly scorned. (Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o said simply: "No comment.")

The South African actor Kani, like many at Friday night's Johannesburg premiere, expressed pride at seeing an Afrofuturistic society that celebrates traditional cultures and dreams of what the world's second most populous continent can be.

Danai Gurira speaks as the cast of "Black Panther" arrives at the South Africa premiere on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, in Johannesburg. (AP Photo/Cara Anna)

"This time the sun now is shining on Africa," he said. "This movie came at the right time. We're struggling to find leaders that are exemplary and role models ... so when you see the Black Panther as a young boy and he takes off that mask you think, 'Oh my God, he looks like me. He is African and I am African. Now we can look up to some person who is African.'"

Added actress Danai Gurira, who grew up mostly in Zimbabwe: "To bring this film home is everything."

The film has opened in other top economic powers across Africa, where a growing middle class flocked to IMAX showings and shared vibrant opening-night images on social media.

"The African culture highlighted in the movie is so rich that it makes me feel proud of being black. I totally love it," said Liz Muthoni after a screening in Kenya's capital, Nairobi. "I can watch it again and again."

"Black Panther" screened a few days ago in Kenya's western city of Kisumu, where Nyong'o's father, Anyang, is the local governor.

"Sometimes we think that we have two choices to make in Africa," he wrote this month in The Star newspaper. "Choice one: We maintain our traditions and cultures and stay backward forever. Choice two: We modernize by becoming westernized and forgetting our cultural traditions which, by their very nature so we think, are stuck in the past. The experience of the Wakanda people teaches us otherwise."

In Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, "Black Panther" has been selling out its five-times-a-day screenings at the only theater showing the film.

"Moviegoers are enjoying the African heritage part of the film. This is also unique for us because Ethiopia is often mentioned alongside the black power and black movements as the only nation not colonized by Western powers," said Elias Abraha, the cinema's operations chief. "There are people who changed their flight plans just to watch the movie."

Some Ethiopian fans quickly changed their Facebook profile pictures and expressed their adoration.

"Tears stream down my face as I write this," said one Facebook user who goes by LadyRock Maranatha. "Black Panther was basically an enormous . roller coaster of emotions, adventure and most of all the affirmation of what I had felt since I left my country for Cambridge and came back. I cried for my people and felt immense pride in being Ethiopian and most importantly AFRICAN. We are truly resilient and beautiful."

As the audience poured out of the Johannesburg screening, spirits were high.

"Totally blown away. I got emotional," said reality TV star Blue Mbombo, who admitted that going into the film she thought the expectations had been "hype." But she praised its use of cultural touches like Basotho blankets and called the use of the isiXhosa language "very humbling."

Others considered the American side of the story. "An African-American coming back to Africa, it's a nice reminder of their heritage as well," said Ayanda Sidzatane. She called the film awesome. "We knew it would be cool but not like this."

Some anticipated a flood of interest from African-Americans, even cheekily. "Now I know Black Panther makes Africa look cool ... But please don't come to Lagos ... It's overcrowded," Nigerian artist Arinze Stanley tweeted of the continent's most populous city.

As Ghanaian celebrity blogger Ameyaw Debrah put it on social media: "What will #BlackPanther make the world think of Africa now?"

___

Associated Press writers Elias Meseret in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Tom Odula in Nairobi, Kenya and videographer Graham Walsh in Johannesburg contributed.

The cast of "Black Panther" arrive at the South Africa premiere on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, in Johannesburg. (AP Photo/Cara Anna)At the official welcoming ceremony, after the national anthems of Iran and India were played, the presidents of the two countries reviewed the honour guards.



(AhlulBayt News Agency) - The president of the Islamic Republic of Iran was officially welcomed by the President and Prime Minister of India in Indias presidential palace on Saturday, on the second leg of his visit to India.



At the official welcoming ceremony, after the national anthems of Iran and India were played, the presidents of the two countries reviewed the honour guards.



During the ceremony, a 21-gun salute was performed in the honour of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and his accompanying delegation, and the Presidents of Iran and India introduced the high-ranking delegates to each other.



Regarding Iran-India relations, Dr Rouhani said: "If we can reach the goal of the great relations that our ancestors in Iran and India used to have, we have done a great job."



The official talks and meetings with the President and the Prime Minister of India and between the high-level delegations of the two countries will be held at Hyderabad Palace.



Dr Rouhani's official three-day visit to India began on Thursday, arriving in Hyderabad in the south.







/257MOSCOW (AP) - The Latest on the Russian response to U.S. indictments (all times local):

12:20 p.m.

President Donald Trump is undercutting a top aide again - this time national security adviser Gen. H.R. McMaster.

FILE - In this Monday, Sept. 20, 2010 file photo, businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, right, shows Russian President Vladimir Putin, second right, around his factory which produces school means, outside St. Petersburg, Russia. On Friday Feb. 16, 2018, Yevgeny Prigozhin along with 12 other Russians and three Russian organizations, were charged by the U.S. government as part of a vast and wide-ranging effort to sway political opinion during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.(Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File)

McMaster told an international audience that the evidence of Russian meddling in the 2016 American election is beyond dispute. Trump tweeted late Saturday that McMaster left out some details.

"General McMaster forgot to say that the results of the 2016 election were not impacted or changed by the Russians and that the only Collusion was between Russia and Crooked H, the DNC and the Dems. Remember the Dirty Dossier, Uranium, Speeches, Emails and the Podesta Company!" Trump was continuing his efforts to pin Russian collusion on the Democrats and their nominee Hillary Clinton.

McMaster was answering a question from a Russian delegate at a Munich Security Conference on Saturday. Referring to the indictment of 13 Russians announced Friday, McMaster says "with the FBI indictment, the evidence is now incontrovertible" of Russia cyber-meddling

___

6:15 p.m.

Russia's former ambassador to the United States is dismissing detailed allegations of attempted Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election as "fantasies" rooted in domestic politics.

Former Ambassador Sergei Kislyak said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday: "I'm not sure that I can trust American law enforcement to be the most precise and truthful source of information about what Russians do."

Kislyak's comments came as top Russian and American officials exchanged barbs over Friday's indictment of 13 Russians accused of an elaborate plot to disrupt the 2016 presidential election.

Kislyak said: "I have never done anything of this sort. None in my embassy did. So whatever allegations are being mounted against us are simply fantasies that are being used for political reasons inside the United States in the fight between different sides of the political divide."

The senior diplomat's name has come up in the FBI and congressional investigations of possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty in December to lying to the FBI about his conversations with Kislyak before Trump's inauguration.

___

3:45 p.m.

U.S. President Donald Trump's national security adviser has told an international audience that the evidence of Russian meddling in the 2016 American election is beyond dispute.

H.R. McMaster was answering a question from a Russian delegate, shortly after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov left the same stage at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

Referring to the indictment of 13 Russians announced Friday, McMaster says "with the FBI indictment, the evidence is now incontrovertible" of Russia cyber-meddling.

He also scoffed at any move to work with Russia on cybersecurity, saying "we would love to have a cyber dialogue when Russia is sincere about curtailing its sophisticated form of espionage."

Lavrov, just moments earlier, had dismissed the indictments as "just blabber" through an interpreter.

___

3:05 p.m.

Russia's foreign minister says the U.S. indictment of a group of Russians accused of an elaborate plot to disrupt the 2016 presidential election is "just blabber."

Asked about the indictments Saturday at the Munich Security Conference, Sergey Lavrov replied: "I have no response. You can publish anything, and we see those indictments multiplying, the statements multiplying." He argued that U.S. officials also have said no country influenced the U.S. election results.

Lavrov added: "Until we see the facts, everything else is just blabber."

The federal indictment brought Friday by U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller represents the most detailed allegations to date of illegal Russian meddling during the campaign that sent Donald Trump to the White House.

___

12:50 p.m.

One of the 13 Russians indicted by the United States for interfering in the American presidential election says the U.S. justice system is unfair.

Mikhail Burchik was quoted as saying by the newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda that "I am very surprised that, in the opinion of the Washington court, several Russian people interfered in the elections in the United States. I do not know how the Americans came to this decision."

Burchik was identified in the indictment as executive director of an organization that allegedly sowed propaganda on social media to try to interfere with the 2016 election.

Burchik was quoted as saying Saturday that "they have one-sided justice, and it turns out that you can hang the blame on anyone."

U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller brought the federal indictment Friday.

A Facebook posting, released by the House Intelligence Committee, for a group called "Being Patriotic" is photographed in Washington, Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. A federal grand jury indictment on Feb. 16, charging 13 Russians and three Russian entities with an elaborate plot to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, noted that beginning in June 2016, defendants and and their co-conspirators organized and coordinated political rallies in the U.S. The "Being Patriotic" promoted and organized two political rallies in New York according to the indictment. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

A views of the four-story building known as the "troll factory" in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. The U.S. government allege the Internet Research Agency started interfering as early as 2014 in U.S. politics, extending to the 2016 presidential election, saying the agency was funded by a St. Petersburg businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin. (AP Photo/Naira Davlashyan)

Demonstrators carry posters reading: 'Peace instead of NATO' as they protest against the Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Sebastian Gabriel/dpa via AP)

Herbert Raymond McMaster, U.S. National Security Advisor speaks at the Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump is blaming Democrats for abandoning the young immigrants whose legal status is up in the air because of a step he took six months ago.

Those immigrants, who arrived in the United States illegally as children, became a bargaining chip in legislation that collapsed this past week as Trump sought tougher border enforcement and limits on legal immigration, proposing steps that many Republicans as well as Democrats would not support. On other fronts, Trump struck off notes on the economy and the price tag of wars.

A look at a sampling of recent statements:

In this Feb. 12, 2018, photo, President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with state and local officials about infrastructure in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

TRUMP: "Cannot believe how BADLY DACA recipients have been treated by the Democrats...totally abandoned! Republicans are still working hard." - tweet Friday.

THE FACTS: Regardless of fault in the legislative wrangling, the "Dreamers" were put on notice in September about their potential legal jeopardy when Trump announced his administration would end DACA - the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Trump gave Congress six months to come up with a legislative solution and used that as an opportunity to get money for his border wall and other steps on immigration.

Several bills came forward that would have protected the young immigrants and strengthened border security; all failed. Hanging that all on Democrats is problematic. The bill patterned after Trump's immigration priorities was the least popular, defeated by 60 votes with only 39 in favor. More than one-quarter of his fellow Republicans abandoned him and voted against the measure.

It would have provided a chance for citizenship for 1.8 million young immigrants, a Democratic priority, while including $25 billion for the border wall, tighter curbs on relatives whom legal immigrants could sponsor for citizenship and an end to a visa lottery that encourages immigration from diverse nations.

The young immigrants are in limbo as a March 5 deadline approaches. Federal courts have blocked Trump from ending the program on that date but the immigrants face growing risks of deportation as their protections expire.

___

TRUMP: "Black unemployment is at the lowest level in history. Hispanic unemployment is at the lowest level in recorded history, which is really something that's so great." - remarks to state and local officials at the White House on Monday.

THE FACTS: Wrong on both counts. Trump was citing outdated numbers. Ten days earlier, the government reported the black jobless rate jumped nearly a percentage point to 7.7 percent in January, higher than most of last year and barely below the 7.8 percent of January 2017 when Trump took office. It indeed hit a record low of 6.8 percent a month earlier.

Hispanic unemployment also rose in January, though marginally. The rate stood at 5 percent, up from 4.9 percent the month before and from the record low of 4.8 percent seen in April 2006 and several months last year.

The next day, Trump accurately cast the record on black joblessness in the past tense: "We had the lowest African-American unemployment rate in the history of our country."

Jobless figures for blacks and Hispanics can jump around from month to month, such that any record can be short-lived. The unemployment rate for whites is consistently much lower than for the other groups, now 3.5 percent.

___

TRUMP: "I do have to say that we do have a pool of 100 million people, of which some of them - many of them - want to work; they want to have a job. A lot of them do better not working, frankly, under the laws. And people don't like to talk about it. But you're competing against government. And they have great potential. They sort of want to work, but they're making less if they work than if they stay home and do other things. So we have to address that situation. That's a big problem. But we have a pool of 100 million people, a lot of whom want to work." - meeting with lawmakers Tuesday about trade.

THE FACTS: "Some of them" is true. But that's not true for most.

Out of Trump's pool of 100 million (actually 95.7 million, according to the government), only about 5.2 million say they want to be working. The vast majority is made up of students age 16 and over, the elderly and people who want to stay home to raise their children. That information comes from the same government survey used to calculate the unemployment rate.

The economy is already considered to be close to full employment, meaning it's harder to find workers to fill new jobs - harder still if Trump succeeds in curbing immigration.

Few economists blame social programs keeping large numbers of people at home and out of work, as Trump appeared to do. Instead, recent economic research suggests opioid addiction is a key reason many Americans can't get or keep jobs. And past episodes of widespread imprisonment are also a factor: Having a criminal conviction makes it hard for people to find work once they are out of jail.

___

TRUMP: "This will be a big week for Infrastructure. After so stupidly spending $7 trillion in the Middle East, it is now time to start investing in OUR Country!" - tweet Monday.

TRUMP: "I said this morning as of a couple months ago, we have spent $7 trillion in the Middle East - $7 trillion. What a mistake. ... $7 trillion in the Middle East, and the Middle East is far worse now than it was 17 years ago when they went in." - remarks at White House infrastructure event.

THE FACTS: There's a lot wrong with his $7 trillion figure. First, he's using an inflated estimate on the cost of wars. Second, he's referring in part to predicted costs going decades into the future, not money that's all been "spent."

Third, some of the spending he calls a "mistake" reflects his own policy decisions. It finances the military effort he brags about against Islamic State militants and his continuing push for U.S. aims in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq. He's added a few thousand troops in Afghanistan and committed the U.S. to remaining there indefinitely.

The Pentagon estimates that wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria have directly cost U.S. taxpayers more than $1.5 trillion. To be sure, actual costs are higher.

Boston University political scientist Neta C. Crawford, as co-director of the Costs of War Project at Brown University, estimated that as of September, U.S. wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria - plus additional spending on homeland security, the Pentagon and Veterans Affairs Department since the 2001 terrorist attacks - cost more than $4.3 trillion.

That rises to an estimated $5.6 trillion or more when anticipated future spending on veterans and other factors related to the wars so far are added.

Although that's an expensive commitment, it's far short of the $6 trillion or $7 trillion that Trump has been citing for several years, first as a candidate, then president. Even scholarly estimates involve ballpark projections, not just money that is gone.

___

Associated Press writers Robert Burns, Christopher Rugaber and Josh Boak contributed to this report.

___

Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd

Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheckMarion O'Malley is tending to a homicide case and dozens of other criminal matters as the lone prosecutor in her rural Pennsylvania county. Whether she has any legal right to do so is another matter.

An unusual struggle for control of the district attorney's office has landed in court, with the outcome likely to set a precedent that could ripple across most of the state's 67 counties and, potentially, spur appeals by criminal defendants whose cases were handled by O'Malley.

The 54-year-old prosecutor, who took office Feb. 5, is squaring off against William Urbanski, 50, who briefly served as DA before a judge ruled him ineligible and installed O'Malley instead. Urbanski has filed suit to get the job back, asserting the judge misinterpreted the state's residency requirement for district attorneys.

The state Supreme Court could ultimately decide the case. Defense lawyers are watching.

"I would imagine if Marion O'Malley is considered unable to hold the position by some higher court, there will be defense lawyers saying the prosecutions are invalid," said criminal defense attorney Joe D'Andrea. "If it happens one time, it'll spread like wildfire and every criminal defendant will want that."

The dispute has its origins in the 2015 election for district attorney.

O'Malley, who'd been a part-time assistant prosecutor in the small county north of Scranton, ran for the top job but lost to Robert Klein. She departed the DA's office, and Klein named Urbanski as his No. 2.

Klein, who subsequently battled cancer, died in office Dec. 27. On New Year's Day, Urbanski summoned a magistrate to his farm and got himself sworn in as the new DA.

His tenure would be short-lived.

Susquehanna County's only Court of Common Pleas judge, Jason Legg, refused to recognize Urbanski's authority. Legg, a former DA himself, cited a state law that requires a chief prosecutor who has been "elected or appointed" to have lived in the county for at least one year. Urbanski, the judge pointed out, lives in neighboring Luzerne County, though he'd rented a home in Susquehanna shortly before taking office.

After deeming Urbanski ineligible, Legg picked O'Malley, who'd served under him in the prosecutor's office. O'Malley then fired Urbanski.

Not so fast, Urbanski said.

His argument rests on another provision of state law. In Pennsylvania's smaller counties, the first assistant district attorney - in this case Urbanski - automatically becomes DA in the event of a vacancy. Urbanski said the residency requirement for DAs doesn't apply to him because he was neither elected nor appointed to the job, but became DA by "operation of law."

His lawyer, Bruce Castor, said he had a hand in crafting the 2001 law.

"When we drafted the law, we intended that the first assistant automatically become DA in the smaller counties to avoid this kind of local politics," said Castor, a former district attorney in suburban Philadelphia.

In court documents, O'Malley argues it would be an "absurd interpretation" of the residency rule to conclude that elected DAs in smaller counties must live in the county, but replacement DAs, "who have all the same powers and responsibilities, somehow are 'able' to serve without meeting those same requirements."

The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association is not taking sides. But its interpretation of the law mirrors Urbanski's.

"If Judge Legg is mistaken, and he did not have the power to appoint Mrs. O'Malley, then no one currently has prosecutorial powers in Susquehanna County, and every person Mrs. O'Malley purports to prosecute could claim she lacks proper authority," Castor said via email.

O'Malley said the same holds true of Urbanski's tenure.

"When the dust settles on this, and I believe it's going to settle in my favor, will I have a situation created as a result of Mr. Urbanski sitting in this office, having made plea deals?" she said. "It's potentially an issue either way."

A judge from central Pennsylvania is scheduled to hear arguments on March 5. Any appeal would head straight to the Supreme Court.ROME (AP) - Cengiz Under scored his fourth goal in three matches and Roma won at Udinese 2-0 for its third straight win in Serie A on Saturday.

Roma moved into third place, two points ahead of Inter Milan, before Inter's match at Genoa later.

"We're getting back on track to where we were in the first half of the season," Perotti said.

Roma's Cengiz Under, left, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's first goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Udinese and Roma at the Friuli stadium in Udine, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Stefano Lancia/ANSA via AP)

Roma went ahead when Under unleashed a powerful, rising shot from beyond the area in the 70th.

Diego Perotti sealed the victory in the 90th with an angled effort after Udinese gave the ball away near midfield.

Under is having a breakout month.

First, the 20-year-old Turkey winger scored after 43 seconds when Roma ended a five-match winless streak by beating Hellas Verona 1-0. Then he had a brace and also delivered an assist in a 5-2 win over Benevento last weekend.

All this after not being involved in any goals in his first 14 matches with Roma.

"He plays far more for the team than himself," Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco said of Under. "His greatest strength is being able to prepare his shot with great speed, making him difficult to close down."

Added Perotti, "He's very humble and he doesn't speak Italian yet but he's well behaved and is a great kid. He deserves all of this."

Roma visits Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday.

"We've got to make the most of the fact they've had a winter break and might not be match fit," Di Francesco said of the Ukrainian side. "They have a lot of quality in attack and are dangerous, but we shouldn't change our attitude."

Udinese remained 10th.

___

More AP Serie A coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/SerieA

Udinese's Valon Behrami, left, and Roma's Cenzig Under, vie for the ball during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Udinese and Roma at the Friuli stadium in Udine, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Stefano Lancia/ANSA via AP)LONDON (AP) - Christopher Bailey's final show as Burberry creative director dominated London Fashion Week on Saturday. Bailey is leaving the popular brand later this year after a 17-year stint that helped it regain its prominence as a global fashion power.

Newcomer Simone Rocha and veteran Jasper Conran were among the designers showcasing their latest styles as fashion week kicked into high gear. Some highlights from the style extravaganza:

A BURBERRY FAREWELL BRINGS DOWN THE STAR-STUDDED HOUSE

A model wears a creation by designer Burberry at the Autumn/Winter 2018 fashion week runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2017. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Animal rights activists may have hassled the high-fashion crowd entering the Burberry show, but once the 1,300 guests were safely inside the event turned into a lovefest.

The affection was for Christopher Bailey, who is leaving Burberry later this year after serving as creative director and chief executive, among other jobs. Bailey's final show was a milestone for him and for the company he helped revive.

He dedicated his farewell show to organizations that support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

"There has never been a more important time to say that in our diversity lies our strength and our creativity," Bailey said.

The spectacle was part fashion show, part performance art and part laser lighting display. It ended with Bailey walking down the fog-filled runway to a prolonged standing ovation from a crowd that included Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Chelsea Clinton and many others famous fans.

"It was exquisite," said Miller, who seemed near tears moments after the show ended. "One of the most spectacular things I've ever seen. It was brave and it was political and it was beautiful."

Clinton also seemed overcome with emotion.

"It showed so much humanity, so much of what he is as a person," she said. "I'm just so glad I could be here and see it in person to celebrate Christopher as he goes on to the next chapter."

Model and actress Cara Delevingne made a now-rare catwalk appearance for Bailey and the Burberry brand. She closed the show wearing a regal, rainbow-themed outfit and leading the other models through the finale, which was set off by a spectacular laser show.

The audience was filled with luminaries, including actor Idris Elba and actresses Naomie Harris, Keira Knightley, and Naomi Watts. Former Oasis singer Liam Gallagher and Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris, also were in the crowd.

The show featured many references to the familiar Burberry check, which was worked into a number of jackets, caps and tops, along with some gorgeous gowns and stylish bomber jackets.

___

PRETTIFIED TAILORING AT SIMONE ROCHA

Dainty lace, ruffles, pretty bows: Simone Rocha's latest collection may include every girly cliche, but there's more than meets the eye.

The young designer, known for her modern take on sweet, doll-like looks, dressed models in frilly gold or black tulle and lace dresses over slim tailored pieces such as a buttoned-up shirt or a trouser suit. The outfits were finished off with mannish brogue shoes or furry flat slippers.

There were exaggerated puff sleeves, embroidered roses, fur trims and rich floral brocade fabrics, perhaps a nod to the John Constable portraits Rocha referred to in her show notes. They were certainly a match with the show's venue, an ornate red and gold room adorned with giant candlelit chandeliers in London's palatial Goldsmiths' Hall.

Rocha did break away from delicate dresses, and those were some of the show's strongest looks: Belted, double-breasted patent leather coats that came in a striking red or military green, as well as red and navy plaid outfits adorned with a tinsel-like trim.

___

ELEGANCE AND RICH COLORS AT JASPER CONRAN

Designer Jasper Conran pared down the in-your-face, bombastic style some rivals have adopted for London Fashion Week. Instead, Conran showed an elegant collection that relied on many monochromatic outfits with subtle shifts of texture and drape to set them off. The apparent simplicity, offset by the detailing and workmanship, made for an often captivating result.

"I think it's very much what I've learned in my career. These are the things that I know," said Conran, one of the founding designers of London Fashion Week. "So it's an expression of quite a long time of learning."

Conran described the basic elements he used as navy, white and sulphur yellow, with a wide variety of other unusual colors and textures weaved in. He found expressive ways to mix and match, but also relied on one color from head to toes walking the runway in matching, understated shoes. Most models wore their hair long and natural, giving the collection an airy, ethereal feel.

When shades were mixed, it was frequently striking - as in a surprisingly effective dress that paired olive green with dark brown.

Trousers and some dresses were often pleated, and lightweight parkas set off some outfits. Conran seemed to show a special flair in various shades of yellow, including a hooded yellow parka that seemed both practical and sexy.

Model Cara Delevingne wears a creation by designer Burberry at the Autumn/Winter 2018 fashion week runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Models wear creations by designer Burberry at the Autumn/Winter 2018 fashion week runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Actor Idris Elba left, and a Sabrina Dhowre pose for photographers before the Burberry Autumn/Winter 2018 fashion week runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

A model wears a creation by designer Simone Rocha at the Autumn/Winter 2018 fashion week runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Models wear creations by Jasper Conran at the Autumn/Winter 2018 runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by Grant Pollard/Invision/AP)

Models wear creations by Jasper Conran at the Autumn/Winter 2018 runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by Grant Pollard/Invision/AP)

Models wear creations by Jasper Conran at the Autumn/Winter 2018 runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by Grant Pollard/Invision/AP)

A model wears a creation by Jasper Conran at the Autumn/Winter 2018 runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by Grant Pollard/Invision/AP)

Models wear creations by Jasper Conran at the Autumn/Winter 2018 runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by Grant Pollard/Invision/AP)

A model wears a creation by Jasper Conran at the Autumn/Winter 2018 runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by Grant Pollard/Invision/AP)

A model wears a creation by Jasper Conran at the Autumn/Winter 2018 runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by Grant Pollard/Invision/AP)

A model wears a creation by designer Simone Rocha at the Autumn/Winter 2018 fashion week runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Models wear creations by designer Simone Rocha at the Autumn/Winter 2018 fashion week runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Models wear creations by Jasper Conran at the Autumn/Winter 2018 runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by Grant Pollard/Invision/AP)

A model wears a creation by designer Simone Rocha at the Autumn/Winter 2018 fashion week runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

A model wears a creation by designer Simone Rocha at the Autumn/Winter 2018 fashion week runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

A model wears a creation by designer Simone Rocha at the Autumn/Winter 2018 fashion week runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Model Cara Delevingne wears a creation by designer Burberry at the Autumn/Winter 2018 fashion week runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

A model wears a creation by designer Burberry at the Autumn/Winter 2018 fashion week runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2017. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

A model wears a creation by designer Burberry at the Autumn/Winter 2018 fashion week runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2017. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

A model wears a creation by designer Burberry at the Autumn/Winter 2018 fashion week runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2017. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Model Cara Delevingne wears a creation by designer Burberry at the Autumn/Winter 2018 fashion week runway show in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2017. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)CHICAGO (AP) - The Latest on the funeral for a Chicago Police commander killed in the line of duty (all times local):

12:20 p.m.

A Chicago Police commander who was gunned down by a suspect this week is being remembered as a "model cop" who wasn't interested in self-promotion, even as he moved up the department's ranks.

People attend the funeral mass of Chicago police Commander Paul Bauer at Nativity of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church Saturday, Feb. 17, 2017, in Chicago. Bauer died Tuesday when he was shot six times while pursuing a suspect he was attempting to detain downtown Chicago. Officials have charged 44-year-old Shomari Legghette with the 53-year-old commander's killing. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune via AP)

Speakers at Commander Paul Bauer's funeral Saturday said he was most proud of his titles as husband to his wife, Erin, and father to his daughter, Grace.

Former First Deputy Superintendent John Escalante, who grew up with Bauer, says "Erin and Grace were everything" to the 53-year-old.

Bauer died Tuesday after he responded to a call for help from fellow officers and was shot six times as he pursued a suspect. Prosecutors have charged 44-year-old Shomari Legghette with the killing.

Officers from across the U.S. joined other mourners, including Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Gov. Bruce Rauner and former Mayor Richard Daley, at the service.

___

8:25 a.m.

Scores of police officers and other mourners will attend the funeral of a Chicago Police commander who was fatally shot by a suspect this week.

Representatives of police agencies from around the U.S. are also expected to attend services for Commander Paul Bauer on Saturday morning at Nativity of Our Lord Church in Chicago. A procession also is planned.

Bauer died Tuesday when he was shot six times while pursuing a suspect he was attempting to detain downtown Chicago. Officials have charged 44-year-old Shomari Legghette with the 53-year-old commander's killing. A judge has ordered Legghette held without bond.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has ordered flags be flown at half-staff to honor Bauer. The city has made sympathy books available to be signed at City Hall and the 18th police district.

An 18th District officer holds the program for the funeral mass of Chicago police Commander Paul Bauer at Nativity of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church Saturday, Feb. 17, 2017, in Chicago. Bauer died Tuesday when he was shot six times while pursuing a suspect he was attempting to detain downtown Chicago. Officials have charged 44-year-old Shomari Legghette with the 53-year-old commander's killing. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune via AP)

Police officers attend the funeral mass of Chicago police Commander Paul Bauer at Nativity of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church Saturday, Feb. 17, 2017, in Chicago. Bauer died Tuesday when he was shot six times while pursuing a suspect he was attempting to detain downtown Chicago. Officials have charged 44-year-old Shomari Legghette with the 53-year-old commander's killing. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune via AP)

Two officers salute Chicago police Commander Paul Bauer before his funeral mass at Nativity of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church Saturday, Feb. 17, 2017, in Chicago. Bauer died Tuesday when he was shot six times while pursuing a suspect he was attempting to detain downtown Chicago. Officials have charged 44-year-old Shomari Legghette with the 53-year-old commander's killing. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune via AP)

People view the body of Chicago police Commander Paul Bauer before his funeral mass at Nativity of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church Saturday, Feb. 17, 2017, in Chicago. Bauer died Tuesday when he was shot six times while pursuing a suspect he was attempting to detain downtown Chicago. Officials have charged 44-year-old Shomari Legghette with the 53-year-old commander's killing. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune via AP)

The body of Chicago police Commander Paul Bauer lies in repose at Nativity of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church Saturday, Feb. 17, 2017, in Chicago. Bauer died Tuesday when he was shot six times while pursuing a suspect he was attempting to detain downtown Chicago. Officials have charged 44-year-old Shomari Legghette with the 53-year-old commander's killing. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune via AP)

Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson hugs Grace Bauer, 13, as Mayor Rahm Emanuel hugs Erin Bauer during the funeral mass of Chicago police Commander Paul Bauer at Nativity of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church Saturday, Feb. 17, 2017, in Chicago. Bauer died Tuesday when he was shot six times while pursuing a suspect he was attempting to detain downtown Chicago. Officials have charged 44-year-old Shomari Legghette with the 53-year-old commander's killing. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune via AP)

Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson rests his hand on the cast of Chicago police Commander Paul Bauer after speaking during the funeral mass at Nativity of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church Saturday, Feb. 17, 2017, in Chicago. Bauer died Tuesday when he was shot six times while pursuing a suspect he was attempting to detain downtown Chicago. Officials have charged 44-year-old Shomari Legghette with the 53-year-old commander's killing. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune via AP)

Former Chicago police First Deputy Superintendent John Escalante hugs Grace Bauer, daughter of Paul Bauer, and Erin Bauer, right, wife of Paul Bauer, after speaking during the funeral mass at Nativity of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church Saturday, Feb. 17, 2017, in Chicago. Bauer died Tuesday when he was shot six times while pursuing a suspect he was attempting to detain downtown Chicago. Officials have charged 44-year-old Shomari Legghette with the 53-year-old commander's killing. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune via AP)

The casket of Chicago police Commander Paul Bauer is draped during his funeral mass at Nativity of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church Saturday, Feb. 17, 2017, in Chicago. Bauer died Tuesday when he was shot six times while pursuing a suspect he was attempting to detain downtown Chicago. Officials have charged 44-year-old Shomari Legghette with the 53-year-old commander's killing. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune via AP)ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Second-half headers by Dimitris Pelkas and Mauricio led Greek league leader PAOK over newcomer Lamia 2-0 on Saturday.

PAOK is five points ahead of AEK, which hosts Xanthi on Sunday, and nine ahead of defending champion Olympiakos, which plays Panionios at home, also on Sunday.

Lamia is in 13th place.

Olympiakos is appealing sanctions for fan behavior that will cost it, if upheld, a three-point deduction and two home games in front of empty stands.

Pelkas scored in the 56th minute, assisted by Diego Biseswar, and Mauricio added his six minutes later from point-blank range following a defensive mistake.

Also, Kerkyra beat Apollon 2-0, and Atromitos won at Asteras 1-0 with a second-half injury-time goal.WASHINGTON (AP) - Former Vice President Joe Biden is tiptoeing toward a potential presidential run in 2020, even broaching the possibility during a recent gathering of longtime foreign policy aides.

Huddled in his newly opened office steps from the U.S. Capitol, Biden began a planning meeting for his new diplomacy center by addressing the elephant in the room. He said he was keeping his 2020 options open, considering it a real possibility. He insisted he had made no decision, and didn't need to yet, according to five people who either attended the meeting or were briefed on it by those who did.

Biden also expressed interest in bringing those in the room onto his team if he decides to launch a campaign. At the same time, he gave them an out: There would be no hard feelings if they decided they were content in their current roles outside of government, said the people, who demanded anonymity to discuss a private meeting.

FILE- In this June 7, 2017, file photo, former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a conference in Athens. Biden is tiptoeing toward a potential run in 2020, even broaching the possibility during a recent gathering of longtime foreign policy aides. Huddled his newly opened office steps from the U.S. Capitol, Biden opened a planning meeting for his new diplomacy center by addressing the elephant in the room. He said he was keeping his 2020 options open, considering it a real possibility. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File)

The political world has long tried to game out Biden's plans for 2020. After all, he came close to running last time only to see President Donald Trump pull off a victory that many Democrats openly suggest wouldn't have happened had he, not Hillary Clinton, been their nominee. Several people came away from the meeting with the impression that if no strong Democratic candidate emerges in the next year or so, Biden would feel strongly compelled to run.

A presidential candidate twice before, Biden would be 78 on Inauguration Day if elected in 2020, a concerning prospect for some Democrats even though he's only a few years older than Trump. One possibility that Biden's longtime advisers have discussed privately is that he could announce his intention to serve only one term, clearing the path for his running mate to take over in 2024 and potentially setting up Democrats for a 12-year White House stretch.

Biden's brief discussion about his 2020 deliberations came as he brought foreign policy staffers together to set the 2018 agenda for the newly opened Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement - where many of them are now working, including Colin Kahl, his vice presidential national security adviser, and Steve Ricchetti, his former chief of staff. Eli Ratner, his former deputy national security adviser, and Mike Carpenter, the former Pentagon and State Department official who's now the center's senior director, also attended, as did Julianne Smith, a Biden adviser in the Obama administration's first term who now works at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington think tank.

A Biden spokesman declined to comment. But in a recent NBC News interview, Biden said he'd decide on running in 2020 based on whether it was "the right thing to do."

"I'm focused on one thing: electing a Democratic Congress to stop this erosion of the core of who we are," Biden said. "I'll look at that a year from now. I have plenty of time to consider whether or not to run."

The meeting was one of several signs that Biden is beginning to position himself as an alternative to Trump. Biden has started denouncing the current president's leadership more frequently in public, as he crisscrosses the United States and beyond to promote his new book, his cancer initiative, his new domestic policy institute in Delaware, the diplomacy center and his new political action committee, American Possibilities.

He's also been gearing up to play a major role campaigning for Democrats seeking to retake the House and Senate in the 2018 midterms.

"Donald Trump's looking out for Donald Trump. Republicans are looking out for Donald Trump. Who's looking out for everyone else? Democrats," Biden wrote in a recent fundraising pitch to the PAC's supporters. He said in 2018, he would "beat a path all across this country to stand up for leaders who will stand up for all of us."

In 2015, Biden's face was plastered across cable news channels and newspaper front pages for months as he carried out a lengthy deliberation about whether to challenge Clinton for the nomination. Ultimately, he decided he and his family weren't in position to run so soon after his son, former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, died from brain cancer earlier that year. Yet many Democrats have argued that his "everyman" brand and blue-collar appeal would make him particularly well-suited to challenge Trump.

___

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Eli Ratner, not Ratney.

___

Reach Josh Lederman on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joshledermanAPAKRON, Ohio (AP) - Authorities say a suspect in the fatal shooting of a 4-year-old girl sitting in a car with young siblings and her grandmother in northeastern Ohio has been arrested.

Police say 31-year-old Darnell Bitting was arrested around 4 p.m. Saturday in Akron

Akron police spokesman Lt. Rick Edwards says the shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. Friday after the children's mother pulled in front of a house to retrieve belongings and broke windows when no one answered the door.

Edwards says a man stepped outside with a rifle and fired one shot at the car, striking the 4-year-old, who was sitting in the back seat. She was pronounced dead at an Akron hospital. The other children are girls ages 3, 6 and 7.

Police have not identified the girl or her mother.Mahershala Ali, Emma Stone and Viola Davis have been confirmed as presenters for this years Oscars.

The three Hollywood stars were the winners of the acting categories at last years awards  Stone won best actress for La La Land, Ali won best supporting actor for Moonlight and Davis won best supporting actress for Fences.

The winner of the best actor award, Casey Affleck, was already known to not be attending the Oscars.

Meet our first 12 #Oscars presenters! And tune in on Sunday, March 4, to watch the show live.https://t.co/HSdqhSEXN4 pic.twitter.com/BE9jyuzBoM  The Academy (@TheAcademy) February 16, 2018

The Manchester By The Sea star would have been expected to present the best actress award, according to the shows tradition, but in January he withdrew from the hosting role.

In 2010 Affleck was sued by two women for alleged sexual harassment before the lawsuits were settled out of court.

He has vehemently denied the sexual harassment claims which were alleged to have happened during the making of the film Im Still Here.

Chadwick Boseman, Laura Dern, Jennifer Garner, Greta Gerwig, Tiffany Haddish, Tom Holland, Kumail Nanjiani, Margot Robbie and Daniela Vega are the others in the first slate of stars confirmed to be presenting awards at the Oscars.

Robbie is nominated in the best actress category for her role in I, Tonya, and Gerwig is nominated in the best director and best original screenplay categories for Lady Bird.

Margot Robbie (Ian West/PA)

Nanjiani is nominated for best original screenplay for The Big Sick, along with Emily V Gordon.

Oscar producers Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd said in a statement: Whether returning to the Oscars stage, or gracing it for the first time, each of these artists bring their own distinguishing and energetic appeal.

Their contributions will make for an unforgettable evening.

The nominations for the Oscars are led by Guillermo Del Toros The Shape Of Water, which has 13 nods, while Dunkirk, directed by Christopher Nolan, has eight.

Jimmy Kimmel will host the 90th Academy Awards from Hollywoods Dolby Theatre on March 4.A senior Iranian official has said that constant cooperation among Iran, Iraq and Syria will not allow the US to wield influence in Kurdish regions.

(AhlulBayt News Agency) - A senior Iranian official has said that constant cooperation among Iran, Iraq and Syria will not allow the US to wield influence in Kurdish regions.



According to the Iraqi local TV network al-Beladi, Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, made the remarks at a meeting with Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari in Baghdad on Friday.



Velayati described the US as the major problem in the Middle East, noting that the Islamic Republic keeps a close watch on all the political, military and security measures of the US in the region.



The Iranian official pointed to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's ongoing visit to the Middle East, saying the regional tour takes place in the wake of Washington's failures in different military and political spheres against Islamic countries.



Tillerson started his tour of Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Kuwait on Sunday, but a key US ally, Israel, is conspicuously absent from his itinerary.



The most contentious part of Tillerson's trip was in Turkey, where anti-American sentiment is rising, with some officials in Ankara calling the United States an enemy of Turkey.



Turkey has long criticized Washington's support for militants from the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria near the Turkish border, as it views the group as a terrorist organization and an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) that has been fighting for an autonomous region inside Turkey since 1984.



The US is leading a coalition which has been conducting airstrikes against what are said to be Daesh targets inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from the Damascus government or a UN mandate. The military alliance has repeatedly been accused of targeting and killing civilians. It has also been largely incapable of fulfilling its declared aim of destroying Daesh.



US officials claim that the YPG is the most effective fighting force against the Daesh terrorist group in northern Syria, and have substantially increased their weaponry and technology support for the terrorist group.



The Syrian government has given a degree of authority to the Kurdish regions to run their own affairs in the face of foreign-backed militancy. The US, however, has used the vacuum to establish a foothold in those regions with the help of militants.



Damascus has on several occasions called for US troops to leave Syria now that the fight against Daesh is over.Many holidaymakers heading abroad from the UK can look forward to their pounds stretching further compared with a year ago, research has found.

Sterling is now stronger year-on-year against 80% of the top 40 holiday currencies, Post Office Travel Money found.

Those prepared to travel further could reap the biggest benefits from the strengthening of sterling, the research suggests.

The biggest cash bonus in the study was found to be for those heading for the Dominican Republic, whose peso has plunged 16.7% year-on-year against the pound, giving UK travellers nearly 72 worth of extra peso on a 500 currency transaction.

In Costa Rica, the colon has fallen by 16.6% since February 2016, giving holidaymakers the equivalent of around 71 more for their 500.

Andrew Brown, Post Office head of travel money, said: Every long-haul currency in our top 40  except for the Malaysian ringgit  has fallen against sterling since last February and, with savvy travellers watching exchange rates carefully, there is good reason to believe that more of them will consider holidaying further afield this year.

In Antigua the pound stretches 12% further than a year ago (Wesley Johnson/PA)

The situation is also improving for tourists travelling to the United States and countries whose currencies are pegged to the US dollar.

Holidaymakers visiting dollar destinations like St Lucia, Antigua, Barbados, Dubai and Oman as well as the United States can expect their pounds to stretch between 11.5% (Barbados) and 12% (St Lucia and Antigua) further than a year ago, according to the findings.

This will give them up to 53 more cash to spend than a year ago when they change 500 into foreign currency.

The pound is also up 10% year-on-year against the New Zealand dollar, giving the equivalent of an extra 46 on a 500 exchange compared with a year ago and up 9% or the equivalent of 41 on a 500 exchange against the Australian dollar.

But the position is patchier in Europe. Travellers to eurozone destinations face receiving nearly 20 fewer in euro on a 500 currency transaction than a year ago, the report found.

Meanwhile, the Turkish lira is 16.5% weaker against sterling than in February 2016.Susan Sarandon has blamed Hollywoods corporate takeover for racism, sexism and ageism in the industry.

The actress, 71, made the comment on Friday during a discussion in Sydney, Australia, as part of the Tropfest short film festival, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The industry magazine reported that Sarandon blamed the increasing prevalence of remakes on a lack of imagination and the corporate takeover of making films.

Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual harassment and assault by several women (Anthony Devlin/PA)

This is why we have so much sexism and racism and ageism in Hollywood, she added.

Theres a lot of businessmen that are making decisions, not people who necessarily love movies. This is where you get casting by how many followers you have on Instagram.

The US actresss comments come as Hollywood continues to see a reckoning over its treatment of women in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

She previously praised Cara Delevingnes bravery after the model became one of dozens of women to speak out about the disgraced movie mogul.

Delevingne claimed Weinstein asked her to kiss another woman and made advances to her in a hotel room meeting.

Weinstein, 65, is being investigated by police in London, New York and Los Angeles. He denies any allegation of non-consensual sex.Sinn Fein has made a last ditch appeal for their powersharing partners to get back into government in Northern Ireland.

Mary Lou McDonald urged the Democractic Unionists (DUP) to reconsider its position on proposals to end the 13 month political stalemate at Stormont.

Speaking ahead of a meeting in Dublin, Ms McDonald said: Our appeal to the DUP is fairly straightforward. We had a draft agreement. We have a draft agreement. I would appeal to the DUP at this juncture to reconsider their position. Come back and talk to us and get that over the line.

Sinn Feins Mary Lou McDonald (Niall Carson/PA)

"I dont buy into the politics of the impossible. I think any problem however big, however complex, if you are sufficiently dedicated and people are prepared to lead, those problems can be resolved," @MaryLouMcDonald on the current stalemate in Stormont #latelate pic.twitter.com/fVeSZTomp3  The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) February 16, 2018

But I would also say to the DUP if thats not a runner, and I suspect at this moment it is not, we are not standing still.

The show must go on and we have to move forward.

Negotiations between the regions two biggest parties were reportedly at a critical stage when DUP leader Arlene Foster effectively pulled the plug on Wednesday.

The DUP leader called on the UK government to set a budget and start making policy decisions for Northern Ireland.

"In our view, there is no current prospect of these discussions leading to an Executive being formed"https://t.co/fByW2WnHTg pic.twitter.com/M9uuZL6tYz  Arlene Foster #WeWillMeetAgain (@ArleneFosterUK) February 14, 2018

However, Sinn Fein has insisted direct rule from Westminster is not an option.

Direct rule would be entirely unacceptable to us, unacceptable to nationalist opinion across the country, particularly in the north and if anybody thinks or thought that by crashing this process they would return to the bosom of direct rule. They got it wrong, Ms McDonald said.

Vexatious issues such Irish language rights, marriage equality and how to deal with the legacy of Northern Irelands troubled must now be tackled by both British and Irish governments, she added.

The republican party leadership is expected to meet with the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Prime Minister Theresa May to discuss the way forward in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Sinn Feins Stormont leader Michelle ONeill was also in Dublin for the meeting.

She said: In any negotiation there has to be give and take. There were a number of issues which vexed the DUP and there were a number of issues which vexed ourselves.

We had on the table a draft agreement, an accommodation whatever, way you want to describe it, we are crystal clear, what we had was a way forward and the DUP leadership failed to back that way forward.The Ministry of Defence is selling the Royal Navys flagship vessel HMS Ocean to help plug a mammoth financial black hole.

The 84 million sale to the Brazilian navy is due to go ahead next month and Ocean will sail to South America in the summer.

Pressed on the amount of money that would be reinvested from the sale, an MoD spokesman confirmed it expected to yield a 55 million net profit, all of which would be pumped back into naval coffers.

The sale of HMS Ocean will inject 55 million into defence funds (MoD/PA)

In its report published last month, the National Audit Office said that despite building in a 6 billion contingency, there was an affordability gap of at least 4.9 billion in the MoDs equipment programme.

However if all the risks of cost growth associated with the programme were to materialise the shortfall would rise to 20.8 billion, it said.

HMS Ocean returned to Devonport in Plymouth in December following its final foreign deployment, which included assisting with the humanitarian efforts in the Caribbean following Hurricane Irma.

Announcing the sale of HMS Ocean, Clive Walker, head of the Defence Equipment Sales Authority which managed the deal, said: We have a proven track record of supplying surplus defence equipment on a government-to-government basis.

The successful sale of HMS Ocean to the Brazilian navy will provide a financial return to the UK which will now be reinvested in defence.

I served on HMS OCEAN. Sad day to see her go today, but determined our amphibious capabilities as a nation will only modernise and grow, and remain centred on #Plymouth. Looking forward to the Modernising Defence review later this year. pic.twitter.com/PuqSXuTMhM  Johnny Mercer (@JohnnyMercerUK) February 17, 2018

Modifications to HMS Ocean will be made by UK companies Babcock and BAE Systems, funded by Brazil, ahead of its transfer, the MoD said. It is understood the vessel will become a fully operational member of the fleet, rather than being used for display purposes.

HMS Queen Elizabeth will eventually take on the role as the nations new flagship, and will be able to act as a helicopter carrier once its sea trials have been completed.

The MoD spokesman said HMS Oceans helicopter-carrying capability would not be lost, with the likes of HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion able to take over those duties.

Johnny Mercer, the Tory MP for Plymouth Moor View and a former Army officer and Afghanistan veteran, said HMS Oceans sale marked  a sad day.

Writing on Twitter, he said: I served on HMS Ocean. Sad day to see her go today, but determined our amphibious capabilities as a nation will only modernise and grow, and remain centred on #Plymouth. Looking forward to the Modernising Defence review later this year.

The amphibious warfare craft was host to Theresa Mays first visit on board a Royal Navy ship in December 2016, and five years earlier members of its aviation crew became unlikely internet sensations after their rendition of Mariah Careys All I Want For Christmas Is You went viral.Thousands of Danes have bid farewell to Denmarks late Prince Henrik, husband of Queen Margrethe, whose casket is on public display in a Copenhagen chapel until a private funeral next week.

Draped in a Danish flag with his personal coat of arms, the coffin stood on a catafalque surrounded by a guard of honour  eight military officers  inside the chapel of the Christiansborg Palace as people silently walked past on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, royals briefly visited the chapel from where a private funeral will be held on Tuesday.

Queen Margrethe leaves Christiansborg Palace Church, where Price Henrik is lying in Castrum Doloris until a private funeral on Tuesday(Mads Claus Rasmussen/AP)

The palace respected the wish of Henrik, who died on Tuesday aged 83, to be cremated.

Last year, he stunned Danes when he said he did not want to be buried next to Margrethe as is the tradition.Roma moved up to third in the Serie A table as second-half goals from Cengiz Under and Diego Perotti helped them to a 2-0 win at Udinese.

Turkish winger Under put the capital club in front in the 70th minute with a rocket of a left-foot shot which flew past Albano Bizzarri in the hosts goal.

It was Unders fourth goal in his last three games for Roma.

Cengiz Unders hot streak continued for Roma (Filippo Venezia/AP)

Eusebio Di Francescos men wrapped it up in the first minute of stoppage time as Gregoire Defrel, who replaced Under in the 87th minute, dispossessed Seko Fofana in midfield. He played the ball to Radja Nainggolan who threaded a pass through to Perotti, and his calm finish was too good for Bizzarri.

It was a third straight league win for the Giallorossi who moved above Inter Milan, while Udinese have now won just one of their last seven matches.

Under was denied in the first half by Bizzarri while Fofanas 35-yarder had Alisson scrambling in the Roma goal, but the effort went wide.

Alisson denied Stipe Perica in the 51st minute and was called on again to keep out a near-post effort from Rodrigo De Paul with the score at 1-0, pushing the Argentinians shot skywards before punching clear.Paris St Germain boss Unai Emery praised his sides response to their Champions League defeat to Real Madrid in midweek.

The Ligue 1 leaders were beaten 3-1 at the Bernabeu in Wednesday in the last-16 first leg, but responded with a 5-2 domestic success over Strasbourg.

Goals from Julian Draxler, Neymar, Angel Di Maria and an Edison Cavani double saw PSG come from behind and maintain their 100 per cent home record in the league.

Unai Emery saw his PSG side win 5-2 against Strasbourg (Adam Davy/Empics)

They restored their 12-point lead at the summit and Emery believes the win sets his side up for the return leg against Madrid and forthcoming Coupe de France quarter-final with Marseille.

Victory was important after Wednesdays game, Emery said in his post-match press conference, reported by LEquipe.

Little by little, we must put our supporters in condition for the matches that will come against Marseille and Real Madrid.

We have to show that we are able to maintain this level of play against the biggest teams, with all the respect I have for the people of Strasbourg.

We talked about it in the locker room. Of course, they remember Wednesdays match. Its normal.

It is therefore important to talk about positive things. We feel very strong at the Parc. We must maintain this dynamic.

Emerys team came into the match having won all 12 of their home league matches this season and have not lost at the Parc des Princes in Ligue 1 since March 2016, but they fell behind after Jean-Eudes Aholou fired Strasbourg into a shock sixth-minute lead.

But Draxler, Neymar and Di Maria all found the back of the net in 13 first-half minutes to fire PSG into a 3-1 half-time lead before Stephane Bahoken struck in the 67th minute to reduce the deficit.

Cavanis deft finish restored PSGs two-goal cushion before the Uruguayan lobbed Alexandre Oukidja to break another club record with his 86th home goal, surpassing Zlatan Ibrahimovics previous tally.Thousands of angry students, parents and residents have demanded stricter gun control laws, as new details were revealed about the suspect accused of killing 17 people in a Florida high school.

The rally, held in central Fort Lauderdale, was attended by scores of students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where the shooting happened.

Teenagers spoke passionately during Saturdays rally in front of the federal courthouse, pleading with legislators to change the nations gun laws.

Protests in Fort Lauderdale (Brynn Anderson/AP)

One student, Emma Gonzalez, angrily criticised politicians who take campaign contributions from the National Rifle Association. She challenged them to stop taking money, leading the crowd in a call-and-response chant.

They say a good guy with a gun stops a bad guy with a gun, she said, and the crowd chanted, We call BS.

She also said adults who knew that the shooter was mentally ill should have done more to prevent him from having a weapon.

Demonstrators take to the streets of Fort Lauderdale (Brynn Anderson/AP)

From a mosaic of public records, interviews with friends and family and online interactions, it appears that Nikolas Cruz was unstable and violent to himself and those around him  and that when notified about his threatening behaviour, law enforcement did little to stop it.

He reportedly left a suburban Palm Beach County mobile home in November because his benefactor threatened to remove him if he kept a gun.

The Palm Beach Post reported Rocxanne Deschamps said: He bought a gun and wanted to bring it into my house in public comments that have since been removed from her Facebook page.

Chad Bennett, a friend of Ms Deschamps, said Cruz chose the gun and he left.

He then went to live with another family; his mother died in November and his father died years ago.

Nikolas Cruz during his first court appearance (Susan Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Floridas child welfare agency investigated after he cut himself in an online video but found him stable, according to state records.

The Sun-Sentinel reported that Floridas Department of Children and Families (DCF) investigated when Cruz posted a video on the social media network Snapchat showing him cutting his arms in 2016.

The agency was called to investigate. Cruz, then 18, was listed as an alleged victim of medical neglect and inadequate supervision. His adoptive mother, then-68-year-old Lynda Cruz, was named as the alleged perpetrator.

Mr Cruz was on Snapchat cutting both of his arms, the Florida DCF abuse hotline was told in August 2016, the paper reported. Mr Cruz has fresh cuts on both his arms. Mr Cruz stated he plans to go out and buy a gun. It is unknown what he is buying the gun for.

According to the paper, the DCFs investigation was completed that November. The agency concluded that Cruz had not been mistreated by his mother, was receiving adequate care from a mental health counsellor and was attending school.

Mental health centre staff came out and assessed the (victim and) found him to be stable enough not to be hospitalised, the DCF report said.

Cruz had been diagnosed with autism, a neurological disorder that often leads to social awkwardness and isolation, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

Three teenagers told Buzzfeed on Saturday that Cruz became jealous and angry when his ex-girlfriend broke up with him and began seeing someone else.

The FBI said it received a tip-off last month that Cruz had a desire to kill and access to guns and could be plotting an attack, but agents failed to investigate. The governor called for the FBI director to resign.

A person close to Cruz called the FBIs tip line on January 5 and provided information about Cruzs weapons and his erratic behaviour, including his disturbing social media posts. The caller was concerned that Cruz could attack a school.

In a statement, the agency acknowledged that the tip should have been shared with the FBIs Miami office and investigated, but it was not. The startling admission came as the agency was already facing criticism for its treatment of a tip about a YouTube comment posted last year. The comment posted by a Nikolas Cruz said: Im going to be a professional school shooter.

The FBI investigated the remark but did not determine who made it.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the shooting that killed 17 people on Wednesday was a tragic consequence of the FBIs missteps and ordered a review of the Justice Departments processes. He said it is now clear that the nations premier law enforcement agency had missed warning signs.

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said his office had received more than 20 calls about Cruz in the past few years.

Cruz faces 17 counts of first-degree murder in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and is being held at the Broward County Jail without bond.Ryan Cleary has become the first male contestant to leave ITV2 reality show Survival Of The Fittest.

He was given the chop by the girls team after being placed in the bottom three alongside David Lundy and James Middleton following the public vote.

Cleary called it one of the best experiences of his life and said he had made amazing friends for life.

Survival of the Fittest (ITV)

The Girls have cracked the code and slid head first into victory! #SurvivalOfTheFittest pic.twitter.com/nHdoODqNr3  Survival of the Fittest (@ITV2Fittest) February 17, 2018

The boys faced being replaced after losing the challenge in Friday nights episode when new contestant Sam joined the competition.

In his exit interview, Cleary said: I think that it was an experience you cant really plan for so when you go in there, you just have to take each day as it comes.

Asked about a love triangle between himself, Middleton and replaced contestant Georgie Clarke, he said: From the start, I definitely thought Georgie was the girl that Id like to get to know a bit better.

James obviously had the same interest but he was more discrete about that interest. But we spoke about it, we aired it out and were good now.

Were like brothers. At the time we were both into Georgie and when she went it was rubbish. I did take a liking to her.

Im up for meeting Georgie, I think she is a beautiful girl. We had a lot in common and Id love to see her outside of the lodge.

He backed the boys to win the competition, adding: Theyre going to spin it on its head and theyre going to win now, all the way to the end.The Yala National Park has earned Rs.700.58 million in 2017, the highest income earned by a national park in Sri Lanka, the Sustainable Development and Wildlife Ministry has said.

The number of people visited the Yala National Park last year was also recorded as the highest number of visitors.

Out of the 397,122 persons visited the park, 207,927 were local tourists and 189,195 were foreign tourists.

According to the Government Information Department, the Udawalawe National Park has earned an income of Rs. 358.44 million with 236,867 visitors while the Horton Plains National Park has earned Rs. 361.09 million with 345,480 tourists visiting the park.

Last year, a total of 1,635,467 tourists visited Sri Lanka's national parks generating an income of 2.04 billion rupees.With more features and cosmetic updates, the Elite i20 facelift revives its rivalry with the bestselling premium hatchback, the Maruti Baleno.

Hyundai has launched the 2018 Elite i20 at Rs 5.35 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) at the Auto Expo 2018 (Read more about the i20 facelift here). The second-gen i20, termed as the Elite i20, first debuted in the country in August 2014. Introduced a year later in 2015, the Maruti Baleno was quick to snatch the bestselling tag from the Korean car in the premium hatchback segment. Lets see if the equations between the two bestsellers change with this facelift.

While the Baleno gets an automatic transmission as an option, the Elite i20 facelift misses it this time around (Though Hyundai has confirmed that itll soon add CVT with the petrol motor). Available in a sportier avatar, the Baleno RS is powered by a 1.0-litre Boosterjet engine which pumps 100PS of max power and 150Nm of max torque.

It is paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Although the 1.2-litre petrol engines seem to be neck and neck in terms of performance, generating almost similar power and torque figures, the Baleno has an edge over the i20 in the fuel efficiency department, turning out to be more pocket-friendly.

The i20 produces a healthy power figure of 90PS, a good 15PS more than the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, and a massive torque figure in excess of 200Nm. However, here as well, the Baleno triumphs over the Elite i20 in returning higher mileage figures of 27.39kmpl.

The Hyundai Elite i20 facelift should have greater cabin space thanks to the longer wheelbase. However, the Baleno is wider and taller than the Korean hatchback. But theres not much difference in the two hatchbacks and both appear to be quite spacious on the inside.

Features and price

The Baleno and the Elite i20 get dual airbags, ABS and central locking as standard. Prices for the Baleno start from Rs 5.36 lakh while those of the Elite i20 start from Rs 5.35 lakh (both ex-showroom Delhi).

The prices of the most feature-loaded diesel-manual variants of these cars stand at Rs 8.50 lakh and Rs 9.15 lakh for the Baleno and the Elite i20, respectively. The Elite i20 is more feature-loaded in its top variant as it gets side and curtain airbags, clutch lock, cornering lamps, and cooled glovebox that the Baleno doesnt.

Well come up with a detailed report on variant-wise features as soon as Hyundai reveals prices of all variants of the Elite i20 facelift.

Source: CarDekho.comAkshay Kumar in a still from 'Pad Man.'

Jaipur: Akshay Kumar's latest release 'Pad Man', which creates awareness about menstrual hygiene, will be made tax-free in Rajasthan, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje announced on Friday.

Also read: PadMan movie review: Akshay Kumars well-padded ego trip

Raje said she wants maximum number of women to see the film so that the message on sanitary hygiene can spread.

She also announced that sanitary pads machines will be installed in various schools and colleges in the rural areas in the state.

Also read: FIR filed for Akshay Kumars PadMan, movie faces plagiarism charges

Directed by R Balki, 'Pad Man' also features Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte in pivotal roles.

Also read: PadMan day 3 BO collection: Akshay Kumar's film mints Rs 40 crore on opening weekend

The movie is based on the real-life story of Tamil Nadu-based social activist Arunachalam Muruganantham, who revolutionised the concept of menstrual hygiene in rural India by creating a low-cost sanitary napkins machine.Its going to be a busy summer for Samantha. Even as she recently wrapped up Rangasthalam, she has now almost completed work on Mahanati. Interestingly, both the films are set to release on consecutive days in March. Whats more, her Tamil film Irumbu Thirai co-starring Vishal is set to release around the same time too.

This is quite an exciting time for the actress considering all the three films see her in varied roles. Mahanati is a period film where shes going to be seen in the role of a scribe from the 80s. Rangasthalam is already creating waves for her avatar as a rustic village belle while Irumbu Thirai sees her as a doctor and is set to release during the same weekend in Telugu too. Shes happy with the way things are shaping up for her, say sources close to her.

Meanwhile, the actress has already begun work on the Telugu-Tamil bilingual remake of Kannada film U-Turn.Tarun recently made a comeback with the film Idhi Naa Love Story which was supposed to give him a much needed break.

Actor Tarun recently made a comeback with the film Idhi Naa Love Story which was supposed to give him a much needed break. But the film has instead turned out to be the biggest disappointment for the actor.

Just two days after its release, the film has already exited several theatres with many people not even knowing about the film. Directed by Ramesh and Gopi, the Tarun-starrer is a remake of a Kannada film, which went on to become a blockbuster.

However, the Telugu remake, with Oviya making her debut in it, was a complete washout.

In recent weeks, this is the fourth film that has sunk without a trace. Tarun had accepted this film after a long gap and though it was completed long ago, the actor had to wait nearly five years for it to release.

Seems like he may have to wait for a few more years to get a good break.We live in a time of a mini gold rush. For more than a year now, cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum have created a buzz due to the exponential increase in value these digital assets have received. Buying a good amount of Bitcoins on an exchange and holding onto them as though they were a stock is one thing. On the other hand, buying a bunch of high-end graphics card to build machines that mine other alternate coins have become the go-to option for a lot of folks in Chennai who are looking to smartly invest their money in a semi-passive way. And this creates opportunities and problems.

The opportunities are obvious: Briefly put, through a process termed as mining wherein by utlising the processing power of the Graphics Processing Unit (GPUs,) miners can solve complex mathematical problems required to process transactions and they are in return rewarded a small token of the digital currency that is currently mined. The return of investment for this venture is easy enough for an individual to calculate. And for the most part, there isnt much active work from the side of the investor.

Then there are the problems. Just recently, there have been reports that Search For Extraterrestrial Life (SETI), an organisation that does what its name indicates, have come out and said theyve experienced difficulties in acquiring high-end graphics cards required to carry out their activities. A gamer or a professional who does any kind of intense computer graphical work will have slim chances in acquiring the hardware they need at a reasonable price, let alone timely manner. Just head over to any reputed dealer in the electronic hub of Ritchie Street off Mount Road and youre bound to get the out of stock, please come back next week reply. Theres also a good chance of a price increase from your last visit.

Shankar, a freelance graphics designer and entrepreneur who has a studio in Anna Nagar, is invested in both sides. I lucked out in buying my cards about 8 months ago, before the demand increased, he said. When I saw firsthand a mining farm a friend had setup in Bangalore, I decided to make a small investment myself. But in the current climate, I cant afford to buy half the amount of cards I had bought then. Would have saved them for my work.

With the value of these currencies undergoing timely flux every few months, mining has come to be seen as the more stable option as the money made is predictable. In Chennai and throughout India, acquiring a graphics card at even 1.5 times the original rate set by the manufacturer is going to be tough. Is there light at the end of the tunnel? The crypto market recently crashed (a bitcoin went from Rs. 10 lakhs to Rs. 4 lakhs,) and yet the coins already are in the recovery phase. People are not going to sell their cards for a second-hand rate as long as their ventures remain profitable. Waiting might be the best (or only) option as youre bound to go bankrupt buying one of these cards.Two workers reported feeling woozy. About 10 others reported less intense symptoms. (Photo: Pixabay)

The director of a Maine day care says cookies dropped off by a parent as a Valentine's Day treat left about dozen staff members feeling high.

Police were called to the Watch Me Shine day care in Bangor on Wednesday and seized the cookies for testing.

Day care director Tiffany Nowicki told the Bangor Daily News that the cookies were left on a staff room table. No children ate any.

Two workers reported feeling woozy. About 10 others reported less intense symptoms.

Police said the parent who brought them in could be charged if the cookies test positive for drugs.

Nowicki said the day care has always barred adults from sharing food with children but will now prohibit bringing in outside food for children or staff.Chennai: A 47-year-old call taxi driver was found dead inside his car near Selayur on Thursday night. The deceased was identified as Mohammed Rafeeq, a native of Aruppukottai. Rafeeq reportedly last contacted his family members on February 13. Meanwhile, on Thursday night, his cab was found parked in a parking lot near Camp road. Passerby who grew suspicious knocked on the windows and since there was no response, Selayur police were informed and a team rushed to the scene and broke open the door to find Rafeeq dead. He was moved to the Chromepet Government Hospital for autopsy. Police suspect him to have died either of asphyxiation or a cardiac arrest.

Police quoted the victim's brother as saying that he last spoke to his family on Tuesday and later when his family members called him, the calls were unanswered. Police said that he last drove a trip to Mappedu. He was working as a driver in a call taxi firm in Tambaram and was staying in Mudichur for the past seven years. Investigations also suggested that he was suffering from health complications.

Police are also investigating if Razak could have taken rest when he turned the air conditioner on and slept in the car which could have led to suffocation that caused his death. A case has been registered and further investigations are onHyderabad: A former Sub-Inspector, whose services were terminated for indulging in malpractices during the entrance examination, started a business and looted gullible victims to the tune of Rs 3.9 crore under the guise of providing them investment options with high returns.

Sriram Chinna Gopala Krishna (37) had been operating a racket with 16 others since 2013. He, along with Yerramsetty Satish (30), Pillutla Venkat (37) and Tippani Narsimha (36), was arrested by the Rachakonda Police on Friday. His associates are absconding.

When Gopala Krishna was released from prison, he started a private finance business with an initial investment of Rs 5 lakh, which he borrowed from his father. However, he shut the business down within a year after suffering losses.

He then launched a digital media and advertising company called Tanvi Creations. He began collecting money from investors saying that he was putting it into the liquor business and obtaining bar licenses. He promised that they would receive good returns. A majority of his victims were farmers, students, petty business persons, and IT professionals.

Tarun Joshi, Joint Commissioner said that Gopala Krishna paid his first batch of investors back with handsome profits.

Then, using the first batch as proof, he collected money from many innocent people. However, he never maintained any records regarding the amounts collected and the returns to be paid to the investors. He would conduct all transactions through his employee, Nunavath Ashok. Gopala Krishna paid only very few people directly, Mr Joshi said.

He operated seven bank accounts that were registered in his name, his wifes name, and in the name of his aide, Venkat.

Gopala Krishnas victims first approached the police and filed a complaint in November 2017. However, after failing to make any progress on the case, the police handed it over to the Rachakonda Special Operations Team (SOT).

As the investigation proceeded, more victims began approaching the police to file complaints. According to the victims, the accused had collected around Rs 3.92 crore from them.

The SOT was able to nab the suspects using technical evidence in a joint operation with the local police. Two suspects, N. Ashok and K. Venkataramana, were arrested earlier. Property worth Rs 13.9 lakh was seized from their possession.New Delhi: Nirav Modi's name was, till recently, a stamp of corporate India's growing global prestige. On Hollywood red carpets, his diamonds sparkled on actors and models like Kate Winslet, Dakota Johnson and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

In India, billboards in Delhi bear the image of Priyanka Chopra, also adorned with Modi's jewels.

But today, the government has suspended Modi's passport, a day after law enforcement officials fanned out to raid his jewellery stores and other businesses in Mumbai and New Delhi.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials told reporters the agency had on February 4, issued a lookout circular in the country for Modi, who they say flew out of the country on January 1.

Modi, who has a net worth of some USD 1.8 billion according to Forbes magazine rankings, has not yet responded to the allegations and could not be reached for comment. NDTV learnt on Friday that he is staying in a luxury suite in a New York hotel overlooking Central Park with his wife, who is also wanted in a case of fraud that is estimated at USD 1.6 billion.

During an interview with news agency Reuters in November, Modi discussed his love for art, poetry and paintings. Asked how he planned to raise funds to add new stores, he seemed unconcerned. "All options are open," he said, sitting in his cavernous Mumbai office. "We could use internal accruals. We can take loans from banks or we could do an initial public offering."

In January, India's second-largest state-run lender, Punjab National Bank, filed a criminal complaint with the CBI that accused Modi and others of defrauding the bank and causing it a loss of about USD 44 million.

The news was a shock for the circles in which Modi moved.

As recently as last month, he was at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He was part of a group photograph with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the foreground .

"Top industrialists invited him home to display his collections," said a Mumbai investment banker at a US-based firm who has worked directly with Modi's company. "There was a personal touch in everything he sold. Nirav Modi is a brand."

Modi grew up in Antwerp, Belgium, in a diamond-dealing family. In 1990, at the age of 19, he moved to Mumbai, according to the November interview.

Nine years later, he started his own company, Firestar Diamond Ltd., selling loose stones. He employed fewer than a dozen people at the time. By last year, the number was more than 2,000.

He said he came to realise that the margins were better in retail.

In 2010, Modi launched an eponymous jewellery business branded NIRAV MODI, in capitals, with the tagline "Haut Diamantaire". New boutiques in Las Vegas and Hawaii have since been added to a stable that stretches from New York to London to Beijing.

He became a man whose diamond necklaces were sold, with his name attached, by Sotheby's. "Pure feminine elegance," says a Hong Kong auction catalogue note of one 85.33 carat diamond necklace.

The auction house posted an online slideshow of jewellery-on-stars at the 2017 Oscars and highlighted supermodel Karlie Kloss having "a major Nirav Modi moment with her diamond 'Mughal' choker."

But the celebrity links could be starting to break.

A spokesperson for Priyanka Chopra, the film star, said in a statement: "She is currently seeking legal opinion with respect to terminating her contract with the brand in light of allegations of financial fraud against Nirav Modi."New Delhi: In less than a year after joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following a rift with Delhi Congress Chief Ajay Maken, Arvinder Singh Lovely made a comeback, rejoining the Congress on Saturday.

The development can be seen as a big boost for the Congress ahead of the by-polls for the 20 Delhi Assembly seats.

The news of Delhi Congress former chief Arvinder Singh Lovely joining the party was broken by Maken through his Twitter handle stating that Lovely had a meeting with Party president Rahul Gandhi and senior leader PC Chacko and Harun Yusuf.

At that time, I had also said that it was not a happy decision for me. It was a weak moment for me. But then after, I had a chat with Ajay Maken and sort the differences, said Lovely in a press conference at the AICC headquarters.

Ideologically, I was a misfit in the BJP, Lovely added.

Meanwhile, former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit expressed her happiness over the development. "I am feeling very happy that he (Arvinder Singh Lovely) has returned back to the Congress," Dikshit told news agency ANI.

Lovely had joined the BJP in April in 2017 raking up allegations of bribery in ticket distribution for the MCD polls by the Congress and claimed that many senior Congress leaders were feeling suffocated as the party is no longer what it used to be after a meeting with BJP chief Amit Shah.

Also Read: 'The child is dead. Congress is finished': Arvinder Singh Lovely joins BJP

Lovely, a key minister in the erstwhile Sheila Dikshit government in Delhi and an MLA from east Delhi's Gandhinagar, had joined the BJP along with Delhi Youth Congress chief Amit Malik and had to face a lot of criticism for switching to BJP.Bengaluru: While claiming he had presented a regular Budget that had nothing to do with the coming state elections, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Friday that an order would soon be passed to give a 30 per cent hike in basic salary for government employees and pensioners based on the recommendations of the pay commission.

I have not provided details about the pay hike in the Budget as it needs Cabinet approval. But pay commission recommendations will be implemented soon after they are cleared by the Cabinet, he assured, revealing that Rs. 10,508 crore had been set aside to meet the expense involved.

I have presented a regular budget, which we will have to implement on our return. Although the BJP says it will come to power, the people know that the Congress will win the elections, he asserted, speaking to reporters here.

Once again mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his famous slogan, Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas, he claimed the BJP was only talking about it, but he was actually following it in letter and spirit.  The fact that we are reimbursing the fee paid by girl students for their PUC, degree and PG courses, and giving free bus passes to all categories of students shows that our Budget is all for Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas, he contended.

We have followed the norms of Fiscal Responsibility Act by presenting a Rs. 127 crore surplus budget. Fiscal deficit should be below 3 per cent as mentioned in the Act, and we are well within the limit, he added. Maintaining that the government had not cut allocations for priority sectors, he said new schemes like Raitha Belaku had been launched to provide direct income assistance to farmers for growing rain-fed crops. They will be given a maximum of Rs. 10,000 per hectare and the amount will be transferred directly to their accounts, he explained.

The Chief Minister defended his decision not to allocate additional funds for Bengaluru infrastructure development, recalling that over Rs. 7000 crore had already been set aside for this in the previous Budget. That amount has to be spent. Once the ongoing work is completed, we will release additional funds, he said in response to a question.Chennai: Ecologists, officials with Tamil Nadu Fisheries department and farmers expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court judgment. The apex court has failed to understand the ecological significance to ensure the flowing of a river water into sea. Cauvery, which originates in Biligundulu in Karnataka drains in Tamil Nadu at three different locations including Poompuhar in Nagapattinam and Kollidam in Cuddalore. The meagre release of 10 tmcft of water will not be sufficient for environmental protection, said conservationist Ms K. Brinda of Biodiversity Conservation Foundation.

Cauvery is a perennial river and it has to flow throughout the year. Only, if the water flow is ensured biodiversity will sustain thereby improving groundwater and other living ecosystems. The court fails to understand that ecology deserves more water than farming and diversion of water for industrial uses, she said.

The 10 tmcft of water will not be sufficient as there are several bird sanctuaries, fish breeding habitats, estuaries and lagoons coming both in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The court should ensure that more tmcft of water should be released in to sea so that the entire river stretch benefits without drying thus benefiting tree cover, groundwater table and fish biodiversity, she added.

The fresh water ecosystem of Cauvery needs to be cleansed and a natural way of cleaning the polluted river is by releasing water to flow through its course on a regular basis. By constructing dams, both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had affected the Cauvery ecology. There has to be a constant release of water to boost dying streams of Cauvery, said an associate professor with Tamil Nadu Fisheries University.

Besides the paddy fields of delta districts, Chennai, Kancheepuram and Vellore are also dependent on Cauvery for drinking water. The reduction of water to TN is a drawback and the state has failed to question the diversion of cauvery water to industries in Karnataka, said Arupathy Kalyanam of Delta Farmers Federation.Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said that the entire might of the Government has been invoked to pin the 'culprit' Nirav Modi in the Rs 11,000-crore PNB fraud case. (Photo: ANI/Twitter)

New Delhi: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said that the entire might of the Government has been invoked to pin the "culprit" Nirav Modi in the Rs 11,000-crore PNB fraud case.

Accusing the then ruling government, Congress of not acting against the offenders, Sitharaman said that on September 13, 2013, party president Rahul Gandhi attended a promotional event of Mehul Choksi's Gitanjali Gems even after the company was suspended for 6 months from doing business on NSE in the same year.

"The Congress didn't do what it was required... We are doing it," Sitharaman said.

Sitharaman asked the Congress to explain the circumstances under which the Allahabad Bank official Dinesh Dubey was forced to resign.

Nirmala Sitharaman also accused Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi's wife and son of holding stocks in Fire Star Diamond Inal Pvt Ltd- a company run by Nirav Modi. Fire Star Diamond Inal Pvt Ltd is one of the companies that Nirav Modi runs. Theyve taken on lease property which belongs to Advait Holding Ltd in Trade Point Building in Lower Parel. From 2002 Anita Singhvi is one of the shareholders. You know whos wife she is, said the minister.

The Union minister added, "And also has Avishkar Manas Singhvi, possibly his (Abhishek Manu Singhvi) son. But wife of one of the senior Congress leaders is here as a property shareholder, she is a director by designation."

Dubey, a former director of the Allahabad Bank, had on Friday claimed that the Congress could have stopped the biggest bank scam of the country back in 2013, when he had flagged concerns about giving loans to Gitanjali Gems, according to a report in NDTV.

The country's second largest state-run lender, Punjab National Bank has been rocked by a Rs 11,400-crore fraud allegedly involving billionaire diamantaire Nirav Modi.

PNB detected a USD 1.77 billion scam where Modi allegedly acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs) from a branch in Mumbai to secure overseas credit from other Indian lenders.

Following raids at various premises of the jeweller and his family, the Ministry of External Affairs has suspended validity of passports of Nirav Modi and his business partner and uncle Mehul Choksi with immediate effect for a period of four weeks on the advice of the Enforcement Directorate.

Also Read: PNB fraud case: Nirav Modis passport suspended for 4 wks, Interpol issues notice

ED sources told ANI that the agency has raided 35 new locations covering 11 states and seized diamond and gold worth Rs 549 crore on Friday.

Also Read: ED raids Nirav Modi premises, seizes Rs 5,700 Cr from 35 locations, 11 statesFurther, he should not close down any of his bank accounts. He should appear before the CBI as and when required, the bench added.

Chennai: The Madras high court has permitted Karti P. Chidambaram, son of former Union finance minister P. Chidambaram, to make his first trip to abroad between February 15 to 28 subject to certain conditions.

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose granted the permission on a miscellaneous petition filed by Karti Chidambaram.

In his petition, Karti Chidambaram sought to permit him to travel to the UK and France between February 15 and 28 and once again between March 20 and 31, 2018.

Permitting his first trip, the bench said, Karti Chidambaram should submit the details of his trip, places of visit to the CBI in advance.

Further, he should not close down any of his bank accounts. He should appear before the CBI as and when required, the bench added.

In so far as his second trip was concerned, the bench did not pass any orders as the main petition filed by Karti Chidambaram, challenging the Look Out Notice was posted for hearing on March 12.

The Bureau of Immigration had on June 16, 2017 issued a LOC on a request made by the CBI in connection with a FIR relating to a corruption case relating to alleged irregularities in the grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds when Karti Chidambarams father was the finance minister in 2007.Hyderabad: Hyderabad High Court on Friday granted two weeks to the Centre and Telangana Government to spell out their stand on creation of job and career opportunities to the Pharm-D and Pharm-D (PB) graduates in private and public sector hospitals in Telangana.

Justice A.V. Sesha Sai was dealing with the petition by PharmD Doctors Welfare Association seeking to declare illegal the action of the State Government and the Pharmacy Council of India in not providing job opportunities to the Pharm-D and Pharm-D (PB) graduates in pursuance of GO No 515 of August 12, 2014.

Counsel for petitioner C. Damodar Reddy submitted that though the Pharm-D and Pharm-D (PB) courses were introduced in 2008 and several batches and thousands of students had completed the courses, the respondents had not created job and career opportunities for them so far.

He urged the court to direct the Centre and the State Government for job creation for the petitioners as clinical pharmacists and drug information pharmacists in private and public sector hospitals in the State.

Counsels for the State Government and the Centre urged the court to grant them time to get the information from the authorities.

The judge adjourned the case for two weeks.Six army personnel and a civilian were killed in the attack on February 10. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The three heavily-armed Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists who carried out the deadly attack on Sunjuwan military camp in Jammu had infiltrated into Kashmir from Pakistan in June last year, Army sources on Friday said.

According to preliminary investigation of the Army, the three terrorists were hiding in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir for the last seven months and were looking at carrying out an attack.

Six army personnel and a civilian were killed in the attack on February 10. Three JeM terrorists, who carried out the strike, were killed during the gun battle with the Army.

The JeM terrorists had crossed over to India from Pakistan in June last year when infiltration had gone up, the sources said.

They said a detailed investigation is being carried into the Sunjuwan attack and the probe report will be examined by the top echelon of the army.

The sources said immediate steps are being taken to ensure that such attacks do not recur.

The attack on the camp came days after four Army men were killed in Pakistani firing in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Army sources said full freedom has been given to local commanders of the army along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir to effectively retaliate any act of violence by Pakistani troops.

Following the attack on the Sunjuwan military station in Jammu, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman warned Pakistan saying the neighbouring country "will pay for its misadventure".New Delhi: India and Iran signed nine bilateral agreements and exchanged MOUs in the presence of Iranian President Dr Hassan Rouhani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday.

"Both Iran and India respect each other. Under your excellency, India-Iran ties have strengthened," Modi said at a joint statement while welcoming the Iranian president.

Modi lauded Rouhani's vision for giving access for trade with Afghanistan through Iran's Chabahar port.

We want to enhance connectivity... I thank you for helping develop Chabahar port, Modi said.

The Prime Minister said the two countries wanted to see Afghanistan safe and prosper. "We want to see our neighbours free of terrorism," he added.

President Rouhani in his address, thanked PM Modi for the hospitality shown to him while on his visit to India.

Relations between India and Iran are far beyond trade and diplomatic. Our relations are historical, civilizational, Rouhani said.

"India has strategic relations, especially for transit and energy," he added.

Rouhani asserted that both the countries were determined to combat terrorism and extremism, adding that regional conflicts must be resolved through diplomacy and political initiatives.

Rouhani also hailed the success of the Chabahar port and hoped for successful bilateral ties between India and Iran.

India is helping Iran develop Chabahar Port on the Gulf of Oman for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan, which has refused to provide New Delhi access through a land route.

In 2016, India, Afghanistan, and Iran decided to establish a trade route for land-locked Afghanistan and Central Asian countries. India committed up to USD 500 million for the development of Chabahar along with associated roads and rail lines.

India shipped its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan by sea through Chabahar last October.

Earlier on Saturday, Rouhani met Modi and held delegation-level talks at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

Both leaders held substantive and productive discussion on cooperation in trade and investment, energy, connectivity, defence and security and regional issues, external affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Rouhani began his three-day India visit after his arrival in Hyderabad on Thursday evening. This was his second visit to Hyderabad and the first after assuming charge as the president of Iran.

Also Read: Rouhani visits Qutub Shahi tombs in Hyd, calls for united fight against West

Addressing a meeting of religious leaders belonging to different schools of thoughts, Rouhani on Thursday, urged different Muslims sects to stay united and fight the Western forces, and added that the community should put an end to internal differences.

Rouhani advised the gathering to emphasize more in resolving their issues and strengthening relationships between the Muslim communities. He said Iran wants peace across the world and friendly relations with not only Islamic countries but other countries as well. It believes that there is no military solution to problems.

He said Iran has plan for the fraternity for India. We do not want to have any difference with other countries, he said adding how Iran stood against the nations, and regions, in order to stop war conflict and violence.

Rouhani also addressed a Muslim congregation at the historic Mecca Masjid after performing Friday prayers. He is the first Iranian President to have visited the Mecca Masjid.New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday held the BJP responsible for the Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam involving jewellery designer Nirav Modi and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of institutionalising "crony capitalism".

Congress leader Kapil Sibal accused the Prime Minister and his government of bringing the economy to its knees, and warned that the country's image would get a beating internationally under him.

He also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that while he was "sleeping" as the country's watchman, thieves were fleeing with the nation's wealth. Quoting the second FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case, the Congress leader said that all Letters of Understanding (LoUs) to the accused were signed in 2017 under the NDA government, which failed to prevent the scam from happening.

Addressing a joint press conference with Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala, Shaktisinh Gohil and Pawan Khera, Sibal sought to know why the Prime Minister refused to divulge details of all those people who accompanied him during his foreign tours. "Is this the kind of 'Ease of Doing Business' PM Modi talks about?" Sibal asked.

"I challenge BJP to come and talk about UPA's governance and their governance. Because of their ill-intentions, they have brought India's economy to its knees," the Congress leader told reporters.

Sibal, a former minister and noted lawyer, accused the Prime Minister's office and the finance ministry of turning a blind eye to the multi-crore bank scam, saying they were very much aware of it. "They were aware of all this. But they turned a blind eye. They were aware that the country was being looted," he alleged.

Sibal also questioned why the HRD Minister and the Social Justice Minister were fielded by the government to defend it on the matter. "What does a HRD Minister have to do with this? Is the minister very admiring of the quality of the human resource of Nirav Modi? What is the Social Justice Minister has to do with this? What has the Law Ministry to do with this scam?" he asked and said neither the finance ministry nor the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has come forward to answer questions.

Sibal also alleged that the market capitalisation of listed companies in the gems and jewellery business is pegged at Rs 41.66 billion, while its gross current debt stands at Rs 94 billion. "This means that the debt is twice the market capitalisation and that is a scam in itself. Who can say that the government did not know this," Sibal asked.

Nirav Modi, 46, a regular feature on the lists of rich and famous Indians since 2013, was booked by the CBI, along with wife, brother and Choksi on January 31, for allegedly cheating the state-run PNB to the tune of Rs 280 crore.

The bank subsequently sent two more complaints to the CBI on Tuesday, saying the scam was worth more than Rs 11,400 crore.

The jewellery designer is understood to be a citizen of the country but his brother Nishal and wife Ami are not Indian nationals. They all left India between January 1 and 6, the CBI had said.He was delivering the Sree Chithira Thirunal Memorial Lecture in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. (Photo: PTI/File)

Thiruvananthapuram: Vice-president Venkaiah Naidu has cautioned against mixing religion with politics, saying religion was personal and a way of worship.

He was delivering the Sree Chithira Thirunal Memorial Lecture in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday.

Naidu said politics should not get into religion and religion should not get into politics and added that religion is personal...it is a way of worship...we may pray to Allah..we may pray to Jesus Christ... we may pray Rama.. Krishna...Sai Baba...Lord Ayyappa.

If we believe in vasudhaiva kutumbakam and the spirit of the country is to treat everybody equal, how can anyone discriminate against people on the basis of religion and caste, Naidu asked.

Closing temples in the name of caste is totally wrong and against the dharma, culture and the visions of the country, he said.

The vice-president said social justice and inclusion were part of the genesis of independent India and we couldnt have had a really free nation with a sizable unfree population.

In the socio-economic context of pre-Independence India, removal of barriers to social integration of the Dalits was a big challenge, he said.

Naidu said there were Dalit movements demanding temple entry in different parts of India. Dalits had to force their way into Jagannath Temple in Odisha and Chamundi shrine in Rajasthan.

India cannot be called an ideal nation and an egalitarian civilised society, if people were divided like this, he said adding that the country had a tradition to treat everybody equally.

Why is Indian civilisation still strong, vibrant...because we believe in sarva jana sukhino bhavantu...vasudhaiva kutumbakam...the entire universe is one family..we believe in the welfare of everbody...we take care of the well being of our neighbours..., he said.

India has no history of attacking any country and it never believed in aggression, he added.

Naidu said people should be elected and selected on the basis of four Cs--character, calibre, capacity and conduct, but unfortunately, some political fronts in the country go by three Cs--caste, community and cash.

Detailing the responsibilities of administrators, the vice-president said a king or a democratic government has to be ever vigilant, ever watchful, and ever open to new trends.

They need to be responsive to the changing needs and times if they have to stay relevant, he said.

Lavishing praise on erstwhile Travancore King, Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, Naidu said his historic Temple Entry Proclamation in 1936 was a bold step.

Sree Chithira Thirunal was a trailblazer in establishing sound systems of education and health. The erstwhile king was veritably an icon of good governance embodying the essence of Indianness.

He visualised that socio-economic development must be inclusive. He knew that this would necessitate broadening the base of education and universalise access to good quality education, the vice-president said.

Naidu also urged people to draw inspiration from the great social reformer and work collectively to shape a vibrant, forward-looking India in the years to come.

The 24th Sree Chithira Thirunal Memorial Lecture was organised by the state-based Sree Chithira Thirunal Smaraka Samithy at the Kanakakunnu Palace in Thiruvananthapuram.

Kerala governor Justice P Sathasivam, state minister of cultural affairs AK Balan and members of the royal family attended the function.While crops on 7000 hectares had withered in Thanjavur district, crops on another 20,000 hectares are under stress and need one or two wettings.

THANJAVUR: Even as the Supreme Court has given its final verdict on Cauvery on Friday, ground reality in the delta is that farmers are finding it difficult to sustain the standing samba crop for want of water.

While crops on 7000 hectares had withered in Thanjavur district, crops on another 20,000 hectares are under stress and need one or two wettings.

The requirement is 15 tmc of water for which Tamil Nadu government pleaded with Karnataka but in vain. This is the reality for the past two decades in the delta. Whenever crop is in dire need of water, it will not come and we have to loose the crop. We could not take up Kuruvai, short term crop for the past six years for want of water. We are also not able to sustain samba crop fully as we face water crisis in the middle of cultivation. This year is no exception said Veerasamy, a farmer from Budalur. What is the solution to save standing samba crop? Will Karnataka release water, asked farmers.

With Cauvery issue prolonging for the past two decades and rain god also playing truant on many occasions, it is either total drought or slip from cup to lip for the farmers in the delta and most of the time they were in need of relief. We hope that the final order of the Supreme Court on Cauvery and its effective implementation may change the scenario in the delta said farmers.

Meanwhile members of 'Cauvery Urimai Meetpu Kuzhu' staged demonstration at Kumbakonam and Thanjavur protesting against Supreme court verdict on Cauvery stating that it is not acceptable toTamil Nadu and that injustice has been done to the state. Advocates staged a demonstration at Thanjavur protesting against the verdict.

Ranganathan welcomes SC verdict

The "Supreme court verdict on Cauvery is a "good verdict" and "acceptable" as "this is the best can the court could do in a difficult situation," said S. Ranganathan, veteran farmers leader and secretary of Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association on Friday.

He told DC over phone that the first welcoming feature of the verdict is that it said that "no state can own a river". Next is that, order to form Cauvery Management Board. "When once the board is formed, monitoring is easy and hence the order can be easily executed".

Without politicising the Cauvery issue, farmers should accept the order and if they have any views on any issues, they can assemble together and discuss.

Their views can be represented to the CMB or a review petition can be filed on the verdict. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi should not delay forming of CMB citing elections etc, it should be done as per the time stipulation by the court" Ranganathan added.Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi abused an official in front of everyone in a packed room and humiliated him. (Photo: Screengrab | ANI)

Bareilly: In a shocking incident, Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi on Friday rebuked and abused an official and made fun of his weight after a complaint against him.

The Union minister abused the official while she was inspecting the PDS scheme in Uttar Pradesh's Baheri.

The official was being accused of corruption by people at the meeting.

In the video, an angered Maneka Gandhi was heard rebuking the official, "You are getting fat like a 'ha****zaada'".

The Union minister abused the official in front of everyone in a packed room and humiliated him.

Others present in the room were seen accusing the official as well.Aswathi Tirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bai presents an Onavillu to Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu on the sidelines of Sree Chithira Thirunal memorial lecture in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. Culture minister A.K. Balan, Governor P. Sathasivam and minister for welfare of minorities K.T. Jaleel look on. (Photo: Peethambaran Payyeri)

Thiruvananthapuram: Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu said that religion should not interfere in politics and politics should not interfere in religion while delivering the 24th Sree Chithira Thirunal Memorial Lecture at Kanakakkunnu palace here on Friday. No party can stand for only one community. If development happened it would benefit all communities. It cannot be restricted to one community, Mr Naidu said. He added that without ensuring women's empowerment, social justice could not be achieved in the country. He added that the present issues faced by the country could not be solved merely by passing legislation.

Political will and a strong administrative system was needed if a legislation had to be successful, said Mr Naidu. He also reminded the audience that the all round development of an individual had its roots in his attitude towards his/her mother, motherland and mother tongue. The temple entry proclamation made by Sree Chithira Thirunal which allowed the entry of dalits to temples should be seen as the most revolutionary reforms initiated in the country, said Mr Naidu.

Governor Justice P. Sathasivam who presided, described Sree Chithira Thirunal as one who recognised the peoples desire for a egalitarian society. Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, who was the embodiment of simplicity and humility, was also a model for leaders of all times in respecting the will of the people  a quality that enriched any democracy, the Governor said. O. Rajagopal MLA who also spoke demanded that the name of the Trivandrum Internat- ional Airport be changed to Sree Chitira Thirunal Airport.Naidu said he visited Delhi 29 times and met everyone several times but still nothing was done. (Photo: File)

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday lashed out at the Centre for not doing justice to the state.

Chandrababu said his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) did not break its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party for the sake of doing justice to the state of Andhra Pradesh.

He said he visited Delhi 29 times and met everyone several times but still nothing was done.

The TDP had been at loggerheads with the Centre over the allocations of funds to AP in the Union Budget.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had expressed his disappointment with Centre for various issues including the Polavaram project and the Duggirajupatnam port in Nellore district in the Budget.

Demanding the Centre to do justice to the 5 crore people of Andhra, Naidu said that he was ready for debate on how much funds other states received and how much AP got.

"I am demanding PM and Union Ministers to do justice to Andhra. I am ready for any sacrifices for justice to Telugus," he said.

Naidu has fixed the end of the current Budget session as the deadline for the Central government to take action on pending issues of the state.

The Chief Minister had hinted at this during the party meeting earlier in February. We will wait till the end of this Budget session. If the Centre does not take any steps towards the pending issues of AP, there will be no option except taking the extreme step on the TD and the BJP alliance, Naidu said.

Naidu is of the opinion that the Centre must sort out some of the important financial issues before the end of this Budget session.

Naidu wants the centre to release about Rs 3,500 crore towards resource gap for the year 2014-15. For capital city construction, he wants Rs 4,000 crore to `5,000 crore, and for Polavaram Project Rs 4,000 crore.

Amid a strain in ties between the NDA and its ally TDP, the Centre has released a sum of Rs 1,269 crore to Andhra Pradesh under different heads in the last few days.New Delhi: Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi on Saturday denied any links of his family with jewellery designer Nirav Modi and Gitanjali Group promoter Mehul Choksi, accused in the Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case, and charged the BJP with playing cheap politics. BJP/NDAs cheap sense of politics has reached ludicrous and ridiculous proportions. Neither my wife, sons nor me have anything whatsoever to do with Gitanjali or Nirav Modi companies, he said.

Mr Singhvi said Nirav Modis company was a tenant of a Kamla Mills property owned by Adwait Holdings in which his wife and sons are directors. Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman alleged that Nirav Modi-run Firestar Diamond International had taken on lease a property of Adwait Holdings, a company in which Mr Singhvis wife is a director. What is important that the premises has been used by Firestar Diamond International, she alleged.

Sensationalism, ignorance and falsehood has exceeded all limits in this irresponsible charge, he said, threatening Ms Sitharaman and her colleagues of civil and criminal defamation for making ill-considered, ignorant and patently false allegations. I reserve my rights to take legal action against the latter and all parts of the media which carry such defamatory allegations, Mr Singhvi said.

Mr Singhvi said Adwait Holdings owns a commercial property at Parel, which was rented by Nirav Modis company many years ago. Neither Adwait nor my family has any interest with Modi or the company. Last August, the company gave notice to quit tenancy and vacated Parel Kamla Mills premises in December 2017, he said.

Neither I nor any member of my family has any interest in or relation to Nirav Modi or his companies. His company was a tenant in some commercial property owned by our family company. This tenancy ended in December 2017. Meanwhile, The CBI on Saturday arrested three people  a retired and a serving officials of Punjab National Bank and an executive of Nirav Modis company  and carried out searches at the Brady Road branch of the bank in Mumbai.Agartala: Tripura would go to polls on Sunday with the BJP emerging as the main challenger to the ruling Left Front, which has been in power in the state for the last 25 years. Polling would be held in 59 of the total 60 seats. Voting in Charilam Assembly constituency would be held on March 12 due to the death of the CPM candidate for the seat, Ramendra Deb Barma, five days ago. Twenty seats have been reserved for the scheduled tribes.

The BJP held a high-voltage campaign with Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing as many as four rallies in the state. Other heavyweight leaders of the saffron party to take part in the campaign were its national president Amit Shah, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and Smriti Irani and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Manik Sarkar, who is running for his fifth term as the Chief Minister, led the CPMs campaign addressing around 50 rallies in the state. Other Left leaders like Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat lent support to the party's campaign.

The Congress campaign was somewhat subdued with party president Rahul Gandhi addressing a rally at Kailashahar in Unakoti district, about 180 km from Agartala, on the last day of campaigning. Altogether, 307 candidates are in the fray. The CPM is contesting in 57 seats. The BJP, which has forged an alliance with tribal outfit Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura has fielded 51 candidates. The Congress is going it alone in Tripura this time and will contest in 59 seats. There are 25,73,413 electorate, of whom 13,05,375 are males and 12,68,027 women while the number of third gender voters is 11. There are 47,803 new voters this time.Hyderabad: Hyderabad High Court observed that it was difficult for a family to live with a meagre salary of Rs 5,000 and directed Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Ltd to consider paying minimum wages to a contract worker who had lost his right hand during a repair work.

A division bench comprising Justices C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy and G. Shyam Prasad was dealing with a contempt case by P. Venkateshwarlu of Mahbubnagar district, seeking punishment of authorities concerned for not providing him employment despite the court order.

The petitioner had met with an accident while he was working with a contr-actor of the TSSPDCL and had approached the High Court seeking direction to the power company to provide employment to him. A single judge dismissed his petition after which he made a fresh appeal.

While disposing his case in 2016, the bench said: It is true that in a strict sense a contract labourer, working under a contractor, may not have the right to claim employment, one cannot ignore the ground reality that in whatever capacity the petitioner was made to work, he has lost his valuable limb while serving the TSSPDCL, which, undoubtedly, is State within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution.

The bench directed the authorities to consider engaging the petitioner at le-ast on contingency basis, if not on permanent one, based on his educational qualifications. When the case came up for hearing on Friday, TSSPDCL counsel submitted that the authorities decided to provide him a job as office subordinate with a salary of Rs 5,000 per month.

Counsel for petitioner D.L. Pandu submitted that it would difficult to run a family with such meagre amount and urged the court direct the authorities to provide minimum wages to the petitioner.

While directing the authorities to consider the case on humanitarian grounds, the bench posted the case for three weeks.The charges say that Russians also communicated with 'unwitting individuals' associated with the Trump campaign and other political activists to coordinate activities. (Photo: AP/File)

Washington: Thirteen Russians, including a businessman close to Vladimir Putin were charged Friday in an elaborate plot to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election through social media propaganda, aimed in part at helping Republican Donald Trump and harming the prospects of his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.

The federal indictment, brought by the office of special counsel Robert Mueller, represents the most direct allegation to date of illegal Russian meddling during the campaign that sent Trump to the White House. It also marks the first criminal charges against Russians believed to have secretly worked to influence the outcome.

Though the criminal case does not allege that any American knowingly participated, it nonetheless alleges a vast and wide-ranging Russian effort to sway political opinion during the presidential primaries and general election.

It alleges that Russians working in concert with the Internet Research Agency, a St. Petersburg-based troll farm, purchased Internet advertisements in the names of Americans whose identities they had stolen, staged political rallies while posing as American political activists and paid people in the US to promote or disparage candidates.

The intent of the meddling, the indictment says, was to "sow discord in the US political system, including the 2016 presidential election."

The indictment arises from Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the election and whether there was improper coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin. The charges are similar to the assessment of the US intelligence community, which months after the election described a Russian government effort to interfere on Trump's behalf.

The Russians' "strategic goal" was to sow discord, the indictment says, and by early-to-mid 2016 their efforts included supporting Trump's campaign and disparaging Democrat Clinton.

The charges say that Russians also communicated with "unwitting individuals" associated with the Trump campaign and other political activists to coordinate activities.

Trump himself has been reluctant to acknowledge the meddling. His spokeswoman, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, said Friday that Trump had been briefed on the indictment.

The charges are the latest allegations arising from Mueller's probe and represent the first criminal case against Russians. Before Friday, four people, including Trump's former national security adviser and former campaign chairman, had been charged.

According to the indictment, the Internet Research Agency started interfering as early as 2014 in US politics, extending to the 2016 presidential election. The defendants, "posing as US persons and creating false US personas," operated social media groups designed to attract US audiences by stealing US identities and falsely claiming to be US activists.

"Over time, these social media accounts became defendants' means to reach significant numbers of Americans for purposes of interfering with the US political system," the indictment reads.

The defendants are charged with conspiring "to obstruct the lawful functions of the United States government through fraud and deceit," including by making expenditures in connection with the 2016 election, failing to register as foreign agents carrying out political activities and obtaining visas through false and fraudulent statements.

Some of the Russians traveled to the United States "under false pretenses" to collect intelligence, and they also used computer infrastructure based partly in the United States to hide the Russian origins of their work.

The indictment says the Internet Research Agency was funded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a St. Petersburg businessman dubbed "Putin's chef" because his restaurants and catering businesses once hosted the Kremlin leader's dinners with foreign dignitaries. The company was also funded by companies Prigozhin controlled, according to the indictment.According to the New Yorker, the nine month relationship ended quietly, but years later -- during the 2016 presidential campaign -- McDougal sold her story. (Photo: Twitter/ @karenmcdougal98)

Washington: A second woman has made allegations of an affair with Donald Trump, describing complex legal and financial agreements in an alleged bid to cover it up.

Former Playboy model Karen McDougal claims that she and Trump had a sexual relationship in 2006, which began months after first lady Melania Trump gave birth to the president's youngest son.

The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Donald Trump's lawyer says he paid USD 130,000 to porn star to stop reports of sexual encounter

But in a statement to the New Yorker an unnamed a spokesperson said the president had denied having a relationship with McDougal, calling the claims "fake news."

According to the New Yorker, the nine month relationship ended quietly, but years later -- during the 2016 presidential campaign -- McDougal sold her story.

Also Read: Going to tell her story, says porn star Daniels manager over affair with Trump

The New Yorker reported that on August 5, 2016, McDougal agreed to give the company which owns the National Inquirer tabloid exclusive rights over "any romantic, personal, or physical relationship she has ever had with any 'then-married man.'"

The deal is alleged to have been worth USD 150,000, but the story never ran.

"I'm the one who took it, so it's my fault, too. But I didn't understand the full parameters of it," McDougal told the New Yorker of the alleged payment.

The National Enquirer is owned by David Pecker, who has claimed to be a friend of Trump's. The tabloid endorsed Trump's bid for the presidency.

In a statement the tabloid's owner, AMI, said that the suggestion that it "engages in any practice that would allow it to hold influence over the President of the United States is laughable."

The model's story strongly echoes allegations of an affair between Trump and the porn star Stephanie Clifford -- known as Stormy Daniels -- during the same period.

In that case, the president's personal lawyer admitted to paying Daniels USD 130,000 but refused to say why.

Good governance groups believe that could constitute a campaign donation and could breach election financial rules.A festive atmosphere prevailed at Shravanabelagola, with a grand procession being taken out to Vindhyagiri on Friday afternoon.



Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swami inaugurated the procession of folk troupes at Tyagi Nagar. MLA C N Balakrishna and Mahotsava special officer B N Varaprasad Reddy joined the troupes and danced to the beats. The five-km procession was divided into three groups A, B and C. While group A began the procession from engineering college, B started from Deve Gowda circle and C from Panchakalyana Nagar. The procession created a garland of sorts around Vindhyagiri. Around 200 art troupes from across the country and 50 tableaux took part in the procession depicting the rich culture and tradition of Lord Bahubali. Folk troupes showcasing the lion dance, peacock dance, 24 thirthankaras, Bahubali statue, yakshagana and hulivesha entertained the crowds.

Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade, munis, matajis, devotees from Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and other places witnessed the procession. Scouts and Guides, and volunteers distributed butter milk, water, juice and lemonade all along the procession route to the participants. The procession, which began at 3 pm, culminated at 7 pm.

Nathidevi Kumar Toliya and family from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, donated a gold-plated rath to the Jain Mutt as part of Mahamastakabhisheka on Friday, at the foot of Vindhyagiri. The chariot has beautiful carvings along with a gopura. Bahubali's idol was placed on the chariot and was pulled for a distance.

Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swami, Pushpadantha Sagar Maharaj, Dhavalakeerthi Bhattaraka Swami of Arihanthagiri and Mahamastakabhisheka Mahotsava committee national president Saritha Jain were present. Chennai-based artist Ravindran Stapati built the chariot in seven months. He has the credit of building several chariots for temples in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and other states.The state budget evoked mixed reactions from Bengalureans. While some looked forward to it with hope, others found it to be poll centric.



Srinivas Alavilli, a member of Citizens for Bengaluru said that strengthening public transport was the need of the hour. Our demand for the budget has been 'Double the bus fleet, halve the bus fares'. Hope some of this allocation goes to BMTC. The allocation to lakes seems to be too little too late. We need to invest big time in our lakes and stormwater drains and open wells, it will pay for itself."

"The city of Bengaluru generates so much of tax revenue for the state, yet it doesn't seem to get the adequate funds to cope with the massive growth," he added.

Srinivas also questions the government's actions "Where are the funds for STP? Ward level garbage management facilities? We don't need white topping we need pavements and walk signals!"

Speaking about the 'Youth helpline', Sangeetha K, a Business Management student said,"Most of the youngsters need the helpline because they are confused about their career and personal problems. This helpline will be helpful if used efficiently."

Firoze, an auto driver said,"Government has given good schemes ensuring the empowerment of backward classes, farmers, poor and the minority."

Ravi Shankar, a former government employee said that although the budget looks promising, the implementation should be ensured. "They had announced several things even in the last year's budget, but when will they actually implement it?" he asks.

Commenting on the budget Ravi said that the government has to show the public that it is capable of providing it, only then will the public will believe them.

Some also felt that the year's budget was focussed on the farmers and 'Ah Hin Da'(Minorities, Backward classes and Schedule castes owing to the upcoming polls. "This budget is just an eyewash and for the vote bank in the upcoming election," said Sudha R, a teacher.

G C Pentesh Kumar, an Ex-employee of Railways feels " This budget is a populist one as it takes care of all sections of the society."A 25-year-old man lay trapped in the debris of a collapsed building for 18 hours, thinking of his two children living in a remote village in Bihar.



Fire department personnel rescued Hazarath, a fair-skinned and well-built man, from the rubbles of the five-storied building that collapsed in Jayarama Reddy Layout in Kasuvanahalli on Sarjapur Road.

The victim succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, in what doctors described as lack of precautions while being taken for treatment. Hazarath belongs to Chabiya Budur village in Siwan district in Bihar. He was doing plastering work at the building that tumbled on Thursday evening.

Sources at Sakra Hospital said a concrete brick fell on Hazarath's hands, stopping the blood flow and turning it toxic in the 18 hours he spent trapped in the debris.

When he was pulled out of the wreckage at 8.30 am on Friday, the toxic blood spread around his body and caused his death about 9.20 am soon after he was taken to hospital, doctors who treated him told DH.

Divisional Fire Officer (West) T N Shivashankara, who supervised the rescue efforts throughout the night on Thursday, said the crew established contact with Hazarath at 2.30 am. "He was talking to us from under the debris," Shivashankara said.

"It took nearly six hours to rescue him."

"When we lifted him up at 8.30 am, he appeared fresh. The rescue team gave him water and he was then taken to hospital. We couldn't believe when we heard of his death 45 minutes later," he added.

Hospital sources said Hazarath could have been saved if rescuers had blocked the toxic blood by strapping the injured parts.

Painter Direndra Kumar from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh spent 12 hours under the rubble with Hazarath. He told DH that he could not see Hazarath since it was dark inside and there was a pillar between them.

Kumar crawled out soon after the debris was cleared at 3.41 am on Friday.

Kumar said the trapped construction worker was keeping him cheerful all the time. Hazarath spoke of his two children and how he came to Bengaluru to earn for their education. He even told Kumar that he had booked a train ticket to Bihar next month to visit his children.

Kumar recalled to DH his ordeal by saying he did not think of anything else, but to get out alive as he lay buried. The hours spent inside also made him realise the value of life. He video-called home and spoke to his two-year-old son Aryan and family members. Crawling out of the ruins was like conquering death, he said.

With Hazarath's death, the toll in the building mishap rose to four on Friday. Three had died and 12 injured on

Thursday.

Doctors recalled a similar death like that of Hazarath six months ago when a worker was trapped in the rubble of a collapsed paying guest

accommodation.

They urged rescue workers to pay closer attention to the injuries when pulling out people alive from ruins.India said that it has not imposed any restrictions on pilgrims travelling to Pakistan amid heightened tensions between the two nations following a string of terror attacks in the Kashmir Valley.



"Of course not," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Friday when asked if India had imposed any restriction on pilgrims.

The clarification comes after Pakistan reportedly blamed India for withdrawing visa applications of pilgrims from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.Thirteen Russian nationals and three Russian companies have been indicted for interfering in the 2016 US presidential election through social media propaganda.



The indictment, released on Friday by the office of US Special Counsel Robert Mueller, said, the accused, through their actions, wanted to "spread distrust towards the candidates and the political system in general".

According to the indictment, the Russians created hundreds of social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, making it appear that the accounts were controlled by persons within the US.

To hide the Russian origin of their activities, the Russians reportedly purchased space on computer servers located within the US in order to set up a virtual private network.

The accused posed as politically and socially active Americans, advocating for and against particular political candidates. They established social media pages and groups to communicate with unwitting Americans.

They also purchased political advertisements on social media and used stolen or fictitious American identities, fraudulent bank accounts, and false identification documents.

Deputy Attorney General Rod J Rosenstein said the indictment served as a reminder that people are not always who they appear to be on the Internet.

"The indictment alleges that the Russian conspirators want to promote discord in the United States and undermine public confidence in democracy. We must not allow them to succeed," said Rosenstein.

According to the allegations, 12 of the individual defendants worked at various times for Internet Research Agency (IRA), a Russian company based in St Petersburg.

The other individual defendant, Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin, funded the conspiracy through companies known as Concord Management and Consulting LLC, Concord Catering, and many subsidiaries and affiliates.

The IRA reportedly operated through Russian shell companies. It employed hundreds of persons for its online operations with an annual budget of millions of dollars.

In 2014, the agency established a "translator project" to focus on the US population. In July 2016, more than 80 employees were assigned to the project.

Two of the defendants reportedly travelled to the US in 2014 to collect intelligence for their American political influence operations.

According to the indictment, the Russians also recruited and paid real Americans - who did not know they were communicating with Russians - to engage in political activities, promote political campaigns, and stage political rallies.

After the election, they staged rallies to support the President-elect while simultaneously staging rallies to protest his election.

For example, the defendants organised one rally to support the President-elect and another rally to oppose him-both in New York, on the same day, the indictment said.

On September 13, 2017, soon after the news media reported that the Special Counsels Office was investigating evidence that Russian operatives had used social media to interfere in the 2016 election, one defendant wrote, "We had a slight crisis here at work: the FBI busted our activity.... So, I got preoccupied with covering tracks together with my colleagues."

Muller is investigating into the allegations of Russian interference into the American political system.

The Opposition Democrats allege that Russian interference helped Donald Trump win the 2016 presidential elections. Trump denies the charges.The Supreme Court on Friday declined to initiate contempt proceedings against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tamil Nadu's plea for failure to ensure the release of Cauvery river water to the state.



"We do not intend to proceed with the contempt petition against the respondents (chief minister and others). It stands closed accordingly," a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices Amitava Roy and A M Khanwilkar said in a separate one-page judgement.

Tamil Nadu has in a petition filed in 2013 sought intiation of contempt proceedings against the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.The Delhi High Court has rejected the plea of a Delhi-based hospitality firm linked to Robert Vadra challenging an Income Tax (IT) Department notice for reassessment of its profits from land deals in Haryana and Rajasthan for the years 2010-11.



The I-T department, in a tax evasion report tabled before the high court, had said that it had reasons to believe that over Rs 35 crore, earned by the firm in 2010-11, "had escaped from assessment".

A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Chander Shekhar, taking note of the tax evasion report, said, "After going through the reasons, we are satisfied that the 'reasons to believe' show and establish a live link and connect with the inference drawn that income had escaped assessment, which is required for issuance of notice."

The court also directed the firm, Sky Light Hospitality LLP, to join proceedings before the assessing officer on February 19.

The firm, in its plea challenging the I-T department's notice, had contended that the "reasons to believe" were mere reasons to suspect and do not establish that income had escaped assessment.

Disagreeing with the firm's contention, the bench said that "absolute certainty is not required at the time of issue of notice and at the same time, 'reasons to believe' must not be based on mere suspicion, gossip or rumour. The said test and criteria, we have no hesitation in holding, is satisfied in the present case".

"There is evidence and material on record to justify issue of notice," it said and added that as long as there was a "honest and reasonable opinion" formed by the assessing officer and the 'reasons to believe' are not mere 'reasons to suspect', "the courts should not interject to stop the adjudication process and scrutiny on merits".

The bench also rejected the firm's plea that the notice was sent by the I-T department to the wrong entity - Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd - instead of Sky Light Hospitality LLP, saying "there was no doubt and debate that the notice was meant for the petitioner and no one else".

"Legal error and a mistake was made in addressing the notice. Noticeably, the appellant (Sky Light) having received the said notice, had filed without prejudice reply/letter dated April 11, 2017. They had objected to the notice being issued in the name of the company, which had ceased to exist.

"However, the reading of the said letter indicates they had understood and were aware, that the notice was for them. It was replied and dealt with by them. The fact that notice was addressed to Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd, a company which had been dissolved, was an error and technical lapse on the part of the respondent (IT Department). No prejudice was caused," the court said in its order.

The bench said that "human errors and mistakes cannot and should not nullify proceedings which are otherwise valid".

"In view of the aforesaid discussion, we do not find any merit in the present writ petition. We clarify that we have not expressed any opinion on merits of the case. We also deem it proper and appropriate to record that the petitioner had raised contention on merits, which we have no doubt would be examined in depth and detail by the assessing officer.

"We would expect that the assessing officer would deal with all issues independently and fairly, without being influenced by this order and challenge made by the petitioner to the notice," the court said and directed the firm to appear before the assessing officer on February 19 when the date of hearing will be fixed.Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a number of new schemes, including "Raitha Belaku," and dolled out sops to the farming community in order to woo them ahead of the polls.



The chief minister has allocated Rs 5,849 crore to the sector in the coming financial year - Rs 769 crore more than the current year budget. In a major relief to dryland farmers, the chief minister has proposed to provide one-time financial assistance up to Rs 10,000 under Raitha Belaku. Each farmer will get Rs 5,000 per hectare and a maximum of Rs 10,000.

Siddaramaiah has earmarked a whopping Rs 3,500 crore under this scheme, which will benefit an estimated 70 lakh farmers in the state. The amount will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the farmers.

"This novel scheme bears testimony to the pro-farmer concern of our government. This bold step is a small effort of the government to show its indebtedness to farmers," said Siddaramaiah stated in his budget speech.

He has also announced to waive interest on co-operative crop loans availed till September 2015. Besides, he has waived farmer's cooperative loan up to Rs 1 lakh, in case of his/her death. A total allocation of Rs 5,837 crore has been made under the cooperation department.

A significant chunk of the allocated amount will also go for crop loan waiver of Rs Rs 8,165 crore announced, last year.

Siddaramaiah has given Rs 600 crore for the Krishi Bhagya; has proposed to

increase the area under organic farming (Rs 50 cr) and minor millets (Rs 24 cr);

and a special package of Rs 50 cr for farmers growing groundnuts.

Siddaramaiah has also proposed to set up an agriculture college in Chamarajanagar; a new Agricultural Research Centre at Muddebihal of Vijayapura district; and Nanjundaswamy Research Center at Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra (GKVK), Bengaluru at Rs 1 crore.



Sops for shepherds

Siddaramaiah, who belongs to the Kuruba community, has doled out series of sops for sheep and goat rearers. Establishing 25,000 sheep rearing units at Rs 187.5 crore; Rs 4 crore for procuring protection gear to 4,000 migratory shepherds; modernisation of 75 sheep/goat markets at Rs 7.5 crore; and waiver of Rs 50,000 loan obtained by shepherds from cooperative banks (Rs 52 cr) are some of the highlights.

Siddaramaiah, who holds the Finance portfolio, has also announced, an allocation of Rs 2,377 crore to Animal Husbandry, has proposed to set up disease diagnostic labs in 16 districts; and also an incentive of Rs 55 crore for 14,000 milk producers' cooperative societies.

Siddaramaiah has

claim-ed that his government has spent Rs 19,561 crore in the agriculture sector till March 2018, which, he said, shows an increase of 256% in expenditure when compared to the period 2008 to 2013.The Congress on Saturday welcomed former Delhi unit chief Arvinder Singh Lovely back into the party, a move that is seen as a signal to other leaders who left the organisation for greener pastures.



Lovely, a confidant of former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, had quit the Congress in April last year to join the BJP and a battle of egos between Sheila and city unit chief Ajay Maken had peaked.



With Sheila and Maken agreeing to set aside their differences to put up a united face ahead of the bypolls to 20 Assembly seats, the Congress also reached out to leaders who had quit the party.



"I was an ideological misfit in the BJP," Lovely, told reporters at the AICC headquarters here on Saturday.



Earlier in the day, Lovely met Congress president Rahul Gandhi along with Maken and senior Delhi leader Haroon Yusuf.



A popular leader, Lovely had joined the BJP ahead of last year's civic polls in the capital.



The Congress finished a distant third after the BJP and the fledgling AAP.



The defeat of the Congress prompted the party leadership to rework its strategies and send clear instructions to end factionalism to take on an aggressive BJP.



Lovely, who was sulking in the BJP after being overshadowed by Delhi leaders Vijay Goel and Manoj Tiwari, is believed to have responded swiftly to overtures from the Congress leaders.



In a bid to strengthen the Congress to take on an aggressive BJP in the upcoming elections, Rahul has sent clear instructions to state units of the party to end factionalism and reach out to leaders who had quit the party.



Rahul's immediate task is to end factionalism in the party units in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, where leaders believe that Congress stands a good chance to defeat the BJP in the year-end Assembly elections.



Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday announced establishment of Karnataka Innovation Authority to encourage innovations in different areas.



Presenting his budget for 2018-19 in the state legislature, he said the Innovation Authority will give new dimension to the state's initiatives in research on new frontier areas.

Innovation authority will be an independent and impartial public entity that operates for the innovation ecosystem in the state.

"Karnataka is the innovation capital of Asia and we want to further create and strengthen the innovation infrastructure in the state to stay ahead of the curve," he said.

Israel is the only country in the world to form the Israel Innovation Authority, formerly known as the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Economy to foster innovation in the country.

Commenting on the development, Indo-Israeli Chambers of Commerce Vice Chairman David Keynan said Israel Innovation Authority is an an independent and impartial public entity that operates for the benefit of the Israeli innovation ecosystem and Israeli economy as a whole.

"Israel has established an innovation ecosystem over three decades ago and has seen tremendous returns. During that period Israel has become home to the highest number of startup companies per capita. I am proud to know that Karnataka is leading the innovation," he said.

Forming of the Innovation Authority is a step in the right direction, said an analyst. "The Innovation Authority should be led by technology leaders with a focus on solid policies, investment initiatives and global perspective. Karnataka had already formed an Innovation Council to guide the state in this regard," said the analyst.The Karnataka government has proposed to set up an Agri Innovation Centre in the state in an effort to increase the contribution of agriculture in the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).



Presenting budget for 2018-19 on Friday, chief minister Siddaramaiah said the Agri Innovation Centre will be established in association with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), a premier biotechnology and agriculture incubation centre under the the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.

The central government's nodal funding agency for the biotech industry, the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), last year, decided to house its regional entrepreneurship centre at C-CAMP.

Commenting on the development, C-CAMP Director Taslimarif Saiyed said the Agri Innovation Centre mooted by the state government will identify gap areas across the value chain in agriculture.

"We want scientific and academia to address those gaps by coming up with innovative solution so that the entire cycle of agriculture value chain will be taken care of with more value addition," he said.MP C S Puttaraju on Saturday condemned Superstar Rajinikanth's remarks on the Supreme Court'd verdict on Cauvery river dispute.

The actor had stated on Friday that the Supreme Court's verdict reducing the quantum of water to Tamil Nadu from Cauvery river was very disappointing. He had even urged the state government to file a review petition.

The MP came down heavily on the actor and asked him stop speaking for Tamil Nadu and learn to respect Karnataka which was his motherland.

"He is indebted to the people of Tamil Nadua and hence he is speaking like this. Rajinikanth shouldn't forget that he was born and grown up in Karnataka," Puttaraju said.

The MP added: "The actor should also speak about interests of his motherland. Acting in Tamil films and venturing into politics in Tamil Nadu are matters of his personal choice, but he should have respect for his motherland Karnataka."

The MP said that he would discuss the Supreme Court verdict with legal experts and decide the future course of action.

"We are opposed to the constitution Cauvery management board. We will urge the state government to file an affidavit in this regard. A decision will be taken to take an all party delegation to the central goverment opposing the decision. We will seek the government withdraw cases registered against farmers who participated in protests over the Cauvery water," he added.

Cauvery Hitarakshana Samiti president G Madegowda expressed satisfaction over the Supreme Court verdict on Cauvery river water sharing dispute.

He thanked the team of advocates who presented arguments convincingly in favour of the state.Union minister Maneka Gandhi seems to have taken a cue from BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh and joined them in humiliating and abusing the government officials in public.

Maneka, who is a member of Lok Sabha from Pilibhit, about 300 km from here, was caught on camera "abusing" a senior state government official, who was accused of indulging in corrupt practices by people.

The minister lost her cool and confronted him after the people complained against the official, who is a supply inspector, during a "Janata Darbar" at Baheri in the constituency. She called him "fat" and used a cuss word to reprimand him.

"Kya izzat hai tumhari...admi izzat par jeeta hai.....tum mote ho rahe ho...logon ka khate ho," (what prestige do you have? People live for prestige. You are getting fat... You eat the share of public)," Maneka was heard saying in the video.

People present at "Janata Durbar" had accused the supply inspector of taking bribes for making ration cards.

Maneka has joined the long list of BJP leaders from UP who berate government officials publicly.

A few days back a lady IAS officer was accused of corruption by a senior BJP leader at a public function in the presence of two state ministers in Amethi.

Earlier, a lady IPS officer Charu Nigam was in tears after senior BJP legislator Radha Mohandas Agarwal publicly rebuked her in Gorakhpur.In the backdrop of a dramatic escape of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander Naveed Jatt alias Abu Hanzalla last week, J&K prisons authorities have decided to shift high-risk militant prisoners from the Valley's prisons to various jails in Jammu.



Sources said, all the Pakistani-militant prisoners lodged in various jails in Kashmir will be shifted to Jammu jails, but not before ensuring "proper security measures."

"The directive to conduct the review of the prisons across the state came after Hanzullah escaped from SMHS hospital on February 6. The incident sent the police and prisons department into a tizzy forcing them to go for jail reviews to ensure fool-proof security cover to high-risk prisoners," they said.

The escape of Hanzalla exposed the porosity and vulnerability of jails in Kashmir, where dozens of high profile militants are lodged.

The influential support structure within the Srinagar central jail, which came to fore after Hanzulla's escape, has revealed how the system there has been crippled and lodging high-profile militants is a risk there.

J&K Director General of prisons, Dilbagh Singh said that the security measures, which need improvement, have been identified.

"Now, we will take the government on board and action will follow soon," he said.

Asked whether there are plans of shifting all the militants lodged in central jail Srinagar to Jammu, he evaded reply but stated that "this is an ongoing process."

However, earlier state police chief Shesh Pal Vaid had said that all the high-risk militant prisoners lodged in central jail Srinagar will be shifted to Jammu prison.

Last year in August Jammu and Kashmir Police unearthed a separatist network operating inside a jail in north Kashmir's Baramulla district by recovering 20 cell phones from the inmates during a night raid.

Some hardcore militants and separatist prisoners used the cell phones to keep in touch with their handlers in Pakistan via WhatsApp to help create unrest in the state, police had said then.

Earlier in April last year police had unearthed a similar network in the same jail by seizing 16 cell phones.

Two of the cell phones seized belonged to hardline separatist leader Masarat Alam, the man reportedly behind the 2010 civilian unrest in Kashmir.

Of the 2,500-odd prisoners, under-trials, and other detainees lodged in the state's 14 jails, nearly 250 are militants.

frequently, they are brought to various hospitals for a medical check-up on court directions.

However, after Hanzulla's escape from SMHS hospital in Srinagar, after a brief shootout in which two policemen died, Vaid circulated a ban on the medical check-up of militant detainees at any government or private hospital other than the police hospital.The cyber crime police on Saturday questioned Ram Gopal Varma in connection with a complaint against him for making derogatory comments against women during a TV discussion on his film God Sex and Truth.

Social worker R Devi, who had opposed the release of the film, has filed a complaint accusing the filmmaker of making personal comments against her.

Varma appeared before the officials at the Central Crime Station in response to the notice served on him almost a month back.

Cybercrimes Additional DCP Raghuveer said Varma cooperated with the police but didn't answer technical issues.

Varma was asked about the location of the shoot and how he paid for the controversial film starring American porn star Mia Malkova.

According to sources, Varma denied making the film and said that it was produced by an American production unit and he has only provided them with the concept.

The filmmaker argued that he can't be held responsible for a web film shot by someone in the US.

The police have seized Varma's mobile phone and laptop and have been asked to appear on Sunday for further questioning. Police also questioned Varma over his comments on Devi.

During a discussion on a vernacular TV channel, Varma reportedly wanted to know whether Devi has been watching porn in her personal time and also wanted to know whether the so-called social workers do sex without getting nude.

Following protests, the police registered an FIR against the filmmaker for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form. Cases were booked against Varma under IPC sections 506 (Criminal Intimidation) and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said India is giving a befitting reply to the nefarious activities of Pakistan.



Singh, who was here to attend a programme at Rohilkhand University, said bilateral talks and terrorism cannot go hand in hand.

"India is giving a befitting reply to the nefarious activities of Pakistan... Talks and terrorism cannot go on concurrently," he told news persons.

Replying to a question on withdrawal of cases against stone pelters in Kashmir, he said it is being done only in "cases of first-time offenders".

"The government does not want to keep someone confined in jail ... Some of them have come back to the mainstream... But action will be taken against anyone who indulges in wrong tactics," he said.

Asked about the Punjab National Bank fraud, he said "every paisa will be realised and the culprits will be caught".Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today condemned political killings and asked people to isolate the forces of violence.



"Progress will not be possible without peace. I appeal to the people of Kerala to isolate the forces of violence," he said, speaking at the release of the 100th book of senior BJP leader in Kerala, P S Sreedharan Pillai.



The Vice-President's statement assumes significance in the backdrop of killing of a Youth Congress leader Shuhaib, allegedly by ruling CPI(M) workers, at the politically sensitive Kannur district on February 13.



Coming down heavily on political clashes, Naidu said such attacks were not good. "Murder and violence affect the social fabric. They will divert attention. I request the Kerala state to isolate violence," he said.



"If there is tension, there cannot be attention towards development", Naidu said and exhorted the people to use the power of the ballot and not that of the bullet. "Everything should be decided by the ballot because the ballot is stronger than the bullet", he said.



Urging for a "full stop" to the violence, Naidu said people should strengthen the democratic process in the country. "We have a long illustrious heritage spanning more than a million years. We as a nation are very young, but as a civilisation, we are very old."



Indians believed in "Vasudeva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family, the Vice President said. Naidu said the essence of Indianness has been defined by noted American writer and philosopher Will Durant, who said "India will teach us the tolerance and gentleness of mature mind, understanding spirit and a unifying, pacifying love for all human being".



"We may differ in language, religion, region and in worshipping Gods and Goddesses. But India is one and we are proud to be Indians", Naidu said. He said secularism in India was safe not because of the politicians, but because it is bred in the minds of the people. "It is in the DNA of the Indians who have concern for all others", he said.



"People in Kozhikode are concerned about the people in Jammu and Kashmir and people in Kashmir are concerned about their brethren in Kanyakumari", Naidu said.



On the economic front, Naidu said that in seven years, the economy would be the third largest in the world." To achieve this, everyone should make their contribution, he said.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi Naidu said "cleanliness is much more important than political freedom. Mana, Gana and Dhana should be clean". "If money is clean there will be no tension.



If the money earned is not clean then there will always be tension", Naidu said. India continued to make progress in various fields, he said, adding the country also has challenges in some sectors, including in public health care and education.In a decision with far-reaching consequences for agricultural indebtedness, the Supreme Court has held that the courts can review the rate of interest where the state debt relief laws covered banks and other lending institutions.



The top court said Section 21A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 would not apply to such states where debt relief laws were in force. Section 21A interdicts courts to reopen a loan transaction between a bank and debtors on the ground that the rate of interest charged by the banking company is excessive.

A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Navin Sinha ruled that Section 21A would not be applicable to agricultural debts in states where state debt relief laws were in force.

The court passed its judgement on a writ petition filed by Jayant Verma and others, challenging the constitutional validity of Section 21A. The petitioners led by advocate Sanjay Parikh relied upon Parliamentary Standing Committee report on Agriculture 2006-07 to contend that Section 21A should be abolished in so far as it applied to rural indebtedness.

They contended that 2,56,913 farmers committed suicide between 1995 to 2010. This is because of usurious rates of interest being charged by banks, which courts cannot interfere with under Section 21A.

State subject

The court said agriculture as a subject matter is entirely and exclusively left to the states in all its aspects. Any argument that has the effect of making relief of agricultural indebtedness a concurrent subject by which Parliamentary legislation ousts state legislation must, therefore, be rejected, it said.

"Where Section 21A incidentally trenches upon the State Debt Relief Acts, enacted under Entry 30, List II (state list under the Constitution), so far as relief of agricultural indebtedness is concerned, where there is state legislation on the same subject matter which directly clashes with Section 21A, Section 21A will have to give way to the State Debt Relief Acts in so far as relief from agricultural indebtedness due to banks is concerned," the court held.Telecom regulator Trai has said that it will impose financial disincentive of up to Rs 50 lakh per circle on operators if their service rates are found to be predatory in nature.



"In case of tariff being found predatory, the service provider shall, without prejudice to the terms and conditions of its licence...or directions issued, thereunder, be liable to pay by way of financial disincentive an amount not exceeding Rs 50 lakh per tariff plan for each service area as the Authority may by order direct," Trai said.

There are 22 telecom circles in the country. Leading telecom operators Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular and Reliance Jio have operations in all the circles. State-run telecom firm BSNL operates in 20 circles and MTNL in two. Aircel operates in select circles.

The new rules from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) come following allegations by established players like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular that Reliance Jio is offering predatory pricing. A tariff will be considered predatory if in a "relevant market", a telecom operator with over 30% market share offers services at a price which is below the average "variable cost", with a view to reduce competition or eliminate the competitors in the "relevant market", as per an amendment made by Trai in the Telecommunication Tariff order.

The regulator will determine "relevant market" based on relevant product against which it receives a complaint. It will arrive at "variable cost" after deducting fixed cost and share of fixed overheads borne by the company from total cost of incurred by it for running business during the period under review.

The regulator also said that telecom operators will have to provide services to all subscribers availing the same tariff plan in a non-discriminatory manner.

"No service provider shall, in any manner, discriminate between subscribers of the same class and such classification of the subscribers shall not be arbitrary," Trai said.India is set to take over the operations of Chabahar Port in Iran, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the West Asian nation's president Hassan Rouhani witnessed signing of the lease contract in New Delhi on Saturday.



The Port and Maritime Organization of Iran leased out to India Ports Global Limited a part of the Phase 1 of the Chabahar Port (a.k.a. Shahid Behesti Port) of the Islamic Republic for 18 months. The contract was signed by Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and Iranian Transport Minister Abbas Akhundi after the leaders of the two nations met in New Delhi.

Modi and Rouhani witnessed exchange of seven other pacts after they met at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. They also witnessed exchange of instrument of ratification of the bilateral Extradition Treaty, which brought the bilateral pact signed in 2008 into force. The trade bodies of the two nations also signed four more Memorandums of Understanding during Iranian President's visit to New Delhi.

The Chabahar Port will give India a sea-land access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan, which has been playing spoilsport to initiatives for connectivity between South Asia and Central Asia.

The port's strategic importance for India grew further after Pakistan handed over the control of its Gwadar Port to China.

Modi said that Chabahar Port offered "a golden gateway" for landlocked Afghanistan. He offered Rouhani New Delhi's support to build a rail link from Chabahar to Zahedan on Iran-Afghanistan border to realize the full potential of the port.

"The transit ties between the two countries will create multilateral and regional capacities in cooperation with the regional states. We are ready for trilateral and multilateral contracts so that this transit route through Chabahar Port turns into a strategic route to consolidate regional ties," said Rouhani, as he and Modi jointly addressed media-persons after the meeting.

India in May 2016 inked a deal with Iran for development of the Chabahar Port. The deal was signed during the Prime Minister's visit to Tehran set the stage for India investing $85.21 million for development and operation of two terminals and five berths of the port in Iran, with cargo handling capacities for 10 years.

New Delhi, Kabul and Tehran also inked a trilateral transport and transit deal, which was implemented in November 2017 with a consignment of wheat being transported from India to Afghanistan through Chabahar Port of Iran. Rouhani inaugurated the first phase of the Chabahar Port in December 2017.

The meeting between the two leaders could not immediately end the uncertainty over the proposed contract for a consortium of ONGC Videsh, Indian Oil Corporation, and Oil India to develop the Farzad B gas field in Iran, although they agreed to speed up the negotiation. They also agreed to move beyond traditional buyer-seller relationship in energy sector and develop it into a long term strategic partnership.

Modi and Rouhani agreed to to examine feasible options, including Rupee-Rial Arrangement, Asian Clearing Union mechanism to establish functional payment channels.

According to a joint statement issued after Modi-Rouhani meeting, Iran welcomed the investment from India in setting up plants in sectors, like fertilizers, petrochemicals and metallurgy in Chabahar Free Trade Zone on mutually beneficial terms. The two leaders also reiterated their commitment to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) project a a proposed ship-rail-road corridor linking India, Iran, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.Tempers flared up in Gujarat on Saturday over the death of Dalit activist Bhanubhai Vankar, who had set himself on fire protesting the delay in physical possession of land allotted to Dalit families in Patan district.



Bhanubhai had been seeking the possession of land allotted by the state government to the Dalit families.

After arriving at the Patan collector's office along with the Dalit family of Hemaben and Ramabhai on Thursday, Bhanubhai attempted self-immolation. He was admitted to Apollo Hospital, where he succumbed to his burn injuries on Friday night.

This led to a series of protests by the Dalit activists across the state, including Gandhinagar, Unjha, Chanasma and Patan in North Gujarat and Morbi in Saurashtra, with many resorting to burning tyres and blocking traffic.

Bhanubhai's family refused to accept the body, putting forth a charter of seven demands before the state government.

Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani, Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani, Patidaar leader Hardik Patel and OBC leader and Radhanpur MLA Alpesh Thakor called on the family at the hospital.

The crowd at Gandhinagar hospital even heckled the BJP MLA from Kadi Karsan Solanki, who came to meet Bhanubhai's family.

The state government on its part swung into action and sent in a delegation of Gandhinagar district collector, Inspector General of Police and Social Empowerment secretary to talk to the Dalit activists and Bhanubhai's family. The meeting that lasted for over five hours failed to break the deadlock.

Though the state government claimed to have accepted the key demands of the family, the Dalit activists continued to seek government assurance in writing.

Deputy chief minister Nitin Patel said that the state government has agreed to all the major demands of Bhanubahi's family. "We would legally transfer the land in the name of the family member, they will be given Rs 8 lakh as per the provisions under The Atrocities Act, transfer his family members, who are government employees, to one location and set up a commission headed by retired high court judge or form a SIT to probe the incident," he said.

Meanwhile, Mevani and his supporters blocked the SG Highway. "The chief minister has become shameless. Vijay Rupani drown yourself in the Narmada. Why don't you die of shame? This is not your father's Gujarat," he said.

Mevani also appealed to Hardik and Alpesh to join him in intensifying the stir in the state from Sunday. "The chief secretary must bring out a notification to initiate a similar process for landless Dalits across 33 districts of the state. Till then we would continue our fight," Mevani added.With the PNB banking scam gaining traction, Congress on Saturday decided to put all its might to "expose" the NDA government's "complicity" in the fraud and also rope in other like-minded parties to corner Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament.



Leading from the front, Congress President Rahul Gandhi said a scam of this magnitude cannot be done without "high-level protection". The Congress is also planning a nation-wide campaign to step up pressure on the government.

"The question is Nirav Modi has taken away Rs 22,000 crore. Prime Minister Modi has to explain why did it happen and what he is going to do about it," Rahul told reporters after a meeting of the Congress Steering Committee which deliberated on the issue.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh voiced great concern over the failure of the banking system to detect the scam, while former Finance Minister P Chidambaram briefed the meeting on how the issue threatened to destabilise the banking sector and derail the economy.

Rahul sought to link the scam to the prime minister's decision to demonetise high-value currency in November 2016.

"He took out all the money from people's pockets and put it in the banking system...and now his friends and cronies are stealing it from the banking sector and the Prime Minister is not saying anything," Rahul said.

He also rejected BJP's allegations that the scam took root during the UPA regime.

"No it didn't. The bulk of it started in May, 2015. The first complaint was in May, 2015. And the bulk 90% of the transactions are under this government. This government constantly refuses to accept responsibility," Rahul said claiming that the Modi government was aware of the scam taking place.

Questioning Prime Minister's silence on the issue Rahul said instead of spending an hour and a half on explaining to little kids how to take exams, Modi should tell the nation the steps he is taking to get Nirav Modi back and ensure safety of the banking system.

A statement by the Congress Steering Committee asked the Prime Minister to apprise the nation of complete facts about the biggest 'bank scam' instead of remaining silent "as usual".

"The Prime Minister must also tell the nation how a fraud of this magnitude escaped the eyes of all the auditors and investigators conducting 'statutory audit', 'internal audit', 'concurrent audit' and even the RBI's own audit," it said.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Congress' chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Ghulam Nabi Azad have been tasked by the party to speak to all like-minded parties on the issue and show them documentary evidence of the scam.

"We will raise this issue vociferously and prominently till the Modi government answers to Parliament and the country's people," Surjewala said.With election fever gripping Karnataka, the Congress on Saturday decided to hold its three-day plenary in the national capital from March 16 to 18.



The plenary, considered as the biggest gathering of Congress leaders, will ratify the election of Rahul Gandhi as the party president and also evolve the future strategy for the nation and the organisation to deal with the tough challenges before it.

The decision was taken at the first meeting of the steering committee of the Congress chaired by Rahul.

Sources said besides Karnataka, the Punjab unit of the party too had offered to host the plenary at Mohali, near Chandigarh.

However, since Parliament would be in session, it was felt that Delhi would be a convenient venue to host the plenary.

"We are expecting about 25,000 party leaders and workers to attend the plenary. Organising the event in Karnataka would have diverted the attention from the ongoing election campaign," a senior Congress leader said.

The leader said the Karnataka Congress was ready to play host if the plenary was to be held in the first week of March, but the party leadership was of the opinion that Delhi would be a better venue.

Rahul said the plenary would show a new way forward to the Congress and the nation with a renewed focus on the party's policy and ideology. He said the new party organisation would be a harmonious blend of experience and youth with representation for every section of the society  women, SC/ST, other backward classes and minorities.By questioning AICC president Rahul Gandhi's visit to temples, the BJP is insulting Hindu religion, said KPCC Working President Dinesh Gundu Rao.



Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme organised to mark the silver jubilee of an amendment to Panchayat Raj Act, as organised by the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sanghatane here on Saturday, he said, "Rahul Gandhi, during his padayatra, had visited Kedarnath. During his Hyderabad visit, he had visited temples and masjids. The BJP leaders have not taken a contract of Hindu religion and cannot claim to be the custodian of temples."

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has not been invited for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official programme in Mysuru, he said. The PM is indulging in cheap politics by violating the protocol, he said. "BJP national president Amit Shah had made false allegations during his visit to Karnataka in the past. At least now he has to present the facts. Let him not incite communal hate and disturb peace in the region during his visit to the coastal district," Rao said.

He said RSS and Hindu Maha Sabha leaders, who have not sacrificed for the country, have no moral right to speak about the Congress.

Peace was restored in Kashmir during the UPA regime. Now, there is unrest in Kashmir, he added.

Later in the programme, he said that the state government, led by Siddaramaiah, has steered the state on the path of development in the past four-and-a-half-years.

Stating that the Siddaramaiah-led state government is attempting to build a model state, Rao said that the BJP is trying to defame the state's name.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is emerging as a national leader who can take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi himself has told in the Parliament that Karnataka ranks topmost in the generation of employment in the country.

He said that the growth rate of the state is 8.5%. If the Centre had not implemented note ban and GST, then the growth rate would have touched 9.5%, he said.Notwithstanding American President Donald Trump's threats to pull out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, New Delhi on Saturday stood by Tehran and sought the deal's "full and effective implementation".



After a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that Tehran would adhere to its July 2015 nuclear deal with P5+1 (US, UK, China, Russia, France and Germany) and European Union till its "last breath". Delivering a lecture at an event held by Delhi-based think-tank Observer Research Foundation before concluding his three-day visit to India, Rouhani said the United States would "regret" if it withdrew from the pact.

He said that people within the United States would protest if American Government withdrew from the 2015 deal. "We as a country have always adhered (to commitments). We will not violate it (the pact) and will stay on board. It is the order of God. If we are signing the pact then we will adhere to it, till the last breath," said the Iranian President.

Rouhani had a meeting with Modi at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, where he raised US' pullout threat.

Modi reaffirmed India's "support for full and effective implementation of the JCPOA". The joint statement issued after Modi-Rouhani meeting noted that the JCPOA had been "endorsed by the UN Security Council" and was "crucial contribution to the non-proliferation framework and international peace, stability and security".

The deal inked on July 14, 2015 is formally known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and it is aimed at restricting Iran's capability to pursue its controversial nuclear programme and setting the stage for sanctions by US, EU and the United Nations against the Islamic Republic. Trump has been pushing for changes in the JCPOA ever since he took over as President of the United States.

Modi and Rouhani on Saturday called for an immediate end to all support and sanctuaries enjoyed by terrorist groups and individuals and were of the view that states that aid, abet and directly or indirectly support terrorism should be condemned. They reiterated their strong commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and stressed that there can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism.A 26-year-old man plunged to death from the terrace of a five-storey paying guest accommodation on Saturday.



Rishab Shukla had been working for an IT firm in Jigani for the past two months and lived in a paying guest accommodation at Doddathoguru in Electronics City.

Shukla, a native of Nagpur in Maharashtra, used to stay on the fifth floor.

On Saturday morning, he went straight up to the terrace and jumped to his death, the police said.

Passersby found him lying in a pool of blood and alerted the police. The Electronics City police have shifted the body to hospital for post-mortem.

According to his family, Shukla was suffering from kidney aliments and was depressed.

Shukla reportedly spoke to his sister on Friday night about what was bothering him, the police said.

"He may have been depressed over his illness and taken the extreme step," a police officer said.The Supreme Court has agreed to consider the anticipatory bail petition moved by a Bengaluru techie accused of raping a woman by promising to marry her and then going back on his word.



A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A M Khanwilkar agreed to urgently hear the petition moved by advocate K V Muthu Kumar on behalf of the petitioner. The court posted the matter for consideration next week.

The petitioner, who works in Helsinki, Finland, moved the apex court against an order issued by the High Court of Karnataka on July 20, 2017, rejecting his plea for anticipatory bail. A sessions court in Bengaluru had earlier rejected his anticipatory bail application.

In a complaint with the Koramangala police in 2016, the woman stated that both she and the 30-year-old suspect worked for Nokia Siemens. In August 2009, he proposed to her and established physical relationship with her at his friend's place in Koramangala. Their relationship continued until November 2011 when he left for Finland. She could not contact him thereafter. In October 2016, the suspect's friend told her he would not be able to marry him.

The petitioner denied the allegations, saying he has been working for Ericsson in Finland since 2011 and that there was no possibility of him having any physical relationship with her.McDonald's, the fast-food restaurant chain is a popular joint which introduced most of us to the concept of a 'drive-thru' food pick-up or easy take-aways.

But a customer's recent takeaway experience from McDonald's turned to be a horrifying one. The fast-food was apparently cooked so fast, that it remained raw.

On Sunday night, DH journalist headed to the McDonald's outlet in the Gopalan Signature Mall on Old Madras Road. She ordered for the Big spicy chicken wrap for a takeway.

After a small bite, she discovered that the chicken in the wrap was simply uncooked.

Shocked about the raw chicken in the wrap, asked on the same, the person in charge was ready to compensate the money as a one of case.

There were two such instances on the same day where customers were not satisfied with what they got in the Mall outlet.

Shocked about the raw chicken in the wrap, she called the fast-food chain's customer care and reached Jaffer, the chef manager of McDonalds, Gopalan Signature mall outlet after several re-routed calls.

Initially Jafer hesitated to take responsibility for the blunder. However, on being informed that the reporter had pictures of the raw chicken, he accepted the fault. "The meat was raw due to ice crystals on the meat." he confessed.

The chicken is frozen and when the chef tried to cook it, the ice on it may have left it uncooked.

However, the chef manager was ashamed of the mistake after being rebuked for serving the raw meat when he could have either delayed the order or informed the customer about the situation. The customer was offered a refund or replacement.

Not a happy meal after all.The JD(S), which is making a desperate bid to return to power in the state, on Saturday used its 'gathbandhan' with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), to display its show of strength, by far the party's biggest till date.



The JD(S) leadership juxtaposed its 'marriage of convenience' with the BSP to make an emotional appeal to the 'Bahujans' to counter Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Ahinda politics, and the BJP's Hindutva agenda. Lakhs of JD(S) workers and loyalists who travelled from across the state to Yelahanka in Bengaluru to see their 'Appaji' H D Deve Gowda and 'Anna', H D Kumaraswamy up close, also heard 'Behanji' BSP chief Mayawati tear into the two national parties.

Mayawati, who attacked the Congress for its "betrayal" of

B R Ambedkar, the Dalits, backward classes and the minorities, appealed to the people to "teach" the grand old party a lesson by not voting it back to power. Recalling how the Congress had "purposefully" ensured Ambedkar's defeat in two Lok Sabha polls, she said party had failed to honour him with the Bharat Ratna.

The Congress had also failed to implement the Mandal Commission recommendations, she said, adding that the BSP's demands of the above had finally been fulfilled during the V P Singh government, which was forced to seek her party's support.

Mayawati said that though the Congress had many tricks up its sleeve to attract the "suppressed" communities in Karnataka, it had broken its faith in the people when it failed to honour its commitment of making a Dalit leader the chief minister in the state.

The BJP on the other hand, which, she said indulged in caste and religious politics, had created an atmosphere of fear, especially among the Dalits and minorities.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the BJP at that Centre had let down the poor, farmers and the small traders through its "unplanned" implementation of demonetisation and GST.

"Not only did Prime Minister Narendra Modi fail to bring back the black money stashed abroad, he is also humiliating the unemployed and the poor by asking them to sell pakoras. People of Karnataka should ensure that they prevent both these parties from coming to power," she added.

Deve Gowda who thanked Mayawati for her "golden words", said that the JD(S) had received an elephantine strength (aane bala) from the BSP to fight the upcoming Assembly elections.

Gowda directed his party workers to pu up Mayawati's posters in all constituencies alongside Kumaraswamy's. "We should also lend support to the 20 BSP candidates ensuring their victory - this is our ghatabhandhan," he added.



In a near 20-minute emotional address to the gathering, Kumaraswamy said that he was working day and night without paying heed to his health to ensure his party's victory.As many as 15,42,121 teens, aged between 18 and 19, have registered to vote in the upcoming Assembly polls.



The number of young voters born after January 1, 1999 registered to vote this time is more than double the number of first-time voters in the 2013 Assembly elections, Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar said Saturday. "Of the 15.42 lakh young voters, 7.72 lakh have been enrolled in the ongoing special summary revision of electoral rolls," he said.

The final electoral rolls will be published on February 28 and the number of voters stands at 4.96 crore for now. The Bangalore South Assembly constituency has the highest number of voters in the state at 5.01 lakh, whereas Sringeri in Chikkamagaluru district has the lowest with just 1.62 lakh voters.

In a first, the Election Commission will set up all-women polling stations in Assembly constituencies where population of women is high. "All personnel in these polling stations will be women," Kumar said. The voter gender ratio is now 973 women for 1,000 men and it is improving, he added.

Accessibility is the theme of the 2018 elections and the office of the chief electoral officer is working with the Department of Women and Child Development (DWCD) to launch a special drive and identify voters who are persons with disabilities. "The DWCD has details of 12 lakh persons with disabilities. Suitable polling stations are being identified for them," Kumar said.

He stressed that voters can apply to be added to the electoral rolls even after they are published on February 28. "It's a misconception that addition, deletion or modification cannot happen after final rolls are published. Electoral roll revision is a continuous process," he said.

As many as 30.41 lakh applications have been received under the special summary revision, of which 17.12 lakh were for addition and 10.41 lakh for deletion. "No summary deletion is taking place this time like it happened in 2013 when 16 lakh names were deleted. So far, we have deleted 10.13 lakh voters, of whom 3.67 lakh are dead," he said. Kumar also launched a logo for the 2018 Assembly polls whose tagline is 'Inclusive, Accessible and Ethical'.

He said complaints pertaining to inclusion of immigrants in the electoral rolls were highest in the Bengaluru municipal limits. "We are discussing this closely with all political parties," he said. The Election Commission has asked all parties to appoint booth-level agents to monitor the process of roll revision.The Year of the Dog

Always a fun place to visit and a great entertainment value, Universal Studios Hollywood is ringing in the Lunar New Year through Feb. 25 in celebration of the Year of the Dog.

On your way there after you park, youll walk through Universal CityWalk with its colorful signs, and amazing shops and eateries.

Pose for photos just past the large, revolving UNIVERSAL STUDIOS globe. Then enter the park and proceed to Universal Plaza where you will find a recreation of Pos Village from DreamWorks delightful Kung Fu Panda. Beautiful Chinese lanterns are suspended above, and radiating outward from the center of the plaza. Red is the predominant color.

Participatory story time at the Jade Palace Performance Stage Jan Wagner

At the Plum Blossom Wishing Trees, visitors write wishes for the New Year and then, for good luck, hang them on the tree branches.

At the Jade Palace Performance Stage, kids enjoy listening to and participating in a story. Then they learn some basic martial arts skills at the Dragon Warrior Training Show, and practice those skills alongside Po.

Fun, interactive photo opportunities abound for young and old alike, with Po, Tigress, and Minions dressed in traditional Chinese attire, and with Mandarin-speaking Megatron from Transformers.

At Mr. Pings Noodle Shop, where the Asian food choices include stir fry noodles with beef, chicken, shrimp or tofu, Mr. Ping engages in light-hearted conversations before posing for photos: Whats your name, young lady? Oh Cynthia, so nice to meet you Cynthia, my name is Mr. Ping! Welcome to Mr. Pings Noodle Shop. We offer delicious noodles and service with a smile! I would love to take a picture. Here we go! On three say noodles!

Learn how to draw Po Jan Wagner

Learn from an expert artist how to draw characters from Kung Fu Panda.

No visit to Universal Studios Hollywood would be complete without boarding a tram to take the famous Studio Tour. You will be treated to close-up looks behind the scenes in Hollywood as you drive slowly through streets lined with realistic building facades, experience an earthquake and a raging flood, get surprised by an underwater inhabitant of the seaside Amity Village from Jaws, and take part in King Kong and Fast & Furious  Supercharged! in 3-D.

Enjoy the live Special Effects Show, visit Springfield, USA  home of The Simpsons, and explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where youll find the thrilling Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.

Jan Wagner having a conversation with Mr. Ping at his noodle shop Courtesy

Do not miss Transformers: The Ride3D and Jurassic Park: The Ride, which ends with a plunge down a steep waterfall.

At the live WaterWorld show, youll be blown away (figuratively speaking!) by massive pyrotechnics, and witness daring stunts and jaw-dropping special effects. Be warned, you may get wet!

For more information, visit Universal Studios Hollywood online at www.universalstudioshollywood.com.

Black Panther poster  2018 MARVEL

Black Panther

The Black Panther character was introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2016, in Captain America: Civil War, but the character has actually been around in print long before that, first appearing in Fantastic Four Vol. 1 Issue 52, in 1966.

The modern day Black Panther is the strategic leader of the proud, tradition- and honor-bound, secretive people of Wakanda in Africa. The Wakandan people are resourceful, and their society is technologically very advanced.

The story begins where it last left off in Captain America: Civil War, with TChalla (Chadwick Boseman) still mourning the death of his father TChaka, the murdered King of Wakanda. A monumental conflict ensues which will ultimately decide the fate of Wakanda.

The leading female characters are strong, independent and exude a sense of style. Shuri (Letitia Wright) is TChallas spunky little sister and a whiz with technology. Okoye (Danai Gurira) is the fierce head of the all-female Wakandan Special Forces. Nakia (Academy Award winner Lupita Nyongo) is a spy, often imbedded in countries to observe and then report back to Wakanda.

Evil villains include Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) and Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis). CIA agent Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman) returns to play a pivotal role.

As always in a Marvel film there is a Stan Lee cameo. Do stay around until the very end of the credits for a teaser scene that you wont want to miss.

To learn more and to watch the really cool official trailer, go to https://marvel.com/blackpanther#/.

Send your comments and suggestions to AutoMatters@gmail.com. To see many more photos go to www.drivetribe.com, search for AutoMatters & More and click on TRIBES.By Umair Hague

25 January 2018

(Eudaimonia & Co.)  You might say, having read some of my recent essays, Umair! Dont worry! Everything will be fine! Its not that bad! I would look at you politely, and then say gently, To tell you the truth, I dont think were taking collapse nearly seriously enough.

Why? When we take a hard look at U.S. collapse, we see a number of social pathologies on the rise. Not just any kind. Not even troubling, worrying, and dangerous ones. But strange and bizarre ones. Unique ones. Singular and gruesomely weird ones Ive never really seen before, and outside of a dystopia written by Dickens and Orwell, nor have you, and neither has history. They suggest that whatever numbers we use to represent decline  shrinking real incomes, inequality, and so on we are in fact grossly underestimating what pundits call the human toll, but which sensible human beings like you and I should simply think of as the overwhelming despair, rage, and anxiety of living in a collapsing society.

Let me give you just five examples of what Ill call the social pathologies of collapse  strange, weird, and gruesome new diseases, not just ones we dont usually see in healthy societies, but ones that we have never really seen before in any modern society.America has had 11 school shootings in the last 23 days. Thats one every other day, more or less. That statistic is alarming enough  but it is just a number. Perspective asks us for comparison. So let me put that another way. America has had 11 school shootings in the last 23 days, which is more than anywhere else in the world, even Afghanistan or Iraq. In fact, the phenomenon of regular school shootings appears to be a unique feature of American collapse  it just doesnt happen in any other country  and that is what I mean by social pathologies of collapse: a new, bizarre, terrible disease striking society.Why are American kids killing each other? Why doesnt their society care enough to intervene? Well, probably because those kids have given up on life  and their elders have given up on them. Or maybe youre right  and its not that simple. Still, what do the kids who arent killing each other do? Well, a lot of them are busy killing themselves.So there is of course also an opioid epidemic. We use that phrase too casually, but it is much more troubling than it appears on first glance. Here is what is really curious about it. In many countries in the world  most of Asia and Africa  one can buy all the opioids one wants from any local pharmacy, without a prescription. You might suppose then that opioid abuse as a mass epidemic would be a global phenomenon. Yet we dont see opioid epidemics anywhere but America  especially not ones so vicious and widespread they shrink life expectancy. So the opioid epidemic  mass self-medication with the hardest of hard drugs  is again a social pathology of collapse: unique to American life. It is not quite captured in the numbers, but only through comparison  and when we see it in global perspective, we get a sense of just how singularly troubled American life really is.Why would people abuse opioids en masse unlike anywhere else in the world? They must be living genuinely traumatic and desperate lives, in which there is little healthcare, so they have to self-medicate the terror away. But what is so desperate about them? Well, consider another example: the nomadic retirees. They live in their cars. They go from place to place, season after season, chasing whatever low-wage work they can find  spring, an Amazon warehouse, Christmas, Walmart.Now, you might say  well, poor people have always chased seasonal work! But that is not really the point: absolute powerlessness and complete indignity is. In no other country I can see do retirees who should have been able to save up enough to live on now live in their cars in order to find work just to go on eating before they die  not even in desperately poor ones, where at least families live together, share resources, and care for one another. This is another pathology of collapse that is unique to America  utter powerlessness to live with dignity. Numbers dont capture it  but comparisons paint a bleak picture.How did Americas elderly end up cheated of dignity? After all, even desperately poor countries have informal social support systems  otherwise known as families and communities. But in America, there is the catastrophic collapse of social bonds. Extreme capitalism has blown apart American society so totally that people cannot even care for one another as much as they do in places like Pakistan and Nigeria. Social bonds, relationships themselves, have become unaffordable luxuries, more so than even in poor countries: this is yet another social pathology unique to American collapse.Yet those once-poor countries are making great strides. Costa Ricans now have higher life expectancy than Americans  because they have public healthcare. American life expectancy is falling, unlike nearly anywhere else in the world, save the UK  because it doesnt.And that is my last pathology: it is one of the soul, not one of the limbs, like the others above. American appear to be quite happy simply watching one another die, in all the ways above. They just dont appear to be too disturbed, moved, or even affected by the four pathologies above: their kids killing each other, their social bonds collapsing, being powerless to live with dignity, or having to numb the pain of it all away.If these pathologies happened in any other rich country  even in most poor ones  people would be aghast, shocked, and stunned, and certainly moved to make them not happen. But in America, they are, well, not even resigned. They are indifferent, mostly.So my last pathology is a predatory society. A predatory society doesnt just mean oligarchs ripping people off financially. In a truer way, it means people nodding and smiling and going about their everyday business as their neighbours, friends, and colleagues die early deaths in shallow graves. The predator in American society isnt just its super-rich  but an invisible and insatiable force: the normalization of what in the rest of the world would be seen as shameful, historic, generational moral failures, if not crimes, becoming mere mundane everyday affairs not to be too worried by or troubled about. [more]

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr Craig Chittick Reporter: What are your assessments on the results brought about by the high-levels visits and cooperation projects in trade, education and training, culture and other areas between Australia and Vietnam in 2016 and 2017 since the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) organised successfully the 12th National Party Congress?



Ambassador Craig Chittick: Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 45 years ago, Australia and Vietnam have developed a strong political, economic and security relationship. Recent high level visits and enhanced cooperation in new areas such as innovation and infrastructure reflect a deepening of these ties and the importance both countries place on the partnership.

Last year alone saw new agreements and initiatives on issues as diverse as economic reform, illegal fishing, womens empowerment and agriculture. Our existing initiatives also continued to deliver results, for example, the Australian supported Vietnam Climate Innovation Centre (VCIC) helped 17 companies to develop new solutions to climate change challenges in Vietnam with around 45% of these companies run by women. VCIC will work with a further 21 companies in 2018.

Last year also saw an unprecedented number of high-level visits between the two countries including by Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull and the Chairwoman of Vietnams National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. These visits have served to further strengthen relations between the two countries and reflect the growing importance of the relationship. Looking ahead, this trend will continue with PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc to visit Australia in 2018.

In my view, none of this would be possible without the strong people to people links which weve seen flourish under education and cultural exchanges between our two countries. There are over 60,000 alumni of Australian education in Vietnam and around 23,000 Vietnamese students studied in Australia in 2017. And the future looks bright, with our two countries to agree further enhance cooperation in 2018 through a new Strategic Partnership.

Reporter: The year 2018 will mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Could you please tell us about some key celebrations for the year?

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Vietnam (left) met with PM Malcolm Turnbull of Australia in the central coastal city of Da Nang during the APEC Week 2017 in November. (Photo: Internet)

Ambassador Craig Chittick: The 45th anniversary year will be celebrated throughout 2018 with a program showcasing the diversity of the Australia - Vietnam relationship. The anniversary program will include a range of events including cultural, tourism, economic and innovation events.

Earlier this month, I was delighted to mark the beginning of the anniversary year at the Temple of Literature. As a lasting symbol of the friendship between Australia and Vietnam I was proud to present nine information panels which will educate visitors about the Temples remarkable history. We also launched our 45th anniversary logo which was chosen following a public competition late last year. The winning logo was designed by a Hanoi-based amateur designer, who beat 152 other entries and impressed with his modern design reflecting a beautiful and personal memory of Vietnams participation in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Ambassador Craig Chittick and logo contest winner (Photo: Australian Embassy Hanoi)



Cao Lanh bridge in Dong Thap province (Photo: Australian Embassy Hanoi)

Anniversary celebrations will continue throughout the year. Highlights for me in the program include the opening of the Cao Lanh bridge (Dong Thap province) - Australias largest aid project in mainland South East Asia - our Taste of Australia promotion in April, and a series of great Aussie BBQs planned in different provinces around Vietnam.

Reporter: The recent years have witnessed Vietnams political stability, more sustainable socio-economic development, and improved business climate? Do you agree with this view?

Ambassador Craig Chittick: Vietnams economic development over the past thirty years has been nothing short of remarkable. This reflects a commitment to implement market reforms, deepen economic integration and attract new investment from overseas. I have been impressed with the Vietnamese Governments commitment to continue these reforms, including by supporting new trade agreements like the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership and the EU Vietnam FTA.

Vietnamese students in Sydney gathered for traditional lunar new year 2017. (Photo: Internet)

The introduction of the Resolution 19 on improving the business environment has been important too and has helped Vietnam to climb 31 rankings in the World Banks Doing Business Indicators since 2014. There is no doubt this is helping Vietnam become a more attractive place to do business.

However, further reforms are still needed if Vietnam is to increase productivity and avoid the middle income trap. Through our Economic Partnership, Australia is helping Vietnam to address these challenges. For example, we are sharing experiences on Australias competition policy reforms which will help to promote efficiency in the private sector.

Our new Aus4Equality program will promote increased participation for women in the economy, particularly in tourism and agriculture. Through our new Aus4Innovation program, we are also helping to foster a culture of innovation to ensure that Vietnamese business is ready to take advantage of the opportunities presented by Industry 4.0.

Reporter: The Vietnam APEC year ended with the countrys successful host of the APEC Leaders Week in November in Da Nang. Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull had a fruitful bilateral meeting in the week. What do you think of Vietnams performance as the APEC host as well as the outcomes of this significant multilateral event?

Ambassador Craig Chittick: Hosting an APEC year is a huge challenge for any country; there are nine ministerial meetings, five senior officials meetings and countless other working level meetings throughout the year. Vietnam did a fantastic job, even with a few extra challenges thrown in such as a typhoon arriving in Da Nang at the start of Leaders Week.

21 APEC Economic leaders in Da Nang city last November (Photo: Internet)

A highlight for me was the hosting of meetings throughout the country, showing off both Vietnams spectacular natural beauty and unique culture to leaders from around the region.

Vietnam did an exceptional job in defining the overall priorities for 2017: promoting inclusive growth and jobs; increasing regional integration; promoting food security; and human resource development. These are important issues for both developing and developed economies, and align well with APECs core business. Australia had its own priorities and we were pleased to see progress continue on reducing barriers to trade and investment in services and in the Free Trade Agreement for the Asia Pacific.

Importantly, the APEC meetings also delivered on a Leaders Statement that stressed the importance of a multilateral, rules-based trading system. APEC remains an important vehicle to highlight the benefits of free trade and counter the rising tide of protectionism in different parts of the world.

This will ensure that Australia and Vietnam can continue to benefit from deepening economic integration./.

Reporter: Thank you so much!Country

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Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of ZimbabweDaiichi case: thwarted in SC, Singhs may return to Singapore courts

The brothers Malvinder and Shivinder Singh, having exhausted the Indian legal system without success in the Daiichi Sankyo case, on Friday said they are ''evaluating the option to challenge the majority arbitration award in Singapore courts''.

Malvinder Singh and Shivinder Singh

This came after the Supreme Court dismissed their plea challenging Delhi High Court's order allowing Japanese drug maker Daiichi Sankyo to enforce a foreign arbitration award of Rs3,500 crore ($546 million) in connection with its purchase of the Singh brothers' stake in Ranbaxy Laboratories.

The Delhi High Court last month said the Singapore tribunal's award was enforceable in India.

The apex court's decision on Friday means the only way left for the brothers to escape the liability is to pursue their challenge to the original ruling in Singapore.

''We can only say: wish you all the best for Singapore,'' Justice Ranjan Gogoi said when delivering the two-judge bench's verdict.

''We respect today's ruling by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India,'' said RHC Holdings in an emailed statement. ''However, we are disappointed by the decision.''

The holding company owns assets of the Singh brothers, including listed entities Fortis Healthcare and Religare Enterprises.

The top court's decision sets up the endgame in a legal saga that started in 2012 when Daiichi initiated the Singapore proceedings with allegations the brothers concealed key information in the 2008 sale of their generic drug company.

RHC Holdings in its statement reiterated there was no misrepresentation or concealment in the deal. ''The Hon'ble Court decided not to go into the merits of the majority arbitration award,'' it added.

The ruling ''clears the way'' for the award to be executed and for Daiichi to recover the money, Amit Misra of P&A Law Office, which represents the Japanese company in the case, said in a statement.

Malvinder Singh and Shivinder Singh filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court on 7 February 7 after the Delhi High Court allowed Daiichi to enforce an arbitral award of Rs3,500 crore.

RHC Holdings said it believes it has been wronged in the majority Singapore arbitration award.

''The case has hurt and crippled our entire group. We would now like to fight for our Justice and Pride at this point and not for economics only,'' it said.

"These are false accusations made against the respondents four years after Daiichi Sankyo bought Ranbaxy Laboratories (after around 9-10 months of due-diligence),'' RHC Holdings said.

RHC Holdings claimed that the products made by Ranbaxy had always been of good quality, which even the US Food and Drugs Administration maintained in their statements, and hence the products continued to sell in the US.

''Despite all the accusations by Daiichi Sankyo, they made profit from the sale in 2015, which is a clear indication of an intrinsic value of Ranbaxy,'' the holding firm added.

The two-judge SC bench, consisting of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice R Banumathi, dismissed petitions filed the Singh brothers against Delhi High Court's order.

''We are not inclined to interfere,'' said Justice Ranjan Gogoi.

In April 2016, an arbitration tribunal in Singapore had ruled in favour of Daiichi, directing the Singh brothers to pay around Rs2,563 crore in damages, plus interest of 4.44 per cent per year from November 7, 2008 till the date of the award.

The tribunal found the brothers guilty of making false claims in a self-assessment report and of fraudulently misrepresenting and concealing the ''genesis, nature and severity of the US regulatory investigations'' of Ranbaxy when Daiichi bought their 34.82 per cent stake for $2.4 billion in 2008.



On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, the Deputy Foreign Minister talked to the press about Vietnams participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2018.

Deputy FM Dung said at its milestone of the 50th founding anniversary, ASEAN needs to renew itself on the basis of achievements over the past half a century.

In 2018, there is great expectation for ASEAN under the chair of Singapore, one of the most developed countries in the region, he said, adding that Singapore is believed to be capable of leading ASEAN on the right track and making new breakthroughs.

The diplomat stressed that Singapore has set the theme for the year as Resilient and Innovative, towards the goals of promoting and maintaining a rule-based regional order in order to better respond to emerging security challenges, promote economic integration and enhance regional connectivity, thus turning ASEAN into a dynamic place for people to live, work and entertain.

According to the deputy FM, ASEAN countries support those initiatives as they suit the development level and requirements of ASEAN.

Deputy FM Dung noted that Vietnam will take up the role as chair of ASEAN in 2020, following Thailand in 2019. One advantage for Vietnam is that the country can make use of the impetus created in the previous terms of Singapore and Thailand, he said, adding that at the same time, Vietnam will face pressure from great expectations.

Therefore, in order to fulfill the role of ASEAN Chair, Vietnam should make careful preparations well in advance.

In this spirit, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh recently chaired a conference on ASEAN pillar communities to clarify outstanding problems and directions to improve the effectiveness of Vietnams participation in ASEAN.

The first and foremost task is to enhance awareness about participation in ASEAN, so that all ministries and sectors consider it their own mission, thus taking up a more proactive attitude toward the regional bloc, Deputy FM Dung said.

At the same time, Vietnam should continue fine-tuning institutions and apparatus for ASEAN work, improve the coordination among ministries, sectors, local administrations and the business community, and invest more in resources for the work, in order to make greater contribution to the ASEAN Community while protecting the countrys own interests and priorities.

We have had a firm foundation in the ASEAN, and we will do our utmost to succeed in our term as ASEAN Chair, thus helping ASEAN make further strides forward while enhancing our position, Deputy FM Dung said./.Marking a major policy shift, Pakistan will deploy troops in Saudi Arabia under an existing bilateral security cooperation agreement with its close ally, which is involved in a civil war in neighbouring Yemen. The Pakistan army announced the decision to send troops on a ''training and advise mission'' to Saudi Arabia after a meeting between Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Saudi ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Saeed Al-Maliki at the army headquarters in Rawalpindi on Thursday. Meanwhile Pakistan's Senate chairman Raza Rabbani on Friday summoned defence minister Khurram Dastgir to appear before the Upper House of Parliament on Monday with regard to the army's announcement of sending troops to Saudi Arabia. The decision was taken after Senator Farhatullah Babar raised objections to the army's deployment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), terming the development as ''tantamount to bypassing the parliament''. Drawing the attention of the House to the matter, Senator Babar called the deployment to Saudi Arabia an issue of public importance. He said he had also given an adjournment notice to discuss the issue. The Pakistan army said in a statement, "In continuation of ongoing Pak-Saudi bilateral security cooperation, a Pakistan Army contingent is being sent to KSA on training and advise mission. These or troops already there will not be employed outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." It also said the army "maintains bilateral security cooperation with many other Gulf / regional countries". The move comes three years after Pakistan decided against sending soldiers to join the Saudi-led military intervention in strife-torn Yemen. Already around 1,000 Pakistani troops are deployed in Saudi Arabia, a close ally of Islamabad, in various advisory and training roles, the Dawn newspaper quoted officials as saying. There was no official word on the number of additional troops being sent to kingdom but the paper quoted "multiple sources" hinting that it might be the size of a composite brigade. It also quoted army spokesman Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor that the new deployment would be much lesser than a division, and that he would give details later. Saudi Arabia has been pushing fellow Sunni-majority Pakistan to provide troops since 2015 when it joined Yemen's civil war but Pakistan steadily refused, saying it would not become party to any regional conflict. The civil war in Yemen has aggravated with the rebels firing missiles at regular intervals towards the kingdom. The alliance of Muslim nations set up by Saudi Arabia and led by former Pakistan Army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif is also still in an early stage to play any role in the conflict. Bajwa earlier this month visited Saudi Arabia for three days and met officials including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Commander of Ground Forces Lt Gen Prince Fahd bin Turki bin Abdulaziz. It was his second visit to the kingdom in two months and reportedly played a role in Pakistan's decision to deploy troops. Bajwa has been playing a major role in addressing concerns of regional countries and met with ambassadors of Iran and Turkey earlier this week. He also recently visited Qatar and met its emir. The decision may also create tension in Pakistan's internal politics as parliament had passed a resolution at the start of the Yemen crisis that said Pakistan would stay neutral in the conflict.







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Before I get started today, Id like to thank our loyal readers for their patience as I have worked through a rather extended saga of diverticulitis. It started in late January and involved two stays in the hospital as well as an outpatient surgical procedure. It also featured me having a nearly-lethal anaphylactic allergic reaction after the installation of a PICC line to facilitate administering the IV antibiotics I was on to treat some particularly virulent gut cooties that tried their best to take me out. I am back on my feet again finally and will get back to work on Monday.

 Chris

Its another mass school shooting with dead children splashed across every newspaper and computer screen in America. People from all political stripes begin the standard tropes. Thoughts and prayers from politicians. Recriminations of many of those who are so thoughtfully prayerful about the carnage given their lived hypocrisy of taking money from the National Rifle Association (NRA) to ensure their utter failure to do anything to solve this intractable problem. Letter-writing campaigns fire back up again, still warm to the touch from the last campaign just days or weeks ago. Memes like this one trotted out again and again:

Its all so predictable that it makes me want to throw my hands in the air. Given the repetitiveness of this entire charade, it seems pretty clear that the NRA has won. They are the unstoppable force that is running over what ought to be an immovable object: the bodies of dead children slain by a gunman with a rapid-firing weapon. Turns out they arent an immovable object, only a speed bump.

Consider this:

So let's sum up. The Parkland gunman: -Was too young to buy beer

-Was expelled from school for violence

-Got mental health treatment

-Got reported to the FBI for boasting he'd shoot up a school on YouTube And as of 02/13/18, owned an assault rifle totally legally.  Matthew Chapman (@fawfulfan) February 15, 2018

This guy wasnt even committing a crime right up until he slaughtered kids at his former high school.

I am so sick of hearing people who want sensible gun control  thats the majority of us, by the way, including NRA members  whining about hypocritical Republicans who wont do anything. Sick of it. Sick of the memes. Sick of the stats. Sick of the outrage.

What I want to hear from each and every one of you who is justifiably outraged by what is happening is one thing:

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO REPLACE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND YOUR STATE LEGISLATURE WHO WEAKEN EXISTING GUN OWNERSHIP LAWS AND REFUSE TO PASS NEW ONES???

I am not talking to politicians here. Its clear that my voice and the voice of my fellow citizens is completely silent in this conversation when it comes to them. The Republicans in power cant hear me or you or anyone else above the deafening noise of all those sweet, sweet campaign donations.

Im talking to YOU. The voters. The liberals who are outraged and posting memes and stats and clever animated gifs and whatnot.

What are YOU doing to fix this intractable problem? Because I got news for you: this problem isnt intractable. Its entirely solvable. Other countries have done it. But it isnt solvable until we remove the Republicans from power.

Yes, yes, there are a few shitty Democrats in the NRAs pocket, too. But have a look at this list. Over 100 Republicans and only one Democrat. We KNOW which party is standing in the way of stopping the bloodbath that our country is collectively soaking in.

If you arent working to replace every Republican in Congress or your state legislature where you can have an impact then you are just a bystander, culpable in the carnage through your inaction. Your outrage is impotent unless you turn it into action.

So, sign up to support a candidate by knocking doors, making calls, or staffing their office. Make donations. Host a fundraiser. Get some other people involved. Work with a local Indivisible group. If youre fortunate enough to have Democrats representing you, join Swing Left and adopt a less progressive Congressional District or drive to a state legislative district in your state and help them.

None of this changes until Republicans have been removed from power. Even then it will be hard but NOTHING changes without that first crucial step.

So, please, enough of the social media posts and emails. Were all outraged. Were all saddened. Were all sick to death of this preventable and unnecessary death and destruction. Thats easy, anyone can do it. And it changes nothing. Not. One. Thing.

Instead, tell me what you are planning to do. Better yet, tell me what youre DOING. And if youre already doing things, keep on being a warrior! You are a badass and never before has your badassery been more crucial and needed.Capitol/UMe2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the release of Steve Miller Band's debut album, Children of the Future. In celebration of the milestone, a box set featuring remastered, 180-gram-vinyl versions of the group's first nine studio albums will hit stores on May 18.

Titled Complete Albums Volume 1 (1968-1976), the set spans from Children of the Future through the multiplatinum Fly Like an Eagle. All nine albums will be available individually as well. Meanwhile, limited-edition colored-vinyl versions of the albums, with each disc boasting a different color or colors, will be sold individually and as a box set exclusively at uDiscoverMusic.com.

In addition, HD digital audio versions of each of the nine albums are being released, one a week every Friday, beginning with Children of the Future today and winding down with Fly Like an Eagle on April 13.

As previously reported, Steve Miller Band will be touring across North America this spring and summer with Peter Frampton. The trek kicks off April 14 in Victoria, Canada, and is mapped out through an August 25-26 stand in Woodinville, Washington. In honor of the tour, a video of Steve Miller and company performing a cover of Elmore James' "Stranger Blues" with Frampton at an August 2017 in Costa Mesa, California, has been posted at the Miller Band's official VEVO YouTube channel.

Here are all of the Steve Miller Band albums featured in the Complete Albums Volume 1 (1968-1976) box set, as well as the release dates for the HD digital audio versions of the records:

Children of the Future (1968) -- HD digital audio release: February 16

Sailor (1968) -- HD digital audio release: February 23

Brave New World (1969) -- HD digital audio release: March 2

Your Saving Grace (1969) -- HD digital audio release: March 9

Number 5 (1970) -- HD digital audio release: March 16

Rock Love (1971) -- HD digital audio release: March 23

Recall the BeginningA Journey from Eden (1972) -- HD digital audio release: March 30

The Joker (1973) -- HD digital audio release: April 6

Fly Like an Eagle (1976) -- HD digital audio release: April 13

And here's the info of the colored-vinyl versions of each album being released:

Children of the Future -- pink

Sailor -- blue

Brave New World -- yellow

Your Saving Grace -- white

Number 5 -- orange

Rock Love -- transparent green

Recall the Beginning...A Journey from Eden -- red

The Joker -- yellow-green

Fly Like an Eagle -- half black + half bright yellow

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.Fans who want to know Tyga's thoughts on his relationship with his former girlfriend Kylie Jenner can rejoice! The rapper is finally speaking out about his rocky relationship with the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star.

On Wednesday, Feb. 14, Tyga appeared on Complex's morning show, Everyday Struggle. During the interview, T-Rawww revealed where he stands with his now ex-girlfriend Kylie Jenner.

"She has her new life, I have my new life and that's it. There's no bad blood, no problems," Tyga stated.

Jenner and Tyga dated on and off for four years. Rumor has it that the two have been dating since Jenner was 16-years-old but neither of them have ever confirmed.

Their relationship sparked controversy from the start because of their age gap. However they undeniably became one of the most talked about celebrity couples.

Kylie And Travis

Following their break up in April 2017, Kylie was spotted with rapper Travis Scott. The pair never officially confirmed their relationship, but fans believed they were together when they revealed their matching minuscule butterfly tattoos on social media.

In September 2017, rumors surfaced that the couple was expecting their first child together. Both Scott and Jenner never remarked on the comments.

However, after much speculation, Kylie took to Instagram to confirm the arrival of her and Scott's baby girl, Stormi Webster.

"My beautiful and healthy baby girl arrived on February 1st and I just couldn't wait to share this blessing. I've never felt love and happiness like this I could burst!" Jenner wrote.

When asked about Jenner and Scott, Tyga explained that he has no issues with Scott because he and Kylie had split long before they got together.

"I don't feel no type of way. Me and her had been broken up for seven months. He's not in the wrong," Tyga added.

Although they faced several issues and rumors from Tyga's alleged cheating, to an engagement and a possible pregnancy, the "Boss Up" rapper stated that he and Kylie still keep in touch and communicate here and there.

Tyga Releases New Music

For those that may want a more in-depth explanation of Tyga and Kylie's relationship, further details are reportedly on his new album, Kyoto.

According to the "Temperature" rapper, he decided to get personal and express his true emotions.

Kyoto features 14 singles and will include verses from Gucci Mane and Tory Lanez. Tyga's latest album Kyoto is currently available to stream.Following the release of every superhero movie, there is always the question of whether or not it will live up to the hype. Well, Black Panther certainly does!

The 18th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is undeniably one of the greatest Marvel films yet. From passion to innovation to power and even comedy, Black Panther is unlike any movie you've ever seen.

The film is an immediate attention-grabber as it is much about respecting the past as it is about embracing the future.

For those that have been waiting to see King T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) and Erik Kilimonger Stevens (Michael B. Jordan) battle it out for Wakanda, it is definitely worth the wait and probably one of the most groundbreaking moments in the film as it leaves nothing to imagination.

This is definitely a film that is worthy of an IMAX viewing, from the enchanting costumes to the strikingly colorful armor.

Black Panther Is Brilliant

The story begins with Wakanda, a fictional African nation hidden away from the world, behind impenetrable rainforests and unconquerable mountains.

However, it is home to T'Challa, who was recently crowned prince of the country following the death of his father. The film begins with following the death of his father, originally the king of Wakanda, who was murdered during a terrorist attack in Berlin during the events of Captain America: Civil War. T'Challa makes an appearance in Captain America: Civil War as he finds his father dead after the attack.

Now T'Challa must return to the nation to take over the throne as the rightful heir. He then buckles into a futuristic aircraft with his general Okoye (Danai Gurira) and his ex, Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), as he returns home.

T'Challa is probably one of Marvel's coolest protagonists yet as he's charismatic, stylish, and has a different factor from the usual Marvel movies in that we're able to relate to his character. Of course, his capabilities are important as a superhero, but his self-doubt and readiness for a new role reminds us that's he's still human.

'Death Is Better Than Bondage'

For starters, Kilimonger is not the average villain. He instantly avoids the common trap of being "evil for evil's sake." As we've seen in the past, majority of Marvel's villains are out to destroy the world without an actual explanation, but for Kilimonger there's a real message behind his madness.

He certainly doesn't look like the average "bad guy" as he has the physique of a bodybuilder and is self-branded with kill marks to remind us of every single person he's ever taken out, which proves he will remove anyone that stands in his way of his revenge.

Kilimonger is out to take over Wakanda because his father Prince N'Jobu (Sterling K. Brown), a Wakandan spy who is secretly selling vibranium, was killed by King T'Chaka, who must bear the secret of murdering his brother to save the life of Zuri (Forest Whitaker).

Of course, King T'Chaka never reveals this secret, which leads Kilimonger to go after T'Challa because he is the highest in power and oversees the country. This is where we are reminded that this is a Marvel film as the two duke it out for the thrown.

Wakanda Forever

The battle between T'Challa and Kilimonger portrays the typical good guy versus a huge, strong villain. However, the cinematography definitely does it justice.

The best part about it is audiences get somewhat of an appetizer or maybe just a bite of what to expect from T'Challa as he returns in Avengers: Infinity War.

T'Challa moves into the United Nations and addresses a general assembly with a message that Wakanda will no longer isolate themselves from the rest of the world. He promises that Wakanda will be a part of the global community.

However, if Avengers: Infinity War does pick up shortly after Black Panther, then everyone would likely be in shock that an isolated country in Africa is the most technologically advanced place on earth.Awards season is in full swing, with the Oscars weeks away. In the restaurant world, the James Beard Foundation Awards just announced the semi-finalists.

The Food Oscars

Every year, the Foundation recognizes culinary talent across the U.S. with a glitzy awards ceremony, widely considered to be the Oscars of the food world. The announcement of this year's semi-finalists will kick off awards season in the sector proper.

Of the nominees in the list, 28 Chicago restaurants, chefs, and beverage pros made the cut, while there was a solid showing from Bay Area representatives. What's notable about the 2018 nominations, in particular, is the composition of the semi-finalists.

The Best Chef West category, which covers California, Hawaii, and Nevada, sees nine chefs nominated. Of those nine, six are female chefs. This is in vast contrast to last year, where only three out of the 10 nominees were women.

The inclusion of more female chefs on the list of semifinalists is very timely, considering the ongoing and very public discussion about better representation across various industries. This could even be considered the food industry's response to the Time's Up movement.

Top-ranking officials seemed cognizant of diversifying nominees while tackling ongoing issues of culture and sexism.

"If you have concerns about a chef, restaurateur or beverage professional, or about the culture around a restaurant or restaurant group, leave the person or business out of your nominations," read a message to judges, sent last month by the committee in charge of the nominations.

Broadening Their Horizons

The past few years have seen the Restaurant and Chef Awards committee taking steps to broaden the scope of nominations across the board to include more cuisines, more women, and more business operators of color.

Among this year's nominees for the Best Chef West is 2017 Chronicle Rising Star Chef Reem Assil, whose nod comes less than a year after she opened her namesake bakery, Reem's California, in Oakland.

She joins fellow newcomer Rachel Aronow, the new chef at the Alembic in San Francisco, who also popped up in the Best New Chef semifinals previously. Likewise, Diana Davila's Mi Tocaya Antojeria received two nods, while Jennifer Jones Enyart, of Dos Urban Cantina, is up for outstanding pastry chef thanks to her life-changing chocolate cake.

Elsewhere, HaiSous, the ambitious Pilsen restaurant from couple Thai and Danielle Dang, is also nominated. Their inclusion on the list is particularly encouraging, considering their previous restaurant, the well-regarded Embeya, closed prematurely following accusations of misappropriating funds made against co-owner Attila Gyulai. Gyulai was charged with wire fraud by the FBI just last week, after initially fleeing the country when the allegations first became public.

From the list, the Foundation will choose finalists, and they will make the announcement on March 14. The awards ceremony will take place on May 7 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.Diehard Elvis fans will soon get the chance to own a piece of rock 'n' roll history. The King's watch is going up for sale.

So Crazy It's True

A legendary story surrounding Presley finds him strolling into a cocktail lounge at the Sahara, in Las Vegas, in the early sixties and convincing a stranger to trade watches with him. Naturally, both men were wearing diamond-encrusted, hugely expensive timepieces  the King wasn't looking to swap for a standard-issue Casio.

The funny thing is, this story is 100% true. It happened, for real, and it wasn't the only time, either. Now, 50 years later, one of the watches in question is up for grabs.

The vintage Omega bought at Tiffany & Co. in 1961 is due to be auctioned by Phillips in Geneva this coming May 12. Rather than being just any old watch brandished on the wrist of the King, it's a proper milestone piece.

The story behind it is pretty legendary, too. Record company executives presented it to Presley to celebrate a massive 75 million records sold.

Paul Boutros, Senior VP and Head of Watches for the Americas for Phillips, noted how the gift commemorated a huge moment in Presley's life and career.

"This was a big moment in Elvis' life, and this watch celebrates that. He had just been discharged from the Army, which had drafted him at the peak of his career, and even though he was out of the limelight, his records were still selling like crazy," he enthused.

It's certainly an eye-catching piece, a trophy for Presley to wear on his wrist and constantly remind himself of his massive achievement. Crafted in 18-karat white gold, the watch has 44 round diamonds on its bezel and is marked with the iconic Tiffany's stamp, adding to its elegance.

An Eye-catching Timepiece

Boutros considers the watch among the most elegant pieces Phillips has ever carried. For watch-hunters, the aspirational piece of jewelry will be on display this coming weekend, at Watches & Wonders in Miami, along with other select pieces from the upcoming auction.

The watch is being consigned by the nephew of the same man who traded his Hamilton timepiece for Presley's Omega all those years ago in the Sahara, adding to its super-fan value.

It's still in great condition, too, Boutros notes.

"The watch has hardly been worn over the years; it's in excellent condition and, given the crispness of the engravings on the case back, doesn't look like it's been polished," he explained.

The nephew apparently approached Phillips following their successful, and similarly-themed, Paul Newman Daytona auction last October. He chose them as he didn't feel other houses understood the value of the watch or the importance of the history behind it.

Phillips estimates the watch will go for anything from $50,000 to $100,000 in Geneva. The purchaser will also receive a certificate of authenticity from the Elvis Presley Museum at Graceland, as well as a book, entitled Elvis, which includes photos of Presley wearing the piece.

Although it's likely there are hundreds of watches scattered around that Presley traded for over the years, it's unlikely another will draw the same level of interest as the Omega. Aside from being simply a stunning piece of jewelry, the story behind it and its connection to the King are undeniable.Kandi Burruss shared her thoughts on her mother, Mama Joyce, meeting with Porsha Williams. Plus, Kim Zolciak Biermann and NeNe Leakes still couldnt get it together in their recent comments about Bravos The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

While Mama Joyce and Williams lunch date actually ended on a positive note, Burruss said she wasnt too happy about how things went down. Mama Joyce had reached out to Williams to speak with her amid Williams and Burruss fallout. Williams repeated a rumor to Burruss that Burruss and her husband, Todd Tucker, wanted to sexually assault Williams. It turned out to be false, but Burruss still hasnt come around to forgiving Williams.

Still, that wasnt the reason Burruss said she was uncomfortable with Mama Joyce and Williams meeting with each other.

I didnt like that she went to meet with Porsha behind my back, but more than that, I was disappointed that my mom said negative things about Todd while she was there.

During the scene, Williams was blaming Phaedra Parks for starting the rumor. Mama Joyce brought up the fact that she was livid with Parks when she introduced Burruss to her husband. Tucker has been accused of being an opportunist in the past.

As for Leakes and Zolciak, they went off on each other in their Bravo blogs. In the most recent episode, Zolciak backed out of a girls trip because she wasnt allowed to bring her husband, Kroy Biermann. She said because of her recent medical scares, she needed him by her side for the trip to the Caribbean. If he couldnt go, she wasnt going either.

Totally not surprised Kim didnt come, said Leakes. Her rules are very different from everyone elses.

As for Zolciak, she wrote her own statement and said she didnt just make excuses to get out of the vacation.

I had a stroke, which NeNe clearly likes to mock and fun of, said Zolciak.

She pointed out that her stroke happened when she was traveling from Los Angeles to Atlanta. Considering this, shes afraid to fly on long flights. She added she didnt trust any of the ladies to look out for her, except Sheree Whitfield.

Thinking about that brought the risks to the forefront of my mind, and those risks werent worth the rewardThe ladies were saying that I always have an excuse not to go on trips, but its not an excuse when its my reality! You call them excuses, I call them facts!

The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs on Bravo Sundays at 8:00 p.m.

Be sure to keep up with Enstars for the latest.Justice K S Jhaveri, Executive Chairman, Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority (RSLSA), and Judge, Rajasthan High Court, appointed me as the honorary prison commissioner to study the open prison system of Rajasthan. I visited 15 open prisons across the state and conducted detailed interviews of 428 convicted prisoners who live in these prisons. It took me seven months to conduct the study and submit my report The Open Prisons of Rajasthan, to RSLSA (Chakraburtty 2017).

The RSLSA submitted the report to the Supreme Court. Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta ordered all states to study the recommendations made in pages 2729 of the report and submit their response to the apex court.1 The Court ordered the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to hold a meeting of the director general (DG) and inspector general (IG), prisons, of all the states and union territories, within the first week of February, and further ordered the MHA to invite the amicus curie, Gaurav Agarwal, and the researcher (this author) to the meeting. The next hearing is scheduled on 21 February.

A conventional or closed prison is an opaque institution while open prisons are radically different in principle, appearance and operations. Open prisons are prisons without bars. Unlike closed prisons, the open ones do not have huge boundary walls, tall watch towers or massive metal gates. The prisoner is allowed liberty, that is, s/he is free from restraint imposed through confinement. An open prison is a trust-based system where the prisoner is kept under minimal surveillance. Prisoners live with their family and have the choice to leave the prison campus during daytime. However, they have to return before the evening roll call. They are also encouraged to be independent and bear their own expenses and are thus allowed to take up jobs outside the prison campus and earn a living.

Bandi Panchayat

The Rajasthan open prisons are selfgoverned institutions; with each having its own bandi panchayat. It consists of not less than five and not more than seven prisoners, keeping in view the number of prisoners in a camp. The panch or the members are elected by the prisoners from within them and the term of each panchayat lasts for a year.

The panchayats deal with minor acts of omission/commission/misconduct of the prisoners and may impose minor penalties on the defaulters or curtail facilities. Such penalties are effective only on the approval of the officer-in-charge of the camp. Apart from being responsible for maintaining discipline in the prison, the members of the panchayat also manage the administrative details of the prison. They conduct two daily roll calls of the prisoners, maintain the attendance register, collect electricity bills from the prisoners and ensure overall hygiene. In the case of a severe breach of discipline or misconduct, the bandi panchayat may also decide to send the prisoner back to a closed prison (Chakraburtty 2017: 9).

Types of Open Prisons

There are about 30 open prisons in Rajasthan (Chakraburtty 2017: 10) and more are under construction. The operational models of these prisons vary in that there are no fixed rules about the location, structure and capacity of the open prisons. Some of the open prisons provide both lodging and employment. Whereas other open prisons provide only lodging and the prisoners have to look for their own employment.

The state also has government-run agricultural research institutes like the Bikaner Agricultural Farm (Chakraburtty 2017: 17) which houses prisoners along with their families. The prisoners are allotted work regularly at the research institute and are paid on a monthly basis. They are free to go out of the open prison during daytime. The prisoner is provided with a small residential quarter, where s/he lives with family. The quarters have running water and electricity. In some open prisons the electricity is not provided for free but at a subsidised rate.

In the Sanganer Open Prison (Chakraburtty 2017: 12), prisoners are not provided with jobs inside the open prison campus, instead they have to look for jobs themselves. Prisoners go out of the open prison during daytime to earn a living and return to the prison by the end of the day before the evening roll call.

Some open prisons are built immediately next to the closed prison, at times even sharing the same boundary wall as that of the closed prison such as in Alwar and Sikkar. Whereas, in some places like Sanganer the open prison is about 30 km away from the Jaipur central jail. Sri Ganganagar district has an open prison in Jaitsar, which is 125 km away from the Sri Ganganagar district jail.

The capacity of the open prisons too varies. Sanganer is the largest open prison in the state, housing nearly 400 prisoners along with their families in one campus, whereas an open prison in Bikaner houses only 12 prisoners.

Open prisons do not require huge land area or expensive building construction. A minimum of 300 sq feet per prisoner is sufficient for keeping a prisoner along with his/her family members. The prisoner quarters can be built in an agricultural farm and/or small apartments (two to three floors each) can be raised as prisoner quarters in order to save on land area. Also, most district and central jails have land area surrounding their boundary walls. Small quarters can be built in these areas. There is no rule on how and where an open prison should be built. For example, in Jaitsar Open Prison, prisoners stay in temporary makeshift clay huts, while in Alwar Open Prison, they live in small cottages (Table 1).

Several gaushalas (cow shelters) also employ prisoners and let them stay on the premises along with their families (Chakraburtty 2017: 22). This is a fairly new system, which was started over the past two or three years. These gaushalas are privately-run institutions and more often than not prisoners are paid wages way below the standard minimum wages. However, not many prisoners complain about this, but it is also manipulative in nature because it makes forced labour appear as a compelling choice. Forced labour is a contemporary form of slavery, which has no place in a democracy.

Cost-effective

In open prisons, the prisoners earn their living and provide for themselves which means that the prison department does not have to spend on the prisoners food, medicine, water, electricity and wages. The estimated annual expense for the Jaipur central jail (closed prison) is18,72,60,000, which is a little over 78 times (Chakraburtty 2017: 4) the annual expense of the Sanganer Open Prison, which is24,00,000 (Table 2). If only the staff salaries are compared in the two set-ups, we find that the government spends 60 times more on staff salaries in closed prisons as compared to the open ones. Due to the much higher number of prisoners in the Jaipur central jail (2,200) as compared to Sanganer (400), the cost-per-prisoner in a closed prison appears less at7,093 per month, but even then it is 14 times more than the expense in Sanganer, where it is500 per prisoner per month.

During the time of the study the Jaipur central jail had a staff strength of 339, whereas the sanctioned one was 404. The total expense on the staff salary per month in Jaipur central jail is1,20,55,000 whereas in the Sanganer Open Prison it is2,00,000 per month. Expense on staff salary in Jaipur central jail is 60 times more compared to Sanganer Open Prison. At the time of the study Sanganer Open Prison operated on only one staff per 80 prisoners. Whereas in Jaipur central jail (closed prison), one staff was required for every six prisoners. The comparison shows that open prisons are less resource-intensive.

Security-related expense forms a major part of the prison expense. Prison staff such as wardens and jailors form a part of prison security. Since open prison is a trust-based system and is operated on the principle of self-governance by the prisoners. Thus, utility of prison staff for security purposes is negligible in open prisons. It must be understood here that the prison security expense is not incurred for the safekeeping of the prisoner but to keep the prisoner under surveillance for the safekeeping of the society from the prisoner. When the same group of prisoners who are now staying in an open prison were staying in a closed prison, similar amount of money was spent on them for security purposes due to the perceived threat they posed or as presumed by society.

The expenditure on security per prisoner is a nebulous one, founded on a hypothetical assessment of threat to society rather than on an objective analysis of maximum utilisation of optimal resources. Incremental spending in closed prison structures provides diminishing utility on the infrastructural layout, creating excessive overhead resource burdens. On the other hand, an open prison system not only humanises penal measures but strives towards a more economically viable model of incarceration.

According to the Rajasthan open prison rules, only convicted prisoners can stay in open prisons. After spending considerable amount of time in a closed prison and after being convicted, the prisoners are sent to an open prison. As per prison rules they are eligible to stay in an open prison if they have shown good conduct, have completed five years inside a closed prison and have been convicted. In reality, however, due to lack of space in open prisons, these prisoners are shifted to open prisons based on seniority in the waiting list. It takes an average 10 years of wait/stay in a closed prison before his/her serial number comes to be shifted to an open prison.

Out of the 428 prisoners interviewed, 206 were moved to open prison after completion of an average of nine to 11 years in a closed prison. Of these, 91 were shifted after completion of 11 to 13 years in a closed prison and 120 prisoners came to the open prison after completion of seven to nine years in a closed prison. Eight prisoners were also found to have spent 13 to 15 years in a closed prison before being shifted to an open prison and only three prisoners came to the open prison after spending five to seven years in a closed one. There is a huge population of prisoners in the closed prisons of Rajasthan (elsewhere in India too) who are eligible for stay in open prisons but are languishing in the closed ones. More open prisons are required to accommodate eligible prisoners.

Kinds of Offences

There is a long waiting period before a prisoner gets shifted to an open prison and therefore prisoners who are convicted for serious offences, usually under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (murder) are the ones who become eligible for stay in open prisons. However, the nature of the crime does not determine whether the prisoner is capable of reform or not. The objective of having an open prison is to encourage good behaviour among inmates. They get an opportunity for social reintegration and to make a new beginning. Thus, the rate of recidivism is negligible in open prisons.

A majority of prisoners are found to have perpetrated an unplanned or accidental offence. Out of the 428 interviewed prisoners (Chakraburtty 2017: 4) 347 had no previous police record. This means that 81% of the prisoners were first-time offenders. From the detailed interviews or prisoner narratives, it was observed that most conflicts that they were involved in were land-related ones and which resulted in grievous hurt and injury, leading to subsequent death. Some accidental deaths have happened during a drunken brawl. Out of the 428 prisoners, 244 prisoners, that is, 57% or more than half of the prisoners were convicted for an offence that was unplanned or had occurred accidentally.

Again, 175 prisoners (41%) had perpetrated other types or pre-planned offences, which included extortion and offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Seven prisoners or 2% had also perpetrated revenge killing. (In these calculations, dowry-related deaths or deaths caused due to domestic violence have not been included in the unplanned or accidental offence). What needs to be observed here is that even if a prisoner had perpetrated a revenge killing or was convicted under the NDPS Act, after coming to an open prison, no new offence was perpetrated. The objective of incarceration is reform; thus if a prisoner has not reoffended while staying under minimal surveillance in an open prison, then the purpose of incarceration has been served. Also, if imprisonment is seen as a punishment then incarceration could be considered as the final punishment. And incarceration does not necessarily have to be in a closed prison, since an open prison is also a prison.

Escape and Recidivism

It was found that prisoners rarely escape from open prisons and that a majority of the reported escapes are actually cases of breach of the parole rule. Parole is temporary leave from prison, in which he or she is allowed to go out of prison for a fixed number of days and return on a fixed date. In most of these instances of breach of parole, the police had rearrested the prisoner from his/her home. On prison record these instances are recorded as absconding prisoners, because on the non-return of the prisoner on the scheduled day, the prison officials file an absconding report with the police. Though these are hardly instances of prison escape, yet on record it appears as if the prisoners are absconding when they have actually breached or jumped parole. Breach of parole is considered an offence, but it cannot be counted as recidivism. The rate of recidivism is negligible in open prisons.

It must be pointed out here that obtaining parole involves a highly complex process. The prisoner has to give a personal bond, a secondary bond is given by a guarantor, the police issue clearance and permission is required from the district magistrate before it is granted. It is a time-consuming and expensive process. Some of the problems related to procuring parole are listed below.

To avail parole, prisoners have to agree that on breach of the parole terms and conditions, the bond amount will be forfeited. The bond amount, incidentally, is not paid in cash. The bond process entails that the prisoner agrees to a certain amount of money and thereafter, gets a guarantor.

Guarantors Are Loan Sharks

A guarantor is a third-party individual, who stands guarantee for the prisoner (Chakraburtty 2017: 42) but does not pay the bond amount in cash. He or she submits certain documents of assets owned, such as house registration or land registration documents as security or guarantee against the bond amount. In case of breach of parole terms and conditions (if the prisoner escapes or re-offends), the bond amount gets forfeited as a fine or disciplinary measure.

The presence of a guarantor is used as a pressure tactic on the prisoner since the former is expected to be a family member or a friend or fellow villager. Thus the prisoner is obliged to return to prison after the parole term is over and to maintain good conduct while s/he is out on parole. However, not all prisoners own land or have individual or family assets. Thus more often than not, the guarantor is a man from the same village, who is a moneylender. This practice in the parole system creates loan sharks who exploit the prisoners vulnerability and poverty in a number of ways.

Not all prisoners have family members or family members who are willing to stand as a guarantor.

Others do not have the property or financial wherewithal to stand as one. Some prisoners complained that they own small huts in a village, which is their only asset. The land and the clay hut combined does not amount to the50,000 that is required. Others pointed out that since their family members have already used land and assets to take bank loans, these cannot be reused as bond guarantee. For a prisoner belonging to another state, the situation becomes more complex because s/he requires a guarantor from Rajasthan and not the home state because the prison administration does not have jurisdiction in

another state and in case of breach of parole no measures can be initiated against the guarantor. Previously, prisoners from other states were not sent to stay in open prisons, for fear that in the absence of family or guarantor they would be more likely to escape. Starting with the past decade, however, prisoners belonging to other states are being sent to stay in open prisons.

Steep Bond Amount

To avail of parole a prisoner has to provide two bond amountsone for himself and the other for the guarantor. The bond amount varies from district to district and is subject to the discretion of the district magistrate. In some districts the standard bond amount is as high as1,00,000.

Every 11th month from the last parole availed, the prisoner becomes eligible for another one. Some prisoners moved the high court complaining of the high bond amount and were granted relief but every prisoner cannot afford to move the high court once every year. Other prisoners informed that they had stopped applying for parole after coming to an open prison. Going out on parole and the successful completion of multiple paroles, is usually seen as proof of improvement in the behavioural conduct of the prisoner and helps at the time of permanent parole and remission (sentence reduction). Earlier, the Rajasthan prison rules also suggested that only on successful completion of three paroles, that is, 20 days in the first year, 30 days in the second year and 40 days in the third year, will the prisoner become eligible for permanent parole.

For prisoners staying in open prisons, three paroles are not mandatory to become eligible for permanent parole. However, due to differences of opinion among the decision-makers in the prison administration and members of the executive committee this new rule has not been put into practice. However, subjecting prisoners to steep bond amounts along with getting guarantors goes against the principle of ensuring good conduct in prisoners. Rather, it creates an atmosphere of discrimination within the psychosocial ecosystem of the prisoner population with the more privileged prisoners availing more number of paroles and becoming eligible for permanent parole and remission.

Police Report

The prisoners pointed out that the police often give negative reports, which ensure that their parole application gets rejected by the district or state parole committee. The prisoners feel that the police file such negative reports to evade conducting a fresh inquiry and update the records. They also pointed out that when they became eligible for the first parole, almost all of them received negative police reports. It is an unwritten rule that the first police report is always a negative report and the police submit mechanical negative reports based on the crime that took place years ago and not on the conduct of the prisoner when the parole application is filed.

The above problems related to parole explain why inmates breach parole, that is, extend their stay at home. The number of parole breaches may be interpreted as an argument in defence of the open prison system too. The number of parole breaches indicates that though open prison is a system of minimal restraint imposed on the prisoner, they choose to stay out of it.

It is commonly argued that open prisons give liberty to inmates and there is negligible restriction imposed on the prisoner, so imprisonment in an open prison does not amount to punishment and the idea of justice is hurt from the perspective of the victim. But this desperation of the prisoner to stay out of open prison shows that it is a prison and psychologically does affect the sense of liberty. Though this is a negative argument it may be used in defence of the open prison system, from the perspective of crime and punishment.

The following are the suggestions from the report to which the states have been told by the Supreme Court to submit their responses (Chakraburtty 2017: 27): (1) Open prisons are not resource-intensive and are cost-effective. Thus it is suggested that more open prisons be created across the state (country) to decrease the burden on the exchequer of the state. According to comparative data between Jaipur central jail and Sanganer Open Prison:

(i) Open prison requires only one prison staff per 80 prisoners. (ii) Open prisons are 78 times cheaper than closed ones. (iii) Cost per prisoner in Jaipur central jail is7,094 per month. (iv) Cost per prisoner in Sanganer Open Prison is500 per month.

(2) Construction of a minimum of two new open prisons in every district:

(i) An open prison can be constructed anywhere. It does not require huge campus area. Every closed prison can have an open prison built immediately next to its boundary wall. For example, the Alwar Open Prison, where a cluster of small quarters are built immediately outside the boundary wall of the closed prison.

(ii) It can be built as a prisoner village like that of the Sanganer Open Prison.

(iii) It can be built as a housing complex with each building of three or four floors. A prisoner family can be accommodated in a flat of 300 sq ft.

(iv) Open prisons can also be constructed in remote areas where a cluster of clay huts can be built on an agricultural land or a forest area, for example, the Jaitsar Open Prison. Prisoners labour may be utilised in agricultural or forest preservation work.

(v) Open prisons can be started inside university campuses, where prisoners can stay with their families and work inside the campus like the Bikaner CRC.

(3) More prisoners to be kept in open prisons: Prisoners eligible for stay in open prisons should not be restricted to the category of convicted prisoners. Undertrials too should be allowed into these prisons they are an experiment in minimal restraint. It is a trust-based system built on the principle of self-governance and self-discipline, which is rehabilitative in nature. If this system is encouraged and expanded across the country it will have the potential to not only change the prison system but also have a significant impact on crime, recidivism, and eventually help eradicate retributive form of punishment.

Earlier, more often than not, harsh restrictions were imposed on prisoners like bar fetters and solitary confinement (till they were declared unconstitutional), not because they were pre-eminently necessary to maintain order and ensure security in jails but from a vague and unfounded fear of jail breaks and prisoners posing a threat to society in general. The open prison experiment would give an opportunity in making a graded and progressive response to the extent of restraint and surveillance necessary to contain prisoners in an inclusive society. Or in other words prisoners may, ordinarily in the first instance, be kept in open jails and only if they show tendencies towards violence or signs of plotting a jailbreak, they may be confined to more restrictive regimes of closed jail systems.

The case for undertrial prisoners stands on a better footing than for convicts, as the former are merely suspects who are incarcerated pending an investigation/trial. Restrictions on this category of prisoners ought to be kept at a bare minimum, so that a fine balance may be struck between the fundamental right to liberty, presumption of innocence on the one hand and the requirement of fair and just investigation, protective rights and security of the victim and public interest on the other. This goal can be best achieved in an open jail scenario as the very idea of staying under minimal restriction regime would have the least impact on the basic human rights of undertrials.

At present, only convicted prisoners are kept in open prisons. It is a common practice and belief that if undertrials are sent to open prison they will escape. However, prior to the setting up of open prisons prisoners were kept under severe restraint, in the belief that if they were left unchained and not put behind bars they would become violent and kill each other or escape. When open prisons were started it was observed that prisoners did not escape even when they were kept in the open without any security barricades.

Similarly, if accused persons are aware of the possibility of being shifted to an open prison, there is a possibility of decrease in the number of absconding persons. Even if bail is not granted to undertrials (which would be the first priority), they are at least not put behind bars.

Reduction in Overcrowding

On an average, there are nearly 70% undertrial and 30% convicted prisoners. A lengthy trial is one of the reasons behind the huge population of undertrials in prison. More often than not, undertrials go through a long period of incarceration before being convicted. Thus it would be humane to transfer the convicted prisoners to open prison. A reduction in the number of convicted prisoners from the closed prison will also lead to reduction in overcrowding.

Under the immediate context types of undertrial prisoners (UTP) recommended for stay in open prisons:

(1) Woman UTP should be considered for stay in open prison to sustain ties with family and children: (i) pregnant woman prisoners, (ii) women with young children, (iii) women with disabilities, and (iv) aged prisoners.

(2) Aged and physically infirm prisoners (male/female) should be allowed to stay in an open prison so that they can avail of the care and support of their family members.

(3) Nature of offence: (i) onetime offence, (ii) accidental offence, (iii) petty offence, and (iv) low risk prisoner.

(4) Accused persons who have surrendered in court or police station and courted imprisonment.

(5) Cases of prisoners undergoing extradition requests. In cases of persons undergoing extradition trial in countries India has signed extradition treaty with the suggestion of keeping the accused in an open prison. (The United Kingdom governemnt rejected two extradition appeals due to poor conditions prevalent in Indian prisons.)

(6) Equal pay for equal work: Prisoners face an endemic problem of being paid lower wages compared to other workers for the same work. Be it in a gaushala or a farm, the pay/wages situation remains the same. The reason for paying the prisoner less as per some members of the institutions is that, since they are provided housing they are paid less.

A prisoner has to stay in the open prison because of legal compulsions. Imprisonment is imposed by the law. To deduct rent from the stay in prison from the wages of a prisoner is a form of exploitation. The prisoners must be paid equal wages for equal work. And in case the institution only employs prisoners, then it should maintain standard sector rate for their wages, which should not be below the minimum wages standardised by government.

(7) Access to legal aid: Though presently only convicted prisoners stay in open prisons they require legal services related to parole rejection, higher bond amount, transfer to another state or another district and similar such issues. Thus it is suggested that legal aid clinics be set up even in open prisons.

(8) Access to health facilities: Health camps should be arranged in open prisons.

(9) Prisoners often face discrimination when it comes to work and remuneration. Also, the prison superintendents should speak to employers and negotiate work shift timings because prisoners have to return to prison before the evening roll call.

(10) Prisoners should be allowed to choose the kind of work. They should be kept in open prisons in areas where there are avenues to utilise their skills.

(11) Prisoners should be kept in their home districts.

Relevance of Open Prisons

According to R K Saxena (Chakraburtty 2017: 1), the Rajasthan open prisons are so in the true sense of the term. The first open prison in Rajasthan was set up in Durgapura near Jaipur city, around 195455. Prisoners were allowed to stay with family members and allowed choice of work.

If the purpose of incarceration is to prepare an inmate for social reintegration and social readjustment it would be wrong to cut him off from society for long. One of the prerequisites of social reintegration is the continued interaction between the prisoner and society. There are two ways of maintaining social interaction. One, by allowing the society to come inside prisons and two, by allowing prisoners to go outside the prison. Open prisons provide for this kind of social interaction between the prisoner and society.

Closed or traditional prisons have high security, yet prisoners escape. But that does not prompt the administration to shut them down. Prisoners staying in open prisons know that escaping from there would mean that if they are rearrested, they would be sent back to a closed prison. The fear of this prevents them from trying to escape. Prisoners in open prisons had maintained a fairly good conduct while they were in the closed ones no matter what their offence was. Thus it was rare that a prisoner would escape from an open prison.

Ajit Singh, a former director general of police (DGP) of Rajasthan, observes:

Contrary to common belief prisoners are not a homogeneous group of violent and hardened criminals. To understand a prisoner, it is important to learn about his family, the circumstances of the offence, whether the offence was planned, accidental, whether committed by a onetime offender or by a hardened habitual offender. (Chakraburtty 2017: 4)

Those unfamiliar with the system (Open Prison), may presume that such a system would give rise to prison escapes. The data, however, does not corroborate this fear. There is a general acceptance of the Open Prison Rules among the prisoners. A prisoner allowed the extent of liberty that comes with being in an Open Prison would not normally want to lose it and be a fugitive again. Escape would imply re-arrest and then face life back in confinement of a traditional prison. Thus prison escapes are rare when it comes to Open Prison.

I was commissioned to inspect all the prisons of Bihar (Chakraburtty 2015a) and visited all the 58 prisons there and also interacted with 30,070 prisoners (on record) (Chakraburtty 2015b). After witnessing the horror behind bars in the closed prisons, the open prison system of Rajasthan seemed unreal. It is difficult to believe that such an alternative imprisonment system has existed in the country for decades, yet it was not emulated elsewhere in the country. The Rajasthan open prison system is a successful and sustainable alternative to the existing closed prison system. It is cost-effective, leads to social reintegration of the prisoners, reduction in prison over-crowding, the rate of recidivism is negligible and most importantly, it is a humane system, which upholds the right to life and dignity of the prisoner.

It is also unfortunate that such a unique and successful prison system has been subjected to neglect in its home state. The Rajasthan open prison model and parole system should be expanded and implemented across the country.

There is no logical explanation to continuing a closed prison system that is not only inhuman but also expensive. Funds with the public exchequer should be utilised to combat problems of malnutrition, public health, primary education and not be exhausted over perceived sense of crime and punishment. Open prisons must become the norm and the closed prison must remain a rare exception.

Note

1 Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s) 406/201Re-Inhuman Conditions in 1382 Prisons, pp 89, http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/supremecourt/

2013/18545/18545_2013_Order_12-Dec-2017.pdf.

References

Chakraburtty, Smita (2015a): Prisons of Bihar, Bihar State Legal Services Authority, http://bslsa.bih.nic.in/prision-report.html.

 (2015b): Horror behind Bars, Frontline, http://www.frontline.in/cover-story/horror-behind-bars/article8017626.ece.

 (2017): The Open Prisons of Rajasthan,

Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority, http://www.rlsa.gov.in/pdf/OpenPrisonBook17.PDF.Hi guys,

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He explained: "They're all chess moves. It's about how do I get to a certain place? How do I build an audience overseas? How do I build an audience in China? Well Marvel does China, so I need to make sure I do one of them. That's the way it is. I am always trying to find a way to reverse-engineer where I want to go. And for me it's Tom Cruise, Will Smith, Denzel Washington and Leonardo DiCaprio. I want to be a mixture. Yeah, it's happening. I'm getting everything I ever wanted. And now it's just about keeping going."Marcel Somerville and Gabby Allen live apart a few days a week.

Marcel Somerville

The 'Love Island' couple - who met and fell for one another in the villa last summer - moved into a home together in Bethnal Green, East London, just before Christmas but like to have a few days where they're separate so they can miss each other.

Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, the 32-year-old hunk said: "I'm at the flat quite a lot but sometimes I come back here to Chigwell for a couple of days just to make tunes and she'll go off and do what she's doing for those couple of days and then I'll go back and we miss each other. And you need that at the start of your relationship."

And, although they've moved in together, the Blazin' Squad rapper wants to slow down their relationship because they were living in each other's pockets in the villa.

He said: "Me and Gabs see ourselves getting married in the future but when you get together in the villa it's so intense where you're literally living with that person 24/7.

"You share a bed straight away on your first date but we've made a conscious effort to slow it down - not slow it down too much because we want to keep the passion."

But Marcel is already thinking up ways he can pop the question to Gabby.

He explained: "I know that I want to pop the question at some point but I don't want to rush into it because I don't want to take away from building the relationship. I might take moments from the villa that meant something to us and maybe use them for parts of the proposal - I could be wearing the same clothes I wore on a certain date."MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 02/16/18 -- Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd (TSX: OR)(NYSE: OR) ("Osisko") announces that, pursuant to the terms of a share purchase agreement entered into with Alamos Gold Inc. on February 16, 2018, Osisko has acquired direct ownership of 25,300,000 common shares of Corex Gold Corporation ("Corex Gold") at a price of $0.13 per common share (the "Transaction").

Immediately prior to the closing of the Transaction, Osisko did not have beneficial ownership of, or control and direction over, any common shares of Corex Gold. Immediately following the closing of the Transaction, Osisko owns beneficial ownership of, or control and direction over 25,300,000 common shares of Corex Gold, representing approximately 16.12% of Corex Gold's issued and outstanding common shares. Osisko does not own any other securities of Corex Gold.

Osisko acquired the common shares described in this press release for investment purposes and in accordance with applicable securities laws, Osisko may, from time to time and at any time, acquire or dispose of shares and/or other equity, debt or other securities or instruments (collectively, the "Securities") of Corex Gold in the open market or otherwise, and reserves the right to dispose of any or all of its Securities in the open market or otherwise at any time and from time to time, and to engage in similar transactions with respect to the Securities, the whole depending on market conditions, the business and prospects of Corex Gold and other relevant factors.

A copy of the early warning report to be filed by Osisko in connection with the Transaction described above will be available on SEDAR under Corex Gold's profile. This news release is issued under the early warning provisions of the Canadian securities legislation.

About Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd

Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd is an intermediate precious metal royalty company focused on the Americas that commenced activities in June 2014. Osisko holds a North American focused portfolio of over 130 royalties, streams and precious metal offtakes. Osisko's portfolio is anchored by five cornerstone assets, including a 5% net smelter return royalty on the Canadian Malartic mine, which is the largest gold mine in Canada. Osisko also owns a portfolio of publicly held resource companies, including a 15.5% interest in Osisko Mining Inc., a 12.8% interest in Osisko Metals Incorporated, a 12.7% interest in Falco Resources Ltd. and a 32.7% interest in Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd.

Osisko's head office is located at 1100 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montreal, Suite 300, Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2S2.

Contacts:

Vincent Metcalfe

Vice President, Investor Relations

Tel. (514) 940-0670

vmetcalfe@osiskogr.com



Joseph de la Plante

Vice President, Corporate Development

Tel. (514) 940-0670

jdelaplante@osiskogr.com



NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 17, 2018 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Wells Fargo & Company ("Wells Fargo" or the "Company") (NYSE: WFC) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, for the Southern District of New York, and docketed under 18-cv-01318, is on behalf of a class consisting of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Wells Fargo securities, seeking to recover compensable damages caused by defendants' violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you are a shareholder who purchased Wells Fargo securities between January 13, 2017, and July 27, 2017, both dates inclusive, you have until April 16, 2018, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here to join this class action]

Wells Fargo is a diversified financial services company providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, leasing, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Company operates through physical stores, the internet, and other distribution channels worldwide.

On September 8, 2016, the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published a Consent Order with a Stipulation to its entry signed by Mary Mack, Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank, detailing fraudulent practices at the Company, which were centered on a corporate culture intent on growing its cross-selling opportunities and unlawfully and without its customers' consent opening millions of unauthorized deposit and credit card accounts, and imposing a fine of more than $185 million.

The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Wells Fargo had charged more than 800,000 customers for unneeded auto insurance, the expense of which pushed approximately 274,000 Wells Fargo customers into delinquency and resulted in almost 25,000 vehicle repossessions; (ii) the foregoing conduct, when it came to light, would foreseeably subject Wells Fargo to heightened regulatory scrutiny and/or enforcement actions; and (iii) as a result, Wells Fargo's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On July 27, 2017, post-market, The New York Times published an article entitled "Wells Fargo Forced Unwanted Auto Insurance on Borrowers." Citing an internal report prepared for Wells Fargo's executives, the article reported that "[m]ore than 800,000 people who took out car loans from Wells Fargo were charged for auto insurance they did not need," that "[t]he expense of the unneeded insurance...pushed roughly 274,000 Wells Fargo customers into delinquency and resulted in almost 25,000 wrongful vehicle repossessions," and "that the bank owed $73 million to wronged customers."

Following publication of this article, Wells Fargo's share price fell $1.41, or 2.58%, to close at $53.30 on July 28, 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.

SOURCE: Pomerantz LLPMOR106 was generally well tolerated in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients

83% of patients (5 out of 6) at the highest dose reached at least 50% improvement per the atopic dermatitis area and severity index (EASI-50) at week 4

Pooled data across dose cohorts showed 72% improvement of AD symptoms at week 12 compared to baseline in patients treated with MOR106

Phase 2 development of MOR106 planned to be initiated in first half of 2018

Mechelen, Belgium and Planegg/Munich, Germany; 17 February 2018; 10.00 CET -Galapagos NV (Euronext & NASDAQ: GLPG) and MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX; OTC: MPSYY) announced the presentation of more detailed results of the Phase 1 study with the investigational IL-17C antibody MOR106 in AD patients at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting 2018 in San Diego, CA, USA, held from 16-20 February. Initial study data were reported in September 2017. In the study, MOR106 showed first signs of activity and durable responses and was generally well tolerated in AD patients.

Professor Diamant Thaci MD, Director of the Institute for Inflammation Medicine at the University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein Campus Luebeck and Independent Advisor for the study, presented results of the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1 trial, evaluating single ascending doses (SAD) of MOR106 in healthy volunteers, and multiple ascending doses (MAD) in patients with moderate-to-severe AD in the late breaking abstracts session at AAD 2018. In the MAD part, 25 patients received four infusions once weekly of either MOR106 (at the doses of 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg body weight, respectively) or placebo in a 3:1 ratio. Patients were followed for 10 weeks after the end of the treatment period.

"Moderate-to-severe AD is a chronic, debilitating disease affecting millions of patients worldwide with a clear unmet medical need for safe and efficacious treatments," said Professor Diamant Thaci MD. "Both the first signs of clinical activity and the sustained response lasting up to two months after treatment discontinuation support further clinical development of MOR106."

In the MAD part in AD patients reported at AAD 2018, all adverse drug reactions observed were mild-to-moderate and transient in nature. No serious adverse events (SAEs) and no infusion-related reactions were recorded. MOR106 exhibited a favorable pharmacokinetics profile with dose-dependent exposure.

At the highest dose level of MOR106 (10mg/kg body weight), in 83% of patients (5 out of 6) an improvement of at least 50% in signs and extent of AD, as measured by EASI-50, was recorded at week 4. The onset of activity occurred within two to four weeks, depending on the dose administered.

Pooled data across dose cohorts showed that patients treated with MOR106 achieved an EASI improvement compared to baseline of 58%, 62%, 72%, and 64% at week 4, 8, 12, and 14, respectively. For patients receiving placebo, the EASI improvement was 32%, 40%, 38%, and 50%.

MOR106 was generated using MorphoSys' Ylanthia antibody platform and is based on a target discovered by Galapagos. IL-17C is a cytokine which has been related to dermal inflammation and has been shown to be distinct from other members of the IL-17 cytokine family. MOR106 is the first publically known human monoclonal antibody against IL-17C in clinical development worldwide. MOR106 is an investigational drug and its safety and efficacy are yet to be established.

It is expected that Phase 2 development with MOR106 will be initiated in the first half of 2018.

Details of the oral presentation on MOR106 at AAD 2018:

Abstract #6753 - MOR106, an Anti-IL-17C mAb, a Potential New Approach for Treatment of Moderate-to-severe Atopic Dermatitis: Phase 1 Study.

Session F061 - Late-breaking Research: Clinical Trials

Date: Saturday, February 17 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM PT (10:00 PM - 0:00 AM CET)

Place: Ballroom 20A

Presenter: Professor Diamant Thaci MD, Director of the Institute for Inflammation Medicine at the University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein Campus Luebeck

About AD

Atopic dermatitis (AD), the most severe and common type of eczema, is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease that causes severe itch, dry skin and rashes, predominantly on the face, inner side of the elbows and knees, and on hands and feet. Scratching of the afflicted skin leads to a vicious cycle causing redness, swelling, cracking, scaling of the skin and an increased risk of bacterial infections. Lichenification, thickening of the skin, is characteristic in older children and adults. The National Eczema Association estimates that atopic dermatitis affects over 30 million Americans or up to 25% of children and 2-3% of adults. 60% of AD patients are diagnosed in the first year of life, and 90% of patients have a disease onset before age five. Symptoms commonly fade during childhood, however, approximately 10-30% of the patients will suffer from atopic dermatitis for life. A smaller percentage first develop symptoms as adults.

About IL-17C

IL-17C is a cytokine that is broadly expressed in human skin pathologies and is described as an important modulator of the innate immune system of the skin, distinct from other members of the IL-17 cytokine family. IL-17C plays a crucial role in human inflammatory conditions, including skin diseases.

About MOR106 and the antibody collaboration

MOR106 is an investigational fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody currently being developed for treatment of inflammatory diseases. It is the first publicly disclosed human monoclonal antibody designed to selectively target IL-17C in clinical development worldwide. MOR106 arises from the strategic discovery and co-development alliance between Galapagos and MorphoSys, in which both companies contribute their core technologies and expertise. Galapagos has provided the disease-related biology including cellular assays and targets discovered using its target discovery platform. MorphoSys has contributed its Ylanthia antibody technology to generate fully human antibodies directed against the target and contributes full CMC development of this compound. Galapagos and MorphoSys share research and development costs equally, as well as all future economics.

About MorphoSys

MorphoSys a late-stage biopharmaceutical company devoted to the development of innovative and differentiated therapies for patients suffering from serious diseases. Based on our proprietary technology platforms and leadership in the field of therapeutic antibodies, we, together with our partners, have participated in the development of more than 100 therapeutic product candidates currently in R&D, 28 of which in clinical development. Our broad pipeline spans two business segments: Proprietary Development, in which we invest in and develop product candidates, and Partnered Discovery, in which we generate product candidates for our partners in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries against targets identified by our partners. MorphoSys is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol MOR. For regular updates about MorphoSys, visit http://www.morphosys.com.

HuCAL, HuCAL GOLD, HuCAL PLATINUM, CysDisplay, RapMAT, arYla, Ylanthia, 100 billion high potentials, Slonomics, Lanthio Pharma and LanthioPep are registered trademarks of the MorphoSys Group.

About Galapagos

Galapagos (Euronext & NASDAQ: GLPG) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company specialized in the discovery and development of small molecule medicines with novel modes of action. Galapagos' pipeline comprises Phase 3 through to discovery programs in cystic fibrosis, inflammation, fibrosis, osteoarthritis and other indications. Our target discovery platform has delivered three novel mechanisms showing promising patient results in, respectively, inflammatory diseases, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and atopic dermatitis. Galapagos is focused on the development and commercialization of novel medicines that will improve people's lives. The Galapagos group, including fee-for-service subsidiary Fidelta, has approximately 600 employees, operating from its Mechelen, Belgium headquarters and facilities in the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, the US and Croatia. More information at www.glpg.com.

Contact





MorphoSys AG

Anke Linnartz, Head of Corporate Communications & IR

Jochen Orlowski, Associate Director Corporate Communications & IR

Alexandra Goller, Associate Director Corporate Communications & IR

Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-404

investors@morphosys.com

Galapagos

Investors:

Elizabeth Goodwin

VP IR & Corporate Communications

+1 781 460 1784

Paul van der Horst

Director IR & Business Development

+31 71 750 6707

ir@glpg.com

Media:

Evelyn Fox

Director Communications

+31 6 53 591 999

communications@glpg.com

Galapagos forward-looking statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements pertaining to Galapagos, including, among other things, statements regarding the mechanism of action and safety and efficacy profile of MOR106, or regarding the timing, progress and/or results of clinical studies with MOR106. Galapagos cautions the reader that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which might cause the actual results, financial condition and liquidity, performance or achievements of Galapagos, or industry results, to be materially different from any historic or future results, financial conditions and liquidity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, even if Galapagos' results, performance, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which it operates are consistent with such forward-looking statements, they may not be predictive of results or developments in future periods. Among the factors that may result in differences are that Galapagos' expectations regarding its MOR106 development program may be incorrect, the inherent uncertainties associated with competitive developments, clinical trial and product development activities and regulatory approval requirements (including that data from Galapagos' ongoing clinical research program may not support registration or further development of MOR106 due to safety, efficacy or other reasons), Galapagos' reliance on collaborations with third parties (including its collaboration partner for MOR106, MorphoSys), and estimating the commercial potential of MOR106. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other risks can be found in Galapagos' Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings and reports, including in Galapagos' most recent annual report on form 20-F filed with the SEC and other filings and reports filed by Galapagos with the SEC. Given these uncertainties, the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of publication of this document. Galapagos expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this document to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, unless specifically required by law or regulation.





Ph1 MOR106 at AAD (http://hugin.info/133350/R/2169675/835687.pdf)



This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: Galapagos NV via Globenewswire

About 80 percent of Indias citizens have no health insurance cover as a result and our countrys health spend is just around 4 percent of GDP,

The national health protection scheme announced in the 2018 Budget is a remarkable health insurance plan being offered anywhere in the world. Planned to cover 10 crore families, covering 50 crore citizens with a family cover of 5 lakhs rupees is a bold step towards addressing health inclusion. This, if done well, will bring almost 40 percent of our population under a national protection plan.

While the steps taken by the government towards offering a national plan is commendable, it also needs to tighten the entire value chain of insurance agencies, health care providers, TPAs, primary health centres, diagnostic companies, medical practitioners amongst others. Many of citizens covered for health insurance today have multiple horror stories in claims processing and corrupt practices by hospitals and others towards this issue.

Legitimate claims have been often been turned down without reasons and unscrupulous elements have made claims without sometimes possessing even a valid insurance plan. About 80 percent of Indias citizens have no health insurance cover as a result and our countrys health spend is just around 4 percent of GDP, by far the lowest amongst the BRICS economies.

Interestingly, health cover business grew nearly 24 percent year-on-year to Rs 30,765 crore for 2016-17, compared with 22.4% growth in 2015-16 and 15.6% growth in 2014-15.

How can we improve this?

First, encourage health research aggressively. Morbidity studies for health insurance needs to be extensively done to ensure better regulation of health policies, better penetration, customized policies and probably even lower premiums. In the last morbidity survey done by Insurance Information Bureau of India, it has some interesting findings like:

1) Individual and individual floaters account for 90 percent of number of polices but only 44 percent of amount of premiums.

2) Average premium per policy was Rs. 13,303 against a claim per policy of Rs 10,333. Age-band of '46-55' is highest claim making group both in number and claim paid amount. 41% of the total claim records are from top 11 states only.

3) Number of claims of males is more than that of females for all age-bands except for the age-bands '16-25' and '26-35' where they are less by 1 percent and 2 percent respectively.

4) The top six highest number of claims paid categories are from disease groups 'Infectious', 'Clinical findings', 'Urology', 'Digestive', 'Pregnancy' and 'Injury', in that order which account for 64 percent in number and 53 percent in claim paid amount.

5) 23 percent in number accounting for 15 percent in claim paid amount were paid for hospital stay 'Less than 1' day.

*Data as per IIB survey report 2011-2012

The above indicates an opportunity for detailed and in depth research, and should also be a feeder to actuaries for designing custom products. There has been very little innovation on the health insurance product side.

Second, bring tighter regulation on all service providers. An area which needs attention is regulating TPAs. Currently they are loosely regulated, and it might make sense to have insurance companies oversee them as the first line of oversight, followed by the insurance regulator IRDA themselves, just like how brokers are monitored by stock exchanges followed by SEBI. This will reduce malpractices and also bring transparencies in claim settlements. For example hospitals often charge more than prescribed rates, the moment they know that the patient is insured. This needs to be fixed by publishing standard rate cards for most interventions.

There are companies offering mutual insurance in the health sector who have made some progress. Mutual health plans are usually operated by self-help groups, who approve all claims and thru community networks bring in members. Frauds are minimum and operators conduct extensive preventive health camps to pre-empt avoidable illness. These are interesting models and must be studied for best practices.

Third, encourage grassroots innovations. Interesting progress has been made in the last few years where low cost medical devices, wearable tools, use of telemedicine, use of AI in patient management have been made.

Data indicates that there has been substantial mortality improvement in all countries in the last few years. Micheal Saze, an actuarial expert rightly points out in a paper that there is substantial decreases in both the birth rate and the death rate in India. The death rates are decreasing more sharply than the birth rates. As a consequence, the percentage population below age 15 has been on a continuous decline. Because the total fertility rate in India is still around 2.4, there are still increases in both the percentages of the working and the retired population  thereby increasing need for healthcare and health insurance.

Health care challenges in India includes increase in health care costs, high financial burden on poor, lack of long-term and nursing care for senior citizens, increasing burden of new diseases and health risks, lack of adequate preventive care, poor public health infrastructure, etc. A combination of research and regulation can help implement health insurance better and cover larger number of citizens under the primary health care.

(The writer is MD & CEO, BSE Institute)BJP hits back at Congress, saying PNB scam happened during UPA government, accuses opposition party of spreading lies

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In the complaint, PNB had named three diamond firms -- Diamonds R Us, Solar Exports and Stellar Diamonds -- saying they had approached it on January 16 with a request for buyers' credit for making payment to overseas suppliers...

Last week, PNB had lodged an FIR with CBI stating that fraudulent LoUs worth Rs 280.7 crore were first issued on 16 January. At the time, PNB had said it was digging into records to examine the magnitude of the fraud.

A look back at how the scam was carried out

A retired PNB officer and a clerk have been booked by the CBI for helping Nirav Modi, his wife and relatives, a Times of India report said. PNB's retired deputy manager Gokulnath Setty and single window operator Manoj Kharat had issued eight letters of understanding (LoU) worth over Rs 280 crore to Niravs company just three months before the formers retirement, the report said.

At the bourses, Gitanjali Gems plunged nearly 19 percent on reports over its involvement in the PNB fraud case in morning trade after the company came under scanner of various investigating agencies following the Punjab National Bank's declaration of nearly Rs 11,400-crore fraud. The stock today opened on a bearish note at Rs 48, then lost further ground to touch a low of Rs 47.50, down 18.94 per cent over its previous closing price.

The regulators are set to spread their net overseas as it has been found that credit was availed from various bank branches in Hong Kong on the basis of Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) issued by Punjab National Bank.

The Reserve Bank and the Sebi are likely to approach their counterparts in Hong Kong for cooperation in the matter relating to the whopping over Rs 11,400 crore fraud at public sector lender PNB where several entities have come under the scanner, officials said on Wednesday.

This is the second consecutive day of decline for the stock. It had slumped 10 percent yesterday. The state-owned bank said it had detected a USD 1.77 billion (about Rs 11,400 crore) fraud in which billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi allegedly acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs) from one of its branches for overseas credit from other Indian lenders.  PTI

Shares of Punjab National Bank today extended its fall for the second straight session, falling as much as 9 percent in morning trade after the lender said it has detected a USD 1.77 billion fraud. The stock opened at Rs 137, then hit a low of Rs 133.45, down 8.47 per cent over its previous closing price. On the NSE, the stock opened at Rs 137.60, then fell 8.57 per cent to Rs 133.35.

Times Now reported that Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra said that she never got paid for a diamond advertisement.

Quoting sources, India Today reported that ED will also issue a lookout notice in the coming days.

What was Nirav Modi doing at WEF 2018 with Narendra Modi, asks Congress

The CBI FIR itself lists out the details of the accused. The primary name is that of Nirav Modi who is listed as a partner in M/s Diamond R US, M/s Solar Exports and M/s Stellar Diamonds.

The CBI FIR dated 31 January, 2018 was based on a complaint filed by Avneesh Nepalia, the Deputy General Manager at Punjab National Bank. It alleged that the partnership firms mentioned in the complaint had gained an amount of Rs 280.70 crore rupees while the bank suffered a wrongful loss of the same magnitude.

'No meeting between Nirav Modi and Narendra Modi in Davos'

He addressed the row on Nirav Modi's photograph with Narendra Modi at the World Economic Forum 2018 in Davos, asking how there was no background check done on those posing with the prime minister.

Speaking to India Today, Congress leader Sanjay Jha said that the alleged fraud involving jeweller Nirav Modi "is a serious scam of epic proportions".

This is a serious scam of epic proportions, says Congress' Sanjay Jha

The AAP then asked why Nirav Modi was "part of a delegation" that accompanied the prime minister and sought response from the saffron party on the row. "We think he(Narendra Modi) is busier with speeches and speaking his 'Mann ki Baat'," one of the AAP leaders said.

Speaking at a press conference, members of the Aam Aadmi Party mentioned Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi, and claimed that before any such businessman becomes a fugitive, he is "seen hanging around the BJP office".

Why was Nirav Modi part of Narendra Modi delegation at WEF, asks AAP

India Today reported that among the 40 properties raided by CBI in connection with the alleged fraud involving Nirav Modi, 9 properties belonged to the jeweller.

He said, "I want to say one thing clearly. No one will be spared. This will be regardless of the status and the status of the accused,"

"Till now, both the CBI and ED has taken speedy action in the wake of complaint made to the CBI. Till now, CBI has raided nine properties belonging to Nirav Modi: 3 in Surat, 4 in Mumbai and 2 in Delhi. Assets worth 13,000 has been seized and action has been taken to revoke his passport. Look out notice has been issued," Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Wednesday.

No one will be spared, says Ravi Shankar Prasad

He further said that "very good photographs of the Congress leaders with Mehul Choksi is available with us." "But we don't want to stoop to that level," he added.

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at the Congress for linking Nirav Modi's fraud case to Narendra Modi. He said, "The BJP takes strong offence by calling someone 'chota Modi'. It is derogatory and scandalous. Nirav Modi was not the part of the delegation at Davos. He reached there on his own."

"Jinke ghar aise sheeshe ke ho jo tukde tukde hochuke hai, woh dusre ke ghar pathar na feke(Those who live in house made of broken glass should not throw stones at others' residences," Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said at a press conference.

"Narendra Modi's shadow will not be harmed because of Randeep Surjewala or Congress. He is loved by the people. And what kind of language is Congress using? 'Chota Modi' jibe is shameful, condemnable and utterly irresponsible," Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Wednesday.

CBI looking into second complaint filed by Punjab National Bank

PNB gives CBI a list of 150 Letters of Undertaking which were fraudulently issued to transfer money to firms associated with Nirav Modi, PTI quotes officials as saying.

The agency issued a look out circular against all the four after registering the first FIR against them, they said.

His brother Nishal, a Belgian citizen, also left the country on 1 January, while wife Ami, a US citizen, and business partner Mehul Choksi, who is the Indian promoter of Gitanjali jewellery chain, departed on 6 January, the officials said.

Billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi had left the country on 1 January much before the CBI received a complaint from Punjab National Bank on 29 January about a Rs 280-crore fraud, officials said.

Nirav Modi left India with family in first week of Jan

The bank has sent two more complaints to the CBI on Tuesday, saying the scam was worth more than Rs 11,400 crore.

Nirav Modi, a regular feature on the lists of rich and famous Indians since 2013, was booked by the CBI, along with wife, brother and business partner Choksi on 31 January, for allegedly cheating the state-run Punjab National Bank to the tune of Rs 280 crore.

The diamantaire is an India citizen but his brother Nishal and wife Ami are not Indian nationals, the officials said.

Nirav Modi, who is believed to be in Switzerland, was also present in a group photo of Indian CEOs with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, issued by the Press Information Bureau, in World Economic Forum on 23 January, six days before the bank sent its first complaint against him to the CBI, according to the officials.

Nirav Modi is an Indian citizen by his brother and wife are not, say officials

Congress' press conference should actually be directed against UPA govt, BJP national spokesperson Nalin Kohli tells Firstpost

The CBI has sought revocation of the passports of billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi and his partner Mehul Choksi who are the main accused in alleged fraudulent transactions, officials told PTI. Nirav Modi, who holds an Indian passport, left India on 1 January, while his brother Nishal, a Belgian citizen, departed from the country on same day.

NDTV reported that Nirav Modi is staying in a suite at the JW Marriott's Essex House in Manhattan, New York, a short walk away from his luxurious Madison Avenue jewelry retail store.

"This (diffusion) is less formal than a notice but is also used to request the arrest or location of an individual or additional information in relation to a police investigation. A diffusion is circulated directly by an NCB (CBI in this case) to the member countries of their choice, or to the entire INTERPOL membership and is simultaneously recorded in Interpols Information System," the website of Interpol says.

The ED on Friday issued summons for appearance to billionaire diamond merchant Nirav Modi and his business partner Mehul Choksi in connection with its money laundering probe, officials said. They said both Modi and Choksi were summoned under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and asked to depose within a week's time. The notices were handed over to the directors of the firms of the two businessmen as they were not in the country.

Secondly, ED investigators want to know whether these LoUs were even once  at any point of time over the past seven years  returned to the originating bank branch for verification, and if so, whether or not these transactions were flagged in the annual audit report of the banks foreign exchange department.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials said they were baffled when the top boss of Punjab Nationa Bank claimed that the bank was both whistle-blower and victim. The ED has sought documents related to SWIFT payments as such transactions are verified to ascertain FEMA provisions. The verification sometimes takes a week before the final clearance is granted

ED officials sceptical of bank's whistle-blower claim, warn of more skeletons in closet

Eight employees of Punjab National Bank suspended; total number of suspended employees now stands at 18

"When I opposed the Gitanjali Gems loan proposal, my fight with Allahabad Bank board got really intense and dirty. They tried to persuade, mollify and even threaten me but I said such loans to the corporates without recovery will only add to more non-performing assets. I also wrote to the Reserve Bank of India and secretary, financial services in the Ministry of Finance in my effort to warn them of a massive scam looming large. My request was to take immediate preventive action and keep a watch on all the companies linked to Choksi's firm, as they were accumulating loans without making payments to the bank," Dubey said.

Dinesh Dubey, a journalist by profession, exclusively spoke to Firstpost exposing the deep-rooted corruption in the banking system and how the UPA government turned a blind eye to illegitimate loan sanctions.

UPA govt could've avoided Nirav Modi scam in 2013, says ex-Allahabad Bank director who blew whistle against loan

Although Firstpost could not independently verify the news, there have been several reports suggesting that Priyanka's management had alleged that she wasn't paid the amount the two parties had agreed on.

A spokesperson for Priyanka Chopra said: "There are speculative reports that Priyanka Chopra has sued Nirav Modi. This is not true. However, she is currently seeking legal opinion with respect to terminating her contract with the brand in light of allegations of financial fraud against Nirav Modi."

Sources in the Finance Ministry are saying that the recapitalisation of the Punjab National Bank will not be impacted by the fraud case

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) must feel like Cassandra gifted with the ability to tell the future, but cursed that her prophecies would never be believed (she is a character in the Greek myth The Iliad, and sister of one of the main protagonists, Hector, Prince of Troy). The latest example is the Rs 11,000 crore plus fraud perpetrated in a Mumbai branch of Punjab National Bank.

Banks will have to be equipped with better risk management as NPAs pile-up

It also said none of the overseas branches of India-based banks had shared with PNB any documents or information at the time of extending buyers credit to the companies. PNB said Nirav Modi had written to the bank but had yet to offer any formal proposal for a repayment.

Banking sources have said several other banks who have extended loans based on the PNB LoUs that were later found to be fraudulent are at risk of losing money. Some of the banks say PNB is liable to pay since it issued the LoUs, although PNB, in a 12 February caution notice addressed to chief executives of 30 banks, including two foreign banks, said the other banks also have a share in the blame as they overlooked certain Indian central bank rules.

PNB has said the transactions are contingent in nature, and it will decide on the liability based on the law and the genuineness of underlying transactions, reported Reuters.

CBI has registered an FIR against Gitanjali Group of companies of Mehul Choksi (Nirav Modi's uncle and alleged partner) based on complaint of PNB

Validity of passports belonging to Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi suspended, both given a week's time to respond

"If they fail to respond within the stipulated time it will be assumed that they have no response to offer and the MEA will go ahead with the revocation," the ministry said in a statement.

The external affairs ministry suspended with immediate effect the passports of diamantaire Nirav Modi and his business partner Mehul Choksi for four weeks. The ministry gave them one week to respond why their passports should not be revoked.

"The PNB management is blaming other banks for not sharing details of their due diligence done on Modi's business. The $1.8 billion fraud is done on non-fund based transaction. The PNB management has to clarify what kind of due diligence it had done while lending to Modi's firms a sum of Rs 1,700 crore," CH Venkatachalam, General Secretary at All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) said.

He also asked the PNB management to reveal what kind of due diligence was done on diamond trader Nirav Modi and his companies before extending a loan of Rs 1,700 crore.

Only the naive would believe that just two officials were involved in the $1.8 billion fraud in Punjab National Bank (PNB) and that the whole bank was in the dark for the past seven years, said a top leader of a major bank union.

The Sebi and stock exchanges have begun analysing the stock market trade details of all entities associated with Modi including Choksi, who has already been under scanner for various cases including a brokerage default incident.

Incidentally, in July 2013, NSE in consultation with Sebi had debarred Gitanjali Gems chief and main promoter Mehul Choksi among others from trading, for securities market violations relating to trading in his company.

Sebi accords utmost importance to market conduct and integrity. Anyone found violating the securities laws will be dealt with firmly, a regulatory official said.

Markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has launched a probe into trading and disclosure related issues in the matter of Punjab National Bank and Gitanjali Gems in connection with over Rs 11,000 crore banking fraud allegedly perpetrated by absconding Nirav Modi.

Rahul Gandhi attended Nirav Modi's event in same month Dinesh Dubey was forced to resign, alleges rebel Congress leader Shehzad Poonawalla

Bank loan frauds have steadily increased as well, reaching Rs 176.34 billion in the latest financial year from Rs 63.57 billion in 2012-13, according to the data, which doesnt include the PNB case.

The figures expose the magnitude of the problem in a banking sector already under pressure after years of poor lending practices. Bad loans surged to a record peak of nearly $149 billion in 2017.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, obtained through an RTI request, shows state-run banks have reported 8,670 loan fraud cases totalling Rs 612.6 billion over the last five financial years up to March 31, 2017.

Investors may have been shocked when one of Indias biggest banks disclosed a $1.77 billion fraud by a billionaire jeweller, but the central bank has recorded data that shows the problem runs far deeper and wider.

Nirav Modi postponed plans to flee country due to demonetisation, CNN-News18 quotes CBI sources as saying

"UDAAN word is Narendra Modi's buzzword, Any scamster can flee and fly," said Surjewala said.

At a press conference, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that in the past 24 hours, the biggest fraud in India has been exposed. He added that the scam is worth Rs 21,306 crore

The Congress then played a video of one of Narendra Modi's 2015 address as evidence that he is familiar with Choksi. "Why is the Centre denying it?" asked Surjewala.

"From 7 May 2015 to May 2017, everybody knew about the fraud. They were even informed that this fraudster will flee. It is likely that Prime Minister Narendra Modi knows Mehul Choksi," Randeep Surjewala said on Thursday.

Ex-CBI director says it could take months or even years to track Nirav Modi's overseas money trail

Whistleblower Dinesh Dubey says he had sent dissent note against Gitanjali Gems to Centre, RBI in 2013

Sidharth Malhotra denies reports on cancelling contract with Nirav Modi, says it ended a year ago

Everyone in Modi government was aware of the fraud being committed

"Rahul Gandhi was at Nirav Modi's 2013 exhibition and immediately Allahabad Bank gets notified about the fraud. Dubey wrote to all the important ministries in the Centre at that time. Finance secretary instead suggested Dubey to resign. This is the story. We want to ask, who pressurised the finance secretary? This is a UPA 'ghotala'," Prakash Javadekar said at a press briefing.

"All the wrong loans were sanctioned under the UPA government and it was passed on to us. We have not stopped any of the investigating agencies. This is one of the scams under the UPA. There is a difference between government scams and bank scams. They even have a party scam. It has come to light because of our alertness and our efforts to make banking systems transparent," Union minister Prakash Javadekar said at a press conference.

Nirav Modi scam has come to light because of our efforts: Centre

Asserting that the Centre is "making sure" that the money will be recovered, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said, "What UPA did was destroy the banking system. Coal scam, 2G, CWG are all government scams and they are not comparable with Nirav Modi scam(which allegedly began at a bank)."

Ex-CBI director says not necessary Nirav Modi will be extradited because of Interpol notice

Revenue secretary says Dinesh Dubey resigned in 2013 saying he was 'unhappy over something'

CBI carries out searches in 26 places across India after naming 3 companies in fresh FIR registered in PNB fraud case, reports PTI

At a press briefing, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that Nirav Modi and other Indian CEOs were at Davos on their own. He further added that the Narendra Modi's impromptu meeting was not in any way an endorsement of Nirav Modi or his business.

MEA clarifies Nirav Modi was at Davos in his personal capacity

MEA says Nirav Modi cannot move out of the country after suspension of passport

"The fact that an officer of the level of deputy manager, as is being reported in the media, could single-handedly wreck not only the country's second largest PSU bank but also several other lenders, shows how the risk management system is lacking in these entities and how a chain of command system was not there or was not followed, said the chamber.

The alleged fraudulent transactions from a single branch of the bank show how vulnerable Indian banks, especially PSBs, have become, with a dangerous potential contagion in the country's financial system, Assocham said.

India Inc on Friday called for swift and strict action against the companies who have allegedly defrauded Punjab National Bank, while expressing concern over the vulnerability of lenders.

During the investors' conference call, the bank chief reiterated that the incident was a standalone case. "We are looking at gaps in our existing controls, systems and trying to control them," he added.

He said the bank was going through some problems but "we will fix it", adding that the bank "will not spare anyone" involved in the crime.

"We will get back to normalcy within six months. Bank has the size and capacity to come out of the problem," Sunil Mehta, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Punjab National Bank. told a investors' conference call on Friday.

Despite the huge blow of $1.8 billion fraud, India's second largest public sector bank is hopeful of coming out of the problem in the next six months, according to its top official.

We will get back to normal within six months: PNB chief

"Some ripple effects are bound to happen and it (the fraud) will have some psychological impact on the mind of loan advancers. Whenever a banker is financing someone, he will be more cautious to check out whether there is any possibility of fraud or not. This could impact credit flow to the industry or lead to delay in extending advances," Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) Regional Chairman (Eastern Region) Prakash Chandra Pincha said.

However, they also said that in the wake of the fraud, the entire gems and jewellery industry should not be blamed or branded as "risky" industry.

Jewellery traders and exporters are apprehending that "ripple effects" of the $1.8 billion fraud involving billionaire diamond trader Nirav Modi's companies could make lenders more cautious and impact credit flow to the industry to some extent, officials said here on Friday.

"But with developments in the company going off-track, how much will it hold is something that time will decide," he added.

"Price-wise, the way the stock of Gitanjali Gems has slipped and the kind of circuit that we are seeing, probably the sequence may continue for some days. From a support perspective, Rs 29-30 is a support," Sacchitanand Uttekar, Assistant Vice-President at Research for Tradebulls, said.

Stocks of Gitanjali Gems, the luxury jewellery brand promoted by the main accused Nirav Modi's maternal uncle and business partner Mehul Choksi, plunged 19.94 percent to close at Rs 37.55 per share.

Following the $1.8 billion fraud detected by the Punjab National Bank (PNB), stocks of jewellery company Gitanjali Gems on Friday plunged almost 20 percent  hitting its lower circuit  while PNB's shares closed over 2 percent lower.

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has summoned senior officials from the Reserve Bank of India, the finance ministry and the Chief Vigilance Officer of Punjab National Bank (PNB), next week to assess how the fraud reported slipped past all the checks and balances in the system, The Hindu reported.

The Income Tax Department on Saturday provisionally attached 29 properties and 105 bank accounts of the diamond merchant Nirav Modi, his family and firms as part of its tax evasion probe

Nirav Modi may be holding dual citizenship, according to The Tribune report. Modi and his brother Nishal grew up in Belgium. According to intelligence sources Nishal had surrendered his Indian passport and acquired Belgian citizenship, added the report.

CBI on Saturday arrested Gokulnath Shetty former deputy manager of Punjab National Bank, Manoj Kharat, single window operator at PNB and Hemant Bhat, Authorised Signatory of the Nirav Modi Group of Firms, said media reports.

Congress leader Kapil Sibal, while taking dig at Prime Minister Narendrs Modi, said that the Chaukidar of the coutry is busy these days. "The situation which has arose today is because Chaukidar is sleeping. How can one say that the prime minister, finance minister did not know about the PNB fraud."

Sibal said that banks gave loan even though there was no collateral. He asked the government why action was not being taken against loan defaulters. "If India's economic situations worsens, investors will lose trust. Nivar Modi scam can be called ease of doing business. We don't want this kind of ease of doing business," said the congress leader.

Finance ministry knew that the country was being looted, says Kapil Sibal

PM should disclose who travells with him on official tours: Sibal

He alleged that in 2015 there was a complaint file regarding the PNB issue but PMO replied that this had been 'dealt with'. "How was it dealt it? This proves that they were aware of all this," asked Sibal

Sibal said that with ill-intentions, the BJP brought India's economy to its knees. "I challenge BJP to come and talk about UPA's governance and their governance," said the congress leader.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday conducted raids at Nirav Modi's franchise Gitanjali Gems Store in Durgapur, West Bengal. The ED also seized diamond and jewellery worth Rs 3 crore in raids at Gitanjali and Nakshatra Jewellers in Jaipur.

The agency said that many old LoUs too were renewed in 2017. Nirav Modi and his relatives were rolling over the LoU money by getting them renewed, added the report.

The CBI has said that a majority of the Letters of Understanding (LoUs) in the Punjab National Bank fraud were either issued or were renewed in the bank in 2017-18, The Indian Express reported.

Most of Nirav's Modi's LoU's were issued in 2017-18: CBI

"Original sin in Nirav Modi fraud was committed in 2011. The Letters of Understand (LoU) hold good only for 90 days. But the accused PNB officer kept rolling the LoUs till he got retired. He didn't put details in banking system which lead to no one detecting the scam," Sitharaman said.

BJP leader and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday, in a press conference, said that Congress' allegations against the Centre are misleading people. She said that repeating lies is a strategy being adopted by Congress.

Nirmala Sitharaman said that the entire might of the government has been invoked to nab Nirav Modi. She said that Centre put all concerned authorities in action immediately after the PNB fraud came to light.

"Adwait Holding owns a commercial property at Lower Parel, as it does elsewhere, which was rented by Firestone many years ago. Neither Adwait nor my family has any interest with Nirav Modi or Firestone. Firestone vacated Parel's Kamala Mills premises in December 2017," Singhvi further explained.

"Nirmala Sitharaman and her colleagues are liable to civil and criminal defamation for making ignorant and patently false allegations," Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said according to ANI. "Neither my wife, sons nor me have anything whatsoever to do with Gitanjali or Nirav Modi's companies. The company was a tenant of a Kamala Mills properties owned by Adwait Holdings in which my wife and sons are directors," he added.

Neither my wife, sons nor me have anything whatsoever to do with Gitanjali or Nirav Modi companies, says Abhishek Manu Singhvi

Three Punjab National Bank officials arrested by CBI on Saturday produced before Special CBI court, reports ANI

"NDA's cheap sense of politics has reached ludicrous and ridiculous proportions," Abhishek Singhvi says on Twitter in retaliation to Nirmala Sitharaman's charges against him

"When will the finance minister and the prime minister come clean on the Nirav Modi scam?" Congress asks on Twitter

ANI reports that the three accused are Gokulnath Shetty, then deputy manager of Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Manoj Kharat, SWO (single window operator) of PNB and Hemant Bhat, Authorised Signatory of the Nirav Modi Group of Firms.

"Nirav Modi took away Rs 22,000 crores. The prime minister can teach kids how to take an exam for one and a half hours but he can't tell the country who is responsible for the money Nirav Modi took away. The prime minister must answer what is he going to do about it," Congress president Rahul Gandhi said after the Congress steering committee on Saturday. Rahul also rejected the BJP's charge that he has personal ties with Nirav Modi, saying they are trying to divert the issue.

Enforcement Directorate conducted further searches at 21 locations across India in Nirav Modi case and seized diamonds, gold, precious stones, metals and jewellery worth Rs 25 crore, reports ANI. Total seizure now stands at Rs 5,674 crore, ED added.

Speaking to CNN-News18, former executive of Gitanjali Gems, Santosh Srivastava slammed Mehul Choksi, who is now at the eye of the storm for siphoning off Rs 11,400 crore from Punjab National Bank. "Choksi created an unprofessional institution. It was an one man show at Gitanjali. He threatened me when I decided to tell the truth," Srivastava said.

WATCH: Srivastava says he was threatened by Choksi

WATCH: Srivastava says he has been writing to authorities since 2015 but with no success

News18 reported that CVC was not satisfied with the information given by top brass of the Punjab National Bank. According to the report, it wants vigilance officer of PNB to step in and report back on lapses. The CVC will also issue fresh guidelines to all banks.

CVC directs vigilance officer of PNB to again enquire over lapses

According to News18, at least six to seven employees are being questioned inside the branch by the Central Bureau of Investigation. According to the report, the CBI is investigating whether there are more people involved in the scam.

FICCI, the representative body of Indian private companies has pushed for privatisation of public sector banks. Claiming that the recapitalisation of banks have had little impact on the health of public sector banking, FICCI believed that financial irregularities have been affecting India's image as a business friendly nation.

Celebrity jeweller and prime accused in the alleged Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank fraud Nirav Modi will be represented by advocate Vijay Aggarwal in the courts, said media reports on Monday. Aggarwal has previously represented a number of accused in the 2G spectrum allocation scam case.

The Shiv Sena on Sunday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the multi-crore-rupee Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam and alleged that diamond czar Nirav Modi, who is at the centre of the scandal, had been a "partner" of the BJP and helped it collect funds for elections.

Investigation agencies believe billionaire businessman may be in Dubai. According to India Today, the CBI may have got a tip-off from undisclosed sources and is currently seeking Interpol's help to nab Modi.

According to News18, the government has written to RBI asking if lapses have been noticed on five counts. The report added that RBI's response is expected after due diligence with banks.

The CBI is questioning Vipul Ambani, the Chief Financial Officer of diamantaire Nirav Modi's Fire Star diamond company, officials said on Monday. They said Vipul Ambani was holding the position for last three to four years. He is understood to be a relative of late Dhirubhai Ambani, reported PTI.

According to a News18 investigation, the FIR filed by the CBI stated that eight LoUs were issued. However, the investigation claims that 150 LoUs were issued to Nirav Modi, the alleged mastermind of the 11,000 crore scam.

More skeletons likely to tumble out...

According to CNN-News18, the Rs.11,000 crore scam is just the tip of the iceberg. One-hundred fifty LoUs (Letters of Understanding) and 233 foreign letters of credit were issued to Nirav Modi, the report said.

In its latest complaint to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), an exclusive copy of which is with Firstpost, the PNB gave vague responses to the investigators' questions and directed them to the in-house probe.

The PNB has also contradicted itself by admitting that there are several loopholes in Letters of Undertaking (LoUs), which could have been easily detected.

Even before the investigating agencies begin their probe, an in-house inquiry by state-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB), which was allegedly defrauded of Rs 11,360 crore by diamond merchant Nirav Modi and his maternal uncle Mehul Choksi, has given a clean chit to its auditors and blamed foreign branches of Indian banks.

The bank's Sethia to Modi-Choksi story spans almost 30 years. But, nothing about the PNB seems to have changed. It is still a ripe, rotten mango waiting to be plucked by those with smart brains and right connections.

Much, much before our Mehul (Choksi) Bhai and his nephew Nirav Modi unburdened the bank of nearly Rs 11,000 crore and counting, the PNB had found itself in a similar soup because of another high-flying businessman, the suave Rajendra Sethia.

Nirav Modi's fraud case not a first for Punjab National Bank, it has been a sitting duck for decades

Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths are examining details of over 250 shell firms linked to Nirav Modi, his brother and Mehul Choksi, which they suspect were used to move ill-gotten financial assets after they defrauded state-owned Punjab National Bank of Rs 11,360 crore. These ghost entities, sources said, allegedly acted like a sleeper cell to launder money in India and abroad.

ED probes 250 shell companies linked to Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi that may have laundered money

ED begins attachment of various properties of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi in Mumbai, reports News18. The total assets seized as of now stands at Rs 5716 crores.

Firstpost takes a look at the events that unfolded since 16 January when the Punjab National Bank first found out about the fraudulent transactions in what has now become the largest banking scam in Indian history.

ED Director Karnal Singh has reached Mumbai to take over the probe into the Punjab National Bank fraud case, reports Moneycontrol . The report adds that the Enforcement Directorate might also issue Letters of Rogatory to Hong Kong and other nations where they suspect that funds were diverted

ED Director to take over probe into PNB scam

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has asked Punjab National Bank and finance ministry officials to submit a report on how the scam took place despite monetary regulations to avoid the same being in place. ANI reports that the commission has given the bank 10 days to formulate the report.

CVC demands report on PNB scam from Punjab National Bank and finance ministry in 10 days

Corporate frauds like the Nirav Modi scam, phenomenal rise in non-performing assets (NPAs), new provisions like bail-in under Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) regime are a multi-pronged conspiracy aimed at weakening India's predominantly public-owned banking system. This would result in corporate appropriation of public savings besides diverting household savings into speculative investment to fuel market bubbles. Thus, the Nirav Modi scam is not an aberration.

A tiny, decrepit room in Kalbadevi, a chawl in Kalyan, a run-down accommodation in Dahisar, and an old Amboli flat with barely any amenities are the registered residential addresses of directors appointed by the companies of wanted billionaire jeweller Mehul Choksi, reported Bombay Mirror . These people are actually ordinary employees and small-time retail investors who were persuaded by the companies to serve as top company members on paper.

Chawl residents and people living in one-room tenements listed as directors of Nakshatra Brand Limited and Gili India Limited

Nirav Modi's lawyer claims agencies will not be able prove charges

I-T department serves notice to Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi for unaccounted payment to the tune of Rs 4.5 crore out of which only Rs 1.5 crores was paid in cheque.The notice was sent after transactions showed Singhvi had bought diamonds worth Rs 6 crores.- CNN-News 18

It is inappropriate to assume that Congress is involved in this matter: NCP leader Majeed Memon

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi denies charges, says,"We must have purchased jewellery from various stores. But, there is no cash transaction with Nirav Modi."

I-T sends notice to Abhishek Manu Singhvi's wife Anita for jewellery purchase from Nirav Modi

International rating agencies Moody's Investor Service and Fitch Ratings today warned the scam-hit Punjab National Bank (PNB) of rating downgrades, citing likely net worth erosion and widening losses at the second largest state-run lender. The Rs 11,400-crore fraudthe biggest in the country's banking historyhas raised questions on both internal and external risk controls at PNB as well as the quality of management supervision at the regulatory level considering that the fraud went undetected for several years, the agencies said.- PTI

In a letter written to Punjab National Bank, Nirav Modi has accused the bank of destroying his brand and says the move has jeopardised his ability to repay banks, media reports said.

"We want a discussion on the PNB fraud case in the ongoing session of the state assembly. We hope the ruling party won't have any objection. We will submit it very soon," Leader of Opposition and Congress MLA Abdul Mannan said.- PTI

The Opposition Congress and CPM on Tuesday demanded a discussion on the Punjab National Bank fraud case in the ongoing session of the state Assembly. The ruling Trinamool Congress is yet to take a call on the issue and mocked Congress and CPM for staging walkout from the house during most of the discussions.

Singhvi asks why no one else received a notice in this regard first

Meanwhile, Congress leader spokesperson Manish Tewari said question does not stop at Nirav Modi and Vikram Kothari but extends to the credibility of entire banking sector.

Congress leader Manish Tewari defends Manu Singhvi, says the question is whether the Centre wants to remain 'helpless' in the PNB scam or not. - CNN-News 18

Congress defends Manu Singhvi, says question is whether Indian govt wants to remain 'helpless' in case or not

Abhishek Manu Singhvi slams media, says harassment, innuendo, insinuation must have its limits

Gitanjali employees were handed over relieving letters and were refused gratuity. The employees soon took to the roads and decided to protest demanding February salary.

Punjab National Bank's market valuation has slumped by Rs 10,939 crore in five days, which is nearly equal to the massive Rs 11,384-crore fraud at the company, even as the stock made a marginal recovery today The stock had dropped in the previous four trading sessions. In the past one week, the stock has lost nearly 28 percent PNB's market valuation fell by Rs 10,938.78 crore to Rs 28,270.22 crore on Tuesday from Rs 39,209 crore on 12 February. The company's scrip meanwhile staged a marginal recovery today ending 0.13 per cent higher at Rs 116.55 on BSE. - PTI

As the owner of Gitanjali, Mehul Choksi continues to abscond, the employees have been given relieving letters.

Gitanjali to shut down completely as owner Mehul Choksi goes absconding

Centre has taken case seriously and already seized more than 5,000 crore assets: Amit Shah

I would like to request Modiji to bring back the other Modiji (Nirav Modi): Rahul Gandhi

It is incumbent upon the state to chase those who cheat the banking system: Arun Jaitley

On Tuesday night, the CBI made its first high-profile arrest in the Rs 11,400 crore alleged Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam on Tuesday, taking into custody Vipul Ambani, the head of finance of Nirav Modi's Firestar Diamond.

The Supreme Court will hear a plea seeking the deportation of diamond merchant Nirav Modi, the main accused in the alleged Rs 11,300 crore scam, Times Now reported.

It is alleged that the issuance of Letters of Undertaking (LOUs) to Nirav Modi group firms without sanctioned limits started during his tenure. Jindal is presently posted as general manager, credit, at PNB's head office in New Delhi. It is alleged that Rs 11,400 crore of LoUs were fraudulently issued to the firms of Nirav Modi and Choksi.

The CBI has arrested a general manager-rank officer of the Punjab National Bank posted at the bank's head office in New Delhi connection with the alleged Rs 11,400 crore fraud involving billionaire jewellers Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, officials said. The arrested accused, identified as Rajesh Jindal, was the head of the bank's Brady House branch in Mumbai during 2009-11.

A Firstpost investigation into the Punjab National Bank-Nirav Modi fraud case shows that corruption has gone into the very bone and marrow of state-owned banks and this is not just a 'one-off' for several banks, including PNB and others like UCO and Canara, which have encountered exposure in the Modi-Mehul Choksi scam.

Late night parties at plush farmhouses and hefty kickbacks to top bank officials are two 'compulsory' requirements for scamsters to access the loans from public sector banks that they fully know would turn into Non-Performing Assets (NPAs).

'Payoffs, late night parties'; corruption has seeped into very core of India's public sector banks

In a statement, PHD Chamber said it is surprised how the bank's internal audit system failed to detect anomalies in transactions leading to the alleged fraudulent loans given out to the borrowers.

PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday expressed concern over what it termed as the "crisis" triggered in the banking industry following the fraud detected in state-run Punjab National Bank.

A special CBI court on Tuesday remanded three officials of Punjab National Bank in police custody till 3 March. These three were arrested on Monday in connection with alleged fraud of Rs 11,384 crore, while observing that there is a possibility of their involvement in diverting the bank money. During the arguments over the custody of the trio, the CBI told the court that key accused Gokulnath Shetty, then deputy manager (now retired) of PNB, had told them that issuing of the Letter of Undertakings (LoUs) had been going on since 2008.

PNB case: Issuing of LoUs going on since 2008, CBI tells court

Nirav Modi, the alleged kingpin of the Rs 11,400 crore Punjab National Bank scam, is not absconding but is out on business, the diamond merchant's lawyer has told the media. "He has a global business and he went out of India for business purpose. Now his passport has been revoked. His family members, some of them are foreign nationals, also stay abroad most of the time," the lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal, was quoted as saying by DNA .

This apart, there are RBI and government representatives on the boards of large banks who are supposed to keep an eye on all transactions and ensure that nothing goes amiss. "But it appears that all of them were sleeping when a fraud was developing," the banker added.

Looking at PNB-like frauds, if someone thinks that there are no checks in place in the system, they are wrong. "There are checks but no one really cares," said a banker. "Besides daily checks, the bank also does concurrent audits, which happen concurrently throughout the year. Such fraud should have reflected there," the official said.

Nirav Modi not the first the first; Indias banks have long been beaten by frauds

Refusing to entertain a PIL filed by a lawyer seeking a probe by the apex court into the Punjab National Bank fraud case, the Supreme Court said it was "becoming fashionable" to run to the courts and it was only right to let the government complete its investigation. It also called such PILs "publicity interest litigations".

Attorney General KK Venugopal has told the Supreme Court that the investigation is ongoing and an FIR has been registered. The court has fixed the next date of hearing for 16 March.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), on quick action mode, has rolled out some strict measures in the aftermath of the Rs 11,400 crore Punjab National Bank scam. An expert committee will be formed, while the central bank has also issued guidelines and safeguards that banks are meant to implement.

RBI sets up committee to preempt and prevent scams in future

The plea has asked for a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the banking fraud, allegedly involving billionaire jewellers Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. It has also sought a probe into the role of the top management of the Punjab National Bank (PNB).

The PIL has made Punjab National Bank, Reserve Bank of India and the ministries of finance and law and justice as parties. It has sought a direction for initiation of deportation proceedings against Nirav Modi and others allegedly involved in the banking fraud, preferably within two months.

Attorney General KK Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, said he was opposing the PIL on various grounds, including that an inquiry has started after the FIR was registered.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud said it would not say anything on the matter now and listed the PIL filed by lawyer Vineet Dhanda for further hearing on 16 March.

The Centre on Wednesday opposed in the Supreme Court a PIL seeking an independent probe and deportation of billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi in the over Rs 11,000 crore PNB fraud case, saying an FIR has been lodged and a probe was on.

In response to the prime minister's suggestion for ideas for his 28 January 'Mann ki Baat' programme, Rahul had urged him to tell the country about India's plans on stopping rapes, getting the Chinese out of Doklam and jobs for the youth.

Rahul also labelled the prime minister's programme aired on All India Radio a monologue and said the country wants to hear him speak on billionaire diamond jeweller Nirav Modi and the Rafale "scam".

Congress president Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his silence on the PNB bank fraud and the Rafale deal, saying sarcastically that he looked forward to his "sermon" on the issues in his "Mann ki Baat" programme.

"We have adequate capital coupled with strong non core asset base," said the PNB tweet as multi-agency probe widened into the fraud. PNB also said that it has the capacity and capability to "handle the situation" and protect the interest of the institution.

Earlier in February, the bank said that it has been hit by a fraud amounting to about $1.77 billion. The alleged fraud was affected by fraudulent Letter of Undertakings (LOUs) issued to firms of diamantaire Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi.

"Be rest assured we have a strong sovereign backing. The core strengths of the bank is the brand image with rich 123 years of existence, strong CASA base, stable asset quality and increased pace of digitisation," PNB said.

The country's second largest lender has also dismissed media reports that it has imposed restrictions on withdrawals.

Scam-hit PNB has assured investors and customers that it has a strong sovereign backing and adequate capital to deal with the situation in the aftermath of the Rs 11,400 crore fraud. "We assure you that in your bank, it is business as usual," state-owned Punjab National Bank said in a tweet.

"But, it appears that all of them were sleeping when a fraud was developing," said the banker. That apart, given the tremendous pressure on bankers to generate business, top-level officers often turn a blind eye to illegal business activities.

This apart, there are RBI and government representatives on the boards of large banks who are supposed to keep an eye on all transactions and ensure that nothing goes amiss.

For instance, the SWIFT messaging platform that was used by the perpetrators in the PNB case is subjected to a daily check by the branch manager, which is compulsory in any bank. Even if one imagines that this part failed, the branch manager has to do a daily tally of income and expenditure in the branch while one of the officers (not involved in the transactions) combs through the books to look for suspicious transactions, the official said.

Looking at PNB-like frauds, if someone thinks that there are no checks in place in the system, they are wrong. "There are checks but no one really cares," said a banker who requested anonymity. He takes the example of the LoU (Letters of Undertakings) fraud in PNB. If a branch-level official does a transaction of this manner for a period of seven years, it can get caught at different levels if any of the checks in place triggered this illegal activity.

The six were arrested on Tuesday in connection with two FIRs registered by the CBI involving Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, the owner of Gitanjali Gems.

A special court in Mumbai on Wednesday remanded Vipul Ambani, the president (finance) of Nirav Modi's Fire Star Diamond, and five others in CBI custody till 5 March in connection with the Rs 11,400 crore alleged fraud in Punjab National Bank (PNB).

Court remands Vipul Ambani. and five others arrested. to CBI custody till 5 March

The 1.5 acre farm house in the uber rich neighbourhood at a stone's throw distance from Arabian sea was purchased by Modi in 2004 for Rs 32 crore for hosting special parties for his clientele to show case his precious jewellery collection, they said.

The CBI on Wednesday sealed a luxury property of billionaire Nirav Modi in Alibaug area near Mumbai, officials said.

The official also said that they have seized documents during searches at the office of Firestar at Peninsula Business Park in Mumbai's Lower Parel that "prove" that Ambani knew what was being done.

The CBI official said the agency during its probe found that Ambani not only visited and met PNB's officials at the Brady House branch but also met other bank officials in Mumbai and New Delhi.

"Ambani was fully aware of the fraudulent and illegal LoUs issued by Shetty who was a deputy manager at PNB's Brady House branch in Mumbai. (This was being done) in conspiracy and (under the) guidance of Nirav Modi and other employees of his firm," a senior CBI official told IANS in New Delhi.

Ambani was arrested on Tuesday and is being continuously grilled by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials in Mumbai.

Vipul Ambani, an arrested aide of fugitive billionaire Nirav Modi, knew about the fraudulent and illegal Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) issued by the Punjab National Bank in the Rs 11,400 crore fraud, CBI officials said on Wednesday.

The ED, in the past few days, has raided showrooms of the Gitanjali Group at a number of locations in Patna, Muzaffarpur and Kishanganj and seized valuables worth crores of rupees.

The jewellers, spread across towns like Patna, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur and Gaya, have been asked to surrender their stocks at the agency's zonal office in Patna, failing which they may have to face legal action, an ED official said.

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday said it has identified 50 jewellers across Bihar with suspected stocks of the Geetanjali Group, which is under the scanner in the aftermath of the Punjab National Bank scam.

The note sent by the banks head office in New Delhi to all regional offices on 17 February also stated any SWIFT message will have to be created, verified and authorised by three different officers, starting Thursday. Previously only two individuals were needed for the process.

The new measures mean only PNB officers will be able to initiate messages on SWIFT, taking away the authority of clerks to do so. Several new limits have been placed on the amount that officers can generate depending on their seniority in the bank hierarchy.

Indias state-run Punjab National Bank has stepped up its controls on the use of global payments network SWIFT following an alleged $1.77 billion fraud, according to memos issued this month and seen by Reuters.

The I-T department issued notices to several clients, including Congress leader Singhvi, of Nirav Modi for making large payments to him in cash, reports CNN-News18.

I-T notice served to Congress leader Singhvi for making payments to Nirav Modi

Looking at PNB-like frauds, if someone thinks that there are no checks in place in the system, they are wrong. "There are checks but no one really cares," said another banker who too requested anonymity. He takes the example of the LoU (Letters of Undertakings) fraud in PNB. If a branch-level official does a transaction of this manner for a period of seven years, it can get caught at different levels if any of the checks in place triggered this illegal activity.

The instances of fraudulent transactions and loan scams involving bank officials continued. This included both and big and small frauds  Citibank fraud, Bank of Baroda forex scam, Syndicate Bank fraud and several other lesser-known scams. In most instances, the victims were public sector banks and culprits their own officials. Most cash-for-loan scams happened through middlemen.

PNB, Nirav Modi, arent the first; Indias PSBs have long been beaten by frauds

With Wednesday's seizure, the total value of gems and gold jewellery seized by the ED stands at Rs 5,736 crore. The agency has said it is carrying out an "independent valuation" of these seized assets.

While the ED seized assets worth Rs 10 crore on Wenesday, the tax department said it has attached a total of 141 bank accounts and fixed deposits worth Rs 145.74 crore of the Nirav Modi group. The department said it has attached these assets to realise outstanding tax demands.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday continued raids for the seventh day as it visited 17 locations across the country, including four shell companies in Mumbai, even as the I-T department attached assets worth Rs 145 crore in the alleged Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud.

It fell for sixth consecutive session on Wednesday. The stocks of the jewellery company plunged by 9.85 percent to close at the lower circuit of Rs 27.45 per share on Wednesday. Market capitalisation of the company stood at Rs 325.60 crore, down from Rs 695.08 crore.

Within a week of surfacing of Rs 11,400 Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, Gitanjali Gems' stock has nosedived over 56 percent.

According to CNN-News18, jeweller Nirav Modi is holed up at friend Rashmi Mehta's house 27, Berkenlaan, in Antwerp, Belgium, reported CNN-News18.

According to CNN-News18, investigative agencies could not trace absconding billionnaire Nirav Modi as he used his Belgian passport to fly out of Davos.

On the other hand, Bipasha Basu, who endorsed Gili, accused the Gitanjali Gems group of using her photographs even after her contract expired.

According to News18 , the actresses have accused Mehul Choksi-owned Gitanjali Gems of non payment of dues and breach of contract. A spokesperson for Ranaut said, "There are outstandings due on Kanganas Nakshatra endorsement, beyond the stipulated contract." She was the company's brand ambassador since 2016 and claims she has not been paid her dues fully for endorsing the jewellery brand.

Meanwhile, Bipasha Basu, Kangana Ranaut accuse Gitanjali Gems of non-payment of dues, breach of contract

Laws which govern the functioning of RBI need to be changed to bring about transparency and accountability. This has to then be supported by scrutiny into the functioning of the institution. A tragedy is a terrible thing to waste. The legislature should take a relook at the legislative framework of transparency, accountability and governance of RBI. The Draft Indian Financial Code addresses many of these concerns and there is need to incorporate its principles in primary legislation.

Various process failures of public sector banks in India are not new. What is new in the PNB fraud is that, for the first time, questions are being raised about the supervisory capacity and systems in Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The government has written to the RBI asking for why the scam was not detected in its systems. Concerned citizens have asked for similar information in the past and disclosures by RBI have not been adequate.

The ED on Thursday said it has frozen mutual funds and shares worth Rs 94.52 crore of the Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi groups in connection with a money laundering probe against them in the Rs 11,400-crore alleged fraud at the Punjab National Bank (PNB).

In its note, the agency has made a startling revelation that even top officials of the PNB beginning with the zonal to head office was aware of the business dealing with Nirav Modi's companies and the assertion that top officials were ignorant has been neutralised by the probe agency.

For hours on Wednesday, sleuths from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were frustrated as they were trying to find out how fake Letter of Undertakings (LoUs) and Foreign Letter of Credits (FLCs) running into thousands of crores was drafted and subsequently sanctioned by the Punjab National Bank (PNB) officials. The two executives of Nirav Modi admitted to preparing and signing the applications made to PNB but they refused to disclose details how and where such applications were finalised.

A special CBI court in Mumbai on Wednesday sent to police custody, till 5 March, five senior executives of the Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi Group of Companies, including Vipul Ambani, who were arrested on Tuesday in conection with the Rs 11,400 crore Punjab National Bank fraud.

Vipul Ambani, Firestar International's president (Finance), was director of eight shell companies, India Today TV reported quoting unnamed sources. It also added that Ambani is singing while in CBI custody.

Have followed lawful avenues available to recover dues from Nirav Modi, says PNB

On the other hand, Bipasha Basu, who endorsed Gili, accused the Gitanjali Gems group of using her photographs even after her contract expired.

According to News18 , the actresses have accused Mehul Choksi-owned Gitanjali Gems of non payment of dues and breach of contract. A spokesperson for Ranaut said, "There are outstandings due on Kanganas Nakshatra endorsement, beyond the stipulated contract." She was the company's brand ambassador since 2016 and claims she has not been paid her dues fully for endorsing the jewellery brand.

Meanwhile, Bipasha Basu, Kangana Ranaut accuse Gitanjali Gems of non-payment of dues, breach of contract

#PNBScam : ED seized 9 cars belonging to #NiravModi and his companies. These cars include one Rolls Royce Ghost, two Mercedes Benz GL 350 CDIs, one Porsche Panamera, 3 Honda cars, one Toyota Fortuner and one Toyota Innova.

ED also froze mutual funds and shares worth Rs 7.80 Crore of #NiravModi and worth Rs 86.72 crore of those belonging to #MehulChoksi Group.

ED seized 9 cars belonging to #NiravMod and his companies. These cars include one Rolls Royce Ghost, two Mercedes Benz GL 350 CDIs, one Porsche Panamera, 3 Honda cars, one Toyota Fortuner and one Toyota Innova. pic.twitter.com/Kfx0rkPrIW

Laws which govern the functioning of RBI need to be changed to bring about transparency and accountability. This has to then be supported by scrutiny into the functioning of the institution. A tragedy is a terrible thing to waste. The legislature should take a relook at the legislative framework of transparency, accountability and governance of RBI. The Draft Indian Financial Code addresses many of these concerns and there is need to incorporate its principles in primary legislation.

Various process failures of public sector banks in India are not new. What is new in the PNB fraud is that, for the first time, questions are being raised about the supervisory capacity and systems in Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The government has written to the RBI asking for why the scam was not detected in its systems. Concerned citizens have asked for similar information in the past and disclosures by RBI have not been adequate.

The ED on Thursday said it has frozen mutual funds and shares worth Rs 94.52 crore of the Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi groups in connection with a money laundering probe against them in the Rs 11,400-crore alleged fraud at the Punjab National Bank (PNB).

According to Moneycontrol , a finance ministry official told CNBC-TV18 that the ministry was planning to seek Banks Board Bureau's (BBB) inputs on whether a PNB top management reshuffle is possible.

Finance ministry to seek BBB's input to see if PNB top management reshuffle is possible

In its note, the agency has made a startling revelation that even top officials of the PNB beginning with the zonal to head office was aware of the business dealing with Nirav Modi's companies and the assertion that top officials were ignorant has been neutralised by the probe agency.

For hours on Wednesday, sleuths from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were frustrated as they were trying to find out how fake Letter of Undertakings (LoUs) and Foreign Letter of Credits (FLCs) running into thousands of crores was drafted and subsequently sanctioned by the Punjab National Bank (PNB) officials. The two executives of Nirav Modi admitted to preparing and signing the applications made to PNB but they refused to disclose details how and where such applications were finalised.

A special CBI court in Mumbai on Wednesday sent to police custody, till 5 March, five senior executives of the Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi Group of Companies, including Vipul Ambani, who were arrested on Tuesday in conection with the Rs 11,400 crore Punjab National Bank fraud.

Vipul Ambani, Firestar International's president (Finance), was director of eight shell companies, India Today TV reported quoting unnamed sources. It also added that Ambani is singing while in CBI custody.

#BREAKING -- Have followed lawful avenues available to recover our dues from Nirav Modi. Disciplinary authority's reply awaited on arrest of bank officials: PNB #BigBankScam pic.twitter.com/cpo4UUtiJf

Have followed lawful avenues available to recover dues from Nirav Modi, says PNB

Latest update:

Congress to seek a joint parliamentary committee probe into the Punjab National Bank fraud case after talks with Opposition parties, reports News18.

Enforcement Directorate conducted further searches at 21 locations across India in Nirav Modi case and seized diamonds, gold, precious stones, metals and jewellery worth Rs 25 crore, reports ANI. Total seizure now stands at Rs 5,674 crore, ED added.

Special CBI court sends all three PNB officials in police custody till 3 March, reports ANI. The three accused are Gokulnath Shetty, then deputy manager of Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Manoj Kharat, SWO (single window operator) of PNB and Hemant Bhat, Authorised Signatory of the Nirav Modi Group of Firms.

Three Punjab National Bank officials arrested by CBI on Saturday produced before Special CBI court, reports ANI.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi says that he will file a defamation suit against defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her accusations against him in relation to the Punjab National Bank fraud case, reports Times Now. He added that he will address a press conference in Kolkata at 5.30 pm.

Countering Congress' charge that multi-crore bank fraud took place during the BJP government, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Rahul Gandhi was present at a promotional event of Gitanjali Jewels and the whole episode took place in the UPA regime.

Sitharaman also said the Congress was wrong in blaming the BJP, as it was them who let out a building to Nirav Modi's Firestar Diamond, which had Anita Singh  the wife of Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi  as one of the directors.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday conducted raids at Nirav Modi's franchise Gitanjali Gems Store in Durgapur, West Bengal. The ED also seized diamond and jewellery worth Rs 3 crore in raids at Gitanjali and Nakshatra Jewellers in Jaipur.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has alleged that despite Centre's knowledge, banking scam kingpin Nirav Modi was successful in fleeing the country after duping PNB of Rs 11,515 crore, and added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is answerable for the fraud.

Party leader Dilip Pandey told a media conference in New Delhi that no action was taken against the diamond trader even though the finance ministry and the prime minister knew about Punjab National Bank (PNB)'s complaint against him with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Pandey quoted media reports suggesting that Dinesh Dubey, a former Director of Allahabad Bank, had in September 2013 written mails to the deputy governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the then Financial Services Secretary over unsanctioned loans being given to Mehul Choksi, uncle of Nirav Modi.

But later, Dubey was pressurised to resign, he said.

From the Congress era, "junior Modi (Nirav Modi)'s involvement in corruption was known", he said, referring to Prime Minister Modi as "senior Modi".

"Both the Congress and the BJP are blaming each other for the scam and fooling the nation," said Pandey.

"A 'Modi Desh Looto Yojna' is going in this country," he added.

Noting that Nirav Modi was part of a delegation travelling with PM Modi to Davos in January this year, despite the complaint against him and a letter received by the CBI, he said the prime minister and the finance ministry were aware about the scam, yet no action was taken.

"prime minister is the watchman of this country. He should answer the public on this."

AAP Rajya Sabha member ND Gupta said the bank management was also involved in the scam.

"He (Nirav) ran away with the whole family in January. How?," he said.CBI has registered a fresh FIR against Gitanjali Group promoter Mehul Choksi in connection with alleged fraud in issuance of LoUs from Punjab National Bank

New Delhi: The CBI has registered a fresh FIR against Gitanjali Group promoter Mehul Choksi in connection with alleged fraud in the issuance of Letters of Understanding worth Rs 11,400 crore from Punjab National Bank, officials said on Friday.

The CBI has alleged that the new FIR pertains to 143 LOUs worth over Rs 4,886 crore fraudulently issued to three companies of Choksi  Gitanjali Gems, Nakshatra and Gili  during the period 2017-18, they said. The agency had earlier registered a separate case involving Rs 280-crore fraud, which has now been expanded to cover LoUs worth Rs 6,498 crore issued to accused companies of Nirav Modi and Choksi.

An LoU is a letter of comfort issued by one bank to branches of other banks, based on which foreign branches offer credit to buyers. After registering the FIR, the CBI carried out searches at 26 locations across six cities covering the premises of 18 Indian subsidiaries of Gitanjali Group.

The CBI also questioned four officials of Punjab National Bank  Bechu Tiwari, chief manager posted at Nariman Point branch, Mumbai during February 2015-17; DGM Sanjay Kumar Prasad who was then AGM at Brady house branch during period 2016-17; chief manager of zonal audit office Mohinder Kumar Sharma, who was then concurrent auditor during November 2015-January 17; and Manoj Kharat, then single window operator during November 2014-Decemeber 2017, the officials said.

They said a special team under a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) is being formed to probe the case.

In its complaint, the public sector bank has alleged that 293 Letters of Understanding (LoUs) worth Rs 11,400 crore were fraudulently issued to the companies of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi from one of its branches in Mumbai.

Expanding the ambit of the first FIR registered on 31 January against the billionaire diamond merchant and Choksi, the agency has 150 LoUs worth Rs 6,498 crore issued by the bank.

The LoUs were issued by the Punjab National Bank to Indian banks in Mauritius, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Antwerp and Frankfurt for the accused companies, the officials said.

The remaining 143 LoUs worth Rs 4,886 crore will be part of probe under the new FIR registered on Friday.

The accused in the new FIR include Choksi (managing director, Gitanjali Gems), Gokulnath Shetty (retired DGM of Punjab National Bank), Manoj Kharat (then single window officer of Punjab National Bank), and companies - Gitanjali Gems Limited , Gili India Limited, Nakshatra Brand Limited, directors of the companies Krishnan Sangameshwaran, Nazura Yash Ajaney, Dinesh Gopaldas Bhatia, Aniyath Shivraman Nair and Dhanesh Vrajlal Sheth.

Also named in the FIR are Jyoti Bharat Vora, Anil Umesh Haldipur, Chandrakant Kanu Karkare, Pankhuri Abhijeet Warange, Mihir Bhaskar Joshi and unidentified bank officials.

The CBI has alleged in the FIR that accused bank officials Shetty and Kharat in connivance with accused companies and others defrauded Punjab National Bank to the tune of Rs 4,886.70 crore, the CBI spokesperson said.

The agency alleged that the accused officials issued fraudulent and unauthorised letters of undertakings in favour of foreign branches of different India-based banks.

The officials omitted entries of LoUs in the core banking system of the bank issued on behalf of the accused companies to avoid detection, they said.

It is alleged that they used SWIFT  global messaging service to move money internationally  and did not make any entries in core banking system, used to process daily transactions, to avoid any scrutiny.

Since SWIFT messages to raise credit abroad were not available in the bank's core system, they went undetected, they alleged.

The bank officials also fraudulently issued foreign letters of credit or FLCs in which Punjab National Bank guaranteed payment on behalf of the accused to their suppliers which was to be recovered from the firms of Choksi and Nirav Modi, they alleged.

Funds raised through LoUs were meant to be used for payment of import bills of the accused companies whereas it was dishonesty and fraudulently utilised for discharging the earlier liabilities on account of buyer's credit facilities in a kind of roll over of payments, they alleged.

The Punjab National Bank has alleged in its complaint that they opened the Letters of Credit initially for smaller amounts by creating purported entries in core banking system, they said.

The accused bank officials pursuant to the conspiracy unauthorisedly enhanced the values of the FLCs and issued amendments to the FLCs issued through SWIFT which were encashed in overseas branches of Indian banks.

According to the RBI guidelines, LoUs for gems should not be valid for more than 90 days.

The officials also said the central agency approached the Interpol with a request for issuing 'Diffusion Notice' which was aimed at locating an individual.

Forty-six-year old Nirav Modi, who holds an Indian passport, left the country on 1 January, while his brother Nishal, a Belgian citizen, departed from the country on same day. However, whether they travelled together has to be probed, they said.

Modi's wife Ami, a US citizen, left on 6 January and his business Mehul Choksi left the country on 4 January, the officials said.India is the third-largest startup hub in the world, but in 2016, only 9 percent of startup founders were women.

Bangalore: The going, however, is tough for women entrepreneurs. Some of the challenges can be overcome by having women across all levels of industry functions, including as venture capitalists (VCs).

Anu Acharya has an interesting story to tell about her name. Acharya is the CEO and founder of Mapmygenome, a personal genomics company with a focus on preventive healthcare. She smiles as she recollects her first few meetings with investors. My name doesnt sound very feminine. When the investors read my name in communication, theyd assume I was a man and would wait for someone else to enter the meeting room after me, only to realise that I was the founder of the company, she says. Acharya is a growing breed of female entrepreneurs  numbering about 1,000 at present  in the biotechnology sector in India.

She started Mapmygenome in 2013, her second venture after Ocimum Bio Solutions, which provides integrated life science informatics solutions for global outsourcing companies, founded in 2000. According to a 2016 white paper submitted by the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises, 1,022 biotech companies have been formed in the last five years in India. It further states there are a total of 3,000 entrepreneurs of which one-third (at least 1,000) are women entrepreneurs.

India is the third-largest startup hub in the world, but in 2016, only 9 percent of startup founders were women. Clearly, the field of biotechnology startups is an anomaly in the Indian startup ecosystem  albeit a welcome one. There are 33 percent women entrepreneurs in biotech compared to other industries. According to a Credit Suisse report, women accounted for only 11.2 percent of board members in Indian companies in 2015. This was below the global average of 14.7 percent and far behind top runners Norway (46.7 percent) and France (34 percent). The Indian government in 2016 found that less than 14 percent of the countrys businesses, including startups and convenience stores, are run by women. However, according to a report by Innoven Capital, in 2017, 42 percent of all respondents said they had women in leadership positions in their startups.

There are gender imbalances even within the science, technology, engineering, and medicine (STEM) fields. According to this report by Catalyst, in undergraduate studies, Indian women were at par with men in science (50.1 percent) and IT and computers (47.7 percent) but were underrepresented in engineering and technology (31.9 percent) in 20152016.

So why are women flocking to the biotech sector and choosing to be entrepreneurs? Women entrepreneurs say the life sciences appeal to women as they innately connect better to objects in nature, and hence tend to opt for biology, and those pursuing higher studies mostly opt for biotech as it accords them the opportunity to make innovations. But that is a simplistic explanation. Globally, both male and female scientists view gender discrimination as a factor in women deciding to choose biology over other STEM fields. A Kelly Global Workforce Insights (KGWI) survey on Women in STEM showed that 81 percent of women in STEM fields in India perceived a gender bias in performance evaluation. Hostile work culture, along with domestic pressures, compel women to stay away from STEM professions.

Acharya suggests that biotech is more conducive to women entrepreneurs than other STEM sectors. Biology is considered a safer option for women than engineering, she says. But why is that? Dr K Rajeshwari, founder of Bioklone Biotech, a company involved in biotech research and a life sciences professor at a well-known engineering college in Chennai, explains: In a country like ours, parents prefer their daughters to opt for safe courses, and biology tops the list as they can go on to work in a laboratory (indoors) or become professors. Handling technology or machinery is considered more of a man thing. She further adds that in the class that she teaches, there are 44 girls out of the total 56 students. The ratio of male to female students is always 1:5, she says.

While gender discrimination and the pressure to pursue safer streams of science may be pushing women to study biology and biotech, the good thing is once theyre here, many of them choose to be entrepreneurs. Rajeshwari says, Young women graduates want to create a niche for themselves. Once they have specialised and gained experience, they dont fear taking the leap to the entrepreneurial side, she says. Acharya feels entrepreneurs like her are an inspiration for other women in the field. The most established companies in the sector are those that started 17-20 years ago, many of them by women. For women who are finishing their studies in biotech, these entrepreneurs are an inspiration, she explains.

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, chairman and managing director of Biocon Limited and one of the earliest women entrepreneurs in the country, however, is of the view that science is an area sans gender divide. I recently read an article which said that more than 50 percent of students in STEM fields are women. When we have so many pursuing science and computational mathematics, you are likely to find a large part of them are in start-ups. This is one of the reasons behind a large number of women becoming entrepreneurs in biotech, she explains.

A 2016 report by ABLE states that entrepreneurs in biotechnology are being helped by a combination of government and private initiatives. It lists out five reasons for the growth  the national startup policy which has a special focus on women, increase in government funding for startups, setting up of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), state-specific startup policies, and presence of bio-incubators like C-CAMP Bioincubator, Bangalore Bioinnovation Center, IIT incubators etc. The Indian government plans to nurture approximately 300-500 new startups each year to have around 2,000 biotech startups by 2020. BIRAC, the funding agency under the governments department of biotechnology, plans to devote a corpus of Rs 100-200 crore for its biotech equity fund to this end.

Challenges of entrepreneurship

Just because these women have defied discriminatory gender roles and attitudes to become entrepreneurs doesnt mean that the road ahead is smooth for them. They face many challenges, including feeling the need to conform to societal expectations, facing trouble raising capital, earning the respect of their male colleagues, business partners and others, and building a support network of mentors/advisors.

As if these were not enough, striking work-life balance seems to top the list of challenges faced by them. Women, more than men, face pressure to fulfil their roles at home. They are also socially conditioned to feel more guilty about not being able to do so. For a working woman, the question of work-life balance is always hanging in the air. This becomes more apparent for an entrepreneur as running a company puts a lot more stress and demands on her, says Acharya.

Preethi Sukumaran, co-founder of Krya, a sustainable consumer products company, agrees that work-life balance challenges tend to bog women down more, but is quick to the add that male entrepreneurs, too, face their fair share of problems. There is always the question of whether a woman will continue to work after having children. This can change only when there are more women in all the aspects of setting up a business, she says.

Women also find it tougher to raise funding for their ventures as compared to men. It takes longer for us to get a fundraising, requires more effort, more preparation. One has to be ready to face everything  from an off-hand comment to a sexist joke, says Acharya. Her claim is backed by numbers. According to this report, only 2 percent of all equity funding raised in 2017 went to startups with a woman founder.

Clearly, the investors side still mostly comprise of men. They are educated and progressive, no doubt, but when they sit down to evaluate our pitches, doubts raise their head. Simply put, most of them are not comfortable with the idea of a woman heading a company, let aside being the founder, says Acharya. She adds that having more women in her own company has helped her change perceptions. They see female employees being led by a woman and see the impeccable work we are doing, and this instils confidence in them, she says.

Ankita Vashistha, founder of SAHA Fund, a venture capital fund that focuses on women entrepreneurs, admits that a lot of male investors have a certain bias when its a woman seeking funds. There are products, ideas, or consumer services that are completely women-centric, brought to the table by women founders, which are not understood by men. They dont have the skill set or mindset required to empathise with women or understand why the product or service is important. In such cases, if there is a woman at the investment table, things are different," says Vashistha, whose company is funding eight women-led ventures.

A study by McKinsey Global Institute stated that India can increase its GDP by 16 percent to 60 percent by 2025 simply by enabling women to participate in the economy on par with men. And thats just one reason to have more women to participate in the workforce across industries and functions.

(The writer is a Bengaluru-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters. She tweets @Nive_nk)AIADMK in Puducherry urged the Puducherry government to request the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Water Management Board (CWMB) as per the Supreme Court verdict

Puducherry: The AIADMK in Puducherry on Saturday urged the Puducherry government to request the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Water Management Board (CWMB) as per the Supreme Court verdict, for the benefit of the farmers in Karaikal region in the Union Territory.

Addressing reporters in Puducherry on Saturday the party's legislature wing leader A Anbalagan said the territorial government should join hands with Tamil Nadu and ensure the apex court direction on the Cauvery river water sharing issue is implemented.

To enable the farmers of Puducherry to get the benefit of the allocation of Cauvery water, the board should be constituted without any delay, he said.

Earlier, Anbalagan visited the sea port along with the Welfare Minister M Kandasamy to inspect the progress of work to convert it into a satellite port of the Chennai Port Trust to handle container cargo.

Later, he said, "not much progress had been made in providing the necessary infrastructure facilities."

The AIADMK leader said a by-pass road should be available for onward movement of the cargo that would be unloaded at the port in Puducherry from Chennai.

"The officials concerned with ensuring the port facility were not acting on line with the speed shown by the government," he alleged.

All the deficiencies should be plugged so that the transaction at the port would take place without hiccups, he added.

The Supreme Court had on Friday directed the Karnataka government to release 177.25 tmcft of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from its inter-state Biligundulu dam, which was less than the quantum sought by the latter.Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau arrived on Saturday on an eight-day visit at the invitation of his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi.

New Delhi: Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau arrived on Saturday on an eight-day visit at the invitation of his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted:

Strategic partnership underpinned by shared values of democracy and pluralism! Namaste to the Right Honorable @JustinTrudeau, Prime Minister of Canada as he arrives on the State visit to India from 17-24 February, 2018. pic.twitter.com/hcPSLDm0kx  Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) February 17, 2018

The visit is aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries in key areas of mutual interest trade and investment, energy, science and innovation, higher education, infrastructure development, skill development and space, a ministry statement said.

Cooperation in security and counter-terrorism as well as exchange of views on global and regional issues of mutual interest will also form important components of the visit.

Canada is also home to around 1.4 million people of Indian origin.

Modi will hold bilateral talks with Trudeau on 23 February following which a number of agreements are expected to be signed.

The trip comes nearly three years after Modi visited Canada in April 2015. The last visit of a Canadian Prime Minister to India was in November 2012.

During the course of his stay in India, Trudeau will also visit Agra, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Amritsar.The Cauvery dispute has been all about sharing the water when rainfall is deficit, not when it's surplus. That's the reason why the dispute flares up only during poor monsoons, when water becomes scarce

So you think that Friday's Supreme Court verdict has put an end to the Cauvery water dispute once and for all? Think again. Firstly, take a look at the two salient features of the judgment:

1. The Supreme Court has given the Centre six weeks to put in place "mechanisms"  by way of a Cauvery Management Board (CMB), assisted by a Cauvery Regulation Committee (CRC)  to implement the verdict.

2. The apex court has reduced the water that Karnataka must release to Tamil Nadu by 14.75 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet). So, to that extent, Karnataka's overall water share has gone up from 270 tmcft to 284.75 tmcft.

The first point is the key to a long-term resolution of the dispute, as long as the agencies to be set up  when they are set up  implement the verdict in a credible manner acceptable to both parties. The second point is relatively less important, because the marginal hike in Karnataka's share and a reduction in Tamil Nadu's will make little difference when the monsoon fails and there isn't enough water in the river. Here is why:

The Cauvery dispute has been all about sharing the water when rainfall is deficit, not when it's surplus. That's the reason why the dispute flares up only during poor monsoons, when water becomes scarce. This is how the water has been allocated (in tmcft):

State Demand What tribunal awarded What SC awarded Karnataka 465 270 (270 + 14.75) 284.75 Tamil Nadu 562 419 (419  14.75) 404.25 Kerala 99.8 30 30 Puducherry 9.3 7 7

It's not the allocations per se, but the water that the tribunal said Karnataka must release to Tamil Nadu every month that created the tension, whenever the monsoon failed and when there wasn't enough water to share. The tribunal's monthly schedule went like this (in tmcft):

Month Quantum Month Quantum June 10 December 8 July 34 January 3 August 50 February 2.5 September 40 March 2.5 October 22 April 2.5 November 15 May 2.5 Total for the year: 192 tmcft

This quantum of 192 tmcft that Karnataka must let flow downstream is part of Tamil Nadu's overall share of 419 tmcft. The rest of Tamil Nadu's share comes from the water available in the river in its territory.

However, whenever Karnataka's South West monsoon fails and there isn't enough water, it isn't able to stick to this schedule from June, and all hell breaks loose in Tamil Nadu. The tribunal made it clear that whenever the water yield was less in a distress year, the regulatory authority must "proportionately" reduce the scheduled allocations. That was fine, except that there was no regulatory authority, like the CMB that the tribunal recommended in its 2007 award.

Both Congress and BJP are guilty

Successive UPA and NDA governments chose not to set up the board, for fear of antagonising the farmers' vote bank in the key state of Karnataka. The state opposed the board's constitution on the specious plea that it would amount to the board "running" its dams.

In the absence of a CMB, there was first a Cauvery River Authority, headed by the prime minister and comprising chief ministers of the warring states, then a monitoring committee, and finally there was a supervisory committee, both committees made up of officials. All three forums tried to arrive at monthly allocations during bad monsoons, but they lacked credibility and acceptability, and their recommendations failed to satisfy competing claims.

In its verdict on Friday, while reducing the annual quantum of water that Karnataka must release to Tamil Nadu, from 192 tmcft to 172 tmcft, the Supreme Court gave no fresh month-wise schedule. It only said:

In view of the reduction in the quantum of water now required to be released by Karnataka at the inter-state border with Tamil Nadu, ie, at Billigundulu, there would be, logically, a proportionate decrease in the monthly releases as worked out by the tribunal. However, the same pattern therefore, as modeled by it, would be maintained for the reduced releases.

Past experience makes it clear that to successfully implement even the new reduced monthly quotas in distress years, institutional mechanisms like CMB, and CRC to assist it  whatever names they may be given  must be in place. Only such bodies, with technical staff from the disputing states as well as the Centre, can gauge a deficit water situation in all its dimensions: Rainfall, reservoir levels and impact on crops under cultivation.

In recommending the regulatory mechanisms, the tribunal had relied upon Section 6A of the Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956. But before the Supreme Court, the Centre gave a twist to this section to argue that it was not obliged to constitute any such mechanisms. That's because Section 6A begins with these words:

Without prejudice to the provisions of Section 6, the central government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, frame a scheme or schemes whereby provision may be made for all matters necessary to give effect to the decision of a tribunal.

SC rubbishes Centre's claim

Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar argued before the court that the word "may" that was used instead of "shall" in Section 6A meant that "in certain situations, there may be no necessity to frame a scheme (constituting any mechanism, leave alone the management board) for implementation of the awards passed by the tribunal".

But the court rubbished this claim, saying:

The argument of the Union of India that Section 6A of the 1956 Act by employing the word 'may' has left room for discretion to the central government for the purpose of framing a scheme does not stand to reason and further it does not meet the substance test.

So the apex court went on to rule:

...we direct that a scheme shall be framed by the central government within a span of six weeks from today so that the authorities under the scheme can see to it that the present decision which has modified the award passed by the tribunal is smoothly made functional and the rights of the states as determined by us are appositely carried out. When we say so, we also categorically convey that the need based monthly release has to be respected. It is hereby made clear that no extension shall be granted for framing of the scheme on any ground.

But the court did not specifically say how the board must be constituted or who should be on it. Presumably, it wants the Centre to constitute it on the lines suggested by the tribunal.

In the absence of any details in the Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956, on how the implementing machinery must be constituted, the tribunal said the CMB must be on the lines of the Bhakra Beas Management Board.

Along with a chairman and two members appointed by the Centre, the CMB will have one member each from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, and a secretary. It will take decisions by majority. More importantly, the board will have its own ground staff to work with those of the respective states.

On its part, the CMB will constitute a nine-member CRC, headed by a chairman and consisting representatives of the states and related organisations such as the India Meteorological Department and the Central Water Commission. Among other things, this committee will record daily water levels, inflows and storage in reservoirs, supplying authentic data on which just decisions can be made when the rains fail.

Why the dispute could go on

The ball is clearly in the court of the Modi government, which finds itself in a fix. If it doesn't set up the board, it will defy the Supreme Court. If it does, Siddaramaiah can claim that the BJP has harmed Karnataka's interests. And if the board, if not formed in a way that lacks acceptability, will ensure that the Cauvery dispute will continue to simmer.

All this means only one thing: While the hike in Karnataka's share is a small mercy for the state, that's how the state's farmer leaders are beginning to describe it after the initial euphoria, we haven't heard the last of the dispute. Not just yet.

In the absence of a credible implementing mechanism, politicians of both states will continue to stoke passions to further their interests, officials will toe their respective political masters and jingoistic and ill-informed journalists, loyal to their respective native lands, will go on spreading lies and half-truths. And after 15 years, when the Supreme Court's new allocation lapses, the time will be ripe for a fresh tussle, if not earlier.Chandrayaan-2, the lunar mission under which the ISRO will for the first time attempt to land a rover on the moon's south pole, will be launched in April.

New Delhi: Chandrayaan-2, the lunar mission under which the ISRO will for the first time attempt to land a rover on the moon's south pole, will be launched in April, Jitendra Singh, in-charge of the Department of Space said on Friday.

The rover of India's second lunar mission, costing nearly Rs 800 crore, will be made to land near the yet-unexplored south pole, ISRO's newly-appointed chairperson K Sivan said.

"India is going to launch Chandrayaan-2 in April. It is under the Chandrayaan-1 mission that the ISRO spotted water on the moon. Chandrayaan-2 is a further extension of the project and it is as good as landing a man on the moon," Singh told reporters.

Chandrayaan-2 will be ISRO's first inter-planetary mission to land a rover on any celestial body.

Sivan noted that the window to launch the mission is between April and November this year. "The targeted date is April. In case we miss the April date, we will launch it in November," Sivan added.

Citing the reason behind landing the rover near the south pole, Sivan said it is a "very tricky area" with rocks formed a million years ago.

"It has very old rocks. This could possibly help us understand the origin of the universe," he said.

Another reason that he cited behind landing the rover near the south pole was that the area has not been explored by other missions. "Most of the lunar missions in the past have explored the area around the equator of the moon," Sivan added.The Maharashtra Congress on Friday criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for roping in event management firm Wizcraft to handle the Magnetic Maharashtra conference

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Congress on Friday criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for roping in event management firm Wizcraft to handle the Magnetic Maharashtra conference that will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Sachin Sawant demanded to know why a company like Wizcraft, which he claimed was blacklisted, was being favoured.

"Two years ago, after a fire at Girgaum Chowpatty during a programme connected to the Make in India celebrations, Fadnavis had told the Legislative Council that no contracts would be given, henceforth, to the company," Sawant said.

He said that an FIR had also been filed against the firm for negligence and flouting safety rules in connection with the fire, adding that a chargesheet was still in the process of being filed almost two years after the incident.

At the time, Sawant said, Fadnavis had assured the House that action against Wizcraft would serve as a lesson to all event organisers to adhere to standard operating procedures (sop).

"Has the Chief Minister forgotten this assurance made on the floor of the House? Just saying that CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) had given the contract to the company for Magnetic Maharashtra is not enough. Fadnavis has to clarify," Sawant said.

He added that the party leaders would decide how to raise the issue in the House to prove that it was a breach of privilege of the House.

Hitting out at the Magnetic Maharashtra conference, Sawant said that the Fadnavis government was more about slogans and less about work, adding that farmers were committing suicide and unemployement was on the rise.

Sawant said the the Business Reform Action Plan published by the Centre showed that Maharashtra had dropped to the 13th position from number 8 in 2015.

He said the recently announced Integrated Industrial Area (IIA) policy included tribal and forest land, buffer zones, eco sensitive zones and mangroves, adding that this fact had been conveniently not mentioned in the cabinet press release.

"Is this transperancy?" Sawant asked, claiming that the issue was serious as the green cover in the state was receding.

Sawant alleged that the IIA policy was to favour a few industrialists while the MSME sector (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) which generated the maximum employment, was being neglectedA Dalit activist, who set himself on fire in Gujarat over govt's failure to regularise land tilled by a landless labourer, succumbed to his burn injuries

Ahmedabad: A 60-year-old Dalit activist, who set himself on fire in Gujarat over government's alleged failure to regularise land tilled by a landless labourer, succumbed to his burn injuries late on Friday.

Bhanubhai Vankar set himself on fire on Thursday inside the compound of Patan Collector's office. He was rushed to a local hospital before being moved to the Apollo Hospital in Ahmedabad.

Earlier on Friday, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that the state government was taking full care of Vankar. He said the government would bear all the expenses the Dalit activist's treatment.

"We are receiving messages from many supporters across the state that they are frustrated and would resort to suicide. I request all of them not to take any such steps and instead go on an indefinite dharna (protest).

"I would request them to approach me and we will carry forward the fight," Jignesh Mevani, MLA from Vadgam constituency and a Dalit youth leader told reporters on reaching the hospital where Vankar died.

Vankar had been seeking physical possession of land that was allotted to Dalit families by the state government.

He had written a letter to the chief minister last month, warning him of taking the step of self-immolation if the families were not allotted the land.

Though the chief minister's office had sent in an advisory to the collectorate, the officials there allegedly took the matter casually.

Vankar reached the collector's office along with the Dalit families of Hemaben and Ramabhai on Thursday, drenched himself in kerosene and set himself on fire.

The body of Vankar is likely to be moved to Unjha in Mehsana district on Saturday for last rites.Delhi Police has announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for information about the unidentified man who had allegedly masturbated in front of a Delhi University (DU) student on a moving bus

New Delhi: Delhi Police has announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for information about the unidentified man who had allegedly masturbated in front of a Delhi University (DU) student on a moving bus last week, a senior officer said.

The girl student had filmed the accused during the act and uploaded the video on social media causing widespread outcry.

A complaint was lodged at the Vasant Vihar police station and based on it, an FIR was registered on 10 February under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) pertaining to sexual harassment and obscene act in a public place.

The police have appealed to the people for help in nabbing the accused and anyone providing information leading to his arrest will be rewarded with Rs 25,000, the officer said.

Information regarding the man can be given at Vasant Vihar or any other police station and the identity of the informant will be kept secret, he said.

The Delhi University (DU) student in her complaint claimed that no one came forward to help her even after she raised an alarm. She also alleged that the man tried to touch her waist several times.

"I made a video of his act and even shouted at him, but he did not understand. I even tried to approach people but they ignored it," she said in her complaint.

The incident took place on a moving bus going from Vasant Vihar to IIT Gate, where the man got down, the student claimed, adding, "After he got down at the IIT Gate, I again tried to approach people but did not get any cooperation."Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has assured that his government is pursuing the demand for Marathi to be granted the status of 'classical language.'

Vadodara: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has assured that his government is pursuing the demand for Marathi to be granted the status of 'classical language' with the Union government.

Fadnavis inaugurated the annual Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan (All India Marathi literary conference) last night.

"The proposal that Marathi be recognised as a classical language is before the Centre," he said.

The proposal was placed before a committee of linguistic experts, which approved it, and now it is under the consideration of the Union Ministry of Culture, the Maharashtra chief minister informed.

He recalled the contribution of late Sayajirao Gaekwad III, ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Baroda (now Vadodara), in the country's freedom movement.

Gaekwad was a visionary, reformist ruler who made primary education compulsory, allowed remarriage of widows, established the world-famous MS University of Baroda, founded Bank of Baroda, and started railway services in his state, Fadnavis said.

Gaekwad was also instrumental in organising the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in Vadodara in 1909, 1921 and 1934, Fadnavis noted.

Speaking on the occasion, Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde offered to host the next year's conference at Bhilar village in Satara district of western Maharashtra.

The president of this year's conference is Marathi writer Sripad Joshi.

Gujarati writer and Jnanpith award winner Raghuveer Chaudhary and chancellor of M S University Shubhangini Raje Gaekwad were among those present.After Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said in the state Legislative Council that police encounters in the state 'would not stop', two criminals walked around around Kairana city on Friday with placards pledging to 'reform' and not 'indulge in crime again'

A video released on Saturday showed two alleged criminals walking around Kairana city with placards pledging to "reform" and not "indulge in crime again." One of them was quoted by The Times of India as saying they 'do not want to be hunted down like other criminals.'

This comes days after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said in the state Legislative Council that police encounters in the state "would not stop."

A total of 40 'dreaded criminals' have been gunned down in 1,200 encounters, and this will continue, the chief minister had said in the state Legislative Council. He was replying to BJP legislator Devendra Pratap Singh's question on the propriety pertaining to a 13 February directive of Chairman Ramesh Yadav asking the government to get a CBI probe conducted into three cases, including of two police encounters.

"I will not get involved in any crimes in the future and will work hard to take care of my family. Please forgive us," a placard held up by one of the two men says. Following this incident, the Twitter handle of the UP police also shared a collage of news articles with the caption: "It is not the police I am afraid of, it is crime that I fear." The quote is a spin on a dialogue from the Salman Khan starrer Dabangg.

On Saturday, the Twitter handle of the Shamli police also retweeted a news article on the issue. The tweet says that the incident is due to the effect of 'encounter specialist' superintendent of police Ajay Sharma and further says, "See what criminals of Uttar Pradesh are saying due to the fear of encounters."

According to the Financial Express, the two men are Salim Ali and Irshad Ahmad, who are accused in several cases of loot and murder. The report adds that the two accused were jailed and are said to be "repeat offenders." They also handed over an affidavit to the Shamli SP.

The Opposition has recently slammed the ruling party for the spike in encounters. According to the Times of India, the Samajwadi Party criticised Adityanath for allegedly ordering fake encounters.

The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government, which came to power in 2017, has faced severe criticism over the rising number of police encounters in the state. According to the New Indian Express, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sent a notice to the state government, asking it to come clear within six weeks on the recent police encounters in the state. The NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports about the government of Uttar Pradesh, allegedly, endorsing killings in encounters by police seeking improvement in law and order situation in the state, the human rights body said.

The reported statement of the chief minister tantamounts to giving police department a free hand to deal with the criminals at their will and, possibly, it may result in abuse of power by the public servants, NHRC added.Here is the full text of the joint statement of India and Iran, which made detailed references to terrorism and the Chabahar port.

Iran president Hassan Rouhani had arrived in India on Thursday for a three-day visit to the country. during which he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

On Friday, Modi discussed bilateral cooperation across a range of areas and regional issues during a meeting with Hassan Rouhani in Delhi.

"Both leaders held substantive and productive discussion on cooperation in trade and investment, energy, connectivity, defence and security, and regional issues," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Earlier on Saturday, Rouhani, who arrived in New Delhi on Friday evening from Hyderabad, was a accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

This the first presidential visit from Iran to India in 10 years and comes after the visit of the prime minister to the West Asian nation in 2016.

Following is the full text of the joint statement of India and Iran:

During the visit, Dr Hassan Rouhani, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Cabinet Ministers, senior officials and business leaders. He was accorded a friendly and cordial ceremonial welcome in the forecourt of RashtrapatiBhawan on 17 February. President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind hosted an official banquet dinner in honour of the visiting dignitary. Delegation level discussions were held between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President Dr Hassan Rouhani. Prime Minister of India also hosted a Lunch in his honour. Hon'ble Vice President and External Affairs Minister of India called on the visiting dignitary. President Rouhani visited Hyderabad on 15-16 February 2018.

Wide-ranging and constructive discussions on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues were held in a cordial atmosphere. In recalling the principles on development of bilateral relations articulated in the New Delhi Declaration of 23 January 2003, the two sides expressed satisfaction at the progress made in bilateral ties since Prime Minister Modis visit to Iran in May 2016 and reiterated their common resolve to further intensify and strengthen multifaceted bilateral cooperation. The two leaders noted that the mutually beneficial ties between the two countries were based upon the strong foundations of the two millenia old cultural and civilisational connect. They shared the view that strengthened bilateral relations also contribute to regional cooperation, peace, prosperity and stability.

Prime Minister Modi and President Rouhani witnessed the exchange of the following documents and jointly addressed the media:

i. Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income

ii. MoU on Exemption from Visa requirement for holders of Diplomatic Passports

iii. Instrument of Ratification of Extradition Treaty

iv. MoU on Cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine

v. MoU on the establishment of an Expert Group on Trade Remedy Measures to promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest

vi. MoU on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sectors

vii. MoU on Cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine

viii. MoU on Postal Cooperation

ix. Lease Contract for ShahidBeheshti Port-Phase 1 of Chabahar during Interim Period between Port and Maritime Organization (PMO), Iran and India Ports Global Limited (IPGL)

Bilateral Exchanges

President Rouhani and Prime Minister Modi agreed to further intensify and diversify the existing high-level engagement through frequent and wider range of bilateral exchanges at all levels. In this context, it was decided to convene within this year the meeting of the India-Iran Joint Commission and all its Working Groups, Foreign Office Consultations, dialogue between defense and National Security Council structures of the two countries, Policy Planning dialogue, and topromote Parliamentary exchanges.

Connectivity

The two sides recognized the unique role of Iran and India in promoting multi-modal connectivity within and across the region. The successful inauguration of the Phase-1 of Chabahar Port in early December 2017; the ratification of the Trilateral Agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan on Establishment of International Transport and Transit Corridor by all sides; and the successful shipment of wheat assistance from India to Afghanistan through Chabahar Port have opened a new gateway to and from Afghanistan, Central Asia and beyond. Both sides reiterated their commitment for early and full operationalisation of ShahidBeheshti Port at Chabahar. The Iranian side welcomed the investment of Indian side in setting up plants in sectors such as fertilizers, petrochemicals and metallurgy in Chabahar FTZ on terms mutually beneficial to the concerned parties.

In this context, both leaders welcomed the lease contract for ShahidBeheshti port of Chabahar during interim period between port and Maritime Organization (PMO), Iran and India Ports Global Limited (IPGL). They further directed that the Coordination Council should meet within the timelines stipulated in the Trilateral Agreement.

With a view to fully utilize the potential of the Chabahar Port and its connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia, India conveyed its readiness to support the development of Chabahar- Zahedan Rail line. IRCON, India and CDTIC, Iran who are engaged in discussions, were tasked to finalise the technical parameters and financing options for the project in a time bound manner. Both leaders encouraged greater efforts for cooperation in railway sector including supply of steel rails, turnouts and locomotives.

Both sides reiterated their commitment to International North- South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and stressed on the need for inclusion of Chabahar within its framework. It was noted that Iran will hold an early meeting of the INSTC Coordination Meeting in Tehran. India's accession to TIR Convention and Ashgabat Agreement was welcomed as additional steps at enhancing regional connectivity and linking regional centers of economic growth.

The two Leaders released a joint postage stamp depicting Deendayal Port, Kandla and ShahidBeheshti Terminal, Chabahar that reflected the enhanced prosperity through greater connectivity.

The Iranian side expressed its readiness to enhance enabling environment to attract Indian private/public sector investments, in Chabahar FTZ. In this context, Iran will organise a business promotion event, with participation of countries from the region and beyond, with the objective of showcasing the economic opportunities offered by the Chabahar Port.

Energy Partnership

Noting the complimentarity of interests and natural partnership in the energy sector, it was agreed to move beyond traditional buyer-seller relationship and develop it into a long term strategic partnership, both sides agreed to continue and increase the pace of negotiation for reaching appropriate results on energy cooperation, including Farzad B gas field.

Trade and Investment Cooperation

The two Leaders agreed on the deepening trade and investment cooperation between the two countries. In this context, they recognised the need to put in place an effective banking channel for business transactions. It was noted that permission for the Iranian Pasargadbank to open a branch in India was under advance consideration. It was also agreed to set up a Joint Committee of officials to examine feasible options, including Rupee-Rial Arrangement, Asian Clearing Union mechanism to establish functional payment channels.

The finalisation of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement was welcomed as a step that would promote business environment. The two sides agreed to undertake text based negotiations on Preferential Trade Agreement as well as conclusion of Bilateral Investment Treaty in a fixed time frame.

Noting the importance of the role of businessmen and industry in promoting economic and commercial cooperation, the two Leaders welcomed the opening of the Confederation of the Indian Industry (CII) regional office in Tehran last year and the agreements for mutual cooperation signed between various trade bodies on both sides. The Indian side conveyed that it looks forward to Iran Chamber of Commerce & Industry opening an office in India.

India fully supports the accession of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the World Trade Organization and the ongoing consensus building efforts among WTO members to reactivate the accession process, consistent with the objective of making the Organization universal and inclusive.

Promotion of Friendly exchanges and people to people contacts

In order to facilitate friendly exchanges between the two countries, it was agreed that India would grant e-visa facility for the Iranian nationals and Iran would grant e-visa facility to the Indian nationals. The signing of visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic passports was also a step in this direction. Both sides reiterated the importance of addressing humanitarian issues concerning the nationals of the two countries. Iran side will positively consider Indias request to upgrade Consulates in Iran.

With a view to build on the strong foundations of civilization and cultural connect and promote better understanding of each other at various levels, it was agreed to hold the Festival of India in Iran in 2018/19; establish a Chair of Indian studies in Tehran University; organise Indology courses for Iranian diplomats by the Foreign Service Institute of India; support the Persian language courses in India; cooperate further in the areas of archaeology, museums, archives and libraries.

Security and Defence Cooperation

The two Leaders welcomed the growing interaction between their National Security Councils and agreed to enhance regular and institutionalized consultations between them and others concerned on terrorism, security and related issues such as organised crime, money-laundering, drug trafficking and cyber crime.

Both sides expressed interest in enhancing cooperation possibilities in maritime domain. It was agreed to hold dialogue to look into measures for cooperation in defence sphere, including port calls by naval ships, training and regular exchanges of defence delegations.

The two sides positively noted the progress achieved in implementation of the bilateral agreement on transfer of sentenced persons; the Extradition Treaty by both sides and understanding reached on Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty on Civil and Commercial Matters.

Other Areas

They also welcomed bilateral cooperation as per mutual interest and agreement in a number of other areas, including higher education, science and technology, agriculture, labour and entrepreneurship, tourism, posts through regular interaction and institutional mechanisms, and directed relevant authorities to work out further details.

Regional and International Issues

The two Leaders exchanged views on regional and international situation. In view of strengthening multilateralism, President Rouhani acknowledges the aspiration of India to play a greater role in international fora. The two leaders reiterated the importance of strong United Nations and emphasized the need for an early reform of the Security Council reflective of the current geopolitical realities. They reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Intergovernmental Negotiations [IGN] for comprehensive reform of the Security Council.Both Leaders underscored the need for strengthening and reform of multilateral financial institutions and enhancing the voice and participation of developing countries in international economic decision-making.

Recognizing the challenges of terrorism and ideologies of violent extremism, the two Leaders reiterated their strong commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and stressed that there can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism. They expressed their conviction that the fight against terrorism should not only seek to disrupt and eliminate terrorists, terrorist organizations and networks, but should also identify and address conditions conducive to terrorism as well as extremist ideologies. They stressed that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality or ethnic group. They urged an immediate end to all support and sanctuaries enjoyed by terrorist groups and individuals and were of the view that States that aid, abet and directly or indirectly support terrorism should be condemned. They called on the international community to end selective or partial approaches to combating terrorism and, in this regard, stressed the need to make every effort to reach an agreement on and conclude a comprehensive convention on international terrorism at the UNGA. Both sides endorsed UNGA consensual resolution in 2013 derived from the idea of Irans President "World Against Violence and Extremism(WAVE) and called for combating terrorist elements and complete eradication of their supportive movements, financial support cut to terrorist groups in particular.

The Indian side reaffirmed its support for full and effective implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which has been endorsed by the UN Security Council and is crucial contribution to the non-proliferation framework and international peace, stability and security.

Both sides stressed that the interests of peace and stability in the region are best served by a strong, united, prosperous, pluralisitic, democratic and independent Afghanistan while supporting the National Unity Government in the country. They stressed the significance of strengthening India-Iran-Afghanistan trilateral consultations and coordination, including by suitably supplementing their cooperation on Chabahar. In this context, they also called upon the countries of the region to come forward for enhancing regional connectivity and take steps to do away with the obstacles on land transit.

President Rouhani expressed deep appreciation and gratitude for the gracious hospitality extended to him and his delegation during their stay in India. He extended invitation to the President and the Prime Minister of India to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran. The invitations were accepted and it was agreed to work on the dates for the visit through diplomatic channels.

The entire text has been taken exactly as posted by the official website of the Ministry of External Affairs and has not been edited by Firstpost.

With inputs from IANSThe Gujarat government on Saturday accepted the demands of family members of Dalit activist Bhanubhai Vankar who had immolated himself on Thursday.

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government on Saturday accepted the demands of family members of Dalit activist Bhanubhai Vankar who had immolated himself on Thursday. Vankar's kin had refused to accept his body after it was brought for post-mortem to the Gandhinagar civil hospital.

Vankar had set himself ablaze outside the Patan Collector's office on Thursday and had died of burn injuries at a private hospital in Ahmedabad the next day.

Hundreds of Dalit protesters gathered outside the hospital to support the family which was demanding the setting up of a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter and re-granting of land which had been allotted to Dalits across the state but whose ownership titles had not been regularised.

Talking to reporters, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said the land in question would be transferred in the name of the family member.

"We will also constitute a judicial commission under a retired high court judge or form an SIT for investigation, as per the decision of the family, and we will take strict action against those responsible," Patel said.

"A member of the family will be given a government job, and the family will be given Rs 8 lakh as per the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, out of which Rs 4 lakh will be handed over immediately," Patel told reporters.

"The government will, at the earliest, also re-grant land which was allotted to beneficiaries across the state but were been given the titles of the land," he added.

Earlier in the day, Dalit leader and independent MLA Jignesh Mevani and leader of the Opposition Paresh Dhanani met Vankar's kin at the Gandhinagar civil hospital. Vankar was part of Mevani's Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch.

Mevani had threatened to launch a protest if the state government did not yield to their demands.

Protesters at the site had also turned away Karshan Solanki, the BJP MLA from Kadi, when he arrived at the hospital.

Vankar was fighting for Hemaben Vankar, a landless Dalit farm labourer, who had alleged that authorities were not allotting a plot of land to her family despite collecting Rs 22,236 in 2013.

In a memorandum submitted to the Collector a week ago, Hemaben, along with Vankar, had threatened self-immolation.

Despite deployment of police outside the Patan Collectors office, Mehsana resident Vankar managed to set himself ablaze. The state government had ordered an inquiry into the incident to be helmed by chief secretary JN Singh.Ryan murder accused has sought setting aside of an order of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) directing him to be face criminal prosecution as an adult

Gurugram: A 16-year-old student, accused in the case of murder of a seven-year-old boy at a private school at Bhondsi in Gurugram, on Saturday sought setting aside of an order of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) directing him to be face criminal prosecution as an adult.

Additional Sessions Judge Jasbir Singh Kundu was told by the accused that the JJB order was bad in law and it was passed without giving him proper opportunity to present his case.

The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) had on 20 December last year held that the teenager would be tried as an adult and had directed that he be produced before the Gurgaon Sessions Court.

Advocate Tanveer Ahmed Mir, appearing for the accused during in-camera proceedings, apprised the waiting media about the day's hearing.

During the hearing, it was alleged before the court that the JJB passed the order "only on face value of allegations and evidence".

The court has posted the matter for 28 February when it will resume hearing on the appeal.

Earlier, the court had barred the media from using the name of the 16-year-old juvenile accused in the case and asked it to use fictitious names instead.

While the seven-year-old victim was named "Prince" by the court, the juvenile accused was named "Bholu" and the school was referred to as "Vidyalaya".

The CBI, in a charge sheet, has alleged that the teenager had murdered the student in September last year in a bid to postpone exams and cancel a scheduled parent-teacher meeting.

In the final report, the agency said that sufficient oral, documentary and forensic evidence has come on record to substantiate that the 16-year-old accused had committed the murder on 8 September last year.

"It is, therefore, prayed that since a case of committing of murder of Prince on 8 September, 2017 is made out against Bholu, this court may be pleased to take cognisance for the commission of offences punishable under 302 (murder) of Indian Penal Code against Bholu accordingly as per law," it said.

The victim's body was found with his throat slit in the washroom of the school.The external affairs ministry has said that it did not impose any restrictions on pilgrims travelling to Pakistan amid heightened tensions between the two nations

New Delhi: India has said that it did not impose any restrictions on pilgrims travelling to Pakistan amid heightened tensions between the two nations following a string of terror attacks in the Kashmir Valley.

"Of course not," external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Friday when asked if India had imposed any restriction on pilgrims.

The clarification comes after Pakistan reportedly blamed India for withdrawing visa applications of pilgrims from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.India  and all of the world  needs to shift from fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) to low-carbon energy, such as wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and nuclear energy.

Prof Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, is also a special adviser to the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the Sustainable Development Goals to help remove poverty, hunger and disease. A leading economist, he is also director of the of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and co-editor of the World Happiness Report apart from having authored several best-selling books.

He was in the capital to attend the World Sustainable Development Summit organised by TERI.

Q. You have been quoted as saying that the air pollution levels in Delhi are very poor and that Delhi has become an unlivable city.

A. By various objective measures of the World Health Organisation, such as PM 2.5 and PM 10, Delhi has amongst the worst air pollution in the world. Acute episodes such as the "Great Smog" of November 2017 are shocking and dangerous. The experts tell us, with greater and greater evidence each year, that air pollution in Delhi and other Indian cities causes massive disease burdens such as cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, long-term reductions of children's cognitive functioning, and massive premature death.

Q. What is the way out for the 20 million inhabitants living in this city?

A. Most importantly, India  and all of the world  needs to shift from fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) to low-carbon energy, such as wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and nuclear energy; from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles; and from unsustainable farm practices such as burning crop residues to sustainable farm practices.

Q. What do you believe is the comprehensive action plan that the government should implement right away?

A. The Indian government should present a comprehensive plan at various time horizons  short term (one year), five years, 10 years, and 20 years  supported by India's leading experts and in consultation with independent experts from abroad. There are no immediate answers to solve the crisis once and for all. The key is a technologically and economically sound approach implemented systematically and transparently over roughly 20 years, and drawing on the best minds and technologies. I am not an expert in the nitty-gritty solutions that are appropriate for Delhi, but the general direction is clear: decarbonisation of electricity generation and industrial production, electric vehicles and electricity-based public transportation, crackdowns on industrial polluters, and sustainable agriculture, including to end the burning of post-harvest residues.

Q. Should we follow the Beijing model in curbing air pollution? This included implementing an odd-even scheme for cars and strict licensing policy for new cars in the city.

A. Again, I can't give an off-the-cuff prescription. The key is a sound and transparent plan, worked out for time scales from the urgent short run and including the long term (20 years). The right prescriptions depend on the main sources of pollution, the technological alternatives in the short term and long term, the economics of the alternatives, and the administrative ease of implementation.

Q. Are you satisfied with the way India is tackling its problem of afforestation?

A. In general, I believe that the government needs a more detailed and publicly accessible plan of action for all aspects of Sustainable Development Goals, including afforestation. The main environmental SDGs include SDG 11 (urban sustainability), Goal 12 (reducing wastes and industrial pollutants), Goal 13 (climate change mitigation and adaptation), Goal 14 (sustainable coastal waters and marine ecosystems), and Goal 15 (terrestrial ecosystems). Achieving these goals is hard work and requires deep study and long-term implementation. These are challenges both for line ministries and NITI Aayog as a coordinator of long-term, cross-ministry planning. This work should be in collaboration with India's leading universities and civil society. Good answers require mobilising technological knowledge, to be applied at the scales of 1-20 years. Good, rigorous, expert-based planning is key. So too is a way to depoliticise the decision-making, so that it's not subject to the whims and vagaries of partisan politics.

Q. How vulnerable is India to climate change?

A. India is hugely vulnerable, one of the most vulnerable countries in the entire world. Every one of India's ecosystems, from the high Himalayas to the coastlines, to the hot and dry interior, is hugely vulnerable. India should be in the world forefront to demand responsible policies from the US, Europe, China, Russia, and the Middle East. India should tell Donald Trump, point blank, that the US cannot withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, and that if it tries to do so, the US will be completely isolated diplomatically, legally, and economically. If the world continues with business as usual, India will pay a frightful cost for ecological disasters mainly caused by others. Of course, in order to lead in this way globally, India also needs to lead in its own decarbonisation as well. So far, India does not have a long-term (2050) plan to decarbonise the energy system. Studies do show, however, that India, and indeed South Asia, could move feasibly to 100 perfect zero-carbon energy.

Q. India is fast approaching a major water crisis. Do you think the policy of interlinking of rivers that the government has embarked upon will help solve this crisis?

A. The river-interlinking is risky. There is some logic: Water storage, flood control, hydroelectric power, more irrigation. Yet, the project is hugely controversial because there is no consensus among ecologists, engineers, hydrologists, and agronomists. Large-scale measures like the river-linking are inherently risky for obvious reasons. There are also important alternatives or at least complementary policies: Sustainable farming techniques, greater efficiency in water pricing and use, shifting crop varieties and regions of production. My own expertise focuses mainly on how societies can get good answers to these complex challenges, through more systematic study, expert deliberation, depoliticised decision-making, and long-term planning. The government should reflect on one question. Why has there been debate for 40 years over this scheme but no consensus? Is there a way to make the decision-making process more robust, transparent, non-political, and expert-based?

Q. President Trump has pulled out of the Paris Agreement. What kind of signal has this sent out to the world community?

A. I believe that in the end, the US will stay in the Paris Climate Agreement. Trump's decision to pull out was based mainly on the wishes of the coal, oil, and gas lobbies, who determine the policy agenda of the Republican Party through their large campaign contributions. The US political system is one of large-scale corruption, with billions of corporate dollars now flowing through Washington politics. In the US, much of this mega-corruption is legal because of bad decisions by the Supreme Court, but it is deep corruption nonetheless.

Q. You had come here as part of the rural mission when I interviewed you in 2009. What is your response to the present government cutting down further on the budgetary health allocations making medical treatment extremely expensive for the poor?

A. In the new budget, the government has announced two very important new health programs. The first is a major scale-up of primary health care via 1.5 lakh health and wellness centres. The second is hospital insurance to cover 10 crore households (500 million people). Details are still to come, and there are important questions regarding their financing, but these two initiatives are potentially massive positive breakthroughs for Indian healthcare. If well designed, the health and wellness centres can provide low-cost and high-performance healthcare, supported by new smart technologies. The hospital insurance has to be carefully designed so as not to give too much bargaining power to private hospital systems. A private, overpriced, profit-driven healthcare system like in the United States would be very detrimental for India. In the US, the powerful healthcare lobby pushes up hospital and drug prices and profits and management salaries at the expense of public health, especially for the poor.

Q. The present government plans to use rivers as inland waterways. This will involve major dredging of rivers. Given that ours, unlike the west, are largely monsoon rivers, do you think these plans required more detailed environment impact assessments?

A. India's physical environment, I have been emphasising, is already highly stressed. The rivers are already heavily polluted, often vastly over-utilised, and highly vulnerable to climate change. These problems cannot be solved piecemeal, as I've been emphasising in the previous answers. The government predicts a future for India in booming agriculture, but sadly the risk of agricultural collapse is also real, if the mega-environmental challenges  climate, water, pollution, land use, and biodiversity  are not attended to with the highest expertise, honesty, transparency, and foresight.The Hindu Ekta Manch, a Right-wing group connected to the BJP, has taken out rallies in Jammu in support of a police officer who was arrested for the rape and murder of an eight-year-old nomadic girl

Tensions are mounting in Jammu and Kashmir after the Hindu Ekta Manch, a Right-wing group connected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), started taking out rallies in the state's Jammu region in support of a special police officer who was arrested by the crime branch for the rape and murder of an eight-year-old nomadic girl last month.

In a brazen contempt of law, hundreds of demonstrators, including women and children, gathered in Kathua area on Friday with the National Flag and shouted 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and other slogans. They were demanding the immediate release of Deepak Khajuria, the police officer who allegedly abducted the nomadic girl, kept her in confinement for seven days, and then murdered her.

According to the police, Khajuria and a minor boy, who has also been detained, were responsible for the ghastly crime which was discovered after a badly mutilated body was recovered from the Rassana forest in Kathua on 17 January, a week after she went missing while grazing horses. The victim hailed from Kathua.

Sources said that Khajuria threatened the boy that he would kill his parents if he told anybody about the incident.

Cover-up or negligence?

When the case was initially brought to the notice of the police, official negligence paved way for attempts of cover-up. Khajuria, who has been claimed by the Hindu Ekta Manch as their member, was among those appointed to trace the victim when she went missing. "He was also part of the police party which recovered the body," a senior officer of the Jammu and Kashmir police's crime branch, which is investigating the case, told Firstpost.

By the time the body was recovered, police had turned the heat on the nomadic population, a small Muslim minority in Hindu-dominated Jammu. A local activist was detained for spearheading an unofficial movement seeking justice for the girl.

The official indictment came after the SHO Hiranagar was suspended over allegations that he had allegedly helped Khajuria, who was being accused of involvement in the crime, to evade the law.

The issue also repeatedly halted proceedings of the Budget Session of the state Assembly, with Opposition parties raising questions and demanding action against the culprits. On 23 January, the Mehbooba Mufti government ordered a probe in the matter and handed the case over to the crime branch.

Seeds of discord

On Twitter, Hindu Ekta Manch describes itself as a "social welfare organisation" with 99 followers. The handle follows all the top leaders of the BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah. According to a report on Outlook, the group was formed by Milind Ekbote, a BJP corporator from Pune, after he lost the election in 2007.

His family is linked to RSS and the group was recently found to be involved in the Bhima Koregaon violence which led to the killing of one person.

"This so-called 'Hindu Ekta Manch' is nothing but a cover. It's the BJP hiding behind religion to further its political agenda. No justice loving Hindu can support rape and murder," student leader and former vice-president of JNU Students Union, Shehla Rashid, who hails from Srinagar in Kashmir, said.

The rally in Kathua by the 'Hindu Ekta Manch' with a top BJP leader and secretary as its head, was one of the many rallies that were organised by the Right-wing group in Jammu over the past few weeks following Khajuria's arrest. It was something that made Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti obliquely express her helplessness in preventing the breakdown of law and order in the state by Hindu Right-wing groups.

"Appalled by the marches and protests in defence of the recently apprehended rapist in Kathua. Also horrified by their use of our National Flag in these demonstrations. This is nothing short of desecration. The accused has been arrested and the law will follow its course," she said on Twitter.

However, the BJP has hit back at the chief minister for her statements, saying she i trying to politicise and communalise the matter. Vijay Sharma, advocate and BJP secretary, said, "The police had arrested a boy who everybody said was responsible for the killing. After he was arrested, some people from Jammu and members from a particular community put pressure on the government saying he couldn't have committed this crime on his own. It was our government which handed over the case to the crime branch. There is a personal enmity between Deepak Khajuria and the family. Before his arrest, they were involved in a fight three days ago. They were encroaching on his land they had a fight over this issue. The police isn't looking into that angle at all."

"We didn't block traffic, and our boys got in a National Flag to the rally only because the man who was arrested was serving the country. We asked how can you arrest someone without a proper investigation. Mehbooba called him a rapist even though it wasn't proven. She is trying to politicise and communalise the issue. They want to further deepen the animosity between the two communities in the region," Sharma said.

Atmosphere of Fear

The initial botched investigation by the police has shattered the faith of the nomadic community. Amid fear of retaliation, nomads in Rasana and Kootah villages of Kathua are living a life of uncertainty. Reflecting the sorry state of affairs in the police and civic administration, their water supply was cut and the community has been socially ostracised as well.

On Friday, the Right-wing group took the National Flag to their protest march, as demonstrators shouted slogans including 'Vande Mataram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', while demanding the policeman be released immediately. Interestingly, the demonstration had a police escort team accompanying them.

"How can the police provide an escort to the protesters who want the rule of law to be suspended? Is it not disrespectful to the National Flag itself? On whose direction was the escort provided? Why hasn't action been taken against those who organised or took part in the protest march?" Choudhary Talib, a social activist from the Gujjar community, who was arrested by the police for seeking justice for the victim, told Firstpost.

He pointed to the fact that no action is expected to be taken against the demonstrators as showing a complete breakdown of law and order in the state.Narendra Modi welcomed Iranian president Hassan Rouhani at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi ahead of delegation-level talks between the two sides.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday discussed bilateral cooperation across a range of areas and regional issues during a meeting with Iran President Hassan Rouhani in New Delhi.

Modi welcomed Rouhani at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi ahead of delegation-level talks between the two sides.

"Both leaders held substantive and productive discussion on cooperation in trade and investment, energy, connectivity, defence and security, and regional issues," external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Earlier on Saturday, Rouhani, who arrived in New Delhi on Friday evening from Hyderabad, was a accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

This the first presidential visit from Iran to India in 10 years and comes after the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the West Asian nation in 2016.

Following the ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also called on the visiting dignitary.

"Strengthening cooperation in energy, connectivity, IT, education, culture and people-to-people contact came up for discussion," Kumar said in a separate tweet following that meeting.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian president Hassan Rouhani on Saturday praised the bilateral relations between the two countries as they agreed to cooperate in the fields of finance, energy, connectivity and cultural ties.

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani, who is on a three-day visit to India, praised bilateral relations between the two countries as he and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi agreed to cooperate in the fields of finance, energy and connectivity, and also agreed to strengthen cultural ties.

"After 10 years, the President of Iran has come to India. I visited Tehran in 2016. Now within two years, your visit has given us all the opportunity to strengthen ties between the two nations. Being neighbours and friends, the relationship has been only been growing over the years. Your leadership and clarity in vision has immensely helped in developing the Chabahar port," Modi said.

The two nations signed Memorandum of Understandings in areas like double taxation avoidance, extradition, agricultural cooperation, port lease, medicine before the two leaders issued a joint statement on Saturday. The two also issued a joint postal stamp.

#Delhi: PM Narendra Modi & President of Iran Hassan Rouhani issue joint postal stamp. pic.twitter.com/Q4RSmcF6tF  ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018

"We want to increase ties in finance, energy, connectivity and trade. We want to strengthen our age-old cultural ties. Landlocked Afghanistan has got a golden gateway in Chabahar. I congratulate you for the contribution. We have today discussed different topics and taken different decisions. We have taken many steps for the benefit of the future. For the longest of time, India and Iran have been learning from each other," Modi said. Modi said that India and Iran signed nine agreements, including on easing visa rules and cooperation in the medical sector, apart from a maritime agreement on Chabahar port's development.

The two countries want to see our neighbor Afghanistan safe and prosper. We want to see our neighbors free of terrorism: PM Narendra Modi pic.twitter.com/98bYhcSERn  ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018

He added that the two countries have also talked about health, medicine, infrastructure and progress. "We are sure that participation will be equal from both sides," he said.

Speaking at the event in New Delhi, Rouhani said, "People of India, I think it is necessary to extend my thanks to the hospitality and kindness. I again appreciate you and your government."

"You witnessed development and progress, and today we witness the fruit of it," he said. Rouhani said that relations between the two nations were "historic" and go beyond trade and business in today's time.

"We will see development in energy, petroleum, natural gas, petrochemicals. We have had positive talks for better banking relations as well. We didn't have any point of divergence in issues which are our priorities," he said.

We share views on 2 crucial issues - transit & economy. We want to develop railway relations between the 2 countries & are seeing development of Chabahar Port: Iran President #HassanRouhani pic.twitter.com/EEIRD7kNnE  ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018

Rouhani said that the foundations for better relations have been laid. "We shared views for multilateral relations in the region between our friends. We had consensus. We could combat extremism and terrorism. I hope the decision made during the course helps bear fruit. I hope we see ever-growing success in our bilateral future," he said.

Rouhani's visit to India is his first to the country after taking charge as the Iranian president in August 2013. During Modi's bilateral visit to Iran in 2016, nearly a dozen pacts were signed between the two countries.

The Trilateral Transit Agreement (Chabahar agreement) was also signed by transport ministers of India, Iran and Afghanistan in the presence of Modi, Rouhani and Afghan president Ashraf Ghani.

The contract entails capital investment of $85 million by India for equipping Chabahar port in southeastern Iran.

The strategically important port will open up the transit route for India to Iran and Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan.

India and Iran have robust economic and commercial ties covering many sectors, though it has traditionally been dominated by the import of Iranian crude oil by India, which continued to engage with Iran at the time of sanctions.

According to the external affairs ministry, India-Iran bilateral trade during the Fiscal Year 2016-17 was $12.89 billion. India imported $10.5 billion worth of goods, mainly crude oil, and exported commodities worth $2.4 billion.

With inputs from PTINearly 1,000 students were expelled for cheating during the Class 12 examinations in Bihar

Patna: Nearly 1,000 students were expelled for cheating during the Class 12 examinations in Bihar, officials said on Saturday.

Anand Kishore, the chairman of the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), told the media in Patna that more the students were expelled "for adopting unfair means" during the examinations that concluded on Friday.

The examinations had started on 6 February.

The chairman said that 25 fake examiners were also caught and FIRs were lodged against guardians for helping their wards to cheat in the examinations.

He claimed the examinations this time were held in a fair manner this time and mass cheating in Bihar was a thing of the past. "It is not possible now."

Nearly 1,12,07,986 students appeared for the Class 12 exams at 1,384 centres across the state.

Mass cheating has been reported in Bihar for years.

Last year, the Class 12 arts topper turned out to be a 42-year-old man, who had faked his age to take the test. He was arrested on charges of fraud.The Punjab National Bank (PNB), embroiled in the alleged Nirav Modi scam, has suspended 18 officials. However. the bank has not yet been able to fix responsibility.

So far, the state-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB), embroiled in the alleged Rs 11,360 crore Nirav Modi scam, has suspended 18 officials whom it found responsible for supervisory lapses. The managing director of the bank Sunil Mehta said the bank has been suffering from some illness since 2011, and now a surgery is being carried out to remove the cancer.

By sacking 18 employees, have Mehta and the PNB been able to fix responsibility? Of course not. As one of the whistleblowers Dinesh Dubey pointed out, the malaise runs deep in the banking system, and the suspension of junior and mid-level employees is just another distraction. Has the government been proactive in directing the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the banks involved in this daylight robbery to take action aimed at bringing the top level to justice?

A senior finance ministry official on the condition of anonymity said that action should be taken against those who scrutinised the Nirav Modi loan case, and against other top officials to whom internal audit reports of the bank were handed over year after year since 2011.

Complaints of alleged irregularities and rip-offs are received every day in the ministry. The ministry's job is to forward them for further action to the concerned authorities. I am sure that if any complaint was received by the ministry in the last couple of years, it must have gone to the concerned bank and the RBI for appropriate action, the official said.

BN Mishra, General Manager, Corporate Communication and Marketing, Punjab National Bank defended the measures taken by the bank in handling the scandal, saying that it is already taking action against officers involved and will ensure that the guilty are not spared. Mishra told Firstpost that among the 18 suspended PNB officials, at least two are from the top management.

The internal probe is still on and the suspension of more officials cannot be ruled out at this stage. We are determined to fix responsibility and appropriate action will be taken against all those involved in this case, he said.

Former director of Allahabad Bank Dinesh Dubey said that Mehta is a good banker, but he must be aware of Mehul Choksi, the maternal uncle of Nirav Modi, as he was serving as General Manager of Allahabad Bank when the loan proposal of the Choksi-owned Gitanjali Gems had created ripples in board meetings in 2013. The alleged scamsters first targeted PNB in 2011 and Mehta assumed the charge of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in May 2017. During a press conference, Mehta maintained that his bank came to know about the scam only in the third week of January 2018.

The big question is whether he knew about the Choksi saga while he was serving at Allahabad Bank till January 2016. And whether Mehta is going to take action against the top heads of the bank. At this juncture, it is all speculative and seems to be an incomplete picture of the entire scandal. The issue is not about NDA or UPA, but about the deep-seated corruption in the banking system, the finance ministry official further added.

According to former director of Allahabad Bank Dinesh Dubey, the managing director of that bank was unhappy with his dissent note against the Gitanjali Gems proposal.

The then Managing Director Shubhalakshmi Panse was upset with me and even expressed her displeasure in a board meeting held in Kolkata. I wrote to the finance secretary about our verbal duel, Dubey told Firstpost.

Shubhalakshmi Panse served as the Managing Director at Allahabad Bank from October 2012 to 31 January, 2014. She was appointed as Independent Director, PNB Housing Finance Limited. She was also a member of a committee that was formed by the RBI in 2014 to review the governance of boards of banks in India. The panel had submitted its report to the then RBI governor Raghuram Rajan on 12 May, 2014. In the report, it had highlighted the rising problem of Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) with the public sector banks saying, "During 2013-14, loan asset quality in banks has deteriorated at a frightening pace.Oversight is also needed on the quality of the loan asset portfolio, as under-reporting NPAs and other stressed assets sensitively influences the integrity of financial reporting."

Dubey, in his letter to the finance secretary, wrote, On Friday 22 November, 2013, a meeting of MCBOD and other four committees, and also the board meeting was held at Kolkata at the Grand Oberoi Hotel. In the board meeting, there was an agenda regarding Geetanjali Jewellers. This agenda had already appeared in past board meetings more than four times. On each occasion, I expressed my dissent note. But again, this agenda was taken up in this meeting for approval. The CMD asked me to give my consent to pass it, but I refused and again expressed my dissent note. The CMD also said that I complained against him to the finance secretary. I had to explain and submit to him a three-and-a-half page note on this issue. One shareholder director became angry on me and one other bank nominee director said to me, 'Ghar ki baat ghar me hi rehne dete. (It was a matter within the household, and you should have let it remain so).' To this, I replied that my appointing authority is the finance department of the Government of India and I am liable to them, while your appointing authority is the board of the bank. I asked why my views on this agenda were been continuously ignored. On this, the same board of directors asked me what the remedy can be with respect to approving this agenda. To this, I asked how they can convert an LC without approval from the board and said that it was against the norms. If they were to do this on their own, why was the board's approval required? They responded saying 'Forget about what happened and please tell us what options are there now.'

Dubey later claimed that he was forced to resign by the government and top officials of the bank.

Speaking to Firstpost, the then Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Takru denied that any pressure was put on Dubey to quit. Takru served in the department, which covers the functioning of banks, financial institutions and insurance companies, from February 2013 to February 2014.

I met him (Dinesh Dubey) for the first and last time when he came to submit his resignation letter. I remember that he wrote the resignation letter on my table in Hindi and cited personal reasons for quitting the post. He did not say anything about problems in the bank and neither did he mention anything related to Gitanjali Gems. I had put up his resignation letter to the finance minister and days later, it was accepted, Takru said.

Top sources in the finance ministry said that if Dubey had complained about the scam looming large over Allahabad Bank, some action must have been taken by the RBI and the bank.

We need to check the records related to the complaint against Gitanjali Gems. However, the RBI must have the Action Taken Report in this regard, sources said.

Can investigative agencies fix responsibility?

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR against the Mehul Choksi-owned Gitanjali Gems on the basis of a complaint filed by the PNB authorities on 13 February 2018. The agency said that it will probe into allegations leveled by Dubey against Allahabad Bank officials. It also said that the records related to the period mentioned by the whistleblower and former director will be examined after collecting the documents.

Sources in the probe agency said they have conducted searches at the locations belonging to the Gitanjali Group, other directors of the linked companies, factories and residential premises.

So far, searches have been conducted at Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Jaipur, Hyderabad and Coimbatore. We have covered almost 20 locations and seized some crucial documents related to the probe, CBI sources further added.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has already issued summons to Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, even as the Ministry of External Affairs has said it is not aware about their location. The ED raided 35 locations linked to Nirav Modi on Friday and seized diamonds and gold worth over Rs 500 crore. So far, the agency has seized assets worth Rs 5,600 crore.

We will look into what has happened in the case since 2011. We are likely to quiz bank officials soon. In the next few days, we will start recording their statements, the sources further added.

Follow live updates here.Artists perform Sichuan Opera at Chicago Cultural Center in Chicago, the United States, on Feb. 16, 2018. More than 300 visitors crowded the Chicago Cultural Center and had a bit taste of traditional Chinese culture as a ceremony was held here Friday to officially kick off the citywide celebrations of Chinese New Year in Chicago. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

CHICAGO, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- More than 300 visitors crowded the Chicago Cultural Center and had a bit taste of traditional Chinese culture as a ceremony was held here Friday to officially kick off the citywide celebrations of Chinese New Year in Chicago.

Traditional Chinese lion dance is the first to take the stage. Two lions, with each performed by two persons under the lion costumes, did various acrobatics, drawing applauses and cheers from time to time.

The Chongqing Chuanju Opera Theatre troupe, scheduled to perform at Chicago Symphony Center Saturday, presented a sneak preview of their upcoming performance, giving audience a taste of the mystical art of mask changing as well as acrobatic feats.

Addressing the ceremony, Chinese Consul General in Chicago Hong Lei numerated the Chinese New Year celebrations that will be held in Chicago in the coming two weeks and expressed his thanks to the City Government of Chicago.

"China and the U.S. are two countries with significant influences in the world, and people-to-people exchanges are the basis for our bilateral relations," Hong said. "(Chicago) Mayor Emanuel has reiterated in many occasions that he is dedicated to make Chicago the most friendly city to China. I believe with joint efforts, cultural exchanges between China and U.S. will be further enhanced and the friendly ties between people of the two countries will be constantly strengthened."

David Whitaker, President of Choose Chicago, reiterated Chicago's commitment to culture diversity, and expressed the hope that more Chinese tourists will come to Chicago to experience the city and the culture.

With China and U.S. being the most important countries in the world, "learning more about each other will help us in the future," he said.

In the coming two-week celebrations, Art Institute of Chicago will co-work with the Palace Museum in Beijing and the Shanghai Museum to open an exhibition named "Mirroring China's Past: Emperors and their Bronzes." A Chinese Arts and Culture Documentary Film Festival will be held at Chicago Culture Center and historic Chinatown in Chicago will hold Chinese Lunar New Year Parade. Chicago Bulls will for the first time present Chinese dragon and lion dances during their home game with Philadelphia 76ers.

Chicago is the first city in the U.S. to launch Chinese New Year celebration in the name of city government, and 2018 will be the fifth year for the city to mark Chinese New Year, which falls on Friday this year.

Chicago has paid much attention to obtain Chinese investment and attract more Chinese tourists. Compared to east and west coastal areas in the country, Chicago has received relatively less Chinese tourists, and there is a huge potential to expand the market.

Thanks to all efforts, total domestic and oversea visitors to Chicago reached 53.91 million in 2016, an increase of 2.5 percent from record 52.59 million in 2015.

[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday called on visiting Iran President Hassan Rouhani and discussed a number of issues, including energy and connectivity

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday called on visiting Iran President Hassan Rouhani and discussed a number of issues, including energy and connectivity.

"Strengthening cooperation in energy, connectivity, IT, education, culture and people-to-people contact came up for discussion," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted following the meeting.

Earlier on Saturday, Rouhani, who arrived in New Delhi on Friday evening from Hyderabad, was a accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

This is the first presidential visit from Iran to India in 10 years and comes after the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the West Asian nation in 2016.

Modi and Rouhani will hold delegation-level talks later in the day following which a number of agreements are expected to be signed.Tripura, the north-eastern Indian state that goes to the polls on Sunday, 18 February, 2018, is the bastion of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM).

By Alison Saldanha & Swagata Yadavar

Mumbai: Tripura, the north-eastern Indian state that goes to the polls on Sunday, 18 February, 2018, is the bastion of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM). But the small state  its population is 3.6 million, comparable to Jaipur  has become critical for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) plans to expand its base in Indias north-east.

Under the incumbent CPM-led Left Front alliance for 25 years now  and earlier for 10 years between 1978 and 1988  this is the first time in Tripuras history that the BJP has appeared as a major contender for state rule.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the BJP has promised a job for every household in Tripura and special economic zones for food processing, bamboo, textiles and so on, the Mint reported on 13 February, 2018. Unemployed youths of Tripura are striving for being employed, suffering from job droughts, he said at an election rally.

Next government in Tripura will be of the BJP, said BJP president Amit Shah at a poll rally. There is anger against the CPM government throughout the state, because of their misrule Tripura stands last when it comes to development.

The green hill states development parameters are mixed. It has a literacy rate of 87.8 percent and is the fifth-most literate state in the country as per the 2011 Census. The states sex ratio, at 960 females per 1,000 males, is above the national average of 942. On multiple social and health indicators, Tripura competes with Goa, Kerala, Karnataka and Gujarat  which rank first, eighth, 10th and 12th on per capita income (2014-15)  our analysis showed.

But, at 19.7 percent, Tripura also holds the highest unemployment percentage in India  four times the national average (4.9 percent), showed an IndiaSpend analysis of the ministry of labours annual Employment-Unemployment Survey, 2015-16 report. Agriculture is the main source of employment for 64 percent of the states population but 60 percent of the state is forestland, and barely 27 percent of Tripuras undulating land is available for farming.

Tripura also features in the bottom pile for per capita income, ranking 24 of 36 states and union territories, showed Indias Economic Survey report for 2017-18. With an income of Rs 71,666 per person in 2014-15, Tripura stood below the national average (Rs 86,454), between backward states like Rajasthan (Rs 75,201) and Madhya Pradesh (Rs 56,182), as per an IndiaSpend analysis of government data.

What holds Tripura back? High rate of poverty, low per-capita income, low capital formation, inadequate infrastructural facilities, geographical isolation, communication bottleneck, inadequate exploitation, inadequate use of forest and mineral resources, low progress in industrial field and high unemployment problem, said the states Economic Survey 2015-16.

Unemployment And Per Capita,Income In 10 States State Per Capita Income (Rs)* Unemployment rate (In %)** Kerala 135537 12.5 Goa 289185 9.6 Meghalaya 64638 4.8 Tripura 71666 19.7 Gujarat 127017 0.9 Assam 52895 6.1 Karnataka 129823 1.5 All India average 86454 4.9 Uttar Pradesh 42267 7.4 Madhya Pradesh 56182 4.3 Rajasthan 75201 7.1

Source: Economic Survey 2017-18, Labour Bureau 2015-16; *Figures for 2014-15, **Figures for 2015-16

Other key findings:

Tripura showed the best improvement in infant mortality rate among the 10 states we analysed, dropping 24 points from 51 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2005-06 to 27 in 2015-16;

The states mortality rate for children under five years of age dropped 26 points to now rank fourth best (33 deaths per 1,000) among 10 states analysed;

Tripura boasts of one of the highest female literacy rates in India (89.5 percent) but holds the second lowest percentage of women educated for more than 10 years (23.4 percent), much worse than the national average (35.7 percent).

Methodology:

For our analysis, we compared Tripuras performance with nine other states and the national average, on 18 development indicators in health, education, gender, employment and access to better infrastructure.

The period of comparison stretches over a decade from 2005-06 to 2015-16, using data from the National Family Health Survey for 2005-06 (NFHS 3) and 2015-16 (NFHS-4), the National Health Profile (NHP) 2017, the ministry of labour and employment, and the Economic Survey 2017-18.

The states chosen for our analysis include development leaders with high per-capita incomes such as Kerala, Goa, Gujarat and Karnataka, and laggards with poorer incomes such as Madhya Pradesh (MP), Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh (UP), along with Assam and Meghalaya, Tripuras neighbours in the north-east region.

Politically, four of the states  Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Goa and Gujarat  are under BJP-rule. While UP and Assam are also under the BJP today, they were ruled by the Samajwadi Party and the Congress respectively in 2016the cut-off year for our analysis.

Kerala is another on-off bastion of the CPI(M), while Karnataka is a Congress-ruled state.

Public healthcare is effective but short of doctors

In terms of stunting (low height for age) and wasting (low weight for height) of children under five years of age, Tripura improved its healthcare efforts considerably over the decade to 2015-16. It now ranks third among the best states on both counts  ahead of Karnataka and Gujarat  in our analysis. The states stunting rate is 24.3 percent, and its wasting rate is 16.8 percent.

Health Indicators Of Tripura Vis-a-vis Other States State Stunting (In %) Wasting (In %) Infant Mortality Rate Under-five Mortality Rate Kerala 19.7 15.7 6 7 Goa 20.1 21.9 13 13 Meghalaya 43.8 15.3 30 40 Tripura 24.3 16.8 27 33 Gujarat 38.5 26.4 34 43 Assam 36.4 17 48 57 Karnataka 36.2 26.1 28 32 India Avg 38.4 21 41 50 Uttar Pradesh 46.3 17.9 64 78 Madhya Pradesh 42 25.8 51 65 Rajasthan 39.1 23 41 51

Source: National Family Health Survey 2015-16 data for Kerala, Goa, Meghalaya, Tripura, Gujarat, Assam, Karnataka, India, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan; Mortality rates in deaths per 1,000 live births.

Like other states in the north-east, connectivity remains a major challenge for Tripura. With Bangladesh surrounding its north, south and west, the state is further isolated from the mainland. A single highway, National Highway 44, runs through the state, connecting it to the rest of India. About 59 years after the former princely state merged with the Indian republic, its capital, Agartala, was finally connected to the countrys railway network in 2008.

Despite this, the state showed the best improvement in infant mortality rate (IMR) among the 10 states analysed, dropping 24 points from 51 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2005-06 to 27 in 2015-16. Behind Kerala (6) and Goa (13), Tripuras IMR is now ahead of Karnataka (28) and Gujarat (34).

In terms of the mortality rate of children under five years of age, the state dropped 26 points to now rank fourth (33 deaths per 1,000) among the 10 states in our analysis.

These positive health outcomes may be attributed to Tripuras improved antenatal care. In 2015-16, the percentage of women visited by a healthcare worker at least four times during pregnancy  the minimum requirement according to the World Health Organizations guidelines  rose to 64.3 percent from 50.6 percent in 2005-06. Gujarats coverage of antenatal care, which stood at a similar level of 50.1 percent in 2005-06, leaped 20 percentage points ahead to 70.6 percent in 2015-16.

Tripuras per capita health spending (Rs 2,266) is the third highest among the 10 states  after Goa (Rs 2,927) and Meghalaya (Rs 2,366)  and even higher than the much richer Kerala (Rs 1,437), Gujarat (Rs 1,156) and Karnataka (Rs 1,043), according to the NHP 2017.

Further, only 9 percent of people in Tripura use private healthcare for their needs compared to 55.1 percent nationally, while 69.1 percent of all deliveries take place in a public health facility compared to 52.1 percent nationally, show NFHS-4 data for 2015-16.

In institutional births, Tripura, while reporting an improvement of 33-percentage points to 79.9 percent in 2015-16, still falls behind at rank seven in our analysis. Though it is above the national average (78.9 percent), only Assam (70.6 percent), Uttar Pradesh (67.8 percent) and Meghalaya (51.4 percent) fare worse.

Progress on this indicator may be related to the lack of specialist doctors in Tripuras community health centres (CHCs). Of the 80 specialist doctors needed in Tripuras CHCs, only one was in position, according to latest rural health statistics from 2016.

Based on 2011 population numbers, while there are enough sub centres, there are considerable shortfalls in the number of PHCs and CHCs needed in the state  14 percent and 26 percent respectively, according to this analysis by Observer Research Foundation, a think tank.

Tripura still struggles with antenatal care: Only 7.6 percent women received all recommended types of antenatal care as compared to 21 percent nationally.

Further, immunisation coverage in the state grew a mere 4.8-percentage points from 49.7 percent to 54.5 percent  the lowest among the 10 states analysed  to rank sixth in our analysis. It ranked ahead of Assam (47.1 percent), Gujarat (50.4 percent), Uttar Pradesh (51.1 percent) and Madhya Pradesh (53.6 percent).

Nationwide, the percentage of children who received full immunisation  that includes polio, BCG, DPT, and measles vaccines  during this decade rose 18.5 percentage points from 43.5 percent in 2005-06 to 62 percent in 2015-16, as IndiaSpend reported on 28 April, 2017.

<a href='#'><img alt='Dashboard 1 ' src='http://public.tableau.com/static/images/ta/tab3tripuraweb/Dashboard1/1_rss.png' style='border: none' /></a>

High literacy rates for women, but early marriages and motherhood too

Tripura has one of the highest female literacy rates in India (89.5 percent), earning it the State Decadal Award for literacy, 2001-2011. Majority of married women in the state participate in household decisions (91.7 percent)  better than the national average (84 percent), and third best among 10 states analysed. Yet, the number of women with more than 10 years of schooling, at 23.4 percent, is the second lowest in our analysis and much worse than the national average (35.7 percent).

Further, almost a third of women (33.1 percent) in Tripura are married before the age of 18  the second highest proportion after Rajasthan (35.4 percent) and higher than the national average (26.8 percent). However, while Rajasthan improved by nearly 30 percentage points over the decade to 2015-16, Tripura reduced early marriages by a mere 8.5 percent points since 2005-06.

These social conditions have their consequences: Nearly 19 percent of women aged 15-18 years in the state are pregnant, more than twice the national average of 7.9 percent.

In Tripura, more than half the women of reproductive age, or 54.5 percent, are anaemic. Despite a 10.6 percent improvement over 10 years, the prevalence of anaemia is the second highest after Gujarat (54.9 percent) and higher than the national average (54 percent).

Early marriage, and lower education could be underlying factors of Tripuras continuing struggle with anaemia among women of reproductive age. Anaemia during pregnancy increases the chances of foetal deaths, abnormalities, preterm and underweight babies, and causes a fifth of maternal deaths, IndiaSpend reported in October 2016.

Good access to drinking water, power but sanitation is a concern

At 92.7 percent, access to electricity for households in Tripura is better than the national average (88.2 percent) and comparable to wealthier states of Kerala, Goa, Gujarat and Karnataka.

Over 87 percent of households in Tripura have an improved source for drinking water  the officialese for piped or protected source of water  below the national average of 89.8 percent households. Still, the state fares better than nearby Meghalaya (67.9 percent) and Assam (83.8 percent).

While Tripuras open defecation rate is 3.5 percent  among the lowest in the country, nearly 40 percent of its population still does not have access to improved sanitation, toilets where waste is disposed without human contact. Still, as the chart below shows, this is better than most states and much better than wealthy Karnataka.

Lack of access to improved sanitation facilities could impede progress on curbing stunting in children, and anaemia, according to these reports from IndiaSpend, published in April 2017 and September 2016.

(Saldanha is an assistant editor and Yadavar is a principal correspondent with IndiaSpend.)

Follow LIVE updates on Tripura Assembly Election results here

Click here to follow LIVE updates on North East Election results hereThe Supreme Court directive to Karnataka to release 177.25 tmc ft of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu drew mixed reactions in both the states.

Bengaluru: The Supreme Court directive to Karnataka to release 177.25 tmc ft of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, which is 14.75 tmc ft less than the quantum awarded by Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal in 2007, drew mixed reactions in both the states. While the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka is set to benefit from the order with Assembly polls around the corner, the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu faced the Oppositions flak for alleged inept handling of the case.

The apex court allotted an extra 4.75 tmc ft of water to Bangalore, considering that only 1/3rd of the city was earlier included as part of the Cauvery river basin area, which is entitled to the rivers water. Acknowledging that Karnataka has not fully implemented the directives of the tribunal in the last 11 years, the Supreme Court directed that a Cauvery Management Board be set up immediately to enforce the order.

The constitution of the Cauvery Management Board is an important issue in which people of Karnataka feel that the keys of Karnataka dams will be handed over to the board. How will Karnataka interests be protected by SC is a big question! #Cauvery, tweeted Congress spokesperson Brijesh Kalappa, who was also part of the legal team representing Karnataka in the case, after the verdict was announced.

The Union government has been directed to constitute the Cauvery Management Board within four weeks of the order.

Avoiding a comment on the political repercussions of the order, environmentalist KS Puttanaiah said the farmers of Karnataka and residents of Bangalore will benefit from this development. That we rejected the previous order and decided to approach the Supreme Court has turned out to be a good move. The water will definitely help farmers in southern districts and residents of Bangalore. We have won the Cauvery case and our farmers and people will be benefited. Thats all we should look at, Puttanaiah said.

Election eyewash?

Keeping the elections in mind, this judgment seemed like an eyewash to Lakshmidevamma, a 62-year-old farmer from Mandya, who has been facing acute shortage of water in her farms. Every year, the water is reducing and due to low rainfall, the dams are not getting full. How can we give water that we dont have? she questioned.

The paddy farmer lamented that she uses water from the borewell to irrigate her two acres of land, but even that has reduced to a trickle.

It is not about giving water to another state. They, too, have farmers like us, but shouldnt the state do a reality check as to how much water is actually reaching its own farmers before agreeing to give out water to others? Those taking these decisions are smart officials and we are just farmers, but we need the water, not them. If they were genuinely concerned about us, they would have done inspections of the dams and the farms before presenting their case in court, she said.

The farmers in Tamil Nadu, however, were sceptical about Karnataka releasing even this revised share of Cauvery water. Venkateswaran Sundaram, president of a farmers association near Trichy, said, As far as I am concerned, I would be satisfied even if they (Karnataka government) give the 177 tmc ft water that has been promised. But, they havent respected Supreme Court orders in the past. Will they obey this order now, we dont know.

Sundaram said the farmers in Tamil Nadu have already been gradually changing their cropping patterns. We have reduced land under grain and banana plantain cultivation replacing it with black gram, corn and other crops that require less water, but we cant keep doing this forever. For now, our focus is on creating local farmer producer groups and improving irrigation and water management techniques.

In Tamil Nadu, there is a sense of fatigue over the issue. Even in a good monsoon year, the water that is released from Karnataka is enough to irrigate only 50 percent of the lands under paddy cultivation. The fight now, is not with Karnataka, but with climate change and water mismanagement.

15-year lockdown

S Ranganathan, secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Association and part of the Cauvery Family who is based at Mannargudi in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvarur district, said, This 125-year-old issue is one of the longest river-related disputes in the country. This is a permanent SC order than cant be appealed against for at least another 15 years. I am happy about the outcome, if it means we can put this fight with our brothers in Karnataka behind us. Puttaniah and the KRRS are great friends and a part of the Cauvery Family.

The Cauvery Family was an inter-state forum of farmers, social activists, agriculture experts and other stakeholders that worked to ensure an amicable solution to the dispute.

Explaining the water needs of Bengaluru, Tushar Girinath, chairman, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, said, Bengaluru currently receives 29 tmc ft of Cauvery water - 10 tmc ft as allocated by the Cauvery tribunal, 9 tmc ft from the state, and 1o tmc ft more from the states share of unallocated water (which will be fully utilised only by 2023 when Cauvery Water Supply Stage V project is operational). The extra 4.75 tmc ft water to Bengaluru will help reduce our dependence on this state share, making more water available for farmlands.

Bangalore, which was losing 49 percent of the water it gets from Cauvery, has now reduced leakages to 40 percent. Fridays state budget promised further reduction to 37 percent by 2019. Reduction of leakages for every subsequent percentage point becomes more and more difficult. On the higher level, reduction is easier but after a certain threshold, more efforts are required.

Cauvery Family had a lot going for it before their efforts were scuttled by certain political players, Ranganathan said. Based on the tribunal verdict in 2007, we (members of the Cauvery Family) discussed points of differences and arrived at a good understanding. We were even going to present this plan to the Tribunal, he added. One of these pain points was getting enough drinking water for Bangalore, which this apex court verdict addresses.

Ranganathan rued that the redrawing of state borders forced individual states to rethink self-sufficiency along their own interests. So, over the past few decades, Karnataka started developing large tracts of farmland along the river, where the soil is unsuited for paddy instead of cooperating with Tamil Nadu, the rich clay of whose Cauvery basin could have supported the needs of the whole peninsula like it had done for the past 2,500 years. Now, 1230 tmc ft water is needed to satisfy farming requirements of both the states, but the water-deficit Cauvery carries only 740 tmc ft.

Ranganathan, however, differed from the Supreme Courts observation that Tamil Nadu needs to do more to tap into its groundwater resources. Underground water levels in the Cauvery delta are very poor. Also, proximity to the sea translates into highly saline groundwater (7.2 percent saline compared to the recommended 0.7 percent) even 40 km inland; it is absolutely useless for any crop, he said.

Reacting to the verdict, actor Kamal Haasan, who has announced his political plunge in Tamil Nadu this month, told ANI: Im also shocked at the reduction in the supply of water. Have to get more details about the actual judgment, but I think Supreme Court firmly said that water cant be owned by any state. Thats a consoling factor.

Karnataka tourism minister Priyank Kharge tweeted soon after the verdict: #CauveryVerdict has done part justice to people of Karnataka. We expected a little more, but this is satisfactory.

While situation remained peaceful in both states on Friday, public transport was affected in the anticipation of violence. Commuters faced inconvenience at Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, near Bengaluru. Karnataka had cancelled 178 buses plying towards Tamil Nadu on Friday with an estimated loss over Rs 16 lakh. Buses from both states were put back into operation only after 6 pm.

(The authors are Bengaluru-based freelance writers and members of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.)Chief Minister K Palaniswamy said Supreme Court verdict reducing quantum of Cauvery water to be released for Tamil Nadu to 177.25 tmcft was disappointing

Chennai: Chief Minister K Palaniswamy on Friday said the Supreme Court verdict reducing the quantum of Cauvery water to be released for Tamil Nadu to 177.25 tmcft was "disappointing".

Palaniswamy, under attack from the DMK for allegedly not handling the matter in the apex court properly, however said: "Several advantageous features for Tamil Nadu find place in the verdict."

The Supreme Court directing the Centre to evolve an action plan within 6 weeks to implement the final award of the Cauvery tribunal was a "big victory", he said.

Tamil Nadu will urge the Centre to implement the action plan within a time frame, he added.

The apex court also recognised the Cauvery tribunal's endorsement of 24.708 lakh acres in Tamil Nadu's Cauvery basin for irrigation, he said.

Also, the top court confirmed that Tamil Nadu should be given water for 15 years as per the Cauvery tribunal's final award.

Slamming the DMK for claiming that Tamil Nadu's rights were given up by the ruling dispensation, he said, "The DMK is trying to create such an impression."

"The truth is the DMK had given up Tamil Nadu's rights during its regime" and the Karunanidhi-led party did not stop the construction of a dam by Karnataka in 1974, he said.

Observing no state can claim "exclusive ownership" of inter-state river water, the Supreme Court on Friday hiked Karnataka's share of Cauvery water by 14.75 tmcft and reduced Tamil Nadu's quantum by an equal amount in its verdict to resolve the decades-old dispute.

In what was being described as a balanced verdict, Tamil Nadu was, however, compensated by the court which allowed extraction of 10 tmcft ground water from the river basin.Congress on Saturday accused Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office of 'delaying' the arrest of the culprits involved in the murder of a Youth Congress functionary

Kottayam: Congress on Saturday accused Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office of "delaying" the arrest of the culprits involved in the murder of a Youth Congress functionary in Kannur district earlier this week.

Coming down heavily on the CPM over its cadres' alleged role in physically targeting the political rivals in the state, Opposition Leader in the Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the ruling party was becoming a "terror outfit".

"This is a very dangerous situation," Chennithala told reporters.

He urged the chief minister to intervene and give direction to the police to take action against the persons involved in the killing of the Youth Congress functionary Shuhaib.

The Congress had on Friday alleged that there was a mystery behind the alleged grant of parole to 19 murder case accused before Shuhaib was hacked to death at Mattanur in 13 February.

Chennithala urged the chief minister to relinquish the home portfolio, alleging that he had not allowed the police to function independently in the state.

"The arrest of the murderers" is delayed due to the "interference" of the Chief Minister's Office," he alleged.

He also favoured a CBI probe into the incident.

As part of intensifying the agitation against the "delay" in arresting those behind the murder of Shuhaib, senior Congress leader K Sudhakaran will observe a 48-hour fast from Monday.

Chennithala had earlier alleged that 19 murder case accused had been out on parole when Shuhaib was killed.

Those out on parole included Kodi Suni and TK Rajeesh and Anoop, who are accused in the 2012 murder of RMP leader TP Chandrasekharan, Chennithala had said.

There were 31 hack injuries below the knee of Shuhaib and the brutality was similar to that inflicted on Chandrasekharan when he was murdered, he said.Former Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely on Saturday rejoined the party months after he quit to join the BJP.

Former Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely on Saturday rejoined the party months after he quit to join the BJP.

Lovely, who was a former minister in the Sheila Dikshit-led government, met party chief Rahul Gandhi at his residence along with Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken earlier.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi welcomes Arvinder Singh Lovely back into the Congress family. @ArvinderLovely pic.twitter.com/BiycSXkeJK  Congress (@INCIndia) February 17, 2018

He was welcomed back into the party by AICC incharge of Delhi unit PC Chacko along with Maken.

Lovely's joining the Congress was announced at a press conference held in New Delhi on Saturday.

According to The Times of India, he had been an MLA from East Delhi's Gandhinagar and had improved the Congress party's performance in the East Delhi parliamentary constituency represented by former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit's son, Sandeep.

Lovely had joined the BJP nine months ago. He felt he was an "ideological misfit" in the saffron party. "At that time (when I joined BJP), I had also said that it was not a happy decision for me. It was a weak moment for me. But then after, I had a chat with Ajay Maken and we sorted out the differences, he said at the press conference.

Ideologically, I was a misfit in the BJP, The Indian Express quoted him as saying.

According to News18, the former Delhi Congress chief's return is seen as a bolster for the party ahead of the Delhi bypolls where 20 seats are up for grabs. The bypolls were necessitated after the Election Commission recommended the disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs for holding office of profit while serving as parliamentary secretaries, the report added.

With inputs from PTILeader of opposition in the state Assembly Ramesh Chennithala believes that the culprits behind the murder of Suhaib could be killers of Chandrashekharan themselves since three of the nine convicts in the case were given parole from Kannur central jail immediately ahead of his murder on 12 January.

The delay in arresting the culprits behind the brutal murder of Youth Congress leader, M Suhaib and the silence maintained by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the case has fuelled speculations in Kerala over the actual killers.

Senior leaders of Congress, the main opposition in the state, believe that the killers could be either ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) activists or professional killers sponsored by the party and it may be looking for dummy culprits to be presented to the investigators.

Local leaders of CPM in Kannur had denied partys role in the murder. If it is proved otherwise it will be highly embarrassing for the party leadership as well as the chief minister, who holds the home portfolio. The Congress leaders, therefore, believe that CPM might parade dummy culprits to evade responsibility of the murder.

Presenting dummy culprits has been a practice followed by not only the CPM but also the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine to wash their hands off political murders continuing unabated in the northern district of Kannur. The red-saffron cyclical revenge killings going in the district for more than three decades have claimed about 250 lives so far.

Both the parties have specially trained people to own responsibility for crimes that are committed with the approval of the parties leadership. Many are willing to depute for the real culprits as the concerned parties not only provide them legal help to come out unscathed from the case but also extend financial assistance to their families till they come out of jail.

Political observers feel that political murders were continuing in Kannur because of this practice. Advocate Jayashankar, a Kochi-based social activist, said the killings will come to a halt only if the real culprits and the senior leaders behind them are brought before the law.

Alappuzha district had witnessed a long series of clashes between the CPM and the Communist Party of India (CPI) in the 1970s when the latter was in alliance with the Congress. The killings came to an end after a senior officer showed the guts to arrest a couple of senior leaders of the CPM," he said.

He said that the killings in Kannur too would come to an end if the senior leaders who push the leaders into the killing fields are made accountable. "The Kerala Police are capable of doing this. Unfortunately, their hands are tied down," said Jayashankar.

He pointed out that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had succeeded to some extent in booking the real culprits and the conspirators in most cases investigated by them. The Payyoli Manoj murder case is a glaring example.

The agency had found 13 of the 15 people chargesheeted for the murder of the RSS activist in 2012 by Kerala Police were dummies. Nine CPM activists, including youth wing leader Anoop, were arrested after the agency took over the investigation in 2016 on the direction of Kerala High Court.

One of the 13 persons released by the CBI later confessed that he had owned up the crime after the CPM had promised to extricate him from the case within three months. He revealed that he had surrendered before the police with the knowledge of CPM Kannur district secretary P Jayarajan and accused the party of cheating him and others who surrendered along with him.

Jayarajan himself was arrested in connection with the murder of another RSS worker Kathiroor Manoj in 2014 after the CBI took over the investigation. The agency named him as principal conspirator in the case and charged him under the stringent UAPA Act in the chargesheet filed in August last year.

It said that he had entered into criminal conspiracy with first accused Vikraman, who was his driver, to eliminate Manoj after he left the CPM along with 500 others to join the BJP in a brutal and terrorising manner. Jayarajan is also an accused in the Shukoor murder case.

The CPM had also tried to scuttle the sensational TP Chandrashekharan murder case (2012) but the police under the previous United Democratic Front (UDF) government regime foiled it by arresting the main accused harboured by the party workers in a highly fortified party village in Kannur district.

Nine CPM workers, including two leaders, are undergoing life-term for the murder of the Marxist renegade, who earned the wrath of the party leadership for floating a separate outfit after he was expelled from the CPM for questioning its ideological deviations.

TPs widow K Rema believes that the UDF government had, however, succumbed to the CPM pressure in the investigation of the conspiracy angle in which the needle of suspicion is turned to top CPM leaders, including Pinarayi himself.

Congress leaders find lot of similarity between the murder of Chandrashekharan and the Youth Congress leader. The assailants hacked to death both the leaders, who had challenged the CPM in its impregnable fortresses, in a savage manner after creating an atmosphere of terror by hurling bombs.

While the killers of the 51-year-old Marxist rebel struck 57 times to make sure that he is dead, those in the case of Suhaib (30) ensured it with 37 stabs, that too below his knee, with high mechanical precision.

Leader of opposition in the state Assembly Ramesh Chennithala believes that the culprits behind the murder of Suhaib could be killers of Chandrashekharan themselves since three of the nine convicts in the case were given parole from Kannur central jail immediately ahead of his murder on 12 January.

The three included Sunil Kumar alias Kodi Suni, who is the main culprit in the TP murder case. Chennithala said the Suhaibs assailants could be in a safe haven under the CPM. This is why the police are groping in the dark about the culprits even five days after the crime.

Kannur-based senior Congress leader and former minister K Sudhakaran said that the Congress was not expecting justice from the police as their hands are tied down by the Pinarayi government. However, he has announced a 48-hour fast from Monday to press the demand for immediate arrest of the culprits. The Congress is also planning to approach the court for seeking a CBI probe into the case.

Political observers feel that silence maintained by the chief minister and the partys state leadership could be an admission of the role of party leaders in the murder. NP Chekutty, a Kozhikode-based political analyst, says no other explanation could be given for the silence of Pinarayi since he had gone all the way to Haryana to express solidarity with the family of Junaid, a Muslim youth who was killed while travelling in a train. Pinarayi had also offered financial assistance to the family.

If his concern over the loss of the life of an innocent young man is genuine, he should have heard the wails from Suhaibs house, which is only 10 kilometres from his residence in Kannur. The chief minister, who was prompt in supporting a film song dubbed blasphemous by a section of Muslim fundamentalists, has closed his eye to the agony of Suhaibs mother, Chekkutty said.

Political violence in Kannur will not end unless the killer parties see the tears of the mothers who have lost their sons, he added.A veteran of the Congress, Vincent H Pala is one of the only two representatives from Meghalaya in the Lok Sabha.

Shillong: In the quaint locality of Upper Nongrim Hills in the heart of Shillong, the residence of the member of Parliament representing the city does anything but stand out. Without a hint of security personnel guarding the entrance, the house can be easily mistaken for that of the local dentist.

A Congress veteran, Vincent H Pala is one of the only two representatives from Meghalaya in the Lok Sabha. As was expected, he sounded optimistic about the partys chances in the upcoming Assembly polls in the state. As of now, were quite confident  no doubt about it. Im a 100 percent sure we will form government, he said, as he struggled to keep track of all the phone calls he was receiving on his four iPhones.

When asked if the Congress finds the same response from the people now as it did in 2013, Pala said, May not be exactly the same, but people are still supporting us, as he admitted that a lot has changed since the last state election. Many people have left the Congress, many more have joined the party. A lot has changed in political equations.

A massive group portrait of all members of the 15th Lok Sabha hung on the wall beside his table, with former prime minister Manmohan Singh and former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar seated prominently in the centre. Pala managed to hang on to his seat in 2014 and went on to become a member of the BJP-led 16th Lok Sabha too, but one could not guess that from the contents in his office.

Barely two months before the elections, the ruling Congress suffered a setback when five of its MLAs, including former deputy chief minister Rowell Lyngdoh, resigned from the state Assembly. But Pala says the party has mostly recovered from the shock exit of its members.

At the beginning, we did feel that Congress prospects would be hurt because of the defection, but after new people joined us, we have now recovered. We may not win some of the seats where these erstwhile Congress MLAs contested from, but we will win others where new people have joined us. So, it will be compensated, he said.

Here are excerpts from the rest of the interview:

Many, including former deputy chief minister Rowell Lyngdoh, have accused Chief Minister Mukul Sangma of behaving like a dictator. Have these statements changed Sangmas image among the public?

These people (who have quit the Congress) have been working with Sangma for the past seven years or more. But after being dropped from key government positions, these MLAs have started talking ill of the chief minister. I think the public is well aware that this is only personal, and hence shouldnt be brought forth as an election issue. These personal issues dont have anything to do with the party.

After BJPs campaigning in Meghalaya, do they seem like a much stronger opposition than they had seemed earlier?

The BJP looked rather formidable until three months ago. But when the time for allotment of tickets came, they did not give any to BJP loyalists, but only to businessmen. The BJP has gone back to its old ways. Tickets were given to none of the BJP members who worked very hard for the party for the last couple of years. All businessmen got the BJP tickets, people who have a lot of financial potential.

And that is not so with the Congress?

No, in the Congress, we give tickets to whoever we groom. There were no complains about the Congress allotment of tickets this year, except in one case where the person left us and joined the BJP. One person in 60 seats doesnt make a difference.

Congress is much more united this time.

BJPs billboards and mini vans advertising the party and national leaders can be seen across the state. The same is not true, however, for other parties. What do you think of these contrasting election strategies?

I think it is all public money. The Congress doesnt waste public money. All BJP advertisements that you see on billboards and minivans are being paid for by the taxpayer. I dont think people will be swayed away by these tricks.

This may work in Gujarat where the population is large, but here a candidate wins a seat even after securing 6,000-7,000 votes. The public knows all candidates well, and their backgrounds. So, advertising profusely for them, like the BJP is doing, wouldnt help.

The more they see Amit Shahs photo all around, the more people will think they (the BJP) want to make Meghalaya another Gujarat. Why dont they have the local presidents or chief ministerial candidates photo? Ive seen these vans, not a single one has photos of local leaders  only Amit Shah and Modi.

Are you suggesting that BJPs election strategies employed in other states wont work here?

Yes, because it is totally a different scenario. People here are cool, calm, disciplined and literate, not like others. Showmanship will not work here.

What are your predictions regarding the vote and seat sharing patterns in these polls?

The NPP will get a significant chunk of the vote share, but in terms of the votes converting into seats, I dont think they will cross 15 seats in Jaintia and Garo hills.

Congress will cross 30, because we have got a good fight in 42 seats now, and are sure to win 22-23 of them. But politics is dynamic, so things may change. This time, the advantage with Congress is that although leaders left the party, the voters stayed with us.

The BJP will not win more than two seats.

But BJP is aiming for around 40 seats, with its Mission 40 agenda. Mission is different, and achievement is different. They will have to work very hard for even two seats.

What are the biggest issues the Congress is fighting the Meghalaya polls on?

People will realise that whenever the Congress was not in power, law and order was a big challenge, which is in control with the Congress in government. However rich or powerful you are, if law and order is not given importance, there is no peace of mind.

Second is the management of finances. Whenever the Congress has been in power, infrastructure development has been a priority.

Thirdly, local parties will think only for the locals but Congress is a party which thinks of everyone across the board. A regional Khasi party will only think of the Khasi people, or Conrads NPP would think only about the Garos. But Congress is a party which takes everyone on board, especially the poor and marginalised people.O Panneerselvam quoted an anecdote reportedly related to him by the Prime Minister to pat himself on the back. His revelations are a move to recapture the rebel space.

Let me stick my neck out to make a prediction. Tamil Nadu can brace itself for a sequel to Dharmayuddham (Holy war), a pompous title that O Panneerselvam chose for his revolt against VK Sasikala in February last year. Expect the footfalls at Jayalalithaa's samadhi at Marina beach in Chennai also to go up, with Panneerselvam's utterances an indication that he wants to launch Dharmayuddham 2.0.

On Friday, the day Tamil Nadu was unhappy with the Supreme Court verdict that reduced its share of Cauvery water by 14.75 TMC feet, OPS chose to talk politics in his backyard of Theni. But while he continued to harp on his erstwhile position as a trusted minister of Jayalalithaa, and on his dislike for Sasikala, he bowled a googly by revealing Narendra Modi's hand in the merger of the two AIADMK factions last year.

OPS quoted an anecdote reportedly related to him by the Prime Minister to pat himself on the back.

"The prime minister told me that when he came to Chennai, Amma had invited him for a meal. He told me that Amma said a lot of things to me about you and that I should take charge to protect the party,'' OPS quoted Modi as saying.

Having established that Jayalalithaa held him in high esteem, OPS then went on to showcase his monk-like attitude to positions of power.

"I said okay, but explained to him that I did not want a minister's position, and that just a party role would do. He said `No, no, you have to take up a minister's role and be part of the government.' It is because of this that I took up the minister's position. I told the other ministers about this, who said I should not say no to him. That is why I am a minister today. Not because I have the desire to be a minister. Amma made me chief minister twice. That honour is enough for me,'' said OPS, who is now deputy chief minister in the Tamil Nadu government.

Even though the BJP indulging in backseat driving in Tamil Nadu is the worst kept secret in Chennai, party spokespersons have repeatedly denied playing any role in facilitating the AIADMK merger. This assertion by OPS shows they were either lying all along, or were completely ignorant of the moves of their party bosses in New Delhi.

But the important question is why did the usually reticent OPS decide to reveal this critical detail now, exposing the prime minister's advisory role. It is not as if he does not know that it will embarrass the BJP as a party with no MLAs in the Tamil Nadu assembly and less than 3 percent vote share in the 2016 elections.

By invoking Modi and highlighting the prime minister's friendship with Jayalalithaa, OPS is making two things clear. One, that contrary to the perception that he hankered after power and therefore waved the white flag with EPS, he did so only when compelled by Modi.

Two, OPS is sending across the message to EPS that not only he was Amma's chosen one, but he also has New Delhi's blessings. This is possibly a precursor to OPS moving closer to the BJP in Tamil Nadu, expecting that the AIADMK government's days are numbered. Ahead of the elections, the grand plan could possibly be to create a rainbow coalition of Rajinikanth, BJP and the OPS faction of the AIADMK.

OPS also targeted Sasikala and her family, accusing them of trying to ensure his defeat in the 2016 elections. It was his attack on Sasikala that gained him traction a year ago and elevated his stature from that of a permanent nightwatchman under Jayalalithaa to someone who had a spine to protest. A year later, OPS is falling back on the same formula to raise his political stature.

What do his statements in Theni indicate about the goings-on in the AIADMK?

Sources say AIADMK senior leaders are on tenterhooks, with the impending judgment of the Madras High Court in the case relating to the disqualification of 18 MLAs belonging to the TTV Dhinakaran camp. If the Speaker's decision disqualifying the MLAs is upheld, it will push the government into a minority.

Tamil Nadu is also abuzz with rumours of EPS reaching out to Sasikala's Mannargudi family, asking it to back him while keeping Dhinakaran out. While the possibility of it happening is very remote, sources say OPS is feeling marginalised within the party power structure and fears he could be the fall guy in case EPS strikes a deal with his former friends. The Mannargudi clan has never forgiven OPS for backstabbing Sasikala.

Why would EPS strike a deal with Sasikala when he knows it won't amuse the BJP? In Tamil Nadu, given the state's aversion to the Hindi and Hindutva template of the BJP, Palaniswami has realised that being seen as remote controlled by the BJP is not helping his political equity. He is already witness to Dhinakaran, MK Stalin and Kamal Haasan trying to occupy the anti-BJP space that because of the fellow traveller arrangement, overlaps with the anti-AIADMK space.

The question however, is whether a second OPS revolt will have any credibility. The latest revelations are a move by Panneerselvam to capture the rebel space once again.Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi on Saturday denied any links of his family with jewellery designer Nirav Modi and Gitanjali Group promoter Mehul Choksi.

New Delhi: Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi on Saturday denied any links of his family with jewellery designer Nirav Modi and Gitanjali Group promoter Mehul Choksi, accused in the Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case, and charged the BJP with playing "cheap politics".

"BJP/NDA's cheap sense of politics has reached ludicrous and ridiculous proportions. Neither my wife, sons nor me have anything whatsoever to do with Gitanjali or Nirav Modi companies," he said in a statement.

Singhvi said Nirav Modis company was a tenant of a Kamala Mills property owned by Adwait Holdings in which his wife and sons are directors.

BJP leader and Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman alleged that Nirav Modi-run Firestar Diamond International had taken on lease a property of Adwait Holdings, a company in which Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi's wife is a director.

"What is important that the premises has been used by Firestar Diamond International," she alleged.

Singhvi said Adwait Holdings owns a commercial property at Parel, which was rented by Nirav Modi's company many years ago.

"Neither Adwait nor my family has any interest with Modi or the company. Last August, the company gave notice to quit tenancy and vacated Parel Kamala Mills premises in December 2017," he said.

"Neither I nor any member of my family has any interest in or relation to Nirav Modi or his companies. His company was a tenant in some commercial property owned by our family company. This tenancy ended in December 2017.

"None of us have anything to do even remotely with Gitanjali company, Firestar or any other business of Nirav Modi...Sensationalism, ignorance and falsehood has exceeded all limits in this irresponsible charge," he said, threatening Sitharaman and her colleagues of civil and criminal defamation for making "ill-considered, ignorant and patently false allegations".

"I reserve my rights to take all such appropriate legal action against the latter and all parts of the media which carry such false and maliciously defamatory allegations," Singhvi said in a statement.

Nirav Modi, 46, a regular feature on the lists of rich and famous Indians since 2013, was booked by the CBI, along with wife, brother and Gitanjali Group promoter Mehul Choksi on 31 January, for allegedly cheating the state-run PNB to the tune of Rs 280 crore.

The bank subsequently sent two more complaints to the CBI on Tuesday, saying the scam was worth more than Rs 11,400 crore.

The jewellery designer is understood to be a citizen of the country but his brother Nishal and wife Ami are not Indian nationals. They all left India between 1 and 6 January, the CBI had said.No meeting of the Normandy Four foreign ministers on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference has been confirmed yet, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.

"We'll wait, nothing has been confirmed so far. We discussed everything with Mr. [Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo] Klimkin thoroughly yesterday, so I don't even know whether to get ready or not. But if the Germans are ready, we will be too," Lavrov told reporters.A plenary session of the Congress to discuss and evolve the party's future strategy will be held in Delhi on 16, 17 and 18 March, its chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said on Saturday.

New Delhi: A plenary session of the Congress to discuss and evolve the party's future strategy will be held in Delhi on 16, 17 and 18 March, its chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said on Saturday.

The dates were fixed at a meeting of steering committee, which was formed after dissolving the Central Working Committee. Congress president Rahul Gandhi chaired the first meeting of the steering committee.

Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and senior leaders including AK Antony, Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge attended the meeting.

Rahul had dissolved the Congress Working Committee and formed the 34-member Steering Committee to work in its place till a new CWC was set up.

The party's plenary session will be attended by all AICC delegates who elected the new Congress chief.

While all outgoing CWC members are part of the new committee, some permanent invitees such as Amarinder Singh, Vilas Muttemwar, RK Dhawan, Shivajirao Deshmukh, MV Rajasekharan and Mohsina Kidwai, and all special invitees have been dropped from the new panel.

As per the party's Constitution, the 25-member CWC has 12 elected members and 11 nominated members, besides the Congress president and the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

The new members of the CWC will be elected either at the plenary or after it.Tripura would go to polls on Sunday with the BJP emerging as the main challenger to the ruling Left Front, which has been in power in the state for the last 25 years.

Agartala: Tripura would go to polls on Sunday with the BJP emerging as the main challenger to the ruling Left Front, which has been in power in the state for the last 25 years.

Polling would be held in 59 of the total 60 seats. Voting in Charilam Assembly constituency would be held on 12 March due to the death of the CPM candidate for the seat, Ramendra Narayan Deb Barma, five days ago.

Twenty seats have been reserved for the scheduled tribes.

The BJP held a high-voltage campaign with Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing as many as four rallies in the state.

Other heavyweight leaders of the saffron party to take part in the campaign were its national president Amit Shah, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and Smriti Irani and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath.

Manik Sarkar, who is running for his fifth term as the chief minister, led the CPM's campaign addressing around 50 rallies in the state. Other Left leaders like Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat lent support to the party's campaign.

The Congress' campaign was somewhat subdued with party president Rahul Gandhi addressing a rally at Kailashahar in Unakoti district, about 180 kilometres from Agartala, on the last day of campaigning.

Altogether, 307 candidates are in the fray.

The CPM is contesting in 57 seats and while the other Left Front constituents, the RSP, Forward Bloc and CPI, in one seat each.

The BJP, which has forged an alliance with tribal outfit Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) has fielded 51 candidates. IPFT will contest in the remaining nine seats.

The Congress is going in alone in Tripura this time and will contest in 59 seats. The party has not fielded any candidate for Kakrabon constituency in Gomati district.

There are 25,73,413 electorate, of whom 13,05,375 are males and 12,68,027 women while the number of third gender voters is 11. There are 47,803 new voters this time.

Voting would be held between 7 am and 4 pm on Sunday at 3,214 polling stations of which 47 would be managed by women, election office sources said.

Tripura chief electoral officer Sriram Taranikanti said the Election Commission has appointed police observers, general observers and expenditure observers to ensure free and fair polls.

He said, director general of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) RK Pachnanda has been appointed as a special observer to coordinate the security forces deployed in the state.

State Director General of Police Akhil Kumar Shukla said tight security measures are in place across Tripura for free and fair elections.

Three hundred companies of central armed forces have been deployed across the state along with state armed personnel and the police, he said, adding the BSF is keeping keep close vigil along the 856 kilometre long India-Bangladesh border in the state.

Counting of votes would be take place on 3 March, Additional Chief Electoral Officer Debashish Modok said.

Follow LIVE updates on Tripura Assembly Election results here

Click here to follow LIVE updates on North East Election results hereOn 12 January, Pradyot Manikya Deb Barman, who is the heir to the Tripura Royal House, posted a group of photos on his Facebook profile.

We live in the Republic of India and all law-abiding citizens agree to the Constitution adopted in 1950, which states that we, the people of India secure equality of status and opportunity. Here, in our nation, no one is superior to another and we reject any kind of social hierarchy in the form of caste, creed or heritage for that matter. We resolved to abolish all titles except the ones we earn with our merit, ie educational and military titles. The whole point of abolishing titles was to bring in an era of equality.

After the transfer of power, the post-colonial Indian state under the leadership of Sardar Patel decided to grant the princes a privy purse. The privy purse was basically a payment made to the princes for giving up their ruling rights. Or we can say that they gave up their sovereignty for a compensation. Now the question remains whether they were actually sovereign. At the time of Partition, more than 600 odd princely states existed under the British paramountcy.

British paramountcy needs a brief explanation here. It used to work under the subsidiary alliance policy, ie a king, like the Manikya kings of Tripura, could rule independently inside his territory and the colonial state would not interfere in his internal affairs. But that was not all, the states could not keep a standing army as the British army was supposed to defend their borders from external threats. Also, they had to pay a heavy sum to the colonial coffers as a payment for the maintenance of that army. And a British agent (from the Civil Services) would be in the royal court, further checking the rulers autonomy. Thus, a ruler was only left with the dirty job of maintaining law and order and providing justice in his territory while the colonial state enjoyed a military dominance and extracted heavy taxes from those states. So, naturally, those states were not sovereign in its classic terms.

The privy purse was issued to such rulers who had accepted the subsidiary alliance policy. Now, the other aspect is that the monarch is just the state, a ruler, a manger of the people  not their patriarch or God. The divine theory of kingship is a medieval concept. In modern times, it doesnt count. So, if the post-colonial Indian state is giving a payment in the form of privy purse, it has to be to the people but not to the manager. Going by the theory of social contract, the king has no moral authority to gulp down a heavy amount of money as privy purse just because of his heredity. Thus, the Republic of India decided to stop it in 1971.

On 12 January, Pradyot Manikya Deb Barman, who is the heir to the Tripura Royal House, posted a group of photos on his Facebook profile. The photos are of an archival document of a land transfer from the royal house to the Indian state for the construction of the Gobinda Vallab Pant Hospital in Agartala, which is presently the largest state-sponsored hospital in the state.

This was an act of charity and we should not question the motives of the royal house or the king Kirit Bikram Kishore Manikya (Pradyots father) who donated the land. However, at an ideological level, the act as well as its public glorification raises larger questions of historical discourse and popular narratives.

The land was donated in 1959, in the Republic of India. A time when we were done with colonial zamindari; also, the land ceiling legislation was already in action in many parts of the nation. In such a time, a private individual donated an unwanted land for charity. It makes sense, but it is in no way a favour to the nation or its people. The land anyway belonged to the people, the royal house was just being the state before the post-colonial Indian state started functioning. It just gave back the people their own land, which they would have taken anyway, if needed by force.

The Manikya dynasty is the only ruling house in Tripura. Even though the local mythology validates the dynasty as an offspring of the Chandravanshi clan and claims their lineage back to the Mahabharata, the historicity of the dynasty can be found somewhere in the 13th century with Ratna Fa or Ratna Manikya as the first ruler. Since then, 183 kings have ruled the region, ending with Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur, the last but the most visionary king of Tripura. In fact, the last few kings, who, having been exposed to the western ideas after British intervention, did a lot to modernise the region. A number of schools came up, a college was set up in 1947. Victoria Memorial Hospital (presently Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital) came up in the heart of Agartala city in 1903. An all-girls Maharani Tulshi Bati School was also set up by the Royal House.

The Tripura Royal House led by present patriarch Pradyot Deb Barman projects the Manikya dynasty as the savior of the people during the princely rule. According to him, it was the post-colonial state, which was controlled for most part of the 20th century by socialist Congress from the Centre and the CPM in Tripura, that has destroyed this land of peace and prosperity. But, there is a problem to such a narrative of history which drifts away from certain concrete facts. With the present crisis of ethnic identity, Pradyot is claiming to take sides with his people ie the native hill tribes. But, how can he wash away a history left behind by his ancestors?

It was the Manikya kings who encouraged Bengali immigration into Tripura before partition was even thought of. They granted plain land to the Bengali settlers from East Bengal at a very low price and encouraged wet rice cultivation in an attempt to make the tribes shun jhum cultivation (shifting cultivation) which is harmful for environment and ecology and take up wet rice cultivation. In fact, the language of the royal house was Bengali and Rabindranath Tagore was a state guest for seven times. The Ujjayanta Palace was named by the poet himself.

Further, if we see the actual modernising process of the royal house, it has a striking pattern. Be it Radha Kishore Institution, Umakanta Academy, Maharaja Bir Bikram College or the VM Hospital, all have been constructed in Bengali majority areas. The king saw both the community as his subjects but amazingly promoted one over the other.

And finally, I would just ask one question to the present prince. If the royal house was so kind, why did different native tribes  Tripuris in 1850s, Jamatias in 1860s and Reangs under Ratanmani Reang in as late as 1940s  revolt against the Royal House? The Kukis also made of lot of disturbance, but they were a headhunting tribe, so we should not take their mischiefs into account. Pradyot questions the renaming of historical monuments and installing of Bengali memorials but has he ever asked to install even one statue of Ratanmani Reang as a mark of respect for the Reang rebellion and their aspirations?

Further, just like Shashi Tharoor has asked the British nation for an apology, if not compensation to the Indian people for looting our money, isnt the Royal House of Tripura supposed to apologise for wasting money on luxury monuments like Neer Mahal with the peoples tax money?

(Pinak Pani Datta is born and brought up in Agartala and is doing his post-graduation studies at the Centre for Historical Studies at JNU. He is an independent political commentator on the politics of Tripura)

Click here to follow LIVE updates on Tripura Assembly Election 2018tech2 News Staff

Japanese automobile manufacturer Honda is rethinking about bringing changes to its small car segment after the limited success of the same in India. The company is planning to bring an SUV in the place of the Amaze and Brio.

Honda is India's fourth largest car brand with a market share of 5.55 percent. According to a report on Economic Times, Yoichiro Ueno, MD of Honda Cars India is planning to take the market share up to 10 percent in the future and believes that SUVs can play a critical role in achieving the target.

The company recently launched the revamped 2018 Honda Amaze at Auto Expo 2018. The new 2018 model of the Amaze is based on an all-new platform code-named as 2UA. The car's design is inspired by the company's famous model, the Honda City.

The new SUV expected to be introduced by the company will put the new-gen Honda Brio on the back-burner.

According to the report the MD said We prefer the SUV space to small cars. The SUV is a growing segment in India, it offers more potential than a small car in the current context. We are studying multiple SUV options on the new Amaze platform." The report also mentions that the utility vehicle accounts for 25 percent of the overall market and the compact SUV space within the segment is growing at over 25-30 percent over the past few years.

The new SUV to be brought by the company is expected to take on the existing SUVs such as Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Hyundai Creta. BRV and Mobilio which were specifically developed for the South East Asian market couldn't get the expected response from the customers. The company is also reported to have discontinued the Mobilio MPV and the volume of the BRV seven-seater SUV have also dropped to 800-1,000 a month.

The better than expected response received from the Honda's compact UV WRV prompted the company to look at the dedicated SUV option for the market. The company is also studying the possibility of bringing in HRV premium SUV for the domestic market.Reuters

The Russian influence operation designed to tamper with the 2016 US presidential election used a combination of old-school espionage tactics and 21st-century technologies that will not be easy to stop, even now that the methods have been exposed, experts said.

Social media companies, especially Facebook Inc and Twitter Inc, have been under heavy pressure to find ways of stopping what is often referred to as information warfare on their services.

The indictment of 13 Russian nationals on 16 February, announced by US Special Counsel Robert Mueller, made extensive use of records from Facebook and Instagram, according to people familiar with the matter.

Yet the combination of tactics revealed in the indictment, including the use of shell corporations and stolen IDs, deployment of virtual private networks to avoid online detection, and payments to unwitting Americans, suggests even a company as powerful as Facebook could struggle to stop such activities by itself as they happen.

US spy agencies have said Russia would try to interfere in the 2018 midterm elections, again by using social media to spread propaganda.

They cant out of hand stop it, because its very difficult for them to trace those things, said Ann Ravel, a former member of the US Federal Election Commission. The clandestine purchase of advertising on the site through fake personas was particularly alarming, she said.

To know the identities of ad buyers, internet companies might need to duplicate the know your customer practices of banks and regularly share information with authorities, Ravel said.

Facebook has said it will start requiring thorough documentation from election-related advertisers to verify their identity and location, beginning with US elections this year.

How extensive that vetting will be is unclear. If you want to put up a theme page for a group, in the ordinary course you wouldnt expect that a vendor like Facebook would require that sort of vetting, said Dan Petalas, a former US federal prosecutor.

The indictment really details an elaborate scheme that would be difficult to identify, he said.

Facebook said on 16 February it was making significant investments to guard against future attacks and was working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to deter election interference.

The Russians alleged campaign began with three weeks of reconnaissance in 2014, when two of them travelled to nine US states, including Colorado and Michigan, according to the indictment. They were equipped with cameras, SIM cards, drop phones and, if needed, evacuation scenarios, the indictment says.

It describes the Kremlin-linked Internet Research Agency in St. Petersburg as an organised bureaucracy. It was backed by an annual budget of millions of dollars, employed hundreds of people and boasted several departments dedicated to specific projects, like search-engine optimisation and graphics.

Even those who have demanded Facebook do more acknowledged on 16 February it could do only so much.

We each bear some responsibility for exercising good judgement and a healthy amount of scepticism when it comes to the things we read and share on social media, Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a statement.

The defendants are accused of stealing social security numbers of Americans to open up fraudulent accounts on digital payment system PayPal Holdings Inc. They purchased space on computer servers located within the United States to use virtual private networks to mask their identities and pose as Americans.

Facebook could go further in monitoring its platform and adopt the process cryptocurrency firms use to verify bitcoin traders, said Jordan Lieberman, president of ad firm Audience Partners. But if Facebook raises the bar much higher, Its going to interrupt revenue flows and its absolutely going to cost them money.An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan on Saturday sentenced to death a serial killer for the brutal rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl that sparked national outrage, the first ever trial in the country's history that concluded in shortest period of four days

Lahore: An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan on Saturday sentenced to death a serial killer for the brutal rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl that sparked national outrage, the first ever trial in the country's history that concluded in shortest period of four days.

Announcing the verdict at the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore at in-camera trial amid high security, ATC judge Sajjad Hussain handed down the death sentence to 23-year-old Imran Ali on four grounds murdering a child, kidnapping a child, rape of a minor, and committing an unnatural act with a minor.

Imran has also been sentenced to seven years in jail with a fine of Rs 1 million for desecrating the body of a minor. He was arrested in January, two weeks after he raped and killed the 7-year-old girl and threw her body into a garbage dump in Kasur city, some 50 kilometres from Lahore.

The brutal rape and murder of the child had sparked outrage and protests across the country. Her case was the twelfth such incident to occur within a 10 kilometre radius in Kasur city over a 12-month period.

The arrest brought to light eight more such killings and many Pakistanis have demanded he be publicly executed.

Prosecutor General Ehtesham Qadir, who spoke to media after the sentencing, said the accused had been given ample chance to defend himself, but he chose to confess his crimes.

He said the prosecution had presented at least 56 witnesses against him in addition to forensic evidence, including the DNA and polygraph tests.

"It was a fair trial in which the suspect was given a chance to defend himself," Qadir said, adding the ATC has awarded the sentence to the accused only in the case of the seven-year-old girl. "The suspect had also confessed to the killing of eight other girls. He will be tried in these cases separately, he said, adding this was the first ever trial in the history of Pakistan that concluded in four days.

The girl's father Muhammad Amin expressed satisfaction over the verdict, saying: "We are satisfied on the verdict but we wanted him to be hanged publicly." The girl's mother said, "We want that the suspect should be stoned to death for his crime as hanging in jail is a punishment which is given to other criminals but this beast deserves either public hanging or stoned to death."

Imran will now have 15 days to approach the court to file an appeal. However, the prosecutor general said he had confessed to his crime and was not interested in challenging the ATC verdict in higher court. "He regrets for his act. He says he became a pervert after having an addiction of watching child pornography on Internet," Qadir said.

Advocate Mehar Shakeel Multani, the private counsel for the suspect, had withdrawn his power of attorney after the suspect made confession before the trial court.

The lawyer claimed his conscience did not allow him to defend a serial killer.

Later, the court provided the suspect with state counsel to complete the trial proceedings.

Showing concerns about the fairness of the trial inside jail, rights activist and senior lawyer Asad Jamal said the trial could not be held in a free and fair manner unless the suspect was given an ample opportunity to defend himself through a counsel of his choice.

He said the trial had been conducted in camera without access to independent observers, members of the bar and independent legal counsel for the suspect. He said the prosecution could not propose or nominate a lawyer to defend a suspect, as done in the case, because there had always been a clear conflict of interest.

He said it was against the principles of due process of fair trial guaranteed under Article 10-A of the Constitution.

Advocate Jamal said he had also filed an application with the jail authorities, seeking permission to meet the accused to consult him in private to access the need for the steps to be taken, including representation to defend him to ensure a fair trial.

The Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 also requires a trial court to proceed with the trial on day-to-day basis and decide the case within seven working days. Prosecutor General Qadir, however, said, "All the requisites of justice and fairness had been strictly observed during the trial proceedings." He said the private counsel for the suspect had cross- examined at least 22 prosecution witnesses before he withdrew his power of attorney.

"Later, the state lawyer appointed by the court completed the cross-examination of the remaining witnesses.The alleged Russian interference had no impact on the results of the 2016 US presidential elections, President Donald Trump said

Washington: The alleged Russian interference had no impact on the results of the 2016 US presidential elections, President Donald Trump said on Saturday, as a federal grand jury indicted 13 Russian nationals and three companies for interfering in the country's political system.

The indictment, released on Friday by the office of US Special Counsel Robert Mueller, said the accused also interfered in the 2016 US presidential election through social media propaganda.

"No collusion!" Trump said about his presidential campaign as he pointed out that Russia's alleged meddling had begun much earlier.

"Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for president. The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong - no collusion!" Trump said.

Later, in a White House statement, Trump urged his fellow countrymen to come together and foil the attempts of those "seeking to sow confusion, discord, and rancor to be successful".

"It's time we stop the outlandish partisan attacks, wild and false allegations, and far-fetched theories, which only serve to further the agendas of bad actors, like Russia, and do nothing to protect the principles of our institutions. We must unite as Americans to protect the integrity of our democracy and our elections," Trump said.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the alleged Russian interference began in 2014 before Trump declared his candidacy.

"President Donald J Trump has been fully briefed on this matter and is glad to see the Special Counsels investigation further indicatesthat there was NO COLLUSION between the Trump campaign and Russia and that the outcome of the election was not changed or affected," she said.

After the indictments were returned by a federal grand juries, both political parties  Democrats and Republicans  said this vindicated their respective stands.

Democratic Senator Mark Warner said the indictment was an important step to hold Russia accountable.

"While platforms like Facebook and Twitter are allowing Americans to communicate and share ideas in ways unimaginable just a decade ago, were also learning that we each bear some responsibility for exercising good judgment and a healthy amount of skepticism when it comes to the things we read and share on social media," said Warner.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said the Russians' alleged action was "a sinister and systematic attack on our political system".

"We have known that Russians meddled in the election, but these indictments detail the extent of the subterfuge. These Russians engaged in a sinister and systematic attack on our political system," said Ryan.

"It was a conspiracy to subvert the process, and take aim at democracy itself. Today's announcement underscores why we need to follow the facts and work to protect the integrity of future elections," he said.

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said that the alleged actions laid out in the indictments are a direct assault against the people of the US and its democracy.

"Russia is not our friend and this is another concrete example of their destabilizing actions," he said.

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, said that the indictment means that collusion theory will collapse.

"..the Special Counsel stressed his investigators found no evidence the meddling influenced the outcome of the 2016 election. Indeed, the indictment indicates the Russians put out propaganda mischievously supporting both the Trump and the Clinton campaigns," said Rohrabacher.

"After all these months of the Mueller probe, the 'collusion' theory will likely collapse, and soon," he said.

Senator Dianne Feinstein said the indictment reveals, for the first time, that both Russians and Americans were allegedly involved in this sophisticated attack on US democracy.

"Unfortunately, President Trump's lack of leadership in this area is becoming an issue of national security. He needs to stop denying that Russia interfered in the 2016 election and mobilize a robust federal response," she said.Iranian President Hassan Rouhani asserted that his country will adhere to the terms of the nuclear deal it signed with world powers till 'the last breath' and warned that the US will 'regret' if the pact was broken

New Delhi: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday asserted that his country will adhere to the terms of the nuclear deal it signed with world powers till "the last breath" and warned that the US will "regret" if the pact was broken.

Rouhani's comments come after US president Donald Trump had threatened to pull out of the deal. He had sought a review of the nuclear pact.

"We as a country have always adhered (to commitments). We will not violate it (the pact) and will stay on board. It is the order of God. If we are signing the pact then we will adhere to it, till the last breath," he said.

Rouhani, while delivering an address in New Delhi on 'The priorities of the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran', said the time for "haggling" by president Trump is over and negotiating after signing the deal is "ridiculous".

The US is not dealing with Iran alone on the issue of nuclear pact but also with the United Nations Security Council, which has approved the pact, said Rouhani at the event organised by the Observer Research Foundation.

The US, he observed, will "regret" if the deal collapses and the people within that country would voice concerns over it.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, was a notable foreign policy achievement of the Obama administration.

The deal, struck in 2015 between Iran and six world powers  the US, the UK, Russia, France, China, and Germany, lifted economic sanctions on Tehran, and in return put limitations on its controversial nuclear energy programme.

President Trump has expressed its reservations about the deal. Last month, he waived sanctions against Iran as required under JCPOA, but warned that it will be the last such waiver if radical changes are not made in the pact.

A joint statement by India and Iran after Rouhani's delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India reaffirms its support for the full and effective implementation of the JCPOA.

The JCPOA has been endorsed by the UN Security Council and is a crucial contribution to the non-proliferation framework and international peace, stability and security, it said.

Backing New Delhi's quest for a permanent seat in the UNSC, Rouhani asked why India, a nation with a population of 1.3 billion, was not a member of the powerful club.

"Why doesn't India, with a population of 1.3 billion, have veto rights? Those who had atomic bombs were given veto rights," Rouhani said, emphasising on having ethics in foreign policy as against military might.

Veto right in the UNSC lies with the US, the UK, China, France and Russia.

Hitting out at the US, Rouhani said many issues in the world today have arisen out of miscalculation and Washington has constantly resorted to that mistake with regard to Tehran.

He said the US sought to control the lives of Iranians and even tried to stop the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Recalling the Iraq-Iran war, Rouhani said Saddam Hussain, the former president of Iraq, who ruled the country with an iron fist, reneged on the commitment made between the two countries and borders, which resulted in a devastating war.

The Iranian president also criticised the United States for its interference in Syria, saying the IS is of great interest to America.The ulema, or Islamic scholars, aim to set up 'brigades' tasked with ridding Mosul residents of extremist ideas of Islamic State following city's recapture

Mosul: In a classroom of the University of Mosul, in the Islamic State group's former Iraqi capital, around 50 volunteers have undergone a week's training on how to combat the jihadists' ideology.

The ulema, or Islamic scholars, aim to set up "brigades" tasked with ridding Mosul residents of extremist ideas following the city's recapture last July which ended three years of Islamic State rule.

"Mosul must be liberated from the thinking of Daesh after having been liberated militarily," said Mussaab Mahmud, who just completed the course, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

"We were deceived by Daesh ideas and now we are trying to free ourselves from its ideology," said the 30-year-old day labourer.

The first group of volunteers came from all sectors of Mosul society, including mechanics, teachers and a sheikh.

The men aged from 25 to 45 signed up on Facebook for the course run by the Ulema Forum of Mosul, Iraq's second largest city which was left shattered by the months-long battle to expel Islamic State.

The classes are being conducted by five teachers who are experts in Islamic jurisprudence from Mosul and Tikrit, a city to the south that was also previously under brutal Islamic State rule.

"The lessons are concentrated on human rights, human development, peaceful coexistence and communal peace," the forum's president Sheikh Saleh al-Obeidi told AFP.

He said participants were tutored on "faith, Islamic jurisprudence and the Hadith (record of the sayings of the Prophet Mohammad) to allow them to counter the ideas of Daesh and its intellectual terrorism".

Priority on 'brainwashed' children

Islamic State imposed its own rigid interpretation of Islamic law on all aspects of everyday life, branding opponents "apostates" who should be killed.

Most members of religious and ethnic minorities who had lived in peace for centuries alongside Mosul's majority Sunni Muslims fled to escape the radicals with their beatings and public executions.

Sheikh Obeidi said the brigades will go out and "combat the extremist ideas on social media and by calling on residents in their homes".

His forum was established in 2014 in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, to the north of Mosul, by ulema who had fled the city.

They broadcast on private television channels but residents risked the wrath of Islamic State if they were caught tuning in to the forum's programmes.

Sheikh Obeidi said that the classes would expand to cover "all social groups and both sexes", although it was still looking for permanent premises in the war-battered city.

Priority will be the children indoctrinated in Islamic State-run schools where they were taught the jihadist version of Islam and given weapons training.

"As a teacher myself, what I've learnt here will allow me as far as possible to erase the radical Daesh ideas instilled in pupils, because they were the worst affected and influenced," said Ibrahim Mohammad Hamid, 27.

"I will go to the parents because the home and the family play a major role in spreading the idea of tolerance and coexistence," he said.

Mohammad Abaiji, a 24-year-old imam, or prayer leader, said he would run seminars in the mosque for children "to spread enlightened ideas, because Islam is a religion of tolerance".Pakistan on Saturday said the decision to send its troops to Saudi Arabia was taken after clarifying the 'rules of engagement' for which negotiations were ongoing for some time.

Islamabad: Pakistan on Saturday said the decision to send its troops to Saudi Arabia was taken after clarifying the "rules of engagement" for which negotiations were ongoing for some time.

Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan said the role of Pakistani troops was limited to advisory and training to Saudi forces.

"Negotiations were ongoing regarding the rules of engagement and once we attained clarity on the issue that the troops will be on training and advisory mission to strengthen the ground defence of Saudi Arabia, the troops were sent," he told Geo News on Friday night.

He ruled out any involvement in the Yemen civil war but said that Pakistan will not provide any air defence against missiles by Houthi rebels.

"We only want to train their forces and better advise them. The areas bordering Yemen are mountainous, and as Pakistan's army is highly trained in mountain warfare, we will train and advise them," he said.

In a major policy shift, Pakistan decided to deploy troops in Saudi Arabia under an existing bilateral security cooperation agreement with its close ally which is involved in a civil war in neighbouring Yemen.

The Pakistan Army announced the decision to send troops on a training and advise mission to Saudi Arabia after a meeting between Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Saeed Al-Maliki at the army headquarters in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

Separately, The Express Tribune reported that the deployment of troops was sanctioned by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as part of a longstanding defence cooperation between Islamabad and Riyadh.

Currently, there are 1,379 Pakistani troops deployed in Saudi Arabia, most of whom are from Pakistan Army, along with air force and navy officials, according to security sources.

The exact number of troops being sent is not known, but the fresh deployment is said to be slightly over 1,000 soldiers, according to the newspaper.

Security sources also clarified that there is nothing new about the deployment of Pakistani troop in the oil-rich kingdom, as defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia is based on a 1982 bilateral protocol for training and advisory roles.

The report said defence cooperation in the Persian gulf is not limited to Riyadh, as there is currently a deployment of 627 Pakistani troops in Qatar, including 165 from the army and 462 from the navy and air force.

Islamabad also maintains a similar working relationship with Iran, which currently has 10 pilots in training with the Pakistan military.

The Iranians will be sending five more pilots "sometime in April" and even "more in subsequent years," sources said.

Pakistan has stayed away from the conflict in Yemen where Iran strongly opposes the involvement of the Saudi-led military coalition.

In November, 2017, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Tehran where he met top Iranian civil and military leaders, including President Hassan Rouhani.

Bajwa has also visited Saudi Arabia five times in his first year in charge.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been involved in a number of joint training exercises in recent months, the most recent being a joint naval exercise in Karachi codenamed Affa Al-Sahil, which concluded on Friday.

The exercise has been performed annually since 2011 and aims to enhance interoperability and sharpen tactical proficiency in countering maritime human trafficking, piracy and terrorism.

Meanwhile, naval exercises are currently underway between Pakistan and Saudi Arabian marines in Saudi waters.

Saudi special services participated in the last Pakistan Day parade, while there are currently 200 Saudi cadets in the Pakistan Military Academy, PAF Academy, and Naval Academy.

A source said that last year, close to 1,500 Saudi officers and soldiers were trained in Pakistan, mostly by the interior ministry.Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis at a meeting in Munich have discussed the situation in Donbas and the need to introduce a peacekeeping mission, sanctions against the Russian Federation, as well as further steps to strengthen Ukraine's defense capability.

"The parties discussed the situation in Donbas and expressed concern over the ongoing attempts of Russia and militants it supports to undermine the peace process ... discussed further steps to strengthen Ukraine's defense stability, and also noted the priority of development of strategic partnership between Kyiv and Washington," the presidential press service said.

Poroshenko and Mattis also considered the necessity of placing the UN peacekeeping mission in Donbas in accordance with the UN principles and the objectives of the Minsk process.

The sides stressed the importance of the policy of sanctions against the Russian Federation until Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty is restored.

Poroshenko expressed gratitude for the important decisions of Washington in the issue of strengthening the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the country's defense capacity, noting that the latest decisions made by Washington are a signal to the aggressor against any intentions to escalate the situation in Donbas..      ,                      .         :      ,     ".            ,...Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and British Prime Minister Theresa May at a meeting in Munich discussed the prospect of the UN peacekeeping mission in Donbas.

"The parties discussed the deployment of the UN peacekeeping mission in the occupied part of Donbas," the presidential press service said after the meeting.

Poroshenko thanked Great Britain for continuing the educational mission for Ukrainian military men in the framework of the Orbital operation.

In addition, he invited May to visit Ukraine.Warren Buffett's famous for his stock-picking prowess, so when he decides it's time to sell a stock in Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK-B) (NYSE: BRK-A) portfolio, it's probably worth paying attention. Fortunately, a big investor like Buffett has to file a quarterly 13F report with the SEC showing exactly what he's been selling, and his latest filing shows he's unloading shares of IBM (NYSE: IBM) and General Motors (NYSE: GM). Should you give up on these blue chip stocks, too?

Lost patience with legacy

IBM is hoping to return to growth with its strategic-imperatives businesses, which sell solutions for high-growth markets including cloud computing. Unfortunately, the headway it's making in these areas has struggled to offset declining demand for its legacy products and services and that's landed IBM in Buffett's cross-hairs.

Despite double-digit growth in its strategic-imperatives sales in 2017, IBM's companywide revenue still fell 1% to $79.1 billion and its adjusted earnings declined to $13.80 per share from $13.59 in 2016 and $14.92 in 2015.

IBM's inability to more quickly offset revenue and profit headwinds caused Buffett to begin selling shares early last year. In Q1 2017 he sold 17 million shares of IBM, leaving him with 64.5 million shares remaining on March 31, 2017. Since then, he's continued to sell shares and according to his recent 13F report, Berkshire Hathaway finished December owning just 2.05 million shares of Big Blue.

The bad news is that IBM faces significant competition, including in its strategic imperatives business, where it's battling Amazon.com's Amazon Web Services, Alphabet, Microsoft, and others. The good news, is that IBM's strategic imperatives business now represents 46% of sales, so if it can continue growing by double digits, then IBM could post its first full-year revenue growth in years in 2018.

But that growth may not provide a lot of pop to IBM's profitability. IBM's earnings forecast is for $13.80 this year and that only matches 2017's performance. Therefore, until IBM proves to investors that it can reward them with significant top-line and bottom-line growth, it's hard to argue that it's the best blue-chip stock to own.

Cashing out of cars

Buffett could be getting a bit nervous about the U.S. auto market. He's owned General Motors shares since 2012, but in Q4 the Oracle of Omaha reduced his stake in General Motors by 16.7%, or 10 million shares. If history's any gauge, he probably plans to sell more of his remaining 50 million shares in 2018.

Buffett hasn't said much publicly about his decision to sell GM shares, but, reading the tea leaves, it wouldn't surprise me if he's becoming less enthusiastic because U.S. auto sales posted their first post-recession year-over-year decline last year. As a result, GM's North American adjusted operating profit slipped to $11.9 billion from $12.4 billion in 2016.

It may also concern him that GM's profitability is increasingly reliant on its finance division, something that could become a problem if defaults increase because U.S. auto debt has swelled in the past few years. Or perhaps he's simply booking his profit. After all, General Motors' shares were trading at post-recession highs last October.

It could also be that Buffett's starting to view General Motors as a technology company. Historically, Buffett's avoided owning technology stocks because he doesn't understand them well enough. Undeniably, trucks and cars are becoming rolling computers and competitors, including Tesla, are forcing GM to spend more money on technology initiatives, including autonomous driving. Buffett may feel like he doesn't understand GM's future as clearly as he did before. Another disincentive to owning GM stock is that there's supply chain uncertainty associated with President Donald Trump's desire to renegotiate NAFTA, which could impact vehicle imports from Mexico.

Only Buffett knows what he plans on doing with his remaining General Motors stock, but his selling is reminiscent of when he began selling some of his other former blue chip holdings, including Walmart and General Electric. If I'm right and this is the start of him unwinding his entire stake, then General Motors's shares will probably remain risky to own, at least until he's finished selling.

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John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Teresa Kersten is an employee of LinkedIn and is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. LinkedIn is owned by Microsoft. Todd Campbell owns shares of Amazon, General Electric, Microsoft, and Tesla. His clients may have positions in the companies mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), and Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) stock jumped higher after the company named Brian Niccol, the head of Yum! Brands' (NYSE: YUM) Taco Bell, its new CEO, indicating that investors approve of the fast-casual chain's selection.

Taco Bell, which is known for innovations like the Doritos Locos Taco, is everything that Chipotle, with its "Food with Integrity" platform, tries not to be. But the decision to go with a leader from traditional fast food could signal that Chipotle is ready for a change.

As CEO of Taco Bell for the last three years and president prior to that, Niccol guided Taco Bell's comeback and transition into a lifestyle brand with a successful social media campaign and innovations like the Cantina Bell, Taco Bell's take on fast casual, and introduced mobile order and payment to 7,000 restaurants.

Niccol said he would "focus on dialing up Chipotle's cultural relevance through innovation in menu and digital communications," in an effort to "attract customers, return the brand to growth, deliver value for shareholders and create opportunities for employees."

While there are a number of reasons that Niccol seems like a good choice, including his experience with a large chain, familiarity with a Mexican food brand, and success with social media, one of his accomplishments stands out among the rest. Niccol was responsible for Taco Bell's launch of breakfast.

The most important meal of the day

Chipotle fans have long clamored for the company to offer breakfast, as an egg-filled burrito sounds just as tasty to them as the chain's usual fare, but management has largely resisted calls to open in the morning. The restaurant previously experimented with breakfast burritos at two airport locations, Washington's Dulles Airport and Baltimore-Washington International Airport; however, the company did not find the demand to be strong enough to continue offering them.

Still, there's no question that breakfast has been a winner for much of the fast-food industry. McDonald's(NYSE: MCD) launch of all-day breakfast in 2015 helped spark a streak of strong comparable sales growth, and breakfast menu items make up about 15% of McDonald's sales. Taco Bell saw a similar bump in sales after it introduced breakfast in 2014, and it's clear why so many brands have been eyeing a piece of the a.m. market.

The morning meal tends to be more profitable for fast-food chains as items like eggs and coffee generally offer higher margins than the proteins that lunch and dinner center on, like chicken and beef. Fast-food breakfast is also especially popular with millennials, some of whom identify as breakfastarians, or people who eat breakfast foods at all hours of the day.

The brand effect

Beyond its impact on the bottom line, breakfast could be even more important in resurrecting Chipotle's brand. McDonald's answered customers' longtime demands for all-day breakfast, and the response has been a major driver of the company's recent sales surge. McDonald's said that all-day breakfast led to incremental business by attracting new customers and delivering larger order sizes.

Chipotle has an opportunity to similarly change the conversation with its own breakfast launch, which would give current customers a reason to visit more often and lapsed ones a reason to try the brand again. The demand is clearly there.

After squandering a similar opportunity with queso, the need to build brand excitement with something like breakfast is greater than ever, and Niccol seems like the ideal person for the job with his experience launching breakfast at another Mexican concept. We'll learn more when Niccol officially takes the position on March 5, but demand for breakfast at Chipotle should only heat up, and the morning meal could be his first big initiative at the helm.

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Jeremy Bowman owns shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

I live in South Florida, just up the coast from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where 17 students and teachers were gunned down and murdered Wednesday. I have a son in a school less than one hour from the high school where the shooting took place.

As someone trained in psychology who researches these topics all the time, this one hit too close to home. These victims are my kids friends, and my friends kids.

As soon as I learned about the shooting and determined that my own children were safe, I headed to the shooting site to comment on Fox News, as I often do after stories break where psychological answers are sought. I also wanted to talk to the students and see how I could be helpful.

I thought I would be pulled aside and tapped to listen to students and hear about how they were processing what they were feeling. But these kids had a different purpose: they wanted me to take a message to you that they thought the media was missing.

The students made one thing clear: They dont want this shooting and their dead friends and faculty to be another flash-in-the-pan news story that changes nothing and is forgotten until the next shooting.

They want to be the catalyst to change so that this tragedy didnt happen in vain, and they want the lives of their dead friends and faculty to mean something real and tangible.

As we try to make sense of the senseless, we cant lose the voice of the voiceless in this.

The killer had his say. The media are having their say. The politicians will continue to have their voices heard in the months and years to come.

But what happens when the next story breaks and the people of Parkland are yesterdays news?

Where are the victims families and the wounded who survived after the Oct. 1 Las Vegas mass shooting now? What ever happened in that investigation? What did we learn? What has changed since a gunman murdered 58 people and wounded hundreds before taking his own life?

What has changed since the massacre at Columbine High School in Colorado in April 1999, where 13 people were shot dead and the killers committed suicide?

To the students in Florida today, the answer is not enough. Clearly not enough, since school shootings keep happening.

What can we do?

Students told me they want meaningful change. Some spoke about guns, or mental health, but almost all recognized those are political answers to a problem that is spiritual. Most admitted frustration with the answers available.

One answer that the students seemed to take comfort in was the idea of focusing on prevention. They told me if this could be the last mass school schooling, then that would be meaningful to them.

How nice would it be if those on the right and those on the left could put all their politics aside  from the gun issue, to the mental health debate  and focus on what we can all agree on?

Many have suggested that we have retired military members in plain clothes protect our schools, like the air marshals who travel on some flights. Along with extensive airport security measures, the air marshals have prevented airline hijacking since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Funding is the obvious issue. What if that funding were inserted into the infrastructure bill? Who could argue with that? My friend suggested this to me, and I suggested this on Hannity Friday night, speaking from the site of the mass shooting.

Why not? Imagine for a moment if a history teacher was a highly trained, packing, protective, passionate, patriotic, plain-clothed veteran protecting our children.

We know the Florida killer wanted to live. Thats why he chose a gun-free zone with victims that he knew would be unprotected and unarmed. Thats why he walked right out of the crime scene and blended with the school kids, wearing their school hoodie to look like one of them. He wanted to escape.

If the gunman had known that there were retired military carrying protection mixed in with faculty, would he have chosen that school that day? Would any of the killing or injury even have occurred?

Killers kill. I know that. We know the gunman tortured animals and that is a horrendous symptom of sociopathy. But if he had not known the school was unprotected that day and how to amass his victims, would he have stuck to killing animals, or sought help in a stronger moment?

Since most of the carnage in such shootings happens within the first five minutes, hoping that police get there in time to save many lives is unrealistic. Solutions such as training and arming retired members of the military to provide security for schools is a newer idea that spares us the gun-control partisanship.

My prediction is that America is ready to do something about this, and I believe we will see President Trump pushing such measures. I am certainly hopeful.

The fact that the gunman is alive may shed some light on the psychology that we usually dont have, because most of these shooters die or kill themselves at the end of these shootings.

Another advantage to capturing the shooter alive is that the survivors can see justice done through the criminal justice system, when they see the murderer convicted and sentenced in court. Court documents show that the teenager arrested after the shooting has confessed.

Lets hope we can get more answers out of this killer, lets pray justice prevails, and lets act on new commonsense measures to ensure this never, ever happens again.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Most national journalists seem to hate guns, gun owners and gun defenders. When the media report on a shooting tragedy they often go after all three.

The Parkland, Florida, high school attack on Wednesday was incredibly horrible. Seventeen people were killed by a former student known to both police and the FBI. The bodies werent cold before many in the news media immediately tried to politicize the tragedy.

Journalists mostly stuck to their script  demonizing guns and gun owners, getting gun facts wrong and attacking the National Rifle Association.

NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd noted how President Trump decided not to address any policy ideas at all in his remarks and focused on an empathetic tone.

CNN actually tweeted: In Florida, you don't need a permit to conceal carry a rifle or shotgun. Apparently, no one on CNNs staff has ever tried to put a rifle (more than 32 inches long) in a coat pocket. And NBCs Megyn Kelly tried to appease her new audience with an anti-NRA rant: The NRA is too powerful, our politicians are too weak and the guns are too ubiquitous.

Journalists repeated a false statement from the hard-left, gun-grabber group Everytown for Gun Safety. The group, founded and funded with millions from former New York City liberal Mayor Michael Bloomberg, pushed a disturbing claim about the number of school shootings in 2018. It was so outlandish that The Washington Post had to wreck it.

The Posts headline was unusually honest: No, there havent been 18 school shootings in 2018. That number is flat wrong. The paper blasted the fake news, saying: It is a horrifying statistic. And it is wrong. It continued: Everytown has long inflated its total by including incidents of gunfire that are not really school shootings. The phony stats included one case where a man killed himself outside a school that had been closed for seven months.

The two networks battling for The Resistance viewers  CNN and MSNBC  fought to outdo one another on guns. As usual, CNN won.

CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer harassed Florida Gov. Rick Scott, demanding he fix the problem. So I just want you to tell our viewers you're going to take action, Blitzer told the governor.

Anchor Don Lemon said all Americans are at a big risk for gun violence. Every single one of us is just playing the odds at this point.

Anchor Chris Cuomo, from the Democratic family of Cuomos, declared: You cant deal with this issue without dealing with the availability of guns. Then he pressed for gun control to be a Trump agenda item. How can you not include this issue in part of that agenda? he asked, seemingly forgetting Trumps strong support of gun rights.

Over at MSNBC, the Thrill-Up-My-Leg Host Chris Matthews, spent nearly 39 minutes hyping gun control. That was more than twice the time he devoted to the actual shooting. And a network guest expert compared the Second Amendment to a suicide pact. Morning Joe simply wouldnt allow pro-gun voices on its show.

Once again news that fit the media agenda was proven too good to be true. The AP reported: A white nationalist appears to have lied to The Associated Press and other news organizations when he claimed that Florida school-shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz was a member of his obscure group.

2. The View Hosts Attack Christians: An episode of ABCs The View skewered Vice President Mike Pence so badly that a panelist claimed his Christian faith was a mental illness. Host Joy Behar, who has perennial foot-in-mouth disease, mocked Pence: Like I said before, it's one thing to talk to Jesus. It's another thing when Jesus talks to you.

The fallout was huge. Pence himself criticized the network, saying, it's an insult not to me, but to the vast majority of American people who like me, cherish their faith.

The response from the right put the far-left show on the defensive. The next day saw the hosts scrambling to pretend they werent bigoted. Behar claimed that if she thought that all Christians were insane, that would include her and many of those close to her, counting others on the show. I dont mean to offend people, but apparently I keep doing it, she said, playing her response for a laugh. Then she added, It was a joke. Comedians are in danger these days.

Poor Joy. Life is so tough for liberals on liberal shows on liberal networks. But when the shows lone conservative, Meghan McCain, tried to respond, she was cut off. Cant have someone calling out Joy for her bigotry.

3. Gold Medal Bias: The Olympic love fest between American media and North Koreas mass-murdering regime continued. All so journalists could antagonize Trump.

NBC, which has been acting as the propaganda arm of the Olympics, deflected criticism of North Korea. NBC News Correspondent Stephanie Gosk was oddly neutral describing the regimes cheerleading squad. Critics are calling them propaganda performers sent by Kim Jong Un to put a smiling face on a brutal regime. CBS anchor Jeff Glor was more direct: North Korea brought its own cheering squad, gold medalists in propaganda.

New York Times Opinion Editor Bari Weiss caught flack for falsely linking U.S. skater Mirai Nagasu to the immigration debate. Nagasu landed an incredible triple axel (Watch!) and was the first female U.S. Olympian to do it. Weiss congratulated Nagasu by touting, immigrants get the job done. One problem, Nagasu was born and raised in California. Weiss defended her claim as poetic license.

Katie Couric, the journalist who delivered fake news about guns in a documentary and former co-host of the Today show, managed to remind viewers of the agony of defeat or possibly de-feet. Couric ridiculously claimed that athletes from the Netherlands do well in speed skating because, well, this is too good: So as long as those canals have existed the Dutch have skated on them to get from place to place, to race each other and to have some fun. Nope. Not true.

4. Celebrate Presidents Day: Just in time for the annual holiday honoring presidents, we have even more examples of how much the news media hate the current man with that title. Or, as NBC Political Analyst Anand Giridharadas referred to Trump, "the commander in chief of American rape culture."

CNN Editor-at-Large Chris Cillizza actually compared Trump to former presidents, including impeached and discredited President Bill Clinton, as a moral leader. I will tell you all modern Presidents, Brooke, saw the job, whether its George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, George H.W. Bush, they saw the job as sort of, in part, being a leader of the American people, taking the high road he explained, apparently forgetting the lying and Monica Lewinsky scandal.

5. Just In Case You Thought Journalists Were Neutral: CNN even oohed and ahhed over the portraits of President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle. No matter your feelings about the former president, the pair deserved better artwork. Still, CNN was there to hype. Reporter Kate Bennett called it probably the most anticipated unveiling of presidential portraits and first lady portraits that weve had so far to date.

The New York Times is still refighting the Cold War  for the communists  by depicting East German women as better off than those in the West. Eastern women, who were part of the work force and with free child care, were more emancipated than their western sisters. Maybe the Times meant more emaciated and it was just a typo.

Univisions activist/journalist/Anchor Jorge Ramos responded to a possible immigration compromise with this neutral nugget: I mean, do they really want to make America white again? And CBS This Morning Co-host Gayle King, who gives to Democrats and doesnt even pretend neutrality, is lobbying for her friend Oprah Winfrey to run for president. According to Oprah, King was repeatedly urging, You should think about it.President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump visited Broward Health North Hospital in Florida on Friday night to pay respects to survivors and medical professionals involved in this weeks school shooting massacre.

The president and first lady flew from Washington to Florida on Friday afternoon. "Incredible recovery," Trump said while at the hospital. "Incredible. And first responders. Everybody. The job they've done is incredible."

"It's very sad something like that can happen," Trump said after being asked if he'd met with victims. "But the job the doctors did, the nurses, the hospital, first responders, law enforcement -- really incredible. The speed that they got the victims over to the hospital is record speed. In one case, 20 minutes. In one case, 19 minutes, from the time they were shot. It's an incredible thing."

The White House didnt release the presidents schedule ahead of the visit, but Trump tweeted earlier in the day that he planned to meet with some of the bravest people on earth, whose lives have been totally shattered.

After visiting the hospital, the president and first lady met with law enforcement at the Broward County Sheriff's office.

The president made the trip to the hospital shortly after Air Force One arrived in West Palm Beach. Trump plans to spend the weekend at his Palm Beach estate, about 40 miles from Parkland.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.North Dakota Republican Rep. Kevin Cramer announced Friday plans to run for Senate against Democratic incumbent Heidi Heitkamp.

The decision is sure to come as a relief to Washington Republicans who had been pressuring him to reconsider his decision last month to stay put in the House.

With Democrats fighting hard to seize control of the House this fall, Republicans are determined to hold onto their narrow majority in the Senate, now at 51-49. Heitkamp, a Democrat in a deep-red state that went overwhelmingly for President Trump in 2016, is thought to be one of the most-vulnerable senators this cycle. But until now, Republicans had failed to recruit Cramer to run against her.

Cramer, a staunch Trump ally, acknowledged earlier this week that he was being pushed to reconsider by forces both in Washington and in North Dakota. Trump reportedly was among those applying pressure.

The congressman said at the time he was taking the calls under consideration.

"Today's announcement doesn't change much for me," Heitkamp said in a statement. "I go to work every day in the U.S. Senate fighting for North Dakota and rural America  and those goals will not waver. North Dakota needs a voice in the Senate who will fight to keep our communities strong and safe, fight for working families and retirement security, and fight for small businesses and farmers who keep our towns thriving."

The Hill reported earlier this week that former state GOP chairman and candidate Gary Emineth cited Cramers expected entry into the Senate race in his decision to drop out of the contest.

Party officials are likely to close ranks behind Cramer. A Heitkamp-Cramer matchup in the general election could be one of the fiercest of the 2018 midterms, as they both represent the same constituency; Cramer represents the entire state in the House.

Democrats, however, made clear Thursday they're ready to take on Cramer, drawing attention to a recent controversy over his use of campaign funds and claiming he does "what's best for his own interests."

"Voters will see right through Congressman Cramer and hold him accountable for a self-serving record that has hurt North Dakotans," Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman David Bergstein said in a statement.

Fox News Judson Berger contributed to this report.Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., is brushing off reports that Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker is reconsidering retirement -- saying that she intends to run for the seat regardless, arguing that she will win in November no matter what Corker does.

Corker fell out with Trump last year after he criticized Trumps temperament and his response to violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, leading Trump to fire back that Corker couldn't get elected dog catcher in Tennessee.

However, there are signs that Corker is reconsidering his decision.

On Friday, former Rep. Stephen Fincher who was running in the GOP primary announced he was ending his bid, and urged Corker to jump back into the race. Finchers announcement came as The Washington Post reported that Corker had reconnected with the president and they had cleared the air somewhat. Sources close to Corker told Fox News this week that their relationship had improved.



A Corker spokeswoman said the senator is "listening closely" to calls for him to re-enter the race.



"In recent days, people across Tennessee have reached out to Senator Corker with concerns about the outcome of this election because they believe it could determine control of the Senate and the future of our agenda," Corker spokeswoman Micah Johnson said in a statement. "The senator has been encouraged to reconsider his decision and is listening closely."



Corker has recently had conversations with the White House and his Republican colleagues in the Senate about the possibility of reversing his decision to retire, Fox News learned. He has until April 5 to file for re-election.

CORKER 'LISTENING' TO THOSE URGING HIM TO RETHINK RETIREMENT

But Blackburn on Friday said that she will run regardless of what Corker decides.



I am running, and Im going to win, Blackburn said when asked about a possible Corker re-entry on Hugh Hewitts radio show. I think what Tennesseans want to see, Hugh, is a true conservative in the U.S. Senate. They want to see somebody there that is going to back Donald Trump and his agenda.

When she was asked if she thinks she would beat Corker, she replied: "I certainly do."

Blackburn met with President Trump this week for a bill-signing, and also with adviser Kellyanne Conway to work on the opioid epidemic, a spokeswoman for Blackburn told Fox News.

The congresswoman is likely buoyed by some polls showing her holding a commanding lead over Corker should he jump back in the race. According to The Tennessean, a poll by a pro-Blackburn PAC found that found 55 percent of respondents favored Blackburn, while only 26 percent favored Corker.

That poll also found that in a head-to-head matchup between Blackburn and Democratic challenger former Gov. Phil Bredesen, 44 percent of likely voters said they favored Blackburn, while Bredesen netted 39 percent.



But another recent poll, conducted by Republican pollster Glen Bolger and obtained by Fox News, showed Bredesen with 47 percent to Blackburns 45 percent in a hypothetical matchup.



Should Corker re-enter the race, his supporters are likely to present Blackburn as an extreme candidate who will lose the race to Bredesen if she wins the primary. Fincher teased such an attack when he emphasized he was backing Corker because it was important to support a candidate who could win in December.



"The party must get behind a candidate that can win in November and stop Democrat Phil Bredesen, who would be a rubber stamp for the Chuck Schumer liberal agenda," Fincher said in a statement to The Tennessean.



According to the Associated Press, some Tennessee Republicans and national GOP figures are concerned that Bredesen will use Blackburns conservatism against her among voters who have elected a number of center-right dealmakers. Corker's chairmanship of the Foreign Relations Committee is also viewed as an asset that Bredesen would struggle to match.

But Blackburns dismissed concerns that she would be beaten by a Democrat as sexism.

"Anyone who thinks Marsha Blackburn can't win a general election is just a plain sexist pig," campaign spokeswoman Andrea Bozek said in the statement. "She's the best fundraiser in the country and is beating Phil Bredesen in several polls. We aren't worried about these ego-driven, tired old men. Marsha has spent her whole life fighting people who told her she wasn't good enough and she will do it again."



It also isnt clear what role, if any, President Trump would play in backing either candidate. Trump may feel he was burned by wading into the Alabama Republican Senate primary in 2017, where he backed then-Sen. Luther Strange against conservative challenger Roy Moore.

During that primary he admitted he might have made a mistake in backing Strange, who went on to lose to Moore -- who in turn lost to Democratic challenger Doug Jones in the election after Moore was dogged by allegations of sexual misconduct.

Fox News Mike Emanuel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.Over 4,000 weapons forbidden by the Minsk Agreements have been reported along the Donbas contact line in 2017, OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug said.

The OSCE SMM reported over 4,000 units of ordinance on those sites, where they should not be stationed on both sides of the contact line, last year, Hug told reporters.

The OSCE monitors' operational reports are providing grounds to bring to justice violators of the terms of deploying military hardware in Donbas and to take measures to bring this military hardware back to the storage depots, he added.

If heavy weapons are pulled back and will remain at their depots in line with the Minsk Agreements, then there will be fewer casualties among civilians, and there will be smaller damage to infrastructure facilities and then there will be lower risks, Hug said.The national security adviser to President Donald Trump said Saturday that the new FBI indictments show indisputably that Russians meddled in U.S. elections.

During the Munich Security Conference in Germany, H.R. McMaster said with the FBI indictment, the evidence is now incontrovertible that Moscow meddled in the 2016 campaign.

He also scoffed at any move to work with Russia on cybersecurity, saying "we would love to have a cyber dialogue when Russia is sincere about curtailing its sophisticated form of espionage."

But President Trump tweeted late Saturday that McMaster's remarks didn't tell the whole story.

"General McMaster forgot to say that the results of the 2016 election were not impacted or changed by the Russians and that the only Collusion was between Russia and Crooked H, the DNC and the Dems. Remember the Dirty Dossier, Uranium, Speeches, Emails and the Podesta Company!" the president wrote.

McMasters remarks followed the indictment of 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies by a federal grand jury for allegedly interfering in the 2016 presidential elections. The case brought by Robert Mueller, special counsel for the Justice Department, details a sophisticated plot to wage information warfare against the U.S.

The Russian nationals are accused of setting a strategic goal to sow discord in the U.S. political system, including the 2016 presidential election, according to the indictment.

Tech giant executives, including those from Facebook and Twitter, testified just weeks ago on Capitol Hill that Russia indeed used social media to disrupt the 2016 White House race and sow discord among voters.

The indictment is the first filed against Russian nationals as part of Muellers probe into whether Trump associates colluded with Russian officials during the 2016 elections.

And it indicates the investigation includes looking into whether Russia meddled in the run-up to the elections, following a string of charges relating to the actions of Trump associates.

However, the Justice Department made clear in its case that the indictment does not allege that any of the interference changed the outcome of the presidential race.

There is no allegation in this indictment that any American was a knowing participant in this illegal activity. There is no allegation in the indictment that the charged conduct altered the outcome of the 2016 election, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversees the special counsel probe, said at a Friday press conference.

Russias foreign minister dismissed the indictment on Saturday, calling it just blabber.

Asked about the indictments Saturday while at the same conference as McMaster, Sergey Lavrov replied: "I have no response. You can publish anything, and we see those indictments multiplying, the statements multiplying." He argued that U.S. officials also have said no country influenced the U.S. election results.

Lavrov added: "Until we see the facts, everything else is just blabber."

The 37-page indictment, signed by Mueller, said the actions detailed by prosecutors date back to 2014.

The defendants are accused of spreading derogatory information about Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, denigrating Republican candidates Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio -- and ultimately supporting Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders and then-Republican candidate Donald Trump.

On Friday, Trump asserted that the indictment proved there was "no collusion" between his campaign and the Russians.

"Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for President," Trump tweeted after the indictment was unveiled. "The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong  no collusion."

The three entities charged in the indictment are Internet Research Agency LLC, Concord Management and Consulting LLC and Concord Catering.

The 13 Russians charged are: Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin; Mikhail Ivanovich Bystrov; Mikhail Leonidovich Burchik; Aleksandra Yuryevna Krylova; Anna Vladislavovna Bogacheva; Sergey Pavlovich Polozov; Maria Anatolyrvna Bovda; Robert Sergetevich Bovda; Dzheykhun Nasimi Ogly; Vadim Vladimirovich Podkopaev; Gleb Igorevich Vasilchenko; Irina Viktorovna Kaverzina and Vladimir Venkov.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his legal team say they have uncovered additional bank fraud and other criminal conduct by Paul Manafort, former Trump campaign manager, according to court documents obtained by Fox News.

The allegations are part of negotiations between Muellers team and Manaforts lawyers to allow their client to remain free on $10 million bail.

Manafort was indicted in October on federal charges of money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent, in connection with Muellers investigation for the Justice Department into whether President Trump or any of his campaign associates colluded with Russia during the 2016 presidential elections.

The document signed Friday by Muellers team is in response to Manafort lawyers' continuing efforts to present a bail package -- essentially based on Manaforts real estate holdings -- to keep their client out of confinement and allow him some freedom to leave his Northern Virginia residence.

The proposed package is deficient in the governments view, in light of additional criminal conduct that we have learned since the courts initial bail determination, Muellers team wrote. That criminal conduct includes a series of bank frauds and bank fraud conspiracies, including criminal conduct relating to the mortgage on the Fairfax (Virginia) property, which Manafort seeks to pledge.

The document also states that the federal government has substantial evidence that Manafort secured that mortgage through a series of false and fraudulent representations to The Federal Savings Bank -- including doctored profit and loss statements.

The team said it would provide more evidence at Manaforts next bail hearing -- which the court may find relevant to the bail risk posed by Manafort.

Manaforts legal team did not respond to email requests Saturday for comment on the Mueller team allegations.

Lawyers and the defendants are under a gag order imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson, limiting their out-of-court statements about the case, according to Politico.

The Mueller teams overarching argument in the document appears to be that a bank or banks could foreclose on at least some of the properties in the package, which means that they could no longer be included in Manaforts bail package.

The Fairfax property is claimed by Manafort to have no mortgage. In fact, it was posted to secure a mortgage of over $9 million from The Federal Savings Bank, the Mueller team also wrote. It is misleading to claim the Fairfax property has no mortgage.A man who sued former Seattle Mayor Ed Murray over sexual abuse claims was found dead in a motel room early Friday.

Authorities discovered the body of Delvon R. Heckard, 47, who claimed Murray repeatedly paid him for sex when he was a teenager in the late 1980s, at the Auburn Motel in a Seattle suburb.

Auburn Assistant Police Chief Bill Pierson said police and fire medics were responding to an apparent drug overdose of a middle-aged black male, the Seattle Times reported. Medics failed to resuscitate the man, Pierson said.

Police found medication and drug paraphernalia the room.

The King County Medical Examiners Office confirmed Heckards death Friday. The cause and manner of the death is pending, the paper reported.

"A hero died today," Heckard's lawyer, Lincoln Beauregard, tweeted Friday.

In April, Heckard sued Murray, alleging that the then-mayor repeatedly paid him for sex in the late 1980s. Heckard was in recovery for addiction to cocaine and other drugs when he filed the lawsuit, but said it was his fathers death and his attempt at sobriety that prompted him to come forward.

Heckard dropped the lawsuit before refiling it after adding the city as a defendant, claiming it aided Murray to use his political power to defame Heckard and others. Heckard received $150,00 in a settlement with the city in December.

Two other men followed with similar accusations, claiming Murray abused them 1980s when they were teenagers in Portland, Ore.

A fourth man came forward after Murray denied the claims, alleging he was also paid to have sex with Murray as a teenager.

Murrays resignation as Seattles mayor came after his cousin, Joseph Dyer, accused him of child sex abuse that occurred decades ago. Murray resigned in September while still in his first term.

Murray, 62, a Democrat who served in the state Legislature prior to being elected Seattle's mayor in 2013, has denied all of the allegations.

Out of the five accusers, Heckard was the only one to take legal action to date.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Some Republicans are claiming the new FBI federal indictments in the Russia probe prove that the Obama administration failed to act on the intelligence that Moscows meddling in U.S. elections began in 2014

U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., now chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, pointed out Friday that the committee has investigated Russian influence on campaigns for many years. He said hes warned others about such threats since 2014, when he was a rank-and-file member of the committee.

Although the Obama administration failed to act on the committees warnings, its gratifying to see that Russian agents involved in these operations have now been identified and indicted, said Nunes. He argued in April 2016 that the United States failing to predict Russian President Vladimir Putins intentions was the biggest intelligence failure that weve had since 9/11.

Former U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, now a Fox News contributor, suggested Saturday that the indictment shows that at least two top Obama administration intelligence officials -- CIA Director John Brennan and National Intelligence Director James Clapper -- werent on top of the Russia threat.

A federal grand jury on Friday indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies for allegedly interfering in the 2016 presidential election. The case brought by Robert Mueller, special counsel for the Justice Department, details a plot to wage information warfare against the U.S. starting in at least 2014.

The Russian nationals are accused of setting a strategic goal to sow discord in the U.S. political system, including the 2016 presidential election, according to the indictment.

The indictment marks the first charges against Russian nationals as part of Muellers probe into whether President Trump and/or his associates colluded with Russians during the 2016 elections.

The Justice Department made clear in its case that the indictments do not allege Russian interference changed the outcome of the 2016 elections nor do they allege Americans were complicit.

There is no allegation in this indictment that any American was a knowing participant in this illegal activity. There is no allegation in the indictment that the charged conduct altered the outcome of the 2016 election, said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversees the special counsel probe.

The defendants are also accused of spreading derogatory information about Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, which combined with Rosensteins statement prompted a response from Trump.

Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for President. The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong - no collusion!, he tweeted Friday.

The indictments -- following months of revelations about Russias proven attempts to disrupt U.S. elections -- also brought back former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romneys assertion in a 2010 book that Russia is the U.S.s biggest geo-political threat.

You said Russia, not al Qaeda, then-President Barack Obama charged during a 2012 presidential debate with Romney. And the 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because the Cold War's been over for 20 years."

Chaffetz on Saturday also doubted that the Russian influence changed the outcome of the 2016 elections and said, I guess Mitt Romney was right.Just hours after announcing plans to run for a U.S. Senate seat in Utah, former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney took the stage Friday night in Provo to draw attention to a matter clear across the country: this week's massacre in Florida.

I think we cant just sit and wait and hope for things to get better, Romney said, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. It is wrong and unacceptable for children in our schools to fear for their lives.

Romney called for preventive measures, such as strengthening the FBI database for firearm background checks and enhancing school security with police patrols and intervention teams, as steps states should consider to prevent such tragedies.

Romney is considered the heavy favorite to replace the retiring Orrin Hatch.

After losing the 2012 presidential race, the former Massachusetts governor moved to Utah, where he has deep roots from his time at Brigham Young University and his role in repairing the image of the scandal-plagued 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Romney briefly outlined his platform for his campaign in a video message posted to Twitter, where he touched on immigration, fiscal responsibility and took what seemed to be a jab at President Donald Trump.

Utah has a lot to teach the politicians in Washington, Romney says in the video. Utah has balanced its budgets. Washington is buried in debt. Utah exports more abroad than it imports. Washington has that backwards. Utah welcomes legal immigrants from around the world. Washington sends immigrants a message of exclusion.

Romneys announcement didnt come as much of a surprise, but it was delayed after Wednesdays shooting in Parkland, Fla.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.Ruth Bader Ginsburg is more than just a member of the Supreme Court -- shes become a liberal icon and, even more improbably, a celebrity.

Her likeness appears on T-shirts. A book about her, Notorious RBG, is a big seller. Kate McKinnon does an impression of her on Saturday Night Live (Youve been Ginsburned!).

In January, Ginsburg appeared before an adoring crowd at the Sundance Film Festival premiere of RBG, a documentary about her life. The movie went over big, and should soon be appearing at a theater near you.

Part of this rise may be attributable, ironically, to the man who presently sits in the White House. As one of the Supreme Courts most stalwart liberals, Ginsburg, in recent years, has been defined to a certain extent by her opposition to Donald Trump.

Most justices stay out of political battles, but not Ginsburg. In the midst of the presidential race in 2016, she told The New York Times I cant imagine what this place would be  I cant imagine what this country would be  with Donald Trump as our president.

She wasnt done. She later added, Hes a faker. He has no consistency about him. He says whatever comes into his head at the moment. He really has an ego....How has he gotten away with not turning over his tax returns? The press seems to be very gentle with him on that. For someone whose job is following precedent, this sort of talk was almost unprecedented.

Trump responded in kind, tweeting: Justice Ginsburg of the U.S. Supreme Court has embarrassed all by making very dumb political statements about me. Her mind is shot  resign!

Many felt shed crossed a line, and she expressed regret for her criticism. (Later that year she criticized Colin Kaepernick for refusing to stand for the national anthem, and ended up apologizing for that, as well.)

Trump, probably to the surprise of Ginsburg, was elected. And Ginsburg, to the surprise of no one, did not resign as Trump had demanded. She also did not stop talking politics.

Earlier this year, she spoke of her fear that the federal judiciary, in Washingtons partisan climate, would be seen as just another political branch. But not too long after, she showed she was still willing to wade into political battles herself, repeating charges shed made in 2017 that sexism was a major factor in Hillary Clintons loss, noting the candidate had a tough time getting by the macho atmosphere prevailing during that campaign.

And if that wasnt enough to keep her name out there, she also made a stir with her #MeToo story of sexual harassment from a teaching assistant when she was a student in a Cornell chemistry class.

When all is said and done, though, what matters most are not the things she says to the media, but the official opinions she expresses as one of the nine most powerful judges in the land.

At 84, shes the oldest member of the Court, and though shes had health issues  twice shes undergone cancer surgery  she has no plans to retire. (Some on the left had hoped shed leave the court while a Democrat was in the White House, but that wish has been put on hold.) In fact, Ginsburgs health regimen is well known  theres a book out by her personal trainer Bryant Johnson, The RBG Workout.

Unlike her colleague and second-oldest justice, Anthony Kennedy  the courts most important swing vote -- Ginsburgs jurisprudence tends to be less in doubt on controversial cases. Certainly many of her beliefs were clear before she was nominated by President Clinton, as she had worked for the ACLU and specialized in gender discrimination.

Nevertheless, court watchers pay close attention to Ginsburg. Sitting on a court that leans conservative, many see her as the best at making the liberal argument in high profile cases.

Among her most famous opinions are United States v. Virginia (1996), striking down the Virginia Military Institutes male-only policy; Ring v. Arizona (2002), limiting the circumstances where a defendant can receive the death penalty; and Eldred v. Ashcroft (2003), stating that extending copyright protection doesnt violate the First Amendment or the Constitutions Copyright Clause.

But its her dissents where many think shes most compelling.

In Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (2007), Ginsburg wrote for the minority in a 5-4 case about the proper deadline for filing a claim of sexual discrimination.

Apparently troubled, even offended, by the decision from the Courts conservatives, she took the unusual step of reading her dissent from the bench. Ginsburg argued that the Court had a cramped interpretation of the broad remedial purpose of civil rights law. Her argument, in a way, won out when, in 2009, Congress passed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, effectively overturning the majoritys decision.

She also dissented in Gonzalez v. Carhart (2007), a case that upheld, 5-4, a partial-birth abortion ban.

Ginsburg would have none of it, writing Todays decision is alarming...for the first time since Roe, the Court blesses a prohibition with no exception safeguarding a womans health. She didnt hold back: In candor, the Act, and the Courts defense of it, cannot be understood as anything other than an effort to chip away at a right declared again and again by this Court  and with increasing comprehension of its centrality to womens lives.

Then theres her dissent in yet another 5-4 case, Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014), where the Court struck down, for certain companies, the contraceptive mandate in the Affordable Care Act.

She wrote mindful of the havoc the Courts judgment can introduce, I dissent. She claims the Court, in looking at relevant law and precedent, falters at each step of its analysis. She also states The Court, I fear, has ventured into a minefield in trying to determine which religious objections to laws are worthy.

In the upcoming months, there will be decisions on a number of potentially game-changing cases  issues regarding the First Amendment, states right, labor law and gerrymandering, for example. Its possible Justice Ginsburg will write some of these opinions.

Its even more likely, many believe, shell be writing more dissents. If that happens, expect fireworks.A former criminal justice adjunct professor whose social media posts proclaimed his privilege to teach future dead cops has doubled down, this time referring to pig death stats in reaction to a recent spate of police officers killed on duty.

My favorite thing about pig death stats is how they just lump all deaths on duty together whether they're killed or just have a heart attack from all the donuts, read a tweet from @ve_unblockedt, one of two known accounts for Michael Isaacson. The tweet was posted the same day a police commander was shot and killed in downtown Chicago, making him the 11th officer to be killed by gunfire across the country this year.

Isaacson, who has used the hashtag #abolishpolice, most recently taught at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, one of the nations highest-profile schools for students planning careers in law enforcement.

Isaacson, whose employment at John Jay ended last year, with no official announcement, on Tuesday also tweeted he had no second thoughts about the future dead cops tweet that sparked the original controversy. On the page, titled "antifascist superbowl champions," he said: "Yeah i don't regret my future dead cops tweet at all at all.

Isaacson also tweeted in the aftermath of Wednesdays deadly high school shooting in Florida. Comparing the killer to the U.S. military, Isaacson tweeted: How you gonna cry tears about mass shooters and then turn around saying dumbass s--- like support our troops?

Isaacson had been deriding law enforcement in raw, hostile terms on social media for some time before the outcry last September, which occurred after he appeared on Fox News Tucker Carlson Tonight. During his appearance he defended Antifa, the left-wing group that at times has employed violence against its opponents.

John Jay College spokeswoman Doreen Vinas-Pineda confirmed to Fox News on Wednesday in an email that Mr. Isaacson is no longer teaching or employed at John Jay. Yet questions remain about the severing of ties between the college and Isaacson, which happened quietly, months after his tweets made headlines.

Isaacson, who runs a website called Vulgar Economics, told Fox News via email Friday that he would not discuss what happened with his job at John Jay College. But he said he holds the school in high regard.

"John Jay is a wonderful school with an incredibly diverse and driven student body who want to make a positive impact on the world and remains my favorite school I ever had the privilege to teach at."

He did not respond to a question about how he explains teaching police and those wanting to enter police work when he seems to hold the profession in contempt. He referred to a YouTube interview he did shortly after the "dead cops" controversy in which he said his John Jay students included many who wanted to "change the world" for the better.

As they have in the past, supporters of law enforcement slammed Isaacsons latest comments and social media posts.

He personifies the lunatic fringe, said Randy Sutton, a former Las Vegas police lieutenant and national spokesman for Blue Lives Matter, which advocates on behalf of law enforcement. Heres a guy who espouses not just radical views, but ignorant views.

When you espouse violence toward law enforcement and the outrageous plea to end law enforcement as we know it in this country, it reveals an ignorance of what the ramifications would be, which would be bedlam and anarchy.

Patrick Lynch, head of New York City Patrolmens Benevolent Association, on Wednesday assailed John Jay for not cutting ties with Isaacson more swiftly.

"Michael Isaacson had no business spreading his crackpot ideas and hateful anti-police views anywhere, much less in a classroom filled with future police officers, Lynch said. He should have been fired immediately and publicly, not quietly let go months after the fact.

Vinas-Pinedas email to Fox News included a link to a statement that the colleges president Karol V. Mason issued last year about Isaacsons remarks.

I was shocked by these statements, Mason said in the statement. They are abhorrent. I am appalled that anyone associated with John Jay, with our proud history of supporting law enforcement authorities, would suggest that violence against police is ever acceptable. They secure the safety of our families and communities and deserve our respect.

Sutton said the situation raises questions about the vetting process and standards for teachers.

How he was given the responsibility of educating people is amazing, Sutton said. In that position of authority he could have done a great deal of damage influencing young people.The family of a Maryland woman who was fatally shot by police in 2016 after a six-hour standoff in her apartment was awarded more than $37 million Friday.

The jury took several hours to reach its decision in the case of Korryn Gaines, 23, who was shot by police Cpl. Royce Ruby, the Baltimore Sun reported.

The family had filed its civil lawsuit against the Baltimore County government and Ruby, the newspaper reported.

The jury of six women found that the first shot, which killed Gaines and wounded her then 5-year-old son, Kodi, was not reasonable and violated their civil rights under state and federal statutes, according to the newspaper.

It said jurors awarded more than $32 million to Kodi in damages, and $4.5 million to his sister Karsyn. The panel awarded about $300,000 apiece to Gaines' father, mother and to her estate.

Gasps were heard in the courtroom when the jury forewoman read the decision, the Sun reported.

Gaines' mother, Rhanda Dormeus, spoke to reporters through tears outside the courthouse.

"This win is for all of my sisters in the movement who have lost their children to police violence," she said. "Some of them have never received justice, either criminally or civil. I just want to tell them that this win is for them."

"This win is for all of my sisters in the movement who have lost their children to police violence."  Rhanda Dormeus, mother of Korryn Gaines

Baltimore County government attorney Mike Field issued a statement afterward saying the county was disappointed with the decision and was reviewing all options, including a possible appeal.

Ruby was previously cleared of criminal wrongdoing by the State's Attorney. He wasn't charged and has since been promoted.

Jurors heard nearly three weeks of testimony and arguments about the fatal shooting of Aug. 1, 2016.

Assistant County Attorney James S. Ruckle Jr. argued in closing for the defense Friday that Ruby had acted reasonably and out of fear that other officers could be hurt or killed.

He told jurors two officers had tried to serve arrest warrants on Gaines and her fiance that day. When no one would open the apartment door, officers eventually kicked it in, jurors heard. He said the first officer who entered the apartment was "confronted with Korryn Gaines with a shotgun pointed right at him."

Gaines' fiance left with their infant daughter. However, Gaines remained with the 5-year-old boy.

Ruckle said Ruby decided to shoot after he saw Gaines' braids and the barrel of her shotgun rise from behind a wall.

"What Cpl. Ruby was doing was attempting to end, terminate the threat," Ruckle said.

Kenneth Ravenell, the attorney for Kodi's father Corey Cunningham, said the youngster didn't deserve to be shot and then watch his mother die. Ravenell called Ruby's decision to fire "reckless."

The case garnered national attention, with some activists citing it as an instance of excessive police force, the newspaper reported.

Gaines' family and attorneys expressed relief that the jury sided with them and found the shooting was wrong, though some said they were frustrated Ruby remains on the police force.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.A Saudi-born follower of al Qaeda who was convicted in March of killing two U.S. service members in Afghanistan received a life sentence Friday in a New York courtroom.

But Ibrahim Suleiman Adnan Harun, a self-described al Qaeda "warrior," refused to attend his sentencing.

"I can't think of a more serious crime," U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan said as he announced the sentence for Harun in a Brooklyn, N.Y., courtroom where a monitor showing the entrance to Harun's cell rested near his lawyers. Harun also had refused to attend his trial last year.

The judge rejected Harun's claim that he was more a soldier than a terrorist, saying Harun wanted to kill "dozens or maybe hundreds of Americans" and those from other nationalities, as well.

"I'm confident the defendant doesn't differentiate whether they are civilians or soldiers," Cogan said.

A jury last March convicted Harun after prosecutors said he confessed while in Italian custody that he threw a grenade and shot at an American military unit in a 2003 ambush that killed Army Pvt. Jerod Dennis, of Antlers, Okla., and Air Force Airman Ray Losano, of Del Rio, Texas.

While on the run, Harun later masterminded a failed plot to bomb a U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, the government said. He was under the direct supervision of al Qaeda higher-ups, including some still held at Guantanamo Bay, it said.

The Saudi-born defendant who claims Niger citizenship had insisted he was a "warrior" who should face a military tribunal rather than a civilian court prosecution.

Cogan said soldiers in wartime don't target "embassies" in third-world countries.

Harun, 47, was extradited from Italy to the U.S. in 2012.

The judge said Harun told prison officials Friday: "This is not my court. That is not my judge."

Cogan called Harun "self-absorbed," noting that he was willing to speak to the judge and his lawyers as long as he thought he was going to get his way.

"If this man ever walks the streets again, the first thing he will do is try to kill Americans," Cogan said. "He has one gear. That's to kill Americans."

"If this man ever walks the streets again, the first thing he will do is try to kill Americans."  U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan

"There is not an ounce of remorse, not a smidgeon of self-doubt," the judge added.

He said he knew the life sentence would not end terrorism, but hoped it would work "best at the margins," where one potential terrorist might decide a life behind bars was not worth killing.

He also refused to recommend Harun serve his sentence at a particular facility.

The judge said the Federal Bureau of Prisons "is going to have its hands full with this violent and uncooperative defendant."

And though he said he suspected Harun was not listening to the court's video feed, Cogan instructed him that he could appeal.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.The FBI, which has been a frequent target of criticism from the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers, now faces additional scrutiny after admitting Friday that it botched a tip that could have averted Wednesday's massacre in Parkland, Fla.

Americas top law enforcement agency said it failed to act on information that alleged shooter Nikolas Cruz had a desire to kill people, had written a series of alarming social media posts and had access to a gun.

Cruz, 19, is suspected of opening fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where he was a former student, killing 17 people and injuring more than a dozen others.

The latest revelation followed previous reports that the FBI failed to follow up on a September tip flagging a YouTube comment posted by a Nikolas Cruz, which said Im going to be a professional school shooter. The FBI said it could not identify the user who made the comment.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who oversees the FBI as head of the Justice Department, called Wednesday's rampage a tragic consequence of the FBIs mistakes, and ordered a review of Justice Department procedures.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, meanwhile, called for FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign, and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said the agencys failure to follow protocols was inexcusable.

Rubio urged Congress to launch its own investigation of the FBI's actions.

U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., vowed to be in "close communication with the FBI so we can get to the bottom of this."

Wray, who succeeded the fired James Comey, has been at the helm just six months -- during a time of intense pressure from Republicans, who claim there are signs of bias in Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into possible Trump-Russia collusion.

Some GOP lawmakers also are upset over a Justice Department decision not to charge Hillary Clinton for using a private email server while she served as U.S. secretary of state from 2009 to 2013.

Meanwhile, Friday wasn't the first time the FBI could arguably have prevented a major violent attack.

In 2015, a breakdown in the FBIs background-check system helped a white supremacist purchase a weapon and kill nine people at a historically black church in South Carolina. A prior run-in with the law should have been enough to bar the suspect from buying a gun.

Congress also scrutinized the FBI in 2009 for failing to act on emails between the gunman who killed 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, and terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki.

Scott said an apology from Wray for the FBIs errors isnt going to cut it.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Head of Ukraine's Mission to NATO Vadym Prystaiko believes that the referendum on Ukraine's accession to NATO is an ineffective instrument of influence on the alliance.

"Referendums on such complicated issues as global security are ineffective ... Unfortunately, those who think that this is a lever and NATO will understand and say "ok"  then not," he told reporters at the Munich Security Conference.

According to Prystaiko, NATO knows that the majority of citizens in Ukraine want the country to join the alliance.

"NATO also understands that some of these thoughts are fueled emotionally, because Ukraine is at war, and they do not understand that NATO is not going to defend now. People want someone to protect them, but this is unreal now," the official added.Five detainees in an Illinois jail could face additional time behind bars after they allegedly applauded a suspect accused of killing a Chicago police officer earlier this week, authorities said.

The detainees clapped as suspect Shomari Legghette, 44 -- accused of fatally shooting Chicago police Commander Paul Bauer on Tuesday -- was led past their holding cell Thursday, security video shows.

Legghette was charged with first-degree murder Thursday in the shooting death of Bauer, 53, a 31-year veteran of the city's police force.

The Cook County Jail is reportedly sending the video footage to prosecutors to use the information if the inmates are convicted, a jail official said.

"The conduct that those detainees engaged in was disgraceful... and speaks to their character," she said. "We feel it should be considered by prosecutors in connection with their sentencing."

But Steve Greenberg, a prominent Chicago defense attorney, said the inmates shouldnt be punished for exercising their right to free speech.

"These inmates ... no matter how vile or disgusting you may think their expression is, they have an absolute right under the First Amendment to express those feelings and it is a violation of their rights as citizens to penalize them or consider that as aggravation," he said.

Meanwhile, thousands of people  friends, family and police officers from across the country  gathered Friday at a funeral home in suburban Chicago for a wake for Bauer ahead of Saturday's planned funeral.

Bauers wife, 13-year-old daughter, father, and sisters greeted the mourners as they passed the coffin, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel and police Superintendent Eddie Johnson led a procession during a ceremonial prayer, followed by staff, officers from Bauers 18th District and Illinois state troopers, Fox 32 reported.

Saturday's funeral is scheduled to begin in Morgan Park and travel across the city. A huge turnout is expected along the route. Everyone in the Chicago area has been encouraged to attend, dress in blue, and hold American, Chicago and Chicago Police Department flags.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Less than a month after a gunman opened fire at a high school in Kentucky, the nation is grappling with yet another school shooting.

The Feb. 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killed at least 17 people and wounded over a dozen others. The suspected gunman, identified as 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, set off fire alarms to lure hundreds of students out of their classrooms so he could open fire with a semi-automatic AR-15 assault rifle.

Cruz was captured about an hour later in Coral Springs, roughly a mile away from the school. The following day, Cruz told authorities he shot "students that he saw in the hallways and on school grounds," according to an arrest affidavit.

There really are no words, Broward Sheriff Scott Israel said the day of the shooting.

But in wake of the tragedy, the deadliest school shooting since Sandy Hook in 2012, the Broward community has received an outpouring of support.

Read on to see whats being done to help the shooting victims, their families, the local community and beyond.

Comfort dogs arrive in Broward County

At least 18 comfort dogs and 33 handlers arrived in Broward County from across the country, Tim Hetzner, the president and CEO of the nonprofit ministry Lutheran Church Charities (LCC), told Fox News.

Jacob, a doe-eyed Golden Retriever, was first on the scene. He spent the day comforting students and faculty at the high school.

Dogs are good listeners and have a unique way of knowing when people are hurting, he said.

Like Jacob, all dogs used in LCCs comfort dog program are Golden Retrievers  a breed chosen by the organization because goldens are lovers by nature, Hetzner said. LCC trains the dogs for 16 to 18 months and then places them in affiliated churches, schools and other ministries across the country.

The dogs, which are trained to the level of a service dog, travel across the U.S. with their handlers whenever there is a crisis.

While the dogs are there to comfort the students and faculty at the high school, their services are also available to parents, first responders and anyone in the Broward community struggling with what took place.

We go where were invited," Hetzner said. Were there to serve people and show mercy and compassion.

To help offset transportation costs, you can donate here.

Donate to the victims' fund

The Broward Education Foundation, a nonprofit that raises money for the public schools in Broward County, has set up an official GoFundMe donation page for the victims of the Stoneman Douglas shooting.

As of Monday morning, the fund received more than $1.5 million of its $2 million goal  a significant increase from its initial goal of $300,000. The foundation will continue to increase the goal each time it's met, PeJay Ryan, the director of marketing at the Broward Education Foundation, told Fox News.

All of the proceeds will go to those affected by the tragedy, Ryan said, as well as anyone who may need grief counseling.

Weve all cried a lot - first in horror, but then because of the outpouring generosity and compassion.  PeJay Ryan

Memorial bracelets to honor the victims are also being created. And the foundation worked with Bank of America to set up a text-to-donate option as well, she said. To donate to the Stoneman Douglas fund, text PARKLAND to 20222.

We are in a unique position here, no one expected this to happen, said Ryan. Weve all cried a lot  first in horror, but then because of the outpouring generosity and compassion.

You can donate to the GoFundMe campaign here.

Additionally, at least one scholarship fund has been set up in the name of one of Wednesday's shooting victims.

If you live in Florida, consider donating blood

If you live in Florida, a local blood center is asking for your help, especially if your blood type is O negative.

While the immediate blood needs have been met, there is a need to replenish the area's O negative blood supply. O negative is the universal blood type and is used to treat trauma patients, OneBlood said in a statement.

As of Feb. 19, at least four shooting victims were still being treated at local hospitals.

To donate, find a location here.

Florida attorney general vows to cover funeral expenses

Florida Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced Wednesday that her office would pay for the funeral expenses of the 17 victims who died as a result of the shooting.

"We will pay for the funeral expenses of these poor victims," Bondi said. "We will take care of it."

Free transportation for victims families

JetBlue Airways is providing free transportation for family members of victims who are traveling to Florida, the airline announced in a blog post.

This weeks events are felt by all of our 21,000 crewmembers, many of whom live in, work from and travel through the Broward County area, home to our Focus City, Fort Lauderdale," JetBlue said. "We want to do our part to help the community, and support South Florida through this difficult time."

Volunteers in the Family Assistance Center will help people book the free travel, the airline said.

Once the families have arrived in Florida, ride-sharing service Lyft will provide free ground transportation in partnership with JetBlue, spokesperson Campbell Matthews confirmed to Fox News, adding the company is "heartbroken by the tragedy."

JetBlue is also partnering with the Florida Panthers hockey team to hold a blood drive on Feb. 22.

"Parkland Strong" t-shirts

To "do what [they] can to make a difference," a veteran-owned apparel company based in Savannah, Georgia, created a limited time Parkland Strong t-shirt.

Nine Line Apparel, working alongside the Broward Education Foundation, will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from the t-shirts to the victims' families.

Its not about turning a profit. Its about doing whats right and remembering those who are no longer with us," Nine Line Apparel CEO and Co-founder Tyler Merritt said in a press release. "We honor those who have been lost through unique t-shirt designs and then donate all of the profits to those whose lives were changed forever."

The t-shirts are on sale until March 7.

Fox News' Kaitlyn Schallhorn and Shira Bush contributed to this report.A North Carolina mom started serving a week-long jail sentence for having her daughter baptized, according to reports.

The 2016 baptism at St. Peters Catholic Church when the girl was 2 years old defied a judges order in a custody battle between unmarried couple, Kendra Stocks and Paul Schaaf, who are no longer together.

Stocks, 36, of Charlotte, was ordered to serve seven days in the county jail after a judge held her in criminal contempt. She began serving the sentence Friday, WSOC-TV reported.

Its just very sad. Its all a very sad situation, she told the station at the jail. Ill get through this and hopefully come out a better person.

The station quoted court records as saying Schaaf was a practicing Catholic who attended Mass every week and that the court had issued a ruling that gave him final say in all legal custody decisions, including decisions concerning religion.

The day after that ruling, Stocks went ahead with the christening without notifying Schaff. He found out when Stock posted photos of the ceremony on Facebook, according to the station.

Schaffs attorney told the Charlotte Observer that Stocks was being punished, not for baptizing the girl, but for ignoring a judge.

For our system to work, there ought to be consequences for willfully and intentionally violating a court order, the attorney, Jonathan Feit, told the paper. I teach my children that. I reject the notion that anybody else is responsible for what is happening besides Ms. Stocks herself.

The paper reported that the judges contempt order said Stocks demonstrated very erratic, bizarre conduct during her relationship with Schaaf and after the birth of her daughter including poor decision-making and an inability to cooperate.

Their relationship lasted six months, according to the paper.

Stocks arrived at the jail with her mother and two friends who were there for emotional support, WSOC reported.

Her father and I both agreed on baptizing her, Stocks told the station. I regret that he wasn't part of it, but I don't regret were raising her in the Catholic faith, which is what we both wanted.A prestigious Hawaii school has agreed to pay $80 million to former students sexually abused by a psychiatrist spanning for decades.

Kamehameha School in Honolulu, Hawaii, a well-regarded school on the islands that receives billions of dollars a year in endowments, was accused of covering up sexual abuse reported by students for 27 years from 1958 to 1985 by psychiatrist Robert Browne, The Washington Post reported.

According to reports, school officials threated students showing signs of behavioral issues that they must see a psychiatrist or risk expulsion.

Students were then driven to Brownes office at St. Francis Hospital by teachers where they say they were drugged and sexually assaulted. In court documents, students said he would psychologically torment them during weekend sleepovers in his home.

HAWAII MAN ADMITS PUNCHING POLICE OUTSIDE BUCKINGHAM PALACE

The lawsuit stated a handful of students came forward to school officials regarding the abuse, but were told to remain quiet and nothing was done.

The psychiatrist killed himself in 1991, one day after one of his many victims, Emmett Lee Loy, addressed him about the abuse, Hawaii News Now reported.

The $80 million settlement will go to the 34 plaintiffs named in the suit who accused the school of failing to protect them and covering up years of abuse.

On Thursday, Jack Wong, the schools CEO, apologized to the victims.

No one was prepared for the horrific revelation that our precious haumana (students) were secretly abused and physically and emotionally traumatized from 1962-1984 by Dr. Robert Browne, Chief of Psychiatry at St. Francis Hospital. And, after abuses were reported, not nearly enough was done.  Kamehameha Schools is deeply and truly sorry, he said.

UNITED AIRLINES PASSENGERS RATTLED AFTER PLANES ENGINE SHELL FALLS OFF

In the lawsuit, the victims stated they were required to masturbate in front of Browne, engage in oral sex and be penetrated with objects.

One of the victims was raped and sodomized by Browne when he was 11 years old, the lawsuit stated. The doctor told the boys it was all normal.

A few of the victims came forward stating they suffered from depression, substance abuse issues and some committed suicide following the abuse from Browne.

Loy revealed to the Hawaii News Now what he told the doctor in 1991, the day before he shot himself in the head.

He starts  breaking down and crying on the phone, Loy told Hawaii News Now. Im sorry. Im sorry Hes doing this crybaby thing on the phone. I said, Youre not sorry for what you did, youre sorry for getting caught.

The school was expected to file a lawsuit against St. Francis Healthcare System, where Browne was employed, and where the victims went for therapy.

Gerald Carrell, one of Browne's victims, told Hawaii News Now he was proud of the men who came forward.

"People mistake the fact that we're asking for money for some kind of vendetta we have against the school, but I think a lot of people just don't understand ... I can't get those 50 years back. We can't change our past," he said.

"I'm excited that the men stood with me to do this ... that we stood together and we were strong."During the last year, multiple schools across the U.S. have been impacted by shootings, which have resulted in the deaths of both students and faculty members.

Read on for a look at school shootings that have taken place within the last year.

Noblesville West Middle School, Indiana

A male student fired shots at Noblesville West Middle School in Indiana on May 25, critically injuring another student and a teacher at the school.

The alleged shooter, who has not yet been identified, was taken into custody shortly after the incident occurred at roughly 9 a.m.

Sources told FOX 59 the suspect walked into a science classroom with a gun and opened fire, hitting a female. A science teacher was able to tackle the student who fired shots inside the classroom, student Ethan Stonebraker told The Associated Press.

The victims were taken to a local hospital. The extent of their injuries is unclear.

Santa Fe High School, Texas

At least eight people were killed and several others were injured following reports of an active shooter at a Texas high school on May 18, local affiliate KTRK reported. The suspected shooter was taken into custody.

"Personnel treating the injured. Info is still preliminary, but there are multiple casualties," Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez confirmed.

Police officers responded to Santa Fe High School around 8 a.m. CDT after reports that a shooter opened fire inside a first-period art class. Details of the incident were not immediately available.

"Details will be released as we receive updated information. Law enforcement will continue to secure the building and initiate all emergency management protocols to release and move students to another location," the school district said in a statement.

Highland High School, California

A 14-year-old student was taken into custody after allegedly shooting a classmate at Highland High School in Palmdale, California on May 11.

The suspected gunman shot a fellow student in the arm, police said. The shooting stemmed from a dispute between the shooter and the victim, according to authorities.

The injured student is expected to make a full recovery.



Forest High School, Florida

A suspected gunman, later identified as 19-year-old Sky Bouche, allegedly opened fire at Forest High School in Ocala, Florida, on April 20. The shooting occured on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting.

At least one student was injured after the gunman shot through a classroom door, hitting a 17-year-old student in the ankle, authorities said. The student was later taken to a local hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.

A school resource officer, James Long, was hailed a hero after arresting Bouche just three minutes after he opened fire.

Bouche, a former student at the school, allegedly carried the weapon in a guitar case inside the school, authorities said.

Great Mills High School, Maryland

On March 20, a gunman, identified as 17-year-old Austin Rollins, shot 16-year-old sophomore Jaelynn Willey at Great Mills High School in Lexington Park, Maryland, authorities said. Willey died days later from her injuries.

Investigators believe the shooting was not random as the gunman and Willey had recently ended their relationship.

Rollins was fatally wounded during a confrontation with Deputy Blaine Gaskill, an armed school resource officer who doubles as a SWAT team member.

"Our school resource officer...pursued the shooter, engaged the shooter, fired a round at the shooter," St. Mary's County Sheriff Tim Cameron said. "The shooter fired a round as well. In the hours and days to come, we'll be able to determine if our school resource officer's round struck the shooter."

Gaskill was praised because he reportedly contained the situation in under a minute, Cameron said.

Willey's parents announced on March 22 that their daughter was brain dead and that they would be taking her off of life support. She died later that night.

Jaelynn's mother, Melissa, told reporters her daughter had "no life left in her."

"On Tuesday ... our lives changed completely and totally forever. My daughter was hurt by a boy who shot her in the head and took everything from our lives," she said.

A 14-year-old boy, later identified as Desmond Barnes, was also injured in the shooting. Authorities said he was shot in the thigh but was later released from a local hospital.

Police are still investigating if the boy was shot by Rollins or Gaskill while the two exchanged gunfire.

Huffman High School, Alabama

A 17-year old girl is dead and one other person was left injured from a March 7 shooting at Huffman High School in Birmingham, Alabama.

Courtlin Arrington, 17, was killed when shots were fired in a classroom, Birmingham Police Chief Orlando Wilson told WBRC. A 17-year-old male student was wounded. He was taken to the hospital and released.

Birmingham Police Department announced March 8 that a student was taken into custody in the investigation into the deadly shooting. Police said evidence, surveillance video and statements were reviewed throughout the night.

Police initially called the shooting accidental, but later reviewed a video that captured the deadly incident.

"We're not saying he shot her, we're not saying he didn't shoot her," the chief said. "We're asking those questions ourselves so we can determine exactly what happened."

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Florida

Police responded to reports of shots fired at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., around 3 p.m. on Feb. 14. Seventeen people lost their lives and 17 others were injured.

The day after the shooting, the suspected gunman, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, told authorities he arrived at the school with an AR-15 rifle, adding that he shot "students that he saw in the hallways and on school grounds," according to an arrest affidavit.

Cruz may plead guilty to avoid the death penalty, his lawyer reportedly said Feb. 16.

Cruz was formally charged March 7 with 17 counts each of premeditated murder and attempted murder.

A 12-year-old girl was taken into custody after police said the loaded gun she brought to Salvador B. Castro Middle School in Los Angeles accidentally discharged on Feb. 1, shooting a 15-year-old boy in the head and a 15-year-old girl in the wrist.

Police interviewed the 12-year-old student and agreed the shooting was accidental. She was booked in a juvenile detention center on suspicion of negligently discharging a firearm on school grounds.

It is unclear where the girl got the gun or why she decided to bring it to her school.

Doctors said both students who were shot are expected to recover.

Additionally, an 11-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl were treated at the hospital and released while a 30-year-old woman, who is a school staff member, had only minor injuries, Los Angeles city police said in a statement.

Marshall County High School, Kentucky

A shooter opened fire at Marshall County High School in Benton, Ky., on Jan. 23, killing two people.

Students Bailey Nicole Holt and Preston Ryan Cope, both 15 years old, died.

Suspected shooter Gabriel Ross Parker, 15, was arraigned on Feb. 16, according to Kentucky State Police.

"A Marshall County Grand Jury returned an indictment on Tuesday, charging Parker with two counts of Murder and fourteen counts of First Degree Assault," KSP said.

Marshall County Circuit Clerk Tiffany Griffith told Reuters a judge entered a not guilty plea on the teen's behalf.

Italy High School, Texas

A 15-year-old girl was hurt in a Jan. 22 shooting at Italy High School in Italy, Texas. A 16-year-old male student was taken into custody, Ellis County police told Fox News.

In the school's cafeteria, the suspect "engaged the victim" and fired several shots with a semi-automatic handgun, Ellis County Sheriff Chuck Edge said during a press briefing.

The suspect was confronted by an Italy Independent School District staffer in the school cafeteria and took off, Edge said. Law enforcement later apprehended the suspect on school grounds.

The suspect was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, the Ellis County district attorney's office announced.

Aztec High School, New Mexico

Gunman William Atchison, 21, disguised himself as a student to get inside Aztec High School in Aztec, N.M., on Dec. 7, 2017, according to authorities. Atchison was also a former student.

State police said that Atchison killed students Francisco I. Fernandez and Casey J. Marquez.

Officials said Atchison eventually shot himself, adding that the students killed were not targeted, but were at the "wrong place at the wrong time."

Rancho Tehama Elementary School, California

A man in Northern California went on a random shooting rampage on Nov. 14, 2017, killing five people and wounding at least a dozen adults and children before authorities shot and killed him.

The gunman, who was later identified as Kevin Neal, 44, rammed a car into the gates of Rancho Tehama Elementary School and shot at its portable classrooms. He repeatedly tried to get into a kindergarten classroom but quick-thinking staff locked the school down, and he eventually stormed off.

Neal reportedly targeted the elementary school as part of a long-running feud with neighbors.

Mattoon High School, Illinois

A male student shot and injured a fellow student at a central Illinois high school on Sept. 20, 2017. The shooting unfolded in Mattoon High Schools cafeteria around 11:30 a.m., officials said at the time.

One female teacher intervened and successfully subdued and disarmed the gunman -- a move Mattoon Police Chief Jeff Branson said at the time was pivotal.

The gunman was taken into custody shortly after the incident.

Freeman High School, Washington

A 15-year-old student opened fire on fellow classmates at a Washington state high school on Sept. 13, 2017, killing one, investigators said. Caleb Sharpe, the suspected gunman, said the student who died had bullied him.

The slain student tried to stop the teen's rampage when the gun jammed, according to The Associated Press. A school janitor was hailed a hero after he was able to subdue the alleged shooter.

Three other students were wounded in the attack. According to court documents, Sharpe told officials that he brought the two guns to school to teach everyone a lesson about what happens when you bully others.

North Park Elementary School, California

A special needs teacher and a child, 8, were killed in what police said was a murder-suicide at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, California.

Police said Cedric Anderson walked into the school on April 10, 2017, and shot his estranged wife, Karen Elaine Smith. Two other students were also struck before Anderson killed himself, although law enforcement officials said they do not believe they were intended targets.

Jonathan Martinez was identified as the 8-year-old killed at the elementary school. A 9-year-old was injured.

Liberty-Salem High School, Ohio

Two high school students were injured after a fellow student allegedly fired a shotgun inside Liberty-Salem High School in Ohio on Jan. 20, 2017.

Logan Cole, who was 16 at the time, was shot twice but survived. Another student was grazed by a bullet. Champaign County Sheriff Matthew Melvin said the gunman intended to harm more students than he did.

Ely Serna, the accused gunman, was 17 at the time of the shooting but is being tried as an adult in Champaign County court. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

Fox News' Nicole Darrah, Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Elizabeth Zwirz, Katherine Lam, Lucia I. Suarez Sang, Samuel Chamberlain, Kathleen Joyce, Shira Bush and The Associated Press contributed to this report.Two protesters were removed from a Republican fundraising event in Key Biscayne, Fla., on Friday night after confronting House Speaker Paul Ryan about Wednesdays mass shooting in Parkland, according to a report.

Maria Thorne, 49, a fifth-grade teacher in Key Biscayne, told the Miami Herald that she and a friend approached the Wisconsin Republican at a hotel after seeing his motorcade in the area while heading home from work.

Thorne said she confronted Ryan in the middle of the room and told him, Youre here celebrating the death of 17 children.

Ryan reportedly deflected from the conversation, but Thorne continued. She chanted, No more guns! as security officers escorted her away, tje newspaper reported.

On Thursday, Ryan had tweeted that the Parkland shooting was "pure evil."

Click here for more from the Miami Herald.Voters in a Louisville, Kentucky, suburb will soon choose a successor for a Republican state lawmaker who killed himself last year after a woman publicly accused him of sexually assaulting her in his basement when she was a teenager and he was her pastor.

The race offers the first test of whether there's a Trump backlash in Kentucky, a state the Republican president dominated in 2016. But the volatile circumstances complicate Democrats' efforts to reverse their fortunes in a state that has turned decisively against them in recent years.

Dan Johnson killed himself in December after adamantly denying the sexual assault allegations from the pulpit of his church. The special election to replace him is Tuesday, and Johnson's widow, Rebecca, is the Republican nominee. She announced her candidacy the day after Johnson's death and says her campaign is in response to "an assault from the left that wasn't true."

"Just because they took my husband out doesn't mean they are going to take me out," she said.

The allegations against Johnson were first reported by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting. Their story was backed up by on-the-record comments from the victim, plus pages of documents from a police investigation that was closed under questionable circumstances. The story prompted the authorities to reopen the investigation before Johnson shot himself at the end of a bridge on a rural road.

Johnson fiercely denied the sexual assault before his death, and his widow does the same. But the allegations don't end there. The couple led a church, Heart of Fire Ministries, in Louisville. The Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting shows Dan Johnson had been cited three times for selling alcohol without a license. Rebecca Johnson was not listed on those citations.

The church, which Rebecca Johnson now leads, has been cited many times for unpaid taxes and has had multiple liens and lawsuits over unpaid bills.

"I'm not going to get into the past. There is not enough time in the day to go over all of that," Johnson said when asked about those issues.

The Democratic candidate, Linda Belcher, knows how it feels to run for office shortly after losing a spouse. Her husband, Larry Belcher, represented House district 49 for four years. He was killed in a car accident in October 2008, weeks before the general election. Gov. Steve Beshear asked Linda Belcher to replace him on the ballot. She did, and was elected.

"I understand her heartbreak. But no, I don't identify with her," Belcher said of Johnson.

She added, "I have no idea how she feels about the suicide. But you know, what we need to do is put all those things aside. Let's hear the issues, let's hear what the people have to say that are running and elect the person that is going to do the best job."

While Kentucky leans strongly Republican, Belcher is a strong candidate. She lost to Dan Johnson in 2016 by fewer than 200 votes. She earned 49.6 percent of the vote in a district that Donald Trump won with 72 percent. Now, she is back on the ballot two years into a tumultuous Trump presidency that has energized Democratic voters. Plus, she's a retired school teacher in a state where Republican proposals to change the public retirement system have prompted a backlash from educators and state workers.

"I think people have buyer's remorse," Belcher said.

Johnson has declined to attend at least two public forums with her Democratic opponent, citing scheduling conflicts. But she has visited the homes of registered GOP voters on a list the state Republican Party gave her. In the frigid February weather, she often campaigns wearing her husband's aviator lamb-skin hat.

Tuesday, Johnson visited several homes. She always knocked  "friends and family knock, strangers ring the doorbell"  and introduced herself as "running for my husband's seat." Nearly everyone greeted her warmly and said she had their vote. None asked about her husband or the allegations.

"They are polite. They don't bring up stuff like that," Johnson said.

Belcher leads Johnson in fundraising. She has TV ads running this weekend on CNN and MSNBC. And Kentucky Family Values, a Democratic political action committee, has paid for radio ads touting Belcher as a Christian and a retired educator.

The radio ads make no mention of Johnson or her husband. Belcher said she knew of the allegations against Johnson in 2016, including that he had been investigated for sexual assault. But she never used any of them.

"That's not the type of person I am," Belcher said. "It is the job of the voters to do the research and find out what's going on. It was not my job to tell them those things."A young woman accused Texas mass killer Devin Kelley of rape in 2013 but he was never arrested after the investigation languished, according to a report.

The 20-year-old accuser said she was choked, slapped, forced into oral sex and raped but the case became inactive after she ignored follow-up calls from a detective with the Comal County Sheriffs Office, the San Antonio Express-News reported, citing records released Friday.

The documents include a statement from Tessa Brennaman, Kelleys ex-wife, who corroborated the womans complaint and told a deputy that Kelley had water-boarded her when they were married, according to the paper.

We had only been married a month the first time he choked me, Bennaman said in a signed statement. For a whole year, he slapped me, choked me, kicked me, water-boarded me and held a gun to my head.

Had prosecutors obtained a conviction against Kelley in the sexual assault case, it could have prevented him from buying the gun he used to kill more than two dozen people at a small church in Sutherland Springs in November 2017.

NIKOLAS CRUZ COULD PLEAD GUILTY IN FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING TO AVERT DEATH PENALTY, LAWYER SAYS

The 26-year-old gun killed himself after being shot fleeing the church by a person who lived in the area.

Brennaman divorced Kelly in 2012 after he was convicted in military court of assaulting her and fracturing his stepsons skull and sentenced to 12 months in a military prison.

The Associated Press reported Friday that the records show Kelleys accuser in the 2013 sex assault case was not given a forensic exam in connection with her complaint.

According to the AP, the case was listed as inactive because a Comal County detective couldnt contact Kelley, thinking he had moved. It remained inactive even after deputies were called to Kelleys home in February 2014 to investigate a separate domestic violence complaint against him.

This was an error of the part of the sheriffs office, Comal County Sheriff Mark Reynolds told the AP Friday.

TEXAS CHURCH SHOOTER DEVIN KELLEY'S EX-WIFE SAYS HE ABUSED AND THREATENED TO KILL HER

The name of the Kelleys accuser had been redacted in the records.

He told me he would hurt me when I didnt do what he said, she wrote.

The case detective left three voice-mail messages with her and then sent letter four months later that said, I cannot proceed without your help.

Reynolds said Friday that deputies eventually spoke to the woman in October. The case detective then tried to contact Kelley, but was unsuccessful, and that the investigation "stalled," Reynolds said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.An unusual struggle for control of a Pennsylvania district attorney's office has landed in court. The outcome will likely ripple across most of the state and, potentially, spur appeals by criminal defendants.

Marion O'Malley took office Feb. 5 as the Susquehanna County DA. Her tenure is being challenged by William Urbanski, who briefly served as DA before a judge ruled him ineligible and installed O'Malley instead. Urbanski is suing to get the job back, saying the judge misinterpreted the state's residency requirement.

The state Supreme Court could ultimately decide the case.

One lawyer says he expects that if O'Malley is removed, defense lawyers will claim her actions in office were invalid. O'Malley says the same could hold true of Urbanski's tenure.

The first hearing in the case is March 5.Thirteen people were killed and 16 injured when a military helicopter carrying high-ranking officials to assess the damage from a powerful earthquake crashed in southern Mexico, officials said Saturday.

All the victims were on the ground.

The Oaxaca state prosecutor's office said in a statement that Friday's crash resulted in the deaths of five women, four men and three children at the scene. An injured victim died later at the hospital.

A state government official said the chopper crashed into a group of people who had been spending the night outside after a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the area Friday in the early evening. Aftershocks had caused people to flee their homes for fear they would collapse.

The Defense Department said the crash happened as the Blackhawk helicopter was preparing to land on a vacant lot in the city of Jamiltepec, about 19 miles from the area of Pinotepa Nacional.

Mexico's Interior Department said that the helicopter was carrying Secretary Alfonso Navarrete and Oaxaca state Gov. Alejandro Murat, who were evaluating reports of damage from the earthquake. Neither suffered serious injuries.

Earlier reports said the chopper crashed on top of two vans in an open field.

Both Navarrete and the defense department said they regretted the loss of life in Friday's accident.

The same city where the accident occurred also saw significant destruction from the earthquake. About 50 homes were damaged, as well as the town hall and church, according to the Interior Department.

Two people suffered fractures and non-life threatening injuries in Pinotepa Nacional in Santiago Jamiltepec.

The damage was minimal compared with the toll from an 8.2-magnitude quake that struck in the same general area on Sept. 7 and a 7.1 quake on Sept. 19, which killed 471 people and damaged over 180,000 houses in eight states, including Mexico City.

But 5.8 aftershock that struck Friday, about an hour after the 7.2-magnitude quake led some residents of Jamiltepec to decide to spend the night outdoors, a common practice after strong shakes in the balmy region.

The military helicopter apparently flipped and fell on top of the townspeople as it attempted to land.

Navarrete told local media that "as the army helicopter we were travelling in tried to land, the pilot lost control, the helicopter fell and flipped."

Jorge Morales, a local reporter who was aboard the helicopter when it crashed, described harrowing moments as the pilot lost control and the helicopter attempted to touch down in a swirl of dust.

"The moment the helicopter touched down it lost control, it slid-- like it skidded-- and it hit some vehicles that were parked alongside the area that had been defined for the landing," he told a Mexican television news program. "In that moment, you couldn't see anything, nothing else was heard beside the sound that iron makes when it scrapes the earth."

The U.S. Geological Survey originally put the magnitude of Friday's quake at 7.5 but later lowered it to 7.2.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has stated Berlin is ready to invest in the restoration of the east of Ukraine.

"Germany is ready to invest in the restoration of Donbas," Gabriel said at a breakfast with the representatives of business circles of Russia and Germany.

He also supported the idea of deploying the UN peacekeeping mission in Donbas.

"The idea of the UN peacekeeping mission has been on the agenda for six months. We need to try to speed it up. But we cannot solve this issue independently, it needs to be discussed within the framework of the UN Security Council," the minister added.

According to Gabriel, "this is one of the few realistic opportunities to achieve results quickly enough."

At the same time, the German foreign minister called for the phased lifting of sanctions from Russia in case of heavy weapons withdrawal in Donbas.

"If we manage to withdraw heavy weapons from the east of Ukraine, then it will be necessary to lift the sanctions step by step," Gabriel said.A father in Argentina took actions into his own hands after he pretended to be his 11-year-old daughter in order to locate and pummel the man who harassed the girl via a messaging app.

Walter Rodriguez said his daughter told him a 29-year-old man named German Acosta, who she met through WhatsApp, was sending inappropriate messages and demanding to meet her, El Pais reported.

The girl also said he was trying to convince her to lie to her parents and kept asking for pictures of her in undergarments.

In one of the texts to Acosta, the pre-teen said she was a virgin, to which Acosta replied: Thats great.

Rodriguez took control of the text conversations and posed as his daughter to arrange a meeting with Acosta.

INMATE DRUGS TWIN BROTHER IN BRAZEN ESCAPE FROM PRISON

First he wanted to have the date at his house and I told him yes, of course, because I was going to kill him, Rodriguez told TV channel TB. He would open the door and I would kill him.

However, Acosta arranged the meeting in Buenos Aires.

When the two men met, Rodriguez pummeled Acosta and punched him in the face before police arrived. The father took photos of Acostas bloodied face and shared them on his social media platforms.

This son of a b---- is a pervert. He sent photos to my 11-year-old daughter, Rodriguez wrote in the post. He also shared photos of the text message conversations between Acosta and his daughter.

The posts have since been taken down.

The father and the suspect are both facing charges but were not detained. Rodriguez faces a battery charge while Acosta was accused of online harassment and grooming  the crime of befriending a child to lure them to perform sexual acts.

ITALIAN POLICE CLASHES WITH ANTI-FASCISTS LEAVES 7 INJURED

Rodriguez told local media he was upset Acosta was not detained for his crimes despite him showing proof of the messages.

I made my statement before a judge. I told them everything, how it happened, I showed them the screenshots, what he had been sending to my little girl, Rodriguez said. I dont understand why they let him go. A person like this doesnt deserve to be free.

According to Argentina law, a person accused of contacting a minor online or through phone messages could face six months to four years in prison.

Hernan Navarro, with a non-profit group Grooming Argentina that protects youth from online predators, warned Acosta could be a potential risk to society.

By letting him free there is the potential risk to society because he could continue harassing these children, Navarro said.

In 2017, the justice system in Argentina made a statement by sentencing Jonathan Luna, who was accused of murdering a 12-year-old on Facebook, to life in prison.Germany's foreign minister said Saturday that his country no longer recognizes our America as he slammed President Trumps "America first" foreign policy.

The official, Sigmar Gabriel, suggested that close U.S. ties with a strong European Union are as much in Washington's interest as they are in Europe's.

Speaking to world leaders and defense officials at the Munich Security Conference, Gabriel said no country in Europe has benefited as much from American help as Germany since World War II.

He said the country "eagerly learned" principles of democracy, multilateralism, international law and free trade from the relationship with the U.S.

"Maybe this can explain why we Germans in particular are so perturbed when we look across the Atlantic  because we no longer recognize our America," Gabriel said. "Is it deeds, is it words, is it tweets we should look at to measure America?"

He urged a return to greater joint cooperation, saying now is not the time for "just pursuing individual national interests."

Gabriel suggested the U.S. was going in the opposite direction, drifting toward approaches taken from powers like China and Russia who are "constantly trying to test or undermine" the European Union.

"It is one thing from possible rivals or competitors, but from our friends and partners we expect that they will respect the unity of the EU," he said. "No one should try to divide the EU, not Russia, not China, but also not the United States."

He warned that neither the EU nor the U.S. can go at it alone and that we have to count on our friends and our partners.

Trump's national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, met one-on-one with Gabriel after his speech. McMaster reassured the forum that the United States still is strongly committed to its traditional alliances, but emphasized that "we must all share responsibility."

"International peace and prosperity depends on all nations," McMaster said. "For this reason, President Trump has called for stronger alliances and partnerships based on shared values, shared interests, shared responsibilities and shared burdens."

Trump has pushed strongly for more NATO nations to live up to commitments to spend at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense spending.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Their fathers and husbands belonged to one of the most brutal militant forces on the planet, yet they have committed no known crime.

After months of debate, Iraqi authorities have assembled a plan to deal with captured foreign ISIS wives and children of the crumbled caliphate, in what they hope balances security concerns with international law and due process.

We are holding 500 wives of ISIS  all foreigners  and their children, which makes 1,500 total, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, the Iraqi Minister for Labor and Social Affairs, who presides over childcare issues, told Fox News. And some of the ISIS wives are pregnant.

Sudani said there have been many communications through our ministry and the court system over what to do with the children since the collapse of Mosul in July. That was followed by the fall of other major ISIS strongholds across the country.

HUNDREDS OF YOUNG TURKISH CHILDREN JAILED ALONGSIDE THEIR MOMS AS PART OF A POST-COUP CRACKDOWN

Iraqi authorities now mandate that children ages 3 and under will remain with their mothers in detention facilities, while those 4-14 will be in state-run orphanages until agreements with embassies have been established in which case they can be handed off to their home countries.

This required a hasty amendment to Iraqs legal code as a Saddam-era 1980 law dictated only minors of Iraqi or Palestinian origin were accepted into the countrys orphanages. Authorities are now contending with children of more than 20 different nationalities.

We deal with the kids as victims. They had no fault in what happened, Sudani insisted. They will be taken care of and not blamed. And we have prepared an integrated program to de-radicalize the kids away from the extremist mindset and ideology.

But the foreign wives of ISIS fighters will be tried in Iraq, and not in their country of citizenship, to determine what if any level of involvment they had in the fighting.

They will be given a fair trial in the court system, Sudani affirmed.

Human rights groups are also concerned over the fate of adolescent males over the age of 14, who are being held separately from their mothers in multiple facilities across the country. Iraqi officials have insisted they are complying scrupulously within international guidelines on the detainments.

We are concerned that torture may be utilized in coercing confessions from these adolescents, said Dr. Homer Venters, director of programs at the Physicians for Human Rights. Captured children forced into fighting with ISIS are also victims of human rights violations, including physical and mental trauma and should be treated as such.

PAUL BREMER ON LESSONS LEARNED IN IRAQ: MISTAKES AND SUCCESSES, THE RISE OF ISIS, AND HIS PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENT

The majority of the foreign wives and children are documented to be from Turkey and Russia  with significant numbers from the Caucasus region. There are smaller percentages of fighters from numerous other nations, including many in Europe.

Sudani also noted Iraqis are still in the process of trying to determine the nationality of many detainees, who are without proper documentation.

One Baghdad-based official, who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media, told Fox News the problem with the children is being complicated by the fact that, in many cases, the identity of the father is unknown.

And for those whose nationalities have been verified, there are still unsolved diplomatic snags.

Baghdad is in the process of negotiating with their countries of origin to have most of them repatriated, but there is a lot of resistance, said the source. Most of these countries simply dont want them back.

The wives and babies are being held in a camp in al-Rusafa in the Baghdad region, Sudani said, separate from other non-ISIS families. Aid workers and officials have routinely expressed concern the ISIS families may be subject to retaliation from those who have been deeply afflicted by the barbaric insurgent group.

At the request of the government, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been providing these mothers and children in camps and orphanages with baby formula and hygiene items, as well as helping to restore the links with relatives in their country of origin, mostly by facilitating the exchange of Red Cross messages.

In addition to the 1500 ISIS wives and families, more than 7000 foreign ISIS males are being detained across the country waiting to stand trial. More than 90 have already been executed for their terrorist membership.

It is critical to remember that, even when someone is proven to be a member of a terrorist organization, their family members are not guilty by association, added Tuva Raanes Bogsnes, a spokesperson for The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).The vice chancellor of Zimbabwe's oldest university has been arrested over the controversial awarding of a doctorate to former first lady Grace Mugabe.

Anti-Corruption Commission spokeswoman Phyllis Chikundura says Levi Nyagura of the University of Zimbabwe was arrested Friday. He appears in court Saturday on abuse of office charges.

Mugabe, whose husband resigned in November under pressure from the military, received a doctorate in 2014 amid allegations she did not study for it. Former president Robert Mugabe was university chancellor.

Chikundura says the university should provide the "paper trail" showing Grace Mugabe's registration and academic progression.

Sociology department lecturers say they have no records of Mugabe's work.

Fears that the unpopular Mugabe was positioning herself to succeed her 93-year-old husband as president led the military to step in last year.Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at a meeting with the Polish delegation led by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Munich has warned the leadership of Poland against actions that might threaten positive achievements in the historic dialogue.

"The president urged the Polish leadership [to refrain] from taking steps that could jeopardize positive achievements in a bilateral dialogue on historical issues," press secretary of the Ukrainian president Sviatoslav Tseholko wrote on Twitter.Of the intellectuals, Phan Thi Ngoc Chan and Nguyen Ba Chung have made great contributions to making Vietnamese literary works popular in the US.

Chan is one of the pioneers in enhancing the interference in culture and literature between Vietnam and the US. In recent years, she has been in charge of the collections of books on Vietnam at the Harvard  Yenching library under the Harvard University. She began working at Harvard library in 1974 when she was studying for a masters degree in Boston city.

She maintained a part-time job in the library even after she graduated and became a teacher in charge of the Vietnamese  English bilingual programme for Vietnamese children in the city. In 1982, Chan officially worked for the library and with her experience and enthusiasm, she was appointed as the curator of the collection of books on Vietnam.

Over recent years, Chan has collected numerous outstanding Vietnamese literary works for the collection at Harvard Universitys library. In addition, the collection consists of many valuable documents in the fields of philosophy, history, politics, social sciences, education, arts and language, contributing to promoting Vietnamese literature and culture to international friends, particularly the professors, teachers and students from the University.

Phan Thi Ngoc Chan and poet Huu Thinh visit Vietnam Literature Museum.



The collection was created a few decades ago and has been preserved in optimum condition. According to Dr. Tran Duc Anh Son, from the Da Nang Institute for Socio-Economic Development, Chan helped his group to find the origin of valuable documents related to Vietnams sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos. They were the French - Chinese Qing dynasty agreement in 1887, the Treaty of Peace with Japan signed by Japan and the Allied Powers in San Francisco (the US) in 1951, documentations on the Germanys Bellona shipwreck (in 1895) and the Japanese Imeji Maru ships wreck (in 1896) near the Hoang Sa archipelago, and material on Japans occupation of the two archipelagos during the second world war.

Like Chan, her husband Nguyen Ba Chung, who is also a poet and translator, has made great contributions to the Vietnam  US relations. In the years immediately after the war against American imperialism, as the relationship between Vietnam and the United States was still tense, poet Chung volunteered to coordinate with the US veterans at the William Joiner centre, under the Massachusetts University, to hold exchange programmes for Vietnamese writers in the country, helping the American public to gain a better understanding of Vietnamese culture. Although being a computer science worker for over 10 years, he has a great passion for literature.

He began creating poems and translating Vietnamese literary works that were created in the 1990s of the 20th century. He is the author of the poetry collections: Nguon (Resources) in 2009, Co noi (Field Grass) in 1995, Mua ngan (Distant Rain) in 1996, Ngo hanh (Gate of Kindness) in 1997, and Tuoi ngan nam tu buoi so sinh (A Thousand Years Old at Birth) in 1999.

The first literary work that Nguyen Ba Chung participated in the translation of, along with Kevin Bowen, David Hunt and Ngo Vinh Hai, was the novel Thoi xa vang (A Time Far Past) by writer Le Luu. Published by the University of Massachusetts Press in April 1997, the book became the first Vietnamese literary work to be introduced to the US after the war in Vietnam. So far, Chung and a number of American poets, such as Bruce Weigl, Martha Collins and Kevin Bowen, have translated hundreds of Vietnamese poets and published eight collections of poems in Vietnam, Japan and the US.

He is wholeheartedly devoting himself to projects that promote Vietnamese literature. Currently, he is working with Fred Marchant to translate poems by Tran Dang Khoa and Nguyen Khoa Diem as well as cooperating with Bruce Weigl and Kevin Bowen to translate works by the poets Minh Duc Trieu Tam Anh and Thu Bon.

Nguyen Ba Chung always feels anxious about training a generation of professional translators. He hopes that Vietnam would organise exchange programmes between Vietnamese translators and the William Joiner Institute under the University of Massachusetts. Accordingly, each year one or two Vietnamese translators will study for masters degree in American literature, while one or two American translators will study at Vietnamese universities.

It can be said that the house of Chung and Chan in Boston city is also home of Vietnamese literature in the US and is full of the patriotic spirit.Free Freightnet Membership

List your company in the Freightnet directory. It's Free, it's Easy and your company can be displayed in front of potential freight buyers within 24 hours.The results obtained in 2017 have heartened the whole country as for the first time in many years, Vietnam fulfilled and surpassed 13 socio-economic development targets, of which the GDP growth rate was at 6.81%, the highest level in nearly ten years. Results in Party building work affirmed the bravery and wisdom of a revolutionary, scientific, and genuine party. National defence and security have been maintained while the countrys position in the international arena has been enhanced with steady progress made in the work of diplomacy.

However, there are still many obstacles and challenges ahead. Internal weaknesses of the economy, bad debts, public debts; cultural and social concerns; the degradation in political ideology, ethics and lifestyle of a number of cadres and Party members; corruption, wastefulness, sectarianism, and group interests; climate change, the complicated and unpredictable situation of the world and region and the East Sea... remain great concerns of the whole Party, people, and army.

The Party and State have proactively proposed fundamental solutions to these issues in the documents of the 12th National Party Congress as well as resolutions adopted at Party Central Committees plenums. In order to effectively implement these solutions, the whole Party, people, and army should unite as a stable, scientific and decisive entity ready and prepared to take action in overcoming all difficulties and challenges, and strive for our nation to soon develop into an industrialised country at the forefront of modernity.

The firm and strong Party will lead the country to surmount all challenges to reach the shore of glory!

A new spring with new opportunities, new spirit, and new motivation is driving us forward!Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

A few showers this morning with overcast skies during the afternoon hours. High 83F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Increasing clouds with showers arriving overnight. Low 76F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.Ecuador, the name itself brings implications of a geographical location: the country straddles the line of the equator. In Spanish, ecuador means equator. However, where exactly is Mitad del Mundo? The answer remains somewhat ambiguous even now but maybe many people do not believe that I found my own latitude 0.0.0 in a way that no one could imagine and did not follow any guidance.

The fake and real coordinate 0

The Mitad del Mundo is a complex located about 9-10 km away from the centre of Quito. It is home to a population of the busts of well-known geographers of the world, who had measured the 0.0.0 latitude. In particular, it consists of a 30m high monument with the Mitad del Mundo Museum inside. A lot of tourists have visited the monument, looking for ways to test the magic when standing right on the 0.0.0 line, with experiments on the theory of gravity. Nobody wants to miss the opportunity to stand on the yellow line and I was no exception.

I also read a lot of warnings that the 0.0.0 latitude on the square is a "fake." The exact coordinate is located at a private museum a few hundred metres to the north. That means Ecuador has two 0.0.0 landmarks: a symbolic landmark and a real one.

When my friends and I got to the Mitad del Mundo, on the yellow line marking the coordinate, a group of French guests were following their guide's directions: knitting your hands together and raising them up, then the person opposite would easily drag your hands down, as you're in the centre of the earth, so your muscles are weakening due to latitude. If you stand aside just a few steps, when you raise your hands, the person opposite, if not strong enough, will not be able to pull your hands down. Some people tried and were excited because it was exactly what had been described.

This is further confirmed when stepping into the Mitad del Mundo Museum, located inside the monument. On display are experimental instruments showing that you are at latitude 0.0.0. For example, there are two scales, when you stand on the scale at latitude 0.0.0, you are lighter than your weight in another position. Indeed, when we all tested, all the indicators showing on the scale were smaller than the normal ones.

However, dozens of experiments in the museum could not replace the fact that my GPS was at 0.0.8 and many documents have indicated that the coordinate at the museum is a mistake. Even its staff, when being asked to stamp 0.0.0 into my passport as a popular souvenir, also refused and directed us to go to Museo de Intinan (Intinan Museum) - the place that is said to have the most accurate 0 coordinate.

Intinan is a small private museum a few hundred metres from Mitad del Mundo. Here the experiments are much more manual and intuitive than those found on suspicious machines like in the Mitad del Mundo Museum. I can put an egg on a nail placed in the middle of the 0 line easily; or when placing a washbowl with a plug hole at its bottom here, the water draining from it will flow down vertically, without swirling.

Vera, who was responsible for stamping the 0.0.0 souvenir coordinate, said it was the only official seal and is being offered only at this museum following a decision from the Ecuadorian Geographical Association. However, there are fake seals used in the stalls along the route from the central square to the museum. That means everyone can have a seal on an envelope or postcard without spending US$4 for the admission to Intinan.

And once again, our suspicions arose. At that time, all of the measurement devices we carried along show the same result at the latitude coordinate of 0.0.5. The discovery made everyone around us startled. Vera was even more surprised: "No, that's because of a machine failure, this is exactly the zero mark."

In fact, when we looked at the materials on display, we concluded that this is the zero benchmark confirmed by scientists with the most advanced methods today. This is also the reason why the owner of the land where the Intinan Museum is situated left his profession as a farmer to earn his living mainly by business operation, because the special coordinate goes through his house. He wrote five books about how people come to his home to measure the latitude 0.

My own 0.0.0 coordinate

In fact, both the Mitad del Mundo and the Intinan Museum are not the first 0 coordinate markers to be built. In 1936, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the discovery of latitude 0, the government of Ecuador built a 10m high monument on the site of today's Mitad del Mundo complex. At the top of the monument they placed a globe model decorated with traditional patterns of the indigenous people.

In 1979, when a decision was made to build a new monument to attract tourists, the Pichincha authorities decided to move the monument 17 km away to a small town named Calacali, also on the equator. Therefore, it is possible to confirm that the first 0.0.0 latitude is located in Calacali. The current Mitad del Mundo with its monument standing over 30m high is a place to welcome visitors with tourism services.

Rodriguez, a 19-year-old Calacali man, said that local people here are extremely proud of this symbol. For Calacalians like Rodriguez, this monument is more significant than the larger square at the original site. Many years later, after they found the Museo de Intinan, Calacali in the hearts of local people remain unchanged. Of course, even standing at the Calacali monument, my GPS still stayed at 0.0.6.

As soon as we saw the incorrect 0 coordinate at the old monument, we decided to ride slowly from coordinate 0.0.9 back to Mitad del Mundo, hoping to find the true 0 coordinate as rumored. That meant we would gradually reach the mountain in front of us. Rodriguez said he has once climbed up the mountain and found latitude 0 somewhere on the way up to the peak. This also seemed to coincide with the information we found on the internet: when making the landmark for coordinate 0.0.0, because the position was in the middle of a mountain and not convenient for construction techniques at that time, they chose the current location of the Mitad del Mundo complex, because the present square has spacious grounds where they could erect a symbolic monument. That error continues to this day and turns it into a symbol.

Right before leaving the highway, my GPS moved quickly from 0.0.3, 0.0.2, 0.0.1 and the number 0.0.0 surprisingly appeared when we were still in the middle of the street, just a few steps from the Intinan, about a dozen metres to the north. We stared at each other. Rodriguez murmured: "No, I'm sure 0 is on the way up the mountain." But clearly my GPS, in the middle of a sunny day, displayed the 0 coordinate right in the middle of the motorway connecting Quito and Cuenca. This is not described in any of the travel guides, nor in any documents.

Maybe its because the phone's GPS is not a reliable one, even if it's the world's leading brand. But both Rodriguez and I did not need to try to find a position as accurate as the scientists found the 0.0.0 coordinate. We had an interesting day, when we came up with four different 0.0.0 coordinates, and that would not affect whether the Earth was rotating or its equator was flattening out against the whole globe.

Perhaps the most interesting thing is worth more than having a GPS with 0.0.0 accuracy, in the reason of a wanderer.Here are the winners! Here are the winners!

Thousands of people entered our big summer competition from 1 July to 31 August this year. Were you one of the winners? Find out below! Thousands of people entered our big...On 22 January, an emerging new organisation in Geneva gathered a crowd of some 350 in the Theatre du Leman before moving on to the Kempinski. The evening began with an exclusive performance of the play Novecento, offered for free by its lead actor Andre Dussollier. This was followed by a grand gala dinner and an auction, organised by an NGO with a difference: 123 Action, whose mission is to bring water to those in Africa and Asia lacking health treatment, crops, irrigation, and sanitation. After just one short year of existence, 123 Action has already provided pure, treated water on a long-term basis for some 130,000 families in three countries.



The evening itself was MCed by Andre Dussollier. The actor has also been a sponsor of 123 Action since its outset  and in a private capacity, wears a Louis Moinet Jules Verne III.



Jean-Marie Schaller and Gregory Prenleloup, who, respectively, head up Ateliers Louis Moinet and 123 Action, are bound by a strong friendship. Louis Moinet has made financial contributions to the development of 123 Action since its earliest days. For this exceptional charity auction, the brand created a unique watch, the Tempograph Water, that was sold to a private collector for CHF 30,000. These funds are earmarked for a highly practical undertaking: drilling six wells in Togo, thus immediately providing drinking water for over 10,000 people.Three takfiris were killed by the Egyptian armed forces in northern and central Sinai on Friday, the army said in a statement.

Military spokesman Tamer El-Rifai said forces also arrested 224 wanted criminal elements, destroyed 10 4x4 vehicles and 68 weapons caches, and detonated 28 IEDs planted in the field of operations on Friday.

El-Rifais statement about the seventh day of Operation Sinai 2018, the militarys new counter-terrorism operation, is the eighth military communique on the operation since it began last week.

The operation involves land, naval and air operations.

The term takfiri refers to Sunni Muslims who accuse other Muslims of being infidels, often as a justification for using violence against them.

Land, sea and air forces have carried out security patrols to combat attempts to smuggle arms or infiltrate through southern and western borders, El-Rifai added.

Forces involved in the operation have also destroyed nine farms used to grow illegal narcotics and seized large amounts of drugs and communication facilities, he said.

On Thursday, Egypt's military said that security forces had killed 53 takfiris since the operation was launched.

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bohlah at 17-02-2018 09:30 AM (3 years ago) (m)

Some Nigerians have been reportedly caught smuggling some bags of foreign rice from Niger Republic into the country.



The photo is purportedly showing Nigerians using motorcycles to smuggle bags of foreign rice from Niger Republic into the country.

Some Nigerians have been reportedly caught smuggling some bags of foreign rice from Niger Republic into the country.The photo is purportedly showing Nigerians using motorcycles to smuggle bags of foreign rice from Niger Republic into the country.

According to Muhammad Murtala Musa, a Customs Licensed clearing and forwarding agent who shared the photo on Facebook, this act of smuggling is "sabotaging local initiatives..."



Below is what he shared:







He wrote: Quote "Nigerians using motorcycles to smuggle bags of foreign rice from Niger Republic to Nigeria thereby sabotaging our local initiatives and later blame the government.



"I wonder why Nigerians cannot obey a simple law." According to Muhammad Murtala Musa, a Customs Licensed clearing and forwarding agent who shared the photo on Facebook, this act of smuggling is "sabotaging local initiatives..."

Post Reply I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist Posted: at 17-02-2018 09:30 AM (3 years ago) | Addicted Hero(TNS)  Ohio lawmakers are debating how much money to give counties to replace aging voting machines, but those funds aren't expected to be part of the state capital budget.County officials initially had hoped to see money for voting machines included in the two-year capital budget that provides funding for more than $2 billion for infrastructure projects across the state, including university facilities, schools, roads and bridges, and smaller, community projects.The capital budget is expected to pass by April 1, and the goal for GOP leaders in the House and Senate is to introduce a bill within the next two weeks that already has the agreement of both chambers, allowing for a quick, smooth process.But there is little quick or smooth about the funding of new voting machines, and Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, R-Clarksville, said this week he expects that will be part of a separate bill."There is some negotiating still that we're going to have to go through," he said.In December, Secretary of State Jon Husted asked lawmakers to approve $118 million in the capital budget to replace aging voting equipment in time for the 2020 election.County commissioners and the Ohio Association of Elections Officials have recommended $175 million in the capital budget to cover 85 percent of the cost of purchasing the equipment. The counties would cover ongoing maintenance costs.Meanwhile, Gov. John Kasich's budget office is reportedly looking at a number closer to $100 million.Sen. Frank LaRose, R-Hudson, has been hosting a closed-door working group including county officials, state Budget Director Tim Keen, and legislative leaders to work out how the state should pay for the machines. LaRose introduced a voting machine bill last year.Most voting equipment in Ohio was purchased in 2005 and 2006, largely with $115 million in one-time federal money through the Help America Vote Act. County elections officials say those systems are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain, as parts become more scarce and breakdowns more frequent.In late 2017, county elections boards estimated the cost at $210 million, based on the type and quantity of voting equipment the counties intend to purchase. Roughly half of Ohio counties use optical scanners that read paper ballots, and half use electronic touchscreen devices. The trend is expected to tilt toward optical scanners that record votes at the precinct level.County officials want the flexibility to determine the type of voting machine that would work best, whether it be less expensive paper-based optical scanners, electronic DRE machines, or a hybrid system."We are very encouraged and continue to get positive feedback from the administration and legislative leadership that a strong partnership will be created between state and local government to purchase voting machines and have them in place in time for the 2019 elections," said Aaron Ockerman, executive director of the Ohio Association of Elections Officials.Elections officials want to use them in the lighter-turnout off-election year, rather than debuting them during a presidential election year in 2020.Lawmakers have a number of decisions to make, including what they want to cover financially.Husted's $118 million figure is based on every county purchasing a paper-based system. Lawmakers could decide to go with that figure and require counties to cover any costs above that amount if they decide to go with a more expensive system. Or officials could fund whatever counties choose to pick, restrict what options counties can pick from, or find some whole new methodology.Lawmakers also must decide how much to reimburse counties that have already purchased new equipment.Ockerman said elections officials have no preference on whether the money is provided in the capital budget or as a stand-alone bill.It is difficult to implement European standards of human rights in a country of 90 million people that is fighting terrorism, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi said during a press conference with then French president Francois Hollande held in Cairo in April 2017. Al-Sisi added that he had assured Hollande that Egypt considers human rights a top priority, adding that he was asking our European friends to consider our broader vision regarding human rights issues which includes the right to education, health and housing.

Egypt has faced mounting criticism over its human rights record since the 30 June uprising. International human rights organisations and local human rights observers and NGOs have condemned the governments record while the regime has defended itself by stressing that while it respects freedoms and human rights it must give priority to stability and security.

A report published by Human Rights Watch (HRW) in September denounced the widespread and systematic use of torture by Egyptian security forces. A month later, during a visit to France, Al-Sisi denied he had allowed security forces to use torture, telling a Paris news conference we do not practise torture and... we must be wary of all information published by rights organisations.

During a meeting with the head of the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) Mohamed Fayek last year Al-Sisi said Egypt will continue its efforts to maintain human rights and basic freedoms while confronting terrorism and protecting national security.

Since the ouster of Mohamed Morsi in 2013 Egypt has been fighting an Islamist insurgency led by the Islamic States branch in North Sinai, formerly known as Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis. Hundreds of soldiers and police have been killed. Though Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis is at the forefront of militant groups launching attacks against security targets smaller militant groups  most notably Hasm and Lewaa Al-Thawra  have emerged during the last couple of years, carrying out terrorist attacks in Cairo and provincial governorates.

Human rights advocates and observers believe the last four years have seen a serious deterioration in human rights. We will witness an escalation in violence if things do not change, warns veteran political activist and member of the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) George Ishak.

In the last year a number of news websites have been blocked. Some sites are affiliated to newspapers, including Daily News Egypt for which Al-Sisi wrote two articles in 2014 and 2015, Al-Badil, Al-Borsa and Al-Masryoon. The list also includes Mada Masr and Masr Alarabia, HuffPost Arabi, Al-Horreya Post, Cairo Portal and Al-Gornal.

Article 70 of the 2014 Constitution states that freedom of the press, printing and paper, visual, audio and electronic publication is guaranteed.

Article 71 reads: It is prohibited to censor, confiscate, suspend or shut down Egyptian newspapers and media outlets. But Egypts 59-year-old emergency law, which Al-Sisi invoked on 11 April following twin church bombings by the extremist group Islamic State, allows the authorities to censor publications.

Pro-Al-Sisi commentators argue constitutional articles guaranteeing press and media freedoms can only be applied after the state establishes a media and press system that conforms with the constitution which it is in the process of doing. It will be the job of newly formed regulatory authorities  the Higher Council for Media Regulation (HCMR), the National Media Organisation (NMO) and the National Press Organisation (NPO)  to uphold the independence of the media, they say.

In addition to blocking news websites, critics of the regime say dissenting political and public figures are prevented from appearing in the media. They warn that polarisation has reached unprecedented levels and anyone who differs with the regime is immediately labelled a traitor by a media that had been cowed into compliance.

When Al-Sisi declared a state of emergency in 2017 Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal said social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube would fall under state of emergency censorship provisions.

Hundreds of complaints of torture in police custody and detention centres have been documented by NGOs which receive reports on police abuse, including cases of death in detention.

Defenders of the regime argue that Al-Sisi has pledged to hold accountable any policeman guilty of violations after a series of deaths in police custody sparked a major public outcry. They claim the last four years have seen a positive development as more police officers are summoned for investigation and referred to trial.

A Cairo criminal court has set 15 February as the opening day of the trial of two policemen charged with beating 21-year-old Mohamed Afroto Abdel-Hakim Mahmoud to death in police custody in Moqattam, Cairo, last month.

Magdi Makeen, a 50-year-old Coptic fish vendor, was allegedly tortured to death inside Al-Amiriya Police Station shortly after being arrested on 13 November 2016. Family members say his body showed unmistakable signs of beating and lynching. In December of the same year Makeens lawyer said the autopsy report issued by the Forensic Authority concluded that torture was the cause of Makeens death. Public prosecutors subsequently ordered the questioning of a police officer and nine low-ranking policemen over the incident.

Human rights observers also warn the right of peaceful assembly has been undermined by the protest law which they say is unconstitutional. Since the law, which requires all demonstrations to be first approved by the Ministry of Interior, was issued after hundreds of demonstrators had received harsh prison sentences for taking part in protests.

Pro-regime voices counter by noting that some protesters have been released following presidential pardons. A Detained Youth Committee was formed in October 2016 following a directive from Al-Sisi to examine cases of young Egyptians detained since the 25 January Revolution. The committee says it will soon complete a fourth list of detainees recommended for a pardon.

In June 2017 Al-Sisi pardoned 502 prisoners. In March of the same year 203 prisoners were pardoned and in November 2016, 82 prisoners were released.

*This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly



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It may run counterintuitive to the instincts of logical and results-driven technologists  especially the numbers and data crowd  but it is becoming increasingly vital for gov tech leaders to tell stories of their successes.

What these successes, which many call data wins, look like varies from city to city. A data win could be a project in Chicago that helped food inspectors identify restaurants at risk for health violations, or the creation in New Orleans of a data-intensive predictive fire risk model . Data wins are tangible examples of data-driven governance improving life in cities.They are popping up with increasing frequency across the country, to the point Harvard Universitys Stephen Goldsmith has said that there is more potential to reform and improve government now than there has been in nearly 100 years.

In order for that improvement to happen, however, technologists must continue to celebrate data wins. One of the clearest reasons why is that spreading awareness of a win earns support for data work moving forward, support from politicians who approve such work, other public agencies that must cooperate and the community, which ultimately stands to benefit.

In recent years, more than 100 cities have participated in Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities program , an initiative that seeks to help mostly mid-sized cities develop data projects that improve citizens lives. Sharman Stein, a spokeswoman for What Works Cities, said helping participants learn to better celebrate their data wins was the lions share of what we do.

We have found over the last two and a half years that cities that can publicly talk about the work and make this public commitment do a stronger job of actually advancing their practices, Stein said. If you talk about data, if you use data as part of your conversation with your residents, if you are transparent about publishing data of your progress, then you invite the public in to not only see what youre doing, but to participate in using the data as a starting point.

Stein also said that a public endorsement of data work makes it known to the public, which makes it a priority for political leaders. There are other benefits as well, such as increasing the likelihood of getting the support of the local business community, academics, civic tech groups and other departments within city hall.

Its challenging for everybody, because if you havent been used to talking about the work, it is a bit of a challenge to figure out how to talk about the work, Stein said.

Kristin Taylor, also a spokeswoman for What Works Cities, said the group has had many conversations with cities about the best ways for them to identify stories of data wins. Cities and their employees can be reluctant and risk averse, especially when it comes to new technologies, but a strong narrative and ongoing dialogue about whats working and whats not can allay some of these concerns.

Its not just about sharing your biggest wins, Taylor said, but about regularly sharing all progress along the way. Bloomberg encourages all participating cities to give regular updates about gov tech work via social media as well as through other channels such as the mayors annual address. That way if something doesnt work out, the public understands why.

Highlight the good data, absolutely, look for the big wins and the stories, Stein said. Those are the cherries on top, but go out there and begin this back and forth. It radiates out in all the ways weve been discussing to staff and to people in the community who want to support your work.

Oliver Wise, formerly New Orleans director of performance and accountability and now digital government principal with the gov tech company Socrata , can attest to the value of celebrating data wins. It was something he advocated and practiced often during his seven-year stint with the city. Although Wise had a different job title, his role was essentially that of a chief data officer, and he was one of the earliest in the country to do that sort of work for a major American city.

When Wise and his team started working on data-driven governance initiatives, it was a foreign concept within New Orleans. He recalls having to change peoples thinking.

Its a very heavy lift to change the status quo in government, and you need a lot of political capital to really shake things up in an organization, Wise said. You need to show, not just tell, what your value is. People will be most convinced if you really show them proof points of how data innovation work, or digital services, is really creating real value for people on the ground. The value of data and digital services can be really obvious for people working in that space, but totally un-obvious for people in an un-technical audience.

Wise also said this means more than just preaching the value of the work to the press. It also means celebrating the mid-level managers and department heads who bought into the work within the organization, thereby creating a culture that welcomes more participants into gov tech.

David Eaves, a lecturer and research fellow with the Harvard Kennedy School, said that while celebrating data wins is important, technologists also must be aware of how and why theyre celebrating their work, emphasizing that the end goal should be entrenching the work within city government, rather than just grabbing quick headlines.

The most important thing is do you know why youre doing this? Eaves said. Do you know why youre celebrating a win?

This, however, likely wont be a problem, Eaves said, provided the data projects have great value in the first place.In other words, its easiest to tell a story about a data win when that win is significant.There are many people, including elected officials, in Washington state and Seattle in particular who I'm sure are bemoaning the fact that nothing is being done in this nation to curb gun violence, especially violence perpetrated on our children when in school.They are likely to highlight the lack of action by the federal government to pass laws about assault rifles and large capacity magazines.I would like to suggest that they look at their own sphere of influence. Who do they represent and what actions can they take to protect the people of their community? Unreinforced Masonry (URM) buildings will kill and maim just as effectively as an assault rifle will  only you need to have an earthquake to trigger the death-dealing blow.For Washington state as a whole, there are killer school buildings waiting to collapse and maim in the next earthquake. Worried about student safety? Take action on an issue that you have authority over  the public safety of our building stock. Are you complaining about the undue influence of the NRA, what about building owners and operators, historical preservationists, who push back on requiring URM buildings to be retrofitted? Are you thinking that you are immune from their influence and donations?Please do a personal assessment of your own values when you look at yourself in the mirror tomorrow morning. Are you a person of action, or are you frozen in process, stymied by the status quo and a lack of courage to act?(TNS)  In the months following the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) 2017 decision to reclassify broadband under the regulations that governed the internet up until 2015, Democrats in states across the country have been retaliating by either taking executive action or drafting legislation to maintain the FCCs 2015 common carrier regulation of Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Nebraska, New Mexico, California, New York, Rhode Island, Washington, and more are following what appears to be a national movement thats attempting to reverse the FCCs rollback of the strong net neutrality regulations.States like Montana and New York have already issued executive actions that indirectly regulate broadband companies and ISPs by using the states respective monetary power to negotiate broadband services to providers that uphold the net neutrality principles outlined in the FCCs 2015 ruling. But while states try to flex their power under the mantra of local control, the question remains how much authority lies on the side of states when dissenting from a federal regulatory agency.In Iowa, a House bill aimed at giving Iowa the authority to regulate broadband companies and ISPs under the FCCs 2015 regulations was introduced this week. The Iowa Internet Net Neutrality Act (IINNA), sponsored by Rep. Liz Bennet (D-District 65) would mandate that broadband companies and ISPs not participate in paid prioritization practices, block lawful content, impair internet traffic, and make available to the public their practices when handling different forms of online content. The bill is unlikely to receive much support in Iowas Republican-controlled legislature and governors office. And even if it did, its legality is highly questionable and it would fall upon the courts to decide.According to Graham Owens, legal fellow with the think tank TechFreedom, all of these movements, whether through executive actions, or possibly through state law, will have a tough time being implemented and upheld in an eventual court case.Visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute Roslyn Layton concurs with Owens take, expressing that the bill and others like it across the country would violate the Constitution, the Communications Act, and the FCCs preemption authority.Owens said that due to the FCCs recent reclassification of the internet as a Title I entity, the agency has the power to preempt such legislation and action. Preemption is a principle that allows Congress or other federal agencies to stop states from enacting laws that both Congress and federal agencies have the authority to rule on.Essentially, it takes away the states ability at all to regulate [the internet], Owens said. Any sort of regulation that applies to broadband is going to have a difficult time surviving preemption.Owens said this is predominantly because of the Title I designation, which according to Congress and the courts in the implementation of the Telecommunications Act, states once an entity is classified as an information service, under Title I, the states have no authority to regulate it, citing Minnesota Public Utilities Commission v. FCC.Should such legislation survive through a legislature and become a law, the FCC can preempt the state and stop the law. However, Graham said that an ISP or broadband company would need to challenge a states law citing the FCC ruling; the FCC wouldnt be able to merely stand on its authority. In this case, Graham said, the decision could be up to the courts and their view on the FCCs 2017 decision, as well as a pending decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on the FCCs prior 2015 decision, which may violate earlier jurisprudence.For states that have issued executive orders that use their monetary power to get broadband companies and ISPs to implement net neutrality practices in order to obtain the states business, Graham said that though its not a direct regulation, the practice is an indirect regulation, and could succumb to preemption. The only way it could potentially survive preemption would be if the action was very narrow in scope and only applied to one company, and the order originated from an issue that requires such an order, and even then, could still be challenged, said Graham.Given the legal authority on the side of the FCC according to prior court rulings, Graham said that the timing of the FCCs decision and the response to try and keep the 2015 rules is political in nature, and could cause a dilemma in legislatures across the country. Layton emphasizes that Democratic state legislatures pushing for these proposals are showing they have few ideas for how to improve their states economies.When you have no real policy proposals, the best you can do is virtue signaling and copy-paste from the Democratic Party playbook, Layton said. The Democrats used to be a party of science and innovation, but now all they can offer is central planning of technology. They are out of policy ideas.The next steps facing both the FCC and states who are fighting back with executive action and legislation is to wait for the courts to rule. The only way a regulation can be challenged is if an ISP or a broadband provider challenges the action of a state in court, at which point, the court might have to wait to rule until SCOTUS deliberates the constitutionality of the 2015 order.(TNS)  Leaders in Brunswick, Md., looked toward the future at a Tuesday night council meeting, approving a new ordinance designed to regulate the placement of small cell antennas  an emerging technology used by companies such as AT&T and Verizon to improve network coverage.The antennas can range from a few feet high to the size of a refrigerator and generally offer up to five city blocks of coverage, said City Administrator Dave Dunn. The technology is becoming increasingly popular among large cellular providers and smaller vendors as a way to enhance capacity and fill in coverage gaps, according to a report issued by the Federal Communications Commission.Weve had people knocking on our door for some time to put these in our rights of way, Dunn said. Ive been putting them off until we pass an ordinance that covers them.The antennas, or small towers, are often constructed on public spaces such as utility poles, rooftops, or standing communications towers, Dunn added. That can prove to be an issue for big cities and small municipalities alike, which are prevented  through FCC regulations  from denying construction of the antennas or drafting zoning laws to prohibit them.A 2010 case further expanded the rights for communication companies to install the devices. That year, T-Mobile applied to the Frederick County Board of Zoning Appeals for permission to construct a 150-foot communications pole in Knoxville to close a gap in service coverage.The board denied the application, and T-Mobile successfully sought an injunction to allow the construction of the pole, according to court records.The technology is expected to be so significant for small governments that the Maryland Municipal League adopted it as a priority for the 2018 state legislative session, said Brunswick Councilman Harry Lashley.There is no state legislation that establishes the right of municipalities to limit where the antennas are placed, Lashley said.The state is actually very vague on this, he said. We want to make sure a bill becomes law that says that the municipalities have a say over this.Brunswick became one of the first communities in Frederick County, including Middletown, to pass legislation that regulates where companies can place antennas in the municipality. Some restrictions are permitted under federal guidelines as long as theyre considered reasonable, according to Dunn.The feds are very strict, he said. You cant zone them out. You cant forbid them to come. You can only lay down reasonable expectations for installation. And according to our attorneys, these are reasonable.The ordinance was drafted by Cohen Law Group, a firm in Pittsburgh that specializes in telecommunications. The law restricts companies from installing antennas or poles on buildings included in the national or Maryland Registers of Historic Places, or on property deemed historically significant by the city.Companies are also prevented from constructing poles or antennas unless they can prove that that current infrastructure would not sufficiently support the technology. Stealth technology  or camouflaging methods that are used to conceal cell sites  is expected to be used as extensively as possible, according to language in the ordinance.The law also requires companies to apply for permission with the city, a process that involves fees. Applicants must make an initial deposit of $3,500 to cover expenses associated with the application and permitting process. That account must hold a balance of $2,000, and companies are also required to submit a $2,000 application fee.Brunswick has only had a few of those companies approach us, so far, but we know theyre coming, Dunn said. And it requires some measures to make sure we have some control over these things.How it Would Work

Privacy, Race and the Future

Louisville, Ky., is vying to become probably the first city in the country to use autonomous drones to respond to the sound of gunfire.The city has applied for a special program the Federal Aviation Administration is running, where it will give a handful of cities temporary permission to get around long-standing drone rules in order to run pilot projects. Those rules, which operators typically have to get individual waivers to get around, include flying drones outside the operators line of sight, flying at night and flying above people.All of those rules would make it pretty difficult for a city to do what Louisville wants to do. The city has ShotSpotter sensors spread throughout its urban fabric, listening for gunshots. When such a noise is picked up, and interpreted by ShotSpotters analysts to be gunfire and not a similar sound, a notification is sent to police who can respond to the scene.Louisville wants to try out the concept of sending self-routing drones to fly to the scene first. That could bring about several possible benefits: Since theyre airborne, drones would likely be able to arrive on scene faster than a police officer. With an aerial view, they could capture video evidence to help authorities find the person who fired the weapon. And in the case of a false alarm  there have been reports of sensors interpreting fireworks and backfiring cars as gunshots  the drones might be able to keep an officer from responding to nothing.Its an idea that came out of need. According to Chris Seidt , Louisvilles director of information technology, Mayor Greg Fischer tasked the citys Office of Performance Improvement and Innovation  which Seidt was in before moving to his current position  with finding outside-the-box solutions to some urgent problems.Gun violence was a big one. According to LouieStat , the citys statistics portal, Louisville saw shootings more than double from 228 in 2014 to 460 in 2016. They fell in 2017, but around that time the city was installing ShotSpotter. The new system gave officials an indication that there was still a lot of shooting to worry about.In its first six months of existence, we had 800 activations of the system, Seidt said. In the 400 square miles of Jefferson County, thats a bit of a problem.Another bad statistic for the city: Its clearance rate, or the rate at which homicide cases end in an arrest, is about 50 percent. Thats below the national average We thought, Whats the likelihood of getting a better clearance rate if we get to the site of a gunshot incident quickly? Seidt said.Theres another reason, unrelated to crime, behind the project: Like most cities, Louisville still needs to learn about how people are going to use drones in the future.We think drones being integrated into urban environments is something the city needs to be involved with, so by taking the lead on this  program, we feel like we can have a say on how the drone ecosystem in our city develops, he said.The pilot, if approved, is likely to be limited in scope to start off with. The city would be looking for a few parts of town without a lot of flight path obstructions or restrictions, and it would set up geofencing to limit the drones to those parts of town. It would need to purchase new autonomous drones; the fire department already uses manual drones under more restricted conditions, but those wouldnt suit the needs of the project.Our goal is to test the theory and see if this is an effective use case of the technology, Seidt said. Were not looking to go immediately into production and deploy hundreds of drones across the community.The drones would probably have video cameras, which would turn on the moment they launch to respond to a gunshot report and stay on until they return, and maybe equipment to detect heat signatures at night. They would have manual control for emergencies, but mostly they would rely on software to guide them  at predetermined elevations  to the location of gunshots.And the drones wouldnt follow people, cars or other objects. That capability exists within autonomous drones, but for now Seidt said its not part of the citys plans. Remote operators would have the ability to maneuver the cameras in order to capture more footage of something.From ShotSpotters perspective, the idea is pretty straightforward.We send an XML digital alert to a system that can ingest it, and then the heavy lifting is done by an (unmanned aerial vehicle) system that can take a specific lat and long from our system and then do the ... work to get a drone to get from wherever it takes off to that alert, said Ralph Clark, chief executive officer of ShotSpotter.Clark said hes only heard of one other group that wanted to use autonomous drones to respond to ShotSpotter, and that was in South Africa where a customer wanted to use them to try to catch rhino poachers. While the idea of using drones to respond to ShotSpotter is new in the U.S.  none of the sources interviewed for this story had heard of similar programs  the idea of people using technology to respond to the system is not. According to Clark, some of the companys customers have hooked the system up to surveillance cameras that are able to pan, tilt and zoom to focus on the location of a gunshot.Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst for the American Civil Liberties Union, said he has some concerns about the program. One in particular is the possibility that such programs could, if they spread, lead to police disproportionately targeting communities of color. Thats been a problem in the past with policing across the country  as Stanley pointed out, whites and African Americans consume marijuana at about the same rates but African Americans are arrested for it far more often Some cities have only put ShotSpotter in poor and minority neighborhoods, he said.Thats been an issue with other types of technology, too. Predictive policing methods have, in the past, taken their data from previous crime figures. Since police were already doing more in low-income and minority neighborhoods, some have accused predictive policing algorithms of flagging those neighborhoods as needing more police.That said, officials from ShotSpotter and Louisville have both argued that the drone program might actually help protect citizen privacy relative to other surveillance options. After all, the proposal is to only send out drones when theres a report of a gunshot. If the city were to try to use immobile cameras for the same purpose, they would need to blanket the landscape with them.In that regard, Stanley agrees.I agree in the abstract. If its an either-or choice, Id prefer to have surveillance in places with suspected gunshots than everywhere all the time, he said.But hes skeptical it would actually work out that way.If this (idea) were to take off, wed probably have both, Stanley said.Gunshot sensors arent the only type of automated data-gathering networks cities are building. The Array of Things project coming out of Chicago is testing the idea that cities can collect all kinds of data  foot traffic, air quality, rain levels, etc.  in order to improve their operations. Premise Data, a startup that uses crowdsourcing to gather information, is starting to make a push into the U.S. And computer vision algorithms are giving more cameras the ability to identify objects and events . Conceivably, these could all act as automatic data feeds to trigger some kind of response from local government.The purpose of the FAAs program is to learn about how cities might be able to use drones in ways they havent before. So Louisvilles program, being probably the first of its kind, could set an example for other cities to do similar things in the future.Theyre looking not only to validate the safety  I think theyre trying to drive innovation in many use cases for drones and how those can impact the economy, Seidt said.Seidt expects the FAA to announce in May which pilot projects it will approve.A state of emergency imposed by Ethiopia after the prime minister resigned will last six months, the defence minister said on Saturday.

"There are still pockets of areas where violence is prevalent. The (ruling EPRDF coalition's) council were unanimous in their decision," Siraj Fegessa told journalists.

The state of emergency includes a ban on protests and publications that incite violence, an Ethiopian official told Reuters.

Ethiopia announced a state of emergency on Friday after Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on Thursday announced his intention to step down amid a political crisis in the Horn of Africa country.

The ruling EPRDF coalition's council had met on Friday and decided to impose emergency rule.

The council "came to the conclusion that imposing emergency rule would be vital to safeguarding the constitutional order of our country", it said.

An opposition leader said earlier on Friday the ruling coalition had lost its authority and all parties must help map the country's future.

Mulatu Gemechu, deputy secretary of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress, said Ethiopia needed a completely new political system after years of unrest.

"Ethiopians now need a government that respects their rights, not one that keeps beating and killing them," he told Reuters.

Rights advocates have frequently criticised Ethiopia's government for mass arrests and long jail terms handed to political opponents and journalists.

But more than 6,000 political prisoners have been freed since January as the government has struggled to placate discontent.

The prime minister's resignation followed a wave of strikes and demonstrations successfully demanding the release of more opposition leaders.

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Egypts army said on Saturday it killed seven takfiris in north and central Sinai and arrested 408 suspected or wanted criminal elements as Comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018 continues into its ninth day.

In the ninth communique since the counter-terrorism campaign was launched last Friday, the army said the air forces destroyed eight terrorist targets, killing three takfiris and destroying a 4x4 wheeler carrying a half-inch submachine gun.

The Arabic word "takfiri" refers to hardline Sunni Muslims who accuse other Muslims of being infidels, often as a justification for using violence against them.

The army said forces also raided a dangerous terrorist hotspot, killing four of the armed takfiri elements during a shootout, adding that the raid resulted in the confiscation of two machine guns and a improvised explosive device.

The statement said 408 suspected or wanted criminals were arrested and are being legally processed.

Operation Sinai 2018 was launched last Friday, involving land, naval and air forces, as well as the police and border guards, targeting "terrorist and criminal elements and organizations" in northern and central Sinai, as well as parts of the Nile Delta and the Western Desert.

The statement said army engineers uncovered and diffused 45 IEDs which were planted to target security forces during operations.

The army added that its forces destroyed 158 dens and storehouses containing a number of highly explosive materials, C4 and chemical elements used to manufacture IEDs, transmission devices, as well as seven vehicles and 32 unlicensed motorcycles used by the terrorist elements.

Seven tonnes of narcotics were also seized in the operations.

The statement added that the naval forces continued to conduct missions to secure the coasts from Rafah till Al-Arish in order to stop the escape of terrorist elements through the sea.

The joint combat units of the border guard and the police conducted 586 flying checkpoints on main roads and across desert areas nationwide, imposing full control along the southern and western borders.

According to the statement, Border Guard forces stopped an attempt to smuggle weapons and narcotics on the western borders, seizing 99 guns and 400,000 different narcotic pills.

As part of the efforts to bring the legal status of citizens who live in north and central Sinai up to date, the army said the interior ministry was currently issuing and renewing national IDs, as well as driving licenses and licenses for vehicles and motorcycles.

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In an exclusive interview with Al-Ahram Daily newspaper published on Friday, General Joseph Votel, the head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), discussed US military relations with Egypt, the ongoing anti-terrorism Operation Sinai 2018, as well as terrorist activity in the region.

Votel, who met with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo on Thursday during his current visit to Egypt, said that he tries to visit the country on a regular basis to ensure that strong bilateral ties are maintained.

"My current visit comes at a very important time, especially after the [recent] visits by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Vice President Mike Pence, and Secretary of Defense James Mattis," said the four-star General, who has been CENTCOM commander since March 2016.

"I believe that such consecutive visits should be looked at as a meaningful reflection of the importance of our relationship with Egypt," Votel told Al-Ahram.

He described military cooperation between the two countries  especially in the field of counterterrorism  as "very good."

"I think we have always maintained good military relations. We share fears over terrorism, so it is natural for us to continue cooperation in this area on a permanent basis, Votel said.

Al-Ahram asked the general if US-Egyptian military cooperation has been negatively affected by last year's US decision to partially cut military aid to Egypt.

"My mission is to ensure that cooperation between us is not affected by such decisions, and that they advance in a positive way," answered Votel.

In August 2017, the US announced it would be holding back $195 million out of its annual $1.3 billion in military aid to Cairo pending hoped-for improvements in Egypt's performance on "democracy".

Egypt described the US move as a misjudgement about the nature of strategic relations that have bound the two countries for decades."

"I see that we are moving forward, especially in the field of exchanging information," Votel told Al-Ahram.

Shortly following the US August 2017 decision on aid, US President Donald Trump assured President El-Sisi that he is keen to overcome any obstacles to good bilateral ties between the two countries.

Votel explained to Al-Ahram that he has discussed with President El-Sisi "the necessity for strong cooperation between us, especially since we need a long-term military alliance in Syria and an operational alliance in Afghanistan to fight terrorism, because it is an international problem that worries us all."

Votel also spoke to Al-Ahram about the newly launched Operation Sinai 2018, describing it as very important.

"I think the Egyptian forces are carrying out their duties in preserving the safety of the Egyptian people and their interests, and we always wish them success," he said.

On the war against the terrorist group Daesh, Votel said that despite their recent defeats in Iraq's Mosul and Syria's Raqqa, the group still has a presence in parts of Syria, where the US continues to fight them in cooperation with its allies on the ground.

He added that Daesh members have moved to other areas in attempt to take them over or use them as a launching pad to return to Mosul.

"Our mission is to stop them from doing this, and to isolate them," he stressed.

Votel also slammed reports by some media outlets suggesting that the US cooperates with Daesh or provides them with arms.

"I think this is absurd. Anyone who believes that the US government or army supports [Daesh] is speaking nonsense," Votel tol Al-Ahram.

"We are exerting major efforts in Syria and Iraq to fight and eliminate [Daesh]," he said, adding that he believes that this is proven by the facts on the ground.

Votel also said that Daesh members must be prevented from moving operations to other countries in the region.

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Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Saudi Arabia's King Salman Bin Abdel-Aziz discussed during a Friday phone call means of coordinating efforts and boosting joint Arab work to confront threats and challenges that threaten the security and stability of the region.

In an official statement, Egyptian Presidency spokesman Bassam Rady said President El-Sisi received a call from King Salman, where they discussed means of strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries in different fields in light of "the historical and distinctive relationship between them."

According to Rady, the two leaders also discussed a number of regional issues, agreeing on "continuing joint efforts and extensive consultations to accomplish the interests of both brotherly countries and the Arab nations."

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Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry met with a number of German, African and UN officials on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, where he tackled a range of topics including counterterrorism, irregular migration, stability and development in Africa, as well as bilateral and regional issues, according to a statement by Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid.

Shoukry discussed with German Minister of Defence Ursula Von Der Leyen security and military cooperation, as well as the desire to boost relations in order to consolidate security and stability in the Middle East, the African coast and the Sahara, especially in relation to counterterrorism and irregular migration.

They also discussed Egypts ongoing anti-terrorism Operation Sinai 2018, with Shoukry expressing the countrys aspiration to receive more German support in training as well as the provision of border monitoring equipment.

On irregular migration, Von Der Leyen praised Egypts success in preventing migrant boats from departing the country since September 2016.

Shoukry also met with German Minister of Interior Thomas de Maiziere.

Shoukry urged Maiziere not to extend a ban on German airlines flying under 26,000 feet over Sinai by the end of February, as this has a negative impact on German tourism in Egypt, which rose to 1.2 million tourists in 2017, adding that security conditions are stable in southern Sinai.

Shoukry and Maiziere also discussed bilateral relations in security, combating corruption, and irregular migration, as well as Egypts upcoming presidential elections.

The Egyptian foreign minister also met with the first Vice President of South Sudan Taban Deng Gai, who said that his government wishes to see Egyptian technical and political support on the national dialogue in his country. Shoukry said that Egypt supports peace and security in South Sudan.

Shoukry relayed greetings from Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit, saying that El-Sisi appreciates the existing relations between the two countries and desires to further support and development in all fields, especially in education, agriculture, and healthcare.

Shoukry also participated in a business luncheon on security and development in Africa, which was attended by the foreign ministers of Rwanda, Sudan, and the head of the World Bank, where they discussed the impact of security and stability on development efforts in Africa.

The officials discussed the successful efforts  especially by the African Union and other regional institutions  in making Africa more stable and secure through political solutions for several crises in the continent, and highlighted the need to focus on providing job opportunities and education to improve living standards.

Shoukry also discussed the situation in Syria with the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, where he expressed Egypt's support for the latter's efforts and success in his mission in Syria, especially in light of the Sochi Conference.

The Egyptian foreign minister reiterated Egypt's stance in "supporting a political resolution in Syria that would maintain the structure and unity of the Syrian state and its institutions," as well as "rejecting any military solutions that would constitute a violation of Syrian sovereignty and undermine the existing opportunities for political solutions."

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THE first of this years snowdrop teas weekends in Swyncombe raised more than 2,260.

The annual event, which is now in its 22nd year, is held at St Botolphs Church over three consecutive weekends.

Hundreds of people come to see the carpet of white flowers in the graveyard and enjoy tea and cakes.

All the money raised goes towards the maintenance of the church, which dates back to the Normans.

On Sunday, the rector of Watlington Rev Daniel Thompson blessed the snowdrops with help from four-year-old Caroline Huckvale, the daughter of former parish councillor Rachel Huckvale.

Rev Thompson rang a bell around the church before a small group of visitors gathered in the churchyard.

He held a watering can while Caroline poured holy water into it from a milk carton. Rev Thompson then gave the blessing and encouraged her to sprinkle the snowdrops from the can. She was helped to empty by another volunteer.

On Saturday, the number of visitors was down on previous years due to the bad weather.

Churchwarden Hilary Cox said: We had hailstorms and it was a chilly, cloudy and thoroughly damp and depressing day. Even so, we had a reasonable amount of people attend, many of them regulars.

On Sunday the sun shone and we certainly had a lot more people, children and dogs and lots and lots of cake was consumed.

A stall sold mugs depicting the church and bookmarks designed by John Sennett featuring one of its stained glass windows.

There were also cards showing the snowdrops designed by Shelagh Stevens, who organised the weekend with her husband Peter.

There will be more teas tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday and on February 24 and 25 from 2pm to 4pm daily.

Tea and cakes, preserves, chutneys and pickles will be for sale and visitors will be able to buy snowdrops grown by the congregation.

A choral evensong will be held on Sunday at 4.30pm.

Before this Denis Pepper, an authority on St Botolph and author of the only two books about the patron saint of travellers, will be visiting.

In the 7th century, St Botolph returned from his studies in France and went to Iken in Suffolk, where he asked the local King Anna for permission to start a monastery in the least pleasant part of his kingdom.Ethiopia announced a state of emergency on Friday after Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on Thursday announced his intention to step down amid a political crisis in the Horn of Africa country.

The ruling EPRDF coalition's council met on Friday and decided to impose emergency rule, the state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation said. The announcement did not say how long the rule would be in place.

The council "came to the conclusion that imposing emergency rule would be vital to safeguarding the constitutional order of our country", it said. Further details are expected to be given by the defence minister on Saturday morning.

An opposition leader said earlier on Friday the ruling coalition had lost its authority and all parties must help map the country's future.

Mulatu Gemechu, deputy secretary of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress, said Ethiopia needed a completely new political system after years of unrest.

"Ethiopians now need a government that respects their rights, not one that keeps beating and killing them," he told Reuters.

Rights advocates have frequently criticised Ethiopia's government for mass arrests and long jail terms handed to political opponents and journalists.

But more than 6,000 political prisoners have been freed since January as the government has struggled to placate discontent.

The prime minister's resignation followed a wave of strikes and demonstrations successfully demanding the release of more opposition leaders.



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When Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi declared victory over the Islamic State (IS) group in December, attention immediately turned to how soon his government would start efforts to rebuild the Sunni-populated cities destroyed by the war against the group.

These efforts are seen as vital for the stabilisation of the country and to prevent the re-emergence of the militants who have lost their Caliphate but may return to their guerrilla roots.

Much of the focus has been on how much the international community will contribute to the construction projects in order to help Iraq emerge from the rubble of the war and start building a better future for its people.

But major donors led by the United States at an international reconstruction conference in Kuwait this week stunned many Iraqis by claiming that their country was rich enough to pay the cost of the war and that it should not expect a blank cheque for the rebuilding drive.

The United States proposed that Iraq, which sits on the worlds third-largest oil reserves, should use its revenues from energy to finance private-sector investment.

Washington argued that combined with international and regional business interests, Iraqs own resources should be able to meet the countrys long-term reconstruction needs.

While the declaration reflects US President Donald Trumps abhorrence of the US being involved in nation-building, the strategy reflects the broader perspective of how making money and making war have long been related businesses.

The move has underlined what has been known since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 that the ensuing civil war has a strong commercial element from international and regional powers willing to profit from the prolonged conflict in Iraq.

With efforts to kick-start a national programme to rebuild Iraq now depending largely on investment and not donations, the question of how far geopolitical and commercial factors will affect the reconstruction process remains open.

One way to understand the post-IS reconstruction is to look back at Iraqs neo-liberal economic policies after 2003 and how far these have shaped the countrys economy, which depends mainly on its vast oil revenues.

These free-trade and free-market policies were imposed by the US Occupation Authority in Iraq, and they have destroyed Iraqs domestic production sectors and made the country depend completely on imports.

The import-based economy has not only turned Iraq into a dumping ground for finished and mostly cheap consumer goods, but it has also made it a playground for competing regional and international powers for profits and markets.

Even after oil prices collapsed in 2013, Iraq remained using the bulk of its petroleum revenues on imports. According to the CIA Fact Book, a summary produced by the US intelligence agency, Iraqs imports amounted to $43.27 billion in 2016, or nearly half its oil income.

Most of the money coming from oil exports went to a handful of countries heavily involved in Iraqs geopolitics. While China has been Iraqs biggest supplier, with exports of some $7.9 billion amounting to 24.3 per cent of Iraqs overall imports in 2015, Turkey and Iran remain the biggest regional exporters.

Turkeys exports to Iraq amounted to $8.6 billion, or 26.2 per cent of its overall imports, and Irans share in exports to Iraq stood at 19.7 per cent in 2016-2017, or $6.1 billion, according to Ibrahim Rezazadeh, in charge of the Iraq desk at the Trade Promotion Organisation of Iran.

Among other neighbours that have benefited from the on-going conflict in Iraq is Jordan, whose trade sector has grown rapidly since the US-led invasion thanks to regional instability, especially in Iraq.

In 2013, before the rise of IS and the closure of the border with Iraq, Jordans exports to Iraq amounted to around $822 million, or 9.5 per cent of its overall exports.

After the collapse of IS and the liberation of Iraqs major cities, Jordan secured an agreement with Iraq to exempt some 541 Jordanian products from customs fees, mostly on agricultural products and fertilisers.

Last month, the Jordanian cabinet approved a framework agreement with Iraq for a 1,700-km pipeline that will transfer Iraqi crude oil from Basra to the Jordanian port city of Aqaba at a cost of about $18 billion. The pipeline will transfer about one million barrels of oil per day for export.

Under various preferential deals Jordan has intermittently been receiving oil from Iraq, either for free or at well below market rates.

Saudi Arabia has joined countries eyeing business ties with Iraq as a way of furthering their geopolitical interests in the beleaguered country.

Recently the Sunni Arab powerhouse started building its ties with Iraq in what is seen as an endeavour by the oil-rich Kingdom to move Iraq away from Irans sphere of influence.

Saudi Minister of Commerce and Investment Majid Al-Qassabi said in October that Saudi-Iraqi relations were entering a new era with an ambitious programme of unlimited trade, economic and investment activities.

The Saudi Arab News newspaper quoted Al-Qassabi as saying that the bilateral trade volume between Saudi Arabia and Iraq had reached SR23 billion ($6.13 billion) over the 10 years from 2006 to 2016.

In 2016, Saudi Arabias exports to Iraq amounted to SR2.2 billion ($586 million), while Iraqs exports to the Kingdom amounted to only SR24 million ($6.4 million), the minister said.

The United States, European nations and Australia, as well as Syria, Egypt, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, are among Iraqs other key trade partners.

All this profit-making business speaks volumes about how regional and foreign countries have been benefiting from Iraqs turmoil and the failure of its governments to build an economy that works and to stop sapping its national resources.

The international conference in Kuwait could have been the best opportunity for better and more honest global action to help Iraq end the cynical conflict that has plagued its people for 15 years.

Yet, the United States, which is primarily responsible for Iraqs destruction and misery, is refraining from contributing to its reconstruction and is alternatively proposing a private-sector investment plan to develop the countrys battered economy.

By suggesting that the aim of the plan is to push Iraqs Gulf neighbours, particularly Sunni regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, to pour in money as part of a rapprochement with Baghdad to reduce Shia rival Irans influence in Iraq, Washington is flipping the ordinary equation and planning to stir a fiercer trade war among Iraqs neighbours and thus perpetuate the conflict in Iraq.

To be sure, corrupt officials, a weak government, and politicians who want to channel any money coming from donors towards their local clients and constituents should be denied the opportunity to profit from foreign aid.

But if the international community fails to help financially strapped Iraq to rebuild and provide services and security to its people, the defeat of IS will prove to be meaningless and it could set the stage for IS terrorists to return.

However, turning Iraqs woes into commercial opportunities will not help to bind Iraqs wounds, but will rather create a playing field for many foreign governments, greedy traders and businesses willing to profit from civil strife.

It may sound cynical, but the rise of IS has opened up opportunities for Iraqs neighbours to increase their influence and economic presence in the country. They may now even hope that the same movie will be played again.

*This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly

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11 February marked the seventh anniversary of the uprising in Yemen against former president Ali Abdullah Saleh who had been in power for 33 years. During this time, he united the country for the first time in centuries and built an extensive network of interests that continues today despite the death of its founder.

Yemens incumbent President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, gave an address to mark the anniversary this week, telling Yemenis that the recent clashes in the southern port of Aden were an alarm bell for Yemenis and the Arab Coalition regarding those trying to derail the battle for Yemen and the Gulf against Iranian plots by distracting attention through smaller destructive schemes, as reported by the Yemeni news ageny SABA.

Hadi did not name who was responsible for the Aden clashes between the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a secessionist movement demanding a return to the former Peoples Republic of Yemen (South Yemen), and militias affiliated to the Yemeni Reform Party, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood in Yemen.

Hadi accused coup militias of igniting a barbaric and absurd war, a reference to the Houthi rebels, and added that the war by the Saudi-led Arab Coalition had blocked what he described as Iranian plots to make Yemen a springboard for Iranian Houthi militias that threaten the region and world.

He said that if it had not been for the criminal coup by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, much could have been accomplished in the seven years after the Yemeni Revolution.

There were celebrations marking the Revolutions anniversary in provinces under the control of Hadis internationally recognised government, which is supported by the Arab Coalition. Saleh had refused to step down for nine months until November 2011.

Habib Abd Rabbo, a professor at Rouen Unversity in France, said that the Yemen crisis is not any single partys fault. Everyone is to blame for where we are today.

He told Al-Ahram Weekly that all sides have relied on outside forces. The rumour is that the Houthis are funded by Iran, the Muslim Brotherhood and Reform Party are supported by Qatar, the southern movement is assisted by the UAE, and Hadi relies on Saudi Arabia. This reliance on foreign support complicates the crisis, and therefore we cannot talk about stablility in a conventional way.

Clashes broke out for several days in Aden, the capital of the former South Yemen and the second-largest city in the country, between Reform Party forces and Hadis camp (the STC) which succeeded in taking control of the city and demanded the resignation of Ahmed bin Daghrs goverment that is accused of corruption.

The STC is led by Aidarus Al-Zoubaidi, the former governor of Aden, who was removed by Hadi in April 2017. He was a fighter pilot in the South Yemen army and played a key role in the 1994 War which Saleh won against southern separatists.

After the separatists were defeated, Al-Zoubaidi fled to Djibouti and created the Right to Self-Determination Movement for the Souths secession from the rest of Yemen. He was then sentenced to death in absentia by a military tribunal.

The Right to Self-Determination Movement ended in 2002 after Riyadh stopped funding it, according to observers, once a border agreement had been reached with Saleh in 2001. Al-Zoubaidi has denied being funded by Saudi Arabia.

After the clashes, Hadis camp joined the fate of the alliance between the Houthis and Saleh which disintegrated after clashes between the two sides in Sanaa in December 2017. It also resulted in the death of Saleh, several of his family members, and political aides. Hadis camp is a coalition between southerners, the Muslim Brotherhood and some smaller forces.

There is no difference between the rebellious Houthis and Brotherhood terrorists, said Sinan Al-Ahmadi, an activist in the STC. They are both dangerous.

In an interview from Manchester in the UK, Al-Ahmadi denied to the Weekly that the clashes were a UAE plot, as claimed by the Brotherhood, despite rumours that the wealthy Gulf state is funding the STC to take control of Aden and expel the Brotherhood as part of a greater struggle within the group which is categorised as a terrorist organisation in Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

There have been media reports that Qatar supports the Muslim Brotherhood in several Arab countries, including Yemen. This was confirmed when Tarek Saleh, the former Yemeni presidents nephew, arrived in Aden and was welcomed by the STC, according to Abd Rabbo.

Tarek Saleh is accused of abuses against STC fighters before the Arab Coalition took control of Aden, he explained. Tarek Saleh was also close to his uncle and in charge of the former presidents movements and protection. He remained with him until the moment he was killed and then fled Sanaa to Shabwa.

There is a major plot that believes that ending Iranian influence will not succeed without the network of interests created by Saleh, which could be inherited by his son Ahmed, or nephew Tarek, whichever is more capable of leadership,  Rabbo said. The Salehs cannot succeed by themselves: they need southern support, namely Al-Zoubaidis leadership. 

Most of the army was earlier loyal to Saleh, along with the middle classes, tribal leaders and most of the religious establishments. Today, either Tarek or Ahmed could inherit this political legacy. Abd Rabbo said there were rumours in Yemen that the UAE is working on a deal or coalition between Salehs network and the STC to end Brotherhood and Houthi influence. This would satisfy the Saudis, as well as the Egyptians and Emiratis, he said.

What makes the UAEs task hard is reticence by some southerners about Salehs regime and mistrust in the north about the STCs separatists intentions. This doesnt matter,  responded Abd Rabbo. Both sides want their sphere of influence in a federal state, Saleh loyalists in the north and the STC in the south.

Al-Ahmadi confirmed that the STC accepts an alliance with Salehs network. Everyone in politics is deciding on their priorities, he said. Our problem is with the Houthis and the Muslim Brotherhood because they are religious groups prone to violence. The Brotherhood is loyal to its global organisation and the Houthis to Iran.

Such pragmatism can also be seen in the relationship between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, according to Yemeni commentator Ali Al-Rahbi. Although Saudi Arabia supported the Brotherhood in Yemen to fight the Iranian-backed Houthis, it would not mind its defeat in return for erasing the Iranian influence in Yemen, Al-Rahbi said.

Saudi Arabia does not care whether the Brotherhood is present or participating in the government as long as Iran has no presence in Yemen. Everyone knows that the strongest camp capable of ruling Yemen is Salehs network and whoever inherits it. This network does not need social or political support from the Brotherhood or the Houthis, he concluded.

*This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly

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Turkeys ties with the United States are at a critical point and the two countries will either fix them or break completely. This is not an analysis, but rather the point of view of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusolgu, expressed bluntly on the sidelines of a Turkish-African meeting last Monday in Istanbul.

On 20 January, Turkey launched military operations in Afrin, in Syrias northwest, dubbed Operation Olive Branch. Turkish forces entered the Kurdish militia-controlled Afrin enclave despite repeated calls by Washington for Ankara not to intervene. Turkey subsequently threatened to expand its operation to the Syrian town of Manbij, northeast of Aleppo, where US forces are deployed with the YPG (Peoples Protection Units).

Erdogan ramped up his verbal assault 6 February, declaring he would be forced to bury them and warned that although they tell us dont come to Manbij, Turkey will come to Manbij.

Threatening US forces in Manbij could irrevocably damage the decades-long US-Turkish alliance, which is already under strain.

Today, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is scheduled to arrive in Turkey, bracing himself for what he described as tough conversations.

Tillersons Turkish counterpart Cavusoglu agrees that the relationship between Washington and Ankara has reached a challenging point.

Although the US and Turkey are NATO allies, the two countries have diverging interests in Syria. Tillerson is expected to inform Turkey that the Kurds are the USs only allies in Syria and that a strong Kurdish-US alliance is imperative to US interests when it comes to breaking the chains of Russian and Iranian hegemony in Syria. He would also try to explain to officials in Ankara that this US goal would also benefit Turkey, adding that US forces will not leave Manbij.

US coalition commander Lieutenant General Paul Funk and special ops commander Major General Jamie Jarrard were flying huge American flags on their vehicles when they rolled into Manbij on 7 February, to make sure the Turks and their allies knew they were there.

You hit us, we will respond aggressively. We will defend ourselves, promised Funk, who made a point of standing on a roof surrounded by Arab and Kurdish fighters so Turkish troops and their Syrian allies could get a good look at him.

In response, a senior foreign policy adviser to Erdogan denounced the visit to Manbij as a gung-ho gesture and a flippant and provocative display.

It is an open secret that Erdogan has decided to side against the US after he stated a few days ago that the US was working against Turkey, Russia and Iran in Syria.

Erdogan believes that the Afrin war will turn to his countrys benefit. After wiping out terrorists in Afrin We will solve the problem of Idlib and the Syrians will be able to go home, said Erdogan.

These statements were made 13 days ago, before he added that, our forces were just warming up. Our big move will follow in the next phase.

The invasion of Afrin was promised to last no longer than 10 days.

With the increase of deaths among Turkish soldiers, security bodies are intensifying their campaigns against Turkish opposition movements who reject the military operation undertaken, according to the media loyal to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), for Turkey to remain an undivided land: one language, one flag and one nation.

According to opposition figures, all European countries have expressed their resentment of the military operation. The European Parliament has condemned the spate of arrests of opposition members and is worried about the humanitarian repercussions of the brute force that took the lives of tens of civilians.

\Regional condemnation of Operation Olive Branch stands in stark contrast to reactions to Operation Euphrates Shield that lasted for eight months in 2016-17. Despite the fact that the Turkish army lost 70 of its soldiers in the latter operation, the government achieved its goals.

This time around, not only did the Turkish government come up empty handed, it has also failed to appease Sunni groups that had previously received the Turkish army with open arms in Jarabulus and Al-Bab. Today, the Sunni groups are siding with Kurdish forces  a development that has compounded an already intriguing situation.

Ankaras plan to create a buffer zone by forcing a security cordon on Afrin has proven a failure. Observers believe this will happen only when Afrin becomes completely wrecked, citing as proof the fact that Turkish military forces were able to march only a few kilometres south of their borders and into Syria. They point out that this is because of Kurdish steadfastness and their knowledge of the complex geography of the region, together with US supply in assistance.

Recent developments, however, are increasing Turkeys burden. For the first time in seven years since the Syrian civil war broke out, armed opponents to Bashar Al-Assad downed a Russian Sukhoi Su-25 jet, ruling in the possibility that the aircraft was launched by the Free Syrian Army supported by Turkey. More importantly, however, Syrian air defence systems destroyed an Israeli F-16 that was attacking military targets in Syria. Israel then downed a drone it claimed to be of Iranian origin.

*This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly

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Apostle: What students can do to live happily ever after

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asked students attending the Brigham Young University devotional Tuesday, what they can do to live happily ever after. The road to eternal happiness depends on lifelong conversion to the truths of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, Renlund said. Lifelong conversion means that we endure to the end, remaining firm in our commitment to keep the covenants we have made with God  no matter what. Such a commitment cannot be conditional or dependent on the ...1 / 6 Mitt Romney, candidate for the U.S. Senate, meets with students in the Hall of Flags at Utah Valley University on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, in Orem. Romney publicly announced he would be running for senate earlier in the morning. Evan Cobb, Daily Herald 2 / 6 Mitt Romney, candidate for the U.S. Senate, takes selfies with students in the Hall of Flags at Utah Valley University on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, in Orem. Evan Cobb, Daily Herald 3 / 6 Mitt Romney, candidate for the U.S. Senate, answers questions from members of the media in the Hall of Flags at Utah Valley University on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, in Orem. Evan Cobb, Daily Herald 4 / 6 Members of the media surround Mitt Romney, candidate for the U.S. Senate, as he walks in the Hall of Flags at Utah Valley University on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, in Orem. Evan Cobb, Daily Herald 5 / 6 Mitt Romney, candidate for the U.S. Senate, poses for a portrait in the President's Office at Utah Valley University on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, in Orem. Evan Cobb, Daily Herald 6 / 6 Mitt Romney, candidate for the U.S. Senate, meets with students in the Hall of Flags at Utah Valley University on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, in Orem. Romney shook hands and took pictures with students and staff of the university. Evan Cobb, Daily Herald  

Mitt Romney announced via video early Friday morning that he will be running for political office once again, this time to represent Utahns in the U.S. Senate.

After making the announcement, Romney spent his day making appearances in Ogden, Lehi and Orem to meet and make supporters.

At Utah Valley University, Romney spent about 30 minutes shaking hands, posing for selfies and occasionally reminding people to make sure to sign his petitions to get on the ballot, as he has elected to take the dual path to the ballot, by collecting signatures as well as going through the Republican Partys caucus convention system.

Relationship with Trump

After the UVU meet-and-greet, Romney talked with the Daily Herald about what hed like to accomplish if elected as a senator  including what his working relationship with President Donald Trump would look like.

Romney famously called Trump a phony and a fraud prior to the 2016 presidential election  something unheard of for a former presidential nominee to say about a current presidential nominee from his own party.

On Friday, Romney said he would continue to point out disagreements with Trump, but focused much more heavily on the ways he agrees with the president since taking office.

On a policy front, the presidents policies since being elected are very close to my own, Romney said. And those that I promoted in my campaign.

For instance, Romney said, he agreed with the tax reduction, deregulation and judicial appointments made during Trumps tenure in the White House so far.

Where the president has said something or Tweeted something that I thought was important, and where I disagreed, then I pointed that out, Romney said. I call them like I see them. So I will be with the president when his policies are good for the people of Utah, are good for the people of our country, and if I disagree, Ill point that out.

Bears Ears

His agreement with Trump extends to the presidents recent controversial reduction of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments by a total of about 2 million acres.

Romney asserted the original decisions to create those monuments, made by presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, didnt align with the original intent of the Antiquities Act, which made the creation of national monuments possible.

The idea in the antiquities law was that a president could designate an area and take the smallest footprint possible to protect antiquities, Romney said. Well, millions of acres were taken by Presidents Obama and Clinton, without even having the courtesy to come to Utah to talk about their taking.

Though Romney said he didnt know if the new boundaries for the monuments were exactly how he would have set them, he said Trumps reversal corrected a mistake, and he supported that reversal.

Priorities if elected

As for Romneys priorities that are Utah-specific, Romney said bringing jobs to Utahs most rural counties will be at the top of his list.

Romney has a multi-step plan for accomplishing that, including bringing more government jobs to those areas, creating tax-advantaged zones to encourage businesses to locate and create jobs there and making sure that rural communities have quality health care and education.

People are not going to live in an area if they dont have a good health care option, Romney said. And with regards to education centers, I believe that finding places where there are institutions of higher learning and building on them to create an environment of technology will help attract jobs.

And for those areas like Utah County where rapid urban growth is a concern, Romney said getting money for transportation and infrastructure needs is something he believes he can be effective in securing the necessary federal funding for.

Particularly right here in Utah County, with the very high growth in Orem, Provo, Lehi and Alpine, youre going to have increasing transportation issues that weve got to address, he said. And I believe I can be more effective in getting the funding necessary to, for instance, de-bottleneck 1-15.

Background

While Romney is the highest profile candidate to throw his hat into the ring for the Senate race, he is not alone. Democrat Jenny Wilson, a current Salt Lake County Council member, and a handful of Republicans have announced intent to run as well.

Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch announced on Jan. 2 he would retire at the end of the year after he completes his current term in office. Hatch, 83, has served in the U.S. Senate for more than 40 years and is the longest-serving Republican in the Senate.

It is the first time Romney has sought elected political office since his failed bid in 2012 for president against Barack Obama. During that election, Romney received an overwhelming 73 percent of the vote in Utah. Sixty-nine percent of registered voters in Utah County voted for Romney for president in the 2012 general election. Ultimately, Romney lost with 48 percent of the popular vote and only 206 electoral votes, compared to Obamas 332.

Of course, many are familiar with Romneys background prior to running for president as former governor of Massachusetts and his role in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Despite his time as an elected official on the East Coast, and skepticism from some that hes lived in Utah for long enough to warrant a Senate run, Romney said Friday that there is no doubt that, for him, Utah is home.

Romney has lived in Utah for a total of 10 years, he said: three while he attended Brigham Young University for his undergraduate, three while he served as the president of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, which was behind the 2002 Winter Olympics that took place in Salt Lake City, and the past four years as a resident.

Yeah, this is home, Romney said, mentioning his deep family roots in Utah, including a great-grandfather who was the architect of the St. George Tabernacle.

Whats interesting is, even when I was running for president, people around the country assumed I was from Utah, Romney said. Its only in Utah that people ask the question, Are you really from Utah? Everyone else in the country is convinced Im from Utah. They know my roots are here.

Romney will also speak at the Utah County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner on Friday night.The British government on Friday suspended new funding to aid agency Oxfam, which had some staff accused of sexually exploiting people in crisis zones. The group's chief called the allegations "a stain" that shames the organization.

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said Oxfam had agreed not to bid for further U.K. taxpayer funds until it met the British government's "high standards."

"Clearly Oxfam have a long way to go before they can regain the trust of the British public, their staff and the people they aim to help," she said. "The actions and attitude of the organization over the coming weeks will be critical."

Oxfam received 31.7 million pounds ($43.8 million) from the British government in 2016-17, out of some 400 million pounds in total income.

U.K.-based Oxfam has been rocked by allegations that senior staff working in Haiti after the country's 2010 earthquake faced misconduct allegations, including using prostitutes and downloading pornography.

Oxfam says it investigated the case, fired four workers and let three others resign, but the British government and charity regulators have criticized its lack of transparency.

Mordaunt said the government had asked Oxfam and other recipients of aid funding for assurances about their "safeguarding and reporting practices" by Feb. 26.

She said Oxfam had already agreed to report the accused staff members to their respective governments and to hand over all evidence it held on the allegations to the Haitian government.

She said "hundreds of good, brave and compassionate people working for Oxfam around the world" had been "poorly served by Oxfam's leadership team."

Oxfam International executive director Winnie Byanyima said she was deeply sorry for the allegations about staff in Haiti, and also in Chad.

"What happened in Haiti and afterwards is a stain on Oxfam that will shame us for years, and rightly so," Byanyima said.

She said she was appointing an independent commission to "look into our culture and our practices" and set up a vetting system for its staff. Byanyima urged all victims of abuse to come forward.

"I'm here for all the women who have been abused. I want them to come forward and for justice to be done for them," she told the BBC.

The scandal is a major blow to Oxfam, which relies on public and corporate donations as well as government funding.

South African Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu, British actress Minnie Driver and Senegalese musician Baaba Maal have all resigned as Oxfam celebrity ambassadors in the wake of the sexual misconduct allegations and Britain's charity regulator has launched an investigation.

The allegations relate to Oxfam GB, one 20 affiliates that make up Oxfam International.

Mark Goldring, chief executive of Oxfam GB, admitted the organization needed to reform, but said "the scale and the intensity of the attacks feels out of proportion to the level of culpability."

He told The Guardian that the scandal could have "a substantial effect on public confidence, which would affect public donations."

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It turns out that, with apologies to Nancy Pelosi, Republicans really did have to pass the tax bill so people could find out whats in it.

The GOP has made gains on the generic congressional ballot in recent weeks, with warmer feelings about the tax plan contributing to the upward trend. The improving numbers at least raise the prospect that, just as in 2016, Democrats will be lured by their abiding conviction in President Donald Trumps inevitable failure and their deep loathing of him to misplay what should be a winning hand.

Theres no doubt that Republicans are in trouble. Special elections, fundraising, retirements and history all suggest it will be a strong Democratic year.

But the new polling is alarming enough for the left that the progressive group Priorities USA released a memo suggesting a readjustment. It posits that Democrats were winning the tax and health care debates, then in the last few weeks, Democrats turned their attention to other issues.

What other issues? Well, every other issue. Immigration, of course. But, otherwise, the crisis du jour  shole countries, etc.  and the hardy perennials of Russia and obstruction, sometimes switched around to obstruction and Russia for noveltys sake.

Trump is the racetrack rabbit that keeps Democrats running in a perpetual cycle of outrage. This doesnt mean the president is playing three-dimensional chess, or that the unending Twitter-fed controversies help him. Surely, if he arranged for a 60-ton M1 Abrams tank to ceremonially crush his phone at his hoped-for military parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, his approval rating would bump up a couple of points.

But how many voters care about whatever the latest flare-up is as much as the professional commentators and partisans whose job it is to get exercised by the controversy of the hour?

In their perpetual state of high dudgeon, Democrats are inviting voters to fixate on the uproars, while telling them to dismiss bonuses and pay increases  crumbs, as House Minority Leader Pelosi deemed them  that are much more tangible.

Per the Priorities USA polling, Trump is making progress on bread-and-butter issues. The latest Priorities USA survey has him at 34 percent favorable-46 percent unfavorable on health care, up from a dismal 23 percent-53 percent last November; 46-42 on taxes, an increase from 32-48; and 46-39 on the economy, a marked improvement from 38-43.

The backdrop here is the tax law. The Obamacare bounce that never materialized for Democrats  at least not until Republicans began trying to repeal the health care law  has shown up for the GOP on taxes.

It would be difficult to craft a proposed tax cut with worse polling before the bill passed. The numbers were worthy of a tax increase  and, in fact, were largely based on an erroneous belief that the bill indeed constituted a tax hike.

Almost immediately after its passage, companies began giving their employees bonuses and pay raises. Now, the cuts on the individual side are kicking in. Quinnipiac and Monmouth have the public evenly split on the law, and theres clearly room for more growth.

Priorities USA is right to urge Democrats to take heed. The memo doesnt put it in these terms, but it argues that the key to defeating Trump is normalizing him, running against him as a conventional Republican crony of the rich and big business who is redistributing income upward. This Democratic message has worked pretty effectively for 80 years  why change it now?

But a party thats in a perpetual state of hysteria and, on top of that, is operating against the backdrop of an economy with 4.1 percent unemployment may find it harder than expected to pull off its old tricks. The current interlude may not mean Republicans escape their hanging in the fall, but it gives them something in short supply before passage of the tax bill  hope.A Pakistani court Saturday handed four death sentences to a man charged with raping and murdering a young girl, in a case that shocked the country and sparked major riots in his home district.

Imran Ali, 24, was on trial for the killing of six-year-old Zainab Fatima Ameen in the eastern city of Kasur last month.

He faces further charges in the cases of at least seven other children attacked in the Punjab city -- five of whom were murdered -- in a spate of assaults that had stoked fears a serial child killer was on the loose. He has confessed to all eight attacks, including the death of Zainab.

Ali was handed four separate death sentences after being convicted of the rape and murder of Zainab, as well as terrorism charges, prosecutor general of Punjab province Ihtesham Qadir said after a special anti-terrorism court passed its judgement.

Under Pakistani law, crimes that are considered to have spread terror in society can be charged as acts of terrorism.

The prosecutors said he received further life imprisonment and fines totalling 3.2 million rupees ($30,000) for additional charges of hiding his victim's body.

One million rupees of the fine would be given in compensation to Zainab's family, public prosecutor Abdul Rauf Wattoo told AFP.

The trial was held in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat prison for security reasons. Journalists were stopped 500 meters from the prison and only relatives of the victim were allowed in court for the hearing.

Strict security was deployed outside the prison at the time of announcement of the judgement and every visitor was physically checked.

Zainab's mother Nusrat Bibi demanded execution of the death penalties be carried out in public.

"I want him to be hanged publicly at the place where he took Zainab," she told reporters after the verdict.

Zainab's murder last month sparked outrage across Pakistan, with riots erupting in Kasur as thousands swarmed police stations and set fire to politicians' homes, while Pakistanis across the nation took to social media demanding action.

The killing sparked calls for the public execution of Ali after officials said his DNA had been recovered from the scene of the crime and matched samples from similar cases.

At least twelve cases of rape and murder have been recorded in the Kasur area in the past two years.

Ali confessed to eight cases, but it is not clear if the four others are linked.

According to the victim's father Ameen Ansari, Ali -- who lived nearby -- had taken part in the initial protests that erupted after Zainab's body was discovered.

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Dozens of mourners including public officials attended the funeral prayers in Heliopolis for renowned film critic Ali Abu Shady, who passed away on Friday at the age of 72 after a long struggle with illness.

Abu Shady was born in 1946 in Shebin El-Kom, Menoufiya governorate.

He earned his bachelor's degree from Ain Shams University in 1966, and joined the Egyptian Film Critics Association in 1972.

Abu Shady held a number of posts in the Ministry of Culture, including the chief of the department of censorship of artistic works.

He was the editor in chief of Cinema and New Culture magazines, and authored numerous articles for several publications in Egypt and the Arab world.

Abu Shady served as a juror in the panel of judges in Arab and Egyptian film festivals, as well as in a panel of judges for the International Confederation for Critics.

He produced several TV programmes on cinema, including the two prominent shows The Memory of Cinema and The Cinema Doesn't Lie.

Abu Shady also translated a number of studies and articles on the art of cinema, with some of his own studies and research work translated to English and French.

He transcribed more than 20 books, including The Magic of Cinema, The Classics of Egyptian Cinema, and The Cinema and Politics.

A memorial service will take place on Monday for Abu Shady in Mohandessin.

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If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create.Adams Pedestrian Killed in Hit-and-Run

ADAMS, Mass.  A senior citizen was apparently struck and killed by a motor vehicle Friday morning on Dean Street.

Police say 85-year-old Theresa Marby of 43 Spring St. was found lying in the middle of the road at about 9:30 a.m. and was taken to Berkshire Medical Center in North Adams, where she was pronounced dead.

Investigators believe that Marby was the victim of a hit-and-run. An autopsy to determine the cause of death will be performed Sunday at office of the medical examiner in Holyoke.

Marby was a longtime member of the VFW Auxiliary in Adams and frequently attended Memorial Day services.

Anyone who may have information related to this incident is asked to call the Adams Police Department at 413-743-1212 or the state police detectives at 413-499-1112.

The investigation is being conducted by members of the Adams Police Department, state police detectives assigned to the Berkshire district attorney's office and the state police Crime Scene Services Section.Imperial Valley News Center

Know the risks before investing in cryptocurrencies

Washington, DC - As a business person managing your personal portfolio, you do your best to keep up with the latest financial news. Youve been hearing more about cryptocurrencies and asking yourself Hmmm. Of course, its not just bitcoin. There are now hundreds of cryptocurrencies, which are a type of digital currency, on the market. Theyve been publicized as a fast and inexpensive way to pay online, but many are now also being marketed as investment opportunities. But before you decide to purchase cryptocurrency as an investment, here are a few things to know:Talking to your Boss about Cyber Security

Jacksonville, Florida - One of the hardest things IT workers deal with is talking to your boss about Cyber Security. Maybe you report to a manager, a director or even the C-Suite itself. Regardless, this can be a struggle owing to the fact your boss probably doesnt know, much less understand a lot of the concepts that youre discussing.

Compounding things even more, their time is valuable, so youre going to need to manage upwards. You may have to make the pitch in just a few minutes, which can fluster some people. And while you may have a singular focus within your organization, your boss is likely juggling several.

Before you can even begin the conversation, here are some things you should be doing:

Make sure you spend time rehearsing what youre going to say. Im not telling you to stand in front of a mirror like an idiot, but at least read over it several times and make sure you are familiar with it.

Work on your elevator pitch. If you had 30 seconds to explain, whats the most concise way to do it? Doing this will help you determine what the most crucial elements of your pitch are.

Make sure you bring data. Bosses dont want anecdotal evidence, they want numbers. Can we afford to take our systems offline that long? Is this a sunken cost? Will this disrupt other workflows? Data can help you answer those questions. Guesswork wont.

Once youve prepared to have the discussion with your boss about cyber security, its also good to remember exactly what your objective is. For all intents and purposes, youre now becoming a salesman (or woman) and your goal is to get your boss to buy in to what youre selling. This isnt an ask, its a negotiation. Dont come in hoping youre going to get his support, come in confident. This is a big deal. Then demonstrate why with proven facts and numbers.

Here are five more tips for talking to your boss about cybersecurity.

1.) Establish Some Basic Facts

As you start this conversation youre going to want to establish a few things right off the bat. Lay the foundation by citing a few proven facts about what youre asking for. Dont overdo it, but try to pick two or three impactful facts  things that relate to the industry youre in, or that pertain to competitors. Make sure your boss understands the implications of lagging security, which is what your organization could be opening itself up to if you dont act.

2.) Be ready to do a cost/benefit analysis

Your boss and you have different objectives. Yours is cyber security-based. Keep the network safe and your systems up and running, which requires both a reactive and proactive approach. Your boss, on the other hand, is likely more concerned with being profitable and growing the company. Youre about to ask him to invest in something you need, so be ready to explain what the costs would be to do this, and what it might cost if you dont. Again, this is a good place to have data to back up your claim.

3.) Bring up Compliance

Depending on where youre located, there are rules and regulations you must abide by. Whether its HIPAA, PCI DSS or the upcoming GDPR, nobody wants to get slapped with fines and other penalties for not being compliant. Make sure your boss is aware of what your organizations responsibilities are and what impact failing to follow them would bring. Afterwards, you may want to document that you informed your boss of the regulations and rules that the company might run afoul of. Just send a quick email to your boss, recapping your conversation. That way if heads roll because of compliance issues, your butt will be covered.

4.) Identify the biggest gaps in your security

Ideally, you should be running regular scans and penetration tests on your digital infrastructure. This will help inform you where the biggest vulnerabilities are. Take this information and categorize it by order of severity. This will help inform your boss about where the fire is and what it would take to put it out. Remember, you may not get everything you ask for. So prioritizing the gaps in terms of severity can make sure you get the most critical things taken care of.

5.) Make sure your boss can effectively explain things to his boss

This may not apply to some of you  you may be pitching your ideas directly to the C-Suite or the Board. In which case, Ive done all I can for you. But oftentimes, your boss may not be the decision-maker. Your boss may need to take it to their boss to get approval. Remember that elevator pitch we discussed earlier? Thats a good guide in terms of identifying the key information your boss needs to take away. Try not to use too much technical jargon, focus on benefits and costs and make sure you have at least one or two important statistics or facts that they can internalize and repeat. Also, dont be afraid to repeat yourself occasionally. Repetition, when done tactfully, really drives home a point.

Wrapping up

Its easy to overlook IT and the rest of the people who do the behind-the-scenes work on your systems and infrastructure. Thats largely owed to the fact that other people have no idea what youre doing, much less talking about. But its important that your superiors understand what a critical component of their business you are. You are literally all that stands between your organization and a breach or attack. According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, 60% of SMBs that are the victim of a cyber-attack go out of business within six months of the incident. Larger companies tend to fare a little better, but they do take a hit to their reputations and are oftentimes fined or penalized.

Your boss needs to understand the stakes. And youre just the person to explain it to them.Department Seeks Partner for U.S. Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai

Washington, DC - Today, the Department published a Request for Proposal in the Federal Register (#2018-03116) for the fundraising, project management, design, construction, operation, and disassembly and removal of a USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Expo 2020 Dubai, which will take place October 20, 2020  April 10, 2021 and coincide with the UAEs 50th founding anniversary, will be the first Expo (also known as a Worlds Fair) to take place in the Middle East, North Africa, or South Asia. It is expected to attract 25 million visitors from the region and around the world. The UAE is the largest export market for U.S. goods and services in the Middle East.

On October 19, 2017, the Secretary informed the UAE Government of the United States intention to participate with an official USA Pavilion, contingent upon identification of a viable private sector partner and successful fundraising efforts.

The theme of Expo 2020 Dubai is Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, representing the potential of what can be achieved when meaningful collaborations and partnerships are forged. The Expos subthemes are Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability. The USA Pavilion would emphasize the Mobility sub-theme, and the pavilions architecture and interior design should communicate American progress, ingenuity, and innovation in social, physical, and mechanical mobility in commerce and the arts.

Over the next two months, the Departments Expo Unit will hold a series of virtual and in-person information sessions on U.S. participation in Expo 2020 Dubai in Washington, New York, Detroit, San Francisco, and Houston.Seven-year Anniversary of the House Arrests of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and Zahra Rahnavard

Washington, DC - This week marks the seven-year anniversary of the detention of 2009 Iranian presidential election candidates Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi, as well as Mousavis wife and womens rights advocate Zahra Rahnavard. The continued house arrest of these three individuals contradicts Irans international obligations including those under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to provide minimum fair trial guarantees and not to subject citizens to arbitrary arrest or detention.

The United States calls on Iran to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all individuals in Iran consistent with its international obligations, including ensuring the fundamental right of peaceful freedom of expression and the right to participate in civil society and in the political process without fear of arbitrary arrest and detention or denial of fair trials. We join the international community in condemning the continued arbitrary detention of these three individuals without charges or fair trials and in calling for their immediate release and for the release of all prisoners of conscience unjustly detained in Iran.Troika Statement on Phase 2 of the High Level Revitalization Forum for South Sudan

Washington, DC - The members of the Troika (Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States) welcome the parties constructive efforts toward compromise for the benefit of the people of South Sudan at the High Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) over the last two weeks in Addis Ababa. The Troika expresses its appreciation for and fully supports the continuing effort by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to restore peace through the HLRF, and commends the tireless efforts of the IGAD Special Envoy Ambassador Ismail Wais and the mediation team.

The Troika underscores the critical importance of the parties creating a conducive environment for peacemaking: fighting while talking is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. The parties must make good on their promises to implement the Agreement on a Cessation of Hostilities (ACOH) signed in December 2017. We take note and support the intention by IGAD and the African Union to identify and impose consequences on those undermining peace as soon as possible and we stand ready to support them in their efforts. Implementation of the ACOH must also include the release of political prisoners and prisoners of war, the end to the use of child soldiers and sexual and gender-based violence as a weapon. The parties must also allow unfettered access for Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) monitors and for humanitarian assistance and aid workers responding to Africas worst humanitarian crisis.

While useful dialogue has taken place over the past two weeks, there is much more for the parties to do if the HLRF is to make meaningful and sustainable progress towards peace. The Troika calls on all parties to reconvene as soon as possible, without preconditions, to address the important security and governance arrangements that are essential for peace. We urge all parties to take steps to maintain the momentum of the process and refrain from comments or actions that could make returning to dialogue more difficult. We urge the parties to agree that a negotiated arrangement for an inclusive transitional government that reflects South Sudan's diversity is needed. We encourage the parties to set as priorities the separation of powers, dispute resolution and reconciliation mechanisms, service delivery, and accountability. Arrangements must not advantage any political, armed, or ethnic group. We call on the parties to develop practical security arrangements that end violence and build confidence, and set out a realistic path to broader security sector reform. We urge the parties to support financial reforms that address corruption and build confidence in public institutions.

The Troika renews its firm view that elections in 2018 are not viable given the continuing conflict, lack of security, displacement of one third of the population, and severe food insecurity affecting half the population. It calls on all parties to reject any unilateral effort to extend power though the ballot box, the legislature, or military means. A negotiated path to elections also means the protection of fundamental political freedoms, and significant improvements in security and humanitarian conditions. The Troika continues to stand with the people of South Sudan and urges their leaders to move expeditiously to achieve the peace their people deserve.A Red Hot Chili Peppers fan flew to Belfast to see one of his favourite bands, only to find he had in fact bought tickets to see the "most famous bagpipe band on the planet" - the Red Hot Chili Pipers.

Duncan Robb says he found tickets for 30 each for 10 February and thought he could surprise his girlfriend with a Valentine's weekend.

He eventually realised his mistake, but despite the error he and his girlfriend decided to go to the show anyway.

He told The Scotsman after his tweet about the show went viral: When I clicked on and got tickets in row Q and for 30 each, I thought, 'What a bargain  there must not be many tickets left' and snatched them up straight away.

... It was only until the Wednesday before when my girlfriend wanted to know who was supporting them as she couldnt find anything about the Red Hot Chili Peppers performing in Belfast.

We just had to laugh about it  what else was there to do! The only saving grace was that we had found out three days before and not while we were in the arena.

Robb later posted footage of the show on Twitter to prove they were there when Twitter trolls tried to claim it "didn't happen".

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers call their crossover of rock and pop bagrock and describe themselves as having bagpipes with attitude, drums with a Scottish accent and a show so hot it carries its own health warning".

Their agent Douglas Gillespie explained: Were always extremely careful in all advertising. Weve made sure to put kits and bagpipes on all the pictures.

We would never ever try to pass ourselves off as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, we respect them too much.

Follow Independent Culture on FacebookLondon Fashion Week has gotten off to a political start thanks to Vivienne Westwood, who began the proceedings with an anti-fracking protest.

The British designer is famed for her outlandish designs that combine feminine cuts with a distinctive punk aesthetic.

Staged on the streets of Knightsbridge, the event was a direct attack on Ineos, the British petrochemicals firm which aims to develop shale gas projects in the UK, advocating controversial energy extraction techniques that may pose severe environmental threats.

Westwood took to the streets of London to stage her protest (Rex Features)

The pop-up protest quickly trended on Twitter under #IneosVthePeople and took place right outside Ineos headquarters on Thursday.

Partaking models and activists wore garments emblazoned with slogans such as Fracking Climate Ineos, with the corporations name written over the word chaos.

Fracking is over, Westwoods son, Joe Corre, said at the event.

The people in this country are not going to accept it.

The protest was staged to mimic a runway show and featured models walking down a catwalk holding placards with anti-fracking slogans such as Frack off Ineos.

An injunction preventing anti-fracking campaigners from interfering with Ineos operations was granted to the company in 2017, something Corre and fellow protesters said they were not frightened of.

A spokesperson for Ineos clarified that Westwood's protest was not unlawful in light in the injunction.

Our injunctions prohibit unlawful acts by protesters and in no way impinge on the right to peaceful protest," they said.

"These injunctions simply protect Ineos and our people from hard core activists who game the system and treat the law with contempt."

Recommended Day one highlights from London Fashion Week

Westwood has long-been hailed as fashions poster woman for environmental activism, revealing to The Guardian in 2014 that climate change, not fashion was her priority.

The 76-year-old designer explained how she intended to use her public platform to promote her political values moving forward.

Evidently, she has stayed true to her word.Hardly a day goes by when food is not in the news. We are at once encouraged to eat healthily, locally, and reduce food waste. Meanwhile, stories about the various groups of people going hungry are also on the rise  there are reports about malnourished elderly people, childrens holiday hunger, and rising food insecurity.

Increases in these rates have been linked to government policies such as welfare reform and commercial protections that give rise to zero-hours contracts. But in my view the problem is deeper than this  it is embedded in the way we talk about food. The language we use is confusing  it creates feelings of guilt and enhances social divisions.

Most people in economically developed countries purchase at least some of their food from a supermarket. This food is part of a system where food is sold to make a profit, usually for a large corporation. We tend to think of this commercially sourced food as ordinary food, or just food. Food acquired through other means  for example, from local allotments, supermarket surpluses, digital food sharing apps, community refrigerators, community food programmes, or gleaning  is considered alternative food.

What bothers me is that by thinking of food in this way we imply value judgements depending upon who the eaters of this alternative food are most likely to be. Those who are into food sharing are green lefties, whereas those who get food from local pantries or community kitchens are vulnerable or in poverty. Finding a new language through which to talk about food could therefore enable a more healthy, pleasurable and sustainable relationship with the food that is available to all of us, whoever we are.

Surplus food

Take surplus food, which is a prime example of an alternative food that carries value judgements with it. Surplus food is food that was intended for supermarkets, but for a variety of reasons is no longer able to be exchanged commercially.

One recent scandal at a chicken production plant in the West Midlands provides a good example. The Two Sisters plant was closed for poor hygiene and mislabelling practices, not because the food, prior to reaching the plant, was inherently bad.

Thousands of chickens were wasted when the plant briefly closed because the chicken meat continued to move through the early stages of the food chain (growing in farms, killed in slaughterhouses), but could not be moved on to the plant where it is packaged, labelled and then distributed to supermarkets. If the producer had been able to move the chickens quickly to a charity or discounter who could collect, package, and distribute the meat, it would not have been wasted, but none could be found in time.

Donated surplus is used by charities to make millions of meals (Megan Blake)

Other examples that give rise to surplus include packaging malfunctions, over-supply due to favourable growing conditions, unexpected changes in demand such as when a competitor offers a particularly good deal on an item, or when food is oddly shaped (wonky) and therefore deemed unsaleable by supermarkets.

If such food is rescued from the vicissitudes of the commercial system, it is sometimes sold to discount retailers. These retailers sell the surplus for a lower price than the standard price, and are one of the largest growing sectors in the UK. Sometimes the food becomes animal feed, is composted, or turned into biofuel.

Plastic waste across the world: in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Plastic waste across the world: in pictures Plastic waste across the world: in pictures A father and son on a makeshift boat made from styrofoam paddle through a garbage filled river as they collect plastic bottles that they can sell in junkshops in Manila. The father and son team earn some three US dollars a day retrieving recyclables from the river. AFP/Getty Plastic waste across the world: in pictures A composite image of items found on the shore of the Thames Estuary in Rainham, Kent. Tons of plastic and other waste lines areas along the Thames Estuary shoreline, an important feeding ground for wading birds and other marine wildlife. Getty Images Plastic waste across the world: in pictures Children collect plastic water bottles among the garbage washed ashore at the Manila Bay. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, at current rates of pollution, there will likely be more plastic in the sea than fish by 2050. AFP/Getty Plastic waste across the world: in pictures Plastics and other detritus line the shore of the Thames Estuary. In December 2017 Britain joined the other 193 UN countries and signed up to a resolution to help eliminate marine litter and microplastics in the sea. It is estimated that about eight million metric tons of plastic find their way into the world's oceans every year. Once in the Ocean plastic can take hundreds of years to degrade, all the while breaking down into smaller and smaller 'microplastics,' which can be consumed by marine animals, and find their way into the human food chain. Getty Plastic waste across the world: in pictures A dump site in Manila in 2013. The Philippines financial capital banned disposable plastic shopping bags and styrofoam food containers, as part of escalating efforts across the nation's capital to curb rubbish that exacerbates deadly flooding. AFP/Getty Images Plastic waste across the world: in pictures Children swims in the sea full of garbage in North Jakarta, Indonesia. Getty Plastic waste across the world: in pictures An Indian woman holds a jar filled with Yamuna river water polluted with froth and toxic foam to be used for rituals at the river bank in New Delhi, India. The Yamuna River, like all other holy rivers in India, has been massively polluted for decades now. The river that originates in a glacier in the pristine and unpolluted Himalayas, and flows through Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh before merging with the Ganges River in Allahabad, once used to be the lifeline of the Indian capital. Currently, it is no more than a large, open sewer that is choking with industrial and domestic discharge that includes plastic, flowers and debris and has virtually no aquatic life. EPA Plastic waste across the world: in pictures Plastic waste is washed up on South Troon beach in Scotland. Recent reports by scientists have confirmed, plastics dumped in the world oceans are reaching a dangerous level with micro plastic particles now being found inside filter feeding animals and amongst sand grains on our beaches. Getty Plastic waste across the world: in pictures Children collect plastic to be sold and recycled, in a polluted river in suburban Manila. The city's trash disposal agency traps solid waste floating down waterways that was thrown into the water by residents of slums along riverbanks upstream. AFP/Getty Plastic waste across the world: in pictures View of the Carpayo Beach in La Punta, Callao, some 15 km of Lima. In 2013, the NGO VIDA labeled the Carpayo Beach as the most polluted in the country - 40 tons of trash on each 500m2. AFP/Getty Plastic waste across the world: in pictures Trash from Kamilo Beach in Hawaii. Gabriella Levine/Flickr Plastic waste across the world: in pictures A scavenger collects plastic cups for recycling in a river covered with rubbish near Pluit dam in Jakarta. Reuters Plastic waste across the world: in pictures Rubbish fills Omoa beach in Honduras. Floating masses of garbage offshore from some of the Caribbean's pristine beaches are testimony to a vast and growing problem of plastic pollution heedlessly dumped in our oceans, locals, activists and experts say. AFP/Getty Plastic waste across the world: in pictures A man climbs down to a garbage filled river in Manila. Plastic rubbish will outweigh fish in the oceans by 2050 unless the world takes drastic action to recycle the material, a report warned in 2016. AFP/Getty Plastic waste across the world: in pictures Garbage on East Beach, Henderson Island (Pitcairn Islands), in the south Pacific Ocean. The uninhabited island has been found to have the world's highest density of waste plastic, with more than 3,500 additional pieces of litter washing ashore daily at just one of its beaches. EPA

Increasingly, this surplus food is donated to organisations such as FareShare, Community Shop, City Harvest, Food Cycle, Real Junk Food Projects, and others in the UK but also in other countries. Donated surplus is distributed to eaters through cafes, community pantries, social eating, cooking lessons and the like, or indirectly through charities and third sector organisations who then feed people in many ways  often not as emergency food providers (foodbanks).

We do not really know how much surplus food is rescued and donated. But to give an idea, in 2017 FareShare helped distribute the equivalent of 28.6 million meals to nearly 7,000 organisations. Meanwhile, food from the Community Shop network provided almost 4 million meals through its four sites, and City Harvest delivered just shy of 1 million meals to organisations just in London. Despite this, figures suggest that considerably more could be rescued. Wrap, the UKs key organisation responsible for supporting waste reduction, estimates that nearly 2 million tons of food is wasted annually from the UK commercial sector (one ton is approximately 2,380 meals), much of which could have been eaten.

Shared, social, sustainable food

The links that surplus food has with waste and commercial loss cause us to see surplus food as inferior food, despite its edibility. For example, some attempt to shame governments into changing social policy by calling it leftover food for leftover people. While I agree that austerity and welfare policies are causing great harm to families and communities, I also know that donated surplus food is a resource that supports the resilience of organisations aiming to help struggling communities and households.

The effect of framing surplus food as second class dismisses the positive social, cultural, environmental and economic values of this food, complicates how organisations aiming to help communities can do so while still preserving dignity, and for eaters, comes to signify a failure to engage with the commercial supply chain. All while giving the commercial sector a pass.

Access to free or low cost surplus food is a means for expanding tight organisational and household budgets, enabling community interactions, and enhancing personal and household well-being through social cooking and eating activities. It also brings people together. So what if we referred to surplus food as shared or social food? This language would reflect the social role this food plays and we would associate it more closely with the care of self, family, community and planet that this food enables.

Megan Blake is a senior lecturer in geography, director of the MA food security and food justice, University of Sheffield. This article first appeared on The Conversation (theconversation.com)Wonton braised noodles with tobiko: the jellyfish fold

Makes 25 wontons/serves 4

25 fresh wonton pastries

400ml classic Chinese broth (see page 57)

300g fresh, fine egg noodles (or dried, fine egg noodles, soaked in hot water for 3 minutes and drained)

1 tbsp oyster sauce

 tbsp light soy sauce

20g orange tobiko, optional (flying fish roe, from sushi specialists)

Spring onions, finely sliced, to garnish

For the filling

4 dried shiitake mushrooms

1 spring onion

 thumb of ginger

200g raw, peeled and deveined prawns

100g minced pork

For the marinade

1 tbsp oyster sauce

 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

 tsp pure sesame oil

 tsp cornflour

Soak the shiitake mushrooms in hot water overnight or for a minimum of 2 hours, then drain. Finely chop them along with the spring onion and ginger and place in a mixing bowl. Lightly bash the prawns with the side of your cleaver or knife, keeping them whole, but making them more flexible, which will make it easier to wrap the wontons.

Lastly, add the pork mince, along with the prawns and the marinade ingredients to the bowl and mix everything together well.

Traditionally, the mix is pounded into a uniform paste by cupping one hand, picking up the mix, and throwing it back into the bowl. This helps to tenderise the meat and knocks out air pockets in the paste. You can also use an electric mixer for the same effect; using the K-hook attachment, place the marinated mix in the mixer and beat on a low-medium speed for 2 minutes.

To make the jellyfish-shaped dumplings you will need to use what I call the croc fold. Place a wonton pastry on a flat surface, positioning it in a diamond shape straight ahead of you. Place 1 teaspoon of filling mix in the centre of the pastry. Fold one corner vertically, over the opposite corner, to form a slightly lopsided triangle. Hold the dumpling up by the top of the triangle with your non-dominant hand. Shape your dominant hand into a crocodile jaw shape, where your thumb is the lower jaw and your index finger is the upper jaw.

Start to feed the pastry into the jaws of the croc, squeezing the pastry together into the webbing of your thumb, creating rough pleats as you gather the excess pastry together in your crocs jaws. Continue feeding until the dumpling is fully closed. Then pinch the pastry tightly along the top of the filling. Do not be scared to clamp down hard, so that the filling is well and truly sealed inside the pastry.

Now bring the broth of your choice (or alternatively, 400ml cups of water with 1 teaspoon of salt added to each) to the boil. Drop in your noodles and blanch for 1 minutes, then fish them out carefully with tongs and place in a bowl. Next, boil the wontons (usually 5-6 per serving) in the same water or broth for 4 minutes, until they begin to float. Remove the wontons to a separate bowl, using a slotted spoon or a Chinese skimmer, then bring the water or soup back to the boil.

Just before serving, dunk the noodles (either fresh, or dried and soaked) back into the soup or boiling water for 30 seconds, then put them back into their bowl and add the oyster sauce and light soy sauce. Mix well, then divide the noodles between individual serving bowls (they will be the base of the dish). Place the hot wontons on top of the noodles and scatter 2 teaspoons of flying fish roe over the top of each portion. Garnish with finely sliced rings of spring onion.

Serve with a bowl of broth on the side and some lightly blanched green vegetables, such as lettuce leaves or any type of Chinese greens.

Cumin beef and spring onion fired baos

Serves 6-8

1 portion of bao dough, ready to make 20-25 baos *

2 tbsp vegetable oil

For the filling

50g water chestnuts

1 clove of garlic

 thumb of ginger

5 sprigs of fresh coriander

3 spring onions

200g beef mince

1 egg yolk

For the marinade

1 tbsp cumin seeds

 tsp Chiu Chow chilli oil

1 tbsp oyster sauce

 tsp sugar

 tsp salt

1 tsp pure sesame oil

Finely chop the water chestnuts, garlic, ginger, coriander and 2 of the spring onions and place in a large mixing bowl. Add the minced beef and egg yolk and mix well. In a pan over a medium-high heat, toast the cumin seeds until fragrant (30 seconds to 1 minute), then tip them into a mortar and gently crush, using a pestle. Add the crushed seeds to the filling mix, along with the other marinade ingredients, and stir to combine well.

After the bao dough has proved for 1 hours, doubling in size, place the dough on a well-floured work surface and roll it out until approximately 5mm thick. Finely chop the last spring onion and scatter the pieces over the dough. Using a cookie cutter (or the lip of a glass) approximately 7cm in diameter, cut the dough into as many pieces as possible.

Working with one piece of dough at a time, place 1 teaspoons of filling into the centre of the pastry. Lift up the pastry and squeeze the edges together as if forming a drawstring money bag with your dominant hand. Holding the pastry in your dominant hand, twist the top tightly and continuously with the other hand, ensuring the filling does not leak out, until the pastry is completely sealed and you have a slightly swirled, spiralled effect at the top, and a well-rounded dumpling below.

Once well sealed, lightly roll the bao so that it is an even ball shape, then set aside on a well-floured tray and cover with a slightly damp, clean cloth or tea towel to keep it from drying out. Do the same with the rest of the pastries and filling, then allow the uncooked baos to rest for a further 30 minutes in a warm, draught-free, humid place, such as a room-temperature oven.

To cook the baos, fill a wok one third to halfway up with boiling water. Line 2 bamboo steam baskets with dim sum steamer paper (available online or in specialist shops) or greaseproof paper pierced with holes to let the steam through. Brush the paper with a little vegetable oil, then place the prepared baos in the baskets, twisted side down (to prevent any loose ends from opening up). Put the baskets into the wok, cover with a lid and steam on high for 8 minutes, resisting the temptation to open the lid during this time.

Once steamed, remove the baos from the baskets and bring a large frying pan to a medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of oil and, once hot, carefully place the baos in the oil, twisted side down. Once the baos have touched the oil, immediately turn them once and fry the other side until golden-brown, about 3-4 minutes. Flip and fry the opposite side until golden brown.

* Bao recipe

Fluffy, pillowy white baos hit China, Hong Kong and Japan many years ago, but it wasnt until recently that they became a mainstream street snack in the West. With our clear love of burgers and all things bread, its no wonder these softer, slightly sweeter breads are so moreish, no matter where in the world we are. The airy texture is great for mopping up sauces, while their firmness makes them the perfect bun to keep a sandwich together. This simple bao dough recipe will get you going, but be warned, trying out new shapes is addictive!

Makes 10 large or 16-20 mini bao

For the dry mix

530g middle-gluten wheat flour (swapsies: plain flour /all-purpose flour), plus extra for dusting

 tsp salt

7g (1 sachet) fast-action dried yeast

40g caster sugar

15g baking powder

For the liquid

50ml milk

200-250ml warm water (depending on how humid your room feels  if the air feels very dry youll want to add a little more water, but if it is very humid, less is required)

25ml vegetable or sunflower oil

Put the dry mix ingredients into the bowl of a free-standing mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment. Mix the liquid ingredients in a measuring jug. Then slowly pour the liquid into the mixer while kneading on a low speed for around 2 minutes, until all the water is mixed into the flour. Once combined, turn the speed up to high for a further 2 minutes, until the dough has a smooth yet tacky feel to it. Once the dough has been well kneaded, dust it with 2 tablespoons of flour. Shape the dough into a rough ball, scraping off any additional dough on the sides of the bowl, then coat it lightly with 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, put it back into the bowl, cover with a damp cloth and leave aside in a warm, preferably moist, draught-free location (such as inside a room-temperature oven) for 1-1 hours.

Once the dough has doubled in size, you can make it into whatever shapes you wish before steaming. Steaming time will vary between 8 and 15 minutes, depending on the shape and size of your finished buns (the thinner the bun, the shorter the steaming time).

Black pepper beef and potatoes Hong Kong style

Serves 3-4

300g rib-eye steak

1 large Maris Piper or King Edward potato

1 white sweet potato

1 small red onion

1 spring onion

1 large fresh green chilli

1 large fresh red chilli

1 stick of fresh green peppercorns

Vegetable oil, for deep-frying

5-6 sprigs of fresh coriander

For the steak marinade

 thumb of ginger

1 clove of garlic

 tsp white pepper

 tsp sugar

Pinch of salt

 tsp pure sesame oil

 tbsp cornflour

For the sauce

 tsp salt

 tsp sugar

 tsp cracked black pepper

1 tbsp Lee Kum Kee black pepper sauce

50ml fresh chicken stock

1 tbsp light soy sauce

Remove any rind or fat from the steak, then slice the meat into roughly 3mm-thick rectangles. Tenderise by bashing them with a cleaver or meat hammer, creating a large surface-area for quick cooking. Finely chop the ginger and garlic. Place in a bowl, adding the remaining marinade ingredients. Massage the marinade into the meat, then tip into a food bag, seal tightly and marinate in the fridge overnight.

When ready to cook, peel the potato and sweet potato and cut into 2-3cm (-1 inch) cubes. Put the potatoes into a pan of cold, salted water, and bring to the boil on a high heat. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes, until the potatoes start to soften. Drain in a colander, giving the potatoes a little bash around the sides to roughen the edges and allow to cool (do not cover). Roughly dice the onion and cut the spring onion into rough chunks. Roughly chop the red and green chillies. Run your fingers along the stick of green peppercorns to separate them. Mix the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl.

Now build your wok clock: place the marinated meat at 12 oclock, followed by the diced onion, spring onion and chillies, and lastly the sauce bowl, clockwise around the plate. If you have a deep-fat fryer, set the temperature of the oil to 180C. Otherwise you can use a wok or large saucepan, filled one-third with vegetable oil, to deep-fry, testing the oil with a wooden chopstick for heat (the end will fizz when the oil is hot enough for deep-frying). Once your oil is hot enough, deep-fry the potatoes for 7-8 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Then remove from the fryer or wok and drain on a plate covered with kitchen paper.

Heat 5 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a wok on a high heat until smoking hot, then lay the meat in the hot oil, separating each piece as you add it. This is the meat blanching stage  to quickly seal all the flavour and moisture into the meat. Using a slotted spoon or a wok spider, fry the meat in the oil for 30 seconds to 1 minute, then remove onto a layer of kitchen paper to soak up the excess oil. Pour off any remaining oil from the wok into a heatproof bowl and bring to a high heat again.

Once smoking hot, add the onion and spring onion and stir-fry for 30 seconds, then add the chillies and fry for 10 seconds. Maintaining a high heat, pour in your sauce, return the meat to the wok and continue to stir-fry for an additional 30 seconds. Add the crispy potatoes, toss through 3 or 4 times to wrap the sauce around them, and tip into a large bowl, ready to serve. Garnish with a few sprigs of coriander.

Hong Kong Diner by Jeremy Pang (Quadrille, 15) Photography  Kris KirkhamIndia has launched an investigation into a $1.77bn (1.26bn) fraud case at a single branch of one of the countrys biggest state-run banks.

Punjab National Bank (PNB) said it had detected some fraudulent and unauthorised transactions in one of its branches in Mumbai for the benefit of a few select account holders.

Investigators have ordered two wealthy jewellers to be question over the alleged scam, according to the news agency Press Trust of India.

The summons came a day after authorities raided the homes and offices of Nirav Modi and his business partner Mehul Choksi, seizing nearly $800m (571m) in jewels and gold.

The men, who are thought to have left India in early January, before the scam was discovered, have been ordered to appear within a week, local news reports said.

Mr Modi runs an international jewellery empire  featuring a string of high-end brands  that reaches from India to New York.

Authorities have not publicly charged the men, but say they are under investigation for allegedly cheating PNB of $43m (30m) using fake bank documents.

 UBS rogue trader says 1.4bn fraud could happen again

On Thursday, PNB publicly alleged Mr Modi was involved in a much larger $1.77bn fraud case.

Bank officials say the scam appears to have begun in 2011, and occurred at just one Mumbai branch of the enormous state-run bank.

The official complaint over the $43m fraud says the two men, along with Mr Modis wife and brother, worked with a pair of bank employees to get fake letters of understanding  a form of guarantee issued by a bank promising to meet a debt on a customers behalf.

Bank officials say the letters were sent to overseas offices of Indian banks, which made the actual loans.

Nirav Modi and his associates tried to bypass the established banking channels to commit this fraud, said Ravi Shankar Prasad, Indias Law and Justice minister. No one shall be spared in the banking system. Action has been taken to revoke his passport.

Neither man has made any public statements in recent days, but the company that Mr Choksi runs, Gitanjali, has said he has no connection to many of the firms listed in the $43m complaint. In a statement, Gitanjali said Mr Choksi has been falsely implicated in the first place.

Many of the details of the fraud remain unclear, including whether all the $1.8bn is missing, or if some money may have been used to repay earlier loans.

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 revelations sparked a protest against Mr Modi by supporters of Indias main opposition party, the Congress Party, in New Delhi on Friday.

Mr Modis name is a stamp of corporate Indias growing global prestige. On Hollywood red carpets, his diamonds have sparkled on the necklines and dangled from the earlobes of actors and models like Kate Winslet, Dakota Johnson and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

Back in India, billboards above the traffic jams of New Delhi bear the image of Priyanka Chopra, a Bollywood star and former Miss World who is fast becoming a household name in the US, also adorned with Mr Modis jewels.

Mr Modi, who has a net worth of some $1.8bn (1.28bn), according to Forbes, has not yet responded to the allegations and could not be reached for comment.

The setback in Mr Modis climb to fame and fortune was abrupt, even by the rough-and-tumble standards of one of the worlds fastest growing major economies.

During an interview with Reuters in November, the famously soft-spoken Mr Modi discussed his love for art, poetry and paintings. He also spoke of his wife and three children with whom he lives in central Mumbai.

Asked how he planned to raise funds to add new stores, he seemed unconcerned.

All options are open, he said, sitting in his cavernous Mumbai office. We could use internal accruals. We can take loans from banks or we could do an initial public offering.

The news of Mr Modis alleged involvement in the fraud case was a shock for the circles in which he moved.

As recently as last month, he was at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Indian media carried a group photograph with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the foreground and Mr Modi, who is no relation, grinning between rows of Indian business leaders behind him.

Top industrialists invited him home to display his collections, said a Mumbai investment banker at a US-based firm who has worked directly with Mr Modis company. There was a personal touch in everything he sold. Nirav Modi is a brand.

A senior member at Bharat Diamond Bourse, a Mumbai-based industry body with more than 13,000 members, sketched a similar profile of Mr Modi.

In one of the industry meetings in 2013 he said that when people wear a Cartier ring they dont say its a diamond ring, they say its Cartier, said the member, who did not want to be named. He always wanted people to say they are wearing Nirav Modi.

Mr Modi grew up in Antwerp, Belgium, in a diamond-dealing family. In 1990, at the age of 19, he moved to Mumbai, according to the November interview.

Nine years later, Modi started his own company, Firestar Diamond, selling loose stones. He employed fewer than a dozen people at the time. By last year, the number was more than 2,000.

He said he came to realise the margins were better in retail.

Firestar Group, the parent company Mr Modi controls as a majority shareholder, saw its revenue grow over three years from 103 billion rupees (about 1.1bn at current rates) to some 147 billion rupees (1.63bn) by the 2016-17 fiscal year, according to figures previously provided by the company.

In 2010, Mr Modi launched an eponymous jewellery business branded NIRAV MODI, in capitals, with the tagline Haut Diamantaire. New boutiques in Las Vegas and Hawaii have since been added to a stable that stretches from New York to London to Beijing.

He became a man whose diamond necklaces were sold, with his name attached, by Sothebys. Pure feminine elegance, says a Hong Kong auction catalogue note of one 85.33 carat diamond necklace.

The auction house posted an online slideshow of jewellery-on-stars at the 2017 Oscars and highlighted supermodel Karlie Kloss having a major Nirav Modi moment with her diamond Mughal choker.

But the celebrity links could be starting to break.

A spokesperson for Chopra, the film star, said in a statement: She is currently seeking legal opinion with respect to terminating her contract with the brand in light of allegations of financial fraud against Nirav Modi.

Additional reporting by agenciesA network of independent governance committees, established to represent the interests of 12 million UK pensioners, is failing to do its job, research by a charity promoting responsible investing has revealed.

Back in 2015, the Financial Conduct Authority introduced regulation requiring contract-based pension providers to appoint independent governance committees, or IGCs, to act in the interest of pension-holders and to ensure they are getting the best possible value for money.

The FCA at the time said that the UK had an ageing society and that many people lacked money for their retirement. The regulator said that, in this context, IGCs should help ensure that workplace personal pension schemes deliver value for money for members. IGCs, it said, have the responsibility to raise any concerns with the providers board and, if need be, escalate those concerns to the FCA.

Recommended MPs call for urgent action over erupting pensions misselling scandal

It also introduced rules requiring IGCs to publish annual reports to increase transparency and encourage comparison between providers. But a study published on Saturday by ShareAction claims that many of those reports are vague and offer only unsubstantiated claims that savers interests are being protected.

This research should be a major wake up call for the FCA, with its mandate to make markets work well so that consumers get a fair deal, said Catherine Howarth, chief executive of ShareAction.

IGCs were a good idea, but the FCA made the wrong call in abandoning indefinitely its promised review of their effectiveness, she added.

When the FCA introduced the new rules, it said that it would conduct a review of their effectiveness in 2017, two years after implementation.

In 2016, the FCA said that it reviewed them jointly with the Department for Work and Pensions and that based on the conclusions it drew at the time, it said that it had decided to defer a further review planned for the following year.

Ms Howarth on Saturday said that she hopes the latest study will prompt the FCA to refocus attention on the interests of UK pension savers who remain vulnerable in a market characterised by consumer detriment and information asymmetry.

In response to the study, the FCA said that it remains focused on ensuring consumers are protected.

Through work we have already undertaken, we found that overall IGCs are acting in accordance with their terms of reference, by influencing, supporting and advancing the significant reduction in costs and charges that have been achieved, a spokesperson for the FCA said.

The spokesperson also said that the FCA was in the process of carrying out a number of other pieces of work which impact IGCs.

For example, we recently published a discussion paper on non-workplace pensions highlighting the role that IGCs play in workplace pension schemes, and asking for views on whether independent governance could play a role in delivering fair outcomes for non-workplace customers. We are also currently considering what form of rule changes may be appropriate to address the law commissions 2017 proposals on pension funds and social investment, the spokesperson said.

Shadow pensions minister Jack Dromey welcomed the report. As highlighted in the report, members of contract-based schemes, and of all other defined contribution, bear all of the investment risk and all of the costs and charges but are not fully informed about the nature of these costs. Quite simply, those saving for their retirement are kept in the dark, he said.

We are also calling for the immediate resumption of the Financial Conduct Authoritys dropped review of IGCs and demand that providers, who are in the main asset managers, hand over full details of all fees and transactions voluntarily to their IGC, he added.

The ShareAction report ranks the quality and transparency of the IGC reports of 16 of the largest UK pension providers. Aviva tops the table for the best report, followed by Legal & General, Standard Life, Scottish Widows and Royal London.

Old Mutual Wealth and BlackRocks IGCs tie for bottom spot, behind those at ReAssure and Zurich.

A spokesperson for Old Mutual Wealth said that it was reviewing the recommendations within the report.

The role of the Independent Governance Committee is vitally important to ensure we deliver value for money for savers in workplace defined contribution pensions. IGCs are in relatively early days and we welcome commentary on how the clarity and transparency of their reporting can be improved, the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for BlackRock said that its IGC annual report discloses all relevant information to scheme members and policyholders in a transparent and straightforward manner.

The spokesperson added that in addition to the annual report, BlackRock continuously updates scheme members and policyholders about the service, performance and costs for their life savings on its website, which we would argue is a better benchmark for transparency than the methodology used by ShareAction.

We welcome efforts to promote transparency and accountability and have engaged with ShareAction on its methodology. Despite our engagement, ShareAction has chosen to solely focus on a single annual written communication in the report, the spokesperson added.

In its review of the individual reports, ShareAction said that some of them made vague, high-level statements on provider performance and did not back them up with detail or data.

The charity said that it felt it would be hard for a consumer or consumer body to understand from these reports whether scheme member interests were being protected by the IGCs, and if scheme members were getting value for money from the various providers.

In some cases it said that it also felt that the criteria established by IGCs would not be capable of capturing potential problems that members might experience.

Generally, it concluded that both IGCs and policymakers are able to do more to protect the interests of pensions. Mostly IGCs seem to have made a good start in holding providers to account on the value they are offering, it said, but it added that it is not currently clear if customers of any given provider are receiving competitive returns and paying fair charges.

It said that the onus was now on the FCA to issue further guidance. The FCA, it urged, should set a specific definition of value for money and issue clear, comprehensive guidance on how to assess it.

The widely varied standards of assessment and reporting demonstrated by IGCs show that a more standardised approach is required, it said.

The research comes on the back of a report issued by the Work and Pensions Select Committee earlier in February calling for urgent action over what it describes as an erupting pensions mis-selling scandal affecting 2,600 British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) members.

The MPs said that as a result of bad advice offered to those savers, 1.1bn worth of pensions were moved out of the companys gold-plated defined-benefit scheme into riskier funds with high management fees.

The MPs said that the particular circumstances surrounding the BSPS created perfect conditions for vultures to take advantage, but that similar bad advice on defined-benefit pension transfers may be affecting tens of thousands of peoples retirement funds in schemes across the whole of the UK.A convicted serial killer has reportedly confessed to the murder of a British woman in France 27 years ago.

Joanna Parrish, 20, from Newnham-on-Severn, Gloucestershire, was raped and murdered in Auxerre in Burgundy in 1990.

The Leeds University student had been working as a English teacher as part of a university placement.

Convicted rapist and murderer Michel Fourniret, dubbed the Ogre of the Ardennes, was made prime suspect in the case.

In 2008, Fourniret was sentenced to life in prison for the joint rape and murder of seven young women, aged 12 to 21.

Ms Parrishs family lawyer says he has now admitted to her murder.

Speaking to the BBC, lawyer Didier Seban said Fourniret had appeared in court two to three times and admitted to killing Ms Parrish each time.

He added that Fourniret would now be questioned further, which should lead to charges.

The victims father, Roger Parrish, told the broadcaster the confession had come as a shock and said he hoped it was not another false lead.

Ms Parrish had been teaching at the Jacques-Amyot high school in Auxerre in May 1990 on a work placement as part of her university degree.

Her flatmate at the time said Ms Parrish had been offering private English classes to supplement her income and had been contacted by a man who wanted her to teach his son.

Ms Parrish arranged to meet the caller in Auxerre but did not return home and her body was found the next day in the River Yonne.

She had been due to finish her placement a week after she disappeared and had planned to visit her boyfriend in Czech Republic, who was also a Leeds University student living abroad.

Speaking to the Telegraph in 2011, Ms Parrishs father said his bright, happy, caring daughter had reached the age when she was slipping free of the apron strings.

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

She was sailing across a smooth sea. She was at a top university, with a bright career ahead of her, and in a fulfilling relationship. She was doing well and was happy, he said.

I cannot find the words to describe the impact her loss has had  and is still having  on us. It was like the end of our lives.Oxfams chief executive has been criticised by MPs for claiming the storm engulfing the charity over the aid worker sex scandal was out of proportion.

Mark Goldring faced a backlash after saying he struggled to comprehend the the ferocity of the attack on his organisation, which he suggested was being treated as though it had murdered babies in their cots.

He accused critics of gunning for the charity and being motivated in part by an anti-aid agenda.

Recommended Oxfam told of aid workers raping children in Haiti a decade ago

In an interview with the The Guardian, Mr Goldring said: The intensity and the ferocity of the attack makes you wonder, what did we do?

We murdered babies in their cots? Certainly, the scale and the intensity of the attacks feels out of proportion to the level of culpability. I struggle to understand it. You think, My God, theres something going on there.

While Mr Goldring also apologised for Oxfams failings and admitted major reforms were needed, his remarks risked inflicting further damage on the charity and undermining its announcement on Friday of a wide-ranging action plan designed to root out abuse.

Stephen Twigg, Labour chair of the Commons International Development Committee, described the chief executives intervention as ill-judged.

Oxfams chief executive Mark Goldring leaves the Department for International Development in London this week (AFP/Getty Images) (AFP/Getty)

Conservative MP Paul Scully, who also sits on the committee, said Mr Goldrings comments were inappropriate and unhelpful as the charity fights to regain public trust.

He told The Independent: If hes going to have a mea culpa he should just concentrate on getting it right rather than going down this strange line.

Oxfam are clearly under the cosh but thats because theyve been found to be wanting. Allegations have been drip-feeding over the last week rather than them just being up front when this first broke.

Clearly theres something thats been systemically wrong in the way that Oxfam approaches safeguarding issues. If we are going to have further taxpayers money going towards it and members of the public are going to be as generous as they have been, they need to have full trust in Oxfam.

About Mr Goldrings reference to murdered babies, Mr Scully added: He must clearly feel under pressure but he just needs to concentrate on getting things right, rather than these inappropriate comparisons. They are very ill-judged.

The committee is to hold an urgent evidence session to question Mr Goldring and Oxfams chair of trustees, Caroline Thomson, on Tuesday.

Some MPs have called for the charitys chief executive to resign over the scandal.

Conservative MP Nigel Evans, who sits on the International Development Committee, told The Times the charity boss was part of the problem. He warned Oxfam was facing obliteration if it did not change.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2021 Vehicles drive through deep water on a flooded road in Nine Elms, London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 July 2021 Utilities workers inspect a 15x20ft sinkhole on Green Lane, Liverpool, which is suspected to have been caused by ruptured water main PA UK news in pictures 23 July 2021 Children interact with Mega Please Draw Freely by artist Ei Arakawa inside the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London, part of UNIQLO Tate Play the gallery's new free programme of art-inspired activities for families PA UK news in pictures 22 July 2021 Festivalgoers in the campsite at the Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk PA

Mr Scully stopped short of urging Mr Goldring to step down, but said: Clearly its for his board of trustees to decide on his future, but reputationally they have got a lot to do to recover and Im sure theyll be taking that into account. Clearly they need the charity to regain trust and its reputation pretty quickly and they have got to take the appropriate action to do so.

More than 1,200 regular direct debit donations to Oxfam were cancelled over last weekend after the charity was alleged to have covered up its aid workers sexual exploitation of earthquake victims in Haiti.

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt announced on Friday that Oxfam would receive no further funding from the UK Government until ministers were satisfied the charity met the high standards expected.

Mr Goldring said the scandal threatened to have substantial effect on public confidence, which would affect public donations, and he expected some corporate partners would cut ties with the charity.

The charity chief said he had apologised to the Haitian ambassador on Thursday for the alleged behaviour of Oxfams aid workers and planned to visit the country to explore how to make amends.

On Friday Oxfam unveiled a wide-ranging reform plan as it sought to minimise reputational damage. The plan includes an independent commission, involving womens rights experts, that will urgently review the charitys culture and practices.Two people have died after a car was hit by a train at a level crossing in West Sussex.

Emergency services were called to the incident at Barns Green Level crossing in Horsham at around 8.45am on Saturday morning.

British Transport Police said two people had been pronounced dead at the scene.

It is believed the two victims knew each other, although no any further details about their identities are yet to be released.

A BTP spokesman said: "Officers from BTP attended alongside colleagues from Sussex Police and paramedics however two people were sadly pronounced dead at the scene."

"Officers are now working to identify them and inform their family."

No other injuries were reported.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA

Many of the passengers on board the train were taken to the nearby Sumners Ponds campsite, where they were given hot drinks.

Authorities are examining the scene to establish the circumstances that led to the car being hit.

Southern Rail said all services between London and Brighton had been blocked and a replacement bus service would run for the rest of the day.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has been notified of the incident.A man who fell down a drain and became trapped in the sewer system for a reported three days, has been rescued by police in east London.

The 48-year-old, who has not been named, is thought to have wandered through pipelines for up to 72 hours as he desperately tried to find his way out.

Police hauled the man out on 8 February in Romford, six miles from Barking where he claimed he first fell in.

Eyewitness Sam Palmer said the mans first words after being rescued were Does anyone have a fag?

She said: He looked very dishevelled but at that moment, the crowd gave a sigh of relief as we knew he was okay. Before that we had all been really worried.

It was unbelievable, certainly something I will never experience again in my life.

Stephanie Noe, 29, who also saw police pull the man out, said: It was so strange. The man was really dirty and I dont think he was wearing any shoes. He looked a bit bewildered and confused.

 Frustrated child gets stuck inside claw toy machine

He was saying that hed been down there for a couple of days. I dont think he knew where he was.

Police arrived on scene after local businesses heard the mans faint cries for help.

A spokesperson from the London Ambulance Service said the man was treated for exposure to the cold and injuries to his feet after being pulled out.

He said: We sent an incident response officer and team leaders in an ambulance. We treated him at the scene for ankle injuries and for exposure to cold temperatures and water.

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

Thames Water said an engineer checked the location where the man is said to have fallen into the manhole, but could not find any broken manholes that he could have fallen through.

Officials said they believe he entered the sewer via an exit of the surface water system on a new housing estate, about a mile away.

 Cat stuck up a pole

The system carries rainwater from roads straight out to the River Rom and the man would not have come into contact with sewage during his journey.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: Officers attended and freed the 48-year-old man by removing the manhole cover. He was taken to an east London hospital for treatment to injuries to his feet. His injuries are not life threatening.Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis has vowed to stand by Oxfam after the festivals partner charity was engulfed in an aid worker sex scandal.

She pledged support for many more years to come after a number of high-profile ambassadors distanced themselves from the charity amid allegations of sexual exploitation.

Oxfam has been accused of covering up the findings of an inquiry into claims staff used prostitutes while delivering aid in Haiti in 2011.

Ms Eavis, daughter of Glastonbury founder and co-organiser Michael Eavis, said they were horrified at the reports in the news but had been assured by the charity they were taking action to ensure a vigorous safeguarding plan for the future.

She added: Let us not forget that abuse of power is a wider issue in society.

Glastonbury has raised an estimated 6m for Oxfam since launching their partnership with the charity in 1993.

Ms Eavis said she had visited Haiti and met people in remote communities where the organisation is a lifeline.

So we would like to pledge our continued support for Oxfam and the brave and vital work which it undertakes, she added. Oxfam do outstanding work all over the world and we firmly believe that the good does still far outweigh the appalling behaviour of the few whose actions have caused such harm.

We will continue to support Oxfams incredible work for many more years to come.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2021 Vehicles drive through deep water on a flooded road in Nine Elms, London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 July 2021 Utilities workers inspect a 15x20ft sinkhole on Green Lane, Liverpool, which is suspected to have been caused by ruptured water main PA UK news in pictures 23 July 2021 Children interact with Mega Please Draw Freely by artist Ei Arakawa inside the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London, part of UNIQLO Tate Play the gallery's new free programme of art-inspired activities for families PA UK news in pictures 22 July 2021 Festivalgoers in the campsite at the Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk PA UK news in pictures 21 July 2021 A man walks past an artwork by Will Blood on the end of a property in Bedminster, Bristol, as the 75 murals project reaches the halfway point and various graffiti pieces are sprayed onto walls and buildings across the city over the Summer PA UK news in pictures 20 July 2021 People during morning prayer during Eid ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice, in Southall Park, Uxbridge, London PA UK news in pictures 19 July 2021 Commuters, some not wearing facemasks, at Westminster Underground station, at 08:38 in London after the final legal Coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England PA UK news in pictures 18 July 2021 A view of spectators by the 2nd green during day four of The Open at The Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 July 2021 Cyclists ride over the Hammersmith Bridge in London. The bridge was closed last year after cracks in it worsened during a heatwave Getty

Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu is among those who have quit from ambassador roles at the charity since allegations first surfaced.

The South African emeritus archbishop said he was deeply disappointed by the revelations, while actress Minnie Driver and Senegalese musician Baaba Maal also resigned as celebrity ambassadors.

Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up

Actor Simon Pegg announced he would stand by the charity as it would be wrong to punish the organisation as a whole.

Earlier this week, at the NME Awards, Michael Eavis said: Weve raised millions through the years with Oxfam  six million quid and everyones said what a wonderful charity they are and we still support them.

And for a few dodgy people  like with the NHS you get a few dodgy doctors and it doesnt discredit the NHS does it? So why should it affect Oxfam?The number of complaints received by the police watchdog over officers handling of sexual assault and domestic violence cases has soared in the past five years, new figures reveal.

Officers have been accused of abusing their powers for sexual gain, falsifying evidence and committing perjury in cases that campaigners say show forces are failing the most vulnerable victims in society.

Complaints to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for officers working on domestic abuse cases rose four-fold between 2011-12 and 2016-17, according to data released to The Independent under freedom of information laws. The spike far exceeds an increase in reported crimes during the same period, with figures indicating a rise of 42 per cent.

The number of referrals also rose against officers dealing with rape, stalking and child sex abuse cases.

Katie Ghose, chief executive of Womens Aid, which supports victims of domestic abuse, said alleged mistakes by the police could be a matter of life and death. According to the charitys research 78 people were killed by a current or former partner in 2016.

Complaints to the IOPC  formerly the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC)  are made by a force when it believes officers have failed to follow correct protocols.

In 2016-17 there were 342 referrals of officers dealing with domestic abuse cases, up from 83 in 2011-12.

The number of allegations against officers handling sexual assault and rape cases increased by 148 per cent to 206 referrals in 2016-17  higher than the 130 per cent increase in reported crimes to the police.

Police chiefs last year asked the IOPC to look into 166 complaints about officer conduct in child sex abuse cases, including allegations that some were not investigated. There were 39 referrals in stalking cases in the same period. There were no complaints made to the body about the management of either of these types of crime in 2011-12.

The police handling of sexual assault cases has come under renewed attention after the Parole Board cleared serial sex attacker John Worboyss for release from prison after he served nine years of an indefinite sentence.

The Metropolitan police has faced accusations of repeatedly failing Worboys victims. In 2010 the IPCC ruled that Worboys remain free because police officers made serious mistakes and failed to take victims seriously.

The overall number of referrals to the IOPC covering all types of crimes rose by 79 per cent over the same five-year period, after the watchdog criticised forces for attempting to deal with complaints internally.

Campaigners have warned that cases relating to domestic violence and sexual assault are particularly worrying because of the vulnerable nature of the victims.

They also said perpetrators of sexual attacks are likely to be repeat offenders, meaning failures in police investigations can lead to further attacks.

Concerns have also been raised about the lack of action taken against officers referred to the IOPC.

Of the hundreds of cases of alleged police misconduct in sex assault cases between 2011-12 and 2016-17, only 17 ended in sanctions for the individuals involved, freedom of information data reveals. Two of these officers were dismissed without notice, while three were given final written warnings.

In domestic abuse cases, 25 people faced sanctions over the same period, including 10 who were given written warnings. None of the officers accused of misconduct in domestic abuse cases were fired, the figures provided by the IOPC showed.

Lisa Longstaff, from Women Against Rape, said in her 30 years working with sexual assault victims, she had been disgusted by the low numbers of misconduct complaints that were upheld.

In cases where police officers abused their positions for sexual gain, this was particularly problematic, she said. They dont end up with a criminal record, theyre not convicted of rape, they dont go on the sex offenders register. And that has implications for future possibilities of abuse  getting jobs easily, working with other vulnerable people and possibly doing it again.

Very occasionally they end up in court and get convicted, but mostly they get dealt with as a disciplinary matter. And thats not acceptable. It effectively means they are above the law and thats a very dangerous situation.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 Arsenals Takehiro Tomiyasu attempts to control the ball during the Premier League match at The Emirates Stadium PA UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2021 Vehicles drive through deep water on a flooded road in Nine Elms, London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 July 2021 Utilities workers inspect a 15x20ft sinkhole on Green Lane, Liverpool, which is suspected to have been caused by ruptured water main PA

Chief Constable Craig Guildford, the National Police Chiefs Council lead for complaints and misconduct, said the police were dealing with an increasing number of complex sexual offence cases.

It is vital that we get our response to these right. We positively encourage people to report such offences and welcome the increased level of reporting which we recognise some people find incredibly difficult, he said.

We do everything possible to ensure that cases are investigated thoroughly, however, if somebody feels that this has not been the case, regardless of when it happened, it is absolutely right they seek an explanation and redress.

Where a complaint is upheld we ensure that appropriate action is taken to address and learn from these failures.

An IOPC spokesperson said: Our independent investigations are both robust and thorough and where we find evidence of misconduct by officers we will refer our findings to the appropriate authority, or in the most serious cases the CPS.

In just the last few weeks we have seen two officers charged by the CPS following an investigation in Essex and in Lancashire, a police officer was jailed for targeting vulnerable women. There are also many examples where we have directed forces to hold misconduct proceedings.A Labour government would ensure all new schools have sprinkler systems in place as fresh figures show less than one in three schools built or refurbished by central government since 2010 have them installed.

Party officials told The Independent that, if elected, Labour would remove a loophole in the existing legislation, which they claim allows a significant proportion of schools not to fit sprinklers.

The announcement comes after new figures were disclosed by schools minister Nick Gibb in a response to a written parliamentary question in the Commons this month.

Mr Gibb said that since 2010, of the 260 schools commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) under phase one of the Priority School Building Programme, 74 (28 per cent) have, or are planned to have, sprinkler systems.

It means the vast majority (72 per cent) of the schools on programme  aiming to rebuild and refurbish schools buildings in the worst conditions across the country  will not have sprinklers in place. The Government hoped that most of the schools would open by the end of 2017.

Mr Gibb added that the DfE did not hold comprehensive data on the number of free schools with sprinklers as schools under the programme were originally managed by the individual free school proposer groups.

Sprinklers are currently mandatory in schools in Scotland and Wales, but not in England and Northern Ireland  despite a warning from fire chiefs last year that the Government risks playing with childrens lives and called for all new and refurbished schools to have them installed.

Earlier this month, unions also lashed out a decision to rebuild Selsey Academy in West Sussex without sprinklers after the building was almost completely destroyed by a fire in 2016. The Fire Brigades Union said it was incomprehensible and said the government was shockingly cavalier in its attitude towards fire safety.

Angela Rayner, the Shadow Education Secretary, told The Independent that a Labour government would provide 14bn that was needed to bring schools up to a good standard.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2021 Vehicles drive through deep water on a flooded road in Nine Elms, London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 July 2021 Utilities workers inspect a 15x20ft sinkhole on Green Lane, Liverpool, which is suspected to have been caused by ruptured water main PA UK news in pictures 23 July 2021 Children interact with Mega Please Draw Freely by artist Ei Arakawa inside the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London, part of UNIQLO Tate Play the gallery's new free programme of art-inspired activities for families PA UK news in pictures 22 July 2021 Festivalgoers in the campsite at the Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk PA UK news in pictures 21 July 2021 A man walks past an artwork by Will Blood on the end of a property in Bedminster, Bristol, as the 75 murals project reaches the halfway point and various graffiti pieces are sprayed onto walls and buildings across the city over the Summer PA UK news in pictures 20 July 2021 People during morning prayer during Eid ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice, in Southall Park, Uxbridge, London PA

She added: Within that, we will put money aside to make sure schools are safe, and to remove asbestos and flammable cladding and fit lifesaving sprinklers. We also want to close the loopholes that let developers get away with anything less in new schools.

Parents want a lot of things for their kids, but above all they want them to be safe. Nothing is more important than that.

A DfE spokesperson said: Schools have a range of fire protection measures and new schools undergo an additional check while being designed. Where sprinklers are deemed necessary to keep children safe, they must be installed.

Since the Grenfell tragedy we have contacted all bodies responsible for safety in schools and instructed them to carry out checks to identify buildings that may require further investigation.

We are working closely with the two schools where ACM classing of potential concern has been identified so that the necessary remedial action is taken.

The DfE added that all new school buildings must be signed off by an independent inspector to certify that they meet the requirements and designed to protect occupants and allow them to escape in the event of a fire.

Existing regulations contain the presumption that new schools should have sprinklers fitted except in cases where buildings are considered to be low-risk. Labour says it will alter this to ensure that new-builds must have systems installed.

Under phase two of the Priority School Building Programme a further 277 schools will be rebuilt but, Mr Gibb added, as they are still in the early design stage, it is not year clear which may require sprinklers at this time.

Labour also raised further concerns that ministers are neglecting existing school seats and using funds on the free schools programme rather than improving or maintaining existing buildings after a government report from January 2015 claimed that 7,831 education blocks were built before 1919.Theresa May will risk a fresh clash with EU leaders over Brexit when she warns them not to let doctrine and ideology stand in the way of preserving cross-border security.

Speaking at an international conference in Munich, the Prime Minister will turn the tables on critics who have accused her of putting joint working to combat terrorism and organised crime at risk.

Instead, Ms May will propose a new UK-EU security treaty to maintain full cooperation  and argue that only rigid institutional restrictions in Brussels jeopardises it.

Those who threaten our security would like nothing more than to see us fractured, she will warn the security experts gathered in Germany on Saturday. They would like nothing more than to see us put debates about mechanisms and means ahead of doing what is most practical and effective in keeping our people safe.

Britain has been accused of putting European security at risk because Brexit threatens its membership of the European arrest warrant and Europol, the EUs law enforcement agency.

Meanwhile, the swapping of vital intelligence information is threatened by Ms Mays insistence that the UK will, at some point during a two-year transition period, end oversight by the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

Access to the Schengen information system, which holds an 8,000-name watchlist of suspected terror suspects, is also at risk.

On Friday, a former Nato secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, warned the UK had no choice but to agree to abide by ECJ rules if it wanted to preserve security cooperation. And he said it was vital to start negotiations on a new agreement immediately, adding: I am concerned that, as far as we can see, security is not on the radar screen right now.

However, in her speech, Ms May will again insist that ECJ oversight will end, while arguing that should not be a barrier to a new security treaty.

There is no legal or operational reason why such an agreement could not be reached in the area of internal security, she will say. However, if the priority in the negotiations becomes avoiding any kind of new cooperation with a country outside the EU, then this political doctrine and ideology will have damaging real world consequences for the security of all our people, in the UK and the EU. As leaders, we cannot let that happen.

The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Show all 8 1 /8 The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Post-Brexit immigration workers sorting radishes on a production line at a farm in Norfolk. One possible post-Brexit immigration scheme could struggle to channel workers towards less attractive roles - while another may heighten the risk of labour exploitation, a new report warns. PA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Customs union A key point in the negotiations remains Britain's access to, or withdrawal from, the EU customs union. Since the referendum there has been hot debate over the meaning of Brexit: would it entail a full withdrawal from the existing agreement, known as hard Brexit, or the soft version in which we would remain part of a common customs area for most goods, as Turkey does? No 10 has so far insisted that Brexit means Brexit and that Britain will be leaving the customs union, but may be inclined to change its position once the potential risks to the UKs economic outlook become clearer. Alamy The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Northern Ireland-Irish border Though progress was made last year, there has still been no solid agreement on whether there should be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. To ensure borderless travel on the island, the countries must be in regulatory alignment and therefore adhere to the same rules as the customs union. In December, the Conservative Partys coalition partners, the DUP, refused a draft agreement that would place the UK/EU border in the Irish Sea due to its potential to undermine the union. May has promised that would not be the case and has suggested that a specific solution would need to be found. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Transition period Despite protests from a small number of Conservative MPs, the Government and the EU are largely in agreement that a transitional period is needed after Brexit. The talks, however, have reached an impasse. Though May has agreed that the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget until 2021, the PM wants to be able to select which laws made during this time the UK will have to adhere to. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK must adopt all of the laws passed during the transition, without any input from British ministers or MEPs. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Rights of EU citizens living the UK The Prime Minister has promised EU citizens already living in the UK the right to live and work here after Brexit, but the rights of those who arrive after Brexit day remains unclear. May insists that those who arrive during the transition period should not be allowed to stay, whereas the EU believe the cut-off point should be later. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreement (with the EU) Despite this being a key issue in negotiations, the Government has yet to lay out exactly what it wants from a trade deal with the EU. Infighting within the Cabinet has prevented a solid position from being reached, with some MPs content that "no deal is better than a bad deal" while others rally behind single market access. The EU has already confirmed that access to the single market would be impossible without the UK remaining in the customs union. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreements (internationally) The Government has already begun trying to woo foreign leaders into prospective trade agreements, with various high profile state visits to China, India and Canada for May, and the now infamous invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit London. However the UK cannot make trade agreements with another country while it is still a member of the EU, and the potential loss of trade with the world's major powers is a source of anxiety for the PM. The EU has said the UK cannot secure trade deals during the transition period. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Financial services Banks in the UK will be hit hard regardless of the Brexit outcome. The EU has refused to give British banks passporting rights to trade within the EU, dashing hopes of a special City deal. However according to new reports Germany has suggested allowing trade on the condition that the UK continues paying into the EU budget even after the transition period. Getty

Nevertheless, the Prime Minister will acknowledge that no non-EU country currently has a security agreement that captures the full depth and breadth of our existing relationship.

In the speech, titled Road to Brexit: A Security Partnership, Ms May will say replicating the benefits of Europol and the arrest warrant is more important than whether the UK retains formal membership.

She will argue the UK is one of the biggest contributors of data, intelligence and expertise  issuing more than 13,000 alerts on people and objects of interest to law enforcement across Europe in the last year alone. The UK was also the first EU country to have a fully functioning Passenger Name Record Information Unit, the conference will be told.

The three-day event will bring together defence and foreign affairs ministers from across the world, including Donald Trumps national security adviser, plus technology and intelligence chiefs such as John Scarlett of MI6.Labour has compared fresh claims that Jeremy Corbyn allegedly briefed a Czechoslovakian spy during the Cold War years to a bad James Bond movie and said they have no resemblance to the truth.

It came after Jan Sarkocy  a former agent with the Czech secret police in the 1980s  claimed Mr Corbyn was aware he was not a diplomat when he had been MP for Islington North for just three years.

According to a report earlier this week Mr Corbyn had held two meetings in 1986 with communist spy Mr Sarkocy, who used the alias Lieutenant Jan Dymic when he was stationed in London.

But a spokesperson for Mr Corbyn told The Independent: As Svetlana Ptacnikova, director of the Czech security forces archive, has made clear, Jeremy was neither an agent, asset, informer nor collaborator with Czechoslovak intelligence. These claims are a ridiculous smear and entirely false.

The former Czechoslovak agent Jan Sarkocys account of his meeting with Jeremy was false 30 years ago, is false now and has no credibility whatsoever. His story has more plot holes in it than a bad James Bond movie.

The allegations came following an article on Thursday in The Sun newspaper  under the headline Corbyn and the Commie spy - which claimed that Soviet-backed intelligence officers placed Mr Corbyn on a list of the Czechoslovakian state security teams agents and sources.

The claims were said to be based on documentation released in Prague relating to the countrys former secret police force Statni Bezpecnost (StB) and noted Mr Corbyn was negative towards the USA, as well as the current politics of the Conservative government.

But the Labour leader was backed by Ms Ptacnikova, who told Czech news agency CTK that Mr Corbyn was neither registered by the StB as a collaborators, nor does this stem from the archive documents.

On Friday, Mr Sarkocy insisted Mr Corbyn knew he was not a diplomat, adding: It was a conscious cooperation. Diplomat and agent were the same thing.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. 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She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. 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Earlier this week, the Labour leaders team added: Like other MPs, Jeremy has met diplomats from many countries. In the 1980s he met a Czech diplomat, who did not go by the name of Jan Dymic, for a cup of tea in the House of Commons.

Jeremy neither had nor offered any privileged information to this or any other diplomat.

During the Cold War, intelligence officers notoriously claimed to superiors to have recruited people they had merely met. The existence of these bogus claims does not make them in any way."Britain will not be able to use its military might to win a more favourable trade deal with the EU after Brexit, the European Commission President has warned.

Jean-Claude Juncker said fears that Europes security will be undermined by the UKs departure must not become tangled up in the negotiations to secure an economic agreement.

I wouldn't like to put security policy considerations with trade policy considerations in one hat. I understand why some would like to do that, but we don't want to, he told the Munich Security Conference.

The warning came after Theresa May used her speech to propose a new UK-EU treaty to maintain defence and security cooperation after Brexit to keep citizens safe.

Britain is the only EU member to spend 2 per cent of GDP on defence and leads two EU military missions, while also sending troops to Estonia under a Nato flag.

The Government has dropped its earlier threat to walk away from joint security working if the exit talks break down  and is instead unconditionally committed to maintaining it.

Nevertheless, in her speech, the Prime Minister stressed the UKs significant capabilities and resources and willingness to work through EU mechanisms if that could be agreed.

On defence, if the UK and EUs interests can best be furthered by the UK continuing to contributing to an EU operation or mission as we do now, then we should both be open to that.

And similarly, while the UK will decide how we spend the entirety of our foreign aid in the future, if a UK contribution to EU development programmes and instruments can best deliver our mutual interests, we should both be open to that.

The second offer appeared to give weight to a belief that the UK will use its big aid budget as a bargaining chip or as a disguised means of paying for market access in the EU after Brexit.

In his response, Mr Juncker welcomed Ms Mays call for what he called a security alliance between the EU and Britain.

The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Show all 8 1 /8 The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Post-Brexit immigration workers sorting radishes on a production line at a farm in Norfolk. One possible post-Brexit immigration scheme could struggle to channel workers towards less attractive roles - while another may heighten the risk of labour exploitation, a new report warns. PA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Customs union A key point in the negotiations remains Britain's access to, or withdrawal from, the EU customs union. Since the referendum there has been hot debate over the meaning of Brexit: would it entail a full withdrawal from the existing agreement, known as hard Brexit, or the soft version in which we would remain part of a common customs area for most goods, as Turkey does? No 10 has so far insisted that Brexit means Brexit and that Britain will be leaving the customs union, but may be inclined to change its position once the potential risks to the UKs economic outlook become clearer. Alamy The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Northern Ireland-Irish border Though progress was made last year, there has still been no solid agreement on whether there should be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. To ensure borderless travel on the island, the countries must be in regulatory alignment and therefore adhere to the same rules as the customs union. In December, the Conservative Partys coalition partners, the DUP, refused a draft agreement that would place the UK/EU border in the Irish Sea due to its potential to undermine the union. May has promised that would not be the case and has suggested that a specific solution would need to be found. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Transition period Despite protests from a small number of Conservative MPs, the Government and the EU are largely in agreement that a transitional period is needed after Brexit. The talks, however, have reached an impasse. Though May has agreed that the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget until 2021, the PM wants to be able to select which laws made during this time the UK will have to adhere to. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK must adopt all of the laws passed during the transition, without any input from British ministers or MEPs. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Rights of EU citizens living the UK The Prime Minister has promised EU citizens already living in the UK the right to live and work here after Brexit, but the rights of those who arrive after Brexit day remains unclear. May insists that those who arrive during the transition period should not be allowed to stay, whereas the EU believe the cut-off point should be later. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreement (with the EU) Despite this being a key issue in negotiations, the Government has yet to lay out exactly what it wants from a trade deal with the EU. Infighting within the Cabinet has prevented a solid position from being reached, with some MPs content that "no deal is better than a bad deal" while others rally behind single market access. The EU has already confirmed that access to the single market would be impossible without the UK remaining in the customs union. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreements (internationally) The Government has already begun trying to woo foreign leaders into prospective trade agreements, with various high profile state visits to China, India and Canada for May, and the now infamous invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit London. However the UK cannot make trade agreements with another country while it is still a member of the EU, and the potential loss of trade with the world's major powers is a source of anxiety for the PM. The EU has said the UK cannot secure trade deals during the transition period. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Financial services Banks in the UK will be hit hard regardless of the Brexit outcome. The EU has refused to give British banks passporting rights to trade within the EU, dashing hopes of a special City deal. However according to new reports Germany has suggested allowing trade on the condition that the UK continues paying into the EU budget even after the transition period. Getty

Since we are not at war with the UK and we do not want to take revenge on the UK, for what the British people have decided, this security alliance, the security bridge between the UK and the EU will be maintained. We still need it, he said.

However, he insisted that what Britain had to offer on defence and security must not be conflated with other questions relating to Brexit.

Meanwhile, one EU official in Munich, said the Prime Ministers security proposal could only be considered after Britain and the EU had agreed their divorce settlement.

Although the two sides shook hands on a withdrawal deal in December, it must still be turned into a legal text for agreement, it is hoped, at a Brussels summit on 22 and 23 March.

The EU is determined that the UK will not be allowed to wriggle out of commitments to avoid border checks in Ireland and to pay a 39bn divorce bill  even without a trade deal.

In her speech, Ms May used stark language to highlight the security threat without a new treaty, saying: Let's be clear about what would happen if the means of this co-operation were abolished.

Extradition under the European Arrest Warrant would cease. Extradition outside the European Arrest Warrant can cost four times as much and take three times as long.

It would mean an end to the significant exchange of data and engagement through Europol.Britain will pull out of the EUs joint foreign policy-making body next year, Theresa May has announced, in a move that will delight Brexit-backing Conservative MPs.

No 10 pledged to reclaim a truly independent and sovereign foreign policy in 2019, even if  as the Prime Minister hopes  a transition period of about two years is agreed with Brussels.

The move was announced when Ms May spoke to an international conference in Munich, proposing a new UK-EU treaty to maintain full security co-operation after Brexit to keep citizens safe.

She said there were key examples where Britain would continue to seek joint working  for example, over international sanctions, foreign aid and future defence threats such as cyberwarfare.

However, the Prime Minister is keen to exploit the EUs agreement that, in certain areas, Britain can diverge once formal EU withdrawal takes place next March.

The Prime Minister has said that, where we dont have to wait, we will not wait, a Downing Street source in Munich told The Independent.

Swiftly after departure in 2019, we will come out of the EUs Common Foreign and Security Policy. We will have a truly independent and sovereign foreign policy.

The source pointed to a major diplomatic row, in 2007, when membership of the CFSP forced the UK to take part in a joint approach with which it strongly disagreed.

The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Show all 8 1 /8 The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Post-Brexit immigration workers sorting radishes on a production line at a farm in Norfolk. One possible post-Brexit immigration scheme could struggle to channel workers towards less attractive roles - while another may heighten the risk of labour exploitation, a new report warns. PA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Customs union A key point in the negotiations remains Britain's access to, or withdrawal from, the EU customs union. Since the referendum there has been hot debate over the meaning of Brexit: would it entail a full withdrawal from the existing agreement, known as hard Brexit, or the soft version in which we would remain part of a common customs area for most goods, as Turkey does? No 10 has so far insisted that Brexit means Brexit and that Britain will be leaving the customs union, but may be inclined to change its position once the potential risks to the UKs economic outlook become clearer. Alamy The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Northern Ireland-Irish border Though progress was made last year, there has still been no solid agreement on whether there should be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. To ensure borderless travel on the island, the countries must be in regulatory alignment and therefore adhere to the same rules as the customs union. In December, the Conservative Partys coalition partners, the DUP, refused a draft agreement that would place the UK/EU border in the Irish Sea due to its potential to undermine the union. May has promised that would not be the case and has suggested that a specific solution would need to be found. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Transition period Despite protests from a small number of Conservative MPs, the Government and the EU are largely in agreement that a transitional period is needed after Brexit. The talks, however, have reached an impasse. Though May has agreed that the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget until 2021, the PM wants to be able to select which laws made during this time the UK will have to adhere to. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK must adopt all of the laws passed during the transition, without any input from British ministers or MEPs. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Rights of EU citizens living the UK The Prime Minister has promised EU citizens already living in the UK the right to live and work here after Brexit, but the rights of those who arrive after Brexit day remains unclear. May insists that those who arrive during the transition period should not be allowed to stay, whereas the EU believe the cut-off point should be later. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreement (with the EU) Despite this being a key issue in negotiations, the Government has yet to lay out exactly what it wants from a trade deal with the EU. Infighting within the Cabinet has prevented a solid position from being reached, with some MPs content that "no deal is better than a bad deal" while others rally behind single market access. The EU has already confirmed that access to the single market would be impossible without the UK remaining in the customs union. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreements (internationally) The Government has already begun trying to woo foreign leaders into prospective trade agreements, with various high profile state visits to China, India and Canada for May, and the now infamous invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit London. However the UK cannot make trade agreements with another country while it is still a member of the EU, and the potential loss of trade with the world's major powers is a source of anxiety for the PM. The EU has said the UK cannot secure trade deals during the transition period. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Financial services Banks in the UK will be hit hard regardless of the Brexit outcome. The EU has refused to give British banks passporting rights to trade within the EU, dashing hopes of a special City deal. However according to new reports Germany has suggested allowing trade on the condition that the UK continues paying into the EU budget even after the transition period. Getty

Britain condemned a decision to invite Zimbabwes President, Robert Mugabe, to a summit in Lisbon because of his human rights abuses  and then prime minister Gordon Brown boycotted the event.

But, the source said, Britain was still required to send a representative to Lisbon, as part of its membership of the CFSP.

However, it is unclear what practical difference pulling out of the joint policy-making arrangements will make, given Ms Mays desire for a close partnership with the EU after Brexit.

We will continue to maintain very, very close cooperation because we have shared values and shared interests in terms of protecting our citizens, the source added.

The CFSP was set up after the EUs foreign policy weakness was badly exposed by the failure to intervene amid the bloodshed in Yugoslavia, in the early 1990s.

It was formalised as part of the Maastricht treaty  hated by Tory Eurosceptics  and strengthened by subsequent EU treaties.

For five years from 2009, Britain led the body, when Labour politician Cathy Ashton served as its high representative, charged with coordinating and representing the EUs foreign policy.

During her speech, Ms May softened, slightly, her red line that Brexit must end oversight by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) at some point during a two-year transition period.

The stance threatens participation in the European arrest warrant and Europol, the EUs law enforcement agency and the swapping of vital intelligence information through the Schengen system.

The Prime Minister said: When participating in EU agencies, the UK will respect the remit of the European Court of Justice.

However, the source insisted later that this simply meant Britain would pay due regard to the ECJs rulings, while maintaining the right for its courts to disagree.Theresa May has been urged to let the British people to vote once more on Brexit as an audience member at an international conference insisted it would not be a matter of national shame.

The comments came after the Prime Minister delivered a keynote speech on the UKs future relationship with the EU, in which she warned European leaders not to let doctrine and ideology stand in the way of preserving cross-border security after Brexit.

After Ms May concluded her speech, however, moderator Wolfgang Ischinger, a German diplomat, started by reading a question to the Prime Minister which began: Things would be so much easier if you stayed.

After a loud applause from the delegates gathered in the conference hall Ms May replied: First of all, if I may respond to your remark, which I recognise received quite a round of applause from the audience, but we are leaving the European Union.

There is no question of a second referendum or going back on that vote and I think thats important as we gave the decision to the British people and I believe people have a right to believe that politicians will actually respect their decisions.

But speaking shortly after a member of the audience also received an applause when he said: To go back to the early 2000s the French and the Dutch voted against the so-called constitution. And then they voted again and accepted the new framework. Thats not a matter of national shame  I think it may be a matter of national prudence.

Recommended Theresa May to warn EU leaders not to jeopardise border security

In her speech in Munich, titled Road to Brexit: A Security Partnership, Ms May said replicating the benefits of Europol and the European Arrest Warrant is more important than whether the UK retains formal membership.

She argued that the UK is one of the biggest contributors of data, intelligence and expertise  issuing more than 13,000 alerts on people and objects of interest to law enforcement across Europe in the last year alone.

 Immigration after Brexit: What's it going to look like?

Europes security is our security, the Prime Minister told delegates at the three-day event in Germany. And that is why I have said that the UK is unconditionally committed to maintaining it.

The international conference brings together defence and foreign affairs ministers from across the globe and delegates included Donald Trumps national security adviser and British intelligence chiefs such as John Scarlett of the MI6.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA

The Prime Minister also used her speech  the second of six key addresses by the Prime Minister and senior Cabinet ministers mapping out the Governments plans for Brexit  to insist that Britain and the EU 27 must move with urgency to implement a new security treaty

Speaking after the conference Alison McGovern, a Labour MP and leading supporter of Open Britain, a pro-EU pressure group, said that the Prime Minister had just made an extremely positive argument against Brexit, adding that she was right to warn against putting ideology above the interests of citizens.

She continued: But she remains determined to pursue the hardest and most destructive form of Brexit imaginable, which makes weakening our security cooperation with the EU all but inevitable.Ukips beleaguered leader has compared scrutiny of his private life to that faced by Princess Diana.

Henry Boltons fate will be decided at a crisis meeting on Saturday after the partys ruling national executive committee (NEC) backed a motion of no confidence in his leadership.

The 54-year-old has been clinging on to the leadership amid a revolt by several senior Ukip figures over his relationship with model Jo Marney, who sent racist messages about Prince Harrys fiance Meghan Markle.

Mr Bolton, 54, left his wife, with whom he has two children, to begin a relationship with Ms Marney, 25.

Hitting out at media interest in his private life, he said: The only people that are truly affected by that are my wife and children, and I feel deeply, deeply sad for what pain and hurt Ive caused them but its a private matter and it needs to be dealt with privately.

I understand the scrutiny and public interest but its been going on for six weeks.

Theres probably been nothing like that since the Profumo affair or Diana and Dodi [Fayed].

The Princess of Wales faced intense media attention following the breakdown of her marriage to Prince Charles was being pursued by paparazzi on motorbikes when she was killed in a Paris car crash in 1997.

In an interview with Sky News, Mr Bolton added: The interesting thing about this whole case is that I myself have done nothing wrong. I have gone through a huge degree of scrutiny and a massive amount of personal disruption over the last six weeks.

Its been an experience I wouldnt wish on my worst enemy... in hindsight I would have probably dealt with certain personal elements of it in a different way.

Mr Bolton last month said he had ended his relationship with Ms Marney after racist messages emerged in which she said Ms Markles seed would taint the royal family.

Asked by Sky News if he the couple had since rekindled their relationship, he replied: Well, what do you call a relationship?

Im in a relationship with my mother and my nieces and nephews.

He admitted having strong affections for Ms Marney but denied they were in a sexual relationship.

Mr Boltons future will be determined by hundreds of Ukip members at an extraordinary general meeting in Birmingham which will decide whether or not to endorse the NECs no confidence vote.

The Ukip leader, who has called for sweeping changes to the way the party is run, claimed he was the victim of rivals stirring the pot.

The people who started complaining about this were people on the NEC, none of whom voted for me in the leadership election, he said.

Secondly there were a small number of individuals within the party, failed leadership contenders who saw an opportunity in me leaving my wife to go in for the kill  theyre stirring the pot... If they were truly dedicated to the party and their country and not to their own they would have stayed at their posts.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2021 Vehicles drive through deep water on a flooded road in Nine Elms, London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 July 2021 Utilities workers inspect a 15x20ft sinkhole on Green Lane, Liverpool, which is suspected to have been caused by ruptured water main PA UK news in pictures 23 July 2021 Children interact with Mega Please Draw Freely by artist Ei Arakawa inside the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London, part of UNIQLO Tate Play the gallery's new free programme of art-inspired activities for families PA UK news in pictures 22 July 2021 Festivalgoers in the campsite at the Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk PA UK news in pictures 21 July 2021 A man walks past an artwork by Will Blood on the end of a property in Bedminster, Bristol, as the 75 murals project reaches the halfway point and various graffiti pieces are sprayed onto walls and buildings across the city over the Summer PA UK news in pictures 20 July 2021 People during morning prayer during Eid ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice, in Southall Park, Uxbridge, London PA

Mr Bolton's cash-straparty is in crisis, with the prospect of a legal bill over a defamation action brought by Rotherhams three Labour MPs against MEP Jane Collins.

Former leader Nigel Farage handed Mr Bolton a lifeline by supporting him, but said the party was collapsing.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said: I believe it would be better to allow Mr Bolton, with all his faults, the chance to turn Ukip into an electoral machine again.

The alternative is for the party to carry on down the path of self-destruction into irrelevance. It may be too late to save Ukip, but you never know.Ethiopia announced a state of emergency on Friday, a day after the prime minister resigned, as pressure mounted on the country's ruling coalition.

The coalition decided emergency rule was "vital to safeguarding the constitutional order", the state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation said.

The rule will last for six months, and include a ban on protests and publications that insight violence, the defence minister said on Saturday.

"There are still pockets of areas where violence is prevalent. The [ruling coalition] council were unanimous in their decision," Siraj Fegessa told journalists.

Ethiopia only fully lifted its last state of emergency in August following months of curfews, restrictions on movement and the detention of 29,000 people.

Those measures followed two years of anti-government protests in which security forces killed hundreds of people in Amhara and Oromiya, the nation's two most populous provinces.

The imposition of a new state of emergency may indicate that Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn's resignation on Thursday was the result of tensions among the four parties in the ruling coalition.

The coalition has been in power since 1991 and controls all 547 seats in parliament. But cracks have appeared since the outbreak of unrest, with some senior officials resigning and others being sidelined.

The two largest ethnic groups in the Horn of Africa country, the Oromo and Amharic, complain they are under-represented in the country's corridors of power.

Mulatu Gemechu, deputy secretary of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress, said on Friday Ethiopia needed a completely new political system. The Congress is one of seven parties that make up the biggest opposition coalition, MEDREK.

"Ethiopians now need a government that respects their rights, not one that keeps beating and killing them," he told Reuters.

Mulatu's views are echoed in the Oromo heartlands that surround the capital Addis Ababa. It was there that protests against an urban development plan in 2015 sparked larger demonstrations demanding more freedom and civil rights.

"Oromos should not be jailed for exercising their rights," said Dinkissa, a university student in Ambo, a town in the region.

"Oromos have been always mistreated. His (the prime minister's) resignation will not mean anything unless our rights are respected. Whoever comes to power should know that. Otherwise, we will not stop protesting."

Rights advocates have frequently criticised Ethiopia's government for mass arrests and long jail terms handed to political opponents and journalists.

But more than 6,000 prisoners have been freed since January as the government struggles to calm discontent. Most were detained during the mass protests; some were charged with terrorism offences.

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

As well as tensions in its Oromo and Amharic regions, the government has grappled with several armed groups in the past decade.

Among them is the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), which has fought the government since 1994 and draws support from some of the country's ethnic Somali population. Somalia and Ethiopia share a long and porous border.

This week the ONLF and Ethiopian authorities held private talks in Nairobi, an observer present at the discussions told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

A tentative accord was reached on a ceasefire, prisoner releases, boundaries between the Somali and Oromiya regions of Ethiopia, and economic development, the observer said.

But a final deal was not signed because the ONLF wanted a signatory from Ethiopia's central government, rather than the leader of the Somali region who represented the government at the talks.

ReutersHaitis President said on Friday that sexual misconduct by staff of British charity Oxfam was only the tip of an iceberg and called for investigations into Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and other aid organisations that came to the country after its 2010 earthquake.

The Oxfam case is the visible part of the iceberg, President Jovenel Moise said in a phone interview with Reuters on Friday. It is not only Oxfam, there are other NGOs (non-governmental organisations) in the same situation, but they hide the information internally.

The scandal has already shaken the aid sector, with Britain and the European Union reviewing Oxfams funding.

Oxfam, one of the worlds biggest disaster relief charities, apologised this week for unspecified sexual misconduct uncovered in a 2011 internal investigation. It has neither confirmed nor denied recent reports that some of its staff paid for sex with prostitutes.

There should be an investigation into other organisations that have been working here since 2010, said Mr Moise. For example, [MSF] had to repatriate about 17 people for misconduct which was not explained, he added.

It is unclear to which cases Mr Moise was referring.

Haitian President Jovenel Moise speaking at a ceremony on the eighth anniversary of the 2010 earthquake in January (AP)

MSF is looking into his comments and welcomes scrutiny on the aid sector, according to spokeswoman Analia Lorenzo. She added that the organisation had zero tolerance of sexual misconduct.

On Wednesday, MSF, which sends medical staff around the world to regions stricken with war and disease, said it had dealt with 24 cases of sexual harassment or abuse among its 40,000 staff last year, and dismissed 19 people as a result. It did not provide details of where the harassment or abuse took place, who was dismissed or whether the complaints were also registered with local law enforcement.

Roland van Hauwermeiren, the former Oxfam official at the centre of the sex abuse scandal, said on Thursday he made mistakes by having a sexual relationship with the sister of a recipient of aid when working in Haiti, but denied paying for sex with prostitutes or abusing minors.

Recommended Oxfam told of aid workers raping children in Haiti a decade ago

In an open letter to a broadcaster in his native Belgium, he said he feared that Oxfam, other aid workers and those they help would suffer from false accusations.

We call on the Belgian and UK Government to assume their responsibility, and we call on the whole international community to help make sure those guilty of such misconduct are punished, whether they are Belgian or of another nationality, President Moise said. The dignity of the Haitian people has been trampled on.

Haitian justice minister Heidi Fortune said he had asked Belgium for help in starting legal action against Mr Van Hauwermeiren. He did not say which laws he believed were broken.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. 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PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. 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Belgiums justice ministry said on Thursday it had received no such request and prosecutors said they were not aware of any investigation into Mr Van Hauwermeiren. Belgium does not extradite its citizens to countries outside the European Union.

Prostitution is a crime in Haiti, but it was not clear what other crimes the Oxfam officials may have committed.

ReutersA trio of suicide bombers detonated at a crowded fish market in northern Nigeria, killing at least 20 people, police said Saturday.

Borno state police spokesman Joseph Kwaji confirmed the Friday night attack to The Associated Press. Hospital officials said two patients later died from their injuries.

The bombers, all believed to be female, left dozens wounded at the fish market in Konduga, just outside the state capital, Maiduguri. The city is the birthplace of the Boko Haram extremist insurgency and has been a frequent target.

Musa Bulama, 32, said he was lucky to have survived the blasts.

"I came to the night market to buy fish for dinner when I heard a loud bang some meters (yards) behind me and I saw myself on the ground, and before I could pick up myself another one went off then, the third one again," he recalled. "I couldn't stand any longer and just laid down but everywhere was in total confusion."

He added: "From the wailings, one can tell that there are many casualties."

Boko Haram continues to carry out deadly suicide bombings in Borno state and other parts of northern Nigeria as part of its violent campaign to establish an Islamic state in the West African nation.

The extremists have increasingly used women and youth as bombers, often after abducting and indoctrinating them.

Associated PressVideo has emerged of a corrections officer shooting an inmate suffering from mental health problems through a cell door at point-blank range.

Matthew Trevino was having a schizophrenic episode when Cpl Robert Haas fired a Nova flashbang round at him using a 12-gauge shotgun at Pasco County Jail in Florida during August 2015.

Footage of the incident captured by another deputy is now likely to form part of a civil rights lawsuit filed against the Pasco County Sheriffs Office by the 29-year-old veteran.

Trevino had been booked into the cell earlier that day on a probation violation, according to local television station Fox 13.

However, the situation escalated when he refused to put his hands through a slot in the front of the door to be handcuffed by officers who wanted to search his room for contraband.

Instead, Trevino exposed his genitals to deputies and began shouting incoherently.

It was then, according to multiple reports filed by officers involved in the incident, the inmate took a step backwards and Cpl Haas saw a window of opportunity to fire the round at him.

But, video of the altercation shows Trevino was in fact standing right up against the door when the officer discharged his shotgun.

"He was right up against the door. Completely unnecessary," Trevino's attorney, Mark Rankin said.

"There's no reason, at this point, that they have to force their way into the cell. This is not an emergency situation.

There's certainly no reason they have to use this level of force."

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. 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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

The manufacturer of the non-lethal round, Lightfield Ammunition, says its Nova rounds are intended as an indirect fire diversionary load.

It adds: It should never be fired directly at persons or pets. Muzzle blast is similar to a hand thrown NFDD [flash grenade] and can cause injury or death.

Sheriff Chris Nocco told Fox 13 the round had been fired because A criminal with a violent history in the jail failed to comply with lawful directions.

Trevino had no previous convictions for violent crimes.Brazil's federal government issued a decree on Friday to put the military in charge of Rio de Janeiro's local police amid a spike in violence.

The move is significant, both symbolically and in practical terms, for Latin America's largest nation, where many still remember the brutal 1964-1985 military dictatorship. Putting the military in charge could bring immediate relief from drug trafficking violence, but also spur fears about the use of strong-armed tactics.

The decree, which is already valid and is expected to be confirmed by Congress next week, was signed by President Michel Temer. He said it was an "extreme measure to get the situation back into order."

"Organised crime nearly took over in the state of Rio de Janeiro. This is a metastasis that is spreading in our country and it threatens our people. That's why we decided on the intervention," Mr Temer said at Brazil's presidential palace in Brasilia. "Our administration will give a tough, firm answer."

While Rio has used military staffers to help police before, the intervention marks a bigger step, with the command of all security operations leaving civilian hands. Trials will also not be conducted by civilian courts if soldiers commit crimes during policing operations.

Defence Minister Raul Jungmann said "there is no risk to democracy" with the military intervention.

The move comes as the Brazilian president's popularity has fallen to single digits, and his push to pass pension reform looks to be failing. Many analysts and lawmakers saw the decision as a way for him to deflect attention from his political woes.

Chamber of Deputies Speaker Rodrigo Maia told journalists in Brasilia that a pension reform vote in Congress would be delayed by at least a week. Mr Temer later said if he has enough votes to pass the reform he will suspend the intervention in Rio, get the pension's reform through two houses of Congress and then try to reinstate the intervention again.

The intervention is a "triple jump without a safety net," said Mr Maia. "We can't get this wrong. This is an exceptional measure that hopefully won't take too long to re-establish order."

Still, there is little denying that Rio is struggling. Rio state Gov. Luiz Fernando Pezao admitted Wednesday that security planning failed to secure residents and tourists during Carnival celebrations and that Rio police can no longer stop the war between drug traffickers in the city.

Several violent incidents took place in Rio during the world famous bash, including muggings, armed robberies and confrontations.

Mr Temer is expected in Rio on Saturday to discuss future security operations in the city, where Public Security Secretary Roberto Sa stepped aside Friday due to the intervention.

Security consultant Paulo Storani, a former commander of Rio's elite police force known as the BOPE, said the president's decision "will bring a lot of challenges to the military because it will not solve a security problem of decades."

"Rio's problem is more complex than police management. There could be a quick sensation of security, but that will not last," Storani told The Associated Press.

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

Former National Security Secretary Jose Vicente da Silva believes the military intervention "is not definitive, but helps."

"Rio state can't solve this anytime soon and the military could be effective in keeping some smaller groups that have operated lately off of the streets," da Silva said.

Mr Temer has named General Walter Souza Braga Netto to lead the security intervention. Braga Netto helped with security operations at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016 and runs a command with 50,000 military personnel.

At a press conference, Braga Netto did not disclose any details about operations.

Asked if the situation in Rio was really bad, Braga Netto shook his head and said "too much media."

Associated PressThe grieving mother of a Florida school shooting victim has invoked Donald Trumps 11-year-old son Barron, as she called on the President to protect American school children by introducing proper gun control laws.

Lori Alhadeffs emotionally charged outburst will add to the pressure on a President who has so far avoided all mention of gun control after 17 people died in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

Speaking after spending two hours arranging the funeral of her 14-year-old daughter Alyssa, a tearful Ms Alhadeff looked into a CNN news camera and told Mr Trump: President Trump, Barron goes to school. Lets protect Barron. And lets also protect all these other kids.

With her voice rising almost to a scream, the distraught mother added: The gunman, a crazy person, just walks right into the school, knocks down the window of my childs door and starts shooting, shooting her. And killing her.

President Trump, you say, What can you do? You can stop the guns from getting into these childrens hands. Put metal detectors at every entrance to the schools. What can you do? You can do a lot. This is not fair to our families that our children go to school and have to get killed.

After pausing in an apparent attempt to compose herself, she said: I just spent the last two hours putting [together] the burial arrangements for my daughters funeral, whos 14!

President Trump, please do something. Do something. Action! We need it now! These kids need safety now!

Ms Alhadeffs outburst came on the same day that more than 1,000 people attended a candlelight vigil near Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the town of Parkland, with some in the crowd chanting: No more guns! No more guns!

Traumatised pupils at the school have also demanded the President take action on gun control, and rejected his offer of condolences.

Florida shooting  in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Florida shooting  in pictures Florida shooting  in pictures Police arrest a suspect in connection with the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida Reuters Florida shooting  in pictures Parents wait for news after reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida AP Florida shooting  in pictures Anxious family members wait for news of students AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee Florida shooting  in pictures Students being evacuated from the school AP Florida shooting  in pictures Students being evacuated from the school Getty Florida shooting  in pictures People gather waiting for word from students AP Florida shooting  in pictures Parents waiting for news on their children AP Florida shooting  in pictures People gather at a hotel where students were taken after the shooting Getty Florida shooting  in pictures Florida Governor Rick Scott speaks to the media as he visits Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following the shooting AFP/Getty Florida shooting  in pictures Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, Medical Director Trauma, left, and Dr. Evan Boyer, Medical Director, Emergency Services, speak about treating victims and the suspect at a press conference outside Broward Health North hospital AP

When Mr Trump tweeted his prayers and condolences, 16-year-old Sarah Chadwick responded by writing: I dont want your condolences you f***ing [piece] of s***, my friends and teachers were shot. Multiple of my fellow classmates are dead. Do something instead of sending prayers. Prayers wont fix this. But Gun control will prevent it from happening again.

Her message was retweeted more than 144,000 times.

While politicians including Florida Senator Marco Rubio insisted tighter firearms laws would not have prevented the massacre, students who survived the shooting emerged as powerful advocates of gun control.

One Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School pupil helped start a nationwide Students for gun legislation petition, which stated: Adults have failed us  how many shootings will it take, how many innocent children have to die, until adults decide we, as our nations children, are more important than our nations guns.

Some Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students, including Ms Chadwick, expressed a desire to discuss gun control with Mr Trump.

But when the President visited Parkland, there was reportedly no mention of the debate over gun regulation. Mr Trump praised first responders, praised the victims families, saying they were in really great shape given the circumstances, but ignored a journalists shouted question about gun control.

The White House also refused renewed requests to release photos from 2017 of Mr Trump signing a bill that made it easier for some people with a mental illness to buy guns.

After the mass shooting, Mr Trump tweeted that there were So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed.

In the same tweet he also said that neighbours and classmates should have reported the erratic behaviour of suspected gunman Nikolas Cruz to the authorities, leading to accusations that the President was suggesting pupils at the school were partially to blame for what happened.A librarian saved the lives of 55 people when a gunman opened fire at a high school in Florida, killing 17.

Diana Haneski, a library media specialist at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, jumped into action when she heard the school was under lockdown on her radio.

Before shots were even fired, she ushered 50 students and five adults into a media equipment room at the back of the library and locked the doors, shouting Get back in here! Get back in here!

Speaking to Reuters, Ms Haneski, 57, said she knew what to do as her friend, a fellow librarian, had managed to save 22 people during the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012.

She was there that day in Sandy Hook and because of her I knew what to do, she said.

Her friend Yvonne Cech, a 58-year-old librarian, had previously locked 18 children and four adults into a small cupboard during the shooting.

Ms Haneski said some teachers at her school believed the shooting was a drill as they had recently undergone training and had been informed a simulated incident would take place.

Realising the shooting was real, she told people to sit on the floor in the media room and hide behind objects. She covered a window and turned off the lights.

I could see between the door and the floor. I could see if the bad guy  the shooter  walked past, she said.

Florida shooting  in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Florida shooting  in pictures Florida shooting  in pictures Police arrest a suspect in connection with the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida Reuters Florida shooting  in pictures Parents wait for news after reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida AP Florida shooting  in pictures Anxious family members wait for news of students AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee Florida shooting  in pictures Students being evacuated from the school AP Florida shooting  in pictures Students being evacuated from the school Getty Florida shooting  in pictures People gather waiting for word from students AP Florida shooting  in pictures Parents waiting for news on their children AP Florida shooting  in pictures People gather at a hotel where students were taken after the shooting Getty Florida shooting  in pictures Florida Governor Rick Scott speaks to the media as he visits Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following the shooting AFP/Getty Florida shooting  in pictures Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, Medical Director Trauma, left, and Dr. Evan Boyer, Medical Director, Emergency Services, speak about treating victims and the suspect at a press conference outside Broward Health North hospital AP

At first it was just lockdown then right away we heard shooting. We heard his name.

Nikolas Cruz, 19, has confessed to carrying out the attack on Valentines Day and has been charged with 17 counts of murder.

Ms Haneski, who knew Cruz from her previous school, was a troubled child and called for gun laws to be changed.

We did everything we were trained to do. And still this happened. And still 17 didnt go home after school, she said.Students and teachers who survived a mass school shooting in Florida have issued emotional and urgent calls for gun control at a rally.

A crowd of at least one thousand people gathered in front of the federal courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, giving impassioned speeches referencing the dead and demanding tougher gun laws. Seventeen students and teachers were killed when an assailant opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School this week.

Chants of enough is enough! and No more guns! reverberated though the gathering. People lofted signs carrying messages like and protect lives not guns.

This isnt just a mental health issue. He wouldnt have hurt that many students with a knife, student Emma Gonzalez said of the assailant, her voice quavering with outrage as she challenged Donald Trumps tweet noting so many signs the alleged killer was mentally disturbed.

If the president wants to come up to me and tell me to my face that it was a terrible tragedy and how it should never have happened and maintain telling us how nothing is going to be done about it, Ms Gonzalez said to a roaring audience, Im going to happily ask him how much money he received from the National Rifle Association.

She led the crowd in chants of shame on you! after referencing politicians accepting National Rifle Association donations.

Florida shooting  in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Florida shooting  in pictures Florida shooting  in pictures Police arrest a suspect in connection with the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida Reuters Florida shooting  in pictures Parents wait for news after reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida AP Florida shooting  in pictures Anxious family members wait for news of students AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee Florida shooting  in pictures Students being evacuated from the school AP Florida shooting  in pictures Students being evacuated from the school Getty Florida shooting  in pictures People gather waiting for word from students AP Florida shooting  in pictures Parents waiting for news on their children AP Florida shooting  in pictures People gather at a hotel where students were taken after the shooting Getty Florida shooting  in pictures Florida Governor Rick Scott speaks to the media as he visits Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following the shooting AFP/Getty Florida shooting  in pictures Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, Medical Director Trauma, left, and Dr. Evan Boyer, Medical Director, Emergency Services, speak about treating victims and the suspect at a press conference outside Broward Health North hospital AP

Fighting back tears, teacher Melissa Falkowski recounted surviving the horror.

No teacher should have to be huddle in a closet with her students to keep them calm, she said.

Multiple speakers called on their elected officials, both in the state capital in Tallahassee and in Washington, to enact tougher gun control measures like a ban on assault weapons. The shooter used an AR-15, a common type of semiautomatic rifle.

It is well past time that no civilians have access to an AR-15, Broward Teachers Union president Anna Fusco said. It is time for action now. It is time for more than thoughts and prayersIts well past time we do extreme vetting when it comes to guns, she added, referencing Mr Trumps call for extreme vetting of immigrants.

 Donald Trump calls for 'extreme vetting' of immigrants

Rep Ted Deutch echoed the call to outlaw assault weapons, adding that Congress should ban high-capacity magazines, expand background checks and raise the minimum age for buying rifles from 18 to 21.

Speakers called on attendees to translate their grief and anger into political change.

We have got to turn our anger, our frustration, our rage to actionweve got to vote, weve got to vote, weve got to vote, Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie said. We need those commonsense gun laws now.A police manhunt is under way in the US after a gunman shot and killed a four-year-old girl in a car.

The childs grandmother and three siblings, aged 7, 6, and 3, were sitting with her in the vehicle but were not hurt.

A murder warrant has been issued for the arrest of the suspect, Darnell Bitting, who police described as armed and dangerous.

The 31-year-old is said to be banned from possessing weapons.

Officers said the shooting happened after a woman drove to a home in Akron, Ohio, with her mother and four children in the car to retrieve some property inside. When no one answered the door, she broke several windows.

Bitting then came out of the house with a rifle and fired a shot that struck the car, hitting the four-year-old, according to WKYC.

The girl was taken to Akron Children's Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. She had not yet been publicly identified.

Police are appealing for information on Bittings whereabouts.At least 13 people, including three children, died after a military helicopter crashed near the site of a major earthquake in Mexico.

Twelve people died at the site of the incident, in southern Oaxaca state  five women, four men, two girls and a boy  according to a statement from the states attorney generals office. A thirteenth person died in hospital, while 15 others were injured in the crash.

Authorities said all of the victims were on the ground when the helicopter crashed.

The helicopter, which was carrying Mexicos interior minister and the state governor, crashed on top of two vans in an open field while trying to land in Santiago Jamiltepec after a tour of damage from the 7.2 magnitude earthquake on Friday.

Secretary of the Interior Alfonso Navarrete and the governor of the state of Oaxaca, Alejandro Murat both suffered minor injuries, according to the Ministry of the Interior.

The Defence Department said the Blackhawk helicopter crashed when it was preparing to land in an empty car park in Jamiltepec.

 Mexico earthquake: Light fittings swing from ceiling during 7.2 magnitude quake

Jorge Morales, a local reporter who was aboard the helicopter when it crashed, described the moments the helicopter attempted to land in a swirl of dust.

The moment the helicopter touched down it lost control, it slid  like it skidded  and it hit some vehicles that were stationed in the area, he told a Mexican television news programme. In that moment, you couldnt see anything, nothing else was heard beside the sound that iron makes when it scrapes the earth.

The accident was the latest embarrassment in Mr Navarretes short term at the Interior Department, which oversees most political and security issues. Earlier this month, an intelligence agent from an agency overseen by Mr Navarretes department was caught following an opposition presidential candidate.

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

Both Mr Navarrete and the defence department said they regretted the loss of life in Fridays accident.

The earthquake left nearly a million homes and businesses without power in Mexico City and the south and damaged at least 50 homes in Oaxaca. Aftershocks had caused people to flee their homes for fear they would collapse.

The state, along with Mexico City, is also still reeling from earthquakes that caused widespread damage in September and killed at least 471 people.

Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.Scientists examining a work by Pablo Picasso using x-ray technology have discovered that he painted it over a landscape painting by an unknown artist.

In 1957, when he was in his 70s, the Spanish painter mused that x-ray technology could one day discover a lost work underneath one of his early paintings.

That prediction came to fruition when a team of researchers in the US and Canada analysed La Misereuse Accroupie (The Crouching Beggar) - painted in 1902 - which is currently on display at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO).

They used a non-invasive technique called x-ray fluorescent spectroscopy to examine the 1902 painting and found that it was painted on top of another unknown artists landscape.

It was painted during Picasso's Blue Period, when he mainly used monochromatic shades of blue and blue-green.

The researchers' technique allowed them to study the painting in-depth in just 24 hours, and revealed the horizontal landscape created by a different Barcelona painter, whose identity remains unknown, under the visible surface of Picasso's painting.

By rotating the artist's work 90 degrees, Picasso was able to use some of the landscape forms, such as the lines of the cliff edges into the woman's back, in his own final composition.

Researchers also found Picasso had initially painted the woman with a right hand holding an object before covering it with her cloak in the final version.

They also found in the earlier versions, the woman was narrower and had a different head inclination.

The hidden painting by a mystery artist found behind Picasso's work (PA)

"Picasso had no qualms about changing things during the painting process said Marc Walton, a research professor at Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering.

"Our team has begun to tease apart the complexity of La Misereuse Accroupie, uncovering subtle changes made by Picasso as he worked toward his final vision."

The painting was sold in 2015 at Christie's auction in New York for $149,000 (106,000).

Researchers also found Picasso's earlier version of the painting, which showed the woman's right arm, to resemble another one of his creations - a watercolour painting called Femme assise.

It became clear to me that the arm hidden under the visible surface of La Misereuse accroupie is the same as the proper right arm of a crouching woman in a Picasso watercolour recently sold at auction", said Kenneth Brummel, AGO assistant curator of modern art.

Research was jointly conducted by Northwestern University's Art Institute of Chicago Centre for Scientific Studies in the Arts, the AGO, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington.

Additional reporting by Press AssociationA chief counsel at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has admitted stealing immigrants identities to defraud banks.

Raphael Sanchez, 44, forged identity documents on his government computer to open bank accounts and credit cards in the names of seven immigrants.

He racked up more than $190,000 (135,000) in personal loans, transferred funds and card-spending during the four-year scam.

All seven people who Sanchez posed as were in various stages of immigration removal proceedings, said the US Department of Justice.

The lawyer, from Seattle, Washington, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft at the citys US District Court.

The Justice Departments acting Assistant Attorney General John Cronan said he was appalled by these egregious, independent acts of criminal misconduct.

Sanchez, who had responsibility for immigration removal proceedings in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, carried out the fraud between October 2013 and October 2017.

He used the ICEs computer database and hard-copy immigration files to obtain personal information on immigrants, then forged social security cards and drivers licences in their names.

Sanchez used the fake ID to open bank accounts and secure loans, manipulated immigrants credit bureau files and purchased goods for himself using credit cards issued in their names.

He listed his home address as the immigrants place of residence on the account paperwork, and in some cases created public utility account statements in their names to provide the necessary proof of residence to open accounts with financial institutions including Bank of America and Capital One.

In the case of one immigrant, he manufactured a fake statement of earnings and registered a car in her name. He claimed three were dependent relatives on his tax returns for 2014 to 2016.

Sanchez set up email addresses and online financial accounts in the immigrants names, and used PayPal and mobile point-of-sale devices to process fraudulent transactions.

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

He resigned from his role at the ICEs Office of the Principal Legal Advisor after his crimes came to light.

Mr Sanchez looks forward to fully repaying all those affected by his crimes, said his lawyer Cassandra Stamm. Mr Sanchez does not offer excuses for his acts; rather, he simply provides his sincere and immense regret.

He will be sentenced on 11 May.

Sanchez is the second lawyer in ICEs Seattle office to run into legal trouble in recent years. In 2016 Jonathan Love admitted forging documents in an effort to deprive an immigrant of the legal permanent resident status to which he was entitled.

Immigrants rights groups One America said Sanchezs prosecution underscores the perception that ICE is a rogue agency.

Executive director Rich Stolz added: When law enforcement officials are the ones being investigated for crimes they have committed, and when long-time community members are being torn from their families due to unauthorised status alone, one must ask whether any increased investment in immigration enforcement makes sense for the nation, or for ICE, an agency that still needs to get its own affairs in order.President Donald Trump visited the Florida town devastated by a school shooting this week, as members of the community called on him to take action to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Mr Trump first visited Broward Health North hospital, where eight victims were taken after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Seventeen students and staff members were killed in the massacre in total, and 14 more were injured.

Mr Trump and his wife, Melania, visited several of the victims at the hospital, and later met with trauma surgeon Igor Nichiporenko. According to pool reports, the president praised the record-setting reaction time of first responders, calling it incredible.

Recommended Muslim groups raise thousands to help victims of Florida shooting

Mr Trump would later tell police officers and reporters about a female victim he met, who had been shot four times. He would also praise the victims families, saying they were really great shape given the circumstances. He would not respond to questions about changing the nations gun laws.

Florida shooting  in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Florida shooting  in pictures Florida shooting  in pictures Police arrest a suspect in connection with the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida Reuters Florida shooting  in pictures Parents wait for news after reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida AP Florida shooting  in pictures Anxious family members wait for news of students AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee Florida shooting  in pictures Students being evacuated from the school AP Florida shooting  in pictures Students being evacuated from the school Getty Florida shooting  in pictures People gather waiting for word from students AP Florida shooting  in pictures Parents waiting for news on their children AP Florida shooting  in pictures People gather at a hotel where students were taken after the shooting Getty Florida shooting  in pictures Florida Governor Rick Scott speaks to the media as he visits Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following the shooting AFP/Getty Florida shooting  in pictures Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, Medical Director Trauma, left, and Dr. Evan Boyer, Medical Director, Emergency Services, speak about treating victims and the suspect at a press conference outside Broward Health North hospital AP

Mr and Ms Trump also met with members of the local police and sheriffs departments Friday night, at a meeting attended by Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Governor Rick Scott, and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

At the meeting, Mr Trump shook hands with Officer Mike Leonard of the Coconut Creek Police Department, who told the president he had been the one to apprehend the alleged shooter.

That was so modest, I would have told it much differently, Mr Trump joked. I would have said without me, they never would have found him.

Mr Rubio also spoke at the meeting, saying the community was in great pain, and that residents "want action to make sure this doesnt happen again.

You can count on it, Mr Trump replied.

 Florida teacher speaks on gun control: 'our founding fathers didn't have this in mind'

Mr Rubios comments echoed those of many in the Parkland community this week, who took to airwaves and social media to ask Mr Trump to do something about the staggering number of mass shootings in America.

"President Trump, you say what can you do? You can stop the guns from getting into these children's hands," Lori Alhadeff, the mother of a 14-year-old victim, said in an emotional interview on CNN. "What can you do? You can do a lot! This is not fair to our families and our children [to] go to school and have to get killed!"

One student even tweeted at the president about his national address on the incident, in which he did not mention guns or gun control once. She later apologised for the profanity used in her initial tweet, but said she would love to meet up with him and talk gun control when he was in town.Three people have been arrested in connection with a $1.77 billion bank fraud in India.

Punjab National Bank, the countrys second-largest state-run lender, announced it had been hit by a scam on a huge scale earlier this week.

Two employees, Gokulnath Shetty and Manoj Kharat, are suspected of steering fraudulent loans to companies tied to billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi, who owns the jewellery brand Firestar Diamond, and his uncle Mehul Choksi, chairman of jewellery retailer Gitanjali group.

A third person, Hemant Bhat, has also been arrested, according to a police source.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the bank said it had detected some fraudulent and unauthorised transactions in one of its branches in Mumbai for the benefit of a few select accounts holders.

Bank officials say the scam appears to have begun in 2011 and occurred at just one Mumbai branch.

Many of the details of the fraud remain unclear, including whether all the $1.8bn is missing or if some money may have been used to repay earlier loans.

Authorities have not publicly charged Mr Modi and Mr Choksi, but say they are under investigation for allegedly cheating the bank using fake documents.

The whereabouts of Mr Modi is unknown, but Indian broadcaster NDTV reported on Friday he was at a hotel in New York, according to staff.

He has not yet commented on the claims and Firestar Diamond previously said the case was not connected to the company.

Mr Modi, 47, is the owner of 17 jewellery boutiques around the world, with branches in Asia, India, the UK and the US.

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

His jewellery has been worn by Hollywood and Bollywood stars, including Kate Winslet and Priyanka Chopra.

According to Forbes, he is worth $1.74bn and is 85th on Indias rich list.

Additional reporting by agencies.A man has been given four death sentences for the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl in Pakistan last month.

Imran Ali, 24, has also been linked to murders and sexual assaults of other girls in the region by police.

Zainab Ansari was abducted, sexually assaulted and killed in Kasur, a city in the countrys Punjab region.

Forensic evidence linking Ali to the girls murder was presented in court and witnesses testified against him.

He was given death sentences for kidnapping, rape, murder and an act of terrorism, according to reports, as well as a life sentence for sodomy.

Last month, CCTV footage emerged which showed the child, who was on her way to a religious studies class, being led away by a man on the evening of 4 January.

Her body was found in a rubbish dump on 9 January.

The girls death led to violent protests against alleged police inaction in Kasur, as well as the cities of Lahore and Karachi.

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

At least two people died and dozens more were injured in Kasur when protests turned violent.

The case, the latest in a string of sexual assaults and murders of girls in the region, sparked international outcry against gender-based violence.An Iranian scholar facing the death penalty in Iran has been granted Swedish citizenship.

Ahmadreza Djalali, a resident in Sweden who had been working as a researcher at the Karolinska Institute of medicine in Stockholm, was arrested during a trip to Iran in April 2016.

In October 2017, he was found guilty of spying activity which led to the Israeli intelligence agency assassinations of four scientists working on Irans nuclear programme and sentenced to death.

Dr Djalali, a medical doctor and university lecturer who had studied and taught in Sweden, Italy and Belgium, denies the allegations and says they were fabricated by Iranian Ministry of Intelligence interrogators.

Speaking to Swedens Sveriges Radio, a spokesperson for the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Dr Djalali had now been granted citizenship, which is hoped to give Sweden a better position to stand on in its talks with Iran.

We will continue to stay the course and our demands will not change. We demand that his death penalty not be enforced, the spokesperson said.

Appeals to overturn the academics sentence have been rejected, according to his lawyer.

Last year, Amnesty International reported Dr Djalali had been given a death sentence after a grossly unfair trial and said the father of two had not been given access to a lawyer for seven months, three of which were spent in solitary confinement.

Dr Djalali said he had been twice forced to make confessions in front of a video camera by reading out statements pre-written by his interrogator.

He maintains he was subjected to psychological torture and threatened with execution.

His wife, Vida Mehrannia, told Amnesty his physical and mental health had been affected badly since he was arrested and sentenced.

We are calling for his release because he has not committed any crime, she said.

Dr Djalalis colleagues have previously said they believe his arrest was related to his international contacts in academic circles, some of whom are Israeli, but said his work was solely scientific.

The vice chancellor of the Karolinska Institute, where Dr Djalali received his PhD in disaster medicine in 2012, expressed concern over the case.

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

For many years, he has worked with researchers from all over the world to improve the capacity of hospitals in countries suffering from extreme poverty or affected by disasters and armed conflicts, Ole Petter Ottersen said in a statement published on the university's website.

We ask that Dr Djalali be subjected to due process and fair trial.

Reuters contributed to this report.Pope Francis has reactivated the lapsed sex abuse advisory commission and announced that new members have been appointed, amid criticism over his handling of cases.

He has come under fire for his support of a Chilean bishop accused by victims of witnessing and ignoring their abuse.

The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors was launched by the Pope in 2014 as part of the Catholic churchs efforts to deal with the scandal of sex abuse of minors.

The initial three-year mandate of commission members had lapsed in December.

The Pope has named nine new members and kept seven from the initial group.

The Vatican said survivors of abuse had been included in the group, but are not going to be named to protect their privacy.

The news of the relaunch comes on the same day that a Vatican investigator will take the testimony in New York of one of the main whistleblowers in the Chilean cover-up scandal.

Last month, Pope Francis apologised for suggesting victims of sexual abuse by priests should show proof, but continued to defend Chilean bishop Juan Barros, who has been accused of covering up abuse.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

In 2010, Father Fernando Karadima was accused of abusing several teenage boys in the Chilean capital, Santiago, and a year later the Vatican found him guilty and sentenced him to a lifetime of penance and prayer.

At the time, Bishop Juan Barros was accused of covering up the claims and helping to protecting Karadima, while he and several other future bishops were training to be priests under his tutelage.For a private army without an official name, and in a country where its activity is illegal, we already seem to know a lot about Russias Wagner.

We apparently know where their soldiers are trained (a newly built compound in Krasnodar Krai, near Ukraine); how much they earn (up to 200,000 roubles, seven times the Russian average); where they fought (a list that includes Ukraine); how many of them are there (1,500-2,000); and when and where they died. We have learned all this from investigations using social media and other open sources  sources that the Kremlin seems unable to block.

Last weeks clashes in the deserts of eastern Syria, where the US-led coalition said it had fought off an attack by pro-regime forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, brought those sources back into focus. In the absence of official recognition, evidence from social media  mostly from social media network Vkontakte  provided the most solid documentation of Russian losses to US-backed Kurdish forces, which may now number the high dozens. A number of those said to be involved in those clashes are said to be affiliated to Wagner, with the Kremlin one of President Assads staunch allies.

After a period of anger and silence and statements boarding on outright denial, on Thursday Moscow accepted that five Russian citizens, maybe, could have died  but that required further verification, and they were not linked to official Russian military actions.

In recent years, the Kremlin has gone to great lengths to hide its military losses. In 2015, just before the beginning of the Syrian operation, President Putin made military deaths a state secret  whether in war or in peacetime. By that time, the Kremlin narrative denying boots on the ground in eastern Ukraine as part of the conflict between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels had been seriously undermined by growing reports of dead Russian soldiers.

The use of private military groups such as Wagner continues that logic. Russia, of course, is not the only country to use private armies to keep its military deaths off the public balance sheet. But while the use of private armies by Western governments is common knowledge, in Russia membership is officially punishable by up to seven years imprisonment. And the Kremlin does not look like it is about to authorise a change in law.

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 Kremlins plausible deniability over Russian soldiers in Syria also has a flip side  angering Russias usually loyal patriotic wing.

In Russias parliaments this week, the tensions boiled over. Dependable deputies such as vice-speaker Igor Lebedev began to talk about the obligation of authorities to be more open.

You have to express condolences to the relatives and loved ones of those who died, he said. The government simply has to do this.

Franz Klintsevich, deputy chairman of Russias upper house Defence and Security Committee, was even more forthright. The actions of the US coalition go against legal norms, he said. The Americans have never acted like this before in Syria ... it is unprecedented.

 Russian warplane 'shot down and pilot captured' by Syrian rebels

But Klintsevichs message was off-cue and it soon got him into trouble. Within a day, he had voluntarily resigned his position. It was a turn that Speaker Valentina Matviyenko described as a normal rotation of cadres. But a source close to the committee told The Independent that Klintsevich should have kept his tongue. There are serious players involved, he said. Klintsevich, meanwhile, declined to comment for this article, citing a busy schedule.

As the scandal grew, government not only pulled down the shutters, but tried to empty the shop. Sources became busier and busier. Then came reports of new guidance for soldiers about social media use. According to the Izvestia newspaper, which is close to government, soldiers have been told to keep social media accounts private and to ask relatives not to divulge information about their service. The aim of the intervention seemed clear: to remove the lifeblood for activist open-source investigators.

One of its main targets was Ruslan Leviev and his Conflict Intelligence Team group of open source researchers. CIT has monitored and verified Russian military deaths in Ukraine and Syria since May 2014.

From about this moment, Leviev also attracted the attention of security services, who warned him to stop. He was summoned to a military prosecutor and told he risked prison. There was surveillance, phone-tapping, constant questioning and even a hacking attack.

The activist says the ministry of defence has recently turned its focus to the families of the deceased. Relatives have been told to sign non-disclosure agreements in exchange for receiving compensation, he says: They tell us they arent allowed to speak to us otherwise they will lose their money. Families are said to receive 3m roubles (38,000).

Levievs workaround is to approach distant relatives. The security services understand his methods, he says, but arent able to warn everyone.

Russian surveillance is not yet set up for large numbers of users, says Andrei Soldatov, author and security services expert: Control breaks down at the lowest level. You would think that there would be nothing easier than confiscating a phone from young soldiers. But that isnt happening

Instead of being an all-seeing eye, the Russian security system works instead works in chaotic, domino fashion. They make demonstrative punishments and expect others to fall into line, says Soldatov. The system is not designed for a large number of troublemakers.Afghans have submitted 1.17 million statements to the International Criminal Court in the three months since it began collecting material ago for a possible war crimes case involving their homeland.

The statements include accounts of alleged atrocities. not only by groups like the Taliban and the Isis, but also Afghan Security Forces and government-affiliated warlords, the US-led coalition, and foreign and domestic spy agencies, said Abdul Wadood Pedram of the Human Rights and Eradication of Violence Organisation.

Based in part on the many statements, ICC judges in The Hague would then have to decide whether to seek a war crimes investigation. It is uncertain when that decision will be made.

The statements were collected between 20 November 2017 and 31 January 2018, by organisations based in Europe and Afghanistan and sent to the ICC, Mr Pedram said.

Because one statement might include multiple victims and one organisation might represent thousands of victim statements, the number of Afghans seeking justice from the ICC could be several million.

It is shocking there are so many, Mr Pedram said, noting that in some instances, whole villages were represented. It shows how the justice system in Afghanistan is not bringing justice for the victims and their families.

The ICC did not give details about the victims or those providing the information.

I have the names of the organisations, but because of the security issues, we dont want to name them because they will be targeted, said Mr Pedram, whose group is based in Kabul.

Many of the representations include statements involving multiple victims, which could be the result of suicide bombings, targeted killings or air strikes, he said.

Among those alleging war crimes is a man who asked to be identified only by his first name, Shoaib, because he fears for his safety.

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

Shoaib said his father, Naimatullah, was on a bus in Dawalat Yar district in Afghanistans central Ghor Province in 2014 when a band of gunmen stopped it and two other buses, forced the passengers off and told them to hand over their identity cards. The 14 Shias among them were separated from the rest and killed, one by one, he said.

The slayings outraged the country. A Taliban commander was soon arrested and brought before the media, but no news about a trial or punishment was ever reported, said Shoaib, who is in his 20s.

Displaying a photo of the man he believes killed his father, Shoaib said he doesnt go to the authorities for information about the incident because the commander had connections with the police and the local government administration.

Shoaib is still afraid.

Everybody knows that they have connection in the government, he added. I think in Afghanistan, if you have money, then you can give it to anyone, anywhere, to do anything.

Several powerful warlords, many of whom came to power after the collapse of the Taliban in 2001 following the US-led intervention, are among those alleged to have carried out war crimes, said Mr Pedram, who also is cautious about releasing any names.

After receiving death threats last year, Mr Pedram fled Kabul briefly and now keeps a lower profile, no longer speaking to local media.

The warlords are all here. You have to be very careful, he said. In the morning, I kiss my little son goodbye, I kiss my wife goodbye because I dont know what will happen to me and when, or if I will see them again.

Shoaib shows a picture of his father was killed (AP/Rahmat Gul)

Established in 2002, the ICC is the worlds first permanent court set up to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The ICC can only investigate any crimes in Afghanistan after May 2003, when the country ratified the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court.

Former President Bill Clinton signed the treaty, but President George W Bush renounced the signature, citing fears that Americans would be unfairly prosecuted for political reasons.

In November, when ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda sought judicial authorization to begin the investigation, she said the court had been looking into possible war crimes in Afghanistan since 2006.

Bensouda said in November that there is a reasonable basis to believe that crimes against humanity and war crimes were committed by the Taliban as well as the Haqqani network. She also said there was evidence that the Afghan National Security Forces, Afghan National Police and its spy agency, known as the NDS, committed war crimes.

Bensouda also said evidence existed of war crimes committed by members of the United States armed forces on the territory of Afghanistan, and by members of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in secret detention facilities in Afghanistan, as well as in countries that had signed on to the Rome Statute. The secret detention facilities were operated mostly between 2003 and 2004, she said.

It was the first time that Bensouda has targeted Americans for alleged war crimes. Bensouda said an investigation under the auspices of the international tribunal could break through what she called near total impunity in Afghanistan.

The prosecutors formal application to the court set up a possible showdown with Washington. While the US is not a member state of the ICC, its citizens can be charged with crimes committed in countries that are members.

At the time of Bensoudas announcement, a Pentagon spokesman said the US Defense Department does not accept that such an investigation of US personnel is warranted. The US State Department has said it opposes the courts involvement in Afghanistan.

Another Afghan who went to the ICC is Hussain Razaee, whose fiancee, Najiba, was among 30 people killed in July when a Taliban suicide attacker rammed a car bomb into a bus carrying employees from the Ministry of Mines.

For months, Mr Razaee said he contemplated suicide. He had spent two years convincing Najibas parents to allow them to marry, and they had finally agreed. Unlike most Afghan couples, theirs was not to be an arranged marriage.

I lost the person I loved, he said.

Mr Razaee said he went to the ICC because he wants those responsible to be punished, even if a peace deal with the Taliban is reached.

I am pursuing this because I want the ICC to record these cases so that if there is a peace agreement, the Taliban leaders will be required to identify the people behind the killings, Mr Razaee said.

I dont trust the international community to bring any of these warlords or Taliban to justice, but if an international legal body rules according to the law, then the government could be forced to enforce it, he said.

Associated PressSwitzerland claims to have the densest public transport network in the world. But it comes at a price: rail fares are even higher than those in Britain.

The one-hour, 75-mile journey from the capital, Bern, to the largest city, Zurich, costs 51 Swiss francs (40) for the cheapest walk-up fare. That is more expensive than many typical "anytime" tickets travelling the same distance in the UK, from Portsmouth to London (37.10), York to Durham (36.80) or Glasgow to Dundee (23.20).

Regular rail passengers in Switzerland tolerate such high fares because they all have an annual railcard offering half price on every ticket. The Halb-tax or demi-tarif card costs 185 francs (142) for the first year and 165 francs (127) annually thereafter.

The railcard is so universal  with 2.5 million holders  that fare quotes online assume the traveller has one. As a result, the only people who ever pay full fare are occasional users and foreigners, for whom the fearsome prices act as a deterrent.

Mark Smith, founder of the international rail website Seat61.com, said: Its a trap which many visitors fall into, checking prices first and later getting a nasty shock when they progress to buy a ticket.

Now the Swiss passengers group, Pro Bahn Schweiz, has called for the card to be abolished.

Speaking to the newspaper 20 minutes, which is often read on rail journeys, the associations president, Karin Blattler, said ditching the card would be very welcome.

The cost of selling, marketing and renewing the half-fare travelcard and the different tariffs would be eliminated, she said, adding that administration savings could be passed on to the customer.

In a demand that will resonate with many UK rail passengers, Ms Blattler called for the Swiss rail industry to massively simplify the immense tariff chaos.

The abolition of the half-fare would be part of it, she said.

Smith, who is the leading UK expert on international rail travel, told The Independent: No one can argue with the quality and integration of the Swiss transport system. But Swiss fares are painfully high  and without the benefit of alternative, affordable off-peak fares as we have in the UK.

So yes, its a great idea to abolish annual half-fare cards and the bewildering array of other offers and just halve the price for everyone.

It might even generate extra travel and higher revenue. Offering low prices to all your existing customers whilst ensuring sky-high fares discourage potential new customers might not be the best commercial approach after all.

Speaking to the newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung, Swiss Railways head of passenger transport, Toni Hane, said halving the normal tariff could be considered, but added: The consent of the entire industry would be necessary.

The Swiss half-price railcard also gives a 15 per cent discount on tickets to and from Austria and Germany.

British rail passengers can obtain railcards offering one-third off until they are 26, and from age 60 onwards, with other cards for families and couples travelling together. The rail industry is trialling a 26-30 railcard, but at present only in the Greater Anglia area.The recent indictment of Darren Osborne brings back the shock of the event, where he set upon his deranged mission to plough a van through a crowd of Muslim worshippers one summers night last Ramadan. A nation already in mourning after the London Bridge, Westminster and Manchester attacks, the Finsbury Park tragedy cemented 2017 as the year we all bore the wounds set upon us by extremists.

Yet as someone who lived in Finsbury Park at the time, Im also reminded of the uniquely resilient spirit of the community living around the site of that attack. Among one the most diverse communities in London, the tragedy saw an immediate outpouring of solidarity and love from people of all faiths and none, as they consoled one another around the mosque, demonstrating resilience against the hate and division the attacker sought to breed.

Its this same spirit of resilience and refusal to let hate-mongers dictate the way we see each other that motivates Visit My Mosque Day. While all members of society are free to visit their local mosque throughout the year, Visit My Mosque Day is an active response from Muslim communities to the fact that 90 per cent of people in Britain have yet to see the inside of a mosque. For people like Mohammed Kozbar, Chairman of Finsbury Park mosque, this is a worrying sign of disengagement that can be narrowed by Visit My Mosque Day and build much needed bridges.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2021 Vehicles drive through deep water on a flooded road in Nine Elms, London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 July 2021 Utilities workers inspect a 15x20ft sinkhole on Green Lane, Liverpool, which is suspected to have been caused by ruptured water main PA UK news in pictures 23 July 2021 Children interact with Mega Please Draw Freely by artist Ei Arakawa inside the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London, part of UNIQLO Tate Play the gallery's new free programme of art-inspired activities for families PA UK news in pictures 22 July 2021 Festivalgoers in the campsite at the Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk PA UK news in pictures 21 July 2021 A man walks past an artwork by Will Blood on the end of a property in Bedminster, Bristol, as the 75 murals project reaches the halfway point and various graffiti pieces are sprayed onto walls and buildings across the city over the Summer PA UK news in pictures 20 July 2021 People during morning prayer during Eid ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice, in Southall Park, Uxbridge, London PA

Those at Finsbury Park mosque know the importance of such activities all too well. Ever since the new management took over in 2005 theyve been organising mosque open days regularly for the local community in the spirit of openness and relationship building, before joining the Visit My Mosque Day initiative organised by the Muslim Council of Britain four years ago.

This years Visit My Mosque Day, held this Sunday 18 February, comes at a particularly sensitive time, being the first one since the attack last year. For the mosque this is an important opportunity to build upon the spirit of local solidarity and show that Finsbury Park mosque is more than just a mosque, but, as Mr Kozbar says, a community centre open to people of all faiths and none.

 London residents bring flowers in solidarity with Finsbury Park Mosque after attack

The event at Finsbury Park this year will consist of a tour of the mosque, exhibitions about Islam, face painting and henna for children, and stalls from the police, local council and Arsenal FC  as well the chance for a tea and chat. Importantly though, a special exhibition will look back at the Finsbury Park attack itself and commemorate the expressions of solidarity the mosque received from across the diversity of local faith groups and schools.

For over ten years now, Finsbury Park and its mosque have been demonstrating how opening our doors to each other allows for stronger communities capable of the type of resilience and solidarity we saw last year, in the face of brutal terror. As over 200 other mosques around the country partake in Visit My Mosque Day too, this Sunday sees an important opportunity to resist the vile acts of those like Darren Osborne and Salman Obedi that wished to drive a wedge between us, and instead strengthen communities across the UK over tea and chats.

Avaes Mohammad is a teacher, poet and playwright. He previously worked for independent thinktank British FuturePraying for the President would be apt the first Sunday of Lent. He is beset by challenges. So is the country as it mourns yet one more school shooting, this time in South Florida. But evangelical Christians in particular also face a time of reckoning as they populate the pews. How much longer can they support Donald Trump and face themselves in the mirror?

So far the religious revolt has not come. Asked recently how he reconciles his political support for Trump with his faith, notably in the light of reports of an affair 10 years ago between him and a porn actress, Jerry Falwell Jr (president of Liberty University  a Christian research institution) sort of shrugged. We certainly dont hold him up as the pastor of this nation and he is not, he said. We just have to give the man the benefit of the doubt.

But the bargain evangelicals entered into  turn a blind eye to all else Trump does so long as he defends their rights as Christians against the incoming tide of progressivism  may not be immutable. The Pew Research Center found that support for Trump among white evangelical Protestants tumbled from 78 to 61 per cent between February and December last year.

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

Politically, the evangelicals continue to matter a great deal. Any further drift from Trump could doom his re-election. More immediately, disaffection with him could ricochet onto a Republican Party already fearful of losing its majorities in Congress this November. But this should not make them flinch. The evangelical community was born of the old Moral Majority. Herewith, 10 reasons why that heritage and backing this White House can longer go together.

1. A lawyer for the President conceded last week he had paid $130,000 (93,000) in hush money to the porn star, Stormy Daniels, just weeks before the 2016 election. On Friday, a report in the New Yorker alleged Trump entered into another sexual relationship in 2006 with Playboy model, Karen McDougal. In what sense is Trump a role model to Americas youth?

2. When serial allegations of inappropriate sexual liaisons threatened the Senate campaign of Roy Moore, the former attorney general of Alabama, Trump stood by him. We need Republican Roy Moore to win in Alabama, he tweeted. (The voters baulked where Trump didnt.)

3. Trump promised during his campaign not to tamper with the core social safety net programmes for the poor, notably Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. His latest budget proposal, however, would slash Medicare by $554bn and Medicaid by around $250bn over 10 years. Is this the teaching of the church, to lie and withdraw support from the disadvantaged?

 White House refuses to release photo of Trump signing bill weakening gun laws for mentally ill

4. He vowed to drain the swamp. But allegations of malfeasance, from pocket-stuffing to lying to investigators, shroud the administration. The Washington Post says nine of Trumps original 22 cabinet members have come under scrutiny for ethical lapses of some sort, most recently Scott Pruitt, his environment chief, for first-class travel for him and his wife billed to the taxpayer.

5. The Tea Party was born in 2010, powered in particular by evangelical Christians furious about out-of-control government spending and spiralling national debt. In the last weeks, Trump and the Republicans have entirely abandoned all pretence of being interested in reducing the deficit, slashing taxes on corporations and the rich and promising record resources to the military.

6. Trumps stance on immigration and his campaign to bar refugees according to the countries they come from, blocked by the courts, is antithetical to Christian teaching. A diverse group precisely of evangelical leaders urged Congress to act on both issues, including steps to allow young Dreamers to stay in the country, in a full-page advert last week in the Washington Post.

7. The moral rot in the White House has now been manifested by its failure to act on warnings it received from the FBI about the history of spousal abuse by Staff Secretary Rob Porter, months before he was finally exposed by media reports and shown the door. Chief of Staff John Kelly at first defended Porter as a man of true integrity. Trump said he hadnt been given due process.

Recommended Trump rated one of the least popular presidents since polls began

8. One of Trumps first acts was to undo Obama regulations to keep guns from the mentally ill. The White House refuses to release pictures of him signing the bill that did so. Speaking after the Florida tragedy, Trump made no mention of gun control. Politicians grubbing money from the National Rifle Association, NRA, do not deserve Christian votes. Or anyones.

9. Determined to tilt the American judiciary to the right, Trump is populating the federal courts with justices openly opposed to Christian values of diversity and tolerance. Calls for diversity are code for relaxed standards (moral and intellectual), Gordon Giampietro, nominated for the US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, wrote in 2014, BuzzFeed reports.

10. S***hole countries.Left to right: Actors Pooja Chopra, Manoj Bajpayee, director Neeraj Pandey, Sidharth Malhotra and Rakul Preet Singh are seen at the trailer launch of their film "Aiyaary." The film has been barred from release in Pakistan. (IANS photo)Bimla Nayyar (above), who died at age 81 at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn, Michigan, when staff mixed up her x-rays for her dislocated jaw with those of another patient, prompting surgeons to erroneously perform brain surgery. A jury awarded the family $21 million in 2016, but Michigan states Supreme Court overturned the ruling based on a technicality. How is this possible in a just and fair world? cried Ramesh Nayyar, Bimlas husband, in court. (India-West/Nayyar family photo via attorney Geoffrey Fieger)About this course...

This intensive 2.5 or 4-day course has been presented nearly 1,000 times to more than 23,000 people. Organized for managers, engineers, geologists, landmen, scientists, accountants, and others concerned with evaluating investments, this course relates to the economic analysis of income producing and service producing investments using discounted cash flow analysis criteria and procedures.

The course covers economic analysis techniques used to optimize the development and operation of mining, petroleum and non-natural resource production and processing operations.

The course textbook, Economic Evaluation and Investment Decision Methods, 15th Edition, 2017 by Franklin J. Stermole, John M. Stermole, and Andrew H. Pederson, demonstrates the evaluation techniques presented using a variety of applications for people with technical and non-technical backgrounds, with or without previous evaluation experience.

Classes for Economic Evaluation and Investment Decision Methods will be held on the campus of Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado USA. Specific locations on campus for each session will be identified in material sent to each registrant prior to the first day of class.

The campus is located near Denver, Colorado and is about a 45-minute drive west on I-70 from Denver International Airport. Directions to the campus, campus maps, and campus parking information are available.Zimbabwe has turned a new leaf, announced new investor friendly mining policies, and is open for business. It is set on rapidly growing its economy with mining investors being key players. The Zimbabwe Mining Investment Conference 2018 will discuss as well as showcase the vast investment opportunities in Zimbabwes growing mining sector. The new government is committed to supporting and protecting investors, ALL FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN ZIMBABWE IS 100% SAFE. Zimbabwe is endeavouring to be amongst the most attractive and safest investment destination with clear & predictable investments policies and incentives. Foreign investors can now own up to 100% in all mining projects with the exception of platinum and diamonds.



Meet over 300 high-level decision making delegates attending the Zimbabwe Mining Investment Conference 2018. Build relationships with the most important local, regional and international senior executives involved in Zimbabwes mining sector. We are bringing together mining companies, government stakeholders and a broad range of investors including sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, fund managers, corporate investors, offtakers, mining consultants, private equity managers, debt equity financiers, asset managers, investment banks, frontier funds, impact investors, family offices, DFIs, MFIs, and the media  make sure you join us to connect with these key stakeholders. Zimbabwe is on a path to becoming one of the leading mining investment destinations in Africa.

TICKETS:

International Delegates - Standard Tickets $1500.00, Conference day Tickets $1900.00

Zimbabwe Delegates - Standard Tickets $750.00, Conference day Tickets $990.00



MineAfrica subscribers receive a 25% discount - contact David or Mandy below for more information.



Complimentary Tickets for Investors

Complimentary Investor Delegate passes are reserved solely for professional investors who's primary function is considered buy-side i.e. investing funds directly into mining companies and projects and are not for a mining company or a company that provides products or services to the metals & mining industry. Qualified buy-side may include private equity, commodity traders, asset managers, investment managers, hedge funds, sovereign wealth funds, venture capitals private wealth managers, family offices, mutual funds, pension funds, SOEs and approved private investors and HNWIs. Please note that representatives from investment banks, financial advisories and corporate finance providers are not eligible.Controversial OAP, Daddy Freeze has come down heavily on a Nigerian lady who accused him of physically abusing his ex-wife.

The lady in question took to social media to make the accusation, she accused him of beating up his ex wife and asked what his current woman is still doing in his house.

Reacting to the accusation, Daddy Freeze, in his characteristic manner, compared his accusers face with an animal.

He placed the womans picture side by side with an animal and then placed her comments which she made about him, below the collage.

Daddy Freeze then captioned the photo with a few words to the woman, calling her unlettered aunty.

Below is what he wrote:

Sometimes haters need to take a long, cold and hard look in the mirror, before they hate on other people.

I put up pictures from a magazine shoot and this unlettered aunty, jumped out of the woodwork to lay accusations and brandish her hatred in very destitute grammar, highlighting her below par intelligence quotient.

I never beat my ex wife and we parted ways 4 years ago, so why bring it up now? Its of no consequence. She has moved on and so have I!

You will expect the haters to be living perfect lives driving Ferraris, mansions in banana island  no way! They are scrawny, hungry, disheveled people, depressed at how poorly they turned out and are bescumbered with the dung of their attitude deficiencies, bearing the semblance of primitive mammals, God help them!

source: Gistreel

Are you dating a Yoruba man and you want to know what to do to prevent him from leaving you or cheating on you? Here are some few tips on how to keep a Yoruba man.

Tips on dating Yoruba men

Dating a Yoruba man requires a combination of art and science. Although dating and relationships in the Yoruba culture have moved on from what it used to be. Due to westernization, most people dont hold on to the strict rules of culture anymore. There has been a lot of compromise and adaptation to western trends. But no matter how much things are changing, some things are still very crucial and preserved when it comes to relationships. There are some things you must do if you want to keep Yoruba boys even in this new age.

Tips on how to keep a Yoruba man

You might not need to do some old practices like having to kneel down to give him his food, call him sir, etc. But there are still some things you must take note of to keep a Yoruba man. So, if you are dating a Yoruba man and you are having troubles here are some helpful tips. And even if you are not having problems in your relationship this article still can be very helpful for you.

Be attentive

Be very respectful

Respect is something that is taken seriously among the Yoruba people especially when it comes to relationships and marriage. A wife must respect her husband both in public and in private. If you are not yet his wife, you must respect him if you want to make it to marriage. And not just him alone, you must respect his friends and family which includes his parents, siblings, and extended family members.

You must show him respect in the way you speak to him especially when you are speaking with him in the Yoruba language. Also, you always have to kneel down when you greet him although most Yoruba men dont require their women to kneel down when greeting them these days. But you must kneel down when greeting his parents or elderly members of his family.

Learn to cook or improve your cooking skills

Yoruba woman cooking

It will be very difficult for a lady who cannot cook to keep a Yoruba man for so many reasons. Firstly, Yoruba men dont like women who cant cook. And when we mean cook, you must be able to cook very well and be ready to cook for him always. Also, you need to know how to cook his favourite Yoruba meals. A Yoruba wants to be able to come home and have a good meal. Most Yoruba men are not fans of eating out.

Cook for him

Another reason why you must know how to cook is that his family and friends will always come over once in a while. And if you dont know how to cook, he will be embarrassed. His family will not even allow you to marry him and if you are married already, well good luck to you because you will not find it easy with his family members. We can assure you that you will want to know how to cook so he will not prefer some other womans food to yours. So, if you dont know how to cook especially Yoruba cuisines you had better start learning now and always look to improve your cooking skills.

Always try to be on your best look every time

Yoruba men like beautiful ladies. What they like in terms of body features vary from men to men but your look must always be appealing to him. This I believe is common to all men anyways. So, you should learn why he was attracted to you in the first place and try to keep the look and shape as much as you can.

Do makeup every day

Do not be lazy

Most typical Yoruba men believe that a wife must always do all the house chores especially cooking, cleaning, washing, etc. So if you are lazy or you dont like doing house chores, it will be very difficult to keep a Yoruba man.

Keep your place tidy and clean

Another quality you must possess to keep a Yoruba man is cleanliness. Most Yoruba men cannot stand a woman who is not clean and tidy. So you must always keep your place clean and tidy when he comes visiting if you are not married yet. And if you are already you must keep the house you two share clean and tidy always.

Be easy going, dont be a troublemaker

Most men dont appreciate troublemakers. So dont make troubles with him even if he is wrong. Try to find better ways other than nagging and complaining. Of course, sometimes it is very difficult especially when emotions run high. But remember wise women know when words can make the situation worse or ruin a relationship, keep their man.

Shouting girl

Have less male friends

Unlike the western culture, most Yoruba men might have a problem with you keeping male friends once they start dating you. It may not cut across all. You can have male friends but not as very close friends.

Learn to sing his praise, treat him like a king

If you are conversant with the Yoruba culture and you can sing his oriki, it can be an added advantage. But if not, just learn to adorn him with praises and make him feel loved and respected.

Happy black couple

Be loyal to him

Loyalty is necessary to keep a Yoruba man. So in every way possible, you should always be loyal to your man. This will go a long way in helping you to keep your man.

Pray

Lastly, if you are a religious person, always pray to God to help you keep your man. There is a general notion that most Yoruba men like women and will most likely cheat. Although this is not entirely true. But anyway, if you are a person of faith, you can pray to God and trust Him to help you keep him.

Yoruba wedding

You might not need to do all of these to keep your Yoruba man but you will surely have to do at least fifty percent of these things. Also, if you are not married yet, keep in mind that after you have tried all you can to make sure your man stays with you, but you still notice signs that he will not always stay by your side, please dont force things. And when there are red flags, dont ignore them and dont try to force things so that you will not regret it later on. Some relationship just cant work and there is no need to force it. We wish you eternal love and all the best in your relationships.A 6th grader has been arrested for writing a note that contained a threat to commit a school shooting.

The student is from Davie, Florida which is close to Parkland, Florida. To add to the tragedy and fear surrounding the Florida community, and frankly the country as a whole, this news comes only a day after the tragic school shooting by a 19-year-old male killing 17 people.

The girl claims another student forced her to place the note under the office door to the assistant principal and according to the police report, the 11-year-old can be seen on a surveillance video placing the handwritten under the door.

The student has produced a written confession after being confronted by authorities who say the girl was visually upset and crying as she was being questioned. In the confession, the student claims that another girl threatened to have another friend fight her. Under physical threat, the writer of the threat was pressured by the girl to place it under the assistant principals door.

The student was taken into custody by Davie police and put in the Broward Juvenile Assesment Center. Her identity is being withheld because of her age as she is still a minor.The Christ Embassy church in the United Kingdom is in debt and has been declared insolvent by the Charity Commission, the agency that regulates charity organizations in the country.

The church owned by popular Nigerian pastor, Chris Oyakhilome, was flagged on the Charity Commission website as charity insolvent. According to the commission, a charity is considered as being insolvent when it is unable to pay its debts.

Report says the ministrys annual return for the years 2013 to 2014 indicated that a total of N7.6 billion (15.1million) was paid to the interim manager. The church still has an outstanding fee of N1.1 billion (2215,914) to pay the interim manager in 2015.

The Commission explained: In practice there are two separate tests for insolvency and failure of either might be an indication of insolvency: The charity cannot pay its debts as they fall due for payment; The value of its liabilities exceeds its assets.

Charities will be flagged as insolvent on our register when we are made aware of an insolvency situation and we are provided with verification from a qualified, independent insolvency practitioner.

The ministry also admitted in its belated 2015 financial Statement (the churchs last annual return, which it published in 2017) that its subsidiary, Christ Embassy Limited, valued with a net asset of more than N1 billion (2 million) entered into liquidation from November 1, 2016.

A series of crises have plagued the UK branch of Christ Embassy church since 2013. In 2014, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome lost a fierce power tussle over the church in the UK with his ex-wife, Anita Oyakhilome, now known as Anita Ebhodaghe Schafer. Ms. Anita was the head of the UK branch of the church while Mr. Oyakilome presided over the charitys board of trustee since inception, but he was forced to resign in 2014.

After he was kicked out of the churchs board of trustee, the couple divorced five months later. In 2013, the UK government set up an inquiry into possible financial misplacement of the churchs fund between 2008 and 2012, Premium Times reports. Government-appointed auditors later raised eyebrows over suspicious payments worth N2.14 billion (4.28 million) made to companies and organization closely related to the church in 2013.

Source: Linda Ikejis blogCurvy Nollywood actress Moyo Lawal has reacted to the backlash she had from her viral nude photo. In case you missed it the lovely actress shared a nude photo of herself on social media.

Many Nigerians called her out on the photo and also Nollywood actor Uche Maduagwu also reacted to it. Well it appears that she saw the reactions and now she has responded to them.

Read her write up below; Moyo Lawal

I was not Nude Ya all need to chill especially the hypocrites that I see in bikinis all the time ...

Here are the Facts!!! (1) I was not nude neither can you see anything apart from cleavage which you will probably still see from me .Also ofcourse I was terrified have you ever tried to create a nude illusion picture?? I was almost peeing in my pants and trying my best to still make the picture look believable

(2).My body is 100% natural , how on earth do you compare a natural body to a surgical enhanced body???

(3).Kim k is NOT my Role model , please where have you ever heard me say that?or even write that?? .I just love how confident kanye is ..knowing his wife will never cheat on him despite her body exposure (becos we know what some always covered up decent wives do).therefore allowing her do her!

(4) I was not nude as you can obviously see in the picture above ,different posture I make bold to say, I see literally naked bodies on social media every other day ..either a lingerie or beach or pool or bathroom shoot

(5) .I need to point out the obvious that I have seen literally every female in bikini ( the ones with the bodies for it ,that is Even some without) whether before marriage ,some even after ..need I point out bikini is string pant and bra??? 

(6) You have never seen me in a bikini , which means you have actually never even see me as undressed as most females you have seen on social media

(7)..As for me liking attention .I laugh in Spanish , am off social media more than am on it .am indoors more than am outdoors, ..so what were we saying about attention again like I log out of socialmedia completely!!

(8) The casket picture was taken on set of a movie  The Will filmed in Owerri last week i should have used the gold casket though because that one was supershining .oh ..am being annoying sorry

(9)have you ordered any makeup item from  #Flawlessbeauty byMimi yet?? (10)Thank you for letting me break the internet over an illusion!!!

#ML

P.s Bikini (string pant &bra)pic loading

source: GistreelA Pastor of the Chosen One To Rule Ministry, Asaba, Delta State, Chinonso Udemezue, accused of raping a young boy,Gabriel, (not real name) claims he was being set up by Yahoo Boys in the area.

Punch gathered that sometime in January 2018, a member of Udemezues church had visited with her grandson, a 10-year old boy for spiritual counseling because he was a pastor they trusted.

According to the boys aunt, the reason the child was taken for counseling was due to the family losing a son and they feared for the life of the boy as well.

I lost my brother sometime ago and we did not want to lose my nephew too, that is why my mother went to the pastor for counseling and prayers, she said.

Gabriels aunt added that the pastor told her mother that he saw a vision that the boy would be kidnapped.

He said that we might lose him to kidnappers if my mother did not bring him to live with him for some time, she said.

The boy stayed with the pastor for more than a month and even attended school from his home.

When we decided to put the boy in our pastors custody, my mother asked how much would be needed to enroll him in a school and pastor said N45,000 which my mother gave to him, she said.

Few weeks after Gabriel started living with the pstor, he was brought home to his mother, according to him, he could no longer sit properly, they claimed.

Gabriels aunt said,

We asked him what was wrong and he told us how our pastor showed him a sex video on his phone one night. After that, he said pastor removed his clothes and brought out something like oil which he (pastor) robbed on himself and inserted his penis into his anus. He said it was the only time pastor did it.

We screamed and raised the alarm. We then decided to go and report the matter to the police.

After he was arrested, we went to the school where my nephew was enrolled and found out that the school was actually N25,000 not N45,000 the pastor told us. The school also said he had only paid N9,000 out of the money.

The family reported the case at the B Police Division, Asaba, and the pastor was eventually arrested and brought before the Okwe Magistrates Court, Asaba, on charges of child defilement and rape.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Udemezue was released on a N100,000 bail with one surety in like sum by Magistrate Alero Ezewani, after the suspects lawyer, Mr. Inyang, told the court that the family of the victim had decided to settle the case out of court.

The case was adjourned till March 13, 2018.

A human rights activist, Mr. Gwamnishu Harrison, however, took interest in the case as he was in court during hearing.

After the sitting, I picked an interest in the case and went to meet the family of the boy outside. I was shocked that the lawyer was telling the woman (Gabriels aunty) to give him her phone number so they could contact her later in order to give her the money for damages.

I could not believe what I was hearing. I told the man right there that I would not allow her to collect the money and that I was taking over the case. He challenged me that I should not intervene since I was not the complainant.

I told the woman not to release her phone number or collect any money. The woman later told me that when she wanted to take the boy to the pastor for protection, she even gave him (Udemezue) some money.

I told the boys aunty that we needed to take him to the hospital for tests and treatment and that I would take care of the expenses.

But the policeman in charge of the case said there was no need and that they had already taken the boy to the hospital. But the boy said he had not got any treatment.

Udemezue denied all the allegations of rape against him when contacted on the phone.

It is fake news. Yahoo-boys in the neighbourhood are the ones trying to set me up, he said.

On if it means he was arraigned for raping the boy, he confirmed that he was.

On why the boy would make such an allegation and he answered, I dont know what they could have said to the boy to make him say such a thing.The Ames Main Street Farmers Market is a local market that has been a staple of downtown Ames for the past eight years. The market As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles.

Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services.

These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience  the local community.

It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times.

CloseCody Cottier covers town and state government. He grew up with a view of the Olympic Mountains, and after graduating Washington State University he traded it for a view of the Tetons. Odds are the mountains are where youll find him when not on deadline.Emily Mieure covers criminal justice and emergency news. She also leads the News&Guides investigative efforts. She has reported for WDRB TV in Louisville, Ky., WFIE TV in Evansville, Ind., and WEIU TV in Charleston, Ill.You have permission to edit this article.

Edit CloseThe number of patients who have been treated for depression rose more than 2.2 percent annually, from 587,860 in 2012 to 641,987 in 2016, according to the National Health Insurance Service.

Many in these age groups are not getting treatment, either because they fail to spot the symptoms or because they are embarrassed.

The people who are most vulnerable to depression are those in their 20s and 80s.

But a closer look shows that the number of depression patients in their 20s soared six percent on average and among over-80s 12.8 percent, while the figure in other age groups was more or less flat.

"Twenty-somethings suffer greatly from psychological fatigue because they have to be responsible for their own lives for the first time," says Prof. Lee Hae-guk at St. Mary's Hospital in Uijeongbu. "Many suffer from low self-esteem when they start life at college or in a company."

As for the elderly, depression often spreads because they live alone and lose contact with their family, says Prof. Na Hae-ran at St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul.

"The older you are, the more you tend to think of diseases or death and become obsessed with negative thoughts," said Chae Soo-mi of the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. "This can increase the risk of depression or other mental illnesses."GOLD BEACH, Ore.  A man wanted by the FBI for charges originating in Curry County has now been arrested in Nevada. 36 year-old Lucas DeYoung was wanted for a number of charges including attempted aggravated murder and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution after he apparently fled the state.

Yesterday, the Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) came across a vehicle with Virgina plates pulled off to the side of the road on Interstate 80 in Nevada. A man was sleeping in the driver's seat of the vehicle. After making contact, a trooper determined that the driver matched the description of Lucas DeYoung provided by the FBI. DeYoung initially gave the trooper a fake name.

Upon arresting DeYoung, the NHP did a search of the vehicle and found several guns, ammunition and body armor. DeYoung was booked into the Humboldt County Jail in Nevada on new charges of a Felon in Possession of Firearms.

The Curry County District Attorney will be working with the State of Nevada to bring DeYoung back to Oregon and stand for his original charges. DeYoung is wanted in connection with the shooting of 46 year-old William Terebesi, from Brookings, on December 28th, 2017. However, 27 year-old Robert Kris Stanley has also been arrested in connection with the same shooting.

The shooting victim, William Terebesi, was convicted of third-degree rape back in 2004 after carrying on a relationship with a minor.HOOD RIVER, Ore.  The young man charged with starting the Eagle Creek Fire which burned over 48,000 acres in Oregon has plead guilty at the Circuit Court in Hood River. The court has placed the juvenile on probation of up to five years.

As part of his probation, the juvenile offender will have to serve 1,920 hours of community service, as well as other requirements. The Hood River County Juvenile Department will oversee the juvenile's probation.

The Eagle Creek Fire began on September 2, 2017 and raged well into November. The teenager who now admits that he started the fire was playing with fireworks along with a group of friends.

A hearing on May 17, 2018 at the Hood River Courthouse will address restitution for those who were affected by the fire. Anyone with claims for restitution can mail information regarding their losses to the Hood River County Juvenile Department at 309 State St., Hood River, OR 97031.SALEM, Ore.  Four suspects have been cited after a four-month long investigation into the poaching of several animals in Lake County. The investigation began when an Oregon State Police (OSP) trooper found a trophy-class buck deer shot near Cabin Lake Road.

40 year-old G.W. Fulfer, 27 year-old Samantha German-Fulfer of Salemas well as 55 year-old Scott Harris of Albany, and 19 year-old Jacen Fulfer of Lebanonhave all been cited for crimes including felon in possession of a firearm and a number of wildlife crimes. Search warrants were served at all three homes, which provided investigators with evidence of poaching.

The OSP Fish and Wildlife offices of LaPine, Klamath Falls and Salem coordinated their efforts to find the suspects. OSP are asking that anyone with information regarding the unlawful killing of game call the Fish and Wildlife tip hotline: 1-800-452-7288

Rewards are being offered for tips which lead to the successful arrest or conviction of an offender. For the largest game, these rewards go as high as $1,000, with smaller amounts on offer in cases of smaller game.Ethiopia's Council of Ministers has declared a three-month state of emergency for the country, effective immediately.

The decision was announced on state media outlets Friday, a day after Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced he is resigning.

A government statement said the state of emergency was declared to "protect the constitutional order and to protect peace and security." The statement also said that recent ethnic-based violence, killings and destruction of properties were among the reasons behind the decision.

Ethiopia has witnessed waves of anti-government protests over the past few years, stoked by demands for free and fair elections and a more equal distribution of power among the countrys ethnic groups. The ruling EPRDF coalition controls all the seats in parliament.

In an effort to ease tensions, the government this week released more than 700 prisoners arrested during the protests and a previous state of emergency. Those released included several prominent opposition leaders and well-known journalist Eskinder Nega, a critic of the government.

Ensure continuous administration of vaccines to prisoners: HC to Kerala govt

The court's order came after the state government informed it that there were only 4,808 prisoners in the prisons in Kerala and that majority of them have been given the first dose of vaccination.Alberta Premier Rachel Notley makes remarks before the first meeting of the Market Access Task Force, convened to respond to B.C. in the fight over the Trans Mountain oil pipeline, in Edmonton Alta, on Wednesday February 14, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason FransonSarah Lockyer who works for National Defence is pictured at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016. The Department of National Defence is seeking forensic DNA experts and funeral organizers to help its efforts to recover, identify and arrange burials for Canada's nearly 28,000 missing war dead. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean KilpatrickAn engineer walks back across the road after assessing the damage to the Pattullo Bridge in Surrey, B.C., on Sunday January 18, 2009. A replacement may be coming for an aging Metro Vancouver bridge with an estimated life span of barely five years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckStudents from a public school sit in an open area after being evacuated, in Veracruz, Mexico, Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. A powerful magnitude-7.2 earthquake shook south and central Mexico Friday, causing people to flee swaying buildings and office towers in the country's capital, where residents were still jittery after a deadly quake five months ago. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)Mohammed Amin, father of seven year-old girl Zainab Ansari, leaves following the court verdict, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. A public prosecutor in Pakistan says a court has sentenced a serial killer to death after finding him guilty of killing eight children, including a 7-year-old girl whose rape and murder drew nationwide condemnation. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)DES MOINES, Wash. (AP) - The Latest on reports of shots fired at a Washington state community college (all times local):

12:06 p.m.

Authorities say they found no evidence of a shooting at a Washington state community college where there were reports of shots fired.

Kent Assistant Police Chief Rafael Padilla said Friday that authorities walked the entire Highline College campus and did not find anything. The school of about 17,000 in Des Moines, Washington, was placed on lockdown about 9 a.m.

Just before noon, the school says law enforcement told them the situation was "all clear." Classes for the remainder of the day were cancelled.

The school is located about 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of Seattle.

___



10:20 a.m.

Fire officials in Washington state say they know of no people with injuries following reports of possible shots fired at a community college south of Seattle.

Police armed with heavy weaponry swarmed Highline College in the city of Des Moines Friday morning after the reports of shots. Students were told to shelter in place as police searched the campus.

About an hour after the initial report, the South King Fire agency tweeted it knew of "no known" victims.

Police say they are trying to determine whether shots were fired.

The school is located about 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of Seattle in Des Moines, Washington. It has about 17,000 students.

SWAT team officers carrying guns were seen on video walking around one of the school's parking lots.

___

9:51 a.m.

Local police and the Washington State Patrol have responded to a report of shots fired at a community college south of Seattle.

The Renton Police Department said on Twitter that the reports Friday morning were not confirmed but advised people to avoid the area around Highline College.

The college says that police were evacuating buildings and assessing the situation.

The school is located about 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of Seattle in Des Moines, Washington. It has about 17,000 students.

___

9:44 a.m.

A community college south of Seattle was on lockdown after reports of shots fired.

Reports of gunfire came in just after 9 a.m. Friday at Highline College in Des Moines, Washington. Police were responding to the scene.

No other information was immediately available.

Des Moines is 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of Seattle.President Donald Trump is considering many options for funding his infrastructure proposals, including the first fuel tax increase in more than 20 years.

Gas taxes were originally set up to fund our road system, but they have stayed around 18 cents a gallon since 1993, an amount that no longer foots the bill for roads and bridges.

A 25 cent increase in the price of gas could cause motorists to pinch some pennies at the pump in the coming months.

"That's quite the increase, I'm not really comfortable with that much. Our gas prices are already pretty high at the moment," said Derek O'Brien

"Well, nobody likes to see gasses go up, but we gotta pay for the roads somehow. Unless they can figure out another way," said David Getz.

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., says we need to pass the infrastructure package to rebuild our nation's critical infrastructure, but there isn't enough support in Congress currently to raise the gas tax.

"I suppose with that thought process in mind, if in fact that is where it goes, I wouldn't be entirely against it. Because the infrastructure has needed a lot of tender love and care right now, and it hasn't gotten any in a while," said O'Brien

The current federal gas tax is 18.4 cents a gallon, and diesel is taxed at 24.4 cents a gallon.

Other funding options that appear in the president's infrastructure plan include allowing more interstates to be turned into toll roads, or charging fees at rest stops.1 of 4

Cleaning chemicals damage your lungs worse than smoking



Women who clean at home or at work face increased lung function decline over time as compared to women who dont, according to a study. In Cleaning at Home and at Work in Relation to Lung Function Decline and Airway Obstruction, researchers at the University of Bergen in Norway analyzed data from 6,235 participants in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. The participants, whose average age was 34 when they enrolled, were followed for more than 20 years. While the short-term effects of cleaning chemicals on asthma are becoming increasingly well documented, we lack knowledge of the long-term impact, said senior study author Cecile Svanes, MD, PhD, a professor at the universitys Centre for International Health. We feared that such chemicals, by steadily causing a little damage to the airways day after day, year after year, might accelerate the rate of lung function decline that occurs with age.



The study found that compared to women not engaged in cleaning:



-Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), or the amount of air a person can forcibly exhale in one second, declined 3.6 milliliters (ml)/year faster in women who cleaned at home and 3.9 ml/year faster in women who worked as cleaners. Read More...

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa  A Rockford man is going to federal prison for drug and gun crimes.

48-year-old Travis Daniel Counsell pleaded guilty in July 2017 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Federal prosecutors say Counsell showed up at Mercy Medical Center  North Iowa with a gunshot wound to the foot. He reportedly said he shot himself with an AF-15 rifle. Because Counsell was a convicted felon and could not legally possess such a weapon, law enforcement says it searched his home and found the loaded AR-15, a loaded .45 caliber handgun, and about two pounds of high purity meth.

Counsell has now been sentenced in Cedar Rapids Federal Court to 10 years on the drug count and five years on the gun count, to be served consecutively for a total of 15 years, followed by five years of supervised release.

This case was investigated by the North Central Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Office, and the Division of Narcotics Enforcement.GARNER, Iowa  A Lake Mills man is facing charges of 1st degree burglary and domestic abuse assault in Hancock County.

24-year-old Jesus Roman Gallardo is accused of following someone home from a party in Thompson in the early morning hours of December 16, 2017. Police say driving home to Garner, the victim stopped four times and told Gallardo to stop following. According to the criminal complaint, when the victim arrived home in the 300 block of West 11th Street, Gallardo forced his way into the home and assaulted the victim.

The attack reportedly lasted from 1:30 am to 6:45 am and involved grabbing, slapping, pushing, throwing, and restraining. Police say it resulted in multiple bruises on the victims body.

A criminal complaint was filed against Gallardo on January 31 and he was arrested on February 5. He has not yet entered a plea to the charges against him.CHARLES CITY, Iowa  A high-speed chase left one arrested Friday after a tire deflation device had to be used.

According to Charles City police, 22-year-old Shawndell Smith, of St. Paul, Minnesota, was charged with second-degree theft after allegedly stealing a vehicle from a gas station in Charles City.

Police say at 11:11 a.m. Friday, a 2010 Chevy Traverse was stolen from the 1500 block of S. Grand Ave. after the keys had been left in it at Kwik Star.

A Floyd County Sheriffs Deputy was able to locate the vehicle heading south on Highway 18.

Smith was taken into custody south of Janesville.ROCHESTER, Minn.  Mayo Clinic is announcing the closure of it offices in Adams.

Dr. Carol Holtz, who works at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin, and Dr. Scott Holtz, who is a family medicine physician at the Mayo clinic in Adams, have accepted new positions in Rochester. The last day for this married couple at the Austin/Adams facilities will be May 18.

Because Dr. Scott Holtz is currently the sole health care provider at the Adams Clinic, Mayo says it has decided to shut it down when he leaves. The nursing and support staff in Adams will transfer to Austin.

This decision was not made lightly, according to Annie Sadosty, M.D., regional vice president for Mayo Clinic Health System  Southeast Minnesota Region. The clinic in Adams has a long history as a vital part of the town, first served by Dr. Richard Schindler, and more recently by physician assistant Mary Fargen and Dr. Scott Holtz. I have visited Adams and met with the community; they are wonderful people, and it is painful for us to have to close the clinic we all love.

Patients will receive a letter notifying them of the options for future care. Mayo says it plans to hire a senior services physician who could deliver and oversee the care of nursing home patients in the area and serve as the hospice medical director.

We are working with city leaders in Adams and nearby LeRoy to determine how we can best deliver care to patients in the area, says Dr. Sadosty. We look forward to hearing from community leaders and members  what they need, what barriers to care we can help solve, and their creative ideas to build a new model of care for routine conditions, wellness promotion and medication maintenance that is available from the convenience of their own home.ROCHESTER, Minn.  A man accused of crashing into a parked van and smashing a fire hydrant is pleading not guilty.

33-year-old Brian Ray Goodwill is charged with felony driving under the influence, refusing to take a sobriety test, driving after cancellation, violating his driving restriction, ignition interlock violation, and no proof of insurance. The Rochester man was arrested on November 30, 2017 after the multiple collisions police say happened on the East Frontage Road of Highway 52 near 33rd Street NW.

Police say Goodwill has two prior DWI convictions, one just a few weeks before this incident.

No trial date has been set.Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon speaks during a Korea Times interview on Feb. 11 at the Main Press Center in PyeongChang. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



Choi Moon-soon eases worries about inter-Korean relations at the expense of South Korea's US, Japan ties



By Kang Hyun-kyung



"Yesterday is the forgotten past. Let's move on."



Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon said he was struck by this comment made by the North Korean leader's sister Kim Yo-jong at a reception hosted by President Moon Jae-in during her three-day visit to South Korea on the occasion of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.



Governor Choi was one of the few politicians to meet Kim in person.



"She was unbelievably active," Choi said during an interview with The Korea Times at the Main Press Center in the rustic eastern city of PyeongChang, Feb. 11.



"We, South Koreans, are not familiar with the phrase that yesterday is the forgotten past, because we don't use it. It means let's move on from the confrontational past that lasted a decade (after liberal President Roh Moo-hyun left office). Inter-Korean relations were stuck amid military confrontations because of a hard-line North Korea policy. It is regrettable that dialogue was lost."



During her visit to South Korea, Kim Yo-jong stole the show. Her fashion, demeanor and speaking habits were most talked about.



Her chin was thrust forward, a trait some media outlets described as part of her elegance and confidence as a member of the North Korean "royal family." The media highlights of the North Korean lady peaked when she delivered a letter from her brother to President Moon, Feb. 10. In the letter, the North Korean leader proposed a summit with President Moon in Pyongyang.



Governor Choi said Kim was "bold and active."



"The way North Korea proposed the summit was unconventional," said the governor. "Unlike other summit proposals which we've experienced in the past, there was no such thing as a series of pre-summit, closed-door talks that continued for a while until the two sides reached an agreement about the details of the highest-level talks, such as agenda and venue."



This time, Choi noted the decision was top down which he commented was very unusual. "I think it reflects the North Korean leader's style. He is not bound by bureaucracy or red tape."



The governor said the North Korean leader hoped to lift inter-Korean relations back to the level they used to be in February 2008 when the five-year tenure of President Roh Moo-hyun was nearing its end.



Choi, who was working as president of broadcaster MBC, traveled to Pyongyang along with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra for their historic concert in the North's capital, which drew heavy attention from the international media for its rarity.



Back then, Choi claimed the time was ripe for talks between the United States and North Korea and a North Korean orchestra was to make a reciprocal visit to New York for a performance there.



"The United States and North Korea were about to hold political talks if things had gone smoothly. But time was not on their side because of the government change," said Choi.



Conservative President Lee Myung-bak took power on Feb. 25, replacing the liberal president. "There has been no progress since. Inter-Korean relations drastically turned sour," said Choi.



According to the governor, President Moon is striving to turn the clock back to bring "the good old days for the two Koreas" back.



Choi said thawing tensions between the two Koreas was a precondition to building peace in East Asia, adding Kim Yo-jong's visit to South Korea was part of the Moon government's efforts to achieve reconciliation with North Korea during his tenure.



The North Korean leader's sister watched the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics at the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium, Feb. 9. President Moon, his wife Kim Jung-sook, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe were seated near them.



Olympic diplomacy was in full swing.



The Olympics brought the leaders of the United States and North Korea together but at odds with each other. Such a reunion didn't seem to be of great help in narrowing the differences in their stances on key diplomatic issues, including the North Korean nuclear program.



The uncomfortable atmosphere was seen throughout the U.S. vice president's visit.



Pence gave the cold shoulder to the North Koreans; he didn't make eye contact with them; his rhetoric was tough; he tried to build up pressure on North Korea by raising the issue of the inhumane treatment of their citizens; and urging the regime to give up the nuclear programs during a meeting with five North Korean defectors in Pyeongtaek before he headed to PyeongChang for the opening ceremony.



Pence refused to shake hands with North Korea's Kim Yong-nam at a Feb. 9 reception hosted by President Moon in the Olympic county when he briefly dropped by to greet foreign leaders at the head table.



His itinerary and political messages showed the United States is uncomfortable about what's going on between the two Koreas.



Inside South Korea, some are worried the Moon government is hurriedly trying to fix inter-Korean relations at the expense of South Korea's ties with the United States and Japan.



Governor Choi said he was aware of such criticism.



"Everything happened so quickly. Maybe this is why there are such worries," he said. "The North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed his willingness to send the delegation to the Olympics in his New Year address and his sister came down for the Olympics in February. It was just over a month between the two crucial events."



Due to its busy political schedule, Choi said it appears the Moon government had a hard time squeezing policy coordination meetings with the United States and Japan into it.



"I agree we South Koreans need to work more to convince the United States as well as Japan that the Moon government's pursuit of dialogue with North Korea will bear fruit," the governor said.



He said South Korea needs to help the United States and North Korea narrow their differences on the North's motives for possessing nuclear weapons and move them forward to sit down for negotiations.



"North Korea has a clear goal. It wants to normalize diplomatic relations with the United States and guarantee its security," he said. "The nuclear program is a means to achieve that goal. So I think it will follow the call to remove the nuclear program if this is necessary to achieve its ultimate goal of diplomatic relations with the United States."



Asked if he and likeminded liberal politicians were naive to believe North Korea would dismantle its nuclear programs if certain conditions were met, Choi noted that dialogue was the only option available to bring peace to East Asia.



"There are two options to solve the North Korean nuclear program _ dialogue or war," he said. "Nobody wants war on the Korean Peninsula and it's not an option we can take. This leaves us with only one option, which is dialogue."



Choi acknowledged times are now tougher for dialogue with North Korea because of the countries affected by its nuclear programs. On top of this the United States is wary of giving carrots at a time when the North was ready to conduct another nuclear test and turning a deaf ear to international condemnation of it launching missiles.



"But we have no other option but dialogue to keep persuading North Korea to stop its nuclear program," he said.



President Moon Jae-in speaks at the Main Press Center of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, Saturday. / Yonhap



President Moon Jae-in said Saturday that it may be too early to discuss when or if he may hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

"There are many expectations, but I believe they might be a little too anxious," Moon said when asked whether he planned to hold an inter-Korean summit in the near future.

The remarks came during his trip to the press center of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, 180 kilometers east of Seoul, according to Cheong Wa Dae pool reports.

The possibility of what would be a third inter-Korean summit was highlighted last week when Kim Jong-un's sister, Yo-jong, delivered a letter and a message from the reclusive North Korean leader inviting the South Korean president to Pyongyang at the earliest date possible.

Moon at that time stressed the need for the two Koreas to create the right conditions for an inter-Korean summit.











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Submit(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) Wednesdays deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida has left 17 students dead and parents across the country concerned for the safety of their children.

St. Joseph School District Director of Student Services Solon Haynes said while the district has taken precautions to insure student safety, schools have to be prepared at all times.

I dont think you can say it wont happen anywhere. Im sure the schools where this has happened may have thought that, but you always have to be prepared, you always have to do your training, you always have to be aware, Haynes said.

The district has taken several precautions to avoid harm coming to students and faculty, including the use of school resource officers.

The district has assigned a school resource officer at every high school and middle school; a touring officer to attend area elementary schools; a full-time officer at the Webster alternative school; and a Sheriff's Deputy at Bessie Ellison Elementary. All resource officers have been trained to identify threatening behavior in students and defuse violent situations. The resource officers also play a big role in training teachers throughout the district.

Every year before the start of school, we have our school resource officers, our police officers, train all our staff members on intruder training and what to do in case we were to have an intruder in the building, Haynes said.

Every teacher in the school district is required to attend annual intruder safety training with the resource officers. Each school is required by the district to participate in intruder drills with students from every grade level twice a year. Haynes said

a student is never too young to start learning about safety.

I think we have to have the conversation as young as Kindergarten, because they are in our schools and they need to know what to do in case they hear that there is an intruder in the building, Haynes said.

Haynes said schools have taken physical precautions as well, including the installation of secondary cable locks on all classroom doors and security systems at every school.

As the number of school shootings and gun related violence increases across the country, many medical professionals and counselors like Andrew Fisher are questioning the motive behind these deadly attacks.

From what Ive been able to see in the research, there has always been a case of bullying. There is a separation between the individuals who actually perpetrate and become the shooters, Fisher said. Often time the people who do cause the shootings, theyre very separated. Theyre always very reserved and they dont necessarily always find a way to express their frustrations.

Fisher said a number of factors can contribute to outbursts of violence, but most cases stem from issues of emotional, physical or sexual violence in the individual's past.

But uncovering those issues can be difficult and a lack of mental health resources in the community could be a leading cause of frustration and extreme acts of violence in the community and in schools.

In the community, unfortunately theres not a lot of resources. Lets use St. Joseph for example, they have Family Guidance. Great individuals work there, they put their blood, sweat and tears into it, but getting in is not necessarily very easy to get into, Fisher said.

While the school district plans to cut approximately $8.3 million from next year's budget, Haynes said the district will not be making any cuts to the safety resources.

Moving forward, Haynes is encouraging students and parents to speak up if they notice suspicious or threatening behavior.

Our students, our parents, our community has to be aware that if there is anything put out on social media that is any type of threat to a building or school, or someone overhears a comment, that they bring it to the attention of the school law enforcement immediately so we can look into any incidents, Haynes said.

School officials are encouraging anyone who notices bullying or threats of violence on school grounds or social media to report it to the Missouri School Violence Hotline at 1-866-748-7047.Rome, February 15 - Industry Minister Carlo Calenda on Thursday called off talks on helping Rome with its financial woes after Mayor Virginia Raggi called a one-billion payment from the ministry an electoral move. Raggi is "arrogant" and the only response to her statement is to "close talks so as to avoid wasting more time," Calenda said. "Evidently she believes she can do without help," said the minister. "I can only note that we are faced with such a combination of incompetence and arrogance as I had never before experienced. "We will go forward with the regional government (of Lazio) with the projects that do not depend on this administration". But Raggi denied that the talks were now off. Stressing that the talks were "not off," the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) mayor said "those who really want to get to work, work in silence". She said "the city council has taken part in over 60 meetings with the industry ministry without peddling such publicity about it". Earlier Raggi slammed Calenda for "promising one billion euros for Rome" ahead of national elections to be held on March 4. "I am surprised, although not that much, that two weeks before the vote one billion (euros) are again promised to Rome after five years during which the government absolutely forgot about the capital", said the mayor, a member of the anti-establishment Five-Star Movement (M5S). Raggi was commenting on a letter written by Calenda which was published by Rome daily Il Messaggero. "If that billion existed, we would have put it in the budget - in the budget I can include neither words nor promises", she also said. The minister's letter published by the newspaper accused the Raggi administration of "immobility" and "lack of ability" to get things done, which did not allow it to "use resources that have already been allocated" for the city. Calenda was referring to a 'table for Rome', a development plan for the capital he launched last year, which was at the center of multiple controversies between the mayor and the minister. Calenda doubled-down on his statements later Thursday, saying "I have never seen a level of incompetence such as that shown by the M5S". He said "Virginia Raggi has been voted in, so it's up to her to manage the capital. "I had never seent he level of arrogance and incompetence in Rome as with the management of the 5-Star Movement."Im books editor Carolyn Kellogg; welcome to this weeks newsletter.

THE BIG STORY

Akwaeke Emezis dazzling debut novel, Freshwater, is about a shattered self, a college-age human whose turmoils are driven by spirits and gods. Emezi, a Nigerian American who has written about having gender-transition surgery, is a millennial creative force. Critic at large Susan Straight has our review.

Author Akwaeke Emezis novel is Freshwater. (Elizabeth Wirija )

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MORE IN BOOKS

Laura Lippmans excellent new novel, Sunburn, turns classic noir inside-out, writes Paula L. Woods in our review.

Weve got a rundown of five fantastic new audiobooks, thanks to reviewer Rochelle OGorman.

Patrick Nathans debut novel, Some Hell, features a coming-out teen dealing with a family suicide. Pete Tosiello reviews.

The coffee table book Signs of Resistance chronicles the history of American protest art, writes Agatha French.

French also visited six bookstores for this special guide celebrating Koreatown  for those who cant get to Pyeongchang.

At Western Comics in Koreatown, patrons can rent a comic book to read in-store. (Agatha French / Los Angeles Times )

BESTSELLERS

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Continuing its domination of the nonfiction list is Michael Wolffs book Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, the No. 1 L.A. Times bestseller for the fifth week in a row.

After four weeks, The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin has reached the top of our fiction list; its the No. 1 L.A. Times bestseller this week.

See all the books on our bestseller lists here.

FUN WITH T.S. ELIOT

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This week I was walking to lunch in downtown L.A. and took a photo of Prufrock Pizzeria (not itself open for lunch), which I posted on Twitter. So many people had T.S. Eliot riffs to add. Maybe you too?

Where the pizza is served etherized upon the table pic.twitter.com/BDKD60c8r2  Carolyn Kellogg (@paperhaus) February 14, 2018

carolyn.kellogg@latimes.com

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@paperhausLong Beach City Hall is not long for this world.

The concrete-winged tower looks stout enough, but its not someplace youd choose to be in an earthquake. Dedicated in the bicentennial year of 1976, the high-rise is the centerpiece of an obsolete civic center that the coastal city is busy erasing.

Just a few paces from the old City Hall, a new one is rising as part of a nearly $900-million innovative makeover of the public heart of Long Beach that will also introduce apartments, stores, restaurants and perhaps a hotel.

A city is emerging within a city, said Long Beach administrator Sergio Ramirez, who expects the new neighborhood will draw even more people to a reviving downtown.

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But the mega project is notable for more than reconceiving the notion of what constitutes a civic center. It is the largest public-private development of its kind on the West Coast and is expected to serve as a model for other cities in the United States.

Officials from other cities including Charlotte, N.C., have visited Long Beach to see the project and learn how it is being financed without raising taxes or biting into the city budget, Ramirez said.

In simple terms, private real estate developers agreed to build $520 million worth of public buildings and a city park in exchange for land where they will build their own profit-making apartments, condominiums and stores. A hotel may be added if there is demand for one. The private development is valued at more than $350 million.

Some version of the Long Beach public-private partnership is the future of how public facilities should be built, said Larry Kosmont, a Manhattan Beach-based development consultant who is not involved with the project. We expect this model to expand and proliferate in California.

The first phase of the transformation is underway. A City Hall, Port of Long Beach headquarters and main public library are under construction by development consortium Plenary-Edgemoor Civic Partners on city land that fronts scenic Ocean Boulevard.

Each of the three new structures would have been considered a major undertaking by itself in years past, when public buildings were typically funded by selling bonds, drawing from a citys general fund or raising taxes.

When those building are complete in 2019, the old City Hall and library will be razed to make way for private development that will bring around-the-clock activity to the government blocks.

Its always been our intention to make the civic center feel like it is part of the fabric of downtown, and not isolated from the rest of the community, Mayor Robert Garcia said.

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Rendering of the neighborhood of civic buildings, apartments, shops and restaurants that are planned once the project is complete. (Image  SOM | Nephew )

Steering the civic center makeover is Jeffrey Fullerton, project director for developer Plenary-Edgemoor, a partnership of multiple companies that won a competition held by the city in 2014 to find a builder.

The public-private development model is common in the United Kingdom and Canada, he said, and growing in popularity here as cash-strapped governments scramble to fund needed infrastructure such as civic buildings, utilities and roads. The financial challenges involved can be long term.

We can usually find the money to build them, but we seem to have trouble finding the money to maintain them, Fullerton said.

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Under the agreement the city negotiated with the developer, Plenary-Edgemoor will design, finance, build, operate and maintain the new civic center for 40 years. The annual cost to Long Beach will be about the same as it was to operate the old civic center and service its debt  $13.5 million. The money will come mostly from the citys tax-supported general fund and fees such as filming permits.

Long Beach got a big taste of public-private development when the state used the mechanism to build the Gov. George Deukmejian Courthouse by the civic center.

It was the first courthouse in the United States to be built under a then-new public-private partnership system meant to take advantage of the private sectors access to financing, technological expertise and management efficiency.

The civic center development is more complex, with nine partners and 13 separate agreements. The city will take full control of the civic center in 2059.

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This sets a new standard, Fullerton said, for elected officials to think creatively and take risks.

Plenary-Edgmoor has funded development of the new civic center with private capital, he said, including its own equity and money borrowed from lenders such as large insurance companies and other financial institutions. The citys annual payments will pay down the debt and cover operating and maintenance costs for the civic center.

Plenary-Edgmoor will also be responsible for the costs of the private development to follow using similar conventional sources. Developers typically pool funding from multiple sources that could include real estate investment trusts, banks and the sale of commercial mortgage-backed securities.

Long Beachs civic center project is very ambitious, said Kosmont, who noted its different from the more broad-based infrastructure spending proposal recently released by the Trump administration.

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That plan calls for the federal government providing 20% of the funding for projects, with the rest financed by private companies and local and state governments.

The tension in a public-private program such as the one in Long Beach, he said, is whether the public entity gets the quality of building and maintenance it expected when it made its deal with a developer.

The city must make sure it doesnt accept anything but what it bargained for and paid for, Kosmont said.

The model makes sense, though, he added, as many cities are increasingly weighed down with pension fund obligations and have difficulty finding money for big-ticket items like infrastructure.

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Indeed, in a state routinely subject to earthquakes, it may provide a way to finance critically important seismic retrofits or new construction.

Garcia said a prime motivation for proceeding with a new Long Beach civic center is that the current City Hall and Main Library have outlived their usefulness and are unsafe. Temblors are a special concern to Long Beach, which was near the epicenter of a devastating earthquake that slammed Southern California in 1933.

The worst part of it is, the buildings are not earthquake ready, he said.

The civic center project is an extension of a years-long building boom in Long Beach. Another $3.5 billion worth of development including the civic center is underway or in the pipeline, the city said.

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Zoning regulations adopted five years ago to speed rehabilitation of the historic downtown helped spur renovations of old buildings and encouraged construction of new ones. That includes a 35-story residential tower slated to break ground soon on Ocean Boulevard that will become the citys tallest skyscraper.

Rendering of the new main Long Beach city library. (Image  SOM | Nephew )

The project also is giving the city the chance to reopen streets that were closed in the 1970s to create the current government campus.

The former civic center really closed itself off from the city, Garcia said. We want folks to feel welcome, not intimidated.

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Chestnut and Cedar avenues, which run north and south perpendicular to the ocean, will be opened to auto traffic again. First Street will pass through the civic center east and west as a pedestrian walkway and plaza.

Offices for the Port of Long Beach, a city department, have been in temporary quarters near Long Beach Airport since 2014.

Basically, we are a port city, and port offices belong in the civic center, said Mario Cordero, executive director of the port. More than 400 port employees will move to the civic center when the new headquarters is completed next year.

Lincoln Park, the citys oldest park, deteriorated in recent years and will be remade as a public gathering spot with planned events, said architect Paul Danna of SOM, the firm that designed the new civic center.

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The reinvention of the Long Beach civic center marks a new chapter in the evolution of the city as a resurgent tourist destination, said professor Gary Hytrek of Cal State Long Beach.

In the 1970s, Long Beach was ranked as having one of the worst central cities in the country, he said.

Major businesses had left, and big regional chain department stores were closing their doors. Downtown was dotted with dive bars, tattoo parlors and abandoned storefronts.

New housing built in recent years has helped elevate downtown, Hytrek said, though he noted it has come at the expense of a lot of working poor who cant afford $2,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.

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Whatever the challenges of the new development, Garcia said he hopes the building boom and new city hall development will contribute to civic pride.

Long Beach has begun to step out of the shadow of Los Angeles, the mayor said. We are a big, independent city.

roger.vincent@latimes.com

Twitter: @rogervincentYour shelves may not be stocked with an array of Korean cosmetics and skin-care products, but that could change at any minute.

The K-beauty universe continues to explode, offering an increasing array of face masks, serums, soaps, makeup and creams, especially must-have BB creams (think, magical, multi-tasking moisturizers). The emphasis is on pure ingredients and, in many instances, playful packaging that may be best described as super cute.

The ultimate guide to Koreatown >>>>

Browse online or stop at any drugstore, Target or Sephora and youre likely to encounter a few items  or possibly an avalanche  of products from South Korean brands such as Dr. Jart+, Laneige, Too Cool for School, and Tonymoly. But youll have a lot more fun if you spend a few hours perusing the beauty supply stores in L.A.'s Koreatown.

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Even longtime aficionados who are already immersed in the ongoing tidal wave of K-beauty sheet masks and products that include snail secretions  yes, you read that correctly  like to skim the aisles, looking for sales and new products. Youll get lots of advice on skin care, if you want it, and the post-shopping restaurant possibilities are mind-blowing.

About those snail secretions: The first thing to know is that theyve been used in beauty products for years. Advocates say the slimy stuff contains chemicals that can help aging skin or ease conditions such as scarring or acne, and a 2013 study in the Journal of Drugs and Dermatology indicates that topical use may reduce wrinkles. Even my shopping companion, who looked slightly horrified when she first spotted the likeness of a snail on a beauty cream, conceded that her right hand looked significantly better after a saleswoman rubbed some of the stuff into her skin.

If you cant overcome your aversion to a little slime therapy, youll find products that contain ingredients that may seem a little more familiar: chrysanthemum, ginseng and licorice; lavender and exfoliating salicylic acid; green tea extract, volcanic mud and glycolic acid  to name a few.

Koreatown is home to a number of stores that are devoted to skin care, cosmetics and hair, but we targeted shops with plenty of products from South Korea rather than (or in addition to ) well-known American and European brands. Newbies may feel slightly overwhelmed when they encounter a crush of K-beauty offerings, but almost everywhere we went the salespeople were eager to assess, recommend  and dish out free samples.

Will you, after weeks of careful, consistent use of the K-beauty products you purchase, notice a difference in skin tone, wrinkles or redness? Devoted users say yes, but there are of course skeptics. Decide for yourself. Here are a few of our favorite places to shop, and what we buy when were there:

A jewel box

At Aritaum, a small, sleek store in the Koreatown Plaza, featured brands include Iope, Sulwhasoo, Laneige and Mamonde. Its a jewel box in a world flooded with chain stores and cramped displays. Aritaum, 928 S. Western Ave., (213) 385-9062

Modi Juicy Nails polish comes in a series of pop-art colors, including Carrot Company and Copper Blossom. $5.80 each at Aritaum ((Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) )

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Try before you buy

Youll see plenty of European and American brands  Dior, Clinique, Bobbi Brown  at Cosmetic World, a high-end store in the Koreatown Galleria, but it also offers a moderate selection of K-beauty items and unobtrusive salespeople who seemed happy to demonstrate product after product. 3250 W. Olympic Blvd., (323) 734-0777

Vast collection of face masks

Nature Republic, which was created in 2009, has a number of bricks-and-mortar outlets in Southern California, including this artfully arranged shop on Wilshire Boulevard. Step inside and youll be immersed in a fragrant space with music and salesclerks worthy of a Blade Runner tribute film. Bestsellers include a vast collection of face masks and a series of lotions, toners, mists and gels with aloe vera. 3785 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 425-2177

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Free samples

Palace Beauty, the large store in the Koreatown Galleria primarily devoted to K-beauty products, was full of customers and people to wait on them on the day we visited. Two of the salespeople checked in on us on a regular basis and loaded us up with free samples  and advice  before we left. Fun. 3250 W. Olympic Blvd., (323) 734-5844

Huge selection

Plaza Cosmetic in Koreatown Plaza carries big-name American and European brands, as well as a large selection of serums, creams, masks and cosmetics from South Korea, some of them on sales tables spilling out into the mall. 928 S. Western Ave., (213) 384-0008

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Younger and hipper

The Face Shop, which sits across the street from Nature Republic, has a similar vibe: much younger and hipper than the mall stores in terms of presentation, products, ambience, customers and salespeople, who, after recovering from the shock of a customer over the age of 30, couldnt wait to answer all our questions. Bonus points: The Face Shop shares a space with the Chocolate Chair, which means you can indulge in all sorts of sweets, including liquid nitrogen ice cream and something called Dragon Breath (a novelty dessert made of fruity cereal puffs soaked in liquid nitrogen) after (or during) your shopping excursion. 621 S. Western Ave., (213) 389-3360

READ ON!

Yes, you can eat your way to beautiful skin

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7 steps to making your health your No. 1 priority

He lost 84 pounds in four months  and kept it offWhen does an epidemic stop being an epidemic and become just a basic part of regular life? It's been 19 years since the nation was horrified by the carnage at Columbine in suburban Denver. It's been just over five years since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Quick: What was the most recent mass shooting incident (at least four wounded) at a school before the one on Wednesday? Here's the sick part: There have been so many school shootings that it takes a bit of work to answer what should be an easy question.

Already the folks who support gun control (which includes us) are fuming about the ready availability of firearms in our society. Already the pro-gun folks are pooh-poohing those who think guns are integral to shooting deaths. "Guns don't kill people, people do," they like to say. The accurate phrasing should be, "Guns don't kill people, people with guns do." At an astonishing rate, a depressing rate, a stomach-churning rate. ...

This is what America is today: bloody. The Florida shooting too shall pass, as did Columbine, Sandy Hook, Santa Monica College and so on  all allowed to fade into the backdrop of American memory without a thing being done. This is us. Until we decide finally, forcefully, effectively, that it is not.

>> Click here to read moreThe day after the Florida school massacre, I was on a plane and kept hearing the faint sounds of gunfire.

I flinched the first couple of times, then calmed down when I realized the noise was coming from young folks shooting up virtual enemies in video games.

If I try really hard, I guess I can see how those games might be fun for about five minutes. But were talking about a form of addiction here, and at the risk of sounding like the grumpy uncle, that aint healthy.

Its hard to establish irrefutable evidence of a connection between virtual violence and the real thing. But as we see more horrifying mass shootings at schools, concerts and elsewhere  along with the far more deadly daily carnage of the unsensational firearm-related murder and suicide  its clear something is horribly wrong in this country.

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The first problem is obvious.

We have a ridiculous amount of weapons in circulation, thanks to the spineless, blood-on-their-hands lawmakers owned by the National Rifle Assn. Periodic calls for greater gun control seldom advance, no matter how many innocent children are murdered by people with military-style weapons purchased legally.

But given the fact that the gun lobby usually wins these battles, despite more than 150 school shootings in the last decade, what else can be done besides the usual calls for national prayer and mourning?

Theres no fool-proof remedy, and no solution that doesnt involve trade-offs. You cant round up everyone who looks peculiar or seems angry, nor can you predict behavior with any certainty.

But it would help if warnings about dangerous behavior were properly investigated, and the FBI has admitted that didnt happen in Florida. The agency failed to probe a January tip that a young man had bought weapons and threatened a family member, and that same guy is accused of opening fire on his former classmates Wednesday in Florida, killing 17.

Shooters in such cases arent necessarily mentally ill, and arent always young people, as we were reminded by the 64-year-old man who killed 58 people in Las Vegas in October. But the human brain undergoes changes from the teen years into the early 20s, when mental illness and emotional problems often manifest, so its critical to have enough counselors and mental health professionals at schools and colleges.

When my flight landed, I caught the tail end of a radio interview on KNX with Alex Caputo-Pearl, president of United Teachers Los Angeles, talking about the Florida shooting in the context of shortages of school nurses and counselors. So I called him to see what Id missed.

Caputo-Pearl said 57% of California school districts do not have full-time staff nurses, and although the American School Counselor Assn. calls for a 250-to-1 student counselor ratio, most states have much higher workloads.

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California is at 945 to 1, said Caputo-Pearl.

Weve got proposals on the bargaining table right now to increase nurse staffing, counselor staffing, psychiatric social worker staffing and the number of school psychologists, he added.

Caputo-Pearl last taught in 2014, and I asked if he thought the job of teachers and other school staffers is complicated like never before because students are distracted by digital obsessions and dark influences.

I can tell you its very difficult, dealing with electronics and the internet, he said. The cauldron gets all the more explosive when you add hate groups into it, and access to hate groups through the internet.

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Michael Pobanz, an L.A. Unified School District psychologist for 18 years, said he and his colleagues spend a huge amount of their time interviewing students and writing reports on those who need special education placement, but not as much time on the social and emotional needs of other students.

In general, our workload is too high, said Pobanz. He said he experienced the worst stress of my career during a former assignment to a school where he was too overwhelmed to respond immediately to requests for help with struggling students.

Frances Marion, a psychiatric social worker for LAUSD and a UTLA representative, sounded exhausted Friday afternoon following another week of overwhelming demand for her services. Psychiatric social workers typically have thousands of students at multiple schools in a given week, she said. Where they work is based less on a district directive, she said, and more on which schools can scrape up discretionary funds while choosing between critical support resources and basic supplies.

Every day, its trying to decide who the biggest safety concern is because of domestic violence, abuse, self-injury or suicidal ideation, Marion said. Getting to prevention and early intervention with kids who have more minor symptoms falls to the wayside.

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I asked what kind of issues she typically sees in her students.

Families are in crisis because they cant afford housing, theyre living in unsafe living conditions, theyre doubled and tripled and quadrupled up with other families, theyre working multiple low-wage jobs which means they dont have time to be with kids who need guidance and nurturing, said Marion.

Like I said, preventing senseless gun violence in a country that has more weapons than people will never be easy.

But thats no reason to stop fighting for sensible gun restrictions, more comprehensive mental health services and more support for students growing up in a culture of digital addiction and social dysfunction.

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Bridgette Robinson, a teacher on leave from Sal Castro Middle School this year, said she needed a break from the shortage of resources for troubled students and the extra work and pressure she endured because of it.

Students should have more access to more counselors and more mental health services, because if they have someone to talk to, they will, Robinson said. Thats the bottom line.

Robinson has been in the news lately following a shooting Feb. 1 at Castro. Her former student, 12-year-old Issa Al-Bayati, was shot in the head and is still recovering.

A teen girl was shot in the wrist.

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And a 12-year-old girl was charged with being a minor in possession of a semiautomatic pistol.

Issa and his family came to the U.S. after his father was killed in Iraq, according to Robinson.

The family moved here thinking it would be safe.

Get more of Steve Lopezs work and follow him on Twitter @LATstevelopezCalifornia lawmakers are pushing to increase regulation of home schools after a dozen siblings were discovered locked in a dirty, dark house in Riverside County.

The house in Perris had been registered as a private school  with the cheery name of Sandcastle Day School.

Last month, after a malnourished 17-year-old escaped and alerted authorities to the abuse she and her 12 siblings, ages 2 to 29, had endured there, her parents were arrested and charged with multiple counts of torture and child endangerment. David Turpin, 56, and Louise Turpin, 49, have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and a judge has barred them from contacting their children.

David Turpin had registered with the state as the principal of Sandcastle Day, saying six school-age children were enrolled.

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The case attracted national attention, including calls for California to reexamine its home-schooling policies.

On Friday, Assemblyman Jose Medina (D-Riverside) proposed a bill that he said would tighten up state regulation. Assemblywomen Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) and Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego) have signed on as co-sponors.

Under current state law, families who choose to educate their children at home are deemed to be operating private schools. Theyre required to register with the state Department of Education and submit annual paperwork, known as a private school affidavit, that tells the state how many students are enrolled and where the school is located. The only way to guess which private schools actually are home schools is to look for those with very small numbers of students.

No one in the state Department of Education, county or local school district has any legal responsibility to check on the conditions of these home schools or assess the students academic performance. And while private schools are required to get annual fire inspections, this regulation has never been broadly applied to home schools.

Medinas bill aims to change that. The proposed legislation would require city and county fire departments to conduct annual inspections of all registered home schools in their areas. Home-schooling families who live in parts of the state without fire districts would be subject to annual inspections by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Under the newly proposed language, the state superintendent of instruction would give these agencies lists of registered private schools within their jurisdiction, including those that report enrolling five or fewer students, which are likely to be home schools.

The horrific child abuse case in Perris, California raised questions about the lack of oversight of private schools, Medina said in a statement. I believe it is important to have different education options, such as private schools, to meet each childs individual needs. However, the state has a responsibility to ensure that each child is in a safe learning environment.

Californias current law might seem unusually hands-off for a state often mocked for excessive regulation. But according to the Coalition for Responsible Home Education, a nonprofit that advocates for more active oversight of home-schooled children, the state has policies more more stringent than many others.

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Eleven states dont require parents to submit any documentation or register with state agencies or school districts. Among them is Texas, where the Turpin family lived for a time.

California is one of 15 states that ask only that families formally register with a state agency. Here, home-schooled children arent held to specific academic standards or required to take standardized tests. Their parents arent finger-printed and the state doesnt check their criminal histories, as it would for a traditional public or private school teacher. Medinas bill does not address those exemptions.

Mike Smith, president of the Home School Legal Defense Assn., a national advocacy group that opposes increased home-schooling regulations, called Medinas proposal the biggest threat, to come out of California in recent years. He said the proposed language would violate home-schooling families Fourth Amendment privacy protections and single them out for unnecessary scrutiny.

We know what theyre trying to do. Theyre trying to get into home-school homes, Smith said. And they are very few ways you can invade a home. So thats what this is intended to do.

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Even among groups that advocate for more monitoring, the reaction was lukewarm.

Rachel Coleman, executive director of the Coalition for Responsible Home Education, said the proposed bill doesnt solve some major problems. The state is wrong to carve out exemptions for home-schooling families within its private-school law, she said, such as allowing home-schooling parents to avoid criminal background checks.

The private school law in California was not designed for home-schoolers, she said. In many ways, an individual home-school statute would simplify the current legal situation.

anna.phillips@latimes.com

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Twitter: @annamphillipsLos Angeles County has reached a settlement with the family of a man killed by sheriffs deputies outside his Vermont Knolls home in 2014, officials said Friday.

Pending approval by the Board of Supervisors, the settlement resolves a civil suit filed by the parents of 28-year-old Johnny Martinez, who was fatally shot by sheriffs deputies. The terms of the settlement were not immediately available.

Sheriffs deputies confronted Martinez on Oct. 4, 2014, in response to a reported assault with a deadly weapon at a duplex. A neighbor, Jose Hernandez, told deputies that Martinez had stabbed him and sliced his face with a knife. Hernandez pointed deputies to the rear of the property.

There they found Martinez sitting on a porch and tried to coax him into putting his hands behind his back, authorities said. In the lawsuit, Martinez family said his father told deputies that Martinez was schizophrenic and that once they ordered him to drop his knife, Martinez obeyed.

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But prosecutors who investigated the incident said Martinez swung a knife at deputies, who used pepper spray on him and then a Taser. Authorities said Martinez then pulled the Taser prongs out of his chest and charged at the deputies.

Deputies shot Martinez more than 10 times, the familys lawsuit said.

One bullet or bullet fragment struck the stabbing victim, Hernandez, in the leg. The county paid him and his family $2 million as a result.

The Martinez family lawsuit accused the deputies of negligently opening fire without warning and without attempting less lethal options, such as bringing in a mental health services worker.

The familys attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

joseph.serna@latimes.com

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter.When Maylette Brown saw news reports about a deadly freeway crash near Rialto, one of the cars looked familiar to her.

Brown, who was on her way to visit her parents in Twentynine Palms, called her stepfather, Duddley White.

He didnt pick up.

As the hours passed, she kept calling. By 8:30 p.m., the calls were going straight to voicemail.

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At 10:30, I got the phone call from the sheriffs department in Twentynine Palms, said Brown, 44, of Winchester. I just told them I knew, I felt it, and I just wanted to make sure.

White, 74, was one of five people killed when a concrete truck traveling eastbound on the 10 Freeway near Rialto swerved through the center divider shortly before 1 p.m. Friday. The truck careened into the westbound lanes, crashing head-on into a smaller truck and four other cars and sparking a fire, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Five people, all occupants of vehicles struck by the truck, were pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. The truck driver, who was not identified, sustained only minor injuries and was not hospitalized, according to California Highway Patrol Sgt. Spencer Badal.

(Paul Duginski )

The cause of the crash remains unclear. The victims were severely burned, and none have been positively identified yet, Badal said.

The crash left several vehicles overturned and charred in the roadway, shutting down some lanes for more than 12 hours, authorities said. The freeway was not fully reopened until roughly 8 a.m. Saturday, Badal said.

CHP investigators will conduct a full mechanical review of the truck, but Badal said those hoping for answers will likely have to wait.

Their report will take a considerable amount of time, he said.

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The concrete truck was registered to Western Concrete Pumping, a company based in Vista in San Diego County, according to Badal. An employee who answered the phone at the companys office declined to comment. The company was formed in 1986 and does business in California, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arizona, according to its website.

Brown said her stepfather, who raised her from a young age, was a retired machinist and avid billiards player who cared for her mother in Twentynine Palms. A consummate handyman, White still performed repairs on all the family vehicles. He was driving home from a hardware store when the wreck occurred, Brown said.

He was well-known, very respected, she said of her fathers reputation around Twentynine Palms.

Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.

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james.queally@latimes.com

Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California.Several Camp Pendleton-based Marines have been found guilty in recent weeks of crimes including rape and child pornography, with other similar cases still pending in the military criminal justice system, records show.

The cases are coming to light due to a series of Freedom of Information Act requests filed by the San Diego Union-Tribune over the past four months. Documents released by the Marines revealed that some of the most serious cases were tied to senior leaders like ex-Chief Warrant Officer E. DeLeon Jr.

At a Camp Pendleton court-martial last month, a military judge convicted DeLeon of possessing and distributing child pornography. The judge sentenced him to seven years behind bars, but a pretrial agreement capped his imprisonment at five years.

Highly redacted records trace DeLeons crimes back to Nov. 26, 2016, at Camp Pendleton, when he distributed a digital image of a child engaging in sex. Three days earlier, he had communicated to an unidentified person his desire to molest a little girl, an act he thought sounds amazing, according to his records.

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Camp Pendleton Lance Cpl. M.F. Currington also was found guilty of abusing anabolic steroids and sexually abusing a child. He was sentenced to three years behind bars. Assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, Curringtons charges stemmed from a late 2016 probe into steroid and drug paraphernalia possession, according to records released to the Union-Tribune.

Another Camp Pendleton Marine, Lance Cpl. B.J. Morton of 1st Battalion, 11th Marines, also was convicted last month of possessing and distributing child pornography. He was demoted to private and given a bad conduct discharge. A pretrial agreement capped his confinement at 1 years.

He was incarcerated on Aug. 14 after investigators accused him of possessing three videos and other sexually explicit images of children, according to his records.

A fellow member of his artillery regiment, Marine E.F. Hernandez-Ramirez, faces multiple domestic abuse charges filed in September.

Assigned to 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines at Camp Pendleton, hes accused of punching an unnamed woman in the head and torso, slamming her head against a wall, hitting her head with a coffee cup and twice strangling her during five separate incidents in fall 2016.

He was charged with four more specifications tied to several Murietta incidents that allegedly occurred in late 2016 and early 2017. Hes accused of punching a woman in the head and body three times and wrapping a belt around her neck to strangle her. The records failed to specify if it was the same woman in all the incidents, and Camp Pendleton officials declined comment.

Several cases involve Marines accused of sneaking into other service members rooms to assault or grope them.

For example, Lance Cpl. J.P. Hill was convicted last month of sexual assault causing harm, abusive sexual contact and making an indecent recording. Assigned to 1st Marine Expeditionary Force headquarters inside Camp Pendleton, he crept into the room of a fellow Marine at night to assault her and photographed her when she was naked, according to records released to the Union-Tribune.

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He was sentenced to two years in prison, demoted to private and given a dishonorable discharge.

L.M. Schmidt, a Marine assigned to Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 in Yuma, Arizona, was charged on Aug. 17 with entering an unnamed service members barracks to touch the persons hips in order to gratify his sexual desires, according to the court records.

His unit falls under the command of the Miramar-based 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Another Yuma Marine, Sgt. C.S. Panatta, is accused of raping a child under 12 there in 2016. Commanders also filed a pair of charges tied to alleged lewd incidents involving another child under 16 around the same time.

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He faces a third set of charges linked to child abuse that allegedly occurred in 2014 and 2015 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, in San Bernardino County. Hes accused of beating a child with a fly swatter, punching a childs face, slamming a child in the head with a door and attempting to suffocate a child with a pillow, according to records released to the Union-Tribune.

Assigned to Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One, Panatta has been in pretrial confinement for a year.

Another Marine assigned to an aviation unit, P. Wiredu of Miramars Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3, was charged in 2015 with committing three 2013 rapes in or near San Diego, according to heavily redacted records released to the newspaper.

Citing the ongoing cases, Marine officials declined to comment.

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Prine writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

carl.prine@sduniontribune.comA 22-year-old woman was charged with battery this week for spitting on a Los Angeles police officer during a confrontation at a Metro station that sparked criticism of the LAPD earlier this year, authorities said.

Selena Lechuga pleaded not guilty to one count of battery on a peace officer Friday, according to Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for the Los Angeles city attorneys office. Lechuga was initially arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor battery, and the charge was formally filed Thursday, said her attorney, Nana Gyamfi.

Lechuga was one of two women at the center of a controversial arrest at the Westlake/MacArthur Park station that was caught on video in late January. The confrontation began when an LAPD sergeant approached 18-year-old Bethany Nava and ordered her to take her foot off an empty seat, which is a code-of-conduct violation on Metro trains.

When Nava refused, the sergeant grabbed her by the arm and pulled her off the train, according to bystander video that was posted to Facebook earlier this year. (Warning: Video contains explicit language)

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Nava, Lechuga and other witnesses began yelling at the sergeant, claiming he had overstepped his authority and was unduly rough with the teenager.

Come on, you think you can do this? a woman shouted at the sergeant, in the video.

Yeah, I can, he replied.

When people protested, saying the woman was only 18, he responded, I dont care.

Nava and Lechuga were both arrested at the scene. The teenager was cited for loud and boisterous conduct on a train and released. She was not cited for violating the rule about placing her foot on a seat, the infraction that incited the entire incident.

Nava is not facing any criminal charges, according to Wilcox.

The video, which has been viewed more than 14 million times on Facebook, sparked fierce criticism of the LAPD and its enforcement actions on Metro Rail. Shortly before the clash, the department had launched a crackdown on conduct violations on trains, including eating, drinking, vaping, gambling, littering and placing feet or shoes on seats.

Metros chief executive, Phil Washington, released a statement in January saying he was disappointed at the way the situation escalated, and the LAPD has launched a use-of-force investigation. Nava also filed a claim against the city, saying she sprained her wrist as a result of the sergeants actions.

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Lechuga can be seen spitting in an officers face as she was being handcuffed, according to the video. She faces up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine if convicted of the battery charge, Wilcox said.

The city attorneys offered to divert Lechugas case to its Neighborhood Justice program, which allows nonviolent first-time offenders to face a panel that recommends community service and other restorative justice as an alternative to a court hearing, according to Wilcox. But she declined.

Gyamfi said her client declined to participate in the city attorneys diversionary program because enrollment in the program requires a presumption that Lechuga is guilty.

When youre walking into a situation in which you are presumed to be guilty, thats not really restorative justice, she said. Thats just doing something outside of the court process.

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Lechuga does not know Nava personally, but chose to get involved based on the LAPD sergeants conduct, according to Gyamfi, who said she does not believe Lechugas arrest was lawful.

james.queally@latimes.com

Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California.The city of Los Angeles Personnel Department is tracking more sexual harassment complaints against city employees since new reporting protocols were put in place in December.

The Personnel Departments Equal Employment Opportunity Division has received 26 reports of allegations of sexual harassment since Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered the new guidelines, according to a department report released this week.

Before the new system was put in place, the same division received 35 sexual harassment-related complaints from 2013 to 2017, according to the report.

The Times previously reported that the city has lacked a centralized method for tracking sexual harassment complaints filed against its workers, and that such claims didnt have to be filed with the citys Personnel Department.

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For instance, a worker could choose to file a complaint with his or her departments human resources section rather than the Personnel Department. Or the worker could go to a supervisor, who could deal with the complaint directly.

After news broke last fall about Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinsteins alleged abuse of women, Garcetti sought changes to how sexual harassment claims are reported at the city.

Now, departments must report an incident of sexual harassment to their human resources section within 48 hours of learning of the allegation, according to the report.

Also, human resources managers must report the incident to the Equal Employment Opportunity Division. Previously, the division investigated allegations filed with the citys Office of Discrimination Complaint Resolution and responded to discrimination complaints filed with external agencies. But the division didnt track complaints made internally at a department, according to the report.

We were only seeing a small slice of sexual harassment claim incidents, Jody Yoxsimer, assistant general manager at the Personnel Department, said Friday.

The report will be heard next week before a City Council committee.

dakota.smith@latimes.com

Twitter: @dakotacdsmithMaywoods acting city manager has gone on paid leave because of stress, said Robert Alaniz, the towns spokesman.

Alaniz said the announcement was made Friday and did not say how long Reuben Martinez would be absent. No additional details were provided.

But sources familiar with the issue, who asked not to be identified because they are not authorize to speak to the media, said Martinez was placed on leave because of an internal investigation regarding allegations of misconduct.

In a text message, Martinez said only that he was officially out on paid administrative leave due to stress and did not respond to the allegations.

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Reached by phone, Vice Mayor Ricardo Villareal said he had not heard about Martinez and could not comment. Mayor Ramon Medina could not be reached.

Martinezs absence is another setback for the 1.2-square-mile city in southeast Los Angeles County. More than a week ago, investigators with the Los Angeles County district attorneys office descended on the working-class town to serve searched warrants at City Hall, the citys maintenance contractor and the properties of Medina, Villarreal and former Councilman Sergio Calderon.

The scope of the investigation remains unknown.

Martinez, a former projects manager for Boeing, has been a controversial figure in Maywood, which was facing financial problems when the city hired him in April 2016. Martinez did not have any experience running a city, and it was later revealed that he was a customer of the mayors mechanic shop, R & M Auto Service.

Martinezs first day sitting with the council in May 2016 was eventful. Villarreal, who was then mayor, had resigned from his leadership position, accusing three council members of violating open-meeting laws and City Atty. Mike Montgomery of providing the wrong legal advice in regard to Martinezs contract.

City Clerk Gerry Mayagotia made similar allegations after he learned the contract he signed had not been discussed publicly. City officials later resolved the issue.

City officials have not said who would assume Martinezs duties in the interim.

ruben.vives@latimes.com

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For more Southern California news, follow @latvives on Twitter.In the days following the deadly high school shooting in Florida, as Nikolas Cruzs life as a troubled teen began to come into focus, a disturbing truth emerged: People had known where he might be headed.

Everyone called him the school shooter,  Rachelle Jean, 16, an 11th-grader at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, told The Times. It was like, he was off.

One neighbor of Cruzs noted: He was bad news. We all knew he was bad news.

Online, the accused gunman is thought to have posed with guns on social media posts and left a range of comments on YouTube videos, including one particularly menacing vow five months ago: Im going to be a professional school shooter.

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Experts who have studied Americas deadliest school shootings say Cruzs actions and behavior fit a pattern of campus shooters who left clues, troubling indicators and sometimes exact plans for the attacks that were to come.

Authorities havent said, beyond social media posts, whether Cruz shared his plans with anyone, but research focused on school shootings has found that, in most cases, the attackers tell someone.

A 2004 federal study of school shootings  which researchers agree remains relevant and accurate in its assessment  identified 37 incidents of targeted school violence involving 41 attackers from 1974 to June 2000.

In 81% of the incidents, at least one person had information that the attacker was thinking about or planning a school attack. In more than half of the incidents  59%  more than one person knew, according to the study, which was conducted jointly by the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Department of Education.

The majority of the time, the shooter told a peer, such as a schoolmate, friend or sibling. In some cases, people knew exactly what the attacker had planned, while in others, they had an understanding that something big or bad was going to happen. And in several cases, people knew when and where the attack was planned. In only two cases did an adult have information about the attackers threat or plan.

In one incident, a high school shooting in 1997 in Bethel, Alaska, the attacker had planned to shoot students in the lobby of his school before class. He told two friends exactly what he had planned and even asked three others to meet him that morning on the mezzanine overlooking the lobby, probably to ensure they wouldnt be shot.

Students at the high school didnt usually gather on the mezzanine in the mornings  but on this day, as word spread among students about the planned attack, 24 students stood on the mezzanine waiting for something to happen. One even brought a camera. Two people  the schools principal and a student  were killed.

Jeff Daniels, a professor of counseling psychology at West Virginia University, said one reason students dont tell teachers or administrators about potential threats is because of a code of silence that can exist among young people. Students sometimes dont want to be seen as a snitch, he said.

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This culture of silence is created in part by zero-tolerance policies at schools that take a punitive approach toward any potential involvement in violence, experts say.

Its crucial that school administrators and teachers build positive relationships with all students to ensure students know they can trust them, Daniels said.

They have to be involved in the students lives, said Daniels, who is compiling a database of averted school shootings. They have to know what baselines each student has, and whether a student comes and reports a concern or a teacher, or somebody, reports a change in the students baseline behavior, they need to get to that student in the right way  not in a punitive way, but in a What can we do to help you? way.

A key motivation for the federal study on school shootings was to understand what could be done to prevent them.

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Marisa Randazzo, who co-directed the federal study, said public schools are often challenged to tackle a lot with limited resources, and in efforts to prevent school shootings, its best if the onus isnt placed solely on the school.

Instead, schools should work with local law enforcement and mental health professionals to create a threat assessment team that collaborates on cases in which students are thought to be struggling and potentially at risk of violence, Randazzo said.

After the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007, state legislators passed a law requiring schools and colleges to have threat assessment teams and created a state entity that provides training to police officers, teachers, counselors and others who would be on the teams.

In Salem, Ore., a threat assessment team has been established in both the school district and the community to help ensure that if a student is expelled for threats of violence, theres someone who will follow up to make sure the student gets help, Randazzo said.

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Many local law enforcement dont get training on threat assessment, and thats a critical missing piece, Randazzo said. Yes, we can do this in schools, we can do this in workplaces, but if our local law enforcement doesnt have these skills also, were going to have a big gap.

Jack Levin, professor emeritus and co-director of the Brudnick Center on Violence and Conflict at Northeastern University in Boston, said clues and indicators left by a troubled person should not be ignored.

The best thing we could do to prevent mass murder is to get in touch with people who are in trouble  not those who are just troublesome, but those who are troubled, those who are suffering and need our assistance, Levin said. Thats how we could prevent murder.

jaclyn.cosgrove@latimes.com

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@jaclyncosgrove

Times staff writers Matt Pearce and Jenny Jarvie contributed to this report.The kids in South Florida are fed up. With the adults.

After a mass shooting left 17 students and faculty dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the Fort Lauderdale suburb of Parkland, many area students  instead of withdrawing into the solitude of grief  have thrown themselves into the spotlight in anger and frustration.

Theyre too young to vote. But in national TV interviews, in viral posts on social media, at protests outside schools, the students have chosen to make a noisy message clear to the politicians who represent them: They want stronger gun control.

Stop apologizing. Get to work. Pass legislation that actually saves childrens lives, Douglas junior David Hogg, 17, said Friday as he stood outside his school by police tape and pro-gun-control signs reading Make school safe and Kids dont need guns.

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The students speaking up this week are part of a post-Columbine generation that has grown up with school shootings in the news and an ever-present topic of discussion in their schools and homes.

Now that tragedy has come to them, they have lost all confidence in the ability of adults to protect them  a feeling reinforced by details that have emerged since the massacre.

The FBI revealed that over the last year it received two tips warning that suspect Nikolas Cruz, 19, might carry out a school shooting. But Cruz was never questioned.

The Broward County Sheriffs Office said it had received 20 calls for service about Cruz in recent years, and Cruz was kicked out of school for disciplinary reasons.

But Cruz was still able to legally buy an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle after he turned 18. In the end, the school districts preventative measures  which included safety monitors, on-campus police officers and school-shooting drills  were unable to prevent the massacre.

Its not that the school wasnt prepared, said Taylor Yon, a 16-year-old sophomore.

We had been doing drills on this in the past month, said Yon, who survived the shooting by crouching in a corner of her second-floor classroom, listening to gunshots and screams outside the door. In every single class period, my teachers had gone through safety protocols. We have safety zones, we have protocols for every single emergency, and this thing still happened.

Restricting guns seems to be the one thing the adults havent tried.

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I dont understand how a 19-year-old who is obviously troubled and has all these problems is able to get a gun like that, Yon said.

Hogg, who is student director of the school television station, was particularly upset with what he called President Trumps extremely hypocritical comments following the shooting. Trump focused on mental health and on reporting disturbing behavior to the authorities.

He didnt even mention guns, said Hogg, who hid in a classroom and interviewed other students about the shooting as they waited for police. These are childrens lives being taken and nothing is being done. Now is the time for action. If our legislators dont take action, how can we ever feel safe?

After mass shootings, affected communities responses often reflect prevailing local politics. In more rural, conservative communities such as Sutherland Springs, Texas, and Roseburg, Ore., residents have generally been more skeptical that tighter gun controls would prevent mass shootings.

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But in the 2016 presidential election, Broward County voters preferred Hillary Clinton to President Trump by more than 2 to 1. The teens calls for stronger gun control have been echoed by parents, the school districts superintendent and the county sheriff.

If you want to keep gun laws as they are now, you will not get reelected in Broward County, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel told a crowd of mourners at a Thursday night vigil.

Up the street from Douglas High School on Friday afternoon, a dozen protesters hoisted gun control signs and chanted Use your voice, make a choice! at passing traffic. Drivers honked in support.

We dont really have a voice in whats going on, said Isabella Cristancho, 14, who came to protest with two eighth-grade classmates from a nearby charter school. They plan to attend Douglas next year.

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At South Broward High School about 20 miles away, dozens of students staged a walkout and chanted We want safety! and Ban assault rifles!

One sign said, The Elementary students couldnt protest  WE CAN, a reference to the 2012 shooting massacre of 26 students and staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

Its easier for a student to buy a gun than it is to get a lottery ticket or cigarettes or alcohol, said Andrea Carroll, a 17-year-old junior, as a stream of passing vehicles honked.

One of junior Ariana Alis friends, Helena Ramsay, 17, was killed in the shooting, and Ali has turned her anger into activism. It could have been avoided, Ali, 17, said Friday. Me and my friends are organizing a gun-violence protest in the city of Parkland right now.

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The group of friends have also called Parklands mayor, launched a hashtag  #NeverAgain  and gotten in touch with state legislators. We are going to go to Tallahassee to talk about what weve seen, Ali said.

As with every community, there are dissenters. Hannah Carbocci, a 17-year-old junior  who was in a Holocaust history class and who huddled under a desk as Cruz shot through the classroom door and wall  said she was not too concerned about restricting access to guns.

People are always going to be able to get guns illegally, Carbocci said. I want higher security around the school. Better fences, metal detectors, gates at the main entrance.

The responses by Floridas U.S. senators have split across party lines, with Bill Nelson, a Democrat, calling to get these assault weapons off our streets, and Marco Rubio, a Republican, cautioning that gun law alone wont prevent mass shootings.

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Floridas Republican governor, Rick Scott, has been noncommittal about possible gun restrictions, saying everythings on the table and focusing his harshest criticism on the FBI, calling on the agencys director to resign for missing the warning signs about Cruz.

Emilie Smith, a senior who goes to school 10 minutes away from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and who had friends who survived the shooting, was deeply pessimistic about the nations political status quo.

Ive seen these shootings happen my whole life. Ive grown up with them. I remember Sandy Hook. I remember every single one, Smith said in a phone interview as she and a friend were on their way to donate blood. Every time, about a week or more later, I dont see any more trending tweets, I dont see anyone talking about it. Its devastating.

But now  with students protests and criticism of public officials  its almost like the kids are trying to step in for the adults, Smith said. I dont think children should have to bear that.

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Smith is 18 now, and she said her dad is going to take her to register to vote. Her friends are all turning 18 soon, too. The next chance I get to vote in this state, Im definitely going to do that, Smith said. Were definitely all going to vote.

matt.pearce@latimes.com

Twitter: @mattdpearce

molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com

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Twitter: @mollyhf

More national headlinesThe next Los Angeles chief of police should make transparency in the department paramount. The chief should be the citys leading advocate for swift and complete airing of facts regarding uses of force and discipline. Where state law blocks release of information vital to a public understanding of its police officers actions in the field, and its departments policies, management and oversight of those officers, the chief should stand up and demand that the law be amended as necessary.

The need for transparency and communication lie at the heart of almost every critique of the LAPD. In communities where residents complain that officer response is too slow, and in those that bristle under what they assert is over-policing; where there is a suspicion that crime numbers are being underreported, or where officer misconduct goes unpunished  solving the problem requires policies and attitudes of openness and access to facts.

Transparency is not yet in the LAPD DNA.

The city has embarked on a program to seek input from L.A. residents on what they want in their next police chief in the wake of the announcement by current Chief Charlie Beck that he will step down in June, more than a year before the end of his second five-year term. Members of the Police Commission are in the midst of a six-neighborhood listening tour, and they have invited additional public input via an online survey that asks residents to select from an array of proposed leadership qualities, qualifications, priorities and other abilities and attributes.

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Like his predecessor, William J. Bratton, who spent much of his time at the LAPD under mandates imposed by the Rampart consent decree, Beck has worked to instill a culture of constitutional policing  policies and practices that have at their core an awareness and respect for the civil liberties and rights of the people the police serve. That includes criminal suspects, crime victims, the mentally ill, the homeless and witnesses.

Beck recently told The Times Editorial Board that he believed his signal achievement as chief had been ingraining that culture of constitutional policing into the departments rank and file so that it would no longer be dependent on a reform-minded chief or an externally-imposed consent decree. The chief who follows him, he said, should be one who works to build public trust.

Hes right about that. Although Beck may be overstating the degree to which constitutional policing has become part of the LAPDs DNA, he has indeed made strides in that area, and he is correct that the next chief must now work on public trust.

To achieve that trust, transparency again is the key. And transparency is not yet in the LAPDs DNA, despite the access given to the inspector general and the oversight of the Police Commission. Part of the blame lies with state laws, or at least the interpretation of those laws.

It is no longer possible, as it once was, for the public to attend officer discipline hearings in much the same way the public can attend a criminal trial. It is no longer possible for the public to see records of proven misconduct charges. That access was cut off more than a decade ago. Californias law on access to police discipline records is more weighted toward officers, and against the public, than any other states.

Bratton, to his credit, stood up for a bill to recover that access, but it died due to pressure from police unions. There has been little such courage from chiefs around the state since then.

They will have another chance. Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, has introduced a bill to give the public access to police records of serious uses of force and sustained misconduct findings for sexual assault and job-related dishonesty. Police officer unions, if they follow their past practice, will oppose that. An LAPD chief should not just shrug and say Well see what happens. A chief who seeks public trust in the department should say, clearly, Yes. I support efforts to improve public access to police records, and that includes this bill  or else spell out whats wrong with the bill and how to improve it.

Of course there are many other things to look for in a chief. That person should commit to making criminal justice reforms work rather than complain about how they make police work harder. That person should continue moving qualified and talented Latinos and women into the top ranks, where they remain underrepresented. And he or she should have enough wisdom to keep the respect of the rank and file, as well as sufficient courage to buck them, when necessary, to improve trust in the department.

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Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and FacebookWe can expect a series of after-shocks and collateral revelations from Fridays indictment of 13 Russian nationals and three Russian organizations for meddling in the 2016 election. But lets first take in the epicenter: We now know without a doubt that Russians conducted a multimillion-dollar, highly sophisticated campaign to destabilize the American political system. Has there been a sharper or more serious attack on the United States since 9/11?

The effort spanned years; foreigners posed as Americans and stole identities; they manipulated social media platforms to sow discord.

A pernicious assault on U.S. free elections has been uncovered.

Undoubtedly, the indictments are a vindication for Special Counsel Robert Muellers probe, and should put to rest the suggestion that he has been engaging in, as President Trump recently tweeted, a witch hunt. Until Friday, the president had repeatedly insisted that Russia had not interfered with the election and even called that notion a hoax. So much for that argument.

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Mueller stepped into the breach that the administration and Congress created with over a year of dithering and insouciance at the notion of Russian interference. Their inaction and subject-changing have been shameful, and its a huge lucky break for the nation that Mueller was able to soldier through a torrent of unwarranted criticism.

A victory lap is also in order for Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, who signaled the importance of the indictments with a rare news conference on Friday afternoon. Trump has made Rosenstein an even bigger whipping boy than Mueller in some ways, and has openly threatened to discharge him. Fridays indictments should blunt if not silence those discreditable attacks.

But immediately and predictably, the president found a way to deflect the charges.

Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, he tweeted, long before I announced that I would run for President. The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong  no collusion!

Now he admits there was in fact an anti-U.S. campaign? Thats progress, of a sort. The other comments are bogus. Mueller and the intelligence establishment have never said, because they could not possibly know, whether Russian interference swung the election.

In fact, given the closeness of the election and the apparent targeting by Russians of the most closely fought districts, whether the results of the election were impacted is a historic imponderable that political scientists and bar-goers will debate without resolution for years.

And there certainly was concerted action, possibly collusion, although Fridays indictment spoke only of unwitting relationships between Russian nationals and Trump staffers.

Besides, theres surely more to come. The safe bet is that we know only a fraction, perhaps a very small fraction, of what Mueller has uncovered. It is often best prosecutorial practice  and Mueller embodies best prosecutorial practice  to tell a skeletal story in an indictment and retain juicy details for future use.

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What might happen next?

Fridays news put added pressure on Rick Gates, a staffer for Trumps 2016 campaign, who is said to be in the final stages of negotiating a plea deal with Mueller. Gates, along with former campaign manager Paul Manafort, may have known about official or semi-official contacts with Russian agents, or about financial high jinks between the Trump Organization and Russia dating back many years.

Any cooperation deal between Gates and Mueller will require Gates to divulge everything he knows on these topics. And the fact that he cant be certain what else Mueller has figured out means hed better be certain not to hold anything back.

The indictments will also change the dynamic for Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and his son Donald Jr., who have long and loudly insisted that theres nothing to see here. They can no longer blithely dismiss the topic of Russian interference as inconsequential.

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A pernicious assault on U.S. free elections has been uncovered. Will the political leadership of the country wake up and address the threat, armed with the knowledge that Mueller has developed? Nobody rational can still doubt the gravity of the attacks and the imperative of putting aside political partisanship to address them.

Harry Litman, a former U.S. attorney and deputy assistant attorney general, teaches at the UC San Diego school of political science and practices law at Constantine Cannon. @harrylitman

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or FacebookI have one question for lawmakers in Washington and in statehouses across the nation: How many people must die before you do something?

It was not enough when 26 people, kids and educators, were gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Or when 49 people died at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Or when 58 concertgoers were shot and killed, and hundreds more were injured, in Las Vegas. Or when 26 worshippers were killed in church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

For too many of our elected officials it is simply inevitable that more than 90 Americans will be shot and killed every single day in our neighborhoods, while hundreds of others are wounded. It is simply inevitable that 17 students and teachers would die at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

Very quickly this week we discovered that the Parkland gunman had a history of threatening behavior coupled with easy access to firearms. People who knew the shooter recognized he was troubled. He enjoyed showing off his firearms and students and teachers considered him to be dangerous. In fact according to reports, the gunmans mother had called the police more than once about her sons behavior.

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These were portents of violence, and they might have prevented the Parkland massacre if lawmakers had followed the lead of California, Washington, Oregon, Indiana and Connecticut, and put into effect red flag laws.

Although we will never be able to prevent every gunman and every shooting tragedy, red flag laws can help. They enable family members or law enforcement to petition the courts to temporarily prohibit a person from having guns if he poses a danger to himself or others. The process creates an opportunity to intervene before warning signs escalate into murder.

My son Christopher was shot and killed in Isla Vista, Calif., on May 14, 2014. The gunman displayed numerous warning signs in the days and weeks leading up to his rampage. He made homicidal and suicidal threats. His parents alerted law enforcement, but police decided he did not meet the criteria for emergency commitment. He was able to keep his guns and use them in the killing spree that ended Christophers life. The red flag mechanism wasnt in place to allow law enforcement to step in.

I turned my grief into action and fought in the California Legislature to pass the states red flag law in Christophers name. I was gratified when it was signed that September.

Red flag laws empower families and local law enforcement officials  who are in a position to assess threatening behavior that might tip toward lethality  to defuse potentially tragic situations. Even the temporary removal of guns in such circumstances can be the difference between life and death.

Well undoubtedly hear from the gun lobby that the solution to the Parkland violence is more guns, in more places. Its absurd on its face, and its wrong.

The students who survived at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are speaking out clearly in the media and at vigils: They dont want more guns in their classrooms or in their communities. They want safety, for themselves, their friends and their loved ones.

The burden of unrelenting violence is too much for our children.

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They sound a lot like 7-year-old Ava Olsen, who sent a letter to President Trump after her classmate, Jacob, was gunned down during recess in Townville, S.C., in 2016. Ava told the president that a gun had ruined her life and taken her best friend. Are you going to keep kids safe? she asked Trump. How can you keep us safe?

Lets add Avas questions to the one I posed at the beginning of this essay. Lawmakers: Are you going to keep kids safe? How can you keep us safe? And: How many people must die?

The burden of unrelenting violence is too much for our children. Its too much for parents like me. There is no such thing as too soon to talk about passing laws to prevent gun violence  there is only too late.

Richard Martinez is a member of the Everytown Survivor Network and senior associate for Everytown for Gun Safety.

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Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand FacebookTo the editor: California community colleges and other state institutions of higher learning train the workforces that enable corporations to make profits  and these corporations do everything in their power to avoid paying taxes. (Free community college for ... some. Its a start, Opinion, Feb. 14)

For them, education should be considered an investment. Gov. Jerry Brown could start a charitable foundation and invite all the businesses that have hired our graduates to make a tax-deductible contribution to it. They can thus invest in Californias future.

Also, those well-meaning millionaires who endow college scholarships should consider providing funds to K-12 schools, so that cash-strapped districts can pay good teachers truly middle-class salaries. Research funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation found that well-paid public school teachers can make all the difference in preparing students for higher education.

Helen H. Gordon, Santa Barbara

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..

To the editor: In 1961, I graduated high school in Kingsburg, Calif., with a less-than-stellar academic record. My options: Get a job or go to a community college in a nearby town, where if I earned a 2.0 grade point average, I could transfer to Fresno State College.

Basically, community college was free, and Fresno State cost a whopping $56 a semester  all courtesy of Gov. Edmund G. Pat Browns Master Plan for Higher Education. Since I was drafted for the war in Vietnam, my graduate degree in urban planning from Boston University was courtesy of the GI Bill.

My higher education opportunities truly changed my life, and I am grateful for them but sorry to see how expensive college has become.

Gary Washburn, Chatsworth

..

To the editor: Orange Coast College alumnus Gustavo Arellanos column brought back memories of my time at the school.

In spring 1977, I needed permission to enroll in 27 units before transferring. The counselor asked me why I would want to take so many classes, to work that hard.

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I told him it would be my last opportunity to have access to college courses that were almost free. He granted my request.

I did not know then that, over the next 14 years, I would spend another seven-plus years as a student.

Jana Shaker, Riverside

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and FacebookThe killing of 14 teenagers and three adult staff members at a Parkland, Fla., high school Wednesday is not the once-in-a-generation story of unspeakable tragedy that it may have been decades ago or in another country. But one thing that distinguishes this mass shooting from others is our letter writers reaction to it.

So far, more than 200 printable letters to the editor have been submitted in response to the shooting. Most of the people who write to The Times after any given shooting tend not to be pro-gun, but even against that backdrop, the reaction by our readers has been notable for its outrage and extreme one-sidedness. As of this writing, no more than five of the letters submitted after the Parkland shooting have expressed skepticism about increased gun control.

The primary targets of our readers anger: the National Rifle Assn. and the Republican Party, both of whom have received criticism thats for more pointed and voluminous than after past shootings. Here is a selection of reader responses that reflect the anger and frustration expressed by our letter writers since Wednesday.

Donald E. Williams of Costa Mesa says he had to stop driving because of his anger:

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Upon hearing the news of yet another school massacre on my car radio, I had to pull off the road because of my anger and anguish. I no longer have kids in school, but I have grandchildren who will be at risk because of this insane violence. It breaks my heart.

If the Republican-controlled Congress and President Trump do not do something substantive now to address this national disgrace, the letters NRA will forever stand for National Republican Army.

Guns dont die; people do. Tim Bradley, Altadena

Paul Smith of Milwaukee, Wis., calls for naming congressional names:

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) may bear more responsibility that any lawmaker for the school shooting in Florida. He was the lead sponsor of a bill that made it easier for people with mental illness to buy a gun.

Why dont you publish a list of all those members of Congress who received money from the NRA, gun manufacturers and other pro-gun groups?

Del Mar resident Kevin Patrick, a physician and professor of family medicine and public health at UC San Diego, suggests one way to address gun violence:

Seventeen dead bodies are found outside a restaurant that is known to serve undercooked and contaminated food. Media reports relate comments from the owners of the restaurant: We have no idea why this happened. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families.

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The National Organization for Poisonous Eateries (NOPE) states that poisoned food doesnt kill people by itself  that it must be eaten by people to kill people. Plus, consuming the food one chooses is a constitutional right.

Meaning? Public health solutions exist for this. Do we have the will to use them?

Tim Bradley of Altadena puts a new twist on an old saying:

Guns dont die; people do.

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Yucca Valley resident Patricia Freter encourages students affected by school shootings:

So, to all you students who are made to run from your school with your hands up: Study, go to college, get a degree and run for office. Give us something other than thoughts and prayers.

Redlands resident Kim Eifert Krogstad makes a grim comparison:

Other countries have mentally ill people capable of harming others. Other countries have young people who have been bullied or attacked by fellow students and are filled with rage. Other countries have despondent people who have given up on life and want to go out in a blaze of glory.

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But other countries do not have the kind of school shootings that we have here in the United States. The difference is that in the United States, we value our guns more than our children.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and FacebookGavin Newsom releases ad that highlights his push to allow same-sex couples to marry By Phil Willon A new ad from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom features Phyllis Lyon, who with her partner, Del Martin, received the first marriage license after Newsom vowed to allow same-sex couples to marry when he was mayor of San Francisco in 2004. The current lieutenant governors push for marriage equality thrust him into the national spotlight and he has emphasized that effort to portray himself as a bold, progressive leader. Facebook

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Failed California housing bill was not a bad idea, Gov. Jerry Brown says By Liam Dillon Gov. Jerry Brown (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Earlier this month, high-profile housing legislation that would have allowed for four- to five-story apartments and condominiums near transit stops failed to advance in the state Legislature. But had it reached his desk, would Gov. Jerry Brown have signed it? Maybe. I think that was not a bad idea, Brown said of Senate Bill 827 at a meeting with business leaders from the Bay Area Council on Monday afternoon. The bill, written by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), attracted national attention and a maelstrom of opposition in part because it would have eliminated single-family zoning near transit stops in favor of apartments or condominiums. Brown said that a relative of his who lives in West Portal, a low-density neighborhood in San Francisco, told the governor he was horrified by the bill. Brown also lamented dramatically rising housing costs. He said he bought his first house in Los Angeles in 1973 for $75,000 at a time when his salary as secretary of state was $35,000. Now, he said, buying a house for a little over twice ones annual salary is virtually impossible anywhere in the state. FOR THE RECORD

May 1, 9:32 a.m.: This post originally misstated the year Brown purchased his house as 1970. It was 1973. Facebook

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John Cox begins California barnstorm with the delivery of gas tax repeal signatures By Javier Panzar Gubernatorial candidate John Cox, left, and Assembly candidate Bill Essayli load boxes of signatures for the gas tax repeal initiative. (Francine Orr) GOP gubernatorial candidate John Cox strolled up to the stack of 12 boxes in front of the Los Angeles County registrar-recorders offices in Norwalk on Monday and placed his hands on top of his partys hope for success in 2018. The boxes, stacked four across and three high, contained 211,000 signatures for an initiative to repeal recent increases in Californias gas tax and vehicle fees. Cox says the effort has gathered more than 940,000 signatures from registered voters to put the measure on the ballot  far more than the 585,407 signatures that are required. The aim: to bring out the partys base to the polls this November and help candidates in tough congressional and legislative races down the ticket. A USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll in November found 54.2% of registered voters surveyed said they would repeal the tax and fee hike, but a survey a month earlier by another group said a majority would vote to keep the higher taxes. Cox was flanked by Bill Essayli, a former federal prosecutor who is challenging Democratic Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes of Riverside in the June primary. Cervantes voted for the gas tax and Essayli plans to use that vote against her. He even launched his campaign at a 76 gas station in Norco. This is a central issue in my campaign, he said. Cox also submitted signatures in San Diego on Monday and is headed to Bakersfield, Fresno and Sacramento, as well as Shasta and Butte counties in coming days. We are going all across the state, Cox said. The whole state is paying this tax and the whole state wants it gone. Facebook

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All Californians would be able to serve on state boards  even people in the U.S. illegally  under new bill By Jazmine Ulloa Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) State lawmakers on Monday introduced legislation that would allow all Californians to serve on state boards and commissions regardless of immigration status. Senate Bill 174, by Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles), comes as the state is locked in a broader legal battle with the Trump administration over state immigration laws and his call for mass deportations. Lawmakers point to what they say is the states own discriminatory history as their basis for introducing the legislation. The proposal would amend an 1872 provision that was first adopted to exclude Chinese immigrants and other transient aliens from holding appointed civil positions. At the time, antipathy toward the Chinese had been building in California, though, Chinese immigrants opened hundreds of businesses across the state and would play a critical role in building the transcontinental railroad. The Senate bill would delete the phrase transient aliens from the government code and make clear that any person, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, can hold an appointed civil office if they are at least 18 years old and a resident of the state. That would allow any Californian to serve on hundreds of boards and commissions that advice in an array of policy areas, including farm labor, history and employment development. Californias two million undocumented immigrants are a source of energy for our state, Lara said in a statement. It is shocking to read the words of fear and exclusion that are still in California law but belong in historys trash can. Facebook

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Tony Mendozas fundraising dries up after resignation amid harassment inquiry By Patrick McGreevy Former state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia). (Steve Yeater / Associated Press) Political contributions to Tony Mendoza, who resigned from the state Senate under pressure amid sexual harassment allegations, have nearly dried up. New documents he filed with the state in his bid to reclaim the seat he once held show that his support has eroded. As a result, five other candidates for the 32nd District senate seat in the June 5 election have raised more than Mendoza so far this year. With the June 5 election approaching, Mendoza has reported raising just $7,750 in cash from six supporters during the nearly four-month period from Jan. 1 to April 21. Mendoza, a Democrat from Artesia, went on a leave of absence from the Senate Jan. 3 and resigned a month later under the threat of expulsion from colleagues. An investigation ordered by the Senate found a pattern of unwanted flirtatious or sexually suggestive behavior based on testimony from six women. Mendoza has denied wrongdoing. Last year, Mendozas reelection campaign raised $412,600, or an average of about $34,000 per month, from more than 350 supporters. Most of Mendozas 2018 total was contributed by the political arm of the Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16 on Jan. 22, a month before Mendoza resigned. Mendoza also reported that his campaign loaned $125,000 this year to his legal defense fund. That left him with $446,600 in his campaign account at the end of April. Mendoza is running against eight Democrats and two Republicans. Democrat Bob J. Archuleta, a Pico Rivera city councilman, raised the most, $210,000, during the period. On Monday, Mendoza suffered another setback when the State Legislative Womens Caucus endorsed Democrat Vicky Santana, a member of the Rio Hondo College Board. Facebook

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Newsom and Villaraigosa affairs coming to TV ads in California By Phil Willon An independent political committee backing Republican John Cox for governor released an ad blasting both Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for their past sexual affairs. The California Deserves Better ad, which was first reported by Politico, criticizes Newsom for having an affair with a woman on his staff in 2005 while he served as mayor of San Francisco. It also goes after Villaraigosa for having an extramarital affair with a television reporter in 2007 while he was mayor of Los Angeles. The ad, which begins airing on Fox stations in the states top media markets Monday, links Newsom and Villaraigosa to the men accused of sexual impropriety in the #MeToo movement, including movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and disgraced Today show veteran Matt Lauer. Powerful men are finally being held to account, punished for inappropriate sexual conduct with women over whom they exercise power, the ad begins. Newsom and Villaraigosa think the rules shouldnt apply to them. The independent campaign committee, called Restore Our Values, already has raised more than $100,000, said Leigh Teece of Emeryville in Northern California, co-founder of the group. Teece, the CEO of a nonprofit that helps line up students with professional mentors, said the campaign will actively support Cox. She called him a true conservative and noted that he supports cutting taxes and opposes Californias sanctuary state policy. John is a business person who has demonstrated integrity, Teece said. Facebook

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Was that Cisneros in the voicemail? Dispute is latest espisode of Democratic infighting in crowded primary races By Christine Mai-Duc Gil Cisneros speaks during a forum at Fullerton College in January. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) With less than five weeks to go before Californias primary, insults and accusations are flying with abandon in the most crowded races Democrats hope to ultimately win. The latest example of this is in the 39th Congressional District, where a half dozen Democrats are vying for a chance to replace Rep. Ed Royce, whos retiring. Its one of several California contests where Democratic leaders are already worried that divisions could ultimately split votes and shut Democrats out of key pickup opportunities. In that race, millionaires Gil Cisneros and Andy Thorburn are going negative  about going negative. Cisneros was recently elevated to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees Red to Blue program in hopes it would serve as a signal to Democratic activists and donors that his campaign was the most viable. But both Cisneros and Thorburn have poured millions into the race, which promises to be a knock down, drag out fight through June 5. At the center of the latest controversy is a voicemail, allegedly left by Cisneros on Thorburns home answering machine earlier this month. The recording, which the Thorburn campaign turned over to media outlet The Intercept, lasts less than 10 seconds. Hi Andy, its Gil Cisneros. Im gonna go negative on you, a mans voice is heard saying. Cisneros campaign manager Orrin Evans denied the candidate made the call, posting a cease and desist letter to The Intercept on Twitter. The letter, sent by a Cisneros campaign attorney, called the voicemail fabricated and demanded that the story be taken down, calling it defamatory. It gave the publication until 3 p.m. Friday to take down the story before they pursue all legal rights and remedies. An attorney for The Intercept, in a letter to Cisneros, said the publication confirmed with multiple sources familiar with Mr. Cisneros that his voice was on the recording, and that it stands by its reporting. Thorburns camp says it flatly rejects Cisneros denial, and that the timing of a negative website filled with unflattering background on Thorburn, released three days later, suggests it was him. Track the California races that could flip the House According to The Intercepts report, Cisneros campaign manager did not respond to initial inquiries about the voicemail, calling its questions ridiculous. In a follow-up statement Friday, Evans said called the episode a dirty, desperate trick by the Thorburn campaign and said they are readying to pursue legal action for defamation and false light against both him and the publication. It sounded like him to me! said Thorburns wife, Karen, in a statement released by the campaign. She was the one who first heard the voicemail, they said. Thorburn campaign manager Nancy Leeds called Cisneros threats Trump-like tactics and accused the candidate of trying to harass and intimidate anyone who stands in his way. Its not the first time candidates from the same party have clashed in the lead-up to the June 5 primary, and its all but certain to not be the last. Cisneros sued two of his opponents, Thorburn and Sam Jammal, over their ballot descriptions until they had to change them. Earlier this month, Democrat Bryan Caforio asked his opponent, Katie Hill, to sign a pledge rejecting the use of independent expenditure committees, entities that neither of them can legally coordinate with, in the race to unseat Rep. Steve Knight (R-Lancaster). Hill refused and called the attempt hollow and likened it to political theater, while Caforio accused her of empty campaign promises. Facebook

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California Politics Podcast: The money raised in the race for governor hints at a race thats now red hot By John Myers With less than six weeks before election day, the cash raised in the California governors race mirrors the overall dynamics: one major front-runner and a heated race for second place. This weeks podcast episode offers a glimpse into those cash reports and how the Republican field seems more settled in a new statewide poll than the battle between Democrats. We also examine the reasons why a nationally talked-about housing bill in Sacramento was killed by the Democratic authors own allies. Im joined by Times staff writers Melanie Mason and Liam Dillon. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Stitcher. Facebook

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L.A. County politician sexually assaulted woman when she was 16, lawsuit claims By Dakota Smith A woman sued an unnamed politician in Los Angeles County on Friday, alleging the man sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager after he gave her an unusual-tasting drink. The politician, identified as John Doe, was in his early 40s and a public figure at the time of the 2007 assault, according to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. The man is an elected official today and lives in Los Angeles, said attorney Lisa Bloom, who is representing the woman identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe. Bloom declined to say what branch of government the man represents. Read More Facebook

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Villaraigosa touts his working-class upbringing, accomplishments as mayor in first TV ad By Phil Willon Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa released his first TV ad in the governors race Friday, touting his record and accomplishments as mayor of Los Angeles when up against the economic downturn during the recession. The 30-second television spot opens with a sweeping shot of Los Angeles and cuts to Villaraigosa sitting on a bus. In kindergarten, my sister and I took three buses to get to school. As mayor, I remembered that, Villaraigosa says into the camera. And despite the recession, we built more new schools and rail lines than any city in America, added 200,000 living wage jobs, built 20,000 units of affordable housing and nearly doubled graduation rates. Campaign spokesman Luis Vizcaino said the ad will air statewide over the next week at a cost of approximately $1 million. The commercial will being airing Saturday. Two Democratic rivals in Californias race for governor, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Treasurer John Chiang, also launched ads this week, signaling the biggest ramp-up of the campaign as the June 5 primary approaches. Newsom is the front-runner, while Villaraigosa is battling for second place with Republican John Cox. One recent poll has Villaraigosa trailing both Cox and Republican Assemblyman Travis Allen of Huntington Beach. Chiang has been stuck in the single digits in almost all polling in the race. Last week, an independent expenditure group called Families and Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor, funded largely by a trio of wealthy charter school backers, launched a spot in support of the former mayor of Los Angeles. That ad campaign is focused on increasing Villaraigosas chances of coming in second in the June 5 primary and moving on to the general election. Villaraigosas ad, titled Three Buses, emphasizes the struggles he faced growing up in East Los Angeles and addresses one of his central campaign themes  that hes the candidate best suited to help working-class Californians. I know how far a bus can take you, Villaraigosa says in the ad. Facebook

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Sen. Dianne Feinstein wont participate in pre-primary debate By Sarah D. Wire (Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call) California Sen. Dianne Feinstein will not participate in a proposed pre-primary debate because there are too many candidates in the race, her campaign spokesman said Thursday. Political activists with the group Indivisible Los Angeles said they had a venue and date  May 5  reserved for a debate with four of the Senate candidates. But they said if Feinstein does not participate, it will be canceled. Feinstein faces 31 primary opponents in her bid for a fifth full term representing California in the Senate. Feinstein staffers initially said she had a prior commitment on May 5 in San Francisco. When organizers offered to let her campaign pick another date, her campaign said it wasnt fair for the group to invite only some of the candidates when there is such a big field, said Tudor Popescu, volunteer community organizer with Indivisible Los Angeles. The invited candidates, all Democrats, were Feinstein, state Sen. Kevin de Leon, political action committee director Alison Hartson and lawyer Pat Harris. They were selected based on fundraising and poll numbers. There are 11 Republicans, 10 Democrats, nine independents and 2 third-party candidates running for Senate on the June ballot. Indivisible Los Angeles is still hoping Feinstein will pick another date, Popescu said. Feinstein spokesman Jeff Millman pointed to a San Francisco Chronicle endorsement of Feinstein, which indicates that she told the editorial board she would be willing to have a debate ahead of Novembers general election. Senator Feinstein looks forward to debating her opponent in the general election, Millman said in an email. Feinstein holds a substantial lead in both fundraising and in the polls. Front-runners in statewide races have routinely declined to debate their challengers, knowing that its free publicity for candidates who dont have the cash to increase their name recognition on their own. De Leon spokesman Jonathan Underland said the state senator has done candidate forums before, but planned to attend the May 5 debate only if Feinstein did. We basically said well clear his calendar 100%, well clear his calendar if Feinstein shows up, Underland said. Wed love to make it happen, but we want her to be there. Facebook

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NRA, Olympic shooter sue California over its restrictions on ammunition sales By Patrick McGreevy Olympian Kim Rhode is a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by the NRA and its state affiliate against California. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) The National Rifle Assn. and its state affiliate have filed a fourth lawsuit against California over its gun control laws, this time challenging new restrictions on the sale and transfer of ammunition. The NRA and the California Rifle and Pistol Assn. filed a challenge in federal court to a requirement that ammunition sales and transfers be conducted face to face with California firearms dealers or licensed vendors, ending purchases made directly from out-of-state sellers on the internet. The lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California also challenged a requirement starting next year for background checks for people buying ammunition. The lawsuit was filed in the name of Kim Rhode, a six-time Olympic medal-winning shooter, and others. It challenges Californias new ammunition sales restrictions as a violation of the 2nd Amendment and the commerce clause of the United States Constitution. Restrictions on ammunition purchases were included in Proposition 63, approved by voters in 2016, and in bills approved by the Legislature. As a result of these laws, millions of constitutionally protected ammunition transfers are banned in California, Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRAs Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement. Californias law-abiding gun owners are sick of being treated like criminals and the NRA is proud to assist in this fight. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is running for governor, defended his initiative and vowed to fight the NRA lawsuit. We wrote Proposition 63 on solid legal ground and principle: If youre a felon banned from possessing guns in California, then you should not be able to purchase the ammunition that makes a firearm deadly, Newsom said in a statement. California voters said loudly and clearly that guns and ammunition do not belong in the hands of dangerous individuals  but once again, the NRA has prioritized gun industry profits over the lives of law-abiding Californians. Facebook

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Republicans hope to ride a gas-tax repeal to victory By Patrick McGreevy In a Central Valley barn decked out in red, white and blue, dairyman and state Senate candidate Johnny Tacherra drew cheers from a crowd of fellow farmers when he said he opposes the California Legislatures hike on gas taxes and vehicle fees. I would not have voted for that. It is not the time to be voting on (raising) the gas tax, said Tacherra, a Republican running against Democratic Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, who voted for the tax increase last year. Three hundred miles away the same week, a campaign mailer arrived at homes in Orange County from an Assembly candidate with a message blaring from the cover in bold type: Republican Greg Haskin  tough enough to stand up to Jerry Brown and repeal the gas tax. Read More Facebook

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Treasurer John Chiang launches ad in governors race touting his record as a fiscal steward By Seema Mehta In his first television ad in the governors race, state Treasurer John Chiang touts his record on fiscal issues as California faced the recession. Some thought we were done, Chiang says in a voiceover in the 30-second spot he released Thursday, with images of him standing seriously at a lectern and complimentary headlines about his work as controller and treasurer. But I knew better. I made the tough calls. And brought California back from the brink of financial disaster because you trusted me to manage our economy. Chiangs campaign is spending about $500,000 to air the ad in Los Angeles and San Diego in coming days. That buy is dwarfed by seven-figure purchases for ads supporting Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Newsom is the front-runner, while Villaraigosa is battling for second place with Republican businessman John Cox. Chiang has been mired in the single digits in almost all polling in the race. His ad, called Quiet Storm, tries to portray Chiang as a progressive who is effective and can move policy in Sacramento. Chiang points to his work challenging Wells Fargo before arguing that he could accomplish what doubters say is impossible to improve the states healthcare, housing and schools. I say, we got this, Chiang concludes. Facebook

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Been ignoring the race for California governor? Thats OK, in some ways its just starting By Mark Z. Barabak On a recent trip to Iowa, Eric Garcetti  the mayor of Los Angeles and a possible 2020 White House contestant  raised eyebrows with a bit of exuberant outreach. Los Angeles and Iowa, Garcetti insisted, have a ton in common, and he didnt simply mean both are inhabited by carbon-based life forms needing oxygen to survive. Urban or rural, farmer or fashion plate, all of us harbor the same hopes and dreams, the mayor suggested, and if it wasnt a terribly original thought it also wasnt the most egregious sort of political pandering  like, say, ordering that every home in Los Angeles be powered by Iowa-produced ethanol. Read More Facebook

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California voters should expect to decide on an $8.9-billion water bond in November By Liam Dillon (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) A proposal to borrow $8.9 billion for improvements to Californias water quality systems and watersheds and protection of natural habitats is eligible for the statewide ballot in November, Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced in a press release Wednesday. Padilla said the measure, which is backed by agricultural interests, had exceeded the 365,800 valid signatures it needed to qualify for the general election ballot. The bond measure will appear on the ballot unless proponents withdraw it by June 28, the release said. The bond is one of many voters could decide on in 2018. A $4-billion bond for parks and water infrastructure improvements will appear on the June 5 ballot. State lawmakers approved it last year. Facebook

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They came for Darrell Issa. They stayed with their inflatable chicken, blue wall and signs for political therapy By Christine Mai-Duc (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) A mother of two turned ringleader of the resistance and more than a hundred of her faithful followers gathered on Tuesday morning outside Rep. Darrell Issas office in a northern San Diego County suburb. Across the street was her foil, a wedding DJ in a red Make American Great Again cap, setting up hefty speakers for an upcoming war of words. For about 65 weeks the deep divide in America played out along this 100-yard stretch of road in Vista. Here, at 10 a.m. every Tuesday, passersby found signs, chants, songs and, if they were lucky, sometimes a 20-foot-tall inflatable chicken with a Trump-esque coif. Theyd also glimpse the state of the body politic in 2018, a time when shock has turned to anger and post-2016 calls for reconciliation have morphed into grudging acceptance that each side might be better off in their respective corners. Or in this case, their sides of the street. On Tuesday, the anti-Issa, anti-Trump contingent fought this particular battle for the last time, declaring it their final protest at the congressmans office. They said they planned to use their energy to knock on doors and get out the vote, with an occasional protest on the side. Their pro-Trump rivals vowed to show up wherever they do. Read More Facebook

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Efforts to regulate bail companies have some unlikely allies: bail agents By Jazmine Ulloa Jane Un, chief executive and founder of Abba Bail Bonds, works with a client. ( Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) In recent years, the seriousness and number of official complaints related to the bail industry in California have significantly increased while bail agents and bounty hunters face limited oversight, putting vulnerable communities at risk of fraud, embezzlement and other forms of victimization. This year, as Gov. Jerry Brown has pledged to work with lawmakers in a push to overhaul how courts assign defendants bail and to better regulate bail agencies, even some who profit from the court practice admit its time for regulation. These bail and bail-recovery agents could become unlikely allies, saying they advocate for change because theyve seen the system abuse the poor. Read More Facebook

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California voters: Get ready for an onslaught of television ads By Seema Mehta After a sleepy campaign, California voters are now being bombarded with television advertisements in the governors race, an onslaught that is expected to ramp up in coming weeks. The ads most frequently seen on television are those promoting Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the front-runner in the race, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is trying to secure the second spot in the June primary. Newsoms campaign and an outside group backing Villaraigosa are spending seven figures weekly on these efforts, according to filings with the California secretary of states office and a media buyer who asked not to be identified in order to freely discuss the ads. Other gubernatorial candidates are expected to hit the airwaves soon, the media buyer said. State Treasurer John Chiang has reserved a half-million dollars in the coming days in the Los Angeles and San Diego markets, and Villaraigosas campaign has requested availability in at least five of the states biggest TV markets. The GOP candidates in the race, who will be seeking the state Republican Partys endorsement at its convention next weekend, have been much less active. Businessman John Cox in recent weeks has been spending about $90,000 per week, but doubled that this week in Los Angeles and added small buys on KFI-AM radio and cable in markets including Fresno, Bakersfield and Salinas. State Assemblyman Travis Allen of Huntington Beach, who has been scooping up Republican Party endorsements across the state, has yet to make a notable television or radio buy, though he and Cox have received some attention as commentators on Fox News. Facebook

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Republicans ready to turn in signatures for ballot measure to repeal California gas-tax increase By Patrick McGreevy A Chevron gas station in Sacramento shows prices last year. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Republican activists said Tuesday that they have collected at least 830,000 signatures for an initiative to repeal recent increases in Californias gas tax and vehicle fees, more than enough to qualify the measure for the November ballot. The activists need 585,407 signatures of registered voters to qualify the ballot measure. Because signatures are still being processed and counted by the campaign, backers hope to have 900,000 by the time they begin turning them in to the counties on Friday, according to Carl DeMaio, a former San Diego City Council member and organizer of the drive. The breadth and depth of voter anger over the car and gas tax hikes is just amazing, said DeMaio, who hosts a radio talk show. We are seeing Democrats, independents and Republicans sign the petition and volunteering to carry the petition, people from all walks of life. The initiative targets a law approved in April 2017 by the Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown that is expected to raise $5.4 billion annually for road and bridge repairs and improvements to mass transit. The money comes from a recent 12-cents-per-gallon increase in the gas tax, a 20-cent increase in the diesel fuel excise tax and a new annual vehicle fee ranging from $25 for cars valued at under $5,000, to $175 for cars worth $60,000 or more. The petition drive raised more than $2 million with significant contributions from the California Republican Party and Republican members of Congress from California, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield and Reps. Ken Calvert of Corona and Mimi Walters of Irvine. Republicans hope the issue will help their candidates for office in this years election and hurt Democrats who support the higher taxes. I think this is going to put Democrats in real bad spot, DeMaio said. A spokesman for Brown declined to comment until the signatures are filed. DeMaio said there were approximately 20,000 volunteer petition circulators who brought in more than 250,000 signatures, with the rest collected by paid circulators who received $1 to $2.50 per signature. Its a pretty comfortable margin [of signatures] that we have been able to hit here, DeMaio said. Opposition will grow, he said, as more Californians get their annual vehicle registration notice. The repeal campaign hopes to raise $5 million for the campaign to pass the constitutional amendment, which would not only repeal the increase in the gas tax and vehicle fees but require future increases to be submitted to voters. We know that Gov. Brown and his cohorts are going to spend an amazing amount of money to mislead voters, DeMaio said. But I feel pretty confident that we will repeal the gas tax. Read More Facebook

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Rep. Duncan Hunter sets up trust to raise money for legal expenses amid ongoing criminal investigation By Morgan Cook Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, has filed paperwork to establish a legal expense fund amid an ongoing federal criminal investigation into misused campaign cash. Hunter filed the required paperwork March 27, seeking a rarely granted Legal Expense Fund through which members of Congress under investigation or being sued in connection with doing their jobs or running for office can raise money for their legal expenses. Such funds are administered by an independent trustee and allow donors to give above the maximum amount they can contribute a candidates campaign. Hunter has spent more than $600,000 of campaign money on lawyers. Read More Facebook

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Kamala Harris says she wont take corporate donations anymore By Sarah D. Wire (Jose Luis Magana / Associated Press) California Sen. Kamala Harris says she will no longer accept money from corporate political action committees. In an interview with WWPM-FMs The Breakfast Club, in New York that aired Monday, the senator said she wasnt expecting a question at a town hall this month about whether she would accept money for corporations or corporate lobbyists. At the time, Harris said it depends, but she said on Monday that she had reflected on the matter and changed her mind. Money has had such an outside influence on politics, and especially with the Supreme Court determining Citizens United, which basically means that big corporations can spend unlimited amounts of money influencing a campaign, right? Harris said. Were all supposed to have an equal vote, but money has now really tipped the balance between an individual having equal power in an election to a corporation. So Ive actually made a decision since I had that conversation that Im not going to accept corporate PAC checks. I just  Im not. You can watch the video of the interview here. (Harris corporate money comments come about 30 minutes in.) Harris wouldnt be on the ballot for a second Senate term until 2022, though its widely believed that she is planning a presidential bid in 2020. Other potential 2020 presidential candidates, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), have also ruled out taking corporate PAC money. Soon after Mondays show aired, Harris campaign sent out a fundraising request noting her new stance. As corporate PACs continue to corrupt our politics and twist Congress priorities at your expense, were going to focus on raising money from small-dollar, individual donors like you, the email says. Facebook

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With money tied up in court, California lawmakers try again with new plan to spend $2 billion on homeless housing By Liam Dillon A man sleeps on the sidewalk in front of the Union Rescue Mission in the skid row neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) A measure to spend $2 billion on housing homeless Californians could be on the November statewide ballot. State Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) is pushing the idea to deal with what he said was a burgeoning humanitarian crisis whose epicenter is here in California. De Leons new measure is a do-over for a 2016 plan passed by the Legislature to redirect $2 billion toward building homeless housing from a voter-approved 1% income tax surcharge on millionaires that funds mental health services. A Sacramento attorney sued over that decision, arguing that the move violated constitutional rules on approving loans without a public vote and that lawmakers shouldnt take money away from mental health treatment. The case remains active in Sacramento Superior Court and its unclear when, or if, the state will be able to spend the $2 billion. De Leons Senate Bill 1206 would put the $2-billion loan on the ballot in November, freeing up the money if voters approve the measure. De Leon said had he been able to predict the 2016 plan would end up in court, he would have sought a ballot measure at the time. We thought this was like apple pie and baseball and puppies, De Leon said. Who would oppose the idea of repurposing the dollars to build immediate housing as a permanent solution for homelessness? Obviously with a crystal ball, had I anticipated the litigation, I would have worked to place it on the ballot. De Leon noted that the 2016 plan had bipartisan supermajority support in the Legislature, something his new bill also will need to get on the ballot. Sen. John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) is a coauthor of the plan. SB 1206 is scheduled for its first hearing in the Legislature on Wednesday. Should De Leons measure be approved, it will join a crowded list of housing issues before voters in November. Californians will decide on a separate $4-billion bond to help finance new low-income housing and home loans for veterans. De Leon said hes not worried those two measures will compete against each other because voters are aware of the scale of the states housing problems and the proposed homeless housing bond redirects existing dollars instead of raising taxes. Once [voters] know that the impact on their pocketbook is not existent, Im confident that theyll join me and my colleague John Moorlach in support of this measure, De Leon said. Facebook

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California lawmakers say too many former felons are being denied professional licenses By John Myers Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco) along with supporters of bills to allow more former felons to receive professional licenses. (John Myers/Los Angeles Times) A trio of California Assembly members urged colleagues on Monday to pass legislation that would prohibit state commissions and agencies from rejecting a professional license for those who were once convicted of less serious crimes. We cant say we want to rehabilitate people, and then block them from getting the jobs that they need when theyre released, said Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco). That leads to more recidivism and to more crime. The bills, scheduled to be heard in Assembly committees Tuesday, would ban the use of arrest or conviction records as the reason for denying a professional license. The bill would not apply to Californians who served time for any of the offenses on the states list of violent crimes. The authors, all Democrats, said that a government-issued professional license is required for some 30% of all jobs in the state. Their bills would change the licensing process at the California departments of Consumer Affairs and Social Services and agencies that certify emergency medical technicians. The bills would block prior convictions from leading to the delay or denial of a license unless that crime is directly related to the profession the person intends to pursue. Two of the bills also specifically say convictions less than 5 years old could continue to play a role in licensing decisions. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law that keeps private sector employers from inquiring about a job applicants conviction history prior to an offer of employment. Advocates joined the lawmakers at a press conference in Sacramento to point out that limits on awarding licenses should focus only on those whose prior criminal activity could pose a threat to consumers. Continuing to hold people back for crimes that are 6, 7, 8, 10, 20 years old does not actually make sense if youre looking at public safety, said Jael Myrick of the East Bay Community Law Center. One of the proposals, Assembly Bill 2293, seeks to make it easier for ex-felons to get a license allowing a job with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection  the same agency that often uses prison inmates to battle blazes around the state. If a person is good enough to risk their life fighting fires for the state of California as an inmate, said Assemblywoman Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-Grand Terrace), their previous actions should not prevent from having a job utilizing the skill set that they learned. Facebook

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Assembly speaker rebukes building trades union after it targets Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia By John Myers ( (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) The decision by a politically powerful labor group to openly campaign against an embattled Los Angeles-area lawmaker drew a sharp rebuke on Friday from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. The Lakewood Democrat lashed out hours after the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California filed paperwork for a political action committee to defeat Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens). Garcia, whos seeking her fourth term, took an unpaid leave of absence in February following allegations of sexual misconduct. She has denied the reports and an Assembly investigation remains underway. Rendon didnt criticize the labor group by name, insisting instead that the decision was driven by oil and gas industry interests. This is a thinly veiled attempt by Big Oil and polluters to intimidate me and my members. It is an affront to my speakership, Rendon said in a statement. We are proud of the work that the Assembly has done to increase jobs and wages while defending our environment. We will vigorously defend the members of our caucus from any ill-advised political attack. A statement from the labor group, which sparred with Garcia last year on her effort to link new climate change policies with a crackdown on air pollution, said it had decided to reverse past support for her. The Trades have thousands of hard working members in Garcias district, and we look forward to lifting up another Democrat in the 58th Assembly to better represent them and their families, said the statement. The political action committees campaign finance filing on Friday listed nonmonetary in kind contributions from Erin Lehane, a public affairs consultant aligned with the building labor group. Lehane said she had begun researching Garcia in November. In January, a former legislative staffer accused her of groping him in 2014. Lehane, who identified herself as a spokesperson for the labor groups political action committee, said on Friday that she believed Garcias hypocrisy threatened a movement that will dictate how much harassment and abuse my daughter will face in her work life. Garcia, who has been an outspoken advocate for women in the #MeToo movement, has complained that her political opponents helped fan the flames of the accusations. Through a campaign consultant, she declined to comment on Friday. Rendons critique came on the heels of a full-page ad in The Times on Friday, partly paid for by the Trades Council, that criticized well-funded ivory tower elites who push proposals that hurt the oil and gas industry. We are the real jobs that fuel the real California economy, read the advertisement. Facebook

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Legal tiff breaks out over independent committees ad backing Antonio Villaraigosa for governor By Phil Willon An attorney representing Gavin Newsoms campaign for governor is demanding that California television stations cease airing an ad by an independent political committee supporting his Democratic rival Antonio Villaraigosa. Attorney Thomas A. Willis, in a letter to the stations, said the ad is false and misleading and violates California law because it uses snippets of video footage from Villaraigosas own campaign ads. Willis called that illegal coordination between the campaign and PAC. Under California law, advertisements made by entities other than a candidate are presumed to be coordinated  and thus not independent expenditures  when the advertisement replicates, reproduces or disseminates substantial parts of a communication, including video footage, created and paid for by the candidate, the letter states. A representative for the independent expenditure committee  Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor  fired back. Attorney Brian T. Hildreth says those allegations have no merit and accused the Newsom campaign of being misleading. Hildreth sent a letter to the television stations in response, urging them to ignore the Newsom campaigns accusations. He said the Newsom camp appears to intentionally misrepresent the law and that the video use was permissible. He said only six seconds of video from Villaraigosas campaign ads was used, which is well within the legal limits. The independent committee is sponsored by the group California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates, according to the California secretary of states office. The ad is airing on broadcast and cable stations statewide. The committees ad is focused on Villaraigosas record as Assembly speaker and as mayor of Los Angeles when there was a drop in crime. Facebook

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Governors race snapshot: Californians are generally upbeat but not focused on the campaign By Mark Z. Barabak Armand Werden, a 29-year-old community college student who works the taps at Dust Bowl Brewery in Turlock, said the state is on the upswing. (Phil Willon / Los Angeles Times) As California chooses a new governor  one of just a handful in the last 40 years not named Jerry Brown  the state seems to be enjoying something unusual in these tumultuous political times: a feeling of relative contentment. Not to say things are perfect. Still, more than 100 random interviews conducted over the length and breadth of the state  from Redding in the north to Santee in the south, from the Pacific coastline to the edge of the Sierra Nevada  found most saying things are looking up, at least so far as Californias direction is concerned. Read More Facebook

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Sierra Club backs Gavin Newsom for California governor By Phil Willon Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks with members of the public following a debate at USC in January. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The Sierra Club endorsed Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom in the race for California governor, with officials in the established environmental group praising the Democrats record on climate change and clean energy. He has a proven record for leading on environmental protection, public health and clean energy, Kathryn Phillips, director of Sierra Club California, said in a statement released by the Newsom campaign. He understands that we are feeling the effects of climate change and that California must reduce carbon emissions and reach 100% renewable energy to achieve our climate goals. Phillips said the Sierra Clubs extensive network of volunteers will campaign for Newsom as the June 5 primary approaches. Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune also praised the Democrat, saying he will protect California from Donald Trumps attacks on our clean air and water. The Sierra Club joins a series of other influential groups in California that have backed Newsom. The California Medical Assn., the powerful state doctors lobby, announced its endorsement of Newsom on Thursday. The California Nurses Assn. and the Service Employees International Union, one of the most powerful labor unions in the state, also support Newsom. Newsom is the races front-runner in polls and fundraising. A poll released earlier this month by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found that 26% of likely voters backed Newsom. John Cox, a Republican from Rancho Santa Fe, was favored by 15% of likely voters and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democrat, by 13%. Facebook

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Californias GOP House members are taking their challengers more seriously and the numbers show it By Christine Mai-Duc For much of last year, consultants and campaign managers for some of Californias most vulnerable Republican incumbents maintained a bullish tone on the prospect that the GOP would hold the House in this years midterms. The National Republican Congressional Committee insisted that longtime Republican incumbents in California had built up reputations as effective champions of local issues that would help them weather a flood of Democratic enthusiasm. Since then Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) have decided not to seek reelection and the NRCC has opened a West Coast headquarters in Orange County. Read More Facebook

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California officials say Pentagon has confirmed National Guard funding despite Trump threat By John Myers (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) The awkward dance between Gov. Jerry Brown and the federal government over the National Guard jerked back toward discord on Thursday, when Trump said he would refuse to pay for a new deployment of troops  just hours after his administration said otherwise. And a few hours later, California officials said they had received written confirmation from the Pentagon that the mission would indeed be funded. Trump had earlier called Browns decision to approve 400 troops for a mission focused on combating transnational crime and drug smuggling a charade in a tweet. We need border security and action, not words! the president wrote. Governor Jerry Brown announced he will deploy up to 400 National Guard Troops to do nothing. The crime rate in California is high enough, and the Federal Government will not be paying for Governor Browns charade. We need border security and action, not words!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 19, 2018 A spokesman for Brown pointed to a tweet written Wednesday night by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, thanking the California governor for his efforts. Trump was meeting on Thursday with Nielsen at his Mar-a-Lago estate not long after his tweet was posted. A tweet later posted by the California National Guard said that almost three hours after Trumps comment, the state received written confirmation from the Pentagon to fund the mission as outlined by Brown the day before. In short, nothing has changed today, said a subsequent Guard tweet. Just spoke w @JerryBrownGov about deploying the @USNationalGuard in California. Final details are being worked out but we are looking forward to the support. Thank you Gov Brown!  Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen (@SecNielsen) April 19, 2018 Brown was the last of the nations border governors to respond to Trumps insistence earlier this month that National Guard troops were needed to assist with immigration-related duties at the U.S.-Mexico border. And he has consistently refused to allow California troops to engage in any mission related to federal immigration law. This will not be a mission to build a new wall, Brown wrote last week to Nielsen and Defense Secretary James N. Mattis. It will not be a mission to round up women and children or detain people escaping violence and seeking a better life. Exactly what the California operations will cost remains unclear, as state officials have said it will depend on decisions made once the mission begins. The funds would not be transferred to the state, but instead would be paid directly by the Department of Defense. Trump has critiqued California several times over the past few days, often writing tweets that embrace the actions by some cities and counties to join his administrations lawsuit against the states sanctuary immigration law. He made similar comments to reporters on Thursday afternoon. If you look at whats happening in California with sanctuary cities  people are really going the opposite way, Trump said. They dont want sanctuary cities. Theres a little bit of a revolution going on in California. 2:26 p.m.:This article was updated with additional information from the California National Guard and with remarks from Trump. This article was originally published at 9:51 a.m. Facebook

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Gay conversion therapy services would be banned under measure advancing in California By John Myers (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The California Assembly voted Thursday to add gay conversion therapy to the states list of deceptive business practices, following a debate that focused on the personal experiences of several lawmakers and hinted at potential lawsuits to come. It is harmful and it is unnecessary, Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell), the bills author and one of the Legislatures most vocal LGBTQ members, said of the practice. Low, who told Assembly members that he explored conversion therapy as a teenager and suffered depression over his sexual orientation, insisted that the bill would be limited to efforts that involve the exchange of money. Theres nothing wrong with me, he said in an emotional speech on the Assembly floor. Theres nothing that needs to be changed. The bill, which now heads to the Senate, has become the focal point of intense debate on social media. Some religious groups have said that such a law would be a violation of their constitutional rights, while advocates insist the provisions are narrow and theres no credible evidence that the services work. One key part of the debate centers on whether Assembly Bill 2943 would stretch beyond businesses that charge for these programs and extend to printed documents, even Bibles. An analysis by the Assembly Judiciary Committee says the bill would apply only to services that purport to change a persons sexual orientation and offered on a commercial basis, as well as the advertising and offering of such services. Lawmakers who spoke in support of AB 2943 also made clear that they believe those kinds of services have been discredited. This is fraudulent, it should not be occurring, said Assemblywoman Susan Eggman (D-Stockton). But you can still try to pray the gay away, if you like. Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City), who said the bill addresses a difficult issue, nonetheless said that its important to ensure laws dont tamper with religious freedom. We have to think about the legitimate experience of people who have gone through conversion therapy and said this was a good thing for them, Gallagher told his colleagues. California law already bans the use of conversion therapy by mental health professionals on those under age 18. Lows bill would expand the states efforts beyond minors. It would join a list of commercial activities deemed unfair or deceptive acts or practices and therefore banned under state law. Facebook

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Gavin Newsom gets backing from doctors group, despite differences over single-payer healthcare By Melanie Mason Gavin Newsom speaks at the California Democrats State Convention in San Diego on Feb. 24. (Kent Nishimura) Californias doctors are siding with Gavin Newsom in the governors race, even though they dont see eye-to-eye on a defining issue of the campaign: single-payer healthcare. The California Medical Assn., the state doctors lobby and a political heavyweight, announced its endorsement of the lieutenant governor on Thursday. Gavin is a lifelong champion for health care in California, and we know he will continue to fight for pragmatic solutions to our most crucial health care challenges, including working to achieve universal access and tackling our states physician shortage, CMA President Theodore M. Mazer said in a statement. Newsom has made his support for state-financed healthcare a centerpiece of his campaign, and he earned the early backing of the most ardent single-payer supporters, the state nurses union. The doctors, meanwhile, oppose the nurses bill, SB 562, which emerged as a flashpoint in the healthcare debate last year. The CMA said the bill would dismantle the healthcare marketplace and destabilize Californias economy. Newsom has said SB 562 should advance in the Legislature, but also said it has open-ended issues that still need to be addressed. The doctors group is also battling with another prominent Newsom endorser, the Service Employees International Union, over a new measure that would impose price caps on an array of medical services paid for by commercial health insurers in the state. The SEIU is a leading sponsor of the proposal; the doctors fiercely oppose it. Newsom and the physicians group have a history of political alignment. Newsom was the first statewide official to support Proposition 56, a 2016 tobacco tax pushed by the CMA that raised revenue in part to increase money for doctors who saw Medi-Cal patients. That year, the association also endorsed two initiatives championed by Newsom: Proposition 63, which imposed new gun control measures, and Proposition 64, which legalized recreational marijuana. Facebook

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Independent committee backing Antonio Villaraigosa for governor hits the airwaves with first ad By Phil Willon Antonio Villaraigosa speaks at the 2018 California Democratic Party Convention in San Diego in February.. (Denis Poroy / Associated Press) A well-financed independent committee backing Antonio Villaraigosas bid to be Californias next governor released its first television ad Thursday, praising his record for working with Republicans and as a candidate for all of California. The ad, which is to air statewide on broadcast and cable stations, is focused on Villaraigosas record as Assembly speaker and mayor of Los Angeles, including on education and a drop in crime while he was at City Hall. To move California forward, we need to help more Californians get ahead, the ad says. Thats why Antonio Villaraigosa brought both parties together to balance the state budget with record investments in public schools and new career training programs. The independent expenditure committee behind the ad campaign, Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor 2018, is sponsored by the California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates, according to the California secretary of states office. The committee is spending seven figures per week on the ad buy, said Josh Pulliam, a political consultant for the committee. As mayor of Los Angeles, Villaraigosa clashed with teachers unions, starting with his failed attempt to take political control of the Los Angeles Unified School District. His fight with those unions continued after he left office in 2013. Money has poured into the committee this month from wealthy charter schools supporters: Reed Hastings, chief executive of Netflix, donated $7 million, and Los Angeles billionaire and philanthropist Eli Broad donated $1.5 million. On Wednesday, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan donated $1 million. The independent expenditure committee is expected to provide a boost to Villaraigosas campaign. Democratic front-runner Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has a major advantage in fundraising over all other candidates in the race and has received the backing of the California Teachers Assn. and other education unions. A recent Public Policy Institute of California poll also showed Villaraigosa lagging in third place in the race, trailing Newsom and Republican businessman John Cox. The candidates who finish in the top two in the June 5 primary will advance to the November general election, regardless of their party affiliation. Facebook

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Gov. Jerry Brown says Trump administration will fund his National Guard mission  without immigration duties By John Myers (Alex Wong / Getty Images) Gov. Jerry Brown formally mobilized 400 California National Guard members Wednesday for transnational crime-fighting duties, thus preventing any effort by President Trump to have the troops focus on immigration enforcement on the Mexican border. The governor announced that federal officials have agreed to fund the plan he announced last week  a mission to combat criminal gangs, human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers in locations around California, including near the border. The order Brown signed makes clear that the troops will not be allowed to perform a broader set of duties as envisioned by Trumps recent comments. California National Guard service members shall not engage in any direct law enforcement role nor enforce immigration laws, arrest people for immigration law violations, guard people taken into custody for alleged immigration violations, or support immigration law enforcement activities, the order read. The cost of the mission, a spokesman for Brown said, will be paid directly by the federal government. No initial estimate has been made, as the exact amount will depend on exactly how the troops will be used. Though the duties of California Guard members were outlined last week, the state had been waiting for an agreement by federal officials to pay for the operations. Since that time, the president has taken Brown and the state to task over its decision to avoid any immigration-related duties at the border. On Wednesday morning, Trump tweeted, Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW! There is a Revolution going on in California. Soooo many Sanctuary areas want OUT of this ridiculous, crime infested & breeding concept. Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2018 Looks like Jerry Brown and California are not looking for safety and security along their very porous Border. He cannot come to terms for the National Guard to patrol and protect the Border, Trump tweeted Tuesday. There was no immediate reaction from the White House to Browns announcement. On Tuesday, Brown told reporters in Washington that his plan was consistent with a safer border. That sounds to me like fighting crime, the governor said. Trying to catch some desperate mothers and children, or unaccompanied minors coming from Central America, that sounds like something else. The order Brown issued Wednesday after returning from a brief trip to talk climate change in Toronto and to speak to a national trade union and visit with reporters in Washington is set to expire at the end of September. It specifically says no Guard service member may participate in a mission that would exceed the mission scope and limitations related to transnational crime activity. It also says troops cannot help build any new border barrier. 5:27 p.m.: This article was updated with information related to the cost of the Guard mission and Browns trip to Washington. This article was originally published at 5:13 p.m. Facebook

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California bill aims to end practice that keeps workplace misconduct cases out of court By Melanie Mason A California bill would prohibit employers from requiring workers to use private arbitration to settle disputes, a practice that critics say shields improper workplace conduct from public view. The bill by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego) would bar businesses from making employees, when they are hired, waive their future rights to take any harassment, discrimination or other claims to court. Arbitration can be a highly effective dispute resolution method when both parties can choose it freely, when both parties are equal, Gonzalez Fletcher said at a news conference on Wednesday. It is far less successful when the more powerful party forces the other to accept those terms, especially as a condition of employment. Forced arbitration has come under increasing scrutiny since the #MeToo movement, with high-profile figures such as former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson pointing to the practice as shielding workplace abusers from public disclosure because arbitration resolutions often include nondisclosure agreements. Last year, a bipartisan bill was introduced in Congress to end mandatory arbitration in employment agreements. Gonzalez Fletcher said she was pursuing an unusual tool to draw attention to the issue  a subpoena issued by the Legislature to compel testimony from a worker bound by a nondisclosure agreement as a result of arbitration. The Legislature has subpoena power but it is rarely used. The bills sponsors believe lawmakers last issued a subpoena in 2001 while investigating price manipulation by Enron. Gonzalez Fletcher said she has requested Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) to issue the subpoena to require Tara Zoumer, who sued the company WeWork in 2016 for overtime pay, to testify before the Assembly Judiciary Committee next week. Zoumers suit was moved to arbitration and resolved. She is now subject to a nondisclosure agreement and could face a financial penalty for speaking publicly about her case. A spokesman for Rendon said the subpoena request is under consideration. Business groups oppose the bill, AB 3080. The California Chamber of Commerce has dubbed it a job biller, claiming it would dramatically increase legal costs for businesses. Banning such agreements benefits the trial attorneys, not the employer or employee, the group said. The bill must first advance from the Assembly Labor Committee on Wednesday. Facebook

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At least 240 House lawmakers want a vote on immigration. California supporters say they arent ready to force one By Sarah D. Wire Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock), flanked by Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands) and Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) speak about DACA legislation (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) Rep. Jeff Denham says at least 240 of the 430 current House members have signed onto his resolution to hold votes on four immigration bills, and he hopes House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and President Trump are paying attention to the show of support. But, the Republican from Turlock and his allies said Wednesday that they are not yet willing to commit to forcing Ryans hand through a little-used procedural move called a discharge petition; they acknowledged theres no guarantee that all of 47 Republicans and 193 Democrats House co-signers will back them up if they try to force the issue. Im sure that it is something that will be discussed in the coming weeks. You should not need a discharge petition. When you can show the overwhelming majority of the House, the support of it, you should not need a discharge petition, but it is something we would talk about in the future, Denham said. It is far too early to talk about next steps. Ryan said last week that he opposes Denhams effort, saying its a waste of time for the House to vote on bills the president might veto. Denhams resolution would prompt debate and votes on four very different immigration bills: one favored by the Trump administration, one preferred by Democrats, one bipartisan proposal and another immigration bill of Ryans choice. Whichever got the most votes would move forward to the Senate. All four bills would help Dreamers to differing degrees and include varying levels of border security or immigration enforcement. For example, the Trump-backed bill would also dramatically reduce legal immigration, while the Democrats would only deal with legal status for Dreamers. Democrats say they dont expect the show of support will sway Ryan. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) said Tuesday night she expects Ryan will have to be forced into allowing a vote. It doesnt matter how many signatures we get. We could have every signature, technically, except his, on the floor of the House and... if he doesnt want to, it doesnt happen, Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) said. Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands), who gathered the Democratic co-sponsors for Denham, also wouldnt give a deadline for House leaders to act, but said the co-sponsors are only willing to wait weeks not months. We do want to give them an opportunity to bring up the rule and to use whatever process they want, Aguilar said. They do have options, but I think they need to understand that we have options too. Facebook

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Billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer endorses Kevin de Leon in his insurgent bid against Sen. Dianne Feinstein By Seema Mehta Tom Steyer, left, and California state Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles). (Getty Images; Los Angeles Times) Billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer is endorsing state Sen. Kevin de Leon in his insurgent challenge to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and did not rule out funding an outside effort to boost De Leons chances. I think hes the kind of young progressive that reflects California and would be a very strong advocate for our state nationally, Steyer said in an interview on Tuesday, pointing to De Leons efforts on issues such as immigration, climate change and gun control while he was the state Senate leader. I know him well and hes a friend. We share a lot of values. Steyer, who flirted with running for the Senate seat, did not criticize Feinstein as he has in the past. Sen. Feinstein has been an outstanding public servant who has dedicated the bulk of her adult life to the service of our state and the country, he said. These are two strong, very good Democrats. I just believe Kevin is the true progressive and he reflects something we need representing California going forward. I have nothing bad to say about Dianne Feinstein. I have a lot of good to say about Kevin de Leon. De Leon faces enormous odds as he tries to oust Feinstein, who has served in the Senate for a quarter-century, is well known to the states voters and has daunting leads in polls and fundraising. But De Leon has gained notable endorsements, most recently from the 2.1-million-member California Labor Federation last week. Campaign finance reports released this week show that Feinstein has more than $10 million in the bank, while De Leon has just more than $670,000. Feinstein, a multimillionaire and one of the wealthiest members of the Senate, has already lent her campaign $5 million and could easily write another check. But Steyer, a billionaire former hedge fund manager, could write a larger one. He is among the largest Democratic donors in the nation and has already committed more than $50 million to push for the impeachment of President Trump and to register young voters. He was noncommittal when asked if he would fund an independent expenditure group on behalf of De Leon. I dont have any concrete plans for that, he said. Read More Facebook

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Californias largest pension fund sends next years invoice to state government: $6.3 billion By John Myers The California Public Employees Retirement System building (Max Whittaker / Getty Images) As part of a shift toward less optimistic expectations for investment returns to pay for government worker pensions, board members of the California Public Employees Retirement System voted Tuesday to require an almost $6.3-billion payment from the state budget in the fiscal year that begins on July 1. The action, which could receive final approval on Wednesday, reflects a gradually higher annual contribution to public employee pensions by the state and from local governments across California. In 2016, CalPERS approved a half-percentage point decrease in its official estimate of the long-term investment return on its $353.3-billion portfolio. That shift was designed to happen over several years, in hopes it would lessen the financial shock of shifting more of the costs onto government employers. The highest costs are also, in part, a reflection of increases in the size of the states payroll. The states CalPERS payment will be about $450 million more than the total paid in the current fiscal year and more than double what it was only a decade ago. CalPERS board members voted on Tuesdays staff proposal with little discussion, save for a question about the increase in contributions also required from workers hired after a pension overhaul that took effect in June. It seems like it will be a ding on peoples salaries, said Theresa Taylor, the chairwoman of CalPERS finance committee and a member of SEIU Local 1000, the union that represents some 96,000 state employees. The $6.299-billion payment required from Californias state government must now be factored into the budget crafted by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in late June. Brown had already assumed a similarly sized payment in his budget proposal unveiled in January. In February, a coalition representing city governments warned about the effects of rising pension costs under the expectations of less money from Wall Street investments. The report issued by the League of California Cities projected an average increase of more than 50% in annual pension payments made by the states largest cities over the next seven years. A CalPERS staff report notes that the net return on all of the funds investments for the fiscal year that ended in July was 11.2%. But expectations on profits over the next 30 years remain significantly more modest, and theres long been a robust debate about how to properly set those future expectations. The lower the rate of projected investment return, the larger the share of pension costs that must be covered by taxpayers and some employees. Overall, CalPERS officials believe the system has assets to cover 71% of its long-term obligations. Facebook

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California warns legal pot sellers not to participate in unlicensed 4/20 events By Patrick McGreevy Marijuana on display at a dispensary in Los Angeles. ( (Frederic J. Brown / AFP/Getty Images)) The state issued a warning Tuesday that businesses holding licenses to sell marijuana could face penalties if they participate in unlicensed temporary events away from their stores, including on Friday, April 20, which has become an annual celebration for counterculture groups. The warning was issued ahead of 4/20 by the state Bureau of Cannabis Control. Since Jan. 1, the bureau has issued more than 700 state licenses to sell marijuana for medical or recreational use. The bureau has issued 47 temporary event licenses to groups that are limited to holding the marijuana celebrations on county fairgrounds that have authorized such events with city approval. Any bureau licensee participating in an unlicensed cannabis event may be subject to disciplinary action, the warning said, adding that lawful participation by bureau licensees in any temporary cannabis event that allows sales and/or consumption is dependent upon issuance of the appropriate licenses from the bureau. While many Californians have been issued medical approval to sell or use marijuana, the law does not allow them to participate in unlicensed events, also referred to as Proposition 215 events after the ballot measure that legalized medical pot two decades ago in the state. Participation in such events may lead to civil penalties for unlicensed commercial cannabis activity, the warning said. Meanwhile, a survey of some 1,000 marijuana users that was released Tuesday by the firm LendEDU found that the average 4/20 participant plans to spend $71 on marijuana to celebrate the unofficial holiday, and about 35% of respondents are planning to take off work Friday. Facebook

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California police groups shift position on officer discipline records, now consider support for making some of them public By Liam Dillon Los Angeles Police Department recruits at a graduation ceremony in April (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Some major law enforcement groups signaled Tuesday they are willing to support making part of police officer disciplinary records public, a dramatic departure from their past positions. Local and national attention on police shootings and misconduct has led law enforcement organizations to reconsider their blanket opposition to proposals that would give public access to some internal disciplinary investigations of officers. Were going to be open to supporting efforts that would allow for some records to be released, said Ryan Sherman, a lobbyist with the Riverside Sheriffs Assn. Debate over secrecy provisions in officer disciplinary files came during a legislative hearing on Senate Bill 1421 from Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley). Skinners bill, which advanced out of the Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, would require public disclosure of all internal officer shooting investigations and confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. Currently, all police discipline information is confidential outside of a courtroom in California, which has some of the nations strictest standards against public disclosure. Unfortunately, the fact that we have such strict restrictions on any access to public records has affected certain communities trust towards our law enforcement, Skinner said during the hearing. Prior to Skinners effort, other have tried to loosen these rules, some of which date back 40 years. Most recently in 2016, a bid by then-Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) failed in a Senate committee. In debate two years ago, no major law enforcement groups indicated they would accept changes to state laws that would make individual internal investigations public, saying they were essential to protect officer privacy and safety. But Tuesday, Sherman and other lobbyists including those representing the states largest police labor organization, signaled they might be willing to entertain changes. They said they were negotiating with Skinner on the bills details. Law enforcement groups still have major concerns about SB 1421 as written. Ed Fishman, an attorney for the Police Officers Research Assn., told legislators that the bill would wrongfully expose police officers who acted within departmental policy to invasions of their privacy. It has unintended consequences that are extreme and will hurt the public, Fishman said. Tuesdays hearing featured testimony from many who have had relatives killed by police officers in recent years advocating for the bill. Senators on the Public Safety Committee also gave public rebukes to law enforcement lobbyists, criticizing them for a lack of diversity and insensitivity to concerns raised by communities of color. I think that you are completely and utterly out of touch with the realities of how those you are representing are perceived by major segments of California, said Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles). You are not going to be able to continue to lobby your way out of it. The bill faces at least one more committee hearing in the Senate before reaching the floor. It will have to pass both houses of the Legislature by the end of August. Facebook

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Newest member of the California Assembly arrives ready to work on criminal justice issues By John Myers Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove prepares for the oath of office from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon with her husband, Austin Dove. (California Assembly Democrats) Two weeks after winning a Los Angeles special election, the newest member of the California Assembly says she hopes to focus on reforms to the states criminal justice system during her time in Sacramento. Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) took the oath of office on Monday, filling one of three vacant seats representing Los Angeles County in the lower house. The Democrat, a former community college trustee and legislative staffer, thanked her mentors in remarks from the Assembly rostrum. So many women, and in my life so many black women, have paid in giving me the kind of morals and integrity and grit that is required to fight on behalf of people that you know, and people that you dont know, she said. Kamlager-Dove won handily on April 3, receiving 70% of the votes cast in the 54th Assembly District which encompasses communities west of downtown Los Angeles, from Crenshaw to Culver City and as far north as Westwood. She will serve the remaining eight months of the term of former Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, who resigned last year citing health concerns. She has said she hopes to focus her attention on poverty issues and on reform of the states criminal justice system. I think we have an opportunity to really push the needle in terms of how we look at rehabilitation, how we look at incarceration, and how we look at changing the lives oftentimes of poor men and women of color, Kamalager-Dove said on Monday in a video released by Assembly Democrats. Facebook

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Survivors of violent crime raise their voices in California to call for a new approach to criminal justice By Jazmine Ulloa Aaliyah Smith marches with her cousins. (Jazmine Ulloa / Los Angeles Times) Her father, uncle, a cousin and two older brothers. Those are some of the family members 16-year-old Aaliyah Smith has lost to gun violence. Then there are her friends. Jermaine Jackson Jr., 27, was shot and killed in 2016 while he painted over graffiti in San Francisco. Toriano Tito Adger, 18, was shot there a year later at a bus stop. He called Smith, who was nearby, and warned her to run. She made it inside a library moments before the crack of gunfire. Last week, Smith was among hundreds who gathered in Sacramento for annual National Crime Victims Rights Week events, where calls were issued for a new approach to criminal justice and public safety in California, one that puts survivors at the center of policy. But a debate is brewing over what that entails. Read More Facebook

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California expects $14 billion in tax payments this month By John Myers State workers handle income tax returns at the California Franchise Tax Board offices. (Laura Morton / For The Times) Gov. Jerry Browns proposed state budget is built on what taxpayers might find an audacious assumption: almost $14 billion in tax payments in the month of April, an average of $83 million collected per hour on every business day of the month. Most of that money will come from the taxes Californians pay in advance of Tuesday nights filing deadline for income tax returns. If history is any guide, the rate of payment could quadruple by weeks end. While tax rules have shifted some of the payment schedules to other months, April remains a vitally important month to the fiscal health of state government. The state controllers office reports more than 15% of all personal income tax revenues in 2017 were collected in April. In the recession years of a decade ago, tax revenue predictions were frequently off the mark by hundreds of millions of dollars. The last two state budgets have seen significant windfalls of personal income tax revenue, thanks in part both to an improving economy and to the continuation of a temporary surcharge on the wealthiest taxpayers  extended by voters in 2016. In the budget plan he sent to lawmakers in January, Brown projected a $6.1-billion windfall and proposed using a sizable amount to top off Californias rainy-day fund ahead of schedule. The independent Legislative Analysts Office reports that through the end of last week, the months income tax tally stood at $3 billion, slightly ahead of projections. By the end of the current week, a single days total could be almost that large. Lawmakers began reviewing the governors $190.3-billion spending plan during the winter, but few decisions are made until they get a look at Aprils tax revenues. The governor will release a revised plan based on the new data next month; lawmakers are required to send him a completed budget no later than June 15. Facebook

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Feinstein war chest tops $10 million while Kevin de Leon struggles to keep pace By Sarah D. Wire Sen. Dianne Feinstein widened her already-massive fundraising advantage in the run-up to Junes primary, raising twice as much in the first quarter than her strongest Senate challenger has sitting in the bank. Feinstein raised $1.3 million between January and March, bringing her war chest to just over $10 million as Californias U.S. Senate race begins in earnest, according Federal Election Commission reports. Former state Senate leader Kevin De Leon, the best known of the more than 30 people who will appear with Feinstein on the June primary ballot, raised just $575,991 in that same period, bringing his cash on hand to $672,331, according to his quarterly FEC report. Read More Facebook

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Trump has met his match, says Gov. Jerry Brown in promoting climate action on a quick trip to Canada By John Myers (Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press) Gov. Jerry Brown told a Canadian audience Monday that he believes President Trumps efforts to reverse course on climate change policy are a momentary deviation as others in the United States seek limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Thats very temporary, I can assure you, Brown said at a joint event in Toronto with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne. The governors quick international trip, announced only late last week, comes as Wynnes Liberal Party faces a stiff challenge in Junes election from the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and its leader, Doug Ford. Critics of Wynnes party have called for Ontario to pull out of the Western Climate Initiative, a cooperative agreement between three Canadian provinces and California on efforts to limit greenhouse gases. Brown sought to link the efforts of Canadian conservatives with Republicans in the United States who oppose existing climate change programs. In contrast, he told the audience, several GOP lawmakers voted last summer to renew Californias cap-and-trade program. I would say to the conservatives of Canada, wake up and see what your friends in California are doing, he said. The Democrat took particular notice of Trumps efforts to shift away from climate change policies from the administration of former President Obama, as well as a push by the Environmental Protection Agency to cancel Californias strict limits on automobile emissions. If Trump tries to change that, well have litigation well beyond his term in office, Brown said while also noting Chinese government efforts to produce more low-emissions vehicles. Between California and China, Trump has met his match. What hes saying is not going to happen. Many of the governors remarks, though, were aimed at the tough political situation in which Wynne finds herself with seven weeks to go before Ontarios parliamentary elections. Dangers abound, but success is right in our hands, Brown said. So dont blow it! Facebook

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California voters are getting to know the states attorney general through his aggressive stance challenging Trump By Patrick McGreevy Less than two months from his first statewide election, California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra has become adept not only at challenging President Trump but at using the bully pulpit of his office to raise his profile with voters. The aggressive effort may help boost the former Los Angeles congressmans chances at winning a full term in office this fall, almost two years after he was appointed to replace Sen. Kamala Harris in 2017. Appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown, Becerra took office as attorney general four days after Trumps inauguration. Thats afforded him an opportunity to get in front of Californians  and potential voters  on an array of issues including immigration, healthcare and the environment. Read More Facebook

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Gov. Jerry Brown forms commission for 2020 census outreach By Melanie Mason In an effort to make sure California has a strong showing in the next national census, Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday established a state commission to prepare outreach for the decennial count. It is vitally important for California to do everything it can to ensure that every Californian is counted in the upcoming census, Brown said in a prepared statement. The commissions formation comes on the heels of a Trump administration plan to ask about citizenship status as a part of the census. State officials fear that such a question, which has not been asked in a census since 1950, could chill participation among California residents. That could result in the state losing billions of dollars in federal funds and a seat in Congress. The 23-member panel, appointed largely by Brown as well as picks by legislative leaders, comes from private- and public-sector backgrounds, including civil rights groups, religious institutions and educational institutions. Facebook

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Garcetti kicks off Iowa visit with 2020 on his mind and a hardhat on his head LA Mayor - and 2020 prospect - Eric Garcetti makes his Iowa debut at the Carpenters Union Training Center. Fearlessly flaunts the never be photographed in head gear/safety glasses rule. pic.twitter.com/14bUOPXMvF  Mark Z. Barabak (@markzbarabak) April 13, 2018 Facebook

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Asm. Rocky Chavez takes the lead in race to replace Issa, while Doug Applegate slips By Joshua Stewart A new poll shows that Republican Assemblyman Rocky Chavez has taken a clear lead over 15 other candidates running to replace Rep. Darrell Issa in Congress and has overtaken Democrat Doug Applegate, the previous frontrunner. In a SurveyUSA poll by 10News and The San Diego Union-Tribune, Chavez, R-Oceanside, has support of 16 percent of likely voters, putting him ahead of Applegate, a lawyer, who was favored by 12 percent of voters and is in second place. The top two vote-getters in June, regardless of party, will proceed to a November runoff election. Competing with Applegate for the No. 2 spot is Democrat Mike Levin, also a lawyer, with support of 9 percent of voters. Several other candidates were right at his heels. Democratic Businessman Paul Kerr and Board of Equalization Member Diane Harkey, R-Dana Point, were tied for fourth at 8 percent each. Read More Facebook

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Pro-Kevin de Leon group launches ad castigating Dianne Feinstein By Seema Mehta A group that is supporting Kevin de Leons bid for the U.S. Senate launched a blistering ad against Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Thursday, questioning her progressive principles and tying her to President Trump. The ad buy from A Progressive California is minuscule  $10,000 to air it in Los Angeles for one day on CNN and MSNBC during programming such as The Rachel Maddow Show, Hardball with Chris Matthews and Anderson Cooper 360. The minute-long ad features news clips about Feinstein not getting the California Democratic Party endorsement earlier this year, as well as footage of Feinstein saying that Trump can be a good president and appearing to share a laugh with Trump. That moment actually came during a White House meeting in the aftermath of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting when the president suggested an assault weapons ban should be included in a bipartisan bill to expand gun background checks. It also features extensive clips of de Leons speech at the state partys convention. De Leon, who just ended his final term as leader of the state Senate, announced last year he would run against fellow Democrat Feinstein as she seeks her fifth full term. Feinsteins longtime political advisor dismissed the ad, noting the size of the buy. Its not really a buy, said Bill Carrick. Ten thousand dollars in cable in L.A. Poof, its gone. Still, he said he planned to have the campaigns lawyers review the ad to see if it violates campaign law that limits what outside groups like A Progressive California can do. Such groups cannot coordinate with campaigns or candidates, and are limited in how much their messages can support a candidate. Ann Ravel, the former chair of the Federal Election Commission and the California Fair Political Practices Commission, said if the ad was in a state race, she is certain that the state commission would open an investigation into potential coordination with de Leons campaign because of the messaging and the types of footage in the ad. But the bipartisan federal commission cant agree on how to enforce the federal regulations, she said. The problem is [outside groups] understand that given the lack of very strong enforcement at the federal level, theres the ability to stretch the law, she said. A spokeswoman for the FEC declined to comment. Dave Jacobson, a spokesman for A Progressive California, disputed the suggestion that the ad violated campaign law. This frivolous allegation shows that Sen. Feinstein is afraid of the public seeing an ad which showcases her own words, that Donald Trump can be a good president, he said. Facebook

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Dispute over money emerges in campaign to repeal Californias gas tax increase By Patrick McGreevy A motorist prepares to gas up her vehicle in San Rafael, Calif., in 2015. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) A proposed initiative to repeal hikes to Californias gas tax has been caught in the middle of a dispute involving Republican rivals in the governors race. Assemblyman Travis Allen, a Republican candidate for governor, decided in January to drop plans for his own initiative and said he would urge supporters to sign a separate petition being supported by several Republican members of Congress. Then last week, the committee Allen formed to finance his ballot measure reported a $300,000 contribution from PISF Inc., a Novato, Calif., real estate firm. Now, an organizer of the still active Give Voters a Voice committee is urging the Allen committee to immediately donate their funds in support of the ongoing signature gathering efforts. There is only one gas tax repeal measure currently in circulation and that is the measure sponsored by the Give Voters a Voice Committee, said Dave Gilliard, a consultant to the group. PISF Inc., he said, gave to repeal taxes aAllies balk at Trump administration bid to block Chinese firm from cutting-edge telecom markets By David S. Cloud Britain and Germany are balking at the Trump administrations call for a ban on equipment from Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, threatening a global U.S. campaign to thwart Chinas involvement in future mobile networks. Both countries are expected to limit Huawei and other Chinese companies from providing core components including routers. But other types of Chinese equipment for next-generation, high-speed communications could still be installed on British and German networks, officials and analysts say. The U.S. push to ban Huawei has provoked a global dispute in recent weeks, with senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, publicly urging NATO allies in Europe to exclude the company and warning that the United States might limit its military presence in countries that did not do so. Read More Facebook

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Confucius Institutes: Do they improve U.S.-China ties or harbor spies? By Don Lee Hanging red lanterns welcome visitors to the University of Marylands Confucius Institute, the oldest of about 100 Chinese language and cultural centers that have popped up over the last 15 years on American campuses, subsidized by millions of dollars from Chinas central government. But last fall, when four U.S. Senate investigators walked into the Confucius offices in Maryland and spent hours questioning staff, they werent looking for an educational exchange. The committee has been seeking detailed information from the university about the program, including contracts, email exchanges and financial arrangements that school administrators have kept under wraps since it started in 2004. American colleges once viewed these jointly funded institutes as an economical way to expand their language offerings  one that could also bring warmer ties with China and, importantly, an influx of Chinese international students paying full tuition. Read More Facebook

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U.S. policy toward China shifts from engagement to confrontation By David S. Cloud For decades, China had no closer American friend than Dianne Feinstein. As San Francisco mayor in the 1970s, she forged a sister-city relationship with Shanghai, the first between American and Chinese communities. As U.S. senator, she dined with Chinese leaders at Mao Tse-tungs old Beijing residence. And in the 1990s, she championed a trade policy change that opened a floodgate of Western investment into China. Today the Democratic senator sees China as a growing threat, joining a broad array of Trump administration officials, national security strategists and business executives who once favored engagement with Beijing and now advocate a confrontational approach instead. Read More Facebook

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Mnuchins attempt to calm markets backfires as Trump takes another shot at the Federal Reserve By Jim Puzzanghera An attempt by Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin to calm plunging financial markets backfired Monday, further rattling investors with new fears about whether major U.S. banks have enough cash on top of worries about interest rates, political instability in Washington and a slowing global economy. Adding to the volatile mix was a fresh attack on the Federal Reserve by President Trump, who declared that the central bank was the U.S. economys only problem and that it didnt have a feel for the market. The Fed is like a powerful golfer who cant score because he has no touch -- he cant putt! Trump said on Twitter. Read More Facebook

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He speaks to Democratic hearts. But is Beto ORourke a serious White House contender? By Mark Z. Barabak Hes a failed U.S. Senate candidate with an undistinguished congressional record who, for the moment, is a blazing-hot 2020 presidential prospect  despite the fact that he may not run and faces long odds if he does. Beto ORourke suggests the will-he-or-wont-he speculation is something he himself cant quite fathom. I think thats a great question, he responded in a Dallas Morning News interview when asked whether his unsuccessful November Senate bid merited a promotion to the White House. I ask that question myself. Read More Facebook

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Russian disinformation teams targeted Robert S. Mueller III, says report prepared for Senate By Craig Timberg, Tony Romm, Elizabeth Dwoskin Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. (Associated Press) Months after President Trump took office, Russias disinformation teams trained their sites on a new target: special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Having worked to help get Trump into the White House, they now worked to neutralize the biggest threat to his staying there. The Russian operatives unloaded on Mueller through fake accounts on Facebook, Twitter and beyond, falsely claiming that the former FBI director was corrupt and that the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election were crackpot conspiracies. One post on Instagram  which emerged as an especially potent weapon in the Russian social media arsenal  claimed that Mueller had worked in the past with radical Islamic groups. Such tactics exemplified how Russian teams ranged nimbly across social media platforms in a shrewd online influence operation aimed squarely at American voters. The effort started earlier than commonly understood and lasted longer while relying on the strengths of different sites to manipulate distinct slices of the electorate, according to a pair of comprehensive new reports prepared for the Senate Intelligence Committee and released Monday. Read more Timberg, Romm and Dwoskin report for the Washington Post. Facebook

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President Trump announces Mick Mulvaney as acting White House chief of staff By Associated Press President Trump says budget director Mick Mulvaney will serve as acting chief of staff, replacing John F. Kelly in the new year. I am pleased to announce that Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management & Budget, will be named Acting White House Chief of Staff, replacing General John Kelly, who has served our Country with distinction. Mick has done an outstanding job while in the Administration....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2018 Facebook

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It aint over when its over: In Michigan, Wisconsin and elsewhere, losers seek to undermine election results By Mark Z. Barabak Democrat Gavin Newsom has yet to become California governor, but already a candidate for state Republican Party chairman is promoting a recall effort. In Michigan and Wisconsin, GOP lawmakers have rushed through legislation to thwart their incoming Democratic governors and hamper others in the opposing party from doing the jobs voters chose them to do. In Congress, GOP leaders have echoed President Trump and sought to undermine the legitimacy of Democrats strong midterm performance, raising unsubstantiated allegations of fraud and political malfeasance. Read More Facebook

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New CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger says she wont be a puppet of Mick Mulvaney By Jim Puzzanghera On her first full day leading the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Kathy Kraninger said she wont be a puppet of Mick Mulvaney, the controversial acting director whom she replaced in the powerful regulatory position. To underscore that point, the former White House aide said she would even reconsider a Mulvaney action that critics saw as a gratuitous jab at Democrats who championed the agencys creation: changing its name to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Kraningers declaration during a meeting with reporters Tuesday addressed one of the main criticisms of her selection. She is considered a protege of Mulvaney, her boss at the White House Office of Management and Budget who has executed a dramatic, industry-friendly shift at the watchdog agency. Read More Facebook

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Trumps pick for chief of staff, Nick Ayers, out of running By Associated Press Nick Ayers, right, with Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, at the funeral service for George H.W. Bush on Dec. 3. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Associated Press) President Trumps top pick to replace John F. Kelly as chief of staff, Nick Ayers, is no longer expected to fill that role. Thats according to a White House official who is not authorized to discuss the personnel issue by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. Ayers is Vice President Mike Pences chief of staff. The official says that Trump and Ayers could not agree on Ayers length of service. The father of young children, Ayers had agreed to serve in an interim capacity though the spring, but Trump wanted a two-year commitment. The official says that Ayers will instead assist the president from outside the administration. Trump announced Saturday that Kelly would be departing the White House around the end of the year. Thank you @realDonaldTrump, @VP, and my great colleagues for the honor to serve our Nation at The White House. I will be departing at the end of the year but will work with the #MAGA team to advance the cause.  #Georgia  Nick Ayers (@nick_ayers) December 9, 2018 Facebook

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U.S. hiring slows to 155,000 jobs, unemployment rate holds at 3.7% By Jim Puzzanghera Job growth slowed significantly in November but still was solid, indicating the economy remains in good shape but not expanding so quickly that it will lead to sharply higher interest rates. U.S. employers added 155,000 jobs last month, well below analyst expectations and a steep decline from Octobers strong 237,000 figure, the Labor Department reported Friday. Still, monthly job gains are averaging 206,000 this year, the best since 2015. Even the slower pace of 170,000 over the last three months is close to last years average of 182,000 and well above the amount needed to keep up with population growth. Read More Facebook

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Trump is expected to pick State Department spokeswoman for U.N. ambassador By Associated Press Heather Nauert at a briefing at the State Department on Aug. 9, 2017. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) President Trump is expected to nominate State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Two administration officials confirmed Trumps plans. A Republican congressional aide said the president was expected to announce his decision by tweet on Friday morning. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly before Trumps announcement. Trump has previously said Nauert was under serious consideration to replace Nikki Haley, who announced in October that she would step down at the end of this year. Trump has been known to change course on staffing decisions in the past. Nauert was a reporter for Fox News Channel before she became State Department spokeswoman under former Secretary Rex Tillerson. Facebook

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Senate confirms new consumer financial protection chief: Kathy Kraninger, protege of industry-friendly Mick Mulvaney By Jim Puzzanghera The Senate, in a party-line vote Thursday, confirmed White House aide Kathy Kraninger to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and experts predicted a continuation of the industry-friendly shift it has taken since President Trump installed an acting director last year. Kraninger is a protege of acting director and White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney, an outspoken critic of the agency that was created in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis to prevent predatory lending and other abuses that led to it. Democrats and consumer advocates have denounced him for sharply departing from the aggressive watchdog role the bureau had pursued under its first director, Obama-appointee Richard Cordray, including scaling back enforcement and moving to reassess tough new rules on payday loans and narrow the definition of abusive practices by banks and other firms. Read More Facebook

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Shutdown postponed by two weeks under plan approved by Congress By Erik Wasson Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), shown at the Capitol on Tuesday, says President Trumps border wall is a waste of money. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Congress passed a two-week stopgap spending bill that will delay the chance of a partial government shutdown until Dec. 22 as lawmakers and President Donald Trump negotiate over his demands to pay for a wall on the southern border. The House and Senate passed the measure Thursday without dissent, and Trump has indicated hell sign the bill before the current shutdown deadline of midnight Friday. Negotiations were delayed by memorial services this week for former President George H.W. Bush. The temporary measure gives Democrats and Republicans more time to find a resolution to their biggest hurdle: funding a wall on the U.S. Mexico border wall. Trump says he wants $5 billion for parts of a concrete wall on the southern border and is willing to shut down the government if he doesnt get it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has said Democrats will provide no more than $1.6 billion for border security, because the wall is a waste of money. The presidents demands for wall funding from Congress come after he said during the campaign that Mexico would pay for it. This week he said on Twitter that a $25 billion border wall would pay for itself in two months, without providing evidence. Most of the U.S. governments $1.2 trillion discretionary budget has been appropriated already by Congress for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1. Departments at a risk of a partial shutdown late this month include the departments of State, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Treasury and Homeland Security. Talks to resolve the differences have been on hold since a meeting among Trump, Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California originally slated for Dec. 4 was postponed due to Bush memorial events. The three are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the matter. Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby of Alabama told reporters the rest of the seven-bill spending package being negotiated is basically done. Shelby in recent weeks had tried to broker a compromise in which Trumps $5 billion request would be split over two years, but Schumer has rejected that. Some Democrats have been willing to trade border wall funding for deportation protections for young undocumented immigrants. Pelosi ruled out such a deal in remarks to reporters Thursday. The stopgap government funding measure also would extend the National Flood Insurance Program, which provides subsidized coverage for homes in flood-prone areas, to Dec. 21. Facebook

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Bipartisan Senate group wants to formally blame Saudi crown prince for journalists killing By Karoun Demirjian Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires. (Associated Press) A bipartisan group of senators filed a resolution Wednesday condemning Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as responsible for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, directly challenging President Trump to do the same. This resolution -- without equivocation -- definitively states that the crown prince of Saudi Arabia was complicit in the murder of Mr. [Jamal] Khashoggi and has been a wrecking ball to the region jeopardizing our national security interests on multiple fronts, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a statement accompanying the release of the resolution. It will be up to Saudi Arabia as to how to deal with this matter. But it is up to the United States to firmly stand for who we are and what we believe. The resolution put forward by Graham and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who are expected to lead the Judiciary Committee together next year, comes just one day after CIA Director Gina Haspel briefed leading senators about the details of the agencys assessment that Mohammed ordered and monitored the killing and dismemberment of Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Senators emerged from that closed-door briefing furious not only with Saudi Arabia, but Trump as well for dismissing the heft of the CIAs findings. You have to be willfully blind not to come to the conclusion that this was orchestrated and organized by people under the command of MBS and that he was intricately involved in the demise of Mr. Khashoggi, Graham said following the briefing, referring to Mohammed by his initials. He added that Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Defense Secretary James N. Mattis, who briefed senators last week, were at best being good soldiers and at worst were in the pocket of Saudi Arabia for presenting the evidence of Mohammeds involvement as inconclusive. The release of the resolution condemning Mohammed also comes as the Senate is preparing to move ahead with debate on a resolution to curtail U.S. support for the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. Though the Yemen resolution does not directly address Khashoggis murder, its popularity is a sign of how strained the United States patience with Saudi Arabia is on multiple fronts, including its role in worsening the civilian cost of the war in Yemen, cited by the United Nations as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Last week, the Senate voted 63 to 37 to advance the Yemen resolution past an opening procedural hurdle. But Graham and Feinsteins resolution on the crown prince has the potential of drawing broader support, especially from Republicans, who are deeply divided about how fiercely to punish Saudi Arabia over Khashoggis killing. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who has been an outspoken advocate for human rights and is seen as one of the more influential foreign policy voices in the GOP, did not vote for the Yemen resolution last week or sign on to a bipartisan measure last month to sanction Saudi officials and cease weapons transfers to the kingdom. But he is an original co-sponsor of the resolution condemning Mohammed over Khashoggis death. So is Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who represents the other end of the GOP spectrum in terms of recent Saudi-related votes and endorsements. Young was an initial co-sponsor of the bill Graham wrote with Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) to sanction Saudi officials deemed responsible for Khashoggis killing and stop the sale of anything but exclusively defensive weapons to the kingdom until it ceased hostilities in Yemen. Young also voted to advance the Yemen resolution  something Graham did as well, though Graham has signaled he will not be lending any similar support to the measure, fearing it may establish a precedent of invoking the War Powers Act too broadly. Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) are listed as original co-sponsors of the resolution condemning Mohammed, which also urges Saudi Arabia to negotiate with Houthi rebels to end the Yemen war, work out a political solution to its standoff with Qatar and release political prisoners. But how much sway the resolution has probably comes down to how forcefully the administration decides to heed it -- and thus far, Trump has not shown any interest in condemning the crown prince the way the senators hope he will. Demirjian reports for the Washington Post. Facebook

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Los Angeles County offices and U.S. Postal Service closed Wednesday in honor of George H.W. Bush By Brian Park The Honor Guard carries the casket of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush following his funeral on Dec. 5 in Washington, DC. (Doug Mills - Pool/Getty Images) The U.S. Postal Service will suspend regular mail delivery Wednesday, which President Trump has declared a national day of mourning in honor of former President George H.W. Bush. All retail postal outlets will be closed, and package delivery will be limited. In Los Angeles, all nonessential county departments, offices and libraries will be closed for the day, L.A. County officials said. The Los Angeles County Library said no overdue fines will be assessed for books, and due dates will be moved forward one week. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health offices also are closed Wednesday. The Sheriffs Department, Fire Department, clinics and hospitals will continue to operate, the county said. The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health clinics are being operated with reduced staffing, and the department asked patients to confirm or reschedule any appointments. All county courts and the disaster recovery centers for the Woolsey fire in Malibu and Agoura Hills will remain open. Larger federal government operations will be closed Wednesday. To honor the life and legacy of President Bush, the Postal Service will observe the National Day of Mourning. Learn how Postal operations will be affected. https://t.co/Mffch7bPCh pic.twitter.com/vG46BsIOpm  U.S. Postal Service (@USPS) December 4, 2018 L.A. County offices and libraries will be closed tomorrow (Dec 5) in observance of the #NationalDayOfMourning for President George H. W. Bush.



The Countys Disaster Recovery Centers in Malibu & Agoura Hills will remain open from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. pic.twitter.com/Sv1J7GoJ7T  Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) December 4, 2018 @LAPublicHealth offices will be closed tomorrow December 5 in observance of the national Day of Mourning for President George H. W. Bush. Essential Services including clinics and other services will remain open: https://t.co/tZGoGGHRlg pic.twitter.com/ypXsV6vlYY  LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) December 4, 2018 Facebook

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Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to skip 2020 White House race, sources say By Associated Press Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick speaks during an interview in Boston on Dec. 15, 2014. (Elise Amendola / Associated Press) Former Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts will soon announce he wont launch a 2020 presidential campaign, according to three sources familiar with his plans. They did not say why the Democrat decided against a run. A formal announcement was delayed as the country observed a day of mourning for President George H.W. Bush, one source said. News of Patricks plans was first reported by Politico. Patrick, 62, served two terms as governor, from 2007 to 2015, was assistant attorney general for civil rights in the Clinton administration and since leaving the governors office has been a managing director for Bain Capital. Patrick traveled the country in support of Democratic candidates in the recent midterm election. Earlier this year, some of Patricks supporters and close advisors started the Reason to Believe political action committee, a grassroots organization dedicated to advancing a positive, progressive vision for our nation in 2018 and 2020. Reason to Believe PAC had been holding meetups across the country, including in early presidential primary states. While Patrick is opting against a 2020 run, dozens of Democrats are considering jumping in, including nearly a half-dozen members of the Senate, several House members, and other Massachusetts politicians. On Tuesday, Michael Avenatti, the attorney for adult film star Stormy Daniels and a vocal critic of President Trump, said in a statement that he would run. Patrick had previously expressed some concerns about breaking through if he sought the nomination, telling David Axelrod, a former advisor to President Obama, that he wasnt sure he could stand out in such a large field. Its hard to see how you even get noticed in such a big, broad field without being shrill, sensational or a celebrity, and Im none of those things and Im never going to be any of those things, Patrick said in a September interview with Axelrod. Facebook

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Former Trump adviser Roger Stone invokes 5th Amendment right and wont testify before Senate Judiciary Committee By Associated Press Roger Stone in 2017. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) Roger Stone, an associate of President Trump, says he wont provide testimony or documents to the Senate Judiciary Committee. An attorney for Stone said in a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the committees top Democrat, that Stone was invoking his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination in refusing to produce documents or appear for an interview. Stone has been entangled in investigations by Congress and special counsel Robert S. Mueller III about whether Trump aides had advance knowledge of Democratic emails published by WikiLeaks during the 2016 election. Stone has not been charged and has said he had no knowledge of the timing or specifics of WikiLeaks plans. In the letter to Feinstein, Stone said the committees requests were far too overbroad, far too overreaching and far too wide-ranging. Facebook

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Watch live: Vice President Pence and lawmakers honor George H.W. Bush at the U.S. Capitol before he lies in state Facebook

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Rebuilding crumbling infrastructure has bipartisan support. But who gets to pay for it? By Jim Puzzanghera The grades for major U.S. infrastructure would give any parent indigestion if they were on a childs report card. Roads: D; bridges: C+; dams: D; ports: C+: railways: B; airports: D; schools: D+; public transit: D-. The nations overall grade: D+, which translates to being in fair to poor condition and mostly below standards with significant deterioration and a strong risk of failure, according to an evaluation last year by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Read More Facebook

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Trump calls former lawyer Michael Cohen a weak person who is lying By Associated Press President Trump says his former lawyer Michael Cohen is lying to get a reduced sentence. The president is reacting to Cohens guilty plea Thursday to lying to Congress about work he did on a Trump real estate project in Russia. During a surprise court hearing, Cohen admitted to lying in testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee about a plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Cohen in his guilty plea said he made the false statements to be consistent with Trumps political message. Cohens lawyer says he continues to cooperate with special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs investigation into Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates. Facebook

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As California Republicans confront a congressional wipeout, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faces a reckoning By Mark Z. Barabak When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment. As majority leader, McCarthy had helped round up the votes to narrowly pass the hard-fought legislation, convincing 13 other California Republicans to go along, even though several faced tough reelection fights. Fewer than half will be returning in January. Read More Facebook

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As California Republicans confront a congressional wipeout, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faces a reckoning By Sarah D. Wire When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment. As majority leader, McCarthy had helped round up the votes to narrowly pass the hard-fought legislation, convincing 13 other California Republicans to go along, even though several faced tough reelection fights. Fewer than half will be returning in January. Read More Facebook

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Michael Cohen, President Trumps ex-lawyer, pleads guilty to lying to Congress about Trump real estate project in Russia By Associated Press Michael Cohen, President Trumps former personal lawyer, pursued a Russian real estate project on candidate Trumps behalf well into the 2016 campaign, he said Thursday while pleading guilty to lying to Congress. Cohen had previously said that the project was abandoned in January 2016, but he now admits he continued to pursue a deal and says he updated Trump and members of his family about the negotiations, according to a new court document. Read More Facebook

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James Comey says acting Atty. Gen. Whitaker may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer By John Wagner Acting Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitaker speaks at the Justice Department in Washington on Nov. 14. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press) Former FBI Director James B. Comey apparently isnt too impressed with the mental prowess of President Trumps acting attorney general. Matthew Whitaker may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer, Comey said during a radio interview on Monday night in which he sized up the man Trump installed this month to replace ousted Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions. Comey was asked by WGBH News in Boston if he thinks Whitaker could derail the investigation of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Whitaker has spoken critically of the probe, and Trump  as recently as Tuesday  continues to call it a witch hunt. I think its a worry, but to my mind not a serious worry, Comey said. The institution is too strong, and [Whitaker], frankly, is not strong enough to have that kind of impact. He may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer, but he can see his future and knows that if he acted in an extralegal way, he would go down in history for the wrong reasons, and Im sure he doesnt want that, added Comey, who was fired by Trump last year and later wrote a book that portrays the president as an ego-driven congenital liar. Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney in Iowa, was Sessions chief of staff before being picked by Trump to lead the Justice Department. Trump has called Whitaker a very smart man. Earlier this year, Trump called Comey an untruthful slime ball. Wagner writes for the Washington Post. Facebook

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Interior Department watchdog clears Zinke in investigation of Utah national monument By Juliet Eilperin Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, third from the left, and Gov. Jerry Brown tour fire damage in Paradise, Calif., on Nov. 14. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The Interior Departments Office of Inspector General has cleared Secretary Ryan Zinke in a probe of whether he redrew boundaries of a national monument in Utah to aid the financial interests of a Republican state lawmaker and stalwart supporter of President Trump. In a Nov. 21 letter to Zinkes deputy, David Bernhardt, Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall wrote that her office found no evidence that the secretary or his aides changed the boundaries of Utahs Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in an effort to help former Utah state representative Mike Noel, who serves as executive director of the Kane County Water Conservancy District. Last December, Trump shrank the monument, first established by President Clinton in 1996, by 46% based on Zinkes recommendation. Noel owns 40 acres that had been surrounded by the monument, but now lies outside its boundaries. The new boundaries also would make it easier to construct the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline, which would deliver water to sites in Kane County that include Noels property. Earlier this year, the Interior Department had proposed selling off 120 acres of federal land from the former monument that lay adjacent to some of Noels land holdings, but later reversed the plan. We found no evidence that Noel influenced the DOIs proposed revisions to the [monuments] boundaries, that Zinke or other DOI staff involved in the project were aware of Noels financial interest in the revised boundaries, or that they gave Noel any preferential treatment in the resulting proposed boundaries, Kendall wrote. Neither the Interior Department nor the inspector generals office would release the actual investigative report. In the letter, Kendall writes that her office will provide the report to Congress no sooner than 31 days from Nov. 21, when it is provided it to Zinkes office. The Associated Press first reported the inspector generals conclusions Monday night, but did not provide details from the report itself. Noel emailed Zinke about the effort to alter Grand Staircase-Escalante, according to emails released by Interior under the Freedom of Informational Act. But those emails do not make references to Noels land holdings. Noel also pushed to rename a Utah highway in honor of Trump, but abandoned that effort in March after some of his fellow Republicans objected to the idea. Noel did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. The inspector generals office still has at least two ongoing probes of the secretary, including one focused on his real estate dealings in Whitefish, Mont., and another regarding his decision to deny a permit to two Connecticut tribes who were hoping to jointly run a casino after MGM Resorts International lobbied against it. Interior Department spokeswoman Heather Swift welcomed the watchdogs conclusions. The report shows exactly what the secretarys office has known all along  that the monument boundaries were adjusted in accordance with all rules, regulations and laws, she said in an email. This report is also the latest example of opponents and special interest groups ginning up fake and misleading stories, only to be proven false after expensive and time consuming inquiries by the IGs office. But Kendalls spokeswoman, Nancy DiPaolo, defended the inquiry, even though she said the report has not been publicly released and we will not be speaking specifically about the matter at this time. The OIG opens investigations based on credible allegations and reports our findings objectively and independently, DiPaolo added. Any time or resources spent investigating conduct or activity that may be a violation of law, regulation or policy is a service to the public, Congress and the Department. Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, said in a statement that he still intended to investigate the way Zinke and his colleague redrew the boundaries for Grand Staircase-Escalante and another Utah national monument, Bears Ears, next year. I have great respect for the inspector general, and I accept these findings, but Secretary Zinke should have known the people he listened to while destroying our national monuments had disqualifying conflicts of interest, he said. Should I chair the Natural Resources Committee in the next Congress, the process he and President Trump used to destroy Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante will be front and center in our oversight and investigations efforts. We need to know why they ignored overwhelming public expressions of support for both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, why they ignored Native American tribes throughout their decision-making, and why they removed protections on parcels of land with known mineral deposits. Eilperin and Rein report for the Washington Post. Facebook

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Trump advisor Larry Kudlow says China must do more to end trade war By Jim Puzzanghera Larry Kudlow, President Trumps top economic advisor, said Tuesday that Chinas response to U.S. efforts to rework the two economic superpowers trade relationship has been extremely disappointing but the planned meeting this weekend between the nations leaders is an opportunity for a breakthrough. They have to do more. They must do more, Larry Kudlow, director of the White House National Economic Council, told reporters ahead of a Saturday dinner between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Group of 20 Summit in Argentina. I think the president is exactly right  to show strong backbone when prior administrations did not, to break through these Chinese walls, Kudlow said. Theyre so resistant to change. We have to protect the country. We have to protect our technology, our inventiveness, our innovation. Read More Facebook

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Watch live: White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders holds a media briefing amid tensions at the border By Los Angeles Times Staff Facebook

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Democrat TJ Cox grabs lead over Republican David Valadao in nations last remaining undecided House race By Maya Sweedler Democrat TJ Cox slipped past Republican incumbent David Valadao on Monday to take the lead in the countrys sole remaining undecided congressional race, positioning Democrats to pick up their seventh House seat in California and 40th nationwide. Cox, who trailed by nearly 4,400 votes on election night, has steadily gained as ballot counting continues nearly three weeks after the Nov. 6 election, a pattern consistent with the states recent voting history. On Monday, he pulled ahead by 438 votes after Kern County updated its results. Read More Facebook

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Former CIA director Michael Hayden hospitalized after suffering a stroke By Deanna Paul Then-CIA Director Michael Hayden testifies before a Senate committee in 2008. (Saul Loeb / Getty Images) Former CIA Director and retired Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden has been hospitalized after suffering a stroke, his family said Friday. He is receiving expert medical care for which the family is grateful, according to a statement issued by his namesake organization. The General and his family greatly appreciate the warm wishes and prayers of his friends, colleagues, and supporters. Hayden, 73, served as director of the CIA and National Security Agency during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations. He retired from the CIA in 2009. Hayden has been a vocal critic of Donald Trumps campaign and presidency. Earlier this year, after Trump decided to revoke the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan, Hayden was one of several former intelligence leaders who signed a statement in opposition. Criticizing the president for crossing a line, he quickly became one of the individuals whose security clearance Trump threatened to review. Deanna Paul writes for the Washington Post. Facebook

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Trump tells troops hes thankful for what hes done for the U.S. and rails against courts and migrants By Associated Press President Trump talks with troops via teleconference from his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on Thanksgiving. (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump used his Thanksgiving Day call to troops deployed overseas to pat himself on the back and air grievances about the courts, trade and migrants heading to the U.S.-Mexico border. Trumps call, made from his opulent private Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., struck an unusually political tone as he spoke with members of all five branches of the military to wish them happy holidays. Its a disgrace, Trump said of judges who have blocked his attempts to overhaul U.S. immigration law, as he linked his efforts to secure the border with military missions overseas. Trump later threatened to close the U.S. border with Mexico for an undisclosed period of time if his administration determines Mexico has lost control on its side. The call was a uniquely Trump blend of boasting, peppered questions and off-the-cuff observations as his comments veered from venting about slights to praising troops  You really are our heroes, he said  as club waiters worked to set Thanksgiving dinner tables on the outdoor terrace behind him. It was yet another show of how Trump has dramatically transformed the presidency, erasing the traditional divisions between domestic policy and military matters and efforts to keep the troops clear of politics. You probably see over the news whats happening on our southern border, Trump told one Air Force brigadier general stationed at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, adding: I dont have to even ask you. I know what you want to do, you want to make sure that you know who were letting in. Later, Trump asked a U.S. Coast Guard commander about trade, which he noted was a very big subject for him personally. Weve been taken advantage of for many, many years by bad trade deals, Trump told the commander, who sheepishly replied, Mr. President, from our perspective on the water  we dont see any issues in terms of trade right now. And throughout, Trump congratulated himself, telling the officers that the country is doing exceptionally well on his watch. I hope that youll take solace in knowing that all of the American families you hold so close to your heart are all doing well, he said. The nations doing well economically, better than anybody in the world. He later told reporters, Nobodys done more for the military than me. Indeed, asked what he was thankful for this Thanksgiving, Trump cited his great family as well as himself. I made a tremendous difference in this country, he said. Facebook

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Trump contradicts CIA assessment that Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi killing By Josh Dawsey | Washington Post (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump on Thursday contradicted the CIAs assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, insisting that the agency had feelings but did not firmly place blame for the death. Trump, in defiant remarks to reporters from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, defended his continued support for Mohammed in the face of a CIA assessment that the crown prince had ordered the killing. He denies it vehemently, Trump said. He said his own conclusion was that maybe he did, maybe he didnt. I hate the crime .... I hate the cover-up. I will tell you this: The crown prince hates it more than I do, Trump said. Asked who should be held accountable for the death of Khashoggi, who was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, Trump refused to place blame. Maybe the world should be held accountable because the world is a very, very vicious place, the president said. He also seemed to suggest that all U.S. allies were guilty of the same behavior, declaring that if the others were held to the standard that critics have held Saudi Arabia to in recent days, we wouldnt be able to have anyone for an ally. Trumps remarks came after he held a conference call with U.S. military officers overseas, during which he repeatedly praised his administration and sought to draw the officers into discussions of domestic policy. Facebook

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Former FBI Director James Comey gets subpoena from House Republicans By Bloomberg Former FBI Director James B. Comey said he has received a subpoena from House Republicans, according to a Twitter post on Thursday. Bloomberg News reported last week that Comey would be receiving a subpoena alongside former Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch as part of continuing probes into their handling of investigations into Hillary Clinton and Russian election meddling, according to a top House Democrat. Happy Thanksgiving. Got a subpoena from House Republicans. Im still happy to sit in the light and answer all questions. But I will resist a closed door thing because Ive seen enough of their selective leaking and distortion. Lets have a hearing and invite everyone to see.  James Comey (@Comey) November 22, 2018 Read More Facebook

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Republican David Valadaos lead slips to 447 votes over Democrat TJ Cox in still-undecided Central Valley House race By Mark Z. Barabak Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford), right, finds himself in an increasingly harrowing cliffhanger against Democrat TJ Cox. (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) On election night, it looked like Rep. David Valadao had survived a close shave and was destined to return to Washington for his fourth term. But on Wednesday, when Fresno County announced its latest vote totals, the Hanford Republican found himself in an increasingly harrowing cliffhanger against Democrat TJ Cox, with his lead in the Central Valley district shrunken to 447 votes. Thousands remain to be counted. Valadao, a repeated Democratic target, finished election night with a lead of nearly 4,440 votes. Cox, an engineer and a business owner who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2006, has steadily gained ground in the 21st Congressional District ever since. The trend is consistent with historic patterns showing Republicans in California tend to vote early and Democrats later, meaning their mail ballots continue to stream in past election day. Under California law, ballots postmarked up to midnight on Nov. 6 will be counted. Democrats have already picked up six House seats in California. They ousted Reps. Dana Rohrabacher, Mimi Walters, Steve Knight and Jeff Denham and won the seats of retiring Reps. Ed Royce and Darrell Issa. All six represented districts that backed Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in 2016. Valadao was the seventh California Republican in a district Clinton won, though his previous successes  he last won reelection by a 14-point margin  suggested his ouster was a longer shot for Democrats. If Cox prevails, it would give Democrats a 40-seat gain nationwide, far more than the 23 seats needed to take control when Congress reconvenes in January. Facebook

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Trump says no new punishments against Saudi Arabia in Jamal Khashoggi murder By Eli Stokols In this Oct. 25 photo, candles are lit in front of a photo of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (Lefteris Pitarakis) President Trump made it clear on Tuesday that he does not intend to punish Saudi Arabia or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an American resident killed by Saudi officials in Turkey in October. In a remarkable statement replete with exclamation points, Trump cast doubt on the CIAs reported conclusions that it has a high degree of confidence that the crown prince ordered Khashoggis murder and sent his closest allies to Saudi Arabias consulate in Istanbul to carry it out. Read MoreThis article has been updated with staff. Facebook

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Sixteen House Democrats vow to oppose Nancy Pelosi as next speaker By Mike DeBonis | Washington Post House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Sixteen House Democrats said Monday that they will vote to deny Rep. Nancy Pelosi another stint as House speaker, a show of defiance that puts her opponents on the cusp of forcing a seismic leadership shake-up as their party prepares to take the majority. Their pledge to oppose Pelosi (D-San Francisco), both in an internal caucus election and a Jan. 3 floor vote, delivered in a letter sent to Democratic colleagues, comes as Pelosi has marshaled a legion of supporters on and off Capitol Hill to make her case. But her opponents said Monday they are convinced it is time to select a new leader. We are thankful to Leader Pelosi for her years of service to our Country and to our Caucus, they wrote. However, we also recognize that in this recent election, Democrats ran on and won on a message of change. Pelosi has expressed complete confidence that she will retake the speakers gavel in January  eight years after she lost it following massive Republican gains in the 2010 midterms and 16 years after she was first elevated to the top Democratic leadership post in the House. Come on in, the waters fine, she said Friday about a potential leadership challenge. The signers might not be able to force Pelosi out themselves. The size of the Democratic majority remains in flux, but Democrats have already won 232 seats, according to the Associated Press, with five races still undecided. All those races have Republican incumbents, but the Democratic challenger is ahead in only one of them. If the leads hold in the uncalled races, Democrats would have won 233 seats, a 16-seat majority. That means Pelosi could lose as many as 15 Democratic votes when she stands for election as speaker on Jan. 3. Read More Facebook

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Democratic senators sue over Whitakers appointment as acting attorney general By Associated Press Acting U.S. Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitaker (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images) Three Senate Democrats filed a lawsuit Monday arguing that Acting Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitakers appointment is unconstitutional and asking a federal judge to remove him. The suit, filed by Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, argues that Whitakers appointment violates the Constitution because he has not been confirmed by the Senate. Whitaker was chief of staff to Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions and was elevated to the top job after Sessions was ousted by President Trump on Nov. 7. The Constitutions Appointments Clause requires that the Senate confirm all principal officials before they can serve in their office. The Justice Department released a legal opinion last week that said Whitakers appointment would not violate the clause because he is serving in an acting capacity. The opinion concluded that Whitaker, even without Senate confirmation, may serve in an acting capacity because he has been at the department for more than a year at a sufficiently senior pay level. President Trump is denying senators our constitutional obligation and opportunity to do our job: scrutinizing the nomination of our nations top law enforcement official, Blumenthal said in a statement. The reason is simple: Whitaker would never pass the advice and consent test. In selecting a so-called constitutional nobody and thwarting every senators constitutional duty, Trump leaves us no choice but to seek recourse through the courts. The lawsuit comes days after a Washington lawyer challenged Whitakers appointment in a pending Supreme Court case dealing with gun rights. The attorney, Thomas Goldstein, asked the high court to find that Whitakers appointment is unconstitutional and replace him with Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Rosenstein, the second-ranking Justice Department official, has been confirmed by the Senate and had been overseeing special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Whitaker is now overseeing the investigation. The Justice Department issued a statement Monday defending Whitakers appointment as lawful and said it comports with the Appointments Clause, the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and legal precedent. There are over 160 instances in American history in which non-Senate confirmed persons performed, on a temporary basis, the duties of a Senate-confirmed position, Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said. To suggest otherwise is to ignore centuries of practice and precedent. Facebook

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Gov. Rick Scott says Sen. Bill Nelson concedes Florida Senate race By Associated Press Republican Senate candidate Rick Scott speaks with his wife, Ann, by his side at an election watch party in Naples, Fla., on Nov. 7. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Floridas Republican Gov. Rick Scott says incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson called him to concede defeat in their extremely tight race. Scott issued a statement Sunday saying Nelson graciously conceded their Senate race shortly after the states recount ended. The final results show Scott defeated Nelson by just over 10,000 votes out of 8 million cast. Nelson is scheduled to release a videotaped statement later Sunday. The defeat ends Nelsons lengthy political career. The three-term incumbent was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000. Before that he served six terms in the U.S. House and as state treasurer and insurance commissioner for six years. Scott spent more than $60 million of his own money on ads that portrayed Nelson as out-of-touch and ineffective. Nelson responded by questioning Scotts ethics and saying he would be under the sway of President Trump. Facebook

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Orange County goes blue, as Democrats complete historic sweep of its seven congressional seats By Michael Finnegan Gil Cisneros defeated Republican Young Kim on Saturday in the last of Orange Countys undecided House races, giving Democrats a clean sweep of the states six most fiercely fought congressional contests and marking an epochal shift in a region long synonymous with political conservatism. With Cisneros victory, Democrats will constitute the entirety of Orange Countys seven-member congressional delegation, the first time since the 1930s that the birthplace of Richard Nixon, home of John Wayne and spiritual center of the Republican Party will have no GOP representative in the House. Sitting back in the 1960s, I would never have believed this would happen, said Stuart K. Spencer, a party strategist who spent more than half a century ushering Republicans, including President Reagan, into office. Read More Facebook

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Going, going ... with midterm wipeout, California Republican Party drifts closer to irrelevance By Michael Finnegan For a party in freefall the last two decades, California Republicans learned that its possible to plunge even further. The GOP not only lost every statewide office in the midterm election  again, in blowout fashion  but Democrats reestablished their supermajority in Sacramento, allowing them to legislate however they see fit After major defeats in Orange County and the Central Valley, two longtime strongholds, Republicans will have a significantly smaller footprint on Capitol Hill. (Democrats hold both Senate seats.) When the vote-counting is finished, the GOP may not even have enough lawmakers in Californias 53-member House delegation to field a nine-person softball team. Read More Facebook

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Congresswoman-elect Katie Porter says she will support Rep. Nancy Pelosi for speaker By Maya Sweedler Democratic Rep.-elect Katie Porter is congratulated by volunteers at her campaign headquarters in Irvine. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Congresswoman-elect Katie Porter said she plans to support Rep. Nancy Pelosis bid for speaker of the House and will make campaign finance reform her top priority when she enters the chamber in January. Im going to continue to have conversations, but so far I feel like Leader Pelosi is definitely making the things that were a priority to the families that elected me her priorities, including announcing her support for campaign finance reform and anti-corruption as HR1, Porter said in her first public appearance since being declared the winner in Californias 45th Congressional District on Thursday evening. It means a lot to me that she is a Californian. She understands our state, Porter added. When we talk about environmental protections, this is a person who understands as a Californian how fragile our environment is and whats at risk in things like drilling off our coasts. Porter, a law professor at UC Irvine, defeated two-term Republican Rep. Mimi Walters. The 45th District, covering inland Orange County, has never been represented by a Democrat. Porter became the third Democrat to claim a Republican-held seat in Orange County, following the victories of Harley Rouda in the 48th District and Mike Levin in the 49th. A fourth, Gil Cisneros, is running slightly ahead of his Republican opponent in the race for the open seat in the 39th District, which extends into Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Porter attributed the massive political shift in the county, for decades a conservative stronghold, to increased levels of political engagement. Folks here care about education, they care about the environment, they believe climate change is real, they want healthcare that protects preexisting conditions, they want a tax system that doesnt punish California, they want our schools and places of worship to be safe from gun violence, she said. Those are the issues we campaigned on, and to the extent that Donald Trump and Mimi Walters were on the wrong side of those issues, the voters have made clear what direction they want us to go. Porter was flying back from the East Coast when her race was called, she said. She turned on her phone to find 167 text messages from friends and supporters. Among them was Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who was one of Porters teachers in law school and with whom she has remained close. The pair spoke via FaceTime this morning, she said. Facebook

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Bitter battle for Senate seat in Florida goes to hand recount By Associated Press Employees look through damaged ballots during a recount Thursday in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Floridas acrimonious battle for the U.S. Senate headed Thursday to a legally required hand recount after an initial review by ballot-counting machines showed Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson separated by less than 13,000 votes. But the highly watched contest for governor between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum appeared to be over, with a machine recount showing DeSantis with a large enough advantage over Gillum to avoid a hand recount in that race. Gillum, who conceded the contest on election night only to retract his concession later, said in a statement that it is not over until every legally casted vote is counted. The recount so far has been fraught with problems. One large Democratic stronghold in South Florida was unable to finish its machine recount by the Thursday deadline due to machines breaking down. A federal judge rejected a request to extend the recount deadline. We gave a heroic effort, said Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher. If the county had three or four more hours, it would have made the deadline to recount ballots in the Senate race, she said. Meanwhile, election officials in another urban county in the Tampa Bay area decided against turning in the results of their machine recount, which came up with 846 fewer votes than originally counted. Media in South Florida reported that Broward County finished its machine recount but missed the deadline by a few minutes. Counties were ordered last weekend to do a machine recount of three statewide races because the margins were so tight. The next stage is a manual review of ballots that were not counted by machines to see whether there is a way to figure out voter intent. Scott called on Nelson to end the recount battle. Its time for Nelson to respect the will of the voters and graciously bring this process to an end rather than proceed with yet another count of the votes  which will yield the same result and bring more embarrassment to the state that we both love and have served, the governor said in a statement. The recount has triggered multiple lawsuits, many of them filed by Nelson and Democrats. The legal battles drew the ire of U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker, who slammed the state for repeatedly failing to anticipate election problems. He also said the state law on recounts appears to violate the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that decided the presidency in 2000. We have been the laughingstock of the world, election after election, and we chose not to fix this, Walker said during a morning hearing. Walker vented his anger at state lawmakers and Palm Beach County officials, saying they should have made sure they had enough equipment in place to handle this kind of a recount. But he said he could not extend the recount deadline because he did not know when Palm Beach County would finish its work. This court must be able to craft a remedy with knowledge that it will not prove futile, Walker wrote in his ruling turning down the request from Democrats. It cannot do so on this record. This court does not and will not fashion a remedy in the dark. The overarching problem was created by the Florida Legislature, which Walker said passed a recount law that appears to run afoul of the 2000 Bush vs. Gore decision by locking in procedures that do not allow for potential problems. A total of six election-related lawsuits are pending in federal court in Tallahassee as well at least one lawsuit filed in state court. Walker also ordered that voters be given until 5 p.m. Saturday to show a valid identification and fix their ballots if they have not been counted due to mismatched signatures. Republicans appealed the ruling, but an appeals court turned down the request. State officials testified that nearly 4,000 mailed-in ballots were set aside because local officials decided the signatures on the envelopes did not match the signatures on file. If those voters can prove their identity, their votes will be counted and included in final official returns due from each county by noon Sunday. Walker was asked by Democrats to require local officials to provide a list of people whose ballots were rejected. But the judge appointed by President Obama refused the request, calling it inappropriate. Under state law, a hand review is required with races that have a margin of 0.25 percentage points or less. A state website put the unofficial results showing Scott ahead of Nelson by 0.15 percentage points. The margin between DeSantis and Gillum was at 0.41 points. The margin between Scott and Nelson had not changed much in the last few days, conceded Marc Elias, an attorney working for Nelsons campaign. But he said that he expected the vote tally to shrink due to the hand recount and the ruling on signatures. The developments fueled frustrations among Democrats and Republicans alike. Democrats want state officials to do whatever it takes to make sure every eligible vote is counted. Republicans, including President Trump, have argued without evidence that voter fraud threatens to steal races from the GOP. Facebook

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Democrat Gil Cisneros pulls ahead of Republican Young Kim as more votes are tallied in Orange and San Bernardino counties By Michael Finnegan Congressional candidate Gil Cisneros (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Democrat Gil Cisneros pulled ahead of Republican Young Kim in one of Californias undecided congressional races Thursday, an ominous sign for a GOP already reeling from its loss of four House seats in the state. In updated vote counts released by the registrars for Orange and San Bernardino counties, Kim fell 941 votes behind Cisneros in the contest to succeed Republican Rep. Ed Royce in Californias 39th Congressional District. The 39th straddles Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties. In another unresolved House race, Democrat Katie Porter pulled further ahead of Republican incumbent Mimi Walters in the 45th District, which includes Mission Viejo, Tustin, Irvine, Rancho Santa Margarita and Laguna Hills. Porter, a consumer attorney and UC Irvine law professor, is now 6,203 votes ahead. The Nov. 6 midterm election has been devastating to Republicans in California. If Cisneros and Porter win, the party will have lost six of its 14 House seats in the state, essentially a wipeout in every contest that both parties spent heavily to win. The three Republicans already bounced from Congress are Reps. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa, Steve Knight of Palmdale and Jeff Denham of Turlock in the San Joaquin Valley. Democrat Mike Levin won the seat of retiring GOP Rep. Darrell Issa of Vista in the fourth district flipped so far. Facebook

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Florida Senate race likely headed to second recount By Associated Press A Palm Beach County Sheriffs deputy walks past boxes of ballots before a recount on Nov. 15 in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee) Unofficial Florida election results show that the governors race seems to be settled after a machine recount but the U.S. Senate race is likely headed to a hand recount. Republican Ron DeSantis is virtually assured of winning the nationally watched governors race over Democrat Andrew Gillum. Florida finished a machine recount Thursday that showed Gillum without enough votes to force a manual recount. Unofficial results posted on a state website show the margin between U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott is still thin enough to trigger a second review. State law requires a hand recount of races with a margin of 0.25 percentage point or less. Counties have until Sunday to inspect the ballots that did not record a vote when put through the machines. Those ballots are re-examined to see whether the voter skipped the race or marked the ballot in a way that the machines cannot read but can be deciphered. The election will be certified Tuesday. Read More Facebook

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Pelosi says she has the votes to become the next House speaker By John Wagner Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi speaks during a news conference in Washington on Nov. 14. (Susan Walsh) House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi insisted Thursday that she has the votes to become the chambers speaker despite solid opposition from more than a dozen Democrats who want fresh leadership when the party takes control next year. I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be speaker of the House, the San Francisco lawmaker told reporters. I happen to think at this point, Im the best person for that. A vote within the Democratic caucus is scheduled for Nov. 28. The full House votes on Jan. 3 to elect a new speaker. During her remarks, Pelosi touted the size of the Democratic victory in the midterms, which she called almost a tsunami. With a few races still to be decided, Democrats are poised to pick up close to 40 seats in the chamber. Pelosi called that the biggest victory for the Democrats since 1974, when the Watergate babies came in. Pelosis comments come as she faces solid opposition from at least 17 Democrats, setting the stage for a battle over who will ascend to one of the most powerful positions in Washington. After a campaign in which some Democrats prevailed in competitive districts by promising to oppose her, a coalition of incumbents and newly elected members has denied her a smooth path to the speakership. The defections, if they stand, would leave Pelosi, who has led the Democrats for more than 15 years, several votes short of the 218 she would need when the full House votes for speaker Jan. 3. However, no Democrat has stepped forward to run against her for a job she held from 2007 through 2010. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) told reporters Wednesday that shes being encouraged to stand for speaker if Pelosi doesnt have the votes. In an interview with the Washington Post on Thursday, she said she has been overwhelmed by the support from many of her colleagues for her possible entry into the race for House speaker. Over the last 12 hours, Ive been overwhelmed by the amount of support Ive received, Fudge said, adding that there are probably closer to 30" Democrats who have privately signaled that they are willing to oppose Pelosi. Things could change rapidly, Fudge said. Fudge, 66, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said she is building a diverse coalition as she mulls a speaker run, talking with allies in the caucus, moderate Democrats and newly elected members. To this point, Pelosi has enjoyed the strong backing of the Congressional Black Caucus. On Thursday, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), one of its members, wrote a letter to colleagues praising her insight, fortitude and strategic thinking and urging support for her speakership bid. Former Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr., an African American who is contemplating a 2020 presidential bid, also voiced support for Pelosi, praising her in a tweet as an architect of the recent midterm success. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a leader of the resistance to Pelosi, said during an interview on CNN on Thursday that Fudge is the kind of new leader that we need in this party. Shes in touch with middle America. She understands what the American people want. Shes a next-generation leader that people will look to and say, Thats the future of our party, thats the future of our country, and thats exactly the kind of leader that I want to see as our next speaker. Wagner reports for the Washington Post. The Posts Robert Costa, Erica Werner, Mike DeBonis, Paul Kane and Elise Viebeck contributed to this report. Facebook

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GOP Rep. Jeff Denham concedes to Democrat Josh Harder in Central Valley race By Maya Sweedler Rep. Jeff Denham (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) Republican Rep. Jeff Denham has conceded to Democrat Josh Harder in the race to represent Californias 10th Congressional District in the San Joaquin Valley. It has been an absolute honor to serve our community and represent the Central Valley in Congress over the past eight years, the 51-year-old congressman said. The enormity of the responsibility was never lost on me. My wife Sonia and I look forward to starting the next chapter of our lives. Harder said he had spoken with Denham and the two were committed to a productive transition. Denham, an Air Force veteran, previously represented the region in the state Senate for eight years and founded a company specializing in plastic packaging used in agriculture. While a member of Congress, he sat on the Transportation and Infrastructure, Veterans Affairs and Agriculture committees. First-time candidate Harder was born and raised in the district. After graduating from Stanford University, he served as vice president of a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. Since moving back, he has been teaching at Modesto Junior College. Denhams House seat is one of four in California that Republicans lost in the Nov. 6 election, with two contests in Orange County still undecided as of Thursday morning. Jeff Denham called me this morning and we had a very productive conversation. I'm honored that I've been chosen to serve our community in Congress, and we're both looking forward to a productive transition that best serves the people of District 10.  Josh Harder (@JoshHarder) November 14, 2018 Facebook

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Democrat Katie Porter now nearly 3,800 votes ahead of GOP Rep. Mimi Walters By Maya Sweedler Rep. Mimi Walters thanks all of her supporters as she watches election results in Irvine on Nov. 7, 2018. (Alex Gallardo / Associated Press) Democrat Katie Porter opened a 3,797-vote lead Wednesday over Republican Rep. Mimi Walters in Orange Countys 45th Congressional District. In the neighboring 39th, Democrat Gil Cisneros has nearly tied the race against Republican Young Kim. Cisneros now trails Kim by a razor-thin margin of 122 votes. The 39th District straddles Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties; Wednesdays updated ballot counts came from the latter two. There are more than 202,000 ballots left to count in Orange County, which includes parts of seven congressional districts. The 45th is entirely in inland Orange County. In California, the ballots counted first tend to lean Republican and those tallied later skew Democratic. In the Central Valleys 21st Congressional District, Democratic challenger TJ Cox has pulled within 2 percentage points of Rep. David Valadao, who is serving his third term. The Associated Press had projected a win for Valadao on election night, but his 4,839-vote advantage has shrunk to 2,090. Back in CA-21, Valadao (R) wins a batch of ballots from his stronghold in Kings Co., but by a considerably smaller margin (14 points) than his previous ~30-point margin in the county. We're moving to Lean R from Likely R; today a bit scary for Valadao.https://t.co/WqJVUVkqGW  Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) November 15, 2018 A spokesman for Valadao told the Fresno Bee that the changes were expected and that [s]tatistically, David Valadao has won this race. Democrats in California have already flipped four House seats, defeating three Republican incumbents and claiming an open seat previously held by the GOP. Reps. Steve Knight of Palmdale, Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa and Jeff Denham of Turlock have already lost their races, and retiring Rep. Darrell Issas San Diego County seat was claimed by Democrat Mike Levin. Facebook

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Trump aide departs West Wing after rebuke from Melania Trump By Associated Press First Lady Melania Trump. (Alain Jocard / AFP-Getty Images) Deputy national security advisor Mira Ricardel is leaving the White House, one day after First Lady Melania Trumps office issued an extraordinary statement calling for her dismissal. No replacement was named. Aides said Ricardel clashed with the first ladys staff over her visit to Africa last month. Yet it is highly unusual for a first lady or her office to weigh in on personnel matters, especially the presidents national security staff. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Ricardel would have a new role in the administration. On Tuesday, Stephanie Grisham, the first ladys spokeswoman, released a statement saying, It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House. President Trumps White House has set records for administration turnover. Ricardel was the third person to hold the post under Trump. An ally of national security advisor John Bolton, Ricardel began her service in the Trump administration as associate director in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, then moved to the Commerce Department last year. Bolton brought her into the West Wing shortly after taking the job in April. He is traveling in Asia this week alongside Vice President Mike Pence. Facebook

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Race for House Minority Leader is Kevin McCarthys to lose By Associated Press (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is running to take over next years shrunken caucus in closed-door elections that will set the tone for the new Congress. The race for minority leader is McCarthys to lose Wednesday. But the California Republican, who is an ally of President Trump, must fend off a challenge from conservative Jim Jordan of Ohio. Jordan is a leader of the House Freedom Caucus. The two encountered questions and finger-pointing during a private meeting with lawmakers Tuesday night as the GOP sorted through the midterm defeat that put Democrats in the majority next year. Elections Wednesday will also determine party leadership in the Senate. Voting for the biggest race, Nancy Pelosis bid to return as the Democrats nominee for speaker, is later this month. Read More Facebook

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Melania Trump calls for the firing of deputy national security advisor By Justin Sink First Lady Melania Trump arrives at the Chateau de Versailles outside Paris on Nov. 11. (Alain Jocard / AFP/Getty Images ) First Lady Melania Trumps office said she wants Mira Ricardel, the deputy national security advisor, ousted from the White House. It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House, Trumps spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement in response to a question about reports the first lady had sought Ricardels removal. Ricardel is the top deputy to national security advisor John Bolton. She drew the first ladys wrath after threatening to withhold National Security Council resources during Melania Trumps trip to Africa last month unless Ricardel was included in her entourage, one person familiar with the matter said. Grishams statement comes as several media outlets have reported that President Trump is considering a broader shakeup of his administration, including ousting Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Sink and Jacobs report for Bloomberg. Read More Facebook

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CNN sues Trump over the suspension of Jim Acostas White House press credentials By Jim Puzzanghera CNN said Tuesday that it is suing President Trump and other administration officials over the decision to suspend the White House press credentials of correspondent Jim Acosta after a conflict at a news conference last week. The suit, to be filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, escalates an ongoing battle between Trump and the cable news outlet that he frequently accuses of disseminating fake news for its aggressive coverage of him and his administration. The wrongful revocation of these credentials violates CNN and Acostas 1st Amendment rights of freedom of the press, and their 5th Amendment rights to due process, CNN said in a written statement. If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials. Read More Facebook

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Maxine Waters to take aim at Wells Fargo and Deutsche Bank as new head of House Financial Services Committee By Jim Puzzanghera Rep. Maxine Waters plans to zero in on two big banks  Wells Fargo & Co. and Deutsche Bank  when she becomes head of the powerful House Financial Services Committee. The Los Angeles congresswoman, now the committees top Democrat, is widely expected to gain the gavel after her party won control of the House in last weeks elections. While Waters has outlined a wide-ranging agenda, she said her focus on bank oversight will target two large institutions she has been tangling with for a while  including one, Deutsche Bank, that spills into her bitter feud with President Trump. With Trump in the White House, I know that our fight for Americas consumers and investors will continue to be challenging. But I am more than up to that fight, Waters wrote in a letter last week to her Democratic colleagues on the committee that was obtained by The Times. Read More Facebook

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Heres how a controversial voting system will decide a congressional race in Maine By Kurtis Lee For the first time in U.S. history, a controversial voting system known as ranked choice is being used to decide a federal election. Its happening in Maine, which adopted the system in 2016. Rather than marking a single candidate, each voter ranks them all, assigning a first-place vote, a second-place vote and so on down the ballot. Read More Facebook

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ACLU files suit to stop Trumps new asylum limits By Associated Press A group of Central American migrants march to the office of the U.N.'s humans rights body in Mexico City on Nov. 8. (Rebecca Blackwell / Associated Press) The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a legal challenge to President Trumps order denying asylum to migrants if they cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. The lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in San Francisco and argues the new rules are against the law. Attorney Lee Gelernt said the regulations will put families in danger. The suit seeks to declare the regulations invalid and wants a judge to stop the rules from going into effect while the litigation is pending. The new rules were spurred in part by caravans of Central American migrants slowly moving north on foot, but officials say they will apply to anyone caught crossing illegally. Officials say about 70,000 people who enter the country illegally claim asylum. The order invoked the same national security powers Trump used to push through his travel ban. Read More Facebook

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Trump on new acting AG: I dont know Matt Whitaker By Associated Press President Trump talks with reporters before departing for France on the South Lawn of the White House on Nov. 9. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) President Trump is moving to distance himself from Matthew Whitaker as he faces criticism over his choice for acting attorney general. Trump told reporters Friday that I dont know Matt Whitaker and said he didnt speak with Whitaker about special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Whitaker has made public comments critical of Muellers investigation, and critics have called on Whitaker to recuse himself from oversight of the inquiry. Under former Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, the investigation was overseen by Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Of the scrutiny Whitaker is facing, Trump said: Its a shame that no matter who I put in they go after. He also called Whitaker a very highly respected man. Whitaker was Sessions chief of staff before Trump made him Sessions interim replacement. Facebook

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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg out of hospital after fall By Associated Press The Supreme Court says 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is home after being released from the hospital. She had been admitted for treatment and observation after fracturing three ribs in a fall. The court said Ginsburg was released Friday. Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg says she is doing well and working from home. The court had previously said the justice fell in her office at the court on Wednesday evening and went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. Ginsburg broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. Facebook

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Gun-control activist Lucy McBath defeats GOP Rep. Karen Handel in Georgia By Associated Press Lucy McBath speaks during a rally for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams on Nov. 2 at Morehouse College in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer / Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) Democratic gun-control activist Lucy McBath has defeated Republican Rep. Karen Handel of Georgia in a suburban congressional district long considered safe for the GOP. Handel had to seek reelection after winning her seat last year in a close special election race against Democrat Jon Ossoff. McBath became an advocate for stricter gun laws after her son, Jordan Davis, was fatally shot at a Florida gas station in 2012 by a man angry over loud music the teenager and his friends were playing in a car. McBaths margin of victory was narrow enough for Handel to have requested a recount. The Associated Press declared McBath the winner Thursday after Handel conceded. Handel conceded in a statement Thursday morning, stating that after reviewing all of the election data, its clear she came up a bit short in Tuesdays vote. Handel congratulated McBath, offering good thoughts and much prayer for the journey that lies ahead for her. McBath, who is African American, declared victory Wednesday. Facebook

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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg hospitalized after fracturing 3 ribs in fall By Associated Press Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) The Supreme Court says 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fractured three ribs in a fall in her office at the court and is in the hospital. The court says the justice went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. The court says the fall occurred Wednesday evening. Ginsburg was admitted to the hospital for treatment and observation after tests showed she fractured three ribs. Ginsburg broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She has had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. Facebook

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White House suspends press pass of CNNs Jim Acosta after heated exchange with Trump By Associated Press The White House on Wednesday suspended the press pass of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta after he and President Trump had a heated confrontation during a news conference. They began sparring after Acosta asked Trump about the caravan of migrants heading from Latin America to the southern U.S. border. When Acosta tried to follow up with another question, Trump said, Thats enough! and a female White House aide unsuccessfully tried to grab the microphone from Acosta. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement accusing Acosta of placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern, calling it absolutely unacceptable. The interaction between Acosta and the intern was brief, and Acosta appeared to brush her arm as she reached for the microphone and he tried to hold onto it. Pardon me, maam, he told her. Acosta tweeted that Sanders statement that he put his hands on the aide was a lie. CNN said in a statement that the White House revoked Acostas press pass in retaliation for his challenging questions Wednesday, and the network accused Sanders of lying about Acostas actions. This conduct is absolutely unacceptable. It is also completely disrespectful to the reporters colleagues not to allow them an opportunity to ask a question. President Trump has given the press more access than any President in history.  Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Contrary to CNNs assertions there is no greater demonstration of the Presidents support for a free press than the event he held today. Only they would attack the President for not supporting a free press in the midst of him taking 68 questions from 35 different reporters...  Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 As a result of todays incident, the White House is suspending the hard pass of the reporter involved until further notice.  Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Sanders provided fraudulent accusations and cited an incident that never happened. This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better, CNN said. Jim Acosta has our full support. Journalists assigned to cover the White House apply for passes that allow them daily access to press areas in the West Wing. White House staffers decide whether journalists are eligible, though the Secret Service determines whether their applications are approved. Facebook

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Trump spars with reporters at post-election news briefing, ordering several to sit down By Associated Press  President Trump assails CNNs Jim Acosta at a White House news conference. President Trump sparred with reporters at his post-election news conference, ordering several to sit down and telling another hes a rude, terrible person. He told another reporter hes not a fan of yours, either. The presidents mood turned sour Wednesday after reporters pressed him on why he referred to a migrant caravan making its way to the U.S. on foot through Mexico as an invasion. Trump ramped up his anti-immigrant rhetoric against the caravan in the final days of the midterm elections. Trump was also pressed on why his campaign aired an ad featuring a Mexican immigrant convicted of killing American police officers and linking the mans actions to the caravan. Several television networks pulled the ad after airing it or declined to air it at all. Facebook

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Im living one hour at a time at this point By Christine Mai-Duc Republican congressional candidate Young Kim and gubernatorial candidate John Cox campaign in Rowland Heights. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Republican congressional candidate Young Kim greeted gubernatorial candidate John Coxs giant campaign bus, the words HELP IS ON THE WAY emblazoned across it, as it rolled into the parking lot outside her Rowland Heights field office. Standing beside Cox on Saturday, Kim predicted that a string of GOP victories Tuesday would start with voters repealing the gas tax hike. Can you imagine Gavin Newsom being our governor? Can you imagine Gil Cisneros being your representative? Kim asked the crowd, to loud boos and cries of Nooo! The former state assemblywoman who worked for retiring Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) is vying for his seat with Democrat Gil Cisneros. She led the crowd in chants of Enough is enough! and, though short-lived, Drain the swamp! Ive served you in Sacramento and Ive seen dysfunction personally, Kim continued. We cannot continue that route. She urged her supporters to stay and help make phone calls or walk neighborhoods. Lets get out there  the 72 hours is really critical. Its all going to come down to a few votes, it could be your vote, she said pointing to her left, then pivoting right, it could be your vote. So dont sit back and do nothing. Every night I go to sleep thinking, OK, how many more votes can I get or how many more people can I call tomorrow? Kim said. It can be physically exhausting but Im mentally, emotionally very energized. She listed off her events so far that day  and the next one she was heading to. Thats just what I can remember, she said. Im living one hour at a time at this point. Kims campaign invited press to two of her events on Saturday. After she was whisked away to her next event  a high tea fundraiser in Walnut, a couple dozen volunteers remained. John Freeman, a statewide field manager for the state Republican Party, tried to pump them up. This is the Super Bowl. Were not in an NFL stadium, were not getting paid millions of dollars, but you know what? Freeman said. Were walking on the field right now. This is that high-stakes-level game. Facebook

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Its going to be tough out there Democratic candidate Katie Porter speaks to volunteers in Mission Viejo. Jon Bauman, Bowzer from the band Sha Na Na, is in the background. (Victoria Kim / Los Angeles Times ) Judging from the cheers in the crowd, about half those assembled at Katie Porters campaign headquarters in Mission Viejo Sunday morning were old enough to remember 70s rock n roll star Bowzer from the band Sha Na Na. Jon Bauman, as Bowzer is known off stage, said it was her position on senior issues including retirement and social security that has him out supporting Porter over her opponent, incumbent Rep. Mimi Walters. I want you to make sure every phone is called and every door is knocked, he told the crowd of about 80 volunteers. There has never been a more important election. Both Bauman and his nephew, California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman, were interrupted by yells from Trump supporters coming from an adjoining hillside. We love Trump, the voice cried out. We love him too, he makes great fodder, the younger Bauman retorted, before introducing Porter. Porter, a UC Irvine law professor and first-time candidate, acknowledged the uphill battle some of her canvassers might face in this more conservative end of the long-red Orange County district. I know its going to be tough out there, she said, motioning to the hillside. But she said the attacks meant the other side viewed her campaign as a significant threat. This election is going to be close, she said. If we dont fight all the way to the finish line, until 8 oclock on Tuesday, this could slip away. Bowzer then took to a keyboard piano to lead the crowd in a reworded rendition of the song Good Night Sweetheart: Good night, Mimi Walters, he crooned. A woman in a black tank top, jeans and flip flops holding a cup of coffee later joined the crowd with her two sons, 17 and 14, the younger one wearing a Trump 2016 T-shirt. She declined to give her name, saying she was concerned about being attacked, but said she lived up the hill and said she had been the one yelling. She said she was encouraging her sons to talk to people on both sides and make up their own minds. We need to have a government that runs the way government teachers are telling kids its supposed to be run, said the woman, a retired registered dental assistant who voted early for Mimi Walters. Referring to Democrats, she said: Theyve had control over all these years and Californias gone to crap. Among those canvassing was Stacie Campbell, 37, who was at the launch with her husband Jerome and three children, the youngest of whom was 2 months old. Campbell, a Mission Viejo resident who runs a business, had never canvassed or volunteered for campaigns before, and her husband is a French citizen and unable to vote. She said they had been talking to their children  the older ones are 5 and 2  about the presidency and the government since Trumps election. Together, they worked on homemade Katie Porter lawn signs and put them up around town. This is the first time its felt like a big deal and there isnt a president up for election, she said. Because her city is a mix of conservatives and liberals  her next-door neighbor is an NRA-supporting Republican  she the race felt mA longtime horse rental business at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank will be shutting its doors this summer after a lengthy legal dispute between the business owner and facility officials.

Julie Schad, owner of Griffith Park Horse Rentals, said she is looking forward to a fresh start at the end of May, when her sublease with the equestrian center expires.

She couldnt say exactly where the new stables will be located, but Schad said the 55 horses she currently owns and rents out to those who want to go on a horseback ride will have a new home soon.

Itll be in Southern California, but it doesnt look like well be in this area, she said on Thursday. Well certainly invite our current clientele to where were going, but itll certainly feel like starting over.

Schad is leaving the equestrian center after several years of disagreements between herself and those who run the facility.

According to a lawsuit filed by Schad on Feb. 24, 2015, she alleged the Los Angeles Equestrian Center breached a contract they had entered into on April 15, 2014.

Under that agreement, the center was supposed to negotiate a sublease extension with Schad and draft a request for proposal to be submitted and approved by the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, which oversees the equestrian center.

However, Schad alleged the request for proposal was biased and favored a competing horse rental business owned by James and Scott Perez, who own Circle K Riding Stables in Burbank.

Neither George Chatigny, general manager of the equestrian center, nor James and Scott Perez could be reached for comment.

In the 2015 lawsuit, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center had issued Schad a written notice to vacate the center within 60 days. Schad claimed the notice did not specify the reason for the eviction, and she was up to date on all the fees she had to pay under the sublease.

As the 2015 lawsuit was being heard, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center filed an eviction lawsuit against Schad on May 6, 2016. The case was ultimately dismissed in January 2017, when the two parties settled the original lawsuit.

Schad took over Griffith Park Horse Rentals, which has been at the center for more than 50 years, back in 2003 and spent $150,000 to purchase the business, according to the lawsuit.

During that time, there were about 20 horses and a handful of horse stalls when started, Schad said on Thursday.

She said she invested about $250,000 into the business, which resulted in 30 covered stalls, according to court documents. There are currently 55 horses in the stables, Schad said.

Because of a nondisclosure agreement she signed as part of the settlement, Schad could not provide detailed information about leaving the equestrian center.

anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com

Twitter: @acocarpioThree Burbank High School students will host a fundraiser on Sunday to raise money and awareness on blood cancer research.

The Brunch and Bag event will take place between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Once Upon a Page, located at 2527 W. Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank. There will be breakfast foods, coffee, apple cider and cupcakes served at the event, said Lauren Ryan, who is one of the organizers.

Ryan, a senior at Burbank, is putting on the fundraiser with her classmates Hazen Dragomer and Nicole Howell as part of a seven-week fundraising competition among 14 other schools in Southern California.

Ryan said she and her classmates are trying to raise $50,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, adding that fundraising efforts started in late January.

The campaign holds a special place in Ryans heart. In 2003, her father was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and passed away from the disease in April 2009.

During her fathers bout in 2007, Ryans brother, who was 18 years old at the time, was diagnosed with lymphoma. Then in 2014, her grandmother was diagnosed with the same disease.

Fortunately, for her and her family, both her brother and grandmother are in remission, Ryan said.

Out of every bad situation, something positive comes out of it, she said. Ten years before my brother was diagnosed, there was about a 3% chance of survival, but because of research, that percentage has improved greatly.

The other part of Sundays fundraiser includes a silent auction, in which about 60 purses, ranging from designer and nondesigner models, can be auctioned.

All of the money that is raised during the auction will go toward our campaign, Ryan said.

She added that she and her classmates will be hosting other fundraising events, such as a fun run and a dinner night at a restaurant.

anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com

Twitter: @acocarpioThree Burbank High School students will raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society with a brunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Once Upon A Page, 2527 W. Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank.

Lauren Ryan, Nikki Howell and Haven Dragomer put together the event, called Brunch and Bags, as part of their overall effort to raise $50,000 for the society by March 9. At the event, purses and handbags will be auctioned off.

Wendy Miller, Associated Student Body advisor at Burbank High, is also involved in the project.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by visiting bit.ly/2o41204.

mark.kellam@latimes.com

Twitter: @lamarkkellamA major investment in telecommunications infrastructure by Verizon Wireless in Newport Beach is expected to enhance emergency responders bandwidth capacity.

Verizon will install 32 small-cell wireless telecommunications devices around West Newport, the Balboa Peninsula, Corona del Mar State Beach and upper Newport Coast at no cost to the city.

The goals are to improve data coverage for devices like mobile computers and remote cameras and providing better-location information for cellular 911 callers.

Verizon will also install a 1 GB-per-second fiber optic data circuit to the Newport Beach Police Departments headquarters to support field operations.

The Newport Beach City Council approved the agreement, over a 10-year term with two, five-year extensions, on Wednesday.

The police department already uses Verizon for its mobile networks, in-car and other remote computers and connected devices, including cameras. The fire department uses Verizon for tablets and mobile computers on board its trucks.

Between construction, installation and monthly access, the new circuit is worth about $639,000, according to a city staff report. The police department currently has a 10 Mb-per-second data line.

The 911 locator function will benefit all cellular users, whether or not they use Verizon, because federal rules require all providers to transmit emergency calls, regardless of whether the caller is a subscriber.

The devices will be installed on streetlights, with the city collecting no new lease revenues from Verizon. Cables will be inside small boxes or within the poles themselves.

hillary.davis@latimes.com

Twitter: @Daily_PilotHDScruffy Dog of the childrens book Scruffy and the Egg was not always scruffy. He used to have well-groomed chestnut fur and a bright blue collar with a shiny gold tag. He used to be Fluffy Dog.

In her debut as an author and illustrator, L.A. native Angela Sanchez tells the story of the dogs transformation as he loses his family and home, navigates life on the streets and befriends and adopts a lost egg.

The cohesive, expressively drawn book, which Sanchez crowdfunded and self-published last year, has a surprisingly optimistic tone considering its exploration of difficult circumstances and homelessness.

The book is also partly autobiographical.

Sanchez, 26, grew up in Glendale. She will be reading Scruffy and Egg at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse, 1010 Foothill Blvd., La Canada Flintridge.

Growing up, she shared a two-bedroom apartment with her father, an architectural draftsman by trade.

For a single dad with no safety net, familial support or four-year degree, the Great Recession was a devastating financial earthquake.

Sanchez was a junior at Herbert Hoover High School in fall 2007 when an eviction notice appeared on the door of her apartment. A week before Thanksgiving, police officers came knocking.

At the time, I didnt fully understand what the prospect of going homeless meant, Sanchez recalled. My dad had lived in that apartment for 25 years. I had lived there all my life. It was home. To lose it was a big blow.

Sanchez and her father spent the 2007 holiday season hopping from one motel to another. By January their credit ran out and they landed in an emergency church shelter. The rules of the shelter were strict and comforts minimal. They slept on military-style cots a few feet from strangers. There was no privacy, no shower and no breakfast.

The high school junior kept her homelessness a secret from everyone at school except a supportive principal and a handful of advisers, who helped her with her college admissions essay.

I didnt tell my teachers because I wanted to be treated like every other student, she said. I didnt want to drag homelessness with me into the classroom. At school I got to be the smart kid. That was my identity. I didnt have to worry about anything else.

On the weekends, Sanchez and her father had nowhere to go during the long hours when the shelter was closed.

You dont realize how much time you spend in your home until you dont have one anymore, she said.

To fill time, she and her father walked around Fremont Park or the pristinely landscaped Americana at Brand, which to Sanchez looked like Disneylands Main Street.

As they walked, they made up stories about a scruffy dog that had lost his home and the vulnerable little egg he chaperoned. The characters elaborate adventures mirrored those of their creators. Sometimes they were us not at our best selves, Sanchez said.. The egg would get bratty. The dog would bark at it. It was a way for us to have a narrative that captured our experiences.

Sanchez began sketching cartoons of Scruffy and the Egg. By the time she and her father secured Section 8 housing in Highland Park near the end of her senior year, the characters had distinct visual traits and fleshed out plot lines.

In fall 2009, Sanchez enrolled at UCLA as a first-generation college student. While there, she earned a bachelors degree in history followed by a masters in education. Shes now a program officer at a local education-focused foundation, an author and a budding professional magician.

By the time she graduated with her masters degree in 2015, Sanchez had completed the thumbnails for Scruffy and the Egg and obtained a copyright.

But tragedy had struck again. In 2012, her father was diagnosed with thymic cancer.

He got to see me graduate from college; get my first boyfriend, who Im still dating; finish grad school; and get my first job, which I still have, Sanchez said of her father, who died in 2016.

And he got to see most of Scruffy and the Egg. Sanchez was able to show him the book before it went into production; everything but the cover, she said.

For Dad, my Scruffy, the books dedication reads, and with special thanks to all the people who made sharing this story possible.

Sanchez crowdfunded her book via Kickstarter; its now available via Amazon and at local L.A. bookstores Book Show, Caravan Books and Flintridge Bookstore and Coffee House. She is donating copies to shelters, homeless kids and the nonprofit organizations that support them.

One of those organizations  School on Wheels  is particularly special to Sanchez. It provided her with a calculus tutor when she was living in the shelter, and it was that tutor who first took her to visit a college campus. Last year, she became the youngest person to serve on the nonprofits board of directors.

Two weeks before Christmas, Sanchez held Scruffy and the Eggs official launch party at School on Wheels downtown headquarters near skid row.

I used to be a School on Wheels student just like you, she told a group of students before she began reading them her book.

As she read, the kids munched on pizza slices and followed Scruffys adventures attentively. They giggled at the Eggs demanding Cheep, cheep, cheep!

After the reading, each student received a signed copy of the book. As one little boy thumbed through the colorful pages, he gave Scruffy and the Egg a concise, matter-of-fact review: Yup. That was good.

The adventures of Scruffy and the Egg are not over  Sanchez envisions this book as the first in a series. Her path forward as an author is bright: shes at work on a young adult novel that was recently selected for a Work in Progress Award by the Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators and also landed her a PEN Center USA 2018 Emerging Voices Fellowship.

But, she said, Homelessness is something I never want to forget. Having stories that are able to address these difficult topics is one of the simplest and best things you can give someone.Nearly 100 residents from Glendale and the surrounding area learned on Thursday how to better live and cope with their encroaching coyote neighbors, with one important point made  be assertive when encountering one of the animals.

Much of the domestication of coyotes is due to a lack of aversive conditioning, or hazing, of coyotes by people who encounter them, said Cathy Schoomaker, urban wildlife conservationist with the National Park Service during an event at the Brand Library and Art Center that was hosted by the Northwest Glendale Homeowners Assn. in partnership with the Glendale Police Department.

If people ignore or feed coyotes when they see them, coyotes have no incentive to leave the area, Schoomaker added.

Be big, be loud, be aggressive, she said. It doesnt really matter what you say, just be aggressive.

Coyote hazing includes making eye contact with the animal, raising your arms or stomping your feet to appear larger, creating a loud noise or throwing items at the coyote, if possible, while maintaining a distance of at least 20 feet.

Maintaining a fear of humans among coyotes is the best way to deal with a population that simply cannot be transported or killed off. Its the preferred way to avoid conflicts with the animals while still allowing coyotes to play their important role in the ecosystem, Schoomaker said.

In addition, much of the longstanding advice holds true: Supervise children and pets when outside, dont leave food sources out in the open, limit or fence-off potential hiding spaces and consider installing motion-activated lights or noise-makers in yards or around homes.

Schoomaker also provided information about countermeasures that will stop coyotes from leaping into yards, such as raised or angled fencing. In addition, she advised using makeshift repellents such as scent rags, sprinklers or cayenne pepper.

Many residents asked about how to deal with neighbors who continue to intentionally feed coyotes, ignore warnings to coyote-proof their yards or are simply too worried about looking silly while hazing.

The city of Glendale has had an ordinance against feeding coyotes since 1995, according to Lt. Oscar Rodriguez of the Glendale Police Department, who also said the department gets roughly 10 calls a month about the animals.

If you see [a] person feeding the coyotes you have to be the person that places them under citizens arrest, Rodriguez said. You call the police and say I saw my neighbor feeding the coyotes.

He added that residents not try to apprehend the individuals, merely be the one to speak out so authorities can follow up with a possible citation.

jeff.landa@latimes.com

Twitter: @JeffLandaOn Thursday, Glendale Community College celebrated the opening of Sierra Vista, a three-story, roughly 95,000-square-foot student services facility and now the largest building on the Verdugo campus.

Armine Hacopian, the college boards president, joined David Viar, the schools superintendent/president, for the grand opening of the building, where a bottle of champagne was smashed to mark the launch of Sierra Vista.

The $49-million site was paid for by a combination of state and Measure G funds and houses the colleges journalism department and culinary arts school as well as admissions and records, counseling, career services, financial aid and various classrooms.

Student trustee Colleen Gabrimasshi and Glendale Mayor Vartan Gharpetian also spoke during the ceremony.

jeff.landa@latimes.com

Twitter: @JeffLandaAs fall is to hunting and April to fishing, February is to the Parent Teacher Assn.

Its Founders Day month, and in addition to celebrating the 1897 birth of the National Congress of Mothers (now PTA) and Glendale Council PTAs 108-year history, all our PTAs are in the midst of board nominating season.

Theyre looking for volunteers.

A couple of recent observations of anxious or angry groups of parents brought to mind the importance of PTA and its mission, to positively impact the lives of all children and families  with skills in advocacy, leadership and communication.

Turning to PTAs five stated purposes, I was struck especially by the fourth as necessary to the accomplishment of all to bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth.

Concerned that the battle-prone mood of our times may be making its way into home-school relations, I asked a number of Council PTA past presidents to share the ups and downs of their experiences and why parents should consider saying yes if called to volunteer for an office.

Virginia Young, Council president whom I met at my first Founders Day event 30 years ago, was among the first to reply.

Happy birthday, PTA! came her cheery voicemail message. Speaking about her 15 years helping schools and parents, she said she didnt intend to make it a career, but with eight children, it turned out to be a career for me  [and] every year was so rewarding.

She said she wouldnt hesitate to do it all over again.

Lina Harper, school board member for 10 years after her PTA term, sent me via email a long list of benefits to PTA participation, starting with the strong message it sends to children that school is important.

PTA provides you with  a network to build personal relationships  so you know the families of your childs friends;  the opportunity to build a working relationship with  the staff, [so] they know who your child is; and ... a more enriching school experience for your child and all the children.

She added that PTA is fun, which reminded me of her two-part PTA theme: Take time for PTA  and time to smell the roses.

Lynn Miyamoto, California State PTAs vice president for family engagement, wrote in an email how she loves the opportunity to remember the founders who made it possible for all children to receive a public education.

She credits PTA with helping her make wonderful friendships, become an advocate for the arts and continue her efforts to be sure all families have a voice at their local schools.

Monna Johnson, a substitute teacher since completing her term two years ago, said in a phone call that she wants parents to understand that every school is different.

PTA really helps people understand the culture of the school, she told me.

She sees the difference between schools that have parent involvement and those that dont, and she encourages parents to begin helping in small ways to gain familiarity with the school.

Patty Scripter, another past president who has served PTA at the state level  recalled in an email her start in PTA.

Just like most, she wrote, I joined PTA for my kids  but school was intimidating, and I started out not knowing much.

After a few volunteer jobs, she became unit president because no one else would.

Scripter wrote of the first time she attended the annual gathering for new PTA presidents.

I was  thinking about book fair chairs, the Halloween carnival and what our fundraisers would be when the Council president, Mary Boger, gave her welcome. She told us we were not just unit presidents but we were child advocates, and I can literally tell you, that moment changed my life.

Scripter said the mission of PTA still speaks to her.

I hold firm to the PTA core value that all children are our children and am a proud member of the organization that speaks for every child with one voice, she said.

Mindful of the challenges of office, particularly in a state ranked 46th in per-pupil funding, Susan Hunt and Sandy Russell acknowledged in emails the hesitations parents may feel.

We do all forget that fundraising is not the purpose of PTA, Hunt wrote. She also cautioned about PTAs forgetting that the principal of the school has the final say about what happens on the campus [which can lead] to much strife and anxiety on both sides.

Russell, now serving as president of First District PTA (stretching from Burbank to Pomona), said it this way.

Our biggest headaches are when people forget the purpose  and let their personal issues take over and make it an uncomfortable environment for others who want to participate ... The drama does not need to happen, she said.

Russell went on to express the continuing commitment shared by many who have joined the PTA cause.

The reality is that most of the same issues still exist. We are still worried about the budget  school climate and student stress and  getting good officers in place to carry on what needs to be done. That doesnt mean we have not made a difference  It goes to show that we must repeat the important message of our founding mothers: The National Congress of Mothers, irrespective of creed, color, or condition, stands for all parenthood, childhood, and homehood. Its platform is the universe; its organization, the human race.

Who wouldnt want to volunteer for an organization like that? I realize hunting and fishing are not the best metaphors to use here. But Im glad PTA caught me.

JOYLENE WAGNER is a past member of the Glendale Unified school board, from 2005 to 2013, and currently serves on the boards of Glendale Educational Foundation and other nonprofit organizations. Email her at jkate4400@aol.com.With a light agenda Tuesday, La Canada school officials took care of several key pieces of business while considering the best steps forward in terms of the districts finances, seeking guidance in modernizing school campuses and keeping students safe.

School safety plans

A routine matter required by state law, district officials reviewed the 2018-19 school safety plans for all LCUSD sites. Mark Evans, the districts assistant superintendent of business and administrative services, explained the information is compiled into annual School Accountability Report Cards.

The reports contain information on campus crimes, expulsions and discipline and lay out procedures for reporting child abuse and hate crimes, clarifying sexual harassment and ensuring safe ingress and egress to and from schools. Local parent David Haxton accused the district of benign neglect for not creating clearer pathways to and from La Canada High School for pedestrians and vehicles.

The district allows students to park in the cutouts on Oak Grove [Drive] so they cant be used for the intended purpose of drop off and pick up  even though the districts insurance underwriter said that that was unsafe, Haxton said at the Feb. 13 meeting. Students on the bus all have to cross two busy streets to get to the school property. And communities near the high school are used for pick up and drop off.

School board member Dan Jeffries acknowledged the historic problem of parking on the high school campus, and said the district was working within the current restrictions but would prioritize the issue as LCUSD moves forward in its plans to renovate the campus in coming years under the districts facilities master plan.

School board member Ellen Multari inquired whether information regarding active shooter training and response might be relevant to the reports and how its disseminated to staff and faculty members.

Theres been a lot of evidence to suggest that certain behaviors can infinitely increase the chances of survival and success in getting out of situations like that, she said. Its really not something were obviously going to teach our students, but I think wed want our faculty and staff to understand how these behaviors can save lives.

Officials explained how emergency procedural information is kept and disseminated. Board President Kaitzer Puglia said shed like the board to receive updates on emergency readiness and safety training on an annual basis.

Second interim budget

Mark Evans and fiscal services director Gretchen Bergstrom gave governing board members a rough estimate of what the districts budget might look like through 2021, presenting a second interim report for 2017-18. The out-year estimates incorporate key assumptions following the 2018-19 state budget proposal put forth by Gov. Jerry Brown on Jan. 10.

The district is on track to receive $46.6 million in revenues this fiscal year, about $1.13 million more than what officials anticipated in their 2017-18 budget. But expenditures are estimated at $47.2 million  with nearly $20.2 million dedicated to certificated teacher salaries  more than $1.2 million than the budget estimate.

Well be deficit spending this year, Evans said of the general fund change. Next year is flush, thats largely when we get those one-time moneys. Then were kind of flirting with the red and black line in the out years.

Bergstrom said the assumption was that student enrollment would remain flat in coming years, and that while gap funding from the state, intended to help bring school districts back to 2007-08 funding levels, has been fully paid, LCUSD could expect one-time funding next school year in the amount of $295 per average daily attendance, or ADA.

After that, however, the only increase in state funding will come from cost of living adjustments, which are far outpaced by the rise in what districts are expected to contribute to employees retirement benefits.

The pool is finite, and there are only so many resources, Evans said, encouraging officials to prioritize spending projects. Our ability to expand programs is very minimal.

Contract awarded

Also Tuesday, school board members approved a contract with Valencia-based management consultant Linik Corp. for the planning and implementation of $149 million in Measure LCF bond funds. The cost of the contract is not to exceed $45,500, which will allow Linik Corp. to assist the district with pre-construction management, planning and the bidding and construction process, including the submittal of projects for approval by the Division of the State Architect.

This is an important mechanism for us for oversight, said school board member Joe Radabaugh. The district doesnt necessarily have the staff to pull this off right away. So Im looking forward to partnering  lets get going.

sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardinePolice say three suicide bombers have attacked a crowded market in northern Nigeria, killing at least 18 people.

Borno state police spokesman Joseph Kwaji confirms the Friday night attack to The Associated Press.

The bombers, all believed to be female, left another 22 people wounded at a fish market in Konduga, just outside the state capital, Maiduguri.

The Islamist extremist group Boko Haram continues to carry out deadly suicide bombings in Borno and other parts of northern Nigeria as part of its violent campaign to establish an Islamic state in the West African nation.

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The extremist group has increasingly used women and youth as bombers, often after abducting and indoctrinating them.

Maiduguri is the birthplace of the extremist group and has been a frequent target.Israeli politicians accused Polands prime minister of anti-Semitism on Saturday for equating Poles who participated in the horrors of the Holocaust to supposed Jewish perpetrators, setting off a new chapter in an angry dispute over Polands new bill criminalizing the mention of Polish complicity in the Nazi-led genocide.

Yair Lapid, head of the centrist opposition Yesh Atid party, said Israel should recall its ambassador immediately in response to Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawieckis comments, which he called anti-Semitism of the oldest kind.

The perpetrators are not the victims. The Jewish state will not allow the murdered to be blamed for their own murder, said Lapid, the son of a Holocaust survivor.

Labor leader Avi Gabbay said Morawiecki sounded like any other Holocaust denier with the remarks he gave in Munich, Germany, on Saturday.

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The blood of millions of Jews cries from the earth of Poland over the distortion of history and the escape from blame. Jews were murdered in the Holocaust and Poles took an active part in their murder, Gabbay said. The government of Israel has to be a voice for the millions of murdered and strongly denounce the Polish prime ministers words.

Morawiecki was responding to a question from an Israeli journalist at the Munich Security Conference. Asking about a new Polish law that criminalizes some statements about the Holocaust, the journalist shared a personal story about his parents being reported to the Nazis by Polish neighbors. He asked if he would now be considered a criminal in Poland for relating the story.

Of course its not going to be punishable, not going to be seen as criminal, to say that there were Polish perpetrators, as there were Jewish perpetrators, as there were Russian perpetrators, as there were Ukrainian, not only German perpetrators, Morawiecki said in response.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also attended the Munich conference, called his Polish counterparts comment outrageous.

There is a problem here of lack of understanding of history and lack of sensitivity to the tragedy of our people, Netanyahu said, adding that he planned to speak with Morawiecki soon.

It was just the latest fallout from the Polish Holocaust speech law that has drawn outrage in Israel and elsewhere.

In recent weeks, Israeli officials have sharply criticized the legislation that criminalizes blaming Poland as a nation for crimes committed by Nazi Germany. Israeli critics have accused Poland of seeking to use the law to whitewash the role of some Poles who helped Germans kill Jews during the war. Holocaust scholars estimate that Poles killed about 200,000 Jews during the Holocaust.

Polish authorities say they just want to protect Poland from being depicted as a collaborator of the Nazis when the country was Adolf Hitlers first victim and suffered through nearly six years of war and occupation.

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Israeli Labor party lawmaker Itzik Shmuly, who is pushing for a counter bill in the Israeli parliament to criminalize the denial of Nazi collaboration, quipped on Twitter that the next step of Morawieckis pathetic project to erase the crimes of the Polish people is probably going to be blaming the Jews for their own Holocaust and presenting the Nazis as victims of the circumstances.

Morawieckis office had no immediate reaction to the uproar in Israel.Just days ago, Israeli police recommended that Benjamin Netanyahu be indicted in two corruption cases.

But on the first weekend after the bombshell development in the investigation into alleged wrongdoing, Netanyahu isnt holed up with lawyers or keeping a low profile. Instead, hes hobnobbing with other world leaders at the annual Munich Security Conference in Germany.

Netanyahu is expected to address the group on Sunday, and tell the world if you want to avoid a huge war in Israel, stop Iran, Yaakov Amidror, a former Israeli national security advisor who is close to Netanyahu, said to journalists. Such an international venue is familiar ground for the Israeli leader, who has been in office for almost 10 years.

Tal Schneider, the political analyst for the Israeli financial daily Globes, who is accompanying Netanyahu in Munich, said the prime minister appears unruffled, is projecting business is as usual, carrying on with scheduled meetings. Netanyahu has yet to make himself available to reporters since the police recommendation was announced.

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But in Israel, new polls shows that a good portion of the Israeli public think he should face criminal charges after police recommended he be indicted on suspicion of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

The police recommendations were the product of a yearlong investigation and presented Tuesday to Atty. Gen. Avichai Mandelblit, the nations chief prosecutor, who will have to decide whether to indict Netanyahu.

Three polls taken in the 48 hours following the police announcement show many Israelis believing the polices version of events, and not that of Netanyahu, who claims he is the victim of a political witch hunt.

A poll aired on television channel Reshet said 49% of Hebrew-speaking Israelis believe Netanyahu has acted improperly. Twenty-five percent accept Netanyahus claims of innocence and the remaining 26% do not know what to believe.

A poll by Channel 2 showed that 45% of Israelis believe Netanyahu should resign even before the attorney general decides whether to indict, versus 40% who said he should not.

In a signed editorial, Aluf Benn, editor-in-chief of Haaretz, a newspaper highly critical of Netanyahu, wrote that with the polices recommendations to indict Benjamin Netanyahu for bribery, the prime minister begins the countdown to the end of his political life.

Netanyahu made clear he wont step down without a fight, Benn noted, before mentioning a detail Israelis appear to be absorbing this weekend: Netanyahu didnt try to contradict the hard facts published by the police.

Netanyahu, on the other hand, projects that nothing is amiss. He turned his attention instead to the recent downing of an Israeli F-16.

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On Thursday, as he was boarding his flight to Munich, only days after the fighter jet was downed by a Syrian missile, Netanyahu announced, I will again emphasize our determination to defend ourselves, of our own power, with no restriction.

The statement appeared to be a reference to the Israeli fear that Russia, the principal backer of President Bashar Assad in the 7-year-long Syrian civil war, may aim to limit Israels freedom of operation in Syria.

Israel feels increasingly alone as is confronts a difficult dilemma on its northern border: to permit Iran to gain a permanent foothold just across its border with Syria, or to go to war to prevent it.

The White House took more than a full day before reacting to the first incident of Iranian-Israeli military engagement before releasing a generic statement reaffirming Israels right to defend itself.

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Other strains are beginning to show in the usually strong relationship between Netanyahu and President Trump, including a confrontation over the facts of that relationship earlier this week.

On Monday, Netanyahu announced that for some time now Ive been talking about [plans to annex areas of the occupied West Bank] with the Americans.

I am guided by two principles in this issue  optimal coordination with the Americans, whose relationship with us is a strategic asset for Israel and the settlement movement, and the fact that it must be a government initiative rather than a private one because it would be a historic move.

Within hours, White House spokesman Josh Raffel issued a statement flatly disputing Netanyahus contention.

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Reports that the United States discussed with Israel an annexation plan for the West Bank are false, he said. The United States and Israel have never discussed such a proposal, and the presidents focus remains squarely on his Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative.

On Friday, the White House, reverting to form, announced that Trump would be meeting with Netanyahu in Washington on March 5, leaving Israeli commentators to wonder if the prime minister would fly to the United States while under indictment, or at all.

Netanyahu will keep meeting other leaders, hell keep on acting as if everything is normal as long as he can, Meir Sheetrit, a former minister from Netanyahus political party, Likud, said in an interview. But we know what direction this is going in: political defeat.

This is untenable in the long term, Sheetrit added. Netanyahu and the Likud are disconnected from the people, floating along in a world in which their corruption doesnt matter. But it will, and this wont take long to come.A Turkish court has sentenced six journalists and media employees accused of involvement in Turkeys 2016 coup attempt to life in prison without parole, the state-run news agency reported.

The Anadolu Agency said the court in Silivri, on the outskirts of Istanbul, on Friday convicted prominent journalists Ahmet Altan, Mehmet Altan and Nazli Ilicak and three other media employees of crimes against the state. One defendant was acquitted.

This is a dark day for press freedom and for justice in Turkey and sets a chilling precedent for scores of other journalists facing trials on similar trumped-up terrorism charges, said Gauri van Gulik, Europe director for Amnesty International.

They are the first journalists to be convicted over the July 15, 2016, coup attempt, which Turkey says was orchestrated by a network led by U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. The cleric denies involvement.

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The journalists conviction came as another court in the same courthouse ordered German journalist Deniz Yucel  who has been detained in Turkey for a year  released from jail pending trial.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed his release, saying she was happy for Yucel and his family, who had to endure a very difficult year of separation.

A picture tweeted by his lawyer showed Yucel outside jail embracing his wife.

Germanys foreign minister later told reporters that Yucel was on his way to an Istanbul airport and can freely leave Turkey.

Minister Sigmar Gabriel said the court appeared to have set no conditions on Yucels release, and insisted it didnt result from any kind of deal between Berlin and Ankara.

I can assure you there were no agreements, no quid pro quo and no  as some people call it  deal in this case, Gabriel said.

The six journalists given life terms were charged with attempts against Turkeys constitution and membership in a terrorist organization. They were employed by Gulen-linked media organizations but have rejected the charges, denying any involvement in the coup attempt.

They were given aggravated life sentences without the possibility of parole and other rights.

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Of course we are going to appeal the verdict, Mehmet Altans lawyer, Ergin Cinmen, said. Its a decision of the century and will need to be taught in law schools.

Its a decision where freedoms of expression and thought have been destroyed, he said.

More than 38,000 people, including journalists, are in jail as part of an ongoing large-scale Turkish government crackdown on Gulens followers launched after the coup. More than 110,000 others have been sacked from government jobs. Many proclaim their innocence.

These verdicts, the first against journalists accused of being connected to the July 2016 failed coup, set a devastating precedent for the many other journalists and writers in Turkey who are being tried on similarly spurious charges, said Jennifer Clement, president of PEN International.

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Ahmet Altan, a former newspaper editor, and his brother Mehmet Altan  a columnist and academic  were accused of appearing together with veteran journalist Ilicak in a political debate show on a Gulen-linked television channel. Prosecutors deemed that their comments indicated they had prior knowledge of the coup attempt.

In January, Turkeys Constitutional Court ruled that Mehmet Altan and Sahin Alpay  another journalist being tried separately  should be released pending the outcome of their trials. But a lower court refused to implement the decision, raising concerns about rule of law in the country.A longtime professor at Pennsylvania's Bloomsburg University was arrested this week after authorities said they found a collection of child pornography on his office computer.

Scott Lowe

Scott Lowe, 56, was charged Thursday with criminal use of a communication facility and four counts of possessing child pornography, Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a statement.

Four photos were found on Lowe's hard drive after the university had performed a routine audit of university computers, Shapiro said.

One of the photos found appeared to be of a 7- to 10-year-old girl who was not fully clothed, according to the criminal complaint provided by the Attorney General's office.

College officials performed the audit on February 5 after the professor's computer was flagged last month for an "alarming malware associated with his internet usage of the Bloomsburg University network" and contacted university police, according to the complaint.

Bloomsburg University, one of 14 publicly funded schools in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, referred the case Wednesday to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office.

Investigators seized the professor's computer storage and went Lowe's home Thursday night, the complaint says.

"My office has a zero tolerance policy for sexual predators -- no matter who they are," Shapiro said in a statement. "These charges are particularly heinous because the accused is a professor -- someone trusted to work closely with students.

"This professor is charged with viewing child pornography on his computer in his university office. That is outrageous, and he will be held accountable. No one is above the law."

Lowe was sent to Columbia County Prison on $250,000 bail and faces a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled Feb. 28, Shapiro said.

The philosophy professor has taught at the university for decades, and his salary this year was $117,632, bloomutoday.com reports, attributing the information from the Bloomsburg Press-Enterprise.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.#BTS BTS to hold online concert next month K-pop superband BTS will hold an online concert next month to meet fans across the world, its management agency said Wednesday. The concert, titled "BTS Permission To Dance On ...Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Pathless in Kashmir

Pakistan has stepped up its proxy war in Kashmir. Terrorists belonging to different terror outfits backed by Pakistan are making almost daily attacks on Army and paramilitary camps and killing our jawans. Defence and Home Ministers are routinely warning Pakistan that appropriate retaliatory measures will be taken, though nothing is visible on the ground. J & K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has called for talks with Pakistan because war is not an alternative. The hyper-nationalist section of the media has accused her of batting for Pakistan. But amid all such heated debates, one stark reality stands out: India does not know how to deal with the increasing fidayeen attacks and the equally increasing alienation of the people of Kashmir from India.

The security forces are doing what they have been told to do by the political leadership of the Union Government. They are carrying out the orders given to them. It is not for them to sit in judgment over the result of what they are doing. If threats of retaliation does not deter Pakistan from aiding and abetting and fuelling terror attacks in Kashmir, then there is only one alternative left: to strike and destroy the camps from which the terrorists are operating. This means risking a full-scale war with Pakistan with all its unpredictable consequences. If the Union Government is not prepared to take such a risk, only two alternatives remain: either to go on suffering these attacks or to open talks with Pakistan and try to hammer out a solution. Obviously the Modi Government does not want a full-scale war Pakistan. This is quite sensible. War between two nuclear-armed neighbours is always fraught with dire consequences.

What is complicating the situation far more is the growing alienation of the people of Kashmir. Use of force to put an end to terror attacks has not been successful. Rather, the use of force is proving counter-productive by alienating the people, especially the youth. Pakistan wants to grab the whole of Kashmir. Its plot can be frustrated only with the help and cooperation of the people of Kashmir as was done in the 1965 war. Alienating them will only help Pakistan. What is needed now is to win over the people of Kashmir by breaking out of the current mould of thinking. That requires sympathy, imagination and a healing touch. Holding the land of Kashmir but losing the mind of the Kashmiri people would be self-defeating. Calling Mehbooba Mufti a pro-Pakistani (or worse) will not help either. The political leadership of the BJP-led Central administration will have to think out of the box to find the path of ending the conflict in Kashmir.

The author was a correspondent of The Hindu in Assam. He also worked in Patriot, Compass (Bengali), Mainstream. A veteran journalist, he comes from a Gandhian family and was intimately associated with the RCPI leader, Pannalal Das Gupta.Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Kasganj Violence: Unveiling the Anatomy of a Riot

by Ram Puniyani

Communal violence has been the bane of our society. There had been a perception that this violence is a spontaneous clash between two communities. Over a period of time, it is becoming clear that it is not a spontaneous phenomenon, nor is it a clash between two communities, it is a planned violence. Scholars, basing themselves on analysis of the inquiry commission reports and the pattern of riots, show that violence is generally a planned event to polarise the communities for electoral benefits. Surely apart from communal parties other parties also have to be blamed for various slips of mainly omission and partly occasionally for active commission of the violence. The main source of this curse of our society is communal politics, which aims to rule in the name of religious identity. If there was any doubt about it, that got cleared in the Kasganj violence in UP on Republic Day 2018.

The story so far is that in Kasganj in Shahid Abdul Hamid Chowk a programme was organised by the minority community to celebrate the day, chairs were laid etc. Motor-bike-rider youths, nearly 90 or so, belonging to the RSS affiliate ABVP, came, carrying tricolour and saffron flags. They also had clubs and other armaments as per some reports, videos. They insisted at the Chowk to remove the chairs as they had to pass from there. The local Muslims asked them to join the programme rather than disturb it. The clash ensued. The tricolour-saffron flag wielding youth shouted the slogans, Pakistan Murdabad (Death to Pakistan), Hindi Hindu Hindustan, Katve Bhago Pakistan, (Muslims go to Pakistan) Is Desh Mein Rahna hai to Vande Mataram kahna Hoga (If you want to live in this country, you will have to say Vande Mataram). In the clash and bullet firing that followed two men received bullet injuries of which Chandan Gupta, who was also a participant of the bike rally, died and the other, a Muslim labourer Naushad, is being treated in hospital, having been severely injured.

A section of TV and other media presented it as if Muslims were resisting the tricolour- hoisting; so they opposed the bikers and forced them to shout pro-Pakistan slogans, something which is far from the truth. The role of a section of the media is very negative in communal violence. Police as usual did not stop or control the inciting mob. On the following day Rajveer Singh, a BJP MP, at the cremation of Chandan Gupta further added to the fury after which the mobs resorted to selectively burning vehicles and shops in the Muslim locality. The Yogi Adityanath Government has by now announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakhs for Chandan Gupta; hopefully compensation for other injuries and damages will be forthcoming.

An interesting sidelight took place this time around. Raghvendra Vikram Singh, the DM of Bareilly, in his Hindi facebook post criticised the event saying that by now it has become a trend to take out processions in Muslim localities and shout anti Pakistan slogans. Are these people Pakistanis? The post was taken down after intimidating trolling and the State adminis-tration expressing displeasure over the post. He wrote: I apologise if some sentiments were hurt by what I said, but there is no denying that our secular ethos is at stake; there are things which need to be protected at all cost. Another officer, Rashmi Varun (Deputy Director, Statistics, Saharanpur), in another post said that Chandan has been killed by saffron politics. (Hindustan.com)

The tragic violence has led to loss of one innocent life; injuries to few and loss of social property. The compensation so far has been selective. The whole incident and the facebook post of the DM reveals the deeper dynamics of how the violence gets orchestrated, The mechanisms of these do keep changing over a period of time, but what is constant is an evil innovation of techniques to target the vulnerable minorities. Earlier it had been taking out procession with loud music in front of the mosque and putting beef in temple. With time one saw that in the Mumbai violence of 1992-93 Maha Artis (Invocation Prayer) were devised to mobilise Hindus, the dispersing mass after the prayer would indulge in anti-minority violence. One has also seen the issue of Love-Jihad being used in the Muzaffarnagar violence. The girl who is supposed to be the victim, denied being harassed by the Muslim boy, but the mobilisation of Jats-Hindus continued never-theless. One can see the changing pattern of issues which are used to incite the violence.

What strikes one in Kasganj is that the anatomy of the violence is very clear. It seems this may be a preparation for the elections which are in the offing a year later. The tiranga (tricolour) issue is quite paradoxical for Muslims. They hurl it or abstain from it, both ways they are damned. What is more interesting is that tricolour, which was opposed by the RSS at the time of independence on the ground that number three is evil as per Hindu ethos and that the real flag of Hindus is saffron alone, today stands to use the same tricolour to browbeat and make it a vehicle for polarisation, through its affiliates like the ABVP and VHP. It seems as a backup to what has happened in Kasganj now the RSS is organising rallies in different cities and towns across the State. The rallies at this juncture look to be a show of strength in which uniformed cadres of the RSS and its affiliates in the Sangh Parivar will be marching with sticks.

To cover the whole thing, the BJP leadership wants to project that minorities opposed the tricolour and shouted pro-Pakistan slogans! One knows that all through the BJPs electoral strength has been going up, courtesy violence and consequent polarisation. The society needs to protect itself against such aggressive abuse of the tricolour for inciting violence, and be careful not to fall into the traps of provocation on any ground whatsoever.

The author, a retired Professor at the IIT-Bombay, is currently associated with the Centre for the Study of Secularism and Society, Mumbai.Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Sectarian Politics and the Partition of India: The Targeting of Nehru and (...)

The rise of Hindutva-related organisations in India, especially since the late 1980s, has witnessed frequent attacks by them on the pre-freedom Congress in relation to the partition of India in 1947. These attacks increased since 2013 in the run-up to the General Elections of 2014. Some Hindutva organisations have become less covert than before in their glorification of the assassins of Mahatma Gandhi. Simultaneously, other sections of the Hindutva forces have sought to disclaim responsibility for Gandhis assassi-nation and to shift the focus of their attack on Jawaharlal Nehru.

In this essay, some aspects of these phenomena are being explored. A connection between these tendencies and a development on another plane is also being underlined. This is that certain somewhat dubious and one-sided critiques of the pre-freedom Congress in relation to Partition, fostered by the late 20th century colonialist historiography, have been feeding into the Hindutva narrative.

Decades after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the Hindu Mahasabha workers have in recent years become emboldened publicly to glorify his assassins. On January 30, 2016, precisely 68 years after the assassination, some of them reportedly distributed sweets to mark the killing as they continue to hold Gandhi responsible for the Partition of India in 1947.

On the same day an intellectual associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) sought, on the electronic media, nominally to dissociate the RSS from the prime assassin. However, the RSS and its various offshoots, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have seldom dissociated themselves from holding the Indian National Congress (Congress) responsible for Partition. On the contrary, this has been a major plank in its propaganda offensive against the Congress. Many BJP leaders have resorted to such rhetoric, especially at election time.

For instance, these attacks became especially marked since the latter months of 2013 in the run-up to the General Elections of 2014.1 Some of the Hindutva organisations have also become less covert than before in their glorification of the assassins of Mahatma Gandhi. Simul-taneously, other sections of the Hindutva forces have sought to disclaim responsibility for Gandhis assassination and to shift the focus of their attack on Jawaharlal Nehru.2

There have also been some gradual changes in the rhetoric of the BJP compared, on the one hand, with that of the Jan Sangh, its pre-1977 predecessor, and on the other, with that of its natural allies such as the Hindu Mahasabha, the Shiv Sena and similar parties. The Hindu law reform conducted in the 1950s during Jawaharlal Nehrus tenure as the Prime Minister had not gone down well with the sections of society prone to support the Jan Sangh, and the momentous churning of a near-stagnant social milieu provided a further point for conservative Hindu bitterness towards the countrys first Premier. It was some two decades later, with the Jan Sanghs involvement in the political movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) in the mid-1970s, that the Sangh found itself having to engage Gandhians, Sarvodaya workers, socialists and others.

The Targeting of Nehru

Thus, when the Jan Sangh re-emerged in 1980 as the BJP, its traditional doctrinal positions gave way to some modified formulations; alongside it became necessary to reshuffle the punching bags that the new party would target in its political practice. It is in this phase that its fire came to focus more exclusively on Nehru and his family. This did not mean that the BJP quite discarded its previous antagonism toward Gandhi.

By the 1990s, the BJP under Lal Krishna Advani had internalised Hindutva, the ideological position of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, the Hindu Mahasabha leader. In 2003 the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Govern-ment even installed, in the Central Hall of Parliament, a portrait of Savarkar who had directly inspired Gandhis assassin. JP was long dead and, in any case, for the BJP, he had served his purpose. The BJP (and the Shiv Sena) felt enabled to disclose some more affinities with the Hindu Mahasabha without directly attacking Gandhi himself.

The BJP strategy of not directly attacking Gandhi coupled with a selective utilisation of his name continues. Given the great respect in which Gandhi is widely held, it would have perhaps been inexpedient for the BJP, both domestically and internationally, to adopt a course that a party with no immediate prospect of wieldingor continuing to wieldpower might have felt free to do. For that reason, despite the celebration and sweets-distribution organised by the Hindu Mahasabha workers on the anniversary of Gandhis assassination in 2016, the main focus of the Hindutva-BJP attacks in the immediate future is likely to be not on Gandhi as such but on the Congress, in particular on Nehru and his family.

The functioning of the post-1969 Congress too facilitated this concentrated fire on Nehrus family by the BJP. As the Congress began increasingly to be identified personally with Nehrus daughter, Indira Gandhi, power within the party came to be centralised in her and her younger son during the Emergency (1975-77). After her return to power in 1980, and the death later in the year of the younger son, power within the party came to be wielded also by her elder son who would, after her assassination in 1984, succeed her as the Prime Minister and remain in office till 1989. Finally, after the death of all the three, the Congress came gradually to be identified at its apex with Sonia Gandhi and also, in due course, her children. In this scenario, attacks on Nehru and his dynasty have received new traction. A very substantive part of the Hindutva attack involves popularising the thesis that the Congress in general, and Nehru in particular, were responsible for Partition.

There have been two tactical features of the Hindutva attack on the Congress in relation to Partition. First, the Hindutva forces consciously eschewed any reflective analysis of the pre-independence politics of the Hindu Mahasabha and, second, with respect to British imperial objectives, they either passed them over sub silentio or treated them as not being of adequate importance in determining the ultimate outcome of Partition.

The Silence over Savarkar

For example, the consequences of V.D. Savarkars adoption of the two-nation theory have not been reflected upon, let alone honestly analysed in Hindutva historiography and propaganda. In his presidential speech at the Calcutta session of the Hindu Mahasabha in December 1939, Savarkar declared that We Hindus are a nation by ourselves.3 In this speech he pointedly excluded Muslims from this definition of nation. Significantly, this was a few months before Jinnah and the Muslim League formally adopted the two-nation theory.

On August 15, 1943, four years after the Hindus are a nation articulation, Savarkar said:

For the last 30 years we have been accustomed to the ideology of Geographical Unity of India and the Congress has been the strongest advocate of that unity but suddenly the Muslim minority, which has been asking one concession after another, has, after the Communal Award, come forward with the claim that it is a separate nation. I have no quarrel with Mr Jinnahs two nation theory. We Hindus are a nation by ourselves and it is a historical fact that Hindus and Muslims are two nations.4

There are three noteworthy points about this statement. First, in spite of his earlier 1939 speech, Savarkar now affects surprise at the Muslim League demand. Second, even he concedes that the Congress has been the strongest advocate of the unity of India. Third, he endorses Jinnahs two-nation theory. It is quite amazing that even after Savarkar took the position that Hindus and Muslims were separate nations, Hindutva-oriented circles could claim to raise the banner of Akhand Bharat (and even murder Gandhi in its name). Indeed, the Akhand Bharat slogan was again raised by an RSS spokesman on August 15, 2016.5

A leading political figure like Savarkar would, it must be assumed, have been fully aware of the demographic composition of the various regions of undivided India. When he spoke of Hindus and Muslims being two separate nations, surely he must have known, or would have been expected to know, that this could serve to legitimise the demand for separation of the regions where there was a majority of the people who, he argued, constituted a separate nation.

Obviously, Savarkar was aware of the implications of what he was saying. He knew, as even a person of the meanest intelligence would have been expected to know, that such a formulation could involve geographical Partition. Even though they may raise the slogan of Akhand Bharat, the Hindutva-oriented critics real grievance against Gandhi, Nehru and the Congress, therefore, was not, and is not, that the country was divided. Their real grievance obviously is that Gandhi, Nehru and the Congress continued to believe in a composite culture and the concept of a nation that did not accord with theirs. That is why Gandhi lost his life and that is why Nehru is under attack today. Such matters are not analysed or even mentioned in writings by persons belonging to organisations like the RSS, Jana Sangh or the Bharatiya Janata Party.6

As it happened, the vigorous renewal of the Hindutva propaganda holding the Congress responsible for Partition, began even as a similar critique of the party, albeit from a diametrically opposite perspective, was being developed in some academic writings, especially at Cambridge University. From the early 1980s, this would gain appreciable circulation and also feed into the Hindutva attack. It is, therefore, necessary to deal with this particular academic critique, as it appears, in spite of its many errors, to be not infrequently repeated.7

As in the case of the Hindutva positions, discussion here too proceeds without recognition of the existence of any British colonial strategic objectives regarding Partition. This is strange considering the attention given by the British to retaining control in areas in undivided Indias north-west and the north-east.8

The hypothesis has been put across from time to time that in the 1940s Nehru stood in the way of a federal structure which Jinnah supposedly desired.9 The notion, which has in recent years received some traction, seems to be that Jinnah stood for a more inclusive, broader Union which was not acceptable to the Congress leaders. Generally, the loose federal Union argument is made in the context of the British Cabinet Mission Plan of May 1946. The Cabinet Mission Plan, in paragraphs 6 and 7, rejected the larger and smaller versions of Pakistan that had been placed for consideration, and overtly envisaged an undivided India. The Plan was to be subject to re-consideration at the instance of any province after 10 years, and every 10 years thereafter. It envisaged three Groups A, B, and C; Group B would consist of the Muslim-majority provinces in the north-west and Group C of the eastern provinces of Bengal and Assam. The Groups would come together at the Centre in respect of specified subjects.

The Fallacy of a Federal Cabinet Mission Plan

The two underpinnings of the loose federal structure argument are, first, that this is an adequate description of the character of the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 and, second, that Jinnah had accepted this Plan. The view, first expressed by the then Viceroy Wavell, and later popularised by Cambridge scholars as well as some Bombay-based lawyers, was that the Cabinet Mission Plan was accepted by Jinnah and the League and that this implied that the Pakistan demand had been given up. This view has been widely circulated, sometimes with the qualification that the demand was effectively given up.10

The opposite was the case in fact. The resolution, passed on June 6, 1946, by the Council of the Muslim League, by which the Plan was supposedly accepted, made it clear that Pakistan remained its unalterable objective.11 Curiously, this part of the resolution was not emphasised either by Ayesha Jalal in her work on Jinnah published by the Cambridge University Press or by H.M. Seervai in his work on Partition.12 Jalal and Seervai did not deal also with the Leagues Madras session (1941), where it had been made clear by an amendment to the Leagues Constitution that its Pakistan demand was not a bargaining counter. Both these writers were the principal propagators, after Wavell, of the idea that the League had accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan which had, prima facie, rejected the Pakistan idea.

The second and third paragraphs of the Leagues resolution of June 6, 1946, reiterated that Pakistan remained the unalterable objective of the League and that the Cabinet Mission Plan was for it only a step towards Pakistan, which it saw as inherent in the Missions Plan.13 It is not as if the League had accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan and the Congress and Nehru simply came and torpedoed it. The Leagues options with respect to the Cabinet Mission Plan were restricted as the Labour Government in Britain at this stage was not willing to overtly go further by way of a direct Pakistan commitment. The Missions Plan ostensibly rejected the Pakistan concept; even so, as the League noticed, an alternative route to Pakistan was implicit in the Plan. In the third paragraph of the League Councils resolution of June 6, 1946, it was observed that it will keep in view the opportunity and right of secession of Provinces or groups from the Union, which have been provided in the Missions Plan by implication.14 There was on the Leagues part no intention to work the Plan except as a route to attain Pakistan.

While later withdrawing its acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan, the Muslim League had cited, inter alia, a statement by Nehru on July 10, 1946, at a press conference in which he had declared that the Constituent Assembly would be sovereign.15 Yet given the fact that the League had, just a month earlier, on June 6, 1946, reiterated the Pakistan objective, it is hardly fair to blame Nehrus statement for a withdrawal of a League acceptance that did not really exist in the first place.

Besides, the Congress had already made it clear through Maulana Azads letter of May 20, 1946 to Lord Pethick Lawrence, who led the Cabinet Mission, that it would look upon the Constituent Assembly as a sovereign body for the purpose of drafting the Constitution unhindered by any external authority. This letter was drafted by Nehru. What Nehru said on July 10, 1946 was, therefore, not entirely new.

A federal structure requires that the provinces have some control over themselves and their fate. In their submission to the Cabinet Mission four days before the Plan was announced, the League had somewhat brazenly referred to Assam as a Muslim province.16 The Cabinet Mission obliged the League by placing Assam in Group C, along with Muslim-majority Bengal. There was hardly any upholding of the federal principle here. In placing Assam in Group C the British would have known that they were including in the Plan a deal-breaker. The statement issued by the Cabinet Mission on May 16, 1946, required under Paragraph 19 (iv) that the provincial representatives to the Constituent Assembly would divide up into three Sections (corresponding respectively to Groups A, B, and C). Paragraph 19 (v) of the Statement further required that these Sections shall proceed to settle Provincial Constitutions for the provinces included in each Section and shall also decide whether any Group Constitution shall be set up for those Provinces. Maulana Azad pointed out in the letter (drafted by Nehru) to the Cabinet Mission on May 20, 1946, that Bengal would thus play a dominating role over Assam as the Plan required the Provincial Constitution to be settled not by the Province but by the Section, that is Constituent Assembly members belonging to Group C, comprising Bengal and Assam. Rules framed by Group C could thus nullify the theoretical option given to a Province to opt out of a Group at a later stage. Azad pointed out that similarly in Group B, Punjab would dominate over Sind and the NWFP. Incidentally, those familiar with the workings of politics in Pakistan today would readily endorse the validity of this apprehension. In the form in which it was presented, the Cabinet Mission Plan cannot be treated as coterminous with or equivalent to setting up a federal structure. In actual fact it had the effect of covertly throttling provincial federalism at the Group level.

There were other features militating against inclusiveness. Some of these were immediately obvious. Others unfolded in the course of the Cabinet Missions deliberations. Sikhs were left out on a limb in Group B. Jinnah resisted also a role for non-League Muslims in the Executive Council envisaged under the Cabinet Mission Plan. Thus he sought to determine not only the Leagues representation on the Council but also the composition of the Congress representation. In this context, Zakir Husain was to Jinnah a Quisling.17 To describe such positions as federalist or inclusive in any way is hardly tenable.

Speech-making apart, Jinnah had difficulty not only with the federal principle but also with a pluralist approach on Pakistan. In the course of his talks with Jinnah in 1944, Gandhi had suggested a referendum in the Muslim-majority areas to ascertain by adult suffrage of all of the inhabitants of the Pakistan area whether they wished to be part of a separate state. The offer is recorded in Gandhis letter of September 22, 1944 to Jinnah. He also suggested in the letter that a third party or parties be called in to guide or even arbitrate between us. Jinnah responded on September 25, 1944, by demanding that the voting in such a referendum be confined to the Muslims in the area.18 Thus he was not inclined to permit the Sikhs, Hindus, Christians and others in the so-called Pakistan area to have a say in the future of the area that was their home. Such positions sit ill with civil libertarian claims.

Throughout the relevant period, the British resisted suggestions for resolution of the inter-communal question which did not involve a key role for themselves. They saw themselves as arbiters in an inter-communal dispute. Gandhi and Maulana Azad had called this particular bluff more than once in statements usually neglected by historians.

On August 8, 1942, a few hours before his arrest on the next day, Gandhi dictated a letter to a citizen of Bombay, backing Azads offer to the League that if it cooperated fully in the demand for Indian independence, the Congress would have no objection to the British Government transferring all the powers it today exercises to the Muslim League on behalf of the whole of India, including the so-called Indian India.19 On May 8 1946, also Gandhi had suggested that an impartial non-British tribunal go into the points of dispute.20 But it was difficult to get the British to agree. In fact, the provision in the Cabinet Mission Plan regarding review after every 10 years also contained within it the likelihood of continued British supervisory presence.

Parenthetically, we may note that within independent Pakistan too, Jinnah was not enamoured of federalism or its implications. Although Bengalis constituted a majority in Pakistan after its formation, Jinnah, in a speech at Dhaka on March 21, 1948, declared that Urdu and no other language would be Pakistans state language.21 It was this early disinclination to grant a due place to the Bengali language in Pakistan that contributed to the movement for secession of its eastern wing.

The oft-heard lament for the Cabinet Mission Plan and the attempt by diverse forces to pin its failure upon the Congress and Nehru is especially surprising considering some other, particularly obscure, features of the Plan. These features associated with the Cabinet Mission Plan have historically not received adequate attention. These relate to the complicated tie-up envisaged in the Plan between four future events and processes: (i) the lengthy Constitution-making process required under the Plan, (ii) the transfer of power and sovereignty in the form of independence to India, (iii) the condition relating to the formulation of a treaty between the United Kingdom and the Constituent Assembly, and (iv) the stationing of British troops in India and the terms on which these troops would be withdrawn.

An examination of this intricate inter-relationship indicates that the Cabinet Mission Plan was not a document simply offering a loose federal Union. We may, for the present, consider these features seriatim.

First, the length of the Constitution-making process envisaged under the Plan; for it was only after this process was complete that sovereignty was to be transferred under the Plan. In a statement issued on the same day as the Plan was announced, Stafford Cripps declared:

So the three Sections will formulate the Provincial and Group Constitutions and when that is done they work together with the States representatives to make the Union Constitution. This is the final phase.22

Thus, as per the Cabinet Missions Plan, work on the Union Constitution would start only after Provincial and Group Constitutions were ready. That meant that each Group could take its own time settling its own Constitution and the Constitutions of the Provinces comprising the Group. Then work would start on the Union Constitution in association with the (princely) States. Paradoxically, the Cabinet Mission Plan simultaneously declared [in Paragraph 14] that British paramountcy over the princely States would not be transferred to the new Indian Government on attainment of Indian indepen-dence. Thus even while expressing the hope that the princely States would co-operate, the Cabinet Mission Plan offered the States the enticing prospect of their own independence if they did not co-operate in the making of a Union Constitution.

Second, it is not generally known that the matter of transfer of sovereignty was deferred under the Cabinet Mission Plan. The Secretary of State for India, Pethick Lawrence, as leader of the Cabinet Mission, wrote in his letter dated May 22, 1946, to Azad that independence cannot precede the bringing into operation of a new Constitution.23 He added:

When the Constituent Assembly has completed its labours, His Majestys Government will recommend to Parliament such action as may be necessary for the cession of sovereignty to the Indian people...24 [emphasis added]

Even at that stage this transfer of sovereignty was to be subject to certain provisos. Oddly enough, these vital issues have often escaped attention.

A third aspect concerns the Treaty envisaged under the Plan. Paragraph 22 of the Cabinet Mission Plan made it necessary to negotiate a treaty between the Union Constituent Assembly and the U.K, to provide for certain matters arising out of the transfer of power.25

The Cabinet Mission did not envisage any transfer of sovereignty in the form of indepen-dence without the Union Constitution having been drafted and in the absence of such a Treaty having been negotiated. The inevitably long-drawn Constitution-making process intrinsic to the Plan also implied the possibility of continued British supervisory presence. What shape would this take? Moreover, what was there to prevent this supervisory presence from telescoping into the review after the 10 years envisaged in the Plan? [It may be noted parenthetically that it was only on February 20, 1947, by when it had become fairly clear that the Cabinet Mission Plan was not working, that the British Prime Minister announced a definite intention to hand over power to Indian hands not later than June 1948.]

There is finally the inter-related matter of the stationing of British troops. In the Nehru-drafted letter of May 20, 1946, Azad had pointed out to the Cabinet Mission that its notion of British troops remaining in India till after the establish-ment of the Government in accordance with the instrument produced by the Constituent Assembly would be a negation of Indias independence.26 Nehru made this point several times. For example, on August 20, 1946, he observed:

I am sure that when British armed might is removed from India, it will be easier for all of us to face the realities in India and arrive at mutually advantageous agreements.27

The Cabinet Mission, while confirming in its statement on May 25, 1946, that there was no intention of retaining British troops in India against the wish of an independent India under the new Constitution, maintained that during the interim period it was necessary that British troops should remain.28 By interim period was meant the entire elongated period leading up to the framing of the Union Constitution under the Plan, which would be a sequel to the framing of the Provincial and Group Constitutions, and finally the formulation of a Treaty between the Constituent Assembly and the UK.

Not surprisingly, in his letter dated May 20, 1946, to Pethick-Lawrence, Gandhi had also observed that with British troops in India, independence would in fact be a farce and that it can in no way be contended that in the face of the troops, there would be natural behaviour in the Constituent Assembly.29

Thus in the obviously long-drawn Consti-tution-making process envisaged under the Plan, with no transfer of power or sovereignty in the form of Indian independence, and with one political party still committed to its objective of Pakistan, the continued British presence, including the presence of British troops, had the distinct prospect of playing off Groups, Provinces, and Princely States against one another.

The Cabinet Mission Plan was quite different from the current perception of it in sections of the academic community and among sections of the intelligentsia. That this perception has acquired an appreciable hold is, in part, to be accounted for by the resources still available to colonialist historiography. Far from being the blueprint of a loose federal Union, the Cabinet Mission Plan contained within it no early, clear and definite prospect of Indian independence as such; instead it set out a constitutional route for dissolution, a possible prelude to a larger Pakistan and even to the prospect, under colonial auspices and under the watch of British troops, of the separate independence of various Princely states.

Looked at from any angle, therefore, it appears that attempts to shift the primary responsibility for failure of the Cabinet Mission Plan and consequently for Partition upon Nehru individually or upon the Congress collectively, whether these attempts be made on behalf of Hindutva or on behalf of the League or by Colonialist historiography, are less than convincing and historically dubious. This is so particularly because each one of the forces involved in or associated with such targeting usually excludes its own role from the analysis. It is necessary that this record be set straight as the sectarian accounts tend to become elements in the contemporary political and electoral arena.

References

1. See, for example, Narendra Modis statements reported with the dateline Kheda, November 10, 2013. Last accessed September 6, 2016.

2. See, for example, the report about an article published on October 17, 2014 by the mouthpiece of the RSS in the southern State of Kerala. Last accessed September 6, 2016.

3. Indian Annual Register, 1939, Vol. 2, p. 317.

4. Indian Annual Register, 1943, Vol. 2, p. 10.

5. The Indian Express, 2016, RSS leader asks youth to make Akhand Bharat a reality. August 15. Last accessed September 23, 2016.

6. See, for example, Jaswant Singh, Jinnah: India-Partition-Independence, Rupa and Co, New Delhi, 2009. Incidentally, the silences on the Hindu Mahasabha, and its post-Malaviya leadership, in Jaswant Singhs book become more deafening as Partition approaches. The last mention in it of the Mahasabha is with reference to the Gandhi-Jinnah talks of 1944 about which it is observed at p. 312: The announcement of the impending meeting also angered the members of the Hindu Mahasabha.

7. For an earlier critique of such perspectives, see Anil Nauriya, Some Portrayals of Jinnah : A Critique, in D.L. Sheth and Gurpreet Mahajan (eds.), Minority Identities and the Nation-State, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 1999, pp. 73-112.

8. We may cite one of various indications of a British expectation of a foothold in the so-called Pakistan areas. On April 25, 1946, a few days before the Cabinet Mission Plan was announced, one of the contingency arrangements put forward by Sir William Croft, the Deputy Under Secretary of State, India Office, was that we should withdraw from Hindustan and leave it to its own devices while staying in Pakistan by agreement which he estimated would be forthcoming....(The Transfer of Power, 1942-7, HMSO, London, Vol VII, Document 138) Upon this Viceroy Wavell said that he had considered this possibility in consultation with the Commander-in-Chief, and thought that we might have to contemplate something of the sort. .... (The Transfer of Power, Vol VII, Idem) At the meeting of the Cabinet delegation with Wavell on May 31, 1946 the Viceroy said that he did not feel that there were final grounds for rejecting the possibility that we might remain in North-Eastern and North-western India for an indefinite period. (The Transfer of Power, Vol VII, Document 415) This line of thinking was understandable also because, so far as British control of India was concerned, Wavell, his administration and provincial Governors were naturally more in sync with policies maintained by the previous British Government headed by Winston Churchill than with the post-war Labour Government. Earlier, when on a visit to England soon after the change in Government, Wavell had on August 31, 1945 called on Churchill, the former Prime Minister, the latters parting advice had been to keep a bit of India. (Wavell, The Viceroys Journal, Oxford University Press, Delhi 1973, p. 168)

9. In an article published on August 18, 2009, Jaswant Singh was reported as follows: He said Jinnah envisaged that some areas of the new country would have Muslim majority areas and some Hindu majority areas and believed a federal system that kept the country as one was desirable. Nehru, by contrast, demanded a system that was centralised. Nehru believed in a highly centralised policy. Thats what he wanted India to be, Mr Singh went on. Jinnah wanted a federal polity. That, even Gandhi accepted. Nehru didnt. Consistently he stood in the way of a federal India until 1947 when it became a partitioned India."http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/search-for-the-real-villain-of-partition-divides-india-again-1773486.html. Last accessed September 6, 2016.

See also: Nehru was as much to blame as Jinnah for Partition (January 2016). Rediff interview with Nisid Hajari (author of Midnights Furies: The Deadly Legacy of Indias Partition, Viking/Penguin, Gurgaon, 2015): "http://m.rediff.com/news/interview/nehru-was-as-much-to-blame-as-jinnah-for-partition/20150813.htm". Last accessed September 6, 2016. In the interview to Rediff, Hajari asserts : Up until the spring of 1946, a political compromise that would have preserved a united India, was still possible. The CongressNehru in particularwould have had to grant the Muslim areas that (eventually) became Pakistan more autonomy than he was willing to grant, and have had to accept a weaker Central government than he wanted.

10. See, for example, Aijaz Ahmad, Tryst with destiny free but divided, The Hindu,Independence DaySupplement, August 15, 1997, pp. 21-27 at pp. 22-23.

11. For text see Maurice Gwyer and A. Appadorai, Speeches and Documents on the Indian Constitution, 1921-47, Vol. II, Oxford University Press, Bombay, 1957, pp. 600-602 at p. 601.

12. Ayesha, Jalal, The Sole Spokesman : Jinnah, The Muslim League and the Demand for Pakistan, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1985 and H. M. Seervai, Constitutional Law of India, Vol 1, N. M. Tripathi Private Ltd., Bombay, 1991, (4th edition).

13. Gwyer and Appadorai, Speeches and Documents on the Indian Constitution, 1921-47, Vol. II, 1957, p. 601.

14. Idem.

15. Gwyer and Appadorai, op. cit., p. 619.

16. Terms of Offer made by the Muslim League as a basis of agreement, May 12, 1946, see Gwyer and Appadorai, op. cit., p. 573. Earlier, on February 7, 1946, Viceroy Wavell, in a cable to Pethick-Lawrence, had accepted that Assam (apart from Sylhet district) was not a province to which there could be a reasonable claim on behalf of the projected Pakistan. (The Transfer of Power, 1942-7, HMSO, London, Vol VI, Document 406). When the Cabinet Mission Plan was yet in the making the Mission offered to Jinnah on April 16, 1946 the possibility of a Union Centre limited to essential subjects and envisaging also in one federation the whole of the Provinces of Sind, Baluchistan, North-West Frontier Province, the Punjab and Bengal plus perhaps the Sylhet district of Assam. (The Transfer of Power,1942-7, Vol VII, Document 116) By the time the Cabinet Mission Plan was announced in the following month, Assam as a whole was to be added to Group C. The Mission was fully aware of the unfairness of this particularly when the Group was to frame the Provincial Constitution as well. A note by W. Croft and F.F. Turnbull, secretary to the Mission, circulated on 25 April 1946, and by these two men and G.E.B Abell, the Private Secretary to the Viceroy, on May 2, 1946 presaged this change in the manner the Mission would treat Assam. [The Transfer of Power, 1942- 7, Vol VII, Documents 140 (enclosure) and 179]. While these documents were not as such accepted they clearly affected the evolution of the Cabinet Mission proposals. Besides, a further rigidity was introduced in terms of restricting the possibility of any Province opting out of the particular Group in which it had been placed. After initially suggesting that Provinces should be free to form groups..., a formulation that still remained in Paragraph 15 of the Cabinet Mission Plan, the same document went on to nullify this by specifying in Paragraph 19 (viii) that opting out by a province from the Group could only be after the new constitutional arrangements come into operation and after the first general election under the new Constitution. The change in Paragraph 19 occurred primarily as a sequel to a cable on May 9, 1946 from F. Burrows, the Governor of Bengal whose views had also been sought by Wavell. (The Transfer of Power, 1942-7, Vol VII, Document 231) Burrows wanted also to ensure that the voting system within the Group, for formulation of the constitutional arrangements, be such that decisions would be by simple majority. The inherent unjustness of this was marked also in relation to the NWFP and similarly placed provinces. In any explanation of partition and analysis of sectarian politics the role of officials like Croft, Turnbull, Abell and Burrows who pointedly introduced and encouraged sectarian demands needs close evaluation. The arrangements devised by them appear to have been programmed to ensure the failure of the Cabinet Mission even before publication of its Plan. How these arrangements could be projected in scholarship and in popular writing as loose federal arrangements, and Nehru accused of opposing them without justification, remains quite inexplicable.

17. Wavell, The Viceroys Journal, p. 296.

18. Sharifuddin Pirzada, Quaid-e-Azam Jinnahs Correspondence, East and West Publishing Company, Karachi, 1977, p. 124.

19. Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi (CWMG), Vol 76, p. 382.

20. CWMG, Vol 84, p. 123.

21. Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Speeches & Statements as Governor General of Pakistan 1947-48, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, 1989, p.183.

22. Gwyer and Appadorai, op. cit., p. 585; italics added.

23. Gwyer and Appadorai, op. cit., p. 591

24. Idem.

25. Gwyer and Appadorai, op. cit., p. 583.

26. Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vol 15, Orient Longman, New Delhi, 1982, p.177

27. Ibid., p. 303.

28. Gwyer and Appadorai, op. cit., p. 595.

29. Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol 84, pp. 173-174.

(Courtesy: www.thehinducentre.com)

Anil Nauriya studied Economics, qualified for the Bar and since the early eighties, has been counsel at the Supreme Court of India and the High Court of Delhi. He has written on contemporary history and politics in India and has contributed to various books and journals, the latter including the Economic and Political Weekly (Mumbai), Mainstream (New Delhi), Monthly Review (New York) and Natalia (Pietermaritzburg). He was a Senior Fellow (2013-2015) at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi. His writings include The African Element in Gandhi, (2006), English Anti-Imperialism and the Varied Lights of Willie Pearson (2014) and Non-violent Action and Socialist Radicalism: Narendra Deva in Indias freedom movement (2015).Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Modi in Parliament: Poverty, Farmers Suicides, Unemployment, Hindutva (...)

PM Modis speeches in both the Houses of Indian Parliament on February 7, 2017, while defending the Motion of Thanks on President Ram Nath Kovinds address, belied the hope which some political analysts carried that Modi after becoming the PM would mature and overcome the Hindutva traits of double-speak, rabble-rousing and resorting to lies which he learnt in the RSS shakhas. While replying he showed that he remains a Hindu nationalist which he claimed to be his identity while talking to Reuters in 2013 as the CM of Gujarat. He resorted to lies, half-truths and demagogy as a seasoned Hindu nationalist.

He talked of Gandhi and Sardar Patel and talked of India of their dreams. The PM thinks our nation does not know what the Hindu nationalists did to Gandhi and what opinion Sardar Patel had about the Hindu nationalist organisations like the RSS and Hindu Maha-sabha. Gandhi was killed by Hindu nationalists who described his killing as a heavenly-ordained vadh. According to a favourite author of the RSS, K.V. Sitaramiah, Gandhi was terrible, wicked and most sinful. Rejoicing at the killing Gandhi he declared,

As Bhagwan Shri Krishna said in the Gita, For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked and for the establishment of righteousness, I am born in every age. On...30th January 1948 evening, Shri Ram came in the form of Nathuram Godse and ended the life of Gandhi.

Shockingly, the conference in Goa where this dehumanised author celebrated the vadh of Gandhi began with a congratulatory message from Modi in 2013.

So far as the Sardar as the new love of RSS/BJP is concerned, he as the first Home Minister of India banned the RSS for its role in the murder of the Father of the Nation. When the RSS denied it, Sardar in a letter dated September 11, 1948 to the then boss of the RSS, Golwalkar, told him that as a final result of the poison spread by the RSS against Gandhi,

the country had to suffer the sacrifice of the invaluable life of Gandhiji...The RSS men expressed joy and distributed sweets after Gandhijis death.

PM Modi talked of democracy. It looks funny when the PM, a seasoned RSS cadre groomed by Golwalkar into a political leader, talks of democracy. He has become India. It is, in fact, what Golwalkar decreed as early as 1940. This guru of PM Modi while delivering a speech before the 1350 top level cadres of the RSS at the RSS headquarters, Resham Bagh, in 1940 declared, RSS inspired by one flag, one leader and one ideology was to light the flame of Hindutva in each and every corner of this great land. This is exactly what is happening under Modi. Indians are living under constant fear, under Emergency without a declared one.

Democracy under PM Modi is for crony capitalists and business cartels. Self-confessed Modi-bhakt, renowned columnist, Tavleen Singh, last week wrote:

In the villages I visited, living standards were so degraded that all that mostly illiterate villagers aspired to daily was finding enough water and food to keep their families alive. Their homes were huts of thatch and mud and their poverty was extreme. I met nobody who owned a cellphone or a television. The villages were bereft of schools, health centres, roads and public services of any other kind...This kind of desperate poverty exists in some measure in most States that the BJP has won since 2014...So in Davos when I listened to the Prime Minister expound upon the successes of his style of governance, I found it very disquieting.

Under PM Modis rule, so far as gathering of wealth is concerned, it is a one-way traffic. It is for the rich; so far as the vast majority of poor Indians is concerned, they have Hindutva to live with and enjoy. The Modi mantra seems to be wealth for the rich and Hindutva for the poor.

Modi is angry with the Congress for agreeing to Partition. It is true that the Congress agreed to Partition, Sardar Patel being the first Congress leader to be convinced by the sadist Viceroy, Mountbatten. But what were our Hindutva zealots doing? They were fighting for a democratic-secular India? No, absolutely not. The Hindutva gang joined the Muslim League in declaring that India was not one nation but two nations: Hindu nation and Muslim nation. Long before the Muslim Leagues Pakistan resolution it was the RSS darling Savarkar who, while addressing the 19th Session of Hindu Mahasabha at Ahmedabad in 1937, declared:

India cannot be assumed today to be a Unitarian and homogenous nation, but on the contrary there are two nations in the main: the Hindus and the Moslems, in India.

Modi wants us to forget about the criminal betrayal of the united freedom struggle by the Hindutva gang. During the Quit India Movement when the Congress was banned, all Congress leaders jailed, thousands of Congress workers shot dead for carrying the Tricolour, it was the Hindu Mahasabha which ran coalition govern-ments with the Muslim League in the provinces of Bengal, Sind and NWFP. Not only this, the Hindu Mahasabha under the leadership of Savarkar organised recruitment camps for the British armed forces throughout India when Netaji was trying to liberate the country militarily. Savarkar was doing all these with the full support of the RSS. If the Muslim League, as the flag-bearer of Muslim separatism, was demanding Pakistan, the RSS too demanded a Hindu state to replace democratic-secular India. The RSS organ, Organiser, in its issue on the very eve of Independence, dated August 14, 1947, rejected the whole concept of a composite nation (under the editorial titled Whither):

Let us no longer allow ourselves to be influenced by false notions of nationhood. Much of the mental confusion and the present and future troubles can be removed by the ready recognition of the simple fact that in Hindusthan only the Hindus form the nation and the national structure must be built on that safe and sound foundation...the nation itself must be built up of Hindus, on Hindu traditions, culture, ideas and aspirations.

In the same issue Organiser, the RSS flag-bearer of Hindu nationalism, demeaning the choice of the National Flag, wrote:

The people who have come to power by the quirk of fate may give in our hands the Tricolour but it will never be respected and owned by Hindus. The word three is in itself an evil, and a flag having three colours will certainly produce a very bad psychological effect and is injurious to a country.

Jawaharlal Nehru was the special target of PM Modis hatred. Modi seems to be possessed with the obsession of Nehru. He was responsible for all ills faced by India. Nehru, a close confidant of Gandhi and Sardar Patel, died in 1964 and to subject him to unparalleled insults and denigration 55 years after his death was sickening, pure and simple sadistic. It not only showed the true character of our Hindu nationalist PM but made it clear that Nehru remains the most formidable opponent to the Hindutva juggernaut which is on roll to destroy our democratic-secular polity. It is not the physical Nehru but his idea of an all-inclusive India. The Hindutva rulers know that despite the vadh of Gandhi by the Hindutva terrorists and death of Nehru long back, the Idea of India, propounded and practised by these two, continues to cause shiver amongst their Hindutva adversaries. Gandhi and Nehru may be killed every day but it is an undeniable fact that it is due to the versatility of their Idea of India that India is the only country which survives as a democratic-secular polity out of 35 countries which were born after World War II.

PM Modis intolerant speech made it clear once again that Nehru remains the greatest stumbling block in taking India on the path of Pakistan; 71 years after that path had destroyed Pakistan. For PM Modi poverty, farmers suicides, unemployment, Hindutva terrorism, rapes, violence against working class are no problems but Nehru is the biggest problem!

Shamsul Islam, a well-known theatre personality, is a former Associate Professor (now retired), Department of Political Science, Satyawati College, University of Delhi. For some of the authors writings in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu and Gujarati see the following link: http/du-in.academia.edu/ShamsullslamHome > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > The Bhubaneshwar Declaration

DOCUMENT

Pakistan-India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracys Tenth National Convention

The Bhubaneswar Declaration

We, the delegates to the 10th National Convention of the PIPFPD, held at Bhubaneswar on February 10-11, 2018 under the overhang of the rapidly deteriorating relationship between Pakistan and India, renewed our commitment to the joint struggle for peace and democracy in the two countries.

The delegates met at a very critical juncture in the relationship between India and Pakistan:

* The Indo-Pak relationship has been reduced to the firing of mortar shells and anti-tank weapons, making the Line of Control the most violent live border between two nuclear armed neighbours, and made further volatile against the backdrop of escalating hyper-nationalist war jingoism, including statements by Army Chiefs threatening the use of nuclear weapons.

* The Kashmir situation has steeply deterio-rated with widespread and deepening alienation of youth and citizens exacerbated by the states abandonment of the policy of recognising and dealing with Kashmir as a political issue, and the overwhelming reliance on the use of a military approach including against protests by civilians.

* People-to-people exchanges between India and Pakistan have been disrupted, there is a deliberate obstruction of visas and the hostile stigmatisation of the initiatives for peace.

* Rampant violence against minorities has increased with the blatant complicity of state institutions and the political establishment.

* Systematically democratic institutions are being weakened and constitutional values of pluralism, inclusion and secularism undermined with serious consequences for the protection of the rights of vulnerable groups, including Minorities, Adivasis, Women, Dalits and Workers.

More than hundred and fifty delegates, representatives of State chapters of the Forum from over ten States, resolved to fight the war hysteria, including actively intervening on policy issues towards building friendly and cooperative relations between India and Pakistan, crucially recognising that it is integral to the strengthening of democracy within our countries.

 We urge the state to resume the India-Pakistan dialogue to normalise the relationship between the two nuclear powered neighbours and immediately resume the DGMO exchanges so as to reduce tension and military confrontation on the border.

 We reiterate the Forums core belief, that Kashmir is not a piece of disputed land, but recognise the Kashmir issue as central to the normalisation of Pakistan-India relations. We call for a prompt resumption of a political dialogue by the Government of India, with all stakeholders, as promised in multiple policy commitments.

 We call for the immediate resumption of the visa process to facilitate people-to-people contact and resumption of the rail and road links, which have been completely shut down, at the earliest.

 We appeal for the prompt release of prisoners, such as Hamid Ansari, an Indian in a Pakistani jail, on humanitarian grounds, and we express our solidarity in support of Raza Khan, a peace activist who has disappeared in the vicious witch-hunt against activists.

 We urge the government to reach agreements on marine fishing rights with neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, and promptly release all fishworkers currently being held in Indian and Pakistani prisons.

 We demand the restoration of India-Pakistan Judicial Committee on Prisoners.

 We restate our demand for the demilitarisation of Siachen and an end to the sacrifice of lives of soldiers at the altar of militarisation.

 We emphasise the states primary responsibility to protect the rights of all people living in India, especially the minorities and take legal action against all violators and enforce the rule of law.

 We affirm our commitment to find ways to strengthen democratic institutions and resist divisiveness promoted by certain vested interests groups fanning communal tensions.

 We deplore the aggressive war hysteria being raised by certain sections of the national and regional media and the irresponsible statements and behaviour of certain journalists who are igniting nationalist sentiments.

 We welcome the sharp gender perspective that was organically interwoven in all the thematic sessions, and emphasise the significance of the womens question in Indo-Pak relations and in that context we express our solidarity with the Kashmiri womens resistance day (February 23) against militarisation.

 We affirm the need to strengthen our organisation to perform these tasks

(Lohia Academy, Bhubaneswar)Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Kalpana Dutt

From N.C.s Writings

The following lines were written by N.C. twentythree years ago and published in this journals February 18, 1995 issue. It is being reproduced on the occasion of the distinguished revolutionary Kalpana Dutts twentythird death anniversary which fell on February 8 this year. It came and went with hardly anyone remembering her on that day. Kalpanas birth centenary five years ago on July 27, 2013 also went virtually unnoticed. But we in Mainstream have decided to offer our homage to her memory by reproducing the following piece. Incidentally N.C. had also translated Kalpanas reminiscences under the guidance of P.C. Joshi, Kalpanas husband and the legendary General Secretary of the CPI (1943-48).

On February 8 passed away in a Calcutta hospital a frail figure who sixty years ago became a legend in the classical mould. Kalpana Dutt, born in 1913 in a middle-class Bengali home in East Bengal, was a student in Calcuttas Bethune College in 1930 when she came in contact with the group of Chittagong revolu-tionaries whose leader was the great Surya Sen, fondly called Masterda by all his disciples.

Soon Kalpana came under the hawks eyes of the police and she had to return to Chittagong where she was interned at home. But the young revolutionary, in her secretly maintained close links with Surya Sens revolutionary group, learnt handling firearms and engaged herself in other revolutionary activity. She would have been in the party of revolutionaries whose famous attack on the Armoury and the European Club touched off the famous Chittagong upsurge, an incident which electrified the entire nation. Kalpana at that time was serving a short prison term. As soon as she was released she went underground and for two years moved with Masterdas team. When Surya Sen was betrayed by a police informer, Kalpana escaped, and moved into hiding for three months, when she was arrested and brought to trial in what was known as the Chittagong Armoury Raid Supple-mentary Case, in which she was sentenced for life. After the nationwide campaign for the release of the imprisoned Bengal revolutionaries, she came out of prison in 1939.

Like many other Bengal revolutionaries, Kalpana took to Marxism in prison and after her release, joined the banned Communist Party. It was in those days that the present writer met hera remarkable blend of humility and elegance with unswerving dedication to the cause of the countrys freedom and the uplift of the downtrodden. During the Bengal famine, one saw her totally devoted to organising relief kitchen for the starving and medical relief for the sick in the Chittagong villages.

In 1943, about the time of the Communist Party Congress, Kalpana married P.C. Joshi, the popular leader of the Communists. She was fully occupied with her party work in Bengal. When the communal holocaust of the partition overtook Bengal, Kalpana was equally active in relief and rescue work. Then came the period of insensate sectarian adventurism of the Indian Communists under Ranadive, inflicting severe loss on the movement. Joshi and with him Kalpana were thrown out of the party. Bereft of shelter but undaunted in spirit, Kalpana received support from close friends, one of whom was Prof P.C. Mahalanobis who engaged her in his Statistical Institute, where she worked until she retired a few years ago.

With the country switching over to election politics after independence, few heard of Kalpana engaged as she was in her silent work. The lure of office and headline publicity never swayed her from utter devotion to the cause of fighting for the underprivileged and dispossessed. She remained unwavering in her conviction and unobtrusive in her dedicated work, no matter whatever the form be.

Out of the limelight this gem of revolutionary India was lost in the forgotten gallery of Indias patriots so much so that even the Doordarshan could not spare a few seconds to announce her passing away. Those who have known her in life shall never forget the exquisite serenity of a personality who carried such an unbroken spirit of service to humanity.

Patriotism of the highest order in Kalpana shall remain a shining memory for all those who knew her.

(Mainstream, February 18, 1995)Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > RSS Chiefs Pronouncements

EDITORIAL

Almost forty years ago the Janata Party Government in New Delhi collapsed primarily because the Jana Sangh component of the then ruling conglomerate refused to sever its deep connections with the RSS. It was akin to breaking its umbilical chord that linked it to its parent. The erstwhile Jana Sangh leaders, especially Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, conveyed that the RSS being a socio-cultural organisation, it was not involved in any political activity; so having any connection with it would not in any way impair the Janata Partys functioning. This was rejected by the Janata leaders of impeccable secular credentials, notably those in the socialist wing headed by the Janata General Secretary, Madhu Limaye, who took a grave view of the dual membership issue that affected the Jana Sangh elements in the Janata, that is, their simultaneous membership of the Janata Party and RSS because of the role the latter had played not merely in the assassination of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi but also in the functioning of the Indian polity since then, besides its pro-British orientation and activities during the freedom struggle.

Today secular personalities like Madhu Limaye, who unfortunately are no longer with us, stand vindicated. They had then prophesied that by ignoring the dual membership issue the former Jana Sangh elements were creating a situation whose implications would be most serious and far-reaching in future. This is doubtless what has happened now. The RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat, while addressing the Sangh volunteers in Bihars Muzaffarpur the other day, boasted that his organisation had the capability of raising a force within three days while the Army would need six to seven months to do so. This was a clear move to place the RSS above the Army even though in a subsequent clarification the RSS leaders have asserted that they did not want to replace but complement the Army. As The Indian Express opined,

......the remark quickly drew Opposition fire. Rahul Gandhi deemed it an insult to every Indian, to the flag, the soldier, martyrs and the Army. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said it confirmed that the RSS has no respect for Indias institutions and has a hidden agenda to float parallel militias. The RSS has clarified since, but Opposition leaders continue to demand an apology. It is only apt that the RSS should face the brunt for its chiefs unsightly boastit is, after all, an organisation that is seen to be the power behind the BJP throne, that enjoys influence in politics and government but ducks accountability by claiming to be only socio-cultural in character.

The daily further pointed to the RSS attempts to muddy the discourse on nationalism. Here another clarification needs to be brought into focus. Nationa-lism per se is not objectionable even though Rabindra-nath Tagore had found it difficult to accept the essence of nationalism. Actually Tagores difficulty lay in the thin line dividing nationalism from national chauvinismit was the latter which the poet could not countenance and felt that nationalism could easily slide into national chauvinsim whose best illustration is currently the theory espoused by the RSS chief. Regrettably, the RSS is seeking to destroy nationalism and transform it into national chauvinism and this needs to be resisted at all costs.

The more the RSS comes out in its true colours, courtesy Modi and his cohorts, the more secularists of all hues must expose the national chauvinists and their disruptive activities that militate against secular democracy on the one side and healthy inclusive nationalism on the other. Mohan Bhagwats latest pronouncements have brought out the necessity of this task in bold relief.

It must also be understood that the RSS and its affiliates in the Sangh Parivar are out to destroy national unity and social cohesion as the so-called fringe Hindutva elements attacks on young couples observing Valentines Day across the country today testify.

February 14 S.C.What is billed as Western New England's largest benefit wine, beer, and food tasting is just a few weeks away. WGBY's 33rd annual Wine and Food Lovers Weekend is planned for Friday March 9 and Saturday March 10.

This year the Wine and Food Lovers Weekend will have an Irish flair to it as Kevin Dundon, host of PBS's "Modern Irish Food," serves as guest chef for the Wine Lovers Dinner on March 10.

Working with Mick Corduff, the executive chef at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meetinghouse in Holyoke, Dundon will provide the inspiration for the seven-course dinner, which will be based on his "modern Irish" ideas and techniques. Dundon will be present at the dinner to provide commentary, while Corduff and his culinary team will take responsibility for the execution of the dinner itself.

The menu will start with a "cappuccino" of colcannon soup, Dundon's riff on a classic Irish potato soup. The second course is to be gin-infused Irish salmon gauteau, while the course that follows is planned as a crispy lemon-scented pork belly with pea shoots.

After a palate-cleansing mead sorbet, the order of service proceeds on to a roast rack of lamb in an Irish stew consomme.

A Wicklow blue cheese terrine with poached pear will serve as the cheese course, while what Dundon styles as a "Dunbrody Kiss" (chocolate mousse with ganache) will conclude the dining experience.

Specially selected wines will be paired with all the courses, and expert commentary on those wine pairings will be part of the evening.

The dinner is being held at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meetinghouse; tickets are priced at $175 plus an $11.81 "processing fee."

The Grand Tasting that's always a part of this WGBY event will be held at Marriott's Tower Square Hotel in downtown Springfield on Friday, March 9 starting at 5 p.m. Those attending will have access to over 300 wine, beer, and food specialties with two levels of admission (general and connoisseur) available.

For more information about WGBY's Wine & Food Lovers Weekend, go to wgby.org or call WGBY at (800) 781-9429.SPRINGFIELD - Three men demanding repayment of a $1,000 debt allegedly stole more than $18,000 worth of computers, cellphones, watches and cash during three visits to an Indian Orchard apartment in four days, court records show.

The men -- Mohamed Liban, 19, Abdullahi Issak, 21, and Hanson Adjei, 25, all Kenyan natives now living in Springfield -- also assaulted the tenant and threatened to kill him, according to arrest reports.

The trio pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Springfield District Court to home invasion, extortion, assault and battery to collect a loan and related charges.

Assistant District Attorney Cary Szafranski said the defendants were among six men who went in various combinations to an Albert Avenue apartment on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday, ostensibly to collect a $1,000 debt owed by the tenant.

The tenant borrowed the money a week before, and the defendants demanded repayment, the prosecutor said.

When the tenant failed to come up with the money, the intruders smashed his television set and helped themselves to a other items, including 15 boxes of sneakers, a $4,000 Rolex watch, a duffle bag full of the tenant's clothing and more than $7,500 in cash, the prosecutor said.

One suspect carried a large knife, and another wielded a bat, striking the victim on the shoulder during a struggle. The tenant also suffered a knife wound to his hand, the prosecutor said.

The assailants broke the door down on their first visit, allowing them to walk into the apartment on return appearances, the prosecutor said.

After viewing the suspects, the tenant identified Liban with "2000 percent" certainty, citing a red pair of sneakers worn by the suspect. The same sneakers had been stolen from his apartment four days before, the tenant told police.

Szafranski requested $100,000 bail for each defendant, based on the charges and the potential sentences they face if convicted.

Defense lawyers questioned the victim's account, and noted that he had more than enough cash to repay the loan. They also opposed the bail request, saying none of the defendants could possibly come up with that much cash.

Judge William Rota set each defendant's bail at $10,000 and revoked Issak's release on a malicious damage charge from January.

The three men are due back in court for a pretrial hearing on March 16.NORTHFIELD -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt staged a quiet Valentine's Day visit to Western Massachusetts, accompanied by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission member Neal Chaterjee.

The two toured a pumped storage hydroelectric facility in Northfield one day before before FERC finalized new rules to benefit energy storage facilities.

Pruitt and Chaterjee toured FirstLight Energy's Northfield Mountain Generating Station, according to a press release EPA issued after the fact.

"Commissioner Chatterjee and I saw firsthand the way this facility uses innovative technology to power the region," said Pruitt in a statement. "EPA will continue to work with our partners in the states to make responsible use of our country's tremendous natural resources."

FERC on Thursday finalized a rule that makes it easier for energy storage facilities to participate in wholesale power markets. The rule includes large battery arrays and pumped storage facilities such as the one in Northfield.

The rule was hailed as a boon to renewable energy, and over the next nine months regional grid operators such as ISO New England will revise their tariffs. Energy storage lets intermittent resources like wind and solar behave more like baseload power plants within the grid.

"By advancing energy storage technology, we can get next-generation results from today's renewable energy generation, continue our success in cutting global warming pollution, and create blue-collar jobs," said Massachusetts Sen. Edward Markey.

Western Massachusetts has two large pumped storage facilities.

Firstlight's Northfield Mountain has a nameplate capacity of 1,143 megawatts, the size of two large coal plants. The 600-megawatt Bear Swamp Hydroelectric Power Station on the Deerfield River in Rowe is owned by Brookfield Renewables.

The Northfield facility consists of a lower reservoir within the Connecticut River. Water is pumped through an underground tunnel into a 300-acre upper reservoir at night. It is released during the day when regional need for electricity is greater. The water falls 1,100 feet through a sluice and concrete powerhouse, turning four turbines. The facility was built in 1972.

"Commissioner Chatterjee and I saw firsthand the way this facility uses innovative technology to power the region," said Pruitt. "EPA will continue to work with our partners in the states to make responsible use of our country's tremendous natural resources."

He said the Trump administration "is committed to meeting U.S. energy needs by utilizing hydroelectric power."

Pruitt also visited EPA's Region 1 office in Boston, which covers Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hamsphire, Vermont, and Maine.

"We discussed key priorities for our region, including Superfund cleanups, brownfields, emerging contaminants, and chemical risk safety," said EPA Region 1 Administrator Alexandra Dapolito Dunn.POMPANO BEACH, Fla. -- President Donald Trump came face-to-face Friday with hospitalized victims from the horrific school shooting in Florida and offered thanks to the doctors and nurses who helped the wounded, declaring "the job they've done is incredible."

Asked if he'd talked with victims, Trump added: "I did indeed, and it's very sad something like that could happen."

The president had tweeted earlier that he would meet with people "whose lives have been totally shattered."

I will be leaving for Florida today to meet with some of the bravest people on earth - but people whose lives have been totally shattered. Am also working with Congress on many fronts.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 16, 2018

Trump and first lady Melania Trump came to Broward Health North Hospital to pay their respects to the medical professionals who had responded to the shooting in nearby Parkland. They planned to meet with law enforcement officials at the Broward County Sheriff's office later Friday.

But some of the parents, survivors and others affected by the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were more interested in firm action to prevent future assaults than a presidential visit.

"I don't want Trump to come but we want more gun safety," said 18-year-old Kevin Trejos, a senior at the school where 17 people were killed and 14 injured. "It's a dream. It hasn't hit me yet."

Trump marveled at the speed with which first responders got victims to the hospital -- but ignored shouted questions about whether guns should be more tightly regulated.

More than 1,000 people had attended a candlelight vigil Thursday night near the school, and at one point some began chanting, "No more gun! No more guns!"

Lori Alhadeff's 14-year-old daughter Alyssa was killed during the shooting. She invoked the president's 11-year-old son, Barron, as she angrily called for help.

"President Trump, Barron goes to school. Let's protect Barron. And let's also protect all these other kids," she said Friday on CNN, her voice raising to a shout. "You need to help us, now. We need security now for all these children. We need action, action, action!"

Trump, who frequently boasts about his support for the National Rifle Association, made no mention of gun violence or any new measure to restrict access to firearms during remarks Thursday about the shooting. He did promise to tackle school safety and "the difficult issue of mental health."

He also tweeted Friday that he was "working with Congress on many fronts," though he offered no details.

The president made the trip to meet with first responders soon after Air Force One arrived in West Palm Beach for the president to spend the weekend at his Palm Beach estate, which is about 40 miles from Parkland.

In a departure from the Trumps' original schedule, Mrs. Trump arrived at Air Force One separately from her husband for the flight to Florida and boarded the plane while reporters were kept away. A spokeswoman said the change was due to scheduling.

As he departed, Trump ignored shouted questions from journalists about a report in The New Yorker magazine that he had an affair in 2006 with a Playboy model.

Discussing the school shooting, police said the 19-year-old suspect in Florida, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire with an AR-15 rifle. Investigators described him as a troubled teenager who posted disturbing material on social media and had been expelled from the high school for "disciplinary reasons," Broward County, Florida, Sheriff Scott Israel said.

The profile photo on Cruz's Instagram account showed a masked face wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat like those associated with Trump's campaign.

The shooting was the nation's deadliest at a school since a gunman attacked an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, more than five years ago.

Before he was a candidate, Trump at one point favored some tighter gun regulations. But he embraced gun rights as a candidate, and the NRA spent $30 million in support of his campaign.

During his brief televised statement, Trump said he wanted to work to "create a culture in our country that embraces the dignity of life," a phrase likely to resonate with his conservative base.

-- By Catherine Lucey and Jonathan Lemire, Associated PressHOLYOKE -- The Holyoke Police Officer's Ball Committee presented volunteers from Mustard Seed Missions, Inc. with a check for $500 Saturday to help the nonprofit provide medical care to people living in remote villages in Haiti.

Committee members gave Mustard Seed Missions founding member Dr. Mark Bigda and other volunteers money it raised for the humanitarian and medical organization during a late-morning ceremony at the Holyoke Police Department.

Capt. Matthew Moriarty said the Holyoke Police Officer's Ball Committee, which has previously donated money to local schools and other groups, decided to hold a raffle fundraiser to help Mustard Seed Missions run health clinics in remote Haitian villages where people have limited access to medical care.

"We thought this year we would reach out to (Bigda) and see if we could help with that mission, and it was a big 'Yes,'" Moriarty told reporters. "We actually had citizens and personnel just buy tickets because they found out what the mission was."

Bigda, the Hampshire County prison physician and school physician for the city of Easthampton, said the Holyoke Police Officer's Ball Committee's $500 donation, alone, will allow his organization to purchase enough medicine and supplies to treat about half of the children in a Haitian village.

"Something like this today is huge for us: $500 doesn't sound like a lot, but it really is a lot," he said in an interview. "There's a half a village of kids that I don't have to buy antibiotics for, there it is."

Mustard Seed Missions volunteers will return to Haiti for a week in late April.

Bigda said the organization, which uses all of its money on medical supplies and care, travels to the country at least twice a year. Volunteers, who have a range of medical backgrounds, must pay their own way -- a trip which he noted can cost more than $1,000.

Peter Elsea, a Northampton-based doctor who volunteers with Mustard Seed Missions, said the organization treats patients with conditions ranging from Malaria to diabetes.

The organization, he said, typically sees more than 100 patients per day during its trips, with many coming back for routine medical care whenever Mustard Seed Missions stops near their village.

"We're talking sick people ... people who wait a year to see us. It's not like we're seeing people with cuts and bruises, these are just -- some of the stuff that comes walking through is unbelievable," said Bigda, who has been in primary practice since 1991 and serves as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force.

Elsea added that beyond providing medications and medical care, Mustard Seed Missions uses some of its funding to help Haitians access much-needed surgeries at mission hospitals.

"Every day that we see people, we're able to set a few people up to go and get what they need," he said.

Mustard Seed Missions, Inc. will hold a chili cook-off fundraiser on Saturday, March 24 at the Harley Davidson on College Highway in Southampton. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to organizers.BOSTON -- Massachusetts regulators announced Friday that Central Maine Power's New England Clean Energy Connect will carry Canadian hydropower to the Bay State if Eversource can't resolve its Northern Pass permitting problems in New Hampshire by March 27.

Eversource's 192-mile, $1.6 billion Northern Pass was blocked by the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee on Feb. 1, only days after the proposed transmission project, in concert with Hydro-Quebec, was selected to negotiate long-term contracts with Massachusetts utilities.



The 1,200-megawatt, $950 million New England Clean Energy Connect would run 145 miles from the Maine-Canada border to a substation in Lewiston. Central Maine Power and its parent Avangrid have also partnered with Hydro-Quebec.

In a statement Friday, Eversource said "there is a path forward" and that it believes it has a strong legal argument for reconsideration before the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee.

Eversource said the decision by the administration of Gov. Charlie Baker "strikes a sensible balance by allowing negotiations with Northern Pass to continue, while establishing a backup protocol that can be initiated if necessary."

A spokeswoman for Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said the whole business deserves more transparency and scrutiny.

"Today's announcement regarding the clean energy solicitation raises more questions than it answers," said AGO spokeswoman Chloe Gotsis. "It's unclear what happened over the last two weeks to get to this point or what criteria is being used to decide what to do in the next phase on March 27. We continue to urge the parties to fully answer the public's questions about this process."

The New England Power Generators Association on Friday slammed the Baker administration's backup plan, and said the Massachusetts Clean Energy RFP is now "going from the fatally flawed Northern Pass to a Maine project that still lacks virtually all its key permits."

Hydro Quebec "is asking for Massachusetts consumers to guarantee them revenue through an above-market contract for electricity for the next two decades," said NEPGA president Dan Dolan.

Central Maine Power CEO Doug Herling said Friday that its "applications for state and federal permits are moving forward with the strong support of communities and stakeholders in Maine" and that CMP "is confident it can meet its commitments to the Commonwealth."

Last year five transmission partnerships bid into the Massachusetts Clean Energy RFP, a solicitation set up by the state's utilities and its energy department. Dozens of renewable resources -- including wind, solar, and storage -- had hoped for a bite of the apple.On the afternoon of Jan. 26, when a copy of the Wall Street Journal's explosive report on sexual misconduct allegations against casino mogul Steve Wynn landed in Massachusetts Gaming Commission chairman Steve Crosby's email inbox, his reaction consisted of three letters.

"OMG!" Crosby wrote in an email to his wife, after the Gaming Commission's director of communications forwarded the story to the commission's top brass.

Crosby, his fellow commissioners and their staff would swiftly be swamped with media inquiries and outraged comments from members of the public, as the regulatory body attempted to respond to the growing crisis.

In another email, Crosby described the allegations as a "stink bomb" that had hit the commission.

While the $2.4 billion Wynn Boston Harbor casino had faced legal challenges before, the commission quickly realized that the fallout from the Journal's story would be of another magnitude entirely.

"These fires burn so hot they can consume anything they touch," Crosby said in responding to another email about the allegations. "Hopefully we can do this right."

MassLive has obtained thousands of pages of the Gaming Commission's emails from the week the story broke, following a public records request.

A review of the emails offers a glimpse into how the state's gaming regulators reacted to the growing controversy. And the emails show the commission was closely tracking how the Wynn scandal played out in the media.

Hours after commissioners met to discuss the allegations on Jan. 31, as well as face questions from reporters, Crosby forwarded one article to the Gaming Commission's chief investigator, Karen Wells, with the note, "I think we did pretty damn well in this one!"

The Gaming Commission withheld emails related to the agency's ongoing investigation into Wynn and privileged messages between commission staff and attorneys.

On Jan. 26, the Journal reported that Wynn had paid a $7.5 million settlement in 2005 after a manicurist at one of his casinos alleged that he pressured her into having sex against her will. Steve Wynn called the allegations "preposterous."

Dozens of other people who worked at Wynn's casinos told the Journal of a years-long pattern of sexual advances toward female employees, including exposing himself to and requesting sexual services from massage therapists who worked for his company.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission quickly launched a review of whether Wynn's alleged conduct put the company in violation of regulations -- most notably, a requirement that gaming companies and their individual officers be found "suitable" for a gaming license.

Wynn and his company passed that review in 2013, but at a Jan. 31 public hearing the commission confirmed that the company had not disclosed the settlement to investigators at the time.

The commission's review is ongoing with no stated end date. Under Massachusetts' 2011 Massachusetts casino law, the Gaming Commission has the right to revoke or suspend the casino licenses for individuals and companies who violate regulations.

Wynn has denied any allegations of assault and claimed the accusations were instigated by his ex-wife Elaine Wynn, with whom he was embroiled in a shareholder dispute. The Las Vegas billionaire, who grew his initial casino investments in the 1960s into an international gaming empire, resigned as CEO of his namesake company on Feb. 6.

Shortly after the story broke Crosby asked outside experts for guidance.

"Needless to say, we are swamped in Mass with how to deal with the Wynn allegations. You got out at the right time!" wrote Crosby to former Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman A.G. Burnett, who left his post in December. "If you were willing, I'd like very much to get some informal advice from you on this."

Crosby also received an email from corporate governance consultant Hal Shear, and responded by asking for background on how Wynn's board should handle the situation.

"Just what we needed. If his board deals with it, easy for us. If not, hmmm," Crosby wrote to Shear.

Shear also had sent Crosby an email containing a Bloomberg story from earlier that day, Jan. 28, headlined, "Harassment Claims Add to History of Issues With Wynn Board."

The Bloomberg article said the Wynn Resorts board has faced criticism for "weak corporate governance and deference to its founder and chairman." The article added, "Institutional Shareholder Services Inc., the proxy advisory firm, last year gave Wynn Resorts its worst ranking for governance risk. "

Shear's email to Crosby carried the following subject line: "too bad your guys didn't flag some of this."

"Not saying I would have used this to have negated the deal, but it shows pretty poor practices," Shear wrote.

In another email, Gaming Commissioner Lloyd Macdonald highlighted the outsize role Wynn plays in his company's projects, and the challenges facing the commission in its investigation.

"There is no silver bullet here. To state the obvious, what makes the stakes so high is that Wynn is the personal driving force of almost every decision relating to design, presentation and quality of the gaming operation and resort," Macdonald wrote to Crosby.

"But we must hold him accountable," added Macdonald, who was not on the commission when they selected Wynn in 2014. "Fortunately, at this time the most important thing is the facts, and our commitment to get to the bottom of them must be unambiguous."

Work on Wynn Boston Harbor has not stopped, and the casino is still scheduled to open in Everett, just outside of Boston, in June 2019.

MassLive reporter Gintautas Dumcius contributed to this report.File photo / The Republican

Massachusetts House and Senate lawmakers cast ballots on measures ranging from consumers' rights on credit reports to expanding the community college training incentive program as they met for various legislative sessions this week.

Here's how members from the Western part of the state voted on those proposals:

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HOUSE:

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Mike Stewart

Consumers' rights on credit reports

The House, on a 152-to-0 vote, approved and sent to the Senate legislation that would prohibit consumer reporting agencies, like Equifax, Experian and TransUnion from charging fees for freezing and unfreezing a persons credit information. Under current law, companies can and have charged up to $5 per freeze or unfreeze. A freeze makes the report inaccessible until the consumer unfreezes it. Since banks and other lenders require access to the borrower's credit report before giving a loan, this greatly reduces identity thieves from getting a loan or credit in another individual's name.

The proposal gained momentum following the 2017 crisis when from May to July the personal information, including names, social security numbers, addresses, drivers licenses and credit card numbers, of 145 million Americans was stolen from Equifaxs systems. Equifax didnt reveal the breach until September and consumers lost valuable time to act.

Other provisions prohibit businesses from obtaining a consumers credit report without obtaining written, verbal or electronic consent from the consumer; shorten the waiting period to implement a freeze; allow consumers to request a freeze by phone or electronically; require notice of any breach to be sent out immediately even if the scope of breach has not yet been determined; require credit monitoring services to be available for one year for some consumers affected by a breach and establishes additional protections for minors and incapacitated adults.

Every year, thousands of Massachusetts residents become victims of credit fraud, costing them millions of dollars, collectively, said Rep. Jennifer Benson, D-Lunenburg, the sponsor of the original bill. I filed legislation last year to make it easier to freeze consumer credit reports so that victims of fraud could more quickly regain control of their credit and their lives. After the Equifax breach, I worked with the attorney general and advocates to strengthen the bill with additional language offering further protections.

Massachusetts will become the fifth state to provide free credit freezes to all residents, said Rep. Tackey Chan, D-Quincy, one of the bills sponsor. [The bill] updates current laws to reflect the modernization of our world, with the addition of electronic and verbal communications procedures for consumers interactions with consumer reporting agencies.

Older adults are increasingly the target for identity theft, and one of the most effective ways to protect consumers is through a security freeze, which safeguards a persons credit report, said Michael Festa, state director of AARP Massachusetts. Without access to this information, identity thieves would be unable to obtain credit in that persons name, minimizing potential for fraud.

Voting "yes, or for the bill were: Reps. Brian Ashe, John Barrett, Donald Berthiaume, Nicholas Boldyga, Michael Finn, Solomon Goldstein-Rose, Carlos Gonzalez, Stephen Kulik, Paul Mark, Thomas Petrolati, William Pignatelli, Angelo Puppolo, John Scibak, Todd Smola, Jose Tosado, Aaron Vega, John Velis, Joseph Wagner, Susannah Whipps and Bud Williams.

Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Peter Kocot did not vote.

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SENATE:

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Third-Party-Submitted

Expand Community College Training Incentive Program

The Senate, on a 35-to-0 vote, approved and sent to the House a bill expanding the Community College Training Incentive Program. According to the states website, the program encourages public community college training opportunities that promote workforce development, minimize the shortage of skilled workers and raise economic opportunity. Grants are awarded through this program to expand vocationally oriented course offerings and develop partnerships with Massachusetts employers.

Under current law the program is only available to not-for-credit students. The bill would expand the program to allow for credit students to take advantage of the program.

"While the commonwealth laudably helps not-for-credit students obtain job-related skills, no sound policy rationale exists for making a course for a biotechnology technician degree ineligible for a training incentive grant," said bill sponsor Sen. Eileen Donoghue, D-Lowell. "Given the need to increase our talent pipeline, my legislation improves the status quo by expanding the program to include for-credit courses so that community colleges can more effectively educate our future workforce."

Voting "yes, or for the vote were: Sens. Anne Gobi, Adam Hinds, Donald Humason, Eric Lesser, Stanley Rosenberg and James Welch.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Last week's votes

How they voted: Western Mass. lawmakers weigh in on Senate president, $3.65 billion in bondsSaturday will bring plenty of sunshine and cold air before a quickly-moving storm dumps plowable snow across Massachusetts.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning in areas south of the Massachusetts Turnpike ahead of the storm Saturday evening. The rest of the state remains under a winter weather advisory, with the exception of Cape Cod, which is under a winter storm watch.

Snowfall will begin sometime between 6-9 p.m. on Saturday night and continue into the morning on Sunday. The heaviest snow will fall between the hours of 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. and stop sometime before 7 a.m.

Much of the state will see 4-6 inches of snow. Plymouth County and surrounding areas may see up to 8 inches of snow. The National Weather Service warns late-night and overnight travel will be hazardous.

By midday Sunday, snow will give way to rising temperatures in the 40's, which are expected to melt away much of the new snow piles.http://newstalkkgvo.com/what-do-you-know-welcomes-roslyn-layton/

Many thanks to Arnie Sherman for sharing.

***

Im Steve Bullock, the first Governor to protect net neutrality. Reddit Ask Me Anything Transcript and Comments http://www.matr.net/article-81448.html

True Leadership!  Montana Governors Executive Order Would Force Net Neutrality http://www.matr.net/article-81016.htmlEduardo Garcia, the inspirational subject of the award-winning documentary "Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story," will answer questions following a screening of the film at 7 p.m. Monday, March 5, in Montana State Universitys Strand Union Building Ballroom A. Garcia will be joined by Jennifer Jane, who plays a pivotal role in the film.

The screening and Q&A are free and open to the public, although advance tickets are required. While tickets are free if ordered online, over the phone or at Rosauers, a $2.50 convenience fee per ticket will be charged. Tickets picked up in person at the Bobcat Ticket Office or Ask Us Desk will not incur any additional charges. There is a four ticket limit per person. Tickets will be available at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 15.

Presented by the MSU Leadership Institute, the screening and Garcias appearance is sponsored by the Office of the President, Office of the Provost and the Associated Students of Montana State University.

Contact: MSU Leadership Institute at 406-994-7275 or visit http://www.montana.edu/leadership

http://www.montana.edu/news/17449In 1937, Maurice Hilleman had a job lined up as the assistant manager of the J. C. Penney in Miles City. In Depression-era Montana, Penneys was top-notch employment, especially to a senior at Custer County High who grew up raising chickens on the outskirts of town.

But Hillemans older brother pointed out there was that college in Bozeman and suggested Maurice should at least try to get a scholarship. He did, finished first in his class and went on to a graduate program in microbiology at the University of Chicago. Of the 14 standard recommended vaccines  including those for measles, mumps, meningitis, pneumonia and both hepatitis A and B  Hilleman developed eight of them. In a century soaked in genocide, his work saved millions of lives, including, potentially, yours and mine. J. C. Penneys loss was humanitys gain.

Hillemans college in Bozeman, Montana State University http://www.montana.edu/ , turns 125 this month. It is one of the government-supported land-grant colleges established by the Morrill Act, which Abraham Lincoln signed into law in 1862 to educate the children of farm and factory workers, "the sons of toil." A statue of Lincoln sculpted by the alumnus Jim Dolan is to be unveiled on campus on Friday for the anniversary.

Sarah Vowell

(Many thanks to Ray Friesenhahn for sharing.)2018-03-01 11:00:00

Online

Contact: http://msucommunitydevelopment.org/smallbusiness.html

Please join us for our next FREE Small Business Webinar Thur. March 1 at 11am titled "Introduction to Government Contracting" presented by Patty Cox, CPP Government Contracting Advisor, Montana Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

Webinar Description: Does the Government buy what you sell? Learn how to find out and the initial steps for becoming a vendor for governmental contracting. This webinar discusses best practices in doing business with government entities, appropriate procedures when getting into the system, and winning contracts.

Information on how to connect to the webinar, our past webinar archives, file links, list serve subscription and future webinar series information is posted at: http://msucommunitydevelopment.org/smallbusiness.html.

We have an exciting line-up of Winter and Spring Presenters through May so check the site and feel free to forward this information to others!University of Montana president creates chief of staff position

University of Montana President Seth Bodnar is creating a chief of staff position, citing the need for a "key partner" in being effective and intentional in his areas of focus.

KEILA SZPALLER [email protected]

http://missoulian.com/news/local/university-of-montana-president-creates-chief-of-staff-position/article_4cb5a809-3df7-5885-ae47-cc2a409e1104.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1

***

President Seth Bondar Convenes the University of Montana Planning Committee to develop a clear and intentional course for our University. http://www.matr.net/article-81483.html

***

Position Information:

Campus-Only Recruitment

Only current UM Employees* are eligible.

Open to all employee types including Temporary Staff and Student Employees.

President Bodnar invites applications from interested campus employees to serve in the role of Chief of Staff for the Office of the President. This position serves a crucial role on the Presidents leadership team, representing the prioritized interests and objectives identified as vital to the success of the University. This position is responsible for the general operations of the Presidents Office and charged with management of various administrative matters. The Chief of Staff is expected to assist the President in effectively allocating his time and efforts to the areas and issues most important to the overall success of the University. This involves oversight of the Presidents schedule, facilitation of access to the President, and coordination of projects and initiatives either directly involving or assigned by the President. The Chief of Staff is responsible for the supervision of those assigned to work in the Office of the President in an administrative capacity.

This position is expected to provide strategic counsel to the President and members of the executive leadership team, serving in a key advisory role as a member of the Presidents leadership team. The person in this position is also responsible for supporting the Presidents efforts to lead an effective and efficient leadership team by helping to manage the agendas of team meetings, efficiently prioritizing meetings and other engagements with a variety of stakeholders, and preparing or securing suitable materials necessary for the advancement of the work and deliberations of the President and leadership team. This position is also responsible for the oversight of the Presidents correspondence and reports. The Chief of Staff is expected to facilitate productive collaboration between the Office of the President and those with a vested interest in the University. This includes frequent interaction with students, faculty, staff, alumni, members of the public, donors, and state/national/international officials as well as other internal and external stakeholders. The individual in this position is also responsible for managing the completion of special projects and other initiatives that cross organizational lines and ensuring completion in a timely manner.

The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its essential values of innovation and creativity, impact, openness, and partnership.

Responsibilities

The person in this position will work on behalf of the President to advance the strategic goals set forth by the University. Other essential functions of this position are listed below:

Prepares background materials for the President in advance of meetings.

Manages the general operations of the Office of the President, including direct oversight and development of the staff assigned to the office.

Ensures the effective management of all budgets for the Presidents Office and monitors the various accounts for the President.

Provides analytical and substantive insight to the President in relation to the Presidents dealings with academic, student, athletic, development, alumni, business, and external communities.

Coordinates special initiatives as determined by the President and assists in the planning of special events and developmental opportunities for the President.

Liaises with shared governance groups to ensure alignment of effort and open, effective, timely communication.

Serves in an advisory capacity, providing strategic insight to the President regarding matters of policy and other organizational issues as related to the Presidents constituency. Also serves in an advisory role to the Presidents leadership team in assisting with the resolution of complex and/or sensitive organizational or operational matters. Works collaboratively with senior leadership of the University to manage major projects and initiatives, including but not limited to leadership development and appropriate response to internal and external concerns.

Works to promote a positive image of the University of Montana by representing the institution in a variety of community, state, and regional activities.

Ensures effective engagement of the President with local, state, regional, and national agencies and officials.

Works to expand the Universitys constituency by strengthening existing affiliations when possible and working directly with external community organizations and University leadership in developing productive partnership opportunities for the University and community.

Ensures effective and efficient operation of the Office of the President by prioritizing their schedule, providing contextual background information on key issues, coordinating research projects and other initiatives, and managing other initiatives assigned by the President.

Position Details

Position is full-time, 1.0 FTE, MUS Contract and includes a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including Insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program.

Salary for this position is $75,000 per year commensurate with qualifications.

Required Skills

Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and extreme discretion in frequently working with highly sensitive, proprietary information.

Highly developed verbal, written, and interpersonal communications skills; including an acute emotional intelligence required to effectively communicate the position of the President on a multitude of issues.

Willingness and ability to attend events and other work functions outside of a traditional work schedule, including weekends and evenings when required.

Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of institutional policies and procedures and the regulatory environment under which the University operates.

Ability to gather information, analyze data, and utilize relevant information to compile useful reports.

Skills necessary for the continual reexamining and reengineering of operations and procedures, as well as those required for the effective and strategic implementation of these initiatives.

Ability to perform complex tasks while often having to prioritize multiple projects.

Sound and strategic judgement necessary to make critical administrative and procedural decisions.

Comprehensive knowledge of applicable legislation, standards, policies, practices, and procedures.

Highly developed leadership skills and the ability to oversee and guide complex, challenging tasks.

Ability to cultivate and maintain strong working relationships with a wide-ranging, group of individuals and entities.

Ability to organize, prioritize, and schedule work projects for self and others.

Demonstrated commitment to diversity and the success of University students.

Employee development and performance management skills.

Required Experience

Extensive experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities at this level are typically acquired with a Masters degree in a field related to the duties and responsibilities associated with the position, and a minimum of five (5) years of experience in a higher education setting; or any combination of experience and education that would provide the competencies necessary to successfully manage the duties and responsibilities assigned to the position.

Preferred Qualifications

Masters degree in relevant field.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Presidents Office staff is to support the Presidents initiatives and to assist the University in fulfilling its overall mission. The staff strives to maintain open lines of communication by responding to the inquiries and concerns of students, employees and members of the public. Their goal is to create a friendly, approachable, positive environment for all.

To learn more about the Office of the President, please visit the Office of the Presidents website.

Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to Offer of Employment.

In accordance with University policy, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations.

ADA/EOE/AA/Veterans Preference.

Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans or disabilities preference in accordance with state law.

References *References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant.

Testing Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions.

Employment Eligibility. All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).

How To Apply

Application Deadline: February 12, 2018

Please submit the following application materials via "New Resume/CV" button below.

Please note: only five (5) attachments are allowed per application. Please combine documents accordingly.

A Complete Application Includes

Letter of Interest- addressing your qualifications and experience related the stated required skills for the position

Detailed Resume- listing education and describing work experience

Professional References- names and contact information for three (3) professional references

For assistance with the application process, please contact Marcie Briggs, HRS Recruitment Manager, at [email protected] or 243-5706.

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/chief-of-staff%2C-office-of-the-president-at-university-of-montana-589373700As most of you already know, people often do not buy a premade PC, they create their own configuration. Pre-made still sells though, some people just dont want to go through all that trouble and simply ask for an opinion on what is in store,YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI - A burglar broke into an Ypsilanti Township hookah lounge using a hammer in the early morning hours of Friday, Feb. 16, police say.

Police were called about 2:20 a.m. Friday to the Encore Hookah Lounge, 622 South Hewitt Road, for a suspicious incident with a possibly burglary in progress, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office.

An employee told police he fled to the roof after hearing loud gunshot-type sounds and someone breaking into the building.

Surveillance video showed an unknown man broke in by breaking an emergency exit back door with a hammer, police said.

The man then took the drawer from the cash register, with about $100 inside, and fled, police said.

Police checked the area but were unable to locate the suspect.

The suspect is described as wearing a mask, a hooded sweatshirt, a long parka-style coat and gloves.

Those with information on the incident are asked to call the sheriff's office confidential tip line at 734-973-7711 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.ANN ARBOR, MI - The University of Michigan's Board of Regents has OK'd building 30 modular cabins and a recreation center at a research and training facility the university owns near Jackson, Wyoming.

The Board of Regents unanimously approved a $6.5 million project Thursday, Feb. 15, that will demolish most of the Camp Davis Rocky Mountain Field Station's student-assigned cabins and bath houses that originally were constructed when it was established in 1929.

A total of 30 new modular cabins are expected to be constructed, each approximately 300 square feet, including a living/sleeping area and a bathroom with a shower.

The camp's Johnston Hall recreational facility, which was destroyed by a tree during a recent winter storm, will also be replaced with a new 1,800-gross-square-foot recreational facility that includes open recreational space, restrooms and a laundry room. The project also includes required upgrades to the electrical, water supply, and septic systems to support the new cabins and recreational hall.

Located approximately 30 miles south of Jackson near the village of Hoback Junction, the university-owned property abuts the Hoback River and the Bridger Teton National Forest. The station is within close proximity of Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks.

The 120-acre facility, which is owned and operated by UM and managed by the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, offers courses in geology, environmental science and the humanities. It also is used for academic conferences, alumni gatherings and guest programs.

UM professor of earth and environmental sciences Nathan Niemi said there are about seven classes taught at Camp Davis each spring and summer term, from late May to late August.

The current student cabins were constructed by students who attended Camp Davis from between 1929 and 1935, Niemi said, and are simple sheet metal structures that no longer meet modern building code or safety expectations.

"The new cabins will take up a smaller footprint than the buildings that they replace, and will be a significant upgrade in terms of energy efficiency, water use, student comfort, and building safety," Niemi said.

UM President Mark Schlissel applauded the academic programs offered at Camp Davis in addition to its natural beauty during Thursday's Board of Regents meeting.

"I (recommend) Camp Davis to any of you who haven't visited or any students that are looking for interesting courses," Schlissel said. "It's a beautiful place that's very well set up for instruction in a gorgeous part of the country and the education involves all field work. It's really a spectacular resource in the wilds of Wyoming."

Funding for the project is provided from College of Literature, Science, and the Arts gifts and resources.

For more information on Camp Davis, visit UM's website.BAY CITY, MI -- A locally filmed psychological thriller -- starring some local talent -- is having its world premiere in Bay City.

Entitled "Darkling," the 70-minute movie is screening at the State Theatre, 913 Washington Ave., at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 25. Prior to that, though, is the screening of the comedy "Buy. Sell. Trade." and "Hell to Pay," a short, dark comedy.

The whole event begins at 1 p.m. and is presented by CinemaSlice.com, founded by Bay City native Nic White, who described the site as a networking platform for independent filmmakers. White, who now resides in Columbus, Ohio, launched the site in August.

"It's a network of creative collaborators," he said. "It's a way for a group of us to combine our resources to make better videos."

Actors, artists, musicians, animators, writers, and directors from Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, and Pennsylvania used the site, White said.

DARKLING - Trailer 3 Check out the new trailer for DARKLING! "After the murder of his best friend, Henry attempts to cope with the loss as he wanders through his own personal darkness." Posted by CinemaSlice on Monday, February 5, 2018

"At the end of the day, indie filmmakers with no budgets run into issues where they're missing an element to finish the product, whether it's finding an actor for a role or an animator for a certain scene," he said. CinemaSlice links filmmakers to fill these voids.

"Darkling" was written and directed by Bay City Central High School graduate Michael Welborn.

"After experiencing a personal tragedy, Henry is left all alone in a swirling vortex of darkness, void of direction," reads the film's synopsis. "As the grief of his best friend's murder takes hold on him, Henry can't help but spread the darkness to others. His mind is no longer working right and his life is becoming a waking nightmare. It's a long fall straight to hell. Will Henry survive?"

The cast includes area residents Bruce Falcon, Dr. Ray Clark, Emily Roszatycki, and Alex Alexandrou, among others. Falcon stars as Henry.

"I've had the opportunity to work with the director Michael Welborn on many different projects," Falcon said. "He is very creative in his work. I was very fortunate that he cast me as the lead in 'Darkling.' It is a great psychological thriller. I had to really focus on being a little bit 'off' for this shoot. I definitely can't wait to work with him again."

Wellborn "wrote the script in November, shot it between November and December, and finished it on Christmas Day," White added.

White, who crafted the "Hell to Pay" short, served as a producer/consultant for "Darkling."

A question-and-answer session with cast and crew is to follow the screening. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased at the door or online here.

RSVP to the event on its Facebook page here.FLINT, MI -- Toxic stress is the topic of the upcoming Your Health Lecture Series hosted by Mott Community College.

The free lecture is scheduled for 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 22, in the Mott Community College Event Center.

Dr. Lauren O'Connell, a developmental behavioral pediatrician at Hurley Children's Center, will discuss:

The impact of adverse life experiences in childhood on our lifelong health.

How toxic stress changes our bodies.

Protective factors and how to build resilience in children and families.

For more information, visit MSUYourHealthLecture.com or call 616-234-2694.

Parking information can be found at www.mcc.edu/maps/3d_main.shtml.FLINT, MI -- Special prosecutors are about to rest their case in the preliminary examination for Nick Lyon, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services director charged with involuntary manslaughter for his role in the Flint water crisis.

Prosecutor Todd Flood told Genesee District Judge David Goggins Friday, Feb. 16, that he's finished calling witnesses in the preliminary examination case against Lyon, a member of the governor's cabinet and highest-ranking of 11 remaining water crisis defendants.

Attorneys for Lyon began questioning the last witness for the prosecution -- Jim Henry of the Genesee County Health Department -- Friday and Goggins continued the exam until later this month.

Friday was the fifteenth day in the Lyon preliminary exam.

Henry, environmental health division director for the county, has testified for the prosecution in the cases of against both Lyon and Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive for DHHS.

He's testified that his agency lacked the staff and expertise to investigate outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease in the Flint area during parts of 2014 and 2015 and received little help from DHHS.

Larry C. Willey, an attorney for Lyon, began to question Henry about those efforts Friday, including emails and letters from state officials, offering information and support as the county attempted to determine the source of Legionnaires' outbreaks while the city used the Flint River as its water source in parts of 2014 and 2015.

"We made mistakes," Henry said of the county's handling of the water crisis. "We're not experts" on Legionnella bacteria.

"Perfection didn't happen on anyone's part here," Willey said.GRAND RAPIDS, MI - After a month-long search yielded no city manager candidates the commission could agree on, Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss has some changes she'd like to make to the process.

The commission has yet to meet publicly since deciding to re-open its search Feb. 6.

Speaking to GRTV Comcast Cable 24 Feb. 12, Bliss said she believes the search for the next city manager will take four to five months longer than officials initially thought.

"I don't necessarily feel like we want to take a lot of time, we know that this is an important position to fill and we want to make sure we move forward on re-opening it soon," Bliss said to GRTV.

Bliss said Feb. 12 that the commission typically has more free time in mid-June to July; and mentioned that if candidates have children that they would probably like to do that before school starts in the fall.

In his Feb. 6 motion to re-open the city manager search, First Ward Commissioner Jon O'Connor stipulated that the city needed to re-post the job within 30 days.

Had the commission picked one of the three finalists Feb. 6, Grand Rapids potentially would have had a new city manager as early as March.

But commissioners couldn't come to a consensus on any one of the finalists: Port Huron City Manager James Freed, Pontiac Deputy Mayor Jane Bais-DiSessa and Arlington County, Virgina, Deputy Manager Carol Mitten.

The finalists were all recruited over the span of the month during the winter holidays by the city's hired consultant, GovHR.

Bliss said she would want to give the recruitment process a longer time frame, and to stretch interviews over a span longer than just one week.

"One of my colleagues on the commission, during one of the interviews, said, 'There are cities that ... have already dealt with a lot of struggles that we are. We're going from a mid-size city growing to a larger city. So who are the aspirational cities, and are the individuals within those cities with significant talent that we potentially can recruit'?" Bliss said to GRTV.

Bliss said the city could be more intentional about recruiting candidates by looking for talent in cities like Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago and Indianapolis.

"There may be a superstar in California or Oregon, but they may not be interested in coming to wintry Grand Rapids," Bliss said to GRTV.

Bliss said she is still committed to the city manager form of government for Grand Rapids, and is not interested in moving to a strong mayor form of government.

"I'm very supportive of a city manager form of government," Bliss said to MLive/The Grand Rapids Press Feb. 15. "I think the benefits of stability and having somebody hired that has the skills to be the manager -- the position, it's a CEO. You need a professional that has the skills that can do that."

The commission is next set to discuss the city manager search at its 7 p.m. meeting Tuesday, Feb. 20.WALKER, MI - Meijer's Simply Give program set a record in 2017 with nearly $8.5 million, the Midwest retailer announced.

The donation -- equivalent of at least 84.8 million meals -- was given to food pantries across the Midwest.

Each $1 equals at least 10 meals, according to Feeding America.

More than $3 million of the 2017 donations were raised during the holiday season, accounting for the program's best campaign ever, the retailer said.

"It's inspiring to see friends and neighbors come together to take care of hungry families throughout the communities we serve," Executive Chairman Hank Meijer said in a statement announcing the 2017 donations. "We cannot thank our customers, team members and food pantry partners enough for continuing to support this important program."

In the last decade, the program has generated more than $37 million to support local food pantries.

The Walker-based retailer runs Simply Give campaigns three times a year when food pantries need it the most: spring, fall and the holiday season.

Customers participate by buying a $10 Simply Give donation card during checkout. Once purchased, the donation is converted into a Meijer food-only gift card and donated directly to the local food pantry selected by the store for that campaign.

"Hunger is a local problem, which is why the funds given to Simply Give stay local," said Cathy Cooper, Meijer's senior director of community partnerships and giving.

At the Grand Rapids-28th Street Meijer, nearly $72,000 donated during the holiday campaign was given to the Plymouth Heights CRC Food Pantry, according to Meijer.

The family-owned retailer operates 235 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin.GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- In his 15 years as Kent County's medical examiner, Dr. Stephen Cohle has seen a steady increase in the number of drug overdose deaths in the community.

But the number of overdose deaths in 2017 was significantly higher than ever before recorded in Kent County.

The Kent County Medical Examiner's office reports it has already tallied 124 drug overdoses in 2017, by far the most on record since the office started publishing annual reports in 1998.

And with 40 death investigations from last year still pending, the final count is expected to be even higher.

"It's a huge problem," Cohle said.

The medical examiner recently brought the issue before county leaders, explaining his office needed $350,000 more than it budgeted because of a dramatic spike in the number of autopsies completed in 2017. Instead of the 330 autopsies expected, Cohle's office completed 410 -- the most performed in a single year since 1999.

Autopsy-related expenses represent about 70 percent of the medical examiner office's about $1.3 million annual budget. At a cost of more than $2,500 each, Cohle said, an increase in the number of autopsies can have a significant impact on their bottom line.

It's also one budget element that cannot be controlled or easily predicted.

"When you've got to order an autopsy, you've got to order it," Cohle said.

Though other factors -- like an increase in the fees charged to the office by Spectrum Health -- also had an impact on the 2017 budget, the medical examiner said there's no question that the spike in drug overdose deaths is the primary cause.

"The vast majority of that overrun is those opioid deaths," Cohle said.

More overdoses mean more death investigations in general and more autopsies, the cost of which adds up.

Last year represented the largest budget overrun since he was appointed as the county's medical examiner in 2003 and, once the 2017 investigations are closed, will be by far the most confirmed drug overdoses since the office began tracking them through annual reports in 1998.

The highest number of overdoses previously recorded in Kent County was 109 in 2015, representing about 9 percent of the 1,155 cases investigated by the medical examiner's office that year. The cases investigated by the medical examiner's office represents about 19 percent of the 5,934 deaths occurring in Kent County in 2016.

The 124 drug overdoses already recorded for 2017 represents a 25 percent increase over the 93 confirmed in 2016. With 40 open investigations, Cohle said the 2017 figure will likely grow.

He added that logistics don't always allow his office to confirm whether a drug was the primary cause of death, meaning the actual number of overdose deaths is higher than reported.

Data from the medical examiner's office shows a spike in one of the three most common categories of drugs responsible for drug overdoses -- narcotic/analgesic. The category has increased as the "drug of first mention" in overdose deaths from 27 percent in 2013 to nearly 42 percent in 2016. The other two most common drugs primarily responsible for overdose deaths are heroin (21.5 percent in 2016) and methadone (10.8 percent)

Fentanyl is a big part of the increase. The opioid -- prescriped as a pain medication and recently mixed with heroin or cocaine as part of the illegal drug trade -- amounted for 20 of the 39 narcotic/analgesic-related deaths in 2016.

The drug and its chemical analogs, like carfentanil, are increasingly common in drug overdoses. For a variety of reasons, Cohle said his office is not always able to positively identify them in investigations as the cause of a drug overdose.

"The numbers we have are incomplete," he said.

The trend of opioids being increasingly at the root of spikes in drug overdoses is not specific to the Grand Rapids area, or even just to Michigan.

"It's a national problem," Cohle said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that opioids were involved in 42,249 deaths in 2016, and opioid overdose deaths were five times higher in 2016 than 1999. In Michigan, they tracked a 19.6 percent increase in drug overdose deaths from 2015 to 2016.

Of the overdose deaths tracked in Kent County in 2016, 15 were determined to be suicide, 77 were classified as accidents and one was indeterminate. The majority of overdose deaths that year, 53, were males. Most were between the ages of 21-44, about two-thirds of those dead from an overdose death in 2016.

Cohle said he has a hard time understanding why more and more people seem to be overdosing.

"These people have to know they're playing with fire," he said. "Yet they persist."HENRIETTA TWP., MI - Pam Thurston and her family lost two dogs and three cats Saturday afternoon in a fire that damaged their Henrietta Township home.

Thurston was in tears as she contemplated the losses, but she, her husband and two of their children were not hurt, sparing the family the same pain it suffered nearly five years ago.

In June 2013, Thurston, her husband Sidney Thurston Sr. and three of her children were burned in a propane stove-related motor home explosion at Pleasant Lake County Campground, also in Henrietta Township.

Thurston said the couple still is paying the medical bills associated with the fire. Only Pam Thurston has still-visible physical scars, on her hand. She has no feeling in her left, middle finger.

Saturday, Sidney Thurston and their son, 14, and daughter, 16, were in the home, at the corner of Sayers and Coonhill roads. The gas dryer was running in the basement.

Sidney Thurston Jr. said he smelled smoke but his sister noted garbage was burning in a barrel in the yard. It was only after the house began to fill with smoke that the children escaped, the teen said. "He started to go downstairs to try to stop it," Sidney junior said of his father, sitting in the doorway of a van as fire trucks lined the road.

The older Sidney then paused and held his face with his hands.

Smoke rises from a basement window of a burning home Saturday, Feb. 17, at Sayers and Coonhill roads in Henrietta Township. Pam and Sidney Thurston and two of their children lost several pets in the fire.

The family's two dogs, Runaway, a mixed breed, and Wizzer, a Boston terrier, were in the basement. "They didn't get out," Pam Thurston said.

Township fire Lt. Joe Cook said the fire began in the basement. It was reported before 1 p.m. Feb. 17 and required the assistance of several fire departments, including Grass Lake and Rives Township, and the Blackman-Leoni Township public safety department.

While the fire damage was limited to the bottom level, there is smoke damage throughout the brick home. It is likely fixable, but uninhabitable for the time, Cook said.

He did not yet know the number of pets lost; the family had many animals, including chickens and ducks in the yard and five indoor-outdoor cats. A small breed of chickens, already released for the day, spent the nights in a cage in the house.

Township fire chief Richard Wetmore said the dryer was clearly the cause of the fire.

A volunteer from the local chapter of the American Red Cross was helping the family.

Pam Thurston was concerned about prescriptions lost in the fire. Her children have asthma and Sidney Thurston Sr., who uses an oxygen tank, has end-stage emphysema, she said.

"All our medication," she said. "We have nothing."

Stockbridge Pharmacy, however, was helpful and the Red Cross taking care of the costs.

The house is not insured, Pam Thurston said. It is in foreclosure. When her husband lost for a time his prescription coverage, the family had to make a choice - pay for the medicines that helped keep Sidney Sr. alive, or make the mortgage payments.

Both Pam and Sidney Thurston are disabled. They run a trash company, but they have had recent trouble with their two trucks.

The Saturday developments took Pam Thurston back to June 2, 2013, when the family was spending an extended weekend in their 1977 camper at the campground off Styles Road.

It was dinner time and cold, Pam Thurston opted to use the interior stove.

Sidney Thurston Sr. said he turned on the propane gas. Pam Thurston lit the stove and he went to light the oven, prompting the explosion and reducing the trailer to a charred shell.

Sidney Thurston Sr. and his stepdaughter Danyelle Ward, then 20, went by helicopter to what is now Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor. An amublance took Pam Thurston, Sidney Jr., then 9, and Pam's son Kevin Ward, then 16, to the hospital. Pictures taken at the time showed their burned faces and wrapped limbs.

All have since recovered. "Everyone else, you can't tell they were burned," Pam Thurston said.

She still avoids propane grills and for almost a year, used any cooking surface but a gas stove, but she isn't bothered by her scars.

"That's all right. That's part of my story. I got to live to tell that."JACKSON, MI - Jackson County Sheriff Steve Rand said he would like to speak publicly next week regarding allegations levied by a lieutenant who recorded the sheriff making derogatory comments and filed a lawsuit calling Rand a "multifaceted bigot."

"I'm reaching out to the people I've hurt and the people who have supported me that have been affected by this first," he said by phone on Friday afternoon.

Rand was reluctant to say more and declined to comment at all on the lawsuit.

He said he is anxiously anticipating news of a criminal investigation, being conducted by the Michigan State Police and involving the sheriff's office. "I am confident I didn't commit any crime," he said.

Undersheriff Chris Kuhl made a similar statement. "I am confident once MSP completes their investigation this will resolve this allegation of criminal wrongdoing," he wrote in an email.

Kuhl said he has been in contact with detectives from the First District special investigation section, based in Lansing. "A number of documents have been requested by MSP which I have supplied to them," he wrote in an email and declined to specify the type of documents. "I am fully cooperating with their investigation and I look forward to assisting them with anything else they may need."

The nature of the criminal inquiry remains unclear. The state police have said only that it is separate from the contentions in the lawsuit, filed Monday on behalf of Lt. Tommy Schuette, who accuses Rand of mocking him for his hearing loss, and making "numerous slurs," targeting blacks, gays, women, and others. He alleges Rand created a hostile work environment, harassing him for his disability, and the county retaliated against him for opposing and reporting Rand's conduct.

Schuette's lawyer, Jim Fett, released recordings of conversations Schuette had with Rand and others. Rand is heard calling a sitting judge a "scatter-brained c---" and discussing the creation of a violent pornographic film with a woman county employee.

The county, when it learned of Schuette's concerns, referred "the matter" to the state police and the attorney general's office. In a statement, officials directed questions to Detective 1st Lt. Tom DeClercq. Attempts to reach him have not been successful. Freedom of Information Act requests are pending.LEONI TWP., MI - A woman reported missing Friday was found Saturday morning off Lakeside Drive on the northwest side of Center Lake.

A resident reported he had spotted the woman, 79-year-old Viola Irene Rice, before 9 a.m. Feb. 17.

Blackman-Leoni Township public safety Officer Paul Long confirmed Rice had been located. Authorities declined to immediately comment on her condition.

A search effort began Friday afternoon. Michigan State Police flew a helicopter in the area and a total of six police dogs aided in the effort, the public safety department reported.

Rice was last seen at 2 a.m. Friday near Johnny's Shell station on Fifth Street in Michigan Center. She was carrying a small, white stool, police reported in an early Saturday update.

Searches continued through the night. K-9 One, a Michigan volunteer missing person response team, was involved until about 1 a.m. and had gathered to continue Saturday morning, but Rice was found before the team began.

Public safety Director Mike Jester earlier said police did not suspect any foul play. Rice suffered from Alzheimer's disease and likely wandered. She was initially said to be missing from the Broad Street area.LEONI TWP., MI - Blood hounds provided by a Michigan volunteer organization traced a missing 79-year-old woman from her home on Broad Street to the back of Los Tres Amigos on Fifth Street in Michigan Center.

The Grand River runs south and west of the restaurant and those in pursuit feared she had gone into the water. "That is where we were focusing our search, because that is where the dogs led us," said Mike Jester, director of the Blackman-Leoni Township public safety department.

Though investigators believe Viola Irene Rice, 79, was near the business at one time, she had really traveled further south, to Center Lake. A resident on S. Lakeside Drive spotted her Saturday morning on the ice behind his home. He went to check on the woman and learned she was dead.

Authorities believe Rice, who had Alzheimer's disease, walked about 1.6 miles. Jester said he himself had checked the S. Lakeside Drive area, but it would have been impossible to see Rice from the road.

"It's just an unfortunate situation," Jester said.

K-9 One, a flint-based volunteer search and rescue team, and a Michigan State Police helicopter were involved in the search. The blood hounds retired about 1 a.m. Friday, but another search and rescue team, working on foot, continued looking through the night. Public safety officers were searching by vehicle, as were other community or family members.

"We utilized four-wheelers, helicopters and dogs. We were trying everything we could think of. A lot of people were searching on their own," Jester said.

Cars were traveling usually quiet township roads.

Jester thanked the state police, the search and rescue groups and citizens for their help and attention.

"We wish it would have turned out differently, but it didn't."

Rice was last seen at 2 a.m. Friday at Johnny's Shell station on Fifth Street, but police did not know this until a third-shift employee arrived at work late Friday and saw the woman's picture.

Jester had earlier said Rice was last seen about 11 p.m. Thursday. She was reported missing about 1 p.m. Friday.SPRING ARBOR TWP., MI - Spring Arbor University will celebrate Black History Month with a showing of "The Old Settler."

SAU Hearts Drama will perform the play by John Henry Redwood at 7:30 p.m. on Feb 20, 22 and 23, at the university's Prop Shop, 106 E. Main St.

Two more showings are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Feb. 24 and 25.

"The Old Settler" follows two middle-aged African-American sisters as they adjust to city life in Harlem during World War II.

"This is a celebratory offering, expressing the joys and sorrows of the African-American experience during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1940s," said Paul Patton, producer of the play, in a release.

The event is open to the public.

General admission is $8. Tickets for students, staff, faculty and alumni are $5.

To reserve a seat ahead of time, email your name, the date you'd like to attend and the number of tickets you'll need to dramatickets@arbor.edu.GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Hearing Oprah Winfrey pray for you is something most people wouldn't even imagine.

But Wesley Watson, a 2009 Mona Shores High School graduate, experienced it.

"So surreal, so amazing," he said. "You can't come up with this story."

Watson is part of a group of 14 West Michigan residents who have now met with Winfrey twice for roundtable discussions about "America's divide" and "bridging the gap" between political ideologies.

The first interview took place in August 2017 and aired on CBS's "60 Minutes" on Sept. 24. A second discussion was held in January, and will air Sunday, Feb. 18.

After the first session - which took about five hours - Winfrey invited the group out for a beer and called on Watson to ride with her.

During that ride, Winfrey told Watson stories of her childhood dealing with poverty and setting goals in her early career.

"At the end of it, she said to remember to take you out of the equation and put God in it and to use God as your will," Watson said.

And then she prayed for him.

"I'm riding with Oprah, and Oprah is praying for me - it was like, wow," Watson said during a phone interview on Thursday, Feb. 15.

Her words during that ride have inspired him.

"A person from West Michigan can be a voice for 325 million people because I take me out of the equation," he said.

Oprah returned to Grand Rapids for the second interview during January.

Watson, of Ada, is an HIV/substance abuse counselor for Red Project in Grand Rapids.

When searching for a panel, the goal was to find a group to personify the political divide in the United States, and then to see if those people could bridge the gap through discussion.

The group consists of seven people who voted for President Donald Trump, and seven who didn't.

"After the first recording, they didn't think it was enough," Watson said. "They thought we would go back to our normal lives."

But group has remained in contact and found common ground, he said. While Winfrey's team had dubbed the group "The 14," they call themselves "America's Hope."

"The '60 Minutes' crew and Oprah nicknamed me with the name 'Zen Master' of the group because I can keep everybody focused on finding common ground," Watson said.

Participating in the panel has led to Watson to realize he doesn't have to sit on the sidelines and he can make a difference, he said.

Watson recently applied to fill a vacant seat on the Forest Hill Public Schools Board of Education and plans to run for the position when it comes up on the ballot in November.BAY CITY, MI -- Family members of a 61-year-old man who has lived in the U.S. for almost four decades fear he could be deported after he was unexpectedly detained Monday.

The Cuban native and Bay City resident was arrested Monday, Feb. 12, in Detroit while attempting to renew his visa -- something he has done annually without incident, said his stepson Corky Hardy.

"He went there last year, no problem; the year before, no problem; this year, they detained him," Hardy said.

Why Ruben Mesa was arrested and subsequently lodged in the Calhoun County Jail, authorities have not said, Hardy told MLive.

Hardy spoke with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials who told him Mesa had no open case against him but was being held without bond.

"It's just frustrating that they can't give you answers," he said. "I'm trying my best to be as patient as possible."

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials could not be reached for comment. There are no open federal or local court cases involving Mesa.

Mesa came from Cuba to the U.S. in the 1980s under President Jimmy Carter's administration, Hardy said. To his knowledge, Mesa was granted asylum.

In 1996, Mesa married Hardy's mother but was never granted citizenship. The pair were together until her death two years ago, Hardy said.

Hardy said Mesa spent several years in prison on charges of unarmed robbery and larceny.

He added that Mesa has lived the past decade in Bay City without incident .

"He's been a good man," Hardy said. "He helps everyone out in his community. He's no threat."

Hardy said Mesa worked in the food and restaurant industry before getting hurt and going on disability.

Monya Alvarez met Mesa within the past year. They soon fell in love, she said.

She said Mesa's care for others and loyalty are what drew her to him. He often repairs and restores what others throw away, giving the refurbished product to those in need, Alvarez said.

Mesa is allowed phone calls, and Alvarez said she talks with him once or twice daily.

"His spirits are low, but he has faith," she said. "I'm hoping that they just let him come home."

Because authorities haven't provided answers about Mesa's detention, Alvarez and Hardy say they fear his deportation to Cuba.

"He doesn't have any family over there, as far as I know," Hardy said. "He didn't really talk much about his home country, because it was just a bad part of his life."Punjab National Bank offers customers 4.5 percent interest on deposits less than Rs 2 crore. Senior citizens earn 5.25 percent. Those depositing between Rs 2 crore to Rs 10 crore earn an interest of 3.25 percent.

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City Union Bank Ltd on Saturday said it had suffered three "fraudulent remittances" of nearly USD 2 million that had been pushed through the SWIFT financial platform.

City Union said the transfers had been made through correspondent banks even though the Indian lender had not requested the transfers.

The lender said it had been able to block a remittance of USD 500,000.

A second transfer of 300,000 euros (USD 372,150.00) was routed through a Standard Chartered Bank account in Frankfurt to a Turkish account, while a third totalling USD 1 million was sent through a Bank of America account in New York to a China-based bank.

SWIFT, whose messaging system is used to transfer trillions of dollars each day, could not immediately by reached for comment.

City Union said it was working with the Ministry of External Affairs and officials in Turkey and China to repatriate the funds.

The suspected fraudulent transactions comes after attackers stole $81 million from the Bangladesh central bank in 2016 in a cyber heist.

Separately, Punjab National Bank said earlier this week it had been hit by a $1.77 billion fraud.trends Punjab National Bank scam: CBI arrests 3 accused including 2 former PNB employees First three arrests have been made in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.RN Bhaskar

Last week most market watchers were left stunned with wide-mouthed amazement. Two developments almost ripped apart the governments claims that it was determined to unearth black money.

One was, obviously, the Punjab National Bank scandal involving some Rs.11,400 crore. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued summons for appearance to billionaire diamond merchant Nirav Modi and his business partner Mehul Choksi in connection with its money laundering probe.

The ED notice is laughable because a similar ED notice was issued in the case of liquor baron Vijay Mallya as well. And everyone knows how far that notice has reached.

The Mallya case is equally distressing because, just last week, the media was full of news about how a small Singapore company, BOC Aviation, managed to get the London courts direct the absconding Mallya to pay (to BOC) damages of $90 million. Here was a small Singapore company that could make London courts slap a damage charge against Mallya. And here was India  a country with a battery of smart lawyers  unable to get even one favourable judgement from London. It pointed to Indias abject incompetence, and the Opposition alleges collusion.

Coincidentally, two Modis (Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi) and Mallya are now overseas. All the three managed to escape the CBI and the ED. True, the ED now claims that they have attached assets (belonging to Nirav Modi) worth Rs.5,100 crore. But werent assets seized and attached even in the NSEL case? Why were those assets not liquidated and the defrauded investors reimbursed? Why should one believe that this time round, the ED will actually liquidate assets to make good the losses?

Indias investigative and judicial system has much to answer by way of explanation to the queries raised above.

More questions than answers

In fact, the Nirav Modi case raises more questions than the government has cared to answer.

First, how is it that G. Shetty  the man who is alleged to have allowed Nirav Modi to take large sums of cash from PNB  was not exposed for almost seven years. Surely, he must have gone on leave for some time during these years. Surely, the Core Banking System (CBS) should have registered these transactions! After all, all SWIFT-related transactions have to get reflected in the CBS, which is part of the Finacle Banking solution developed for Indian banks by Infosys.

Then there is the SWIFT system itself. Senior bankers will tell you that  at least till a few years ago  all transactions required two independent officers to ratify a SWIFT transaction. This was known as the system of double control. Hence Shetty could not have been working alone. His entries had to be authenticated by another officer as well. Was the software tinkered with in such a way that only one person could authenticate a transaction? Is Infosys giving its inputs to the investigators? Or has the RBI come up with fresh regulations allowing only a single authentication to be adequate?

Moreover, senior bankers also talk of how loans against bank guarantees are normally discouraged by banks. A Letter of Undertaking (LoU) is one kind of bank guarantee. So how were loans permitted against LoUs (see PNB letter  pg 1 given above; the full document can be viewed here)? And even if they were, why was the norm of 110 percent margin money requirement waived? Banks have conventionally insisted on 110 percent margin money for any kind of advance taken from any bank against a bank guarantee or an LoU. Why were Nirav Modis companies allowed to raise money from different banks on the basis of such LoUs, which were supplied without the margin money of 110 percent being deposited with the bank?

Finally, how is it that such frauds get discovered only after the key people involved have flown away? Nirav Modi has flown away, and Shetty is untraceable till the time of writing this article. There is no mention of his fellow collaborators either. There is no explanation regarding the reasons why two officers who were required to authenticate the SWIFT transactions remained in their positions of authority for seven continuous years. Normally such positions are rotated, to ensure that collusive arrangements do not continue for long periods of time, and also to ensure that such arrangement s come to light. Nor is there any mention of the brokers who received their commissions for arranging funds from other banks on the basis of such LoUs. According to some reports, the brokers got their commissions from the same branch of PNB.

India loves black money

In fact, the silence on the issues raised above only reinforces the fear that India loves black money. True, legislators love to talk about their determination to root out corruption. But look at events very closely, and you will discover more acts that smack of collusion than determination (to root out black money).

#1 Consider how a Singapore company could get the UK courts to compel Mallya to pay it $90 million; and Indias inability in getting even one favourable UK court order against Mallya after all these years.

#2 Consider how the big fish always manage to escape Indias law enforcement machinery. Clearly, this should be a case of dismissals on account of ineptness and incompetence. Or it should be a case of hauling some enforcement officers over the coals for collusion. The silence suggests collusion at this stage as well.

#3 Consider again, how the Aadhaar scheme was allowed to sail through even though Indias authorities knew that this was merely authentication, not identification. The Aadhaar biometrics could have been included under the NPR (National Population register) which actually identifies. Thus, anyone could, even if he were a Nepali or a Bangladesh national, manage to get an Aadhaar card on the basis of a bogus ration card and a bogus election card (because the Aadhaar system merely checks documents without getting them cross verified, and without getting the person identified by other people. Given that as many as half a billion Aadhaar cards could be defective, the numbers of unidentified Aadhaar cards could be almost half the number issued. Since each bogus identity is a unique individual (Bangladeshi, Nepali or who have you), his/her biometrics will not be duplicated, hence never come to light as a fraudulent recipient of an Aadhaar number.

The decision of NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) to link the latest bank account to an Aadhaar number is equally perplexing, because the system overwrites the previous bank account number. This removes any possibility of tracking the amounts received from the consolidated funds of India as subsidy reimbursements paid over a period of time. That the loopholes in the UIDAI and NPCI systems took place when key people from Infosys were at the helm of affairs at both companies is rather unfortunate.

Is the FCRA being amended retrospectively?

Then take two other reasons why there is growing scepticism about Indias stated resolve to root out corruption. The first relates to the emailed letter EAS Sarma, former Economic Affairs Secretary, Government of India, wrote to the finance minister Arun Jaitley on 3 February 2018 (see pix of the first page alongside, and the full email here).

The letter refers to the governments alleged moves to introduce through a Finance Bill to be tabled before Parliament an amendment to modify certain clauses of the Foreign Contributions Regulations Act (FCRA) with retrospective effect. The move appears to be to condone the illegalities committed by Congress, BJP and a few other political parties by unethically accepting political donations from foreign sources, though prohibited under that Act. This, in my view, is not only illegal but it runs counter to the national interest, making a mockery of your so-called campaign of bringing in electoral reforms and enhancing honesty in the electoral system.

The email letter goes on to say To amend an existing law retrospectively to permit the political parties to accept donations from foreign companies raises serious concerns about the government's intentions vis-a-vis the likely influence of foreign agencies over the electoral process in India and its likely adverse implications for the national interest.

Both the FCRA of 1976 and the FCRA of 2010 rightly prohibited political parties and their members from accepting donations from foreign sources. The Representation of the People Act echoed these prohibitive provisions. It goes to the credit of the Parliamentarians at that time to have thought about the deleterious implications that foreign donations could have on the political parties and their implications for the national interest.

Despite such clear legal provisions, both Congress and BJP blatantly sought and accepted donations from foreign sources year after year.

I, along with Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), filed a Writ Petition [W.P.(C) 131/2013] before Hon'ble Delhi High Court contesting the same. The latter pronounced their judgement on 28-3-2014 (copy enclosed) upholding the contention in our WP and directing the Union Govt to act against the political parties within six months.

Thus, instead of complying with the orders of the court, the government now appears to be willing to change the laws retrospectively/ That would allow political parties the liberty to conceal the source of their funding. Since such an allegation has been made before the courts, and since the government has not responded to the order of the courts, one is inclined to believe that the allegations are true, and that it is the politicians who have actually abetted and promoted the creation of black money. If the allegations are true, it would explain the desire of the legislators to conceal the source of funds, and thus allow the black-money to go undetected.

Agriculture the laundromat

There is one more reason to believe that the government has no real desire to unearth black-money. It related to the disclosures of agricultural income that were made to the income tax authorities during 2011 and 2012. What makes those disclosures preposterous is (a) they were larger than ever before, (b) the cumulative value of disclosures during the two years was a mind-boggling Rs.874 lakh crore. (c) the cumulative value of disclosures were eight times Indias GVA for 2013, and almost 100 times the total tax collected in a year.

The amounts were so staggering that any income tax officer would have dismissed them. Unfortunately, today, the income tax department is not in a position to either dismiss them, or even accept them. To dismiss these declarations would require them to file cases of wrongful disclosure against the declarants (because under the income tax laws any income above a certain limit must be fed in by the declarant online, and swear to the authenticity of these declarations). It is reasonable to believe that such large declarations could only have been made by very powerful and extremely wealthy people (many of them possibly politicians). Prosecuting them on a large scale (around 8 lakh such assessees) would be inconceivable. To accept such declarations that were eight times a countrys GDP would immediately raise a hue and cry about how the country had been looted all these years.

That is why the disclosures and submissions have remained with the income tax department like a hot potato. They bear testimony to the governments unwillingness to root out black money. They also seem to explain why the government had been unwilling to go after the people whose names had been disclosed in the St Kitts exposure and the Paradise Papers episode. That the government did begin an investigation was on account of the directives given by the Supreme Court.

In conclusion

That is why many do not take the governments protestations over the PNB fraud at face value. Many believe that someone in the government must have had a hand in allowing these diversions of funds to take place. How else can one explain the LoUs being accepted without the double control mechanism of the SWIFT keys? How else does one explain the disclosure coming to light after the key persons had fled the coop?

That could also explain why even though bank managers have been hauled up for the NPAs, not a single legislator or Politically Affiliated Person has been hauled up for compelling bank authorities to give loans to undesirable borrowers. That the PNB loot began seven years ago, and continued till recently, puts both the Congress and NDA governments under a harsh spotlight.

So what will the outcome be? Your guess is as good as mine. The only thing that is certain is that there remain more questions than answers at this stage.

The author is consulting editor with MoneycontrolThe Reserve Bank of India (RBI) changed the rules whereby banks were resolving cases of stress and default. The rules have now become world class, but before we reach utopia, there could be hurdles for banks.

First, the old schemes like corporate debt restructuring (CDR), strategic debt restructuring (SDR), scheme for sustainable structuring of stressed assets' (S4A), have all been done away with. Loans currently which are under these schemes, CDR, SDR, S4A, get six months to be resolved, else they are going to be marched to the bankruptcy court.

Second, when bankers to a defaulter design a restructured loan, all banks have to agree. Also, a rating agency has to give the new loan an investment grade. That is a tall ask.

Third, now banks have to report first time defaulters on a weekly basis. So no time to given them any extra elbowroom.

Fourth, upgrading a default loan gets tougher. It can be done only when 20 percent of the principal is repaid.

The questions that we are asking today is one, how painful is the transition going to be to the new system of loan classification? Two, can the rules be tweaked to iron out some difficult requirements? Three, can the bankruptcy court take the load that is going to come its way? Fourth, will the capital recently sanctioned to public sector banks be enough given the likely higher bad loan load?

A star panel of SS Mundra, Former Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) & Former Chairman of Bank of Baroda, Shyam Srinivasan, MD & CEO of Federal Bank, Suresh Ganapathy, Banking Analyst at Macquarie Capital Securities and Sandeep Parekh, Founder of Finsec Law Advisors answered all the mentioned questions.

Below is the verbatim transcript of the interview.

Q: Bankers big problem is this is a tall ask, expecting rating agencies to give their investment grade. Rating agencies normally wait to see how a loan performs, is this the first and the biggest hurdle?

Mundra: First of all I think what we need to really put in proper perspective that it is something, it is being mentioned as a midnight sweep, it is being mentioned as a kind of totally unsettling act, but if you look at it right from the  and I have been on record telling many times even when the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) was under discussion, that whatever has been put by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), they are all only second best solution and once the IBC is in place, everything else gets subsumed into this; that is one point.

After IBC came into existence, first the 12 large cases and then a number of cases, they were put. So it means it was logical progression to believe that other cases would come. So I think that there had been enough background and understanding at the banks part and of course there would be initial difficulties in adjusting to some of these provisions, and to my mind there may be scope in some of these provisions to undergo maybe a slight modification, basic thrust remains the same; no grievance with the basic thrust, but some of the operational issues can be tweaked. However, other than that, I think system should gear up to deal with this situation.

Q: Where should the tweaks come, for instance, the two big problems that bankers have told us over the past two days is, one, that you cannot get all banks to agree to a restructuring package, maybe this 100 percent requirement should be tweaked. It does not find any mention in the rules. Secondly this rating agency issue. Any comments on these two requirements?

Mundra: While you say that the guidelines do not mention, I have not seen any reference that even 100 percent is needed. By absence you believe that that is what is required, but to my mind, there are two areas where some tweaking can be relevant from the operational viewpoint. One, default is categorised at the point when there is a default in repayment, and then the categorisation are given and SMA 0 is 1 to 30 days default. If you recollect, in the earlier guidelines SMA 0 contains many other things, not only the repayment default. However, even if you put that aside, my point is, in a real life scenario, in a business, there can be some cash flow mismatches.

So, if you say that on day one you treat it default, put the resolution professional (RP), all lenders should come together, and let us say after two to three days the cash flow has come and it has been repaid, then this all becomes a kind of wasted effort. To my mind it would be much more prudent and practical that once the account enters into SMA 1 category, it means 30 days if there is a period where the default has persisted, I think that should be the point where the 180 days should kick-in and entire other set of actions would kick-in, one.

Second, to my mind, while scrapping all other schemes is logical, but I think for some time, when there is a transition period, it would have been meaningful to maintain the forum like Joint Lenders Forum (JLF) because in each typical large cases, a number of lenders are involved with different level of exposures and at times -- I think ultimate idea is resolution and not liquidation, preserve the economic capacity and also not having the belief that all the promoters have misbehaved. If those are the fundamentals which we accept, then some regulatory nudge in the form of a real little bit hard footed JLF, I think would be meaningful to begin with. Going forward, maybe when the system has lived, you can do away with that forum; that is what I believe.

As far as the ratings are concerned, I would quickly only say both lenders, borrowers, and the raters, I think all will have to evolve themselves to meet with these requirements.

Q: Do you think it is practical, will the rating agencies oblige at all? In practice they have normally waited for a loan to perform before they upgrade.

Mundra: That is the whole point that if a rating, if some event has happened and then the rating changes, I think the whole signal giving  I mean to say use of rating itself is then not much more meaningful. That is why I say everyone would have to evolve for that. So it is not only the done event and which then -- I think then rating has no meaning.

Q: First of all on this JLF idea, do you think that needs to be maintained at least because then you can have this vote that 75 percent of the bankers agree or do you think that becomes difficult because the one banker who disagrees can take the whole lot to IBC. Can we tweak or cannot we?

Srinivasan: I think the point like SS Mundra said, there are two fundamental things we have to look at. One is I have built on what SS Mundra said, this early recognition is great, but SMA 0 is probably a touch too sensitive given that this client behavior is the biggest issue here. They have been used to one kind of behaviour, we are trying to alter that dramatically on a particular given date. I think that 30 day window making it say SMA 1, will be a good start point.

Now, if that were to be accommodated, then the issue can be around whether  in some form there is going to be an equivalent of a JLF. We may not call it so, the issue is whether it is 100 percent or 75 percent. In the absence of any clarity in this we are assuming it is 100 percent, I think we have to make a representation that it is going to be almost humongous task getting everybody, the biggest lender and the smallest lender on the same table, in the same time to tag it, and get the process kick-started.

So I think the two big requirements that will make this clearer and as the evolution happens, one is rechristen the 30 day window as some kind of a period in which the customer is correcting his behaviour, SMA 0 actually starts where SMA 1 starts; in that case you have accommodated client inefficiencies, the system inefficiencies, and brought them on a same page.

Second certainly is the number of lenders who are going to participate and I think this includes NBFCs too. Now I do not how it is going to be, all lenders are going to come together, so to some extent the JLF, while the name may be abolished, there has to be some kind of a loose congregation of lenders have to come together, whether it is 75 percent by value, 75 percent by number of lenders is certainly something that we have to negotiate for to make this process easier and I think that is where SS Mundra said all three lenders, borrowers, and the rater has to evolve.

It is going to be a teething period of 90 days odd or maybe two quarters by which time everything will sort itself out, but directionally it was coming. We did not think it would come on the day it came, but direction was that existing programs are not going to be grandfathered any longer and we have to come and do our post IBC era. So this is probably coming, but I would push for these two to become sharper and some latitude for borrower behaviour to change because it is not going to be easy considering that Rs 5 crore and above you are going to start reporting now.

Q: Can you clarify what do you mean by SMA 0 should become SMA 1. I would assume what they mean now is that on the 31st day if the interest doesnt come in, you have to report on that Friday, right?

Srinivasan: Yes, that is for revolving credit. For term loan its day one.

Q: Do day one when the interest is not paid?

Srinivasan: SMA 0 has other softer aspects also, it is not just default or payment and within three days if he corrects himself will you still put it under a programme. So the 30 day window would be a good period where we could have established the clients intention to pay or capability to pay and make sure that this is good case for resolution now.

Q: What about the rating agency issue. Do you think the RBI has set the bar too high?

Srinivasan: It is but I think this will correct itself. I do not see that as a big problem. Yes, there will be issues of who is going to pay, how much is the pay and negotiation part but remember they are only rating the plan, they are not giving a clean chit. The plan is what we are trying to execute. If the plan doesnt executed then the problem kicks in. So I do not think the rating agencies will have too much of a problem of rating the viability of the plan. Now that is a matter of their judgement of analyzing how the behaviour of the client is, the business potential, the underlying security that is there and the trajectory of payment and some kind of integrity of the borrowers. So I think the development of rating agencys capability to rate  I do not think is as much of an issue as the fact that  a) the cost of doing it and b) if there are two rating agencies and the minimum rating required is RP4  those are the kind of issues that will get evolved but I do not see the rating agencies  there could be timing issue because the rating agency may suddenly be plundered with too many requests. So those are more operational. I do not think rating agencies will say  I am not going to be able to rate this.

Q: But only thing is whether they will be forthcoming and given investment grade rating.

Srinivasan: That is a natural bias but the sample size is like that. It is like a patient going to a doctor; only when you are unwell you are going. So the sample size in itself by default negative base.

Q: These new rules  what impact will it have on the public sector banks capital. Do you think that 2.1 lakh crore which has been announced for them will be enough or will it have to be vastly scaled up?

Ganapathy: Of course it is going to be inadequate. In fact, in our earlier report we had pointed out that if we were to assume a certain kind of haircuts for many of these stressed assets which have been created out of regulatory forbearance, the total capital requirement actually would be closer to 3 lakh crore. So the actual number could be now 40-50 percent higher than the 2 lakh crore that the government is budgeting for these public sector banks.

Q: What you are saying is that the capital is not even enough for slippage cover or are you saying it is enough for slippage cover not enough for growth?

Ganapathy: No. this 2 lakh crore was barely meeting for all the provisioning requirements under the earlier rule. Now that you have accelerated your recognition for some of these assets and of course in general majority of these SMA loans will also have to be what you call treated as bad assets eventually, the requirements will actually go up. So these all will be there only to meet the provisioning requirements, not for growth.

Q: Any numbers that you have on how much might  say only for the public sector banks the amount of bas loan percentage go up by. I think it now stands at about 13.5-14 percent?

Ganapathy: If you look at, for example the amount of assets which are now shown as stress but not as NPLs, roughly it would be about 5-6 percent of loan book for the entire banking system. So if we were to take into account, for example the total gross NPLs for the banking system at about 10-11 percent of the loan book, we are possibly talking about an additional 5-6 percent and that comes out to be a very large number of about anywhere between 3.5-4 lakh crore.

Q: Speaking about IBC  so much of this new set of rules hinge on the fact that we do not need all these schemes because we have the bankruptcy code. Are we betting too soon and too much on the IBC. Has it proved its mettle?

Parekh: We are betting an entire house on that but the issue is bandwidth rather than the institutional mechanism which has been created and hopefully they will catch up on the bandwidth side as well.

Q: Do you think the government should probably increase the number of benches because there is going to be flooding of cases probably 6 or 12 months down the line?

Parekh: They will certainly have to kind of keep the house ready for the flood. So the preparation should start now.

Q: Do you see borrower behaviour changing now?

Mundra: Absolutely. I think it is quite visible also and yes it will and that is for sure. I do not nurse any doubt about that.

Q: Is there enough fear of the law and of god that people will come forth with money and somehow resolve?

Srinivasan: I will break it into two parts. 2,000 plus is a very aware customer. If they have not honoured their commitments, if intention is wrong whether NCLT, IBC there is going to be a problem. If they have suffered business challenges and are well meaning, I think they will begin to correct and its a great way to do that and I am hoping that it will bring in behaviour change but I want to focus on the lower ticket guys who have borrowed and have been indulged for long on accommodation and allowing for it as long as it is not within 90 days past due, go on. I think that client behaviour has to change and that is going to be the seminal difference and the implication of what we this new stress asset management process is because on every Friday a 5 crore guy is going to be listed in Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC) report, he never visualised it on one default. He thought its fine. I think that is a big change.

Q: A long only India fund  will they see this as absolutely game changing?

Specifically from a perspective of long only fund they would view these rules and regulations as very positive because at the end of the day what investors want is transparency of banks balance sheet and because of these various forbearance schemes life was very difficult for all of us to analyse these banks. Now that everybody is on the same level playing field and now the banks balance sheets will be very clean, the provisioning will be taken off yes, it is going to be a couple of years of pain but at the end of the day it is very positive from a system perspective and therefore it also gives a lot of credibility to the regulator as well to the entire system and that will be taken very positively by the long only funds.Market

Nifty and Sensex ended on flat note in the week ended February 16. It has been a volatile truncated week as the benchmark indices have been dancing to the tune of global equity indices. However, the Nifty is stuck in a narrow trading range between 10400 to 10600 levels for the past seven days.

The highlight of the week is the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case and because of this the Bank Nifty index remained under pressure during the week, which also dampened the sentiment across the street.

On February 14, Punjab National Bank (PNB) disclosed that it has detected some fraudulent transactions with financial implication of about Rs 11,346 crore and the matter has been referred to law enforcement agencies for the recovery.

Gitanjali Gems saw severe selling pressure after the company came under scanner of various investigating agencies following Punjab National Bank'sfraud detection. Its market valuation went down by Rs 300 crore in the last three trading sessions.

The index consolidated throughout this week, a pattern which is likely to continue in the coming week as well unless it breaks above 10600.

"Going forward, it is crucial that Nifty manages to break either of the 10400 or 10600 levels before we could see any specific direction being established, said Hadrien Mendonca, Senior Technical Analyst at IIFL.

During the week, Nifty50 was down 2 points closed at 10,452.3 and Sensex was down 5 points ended at 34,010.76.

The foreign investors sold equities worth Rs 2,849.10 crore. However, domestic institutions bought Rs 2,368.01 crore worth of equities in last week.

India's volatility index (India VIX) slipped nearly 15 percent last week while S&P BSE Midcap index was down 0.20 percent, S&P BSE Smallcap index was down 0.76 percent and S&P BSE largecap index was down 0.19 percent.

BSE Bankex index underperformed the other sectorial indices with nearly 2 percent decline during the week.

State Bank of India lost most of its market value on the Sensex, followed by TCS, ITC and Axis Bank.

253 stocks has touched the 52-week high including Adani Enterprises, Ashok Leyland, Bharat Forge, HCL Infosystems, Mastek, L&T Infotech, while 183 stocks touched 52-week low including Corporation Bank, DB Corp, Dena Bank, Gitanjali Gems, Force Motors in the week ended February 16, 2018.Delhi-based Escorts Mutual Fund that was struggling to garner assets under management since last few years is said to be acquired by Quant Capital.

This was Moneycontrol exclusive story for the week.

Of 245 crore total AUM of Escorts Mutual Fund as on Dec 2017, the fund house manages Rs 43-44 crore in equity schemes, which is about 18 percent of its total assets under management, according to industry estimates. Typically, the fund house is valued based on the assets in its equity schemes.

In the last one year, the AUM of Escorts Mutual Fund had plunged 14 percent.

Indias mutual fund industry has already seen a slew of deals, including Prudential Financial Incs purchase of Deutsche Asset Managements India unit and Edelweiss Asset Management acquiring JP Morgan Asset Managements India unit in 2016.

The fortunes of Indias asset management sector have revived since 2014, when stock markets started a powerful rally, ending years of scant retail interest in mutual funds. Domestic mutual funds have seen net inflows of a record Rs 1.3 lakh crore in equity mutual funds in 2017 in the last calendar year.This the first time a mutual fund distribution and a brokerage firm will be venturing in to the asset management business.

Last year, in August, Essel Finance acquired stake in Peerless Mutual Fund.

HDFC Mutual Fund holds more than 4% stake in fraud clad Punjab National Bank

HDFC Mutual Fund held more than 4 percent in the much talked about scam-hit Punjab National Bank.

HDFC Prudence Fund, HDFC Equity Fund and HDFC Midcap Opportunities Fund all held a significant amount of shares of the public sector bank.

Among the top 10 fund houses, Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund held 0.78 percent stake in the state-owned lender, while DSP BlakcRock held 0.71 percent, as per the data on Value Research.

Among other notable developments this week, slew of mutual fund houses revised the benchmark for most equity schemes to total return variant of the respective index.

Fund houses that revised its benchmark index were IDBI Mutual Fund and L&T Mutual Fund.

On January 4, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) had directed fund houses to compare the performance of their schemes with total return variant of the benchmark index instead of current price return variant.

The total return variant captures the value of dividends paid out by companies, while the price return variant captures capital gains of firms in an index.

DSP BlackRock MF to revise features of infrastructure fund from March 16

DSP BlackRock Mutual Fund will revise features of DSP BlackRock India T.I.G.E.R. Fund with effect from March 16, to comply with the new guidelines issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Post the effective date, the scheme will be categorised as an open-ended equity scheme following economic reforms and infrastructure development theme, as against an open-ended diversified equity scheme currently.

Quantum Mutual Fund extends facility to donate to NGOs to liquid fund

Quantum Mutual Fund extended the facility to donate to non-governmental organisations through its funds to one more scheme Quantum Liquid Fund.

Under the facility, investors can donate 5 percent or 10 percent of their holdings under the folio tagged for the facility to non-governmental organisations through automatic redemption of their units.

Earlier, the eligible schemes were Quantum Long Term Equity Fund, Quantum Equity Fund of Funds, Quantum Dynamic Bond Fund, Quantum Multi Asset Fund, and Quantum Gold Savings Fund.According to the EOW, the accused colluded with the former promoters of Religare Enterprises, Malvinder Mohan Singh and Shivinder Mohan Singh. (Image: Reuters)

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This past week was an action packed one for pharma and healthcare sectors, with events at Fortis Healthcare and the government slashing ceiling prices of coronary stents hoarding the headlines.

Investors of Fortis had to sit through a roller coaster ride as the companys stock reacted sharply to the news flow.

The troubles for the company and its embattled promoters Malvinder Singh and Shivinder Singh, referred to as the Singh brothers, have got more complicated. Media headlines have called it the beginning of the "endgame" for the billionaire brothers.

To be sure, the Singh brothers have indicated that they are not ones to take it on the chin and move on.

"We would now like to fight for our justice and pride at this point and not for economics only," said a statement by RHC Holding Pvt. Ltd, the holding company promoted by the brothers, after the Supreme Court dismissed their plea challenging Delhi High Courts order allowing Japanese drug maker Daiichi Sankyo to enforce a foreign arbitration award of Rs 3,500 crore.

Much to the chagrin of the Singh brothers, the apex court even declined to interfere in the case.

After the Supreme Courts latest order, the Singh brothers have now exhausted almost all their legal options in India to block the enforcement of the arbitration award.

The brothers have said they will appeal against the arbitration award in Singapore courts as they still believe they have been wronged in the majority Singapore arbitration award. The case has already hurt and crippled the entire group.

The past week for Fortis started on a bad note with credit rating firm ICRA downgrading loans worth Rs 1,170 crore. Taking a cue from ICRA, Care Ratings too lowered Fortis ratings on loans worth Rs 853 crore. Both the firms have expressed concerns over the companys liquidity position after a disclosure about advances of Rs 473 crore extended to the Singh brothers.

Both firms said they are closely monitoring the developments at Fortis.

Fortis board, which met on Tuesday, sought an extension of 15 days to declare second and third quarter results of FY18 as the statutory auditors informed the company that the audit process may not be complete before the stipulated date of the board meeting.

Fortis also announced that the company signed a definitive agreement to acquire assets of Singapore-listed RHT Health Trust for Rs 4,650 crore, which includes Rs 1,152 crore of debt that will be repaid.

The lenders to Fortis got some relief after the Supreme Court lifted the stay on sale of pledged shares held by Fortis promoters.

The order allows lenders to sell shares pledged by the Singh brothers and recover their dues. To be sure, all the moves indicate that Singh brothers have been on the lookout for a strategic buyer for Fortis.

The Singh brothers have also announced that they stepped down from Religare Enterprises board this week.

Other news that made the front pages was the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authoritys decision to further cut ceiling prices of the most commonly used drug-eluting stent (DES) by 5.8 percent, as it pursues the policy of price controls on coronary stents citing larger public interest.

After the latest revision, the price of DES, a product that constitutes 95 percent of the market, is now capped at Rs 27,890.

The government raised ceiling price of bare metal stents (BMS) by 5.5 percent to Rs 7,660.

Both prices were excluding GST. The government charges 5 percent GST on stents.Ashwani Gujral of ashwanigujral.com told CNBC-TV18, "Sell Sun TV with a stop loss of Rs 940 and target of Rs 900. Jindal Steel & Power has just started falling. That is a sell with a stop loss of Rs 256 and target of Rs 240. Bombay Burmah Trading is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 1,495 and target of Rs 1,540."

"Motherson Sumi Systems is now trading below its 200-day moving average and looking at an intermediate style correction. Once you decide to buy a bluechip, you should be ready to average. I would average it down because once the correction is over, chances are it will make fresh highs. So that is as far as Motherson Sumi is concerned."

"Although I would like to point out that you buy autos, auto ancillaries when a bull market is just about starting out. After two years of huge rallies if you buy stocks, chances are at best you could be stuck in a sideways zone or you enter into something and it starts to correct."

"Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M), I do not think has really done too much. Basically, it is still in a range of Rs 570 to Rs 750. Now, we have broken Rs 750, so, once something breaks one end of the range, it often becomes likely that it will go to the other end of the range. So this is poor buying. He should not be very hopeful."

"The problem with sugar is that the cycle changes before you know and it then comes off rapidly. Balrampur Chini was at October 31 at about Rs 180, and from there it is about Rs 110. Now the way the stock is looking, it looks like maybe the cycle has turned. The best time to buy such stocks are when they are going bankrupt; in commodities that is the rule. Sugar, every three years, these companies are flat on their face, similarly with metals, etc. You buy them at the top of the cycle, then it becomes impossible to make money."

"Get into stocks which are overall good stocks but in correction. So add a couple of NBFCs like Bajaj Finance L&T Finance , add a couple of tech stocks, particularly things which are doing well, things like 8K Miles or Sonata Software and NIIT Technologies . So make a mix of both these spaces and chances are over the next five years this sort of portfolio should do well," he said.Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Friday said the Supreme Court verdict reducing the quantum of Cauvery water to be released for Tamil Nadu to 177.25 tmc ft was "disappointing".

Palaniswami, under attack from the DMK for allegedly not handling the matter in the apex court properly, however said,"Several advantageous features for Tamil Nadu find place in the verdict."

The Supreme Court directing the Centre to evolve an action plan within 6 weeks to implement the final award of the Cauvery Tribunal was a "big victory", he said.

Also Read  SC verdict on Cauvery: We have got some relief, Siddaramaiah

Tamil Nadu will urge the Centre to implement the action plan within a time frame, he added.

The apex court also recognised the Cauvery Tribunal's endorsement of 24.708 lakh acres in Tamil Nadu's Cauvery Basin for irrigation, he said.

Also, the top court confirmed that Tamil Nadu should be given water for 15 years as per the Cauvery Tribunal's Final Award.

Slamming the DMK for claiming that Tamil Nadu's rights were given up by the ruling dispensation, he said, "The DMK is trying to create such an impression."

"The truth is the DMK had given up Tamil Nadu's rights during its regime" and the Karunanidhi-led party did not stop the construction of a dam by Karnataka in 1974, he said. Observing no state can claim "exclusive ownership" of inter-state river water, the Supreme Court on Friday hiked Karnataka's share of Cauvery water by 14.75 tmcft and reduced Tamil Nadu's quantum by an equal amount in its verdict to resolve the decades-old dispute.Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan has criticised the Odisha government for not facilitating students to watch Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Pariksha par Charcha' in schools on Friday.

"This is an attempt of Odisha's BJD government to keep students away from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rather, the ruling BJD is afraid of Modi's growing popularity among the young people," Pradhan said.

Earlier, Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar had asked all states, including Odisha, to make provisions for live telecast of the interactive session in all schools.

The PM's speech was webcast by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

Justifying the state's decision to boycott Modi's television programme, Odisha's School and Mass Education minister Badri Narayan Patra said, "We did not want to disturb students during the examination time. Every minute during this period is valuable."

Patra said that the students could have watched from their homes the Prime Minister's address at Talkatora Stadium in Delhi.

It is not practically possible to make such arrangements in schools, he said.

"The students should be allowed to study during examination time. They should not be disturbed at the last minute. No politician should disturb them," Rajya Sabha MP and BJD spokesman P K Deb said.Taking into consideration the need for river sand quarrying for the state's economic development, the Madras High Court today allowed sand mining, subject to the outcome of a plea pending in the Supreme Court on the issue.

The court also considered the fast approaching deadline of 2022 for authorities to complete construction of 8.30 lakh houses for houseless in the state under a central government scheme while passing the order.

It comes two months after the court directed the state government to stop all sand mining and quarrying activities in Tamil Nadu within six months and not to open any new sand quarries. The apex court subsequently stayed the order.

A division bench of Justices K K Sasidharan and G R Swaminathan today directed the state government to maintain a balance, taking into account the need to preserve the ecology and to cater for the economic development.

It passed the orders on a batch of PILs filed before the Madurai Bench seeking to regulate sand mining.

"The natural resources are valuable assets of the state. It is the primary duty of the state to conserve the natural resources for our future generation," it said.

The court said citizens must be in a position to enjoy the resources without causing damage to the environment and the ecology. There must be an institutional framework and enforcement mechanism to prevent illegal and excess quarrying.

Mining should be undertaken by the state without any adverse impact on the environment, it said.

State alone responsible for sorry state of affairs

Observing that the Tamil Nadu alone is responsible for this "sorry state of affairs," the court said there was no proper mechanism to check illegal quarrying and excess sand mining.

"The authorities who are given the mandate to operate the sand quarry are not at all concerned with the environment and ecology. They are conducting mining activities in collusion with the mining mafia and looting the natural wealth," it said.

The court then directed that quarrying operations, even in those quarries where there are shoals of sand, must be undertaken only by abiding the norms and conditions of the environmental clearance.

The quarry site shall be closed immediately after removing the available shoals of sand. The area and the depth of the quarry shall be in accordance with the permission granted by the environmental authorities, it said.

The officer in-charge of the sand quarry must be made personally accountable for violation of any of the conditions.

Both legal and departmental action should be taken against the officials indulging in illegal quarrying or excess quarrying in collusion with lifting agents and transport operators, the court said.

It said the present procedure of engaging sand lifting contractors must be abolished and directed the state to appoint such lifters through e-tender.

The court has directed the government to install CCTVs in the quarries and IP cameras in the earthmoving equipment to check overloading and to establish control rooms in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli to monitor quarrying.

Lorries used for transporting sand were also directed to be installed with GPS devices to monitor illegal transportation of sand.

HC directs govt to pay Rs 26 lakh compensation

Passing orders on a plea seeking compensation for the death of a 19-year-old man who fell into a deep pit in a quarry, the court said the state was liable for the death.

The man died after drowning in a pit dig illegally to mine more than the legally permissible quantity of sand, in Cauvery at Karur, it said.

The court then directed the government to pay Rs 26 lakh as due compensation to the family of the man.

"This incident should be an eye opener to the state. The state must act as a responsible body to protect the life of the citizens," the court said.The Indian government has suspended Nirav Modis passport, but it has now emerged that the man at at the centre of the Rs 11,400 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam may be holding dual citizenship.

It was known among the close-knit Palanpuri Jain community that Nirav held dual citizenship, the Tribune reported quoting sources.

The passports of Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi were cancelled for four weeks by the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday.

On the advice of the Enforcement Directorate, the passport issuing authority in the Ministry of External Affairs has suspended the validity of passports of Mr. Nirav Deepak Modi and Mr. Mehul Chinubhai Choksi with immediate effect for a period of four weeks u/s 10(A) of the Passports Act 1967, said a press release by MEA.Snow

India on Friday said it has not imposed any restrictions on pilgrims travelling to Pakistan amid heightened tensions between the two nations following a string of terror attacks in the Kashmir Valley.

"Of course not," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said when asked if India had imposed any restriction on pilgrims.raids, seizure value rises to Rs 5674 crore

Raids by the ED in connection with its money laundering probe against diamond czar Nirav Modi and others in the alleged Rs 11,400-crore bank fraud continued for the third day today with the agency saying it seized Rs 25 crore worth diamonds and jewellery, taking the total seizure value to Rs 5,674 crore. "The ED conducted further searches at 21 locations across India in Nirav Modi case and seized diamonds, gold, precious stones/metals and jewellery worth Rs 25 crore (book value). The total seizure till now is Rs 5,674 crore," it said in a statement.

The agency had earlier said it had arrived at the value of the assets seized based on the stock value at showrooms and stores, which was also the price at which the company purchased the goods. It was also conducting an "independent valuation" of these assets.

19:16 PNB & RBI officials under CBI's radar

CBI sources told Moneycontrol's Tarun Sharma that top officials including PNB chairmen PNB and RBI officials are under the scanner. The sources questioned why the RBI was not able to catch the fraud earlier as they keep a track on the internal auditing of the bank branches.

The sources further added, "The declaration to exchanges about complaints to CBI created hurdles for us while investigation.There was no need to alert to culprits about this action". The source reasserted that they 'will not spare anybody' including the complainant.

18:10 JUST IN| Special CBI Court sends the three arrested PNB officials to police custody till March 3.

17:23 BJP hits back at Congress, says opposition party spreading lies

The BJP today alleged that the multi-crore PNB scam involving billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi happened during the UPA rule and the Congress was spreading lies.

The BJP fielded Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to counter the Congress charge that the scam took place in 2017 under the Modi government when the letters of understanding were signed by the Punjab National Bank in favour of Nirav Modi. She said Nirav Modi may have been able to run away from the country, but the government is taking action against him.

16:49 UPDATE| All three accused in the PNB Fraud case - Gokulnath Shetty, Manoj Kharat & Hemant Bhat - reach Special CBI Court, reports CNBC-TV18

16:15 Income Tax dept freezes 23 bank accounts of Gitanjali. It also seized a Gitanjali building in Jaipur, reports CNN-News18

15:44 Modi govt institutionalising crony capitalism: Congress on PNB fraud

The Congress today held the BJP responsible for the Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank scam involving jewellery designer Nirav Modi and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of institutionalising "crony capitalism". Congress leader Kapil Sibal accused the prime minister and his government of bringing the economy to its knees, and warned that the country's image would get a beating internationally under him. He also took a dig at Modi, alleging that while he was "sleeping" as the country's watchman, thieves were fleeing with the nation's wealth. Quoting the second FIR filed by the CBI in the case, the Congress leader said that all letters of understanding (LoUs) to the accused were signed in 2017 under the NDA government, which failed to prevent the scam from happening. Addressing a joint press conference with Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala, Shaktisinh Gohil and Pawan Khera, Sibal sought to know why Modi refused to divulge details of all those people who accompanied him during his foreign tours.

14:57 Only Gitanjali store in city in winding up process: ED

The Enforcement Directorate today said the solitary Gitanjali Gems store here has started winding up since the Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank scam broke out.

The name of Mehul Choksi, the owner of the store, features in the multi-crore rupees fraud.

A senior ED official told PTI that the departments officials went to the Camac Street store of Gitanjali Gems, but found the shop closed. It seems that the company was in the process of winding up the store, the official said.

14:54 Latest CBI FIR shows 143 Letters of Undertaking were issued between March 1, 2017 to May 2, 2017, reports CNBC TV-18.

14:48 Alleging that eminent Congress leaders are involved in PNB fraud, Nirmala Sitaraman said, "Congress promoted Gitanjali jewellers, gave a building on rent. But they blame us for all the wrongs."

14:38 Main offence continued during UPA rule: Nirmala Sitharaman on PNB fraud.

14:35 "It is the Modi government which has tried to get to the bottom of the situation. Several other actions being taken by the govbernment," the Defence minister said.

14:33 "Congress misleading people. It's part of their strategy. UPA tried to coverup the scam," Nirmala Sitharaman said on PNB fraud case, reports CNN-News18.

14:01 Banking sector fires up this week: Tata pips JSW, RBI overhauls NPA scheme and PNB unearths Rs 11,400 cr scam

Banking sector is always buzzing. This week, the buzz was louder with Punjab National Bank revealing one of the biggest scams in the industry amounting to fraudulent transactions done to favour the now notorious jeweler importer Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Chokshi who promotes Gitanjal Gems.

Before kicking off the bad news, the bad loans in the industry made some positive breakthrough.

In a likely landmark deal, Tata Steel is said to have raced ahead of JSW Steel to buy the assets of Bhushan Steel, which is one of the 12 large corporate defaulters named by the Reserve Bank of India to be taken for resolution under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.

Read the full report here.

13:45 The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has summoned the PNB management and Finance Ministry officials to appear before it, reports ANI.

13:32 JUST IN | Diamond and jewellery worth Rs 3 crore seized in raids at Gitanjali and Nakshatra Jewellers in Jaipur.

13:01 A secret I-T report on Nirav Modi, reviewed by CNN-News18, states that the diamond merchant accepted huge sums of cash for diamonds.

12:59 Sibal says that BJP is the main reason behind NPAs in the power sector today. They were the ones to cancel all coal licences.

12:58 "Why is PM Modi refusing to disclose who all travel with him on official tours? Is this the kind of 'Ease of Doing Business' the PM talks about?," asks Kapil Sibal.

12:54 Kapil Sibal said,"Need to start probing banks & business with massive debt, need to know how much total exposure the Indian banking system has, to this fraud".

12:51 "What was PMO doing when the big bank scam was happening? Finance Ministry and PMO are aware that this country is being looted," Kapil Sibal said in a media briefing.

12:45 "Nirav Modi is close to PM Modi. So called crony capitalism has been institutionalized during this government," says Congress leader Kapil Sibal, reports CNN-News18.

12:09 Gokulnath Shetty's arrest is the first arrests in Rs 11,400 crore PNB fraud case.

12:04 Traders in Antwerp, Belgium distance themselves from Nirav Modi, reports CNBC TV-18.

11:53 JUST IN | CBI has arrested Gokulnath Shetty then Deputy Manager (now Retd) Punjab National Bank and Manoj kharat, SWO (single window operator) PNB and Hemant Bhat, Authorised Signatory of the Nirav Modi Group of Firms. They will be produced today before CBI special court Mumbai, reports ANI.

11:48 Finance Ministry of India has submitted an action report to the Prime Minister, reports CNBC TV-18.

11:42 JUST IN | A raid by ED officials is underway at a Gitanjali Gems store in Durgapur, reports ANI.

11:41 COMMENT-From PNB to Mallya to farm income, India enables corruption

Last week most market watchers were left stunned with wide-mouthed amazement. Two developments almost ripped apart the governments claims that it was determined to unearth black money.

One was, obviously, the Punjab National Bank scandal involving some Rs.11,400 crore. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued summons for appearance to billionaire diamond merchant Nirav Modi and his business partner Mehul Choksi in connection with its money laundering probe.

The ED notice is laughable because a similar ED notice was issued in the case of liquor baron Vijay Mallya as well. And everyone knows how far that notice has reached.

Read the full report here.

11:33 PNB scam of Rs 11,400 cr raises questions on systemic risks and audit processes in the country

The Rs 11,400 crore banking fraud unearthed at Punjab National Bank on Wednesday has raised glaring concerns on the irregularities and lacunae in Indian auditing and banking systems.

Experts say that there are concerns around the auditing standards given that PNB could not detect an unauthorised transaction that bypassed core banking solutions and fraudulently issued letters understakings (LoUs) to a borrower for almost seven years.

A former Reserve Bank of India official said, Of course, auditors should be responsible for it, especially the internal and concurrent auditors. Auditors always do audits based on what the banks present to them. But often given the way risks are increasing, they have to be more careful.

Read the full report here.

11:30 Allahabad Bank discloses Rs 2,000 crore exposure in PNB fraud

Allahabad Bank has an exposure of around Rs 2,000 crore by way of Letter of Undertakings issued by Punjab National Bank to Nirav Modi, the billionaire diamond merchant in the centre of a Rs 11,400-crore fraud.

"We have an exposure of around Rs 2,000 crore in the fraud detected by PNB two days back," a source in Allahabad Bank told PTI.

PNB has said that group companies of Nirav Modi and his relative Mehul Chokshi's Gitanjali Gems in collusion with two of their officials from its Brady House Mumbai branch, were fraudulently receiving LoUs since 2011.Punjab National Bank offers customers 4.5 percent interest on deposits less than Rs 2 crore. Senior citizens earn 5.25 percent. Those depositing between Rs 2 crore to Rs 10 crore earn an interest of 3.25 percent.

The Mumbai unit of the Nationalist Congress Party today staged a protest outside the Brady House branch of the Punjab National Bank in south Mumbai's Horniman Circle area in connection with the Rs 11,400 crore scam that has rocked the bank.

The protest, led by Mumbai NCP vice president Ashok Dhatrak, wanted an assurance from bank officials that the money of ordinary depositors was safe in the wake of the fraud.

Catch live updates here

The party's state spokesperson Clyde Castro said that its functionaries were not allowed to meet bank officials, adding that the party shouted slogans against the bank as well as diamond businessman Nirav Modi who is at the centre of the scam.

He said that Dhatrak, who led the protests, and five others who participated, had accounts with the Brady House branch of the PNB.The Supreme Court has sought the assistance of the Attorney General (AG) on a plea seeking a ban on legislators from practising as advocates.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A M Khanwilkar sought the assistance of AG K K Venugopal on a plea which alleged that parliamentarians and legislators practising as lawyers pose a "conflict of interest" and violation of provisions of the Advocates Act and the Bar Council of India Rules.

The petition, filed by BJP Delhi spokesperson Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, said that while a public servant cannot practice as an advocate, legislators are practising in various courts which was a violation of Article 14 of the Constitution.

"Legislators take fee from litigant and salary from the public exchequer, which is professional misconduct," the plea said.

The plea said that the issue is a matter of concern to both the judiciary and the legislature as most of the lawmaker-advocates are involved in active practice of law, despite receiving salaries and other perquisites drawn on the public exchequer.

"They (MPs and MLAs) also utilise their position as MPs/MLAs to be visible in public domain, including on television where they give interviews or participate in shows. This essentially amounts to advertising as their "branda is promoted among the public, many of whom are potential litigants," the plea said.

The petition also pointed out that the MPs have the power of voting on the impeachment of judges of the Supreme Court and high courts.Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani

Air Odisha today launched its maiden flight under the Centre's UDAN scheme, linking Mundra with Ahmedabad in Gujarat.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani launched the inaugural flight of the Bhubaneswar-based airline.

Air Odisha, which started services as a non-scheduled operator in November 2012, was granted the flying permit by the DGCA to launch flights under the Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN), the Centre's regional connectivity scheme (RCS), on last Tuesday.

It has bagged 50 routes under the RCS.

Air Odisha is starting services from Ahmedabad to Jamnagar, Mundra and Diu in the first phase of its operation under the UDAN scheme.

Of these, the Mundra-Ahmedabad service took off today. Mundra, in Kutch district, houses a mega private port.

"It is the realisation of the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. UDAN aims to provide air facility to the common man through regional connectivity.

"Till now, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Surat were all connected to Mumbai, but with this service, these cities will be connected to Ahmedabad also (as part of Air Odisha's Gujarat network plan)," Rupani told reporters on the sidelines of the event.

The airline has deployed a 19-seater Beechcraft 1900D on the Ahmedabad-Mundra-Jamnagar route.

Ahmedabad-based firms GSEC Aviation and Monarch Networth Capital have made investments in Air Odisha and Air Deccan, whose founder G R Gopinath was also present on the occasion.

An Air Deccan official said the Prime Minister is likely to inaugurate Air Odisha's flight connecting Ahmedabad and Diu on February 25.

Air Odisha will also provide connectivity from Ahmedabad to Bhavnagar and Bhavnagar to Surat in coming days, the official said.

Speaking at the event, founder of Air Deccan G R Gopinath, said it was a "dream come true" moment for him to see the venture taking off.

Gopinath said his air charter company had sought permission to fly on this route in 2013 but the then UPA government did not give him the go-ahead due to political reasons.

Modi, who was then Gujarat Chief Minister, was scheduled to inaugurate the flight, said the pioneer of low- cost flying in India.

"We made announcement and hoardings were put up. Mr Modi was supposed to inaugurate it...Two days before inauguration, the aircraft (bought for this) were stopped by the then (UPA) government (in Dubai).

"There were political consideration not to allow the service to take off," alleged Gopinath.

"It dashed our dream and we lost a lot of money. I then told Mr Modi that 'I will come back to Gujarat when you become the prime minister'," he said.

Under the UDAN scheme, Air Odisha plans to connect cities like Bhubaneswar, Utkela, Raipur, Ranchi, Gwalior, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Ahmedabad, Surat, Bhavnagar and Selam, among others.The West Bengal government has announced the sale of its 10-year-tenure securities for an aggregate amount Rs 2,000 crore, a state finance department official said on Friday.

The department has issued a notification to make the announcement in this regard, the official said.

The loan would be used for developmental expenditure, the notification said.

The state government's stock would be sold in an auction through the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), it said, adding that the Centre had approved the sale.

The auction would be held on February 20 and successful bidders are required to make payments the next day.

As per the notification, the loan needs to be repaid at par on February 21, 2028.The BJP today alleged that the multi-crore PNB scam involving billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi happened during the UPA rule and the Congress was spreading lies.

The BJP fielded Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to counter the Congress charge that the scam took place in 2017 under the Modi government when the letters of understanding were signed by the Punjab National Bank in favour of Nirav Modi. She said Nirav Modi may have been able to run away from the country, but the government is taking action against him.

"We are not conspiring to help scamsters flee the country, the BJP government is catching them instead," she told reporters.

She accused the Congress of spreading lies on the issue. Sitharaman also alleged that it was Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who attended a promotional event hosted by Nirav Modi.

She also cited the example of a government director of Allahabad Bank, who in 2013 had raised objections to the financial restructuring of Gitanjali Gems, saying he was asked to resign and his dissent was not even recorded.

Central probe agencies CBI and ED yesterday continued their crackdown in the Rs 11,400-crore bank fraud case involving Nirav Modi and family, registering a fresh case against his maternal uncle Mehul Choksi, The CBI has alleged that the new FIR pertains to 143 LOUs worth over Rs 4,886 crore fraudulently issued to three companies of Choksi -- Gitanjali Gems, Nakshatra and Gili -- during the period 2017-18, officials said.

The agency had earlier registered a separate case involving Rs 280-crore fraud, which has now been expanded to cover LoUs worth Rs 6,498 crore issued to accused companies of Nirav Modi and Choksi.

An LoU is a letter of comfort issued by one bank to branches of other banks, based on which foreign branches offer credit to buyers.Al-Qaeda operative Ibrahim Suleiman Adnan Adam Harun has been sentenced to life in prison, the Department of Justice said today.

The sentencing comes following his conviction by a jury on multiple terrorism offences, including conspiracy to murder American military personnel in Afghanistan and bomb the US embassy in Nigeria.

He was convicted on March 16, 2017.

"The evidence presented at trial established that the defendant and other jihadists attacked a US military patrol in Afghanistan, resulting in the death of two American soldiers and the serious injury of others," Acting Assistant Attorney General James O'Callaghan said.

Commissioner James P. O'Neill of the NYPD said Harun was a dedicated and early soldier in Bin Laden's al-Qaeda, joining just weeks before the September 11 attacks.

"Harun will rightfully spend the rest of his life behind bars. This department, with our partners in law enforcement remains deeply committed to combating terrorism from New York to Nigeria and everywhere in between," he said.

As proven at trial, Harun travelled from Saudi Arabia to Afghanistan weeks before September 11, 2001, where he joined al-Qaeda, trained at al-Qaeda training camps, and eventually swore allegiance to Osama bin Laden.

Harun, 47, also known by the nom de guerre "Spin Ghul," a Pashto name meaning "White Rose," then travelled with other al-Qaeda jihadists to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan, where he operated under Abdul Hadi al-Iraqi, one of bin Laden's deputies and a senior al-Qaeda military commander.

On April 25, 2003, Harun and fellow al-Qaeda jihadists ambushed a US military patrol near the Afghan-Pakistan border. Harun fired machine-gun rounds and threw grenades at American soldiers and allied Afghan Militia Forces while shouting "Allahu Akhbar" or "God is Great."

Two US servicemen were killed in the attack, Private First Class Jerod Dennis, 19, of Oklahoma, and Airman First Class Raymond Losano, 24, of Texas, and several other soldiers were seriously wounded.

After the ambush, Harun met with senior al-Qaeda officials, including Abu Faraj al-Libi, then al-Qaeda's external operations chief, to express his desire to commit acts of terror against US interests outside Afghanistan.

He specifically sought to carry out attacks similar to the 1998 al-Qaeda bombings of the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which resulted in more than 200 deaths and 4,000 injuries, federal prosecutors said.

In the summer of 2003, senior al-Qaeda leaders dispatched Harun from Pakistan to Nigeria to bomb the US Embassy in Abuja.

Harun's al-Qaeda handler directed him to obtain one ton of explosives for the bombing operation and to target Americans, whom he described as "the head of the snake" at embassies, hotels and other "places where they gather for fun."

Upon arriving in Nigeria, Harun recruited accomplices, scouted the Embassy and other potential Western targets, and sent an accomplice to find explosives.

He also met with local terrorist leaders to expand al-Qaedas terrorist network in West Africa.

In 2004, Harun directed a co-conspirator to courier information and materials from Nigeria to al-Qaeda leaders in Pakistan.

After learning that the co-conspirator had been arrested in Pakistan, Harun fled Nigeria to Libya, from where he planned to enter Europe to carry out terrorist attacks against Western interests.

In early 2005, however, Harun was arrested by Libyan authorities and held in custody until his release in June 2011.Acting President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa arrives at the parliament, in Cape Town, South Africa, February 15, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings - RC167DEB49D0

South Africa's freshly-appointed president, Cyril Ramaphosa, today hailed "a new dawn" as he pledged to tackle corruption that his predecessor Jacob Zuma is accused of fostering.

In his first major speech after Zumas bruising nine-year term ended, Ramaphosa outlined a grand vision to revive the stagnant economy, address dire unemployment and control spiralling government debt.

"We should put all the negativity that has dogged our country behind us because a new dawn is upon us and a wonderful dawn has arrived," Ramaphosa told parliament in the annual State of the Nation address.

Also read  Cyril Ramaphosa: All you need to know about the newly elected South African President

"Tough decisions have to be made to close our fiscal gap, stabilise our debt and restore our state-owned enterprises to health," he said, adding "our most grave and most pressing challenge is youth unemployment." In his first full day in office, Ramaphosa was received with loud applause and cheers from many ANC lawmakers who were fiercely loyal to Zuma throughout his turbulent and often divisive presidency.

Zuma was forced to resign on Wednesday after the African National Congress party finally turned against him, with pro-business reformist Ramaphosa sworn in as president only on Thursday.

After multiple corruption scandals, economic slowdown and falling popularity with voters, the ANC had threatened to oust Zuma via a no-confidence vote in parliament.

Zuma resigned reluctantly, complaining he had received "very unfair" treatment from the party.

Ramaphosa, 65, is a former trade unionist who led talks to end apartheid in the early 1990s and then became a multi-millionaire businessman before returning to politics.Pakistan today said the decision to send its troops to Saudi Arabia was taken after clarifying the "rules of engagement" for which negotiations were ongoing for some time.

Defence Minister Khurram Dastigir Khan said the role of Pakistani troops was limited to advisory and training to Saudi forces.

"Negotiations were ongoing regarding the rules of engagement and once we attained clarity on the issue that the troops will be on training and advisory mission to strengthen the ground defence of Saudi Arabia, the troops were sent," he told Geo News last night.

He ruled out any involvement in the Yemen civil war but said that Pakistan will not provide any air defence against missiles by Houthi rebels.

"We only want to train their forces and better advise them. The areas bordering Yemen are mountainous, and as Pakistan's army is highly trained in mountain warfare, we will train and advise them," he said.

In a major policy shift, Pakistan decided to deploy troops in Saudi Arabia under an existing bilateral security cooperation agreement with its close ally which is involved in a civil war in neighbouring Yemen.

The Pakistan Army announced the decision to send troops on a training and advise mission to Saudi Arabia after a meeting between Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Saudi ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Saeed Al-Maliki at the army headquarters in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

Separately, the Express Tribune reported that the deployment of troops was sanctioned by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as part of a longstanding defence cooperation between Islamabad and Riyadh.

Currently, there are 1,379 Pakistani troops deployed in Saudi Arabia, most of whom are from Pakistan Army, along with air force and navy officials, according to security sources.

The exact number of troops being sent is not known, but the fresh deployment is said to be slightly over 1,000 soldiers, according to the newspaper.

Security sources also clarified that there is nothing new about the deployment of Pakistani troop in the oil-rich kingdom, as defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia is based on a 1982 bilateral protocol for training and advisory roles.

The report said defence cooperation in the Persian Gulf is not limited to Riyadh, as there is currently a deployment of 627 Pakistani troops in Qatar, including 165 from the army and 462 from the navy and air force.

Islamabad also maintains a similar working relationship with Iran, which currently has 10 pilots in training with the Pakistan military.

The Iranians will be sending five more pilots "sometime in April" and even "more in subsequent years," sources said.

Pakistan has stayed away from the conflict in Yemen where Iran strongly opposes the involvement of the Saudi-led military coalition.

In November last year, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Tehran where he met top Iranian civil and military leaders, including President Hassan Rouhani.

Bajwa has also visited Saudi Arabia five times in his first year in charge.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been involved in a number of joint training exercises in recent months, the most recent being a joint naval exercise in Karachi codenamed Affa Al-Sahil, which concluded on Friday.

The exercise has been performed annually since 2011 and aims to enhance interoperability and sharpen tactical proficiency in countering maritime human trafficking, piracy and terrorism.

Meanwhile, naval exercises are currently underway between Pakistan and Saudi Arabian marines in Saudi waters.

Saudi special services participated in the last Pakistan Day parade, while there are currently 200 Saudi cadets in the Pakistan Military Academy, PAF Academy, and Naval Academy.Pressure is mounting on the FBI director to resign after his agency admitted it failed to investigate a warning that the man accused of killing 17 people at a Florida high school possessed a gun and the desire to kill.

The disclosure spread angry disbelief among residents of the Miami suburb of Parkland where Wednesday's massacre unfolded, and led Florida's governor Rick Scott to call for FBI chief Christopher Wray to resign.

"The FBI's failure to take action against this killer is unacceptable," Scott, a Republican, said in a statement. "We constantly promote 'See something, say something', and a courageous person did just that to the FBI. And the FBI failed to act."

Scott's comments came after the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a statement that a person described as someone close to accused gunman Nikolas Cruz, 19, called an FBI tip line on Jan. 5, weeks before the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, to report concerns about him.

"The caller provided information about Cruz's gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting," it said.

That information should have been forwarded to the FBI's Miami field office for further investigation, but "we have determined that these protocols were not followed", it said.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he has ordered a review of FBI procedures following the shooting, carried out by a gunman armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle and numerous ammunition cartridges.

"We have spoken with victims and families, and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy," Wray said in a statement.

The FBI has also separately been criticized by some Republicans over its investigation of allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, heaping further scrutiny on the agency led by Wray since President Donald Trump fired James Comey last year. Russia denies any involvement.

SAFETY RALLY

The mishandled information followed a tip-off to the FBI in September about a YouTube comment in which a person named Nikolas Cruz said: "I'm going to be a professional school shooter."

The FBI said it investigated that comment but was unable to trace its origins, closing the inquiry until Cruz surfaced in connection with Wednesday's shooting.

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel told a news conference his office had received about 20 "calls for service" in the last few years regarding Cruz and would scrutinize all of them to see if they were handled properly.

But Israel said law enforcement should not be held responsible for Wednesday's tragedy. "The only one to blame for this killing is the killer himself," he said.

More vigils and funerals will be held over the weekend in and around Parkland. Two gun shows and a rally calling for the firearm safety legislation are due to be held nearby.

"We cannot have one more family, one more student, one more life taken because of a failure to hear and enact comprehensive firearm safety legislature in Florida," said organizers on Facebook of the rally to be held at the federal courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday.

Organizers of the gun shows to be held in Boca Raton and at the Miami-Dade Countys fairgrounds could not be reached by Reuters.

The massacre has raised concerns about potential lapses in school security and stirred the ongoing U.S. debate pitting proponents of tougher restrictions on firearms against advocates for gun rights, which are protected by the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment.

Some political leaders including Trump have said mental illness prompted the shooting. Cruz had been expelled for undisclosed disciplinary reasons from the school where the attack occurred. Former classmates have described him as a social outcast trouble-maker with a fascination for weaponry.

Some relatives and friends of shooting victims blamed Florida's lenient gun laws, which allow an 18-year-old to buy an assault rifle. Outside a vigil on Friday, a sign read: "Kids don't need guns. No guns under 21."

On Friday, Trump and first lady Melania visited survivors, victims and medical staff who have treated the injured. He later appeared at the Broward County Sheriff's Office, along with the governor and other politicians, offering praise to first responders.The devastated remains of a fertilizer plant burns after an explosion at the plant in the town of West, near Waco, Texas, U.S. April 17, 2013. REUTERS/Mike Stone

Three suicide bombers killed 19 people at a fish market in northeast Nigeria, civilian militia leaders said today, in an attack blamed on Boko Haram jihadists.

The blasts happened at about 8:30 pm (1930 GMT) on Friday in Konduga, some 35 kilometres southeast of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri.

Babakura Kolo and Musa Ari, from the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) assisting Nigerias military against the Islamists, said the bombers were all men.

"We have 19 dead and about 70 others injured... Two of the bombers attacked the Tashan Kifi fish market. Then four minutes later, a third bomber struck nearby," said Kolo.

"The victims included 18 civilians and one soldier. The Tashan Kifi is an informal market which serves as an eatery, market and also hang-out for residents." Ari said 22 of the 70 injured were in a critical condition, adding: "There is no question as to who did it: Boko Haram has targeted Konduga several times." There was no immediate comment from the military or the police in Borno state, which has borne the brunt of the violence in Boko Harams nearly nine-year insurgency.

At least 20,000 people have been killed and more than 2.6 million others made homeless since 2009. Nigerias military and government maintains the group is a spent force.

But suicide attacks and raids persist, with civilians in hard-to-reach rural areas and outlying towns at risk.

On January 31, two female suicide bombers blew themselves up at Mandarari village, near Konduga.

The blasts happened shortly after another bomber killed four and injured 44 at a displaced persons camp in Dalori, 22 kilometres away on the same road to Maiduguri.Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump today held up the indictment of 13 Russians  and no Americans  for meddling in the 2016 election as vindication that his campaign team did not collude with Moscow.

"Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for president," Trump tweeted, pointing to details of the indictment as evidence of his name being cleared.

"The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong - no collusion!" US Special Counsel Robert Mueller indicted the 13 Russian nationals, as well as three companies, for running a secret campaign to tilt the presidential election.

The unsealed indictment details a stunning operation that began in 2014 and aimed to sow social division inside the United States, and influence its politics including the 2016 vote.

Trump has repeatedly dismissed claims of Russian interference as "fake news" designed to take away from his election victory over Hillary Clinton.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said the indictments contained "no allegation" that any American was a knowing participant in the meddling, and said there was no judgement on whether the election outcome was affected.

In a separate White House statement reacting to the indictments, Trump urged his fellow citizens to "unite as Americans to protect the integrity of our democracy and our elections." "We cannot allow those seeking to sow confusion, discord, and rancor to be successful," Trump was quoted as saying.February 17, 2018 Mueller Indictment - The "Russian Influence" Is A Commercial Marketing Scheme Yesterday the U.S. Justice Department indicted the Russian Internet Research Agency on some dubious legal grounds. It covers thirteen Russian people and three Russian legal entities. The main count of the indictment is an alleged "Conspiracy to Defraud the United States". The published indictment gives support to our long held believe that there was no "Russian influence" campaign during the U.S. election. What is described and denounced as such was instead a commercial marketing scheme which ran click-bait websites to generate advertisement revenue and created online crowds around virtual persona to promote whatever its commercial customers wanted to promote. The size of the operation was tiny when compared to the hundreds of millions in campaign expenditures. It had no influence on the election outcome. The indictment is fodder for the public to prove that the Mueller investigation is "doing something". It distracts from further questioning the origin of the Steele dossier. It is full of unproven assertions and assumptions. It is a sham in that none of the Russian persons or companies indicted will ever come in front of a U.S. court. That is bad because the indictment is build on the theory of a new crime which, unless a court throws it out, can be used to incriminate other people in other cases and might even apply to this blog. The later part of this post will refer to that. In the early 1990s some dude in St.Petersburg made a good business selling hot dogs. He opened a colorful restaurant. Local celebrities and politicians were invited to gain notoriety while the restaurant served cheap food for too high prices. It was a good business. A few years later he moved to Moscow and gained contracts to cater to schools and to the military. The food he served was still substandard. But catering bad food as school lunches gave him, by chance, the idea for a new business: Parents were soon up in arms. Their children wouldnt eat the food, saying it smelled rotten. As the bad publicity mounted, Mr. Prigozhins company, Concord Catering, launched a counterattack, a former colleague said. He hired young men and women to overwhelm the internet with comments and blog posts praising the food and dismissing the parents protests. In five minutes, pages were drowning in comments, said Andrei Ilin, whose website serves as a discussion board about public schools. And all the trolls were supporting Concord. The trick worked beyond expectations. Prigozhin had found a new business. He hired some IT staff and low paid temps to populate various message boards, social networks and the general internet with whatever his customers asked him for. You have a bad online reputation? Prigozhin can help. His internet company will fill the net with positive stories and remarks about you. Your old and bad reputation will be drowned by the new and good one. Want to promote a product or service? Prigozhin's online marketeers can address the right crowds.

Pic: A Russian influencer To achieve those results the few temps who worked on such projects needed to multiply their online personalities. It is better to have fifty people vouch for you online than just five. No one cares if these are real people or just virtual ones. The internet makes it easy to create such sock-puppets. The virtual crowd can then be used to push personalities, products or political opinions. Such schemes are nothing new or special. Every decent "western" public relations and marketing company will offer a similar service and has done so for years. While it is relatively easy to have sock-puppets swamp the comment threads of such sites as this blog, it is more difficult to have a real effect on social networks. These depend on multiplier effects. To gain many real "likes", "re-tweets" or "followers" an online persona needs a certain history and reputation. Real people need to feel attached to it. It takes some time and effort to build such a multiplier personality, be it real or virtual. At some point Prigozhin, or whoever by then owned the internet marketing company, decided to expand into the lucrative English speaking market. This would require to build many English language online persona and to give those some history and time to gain crowds of followers and a credible reputation. The company sent a few of its staff to the U.S. to gain some impressions, pictures and experience of the surroundings. They would later use these to impersonate as U.S. locals. It was a medium size, long-term investment of maybe a hundred-thousand bucks over two or three years. The U.S. election provided an excellent environment to build reputable online persona with large followings of people with discriminable mindsets. The political affinity was not important. The personalities only had to be very engaged and stick to their issue - be it left or right or whatever. The sole point was to gain as many followers as possible who could be segmented along social-political lines and marketed to the companies customers. Again - there is nothing new to this. It is something hundreds, if not thousands of companies are doing as their daily business. The Russian company hoped to enter the business with a cost advantage. Even its mid-ranking managers were paid as little as $1,200 per month. The students and other temporary workers who would 'work' the virtual personas as puppeteers would earn even less. Any U.S. company in a similar business would have higher costs. In parallel to building virtual online persona the company also built some click-bait websites and groups and promoted these through mini Facebook advertisements. These were the "Russian influence ads" on Facebook the U.S. media were so enraged about. They included the promotion of a Facebook page about cute puppies. Back in October we described how those "Russian influence" ads (most of which were shown after the election or were not seen at all) were simply part of a commercial scheme: The pages described and the ads leading to them are typical click-bait, not part of a political influence op.

...

One builds pages with "hot" stuff that hopefully attracts lots of viewers. One creates ad-space on these pages and fills it with Google ads. One attracts viewers and promotes the spiked pages by buying $3 Facebook mini-ads for them. The mini-ads are targeted at the most susceptible groups. A few thousand users will come and look at such pages. Some will 'like' the puppy pictures or the rant for or against LGBT and further spread them. Some will click the Google ads. Money then flows into the pockets of the page creator. One can rinse and repeat this scheme forever. Each such page is a small effort for a small revenue. But the scheme is highly scaleable and parts of it can be automatized. Because of the myriad of U.S. sanctions against Russia the monetization of these business schemes required some creativity. One can easily find the name of a real U.S. person together with the assigned social security number and its date of birth. Those data are enough to open, for example, a Paypal account under a U.S. name. A U.S. customer of the cloaked Russian Internet company could then pay to the Paypal account and the money could be transferred from there to Moscow. These accounts could also be used to buy advertisement on Facebook. The person who's data was used to create the account would never learn of it and would have no loss or other damage. Another scheme is to simply pay some U.S. person to open a U.S. bank account and to then hand over the 'keys' to that account. The Justice Department indictment is quite long and detailed. It must have been expensive. If you read it do so with the above in mind. Skip over the assumptions and claims of political interference and digest only the facts. All that is left is, as explained, a commercial marketing scheme. I will not go into all its detail of the indictment but here are some points that support the above description. Point 4: Defendants, posing as US. persons and creating false U.S. personas, operated social media pages and groups designed to attract U.S. audiences. These groups and pages, which addressed divisive US. political and social issues, falsely claimed to be controlled by US. activists when, in fact, they were controlled by Defendants. Defendants also used the stolen identities of real U.S. persons to post on social media accounts. Over time, these social media accounts became Defendants' means to reach significant numbers of Americans ... Point 10d: By in or around April 2014, the ORGANIZATION formed a department that went by various names but was at times referred to as the "translator project." This project focused on the US. population and conducted operations on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. By approximately July 2016, more than eighty ORGANIZATION employees were assigned to the translator project. (Some U.S. media today made the false claim that $1.25 million per month were spend by the company for its U.S. campaign. But Point 11 of the indictment says that the company ran a number of such projects directed at a Russian audience while only the one described in 10d above is aimed at an U.S. audience. All these projects together had a monthly budget of $1.25 million.) (Point 17, 18 and 19 indict individual persons who have worked for the "translator" project" "to at least in and around [some month] 2014". It is completely unclear how these persons, who seem to have left the company two years before the U.S. election, are supposed to have anything to do with the claimed "Russian influence" on the U.S. election and the indictment.) Point 32: Defendants and their co-conspirators, through fraud and deceit, created hundreds of social media accounts and used them to develop certain fictitious U.S. personas into "leader[s] of public opinion" in the United States. The indictment then goes on and on describing the "political activities" of the sock-puppet personas. Some posted pro-Hillary slogans, some anti-Hillary stuff, some were pro-Trump, some anti-everyone, some urged not to vote, others to vote for third party candidates. The sock-puppets did not create or post fake news. They posted mainstream media stories. Some of the persona called for going to anti-Islam rallies while others promoted pro-Islam rallies. The Mueller indictment lists a total of eight rallies. Most of these did not take place at all. No one joined the "Miners For Trump" rallies in Philly and Pittsburgh. A "Charlotte against Trump" march on November 19 - after the election - was attended by one hundred people. Eight people came for a pro-Trump rally in Fort Myers. The sock-puppets called for rallies to establish themselves as 'activist' and 'leadership' persona, to generated more online traffic and additional followers. There was in fact no overall political trend in what the sock-puppets did. The sole point of all such activities was to create a large total following by having multiple personas which together covered all potential social-political strata. At Point 86 the indictment turns to Count Two - "Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Bank Fraud". The puppeteers opened, as explained above, various Paypal accounts using 'borrowed' data. Then comes the point which confirms the commercial marketing story as laid out above: Point 95: Defendants and their co-conspirators also used the accounts to receive money from real U.S. persons in exchange for posting promotions and advertisements on the ORGANIZATION-controlled social media pages. Defendants and their co-conspirators typically charged certain U.S. merchants and U.S. social media sites between 25 and 50 U.S. dollars per post for promotional content on their popular false U.S. persona accounts, including Being Patriotic, Defend the 2nd, and Blacktivist. There you have it. There was no political point to what the Russian company did. Whatever political slogans one of the company's sock-puppets posted had only one aim: to increase the number of followers for that sock-puppet. The sole point of creating a diverse army of sock-puppets with large following crowds was to sell the 'eyeballs' of the followers to the paying customers of the marketing company. There were, according to the indictment, eighty people working on the "translator project". These controlled "hundreds" of sock-puppets online accounts each with a distinct "political" personality. Each of these sock-puppets had a large number of followers - in total several hundred-thousands. Now let's assume that one to five promotional posts can be sold per day on each of the sock-puppets content stream. The scheme generates several thousand dollars per day ($25 per promo, hundreds of sock-puppets, 1-5 promos per day per sock-puppet). The costs for this were limited to the wages of up to eighty persons in Moscow, many of them temps, of which the highest paid received some $1,000 per month. While the upfront multiyear investment to create and establish the virtual personas was probably significant, this likely was, over all, a profitable business. Again - this had nothing to do with political influence on the election. The sole point of political posts was to create 'engagement' and a larger number of followers in each potential social-political segment. People who buy promotional posts want these to be targeted at a specific audience. The Russian company could offer whatever audience was needed. It had sock-puppets with pro-LGBT view and a large following and sock-puppets with anti-LGBT views and a large following. It could provide pro-2nd amendment crowds as well as Jill Stein followers. Each of the sock-puppets had over time generated a group of followers that were like minded. The entity buying the promotion simply had to choose which group it preferred to address. The panic of the U.S. establishment over the loss of their preferred candidate created an artificial storm over "Russian influence" and assumed "collusion" with the Trump campaign. (Certain Democrats though, like Adam Schiff, profit from creating a new Cold War through their sponsoring armament companies.) The Mueller investigation found no "collusion" between anything Russia and the Trump campaign. The indictment does not mentions any. The whole "Russian influence" storm is based on a misunderstanding of commercial activities of a Russian marketing company in U.S. social networks. There is a danger in this. The indictment sets up a new theory of nefarious foreign influence that could be applied to even this blog. As U.S. lawyer Robert Barns explains: The only thing frightening about this indictment is the dangerous and dumb precedent it could set: foreign nationals criminally prohibited from public expression in the US during elections unless registered as foreign agents and reporting their expenditures to the FEC.

...

Mueller's new crime only requires 3 elements: 1) a foreign national; 2) outspoken on US social media during US election; and 3) failed to register as a foreign agent or failed to report receipts/expenditures of speech activity. Could indict millions under that theory.

...

The legal theory of the indictment for most of the defendants and most of the charges alleges that the "fraud" was simply not registering as a foreign agent or not reporting expenses to the FEC because they were a foreign national expressing views in a US election. Author Leonid Bershidsky, who prominently writes for Bloomberg, remarks: I'm actually surprised I haven't been indicted. I'm Russian, I was in the U.S. in 2016 and I published columns critical of both Clinton and Trump w/o registering as a foreign agent. As most of you will know your author writing this is German. I write pseudo-anonymously for a mostly U.S. audience. My postings are political and during the U.S. election campaign expressed an anti-Hillary view. The blog is hosted on U.S, infrastructure paid for by me. I am not registered as Foreign Agent or with the Federal Election Commission. Under the theory on which the indictment is based I could also be indicted for a similar "Conspiracy to Defraud the United States". (Are those of you who kindly donate for this blog co-conspiractors?) When Yevgeni Prigozhin, the hot dog caterer who allegedly owns the internet promotion business, was asked about the indictment he responded: "The Americans are really impressionable people, they see what they want to see. [...] If they want to see the devil, let them see him." Posted by b on February 17, 2018 at 20:09 UTC | Permalink Comments next page  next page General Motors (GM) held an analyst day in San Francisco last week to unveil the plans for its autonomous vehicle business. We liked what we heard, but we are not changing our fair value estimate. The additional revenue modeled through 2021 is not enough to merit a valuation change, and we want to see how the mobility business actually plays out over time.

Transportation as a service, more commonly called TAAS, with autonomous vehicles will be a ride-hailing business competing with the likes of Uber and Lyft. GM already owns about 9% of Lyft. We think the market was disappointed that GM said it will be ready to deploy autonomous vehicles in a commercial service at scale in dense urban environments in 2019. In recent months, management had said the service would be ready in quarters, not years. We expect the first cities to get the service to be San Francisco and New York, with Phoenix also possible, since GM already tests autonomous vehicles there.STAMFORD, Conn.  A former Connecticut firefighter who sold cocaine at the firehouse while on duty has been sentenced to three years in prison.



The Advocate reports 46-year-old Mark Monroe was sentenced Thursday in Stamford to three years in jail followed by 10 years of special parole. Monroe pleaded guilty in December to selling crack cocaine four times to undercover officers.



Police say Monroe sold cocaine to an undercover officer on four occasions, including twice at a Norwalk fire station. Investigators say they found cocaine at Monroes home, along with numerous prescription drugs and a loaded pistol.



Monroes attorney says his client takes full responsibility for his actions.In Focus with Allison Walker is a 30-minute public affairs program, featuring a roundtable of newsmakers representing a range of perspectives, including local officials and expert analysts as they tackle topical issues of importance to Floridians.

In Focus airs Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., right after Political Connections.The Casselberry Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred late Saturday morning.

Shooting happened on Monarch Circle in Casselberry

John Murray, 30, taken into custody

Woman's name hasn't been released



Police received a call about a shooting at 140 Monarch Circle in Casselberry just before 11 a.m.

Officials said an adult female was found dead and the suspect, John Murray, 30, was taken into custody.

He has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder, according to Casselberry police.



Witnesses told police they heard arguing and then a gunshot. They said the woman and man lived together but didn't know the nature of their relationship.

Police Saturday afternoon said Murray and the woman, a live-in girlfriend, were arguing and that Murray punched a mirror and cut his hand.

The argument moved outside, where police say Murray shot the woman "several times, causing her death."

The woman's name hasn't been released because the family hasn't been notified.SOUTHINGTON  Town Manager Mark Sciota proposed a budget that keeps operating costs virtually flat, although the plan includes a $1 million contingency to guard against cuts in state aid.

His fiscal year 2019 budget of $52,355,066 would be an increase of $1,007,281, or 2 percent, over the current budget. Town costs would rise $7,281, or .01, percent under the plan, with the remainder going into a fund to address uncertainty with the state.

This budget is submitted after extensive work by our department heads who have taken the direction given to them by my office back in December and have truly met and in many cases exceeded my expectations, Sciota wrote in a statement released Friday.

The school board last month approved a $96,816,329 budget request by a 7-1 vote after taking nearly $500,000 off a spending plan proposed by School Superintendent Tim Connellan. School officials say the budget is needed to maintain current services and that the requested 2.77 percent increase is necessary to prevent cutting teachers and programs.

Both the town and school budgets will go to the Board of Finance and then to the Town Council.

John Leary, chairman of the finance board and a Republican, was pleased with the work done by Sciota and staff.

I think its a very responsible budget prepared in accordance with the directives. It reflects our response to being in a troubled state, he said.

Chris Palmieri, council chairman and a Democrat, said he was thrilled with a budget that represented an increase of less than 2 percent.

To come in under 2 percent is a great accomplishment going into another difficult year, he said.

The plan included no new programming, which Palmieri said was regrettable but necessary.

Palmieri was also in favor of having a contingency fund for the upcoming fiscal year.

Part of me is concerned it isnt enough, he said.

jbuchanan@record-journal.com

203-317-2230

Twitter: @JBuchananRJAs the U.S. grapples with another school shooting, the debate over gun control is back.

Gun control advocates in Connecticut said the state should serve as a model for reform as the nation searches for answers after a 19-year-old with an AR-15 killed 17 students and staff at his former high school in Parkland, Florida.

After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, Connecticut passed some of the toughest gun laws in the country, including restrictions on gun possession and ownership; bans on specific firearms and features; limiting magazine capacity to 10 rounds; and restricting people with mental health issues from possessing a firearm.

Connecticut has always been in the spotlight since Sandy Hook, when legislators were willing to pass common sense gun laws to save lives, said Jeremy Stein, executive director of Connecticut Against Gun Violence.

State Rep. Arthur ONeil, R-Southbury, meanwhile, sent letters and copies of the state statute concerning risk warrants Friday to the legislature in each state that has not adopted this type of law. Connecticut was the first state to create a risk warrant after five people were killed in a shooting at Lottery headquarters in 1998. The warrant allows police to remove firearms from any person posing risk of imminent personal injury to self or others. The law was updated in 2013 to also include the seizure of ammunition.

The senseless gun tragedies across our nation have forced state legislatures, including Connecticut, to look deep into their laws to close loopholes and strengthen protections for innocent citizens, ONeill said in a statement.

After Sandy Hook, schools and police implemented tougher school building entrance policies and patrols. Statewide, lawmakers expanded the types of banned weapons.

We banned a much broader amount of assault weapons , said Mike Lawlor, state undersecretary for criminal justice policy and planning.

The laws passed in April 2013 also banned the sales of large capacity magazines and required credentialed background checks by police before any sales.

Nicholas Cruz, the accused Parkland, Florida shooter, legally bought an AR-15 after passing a federal NCIS check at a gun store. NCIS only registers convicted felons. The Connecticut state police check is more thorough.

Those days of passing a background check and buying a gun at Cabelas are gone, Lawlor said.

Scott Wilson, president of the Connecticut Citizen Defense League, said before enacting any new laws, the state should enforce existing laws. He complained that prosecutors sometimes drop gun-related charges in criminal cases.

I am a firm believer that someone intent on committing murder will find a gun, Wilson said.

Wilson said gun-free zones, such as schools, create a false sense of security. If gunmen knew school staff might be armed, they might think twice about targeting schools.

Wilson would like to see certain armed faculty members as an immediate solution to protect children. Teachers and administrators with permits and training could stop a potential killer.

Stein said changes in other states could help strengthen Connecticuts laws. He would like to ban mail-order kits that allow people to build guns without a registration.

The easier we make it to get guns, the more we risk, Stein said.

Connecticuts laws state that a person who is involuntarily committed to a mental health treatment center must wait at least two years before they can possess firearms, and, in some cases, may be permanently barred, Lawlor said. Voluntary commitments result in a six-months prohibition.

mgodin@record-journal.com

203-317-2255

Twitter: @CconnbizCelebrate the times! C'mon!Trump suggests 25 cent increase in gas taxWashington (CNN)President Donald Trump suggested Wednesday that a 25 cent increase in gas and diesel taxes would be needed to help pay for the administration's new infrastructure plan, according to Democratic Sen. Tom Carper.In a bipartisan meeting with lawmakers at the White House, Trump noted that the federal gas tax hasn't been raised since 1993, said Carper, the top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee."He said that he knew it was a difficult thing for legislators to support and said that he would support the leadership to do that and provide the political cover to do that," Delaware's Carper told CNN in an interview. "And he came back to that theme again and again and again."Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao did not rule out a gas tax Tuesday when she spoke to reporters at the White House, but she described it as "not ideal.""The President has not declared anything out of bounds, so everything is on the table. The gas tax, like many of the other pay-fors that are being discussed, is not ideal," she said. "There are pros and cons. The gas tax has adverse impact, a very regressive impact, on the most vulnerable within our society; those who depend on jobs, who are hourly workers. So these are tough decisions, which is why, once again, we need to start the dialogue with the Congress, and so that we can address these issues on this very important point."Carper said Trump also offered "full-throated support for an increase in user fees" for roads, highways, and bridges.By ANI

NEW DELHI: Iran President Hassan Rouhani inspected a guard of honour at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here on Saturday.

He briefly met President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other government officials.

Later, President Rouhani paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

He arrived in Delhi from Hyderabad on Friday.

The Iranian President addressed a congregation of Muslims after performing Friday prayers at the historic Makkah Masjid in Hyderabad.

He had stressed upon the cooperation between India and Iran in a bid to embolden the bilateral ties and also called for unity among Muslims across the world. Religious scholars from different schools of thoughts had participated in the session as well.

#Delhi: Iran President Hassan Rouhani pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. pic.twitter.com/TeDENjZOQY  ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018

In addition to this, Rouhani visited the tombs of Qutub Shahi rulers in the Golconda area in the city.

This was the second time that President Rouhani was visiting Hyderabad, and the first visit after assuming charge as the President of Iran in 2013.By PTI

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi today denied any links of his family with jewellery designer Nirav Modi and Gitanjali Group promoter Mehul Choksi, accused in the Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case, and charged the BJP with playing "cheap politics".

"BJP/NDA's cheap sense of politics has reached ludicrous and ridiculous proportions. Neither My wife, sons nor me have anything whatsoever to do with Gitanjali or Nirav Modi companies," he said in a statement.

Singhvi said Nirav Modi's company was a tenant of a Kamla Mills property owned by Adwait Holdings in which his wife and sons are directors.

BJP leader and Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman alleged that Nirav Modi-run Firestar Diamond International had taken on lease a property of Adwait Holdings, a company in which Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi's wife is a director.

"What is important that the premises has been used by Firestar Diamond International," she alleged.

PNB fraud case: Rahul Gandhi asks PM what he is doing about Nirav Modi; alleges Modi 'destroying' economy

Singhvi said Adwait Holdings owns a commercial property at Parel, which was rented by Nirav Modi's company many years ago.

"Neither Adwait nor my family has any interest with Modi or the company.

Last August, the company gave notice to quit tenancy and vacated Parel Kamla Mills premises in December 2017," he said.

"Neither I nor any member of my family has any interest in or relation to Nirav Modi or his companies.

His company was a tenant in some commercial property owned by our family company.

This tenancy ended in December 2017.

Punjab National Bank fraud case: Mehul Choksi's Gitanjali group in Income Tax Department's gold probe since 2012

"None of us have anything to do even remotely with Gitanjali company, Firestar or any other business of Nirav modi.

"Sensationalism, ignorance and falsehood has exceeded all limits in this irresponsible charge," he said, threatening Sitharaman and her colleagues of civil and criminal defamation for making "ill-considered, ignorant and patently false allegations".

"I reserve my rights to take all such appropriate legal action against the latter and all parts of the media which carry such false and maliciously defamatory allegations," Singhvi said in a statement.

Nirav Modi, 46, a regular feature on the lists of rich and famous Indians since 2013, was booked by the CBI, along with wife, brother and Gitanjali Group promoter Mehul Choksi on January 31, for allegedly cheating the state-run PNB to the tune of Rs 280 crore.

The bank subsequently sent two more complaints to the CBI on Tuesday, saying the scam was worth more than Rs 11,400 crore.

The jewellery designer is understood to be a citizen of the country but his brother Nishal and wife Ami are not Indian nationals.

They all left India between January 1 and 6, the CBI had said.By PTI

NEW DELHI: The BJP today alleged that the multi-crore PNB scam involving billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi happened during the UPA rule and the Congress was spreading lies to mislead the public.

The BJP, which fielded Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to counter the Congress's charges, claimed that it was under the NDA government that the alleged scams committed during the UPA rule were being unearthed.

The Congress has alleged that the scam took place in 2017 under the Modi government when letters of understanding were signed by Punjab National Bank in favour of the companies of Nirav Modi and his partner and uncle Mehul Choksi.

Sitharaman said Nirav Modi may have been able to run away from the country, but the government is taking action against him, and claimed that it will "surely nab him".

"The original sin took place during the Congress regime. It multiplied, it took traction under the Congress regime," she told reporters.

"We are not conspiring to help scamsters flee the country, but the BJP government is catching them instead," she said.

READ: Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi denies links with Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, alleges BJP of playing 'cheap politics'

Accusing the Congress of spreading lies on the issue, the minister said, "As always, the Congress party indulges in such scandalous affairs, misuses positions in government, tweaks system to help themselves and quietly cover up everything that they do." Sitharaman said the Narendra Modi government came to power with a clear commitment of unearthing scams and corrupt practices.

Instead of explaining as to why the scam happened during the UPA rule, the Congress instead is making allegations against the BJP.

"I am sorry, the Congress party's allegations against this government and in misleading people is just not going to happen.

Concerted repeating of lies for misleading people may be a strategy the Congress likes to adopt. But I am sorry the facts are facing you and it is for them to answer," she said.

To a question on the offenders fleeing the country during the NDA regime, Sitharaman said, "They have fled but this doesn't mean we will not catch him. But they are facing the heat. Investigation is happening."



"They are probably running away but I am not saying that we are sparing them. We will surely nab them. We are the ones to nab them," she said.

She alleged that the person who was approving the LoUs was quietly allowed to retire and the BJP which is taking action is being accused instead.

"We have taken action. We have sent notices, confiscated their properties and the process is still on, but allegation is on us.

Shocking that the Congress party (is doing this) despite being reduced to 44 in Lok Sabha," she said.

Sitharaman also alleged that it was Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who attended a promotional event hosted by Nirav Modi.

She also claimed that the Nirav Modi-run Fire Star Diamond International has taken on lease a property of Adwait Holdings in which Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi's wife is a director.

"What is important that the premises has been used by Fire Star Diamond International," she alleged.

Sitharaman also claimed that a government director of Allahabad Bank, who in 2013 had raised objections to the financial restructuring of Gitanjali Gems, was asked to resign and his dissent was not even recorded.

Central probe agencies CBI and ED yesterday continued their crackdown in the Rs 11,400-crore bank fraud case involving Nirav Modi and family, registering a fresh case against Choksi, The CBI has alleged that the new FIR pertains to 143 LOUs worth over Rs 4,886 crore fraudulently issued to three companies of Choksi -- Gitanjali Gems, Nakshatra and Gili -- during the period 2017-18, officials said.

The agency had earlier registered a separate case involving Rs 280-crore fraud, which has now been expanded to cover LoUs worth Rs 6,498 crore issued to accused companies of Nirav Modi and Choksi.

An LoU is a letter of comfort issued by one bank to branches of other banks, based on which foreign branches offer credit to buyers.Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: The Left will face the biggest test in 25 years when Tripura goes to elections today.

In the absence of a formidable Opposition, the polls since 1993 had been always a cakewalk for the Left, which had invariably grabbed 47 to 50 of the states 60 seats. However, in this election, the BJP is out there to give them a run for their money.

READ | Tripura: Voting across 59 assembly seats begins

Tripura became a full-fledged state in 1972 and except for 11 years (1972 to 1977 and 1988 to 1993), the Left has always ruled Tripura, which is surrounded by Bangladesh on three sides.

READ STORY | What ails the CPM in Tripura?

READ STORY | Congress reduced to signboard party in state

Elections in the past have been always a straight contest between the Left and the Congress. The Congress eroded severely since with its popularity reaching the lowest ebb in recent years following infighting and the defections of MLAs. The BJP has now occupied that space after having grown at the expense of the grand old party.

READ STORY | BJP triggers tremors in red bastion

ALSO READ | Sunil Deodhar: The former Sangh worker guiding BJP in the Left fortress

The BJP has aligned with tribal based Indigenous Peoples Front of Twipra (NC Debbarma faction) to keep the tribals in good humour. Twenty seats are reserved for them and they also hold sway in some other constituencies.

READ STORY | Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura may play kingmakers role

Of the three states, including Nagaland and Meghalaya (both Christian-majority), which are going to polls, the BJPs focus is more on Tripura. To be able to warm up to voters, the BJP had roped in a number of its stalwarts, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah, for campaigning. Chief minister Manik Sarkar led the campaign of his CPI-M.

The BJP has gained massive support base in urban Tripura in recent years and hence, is expected to do well there. The Left is optimistic about rural Tripura.

ALSO READ | 2017: The year that set the stage for a direct Left vs BJP battle in Tripura

Both parties are confident of getting a majority. For the BJP, the biggest threat, however, is the split of anti-Left votes as the Congress, despite literally having been decimated, fielded 59 candidates, its highest since 1977. The BJP alleged the Congress had fielded a large number of candidates to help the CPI-M as part of a tacit understanding. The CPI-M rubbished it. The general perception is that the results may go either way. The locals call it 50:50.

Voting would be held between 7 am and 4 pm today at 3,214 polling stations of which 47 would be managed by women. Counting of votes on March 3rd.

QUICK FACTS

Polling will be held in 59 out of 60 constituencies. It has been deferred in Charilam as the CPI-M candidate Ramendra Narayan Deb Barma died five days ago. Polling here will be held on March 12.

Altogether 297 candidates, including 20 women, are in the fray.

There are 25,73,413 electorate, of whom 13,05,375 are males and 12,68,027 women while the number of third gender voters is 11. There are 47,803 new voters this time.

Number of candidates

CPI-M  57. It left one seat each to allies CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP

BJP  51 seats. It left nine seats to ally IPFT

Congress  59

TMC  24

Of the 60 seats, 20 are reserved for STs and ten for SCs

(With additional inputs from agencies)Where did all of those summertime tourists in Newport come from?

Although summer tourists from the Northeast are nothing new, more visitors from all over the country came to see Newport this summer.Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 81F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 53F. Winds light and variable.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).Reporter

Noelle McGee is a Danville-based reporter at The News-Gazette. Her email is nmcgee@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@n_mcgee).Reporter

Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey).Columnist

Tom Kacich is a columnist and the author of Tom's Mailbag at The News-Gazette. His column appears Sundays. His email is tkacich@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@tkacich).New Delhi: Days after the Rs 11,400 crore fraud at PNB shook the country, private sector City Union Bank on Saturday said it suffered three fraudulent remittances of nearly USD 2 million (about Rs 12.8 crore).

Just like the fraud at Punjab National Bank (PNB), no entries of remittances were made in the ledgers of City Union Bank and transfers were pushed through the SWIFT financial platform.

"During our reconciliation process on February 7, it was found out that 3 fraudulent remittances had gone through our SWIFT system to our corespondent banks which were not initiated from our bank's end. We immediately alerted the correspondent banks to recall the funds," City Union Bank said in a regulatory filing on stock exchanges.

Of the 3 fraudulent remittance, one remittance was made through Standard Chartered Bank, New York, to a Dubai based bank for USD 5,00,000 which was blocked immediately and was returned to City Union Bank, it said.

Chennai-based City Union Bank said the transfers had been made through correspondent banks even though it had not requested the transfers.

A second transfer of 300,000 euros (USD 372,150) was routed through a Standard Chartered Bank account in Frankfurt to a Turkish account, while a third totalling USD 1 million was sent through a Bank of America account in New York to a China-based bank.

The bank said it was working with the Ministry of External Affairs and officials in Turkey and China to repatriate the funds.

"With the help of Ministry of External Affairs through Consulate General of Shanghai and Istanbul and office of the National Cyber Security Council (PMO) all possible efforts through diplomatic and legal channels are being taken to repatriate the money," it said.

The recent episode raises question mark on the efficiency of the SWIFT network as how secure it is.

Logo of the City Union Bank.

The PNB fraud pertains to issuance of fake Letters of Understanding (LoUs) to companies associated with billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi by errant PNB employees which enabled these companies to raise buyers credit from international branches of other Indian lenders.

Last week, PNB had lodged an FIR with CBI stating that fraudulent LoUs worth Rs 280.7 crore were first issued on January 16. At the time, PNB had said it was digging into records to examine the magnitude of the fraud.

In the complaint, PNB had named three diamond firms -- Diamonds R Us, Solar Exports and Stellar Diamonds -- saying they had approached it on January 16 with a request for buyers credit for making payment to overseas suppliers.

The bank sought 100 per cent cash margins for issuing LoUs for raising buyers credit, which was contested by the firms saying they had availed of the facility from as early as 2010.

Nirav Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal and uncle Mehul Choksi are partners in Diamonds R US, Solar Exports and Stellar Diamonds, which have shops in foreign locations such as Hong Kong, Dubai, and New York.iStock/Thinkstock(RIO DE JANEIRO) -- Samba drums and hypnotic percussions, nonstop flow of positive lyrics about love and "Saudade" in the streets of Rio de Janeiro. Women, men and children wearing sparkly red shirts, fun headpieces dancing tirelessly.



"Blocos de Rua" -- or street bands -- could be found across the country, mobilizing locals and tourists alike. One of the thousands of organized street festivals is the "Bloco de Carmelitas" -- originated in 1990 in the St. Teresa neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.



As it plays out every year, Rio Carnival 2018, which began earlier this month, gave Brazilians a chance to unwind and party in the streets.



Monica Araujo, 59, a nurse at a public hospital, never misses the "Bloco de Carmelitas."



"That's a necessity for Brazilians to celebrate carnival," Araujo said.



Amid all the fun, though, Brazilians had an anxious eye toward October, when voters will elect another president after years of political turmoil. Araujo, for her part, sent a message by dressing as a doctor -- to highlight the lack of funding for her hospital, which suffered major cuts.



"My hospital lost 10 percent of jobs last year. We cannot work," Araujo told ABC News. "The university of my eldest child has stopped her class because of a lack of money."



Once elected, the future president will have to deal with the worst economic recession in decades, violent crimes and a recrudescence of gang activity. Above all, he or she will have to reverse a general political mistrust after the impeachment of former President Dilma Rousseff and the nomination of unpopular Michel Temer as her interim successor.



"I never voted for Michel Temer," Araujo said.



She added that, because of the political uncertainty, Carnival, which ends Sunday, is that much more important for a healthy distraction and a rejuvenation leading up to October.



"Of course, we need to celebrate even more," she said.



Not only will Brazilians elect a new president in October, but they will also vote for a new Congress in the wake of a political corruption scandal.



Renato Silva 31, a law student who traveled from Sao Paulo to celebrate Carnival, tried to keep his excitement for the election despite the recent political scandals.



"There was a lot of disappointment in Brazil the past four years," Silva said.



"If we don't hope the future will be better, then we die. Carnival is good for both hope and despair," Renato added.



In some ways, the election mirrors the presidential election in the United States in 2016, with candidates being compared to Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.



Geraldo Alckmin of the centrist Partido da Social Democracia Brasileira (PSDB) has been compared to Clinton, while Jair Bolsonaro of the far-right Partido Social Cristao (PSC) has been dubbed the "Donald Trump of Brazil."



Bolsonaro, a former military officer during the dictatorship who wants to combat crime by putting an end to gun control laws, said he is a threat to the establishment.



"I am a threat to oligarchies, I am a threat to the stubbornly corrupt, I'm a threat to those who want to destroy family values," Bolsonaro told ABC News. "That's the threat I represent."



The person to beat, however -- if he is allowed to run -- is Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. But the charismatic candidate of Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT), who simply goes by Lula, may be in jail by October, following a questionable money laundering trial.



But the left-leaning PT, who compared Lula to the late South African activist and president Nelson Mandela, said it is standing by its candidate.



"We won't give up in the face of this injustice," it said.



Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.New Delhi: Indian banks could take a hit of more than Rs 19,317 crore from loans and corporate guarantees provided to diamond companies at the centre of a massive alleged fraud at the state-run Punjab National Bank, the tax department has estimated.

As of March 2017, banks had extended loans and guarantees worth Rs 17,385 crore to companies tied to billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, the tax department said in a note seen by Reuters.

Since then, the loans and guarantees would have increased over the past year and the total "hit" to Indian banks "may well exceed" Rs 19,317 croer, according to an internal note prepared by the tax authority on its preliminary investigation into India's biggest bank fraud case.

According to a complaint by PNB, the biggest fraud in Indian banking history involved two junior officials at a Mumbai bank branch issuing "letters of undertaking" to firms linked to Modi and Choksi for them to obtain credit from overseas branches of other Indian lenders.

The bank said these fraudulent transactions had taken place over a number of years and amounted to Rs 11,400 crore.

None of these letters of undertaking - essentially credit guarantees - were recorded on the bank's internal software system and instead were transmitted through the SWIFT interbank messaging system, "thus avoiding early detection of fraudulent activity", the tax note said.

It said that Choksi's Geetanjali Gems and its subsidiaries led by Choksi dealt with 32 banks. Among those that offered credit to Choksi and Modi, famous for his chain of stores stretching from New York to Beijing, were the Union Bank of India, Allahabad Bank and Axis Bank, the tax note said.

Union Bank of India, another state-run lender, said on Friday it has an exposure of over Rs 2,600 crore as a counter-party lender. Axis Bank, a private sector lender, has said it has sold all its exposure related to the fraud.

Among the findings of the tax department was that several firms in which Modi and his uncle were involved had people of limited means listed as majority partners. Those people were not identified in the tax department note.

The total loans in the three firms of Modi, Stellar Diamond, Solar Exports and Diamonds "R Us was Rs 3,992 crore, while total capital of the partners was Rs 400 crore, it said.

It said the three firms' "trade receivables", or the amount being billed to customers, were "much higher than total turnover of the three companies involved in the fraud, which shows that goods are being sold for related party and are either over-invoiced or not coming at all".

Modi and Choksi have not made any comment so far. Federal police say they both left India in early January and there whereabouts are unknown.New Delhi: State-owned UCO Bank on Saturday said it has exposure of USD 411.82 million (about Rs 2,636 crore) in the Rs 11,400-crore PNB fraud committed by billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi and his associates.

In normal course of business, the Hong Kong branch has been negotiating export documents against Letter of Credit issued through authenticated SWIFT message by Punjab National Bank (PNB) after receiving acceptance through authenticated SWIFT message, UCO Bank said in a regulatory filing to stock exchanges.

The applicants for these Letters of Credit includes few of the corporate clients associated with the incident of recent fraud at PNB, it said.

"The outstanding exposure involved in the transactions is approximately USD 411.82 million and the bank is fully confident to receive the payment from the PNB," it said.

Earlier this week, fraud-hit PNB said it will honour its bonafide commitments and entire liability will be known after the investigation.

The PNB fraud pertains to issuance of fake Letters of Understanding (LoUs) to companies associated with billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi by errant PNB employees, which enabled these companies to raise buyers credit from international branches of other Indian lenders.

Last week, PNB had lodged an FIR with CBI stating that fraudulent LoUs worth Rs 280.7 crore were first issued on January 16. At the time, PNB had said it was digging into records to examine the magnitude of the fraud.

In the complaint, PNB had named three diamond firms - Diamonds R Us, Solar Exports and Stellar Diamonds - saying they had approached it on January 16 with a request for buyers credit for making payment to overseas suppliers.

The bank sought 100 per cent cash margins for issuing LoUs for raising buyers credit, which was contested by the firms saying they had availed of the facility from as early as 2010.

Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal and uncle Mehul Choksi are partners in Diamonds R US, Solar Exports and Stellar Diamonds, which has shops in foreign locations such as Hong Kong, Dubai, and New York.Cauvery Delta Region/Nagpur: It wasnt an age to suffer a heart attack. Veermani was only 35 when his end came.

We were on the field when he collapsed and died, his widow Kavitha told us at her home in February 2017, wondering how her husband could die of a heart attack at such a young age. He was fit and fine, she says, but in a lot of stress and tension. Nothing was left of the farm  it wore a forlorn look, she says.

On December 30, 2016, Kavitha said, they went to their farm  a 1.25 acre plot that this landless Dalit family had leased for the first time from a fellow villager  to tend to the crop, or whatever was left of it.

Around 4 pm, she saw him falling. When I ran to check what the matter was, he was not responding to my calls, she said. She called for the help and took him to the nearby cottage hospital in an ambulance. He had already passed out, the doctors told her. He had died instantly of heart attack.

It was, doctors told her, a shock death  something she hadnt been able to fathom.

It did not rain this year; it was our bad luck, she recalled. It was the first year we decided to lease land for our sustenance, and it turned out to be the worst year for farming.

(Kavitha - is the widow of Veermani)

Veermani and Kavitha would toil on others farms every year, make wages, and dream of having their own farm in a region that was once known for three-crop lands.

In 2016-17, the summer and winter plantation seasons failed, not just in Kavithas Kadamankudy village in Nagapattinam district in the far-eastern tip of the Cauvery delta, but across Tamil Nadu.

Veermani was not the only farmer to have died of shock  the state had registered over 200 such farmer deaths between October 2016 and January 2017 in addition to suicides by the peasants.

As many as 106 farmers were reported to have committed suicide in one month, according to a notice issued by the National Human Rights Commission to the state government on January 5, 2017.

That sparked vitriolic protests across the state and also in New Delhi.

The Cauvery Delta, a region that has been the seat of power and culture for ages and where the process of civilization is several millennia old, has been witnessing agrarian distress for some years, something of an unprecedented scale not seen or heard in this once-prosperous region in the last century.

Fridays Supreme Court judgement on Cauvery waters that reduced the Tamil Nadus share of water and increased Karnatakas share in the river, many experts feel, would exacerbate the problems in the Delta. The Supreme Court has said Tamil Nadu can dip into ground water.

The crisis however goes beyond the water sharing or the Supreme Court case; it actually is a mix of many man-made factors aggravated by climatic aberrations that have had a cascading impact on the Deltas unparalleled water distribution system  a system created over many centuries that stands to be threatened for extinction.

Its a full-blown water crisis that the prevailing drought in Tamil Nadu has bared and as local farmers say, it threatens to steadily destroy the water system unique to the Cauvery delta.

The Unparalleled Cauvery Delta System

Several tributaries, branch-canals and innumerable channels form a network in the Cauvery delta that is unparalleled not just in India, perhaps the world  part natural, part manmade built over millennia.

This web of surface water system that satiates every inch of the Delta  the very root of the civilizational growth  is under threat as spatial-temporal anthropogenic causes coupled with climatic aberrations are hurting the river ecology, says V Deivasihamani, a retired assistant engineer with the Tamil Nadu Public Works Department with over 40 years of experience in the Deltas water works. This is a serious crisis, he said.

Cauvery, the largest of the rivers in South India, originates from the southern tip of the Western Ghats in Karnataka and joins the Bay of Bengal.

About a couple thousand years ago, according to various studies, a Chola King built a stone-dam, which is popularly called the Grand Anicut in what is now Thiruchirapalli district. The Delta begins from here.

The Cauvery actually splinters into five rivers at the Grand-Anicut, including a large drainage cum river called the Kollidam (Cooleroon, as the British would call it) which again merges into Cauvery a few miles eastward and forms a huge Cauvery river that meets the Bay of Bengal further east of Chidambaram.

The Delta gets rains during the North-East monsoon  October to December. But this is more often erratic and undependable, the coastal areas and the Delta occasionally receive heavy intense rains of very short duration, most of which can be neither conserved nor utilised in the delta.

Traditionally, Tamil Nadu depended on the flows of Cauvery from June onwards during the South West monsoon and on local rainfall during the North-East monsoon.

After the commissioning of Mettur Reservoir in 1934 it became possible to impound excess flows and send down regulated discharges to meet the needs of the river channels and the delta.

The design map of Cauvery and her distributaries and their innumerable canals resembles a horizontal funnel with its tip at the Grand Anicut and mouth spread across the coastline in the Delta and a massive web of veins-like serpentine river and canals flowing waters to the villages and towns all over.

As much as 15 lakh acres of farm land in the Delta was once irrigated by this structure for three crops, explains S Ranganathan, the octogenarian farmer leader in Mannargudi town who first moved a petition before the Supreme Court three decades ago pleading for a settlement of dispute with Karnataka on the Cauvery water share of Tamil Nadu. Its down to one crop in many places now, he says. Terrible!

Dry Mannargudi channel

The general secretary of the Cauvery Delta Farmers' Welfare Association, Ranganathan says Delta is the only region that is in the plains in the rivers journey. If stretched into one line the channels will cover 65 per cent of the Earths equator, he says. This region actually produces paddy for not only Tamil Nadu but also to meet the requirements of Kerala. The entire water was at our disposal when there was no development of irrigation in Karnataka and Kerala; the history of this region is as old as that of Greeks.

As the distributaries fall silent, farmers are feeling the pinch  migrations have begun, from the Delta to the bigger cities like Chennai in what is in contrast to the in-migration trends of this region.

The delta produced best of the food  from natural millets to paddy to fruits and vegetables  round the year. But as Karnataka began to impound water in Cauvery and its tributaries in the up-stream regions in its territory in keeping with its obligation for its own farmers, the flow of waters downstream suffered.

Add to it the expansion of new metros and their water requirements and you get a vexed dispute.

Drying up of the ancient system

Until the modern dams were built, Cauvery brought the entire surplus water from its massive catchment to the Delta region, where it splinters into five sub-rivers, 37 tributaries, 1505 A-class channels, about 30,000 B-class channels, and innumerable C and D class channels. In addition to this: the river has about 22 major drains and 600 minor drains, which pour surplus waters into the sea in the times of floods, as the data with the water works section of the state PWD shows. Together, this network runs into several thousand miles of surface water routes that irrigate roughly 15 lakh acres of land in the delta region fed by three basins, that of Cauvery, Venar sub-basin and the new Grand Anicut canal created after 1934.

Add to it some 40,000 ponds or village reservoirs  and you have a massive storage of water.

This system brings water to every farm in every single village. Today its completely dry  rivers, rivulets, channels, canals, drains, ponds, every structure is dry. The ground water table across the delta is falling alarmingly as struggle for water intensifies. The delta has no other source of water if Cauvery runs dry.

The drought has sparked conflicts over ground water, 53-year-old A Dakshinamoorthy, a three-acre paddy grower in village Mangudi in Thanjavur district, told us in March 2017.

Former Public Works and Irrigation Employee A Deivasihamani showing the dry Venar river, a tributary of Cauvery in Thiruchirapalli district

Bore-well digging in the village had intensified, he revealed, as old bore-wells, not very deep, ran dry.

We met Dakshinamoorthy at a culvert underneath which was a regulator on Mangudi channel, one of the many channels that branched out of the Cauvery sub-river, Vennar, to bring water to Mangudi.

At that point, the channel was dry. Because the Venar, its feeding river was dry. Venar was dry because the Cauvery was dry. The Grand-Anicut, an important reservoir that releases the surplus water flowing from the upper catchment, was dry. This dam was dry because two important reservoirs that the British built in the 1930s, the Upper Anicut and the Mettur dam (with the capacity of storing 95 TMC water) had run dry. They were dry, because the entire upper catchment in Karnataka was dry, due to a biting drought following failed rains.

This entire system of flow or surface irrigation, the backbone of the Delta prosperity, is under threat for a combination of factors: the south-west surplus water that comes to this part from upper catchment in Karnataka has been severely affected due to successive years of drought in that part, failure of monsoon for the last several years, and development of new dams and reservoirs in the upper stretches; failure of north-east monsoon; increasing salinity along the coastal areas; and over-exploitation of ground water.

The Mangudi channel had the potential to irrigate 7638 acres of land, the info marked on the regulator said. The channels head is upstream of the Nadar regulatory on the Venar River, a few metres down the basin. Deivasihamani explained to us the system of discharge of water through its approach channel; the minimum and maximum levels to be maintained in the Mangudi channel; and normal level of water discharge through two vents of the sluices that would irrigate farms and re-charge wells and bore-wells in a regular monsoon year. All this is useless if the network is without water, he said.

A number of regulatory controls like these have been built in the delta to regulate the canal supply. This, however, depends on the availability of supplies. In the delta a short-term crop called Kuruvai is raised between the months of June and September followed by a medium-range crop called Thaladi between October and February. In single crop dry-lands in other parts of the state, long-term crop Samba is raised between July and January. Rice dominates the landscape in the delta, mainly the temple district of Thanjavur. Tamil Nadus political economy of rice largely depends on this District, nay the Delta. The alluvial soil of the delta is ideal for growing rice, and in isolated pockets, sugarcane.

Cauvery Journey

The first important tributary to join the Cauvery, practically on the border of Coorg and Karnataka districts, is Harangi. Other smaller tributaries like Kakkabe, Kadamur and Kummanhole join and continue to flow eastwards. Two important tributaries i.e. Hemavathy and Laxmanthirtha join Cauvery later.

After it flows further eastwards below Krishnarajasagar dam it is joined by another important tributary Kabini. Thereafter, two tributaries  Suvarnavathy from the north and Shimsha from the south  join the Cauvery. After Sivasamudram it passes through the hilly tracts and its width narrows down considerably.

At places it has to pass through gorges. After flowing through the gorge, the Cauvery continues its journey towards East and in that process it forms the boundary between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for a distance of about 64 km. (40 miles). Yet another tributary i.e. Arkavathi joins the river just before it enters Tamil Nadu State. 2. At Hoganekal falls along the common border, the river takes its course towards South and enters the well-known Mettur reservoir in the State of Tamil Nadu. Thereafter its further journey continues.

The Bhavani river joins it on the right bank about 45 km. (28 miles) below the Mettur reservoir and it enters the plains of Tamil Nadu where more tributaries, the Noyil and the Amaravathy join. Immediately below the Upper Anicut, the river splits into two branches. The northern branch is called 'Coleroon' and the southern branch retains its original name. The Upper Anicut was constructed in the year 1886 to facilitate diversion of the low supplies of the river into Cauvery delta.

The two branches join again forming Srirangam Island. It is said that Chola King constructed the Grand Anicut at the junction point below the island aforesaid which formed a great irrigation system in the Thanjavur district in the first century A.D. There is further split of the Cauvery; into two branches- one being called Cauvery and the other Vennar. The channels are used as canals for irrigating the fields in the Cauvery delta. Regulators have been provided to regulate the supply of water for distributing the Cauvery waters in the delta. The branches divide and sub-divide into innumerable smaller branches.

The Karnataka Government proceeded with the construction of Kabini Reservoir from 1958 onwards and completed in 1975. The reservoir as executed has a live capacity of 16 TMC; the ultimate Ayacut and utilisation under the reservoir are reported to be 4.54 lakhs acres and 57.7 TMC respectively. The irrigation from the reservoir has commenced from 1975-76 onwards.

The construction of the reservoirs upstream in Karnataka has affected the inflows into Mettur Reservoir.

Cauvery is the only major river in Tamil Nadu which has been contributing nearly 50 percent of the State's surface water use. The upper part of the Cauvery basin above Mettur is influenced by south-west monsoon, while the lower part is influenced by North-east monsoon. The flow of the river during the south west monsoon is, to a very great extent, dependent on the run-off from the hilly catchment above the Sivasamudram falls. The South West monsoon is more intensive, unfailing and dependable, spread over a long period. During this period, most of the catchment lying below the Mettur reservoir gets practically no benefit excepting a small portion of the high ranges of the Bhavani and Amaravathi tributaries, as the catchment lies on the rain-shadow area of Western Ghats.

Jaideep Hardikar is a Nagpur-based journalist, and a volunteer for the Peoples Archive of Rural India (PARI)Sagar: While Madhya Pradesh Culture Minister Surendra Patwa was swaying to popular Bollywood songs at Raisens Bhojpur Utsav, a debt-ridden farmer hanged himself at his home in Sagar.

The incident occurred on Friday when Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was in Sagar district to meet farmers who had suffered huge loss after the hailstorm, and assured them compensation.

According to the deceaseds wife, the farmer had a debt of Rs 3 lakh and his chana crop had also failed due to bad weather.

Farmer Gulab Patel was found dead at his home in Garhakotas Singhpurkala village. His wife, Siyarani Patel, said that her husband was stressed after this years loss and the delay in getting crop damage compensation for 2016. We had incurred loss even in 2016. We were promised compensation for it, but have not received it, she said.

Reportedly, another farmer hanged himself from a tree in his farmland in Chhatarpurs Gurhakalan villages after crop failure and losses. However, the information could not be confirmed.

A spell of hailstorm, heavy rain and gusty winds last Sunday hit Bhopal, Gwalior, Sagar, Chhindwara, Betul, Satna, Sehore, Narisghpur and a few other districts of the state damaging the Rabi crop.

While CM Chouhan promised compensation to the farmers on Friday, he said that his government will not waive loans as the ex-gratia and other aide will make them strong enough to repay the loan amount.

Earlier this week, aggrieved farmers in Shivpuris Kolaras block threatened to boycott polls if they did not receive immediate relief.

Meanwhile, other state ministers are busy attending various events. While Patwa was spotted at Raisen fest, Rural Development Minister Gopal Bhargav, a resident of Sagar, on Friday met Governor Anandiben Patel in Bhopal to invite her to five-day traditional Rahas Mela in Garhakota, the same region where Patel committed suicide.Ahmedabad: A 60-year-old Dalit activist, who set himself on fire in Gujarat over government's alleged failure to regularize land tilled by a landless labourer, succumbed to his burn injuries late on Friday.

Bhanubhai Vankar set himself on fire on Thursday inside the compound of Patan Collector's office. He was rushed to a local hospital before being moved to the Apollo Hospital in Ahmedabad.

Earlier on Friday, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that the State government was taking full care of Vankar. He said the government would bear all the expenses the Dalit activist's treatment.

"We are receiving messages from many supporters across the state that they are frustrated and would resort to suicide. I request all of them not to take any such steps and instead go on an indefinite dharna (protest).

"I would request them to approach me and we will carry forward the fight," Jignesh Mevani, MLA from Vadgam constituency and a Dalit youth leader told reporters on reaching the hospital where Vankar died.

Vankar had been seeking physical possession of land that was allotted to Dalit families by the state government.

He had written a letter to the Chief Minister last month, warning him of taking the step of self-immolation if the families were not allotted the land.

Though the Chief Minister's Office had sent in an advisory to the collectorate, the officials there allegedly took the matter casually.

Vankar reached the Collector's office along with the Dalit families of Hemaben and Ramabhai on Thursday, drenched himself in kerosene and set himself on fire.

The body of Vankar is likely to be moved to Unjha in Mehsana district on Saturday for last rites.New Delhi: The entire Rs 11,300 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam happened between 2017 and 2018, according to the CBI FIR. While ministers and BJP spokespersons came out all guns blazing against the Congress and claimed that the scam began in 2011, so far it appears the CBI investigation is limited to just 2017-2018.

If this scam started in 2011, then the purview of it would be over and above Rs 11,300 crore. The four Punjab National Bank officials who have been questioned so far, are also those who served during this period.

Those who are being questioned include Bechu Tiwari, the Chief Manager of Nariman Point branch from February 2015 to October 2017. Sanjay Kumar Prasad, the Deputy General Manager who was the Assistant General Manager at Braddy House branch between May 2016 and October 2017. Mohinder kumar Sharma, the Concurrent Auditor from November 2015 to July 2017, and Manoj Karat who was a Single Window Operator from November 2014 to December 2017.

Manoj Karat and Gokulnath Shetty have been mentioned in the FIR as accused. But Gokulnath has now gone absconding. He was last seen allegedly at his residence 5 days ago. CBI raided his premises on Friday and questioned his wife and brother. This is the third time they raided his premise.

CBI has now registered two FIRs in the PNB scam. Searches were conducted at 26 different premises related to Mehul Choksi, Gitanjali Group of companies and other directors of the companies. It includes factories, plants, offices and residencies of the above. These raids are on in six cities of 5 states, including Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Jaipur, Hyderabad and Coimbatore.

The FIR is against Mehul Choksi, his three companies, Gitanjali Gems ltd, Gili India Ltd and Nakshatra Brands Ltd, the directors of these companies and the two bank employees. The FIR is based on a complaint given by the Punjab National Bank on February 13. In this case, the alleged loss to PNB is estimated to be Rs 4886.72 crore. It is one of the two complaints given by the bank where the total amount of estimated loss came to Rs 11,300 crore. The rest of the loss will be in the purview of the first FIR which was registered by CBI on January 31, 2018.

The fresh FIR involves 143 Letters of Understanding (LoUs), using which Choksi managed to get Rs 3031 crore worth funding. And 224 Foreign Letters of Credit, which were used to generate Rs 1798 crore from overseas branch of banks based out of India.

These are separate from the earlier 150 LoUs which were mentioned in the first FIR and filed on January 31. CBI had earlier conducted raids in 21 different locations on February 3 and 4 that included residences of Nirav Modi, Ami Modi and bank officials. The first FIR named Nirav Modi, his wife Ami Modi, brother Nishal Modi, uncle Mehul Choksi and the two bank officials.

In the raids, CBI seized diamonds worth crores which was handed over to the ED officials. Apart from that incriminating documents and a large server was seized. The server is being imaged and would then be sent for forensic analysis. The 18 Indian subsidiaries of these three banks were also raided on Friday.

CBI sources say they feel that PNB has been economical with truth in blaming just two employees for the entire Rs11,300 crore scam. Thus they are questioning three other employees who are not mentioned in the FIR.New Delhi: Indian Council of Historical Researchs new chairman Arvind P Jamkhedkar said on Saturday that he will encourage a combined approach between various disciplines to understand the Indian past.

The Maharashtra-based Indologist, historian and archaeologist has been picked by the ministry of human resource development to replace Professor Y Sudershan Rao, who demitted office in June 2017. Jamkhedkar is currently serving as the Chancellor of Deccan College, Pune.

The 78-year-old said he will hold consultations with the advisory board of ICHR and encourage combined effort among disciplines to reconstruct the Indian past.

As the ICHR chief I have been assigned the work of promoting historical studies. I would like to see as far as possible all the different indological, anthropological, archaeological and historical content. Without touching upon these aspects of history, one cannot reconstruct the past, he told News18.

Jamkhedkar said his background in traditional Indological studies, which is based on languages, cultural studies, and archaeology, will be helpful to understand history and interpret the past.

My academic upbringing is unusual. I have training in Sanskrit from the pathshala in Pune, and simultaneously, I was going to college. I have studied linguistics, archaeology and cultural studies. I also did my research in Prakrit, he added.

He said that other institutions like the University Grants Commission should also help in Indology. In fact, it is being done in different ways by having different centers for Pali, Prakrit, Sanskrit, Persian and other classical languages, he said.

Jamkhedkar had done his masters in Sanskrit from the University of Pune in 1960. He completed his doctorate in Ancient Indian Culture from Deccan College in 1966.

His research is centered on the Jain Prakrit text Vasudevahindi. He has taught at Dhule, Nagpur and Mumbai, and he was the vice-president of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai from 2007 to 2013. He was also the editor of the Journal of Asiatic Society of Mumbai.

As an archaeologist, he has conducted excavations in 19 sites and was associated with the team of Professor Jagapati Joshi during the discovery of the biggest stupas in the country.

He was also involved in proto archaeology and served as the director of archaeology museum in Maharashtra. Jamkhedkar was also selected as National Lecturer in Archaeology by the University Grants Commission in 1984.Hyderabad/New Delhi: As Iran's President Hassan Rouhani arrived in New Delhi on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ram Nath Kovind greeted him at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

This is Rouhani's first visit after assuming office in 2013.

Soon after his arrival, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar in a tweet said, "First visit by an Iranian President in 10 years! Ceremonial welcome accorded to President of Iran, Dr. Hassan Rouhani @rashtrapatibhvn. President Ram Nath Kovind and PM @narendramodi welcomed President Rouhani. #DustemanIran. (sic)"

First visit by an Iranian President in 10 years! Ceremonial welcome accorded to President of Iran, Dr. Hassan Rouhani @rashtrapatibhvn. President Ram Nath Kovind and PM @narendramodi welcomed President Rouhani. #DustemanIran pic.twitter.com/OkjyIsapQ2 Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) February 17, 2018

Issues related to trade, security and connectivity, including the strategically-important Chabahar port will be discussed on the last leg of his three-day visit.

The two sides are also looking at inking a number of pacts in several key areas apart from exploring the scope of cooperation in fields such as health and traditional medicine during the visit, which is part of India's continued regional engagement, official sources said.

They also referred to Modi's recent visit to the UAE and other countries in the Gulf and West Asia, to highlight India's growing cooperation with countries in the region.

Iran and India have already operationalised a mechanism under which Indian businessmen can invest in projects in Iran in Indian rupees, the sources said. The move is expected to boost Indo-Iran trade ties tremendously.

While there was no pact expected to be signed on security cooperation, the joint statement will talk about the engagement between the two countries in that area, including the interactions between their national security councils, the sources said.

Asked if cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan will be raised, the sources said terrorism is a shared concern but whether any specific country will be mentioned, could not be stated. Also, whether India will seek Iran's help in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case given that it maintains that the retired Indian naval officer was kidnapped from Iran, the sources said Jadhav is not a bilateral issue between India and Iran.

Asked if India would raise the issue of its investment in Iran's Farzad-B gas field, the sources said there were commercial discussions on to find a "win-win" solution.

Asserting that connectivity is among the key themes, they said efforts would be to take forward the operational part of the strategically-important Chabahar port. During Modi's bilateral visit to Iran in 2016, nearly a dozen pacts were signed between the two countries.

The Trilateral Transit Agreement (Chabahar Agreement) was also signed by transport ministers of India, Iran and Afghanistan in the presence of Modi, Rouhani and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

The contract entails capital investment of USD 85 million by India for equipping Chabahar port in southeastern Iran. The strategically important port will open up the transit route for India to Iran and Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan.

India and Iran have robust economic and commercial ties covering many sectors though it has traditionally been dominated by the import of Iranian crude oil by India, which continued to engage with Iran at the time of sanctions.

According to the external affairs ministry, India-Iran bilateral trade during the fiscal year 2016-17 was USD 12.89 billion. India imported USD 10.5 billion worth of goods, mainly crude oil, and exported commodities worth USD 2.4 billion.

India is hosting Rouhani nearly a month after the visit of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Other issues which are expected to be discussed will include visa liberalisation for greater people-to-people contact.

Apart from holding extensive talks with Modi and other Indian leaders on Saturday, the Iranian leader is also scheduled to deliver a special address at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF).Bareilly (UP): Union Women and Child Development Minister, Maneka Gandhi lost her cool while reviewing the welfare works in Bareilly and chided an official, a video of which has gone viral on social media.

She was attending a meeting on Friday in Baheri area of the district which falls in her constituency Pilibhit.

Gandhi is seen chiding the official who is said to be the supply inspector in the public distribution department.

"Have some shame...Don't you have any honour? A man lives for his honour and not like this...People are saying all the bad things about you," she said on hearing complaints of corruption against the officer.

"I do not want anything else from you all except roads, electrification and toilets," she said while referring to the government's priorities.Mumbai: Rabbi Nachman Holtzberg and Freida Holtzberg havent slept peacefully for one night since they lost their son and daughter-in-law to the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai.

Their son rabbi Gabriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivki Holtzberg were gunned down by the terrorists who assaulted Chabad House in 2008.

Only their grandson Moshe, who was one and a half years old then, survived the carnage.

Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, Nachman said, There isnt a minute which goes without remembering them. For any parent, even a minor illness of a child is difficult. Every morning, every evening, we havent seen them for nine years now.

What was their fault? They left behind a life full of pleasures, family and friends, to go out and help people. Why do they want to kill good people? asked a perturbed Nachman.

For us, the only glimmer of light at the end of the dark tunnel, is Moshe. He is our light, our joy. He is a miracle, they said.

They were in Mumbai in January this year for the inauguration of a memorial of 26/11 victims at the hands of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.New Delhi: The Indian government has suspended Nirav Modis passport, but it has now emerged that the man at at the centre of the Rs 11,400 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam may be holding dual citizenship.

It was known among the close-knit Palanpuri Jain community that Nirav held dual citizenship, the Tribune reported quoting sources.

The passports of Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi were cancelled for four weeks by the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday.

On the advice of the Enforcement Directorate, the passport issuing authority in the Ministry of External Affairs has suspended the validity of passports of Mr. Nirav Deepak Modi and Mr. Mehul Chinubhai Choksi with immediate effect for a period of four weeks u/s 10(A) of the Passports Act 1967, said a press release by MEA.

Nirav Modi and his brother Nishal grew up in Belgium, known as the centre for international diamond trade. Intelligence sources said Nishal surrendered his Indian passport and acquired Belgian citizenship. Nirav declared himself an Indian citizen.

Hailing from Gujarat, Nirav Modi founded Firestar Diamond with a glitzy retail business in top cities of the world, including Delhi, Mumbai, New York, London, Hong Kong and Macau.

In 2015, US President Donald Trump inaugurated his first store in New Yorks Madison Avenue. Modis expanding retail market has made him one of the youngest Indians in the Forbes Billionaires List 2017.

Education was never Modis plan as he dropped out of Wharton Business School and moved to India to train in the diamond trade under his uncle.New Delhi: India has said that it did not impose any restrictions on pilgrims travelling to Pakistan amid heightened tensions between the two nations following a string of terror attacks in the Kashmir Valley.

"Of course not," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Friday when asked if India had imposed any restriction on pilgrims.

The clarification comes after Pakistan reportedly blamed India for withdrawing visa applications of pilgrims from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.Mumbai: Nine years ago, terrorists gunned down Moshe Holtzbergs parents at Mumbais Chabad House during the 26/11 terror attacks.

At the age of 11, Moshe finally returned to his fathers house for the first time.

Accompanied by his maternal and paternal grandparents, uncle and nanny Sandra Samuels, he landed in Mumbai for the inauguration of a memorial for the 26/11 victims at Chabad House. It was inaugurated in Mumbai by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on January 18.

In a first, Moshe appeared in front of the CNN News18 camera for an exclusive interview. Not yet recovered from the ghastly terror attack in which he lost his parents at the age of one and a half years, he is accompanied by a psychologist at every place he visits. The flashes of cameras, the flash bulbs, upset him. As he sat in front of our camera, he is soothed by his grandmother. He breathed deeply.

Considering a childs psychological state and the hounding of the media, only one condition laid down down before the interview that Moshe will not speak. Please dont ask him anything. Otherwise the interview will get over there itself, the worried grandparents said.

His body language reflected reluctance and discomfort. He sat like an obedient child between his maternal grandparents  Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg and Yehudith Rosenberg. His grandmother kept patting on his thighs as he breathes deeply.

Moshe very much loves India. He loves Mumbai, Shimon said. People of Mumbai too love him a lot. So they want photos with him. He is just a bit upset that wherever he goes, booms are put in front of him, and cameras are switched on. I tell him, this is because people love you. Moshe is a miracle child. God made a miracle for him. And I say special prayers for him, he added.

Yehudith Rosenberg said that they are all keen to return to Mumbai two years later, when Moshe turns 13. In Jewish tradition, a ceremony marks a boys entry into the 13th year. That is a big occasion. It means you graduate to the bigger world. It has huge spiritual significance, she said.New Delhi: A special court on Saturday sent a businessman, arrested in connection with an around Rs 7 crore money laundering case against former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and others, to one-day judicial custody.

Special Judge Santosh Snehi Mann sent Vakamulla Chandrasekhar, the director/promoter of Tarini Group of Companies, to custody after he was produced before the court through EDs special public prosecutor N M Matta.

The accused, arrested last night under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), was produced before the court and the agency sought his seven-day custodial interrogation.

The EDs remand application was opposed by the accused who questioned the agency's right to arrest and take his custody.

"Judgments are cited by both the sides in support of their respective arguments and I need time to go through those judgments. Pending application of ED, accused is remanded to JC till February 17," the judge said.

The agency had alleged that Chandrasekhar "had provided an amount of Rs 5.9 crore to Singh and his family members through his three personal bank accounts".

It said that when the source of funds was enquired into, it came to light that the amount was received through a web of firms indulging in accommodation entry operation.

The court had on February 12 summoned Singh, his wife, and three others as accused in the case, after taking cognizance of the ED charge sheet against them and others, saying there was "prima facie" enough evidence against the accused persons and directed them to appear before the court on March 22.

The ED had charge-sheeted 83-year-old Singh, accusing him of projecting around Rs 7 crore "proceeds of crime" as agricultural income in connivance with his wife and others and invested them in purchasing LIC policies.

Besides Singh and his 62-year-old wife Pratibha Singh, the court summoned Universal Apple Associate owner Chunni Lal Chauhan and two other co-accused, Prem Raj and Lawan Kumar Roach.

The final report also named as accused Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) agent Anand Chauhan, against whom a charge sheet was earlier filed by the agency.

All six have been charge sheeted under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Chauhan, arrested on July 9, 2016, by the ED under relevant provisions of the PMLA, was granted bail on January 2 in the case.

In the charge sheet against Virbhadra Singh, the ED said, "The proceeds of crime acquired by Virbhadra Singh were projected as agricultural income with the help of Anand Chauhan, LIC agent and Chunni Lal Chauhan and were invested into insurance policies purchased in the name of Singh and his family members and a major part of it, after crisscrossing through various bank accounts found way into acquisition of immovable property."

The "proceeds of crime generated through criminal activities" were managed by Anand Chauhan, who actively assisted him in laundering it by projecting it as untainted, the final report had alleged.

In a separate case filed by the CBI in connection with the matter, Singh, his wife, and Anand Chauhan were charge-sheeted along with others. The couple, who have not been arrested so far, and the other accused are facing trial in the CBI case.

The other accused in the CBI case are Chandrasekhar, Chunni Lal Chauhan, stamp paper vendor Joginder Singh Ghalta and co-accused Lawan Kumar Roach, Prem Raj and Ram Prakash Bhatia.

The CBI had claimed that Virbhadra Singh had amassed assets worth around Rs 10 crore which were disproportionate to his total income during his tenure as Union minister.

The matter was transferred by the Supreme Court to the Delhi High Court which, on April 6, 2016, asked the CBI not to arrest Singh and directed him to join the probe.Bengaluru: When BSP chief Mayawati climbs onto a huge stage to address voters in poll-bound Karnataka on Saturday, there will be more than one chair. There may even be half a dozen chairs which is a rarest of the rare sight. This will also be the first time since 1996 that behenji has gone for a pre-poll alliance. It will be her first election rally after the decimation of the Bahujan Samaj Party in last years UP Assembly elections.

The subdued Dalit leader has done something unthinkable a few years ago. She has agreed to play second fiddle to former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda in Karnataka.

In a sudden development, her right hand man and MP Satish Chandra Mishra and Gowdas pointperson in Delhi Danish Ali Baig signed a pre-poll alliance last week. And the BSP has got just 14 seats to contest in the 224-member House.

The JDS woman farm labourer carrying a stack of paddy on her head and BSPs elephant will walk together across the state during the hot summer of 2018. Mayawatis dwindling fortunes in her home state Uttar Pradesh seem to be the reason for her climb-down.

This is the third player in Karnataka politics, the JDS first big election rally and the formal launch of its campaign. Even though both Deve Gowda and Mayawati are big national leaders who would be addressing the voters, the main attraction would be Gowdas son and JDS state chief H D Kumaraswamy. The former Chief Minister has named his poll campaign Vikasa Parva and hopes to play a bigger role post results. The party's full page advertisements in leading Kannada newspapers also have the full frame picture only of Kumaraswamy.

Speaking to News18, he said that with the support of Mayawati, the JDS will form the government on its own. He said, We are not here to share the power with the Congress or the BJP. We will come to power on our own. If there is a hung Assembly, we prefer fresh polls.

Deve Gowda said that he had joined hands with Mayawati to prevent division of Dalit votes in the state. Satish Chandra Mishra also claims the same.

The BSP made serious forays into Karnataka in 2004. In the 2004 Assembly elections, it had contested in 102 seats and polled 1.74% votes. In the Lok Sabha polls held simultaneously, the BSP had fielded candidates in nine seats and had garnered 1.22% votes.

In the 2008 Assembly elections, the BSP had contested in 217 seats and its vote share climbed to 2.7% seats. In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the vote share came down to 1.66%. However, the BSP failed to win even a single Assembly seat in the state. In the 2013 Assembly polls it had fielded candidates in 175 seats and 174 of them lost deposits. The BSP got just 0.95% of the votes in that election that wads won by the Congress.

It was in 1994its first election in the statethat BSP had opened its account in Karnataka. Syed Zulfikar Hashmi was elected from Bidar in north Karnataka. He later quit the party.

The JDS has a base vote of 15% in the state and it hopes with BSP support it can add a few more seats to its total tally. The local BSP is reportedly unhappy with the alliance and its leaders were not even consulted by Mayawati before signing the pact.

Mayawati is fully aware of her partys chances in Karnataka. But this tie-up is likely to mark the beginning of like-minded third front parties coming together to regain the political relevance they lost after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar has also come forward for a tie-up with the JDS in this election. According to JDS sources, the NCP is likely to contest in seven Assembly seats in Belgaum district. Belgaum district has over 40% Marathi speaking population and Pawar enjoys clout in this part of Karnataka.New Delhi: Punjab National Bank must be squirming these last few days, with what its punch line trusted by millions since 1895 displayed across branches, on bank stationary and in all communication.Trust is a touchy topic for the bank this week, since Indias largest ever corporate fraud has been detected at one of its branches.

Though, the bank management reported the fraud itself, is keen on a full investigation and says will fulfill all the obligations arising from this Rs 11,000 odd crore bungling, it is obvious that taxpayers may have to foot this bill. After all, with government being the primary owner of this bank and already committed to continuously infuse capital in many public sector banks to keep them afloat, the tab will directly or indirectly be picked up by the government and by extension, the taxpayers. So while Nirav Modi, the alleged mastermind of this fraud, flees across continents, you and I will have to foot the bill for his extravaganza.

Specific to PNB, the government just infused Rs 5,473 crore as capital into the bank for this fiscal. This is the fifth largest capital infusion in state-owned banks by the government this year, with big daddy SBI getting Rs 8,800 crore.

The government has been infusing capital in banks to make them stronger since most have been struggling under bad loans  loans which were advanced to corporate entities without proper due diligence or lien, loans which eventually turned bad and loans which now have to be somehow provided for through government help.

PNB itself has seen the bad loans quantum almost double in just one year, as the table below shows. Between 2014-15 and 2015-16, gross NPAs (Non-performing assets) of the bank rose to 12.9% from just 6.55%.

In 2016-17 bad loans were a tad lower at 12.53% but there is little doubt that the Nirav Modi and related entities fraud is going to raise this ratio substantially.

During the year when bad loans were peaking for PNB, its bottom-line also slipped badly  from turning in a net profit of Rs 3,062 crore in 2014-15, it reported a net loss of Rs 3,874 crore in the immediately next fiscal. The bank has returned to profits in 2016-17, albeit at almost a third of what it reported in 2014-15.

Net profit since 2012 Gross NPAs (%)

2011-12: Rs 4884 crore 2011-12: 2.93

2012-13: Rs 4748 crore 2012-13: 4.27

2013-14: Rs 3343 crore 2013-14: 5.25

2014-15: Rs 3062 crore 2014-15: 6.55

2015-16: (-) Rs 3974 crore 2015-16: 12.9

2016-17: Rs 1325 crore 2016-17: 12.53

This state of affairs at one of Indias oldest and trusted banking brand names surely brings us to the question: Should the Indian government continue to fund state-run banks without ensuring transparent operations and clear risk management practices?

Not just PNB, other state owned banks are also witness to frauds. And, this is proved by publicly available data. In fact, the big daddy of Indias banking system, State Bank of India (SBI), is far ahead of PNB in terms of total cases of fraud reported in three years from 2014-15 to 2016-17.

According to a written reply in Lok Sabha on February 2 this year, the total number of fraud cases reported by SBI stood at 2,466 or more than two frauds a day. During the same period, PNB reported 471 cases of fraud.

If the PNB case in causing so much heartburn now, shouldnt the government (which is the primary owner of public sector banks) focus on the goings on at other, larger banks like the SBI too? Yes, there is an RBI-dictated mechanism to detect and report fraud, but it is clearly not proving very effective.

In July last year, MoS Finance Santosh Kumar Gangawar, shared deeply disturbing figures of amounts under fraud at various public sector banks. Here, PNB topped the list  it had the largest amount under fraud  in 2016-17 at Rs 2,808.27 crore. That averages to Rs 7.7 crore every single day of the year. This amount was bigger than that declared by SBI, which was at Rs 2,422.37 crore.

There are various types of frauds at our banks. Some happen due to gaps in credit underwriting standards, some due to liberal cash flow projections at proposal stage, some others due to lack of continuous monitoring of cash flow and cash profits (EBITDA), some because of wilful diversion of funds and others happen due to various reasons.

The moot point is that funds which our banks classify as being under fraud are huge  the data quoted above say the total amount under all types of fraud at all banks (state-owned as well as private) was a staggering Rs 23,902.63 crore in 2016-17. In the last five years till 2016-17, PNB declared a loss of a staggering Rs 8,999.17 crore on account of frauds, again the highest among all state owned banks. In other words, it lost Rs 5 crore every single day due to frauds. SBI lost Rs 6,228.01 crore during the same period due to frauds.

Perhaps, it would be wise for the RBI and other officials concerned to revisit the guidelines on reporting fraud across state owned banks. Or we may be left fending for many more Nirav Modi like cases, where the perpetrator has fled and taxpayers are left holding the tab.

(The author is senior journalist. Views are personal)New Delhi: Former Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely has rejoined the Congress after leaving the party to join the BJP nine months ago.

The BJP was an ideologically misfit party for me. I am glad to be back in my parent party Congress, Lovely said. He was welcomed back into the party by AICC in-charge of Delhi unit PC Chacko along with Maken.

Lovely was considered to be close to three-time Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. He held several portfolios in her government. A four-time MLA, Lovely was first elected to the Delhi Legislative Assembly in 1998.

Lovely joins the Congress at a time when rapprochement between Ajay Maken and Sheila Dikshit, always known to be rivals, seems likely. Maken had recently paid a visit to Dikshit at her Nizamuddin (East) residence inviting her to a media conference to list the failures of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi.

Lovelys return is seen as a shot in the arm for the Congress with 20 seats up for the grabs in Delhi bypolls. The by-elections were necessitated after an Election Commission recommended disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs for holding office of profit while serving as Parliamentary Secretaries between March 13, 2015, and September 8, 2016.New Delhi: Its a lovely moment for the Congress with Sheila Dikshit loyalist Arvinder Singh Lovely back in the party after quitting it in April 2017 to join the BJP.

The four-time MLA jumping ship in 2017 came as a huge setback for the Congress coming as it was after the humiliating loss in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and the 2015 Delhi polls where the party even failed to open its account.

When he quit, Lovely had called Sheila a burden on the Congress and said Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken was lazy and too soaked in comfort.

It seems the Congress has shifted its strategy after Rahul Gandhis elevation to the party president. Rahul has sent out the message that the doors of the party are open. He has made it clear that winning elections is the key and infighting needs to stop and those who can be wooed back.

This was reflected in Gujarat when Rahul insisted that all camps must get together. And recently in Delhi when bitter foes but once friends Sheila and Maken shared the stage. Maken met Sheila earlier inviting her to campaign for the party.

During the Lok Sabha polls and Delhi elections, there was no love lost between Maken and Sheila. She had openly blamed Maken for the partys poor showing while Maken said her era was over. But faced with an aggressive BJP and AAP and other regional parties, Rahul has made it clear that no camps will be tolerated.

Hence the sharing of stage. Lovely had quit the party after he was replaced by Maken as Delhi unit chief. He was miffed when his suggestions were not incorporated while distributing tickets for the MCD polls. But joining the BJP also brought disappointment for Lovely as he was overshadowed by BJP leaders like Vijay Goel and Manoj Tiwari. Thats when Rahul asked state Congress leaders to reach out and soon Lovely did a ghar waapsi.

Sources within the party say this could be just the beginning. Rahul has asked Congress units in all states to begin mending fences, especially the ones going to polls soon.

Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha are the next focus states. In Rajasthan, while Sachin Pilot was the main face Ashok Gehlot, the old warlord, was brought in too. This formula is expected to be replicated for polls in other states too.

Madhya Pradesh poses a problem though with several camps  Kamal Nath, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Digvijaya Singh. Getting them all together will be a challenge But Rahul is hoping for a lovely moment there too.New Delhi: Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday alleged that there was a clear link between the family of senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi and a firm run by Nirav Modi, the man at the centre of the Rs 11,400 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam.

The charges have been denied by Singhvi, who said he will defamation case against Sitharaman and her colleagues for making ill-considered, ignorant and patently false allegations.

Fielded by the BJP to counter the Congress charge that the scam took place in 2017 under the Narendra Modi government, the defence minister said that Singhvis family has had business dealings with the prime accused in the fraud case for a long time.

Fire Star Diamond International Pvt Ltd, one of the companies of Nirav Modi, was acquired from Adwait Holdings. One of the shareholders of Adwait is Anita Singhvi, wife of you know who, since 2002, she said.

She added, The property of Adwait Holdings Pvt Ltd, whose directors are wife and son of Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi - Anita Singhvi and Avishkar Singhvi - is rented to Nirav Modi's jewellery company in Mumbai. Both companies have also done loan transactions. Despite the clear link with them, Congress party has the audacity to point fingers at BJP?

Singhvi, who was in Kolkata to attend a wedding, rubbished the allegations and termed them ludicrous, malicious and defamatory. "This is midsummer madness," he said. He categorically denied that he or his family had any business dealings with Nirav Modi or Gitanjali and asked whether all landlords where Nirav Modi's firms were tenants would be arrested.

In a statement, he said, BJPs cheap sense of politics has reached ludicrous and ridiculous proportions. Neither my wife, sons nor me have anything whatsoever to do with Gitanjali or Nirav Modis companies. Sensationalism, ignorance and falsehood has exceeded all limits in this irresponsible charge, he said.

Giving details of the link revealed by Sitharaman, he said that Nirav Modis company was a tenant of a Kamala Mills property that was owned by Adwait Holdings, in which his wife and sons are directors.

Adwait holdings owns a commercial property at Parel, as it does elsewhere, which was rented by Firestone many years ago. Neither Adwait nor my family has any interest with Nirav Modi or Firestone. Last August, firestone gave notice to quit tenancy and vacated Parel Kamala Mills premises in December 2017, he added.

Sitharaman, in her press conference, also accused the Congress Party of having committed the original sin as the scam was committed from 2011.

She also alleged that Congress president Rahul Gandhi had participated in Nirav Modis firms promotional event in 2013. This despite the fact that the firm had been barred from doing business at the stock exchange for six months, she said.

She also cited the example of a government director of Allahabad Bank, who in 2013 had raised objections to the financial restructuring of Gitanjali Gems, saying he was asked to resign and his dissent was not even recorded.Ahmedabad: The death of Dalit activist Bhanubhai Vankar, who set himself on fire outside the Collectors office in Patan over the delay in allotment of land to a Dalit family, sparked a wave of protests across north and central Gujarat on Saturday as thousands of people came out to block highways in the region.

An angry mob also heckled BJP MLA Karsan Solanki, who had come to meet Vankars family at the Gandhinagar hospital where the postmortem was to take place. The MLA was shoved and hit a couple of times by the protesters and was forced to leave the hospital.

The 65-year-old activist had set himself on fire on Thursday and had died of burn injuries on Friday night. Vankar had been crusading for the cause of Dalit rights, especially non-allotment of land that had been granted to Dalits.

Although he had given prior notice to the authorities, including the Patan district collector, that he planned to immolate himself on February 15, the administration failed to prevent him from taking this extreme step.

Vankar set himself ablaze in the presence of several policemen, fire brigade personnel, ambulance staff and dozens of onlookers in the collectorate.

As news of the death spread on Saturday, violent protests broke out in several parts of north Gujarat, especially at Mehsana, Unjha, Vijapur, Patan and Sami towns. Dalit protesters blocked highways and burnt down tires on other roads to block traffic flow.

Relatives of the deceased and several other activists also sat on a dharna at the Gandhinagar Civil Hospital, demanding that a Special Investigation Team be formed to probe the death and transfer the land in question in the name of the family member.

The state government accepted the demands, but Vankars family refused to accept his body, seeking a written assurance.

Vadgams independent MLA Jignesh Mevani, who is convener of the Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch, led the protests in Gandhinagar, while others like Alpesh Thakore and Patidar leader Hardik Patel were also present.

Not just in this case, but in hundreds of cases across Gujarat, land is being allotted to Dalits only on paper. Dalits are not being given physical possession of the land. The state government is solely responsible for the death of Bhanubhai Vankar and we demand that land allotted to Dalits be immediately handed over to them across the state or this agitation will continue, Mevani said.

Hardik Patel, who also visited the grieving family, said he had come to express solidarity with Dalits in their agitation. Justice should be done in this case and the rights of the Dalits in our society should be safeguarded," he said.

I had been there to visit the grieving family but people seem to be very angry. The government will do whatever is required to ensure justice in this case," he said.

By evening, deputy chief minister Nitin Patel announced that all the demands of Bhanubhai Vankar's family have been met. He said that a committee will be set up to find out all such cases where Dalits have not been allotted land which was due to them.

However, Mevani said late on Saturday that the family has refused to take possession of Vankar's dead body as the government has not given a written assurance that these demands have been accepted. "Our Chakka Jam program for Sunday in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar will go on as announced earlier, because the state government has not given a written assurance that all demands will be met," Mevani stated.Tuensang: Ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) supremo Shurhozelie Liezietsu on Friday warned the Naga people not to gamble with their faith, culture and identity in the February 27 Nagaland assembly polls.

The former Nagaland Chief Minister also accused the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) of partnering with the BJP to set its root into their land to persecute the Naga people.

Drumming up support for party candidate R Tohanba from Shamator-Chessore Assembly Constituency, he said: "NDPP married the BJP and offered 20 seats to them and is on the verge of giving birth to BJP in our land."

He said that the NPF had an alliance with the BJP for 14 years but never encouraged the BJP to set its foot into their land and urged the Naga people not to gamble with our beliefs and way of life.

Liezietsu also called upon the people that joining hands with the NPF is the right decision to protect the future and faith of the Naga people.

He said that in the 2018 election, many Naga leaders as well as the voters in search of money will bargain their identity as well as their faith, but predicted that the NPF will form the government with absolute majority.

"God must be weeping when Naga leaders were selling the rights and the freedom of the Naga people for their sheer greed power and money," he said adding that many Naga leaders embrace and seek any ideology which may be very harmful to the Naga society just for their self-interest.

However, he maintained that many of these leaders were dropped from the NPF party and were denied party tickets.Agartala: The high-decibel campaign on Friday ended in Tripura where the BJP, an also-ran till now in the north-eastern state, is making a determined bid to demolish the red bastion of 25 years, with stalwarts like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah leading the charge.

The BJP has never been a major player in Tripura which hitherto saw a battle between Left Front and the Congress. But the Congress campaign has not been aggressive this time with party chief Rahul Gandhi addressing poll rallies only on the last day.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is seeking the fifth term from his home constituency of Dhanpur, even stated that the main contest is between CPI(M) and the BJP in the February 18 assembly polls for 60 seats.

The BJP had bagged just 5.70 per cent votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and 1.5 per cent votes in the 2013 Assembly polls. Seeking to expand its imprint in the North-East, it has forged alliance with Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) and hopes to benefit in 20 tribal seats.

The BJP has already formed governments in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. Modi sounded the party's poll bugle in Tripura with two rallies on February 8. He had asked the voters to throw away Manik (Manik Sarkar government) and go for HIRA (H for highways, I for Internet way, R for roadways and A for airways). He returned to campaign again in Tripura yesterday, a day before the campaign ended at 4 PM today. Union Finance minister Arun Jaitley had released Vision Document for Tripura. BJP President Amit Shah addressed many public rallies and organized roadshows. Firebrand Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath also sought votes for the party nominees. After a loss of its stronghold West Bengal, it would be interesting to see if red could protect its fort in Tripura During eth campaign rally on January 31 in Agartala, CPI(M) party General Secretary Sitaram Yechuri had said the victory horse of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be stopped in Tripura.

He had also claimed Tripura would be Waterloo for Modi. Though Brinda Karat, former party secretary Prakash Karat, MP Muhammad Selim and West Bengal Left Front Convener Biman Bose chipped in but, Manik Sarkar was the star campaigners. Sarkar addressed at least 35 rallies for party candidates across the state. He also devoted considerable time on his own seat Dhanpur where he addressed 15 rallies. The Congress, a principal rival of Left Front all these years, is witnessing a serious challenge from BJP this time. Congress President Rahul Gandhi visited Tripura on the last day of the campaign today with a rally at Kailashahar. The Congress president appealed to the people of Tripura to vote for the Congress, saying that unlike the BJP, his party does not make false promises. Gandhi said neither the CPI(M) nor the BJP pay attention to development and the Congress is the only party which can deliver good governance. The Congress had secured 36.53 per cent votes in the 2013 Assembly polls and had 10 MLAs. But now it has only two. Six of them had switched over first to the Trinamool Congress and later to the BJP. One more MLA of the party joined the BJP recently while another one lost his seat to CPI(M) in a by-poll. In the previous 2013 state poll, 50 seats were won by the Left Front led by CPI(M). With campaigning ending this evening, all eyes are now riveted on the voting on Sunday.

A total 25,734,13 voters, male 13,05,375,female 12,68,027 and 11 of Third gender are eligible cast vote on February 18. There are 47,803 new voters in 2018 poll. There are a total of 307 candidates whose fate would be sealed in EVMs on February 18. State Election office said that there are 47 all women managed polling stations out of total 3214. In 2013, CPI(M) had polled 48.11 per cent of total votes. BJP was a marginal player than getting only 1.54 per cent of the total votes.

Out of a total of 60 seats in Tripura, 30 constituencies are general, 20 (Reserved ST) and 10 ( Reserved SC). The term of the 60-member Assembly ends on March 14. There are 3,214 polling stations, which is a 5.6 per cent increase from the last Assembly elections held in 2013. Dhanpur constituency in Sipahijala district from where CM Manik Sarkar is in the fray is attracting special attention.

The constituency, bordering Bangladesh, is the home turf of Sarkar. He is looking forward to his fifth straight victory from the seat in the February 18 polls. He is challenged by Congress Laxmi Nag. The BJP has fielded its state general secretary Pratima Bhowmick from the seat. This is the second time Bhowmick is pitted against Sarkar. She had fought and lost the elections from this seat way back in 1998.Bengaluru: Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowdas party Janata Dal (Secular) took everyone by surprise on Saturday by announcing candidates for 126 Assembly seats even before the election schedule for Karnataka is announced by the poll panel.

The list was made public on the same day that the JD(S) supremo addressed an election rally with BSP chief Mayawati in Bengaluru, indicating that a seat sharing formula has been worked out.

The first list, however, features names only from the JD(S). Its alliance partners BSP and NCP are likely to be accommodated in the second list as the JD(S) will only contest from 58 of the remaining 98 seats. Karnataka Assembly has 224 seats.

As promised by Gowda earlier, the first list has only two names from his family. The partys state chief and former CM HD Kumaraswamy will contest from Ramanagara and his elder brother HD Revanna will contest from Holenarasipura. Both are sitting MLAs.

Names of Gowda's grandson Prajwal Revanna and daughter-in-law Anitha Kumaraswamy's are missing from the list. However, the party has not declared a candidate for Channapatna, from where Kumaraswamy's wife is likely to contest.

But Gowda has poured cold water on ambitions of Prajwal by declaring candidates for both Belur and Hunasur seats in Hassan and Mysore districts. Prajwal was eyeing one of the two seats.

The party though has kept the RR Nagara seat in Bengaluru city vacant and Prajwal may contest from there. The 27-year-old had almost revolted against his uncle Kumaraswamy six months ago and had called the JD(S) a "suitcase" party. Gowda had openly reprimanded him and threatened disciplinary action.

Former Prime Minister Gowda is known for his political acumen and deft handling of any crisis, and he is likely to give tickets to some Congress and BJP rebels once they declare their candidates.

The BJP, which used to be the first party to declare candidates, is yet to come out with a list. State leaders are clueless and claim that party chief Amit Shah will decide the candidates after one more round of internal survey.

Congress insiders, on the other hand, claim that chief minister Siddaramaiah has already told about 150 candidates, including over 100 sitting MLAs, to start preparing for the election in their constituencies. The official list will take a few more days, they said.New Delhi: This has been an unusually warm winter in Uttarakhand. The rhododendrons which generally blossom in early April have bloomed mid-winter. Winter rains have been few and far between. Snowfall has been far below the average. What has further raised political temperatures in the Doon valley is a tea-party last Sunday hosted by former Chief Minister and Haridwar MP Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

For this reason and others as well, the epicenter of political discontent is the gateway to Devbhoomi- district Haridwar  where BJP won 9 out of 12 seats in the 2017 assembly polls.

Interestingly, many party MLAs and senior leaders are reported to have attended the party. The list includes state BJP President Ajay Bhatt and two former CMs Bhagat Singh Koshiari and Vijay Bahuguna. Conspicuous by his absence in the meeting was Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat.

Nishank supporters, however, insist it was a routine meeting of senior party office bearers who happened to be in Dehradun last Sunday.

Another MLA from Khanpur (Haridwar), Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion tweeted his reservation on the current state of affairs in the government under pressure from a senior minister from the district. Champion had rebelled against the Harish Rawat-led Congress government and was later accommodated by the BJP along with a dozen other turncoats.

Champions tirade against the senior minister was aimed at Haridwar MLA Madan Kaushik seen to be close to CM Rawat. Champion travelled to Delhi earlier this week to meet party president Amit Shah.

Though he rides a brute three-forth majority in the state Assembly, CM Rawat has been saddled with problems within from day one.

Three former CMs  BC Khanduri, Nishank and Koshiari  are sitting MPs. Another former CM Vijay Bahuguna along with his MLA son has joined the party. Two tall Congress leaders Satpal Maharaj and Harak Singh Rawat who joined the BJP along with a dozen more ahead of the elections are now in Rawat cabinet.

Rawat has, however, faced stiffest challenge from Maharaj who was once a protege of ND Tiwari. The godman-politician and former Union minister has for long nurtured chief ministerial aspirations and was seen to be the main challenger to Harish Rawat till the time he was in the Congress.

Sources close to the CM admit that an event like the tea-party could have been avoided, for it sends wrong signals to the party workers. But then Nishank ji does not leave any opportunity to be in media lime-light, says a party leader close to the CM.

The last time the BJP was in power in Uttarkhand, it had had to change the CM twice in five years in the face of growing factionalism in the party. Last time though, the party was a little short in numbers and was dependent on small parties for survival.

But despite winning a brute majority this time around, factionalism seems to be taking root before Rawat completes first year in office.Theni/Chennai: Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, who last year merged his faction with that of Chief Minister K Palaniswami, has said that he had acted on a suggestion from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking at a party office-bearers meeting at Theni yesterday, the AIADMK coordinator said that the issue came up during a courtesy meeting he had with Modi in New Delhi last year.

"He (Modi) said that you (Panneerselvam) could join (merge the faction) to save the party," the deputy chief minister said, without specifying the exactly when the conversation took place. The merger of the two AIADMK factions took place in August 2016. Panneerselvam, who had become chief minister of the state following the death of his predecessor J Jayalalithaa in December 2016, said he told the prime minister he did not want any cabinet position and can settle for a party post.

But the prime minister wanted him to join the ministry headed by Palaniswami, he said. The deputy chief minister said he had conveyed the same to two of his cabinet colleagues from the Palaniswami camp prior to the merger, and that they also insisted he accepts a minister's post. "That is why I am a minister today. I have no desire to be a minister. Amma (Jayalalithaa) made me MLA four times and chief minister twice. That honour itself is enough for me," he told the gathering.

Panneerselvam took over as chief minister twice-- in 2001 and later in 2014when Jayalalithaa was convicted in two different cases. In 2014, Jayalalithaa and her confidante Sasikala were convicted in the Rs 66.66 crore disproportionate assets case. Panneerselvam, who revolted against Sasikala and her family last year after allegedly being forced to make way for her elevation to the chief ministers post, charged that her family members tried to work for his defeat in the 2016 polls.

Sasikala, however, could not become the chief minister due to her conviction in the graft case. "If anyone else had faced this amount of crisis and problems, they would have committed suicide or would have left the party. (But) I tolerated everything for Amma," he said. Meanwhile, senior AIADMK leader and Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar declined to comment on Panneerselvam's remarks about Modi's suggestion on merging his faction, saying the remark could have been made during a one-on-one meeting between the two.

He, however, said the party would welcome anyone making suggestions for the AIADMK's well-being. "If someone says govern well, take forward Amma's rule and if that family (of Sasikala) is not required, we will see the positives in it," Jayakumar told reporters in Chennai today.

The BJP's state unit also declined to comment on the development. Party's state unit president Tamilisai Sounderrajan said that "during a conversation, the prime minister may have said something but I don't have a right to give an opinion on that." "He (Modi) might have given suggestion, there could have been an exchange of ideas, you should only ask him (Panneerselvam)," she said.New Delhi: Two months after formally taking charge as the Congress President, Rahul Gandhi has started to give final shape to his team.

The Congress Working Committee (CWC), highest decision making body in the party, appointed by Sonia Gandhi has been dissolved and the process to select a new one has been set into motion.

Rahul Gandhi has nominated a new steering committee to oversee nomination of members of the new CWC.

This steering committee will decide the contours of the partys plenary session which is likely to be held in the second week of March in Delhi.

The session will endorse Rahuls appointment as Congress President and also finalise and vet Rahuls team.

For the steering committee, Rahul has drawn leaders from the senior lot, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, P Chidambaram, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Janardhan Dwivedi.

Rahuls new team, post ratification from the All India Congress Committee, will be a mix of the old and new leaders.

News18 has learnt that Rahuls team will consist of seniors like leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Defence Minister A K Antony, Anand Sharma, P Chidambaram and former political secretary to Sonia Gandhi Ahmed Patel.

This lot is valued for its experience and loyalty to the family. Also, some like Azad has got organisational skills necessary to build alliances ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

In the last one month, Rahul has also set up several verticals which will work in coordination and make preparations for the next Lok Sabha polls.

Congress has set up a separate wing to tap people among working professionals, a data analytics centre and a research team for real time feed-back.

Rahuls big focus is the Lok Sabha polls but the challenge before that would be to wrest victory in key states like Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.Hyderabad: Telugu Desam Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, at a public event in Guntur district, has hit out at BJP and appealed the Central government to fulfil all the promises made at the time of bifurcation.

Addressing the people, he said, We went with BJP for the sake of doing justice to the state of Andhra Pradesh. All promises made in the AP Reorganisation Act should be fulfilled. Assurances made in Rajya Sabha must be honoured. I am ready for any sacrifice for justice to Telugus.

This is for the first time Chandrababu Naidu has made a public statement about his disappointment over the recent Budget and injustice being done to the state by not granting financial assistance.

The Centre should handhold Andhra Pradesh until it gets on par with other South Indian states in terms of per-capita income. On behalf of 5 crore people of AP, I am demanding the central government to do justice to the state. I am ready for a debate on how much other states got and how much AP got from the Centre, Naidu added.

The Telugu Desam Party has already set March 5 as the deadline to BJP led Central government to fulfil the promises in the A.P. Reorganisation Act.

I visited Delhi 29 times and met everyone several times. But still justice is not done. Even in the last budget, they did injustice to AP. I am demanding that the Prime Minister and Central Ministers to at least now correct the injustice done to AP, Naidu said.Agartala: The Assembly elections in Tripura are more about removing someone from power than bringing somebody to power, feels BJP's state in-charge Sunil Deodhar.

The 52-year old RSS pracharak-turned-BJP poll strategist, who served as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign manager in Varanasi during the 2014 general elections, had shifted base to Tripura three years ago to build BJP's campaign against the ruling Left Front government.

He has radically transformed the party's electoral fortunes from its virtual non-existence to emerging as the foremost challenger to the state's Manik Sarkar-led government. The counting of votes for the elections held on February 18 will take place on Saturday.

"It is a fact that we are riding on a strong anti-CPI (M) wave rather than a pro-BJP wave. It's more of a 'CP(M) hatao sentiment than a Modi lao one. And it's because of an incompetent chief minister, his misrule and bad governance," Deodhar said.

The BJP's state-in-charge alleged that under Manik Sarkar's rule, the poor in Tripura have become poorer and said that around 67 per cent of Tripura's population holds BPL cards.

"On top of it the ministers are steeped in financial scams. And this Dhritarashtra prefers to keep his eyes closed and is only bothered about his chair. More than 12 lakh people have been looted by chit fund companies in Tripura and the state government is involved in it. That's why people want to remove this government from power," Deodhar said during an exclusive interview to News18.

Justifying why the BJP has not officially announced a chief ministerial candidate in these polls, Deodhar said, "It wasn't required. The people are not interested in a prospective chief minister face. It is like when there was an Indira hatao wave in the country, people weren't too bothered about kisko lao. Once we come to power, the Parliamentary board and the elected MLAs will choose their leader."

Although the BJP has not formally named its CM face, for all practical purposes it has projected the party's state president Biplab Kumar Deb as the one to take up the top job if it manages to defeat the Left. Deb is contesting the elections from the Banamalipur seat in Agartala where he is taking on CPI(M) state committee leader Amal Chakraborty.

When questioned about BJP's poll prospects, Deodhar said: "Now, at the final stages, the fight is neck to neck between us and the CPI(M). The collision will be head-on. But I am confident of victory".

"At least 10 per cent voters are likely cast their votes in favour of the BJP on the day of the polls. They are scared to attend BJP meetings as they fear they might be attacked by CP(M) supporters and their NREGA work would disappear while government employees fear that they might get transferred and their homes could be set on fire. They say that we will do whatever needs to be done at the EVM machine. I am sure that if that swing happens on the day of polls, then we will sweep the state," he added.

When asked if was his RSS background that helped him take on the might of the CPI(M), which thrives on its manpower at the grassroots, the former pracharak, it is true that he has so far only fought elections against cadre-less parties and this is the first time he is taking on a party which has a very strong cadre base.

"When people ask me how difficult it was for us, I tell them that instead of asking me that question you should go and ask the CPM that they too have never been pitted against a cadre-based organization like us. Kindly ask them, aapko kaisa lag raha hai (how do you feel)."

Deodhar has been developing RSS ideology in the Khasi and Jayntiya hills since 1991 when he left home. But he prefers his present disposition of a BJP leader over his previous avatar of a RSS pracharak. "Amit Shah had entrusted me with the job of ensuring a Communist-mukt Bharat. No matter what the results are, I think I have delivered," he said.Johannesburg: Ajay Gupta, one of three Gupta brothers under investigation over accusations of corrupt links to ousted South African president Jacob Zuma, left the country for Dubai 10 days ago, a Johannesburg airport spokeswoman said on Friday.

The three brothers, accused by the public anti-graft watchdog of using their friendship with Zuma to influence policy and amass wealth, have denied any wrongdoing, as has Zuma.

Ajay Gupta was declared "a fugitive from justice" by South Africa's chief prosecutor this week after he failed to report to police investigating allegations that millions of dollars of public money intended for a state-backed dairy project were siphoned off.

Leigh Gunkel-Keuler, a spokeswoman for Johannesburg's main airport, said Ajay Gupta was on an Emirates flight bound for Dubai on Feb. 6 at 8.30 p.m. local time (1830 GMT).

"I cannot confirm if Mr. Ajay Gupta is back in the country; he may well be back in the country through another port of entry," Gunkel-Keuler said.

A spokesman for the elite Hawks police unit that targets organised crime and corruption said it had made contact with the Gupta family's lawyers but not yet located Ajay. He said police were only searching for Ajay, not his brothers Atul or Rajesh, contrary to some domestic media reports.

A lawyer who used to represent the Guptas told Reuters his mandate to work for the family had recently been suspended. Other lawyers authorised to speak for the Guptas could not immediately be located for comment.

South Africa has no extradition treaty with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where Dubai is located and this could complicate South African authorities' efforts to question Ajay Gupta - if he remained in the Gulf state.

A spokesman for the UAE embassy in South Africa was not available for comment.

Gunkel-Keuler said the airport would hand over all relevant information to the Hawks, which are formally known as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.

HAWKS RAID

Earlier this week the Hawks raided Gupta properties as part of investigations into the dairy farm in the Free State province. The farm was meant to benefit the local community but prosecutors described it as a "scheme designed to defraud and steal".

After the raids, eight people, several of whom have worked for Gupta firms, appeared in a South African court on charges including fraud.

Among the eight were Gupta nephew Varun Gupta, who was an executive director of the Guptas' Shiva Uranium firm. Zuma's son Duduzane was also a director at Shiva Uranium.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, wants the dairy project inquiry widened to include Mining Minister Mosebenzi Zwane, an ally of Zuma who worked at the Free State's agriculture department when the farm funds were diverted.

A spokeswoman for Zwane did not answer her phone on Friday. Zwane has denied wrongdoing when asked about the project.

Relations between the Guptas and Zuma, who resigned on Wednesday after being instructed to do so by the ruling African National Congress, are the focus of a separate judicial inquiry into high-level state corruption.

A top judge will investigate whether the Guptas sought to influence the appointment of cabinet ministers and were unlawfully awarded state tenders. Zuma's spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

South Africa's new president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has made fighting corruption a top priority. He has said that police and prosecutors should be strengthened in the fight to root out graft.Aboard USS Carl Vinson (Philippines): A Navy officer aboard a mammoth US aircraft carrier brimming with F18 fighter jets said on Saturday that American forces would continue to patrol the South China Sea wherever "international law allows us" when asked if China's newly built islands could restrain them in the disputed waters.

Lt Cmdr Tim Hawkins told The Associated Press on board the USS Carl Vinson that the Navy has carried out routine patrols at sea and on air in the strategic waters for 70 years to promote regional security and guarantee the unimpeded flow of trade that's crucial for Asian and US economies.

"International law allows us to operate here, allows us to fly here, allows us to train here, allows us to sail here, and that's what we're doing and we're going to continue to do that," Hawkins said on the flight deck of the 95,000-ton warship, which anchored at Manila Bay while on a Philippine visit.

The US Navy invited journalists on board the 35-year-old carrier, which was packed with 72 aircraft, including F18 Hornets, assault helicopters and surveillance aircraft.

President Rodrigo Duterte has tried to back down from what he said was a Philippine foreign policy that was steeply oriented toward the U.S., but has allowed considerable engagements with his country's treaty ally while reviving once-frosty ties with China.

US Navy officials flew some of Duterte's Cabinet officials and journalists on board the Carl Vinson for a brief tour while it was patrolling the South China Sea on Wednesday.

China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei have long contested ownership of the South China Sea, which straddles one of the world's busiest sea lanes and is believed to sit atop vast deposits of oil and gas.

Washington stakes no claims in the disputed region, but has declared that the peaceful resolution of the long-raging disputes, along with the maintenance of freedom of navigation and overflight, are in its national interest.Washington: A US court has overturned a verdict to award a staggering USD 20 million to the family of an Indian-origin woman who died after doctors at a Detroit-area hospital mistakenly performed brain surgery on her.

Bimla Nayyar, 81, was admitted to Oakwood Healthcare's Dearborn hospital in January 2012 for a routine jaw realignment. But due to an extraordinary blunder and records mix-up, she underwent the unnecessary brain surgery and spent 60 days on life support before she died, Washington Post reported.

In 2015, a jury awarded Nayyar's family USD 20 million. But Michigans highest court says they cannot collect a penny  all because of an apparently bad legal gamble.

The Michigan Supreme Court faulted the family's lawyers for arguing that Nayyars death was the result of ordinary negligence, a claim that places no limits on the amount of money plaintiffs can be awarded.

An earlier ruling in the case had effectively barred the lawyers from pursuing an ordinary negligence claim, the justices wrote. Instead, they should have argued medical malpractice, under which financial awards are capped.

It was a colossal blunder, wrote Chief Justice Stephen J Markman.

"This case involves a remarkable confluence of what appears to be both medical and legal dereliction," he wrote, "resulting in an extraordinary miscarriage of justice."New York: A quick-acting Indian-American maths teacher is being hailed for saving the lives of her students during the shooting rampage at a Florida high school that left 17 dead.

When an alarm sounded for the second time on Wednesday afternoon, Shanthi Viswanathan shut the doors to her algebra classroom, made the students crouch on the floor and covered the windows, keeping them out of the reach and sight of the gunman, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

"She was quick on her feet. She used her knowledge. She saved a lot of kids," Dawn Jarboe, the mother of one of Viswanathan's students, told the newspaper.

When an elite police contingent known as a SWAT team came and knocked on the door asking her to open it, "Viswanathan took no chance that it wasn't a trick by the gunman to get in" the newspaper said.

"She said, 'knock it down or open it with a key. I'm not opening the door,'" Jarboe quoted her as telling the police.

"Some SWAT guy took out the window and cleared our room," Jarboe's son, Brian, texted his mother, the newspaper said.

A former student of the school, Nikolas Cruz, barged into Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Valentine's Day and killed 15 students and two staff members with an AR-15 automatic rifle.

No motive has been established as of Friday afternoon for the killings.

However, he was reported to have had a troubled childhood and had threatened in a YouTube post to shoot up schools.

Although it was reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the agency closed the investigation without locating him, according to media reports.

The shooter abandoned his gun and during the ensuing chaos mixed in with the students to escape. He was captured about 40 minutes later in a neighbouring town, authorities said.

In the entire Broward County, where Parkland is located, the Indian population is 22,600, according to statisticalatlas.com. But none of those killed are of Indian descent.New Delhi: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani today asserted that his country will adhere to the terms of the nuclear deal it signed with world powers till "the last breath" and warned that the US will "regret" if the pact was broken.

Rouhani's comments come after US President Donald Trump had threatened to pull out of the deal. He had sought a review of the nuclear pact. "We as a country have always adhered (to commitments). We will not violate it (the pact) and will stay on board. It is the order of God. If we are signing the pact then we will adhere to it, till the last breath," he said.

Rouhani, while delivering an address here on 'The priorities of the foreign policy of Islamic Republic of Iran', said the time for "haggling" by president Trump is over and negotiating after signing the deal is "ridiculous".

The US is not dealing with Iran alone on the issue of nuclear pact but also with the United Nations Security Council, which has approved the pact, said Rouhani at the event organised by the Observer Research Foundation. The US, he observed, will "regret" if the deal collapses and the people within that country would voice concerns over it.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, was a notable foreign policy achievement of the Obama administration. The deal, struck in 2015 between Iran and six world powers -- the US, the UK, Russia, France, China, and Germany, lifted economic sanctions on Tehran, and in return put limitations on its controversial nuclear energy programme.

President Trump has expressed its reservations about the deal. Last month, he waived sanctions against Iran as required under JCPOA, but warned that it will be the last such waiver if radical changes are not made in the pact.

A joint statement by India and Iran after Rouhani's delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India reaffirms its support for full and effective implementation of the JCPOA. The JCPOA has been endorsed by the UN Security Council and is a crucial contribution to the non-proliferation framework and international peace, stability and security, it said.

Backing New Delhi's quest for a permanent seat in the UNSC, Rouhani asked why India, a nation with a population of 1.3 billion, was not a member of the powerful club. "Why doesn't India, with a population of 1.3 billion, have veto rights? Those who had atomic bombs were given veto rights," Rouhani said, emphasising on having ethics in foreign policy as against military might.

Veto right in the UNSC lies with the US, the UK, China, France and Russia. Hitting out at the US, Rouhani said many issues in the world today have arisen out of miscalculation and Washington has constantly resorted to that mistake with regard to Tehran.

He said the US sought to control the lives of Iranians and even tried to stop the 1979 Islamic revolution. Recalling the Iraq-Iran war, Rouhani said Saddam Hussain, the former president of Iraq, who ruled the country with an iron fist, reneged on the commitment made between the two countries and borders, which resulted in a devastating war.Geneva: Maldives will seek help from other countries to investigate judges suspected of taking bribes and "hijacking" the Supreme Court to drag the island nation into political crisis, a senior Maldives diplomat told Reuters in an interview.

The tiny Indian Ocean archipelago, best known for its luxury hotels and dive resorts, imposed a 15-day state of emergency on February 5 to annul a ruling from the court ordering the release of nine leading opposition figures.

"That was a direct attempt by the Supreme Court to halt the whole country and go into a deadlock," said Ahmed Shiaan, Maldives ambassador to the European Union.

He showed Reuters a Maldives police statement which said a bag containing $215,000 and 150,000 rufiyaa ($9,700) belonging to one Supreme Court judge had been found, and that $2.4 million had been separately wired to the judge by a private firm.

Shiaan said that judge, and a second judge on the Supreme Court, had been arrested on suspicion of accepting bribes from former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to deliver certain verdicts in his favour. Gayoom himself has been arrested over allegations that he solicited bribes to topple the government.

"Together, it amounted to collusion to use the Supreme Court to overthrow a democratically elected and constitutional government," Shiaan said in the interview.

Gayoom's lawyer Maumoon Hameed said he was detained under the state of emergency without any evidence or due process, which was unacceptable.

"If this is such a huge investigation and Gayoom is a dangerous person of interest why have they not questioned him in over 140 hours?"

Lawyers for the two judges said their clients also denied all the charges. One said his client had been refused permission to deny the charges.

CALL FOR FOREIGN ASSISTANCE

"So far what we know is that they (the two judges) have made at least 12 visits in the past few months to various countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Netherlands and UK. And they have bought or acquired very expensive items (or) properties," Shiaan said.

"So the investigation is not limited to Maldives. Hence, we would need assistance from other countries for the investigation."

Property purchases abroad needed to be disclosed and $2.4 million is beyond the reach of a judge's salary, Shiaan said.

He said the two judges had persuaded the other three Supreme Court justices to pass rulings "at midnight, out of the blue and without any new evidence", to free political prisoners and order the retrial of ex-president Mohamed Nasheed, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2015.

Shiaan said they also tried to remove the attorney-general, prosecutor-general, police commissioner and President Abdulla Yameen, who declared the emergency to reverse the court's actions.

"I think when that happened the other three (judges) basically came out and said how everything was hijacked and how this actually unfolded," Shiaan said.

Opposition legislators in the past have complained of authorities targeting them with false allegations. Yameen has denied such accusations. Most of the opposition leaders likely to challenge Yameen in a presidential vote later this year are facing jail sentences. Some have urged India to intervene.

The United Nations, United States, Britain and India have called for the judges to be freed, while independent experts reporting to the U.N. Human Rights Council have said the rule of law in the Maldives is "under siege".

The Maldives wants to hold "all party" talks and has asked the United Nations to facilitate them, Shiaan said.

Yameen is expected to run for re-election later this year, but neither Gayoom nor Nasheed, who was granted asylum in Britain in 2016, will be eligible to run, Shiaan said.Washington: Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has drawn a new accusation of bank fraud from U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office, according to court documents made public on Friday.

The new accusation, related to a property Manafort owns in the Washington suburb of Fairfax, Virginia, comes on top of the indictment against Manafort last October for money laundering and failure to register as a foreign agent.

In a court filing amid legal wrangling over Manafort's $10 million bail package, prosecutors from Mueller's office said Manafort submitted false information to a bank for a mortgage on one of three properties he is now proposing to pledge as security for his release.

"The proposed package is deficient in the government's view, in light of additional criminal conduct that we have learned since the court's initial bail determination," the prosecutors said in the filing, which disputes Manafort's latest bail offer.

"That criminal conduct includes a series of bank frauds and bank fraud conspiracies, including criminal conduct relating to the mortgage on the Fairfax property, which Manafort seeks to pledge."

Prosecutors said in the redacted filing that they had evidence that Manafort secured the $9 million mortgage from the Federal Savings Bank through false representations, including "doctored profit and lost statements" that overstated the property's income by "millions of dollars."

The document does not level any new specific criminal charges against Manafort over the accusations.

Manafort's attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The earlier charges against Manafort stem from Mueller's probe of allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Separately on Friday, Mueller's office charged 13 Russians and three Russian companies with a criminal and espionage conspiracy to tamper with the election and "sow discord in the U.S. political system."Lahore: An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan on Saturday sentenced to death a serial killer for the brutal rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl that sparked national outrage, the first ever trial in the country's history that concluded in shortest period of four days.

Announcing the verdict at the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore at in-camera trial amid high security, ATC judge Sajjad Hussain handed down the death sentence to 23-year-old Imran Ali on four grounds - murdering a child, kidnapping a child, rape of a minor, and committing an unnatural act with a minor.

Imran has also been sentenced to seven years in jail with a fine of Rs 1 million for desecrating the body of a minor.

He was arrested in January, two weeks after he raped and killed the 7-year-old girl and threw her body into a garbage dump in Kasur city, some 50 kilometres from Lahore.

The brutal rape and murder of the child had sparked outrage and protests across the country. Her case was the twelfth such incident to occur within a 10 kilometre radius in Kasur city over a 12-month period.

The arrest brought to light eight more such killings and many Pakistanis have demanded he be publicly executed.

Prosecutor General Ehtesham Qadir, who spoke to media after the sentencing, said the accused had been given ample chance to defend himself, but he chose to confess his crimes.

He said the prosecution had presented at least 56 witnesses against him in addition to forensic evidence, including the DNA and polygraph tests.

"It was a fair trial in which the suspect was given a chance to defend himself," Qadir said, adding the ATC has awarded the sentence to the accused only in the case of the seven-year-old girl.

"The suspect had also confessed to the killing of eight other girls. He will be tried in these cases separately, he said, adding this was the first ever trial in the history of Pakistan that concluded in four days.

The girl's father Muhammad Amin expressed satisfaction over the verdict, saying: "We are satisfied on the verdict but we wanted him to be hanged publicly."

The girl's mother said, "We want that the suspect should be stoned to death for his crime as hanging in jail is a punishment which is given to other criminals but this beast deserves either public hanging or stoned to death."

Imran will now have 15 days to approach the court to file an appeal. However, the prosecutor general said he had confessed to his crime and was not interested in challenging the ATC verdict in higher court.

"He regrets for his act. He says he became a pervert after having an addiction of watching child pornography on Internet," Qadir said.

Advocate Mehar Shakeel Multani, the private counsel for the suspect, had withdrawn his power of attorney after the suspect made confession before the trial court.

The lawyer claimed his conscience did not allow him to defend a serial killer.

Later, the court provided the suspect with state counsel to complete the trial proceedings.

Showing concerns about the fairness of the trial inside jail, rights activist and senior lawyer Asad Jamal said the trial could not be held in a free and fair manner unless the suspect was given an ample opportunity to defend himself through a counsel of his choice.

He said the trial had been conducted in camera without access to independent observers, members of the bar and independent legal counsel for the suspect.

He said the prosecution could not propose or nominate a lawyer to defend a suspect, as done in the case, because there had always been a clear conflict of interest.

He said it was against the principles of due process of fair trial guaranteed under Article 10-A of the Constitution.

Advocate Jamal said he had also filed an application with the jail authorities, seeking permission to meet the accused to consult him in private to access the need for the steps to be taken, including representation to defend him to ensure a fair trial.

The Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 also requires a trial court to proceed with the trial on day-to-day basis and decide the case within seven working days.

Prosecutor General Qadir, however, said, "All the requisites of justice and fairness had been strictly observed during the trial proceedings."

He said the private counsel for the suspect had cross- examined at least 22 prosecution witnesses before he withdrew his power of attorney.

"Later, the state lawyer appointed by the court completed the cross-examination of the remaining witnesses."Morgan Tsvangirais ex-wife Locadia Karimatsenga paid her last respects to the late former prime minister and leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party on Thursday.



Clad in black, Locadia  who is now an apostle at the Nation of Glory Ministries in South Africa  described Tsvangirais death as a personal loss and a blow for young people who looked up to him as their role model and leader.



A former trade unionist, Tsvangirai was the face of Zimbabwes democracy struggle against the repressive rule of then-president Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party.



A few months before his passing on, when Mugabe was ousted in a military intervention and replaced by Emmerson Mnangagwa as president, Tsvangirai urged the new government to create a conducive environment for holding credible, free and fair elections this year.

Since forming the MDC in 1999, Tsvangirai led it in numerous elections. Zanu PF and

Zimbabwes military responded with waves of violence against his supporters.



At the peak of the former prime ministers battle with cancer of the colon, Locadia revealed she had totally forgiven Tsvangirai for everything she held against him and had been praying that he gets back to full fitness.



I am deeply hurt by Morgans death, Locadia told the Daily News after she paid her last respects to the former trade unionists mother in South Africa at the home of Tsvangirais son Edwin.



I offer my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all those across the world whose lives were touched by his unfettered resilience.



Its the end of an era, but certainly not an end of his legacy. I pray that the MDC leaders come together and stop quarrelling among themselves. That is what Morgan would have wanted, she said.



Asked what her view was regarding the fracas between her exs wife Elizabeth and Tsvangirais family, Locadia was cautious.



Its something I am not privy to, but if there is any hostility, I urge unity, she said.

Locadia and Tsvangirai became the subject of frenzied media coverage in November 2011 after she wed Tsvangirai for a hefty bride price at a private ceremony in Mazowe.



The marriage did not last the distance after Tsvangirai sensationally claimed that he had lost confidence in the relationship. She later made an application to the courts seeking to stop his wedding with Elizabeth.



The relationship acrimoniously ended in 2012, but she told the Daily News last year that any differences she may have had with the MDC leader was water under the bridge.

Besides church, Locadia is also involved in philanthropy in the densely-populated township of Diepsloot. Daily NewsTHE United States of America government has lined up investors that are coming to have a look at the available investment opportunities in Zimbabwe following the ascendency of President Emmerson Mnangagwa to power late last year, US ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Harry Thomas Jnr has said.



Ambassador Thomas Jnr was speaking after paying a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa at his Munhumutapa offices in Harare yesterday, where he also applauded the new dispensation.



He commended President Emmerson Mnangagwas administration for making sturdy progress in improving Zimbabwes relations with the international community.





We told him (President Mnangagwa) that our government has investors coming to look at Zimbabwe, said Ambassador Thomas Jnr.





They will continue to come and look, and we will continue to provide humanitarian aid and we hope to find ways to also partner with Zimbabwe and its people.





We congratulated him, wished him makorokoto on becoming the President of this country.

Ambassador Thomas Jnr said the illegal sanctions the US imposed on Zimbabwe were a prerogative of President Donald Trump.





Sanctions are up to the President of the United States and the Senate and so they will make decisions on what happens in terms of the future relationship, he said.

But how we see it here is your President is promising progress in bilateral and multilateral relations and we applaud that.





The US imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe through the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (Zidera) as a response to Harares decision to redistribute land held by a few white farmers to more than 300 000 previously disadvantaged black families.





Zidera bars all international financial institutions in which the US has representation or shareholding from cooperating with Zimbabwe, contrary to claims that the sanctions are targeted at a few political elites.





Ambassador Thomas Jnr said President Mnangagwa had laid down his vision to them, which included the holding of free and fair elections this year.





It was a pleasure and honour for our team to have the opportunity to call on His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, to share our vision and his vision for the future of this country, he said.





He made it clear that his interests are in supporting the people of Zimbabwe and that he is going to hold free, fair and credible elections and that he was going to reform and improve the economy.

President Mnangagwa has managed to convince the world that Zimbabwe is now open for business, the message he has been carrying to various international gatherings and countries.





He recently revealed that since he took over the highest office in the land in November last year, Zimbabwe has managed to attract foreign direct investment to the tune of $3 billion. ChroniclePOPULAR Nigerian televangelist, Temitope Balogun Joshua, popularly known as TB Joshua, landed in Harare yesterday morning for a private visit.



After landing at Robert Mugabe International Airport aboard a private jet, TB Joshua went to a local hotel, where a number of people were lined up for private discussions with the televangelist.





He is expected to fly back to Nigeria today. The cleric has multitudes of followers in Zimbabwe, and has released what was claimed to be an official video of the prophecy with regard to the Zimbabwean coup, which saw Mnangagwa being catapulted to the countrys top job with the help of the military.

TB Joshua claimed that a President or Vice-President in Southern Africa was going to be killed or kidnapped by the military  a prophecy that has now been interpreted to mean the November events.





According to those travelling with the charismatic preacher, his visit was a private one organised by Zimbabwean Jocyline Mahachi, although he met with his spiritual sons  who include Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries founder, Walter Magaya.





Last week, Magaya reportedly travelled to Nigeria for a meeting with TB Joshua.

Mahachi also arranged a visit by Nigerian billionaire and owner of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, to Zimbabwe three years ago. NewsdayTHE body of the late MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai arrives in the country from South Africa today ahead of his burial in Buhera on Monday. Mr Tsvangirai (65) died at a South African hospital on Wednesday after a long battle with cancer of the colon.



MDC-T acting president Mr Nelson Chamisa yesterday said the body would lie in state at the Tsvangirai family residence in Harare before being taken to the Robert Mugabe Square for a public farewell.





Our presidents body will arrive from South Africa at 7PM on Saturday (today) on board an Air Zimbabwe plane. The body will lie in state at the family home, Number 49 Kew Drive in Highlands, Harare, before it is taken to Robert Mugabe Square for a public farewell.





Thereafter, the body will be taken to Humanikwa Village in Buhera where president Tsvangirai will be buried next to his late first wife Susan Tsvangirai on Monday, said Mr Chamisa in a statement.

In Bulawayo, an interdenominational memorial service for the late Mr Tsvangirai will be held at the Large City Hall at 8AM today.



Yesterday, the Minister of Home Affairs and Culture, Dr Obert Mpofu, said the honour of a State assisted funeral accorded to Mr Tsvangirai is not different from what the Government confers to national heroes.





It is the Government of Zimbabwe that has recognised that he deserves to be treated in a national manner. There is really not much difference in terms of assistance that will be given to him and those that go to the National Heroes Acre, said Dr Mpofu.





As condolence messages continued to pour in yesterday, newly-elected South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said he was deeply saddened by Mr Tsvangirais death.

On behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, I would like to convey my heartfelt condolences to Mr Tsvangirais family, the Government and people of Zimbabwe on this sad loss. I want to assure the people of Zimbabwe and the Tsvangirai family of the solidarity and compassion of the people of South Africa, he said.





Mr Tsvangirai will be remembered for his profound role in the Zimbabwean politics and his prominence which saw him serve as Prime Minister from 2009 to 2013 in the Government of National Unity, during which period the current Constitution of Zimbabwe was developed.





Former South African President Thabo Mbeki, who brokered the Global Political Agreement (GPA) in 2009 which ushered in the inclusive Government that ran until 2013, also paid tribute to the MDC-T leader.





First thing we need to convey our own condolences to Mrs Tsvangirai, his children and the rest of the Tsvangirai family as well as his colleagues in the MDC party. For them he really tried his best to represent the interests of members of MDC and to try and advance a particular agenda of what they thought was necessary in terms of the transformation of Zimbabwe. Its a serious loss from that point of view said Mr Mbeki.





I was very pleased when I saw President Emmerson Mnangagwa when he visited Morgan in Harare, it was a good gesture on the part of President Mnangagwa, indicating that readiness to work together as Zimbabweans.





Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, said Mr Tsvangirai played an important role in the drafting of the countrys Constitution.





During the tenure of the inclusive Government, Mr Tsvangirai made considerable efforts towards the attainment of the goal of peace.





The partys deepest thoughts are with the Tsvangirai family and grieves with them as they mourn their beloved father, said Cde Khaya Moyo.





The National Peoples Party (NPP) spokesperson, Mr Jeffryson Chitando, said Mr Tsvangirai leaves a legacy of commitment to defend human rights, selflessness, hard work, patriotism, love and humility.





Tsvangirai will ever be remembered for his dedication, patriotism and sacrifice for this country. As NPP we have lost a friend, comrade and partner in the struggle for a democratic Zimbabwe, he said.





The Joshua Nkomo National Foundation and the Zapu party also conveyed their condolences to the Tsvangirai family. Chronicle

By Bishop Lazarus

THERE is something that has gone terribly wrong with some Zimbabweans. While others are seeing a funeral, others are seeing power. Its really dirty and messy, but then thats MDC-T politics for you.



Then there are those talking about the late Morgan Tsvangirai being declared a national hero. These people were even hoping that Tsvangirai could be buried at the National Heroes Acre. Imi vanhu itai mushe mhani! Yes, we know in Shona they say wafa wanaka, but honestly ibvai kumhepo.



Anyway, let me pay my last respects to Tsvangirai. Nematambudziko to the Tsvangirai and MDC-T family. You have lost a courageous leader who changed the face of opposition politics in Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai gave Zanu-PF sleepless nights. His people loved him dearly and I am sure he also loved them dearly.





Opposition politics will never be the same and will be a lot poorer without Tsvangirai. He brought something to opposition politics that no one will ever bring. Go well dear Morgan! Go well Save! You ran your race! Sleep well!





To the Tsvangirai family, especially Gogo Tsvangirai and wife Elizabeth; Psalms 23 vs 4 says: Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. I know while for others, this is just another death and its just political, for you its real  you have lost a dear son and a dear husband.





I have lost loved ones and I know the pain. Remember, God is with you and He is God, the comforter. The Holy Book on 1 Thessalonians 4 vs 13-14 says: Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. Mwari ndivo mweya munyaradzi!





To the rest of the MDC-T family, Tsvangirai will not sleep peacefully. Thokozani Khupe, Elias Mudzuri and Nelson Chamisa, for Tsvangirais sake, can you please give the opposition supporters, time to moan their hero? Khupe stop acting holy and African. Mudzuri stop acting calm and collected and Chamisa stop acting like an impatient big baby. Mese muri kuhwandira tsuro parufu. Chinjai maitiro!





And now to those who were calling on Government to declare Tsvangirai a national hero. Good people lets not get carried away. Yes, in the African tradition wafa wanaka, but lets not act as if we dont know who Tsvangirai was and what he represented.

Tsvangirai was never going to be declared a national hero and he was never going to be buried at the National Heroes Acre. NEVER, EVER! I know this will make some people angry, but this is the naked truth.





Lets start with theoretical concepts because pamwe mungafunge kuti zviri kuitika zvitsva. As they say, there is nothing new under the sun. Karl Marx, one of the founders of sociology came up with the Base and Superstructure concept that clearly explains whats going on. In simple, the Base refers to the forces and relations of production  this means the people, relationships between them, the roles they play and the material resources involved in producing the things needed by society.





With regards to means of production, in this Base you find tools, machines, factories, land and raw materials while with regards to relations of production, you find relations between different classes such as proletariats and bourgeoisies.





On the other hand, the Superstructure refers to all the other aspects of society. In the Superstructure ndimo munobikwa ideology through art, family, culture, religion, philosophy, law, media, politics, science and education.





Now here is the point all dreamers out there should take note of. According to Marx, the Superstructure grows out of the Base, and reflects the interests of the ruling class that controls it. As such, the Superstructure justifies how the Base operates, and in doing so, justifies the power of the ruling class .





As your Bishop, I really dont need to remind you that one of the grievances that saw thousands of gallant sons and daughters leaving the comfort of their homes to join the liberation struggle was the land issue. I also dont think I need to remind you that the new Government is largely made up of the fighting cadres from the Second Chimurenga. Take note, dear congregants, I said the fighting cadres, not the politicians.





Maybe I need to clarify this point. During the liberation struggle there was what they called the rear. The rear was in Lusaka in Zambia and Maputo in Mozambique. At the rear, there were politicians like Herbert Chitepo, Ndabaningi Sithole, former President Robert Mugabe and so on. These politicians played the war politics. Then there was the war front, right in Rhodesia kwairohwa hondo pfuti dzichitsva. This is where you found fighting cadres. Vana mukoma vaya vaizoimbwa vachinzi gandanga haridye derere.

Now, these fighting cadres, some of whom are in key positions in Government now, knew very well that they were fighting for land. They know this up to this day. To these fighting cadres, Tsvangirai was tempering with the Base. He was a direct and sponsored threat to this Base. Yes, some will argue against this point, but dont we all remember that sorry picture of Tsvangirai clapping hands like a little toddler as white farmers gave him money to fight the land reform programme?





Its no longer a disputable fact that the MDC in general and Tsvangirai in particular were funded by the British and Americans in 1999 as a response to the war veterans-led land reform exercise. And indeed, the British and American funds, almost got Tsvangirai into power and he was going to reverse the land reform programme. This is what his funders wanted and after spending their money, Tsvangirai had no option but to oblige.





Fortunately, the machinations failed to work. Now Tsvangirai has died and some people start dreaming that he can be declared a national hero? Kuvigwa at the National Heroes Acre pamwe chete naLeopold Takawira, Joshua Nkomo, Josiah Tongogara, Simon Muzenda and so on? Hey, imi vanhu ndati itai mushe.





The Base is never tempered with. Tsvangirai akada kutambira mahumbwe muBase and those responsible for the relations of production dont have a short memory. As Marx argues, the Base determines the Superstructure. Its not the other way around.





One can tinker around with the Superstructure and thats why we had some media organisations, lawyers and so on calling on the Government to declare Tsvangirai a national hero. Mahumbwe ekuSuperstructure but Base haribatwi. Chine vene vacho chinhu ichi? Mucharangarira? If your memory is not serving you well, a call to one Professor Jonathan Moyo will be of great help.





The issue about Tsvangirai being considered a national hero was never an issue for discussion in Zanu-PF. Sometimes Zanu-PF appears like haizivi zvainoda, but that party is very clear about zvaisingadi. Tsvangirai for the National Heroes Acre? Ahh, that was a none-issue for the Base and a little issue for the easily excitable Superstructure.





Yes, wafa wanaka but lets be honest  Tsvangirai and his MDC were a Western-sponsored project to block the aspirations of millions of indigenous Zimbabweans. History will record that.





Yes, wafa wanaka, but if the truth is to be told, Tsvangirai and his MDC gave birth to toxic politics that is not home-grown. Now each and every opposition party thats being formed in the country thinks the best way to fight Zanu-PF is to engage the West. Have we ever paused to think kuti dai Tsvangirai akawuya ega without those Western robes, what were his chances in the political ring?





Yes, Tsvangirai was very courageous and yes, he gave Zanu-PF sleepless nights but wasnt that borrowed courage? Without British and American funds, was Tsvangirai going to be the same politician? After receiving millions of dirty foreign money, did Tsvangirai have a choice? Kupihwa mari yevachena wodya hako mutema wakahwanda?





One can even ask; was Tsvangirai really courageous or he was just reckless and drunk after receiving foreign funds? Maybe what matters is the courage and not the source of the courage. But then if we see a madman jumping right in front of an on-coming train in the futile bid to stop the train, can we say this madman has courage?





Indeed, Tsvangirai was a peoples hero and when we say people, we mean opposition supporters and other activists. Government has given him a State-assisted funeral and thats what he deserves as a former Prime Minister.





Remember Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole and Cde Chinx are not at the National Heroes Acre. Mozotiwo Tsvangirai zvake? Kana zvanetsa tsvagaiwo chikomo chenyu.

Bishop is out! Sunday MailTHE Government has said all Zimbabweans who are refugees in other countries should come back home as there is no reason for them to continue living outside the country under the new dispensation.



This comes as Government is working to facilitate the return of 700 people who sought refuge in Botswana during the tenure of ex-President Robert Mugabe.



It is not clear why the Zimbabweans sought refuge in the neighbouring country.

In an interview yesterday, the Minister of Home Affairs and Culture, Dr Obert Mpofu, said he learnt about the refugees during President Emmerson Mnangagwas State visit to Botswana on Monday and Tuesday.





During President Mnangagwas State visit to Botswana, we learnt that weve 700 Zimbabweans that are refugees in Botswana. We did not know about them until we visited Botswana. So we discussed with their Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and Immigration and we agreed that I lead a team to Botswana in a few days so that we understand the background to it, said Dr Mpofu.

He urged the countrys citizens to come back home.





There is no need for anyone to be out of the country following the new dispensation. We want all our citizens back. There cannot be any reason that we are aware of for their continued stay outside the country. We were advised that the United Nations is involved in this issue.





It wants to assist in the repatriation of these individuals. But we dont know who these people are. Our visit will give us further information on who they are, the Minister said.

Dr Mpofu, who was part of President Mnangagwas delegation to Botswana, said he was encouraged by the level of co-operation they received from the neighbouring country.

He said through bi-lateral relations, the countries would address issues of harassment of

Zimbabweans working in Botswana as most of them highlighted their plight to President Mnangagwa.





The President addressed almost a thousand Zimbabweans living in Botswana. The complaint was that of unfair treatment by the authorities and the other issue that came out prominently was about Zimbabweans working in Botswana who highlighted that they are ill-treated and they are not even given employment papers that they are entitled to as employees of companies and individuals, said Dr Mpofu.





He said Government would work to ensure that the countrys citizens are treated with dignity as they contribute to development in the neighbouring country.

The Minister expressed optimism over the new relations with Botswana saying the neighbouring countrys attitude towards Zimbabwe has changed.





But generally the attitude of Botswana towards Zimbabweans has drastically changed. Botswana is quite happy that Zimbabwe is now on board in terms of regional and international co-operation, said the Minister.





Dr Mpofu said both Governments are also working towards addressing the smuggling and trafficking of juveniles between the two countries borders.

The Minister said some of the issues that would be discussed between the two countries is how both States can deal with stray cattle. ChronicleGet the news faster.

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X(Newser)  Scientists say there's a 6% chance Earth will having flying cars in the future. Specifically one flying car: the Tesla Roadster Elon Musk launched into space earlier this month. Researchers analyzing the car's orbit say there's a 6% chance it will crash into Earth at some point over 1 million years, Science reports. That chance goes up to 10% after 3 million years. The Tesla, which is being driven by a mannequin in a spacesuit, will have its first close call with Earth in 2091, when it could come closer than the moon, according to CBS News. Regardless, Hanno Rein at the University of Toronto says falling electric vehicles are nothing to worry about. It will either burn up or maybe one component will reach the surface, he tells Science. There is no risk to health and safety whatsoever.

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Rein and his fellow researchers found the Roadster's orbit will have it repeatedly crossing the paths of Mars, Earth, and Venus until it's destroyed. They say the car has a 50% chance of orbiting the solar system for tens of millions of years before that happens. It will cross Mars' orbit in July before reaching its farthest distance from the sun154.7 million milesin November. However Rein warns these are all just educated guesses due to the Tesla's chaotic orbit. Meanwhile, a Hubble Fellow at the University of North Carolina tweeted that measuring the brightness of the Roadster shows it's rotating every 4.8 minutes or so. And Space.com put together a cool 80-second video showing the Roadster from its launch to the moment it becomes just a tiny dot traveling across the sky 500,000 miles from Earth. (Read more Tesla stories.)(Newser)  The Republican governor of Florida is calling for the resignation of FBI Director Christopher Wray in the wake of the FBI's admission it ignored a warning about the man suspected of killing 17 people in Wednesdays' school shooting in Parkland, CBS News reports. "Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isn't going to cut it," Gov. Rick Scott says in a statement. "An apology will never bring these 17 Floridians back to life or comfort the families who are in pain." Earlier Friday the FBI admitted "protocols were not followed" after a tip was called in to the FBI's public access line last month but not passed along to the Miami field office. Scott says that's "unacceptable" and the FBI has damaged the public's belief in the effectiveness of "see something, say something."

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Scott isn't the only one with harsh words for Wray. The FBI apologized? Tell that to families, a family friend of one of the victims tells Reuters. "People were seeing something and saying something and it still happened. Meanwhile Republican Sen. Marco Rubio called for a congressional investigation into the FBI's lack of action, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to "conduct an immediate review" of how the FBI and Justice Department handle violent threats. But Eric Levitz at New York states Wray isn't the one to blame, as he doesn't manage the FBI tip line or Miami field office. He says Scott is trying "to deflect attention away from the governors A+ NRA rating, or to abet the presidents efforts to 'purge' the FBI of 'disloyal' elements." (Read more Parkland school shooting stories.)(Newser)  Reason number 149,684,594 the internet should be burned to the ground: Trolls on social media are using photos of actual victims of domestic violence to make false claims that white people are being targeted in racially motivated attacks at Black Panther screenings. BuzzFeed reports one photo shared on Twitter is actually an 18-year-old woman who was assaulted by her boyfriend for hours on end; he later pled guilty. Another shows the ex-wife of former White House aide Rob Porter who has accused him of domestic violence. "Fake posts are being created to make black people look bad and the sad part of it is some people will believe them," the New York Daily News quotes one disappointed Twitter user as saying.

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Other images used by trolls include a young Swedish woman who was assaulted at a bar in January, a years-old stock photo, and a still from a 2013 video that used special-effects makeup to raise awareness about domestic violence. Vox advises readers to use Google's reverse image search function before believing everything they see online. "Its possible the trolling is an attempt to scare people away from the theaters and cut into the movies bankrollor it could be yet another example of trolling being used to create a disruptive and ever-more-extreme political environment," the website states. In related news, a number of Twitter users, including Questlove of the Roots, appear genuinely concerned white supremacists could target Black Panther screenings this weekend. (Meanwhile film critics say the hype is real and Black Panther is fantastic.)(Newser)  British student Joanna Parrish disappeared in France after posting an advertisement for her services as an English teacher in a local newspaper, the Telegraph reports. A day after she was reported missing, her naked body was found in a river; she had been raped and strangled to death. That was nearly 30 years ago. This week a French serial killer known as the Ogre of the Ardennes is said to have confessed to the crime, according to AFP. Didier Seban, a lawyer for Parrish's family, tells the BBC that 75-year-old Michel Fourniret confessed to the 1990 murder of Parrishas well as the 1988 murder of Marie-Angele Domece, whose body was never foundto judges "two to three times" over the past week. The Press Association reports Parrish's family was shocked by the confession.

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Fourniret was given life in prison in 2008 after being found guilty of raping and killing seven women between the ages of 12 and 21. His wife, Monique Olivier, was also given life in prison for picking up a number of his victims while driving around with their baby. Fourniret was charged with the murders of Parrish and Domece in 2008 after Olivier said he was responsible for them, only to have the cases dismissed in 2011 after Olivier recanted. A court of appeal later cancelled that dismissal and ordered investigations into new leads. Now Seban says a trial should go forward after Fourniret "made detailed and repeated confessions." Parrish's father says he hopes the family will have "closure at last." (It seems an infamous serial killer couldn't cheat death after all.)(Newser)  A military helicopter carrying officials assessing damage from a powerful earthquake crashed Friday in Mexico, killing 13 people and injuring 15, all of them on the ground, the AP reports. The Oaxaca state prosecutor's office said five women, four men, and three children were killed at the crash site and another person died at the hospital. A state official said the chopper crashed into a group of people who had been spending the night in an open field after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit the area. Aftershocks had caused people to flee their homes for fear they would collapse. The Defense Department said the Blackhawk helicopter suffered the mishap when it was preparing to land on a vacant lot in the city of Jamiltepec. The craft was carrying Interior Secretary Alfonso Navarrete and Oaxaca Gov. Alejandro Murat, neither of whom had serious injuries.

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Jorge Morales, a local reporter who was aboard the helicopter when it crashed, described harrowing moments as the pilot lost control and the helicopter attempted to land in a swirl of dust. "The moment the helicopter touched down it lost control, it slidlike it skiddedand it hit some vehicles that were stationed in the area," he told a Mexican TV news program. "In that moment, you couldn't see anything, nothing else was heard beside the sound that iron makes when it scrapes the earth." Navarrete and Murat were evaluating reports of damage from the earthquake before their helicopter crashed. Both Navarrete and the defense department said they regretted the loss of life in Friday's accident. The US Geological Survey originally put the magnitude of Friday's quake at 7.5 but later lowered it to 7.2.

(Read more earthquake stories.)Sorry!

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Submit hereNew Delhi:

Bollywood actors Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt have been hitting headlines ever since they joined hands for Ayan Mukerji's upcoming super hero film Brahmastra.

The rumoured couple, who flied off to Bulgaria last week for Brahmastra shoot, are undergoing rigorous training to look perfect for the high-octane action sequences in the film.

Meanwhile, amid their jam-packed schedule the duo managed to spend some quality times and clicked a smiling selfie along with their fitness trainer Jonathan Fletcher.

The beautiful snap, shared by Fletcher on his Instagram account is doing rounds on social networking sites.

"Training with Ranbir Kapoor and Aliaa Bhatt in preparation for the biggest Bollywood movie ever! I would never Imagine all the hard work these guys are going through, and I am sure this movie will hit the screens like the sun hits the ?. Huge shoutout and thanks goes out to my teacher, mentor, friend, @portal.ido for sending me numerous times to India to teach these amazing people, who have become good friends and will always be in my heart," the caption above the picture read.

"This photo is after a very special movement training session in Sofia, ??. Photo taken by the long arm man -Ranbir Kapoor. . . . #idoportal #idoportalmethod #movementculture #movement #RanbirKapoor #ranbir #aliabhatt #alia #brahmastra #bollywood #movementtraining #nuboyana #sofia #nofilter," Fletcher wrote.

Meanwhile, there are reports that, Ranbir Kapoor is quite miffed with his link-up rumours with Alia Bhatt. Reacting to such murmurs the 'Barfi' star said that he is bound to meet Alia as they are working together on Ayan Mukerji's Brahmastra.

Also Read: Brahmastra | Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt start preparations for Ayan Mukerji directorial (see pics)

However, this is the first time that Ranbir Kapoor will be sharing the screen space with Alia Bhatt and the two are said to be working hard for the movie.

Also starring Amitabh Bachchan and Mouny Roy in pivotal roles, the adventure trilogy is expected to hit theatres on August 15, 2019.

For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Jennifer Aniston's spokesperson has rubbished the reports of her reunion with her ex-husband Brad Pitt.

It was reported that post Jennifer's divorce with Justin Theroux lately, the Friends actor was looking forward to Pitt as her shoulder to cry on.

But contrary to the reports, Aniston's spokesperson has termed the reports as mere 'fabrication'.

On the other hand, a source close to Pitt has also reportedly revealed that while the Hollywood actor is upset with Jennifer's split with Justin, he has not reached the lady and has no plan to reunite with her.

In fact, as per a report published in People magazine, the ex-couple haven't even met for a long time now.

They havent seen each other in ages. For well over a decade now they have lived totally separate lives and so not surprisingly, they have become totally different people than who they once were when they were together, the source added.

Notably, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, who were married for five years, parted ways in 2005.

Talking about Jennifer's recent split with Justin, the couple called off their two-year wedding on Thursday and even issued a joint statement in this regard.

"This decision was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year. We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple, but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship. Whatever else is printed about us that is not directly from us, is someone else's fictional narrative. Above all, we are determined to maintain the deep respect and love that we have for one another," the statement read.

For all the Latest Entertainment News, Hollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

After Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, VJ-turned actor Purab Kohli is giving fans some major relationship goals. Breaking a million of hearts, the 'Rock On' star tied his knot with longtime girlfriend Lucy Paton in a destination wedding in Goa.

Purab's 'P.O.W: Bandi Yuddh Ke' co-star Amrita Puri on Thursday took to photo-blogging site Instagram and shared the news of Kohli's nuptials along with a adorable photograph of herself with the groom.

"My Sartaj Singh is hitched! Congratulations to my reel life husband! Wishing you all the love in the world @purab_kohli & Lucy Kohli #mandown #sartajsingh #POW," Amrita captioned the picture.

Far away from the hustle bustle of Mumbai, the duo decided to get hitched at a private ceremony in Goa. While Purab looks dashing in a beige sherwani, Lucy, dressed in a red lehenga was shinning like a star.

The str-studded affair was attended by their close family and friends.

Earlier, in 2016, Purab and Lucy signed the legal papers and officially became man and wife. They are also parents to a beautiful baby-girl Inaaya, who holds the flowers as her parents take the wedding vows.

Purab and Lucy had been blessed with Inaaya on December 22, 2015. Talking about her professional front, Lucy is a yoga teacher in UK.

"There was pressure to get married. My mother was the most concerned and my family did say 'you guys have to get married quickly' when Lucy was pregnant. But I was adamant about not doing it because I never wanted my baby to feel that we got into a relationship because she was coming. Her coming into this world has transformed both our lives for the better. She is our love child and has bloomed even more love between both of us and made me love life more. I don't want her to ever feel that it was not meant to be. It was meant in every possible way and she was the force of nature and nothing could stop her from coming into this world," Indian Express quoted Purab.

Also Read: Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma to join Karan Johar for a sip of 'Koffee'? Here is the truth!

Speaking on fatherhood, Purab told IANS, "Fatherhood is a gift that I wish upon everybody and especially when it's a baby girl. When you have a child, you stop living for yourself. It's the most beautiful feeling."

Check out some of Purab Kohli's Instagram posts here:New Delhi:

The Jammu and Kashmir police imposed restrictions in several parts of Srinagar in view of the strike called by separatists on Saturday.

Normal life was affected in many part of the valley due to a strike called by separatists to protest the Supreme Court's decision to stay an FIR against army personnel in the Shopian firing.

According to a police official, strict restrictions under CrPC Section 144 have been imposed in Nowhatta, Rainawari, Khanyar, Safakadal and M R Gunj police station areas of the city, while partial restrictions were in force in Maisuma and Kralkhud areas.

Restrictions have been imposed as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in view of the strike called by separatists, he said.

Normal life was affected elsewhere in the city as most of the shops, business establishments and fuel stations were shut, while public transport was off the roads, the official said.

However, private cars, cabs and auto-rickshaws were seen plying in many areas of the city where there were no restrictions, he said, adding similar reports were received from other district headquarters of the Valley.

Separatist groups on Thursday had called for a complete shutdown in Kashmir today to protest against the apex court's decision.

The Joint Resistance Leadership, comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, had issued a statement criticising the apex court for restraining the Jammu and Kashmir Police from taking any coercive steps against Army officers accused in the Shopian firing case.

Three civilians were killed when Army personnel fired at a stone-pelting mob in Ganovpora village in Shopian on January 27, prompting Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to order an inquiry into the incident.

The FIR was registered against personnelof 10 Garhwal Rifles, including Major Aditya Kumar, under sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Ranbir Penal Code.

Father of the Major Kumar, the officer named in the FIR, had approached the Supreme Court seeking the FIR be quashed.The Supreme Court on February 12 restrained the Jammu and Kashmir Police from taking any coercive steps against Army officers and asked the state government to file a response within two weeks.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.Begusarai:

A mob assaulted a man and injected acid in his eyes leaving him blind for allegedly eloping with his employers wife here following which a person has been arrested in the case, police said on Saturday.



The assault took place at an eatery in Pipra Chowk late last night in which the man, a driver by profession, was left critically injured, Deputy Superintendent of Police B K Singh said.



The 30-year-old man, a resident of Samastipur district, became blind after the incident, doctors attending him at a hospital here said.In a statement before the police, the victim said he used to work as a tractor driver at Barauni village under Teghra police station and started an affair with his employers wife.

On February 6, he and his paramour fled from the house following which her husband lodged a complaint with the police charging him with kidnapping his wife, the DSP said.

However, she came to Teghra on February 16 and recorded her statement in a local court that asked her husband, a farmer, to take her to his house.

Also Read: Muslim man throws acid on married woman after she denies his marriage proposal in Jaipur Mall



It was not immediately known why she had returned and what she said in the court. Her brother-in-law rang up the driver last evening claiming that she wanted to live with him and he should come to Teghra police station to take her back with him, the police official said.



Barely a kilometre from the police station, the driver was accosted by a group of around 20 people who took him to the eatery and severely assaulted him. The DSP said they also injected acid in his eyes with a syringe.



They later dumped him near Hanuman Chowk under Bhagwanpur police station area of the district. A passer-by admitted him to a hospital at Begusarai.One person was arrested and the police were searching for other attackers, the DSP said.

Also Read: Uttar Pradesh: 9-year-old girl raped, burnt alive in Kaushambi; rape-survivor attacked with acid in Farrukhabad

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Days after Indias biggest banking scam worth over Rs 11,000 crore in Punjab National Bank, City Union Bank on Saturday said it detected fraudulent remittances of nearly USD 2 million (about Rs 12.8 crore).

During our reconciliation process on February 7, it was found out that 3 fraudulent remittances had gone through our SWIFT system to our correspondent banks which were not initiated from our banks end. We immediately alerted the correspondent banks to recall the funds, City Union Bank informed the Bombay Stock Exchange.

According to the bank, one out of total three remittances was made through Standard Chartered Bank, New York to a Dubai based bank while another was made through the same Standard Chartered Bank in Frankfurt to a Turkish account.

The third payment worth USD 1 million was made from a Bank of America account to a China-based bank.

The first transaction was blocked immediately and returned to the concerned bank, while for another two, the City Union Bank is in contacts with MEA in Turkey and China to repatriate the money lost.

Most Read | Congress or BJP, who is responsible for Punjab National Bank scam?

Chennai-based City Union Bank said the transfers had been made through correspondent banks even though it had not requested the transfers, reported PTI.

In what could be Indias biggest scam in the banking sector, Punjab National Bank last week filed an FIR with the CBI about the fraudulent transactions worth over Rs 11,000 crore.

Since then, both Congress and BJP are busy blaming each other for the PNB scam while key accused Diamond czar Nirav Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi are still on the run and the government has no clue about their whereabouts.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.Bhagalpur:

BJP's Bhagalpur district Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC and ST) cell president was gunned down by unidentified miscreants late last night, police said on Saturday.

The victim Manoj Mandal (25) was shot dead while he was asleep in his home in his native village Khawaspur under Pirpainty police station, Kahalgaon Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Ramanand Kumar Kaushal said.

An unnamed FIR has been lodged with Pirpainty police station in this regard, the SDPO said adding that motive behind the killing is yet to be ascertained.

Police have started investigation into the matter, he added.

Mandal was found shot dead in his room by the family members when they became anxious after he did not wake up in the morning.

Also Read | New Delhi : IAS aspirant kills renters 5-year-old son after being asked not to party

They knocked the door but he did not wake up after which the door was broken and he was found dead.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Saturday said he was disappointed by the Supreme Courts verdict on Cauvery water dispute.

The apex court on Friday reduced Tamil Nadus water share in Cauvery River to 177.25 TMC and awarded an additional 14.75 TMC to Karnataka.

Reacting to the top courts verdict, CM Palaniswami said, The Cauvery Verdict giving TN 177.25 TMC of water has come as a disappointment to us.

The Chief Minister, however, welcomed Supreme Courts decision of constituting a Cauvery Tribunal within six months and appreciated its remark that no state can claim ownership of a river.

At the same time the constitution of Cauvery tribunal within 6 weeks & when the court said that rivers can't be claimed by a single state is welcomed by us, the Chief Minister said.

Also Read | Cauvery Verdict: SC reduces Tamil Nadu's water share, Karnataka gets additional 14.75 TMC

Earlier on Friday, the apex court ruled that that water is a "national resource" and no single state can claim exclusive ownership to a river.

The top court in its ruling said that 20 TMC of groundwater in Tamil Nadu had not been accounted for and needed to be seen.

Cauvery, a 765-km long river is called the Ganga of South and originates in Karnatakas Kodagu district and flows into Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry.

SC made it clear that the increase in the share of Cauvery water for Karnataka has been done keeping in view the fact that there is an increased demand of drinking water by Bengaluru & also for many industrial activities.

Since this is an inter-state dispute, I dont want to say that its a win for one state and loss for another, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said.

Verdict is not fully in accordance with our plea but we have got some relief, he added.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

The Delhi Police, on Friday, registered two FIRs against the students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) after the students took the staff as hostages and gheraoed the administration block over the compulsory attendance row.

Angry over not being able to meet the Vice-Chancellor to discuss the attendance issue, some students on Thursday morning gheraoed the administration block of the university, and at midnight, took two senior officials of the university as hostages, along with the other staff.

A police official said, Based on two separate complaints filed by the officials, two FIRs have been registered with the Vasant Kunj North Police Station.

An additional FIR has been filed against students who blocked the road near the administration block, demanding the withdrawal of the ruling of compulsory attendance by the university.

The students, on Friday, moved the case to the Delhi High Court, which asked them to not obstruct the Vice Chancellor or the staff from entering the premises of the administrative block.

Justice VK Rao said the interim order will be in force for the next three days, starting on Saturday. However, the judge added that the university should not preclude the students from protesting peacefully at the Sabarmati lawn, which is an alternative area of protest.

Also Read: JNU professors held hostage by students over attendance row

The court also issued notices to the Jawaharlal Nehru University Student Union (JNUSU) on the universitys plea and sought their response by February 20. The pleas of the university claimed that the students violated the High Courts 2017 order, which restricted the protests within 100 meters of the administrative block.

JNUSU president Geeta Kumari stated that the strike would continue, but a council meeting would be held to determine the future course of action. She said, We did not gherao the administrators on Thursday or prevent any administrative official from leaving the admin block. Students only gathered peacefully, demanding that the V-C meet them and address their concerns instead of shooting arbitrary rules and disciplinary notices at them. The protest was called after the JNU V-C arbitrarily called off a scheduled meeting of the Academic Council. No attempt was made to stop the Rector, or any other administrators or teachers, from coming and going in and out.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) had a general body meeting on Friday in which it passed a resolution to withdraw the 75 per cent attendance norm and asked the Vice Chancellor to convene the AC meeting, stating that they will protest, too, if their demands are not met.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Karti Chidambarams close aide and Chartered Accountant, S Bhaskararaman, was remanded by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday in connection with the INX Media money laundering case.

Bhaskararaman was produced before the Special judge Sunil Rana of a Delhi court, who remanded him for a five-day custodial interrogation. Bhaskararaman was arrested from a five-star hotel on early Friday. The ED had sought 14-days custody.

Through a special public prosecutor Nitesh Rana, the ED had alleged that Bhaskararaman had failed to appear before it even after issuing several summons, and was not cooperating.

The case is related to the Foreign Investment Promotion Boards (FIPB) approval granted for receipt of funds by the INX Media in 2007 when senior Congress leader P Chidambaram was the Union Finance Minister during the UPA governments regime. Chidambarams son, Karti Chidambaram, was later accused in the alleged case.

ED claimed that the statements of various witnesses had been recorded in the case. It said, During the course of investigation, it was revealed that Bhaskararaman, who is a qualified CA, has been assisting the accused Karti Chidambaram to manage his huge ill-gotten wealth in India and abroad.

The ED also said that Bhaskararamans presence was very important for collecting vital evidence and information which is within his special knowledge and exclusive field.

Also Read: Sheena Bora murder accused Indrani Mukerjea to be produced in Delhi court in INX Media case

The ED alleged that the INX Media had deliberately made a downstream investment of 26 per cent in the overall capital of the INX News Pvt Ltd without any specific approval from the FIPB, which included the indirect foreign investment by same foreign investors. The FIPB generated Rs 305 crore foreign direct investment (FDI) in the INX Media Pvt Ltd, which was against the approved inflow of Rs 4.62 crore.

The ED also claimed that the INX Media entered into a criminal conspiracy with Karti Chidambaram. However, the counsel of Bhaskararaman argued that all the valid and necessary documents had been given to the ED when he was summoned. They said, ED is only harassing the accused.

Meanwhile, the Madras High Court has permitted Bhaskararaman to go abroad if certain conditions arise. The first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose, however, directed him to submit details of his trip and the places of his visit to the CBI, and also directed him to not close any of his bank accounts.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind welcomed Iranian President Dr Hassan Rouhani on Saturday at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on the last day of his three-day visit to India.

President Rouhani and PM Modi will be holding bilateral talks on several issues including the crucial Chabahar Port which India is helping Iran to develop on the Gulf of Oman for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia.

India is understood to invest $ 85 million for equipping Chabahar Port in South-East Iran.

PM Modi will be hosting lunch for President Rouhani on Saturday while President Kovind will host a banquet for him.A A

India has also expressed interest in the Farzad-B gas field, and sources told PTI that there were commercial discussions on to find a "win-win" solution while Iran said it is ready to simplify visa procedures and hoped India will reciprocate to facilitate easy movement of people between the two countries.

President Rouhani began his three-day India visit after his arrival in Hyderabad on Thursday evening where he said Iran has aA plan for the fraternity for India. He will also deliver a speech at the Observer Research Foundation later in the day.

#WATCH Live from Delhi: PM Modi and Iran President Rouhani issue a joint statement https://t.co/DyLYtyqxTr a ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

With the onset of the Nagaland polls in the country, both the national parties BJP and Congress, who had released their manifestos on Friday, claimed to give the best to the people of the state.

BJP, in its manifesto, announced that it would give a free trip to Jerusalem to 50 of its lucky draw winners, while the Congress has claimed that it would give subsidised trip to Jerusalem to the people.

The Nagaland Baptist Church, which has already made its way into Nagalands electoral politics, has asked the people to be aware of any attack on the Christian community.

The Naga Peoples Front did not address any religion in its manifesto but speaks extensively about a solution to the Naga talks and improving the states failing infrastructure.

Under the section of Senior Citizens in its manifesto, BJPs Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Nirmala Sitharaman promised to set up a senior citizen board to select 50 people through a lucky draw for a free trip to the Holy Land of Jerusalem.

According to the manifesto of the Congress party, By an act of the state government, a board will be established to facilitate minorities to visit the Holy Land (Jerusalem) at a subsidized cost.

Congress, which is contesting 18 seats in the upcoming elections, said, The BJP is the political arm of the RSS and the Hindutva brotherhood driven by a devilish resilience to persecute all minorities. The single objective of this nexus of evil is to create a Hindu Raj. The NPF has pledged their soul to this force of evil to loot and plunder Nagaland.

Also Read: PM's words don't mean anything: Rahul's jibe at Modi over Naga peace accord

The BJP manifesto, in response to both Congress and the Baptist Church, said, The BJP is a pro-people, people-centric, pro-active development centred secular party with its ideological principles of Integral Humanism as propounded by its philosopher and guide Shri Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and stand strong and committed for the harmonious co-existence of all communities and faiths within the country and with the global community.

On the Naga political issue, the BJP sided Prime Minister Narendra Modis signing of the Framework Agreement of 2015, while the NPF said that it remained committed to the realisation of a common Naga homeland and shared Naga future through integration of contiguous Naga inhabited areas.

Meanwhile, the Congress had said Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi initiated discussions, while former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi made it a national issue and offered for negotiation without any precondition.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.Mumbai:

The Mumbai unit of the Nationalist Congress Party on Saturday staged a protest outside the Brady House branch of the Punjab National Bank in south Mumbai's Horniman Circle area in connection with the Rs 11,400 crore scam that has rocked the bank.

The protest, led by Mumbai NCP vice president Ashok Dhatrak, wanted an assurance from bank officials that the money of ordinary depositors was safe in the wake of the fraud.

The party's state spokesperson Clyde Castro said that its functionaries were not allowed to meet bank officials, adding that the party shouted slogans against the bank as well as diamond businessman Nirav Modi who is at the centre of the scam.

He said that Dhatrak, who led the protests, and five others who participated, had accounts with the Brady House branch of the PNB.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Saturday denied any links of his family with jewellery designer Nirav Modi and Gitanjali Group promoter Mehul Choksi, accused in the alleged Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank fraud, and charged the BJP with playing cheap politics.

Singhvi also threatened to slap civil and criminal defamation charges against Defence Minister and BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman if she did not apologise for false and malicious allegations.

Sitharaman alleged that the Nirav Modi-run Firestone Diamond International had taken on lease a property of Adwait Holdings, a company in which Singhvis wife is a director.

What is important is that the premises have been used by Firestar Diamond International, she said.

Singhvi said, in a statement, that Nirav Modis company was a tenant of a Kamla Mills property owned by Adwait Holdings in which his wife and sons are directors.

Neither Adwait nor my family has any interest with Modi or the company. Last August, the company gave notice to quit tenancy and vacated Kamla Mills premises in December 2017...None of us have anything to do even remotely with Gitanjali company, Firestar or any other business of Nirav Modi, he said.

BJP/NDAs cheap sense of politics has reached ludicrous and ridiculous proportions. Neither My wife, sons nor me have anything whatsoever to do with Gitanjali or Nirav Modi companies, he said in the statement.

Also Read | Congress or BJP, who is responsible for the PNB scam?

Sitharamans charges are false, defamatory, malicious, horrible, irresponsible and cheap sensationalism at its worst. It shows the ridiculous and ludicrous level to which a desperate BJP, NDA and a person no less than a defence minister has stooped. I intend to take legal action if she does not express regret for the charges which brought disrepute to me and my family, Singhvi told reporters in Kolkata,

The Congress leader said that he had come to the city to attend a wedding and was aghast to see news reports of Sitharamans allegations.

He also threatened defamation case against media outlets carrying such false and maliciously defamatory allegations.

There should be an iota of decency in her allegation, he said and wondered if all landlords who have rented out their properties for Nirav Modi-owned jewellery outlets would also be taken to task.

None of my family members are shareholders or have any interest in the ventures (of Nirav Modi). Should the defence minister make such allegations just because I am a Congress functionary? he asked.

The defence ministers statement belonged to absolute gutter-level standard. I know politics is very acrimonious, but there has to be a level in politics, Singhvi said.

Sensationalism, ignorance and falsehood has exceeded all limits in this irresponsible charge, he said.

Nirav Modi, 46, a regular feature on the lists of rich and famous Indians since 2013, was booked by the CBI, along with wife, brother and Gitanjali Group promoter Mehul Choksi on January 31, for allegedly cheating the state-run PNB to the tune of Rs 280 crore.

The bank subsequently sent two more complaints to the CBI on Tuesday, saying the scam was worth more than Rs 11,400 crore.

The jewellery designer is understood to be a citizen of the country but his brother Nishal and wife Ami are not Indian nationals. They all left India between January 1 and 6, the CBI had said.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Both the Congress and the ruling BJP are busy blaming each other for the countrys biggest banking scam worth over Rs 11,000 crore, while the key accused are still on the run and the government has no clue about their whereabouts. Diamond czar Nirav Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi, who, the Congress claims were close to Prime Minister Marendra Modi, allegedly defrauded the Punjab National Bank by making fraudulent transactions of over Rs 11,300 crore through 151 letters of understanding.

The BJP says the PNB bank fraud happened during UPAs tenure and the party was trying to clean Congresss mess. The Congress, however, says it all happened right under the nose of Indias Chaukidar - PM Modi.

Punjab National Bank MD Sunil Mehta said the cancer started in 2011 and came to his notice in the third week of January this year. However, the FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) shows 148 of the total 151 Letters of Understanding (LoUs) were issued under the Modi government in 2017.

What Congress claims

Congress has trained all its guns on Prime Minister Modi and accused him of hosting Mehul Choksi, Managing Director of Gitanjali Gems' and one of the prime accused of the scam, at his Lok Kalyan Marg residence in 2015. Congress has also shared a video that purportedly shows PM Modi addressing Mehul Choksi as Mehul Bhai.

Apart from Mehul Choksi, the party said, Nirav Modi also accompanied Prime Minister Modi during his Davos visit to attend the World Economic Forum last month. The Congress has also shared a picture of Prime Minister Modi with Nirav Modi which is said to be clicked a day before the CBI registered its FIR.

Congress leader Kapil Sibal alleged that the market capitalisation of listed companies in the gems and jewelry business is pegged at Rs 41.66 billion, while its gross current debt stands at Rs 94 billion. This shows that the banks gave him loans more than the overall value of his businesses.

Sibal said Nirav Modi has bought fewer assets and took more loans since PM Modi took came to power in 2014. "They were aware of all this. But they turned a blind eye. They were aware that the country was being looted," Congress said.

BJPs defence

After Congresss allegations, the ruling party quickly came in the damage control mode and tried to pin the blame on Manmohan Singh-led UPA government for the multi-crore PNB scam. The party fielded none other than but Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to counter Congresss charges.

Sitharaman said the country's biggest banking scam happened during UPA's rule and Modi government was cleaning the mess spread by Congress. She said the key accused Nirav Modi and his family may have been able to escape but the government is taking action against him.

The Defence Minister cited ex-Allahabad Bank director Dinesh Dubey and said he had warned the UPA government against giving loans to Mehul Choksis Gitanjali Gems but he was removed from his post.

What ex-Allahabad Bank director Dinesh Dubey claims

Dinesh Dubey was the director of Allahabad Bank Director in 2013 and allegedly asked to step down after he raised the objections to the financial restructuring of Mehul Choksis Gitanjali Gems.

Dinesh told a private news channel that had the UPA government listened to him, the scam could have been stopped. The UPA government allowed the scam but NDA let it flourish 10 times and let the accused flee, he told ABP News.

Bengaluru businessman alerted PMO in 2016

A Bengaluru based businessman named Hari Prasad claimed he alerted the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) about the fraudulent intentions of Mehul Choksi but PMO didn't act against him.

His letter to the PMO clearly stated the fact that Mehul Choksi had taken massive bank loans worth almost Rs 9872 crore but his assets are way below than the amount. He had warned that the loans given to him will soon become NPAs.

Click Here To Read The Letter Sent To PMO by Prasad.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday, dissolved the partys highest decision-making body, the Central Working Committee (CWC), and instead formed a 34-member Steering Committee which will take over the Central Working Committee in the upcoming plenary session.

Some special invites have been dropped for the member selection, along with the prior CWC members being a part of the new committee, some of which are Amarinder Singh, Vilas Muttemwar, RK Dhawan, Shivajirao Deshmukh, MV Rajasekharan, Mohsina Kidwai, among others.

The first meeting of the newly formed Steering Committee will take place on Saturday, in which the schedule of the plenary session will be decided. The plenary session might be held before the start of the second part of the budget session of the Parliament on March 5.

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) plenary session will give a formal consent on the December 11 election where Rahul Gandhi was elected as the party president, which ended the entire process of organisational elections.

The Steering Committee will function till the end of the plenary session after which a new CWC will be put in place.

Also Read: BJP, Congress blame each other for PNB fraud case

AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi, said, Congress president has constituted a Steering Committee for the forthcoming plenary session as per Article XV (vii) (b) of the partys Constitution. The Steering Committee will function in place of the Working Committee of the party.

As per the partys Constitution, the 25-member CWC has 12 elected members and 11 nominated members, apart from the Congress president and the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP).

The new members for the CWC will be elected at the plenary session or after it.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Top Al-Qaeda operative Ibrahim Suleiman Adnan Adam Harun has been sentenced to life over his involvement in multiple terrorism acts, including conspiracy to kill American military personnel in Afghanistan and bomb the US embassy in Nigeria, the Department of Justice said today.

Commissioner James P O'Neill of the New York Police Department said Harun was a dedicated and early soldier in Bin Laden's al-Qaeda, joining just weeks before the September 11 attacks.

"The evidence presented at trial established that the defendant and other jihadists attacked a US military patrol in Afghanistan, resulting in the death of two American soldiers and the serious injury of others," Acting Assistant Attorney General James O'Callaghan said.

"Harun will rightfully spend the rest of his life behind bars. This department - with our partners in law enforcement - remains deeply committed to combating terrorism from New York to Nigeria - and everywhere in between," he said.

The sentencing comes following his conviction by a jury on multiple terrorism offences, including conspiracy to murder American military personnel in Afghanistan and bomb the US embassy in Nigeria. He was convicted on March 16, 2017.

As proven at trial, Harun travelled from Saudi Arabia to Afghanistan weeks before September 11, 2001, where he joined al-Qaeda, trained at al-Qaeda training camps, and eventually swore allegiance to Osama bin Laden.

Harun, 47, also known by the nom de guerre "Spin Ghul," a Pashto name meaning "White Rose," then travelled with other al-Qaeda jihadists to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan, where he operated under Abdul Hadi al-Iraqi, one of bin Laden's deputies and a senior al-Qaeda military commander.

On April 25, 2003, Harun and fellow al-Qaeda jihadists ambushed a US military patrol near the Afghan-Pakistan border. Harun fired machine gun rounds and threw grenades at American soldiers and allied Afghan Militia Forces.

Two US servicemen were killed in the attack - Private First Class Jerod Dennis, 19, of Oklahoma, and Airman First Class Raymond Losano, 24, of Texas - and several other soldiers were seriously wounded.

After the ambush, Harun met with senior al-Qaeda officials - including Abu Faraj al-Libi, then al-Qaeda's external operations chief - to express his desire to commit acts of terror against US interests outside Afghanistan.

He specifically sought to carry out attacks similar to the 1998 al-Qaeda bombings of the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which resulted in more than 200 deaths and 4,000 injuries, federal prosecutors said.

In the summer of 2003, senior al-Qaeda leaders dispatched Harun from Pakistan to Nigeria to bomb the US Embassy in Abuja. Harun's al-Qaeda handler directed him to obtain one ton of explosives for the bombing operation and to target Americans - whom he described as "the head of the snake" - at embassies, hotels and other "places where they gather for fun."

Upon arriving in Nigeria, Harun recruited accomplices, scouted the Embassy and other potential Western targets, and sent an accomplice to find explosives.

He also met with local terrorist leaders to expand al-Qaedas terrorist network in West Africa.

In 2004, Harun directed a co-conspirator to courier information and materials from Nigeria to al-Qaeda leaders in Pakistan. After learning that the co-conspirator had been arrested in Pakistan, Harun fled Nigeria to Libya, from where he planned to enter Europe to carry out terrorist attacks against Western interests.

In early 2005, however, Harun was arrested by Libyan authorities and held in custody until his release in June 2011. Harun was arrested in June 2011 by Italian authorities.

He was indicted on terrorism changes in the US in February 2012 and extradited from Italy later that year, the Department of Justice said.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

An atypical study, led by a group of scientists from University of Arizona has found something exciting regarding the invention of aliens. The study shows that people will be actually happy with the discovery of those extra-terrestrials lives and waiting eagerly to welcome aliens in the planet Earth.

While earlier studies suggested that alien-hunters are playing a dangerous game challenging the existence of our planet, the latest research proves something completely contradictory.

Researchers from Arizona University believes that earthlings are far more positive in their thoughts about meeting extra-terrestrials.

"If we came face to face with life outside of Earth, we would actually be pretty upbeat about it," said Michael Varnum, Assistant Professor of Arizona State University.

"So far, there's been a lot of speculation about how we might respond to this kind of news, but until now, almost no systematic empirical research," he added.

In order to analyse people's reaction regarding discovery of extra-terrestrials, scientists had them read news reports about a number of potential alien discoveries.

The study shows that their reactions were very positive and they also described their thought on the discovery of microbial life being found on another planet.

Also Read: Aliens lived on Earth 5000 years ago? Newly discovered sculptures leave UFO scientists amazed! (Watch Video)

In short people were more positive about the news of potential alien life than negative.

On the other hand, Stephen Hawking, the world-famous physicist and cosmologist warned people of the consequences of trying to contact these small life forms around the cosmos. He believes that alien seekers are playing a dangerous game and aliens would conquer and colonise Earth whenever they will be able to discover the 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.

However, its been a long time, in fact more than 80 years that scientists across the world are working hard to contact with aliens and different groups of scientists made different kind of revelations about the same.

Also Read: Aliens around us? Mysterious interstellar object 'Oumuamua' holding sign of life ignoring Earth

Moreover, a small group of people believe that, American space agency NASA has been hiding the real information of those extra-terrestrials lives and is expected to announce something big anytime soon.

For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Tech savvies have all reasons to feel on top of the world as BSNL is all set to launch 4G LTE services in Arunachal Pradesh shortly. The Indian state-owned telecom giant has also started a number of wifi hotspots and is taking necessary steps to provide best internet service in the border state.

Moreover, BSNL will also introduce the 4G services in Itanagar and Naharlagun area anytime soon.

Talking about the latest developments, BSNL general manager Dilip Siram and assistant general manager Arung Siram told a Telecom Advisory Committee that the public telecom service provider has launched wi fi hotspots at Itanagar, Naharlagun, Bordumsa, Chowkham, Dimwe, Kharsang and Likabali Army telephone exchanges.

Ninong Ering, the Congress MP from Arunachal East constituency also attended the meeting and explained the importance of pushing telecom network to every nook and corner of the landlocked Himalayan state, according to a release.

Also Read: Reliance Jio phone now available at Amazon India, click here for details

Ering emphasised that the provision of mobile service to 1893 villages under the Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for North Eastern Region needs to be expedited, the release added.

TAC members Songtung Lowang Bangsia, Tungri Effa and Taki Mibang also took part in the meeting.

(With inputs from PTI)Bengaluru:

Exiled former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed on Saturday said his country, which is in a state of emergency, does not want any trouble between India and China.

We dont want India and China against each other, not at all, he said at an interaction at The Huddle, a thought conclave, conducted by The Hindu Publication here.

China earlier had opposed any military intervention in the Maldives, saying such a move would further complicate the situation, a day after Nasheed sought Indias help to resolve the political crisis in the island nation.

The picturesque Indian Ocean archipelago plunged into political chaos when the countrys Supreme Court ordered the release of nine imprisoned opposition politicians, maintaining that their trials were politically motivated and flawed.

His country is of immense strategic importance to India and China, the worlds two most populous countries dependent on energy imports, Nasheed said when asked whether the Maldives crisis could turn out to be a flash point for the strain in the relationship between India and China.

Nasheed said the Maldives has nothing against China, but it should not attempt to change the state type and have democratic oversight, among other things.

We do like China. I have nothing against China. All that we are saying is do not attempt to change state type; do not push your money in secrecy, have transparency and have democratic oversight, and things will fall in place. That is all we are saying. We are not asking for the sun, the moon and the stars, he said.

Nasheed, currently in exile in Sri Lanka, said both India and Maldives should be mindful about the cold war brewing in the Indian Ocean because both are neighbouring countries.

I have always been saying that there is a cold war brewing in the Indian Ocean and we should be mindful about that, and we cant be sandwiched in between. We must make sure Indias national security and safety because we are just next door, he said.

We cannot suddenly doing our own thing, simply because somebody (China) decides to give some millions of dollars. It shouldnt work like that, and hope that people in the Indian Ocean understand that this is not the way forward, he added.

Nasheed earlier had tweeted that India should send an envoy, backed by its military, to release judges and leaders of political parties detained by President Abdulla Yameen.

The two-day The Huddle conclave features thought leaders, politicians, academicians, writers, artists, and sportspersons.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.Jakarta:

Indonesia has inked a billion-dollar deal to buy 11 Sukhoi Su-35 jets from Russia, an official said on Saturday.

The contract, signed by both countries representatives in Jakarta on Wednesday, is worth a total $1.14 billion, Indonesia defence ministry spokesman Totok Sugiharto said.

"Two units of Sukhoi jets will be delivered in August 2018," he told AFP.

Another six jets would be delivered 18 months after the contract comes into effect, and the final three a further five months later, he said.

The deal comes after Indonesia said in August that it would seek to trade palm oil, coffee and tea for Russian fighter jets, saying it wanted to capitalise on international sanctions on Moscow.

The EU and US have targeted Russia with sanctions for alleged meddling in the US presidential election and its annexation of Crimea.

Also Read: Watch | Defence Minister Sitharaman flies in Sukhoi 30 jet in 30-minutes sortie

However, Indonesias trade minister said the sanctions could be good news for his country as Russia is forced to seek new markets to import from.

Indonesia and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding to exchange 11 Russian-made Sukhoi fighters for key commodities in Moscow early August.

It was not announced Saturday in what form payment would be made.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday asserted that his country will adhere to the terms of the nuclear deal it signed with world powers till "the last breath" and warned that the US will "regret" if the pact was broken.

Rouhani's comments come after US President Donald Trump had threatened to pull out of the deal. He had sought a review of the nuclear pact.

"We as a country have always adhered (to commitments). We will not violate it (the pact) and will stay on board. It is the order of God. If we are signing the pact then we will adhere to it, till the last breath," he said.

Rouhani, while delivering an address here on 'The priorities of the foreign policy of Islamic Republic of Iran', said the time for "haggling" by president Trump is over and negotiating after signing the deal is "ridiculous".

The US is not dealing with Iran alone on the issue of nuclear pact but also with the United Nations Security Council, which has approved the pact, said Rouhani at the event organised by the Observer Research Foundation.

The US, he observed, will "regret" if the deal collapses and the people within that country would voice concerns over it.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, was a notable foreign policy achievement of the Obama administration.

Also Read: Iran President Hassan Rouhani in Hyderabad on three-day visit; security on talks agenda

The deal, struck in 2015 between Iran and six world powers -- the US, the UK, Russia, France, China, and Germany, lifted economic sanctions on Tehran, and in return put limitations on its controversial nuclear energy programme.

President Trump has expressed its reservations about the deal. Last month, he waived sanctions against Iran as required under JCPOA, but warned that it will be the last such waiver if radical changes are not made in the pact.

A joint statement by India and Iran after Rouhani's delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India reaffirms its support for full and effective implementation of the JCPOA.

The JCPOA has been endorsed by the UN Security Council and is a crucial contribution to the non-proliferation framework and international peace, stability and security, it said.

Backing New Delhi's quest for a permanent seat in the UNSC, Rouhani asked why India, a nation with population of 1.3 billion, was not a member of the powerful club.

"Why doesn't India, with a population of 1.3 billion, have veto rights? Those who had atomic bombs were given veto rights," Rouhani said, emphasising on having ethics in foreign policy as against military might.

Veto right in the UNSC lies with the US, the UK, China, France and Russia.

Also Read: PM Modi, Iranian President Rouhani hold 'substantive' talks, ink nine pacts to boost defence, energy ties between nations

Hitting out at the US, Rouhani said many issues in the world today have arisen out of miscalculation and Washington has constantly resorted to that mistake with regard to Tehran.

He said the US sought to control the lives of Iranians and even tried to stop the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Recalling the Iraq-Iran war, Rouhani said Saddam Hussain, the former president of Iraq, who ruled the country with an iron fist, reneged on the commitment made between the two countries and borders, which resulted in a devastating war.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Pakistan on Saturday sentenced Imran Ali Naqshbandi to death in connection with the rape and murder case of seven-year-old Zainab .

The court sentenced Imran to death for kidnapping, for rape, for murder and under Section 7-ATA. Additionally, for performing an unnatural act with a minor the convict has been sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1 million, Punjab Prosecutor General Ehtesham Qadir informed media.

Zainab's father, Mohammad Amin, expressed a sigh of relief at the sentencing of his daughter's rapist and killer.

The sentencing of Imran Ali Naqshbandi has included Pakistan in the list of countries that have used scientific technology to prosecute and sentence a criminal.

The defence and prosecution concluded their arguments earlier this week in the high-profile case, which was heard inside Kot Lakhpat Jail where the convict was jailed on remand.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Destination BC and several BC tourism partners are hosting a special Chinese New Year dinner on Saturday, February 17, 2018 to launch the 2018 Canada-China Year of Tourism in British Columbia. The event will include nearly 300 Chinese tourists, as part of a tourism promotional activity in support of this special year.



Itinerary and location:

6:30 to 6:40pm: Lion Dancers

6:40 pm: Welcome speeches

Marsha Walden, President and CEO, Destination BC

Honorable Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture

BCs Consul General for China, Ms. Xiaoling Tong

Victorias Mayor, Lisa Helps

7:10: Dinner starts for sponsors and Chinese visitors

Location: The Theatre at River Rock Casino Resort

8811 River Road, Richmond

Note: Destination BCs President and CEO, Marsha Walden, will be available for interviews at 6pm or after the speeches have concluded.

*To confirm your interest in covering the event or request an interview, please email:

Media.Relations@DestinationBC.ca

Backgrounder follows



Background:

Destination BC, in collaboration with Tourism Vancouver, Tourism Richmond, Tourism Victoria, Vancouver International Airport, Air Canada and other BC trade partners, jointly presents this unique evening as part of their marketing activities in support of the 2018 Canada-China Year of Tourism. Working with key tour operators in China, the projects overarching objective is to inspire and motivate Chinese visitors to travel to BC, by showcasing the Chinese New Year and multi-cultural activities in Vancouver, Victoria and Richmond. The dinner is part of a tour package that included a minimum five night stay in BC.Ango Abdullahi, spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has rubbished claims of the North plotting to adopt a consensus candidate...

Ango Abdullahi, spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has rubbished claims of the North plotting to adopt a consensus candidate for the 2019 presidential elections.

Abdullahi said the forum had no plans to pick a consensus candidate for next years elections.





He stated this while reacting to insinuations by former Kaduna State governor, Balarabe Musa, who described members of the forum as selfish for pushing for a consensus candidate in 2019.





But, speaking with The Sun, Abdullahi said, I dont know of any group right now that has plans for such an idea. People are confusing these various groups. There is ACF, there is NEF, there is also this recent creation of last week meeting in Abuja that was reported as Northern Elders Political Forum.





People should know that these groups are not the same, ACF is different; NEF is also different, and also the one that was shown in Abuja, the Northern Elders Political Forum.





Maybe, Balarabe Musa is confusing this last one with the others that have been there for years now. All I know is that we are going to look for a good leader. We should be worried that the country should have good leaders at all the levels of governance. What we are worried is about good governance come 2019.





Who is talking about consensus candidate when there are parties that are going through primaries, and then their candidates would contest election. The issue of consensus candidates will not even arise. We will argue for a good person who perhaps is contesting in whatever party; there is no place we will call for a consensus candidate.





Stressing that the current leadership of Nigeria had failed, Abdullahi said the Azikiwes, Sadaunas and Awos did very far better than the leaders we have today.





Abdullahi said, If we want change, we should go back to the parliamentary system of government, not this very corrupt, inefficient and no accountability type of government.



The coast is now clear for Nigeria to recover an estimated $300million stashed in bank accounts in the small island by the late militar...

The coast is now clear for Nigeria to recover an estimated $300million stashed in bank accounts in the small island by the late military ruler, General Sani Abacha.The Jersey Evening Post reported yesterday that the funds will remain frozen in Jersey pending the registration of a civil asset recovery order in the Royal Court.It said the money will be released to Nigeria once it is freed,according to a ruling by the Privy Council.Jersey is unlikely to receive a share,it said.The stolen money was funnelled to Jersey from after being laundered through the USA.Read Also: EFCC launches probe as $500m Abacha loot goes missingIt was placed in accounts held locally by a British Virgin Islands company, Doraville Properties Corporation.In 2014 the assets were frozen by the Royal Court following an application by the US authorities. Since then, Doraville has lodged several legal challenges to lift the property restraining order.Both the Royal Court and later Jerseys Court of Appeal dismissed the companys applications. And Doraville recently failed in its last available legal challenge, after the Privy Council rejected the companys latest application.The newspaper quoted Jerseys Attorney General Robert MacRae as saying : In restraining the funds at the request of the United States of America, through whose banking system the funds were laundered prior to arriving here, Jersey has once again demonstrated its commitment to tackling international financial crime and money laundering.A foremost playwright and culture activist, Professor Akinwunmi Ishola has died at his Bolajoko Estate home in Ibadan on Saturday at the age of 78 years.While confirming the incident, one of his former students, Mr. Sola Ajayi said: The news of his death really shocked me when I heard this morning. He was a legend and and he left behind good legacies, praying his soul to rest in peace.The late playwright, who had been down with illness for about two years, had several works to his credit which include, Oleku,  Kosegbe,  Saworoide, Agogo Eewo, among others.Born in Ibadan in 1939, Prof Ishola attended Labode Methodist School and Wesley College in the capital of the old Western Region of Nigeria.He studied at the University of Ibadan, earning a B.A. in French. He also earned an M.A. in Yoruba Literature from the University of Lagos in 1978 before commencing academic work as a lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University where he was appointed a professor in 1991.The Nigeria Air Force has said that its operational unmanned aerial vehicle( UAV) Tsaigumi is more advanced than its earlier produced Amebo and Gulma UAV prototypes.NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, AVM Olatokunbo Adesanya,made the clarification in a statement issued on Friday.Adesanya said that it has become necessary to make this clarification, due to certain misconceptions that followed the announcement of the induction of Tsaigumi. To set the records straight, while Gulma UAV is indeed the first indigenous UAV, the newly inducted Tsaigumi UAV is the first indigenous operational UAV, Both UAV types are the outcomes of research and development efforts of a team of NAF Aerospace engineers. NAFs foray into UAV development commenced in 2008, when its students officers who were undergoing postgraduates studies in aerospace engineering programmes at Cranfield University, UK, chose UAV development as their research project, he said.He said that the student officers produced the Amebo UAV as part of thier project, adding that it had neither autopilot nor intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability.He said that Gulma was an experimental UAV, which was developed in 2013, as a technological demonstrator used to gather performance data on UAV systems. The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, directed the NAFs R and D (research and development ) team to build an operational UAV, code named Tsaigumi to be used in the North east and other theatres of operation in Nigeria, Adesanya said.He said that the data gathered from Gulma prototype was plied in the design of operational UAV, Tsaigumi, which was inducted on Feb.15.Tsiaguma was unveiled and inducted by President Muhammadu Buhari on Feb.15 in Kadunna.The spokesman of the force further said that NAF is currently working on the Ichoku which when completed would be the first indigenous unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).Kabiru Marafa, Senator representing Zamfara Central, has accused Zamfara Governor, Abdulaziz Yari of paying more attention to being chairm...

Kabiru Marafa, Senator representing Zamfara Central, has accused Zamfara Governor, Abdulaziz Yari of paying more attention to being chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, than protecting lives of his people.

Marafa accused Yari of laxity in managing the security crisis in the northern State, urging him to seek for Buharis help if he cannot handle security situation in his state.





Marafa alleged that the gunmen who killed at least 41 people in Zamfara were known to officials of the state government.





Why are people not talking? Why is the state House of Assembly not addressing this issue? Definitely, some people have to be brought to book. He was voted to be the governor, not the Chairman of the NGF.





If he is not in charge , he should summon the courage to come out and say  this issue is beyond me, Mr. President I want your help.





I have been complaining but the state government always wants to sweep this thing under the carpet. I said (at the Senate ) that there was a problem and I said Zamfara was under a siege and that the state government had banned all vigilante groups . People who are not security agents now walk about with arms.





The governor keeps saying that he is spending money. Spending money on what, and why? What you see that just happened is not only in that community. Within the last three days, different communities were attacked in Zamfara. It is just that this one is bigger than others. There are killings and kidnappings going on in Zamfara on a daily basis and nothing is being done.



The Nigerian Community in South Africa said yesterday that a member was stabbed during a xenophobic attack in Rustenberg, North-West Pr...

The Nigerian Community in South Africa said yesterday that a member was stabbed during a xenophobic attack in Rustenberg, North-West Province area.The President of Nigerian Union, South Africa, Mr Adetola Olubajo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that the victim, identified as Desmond, was attacked on February 14.Desmond is a Nigerian hair piece hawker in Rustenberg, North West Province of South Africa.He was attacked on Feb. 14 and sustained multiple injuries. He was rescued when he was about to be set ablaze after being wet with petrol, Olubajo said.He said that the Nigerian community in Rustenburg was currently living in fear as tension has heightened in the area.Olubajo said that the union`s executive had visited the city on a fact finding tour and had already spoken to Nigerians in the area.Nigerians and their families told us that the situation is very dangerous and that their lives are not safe.They also alleged that some group of people were abducting Nigerians and requesting money to bail themselves.A Nigerian who couldnt pay was murdered last month. This same group also looted businesses of foreign nationals, Nigerians in particular, the president said.Olubajo said the union could not continue to keep quiet on this criminality and xenophobic act meted to Nigerians in South Africa.He said that there was need for the mission and government to intervene in the matter to avoid further loss of lives and properties of Nigerians.There is need for the Nigerian government to engage with its counterpart in South Africa. Its not correct that those who were attacked and killed are criminals.Such statements are misinformation and misleading, he said.Human rights lawyer and anti-corruption activist, Femi Falana (SAN), has lambasted the President Muhammadu Buhari administration over its ...

Human rights lawyer and anti-corruption activist, Femi Falana (SAN), has lambasted the President Muhammadu Buhari administration over its fight against corruption in Nigeria.





Falana said the current government seemed to be sabotaging the same challenge it was tackling.





No doubt, the Buhari administration declared a war on corruption. But the regime is currently sabotaging the war through the questionable reinstatement of highly corrupt public officers, he told Thisday.





Apart from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, other anti-graft agencies have been tactically castrated by the Senate which has refused to confirm the members of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau.





The National Assembly has also failed to pass the bills for the establishment of the anti-corruption court, whistle-blowing bill, proceed of crime bill, etc, he added.





He noted that criticism by the opposition against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was genuine.





The criticism is not unfounded in view of the composition of the All Progressives Congress. The leaders of the National Assembly, a substantial number of legislators, ministers and governors were in the Peoples Democratic Party who migrated to the APC a few weeks before the 2015 general election.





With respect, the APC was a special purpose vehicle for changing the federal government in 2015. No more, no less; no commitment to any ideology or principle.





The Buhari regime has not mobilised and involved Nigerians in the fight against corruption. By reinstating and retaining corrupt public officers the regime is encouraging corruption to fight back. The APC controls the majority of the members of the National Assembly.



Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said the claim by Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, that security agencies failed to respond to the alert given them to prevent the massacre of people in Zamfara has vindicated him.Fayose said the statement had validated his stance that no extra $1bn was needed to be deducted from the Excess Crude Oil Account to fund the fight against insurgency.Fayose stressed that funds being spent on security seemed not well used, as instead of insecurity being curtailed, the nation was unfortunately witnessing more killings on a daily basis.The governor, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, queried why more money should be given to security agencies, if they were not properly utilising the funds earlier given to them.The statement quoted Fayose as saying, Governor Yari is the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, he is the one saying we should give $1bn from ECA to these security people and he said despite alerting security agencies over 24 hours before the needless killings in his state, they failed to rise to the occasion. That was not the first time such a thing would happen. Recall that Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State said the same thing. Also, Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State said a similar thing.On all the occasions, the security agencies failed to act. More than 73 people were killed in Benue, scores killed in Taraba and we now have the Zamfara issue. Regrettably, the killings have not stopped. If as a country we spend so much money on security, with practically no result, where is the justification for another round of funding? Fund an inept security apparatus, he queried.Condemning the attack on Zamfara, Fayose said the situation was not only inhuman, but unfortunate.This must not continue and we must tell the Federal Government to do something. The killings we have witnessed in this country from 2015 till date is unprecedented and perhaps never seen in the history of our country since Independence. Are we in a war situation?We must stop wasting peoples lives and use the $1bn for the welfare of our people in other sectors that will bring result. The All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government has lost it, the governor said.Fayose, who noted President Muhammadu Buharis usual directive of security agencies assessing the situation, challenged the president to tell Nigerians how many culprits have been arrested or prosecuted.It is like President Buhari is living on another planet not to say country. He is disconnected from the people and the reality on the ground. He does not seem to be in tune with reality.People are tired of lies and cheap propaganda. His government has failed the nation and he should just throw in the towel, he stated.Fayose also faulted the APC government of claiming glory for projects and policies put in place by the previous administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.The drone that President Jonathan launched some years ago, they now woke up now to say their government has achieved a feat in that regards. Maybe they think the people are fools and have no sense of history. Nigerians will show them during the election, he added.Jim Gard recognized the sound of gunshots as Nikolas Cruz opened fire on Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday, eventually killing 17 people. Just a few weeks before, the teacher had been through a drill to prepare for a moment like this.

Less than 48 hours after Gard survived the mass shooting in Parkland, Fla., he recounted the terrifying ordeal on Friday to a group of 50 educators in N.J. at the request of lifelong friend, Mount Ephraim Superintendent Leslie M. Koller-Walker.

Koller-Walker said the two grew up together in Pennsylvania and have known each other since they were five years old. They went to school together from kindergarten until they graduated from Mount Carmel High School in 1978. The duo even followed the same career path, both selecting an occupation in the education field.

When Koller-Walker learned of the shooting on Wednesday, she feared for her friend who had moved to Florida after college and taught in the state for 36 years.

Gard spoke to 50 teachers and paraprofessionals at the district's building Friday through a video call to share his experience of what occurred Wednesday. Gard was in lockdown with six other students while Cruz committed the shootings, which killed 17 students and faculty members at the school.





Koller-Walker said the district initially had planned to use the in-service day to go through PARCC data, but those plans changed after the shooting occurred. She reached out to her friend and asked if he could share his experience with the members of the school district Friday.



"I likened it as if they are in their classes with their kids," the superintendent said. "They are always trying to come up with lessons for students so they can make a personal connection because we all know that that is what they will learn and retain the best. My goal (Friday) was to have them make a personal connection to something that was very timely in our society this week as well as connect it to our superintendent as well as a teacher. They were pretty riveted."

According to Koller-Walker, Gard told the teachers he recognized the sound of gunfire was real because he had gone through training just a few weeks before in which a police officer played a video of different gunshot sounds -- sounds that helped him identify the shots being fired Wednesday were real.



Gard said someone had knocked on the door of the room he was in, which he did not open because of prior training the teachers had received. Some of the victims he knew well, including another teacher, three students who, he taught, as well as two other district employees.

When asked by the teachers in Mt. Ephraim what he would do differently, one thing he said was to never leave a door propped open.

"When you close that door folks, just keep it closed. Keep it closed and be quiet. You might lose a couple of kids, but if you have a room with 30 you might lose 30 kids," Gard told them, according to 6ABC.



Besides the school staff, Mount Ephraim Police Chief Brian Conte, as well as the head of the S.W.A.T team, were in attendance for the Skype session. Koller-Walker said the two come twice a year to observe the lockdown procedures and recommend changes that will help the district.



"It is important to have these conversations," she said. "That is why these communications are important. We do a lockdown once a month. I invite them at least twice a year to go through our weaknesses. I take no offense, and I want them to tell we what we are doing wrong."



The superintendent also added the school had recently changed the doorknobs as a result of a drill after seeing some of the teachers have trouble locking the doors from the outside, taking approximately 30 seconds to complete the task, time that can be vital. The school board also approved the installation of a new communications system to alert students in case an emergency arose.

Chris Franklin can be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cfranklinnews. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tipsBy Carla Astudillo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Retaining police officers has been a challenge for many New Jersey municipal police departments.

Shortfalls in city budgets can lead to layoffs and demotions. Senior police officers retire and their positions never get refilled. Cities with the most violent crime rates can also suffer from the highest turnover.

In addition, recruitment can be hard. Police officers work long hours in what can be very dangerous work.

Still, there are police departments that are actively taking steps to reverse attrition and bolster their ranks.

NJ Advance Media analyzed seven years worth of data turned in by municipal law enforcement agencies to the FBI and found the 20 police departments that have lost the most employees  both civilians and officers  from 2010 to 2016.

Many of these departments were hit hard by a statewide budget crunch in 2011. That year, there were 2,272 fewer police officers employed by N.J. law enforcement agencies, according to the Uniform Crime Report from N.J. State Police.

Police and union officials have also blamed layoffs on the 2011 two-percent property tax cap.

A note about the data: The numbers include both civilian and officer employees. The Camden County Police Department is not included because the agency was formed in 2013 after the former city police department was disbanded. Police departments are ranked from those who lost the least to most.

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20. Long Branch Police Department

The Long Branch Police Department went from 115 employees in 2010 to 103 in 2016. However, the city lost about 3,000 residents during that same time. Due to a tightening budget, the department cut 37 jobs back in 2011.

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20. Hillside Police Department

The Hillside Police Department also had 12 fewer police department employees in 2016 compared to 2010. In 2011, the department experienced a string of layoffs.

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19. Passaic Police Department

Back in 2010, the Passaic Police Department fired 18 police officers and demoted eight others. In 2016, there were a total of 180 officers 13 fewer than there were in 2010.

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19. Edison Police Department

Despite gaining about 2,300 residents, Edison Township had 13 fewer police employees in 2016 than it did in 2010. Back in 2012, a Star-Ledger investigation found that the department also had a long history of officers leaving due to misconduct.

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19. Asbury Park Police Department

From 2016 to 2010, the Asbury Park Police Department went from 103 to 90 police employees. Asbury Park also lost about 1,000 residents in that same time.

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18. Old Bridge Police Department

Back in 2012, the Old Bridge Police Department suffered through two rounds of layoffs as the municipality tried to close a $2 million budget gap. As a result, the department had 14 fewer employees in 2010 than it did in 2016.

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17. Harrison Police Department

From 2016 to 2010, the Harrison Police Department went from 61 to 46 police employees. Thats 15 fewer employees, or a decrease of about 25 percent, which is significant in a city with about 15,700 residents.

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16. Hoboken Police Department

The Hoboken Police Department reported 16 fewer police employees in 2016 than it did in 2010. In 2010, the city gave 18 police officers the pink slip while 19 senior police officers were demoted as part of cost-saving measures.

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14. Orange Police Department

The Orange Police Department went from 135 employees in 2010 to 118 in 2016. Back in 2011, 12 police officers were let go but five of them were then rehired a couple of months later thanks to federal grants received by the city.

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14. Manalapan Police Department

From 2016 to 2010, the Manalapan Police Department went from 74 to 57 police employees.

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13. Lawrence Township Police Department (Mercer)

The Lawrence Township Police Department went from 80 employees in 2010 to 62 in 2016. Lawrence Township also gained about 1,000 residents in that time. In 2012, the department laid off four officers.

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11. Pemberton Township Police Department

From 2016 to 2010, the Pemberton Township Police Department went from 62 to 43 police employees.

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11. Newton Police Department

The Newton Police Department went from 47 employees in 2010 to 28 in 2016.

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10. Medford Township Police Department

In 2012, Medford Township was hit with a budget shortfall of more than $5 million which led to the city shrinking its police force. The department went from 57 employees in 2010 to 34 in 2016.

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9. Vineland Police Department

From 2016 to 2010, the Vineland Police Department went from 181 to 157 police employees. The municipality gained about 1,000 residents in that same time.

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7. West Orange Police Department

In 2011, the West Orange Police Department laid off 8 police officers and demoted 16 others to try and close a budget gap of about $3.4 million. The department went from 137 employees in 2010 to 111 in 2016. It's a significant decrease in a city that has gained more than 5,000 residents since 2010.

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7. Plainfield Police Department

The Plainfield Police Department went from 178 employees in 2010 to 152 in 2016. The city of Plainfield has also grown by more than 5,000 residents since 2010.

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6. Pennsauken Township

The two percent budget cap in 2011 took a toll on Pennsauken Township, and the ensuing budget crisis led to layoffs in the police department. The department had 30 fewer police employees in 2016 than it did in 2010.

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5. Elizabeth Police Department

From 2016 to 2010, the Elizabeth Police Department went from 425 to 388 police employees. The municipality has grown by about 3,000 residents in that time.

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4. East Orange Police Department

The East Orange Police Department lost about 31 police officers in 2010 due to budget constraints. The following year, the department went on to rehire 12 of those officers following the retirement of 10 senior police officers. Still, East Orange had 63 fewer police employees in 2016 than it did in 2010.

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3. Trenton Police Department

In 2011, Trenton laid off 105 police officers  which represented about one-third of the force at the time  in order to help balance the city's budget. While the city took steps to rehire some of those officers, the police department is still considerably smaller than it used to be. From 2016 to 2010, the Trenton Police Department went from 445 to 381 police employees.

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2. Paterson Police Department

The Paterson Police Department underwent massive layoffs in 2016 with 125 officers receiving pink slips. City officials said it was due to a $70 million budget deficit during that year. All in all, the city of Paterson went from a police force with 593 employees in 2010 to 478 employees in 2016.

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1. Newark Police Department

The Newark Police Department is the states largest municipal police department. Unlike Jersey City, which is the states second-largest and has gained 295 police employees, Newark has lost the most. From 2010 to 2016, Newark police department went from 1,666 police employees to 1,383.

The department in 2016 had 283 fewer officers than it did in 2010.

In 2011, 167 police officers lost their jobs in an effort by then-mayor Cory Booker to close a $83 million hole in the city's budget. This caused the number of arrests in Newark to plunge the following year. However, the city has lately been working on beefing up its own ranks. In 2017, they hired about 200 officers to join the department.

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Aristide Economopoulos

Read more N.J. data reporting

Don't EditTaipei, Taiwan, Feb. 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Taiwan Lantern Festival, which has been lauded by the Discovery Channel of the United States as one of the best festivals around the world, kicked off Feb. 16 in Chiayi County, thanks to the effort of Chiayi Magistrate Helen Chang Hua-guan.



This was the second time for Chiayi to host the annual folk event after a hiatus of 11 years.

This year's festival, along with the shows performed by Korea Battuta Flying Drummer, WEN SHYANG Company dancing troupe, Acrobat Taiwan and cooking demonstration by South Korean chefs, turned the Chiayi County Administrative District , the Taizi Blvd and the Southern Branch of the Palace Museum, the sites where the festival and shows are being held, a dream world of technology, art, and light and shadow.

The 2018 Taiwan Lantern Festival is going on in a different way from the same events of past years which, normally invited visitors to focus on only lanterns. With illumination from bank of lights installed in water, land and air in an area of 50 hectares, visitors this year are feasted on a combination of art light groups and changing light and shadow, enabling them to enjoy the abundant humanistic flatus and scenery of Chiayi.



In addition, the Chiayi festival, opened on the first day of Chinese lunar calendar year, will last for 24 days, making it the longest lantern festival ever.



During the opening, countless audiences were treated to a special performance by Korea Battuta Flying Drummer. Aided by a computer-controlled suspension system, the drummers were able to present their show up-and-down in line with music tempo.

Besides, the musical, "the Utopia of Love Skyline" given by WEN SHYANG Company demonstrated the soft power of the county.

The visitors were also charmed by the dances, dramas, magic, music, Taiwanese operas, circuses, and acrobatics by Acrobat Taiwan as well as cooking show by South Korean chefs.

Many of the first day's visitors rushed to interact with the "Affinity" , an installment art work by Australian team, The Amigos. The longer one touched the light ball, which has a combination of 62 different colors, the farther the light goes, leaving the participants an unforgettable memory.

About 2018 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Chiayi

Date: February 16 to March 11, 2018.

Location: Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum, Taizi Blvd, and Chiayi County Administrative District.

Website: www.taiwan.net.tw/2018taiwanlantern

Visit the links at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VgPKXyRuE4



An ethics complaint he's facing for signing a campaign letter is nothing more than a political and personal attack, Kingsway Regional School District Board of Education President James Mueller says.

"I find this filing politically motivated, a waste of public funds, without merit, hateful and counterproductive to what we are trying to achieve here at Kingsway," Mueller said at Thursday's night board of education meeting.

Mueller, in a prepared statement, said it was Gloucester County Republican Party Chairman James Philbin, who also serves as deputy mayor in East Greenwich Township, who filed the complaint in November with the state's School Ethics Commission.

The action by Philbin cites a campaign endorsement letter signed by Mueller which he says was written as a private citizen.

Mueller introduced himself in the letter as president of the Kingsway Regional board and asked East Greenwich voters to back Democrats Jeff Taylor and Chris Fay in the township committee race. He also endorsed state Senate President Stephen Sweeney for re-election.

"I see just another tactic used by the Democrat Party for him to use his position to persuade and get people to vote a certain way," Philbin said Friday confirming he filed the complaint.

Democrats paid for the letter.

"You should be held accountable ... ," Philbin said of Mueller. "Using his title made it political."

Mueller, a Republican, is from East Greenwich Township, one of the sending districts in the Kingsway Regional School District.

The Kingsway board voted to use its attorney to defend Mueller against the complaint.

In a copy of the letter obtained by NJ Advance Media, in bold type it said in part, "This election's about making sure that we as a community have the strongest-possible leaders advocating for our interests in the fight for full and fair school funding."

Both Taylor and Fay lost in their election bid, leaving East Greenwich with a 5-0 GOP majority on its governing board.

"Yes, I wrote a personal letter endorsing individuals whom were running in a local election and the letter speaks for itself," Mueller said Thursday night.

He said the letter did not "mislead the public into thinking my opinions were that of this board."

The letter, which several times references the battle for fair funding for local schools, "speaks for itself," Mueller said during the board meeting at Kingsway Regional High School in Woolwich Township.

"I would ask for you, to ask those that are attacking me, 'What have you done for this district regarding fair funding? Why are you not partnering with us and why do you continue to challenge our efforts at every turn?' I believe these are legitimate questions to ask of them and they refuse to answer them honestly. "

Kingsway Regional is only being funded at about 46 percent of what it should be entitled to, officials say. The growing district is involved in a push for greater state aid as a way to maintain its programs while reducing the burden on taxpayers.

Philbin on Friday questioned why if Mueller was acting on his own in signing the campaign letter, the board of education voted to have its solicitor defend the complaint against Mueller.

Woolwich resident Albert Azzar, at Thursday night's board meeting, also asked why the board was defending Mueller against Philbin's complaint.

"What you did was outside of the board," Azzari said, adding he believes Mueller should hire his own attorney.

In the back-and-forth between Azzari and Mueller, Mueller said at one point: "I know the motivation behind this and I'm not going to address this at the moment. We'll address that later."

He even suggested to Arrazi he might pay the "couple of hundred dollars" it cost to file the defense against the complaint he faces.

"Maybe I might do that. I don't have to do that," Mueller said.

Board member Christie Comerford told Azzari the board is following the law in defending Mueller because the ethics complaint was filed against him as one of its members.

Had the board not acted as it did, Mueller could have turned around, if he wanted, and filed a complaint against the board for not defending him, Comerford said.

Her explanation drew a round of applause from some of the few in the audience.

"The only thing that matters is by law he is entitled to a defense and that's what we voted to give him and I'll stand by that decision ...." she said, adding her vote was upholding New Jersey law.

Rulings on school ethics complaints can often take months for the state to resolve.

After Thursday night's meeting, Mueller declined any further comment on the issue.

Asked why he felt he needed to file the complaint, Philbin said it was his duty, because he believes "as an elected official you are held to a higher standard."

"I had to, in my opinion, to try to call attention to it. If I did not I. If I did not I don't think anyone else would."

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips-- A 41-year-old North Bergen man was arrested Tuesday on charges he stabbed a stranger multiple times while threatening to kill him last week, officials said.

Lester Morales, of the 4200 block of Kennedy Boulevard, is charged with aggravated assault, weapons offenses and making terroristic threats in connection to the indent that occurred on Feb. 9 in North Bergen, the criminal complaint says.

He allegedly stabbing the man "multiple times in the stomach with a sharp object believed to be a knife," the complaint says.

Morales made his first appearance on the charges on Wednesday in Criminal Justice Reform Court in Jersey City via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny.

At the hearing, he was ordered released with conditions of supervision pending trial.In the 48 hours since a school shooting killed 17 in Florida, school districts across the state have been disrupted by social media threats and rumored threats, prompting at least one district to close and charges against one teen.

The disruptions come in the wake of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. The dead include a former Bergen County resident.

While none of the threats posed an imminent danger to students, police were investigating each report to separate fact from rumor.

The Nutley school district closed on Friday while police investigated a threat posted to Instagram. Though there didn't appear to be an active threat, the district decided to err on the side of caution, police said.

In Somerset County, a 14-year-old boy made threats against Franklin Township High School on social media late Thursday, police said.

Following an investigation, police found no imminent danger. The Franklin Township student was charged with making a terroristic threat and was suspended from school, Superintendent John Ravally said.

"I want to reassure everyone that we as a district continue to make safety a priority," he said in a statement.

Brooklawn Middle School in Parsippany was under lockdown for 35 minutes Friday afternoon after a student found a bullet in the hallway, police said. Cops swept the school for possible threats before dismissing students at 3 p.m.

In other districts, misinformation circulated on social media, leading to confusion within communities and high absentee rates.

A threatening social media post regarding Carl Sandburg Middle School was brought to the attention of Old Bridge Police Thursday night, Superintendent David Cittadino said.

Emails were sent to parents and Old Bridge schools were open Friday after authorities quickly found no credible threat, but continue to investigate the incident, Cittadino said.

Police presence has increased in the district since Wednesday.

"Student safety and staff safety is always my priority," he said. "We're always collaborating with Old Bridge Police Department to increase safety."

Jackson Police was also contacted by worried residents who heard "through what seemed like a game of telephone" that a student had a list of people he wanted to harm, Seargant Christopher Parisi told NJ Advance Media.

"We went to the house, we interviewed the person in question and we found nothing credible," Parisi said. "With the assistance of the school superintendent, we were able to deal with the manner and it was unsubstantiated."

Fake threats circulated in Monroe Townships in both Middlesex and Gloucester counties, causing confusion in both towns.

"No credible evidence has been substantiated regarding any type of school shooting to occur in the Monroe Township Schools," Superintendent Michael Kozak wrote in an email to Middlesex County parents.

Gloucester County authorities clarified a claim of a threat was posted to a local Facebook group under a fake name.

"There is NO credible threat to Williamstown Middle School or the Monroe Township School District in Gloucester County," police said in a Facebook post.

Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tipsKnow how to calculate the molarity of a hydrochloric solution? How about your ability to balance chemical equations? And, your knowledge of ion solubility?

Also, add in the tight timetable you have to answer a slew of multiple choice and open-ended questions. Not surprisingly, getting every single question right on the chemistry AP exam is not a common occurrence.

But Toms River's Emily Ostermann, who took the Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry test in May 2017, earned a perfect score on the exam. According to Maria Eugenia Alcon-Heraux, a spokeswoman for the College Board, which runs the AP program, out of the 159,677 students worldwide to take the exam last year, Ostermann was one of three students to obtain the perfect score.

The AP Chemistry exam consists of two parts, the first consisting of 60 multiple-choice questions students have to answer within 90 minutes. The second is a seven-question "free response" section, in which students answer questions relating to hypothetical lab data.

Ostermann's school, Donovan Catholic in Toms River, highlighted her achievement via a Facebook post Thursday. The post congratulated the high school senior, gushing, "Way to make Donovan Catholic proud!"

According to a Patch.com article, Ostermann is looking to major in electrical engineering in college and is considering a number of universities, including Cornell, Princeton and Stevens Institute of Technology.

Donovan Catholic senior Emily Ostermann, Toms River, received a perfect score on her Advanced Placement Chemistry exam... Posted by Donovan Catholic High School on Wednesday, February 14, 2018

The College Board offers more than 35 courses and exams in different subject areas. Most tests are graded on a 1 to 5 scale. Alcon-Heraux said a total of 22 students from New Jersey obtained a perfect score on at least one of the AP tests administered by the not-for-profit organization. She declined to provide their names or information about the schools they attend, citing privacy rules.

Chris Franklin can be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cfranklinnews. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tipsFlorida Gov. Rick Scott has called for the resignation of the FBI director after it was revealed Friday that the agency received a tip last month that the suspect in this week's high school massacre could be planning an attack, but failed to investigate.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions also slammed the agency, saying the shooting that killed 17 people was a "tragic consequence" of the FBI's missteps and ordered a review of the Justice Department's processes.

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said at a news conference that his office had received more than 20 calls about suspect Nikolas Cruz in the past few years.

Friday's admission came as the agency was already facing criticism for its treatment of a tip about a YouTube comment posted last year by a "Nikolas Cruz" that said "I'm going to be a professional school shooter."

The 19-year-old Cruz has been charged with killing 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, north of Miami.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said the agency was still reviewing its missteps on the January tip. He said he was "committed to getting to the bottom of what happened," as well as assessing the way the FBI responds to information from the public.

Gov. Scott called the FBI's failure to take action "unacceptable."

"Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isn't going to cut it," Scott said. " ... The families will spend a lifetime wondering how this could happen, and an apology will never give them the answers they desperately need."

Wray and the FBI have also been under intense scrutiny for its actions in the early stages of the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign.

Should Wray step down over the agency's failure to investigate tips on the shooting suspect?

Vote in our informal, unscientific poll and tell us how you voted in the comments.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.WASHINGTON -- The Republican business executive challenging U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez waged a multi-year battle against efforts to lower drug prices for consumers and the federal government as it fought legislation that could cost the company billions of dollars.

In Bob Hugin's final year as executive chairman of Celgene Corp., the Summit-based company spent $2.8 million on lobbying in 2017, its most ever, as it helped block legislation that could have sped up generic alternatives to its biggest seller, Revlimid, used to treat the rare blood cancer multiple myeloma.

The measure was designed to prevent brand-name pharmaceutical companies from refusing to sell certain drugs to generic manufacturers or to work with them on safety procedures.

"They're one of the companies that has been a huge beneficiary of this abuse and loophole," said Steven Knievel, an advocate with Public Citizen's Access to Medicines Program, which supports the bill Celgene opposes. "They can charge monopoly prices. That is the whole game for the brand-name companies."

Campaign adviser Chris Russell said Celgene was a success story during Hugin's tenure.

"Under Bob Hugin's dynamic leadership, Celgene was transformed from a struggling small business into an innovative biotech company that is known around the world for leading the fight against cancer and chronic disease," Russell said.

And Celgene spokesman Brian Gill said the higher lobbying expenses "on a wide variety of issues" were "largely in line with industry trends" and reflected "increased congressional activity" and higher dues paid to trade associations.

Hugin's actions could haunt him in his Senate campaign. In a February 2017 Monmouth University poll, Americans named health care costs as their biggest concern.

That could help Menendez, D-N.J., deflect Hugin's attacks on his ethics, said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.

"That will be a very easy counter for Menendez," Murray said.

Even so, Menendez has received $865,040 from pharmaceutical industry employees throughout his congressional career, his seventh biggest industry source of campaign contributions and ninth highest among current U.S. senators, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based research group.

It wouldn't just be Menendez talking about high drug prices, however. President Donald Trump, whose campaign Hugin supported financially, described reducing prescription drug prices as "one of my greatest priorities" in last month's State of the Union address and then offer proposals in his fiscal 2019 budget.

I am working on a new system where there will be competition in the Drug Industry. Pricing for the American people will come way down!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 7, 2017

Hugin also could face opposition from a new nonprofit advocacy group backing candidates who want lower drug prices.

The organization was formed by David Mitchell, a cancer patient who took Revlimid for more than five years and is part of a class action suit against the company. Mitchell also is president of Patients for Affordable Drugs, which supports actions to lower drug prices.

"I will do everything in my power to make the people in New Jersey aware of Mr Hugin's record exploiting and hurting vulnerable cancer patients," Mitchell said.

Bob Hugin must never be allowed to hold public office. He abused our patent laws & made his company's drugs the most expensive for Medicare. He took millions of dollars from cancer patients to pay himself $100 million in one 3 year period alone. " @celgene https://t.co/uRZbfKgKch  David Mitchell (@DavidP4AD) January 6, 2018

Under Hugin, Celgene helped block the Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples Act, aimed at removing barriers for generic manufacturers.

"This was all happening while Hugin was in charge," said Rep. Frank Pallone, D-6th Dist., the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. "He was the poster person for stopping generics from coming to market and keeping drug prices high."

Revlimid brought in $7 billion in 2016 and accounted for more than half of the company's revenue, according to its annual report.

"It is the bread and butter for Celgene," said Yatin Suneja, a SunTrust Robinson Humphrey biotech analyst. "If a generic comes early, it will definitely impact the financial performance of the company."

Medicare spent $2.1 billion on Revlimid in 2015, more than all but six other drugs, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Revlimid's price rose around 20 percent last year, according to Suneja.

Because Revlimid, the brand name for lenalidomide, can cause birth defects, it is considered a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy drug. That means generic companies face restrictions on getting the drug supplies needed to develop less expensive versions.

Gill said Celgene makes drug samples available to generic manufacturers "subject to reasonable safety-related requirements."

Crtiics said Celgene cites those rules to keep generic competitors away from Revlimid.

"Celgene is using safety concerns as a red herring," said Allen Goldberg, a spokesman for the Association for Accessible Medicines, a Washington-based trade group for the generic drug industry.

"Well-documented abuses, like those by Celgene where they won't sell the samples that generic companies are required to purchase, subverts the virtuous cycle of access and innovation for prescription drugs in the United States," Goldberg said.

Celgene's actions have led to at least three federal lawsuits. In a 2014 case brought by generic drug manufacturer Mylan NV in U.S. District Court in Newark, the Federal Trade Commission rebutted Celgene's position.

"Competition from lower-priced generic drugs saves American consumers billions of dollars a year," the FTC said in a brief. "Celgene's view that it has a virtually absolute right to block access to the samples generic firms need to compete threatens to foreclose these cheaper alternatives, perhaps indefinitely."

Celgene settled a different lawsuit in 2015, agreeing to allow one generic drug company to produce a limited amount of lenalidomide for sale beginning in 2022 with the restrictions lifted in 2026.

One competitor won't do much to lower prices, but two will, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If two generic companies sell a drug, the price drops to almost half of the brand name version, the FDA said.

"This is one of the drugs that would be a generic but Celgene refuses to cooperate," Pallone said. "That's how Celgene has made so much money out of Revlimid. This is how they rip off the consumer. Hugin is the chief culprit."

Revlimid also figured prominently in a whistleblower case last July. The company paid $280 million to settle charges that it pushed Revlimid and another cancer drug for uses not approved by the FDA, and that it submitted false claims to Medicare, according to the U.S Justice Department.

Hugin deserves credit for Revlimid's successes, Russell said.

"Bob Hugin's efforts have helped to make Revlimid far and away the most successful anti-cancer medicine for patients battling multiple myeloma - with studies showing that life expectancy nearly doubled for patients stricken with this awful disease," Russell said.

Celgene's Gill said Revlimid's price reflects its value "to patients, our health care system, and our economy, as well as the need to fund our extensive research to develop new treatments which, as a percentage of sales, leads the industry and is among the highest of any large company in the world."

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (KSF) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until April 16, 2018 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC), if they purchased the Companys securities between January 13, 2017, and July 27, 2017, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.



What You May Do

If you purchased securities of Wells Fargo and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-wfc/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by April 16, 2018.

About the Lawsuit

Wells Fargo and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On July 27, 2017, The New York Times reported that, based on an internal Wells Fargo report, [m]ore than 800,000 people who took out car loans from Wells Fargo were charged for auto insurance they did not need, and that [t]he expense of the unneeded insurancepushed roughly 274,000 Wells Fargo customers into delinquency and resulted in almost 25,000 wrongful vehicle repossessions, and it estimated that the bank owed $73 million to wronged customers.

On this news, the price of Wells Fargos shares plummeted.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCU.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, two days after the Parkland, Florida, school shooting, demanded a Homeland Security Committee meeting to explore mass shootings as the "domestic terrorism they are" and to consider solutions to help stop them. His appeal came in a letter Friday (Feb. 16) to committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, who wants to know why the FBI did not previously investigate the gunman.

"As members of Congress, there is no greater responsibility we have than trying to protect our nation," Richmond wrote. "As we saw this week with the attack at Stoneman Douglas High School, we have failed. Once again, one person with a gun has shocked the nation and shattered a community.

"It is time that the Committee on Homeland Security lived up to its name and mission. As a member of the Homeland Security Committee ... , I call on you to hold a hearing to explore these mass shootings as the domestic terrorism they are and figure out what we can do to stop them."

After the shooting, which killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, the Austin-American Statesman reported McCaul's reaction: "This attack on innocent children in Parkland, Fla. is heartbreaking. Please join me in keeping the victims, their families and the Parkland community in our hearts. Thank you to our law enforcement for their response." He also called for an investigation into why the FBI did not investigate an earlier tip about the gunman.

. . . . . . .

Drew Broach covers Jefferson Parish politics and Louisiana interests in Congress, plus other odds and ends, for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Email: dbroach@nola.com. Facebook: Drew Broach TP. Twitter: drewbroach1. Google+: Drew Broach.There are few more powerful forces in Louisiana than the state's sheriffs' association. As a group, the state's district attorneys are pretty powerful, too. Louisiana lawmakers who were looking to pass criminal justice reform last year would not have gotten anything accomplished if the sheriffs and district attorneys had opposed their efforts, but Sen. John Kennedy is in Washington telling his colleagues that the state's reform effort is an "unqualified disaster" that Gov. John Bel Edwards and the Legislature forced through without even asking the sheriffs or district attorneys for feedback.

"My governor has attempted sentencing reform in Louisiana," Kennedy said Thursday at a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting. "I thank him for his good intentions, but it has been an unqualified disaster." Kennedy went on to say, "I can't in good conscience vote for this at the federal level when I have watched my governor attempt (reform) at the state level without consultation with our sheriffs, without consultation with our district attorneys, without consultation with anybody who has a primary concern of public safety."

How would that even be possible? How could such legislation have passed without those two powerful lobbies allowing it to pass? Maybe Kennedy's colleagues in Washington aren't aware of just how preposterous Kennedy's claim is, but everybody in Louisiana should know.

At the governor's website there's the following statement from Pete Adams, executive director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association: "The Louisiana District Attorneys Association was engaged with the governor and the Legislature to develop a justice reform package that would produce savings while minimizing the risk to public safety. Though we didn't get everything that we wanted, we were satisfied enough to support the passage of the bills. While the new laws may need some adjustments, we believe that many of the reforms were appropriate and, in fact, were needed."

At that website, there's also a list of the people who were on the Justice Reinvestment Task Force. Those members include James LeBlanc, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Corrections, West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Mike Cazes, District Attorney Bo Duhe, who prosecutes cases in Iberia, St. Martin and St. Mary parishes, Judge Laurie White, who sits on the bench in New Orleans, and Judge Bonnie Jackson, who sits on the bench in Baton Rouge, and Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Johnnson.

There are other members, too, but let's just focus on those because Kennedy said that nobody whose primary concern is public safety was consulted.

That's the kind of lying that would shame Pinnochio.

The statement from Adams contradicts what Kennedy said Thursday, but the letter that Gov. Edwards mailed the committee insults him. There's a simmering anger in it that the top coat of politeness doesn't conceal.

"I write today to correct the record of our U.S. Senator, John Kennedy. On behalf of the people of Louisiana, I apologize for the untruthful comments he made during your mark up of sentencing reform legislation, S. 1917 Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2017."

Gov. Edwards said, "During your committee hearing, Sen. Kennedy knowingly shared false information with you, and for that, I apologize." Edwards says he's confident "that no reform effort in the country had such a diverse coalition as ours in Louisiana. In the end, a compromise plan was developed with input from the Louisiana Sheriff's Association and endorsed by the Louisiana District Attorney's Association."

The governor ends his letter by implying that the committee might want to take Kennedy's declarations with a grain of salt. "I regret that Sen. Kennedy chose to misrepresent Louisiana's bipartisan reform efforts. As is typically the case with his criticisms, they are rooted in political posturing and can rarely be substantiated."

As I've said before, Kennedy's no fool. People who focus on his folksy affect may miss his intellect. And it's because he's as smart as he is that we can't give him a pass on his testimony about the sentencing reform bill. He knows he was misrepresenting the truth.

He knows the bill hasn't been an "unqualified disaster." And he knows good and well that both the sheriffs' association and the district attorneys' association had representation on the task force pushing for reform and opposition from those associations would have doomed the reform effort.

He ought to be the one who's apologizing for lying, but you can tell from the governor's decision to make the apology that he doesn't trust that Kennedy has the integrity to apologize himself.

Jarvis DeBerry is deputy opinions editor for NOLA.COM | The Times-Picayune. He can be reached at jdeberry@nola.com or at twitter.com/jarvisdeberry.The state will soon be pushing the locally elected officials of Powhatan out of the way to administer the finances of the northwest Louisiana village that in mid-July had only $105 in its general fund and is hiring a cop to drum up some money fromTwo families with children were displaced, and a woman was treated for smoke inhalation in a Thursday afternoon (Feb. 15) house fire on Poland Avenue in the St. Claude area, according to the New Orleans Fire Department.

The one-alarm fire began just before 1 p.m. at a brick shotgun double in the 1300 block of Poland, a few blocks off St. Claude Avenue, officials said.

The American Red Cross is helping the displaced families, which encompass four adults and five children. Residents were home when the fire began but made it to safety before firefighters arrived, officials said.

One injury was reported--the woman suffering from smoke inhalation, who was taken by EMS to an area hospital.

The fire was reported to 911 at 12:57 p.m., officials said. The first NOFD company arrived a few minutes later to find heavy smoke coming from one side of the home.

Firefighters made an "aggressive attack," the NOFD said in a news release, and quickly extinguished the blaze, which began in a bedroom. About 20 fire personnel brought the fire under control by 1:49 p.m.

Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Friday morning, the NOFD said the fire's cause remains under investigation.

The Thursday afternoon fire is one of two reported on Poland Avenue within just over a month.

On Jan. 10, the NOFD responded to a two-alarm trash fire at the abandoned Navy Support Activity building in the 600 block of Poland Avenue, in the Bywater neighborhood.

Fire companies were dispatched at 4:34 p.m. and arrived a few minutes later to find smoke coming from the third floor of the six-story building, officials said in January. Within 10 minutes, a second alarm was requested due to the building's size. Firefighters then found the trash fire on the third floor, bringing the fire under control by 5:23 p.m.

No injuries were reported in that fire, which involved 40 fire personnel in 15 fire vehicles. In January, officials said the fire's cause remained under investigation.NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (KSF) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until April 16, 2018 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Quantum Corporation (NYSE:QTM), if they purchased the Companys securities between May 10, 2016 and February 7, 2018, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.



What You May Do

If you purchased securities of Quantum and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-qtm/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by April 16, 2018.

About the Lawsuit

Quantum and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On February 8, 2018, pre-market opening, the Company revealed that it was postponing the release of its Q3 2018 results due to an ongoing internal investigation by its audit committee stemming from a subpoena received on January 11, 2018 from the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the Companys accounting practices and internal controls related to revenue recognition for transactions commencing April 1, 2016.

On this news, the price of Quantums shares plummeted nearly 30%, to close at $3.90 per share on February 8, 2018.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include the former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCTORONTO, Feb. 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Sunday, Feb. 18, the Fraser Institute will release the Report Card on Ontarios Secondary Schools, 2018, the go-to source for measuring school performance.



It provides parents with information they cant easily get anywhere else by ranking nearly 750 Ontario secondary schools on seven academic indicators based on results of annual provincewide Grade 9 math and Grade 10 literacy tests.

This years Report Card also spotlights which schools have improving scores in mathematics, despite an overall decline in math performance across the province.

A news release with additional information will be issued via Globenewswire on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 5:00 a.m. Eastern.

The complete results for all 747 secondary schools will also be available at www.compareschoolrankings.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Peter Cowley

Director of School Performance Studies, Fraser Institute

Cell: (604) 789-0475

Office: (604) 714-4556

E-mail: peter.cowley@fraserinstitute.org

Bryn Weese

Media Relations Specialist, Fraser Institute

Cell: (604) 250-8076

Office: (604) 688-0221 Ext. 589

E-mail: bryn.weese@fraserinstitute.org

Follow the Fraser Institute on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook

The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of think-tanks in 87 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Canadians, their families and future generations by studying, measuring and broadly communicating the effects of government policies, entrepreneurship and choice on their well-being. To protect the Institutes independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org



Roseburg, OR (97470)

Today

Mostly cloudy early, then sunshine for the afternoon. High around 80F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 47F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.Mixed messages have been coming out of Australia this week regarding Canberras threat perception of China. The defense minister, for example, changed her position on the threat from Beijing overnight. Initially, she said that Australia shared similar concerns as the U.S. National Security Strategy  which points to Chinas expanding military as a top security priority. Later, she backtracked, saying Australia doesnt see China as a threat. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop also chimed in, saying China does not pose a military threat to Australia. This was soon followed by the deputy director of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, claiming that China posed an extreme threat to Australia, particularly in the area of espionage. The rhetorical back and forth is nothing new and is symptomatic of how Australias immediate economic needs can be at odds with its longer-term strategic objectives.

Canberra is questioning whether it should shift its focus from the United States to Asia. The pull Australia feels between China and the U.S. was captured in the governments 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper. In the document, the Australian government identifies the U.S.-China relationship and its effects on the Pacific region as the source of Canberras main challenges. Australias main goal, and challenge, is to protect global shipping lanes so that the island nations imports and exports can move freely throughout the world. Located in the Southern Hemisphere, the country is on the periphery of major maritime trade routes. It has a small population  especially compared to its landmass  and a very long coastline, which limits the countrys military capabilities. ( click to enlarge ) Australia, as a whole, is an inhospitable environment for large-scale human settlement and is therefore unable to meet all its needs domestically. It has always relied on outside powers for this  both to secure sea routes and to spur economic activity through trade. It is here that U.S.-Chinese relations intersect with Australias international interests. It needs strong trade and business partners as well as a strong military alliance to protect trade flows. The current dilemma for Australia arises from the fact that its top trading partner, China, is locked in an intensifying rivalry with the United States, Australias security patron. The conflicting statements from Australian officials reflects this uneasiness about needing to work closely yet separately with two countries that are increasingly distrustful of one another.

The question over which side Australia should align itself with has been simmering for a couple of years. Much of Australias media and many politicians have raised questions about Chinese immigration, influence and espionage. Turnbull and other political leaders have gradually become more hawkish in their position against Chinese influence in Australia, particularly after reports of Chinese money being used to sway Australian political campaigns and policy. There has also been a clampdown on Chinese investments in Australian real estate, ports and farmland.

In the past year, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has cast doubt on the U.S. commitment to the region. After mere days in office, Trump threatened to renege on a deal the U.S. government had with Australia to resettle Syrian refugees. Shortly after, Washington pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a 12-nation trade deal that included Australia. The situation in North Korea  its nuclear weapons program and the threat that poses to the U.S.  also gives Australia pause since a major military conflict could compromise Washingtons ability to honor its security commitments. The U.S. still needs Australia to maintain a strong foothold in the region and is by no means turning its back on it. But domestic issues have made U.S. foreign policy erratic, and that makes an ally like Australia uncomfortable . Two Strategies To help manage its relationships with China and the United States, the Australian government is pursuing two strategies. Regarding China, Canberra is keeping the focus heavily on business ties. Chinas economy requires massive amounts of commodities to stay running, and Australias coal and iron ore exports (among others) have largely benefited from this. During and after the 2008 financial crisis, Australia pulled back from antagonizing China. Since then, Canberra has seen the value of keeping the focus on wealth generation and maintaining a steady relationship with Beijing.

As for the United States, the Australian government has demonstrated a willingness to expand its security relationship with the U.S. to include regional allies such as Japan and India. Some of the most recent examples include Australias support for reviving the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, an informal coalition involving the U.S., Australia, Japan and India, and a bilateral agreement between Japan and Australia that significantly enhances the transfer of military hardware between the countries and the training of Japanese troops in Darwin. Such moves show commitment to the United States while at the same time strengthening defense ties with other nations. The governments labeling in the Foreign Policy White Paper of its neighborhood as the Indo-Pacific region reflects the emphasis Canberra places on its on ties with Japan and India to help secure its interests in the Pacific. As Beijing continues to encroach on the South China Sea  which Australia is less reliant on due to its geographic position  Australia needs to maintain open trade flows and therefore must have a security alliance capable of ensuring sea lanes remain accessible. That means it still needs the United States , but it is increasingly also looking to regional allies for support, should U.S. engagement in the region wane.

For Australia, the dilemma ultimately comes down to the fact that its key security partner is at odds with its top economic partner. This is a relatively new scenario for Australia, since up until 2007 its top trade partners were also aligned with its top security partners. From the early 1900s through the first half of the 1960s, the United Kingdom was Australias top trade partner. Then, from about 1965, Japan replaced the U.K. as the leading trade partner. In 2007, China assumed the title. All the while, the United States ranked as Australias second- or third-largest trade partner. (Its currently a close second.) On the security side, Australia initially used its colonial ties to rely on the U.K. After World War II, the United States became Australias top security partner (and Japan came under the U.S. security blanket as well). The U.S. and the U.K.s long-standing alliance with Australia is seen through their involvement in organizations such as the Five Eyes, an intelligence-sharing program that also includes Canada and New Zealand, and coordinated, international military missions in places such as Afghanistan and Syria. Security vs. Economy It is not uncommon to see nations re-evaluate their partnerships to make sure national interests are still being served by them. At this point, Australia is looking at the possibility of choosing between security and economy. Ultimately, it will side with the United States for two reasons. First, when a country is forced to choose between the two, security will trump economy. This is particularly true for Australia, where security plays an integral role in ensuring the health of the economy. The other reason is that while China plays a major role in Australias economy, Canberra has the worlds top economy (U.S.), and third- and fifth-largest economies (Japan and the U.K.) to fall back on, not to mention the budding security relationship with India, whose economy ranks seventh. Australias uneasiness with this new dynamic is understandable even if it does not pose an existential threat.Minister Rosemary Seninde

The minister of state for Primary Education, Rosemary Seninde, has appealed to schools to emphasize teaching rather than repeated tests to learners.

Seninde says assessment plays a key role in a countrys education system as well as in national development, thus the need for wholesome education.

The teachers are more likely to teach what comes in the examinations. It is therefore essential that the tools used in assessment are professionally developed and of high quality, passing the test of validity, reliability and fairness, she said.

Senindes call came as she addressed a three-day international conference of the Association of Educational Assessment in Africa (AEAA) at Silver Springs hotel in Kampala, yesterday.

Nine assessment bodies were represented at the meeting, including those from Cameroon, Kenya, Lesotho, Nigeria, Swaziland, South Africa, Tanzania and hosts Uganda.

According to the AEAA chair, Dan Odongo, the annual meeting was called to reflect on the changes in strategy by various members. Uganda hosted the last meeting at Speke Resort hotel in Munyonyo last year.

Seninde challenged the assessment bodies to consider the growing advance in technology in their examination setting. She also tasked the various bodies to continue training their staff to improve the quality of assessment and, by extension, learning.

Explaining the significance of the meeting, Odongo said the assessors were in the country to appreciate various changes in some of the established strategies, such as item capture theory (to learn how to better re-interpret subject material for exams), as well as equating tests (to ensure that every test was similar and thus able to obtain the same result).

We are working to ensure that all examinations are of the highest quality and thus reliable as a benchmark of learning, he said. We are looking to ensure that exams are set according to similar standards across the countries, so that they are easy to equate.

Asked about public concerns that a one-off national exam was not an accurate assessment of the candidates learning ability over the study cycle, Odongo said he had not seen any viable options.

I have heard about continuous assessment in school, but the practical side of this has become too complicated to implement as we do not have well set and reliable tests in the various schools, he said.

However, he revealed that there had been a consideration for more frequent exams, such as one in Primary Five and Senior Two in addition to Primary Seven and Senior Four exams, with an average of the two being used as a gauge of learning.

Nobody has tried it yet; I have heard about it, but its main challenge is the cost of setting and administering this kind of examination.

The meeting was called a week after the release of O-level results in Uganda, in which the minister for Higher Education, Dr John C Muyingo, raised a concern that the level of teaching in many schools was targeting examinations, rather learning.

Our children are only reading what the teachers speculate will be in the exams instead of a wholesome education, that would enable learners improve their skills, he said.

mtalemwa@observer.ugBy Suzi Steffen | For The Oregonian/OregonLive

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival announced on Friday, Feb. 16, that artistic director Bill Rauch will leave the festival in the summer of 2019 to take the job of artistic director at the new Perelman Center at the World Trade Center in New York.

We spoke with Rauch, who's been artistic director since 2007, by phone Friday, between a rehearsal he was running and the first preview performance of "Othello," the first play of the 2018 season.

Q: You had an ambitious agenda when you came to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. How are you feeling about your legacy?

A: We've not only met our goals but exceeded them - getting new work on our stages and out to the world, moving the dial on equity and inclusion and diversity, and connecting to the community through the Green Show (the free outdoor performance before each summertime Elizabethan Theatre show). We've had two significant commissioning programs, "American Revolutions" for the past 10 years and "Play On!," the Shakespeare translations. Those plays are happening all over the country and in other countries; it's wonderful to see.

Q: One of your goals was diversity in audiences. Can you talk about that goal?

A: We've made progress, but I will absolutely admit progress on that goal has been slower than any of us want. Hopefully, we planted a lot of seeds for future audiences.

Q: What do you consider your greatest challenge during your time at OSF?

A: Episodic challenges like the Great Recession and the Bowmer beam (a damaged support beam that temporarily closed the Angus Bowmer Theatre and canceled several performances in 2011) have been significant. I think that equity, inclusion and diversity becoming a more critical core value - that's not an easy road. I'm in awe of my colleagues who have been the absolute front lines of that struggle. There are so many unsung heroes in the company who are responsible for that progress.

Q: What will you miss most about Southern Oregon and the OSF?

A: I'll miss the people at our theater, in our community and in the audiences. I'll miss the natural beauty of the Rogue Valley. I feel so connected to this state. I was not looking for a new job; I was not looking to leave. I am so proud to raise my children and live with my husband in this community. So I'm very melancholy about leaving, and I'm happy that I'm here for almost two more years. But this felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Q: What kinds of challenges do you foresee opening a theater in a building so fraught with history?

A: Trying to create art at the World Trade Center, it's the challenge and the opportunity all rolled into one. Art is about hope and creating meaning out of what can seem like the chaos of life, so to create meaning in terms of our human connections on that site, it feels like a worthwhile endeavor.

Q: What should OSF's next artistic director be like?

A: That's not my decision. That's for the people who will move the company forward. Whoever that is will make choices I would never have made, but that's what's exciting. Libby Appel, my predecessor, was very clear that she didn't agree with all my decisions, but I always felt supported by her. She wanted me to step into leadership.

Q: Do you plan to come back to OSF to direct?

A: I look forward to coming back as an audience member. Maybe someday in the future, I can look forward to being invited back to work.No. 9 Oregon survived a double-overtime thriller Friday for an 80-74 win to sweep its season series with USC and set up a clash for first place in the Pac-12 Monday.

Ducks forward Ruthy Hebard, who made 25 of her 27 shots in two games last weekend and earned Pac-12 player of the week honors because of it, was extremely efficient again. The sophomore finished with a game-high 27 points on 12-of-12 shooting -- the second consecutive game she has made all 12 of her shots -- to go with 10 rebounds at Matthew Knight Arena.

Hebard has now made 30 consecutive field goals, breaking a 20-year-old NCAA record held by Southern Utah's Myndee Kay Larsen, and 37 of her last 39.

Guard Lexi Bando, in her second game back after sitting seven straight due to a leg injury, hit the game's most memorable shot to put UO ahead for good in double-overtime. Her three-pointer with three seconds on the shot clock and 42 seconds on the game clock was upheld after replay review and pushed Oregon into a 78-74 lead.

HIGHLIGHT | IT'S GOOD! Lexi Bando puts in another three! #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/9cRMbxdOkQ  Oregon Womens Basketball (@OregonWBB) February 17, 2018

That lead help up for a victory which sets up a top-10 matchup Monday against No. 7 UCLA. The Bruins and Ducks (24-4, 13-2 Pac-12) entered the weekend tied with Stanford for first in the conference. The Bruins tipped off at 8 p.m. against No. 15 Oregon State.

USC forced 24 turnovers that led to 31 points by the Trojans. USC also scored 48 points in the paint to Oregon's 30, and outscored UO 17-0 in transition.

Oregon led by nine after the first quarter but scored just five points in the second quarter to reach halftime tied.

With 1:45 left in the fourth quarter, UO guard Sabrina Ionescu had her crossover picked off and returned by USC's Aliyah Mazyck for a layup and a 60-57 USC. A pair of free throws by UO's Maite Cazorla on the next possession cut USC's lead to one with 97 seconds left.

After a missed USC jumper, Oregon took a 61-60 lead when Hebard fought off a Trojan for an offensive rebound and layup. An illegal screen on USC gave Oregon the ball back with 31 seconds left in regulation.

After three replay reviews covering two out-of-bounds plays, Oregon retained possession and Hebard was fouled. She made one of her two free throws for a 62-60 lead with 25 seconds left.

USC took a three-pointer early in the shot clock that was blocked by Ducks guard Maite Cazorla, but the carom fell right to Kristen Simon in the post and she tied the game with a jumper over her left shoulder and Hebard's extended arm. Simon finished with a team-high 26 points for USC.

Oregon got the ball back with a chance to win with 12.3 seconds remaining, but Ionescu couldn't get open for anything other than a long three that missed and sent the game to overtime.

Oregon Ducks women's basketball tops USC in 2OT 4 Gallery: Oregon Ducks women's basketball tops USC in 2OT

Bando's three, her first of the game, with two minutes left in the first overtime period put Oregon ahead 69-68. After a Hebard free throw, a floater by USC's Sadie Edwards tied the game, and Oregon responded by not taking its final timeout and allowing Cazorla to bring the ball upcourt with 24 seconds left. Her layup attempt in the final seconds rolled off, however, leading to double overtime.

Oregon outscored USC 10-4 in double overtime and no bucket was more important than Bando's three-pointer at the top of the key to provide a four-point lead and rare breathing room. USC didn't threaten again, after turning the ball over on its ensuing possession.

Bando played 32 minutes in her second game back after missing seven games while recovering from a leg injury. She had played just 12 minutes in her return Sunday, and her increased playing time was a good sign for her availability the rest of the regular season.

The Ducks host UCLA in an ESPN-televised game Monday at 7 p.m.

HIGHLIGHTS | Check out some of the top plays from the Ducks' double OT win over the Trojans. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/im82rnn9lk  Oregon Womens Basketball (@OregonWBB) February 17, 2018

-- Andrew Greif

@andrewgreifBy Norman Turrill and Karen Nibler

House Joint Resolution 203 proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution of a new Section 47 in Article I that would read: "It is the obligation of the state to ensure that every resident of Oregon has access to cost-effective, medically appropriate and affordable health care as a fundamental right."

The Oregon House of Representatives passed this bill last Tuesday. The bill will next go to the Oregon Senate. If it passes both the House and Senate, it could be on the November 2018 Oregon ballot.

The League of Women Voters of Oregon has many members who are adamant supporters of health care for all. Advocates were encouraged by the approval of Ballot Measure 101 to support the financial resources to cover the current Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) program. Over the past eight year, the Oregon Legislature has supported the plan for low-income disabled adults, seniors and families. Last session ,the program included coverage for all children. Oregon has done well in its expansion.

The League of Women Voters has a national position to promote a health care system that controls costs and provides access to a basic level of quality care for all residents. But Congress hasn't approved the health care for all program at the federal level, nor has it approved funding to cover all residents. Oregon has been fortunate to get approval for Medicaid funding and insurance subsidies for low income residents under the Affordable Care Act. Yet at this time, there is no federal funding to expand health care to residents above the low-income level.

The Oregon League cannot support such a constitutional amendment at this time because it's implied the state would be responsible for health care for all residents. This amendment would likely commit the state to expand coverage without the federal partnership. Oregon has an insufficient income to support its current responsibilities in education, human services, the environment and the criminal justice system. It cannot provide the added cost of health care coverage for all its residents at this time without significant tax reform resulting in stable increases in Oregon's revenue.

Many more federal and state responsibilities for health care services will have to be developed before health care for all becomes a reality.

The League of Women Voters of Oregon believes that Health Care for All is an avidly held ideal for the future. The current level of taxation in Oregon would need to be significantly increased to cover all its citizens, and the political will to expand taxation does not exist at this time.

-- Norman Turrill serves as president of the League of Women Voters of Oregon; Karen Nibler serves as the league's social policy coordinator.

Share your opinion

Submit your essay of 800 words or less on a highly topical issue or a theme of particular relevance to the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and the Portland area to commentary@oregonian.com. Please include your email and phone number for verification.By David Lat and Courtney Angeli

We are writing in support of Ryan Bounds, President Trump's nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. We both have worked closely with Ryan over his distinguished legal career, and we know he would be a superb addition to the federal judiciary.

The fact that President Trump (or any Republican president) nominated Ryan to fill Judge Diarmuid O'Scannlain's seat on the court is no surprise. A graduate of Stanford University and Yale Law School, an official in the U.S. Justice Department's Office of Legal Policy, and a highly regarded federal prosecutor in Portland, Ryan was, and remains, an inspired choice. He is a worthy successor to Judge O'Scannlain, the titan of the federal bench for whom he once clerked.

Nothing in a recent report about Ryan from the Alliance for Justice, a left-wing group reflexively critical of Republican judicial nominees, changes this. Taking short excerpts from Ryan's college writings from almost a quarter-century ago, the group report attempts to argue that he is somehow "insensitive" and "hostile" to women and minorities.

We know Ryan very well, having known him for a combined 40-plus years. We know he harbors no such insensitivity or hostility -- and we speak as members of the supposedly maligned groups. One of us (Angeli) is a woman, former president of the Oregon Federal Bar Association, and founder of a law firm honored by the Oregon Women Lawyers' Association for its commitment to work-life balance and diversity. The other (Lat) is a gay Filipino-American who writes and speaks in support of Asian-American and LGBT causes.

We know Ryan cares deeply about inclusion and diversity. Why else would he have chaired the Multnomah Bar Association's equity, diversity and inclusion committee? During his four years in committee leadership, Ryan helped develop a wide range of educational, scholarship and mentoring programs aimed at advancing diversity within the legal profession. Ryan's tireless efforts in support of diversity and inclusion, undertaken in recent years and continuing to this day, are far more relevant to evaluating his record than college newspaper columns from (literally) the last millennium.

None of us would appreciate being defined at 40-something by our most hyperbolic collegiate musings. The Alliance for Justice's need to resort to them in Ryan's case reflects the lack of legitimate objection to his nomination. But we urge readers to review the group's report against Ryan's complete articles from the Stanford Review anyway, to see just how misguided its charges are.

Do organizations that define themselves solely by some legally protected characteristic sometimes inadvertently contribute to the very divisiveness they seek to eradicate? Ryan raised this question in one of his columns, and it's exactly the kind of tough question that a thoughtful college student should be asking. In fact, young Ryan argued that all students should be treated as individuals and judged, as Martin Luther King, Jr., said, on "the content of their characters."

Ryan also wrote about the need for due process when evaluating claims of campus sexual assault. Anyone who has litigated on behalf of male college students falsely accused of sexual misconduct, as one of us (Angeli) has, understands that it is utterly reasonable to discuss appropriate standards of proof in such cases.

Ryan's nomination enjoys the support of the American Bar Association, which if anything tilts leftward when evaluating judicial nominees, and the bipartisan judicial selection committee set up by Oregon's two Democratic senators. We hope that the Senate will follow these recommendations, ignore the sideshow of unfair charges, and confirm Ryan Bounds to the Ninth Circuit without delay.

-- David Lat is editor of Above The Law legal blog and lives in New York City; Courtney Angeli is an attorney at Buchanan, Angeli, Altschul & Sullivan and lives in Northwest Portland.

Share your opinion

Submit your essay of 800 words or less on a highly topical issue or a theme of particular relevance to the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and the Portland area to commentary@oregonian.com. Please include your email and phone number for verification.Democratic lawmakers are considering a plan to sidestep election laws so they can handcraft ballot language for two proposed amendments to the Oregon Constitution. They want to give Democrats extra say in what voters are told about proposed health and housing provisions, in the expectation that would make voters more likely to approve them.

Democrats in the Legislature carried out a similar plan last year, rankling Republicans, who described the tactic as subversive and undemocratic.

That time, Democrats were able to write the ballot language for Measure 101, the health care funding measure that voters passed with ease last month. With Democrats in charge of the ballot language, they avoided calling the funding package a "tax" in favor of the term "assessment." Republicans challenged that wording with the Oregon Supreme Court, which okayed use of the term "assessment" on ballots.

Democrats are contemplating a similar strategy for two proposed 2018 constitutional amendments. The first would declare access to affordable health care a right in Oregon. The second would allow cities to issue bonds to finance affordable housing projects.

Under Oregon law, the attorney general, currently Democrat Ellen Rosenblum, is supposed to write neutral ballot language for proposed constitutional amendments. Not so under Democrats' new plan.

Instead, Democrats would be allowed to form a legislative committee of four Democrats and two Republicans to write the ballot materials, according to draft language obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive. That committee's language could still be appealed by any voter to the Oregon Supreme Court, which could order rewrites. All members of the state high court are registered Democrats.

The proposed plan lists the House Rules Committee as its sponsor. As chairwoman of that committee, House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson, D-Portland, controls the proposed bill language it considers.

In a statement, Williamson described the proposed rule changes as creating "an open, transparent process for a bipartisan group of legislators" to explain their intent behind the proposed constitutional amendments. She said it "makes sense" that legislators would create a process to explain that intent because they are the ones asking voters to decide public policy via the ballot referrals.

House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, did not return a message seeking comment.

The proposed rule change drew cries of partisanship from Republican lawmakers and unease from Capitol observers.

"It's just stealing the process away from voters," said Rep. Julie Parrish, R-West Linn, who orchestrated the ill-fated "no" campaign against Measure 101.

Parrish said lawmakers should stick to the nonpartisan ballot language process that already exists.

"To take that process away and to keep doing this for one-off bills that's something [Democrats] oppose or is their pet project  it should make any voter angry that we are circumventing the process," Parrish said. She referred to the Democrat-dominated committee that wrote the Measure 101 ballot language as "a charade."

"If the shoe was on the other foot and Republicans were doing this, our Democratic colleagues would be screaming from the rooftops about abuse of power," Parrish said.

House Republicans spokesman Preston Mann tweeted Thursday, "Second time in less than a year Democrats have tried to say the normal rules don't apply to them when it comes to ballot titling."

Rob Harris, an attorney and volunteer with the Independent Party of Oregon, said his party was alarmed at last year's ballot rules rewrite. They're now analyzing the newly-drafted amendment.

"Democracy only works when you have a fair process," Harris said.

Norm Turrill, president of the League of Women Voters of Oregon, said he's seen the proposed rule change, but declined to comment on its specifics. He said that in general, his group's concern is that voters "be well informed as to what they're voting on" and get "the most clarity" possible from ballot language and the voters' pamphlet.

House members passed a resolution advancing the health-care-for-all amendment this week, on a party-line vote. A vote on the housing finance amendment is scheduled for Monday. Both resolutions must also be adopted by a majority of senators before they can placed on the November 2018 ballot.

-- Gordon R. Friedman

503-221-8209; @GordonRFriedmanHillary Borrud

By Hillary Borrud

The Oregonian/OregonLive

SALEM  Oregon ethics officials voted unanimously Friday that former Gov. John Kitzhaber misused his public office for personal gain by helping his fiancee Cylvia Hayes to blur the lines between her paid work and powerful role shaping state policy.

In total, the commission found 10 instances in which Kitzhaber violated state laws against public officials misusing their positions, accepting gifts and failing to disclose potential conflicts of interest. He could be fined as much as $50,000 as a result.

Alison R. Kean, a government lawyer and chair of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, said during the meeting that the influential position Kitzhaber opened to Hayes, as first lady and hand-picked volunteer policy adviser, is valuable and you can sell that and I think she did.

Kean said it did not matter if Kitzhaber was unaware, as he claimed, of details of what private groups paid Hayes to accomplish. He knew enough, Kean said.

Private groups paid Hayes more than $200,000 during Kitzhaber's third term to promote environmental and economic policies, in particular an initiative known as the Pacific Coast Collaborative to encourage West Coast states to adopt the same green energy policies.

Don't Edit

Michael Lloyd

Hayes was only able to secure those contracts and perform some of the work, such as a paid speech she delivered as first lady and attending a meeting of West Coast governors, because she was first lady and the governor gave her extraordinary access to levers of power, the commission found.

Kitzhaber appeared in person before the commission and lobbied hard against the idea that he intended to financially benefit himself or Hayes.

This week marked three years since Kitzhaber resigned amid a firestorm over Hayes contracts and the secrecy in which they were kept. State and federal prosecutors subsequently announced they would not file criminal charges against the couple.

"My concern is the assault on my integrity," Kitzhaber told the commission Friday. "I've made my share of mistakes, no doubt about it. But using my office for personal gain is simply not one of them."

Don't Edit

Hillary Borrud | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Ethics commissioners said it did not matter whether Kitzhaber acted with intent to benefit himself or Hayes, because his actions opened the door for Hayes to cash in.

He had a tremendous amount of power, said Commissioner Nathan Sosa, a lawyer in private practice. And he used that power to open doors for his fiancee to give her access, to encourage or instruct others to give her access and to put her in a positon where she could use that access -- and did use that access -- to enrich herself."

Kitzhaber and his two attorneys argued that any financial benefit he and Hayes might have gained as a household was unintentional on the governor's part. They said that due to the lack of intent, it would be incorrect for the commission to find that the governor violated the law.

At no point did I ever ask anyone to hire Ms. Hayes, nor did I ever ask anyone to fund her work, Kitzhaber told the commission. And I never undertook a policy initiative or gave a speech or attended a meeting for the purpose of advancing her career. There was never any intent on my part to use my position to enhance the financial benefit for either her or myself.

Don't Edit

Andy Wong/AP

But public records reported previously in the press and cited by the ethics commission this week revealed that arranging paid work for Hayes was a top concern for the couple just days after Kitzhaber took office in 2011. At the time, Hayes was supposed to line up funding for her new job at a nonprofit called the Rural Development Initiatives and the task proved challenging. Kitzhaber offered to help.

"First, I will continue to do everything I can to make sure that the bridge funding comes through and will use my own resources if necessary," the governor wrote in an email to Hayes. "I am getting an update this Friday which will hopefully offer some encouragement. And as I said to you a few days ago, I think you need to lean into the WORK over this next month and concentrate on the foundation front (I believe that I can send support letters to foundations) for the longer term funding of what is a very exciting program."

Don't Edit

Rick Bowmer/AP

Kean, the chair of the commission, cited correspondence showing how Kitzhaber pushed back when his top staffers attempted to delineate Hayes roles as first lady and adviser to the governor and as a paid advocate, a job one funder labeled a fellowship.

In that August 2011 exchange, Kitzhaber wrote that "Cylvia needs to be advocating the same clean economy policy in her role as spokesperson/advocate for the Governor's Office and her role as a Clean Economy fellow. There cannot be any daylight between them. This is another reason why she needs a role in developing the (state) policy itself."

This is the opposite of ensuring this is a bright line between public work and paid private work, Kean said.

Don't Edit

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Michael Lloyd

Kitzhaber said he thought it was kosher for Hayes to accept payment to advocate for the policies, so long as they were the policies developed by his administration including other policy advisers.

Ethics commissioners repeatedly pointed out Kitzhaber never asked for the commissions input on how to comply with state law, something that public officials including state lawmakers commonly do in order to avoid problems.

In fact, Kitzhaber asked the commission in 2013 for an opinion on whether he could give paid speeches but did not ask for input on Hayes' contracts until after the scandal erupted in 2014. Emails uncovered during the ethics commission's recent investigation of Hayes showed staffers in the governor's office were concerned about the issue in early 2011, when they anticipated reporters might ask groups paying Hayes, "Are you trying to gain favor or access with the governor?"

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Michael Lloyd

Kitzhaber could face up to $50,000 in fines based on the violations the commission found to have occured, but officials did not consider that matter on Friday. First, Kitzhaber has the option to request a hearing before an administrative law judge to contest the commission's findings. He could also appeal to a state hearings officer and ultimately all the way to the Oregon Supreme Court.

Last month, the commission approved preliminary findings that Hayes violated state laws on 22 occasions. The former first lady could ultimately face up to $110,000 in fines, but she also has the option to appeal. Kitzhaber and Hayes will each have 21 days to start the appeals process once the ethics commission sends them formal notices of its decisions.

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Michael Lloyd

Commissioners decided not to find that Kitzhaber misused his office by allowing a staffer to care for Hayes' pets, after the former governor told commissioners that staffer was a longtime friend of his and the godmother of his only child. Kitzhaber had referred to that allegation on Friday as "pet gate."

Kean and other commissioners said they admired Kitzhabers long career in Oregon politics and policy work for the state. I feel for him, Kean said. I also still very much respect much of his lifes work here in our state.

Kitzhaber acknowledged in November that he violated the ethics law requiring him to disclose potential conflicts of interest regarding the overlap between his policy decisions and public appearances and the issues for which Hayes was being paid to advocate. Kitzhaber also admitted to using his position to obtain frequent flier miles and offered to pay a $1,000 fine. The commission rejected the settlement proposal.

-- Hillary Borrud; Twitter: @hborrud; 503-294-4034A 36-year-old man wanted in Oklahoma in a March 2016 killing was arrested Thursday in Portland after he responded to an online prostitution ad placed by undercover officers, Portland police said.

Alonzo J. Kelly III was arrested after arriving at a Southeast Portland hotel. He was using a false identity when he was taken into custody, according to police. Authorities determined his real name after he was booked into the Multnomah County jail.

Kelly remained jailed Friday and is expected to be extradited later to Oklahoma. In Oregon, he faces accusations of commercial sexual solicitation and giving false information to a peace officer.

In Oklahoma, Kelly is accused of first-degree murder in the death of former girlfriend Charletta Thomas, 45. Thomas was shot at her home in Tulsa, according to the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office.

Thomas' brother and daughter said during a news conference in Tulsa that they were grateful for Kelly's arrest. Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado said investigators initially tracked Kelly to Texas, but then lost track of him until his arrest in Portland.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com

503-221-8343; @EvertonBaileyHOOD RIVER - The Vancouver teenager sat Friday in a cavernous courtroom between his lawyers, watched and listened as a parade of people harmed by the furious wildfire he started in the Columbia River Gorge last summer talked of their fear and loss.

One spoke of being trapped overnight on the Eagle Creek trail, another told of suffering devastating financial setbacks to a small Cascades Locks tribal fishing business and a woman described how the fast-moving fire destroyed all her family's possessions when their home burned to the ground.

Then it was the 15-year-old boy's turn.

Referred to only by his initials A.B., the dark-haired teen stood, holding a white sheet of paper in his shaking hand and read from a typed, three-paragraph statement. His parents sat behind him, listening to a court-certified Russian interpreter on headphones.

"Everytime I heard people talk about the fire, I put myself down. I know I will have to live with my bad decision for the rest of my life, but I have learned from this experience and will work hard to help rebuild the community in any way that I can," he said, his voice steady.

"I now realize how important it is to think before acting because my actions can have serious consequences. ... I apologize with all my heart to everyone in the gorge."

It will be the first of many apologies the teen will write.

Hood River County Circuit Judge John A. Olson sentenced him to five years of probation and 1,920 hours of community service with the U.S. Forest Service after he admitted guilt to 12 misdemeanors for sparking the 49,000-acre Eagle Creek fire with fireworks Sept. 2.

Eagle Creek suspect pleads guilty The teen accused of starting the Eagle Creek fire appeared in court this morning, pleading guilty. Posted by The Oregonian on Friday, February 16, 2018

Among the conditions of his probation: a 6 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew unless he's accompanied by someone over 21, apology letters to the 152 people trapped on the trail because of the spreading flames, the city of Cascade Locks, the U.S. Forest Service, Oregon State Parks, the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission and many others.

He can't have fireworks or explosives and must undergo a psychological fire setter evaluation and attend counseling.

In a negotiated plea agreement, he admitted to eight counts of reckless burning of public and private property, two counts of depositing burning material on forest land, one count of second-degree mischief and one count of recklessly endangering hikers on the Eagle Creek trail.

Because juveniles don't technically enter pleas, the teen said, "I admit" to the allegations when asked by the judge if he accepted responsibility.

The judge said the community service hours - the maximum 160 hours allowed for each misdemeanor count - is to help him "develop the love and respect for nature that you lacked last September."

Olson said the boy must be held accountable for monumental destruction to "a national treasure scarred for a generation."

The fire began about 4 p.m. on the Saturday of the Labor Day holiday weekend. Witnesses reported seeing the teen throwing fireworks into the Eagle Creek Canyon. It was unseasonably hot, bringing scores of people that day to cool off in the creek along one of the most well-traveled trails in the gorge.

The flames spread rapidly, fueled by gusting winds and tinder dry forest conditions.

The teenager said he had two fireworks. He admitted throwing one that exploded in the air along the trail. The second one had a longer fuse and ignited the dry brush when it hit the ground.

Hood River County District Attorney John Sewell emphasized that he found no evidence that the 15-year-old intentionally set the blaze. The others in the group of seven teens were "onlookers" and did nothing to start the fire, he said.

"There was no evidence to support felony charges in this case," Sewell said.

Though he addressed the judge, Sewell's arguments seemed more intended for the public's sake.

Outrage had spread almost as fast as the wildfire, with an outcry on social media on a scale of animus that one state police official said he had never seen before. As a result, police and prosecutors have kept the boy's name secret and released few details of their criminal investigation.

Witnesses saw the deed that day and immediately ran down the trail to alert other hikers and authorities.

"I saw this shorter kid lob this smoke bomb down into the canyon," Liz FitzGerald, 48, of Portland told The Oregonian/OregonLive last year. "I was probably 4 feet away from him. I said, 'Do you realize how dangerous this is? There's a raging forest fire up the trail. This place is so dry.'" FitzGerald described his group of friends giggling and taking a cellphone video of it.

Luckily, no one died in the fire, the district attorney said. "For that we're grateful, and this young man should be, too, because if there had been, we'd be in a different arena," Sewell said.

When it came time for him to speak, Jack Morris, the boy's lawyer, swiveled in his chair at the defense table to address the courtroom.

He said the 15-year-old isn't the typical young client he represents - he has no other record, attends church regularly, comes from a loving and close-knit family and plays violin with a traveling orchestra. For his court appearance, the teen was dressed in a gray blazer, light blue dress shirt, thin black tie and black slacks.

"In many ways, he's exactly the opposite of what some of you may have assumed," Morris said.

The boy's parents, in a prepared statement read by Morris' co-counsel Bernice Melamud, said their son will work to help rebuild the gorge. They emigrated from the Odessa region of Ukraine in 2000.

"We want everyone to know our son understands the seriousness of his mistake. He feels deep remorse," they said.

A separate hearing will be held May 17 to determine restitution required in the case. Firefighting and other costs approach $40 million -- and are expected to rise.

Legal experts say the judge is obligated to order restitution for the full amount of the damage. In similar cases, courts have worked out payment plans, typically a tiny fraction of what is owed. Parents also can be held liable for some of the costs.

The court asked people who lost money because of the fire to send their information to the Hood River County Juvenile Department before the hearing.

On Friday, eight people spoke about how the fire had affected them. One of them was Cascade Locks resident Julie Caldwell.

"I'm not angry," she said, her voice quivering. "I just want accountability for what has happened." She suggested the teen speak at schools to educate other children about the danger of fireworks. "It's a horrible situation," she said. "We can turn this into something good."

Sarah Patrick said the tribal fishing community in Cascade Locks took a disastrous financial hit. "That was one of our busiest weekends. That's how we survive the winter," she said.

One woman among the stranded hikers said she suffers from asthma and "if I had not brought my inhaler, I don't know if I would have made it out." She described sleeping on the hard, lumpy ground that night with her boyfriend, surrounded by an orange glow and falling ash.

Lynn Burditt, a U.S Forest Service representative, detailed the $18.9 million that the agency spent as of Jan. 18 to fight the fire, the 3,746 potential tourists who couldn't access the gorge and the 48,800-plus acres affected in Mount Hood National Forest, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, state and private land.

State agencies also racked up millions of expenses in firefighting and cleanup costs, with more expected as they assess the extent of the damage and restoration work.

Burditt said she hoped the teen understood the gravity of his actions and the "visceral emotional connection" people have to the national scenic area he marred.

Kent Kalsch, a state transportation maintenance manager for roads between Troutdale and Hood River, spoke of the immense trucking and commercial slowdown when the fire closed Interstate 84. He estimated that 30,000 vehicles typically travel through that area a day.

His crews removed more than 12,000 trees from along the interstate. The state Department of Transportation has spent more than $5 million so far, but expects to spend more than $12 million to clear the area roads, he said. Some roads remain closed today.

David Spangler, East Columbia River Gorge manager for Oregon State Parks, said the agency closed more than 20 state parks, laid off 27 seasonal rangers for two to six weeks and lost about $180,000 in campground revenue. It will cost more than $1 million to reopen trails, he said.

Christopher Van Tilburg of Crag Rats Mountain Rescue said his team of 32 volunteers - already stretched thin -- worked to rescue the hikers. It was particularly stressful, he said, because they're not trained for dealing with fires.

In the months to come, he said he worries that they'll be called out for other risky rescues because of the damage to the terrain, potential mudslides or landslides and hazardous trees.

At the end of the statements, the teen's lawyer turned to those in the public gallery.

"My client has listened," Morris said. "He's heard you. He's felt what you said."

Morris said he told the teen about a scene from the movie "Saving Private Ryan" when an Army captain played by Tom Hanks tells the title character: "You've been given a second chance. Earn it. Do the very best that you can for the rest of your life."

The 15-year-old will do just that, he said.

Sheriff's deputies then escorted the teenager, his parents and defense lawyers out of the third-floor courtroom before anyone else could leave.

Visitors to the courthouse must pass a striking 1978 oil painting of the iconic Multnomah Falls and Multnomah Falls Lodge as they exit.

It couldn't help but serve as a reminder of what was at stake when the Eagle Creek fire swept through the spectacular gorge.

Firefighters worked feverishly overnight as flames whipped across the ridge at the top of the falls, sweeping down the hillside toward the lodge built in 1925.

They saved it and it reopened in November.

-- Jim Ryan and Fedor Zarkhin of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian

To read more:EU ready to negotiate Iran's joining Southern Gas Corridor initiative

02/17/18

Source: Tehran Times

European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic said EU is ready to discuss Iran's joining to the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) with all partners of the project, IRNA reported on Thursday.



Southern Gas Corridor (SGC)



Sefcovic made the remarks in a press conference at the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council in Baku.

The official further noted that in order for Iranian gas to be delivered to Europe, necessary infrastructures should be provided in the country.

"Europe wants rich countries in natural resources to join the Southern Gas Corridor, within these meetings, negotiations have been conducted with Turkmenistan and Iran," he said.

The Southern Gas Corridor is an initiative of the European Commission for the natural gas supply from Caspian and Middle Eastern regions to Europe. The goals of the Southern Gas Corridor are to reduce Europe's dependency on Russian gas and add diverse sources of energy supply.

The route from Azerbaijan to Europe consist of the South Caucasus Pipeline, the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline, and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline.

The total investment of this route is estimated $45 billion.Royal Portraits From 19th-Century Iran Will Go on View at the Smithsonian's Freer|Sackler in Washington, DC

02/17/18

Source: Smithsonian's Freer and Sackler Galleries, Washington, DC

After-hours Special Preview of The Prince and the Shah: Royal Portraits from Qajar Iran Feb. 23

Kings and noblemen of Irans Qajar dynasty (1779-1925) commissioned self-portraits to convey their power and splendor. Such imagery proliferated as monumental oil paintings, photographs or as intimately scaled lacquer objects and uniquely combined traditional Persian artistic conventions with European modes of representation. The Prince and the Shah: Royal Portraits from Qajar Iran offers a rare glimpse into the development and dissemination of royal and aristocratic portraiture in the 19th century and early 20th century in Iran at a time when the country underwent major political, societal and cultural changes. On view at the Smithsonians Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Feb. 24-Aug. 5, the exhibition highlights about 30 paintings, photographs and lacquer works from the collections.

The sheer number and variety of portraits under the Qajars is unprecedented, said Simon Rettig, the Freer Gallery of Art and the Sackler Gallerys assistant curator of Islamic art. It also testifies to a tremendous-still little understood-period of artistic innovation and experimentation, one that successfully integrates Western techniques and aesthetic principles and traditional Persian pictorial language.

The exhibition includes several major and otherwise unknown works, which the Freer|Sackler has recently acquired through gift and purchase: a monumental painting of Ahmad Shah Qajar and his cabinet from 1914, the portrait of Prince Jalal al-Din Mirza dated 1859 and attributed to the renowned Qajar artist Abul-Hasan Ghaffari, and a selection of finely painted lacquer works.

This exhibition is supported by a gift from Patricia and Alex Farman-Farmaian.

Related Public Programs

On Friday, Feb. 23, the Freer|Sackler will remain open until 9 p.m. for Freer Film Friday: Iranian Art, Music and Film, as part of the museums 22nd annual Iranian Film Festival. Two films, Images of the Qajar Dynasty and Once Upon A Time Cinema, by acclaimed director Mohsen Makhmalbaf will be shown in the Meyer Auditorium. The exhibition The Prince and the Shah: Royal Portraits from Qajar Iran will be open that evening for a special preview with the exhibitions curator.

On March 3 at 2 p.m., Abbas Amanat (Yale University), leading scholar on Qajar Iran, will give a lecture entitled Persianizing Europe and Remembering Ancient Iran in the Nineteenth Century.

To celebrate the Persian New Year, the Freer|Sackler will present its 10th annual Nowruz: A Persian New Year Celebration festival March 11, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The family event is a daylong celebration of food, music, storytelling and hands-on art activities. Nowruz marks the beginning of the New Year in Iran, Afghanistan and other countries of Central Asia, the Middle East and the Caucasus.

About the Freer|Sackler

The Smithsonians Freer Gallery of Art and the adjacent Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., together comprise the nations museums of Asian art. It contains one of the most important collections of Asian art in the world, featuring more than 40,000 objects ranging in time from the Neolithic to the present day, with especially fine groupings of Islamic art, Chinese jades, bronzes and paintings and the art of the ancient Near East. The Freer|Sackler also contains important masterworks from Japan, ancient Egypt, South and Southeast Asia and Korea, as well as the Freers noted collection of works by American artist James McNeill Whistler.

The Freer|Sackler is part of the Smithsonian Institution, the worlds largest museum, education and research complex, which is dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. For more information, please visit asia.si.edu or follow twitter.com/freersackler or facebook.com/freersackler. For general Smithsonian information, call (202) 633-1000.The Ministry of Health has sacked the Director of the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital, Dr. Eugene Dordoye.



The decision was arrived at after an emergency meeting Friday between the Ministry and the medical director.



The nurses and physician assistants at the facility withdrew their services earlier this week, and demanded that Dr. Dordoyes appointment be terminated because he was an oppressor who was psychologically traumatizing the staff and mismanaging the hospital.



The Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Health who confirmed the dismissal of Dr Dordoye on Citi FM said a new director will take over next week.



It was at a meeting that this came out. Dr. Dordorye was with us at the meeting and we all agreed that he should give way for another person to act on his behalfAs time goes on, another person will take over from him, said Mr. Cudjoe.



Meeting called off



The Health Ministry early on called off a meeting with the striking nurses after they turned down an invitation by the sector Minister, Mr Kweku Agyemang- Manu.



The leadership was pessimistic that the meeting with the Minister would yield any results.



Speaking with the Daily Graphic, the Local Secretary of the Psychiatric Nurses Group (PNG), Mr Malcolm Akatinga Ali, said since the impasse the executive was invited six times by the Minister but those meetings did not yield any positive results.



We regrettably, wish to state that since the impasse between us and the Director of the Hospital, Dr Eugene Dordoye, the Minister has not visited the hospital to acquaint himself with the development on the grounds, he said.



Strike



Psychiatric nurses and assistants at the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Coast on Thursday began a strike to back their demand for the immediate removal of Dr Eugene Dordoye as the Director of the Hospital.



When Daily Graphic visited the hospital today (Friday), the situation remained the same- nurses and physician assistants had deserted the facility.



The group maintained that Dr Dordoye should be removed from the hospital and be given the requisite training in human resource management and effective leadership, as had been suggested by the fact-finding committee, before he returned to run the hospital.

Source: Graphic.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured VideoMadam Beatrice Oppong Martin, mother of sensational dancehall artiste, Ebony Reigns who died exactly a week ago has visited the scene of the accident to ascertain things for herself.



The grief-stricken woman who is yet to come to terms with the death of her last born in the gory accident a week ago while returning to Accra from Sunyani visited the scene with members of Ashanti Regional Security Council.



It would be recalled that Ebony Reigns and two others including her personal bodyguard who is a soldier and close pal died in the accident at Nyamebekeyre close to Mankranso in the Ahafo Ano South District of the Ashanti Region.



Ebonys black Jeep vehicle with registration number AS 497-16 collided head-on with a KIA Grand Bird VIP bus with registration number GT3232-17 from the opposite direction.



Her mother who until recently was in the UK appealed to contractors to execute work given to them properly to avoid a recurrence of what befell her daughter.



I appeal to the government, head of institutions and the road contractors across the country to do their works with due diligence to avoid unnecessary accidents that claim lives on our roads. If the contractor on this road (the spot of the accident) has sped up work, my daughter might not have died. She said.



Chairman of Ashanti Regional Security Committee and Minister, Simon Osei Mensah disclosed that their visit to the scene of the accident was to get firsthand information on the occurrence that occasioned the death of the musician.



We have heard some many stories in the media concerning the death of Ebony and three others at this spot. Some people are saying the accident was caused by the negligence of the road contractor working here, so we are here to access the situation ourselves to help in our investigation, he said.

We will do whatever we can to address the situation here. A lot of lives have been lost on this road because of its sharp curve and we cannot sit down on concern, he disclosed.









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A Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Jones Dotse has described as an insult of the highest order a presentation made by law Professor, Raymond Atuguba, which sought to create a link between voting trends by judges of the Supreme Court and the political party that appointed them into office.



Presenting his findings at the 2018 Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) Law Conference in Accra on Thursday, 15 February 2018, Prof Atuguba explained that the research was based on hundred political cases in Ghana adding "it is not a coincidence".



Judges were voting less according to who appointed them at the beginning of the Fourth republic in 1993. A number of reasons accounted for that. First, we had a new constitution and some of the cases were very clear. So a lot of them will give unanimous judgments, so whether you were appointed by an NDC government or NPP government, you joined the unanimous decision in saying that this provision of this law is contrary to the constitution. Then in the middle, somehow the Supreme Court lost its way after the first years and the judgments started becoming clearly on the lines of party appointments," he explained.



He continued: "Overall, the data reveals that 14 out of 22 NDC (National Democratic Congress) appointees, making up 64 percent of the partys appointees to the Supreme Court have given judgments in favour of the NDC. The NPP (New Patriotic Party) was more successful with 13 of their 16 judges giving a majority judgment in their favour, so 81 percent consistency".



However, Justice Dotse who was also at the same programme maintains Prof Atuguba is entitled to his views. However, they will study the findings thoroughly.



You are entitled to your views but I thought that when we meet, and this gathering is essentially Justices of the Superior Court and you come, we are assembled here, and you drum this into our ears. I think it is an insult of the highest order but as judges and academics I think we accept it, we will look at your entire presentation on context, he noted.



Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo also told Prof Atuguba to be cautious as that kind of research is foreign to Ghana.



It is an American type of research that you have done...thats fine, but please be careful what you are importing into our environment.



They [Americans] are used to that, we are not. I dont think there was a single judge who agreed with what you were saying, she said.







Source: classfmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured VideoUniversity of Ghana Law Professor Raymond Atuguba has explained the complications that come with his work as a political and constitutional critical analyst.



The legal expert said the last time he analysed the work of the police with the intention of drawing their attention to some of their flaws, his house was besieged.



Eight fully armed police officers were dispatched by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to come and arrest me from my office, he told a gathering at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) Thursday.



Professor Atuguba made the revelation after the findings of his latest research which focused on 100 political cases decided on by the Supreme Court provoked a backlash from senior judges.



The research analysed the voting pattern of judges on matters "where the law is not clear" and revealed their decisions were largely influenced by the political party that appointed them.



Somehow, the Supreme Court lost its way after the first years and the judgments started becoming clear on the lines of party appointments, he said.



But Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has dismissed the conclusion of the research, faulting its premise.



Under the Constitution, a judge will be appointed during somebodys timeand that somebody will belong to one party or the other, she confronted Professor Atuguba at the event.



She said all that matters is for the ruling of the apex court to be in line with the law, sound and factual. She cautioned the law lecturer not to introduce alien practices into the Ghanaian setting.



In his reaction, Professor Atuguba said his research is aimed at finding a more sustainable way of scrutinizing the Judiciary and not to disparage it.



I think the Judiciary can be the most dangerous but we must scrutinize judgment for their fidelity to the lawwe must scrutinize judgment in the way judicial discretion has been exercised, he said.



He was surprised at the negative reaction his work has received, revealing the last time he analysed the activities of the Ghana Police Service, some armed men were sent to arrest him.



He, however, did not mention the name of the IGP who directed his men to arrest him and the year this happened.



But words are nothing to me, an unfazed Professor Atuguba said.







Source: myjoyonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured VideoReimbursement of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) service providers in the Upper West Region increased substantially to a percentage of 175 as compared to 2016.



Payment to health facilities in the Region in 2016 is about GH8 million but this shot up to about GH22 million in 2017 representing an increment of 175 per cent.



Mr Abass Suleymana, the Upper West Regional Director of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) disclosed this during the 2017 Regional Health Performance Review Meeting in Wa.



He said NHIS was committed to helping facilities in the Region and the country at large to deliver quality health services to the people for improved health.



Dr Joseph Teye Nuertey, the Upper West Regional Director of Ghana Health Services, said a new package has been put in place by the NHIS to help end perennial and destructive delay in the reimbursement of service providers.



The new package, he said, would be launched next month, adding: I cannot wait to see the nightmare of health service managers come to an end in the coming months.



The Director said the package was expected to among other things see to the improvement of community care delivery by health personnel at the community level.



We shall see our Community Health Officers (CHOs) being active again with the associated quality home visit, he said.



Dr Nuertey also said the Region would see the activation and full implementation of the community performance-based financing (cPBF) in Nandom and Lawra Districts this year.



Mr Amidu Chinnia Issahaku, Acting Upper West Regional Minister in a speech read on his behalf by Alhaji Abdulai Abubakar, the Regional Coordinating Director said it is the vision of government to see to it that the right to health for all Ghanaians was guaranteed through an established health sector with sustainable ability to deliver affordable, equitable and easily accessible healthcare.



To realize this vision, he said, the government intends to expand health programmes, scale up disease prevention strategies and improve access to curative and emergency services through vigorous human resource and health infrastructure development as well as strengthening the NHIS.



The 2017 Regional Health Performance Review was on the theme: Achieving optimal data quality for enhancing planning, decision making and implementation of health intervention in the Upper West Region.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured VideoThe Tamale North Member of Parliament (MP), Alhassan Suhuyini has disclosed that he is the only member on the Appointments Committee who voted against the nomination of Mr Martin Amidu as Special Prosecutor.



This sharply contrasts the report that the committee unanimously approved Mr Amidus nomination after the seven hour vetting.



Speaking on personality profile on Accra-based Joy FM, Mr Suhuyini explained that even though the citizen vigilante qualifies to occupy the office he is simply not suitable.



With the vetting of Martin Amidu, all minority members on the committee voted for him, all majority members voted for him but I voted against him. I think that hes very competent for the office but I dont think he is suitable, the lawmaker stated.



Meanwhile, Mr Amidu believes he is he right person to occupy the Office of the Special Prosecutor since he has been a very meticulous man throughout his public office life and that is why if you want anybody who will be meticulous in investigating and prosecuting, the president has made the best choice for you.



Mr Amidu made the comment when he appeared before Parliaments Appointments Committee on Tuesday, 13 February.



He, thus, told the committee that if you want anybody who will look the other way, just disapprove me.





Source: classfmomline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured VideoA hazardous weather advisory from the National Weather Service begins at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Harrisburg region and continues until 2 a.m. Sunday.

As of shortly before noon on Saturday, forecasters were expecting the Harrisburg region to receive 3 to 6 inches of snow. The forecast called for the bulk of the snow to fall overnight.

Millersville University storm expert Eric Horst on Saturday morning, in a Tweet, predicted snow would arrive in the Lancaster area between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. He expected Lancaster County to receive 1 to 4 inches, with the highest accumulation in elevated areas.

Much of Pennsylvania was expected to be affected by the show storm moving out of the midwest and on course to impact most of the northeast. AccuWeather described it as a fast-moving storm capable of dropping an inch per hour, but likely to pass through in eight hours or less.

Only about 3-4 inches of snow or less were expected in areas including State College, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Erie.

A warm front is expected to move into Pennsylvania next week, pushing temperatures into the high-60s or 70s in much of the state, followed by colder weather at the end of the week.Harrisburg School District issued a statement following the "sudden passing" of a student from the school district community.

Harrisburg police determined that the student's death was not a result of bullying, and declined to provide further information because the student's death was not a criminal matter. The school district did not comment on the death beyond the news release.

"Our entire District extends heartfelt condolences to the family at this difficult time," the statement says.

The district encouraged parents and guardians to be aware feelings and reactions children may have, urging them to be aware of the following changes:

Sleep difficulty

Changes in eating habits

Inability to concentrate

Absentmindedness

Anger/Irritability

Thoughts about death or dying

Isolation or withdrawal from activities and friends

Guilt

Fear and worry

Risk taking behavior

Counseling will be available to students and staff, officials said. Parents and guardians with concerns about their child should call Dauphin County Crisis Intervention at 717-232-7511. Counselors at this number are available 24 hours a day.Snow showers have started moving into central Pennsylvania and are expected to continue until about midnight.

A winter weather advisory been issued for much of the area, according to the National Weather Service at State College.

The advisory is in effect from 4 p.m. Saturday until 2 a.m. Sunday for Mifflin, Juniata, Snyder, Montour, Northumberland, Columbia, Perry, Dauphin, Schuylkill, Lebanon, Cumberland, Adams, York and Lancaster counties.

Accumulations of 3 to 5 inches are expected, with the highest amounts south and east of Interstate 81, forecasters said.

"The heaviest snow will fall across the southern half of the forecast area. Be prepared for winter driving conditions tonight and allow extra time for travel," according the National Weather Service.

Saturday night's low temperature is expected to be about 28.

The snow isn't expected to stick around too long. High temperatures near 50 are expected for the Harrisburg area on Sunday and Monday, followed by a high near 70 on Tuesday.

Get ready for some snow. Winter weather advisory in effect. Posted by PennLive.com on Saturday, February 17, 2018

You can see live weather updates via the National Weather Service and other Twitter sources below.

Tweet us at @pennlive with photos of inclement weather at your place, incidents you see on your commute or send a submission to submissions@pennlive.com.By Eugene Robinson

Don't tell me the issue is mental health. Save the nonsense about "good guys" with weapons somehow being the answer.

The truth is this: There would have been no tragic shooting Wednesday in Parkland, Fla. , if a troubled young man had not gotten his hands on a military-style assault rifle and as much ammunition as he wanted.

Eugene Robinson (PennLive file)

Many people knew that Nikolas Cruz was troubled, violent and liable to explode. Yet nothing kept him from acquiring the gun he allegedly used to kill 17 students and faculty members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in yet another senseless slaughter of the kind that still shocks but no longer surprises.

President Trump addressed the nation, saying we must "answer hate with love" and vowing to "tackle the difficult issue of mental health." But he made no mention of gun control -- meaning he might as well have said nothing at all.

According to news reports in The Post and other outlets, Cruz, 19, had been repeatedly suspended and then expelled from the high school for disciplinary problems. He had sought and received treatment at a mental-health clinic but stopped attending. He showed signs of depression.

His posts on social media were so unsettling that they scared acquaintances away. His father died several years ago, and his mother, with whom he was close, passed away around Thanksgiving. Cruz may have been a member of a white nationalist group.

And he had a fetish for guns. To say there were warning signs about Cruz is a gross understatement.

There were flashing red lights and blaring sirens. "I think everyone in this school had it in the back of their mind that if anyone was supposed to do it, it was most likely going to be him," a former classmate told The Post -- "do it" meaning carry out the kind of homicidal rampage we saw Wednesday.

A math teacher at the school told the Miami Herald that Cruz had threatened students before being expelled, and that "he wasn't allowed on campus with a backpack on him."

It was obvious that a tragedy might be coming. Yet, as a society, we refused to take the steps that could have prevented it. How many alienated and disturbed young men are out there, rattling around peaceful suburbs such as Parkland?

Many thousands, surely. Some will get the help they need; some won't. Most will never act on their violent urges; some will. It is impossible to imagine a mental-health system with the scope, authority and resources necessary to prevent every Parkland or Newtown or Columbine.

In Cruz's case, in fact, the existing system worked: He got professional help. School administrators knew he could pose a threat. According to news reports, a tipster even tried to alert the FBI that Cruz wanted to be "a professional school shooter."

Yet in February 2017, Cruz was able to legally purchase an AR-15-style assault rifle from a local gun shop. With no criminal record or anything else in his past that would raise an official red flag, he sailed through a background check.

Apologists for the National Rifle Association will cynically use this circumstance to argue against a common-sense measure that 4 out of 5 Americans support: universal background checks for gun purchases.

That wouldn't have stopped the Parkland massacre, they will claim -- diverting attention from the fact that universal checks could have prevented some mass shootings in the past and would surely prevent some in the future.

At the heart of the matter, though, lies the gun.

There are disturbed individuals like Cruz in countries around the world, but only the United States suffers mass shootings so regularly that they have almost become routine. Why? Because you can't shoot up a school or a nightclub or a country music concert the way it was done in Parkland, Orlando and Las Vegas if you don't have access to weapons of war that were designed for the battlefield.

The Supreme Court has made clear that the Second Amendment, while guaranteeing the right to keep and bear arms, is not absolute. The Bill of Rights was written in the era of muskets and dueling pistols. We don't allow private citizens to own surface-to-air missiles capable of downing an airliner, so why do we let them own assault rifles designed not to shoot targets or game but to kill human beings in large numbers?

This is madness. Look at those grieving parents in Parkland. Know that because of the NRA, others surely will soon join their ranks.

Eugene Robinson is a columnist for The Washington Post. His work appears on Saturdays on PennLive.By Bill Blando

This week's shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla., that claimed the lives of 17 people, was just another bump in the road for the gun lobby.

Just stick to your guns, Congress. And tell the world that we don't need new or tougher gun laws.

That's the (not-entirely-serious) advice I have for my local member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-4th District, and all those of similar affection for guns and the intractable National Rifle Association, hell-bent on arming every man, woman and child with a weapon.

But, again, just like every mass shooting that preceded, Perry and his allies will earn their National Rifle Association support and campaign donations these next few days by calling angry and frustrated and saddened people like me "misled" (and worse) because we again demand sensible gun-controls and don't agree with them on their theory that guns -- more and more guns -- save lives.

Once again, another school, and another mass shooting in Florida. Once again, advocates for sensible gun-control laws will clamor for "something to be done" to keep guns out of the hands of the unbalanced.

And, of course, Perry and his ilk will fire back and detour any momentum on gun control. The result will keep the status at quo, and again nothing will be done, I fear.

Our lawmakers will stick to their guns, by George.

I point to Perry because I'm reminded of a town-hall meeting focusing on citizens' gun rights which he and state Rep.Sheryl Delozier, R-Cumberland, hosted a year or so ago. A mini-debate ensued when I questioned the main guest speaker during the Q-and-A. He was an attorney identified as an Constitutional expert on gun law and rights. While his name slipped my mind, I recall vividly his assertion that he always carried his weapon even when he went to court, despite knowing he'd have to check it with security.

I asked why in the world he'd bring his gun knowing that?

I think the question surprised him a bit because he mumbled something about the need to protect his children.

You bring your children to the courthouse, I asked, suggesting that if he did need his weapon for that possibility, he'd no longer have it in his possession.

It was about that time, his pro-gun audience hooted me down, and he acknowledged another questioner, one more favorable to his view.

I did learn something from the encounter: what it felt like to be shunned; no one said a word to me after the session. Just as well. I didn't wish to engage those with an aim to defend anything that smacked of curtailing guns rights.

Stick to your guns, folks!

My antipathy to guns and those addicted to its use anywhere and at anytime is not new for me.

For example, more than 45 years, when I edited a weekly newspaper in Connecticut, I wrote a column about the ease I had in buying a gun from a dealer without a background check. All I needed was the 40 bucks to pay for it.

The town I worked in is located about 25 miles south of Newtown, a quiet "safe" community, like Parkland, but where 40 years later (2012), in a school called Sandy Hook, a bunch of kids (20) and educators (six) were gunned down by a madman.

Newtown also served (and probably still does) as the hub of antiques stores; the borough had its own municipal newspaper and a monthly publication devoted to keeping up to date on what's new in antiques.

At the time, I railed against the ease of gun-buying, the controversy was over the gun du jour called a Saturday Night Special; those who opposed the weapon objected to its size -- small and easily concealable -- and sought its extinction.

The irony now is that size apparently doesn't matter. Not today. A man checks in at a high-rise hotel in Las Vegas with a large, bulky arsenal of weaponry that could arm a squad -- and nobody notices.

Later, he rains bullets from his converted semi-automatic weapon on scores of innocent and unaware people below attending a rock concert.

A little-known device called a "bump stock" does the trick in allowing the shooter to kill more victims more quickly by deleting the word "semi" and making his weapon "automatic."

Outrage is expressed, demands to ban the contraption are heard. But nothing is done -- even with such an otherwise useless gadget.

Congress sticks to its guns, refusing even to seriously consider the issue.

Is this how our representatives carry out their task of "insuring domestic tranquility"?

Instead the explanation is put forth after every massacre that "this is not the time" to politicize the guns-control debate. When is the right time?

Never?

The staunchest guns advocates seem to believe that every man, woman and child -- even the certifiably unbalanced -- has a right to a gun, big ones and little ones. They make the incredible argument that more guns will make us all safe -- or, at least safer.

Does the same rationale hold true for other addicts? Provide a junkie more drugs to make him or her a stronger, better person? An alcoholic more liquor? A smoker another cigarette?

If our Congressional representatives believe that, then let them stick to their guns.

That's what they've done -- even after one president (Kennedy) was assassinated, another (the beloved Reagan) nearly killed, and a third (Ford) was targeted in a well-publicized plot and saved only because the would-be shooter was untrained in the ways of her weapon.

All that within the lifetime of many Americans and virtually all of their parents.

Yet, Congress stuck to its guns, thwarting attempts to place any reasonable limits on gun accessibility.

More recently, Congress continued to defend its laissez-faire guns policy even after two of their own were gunned down and seriously wounded (Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz.; and current Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La.).

Are there any members of Congress willing to break ranks with the gun lobby and try to prevent future slaughters? Or will they stick to their guns, fearing the prospect of being challenged by narrow-minded gun devotees and losing their cozy job?

I beg anyone who is disgusted by Congress' do-nothing stance to make that challenge -- but from the other side. Challenge them in a primary fight to make the case for sensible gun-controls.

Please.

Maybe those of us on the outside looking in will shoot off our mouths loud and often in support of such brave souls and further climb aboard their campaigns with enough money to match the wealth of the gun lobby. To save others, the gun culture must change.

Sticking to our guns is obviously a dead end.

Bill Blando, a former Patriot-News copy editor, writes from New Cumberland.As the Great Backyard Bird Count moved through its second day on Saturday, February 17, Pennsylvanians have submitted 1,018 checklists of birds counted, reporting 114 different species of birds.

That tally ranked the state No. 4 in the United States, behind California with 1,338 checklists submitted, Texas with 1,213, and Florida with 1,137; and ahead of New York with 997.

The global event encourages bird enthusiasts to contribute important bird population data that help scientists see changes in bird populations.

Bird watchers count the birds they see for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count and then enter their checklists at birdcount.org.

By county, the highest number of checklists submitted has come from Chester County, with 101 individual checklists of birds counted. Montgomery County was No. 2, with 93 checklists, followed by Centre, 69; Allegheny, 64; Bucks, 54; Lancaster, 41; Cumberland, 33; Delaware, 32; York, 29; Berks, 27; Dauphin, 27; Crawford, 25; Erie, 23; Philadelphia, 23; and Lycoming, 18.

Only Cameron, Forest and Sullivan counties have submitted no checklists.

Chester also has seen the highest number of different, 71, followed by Lancaster, 69; Bucks, 67; Centre, 66; Philadelphia , 66; Montgomery, 60; Allegheny, 58; Berks, 57; Lycoming, 54; Dauphin, 51; Cumberland, 50; Delaware, 50; Lebanon, 46; Crawford, 45; and Franklin, 44.

Despite the name of the count, hotspots in Pennsylvania have not exactly been in our backyards: Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lancaster and Lebanon counties, 53 species counted; John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge in Philadelphia, 43; Beltzville State Park in Carbon County, 41; Hibernia County Park in Chester Count, 39; Mill Street in Bucks County, 39; Pine Run Reservoir in Bucks County, 38; Cocalico Creek in Lancaster County, 35; FDR Park in Philadelphia, 35; Muddy Run Reservoir in Lancaster County, 34; and Silver Lake Park in Bucks County, 33.

The top bird species reported in Pennsylvania have been snow goose, 20,000; red-winged blackbird, 7,000; common grackle, 3,000; ring-billed gull, 2,500; Canada goose, 1,900; common merganser, 900; tundra swan, 750; herring gull, 500; European starling, 500; and American crow, 461.Lagniappe





Nacha Cattan: Why Mexico might elect

its own populist to face Trump Bloomberg



He's promising to reduce poverty and end corruption

and says he'll take on U.S. President Donald Trump. Mexico's presidential election is less than five months away, and front-runner Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is getting all of the attention. The leftist has an average lead of about 8.8 percentage points, according to Bloomberg's poll tracker. He's promising to reduce poverty and end corruption and says he'll take on U.S. President Donald Trump. While voters like his anti-establishment message, investors fear he'll end market-friendly policies. 1. How did Lopez Obrador get to this point? He's a 64-year-old former mayor of Mexico City who's run for president twice before. Widely known by his initials, AMLO, he started his political career as a member of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, and became its representative in his home state of Tabasco in 1983. Representing the left-leaning Party of the Democratic Revolution, or PRD, he won the race to be Mexico City's mayor in 2000. He gained popularity with programs that included monthly pensions for the elderly. After losing presidential bids as the PRD candidate in 2006 and 2012, he formed the National Regeneration Movement (Morena) party in 2014. Since then, he's toured every municipality in the country ahead of the 2018 presidential race. 2. What's he promising to do? He vows to root out corruption by overhauling Mexico's system of government contracts and to slash salaries of top officials. He'd use money saved from both measures to fund public-works and social-welfare programs, although he hasn't said how he'd pay for this before the savings were realized. In his 400-page platform, Lopez Obrador lays out a detailed plan to revitalize farms of the rural poor and to boost industries, including through government procurement programs that favor national content -- a measure reminiscent of Trump's America First policies. He'd also shift focus from a war on drugs to poverty-fighting measures to bring down violence, including offering salaries for unemployed youth, even as he's pledged austerity. 3. What happened in his first two presidential runs? In 2006, Lopez Obrador led in early polls only to lose by less than one percentage point to National Action Party candidate Felipe Calderon amid a campaign blitz likening him to Hugo Chavez, the populist president of Venezuela who nationalized companies, expanded social spending and steered his country into authoritarianism. Lopez Obrador claimed voter fraud and his supporters took to the streets, blockading Mexico City's biggest business boulevard for weeks and declaring him the legitimate president. After his second loss in 2012, to Enrique Pena Nieto, he again disputed the results, this time in court. The next year he led protests against foreign investments in Mexico's state-owned energy company, but a heart attack cut his flag-waving short. 4. Why is he leading in the polls now? After 12 years of soaring violence, stagnant salaries and rampant corruption, his supporters are willing to look the other way from some of his more questionable proposals in order to kick out the ruling PRI party. At least eight former governors from the PRI party have been arrested or are being investigated on corruption allegations during the administration of Pena Nieto; the president himself and some top associates came under fire for obtaining homes from government contractors. Voters have also grown numb to officials comparing Lopez Obrador to Chavez, since, courtesy of Trump, some of the threatened doomsday scenarios have already come true: the peso has plunged and foreign investors have shut down plants amid Trump's threats to end Nafta. Bloomberg Poll Tracker Mexico election Jaime Rodriguez, Independent

Ricardo Anaya, PAN

Jose Antonio Meade, PRI

Margarita Zavala, Independent

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Morena Data: Polls compiled by Bloomberg; graphic by Bloomberg QuickTake 5. What might this mean for investors? Lopez Obrador has been vague about what he'll do to landmark legislation that opened the energy sector to private investment. Two years ago he said he'd cancel the reform; last year he said he'd hold a public consultation to decide the issue. Recently some of his choices for cabinet members say he won't do that either, nor would he cancel oil contracts that were already awarded. Until he says so himself, investors won't be satisfied, especially as some on his team still bash the energy reform. On Feb. 1, Lopez Obrador reiterated he'd review the oil contracts. His platform also proposes halting private partnerships with state-oil company Pemex until a new system is put in place. 6. Anything else? Lopez Obrador has said that if he becomes president he'll seek to dismantle the capital's $13 billion new airport project, which is already underway. He argues it's being built on sinking land that is inflating an already overpriced venture. Investors say it would cost the country billions in wasted labor and materials, kill fees and debt restructuring. Lopez Obrador insists he could build the airport on the cheap elsewhere without canceling contracts, but some engineers question the viability of his alternative site. It's that stubbornness that worries the market. 7. What would he do about Nafta? He's said that Pena Nieto has been too soft on Trump and that he can't wait to sit at the table to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement on his own terms. If a deal is reached now that doesn't benefit Mexico, he warns, he'll redo it as president. At the same time, his pick for Nafta negotiator says she wouldn't seek to start the work all over again to modernize it. Lopez Obrador's platform doesn't differ too greatly from Pena Nieto's on trade, although he's criticized Nafta for displacing small farms and would demand mutual respect between the two countries. While much of the differences may come down to rhetoric, if he plays verbal hardball, it may not go well for negotiations as sensitive as Nafta's. He's also pledged to have Mexico become self-sufficient in food, though he hasn't explained how he'd do that within a free-trade framework. 8. What's he doing to win over skeptics? He's tried to soften his image by reaching out to businessmen, some of whom he'd previously labeled part of the mafia of power. He's also promising not to specifically target Pena Nieto and his administration in anti-corruption efforts, which may backfire for some diehard anti-PRI voters. He's even floated the possibility of amnesty for drug cartel leaders, although he later said it would only apply to shortening prison sentences, and only if victims of violence agree to it. That, along with his rejection of Mexico's current drug war policy, may appeal to Mexicans tired of record levels of bloodshed. But it leaves security cooperation with the U.S. in doubt, especially since the Trump administration has made border security a top priority. 9. What are the odds that he'll win? With many candidates competing for the presidency, including independents for the first time, he may need less than a third of registered voters to win. Polls have placed him solidly in the lead, surprising experts who had expected the gap to narrow once parties picked their contenders. Instead, Ricardo Anaya, the PAN party candidate is barely keeping up in second place, while Jose Antonio Meade of the ruling PRI party is in a distant third place. That's not stopping several business leaders from forecasting a Meade victory. After all, Lopez Obrador also led by wide margins in February 2006 , only to lose ground after the Chavez comparisons and his refusal to participate in a debate. But that was well before a spike in corruption scandals, and violence, and Trump. The Reference Shelf The Morena Party website has a biography of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.



Bloomberg news on why the presidential election could be really dirty .



Bloomberg QuickTakes on Mexico and why it might not be easy for Trump to walk away from Nafta.



Nacha Cattan es Bloomberg News Deputy Bureau Chief in Mexico. Covers politics and economy. Petroleumworld does not necessarily share these views. Editor's Note: This commentary was originally published by Bloomberg , on February 16, 2018. Petroleumworld reprint this article in the interest of our readers and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Petroleumworld and its owners.



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Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students, staff, parents, friends and community leaders gather for a moment of silence in Parkland, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, in the wake of a shooting that left 17 dead a day earlier. (Taimy Alvarez/Sun Sentinel/TNS) Read more

He wants more security officers and mental-health screenings! She wants more gun control!

Whenever a school shooting occurs, like the attack that killed 17 people in Florida on Wednesday, conservatives and liberals repeat the same tired talking points. Most of all, they talk about all the great things they want to do to protect America's kids.

But nothing is working. So I've got a different idea, about something that the kids can do to protect themselves.

Go on strike.

That's right. If America's high school students staged a nationwide walkout over school shootings, you'd see some real change. Security inside the schools would be beefed up, of course. But Congress would also be forced to take action to prevent people like Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year old Florida gunman, from obtaining a gun in the first place.

That's what has eluded the country across the last two decades, which have left a long trail of carnage across America's schools. Since the Columbine massacre of 1999, our schools have suffered over 40 episodes involving what law enforcement authorities call "active shooters."

And still, nothing. Not even the deaths of 20 elementary-school kids in Newtown, Conn., in 2012 could break the deadlock in Washington and bring meaningful regulations of deadly firearms.

A school strike would. If our nation's kids refused to come back to the classroom until Congress acted, Congress would act. Whatever it did wouldn't be perfect, and it wouldn't satisfy every side in our gun debate. But it would surely be better than what our kids have now, which isn't protecting them at all.

Strikes have happened before, especially during times of political ferment. In the 1930s, most notably, thousands of high school students walked out to protest military training in their schools, cuts to educational funding, and much else.

The next burst of high school strikes took place in the 1960s, triggered by the antiwar and civil rights movements. Here in Philadelphia, 3,500 students walked out of classes in November 1967 to demand the teaching of black history and the right to wear Afro-style clothing. They amassed outside the Board of Education headquarters at 21st Street and the Parkway, where they were confronted by two busloads of police under the direction of then-Commissioner (and future Mayor) Frank Rizzo.

Rizzo reportedly instructed his officers to attack the students' "black asses." By the end of the day, 57 people had been arrested and 22 were seriously injured.

But if the students lost that battle, they also won the war. Shortly after the strike, the Philadelphia School District instructed every school to provide "a well-rounded program of African and Afro-American history and culture." If you want to understand why the city now requires a black history course for all of its students, the 1967 strike is a good place to start.

Into the present, indeed, student strikes and demonstrations have proven an effective political tool. Students in Newark, N.J., walked out for two days in 2014, blockading three local high schools and a major intersection to protest the charter-school reforms promoted (and funded) by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, a New Jersey native. A few weeks later, several hundred Philadelphia students struck in support of their teachers' demand for a better contract.

And it's not just a city thing, either. That same year, students in Jefferson County, Colo.  a suburb of Denver  walked out to condemn a school board resolution instructing history courses to emphasize "patriotism" over "civil disorder." The strike led to the recall of three board members, including the author of the resolution. Clearly, the students had already learned what they needed to know about civil disobedience and the ways it can foster change.

Every American kid needs to know that history, too. "We are children," said one young survivor in Florida, shortly after escaping from the massacre at his high school. "You guys are the adults. Work together, come over your politics, and get something done."

But the adults have proven that they can't protect our children from the scourge of school shootings. Only the children can do that, and only if they take action on their ownand right now. We can't wait any longer.

Jonathan Zimmerman teaches education and history at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author (with Emily Robertson) of "The Case for Contention: Teaching Controversial Issues in American Schools."President Donald Trump, left, greets Rep. Lou Barletta, R.Pa., before a speech at H&K Equipment Co. on Jan. 18, 2018 in Coraopolis, Pa. Barletta is running for U.S. Senate. Read more

WASHINGTON  In a mail piece that reads as if it could have been spoken or tweeted by President Trump himself, Rep. Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania declares that "America is at war" with "violent criminal aliens" flooding the country.

Barletta, a longtime hard-liner on illegal immigration, is the leading Republican seeking to challenge Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in Pennsylvania. His mailer shows how Trump's rhetorical style on a signature issue has filtered down to fellow Republicans, experts said. Democrats call it extremism.

"With every day that passes more Americans are killed or victimized  whether by violent criminal aliens who are untouchable within the 'Sanctuary Cities' of the left," the mailing continues, "or by radical terrorists who sneak across our border or walk right through the front door via liberal schemes like the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program.' "

It also touts Trump's personal praise for Barletta, uses the phrase America is at war three times, and says that in response the congressman is seeking to build a conservative "army."

"You mobilize through fear, and this is a rhetoric based on fear," said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, an expert on political communication  although she added it can backfire if it spreads beyond the intended audience.

A few years ago, this kind of language would have been limited to the most extreme voices or direct-mail advertising that couldn't be directly tied to a candidate, particularly when it came to someone running in a swing state like Pennsylvania, said Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

Trump has changed that.

"There's nothing in there that isn't consistent with what President Trump has said as president or as a candidate," said Jamieson, "It's now been normalized.  This is a person who is signaling identity with Donald Trump."

Indeed, Barletta rose to prominence by taking a firm stand on illegal immigration as the mayor of Hazleton and then by vocally backing Trump in 2016.

He stood by the letter  but in defending it used narrower framing.

"I believe we're at war with drug dealers here in America, with illegal drugs coming into the country," Barletta said in an interview Thursday. "Yes, I believe we're at war with gang members who are recruiting our children, 9 and 10 years old."

The mailing did not use such specific language, although it did single out "terrorism."

Republicans, including Trump, have emphasized individual cases of illegal immigrants who have been accused of terrorism or serious crimes, like rape and murder, blaming immigration policies and "sanctuary city" rules, like those in Philadelphia.

Federal statistics and several studies by groups that favor immigration have concluded that immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, are less likely to commit crimes than native-born Americans, although there is debate about some of the studies' methods.

"I never say that everyone that comes into the country illegally is a terrorist, criminal drug dealer, gang member," Barletta said in the interview. "What I'm saying is: If I gave you 10 grapes and two of them had poison in it  how many grapes would you eat?"

Max Steele, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, called the mailing the work of "a desperate, extremist candidate."

"Rather than working to find common ground and actually reform our immigration system, Barletta is doing what he always does: stoking fear and grandstanding," Steele said in a statement.

Terry Madonna, a pollster at Franklin & Marshall College, noted that Barletta needs to improve his fund-raising to show national Republican groups that his race is worth investing in. The letter seeks donations of up to $2,700, the maximum allowed for an individual.

"I've seen some strongly worded fund-raisers. This goes to the top of the list," Madonna said. "They recognize they are trailing in fund-raising and this is a major appeal at a critical moment in the debate over immigration."

Barletta had $1.1 million on hand as of his latest report and raised less than $500,000 in the last quarter of 2017. Casey had $8.7 million.

Madonna said he expects Barletta to make immigration a central piece of the campaign.

On Thursday, Barletta attacked Casey for voting against a proposal from Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) to withhold some federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities like Philadelphia, where local police do not aid deportation efforts or detain suspects longer than they otherwise would based on their immigration status.

"Bob Casey is thumbing his nose at the rule of law and putting Americans last," Barletta said in a statement after Toomey's bill was blocked.

Casey noted that he supported a bipartisan immigration bill in 2013 that offered both tougher border security and a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

"There would be no sanctuary cities if Republicans in Congress would enact comprehensive immigration reform," Casey said in a statement, adding that "anyone who commits a violent crime should go to prison, no matter who they are."

Immigration proved potent for Trump in 2016, although Toomey took a narrower approach as he won reelection, targeting sanctuary cities while generally avoiding harsher rhetoric about the issue overall.Dontia Patterson (center) with his daughter Samarah, now 11, and her mother, Shannelle Allen. Read more

Dontia Patterson has spent 11 years in prison for a murder he insists he didn't commit.

On Friday, he moved a step closer to vindication.

During a brief hearing at the Criminal Justice Center, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office vacated Patterson's conviction and his life sentence, agreeing that his trial lawyers were ineffective and that he deserved to be retried.

Prosecutors stopped short, however, of dropping the charges against Patterson, and he remains in custody as an accused murderer. He is due back in court in March to begin the process of preparing again to potentially face a jury.

His appellate attorneys, led by Center City lawyer Hayes Hunt, are hoping for a quicker resolution.

Hunt said he and his colleagues, including the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, have been working with the District Attorney's Office over several months and have been shown previously undisclosed information supporting Patterson's innocence claims, including documents identifying another possible suspect and a different potential motive for the killing.

Hunt said he was grateful for the cooperation shown by prosecutors  but hoped new District Attorney Larry Krasner, who has pledged sweeping reform to the criminal justice system, would direct his office to let Patterson become a free man.

Vacating the conviction, Hayes said, "is a minimum. It's wrong to continue" with prosecution.

Ben Waxman, Krasner's spokesman, said prosecutors would continue reviewing Patterson's claims of innocence before deciding whether to dismiss the charges.

"This is a first-degree murder case, so we're going to do our due diligence and make sure we come to the right conclusion," Waxman said.

Patterson, 28, was arrested in 2007 and charged with fatally shooting his friend Antwine Jackson on the 800 block of Granite Street, in Crescentville, according to court documents. Two eyewitnesses identified him as the shooter, the documents say.

Patterson's first trial in 2008 ended in a hung jury. He was convicted at a second trial in 2009.

His appellate attorneys, citing expert witnesses, wrote in their appeal that the eyewitnesses could not have identified the shooter because they were standing too far away. They also wrote that Patterson was at home when the shooting occurred and visited the scene only after learning his friend had been shot. And they argued that Patterson's defense attorney, Lee Mandell, did not sufficiently pursue leads that could have helped Patterson's defense.

Attempts to reach Mandell for comment Friday were unsuccessful.

Patterson remained in prison at the State Correctional Institution-Chester, but will be moved to a Philadelphia facility while awaiting a potential trial.

His attorneys were planning to file a motion for him to be released on bail  something Judge Steven R. Geroff denied Friday, because Patterson remained charged with first-degree murder.TUESDAY 2/20 UPDATE: After "11 days without service," TD Bank customer Mark Gindele of Bensalem reports his TD Bank Bill Pay account is working again as of this morning. Though it's still a bit buggy: "When you log out, you get an error message." He adds that TD Bank "did 'prepare' customers for the change, but never said it would take more than 10 days. This software rollout is a disaster." Gindele says he may switch to another bank.

South Jersey resident Chris Baekstrom, an IT veteran who has personal, business, and checking accounts with TD Bank, gave the company some credit for warning customers of the upgrade to come: "But it was supposed to be down two days. It's been 10 days and I still can't get online! This is awful. If switching wasn't so much work, we'd be gone now."

"Totally unacceptable," says TD Bank customer Marty Connolly, of Philadelphia's Spring Garden section. He says he's been fielding "multiple different responses from customer service" since the upgrade disrupt began last week. "All testing should have been successful before a go-live of this magnitude," he told me. "They sent me a survey yesterday regarding customer service, and I suggested that perhaps this may not be a good time to ask. Argh!"

"They failed at IT 101," writes Dave Thorn, a retired IT professional and TD customer who says he and his wife got back online Monday after a week without access. "There was no word to customers, other than a weak mention of 'problems'. When changes go as poorly as they did, the first thing they should have done was back out the new stuff while they figure out what went wrong. But no, they make customers suffer. There's no way the fix should have taken as long as it did. No way. There must have been massive confusion."

"You wrote that TD Bank defended its efforts by saying in part that they 'emailed communications weeks before the upgrade took place.' I received one email notification a couple of days before the change," said Andrew Sherling of Cherry Hill, who was steamed he had to take "precious time" from helping his wife adjust to her nursing home to deal with TD Bank on the phone, online, and at the branch to keep their account working. "As for the new site adding 'intuitive navigation, useful tools, and improved security,' I have to say that I had to jump through hoops to properly access the site."

Harry McCullough's TD Bank personal and business logins both failed, from last week until today, when "the 'Personal' (account) just allowed me in to pay a bill," said the Society Hill resident. Then "it logged me out without warning." He was able to access his account using the Edge browser, but "I have had less luck with Chrome." He added that "staff and services at the TD bank branches are fine. The web site has always been clunky. Dated."

McCullough said TD's warnings failed to advise users how long the outage could last. As to the "upgraded" TD site, "if there are enhancements," he told me, "I'm not seeing them. Even old-fashioned Bryn Mawr Trust shows more transactions than TD's 60-day limit." Before this snafu, "I have been very happy with TD Bank."

MONDAY 2/19: A difficult systems upgrade at TD Bank frustrated some customers and branch staff on Monday, a week after the bank began fielding reports that users were getting locked out.

"Their online banking login, using a computer, is broken, period," in his case, said John D. Lalli, of Malvern, after his wife broke out with an uncharacteristic "four-letter cursing event" at another failed attempt. Visiting TD's Paoli branch, he found the staff pleasant, including a greeter to handle "potential irate customers," but they proved unable to get the couple back online. A "half-baked" smartphone app gives his payments some visibility, Lalli added, but the display is limited: "We cannot see all of our auto-billing payees."

Customers accustomed to fast, digital updates complained that they didn't feel informed. TD Bank defended its efforts: "To give our customers sufficient time to plan for the disruption as well as alternative means to bank, we notified customers about the upgrade via online/mobile banners, a microsite, social media posts, and emailed communications weeks before the upgrade took place," the company said in an email Monday. "We ran into some technical difficulties and, as a result, some customers had trouble accessing our online banking and bill pay services." By Monday, "the majority of customer challenges have been resolved."

TD and rival Wells Fargo are the dominant retail banks in the Philadelphia region: Each manages more than $25 billion in loans and other assets through more than 100 Philadelphia-area branches.

"I spent more than an hour in the [TD] branch" on Route 202 on Sunday without regaining access to his account, Chadds Ford resident Fred Krumm told me. "I had gotten through to the help line Saturday afternoon. They told me I needed to go to the branch to have my ID verified. So I go to the branch, and they tell me I need to go through the help line! Can't make this stuff up."

The bank's local staffers "were helpful as they could be," he added, noting they rely on the same centralized phone and computer assistance as customers. After an 80-minute wait, "the branch worker verified my ID, and we went through some procedures with the corporate folks." But in vain: it all "failed to get me into my online account." He's hoping he'll be able to reconnect "today," he said Monday morning. "Maybe tomorrow."

Krumm checked TD customer notes on the Down Detector website. The site shows TD customers logged more than 80 complaints from Feb. 12 through early Feb. 19, mostly from people who said they couldn't check their accounts or transfer funds remotely. That compares to 10 in all January.

Last Friday, TD spokesman Matthew J. Doherty said the bank "apologizes for any inconvenience." He said the upgrade promised "to enhance our customers' online- and mobile-banking experience," adding "intuitive navigation, useful tools, and improved security."

Reader Mike Artz said that, after his account went down last week, TD met its own Sunday-night mobile service reconnection target, for his account.

Artz sent me a TD statement advising customers they'll need to update their browsers for the new system, and giving instructions for downloads and cache-cleaning. As part of the update, "we've transferred over all your account information including payment and transaction history, scheduled payments, and access to statements and notices" to the new system. But "you may need to reenroll in online banking," using "a onetime security code" which the bank will send by "SMS text or voice message whenever we need to verify your identity," for example, from a new device.

"They claim it was a software update, but it took almost the entire week," said reader Gary Harman, of Cherry Hill, who regained his account late Friday. "It crashed," he added. He was glad to learn, after the fact, that TD paid his taxes and made other online payments on time. But he disliked not being able to confirm that for several days: "The real issue here is a lack of communication. TD Bank has an active Twitter account, they could have used that to alert customers to what was going on."

A message acknowledging "Something's not working quite right" greeted Jay Beckerman, of Schuylkill Township, Chester County, when he tried to log in last week. The toll-free number left him on hold "at least 15 minutes," he added. "The customer service was awful."

His service was back by Monday. Beckerman has a suggestion: "Honesty would have resulted in a screen message saying the computers were down."Anthony Wright, convicted in 1993 of raping and murdering an elderly woman in Nicetown, was freed from prison two years ago when new DNA evidence unraveled the prosecution's original theory of the crime.

Now at least two other Philadelphia men serving life sentences for separate and unrelated murders may have a new shot at freedom thanks to the fallout.

Attorneys for Andrew Swainson and Willie Veasy  each convicted more than two decades ago  have seized upon 10,000 pages of police documents turned over in a civil lawsuit Wright filed against the city and the homicide detectives who investigated him.

The lawyers contend the records show that the same detectives involved in Wright's case also failed to disclose evidence that may have proved Swainson's and Veasy's innocence in the crimes.

At a minimum, the attorneys have argued in newly filed appeals, their clients had unfair trials and deserve to face a jury again  without the deck improperly stacked against them, they say.

But the attorneys also contend that the documents suggest an investigation should be launched into whether the detectives  who investigated murders during the crack wars of the 1990s  routinely placed their thumbs on the scales while locking people up during one of Philadelphia's most violent eras.

"I would have some strong hesitation about any conviction that that group of detectives had secured," said Marissa Bluestine, attorney for Swainson and Veasy and executive director of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project.

Wright accuses 11 now-retired detectives of abuses, and it remains unclear how many cases ultimately could be called into question should new District Attorney Larry Krasner launch a wider investigation into their work.

Krasner, in an interview last week, declined to say whether he planned to pursue such a probe. But he praised Chicago's top prosecutor, Kimberly M. Foxx, for exonerating 15 inmates last year after questions surfaced about the conduct of police officers there who had helped convict them.

The exonerations "took place because that office was courageous enough and willing to look at people who'd been in jail for [decades] when substantial questions emerged," Krasner said.

This month he named Patricia Cummings, a lawyer from Texas, to lead a unit dedicated to reviewing problematic old cases. And he has pledged to give the unit  which was criticized for a perceived lack of production under former District Attorney Seth Williams  more staff members and seek additional funding from City Council.

Cummings, who led a similar unit in Dallas, said identifying and examining patterns of potential misconduct was "absolutely" the approach she hoped to take in Philadelphia.

"This work is all about trying to figure out: 'How do we correct the mistakes of the past?' " she said. "And we do that by learning what they are and how likely they were to have reoccurred time and time again."

READ: An accomplice will die in prison while the killer goes free: The strange justice of Pennsylvania's felony-murder law

Bluestine said the unit already has agreed to review Veasy's case, which has been featured on the podcast series Undisclosed.

It was not clear whether prosecutors also would review the investigation of Swainson, but they could face pressure to make such a decision because of the documents released in Wright's case  documents they never intended to fall into the hands of lawyers for other convicted men.

Accidental sharing

Attorneys for the city began sharing material on other homicides with Wright's lawyers in March 2017 as part of the discovery process in his civil suit. Wright had alleged that his wrongful conviction stemmed from the city's "deliberate indifference" toward homicide detectives so desperate  or willing  to manage heavy caseloads that they routinely beat false confessions out of suspects, imprisoned witnesses for days to coerce their statements, and played fast and loose with the law themselves.

In his own case, Wright said officers  including former Detectives Martin Devlin and Manuel Santiago  held him for hours while trying to force a confession out of him, then, when he refused, typed one up for him to sign anyway. After Wright declined to sign it, his lawsuit states, Devlin threatened to "rip [Wright's] eyes out"  a claim Devlin and Santiago have denied. But Wright eventually relented and signed the document on a false promise that he would be allowed to go home, his lawsuit says.

To prove that similar tactics were applied outside of Wright's case, his lawyers requested the files on eight other homicide investigations handled by Devlin and the other detectives who investigated him. The city, in handing those files over, failed to mark them confidential, which would have barred Wright's lawyers from giving others access to them.

The District Attorney's Office, realizing the mistake, later tried to claw those documents back  but the damage had been done. By that time, Wright's team already had shared them with lawyers for the other convicted men.

In the cases of Veasy and Swainson, the Pennsylvania Innocence Project discovered that the files contained information that not only might help Wright's civil case, but also could help their own clients' chances on appeal.

Two new appeals

In Swainson's case, the Innocence Project claims the files obtained from Wright's lawyers show that police and prosecutors withheld key evidence before Swainson's 1989 trial, in which he was convicted of killing Stanley Opher in a drug-related shooting in West Philadelphia. The undisclosed materials, according to defense filings, included the identity of two other potential suspects; additional witnesses who contradicted the prosecutors' theory of the crime; and the fact that one witness failed a polygraph test when asked to identify Swainson.

The information, Bluestine said, furthers the argument that Swainson could not have formed a proper defense because so much of the investigation  led by Santiago  was hidden from him.

"Can it be honestly said that Mr. Swainson got a fair trial?" Bluestine asked. "We think clearly no."

Swainson, now 52, has maintained his innocence since his arrest, and defense attorneys previously claimed that the case's two key witnesses recanted their testimony. One of them, Paul Presley, said that Santiago, when asking Presley to identify the shooter, only showed him photos of one person: Swainson.

Presley also admitted giving statements to Santiago under a promise that drug-related counts against him would be dropped, according to defense filings. Swainson's trial attorneys were unaware of the arrangement, the filings claim, because Presley had been charged under a different name.

Veasy, too, repeatedly has said he is innocent.

Convicted in 1993 for a double shooting in North Philadelphia  which left one man, John Lewis, dead  Veasy signed a confession, but later said that Devlin wrote it and assaulted him until he agreed to put his name on it, according to defense filings.

Trial prosecutors, seeking a first-degree conviction and a death sentence, presented the confession to the jury, as well as testimony from an eyewitness, Denise Mitchell.

And even though Veasy's lawyers presented evidence that he'd been working at the time of the crime at a Houlihan's restaurant in Jenkintown, jurors voted to convict him of second-degree murder  sparing him from death row but triggering an automatic life sentence. No one else has ever been charged.

Mitchell, meanwhile, has recanted her testimony, defense filings claim. And the Wright documents, according to Veasy's lawyers, include a previously undisclosed statement from Mitchell's stepsister casting further doubt on the accuracy of her trial testimony.

Veasy's appeal also includes another curious claim: The victim, Lewis, and several witnesses in the case had been suspects in the murder of another man  an investigation Devlin had also been involved with. That information, defense filings claim, also never was disclosed to Veasy's attorneys.

What's more, the filings say, the man whom detectives eventually arrested, Shaurn Thomas, was freed from prison last year when the District Attorney's Office found another set of previously undisclosed homicide files raising questions about his guilt and agreed to vacate his conviction.

Bluestine said she was shocked when she discovered that key figures in Veasy's investigation also had turned up in Thomas' case files. But so far, she's been unable to determine if it's simply an odd coincidence  or something more.

"Was there a connection between these two [investigations]?" she said. "I certainly have that question."

It may now be up to Krasner and Cummings to seek an answer  and determine whether any more connections exist among other cases handled by prolific detectives.Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein answers a question after announcing that the office of special counsel Robert Mueller announced a grand jury has charged 13 Russian nationals and several Russian entities, Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, in Washington. Read more

WASHINGTON  The Justice Department's special counsel announced a sweeping indictment Friday of a notorious Russian group of Internet trolls  charging 13 individuals and three companies with a long-running scheme to criminally interfere with the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

The Internet Research Agency, based in St. Petersburg, was named in the indictment as the hub of an ambitious effort to trick Americans online into following and promoting Russian-fed propaganda that pushed 2016 voters toward then-Republican candidate Donald Trump and away from Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

The indictment charges that the Russian efforts began in 2014, when three of the Russian conspirators visited 10 states, gathering intelligence about U.S. politics. Officials say that as the operation progressed, the suspects also engaged in extensive online conversations with Americans who became unwitting tools of the Russian efforts. The indictment does not accuse the Russian government of involvement in the scheme, nor does it claim that it succeeded in swaying any votes.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said the suspects "allegedly conducted what they called 'information warfare against the United States,' with the stated goal of "spread[ing] distrust towards the candidates and the political system in general."

The suspects, Rosenstein said, "took extraordinary steps to make it appear that they were ordinary American political activists."

On Twitter, President Trump declared that he had been vindicated.

"Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for President," he wrote. "The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong  no collusion!"

The 37-page indictment includes some startling accusations against the election trolls, including that when news broke last September that special counsel Robert Mueller III was investigating their activity, one of them wrote: "We had a slight crisis here at work: the FBI busted our activity (not a joke). So I got preoccupied with covering tracks together with the colleagues." The person, named as Irina Viktorovna Kaverzina, allegedly added: "I created all these pictures and posts, and the Americans believed that it was written by their people."

Such accounts suggest that Mueller's investigators were able to penetrate deep into the internal communications of the St. Petersburg troll farm, but the indictment does not spell out how they gained such access.

Friday's indictment provides the most exhaustive description to date of allegations about Russian interference in the election, describing an 80-person team with specialists in graphics, data analysis and search-engine optimization that set out to con Americans online.

At times, they paid people to engage in political theater, such as paying for the construction of "a cage large enough to hold an actress depicting Clinton in a prison uniform," according to the charges. It is against U.S. law for non-Americans to make expenditures or disbursements in an effort to affect the outcome of a U.S. election.

'It is spooky'

Prosecutors said the Russians, using fake identities, contacted Trump campaign staffers in Florida offering to hold rallies to support Trump. Susie Wiles, who was co-chair of the Trump campaign in Florida in August 2016 and later became the campaign's chief Florida staffer, said no campaign official was aware of the Russian effort.

"It's not the way I do the business; it's not the way the Trump campaign in Florida did business," she said. "It is spooky. It is awful. It makes you look over your shoulder. It shouldn't happen. I'm anxious for this to be uncovered so this never happens again."

The indictment cites an instance in which the Russian defendants purchased Facebook advertisements  in violation of U.S. law forbidding non-Americans from spending money in U.S. elections  "for a series of rallies they organized in Pennsylvania called 'Miners for Trump' and scheduled for October 2, 2016."

The Russians, through social media groups they created including "Being Patriotic," which had more than 200,000 followers on Facebook, promoted a "Miners for Trump" rally on that day at Marconi Plaza in South Philadelphia.

Unlike similar Russian-inspired efforts in Florida and elsewhere, the planned South Philadelphia rally apparently was a bust.

Other Pennsylvania cities targeted for "Miners for Trump" rallies included Erie, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Allentown.

In Congress, politicians in both parties condemned the alleged Russian interference.

"We have known that Russians meddled in the election, but these indictments detail the extent of the subterfuge," House Speaker Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) said in a statement. He accused the indicted Russians of "a sinister and systematic attack on our political system."

"Today's announcement underscores why we need to follow the facts and work to protect the integrity of future elections," he added.

But that very task  taking steps to prevent future election meddling  has thus far stymied the leaders and committees on Capitol Hill investigating Russian actions. In the House, the parties are openly accusing one another of prioritizing political attacks over taking real steps to protect the country.

"Today's indictments should lay to rest any assertions by President Trump that the special counsel's investigation is a 'hoax' or a 'witch hunt,' " said Rep. Jerry Nadler (D., N.Y.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. "At this point, any step President Trump may take to interfere with the special counsel's investigation  including removing Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein or threatening to remove special counsel Mueller directly  will have to be seen as a direct attempt to aid the Russian government in attacking American democracy."

Prosecutors said the Internet Research Agency kept a list of real Americans whom its employees had contacted using false personas and asked to assist the effort. The list, which numbered more than 100 people by late August 2016, included the U.S. citizens' contact information, a summary of each person's political views, and the activities the Russians had asked them to undertake.

None of those charged are in custody, according to Peter Carr, a spokesman for the special counsel's office. Russia does not allow its citizens to be extradited to the United States to face trial, so it is unlikely the individuals will be turned over, but it probably will prevent them from traveling outside Russia.

Some of the Russians posed as Americans and, without revealing their Russian identities, "communicated with unwitting individuals associated with the Trump campaign and with other political activists to seek to coordinate political activities," the indictment said.

By February 2016, the suspects had decided whom they were supporting in the 2016 race, according to the indictment, which said Internet Research Agency specialists were instructed to "use any opportunity to criticize Hillary and the rest (except [Vermont Sen. Bernie] Sanders and Trump  we support them.)"

Prosecutors say some Russian employees of the troll farm were chastised in September 2016 when they had a "low number of posts dedicated to criticizing Hillary Clinton" and were told it was "imperative to intensify criticizing" the Democratic nominee in future pieces.

Stolen identities

The charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Many of the charges center on the use of at least a half-dozen bank accounts to buy ads online or participate in political activism.

In a related move, prosecutors announced that a Santa Paula, Calif., man had pleaded guilty Monday in Washington to identity fraud, admitting that he made tens of thousands of dollars by creating hundreds of bank accounts, often using stolen identities. Richard Pinedo, 28, sold the accounts to unidentified offshore users, apparently including suspects connected to the Russia probe.

Prosecutors released documents unsealed Friday that showed that Pinedo was charged Feb. 7 after entering a plea deal five days earlier in which he agreed to cooperate with investigators in exchange for an advisory sentencing guideline of 12 to 18 months in prison.

Pinedo attorney Jeremy Lessem said his client "had absolutely no knowledge" of who his purchasers were or what they did with the information he sold, adding that to the extent his actions may have assisted anyone in interfering with the presidential election, that "was done completely without his knowledge or understanding."

One of those indicted Friday was Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin, a well-known figure whom the Russian news media has identified as the financial backer of the Internet Research Agency. He is a caterer who has been nicknamed "Putin's chef" because of his close ties to the Russian president. Concord Management and Consulting and Concord Catering, two Russian businesses also charged by Mueller's team Friday, previously have been identified as Prigozhin vehicles.

"The Americans are very impressionable people, and they see what they want to see," Prigozhin told Russia's RIA Novosti state news agency in response to the indictment. "I respect them very much."

Referring to the list of indicted individuals, he added: "I am not at all disappointed that I appear in this list. If they want to see the devil  let them."

The Internet Research Agency was at the center of Silicon Valley's investigation into Russian meddling during the 2016 presidential election. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google all found evidence that the private firm used social media to divide American voters across a range of polarizing issues, including race, religion, gun rights and immigration.

The Internet Research Agency is regarded as the most prominent part of the Russian disinformation campaign, although congressional investigators pushed for evidence of other operations, including from countries other than Russia, that shared the same purpose.

Staff writer Robert Moran and the Washington Post's Anton Troianovksi, Craig Timberg, Spencer S. Hsu and Karoun Demirjian contributed to this article.Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello urged Philadelphia faith and civic leaders on Friday to put their political power behind relief efforts for the hurricane-ravaged island and to discuss help for evacuees who have come to Pennsylvania.

It has been more than five months since Category 4 Hurricane Maria devastated the island, and thousands of families have sought shelter on the U.S. mainland. Some officials estimate that as many as 27,000 Puerto Ricans could move to Pennsylvania in the year after Maria, second only to Florida.

"U.S. citizens that live in Puerto Rico unfortunately are treated as second-class citizens," Rossello said at a community breakfast at Esperanza College of Eastern University in Feltonville.

Although they are U.S. citizens, residents of the island have little power in Washington. He urged those in attendance to use their voting power to advocate for Puerto Rico.

"We don't have voting members in Congress, and that certainly limits our capability to be effective," he said.

When pressed by State Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D., Phila.) about his plans to petition for "host state" status for Pennsylvania  which would release federal funds to reimburse the cost of evacuating and sheltering evacuees who have come to the state  Rossello said he submitted a petition to FEMA more than a month ago and "we still haven't gotten a response."

A FEMA spokeswoman said the agency had not received such a petition from Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia officials have said their hands are tied by limited funding from the federal government, but local leaders and organizations offering services to evacuees in the city say they are frustrated by a lack of attention. They are asking Rossello to help release federal resources for hurricane victims struggling to find homes, employment, and aid to feed their families.

"I have a number of refugees coming to my office for help, and I don't know where to turn," Tartaglione said.

Rossello promised to follow up on the petition and to contact Gov. Wolf and Mayor Kenney within 24 hours. "My commitment is to make sure that the parties that make that decision  which is FEMA, the state government, and the local city government  are all aligned so that we can get that through," he said.

Rossello later tweeted a photo noting that he met with Kenney, Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez and State Rep. Angel Cruz on Friday "to talk about the needs of the Puerto Ricans who sought shelter in Philadelphia due to Hurricane Maria."

Kenney spokesman Mike Dunn said in a statement that Rossello and Kenney "had a cordial conversation that touched on the question of relief for families displaced by Hurricane Maria."

"The mayor said the discussion was productive, and he's hopeful that going forward, all stakeholders will be able to work out arrangements that are best for the families involved, and for the city," Dunn said. He declined to comment further, saying it was a private conversation.

Quinones-Sanchez said Rossello told the group that he was open to having a host state-relationship with Pennsylvania as long as Wolf agrees to it. Wolf said through a spokesman that he had not received a request either from Rossello or FEMA to be a host state.

"We have reached out to FEMA for clarity but still have not been made aware of any request for this status for Pennsylvania. We look forward to hearing from the governor of Puerto Rico directly on this issue. We stand ready to help our fellow U.S. residents," said Wolf spokesman J.J. Abbott.

Quinones-Sanchez added that Rossello told Kenney at Friday's meeting that if Puerto Rican evacuees are eligible for housing in Philadelphia, he hoped Kenney would grant that. Quinones-Sanchez, who is advocating for the city to allow Puerto Rican evacuees to jump to the top of the public housing list, said she plans to send a memo to the mayor in response to the meeting.

At a news conference that followed the community event Friday morning, Rossello incorrectly stated that at least four states had obtained host status and promised to assure that Pennsylvania would have access to federal aid.

Rossello expressed a commitment to extend the current Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program allowing evacuees temporary lodging in hotels in Pennsylvania until mid-March. He also said he made a request to activate access to housing through the Direct Leasing program. "We have made the petition formally, but it is an agreement between FEMA and the states," Rossello said.

This week in New Jersey, temporary home to about 30,000 people who have fled Puerto Rico since the September storm, Gov. Murphy signed an executive order establishing a commission aimed at speeding up relief efforts for Puerto Ricans in the state and on the island. Murphy toured the island and met with Rossello in December.A 32-year-man has died after he was struck by a car in North Philadelphia early Saturday, police said. Read more

A man has died after he was struck by a car in North Philadelphia early Saturday morning, according to police.

A 1999 Toyota Sienna was heading northbound on the 4700 block of Whitaker Avenue in Feltonville around 5 a.m. when it struck a 32-year-old man who had just stepped out of his own car, police said. Medics pronounced him dead at 5:05 a.m. The driver stayed at the scene.

Police did not release the identity of the man who died or the driver who hit him. They also did not say if charges were expected.White House Chief of Staff John Kelly (left) walks off Marine One as White House aide Johnny DeStefano (right) waits at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on, Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. Read more

WASHINGTON  White House Chief of Staff John Kelly announced Friday that beginning next week, the White House will no longer allow some employees with interim security clearances access to top-secret information  a move that could threaten the standing of Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law.

Kushner, a senior adviser to the president, has been able to see some of the nation's most sensitive secrets even as his background investigation has dragged on for more than a year.

White House officials have privately discussed concerns that Kushner's clearance faces obstacles, according to people familiar with internal conversations. Among the potential problems: repeated amendments that he had to make to a form detailing his contacts with foreign officials. Two U.S. officials said they do not expect Kushner to receive a permanent security clearance in the near future, the Washington Post reported this week.

In the meantime, Kushner has maintained an interim security clearance that gives him access to top-secret and sensitive compartmented information  a rare level of access to hold for a long period of time, experts said. His elite position has allowed him to meet with foreign officials around the world and read the classified intelligence prepared daily for the president.

A senior administration official with knowledge of Kelly's thinking said the chief of staff has been frustrated with Kushner's high level of access without a final clearance and that he was aware the new policies announced Friday could jeopardize Kushner's ability to carry out his duties in the West Wing. The move puts a "bull's eye" on Kushner, the official said.

A spokesman for Kushner did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Abbe Lowell, an attorney for Kushner, said Kelly's directive "will not affect Mr. Kushner's ability to continue to do the very important work he has been assigned by the President." White House officials declined to comment on how the new policies would specifically affect Kushner.

Kushner's ability to maintain his current portfolio, which includes classified briefings, could change next week. That's when Kelly said he plans to discontinue high levels of access for White House employees whose security clearances have been pending since June 1 or longer, according to a memo obtained by the Post.

As part of the security clearance overhaul, Kelly said the White House has reviewed the status of outstanding background investigations with the FBI and encouraged their timely completion. And he laid out new policies to streamline the clearance process and better involve the White House Counsel's Office.

The changes were prompted by intense scrutiny that has followed domestic abuse allegations against Rob Porter, the president's former staff secretary, who was also working under an interim top-secret clearance. Dozens of other White House personnel also work under interim clearances, although not all of them are at the top-secret level.

"The events of the last ten days have focused immense attention on a clearance process that has been in place for multiple administrations," Kelly wrote. "We should  and in the future, must  do better."

It is not clear how Kushner could perform his current job without a high-level security clearance.

He holds a broad range of responsibilities, from overseeing peace efforts in the Middle East to improving the efficiency of the federal government. And he is the administration's interlocutor with key allies, including China and Saudi Arabia, where he has developed a personal relationship with the young crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.

Kushner has been present at meetings with the president where classified information was discussed and has access to the President's Daily Brief, a digest of intelligence updates based on information from spies, satellites, and surveillance technology, according to people with knowledge of his access.

And apart from staff on the National Security Council, he issues more requests for information to the intelligence community than any White House employee, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Security clearance experts said it is rare to have such a high level of interim security clearance for such a long period of time. It is particularly striking access for someone like Kushner, who has never served in government and has a complex history of financial transactions, business ownership, and contacts and dealings with foreigners.

Most interim clearances are granted by the Defense Department, where they expire after 12 months, said Evan Lesser, president and founder of ClearanceJobs.com, which helps place cleared employees in government positions. Typically, other agencies follow that policy. "It's very unusual" to have an interim clearance for longer than one year, Lesser said.

Kushner's background investigation appears to have been prolonged after he filed three updates last year to a questionnaire that requires full disclosure of contacts with foreign officials reaching back several years.

Investigators scrutinize those activities to determine whether a person could be subject to influence or blackmail by a foreign government and to judge whether the person can be trusted to guard classified information.

Ordinarily, experts said, the failure to completely disclose all contacts would jeopardize an applicant's chances of obtaining final clearance.

Lowell, Kushner's attorney, said Kushner had disclosed more information on his security forms than was required out of an abundance of caution.

"My inquiries to those involved again have confirmed that there are a dozen or more people at Mr. Kushner's level whose process is delayed, that it is not uncommon for this process to take this long in a new administration, that the current backlogs are being addressed, and no concerns were raised about Mr. Kushner's application," he said in a statement.

The FBI declined to comment.

Inside the White House, officials  including White House Counsel Donald McGahn  have privately discussed during the past six months the slow pace of Kushner's background investigation, noting his amended disclosure as a possible factor.

In the fall, McGahn discussed the fact that Kushner was working on an interim clearance with Kelly and again raised the issue of his earlier incomplete disclosures, according to a senior administration official. McGahn and Kelly decided to wait for the FBI to complete its background investigation and took no action.

Kushner's pending security clearance comes as his actions and business dealings have come under scrutiny by special counsel Robert Mueller, who is probing Russia's meddling in the 2016 election.

In interviews with witnesses, Mueller's investigators have asked about Kushner's contacts with foreign officials, according to a person familiar with the sessions.

Lowell said Kushner's job is "to talk with foreign officials, which he has done and continues to do properly."

Kushner is only the most notable White House staffer working without a final clearance.

The White House appears to have issued more interim clearances than previous administrations, probably because of the larger number of people who have never been civil servants and gone through the clearance process, or who came to their jobs with complicated business and financial histories, according to Lesser.

"We're in uncharted territory here for a lot of people in the White House," he said.

The White House Security Office is tasked with making a final assessment of the findings of an FBI background investigation.

But the White House's adjudication guidelines are different from those of other government agencies and departments and give wide latitude for awarding clearances. Ultimately, the president can give clearance to anyone he wants.

The Washington Post's Devlin Barrett, Ellen Nakashima and Philip Rucker contributed to this article.WASHINGTON  The hackers, he suggested, may have been Chinese. Or some 400-pound guy sitting in his bed. Again and again, he insisted, Russian interference was a hoax  a fiction created by Democrats as an excuse for losing an election they should have won.

When Donald Trump finally acknowledged publicly that Russians had hacked Democratic emails and interfered in the 2016 presidential election, the then-president elect immediately regretted it. He confided to advisers that he did not believe the intelligence. The last thing Trump wanted to do was to endorse the notion that his victory may have been caused by any force other than his own strategy, message and charisma.

"Russia talk is FAKE NEWS put out by the Dems, and played up by the media, in order to mask the big election defeat and the illegal leaks!" Trump tweeted last Feb. 26.

But Trump's own Justice Department has concluded otherwise. A 37-page federal indictment released Friday afternoon spells out in exhaustive detail a three-year Russian plot to disrupt America's democracy and boost Trump's campaign, dealing a fatal blow to one of the president's favorite talking points.

A "Russia hoax" this was not.

The indictment  signed by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, and announced by Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein, both of whom Trump has at times mused about wanting to fire  reveals that the scope of Russia's alleged efforts to help Trump defeat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton was extraordinary.

Even Trump seemed to partly concede the point on Friday, acknowledging Russia's election interference while still minimizing its impact.

"The results of the election were not impacted," he tweeted. "The Trump campaign did nothing wrong  no collusion!"

John Brennan, who was CIA director at the time of the election, said on Twitter that the indictments reveal the extent of the Russian campaign. "Claims of a 'hoax' in tatters," he tweeted. "My take: Implausible that Russian actions did not influence the views and votes of at least some Americans."

According to the federal charges, Russian operatives spread pro-Trump and anti-Clinton propaganda. They posed as Americans to coordinate and infiltrate political activities. They organized grass roots rallies. They paid for a cage large enough to hold an actress impersonating Clinton in a prison uniform. They stoked racial tensions and sowed social discord.

"We have known that Russians meddled in the election, but these indictments detail the extent of the subterfuge," House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said in a statement. "These Russians engaged in a sinister and systematic attack on our political system. It was a conspiracy to subvert the process, and take aim at democracy itself. Today's announcement underscores why we need to follow the facts and work to protect the integrity of future elections."

Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, which has been investigating Russian meddling, said in a statement: "The indictment reaffirms what our intelligence community concluded, what our committee's investigation has borne out, and what President Trump denies: that Russia interfered in our election in an effort to assist his presidential campaign and harm Hillary Clinton's campaign."

Mueller's indictment came three days after the nation's top intelligence chiefs warned in Senate testimony that Russia is targeting the 2018 midterm elections in its continuing effort to disrupt the U.S. political system.

But the intelligence community's warnings have gone largely unheeded in the White House.

During the first 13 months of his presidency, Trump has rejected the evidence that Russia waged an assault on a pillar of American democracy  something many in his administration regard as objective reality  and has sought to discredit the case that Russia poses a threat to the United States. White House officials have said this is partly because the president wants to forge a productive partnership with Russian President Vladimir Putin to tackle problems in North Korea, Iran and other hot spots.

Trump has never convened a Cabinet-level meeting on Russian interference and has resisted or attempted to undo efforts to hold Moscow to account, such as additional penalties imposed last August by Congress. On the National Security Council, there has been an unspoken understanding that the president would see raising the Russia matter as a personal affront.

Trump's skepticism of the intelligence about Russian interference and his administration's handling of the security threat was documented by The Washington Post last December, including efforts to explore the return of two Russian compounds in the United States that had been seized by President Barack Obama.

Trump's doubts about Russia's role in the election drew considerable attention in September 2016, at his first presidential debate with Clinton. Moderator Lester Holt of NBC News asked Trump about the hacking of emails from the Democratic National Committee.

"Who's behind it? And how do we fight it?" Holt asked Trump.

"She's saying 'Russia, Russia, Russia,'" Trump said, referencing Clinton. "But I don't  maybe it was. I mean, it could be Russia. But it could also be China. It could also be lots of other people. It also could be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds, okay?"

Thus began the 400-pound couch potato theory.

It was not until January 2017 that Trump's advisers convinced him to acknowledge for the first time that he believed Russians were behind the cyber attacks. The leaders of the nation's intelligence agencies had traveled to New York on Jan. 6 to brief the president-elect on their findings. And in the days that followed, chief of staff Reince Priebus, son-in-law Jared Kushner and other advisers prodded Trump to accept the findings. They argued that he could affirm the validity of the intelligence without diminishing his electoral win.

Trump scoffed at the intelligence findings, arguing that they could not be trusted, but finally relented. On Jan. 11, in the lobby of Trump Tower, the president-elect held a news conference and said it once and for all: "As far as hacking, I think it was Russia."

Afterward, Trump told aides that he regretted the comments and he has since hedged his words when asked about Russian interference. Last November, during a trip to Asia, Trump met with Putin and apparently discussed the issue. Trump told reporters that he believed Putin's denials.

"He said he didn't meddle," Trump told reporters. "Every time he sees me, he says, 'I didn't do that,' and I believe, I really believe, that when he tells me that, he means it."

Trump's remarks roiled Washington and the president later tried to backtrack on what he had said. "As to whether I believe it or not," Trump told reporters the next day, adding, "I'm with our agencies, especially as currently constituted with their leadership."

Later that month, however, Trump was back to his old talking points. He tweeted last Nov. 26, "Since the first day I took office, all you hear is the phony Democrat excuse for losing the election, Russia, Russia, Russia."Pennsylvanias Seventh Congressional District has been cited as an example of extreme partisan gerrymandering. Read more

That old saying, Be careful what you wish for? It was ringing in David Landau's ears Friday and giving him nausea just days before Pennsylvania's congressional districts were very likely to be redrawn by the state Supreme Court in favor of his party.

The gerrymandering knife, he was finding out, cuts both ways. And on Friday morning, Landau was staring right at its sharp edge, the weapon pointing straight at the heart of Delaware County.

The insanely gerrymandered Seventh Congressional District is in Landau's backyard. The laughable scribble of Republican political opportunism dating to 2011 was about to be redrawn by a Democratic-majority court.

But instead of his voters being on the verge of getting a map of democratic self-determination, Landau was starting to think another bad deal was on the horizon.

This time, the villains weren't Republicans. The enemy was from his own camp.

"They left us on the cutting-room floor," Landau said. "It's really outrageous."

The they are Democratic power brokers in the state House, Senate, and Gov. Wolf himself. All submitted proposed new maps to the court this past week as the justices prepared to redraw boundaries of all 18 congressional districts in Pennsylvania. The new map is to be revealed Monday.

Nearly all of the friendly-suggestion maps submitted by Democrats in the lawsuit that brought this case to the Supreme Court effectively gave every suburban county of Philadelphia its own congressional district. Except Delaware County. Even the one submitted at the end of the night Thursday by Wolf.

I can only imagine Landau's disgust Friday morning. Like the moment you realize your aunts, uncles, and really fun cousins don't really like your family, after all.

Landau is chairman of the Democratic Party in Delaware County  the political equivalent of the poor cousin in a party long dominated by more powerful Democrats in Philadelphia and neighboring Montgomery County.

For what seems very much like forever, Delaware County Democrats had been underdogs in a GOP-stronghold county bordering Philadelphia. They are now, after more than a century pinned on their backs, waging a historic takeover of the GOP machine.

Voters in that county are so supercharged that nearly a dozen want to run for the Seventh District seat held by recently scandalized Republican Congressman Pat Meehan.

It's the closest any of them could possibly get to figuratively slapping President Trump in the face: Take back the House and thwart the man in the White House.

Meehan's district is so preposterously gerrymandered  extending from densely populated Delaware County across four other counties into Amish territory  it played a major part in the successful court challenge leading to a redrawing of all of the state's congressional maps.

But politics  even when you're on the upswing  can be a bitter pill. Hence, the nausea.

On Friday, hours after Wolf submitted his proposed map to the Democratic-majority Supreme Court, Landau said one thing seemed clear.

Democratic power brokers in the GOP-controlled state legislature and elsewhere had all but left Delaware County Democrats for dead in the final stretch of the gerrymandering map battle.

"We're the poster child for gerrymandering, and we end up shredded in most of the maps?" Landau said. "It just boggles the mind."

The Democratic maps seemed designed to help brethren in Philadelphia (the city would hold three districts including a big chunk of Delaware County voters in one map.) One drawing would move the Seventh entirely to Montgomery County (home to the state's Democratic attorney general, its former state party chief, and its recently embattled veteran State Sen. Daylin Leach). Chester and Bucks Counties get their own seats, too.

Rep. Robert Brady, the Philadelphia party chairman whose First District seat would, in one mapmaker's imagining, take over Democratic sections of Delaware County currently in the Seventh, understands Landau's anxiety.

"I don't blame them for feeling a little apprehensive," Brady said. It will be open season on his seat. Brady is not running for reelection.

Delaware County Democrats have no one like Brady  powerful elected veteran lawmakers who could have advocated strongly on their behalf over the last few weeks. They are still climbing the party power ladder statewide.

But party power brokers in Washington, too, have been on the Pennsylvania case. A half-dozen or so of the state's congressional districts are being eyed by national Democrats in their quest to take back control of the House this fall.

It's hard to buy that all these maps edging out Delaware County were apolitical. Please.

Interim state party chairman Jack Hanna said that what Landau's Democrats have done is impressive. That doesn't mean that someone, come Monday, won't draw a shorter straw than someone else.

"The work that they've done there is extraordinary," Hanna said. "That said, not everyone is going to get the kind of designed district that they want."

At the end of the day, Hanna said, changing the status quo will require "robbing Peter to pay Paul."

Or, in this case, Cain quite possibly killing his brother, Abel.Jacob Garrett, 24, was initially charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident, endangering an injured victim and other offenses after the Jan. 14 crash in Burlington City. Read more

A South Jersey high school student has been arrested after multiple students allegedly heard him say he was going to "shoot up" their Voorhees school, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release Friday.

Jacob Finkelstein, 18, of Voorhees, allegedly made the false threats during school hours at Eastern Regional High School and was arrested Thursday. The Voorhees Police Department could not confirm when the threats were initially made.

He was charged with one count of second-degree false public alarm and one count of third-degree terroristic threats. No weapons were found in Finkelstein's home, according to the Voorhees police. Finkelstein's court appearance is pending.

The school's principal, Robert M. Tull, Jr., issued a letter to parents and guardians Friday addressing the school shooting Wednesday in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 students and faculty members dead. Tull outlined Eastern Regional's safety protocols as well as resources for students who may be experiencing anxiety. That letter did not mention the arrest of Finkelstein and his alleged threat against the high school.

"We will be vigilant in regards to securing doors, screening visitors, and practicing our security drills," Tull said in the letter. "We want our students to be diligent while feeling safe. We encourage students and parents to report concerns regarding social media posts or other sources, and to seek support when feeling unsettled."

A school in Philadelphia's West Oak Lane section underwent an hours-long search Friday after its principal reported seeing a student with a gun to police.

Shortly before 9 a.m. Friday, Wagner Middle School went on lockdown, which was lifted around 12:30 p.m. Philadelphia police later recovered a BB gun, according to Lee Whack, a spokesman for the School District.

Parents of students at the school also received a letter addressing the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in South Florida.

"Safety is always our top priority in the School District of Philadelphia," Whack said in a statement to the Inquirer and Daily News. "Especially given the recent tragedy in Florida, it is important for adults and children to say something if they see something. We encourage families to speak with their children about the serious consequences of bringing any type of weapon to school. It is important that children know if they need help or have concern regarding safety that they should reach out to school staff or school police immediately."Christine Agnes James Wilson Bass, 87, was among the first African American teachers to integrate into the Philadelphia public schools faculty. She died on Feb. 4. Read more

Christine Agnes James Wilson Bass, 87, who was among the first African American teachers to take part in a program designed to desegregate Philadelphia's public schools, died Feb. 4 at Holy Redeemer Hospital Hospice in Meadowbrook.

Born April 5, 1930 in Philadelphia, Mrs. Bass was the eldest of three sisters. She spent her childhood in New York City, but moved to Germantown to live with her grandparents after her mother died. She graduated from Germantown High School in 1947.

Mrs. Bass married Elbert Wilson Jr., whom she met during services at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia, in 1949.

Mrs. Bass attended night classes at Temple University to pursue a bachelor's degree in history while working as an accountant for the Veterans Administration in the daytime. She graduated from Cheyney University in 1962 and went on to receive her master's of science in educational psychology and counseling from Temple University.

Amid a backdrop of racial tension in America, Mrs. Bass discovered her passion for education. She began teaching history at Thomas Fitzsimons Junior High School in 1962. Three years later, she applied to be a part of the first group of African American teachers to take part in a program designed to desegregate the teaching ranks of Philadelphia's public schools. It was a role in which family members say she took pride.

In 1965, Mrs. Bass was transferred from a diverse Northwest Philadelphia school to the now-closed Leeds Junior High School in the more homogenous Cedarbrook section of the city.

"My mother was the only African American teacher in the faculty at Leeds at that time. She became a teacher at a time when Philadelphia was targeting African American teachers and other ethnic minorities to meet desegregation requirements," said Mrs. Bass's daughter, Gayle Griffin.

Mrs. Bass then worked as a guidance counselor at a number of Philadelphia schools, including Germantown High School and Martin Luther King High School. She took her job seriously, Griffin said, whether she was meeting with parents, creating students' schedules, or visiting colleges in the region to help seniors narrow down their college searches.

In 1993, Mrs. Bass retired from Germantown High School, where she had first discovered her own love of learning nearly five decades earlier. Reluctant to leave, she remained at the school as volunteer, assisting seniors with college enrollment.

Griffin described her mother as "a fierce advocate for students" for 32 years. She received numerous awards, including recognition from Germantown High School's graduating classes of 1991 and 1993 for her help matching students with colleges.

"She was very passionate about helping others and just wanted her kids and other children to be able to succeed.  That was the bulk of her career," Griffin said. "She sent a lot of children to college from underserved schools where there was a great need for help."

Mrs. Bass is survived by her three children, Gayle Juanita Wilson Griffin, Elbert L. Wilson, III and Celeste Althea Wilson, and two grandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled for Feb. 20 at 11 a.m. at Salem Baptist Church of Jenkintown, 610 Summit Ave., Jenkintown, Pa. Burial will be private.Helen Madlin Daniels passed into her Lords arms on Saturday, January 27, 2018. She was born on January 11, 1925 in Minden, WV to parents Christopher and Sylvia (Wilson) Spradling. She was the fifth of six children: Gretchen and Irene (Hall) (sisters, deceased), Norman and John (brothers, deceased), and brother Richard Butch Spradling of Ohio.

Helen attended Oak Hill High School then moved to Akron, OH where she worked in a factory as a bucker (Rosie the Riveter) on C-37 aircraft. Upon returning to Oak Hill, she married John Lee Daniels in 1944. Helen and John settled in their hometown of Oak Hill, WV where they raised one son Chris Daniels (deceased) and 3 daughters (all now reside in Florida): Carrol A. Gowan (Ft. Myers), Connie L. Eleinko (Ft. Myers), and Donna Daniels (Fanning Springs).

Helen was deeply loved by her husband, children (4), grandchildren (13), great grandchildren (18), and great great grandson and countless neighbors and church friends.

Helen gave so much of herself to her family, church, and friends. After Johns service in the Army (an MP in the Philippines), John worked as both a postal carrier and a baptist minister in Oak Hill while Helen was a homemaker and served much time by Johns side at the church. Helen had a beautiful voice: she and John sang together at church, and she sang in a county choir (including many solos). She was also an Avon representative and worked during holidays at a dress shop in town. She was a Giver who cooked a meal or gave a helping hand to anyone in need.

Helen and John briefly moved to Parkersburg, WV while John served as pastor to Union Valley Baptist Church. They maintained their home in Oak Hill during that time, then retired back to that home.

With retirement, they spent winters on Pine Island, FL (Fishermans Wharf) where Helen became known for being a great cook (especially her salmon patties) and enjoyed being on a womens bowling team. When John fell ill with Parkinsons Disease, Helen kept him at home and took care of him until his passing September 22, 2002.

In recent years, Helen has lived in Gainesville and Ft. Myers (FL) to be near her daughters. Her last residency was at Springwood Court in Ft. Myers. She enjoyed her time there, loved and appreciated the caring helpers (who told of lots of funny things she did to cheer others and what a lovely woman she was).

She will be greatly missed for many reasons, and we thank God for giving her to us for 93 years.

A celebration of her life will be held in the Oak Hill Baptist Church of Oak Hill, WV. She will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband, John, and son, Chris, at High Lawn Cemetery, Oak Hill, WV. Two celebrations will be held (the second will be in April, date and times to be announced), as several family members are unable to travel for the first. The first services are as follows.

Visitation  Saturday, February 17, 2018, 6pm-8pm: Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, WV

Funeral  Sunday, February 18, 2018, 1pm: Oak Hill Baptist Church, Oak Hill, WV

Burial  following funeral: High Lawn Cemetery, Oak Hill, WVST. CLOUD  A St. Cloud woman has created a product that aims to disrupt the footwear industry by making high-heel shoes less of a hassle.

After slipping out of her heels countless times going to and from business meetings in her consulting career, Kickstandsfounder and CEO Michelle Johnson decided to take the matter of the dreaded "heel slip" into her own hands.

"I've never been a particularly graceful person," Johnson said with a laugh. "But I like wearing heels, and I'm in a position where it is sort of a requirement for the job."

Johnson spent the past five years developing a reversible strap that adds stability and comfort to virtually any pair of high heels. Each strap has a rubber eyelet that allows a pump's heel to slide through, while the elastic fabric strap comfortably conforms to the wearer's foot and provides stability.

"I feel like when women figure out this product is there and what this can do for them, it's really going to bring back the heel," Johnson said. "I used to joke that that's my mission. My mission is to bring back the heel. So we'll see if I accomplish it."

She started with a prototype  a black elastic strap wrapped and sewn around a ponytail holder  to see if her idea could work.

"When I discovered that functionally it served its purpose, I took it up a notch," Johnson said.

She met with Central Minnesota plastics manufacturer Stang Precision in Paynesville to work on prototypes of the rubber eyelet that secures the strap to the base of the heel. After performing more in-the-field tests while traveling for work, she realized she could also make her functional product a fashionable one.

"So I was still just wearing it in transit, but somewhere along the way I really kind of liked the way it looked," Johnson said. "I kind of like the sporty nature of it. It sort of looks like a Mary Jane (another style of women's shoe) but different, so then that's when I started thinking 'OK, this could be something serious.'"

That's where her next local business partner, advertising and marketing agency Adventure Creative, came in. They helped Johnson with design and the patterns that complement the solid colors available on the reversible bands, as well as brand development, product packaging, promotion and website design.

"It was when I partnered with Adventure Creative that it really took off in terms of getting designs and patterns established, and thinking through what it really could be like as a fashion accessory versus just a functional product," Johnson said.

Kickstands offers a dozen different straps in a range of colors and patterns. Kickstands are available in black, gray, navy blue, brown and sand to complement popular high-heel colors.

Johnson has and continues to work with other local businesses to get her idea off the ground.

Meta 13 Interactive developed her website, kickstands.com, and the legal firm Gray Plant Mooty assisted with trademarking and securing the URL. Copper Pony helped as business advisers and hosting a product event, Johnson said, and another local shop will host a launch party later this month.

"I'm all about local artists bringing their stuff in," said Heidi Schneider with La petite Boutique. "It's so cool. I love to support local retailers and local business women."

La petite Boutique in downtown St. Cloud will host a Kickstands launch party from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 22. Once a retail strategy is finalized, Schneider said she would be happy to carry the local product in her shop.

"It's critically important to have the right partners in place," Johnson said. "What I didn't anticipate is just how many players are involved. I have a whole new appreciation for products on the shelf."

Kickstands are only available online, but Johnson said she hopes to have a retail strategy setup soon so she can offer her product in stores. The feedback she has received from customers is encouraging.

Johnson also sees her product fostering empowerment.

"It's life-changing because of the fact that you don't have to worry about being stable on your feet... there's a confidence that comes with that," she said.

"At first it was functional, then it was fashion, and it very quickly became about women's empowerment, which is happening at a good time," Johnson said. "I'm really proud about the fact that this very simple idea could have that big of an impact."

If You Go

La petite Boutique, 912 West St. Germain, Suite 109, St. Cloud, will host a Kickstands launch party from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 22.In his Wall Street Journal column a week ago yesterday, Jeryl Bier reported that Minnesota Fifth District Rep./Democratic National Committee Vice Chairman Keith Ellison and Nation of Islam Supreme Leader Louis Farrakhan had a reunion of sorts in September 2013:

The occasion was a visit by Irans newly elected President Hassan Rouhani to the United Nations. Mr. Rouhani invited Muslim leaders from around the U.S. to dinner after addressing the U.N. General Assembly. Contemporaneous news reports placed Mr. Farrakhan at the dinner. Unreported by mainstream outlets was the presence of Mr. Ellison, along with Reps. Gregory Meeks of New York and Andre Carson of Indiana. (All three are Democrats; Messrs. Ellison and Carson are Muslim.) The Nation of Islam website documents the event, noting that Mr. Rouhani hosted the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, Muslim leaders from different Islamic communities and members of the U.S. Congress at a private meeting . . . at the One UN Hotel in Manhattan Sept. 24, 2013 across the street from the UN headquarters. The Final Call, a Nation of Islam publication, added that  Keith Ellison of Minnesota . . . participated in the dialogue after dinner and includes photos of Messrs. Farrakhan and Ellison at the tables. The Michigan-based Islamic House of Wisdom also reported on the meeting, with additional photos. According to Mr. Farrakhan, the 2013 meeting was not the last time he and Mr. Ellison were together. After Mr. Ellison renewed his denunciation of Mr. Farrakhan in 2016, Mr. Farrakhan stated in an interview that Reps. Ellison and Carson had visited him in his Washington hotel suite the preceding summer.

For some reason, no one wanted to talk with Bier about it: The press secretaries for Messrs. Ellison, Carson and Schumer did not answer emails seeking comment. Mr. Meekss press secretary said his boss had no response.

Star Tribune political reporter Patrick Coolican followed up on Biers column and succeeded in extracting a statement from Ellison. In his Star Tribune Hot Dish email newsletter earlier this week, Coolican quoted an Ellison spokesman who attributed this statement to to Ellison himself:

As part of the 2013 U.N. General Assembly, and as negotiations were under way for what would become the Iran deal, I attended a meeting with President Rouhani and nearly 50 American Muslim leaders. This was not a private dinner, I didnt know in advance who else would be there, and my decision to attend was not an endorsement of the political views of other attendees. I attended the meeting to advocate for a peaceful resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue and to press President Rouhani face-to-face for the release of former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati, who was illegally detained and tortured by the Iranian regime. As always, I disavow anti-Semitism and bigotry in all of its forms.

I commented that it depends on the meaning of private. The dinner wasnt open to the public. Ellisons response otherwise confirmed Biers account, though with apologetics and under a pretense of disputation that it must have taken a few days to concoct. I should add that Ellisons apologetics show his usual creativity.

What about Ellisons subsequent meeting with Farrakhan in his Washington hotel suite? The cat had Ellisons tongue on that one. Coolican noted: I followed up with a question to Ellison aide Karthik Ganapathy about this claim last night, but heard nothing back.

This all took place out of the view of Star Tribune readers who dont subscribe to Coolicans extremely useful daily email newsletter. The Star Tribune has occasionally shielded its readers from the jagged corners of Ellisons career.

For public purposes, after ardent service to the Nation of Islam as a local agitator and self-identified member of the hate cult, Ellison has suppressed his past associations while denouncing Farrakhan and the Nation. Indeed, he promulgated three bald lies about his past with the Nation as he waged his 2006 campaign to succeed Rep. Martin Sabo in Congress.

Coolican returns to Biers story in todays Star Tribune. Coolicans account appears under the headline Ellison again faces questions about Louis Farrakhan relationship. Coolican also gives his account some context to suggest why its news. Indeed, it may come as a shock to some Star Tribune readers.

As for the second meeting with Farrakhan, in Farrakhans hotel room in Washington, I speculated that Ganapathy might come up with something to say after a few days. Coolican reports that Ganapathy has in fact released a statement, thought it is a statement criticizing the media without addressing the meeting Farrakhan says happened in his hotel suite. This is what Ganapathy has come up with in the fullness of time:

Rep. Ellison has advocated a pluralistic, peaceful and broadly prosperous vision for our nations future his entire career, and the idea that matters less than whether or not he was once upon a time standing near somebody is an insane symptom of how our countrys political media coverage is so broken. Rep. Ellison knows Minnesotans understand that standing in a room doesnt mean you endorse every view of everyone else in that room, and wishes the space being used to print this story was instead spent calling more attention to the scourge of white nationalist gun violence, or the deportation threat facing hundreds of thousands of young immigrants across our country.

Ganapathys statement represents Ellisons modus operandi. In September 2006, this is how Ellison responded to the Star Tribune story reporting Ellisons fundraiser featuring Hamas supporter Nihad Awad:

The Republicans are in a tough position. Iraq is a failed policy. They havent done much for homeland security. We still have a health care crisis. The Earth is warming up, and theyre not doing anything about it. What else are they going to do? They have to try to engage in smear politics.

Coolican has performed a genuine service extracting the pathetic white nationalist gun violence variation of Ellisons response to smear politics from Ellisons spokesman this week.

For background on Ellisons treatment of his relationship with Farrakhan, see my Star Tribune column Ellison remembers to forget and the other pieces I collected in An Ellison-Farrakhan reunion. Nowadays Ellison denies he was ever a member of the Nation of Islam. Back in 1998, however, Ellison first ran for office under the name Keith Ellison-Muhammad  a self-identified member of the Nation of Islam (see below, click to enlarge).As expected, the lenient sentencing bill  The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act  pushed by a bipartisan group of Senators cleared the Judiciary Committee this week. Unexpectedly, at least to me, five Republicans voted against it, including Majority Whip John Cornyn, who sponsored the legislation two and a half years ago.

The vote was 16-5. In addition to Cornyn, Sens. Hatch, Cruz, Sasse, and Kennedy voted no. Six Republicans voted yes: Chairman Grassley and Sens. Graham, Lee, Flake, Crapo, and Tillis.

With committee Republicans this divided and the administration opposed to the bill, it seems certain that Majority Leader McConnell will not bring up the leniency legislation. I think it is dead this year, which may explain Chairman Grassleys angry and misguided attack on Attorney General Sessions.

The defection of Cornyn had to be devastating to Team Leniency. But the Majority Whip has always been concerned primarily with prison reform  the corrections portion of the bill  not sentencing reduction. Cornyn seems to have concluded that his quest for federal prison reform is best served through stand alone legislation on the subject, rather than by inclusion in a highly controversial bill whose chances of enactment he must have thought were slim.

Cornyn is right. Indeed, the White House has expressed support for federal prison reform legislation. Heres an opportunity for true bipartisanship.

Unfortunately, the prison reform provisions of the current bill would bring reduced sentencing in through the back door. Federal prisoners could obtain substantial reductions by participating in various rehabilitation programs.

If this loophole is closed, the remaining prison reform provisions in the soon-to-be-stalled leniency legislation will be worthy of support. Whether Democrats would support such paired down legislation is another matter. They specialize in demanding almost the whole loaf, even when in the minority.John and Steve have written good posts on the indictment against Internet Research Agency et al. handed up by the grand jury in the Special Counsel investigation yesterday. The government has posted the indictment here. My comments follow on theirs. I will try not to repeat their points.

There is no substitute for reviewing the primary documents with your own eyes. I have embedded the indictment at the bottom of this post via Scribd. For some reason, the Scribd software removed it, thinking it was copyrighted material. Government documents are not subject to copyright as a matter of law. The help desk promptly restored it at my request. If you dont get anything else from these comments, I hope you will have a look at the indictment.

As the Wall Street Journal observes in the related editorial today (behind the Journals paywall): The 37-page indictment contains no evidence of collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign, but it does show a systematic effort to discredit the result of the 2016 election. On the evidence so far, President Trump has been the biggest victim of that effort, and he ought to be furious at Vladimir Putin.

The Journal editorial asks a good question: The indictment also makes us wonder what the Obama Administration was doing amid all of this. Where were top Obama spooks James Clapper and John Brennan? Their outrage became public only after their candidate lost the election. If they didnt know what was going on, why not? And if they did, why didnt they let Americans in on the secret? President Obama sanctioned Russia for its meddling only after the election.

Obama was probably reluctant to echo the foreign policy of the 1980s for which he had derided Mitt Romney in the campaign of 2012. He didnt want to admit that Romney might have had a point. It didnt comport well with his belief that all was for the best in the best of all possible administrations. For more on the Internet Research Agency, see this interesting Atlantic sidebar.

Andrew McCarthys weekly NRO column was posted this morning but obviously written before the indictment was released yesterday. Andy knows what he is talking about and is a natural teacher. His column today reiterates and expands on critical points he has previously made but that now emerge starkly in light of the indictment: It has long been manifest that there is no criminal collusion with Russia case. If there had been, there would have been no need for the legerdemain of conducting a criminal probe surreptitiously, under the label of counterintelligence. After the indictment, this observation obtains even more so. His column strongly suggests that the obstruction gambit should be retired.

The indictment states that the Russians supported Trump in the Republican primaries and Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries. They supported Trump in the presidential campaign. They obviously thought that their candidacies sowed confusion in the ways that became obvious to us all. They were outrageous.

By the same token, the Russians viewed Trumps presidential campaign as doomed  just as I and everyone else did. They supported American chaos and hysteria and demoralization. Supporting Trump or other actions to detract from the magnitude of Clintons victory might weaken Clinton when she ultimately won. Thats obviously what they had in mind. They were victims of traditional thinking and conventional wisdom, just like me.

And just like CNNs Chris Cillizza. Cillizza continues in his obtuse mode commenting on the indictment. He is also overcome with excitement. He thinks the Russians wanted Trump to win. He doesnt understand what they were up to, or anything else relevant to what happened for that matter. Cillizza thinks, just to take one small example, the allegations of the indictment prove something beyond a shadow of a doubt.

For those of us who have followed the twists and turns of the collusion hysteria since the day after the election, one question hangs over the indictment. In the words of the Lieber/Stoller song, is that all there is? Its too soon to tell, but one guy who should have some idea is the malicious former Gus Hall supporter John Brennan. See Lee Smiths invaluable column explaining how Brennan drove the collusion investigation. Brennan commented on the indictment via Twitter (below)

DOJ statement and indictments reveal the extent and motivations of Russian interference in 2016 election. Claims of a hoax in tatters. My take: Implausible that Russian actions did not influence the views and votes of at least some Americans.  John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) February 16, 2018

I dont want to overread Brennans comment. If the indictment reveals the extent of Russian interference in the 2016 election, as Brennan states, it may be reasonable to infer that there arent many more shoes to drop. The investigation continues. Hope abides for Cillizza and his colleagues among the Democrats media adjunct. As for the Russian collusion with the Clinton presidential campaign through the services of Fusion GPS and Christopher Steele, however, Cillizza and Brennan et al. have maintained radio silence.

Internet Research Agency Indictment.pdf by Scott Johnson on ScribdSo finally, Rocky the Flying Squirrel (aka Rod Rosenstein) and Bullwinkle (aka special prosecutor Robert Mueller) have indicted Boris and Natasha. I wont be happy until Misha the Olympic bear is brought down, too. This nested doll of a scandal will probably go on longer than The Simpsons. Meanwhile, I wont hold my breath for Russia to extradite any of the 13 who were indicted yesterday. More likely theyre all being awarded old copies of the Lenin Prize. Meanwhile, were still not done with the Obama portrait.

Headlines of the week:

And tweet of the week:

And for everyone who isnt a Power Line VIP member and missed our Google hangout videochat last night, heres me explaining how Im going to grill this cowboy cut ribeye after the webcast:

Now dont you want to subscribe!

And finally. . .I wrote here about Robert Muellers indictment of 13 Russian citizens and three Russian companies. The indictment is an odd one, as I pointed out:

Its very first paragraph recites that it is against the law for foreign nationals to spend money to influence US elections, or for agents of foreign countries to engage in political activities without registering. But no one is charged with these crimes. Instead, the indictment is devoted mostly to charging a conspiracy to defraud the United States. Normally, that would refer to defrauding the U.S. out of, say, $10,000 in Medicare benefits. Its application to the 2016 election seems dubious. Beyond that, the indictment charges relatively minor offenses: bank fraud (opening accounts in false names) and identity theft.

I have continued to puzzle over why Mueller chose not to indict the Russians for their most obvious offenses. I think the answer lies in this column by Robert Barnes, titled Does Mueller Indictment Mean Clinton Campaign Can Be Indicted for Chris Steele?

Barness column is off the mark, I think, because it is written as though Mueller did indict the Russians for improper meddling in a U.S. election:

Special Counsel Robert Mueller indicted foreign citizens for trying to influence the American public about an election because those citizens did not register as a foreign agent nor record their financial expenditures to the Federal Elections Commission. By that theory, when will Mueller indict Christopher Steele, FusionGPS, PerkinsCoie, the DNC and the Clinton Campaign?

Actually, Mueller indicted the Russians only for violating 18 U.S.C. 371 (conspiracy to defraud the United States),  1343 and 1344 (wire fraud and bank fraud), and 1082(A) (identity theft). He did not indict them for violating 52 U.S.C. 30121 (contributions and donations by foreign nationals). The question is, why not? Here, I think Barnes supplies the answer, although again I do not think his explanation is technically accurate.

This is the relevant language of 52 U.S.C. 30121, which covers meddling in U.S. elections by foreign nationals:

(a) Prohibition: It shall be unlawful for (1) a foreign national, directly or indirectly, to make (A) a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State, or local election; (B) a contribution or donation to a committee of a political party; or (C) an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication (within the meaning of section 30104(f)(3) of this title); or (2) a person to solicit, accept, or receive a contribution or donation described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) from a foreign national.

The Russians obviously violated this statute; they spent millions of dollars to promote the candidacies of Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump and Jill Stein, and to oppose the candidacies of Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. So why werent they charged with the most pertinent crime they committed? Because Christopher Steele arguably violated the same law. He is a foreign national, and he contributed a thing of value to the Hillary Clinton campaign, namely the fake dossier.

Note, too, Section (2): it is a crime to solicit, accept, or receive such a contribution from a foreign national. Isnt that what the Perkins, Coie law firm, the Clinton campaign, the DNC, and probably Hillary herself, did?

The FEC guidance on contributions by foreign nationals is interesting. There is a volunteer exception; i.e., foreign nationals can volunteer their services to a political campaign. But Steele wasnt a volunteer.

I dont doubt that election lawyers could come up with defenses for Christopher Steele, were he to be charged with violating 30121. But that is a can of worms that Mueller didnt want to open. Too many people know the facts behind the Steele dossier, and if he had charged the Russians with meddling in the presidential election under 30121, he soon would have faced questions about why he didnt indict Steeleand Glenn Simpson, Perkins, Coie, Clinton campaign officials, and perhaps Clintonfor the same offense.

It was in order to avoid that pitfall, I suspect, that Mueller overlooked the most relevant federal offense that the Russians committed, and instead charged them with a vague conspiracy to defraud, along with wire fraud, bank fraud and identity theft. The first charge is entirely discretionary on Muellers part, and Steele didnt commit wire fraud, bank fraud or identity theft.

I think that is why Mueller chose not to indict the Russians for meddling in a U.S. presidential election.

UPDATE: Daniel Lowenstein, an election law expert, doesnt think much of my hypothesis. He writes:

As you point out, Steele was not a volunteer. He was paid for his services. But if he was paid for his services, those services did not constitute a contribution. To say otherwise would mean it would be illegal for an election campaign to purchase anything from a foreign vendor. Furthermore, it would be patently contrary to what the word contribution signifies. I dont see the can of worms.

I assumed something along these lines must be right, which is why I wrote that I dont doubt that election lawyers could come up with defenses for Christopher Steele. But is it really that simple? If it is OK for a foreign national to provide valuable services to a campaign as long as he is paid, and it is also OK if he is a volunteer, what becomes of the prohibition? I assume that the safe harbor Lowenstein refers to requires that the foreign national be paid fair market value for his services; otherwise, he makes a contribution in the amount of the difference between the fair market value and what he was paid. But what was the fair market value of the dossier? Who knows?

Also, I believe that Steele continued to work on behalf of the Clinton campaign in ways that went beyond what he was paid for, e.g. by leaking the contents of his dossier to the press and by taking it to the FBI. Are these volunteer activities and therefore exempt from the prohibition of 30121? I dont know. Simpson, for what it is worth, testified that Steele engaged in these activities out of a sense of duty, for the sake of the public good.

So with all due respect to Lowenstein, I think that Bob Mueller could well have believed that indicting the Russians under 30121 would open a can of worms with regard to Steele, even if Steele would have had plausible defenses to the potential charge.

Lowenstein agrees that the charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States is goofy:

Like you, I find it hard to understand the charge of intent to defraud the United States. I have not read the indictment, but if there is no better explanation of what they mean than you provided, then I can only imagine it means the Russians intended to mislead the voters in a manner likely to influence voters. I agree with you that that is pretty flaky. But flaky or not, I do not see why it is less applicable to Steele than to the indicted Russians.

My point is not so much that the conspiracy theory is less applicable to Steele than the Russians, but rather that the theory is so vague and so novel that its application is, as I phrased it, entirely discretionary on Muellers part.

At the end of the day, I freely acknowledge that my hypothesis is speculative and may be wrong. But if so, the question remains: why did Mueller recite in the indictments first paragraph that it is against the law for foreign nationals to spend money to influence U. S. elections, implicitly recognizing that that was the essence of what the Russians did, and then not charge them with that crime? I, at least, havent seen a better answer.

We thank Daniel Lowenstein for adding his expert perspective to the discussion.TORONTO, Feb. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of Montreal (TSX:BMO)(NYSE:BMO) today announced that it has received approvals from the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada (OSFI) to amend its existing normal course issuer bid (NCIB) to increase the number of common shares that it may repurchase for cancellation from 15 million to 22 million common shares or approximately 3.4% of the Bank's outstanding common shares as at April 17, 2017.

The NCIB bid will continue until April 30, 2018, or such earlier date as the Bank may determine or as the Bank may complete its purchases pursuant to the amended notice of intention filed with the TSX. Under the NCIB, the Bank may repurchase shares through the facilities of the TSX and alternative Canadian trading systems or by such other means as may be permitted by a securities regulatory authority, including private agreements or share repurchase programs under exemption orders issued by securities regulatory authorities (Exemption Orders). Any purchases made under an Exemption Order will generally be at a discount to the prevailing market price. All repurchased shares will be cancelled.

The timing and amount of purchases under the NCIB are subject to regulatory approvals and to management discretion based on factors such as market conditions. To date, the Bank has completed the purchase of 8 million common shares for cancellation since the commencement of its current NCIB.

For News Media Enquiries: Paul Gammal, Toronto, [email protected], (416) 867-3996; For Investor Relations Enquiries: Jill Homenuk, Toronto, [email protected], (416) 867-4770; Christine Viau, Toronto, [email protected], (416) 867-6956; Internet: www.bmo.com, Twitter: @BMOmedia

Related Links

http://www.bmo.com



SOURCE BMO Financial GroupDELHI, February 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Innovant, Aeris Communication and The IET, to work together in the Phase 1 of the project

Innovant, with the support of The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Future of Mobility and Transport Panel and Aeris, launched the Phase 1 of Project IMPACT (Innovative Mobility for People Advancement through Communications and Technology), at the IEI Centre, New Delhi. IIT BHU is the Incubation Partner and Saraswati Seva Foundation is the Social Impact partner for the project. At the event, Innovant showcased its e-rickshaw project, a sustainability initiative that is enabled with IoT kits and other functionalities for rural India. The program is aimed at improving the livelihood in rural India and increase the living index parameters.

Project IMPACT will be led by Innovant International, which is working towards developing cost effective scalable technology solutions for Agriculture, Alternative Energy, Waste Management and Environment spaces; and powered with IoT Platform by Aeris, a pioneer and leader in the Internet of Things (IoT) market, committed to utilize its IoT technologies to improve the lives of those most in need and to foster better utilization of the planet's scarce resources, under the aegis of its CSR global practice.

Speaking at the launch of the project, Vivek Singh said, "e-Mobility could truly be a game changer for rural and semi-urban skilling and employment. Project IMPACT is an effort towards wrapping the best-breed technologies with sunrise industries such as e-Mobility to create supply-chain linkages, e-health diagnostics, Government policy dissemination, Farm facilitation."

Dr Rahul Singh, Chairman, SSF which is the social impact partner for Project IMPACT said "Social context will build the idea in rural areas starting with health services and agriculture outcome support; SSF will take this to Eastern and Western UP networks and build a chain of development sector and social enterprise networks for delivery of services. It will help in creating more employment and develop authentic rural data."

The IET will be the programme partner for Project IMPACT. Taking on its role as a neutral commentator and a credible authoritative voice, The IET is also in the process of forming 'Future of Mobility and Transport' panel which will focus on various mobility technologies. Led by Mr Mustafa Wajid, CEO, Meher Group, the panel will have three vertical based working groups in the sector - Urban mobility, Rural mobility and Freight.

With the IET's deep roots in the UK, various stakeholders from the UK transport and mobility sector will play a significant role as advisors to the panel. The working group will focus on issues and roadmap for Rural India Mobility.

Commenting on the launch, Mustafa Wajid said, "Efficient, sustainable Mobility and transport solutions are key to accelerating India's economic progress & creating vast number of jobs. The challenges to achieve this are diverse & complex. This is even more so due to the interweaving of emerging technologies such as e-transportation, digitisation & electric road systems. The mobility & transportation needs in rural India are very unique. Judicious application of engineering & technology combined with different business models can boost rural incomes. The support to this project is part of the IET's larger focus within its "Future of Mobility and Transport Panel."

As a Principlal Sponsor of the IoT Technology, Aeris will support Pilot Phase of Project IMPACT in eastern UP with SSF and Innovant International. The company will back the project with complete mobile application development for the healthcare, agriculture facilitation, policy dissemination and skill development tracks including the tools to communicate and analyse data with its data management platform. As part of the project, Aeris will also implement a fully-operational, tested and optimized IoT solution for healthcare and vehicle tracking incorporating connected hardware devices and data connectivity.

"It has been our belief that IoT can bring more jobs and can be used to serve the underserved better. The launch of rural mobility project is a clear instance of technology delivering improved services around healthcare, agriculture, knowledge dissemination and skilling options while generating new avenues for employment across the nation. I am certain that this launch will trigger more similar innovations, and this is definitely the way forward in terms of technology delivering multi-dimensional benefits for citizens", said Dr Rishi Bhatnagar, Chairman of the IET India IoT Panel, The IET and President, Aeris Communication.

About Innovant

Innovant is a social enterprise which is to develop and roll out technology led sustainable solutions of social implications. It is a registered startup company working in the cutting edge areas e.g. IoT, e-Vehicles, Drones, ICT etc. Innovant aims at catalysing integrated development of the rural and semi-urban regions by generating employment supported by technology convergence, policy leverage and global networks.

About SSF

Saraswati Seva Foundation (SSF) is a fast growing non-profit organization with a vision to reduce poverty and encourage social justice by empowering women, protecting the children, enabling the youth and supporting the farmers. SSF partners with other development agencies and institutions, and promotes grass-root change leadership in the remote regions. We celebrate their championing of social causes and support them using our resource base, knowledge tools and networks of institutions.

About Aeris

Aeris is a global technology partner with a proven history of helping companies unlock the value of IoT. For more than a decade, we've powered critical projects for some of the most demanding customers of IoT services. Aeris strives to fundamentally improve businesses by dramatically reducing costs, accelerating time-to-market, and enabling new revenue streams. Built from the ground up for IoT and road tested at scale, Aeris IoT Services are based on the broadest technology stack in the industry, spanning connectivity up to vertical solutions. As veterans of the industry, we know that implementing an IoT solution can be complex, and we pride ourselves on making it simpler.

About the IET:

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (The IET) is a 146 years old professional society headquartered in the UK with over 165,000 members in 150 countries. In India, the IET is a little over a decade old, with over 13,000 members. Our areas of focus are - improving the quality of technical education and thereby contribute to solving the skills challenge around engineering, facilitate adoption of technologies that have an impact on human lives. The IET provides a neutral, credible and unbiased platform for volunteers to work on such technologies. Our sector focus has led to creation of volunteer led panels for the Internet of Things and Future Mobility and Transport solutions.

For more details, please visit www.theiet.in.

SOURCE InnovantCHIASSO, Switzerland, Feb. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ODEM.IO, creator of the world's first On-Demand Education Marketplace, has launched its public crowdsale of ODEM Tokens.

ODEM.IO is proud to announce the launch of its much-anticipated crowdsale to fund development of the blockchain-based ODEM platform. ODEM.IO has set a hard cap of 9 million (US$11.26 million) from the planned sale of 180 million ODEM Tokens for about 0.05 each. Tokens will be set in ETH 24 hours prior to the start of the crowdsale. The project has already raised 2.2 million, more than double ODEM.IO's 1 million soft cap. The crowdsale runs through March 19.

"What I love about the crowdsale is that it will give power to the people to support and advise us in the ODEM platform's development," says Richard Maaghul, ODEM.IO's Chief Executive Officer. "It's you, the people, who are making this platform happen."

ODEM.IO is leading development of a collaborative, interactive platform to empower students to engage with top academics around the world to create high-quality educational experiences at a reasonable cost. Unlike online education providers, the ODEM platform focuses on creating real-time, in-person educational courses and programs. ODEM.IO aspires to become the Airbnb of international education.

The platform, powered by the ODEM Token, streamlines the organization and delivery of academic courses. The token will ease cross-border payments and encourage top educators to align their course offerings with students' changing needs.

"Our ultimate vision is to ensure that every student has equal access to higher-quality education," says CEO Maaghul. "The ODEM platform will change education as we now know it."

Benefits of acquiring the ODEM tokens during the crowdsale include:

Immediate membership in the ODEM community.

Discounted use of the ODEM platform and services.

The power to sponsor educators and students to reduce their costs for participating in the ODEM ecosystem.

"The purchase of ODEM Tokens enables participants to access the platform and directly participate in the ODEM community," says Bill Bayrd, ODEM.IO's chief operating officer. "Holding ODEM Tokens also exposes participants to the platform's growth over time."

ODEM.IO, meanwhile, is continuing to process Know-Your-Customer registrations for the public crowdsale. All participants must show proof of identity and residency before being allowed to acquire tokens. The disclosures reflect international guidelines to ensure that all funds raised in the sale are legitimate.

KPMG Switzerland is ODEM.IO's legal advisor while SICOS (Lux) S.C.S. has provided ODEM with advice and counsel on the crowdsale and its structure.

For more information please see: ODEM.IO. Or join the ODEM conversation on Telegram.

ODEM Media Contact: [email protected]

Media Contact Phone Number: (424) 327-5682

Via Balestra 6

6830 Chiasso, Switzerland

Join The ODEM.IO Conversation on Telegram.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/odem-io/

https://www.facebook.com/odemio/

https://twitter.com/ODEM_IO

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/639718/ODEM_IO_Logo.jpg

Related Links

https://odem.io/



SOURCE ODEM.IOEDINBURGH, Scotland, February 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Global Trade/Project Financier, Bachmann & Welser will launch a USD 2 billion Project finance fund in March 2018 with funds that will be backed by several private and institutional investors.

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/623302/Bachmann_Welser_Capital_Limited_Logo.jpg )



The launch will coincide with Bachmann & Welser's Asian Headquarters opening in Hong Kong. The fund, which is to be called, B&W Global Project Finance Fund, will provide financial support for projects which are focused on building evidence of the types of infrastructure and businesses that can make a measurable difference to people's financial capability.

Funding will be available to organisations/companies globally. There will also be funding available to scale up existing programmes being financed by Bachmann & Welser, which have already demonstrated results to test the effectiveness of the project when reaching a wider group of people.

Commenting on the launch, Mr Edward Bachmann, Chief Executive for Bachmann & Welser said:

"We are pleased to be able to channel this funding to businesses/organisations that can really deliver on promises. It is vitally important that we assist our clients with interventions of such kind. We hope to increase the size of the fund by the end of this financial year."

The move is intended to enhance Bachmann's cross-border commercial lending arm to Projects in emerging economies as well as in advanced countries.

Bachmann & Welser's Global Financing business employs over 640 employees and serves many thousands of corporate customers. Bachmann & Welser also has a substantial presence through Project Finance in Africa, Asia and South America. Bachmann & Welser makes considerable ongoing investments in innovation and service quality.

For further information, please contact the Media Relations Manager.

Sarah Atkins, Media Relations Officer, [email protected] , Tel: +44(0)131-357-0361

SOURCE Bachmann & Welser Global Group & SubsidiariesIf you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found hereNew Delhi, Feb 14 : The Congress on Wednesday described the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a "khap party" and said the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government has failed on all fronts in the last three years.

"This is not an Aam Aadmi Party, but a khap party which has failed on every front," Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken told the media here on the third anniversary of the Delhi government.

He also accused the Delhi Chief Minister of not fulfilling any of his poll promises which he made during the assembly elections.

Slamming Kejriwal for not bringing a strict Lokpal Bill, Maken said: "In 2014, when they got 28 seats, they resigned within 49 days alleging the Congress and the BJP were not allowing them to bring proper Lokpal."

"But when they again came back in 2015 with 67 seats, they brought a different Lokpal instead of strict Lokpal," he said.

Maken, who was also accompanied by former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, compared the work of the Congress government and the AAP government in the city.

Talking about the health sector, the former Union Minister said: "During Sheila Dikshit's government, Delhi got 14 hospitals and over 3,700 new beds were added."

"But during the last three years, not a single new hospital has come up," he said.

Comparing the work of the two governments in the education sector, Maken said: "The Congress government during its regime opened six new university and deemed universities each, 22 general education colleges and 20 professional education colleges.

"Five ITIs and 54 ITCs were also opened during our government," he said.

"But under Kejriwal government, not a single new college or university came up in the city. Even the drop out rate of students in the government schools has gone up," he said.

The Congress leader also slammed Kejriwal over the condition of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and said: "In the last three years, the Kejriwal government has bought only one new bus. Even the total number of DTC buses in the fleet has gone down"

Hitting out at the AAP government over the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation projects' delay, he said: "For the first time in the history of Delhi, the work on DMRC project has been delayed by two years."

"During our government, 192 km of metro line, 141 metro stations, seven interchange stations were built in record time. The Congress government even brought 216 metro train sets for the people of Delhi," Maken added.New Delhi, Feb 14 : The BJP on Wednesday staged a protest outside Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence, accusing his AAP government of pushing the city 30 years behind in three years of its rule.

On the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, thousands of BJP workers led by Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari assembled near Chandgi Ram Akhada in north Delhi and walked towards Kejriwal's residence, shouting slogans like "Kejriwal, Kaha gaya tera wada (Kejriwal, what about your promises?)", "Jhootha Kejriwal (Kejriwal is a liar)" and "Kejriwal Sharm karo (Jejriwal, be ashamed)".

The Delhi Police use mild force to stop the demonstrating Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and a few BJP activists including Tiwari were injured when water cannons were used.

Addressing the party workers, Tiwari, who is the MP from northeast Delhi, said: "In three years of his governance, Kejriwal has pushed Delhi 30 years back in terms of development."

He also said Kejriwal had got a setback from his Minister Satyendar Jain's corruption, and this was the reason why he is celebrating the third anniversary with few people in a hall instead with the city's people.

Referring to the disqualification of AAP MLAs in office of profit case, Tiwari said, "They use to preach everyone about honesty. And now their own 20 MLAs have been disqualified by the President because they broke all the laws."

He charged Kejriwal with lying over his promises like opening new hospitals and colleges in the city, alleging not a single new hospital or colleges have been opened in last three years.

"Even the condition of the government hospitals are very bad these days," he said, adding that two babies died in a city hospital this morning.

Tiwari accused Kejriwal of only suggesting closing down things or doing drama whenever Delhi sees any problem.

"When pollution level rises, he suggests to shut Delhi and to implement odd-even vehicle rationaling scheme, when ammonia level in water rises, he talks of stopping water supply. And thus the people of the city want to shut this corrupt government," he said.

"The truth is that he has failed on every promises he made to the people of the city whether it is about installing 15 lakh CCTV cameras, giving free wifi services, marshals in the DTC buses, free water supply and many others," he added.Panaji, Feb 15 : Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was on Thursday rushed to the Lilavati hospital in Mumbai after being diagnosed with food poisoning, an official said.

A formal statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office said that Parrikar was in Mumbai for a "routine check-up".

"Chief Minister will be unavailable for next two days, as he has to undergo a routine check-up in Mumbai," the statement said.

A CMO functionary said that Parrikar was examined at the state government-run Goa Medical College near here late on Wednesday night after complaining of stomach pain.

"He was examined at the Goa Medical College last night, where doctors established the cause of his illness as food poisoning. He was rushed to Lilavati hospital in Mumbai today (Thursday) for further examination," the official told reporters here.Panaji, Feb 15 : Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has been admitted to a Mumbai hospital, where is currently undergoing treatment for "mild pancreatitis", a party official said on Thursday.

"CM Manohar Parrikar will be indisposed till February 19, as he is admitted in a Mumbai hospital and is undergoing treatment for mild pancreatitis," former Bharatiya Janata Party MLA and a close Parrikar aide Siddharth Kuncalienkar said in a statement.

Kuncalienkar also said, that the Chief Minister will attend to official matters from Monday onwards.

Parrikar was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on Thursday, a day after he was admitted to the state government-run Goa Medical College near Panaji, after he complained of stomach pain on Wednesday night.

Earlier in the day, a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office said that Parrikar was in Mumbai for routine treatment.

"Chief Minister will be unavailable for next two days as he had to undergo routine check-up in Mumbai," the official statement had said.Washington, Feb 16 : US President Donald Trump's former campaign adviser has finalised a plea deal with special counsel Robert Mueller's office, indicating that he would cooperate in the ongoing probe over Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Gates has already spoken to Mueller's team about his case and has been in plea negotiations for about a month, informed officials told CNN on Thursday.

He has had what criminal lawyers call a "Queen for a Day" interview, in which a defendant answers any questions from the prosecutors' team, including about his own case and other potential criminal activity he witnessed.

Gates' cooperation could be another building block for Mueller in a possible case against Trump or key members of his team.

Once a plea deal is in place, Gates would become the third known cooperator in Mueller's sprawling probe, CNN reported.

It would also increase the pressure to cooperate on Gates' co-defendant Paul Manafort, Trump's former campaign chairman, who has pleaded not guilty to Mueller's indictment and is preparing for a trial on alleged financial crimes unrelated to the campaign.

Gates pleaded not guilty on October 30, 2017, alongside Manafort.

"Nobody (who's charged) goes in to provide incriminating information to the government unless it's part of plea negotiations," said a criminal defence attorney who represents a witness in the case.

In a Queen for a Day interview, a defendant can typically admit to crimes with little additional consequences, unless he or she lies.

However, it was still unclear what Gates, who outlasted Manafort in the campaign and later worked on the Trump inaugural efforts, could share that would be of value to the Russian collusion investigators.New Delhi, Feb 16 : The CBI has sought Interpol's help in tracking down billionaire diamond trader Nirav Modi, who has been accused of a multi-crore rupee banking fraud and is reported to have fled the country.

According to informed sources, the CBI has issued an Interpol "diffusion notice" against Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal Modi and business partner Mehul Choksi.

The Interpol diffusion notice is used to locate a person in member countries.

Nirav Modi has been accused of a Rs 11,515 crore fraud in the state-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB).

A CBI lookout notice was also issued against Modi and his associates on January 29, but all of them had already left the country by then.Hyderabad, Feb 16 : Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Friday announced that Tehran is ready to simplify visa procedures and hoped India will reciprocate to facilitate easy movement of people between the two countries.

Stating that India and Iran share many commonalities, he called for further strengthening bilateral ties.

Addressing a gathering after Friday prayers at the Makkah Masjid here on the second day of his three-day visit to India, he said Iran with its rich resources of oil and gas was ready to help India to meet its requirements.

He announced that Iran was ready to allow India access to Chabahar Port to facilitate transit to Afghanistan, Central Asia and Europe.

Rouhani said Iran and India can cooperate in areas like industry, agriculture and advanced technology and take steps to contribute to the interests of both the countries and the region.

The Iranian leader said both countries should work together to further strengthen peace in the interests of the region.

Rouhani underlined the need for unity among Muslims and alleged that enemies of Islam were creating rifts amongst them.

The President said Iran was working to end bloodshed in Iraq and Syria.

He said had Muslims remained united, the US President would not have dared to declare Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. "If we are united, the Zionist state can't dare to commit atrocities on the innocent people of Palestine."Mumbai, Feb 16 : Bollywood celebrities Rishi Kapoor, Richa Chadha and Vivek Agnihotri have raised questions about the major banking fraud carried out by billionaire diamond trader Nirav Modi, left the country in January.

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, known for his quirky tweets on political issues, wrote on Friday: "What I cannot understand is that a bank loans Rs 11,300 crore ( $1.8 billion) since 2011 to someone, and no inquiries took place during that period? Only proves 'All that sparkle are not diamonds'. Lot of skeletons in the cupboard and lots of hands in lots of gloves!"

Actress Richa Chadha commented: "Bro! We pay 30.9 per cent income tax, 18 per cent GST and VAT on everything we buy. But Nirav Modi gets way with Rs 11,000 crore. My CA won't be happy, but why the hell should I pay tax? So someone steals and gets away with it again?"

The news of the fraud in a Mumbai branch of the Punjab National Bank (PNB) broke out on February 14. Questions are being raised on who let the jeweller -- whose creations have been worn by the likes of Hollywood biggies Kate Winslet and Dakota Johnson -- to leave the country.

Photographer and producer Atul Kasbekar and ace cinematographer Santosh Sivan shared an SMS that is doing the rounds in the midst of the news about the scam.

"Finding NiMo -- movie by Punjab National Bank," they tweeted.

Filmmaker Sangeeth Sivan shared another SMS via Twitter: "There is a new entry in the dictionary to describe the way scamsters operate... It's called 'Modis operandi".

"Ra.One" director Anubhav Sinha asked one "quick, cute, innocent question" -- "Was Nirav Modi's bank account linked to his Aadhaar."

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has three "simple" questions -- "Why are these corrupt businessmen fleeing the country, despite a friendly Narendra Modi as PM? Why didn't they flee earlier when their Enemy No. 1, honest Sonia Gandhi was ruling the country? Where is Raghuram Rajan these days?"

Even writer Devdutt Pattanaik made his point.

"Those who don't care for the law are always loyal to the KING. Those who care for the law always loyal to the KINGDOM. Notice: Political parties of India (and their NRI cheerleaders) are loyal to individuals and families rather than the country.

"Banks collect citizen's money. They give it to rich people as loan. Rich run abroad without repaying. Governments let them escape. Could it be as they fund political parties? We will never know. Political parties not obliged to reveal income source, remember, unlike citizen."

Author Chetan Bhagat said: "Can PNB properly explain what the scam or fraud is here? If you have given LoCs without collateral, that's just stupid. The person you are giving it, to will take it. How is it fraud? Be brave and tell us what stupidities have you done."

Meanwhile, Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, the global brand ambassador for Nirav Modi, is seeking legal opinion to terminate her contract after the jeweller was accused of committing the fraud.

Actor Sidharth Malhotra too had associated with the brand, but his contract had ended last year. There has been talk that he too has been contemplating legal action against the designer and the brand, but his team has denied this.

"Speculation around Sidharth Malhotra taking legal action against Nirav Modi and his diamond brand is incorrect. Sidharth's contract with Nirav Modi's diamond brand ended last year, and the actor has not been involved with the brand since," read a statement issued by his team.Hyderabad, Feb 16 : Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Friday left for New Delhi after two-day visit to this southern city.

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Governor E. S. L. Narasimhan, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Mahmood Ali and senior officials saw him off at Begumpet Airport in the city.

Accompanied by ministers and senior officials, Rouhani had landed here on Thursday on a three-day visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He addressed Muslim leaders and scholars on Thursday night. Rouhani visited Qutub Shahi tombs, a historic site, on Friday morning.

The visiting dignitary later offered prayers at historic Makkah Masjid in the old city and addressed the congregation.

Winding up his visit, he addressed a gathering of Iranians settled in Hyderabad.

In Delhi, Rouhani will hold bilateral talks with Modi on Saturday. He will also call on President Ram Nath Kovind.Dodoma, Feb 17 : Six lions and 74 vultures were found dead near a national park in southern Tanzania this week after they were poisoned to death, authorities.

Permanent Secretary for Natural Resources and Tourism Gaudence Milanzi said on Friday the way the animals were killed suggested they had been poisoned by local herdsmen amid an escalating human-wildlife conflict in the country.

"I can confirm that six lions were poisoned in the wildlife management area just outside of the Ruaha National Park. We are investigating this incident," Milanzi said.

"An investigation launched by the government has been able to arrest one suspect, with samples of the poisoned lions and vultures taken to the Chief Government Chemist Laboratory to identify the type of poison used," he said.

Tanzania's $2 billion tourism sector, which depends heavily on wildlife safari, is the biggest foreign exchange earner, but there are growing clashes between wildlife populations, farmers and livestock keepers.

Conservationists described the latest mass poisoning of lions and endangered vultures near the Ruaha National Park as a "devastating scene," with the scavengers killed after eating a poisoned cattle carcass.

"Six lions... had been killed, apparently from poison, as they were all found close to a scavenged cattle carcass," the Ruaha Carnivore Project (RCP), part of Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), said in a statement.

"This event had additional tragic consequences, with dozens of critically endangered vultures found dead or badly affected," the statement said.

"They eventually found 74 dead vultures as well as the six lions."

Four other sick vultures were taken to the Ruaha National Park for treatment. One died shortly after arrival, but the others are doing well, it said.

"It appears as if someone poisoned a carcass after lions attacked cattle. Alarmingly, poisoning is a common response to conflict," said the Ruaha Carnivore Project, which is monitoring lion populations in Tanzania.

In 2014, a herdsman near the Ikona Wildlife Management Area in Serengeti district in Mara region poisoned to death seven lions after they attacked his cows.Miami, Feb 17 : US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited a hospital in Florida where the survivors of this week's school massacre were being treated, media reports said.

News channels broadcast images of the President and his wife walking down a corridor at Broward Health North hospital in Pompano Beach on Friday, where they spent time with patients and caregivers.

"It's very sad, something like that could happen," The New York Times quoted Trump as saying on Friday.

The President and his wife also paid tributes to doctors and emergency workers for quickly transporting people to the hospital after the attack on Wednesday at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

The hospital, a level two trauma centre, is located nine miles from the high school.

"The job the doctors did, the nurses, the hospital, first responders, law enforcement - really incredible... I want to congratulate them," Trump said.

After the hospital visit, the Trumps travelled to the nearby Broward County Sheriff's Department headquarters in Fort Lauderdale and heralded the law enforcement officials who responded to the shooting, CNN reported.

"What a great job you've done, and we appreciate it very much," Trump said.

"Everybody is talking about it... I hope you are getting the credit for it because believe me, you deserve it. The job you have done is unparalleled."

The Trumps were joined at the headquarters by Florida's Senator Marco Rubio, Florida Governor Rick Scott, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly.

A White House statement issued later on Friday said the Trumps visited the hospital and the sheriff's headquarters "to pay their respects and thank the medical professionals for their life-saving assistance" in response to shooting.

The massacre, one of the worst mass shootings in US history, was carried out by a former student of the school, Nikolas Cruz, 19. He killed 17 people and injured 15 others.

He was expelled from the school for "disciplinary reasons".

Cruz, who has had a history of mental illness, is currently at the main Broward County jail facing 17 counts of premeditated murder.Washington, Feb 17 : US Special counsel Robert Mueller has indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities for allegedly meddling in the 2016 presidential election, charging them with conspiracy to defraud Washington, according to the Department of Justice.

In addition, three defendants were charged on Friday with conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, and five defendants with aggravated identity theft, reports CNN.

"The defendants allegedly conducted what they called information warfare against the US, with the stated goal of spreading distrust towards the candidates and the political system in general," Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said.

Mueller had convened a grand jury as part of his ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election as well as any possible connections between Moscow and President Donald Trump's campaign associates.

According to the indictment, beginning as early as 2014, the Russian organisation Internet Research Agency began operations to interfere with the US political system, including the 2016 election.

The defendants allegedly posed as American nationals, created false US personas and operated social media pages and groups designed to attract US audiences, CNN quoted the indictment as saying.

Two of the Russians also allegedly travelled to the US in 2014 to gather intelligence for their operations.

The Internet Research Agency had a "strategic goal to sow discord in the US political system", it added.

Twelve of the 13 defendants charged worked for the Internet Research Agency.

In response, the White House on Friday night said Trump was fully briefed on the indictment and "is glad to see the Special Counsel's investigation further indicates that there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia and that the outcome of the election was not changed or affected".

"It is more important than ever before to come together as Americans," Trump said in the statement.

"We cannot allow those seeking to sow confusion, discord, and rancor to be successful. It's time we stop the outlandish partisan attacks, wild and false allegations and far-fetched theories... We must unite as Americans to protect the integrity of our democracy and our elections."

A White House official told CNN that Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray briefed the President on the indictment at the White House on Friday morning.Srinagar, Feb 17 : Authorities imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar city on Saturday to prevent a separatist-called protest, police said.

The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), a separatist conglomerate headed by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, has called for the protest against shifting of local detainees to jails outside, murder of a separatist activist by unidentified gunmen and deteriorating rights situation in Kashmir.

Shops, other businesses and public transport remained shut in the city and other district headquarters of the Kashmir Valley, the police said.

Train services between Jammu region's Bannihal town and Baramulla in the Valley were also suspended for the day.

Police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers in full riot gear have been deployed in areas placed under restrictions.New Delhi, Feb 17 : Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki is delighted with the ongoing dialogue around balancing the gender scale and diversity in Hollywood. Known for "The Great Gatsby" and "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2", she says women are still vulnerable but they have realised the power of working towards change hand-in-hand.

"It is not like people aren't vulnerable any more, but there is an understanding that we are stronger together as women," Debicki told IANS over phone from Los Angeles in an India exclusive interview.

"Women all over the world, from many different types of workplace environments, are understanding that if we come together and voice our collective experience, then we have a lot of power to make change. We don't need to be in the dark any more and we can be heard and we can support each other," added the actress, who is looking forward to Sony Pictures Animation's "Peter Rabbit".

A wave of sexual harassment accusations swept Hollywood following a newsbreak exposing producer Harvey Weinstein. The news about powerful men using their positions to exploit people associated with showbiz hasn't stopped since then.

From Ben Affleck, Brett Ratner, Charlie Sheen, Dustin Hoffman, James Toback to Kevin Spacey and James Franco, several Hollywood men have been accused of sexual assault and harassment. The stir has resulted in initiatives like #MeToo and Time's Up -- with women of Hollywood getting together and demanding equality and more power.

Debicki feels the movements are "gaining a lot of momentum".

"It is such an incredible, important conversation," added the actress, who juggles her personal life in Australia with her professional commitments in the UK and the US.

Debicki, who entered showbiz in 2011 with a small role in "A Few Best Men", stressed the importance of dialogue for diverse representation on-screen, gender balance and women empowerment.

"I am so glad that the dialogue is happening and that people are able to come forward and voice their opinion. The world is a richer place -- the more we have compassion, the more we hear as many voices as possible."

On her stance regarding the diversity debate, she said: "It is really exciting where it is taking us in terms of the type of films which we are making. Even the way the people the film projects. (They are) open to their voices being heard and speaking up and speaking with courage and it is really an exciting time."

From her role as the evil Ayesha in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2", brief appearance as a friend of the female protagonist in "The Great Gatsby", riding instructor Mrs. G in powerful sexual abuse drama "The Tale" to the light-hearted movie "Peter Rabbit" -- Debicki has taken up diverse and varied roles to prove her mettle as an actor.

The 27-year-old says "Peter Rabbit" -- based on the classic tale by Beatrix Potter about Peter Rabbit and his family -- is relevant in the current times.

The film narrates the adventures that Peter Rabbit (voiced by James Corden) and his sisters Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-Tail (Margot Robbie, Debicki and Daisy Ridley) undergo to reclaim their home. It highlights the tussle between humans and animals.

"Peter Rabbit", also starring Domhnall Gleeson and Rose Byrne, is being brought to India by Sony Pictures. It will release in the country on February 23.

"I think the message in 'Peter Rabbit' is really important for children and for adults. The film is about accepting that everybody around you is different. They all have their imperfections. We are all learning in life, but if we can live life with compassion and love people around us then we sort of are happier... we are better people.

"It is such an important thing to teach children. In 'Peter Rabbit', it is about different animals, animals and humans, and the boundaries that have been put out that don't need to be there... and if we can get rid of those boundaries, we will all be happier," she said.

(Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in)New Delhi, Feb 17 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday discussed bilateral cooperation across a range of areas and regional issues during a meeting with Iran President Hassan Rouhani here.

Modi welcomed Rouhani at the Hyderabad House here ahead of delegation-level talks between the two sides.

"Both leaders held substantive and productive discussion on cooperation in trade and investment, energy, connectivity, defence and security, and regional issues," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted Earlier on Saturday, Rouhani, who arrived here on Friday evening from Hyderabad, was a accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

This the first presidential visit from Iran to India in 10 years and comes after the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the West Asian nation in 2016.

Following the ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also called on the visiting dignitary.

"Strengthening cooperation in energy, connectivity, IT, education, culture and people-to-people contact came up for discussion," Kumar said in a separate tweet following that meeting.New Delhi, Feb 17 : External Affairs Minister on Saturday called on visiting Iran President Hassan Rouhani and discussed a number of issues, including energy and connectivity.

"Strengthening cooperation in energy, connectivity, IT, education, culture and people-to-people contact came up for discussion," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted following the meeting.

Earlier on Saturday, Rouhani, who arrived here on Friday evening from Hyderabad, was a accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

This the first presidential visit from Iran to India in 10 years and comes after the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the West Asian nation in 2016.

Modi and Rouhani will hold delegation-level talks later in the day following which a number of agreements are expected to be signed.New Delhi, Feb 17 : Former Delhi Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely on Saturday returned to the Congress and said he was "ideologically a misfit" in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which he had joined in April last year.

His re-induction in the Congress was announced soon after Lovely, along with Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken, former Delhi Minister Haroon Yusuf and party's spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala called on party President Rahul Gandhi at his residence here.

"It was not an easy decision for me to leave Congress. The decision was taken in pain. Ideologically, I was a misfit there (BJP)," Lovely told the media.

Announcing Lovely's re-induction, Maken said: "We are happy to announce that Lovely has joined Congress back. We welcome him to the party again."

"Congress will be strengthened by his presence again and we will serve the people of Delhi," the Congress leader said.

The former Union Minister also hailed Lovely and his family for their contribution to the party for generations.

"Lovely and his family have contributed to the Congress for long. He has been a strong sepoy of the Congress for generations. He has been the former Delhi unit chief and a former Minister in the Delhi government," Maken added.

Lovely had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in April last year ahead of the MCD polls in the national capital.

A four-time MLA, Lovely was first elected to the Delhi Legislative Assembly in 1998.

Lovely's comeback can be seen as a big boost for the Congress ahead of by-polls to the 20 assembly seats in the national capital.

On February 14, Maken also reunited with three-times Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to highlight the failures of Arvind Kejriwal government in the city.Mumbai, Feb 17 : The weekly trade in the Indian equity markets was almost flat. However, a slew of domestic developments like a $1.8 billion fraud reported by the Punjab National Bank (PNB) and release of major macro-economic data impacted the movements of the two key equity indices, analysts said.

On a weekly basis, the barometer 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) rose a tad by 5 points or 0.01 per cent to close at 34,010.76 points.

The wider Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed trade at 10,452.30 points -- bit lower by 2.65 points or 0.02 per cent from its previous week's close.

"Local factors were more at work during this week. Globally, the markets -- especially the US markets -- have done very well over the last six sessions. But upper moves in the domestic markets have been limited because of local factors," Deepak Jasani, Head, Retail Research, HDFC Securities, told IANS.

"The market sentiments kept facing new challenges one after the other. This caused some concern in terms of their financial impact and/or political repercussions," he added.

According to Jasani, it was the third consecutive week of losses for the Nifty50 index.

During the week, a massive-sell off in the banking sector stocks was triggered after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced new norms to deal with non-performing assets on Monday.

Besides RBI's latest move, the massive $1.8 billion fraud detected at one of the Mumbai branches of PNB -- the country's second largest public sector bank -- on February 14 also spooked investors.

The markets were closed on Tuesday for Mahashivratri.

"The truncated week began with a gap-up opening on Monday; however, bulls failed to keep the momentum and eventually ended the week on lower note as the sentiments got further dented by a $1.77 billion fraud reported by the PNB earlier this week," D.K. Aggarwal, Chairman and Managing Director of SMC Investments and Advisors, told IANS.

PNB shares started to decline after the bank detected a multi-crore fraud case and authorities blamed billionaire diamond trader Nirav Modi for the fraud along with wife Ami, brother Nishal and maternal uncle and business partner Mehul Choksi.

The bank's shares plunged drastically following the news -- over 9 per cent -- along with the stocks of Choksi-promoted jewellery company Gitanjali Gems, which plunged almost 20 per cent.

On the macro-front, Aggarwal said: "The CPI (Consumer Price Index) fell marginally to 5.07 per cent in January, while industrial activity has shown growth of 7.1 per cent in December."

"The December growth showed not only a robust year-on-year growth but also a strong chronological improvement in the industrial activity," he added.

On the currency front, the rupee strengthened by 18-19 paise to close at 64.21-22 against the US dollar from its last week's close at 64.40.

Provisional figures from the stock exchanges showed that foreign institutional investors sold off scrips worth Rs 2,849.1 crore, while domestic institutional investors purchased scrips worth Rs 2,368.01 crore during the week.

Figures from the National Securities Depository (NSDL) revealed that foreign portfolio investors off-loaded equities worth Rs 3,006.58 crore, or $467.77 million, during February 12-16.

"The benchmark index Nifty closed below 10,500 levels as banking stocks dragged after the PNB fraud case," Arpit Jain, AVP at Arihant Capital Markets, told IANS.

"On the domestic front the country's exports increased by 9 per cent in January, while trade deficit touched a three-year high of $16.3 billion due to an increase in crude oil imports," he added.

Sector-wise, banks, consumer durables and auto fell the most, while metals, FMCG, and oil and gas indices ended marginally in the positive.

The top weekly Sensex gainers were: Tata Steel (up 2.52 per cent at Rs 688.30); Reliance Industries (up 2 per cent at Rs 921.70); Asian Paints (up 1.75 per cent at Rs 1,143.70); Dr Reddy's Lab (up 1.55 per cent at Rs 2,212.75); and Hindustan Unilever (up 1.51 per cent at Rs 1,352.45).

The losers were: State Bank of India (down 9.85 per cent at Rs 271.75); Yes Bank (down 6.91 per cent at Rs 311.90); Axis Bank (down 5.41 per cent at Rs 537.75); ICICI Bank (down 4.05 per cent at Rs 321); and ITC (down 2.67 per cent at Rs 266.35).

(Porisma P. Gogoi can be contacted at porisma.g@ians.in)Panaji, Feb 17 : Authorities and the Goa unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday denied media reports that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is expected to undergo surgery at a Mumbai hospital.

A statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said: "The CM is being monitored for inflamed pancreas at the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai, but has not been advised surgery. He will attend the Goa Assembly session scheduled to begin from February 19."

Reports on Parrikar's surgery had appeared in a section of the local media whereas the CMO said he was under treatment at the Mumbai hospital for "mild pancreatitis" since February 15.

"Parrikar continues to be 'under observation' and his health is improving," Goa BJP Media Cell incharge Sandesh Sadhale said in a statement here.

Parrikar was rushed to the Mumbai hospital on Thursday, a day after he was admitted to the state-run Goa Medical College near Panaji, for stomach pain.New Delhi, Feb 17 : The only foreign bank affected in Nirav Modi/Mehul Choksi fraud case turns out to be Intesa Sanpaolo SPA whose Hong Kong branch was called upon to provide money to Gitanjali Gems against a foreign letter of credi (FLC) issued by the Punjab National Bank (PNB).

The amount raised through the Hong Kong branch of the Italy-based bank by the Gitanjali group company headed by Mehul C. Choksi -- who left the country in January -- is $2,200,011.65 (Rs 14.08 crore) against an FLC given by PNB, which is coming up for payment on March 19.

All other amounts, totalling to $754.92 million (Rs 4,886.72 crore) were raised by the Gitanjali group through foreign branches of Indian banks against FLCs or Letters of Undertaking (LoU) given by PNB. These details are available in the FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the Gitanjali group on February 15. The amount against Intesa Sanpaola is mentioned only against the SWIFT code of the branch without any name. SWIFT is the system of bank identification for wire transfers of money.

FIR against the rest of Rs 11,300 crore raised by Nirav Modi companies through fraud on PNB is yet to be filed, except for the first FIR which was filed by the CBI for an amount of Rs 280.7 crore on January 29.

CBI officials said details of the amounts (of around Rs 6,400 crore) would be added to the first FIR lodged against Diamond R Us, Solar Exports and Stellar diamond whose partners have been named as Nirav Modi, Nishal Modi (brother of Nirav), Mehul Choksi (uncle of Nirav) and Ami Nirav Modi (wife of Nirav)

The second FIR also names 11 directors of the three Gitanjali group companies.

The PNB fraud came to light on January 16, 2018, when officials of Nirav Modi companies approached the bank for buyers' credit without collateral saying they had been getting such facility for years. The bank said that the official who had earlier allowed such illegal facility through LoUs and FLCs had retired by then, and on checking by officials, the whole fraud unravelled.

According to PNB, a deputy manager and a single window operator (relatively lower-level officials) were responsible for issuing LoUs and FLCs worth hundreds of millions or dollars and these were not reported in the core banking solution system of the bank which tracks all transactions. The Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi companies then used these documents to obtain buyer's credit from several banks.

Moreover, the LoUs were issued with validity for around a year when RBI directives stipulate only 90 days credit for exporters. Further, these LoUs and FLCs were regularly rolled over by the companies, which is again illegal under banking norms.

In a press conference in Delhi on Thursday, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PNB, Sunil Mehta, had said in response to a question that all the branches abroad which had issued money against LoUs or FLCs of his bank were branches of Indian banks except one. He had not named the foreign bank.

According to details mentioned in the FIR against three companies of the Gitanjali group, the amount raised by Gitanjali Gems Ltd was $335.06 mllion (Rs 2,144.37 crore) through LoUs and $89.86 (Rs 575.11 crore) through FLCs; by Gili India Ltd was $88.54 million (Rs 566.65 crore) through LoUs and $97.72 million (Rs 625.40 crore) through FLCs; and by Nakshatra Brands Ltd was $50.17 million (Rs 321.10 crore) through LoUs and $93.57 million (Rs 598.85 crore) through FLCs.

The Indian bank branches which had credited money to Nostro accounts of PNB on receiving LoUs or FLCs, which were then withdrawn by Gitanjali group companies as buyers' credit, include: State Bank of India (Mauritius); State Bank of India (Frankfurt); Bank of India (Antwerp); Canara Bank (Bahrain); Axis Bank (Hong Kong); Allahabad Bank (Hong Kong); Union Bank of India (Hong Kong); and Uco Bank (Hong Kong).New York, Feb 17 : Fathers, take note! Taking too much stress may affect the brain development of your kids, a new study has claimed.

According to the researchers, the stress changes the father's sperm which can then alter the brain development of the child.

This new research provides a much better understanding of the key role that fathers play in the brain development of their kids, the researchers said.

Previously, the researchers including Tracy Bale at the University of Maryland School, found that adult male mice, experiencing chronic periods of mild stress, have offspring with a reduced response to stress; changes in stress reactivity have been linked to some neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression and PTSD.

They isolated the mechanism of the reduced response; they found that the father's sperm showed changes in a genetic material known as microRNA. MicroRNA are important because they play a key role in which genes become functional proteins.

Now, the researchers have unravelled new details about these microRNA changes.

In the male reproductive tract, the caput epididymis, the structure where sperm matures, releases tiny vesicles packed with microRNA that can fuse with sperm to change its cargo delivered to the egg, they said.

The caput epididymis responded to the father's stress by altering the content of these vesicles, the researchers added.

The result of the study, presented at AAAS 2018 annual meeting in Austin, suggests that even mild environmental challenges can have a significant impact on the development and potentially the health of future offspring.

The researchers also noted that by learning more about links between a father's exposure to stress and the risks of disease for his kid, we can better understand, detect, and prevent these disorders.Kolkata, Feb 17 : Hindu Samhati chief Tapan Ghosh and three activists, arrested on charge of attacking media persons at an event in the city, were on Saturday remanded in five-day judicial custody by a Sessions court, police said.

The four were charged with attempt to murder (Section 307) of the Indian Penal Code, causing grievous hurt (Section 326) and causing damage to property (Section 427).

The were in police custody from February 15 to 17.

"The four were presented in the Sessions court, which remanded them in judicial custody till February 22, the next date for hearing," a senior Kolkata Police officer said.

The four were arrested on February 14 for allegedly assaulting journalists at an event of the organisation's 10th foundation day at the Esplanade after they tried to talk to members of a Muslim family who allegedly converted to Hinduism.

Several Hindu Samhati activists stopped the reporters and camera persons from interacting with the family, which was present at the event. Some allegedly manhandled the media persons and tried to snatch away their cameras.

Formed in 2008, the Hindu Samhati website describes itself as an NGO that is the "icon of hope to the Hindus in West Bengal".Bhubaneswar, Feb 17 : Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday reiterated the demand for special category status for Odisha and revision of coal royalty for the benefit of the state.

During a meeting with NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar at the state secretariat here, the Chief Minister also demanded an increase in central assistance to the backward districts of the state.

The state government has been demanding more central assistance for schemes in backward districts, funding for programmes like special plan for the Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput (KBK) districts, Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF), Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for Left Wing Extremists-affected districts, which have been stopped by the Centre.

The Chief Minister also urged the Centre to change the fund-sharing pattern of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) from 75:25 to 90:10 between the Centre and state, respectively.

As lack of bank branches have affected the financial inclusion system in Odisha, the state government urged that all banks be instructed to open branches in identified unbanked gram panchayats.

Patnaik reiterated the demand for a revision the rate of royalty on coal, something that has to be done every three years. The Centre has not revised the royalty on coal since April 2012.

"Before my arrival, issues pertaining to the state's interests had been submitted to us. There are 9-10 important issues. Out of these, some are relating to Odisha, some to the central government and some to other states. We will look into them separately," Rajiv Kumar told media persons.

"Our effort through such meetings is that the senior bureaucrats from this state would come over to New Delhi and the officials of the required ministries will be invited to the NITI Aayog and interact on the solutions," he added.New Delhi, Feb 17 : Finance Minister Arun Jaitely would be leaving Saturday night on a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia to co-chair the 12th India-Saudi Arabia Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) on February 18-19, an official statement said here.

Jaitley, along with his counterpart minister from Saudi Arabia, will open the "Saudi-Indian Business Council" on Sunday. He will also visit the "India Pavillion" at the Saudi National Heritage and Cultural Festival Janadriyah.

Jaitely will meet Saudi Minister of Trade and Investment, Majid Al-Qassabi on February 19 to discuss bilateral issues, the statement added.Kozhikode (Kerala), Feb 17 : Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday asked all political parties in Kerala to shed the politics of violence.

"In any country, progress and development take place when there is peace. Development and political murders can't go together. Politics should not be fought with bullets as votes have more power. I appeal to the people of Kerala to isolate violence from politics," Naidu said.

His statement comes at a time when Kannur, the home district of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, witnessed the 22nd political murder ever since Vijayan assumed office 20 months back.

A 30-year-old Congress worker was hacked to death on Monday by suspected Communist Party of India-Marxist workers.

"Politicians should not work as enemies. Instead, they can be opponents with their own ideologies. Even though there will be differences of caste, community, religion, politics, colour and language, we are primarily Indians," the Vice President said.Chandigarh, Feb 17 : The Haryana government on Saturday decided to gift a residential plot to the widow of a soldier who was killed in an anti-militancy operation in Jammu and Kashmir nearly 18 years ago.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet here, presided over by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

"The Cabinet approved a proposal of Gram Panchayat, Bijopur in Block Ballabhgarh, district Faridabad, to gift 200 square yards residential plot to Mamuna, widow of martyr Mohammed Sadik, who died in 'Operation Rakshak Jammu and Kashmir-2000'," a state government spokesman said here.

"Approval to gift plot to Mamuna has been given keeping in view Rule 13 of the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Rules, 1964, which provides that a Gram Panchayat with prior approval of the state government, can gift land...vested in it for residential purposes up to the extent of 200 square yards, to the members of defence forces and paramilitary forces seriously injured and rendered handicapped or to the dependent families of such members killed, in any war or counter insurgency operation during their service, not having sufficient residential accommodation," the Cabinet note stated.Chennai/New Delhi, Feb 17 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached land worth Rs 115 crore of VGN Developers in Chennai in a case of bank fraud while purchasing the land in 2013, an official said on Saturday.

The agency attached 10.46 acre under-construction land in Guindy, near Chennai, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the State Bank of India (SBI) fraud case related to the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, or the SARFAESI Act.

The land was purchased by VGN Developers Pvt Ltd in 2013 from Hindusthan Teleprinters Ltd, a government of India undertaking, an ED statement said.

"It was alleged that an official of SBI's stressed assets management branch, the company representatives and the buyers conspired among themselves.

"They sold the prime land having a guideline value of Rs 387 crore for sale price of Rs 272 crore and thus caused a wrongful loss to the government to the tune of Rs 115 crore, thereby obtained corresponding wrongful gain to themselves," said the statement.

In its investigations, the ED identified that the proceeds of crime in the form of wrongful gain derived by VGN Developers had been integrated in the construction of multi-storey residential apartments at Guindy for sale to general public in the name of "VGN Fairmont".

The Central Bureau of Investigation had earlier registered an FIR in the case in Chennai for causing wrongful loss of Rs 115 crore by VGN Developers to the central government by acquiring 10.46 acre of vacant land at Guindy from SBI's stressed assets management branch through a private sale treaty under the SARFAESI Act to recover the dues of Hindusthan Teleprinters.Shimla, Feb 17 : The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, presided over by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, on Saturday took several major decisions, including filling up 200 posts of doctors on specific contracts through walk-in interviews to overcome their shortage.

During the meeting, the cabinet also decided to amend a policy of tendering bond money for MBBS students pursuing higher degree.

This is a major relief for the doctors undergoing post-graduation courses, who are facing difficulties in obtaining bank guarantees, a government spokesperson told IANS.

It also approved the deployment of two medical physicists and four radiotherapist technicians on outsource basis at the Government Medical College in Tanda town to operationalise the cancer treatment equipment there.

In other decisions, the cabinet decided to procure four pulses from National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Ltd under the subsidised scheme for procurement and distribution.

For this, the Himachal Pradesh State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd and the consumers' federation will execute a memorandum of understanding. This would help to save Rs 2.63 crore per month, said the spokesperson.

The Cabinet gave its approval to strengthen the Himachal Pradesh Forest Ecosystem Climate Proofing Project being implemented in Chamba and Kangra districts with the assistance from the KFW Development Bank of Germany by providing more requisite staff.

This project is covering 600 panchayats in both districts for minimising and mitigating the negative impacts of climate change by increasing biodiversity and sustained income in rural areas through sustainable management of forest resources.New Delhi : New Delhi Feb 17 (IANS) Did the fraud at Punjab National Bank (PNB) continue even after the "main culprit", named by the bank, retired?

It would seem so from the details provided by PNB to the investigative agency on the basis of which the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed two first information reports -- one against three companies of Nirav Modi and the other against the Gitanjali group of three companies of Mehul Choksi, uncle of Nirav.

According to the second complaint made by PNB, Gokulnath Shetty, then deputy manager posted at the Brady House branch in Mumbai, along with Single Window Operator Manoj Hemant Karat, fraudulently issued Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) and Foreign Letters of Credit (FLC) in favour of the Gitanjali group of companies which amounted to a fraud of Rs 4,886.72 crore.

LoUs by banks are issued for 90 days according to RBI norms. But Shetty and Karat conspired to issued LoUs to foreign branches of Indian banks for about 360 days, PNB said. No information on these transactions was given in the core banking solution (CBS) system of the bank, which tracks all transactions.

Shetty retired from PNB on May 31, 2017. In all, 143 LoUs were issued starting on March 1, 2017, and the last set six LoUs are to come up for payment on April 23, 2018 -- in less than a year.

Similarly, for FLCs, the two officers entered a smaller amount in the CBS to generate a reference number. Subsequently, they increased the amounts by a message through the SWIFT transaction network to the beneficiary bank without any reference to the CBS of PNB. The beneficiary or overseas supplier discounted these documents based on the enhanced amounts.

Again, all FLCs issued in 2017 (no dates are given) have due dates in 2018 for payment. These too should have been less than a year after Shetty retired.

But intriguingly, there are six transactions out of kilt from a total of 224 -- two with due dates in June 2018 and four with due dates in July 2018.

So was someone else approving these transactions after Shetty retired? PNB has not given any explanation to the investigating authories on this discrepancy.

The transactions (3731FLC 20113/17 and 114) are amounts of $1,099,982 and $999,858 in favour of Gitajali Gems, both with due dates of June 24, 2018. The four with due dates of July 7, 2018, are also all to Gitanjali Gems (FLC No 55/17) with amounts of $1,073,434, $1,122,083, $1,127,578 and $1,089,525.

The total amount of these six apparently "post-retirement" transactions are $6,512,460 or Rs 41.68 crore. Who approved these transactions? Were there more than two people involved in approving the money through LoUs and FLCs?New Delhi, Feb 17 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday conducted raids at 21 more places across India and seized assets worth Rs 25 crore in connection with the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, an official said.

"The ED conducted further searches at 21 locations across India in the Nirav Modi case and seized diamonds, gold, precious stones and jewellery worth Rs 25 crore (book value). The total seizures till now in the case is Rs 5,674 crore," ED spokesman Anil Rawal told IANS.

The agency on Friday had conducted searches at 35 locations in connection with the fraud involving around Rs 11,300 crore and seized diamonds, gold and jewellery worth Rs 549 crore.

The ED on Thursday registered an FIR under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and conducted raids after surfacing of the alleged fraud by billionaire diamond trader Nirav Modi and his Mumbai-based firms -- Diamonds R Us, Solar Exports, and Stellar Diamonds.

Six properties in Mumbai belonging to the jeweller were also sealed.

The action is based on a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case registered against Nirav Modi on Wednesday in connection with a fraud involving Rs 6,498 crore.

The CBI on Thursday registered fresh FIRs against 10 directors of the Gitanjali Group of companies on charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, including Mehul Choksi, the Managing Director of Gitanjali Gems Ltd based in Mumbai's Walkeshwar.

The FIR also named two former bank employees said to be directly involved in the fraudulent transactions.

Additionally, three companies of Gitanjali Group were also named in the CBI FIR for defrauding Rs 4,886.72 crore.Chennai, Feb 17 : Finally, it is official. Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Friday told AIADMK office-bearers in Theni district that he merged his faction with the ruling faction on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

All these days, the two factions -- one led by Panneerselvam and the ruling faction led by Chief Minister K. Palaniswami -- had been saying that the BJP has no role in their internal affairs.

Panneerselvam told partymen that during a courtesy meeting, Modi had suggested to merge his faction with the other to save the party.

The Deputy Chief Minister and party Coordinator Panneerselvam also said that it was on Modi's suggestion that he agreed to become a Minister.

Soon after the death of former Chief Minister J. Jayalaltihaa, the AIADMK broke into three factions -- one led by Panneerselvam and the other two led by Palaniswami and V.K. Sasikala/ T.T.V. Dinakaran.

In 2016, the factions led by Panneerselvam and Palaniswami merged. Post merger the party got its poll symbol -- two leaves -- and its original name.

The Election Commission had frozen the party name and its poll symbol as the factions demanded that they be allotted the name and the symbol.

Asked about Panneerselvam's revelation, Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar (part of the ruling faction led by Palaniswami) said he could not comment on the conversation that happened between Modi and Panneerselvam.

However, he said, whosoever had suggested to keep out the Sasikala family from AIADMK was right.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party chief Tamilisai Soundararajan declined to comment on the issue, but added that Modi might have suggested something during his conversation with Panneerselvam.

According to her, the BJP does not interfere in the affairs of other parties.New Delhi, Feb 17 : Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived here on Saturday on an eight-day visit at the invitation of his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi.

"Strategic partnership underpinned by shared values of democracy and pluralism! Namaste to the Right Honorable @JustinTrudeau, Prime Minister of Canada as he arrives on the state visit to India from 17-24 February, 2018," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The visit is aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries in key areas of mutual interest trade and investment, energy, science and innovation, higher education, infrastructure development, skill development and space, a ministry statement said.

Cooperation in security and counter-terrorism as well as exchange of views on global and regional issues of mutual interest will also form important components of the visit.

Canada is also home to around 1.4 million people of Indian origin.

Modi will hold bilateral talks with Trudeau on February 23 following which a number of agreements are expected to be signed.

The trip comes nearly three years after Modi visited Canada in April 2015. The last visit of a Canadian Prime Minister to India was in November 2012.

During the course of his stay in India, Trudeau will also visit Agra, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Amritsar.Istanbul, Feb 17 : Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday announced that his country's armed forces had taken control of more than 300 sq.km of Syrian territory inside the Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin, located in northwestern Syria.

Speaking at a public rally, Erdogan touted the progress being made in Turkey's military incursion into Afrin, dubbed 'Operation Olive Branch', the stated aim of which was to create a 30-km-deep (19-mile) buffer zone inside Syria and expel the United States-supported Kurdish YPG militias that hold the enclave, EFE news agency reported.

"The Turkish Army has advanced 300 sq km during 'Operation Olive Branch'," Erdogan said during a televised speech from Afyonkarahisar.

Although the Kurdish YPG played a pivotal role in the campaign against the Islamic State terror organisation in Syria, the group is viewed by Ankara as indistinguishable from the PKK Kurdish separatists who have fought a low-scale guerrilla war in eastern-Turkey for decades.

During his speech Saturday, Erdogan said the PKK has terrorised his country for 40 years and had joined the YPG in terrorising Syria while stressing that these groups do not represent all Kurdish citizens.

Erdogan recounted how some 30 Turkish soldiers had been killed in the fighting in Afrin since the operation began, along with 60 members of Syrian militias allied with Ankara, who call themselves the Free Syrian Army.

Turkish military leadership claimed to have killed 1,595 Kurdish fighters in Afrin.Mumbai, Feb 17 : Punjab National Bank (PNB) officials had met representatives of Nirav Modi and Gitanjali groups to impress upon them to pay outstanding amounts, the bank said in a clarification to the stock exchanges.

"A series of meetings were held with representatives of Nirav Modi group and Gitanjali group at Delhi & Mumbai to impress upon them to pay the amount. They were also directed to provide all necessary documents as per law to ensure that the imports are bonafide trade transactions," the PNB statement said in the clarification dated February 15 to the exchanges accessed on Saturday.

Giving details of the fraud on the bank, the statement said that "on January 16, 2018, the partnership firm of Nirav Modi group approached our branch at Brady House, Mumbai and presented a set of import documents with a request to allow buyers' credit for making payment to the overseas suppliers."

"Since there was no sanctioned limit in the name of the above firms, the branch officials requested the firms to furnish at least 100 per cent cash margin for issuing Letter of Undertaking (LOU) for raising buyer's credit. The firms contested that they have been availing such transactions since past several years," it said. On scrutiny the bank found that fraudulent LoUs had been issued favouring the two groups.

On February 14, PNB informed the stock exchanges that a $1.8 billion fraud had happened in one of its Mumbai branches.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement directorate started investigating. The CBI has since arrested PNB's retired Deputy Manager, Gokulnath Shetty and its Single Window Operator Manoj Hemant Karat. One authorised signatory of the Nirav Modi group was also arrested. The three were remanded to police custody till March 3 by a CBI court on Saturday.

The clarification by PNB also states: "Foreign bank branches namely Allahabad Bank, Hong Kong, Axis Bank, Hong Kong and other banks were requested to provide all communication with borrower and documents, if any held in their record to understand bonafide of the transactions."

The main accused in the case Nirav Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal Modi and maternal uncle Mehul Choksi left the country in January. The CBI is sending notices to ask them to be present themselves for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the PNB said it would be holding an extraordinary general meeting on March 16, 2018.Dalu (Meghalaya), Feb 17 : Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday hit out at Meghalaya Home Minister Horju Donkupar Roy Lyngdoh over the alleged gang-rape of a minor girl in his son's guest-house.

Four people reportedly raped the 14-year-old girl at the Marvelene's Inn, the guest house run by Lyngdoh's son Nathaniel Osbert Rymmai.

"The job of a Home Minister is to protect women and children, but in Meghalaya it is a reverse. It is sad and shocking that in Meghalaya, where women are held in high esteem, such an incident has taken place," she said, addressing an election rally here near the India-Bangladesh border.

Irani was campaigning for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Kurosh R. Marak, who is contesting from Dalu constituency in West Garo Hills district. Marak is also a sitting member of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council.

"Meghalaya has a unique culture and tradition and the confidence of women and children is fascinating. Our party believes in empowering women and we will be able to drive the agenda in Meghalaya to further their cause."

Wooing the 9,29,314 women electorate to vote in favour of the BJP, Irani promised that if her party was voted to power, a dedicated women police force would be in place to ensure security of women.

"The pride of women has to be restored and we will ensure that women in Meghalaya feel safe, secure and independent," she said.

Striking a cord with women electorate in Meghalaya's Dalu and Zikzak in Garo hills, she tried to instill hope and reiterated the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure free gas cylinders to poor household.

"Women in India work tirelessly cooking food on traditional 'chula' to bring smile on their children's face. So, Modi decided to provide gas cylinder to poor women to ease their problem," Irani said.

Accusing the Congress-led state government of failing in its responsibilities for 50 years, which "Modi made possible in three years", she said: "In absence of proper healthcare facilities, our people have to avail treatment in neighbouring Bangladesh.

"This is a blot on Congress government that they have not been able to provide healthcare services to its people. Modi has subsidised the rate of crucial medicines, but Mukul Sangma (Chief Minister) has failed to provide those medicines to the people of Meghalaya."

The BJP, which failed to win a single seat in the 2013 assembly elections, has fielded its candidates in 47 out of 60 seats. Among the party's contestants are four former legislators of the ruling Congress-led Meghalaya Alliance.

Elections in the state are due on February 27 and the counting March 3.Agartala, Feb 17 : Hours before Sunday's assembly elections in Left-ruled Tripura, the Election Commission has appointed a Special Observer while the authorities have sealed the international and inter-state borders with Tripura.

Tripura Police 'pushed back' an Assam minister from Tripura for violating election rule.

Tripura Chief Electoral Officer Sriram Taranikanti said that the Election Commission has appointed Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General R.K. Pachnanda as Special Observer to oversee the polling process in Tripura.

Pachnanda along with other senior officials on Saturday held meeting with district level officers including superintendent of police and Election Commission's police observers through video conference.

He accompanied by other officers visited several parts of Tripura by helicopter and instructed the officials to act properly, an official of state election department said.

Pachnanda, an IPS officer of the 1983 batch West Bengal cadre, was the Kolkata Police Commissioner.

Tripura Police Chief Akhil Kumar Shukla said with the deployment of additional Border Security Force troopers, the 856-km India-Bangladesh border with Tripura has been sealed to prevent any intruder from across the borders.

"We have requested the Assam and Mizoram Police to tighten the vigil along the inter-state borders. We have also deployed additional security force along Tripura's borders with Assam and Mizoram to foil any unauthorised entry into the state during the electioneering," Shukla told the media.

Tripura shares 109 km borders with Mizoram and 53 km borders with Assam.

The police chief said that closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras were also installed in the entry points of Tripura's inter-state borders with Assam and Tripura and some other strategic locations to closely monitor the situations.

"The Union Home Ministry has provided sufficient amount of security forces to conduct the elections freely and smoothly. A series of steps including installation of police help lines in all the eight district headquarters and police head quarters have been taken to thwart any attempt to upset the smooth polling," the Director General of Police said.

Election Department official said that several helicopters have been pressed into service to supervise election management and an air ambulance has also kept standby to ferry any security and civil official in exigencies.

Meanwhile, Tripura Police on Friday night asked Assam Minister of State for Power Pallab Lochan Das back to go back to his state from Gandacherra in Dhalai district for violating election code of conduct that bars an outsider from staying in an election-bound state after the end of campaigning.

Dhalai district police Chief Smriti Ranjan Das said: "The minister along with a BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader was found at a tribal village in Gandachara area even after campaigning came to an end at 4 p.m. on Friday. We escorted him back from the area and asked him go back to Assam."

The ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) also lodged a fresh complaint before the Election Commission on asuspicious' movement of an Assam Minister with "fake car permit".

The CPI-M had earlier made several complained with the poll panel that thousands of BJP and RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) workers of several other states have been staying in hotels, lodges, rented houses and BJP leaders' homes "ostensibly to create troubles on the day of polling".

On Friday night, police also detained three RSS workers from Damdamia Bazar of Simna assembly constituency in West Tripura district with a vehicle moving in the areas after the end of the campaign.

When asked about the outsiders, the Chief Electoral Officer and Director General of Police separately said that the authorities already asked the unauthorised outsiders to leave the state even as the police are conducting searches in all possible locations to identify the unauthorised outsiders and to deport them from the state.Mumbai, Feb 17 : Union Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla on Saturday said the government is "thoroughly investigating" the $1.8 billion bank fraud allegedly involving absconding billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi and will take steps for his extradition from abroad.

"We are thoroughly investigating the PNB (Punjab National Bank) fraud case. We will not spare anyone involved in it," Shukla said on the sidelines of an Assocham Banking Summit.

"Looking at the gravity of the act committed by Nirav Modi, the government of India will surely work towards his extradition and punish the accused for fraud," he added.

The PNB on February 14 informed the stock exchanges about a massive $1.8 billion fraud detected at one of its Mumbai branches, for which authorities blamed Nirav Modi along with his wife Ami, brother Nishal, and maternal uncle and business partner Mehul Choksi.

The Minister refused to comment on the impact of the multi-crore fraud on government's decision to merge public sector banks, adding the decision cannot be taken "without considering each and every aspect of the issue".

Shukla said talks were being held within the Finance Ministry on these banking sector- related issues.

"All our Secretaries are having discussions with the Prime Minister's Office and the Finance Ministry will implement all the decisions taken by the PMO," he said.

In his address at the Summit, Shukla said banks must fulfil their duty towards uplifting the standard of living of the common man.

The Minister also said that Union Budget proposals related to agriculture, micro, small and medium enterprises and healthcare will have long-term positive impact on the economy.New Delhi, Feb 17 : The Congress on Saturday said it will raise the PNB scam in Parliament "vociferously" and speak to various opposition parties to put pressure on the government to set up a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe the matter.

"The Congress, in the interest of the people of the country, will speak to all like- minded parties in Parliament. We will show them documentary evidences of the scam and will form a joint strategy," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told the media here.

He said Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjuna Kharge, Leaders of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha respectively, have been assigned the task by the party's Steering Committee to speak to all other parties and arrive at a strategy in Parliament.

"Whether to demand a JPC or anything else will be decided by the opposition parties," Surjewala said.

"We will raise this issue vociferously and prominently till the Modi government answers to Parliament and the country's people," Surjewala added.

Surjewala's remarks came in the wake of the Punjab National Bank scam that came to light on February 14.Agartala, Feb 17 : A Bangladesh national was arrested here on Saturday on charge of smuggling gold worth Rs 45 lakh, police said.

"Abdul Kalam Azad, 35, had come on Saturday to Agartala from Bangladesh and tried to go to Kolkata by a private airline. When Central Industrial Security Force troopers at the airport checked him, they seized 12 gold biscuits each weighing 108 gram from him," a police official said.

Police suspect the man was going to Kolkata to sell the gold biscuits.

Bangladeshi youths have been arrested in Tripura in the past with gold while on way to Kolkata or Guwahati.

India shares a 856-km border with Bangladesh in Tripura. Except for about 20 km, most of this 856-km border is fenced.Amaravati, Feb 17 : TDP President and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday reiterated that the Centre should undo the injustice meted out to his state in the Union Budget 2018-19.

Ruling out any compromise on the state's interests, he declared that he is ready to make "any sacrifice".

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should fulfil all commitments made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014 and also the assurances given in Parliament at the time of bifurcation of the state.

Naidu alleged that while the Congress did "injustice" to Andhra Pradesh by dividing the state in an unscientific manner, the BJP had not undone that injustice even after three-and-half years.

"The Prime Minister and the central Ministers should undo the injustice. They should ensure that our sentiments are not hurt. This is the issue of self-respect of five crore Telugu people," he told a public meeting at Narsaropet in Guntur district.

This is the first time that Naidu publicly targeted the BJP and appealed to people to rally behind the state government.

With 15 MPs in the Lok Sabha, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is the second biggest partner in BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government.

He warned that the state could again witness chaotic situation seen before the bifurcation.

Naidu recalled that he had advised people at the time of state's division neither to be disheartened nor drift like Assam and Punjab as the state would be the loser.

The TDP chief said during the last three-and-half years he visited Delhi 29 times to bring the injustices to the notice of the Centre and to demand that all commitments be fulfilled but justice was not done.

"When the last Budget also did injustice, there was no way we could have kept quiet," he said referring to the TDP protests in Parliament during the first leg of the Budget Session.

He vowed to continue to put pressure on the Centre till it fulfils all commitments made in the Act and handholds the state till it comes on par with other southern states.

The TDP MPs have already announced that they would continue their protest when the Budget Session recommences from March 5.

During his speech, Naidu repeatedly said he was demanding justice on behalf of five crore people of the state who are angry.

Referring to statements by some BJP leaders that the Centre had extended all assistance, the Chief Minister said he was ready for a debate on the issue.

Naidu also asserted that the states too have sovereign powers. He took exception to the demand by some BJP leaders to furnish accounts (utilisation certificates) for the funds released by the Centre so far.

"The Centre and states have their own sovereignty. The state is answerable to Assembly and the Centre to Parliament. It's not correct to ask the state to furnish accounts," he said.Gurugram, Feb 17 : As per the CSR commitment of "Ek India Happywala", Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) on Saturday launched its first music training room at the Bhondsi jail in Gurugram, in association with India Vision Foundation.

SPN's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, through its 'The Dhun Project', focusses on creating a positive impact on the social ecosystem and is built around three pillars -- empowerment, education and environment, a press statement said.

"On the 5th anniversary of Sony MIX in 2016, Sony launched 'The Dhun Project' for empowerment through music. Now, project aims to use the powerful medium of music for the rehabilitation of prison inmates, thus preparing them for a successful reintegration into society post their prison term," the Sony statement added.

Under project, SPN will also be setting up training centres in four more prisons across the nation -- Rothak and Sonipat prisons in Haryana, and Dasna and Kasna prisons in Uttar Pradesh.

"At Sony Pictures Networks India, we aim to contribute to India's social development agenda by focusing on education, environment and empowerment to create, 'Ek India Happywala'. The Dhun Project is about empowerment through music and aims to give back to society through our partnership with India Vision Foundation," said Smriti K. Singh, CHRO, Sony Pictures Networks India, in the statement.

The network, along with India Vision Foundation, has appointed special trainers (vocal and instrumental) who will visit the music centre on a regular basis to train the prison inmates.

Neeraj Vyas, company's Senior EVP and Business Head -- Sony SAB, MAX and Music clusters, said: "The Dhun Project is an empowering initiative to reshape the lives of prison inmates and give them a new ray of hope through music."

Kiran Bedi, Founder, India Vision Foundation said: "This Dhun will reform and shall spread. This is a transformative and soul-stirring dhun (tune) that will touch the soul."Jaipur, Feb 17 : At least nine persons were killed and 18 others injured when two LPG cylinders exploded at a wedding in Beawar in Rajasthan's Ajmer district, police said on Saturday.

According to police, six persons were referred to a hospital in Ajmer while 12 were referred to the district hospital in Beawar.

Police said one Surendra Kumar Parecha had organised celebrations at Kumavat Samaj Bhavan in Beawar after his son's wedding on Friday night.

A loud blast brought the two-storey building down like a pack of cards late Friday night.

According to some eyewitnesses, the accident occurred when a cook was trying to refill an empty cooking gas cylinder from another cylinder. That caused a fire and subsequent explosion. The groom's mother was among those missing.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje condoled the deaths and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to bereaved families and Rs 50,000 each for the injured.

Raje went to Amritkaur Hospital in Beawar as well as Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Ajmer and met the injured there. She called the accident tragic.

Shri Cement also announced Rs 1 lakh aid to the families of the deceased.

The Chief Minister said that owners of houses damaged in the blast will be compensated. Public Works Department officials will soon survey the losses and the compensation disbursed thereafter, she added.

The Army was extending a helping hand to remove the debris, officials said.Cairo, Feb 18 : An Egyptian court sentenced on Saturday 65 loyalists of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi up to 10 years in prison over inciting anti-state riots, protests and violence.

Zagazig Criminal Court sentenced 44 defendants to 10 years in jail and 21 to two years while acquitting eight of the said charges, Xinhua reported.

The convicts are mostly members and supporters of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood group which has been outlawed in Egypt as a terrorist organisation.

Morsi was ousted by the military in early July 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year rule and his Brotherhood group.

His angry supporters attacked many security personnel and churches of the Coptic minority in several provinces, following a heavy crackdown on pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo and Giza in mid-August 2013 which left hundreds dead and thousands arrested.

Most Brotherhood leaders, members and supporters, including Morsi himself and the group's chief Mohamed Badie, are being detained.

Many of them have been given appealable death sentences and lengthy jail terms over charges of inciting violence, murder, espionage and jailbreak.

Morsi is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence over inciting deadly clashes between his supporters and opponents in late 2012 and a 25-year jail term over leaking classified documents to Qatar.

Since Morsi's removal, Egypt has been facing a wave of terrorist attacks that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers before expanded to target hundreds of civilians, mostly at houses of worship.

Most of the terror attacks were carried out by the Wilayat Sinai, a Sinai-based group affiliated with the Islamic State regional terrorist group.

Meanwhile, security forces also killed hundreds of terrorists and arrested thousands of suspects during the country's anti-terror war declared by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, the army chief then, following Morsi's ouster in 2013.Tehran, Feb 18 : Electronic visas have replaced paper visas at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) as of early February, media reports said on Saturday.

The smart system eases the process of visa issuance considerably and reduces the amount of time travellers need to spend before entering the country, Xinhua reported.

"Travelers from 180 countries can now apply for an e-visa if they plan to travel through IKA," Hossein Panahi-Azar, deputy for Iranians and parliamentary affairs at the Foreign Ministry said.

Impossibility of counterfeiting a visa is among the advantages of the new system, Panahi-Azar said, adding that "travelers' visas can be verified easily through the passport number."

Based on statistics, some 1,200 visas are issued at IKA every day and with the launch of the electronic system, the number is expected to rise by four times, Panahi-Azar said.Explore the BubbleVerse: www.Bubbleezz.com

ORB is offering a sneak peak to the public at this years American International Toy Fair in New York City, revealing what they anticipate to be the hottest new toy of 2018.

Bubbleezz is the newest brand within the tactile, collectable category. From behind the walls of their secret 2000 square foot booth, ORB is thrilled to finally share this exciting new brand for the very first time.

Bubbleezz are a series of adorable semi-translucent characters filled with wiggly, wobbly Bubbleezz Beadz. These Bubbleezz Beadz create a silly satisfying feel when squeezed, transforming as they flow and grow in your hands. Each Bubbleezz has secret charms hidden inside - find secret messages and symbols that reveal your Bubbleezz unique personalities.

ORB is the fastest growing activity company in the world, partially thanks to the launch of Softn Slo Squishies in 2017. The company currently has the widest range of collectables on the market, with over 400 Softn Slo Squishies designs and placement in the vast majority of mass market, key mid-tier, department, and specialty stores.

Based on early orders and interest, ORB expects Bubbleezz sales to be comparable, or even surpass, those of Softn Slo Squishies. Bubbleezz and Softn Slo Squishies provide exactly what their demographic is looking for - adorable collectables with an amazing in-hand feel.

Bubbleezz launches at Walmart in early April and will be available in two collectable sizes. The initial launch includes 20 different items, featuring characters like Nina Narwhal and Suzy Strawbunny, with plans to expand quickly.

The collectable trend isnt slowing down and ORB expects Bubbleezz and Softn Slo Squishies to compliment each other at retail. ORB plans to work closely with key influencers and develop a robust online community to support this impressive new brand.

ORB will be showing this line in addition to several other new brands and products in New York this year. Please contact PublicRelations(at)orbtoys(dot)com for sales and media opportunities during the American International Toy Fair.2017-18 Edition of Hendersonville Magazine We're seeing a magazine pick-up rate of close to 1,000 copies per week on average.

Hendersonville Magazine has experienced a significant increase in readership in conjunction with the growth of relocation and tourism in Henderson County and surrounding areas. In 2017, Hendersonville Magazine increased annual printing for the 4th year in a row to keep up with growing demand for information about the community. 50,000 copies of the current edition were printed in May 2017, up from 45,000 printed in 2016. With only a few months until the 37th annual edition publishes in late May, almost all of the 50,000 copies have been picked up.

The steady increase of relocation and tourism is definitely driving Hendersonville Magazine's audience growth," said Brett Hulsey, publisher of Hendersonville Magazine and president of Hulsey Media, Inc. "For many years, Hendersonville Magazine distributed 35,000-38,000 annual copies that were enough to serve the region for 12 months. Around 2014 we noticed that 38,000 copies werent enough to last a full year, and since then we've had to add 3,000-5,000 more copies every year."

Hulsey cited increased traffic and magazine pick-up at the Henderson County Visitor Center, Asheville Visitors Center, and the North Carolina Welcome Centers on I-26 at the South Carolina and Tennessee state lines as key factors. Mailings through the Henderson County Visitors Center's relocation request program as well as by local Realtors to out-of-market buyers have extended the reach of Hendersonville Magazine.

Relocation is a by-product of tourism in Henderson County because most new residents come to the area as visitors first, said Beth Carden, Executive Director of the Henderson County Visitor Center. About 40% of our visitors come back into the Visitor Center before they return home and tell us they had such a good time on vacation in our community that they want to live here.

"Despite our expansion to regional distribution outlets like the state Welcome Centers and high traffic visitor locations in Asheville, we still see that approximately 50% of the Hendersonville Magazine copies we print each year are picked up in downtown Hendersonville at real estate offices, restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores," said Hulsey. "We're seeing a magazine pick-up rate of close to 1,000 copies per week on average, which means we'll print 50,000, if not more, for the 2018-19 edition this May."

Asheville Regional Airport, the main hub for out-of-town-visitors to the area and another key distribution point for Hendersonville Magazine, has seen a record number of travelers coming into the area recently. In 2017, the airport experienced the highest number of annual passengers in its history, with a 50% increase in passenger numbers from just 5 years ago.

Over the last few years, weve had frequent calls from the airport asking for more magazines to go in their information center. We need more magazines! is something we're hearing quite a bit these days, said Hulsey.

Hulsey Media, Western North Carolinas leading magazine publisher, provides local publishing and digital marketing solutions through targeted, content-rich titles that include The Real Estate Book, Hendersonville Magazine, Aging Resources, Healthcare Resources, the WNC Homeowners Resource Guide, and Asheville.Apartments. Hulsey Media publications are freely distributed to consumers and can be found throughout Hendersonville, Asheville, and surrounding communities.

To learn more about Hulsey Media, visit hulseymedia.com or call 828.513.3888.The premier provider of beach cottages and luxury homes in Seaside, Florida for 30+ years, Cottage Rental Agency has the largest selection of vacation rental homes in Seaside, FL

Cottage Rental Agency (https://cottagerentalagency.com), the premier vacation rental company in Seaside, Florida, has announced their annual Spring Great Escape promotion. Guests booking a vacation during select weeks in March, April and May can save 15-20% on lodging plus receive a $50 gift card to dine at locally owned and nationally known Bud and Alleys restaurant.

The Spring Great Escape promotion is available for stays between March 3-10, 2018 and April 15-May 19, 2018. Guests booking a 3-night stay will save 15% off normal rental rates. Guests booking 5 or more nights will save 20% on room rates. All guests will receive a $50 gift card to the local restaurant Bud and Alleys, Seaside, Floridas first restaurant and repeat Golden Spoon Award winner.

"As the original rental agency in Seaside, we have the largest selection of Seaside homes by far. We welcome 100,000 guests each year who rely on Cottage Rental Agency to host their memorable vacations, and these guests return to us year after year, says Amanda Nelson, Director of Operations of Cottage Rental Agency. Our rental properties in neighboring Watercolor and Seagrove Beach fully round out our inventory, allowing us to reach more guests with our great service and support.

Seaside, Florida, built on 80 acres on Floridas Gulf Coast, is located between Panama City Beach and Destin. Acclaimed world-wide as one of the original examples of New Urbanism, Seaside, FL offers a thriving town center with local shopping and dining, all within walkable distance to homes, cottages and civic spaces. Cottage Rental Agency is the original rental agency for Seaside, Florida, started by the towns founder in 1986.

Travelers can visit the Cottage Rental Agency website to see rates for all available cottages. The promotion is not available for existing reservations, and discounts do not apply to lodging taxes and fees. Visit the company's website for a full list of rules and restrictions.

For more information contact us at (888) 369-6434 or visit the website cottagerentalagency.com to learn more.

About Cottage Rental Agency  Seaside, Florida

The premier provider of beach cottages and luxury homes in Seaside, Florida for 30+ years, Cottage Rental Agency has the largest selection of vacation rental homes in Seaside, FL and exclusive, full-service guest amenities. CRA is the only rental agency with a professionally staffed, onsite Welcome Center with hotel-style check in, full concierge services, business center, and more. CRA has added select vacation rental homes in neighboring Watercolor, Florida, Seagrove Beach and more along Scenic Highway 30-A.This will be our second time helping athletes compete in the Special Olympics We're so happy that this cause will help two of our favorite organizations do what they do best - help people!

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics, Miguel Gonzalez, founder and chief executive of Vital Insurance Agency, is leading a Chicago area charity initiative to fund the purchase of new uniforms for athletes who are part of the local El Valor chapter of the Special Olympics.

This will be our second time helping athletes compete in the Special Olympics We're so happy that this cause will help two of our favorite organizations do what they do best - help people! says Gonzalez.

To encourage local residents to be part of the event, the Vital Insurance team is asking all residents to refer in friends and family to receive no obligation insurance appraisals. For every person that receives an appraisal at no cost, the firm will make a monetary donation toward the purchase of the new uniforms.

Further information on how to assist the charity effort can be found here: http://www.vitalinsuranceagency.com/Rewards-Program_55.

About Vital Insurance Agency

As a lifelong native of Bolingbrook, Illinois, agency owner Miguel Gonzalez knows many local families. His knowledge and understanding of the people in his community ensures that Vital Insurance Agency clients are provided with an outstanding level of service. Miguel and his team look forward to helping families protect the things that are most important - family, home, car and more. Vital Insurance Agency also offers clients a preparation strategy for achieving their financial goals. To contact an expert at Vital Insurance, visit http://www.vitalinsuranceagency.com/ or call (630) 771-9000.Hellfire Damascus is intricately patterned with hundreds, often thousands of contrasting lines, each a distinct layer of steel. Damascus steel is beautiful, but Hellfire Damascus is on a whole other plane of breathtaking.

United Cutlery (UC)  a multi-brand knife, sword and licensed movie replica manufacturer based in southern Georgia  says consumer enthusiasm for its acclaimed Honshu Boshin line has soared from hot to Hellfire-hot since the November 2017 release of two special editions of its best-selling Honshu Boshin Katana and Honshu Boshin Wakizashi.

The new swords feature showier, collectability-enhancing blades, hand forged from Hellfire Damascus Steel  an elaborately patterned, shadowy hued variant of Damascus steel exclusive to only a single forge, worldwide. Like steel snowflakes, the patterning on no two Hellfire Boshin blades is exactly alike, but theyre all equally stunning, UC president Clint Kadel says.

Damascus steel is beautiful, but Hellfire Damascus is on a whole other plane of breathtaking. Examining the Hellfire Boshin blades up close is something of a surreal experience, and few blades anywhere in the world  and none at this price  can rival their spectacular beauty, Kadel says. The Hellfire Boshin wakizashi or katana will catapult your sword collection to new heights, and we want our customers to have the best collections around. And thats regardless of income! Were so happy we can offer our customers two one-of-a-kind, custom-quality swords that will be the envy of all their friends at prices within reach of almost any budget.

Beyond the blade, Honshus Hellfire Boshins retain the same dimensions, feel, modern materials and traditional-Japanese-meets-contemporary-tactical aesthetics for which their original counterparts are so renowned. This distinctly Boshin style is the brainchild of legendary cutlery designer and fantasy artist Kit Rae. Around 2013, Kadel asked Rae to develop a sword line unlike any UC had ever attempted - centuries-old, battle-proven Japanese sword styles, reimagined and retooled to satisfy the unique tactical challenges and aesthetic tastes of the modern era. Kadel immediately set to work, drawing inspiration from some of his earlier designs.

Clint (Kadel) wanted to create a brand with much higher-grade materials, construction quality and design standards. The products were to be modern takes on traditional designs, using tactical direction and built using state-of-the-art materials and methods  textured TPR grips, stainless steel hilt fittings with fine satin finishes, modern high carbon and stainless steels for the blades, through-tang bolts, etc., Rae explains. I created a Bowie with a similar style in the mid-1990s, and its the first in the Boshin series to me. As for swords, I sketched out a similar katana design around the same time, but at the time we werent so confident sword users would accept it.

But in 2013, Rae and Kadel decided the time was right to introduce this innovative new sword concept, and shortly thereafter UC released the Honshu Boshin Wakizashi  the first sword in the Boshin series. The Boshin Katana soon followed. Both proved immediate consumer favorites, and they remain two of UCs top performers today. I don't think any of us thought (the Boshin swords) would be as popular as they turned out to be, Rae recalls. I think they were successful because they were something fresh and new, but that still kept the tried-and-true elements of the original Japanese swords that people love so much.

Combining such groundbreaking sword designs with such a unique steel variety as Hellfire Damascus only seems natural, Rae adds. The Hellfire Damascus version is more for the sword collectors, something a bit more artistically customized. It goes back to pairing the old traditions with the modern, he continues, referring to Damascus steels ancient roots.

Indeed, like the Boshin swords themselves, Hellfire Damascus is a contemporary spin on an ancient steel breed. Original Damascus traces its roots back centuries, drawing its name from the city of Damascus, Syria, where smiths were forging a similar pattern welded steel at least as early as the Middle Ages. Christian Crusaders of the era often encountered the novel steel during their campaigns in the Holy Land. They discovered it to be a far superior sword blade steel than anything produced by European smiths at the time, and many knights commissioned their own swords made from the resilient new steel, which they dubbed Damascus. Upon the culmination of Crusades, knights returned home to Western Europe with their new Damascus steel swords in tow. Word spread and a market for Damascus weaponry bloomed; eventually European smiths learned to replicate the Damascus technique and began forging wares from the highly sought-after steel.

Like its predecessor steel, Hellfire Damascus is intricately patterned with hundreds, often thousands of contrasting lines, each a distinct layer of steel. To achieve this ornate figure, smiths repeatedly fire, fold and hammer weld multiple strips of different steel alloys, before a final acid treatment highlights the vivid contrasts between individual layers. The slow, labor-intensive technique has changed little since Damascus Steels earliest days.

When forging the blades for Honshus special Hellfire edition Boshins, however, United Cutlerys master swordsmiths add another step  an exclusive metallurgical process that colors the steels elaborate ripples, waves, swirls and other patterns with variegated shades of amber, fire, scarlet, tawny, onyx and more - effectively putting the Hellfire in Hellfire Damascus. Inventive, though it is, the process was somewhat of a chance discovery, recalls Rae, who played a key role in Hellfires discovery and early development. UCs smiths stumbled on the process while forging similar Black Damascus steel for another Kit Rae-designed sword. Some of the elemental metals involved in the Black Damascus process were added at incorrect quantities, yielding vibrant red and bronze tones, in addition to the intended black. And the rest is history.

This type of black Damascus, which is sometimes called red Damascus, is a recent development. We were developing a black Damascus version of one of my fantasy swords about 10 years ago and happened upon the process completely by accident, Rae recalls.

Though the specifics of the Hellfire Damascus process are a closely guarded secret, in simplest terms its a copper/nickel bonding process, Rae explains. He adds that in addition to color transformation, the process affords a protective layer, making Hellfire Damascus more resilient and corrosion resistant than ordinary, untreated Damascus.

Honshus new special edition Boshins are two of just a few dozen sword models worldwide outfitted with the rare steel type, which is sometimes called black-, red-, or black-and-red Damascus. These alternative monikers are misnomers, however, as Hellfire Damascus is distinct from black- or red Damascus steels, which typically lack the vivid color variation of Hellfire. Hellfire or not, the exotic Damascus steel variety plus the Honshu Boshin equals a match made in swordcraft heaven, according to Kadel.

Rarely do you stumble upon such a superb matchup, he says. No question Hellfire Damascus and the Boshin style look fantastic together, but theyre complementary even on an intangible level: each is an innovative, modern twist on an ancient, traditional predecessor. Its as if Hellfire Damascus was tailor made for the Honshu Boshin!

Early numbers suggest the Hellfire Editions are well on their way to joining the original Boshin Katana and Boshin Wakizashi at the top of United Cutlerys best-sellers list. Kadel expects demand to continue grow, asserting the Hellfire Boshins, as well as the entire Honshu Boshin line, have genuine staying power, even in a largely trend-driven knife and sword marketplace.

The Hellfire Boshins, and the Boshin style in general, are something altogether new and fresh; but theyre far more than mere novelties, he says. Consumer excitement is high now, and Im confident it will stay that way. You see, the entire Boshin line is not just new, its a game changer. We didnt design these swords simply to appeal to peoples attraction to different, new things; no, we designed them to appeal to peoples desire for practical innovation.

Kadel continues, The Boshin designs are hip, but not for its own sake. The difference in the Boshins and many other on-trend knives and swords is substance. For example, the hilt is sleek and very contemporary looking, but, most importantly, it provides incredible hand-feel, firm grip and ideal weight counterbalance to the blade. And though many traditional katanas provide these things, too, on the Boshins they're better nuanced and fine-tuned to modern use, as opposed to mounted samurai in 15th century Japan. So even when design tastes change, these timeless qualities - this 'substance' - will ensure the Boshins stay relevant and popular 20, 30 years down the road."

Honshu is one of dozens of United Cutlery brands, all of which are featured in the companys annual master catalog and on its ecommerce website. In addition to knives, swords and other cutlery, UC brands produce a variety of self-defense tools, consumer electronics, and even movie prop reproductions. UC is the is the only cutlery firm in the United States licensed to replicate knives, swords, armor and other weaponry from numerous blockbuster films, including New Lines Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, The Expendables series, Star Trek: Nemesis and many more.

For more information on Honshu, United Cutlery and/or UC brands, visit http://www.unitedcutlery.com.Kit Rae, master artist and fantasy weapons designer. Kit has without question been one of our most valuable partners over the years; talent like his is rare, and were so lucky to be able to develop and produce his incredible designs.

This year, United Cutlery (UC) - a multi-brand knife, sword and licensed movie replica manufacturer based in southern Georgia - celebrates the 20th anniversary of one of its best-selling and most renowned brands: the Kit Rae Fantasy Art line.

For two decades, the Kit Rae Fantasy Art line has pushed bladecraft boundaries and blurred the lines between cutlery and art. Since its inception in 1997, the brand has spawned some of founder and legendary blade designer Kit Raes boldest, most inventive work - 50 unique sword, axe and knife designs; a host of companion paintings and illustrations; even a mythological universe, created and penned by Rae himself.

The Kit Rae Fantasy Art line is truly fantasy bladecraft at its peak, UC president Clint Kadel says. Kit has without question been one of our most valuable partners over the years; talent like his is rare, and were so lucky to be able to develop and produce his incredible designs. Even after working with him for so many years, every new sketch he presents never ceases to amaze me. The Kit Rae Fantasy Art line has no doubt been a key contributor to Uniteds success.

The Kit Rae Fantasy Art line has yielded scores of top performing products over the years; among the most acclaimed is the Swords of the Ancients collection, an ongoing series of medieval-inspired fantasy weapons, each with its own backstory that fits into an elaborate mythology created by Rae. Many Swords of the Ancients, as well as other Kit Rae fantasy weapons, even include colorful, highly detailed prints of Raes original illustrations, often depicting scenes from the accompanying weapons own saga.

Swords of the Ancients is a tale told in story, art and steel, Rae says. Owning a SOTA (Swords of the Ancients) sword immerses you in a 10,000-year mythology about the creation of Ammon, the Ancient Ones, the Blades of Power, and various other characters. Its a massive tale of gods and mortals.

The Kit Rae Fantasy Art line has left its mark on more than just UC these past 20 years; the brand has proved a major driving force behind the entire fantasy weapon and art industry, as well. Many industry experts credit Raes Swords of the Ancients collection with single-handedly giving rise to the popular fantasy weapon industry, which has experienced explosive growth over the last several decades. The original 10 swords from the SOTA collection are now highly sought-after treasures, and I try to add at least two pieces to the collection annually, Rae says.

The Swords of the Ancients collection include Raes favorite sword design, Exotath. To commemorate the Kit Rae Fantasy Art lines 20th anniversary, this week United Cutlery released a special dark edition of the Exotath. According to Rae's original "Swords of the Ancients" mythology, the Exotath was wielded by the dark elf Agnemmel, fierce war captain for the sinister, god-like entity known, ominously, as "the Dark One." The blade, the tales say, was forged by Firaneth, greatest of all elven weapon smiths, and allowed Agnemmel to envision the future, giving him great advantage in battle.

Crafted here on earth by UC, the 20th Anniversary Exotath features a special dark iron finish that recalls the brooding, fire-wrought blades of the Middle Ages. Like every Swords of the Ancients fantasy weapon, the Exotath  both the original and 20th Anniversary Dark Edition  is equipped with a display-edged tempered stainless steel blade and an intricately sculptured metal hilt. Exotath highlights include bat-wing crossguard, leather-wrapped blade grip and handle, delicate rune-like blade etchings and wooden display plaque with commemorative 20th Anniversary coin inset.

The Kit Rae Fantasy Art line is one of dozens of United Cutlery brands, all of which are featured in the companys annual master catalog and on its ecommerce website. In addition to knives, swords and other cutlery, UC brands produce a variety of self-defense tools, consumer electronics and even movie prop reproductions. UC is the is the only cutlery firm in the United States licensed to replicate knives, swords, armor and other weaponry from numerous blockbuster films, including New Lines Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, The Expendables series, Star Trek: Nemesis and many more.

For more information on the Kit Rae Fantasy Art line, United Cutlery and/or UC brands, visit http://www.unitedcutlery.com. For more information on OTEB, visit http://www.ontheedgebrands.com.Amerilodge Group, a hotel ownership and management company based in Bloomfield Hills, today announced the opening of a new Holiday Inn Express & Suites hotel at 6295 Melton Road, Portage, IN 46368, Phone Number: (219) 734-6000, Website: http://www.hiexpress.com/portageindiana

Near the beautiful southern shores of Lake Michigan, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Portage hotel is both a convenient workplace and a comfortable home away from home. Portage is intersected by several major highways, including Interstate 94 and Interstates 80/90. It is also less than an hour away from downtown Chicago making this hotel's location perfect for business and leisure guests alike.

If you're visiting the hotel's locale for work in Portage, Indiana, you can rely on the free high-speed, WiFi access and the 24-hour Business Center to help you meet deadlines. Major corporations, such as Fronius, NLMK Indiana, U.S. Steel Corporation and Graycor are within miles.

Leisure guests can enjoy amazing attractions in and around Portage, Indiana. Your vacation starts right in our city's backyard with a public marina and the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk providing easy access to beautiful beaches and Lake Michigan. Also, just a few miles away is the Indiana Dunes.

The 87 room hotel will feature the newest design for the Holiday Inn Express brand, Introducing...Formula Blue. The guestrooms will include a flexible work space; functional storage units, providing horizontal luggage storage; convenient moveable seating allowing guests to use the space in ways that work best for them; a newly designed decor for the guestroom. The open lobby design will enable guests, in particular the business traveler, to be able to connect and fulfill their overall technology needs.

Additional hotel amenities include an indoor swimming pool, an exercise room, valet laundry service, complimentary Wi-Fi, as well as fax and copy services. The hotel also offers over 1,131 square feet of meeting space to accommodate functions of up to 100 people.

Asad Malik, President & CEO of the Amerilodge Group said: It gives us great pleasure to be able to bring a clean, modern, and technology friendly driven lodging accommodation to the Portage community. With the Formula Blue Concept, we expect this to be an award-winning hotel and the preferred lodging choice for the business and leisure travelers in the Portage and Porter County area.

A lot of hard work went into the opening of this property and we are so glad to be able to share this amazing hotel with the community, said Jonale Houseknecht, Area Director of Sales. In addition, Courtney Graham, Regional Director of Operations said, We love to build hotels that our guests will love and we look forward to the future of Amerilodge Group.

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Portage is expected to add more than 30 jobs to the Portage community.

CONTACT: Steve Aldridge

Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Amerilodge Group

(248) 601-2500

E-mail: steve.aldridge(at)amerilodgegroup(dot)comGary Franchi calls for Joy Behar to be Fired from ABC'S "The View" Christians are attacked in the media regularly, and bigots like Behar get a free pass. This ends now.

Next News Network | Joy Behar, co-host of ABCs daytime talk show The View has drawn rebuke from the Vice-President of the United States and Christians world-wide after comparing the faith of billions to a mental illness. Now one news network is calling for her immediate removal from the morning show.

Gary S. Franchi Jr. the Lead Anchor of the Next News Network, who has more than half-a-billion views online, is asking his 620 thousand subscribers to act with him.

In a video posted online Franchi calls on prayer warriors and all the armies of the Lord [to] battle against the wickedness of ABC News, Joy Behar and all those who support their efforts to destroy the Faith.

This has gone on far too long. Christians are attacked in the media regularly, and bigots like Behar get a free pass. This ends now. Franchi stated in the video.

He also lamented the clear double standard, Imagine if Behar said this about Muslims, or Jews, there would be unending outrage, that is why Christians in the United States and their brothers and sisters around the world need to stand together with one voice and call for her immediate removal from ABC and The View.

When asked about Behars apology Franchi said it wasnt good enough. Just because you call yourself a comedian and give money to the Church doesnt give you a free pass to attack a fellow Christian for how they practice their faith. She needs to give up her chair or be fired immediately

Next News Network has over 635 million views online with over 620 thousand subscribers on YouTube. Gary Franchi and the Next News Network have been seen in on Fox News, MSN, CBS News, New York Times, Washington Post, and The Guardian.Welcome Guest! You Are Here:President Donald Trump lashed out at the "Fake News Media" in a series of tweets Saturday in which he distanced himself from special counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing investigation into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election.

On Friday, Mueller's office charged 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies with violating US law and interfering in the US political system. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced the indictments during a press conference, saying that Russians began preparing their interference campaign in 2014. He added that the indictment did not contain allegations of any effect on the outcome of the race.

"Funny how the Fake News Media doesnt want to say that the Russian group was formed in 2014, long before my run for President," Trump said in a tweet. "Maybe they knew I was going to run even though I didnt know!"

Several journalists, including New York Magazine correspondent Olivia Nuzzi, corrected the president's assertion.

"When I interviewed Trump in November 2014, he told me he was considering 2016," Nuzzi said in a tweet Saturday.

She then linked to an article she published while she was working for The Daily Beast in December of that year that was titled, 'Trump is thinking about a run at the White House again."

The New York Times' Maggie Haberman also noted that Trump had been considering a 2016 presidential run since 2014, though it's unclear whether she made the statement in reference to Nuzzi's story or another report.

Trump has flirted with running for president for decades. In 1999, he established an exploratory committee and briefly ran as Reform Party candidate. He also hinted at a run in 2012.

Shortly after Mitt Romney's loss to Barack Obama that year, Trump had his lawyers trademark the slogan, "Make America Great Again" for "political action committee services, namely, promoting public awareness of political issues and fundraising in the field of politics," The Washington Post reported last year.

Trump exonerates himself

In several tweets on Saturday, Trump cited a New York Post columnist and Facebook's vice president of ads to support his claims.

"'Charges Deal Don A Big Win,' written by Michael Goodwin of the @nypost, succinctly states that 'the Russians had no impact on the election results.' There was no Collusion with the Trump Campaign. 'She lost the old-fashioned way, by being a terrible candidate. Case closed,'" Trump said.

Friday's indictment did not accuse any Americans of being knowingly involved in Russia's influence operation, but experts said the charges are likely an avenue to the next step: determining whether any US citizens or, more narrowly, members of Trump's campaign had knowledge of, aided, or abetted the Russian effort.The Ghana News Agency reported on Friday that the prosecutor, Chief Inspector K. Adu told the court that on February 2, 2018, two Police Officers on duty at the Accra Central Police Station encountered one Patience Abbey who came to the charge office with three balls of Banku and grinded pepper to serve an accused, Nii Ayi, who was on remand.

When the food was inspected by the officers on duty, they discovered three wraps dried of suspected Indian Hemp and a mobile phone concealed in the food.

The news agency also reported that the Prosecution said Patience was then arrested and detained, during interrogation she mentioned one Naa as the person, who sent her with the food.

Chief Inspector Adu said on February 9, Patiences husband led the Police to arrest Naa.

Naa, according to the prosecution, stated in her caution statement that Niis friend, whose name she does not know but can identify by face, gave her the food to be sent to Nii.

This was not the first time someone had attempted to smuggled narcotic substance to cell inmates in the country.

READ MORE: Hospital closed down after visitor was seen holding umbrella that looked like gunThe fire, according to scores of eyewitnesses who spoke to Accra-based Citi FM, started around 7:00 pm and gutted about four containers, a provision shop and a container containing spare parts.

An affected shop owner said the fire destroyed his hydraulics pumps costing GHC40,000, fuel pumps, monitors and control boards which also cost GHC3000.

Another victim said the fire totally ravaged his shop, leaving nothing to salvage.

The Kwadaso sub-metro Disaster Control Officer, Musah Iddrisu, said a value assessment of the accident will be carried out.

"About four containers got burnt. One provisional shop and One container containing spare parts. We will do the assessment, value the assessment and send it to the authorities, he said.According to sources, Abeidoe sent the victim to buy him some sachets of water and when he (victim) returned, he entered his (Abeidoes) room to deliver the items.

Yakuba then allegedly grabbed the boy, took off his clothes and had anal sex with him.

After the purported act, Yakuba gave GH1 to the little boy and warned him not to disclose his ordeal to anyone.

However, after some days, the little boy could not attend natures call and subsequently reported the incident to the parents.

The parents subsequently lodged a complaint with the Wassa Akropong District police and Yakuba Abeidoe was arrested for interrogation and later remanded into police custody after it had been confirmed by the Wassa Akropong District Hospital that the little boy had indeed been sodomized.

It is believed that the victim was advised to return to the hospital after three months for an HIV test.The five-year-old boy was allegedly killed by his family due to his failure to walk since birth.

The father of the deceased, said to be the prime suspect, is on the run.

The Eastern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Ebenezer Tetteh, told Accra-based Citi FM that superstition led to the killing of the child.

"The allegation being peddled around is that the child was killed because he was finding it difficult walking. He is five years as the information says; they expected that such a child will walk," he said.Prof. Atuguba in his presentation said he analysed 100 political cases and notice that the rulings of the Supreme Court judges were influenced by the political party that appointed them, especially on cases where the constitution is not definite.

He made the findings of his research public on Thursday at the 2018 GIMPA Law Conference.

It is not a coincidence that this happened...and it will soon be discovered by the general populace and it may be too late then to gain public trust and respect for the court. The time to act is now, Prof Atuguba said of his research.

Reacting to it, the Chief Justice criticised it as alien and cautioned the respected lawyer.

She said: It is an American type of research that you have done...thats fine, but please be careful what you are importing into our environment.

They [Americans] are used to that, we are not. I dont think there was a single judge who agreed with what you were saying, she said.

READ MORE: Parliament to approve Martin Amidu on Tuesday

On his part, Justice Jones Dotse, celebrated for his famous create, loot and share judgement in the Woyome case also reacted to the research, saying: I think it is an insult of the highest order.READ MORE: Region Man arrested for attempting to bribe Police

They were rumoured to be linked to the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Lead prosecutor Inspector Simon Appiosonu told the trial judge, Mr Ebenezer Kweku Ansah, that docket has been sent to the attorney general for advice.

He also prayed the court to give the prosecution time as they await the advice of the attorney general on the investigation.

READ MORE: Police arrest 8 traders for rioting at KMA premisesThe higher institution is a completely different environment, I am sure you know, and since your admission has been secured, it is high time you guys started familiarizing yourself with the new environment.

Mind you, gaining admission is just the beginning of your academic journey in the institutions. Making sure you complete your tertiary education should be the ultimate goal.

However, distractions abound on campus and it takes self-discipline to maintain focus to achieve your desired academic goals.

See, I am not trying to scare you, many fresh students have fallen victims of these distractions on campus, but fear not, Pulse has compiled five useful guides for you to help you through your fresher days.

1. Living Condition

Research has shown that 25 percent of Nigerian students live on campus. This means that a lot of students face the stress of commuting to their various institutions every day.

Apart from this, living off campus could also be dangerous because most students crisis in higher institutions usually happens off campus.

So, as a fresher schooling in a state like Lagos, living on campus hostels will help you to avoid the daunting traffic every day.

2. Start studying now

Your preparations now goes a long way in determining the grades you graduate with. As a fresh student, one of the first places you may need to know on campus is the library.

Begin to visit the library now and let your preparations for your first semester exams begin.

3. Choose friends wisely

It takes a conscious effort for new students on campus to make new friends and while you are trying to do this, make sure you choose wisely.

You'll need to look for friends that will share a common interest with you. Friends whose academic goals can spur you on academically.

4. Watch your pocket

Running out of cash is very common among student and as a fresh student, you need to cut your clothes according to your size.

Budgeting will help you to check the estimate of how much you'll be spending for a set period of time. However, it is not hard to stick to your budget plan, it only takes discipline to stop getting broke.

5. Activitism with caution

If you wish to join politics and activism, the higher institution provides a fertile ground for you to launch ambition. However, you'll have to take caution in fighting for fellow students' right.Marking her late son's posthumous birthday, the veteran act revealed that she was celebrating the day as they used to.

Naij reports that Eucharia kept her words and spent the day visiting with them.

She said, I have not removed my mourning clothes, neither have I opened my hair since the death of my son. I have only been wearing white since his demise and the reason I have maintained this is because my son was a good boy to me; but he was mistakenly killed by the doctor. My son was not supposed to die. He was a very wonderful child.

"I decided to honour him by marking his 16th birthday posthumously the way we normally do. During our birthdays, we usually visited the motherless babies and show them love by donating some clothes and food to them. This year would not be any different from the previous ones we have celebrated.

"I am going to do it the way my son and I had always done it and I would give out some of his personal effects. Normally, when someone dies, you do not touch their things for about a year. For instance, if a mans wife dies he is not expected to touch her things or dispose of them till after a year. Initially, I decided to do the same thing but I later changed my mind and that is why I donated some of his things to a government-owned motherless babies home and also to the boys at the Special Correctional Centre for the Boys. I am doing this because I am a humanitarian and to let the motherless babies know that we love them.

The loss of a child

The actress lost her 15-year-old son to sickle cell anaemia. Raymond, who she had with her ex-husband, Charles Ekwu, in 2002, has been living with sickle cell anaemia from birth.

Pulse reached out to the actress who exclusively revealed to us that she was in the hospital at the time "sorting out things" relating to her son's death.

Linda Ikeji also reported at the time that he died from complications associated with the disease on Monday, August 21, 2017. Her last post on Facebook sees her giving thanks to God for safe journey on August 17, 2017.

ALSORead: undefined

Handling a crippling loss

Evangelist Eucharia Anunobi paid tributes to her son, Raymond Ekwe who died on August 2017, pouring out her heart to her late son.

"You were the best gift God gave to me, I love you with all my heart, spirit and soul" she said on Broadway Africa TV.

"Thank you for making the world call me mother, thank you for making people know about Jesus, thank you. God bless you. I know you are gone am totally broken but I rejoice because you loved Jesus with all your body and soul" further said Eucharia Anunobi.

Eucharia Anunobi lamented about how she misses her late son whose absence has made her house now silent.

She disclosed this in a chat with Inside Nollywood adding that she has lost the joy of doing a couple of things.

In December 2017, 3 months after mourning her son, Eucharia Anunobi took to her Instagram page where she penned down a heartfelt message. In the lengthy emotional message, the actress spoke about the very close relationship she shared with him.

The grieving mother also had the advice to give to everyone and to parents in particular. "The best gift to give to your children is to tell them all about Jesus", she concluded.

Life goes on

Raymond Ekwu was buried on Tuesday, September 5, 2017, and had in attendance a number of Nollywood stars like Ini Edo, Rita Dominic, Monalisa Chinda, Lilian Bach and veteran movie producer, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen.

ALSO READ: 7 celebrities who have lost loved ones

Anunobi is currently an associate pastor of the Fresh Oil Ministry International Church, in Egbeda Lagos. She was ordained as an evangelist as well as an apostle and has ministered in the United States of America and some West African countries.Here are five things we remember about the movie.

1. "Final Whistle" explores the rich guy poor guy trope. It tells the story of a rich man, who falls in love with his mother's maid.

2. In the movie, Richard who just returned from London is often rude to his mother's employees. Everything changed after he heard one of the maids, Fina, perform a rendition of Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All."

3. He decides to hire her as his partner for a duet. Over the course of rehearsals, the two fall in love with each other.

And as you would expect from any movie with this premise, Richard's mother opposes a relationship between her only son and a maid.

4. One of the most memorable parts of the movie was the official soundtrack, which was first performed by the couple.

5. Directed by Ifeanyi Ikpoenyi, "Final Whistle" was produced by Christian Ndulue. The movie featured Bukky Ajayi as Richard's mother, Mrs Morgan. Rita Nwankwo, who had featured in movies such as "Armageddon King" and "Love and Politics,' as Fina.

Saint Obi starred as Richard Morgan. It also starred Funke Akindele and Paddy Agu as Fina's co-workers in the Morgan mansion, Angela and Grace, respectively.ALSO READ: Fake visa racketeer arrested in Onitsha

The Guardian reports that, while the SFU Public Relations Officer, Lawal Audu, spoke on the issue, he said that many of the embassies, which partner with SFU, have zero tolerance for forgery.

Audu also noted that these embassies are mainly interested in issuing visas to credible Nigerians.

He added that the SFU has a good working relationshi p with American, Italian and the UK embassies and that each of this embassies, has its peculiarities.

The American consulate general for instance; every day we receive complaints of fake visa applicants. But the most disturbing is the fake visas, fake stamps, both arrival and departure stamps. Most of these applicants appear at the consulate with passports covered with fake travel history.

According to Audu, Nigerians seeking to travel out, prefer to go to a visa vendor, who might end up defrauding them, which is a major issue.

He added: These visa vendors are everywhere. They will tell prospective customers or clients that they had assisted over hundred people to get the American visa. They will promise to help. And because these visa seekers are vulnerable or dont care to know how they can apply for visa, they fall prey.

If you want to know how to apply for visas, just go to the internet. You dont need to pay anyone or give money to anyone. But rather, many Nigerians prefer to give money to touts, visa agents and visa vendors. Nobody is appointed to be a visa vendor by any embassy or high commission.

Illegal immigration and Nigerian gangs in Italy

Italy is a hotbed for many Nigerians seeking greener pastures in Europe. Many of them are illegal and they take the deadly Libyan desert and Mediterranean sea routes into Spain and Italy.

Decades of illegal migration have allowed Nigerian criminals to slip into Italy. These Nigerian gangsters slip into Italy illegally along with millions of Africans looking to better their lives.

As time has gone by, these Nigerian gangs have been able to put a proper structure in place to recruit migrants who have no official status in the country.

There are thousands of illegal immigrants in Italy (including a lot of Nigerians). These people can't apply for jobs, can't get work permits and are officially not recognized as refugees. This limits their chances of getting a decent job in the country.

This is where the Nigerian gangs come in. They recruit these poor Africans into their criminal enterprise and introduce them to a world of drug dealing and prostitution.

Palermo, Sicily, which is the traditional home of the famous Italian mafia has started to notice Nigerian gangs getting a piece of the pie on its turf. According to a documentary produced by VICE News in 2016, Nigerian gangs have started dominating these territories of the Italian mafia.

Backlash

Pro-nationalist sentiments in Italy have started to rise and with it has come a backlash on Nigerians in the country. Two Nigerians, Jennifer and Gideon were reportedly injured when a gunman went on a shooting spree in Macerata, Italy on Saturday, February 3, 2018.

AFP reported that the attack, which was carried out by a far-right supporter, was triggered by the murder of an Italian woman, allegedly by a Nigerian asylum seeker.

The gunman, Luca Traini was arrested and taken into custody after the attack.

The Police also discovered a copy of Adolf Hitler's manifesto "Mein Kampf" and a book by fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, when they searched his mothers home.The notorious and most wanted south west assassin, was arrested in Akure, Ondo state, on Wednesday, 14, by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team.

ALSO READ: Elusive Lagos cult leader arrested for killing 5

Ade lawyer reportedly confessed to killing four persons at the behest of the ex- Lagos NURTW chairman, Akanni Olohunwa at different times.

The suspect also confessed to being the mastermind behind many high profile killings in the state, including traditional rulers.

Ade Lawyer also confessed to killing Ganiyu Ayinla alias Pinero, during an attempt to killAzeez Lawal aka Kunle Poly, who was the NURTW chairman in Idumota,

According to Daily Times, Williams had known Olohunwa since when he was the NURTW chairman in Lagos.

"I have carried out many killings for him, during the clash between him and Musiliu Akinsanya, alias MC I killed two people for him. On this present one he contracted me to kill Kunle Poly that he betrayed him.

Olohunwa told me he brought Kunle Poly into NURTW work and there is money hes entitled to as ex- chairman but they dont use to give him the money anymore claiming that it was Kunle Poly that it is blocking the money from getting to him from the their office at Abule- Egba.

"As a result of this, he does not want to see Kunle Poly, and then he asked me to come and meet him somewhere to discuss, but I told him I dont have car, he personally drove to where I was at Igbosere area to discuss with me on how to carry out the operation.

Speaking further, the suspect said, He called me on his phone and I went to meet him in his car, that was how we discussed on how to carried out the attack on Kunle Poly extensively, while i was about going out of his car he gave me N500,000 as part payment and promise to balance me with the remaining N1m as agreed.

After he had given me the money, he said he does not want to know about the operation that was why he came to me personally. And I assured him that nobody would hear about the killing.

We were supposed to carry out the operation on Tuesday January 22, but we shifted it to the following, but we missed our target which is Kunle Poly but killed his aid Ganiyu Ayinla on the fateful day. Immediately I called Olohunwa on phone to informed him about the development.

Because I missed the target, he started misbehaving strangely to me whenever I called him. I later called him with my private line which he picked but told me he does not want to talk anybody for now and I told him not to be afraid that whatever that happened has happened, that he should come out face it.

When he said he does not want to talk to anybody, I told him hes going to pay me my balance. I was surprise when he sent his brother to give me a Toyota Camry car and I told his brother that I dont need that, that what I need his hynadai jeep and he went to bring it to me. "His brother who brought the jeep said Olohun promised to balance him after which he would collect the car and the has been with me for about three weeks now.

ALSO READ: Nigerian Mass Murderer Confesses To Butchering 60 People

When asked how many people he had killed for Olohun, Williams said, I have killed four persons for him. I also killed for one Kazeem Eletu and Olumegbon."

Meanwhile, while telling his own side of the story, Olohun said the N500,000 he gave to Williams was not part payment to kill Kunle Poly.

He said: "There was a time, when I was travelling to Ede, in Osun State he called me that he had accident along Lagos- Ibadan expressway and he was disturbing my boy that they should tell me to do something for him.

I did not do anything for him, I travelled to England. While in abroad he was sending threatening massages to me that if I fail to give me he would kill me and my family members.

When I came back, I called one of my boys to explained what was happening to him, that my boy said we should give him something because hes troublesome person. That was how I gave that my boy to give him N500,000 to him so as to rest.

He went to to say, I did not give him my car, it was my brother who gave him the car. I did not send my brother. I was sleeping when my son and one of my brother came to woke me up that brother Skoda had given my car to Williams.

Immediately my brother gave him my car, I was looking for who to contact so as to retrieved it back. And it was then I knew William was afraid of one person which is Abija that was how I called the said Abija and he promise to get it back for me but I have to be patient.

"What made me fear Williams most was when about nine people were coming from Ajah to Island and the nine of them were shot dead by him he also killed a branch chairman of NURTW at Oyingbo with these two scenario I have been afraid of him since then.

According to him, on January 23, 2018 at about 9pm, one Ganiyu Ayinla was killed by unknown gunmen at Lagos Island, while one Azeez Adekunle alias Kunle Poly a branch chairman of National Union escaped death.

He said, Based on the strength of the complaints, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris had directed the Commander Intelligence Response Team, ACP Abba Kyari to apprehended the hoodlums. With the credible intelligence generated with the support from Technical Intelligence Unit one Adeola Williams alias Ade lawyer was arrested in connection with the crime.

ALSO READ: Elusive Kogi serial killer cum kidnapper arrested

"He confessed that one Rafiu Olohunwa Akanni former chairman of NURTW contracted him with the sum of N1.5m to assassinate Kunle Poly. One AK47 rifle with number 3501357, two empty magazine, one black Hyundai Santafee Jeep with registration number EKY 741DL seized from Olohunwa was recovered from him.He also revealed that he allegedly carried out these crimes on the orders of a former chairman of National Union Road of Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos state branch, Alhaji Akani Olorunwa.

Punch reports that the 39-year-old and 51-year-old were paraded on Friday, February 16, at the Lagos state police command headquarters in Ikeja.

Naij reports that the ex-NURTW boss was picked up on Thursday, February 15, while Ade lawyer was arrested a day before in Akure, Ondo state, by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team.

The suspects were reportedly arrested for the murder of Ganiyu Ayinla alias Pinero, who was the personal assistant to the NURTW chairman in Idumota, Azeez Lawal aka Kunle Poly.

According to the reports, Pinero died on January 23 during an attack on Kunle Poly as the duo wanted to enter a vehicle on their way back from a meeting on Lagos Island.

Earlier, the police had arrested four suspects in connection with the murder.

While speaking with Journalists on Friday, February 16, Ade Lawyer said that Olorunwa contracted him to kill Kunle Poly they agreed on N1.5m as the payment for the job.

He said Olorunwa paid him N500,000 with the promise to pay the N1m balance after the job had been completed.

However, the two suspects were already having issues as Ade Lawyer eliminated the wrong target.

Ade Lawyer said he had been hired to kill people in the past by some individuals in the state, including traditional rulers, apart from Olorunwa, whose names he did not mention.

I have been hired to kill many people. I carried out four killings for him (Olorunwa). During the clash between him and Musiliu Akinsanya, alias MC Oluomo, I killed two people for him. He said Kunle Poly betrayed him and contracted me to kill him.

He told me he brought Kunle Poly into NURTW and that there was a bonus he was entitled to as an ex-chairman of NURTW. He said he used to receive the money, but Kunle Poly blocked the payment.

He said as a result of that, he did not want to see Kunle Poly anymore. He asked me to meet him somewhere for a discussion, but I told him I didnt have a car. He personally drove to where I was at Igbosere and we discussed on how to carry out the operation in his car.

When I was about to leave, he gave me N500,000 and promised to pay the remaining N1m when the job had been done. He said he met with me in person because he did not want anybody to know about the operation. I assured him that nobody would hear about the killing.

Ade Lawyer also explained that the operation was supposed to be carried out on Tuesday, January 22, but was postponed to the following day.

Unfortunately, we missed our target, Kunle Poly, but killed his PA (Pinero). I called Olorunwa on the telephone to inform him about the development. He started behaving strangely towards me because I missed the target.

I later called him with my private line and he said he did not want to talk to anybody for now. I told him not to be afraid and that I wanted the N1m balance, he added.

Ade Lawyer went on, saying that Olorunwa sent a Toyota Camry to him through his (Olorunwas) brother called Skoda, pending the payment of the balance.

He said he rejected the car and demanded a Jeep stating that he got the Jeep three weeks ago.

Olorunwa also admitted to giving Ade Lawyer N500,000, but said the money was not meant for Kunle Poly's murder.

He said: There was a time I was travelling to Ede in Osun state, he (Ade Lawyer) called me and said he had an accident along Lagos-Ibadan expressway. He was disturbing my boys that they should tell me to assist him.

I did not render the assistance until I travelled to England. While I was abroad, he was sending threat messages to me, saying that if I failed to give him money, he would kill me and my family members.

When I came back, I called one of my boys and told him about Ade Lawyers threats. He advised that I give him something because he is a troublesome person. I then sent him to give Ade Lawyer N500,000 to avoid trouble.

I did not send my brother to give him my car. It was my brother who gave him the car on his own. I was sleeping when my son and one of my brothers woke me up. They said Skoda had given my car to Williams (Ade Lawyer).

I contacted Abija to help me retrieve my vehicle and he promised to get it back for me but said I had to be patient.

What made me to fear Williams most was when he shot dead about nine people who were heading for Lagos Island from Ajah in a vehicle. He also killed an NURTW chairman at Oyingbo.

ALSO READ: Serial killer faces death sentence for gruesome murder

The Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, while parading the suspects, said they were arrested based on the confessional statements of their accomplices arrested earlier.A delegation led by Armenian Minister of Agriculture Ignati Arakelyan met with Austrian Secretary General of the Ministry of Sustainability and Tourism Josef Plank on February 12 in Vienna and the sides discussed matters pertaining to cooperation memorandum signed by the agriculture ministries of the two countries in 2015.

Plank is said to have reaffirmed Austrias willingness to assist in the implementation of agricultural projects now underway in Armenia.

On February 13, the Armenian delegation met with President of the Austrian Chamber of Agriculture Herman Chultes, who presented the guests with an overview of how agricultural business in Austria operate and are organized, and also touched on the activities of agricultural cooperatives.

The delegation also toured a number of farms, wineries and agricultural colleges in Austria, speaking to sector experts along the way.In fact, you may be piling on half a dozen or more fragranced grooming products when you get ready for work (and that's not even counting actual fragranced products like cologne).

Even your detergent, dryer sheets, air freshener, and countertop cleaner are likely scented.

That's a problem, according to some experts who are sounding the alarm about the potential health risks associated with the chemicals.

What kinds of health risks? Breathing difficulties, asthma attacks, migraine headaches, dizziness, rashes, congestion, seizures, nausea, and a range of other physical problems, says Anne Steinemann, Ph.D., a professor of civil engineering at Australia's University of Melbourne who has conducted research on long-term exposure to fragranced consumer products. In a 2017 study, Steinemann even found that 33% of Australians reported experiencing migraines and asthma attacks after exposure to fragranced products like air fresheners and cleaning supplies.

While this might sound extreme, Steinemann is far from the only researcher to express concern about chemicasls in fragranced products. A handful of studies have found that phthalates, a class of chemicals that are often used in scented soaps and shampoos, can also have some harrowing effects, says Heather Patisaul, Ph.D., a professor of biological sciences at North Carolina State University who runs a lab studying the biological effects of consumer chemicals.

These compounds have been linked to abnormalities of male reproductive system development and are suspected of having neuro-developmental effects," she says.

Patisaul says that aside from phthalates, other fragrance chemicals have been shown to block testosterone activity, which could lead to loss of energy, erectile dysfunction, or problems building or maintaining muscle (to name just a few concerns associated with low testosterone).

4 Things Most Guys Get Wrong About Skin Cancer:

What's even more frightening is that in 2014, the U.S. National Toxicology Program issued a report about styrene, a chemical found in a range of consumer goods, including fragranced personal care and household products. The NTP said that it found compelling evidence that styrene can cause cancer in humans. Research in animals has linked styrene to lung, breast, stomach, and liver cancers.

Styrene is important to know about, but there are potentially hundreds of other fragrance chemicals that may be carcinogenic, says Robin Dodson, Sc.D., a research scientist at the nonprofit environmental research organization the Silent Spring Institute. We don't know about the others, because they haven't been tested.

While most of us assume the products we buy at our local CVS or Walmart have been rigorously tested to ensure their safety, the truth is that's not quite the case. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require cosmetic manufacturers to prove in advance that all of their ingredients are safe. Instead, there must be proof that an ingredient causes harm for a product to be yanked from the shelves.

The FDA and EPA are not testing these products for safety, says Dodson.

For its part, the FDA addresses the potential health risks of chemicals like phthalates on its website, stating that after conducting multiple studies and reviewing the available data, the agency was unable to find "a sound, scientific basis to support taking regulatory action against cosmetics containing phthalates. (Men's Health has reached out to the FDA, and we will update if we hear back.)

To make matters worse, companies that produce scented products are not even required to disclose all of the ingredients they use to begin with. That's in part due to a loophole in the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, which states that companies do not have to reveal an ingredient if it qualifies as a "trade secret."

That explains why, if you look at the list of ingredients on your canister of hair product or bottle of countertop cleaner, you might see a long list of multisyllabic chemicals, along with the word fragrance or parfum. That single, seemingly benign word could be a stand-in for dozens or even hundreds of chemicals, Patisaul says.

Literally thousands of chemicals can be described under the generic term fragrance, but for each scented product you buy, it is impossible to know what chemicals are included, Patisaul says.

That said, there are ways to find out what ingredients are being used in your scented products. In 2010, following a campaign by consumer watchdogs, a trade group known as the International Fragrance Association started publishing a transparency list of all the ingredients that manufacturers could include in their scented products under umbrella terms like fragrance. That list includes roughly 4,000 organic and synthetic compounds some of which, like styrene, have been linked to cancer. The non-profit Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database also provides health and safety info on thousands of consumer chemicals.)

So is there anything else you can do to lower your risks? First, the obvious: you should avoid buying fragranced products whenever possible. Buying unscented products is an effective step for reducing chemical exposures, Patisaul says.

While that includes cologne, you don't necessarily have to ditch your favorite eau or aftershave. At the very least, you can stop using the dozen other scented products you spread, lather, or rub on your body every day in favor of fragrance-free alternatives. Just use a single scented product be it cologne, aftershave, or hair product.

You should also stop buying scented laundry detergent, air freshener, household cleaner, and other fragranced products that don't need to smell nice to do their jobs. None of us needs fragranced trash bags, Dodson says. We can all skip those. She also adds that if you see the term unscented on a label, that could just mean that masking agents have been added to cover up any chemical odors. Instead, buy products that are labeled fragrance free.

You should also buy product that prioritize product transparency, Dodson says. If you see every specific ingredient listed on the label, and the manufacturer makes a point of highlighting the lack of phthalates and parabens, that's a good sign.

Finally, Patisaul says we all need to be pushing lawmakers and government officials to change the way these products are regulated. The overarching problem is that the FDA lacks the authority to require manufacturers to test personal care products for safety, she says.Soja-Anyembugu, announced this to newsmen on Saturday during the marriage matrimony of 83 couples in commemoration of his 10th priestly anniversary in St Patrick Catholic Church, Akwanga, Akwanga Local Government Area of the state.

He said that the gesture was extended to the people, who do not marry in the church to enable them to receive the sacrament of holy matrimony.

According to him, the step will also enable those who did not marry in the church to receive the sacrament of holy matrimony and to get their marriage blessed.

I have decided to celebrate my 10th priestly anniversary to sponsored mass wedding for people who indicated their interest to have their marriage blessed in the church as at Feb. 3, I have sponsored 53 couples in St Sylvester Catholic Church, New Nyanya.

Today, I have sponsored 83 couples making a total of 136 couples to enable them get the sacrament of holy matrimony as well as to give them a sense of belonging, he said.

The priest called on the couples to continue to be patient, tolerate one another for them to have a peaceful home, adding marriage is all about endurance and patience.

The importance of church marriage cannot be over-emphasised as it will promote peace among the couples and also will enable them to get more blessings and Gods favour.

Soja-Anyembugu, called on the couples and other Nigerians to live exemplary lives by inculcating moral values in their children and for the overall development of the country.

He also advised Christians and other Nigerians against engaging in unruly behaviours and other sharp practices, so that they can inherit the kingdom of heaven.

The cleric called on the members of the church and Nigerians to be law abiding and respect constituted authorities and engage in activities that would promote peace and unity of the country.

Earlier, Prof. Cletus Tanimu Gotan, the Vicar General, Jos Archdiocese, who is also the guest preacher at the occasion called on the couples to live peacefully with each other in order to inherit the kingdom of God.

He quoted many verses in the bible that preached love, affection, calling on the couples and Nigerians to show love and live in unity with one another in the interest of development.Chieshe had said the N36million JAMB money stored in her office vault had been swallowed by a mysterious snake.

As the new JAMB management led by Prof Ishaq Oloyede traverses the country alongside auditors; to find out where all the money from sale of scratch cards went, theyve had an earful from employees.

Chieshe is in some good company after all.

Here are the Oscar winning scripts voiced by JAMB staff across Nigeria.

1. Sanusi Atose, Yobe State JAMB coordinator

According to Atose, when Boko Haram attacked Yobe, the sum of N613,000 kept in his custody, simply vanished.

Atose also said all records of the transactions had been destroyed by the terrorists.

Premium Times reports Atose's story this way: tellers, receipts and invoices were destroyed in the attack, which he said left him with no documentation for the transaction.

2. Murtala Abdul, Gombe JAMB staff

Abdul told auditors that a couple of persons forged his signature and looted N10million from the Gombe office of JAMB in his name.

In the course of reconciliation, the marketing team came up with another invoice which I was told I collected in 2015. Someone copied my signature that I signed to collect the scratch cards, Abdul said.

3. Labaran Tanko, Nasarawa State JAMB coordinator

According to Tanko, N23million from the sale of JAMB scratch cards got burnt when his car caught fire.

4. Daniel Agbor, Kogi State JAMB coordinator

Agbor told investigators that he used the N7million they were looking for to take care of his employees who were hungry and living in poverty.

The state of the State offices is such that we are in poverty and money is there with us, Agbor said.

He thereafter pleaded for mercy from the investigators.

You need the grace of God in the state offices not to steal money because money is tempting. We borrowed the money and I am not the only one, I will provide the list of everyone involved in the fraud.

To err is human, to forgive is divine, please dont take me to the police, please be lenient with me, sir, Agbor begged.

5. Olaolu Adeniyi, Ondo State JAMB coordinator

N1.34million developed wings when his accountant went through a dialysis procedure, Adeniyi says.

Adeniyi puts it this way: My accountant told me that he handed all the money to his deputy and the deputy confirmed that he has spent the money.

6. Zakadu Yakubu, Plateau State JAMB personnel

He couldnt offer any explanations when asked how N15million disappeared on his watch.

7. Philomena Chieshe, Clerk at Makurdi JAMB office

This takes the cake.

Philomena told a phenomenal story of a mystery snake swallowing N36million from her office vaulta story that immediately went viral.

*******

Established in 1978, JAMB was set up to coordinate, process and harmonise admissions into Nigerian universities.Anybody with such credible information can either contact the military command and control centre, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, any military location, security agencies or call the Nigerian Army Information and Call Centre 193, Army spokesperson, Sani Usman announced.

Usman also added that Shekau has been running scared across northern Nigeria in a hijab.

We reliably gathered that to avoid detection, Abubakar Shekau alternates between blue and black coloured hijabs. He was last seen in a black hijab.

He is running for his dear life. He is desperately trying to escape the Theatre, disguises as a woman and dresses in hijab", Usman said.

Before you point anyone in a hijab (who bears some close resemblance to Shekau) to the authorities, here are all the times no one has claimed the money on offer for Shekau.

1. N50m offer for Shekau

In November of 2012, the Joint military Task Force (JTF) put various cash rewards on the table for information leading to the capture of the leaders of Boko Haram.

They are wanted in connection with terrorist activities particularly in the North East Zone of Nigeria that led to the killings, bombings and assassination of some civilians, religious leaders, traditional rulers, businessmen, politicians, civil servants and security personnel amongst others, spokesperson of the JTF at the time, Lt.Col Sagir Musa, announced.

There was a reward of N50million on the table for anyone who could point soldiers to Shekau and N25m each on four other Boko Haram terrorists.

Its been six years now and no has claimed those monies.

2. $7m for Shekaus head on a platter

In June of 2013, the United States government said it will offer $7million to anyone who produces Shekau dead or aliveor to anyone who comes forward with information that will lead to Shekaus capture.

That $7million remains unclaimed.

3. N3m for Shekau, anyone?

It says a lot about Shekau that his value has now depreciated to just N3million.

Thats the money the army is offering for Shekau in February 2018.

On July 23, 2017, Nigerias army Chief, Lt General Tukur Buratai, instructed the theatre Commander of operation Lafiya Doleto get him Abubakar Shekau in 40 days--dead or alive.

However, that ultimatum went the way of others before it. Shekau has remained as elusive as they come.

There have also been numerous claims by the army in the past that it has killed Shekau or that the terrorist kingpin has been fatally wounded.Speaking on Friday, February 16, when he led five Northern Governors on a sympathy visit to the palace of the Emir of Zurmi, Yari said the state government gave security agencies gave security agencies heads up 24 hours before the attack

He said the security operatives have failed to tackle the problem of cross border banditry and terrorism tormenting communities in the area.

He said, "Whatever humanly possible that needed to be done, we as a government have done to mitigate this disaster. But it does appear that security agencies are failing in their responsibilities.

"I feel let down facing the people of this state whenever I remember the promise I made to them that when they elect President Muhammadu Buhari into power, these killings will end. But unfortunately, things are now getting worse.

"As such, I urge you security agencies to up the ante so as not to lose this war. If you let us take issues on our hands, anarchy will reign which is not what we hope us.

"On this particular incidence, we had intelligence reports 24 hours before it happened that the bandits were grouping and ready to attack. I alerted the security agencies but unfortunately they sent inadequate personnel to confront these people from where they came from."

In his remarks, the Emir of Zurmi, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, buttressed Yari's submission.

He said if not for the bravery of vigilante groups who confronted the bandits, the casualty figures would have been higher.

ALSO READ: Zamfara killings - Minister of Interior orders arrest of attackers

Recalling the incidents, the emir alleged that 600 bandits attempted to invade Zurmi but were repelled by vigilantes.

Emir Abubakar, who was said to be visibly angry, said, "They came on 200 motorcycles with three persons on each bike. Each of them was well-armed. We stationed 500 vigilante members who stood their ground and gallantly fought the bandits. Unfortunately, these same bandits turned their anger on travelers and other villagers on their way here, that was why we had 39 people killed.

"These terrorists are known to us. Their major hide-out is in a village called Kagara, very close to Bafarawa in Sokoto State, and a few kilometers from Shinkafi in Zamfara State. But despite several appeal to security agencies to storm the area, our appeals have failed.

"I need to state here that majority of weapons used by bad people in this country are brought in from this area. I had reason to personally inform Zamfara State Director of SSS sometimes back of a large cache of weapons being brought into the country but no concrete action was taken until the containers were moved away.

"I am happy that other Northern Governors are here because we believe the solution to this problem lies in cooperation among all of you.

"I dont need to repeat here that we need a full battalion of soldiers here and in areas surrounding Maru, Maradun, Shinkafi and Zurmi LGAs."

He added that the people have been pushed to the limit and a negative reaction from them will have a devastating consequence on the continued peaceful coexistence of all communities in the area.

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima urged the people not to lose patience.

He sympathized with the victims and prayed to God to grant the deceased eternal rest.INEC ChairmanMahmood Yakubu on Friday, February 16, 2018, disclosed that a committee has been set up to investigate the incident.

He said the Commission will make the findings of the probe panel public.

Yakubu said, "We wish to assure Nigerians that the matter will be fully investigated.

"A national commissioner will lead a team including technical staff drawn from voter registry, ICT and electoral operations departments for an immediate and comprehensive investigation.

"We will share the findings with Nigerians."

Earlier this week, photos of underage voters went viral, causing outrage as Nigerians are concerned about the 2019 election.

ALSO READ: INEC says 2019 election results will be announced electronically

The controversial photos were said to have been taken during the local government election in Kano.President Buhari launched Tsaigumi UAV, a ten-hour capacity drone for day and night operations on Thursday, January 15, 2018 in Kaduna.

Earlier In 2013, the NAF had developed Gulma, an experimental drone which was then unveiled by Former President Jonathan as the first indigenous UAV.

Unaware of the difference between both UAVs, some Nigerians claimed that the Buhari administration was re-commissioning Jonathan's drone.

But, in a statement by its spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, the NAF noted that while Gulam was Nigerias first indigenous drone, Tsaigumi is the countrys first ever operational UAV.

It has become necessary to clarify certain misconceptions, which followed the announcement, by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), of the induction of its first indigenous operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) by President Muhammadu Buhari, the NAF spokesman said in a statement made available to on Friday, February 16, 2018.

He goes on further: To set the records straight, while Gulam UAV is indeed the NAFs first indigenous UAV, the newly inducted Tsaigumi UAV is the first indigenous operational UAV. Both UAV types are the outcomes of efforts of a team of .

NAFs foray into UAV development commenced in 2008, when its student officers, who were undergoing postgraduate studies in aerospace engineering programmes at Cranfield University, UK, chose UAV development as their research project. The student officers produced the as part of their project and it had neither autopilot nor Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability.

By 2013, the NAF developed an experimental UAV, codenamed GULMA, which was then unveiled as the first indigenous UAV. It is noteworthy that Gulma UAV was a technology demonstrator used to gather performance data on UAV systems.

Consequently, in September 2015, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), , directed the NAFs R&D Team to build an operational UAV, codenamed Tsaigumi to be used in the Northeast and other theatres of operation in Nigeria.

The data gathered from the Gulma prototype was subsequently applied in the design of the operational UAV, known as Tsaigumi, and inducted into service on 15 February 2018. Although the Tsaigumi UAV was manufactured at the Air Force Research and Development Centre at NAF Base Kaduna, the Team had to collaborate with an overseas facility to produce the moulds.

Tsaigumi UAV, which is capable of day and night operations, has an operational endurance in excess of 10 hours, a service ceiling of 15,000 feet and a mission radius of 100km. It has a maximum take-off weight of 80kg and its payload comprises an electro-optical infrared camera system as well as weapon hard points. The Tsaigumi UAV, whose engine sound is muffled, has a state of the art encrypted communication system.

"It has a wingspan of 5.5metres and is able to gather real time weather information. On the contrary, the Gulma UAV has an operational endurance of 4 hours, a service ceiling of 5,000 feet and could not be operated beyond 20km. It has a maximum take-off weight of 40kg and its payload is an electro-optical camera system only. The Gulma UAV, whose engine sound is not muffled, relies on direct radio frequency communication system with attendant limitations.

The Gulma has a wingspan of 4.4 metres and relies on Air Traffic Control for weather information. Besides, while the Gulma UAV has an imported autopilot, the operational Tsaigumi UAV has an in-house developed autopilot. Tsaigumi UAV is thus a much more advanced and operationalized version of the earlier produced Amebo and Gulma UAV prototypes, he announced.Mr Ameh Zion, the MHEI President, expressed the concern in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.

Zion was speaking on the aftermath of the organisations visit to some camps in Borno to provide mental health and psychosocial support to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

He said that the condition was a neurological dysfunction, caused by a viral infection, which affected children particularly.

According to him, this virus distorts the total senses of the children, beginning from their sight.

They cannot have a balanced and focused sight and they also cannot think or communicate properly, Zion said.

He said children affected by this virus would appear malnourished.

Although, the organisation has identified only a few cases, he said, more could still be found if investigations were done.

We cannot categorically say where this virus came from; whether it is genetic or caused by exposure to trauma or due to a continuous abuse of substances or sexual molestation.

We can only be certain of the cause when these children are properly examined by professional neurologists.

It is then we can know the kind of treatment to offer.

Our greatest concern is that we do not yet have the expertise in Nigeria to handle this kind of condition.

We were able to identify two cases in one of the hospitals in Molai, Maiduguri and this is just one location in a ward in the state.

These children were under 10 years.

He said the organisation identified other mental health conditions in Bolumkutu rehabilitation centre such as depression and psychosis.

He added that the NGO was able to provide some supports to these individuals.

Zion recalled that in the Bakassi camp, Jere, the organisation sensitised the adult men on how to manage trauma, gender-based violence, especially sexual abuse.DSP Idirisu Kennedy, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), stated this on Saturday while addressing newsmen at the command headquarters in Lafia.

According to him, surprisingly some of the suspects arrested in connection with the offence turned out to be of the same tribal extraction with their victims.

He said on Feb. 11 one Nicholas Alua and three others, who are all Tiv people, were arrested for burning three houses of their Tiv brothers at Farin Ruwa 1 of Obi Local Government Area (LGA).

He added on Ijakeni Uhon of Gidan Nguinyi a Tiv man was arrested for setting fire on 25 houses belonging to some Tiv people at Gidan Wakili.

He said that Danis Utsa of Kadarko and three others were also arrested on Jan. 1 for setting ablaze the house of Edward Alima of the same address.

He, however, said that two Fulani people from Obi LGA namely Bagu Anaruwa and Rabo Anaruwa both of Obi LGA were arrested for burning 15 houses belonging to some Tiv people in Kuduku 11 village of Keana LGA.

The PPRO explained that the arrest was made possible due to the aggressive patrols of the affected areas.

He said that the suspects would be charge to court as soon as investigation is concluded.The event which took place at the Government House, Lokoja, was to present Kogi state to both local and international investors as an attractive investment destination.

The summit also aimed to articulate and project the diverse resources abound in Kogi state that has remain largely untapped.

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Kayode Fayemi were among top dignitaries at the summit.

was at the summit and brings you five takeaways from the event.

1. Osinbajo says Kogi is a confluence of opportunities

The Vice President, in his remark, said Kogi state is blessed with great human and natural resources, making it a confluence of opportunities.

This summit is both timely and strategic not only to draw attention to the confluence of opportunities in Kogi state but also to reinvigorate and inspire the people of Kogi as you are reminded of your prospect both as a state and what it has to offer and the possibilities that are so unique to this state, Osinbajo said.

A fertile arable land that make kogi the largest producer of cashew, potential major rice producer, a respected fishing community among others as well as a bed of some of the most prolific solid minerals including coal, limestone, iron ore and tin makes undoubtedly, the confluence state.

The state is also the undisputed gateway between the north and south. This state stands in a strategic position making it the only state that shares boundaries with ten other states including Abuja, he declared.

The vice president noted that legal issues holding down work in the Ajaokuta Steel Company has been resolved.

Osinbajo said the Muhammadu Buhari administration has given more support to state governments than any other government since 1999.

As of September 2017, total support (excess crude account loan and Budget support facility), excluding Paris club refunds, is in the order of N876. 3 billion, and if we add Paris club refunds we will have disbursed N1.91 trillion, he announced.

Describing Governor Bello as ambitious, Osinbajo said: "Within a few months of his excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello in office, he approached me and presented to me a compendium, the New Direction Blueprint. I must say that I found reading through it that it was both ambitious and farsighted.

Im also told that there is a thirty-two-year infrastructure masterplan being developed that would be passed into law to ensure sustainability. This long-term thinking, giving deep roots, ensuring that plans are well thought out and sustainable is the way of the future, he added.

2. Governor Bello on making Kogi commercially viable

The governor said since the creation of Kogi state over twenty-five years ago, the state still depends largely on allocations from the Federal Government to solve its needs.

Bello, however, said those days are over as his government has begun taking steps that would make the state economically viable.

Twenty-five years ago, Kogi state was created and ever since then, it is often referred to as a civil service state. Under this administration, we will no longer take that narrative because Kogi state is full of potentials.

Our geographical location, natural water bodies, variable vast and arable land, human capital solid minerals are great potentials. I refer to Kogi state as the solid mineral capital of Africa. All these potentials will remain so long as we continue to see Kogi state as a civil service state and nothing is done," he said.

Bello expressed his administrations commitment to replacing the barriers of ethnicity, religion and class differentials with bridges for a one-united Kogi state.

3. Fayemi speaks of the opportunities in Kogi state

Minister for solid minerals development, Kayode Fayemiurged the state government to identify more resources and partner industry players for greater benefits.

Due to the very rich geological formations in Kogi state, there is the opportunity for more large-scale cement companies to get involved in mining in the state. Currently, a large team of geologists from the ministry are scattered across the country, including in Kogi State, aiming to identify additional carbonate resources and preliminary reports already indicate that Kogis potentials in this regard may be bigger than previously known.

There are opportunities for Kogi State to partner with private sector players to exploit the vast value chain of mining in the state.

Kogi state, in partnership with private sector entities can invest in beneficiation plants that encourage the expansion of mining activities within the state, thus creating jobs and economic opportunities for indigenes, Fayemi said.

4. Ooni of Ife says Dangote wont solve all of Nigerias problems

The OoniofIfe, ObaAdeyeye Ogunwusi urged that the government should encourage youth in small scale businesses rather than discourage them.

We usually have a lot of summits like this in this country but truth be told, there is a major problem in this our great nation and we cannot continue like this, Oba Ogunwusi began.

13.5 million tons by Dangote. It is not only Dangote that will solve the problem of our country. We need to focus more on small and medium scale enterprises.

If one company can explore 13.5 million tons, why cant we break it down so that youths can also do one thousand tons of cement per annum? That would generate jobs for 1.3 million youths that would be entrepreneurs in the country. That should be the focus.

We make that mistake a lot in this country. We have versatile youths who can manufacture equipment locally but we will focus on how to discourage and pull them down. Why cant we urge the government to set up a research and development unit so they can be schooled?

Let them tap into these people doing illegal refinery. Let the encourage youths in Kogi state that can start up small cement plants to support our industries. Some are not lettered but they know what they are doing and they are in this state.

The future of Nigeria does not lie in the hands of only Dangote. We need to encourage our youths, Ooni declared.

5. Governor Bello apologizes to Christian leaders

Towards the end of his speech, Governor Bello apologized to Christian leaders over his comments while speaking to journalists at the Villa.

"My statements to the press were misconstrued and misrepresented but I take full responsibility for this as I tender my unreserved apology to the Catholic bishops and by extension my Christian brothers and sisters who are displeased with my statement on tithing, the governor said.

I recognise the enormous contributions of the Catholic Church to entrenching a social order which is devoid of corruption, oppression and in the promotion of socio-economic justice.

The Catholic Church has done very well in promoting literacy and health care. I am quite familiar with a good number of Catholic priests and I know their stance on the issue of corruption. Every church and religion must fight corruption because corruption oppresses the poor and destroy justice and fairness, he added.

The event also witnessed the signing on seven MoUs  four on energy, three on tourism -- between the government of Kogi state and investors.Speaking to correspondent and other journalists in Abuja on Thursday, February 15, 2018, Amaechi said the PDP is not hungry for power but money.

If we don't win, corruption will come back automatically, Amaechi announced.

The way it will come back because the people (PDP) are out, they have been out for four years. They have never been out of government before. PDP never left government so now they are hungry, not hungry for power.

In fact if you tell them that I want to keep power and I will give you money, they will say take power and give us the money, he added.

ALSO READ: All aggrieved APC blocs Asiwaju must reconcile before 2019

The minister said Nigerians expected too much from the Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

The problem was expectation. In fact, the president got worried and he called me and said 'Amaechi go and reduce the expectation' and I said 'Oga I'm not a magician'.

If we are not borrowing to pay salaries, it means we are generating our own money. I hope Nigerians remember under the past government oil was at $110, $120. But when we came oil was $58 per barrel.

The highest that we have gotten is the mistake that happened in the last two weeks that it rose to &70 or 80 after one day it came down to a little over $50, instantly," the minister said.

Amaechi admitted that the APC has made some mistakes but expressed optimism that the party would deliver on its mandate to Nigerians if reelected.

Are we perfect? No. Have we made mistakes? Yes. Can we overcome the mistakes, we have made? Yes. Can we surmount the challenges we met in the office? Yes. But again we need more than four years to do that, Amaechi announced.The call was made by the leadership of the movement as stated by National Secretary, Ibem Ugwuoke, in a statement issued on Friday, February 16, 2018.

Ugwuoke said that the decision to order its members to register for PVCs was reached in a meeting presided over by its leader, Uchenna Madu.

The Statement

MASSOB orders all Biafrans that are constitutionally eligible to vote to immediately go for voter registration card in the nearest INEC office. That possession of the Nigerias voter card is not merely for Nigerias elections only but for Biafra Referendum as the only identification card for eligibility of the people that will determine the future of Biafra actualisation through a United Nations observed referendum.

Boycotting voters registration and non possession of the voters card is a self inflicted decision for any future referendum on the self determination for sovereignty of a state.

That for a proposed statehood of Biafra to be ordered and declared by United Nations, the voting population of Biafrans through the registration and possession of the voter card must be captured in the national demography of the existing political entity (Nigeria) from which the voting population of the coming statehood (Biafra) is seeking for a separation.

That it is never an all comers affairs, even if United Nations comes in the existing mother country (Nigeria) to conduct and supervise a referendum that will determine the future of Biafra, she still has a critical role to play. The registration and possession of the voter card is for the Biafra referendum.

MASSOB calls for review of the current voters registration exercise because the entire permanent voters registration exercise is fraudulently dubious schemed to favour only the northern region. INEC patterned the exercise to include even underaged children.

We saw even as underaged persons of northern origin below 18 years registered by INEC for 2019 general elections. With these INEC sponsored trend of registering underaged persons from northern region, MASSOB will never allow elections to hold in eastern region in 2019.

MASSOB still believes and anchors on our principle of non violence towards all our approaches to Biafra actualisation and restoration. We dont believe in arms struggle, we shall abide by all the principles and charters of United Nation declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and African Charter on the Human Rights of Indigenous People, the statement read.

Buhari does not understand tolerance and diversity - MASSOB

MASSOB said that President Buhari lacks a good understanding of Nigerias diversity.His son, who contested chairmanship position of Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area on two occasions under the PDP but lost, joined the APC at Ward C, in his Ikoyi constituency.

He was received into APC by members led by the Ward Chairman, Mr Suleiman Yusuf, and former Commissioner for Finance in the state, Mr Wale Edun.

Speaking at the declaration, the young Obanikoro said his coming to the APC was to be closer to the people and to contribute his quota to his constituency.

He regretted that he had once had differences with the APC as a result of his membership of the PDP.

Obanikoro said he had retraced his steps to be part of a progressive party promoting the development of the state.

He expressed appreciation for the warm reception given to him by members of his new party and promised to do his best to add value to APC.

I thank you for the warm reception and I assure you that I will do my best to take the party to greater heights.

Also I will do my best to ensure that I carry everyone along and we further build the party together in this area, he said.

Obanikoro said he respected the decision of those who were still in the PDP in the area, but urged them to join the APC.

He said his defection meant Ikoyi/Obalende was now for APC, as he was joining with his teeming supporters.

Reacting, Yusuf, the Ward Chairman said the APC was glad to have Obanikoro in its fold.

He said there was no doubt that the politician would add value to his new party, since he comes from a renowned political family.

Also speaking, Edun described the coming of Obanikoro as a plus for the party in the area, describing him as a force to reckon with.

He urged members of the party to gear up for the coming general election by winning new members.Spokesman of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said this while reacting to comments by Transport minister, Rotimi Amaechi that the opposition party would automatically return corruption if the President Buhari fails reelection.

Amaechi said Nigerians would be taking the country ten steps backward if Buhari is not reelected.

But, Ologbondiyan said the PDP has a dossier of officials in Buhari administration who have been accused of corruption but are enjoying the protection of the government in power.

The Buhari administration is swimming in an ocean of corruption, Ologbondiyansaid in a statement on Friday, February 16, 2018.

It is unfortunate that Amaechi and others like him are yet to come to terms with the fact that Nigerians now know that the APC deceived them into believing that they were saints.

Amaechis approach is typical of an overwhelmed salesman of a rejected product who must engage in a shouting bout to gratify his desperate paymasters.

By trying to re-enact the outworn APC propaganda of tagging others as corrupt while vainly posturing as saints, the campaign director has not only exposed their disdain for Nigerians but also the fact that the presidency and the APC are now mortally afraid of the repositioned and re-oriented PDP ahead of the general election, he added."What is happening is unacceptable. Getting registered (to vote) is a civil right, and a right that one can choose to exercise or not," said Tatien Sibomana, one of a handful of opposition leaders who have chosen not to go into exile.

A coalition of opposition parties in exile, CNARED, also denounced the "enrolment by force" with spokesman Pancrace Cimpaye accusing the authorities of trying "to counter the (population's) low enthusiasm" for the referendum.

Former rebel leader Nkurunziza, 54, has ruled the small, densely populated central African nation for 12 years and critics have accused him of being a dictator who refuses to give up power.

Opposition parties are against the constitutional changes on grounds they could deal a death blow to the Arusha peace accords which are credited with ending the 1993-2006 civil war when more than 300,000 people died.

The Arusha accords clearly stipulate that no president can govern the country for more than 10 years.

Threats, intimidation

Witnesses from several cities told AFP the authorities were using a number of different tactics.

"All passersby were obliged to stop at roadblocks where they had the Imbonerakure and the police," said one high school teacher in the northwestern city of Bubanza, who wished to remain anonymous.

"People could not pass without showing their enrolment papers."

An 18-year-old student from southeastern Makamba province said pupils who had not registered on the electoral lists were being ordered to do so and show proof.

And residents of two communes in central Gitega province said the local authorities had threatened not to validate their health insurance or provide fertiliser unless they registered.

In response, first vice president Gaston Sindimwo acknowledged that some Imbonerakure may have gone over the top.

"There may be some of them who abuse the association's power and make mistakes but within the government, we are putting forward the reasons for enrolment," he said.

In power since 2005, Nkurunziza ran for a controversial third term in 2015 which he went on to win, plunging Burundi into crisis.

The current constitution sets a limit of two five-year presidential terms.

His decision to run again sparked violence that has left at least 1,200 dead and sent more than 400,000 Burundians fleeing across borders, mostly to Tanzania.

'Flagrant double standards'

In October, the government adopted a plan to revise the constitution which, if approved in the referendum, would enable Nkurunziza to serve another two seven-year terms from 2020.

Two months ago, the government launched a campaign to promote the referendum.

But it also banned any public partisan campaigning, either for or against the changes, until two weeks before the vote.

Opposition parties have accused the government of "flagrant double standards" after ministers called for the changes to be voted through.

At least 50 opposition activists, mostly former National Liberation Forces rebels, have been arrested for calling for a "no" vote. And earlier this week, four students and a teacher were detained for the same reasons, with one of the students arrested in class.Fighters from the Islamist Nureddine al-Zinki rebel group "fired on a car as it was crossing one of their checkpoints in the village of Al-Huta after midnight," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

"Abu Ayman al-Masri, a top commander of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), was in the car and was killed," the Britain-based war monitor said.

His wife was also wounded.

Al-Ibaa, a media channel affiliated with HTS, also reported that Masri had been killed and his wife wounded after "being hit in direct fire from al-Zinki."

HTS is dominated by members of Al-Qaeda's onetime Syria affiliate, Al-Nusra Front.

According to the Observatory, Masri was in charge of education services for foreign members of the organisation.

He had previously served as a military trainer for new recruits.

"Abu Ayman was a member of Al-Qaeda international," the Observatory said, adding that he had fought with the organisation in Afghanistan.

Masri was already in Syria when Al-Nusra Front began establishing itself as a major force in rebel ranks in 2014.

The Nureddine al-Zinki movement is a hardline Islamist faction with a powerful presence in western parts of Aleppo province near the border with Idlib

It formed a short-lived alliance with HTS in 2017, but has broken it off and the two groups have clashed in the past.With political tension in the air, National Super Alliance (NASA) supporters and security agencies were charged for a face off as the opposition pushed on with plans to swear in Raila Odinga.

Police officers were already on stand-by to prevent opposition supporters from accessing Uhuru Park and deal with them accordingly after state agencies declared the 30 January 2018 ceremony illegal.

With President Uhuru Kenyatta away in Addis Ababa, DP Ruto rose up to the occasion, with many analyst warning that the nation was staring at chaos and a deadly confrontation.

To the surprise of his handlers, DP Ruto, in a rare show of wisdom softened his stand and ordered security forces to withdraw, giving NASA a chance to proceed with its swearing in of Raila.

A source privy to the details revealed to The Standard that after a wee hours meeting with the security bosses that lasted up to after nine in the morning, the DP ordered for the withdrawal of the security officers.

This was in sharp contrast to what was witnessed on when the opposition chief returned from the USA on 17 November 2017.

Police clashed with NASA supporters who had lined up the road to welcome the opposition leader home, leaving many dead and property worth millions destroyed.Sex work a legitimate career but still fear of stigma

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We're sorry, this article is not currently available'Through his conversation with Yama, Nachiketa helped society grapple with a bunch of knotty issues, just as many of the ongoing conflicts could do today,' says Arundhuti Dasgupta.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

The first month of the year was singed by protests. In Mumbai and parts of Maharashtra. mobs vandalised the streets over caste and a 200-year-old battle.

Then, the revolt by four Supreme Court judges against the Chief Justice of India rattled many.

Protests are the hallmark of a democracy and every society and age has had to grapple with its own set of revolts.

In India, the story of Nachiketa in the Katha Upanishad is about a son revolting (respectfully, of course) against his father, the sage Vajashrivas.

Known for his generosity, the sage had promised to donate his prized possessions to the gods in the hope of accumulating enough good deeds to grant him release from the cycle of life and death.

At the time of the sacrifice, however, Nachiketa noticed that his father was giving away just the weak, feeble and maimed cows in his possession.

Intrigued, then barely in his teens, he questioned the logic of such generosity and dared his father to give him away.

After all, he, too, was a prized possession.

Angered, Vajashrivas declared that he would send his son to Yama (death) and therein began the teachings of the Katha Upanishad that are presented as a dialogue between death and a young boy looking for the meaning of life, after-life, the nature of man and his soul.

Nachiketa was not just challenging his father, he was taking on authority, just as many are doing today.

In the process, through his confrontation and conversation with Yama, he helped society grapple with a bunch of knotty issues, just as many of the ongoing conflicts could do today.

Like the Nachiketa-Vajashrivas tale, several ancient stories talk about revolt from within.

While outsiders do initiate change and establish new ideas and social change, the status quo is usually rattled by kith and kin or rank and file.

Kings of the ancient world knew that well and that is what led them often to nip their rivals in the cradle.

Be it King Acrisius of the Greeks who imprisoned his daughter Danae because her son Perseus would bring him down as the Oracle had predicted or King Kamsa who killed every newborn in his kingdom as he hunted for Krishna, his sister's son, who was prophesied to bring his end.

Or consider Asura King Hiranyakashipu. He had the boon of near-immortality from Brahma because he could not be defeated by man or woman, neither inside nor outside his palace and neither during the day nor during the night.

His son Prahlad, a devout follower of Vishnu, was instrumental in bringing about his end as the god descended as Narasimha (in his half man-half lion avatar) to kill Hiranyakashipu.

Among the common beliefs that power such stories are that every dynasty sows the seeds of its own destruction and that evil generates its own end.

An Irish myth about King Balor of the evil eye is particularly explicit. The gods had said that Balor would be killed by his grandson, so he imprisoned his daughter in a cave.

Circumstances led her to be seduced by an outsider who ventured in to the cave to retrieve the cow of plenty that Balor had stolen.

Three sons were born of the union and when Balor found out, he drowned them all. Only one survived, Lugh, who went to battle against him when he came of age.

Lugh knew about his grandfather's evil eye. Legend was that the eye held a venomous gaze and when opened, it could decimate any army.

On the battlefield, Lugh waited for his grandfather to raise his eyelid and the moment he did that, he aimed a sling stone at it. The eye was carried through the back of Balor's head and turned its fatal glance on his own army, which was subsequently destroyed.

In most of these stories, there is another belief that runs through -- that no one, man, god or beast, is infallible.

The Mayan myths about the hero twins and their tryst with the gods is an example.

The twins were proficient in magic and played a ball game that none could match. But they played incessantly and this angered the gods of the underworld.

The twins were challenged to a game and the gods placed numerous hurdles in their path, but they found a way out of every difficulty.

Finally, they defeated the gods, dismembered them and left them literally in pieces.

The twins have been reborn as the sun and the moon and their story carried forward the Mayan belief that all rulers ought to be prepared to confront and outwit the gods.

Perhaps we ought to take a leaf out of their book.'We will have a big say in Delhi in 2018 or 2019 (whenever the elections are) in the Lok Sabha.'



IMAGE: Rahul Gandhi greets Mamata Banerjee. Photograph: PTI Photo

Derek O'Brien, leader of the Trinamool Congress in the Rajya Sabha and his party's national spokesperson, tells Archis Mohan that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will have a big role to play in New Delhi in the next Lok Sabha.

In your recently launched book, Inside Parliament: Views from the Front Row, you have said that the Narendra D Modi government has been bullying Parliament, mocking the Rajya Sabha and eroded it as an institution.

Let me correct you. Not just Parliament, but all institutions.

Let me start with a positive suggestion. It is always the government's onus to run Parliament. The government's little games in delaying convening the session are not good.

My positive suggestion is that they should first make a parliamentary calendar for the year.

If primary schools, high schools and colleges have a calendar, why can't Parliament?

As for the dates for the winter session, I can understand I am an Opposition MP and we were in the dark, but even the parliamentary affairs minister!

What is dangerous is that 'the pair' are the only people who know when Parliament will open.

'The pair' know which Bill will come.

They know at 9 pm this should be the narrative on the 'North Korean' news channels.

'The pair' announce the election dates. If you look at the media reports, one of 'the pair' had announced election dates for Gujarat even before the Election Commission officially announced it.

So, this is 'the pair'.

But, this is Parliament, which cannot be run by 'the pair'. It has to be run by 788 MPs.

This is an example of how they are destroying institutions.

Second, in one of my essays in the book, I have written about the Leader of the House (Finance Minister Arun Jaitley) wearing the 110 jersey (Article 110 of the Constitution deals with 'money Bills').

The best players in the world normally wear the number 10 jersey -- Pele, Maradona... But Jaitley wears 110 because when 'the pair' go to him he shows the 110 jersey and everything becomes a money Bill.

Third, they are talking about simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls. This is a baloney idea.

Fourth, the Leader of the Rajya Sabha (Jaitley) is saying that the powers of the Rajya Sabha should be curtailed.

I have a lot of respect for Mr Jaitley as a senior parliamentarian. But he sounds like a block level BJP leader when he starts comparing the Rajya Sabha to the House of Lords.

Where is the comparison? The composition is different.

The House of Lords is by peerage, while in the Rajya Sabha, except for the 12 nominated members, we are all elected.

From Derek's book: When Mamata achieved political immortality

You have written that the Trinamool urged the Congress to field former prime minister Manmohan Singh to speak on demonetisation in the Rajya Sabha (in the winter session in November 2016).

Was it also the time that the Congress stopped listening to the CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) and start heeding the advice of the Trinamool?

Everyone knows the facts. Mamatadi was the first one to speak.

The Congress was initially a bit reticent, but at the end of it all you have to give the Congress the credit that they put up whoever they did (to speak in the Rajya Sabha).

I think that time the CPI-M had this handbrake. Now, that handbrake is ineffective.



IMAGE: Samajwadi Party MP Naresh Agarwal, CPI leader D Raja, Congress MP Ghulam Nabi Azad, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien and AAP MP Sanjay Singh outside Parliament. Photograph: PTI Photo

A section in the CPI-M is against any truck with the Congress. Would the Trinamool have an alliance with the Congress in Bengal?

These are issues to be decided by the Trinamool Congress working committee.

But please understand, the Trinamool won close to 50 per cent of vote share and almost 220-seats in the Bengal assembly polls in 2016. But these are decisions to be taken later.

We will have a big say in Delhi in 2018 or 2019 (whenever the elections are) in the Lok Sabha.

Obviously, the Trinamool seats would be 34 plus (the Trinamool won 34 seats of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal in 2014).

I also believe the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) will sweep Tamil Nadu, and that would push the BJP to the defensive.

They have used the AIADMK's 37 seats (in the current Lok Sabha) to do all kinds of nonsense.

You have suggested the Opposition should focus on state-specific battles and issues to defeat the BJP in 2019.

Leaders like Mamata Banerjee, Naveen Patnaik, Amarinder Singh, should challenge the PM in their states.

But the Congress is projecting Rahul Gandhi as the national alternative.

Would it be amenable to your strategy?

I am not here to give anybody any advice. The Congress party can choose their own leader, and work out their own strategy.

The overall picture we are looking at is two-fold.

The Opposition has to run a positive and a negative campaign.

The negative campaign -- call for the removal of the BJP as they are breaking down institutions.

The social fabric of the country and the economy are in a mess, and there is all big talk but no delivery.

Second, the positive part of the campaign ought to be that federalism will drive India.

Given its size and presence across the country, the Congress has a big role to play in Delhi and they must take up the leadership of the collective in Delhi.

But Mamata Banerjee will be a prime ministerial candidate?

Mamatadi has a track record of over four decades of peoples' movements and struggle.

That was all in the Opposition, but now she has six years in governance and Bengal is one of the better performing states on various social and economic parameters.

Obviously, every Opposition leader has a role to play in New Delhi.

Why did the Shiv Sena and National Conference march with us to protest demonetisation?

Mamatadi explained to everybody to look beyond issues like Hindu, Muslims, Sikhs...

Mamatadi is an inclusive person. In the Trinamool Congress, we are clear about our role.

We will act as a catalyst, if needed, to remove the BJP.Former Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely on Saturday rejoined the party months after he quit to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, where he said he was an "ideological misfit".

Lovely, who was a former minister in the Sheila Dikshit-led government, met party chief Rahul Gandhi at his residence along with Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken earlier.

Gandhi welcomed him into the party fold.

The announcement was made by All India Congress Committee incharge of Delhi unit PC Chacko, along with Maken, where Lovely said he never felt good quitting the party.

"I was ideologically misfit in the BJP. I realised this from the next day I joined the party," he told reporters.

He also said that he took the decision to quit the Congress and join the BJP with a "lot of pain".

Lovely, who was a Sheila Dikshit loyalist, quit the Congress following differences with Maken.

He had quit the Congress and joined the BJP in the presence of party president Amit Shah, ahead of the Delhi civic polls in April last year.

Lovely's return comes in the wake of efforts to unite the party in Delhi where byelections are due following the disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs.

Lovely, a prominent Sikh and Punjabi face in the national capital, would help bolster the Congress' prospects.

The party does not have any MLA in the Delhi assembly currently.

Dikshit also welcomed him into the party fold.

Photograph: Kind Courtesy @INCIndia/TwitterIranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday asserted that his country will adhere to the terms of the nuclear deal it signed with world powers till "the last breath" and warned that the United States will "regret" if the pact was broken.

Rouhani's comments come after US President Donald Trump had threatened to pull out of the deal. He had sought a review of the nuclear pact.

"We as a country have always adhered (to commitments). We will not violate it (the pact) and will stay on board. It is the order of God. If we are signing the pact then we will adhere to it, till the last breath," he said.

Rouhani, while delivering an address in New Delhi on 'The priorities of the foreign policy of Islamic Republic of Iran', said the time for "haggling" by president Trump is over and negotiating after signing the deal is "ridiculous".

The US is not dealing with Iran alone on the issue of nuclear pact but also with the United Nations Security Council, which has approved the pact, said Rouhani at the event organised by the Observer Research Foundation.

The US, he observed, will "regret" if the deal collapses and the people within that country would voice concerns over it.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, was a notable foreign policy achievement of the Obama administration.

The deal, struck in 2015 between between Iran and six world powers -- the US, the UK, Russia, France, China, and Germany -- lifted economic sanctions on Tehran, and in return put limitations on its controversial nuclear energy programme.

President Trump has expressed its reservations about the deal.

Last month, he waived sanctions against Iran as required under the JCPOA, but warned that it will be the last such waiver if radical changes are not made in the pact.

A joint statement by India and Iran after Rouhani's delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India reaffirms its support for full and effective implementation of the JCPOA.

The JCPOA has been endorsed by the UN Security Council and is a crucial contribution to the non-proliferation framework and international peace, stability and security, it said.

Backing New Delhi's quest for a permanent seat in the UNSC, Rouhani asked why India, a nation with population of 1.3 billion, was not a member of the powerful club.

"Why doesn't India, with a population of 1.3 billion, have veto rights? Those who had atomic bombs were given veto rights," Rouhani said, emphasising on having ethics in foreign policy as against military might.

Veto right in the UNSC lies with the US, the UK, China, France and Russia.

Hitting out at the US, Rouhani said many issues in the world today have arisen out of miscalculation and Washington has constantly resorted to that mistake with regard to Tehran.

He said the US sought to control the lives of Iranians and even tried to stop the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Recalling the Iraq-Iran war, Rouhani said Saddam Hussain, the former president of Iraq, who ruled the country with an iron fist, reneged on the commitment made between the two countries and borders, which resulted in a devastating war.

Photograph: Kamal Singh/PTI PhotoAn anti-terrorism court in Pakistan on Saturday sentenced to death a serial killer for the brutal rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl that sparked national outrage, the first ever trial in the country's history that concluded in shortest period of four days.

Announcing the verdict at the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore at in-camera trial amid high security, ATC judge Sajjad Hussain handed down the death sentence to 23-year-old Imran Ali on four grounds -- murdering a child, kidnapping a child, rape of a minor, and committing an unnatural act with a minor.

Imran has also been sentenced to seven years in jail with a fine of Rs 1 million for desecrating the body of a minor.

He was arrested in January, two weeks after he raped and killed the seven-year-old girl and threw her body into a garbage dump in Kasur city, some 50 kilometres from Lahore.

The brutal rape and murder of the child had sparked outrage and protests across the country.

Her case was the twelfth such incident to occur within a 10 kilometre radius in Kasur city over a 12-month period.

The arrest brought to light eight more such killings and many Pakistanis have demanded he be publicly executed.

Prosecutor General Ehtesham Qadir, who spoke to media after the sentencing, said the accused had been given ample chance to defend himself, but he chose to confess his crimes.

He said the prosecution had presented at least 56 witnesses against him in addition to forensic evidence, including the DNA and polygraph tests.

"It was a fair trial in which the suspect was given a chance to defend himself," Qadir said, adding the ATC has awarded the sentence to the accused only in the case of the seven-year-old girl.

"The suspect had also confessed to the killing of eight other girls. He will be tried in these cases separately," he said, adding this was the first ever trial in the history of Pakistan that concluded in four days.

The girl's father Muhammad Amin expressed satisfaction over the verdict, saying: "We are satisfied on the verdict but we wanted him to be hanged publicly."

The girl's mother said, "We want that the suspect should be stoned to death for his crime as hanging in jail is a punishment which is given to other criminals but this beast deserves either public hanging or stoned to death."

Imran will now have 15 days to approach the court to file an appeal.

However, the prosecutor general said he had confessed to his crime and was not interested in challenging the ATC verdict in higher court.

"He regrets for his act. He says he became a pervert after having an addiction of watching child pornography on Internet," Qadir said.

Advocate Mehar Shakeel Multani, the private counsel for the suspect, had withdrawn his power of attorney after the suspect made confession before the trial court.

The lawyer claimed his conscience did not allow him to defend a serial killer.

Later, the court provided the suspect with state counsel to complete the trial proceedings.

Showing concerns about the fairness of the trial inside jail, rights activist and senior lawyer Asad Jamal said the trial could not be held in a free and fair manner unless the suspect was given an ample opportunity to defend himself through a counsel of his choice.

He said the trial had been conducted in camera without access to independent observers, members of the bar and independent legal counsel for the suspect.

He said the prosecution could not propose or nominate a lawyer to defend a suspect, as done in the case, because there had always been a clear conflict of interest.

He said it was against the principles of due process of fair trial guaranteed under Article 10-A of the Constitution.

Advocate Jamal said he had also filed an application with the jail authorities, seeking permission to meet the accused to consult him in private to access the need for the steps to be taken, including representation to defend him to ensure a fair trial.

The Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 also requires a trial court to proceed with the trial on day-to-day basis and decide the case within seven working days.

Prosecutor General Qadir, however, said, "All the requisites of justice and fairness had been strictly observed during the trial proceedings."

He said the private counsel for the suspect had cross- examined at least 22 prosecution witnesses before he withdrew his power of attorney.

"Later, the state lawyer appointed by the court completed the cross-examination of the remaining witnesses."

Image: A slide showing a picture of Imran Ali suspected of being a serial killer responsible for the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl is shown at a press conference in Lahore. Photograph: Mohsin Raza/ReutersPrime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday held "substantive" talks on key issues of terrorism, security, trade and energy, after which the two sides inked nine pacts, including a lease contract for a part of Chabahar port's operation for 18 months.

Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iran's President Hassan Rouhani release the commemorative stamp celebrating India-Iran relations at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

The two leaders also deliberated on the regional situation during wide-ranging talks, with both asserting that there was a need for a peaceful, stable, prosperous and a pluralistic Afghanistan.

Addressing a joint press event with Rouhani, Modi said the two countries want a terror-free world and they were committed to stopping the expansion of those powers which encourage terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, cyber crimes and other international crimes.

On his part, Rouhani said,"We are determined to combat terrorism and extremism."

Image: The two leaders held 'substantive' talks to boost cooperation in key areas of security, trade and energy. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo

The Iranian leader also said that regional conflicts must be resolved through diplomacy and political initiatives, but did not specifically name any regional dispute.

The two sides also inked nine pacts, which included lease contract between Iran's Port and Maritime Organization and India's Ports Global Limited to take over operation of existing facilities at the Shahid Beheshti Port -- Phase 1 of Chabahar -- for 18 months.

Image: During his visit, Hassan Rouhani also pays his tributes at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo

Other pacts included avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, ratification of extradition treaty, exemption from visa requirement for holders of diplomatic passports, traditional systems of medicine and establishment of an expert group on trade remedy measures.

In addition to these nine pacts, four more pacts were inked on the sidelines of Rouhani's visit between the two countries, officials said.

Image: Rouhani being presented with a bust of Mahatma Gandhi after paying homage at Rajghat. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo

Modi said the visit by the Iranian president shows how the two sides want to deepen cooperation in key areas, including connectivity, and described the strategically-important Chabahar as a "golden gateway", development of which will help in reaching out to land-locked Afghanistan and central Asia.

The prime minister also appreciated the way the Iranian leader provided leadership in developing the Chabahar Port.

Image: Rouhani also receives a scroll bearing Gandhian views on social sins during a visit to the Mahatma Gandhi memorial. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo

Noting that they had "positive talks" on tariff-related issues and banking relations, Rouhani said,"We have decided to expand cooperation in natural gas and petrochemical sector."

Earlier, Rouhani was given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Image: President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Modi shake hands with the Iranian President during his ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Photograph: Kamal Singh/PTI Photo

In the morning, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on Rouhani and discussed various issues with him.

Image: Rouhani inspects a guard of honor during his ceremonial reception. Photograph: Kamal Singh/PTI PhotoThe government's negligence towards this 'treasure house of knowledge' can be seen from the fact that monkeys roam about freely in the reading rooms, disturbing the calm of the library, as well as putting the lives of the readers in danger, writes Sajad Ahmad Dar.

IMAGE: The Malviya Pustakalaya in Aligarh. Photograph: Sajad Ahmad Dar

As the train passes from Aligarh toward Delhi, on the left, across the Railway Road of Aligarh, one witnesses a high, fort-like structure.

It is a public library, named after Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (1861-1946). It once instituted a 'News Club' and even subscribed to the Morning Post of London to satisfy the inquisitiveness of the readers for news of the Russo-Japanese war (1905). But it now fails to provide even the very basic facilities to its readers.

The Pustakalaya (library), which is a two-storeyed building, currently houses about 70,000 books in different languages, viz, Hindi, Urdu, English and Sanskrit, with the Hindi material outnumbering the others.

The late 19th century North-Western Provinces (as Uttar Pradesh was then known) witnessed a mushrooming of educational institutions.

In Aligarh, the Mohammadan Anglo Oriental (M A O) College (later upgraded to the Aligarh Muslim University) was established in 1877.

Around the same time various socio-religious-political associations sprang up on religious-revivalist lines. These organisations were more powerful in the Hindi belt.

Richard Gordon (1975) would argue that prominent associations like Arya Samaj and Sanathan Dharm Sabhas promoted Hindi and the Devnagari script and organised gau rakshini sabhas.

A similar kind of an association was founded in Aligarh. This was the 'Bharatvarshiya National Association', one of the oldest educational societies of Aligarh.

It was founded in 1878 by a group of public-spirited citizens in order to promote education and Hindi (Devnagari) language in this town of the province.

For the promotion of Hindi language the association also formed a Hindi sub-committee, 'Bhasha Sambhardhani Sabha'.

Its president was Raja Laxman Singh, the then deputy collector. Babu Tota Ram Verma, the founder-secretary, Rai Laxmi Narain, Munshi Nawal Kishore Bhargava, Raja Bahadur and Raja Jai Kishan Das Pathak were some of the notable members of this association.

In 1882 the association first planned to run a public library for the benefit of the people of Aligarh in general and students in particular.

It was resolved that the library be named after Sir Alfered Lyall, the then lieutenant governor of the province, who readily extended his patronage to the association.

The premises where the library is situated now was once a part of the Aligarh Telegraph Office.

Due to the efforts of Sir Lyall, the government agreed to grant this spacious plot of land to the association for the construction of the public library, with a condition that it should be completed by 1902.

However, overcoming numerous hurdles, the library was completed in 1904, incurring a cost of Rs 8 lakh.

Munshi Nawal Kishore Bhargava, and his son Prag Narain Bhargava, made one-third of the contributions, besides making a free gift of all their publications and prints at their Nawal Kishore Press.

Babu Tota Ram also enriched the library by donating his entire valuable personal collection.

Kishan Deb Bahadur, the great magnate of Calcutta, also gifted the (subscription of) the then popular daily The Nation of Calcutta to the library. Interestingly, he got himself enrolled as the first life member of the association.

'Malviya Pustakalaya', the name which the library now bears, was given to it in 1947, on the recommendation of the executive committee of the association, to commemorate Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya's efforts for the promotion of Hindi and Nagri script vis-a-vis Urdu in Aligarh, besides 'acknowledging his unique services in the cause of education at Benaras' (Varanasi).

Not only this, the members of Bharatvarshiya National Association also installed a bust of Pandit Malviya in the middle of the library lawns, and whose unveiling ceremony was performed by Pandit Hirdaya Nath Kunzru (1887-1978), one of the closest associates of Malviya.

Totaram, who arguably is one of the best known lawyers Aligarh ever produced, left his job in Varanasi, came back to Aligarh, and fought for the cause of promotion of Hindi vis-a-vis Urdu in the courts and kutcherries of Aligarh.

It was he who invited Malviya to Aligarh for instilling enthusiasm among the members.

The campaign to collect the signatures of some 60,000 people became a success only due to the painstaking efforts of this duo.

It was later submitted to the then governor of Aligarh, Anthony MacDonnell. Their efforts bore fruit when on August 15, 1900, the British government agreed to promote Hindi.

Despite such illustrious history behind it, the glorious library is now in a filthy and pathetic condition. It has almost fallen into ruins.

Due to constraints of space, a good number of students are forced to sit on the lawns and in the dirty corridors where there is no provision of chairs.

There are six reading rooms in the library, out of which one is reserved for girls.

While the office of the library and the girls' reading room remain open from 9 am to 5 pm, the reading rooms for boys remain open till 8 pm.

Some basic amenities like washrooms, drinking water, and fans are just not to be found in the library. Heating arrangements during winters, too, are absent.

Though the students are required to deposit a registration fee of Rs 180 per annum, yet the library functionaries deny them access to most of the books.

The authorities claim that usually the issued books never return, an accusation the readers and students vehemently deny.

Some students of science and medical sciences even complained about unavailability of books relevant to their subjects.

There is also an issue of inadequate grants-in-aid from the state government.

A laughably insufficient grant of Rs 5,000 per annum is provided to the library, which can't even meet out the salaries of its seven employees for a month.

The library is run by a committee of 70-75 members who predominantly come from the Kayastha caste (the caste to which Babu Totaram belonged), besides the trading communities of Aggarwals, and a few from the Varsheney caste.

B S Kamtaniya, a lawyer by profession, is the president of the Bharatvarshiya National Association which looks after at the library. About 50 shops fall in the premises of the library; rent obtained from them is the only major source of income for the historic public library.

The government's negligence towards this 'treasure house of knowledge' can be seen from the fact that monkeys roam about freely in the reading rooms, disturbing the calm of the library, as well as putting the lives of the readers in danger.

In contrast, the conditions are far better in the libraries of the two colleges in the city, Dharm Samaj College (founded in 1947) and Varsheney College, located at a distance of less than half a kilometer from this library.

Is it because the colleges provide better economic returns to the Aggarwals and Varsheneys, who manage these institutions, that the community -- and the government -- provides sufficient funds to them?

It is time for the affluent and politically influential communities of this urban locale to pay attention to this historic Pustakalaya, which is crying out to be salvaged.

Sajad Ahmad Dar is pursuing doctoral research on the urban history of Aligarh in the 20th century, at the Centre of Advanced Study in History, Aligarh Muslim University.Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.Buzz!

The fifth edition of Radio City's effort to promote independent and alternative music acts draws 300 nominations so far, as the tour continues to attract more attention.

The fifth edition of Radio City Freedom Awards, a Radio City Indias effort to celebrate alternative musics bests, will travel to Jaipur, Kolkata, Bangalore and Shillong before the D-day in Mumbais Glocal Junction. The eight-city tour, covering 10 languages, will become the radio stations  or any Indian radio stations  most aggressive campaign to promote indie music.

Radio City Freedom Awards (RCFA 5.0) kick started its campaign from Chennai, on February 8, with the stage hosting rock outfit Oorka and parody rock musicians in the form of Live Banned. The tour continued to the national capital Delhi where the citys two most buzzing hip hop and rap acts Seedhe Maut and Prabh Deep enthralled the audience with their respective latest studio efforts on February 15. If hip hop and rock genres dominated the first two editions of the tour, Punes line-up took a quite contemporary and desi approach with two local acts Alif and Abhanga Repost.

Kolkatas Underground Authority, Mumbai's City Haze and Bangalores Street Akademics will be few of the other upcoming performing acts before the tour and the edition comes to an end.

With over 300 nominations so far, the Freedom Awards has witnessed a response like never before. And they do not intend to slow down. Commenting on the launch of RCFA 5.0, Abraham Thomas, CEO, Radio City said, After successful 4 editions of Radio City Freedom Awards, this year the property has grown multiple folds to 13 gigs across 8 cities and has clearly become the most credible and definitive recognition in the indie space. We have witnessed immense success in the past four editions and are confident that RCFA 5.0 will, once again, establish music as the universal language

Radio City Freedom Awards in its 5th edition has evolved to become a countrywide movement that promotes new sounds of the new generation with a perfect amalgamation of modern music with a traditional touch through their songs with the theme of Sounds of the Soil. Musicians and bands ranging across genres such as Hip-Hop, Folk Fusion, Pop, Rock, Metal and Electronica and winner from every category will be crowned the countrys top independent artist. RCFA 5.0 will constitute of a highly acclaimed jury including Luke Kenny, Anirban Chakraborty, Ritnika Nayan , Vehrnon Ibrahim, Atul Churamani and Yotam Agam among others.Report: Over 7 civilians killed in 41+ aggression air strikes over 24 hours [17/February/2018]



SANAA, Feb. 17 (Saba)  At least seven civilians were killed and three wounded in more than 41 air strikes which launched by US-backed Saudi-led aggression coalition on several provinces of Yemen over the past 24 hours, medics and officials told Saba News Agency on Saturday.





In Taiz province, six civilians, including children, were killed in an initial toll in an air strike targeted civilians lorry in Magbana district.



In Jawf province, three air strikes were waged on Khub-washaaf district, and an air raid on Maslub district.



In Hajjah province, the aggression warplanes launched an airstrike on Hairan district and 20 air strikes on Haradh and Medi districts.



In Saada province, the fighter jets of aggression launched two strikes on Aal-mujada area of Bagem district, three air strikes on Sawh and Farea areas of Kutaf district and an air strike hit Azhur area of Razeh district.



Also in Razeh district of Saada, an air strike was launched on Aal-ali area, damaging civilians properties.



Meanwhile, Saudi force targeted Ghur area of Ghamer district and several areas of Munabeh border district by missiles and artillery.



In Sanaa province, six airstrikes were waged on several areas of Nehm district and there were reports of causalities.



Also in Nehm district, a civilians was killed and three were wounded in an initial toll when air strikes targeted a car on Aqran area.

In Najran border district, the warplane of aggression launched a strike on Shurfah site.



Writing by Sameera al-Mahdi, Editing by Zak

SabaArmy steps up attacks against Saudi military sites on Friday [17/February/2018]



Sanaa, Feb. 17 (Saba)  The army and popular forces waged an attack against Saudi army's military sites and its mercenaries over the last 24 hours, killing scores, a military official told Saba on Saturday.

In border province of Najran, dozens of Saudi army' mercenaries were killing and wounded when the army and popular forces foiled their attacks toward Alib mountains in spite of the Saudi warplanes waged tens of strikes to back the attack.



Also, in Najran, the artillery of the army and popular forces hit military sites of al-Akafah, al-Shurfah al-Sudis.



In Asir border province, tens of the mercenaries were killed and injured when the army and popular forces repelled their offensive toward Bar al-Salamy off al-Buqa crossing point and al-Masail site.



In province of Jizan, the missile unit of the army and popular forces fired Katyusha rockets on Saudi soldiers' groups and bombed militaty vehicle in al-Aradhah camp, al-Musthdath, Nashu.



Separately, in Lahj province, the army and popular forces fired Grad missile against the mercenaries 'groups in Kahbob, al-Sanahmah and al-Kufih areas.



In governorate of Jawf, tow mercenaries were shot dead in al-Maton district, a military vehicle was bombed, its crew members were killed in the desert of Yatamah.



Two mercenaries were killed in al-Qatab area of Nehm district in Marib province.



Meanwhile, dozens of the mercenaries were killed when the army and popular forces hit their sites and bombed a military vehicle in al-Kabush area of Hifan and al-Wazaih districts of Taiz province.



In Bayda province, the army and popular forces killed and wounded a number of the mercenaries in Thi Nafa'am area of Thi Na'am district.



In Medi desert in north of Hajjah province, the artillery of the army and popular forces shelled gatherings of the mercenaries, hitting the target directly.



In province of Marib, sniper unit of the army and popular forces killed 10 mercenaries in different areas, while the artillery hit other groups in al-Matar hilltops in Serwah district, the official added.



AA

SabaReport: Army wages offensives on Saudi enemy's sites, gatherings on Friday [17/February/2018]



SANAA, Feb. 17 (Saba) - The army and popular committees have waged offensive operations on Saudi enemy's sites, inflicting them heavy losses over the last 24 hours, according to military reports obtained by Saba.



In Najran border province, dozens of Saudi-paid mercenaries were killed and wounded during repelling their infiltration attempts toward Alib mountains series under the cover of air from Apache helicopters, reconnaissance and warplanes which launched 10 strikes.



Also in Najran, artillery shelling targeted gatherings of Saudi soldiers in Akafa camp, Sudais and Shurfa sites.



In Asir border province, dozens of mercenaries were killed and others injured when the army and committees foiled their advance toward Salami-well in front of Boqea border crossing, while artillery shelling targeted Saudi soldiers' gatherings in Misyal site.



In the border province Jizan, katyusha rockets were fired toward gatherings of Saudi soldiers in Aridha camp, while other gatherings targeted in Mustahdath and Nashaw.



In Shyaba center, a Saudi military vehicle was destroyed by a guided rockets.



In Lahj province, a missile, Ghirad, was fired toward mercenaries ' gatherings north of Kahbub district, while a military offensive operation was carried out on ther sites in Sanmah and Kufiah sites of the same district.



In Yemen province of Jawf, two of Saudi-paid mercenaries were shot dead in Mutun district, while a military vehicle, loaded with mercenaries, was bombed in Utemah desert, killing all its crew.



In Nehm district, two mercenaries were gunned down in Qutib area.



In Taiz province, dozens of mercenaries were killed and wounded during an offensive which targeted their sites in Kabush area of Haifan district.



In Wazaiah district, an offensive operation was carried out on mercenaries' sites in east of Haima triangle , burning a military vehicle.



In Bayda province, tens of mercenaries were killed and injured when the army and popular forces foiled their advance north of Yafan village of Thi-Naem district.



In Hajjah province, artillery shelling targeted gatherings of mercenaries in the north of Medi desert.



In Marib province, ten of Saudi-paid mercenaries were sniped in several areas of Serwah district, while artillery force of the army and popular committees shelled Saudi-paid mercenaries in Matar hill of the same district.







Writing by Sameera al-Mahdi, Editing by Zak





SabaJapan has presented two firefighting trucks and an ambulance to the Samoa Fire Emergency Service Authority (S.F.E.S.A.).

The project was made possible through Japans grant aid for Economic and Social Development Programme, signed in April 2016 between Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and former Ambassador of Japan to Samoa, Tuimaugaoalii Kazumasa Shibuta.

The agreement promised a grant of two million Japanese Yen, about SAT$47,167.

During the handover, Japans Ambassador to Samoa, Maugaoleatuolo Shinya Aoki, said the grant was then divided equally among two projects; fire trucks for S.F.E.S.A. and dental and medical equipment for the National Health Services.

The two firefighting trucks consist of one firefighting truck with 30m ladder which is the first of its kind to be added in the S.F.E.S.A. fleet, and one firefighting pumper truck with water tank, he said.

In addition, the 30m ladder firefighting truck will solve the problem of reducing and mitigating the effects of fire outbreak in tall buildings or in such case with the fuel tank explosion at Matautu wharf.

Moreover, through this assistance, not only S.F.E.S.A. received additional firefighting trucks, but also the trainings from Japanese engineers on the operation and maintenance of these firefighting trucks.

This is the second time Japan assisted S.F.E.S.A. with providing firefighting trucks, four used firefighting trucks were initially provided under Japans Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project in 2015.

He also reiterated the importance of the role of S.F.E.S.A. in which they are the first to respond during any disaster or emergency therefore, it is essential that they are provided with efficient resources to carry out their duties.

Japan has been working in partnership with the Samoan Government since 1977 to further develop such economic and social development projects in Samoa.

Tuilaepa acknowledges the support of the Government of Japan to the people of Samoa.

The Government and people of Samoa acknowledge with gratitude the government and the people of Japan for your assistance in financing the procurement of the firefighting aerial truck and the truck with a tank, he said.

This assistance was made possible under the Japans Aid for Economic and Social Development Programme for the independent state of Samoa for the financial year 2015.

Thank you Maugaoleatuolo Shinya Aoki for assisting with our request and ensuring that these specialised vehicles are delivered as agreed.

S.F.E.S.A. could not have made it without your support, so thank you very much.

I also acknowledge the support of Cabinet and Ministry of Finance for the work of F.E.S.A. particularly financing for the new ambulance vehicle which will further strengthen the response capacity of the authority relative to medical emergencies.

These specialised vehicles are anticipated to add value to the work of the authority in the areas of fire suppression and medical emergency particularly affecting the multi building in Apia.

We continue to look forward to future partnerships with the Government of Japan under its grant aid.Uafato and neighbouring villages in Fagaloa Bay can look forward to a brand new road and a seawall.

Prior to Cyclone Gita last week, Cabinet had approved the Tenders Board recommendation to award the $1.3 million contract to King Construction.

The funding is provided by the United Nations Adaptation Fund and its the start of a government initiative to combat climate change which is affecting Fagaloas coastline and causing mountain slides during heavy spells.

As part of a Cabinet onsite inspection visit to determine the extent of the damages left behind by Cyclone Gita, Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Papaliitele Niko Lee Hang and Minister of Communication, Information and Technology Afamasaga Rico Tupai visited Fagaloa.

Cabinet Ministers including the Prime Minister were divided into four teams as part of the Upolu wide onsite inspections.

It has always been governments intention to rehabilitate the mountainous roads to Fagaloa. Its very dangerous during heavy rains causing massive landslides. In addition the erosion of the coastline from rising sea levels as a result of climate change is noticeably threatening the villagers in the bay area, says Papaliitele.

But funding was the main obstacle.

Thankfully, the UNs Adaptation Fund is making this long overdue project a reality.

The visit also reaffirms the success of the M.W.T.I.s reform to outsource maintenance road contracts to business sector.

Despite the sporadic heavy rains in the bay area after the Cyclone, King Construction have managed to clear the road removing falling trees and clearing massive landslides reopening access to the villages in the bay.

But there is still a lot to do, said Papaliitele. With the unpredictable weather conditions, landslides can happen anytime and its a ticking time bomb and a threat to the commuters.

As of today Fagaloa has yet to have electricity since the black out Friday night.

But officials from the Electric Power Corporation were on hand providing reassurances to the villages that power should be back on line as late as Sunday with Saturday targeted as the initial deadline for electricity to be restored.

Water supply remains uninterrupted as the village has their own independent water supply project.

Like the Samoa Water Authority, the Electric Power Corporation is resorting to all its resources including outsourcing contracts to the business community to assist with the recovery work, said the M.W.T.I. Minister in charge for both E.P.C. and S.W.A.

I humbly ask for the peoples patience and we are doing everything possible to have your water and electricity restored as soon as possible, he adds.

Should you need assistance both the S.W.A. and E.P.C. have set up Call Centers.

In the meantime, total costs for the Cyclone Gitas damages and recovery work will be determined following the onsite visits.Pauli Prince Suhren has got huge responsibilities on his shoulders.

As the Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa National Provident Fund (S.N.P.F.), he is shouldering the interest and wellbeing of 33,000 plus members.

But it is a role hes confident about handling not because of his ability but as a man of faith, he knows he can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens him.

In his tenth month in office, the 32-year-old believes his appointment is a super natural appointment from God.

His primary target is serving the public and protecting the interests of the Fund members.

I have an open door policy to all the fund members and staff, said the S.N.P.F. boss. Its about giving our Fund members a sense of ownership in our organisation and to reiterate to them that we are their employees.

Thats been my career motto because providing quality services to our stakeholders speaks volumes.

My primary objective is to maximize returns that will benefit the Fund and minimize the risks to those returns. Under no circumstance, will I compromise the interest of the Fund members which is why securing profitable new investment portfolio is one of my priorities.

My administration is about people.

A devout Christian, the writing was on the wall some 18 years ago for the young Prince.

Attending Pesega Primary School at that time, Pauli made his grand entrance as the 1997 Dux for the Primary Schools Graduating Class. It was the beginning of his educational journey of achievements.

At St. Josephs College, the young Prince was in a class of his own making his mark from Form 3 to Form 5 repeated taking the top honors as the first in his respective classes.

He graduated from St. Josephs with flying colours achieving first place in its University Entrance exams, Pacific Senior School Certificate (P.S.S.C.).

At the National University at Papaigalagala, Pauli was awarded a NZAID scholarship for Undergraduate Studies in New Zealand and he graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Business and Information Management (B.B.I.M.) double major in Accounting and IT Management.

With God always on his corner, Pauli was again awarded an Australian Leadership Award for postgraduate studies in 2010.

And a year later, he returned from Bond University in Australia with a Master of Business and Information Technology (M.B.I.T.). And also as the Recipient of the Melbourne-IT Book Prize for Excellence in Postgraduate Studies.

In 2014 he passed the qualification exams to become a member of the Samoa Institute of Accountants to complement his affiliations with the Institute of Public Accountants Australia as a member and the Institute of Financial Accountants United Kingdom.

He debuted in the public service as a Financial System Administrator/Accounting Officer with SamoaTel in 2005 and climbed the ladder to Manager of Product and Special Projects by 2010.

And for the last five years until his new appointment, he was appointed as Assistant Chief Executive Officer with the Development Bank of Samoa in charge for the Management Information Systems Division.

Pauli is married to Nowotta Ulberg Suhren.The following is update Report Number Two from the National Disaster Council and Disaster Advisory Committee following Tropical Cyclone Gita, which devastated the country last Friday. This report is dated 14 February 2018. It is published below:

1. Situation Overview

On Monday 12 February 2018, the Declaration of Disaster was extended for another forty eight hours (48).

This extension was executed to enable the response agencies, sectors and Samoan-based development partners to undertake initial damage assessments at the community and sector levels, continue efforts to restore power and water throughout the affected areas, clearance of debris off the roads and removal of debris and mud.

Overall, the restoration of affected lifeline services and clearance of debris are progressing well. There is access throughout the country and maintenance of roads, drainages and road reserves are well underway.

Businesses have re-opened and resumed their operations as usual.

All Government Schools and most faith-based and private schools are still closed to allow school management and committees to clean the facilities and compounds to ensure safety of staff and students. Air and sea transport have resumed their normal schedules. Mobile and fixed line communication restoration are still underway targeting increased restoration levels up 80% to 90% by end of the week.

Initial damage assessment findings revealed that most of the affected families are on Upolu Island.

Relief distribution of food and non-food items to confirmed affected families have started on Monday 12/2/2018 under the coordination of the National Emergency Operation Centre.

The key priorities from Wednesday 14/2/2018 is the completion of restoration of power and water that are still without these services, clearance of debris and felled trees, and distribution of relief supplies to verified and confirmed affected households.

2. Response

2.1 National Response Coordination

The National Emergency Operation Centre (N.E.O.C.) continue its operation to coordinate initial damage assessments; provision of relief supplies to confirmed affected families, coordinate restoration of power and water supply services; removal and clearance of debris; communication with all response agencies, affected population, damage assessment teams, development partners, general public and other key stakeholders; and compilation and dissemination of reports to the Disaster Advisory Committee and the National Disaster Council.

Personnel from Samoa-based development partners and humanitarian organisations have been seconded to the NEOC to support its functions and tasks including two personnel from U.N.D.P., A.D.R.A., S.R.C.S., Caritas, and S.P.R.E.P.

2.2 Evacuation and Internally Displaced Population (IDPs)

The A.D.R.A. Evacuation Centre is now closed as families have returned to their homes.

2.3 Transport and Utilities

2.3.1 Land Transport

L.T.A. has activated all its contractors for road, drainage and road reserve contractors to clear debris and undertake maintenance. These contractors are also assisting the removal of debris and mud in flood affected areas in particular villages around the Vaisigano River.

L.T.A. also deployed a contractor to clear the road at Tuialamu (Lalomanu, Aleipata) which was affected by a landslide that occurred on Monday afternoon (12/2/2018).

2.3.2 Sea Transport

The ferry service between Upolu and Savaii resumed on Monday 12/2/2018 as per its usual schedule.

2.3.3 Air Transport

Air transport services have resumed their normal schedules. An update from Samoa Airport Authority indicated that there were damages to the fence along the northern part of the S.A.A. compound, temporary office/shop space used by tenants and elevator at the terminal. The Authority is putting in place extra measures to ensure security of the airport facility and compound and assets thereon. The temporary spaces previous used by tenants will most likely will not be reinstated as the new arrival terminal is due to open soon. The elevator is not yet functional but overall airport and air service have resumed. All radio and long range VHF radio communication are working off Mt. Fiamoe.

2.3.4 Power Supply

E.P.C. has reported that the power supply has been restored to the following areas following the livening of the main lines (HV and LV) as well as transformers since it started its operation following the impact of T.C. Gita.

Upolu: Falelatai to Falefa, inland areas of Falevao to Lalomauga, part of Saanapu to Falealili, town area, Cross Island Road to Siumu.

Savaii: Salelologa to Sasina, Salelologa to

Areas without electricity include:

Upolu: Part of Safata, Lefaga, Aleipata, Sauniatu, Fagaloa.

Savaii: parts of Salailua to Letui and Parts of Patamea to Sasina

E.P.C. has engaged five contractors to assist in reconnecting customers to the supply and two companies to carry out tree clearing to allow staff to fix damage power lines. The Corporation is targeting to restore electricity to all customers in Upolu and Savaii by Saturday 16/2/2018.

2.3.5 Water Supply

The latest report S.W.A. reported that all water systems under SWA on Savaii Island have been restored except for Asau and Letui supply area due to damages to borehole pump and tank. The Authority is planning to restore water to these areas by Wednesday 14/2/2018.

Water supply in urban area of Upolu have been restored however some areas are experiencing low water pressure. The rural areas of Upolu are still experiencing water issues due to power outage. These areas include part of Matatufu, small part of inland Vaovai, Tiavea-tai and Tiavea-uta, Samusu, Amaile, Saleaumua-uta, Lalomanu, inland residents of Saleapaga, Saleimoa, Fasitoo, Leulumoega, Mulifanua, Satuimalufilufi, and Leauvaa to Levi.

For areas where water is not yet restored, SWA through its water carting contractors are carting water including some of the areas that are covered by Independent Water Schemes. MWCSD is currently undertaking an initial assessment of the condition and functionality of the all the independent water schemes and will include in the next report.

2.4 Communication and Information Technology

2.4.1 Bluesky

Bluesky reported that 86% of its mobile sites (2G, 3G, & 4G) on Upolu are functional where 70% of these sites are working off back-up generators and batteries pending restoration of power. 100% of mobile sites on Savaii Island are functional and 90% of these sites are working off EPC power supply. 72% of fixed line nodes are operational including all nodes serving the business area with 40% of these sites are working off EPC power supply. The company has completed fibre repair works at Lepea and Lelata bridges. To fully restore telephone services to customers, the service teams are targeting clearing 25 requests per day.

The key challenges in fully restoring mobile and landline services to customers include (1) availability stable power supply at communication sites from EPC power supply; inability to access sites located on mountain tops due to felled trees and this would require some assistance from the NEOC to clear felled trees blocking access; excessive efforts in monitoring fuel levels and refilling generators and recharging of batteries pending restoration of much needed power supply; and restoration of service lines will take at least two weeks to complete.

2.4.2 Digicel

The latest update from Digicel reported restoration of mobile system in Savaii is still underway. The restoration of this service is dependent on E.P.C. power supply at the mobile sites and requesting E.P.C. support to prioritize these areas. The company aims to restore up to 60% by end of the week. Twelve sites in Savaii are off air including four sites that require linking to improve performance, eight sites require main power supply to be connected due to generator issues at these sites, and 1 site with a felled tower and working with other provides on temporary relocation of site equipment.

For Upolu Island, the company is targeting restoration of services up to 80% by the end of the week. Similar to Savaii issues, EPC power supply and support is urgently needed.

2.4.3 Emergency Radio Network

One of the sites for the emergency radio network in Olomanu, Savaii was damaged. The E.R.N. team from D.M.O., F.E.S.A. and Police are undertaking remedial works to reconnect affected sites. In the meantime, communication via ERN is using other sites to link enabling communication amongst first responders.

2.5 Other Infrastructure and Government Buildings/Facilities

The reports from sectors and response agencies have reported damages to some of the key Government facilities. These facilities include:

 T.T.M. Hospital at Motootua (3 buildings)

A general assessment of the TTM Hospital found three of the buildings have been noted to have sustained major damages in particular the northern parts of these buildings. These buildings houses the Emergency and Administration, ICU, Operating Theatre, Central Sterilization Services Unit, Delivery, Pharmacy, Laboratory and Admission Wards. Water seeped through the walls and ceilings. Although they have been repaired, there is uncertainty about the structural integrity and safety. A structural engineer is urgently needed to conduct a structural assessment of these buildings

 MWCSD Office Facilities (Tooa Salamasina Hall at Sogi & Savaii Offices)

MWCSD in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance (MoF) with the assistance of an engineer, conducted an assessment of the Tooa Salamasina Hall which was severely affected by the cyclone. Damages to the building include damages to the roof of the part of the top floor facing TATTE Building. Water leaked throughout the building which have caused major damages to the walls, floor and the electrical wires and cables of the building. Due to the severity of these damages, the power could not be reconnected and coupled with poor building conditions, MWCSD staff were advised not commence work until it is safe to use the building again.

The Ministry staff in Savaii are now working out of the Samoan fale due to unsafe and poor office facilities conditions pre and post TC Gita.

In light of these damages, MWCSD is in urgent need of office space to operate as soon as possible and resources to renovate and rebuild Tooa Salamasina Hall.

 TATTE Convention Centre

The TATTE Samoa conference centre was severely damaged from TC Gita. The water entered the entire building from drainage making its way from the roof top down to the main conference room on the second floor. The main conference area was about 15  20cm (ankle high) with water and due to continuous rainfall water still prolongs. Water seeped through the walls from the building as well as from the ceiling through the condition vents.

On the ground floor, the water entered the ground floor including the dining area and its surrounding. The whole ceiling around the outside area is damaged from the water and after 2 days of the cyclone impact, water was still dripping from the ceiling. There are visible holes on the ceiling as well as other damaged due to heavy rainfall. The power supply remains off. A thorough inspection is underway to assess the safety of the building and its integrity. Overall, building was damaged from water causing a large part of the ceiling to almost drop. Electrical wires are completely wet and many conference centre facilities were damaged from the rain.

 MNRE Buildings in the Mulinuu Compound

One of the buildings on the MNRE compound at Mulinuu has sustain damages to the roof. This building is occupied by the Disaster Risk Reduction Section of the DMO and the Ozone Unit of the Meteorology Division.

 Museum

A rapid assessment of the Museum indicated that water leaks through the ceiling of the building.

 Fleamarket at Savalalo

Samoa Land Corporation (SLC) reported that the flea-market resumed its normal business on Wednesday 14/2/2018 after clearing of debris and cleaning of the mud. One of the tents and 25 shop counters were badly damaged. Restoration of this tent and rebuilding of counters is awaiting insurance claims to cover the cost of restoration. Prioritisation of vendors to use the flea-market is to give priority to vendors with less arrears to use the flea-market to sell their goods. SLC is meeting all the vendors on Wednesday 14/2/2018 to reconfirm flea-market recovery plan and a report will be provided to the NEOC after this meeting.

2.6 Tourism

The Samoa Tourism Authority closed its call centre on Monday 12/2/2018. The initial damage assessment for all tourist accommodations on both Upolu and Savaii have been completed.

Overall, the tourism industry in Upolu only sustained minimal damage, except for Sheraton Aggie Greys Hotel which was severely affected by flooding. A thorough assessment of the impact on this property could not be conducted as the property is closed off and guarded by security. The main needs of the industry on Upolu Island is the restoration of services such as water, electricity and telephone lines and clearance of debris.

On the island of Savaii, Tailua Beach Fale, Tanu Beach Fale, Vaimoana and Vaisala Hotel have sustain some damages to the structures of their facilities. The needs of the industry in Savaii include the restoration of electricity, water and telephone lines and clearance of debris.

All guests are safe as confirmed by all properties and there were no reported injuries.

2.7 Agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries coordinated an initial assessment on 12  13 of February 2018 on agriculture and fisheries for Upolu. The assessment found that:

- About 30% of food crops have been affected in worst hit areas, about 20% in hard hit areas, and about 10% in least affected areas;

- Food crops remain in a stable condition especially considering the lack of damage to root crops;

- Banana and breadfruit trees were the worst affected food crops requiring immediate response;

- The main impact on livestock were damages to fencing which is estimated at about 50% of livestock farms were affected in worst hit areas;

- Coastal fisheries reported damage to signage for fishing areas, deposits of silt near river mouths and a likelihood of Algae bloom, crown of thorns or rubble deposits that may result in the movement of fish populations due to loss of habitat;

- Minimal damages to Giant Clams have been reported.

Agriculture and Fisheries sectors remain in a sustainable status in terms of providing food and income for households that are dependent on agriculture as a source of livelihood despite the impact of TC Gita. Food supply is not foreseen to be an issue as the root crops such as yams, manioka and umala will sustain food supply market for domestic use ensuring food security in the next few months. An immediate concern is considerable damage to banana and breadfruit trees which would require the Ministry and the sector to work in close collaboration to facilitate for long recovery actions.

2.8 Education

Out of the 111 schools visited on Upolu, all have no running water and are not connected to electricity. All have wet classrooms and muddy compounds, some compounds have dangling power lines and others are totally inaccessible such as Uafato and Sauano Primary Schools or the roads are not safe to access these schools such as those in Luatuanuu Primary School.

Schools in Savaii are structurally safe however similar issues of wet and muddy classrooms and compounds with unsafe and unhygienic conditions due to mud and debris. Majority of schools in Savaii have water and power now.

All Government schools are still closed until Monday 19 February 2018. Some private and faith-based schools are still closed except for a few which have resumed classes this week. This decision is in line with the recommendation by the Ministry of Health to close the schools until next week to allow the classrooms and other schools facilities to be sanitized and well-ventilated.

2.9 Health

Ministry of Health undertook an initial rapid inspection and damage assessment of the TTM Hospital, three (3) Rural District Hospitals (RDHs) and three (3) Community Health Centres (CHCs) on the same day; following Cyclone Gita on February 10, 2018.

A similar exercise was undertaken for rural district hospitals (Foailalo, Sataua, and Safotu) on Savaii Island. More detailed assessments are planned as soon as practical for the whole Health Sector.

Major areas of concern given the general conditions of the environment, emergency shelters in affected areas, lack of water and proper sanitary facilities especially in Apia Urban area and from Siumu to Lefaga rural communities, and, as of now indicated with increasing numbers in the TTM Hospital OPED, major areas of Public Health concerns for possible out breaks including :

 Diarrhoea/Gastroenteritis (Taking into consideration the significant endemic rate of Typhoid, the possibility of an outbreak is greater.)

 Septic Wounds and Sores ( Potential to cause Rheumatic Heart Disease among children and possibility of developing Tetanus)

 Upper Respiratory Tract Infection ( Potential to cause Rheumatic Fever)

 Skin Infestations (Fungal, Sores and boils)

 Chicken pox

 Scabies

 Conjunctivitis

 Poor Control of Non Communicable Diseases (NCD)

 Possible Influenza Out Break with high number of Viral Infections

 Possible Vector borne diseases (Dengue fever)

 Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome

2.10 Environment and Waste

Evidence from the assessment highlights that the vast majority of wind damage was caused to invasive tree species, especially Albizzia species (Tamaligi or Silk Tree), Spathodea campanulata (African tulip or Tulipe). This is particularly problematic in riparian sites where this organic waste creates blockage and exacerbates flood risk. This creates potential for increase of risks to communities and infrastructure.

Ecosystems downstream are also at risk should organic debris at identified priority areas above not be addressed.

It is therefore recommended that on-going efforts are required to replace invasive species with more cyclone resilient native species, with the immediate focus on riparian areas on key streams and rivers.

2.11 Finance and Banking

The banking sector is functional with IT services being restored to facilitate financial and banking transactions.

3. Initial Damage Assessment by Household

The Initial Damage Assessment (IDA) teams regrouped on Monday following the meeting of the Disaster Advisory Committee and National Disaster Council. These teams comprised of representatives from Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD), Samoa Red Cross Society (SRCS), Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Caritas Samoa, Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS), and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programm (SPREP).

3.1 IDA Findings for Upolu:

On Upolu Island a total of 43 households have been assessed by the IDA teams, which covered 248 people (125 M, 123 F) who were affected by Tropical Cyclone Gita. All results are representative of the assessed group of people only.

The IDA recorded data from the most affected areas, which in Upolu were the following: Aana Alofi (Faleasiu, Nofoalii, Satuimaluflufi), Aiga-i-le-Tai (Mulifanua), Aleipata Itupa I Lalo (Saleaaumua, Samusu, Tiavea), Falealili (Sapoe, Satalo, Siuniu), Faleata East (Vaimoso), Falelatai & Samatau (Matautu, Samatau), Lefaga & Faleseela (Safaatoa-uta), Lepa (Saleapaga), Safata (Tafitoala, Vaiee), Sagaga La Falefa (Tufulele, Saleimoa), Sagaga Le Usoga (Afega), Vaa-o-Fonoti (Uafato), and Vaimauga West (Faatoialemanu).

Based on the IDA, the cyclone impact has not resulted in any serious harm to people, with only 3 minor injuries reported in Upolu. No major injuries, no missing people and no deaths were reported.

The relative majority (17 main household houses, 3 second houses and 2 third houses) of the houses assessed in Upolu were reported completely damaged beyond repair. 14 houses sustained major but reparable damage and will therefore require assistance to mend. 19 houses sustained minor damage or no damage.

The majority (21 HH) of the assessed households in Upolu had access to safe water from either own or communal source. 11 have access to unsafe water but 8 households have absolutely no access to water and are therefore in need of assistance.

The relative majority (17) of the assessed households in Upolu have flush toilets with water, whilst 6 households still lack water supply to use their flush toilets. 14 have access to either a pour flush toilet or a pit toilet. 3 households have no toilets at all, which would be important to prioritise during response.

10 of the assessed households in Upolu have continued access to power but most of the assessed households (28) are still cut off from the power grid and have no other means of generating electricity. This particular need, however, is expected to be resolved without intervention as EPCs top priority is the restoration of power across Samoa. There are 5 households that lacked power even before the cyclone.

16 of the assessed households in Upolu have cooking facilities that sustained some damage and/or loss of kitchenware and utensils due to the cyclone impact. 13 have operational cooking facilities, whilst a large portion (11 households) have no cooking facilities and are therefore in need of assistance.

3.2 IDA Findings for Savaii

Due to time constraints the collection of IDA data from Savaii were not finalised before the submission deadline of this report. The assessment teams reported the following preliminary key findings from Savaii.

This assessment was carried out at the household level to identify damages for post disaster recovery response. MWCSD coordinated the assistance of Sui o Nuu and Sui Tamaitai o Nuu, Sui ole Malo (Village Representatives) to lead their own initial community assessment to respond to the immediate needs of their own communities. Initial Damage Assessment for communities led by the Ministry of Women using the survey form developed by the SBS.

The assessment team assessed a total of 20 households and identified as affected families from the villages of Salelavalu, Vaiafai, Salimu, Mauga, Safai, Falealupo and Sasina. A total of 44 male and 71 female from these 20 households including 3 persons with disabilities, and 2 infants. Damages to houses assessed include damages to Samoan fales and open European houses.

3.3 Apolima & Manono

In Manono, only 1 family was affected while none was found in Apolima.

4. Relief Assistance Provided

Through the NEOC since the 9th February 2018 until 10am on 14th February the NEOC has received a total of 33 requests for disaster relief assistance. Up until 10am on the 14th February 17 houses have been assessed, 3 were uncontactable and 13 are awaiting assessment. The final deployment for the houses to be assessed is being sent out at 11am.

Of the requests that were received one has been completed: one family in Aleisa received drinking water.

Drinking water was requested by 10 families due to lack of clean water, 6 families requested food to relieve shortages, 23 requested tarpaulins due to roof collapses or damage to housing. Flooding caused one request for mats and one request for mosquito nets. These families come from 23 villages around Upolu: Olataga, Magiagi, Vaitele, Faleapuna, Mulivai Safata, Salesatele, Falealili, Mulivai Safata, Togafuafua, Nuufou, Faleasiu (Moamoa,) Vaisigano, Saleufi, Lufilufi, Matautu/ Faleapuna, Faatoia, Palauuli, Faatoia, Tufuiopa, Saleufi, Safaatoa, Lelata and Aleisa.

Of the request that have been confirmed and verified according to this date we have 7 confirmed for water, 5 confirmed for tarpaulins, one for food, one for mats and one for a mosquito net.

The coordinated relief assistance is being conducted through ADRA, Red Cross, UNICEF and NEOC. NEOC and Red Cross have coordinated assessment teams. Once the assessments have been completed confirmed will be received regarding the organisations who will supply relief items. As of 10am 14th February Disaster Relief Fund will provide drinking water and UNICEF will supply Tarpaulins.

5. Cost of Response and Immediate Relief

To date, the estimated cost of response and relief is $26,948.89 Samoan Tala. This figures covers the cost of food relief, food supply for assessment and field teams, fuel, and transportation.

6. Assistance Available and Offered

The NEOC, SRCS, ADRA and Caritas have prepositioned relief supplies of non-food items (including UNICEF prepositions supplies) such as tarpaulins, tents, blankets, kitchen sets, jerry cans/collapsible water bottles, buckets, hygiene kits, shelter toolkits, clothes and health sector containers. A total of six x 10000 litres water tanks are available for communal use if required.

Rotary Club of Apia offered support to the NEOC to assist IDPs currently accommodated at the SDA/ADRA compound and any on stand-by to provide assistance to other affected families.

Offer of support was also received from the UN Agencies and the Government of New Zealand through the New Zealand High Commission. Refer to Annex 1 for Details.

7. Recommendations

In light of the progress made to date in relation to restoration and rehabilitation work, it is recommended for consideration and approval by the NDC the following:

4.1 Lift the Declaration of Disaster once it expires on Wednesday 14/2/2108 however allow the operations and the NEOC to continue its operation to carry out the key priorities listed below.

4.2 Continue the restoration of water and power supply throughout the country;

4.3 Complete removal of debris and mud as well as assisting families in cutting felled trees;

4.4 Distribution of relief supplies to verified and confirmed families only.

4.5 Implementation of health outbreak preventative measures;

4.6 Financial resources identified and secured to meet the cost of restoration and rehabilitations;The Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Afamasaga Rico Tupai, is impressed with the swift response by telecommunication service providers such as Digicel and BlueSky.

He is especially pleased that the services to even the most remote and isolated area in Upolu, Fagaloa Bay, has been restored since the devastation of Cyclone Gita.

Afamasaga joined the Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Papaliitele Niko Lee Hang, as one of the four Cabinet teams dispatched to inspect the worse hit areas.

The Minister found first hand that BlueSkys reception was 100 per cent in Fagaloa.

Digicels reception was interrupted in some areas of Fagaloa and not fully restored due to mechanical fault awaiting replacements being flown in from overseas.

But overall, Afamasaga noted that latest reports show that both service providers have restored communication providing over 70per cent services to their respective customers in both Upolu and Savaii.

In fact, mobile services did not black out during and after the Cyclone.

Then there is the different types of services available which also play a deciding factor on the mobile phones receptions, says the Minister.

For instance, 2G mobile phones provide limited connection while compared to 3G, internet is available by slow and coverage at times is limited.

However. Afamasaga notes that the overall best and available is the 4G which provides efficient and fast connectivity in terms of internet and mobile combined.

There is still a lot to be done but for the two service providers to bounce back speaks volumes, said Afamasaga.

You dont have to be rocket scientists to remind us that compared to some ten years ago; our IT industry has accelerated rapidly which has vastly improved the countrys communication capacity locally and internationally.

And with the Tui-Samoa Cable commission complemented by the governments vision for Samoa to be Pacific IT Hub in 2020, Afamasaga is confident that the country will reap the fruits of the governments hard labour through the multi-million tala investment in the IT sector.On a hot Samoan afternoon, Kiwi couple, Sarah and Mark Percy were sipping chilled coconuts by the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel poolside.

It turns out that coconut is one of the couples favourite drinks to kick in that island vibe that captivates most first timers to Samoas shores.

We obviously love coconuts. The drive through coconuts at the market, wonderful, they get them out of the freezer, thats awesome, she told the Dear Tourist team.

While its Sarahs first time to the islands, Mark found himself returning for more island time, but this time he made it his priority to bring his wife to experience Samoa.

So I came the first time to visit some friends who we met, and that was for church business and this time I am just revisiting them to see how theyre doing and encourage them and spend time with them. And this time as a couple, last time it was with a colleague, Mark explained.

They commended the Samoan hospitality.

Samoan hospitality is just great, its wonderful. Mark stayed in this hotel the last time he was here, and this is my first time, lots of people recognise him again, Sarah said.

Yes and its really nice when you come back and you see familiar faces and they remember you, yes its really nice, Mark added.

Theyve only been here four nights and they are in love with the local dishes, the weather and Samoan people.

We tasted lots of local food, last night we had dinner with one of the local churches here, we had a big meal, with lots of local food and its wonderful, Mark shared.

The weathers been great, were pleased we missed the cyclone; we flew in on Monday night, so the weather while weve been here has been hot and sunny, yes, and its been really good.

We went to Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, it was really interesting, and the lady who ran the tour, she was just amazing, she just delivered it wonderfully, it was all from memory, and we were really impressed.

Sarah added: And meeting lots of people and we met some Samoan friends in New Zealand about a year ago, so were here visiting them and meeting their families.

Being married 16 years, we could not resist but ask for the secret to their happy marriage.

There are a lot of secrets. Being kind thats a secret and just choosing each other every day, Sarah shared.

Love is a choice, Mark added while glancing across the table at his wife with a smile.

It appears that Samoa is their second Pacific destination to visit together as a couple, with Vanuatu being the first when they were only 18 years old.

Its a bit sad about the cyclone, were like thats sad, but no, Samoas just beautiful and lush, lots of green, Sarah said.

In terms of developing Samoa, thats a hard one because theres the tourist side and then theres the love for Samoa. If you love Samoa, you would love to see it develop, but not developed for us, but from the tourism side, I think the people need to explore and see the opportunities available for them, thatll be wonderful.

There should also be more small businesses so that people have new ways to generate income for their family and their everyday life.

Nonetheless, it is a sure thing that Samoa can expect their return.

Maybe after six months, they said.Lets start with a couple of questions.

First: Why is it that it looks as if certain Cabinet Ministers of the government of Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, are in the habit of stopping now and then to look, as if there is something out there in the past that is giving their consciences sleepless days and sleepless nights?

Second: Dont they know that those who stop and then turn around to look behind them, is bound to turn into a pillar of salt just as that which had happened to Gods faithful servant Lota, in the distance past?

We are asking these questions because on the front page of the Samoa Observer of 8 February 2018, the story titled Govt. uncovers lapse, requires newspapers to register at Court, was published.

What the story said, was confirmed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration, Papalii John Taimalelagi, who explained that the law in question has been in place since 1993.

So why did the Ministry of Justice wait all that time to implement this law?

Asked for an explanation, Papalii said they only recently uncovered the lapse during a review of the Acts mandated under the Ministry.

Lapse? But then how was that ever possible?

Well, it was 24 years ago, and that way Papalii could not have known, since he was not around at the time.

As for us here at the Samoa Observer though, we know.

We know that it all started with the British Law of Criminal Libel that the late Prime Minister, Tofilau Eti Alesana, and others had put in place in their quest to put the Samoa Observer out of business, and its editor in jail.

Later though when Tofilau passed away, the Supreme Court ruled that the trial should be discontinued, and it was.

Now 24 years later, Papalii came across a broken box somewhere there in the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration, he saw that a folder in there had been eaten into by cockroaches so he picked it up, and then when he opened it he saw that the title on the folder was barely legible, and it read: Newspapers and Printers Act 1993.

That was when he took the folder to his Minister and he told him: We have uncovered a lapse that requires newspapers to register at Court, so lets act on it right away.

Lapse!

A 24 year old lapse!

Who cares about ancient lapses anymore in this day and age, where global digital navigation of the Internet is quite simple, so that even finding Ole Palemia is also therefore simple, since it is done with a flick of the mouse instead of wasting your time and mental energy, depending on slow-moving, lousy newspapers.

Insisted Papalii: My role as C.E.O. is to review acts mandated under M.J.C.A.

He also said: I came cross the required registration for all newspapers as indicated under the Newspapers and Printers Act 1993 and yet it has never been implemented in the past.

But why? Why did those jokers in the past ignore this very important law as if they owned it?

Why?

Explained Papalii: This is part of M.J.C.A.s Legislative Compliance and we are required to review and uphold the Acts mandated under our Ministry.

Well done!

In a letter to all newspapers, Papalii informed: Pursuant to sections 3 and 4 of the Newspapers and Printers Act 1993 (the Act), notice is hereby given to all newspapers in circulation in Samoa as of 7 February, 2018, that no person shall print or publish a newspaper unless it is registered with the Registrar of the Supreme Court.

He also revealed: The fee is a $100.

Now our final questions are: What about Television, Radio and the Internet? Are they not also registered with the Registrar of the Supreme Court?

After all, they are also didactically educational forms of devices that allow anyone - and everyone - who is keen enough to communicate, inform and educate just as newspapers do, so why are they not registered?

We are asking this question because when the Newspapers and Printers Act 1993 was adopted, Television and Radio were not subjected to any legal Acts of Government, as it had been with newspapers.

At that time, the government threatened to terminate the Samoa Observers business license, apparently because someone - or some people up there - did not like what the paper had published about them, so that the paper was practically fending off one defamation lawsuit after another, it was sheer madness.

Still, come to think about it now, I suppose it was all part of running a newspaper in our small corner of the big, big world.

No one is perfect.

We know that.

We all make mistakes.

We know that too.

So that thankfully for all of us, there is goodness in everyone. I suppose that is why laws such as the Newspapers and Printers Act 1993 are made, and I suppose they should keep on making them.

So lets hope there will be no more silly lapses from now on.

Indeed, lets pray that the New Year up ahead is the beginning of a new life for those families out there in the villages, who are in desperate need of their fair share of prosperity and peace of mind.

There are many of them out there, so that I do believe that everyone who can, should feel it is ones responsibility to reach out, to help.

Have a peaceful Sunday Samoa, God bless.Tenants of the Kalolo Bartley Building in Apia will not be paying their $25,000 monthly rent this month.

According to the Charles Bartley and Sons (C.B.S.) Board Chairman, Rudy Bartley, this is part of their post-Tropical Cyclone Gita assistance to their tenants.

Charles "Kalolo" Bartley building is the one of the oldest buildings in Apia.

It is where the Bartley family ran a successful copra trading and merchant shop in the early 1900s.

The building standing today was built in the mid-1970's, Mr. Bartley said.

Now the building leases space to tenants and houses Apia Pharmacy, G.S.I, Josephine's Boutique and Herman Bartley fabrics with more than 70 people employed in total by all these businesses."

The Kalolo Bartley building is celebrating its 80th year this year and will be having a Bartley Family reunion in July to mark this occasion.

Regarding the recovery efforts, Mr. Bartley said the C.B.S. Board recognises the hardship and the loss of tenants because of the recent cyclone.

The floodwaters were much higher than previous cyclones and this affected the tenants."

The government drainage system, being constructed for several months now at the back of the C.B.S. building, was unable to cope with the flooding and was not effective."

Many tenants lost much stock in the flooding and the aftermath required a lot of cleanup work to be done. Some worked whole of Sunday in order to open on Monday. Others were open for business on Monday and were still cleaning up."

We are saddened by what has happened and we sympathise with our tenants with the effect this will have on their businesses."

With this assistance, we hope this will encourage them to keep the faith and help their business operations in order to continue their service to the people of Samoa. Hopefully back to business as usual, said Mr. Bartley.

He said in addition to the assistance, C.B.S. supplied lunch for staff of tenants on Friday to end the busy week of cleaning and ease the hardship caused by the cyclone.For those in the remotest areas of Savaii, who had no time or way to prepare for the onslaught of Tropical Cyclone Gita, coming together as a community and relying on each other was the only way of surviving.

Pei Matautu and her three children from Samalaeulu found themselves in a vulnerable position as they sought shelter with their neighbours in the middle of the night, during the most intense part of the cyclone.

The day the cyclone came, we had no knowledge that it was coming because we have no radio or television to listen out for the warning and timing of the cyclone, said Pei.

I was out visiting people in the village with another member of our church congregation, when we returned around 5 p.m, I saw that my children were starting to prepare and close up our house and tying things down."

I was wondering why they were doing that but at that time that was when the wind was starting to pick up. Later that evening around 10, it was getting stronger and the roof above us started to lift up.

At this time, Peis husband was in Apia with three of her children.

She lives in their home in Samalaeulu with their three younger children. Being by herself, she told the Sunday Samoan that she was worried about her children and stayed up vigilant.

Eventually, in the back of our house the tin roof blew off completely and then the lau blew off too, she said. I knew that soon the roof above us would go too, so I quickly woke up my children and told them we were going to our neighbours house."

We went over and we stayed there with our neighbours for the night and in the morning we came back to our house and saw that our property was damaged badly, especially the back of our house everything was destroyed there was nothing left.

Pei relied on the hospitality and assistance of her neighbours during the time after the cyclone because her and her children tried their best to make do with what was left.

It wasnt until Wednesday that our neighbour, Tevaga and some men from my church, came over to help me and my children to salvage what was left and cleaned up our house as best as they could manage, thanks to them the front of the house is usable for me and my children to stay in."

Right now we are just going to try and fix up the back area. The back has been cleared now up as far as we could and we are planning to build up the back of the house again and put a roof back on. Thankfully we had tarpaulins, we took them down during the cyclone so they didnt get damaged.

According to Pei, their water supply came back on that day and they were able to shower and have drinking water, but they were still waiting for their power to come back on.

We havent been harmed too much by the cyclone, but we are still in the dark, we havent got power yet, so we use the light from our cell phones at night time."

Our neighbours have power so during the day we take our phones over to their house and we charge them there.

When asked who was going to help her with the rebuilding of their house, she replied saying she didnt know and would wait and see.

While Pei is on her own with her three children and trying to fix things as best she could with the help of her neighbours, she remains positive and thankful that they are alive.Lawyer, Alex Sua, is the new President of the Samoa Faafafine Association.

He takes on the role that was held by S.F.A. founder and President, the late Sooalo Roger Stanley.

Sua is among the founding members of S.F.A. who is also the Legal Counsel.

This was confirmed by S.F.As Communications and Public Relations Executive, Kevin Schuster, during an interview with the Sunday Samoan.

Schuster said the Vice President nominated was Vaialia Iosua.

Vanilla Ice Heather is the Faafatama representative on the Executive Council.

The announcement of the new officers was made during the Samoa Faafafine Association Special General Meeting on Friday.

The new leaders are no strangers to the association, given their long-term involvement and contribution towards S.F.A. since its establishment.

It was our first meeting since the passing of Sooalo who left behind a legacy and some big shoes to be filled particularly her drive, leadership and advocacy work both nationally and regionally for the faafafine and faafatama community, said Schuster.

Since his passing, there have been numerous speculations on who will be next in line to continue the great work and leadership which was done by Sooalo for S.F.A. and especially for its partners.

Schuster says S.F.A. Members, Executive Council together with the Advisory Council, gathered to announce the new leaders for the association.

The S.F.A. Members and Executive had a standing ovation to welcome the new leaders, said Schuster.

The newly announced president told the Sunday Samoan the Executive Councils decision was unanimous.

I refused it more than once while nominating other capable members, but there was a very strong vote and nomination for me.

Eventually I accepted it, conscious it is probably my calling for the faafafine, faafatama and the L.G.B.T.I.Q. community.

Im humbled not necessarily of the position, but of the confidence and the trust of the Executive Council who are also made of true leaders in their own respect.

The S.F.A. will continue to address and advocate for the inclusiveness of faafafine and faafatama in all and every aspects of decision making in Samoa, at the same time be the voice for the L.G.B.T.I.Q. community, their families and allies.

A lawyer by profession for more than a decade, Sua is a Senior Associates at the Summit lawyers.

It is already a significant undertaking but one that I will have to ensure I give my best to, in order to continue to drive S.F.A. forward.

I sincerely thank the Executive for their trust in me, I thank the Lord for this calling because it really is a call I cant object to, said Sua.

He concluded that team work is paramount in his new role.

There is no such thing as my plans for S.F.A, rather its our plan for S.F.A.

The Executive Council of which Im its President is the operating body; the Advisory Council guides but its our members and our stakeholder partners and us as Executive that plans for S.F.A. moving forward.

There are already work and strategic plans in place. It is now putting those in actions that are the focus now. I have always been in this Executive for some time.

Its gonna be the same drive, same passion and same objectives, said Sua.

According to Schuster, Vice President Vaialia has been a strong pillar of the Association from the start and had since returned to the Executive as the Vice President.

Vaialia is currently the Sector Coordinator for the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, a job she secured following the completion of her Masters in Human Rights out of the Philippines.

It has always been my passion to actively participate and be involved with S.F.A, this has been the commitment from the beginning and I gladly accept the decision by the Executive to get back in as the Vice President, said Schuster.

The new leaders priorities remain focused on the development of S.F.A. and its advocacy work for faafafines and faafatamas as well as their close collaborations with the partners both locally and internationally.More than $10,000 worth of foodstuff have been to the village of Moamoa, Faleasiu, by the Chinese Embassy in Samoa.

The goods donated included 100 bags of rice, 200 bags of sugar, 600 boxes of canned fish and 200 boxes of biscuits.

The items were presented by the Ambassador of China to Samoa, Wang Xuefeng, his Good Lady Tong Xin and colleagues from the Chinese Embassy at Vailima.

Mr. Wang told the villagers that this was his second time visiting Faleasiu.

Last year for the sewing skill training I visited your village, so we are old friends, he said.

Last week, Tropical Cyclone Gita hit Samoa, it made very serious damage, many houses were damaged and many crops like breadfruits, mangoes, taro and pawpaw were blown away by the strong winds.

Many trees were broken and uprooted by the winds and heavy floods went into the house so Iliganoa Sapolu, one of the villagers, told me the seriousness of the disaster that occurred in Faleasiu.

He reiterated it is during these difficult times that friends should become closer and help each other out.

So at the time when you face the difficulty as friends of Faleasiu village my wife and I and my colleagues from the Embassy of China wanted to come and see our old friends, he told the villagers.

China and Samoa, we are good friends so when our friends face difficulties, we should come and see what we can do and how we can help our friends.

So I visited the village again, with Iliganoa, with some gifts for my friends.

I hope these gifts can help you overcome the difficulties these days.

We are celebrating the biggest festival in China, its called the Spring Festival, so at this moment I express my best wishes to all my Samoan friends and a new year of happiness and peaceful life.

Iliganoa, who helped to organise the visit to Faleasiu, said she was delighted the village received help.

The Ambassador and his Good Lady are very good friends of mine, she told the village. One day, the Ambassador asked me which village of mine I love the most.

I told them that I hold six matai titles in different villages, but the one village I hold dearly in my heart is Moamoa, Faleasiu, hence why we are here to give you all of these.

So today is all about lending a hand to those who are in need.

Village High Chief Togialii Fualaau Leaupepe acknowledges the support as well as the donation made by the Embassy of China.

We thank you for these great gifts that you have brought today, he said.

This is truly a sign of a strong friendship between the village of Faleasiu and your good selves. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and may the Lord continue to bless you and all that you do.The Commerce Department is urging President Trump to consider hefty tariffs and quotas to limit the import of steel and aluminum, after concluding that the rising flow of those foreign-made products constitutes a threat to Americas national security.

The recommendations were contained in a report released Friday by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, whose agency tapped a rarely used provision of U.S. trade law in investigating whether steel and aluminum imports could pose harm to the countrys defense or security interests.

Trump has promised to take more aggressive trade actions to protect American manufacturers, and the findings by Commerce give the president wide discretion to curb imports, although he could decide not to take any action at all. Trump has until mid-April to issue his decision.

Domestic steel and aluminum manufacturers, along with lawmakers from big steel-producing states, have been pressing Trump to apply stiff measures against foreign producers, particularly targeting China.

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The Commerce Departments recommendations to Trump listed three options for steel: a 24% tariff on all imports from all countries; a targeted tariff of at least 53% on imports from a dozen trading partners, plus quotas on steel shipments from other nations; or a global quota that equals 63% of each countrys steel exports to the U.S. in 2017.

Ross also recommended three options on aluminum tariffs and quotas, although they were less restrictive.

During a news briefing Friday, Ross would not say which of these options he preferred, noting that Trump would be the sole judge of that.

Now that Secretary Ross report has been released, the president must act urgently to stop trade cheats from undermining our steel companies and steelworkers, said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), who, with 18 other members of Congress, met with Trump earlier this week to discuss the steel and aluminum cases.

Some lawmakers urged caution. And U.S. metal importers, car makers and other users of steel and aluminum have warned that tariffs and quotas would ultimately lead to higher prices for American consumers and lost jobs.

We are concerned that the Department of Commerces recommendations may have unintended consequences for domestic tire manufacturers and the workers and industries they support, Anne Forristall Luke, president of the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Assn., said in a statement Friday. Domestic steel mills are unable to produce the kinds of quality steel necessary to make tires, she said.

Trade analysts worry that severe actions could trigger retaliation from other countries, especially given the controversial nature of justifying trade restrictions based on national security grounds. If Trump levies restrictive tariffs or quotas, the U.S. will almost certainly face challenges brought to the World Trade Organization, the global arbiter of trade disputes.

In preparing the report, Ross said his department had gone through the usual inter-agency consultations, but he acknowledged that not everybody in the administration agreed with his conclusion.

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Since the early days of the Trump White House, there have been signs of deep internal divisions on how aggressively to follow through on the presidents campaign promise to overhaul an American trade policy that he has denounced as feeble and harmful to American interests.

Ross announced the launch of the steel investigation in April. There was little doubt that the results would support the case that imports present a threat, given the administrations concern about rising amounts of foreign steel and its broad interpretation of national security.

The report said that domestic steel production is crucial not just for national defense requirements but for U.S. infrastructure that includes transportation systems, the electric power grid and water systems.

Steel imports increased at a double-digit rate in the first 10 months of last year, accounting for more than 30% of U.S. consumption, according to the report.

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Ross said that the goal of any tariffs and quotas would be to increase the domestic production capacity of steel to 80%, from the current 73% level. If that rate of manufacturing capacity were reached, Ross estimated that American steel factory employment would grow by about 10%. Domestic steel makers employ roughly 140,000 people.

China is by far the worlds biggest manufacturer of steel, and its private and state-owned mills have been producing well beyond the countrys own needs and global demand, which have put downward pressure on prices.

At the same time, Chinese steel exports to the U.S. have fallen sharply in recent years, in part because of an array of previously imposed tariffs for dumping and unfair government subsidies. Last year China accounted for only about 2.5% of about $29 billion of foreign steel entering American shores. That put China at No. 11, far behind U.S. steel imports from Canada, Brazil, Russia and Mexico.

Ross said, however, that those numbers did not reflect the actual harm caused by Chinese steel sloshing around the world. Some products are shipped to the U.S. via other countries, he argued, and Chinas huge excess production of steel has had other effects distorting the global market.

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Even accounting for so-called trans-shipments, analysts say that Chinese steel entering the United States still amounted to a relatively small amount, and that Beijing would probably respond to tariffs or quotas in a measured way.

Ross, for his part, seemed unconcerned about the possibility of retaliation. But the last time a U.S. president imposed global steel sanctions was in March 2002 when President George W. Bush levied tariffs of up to 30% on various types of imported steel, making good on a campaign promise to aid beleaguered steel manufacturers and workers amid a surge of imports.

U.S. steel prices jumped nearly 70% by mid-summer, but months later the WTO ruled the action illegal and Europe threatened to retaliate with tariffs of its own, on Florida citrus, motorcycles made in Wisconsin, and other U.S. goods. Shortly afterward, Bush pulled the tariffs, 16 months earlier than the three-year period they were set to remain in effect.

Ross said his recommendations to Trump had no time limit.

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don.lee@latimes.com

Follow me at @dleelatimesQualcomm may be running out of time to escape the clutches of Broadcom.

A key cog in the growth story that Qualcomm has been pitching to beleaguered stockholders centers on its long delayed, $38 billion acquisition of Dutch chip maker NXP Semiconductors.

Not only would NXP instantly boost Qualcomms profits, it also would diversify its business beyond a slowing smartphone market and into the fast growing automotive technologies. Securing NXP also could be Qualcomms best bet to remain an independent company.

But after 15 months, Qualcomm still hasnt received regulatory approval from China to buy NXP  its last remaining regulatory roadblock. Eight other global competition agencies have already approved the deal.

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If I had to judge it today, I would say there is probably an 85 percent or higher likelihood that the (Broadcom) deal is going to pass, said Jim McGregor, principal analyst for technology consulting firm Tirias Research. But if the NXP deal closes, it brings it down to a 50-50 shot.

Qualcomm and Broadcom met Wednesday for the first time after Broadcom Chief Executive Hock Tan raised his hostile takeover offer for Qualcomm from $70 per share to $82 per share on Feb. 5.

The stakes are high for San Diego. Qualcomm is one of only two Fortune 500 companies in town. It employs 33,000 workers globally and an estimated 13,000 locally. While Broadcom Chief Executive Hock Tan covets Qualcomms core cellular business, he is expected to cut other parts of the company. Analysts estimate Tan would wring out $1.2 billion to $3 billion in annual costs from Qualcomm.

Qualcomm hoped Chinese regulators would sign off on the acquisition last week ahead of the Chinese New Year celebrations, which began Thursday.

It didnt happen. So the Qualcomm/ NXP deal remains in limbo as much of Chinas workforce takes a week off.

That makes the prospects of Qualcomm completing the acquisition of NXP before its March 6 annual shareholder meeting less likely.

And the annual meeting is where Qualcomms showdown with Broadcom could come to a head.

Broadcom has nominated a slate of alternative candidates that would give it control of Qualcomms board of directors to push through its $121 billion hostile takeover bid.

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Qualcomm shareholders will cast ballots for either Qualcomms current board candidates or Broadcoms nominees by March 6.

Though China is on holiday until Feb. 24, regulators there could approve the NXP transaction ahead of Qualcomms annual meeting  allowing Qualcomm to race to close the deal.

But activist NXP shareholders are lobbying for Qualcomm to pay more than the $110 per share negotiated in October 2016  complicating the deal and making a quick closure more difficult.

Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf shown at the 2016 CES show. (Nelvin Cepeda )

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They will do whatever they need to do to close NXP because they are virtually defenseless, but if they close NXP, they have a few defenses, said Steven Re, president of long-time Qualcomm shareholder Fairbanks Capital Management, in an interview last week. If they fail to purchase NXP, I would think Hock Tan is just in the perfect position.

NXP a white knight?

NXP presents two problems for Broadcom. First, it makes the Qualcomm acquisition more expensive. Qualcomm is paying mostly cash for NXP. If the deal falls through, Broadcom can use Qualcomms cash to offset the $100 billion in debt its lined up to pay Qualcomm shareholders.

Theres also the potential for increased regulatory scrutiny, especially in Europe where government bodies are concerned about tech job losses. NXP employs 31,000 workers, compared with Broadcoms 17,000.

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Broadcom said its $82 per share offer stands whether or not Qualcomm completes the buyout of NXP at $110 a share.

But the offer is off the table should Qualcomm pay more for NXP or delay its annual shareholder meeting past March 6.

That keeps the pressure on Qualcomm, which could face a backlash from frustrated shareholders if they believe it overpaid for NXP to block Broadcom.

All else being equal, Broadcom would rather buy Qualcomm without NXP, said Mike Walkley, an analyst with Canaccord Genuity. For Qualcomm, the best road is getting it done and pay for NXP. If it doesnt happen, it probably improves Broadcoms opportunity to flip the board.

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Stacy Rasgon, an analyst with Bernstein Research, said the NXP acquisition is important to Qualcomm shareholders  even if they support a Broadcom takeover.

Qualcomm needs NXP in the fold to keep its strategy intact just in case regulators block a Broadcom-Qualcomm combination, he said.

Even if Qualcomm wanted to get bought  and I dont think they do  I think they still have to buy NXP, he said. What happens if they sign a deal (with Broadcom) and 12 months goes by and it fails antitrust? If they didnt buy NXP, theyre screwed. They need NXP as a backstop.

A multi-billion tactical dance

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There are a lot of moving parts in the multi-billion dollar tactical dance between Broadcom, Qualcomm and NXP. The landscape could change significantly before March 6.

The massive $121 billion proposed buyout would be the largest ever in the tech industry, and represents a 50 percent premium over the trading price of Qualcomms shares in early November when Broadcom first made overtures to acquire the company.

Qualcomms share price has been weighed down for more than year by legal disputes with Apple and global anti-trust regulators over patent licensing.

Patent royalties make up the bulk of Qualcomms profits and pay for its extensive research and development for new mobile technologies such as ultra-fast 5G networks.

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Qualcomm rejected Broadcoms latest $82 per share offer as undervaluing the company, ascribing no value to the NXP acquisition, an eventual end to its licensing disputes and its growth prospects from 5G.

Qualcomm is also is concerned that its business will be hurt during a long regulatory review, where the Broadcom buyout could eventually be blocked. A combined Broadcom/Qualcomm would have a leading market position in every high-value semiconductor socket in smartphones, which could trouble regulators, according to analysts.

Broadcom has called the $82 per share its best and final offer. It has begun preliminary talks with regulators and says Qualcomms fears are overblown. The company has pledged an $8 billion dollar break-up fee should regulators scuttle the sale.

In addition, Tan argues that Qualcomms patent licensing business model is unsustainable  as evidenced by Apple and another unnamed customer refusing to pay royalties. Tan also points to a series of past broken promises by Qualcomm management to discredit the prospects that they can deliver on growth targets. Qualcomms shares have traded above $82 for only three days in its history as a public company.

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Representatives of the two companies met Wednesday for the first time to discuss the deal. While the two sides remain far apart, Qualcomm said Friday it is open to further talks.

Upping the offer?

NXP makes technologies for keyless entry in cars, secure payments via smartphones and chip cards, automotive micro-controllers for systems such as anti-lock brakes, auto and other sensors, as well as a slew of additional products.

The NXP deal supports Qualcomms contention that it can boost earnings from last years $3.75 per share to around $7 per share in fiscal 2019, which implies a stock price around $100.

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Between 70 percent and 80 percent of NXP shareholders must agree to sell their shares to Qualcomm at $110 each for the deal to go through. Activist NXP stockholders led by Elliott Management think Qualcomm should pay $135 per share. Its case was bolstered recently when NXP reported better than expected financial results.

To date, fewer than 2 percent of NXP shareholders have pledged to sell their shares at $110. The tender period remains open, however. NXPs shares ended trading Friday at $118.50.

I would think if Qualcomm gets its approvals in the next week or so, what they would offer is the trading price for NXP, said Re of Fairbanks Capital. They might have some (activists) that want more. But $118 or $120 a share for NXP is plenty and most shareholders are going to tender.

Broadcom CEO Hock Tan with President Trump in a ceremony marking the Singapore firms intention to relocate its headquarters to the U.S. (File Photo )

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mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com;

Twitter:@TechDiego

760-529-4973The city of La Mesa has hired an outside investigative firm from Mission Viejo to look into the conduct of one of the citys police officers.

Barry Aninag, B.A. Investigations, LLC has been hired to review the circumstances of a January incident involving a school resource officer and a student on the Helix Charter High School campus.

The investigation will seek to make a determination about whether any La Mesa Police Department policies or procedures were violated related to the incident.

The contract stipulates that the city wants to have the investigation done within 90 days.

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Aninag will be looking into the event of Jan. 19 when La Mesa police officer Scott Wulfing was called to the campus. The call came in response to a report of a 17-year-old girl who had been suspended and was refusing to leave school grounds.

It was reported that Wulfing twice asked the student to leave, but she would not go. He then handcuffed the teen and started escorting her away.

Police said when she became noncompliant and made an attempt to free herself, the officer forced her to the ground until she agreed to quit resisting. A video showed him body-slamming the female student and pinning her to the ground.

Helix and the police department have also launched their own investigations into the incident.

Aninags group will be paid $155 per hour for investigative time including consultation, preparation, interviews, and documentation. The contract notes that the company will be paid $280 an hour for any testimony that may be required at any court or administrative hearing.

I am pleased with the citys choice, City Councilwoman Kristine Alessio said. I look forward to the outcome of his investigation and hopefully that outcome will heal a lot of wounds in our community.

Aninag has investigated a variety of administrative cases ranging from allegations of discrimination, harassment and retaliation to allegations of violations of city or department policy concerning dishonesty and the use of excessive force, a La Mesa press release said.

The release said that Aninag retired in 2015, after 29 years of law enforcement work with the city of Irvine. The city said he has extensive training and experience in firearms and arrest and control tactics.

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From April 2015 until March 2016, Aninag was employed by Westminster as an interim Deputy Chief of Police.

I know that it it always difficult to investigate your own department, Alessio said. (Aninag) appears to be one of the most qualified investigators in Southern California to do this.

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karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.comThe San Diego Natural History Museum Canyoneers are hosting a desert hike on March 3 that will take visitors to native American cultural sites as well as the crumbling remains of an early homesteader family.

Hikers will visit an area once used as a food processing area by the Kumeyaay. Deep morteros were carved into the granite boulders as seeds were ground into flour.

The 3-mile hike will also take participants to the historic remains of the Marshal South homestead. South and his wife, Tanya, abandoned civilization in the 1930s and emulated the Kumeyaay ways, foraging off the land and growing simple crops.

They constructed a home of mud walls and eventually had three children. The family left the mountain in 1948.

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Hikers should meet at 10 a.m. at the vault toilets in Blair Valley in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Blair Valley turnoff is 6 miles east of state Route 78 on the Great Southern Overland State Route, also known as County Road S-2. The turnoff is marked with a sign.

Canyoneers are citizen scientists and volunteers who have had comprehensive training by museum scientists and local experts on the natural history of the region. There are 75 public hikes offered in the 201718 season. Hikes are also offered to local schools at no cost.

For more information on hike locations, descriptions can be found in the book Coast to Cactus: The Canyoneer Trail Guide to San Diego Outdoors.

Firearm safety

A monthly three-hour familiarization and safety class is being offered March 4 for anyone anticipating the purchase of, or who already owns, a handgun.

The class is offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Escondido Fish and Game Association shooting range, 16525 Guejito Road, east of Lake Wohlford. Cost is $60.

Participants will learn the basics of handguns, home firearm safety and responsibility of firearm ownership. Handguns and ammunition are provided for the class, but participants are encouraged to bring their own handgun if they already own one.

For additional information or to register, call Jack Bryson at (760) 746-2868.

Bighorn sheep

A comprehensive look at the ecology, genetics, and connectivity of Peninsular bighorn sheep in Baja California will be the topic of the next Anza-Borrego: In-Focus program offered by the Anza-Borrego Foundation.

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The two-day program, March 9-10, begins Friday evening with lectures by conservation research scientists Mathias Tobler and Lisa Nordstrom from San Diego Zoo Global, who will discuss their research on bighorn sheep in Baja California.

On Saturday, State Park environmental scientist Mike Puzzo will lead participants on a short hike into Pinyon Wash to visit a wildlife guzzler and learn about the bighorn sheep found in the park.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park has 11 wildlife guzzlers that were installed between 1969 and 1987 to provide supplemental water sources for bighorn sheep. The guzzlers collect and store rainwater that can be used by area wildlife.

Following the hike, participants will stop at Tamarisk Grove Campground where they might be able to observe bighorn sheep that are frequently seen on the hillsides in the area.

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The program will be hosted at the Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center, 401 Tilting T Drive, Borrego Springs. Cost is $60 for the general public and $50 for ABF members.

Hikers should bring water, lunch, sun protection, binoculars and sturdy hiking shoes. The hike covers about one mile of off-trail hiking and a small elevation gain.

For additional information or registration, visit the events section at theabf.org.

Gold Rush Days

Visitors to the historic gold mining town of Julian in the mountains of San Diego can celebrate the old west April 7 and 8 during the annual Julian Gold Rush Days festivities at Julian Farm, 4381 Highway 78, 3 miles west of downtown.

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Events will begin at 10 a.m. each day and will include gold panning, tomahawk throwing, candle making, archery, arts and crafts, hayrides and petting zoo. Admission is free.

Additionally, there will be re-enactments of an old-fashioned mining camp, food, and childrens pioneer games. The Hole in the Wall Gang, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the outlaw legends of the Old West, will be putting on its shootout show.

The event celebrates the discovery of gold in this mountain community and invites visitors to learn more about the colorful history of the area.

Email ernie@packtrain.com or visit erniesoutdoors.blogspot.com.The people of Anton Chekhovs Uncle Vanya are so very weary that its a wonder any of them can manage to complete a sen

All joking aside  to borrow a phrase from the plays Alexander Serebryakov, who says it like a man who has never told (or heard) a joke in his life  torpor verges on torture for some characters in the 1897 masterwork.

Your boredom and idleness is contagious, the dissipated scholar Alexanders daughter, Sonya, finally scolds in the second act.

Theres an aspect of the Old Globes just-opened reconsideration of Vanya that is likewise catching, but it doesnt have to do with boredom.

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True, this play about a family of exceedingly glum Russians will never put the whee! in ennui.

But director Richard Nelsons meticulously observed staging of the drama, from a canny and colloquial world-premiere translation he collaborated on with Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, induces a kind of mindful trance by virtue of its subdued rhythms and conversational style.

Much of that dynamic has to do with a technique that has evolved as Nelsons signature over the years  both in his own works, such as The Apple Family Plays, and his series of classical collaborations with the renowned husband-and-wife translators showcased here.

That approach pairs a sophisticated audio setup  a thicket of microphones and speakers, arrayed for Vanya discreetly above the Globes arena-style White Theatre stage (and controlled via a live sound mixer)  with a performance style that emphasizes inwardness and vocal intimacy.

The technique, by necessity, pulls a playgoer in; if you want to hear and absorb whats going on, attention must be paid. (And while were borrowing from Death of a Salesman, the emphasis in this Vanya on dire worries for the disappearing natural world echoes a theme in that play, and pings surprisingly off our current jitters over climate cataclysm.)

For the audience, getting in tune with the productions low-key wavelength can take some time; by contrast, when the title character erupts in a fit of rage deep into the latter half of the two-hour, one-intermission show, the moment feels downright dangerous.

But its worth the effort to find your way into what can be a beautifully rewarding exploration of stunted lives still bending toward the meager sunlight, like wildflowers sprouting from a cracked sidewalk.

Speaking of staying in tune: None of it would work without actors who are fully immersed in the almost theater-verite vibe of the staging. Fortunately, almost all the seven cast members here are veterans of Nelsons approach, and they bring an admirable unity of tone to the show.

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As the title character, Jay O. Sanders puts his resonant voice and a way with mercurial emotions behind a man who has made a religion of self-pity  though not without some cause.

Vanya and his niece, Sonya (Yvonne Woods, in a smartly pitched turn as the plays often blunt moral center) have been running the family agricultural estate for the benefit of Sonyas father, the wealthy but ailing Alexander (Jon DeVries), who has now blown into town with his second wife, Elena (Celeste Arias).

The fact the very youthful Elena is now Sonyas stepmother is just one of the oddities underlying the ever-simmering family resentments. Arias conveys a deeply agonized sense of someone who feels shes under constant suspicion, and the friction between the two women isnt helped by their mutual affection for the brilliant, enigmatic family friend Dr. Astrov (Jesse Pennington, whose muted take on the character adds mystery but can seem almost too subdued).

While the accomplished Roberta Maxwell is heard from relatively little as Vanyas mother, Marya , she makes clear how the characters seemingly unconditional regard for Alexander feeds Vanyas extreme jealousy (as does his unrequited love for Elena). The longtime family nanny Marina (Kate Kearney-Patch), meanwhile, can do only so much as a peacemaker.

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Jennifer Tiptons well-calibrated lighting brings subtle shifts of hours and seasons to Jason Ardizzone-Wests set, which is dominated by simple, rough-hewn tables. Susan Hilferty and Mark Koss costumes blend contemporary with vintage looks, and Will Pickens sound design incorporates the wistful acoustic music of the Brooklyn band Elizabeth and Catapult at the outset.

Someday soon, its gonna get better, goes a line from one of those songs  a hopeful spin on the tyranny of tedium from which, in Sonyas strangely sanguine-sounding words, death offers the only real hope of rest.

Uncle Vanya

When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays (plus 2 p.m. Feb. 28); 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays (no matinee March 3); 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through March 11.

Where: Old Globes Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Balboa Park.

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Tickets: $30 and up.

Phone: (619) 234-5623

Online: theoldglobe.org

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jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @jimhebertA longtime horse rental business at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center will be shutting its doors this summer after a lengthy legal dispute between the business owner and facility officials.

Julie Schad, owner of Griffith Park Horse Rentals, said she is looking forward to a fresh start at the end of May, when her sublease with the equestrian center expires.

She couldnt say exactly where the new stables will be located, but Schad said the 55 horses she owns and rents to those who want to go on a horseback ride will have a new home soon.

Itll be in Southern California, but it doesnt look like well be in this area, she said on Thursday. Well certainly invite our current clientele to where were going, but itll certainly feel like starting over.

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Schad is leaving the equestrian center after several years of disagreements with those who run the facility.

A lawsuit filed by Schad on Feb. 24, 2015, accuses the Los Angeles Equestrian Center of breaching a contract they had entered into on April 15, 2014.

Under that agreement, the center was supposed to negotiate a sublease extension with Schad and draft a request for proposal to be submitted and approved by the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, which oversees the equestrian center.

However, Schad alleged the request for proposal was biased and favored a competing horse rental business owned by James and Scott Perez, who own Circle K Riding Stables in Burbank.

Neither George Chatigny, general manager of the equestrian center, nor James and Scott Perez could be reached for comment.

In the 2015 lawsuit, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center had issued Schad a written notice to vacate the center within 60 days. Schad claimed the notice did not specify the reason for the eviction, and she was up to date on all the fees she had to pay under the sublease.

As the 2015 lawsuit was being heard, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center filed an eviction lawsuit against Schad on May 6, 2016. The case was ultimately dismissed in January 2017, when the two parties settled the original lawsuit.

Schad took over Griffith Park Horse Rentals, which has been at the center for more than 50 years, in 2003 and paid $150,000 to purchase the business, according to the lawsuit.

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There were about 20 horses and a handful of horse stalls when she started, Schad said Thursday.

She said she invested about $250,000 into the business, which resulted in 30 covered stalls, according to court documents. There are 55 horses in the stables, Schad said.

Because of a nondisclosure agreement she signed as part of the settlement, Schad could not provide detailed information about leaving the equestrian center.

Carpio writes for Times Community NewsA threat of violence seen in graffiti found on a desk in a seventh-grade classroom at Corona del Mar Middle and High School was deemed not credible, but Newport Beach police will have heightened presence near the campus Friday, authorities said.

Police determined that the message, which included a planned shooting at the school, was written in December, Lt. Tom Fischbacher said. Speculation about a hit list related to the threat is not accurate, he said.

Word about the threat spread on social media following Wednesdays shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla., in which 17 people were killed, authorities said.

As you can imagine, parents are concerned and were doing our best to calm those fears, Fischbacher said.

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Classes at Corona del Mar were not interrupted Friday, but attendance was lower than normal, according to Newport-Mesa Unified School District spokeswoman Annette Franco. All absences will be excused, Franco said.

District administrators emphasized in an email to staff Friday that police determined the threat was not credible.

However, we take all threats seriously, and as a precaution, there will be district administrators and increased Newport Beach police presence on campus today, administrators wrote.

Our Lady Queen of Angels, a nearby Catholic school, canceled classes Friday because of the reported threat, according to a notice sent to parents that was circulated on social media.

Our thinking is that if there is an issue at [CdM] we do not want our children exposed to it, the notice said.

Our Lady Queen of Angels officials added that they certainly do not want [students] to be scared at a place they should always feel safe.

In response to the violence in Florida, Newport-Mesa Supt. Fred Navarro sent a message to parents Thursday outlining safety precautions at every campus. Those include school resource officers from the Newport Beach and Costa Mesa police departments, various drills for staff and students, and threat assessments and emergency response training with local law enforcement.

While we have plans in place that are regularly practiced, please know that school safety is not something we can do alone, Navarro wrote. We ask for your support in reminding students to please take all drills seriously, follow law enforcement, teacher and site administrator instructions, and if they see something, say something  it is the best deterrent to potentially harmful situations.

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Fry writes for Times Community NewsA concrete truck careened through the center divider of the 10 Freeway in Rialto and collided with multiple vehicles, leaving at least five dead, officials said Friday.

The fiery crash occurred shortly before 1 p.m. near Riverside Avenue. It involved the concrete truck, which had been traveling west, a smaller truck and four cars.

California Highway Patrol Officer Bryan Alvarez said five people suffered fatal injuries and another was taken to the hospital in unknown condition.

(Paul Duginski )

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The freeway was closed in both directions as CHP investigators examined the scene and rescuers tried to extract the injured. The CHP asked commuters to use the 215 and 15 freeways and to avoid the stretch of the 10 near Rialto for several hours.

At 5 p.m., two westbound lanes reopened, the CHP said. The eastbound side remained closed until about 2 a.m., when the Riverside Avenue onramp to the eastbound lanes opened and all eastbound lanes were open from that point.

All eastbound lanes remained closed from Riverside back to Cedar Avenue.

As of 3 a.m., just two westbound lanes were open.

It was unclear when more lanes would open.

richard.winton@latimes.com

Twitter: @lacrimes

UPDATES:

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3:20 a.m.: Updated with some lanes opening.

11:40 p.m.: Updated with two lanes reopening.

4 p.m.: This article was updated to include an additional fatality.

This article was originally published at 3:10 p.m.Ten gun owners are under court orders to give up their weapons after prosecutors and police filed gun violence restraining orders against them, San Diego authorities said Friday.

The orders require the gun owners  some of whom are dealing with severe mental health problems, according to the San Diego City Attorneys Office  to surrender or sell the firearms, and bar them from possessing guns or ammunition for 12 months.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Tamila Ipema granted the first order on Jan. 3.

Under a state law that passed in 2014 and took effect in January 2016, family members, roommates and law enforcement officers may petition a court to deny a persons access to firearms and ammunition if that person poses an imminent danger to themselves or others.

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Washington and Oregon have passed similar laws. Two other states, Indiana and Connecticut, had laws that allow such petitions to be filed by law enforcement only.

The goal for each of these laws, supporters say, is to help prevent firearm-related tragedies.

City Attorney Mara Elliott said in a news release that San Diego has adopted an aggressive strategy of filing charges and requesting gun-violence restraining orders against people who present a serious risk of harm. The approach was developed by the City Attorneys Office and by San Diego police Assistant Chief Dave Nisleit, who will take over as the new chief next month.

Our federal government is inexcusably ignoring the growing problem of gun violence in our schools and communities, Elliott said. The City of San Diego will not tolerate federal inaction. Were doing everything in our power to respond to the epidemic of senseless killing by removing guns from the hands of unstable and irresponsible gun owners.

The statement came two days after a 19-year-old former student opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., killing 17 people and wounding more than a dozen others.

The City Attorneys Office reported that restraining orders were granted against the following:

A 39-year-old San Carlos man, who fired a gun at trees, rats, raccoons and his neighbors backyard while drunk and high on prescription drugs.

A 23-year-old ex-Marine who walked into a Kearny Mesa auto parts store with a loaded handgun, but called police before shooting anyone.

A 60-year-old Otay Mesa man who grabbed a .38-caliber revolver and fled his home after his family discovered he was molesting his grandchild. He was arrested with his gun in his vehicle.

An 81-year-old man from the Carmel Mountain area who threatened to shoot his wife and a neighbor because he believed they were having an affair.

A 53-year-old Allied Gardens man with significant mental health issues who used a firecracker to damage a neighbors front door. Officers seized a rifle with a bayonet and two illegal high-capacity magazines from his apartment.

A 38-year-old Allied Gardens man who threatened to kill himself, his wife and their young child if she left him. His wife had overheard him crying in a bathroom and cocking his .40-caliber pistol.

A 28-year-old Mission Valley man who grabbed a gun case and threatened suicide, then threw his girlfriend to the ground when she tried to call for help. Police seized two handguns, tow rifles and a shotgun.

A 33-year-old Mid-City man who locked his wife in a car with him, threatening her with a loaded firearm. Police searched the car and found a meth pipe and two loaded firearms that did not belong to him. Later, he surrendered a Glock 9mm and a.380-caliber handgun.

A 35-year-old Allied Gardens man with a history of domestic violence, who owned several guns including a 9mm pistol, a Mosquito semi-automatic pistol, a Springfield .40-caliber pistol, and a Mossberg shotgun. His wife feared he might kill her.

A 40-year-old La Jolla man who told his fiancee in a text message that he wanted to shoot her in the head, then threatened her ex-boyfriend while holding a knife behind his back. The La Jolla man surrendered a handgun and an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.

There have been several mass shootings in San Diego County dating back to Jan. 29, 1979, when 16-year-old Brenda Spencer fired shots at San Carlos elementary school, killing the principal and a janitor, and wounding eight children.

Decades later, on March 5, 2001, 15-year-old Charles Andy Williams killed two students and wounded 13 others at Santana High School in Santee.

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Ari Freilich, staff attorney and California legal affairs director for Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said the state law that allows gun-violence restraining orders is designed to address the some types of circumstances that played out this week in Florida, where there had been signs that the teenage suspect in the shooting could be dangerous, according to published reports.

Freilich did not have specific information as to how many of the orders have been requested and acted upon in California so far, but he said he knows that number is relatively small partly because its (still) a new law.

The Sacramento Bee has reported that the California courts issued 86 gun violence restraining orders in 2016, most of them coming from Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties.

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dana.littlefield@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @danalittlefieldSan Diego Unified School District officials have put an end to a foreign immersion program, canceling a fully-funded study abroad trip for nearly 30 students.

Twenty-eight Pacific Beach Middle School students were set to leave for China in March, thanks to funding from the American International Academys Global Youth Ambassador Project, which gives schools money in exchange for hosting a group of foreign students for one week at a time.

The trip was officially canceled Wednesday, according to an email from principal Kimberly Meng, following the districts decision to end all partnerships with the organization, known as AIA.

Obviously its a huge disappointment, said Robert Traylor, a Pacific Beach Middle parent whose son was supposed to go to China. It just seems like bureaucratic infighting thats stripping these kids of a huge educational opportunity.

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The students were scheduled to leave San Diego on March 22, arriving in Beijing the following day. The trip would begin with a two-day tour of Beijing. The students would then split into three groups to do five half days of school experiences in different cities. Their afternoons and evenings would be filled with additional tours, shopping and free time.

The entire trip would have lasted 10 days, with the students arriving back in the U.S. on April 1.

After a cease-and-desist letter was issued to AIA from our district due to deep concerns about their program, we will not be moving forward with our trip to China, Meng said in the email. I can assure you that our biggest priority is our childrens well-being and safety.

San Diego Unified attorneys sent the letter in January, prohibiting AIA from placing any additional foreign students in district schools. Without the exchange of students, at least a dozen schools, including Pacific Beach Middle, will lose the extra funding that helps pay for trips and other school supplies.

Other schools impacted by the districts decision include Tierrasanta Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Lewis Middle School, Roosevelt Middle School, James Madison High School and Mission Bay High School.

According to the letter, AIA was notified in May 2015 that the district would not enter into an agreement for the placement of short-term visiting students, and AIAs program fails to satisfy the districts requirements for more permanent foreign exchange students.

[San Diego Unified] currently does not have a policy for accommodating short-term international exchange pupils, which in essence means that we do not accept short term international visitors, and school sites do not have the authority to accept them, said Marceline Marques, director of San Diego Unified School Districts neighborhood schools and enrollment options office, in an email to AIA staff. The district may consider developing policy and procedure ... However, I cannot tell you when these deliberations may take place.

The districts current policy requires foreign students to submit an application prior to enrollment with writing samples, letters of recommendation and health and immunization records  among other documentation. Requirements also include that the student be registered with a recognized international exchange program.

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AIA president and founder Mary Mezinis said the organization works with dozens of schools, primarily in San Diego, Los Angeles and Orange counties, but it has partnerships with schools throughout the country. This is the first time the organization has received a cease-and-desist letter from a district or school, Mezinis said.

At a time when schools desperately need money, [San Diego Unified] is shutting down a program that helps provide consistent funding for schools, she said. Not only that, but it also gives kids the opportunity to learn about other cultures and travel the world when they otherwise wouldnt be able to.

According to Mezinis, the program is funded through donations from the schools of foreign students. Local schools receive anywhere from $2,500 to $3,000 in exchange for hosting 20 foreign students for one week. Many schools host several groups intermittently throughout the year to receive extra funding, which can be used at the schools discretion.

Not all schools take trips, Mezinis said. Some use the money to buy computers and other school supplies.

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When schools opt to use the money for an international trip, AIA provides half of the total cost through a foundation.

Pacific Beach Middle School parent Eric Robinson said his daughter and a lot of her classmates have been taking Mandarin classes and learning about Chinese cultures for years.

This wouldve have been something my daughter would remember for the rest of her life, Robinson said. These kids have been in this program since they were in kindergarten, and now finally they get a chance to go there and the rug gets pulled out from underneath them.

Robinson said his family would have never been able to afford the trip on their own and hes disappointed that the district chose to cancel the program altogether instead of finding a way to remedy the situation.

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It just seems like one more case of bureaucracy not being able to get out of its own way, not being able to solve what seems to be a very simple problems, he said. If you have a good program, you accommodate it.

District officials said theyre working on a legal solution to get the trip back on track.

We recognize some families may still want to participate in that trip, said Andrew Sharp, a spokesman for San Diego Unified. We are working on a legal solution to make that possible, while recognizing the fact this trip is not a district-sanctioned outing, and anyone who participates does so at their own risk.

Contact Lauryn Schroeder via Twitter or Email.President Donald Trump has pushed Congress to get rid of chain migration by ending the ability to sponsor green cards for family members except for spouses and minor children.

Trumps critics think chain migration is an offensive term that dehumanizes a process meant for family reunification.

Trumps supporters say that family ties are not a good enough reason to allow someone to immigrate to the U.S.

People who immigrated through family sponsors say that getting their green card was an emotional, joyous experience, and they worry about others who might not be able to be with their families if Trumps proposed legislation passes.

Heres the full story:

President Donald Trump has said he wants to get rid of chain migration, referring to the ability to sponsor green cards for certain family members.

Under the current broken system, a single immigrant can bring in virtually unlimited numbers of distant relatives, Trump said in his recent State of the Union address.

Many fact-checking institutions have characterized that statement as misleading.

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Under current law, U.S. citizens can sponsor their spouses, children, parents and siblings, with some caveats based on age and marital status. Green card holders can sponsor their spouses and their unmarried children.

No one can directly sponsor more distant relationships like aunts and uncles, grandparents or cousins.

In his address, Trump asked Congress to restrict immigrating relatives to spouses and minor children. As Congress this past week debated potential legislation that would offer long-term protection to unauthorized immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, Trump said he would support only immigration bills that included that restructuring of the family-sponsored visa program, among other requirements.

Hilda Carrillo, a 53-year-old from Tijuana, still remembers the exact date her green card arrived in the mail: June 17, 2017.

I was jumping, she recalled with excitement in her voice. I didnt believe it, but I did  because one of my goals was to get my papers.

Her son Eduardo Romero married a U.S. citizen several years ago, and Carrillo hoped that he would be able to sponsor her green card after he naturalized. She worried about growing violence and lack of job opportunities in Tijuana, she said.

She enrolled in school in San Diego to study English while she waited for Romero to become a U.S. citizen. Once they were able to apply, the process took less than a year.

Parents of U.S. citizens, like spouses and minor children, do not have an annual limit on the number that can come, so they are processed more quickly than those that end up in long family preference lines. (U.S. citizens must be at least 21 years old to sponsor their parents.)

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Carrillo said she feels sad for those who might not be reunited if Trumps proposed legislation that would no longer allow people to sponsor green cards for their parents becomes law.

I try to understand why hes doing this, Carrillo said. Is it because you dont want Mexicans or Latinos or what? Its very sad.

Carrillo plans to apply for citizenship once shes had her green card for five years  the minimum time required. She wants to be able to vote and to sponsor her two adult daughters, 34-year-old twins, so that they can live closer to her.

About 18 percent of family-sponsored visas went to parents of U.S. citizens in fiscal 2017, according to data from the State Department.

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Just under 250,000 visas went to family members who qualified for the immediate visa categories  spouses, minor children and parents. Thats a little more than half of all the family-sponsored visas issued last year.

For those who dont fall in the immediate categories, backlogs caused by per-country annual caps extend wait times. Depending on the relationship with their sponsors and their sponsors citizenship status, some family members end up waiting decades in the different lines for green cards.

The U.S. can give out up to 226,000 visas to the family preference categories. Those are allocated based on the type of relationship.

Unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens take top priority, followed by green card holders spouses and unmarried children. Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens take third preference, and siblings of U.S. citizens come last.

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Immigrants from a particular country cannot take more than seven percent of the available visas in any given year.

Because of those restrictions, unmarried Mexican sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, the first priority category, who applied after July 1, 1996, have not been able to get visas yet, according to a report from the State Department.

Spouses and minor children of green card holders have the shortest wait  those at the front of the line have been waiting about two years.

Filipino brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens have been waiting the longest, since October 1994, to have their applications processed.

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Some versions of Trumps proposed limits on family-sponsored visas would allow those in the backlog to get their visas. Hard-line immigration restrictionists would prefer to leave those applications unfilled.

I think people do not understand how difficult it is to immigrate a family member already, said Andrea Guerrero, executive director of Alliance San Diego, which advocates for immigrants. We need to make it easier, not harder, for families to reunify.

She has a childhood friend whose mother, at the time a green card holder, tried to sponsor for a visa when the friend was a teenager. While she waited, Guerreros friend turned 21, moving her to a longer line.

Shes still waiting, Guerrero said. In the meantime, the woman moved to the U.S. as an unauthorized immigrant so that she could be with her mother.

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Her story is that of thousands of others, Guerrero said. If we were to address the broken family based visa system, that would go a long way to legalizing a large number of people who currently have no papers.

Guerrero criticized Trumps use of the phrase chain migration to describe the family-sponsored visa program.

It is disingenuous and deceitful to reframe family reunification as chain migration. It takes the people out of the equation, Guerrero said. This is about values. This is not about chains. Weve lost our way if were talking about people as chains, if were talking about mothers as chains, children as chains, siblings as chains.

Pete Nunez, a former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California who chairs an immigration restrictionist think tank, said he doesnt think that family connection is a good reason to allow someone to immigrate.

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There is no logical justification for using family as the most important consideration for deciding who gets to come to the U.S. and who does not, Nunez said. We should be smarter than that and pick people who will be able to make a more positive contribution to the country.

He said hes been using the phrase chain migration since the 70s.

I mean come on, get serious. It is what it is. Chain migration  its a chain, he said, when asked about criticism of the phrase. This is just all part of the politically correct world we live in today where the media pick up these silly ideas and expound and expand and give them credence. Its shameful.

For Nunez, the most important immigration legislation hed like to see would make a system that electronically checks work authorization of potential employees mandatory for all employers.

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Whatever system you have, whether you keep family categories or you limit them or restrict them, there will always be people who try to get here illegally, regardless of what the legal paths are, Nunez said. If you dont do anything to stop illegal immigration, youre whistling in the dark.

If the person hoping for a visa already immigrated to the U.S. without authorization, it can be nearly impossible to get approved for a green card.

Filipe Botelho de Souza, 28, came to the U.S. as an unauthorized immigrant from Brazil when he was six years old.

He received temporary protection through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program under former President Barack Obama.

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Because he had crossed illegally into the U.S., he would have to return to Brazil and face a 10-year ban before his wife could petition for his green card.

That changed when his grandfather needed a risky surgery. Botelho de Souza applied for advance parole, a program that allows people to leave the U.S. and return one time even though they dont have documentation that would normally be needed to reenter, to see his grandfather.

Once he returned from Brazil through that program, his wife was able to sponsor him while he stayed in the U.S.

It makes me very emotional just thinking about it, to know everything that Ive been through, he said. To finally be able to reach that point where I have my green card in hand, its a huge relief.

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About a month after Botelho de Souza made the trip to Brazil, Trump announced that DACA recipients could no longer get advance parole and announced a wind down of the DACA program.

Botelho de Souza plans to apply for citizenship as soon as he is allowed. He has a brother whose status in the U.S. is still tenuous because of the end of DACA, and Botelho de Souza would like to sponsor his green card.

To keep families, especially parents, separated from their kids, even if theyre older, thats pretty harsh, Botelho de Souza said. Family is really important to everybody.

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Immigration Videos On Now New developments in family separation case 9:53 On Now A San Diego woman volunteered as a medic in Texas helping migrant families 2:35 On Now Immigration policy protests in Carlsbad nearly cancelled after permit issue 1:38 On Now When children are separated from their parents at the border, here is where they go next On Now Prospects of a deal for 'Dreamers' may hinge on separating Trump from hard-liners on his staff On Now What is DACA? On Now Border wall prototype contractors selected On Now Video: Ukrainian boxer wins asylum in U.S. On Now 30 apprehended after Border Patrol agents discover tunnel On Now Video: Kurdish diaspora prepare to vote on independence

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kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate on TwitterAfter a powerful earthquake struck Mexico Friday, frightened survivors near the quakes epicenter gathered in a field, opting to spend the night sleeping under the stars or in vehicles instead of in damaged homes vulnerable to aftershocks.

And then, a second unexpected crisis hit. This time, it fell from the sky.

A military helicopter carrying top officials assessing quake damage was preparing to land nearby when the pilot lost control. A few seconds later, the helicopter crashed to the earth  directly onto several vehicles packed with earthquake survivors.

Fourteen people on the ground died and least 21 people were injured, according to the state prosecutors office in Oaxaca, where the crash took place. The dead include at least three children.

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Interior Secretary Alfonso Navarrete, Oaxaca Gov. Alejandro Murat and everybody else aboard the helicopter survived with only minor injuries, officials said.

Navarrete told a local journalist that the pilot of the Blackhawk helicopter lost control about 100 feet above the ground as it was preparing to land in the town of Jamiltepec, about 20 miles from the earthquakes epicenter.

It is unfortunate that this happened, Navarrete told Televisa news Friday night, adding that it was good that there was no greater loss of human lives.

On Saturday, Secretary of National Defense Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda arrived in Jamiltepec and apologized to residents, saying his agency assumes total responsibility for what happened here.

This misfortune originated from our interest in helping the community here, he said, adding that his agency would help reconstruct homes and provide other assistance in the area.

Mexicans reacted angrily to the crash, with some questioning why a helicopter would try to land in a darkened field.

In Oaxaca, a helicopter should not fly at night, tweeted Mexican Sen. Layda Sansores, who belongs to the left-leaning Morena party.

She called the accident an act of stupidity, of failed leadership and unforgivable irresponsibility.

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The accident was another embarrassment for Navarrete, who was chosen to head the Interior Department last month by President Enrique Pena Nieto. Earlier this month, an intelligence agent from an agency overseen by Navarrete was caught tailing a presidential candidate running against Pena Nietos Institutional Revolutionary Party.

Navarrete and Murat were evaluating damage from the earthquake before their helicopter crashed.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the 7.2 magnitude quake struck near the town of Pinotepa in Oaxaca state at about 5:30 p.m. Friday. A magnitude 5.9 aftershock also centered in Oaxaca struck about an hour later, and was followed by a series of smaller aftershocks throughout the night and next day.

While some homes and businesses near the quakes epicenter were damaged, there were no reports of deaths, officials said. About 200 miles away in Mexico City, where an earthquake early warning system sent hundreds of thousands of people fleeing into the streets for safety Friday, only minor damage was reported.

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Many Mexicans are still traumatized from twin earthquakes that struck days apart in September, killing more than 400 people across the southern and central parts of the country.

Oaxaca was particularly hard hit by the first quake, on Sept. 8, which struck off the coast of Mexico with a staggering magnitude of 8.2. Nearly 100 people died in that quake, most of them in Oaxaca, and many communities are only now beginning to rebuild collapsed structures.

Fridays helicopter accident was an unexpected tragedy for a small community that appeared to have miraculously been spared in the latest earthquake. While geophysicists warned in the aftermath of the quake that communities near the epicenter could be severely affected, no deaths were reported.

According to local newspaper Imparcial de la Costa, the damage in Jamiltepec was limited to about 50 homes and the Catholic Church.

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That was until the helicopter crashed Friday night at about 10 p.m. The newspaper reported that before trying to land, the helicopter had circled several times, kicking up dust and likely reducing visibility.

The newspaper said at least five families were affected by the crash. Photos of the accident site show at least two mangled vehicles, overturned plastic chairs, a sleeping bag and several blankets scattered on the ground.

Who ordered this helicopter to fly at night, with the evident risk to those flying and to civilians? Tweeted journalist Julio Hernandez. Who is responsible for this accident?

Cecilia Sanchez in the Times Mexico City bureau contributed to this report.

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UPDATES:

2:30 p.m.: This article was updated with new details that include an apology to residents from Secretary of National Defense Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda, who arrived in Jamiltepec on Saturday.

11:25 a.m.: This article was updated throughout with staff reporting that include comments from Mexican Senator Layda Sansores, who was critical of the attempt to land the helicopter in the area at night.

This article was originally published at 8:30 a.m.A powerful, magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck south and central Mexico on Friday afternoon, damaging buildings and sending panicked residents fleeing into the streets.

There were no immediate reports of deaths, but officials said some homes and businesses near the quakes epicenter in Oaxaca state had been damaged.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake originated about 225 miles south of Mexico City, near the town of Pinotepa in Oaxaca state. A magnitude 5.9 aftershock also centered in Oaxaca struck about an hour later.

(Los Angeles Times )

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Local media reports out of Oaxaca showed a partially collapsed hotel and other buildings with partially collapsed roofs or walls split open by deep fissures. The Oaxaca state government said via Twitter the worst damage was in the towns of Pinotepa and Santiago Jamiltepec, and said shelters were opened for those fleeing their homes.

In the nations capital, buildings swayed and minor damage was reported, but Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said the city was mostly unscathed.

Many residents, still shaken from the Sept. 19 earthquake that killed more than 360 people, lingered in the streets instead of returning to their office buildings and homes.

Were totally traumatized, said Maria Eugenia Angulo, 48, who was eating ice cream with her children and grandchildren in the leafy Condesa neighborhood when the earth started swaying.

About 30 seconds before the earthquake struck, a warning alarm rang throughout Mexico City. Mexico is one of several countries that have implemented early earthquake warning systems designed to give residents crucial time to prepare before the earth starts shaking. California has been developing its own warning system, but President Trumps recent budget proposal would end funding for the program.

Fridays earthquake occurred in a seismically active section of Mexico, where the Cocos plate is sliding underneath the North American plate.

Its epicenter was about 140 miles southeast of the origin of the Sept. 19 earthquake and 275 miles northwest of the origin of a magnitude 8.1 quake that struck Sept. 7, killing nearly 100 people in Oaxaca and the neighboring state of Chiapas.

U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist Jana Pursley said Fridays earthquake was not related to either of Septembers temblors.

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Damage near the epicenter was a given, Pursley said.

Its a strong earthquake, she said. In the immediate area, it is likely to cause damage.

Oaxaca Gov. Alejandro Murat said in a television interview that 100,000 residents had lost power across the state and that some buildings had been damaged but no deaths had been reported. In Juchitan, the area hardest hit in the Sept. 7 quake, no serious damage is reported so far, he said.

That the damage wasnt more severe came as a great relief to earthquake-wary Mexicans  as well as vacationers.

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Ricky Pierce, a Houston man staying at Mexico Citys Buenavista Holiday Inn, was on the fourth floor when the quake struck.

I felt like I was on a boat in rough water, said Pierce, who was briefly evacuated.

A crowd gathers outside the Holiday Inn on Insurgentes Avenue in Mexico City after the earthquake, centered 225 miles south. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times )

Times staff writers Rong-Gong Lin II in San Francisco and Chris Reynolds and Cecilia Sanchez in Mexico City contributed to this report.

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UPDATES:

7:35 p.m.: This report was updated to say an alarm sounded in Mexico City before the quake.

6:55 p.m.: This report has been updated for additional quotes and details.

This was originally posted at 4:10 p.m.If youre lost in a sweet, dank fog of canna-confusion, Robbin and Terry Lynn want to hear from you.

The couple are launching The One Minute Cannabist Saturday, hosting a grand opening from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. They hope that visitors will come to see this as a one-stop clearinghouse of advice and insight on medicinal marijuana.

There is so much information that it can be overwhelming. Robbin said.

And a lot of that information, Terry added, is misinformation of the Reefer Madness variety.

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We are on a mission to dispel 80 years of negative societal stigma, he said, and educate adults who want to learn more about this plant.

One Minute is at 3041 Industry St., Suite B, Oceanside, a city that has not yet issued any cannabis business licenses. While brochures in the waiting room advertise a range of pot products  cannabis oil elixers for arthritis, vape cartridges for insomnia, chews for pain relief, tinctures for sexual stimulation the only product sold on premises is education.

The couple sells books and one-on-one consultations, in person or via Skype. A series of hour-long workshops are planned, on topics ranging from How to Use Cannabis Safely and Effectively to How to Talk to Your Adult Parents About Cannabis.

Conversations between cannabis users and non-users can be tricky, Robbin said, fraught with misunderstanding and judgment. She recently counseled a woman who wanted to use cannabis as a sleep aid, seeing it as a safer and healthier alternative to Ambien.

A friends reaction: Oh, so you are going to be a stoner.

She immediately put her in that basket, Robbin said.

Hope and answers

Robbin, 53, and Terry, 61, grew up across the street from each other in Rosemead, a San Gabriel Valley community. Terrys family ran the neighborhood liquor store, but alcohol was never his thing. Instead, he took up marijuana as a teen.

To be cool, I guess, he said.

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In 2010, he started RxC, a medical marijuana delivery service. He figured his clientele would be blissed out 20- and 30-somethings, latter-day Beavis and Buttheads. Instead, most were in their 50s or older, hoping that cannabis could help them heal.

These people are coming to me and they want help, he said. I realized that I had a lot to learn.

Robbin, who had spent years in high-tech firms marketing and communications department, and Terry began researching. They examined local, state and federal laws; dug up the few scientific studies of cannabis therapeutic uses; and surveyed marijuana products, how they were used and misused.

If you have a cannabis chocolate bar in bag, how do you take this? Robbin asked. How much? How often?

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Whats the difference between THC and CBD, cannabinoids that are both found in cannabis?

What tropical fruit amplifies THCs psychoactive effects? (Mango, Robbin said.)

What natural substance decreases that high? (Black pepper, she said.)

As the couple prepared to open One Minute, the questions kept coming. Robbin recently took a call from an 80-year-old woman in Oregon who had visited a local dispensary, looking for something to calm her Parkinsons tremors.

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Online, Robbin scanned the dispensarys menu. Heres what could work for you, she told the woman.

Is she giving medical advice?

No, Robbin said, Im giving cannabis advice. Ive heard that cannabis can be effective with Parkinsons and Im telling her what Ive seen.

In for the ride

The One Minute Cannabist takes its name from a book the Lynns wrote in 2016. In it, they tried to present in simple, brief chapters what theyve learned about marijuana.

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They worry that many first-time consumers are dabbling in marijuana without understanding their own tolerance or various products potency. Be especially cautious, Robbin counseled, with cannabis-infused edibles.

They are the most potent, take the longest to have any effect and is the longest commit, she said. And once its in, its not coming out. You are in for the ride.

Yet the Lynns argue that cannabis in all its forms is safer than opioids and other heavy duty painkillers prescribed today.

Theres such a stigma, Robbin said. Its OK to drink a glass of wine, its OK to take a shot of whiskey. But it is not OK to smoke a joint?

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Sounds like a question for the One Minute Cannabist.The FBI failed to properly investigate a tip it received last month about the teenager accused of killing 17 people at a South Florida high school this week, the agency said Friday in an admission that drew outrage from the families of the dead and calls from lawmakers for its director to resign.

On Jan. 5, a person close to Nikolas Cruz contacted the FBI to report that he had posted disturbing messages on social media and that he had a desire to kill, according to the FBI statement.



For the record: A photo caption with an earlier version of this article misidentified shooting victim Meadow Pollack as Meadow Paddock.

The agency said proper protocols were not followed in investigating Cruz, who has been charged as the gunman in the massacre Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the Fort Lauderdale suburb of Parkland.

The revelation deepened the sense that the attack could have been prevented if authorities had heeded various warnings about Cruz.

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Im sick to know those kids may have been alive today if somebody had done their job, said Meredith Barry, whose 16-year-old daughter attends the school and lost one of her best friends in the shooting.

The 19-year-old suspect was no stranger to law enforcement. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said at a news conference Friday that his office had responded to approximately 20 calls for service over the last few years regarding the killer. He did not provide details about those calls.

The tip to the FBI came through its call center, a facility in West Virginia that handles roughly 2,100 calls a day, according to a law enforcement official who spoke about the shooting investigation on the condition that he not be named.

The caller said Cruz had recently purchased firearms, threatened a family member and displayed erratic behavior, the official said.

Clearly the person was afraid [he] was going to harm somebody, the official said.

There was a conversation between the tipster and the FBI employee who took the call, the official said, noting that enough information was provided  including Cruzs address  that the call center employee should have written a report and sent it to the Miami field office for investigation. That didnt happen.

It was at least the second time the FBI had been warned about Cruz.

In September, an Alabama resident named Ben Bennight called the FBI to report a comment left beneath a video he had posted on YouTube.

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Im going to be a professional school shooter, it said. The commenter identified himself as Nikolas Cruz.

Robert Lasky, the FBI special agent in charge on the Miami field office, said Thursday that the bureau had investigated the comment but that agents had been unable to identify the person who left it or that persons location.

Cruz, who was expelled from the high school last year, told investigators that he walked the hallways Wednesday afternoon shooting students and teachers with an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle, according to a report from the Broward County Sheriffs Office. Charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder, he is being held without bond.

In the FBI statement Friday, the director, Christopher Wray, promised an investigation into how the agency flubbed the handling of the tip.

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I am committed to getting to the bottom of what happened in this particular matter, as well as reviewing our processes for responding to information that we receive from the public, he said. Its up to all Americans to be vigilant, and when members of the public contact us with concerns, we must act properly and quickly.

He also said that FBI personnel have spoken with victims and families, and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy.

All of the men and women of the FBI are dedicated to keeping the American people safe, and are relentlessly committed to improving all that we do and how we do it.

That did little to calm reaction to the disclosure about the tip. Florida Gov. Rick Scott called on Wray to resign, and Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions ordered his deputy to review the FBIs procedures for fielding tips from callers.

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Relatives of victims and politicians demanded more answers from the agency.

Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime was killed, said in a text message he was enraged about the FBIs announcement.

Barry, one of many parents whose children lost friends in the massacre, said she was disgusted at the FBI and that members of the agency should go to jail for their failure.

Now theyre going to investigate where the system fell short, she said. These systems arent supposed to fall short in our eyes; theyre supposed to protect our kids and our families and us.

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I dont know how they live with themselves, she said.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said it was inexcusable that the FBI failed to follow protocols and called for congressional investigations into how the FBI handled the matter.

In this tragic case, people close to the shooter said something, and our system utterly failed the families of 17 innocent souls, he said.

Maria Haberfeld, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, said the United States has the most decentralized law enforcement in the world, with over 17,000 different law enforcement agencies.

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It absolutely weakens and slows down the response, she said.

She called on the U.S. to follow the lead of the Netherlands, Scotland and other countries that in recent years have moved toward centralization of their policing systems.

Until we centralize to, at minimum, one law enforcement agency for each state, we are going to experience more such failures and people will die as an outcome of this ineffective and archaic structure, Haberfeld said.

On Friday, as survivors and those who lost loved ones in the attack began attending funerals, investigators continued to piece together the timeline of events around the slaughter, the deadliest school attack since a gunman targeted an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., killing 26 students and staff in late 2012.

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Law enforcement has said Cruz was able to blend in with other students as he fled the school following the shooting. No motive for the attack has been released.

Sheriffs officials Friday were escorting students and staff back to the school to retrieve vehicles left in the parking lot as the investigation at the scene continued.

President Trump, who has called the gunman mentally disturbed and has offered condolences on Twitter and at a news conference, visited Broward Health North Hospital late Friday to meet with doctors and first responders who treated victims of the rampage.

kurtis.lee@latimes.com

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joseph.tanfani@latimes.com

nina.agrawal@latimes.com

molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com

Lee reported from Los Angeles, Tanfani from Washington, Agrawal from New York and Hennessy-Fiske from Parkland, Fla. Staff writer Matt Pearce in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

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UPDATES:

5:10 p.m. This article was updated with comments from a professor and Trumps visit to a Florida hospital.

1:50 p.m.: This article was updated with reaction from Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions and Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel.

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12:35 p.m.: This article was updated with reaction to the FBI statement.

10:55 a.m.: This article was updated with information from a law enforcement official on the call to the FBI.

9:46 a.m.: This article was updated to report the FBI said it failed to properly investigate a January warning about Nikolas Cruz.

This article was published at 8:25 a.m.San Diego Police officers arrested a 33-year-old man Friday on suspicion of stealing another mans car at knifepoint in Serra Mesa.

According to a report from the San Diego Police Department, a 37-year-old man was walking toward his Chevy Suburban at about 3:15 p.m. on Murphy Canyon Road south of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard when another man approached him, brandished a knife and demanded his keys.

The victim took his keys out of his pocket and the robber grabbed them, got into the vehicle and drove south on Murphy Canyon Road, according to the report.

The owner of the car called the police to report the robbery, and officers found the car and the suspect shortly after.

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The victim identified the suspect and the knife was recovered, according to the report.

San Diego Police robbery detectives responded to the incident and are investigating the case.

Homeless Playlist  On Now San Diego hepatitis outbreak continues to grow: 481 cases On Now Homeless entrenched in booming tent city along Santa Ana River On Now San Diego mayor agreed to homeless hub, then delayed, advocates say On Now Homeless outreach in San Diego On Now Video: Street Art: Portraits of San Diego's Homeless #8 On Now In poverty himself, 'Water Man Dave,' is the fearless saint of San Diego's homeless 5:41 On Now Video: Homeless living in cars find safe havens 2:21 On Now Street Art: Portraits of San Diego's Homeless #7 On Now Pitching a tent plan for San Diego's homeless On Now Homeless efforts get $80M boost for various services

gary.warth@sduniontribune.com

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Twitter: @GaryWarthUT

760-529-4939A San Marcos man caught on video pacing around his girlfriends locked car as she sat inside taping him  not long before she was shot to death  was found guilty Friday of first-degree murder.

Edward Long faces up to 50 years to life in prison for the killing of Elizabeth Perez, whose body was found in a car along the northbound Interstate 15 on-ramp at El Norte Parkway.

The 40-year-old carpet cleaner is set to be sentenced March 18.

The jury deliberated Thursday afternoon and Friday morning in Vista Superior Court, reaching a verdict well before noon.

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I feel like they absolutely got it right, Deputy District Attorney Marnie Layon said.

Authorities said Long shot the 38-year-old Fontana woman in his garage, then dumped her inside her car on the on-ramp.

Hours before she was found, Perez used her cell phone to record Long pacing around her car, parked inside the garage in his San Marcos home. At times he blocked his face or tapped her windows with a large tool during four short recordings made after 11 p.m. on June 12, 2016.

The last recording was made about 11:20 p.m. Less than a half-hour later, one of Longs neighbors saw him drive away from his home, Layon told the jury during opening statements last week

And sometime after midnight, the prosecutor told the panel, a distraught Long showed up at his fathers home. Long said he and a woman were playing with his gun when it accidentally went off, and she was dead.

He left, but returned later and told his father that hed left her body in a car along the freeway.

Early the following afternoon, Perez was found dead  one shot in her head  in the drivers seat of the black 2003 Mercury Sable. At her feet was her cellphone, which was covered in blood.

Police soon learned that the woman had been dating Long. The following week, on June 21, authorities found and arrested him in Las Vegas, where he was with another girlfriend.

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Neither girlfriend knew about the other. Long had dated Perez for six years, and had dated the other woman  who also lived in Fontana  for five years. Each visited his home on alternating weekends.

Layon said the second girlfriend took the stand during trial and testified she would try to escape Long by locking herself in his bathroom or in her car parked in his garage, while he paced around it and banged on the windows with his fists.

Long testified in his own defense and told the jury that Perez was inside the car when he retrieved the gun from his kitchen. He admitted that he and Perez were not playing with the gun, but rather that he was tapping it against the glass, the prosecutor said.

In a phone interview Friday, Layon said Long intentionally put the gun to the glass and pulled the trigger, the bullet striking Perez in the area of her right temple.

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When he got the gun, he knew what he was going to do, Layon said.

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teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com

(760) 529-4945

Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUTThe Dawgs Project and March Field Air Museum are joining forces today to honor a largely unrecognized group of U.S. soldiers: dogs. Though commonly known by the provocative term War Dogs, the preferred term is Military Working Dogs, or MWDs

Since its dedication in 2000, the West Coast War Dog Memorial at March Field Air Museum has been home to an annual War Dog Remembrance Day  a day-long community celebration of the brave battle canines and their human partners, or handlers, who have served in combat.

That canine heroes serve on battlefields in todays military is a surprise to many. In fact, researchers have determined that dogs were used in battle by the Persians, by the Romans and throughout European history.

In the U.S. today, specially-trained military working dogs known as Multi-Purpose Canines (MPCs) are included as members of elite special operations teams, such as the Navy Seals.

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Cairo, a Belgian Malinois military working dog, accompanied SEAL Team Six in their raid on Osama Bin Ladens compound in 2011. According to the New York Post, Cairo had gone through the canine equivalent of SEAL training.

Until the Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act was signed in 2012, military working dogs were considered equipment. That bill reclassified them as canine members of the armed forces.

The community is invited to join todays tribute to military working dogs at March Air Field Museum, at 22550 Van Buren Blvd. (at I-215), Riverside.

Events begin at 10 a.m. with a Remembrance Ceremony at the air museums Heritage Courtyard, featuring as keynote speaker U.S. Department of Defense Police Officer Christopher Torrez, Force Protection, Commander Naval Region Southwest.

At noon, K-9 demonstrations will be performed by active duty military canines and their handlers from the U.S. Marine Corps, 1st Marine Expeditionary Forces, Law Enforcement Battalion.

Parking and admission to the outdoor ceremonies and demonstrations, which will be held rain or shine, are free. Active-duty service members and veterans enjoy free museum admission on this day.

For more information about War Dog Remembrance Day, call the museum, at (951) 902-5949 or visit www.marchfield.org.

INFOBOX

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The Dawgs Project, founded in 2009 by three Vietnam veterans, is an organization of both active-duty and retired military dog handlers, and non-military members of the community who appreciate the history and heritage of the military working dog teams.

The organization engages in a range of activities to recognize, appreciate and support military working dog communities.

For more information about the organization War Dawgs, email jonhemp@thedawgsproject.com or visit www.thedawgsproject.com

temecula@sduniontribune.comCiting their long friendship and shared experiences in San Francisco and Sacramento, Sen. Kamala Harris on Friday endorsed Gavin Newsom in the governors race.

Gavin and I have been friends for a very long time. We were friends before either of us held elected office, Harris told Newsom supporters at the University of Southern California. All of those experiences together lead me to today endorse him to be the next governor.

Harris cited Newsoms work as an early advocate of same-sex marriage and universal healthcare as reasons for her decision.

At this moment in time particularly, California leadership is about national leadership, she said. What we do here is a role model of what can be done around the country to reject false choices, to stand on principle and to have the courage to do the right thing always.

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Harris is the most prominent elected official to weigh in on the governors race, and her announcement comes a week before California Democrats gather at their annual convention and decide whether to make an official endorsement in the contest. Newsom and Democratic rival Antonio Villaraigosa, the former mayor of Los Angeles, were in a virtual tie in a poll released last week, with state Treasurer John Chiang, former state schools chief Delaine Eastin, Assemblyman Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach), businessman John Cox and former Rep. Doug Ose trailing.

Harris move is not surprising  the two Democratic politicians share the same political advisers, began their careers in San Francisco city politics and have known each other for more than two decades.

Follow California politics by signing up for our email newsletter 

They got their starts in politics thanks to former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown.

Brown dated Harris for a period in the early 1990s. In 1994, he appointed her to the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and then the California Medical Assistance Commission.

Newsom raised money for Browns 1995 mayoral campaign. The following year, Brown appointed Newsom to the Parking and Traffic Commission, and then in 1997, to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Newsom went on to serve as mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011, while Harris was elected district attorney for the same years. They were elected to statewide office in 2010  Newsom as lieutenant governor and Harris as attorney general.

It is an amazing journey Kamala and I have been on as friends, going back now decades, as elected officials, as colleagues on so many fronts, Newsom said, recalling work they did together on gun control and to decrease truancy.

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Some questioned whether the two prominent Democrats were heading for a political clash, but that was neatly avoided in early 2015, when Harris announced she would run for retiring Sen. Barbara Boxers seat and Newsom announced he would run for governor.

Newsom was an early backer of Harris Senate campaign, pointing to her work in their shared hometown.

If you can survive San Francisco politics, Washington, D.C., is a cakewalk, Newsom told Harris supporters as he endorsed her at her Sacramento campaign office in January 2016.

Published reports suggested the pair worked out an agreement in 2015 to seek separate posts, negotiated by their shared political consultants. Sources close to both of them deny they cut a deal.

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On Friday, Newsom lauded Harris work in the Senate, calling her one of our nations finest political leaders.

Their mutual admiration may face a new test in 2020  both have appeared on lists of potential contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination.

seema.mehta@latimes.com

For the latest on national and California politics, follow @LATSeema on Twitter.

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ALSO

Former top Hillary Clinton aide Amanda Renteria enters race for California governor

Former aide to Gavin Newsom speaks out about their affair while he was San Francisco mayor

Live coverage of California politicsAs the June 5 primary election approaches, Democrats still dominate Californias voting rolls and the percentage of independent voters continues to rise, according to new figures provided by the secretary of states office.

Just shy of a quarter of the states voters now forgo any party label, registering as no party preference, a slight increase from last year. If the trend continues, as expected, Californias pool of independent voters could soon surpass the number of Republicans in the state.

Democrats account for 45% of Californias registered voters, giving the party a 19 percentage point advantage over the GOP, the state registration figures show.

The Democratic Partys slice of the electorate in non-presidential election cycles has remained relatively stagnant for two decades, while the Republican Partys registration slipped by 10 percentage points.

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The percentage of independents, meanwhile, has more than doubled since 1997.

Paul Mitchell, who runs the data firm Political Data Inc., said California could have more independent voters than Republicans by the November general election.

Voter registration trends for Democrats, while better, are not exactly rosy. Mitchell said more and more millennials, college students, young Latinos and Asian Americans are registering as independents.

Democrats are celebrating Republicans losing registration. But they should be mourning, Mitchell said. This new registrant population looks like Democrats but they are registering as independents.

However, in past elections, no party preference voters in California have leaned heavily Democratic at the polls.

Democrats continue to hold a firm grasp on most of Southern California, though the region has a fair number of Republican pockets.

Democrats dominate the electorate in Los Angeles County  home to 1 out of 5 voters in the state  and hold majorities in Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Imperial and Ventura counties.

Republicans hold only Orange County, home to four Republican-held congressional districts won by Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. Democrats hope to wrest most of them from GOP control, a pivotal piece of the partys strategy to win back control of the House in November.

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Republicans have a 3-percentage-point advantage over the Democrats in Orange County. Ten years ago, the GOP had a 10-percentage-point advantage.

Statewide, just under 19 million Californians were registered to vote in January  76% of those who are eligible.

Heres how they break down by party:

Democratic Party: 44.63%

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Republican Party: 25.44%

No party preference: 24.95%

American Independent Party: 2.66%

Libertarian Party: 0.74%

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Green Party: 0.48%

Peace and Freedom Party: 0.40%

Mitchell noted that many people who intend to register as independents mistakenly sign up with the American Independent Party instead of registering as no party preference.

A Times investigation in 2016 found widespread confusion among California voters who choose the American Independent Party, an ultra-conservative organization. A poll of AIP voters at the time found 73% mistakenly thought they had registered as independent of all parties. Those voters should have chosen the no party preference option.

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Since the Times investigation was published, the percentage of Californians registered with the American Independent Party has declined from 2.75% in April 2016 to 2.66% in January. But the actual number of voters in the party has increased from 474,338 to 503,955.

Fundamentally, the party name needs to be changed because voters are confused, Mitchell said.

phil.willon@latimes.com

Twitter: @philwillon

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Updates on California politics

UPDATES:

3:35 p.m.: This story was updated with details about registration in Southern California and information about registration in the American Independent Party.

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This story was originally published at 1:55 p.m.For those of us lucky enough to call this place home, we are well aware that San Diego is pretty near to being paradise. The last time you had visitors from out of town, how proudly did you parade them around boasting about our weather, lifestyle, history and recreational offerings? Were guilty. Frankly, its hard not to.

The question is, who deserves to enjoy our little corner of heaven, and will a blow to our economic future make this place less than paradise?

That question is more appropriate today than ever because our housing stock is, and has been, essentially frozen. Thats a serious problem for those of us who live here now and love it. And a bigger problem for employers and our economy.

Related: Why initiative helps prevent San Diego from becoming another L.A.

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Readers React: San Diegos residents should have more control over growth

San Diego County needs housing, new housing, in a range of different types and price points. That will be good not just for the next generation of San Diegans  our kids and grandkids who want to raise their own families in the county  but for those of us who plan to grow old here.

A countywide initiative aimed at the November ballot intends to make this problem worse. In fact, its a solution in search of a problem that does not exist.

The so-called Safeguard Our Countryside Initiative hopes to curb home building, while completely failing to recognize that new housing is being added at a glacial pace. Over the last decade, a mere 500 new homes have been built in the unincorporated area of the county on an annual average. To say that need outpaces supply is more than an understatement.

Then theres traffic. The initiative makes what is already a bad situation even worse.

Traffic is not coming from the 500 new homes every year, its coming from the forced commute. By failing to provide homes closer to where we work, weve pushed people out, up north to Riverside or out east, extending their commutes and adding 50,000 commuters over the past decade. With this initiative, we can look forward to tens of thousands more commuters every morning and night. Now thats a problem we need to fix.

These commuters are the local workers who drive our economy. Displacing more of them is not just a traffic issue, its an economic issue.

A refusal to build more homes will exacerbate each of these problems, not solve them.

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In addition, insufficient housing for our regions employees dims the prospects of enticing businesses to locate here, remain here or invest here. The exodus of California employers to Texas and other more affordable states is no myth.

The ballooning cost of housing is also part of why San Diego County has been passed over, most recently by Amazons HQ2. Our paradise didnt even make the short list.

Our county is a hotbed of innovation in high-tech, biotech and engineering, so opportunities such as this should be a perfect fit. Yet its clear that we cant rely on our track record of success and talent alone. Infrastructure and housing must be part of the equation as well.

And when the economy suffers, we will all feel it. Stagnant or dropping revenues due to out-migration of residents and businesses means fewer resources available to fix our roads and freeways, or to d emergency services like firefighting.

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And the most outlandish thing is that this initiative sets its sights on unincorporated areas of the county. Yet the facts are in stark contrast to the proponents claims about out-of-control growth. A full 95 percent of unincorporated county land is set aside, protected and preserved from development in perpetuity. Now we want to close off the remaining 5 percent?

The county Board of Supervisors has not been friendly to developers. On average, it takes longer than 10 years for a project to be approved due to the rigorous study and planning required under county law and the California Environmental Quality Act. Claims about building proposals being rubber-stamped simply arent true.

For these reasons, folks like ourselves have asked the Building Industry Association of San Diego for help in fighting this measure, and we certainly intend on giving it all weve got.

The initiative would do nothing but make the problems were already facing bigger and nastier. It does not deserve our votes, let alone our petition signatures. Please join us and our neighbors across San Diego in defeating this attack on our regions future.

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Christensen, Stern and Tyler are members of the Building Industry Association of San Diego and of the San Diego YIMBY (Yes-In-My-Backyard) Movement.Historically, American hospitals have assumed key roles in organizing and providing community-based, institutional medical services. These include providing a clinical practice environment for affiliated physicians treating hospitalized patients and assuming a leadership role in building trust between hospitals and underserved communities.

While pursuing these traditional goals, hospital executives have also identified certain market trends that undermine their respective organizations logic in pursuing traditional business strategies, i.e., debt-financing expansion projects, or acquisition of high-tech diagnostic equipment.

The market trends that cause hospital executives to lose the most sleep include the continuing decline of hospital admissions, unfavorable reimbursement, demographics and consumer expectations.

Hospital (inpatient) admissions have declined steadily since 2009. The downward trend of inpatient admissions is primarily due to advances in minimally invasive surgical procedures and advanced anesthesia techniques that allow patients to recover more quickly.

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The implications for hospitals: cut operating costs or increase services/patient revenue  or do both.

Meanwhile, reductions in Medicare reimbursements, cutbacks in state Medicaid programs and an increased volume of unfunded patients reflect the deteriorating reimbursement environment hospitals currently experience. Going forward, there are no indications that the reimbursement situation will improve.

The implications for hospitals: On short-term basis, focus on reducing/eliminating operating costs. Long-term strategy is to increase (higher) revenue-producing services.

Hospitals are also dealing with the demographics of an aging population:

In 2006, the over 65 population totaled 37 million Americans. By 2050, the over 65 population is estimated to total 86.7 million

Between 2000 and 2030, the 85 and older population is estimated to increase from 4.3 million to 8.9 million

The implications for hospitals: The aging population experiences an increased burden of chronic conditions requiring integrated disease management and care coordination support services.

In the meantime, consumer expectations have changed. Historically, hospitalized patients generally acted as advised by their family physician. Today, things are very different as patients have been encouraged to act and talk like assertive patient-consumers. Why the change in attitude? Because, little by little, the increasing financial burden of health insurance (i.e., higher premiums, higher deductibles, and additional co-pays) has shifted from employers to working people with fixed, limited incomes.

The implications for hospitals: Patient-consumer demands for greater accountability and transparency will increase in volume and frequency.

Although hospitals and community coalitions have experienced difficult working relations based on their different goals and organizational differences, now is an ideal time to consider a collaborative relationship regarding one or more of the following best practice initiatives:

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Hospital at Home: This an innovative care model that provides hospital-level care in a patients home as a full substitute for acute hospital care. The program is offered to patients who require hospital admission for certain diseases, such as community-acquired pneumonia, congestive heart failure and COPD. Hospital at Home was developed by the John Hopkins School of Medicine and Public Health. Initial funding was provided by a challenge grant from the CMS Innovation Center.

Micro-hospitals: Micro-hospitals are 24/7, small-scale inpatient facilities that offer emergency medical care, inpatient care (eight to 10 beds for observation and short stay use), surgery, laboratory and radiology services. The primary rationale for this facility concept is based on patient feedback that traditional ambulatory care centers dont offer a complete breath of services as hospitals do. The concept of micro-hospitals, therefore, is emerging as a middle-ground option for consideration.

Enhanced Primary Care System: This CVS-Aetna venture represents a marriage of financing systems (Aetna Insurance) and service delivery enterprises (CVS Minute Clinics). This care system is similar in concept to the Kaiser Permanente HMO, which consists of a health insurance division, a multi-specialty medical group and a hospital care system.

These three best practices represent a few examples of promising practices to stimulate strategic planning discussions between hospitals and community leaders. Two key points to keep in mind: 1) The process is nonprescriptive and places a priority on listening and building trust; and 2) the primary goal is to initiate collaborative discussions and share mutual concerns regarding health of the community, and the viability of the hospital organization.

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Martinez, an El Cajon resident, is former CEO of San Ysidro Health Center.Redevelopment may be making a comeback in California. State lawmakers and leading candidates in the governors race both see it as a way to address housing needs. But if the new version resembles the broken program that Gov. Jerry Brown persuaded the Legislature to kill in 2011, that would be terrible.

Yes, redevelopment sounds like a great idea. Californias old version allowed cities to declare a rundown area as blighted and to divert new property tax revenue generated in such areas  money that would otherwise by shared with local schools, community colleges, special districts and county governments  for use on projects to spur growth, with 20 percent of the funds having to go to low-income housing. San Diego amounts to the poster child for redevelopment done right with its successful makeovers of the Gaslamp Quarter and East Village.

But these projects tend to be the exception. By 2011, redevelopment was more like a shell game than a sensible public policy. Twelve percent of all statewide property taxes  more than $5 billion  were being diverted by local cities and often used for employee salaries or other needs. Wealthy places with million-dollar homes like Coronado declared their entire cities to be blighted to grab funds for projects with little to do with economic development. And when projects were funded, they were often those pitched by politically connected developers  or by backers of sales-tax-generating big box retail stores  who got cities to use eminent domain to seize land for them by declaring perfectly fine neighborhoods and business hubs to be blighted.

Also, in San Diego, the citys otherwise sterling record on redevelopment was tarnished by not one but two scandals. Centre City Development Corp. President Nancy Graham abruptly quit in 2008 after conflict-of-interest revelations that led to her being fined $32,000 by the citys Ethics Commission for breaking city ethics laws 18 times and being convicted of a misdemeanor by the City Attorneys Office. Carolyn Smith and Dante Dayacap  the president and the finance director, respectively, of the Southeastern Economic Development Corp., which oversaw redevelopment in an area southeast of Downtown  were convicted for embezzlement for padding their pay by hundreds of thousands of dollars from 2005 to 2008.

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Meanwhile, even the most basic claim for the best version of redevelopment has come under fire. A 2011 Legislative Analysts Office report backed the governors call to scrap redevelopment because there was no reliable evidence it had an overall positive effect on the states economy  increased economic activity in an area with a blighted designation was offset by less activity in other areas.

This big-picture view doesnt matter much to local officials eager to promote development. Here is their challenge: If redevelopment is revived in the state, it must be done so in a way that doesnt allow cities to divert money from other government agencies; that puts strict limits on how redevelopment dollars can be used; and that has strong transparency guidelines to ensure politicians dont use the process to reward donors and to ensure affordable housing projects are actually built. Any proposal without such safeguards should be swiftly rejected.

Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & OpinionAt a 2015 town hall in Des Moines, Iowa, President Barack Obama offered an impassioned defense of college as a place where open debate and free speech should be treasured. Anybody who comes to speak to you and you disagree with, you should have an argument with them, the former University of Chicago law professor said. But you shouldnt silence them by saying, You cant come because Im too sensitive to hear what you have to say.

Fast forward to this year at UC San Diego, where theater major Savanah Lyon has created an online petition campaign  with 20,000-plus signatures so far  to get UC San Diego to cancel a class devoted to the films of Woody Allen because he has been accused of molesting his adopted daughter a quarter-century ago, which Allen strongly denies. Cultural standing and college course lists change over time, so it is important for the university to have this conversation. And of course, university officials should listen to their students. But they shouldnt feel compelled to change based on an online poll where three-quarters of the signatures are from outside California.

This is not a defense of Allen, but its unfortunate no UC San Diego official is ready to echo Obama, or go where UC Berkeley law dean Erwin Chemerinsky went when he observed, it would be frightening if campuses were making decisions based on the personalities and wrongdoings of people rather than the academic merit of the course.

The university should be able to offer the course, just as students have a right not to enroll in it. Let the debate over this course take place on campus.

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Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & OpinionRe First transfer of nuclear waste made at San Onofre (Feb. 9): As radioactive nuclear waste is transferred from storage pools to canisters on the beach at San Onofre, I question the wisdom of keeping the public as non-players.

Southern California Edison is moving spent fuel, but there isnt a mention of how its keeps the public informed. It is the public that lives and works within a 50-mile radius that will be impacted by natural or careless occurrences, not for five or 10 years, but thousands.

I call for each city within a 50-mile radius of San Onofre to provide residents with public forums, town meetings and education programs, and take a stand to ensure that the safety of constituents is a certainty and highest priority. Public discourse is critical to keep all parties honest. With the health and lives of so many people, anything less is unacceptable.

Edward Wade

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Encinitas

Citizens are demanding that officials hold emergency Town Hall meetings to stop the growing public safety hazard.

The geology underlying the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in San Diego and Orange Counties indicates that a radioactive release at San Onofre State Beach is unavoidable. Beyond the natural catastrophe looming, the site provides terrorist targets, next to a major earthquake fault, major freeway and military base.

Its in the path of sea-level rise, which could corrode the canisters, inviting Fukushima-scale disaster contaminating the region for future generations.

Carlsbad should host a Town Hall and include representatives from communities within a 50-mile radius of the dangerous site. Lets learn together and then voice our unified opposition to this looming catastrophe.

Geri Bunker Ingram

Carlsbad

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Letters and commentary policy

The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below.

Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook.The big story that broke Friday was news of 13 Russians being charged with interfering in the 2016 presidential election. Federal officials said the campaign of disinformation to inflame divisions in the U.S. involved ads and posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google.

The lead story on A1 of the Union-Tribune on Wednesday was U.S. intelligence officials predicting Russian meddling to occur again in the midterm elections this fall.

We expect Russia to continue using propaganda, social media, false-flag personas sympathetic spokespeople and other means of influence to try to exacerbate social and political fissures in the United States, Dan Coates, the director of national intelligence, said during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Tuesday, according to a New York Times story published in the U-T.

Based on what happened in the 2016 elections and the warnings last week, consumers of news need to be wary of what they are reading in social media, on the web and in items forwarded in emails.

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To increase residents media literacy in this day of fake news infiltrating our society, the San Diego Library is holding a four-part series on the media called Breaking News @ the Library. The library and the U-T joined for the first one held Jan. 31. The library was one of five systems in the country to receive a grant from the American Library Association to hold the talks on media literacy.

The series second talk, titled News Literacy and You, is set for Tuesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Scripps Miramar Ranch Library, 10301 Scripps Lake Drive.

Two librarians will discuss how to assess news and journalism in the 21st century media landscape of fake news, sensationalism and the 24 hour news cycle, the library said in a description of the talk. Youll be trained to take a critical eye toward the news and be aware of cognitive bias, look out for multiple sources, think about verification and accountability and learn other important ways to process current events.

In the Jan. 31 event, named Citizen Journalism, U-T Editorial and Opinion Director Matthew T. Hall presented some infamous examples of fake news (such as a story before the presidential election about the pope supporting Donald Trump) and then 11 ways news consumers can check the veracity of stories theyre reading or seeing.

Here are the 11 items. (My comments are in italics.)

Read beyond the headline: What does the entire story say? Is there an agenda? Does the headline oversell or overhype the story? (Headlines online are meant to grab you so youll click on the article. Exaggeration and downright falsehoods are commonly used. Those postings have no accountability, unlike the mainstream press.)

Check the date: The reposting of old stories may or may not be relevant to current events.

Consider the source: Look into the site, its mission and its contact information. Inspect the URL of the story to ensure legitimacy. (I saw a post last week on YouTube of a guy wearing a microphone headset sitting behind a computer screen with an American flag as a backdrop. He was reporting on the school shooting in Florida. I had no clue who this person was.)

Check the author: Perform a web browser search of the authors name to see if he/she is real and credible.

Ask yourself if its intended as a joke: Was the story meant to be satire or comical? Consider the source and the author to be sure. (The Onion has great satire, and theres no doubt that its comedy.)

Look for supporting sources: Click hyperlinked background sources to see if they support the story. Are there source documents attached? Are there related links? (Many mainstream media outlets will post source material used in stories.)

See if the website annotates corrections and/or updates for its stories. (This is something only done by legitimate, professional news organizations. Its a matter of accountability.)

See if other legitimate news outlets have covered the story or the subject of it: Most big stories will be picked up elsewhere. A quick search is worth your time.

Check your biases: Consider if your beliefs affect your judgment about the story.

Consult experts: Familiarize yourself with fact-checking websites or ask a friend, family member or librarian. (Check out snopes.com as a fact-checker.)

Distinguish between an objective news report and opinion: Opinion pieces are editorials, columns, commentaries and reviews. They have a point of view. News and analysis is reported objectively, reflecting all sides of every issue. (The mainstream media need to improve in this area. Readers have pointed out to the Readers Rep sentences in wire-service political reports that blur the lines between news and analysis.)

adrian.vore@sduniontribune.com

Launched by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in San Diego County in 1996, Stone Brewing is a giant in the world of craft beer, beloved for its IPA, Ruination and Arrogant Bastard, among other labels on a long list of acclaimed beers. No wonder BeerAdvocate, a popular website and magazine, has twice called Stone the all-time top brewery on planet Earth.

Launched in 1989 by Coors Brewing, Keystone Light is a bland version of Coors Light, which was already pretty bland. Now brewed by the MillerCoors corporate behemoth, it is beloved by people who want to spend as little as possible on their beer. On a scale of 1.0 to 5.0, more than 2,000 BeerAdvocate aficionados gave it an average score of 1.81, which the website classifies, simply, as awful. One of the kinder reviews calls it completely inoffensive.

Considering these facts, of course Stone Brewing is right to sue MillerCoors over its attempt to rebrand Keystone Light as STONE (really big letters) and LIGHT (much smaller letters). Given that Koch believes what he calls Big Beer is a force for evil that wants to homogenize and cheapen beer to maximize profits, standing up to MillerCoors is a bigger fight than just one to protect his company.

Cheers to Koch. If any San Diego craft-beer fans hold celebrations after MillerCoors loses, everyone should feel free to bring Keystone Light to these parties. There may be plants that need watering.

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Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & OpinionI love you. So begins fan mail written to mass murderer James Holmes who is now serving life in prison in the Colorado movie theater shooting that left 12 people dead and 70 others injured.

The letter was just one of the 4,000 cards, letters and well wishes the 27-year-old received from his admirers as he was being held in the Arapahoe County Jail while on trial for the 2012 massacre in Aurora.

The trove of correspondence, which included a sweet letter from Holmes mother, was scanned and posted online Thursday by the Arapahoe District Attorneys office.

Some of the mail contained money. Some of the letters were signed in lipstick. Others were doused in perfume. Many included sexy photos of women showing off their cleavage or posing in bathing suits. Holmes pasted those photos on his jail cell wall.

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James Holmes posted photos from his fans on the wall of his jail cell. ( / Arapahoe District Attorneys Office )

I realize what you are going through must have you in disbelief, wrote one woman who said she was including pictures of herself and her children. The letter continued, You are my darling. Sweet as a dove in the morning dew. Like a blast of sunlight in my soul. It ended with a kiss and a happy face.

You are incredibly mysterious and Im drawn to that, wrote another.

I cant believe your curls are gone, I liked them. I like a lot about your appearance. Youre handsome, said another fawning fan.

If theres anything I can do for you let me know, wrote yet another.

Arlene Holmes shared bible passages with her son and signed her letter I love you Jimmy. Love Mom, aka Goober.

The Chicago Tribune reported that one of the love letters came from a woman in Holmes hometown of San Diego who said, Just know that there are others, such as myself, who are up at night with worry and feel some sort of connection to you as a person.

Holmes was formally sentenced August 26 to multiple life terms in prison plus 3,318 years for the attempted murders of the wounded and for rigging his apartment with explosives. In his sentencing the judge called Holmes an angry quitter who gave up on life and turned his hatred into murder and mayhem against innocent victims in a Colorado movie theater.

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Apparently his fans did not feel the same way. Heres just a small sample of the mail the murderer was reading in jail while the families of his victims were mourning.

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Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading.The allegations were lodged by the mayors first cousin, who told state police she was the victim of Javier Gonzales abuse between 1980 and 1985, from the time she was 8 years old until she was about 14.Palaniswami, under attack from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for allegedly not handling the matter in the apex court properly, however said: "Several advantageous features for Tamil Nadu find place in the verdict."

: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday said the Supreme Court verdict reducing the quantum of Cauvery water to be released for Tamil Nadu to 177.25 tmc ft was 'disappointing'.

The Supreme Court directing the Centre to evolve an action plan within six weeks to implement the final award of the Cauvery Tribunal was a 'big victory', he said.

Tamil Nadu will urge the Centre to implement the action plan within a time frame, he added.

The apex court also recognised the Cauvery Tribunal's endorsement of 24.708 lakh acres in Tamil Nadu's Cauvery Basin for irrigation, he said.

Also, the top court confirmed that Tamil Nadu should be given water for 15 years as per the Cauvery Tribunal's Final Award.

Slamming the DMK for claiming that Tamil Nadu's rights were given up by the ruling dispensation, he said, "The DMK is trying to create such an impression."

'The truth is the DMK had given up Tamil Nadu's rights during its regime' and the Karunanidhi-led party did not stop the construction of a dam by Karnataka in 1974, he said.

Observing no state can claim 'exclusive ownership' of inter-state river water, the Supreme Court today hiked Karnataka's share of Cauvery water by 14.75 tmc ft and reduced Tamil Nadu's quantum by an equal amount in its verdict to resolve the decades-old dispute.

In what was being described as a balanced verdict, Tamil Nadu was, however, compensated by the court which allowed extraction of 10 tmc ft ground water from the river basin.STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- To celebrate the most romantic day of the year, friends of the Alice Austen House shared the love Friday evening at a Valentine's Day party staged at LiGreci's Staaten in West Brighton, where dinner, dancing and raffle prizes abounded.

Proceeds from the fun fundraiser were earmarked for the Rosebank Museum referred to as "Clear Comfort."

Amid a backdrop of sparkly red hearts, festive balloons and foiled chocolates, the evening also lauded Ralph W. Vogel, former executive director of the Pride Center of Staten Island.

This celebration geared for both couples and singles, also featured a special raffle courtesy of Casale Jewelry.

In addressing the crowd, Victoria Munro, the executive director of the Alice Austen House noted:

"Tonight we are here to celebrate love and my first event as executive director of the Alice Austen House, its tradition and its values and the place Alice Austen has taken in New York history. Alice did so much for Staten Island. And tonight we are keeping the spirit of Alice Austen alive."

Munro went on to explain:

"I could not do this job without all of you. And I also acknowledge our friends from the Pride Center of Staten Island. Thank you to all who came out tonight. And it is with this spirit that we honor Ralph Vogel, former executive director of the Staten Island Pride Center. The Alice Austen House honors you proudly."

This year's event was chaired by Caroline Ferreri and dedicated to the memory of Grace Petrone, a certified public accountant and professor at the College of Staten Island who also was a friend to the Alice Austen House.

"It's been my pleasure to chair this event over the years," said Ferreri.

She added: "Through the years I chaired the Valentine's Dance with Gytha Darconte, who passed away two years ago. This year's dance also acknowledges the late Grace Petrone, a past board member of the Alice Austen House."

For those unfamiliar with the Alice Austen house, the organization honors the legacy of Alice Austen (1866-1952), a pioneer photographer and woman ahead of her time, by offering ongoing exhibitions of her life and work and of contemporary photography; by delivering educational programs for New York City schoolchildren; and by hosting a range of public arts programs.

Austen is best known as a highly regarded and prolific photographer who documented important aspects of our history from the mid-19th century through the first half of the 20th century.



The Alice House and grounds are owned by the city Parks Department and are operated by the Friends of Alice Austen House Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and a member of the Historic House Trust.



The Alice Austen House is designated a New York City and National Landmark, on the National Register of Historic Places, and a member of the distinguished Historic Artists' Homes and Studios, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police are asking the public's help identifying two men sought for questioning in connection with a scheme to use cloned debit cards at various North Shore store ATMs to make withdrawals from bank accounts that were compromised.

It was reported to police that from Dec. 18, 2017 through Jan. 22, 2018, skimming devices were placed and removed from a 7 Eleven Gas Pump located at 1252 Forest Ave. in Port Richmond, according to a statement from the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

Police recounted the incidents that unfolded on Jan. 26, 2018:

The first incident occured at about 9 a.m. when a man entered Convenience Food Mart at 255 Hylan Blvd. in Rosebank and withdrew approximately $20 from an ATM using a cloned debit card belonging to a 30-year-old female victim, according to police.

At 10:16 hours, the alleged thief entered Food Price at 1039 Castleton Ave. in West Brighton and made an unauthorized balance inquiry using a cloned debit card belonging to a 59-year-old male victim, police said.

At 10:54 hours, one of the alleged thieves entered a store at 2079 Forest Ave. in Mariners Harbor and withdrew $952.40 from an ATM using the cloned debit card belonging to the same 59-year-old male victim, police said.

At 12:01 hours, an unidentified individual entered a CVS pharmacy at 2873 Richmond Ave. in New Springville and made a balance inquiry on an account belonging to a 32-year-old male victim, said police.

One suspect is described as a male who was last seen wearing a black hat, a dark blue jacket with a red trim, dark jeans and black shoes, said police.

The other suspect is described as a male with a black beard who was last seen wearing a black hat, dark blue jacket, dark green and light gray sweater, dark blue jeans and dark shoes.

The suspects are also wanted for questioning for a skimming device placed at a Queens gas station as well.

Police released surveillance images of the individuals sought in connection with the incidents.

Anyone with information in regards to these incidents is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.

FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOKSTATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Delays surrounding the construction of the controversial Greeley Avenue traffic circles have exacerbated the growing concerns of area residents.

"There's a lot of unhappy people around here, believe me," said Brian Carr, a Greeley Avenue resident of over 50 years.

The construction of the circles in Midland Beach was expected to be completed by Thanksgiving, with the entire project, which includes new road markings and a curb extension at Father Capodanno Boulevard, expected to be finished by the end of December.

WORK REMAINS

However, the project remains incomplete.

"Our crews continue to work on ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) pedestrian ramp upgrades," said a Department of Transportation (DOT) spokesperson.

The ongoing construction of the pedestrian ramps has made it increasingly difficult for residents to cross the busy roadway, particularly parents walking their children to the nearby elementary school, PS 38.

"In the morning when I first come out here around 7 a.m., it takes me about five minutes just to cross the street," said Carr.

The DOT anticipates that work on the project will be completed within a month's time.

"We expect that work to be completed in the next three weeks, depending on the weather," said a DOT spokesperson.

But Carr doesn't seem too optimistic of that happening.

"They've been working on these things for months and there's no end in sight," said Carr.

"I was talking to the workers and they told me that by the holidays it would be finished. Well the holidays are long gone at this point. Maybe they meant Memorial Day," he quipped.

The DOT attributes the prior and current delays to adverse weather conditions.

"The crews do not work in freezing temperatures or when it is snowing, and both conditions have led to some delays in the process," according to a DOT spokesperson.

Greeley Avenue was chosen as the location for these traffic circles due to excessive speeding from motorists using it as a cut-through to Father Capodanno Boulevard.

According to the DOT, 98 percent of motorists exceed the 25 mile-per-hour speed limit on Greeley Avenue, and there were four crashes on the street in 2016 alone.

However, Carr said that the recently installed circles have done little to combat the dangerous speeding in the area.

"They get a full head of steam coming down from Hylan Boulevard and they don't slow down. They just keep on coming and then zigzag around them," he explained.

"The circles should have been smaller if they wanted to do it, but it looks like they wanted to create an obstacle course here," Carr continued.

WERE THERE OTHER OPTIONS?

The DOT chose to install traffic circles in the area because the street did not meet the strict federal guidelines necessary to install traffic control devices.

According to the DOT, the traffic on Greeley and cross-traffic from the side streets are not enough for stop signs or signals to be implemented.

As for speed bumps, the residential area and limited space between driveways renders them as a non-viable option.

These neighborhood traffic circles are the first of their kind in New York City, according to Merisa Gilman, project manager for the DOT Pedestrian Projects Group.

The DOT has stressed the differences between these neighborhood traffic circles and roundabouts, like the one that was installed in the Bronx in 2015.

At roundabouts, all vehicles yield to each other at each entrance point.

In the case of the Greeley traffic circles, drivers continue to have the right of way, and those coming off the side streets are required to stop at the stop sign and wait for all oncoming traffic to pass.

However, because the traffic circles are the first of their kind in New York City, some drivers are having difficulty navigating them, including making dangerous, illegal left-hand turns.

When making a left-hand turn, drivers must go around the circle, waiting for traffic from the opposite direction to pass before completing the turn.

The DOT worked closely with local elected officials, the Midland Beach Civic Association and Community Board 2 to ensure that the community had input into the changes being made on Greeley Avenue.

The civic association and the DOT worked together to outline plans for the traffic circles before proposing them to the Community Board, which approved them in a near unanimous decision (26-in favor, 1-opposed, 1-abstained).System error

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Figures from mid-December show the AMC currently had about 468 prisoners and that number had since fallen. Aleksander Vojneski was sentenced to 19 years for the murder of his girlfriend Paula Conlon in March 2012. At that time, seventeen were classified maximum security, 365 medium security, and 86 were designated as minimum security inmates. ACT Correctives Services said offence type is one factor considered in a detainee's classification. Other factors included behaviour, relationships, employment, and participation in programs. Rebecca Anne Massey was sentenced to 13 years for the murder of Elizabeth Booshand in 2008.

Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service chief executive Julie Tongs said the mix of classifications had compromised rehabilitation programs and jeopardised the jail's goal to be human rights compliant. "I see so many damaged people coming out of that place, when really they should be coming out in better condition than when they go in," Ms Tongs said. Jeffrey David Lee was sentenced to 13 years and 6 months for the murder of Neal Keith Wilkinson in 2015. "Hardcore and violent criminals shouldn't be out there mixing with vulnerable people who are in there because of drug addiction or mental health. "They've gone to prison to do time because they've done the wrong thing on the outside, they don't need be punished again in prison."

Corey James Martin was sentenced to 22 years and 6 months for the murder of Andre Le Dinh in 2010. Ms Tongs said the authorities needed to start charging inmates who broke the law and consider moving troublesome prisoners to maximum security facilities interstate, such as Goulburn or Junee. Before the jail was built, the ACT had an arrangement with NSW whereby Canberra criminals were kept behind bars across the border. That agreement is still in place. Ms Tongs said interstate transfers would send a stronger message to inmates to either behave or face the consequences.

"Those hardcore criminals should be in more secure prisons, like Goulburn, or somewhere like that. "If we truly want the jail to be what it was meant to be, then they need to have a look at it and start moving people out of there. "Are we just going to keep extending the prison? I don't think so." The justice directorate last year awarded a $275,000 contract to engineering consultants GHD to explore the case for further construction at the Hume jail. Fairfax reported that the latest Productivity Commission report on government services found the ACT prison system was the nation's most expensive, costing the territory government $436 per inmate per day, almost $160,000 per year, in 2016-17.

The national average was $286 of recurrent spending per prisoner per day, or about $86,000 per year. NSW was the cheapest at $237 per day, or $85,000 annually. Despite the issues, corrections minister Shane Rattenbury said, "At this time, there are no plans in place to proactively send detainees to NSW and/or other participating jurisdictions as a population management measure. "The location of the AMC within the territory enables families and the local community to engage with detainees during their sentence, which can lead to improved rehabilitative outcomes - both during, and onwards, from a detainee's period of detention. "While the per-day costs vary across jurisdictions and have decreased in the Alexander Maconochie Centre in recent years, the ACT Government will continue to prioritise the welfare and ongoing rehabilitation of detainees at the AMC."

Although the ACT government has ruled out sending prisoners interstate, the idea was discussed by a high-level cross-government committee in August last year. The Moss Review implementation committee was established in the wake of the Moss Review, which investigated policy failings in the lead-up to the death of inmate Steven Freeman in 2016. "Community members expressed concern that the mother of the two Indigenous men who were recently assaulted was not notified of their transfer to hospital," the committee's August minutes read. "Members discussed the feasibility of sending prisoners interstate, and the impact that this would have on taking Aboriginal people away from country." In February, the government announced an extra $17 million would be spent on additional health services and security inside the jail, including $8 million over the next two-and-a-half years to establish the Winnunga Nimmityjah model of care.

Ms Tongs hoped the introduction of Winnunga Aboriginal Health and Community Services as a service provider in the jail might help improve the situation for prisoners. Winnunga started delivering services to female prisoners at the AMC, with moves to a full delivery of wellbeing services this year. Ms Tongs said Winnunga wanted to be inclusive in the jail and planned to offer services to all inmates eventually. The announcement came after the independent inquiry into the treatment in custody of Steven Freeman highlighted the need for improvements in a range of areas including cultural proficiency to more effectively manage the welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detainees. Ms Tongs said it would continue to be an independent entity but work in with the ACT government to complement the services to deliver better outcomes for Indigenous detainees.Parliament's new "bonking ban" will deprive consenting adults of their dignity while encouraging them to be quieter about their affairs, a legal academic has said.

However, an expert in bad behaviour in the workplace said these polices were becoming more common, particularly in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The ministerial sex ban was announced on Thursday by the Prime Minister, who moved to limit the damage from the Barnaby Joyce scandal.

It was earlier revealed that Mr Joyce had separated from his wife, with whom he has four daughters, and is in a relationship with his former media advisor Vikki Campion, who is pregnant with Mr Joyce's child.Like many investors, 19-year-old Cooper White, from Wollongong, who has been investing in cryptocurrencies for two years now, is sceptical about buying Ripple's XRP tokens. "Cryptocurrencies are decentralised. That's the whole selling point, so cutting out the middle man, cutting out the banks, cutting out the governments, privacy, all that stuff, whereas Ripple is centralised," White says. "The platform is still run by Ripple and they hold around 60 per cent of all the tokens, which is a lot of money there is still a middle man, it's no different." David Jackson, who is a non-executive chairman of Reffind, an ASX-listed company investing in blockchain, suggests it's not only Ripple's centralisation that is a concern with investors. "A perception of being too closely linked to the big banks, whom many do not trust is the big talking point that seems to crop up a lot. That it's a tool of the established financial institutions that some groups in the crypto world want to sidestep and find alternatives to seems to be the core issue," he says.

"There is a large number of idealists desperate to see a shake-up of the financial system, and they are making judgement calls based on different criteria, often allowing their own perception biases to determine their choices." One of these "idealists" is Lachlan Sean, a crypto-investor who believes Ripple is not the same as other digital currencies. "I think the definition of cryptocurrency exists on a spectrum, but Ripple probably falls off the 'no' end," Sean says. "Most people associate a cryptocurrency with the two features that cryptos can uniquely provide: immutability and censorship resistance, which is achieved through decentralisation. "If your currency is run by a private company that can be fined, and has a CEO who can be jailed, it's probably too centralised to be considered a cryptocurrency."

Sean began investing in cryptocurrencies in 2012 but became serious about it two years ago. He says over time he slowly came to believe that cryptos could change the way society functions. "I didn't think it was anything more than a geeky side project, until bitcoin started making me wealthy and I invested more of my time learning about it for hours a day, months on end," he said. "One of my favourite quotes from Naval Ravikant [an entrepreneur who started AngelList, a platform for start-up companies] is [that] "bitcoin is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme'." For White, when it comes to investing in cryptocurrencies, research is key. "There are a lot of people who don't research and I think that's a massive problem. People say 'I can make money here' and see it as a get-rich-quick scheme. For me, I try and keep my emotions out of it because if you're stuck on something you're going to lose money. If I believe fundamentally it's good tech, then I invest in it." For those running Ripple, the company's ambitions are far greater than riding the wave of the recent crypto-mania, and making mum-and-dad investors rich. Ripple's Rao admits its currency, XRP, "has been caught up in the same frenzy".

"But  we're not wanting this to be used by Joe Bloggs to buy stuff online; it's for banks to use for one of two use cases," he says. The first use for Ripple is to rid banks of the need to have overseas accounts with foreign money. By using Ripple, banks would be able to transfer money to any bank in the world quicker and cheaper, he says. Secondly, Ripple is intended to be used is as a bridging currency. Often when two banks in smaller markets are making a transfer, they use US dollars. By using Ripple's XRP tokens in the future, the intention is to offer a less volatile transaction. Loading "The chain and the price of [the US dollar] affects this transaction. So what we see for XRP is being a bridge currency, so that there is no counter party risk with XRP. It's not issued by a country and it's not going to be affected by Donald Trump's tweets," Rao says.A commercial bakery that makes bread for Australia's largest supermarket chains has been accused of bullying employees out of their jobs because they had become financial "liabilities" after they were injured at work .

The claims have emerged at Davies Bakery as part of a court dispute with the National Union of Workers, which alleges mistreatment and underpayment of workers and intimidation of its organisers at the company's Broadmeadows factory.

Nahid says she was bullied out of a job. Credit:Paul Jeffers

For its part, Davies denies mistreating workers or intimidation although it admits it has had issues with its payment systems.

The bakery, which makes bread and other baked goods for Woolworths, Coles and Aldi to sell in Victoria under their private label brands or at in-store bakeries, is 50 per cent owned by the pie maker, Patties Foods.Normal service resumed this week in the politics of the 45th Parliament. That is to say, after a brief period in December when the government looked to be getting on top of things, the pattern visible through much of last year re-emerged: a government with important issues to manage and projects to announce was completely distracted by a noisy Punch-and-Judy sideshow. But while on the surface all looked like embarrassing and angry chaos, underneath some patterns were clear.

Two stand out: first, Malcolm Turnbull has no luck as a political leader. Second, he manages crises poorly, possibly because he has failed to analyse them.

Malcolm Turnbull v Barnaby Joyce.

A lot of the week's drama has the look of a media feeding frenzy. Wounded by the revelation of his affair with a member of his staff, the Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, has then been attacked on all sides, including by his Prime Minister, over issues only some of which are related to the affair itself. He could be forgiven for thinking there is a nationwide effort to bully him from office. Mr Joyce is determined to hold on to the National Party leadership, and since his MPs are staying loyal, he should do so  although in the longer term those MPs may start to think about a change earlier than otherwise.

In his career Mr Joyce has proved himself an effective politician and an adequate minister. The Herald may at times be critical of him, but none of those criticisms has anything to do with his private life. Its allegedly scandalous or disastrous or destructive character is one of several fake issues this affair has raised. No outsiders  not even prime ministers  can judge what goes on in a marriage, and none should pretend they can.NSW Energy Minister Don Harwin has opposed the Turnbull government's extension of seismic testing for gas and oil off the coast between Newcastle and Sydney, and called on Canberra to tighten its standards.

Mr Harwin said in State Parliament this week that he had told his federal counterpart, Matt Canavan, the Berejiklian government remained opposed to the extension of a petroleum exploration permit allowing Asset Energy to resume surveying in waters off the Central Coast.

A humpback whale calf breaches off an east coast headland. Credit:Harry Nicholas

"Our assessment and performance requirements at a state level for onshore [gas exploration] are much, much more rigorous than the offshore requirements that the Commonwealth has in place," Mr Harwin said.

NSW had "higher performance standards, wider enforcement powers and tougher penalties for non-compliance - all of which are significant differences between the state onshore and Commonwealth offshore positions", he said.Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his embattled deputy Barnaby Joyce held crisis talks on Saturday after a bruising 48 hours in which they were publicly at war over Mr Joyce's affair.

Mr Joyce had attacked his boss's "inept" and "completely unnecessary" remarks about his affair with former staffer Vikki Campion, accusing Mr Turnbull of causing further harm.

Fairfax Media understands the two had a conciliatory meeting at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Sydney at 12pm, which lasted for about one hour.

In the meeting, Mr Joyce expressed his concern about the forcefulness with which Mr Turnbull had criticised his behaviour on Thursday, but said he understood the sentiment.Just one in five Australians trust the federal government to do the right thing more often than not  but we've still got more faith in politics than most Americans, a new international poll has found.

And despite the supposed disillusionment of the Coalition's base under Malcolm Turnbull's leadership, conservative voters in Australia are a lot happier than their Republican cousins  and almost as likely to trust major institutions as Labor voters.

Low on trust: people vote during the 2016 Australian federal election. Credit:Edwina Pickles

Conducted by the United States Studies Centre and YouGov in December, well before the latest crisis between the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, the poll asked more than 1000 voters in each country how often they felt they could trust their leaders in Canberra and Washington.

In Australia, 28 per cent of Coalition voters said they trusted the government all or most of the time  compared to just 9 per cent of Republicans, despite their party controlling the White House and Congress.Correna Haythorpe, president of the Australian Education Union, has said making it easier for tradies to become teachers would be like the medical profession lowering their registration for tradies to conduct surgery. Well, it really would not be anything like that at all. But that is a great idea. Theres nothing a tradie cant do. Put a tradie in an operating theatre and they will reduce inefficiency and increase productivity.

Teachers groups are not happy with the proposal. They are worried about the hordes of tradies like me who will jump at the chance to take a pay cut and sacrifice our physical fitness and emotional wellbeing for a job that requires us to behave ourselves even outside of work hours. Where do I sign up?

As a tradie, Im used to being in high demand. The housing boom and large infrastructure projects across Sydney have most of us working flat out six days a week. We cant keep up with the work. And now it looks like the skills shortage in construction trades is about to get worse. Because our services are also in demand in the classroom.

The first thing they would do is ditch the assistant that stands next to the surgeon, passing the tools whenever the surgeon calls out for them. I mean, come on doc, have a go. Strap on a tool belt with all your scalpels and clamps so your assistant can go and do something useful. Its the first rule a tradie learns: never turn a one-man job into a two-man job. I guess surgeons havent learnt that because they haven't been taught by tradies.

Tradies could teach surgeons a thing or two about productivity. Credit:Janie Barrett

But lets not get ahead of ourselves. Our tradie game changers will need a bit of time to whip the education sector into shape before we let them loose in our hospitals.

Of course, if youre going to hire tradies as teachers, youll want to recruit the absolute cream of the crop. The real A-listers. The tradies that all the other tradies look up to. The rock stars of the construction industry. Thats right: the brickies. Winston Churchill wanted to be one. Germaine Greer married one. Were hard to resist. And lets face it, you could improve just about any industry by adding brickies to its workforce. But as there are currently not enough brickies to actually lay bricks, you might have to settle for a carpenter, an electrician, or even (God forbid!) a concreter. Still, any tradie is better than no tradie at all. In boom times, you take who you can get.

Most tradies have either employed or directly supervised young apprentices. So teaching is an essential part of our job. Combine that with a tradie's natural flair for story telling and youve got someone who would be an asset in front of any class, whether directly related to their trade as the minister seems to suggest or across the curriculum. If you think Australia's Local Hero of the year Eddie Woo knows how to deliver an interesting maths lesson, you should hear my mates Robbo and Macca explain how they managed to charge a client for laying 27,000 bricks on a job that only had a total of 2400 bricks in it."Many emails from mothers and fathers of daughters receiving their army cadet slouch hat," Mr Hancock said. "And all these kids proudly wearing their uniform and hat represent so much of what Australia stands for."

The family-owned, Australian hat manufacturer is the official provider of hats for the Australian Army. Mr Joyce, who has been treated for skin cancer three times, is regularly spotted wearing a wide-brimmed version, even indoors during his time on the hustings through last year's New England byelection.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce celebrate his byelection win in December last year. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

With this new attack on Mr Joyce, who is expecting a child with his former staffer following an affair, Mr Hancock wants to ''highlight the politicisation of Australian symbols by someone who many people have suggested does not represent such ideals. Barnaby wore the hat indoors, at inside formal occasions and has been associated with the hat to the extent its a reference to him in newspapers," he said.

"The Akubra hat has been worn by many great Australians, who first showed the world the loyalty, bravery and selflessness that Australians became known for. It carries symbolic reference to ideals that Barnaby Joyce has not, through his repeated actions and judgments, and generally putting himself first.Whiplash is resistant to treatment and no early management approach has yet been shown to prevent chronic pain, said Professor Michele Sterling, a clinical physiotherapist and researcher with Recover. About one in four people with whiplash will develop post traumatic stress disorder, says a study that she co-authored. Professor Sterling is interested in chronic pain, which often can't be explained and where the victim is often blamed. And when Sydney University's Professor of Rehabilitation Studies Ashley Craig evaluated international research on injuries caused by car crashes he found people with whiplash suffered "elevated psychological distress". It was three times higher than those who had a brain injury, and much higher than people with spinal cord injuries. Although about 65,000 doctors appointments a year involve whiplash, Australian doctors aren't sure what to do or prescribe. The clinical guidelines suggest patients should be urged to keep moving and avoid neck braces, and take over the counter medication like paracetemol to reduce the pain.

But a study of 124 general practitioners by Recover's Professor Sterling found 22 per cent of patients were prescribed drugs like opioids and Valium (diazepam), which are highly addictive and not recommended. Applying for compensation under third party insurance schemes has been shown to contribute to a whiplash sufferer's anxiety and stress. Mr Seymour was sent to a platoon of doctors and psychiatrists by lawyers on both side. "Are you lying? Admit you are lying!" taunted barristers when he attended the tribunal to determine whether he was entitled to compensation under NSW's third party insurance scheme (green slip). Teams had scoured Mr Seymour's medical history.

A barrister waved doctors' notes, which had circled anything marked with "V" and claimed Mr Seymour had a history of taking valium before the crash. "I said, 'Can I see it?' And I said, 'That says Ventolin (for asthma), not Valium'," Mr Seymour recalled telling the tribunal. The barrister tried it again. The other V stood for valerian, an over the counter sleep aid. "I was brutalised and traumatised by the process, and I am an RN who has worked with some of the biggest dickhead surgeons you can come across," he said. This stigma against whiplash patients is pervasive.

When researchers from Recover interviewed whiplash sufferers, many said they had trouble finding the "right healthcare practitioner". Mr Seymour has seen dozens of doctors to find someone who will believe him. "You go from one (doctor) to another, and you get sick of the raised eyebrows, the tone of voice, the questioning," he said. Another person with whiplash told Recover: My doctor said to me its about time I faced up to the fact that theres nothing wrong with me, theres nothing

physically wrong," one told researchers. "He suggested that I go to psychiatrist or a psychologist for treatment of the mental side of things.

Professor Sterling often heard sad stories like these. "With whiplash, you can't see anything and people don't tend to believe it. It is terrible, it is stigmatised and people feel nobody listens to them, and that comes through in our research," she said. Mr Seymour is now seeing a pain management expert in Canberra for a range of treatments that he says are making a difference, hopefully enough that he will be able to return to nursing.

Only recently, his doctor asked: "Are you relieved to be believed?" Mr Seymour said, "I am." Changes in NSW Under NSW's old CTP scheme which was replaced on December 1, 2017 people like Mr Seymour were eligible for a lump sum payout negotiated at a tribunal similar to the one he found harrowing. The new scheme has axed lump sums for minor injuries such as whiplash and replaced them with money to cover health care costs and weekly income payments for up to six months. But Sydney University's Professor Craig warns that NSW's changes may mean that people with whiplash who have chronic and long term injuries will likely not qualify for any payments after six months. He forecasts a "huge fight" ahead to recognise some whiplash cases as major and long term.

After five years, Mr Seymour ultimately received a $200,000 compensation payout, leaving less than $100,000 after he paid legal bills and other costs. The balance has come nowhere near covering his health costs and lost wages, his family said. NSW's State Insurance Regulatory Authority estimated that under the old scheme about $400 million a year was paid out to motorists who made false or exaggerated claims ranging from soft tissues injuries like whiplash to head injuries. There were a small number of people who had made fake claims, Professor Craig said. They only made things worse for the majority with genuine pain and suffering. "Sometimes there is no evidence of injury, yet there is a lot of chronic pain. There is lot more prejudice, a lot more disbelief," he said, adding that the neck is a "very touchy thing." Professor Craig said research showed that people with whiplash injuries had a high risk of psychological injury, even more than someone with a spinal chord injury.The plaintive notes of The Last Post being teased from a bugle on Anzac Day is one of the most evocative reminders of the pain and trauma of war, and a visceral embodiment of the phrase, lest we forget.

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But, as our story today by Nigel Gladstone reveals, the next time you hear the fife and drum of a military band pass you by, or even the wobbly notes from a bugle, pay extra attention -- it turns out that you might have paid a king's ransom for the instruments being played.

The connection between music and the military goes back centuries. As Othello lamented in William Shakespeare's play:

O farewell,

Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump,

The spirit-stirring drum, th' ear-piercing fife;

The royal banner, and all quality,

Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!The Department of Defence has spent more than $2.3 million conducting a musical instrument shopping spree since 2015, despite there being fewer than 300 full-time musicians in the armed forces.

An investigation by the Sun-Herald has revealed Australia's military musicians are now equipped with $25,000 hand-made flutes, more than $62,000 worth of bagpipes and dozens of woodwind instruments priced well above $10,000.

Blowing his trumpet: but how much did it cost? Credit:John Donegan

The spending, and the lack of transparency about what was bought, have been slammed by academics and government.

Since 2007 the Australian Defence Force has orchestrated at least $4.3 million to make music, according to analysis of the Austender database  a government system supposed to provide transparency and accountability for contracts worth more than $10,000. However, more than $500,000 was spent on items simply described as "musical instruments".These deaths are preventable. That is why I am calling for a complete ban on all personal mobile devices on school grounds, and tighter restrictions on the use of social media platforms on school computers and tablets.

Cyber bullying is a 24-hour sport and easily conducted under a veil of secrecy. And it's taking lives. It has been blamed for suicides including that of 14-year-old Dolly Everett in the Northern Territory on January 3.

There is a new war being waged in Australia - the weapons smartphones, tablets and computers. Children are the victims of these sometimes fatal assaults, carried out by keyboard warriors with the click of a few buttons.

Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians aged between 15 and 44. It is responsible for roughly a third of all deaths of people aged under 25. And the suicide rates for these age groups are increasing every year.

I taught at Ulladulla High School for 27 years and I am well aware of the prevalence of bullying within the school playground. Fortunately, during my tenure in the classroom students had little to no access to mobile devices. Online platforms had not yet become such an integrated part of society. While bullying still mainly occurs in the playground, studies point to an alarming increase in the use of social media platforms as a driver for bullying.

The Carly Ryan Foundation, set up in memory of an Adelaide teenager killed in 2007 by a paedophile she had met online, has called for laws to ban cyber bullies from social media and place them under apprehended violence orders. If adopted, these commonsense suggestions would allow the authorities to immediately act against bullies and provide relief to their victims.

I do not want to see cyber bullies fill our prisons or court system (although the thought has crossed my mind), but I do want to see real and immediate action taken to prevent such loss of life. We need additional resources in our schools to help teachers combat the effects of social media use, particularly during school hours. We need to ban mobiles and tablets on school grounds. And we need to restrict the use of social media on school devices. I made this clear in a submission to the federal inquiry into Australia's cyber bullying laws, which is due to report its findings next month.

John Brogden, the chairman of Lifeline Australia, has called for suicide to be declared a national emergency. I would go one step further  this is a national epidemic, requiring swift, whole-of-government action.Should Queensland parents prepare for their children to be targeted by social media companies?

Since a scathing open letter to Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg about a new social media app for children was published on January 30, Australian parents, teachers and researchers have spoken up about whether they support the backlash.

The letter, written by a group led by the Boston-based Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, urged Mr Zuckerberg to halt the distribution of Messenger Kids, a new app rolled out in the US in December 2017.

Australian parents, teachers and researchers speak up about the introduction of Facebook app Messenger Kids. Credit:Christopher Furlong

The free app is aimed at children between six and 11 and allows them to message friends, video chat, and send photos with parental permission and supervision.Victoria Police arrested dozens of people for a range of offences including assault, robbery and drugs as thousands crowded into Melbourne's CBD overnight on Saturday for White Night.

Despite the arrests, police say they were "very happy" with the behaviour of late night revellers at the festival. Given the number of punters, they said, there were only 31 arrests.

Among the many authorised light shows was a "renegade" projection over the facade at Flinders Street station.

An anti-Adani projection over Flinders Street station. Credit:Courtesy Twitter: @AudreyCooke77

Police did not confirm if they arrested the Anti-Adani protesters responsible. There was a group of eight involved in the protest and their projector was confiscated on the night.Faulty airbags have been linked to 18 deaths worldwide.

Honda Australia has released Takata "hotspot" postcodes where a large number of owners could be driving around with a faulty airbag that has been known to cause deaths worldwide.

Honda Australia group public relations manager Neil McDonald said they now had comprehensive data about their remaining customers who hadn't had their car repaired.

"We know that Werribee ... that area is a hotspot. That's one of our top 10 areas that we have identified having still outstanding airbags repairs to be done," Mr McDonald said.London: The head of the Czech secret service archives says there is no evidence to back up claims aired in the British right-wing press that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was a paid Soviet spy.

Londons Daily Mail and Telegraph reported sensational allegations  first aired in the Sun newspaper  that Corbyn collaborated with the now-defunct Czechoslovak communist secret service, the Statni Bezpecnost (StB), in the 1980s.

Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn during general election in London in June. Credit:AP

Saturdays Daily Mail front page reported that Corbyn was a paid informant of the Czech secret police at the height of the Cold War, and the Telegraph said Corbyn supplied information to a man he knew was a spy.

Both newspapers based their reports on interviews with a man that Corbyn admits meeting: Jan Sarkocy, a former StB agent who had been posted as a Czech diplomat in London, but was expelled by the Thatcher government in 1989.Israeli security stands around the wreckage of an F-16 that crashed in northern Israel earlier this month. Netanyahu's difficulties come at a time of high tension in the region. Credit:Rami Slush Here is a guide to Netanyahu's career, some possible candidates to succeed him, and what effect any change in leadership might have on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and across a Middle East in which Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other regional powerbrokers are all watching closely. Does Netanyahu have to resign? Netanyahu is under no strict legal obligation to quit following the police recommendations. Indeed, he has given every indication that he intends to remain in office while pursuing a legal battle. Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the police of plotting to overthrow him. Credit:Debbie Hill

There has been little public pressure from coalition partners for him to step down, although that could change as fellow politicians and the Israeli public study details of the cases. There was speculation before the police recommendations were made public on Tuesday that Netanyahu might call early elections, seeking a public mandate that would make a prosecutor think twice before moving against him. Benjamin Netanyahu sits next to Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, left. Credit:RONEN ZVULUN However, several polls in recent months have shown his popularity ebbing. And Netanyahu said in a televised address on Tuesday night that he was "certain" the next elections would be held on schedule. They are not due until November 2019. How did Netanyahu become such a dominant figure in Israeli politics?

Netanyahu has been in power on and off since 1996. The son of right-wing Israeli historian Benzion Netanyahu, he was born in Tel Aviv in 1949 and moved to the United States in the 1960s when his father got an academic job there after years at odds with Israel's left-wing ruling establishment. July 2016: Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara fly to Uganda to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Entebbe raid, in which the prime minister's brother died. Credit:URIEL SINAI He is the middle of three brothers, all of whom served in elite Israeli commando units. The eldest, Yonatan "Yoni" Netanyahu, became a national hero after he was killed in 1976 leading an assault team that stormed Entebbe Airport in Uganda to rescue Israelis and other airline passengers taken hostage by radical Palestinian and West German hijackers. Netanyahu says his brother's death "changed my life and directed it to its present course". Media performer: Benjamin Netanyahu outlines his objections to an international nuclear deal with Iran at the UN General Assembly in September 2012. Credit:Richard Drew

Telegenic, and speaking fluent American-accented English, he first gained domestic and international attention as Israel's ambassador to the United Nations during the first Palestinian intifada (uprising) that broke out in 1987. But in Republican policy circles during the Reagan administration his writing on terrorism had already earned him a following. His knack for dealing with the media was demonstrated during a January 1991 interview with CNN during the Gulf War, when he put on a gas mask and continued speaking after a siren sounded to indicate an Iraqi missile attack. Israeli flags fly near the golden Dome of the Rock in the al-Aqsa mosque compound in the occupied Old City of Jerusalem. Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the formula of "land for peace" in dealing with the stateless Palestinians, instead advocating "peace for peace" while settlement of occupied territory continued. Credit:Oren Ziv He used his public profile as a springboard to secure the leadership of the right-wing Likud Party, running on a platform of opposition to the 1993 Oslo interim peace accords spearheaded by US president Bill Clinton, Israel's then-prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin, and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Rabin was assassinated in 1995 - after a campaign of incitement that many of Rabin's supporters and his wife Leah linked to Netanyahu - and Netanyahu was elected prime minister the following year, the youngest-ever Israeli to hold the position and the first to be born in Israel.

Benjamin Netanyahu, in his first term as PM, remembers former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin during a Knesset meeting in 1998. Some close to Rabin blamed Netanyahu for the incitement that preceded Rabin's assassination by a right-wing zealot in 1995. Credit:RUTH FREMSON Despite assuring his US allies that he would continue the peace process embarked upon by Rabin, Netanyahu revealed in private remarks to Israeli settlers in Ofra - made in 2001 but revealed in 2010 - that his opposition to the Oslo accords remained. "America is a thing you can move very easily," he told his audience, unaware that he was still being filmed. "I de facto put an end to the Oslo accords." Critics assailed what was seen as a divisive style of leadership, and after losing the election in 1999 he spent a period in the second rank of Israeli politics, overshadowed even within his own party by former general Ariel Sharon. Returning to prominence after Sharon left Likud and then suffered an incapacitating stroke in 2005, Netanyahu was elected for his second term in 2009 - 10 years after his first. Netanyahu will become Israel's longest-serving leader if he serves the full four years until elections are next due. Netanyahu had a strained relationship with US president Barack Obama, especially over his opposition to the July 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

But he has been much closer to US President Donald Trump. US President Donald Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January. Credit:AP "On matters pertaining to the Middle East, [Netanyahu] has been President Donald Trump's mentor, guru and partner. In some ways, his senior partner," writes American-Israeli columnist Zev Chafets. "Trump got to the White House without apparently knowing the difference between the West Bank and the West Side Highway. The prime minister comes with a lifetime of expertise, experience and a well-developed Republican world view. Fox News founder Roger Ailes had two photographs on the wall of his office: General George Patton and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu." So proud is Netanyahu of his relationship with Trump that he has a picture of the two shaking hands at the top of his Facebook page. He is likely to use his relationship with the leader of the world's most powerful country in any future appeal to the Israeli public.

Who are the potential successors? Opinion polls suggest that Yair Lapid, head of the centrist Yesh Atid ("There is a future") opposition party, is the strongest candidate to succeed Netanyahu if he is forced out. But other candidates could enter the race, which would shift the balance. Yair Lapid, head of the centrist Israeli party Yesh Atid. Credit:AP Within Netanyahu's Likud Party, a number of members of his cabinet are vying to succeed him, including Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, Intelligence Minister Israel Katz and former Education Minister Gideon Saar. None has shown strong signs of planning to depart significantly from Netanyahu's right-wing policies. Outside Netanyahu's party, Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Education Minister Naftali Bennett are possible candidates. Both head far-right parties in Netanyahu's governing coalition and are former chiefs of staff to the prime minister.

"Until another party presents an alternative candidate for prime minister that can make people feel safe, then nobody is going to push to oust him," said Gil Hoffman, a political columnist at the Jerusalem Post newspaper. Rivals and partners: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett of the far-right Jewish Home party. Credit:AP "People talk of his survival like he's an injured animal," Hoffman continued, "but he's very successful. "The Israeli public thinks that all politicians are corrupt," he said. "In Israel, there's respect for people with elbows. He has them." What would Netanyahu's departure mean for the Middle East?

A cloud over Netanyahu's political future would compound the uncertainty surrounding prospects for a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that collapsed in 2014. If Netanyahu steps down, a successor from within Likud would need the support of the party's hardline central committee, which passed a non-binding resolution in December calling for annexation of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, captured by Israel in a 1967 war and which would form the main territory of any conceivable Palestinian state. Recent tensions along the Syrian and Lebanese borders have not so far proved to be a major factor in domestic political calculations, as even Netanyahu's political opponents say they do not believe his legal troubles would affect his decision-making on security matters. Netanyahu is no stranger to investigations. In 1997, during his first term, police wanted him to stand trial in an influence-peddling case involving the appointment of an attorney-general. While he was between terms, police recommended in 2000 that Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, be prosecuted on suspicion of bribery and theft of state gifts. Neither set of recommendations ripened into charges. Two bigger corruption cases have edged close to Netanyahu without directly entangling him as a suspect. Confidants - including his personal lawyer and the lead negotiator in some of Israel's most delicate diplomacy of recent years - are suspected of wrongdoing in a 2 billion ($3.14 billion) deal to purchase submarines and patrol boats from Germany's ThyssenKrupp.Washington: US President Donald Trump has insisted for more than a year that Russians didn't try to get him elected. Special Counsel Robert Mueller put an end to those claims on Friday, declaring definitively that they did.

A federal grand jury indicted 13 Russian nationals and a so-called "troll farm" in St Petersburg on Friday for a broad campaign to sway the 2016 election in Trump's favor. The indictment alleges that the operation was funded to the tune of $1.25 million a month by companies controlled by a Russian businessman close to the Kremlin.

The indictment means that Trump can no longer credibly cast doubt on alleged Russian election meddling. His own national security adviser said Saturday that the evidence was "incontrovertible." And if he was still harboring dreams of firing US Special Counsel Robert Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, something many Republicans already have warned against, such a move may be politically impossible.

Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, speaks at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on Saturday. Credit:Bloomberg

The White House seized on Rosenstein's declaration that Friday's indictment didn't allege "that any American had any knowledge" of the Russian interference, declaring "NO COLLUSION" in a statement. But the special counsel is still probing whether Trump or his campaign colluded with the Russians, a person familiar with the matter said.THE HAGUE:--- On Friday evening a group of Sint Maarten students including youngsters that evacuated from Sint Maarten after the passing of Hurricane Irma, were invited to come to the Sint Maarten House in The Hague. Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin & Minister of Finance Michael Ferrier wanted to inform the gathering of what could be considered as an extremely positive outcome of their visit to the Netherlands.

During the short presentation, Prime Minister Romeo Marlin emphasized to the students the importance of returning home once they have completed their studies. Its a pleasure to see students being interested in whats going on in Sint Maarten and taking the opportunity whenever a Minister is present, to come and be informed. The Prime Minister gave a brief summary of her activities while in the Netherlands including meetings with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and State Secretary Raymond Knops. Prime Minister Romeo-Marlin continued by encouraging the students to focus on their studies, getting the necessary experience, but to come home because home needs you, especially now!

Minister Ferrier when addressing the gathering told them, We are resilient... we are a proud people; we do not wait for others to start to help ourselves, we just go! When bad things happen, you must dust yourself off and keep going! Be passionate about what you do and know your limitations. Be the best you can be in whatever job you land. 

In conclusion, the students and youngsters were treated to prepared snacks and drinks and they had an opportunity to network and interact with the Ministers present by exchanging their thoughts, personal experiences, and ideas.Palmreaders? Japan team builds second skin message display



Tokyo, Feb 17 (AFP) Feb 17, 2018



Palmreading could take on a whole new meaning thanks to a new invention from Japan: an ultra-thin display and monitor that can be stuck directly to the body.

The band-aid-like device is just one millimetre thick and can monitor important health data as well as send and receive messages, including emojis.

Takao Someya, the University of Tokyo professor who developed the device, envisions it as a boon for medical professionals with bed-ridden or far-flung patients, as well as family living far from their relatives.

"With this, even in home-care settings, you can achieve seamless sharing of medical data with your home doctors, who then would be able to communicate back to their patients," he told AFP.

Slapped onto the palm or back of a hand, it could flash reminders to patients to take their medicine, or even allow far-away grandchildren to communicate with their grandparents.

"Place displays on your skin, and you would feel as if it is part of your body. When you have messages sent to your hand, you would feel emotional closeness to the sender," Someya said.

"I think a grandfather who receives a message saying 'I love you' from his grandchild, they would feel the warmth, too."

The invention could prove particularly useful in Japan, with its rapidly ageing population, replacing the need for in-person checks by offering continuous, non-invasive monitoring of the sick and frail, Someya told AFP.

The display consists of a 16-by-24 array of micro LEDs and stretchable wiring mounted on a rubber sheet.

It also incorporates a lightweight sensor composed of a breathable "nanomesh" electrode, and a wireless communication module.

"Because this device can stretch, we now can paste a display on things with complex shapes, like skin," Someya said.

It can be placed on the human body for a week without causing skin inflammation, and is light enough that users might eventually even forget they are wearing it.

Along with medical applications, Someya hopes the device could eventually lead to wearable displays for joggers to monitor heart rates or check running routes.

He imagines labourers using the displays to consult manuals on their arms while working.

The device will be showcased at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Texas over the weekend.

Someya created the device in partnership with Japanese printing giant Dai Nippon Printing, which hopes to put it on the market within three years.Brazil's Temer in Rio as army takes security control



Rio de Janeiro, Feb 17 (AFP) Feb 17, 2018



President Michel Temer on Saturday arrived in Rio de Janeiro to begin implementing his decree giving the military full control over security in crime-plagued Rio de Janeiro.

Temer was to meet Governor Luiz Fernando Pezao, several ministers and General Walter Souza Braga Netto, who will lead the operation and who was in charge of coordinating security when the city hosted the 2016 Olympic Games.

Army patrols were already used in Rio's gang-ruled favelas, but the decree signed on Friday by Temer now gives the military overall control of security operations in Rio state, which the president said had been virtually seized by organized crime gangs.

Brazilian police are normally under state supervision.

Temer's order for "federal intervention" places command in Netto, who will report directly to the president and not to authorities in Rio, the country's most populous state with around 16 million inhabitants -- 6.5 million of them living in Rio de Janeiro.

The decree is already in force but must still be validated by Congress, which has scheduled a vote for Monday evening.

The army's mission will last until the end of Temer's term as president on December 31.

Temer said he was taking "extreme measures" in the face of organized crime which has spread throughout the country "and threatens the tranquility of our people."

Officials cited, in particular, violence during this month's carnival but David Fleischer, a professor of political science at the University of Brasilia, said other factors also came into play.

He said Temer is desperately "trying to distract" attention from corruption allegations that have embroiled his presidency, as well as his struggles to adopt pension reform.

Arthur Trindade, a university professor and former security secretary for Brasilia, said the main objective of the decree is to "clean up" a police force undermined by corruption.

Eight months before a presidential election, the leftist opposition is wary of military intervention in a country still marked by two decades of military dictatorship which ended in 1985.

"The situation in Rio is serious but it is necessary to be vigilant that these measures are not accompanied by the repression of social movements and the suspension of constitutional rights," said Gleisi Hoffman, president of the Workers' Party of former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Polls place Lula in the lead for October's presidential ballot even as he fights to avoid prison for corruption.

More than 8,000 troops were sent to Rio de Janeiro in July to help the overstretched police but results were insignificant.

Rio state has been badly hit by Brazil's recession and a slump in the oil market, as well as by massive corruption.El-Aaiun (occupied territories), February 17, 2018 (SPS)  The Moroccan authorities on Friday banned Sahrawi citizens from peacefully demonstrating in Smara Street in the occupied city of El-Aaiun.

According to a statement by the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations committed by the Moroccan State (ASVDH), the Moroccan authorities proceeded in blocking the outlets leading to the place of the demonstration before time, preventing the Sahrawi demonstrators from accessing it, failing to abide by the international rules customary in dealing with demonstrators, torturing and harassing the demonstrators some of whom were people with special needs.

The statement added that the systematic policy of the Moroccan state in the Western Sahara territory encourages police officers and security men to attack peaceful protesters, some of them had been filed complaints against to the competent judicial authorities on the part of the victims, which perpetuates the policy of impunity practiced by the Moroccan authorities, which considered by the Sahrawi Association to encourage them to further these practices. (SPS)

062/SPS/TRA



During 2017, Adala UK recorded that the number of cases of people who had been denied entry to or been arbitrarily expelled from Western Sahara by Morocco had reached 76. These people included international observers, human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, those from the solidarity movement and those accused of 'disturbing the peace' or being 'undesirables', all of whom were attempting to conduct human rights monitoring work.

On 12 February this year, the two lawyers representing the group of political prisoners known as the Gdeim Izik Group were detained by plain clothes officers of the Moroccan security services and expelled on arrival at the airport in Casablanca. No justification was given for their expulsion nor their initial detention. The two French lawyers intended to visit the group of Saharawi prisoners who are incarcerated in seven different Moroccan prisons throughout Morocco where they all endure terrible conditions and maltreatment. The lawyers expressed their anger at their expulsion especially given the agreement that exists between France and Morocco regarding matters of law and justice.

In a statement the lawyers said: "we are Ingrid Metton and Olfa Ouled, lawyers from the Paris College of Lawyers. We express our complete outrage at the obstacles that have been put in our way to prevent us from carrying out our professional roles and exercising our right to see our clients. All our complaints made to the French government on this matter have so far been ignored".

Their statement explained that they had travelled to Morocco on Monday 12th February and were detained from the moment the plane landed at 20.40. Their passports were taken and they were put 'under police escort' in the international zone of the airport where they were held for 18 hours before they were finally expelled. In May 2017, the two lawyers had been violently removed by the police from the audience chamber of the Rabat Court of Appeal while they were carrying out their duties in defending the Saharawi political prisoners. Olfa Ouled was badly injured during this incident.

"We should be able to freely exercise our duties in defending our clients wherever we are because this is one of the fundamental rights of the profession of lawyer and this principle must be defended throughout the world" stated the lawyers.

On Wednesday 14th February, the Moroccan occupation authorities also expelled a Norwegian journalist and photographer, 'Rijkaard', from the occupied capital of El Aaiun, without any legal justification. According to witnesses, the Norwegian was visited out of blue by the authorities at the flat where he was staying and told to immediately leave Western Sahara as he was considered an 'undesirable'. Witnesses also noted that the authorities intimidated the Norwegian journalist and made him get into their car, which then took him to an unknown location. The journalist had pre-arranged meetings in the Occupied Territories of Western Sahara with victims of grave human rights violations.

The fact that both the lawyers and the journalist were each expelled after a long interrogation process about their work and their activism suggests that the decision to expell them was taken as a reprisal against their actions regarding human rights violations in Western Sahara and regarding the injust procedures which took place during the trials of the Saharawi citizens who are defending their right to self-determination.

Limiting who enters the occupied zones of Western Sahara is not a new tactic by Morocco. Over the last few years there has been a systematic denial of entry to activists, lawyers and others who support the self-determination of the Saharawi people. The decision to expell these two lawyers and this journalist suggest that the Moroccan authorities have something to hide and it is a flagrant attempt on their part to prevent legitimate investigation into human rights and to silence criticism of the situation in which these particularl political prisoners and the Saharawi people more broadly are living.

Morocco considers any monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara to be meddling in its internal affairs, which has led to the implementation of a closed door policy for all observing organisations and international NGOs who wish to investigate the human rights situation in Western Sahara. But this is a territory over which Morocco has no jurisdiction whilst it awaits its docolonisation under international law and according to the United Nations.

Adala UK emphasises the need for Morocco to abide by the law and promote and defend human rights. This must be upheld by the Moroccan government and they must prevent the expulsion of, threat to, restriction and suppression of all those who aim to uphold human rights. They must pretect their freedoms and ensure their safety. This must be extended to all Western Sahara human rights defenders, regardless of their country of origin. (SPS)

062/SPS

http://adalauk.org/?p=5417Weber County home valuations jump 19.7% as market surge continues

OGDEN  Home prices are going up, up and up in Weber County. That's been the well-publicized trend along the Wasatch Front, and figures from the Weber County Assessor's Office and a local real estate agent show that Weber County is no exception. The median assessed valuation of a Weber County home for 2021 totaled $365,000, up 19.7% from $305,000 in 2020, according to John Ulibarri, the Weber County assessor. The percentage increase in home valuations has jumped "in the double digits" for the last three years, he said, and the rise for 2021 is "greater than the year before." Demand ...Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (135) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (348) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (442) Jan 2014 (547) Feb 2014 (476) Mar 2014 (526) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (469) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (443) Oct 2014 (472) Nov 2014 (497) Dec 2014 (536) Jan 2015 (539) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (582) Apr 2015 (658) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (924) Nov 2015 (802) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (866) May 2016 (947) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (967) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (880) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (809) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (935) Jul 2019 (950) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (849) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (789) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (812) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sep 2021 (388)CB action plan to fulfil global anti-money laundering requirements By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s):

Sri Lanka will be implementing an action plan to receive the green light by October this year from a global anti-money laundering body, from the amber light signalled to Sri Lanka, Central Bank (CB) Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy said.

Answering a question raised by a Business Times journalist at the CBs monetary policy review media conference, he ruled out any involvement or aiding and abetting of local finance companies in money laundering activities.

But he noted that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which is the global standard anti-money laundering body has placed Sri Lanka under monitoring status, or a grey list last year alleging that there were some shortcomings.

The CB has worked with the regional body, Asia Pacific Group (APG) to devise an action plan to get out of this grey list, he disclosed.

Dr. Coomaraswamy noted that the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of ministers had been informed of the urgent need of enacting legislation and initiating action to fulfill the necessary requirements.

In a grey list (monitoring status), you are put on notice. At present we have not seen any direct impact but then if you slip down to the blacklist, it has dramatic repercussions, he claimed.

Sri Lanka is working on a time-bound action plan and is introducing laws and supervision of non-bank firms like casinos and the gem industries, Deputy Governor C.P.J. Siriwardene revealed at the media conference.

The country has been given time till March 2019 to fulfil the necessary requirements, he added.

The FATF has introduced 40 recommendations on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) in order to combat money laundering/ terrorist financing and other related offences globally, he disclosed.

Sri Lanka was subjected to its first Mutual Evaluation (ME) by APG in 2006 and the second ME during 2014/15.

The second Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) on Sri Lanka which was adopted in July, 2015, recommended Sri Lanka to initiate a number of actions to rectify the AML/CFT deficiencies identified during the ME.

Based on the progress made, APG upgraded further nine recommendations, initially rated as partially compliant to largely compliant level, bringing the total number of compliant/largely compliant recommendations to 21, Mr. Siriwardena said.

In a media release, the CB said that in October 2016, the FATF said Sri Lanka will be subject to a review of the International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) of the FATF to assess the progress of AML/CFT effectiveness.

After several discussions and progress reports, the FATF informed that Sri Lanka has not made sufficient progress in four areas, namely International Cooperation, Supervision, Legal Persons and Arrangements and Targeted Financial Sanctions on Proliferations (North Korea & Iran).

As a result, the FATF at its Plenary held at Buenos Aires, Argentina in October 2017, listed Sri Lanka as a jurisdiction with strategic AML/CFT deficiencies in the FATFs Compliance Document which is more commonly identified as the Grey List.Fonterras dairy development focus surpasses Rs. 3 bn investment in 3 years View(s):

Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka, the dairy co-operative behind Anchor, recently surpassed the Rs. 3 billion investment in its commitment to build a thriving local dairy industry and boosting the availability of high quality, local dairy nutrition for Sri Lankans.

These long-term initiatives span the breadth of the dairy value chain with the local dairy farmer at its centre.

From providing thousands of local farmer families with support to uplift milk productivity and milk quality, to providing new farmers direct access to milk collection and chilling facilities, to investing in local dairy processing and storage facilities, to sustainable projects that benefit farmer families; three years of investment have led to a steady development in the local value chain, a media release from the company said.

Managing Director of Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka and the Indian Subcontinent, Sunil Sethi, said the dairy co-operative has been enabling the countrys dairy industry to better meet national nutritional requirements.

In many regions across the country, limited chilling facilities prevent small stores and outlets from providing consumers with fresh dairy products such as yoghurts and flavoured milk.

We embarked on a drive to rapidly expand reach and consumption of our high quality local dairy nutrition in partnership with medium and small-scale outlets all over the island. Initially, we expanded our footprint by increasing the number of outlets offering these products from 25,000 to over 40,000, said Mr. Sethi.

This rapid expansion has resulted in the installation of over 3,000 chilling facilities in trade outlets over the past year, helping more people across Sri Lanka access the goodness of local dairy nutrition.Global independent audit regulators to meet in Colombo View(s):

Independent audit regulators from around the world will gather in Colombo tomorrow at the 12th Annual Inspection Workshop of the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (IFIAR).

The Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board (SLAASMB) is hosting the 3-day forum which will be held at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel with the participation of over 110 professionals representing audit regulators from 40 countries including the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and Singapore.

IFIAR was established by independent audit regulators from around the world in 2007. IFIARs overall objectives are to share knowledge of the audit market environment and practical experience of independent audit regulatory activities, to promote collaboration in regulatory activities, and to provide a platform for dialogue with other international organisations which have interests in enhancing audit quality, SLAASMB said in a media release.

Sri Lankas independent Audit Regulator, SLAASMB, was established under the Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Act No. 15 of 1995. The core functions of SLAASMB are to monitor compliance with Sri Lanka Accounting Standards in relation to the annual audited financial statements of Specified Business Enterprises (SBEs) and to monitor compliance with Sri Lanka Auditing Standards when conducting audits of these financial statements by auditors of such SBEs.

SLAASMB has been a member of the International Forum of Independent Audit since 2007.

SLAASMB has been monitoring compliance with accounting standards since 2000 and began audit inspections in 2007. During the 18 years in active operation, SLAASMB has been able to get SBEs to correct financial statements to the value of Rs. 56 billion.National Print Conference on March 15 View(s):

The Sri Lanka Association of Printers (SLAP) will hold its biennial print conference on March 15 at Waters Edge, Battaramulla from 8.30 am to 5 pm.

This years theme focuses on Going Global and concepts and strategies discussed will benefit not only printers but professionals from any industry and business discipline who are interested in expanding markets. The event will be declared open by Chandima Weerakkody, Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training, according to an SLAP media release.

This year the resource panel consists of Dr. Ravi Fernando speaking on the Global Challenge for Sustainability of Packaging. Mario Cesar Martins de Camargo from Brazil on the Competition to the Print Industry, K. R. Ravindran  former International Rotary President and CEO of Printcare Plc on the Business of Printing, Sampath Aluthpatabadige on Human Potential Management for Sustainable Business Enterprise and Chandi Rambukpotha of Hi-Fashion from Hirdaramani Group on Our Commitment for Compliance to Environment.

Prof. Rajendrakumar Anayath,Vice Chancellor of Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Haryana, India who chairs the judging committee of Sri Lanka Print Excellence Awards 2018 will deliver a lecture on Print Excellence.

The conference committee is headed by Peter Deckker, VP  Operations of TPrint, an Eswaran Group Company. It is sponsored by Cyber Group Singapore who supplies Ryobi Printing Equipment.SriLankan stops Kunming flights next month View(s):

SriLankan Airlines will be pulling out its operations to Kunming as a result of a poor load factor on this route that has been highly dependent on Chinese travellers alone.

Since the inception, the Kunming route has been highly dependent on the Chinese tourist market with very less contribution from other network stations, therefore it has very little opportunity to improve its seat load factor, the airline said in response to an email query.

Airline spokesperson Deepal Perera noted that the non-stop services to Kunming primarily on the Chinese tourist market to Colombo and Male operated a seat factor of 69 per cent for the FY 2016/17. It reduced to 65 per cent during April 2017/18.

It was pointed out that the unfavourable seat load factors were not sufficient to cover the total route costs, as a result of which the national carrier has incurred continuous loses on this route.

After discontinuing flights to Kunming from March 1, the narrow-bodied aircraft would be deployed to other destinations. The airline is continuing its four non-stop flights each to Beijing and Shanghai, daily non-stop to Guangzhou and five weekly nonstop to Hong Kong on single aisle aircraft. On average the airline deploys an average seat capacity of 4500 seats one way per week to China excluding Kunming. (SD)TESS AGRO returns to profit owing to GSP+ return View(s):

The return of GSP+ concessions has propelled TESS AGRO to a winning position from losses earlier.

Dilshan Fernando, company Director/CEO, said in a media release that TESS AGRO recorded a sharp growth in its profits during the last quarter of 2017 ending December 31.

The operating profit grew by 297 per cent to Rs. 8.27 million from an operating loss of Rs. 4.18 million in the previous quarter.

This increase in profits and turnover for this quarter can be largely attributed to the company sourcing its product from Sri Lanka as a result of the GSP + concession that Sri Lanka obtained in June 2017 by the European Union, he said.

The company has announced to its shareholders the plan to go for a rights issue subject to regulatory approval. The main reason for the plan is to infuse working capital to strengthen its purchases from Sri Lanka as local exports has increased significantly in 2017 after the GSP + concession.

During the EU ban the company continued to carry out its business with the help of its Belgium branch by importing from other neighbouring countries such as the Maldives and the Philippines hoping that when Sri Lanka is back in business we would still hold on to our market share, he said.

In 2016 the company purchased almost 90 per cent of its requirement from these neighbouring countries which meant that only seven per cent was purchased from Sri Lanka. Since June 2017 after the GSP+ return, Sri Lankan exports have increased by 40 per cent while 60 per cent was purchased from neighbouring countries.

In January 2018 the company has purchased more than 80 per cent from Sri Lanka.

The company is expected to raise Rs. 59 million through this rights issue for which Rs. 32 million will be used for working capital needs to procure fish from Sri Lanka while the balance will be used to retire debt.Tourism industry protests to PM on CNN campaign By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s):

Sri Lankas most powerful tourism industry bodies have raised serious concerns with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe over irregularities in the planned CNN media blitz by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).

The Business Times reliably learnt that the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) and the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), on the other hand, jointly asked the PM to accelerate the process of implementing the digital marketing campaign and the global promotion campaign and not permit an advertising campaign promoting Sri Lanka Tourism on the CNN news media channel.

According to SLTPB sources, it was found out that the SLTPB Managing Director late last year in October had consulted the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) on implementing the CNN advertising campaign without informing the board on the procurement procedure, rates agreed on and conditions entered into or even details of the payments.

The industry also pointed out that CNN is not a favourable tool to attract viewers from Germany, France, the UK, India and China.

Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga had proposed this idea of carrying out a CNN advertising campaign, despite opposition from the industry in the past. He went on to get it approved from the Cabinet Committee of Economic Management (CCEM) which is learnt to have not been fully informed of the dealings of the CNN campaign.

The industry has pointed out to Mr. Wickremesinghe that the country urgently needs a promotional campaign which has been delayed by about four years now.

They also noted that due to this adverse situation without a proper destination branding the industry was feeling the pinch as it was hurting the revenues in addition to the fact that some hotels were offering rates lower than it was during the war time.

In this respect, they have reiterated the government to fast track the digital marketing campaign and the global promotion campaign without incurring expenses on a CNN advertising campaign.

The industry has also briefed Minister Amaratunga, SLTPB Acting Chairman and Tourism Ministry Secretary Esala Weerakoon, PMs Senior Advisor Charitha Ratwatte and National Policies and Economic Affairs Ministry Advisor R. Paskaralingam on these developments.A rude but entirely predictable electoral shock View(s):

Those who are bewildered by the results of Sri Lankas local government elections a week ago need a harsh reality check if not a resounding knock to the head..

Massive public discomfiture

For it must be said that the rude punishment dealt by the electorate to the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe coalition government was entirely predictable. From mid last year to perhaps even earlier, massively increasing public discomfiture had turned to outright anger directed towards a coterie of quarreling and oftentimes openly incompetent rulers.

Granted, there were notable improvements in the Rule of Law. Yet the approach of the United National Party (UNP) driving the unity Government and equally blinded Colombo based civil society acolytes were informed by a deeply disturbingly elitist and patronizing mind frame. Ordinary citizens in the North and the South were treated much llike obedient cattle, to be shepherded and thought-manipulated into uncomplaining quiescence as high games of bond scams, wastage of public funds and an engineered reconciliation process continued.

Committees sat in esoteric constitutional reform exercises in Colombo that touched on all the unhappy trigger points that had divided the Sri Lankan people since independence, such as religion, language and political power while the larger public was unforgivably left excluded and increasingly incensed. The image of an out-of-touch Government dictated to by international pressure grew even as the yahapalanaya shine faded, aggravated by fulsome praise on the part of Western emissaries whose visits became disconcertingly frequent. Unsurprisingly this formed a useful point for the Rajapaksa opposition to labour.

The old devil of an unpatriotic UNP was resuscitated,leading to deadly cause and effect where the popular imagination was concerned.

Contrast between the elite and the marginalised

As commonly reminded, insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Well, for the unfortunate citizenry of this country, that lunacy has been exemplified by the conduct of the UNP for the exact same mistakes committed in 2001-2003 by the then ruling United National Front (UNF) government were repeated this time around as well.

And crucially, basic governance faltered, resulting in serious economic consequences for the already poor and marginalised, including farmers being denied their fertiliser in the paddy growing regions of the land. Talking to rural voters in the areas of the North Central province and the Uva province, it was pointed out in these column spaces months ago that it was a grave misconception to think that village voters were not aware of the shenanigans going on in Colombo. Indeed, that awareness existed in painful and excruciating detail.

At that time, I drew the grotesque contrast between farmers protesting in regard to inadequate fertiliser supplies in the sweltering sun while white-collar crooks in slick suits got away with millions shielded by patronage politics.

The truth of that could not be glossed over by blustering damage control in the last few months before the elections nor by rhetoric by the President. Where the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) component of the Government was concerned, this was also percieved to be inefficient with some Ministers attracting as much censure as their UNP counterparts.

And most damagingly, the anti-corruption drive against the gross corruptors of the Rajapaksa era fizzled out in a splutter of damp squibs from 2015 itself. The public grew weary of watching front-liners of the previous regime walk to courts and back smiling broadly for the television cameras amidst halfhearted explanations of laws delays and uncooperative foreign governments by UNP Ministers.

Deep cynicism regarding introspection

But ensconced in a comforting and un-apologetically elitist Colombo bubble of misplaced complacency, eagerly nourished by advisors and civil society cheerleaders through the reassuring echo chambers of social media, the unity alliance seemed unprepared for the inevitable electoral shock sooner or later. In fact, there was a deep cynicism about the very need for introspection.

When justifiable critiques were made regarding failures of governance in early 2015 in these column spaces and elsewhere, these were dismissed as irrelevant. When the Prime Minister appeared in a show of bravado before the popularly termed Central Bank Treasury Bond Commission of Inquiry, there were showers of praise from the typically deluded, hailing the fact that this was the first time that a Prime Minister had deigned to grace a commission sitting.

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga responded in a reprehensible congratulatory message and apologists of all shapes and forms scrambled to disguise basic failures of financial accountability.

Other ironies abounded. This was a contest conducted at the lowest levels of Sri Lankas electoral hierarchy for local government councils but which saw a President, a Prime Minister and a former President exchanging blows in clear games of political upmanship. And the outcome was foreseeable.

Weighing heavily in favour of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 10th February 2018, voters showed the contemptuous middle finger to all and sundry. It was a devastating blow to the exuberance of the democratic gains made in 2015

Gross inequities of yahapalanaya rule

So let us be clear about one fact. The gross inequities of yahapalanaya rule are at the root of Saturdays electoral debacle. The blame is to be attributed fairly and squarely to this Government.

In the face of looming provincial and national level elections in the near future, the unity alliance must even now, look inwards and attempt serious course correction, if further ignominious defeats are to be avoided.

The alternative is too catastrophic to contemplate.Sirisena faces two options  continue the consensus coalition with the UNP with Ranil as PM, or form an SLFP Govt. with Rajapaksas backing





Undercurrents of a numbers game with speculation of crossovers from SLFP to UNP and vice versa





Ranil confident Yahapalana Govt. could continue but agrees to major restructuring of the party; Cabinet reshuffle also likely, Temple Trees dinner for select SLFP ministers tonight

With the gusto of a king in the days of yore, President Maithripala Sirisena declared ahead of the local polls he would not hesitate to wield a sword to fight corruption. Such was the dedication of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) leader to battle a malaise now grown to cancerous proportions.

At least figuratively, this is what he did during the polls campaign. The climax was a public pledge  not to work after the polls with those corrupt politicians in either the Opposition, or the United National Party (UNP), his coalition partner for three long years. The polls have ended with a record 65 percent of the countrys 15.7 million registered voters making their choice. This has opened up newer battlefronts for Sirisena. Governing the rest of his term with a new leader and a new Government has become both his new challenge and the biggest obstacle.

His request for Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to step down and name a successor from the UNP was rejected by the latter. Also rejected was a request to effect a ministerial re-shuffle. And in this pursuit, Sirisena is leaving no stone unturned, not even approaches to the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. His previous attempts to re-unite came to nought but this did not deter him.

Earlier, he spoke with Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and urged him to take over the Premiership. The Speaker, however, turned it down politely saying he would not do so unless his party supported him. The drama has been playing out for the past seven days. The political direction the country is headed has been changing every few hours, as one tense chapter packed with suspense replaced another.

Ranils challenge to Sirisena

Premier Wickremesinghe literally threw a challenge to President Sirisena during a news conference on Friday. Under the law and the countrys Constitution, he said, there was no reason why he should not continue as Prime Minister. That is in effect a snub to Sirisena who had told him that his SLFP Ministers had asked that Wickremesinghe steps down as they were not willing to work with him. The remarks signalled that the current political stalemate would continue for a few more days. The acrimonious dialogue between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe, during a journey of a week after local polls, has laid bare the myths and truths at the highest levels of governance. The myths have been liberally dished out whilst those responsible have been economic with the truth.

If Sirisena expected more votes for his Sri Lanka Freedom Party (contesting some areas as United Peoples Freedom Alliance  UPFA) his campaign tirade brought ignominy instead. They polled only 1.4 million or 13.38 percent of the votes winning just ten local authorities (from a total of 340) and just 674 seats. Thus, Sirisenas party, as was widely expected, was placed third in many areas and fourth in a few. One such case where it came fourth was the polls to the Ja-ela Urban Council. The SLPP won seven seats, the UNP 6, JVP 2 and SLFP 1. In the SLFP pocket borough of Attanagalla, it lost all the wards and came third with only 5,000 votes more than the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).

The vote base of Sirisenas faction of the SLFP, contrary to claims, has dwindled denying him a wider support base. This has come as a handicap for the rest of his term as President, lowering his bargaining power and weakening his authority as the party leader. It has also cast serious doubts on his advisors and senior party office-bearers. In fact, one of them from the latter, sought permission from Sirisena to support the UNP only to be rebuffed. That he had angered thousands of paddy farmers was not lost on the President. On Friday night, the same top office bearer offered to deliver a group of SLFPers to the UNP so they may comfortably form a Government should the SLPP join hands with the SLFP.

It was double political tragedy for the United National Party (UNP), which has remained the focus of the Central Bank bond scam despite strong denials. If the UNP had believed that Sirisenas campaign rhetoric was to add to its votes that was not to be. The UNP polled 3.6 million or 32.63 percent of the votes and won only 41 local authorities or 2,385 seats. That too mostly in the Municipal and Urban Council areas of Colombo, Dehiwala-Mt Lavinia, Galle, Kandy, Badulla, Hambantota and Puttalam.

For UNP leader Wickremesinghe, who is likely to be his partys presidential candidate at the polls in 2020, it was a big blow. He has come under pressure from Sirisena, SLFP Ministers and from within his own ranks to resign as Prime Minister and even his party leadership. He has so far resisted such moves and countered accusations. He is insisting that he would continue though some of his own party members dislike the move. Most appear to be reluctant to speak openly about his role or that of the cabal round him who UNP deputy and state ministers and MPs say built a wall around the leader.

The JVP showed a marginal increase in the 699,875 votes gained or 431 seats. As revealed last week, protest votes from electors who opposed other mainstream parties contributed to the increase, but the party failed to win a single local authority. The JVP must remain grateful to its arch political foe, former President J.R. Jayewardene for introducing the proportional representation (PR) system for its seats in the councils.

The JVPs image suffered considerably in the past many months after accusations that the party was a passive backer of the UNP earning for it the sobriquet Rathu Ali or Red Elephants. The Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) secured 339,675 or 3.07 percent of the votes and bagged 34 local authorities  three times more than Sirisenas SLFP. The ITAK won 407 seats. The Ceylon Workers Congress led by Arumugam Thondaman secured five councils and Minister Rauff Hakeems Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) three.

A larger than estimated number of voters turned up at polling booths, contrary to expectations. They gave the less than a year old Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) an overwhelming victory in terms of the wards won in the councils though with shaky total number of seats in some councils. It, however, paved the way for the return of Mahinda Rajapaksa, their de facto leader, to more active Sri Lankan politics. The SLPP obtained 4.9 million or 44.65 percent of the votes or came first in a record 239 councils with 3,369 seats. In reality, Rajapaksa and his party have a broader footprint countrywide. That the SLFP and its leader Sirisena have had to turn to a political archenemy for support only hours after polls results were known speaks for itself.

It has to be borne in mind that there are also hung local authorities though technically one party or another is in the majority in them. For example, in the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council, the UNP won 19 seats, the SLPP 19 and the UPFA 6. In the event the SLFP (UPFA) and the SLPP get together, they outnumber the UNP. In Galle, the UNP won 14 seats as against SLPPs 13 and SLFP (UPFA) 3 seats. Here again, the UPFA and the SLPP together outnumber the UNP strength. In the Uda Dumbara Pradeshiya Sabha where the SLPP now holds seven seats, the UNP has six and the UPFA has one. That would bring about a tie. Such hung local authorities are said to number more than 150 and challenge the majority seats held by different parties in local authorities.

Theories on why the Govt. lost

For most, particularly in the SLFP and the UNP, the Rajapaksa victory was unbelievable. So much so, theories were abound, both in official statements and otherwise, that he had not made any gains or his party achieved victory. It seems politicians treat reality as a plague. They, as well as the others, were also not alive to another sweeping new reality  the rapid growth of mobile phone usage. Smart phones are in use not only in urban areas but also in the rural hinterland. The UNP campaign to expand Wi-Fi usage was a correct decision badly marketed by its campaign handlers. It eventually turned out to be ridiculed on social media itself. Users of these mobile phones have become politically literate about the goings on in power centres. They have been ably assisted by the advent of many apps which the social media exploit to relate a story, sometimes spiced with humour. Claims that complex issues, like for example, the bond scam did not reach the countryside were largely disproved. Of course, an average (like most in urban areas) person did not know the intricacies of bond issues, what a secondary or primary issue meant. The message yet spread of a banku horakama or bank robbery.

In marked contrast, the media campaigns of some political parties were patently outdated. Standing out in this regard was the UNP which used the print and electronic media to remind voters of the so called white van era or the time when there were enforced abductions. This was a resurrection of their campaign during the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2015. That campaign ensconced them in power and the Government vowed to deal with those responsible. Alas, there was little or no action and now why harp on an old issue? This is despite help from foreign propaganda advisors. The UNPs propaganda campaign was handed over to those backing Rajapaksa on the warped belief that that would neutralize the Rajapaksa promotion. The UNP paid for it  in kind and in cash. The SLFP campaign was mostly limited to leaflets whilst the SLPP was even much less confined to a few advertisements. The SLPP did not embark on a Rs 150 million campaign binges like the UNP. Onetime UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told a local television channel this week it was not so long ago that the party was unable to pay the telephone or electricity bills every month for its headquarters, Sri Kotha at Kotte. How then could the party spend so much, he asked. A senior UNPer defended his party claiming there were campaign donors, as always, to a ruling party.

Meetings with Sirisena

When the announcement of results, unexpectedly delayed, trickled in last Sunday, President Sirisena sat down with his SLFP ministers to discuss the situation. Present were Nimal Siripala de Silva, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Susil Premajayantha, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Duminda Dissanayake and Dayasiri Jayasekera.

A post-mortem examination got under way. The SLFP Ministers were of the view that the local polls were lost because of the misdeeds of the UNP Government and argued that they did not have a mandate to do most things. They said the SLFP policies were ignored. One of those who came in for severe criticism was Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake. They accused him of allegedly suppressing high profile investigations against the Rajapaksa family and his close associates although public pledges had been made during both presidential and parliamentary elections to bring offenders to book. The Ministers cited several instances and insisted that Ratnayake should not hold the portfolio of Law and Order. They also charged that their previous appeals had not been heeded. Otherwise, they would not have lost the polls, they pointed out. Ratnayake, has denied the accusations, first raised at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers last year, that he was scuttling investigations by passing information to those in the Rajapaksa family.

A bigger shock came when the Ministers said President Sirisena should ask Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to step down since they were no longer willing to serve under him. One Minister pointed out to Sirisena that he was aware the President had raised Ratnayakes matter with the Prime Minister on many occasions. Sirisena declared that he would make the ministerial changes. That he was contemplating such changes was disclosed in these columns last week. He would meet Premier Wickremesinghe and tell him the reasons necessitating the proposed changes and also why he had to exercise more authority.

Sirisena also noted that neither the SLFP nor the UNP was in a position to obtain the support of 113 MPs in a 225 seat Parliament. Hence, he would like to give both sides a fair chance to prove to him which one would be in a position to form a Government. He did acknowledge that some SLFPers including Ministers wanted to sit in the Opposition benches if Wickremesinghe was to continue as Prime Minister.

Wickremesinghe also had his own meeting to assess the outcome of the polls with his Ministers, MPs and party seniors. He opined that the elections were lost only due to two main reasons  the rising cost of living and the non-availability of fertilizer for paddy production. Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, whose Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) backs the UNP, countered the argument. He pointed out that in elections to the Maharagama Urban Council, the SLPP nominations were rejected. As a result Mahinda Rajapaksa backed an independent group (Group 2) which had the motorcycle as its symbol. He said Rajapaksa had gone for their rallies riding a motorcycle. They had won the election. He pointed out that Maharagama was not a paddy producing area. He said unless dramatic changes take place in the party, there was no hope. At present, he described the party as Walking Dead.

A more disturbing note was struck by Deputy Minister Harsha de Silva and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Wasantha Senanayake. Both shocked those present by asking that Wickremesinghe step down from the post of Prime Minister. This was bearing in mind the future interests of the party. Both claimed that they had no personal reasons for speaking out but felt genuinely that the time has come for change in the party. Later, de Silva was in for a verbal barrage from UNP Chairman and Minister Samarawickrema for making those comments. Only three years ago, de Silva publicly said how honoured he was to work as the Prime Ministers deputy minister.

Ministers Rajitha Senaratne, Harin Fernando and Navin Dissanayake also criticised Minister Sagala Ratnayake. In their view, he had been responsible for the crisis with the President worsening. They were alluding to the inability of the President and the UNP Government to deliver on their election pledges. Minister and UNP General Secretary Kabir Hashim said there were a number of reasons for the UNPs defeat. He said the leadership had done little for the party supporters and they had veered away. The party has antagonised the media and overall did not do anything.

Media plants

As this went on, different sides were leaking different stories to the media. The UNP it was claimed was going to form a Government with support from MPs from the Mahinda Rajapaksa faction, said one such report. The SLFPers (pro Sirisena) were angry. Their rivals in the SLPP said it was to checkmate efforts by them to form one. The move was at a preliminary stage then. By hindsight, both turned out to be plants but those responsible succeeded in their tasks. For the media, this has become an occupational hazard at times of crisis.

When Sirisena met Wickremesinghe on Sunday (Feb. 11) night, for the first meeting after the polls, it was brief but tense. The President told him that ministers in his SLFP were not in favour of him continuing as the Prime Minister and wanted him to step down. They had urged that another person from the UNP be nominated as they would not serve under him. He also told the Premier that he planned to effect a ministerial re-shuffle. One source familiar with the talks said he named four portfolios whose current incumbents he sought to change. Among them  Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella. Like his SLFP Ministers, Sirisena pointed out; there were also those in the UNP who felt Wickremesinghe should resign as Prime Minister.

At a second meeting on Monday, Feb. 12, the Premier, according to the source, was emphatic that there was no reason for him to resign, pointing out that it was a prerogative of only his party to make such a request. He took a more assertive stance and said that no one else outside was empowered to make changes in his own party. He also declared that he was not willing to change any of his ministers. As for claims that he had no support of his Ministers, Wickremesinghe declared that he was in a position to prove otherwise. He said he would bring along his Ministers in the Cabinet and confirm to Sirisena they were supportive of him. A meeting was fixed for 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday (February 13).

Ahead of this meeting, Sirisena met five SLFP Ministers. They were Nimal Siripala de Silva, Mahinda Amaraweera, Duminda Dissanayake, Mahinda Samarasinghe and Sarath Amunugama. Earlier, in the afternoon the same day, this group had met at a private residence in Colombo to discuss the political situation. With the future of the SLFP dim, their options were whether to join hands with the SLPP in forming their own Government or remain loyal to Sirisena. Of course, this group was largely not in favour of the pro-Rajapaksa group wielding influence in a new Government. They expressed the view that they would not abandon Sirisena and let him languish under pressure  either from the UNP or the SLPP. During a near two-hour meeting with the President, they discussed measures necessary to deal with the current situation. So, here was a group within the SLFP that was in favour of the UNP than a new Government.

Sirisena disclosed that he proposed to name a six-member committee  three each from the SLFP and the UNP  to identify areas where the two sides failed during the local elections. Such a committee, he said, would examine the shortcomings that led to the polls defeat. Each side would take immediate steps to correct its faults and accelerate the implementation of its election pledges, he said. Sirisena said he would name the committee and expect it to complete its findings by Friday (February 16). He said that the current political stalemate had led to the crash of the stock market and posed threats to the economy. The rupee had also taken a post-election tumble.

A formidable section of the SLFP, Sirisena disclosed thereafter, had told him that they could not work with Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister. If he continued, they said, this group would sit in the Opposition. Other sources, however, said they would join the SLPP, clearly a development that would further weaken and even isolate Sirisena. The name of Speaker Karu Jayasuriya as a UNP Prime Minister had been floated, but Jayasuriya played down the move publicly saying no one has told me about it.

The UNP Cabinet Ministers then met Sirisena as agreed on Tuesday night for a discussion that lasted some 105 minutes. As they talked, they ate Chinese spring rolls, tala guli (Gingelly rolls) and cutlets. Besides tea and coffee, they were also served two fruit juices  mango and lime. Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake was the only one of non-Cabinet rank taking part. He had made a request from President Sirisena, with whom he has a close dialogue, to turn up and it had been granted.

Sirisena was to tell the UNP Ministers that both sides, the SLFP and the UNP, were to blame for the local polls defeat. He said they would have to address the causes. He wanted to name a committee of six, three from each side, for this purpose. When Wickremesinghe replied that he would have to consult his MPs, Sirisena responded that the matter could not be delayed. He said within five days answers would have to be found.

Several Ministers spoke. Minister Kabir Hashim, who is General Secretary of the UNP, made an appeal that the present National Unity Government should continue. Minister Rajitha Senaratne declared that we have to be together. Minister Malik Samarawickrema spoke on the need for the UNP and the SLFP to have a dialogue and resolve differences. Minister Champika Ranawaka, whose Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) supports the UNP, declared that there was an urgent need to accept grassroots level realities and noted that structural changes were imperative. Minister Daya Gamage complained there have been attacks on UNP supporters allegedly by those who backed the SLPP. Actor turned politician Ramanayake, all too familiar with romantic roles in movies, wished that Sirisena and Wickremesinghe love each other. It was Valentines Day, after all. He said rogues must be caught after all cases are investigated. It should not only be the Central Bank bond scam, he said and made a scathing attack on the Rajapaksas asking if the two leaders were going to support their return to office.

Committee not appointed

Sirisena turned somewhat serious when it came to winding up. He said he would ensure that mistakes of the SLFP would be corrected and wanted the UNP to do the same. The remarks were an indication that Sirisena was giving the nod for the coalition to continue. Yet, a senior UNP Minister, who did not wish to be identified, later lamented, the President keeps changing his mind by the hour. Sirisena declared that at next mornings weekly ministerial meeting (put off from Tuesday on account of Maha Sivarathri holiday), that he would name the joint SLFP-UNP committee.

Though it was to happen at the weekly ministerial meeting after the business on the agenda, it did not. Ministers taking part in the discussion noted that there was a striking difference in the tenor of conversations between President Sirisena and Premier Wickremesinghe. One such instance, they noted, was when the ministers were discussing a memorandum by Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, which proposed that students be given an electronic tablet each. Kariyawasam is a confidant of Wickremesinghe. The cost of the entire exercise was five billion rupees. Sirisena declared that it was a large amount of money. He asked whether it would not be advisable to spend a billion rupees first on a pilot project and later expand it. This was because there were several schools in the country without tables and chairs. Others lacked buildings and other amenities, he pointed out. However, Wickremesinghe was not in favour. He declared somewhat tersely that the necessary funds for the purpose have been allocated in the 2018 budget and he had made personal pledges that such a project would be implemented. Sirisena then gave in saying if the Premier insisted he had no option, said a Minister present.

By Wednesday afternoon, there were a string of other important developments. It was Minister Susil Premajayantha, who played the unsuccessful role of broker to bring about SLFP re-unification before the local polls, who conveyed to Sirisena that they (SLFP) could form a Government of its own. This was if Wickremesinghe is not willing to step down as Premier and nominate a successor. As the hours went by, Premajayanthas appeal was to assume bigger proportions. He went around collecting signatures for an affidavit expressing support for Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva as the Prime Minister. A handful of UNPers had also signed it.

Together with Mahinda Amaraweera, General Secretary of the UPFA, they hand delivered a letter to President Sirisena. The letter in Sinhala, translated into English, said:

After the last General Election, the United National Party (UNP) and the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) agreed to form a consensus government for two years. This period has now elapsed. During the past 2 1/2 years, main subjects in the consensus government, including economy, constitutional reforms, foreign affairs, judiciary and law and order came under the responsibility of the UNP and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

While it was difficult for us to agree in principle to some of the decisions taken in relation to these subjects, our ministers respected collective responsibility.

However, it is no secret that one of the main allegations levelled against the government during the recent Local Government Elections was that instead of cracking down on fraud and corruption, large scale frauds such as the bond scam had been committed with the direct knowledge of the Prime Minister.

The LG Election results have laid bare the peoples verdict regarding the governments economic management, turning its back on good governance principles, and for following a programme we could not agree, a programme which was completely opposite to one which sought to protect the national interest.

As such, our party cannot accept a situation where the government continues to be managed by the Prime Minister based on the number of votes obtained by the UNP. Therefore, it is our intention to form a new government and instal as Prime Minister, an MP who could win the trust and respect of the majority of Members in Parliament. We respectfully request you to grant the SLFP and the UPFA this opportunity

Premajayantha-Rajapaksa meeting

Minister Premajayantha met former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the de facto leader of the SLPP, for talks to clinch a deal. The latter agreed that the SLPP would support the Government in Parliament but would not accept any portfolios. It is, thereafter, that Sirisena told Premajayantha and his backers to prove he had the numbers. The President declared that he would hold a news conference on Friday (February 16) and announce whose claims he had accepted for the formation of a Government. This was on the basis of who held the backing of the larger number of MPs to command the majority of Parliament.

At the eleventh hour, Sirisena, however, ordered the cancellation of the news conference fixed for Friday morning. Editors were called at 10 the previous night and informed accordingly. This is after claims on a television channel on Thursday night by UNP deputy leader and Minister Sajith Premadasa that everyone expressed their desire to continue with this government. As such, we decided today to continue with the government in its current form. A Sirisena aide said they created the impression they have won and the President had relented. The remarks came after Premier Wickremesinghe, UNP Chairman Samarawickrema, Mangala Samaraweera, Akila Kariyawasam (deputising for indisposed Kabir Hashim, the party secretary) and Premadasa had just ended a meeting with the President.

An infuriated Premjayantha protested to Sirisena that the UNP was making misleading statements. The remarks had come when Premajayantha was collecting signatures to an affidavit. And at the news briefing that follows ministerial meetings, SLFPs spokesperson Dayasiri Jayasekera was absent thus preventing an input on behalf of his party. That would surely have given the SLFPs version. UNP Minister Rajitha Senaratne used the opportunity to claim that Sirisena had not asked Wickremesinghe to step down and declared the Government would continue. Factual accuracy and Senaratne are poles apart. If indeed, as he claims, there was no request to step down, there would be no political crisis now.

This was whilst Mahinda Rajapaksa told the Sunday Times, our decision to back the Government was based entirely on the gloomy economic situation that is damaging the country. We did say that in return for our support, we wanted the Government to stop the sale of public assets. We also want uniforms to be issued to school children, instead of the present coupon system. It was the late President J.R. Jayewardene who introduced free school uniforms for needy children.

Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam (UNP) changed it to a system where students were issued coupons to obtain the uniforms from designated outlets. Parents have complained that they encountered a number of difficulties. Some outlets said stocks were not available whilst others had issued poor quality material. In yet others, the uniform material was not available. The unofficial demand would be to stop harassing the Rajapaksa family with court cases, said a UNP leader.

In a separate development, Rajapaksa also telephoned Premier Wickremesinghe. The conversation had related to current political developments.

Sirisenas phone call to Rajapaksa

The same Thursday night President Sirisena reached out to Mahinda Rajapaksa. He made a telephone call. It was, however, answered by the son Namal Rajapaksa MP. Rajapaksa Junior said his father was busy over some important matter and Sirisena spoke to Namal on issues related to SLPP support for a new SLFP Government and related matters.

This was to see an immediate thawing of the UNPs strong position. Whilst the UNP still insisted that Wickremesinghe continue as the Prime Minister and would take corrective steps over the polls debacle, the UNP was now in favour of a Cabinet reshuffle. This was one of the highlights of Sirisena-Wickremesinghe discussions on Thursday night. It was noted that a major ministerial reshuffle would send the right message that the Government was responding positively to the verdict of the voters by taking corrective action. Even Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake had declared he was willing to step down in the interests of the party. It was said he had earlier complained to the Prime Minister that he had too much on his plate as Law and Order Minister, Southern Development Minister, MP and Chief of Staff at the Prime Ministers Office.

Playing out separately on Wednesday was another event. A group of UNP parliamentarians turned up at the Rajagiriya residence of Minister and party secretary Kabir Hashim. Among them were Sajith Premadasa, Ranjit Maddumabandara, Ravi Samaraweera, Chandrasiri Gamage, Sujeeva Senasinghe, Ajith Perera and Nalin Bandara.

Hashim had not attended that days Cabinet meeting due to an ailment for which he had been advised bed rest. Most participants voiced concerns about the future of the party since they said the current situation could not be ignored. Some urged that Speaker Jayasuriya be made the Prime Minister. Whilst a few said Wickremesinghe should step down from the Premiership, others opined that he should give up the party leadership so someone else could reform the party. Sajith Premadasa argued that the Government should be strengthened. Speaking in Sinhala, he asked what the purpose was of being in the Opposition. Is it to Pol Gaannada or scrape coconuts? Noting that the party should be stabilised, he added that there were now difficulties in finding candidates even for the upcoming

Provincial Council elections.

A concerned Hashim telephoned party Chairman Samarawickrema. He briefed him on the goings on and urged him to come over. He had replied that matters have now been resolved. A while later Premier Wickremesinghe had telephoned and asked Hashim to request those present to meet him. He had said there was no need for Hashims visitors to raise queries since matters have been resolved.

On Friday afternoon, Sirisena met a delegation of leaders of the Joint Opposition partners. It comprised Dinesh Gunawardena (JO leader in Parliament), Pavithra Wanniaratchchi (SLFP), Kumara Welgama (SLFP), Gamini Lokuge (SLFP), T.B. Ratnayake (SLFP), Udaya Gammanpila (Pivithuru Hela Urumaya), Vasudeva Nanayakkara (Democratic Left Front) and Chandrasiri Gajadeera (Communist Party).

Associated with the President were Nimal Siripala de Silva, the prospective SLFP Prime Minister, and Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala.

The SLPP delegation formally conveyed their willingness to support a new SLFP Government. However, they did enumerate some of their demands. One was a letter from the President addressed to the Speaker of Parliament that the SLPP would be recognised as the main Opposition party in Parliament. Dinesh Gunawardena, Joint Opposition leader in Parliament, told the Sunday Times, President Sirisena will appoint a six member committee, three from each side, to study the formation of a new Government. All issues connected with it will be discussed at the committee, he said. Sirisena also revealed to the JO delegation that he had sought the advice of the Attorney General on the constitutionality of removing the Prime Minister. Gunawardena said they had the required numbers though the JO would not accept portfolios. That meeting made clear that Sirisena was now playing with two options.

Thus, it is also evident that Sirisena, who has bought time since the local polls results were announced, and despite his own partys debacle, had two different choices. One is to accept the SLFP proposal to form an SLFP Government. For this, they would have to prove that they have the required numbers and convince the President. Judging by developments yesterday, this does not seem an easy task. Yet, the movers say they are confident they could convince Sirisena.

The other is to allow Premier Wickremesinghe to continue in office but effect a major cabinet reshuffle. UNP parliamentarians have been invited to lunch at their headquarters Sirikotha by General Secretary Kabir Hashim today. The purpose is to obtain their signatures supporting Ranil Wickremesinghe to continue as the Prime Minister. Attendance is being closely monitored to ascertain the number of absentees. Will that include the handful who have signed Premjayanthas affidavit?

UNP accord on two issues

On Friday morning, hours ahead of Wickremesinghes news conference, a group of UNP parliamentarians met him at Temple Trees. Among them were Kabir Hashim, Ranjit Madduma Bandara, Talatha Athukorale, Sujeeva Senasinghe, Ajith B. Perera, Ruwan Wijewardene and Ravi Samaraweera.

They reached accord on two main issues. In the event of President Sirisena agreeing that Prime Minister should continue in office, to make sweeping changes in the Government structure. This was to address peoples needs. The other was a change in the party leadership  a matter on which one of those who attended said Wickremesinghe agreed in principle. However, no time frame has been set.

Tonight, Wickremesinghe will meet with leaders of the UNF at Temple Trees.

If other fast changing events do not overtake, the UNP proposes to hand in the list of signatures to President Sirisena tomorrow (Monday). In such an event, its continuance as a Government seems assured. The flip side of the move will be the exodus of SLFPers including ministers who want to sit in the Opposition benches. The latter claim they will, however, not join Mahinda Rajapaksas SLPP, an assertion that appears flimsy. It would leave only a handful of ministers remaining with Sirisena.

On the other hand, if SLFPers led by Minister Premajayantha perform a political miracle by proving they could form a Government, there will be other casualties. It will see the exit of Premier Wickremesinghe and Cabinet Ministers from his party. The chain reaction will unseat all their supporters holding top positions and spark a further crisis within the UNP. The next few hours or days will tell which way things will settle, if they will settle at all.

The first show of strength for both the SLFP as well as the UNP in Parliament could be tomorrow (Monday). That is when they meet to continue the debate on the bond scam for two days. However, there is no vote. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has summoned a party leaders meeting for 9 a.m. tomorrow to decide whether a debate should be held. The nation awaits the political direction the country is headed.Delay in announcing results and other travails of Polls Chief View(s):

Just days before the local polls, the Election Commission told Sri Lankans that results would be announced early, as early as 7.30 pm in local authorities with lesser number of voters. Alas, the first result did not arrive till after 12.15 a.m. on Sunday. The Commission, constitutionally empowered to be an independent body, had a message posted on its website. See screenshot of the web page:

The announcement, however, does not say who blundered leading to the receipt of a scanned document?

Instead, Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya told a news conference he had not been influenced by politicians to delay the results.

In the lead-up to the 2018 Local Government Elections, the Elections Commission (EC) had been conducting an intense awareness campaign to inform voters that on election day, they should exercise their franchise by marking only an X on the ballot paper next to the party of their choice. Despite all its best efforts, however, a considerable number of ballots had to be rejected because voters had not followed this simple instruction.

EC Chairman Deshapriya gave vent to his frustrations over the matter at a media briefing on Wednesday, saying no matter how many times the EC had conveyed the message, a large number of Pandithayas had still not followed it.

We had ballots being marked with the number 1 or some other symbol. Some people had even drawn a heart shape, he revealed. All such votes were rejected. This had led to some angry scenes at certain counting centres, where party representatives who were present had argued over the legality of such ballots, if they saw that the ballots had been cast for their party.

The age-old practice had been that if a voter marks 1 or a or any indication to clearly show the intent of the voters preference, it is accepted as a valid vote. A might indicate the voter loves the candidate, but it might be stretching the argument. Considering the number of women voters, and film stars in the fray it is not surprising. On the other hand, such a vote could be a protest vote.

What was surprising, though, was the high percentage of valid votes, with some councils hitting 85 percent of the registered number of votes. This is positively surprising. The Election Commission Chairmans other comments also raised eyebrows. One was that his Commission is not responsible for releasing the overall results of the LG elections to the media. If it was not through the media how the citizenry was to know the overall results was not explained. He merely said the political parties would have known the results from the polling centres. The problem is, even a week after the poll the king (or queen) voter the custodian of which the Commission so steadfastly claimed to be, continues to be in the dark about who won and who lost, especially in the bigger councils.

And then, Mr. Deshapriya who claimed copyright on the womens quota and derided others for infringing on what was their authorship, this week complained of the headache the quota was causing in constituting the councils.

Counter-terror draft to be amended again ahead of UNHRC session

For many months now, the Government has been making amendments to a draft of a counter terrorism law to replace the (Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

The final draft was placed for approval before the Cabinet of Ministers last Wednesday by Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana, PC.

The Government wants to ensure its early passage since the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva is expected to begin its sessions on February 26 and continue till March 23.

However, at last Wednesdays meeting, Minister Sajith Premadasa raised strong objections to the final draft being introduced in Parliament. Foreign Minister Marapana said the draft laws had been closely studied and many changes made. He said it would be imprudent to stop its passage into law at this juncture in the light of the UN Human Rights Council session.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe pointed out that it would also affect the restoration of the GSP plus tariff preferences to Sri Lanka by the European Union. He said that the draft would have to be presented to Parliament and passed.

President Sirisena asked what the reaction of the Attorney General would be. Minister Marapana said the AG had opined that certain provisions needed to be amended. The Cabinet of Ministers will take up the draft bill in a weeks time for a decision.

Govt. did not catch rogues, but rogues caught the Govt.

Politicians have been making some pithy comments after the elections. One of them which has been repeated by many is one that was initially told by JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Horu allana Anduwak Heduwa, Horu tika Ekathuwela Aanduwa alluwa (A government was formed to catch the rogues; instead the rogues got together and captured the government).

Samantha Vidyaratna, his colleague from the Badulla district, made similar comments saying that it seems voters have elected a party to carry out more destruction like the Uma Oya project.

Political father and son nearly come to blows

A father and son, both in politics, came to near blows this week.

It was all over the fathers insistence that the son should remain ever green and not sign affidavits circulated by others.

But the Young Turk, who once claimed he was in politics from the age of five, was insistent and went on to place his signature to throw out the fathers boss.

More money on crackers than on campaign, but he lost

A local businessman turned politician who contested the last weeks elections from the Nallur area from the ITAK for the Jaffna Municipal council was taken for a costly ride this week by a Provincial Council member from his own party.

As the results of the council emerged, the candidate found that he had been defeated and consulted the provincial council member.He was told that, though he was defeated he could enter the council through the nominated list.

He soon sent out his supporters and purchased fire crackers to the value of more than Rs 100,000 and his supporters were soon seen lighting them in the Jaffna town.

Later, he was told by the party hierarchy that the selections had already been made and he had no chance of getting into the council.

The angry defeated candidate had got back to the Provincial Council member and told him he had spent more money on crackers than what he spent for the campaign.Year of the Dog dawns with China fast becoming Lankas best friend Is it time to berth the mother ship in Hambantota Port of Hope and fasten the rupee to the yuan and pin faith to the yang? View(s): View(s):

Even as the Chinese New Year of the Dog dawned this Friday, it is becoming crystal clear that China is fast turning out to be Lankas best friend.

And that this country, reduced as it is to the nadir of its economical and political existence and the recent loss of its moral compass, should grip the hand of friendship China, for whatever reason, has so earnestly extended to her. If last weeks election result showed the political negative Yin of Chinese philosophy, it has become vital that the nation embrace the positive Yang on the economic front and anchor its last buck and its first faith to the growing power of the Chinese Yuan.

Lanka should face the reality to clutch not the straw other nations have thrown to save her from drowning but to step on the sturdy branch China has laid out on a red carpet of welcome for her to climb aboard her cruise ship and embark with her, along with a host of sixty other nations, upon a voyage of discovery to find untold riches on the ancient silk route China once dominated two thousand years ago and wishes to dominate again in the 21st century. Thankfully the present government jumped aboard last year or else Lanka would have missed the boat. Without another vessel in sight to raise the thumb and hitch a sail boat ride on the great Chinese Odyssey. A voyage to lead Lanka and over sixty other countries, from poverty to affluence with Captain China on the ships bridge with hands firmly fixed on the wheel. But, at least, for the moment, Lanka is dining at the Captains table.

For this island nation is so geographically placed, the midpoint between the east and the west, between Beijing and Rome, between China and Africa, that she was the hub of the Indian Ocean twenty centuries ago which advantage Lankan kings of old exploited to the full to create the wealth that built the great stupas that rivalled the pyramids of Egypt. They saw it as a gift the gods had brought to their shores; and did not spurn the offering and heaven sent opportunity to enrich their coffers by being the transshipment point of then international trade. It still retains the preeminence. As the natural port of call for ships to break voyage between East Asia, Europe and Africa to either unload goods for transshipment or to refuel and steam ahead to other ports of destination.

Over two thousand years ago Chinas imperial envoy Zhang Qian who represented the Han Dynasty mapped a network of trade routes that linked China to Central Asia and the Arab world. Chinas most important export then gave the route its name: Silk.

The Silk Road consisted of several routes, the northern route which travelled through mountain ranges, the southern route or Karakoram route was mainly a single route running from China through the Karakoram mountains connecting Pakistan and China, The southwestern route is believed to be the Ganges Brahmaputra Delta, which has been the subject of international interest for over two millennia. And of course there was the old maritime route which placed Lanka at the epicentre of the Silk Routes chartered course as it traversed the seven seas. The South China Sea, Strait of Malacca, Indian Ocean, Gulf of Bengal, Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.

But despite whatever British poet Rudyard Kipling meant when he wrote, East is East and West is West and the twain shall never meet, East met West in the isle of Lanka. In the harbour of Hambantota. The hub of the silk route.

But a series of events which ruffled the waters saw the routes decline. Environmental crises and cycles of climate change in the 14th century forced both China and West Asia to turn inwards. Drought and famine accompanied by plagues of locusts on Yuan China from 1324 to 1330, and again from 1339. Concurrently, another plague pandemic, which killed an estimated 30 percent or more of Europes population in a Black Death and spread to West Asia slumped trade on the Maritime Silk Road. But though Black Death may have knelled the bell of death to the silk route, Chinas dream did not die with it. She, with a five thousand history behind her, stayed patient until the time was ripe to revive it and re-live the ancient dream.

With the slothful panda as her mascot, China lulled the west into blissful complacency, until she was ready to bring out the dragon in her to the worlds amazement. It happened in 1993. Within two decades total trade multiplied by nearly 100 to USD 4.2 trillion to challenge the United States as the worlds biggest trading nation. She was ready to take on the world. The sleeping giant had finally awoken.

Five years ago, Chinas president, Xi Jinping, proposed to reestablish the ancient Silk Road. And in the case of the maritime route, the ancient port of Hambantota re-assumed its indispensability as the hub of the grand plan, as it had done two thousand years ago.

But even before he announced it, the ground had already been furrowed and plowed with the seeds planted to see Chinas own 1500 year old Big Banyan Tree with a seven-metre girth at its trunk dwarf the Lankan Nuga.

The year 2000 to 2001 January was the Chinese Year of the Dragon. A year later, it moved the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to unveil the Regaining Sri Lanka concept which identified the ancient seaport of Hambantota for development. But with his fall from Chandrikas grace, it was shelved for another six years when the Rajapaksa regime wiped the dust off the project files and claimed paternity to the vision to restore Hambantota to its old glory. And the Chinese were ready with the money to make the dream come true.

The total cost of the first phase of the project was estimated at $360 million, excluding $76.5 million for the bunker terminal. Eighty five percent would be funded by China, the balance by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. The Rajapaksa regime, to their credit, saw the project through but, with their fall in 2015, it was left to the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration to wag the tail.

The development of the port had been completed but the nation sat on the dock of the Hambantota bay waiting for the ships to roll in and to watch them roll out again but none did., even though the port was just 10 nautical miles from one of the worlds busiest shipping routes. Lanka had the goods but not the salesmanship to market its wares, to exploit the potential of its port. Obviously, a strategic partner was called for. And China to whom Lanka owed a thumping 8 billion US dollars came to the rescue. What was proposed was to swap part of the debt for equity. To sell the port to a Chinese company on a 99-year lease.

To some it seemed Lanka had become the fly caught in the Chinese web of the debt trap. To neighbouring India it appeared as a direct threat to her own security and the bogey of China establishing a naval base was put forward in a bid to scuttle the venture. But whereas the Rajapaksa regime had tilted exclusively toward China and snubbed India much to her ire, the new Sirisena-Wickremesinghe regimen managed, through adroit diplomacy, to calm Indias fears and simultaneously satisfy debt repayment to the Chinese. And furthermore herald a new miracle in Lankas Deep South, an area that had for years been subject to abject neglect by successive governments.

What China was offering was the full option total package. And it was not an offer that could be refused. Lanka did not have the resources, the money, the expertise, the experience to exploit to the full the huge potential of the Hambantota port.

With China as a strategic partner, Hambantota was Lankas oyster waiting to be cracked open to find within its shell, the pearl of her future promise,

For starters, on July 29, 2017the Concession Agreement about Hambantota Port was signed between Sri Lanka Ports Authority and China Merchant Port Holdings with the investment up to USD 974 million on a 99-year lease. Under the agreement the Chinese company would hold 85 percent of the shares of Hambantota International Port Group. On December 9 last year, the port was handed over to the China Merchant Ports Holdings and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. What had remained stagnant waters even after its development in 2008 suddenly showed the first signs of ripples.

As the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that day Sri Lanka had joined Chinas Belt and Road Initiative with the launch of operations at the Hambantota Port through a joint venture between China and Sri Lanka. He said: Today we have made arrangements for the management and long-term success of the Hambantota Port. This Sri Lankan and Chinese joint venture, which has taken over the management of this port, and its operations, will ensure an additional port in the Indian Ocean. The Hambantota Port will add to Sri Lankas concept of transforming into a hub in the Indian Ocean.

Some in the opposition claimed that it was selling a national asset. But arent they wrong on two counts? First the port has only been given on a 99-year lease. Does one expect foreign investors, be they Chinese or Americans or Indians to come and invest in this country for love, without a legal claim to even a temporary lease of the land? Secondly, whats the point in refusing to lease out the land, if we do not have the wherewithal to make the best use of it? Beggars cant be choosers.

Just consider the benefits the new partnership will bring. What have been idle waters for so long have suddenly started to bubble with activity in the wake of ships rolling in, not even two months after the official handover. As much as Lanka would have preferred to be at the helm of affairs and claim all credit and financial return, the stubborn truth remains that force of circumstances have made us outsource the resources we have for at least a slice of the cake. Something better than nothing  especially for a nation with a massive debt burden to service each year.

The mutual aim of both Sri Lanka and China is to turn the Hambantota port into a major hub connecting neighbouring countries as well as the rest of the world. As Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said at the official launching of the joint venture, We have made arrangements for the management and long-term success of Hambantota Port. The operations of the joint venture will ensure an additional port in the Indian Ocean.

Today, according to news reports, Hambantota Port is prospering every day and gains increasing confidence from the Sri Lankan community. Senior fellow from the Institute of National Security Studies of Sri Lanka Lasantha Wickremesooriya told foreign news agencies that for the flow of vessels between the West and the East, the major transshipment hub is Singapore. But he added that Hambantota Port is more economical for them. With the technical know-how, marketing know-how, and the investment capability by CMPH, the port will eventually turn into a profitable venture in the future with more modern vessels coming in, he said. Mangala P.B. Yapa, managing director of the Agency for Development of the Sri Lankan Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade, also expects a bright future for Hambantota Port. We are confident that this collaboration and partnership will bring in success to Sri Lanka and our partner CMPH. A commercially viable and efficient Hambantota Port will be catalytic in the economic development of the south of the country and resulting in better livelihood for the people in that part.

Exactly. Hambantota port is not a stand-alone venture. It has become the hub of southern development. Around it bloom the blossoming of the entire province.

Consider the following; Twelve miles away from Hambantota, lies the construction site of the fourth section of Sri Lankas Southern Highway Extension Project where both Lankan and Chinese workers are engaged in building the last lap of the southern highway. From Matara to Hambantota, the Southern Highway Extension Project is divided into four sections, all contracted to Chinese companies and it is expected to be done end of next year. The Expressway will benefit the local communities as it will ease the movement of goods. The expressway will also help vendors along it to transfer their goods to Colombo within a short period of time and this will improve their livelihoods.

And thats not all. China and Sri Lanka are also eyeing cooperation on the Industrial and Logistics Zone in Hambantota. According to the proposal, the Sri Lanka-China Industrial and Logistics Zone, covering an area of 50 square kilometres, will not only provide basic shipping services, but also embark on port-related industries, such as refining and sea-product processing industries.

As Ranil Wickremesinghe said, with the development of the Hambantota Port, steps were also being taken to construct an economic zone in Hambantota which would see hundreds of foreign investors launching factories within this zone in the near future. And this will definitely help strengthen our economy. The Chinese company that took the port on a 99-year lease had this to say: the Hambantota Port will be the largest multi-purpose port in Sri Lanka and also the island nations single largest private investment. The aim of the government of Sri Lanka and the China Merchant Port Holdings is to transform Hambantota port from a transshipment hub to a total logistics hub of the Indian Ocean region.

With the fall of the Rajapaksa regime in 2015, the new Sirisena government expected much from the west. But apart from the praise that flowed, apart from Lanka being granted its place again as a member of the civilised nations of the world and apart from the president flattered by being given a seat at the high table to dine with Obama at a G7 feast, nothing substantial to build the economy flowed. And the government was compelled to look east again  to China for aid even as the previous government had done for the last ten years. If not for Chinas helping hand this last decade, the countrys infrastructure would have remained potholed and dilapidated.

The nation expected the world to come to its doorstep bearing gifts to build the economy forgetting that friendship between nations are based solely on self interest and not on love and air. Only Chinas ship sailed into port laden with massive investment. Whatever the hire purchase terms may have been, whatever the buy-now-pay-later policy may have entailed, without Chinas ever ready cash, Lanka would have been dead broke and in ramshackle condition, forced to eat her supposed sovereignty for mental sustenance whilst the belly remains empty and bare.

Today whilst a port city is arising on Colombos shores promising massive investments in the near future and thousands of jobs, the greening of Lankas south, long arid of investment has begun. And Hambantota port has become the hub of southern development. Last year saw the foundation stone of the Sri Lanka-China Industrial Zone being laid in Hambantota, with the vision of further developing Hambantota gradually becoming a reality.

Chinas aim is to turn the Hambantota port into a major hub connecting neighbouring countries as well as the rest of the world. The Port serves as a hub of cooperation between Sri Lanka and China in Hambantota. The Southern Highway will provide essential infrastructure support for the vast Industrial and Logistics Zone soon to materialise. China may indeed have her long-term strategic reasons to develop the south even as India may have in her attempts to develop the north. Even as the British had during their 150 year rule in the island. Lankas only option is to temporarily swallow its pride and allow both to compete with each other and await to reap the economic benefits that will undoubtedly flow from such investments. Its time to face reality. Realise that size does matter. That money is muscle. Time to brutally accept the position of this island in a geopolitical world; time to accept that we are nothing more than a sprat in a sea of sharks and killer whales. That there can be no real independence to shout about or celebrate each year if the nation is not financially sound.

Lanka, given her geographical position, has the tremendous opportunity to become the hub of the Indian Ocean, even as she once was during the kings of old. But it is also clear that she cannot, given her financial position, do it alone. She needs all the help she can get from the outside world to regain that position and to reap its benefits. And should be glad that the regions giant and the worlds emerging superpower China  for reasons of her own  is doing it for her. There is nothing called a free lunch. And Lanka cannot have the cake and eat it either.

When the unsolicited project to build a port city right on the capitals shore was first mooted and then approved by the Rajapaksa regime, the people clamoured against it claiming it would lead to loss of sovereignty. The then opposition raised the issue of granting China freehold land upon it. But when the coalition government came to power, it had no option but to accept the a Chinese port city arising from Lankas territorial waters subject, of course, to the freehold being turned to a 99-year lease. Lanka had become the fly caught in the Chinese web of the debt trap. The joint opposition, which had first promoted it as Lankas port city of hope, began then to attack the new agreement as a sellout of Lankas sovereignty.

But do the people of this country know much about the concept of sovereignty? Except to parrot what the politicians tell them at different times to further their own political interests? Do they realise the value of fundamental rights and its importance as the lifeblood of the nation or do they simply wear its fancy dress politicians adorn them with and shove the motley back to the closet after the voting has been done? To keep it mothballed till another election comes their way?

Perhaps some things can never be taught to a nation on the poverty belt with short-term memory. Even as the Buddha said, never preach to those with an empty stomach, but first feed and then preach, the voter buffalos of Lanka must first be fed its poonac before the principles of sovereignty and the awesome benefits of democracy are extolled and expounded to them.

And take into account the fickle nature of its people  ever vacillating, ever changing, more rapidly than a weather cock revolves on a church spire to changing winds that blow. In such a setup can this nation afford anymore to adopt the arrogance of a poor church mouse and roar? Even as China is slowly lifting its bamboo curtain, it is time for Lanka to raise the veil of hypocrisy with which it had shrouded itself since February 4, 1948. And shed her illusion that the world owes her a living.Local students were seen enthusiastically attending the Study in India Education Fair held at the BMICH recently. This years Fair, supported by the Indian High Commission in Colombo, was under the theme World class Education at affordable cost, and attracted a large number of students, especially Advanced Level students and school leavers. Pic by M.D. [...]Who is to Blame for School Shootings?

By Rob Morse. February 15th, 2018

Article Source

Ill cut right to the point. We can stop murderers from killing our kids in school, but it isnt easy. The politicians, particularly the Florida politicians, are against it. What can we do to save our students?

Weve asked the people who train SWAT cops what they can do. They said it takes too long to assemble a SWAT team. It takes too long to put the team in position near the school. It takes too long to clear the building and time is the enemy. Several students and staff will be shot every minute.

We asked the local police officers and sheriffs deputies. They dont even get the 911 call until the shooting has been going on for several minutes. It takes time for law enforcement officers to race to the scene. They then have to enter the school and find the attacker before they can stop him. That is 15 minutes lost right there. Law enforcement will not let medical personnel into the building until they know the crime scene is safe. That means the cops will clear every classroom before the EMTs enter the building and start treating the injured. Those 45 minutes are critical.

Sheriffs said that takes too long. They said they need armed staff in the school. We protect our money with guns, but Florida politicians say we cant protect children with armed staff.

Let me correct that statement. We cant protect OUR children. The children of celebrities and politicians have armed guards. Our children dont. Only the children of the elites deserve protection. That isnt acceptable.

Several states have programs in place to arm school staff. They train volunteer school staff to stop the threat and treat the injured until police and EMTs arrive. These teachers desperately want a chance for their kids to go home alive. These are the same teachers who will stop a bullet with their bodies to save their kids.

I want them all to go home alive, both teachers and students. The training program is called FASTER, which stands for Faculty / Administrator Safety Training & Emergency Response. Theyve trained thousands of teachers and have thousands of man-years of experience with armed staff in schools. Why arent they in your school? Learn about them at fastersaveslives.org

The Florida politicians will propose more prohibitions, more ink on paper. That hasnt stopped a single murderer yet. Ink on paper doesnt keep blood off the floor, but ink on paper fools voters time after time.

Will it work this time too?

Back to Top

GLF Outreach Programme by Tarini Pilapitiya View(s): View(s):

Empowering children to use musical instruments as modes of communication  The Music Project joined The Fairway Galle Literary Festival once again for a harmonious outreach programme.

The Music Project currently works with 350 children from the North and South of Sri Lanka, children from tender ages of around of 8 and 9 years progressing from recorder to violin, cello, flute, trumpet, guitar and a variety of percussion. A carefully structured programme, it has been operating for the past six years. Currently, The Music Project hosts bi-weekly classes in schools with carefully trained teachers and volunteers. The children are then given the opportunity to take part in a public performance, many young musicians gaining experience and being empowered in demonstrating their musical skills.

The project uses music as a link language between the north and the south. This year we were thrilled to be invited for their outreach program in association with the Galle Literary Festival. At this years programme we met the more experienced students of Grade 7 and above, the hall filled with the eager and excited faces of 330 students at the Martin Wickramasinghe House & Folk Museum. The children who were warmly welcomed in the morning with the projects warm up Hello Song were then divided into three sections of 100 children and were shown various fun activities throughout the day.

The three core activities were namely; a Tour of the Museum, Power of Play  a puppet show by Sulochana Dissanayake and a Canvas Project.

We arrived just in the midst of Sulochana animatedly narrating a story to some amused kids with her friendly puppets. Filled with music from a guitar and tambourine  the story came to life as children squealed and cheered on their inanimate friends.

Speaking to a group of young students from North Central schools we learnt that this shy group was made up of a classroom of 17 students and one teacher who came down for the outreach program. Although the young lads were not forthcoming with their response a group of eager young ladies decidedly informed us that the program was fun and good.

These young students who have been with the Music Project from a tender young age showed great prowess in a variety of instruments  the girls informing us that they all played the guitar, trumpet, flute and violin. Over the years they have learnt to master a myriad of scores from numerous Hindi songs to even the theme song of the Johnny Depp famous Pirates of the Caribbean. Their school has gone on to compete at National Levels competitions coming first in recorder in 2016 and placing second in 2017.

The afternoon events were some animated storytelling by Ameena Hussein and Sam Perera. Speaking to chief guest of the evening James Russo, the Director of Press, Cultural and Educational Affairs from the US embassy, we learnt that the Embassys support to the Music Project initiative is parallel to the goals of US administration. We are always looking to fund opportunities like womens empowerment, youth development, reconciliation and economic opportunities for the disadvantaged, Russo states. This was his first time visiting The Music Project initiative and he was thrilled with how the projects goals resonate with the Embassys goals. Music is the ultimate source of untainted knowledgeable education, Russo shares.

The energy of the evening was lively as was the chatter and camaraderie of kids who seemed to remember their friends from past workshops and programs with the Project. The atmosphere resonated well with the initiative as the kids shared in various activities that brought out much laughter and pearly white smiles.Kids Essays View(s):

Holiday trip to Anuradhapura

I loved to visit Anuradhapura because it is an ancient place.

I went with my aunt, uncle, sister,

my grandmother and grandfather.

I was very excited to go on the trip in the train.

We went to Anuradhapura and went to our hotel to have lunch. Then we went to see Isurumuniya, Ruwanveli Seya, Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya, Abhayagiriya, Thuparamaya and many more. We went to rest near the Abhaya River. Later we went to see the moonstone, guardstone and Lankaramaya. Then as it was dark we went back to our hotel and we rested.

The next day we went to Thanthirimale. It is a nice place.

It has a small forest. We went into it. It was very scary but enjoyable.

Then we also went to Mihintale.

It is a rock. Mihindu Maharahathan vahanse came to this rock. This was made a palace of King Dewanampiyatissa. Its very nice. The next day we went to Ritigala.

It is a very high mountain. We went up. There is a forest but it is a very beautiful place.

The last day we came back to Colombo to our home sweet home.

I enjoyed this trip very much.

Sethini Isandima (13 years)

St. Pauls Girls School

My sister

My sisters name is Haleema. She is three years old. We play together. She likes to eat pasta. She is beautiful.

I love her very much.

Nabeel Thanish (7 years)

Royal College

If I was the ruler of the country

If I was the ruler of the country

(Sri Lanka), I would definitely find a way to recycle garbage so that people can live without any tension about garbage landslides. I would also develop the textile industries and the

fishing industries.

I will also help the poor people by providing them with houses and money. I will construct hospitals, schools and universities. I will build schools for the children who can complete their education and to achieve their goals in the future. I would also reduce the stress of earning money. I will encourage people to

conduct health education seminars for the future generation to protect themselves.

I will also improve trade relations with other

countries.

I will protect my people and try my best to be a good ruler.

Udamthi Jayasinghe (Grade

Willesden College Int.

My pet

My pet is a parrot. It has two wings. It has two legs. My parrot has a red beak. My pet likes to eat fruits and grains. I love my pet very much.

Mayantha Anuththara (Grade 2)

JMC College Int., Angoda

The computer

The computer was invented

by Charles Babbage. The computer is a modern invention. We see computers in hospitals, banks, schools and many other places. The computer has a monitor, mouse, keyboard, CPU and many more pieces.

I want to learn a lot more about computers.

Isali Siribaddana (8 years)

Musaeus College

My mother

My mother is very good

She is the most beautiful person

She is kind and honest

She teaches me and my sister

She is a manager at HSBC

She has passed her exams

When we do wrong things

She teaches us the correct thing

My mother loves both of us

On Saturday we spend time

together

My mother will sacrifice for me

My father will too

My mother is second to none

She loves us more than anything

She will buy everything for us

I love her more than anything in the world

Liyendra Fernando (11 years)

Holy Family Convent,

Colombo 4

For the love of trees

I was one amongst the large group of lovers of modern art who attended For The Love of Trees an exhibition of line drawings and painting organised and presented by a group of contemporary art enthusiasts held recently at the Lionel Wendt Memorial Art Gallery, Colombo.

Inspired by the love of the jungle and the fascination with trees, a group comprising of Charmaine, Minha, Senerath and Kumarasiri captured the beauty of the ever changing environment through different styles on canvas.

The paintings exhibited consisted mainly of a different concept and nature. Most of them outlined the various shapes, styles and beauty of the many varieties of natural hues and shades of the fully grown foliage that had spread their branches far and wide. The endeavours of the artists to give these branches and twigs an artistic twist is certainly laudable and praiseworthy.

Some of the exhibits were quite impressive, specially the works on ink and oil on canvas was indeed a rare treat for all students and lovers of modern art. Their efforts will certainly serve as a glowing example for our future generation of up and coming art enthusiasts to follow.

Ahmed Umar Asri (13 years)

Zahira College, Colombo

The way I like to learn in my classroom

Education is a secondary need of humans. Schools are there to fulfill this need. In schools they provide us knowledge, attitude and skills to mould our characters so to have a proper personality.

Various children like to learn in various ways. Among them Im also a student who likes to learn in my way. The way I like to learn in my classroom is to have good education with good, kind and knowledgeable teachers as well as students. I expect clean surroundings without rubbish and other useless stuff. The advantage of learning in my way in the classroom is to gain a big knowledge. If there is a calm, pleasant and activity based learning environment, then we can have an inclination towards education.

I dont like to learn under pressure. Sometimes the classroom is compact with desks and chairs. It harms our mental satisfaction and thinking power.

However, Im fond of taking up challenges when learning. There are memorable teachers who can understand us and our needs in my life. I offer them my gratitude. Our school provides us many co-curricular activities also. According to my point of view, these help us to learn in stress-free environment. I love my Alma Mater for providing me free education and wish her to be the best in the world.

Sireni Sasindi (Grade

Sanghamitta Girls College, Galle

Im a fish

I am a fish. People call me Angel fish.

I am in yellow and blue colour. I have a small tail. I have colourful and beautiful fins.

I live in the sea.

There are so many beautiful fish in the sea. Some are small and some are big. Some big fish catch and eat us. Some people are catching us and they sellus. I have many friends in the sea. I eat small water plants. I can swim very fast. I play with my friends in the sea. We live very happily in the sea.

I am the most beautiful fish in the sea.

Kaveesha (Grade 4)

Royal Int. School, Kegalle

Ruwanweli Maha Stupa

Ruwanweli Maha Stupa was built by King Dutugemunu. Two most important places for worship in Anuradhapura are Sri Maha Bodhi and Ruwanweliseya. King Dutugemunu built this during the reign of 191  137 BC. But he could not complete it because he fell sick. He ordered his brother Tissa to complete it. Tissa knew that it was Dutugemunus last movement and he covered it with a white cloth and showed to King Dutugemunu. King Dutugemunu built Lovamahapaya. He is my favourite king.

Rushens Fernando (11 years)

Wennappuwa

Time is important

Time is more than money as money can be earned again. However, once spent time can never be earned. Time is priceless to everyone; time is free to all, however no one can buy it or sell it.

Try to respect time. Time is strong and more powerful than anything in this world. Time runs continuously without stoppage, it never gets tired. It is a wonderful thing which has no beginning and ending. It only runs in a forward direction. Most of the people value money more than time. Use time in a proper manner.

Sivarajah Menashini (11 years)

Lyceum Int. School

My mother

My ammas name is Viduranga. She is a university lecturer. She likes to cook. Her pasta is very delicious. She drives our car very well. My amma takes me for swimming, music, badminton and speech classes.

She is a good pianist. She teaches me how to play the piano too. My amma is the most important person in my life. I love her so much.

Hiranga Suraweera (Grade 2)

Trinity College, Kandy

My mum

My mum is very good. My mum can cook.

My mum can drive. My mum likes us.

Aimee Fernando (Grade 2)

Model P. S., Tangalle

My class teacher

My class teacher is

Mrs. Nayani Samarasinha.

She is in her early 50s. She has a round face. She is very tall and fair in complexion. She has long straight hair. She is very kind and helpful. I love my class teacher.

Chandima Perera (Grade 10)

Girikola Gamunu K.V.

Agalawatte

Friendship

Everyone needs a friend. Friendship is one of the noblest figure for human lives.

It is very difficult to find a true friend nowadays.

It is said,  A friend in need is a friend indeed. It is very easy to make friends but it is difficult to maintain a friendship. A true friend is worth more than gold. We must try to find out a friend with their qualities and character before making friends. True friends are always with you. They never trouble you.

If you can have one true friend, it can be a gift for your life.

Imansa Mahathanthila (Grade 9)

Kalutara B. N. S.A generous concept By Nirmalie Alahakone How generous would you be if you had to pick the price for a meal? Shanaka Fernando, founder of Australian restaurant chain Lentil As Anything says experience has taught him that people can been very generous View(s): View(s):

It really is a gamble, to run an enterprise with no price list. But it seems to have paid off. At Lentil as Anything, a chain of vegetarian restaurants founded by Shanaka Fernando, diners pay what they think the meal is worth. Ive never had any experience with restaurants. Im passionate about people and bringing people together.

To celebrate their differences and be able to share their uniqueness, Shanaka admits. And a restaurant is the perfect place for people to come together. Each person brings to the table his or her unique persona. He goes on to explain, Because I grew up in Sri Lanka during the war, I was quite passionate about building trust between people. The war was a result of trust breaking down between communities.

The absence of a price list is not the only novel concept at Lentil As Anything. Its a not-for-profit. Staff include volunteers, the long-term unemployed and the marginalised in society. As stated on their website, the underemployed, the homeless, refugees and the disenfranchised are all given an equal opportunity to gain skills and help their fellow humans at Lentil as Anything. We are trying to create a ripple in the community, where people take responsibility for their actions.

I cant cook to save my soul. But I do have an opinion on food. And I value good food. I was a guest on MasterChef Australia, with the Dalai Lama. I value healthy food more than tasty food, he says.

The restaurants were named Lentil As Anything based on a popular band called Mental As Anything in Australia. Its a play on the name. And also because Lentil is a very strong staple of the vegetarian community. Lentil would announce that we are a vegetarian restaurant, and As Anything evokes that you can come as anything or anyone and participate in the culture of eating and sharing. We are not worried about the money you have. We are concerned about the uniqueness you bring to the table. Its an attempt to recreate the dansala in Sri Lanka, Shanaka enthuses.

I love dansalas. I was in Sri Lanka once with my wife and children and they were simply amazed by the almost violent kindness: the flag waiver would stand in the middle of the road and not let you go past without a meal or a drink. Sri Lankans are an incredible group of people. In the World Giving Index we [Sri Lanka] always rank very high. Its a shame that people in charge of policy dont activate that generosity for the good of the country.

There are four Lentil As Anything restaurants and a catering service in Australia. On the cards for the future include one in Northern Italy, and one in England. And Sri Lanka? Yes!! Definitely. Before the end of 2019.

So does this open environment translate to financial profit? We do very well financially, touch wood. Its a very powerful model of social development where the community generosity is activated on behalf of the community. People who have goodness in their heart are given the opportunity to express that through the money box. Places with high unemployment statistics prove to be viable places for the restaurants, like in Northern Italy where major companies like Fiat have relocated.

Winner of the Australian of the year  local hero award in 2007, Shanaka is passionate about people. I really like the model of encouraging people to think for themselves, because society has taken away that capacity to think for themselves. They have entrusted politicians to think for them, he says.

Shanaka grew up in Colombo, Sri Lanka and was a past pupil of Royal College. I see these people who are entrusted with guiding Sri Lanka to a more equitable and prosperous situation, and from a practical sense I dont see the policies and practices that support this desire.

So what path led Shanaka to where he is today? After O/Levels and failing miserably, I went to Wycherley International School Colombo for A/Levels. My passion wasnt academia. It was creativity, arts, performances, dancing. And sport, laughs Shanaka who comes from a family with a strong sporting influence.

Shanaka says his upbringing influenced his decision to open his chain of restaurants. I was quite concerned about the social gaps. I felt that, that community had an unfair access to the fiscal and material wealth of the country. Because I grew up near a slum, I was struck by how the social fabric of Sri Lanka seemed quite imbalanced.

Shanaka took a year off from running the restaurant last year to spend time in Sri Lanka working on a rainforest project; trying to create a rainforest corridor between Sinharaja and Kanneliya. I was really deeply touched by the village culture of Sri Lanka. The Veddhas, and especially in the rural communities. The calmness, that generosity of spirit. It was this generosity of spirit that led me to start the restaurant in Australia. When I was growing up we had help in our house, and whenever they would take me to their homes in the village thats when I experienced the most generosity. These people knew me very little but they would share everything they had with strangers and newcomers. This is my focus in the restaurants in a business context. And it has worked.

His business model has proved a success financially. Of course, Yes. We consistently turn over a profit now. And because we are a not-for-profit we can support other social programmes. Shanaka explains they have been able to expand into other areas. As well as the restaurants we now have our own farms, where we grow our own produce. We fund tree planting weekends. We take asylum seekers to the farmers in a trust building experience. Farmers host the refugees in their homes for the weekend. And in return they plant trees for soil regeneration.

Shanaka doesnt hesitate to express his disappointment with the Sri Lankan education system, which he points out needs to look at nurturing talents of students. Im a good example. I failed my O/Levels twice. I put my talent into other things; I wrote plays and songs. I choreographed. My talents found other outlets. I worked as a copywriter. Today the philosophy of our restaurant has been developed by the Department of Education in Australia into a teaching unit and distributed throughout Australian primary schools. There was even a question on me in their equivalent of our O/Levels. So for someone who failed O/Levels twice, Australian students are now learning about me and answering questions on me and our restaurants philosophy. I think thats an indictment on the local education system. We need to tap into the talents of the children and use that for the benefit of the country.

You can read more about Lentil As Anything on their website http://lentilasanything.com/First came the story, then came the genre Amanda Jay (Jayatissa) whose steampunk novel The Other One won the Fairway National Literary Award 2017 (English Category) talks to Kaveesha Fernando View(s): View(s):

Three characters with different backgrounds thrust together to try and solve a murder. Amanda Jay (Jayatissa) says this is what her book , The Other One is about in a nutshell. She says the mystery was what she was most focused on and that she didnt even identify the genre on her own. I never picked this genre to write in  it wasnt something that I made a conscious decision to do. I didnt set out trying to create a fantasy world  I set out trying to tell this story and it just so happened that the world was created to accommodate this story, she says, explaining that it was her friends who identified the book as a particular genre of science fiction  a category called steampunk to be precise.

Because of the genre, she initially didnt market or publish the book in Sri Lanka but having done that, today she is the winner in the English category of the Fairway National Literary Award 2017, which was announced at the Fairway Galle Literary Festival.

30-year-old Amanda Jayatissa attended Bishops College and Colombo International School for her Advanced Level exams. She completed a degree in Mills College, California majoring in International Relations and minoring in sociology and worked in the United States before moving to the United Kingdom after she married her husband Chathura Jayatissa. She currently runs three companies  Sterling Language Solutions, The Brick Lane Cookie Company and Save Your Monkey.

Amanda says that she never expected the win  and even told her parents and in-laws not to come for the award ceremony. Getting a stamp of approval from the award committee that the book is at least in decent shape was a great relief, she says.

When judge Dr. Ranjini Obeysekere started giving comments on the books in ascending order of the winners, it was so confusing  I was sitting next to Shankari (Chandran) and we were just chatting and they started with the third runner-up and after they did the critique on that they said the next two runners-up are very similar in that they both dealt with historical fiction and I thought no! and in that moment you dont even want to hope because youve managed your expectations and you dont want to get your hopes up.

I kept sneaking looks at my husband and we were confused and when they said Shankaris book was a close second and then when they started giving comments on her book even still I thought there must be a mistake. Even midway through that I looked back and my husband and my brothers and friends were cheering and I thought ok!, she says, adding that it still hasnt hit her that she won.

Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction which focuses on machinery used just after the beginning of the industrial revolution, usually in an alternate universe.

Amandas book is based on the universe of Mliss, and she says the reason she created this universe is because our world simply could not accommodate her characters.

There are faint hints of Sri Lanka in the book. A few elements like religion and ethnic conflict Ive drawn from growing up in Sri Lanka but I didnt want to set it at a particular place, she explains.

She first published her book in May 2017  on KDB  Amazons self-publishing software and it became an instant success  reaching the hot new sellers list, number 3 on the science fiction list and number 1 on the steampunk list  which for me was mind blowing, I did not expect that at all, says Amanda. She didnt market the book because she was busy finishing her masters, launching one of her companies and also because she is very self-conscious when she knows people are reading what she writes.

Amanda had written three drafts of her book and had her third draft edited by a professional editor before she released it online. She is still surprised at the positive reviews she receives. I thought it would be just my friends and family who would read this and they would anyway compliment me because they are my friends and family but Ive been getting a lot of messages lately from complete strangers who say that they have read the book and they loved it. A lot of them are Sri Lankans and I never thought there would even be a market for books like this, she says.

Amandas planning her next book, but she is unsure of a title. I have started outlining The Next One and thats a joke thats going on now, she says, explaining that everyone has silly titles for her second book. Its going to be set in this same universe but not with these characters because I really feel that they have reached the end of their story. This book ends on a hopeful note and I want to pick up ten years from the end of that story and kind of talk about what happened to that hope and how it ended up. As a nation, as people we have these pinnacles in our lives where we think after we reach this everythings going to be ok but what happens ten years after youve reached that? Are you still happy? What happens next? she explains, adding that the book will have a stronger mystery element.Haven for action figure collectibles By Joshua Surendraraj Mirror Magazine has a chat with the founder of the hobby and comic book store, Collectique View(s): View(s):

Perhaps youve always wanted to get your hands on a superhero collectible, be it Marvel or DC. Or maybe the Ninja Turtles are your cup of tea,(indeed how could anyone resist Michael Angelos energetic Cowabunga?). Or maybe youre not a superhero kind of person, but model cars excite you more. This week we take a look at Collectique a store designed to bring you the best of your childhood fantasy collectibles.

Collectique is a toys, hobbies and comic book store, which has been in operation since April 2017. Located at No. 437, Pagoda Road, Kotte, the shop is one that is hard to miss, owing to the Batman silhouette, that stands guard atop the building.

Of course, unless youre loaded, youd probably have to sell a limb to get at some of the stores more expensive products. But the beauty of Collectique is that they cater to a wide consumer base. So if you cannot purchase a large lifelike figure of Batman, youd still be able to walk away with something cool.

Tharindu Wickramarachchi, the manager, is the first to greet us at the door. He starts by taking us on a small tour of the shop. Our first stop is by the side of a limited edition Arkham Knight created by Prime Studio 1.

The statue, which is made out of plaster and is inclusive of two detachable heads, is valued at almost Rs. 175,000. Tharindu explains that this is one of 1000 statues which are available in the world today, and quickly adds that this one has already been sold.

Standing next to Batman is the unlikely combination of Captain America. We find out that XM Studios had made a limited edition 500 statues, exclusively for Simply Toys. Valued at approximately Rs.134,000, the statue stands tall next to a Jean Grey format statue by Sideshow.

Our first question is, why would one pay so much for a statue, (although our answer seemed to be egged on to the fine finesse of the figures) to this Tharindu replies that their customers are mostly collectors. And since these statues are limited edition its price increases by each day. People are willing to buy these figures, because they know that even if they have no use for it anymore, they can always sell it for a higher price.

Pointing to Captain America he tells us that when the statue first came out it was valued at Rs.115,000. But now its increased to Rs.134,000.

We also offer our customer the service of reselling it, if they want us to, he adds.

As we move past an almost lifelike statue of Iron Fist, we find ourselves looking upon a colourful painting of Wolverine and the Incredible Hulk. Thats the work of a local artist, Tharindu is quick to mention, adding that the shop offers several paintings of your choice by the same artist, the prices of which range from Rs.6000- Rs.14,000.

The stores action figure collection is our next stop.

Tharindu explains that when it comes to action figures, the brand Hot Toys is the best. He grabs a Thor action figure off the shelf and shows it to us. Thor comes inclusive of several detachable arms, Mjolnir (his hammer) and a stand.This was priced at Rs. 35,000. Sitting next to Thor we notice Iron Man. He comes with a Miss Pepper and a detachable Iron Man suit, which could be fitted onto Miss Pepper.

Collectique also showcases a Ninja Turtles corner, which include 1/6 scale action figures of all four turtles, priced at Rs. 35,000 each.

The shop however does not only stick to Superheros, rather they also offer several Tin Tin and Asterix products. Aside from these, if youre not really into such items, the store also offers a wide collection of model automobiles, which range from some of the best brands such as CMC, to Hot Wheels.

Tharindu explains that whats unique about the CMC model, is that it comes inclusive of leather seats, spare wheels and a miniature tool kit. Of course these models are priced at Rs. 80,000. But if youre looking for something a little within your budget, youd probably want to stick to Hot Wheels.

Overall the beauty of Collectique, is that it features a little something for every collector. If youre not really into action figures, statues of superheroes or even posters and model automobiles, one could even get a customized bean bag, or even a Marvel t shirt or comic book.

For more details you could checkout their Facebook page Collectique or website at http://www.toyssl.com/. They also offer an exciting membership programme, which comes inclusive of several discounts and offers.Eat slowly and enjoy your food to keep the weight off By Ben Spencer Medical Correspondent For The Daily Mail Experts believe savouring every mouthful could be a successful way of keeping slim View(s): View(s):

Scoffing your food too quickly increases the risk of becoming overweight, research suggests. A study of 60,000 people found those who ate slowly were 42 per cent less likely to be overweight than fast eaters. The research, published in the journal BMJ Open, also found eating evening meals at least two hours before going to bed cut the risk of being overweight by 10 per cent.

Experts believe chewing slowly, savouring every mouthful and taking time over a meal could be a successful weight-loss strategy.

This is because it takes some time  roughly 20 minutes  for the brain to receive the message that the stomach is full.

So fast eaters keep on gobbling down their food well after they have had enough food.

The researchers, from Kyushu University in Japan, wrote: Fast eaters may continue to eat until they feel full despite having already consumed an adequate amount of calories, and the combined effect of eating quickly and overeating may contribute to weight gain.

In contrast, eating slowly may help to increase feelings of satiety before an excessive amount of food is ingested.

The team, who tracked participants for six years, also found fast eaters had waist sizes a quarter of an inch (0.62cm) larger than slow eaters. The researchers found that of the 60,000 participants, 22,070 people routinely wolfed down their food, 33,455 ate at a normal speed, and 4,192 classed themselves as slow eaters.

They wrote: Interventions aimed at reducing eating speed may be effective in preventing obesity and lowering the associated health risks. The team also found people who ate their evening meal at least two hours before they went to bed three times a week were 10 per cent less likely to be overweight, which they defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of more than 25.

But skipping breakfast does nothing to decrease weight.The bodys metabolism slows down towards the end of the day, so eating too late means calories are not burned off. Scientists believe this is because the human body evolved to expect meals much earlier in the day, because in pre-industrial times people went to sleep when it got dark.

Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, said: The speed at which a lot of people wolf down their food is undeniably a contributor to obesity.

It takes fast eaters longer to feel full simply because they dont allow time for the gut hormones to tell the brain to stop eating.

Eating quickly also causes bigger blood sugar fluctuations which can lead to insulin resistance.In particular, workers who snatch their lunch at the desk are doing their health no favours.

They should stop what theyre doing, switch off their phones and emails and preferably take a half hour away from the office altogether.

A previous study, by experts at North Carolina State University in the US, found mindful eating  savouring every mouthful, concentrating on flavour and eating with purpose  helped people lose six times as much weight as other slimmers.

The researchers behind that project encouraged people to remove all distractions while eating, including turning off the television at dinner time and not eating lunch at their desk.

They found overweight people who followed the mindful eating mantra lost four and a half pounds (1.9kg) in 15 weeks, compared to other slimmers who lost just two thirds of a pound (0.3kg).

Impressively, six months after the trial stopped three quarters of participants in the mindfulness programme had kept their weight off or lost even more.

(C) Daily Mail, LondonOfficial says CEB engineers blocking emergency power purchases View(s):

The Ceylon Electricity Boards plans to put in place standby arrangements for emergency purchase of power supplies ahead of possible drought conditions have been stalled due to ongoing trade union action by engineers.

As a result, standby arrangements in the event of a breakdown of power stations also have been affected, a Power and Renewable Energy Ministry official said.

In view of the impending drought situation, the CEB was planning to buy100 Mw supplementary power as a standby arrangement from the private sector, but the plans have been delayed.

The Engineers Union members are boycotting meetings of the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) which needs to give approval for such purchases.

The Ministry official said that among the other projects held up were the proposal to set up a 100Mw barge mounted LNG and Thermal power plant, four thermal plants of 24Mw each and three plants of 35 Mw each.

Discussions on installing a 500Mw LNG plant in Kerawalapitiya by India and a 400Mw LNG plant by Japan at the same location also had been delayed, he said.

CEB Engineers Union spokeman Saumya Kumarawadu said they were refraining from attending TEC meetings as the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka had opposed the unions power generation plans.

The PUCSL alone cannot decide on policies. It is the engineers who should decide on such projects, he said. Mr Kumarawadu said they hoped to meet President Maithripala Sirisena in the next few weeks to discuss the issue.Parliamentary business committee meets tomorrow View(s):

The Parliamentary Business Committee comprising leaders of political parties represented in Parliament will meet at 9 .am. tomorrow, officials said .

Parliament business for the week had been decided prior to the local government polls, but in view of the new developments with the setback suffered by the ruling parties at the polls, a party leaders meeting has been scheduled to discuss a possible change in the weeks programme.Questions over most peaceful poll as post-poll violence increases View(s):

Incidents of post-election violence have seen a noticeable uptick this week compared to incidents that occurred before the February 10 Local Government (LG) Elections. The period leading up to the election had widely been described as the most peaceful in living memory. No major incidents were reported on election day either. The lack of violence was attributed to the new electoral system and police taking a far more proactive role towards cracking down on election law violators.

Nevertheless, several serious incidents of post-election violence have been reported from several parts of the country since election results were announced. The Peoples Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) noted that it had recorded 58 post-election incidents from 4.30 p.m. on February 10 to 4.30 p.m. on February 14. There were 14 confirmed incidents of grievous assault, five incidents of assault and 14 incidents of intimidation and threats among them, according to the election monitor. There were also six confirmed incidents of damage to immovable property such as homes and business premises. Overall, there were 41 confirmed incidents of violations related to acts of violence, according to PAFFREL.

Several victims of post-election violence have been admitted to hospitals. A confrontation between two candidates from the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) who had contested the Medirigiriya Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) left four persons in hospital on the night of February 10. The clash had caused damage to property and Medirigiriya Police had to impose a police curfew from 11.p.m. on February 10 to 5 a.m. the next day to prevent it from escalating.

Meanwhile, former Galle Mayor Kelum Seneviratne and two of his brothers were attacked inside a house by several individuals armed with swords and clubs. Mr Seneviratne had contested the election for the Galle Municipal Council from the SLPP and had emerged victorious. Both his brothers were admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital. Mr Seneviratne had suffered injuries to two of his fingers.

A clash between UNP and SLPP supporters of candidates who contested the election from the Dambulla PS left four persons injured and five others arrested by the Sigiriya Police.

A UNP candidate who contested the Attanagalla PS was arrested for allegedly assaulting two women on February 11. He was later released on bail.

Five persons who attempted to assault a coordinating secretary of Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam at the secretarys home in Kuliyapitiya on February 11 were also arrested by police. Those arrested include a candidate from the SLPP who contested the LG election. They were later remanded.

The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) also noted this week that there seemed to be violence directed at female candidates who had won at the LG polls. The CMEV has taken steps to notify the secretaries of political parties and police regarding the matter.Remembering D.B. Jayatilaka View(s):

The 150th Birth Anniversary of Sir D.B.Jayatilaka is being commemorated with a series of events this year. One of the events was held at the Colombo Young Mens Buddhist Association of which he was the founder President and held the position from 1898 to 1944.

The Chief Guest of the event was Chief Justice Priyasath Dep, PC while the annual Sir D.B. Jayatilaka memorial oration was delivered by Justice P.A.Ratnayake, PC.

A stamp was also issued to mark the event. Here the first day cover is being handed over to the Chief Justice. President Deshabandu Tilak de Zoysa and Justice Ratnayaka are also in the picture.

Pic by Indika HanduwalaIn over 27 years of militancy, no Army or paramilitary forces personnel has faced a civilian court on charges brought by the Jammu and Kashmir Police. This is because the Centre has not given permission that is required under the AFSPA.

Written by Muzamil Jaleel On 14th February.

The Supreme Court on Monday directed that no coercive steps shall be taken against Maj Aditya Kumar, named by Jammu & Kashmir Police in an FIR registered in connection with the deaths of three civilians after troops of 10 Garhwal Rifles fired on protesters in Shopian on January 27.

The court gave the J&K government two weeks to reply to a petition filed by Maj Kumars father, Lt Col Karamveer Singh, a serving Army officer, seeking quashing of the FIR. Lt Col Singh has alleged that the manner in which the lodging of the FIR has been portrayed by the political leadership of the state, reflects the extremely hostile atmosphere in the state, and underlined that police had targeted a serving Army officer (who) was performing his bona fide duties.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has defended the FIR, while the BJP, a coalition partner of the PDP, has demanded that it be withdrawn. However, their public disagreement is possibly intended primarily for their respective constituencies.

For, even if a police investigation indicts Maj Kumar and his men, the case cannot move forward in a civilian court unless the Ministry of Defence gives sanction for prosecution. And in nearly three decades of the militancy in J&K, this has never happened.

Immunity under AFSPA

The filing of an FIR by J&K Police against the Army, paramilitary forces, or even its own men for alleged abuse of power is not unusual. But the Army and paramilitary forces, while operating in disturbed areas, are protected by provisions of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), under which bona fide mistakes committed while acting in good faith do not attract prosecution, suit or other legal proceeding except with the previous sanction of the Central Government (which means the Defence Ministry in the case of the Army, and Home Ministry in case of paramilitary forces).

The Army has invoked AFSPA even where police investigations have established that the alleged violations were not committed in the line of duty  for example, in cases of rape, custodial killings, and fake or staged encounters (Machil, 2010; Ganderbal, 2007; Pathribal, 2000). Last month, the government told Rajya Sabha that between 2001 and 2016, the Defence Ministry received 50 requests for sanction for prosecution from the J&K government  sanction was denied in 47, while three cases were pending. Seventeen of the 50 cases were related to alleged killings of civilians, 16 to custodial deaths, eight to custodial disappearances, four to rapes and molestation.

Why justice eludes the victims of Pathribal fake encounter?

Allegations of rape

Rape does not fall in the category of bona fide mistake during an operation; however, the Defence Ministry hasnt allowed prosecution in civilian courts in these cases.

On January 3, 1997, soldiers allegedly led by Maj Arora of 5 Rashtriya Rifles entered a home in Manzgam, Kokernag, where a 60-year-old man, his two daughters and a grandson were present. The soldiers allegedly picked up the man, who remains untraced. The police registered a case of rape, and the government sought the Defence Ministrys sanction to prosecute the officer. On June 5, 2009, the Ministry told the High Court that the request was under consideration in Army Headquarters/Ministry of Defence. On January 10, 2012, in response to an RTI query, the Ministry said permission was denied on April 21, 2007. There were a number of inconsistencies in the statements of witnesses The lady was forced to lodge a false allegation by anti-national elements, it said.

On December 5, 1999, soldiers led by Maj Aman Yadav of 28 Rashtriya Rifles, and counter-insurgents raided a house in Rafiabad. On January 4, 2000, an FIR was lodged, accusing the officer of rape. On September 23, 2010, the Ministry refused sanction for prosecution, saying the allegations were baseless and framed with mala fide intentions to put Army on the defensive.

Cases of Court Martial

In some cases, the Ministry denied permission for prosecution in a civilian court, but the Army conducted Court Martial proceedings.

On May 15, 1994, Rashtriya Rifles men allegedly gangraped a housewife in Qazigund. Responding to an RTI application, the J&K Home Department said it had sought sanction for prosecution on January 23, 2006. In a 2009 affidavit in the High Court, the Defence Ministry said the state government had been informed that both accused, Nk Harbhajan Singh and Rfn Gurtej Singh, had been tried by a summary General Court Martial for rape, and sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and sacked from service. A retrial for the same offence will be in contravention to Article 20 (2) of the Constitution, it said.

On November 6, 2004, troops of 30 RR raided the home of a horsecart driver in Handwara. Police registered a case of rape, but the Army invoked AFSPA and ordered its own probe. A General Court Martial absolved the accused officer, Maj Rehman Hussain, of the charge of rape, but found him guilty of using criminal force with the intent of outraging the modesty of a 10-year-old girl. The officer was dismissed; he challenged the dismissal in court and returned to service.

On February 14, 2000, Capt Ravinder Singh Tewatia and an SPO allegedly raped a mother and daughter in Nowgam. The Court Martial found him guilty of rape, sentenced him to seven years in jail, and dismissed him from service. On December 31, 2002, the High Court set aside the Court Martial ruling. The state government did not challenge the order.

Policemen convicted

In several cases, courts have convicted police officers involved in fake encounters carried out jointly by the police and Army, while the soldiers couldnt even be questioned due to AFSPA.

In 2007, legal proceedings were initiated in a series of alleged fake encounters carried out by joint parties of the Army and police  four cases were registered in Srinagar district, one at Sumbal in North Kashmir. In each case, an alleged foreign terrorist  whom investigations later showed to be an innocent villager  was killed in a remote area in Ganderbal or Kangan. Police arrested an SSP, a DSP, an ASI, four constables, and a driver for the fake encounters. However, no action could be taken against a Colonel, two Majors, a JCO and several other soldiers whom the police investigation indicted.

The case of the arrest and subsequent murder of a Srinagar-based human rights lawyer Jalil Andrabi on March, 8, 1996 too has witnessed a similar trajectory. Major Avtar Singh of 103 Territorial Army and his men had arrested Andrabi in front of his wife. Nineteen days later, the family found Andrabis decomposed body. A report by Special Investigation Team set up by J-K High Court in June 1996 identified Major Singh prima facie responsible for Andrabis custodial killing. But Army representatives told the court that the Major was no longer employed with the Army and that he had not committed the offence in his official capacity. The case kept lingering on even as the J-K Police found Major Singh involved in eleven similar killings, including the mysterious disappearance of surrendered militants who were witnesses to Andrabis murder. Major Singh had immigrated to Canada, then moved to the United States. In 2012, he killed his wife and two children before committing suicide in Selma, California.

Then there is a case of fake surrender on November, 9, 2004 where a masked group of 47 villagers from Budgam were made to parade as militants willing to lay down arms before 16 Corps Commander and J-K DGP in Nagrota. These villagers had been taken to Delhi with a promise of jobs by a Congress activist but handed over to army, who held them in a camp for six months before the fake surrender ceremony. Once J&K Police established that the surrender was stage-managed and these villagers were civilians with no link to militancy, they were released. The J& K police probe identified a Brigadier and a Colonel responsible for this fake surrender but there was no action.

In the Pathribal fake encounter case, where five villagers were killed and shown as Pakistani militants in March 2000, the CBI charged five Army officials with abduction, murder, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence. The Army invoked AFSPA and questioned the CBIs authority to investigate them. After a long legal battle, the Supreme Court asked the Army to choose between prosecution in a criminal court or Court Martial. The Army chose the latter, which found no evidence to prosecute the officers.

On April 29, 2010, the Army claimed to have killed three infiltrating militants on the LoC in Machil, Kupwara. A J&K Police investigation showed civilians had been killed in a fake encounter for cash awards. The Army invoked AFSPA, and a Court Martial in 2014 sentenced six accused, including a Colonel and a Captain, to life imprisonment. In July 2017, the Armed Forces Tribunal suspended the sentence.

(muzamil.jaleel@expressindia.com)

Courtesy: Indian Express

First published on February 14, 2018Sampanthan tells President: Fulfil the 2015 mandate View(s):

Amidst the prevailing political instability in Colombo, Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan met President Maithripala Sirsena on Friday evening and urged him to fulfil the peoples mandate he received at the last Presidential election on January 8, 2015.

The Opposition Leader was of the view that the unity government should continue until its term ended in 2020. However, he also reminded the President of the mandate he received at the last presidential election and pointed out that the mandate should be fulfilled during his term as President even if a new government took office, a spokesperson from the Opposition Leaders office said.

The meeting took place at the Presidents residence on Paget Road shortly before the President left for Polonnaruwa.UNP-SLFP numbers game continues; PM stays put By Anthony David Cracks in National Unity Government; crossovers likely View(s): View(s):

President Maithripala Sirisena goes into a second week to resolve his worst political crisis  whether to opt for the present coalition with the United National Party (UNP) or form a new Government with his Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). Whichever side he chooses in the coming week would not have 113 seats in the 225-member Parliament. Yet, the question appears to be who could come up with the larger number and command the majority and confidence of the House.

Both sides are busy collecting signatures to demonstrate they are eligible to form a Government but are yet to intimate their formal position to President Sirisena.

The UNP parliamentarians have been invited for a luncheon meeting at their headquarters Sirikotha in Kotte. This is whilst Minister Susil Premjayantha, a key mover for the formation of a new SLFP Government, is busy obtaining signatures from MPs for an affidavit. It calls for the appointment of the SLFPs Senior Deputy Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva as Premier.

Yesterdays political developments pointed to the likelihood of Mr. Sirisena calling upon Ranil Wickremesinghe to continue as Prime Minister. This, however, will be on the basis of a major Cabinet reshuffle to be effected. Among factors weighing in is the support the UNP is receiving from a group of SLFP ministers who are not in favor of Mr. Premjayanthas move.

These ministers including SLFP General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake, Mahinda Amaraweera, Sarath Amunugama and Mahinda Samarasinghe have been invited to dinner tonight by Premier Wickremesinghe. Notwithstanding these developments, Minister Premjayanthas initiatives to continue his signature campaign continue. This is whilst Sirisena had told a delegation of the Joint Opposition he has sought the opinion of the Attorney General after his call for Mr. Wickremesinghe to resign was not heeded.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe told a news conference on Friday, I hope to continue in accordance with the Constitution. Asked whether he could be removed under the 19th Amendment, he said, The Constitution clearly states the circumstances under which a PM should leave. These are when a no confidence vote is passed or when the budget is defeated.

Opinion among legal experts on the constitutionality of removing the Prime Minister differed. Attorney Gomin Dayasiri who was also the chief petitioner against the 19th Amendment to the Constitution Bill when it was taken up by the Supreme Court for determination said, The present impasse could only be resolved by Parliament.

There are two ways in which to prove the present Prime Minister commands the confidence of the majority in the House. One is by the Government by bringing a vote of confidence to prove it has a majority in Parliament and the other is by those opposed to him bringing a no confidence motion. These will show who has the majority vote.

The main problem today is the 19th Amendment itself. The amendment was an immature job and its effects are being felt now. Those who drafted it did not anticipate the situation that has arisen today. It is against the principles of democracy. Given the restriction placed on the President preventing him from dissolving parliament till four and half years after the date of a general election, the peoples right to elect new MPs has been taken away.

The only way is for Parliament to request the President to do so by a resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of the whole number of Members (including those not present), voting in its favour. But this will not happen. The MPs who are in this Parliament will not vote for it as they wish to wait for five years to qualify for their pensions. Many of them may not get elected again, he said.

Presidents Counsel Manohara de Silva said Article 46(2) (a)(b) says, Prime Minister shall continue to hold office throughout the period during which the Cabinet of Ministers continues to function under the provisions of the Constitution unless he resigns his office by a writing under his hand addressed to the President; or ceases to be a Member of Parliament .

However Article 43(3) has given the power to the President to change, at any time, the composition of the Cabinet of Ministers. This makes it clear that the Prime Minister can continue to hold office only throughout the period during which the Cabinet of Ministers continues to function, he said. Mr. de Silva said that for the President to change the composition of the Cabinet which includes the Prime Minister, he should be of the opinion that the person holding office does not command the confidence of Parliament.

The Supreme Court in its determination on the 19th Amendment made it clear that the executive powers of the President could not be taken away. Meanwhile, the current political stalemate is causing the economy to take a beating. It comes at a time when th eStock Market is just recovering after a crash, whilst the US dollar has plunged to a new low of Rs 155.

Meanwhile, the Malwatte Mahanayake the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera has written to President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe requesting them to take immediate measures to end the instability and uncertainty that had engulfed the country in the aftermath of the local council elections.

In his letter, the Mahanayake has pointed out that the current situation is an obstacle not just to the betterment of the people, but to unity and coexistence.

If this situation were to continue, it would result in the collapse of governance and lead to economic ruin, the letter warned the two leaders.Ajai heads to London with his own brand of sustainable fashion By Purnima Pilapitiya View(s): View(s):

When Ajai Vir Singh flew back to Sri Lanka after giving a talk on responsible fashion at the Rajasthan Heritage Week he got home to a bag stamped Royal Mail. The curious parcel will take the fashion visionary and President of Colombo Fashion Week to Buckingham Palace this week for a Commonwealth Fashion Exchange Reception hosted by the Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex.

The first of its kind, the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange will be jointly co-hosted by the Commonwealth Fashion Council and takes place during London Fashion Week. The showcase will include selections of collaborative pieces by emerging and established artists and designers with the aim of promoting artisanal skills and sustainability in fashion.

Ajais involvement with the Commonwealth Fashion Council began in 2015, when he was invited to be a founding member. They had researched me beforehand, he says, explaining how he came to be chosen as one of six Asian representatives out of the 52 countries governed by the Council across Africa, Pacific, Caribbean, Americas, Asia and Europe. Operating in line with the Commonwealth Charter, the Council consists of a 20-member team, comprising Fashion Week and Fashion Council organizers and presidents from across the Commonwealth working to creating a network between governments and industries to foster an educational and social dialogue for a responsible, sustainable, global fashion market.

For Ajai, the appointment was an open door of opportunity. For me, it was a chance to do something for Sri Lanka internationally through this. While Colombo Fashion Week has emerged as an industry in itself, this takes Sri Lanka to a more international platform for the whole industry, he says, describing himself as a representative for the Lankan fashion sector at the Commonwealth level.

Ajai has long been a champion of sustainable fashion in Sri Lankan and is happy that it is getting more attention at a global level today. Ajais mission is towards sustainable fashion propelled campaigns like garments without guilt (a term he coined). It resulted in promoting the Sri Lankan apparel industry, with the majority of local factories subscribing to the high environment and labour standards set by an industrial charter and receiving the certification of Garments without Guilt.

Sustainable fashion for him can be added to the equation of ones basic necessities- food, shelter and clothing. If youre eating good food, he explains, you will need good clothes as well. His vision for sustainable fashion he divulges is to break down the charitable label that is tied to it and make it the new normal. Thats what the responsible fashion movement is about, creating apparel that is scalable, appealing to masses and reducing consumption.

Sri Lanka can take a lead in this, he says, echoing his initial attitude towards sustainable fashion. Although the apparel industry did get involved in sustainable design and production I saw more potential.

With his 15 years of experience behind him- I did a framework on what is relevant for the fashion industry globally and what we could offer as South Asia to the market globally, he said.

It was in the midst of these plans, his work with Sri Lankas First Fashion Hackathon and the talk in December that he got the invitation for the prestigious event in February and news of his re appointment to the council.

With the buzz of burgeoning ideas, he connected the director of the Council to the bubbling potential in the local fashion arena. In London, Ajai will present a bag made from ethical alternative material he has been working on together with a local designer. Being one of six Asian representatives is more than a personal accomplishment for the fashion visionary, who sees it more as an opportunity for the local industry he works tirelessly for.Ancestral voices from the Kandyan hills View(s):

Multi-culturalism is a politically charged word. However, there is no country in the world with one culture only, and Sri Lanka is no exception. There are many, many cultures in Sri Lanka and among the Sinhalese, there are regional, religious and caste cultures. Learning and understanding these cultures is fascinating and most important for social harmony.

These cultures do not remain static and unchanging over the years. What did not change for a long period is now undergoing a rapid transition, in the face of technological change. Barriers are breaking down, and new cultural arrangements are taking their place. In Sri Lanka, it is vital that we retain the memory of cultures past, when there were so many different cultures which added colour and vibrancy to our society.

The volume of Nanda Pethiyagoda Wanasundera (NPW) is an engaging contribution to retaining the memory of Kandyan culture, as it was in the early part of the 20th century.

NPWs volume is a fascinating story of Kandyan culture and society. It is a personal story, and not a scholarly work. She draws from many sources and especially from her family and individual experience, and distilling from those, she narrates an intriguing story of a changing Kandyan culture, largely based on her traditional village of Boyagama. It is delightful to peep into a lost world in a distant Kandyan village.

Sixty years ago, the Economics Faculty of the University at Peradeniya undertook research in a Kandyan village and came up with a study called the Disintegrating Village. That was done by outsiders and NPWs study is based on her own experience. NPWs volume is divided into three parts  the first dealing with her life in Boyagama, the second addressing cultural aspects of life like food, arts and crafts and architecture, and always with a personal touch, and the third dealing with several general issues  history of the Kandyan Kingdom, Kandyan identity, marriage and divorce, the caste system and land and cultivation.

Many beautiful photographs and pictures adorn the pages of this volume. NPW is a well known journalist writing her own weekly column, and she has been much more in the past. A teacher, librarian, novelist, social critic, she has written other books, and many and varied issues and subjects are grist to her mill and the object of her learned and learning curiosity.

In part one of the book, NPW offers us many insights into the life of an extended family in a Kandyan village in the 1940s and 1950s. Her mother and brother were key actors during this period of her life. Having lost her father when she was very young, she had to struggle through her early life. Her story of these years offers us interesting snippets into life in an extended family in a traditional village.

When NPW and her sisters had to go to school, her immediate family were anxious for them to go to schools in Kandy while some other members of her family wanted them to attend local village schools. Going to a Kandy school made all the difference. There are beneficial aspects in belonging to an extended family. It is my impression that an extended family can be a heavy burden, holding you back in realizing your lifes objectives.The author says that extended family ties remained intact, mostly for the good, sometimes adversely due to conservatism, jealousy and men considering that a woman headed family needed guidance and yes, censure too.

A Kandyan village had its own social structure. There were the top people, and others who were lower down on the social scale. NPWs volume does not deal with what happened to those lower down, and she came from the upper crust of the village. Even the upper rungs did not have many opportunities, until the British came (NPW does not say so specifically) to move out of the village and seek out greener and more lush pastures. Under British rule, new jobs like Divisional Revenue Officers (DROs) were created. DROs were largely a Kandyan service. Her elder brother who had to join as a clerical officer, because of family financial constraints, now entered the DROs service as one of its first members. Then with access to English education and new schools, there were opportunities to be teachers and principals. Her own sister became a teacher. There was the later principal of Hillwood College Kandy (Mrs. Samarasinghe) who was the first Kandyan woman to go overseas for her education at Womens Christian College, Madras and at Cambridge University. New ladders were being placed for the more enterprising.

Caste is an important presence in this volume. It is a critical factor in the organization of Kandyan society and economy. My impression in reading this book is that caste has more of a central role in Kandyan culture than in the low country Sinhalese areas. Most crafts and occupations  producing handicrafts, jewellery, wood carvings and Kandyan dancing  have a caste base and strong caste relationships. The leading temples in Kandy have caste connections. Until very recently, only the Radala could occupy the high posts in religious places. The author says that Nissanka Wijayaratne was the first non-Radala person to be the Diyawadana Nilame of the Dalada Maligawa, and even then, his wife was a Radala. (What NPW does not mention is that Nissanka Wijayaratnes mother was a Pethiyagoda.)

The author says that it is education which is breaking down caste barriers. My view is that it is universal franchise, introduced in 1931, that is breaking down caste barriers. Expansion of education to the villages was a result of universal franchise. Economic modernization also has a role in the decline of caste. Tea (late 19th century), textiles (1970s), tourism (1980s) are industries which know no caste affiliations. An important question is whether the unique heritage of Kandyan arts and crafts can be preserved at a time when caste and village life are breaking down. Can these traditions and skills be institutionalized, bereft of caste?

Part two of the volume that deals with Kandyan culture  food, dress, jewellery, dancing, music,crafts and architecture  is most instructive. We obtain an understanding of these subjects and their relationships to important social occasions like marriage or activities like farming and harvesting. She remembers the flute being played of an evening, as the birds flew nest-wards and paddy farmers wended their way home from their fields. Similar connections and occasions are described for jewellery and dancing and dress. In her young days, these crafts were mainly for the Kandyan people.

NPWs charming story of Kandyan culture, personalized from her own and her familys perspective, is entertaining and instructive. We were a generation who were at the University at Peradeniya in the 1950s. NPWs village, Boyagama is a little outside Peradeniya, and if we had this book then, undergraduates of that time and later would have got to know more about Kandyan culture than we did then. Scholarly works on culture are important, but even more influential and educative are these personal stories (not weighted by footnotes) related by an informed and curious author.

Book facts Tradition Adapts to Modernity  A Personal Narrative by Nanda Pethiyagoda Wanasundera

Published by S. Godage & Brothers (2018). 204 pages.

Price  Rs. 1250.

Reviewed by Leelananda De SilvaLetters to the Editor View(s):

Train rides spoilt by unruly behaviour and lack of facilities

Being a regular traveller by train from Colombo to Badulla I would like to address several disadvantages faced by tourists travelling by train.

Firstly, getting train tickets especially on the AFC (Airconditioned First Class) carriage is almost impossible because although the bookings open a month ahead they are quickly snapped up by the families of railway employees travelling on warrants which are free for the employees. As there is only ONE AFC compartment the seats available for tourists are very limited. Many tour agents I have spoken to, have to bribe their way to access these limited tickets.

The locals travelling on warrants are loud, obstructing the aisle, with children standing on seats, running around, shouting and generally causing a lot of discomfort to other passengers.After eating from their rice packets they stash their food wrappings on the floor and the air conditioned compartment stinks of curry. After eating with their fingers they hold the seats, doors with curry in their fingers and this is repulsive. There is no difference to facilities offered to 1st and 3rd class passengers.

The AFC toilet becomes a cess pool, additionally passengers from the 2nd and 3rd class compartments also use these toilets, and vacant seats in the AFC compartment are occupied by passengers from 2nd and 3rd class. There have been times when these youth have terrified female tourists with their familiarity. There is no presence of any railway law enforcement officers.

Every time I get into the AFC compartment at Fort there are two well built men who pretend to be dumb and forcefully engage in helping tourists by grabbing their bags and then produce a form of some sort and ask for money. I once brought it to the notice of a railway police officer but he only looked on and didnt do anything to ease the discomfort of the female tourists.

I do hope these setbacks to tourism development will be addressed with an additional compartment allotted for railway employees travelling on warrants and rail travel made more pleasant and easily accessible for tourists who are in awe of Sri Lankas spectacular scenery.

Penny Stork Via email

Harassment by tuk tuk drivers; the ugly, unwelcoming side of Sri Lanka As a tourist In Colombo and a previous resident, I am writing to express my dismay at the current behaviour of a huge percentage of tuk tuk drivers that roam the streets. In the last few weeks I have been followed, harassed and had lewd offensive and suggestive comments made to me by numerous drivers. As a female travelling alone I have found it impossible to walk undisturbed around Colombo without being pursued by a cavalcade of tuk tuk drivers. It is disturbing , stressful and spoils any experience in Colombo. I have spoken to other tourists and they have had the same experience in Kandy. To quote one couple, they said It grinds you down and as a result they wont be returning to Sri Lanka. Even the metered tuk tuks would rather turn meters off in an attempt to extort hundred more rupees than they would ever charge a local. This is all very disturbing and unwelcoming and does not present the good face of Sri Lanka . Something needs to be done about this. Julie Webber Via email

Death of Ven. Bellanwila Thera: Was it lack of protocol?

It is with profound sorrow the whole country witnessed the unfortunate and unexpected demise of the Most Ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera. The Thera was a highly respected scholar who excelled in the capacity of Chief Prelate, and was considered a national treasure by all.

With the account of the circumstances and the surgical management given to the Thera, I was appalled and had some sleepless nights, before I decided to pen this letter. The said scenario of the incident and the bringing of the Thera to the Colombo South Hospital, where the surgeons at the accident service performed what is essential to the situation (inserting a drainage tube to the injured chest to facilitate lung expansion and oxygenation and splinting the fractured upper arm), resulted in the Theras condition improving remarkably. The Thera had been in conversation with the bystanders following the initial treatment. Ven. Wimalarathana Thera had sustained multiple rib fractures resulting in a flail free moving segment of the chest, which is not an uncommon injury, and a closed fracture of the humerus (upper arm bone).

However, the continued management of the Thera apparently had gone haywire, where the injured Thera was transferred to a private hospital rather than to the National Hospital, in spite of the protests by the treating general surgeon at the accident service, as they had done what is needed for the Thera.

In an ill-conceived decision, the surgeons who were brought in later had opted to fix the fractures of the ribs and the humerus when the patient was recovering well after the initial treatment. The Thera had undergone a surgical procedure lasting more than 10 hours to fix the fractures under general anaesthesia, which is totally unacceptable and unwarranted.

The unprecedented surgical trauma caused on an already injured patient who was 75 years old with many co-morbid factors (diabetes and high blood pressure) resulted in an inevitable cardiac event two hours after surgery, causing a great loss to the country.

I write this letter not to question the competencies of the surgeons involved in their fields. This patient should have been under a team of surgical specialists, with a General Surgeon with trauma experience in the lead deciding on the best course of action to save the patients life first. They should have been strong enough to resist external pressure to do something which is dangerous and detrimental for patient survival.

I wish to reiterate that the whole scenario is not medical negligence, but the lack of proper protocol in dealing with a high profile case leading to possible mismanagement. Let our Theras saga be an eye-opener to the surgical fraternity, with regard to the management of trauma patients.

May the Thera be born again in this country before ending his samsara journey.

A Consultant Surgeon Via email

Toilet facilities, a forgotten factor at FGLF

I visited the Fairway Galle Literary Festival (January 24-28) for the first time this year. Although I enjoyed attending the two events I had tickets for, I would like to bring to the attention of the organisers, that they had completely overlooked the need to provide proper toilet facilities.

There were no signs to direct people to toilets, and one had to ask people where they were. Finally I was directed to a permanent structure which consisted of two toilets (one of the squatting type and one with a commode), with water all over the ground, and a flush that did not work.

The wash basin outside had a tap which was shaky. There was a tissue box to wipe your hands, and a small towel  totally inadequate and unacceptable facilities for a persons natural needs. I see no reason why the organizers could not provide some portable toilets, and provision for washing ones hands to festival-goers, and a few signs showing people where the toilets were located.

When my husband went outside to meet the author Charles Allen, Mr Allen was distracted because no place had been arranged for him to speak to people and autograph his books. The ground outside the Fairway Pavilion was very uneven. Was it not possible to locate the tent used for the literary sessions in a better place?

Finally I think the sessions should start on time, as people sometimes have tickets for another event which is scheduled to start soon after.

Janaki Wijewardane Via email

Dont tax us senior citizens

Senior citizens in Sri Lanka, especially those who are still forced to work due to the spiraling cost of living should, in my view, be exempt from all forms of income tax.

We pay tax on our employment income, the annual bonus, and even on unutilised leave which we sacrifice in order to obtain that added extra income just to keep our heads above water. I feel that the Government should seriously think of exempting senior citizens, who we cannot label as senior citizens or an economic burden any longer but have to consider them as a concealed power in Sri Lankas overall economy.

Senior Citizen ColomboLiving their lives in the backdrop of war View(s):

A recently released book which is dedicated to the doctors and nurses of the Burn Unit of the National Hospital in Colombo, is written by Sri Lankan-born Roderic Grigson who now lives in Australia. Its a well-crafted and well-written story of three very different people, their lives winding around each other like strands of barbed wire through the tragedy of a vicious civil war, by the choices they make in their lives.

As the stories unfold, a man at peace with himself, sits quietly in a beat-up old car outside the central bus terminal during rush hour in the market suburb of Pettah. He has driven for days across the country, on a mission of vengeance, which he is about to complete. Devastated by whats happened to his young family, Nadesan doesnt want anyone in Colombo to ever feel safe again.

Not far away in the busy General Hospital, a compassionate and dedicated young doctor works on a burn victim with severe second degree burns to her upper body and arms. Many of the women who came into the burn unit had, Amanthi learnt during her residency, caused their own injuries through self-immolation due to marital problems, stress or helplessness through loneliness and poverty.

In the maximum-security prison a few miles away, a former soldier sits in a cramped cell contemplating the next few years of his life. Tilak had been in prison for over five years, convicted of manslaughter for shooting the leader of a Marxist uprising in the south. He had been at Officer Training College when the bloody uprising took place. The army, who were short of regular officers, ordered him to go with an under-manned platoon of volunteer soldiers and clear a southern district of insurgents. He had taken his orders to clean up the mess literally and shot the female insurgent leader when shed spat at him and insulted his family. The government renounced his actions and after a lengthy hearing, Tilak was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to ten years in prison.

Will Nadesan accomplish what he set out to do after his family were shot and killed? How will Amanthi deal with the pain and suffering created by the carnage caused by these terrible explosions. Will Tilak use his military training to find and kill the men responsible for setting off car bombs across the country.

The author of After the Flames was born in Colombo, where he was educated and lived till he was 21. His family were Burghers, descendants of the Portuguese, Dutch and British colonials who ruled the island nation for 450 years.

With no prospects in the former British colony of Ceylon, Rod left the country of his birth in the early seventies with a few dollars in his pocket and entered the United States on a tourist visa. He found work at the United Nations Headquarters in New York where he worked for the next twelve years.

After studying information technology at New York University, he volunteered and joined the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in Egypt and Lebanon, serving on the Suez Canal during the signing of the Israel Egypt Peace Accord and in South Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War.

After spending two years in the field, Rod came back to New York in 1980 and joined the UN Technological Innovations team. He spent the next six years helping develop and implementing office information systems in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Chinese in UN global and regional offices around the world.

Rod migrated with his wife Mena to Australia in 1986 where, over time, he became a senior executive for a global IT company where he worked for almost 15 years. As the Head of Asia Pacific Channels and Marketing, Rod was responsible for overseeing a vast territory which included the fast-developing markets of China, South Asia and India.

Rod retired from corporate life in 2013 and attended a six-month creative writing course to develop his skills as a creative writer.

After the Flames is Rods second book. His first book Sacred Tearswas released in 2014 and is available for purchase on Amazon and at the Barefoot bookstore in Colombo.

Book facts After the Flames by Roderic GrigsonRe-visiting a rock temple best known for two sculptures View(s):

Isurumuniya temple in Anuradhapura is best known for two pieces of rock cut sculpture  one is the Isurumuniya Lovers and the other is Man and the Horse. The temple is situated on a picturesque setting  high up on a rock close to Tisa weva. As we approach the temple is a pond with rocks and tall trees forming its backdrop. The temple, however, is not one of the eight places of worship  Atamasthana  in Anuradhapura. Isurumuniya temple in Anuradhapura is best known for two pieces of rock cut sculpture  one is the Isurumuniya Lovers and the other is Man and the Horse. The temple is situated on a picturesque setting  high up on a rock close to Tisa weva. As we approach the temple is a pond with rocks and tall trees forming its backdrop. The temple, however, is not one of the eight places of worship  Atamasthana  in Anuradhapura.

Professor Emeritus J.B. Disanayakas recently released book, Isurumuni Rock Temple is a well-researched publication describing what one can see in and around the temple. Foreign and local researchers over several decades have shown a great interest in the temple and JB uses their writings to substantiate the facts quoted by him thereby adding a lot of value to his own interpretations.

JB deals at length with both sculptures making it an interesting read. He first writes about The Man and the Horse seen on the boulder to the right of the cave shrine. R. Raven Hart calls it a simple rock-carved figure above the pool, a horses head seen over the shoulder of a proud seated man who seems to have been in the rock all the time, so that the sculptor had only to release him. Can it be Prince Siddhartha and his horse Kanthaka? Can it be Greek king, Alexander the Great with his horse Bucephalus? Why cant it be the Indian sage Kapila? Could it be God Avalokitheshwara, a Bodhisatva of the Mahayana pantheon? These are a few possibilities. According to Professor Senerat Paranavitana, the man represents the Indian deity Parjanya, the God of Rain and the horse represents Agni, fire.

Having discussed the numerous theories at length, JB is of the opinion that the figure must represent someone relevant to Anuradhapura. He then argues that it is undoubtedly King Pandukabhaya, who had the strongest relationship with Anuradhapura and his mare, Cetiya. To prove his point that its no one else but the king who ruled for seventy years (377-307 BC), JB devotes several pages in the process quoting from the Mahavamsa as well.

The Lovers

Identifying The Lovers as the most outstanding sculpture at the temple museum, he says that it is the showpiece that brought fame to the temple. He hastens to add that it was not an integral part of the monastery but something that was stuck into a parapet wall. Its original home could have been the Royal Park adjoining the temple.

The popular theory is that The Lovers are Prince Saliya, son of King Dutugemunu and Asokamala, a low caste damsel who was unacceptable to the royal family. JB reproduces the interesting story of the most attractive romantic tale in the Islands history as related by R.L. Brohier in Discovering Ceylon, while dealing with the other theories.

R. Raven Hart, in his Ceylon History in Stone referring to it as fine, fluent piece of work, says its more probably a Hindu god and his consort.

To Professor Zestiri, an Italian archaeologist, the man is the Bodhisatva, Shiracakra Manjushri (one of the eight Bodhisatvas in the Mahayana tradition) and the woman his consort, Shakti.

Martin Wickramasinghe thinks that the man represents a warrior and the woman, his wife whom her husband meets after a long period of separation. Even if it is conceded that the figures are those of a god and a goddess, the thematic interpretation would be that they represent two lovers and not as some believe, Siva and Parvati, Martin W says in Aspects of Sinhalese Culture.

Arguing that the couple represents a man and a woman that have a specific relationship with Anuradhapura, JB believes it is King Pandukabhaya and his queen. He says that Pandukabhaya was famous not only for his royal duties as the first Sinhala king but also for his romantic endeavours. His story of romance was as popular as that of Prince Saliya and Asokamala, an episode that took place about a thousand years later, he says.

When Pandukabhaya was a prince of 16, as prophesied by a Brahmin, he met a maid at whose touch leaves turned into gold. Princess Pali (later known as Swarnapali) became his queen. JB points out that since Asokamala, though very pretty, was not of royal caste, the royal family would not have encouraged the sculptors to give publicity to such an episode. On the other hand, Swarnapali was not only of the royal caste but also a maiden who had the magical power to change leaves into golden vessels.

JB also discusses the other pieces of sculpture in the temple which are among the things to be seen and admired. These have been illustrated with black and white pictures. I wish some of them were better reproduced.

A set of high quality colour photographs takes the reader through the old cave shrine which displays a set of old tradition murals and through the new shrine with a set of Buddha images.

JB starts the book with a historical introduction to Anuradhapura followed by describing what the eight sacred sights are. The Moonstone (Sandakadapahana), the Guard stone (Mura gal) and the Balustrade (Korawal gal) are common to all ancient temples. JB explains these along with a detailed description of the different styles of a Stupa and what it contains.

He ends by taking the reader on a visit around the temple to Tisa weva and the Goldfish Park (Ran Masu Uyana), and Vessagiri situated a little away where one can see lot of ruins including rock caves. To him it is one of the loveliest places around Anuradhapura, quiet and shady and with monkeys often clamouring over the rocks.

I wish to wind up inviting JB to provide the English reader with books on ancient monasteries. If the same style of the text, layout and size is maintained, it will be convenient for the reader to make it a collectors series in his or her library.

Book facts Isurumuni Rock Temple by J.B. Disanayaka. Reviewed by D.C. RanatungaMoney laundering: Why Lanka is listed among high risk countries By B. Anton Jeyanathan View(s): View(s):

Our country which has been categorised negatively in many spheres has now been categorised as a high risk country for money laundering. The list of the names of other countries published on the website of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) are Bosnia, Herzegovina, North Korea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Trinidad, Tobago, Tunisia, Vanuatu and Yemen.We, Sri Lankans, have to hang our heads in shame as our country has been listed among the notorious countries for various reasons as one of the high risk countries for money laundering.

Money laundering

Money laundering in simple language is the process of converting the black money which has been amassed through illegal activities such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms smuggling, bribery and corruption, fraudulent transactions, commissions and kickbacks and any other money derived through various illegal acts. This money is known as black money, as the earnings of this money cannot be explained or declared, or deposited in legal financial institutions.

Black money

Any person or group of people who have an international network of illegal activities have to find means of using this black money as legal money for their luxurious living or their needs. In order to launder this black money into white money they look for opportunities where they could invest such black money in countries where the monetary legislation is either weak or there are loopholes to invest this money in major projects or business, that the country is offering for foreign investment. Under the government of the late J.R. Jayewardene, our country invited foreigners to invest their money under the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) concept. From that time onwards the Board of Investment (BOI), established by the government, has been accepting offers by foreign investors to establish factories, industrial estates etc., in the FTZ, which enabled them to bring in large sums of foreign currency and also with tax concession as well as a concession to repatriate the profits back to their countries.

This innovative concept of the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) did in fact bring financial benefits to our country to a very great extent, though a small percentage of investors may have channeled their illegally earned black money to be invested in these zones.

Haven for money laundering

With such wide opportunities provided by the government, members of the mafia groups found ways of channeling their money through foreign investors to undertake business investments in our country. As the years went by our country needed foreign exchange investment and, subject to correction, at a certain period, no questions were asked from investors as to the origin of their invested funds. This opened a gate for members of the groups engaged in illegal activities to dump their black money into our country through the provision offered by our country to invest in the FTZ. There is also concern amongst financial experts that a newly enacted foreign exchange regulation which is to come into operation in the near future may enhance the opportunity for unscrupulous individuals to launder black money.

Legislation

The government realising that legislation has to be brought in to prevent and curtail money laundering, enacted a bill in 2005 which was subsequently certified in 2006. This act was known as the Prevention of Money Laundering Act No.5 of 2006. This act has very stringent legal sanctions to prevent money laundering. This act provides for the law enforcement officers to presume that any movable or immovable property acquired by a person has been derived or realised directly or indirectly from any unlawful activity or from the proceeds of any unlawful activity, until the contrary is proved.

Legal action

In the past three years several cases of money laundering have been brought in the court of law against members of the previous government and officials connected to the former government. These cases are proceeding but so far, subject to correction, no individual has been convicted on charges of money laundering. Further there are similar allegations against high profile politicians who were in the previous government, and some of them who are now in the present government. The public expect that these cases will be speedily investigated and concluded and the culprits brought to book.

The bond issue

The scam at the central bank bond issue is now a subject of interest to all citizens of this country. To recapitulate, there was evidence given by a former bank employee, employed by the personalities involved in the bond scam to the effect that a certain expatriate chairman of one of the companys brought in rupees hundred million in five hundred and thousand rupee notes and placed them in the safe of the particular company. It was also revealed that there was no record in their books as to the receipt of the hundred million rupees, who brought the money and how the money was being utilised. This is a clear case of money laundering. The origin of the rupees hundred million is not established, whether this money was withdrawn from any bank or how this so called chairman came into possession of such a large amount of money. The evidence was recorded at the presidential commission which is available for any law enforcement agency to probe as to the identity of this so called chairman, to trace and question him as to how he brought rupees hundred million and placed it in the safe of the company. Subject to correction, no law enforcement agency is reported to have commenced any investigation into this disclosure in the Presidential Commission inquiry. This is a clear case of money laundering which should be investigated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act No.5 of 2006.

Caution

In view of the categorisation of Sri Lanka by the FATF among the high risk countries, as a country where international criminals who engage in illegal activities could launder the money they have earned through illegal activities, the authorities who are responsible for receiving proposals for investment in our country from foreign companies or individuals should be cautious enough to examine the source of investment, and whether such investment is derived from legal earnings by checking with the relevant banks or financial institutions which have been listed as their banking or financial institutions from which the investment monies will be transmitted.

If there is even an element of doubt about the investors and from where the money is coming, it would be safer to reject such proposals for investment rather than accepting them with open arms. It is not to look a gift horse in the mouth, or suspect every proposal of investment, but we do not want to be categorised as a country where black money could be dumped. Our country desperately needs foreign investment, but surely, our country does not need black money being dumped for it to be categorised as a high risk country as declared by the FATF.

(The writer is a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police)4 rapes reported in different parts of country

Four incidents of rape were reported from different parts of the country on Friday. Three of the victims were below 13 years of age, one of whom, an 11-year-old girl, was subsequently murdered after rape by her cousin in Saptari.40 entrepreneurs from SAsia to get training

The South Asia Connect (SAC) programme, which aims to host innovative and technological ideas in South Asia, will choose 40 entrepreneurs from five countries to get online and in-person training, mentoring and networking.PORT BYRON, N.Y. -- A 12-year-old was arrested Friday after threatening to harm students in the Port Byron School District on social media, according to New York State Police.

He was charged with making a terroristic threat, a felony, and given an appearance ticket to Cayuga County Family Court for Tuesday, police said.

Investigators do not believe his threats would be carried out nor do they believe any students were in danger.

State police did not release the boy's name.

The charges follow a shooting in Parkland, Florida, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Nikolas Cruz, 19, a former student at the high school, killed 17 people in the shooting.66 kg marijuana seized from truck in Hetauda

Police have confiscated 66 kg marijuana from Hetauda on Saturday.Schools across New York State dealt with credible and non-credible threats on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17.

Here's a round-up of the threats:

Madison County: At Chittenango Middle School a student made a comment construed as threatening on Thursday, according to superintendent Michael R. Eiffe. Once the administration team at the the school district was alerted, the Madison County Sheriff's Office found the student and determined the student didn't have access to guns, deputies said. The student was given a mental health evaluation on Thursday, according to the sheriff's office.

The Chittenango Police Department and sheriff's office each stationed patrols outside the middle school to ease safety concerns, deputies said.

Cayuga County: At the Port Byron Central School District, the school district was notified of concerning posts on a student's social media account, according to a statement by Neil O'Brien, the district's superintendent. The student who made the concerning posts did not go to school on Friday and a police investigation revealed there was no threat, O'Brien said.

A 12-year-old boy was arrested and charged for making threats about harming students at the Port Byron Central School District on social media Friday, according to New York State police.

Jefferson County: A threat against the Carthage Central School District was deemed not credible after being investigated by the New York State Police, according to the Watertown Daily Times. The threat was made on social media and a faulty sensor set off a fire alarm that exacerbated fears of a threat, the Daily Times reported.

Monroe County: At Spencerport High School, the Ogden Police Department decided threats made on social media were not credible but added patrols for "safety and peace of mind," according to WXXI News.

Rensselaer County: Police made at least one arrest in a threat against Berlin Middle School/High School, according to the Albany Times-Union.

"Essentially, it was three students in the cafeteria at lunchtime bantering back and forth, and one of them said something that was kind of disturbing in reference to the Florida shooting," Rensselaer County Undersheriff Edward Bly told the Times-Union.

A student then sent a Snapchat repeating the banter and another student who saw the Snapchat alerted the district, according to the Albany Times-Union.

The student who made the threat was charged with falsely reporting an incident that created public harm, given an appearance ticket and released, the Times-Union reported.

Delaware County: Non-credible threats were made against Roxbury and Downsville Central Schools in Delaware County, according to The Walton Reporter.

In Downsville, a statement made by a student in class was deemed inappropriate but not credible after a parent of another student posted on Facebook about the comment, according to The Reporter.

Threats in Roxbury were made online during an internet video game and the threats were also decided to be not credible, according to The Reporter.

Cattaraugus County: After two threats at the Chatauqua Lake School and Randolph Academy Union Free School District, Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered state police to increase patrols around schools to protect against copycat shooting threats.

The students involved in both threats were in police custody as of this morning, according to Cuomo.

"A student should know there is nothing humorous about these situations and the consequences are most severe," Cuomo said.

Erie County: Police investigated at least two threats in Erie County, according to WKBW Buffalo. At Frederick Law Olmstead #156, a high school in the Buffalo Public School system, the Buffalo Police Department investigated a Snapchat threat on Wednesday, WKBW reported. A student made a Snapchat post about a potential school shooting but didn't specify a school, the report said. Spokespeople from the Buffalo Police Department and the Buffalo Public Schools told WKBW that there were no credible threats.

In the Town of Evans, police looked into threats against Lake Shore High School on Thursday, though they didn't believe the threat to be credible, WKBW reported. The Town of Evans Police Department added patrols as a precaution, according to WKBW.

Kings County: Two Brooklyn teenagers were arrested and charged with making a terrorist threat, aggravated harrassment and possessing an AR-15-style air rifle after a posting a picture on Snapchat with what appeared to be a gun captioned, "Dont come to school tmw," according to the New York Daily News. The threat was made against the Brooklyn Prospect Charter School, according to the Daily News.

The threat was made at approximately 4 p.m. on Wednesday, 90 minutes after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, according to the Daily News.Tama County Ag Outlook, Sept. 3

August rain grows the grain. Throughout the last half of August, northeast and central Iowa has been blessed with timely rains just as the ...A carnival of devotion

It was during the lunar month of Falgun, say the Hindu Puranas, that the Hindu god Shiva drank the poisonous negativity of the cosmos to allow for regeneration to triumph over complete annihilation.TD Bank's rollout of their new banking platform is not going well, as many customers have spent five days without online account access.

While they like to be called "America's Most Convenient Bank" in promotional materials, TD Bank's new glitch-filled online platform has been anything but convenient for their customers. And after several days, there appears to be no resolution in sight.

The Upgrade

During the weekend of Feb. 10-11, TD Bank upgraded their online banking platform to enhance features, improve usability, and update their security. Accounts were unavailable during the upgrade, but customers were informed that they could access their accounts by Monday, Feb. 12.

Once Monday arrived, many TD Bank customers still lacked access to their accounts on the website or on the bank's app.

"Using online banking has never been easier for TD Bank customers," a TD Bank spokesperson in a video touting their new online platform said. "Get access to your accounts anytime, anywhere."

As of Feb. 16, TD Bank's online banking platform and app both remain inaccessible. When many customers attempted to login, they were prompted with an error message from TD Bank.

"Hmm, something didn't work that time," TD Bank's error message read. "Please try again, because this was probably just one of those system hiccups."

Customers Speak Out

Frustrated customers flooded TD Bank's customer service phone lines almost immediately on Monday. There were so many calls that some customers reportedly heard a fast busy tone.

With a congested customer service hotline, people started to reach out to TD Bank on social media. They complained about glitches that prevented them from logging into their accounts and long waits on their customer service phone line.

actually LMFAO now the mobile app doesn't let me log in after I was forced to update it. great. @TDBank_US you've broken everything, I can't even see my bank acc. This combined w/maintenance fees I might switch to PNC or something instead https://t.co/E0RieSDJD1  Brandon Orselli (@brandonorselli) February 15, 2018

When you call @TDBank_US and youre on hold for an hour and 1/2 pic.twitter.com/Z0hdBoyeeb  HiMyNameIsGelo (@hellogelo) February 15, 2018

@TDBank_US Any idea when the website will be fixed?  Kev Lester (@kevlestertech) February 15, 2018

Hey @TDBank_US you guys are killing me today. Nothing is working right after this "big rollout to give us the best banking experience possible". Not making it easy to stick with you guys. #NotConvenient  Patrick Healy (@patrickhealy) February 15, 2018

@TDBank_US Hi, is there any resolution on the log-in issue? I thought that there was only supposed to be a blackout over last weekend, this is almost a week now....  Vincent Azzinaro (@VinnyAzzinaro) February 15, 2018

@TDBank_US its absolutely ridiculous that I am unable to login to the new online portal and when I attempt to call customer service there is over a 20 minute wait. I need to access my accounts - this is unacceptable.  Jewels (@JMIaudhep) February 15, 2018

@TDBank_US Day four with no online banking access. This is my message: Bad Request. Your browser sent a request that this server could not understand. Size of a request header field exceeds server limit. Cookie/n. Any suggestions?  Lauren Wise (@WiseToBeSocial) February 15, 2018

"We're working diligently to resolve this issues as quickly as possible," TD Bank tweeted as a response to one frustrated customers. "Currently, we do not have an ETA."

No End In Sight

Although the upgrade on TD Bank's website is complete, it still remains largely inaccessible for customers. As a response to their website's technical nightmare, TD Bank issued a message on their platform.

"Thanks for your patience while we worked to bring you the new and improved experience you deserve," TD Bank wrote on their website.

As for errors on the app, TD Bank suggests that customers update it if they experience problems.

"TD Bank conducted an upgrade to our online banking systems to enhance our customers' online and mobile banking experience," a representative from TD Bank told Tech Times. "We are working diligently to provide a consistent customer experience to everyone. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our customers. When the upgrade is complete, we will provide our customers with an improved online and mobile experience through intuitive navigation, useful tools, and improved security features."

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.In what's seemingly a drastic but not-so-unexpected move, Google has removed the "view image" button usually seen when browsing for images on Google Search, the one which allows users to download any image from the search engine without any hassle.

This is a big deal. Chances are, if a user is trying to locate an image on Google Search, they want to download it and use it for their personal projects. The move might be Google's direct response to a handful of photographers and artists who feel that the search engine makes their work easily prone to stealing.

Google Removes View Image Button

The move is also a part of a broader multiyear global licensing partnership with Getty Images announced last week that requires Google to improve attribution of contributors' photos, plus make copyright disclaimers more prominent, and, of course, the removal of the view image button.

"Today we're launching some changes on Google Images to help connect users and useful websites," tweeted Google. "This will include removing the View Image button. The Visit button remains, so users can see images in the context of the webpages they're on."

Google's intention is not to ultimately stop people from downloading images, but to make them go to the original website where the image is hosted so that site can display ads, get revenue, and allow people to see copyright information. That's thrilling news for publishers, sure, but a potential nuisance for regular Google Search users, as they now have to take additional steps just to download images.

With the view image button removed, users would have to go to the website, scroll through it to find the image if it's not immediately viewable, and then download it from there, if so they choose. Some website, it's worth noting, disable users from downloading images altogether  another nightmare.

There's A Workaround, Though

Users need not frown  there's actually a pretty easy solution. With the view image button gone, users can just right click the photo on Google Images and select "open image in a new tab" or "view image" and access the full-size photo to download it. The problem is not everyone knows that this is possible.

While it's definitely worth commending Google for its effort to protect publishers and photographers' rights, it's easy to imagine that a large portion of Google's audience, if not all, will be dismayed by the change.

Do you think Google's decision to remove the view image button is wise? As always, feel free to sound off in the comments section below!

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.The always-expanding Project Fi multi-network cellular service now covers 170 countries, but Google has assured that the usage fees will largely remain the same.

The latest coverage expansion increased Project Fi's reach from the 135 locations worldwide that were previously covered. At the rate Google's mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) service is going, it could be that soon enough Project Fi will make its presence felt in nearly every corner of the planet.

More importantly, the newly announced upgrade will thankfully not see adjustments to the detriment of subscribers, as usual the case for most network service providers. Project Fi, according to Google, will not increase on its charging rate nor shave off on the data, SMS, and call allocations that customers already enjoy.

"These 170+ destinations covered in Project Fi's network include the same great benefits, including free texts and data," the company said on the service's official page.

Project Fi At Work

The free text applies on all packages, which currently offers the Google Pixel and the Moto X4 as supported handsets, and the service is absolutely free no matter where the SMS is sent or received. This plainly is Google's MVNO facility working its magic.

In addition, voice calls made from the listed countries will be charged the usual, at only $0.20 per minute. The data usage rate will also go untouched, which at present is set at $10 per GB consumed.

Google also highlighted the fact that with Project Fi, subscribers will not overspend on their mobile device usage, thanks to the Bill Protection system. This will take effect once, for instance, a customer has reached the preset data cap that, for personal accounts, stands at $60 per month.

When the feature kicks in, Google's generosity will also come into play. Data consumed past the threshold will be free of charge, the company said.

Extra Features

Project Fi is also integrating notification alerts with the service that will work in tandem with Gmail. If, for example, a user's email account contains messages from an airline company, the service will issue an advisory if the country of destination has Project Fi coverage and the existing rates on network connection.

To be clear, though, Google's MVNO will not ensure that one is insulated from incurring hefty fees on international calls. The charge will surely rack up without close monitoring on minutes consumed when traveling overseas.

To avoid such a scenario, Google recommends connecting to Project Fi via Wi-Fi where and when applicable, as all features of the service will remain available. This is helpful too in countries or locations where the MVNO is yet to be rolled out.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.A summit in the plains

Subas Tamang was born in Amardaha, a town in Morang. His mother, a Bhojpur native, had moved to the district to set up house with a stone-carver. But the elder Tamang frequently travelled through the eastern hills and plains, turning rocks into roofs to make ends meet. He led an itinerant life; he was familiar with strife.BB Airways faces tough time flying NAC-auctioned Boeing

The plan of non-defunct Nepali private carrier BB Airways to take to the skies again after purchasing a 30-year-old Boeing 757 from the Nepal Airlines Corporation is unlikely to materialise any time soon.Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commissionA grand jury in Avoyelles Parish has charged Nate Cain and a former subordinate with obstruction of justice, adding to the former prison wardens substantial legal woes.

The indictment stems from a 2016 administrative probe by Louisiana corrections officials that found Cain had helped torpedo an investigation into an alleged sexual relationship between an inmate and a guard at the Cottonport prison Cain oversaw.

Warden Nate Cain ordered cover-up of prison rape investigation, corrections officials say Nate Cain, the eldest son of famous former Angola prison Warden Burl Cain, led a cover-up of a rape investigation last year at the Cottonport 

Cain resigned in May of that year, just before the results of the internal probe were made public. Randon Harrington -- who was a major at Avoyelles Correctional Center -- was indicted alongside Cain this week. Harrington was fired in the wake of the administrative probe.

The investigation accused both Cain and Harrington of aggravated malfeasance.

The indictment offers almost no insight into the charges against Cain and Harrington. But its clear the indictment stems from that probe, as the grand jury also considered charges against two others named in that investigation.

Grand jurors opted not to indict Brandy Dupuy, the guard whose relationship with an inmate sparked the initial probe, or Beau Milligan, a lieutenant colonel who was accused of helping to tank the investigation into the sex allegations.

Its such a bare-bones indictment, its hard for me to even comment on it, said Cains lawyer, John McLindon. Well learn more about what the charges are through the pretrial discovery process.

Harrington, whose social media profile indicates he now works at a Louisiana chemical plant, did not return calls or messages from The Advocate.

Milligan's lawyer, Thomas Davenport, praised the grand jury for declining to charge his client, saying it ""took a stand and courageously told the (corrections department) we do not believe your accusations."

Milligan was also fired after the administrative probe on the basis of "aggravated malfeasance. He has an appeal before State Civil Service scheduled for June, at which Davenport promised to "face and defeat Beau's accusers."

The internal corrections probe never determined with certainty whether Dupuy indeed had a sexual relationship with an inmate  which, under the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act, is considered rape even if both parties consent.

Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Rather, investigators found that Cain and his subordinates did their best to shut down the inquiry. Harrington was accused of coercing the inmate to drop his allegations by threatening to have him sent to Camp J at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, where the states most unmanageable inmates live.

Cain, meanwhile, cut short a polygraph exam being administered to Dupuy, who denied the relationship. He also sent away a seasoned rape investigator from Angola who had been assigned to help.

+6 Burl Cain's son, on leave as Avoyelles warden, treated leniently in '09 inmate beating Seven years ago, Nate Cain looked on as a trio of guards savagely beat an inmate who had hopped a train to escape a work detail at Phelps Corr

Harrington had a history with Cain: He had worked for the warden at Phelps Correctional Center, and was accused in an internal investigation of taking part in the brutal beating of an inmate as Cain looked on. Both men were lightly disciplined, and soon promoted.

Nate Cain is already facing 18 federal counts of fraud involving allegations that he and his now-estranged wife, Tonia, made a series of purchases for personal benefit using state-billed credit cards.

Their trial is set for June.

+2 Nate Cain, estranged wife indicted on federal charges in alleged ripoff of Avoyelles prison Former prison warden Nate Cain, the eldest son of the legendary retired Louisiana jailer Burl Cain, is facing 18 federal fraud charges over pu

Tonia Cain, who was the business manager at Avoyelles Correctional Center, has filed for divorce. She has also reverted to her maiden name, Tonia Bandy.

Bandy also faces state theft charges in Avoyelles Parish for allegedly using her position to help herself to tens of thousands of dollars from a fund meant to benefit inmate clubs.

Nate Cain is the son of Burl Cain, the legendary former warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. The elder Cain was forced out of that post in late 2015 after The Advocate reported on his business dealings with the stepfather of an Angola inmate.China to train Nepali engineers in rail technology

A group of Nepali engineers will receive railway training in China as part of the governments plan to strengthen technical capacity in the sector. The China government will be providing training to 20 engineers from the Department of Roads (DoR) and Department of Railways (DoRW).I went through a long period, seems like ancient history now, but I remember when I was first diagnosed, I felt so dirty. Like everything about me was, I suppose, unsafe and unclean and my blood was just full of crap. Just the whole thing was very internalized. ... For the most part now, I feel loveable. I feel good about myself. I just feel like I've still got a lot to offer and give and that I can be part of a strong, healthy relationship, despite the difficulties, I suppose. -- Anonymous quote by a woman living with HIV

An HIV diagnosis can have a profound impact on women's sexual well-being.

Although most attention is paid to preventing the transmission of HIV to intimate partners, women's sexual concerns go far beyond condom use.

In honour of Love Positive Women 2018, a global campaign to surround women living with HIV with gestures of love in the two weeks leading up to Valentine's Day, we wanted to draw attention to the different and often unheard concerns that women have after learning their diagnosis and offer some suggestions to support women on their healing journeys.

What Having HIV Can Feel Like for Women

Sexual life with HIV can vary dramatically from woman to woman. But there are also some common themes.

In her powerful essay, Desires Denied, Alice Welbourn describes how societal forces -- such as HIV stigma, stereotypes and the threat of criminal penalty -- limit the erotic possibilities available to women living with HIV.

This can oftentimes lead women to feel pressured to relinquish sex and sexuality as a positive part of their lives, regardless of their own desires. Welbourn compares this forced asexuality to forced sex, describing them as the "opposite sides of the same coin."

In what might initially appear to be disparate experiences, both involve the violation of women's fundamental rights to bodily integrity and autonomy -- "an invasion of the parts of a woman's body preserved for chosen intimacy, for communication of her deepest feelings, for pleasure of a deep and exquisite kind, for the creation of life."

It is this description, taken from the book, Eve Was Framed, that Welbourn and perhaps many other women living with HIV can closely relate to.

Related: Getting Your Sexy On!!

Changes to Sexuality After an HIV Diagnosis: Here's What We Know From Research

Whether sexually active or not, women may experience various changes to their sexual health and sexuality after learning their status.

Depending on the woman, these changes may be physical -- in terms of difficulties engaging in sex, for example.

Often, though, women experience tremendous emotional changes in the way they experience and express themselves sexually.

For instance, some women may come to view themselves as blameworthy, contaminated or contagious (or all three), mainly because of enduring discourses of risk and stigma, despite a wave of new research showing that a person with HIV on treatment with an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV sexually.

While treatment is essential, it can also change the way women look and feel about their bodies. Think the rhetoric surrounding HIV is bad? It's even worse when combined with our culture's incessant fixation on and criticism of female bodies. And the overall impact on women's sexual well-being can be significant: women with HIV who feel worse about their bodies have lower sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and more.

Other sexual concerns that people rarely talk about include diminished interest in sex, disappointment over what can feel like reduced sexual freedom and spontaneity, and the struggles of finding a loving and caring partner (or even flirting with others because of gendered expectations of sex). Many women describe these challenges as a "loss" to their sexuality and move through a process of grief and mourning before adapting to a new sexual life.

What contributes to changes in women's sexual functioning, feelings, and behaviour after diagnosis? According to a 2017 review of 32 studies, medical factors are the least likely culprits. Instead, findings point to social oppression, with important links found between several aspects of sexuality and stigma, violence, poverty and depression, among other social stressors.

How to Support Women Through Sexual Changes

The question, then, is this: how do we support women to navigate these emotional and/or physical sexual changes or, better yet, prevent them from happening in the first place?

Given society's role in fuelling stigma and trauma, we believe the most powerful prevention strategy involves decriminalizing and destigmatizing sexuality with HIV, and stopping the mistreatment and violence against women living with the virus.

Initiatives such as Love Positive Women, Undetectable=Untransmittable and Revelation, to name a few, have been supporting women living with HIV around the world in taking back their right to be loved and celebrated. These initiatives also push back against the replication of harmful cultural messaging advising society at large to be alarmist about HIV. No way! Love positive women (and have the best, most enjoyable sex if that's what she's into!).

How else can you support this movement?

Learn the scientific facts about HIV transmission.

Consider how stigma operates in everyday lives and interactions.

Pledge to be an ally to women and speak out against abuse, harassment and inequality.

Support the Canadian Coalition to Reform HIV Criminalization.

Donate to organizations, social groups and networks focused on sex-positive change.

Join the Life & Love with HIV community -- a new website launching soon dedicated to de-stigmatizing sexuality and relationships for women and couples with HIV by shifting the focus from risk to pleasure. If you have personal experience of HIV and are interested in sharing your stories about the beauty, messiness, happiness, and challenges of life & love with HIV, please contact info@lifeandlovewithhiv.ca.

We also encourage doctors to talk to their female patients about sexual health beyond preventing HIV/STI transmission and unwanted pregnancy.

Women frequently report that pamphlets on how to use condoms are all the information provided. Counselling regarding emotional and psychological aspects of sexuality, including sexual enjoyment, is essential -- so too is research on this topic.

Very few studies of women living with HIV have focused on the science of pleasure; increased research attention must be paid to how women positively renegotiate and reconstruct a fulfilling sexual life after diagnosis, despite multiple threats to its loss.

Why a Fulfilling Sexual Life With HIV Matters

First and foremost: women get to define what a "fulfilling" sexual life is to them. It is perfectly normal to not have sex and to not want to have sex. In fact, research shows that many women living with HIV in Canada (25%, to be exact) have a satisfying sex life without sex. But if women living with HIV want to date and have sex -- awesome!

What matters, then, is ensuring that women have the right to choose to have sex or not to have sex. It is also important that we promote safe social environments and healthy relationships, where HIV is not a source of fear or stigma, so that women can have not just any sex, but pleasurable sex.

A focus on pleasure may not only buffer against negative outcomes, but it may also contribute to positive outcomes across multiple dimensions of sexual health. For example, studies have shown that women who masturbate or use vibrators are more likely to report health-promoting behaviours, such as gynecological exams and positive communication with partners.

Only by elevating HIV-positive women's sexual pleasure to a higher status can we truly support their access to full sexual health and rights.

Please join us this Valentine's Day, and every day, as we Love Positive Women!

Allison Carter is a Ph.D. candidate at Simon Fraser University and an HIV-negative ally conducting sex-positive research with women living with HIV.

Jessica Whitbread is a community organizer, artist, activist, academic, and at times a "professional," doing work that creates spaces for dialogue about social justice and social change.

Angela Kaida is a Canada Research Chair, Tier II, in Global Perspectives on HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health.

[Note from TheBody: This article was originally published by CATIE on Feb. 13, 2018. We have cross-posted it with their permission.]LUC DEFLORENNE/AFP/Getty Images

The Belgian Scroll Tiara is one of the loveliest jewels in Luxembourgs vaults, but it narrowly escaped the auction block only a few years ago.

When Princess Josephine-Charlotte of Belgium married Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg in 1953, she brought a considerable number of jewels with her to her new country, including several wedding gifts. Josephine-Charlotte chose to wear this new tiara, which was among that collection, in some of her wedding portraits. (For the wedding ceremony, she wore the Congo Necklace Tiara.)

In the image above, Josephine-Charlotte wears the tiara during a visit to the Vatican. The tiara, which is made of diamonds set in platinum, was made by Henry Coosemans in the same year that Josephine-Charlotte married. The diamonds were all sourced from the Belgian Congo, which had not yet been granted independence; the same is true for some of the other diamond gifts that Josephine-Charlotte received. The tiara was given to the princess by the Societe Generale, a French bank. The largest central diamond is detachable and can also be worn as a ring.

Josephine-Charlottes husband became Grand Duke Jean when her mother-in-law, Charlotte, abdicated in 1964. Josephine-Charlotte wore the tiara during part of the abdication ceremonies, as you can see in the (fuzzy) moving image above. (Charlotte wore the enormous Empire Tiara for the occasion.)

Josephine-Charlotte also wore the tiara when she and Jean hosted the British royals for a glittering state visit in 1976. Indeed, she continued to wear this tiara almost exclusively until her death in 2005, although she did lend it to one of her daughters-in-law, Princess Sibilla, on more than one occasion.

MICHAL CIZEK/AFP/Getty Images

After Josephine-Charlotte died, the tiara almost left the family for good. Her children planned to sell a good deal of the late grand duchesss jewelry collection, including this tiara. However, public outcry led to the cancellation of the sale, and this tiara was kept in the familys vaults. (Sadly, other pieces did end up on the auction block eventually.) Today, Maria Teresa wears the tiara occasionally, especially during state visits. Above, she wears the tiara during a state visit to Norway in 2011.

HAAKON MOSVOLD LARSEN/AFP/Getty Images

One of her most recent appearances in the tiara also came in Norway, during the celebrations for King Harald and Queen Sonjas 80th birthdays in May 2017.

Note: This is an updated version of an earlier post, with new text and images.Food crisis grips remote village of Barekot

Barekot, an ultra-remote village in Jajarkot, has been grappling with food crisis for the past month due to a negligent contractor who failed to supply state-subsidised rice to the village within the stipulated time. The villagers do not have a food stockpile and new crops have yet to be harvested.Man missing a day before marriage found in India

Bal Krishna Kharel, a local of Gaindakot municipality, Amarapuri of Nawalpur, who has been out of contact for the past two weeks, was found hiding himself in India safely, police shared.Tika R Pradhan is a senior political correspondent for the Post, covering politics, parliament, judiciary and social affairs. Pradhan joined the Post in 2016 after working at The Himalayan Times for more than a decade.Nepals envoy to Hungary presents credentials

Nepali Ambassador to Hungary Ramesh Prasad Khanal presented his letter of credence to Hungarian President Janos Ader at Sandor Palace in Budapest on Thursday.Forget the usual elegant royal-like poses -- candid pre-wedding pictures are the new cool.

Jatidiri Putro Wicaksono, photographer and creative director of Byjatidiriono photography, told kompas.com that candid photos were the trend for pre-wedding photo shoots in 2018.

Taken in an informal setting, such photos allowed the bride and groom to be themselves, letting others know about their relationship and their daily lives.

Candid pre-wedding photography is actually not a new concept; it has existed in several countries for a few years. However, its popularity recently increased in Indonesia.

Read also: Five tips to host a Peranakan-themed wedding

With regard to the locations, Jatidiri said, couples would usually come with their own ideas and discuss them with the photographers. Some wanted the location to be authentic, while others preferred some decoration.

The challenge is to decorate the place without making it look redecorated, said Jatidiri.

Meanwhile, the color tones should match those of the concept for the wedding reception. Color photos helped lift the mood at the reception, while black-and-white photos reflected honesty and highlighted emotions.

Jatidiri added that the most important thing was to involve the couple in planning the concept.

Prices for candid pre-wedding photo shoots vary depending on the concept, location and the number of photos, typically ranging from Rp 5 million (US$366) to Rp 10 million. (jes/kes)Buried for centuries under layers of volcanic material, restoration work began on Kedulan Temple in January. The temple is located in Tirtomartani village of Yogyakarta's Sleman regency and was discovered by sand miners on Nov 24, 1993.

Kedulan Temple was buried 7 meters beneath the surface, covered by 13 layers of volcanic material deposited by numerous eruptions of Mount Merapi dating back to the 9th century, when the temple was built, until its relatively recent discovery 25 years ago.

Since 1993, the Cultural Preservation Agency has continued to excavate and study the Kedulan Temple site. The agency found other sections of the temple that still lay below ground, including several statues and two inscriptions in palawa (ancient Indonesian script) bearing the year 791 year in the Javanese calendar, equivalent to 869 A.D.

Read also: Yogyakarta to attract tourists to Kulon Progo tea hamlets

A close-up shot reveals the carvings on a stone block of the Kedulan Temple, which will be reunited with the rest of the stone blocks in reconstructing the temple. (Stefanus Ajie/Stefanus Ajie)

The Kedulan Temple site measures approximately 14-by-14 meters and a height of 8-9 meters. The Hindu temple complex consists of a main temple and three perwarna (small temples) and holds the statue of Lembu Nandi and Lingga Yoni. The structural design is similar to other nearby Hindu temples, such as the Ijo Temple and Sambisari Temple, both of which were built to worship Shiva, one of the principle Hindu deities.

The smaller temples around the Prambanan Temple complex are believed to be houses of worship in the rank of Raka, a government unit of the Mataram Hindu Kingdom, also known as the Medang Kingdom.

Workers at the Kedulan site prepare to build a reinforced foundation to support the temple structure. (Stefanus Ajie/Stefanus Ajie)

Kedulan Temple is being restored by a archeological team from the Yogyakarta Institute for Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BPCB) that consists of 75 archeologists, restoration specialists and workers. Before the actual restoration work began in January, the team performed a number of technical tests on the site.

A temple is considered fit for restoration if more than 80 percent of the original structural materials are available and every layer of the temples structure is clearly represented.

Once the stone blocks were discovered and grouped according to type, the Kedulan Temple entered the anastylosis phase, during which the temple is reconstructed using the original architectural elements to the greatest extent possible. The recovered stones are rearranged in a temporary location in a manner no different than trying to build a giant three-dimensional puzzle, and are marked on each side to make it easier to reassemble them at the actual site.

Read also: Foreign travelers search for her Yogyakarta hero goes viral

Members of the special anastylosis team reassemble the temple structure at a location adjacent to the Kedulan site. Once their placement has been determined and confirmed, the blocks will be moved to the actual site to reconstruct the temple, block by block. (Stefanus Ajie/Stefanus Ajie)

One of the members of the anastylosis team is Yudi Royani, 58, a former BPCB Yogyakarta specialist, now retired. With over 37 years of experience in temple restoration, Yudi explained that the anastylosis phase required a great deal of precision. Reconstructing a temple means we have to understand the shape and character of each stone. They need to be placed exactly where they belong in the original structure. A small shift would mean disaster, he said.

While the reconstruction is under way, another team is building a reinforced foundation for the main temple. The foundation must be strengthened to stabilize the temple structure and protect it from the ongoing water erosion. After the work on the foundation is finished, the temple will be rebuilt using the construction methods of centuries past.

The restoration of the entire Kedulan Temple complex is expected to be completed by the end of 2018. The temple will then be opened to the public as a place of worship as well as for educational and tourism purposes. The restored Kedulan Temple is also expected to have a positive impact on the welfare of the people living around the temple, particularly through the tourism sector. (mut/kes)Eje Kim, 46, a geography expert from Seoul National University, South Korea, has traveled the world to conduct research. In her 2003 dissertation, she said she discovered the treasure of her life: the Indonesian durian. She flies to the archipelago almost on a monthly basis to indulge in the succulent king of fruits.

Her first visit to Indonesia dates back to more than 20 years ago. She often takes her family to look for durian in different cities or even forests. Eje recalled that one of her favorite moments was when she enjoyed the fruit together with orangutans at Tangkahan forest, Central Kalimantan.

Read also: Nutritionist debunks biggest myth about durian

A post shared by Eco Learning Camp (@eco.learningcamp) on Oct 29, 2017 at 2:26pm PDT

The sweetest moment was when I ran into a group of orangutans eating durian. How they loved the fruit! My child and I even tried their durian, Eje told kompas.com during the launch of her book Happy Yummy Journey at Gramedia Central Park Jakarta on Feb. 10.

Her love for durian not only led her to achieve academic excellence, but it also resulted in her book being translated into several languages.

Happy Yummy Journey is about her adventures to ASEAN countries for durian tasting and interacting with locals. Eje points out in her book that happiness can come from simple things, such as eating durian. She also promotes women's empowerment against certain social systems, and how she feels fortunate to live in a society that appreciates women.

Read also: Singapore durian-themed cafe smells winning combination

Eje Kim at the launch of her book, 'Happy Yummy Journey.' (Kompas/Muhammad Irzal Adiakurnia)

The professor wraps up the book by saying that durian is a magical fruit that heals stress and brings happiness. But the most important thing is that Indonesian durian is of a large variety and the most delicious, so you all should be grateful to be Indonesians.

Happy Yummy Journey is now available in book stores and online stores for Rp 115,000 (US$8.42). (mut)Solok Radjo coffee, famous for its high quality, has reportedly attracted the foreign market, especially the United States.

Zirma Yusri of the West Sumatra Cooperative and Small, Medium and Large Businesses Agency told Antara that the arabica coffee would be exported to the US starting this year.

"The market started to exist after the coffee was promoted at several exhibitions abroad," he said in Padang, West Sumatra, on Tuesday.

Read also: Crazy about Indonesian coffee? Here are the basics of java

Zirma added that good reviews from Q graders also helped introduce the product to coffee enthusiasts.

According to Zirma, Solok Radjo coffee had a distinct aroma and taste  a combination between a refreshingly sour and sweet taste with a delightful scent of spices.

Due to the interesting aroma, the coffee is currently popular not only in West Sumatra but also across the country. (kes)German transport authorities will next week recall thousands more Daimler and Volkswagen vehicles, Der Spiegel magazine reported Friday, as the massive emissions cheating scandal that has engulfed the sector for more than two years shows no sign of going away.

VW in particular is still struggling to come to terms with the so-called "dieselgate" scandal which erupted in late 2015 after it admitted to fitting millions of diesel engines worldwide with software to distort data on the amount of poisonous gases they were emitting.

But Der Spiegel said that the KBA vehicle licensing authority is now set to recall some Mercedes-Benz Vito vans produced by Daimler, as well.

The suspicions this time concern a software device that regulates the amount of a special fluid known as AdBlue used in the engines to neutralise harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Nitrogen oxides are poisonous, can contribute to acid rain and suffocating smog and can cause breathing problems and headaches in humans.

"We are in a technical exchange with the KBA," about the vans, a Daimler spokesman told AFP, saying around 1,000 of the 1.6-litre models were affected in Germany.

Read also: Volkswagen apologizes for testing of diesel fumes on monkeys

Quoting transport ministry sources, Der Spiegel reported that officials in Berlin believe the software amounts to an "illegal defeat device", designed to cheat regulators' emissions tests.

"What's more, it is believed that this kind of manipulation could be found elsewhere" in Daimler's range, the weekly added.

But Daimler denied any wrongdoing.

"We would take all legal means against the allegation of a defeat device," the Daimler spokesman said, while adding the firm would "continue to cooperate fully with the authorities".

VW also remains in officials' sights.

KBA investigators have discovered "questionable" software functions in Macan SUVs produced by VW's subsidiary Porsche and could rescind the luxury cars' licenses, Der Spiegel reported.

If the licenses are withdrawn, VW might have to buy thousands of vehicles back from their owners.

VW's own-brand van range has also raised questions, with officials suspecting its popular T6 Transporter consumes more fuel and emits more carbon dioxide than the company claims in its advertising.

The group denies offering misleading statistics for the Transporter.

The new reports come as the German auto industry faces a decisive week, with the Federal Administrative Court set to decide whether diesel vehicles can be banned from parts of major city centres like Duesseldorf or Stuttgart to slash pollution.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Djemi Amnifu (The Jakarta Post) Kupang  Sat, February 17, 2018 17:32 1306 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c6019b6 1 National migrant-workers Free

The family of Adelina Lisao, 21, a migrant worker who died in Malaysia allegedly because of severe abuse, has demanded compensation for their daughter's dubious employment. The family, who live in Ebi village, Oenino, South Timor Tengah regency, believe that Adelina never received her salary despite having worked since 2015.

We demand that Adelinas salary for three years be paid. Dont justify withholding her salary because she was unregistered, Adelinas aunt Petronela Koa told The Jakarta Post while waiting for Adelinas body to arrive at El Tari Airport in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.

The amount of money does not matter. But it is still her right [to be paid], she added.

The family has also reported two people who allegedly recruited and sent Adelina to work illegally in Malaysia. The two people in question have been arrested by the local police for forging Adelina's documents, who was reportedly only 17 years old when she was sent abroad. The forged documents indicate that Adelina was six years older that her actual age.

Adelinas body is to be laid to rest on Sunday. (swd)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Indonesia  Sat, February 17 2018

A government official has expressed his regret that few people see Indias potential in education, even though the country has expertise in the fields of IT, management and accounting.



Indonesian Ambassador to India Sidharto R. Suryodipuro said only 150 Indonesians were currently studying in the whole of India.



It seems that most people still have a perspective of seeing India from one side only, from Bollywood movies, he said, adding that many international startups around the world were established by people of Indian descent. Most Indonesians still do not seem to take Indian institutions into account when it comes to studying.



India, Sidharto said, was a few steps ahead of Indonesia in terms of technological development, which was why its educational institutions on information technology were more developed.



Responding to the issue, he add...Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Sydney, Australia  Sat, February 17, 2018 14:27 1306 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c5fc2ac 2 World Australia,cruise,brawl,Sydney Free

Twenty-three members of the same family have been removed from a cruise ship near Sydney after a brawl that left several injured, reports said, just days after a separate incident forced another liner to return to port.

Police removed the group, which included men, women and children, from the boat on Friday after it docked in Sydney on a 10-day South Pacific cruise.

Video taken by passengers showed more than a dozen people fighting on the ship as crew members struggled to break up the violence.

Other reports said the group had been terrorising other passengers for days.

"People were pulling their children out of the pool because they were crying and scared," one witness told The Herald Sun newspaper.

It said some of the group had been placed under "house arrest" on the ship before being ejected.

One witness told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation she had seen seven separate fights break out during the trip.

Police said they were investigating the incident but no one had been charged.

Jennifer Vandekreeke, a spokeswoman for Carnival Cruise Line, said the trouble involved a single family, adding that disembarking an entire group "is always our last resort".

The incident comes just days after a separate cruise ship was forced to return to Sydney after a fight over a queue for the toilets.

A Russian women was charged on Monday with attacking a man with a wine bottle.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Beijing  Sat, February 17, 2018 20:49 1306 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c60430c 2 Business China,US,interest,politics Free

China on Saturday warned it would take necessary measures to protect its interests if the US imposes tough trade sanctions against its steel and aluminium exports.

The US Commerce Department on Friday recommended imposing heavy tariffs on China and other countries to counter a global glut in steel and aluminum, laying out an array of possible options in a report to President Donald Trump.

The move gives Trump the opportunity to strike a highly public blow for his "America first" trade policy -- he is due to decide on the measures next month -- but has stoked fears of retaliation and a trade war between the world's two largest economies.

"If the United States' final decision affects China's interests, we will take necessary measures to defend our rights," said Wang Hejun, a director at China's commerce ministry, in a statement responding to the US report.

The US report framed concerns about Chinese overproduction in terms of national security and defence -- an approach refuted by Wang.

"The findings of the investigations (of the US Department of Commerce) are groundless and do not correspond to reality," he said.

Washington "should not lightly adopt restrictive measures under the pretext of 'national security' ... a vague formula that can easily lead to abuse," he said.

China produces about half of the world's steel but supplies less than two percent of the steel imported by the United States.

The US and EU argue Chinese overproduction is heavily subsidised by the state and has depressed world prices, hurting their own domestic production.

Trump on Tuesday accused Beijing of decimating American steel and aluminium industries, saying he was "considering all options".Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Aden, Yemen  Sun, February 18, 2018 00:59 1305 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c609bbc 2 World Yemen,drone Free

A US drone strike in central Yemen killed two suspected Al-Qaeda members on a motorbike including a local commander, a security official said Saturday.

The strike came as UAE-backed Yemeni special forces launched a new offensive against Al-Qaeda in southeast Yemen, losing two soldiers.

The unmanned aircraft struck the motorcycle carrying the men in Bayda province at around midnight Friday, the official told AFP.

"The strike targeted two Al-Qaeda militants, local commander Abu Hussein al-Theriya and another, Dawoud al-Sanaani, as they rode through the province," he said.

Although the US only sporadically reports on its long-running bombing campaign against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), it is the only force known to operate armed drones over Yemen.

The drone war has intensified since President Donald Trump took office.

Washington also backs a Saudi-led coalition in its military intervention in Yemen, launched in 2015 with the aim of forcing Iran-backed Shiite rebels from the capital and restoring the government to power.

The Saudi-led intervention, in which the United Arab Emirates plays a key role, has expanded to include the fight against Al-Qaeda and other Sunni extremist groups that have flourished in the chaos of the war.

On Saturday, two elite UAE-trained Yemeni troops were killed and others wounded in clashes with Al-Qaeda in the Mesini Valley of Hadramawt province, a military official said.

They were taking part in a new offensive, announced Saturday by Emirati state media, aimed at clearing Al-Qaeda from the southeastern province.

"Special forces have launched operations to clear the Mesini Valley west of Mukalla and Amed Valley in the Hadramawt desert of Al-Qaeda and to cut off its supplies and movements," the official said.

He said an unspecified number of Al-Qaeda members had also been killed.

The UN has labelled Yemen the world's worst humanitarian diaster, tallying more than 9,200 fatalities since the Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015.Playing with fire

On December 20, a massive fire engulfed Super Gas Udyog, a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) bottling plant in Sukhasaina, Birgunj. It took almost nine hours to quell the inferno which claimed the lives of three firefighters, severely injured one more, destroyed a fire engine and posed a severe threat to people living in the vicinity of the bottling plant.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Cecilia Yap (Bloomberg) Manila  Sun, February 18, 2018 06:11 1305 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c60de04 2 Business jack-ma,Rodrigo-Duterte,Alibaba Free

The Philippines has invited Jack Ma and his Alibaba Group to partner President Rodrigo Duterte in helping to improve technology for governance and to assist in building an inclusive financial system that would aid small businesses, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said.

Ma, in a meeting with Philippine government officials in Hangzhou on Feb. 1, said the Philippines had huge potential to embrace the technology revolution because e-commerce was specifically designed for developing economies, according to a statement from the Philippine finance department.

Dominguez said Duterte was impressed with Ma when they met in Manila in November, and the Philippine leader issued instructions to pursue discussions with the technology entrepreneur to find common areas that Alibaba and the Philippine government could pursue together.

I will report to the president that there are many elements here that we could use in the Philippines, said Dominguez, who was with key government officials at Alibaba Business Schools Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 new economy workshop.

The insight from the training would help the Duterte administration understand how to optimize the use of technology to improve governance and prepare Filipinos for the future under a digital economy, Dominguez said. Among issues discussed was how cloud computing and big data platforms could be applied -- from improving traffic flow and law enforcement to managing financial risks and heightening cybersecurity measures, he said.

Dominguez said a closer relationship between the Philippine government and Alibaba is among the ways of further cementing bilateral ties between the Philippines and China.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, February 17, 2018 14:29 1306 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c5fc753 1 City #drugs,#Jakarta Free

West Jakarta Police have detained a father and his son for allegedly selling drugs in Penjaringan, North Jakarta.

West Jakarta Police narcotics division head Sr. Adj. Comr. Suhermanto said on Saturday that residents had tipped them off about suspicious activity in a house on Jl. Kapuk Muara.

Several of our personnel followed up the reports and found one of the suspects, identified as JN or BK, with 10 packets of methamphetamine weighing 6.78 grams in his pockets, said Suhermanto.

Suhermanto said JN had admitted to receiving the drugs from his son, identified as 21-year-old SN, who was found in possession of two packets of methamphetamine weighing 0.87 grams.

After investigating further, we found that SN had received the illicit drugs from his brother-in-law, identified as IBN, who is currently detained in Bogor, West Java.

The suspects are charged under Article 114 of the Narcotics Law, which stipulates a punishment of up to 20 years in prison. (jlm)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Sat, February 17, 2018 14:09 1306 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c5fb7d8 2 Business fitch-ratings,greece,upgrades Free

The Fitch ratings agency on Friday upgraded Greece's sovereign debt grade, citing budget surpluses, greater political stability and the growing economy.

The agency raised the debt rating one notch to 'B' from 'B-,' leaving the country in the "highly speculative" category but with a positive outlook.

The decision followed a similar move last month by S&P Global Ratings, which said the long-suffering economy's improving fiscal situation was coinciding with growing employment.

Long the "sick man of Europe," Greece is expected to face smoother sailing, with Eurozone finance ministers expected to sign off on the review of its performance under as its financial aid program, which runs through August 2018.

The eurozone also is expected to provide "substantial debt relief" this year, Fitch said.

"The concessional nature of Greece's public debt implies that debt servicing costs are low despite the high stock of public debt," Fitch said in announcing its decision.

The agency noted that Greece saw three straight quarters of GDP growth for the first time in 11 years, causing per capita incomes to rise as well, while political risks have receded.

Between 2015 and 2017, the government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras adopted painful measures under the bailout program and "we think it would be politically difficult for the same government to backtrack" once the program ends, Fitch said.

Greece has also recorded rising budget surpluses and while the banking sector remains weak, banks have committed to plans to reduce their non-performing exposures by the end of next year, Fitch said.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, February 17, 2018 14:49 1306 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c5fd83f 1 National election,2019-elections Free

Four new contenders are set to stand in the 2019 general election after the General Elections Commission (KPU) declared on Saturday that 14 political parties had qualified for the ballot, up from 10 parties in 2014.

During a plenary meeting in Central Jakarta, KPU leaders announced the 14 political parties: the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Democratic Party, the Gerindra Party, the Golkar Party, the Hanura Party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the NasDem Party, the United Development Party (PPP), the Garuda Party, the United Indonesia Party (Perindo), the Berkarya Party and the Indonesia Solidarity Party (PSI).

The last four of the parties listed above will participate in a general election for the first time.

The KPU has assessed three aspects for the central level verification: the existence of core management at the central executive board, female representation within the party and the partys office building.

Following the KPUs announcement, PAN representatives were jubilant, shouting We are ready for next years election and ready to win!

One of the newcomers, the PSI, was declared the party with the highest number of female members, amounting 66 percent of its total membership.

Fighting for womens interests is best done by female representatives, PSI deputy chair Isyana Bagoes Oka said. (gis/swd)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Tangerang  Sat, February 17 2018

Heavy rain throughout Thursday in Tangerang, Banten, destroyed the canopy of the Jurumudi Baru community health center (Puskesmas) building.



Tangerang Health Agency head Liza Puspadewi told the media on Friday that the extreme weather had severely damaged the entrance canopy of the building.



The incident didnt disrupt the medical activities in the building and weve immediately repaired it, she said as reported by wartakota.tribunnews.com.



The health center, which was built in 2005, Liza added, had never been renovated and several parts of its structure had been eroded.



There were no victims, probably because the incident occurred in the morning when the center was not busy, she said.

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Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, February 17, 2018 11:23 1306 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c5f6377 2 National maid,moratorium,Malaysia Free

Indonesia is looking into revisiting a moratorium on sending its domestic workers to Malaysia, officials have said, sparked by a recent case of ill treatment that led to the death of an Indonesian maid who had allegedly been recruited illegally for work in the neighboring country.



The death of 21-year-old Adelina Lisao in Penang, Malaysia, last week renewed a national debate on the need to strengthen protection for migrant workers and raised questions about the need to send Indonesians to a country whose porous borders are part of a region-wide human trafficking route.



President Joko Jokowi Widodo is on board with the idea of halting the recruitment of Indonesian domestic workers to Malaysia, having raised the issue during an annual consultation meeting hosted by Prime Minister Najib Razak in Kuching last year, Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Rusdi Kirana revealed recently.



Rusdi said he had proposed halting the sending of domestic workers to Malaysia and working on restructuring the employment administration process, with the aim of mending diplomatic ties between the two countries, which had been strained by repeated cases involving migrant workers.



His proposal comes on the heels of the case of Adelina, who had allegedly been forced to sleep outside the house with her employers dog for a month. She died with severe injuries to her head and face, and had infected wounds on her hands and legs.



A moratorium is important so we can restructure our TKI [migrant workers] employment system to prevent cases such as Adelinas from happening again, Rusdi said, referring to migrant workers in the

informal sector.



He said violations against Indonesian domestic helpers had caused tension between the two countries. In order to promote cooperation, what happened to Adelina should not happen again, the envoy told reporters in Jakarta on Thursday.



Rusdi, who is also the owner of Indonesias largest low-cost carrier Lion Air Group, has said he had talked to the President about a possible moratorium last year.



The president also wanted a moratorium, because he had also conveyed this to the Malaysian Prime Minister in the [November] meeting, he said.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, February 17 2018

The Health Ministry has called on those visiting mainland China to remain vigilant amid the recent alert over bird flu in the country.



China confirmed the first ever human case of the H7N4 bird flu on Thursday. It also prompted Hong Kong to issue a health warning for residents traveling to the mainland during the busy Chinese New Year holiday.



Indonesia, meanwhile, was still analyzing the distribution and determinants of the disease before issuing a health warning, the ministrys director general for disease prevention and control Mohamad Subuh said.



Always use a mask while you are there and maintain personal hygiene, he said on Friday.



The strain was identified in a 68-year-old woman from the eastern province of Jiangsu, who was admitted to hospital after falling ill on Dec. 25 but has since recovered, according to Chinas National Health and Fam...Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Gaza City, Palestinian Territories  Sun, February 18, 2018 04:02 1305 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c60b6ed 2 World Israel,attack Free

An Israeli tank opened fire Saturday at the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip after an "explosive device" was detonated near soldiers along the border with the Palestinian enclave, the army said.

It said the tank targeted an "observation post" in southern Gaza in response to the "detonation of the explosive device adjacent to the security fence" where soldiers were on patrol.

An army spokesman declined to say if there were casualties on the Israeli side.

Palestinian security sources said the incident took place east of the city of Khan Yunis, causing no injuries on the Palestinian side.

Israel holds the Islamist Palestinian movement Hamas, with which it has fought three wars since 2008, responsible for any fire coming from the blockaded coastal enclave.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Dario THUBURN (Agence France-Presse) London, United Kingdom  Sat, February 17, 2018 13:06 1306 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c5f97a6 2 World Oxfam,sex-abuse-scandals Free

The head of Oxfam on Friday hit back at criticism over a prostitution scandal that he said was "out of proportion", as the British charity agreed not to bid for more government funds until it cleans up its act.

Chief executive Mark Goldring has repeatedly apologized for failings in the way the charity dealt with claims of sexual misconduct by its aid staff, but said some people refused to listen to explanations.

"The intensity and the ferocity of the attack makes you wonder, what did we do?" he said in an interview with The Guardian newspaper.

"We murdered babies in their cots? Certainly, the scale and the intensity of the attacks feels out of proportion to the level of culpability. I struggle to understand it."

He suggested that some critics were motivated in part by opposition to taxpayer-funded aid -- Oxfam received nearly 32 million (36 million euros, $44 million) from the British government last year.

Earlier, the charity unveiled an action plan to tackle sexual harassment and abuse, and agreed not to bid for any more state funds until reforms were in place.

"Oxfam has agreed to withdraw from bidding for any new UK government funding until the Department for International Development is satisfied that they can meet the high standards we expect of our partners," aid minister Penny Mordaunt said.

She said all the government's charitable partners had been asked to give assurances on their safeguarding and reporting practices by February 26.

"We have been very clear that we will not work with any organization that does not live up to the high standards on safeguarding and protection that we require," Mordaunt said.

Oxfam has been mired in scandal since revelations one week ago that staff used prostitutes while working in Haiti following a devastating 2010 earthquake.

There have since been claims made about aid workers in Chad, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Philippines, and three Oxfam global ambassadors including South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu have quit their roles.

Deputy chief executive Penny Lawrence resigned over the Haiti affair earlier this week and on Friday, Oxfam International's executive director, Winnie Byanyima, said it would haunt the charity.

"What happened in Haiti and afterwards is a stain on Oxfam that will shame us for years, and rightly so," she told the BBC, adding: "From the bottom of my heart, I am asking for forgiveness."

- 'Lies and exaggerations' -

Ministers have demanded Oxfam produce a plan on how to deal with any forthcoming allegations, that it report any staff members involved in the Haiti scandal and that it fully cooperate with the Haitian authorities.

The aid group said it would create an independent commission with the power to access records and interview staff, and impose stricter controls on employees.

It will also double the number of staff engaged in safeguarding and triple its funding in this area to more than $1 million (800,000 euros), while also increasing investment in gender training.

Oxfam fired four staff members for gross misconduct and allowed three others to resign following an internal inquiry into what happened in Haiti in 2011.

But it admitted Thursday it had rehired one of those sacked just months later.

Roland van Hauwermeiren, Oxfam's director in Haiti at the time and one of the three who resigned from the charity, dismissed the allegations.

"I have never been into a brothel, a nightclub or a bar in that country," the 68-year-old Belgian said in a four-page letter published on the website of Belgian VTM News.

"There were numerous men and women who tried to get into my house with all sorts of excuses to demand money, work, or to offer sexual services. But I never gave into these advances," he said.

Van Hauwermeiren, who has taken part in an internal inquiry at the British charity, said he told Oxfam he had engaged in "intimate relations some three times" at his home.

"This was with an honorable, mature woman, who was not an earthquake victim nor a prostitute. And I did not give her any money," he said, adding that he was, however, "deeply ashamed" of the liaison.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Lahore  Sat, February 17, 2018 21:41 1305 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c6052d2 2 World rape,Pakistan Free

A Pakistani court Saturday handed four death sentences to a man charged with raping and murdering a young girl, in a case that shocked the country and sparked major riots in his home district.

Imran Ali, 24, was on trial for the killing of six-year-old Zainab Fatima Ameen in the eastern city of Kasur last month.

He faces further charges in the cases of at least seven other children attacked in the Punjab city -- five of whom were murdered -- in a spate of assaults that had stoked fears a serial child killer was on the loose. He has confessed to all eight attacks, including the death of Zainab.

Ali was handed four separate death sentences after being convicted of the rape and murder of Zainab, as well as terrorism charges, prosecutor general of Punjab province Ihtesham Qadir said after a special anti-terrorism court passed its judgement.

Under Pakistani law, crimes that are considered to have spread terror in society can be charged as acts of terrorism.

The prosecutors said he received further life imprisonment and fines totalling 3.2 million rupees ($30,000) for additional charges of hiding his victim's body.

One million rupees of the fine would be given in compensation to Zainab's family, public prosecutor Abdul Rauf Wattoo told AFP.

The trial was held in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat prison for security reasons. Journalists were stopped 500 meters from the prison and only relatives of the victim were allowed in court for the hearing.

Strict security was deployed outside the prison at the time of announcement of the judgement and every visitor was physically checked.

Zainab's mother Nusrat Bibi demanded execution of the death penalties be carried out in public.

"I want him to be hanged publicly at the place where he took Zainab," she told reporters after the verdict.

Zainab's murder last month sparked outrage across Pakistan, with riots erupting in Kasur as thousands swarmed police stations and set fire to politicians' homes, while Pakistanis across the nation took to social media demanding action.

The killing sparked calls for the public execution of Ali after officials said his DNA had been recovered from the scene of the crime and matched samples from similar cases.

At least twelve cases of rape and murder have been recorded in the Kasur area in the past two years.

Ali confessed to eight cases, but it is not clear if the four others are linked.

According to the victim's father Ameen Ansari, Ali -- who lived nearby -- had taken part in the initial protests that erupted after Zainab's body was discovered.PM Oli extends best wishes

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli extended his best wishes to the Sherpa community living in the country and abroad on the occasion of Gyalbo Lhosar.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Joshua Howat BERGER (Agence France-Presse) Mexico City  Sun, February 18, 2018 03:32 1305 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c60a7fb 2 World Mexico-City,earthquake Free

A 7.2-magnitude earthquake rattled Mexico Friday, causing little damage but triggering a tragedy when a minister's helicopter crash-landed on the way to the epicenter, killing two people on the ground.

The military helicopter was carrying Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete and Oaxaca state Governor Alejandro Murat, who were unharmed, said President Enrique Pena Nieto.

"Unfortunately, multiple people on the ground lost their lives and others were injured," he wrote on Twitter, sending his condolences to the families.

The interior ministry said two people were killed in the accident. Video from the scene showed the white helicopter keeled over on its side in the dirt, a swarm of rescue workers around it.

Navarrete told the Televisa network that the helicopter pilot lost control of the aircraft about 40 meters (130 feet) above the ground as it was coming in to land. He added that some passengers were hurt.

The helicopter crashed in the southwestern town of Pinotepa de Don Luis -- 37 kilometers (22 miles) from the epicenter, according to the US Geological Survey.

Some 50 homes in the nearby town of Santiago Jamiltepec sustained structural damage, as well as the town hall and church, but no one was killed in the quake, the interior ministry said.

Oaxaca state authorities opened shelters for those affected, and nearly 6,000 soldiers and federal police were deployed to help with the emergency response.

Both Mexico's National Seismological Service and the US Geological Survey put the quake's magnitude at 7.2.

It struck at 5:39 pm (2339 GMT) at a relatively deep 24.7 kilometers, said the USGS.

- Panic and flashbacks -

The earthquake came less than six months after two devastating quakes that killed hundreds of people last year.

On September 7, an 8.2-magnitude earthquake shook the nation and killed 96 people, mostly in the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas.

Then on September 19 -- the 32nd anniversary of a huge 1985 quake that killed 10,000 people -- a 7.1-magnitude quake rocked the country, leaving 369 people dead.

Friday's quake triggered Mexico City's alarm system and caused buildings to sway in the capital. It was also felt in the states of Guerrero, Puebla and Michoacan.

Panicked residents flooded into the streets, fearing a repeat of last September's earthquakes, which caused buildings to collapse and killed a total of 465 people.

"To be honest, we're all pretty upset. We start crying whenever the (earthquake) alarm goes off," 38-year-old publicist Kevin Valladolid told AFP through tears after evacuating from his building in La Roma, in central Mexico City.

"We're stressed out, we have flashbacks. So we run out into the street. It's all we can do."

A nearby hospital evacuated patients into the street, some in wheelchairs or carting their IV lines. Similar scenes played out in Veracruz.

On the north side of the city, Julia Hernandez said she felt like she was "in a boat" as the ground swayed beneath her feet.

"Is it ever going to stop?" she said.

Standing in the middle of the street, her eyes glued to her fifth-floor apartment, Graciela Escalante, 72, could hardly speak.

"It was terribly strong. We barely managed to get down the stairs. It was the longest staircase in the world," she told AFP.

"We thought everything was going to collapse again."

- Seismic hotbed -

Officials in affected states said they were inspecting buildings damaged by last year's quakes, which are especially vulnerable to collapse.

"Obviously people are afraid," said the emergency response chief for the city of Puebla, Gustavo Ariza.

Pena Nieto tweeted that the National Emergency Committee had been activated because of the magnitude of the quake.

A 5.9-magnitude aftershock hit nearly an hour later -- one of more than 200 aftershocks so far, said the interior ministry.

Mexico sits at a spot where five tectonic plates come together, making it particularly vulnerable to earthquakes.Buddhist monk Karunasarani (second left) accompanies students of Darul Ulum Islamic elementary school on a visit to Dhammadipa Arama temple in Mojorejo village, Junrejo district, Batu, East Java, on Thursday. The school sends 213 students to the temple as part of its program to learn about other religions in order to instill tolerance virtues.(JP/Nedi Putra AW)(second left) accompanies students of Darul Ulum Islamic elementary school on a visit to Dhammadipa Arama temple in Mojorejo village, Junrejo district, Batu, East Java, on Thursday. The school sends 213 students to the temple as part of its program to learn about other religions in order to instill tolerance virtues.(JP/Nedi Putra AW)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Leila MACOR / with Andrew BEATTY in Washington (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Sat, February 17, 2018 10:58 1306 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c5f5e68 2 World Florida,FBI,trump,shooting Free

US President Donald Trump on Friday visited a Florida hospital to offer comfort to those wounded in a mass school shooting, after the FBI admitted it mishandled a tip about the troubled teen behind the massacre that left 17 dead.

The arrival of Trump and his wife Melania came at the end of a difficult day for the families of those killed in Wednesday's rampage at a high school in Parkland, Florida, who learned that the carnage could perhaps have been averted.

The FBI, the top US law enforcement agency, admitted it had received a chilling warning in January from a tipster who said the 19-year-old gunman, Nikolas Cruz, could be planning a mass shooting, but that agents had failed to follow up.

At Broward Health North Hospital, where Trump met with survivors of the shooting, the president thanked the doctors, nurses and first responders for their "incredible" work, and described the carnage as "very sad."

He and his wife then headed to the Broward County sheriff's office, where they met with Florida Governor Rick Scott, Senator Marco Rubio, Sheriff Scott Israel and other law enforcement officers.

Trump told the group he had met with a female survivor who had been shot four times, including in the lung, adding that quick first responders had saved her life.

"Give them a raise," he said.

The president's visit to the Parkland area north of Miami came amid growing anger among parents and students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School over America's seeming unwillingness to toughen gun control laws.

"My princess wasn't safe in that school," said Andrew Pollack, speaking at the funeral of his 18-year-old daughter Meadow.

"Please pray that this horrific tragedy never happens to another family."

At the evening briefing at the sheriff's department, Rubio said: "This is a community and a state that is in deep pain and they want action to make sure this doesn't happen again."

Trump replied: "You can count on it."

- Admitting error 'isn't going to cut it' -

The FBI made a stunning admission earlier in the day, saying a "person close to Nikolas Cruz" made a call to the agency's public tipline on January 5 to "report concerns about him."

"The caller provided information about Cruz's gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting," the FBI said in a statement.

The information from the caller "should have been assessed as a potential threat to life" and forwarded to the agency's Miami field office, it said.

Instead, "no further investigation was conducted."

"We have spoken with victims and families, and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy," said Federal Bureau of Investigation director Christopher Wray, who took up his post in August.

Wray said he was "committed to getting to the bottom of what happened," and Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered an immediate review to ensure "effective response to indications of potential violence."

But Scott, the state governor, nevertheless called for the FBI chief to step down, saying the failure to act was "unacceptable."

"Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isn't going to cut it," Scott said.

The January warning to the FBI was not the first it had received about Cruz, who used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle that he legally purchased a year ago to spray classrooms with bullets.

In September, the FBI was alerted to a message posted on YouTube, in which a user named Nikolas Cruz vowed: "I'm going to be a professional school shooter."

The FBI said it had looked into it at the time but was unable to identify the person who made the post.

- 'Illogical' -

Trump's visit to the Parkland area -- not far from his Mar-a-Lago resort, where he will spend the long President's Day weekend -- was not announced in advance, perhaps because he risked being greeted with angry demands for action on gun laws.

"It's illogical that the law says a minor can't have a drink, but can buy a gun," said 47-year-old Mavy Rubiano, whose child survived the shooting.

In Washington, the political response so far makes it clear that the powerful pro-gun National Rifle Association -- which spent $30 million to support Trump's election in 2016 -- remains formidable.

On Thursday, Trump's nationally televised address made no mention of guns, or of previous mass shootings.

The president focused instead on offering sympathy to the families of the victims and the need to provide better mental health care.

Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said it was not a time for arguing over gun control, while Rubio said new gun laws alone would not stop shootings.

As with previous mass shootings, the focus of gun control advocates was the easy availability of the AR-15, a civilian version of the US military's M16.

Millions have been sold around the United States, and AR-15-style rifles were used in the mass shootings in Las Vegas, Sutherland Springs, Texas and Newtown, Connecticut.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Veronique DUPONT (Agence France-Presse) Los Angeles, United States  Sat, February 17, 2018 16:02 1306 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c5ff2c9 2 World cannabis,US,california Free

Virgil Grant is riding the high on California's cannabis legalization, with a burgeoning empire that already comprises three dispensaries, two plantations and a line of apparel.

His success has come as some compensation for the six years lost inside the federal prison system for dealing a drug which was outlawed for non-medical use before January 1.

In his discreet boutique in South Los Angeles, he proudly shows off his latest wares -- a reusable tea flask infused with CBD, a non-psychoactive element of cannabis -- and ointments sold in pretty jars.

Grant found himself on the wrong side of the United States's decades-long "war on drugs" before the start of the massive groundswell for cannabis legalization, locked up after being arrested by federal agents in 2008.

"You have a lot of people of color that were arrested and sent to prison and jail, (such) as myself, for marijuana crimes, non-violent drug offenses," he told AFP.

"We're moving forward and we're talking about legalization... there are still people sitting in prison for marijuana crimes, but we're out here selling marijuana legally. You know, that doesn't make sense."

Cannabis has been legalized in about 30 US states in one form or another, although it remains outlawed at the federal level.

Although recent figures are difficult to ascertain, there were more than 11,000 people in federal prisons for cannabis offences in 2012, according to a study by the Urban Institute think tank.

- 'You lose everything' -

"These people should be freed immediately and their records should be expunged. This is not happening fast enough," said Grant, co-founder of the California Minority Alliance (CMA), which advocates for minority rights within the weed-growing industry.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, 8.2 million people were arrested for dealing or using cannabis between 2001 and 2010 -- four black people for every one white, despite similar consumption levels and dealing activity.

Cat Packer, head of LA's department of cannabis regulation, says disproportionate arrests of non-whites have occurred only because police were "more active in those communities."

But the impact on African-Americans and Hispanics has been devastating, plunging entire families into penury.

"You lose everything. They take your cars, your money," recalls Grant, who laments missing out on his five daughters growing up.

"Then there's the mental damage you do to these young kids when their father is taken from the home. From leaving a comfortable lifestyle, to have to look for some kind of assistance."

Cannabis offenders often find life on the outside as challenging as incarceration, their drugs convictions a black mark that stops them getting jobs, housing and some benefits, condemning them to remain in crisis.

In areas where cannabis consumption has become legal, authorities say they are gaining awareness of the socio-economic damage of previous regressive policies and, as a result, putting remedial measures in place.

- 'Not the right color' -

Los Angeles, Oakland and Portland, for example, are aiming to give priority when handing out cannabis trading licenses to those who have suffered from the "war on drugs."

Meanwhile the CMA is campaigning throughout the country for disadvantaged minorities to get better access to the embryonic legal cannabis sector.

"It shouldn't take a million dollars to get a license... If we don't put in some provisions it will be a white, male-run industry," Grant argues.

Cities like San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle want to offer amnesty for thousands of low-level cannabis convictions, while many Californian associations are also organizing "clinics" to help ex-convicts, most of them men from minority backgrounds, get their criminal records expunged.

Eddie Erby, an employee in one of Grant's dispensaries, was arrested at age 18 for selling marijuana and spent 10 years behind bars. Now, at 52, he has turned his life around.

"It was a way of fast money because you couldn't get a job because you're not the right color," he says as he weighs out marijuana for a customer.

Grant regularly hires ex-convicts like Erby and has only basic requirements for prospective employees.

"Be on time, don't steal, and you can have a job," he says.

And there are plenty of cannabis jobs going in a market already estimated to be worth nearly $20 billion in the United States, a figure that is expected to double within three years.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Vatican City, Holy See  Sat, February 17, 2018 23:50 1305 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c608c5b 2 World Pope-Francis,sex-abuse,Priest,Catholicism Free

The Vatican said Saturday it has renewed its anti-paedophile panel as Pope Francis acts to quell the global scandal over the sexual abuse of children by priests.

Nine new members were added to the panel, which had come under fire from two high-profile members, former sex abuse victims who quit at what they saw as a lack of reforms and obstruction at the highest level of the Catholic Church.

US Cardinal Sean O'Malley was confirmed as the head of the child protection panel along with seven other incumbent members.

"The newly-appointed members will add to the commission's global perspective in the protection of minors and vulnerable adults," O'Malley said in a statement.

"The Holy Father has ensured continuity in the work of our commission, which is to assist local churches throughout the world in their efforts to safeguard all children, young people, and vulnerable adults from harm."

As well as O'Malley, the panel is now made up of eight men and eight women, including victims of abuse, the Vatican said.

It was set up in 2014 shortly after Francis was elected pope, but its work came in for strong criticism last year.

Irishwoman Marie Collins, who was raped by a hospital chaplain at the age of 13, quit the panel in March last year in protest at what she said was the "shameful" blocking of reforms.

Briton Peter Saunders, another sex abuse victim, also left in 2016 after a row over the panel's handling of allegations of serial abuse by an Italian priest.

The announcement of the revival of the committee came just days after it was revealed that Francis held regular private meetings with people abused by members of the priesthood.

The pope has described the scandal as a "great humiliation" for the Catholic Church.

But he has been attacked for supporting Chilean bishop Juan Barros, who is accused of covering up crimes by a paedophile priest.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Cecil MORELLA (Agence France-Presse) Manila  Sat, February 17, 2018 14:01 1306 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c5fb4da 2 SE Asia Rodrigo-Duterte,lawyers-defense Free

Philippine lawyer Jude Sabio felt it was his duty to bring President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly war on drugs to the attention of international war crimes prosecutors, but now that a probe into the killings is under way, he fears he too has become a target.

Sabio, who describes himself as penniless and on the run, said he had received death threats from Duterte supporters on social media after filing a petition with the Hague-based International Criminal Court in April last year.

"I'm in a state of constant paranoia because I fear for my life," Sabio, 51, told AFP in an interview. "It could be very possible that a bullet will hit me."

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda launched a "preliminary examination" after receiving Sabio's petition, which alleges around 8,000 extrajudicial killings, and this could lead to a full investigation by the court.

Sabio wants the president arrested.

Duterte won a landslide victory in 2016 elections largely on a pledge to eradicate drugs. He is accused of stoking the killings with inflammatory statements and repeated promises to pardon any police officer charged with murder.

Police say they have killed 4,021 drug suspects in self-defence, but rights groups claim police and shadowy vigilantes have actually killed more than 12,000 people.

Duterte maintains he is beyond the ICC's jurisdiction and has threatened to withdraw his country from the treaty that created it if the tribunal pursues a formal investigation.

"The problem with me is when I see something wrong I fight," said Sabio, who had a low-key legal practice for two decades and unsuccessfully ran for public office twice.

"Now to the question of how it feels to be standing against Goliath, to me the fact that he is president, I'm sorry to say this, doesn't matter to me."

- 'Treacherous -

The unassuming lawyer -- the son of public school teachers of modest means -- lost the 2010 election for mayor of a southern town and was disqualified for being a "nuisance" senatorial candidate in 2016, officially ruled as lacking funds to run his campaign.

But his life started to change course when in October 2016 he agreed to represent Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed assassin whose deposition forms part of the ICC case.

Matobato had spectacularly confessed at a Senate public hearing a month earlier that he was a member of the "Davao Death Squad" that killed at least a thousand people on Duterte's orders when the president was mayor of Davao city.

The lawyer alleged in the suit that the drug war was the "Davao Death Squad" on a national scale, which Duterte rejects.

"It is targeting a vulnerable civilian population, composed mostly of the poor living in depressed communities," Sabio said.

"The only way to stop the killings is to issue a warrant of arrest. Arrest president Duterte and bring him to The Hague."

Sabio, a short, stocky man with an unruly moustache, has feared for his life ever since and he left his southern home city of Cagayan de Oro for his own safety a year ago -- the last time he saw his 75-year-old mother.

His assassins could be "riding in tandem" he said, referring to gunmen on motorcycles, said by witnesses to be behind many of the unsolved street murders of known small-time drug dealers.

Responding to questions about the threat against Sabio, Duterte's spokesman Harry Roque said Tuesday the president bore no "ill will" against the lawyer.

"Let's make sure that if there's a threat, he should report it to the police," Roque told reporters.

However, Sabio hit back Friday, saying "these people are treacherous".

He said he does not know Duterte personally and denied working for the opposition, taking on the case purely on principle.

But Sabio does not look like a crusader and is battling myriad health problems including diabetes and heart disease -- twice going under the knife, the last in mid-2016, to insert six stents for clogged blood vessels.

He still owes the hospital 900,000 pesos (more than $17,000), and when he flew to the Netherlands to file the case "I had no money so people contributed for my plane ticket, and also for my hotel".

Since leaving Cagayan de Oro, he has missed doctors' appointments as well as meetings with other clients.

"I could have died in that operation," Sabio said. "But I don't know, I was brought to life and maybe this is my mission in life."Preps for parliament meet

With the appointment of the new prime minister, preparations have begun to convene the first meeting of the federal parliament in about two weeks.Prez to consult new govt on Upper House nominees

The President Offices is preparing to consult the new government on the three recommendations made by the Sher Bahadur Deuba government for appointment as National Assembly members.Travelling can be stressful... getting lost, language barriers, transport, accommodation issues.

But there are amazing, totally free apps out there designed to make your travel experiences as stress-free as possible. Here's our top five.

1. TripIt

If youre someone that prefers to book ahead before you travel then this app is perfect for you! You can forward all confirmation emails for any and every booking you have made relating to your trip. From flight and accommodation bookings to tour tickets, it will all be there in one digital place.

Save yourself from potentially losing valuable emails, or from having to scroll through hundreds of unread emails to find the one you need at the time you need it.

2. Skyscanner

Get ahead of the curve and download the Skyscanner app to find the cheapest flights to your chosen destination or flights at certain times of the day. It compares every flight and puts them in order of price, giving you every possible option when booking. The app also allows you to find cheaper hotel and car hire prices.

3. Google Translate

A slightly more obvious choice and definitely not one to use extensively. But if youre sat in a restaurant in Italy and youre not 100% sure what youre ordering on your pizza then check what the word is on Google Translate. With the option to type, speak or even snap a quick shot of whatever it is you need translating, this app is your digital pocket translator.

4. Rome2rio

Finding your way around a new city can be daunting... not knowing whether its best to walk or get public transport. Rome2rio will tell you the best directions and method of transport to get you to exactly where you want to be without having to unfold a map. Save time debating with your travel partner about what way to go and download Rome2rio.

4. Moves

A tracking app that also tells you how many steps youve walked. Much like a Fitbit, this app also tracks your routes.

If you find yourself lost, simply visit the app to see the routes youve taken to help you retrace your tracks. It also remembers places youve visited, from museums to independent coffee shops. So, you can always remember where your favourite coffee shop is in Reykjavik, or where that quirky bar was in the back streets of Amsterdam.

5. Foursquare

Discover the best places to eat, drink and visit all in one convenient app.

Whether its a coffee shop, bar, or attraction, Foursquare has all the best recommendations which are all rated by people that have visited there before. So, if you find yourself wandering through the unknown and arent too sure where the best places are, then download this app and make the decision so much easier.Rajapur, Geruwa residents uproot fences built to keep off animals

The residents of Rajapur Municipality and Geruwa Rural Municipality in Bardiya have uprooted more than 100 poles installed as part of an electric fencing project along the Nepal-India border, accusing the project contractor of budget misappropriation.Rs94b viability gap funding okayed for Budhi Gandaki

The government has decided to provide Rs94 billion as viability gap funding (VGF) for the development of the Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project with domestic resources.Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

Once again, we are faced with another mass shooting. This time the cold-blooded killings took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, killing 14 innocent students and three adults. This horrific mass murder of young and old attests to the criminal negligence of our lawmakers and president, who dispense with their responsibility by offering to the bereaved families hollow condolences and fake prayers.



No parent can draw comfort from these empty expressions. Nothing can assuage the agony and the unbearable pain that parents feel when their child is lost to an outrageous and utterly senseless attack that could have been prevented.



When will lawmakers face the bitter truth that America is at war with itself? A de-facto civil war is consuming us from within. Firearms are mercilessly robbing the lives of 33,880 each yearnearly five times more than American soldiers killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined (4,530 and 2,408 respectively). On average, 93 people are killed from gun violence every day, and at least 239 school shootings have occurred across the United States since 2012; a majority of the over 400 casualties are children under the age of 19.

And yet, after every such unconscionable carnage, you hear our derelict political leaders suggesting that it is not the right time to talk about gun control laws when the families and friends of the victims are agonizing about the loss of their loved ones.



When will the right time come? How much more pain and suffering must our own fellow citizens endure before we act?



Shame on every single House and Senate member who each year takes millions in blood money as a political contribution from the National Rifle Association to ensure their reelection. Perhaps only when some of these lawmakers lose a child of their own will they begin to grasp the excruciating pain that parents bear when their telephones ring, only to be told that their child was just gunned down at school by a random shooter. Yes, every lawmaker should stop and think how it really feels. But then again, are they even capable of feeling?



The Book of James says it best: Faith without works is dead. Without action, thoughts and prayers cannot be counted on to stop random mass killings; this has been proven by history time and again.



The occasion for condolences and prayers expired a long while ago.



How regressive and totally ignorant can our congress members be when they defend the Second Amendment of the Constitution, A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed? This amendment was written over 200 years ago when firearms were essential for self-defense against foreign militaries and tyranny.

Wake up, you so-called legislators. Time has changed. There is no Gold Rush and no Wild West. Every congress member, and Trump in particular, who opposes the passage of effective gun control, has the blood of innocent men, women, and children on their hands. Every single one.



Those hypocrites who oppose gun control keep telling us that guns dont kill people, people kill people. What a revelation! Does it take a genius to realize that if guns were not readily available, a would-be killer could not possibly execute dozens of people with a knife or a club before getting killed or captured? Here is the absurdity of their argument in real numbers, as demonstrated by only a handful of examples of mass shootings that unequivocally make the point:



In the Las Vegas shooting: 851 injured, 58 killedin Orlandos Pulse Nightclub: 49 killedat Virginia Tech: 32 killedat Sandy Hook Elementary: 27 killedat Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School: 17 killed. How many of those victims would have been killed if the perpetrator did not possess a gun?



Take a look at some countries with strict gun laws; their annual death by firearms speaks for itself: in the United Kingdom, with a population of 56 million, on average 5060 are killed; in Germany with a population of 82.29 million, an average of 165; and in Japan with a population of 129, thirteen or (often) less are killed by guns.

In Australia, before enacting strict gun control laws in 1996 following the deadliest mass shooting in Australian history, there were 13 mass shootings in 18 years. In the same time period following the legislation, there were zero.

Every one of us must confront the truth. Just imagine, if we were engaged in another foreign war and suffered nearly 3,000 casualtiesthe average number of Americans killed each month by firearmshow would we react? Why are we not hearing the outcry of every American who is sickened by these horrifying occurrences?



Yes, we can and indeed must blame every member of Congress for their criminal neglect. But we the American people must not remain silent in the face of this non-stop unfolding horror.

Where are the tens of millions of Americans who seek gun control? Why arent we demonstrating in the streets day-in and day-out, demanding action? We have the power to end this national travesty by not giving our vote to any elected official who does not commit to enact gun control laws and hold them accountable.



By not acting, every legislator who does not act on gun control is complicit in all murders and atrocities committed by the barrel of a gun. They are responsible for all past and future killings of every man, woman, and child who dies in vain by firearms. This will be the badge of shame that they will wear for as long as they live.

About the Author: Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU. He teaches courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies.

alon@alonben-meir.com Web: www.alonben-meir.com

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February 12, 2018

George Weah

President

Liberia

Dear President Weah,



Human Rights Watch wishes to congratulate you on winning Liberias recent election. As you take up your new position and consider your priorities for Liberia, we write today to urge you to put justice, accountability and strengthening rule of law institutions at the very top of your agenda. Specifically, we encourage you to revisit the issue of justice for past crimes committed during Liberias civil wars, notably by invigorating plans for trials of civil wars-era crimes in order to bring justice to the victims, punish the perpetrators, and strengthen respect for the rule of law.



Human Rights Watch recognizes how far Liberia has come in advancing post-conflict stability, but we firmly believe that securing justice is crucial to sustaining the peace dividends Liberians have worked so hard to realize.



As a nongovernmental organization that monitors and reports on human rights in over 90 countries around the world, Human Rights Watch conducted in-depth research on serious human rights violations during Liberias two armed conflicts, publishing more than a dozen full-length reports and numerous other documents on human rights violations and war crimes committed during Liberias civil wars.

Liberias brutal armed conflicts (1989-1996 and 1999-2003) were characterized by the commission of widespread and systematic violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. Liberian citizens were subjected to horrific abuses including summary executions; numerous large-scale massacres; widespread and systematic rape and other forms of sexual violence; mutilation and torture; and large-scale forced conscription and use of child combatants. The violence blighted the lives of tens of thousands of civilians, displaced almost half the population, and virtually destroyed the countrys infrastructure.



We believe that the countless victims of these unspeakable crimes deserve justice for what they have suffered, and that prosecutions of the most serious crimes committed would go a long way toward consolidating and firmly anchoring respect for the rule of law in Liberia, which in turn can help promote a sustainable peace and ensure a foundation for development. Moreover, international law mandates prosecution of those responsible for serious crimes committed in violation of international lawnamely genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and torture.



To date, Liberia has taken steps toward truth-telling, but no effort has been made toward holding to account those responsible for atrocities committed during its two civil wars.



In 2009, Liberias Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report concluded that all warring factions were implicated in serious abuses. The TRC specifically recommended a hybrid international-national tribunal for the atrocities tragically illuminated during its public hearings, including massacres, mutilations, sexual violence, and the recruitment and use of child soldiers.



Although Human Rights Watch expressed concerns about several elements of the TRCs proposed court statute, the approach of using a hybrid accountability mechanism is welcome. The TRC took an important step in acknowledging that Liberias victims deserve justice, and, further yet, by proposing the establishment of the Extraordinary Criminal Court that would be empowered to try individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law.



We note with concern that the few cases involving civil wars-era crimes have all occurred outside Liberia before European and US courts, primarily under the international legal principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows national courts to try grave international crimes even if they were committed abroad by foreigners and against foreigners.



The recent conviction of former ULIMO leader Mohammed Jabbateh in the United Statesfor fraud and perjury related to his alleged wartime crimes in immigration-related documentsis just the latest in a series of foreign proceedings that have prompted a renewed expectation of justice in Liberia. This past June, the United Kingdom indicted Agnes Reeves Taylor for her alleged role in torture committed during Liberias first civil war. In 2014, Belgium and Switzerland arrested Martina Johnson and Alieu Kosiah, former commanders of the NPFL and the ULIMO, respectively, for their roles in war crimes. These criminal investigations are still ongoing. In 2008, Chuckie Taylor was convicted for torture in a US federal court. Finally, in 2015 Michel Desaedeleer, a Belgian-American businessman, was detained in Belgium for his participation in the trade of blood diamonds in Liberia. He died before his trial was due to start in 2016.



While these actions are important, thousands of victims still await their day in court. Human Rights Watch urges your government to:

Establish an independent committee comprised of government officials, a member of the Independent National Commission of Human Rights, and civil society actors to advise your government on justice and the rule of law headed by a special presidential advisor on justice and the rule of law;

Organize a national conference to solicit the publics views on justice and accountability measures;

Develop a comprehensive public strategy to ensure the prompt investigation and fair prosecution of those from all sides of Liberias armed conflicts responsible for serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law;

Revisit the TRCs draft legislation for an Extraordinary Criminal Court with a view to establish a hybrid court to fairly and effectively prosecute past international crimes committed in Liberia;

Publicly clarify that there is no amnesty for serious international crimes committed during Liberias civil wars, including for those who participated in the TRC;

Ensure adequate support and funding for programs designed to improve Liberias judicial and criminal justice system to ensure victims access to justice and the right of the accused to a fair trial;

Support efforts by third countries to bring universal jurisdiction cases for civil wars-era crimes, including by fully cooperating with foreign authorities who request authorization to come to Liberia to investigate international crimes;

Guarantee protection for human rights defenders inside Liberia against attacks and intimidation, and ensure that those who intimidate or attack human rights defenders are brought to justice.

We respectfully urge your government to take meaningful steps to deliver justice to victims who have suffered and waited for far too long. Human Rights Watch stands ready to support this important endeavor.



Yours sincerely,

Elise Keppler

Associate Director

International Justice Program

Human Rights Watch

Corinne Dufka

Associate Director

Africa Division

Human Rights Watch

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He was a farmer. He was a pilot. Long time Wolford resident born in Rugby, and now long term care resident, Lynn Carlson celebrated his 97th birthday at the Heart of America Long Term Center in Rugby on February 11. His actual birthday was Monday, February 12.

Carlson was presented on Sunday with a big birthday cake which was specially made with a photograph of his airplane on top. Wow, look at her, he exclaimed.

Surrounded by friends and family, they celebrated with Lynn and his wife, Liz. The picture on top of the cake was a very good choice of gift, said Debbie Hoffart, his daughter.

My sister found the picture, and took it to Devils Lake where they imprinted a copy of the photo for dad.

At 97, Lynn is one happy guy, talking and laughing with his family and appearing to be in great health for somebody thats almost a centenarian.

Carlson remembered the old days talking about his airplane, and the group of people around Pierce County and Rollette County that all had airplanes. They had an airplane club and use to fly everywhere. Oh those were good times, he said.

Carlson has donated tractors and various pieces of equipment to the Prairie Village Museum, and to the Hawk Museum. For his birthday, his daughters took pictures of the tractors and had them framed and put in his room.

How often do you get to live to hold your great grandson, be still living with your wife at 97, and happy to talk about, he said.Big changes are coming, but Watertown is already a great place to liveWorld leaders congratulate Oli

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on his appointment as Prime Minister of Nepal on Thursday. Indian PM Modi called up PM Oli at around 10:30 pm on Thursday and congratulated him and wished for a successful term.Posted Tuesday, February 13, 2018 5:56 am

Gouger Cellars out of Ridgefield won an award for all three wines they submitted to a national competition last month.

The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, which has over 7,000 wines entered, is the largest in the United States .

Gouger Cellars won Gold for their 2013 Zinfandel and double gold for their 2014 Syrah.

Gouger Cellars has been stockpiling awards since their 2009 opening in a converted Ridgefield fire station. Last year, they won the Silver medal in the category of Sparkling Roses in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Enologist (winemaker) Gary Gouger graduated from the University of Adelaide, Australia. Gouger and his winery is known for sparkling and bold red wines. last year Gouger acquired a tank designed in Italy specially for sparkling wines  the first of its kind in Clark County.One day in 1992, principal information officer S. Narendra was briefing the media on prime minister Narasimha Raos visit to France. As a young reporter on the defence beat, I asked him if there would be a deal on the extra Mirages that the IAF had asked for.

Narendra, who would serve four PMs, replied with a smile: Young man, the prime minister of India is not an Arab sheikh to take a fancy for a plane and say, I will have a dozen of them.

Two and half decades later, thats what has happened. The IAF had been asking for 126 jets, 18 of them off the shelf and 108 made at home with acquired know-how. The talks with the makers of the selected jet, the Rafale, was stuck over price and service guarantees when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, flying to France and convinced that the plane was top class, ordered three dozen off the shelf, and claimed a bargain. Neither did he seek transfer of tech, nor a licence to make them at home. The defence minister wasnt consulted, nor the cabinet. And he wouldnt tell us the price, not on our dear lives.

We have been buying warjets since 1964MiG-21, MiG-Biz, MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-27, MiG-29, Jaguar, Mirage, Sukhoi, and jet-trainer Hawk. In only four deals did we forego the licence to make at homeMiG-25, because we needed only a handful and the Soviets wouldnt part with the know-how of the super secret spy plane; MiG-23 and MiG-29, because the IAF erred in not asking for licence; Mirage, because the treasury was empty when we made the emergency buy.

We crib about our brass hats fancy demands, our babus red tapes, our scientists boasts, our netas corrupt ways, the finance mans queries, the diplomats worries, the auditors objections, all of which delay arms buys. The general staff in our forces draft qualitative requirements that run into hundreds of pages. The Defence Research and Development Organisation would offer to make a better one than the best in the world, and then go to reinvent the wheel. The South Block babus would keep files pending, the cabinet would seek views of everyone from the foreign office to the finance ministry. The former would worry about what neighbours may think; the latter would send a hundred queries on the expenses.

Illustration: Bhaskaran

Once the cabinet gives an OK, the babus scout the world market, get requests for interest and proposals from vendors, and shortlist the offers. The brass hats ask the sellers to bring the machines to India at their cost, prove them in summer, in winter, in the rains, over the desert, over the snows, over the mountains, in the jungles. Then we haggle over the price, over technical upgrades, technology transfer, licence to make at home, service guarantees and spares supplies. Once a deal is settled, legal eagles draft contracts that run into thousands of pages. All these are taken to the cabinet at several stages, discussed, debated, doubted, and often shot down.

With all these, we had built up a formidable reputationnot just as the worlds biggest buyer, but as the best customer, the Lalitaji of the arms market. So much so that the world had come to look at an Indian order as the ultimate stamp of quality. Once a weapon is sold to India, the seller can expect half a dozen nations to buy the same ware, eyes closed. Russia sold MiG-29 to six others after Mikhail Gorbachev got India to buy them at a promotional price. Ten air forces from Algeria to Vietnam ordered Sukhoi-30s after Boris Yeltsin persuaded Narasimha Rao to try a few. The British got orders for their Hawk from Indonesia, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia after India ordered them. When they heard we were getting some secret stuff fitted in our Sukhois, Belarus and Malaysia asked Russia if they, too, could have the same. It is this reputation that has been squandered now with the Rafale order.

prasannan@theweek.inPublic sector banks are clearly spinning down a bottomless pit in terms of credibility, thanks to the way the Punjab National Bank dealt with fraudster Nirav Modi's company accounts. And sharing this lack of faith in the PSU banks is industry and trade body ASSOCHAM, which on Saturday suggested the government dilute all its holdings in banks to less than 50 per cent.

Simultaneously, the body called upon the industry to set certain standards and ensure a clean and best banking and business practices.

ASSOCHAM has gone on to suggest that the PSUs should then be allowed to work on the lines of private sector lenders with a full sense of accountability to their shareholders protecting interest of depositors.

While the PNB stocks have plummeted, it has taken down with it the value of other big public sector investors, including the LIC, and the asset management companies that have invested in it. The value of premium five-star mutual funds have come tumbling down, affecting thousands of retail small investors.

Industry wanted the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to engage with the industry in finding ways to do a clean business in the entire financial sector, be it the public sector or private sector banks or even the non-banking finance companies.

The PSU banks, ironically, are slipping from one crisis to the other and there is a limit the government can keep bailing them out at the cost of taxpayers' money, even if it is the principal shareholder in these lenders ASSOCHAM stated, reflecting the anguish of those who have been trusting government-backed banks more than the private ones.

ASSOCHAM reasoned that once the government equity in the banks is reduced below 50 per cent, there would be much more autonomy along with accountability and responsibility of the senior management. The boards should then be truly taking the policy decisions, while the CEOs would run the banks with full authority, coupled with the commensurate responsibility, instead of looking towards the bureaucrats for directions, it was suggested.

The industry and trade body felt that the top banking positions are treated as extension of a government job and the senior-most managements spend bulk of their quality time, receiving and implementing directions from the bureaucrats even for innocuous issues. In the process, the core banking functions, including all important risk mitigation and management, take a back seat. The problem has become more grave with the banking (sector) adopting to new technologies which can prove both boon and bane, depending on how effectively they are implemented, said ASSOCHAM.

Chamber General Secretary D.S. Rawat said, There is an onus on India Inc as well. There are two sides of a coin. Any unsavoury incident, leaves both sides of the coin smudged. It is time the industry also did some introspection. While we seek more autonomy for the banks, we, from the industry must also set certain standards for us for ensuring a clean and best banking and business practices".If anything happens to me, please tell my story. This was...Exactly one year after the incident, the Kerala actor kidnap casein which superstar Dileep has been named as the eighth accusedwill go to trial.

And then comes the question that dominates people's mindswill Dileep walk free or be behind bars?

On February 17, 2017, the abduction took place while the actor was on her way to Kochi from her house in Thrissur.

Her driver allegedly joined hands with a group of 'criminals' led by Pulsar Sunithe prime accusedand drove her through the busy streets of the commercial capital of the state. After two hours, she was dropped near the home of director-actor Lal.

After she informed him about what happened to her, Lal called the police. The driver was first taken into custody. In a few days, the rest of the gang, including Suni, was arrested.

But the twist in the tale came when superstar Dileep was arrested on July 10, 2017, after two rounds of questioning. After spending 85 days in jail, he got conditional bail.

Since then, the police probe team has been busy tying the loose ends in the now high profile case.

The trial court in December accepted the chargesheet that names a total of 12 persons, including Dileep, as accused, while his former wife Manju Warrier is a key witness.

The 650-page charge sheet included secret depositions. Among the list of witnesses, around 50 are from the film industry.

Now, the police is burning the midnight oil to see if they can successfully recover the visuals of the kidnapping and alleged molestation, which is reported to have been filmed by the gang.Iran President Hassan Rouhani will meet with PM Narendra Modi in Delhi on Saturday and the texture of this important bilateral relationship is reflected in the fact that this visit comes ten years after that of his predecessor Mahmoud Ahmedinejad in 2008. Despite their geographical proximity, the worlds largest democracy and biggest theocracy remain relatively distant.

The Rouhani visit seeks to bridge this gap and impart greater content to the relationship and a wide spectrum of political, strategic, trade, energy and connectivity issues will be on the agenda. In all likelihood, the Chabahar port where India has a significant stake will be a high priority.

Indias bilateral relationship with the post Islamic revolution Iran has been uneasy over a number of issues that include Kashmir and the concern expressed by Tehran over the status of its minorities (read Muslim citizens) in India during the Narasimha Rao years. However, over the last 15 years, the single most constraining factor in the bilateral has been the US sanctions on Iran over the latters nuclear programme.

India had voted against Iran at the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) in November 2009 and this rankled Tehran at the time, though it merits recall that there was unanimity among the five UN Security Council permanent members, including Russia and China on quarantining Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

US-led sanctions against Iran further reduced the diplomatic and trade/investment space for Delhi in enhancing bi-lateral ties with Iran, though the situation has improved some extent after the nuclear rapprochement arrived at, by the P5+1 nations, in July 2015 during the Obama presidency. For the record, US President Donlad Trump has often threatened to reverse the American stand and bring Iran back under the sanctions scanner.

Earlier speaking in Hyderabad on Friday, where the Rouhani visit began, the Iranian President spoke very positively about the complementary strands in the rather dormant relationship that can be shaped into an abiding win-win arrangement. These include the hydrocarbon sector, widening the trade bandwidth and in strengthening cultural ties and people-to-people contact.

It merits recall that till India acquired independence in 1947, Persian was widely spoken and taught in the sub-continent and was the preferred court language. Some parts of India still have old land records documented in the Persian script.

Indias diversity was noted by President Rouhani in Hyderabad, where he referred to India as a "living museum", where different religions and ethnicities lived in harmony. Tehran is also aware that the largest Shia population outside of Iran in the world lives in India and that they are not subjected to the sectarian discrimination that is rampant in most of the Sunni-dominated Muslim world.

India has to navigate its bilateral with Iran against the backdrop of the tenacious US/Israel-Iran discord on one hand, and the deep Saudi Arabia-Iran tension on the other. To its credit, the Foreign Office in Delhi has managed this contradictory and prickly trapeze with quiet competence. The Netenyahu visit to India and the Modi visit to the Gulf nations, as also Palestine over the last two months is testimony to this adroit political tight-rope walking.

One sector that will engage the two sides is the modest trade relationship. India has a $2.4 trillion economy and Iran is just under half a billion dollars. Together they are almost $3 trillion; yet their bilateral trade, including all sectors, is under $15 billion. Of this the hydrocarbon sector accounts for almost 75 per cent and the challenge will be to widen the spectrum of trade to include pharma, medium and small scale enterprises (MSME) and IT services and to enhance the long-term hydrocarbon agreements with special emphasis on natural gas.

The connectivity accorded by a speedy completion of Chabahar will accord certain strategic space to India in circumventing the transport blockage imposed by Pakistan and accessing both Afghanistan and central Asia. However, it would be erroneous to infer that this port access will be similar to what China has acquired in Gwadar.

The potential to impart much greater content to the India-Iran bilateral relationship is considerable and the Rouhani visit will hopefully impart the high-level political direction and traction that this under-realised relationship warrants.

Bhaskar is director, Society for Policy Studies, New Delhi

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the publicationCongress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday launched a frontal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Punjab National Bank fraud case, alleging that the scam worth Rs 22000 crore was not possible without knowledge of those in the government.

Mr P. Chidambaram told the meeting of the steering committee (erstwhile Congress Working Committee) that a scam of such a large scale is not possible without high level protection. People in the government would have definitely known about it, Rahul told reporters at the AICC headquarters.

Rahul said that the scam began with Modi's decision to demonetise high value currency notes on November 8, 2016. The cash in people's pockets was put in the banks... And then Modiji (Nirav Modi) steals Rs 22,000 crore from the banks and escapes from the country, he said.

Crony capitalists, friends of Prime Minister Modi, are stealing people's money from the banks, he said.

The Congress president questioned the silence of the prime minister on the scam. The Prime Minister spends more than half an hour in teaching children how to take exams, but he is not saying anything on the scam, he said.

The prime minister should come forward and tell the nation what has happened, why it happened, how it happened, and what he plans to do about it, Rahul added.

The steering committee also adopted a statement on India's biggest bank scam, saying the manner in which thousands of crores of public money was looted with impunity and the entire risk management system which failed completely tell themselves the story of favours extended and protection granted.

Truth is that the 'bank scam' has unveiled the 'culture of crony capitalism' that has thrived and flourished under the watch of Modi government, said the committee.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge have been assigned the task to talk to opposition parties to work out a joint strategy on the PNB scam in Parliament. The budget session of Parliament resumes on March 5. Making a demand for a JPC probe into the scam is believed to be on the cards.The Congress will hold its plenary session from March 16 to 18 in Delhi, with the main object on agenda being the ratification of the election of Rahul Gandhi as party president. The meeting also assumes significance since Rahul will use the occasion to unveil his vision for the party and his plans on how to revive it and make it battle ready for the coming round of elections, especially the Lok Sabha polls scheduled to be held in 2019.

The Congress Working Committee, which as per norms of the party has turned into a steering committee for the plenary session, met on Saturday to decide the dates and venue of the convention.

Addressing the meeting of the steering committee, Rahul gave an indication into what changes can be expected in the Congress under him. He said the composition of the AICC should be a harmonious blend of the experience of senior leaders and the vitality and dynamism of the youth.

He emphasised upon increasing representation in the hierarchy of the Congress of women and members belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes. This must be considered sacrosanct, and a first priority, he told the meeting.

Underlining the main issues that the party needs to take up in its attacks on the Modi government, he said of foremost importance at present are the issues of jobless growth and agrarian crisis.

He said the plenary session would attempt to absorb the view of Congress members from all over the country, and include them in the party's plan of action for the future. The Congress will put across a way forward on the problems the party faces, Rahul said at the meeting. He also emphasised on the party putting across a new vision, a new way forward, and put more focus on the Congress' ideology with a renewed vigour.In the second budget presented by the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, Gorakhpur, the constituency of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, appears to have received generous treatment.

Adityanath wants to spruce up Gorakhpur, so the government has opened the doors of its treasury for the city.

Medical and infrastructure facilities, the zoo and other parts of the city will be spruced up soon, and in the new budget, there seems to be no dearth of money for these things. The priority is to improve medical facilities in the district.

The BRD Medical College, like three other medical colleges in the state, will get a super-speciality department under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Sureksha Yojana. Furthermore, the government has earmarked Rs 14 crore for opening a burns unit at the Gorakhpur Medical College.

Last year, Gorakhpur Medical College had been in the news because of the deaths of children there due to inadequate supply of oxygen.

There will be a Gorakhpur Link Expressway coming up soon. This 110km-long expressway will link Gorakhpur with the 350km-long Poorvanchal Expresswaythe Poorvanchal Expressway will connect the state capital Lucknow with the eastern UP district of Gazipur.

For building the Gorakhpur Link Expressway, the Adityanath government will spend Rs 550 crore. This expressway will start from Gorakhpur and will join the Poorvanchal Expressway near Azamgarh.

To hold public functions, the government is planning to construct a modern auditorium in Gorakhpur city at an estimated expenditure of Rs 30 crore.

To spruce up the Gorakhpur zoo, which has been a tourist attraction, the government has allocated Rs 24 crore in the present budget. The zoo was a project of former chief minister Mayawati, but after the SP government came to power, it had neglected the zoo. Last year also, the Adityanath government had allocated Rs 21 crore for this project.

The special treatment for Gorakhpur city in the budget has evoked mixed reactions. The Link Expressway to connect the city with the other parts of eastern UP is surely a welcome step because it will lead to more development of the city, Tripti Lal, a local resident, said.

The government should enhance allocation for medical facilities; the city needs it badly, thousands of Japanese encephalitis patients come here for treatment; moreover, floods are a major menace for the adjoining areas, for which the government has not kept sufficient funds, said Faizullah Khan, another local resident.If any country in postwar Europe could be called the beacon of political stability, it was Germany. Just like everything else with Germany, its political system has also been efficient, stable, orderly, mechanical and boring. That aura, however, is fading quickly, and chaos may not be too far away.

Elections to the German parliament were held last September, but almost five months later, the undisputed leader of Europe still does not have a government. Tortuous negotiations have been going on between Chancellor Angela Merkel and potential coalition partners. Merkel's negotiations with the leftist Greens and the right-wing Free Democrats had collapsed in November after which she was in talks with the Social Democrats (SDP), her principal opponents, yet a coalition partner in the last government.

Merkel's centre right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) decided to enter into coalition talks with the centre left SDP, although its leader Martin Schulz had earlier vowed that he would never join another government led by Merkel. When the election results came out, he said his party would sit in the opposition and it was one of the reasons why Merkel initially tried to join hands with the Greens and the Free Democratstwo parties with fundamentally divergent ideologies. But after those alliance talks collapsed, Schulz indicated his willingness to discuss the possibility of a grand coalition with the CDU for a third time.

For grassroots workers of the SDP, this was a big letdown. But the SDP leadership drove a hard bargain with Merkel, forcing her to part with key ministries such as defence, foreign affairs, finance and labour. Schulz, realising that discontent was brewing in the party against his leadership, started secret negotiations with former labour minister Andrea Nahles so that she would replace him as party leader. After announcing Nahles as his successor, Schulz indicated that he would take over the foreign ministry in the new coalition government. The two unprecedented about-turns led to a serious backlash from the party rank and file and even the senior leadership. Martin Dulig, who heads the SPD in Saxony, asked Schulz not to join the cabinet. North-Rhine Westphalia was another major state which voiced its opposition. Such open hostility forced Schulz to relinquish his claim for the foreign ministry, pushing him to the backbenches, even after securing a great deal for his party in the coalition talks.

With my resignation from office and decision not to participate in the government, I want to bring to an end the debate over personnel in the Social Democrats, so that the members can really concentrate on what is in the coalition government, said Schulz on February 13.

The coalition deal now will have to be approved by a majority of SPD members by the first week of March. Before that, on April 22, a party congress will vote to confirm Nahles as the first female leader of the SDP in its history of 155 years. Till then, Hamburg Mayor Olaf Scholz, who is likely to become finance minister in the coalition government, will serve as interim leader.

A crisis is brewing in Merkel's CDU as well. A large section of the party is unhappy about Merkel offering unprecedented concessions to the SPD to stay in power, although it won only 20.5 per cent votes in the last elections. The main ruling party no longer holds any critical portfolio and Merkel's detractors in the party feel that only she has benefited from the deal.

I understand the disappointment. But what was the alternative? Now we need to show that we can start with a new team, said Merkel in a public broadcast on February 11.

Whether she can start working with a new team will become clear only after the SDP members clear the coalition deal. Even if the deal is through, Merkel will start her fourth term considerably weakened, heading a cabinet dominated by her political opponents. It could well turn out to be her last term, after dominating German politics for 12 years.

Merkel won't remain chancellor for four years because there are so many breaking points in this coalition, Alexander Mitsch, chairman of a CDU group called Values Union told Bloomberg after details of the deal were made public.

There is also the threat of SDP members rejecting the coalition deal. A movement called NoGroKono grand coalitionis already trending on social media, enjoying huge support, especially among young voters. One of the key arguments against the grand coalition is that it would make the far right Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) the principal opposition party in parliament, giving it more visibility and prominent positions like the chairpersonship of the parliament's finance committee.

In case the deal is rejected, Merkel will have to opt for a minority governmentwhich she has repeatedly said she was not very keen toor face fresh elections. Fresh elections could pose serious problems for both CDU and SPD. In the latest opinion polls, the CDU is scoring around 27 per cent, while the SDP is reeling at 17 per cent and the AfD at 15 per cent. It was the AfD's historic performance in the September elections that ate into the CDU's vote share, and with the party improving its position further, new elections may turn out to be a tricky affair for both traditional parties. It could mark the end of the Merkel era and could even possibly usher in a new system of newer parties or groups ending up as key players, as it happened in neighbouring France.

It is, however, too early to write off Merkel. Although the absence of a clear mandate at home has weakened her international standing and has damaged her profile as the iron lady of Europe, she is a smart political operator with an uncanny skill to feel the pulse of the electorate. If her best laid plans fail to work, she might even opt for a brief period of minority government, with members from her own party, staying true to the conservative ideology, and then lead the party in the next elections, giving her one more shot at chancellorship.Pakistan on Saturday said its decision to send troops to Saudi Arabia was taken after clarifying the 'rules of engagement' for which negotiations were ongoing for some time.

Defence Minister Khurram Dastigir Khan said the role of Pakistani troops was limited to advisory and training roles to Saudi forces.

"Negotiations were ongoing regarding the rules of engagement and once we attained clarity on the issue that the troops will be on training and advisory mission to strengthen the ground defence of Saudi Arabia, the troops were sent," he told a TV channel on Friday night.

He ruled out any involvement in the Yemen civil war but said that Pakistan will not provide any air defence against missiles by Houthi rebels.

"We only want to train their forces and better advise them. The areas bordering Yemen are mountainous, and as Pakistan's army is highly trained in mountain warfare, we will train and advise them," he said.

In a major policy shift, Pakistan decided to deploy troops in Saudi Arabia under an existing bilateral security cooperation agreement with its close ally, which is involved in a civil war in neighbouring Yemen.

The Pakistan Army announced the decision to send troops on a training and advisory mission to Saudi Arabia after a meeting between Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Saudi ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Saeed Al-Maliki at the army headquarters in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

Separately, a Pakistani publication reported that the deployment of troops was sanctioned by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as part of a long-standing defence cooperation agreement between Islamabad and Riyadh.

Currently, there are 1,379 Pakistani troops deployed in Saudi Arabia, most of whom are from the Pakistan Army, along with air force and navy officials, according to security sources.

The exact number of troops being sent is not known, but the fresh deployment is said to be slightly over 1,000 soldiers, according to the newspaper.

Security sources also clarified that there is nothing new about the deployment of Pakistani troops in the oil-rich kingdom, as defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia is based on a 1982 bilateral protocol for training and advisory roles.

The report said defence cooperation in the Persian Gulf is not limited to Riyadh, as there is currently a deployment of 627 Pakistani troops in Qatar, including 165 from the army and 462 from the navy and air force.

Islamabad also maintains a similar working relationship with Iran, which currently has 10 pilots in training with the Pakistan military.

The Iranians will be sending five more pilots 'sometime in April' and even "more in subsequent years," sources said.

Pakistan has stayed away from the conflict in Yemen where Iran strongly opposes the involvement of the Saudi-led military coalition.

In November last year, Bajwa visited Tehran where he met top Iranian civil and military leaders, including President Hassan Rouhani.

Bajwa has also visited Saudi Arabia five times in his first year in charge.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been involved in a number of joint training exercises in recent months, the most recent being a joint naval exercise in Karachi codenamed Affa Al-Sahil, which concluded on Friday.

The exercise has been performed annually since 2011 and aims to enhance interoperability and sharpen tactical proficiency in countering maritime human trafficking, piracy and terrorism.

Meanwhile, naval exercises are currently under way between Pakistan and Saudi Arabian marines in Saudi waters.

Saudi special services participated in the last Pakistan Day parade, while there are currently 200 Saudi cadets in the Pakistan Military Academy, PAF Academy, and Naval Academy.

A source said that last year, close to 1,500 Saudi officers and soldiers were trained in Pakistan, mostly by the interior ministry.

-PTIFew organisations come out of last years British Steel Pension Scheme misselling scandal with their reputations intact.

As the parliamentary Work and Pensions Committee highlighted last week in its intelligent probe into the affair, it was the financial advisers who swirled around Port Talbot like vultures who were most culpable.

They exploited for their own gain the confusion created by the restructuring of the companys pension scheme demanded by sponsor Tata Steel as the price for keeping the former British Steel operations open in South Wales. And boy did they succeed.

Hit hard: Jobs were saved but as a result, workers were preyed upon by pension vultures

Aided by introducers who lured workers into meetings through the offer of sausage and chips, they persuaded some 2,000 steelworkers to transfer their pensions into defined contribution plans. In so doing, the workers lost key pension benefits, put their pensions at risk and paid a small fortune in fees.

Although many of the culpable advisers have since been put out of business as a result of regulatory action  and most victims of misselling should be able to seek financial redress  it is too little too late.

The advisers should never have been allowed to prey on workers who were given too little time, and meagre help, to ensure they made the right choice. Namely, whether to transfer to a mark two (but inferior) British Steel Pension Scheme, opt for the safety of the Pension Protection Fund or fall into the clutches of a salesman acting in no ones best interests other than their own.

Both the Financial Conduct Authority and The Pensions Regulator are guilty in this regard. Between them, they were responsible for ensuring the 124,000 members of the British Steel Pension Scheme were given all the information needed to make a sound choice  as well as enough time to do so and, where necessary, access to advice. Through effective policing, they should also have kept the vultures far at bay.

Yet they failed on all counts. The information provided was too much for most people to digest (information overload) while the time to make a decision was not long enough (24,000 members missed the deadline, resulting in their pension being picked up by the Pension Protection Fund).

Impartial advice  from official sources such as The Pensions Advisory Service  was sporadic and came too late. Worst of all, the vultures were allowed to circle and pick off prey at will.

Of course, all financial advisers caught up in this misselling scandal should never again be allowed to ply their trade.

But the two regulators also need to do some serious soul searching. Despite their multi-million pound budgets, both are reactive when they should be far more proactive.

In the case of the Financial Conduct Authority, it spends more time designing corporate logos and masterminding its imminent move to state-of-the-art headquarters in Stratford, East London, than it does in trying to catch criminals. This is not good enough.

The Nottingham Building Society is extending its branch network to a total of 67

In an age when online banking and cashless transactions are all the rage, it is good to learn that some financial institutions are busy investing in the high street  while other organisations are fighting for the right of people to have free access to cash.

The Nottingham Building Society may not be a household financial name but it is expanding its network. The result is seven new branches, bringing the total to 67 and extending its reach beyond Nottinghamshire.

The society says the seven branches have attracted more than 14 million in savings deposits in 11 weeks. A great advert for financial services on the high street.

Yorkshire Building Society is also doing its bit. Once it absorbs its Norwich & Peterborough branches into the Yorkshire network in the spring, it hopes to boost its agency outlets by 50 per cent.

This will leave it with 147 branches and 150 agents (a mix of estate agents and local solicitors). More branches per 1 billion of assets under management than rivals Coventry, Lloyds and Nationwide.

Finally, on the battling front, consumer group Which? and the Federation of Small Businesses have joined forces to launch a Save Our Cashpoints campaign. This follows a move by the banks to cut the fees cash machine operators impose on them when a banks customers use their holes-in-the-wall. They now want the Payments Regulator to intervene and ensure free-to-use cash machines remain available nationwide. It is a campaign we support.Mortgages may currently be cheap, but it will not be long before rates start climbing.

While this spells bad news for many homeowners, it represents a double whammy for those borrowers who do not meet standard lending criteria. Not only will they find it hard to get a mortgage, but they will probably pay more for it.

So why is life so tough for those who do not fit the mould? Put simply, banks and building societies are happy to lend to applicants with a regular income, a solid employment history, a squeaky clean credit record and a decent deposit.

Lucky: Teachers Ben and Laura, with son Charlie, found an understanding lender

But when it comes to the self-employed, zero-hour contractors, new jobbers, older borrowers and divorcees, the response from the bank is often: The computer says no.

Recent research by specialist lender Masthaven revealed that 65 per cent of borrowers now believe getting a mortgage is all about box ticking  and not the financial reality of their situation.

Mark Harris, of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, says: Tougher affordability criteria now makes it particularly hard for certain groups of people to get home loans, turning them into mortgage misfits.

The good news is that there are lenders prepared to take on borrowers who are not quite the norm. There are also steps you can take to improve your chance of getting accepted for a home loan.

Self-employed

The UK has almost five million self-employed workers. Yet getting a mortgage when working for yourself can be a struggle.

Matt Andrews, of lender Masthaven, says: The main challenge for this type of worker is that lenders do not take time to understand their finances. The affordability models used by some lenders in determining who to lend to do not properly take into account self-employed income.

Steve Seal, of rival specialist lender Bluestone Mortgages, agrees. He says: Many successful business owners find it difficult to get suitable mortgage products as traditional big banks will turn away those with variable incomes  or new businesses without a certain number of trading years behind them.

For the self-employed, the best way to improve your chances of getting a home loan is showing evidence of your earnings. Harris says: So long as you can prove your income, you should be able to get a mortgage.

Being new to self-employment makes things harder.

David Hollingworth, of broker London & Country Mortgages, says: The newly self-employed should try mainstream high-street lenders initially. They will tend to offer the most competitive rates, but you may find a specialist lender is more open-minded.

He adds: Some lenders such as Precise, Kensington, Vida Home-loans, Kent Reliance and Aldermore may consider borrowers with as little as one year of accounts.

It makes sense to seek help from a mortgage broker who can help identify lenders that understand self-employment.

Zero-hours workers

The Government has just promised an overhaul of employment rights to support the countrys gig economy workers. Changes include new rules on holiday and sick pay and higher fines for firms which mistreat staff. This is in response to last years Taylor Review into working practices.

These changes may be a step in the right direction for the estimated 1.1 million people in Britains gig economy, such as Deliveroo drivers. But it still remains hard to get a mortgage if you have an irregular income stream as a result of a temporary or zero-hour contract.

Brian Murphy, of the Mortgage Advice Bureau, says: You may consider yourself able to meet the financial commitment of a home loan, but demonstrating this to a lender can present a challenge.

Automated processes used to assess an applicants affordability do not always take into account multiple sources of income or those on zero-hour contracts.

Moving in the right direction: The longer your track record either with the same employer, or in the same line of work with different employers  the better your chances of getting a loan

Ishaan Malhi, from online mortgage broker Trussle, says: Working and earning habits have changed significantly with more people taking flexible jobs with non-regular income. But while some lenders have made positive efforts to offer more flexible lending criteria, many have yet to catch up.

Metro Bank does not accept borrowers on zero-hour contracts, nor does Yorkshire Building Society, or its intermediary arm Accord. The longer your track record either with the same employer, or in the same line of work with different employers  the better your chances of getting a loan.

But the key is proving your income. Harris says: Lenders will base their decision on what you can show in terms of accounts and SA302 tax year calculations [the figures which support your earnings claim].

You can also help your case by seeking out pragmatic lenders. Halifax, for example, only requires that a mortgage applicant has 12 months history of being on a zero-hour contract.

Murphy adds: A number of the new lenders also take a more considered approach, but they will still need to see evidence of earnings over a sustained period to give them an assurance that an applicants income is consistent and regular.

Another way to increase your chances is by saving for a little longer so you can put down a larger deposit  as this reduces the lenders risk. Equally, preparing accounts and paperwork can make a real difference as can speaking to a mortgage broker who knows where to turn for the best chance of success.

WE CAN PAY BUT NO ONE WOULD LEND US ENOUGH Moving: William and Julie Cadwell struggled to get a mortgage after being viewed by lenders as 'too close to retirement' William and Julie Cadwell struggled to get a mortgage after being viewed by lenders as too close to retirement. The couple, aged 58 and 52, had previously lived in a rented property in Falmouth, Cornwall, for 17 years. But when their landlord told them they had to move out, as the lease on their property was not being renewed, they decided they wanted to buy. William says: As we were applying for a mortgage in our 50s, only a handful of lenders were willing to lend. It was frustrating as I am still working hard as a self-employed builder while Julie is a healthcare assistant. In fact, we had been paying 1,000 a month in rent and were looking at monthly mortgage payments of no more than 800. Despite this, the few lenders who were willing to offer us a mortgage would only let us borrow a maximum of 80,000. This was nowhere near enough. The Cadwells eventually got around the problem by opting to buy a home in nearby Perranporth via shared ownership. William says: We bought a brand new two-bed semi-detached house from developer Aster Group in September 2016, worth 200,000. Under the shared ownership agreement, we bought a 25 per cent share with a 14,000 deposit and a 35,000 mortgage. We got the home loan with Santander, fixed for seven years at 3.6 per cent. But after recently inheriting some money, we have been able to clear this mortgage altogether. We now feel settled in our home.

Newly qualified professionals

Workers who have only recently qualified can face difficulties securing a mortgage.

Teachers commonly get offered a job well in advance of their start date. But many struggle to get a home loan as lenders want to see some history in the job  and security of employment  before they will contemplate lending.

Ben Spenceley was one of the lucky ones as he was able to find an understanding lender. The 31-year-old started his first teaching post at a primary school in September last year. Only weeks earlier, he completed the purchase of his first home in Bolton, Greater Manchester, with his fiancee, Laura Amatt, aged 30. The couple moved into their new home with son Charlie, aged three, in August.

Ben and Laura bought the three-bed semi-detached property, valued at 168,000, with a home loan from Accord Mortgages, the intermediary arm of Yorkshire Building Society.

Laura has been a teacher for several years whereas Ben qualified in July last year and was offered a job three months earlier.

Ben says: When we first started looking for a property in the summer of 2016, we found a house we liked on the market at 125,000. Initially, we tried to get a mortgage with HSBC based on just Lauras salary. It refused to lend to me until I had started work.

Some lenders will not offer a mortgage while a borrower is still in their probationary period

When this property fell through due to issues with the vendor, the couple started house-hunting once again. Ben says: This time around, we approached Accord and it was happy to offer us a deal based both on Lauras salary and my future salary.

All that was required was confirmation of my job. Being able to get a home loan based on two salaries meant we could look at bigger properties.

The couple have taken out a two-year fixed-rate deal at 2.72 per cent.

Hollingworth says: Newly qualified teachers could face a number of hurdles as they have no previous employment history.

Barclays, for example, requires a minimum of three months in current employment  or an 18-month history of continuous employment  while NatWest requires six months of continuous employment, though this does not have to be with the same employer.

Some lenders will not offer a mortgage while a borrower is still in their probationary period. A select number of lenders are happy to start the ball rolling before a borrower has actually started their job, provided employment is confirmed.

Yorkshire Building Society, for example, will lend to new graduates and those starting out in their career  it does not require a previous work history. It will make an offer on a mortgage three months ahead of the applicants employment start date, as long as the borrower can show they have been given a permanent contract.

Nationwide Building Society will consider those on probation as well as professionals with minimal history in their job  subject to the relevant documentation being provided. A lender specialising in an area of work  such as Teachers Building Society  is also worth approaching.

Andrew Montlake, from broker Coreco, says: You can help your case by having bank statements showing you are conducting your finances well.

It also makes sense to improve your credit score by getting registered on the electoral roll, clearing unpaid debts and closing credit card accounts you no longer use. You can check your credit rating at Experian, Equifax and Callcredit.

Metro Bank does not accept borrowers on zero-hour contracts, nor does Yorkshire Building Society, or its intermediary arm Accord

Older borrowers

The long-held expectation that people will pay off their mortgage by state retirement age is no longer realistic. But a lot of lenders are still wary about lending into retirement  and many high street banks have relatively conservative upper age limits on whom they will lend to. NatWest imposes an age cap of 70 while Barclays will typically expect a mortgage to end by age 70.

One of the big issues is being able to give evidence of earnings. Adrian Anderson, of broker Anderson Harris, says: Proving income in retirement can be tricky, particularly if you are relying on a pension.

The situation is improving. Hollingworth says: Some lenders have become more flexible.

Halifax, for example, will lend up to age 80 at the end of the term, while Nationwide also considers lending to already retired borrowers up to age 85.

It may be worth trying small regional building societies as some have upper age limits of up to 85  or even beyond  subject to you being able to demonstrate affordability.

Older borrowers may also want to consider equity release, which has become more flexible and better priced. Here the mortgage interest rolls up rather than being paid every month.

Divorcees

Divorce is a big issue at this time following the New Year. One of the big resulting financial problems is being able to split the mortgage liability on a jointly-owned property.

Hollingworth says: The home loan will usually need to be taken on by one of the borrowers, but lenders will not release one party until they are happy the other can afford the mortgage.

That may require the existing mortgage to be taken in one name, rather than two  and could prove a challenge where one income must support the home loan originally underwritten on two incomes. If it is deemed to be unaffordable, the lender will not discharge the other borrower and this could ultimately result in a need to sell the property.

To help get a home loan in the future you will need to demonstrate that you can pay the mortgage on a new property on your own.

Harris says: For divorcees, affordability is the big issue, with much depending on the divorce agreement. If maintenance is the only source of income for one party, this can prove a problem for some lenders. Independent advice from a mortgage broker can prove vital.Britain's top four banking bosses raked in 21 million last year in pay and benefits.

The big four banks  HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds and RBS  will this week reveal their financial figures for 2017. They will also publish annual reports disclosing pay details for senior staff on the day of their results.

HSBC boss Stuart Gulliver, who is about to step down, is likely to lead the pack with total pay in his last year at the bank expected to top 8 million. He picks up 3.5 million as a minimum in pay and benefits.

Strong share price performance is set to put him in line for a 1.5 million bonus, and he is also on course for a further 3 million in long-term incentive payments. It is unclear if the long-term incentives will be included in his single pay figure for this year, however, meaning the bank could claim he earned a lower total.

In the money: Ross McEwan, Stuart Gulliver, Jes Staley and Antonio Horta Osorio raked in 21m in pay and benefits

The bank is on course to hit the key financial targets that trigger the payout. Gulliver will also benefit from the expiry last year of the banks deferred prosecution agreement with the US authorities.

This was a pledge by the bank not to break the law after it was fined five years ago for money laundering and busting sanctions with rogue regimes.

Lloyds boss Antonio Horta Osorio is likely to see his pay rise slightly above last years 5.5 million. He receives 2.8 million in pay and benefits and is on course for a 1 million bonus and 1.8 million in long-term incentives.

Barclays boss Jes Staley  who is under investigation by City regulators over his attempts to unmask a whistleblower  will receive about 3.8 million. He is not eligible yet for long-term incentive payouts but is likely to get a 900,000 bonus on top of his estimated 2.9 million in regular pay, pension and benefits.

RBS boss Ross McEwan is in line for around 3.2 million  comprising just under 1 million in long-term incentives to add to the 2.3 million he earns through his pay, share awards and benefits. The banks results will reveal losses on Carillion, which collapsed last month.

All four high street giants had lent money to the PFI contractor, and several booked writedowns late last year.

Pay bonanza: The big four banks will this week reveal their financial figures for 2017

Lloyds is likely to unveil up to 450 million in new write-offs for the mis-selling of PPI insurance. On a more positive note for long-suffering small shareholders, it will also unveil a year-end dividend of as much as 3.5p per share when it announces its numbers on Wednesday.

Horta Osorio will give details of a new strategy that includes cost-cutting and 2.6 billion of investment in digital banking

Barclays could slash its staff bonus pool to 1.1 billion from 1.5 billion paid out last year, analysts at investment bank UBS said. The bank will face a hit to its investment banking operations from the weaker dollar, UBS added.

RBS could reveal a tenth consecutive year of red ink. City analysts expect the bank to book a loss in the hundreds of millions for 2017.

Technically, it could record a profit if it chooses not to make provisions for a possibly huge penalty relating to a US probe into its sub-prime mortgage securities.

HSBC profits are forecast to top $20 billion (14.3 billion), slightly up on last year. Analysts expect the bank to say it spent $400 million in 2017 setting up its new ring-fenced bank in the UK. Rules that came in following the financial crisis require banks to separate their retail and investment banking arms by 2019.

The banks Brexit preparations, where it has said it may have to move 1,000 investment bankers to a Paris office, cost $18 million in 2017, analysts said.Joan Collins's estate agent has reignited the sleaze row over the Presidents Club dinner by claiming the young female hostesses were less like scantily-clad Pamela Andersons than Brenda from reception.

The charity event caused a storm of protest after allegations that hostesses were fondled by guests and invited to their hotel bedrooms.

Trevor Abrahmsohn, who styles himself the estate agent to the stars, has this weekend defended the events, saying they were serious and responsible fundraising exercises.

'Unsexy': Girls were no Pamela Anderson said Trevor Abrahmsohn

In a blog post entitled: The Tragedy of the Presidents Club: who are the real victims?, he said: I have to tell you that contrary to the celluloidal image painted by the press, these so-called hostesses are hardly scantily-clad Pamela Anderson lookalikes, but more Brenda from reception.

The 130 hostesses at last months Presidents Club dinner at the Dorchester hotel were chosen on criteria dictated by the charitys joint chairman, property tycoon Bruce Ritchie, that they should be tall, thin and pretty.

They were ordered to wear black underwear and sexy shoes, along with a short black dress and corset-like belt.

Mr Abrahmsohn, 63, did not attend the latest Presidents Club dinner but has been a guest at seven previous events.

He said the dress code was more akin to something worn at a Womens Institute convention than a pole-dancing club. When I was there, invariably some of the hostesses seemed rather bored by it all and were hardly the victims of drunk, hyper-testosteroned male guests with wandering hands disease.

Mr Abrahmsohn is managing director of North London estate agency Glentree International.

He has sold more than 1billion of property over the past 40 years to clients including Joan Collins, former Beatle Ringo Starr, steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal and Formula One mogul Bernie Ecclestone.

One of his clients, the restaurant tycoon Richard Caring, donated 400,000 to the Evelina childrens hospital in London at last months dinner.

Mr Abrahmsohn said Labour MP Jess Phillips needs to get out more after she called for luxury homeware tycoon David Meller, who co-chaired the now defunct Presidents Club charity, to step down as a director of the Department for Education.The scandal engulfing Royal Bank of Scotlands infamous GRG unit is spilling over into the top echelons of Santander, the UKs fifth biggest bank.

The Mail on Sunday last week revealed damning details from a suppressed report into abuses of small firms by GRG, which was supposed to help troubled businesses back to health but preyed on them instead.

Two of the senior managers overseeing GRG at the time are now at Santander  where they are trying to beef up the banks lending to small firms.

Key roles: Nathan Bostock (right) looked after RBSs GRG unit and Sullivan was 'heavily involved' at the top of GRG

Santander, the UK arm of the Spanish finance giant, is trying to position itself as the bank of choice for UK companies. Its UK boss Nathan Bostock, paid 4.5million last year, and its head of commercial banking Chris Sullivan held key roles at RBS at a time when it was found by an official report to have plundered small firms for fees.

Regulators are mulling action against those involved with GRG and Bostock and Sullivan could be in the firing line.

The scandal over RBSs treatment of small firms continues to exercise MPs and regulators this weekend. The Treasury Select Committee forced the Financial Conduct Authority to provide it with a copy of a secret report into the affair.

But the FCA still refuses to release the documents, saying it would be breaking the law.

The Mail on Sunday last week revealed the findings of the report, which lifted the lid on RBSs bullying and exploitation of its vulnerable customers. In one case bankers plotted to help themselves to the stock of a bankrupt shop. Another memo urged bankers to let some customers hang themselves.

The FCA could in theory decide that Bostock or Sullivan are not fit and proper people to hold senior roles in a British bank.

It could take action against others too but none of the other senior names involved still work in the banking industry. Sources close to Sullivan argue that he had little to do with GRG because he was running the commercial banking business at RBS. But former RBS insiders this weekend painted a different picture, saying he was close to GRG boss Derek Sach.

Sullivan was heavily involved with Sach, a source said, suggesting that Sullivan would have talked to Sach very frequently about businesses going in and out of GRG.

Sach revealed in evidence to the Treasury Select Committee in 2014: Mr Sullivan and others sit on what we call the Executive Committee of GRG, so there is considerable oversight of what we do within the bank.

Sullivan has become a target for GRG victims because he told the Treasury Select Committee the division was unequivocally...a cost centre for the bank.

Exclusive: The Mail on Sunday revealed keys points of the secret report last week

But the leaked report, by independent experts at research firm Promontory, said that GRG was a profit centre. Sullivan was the executive RBS used following the crisis to push the argument it was still lending to small businesses, even as it foreclosed on thousands of them.

He made enemies inside the bank as well as outside. He is described by one former colleague as being meticulously groomed, even to the point of being manicured. Bostock was in charge of risk and restructuring at RBS, looking after GRG, the banks legal department, risk management and the bad bank that was cleaning up toxic loans.

The full report does not identify what Bostock knew of the issues but it criticised the oversight of GRG, saying there were significant shortcomings in governance controls that might have avoided unfair treatment of customers.

Bostocks background was in running down so-called non-core divisions, where banks house their bad debts, having done that job for Abbey prior to joining RBS.

Sources describe him as more introverted than the average chief executive, and as a man who attends closely to details. He was promoted to finance director in late 2013 at RBS shortly before jumping ship to Santander.

Support: Sir Callum McCarthy backs our call for an Ombudsman

At one stage he had been named as the head of Lloyds Banking Group wholesale division, only to decide against taking the job.

The RBS scandal is a major embarrassment for Santander, which wants to expand its modest business banking division.

As well as offering growth capital loans for very fast-growing businesses, it is planning to apply for cash from RBS to help it compete with the banking giant to win small business clients.

Under a bizarre provision, RBS has to give money to its rivals to make it easier for them to lure away its own customers, as a condition for allowing it to keep its Williams & Glyn division.

RBS had been ordered to sell off W&G as a condition of its taxpayer bailout, but could not find a buyer.

The Promontory report carried a foreword by its chairman, Sir Callum McCarthy, who chaired the Financial Services Authority before the crisis.

In the foreword to the full report, he backs calls for an independent Ombudsman or Tribunal for small firms in conflict with their banks, for which The Mail on Sunday has been campaigning. He said small businesses should have wider access to independent dispute resolution and redress.

The Treasury select committee will this week decide whether to publish the full report into RBS in what could prove to be another parade of its worst failings. Once that is done, the real business of finding the bankers accountable for the behaviour will begin.

MBABANE  The benefits of the MbadlaneManzini freeway will be there for many years; but, the journey to achieving it has become a curse for residents of Lwandle.



This follows that the road construction company, Inyatsi Construction has been dumping heaps of red soil within the community.

The red soil, following the heavy rains in December, was washed into a stream that develops from the foot of the valley where the soil was disposed. Lwandle is a community located about eight kilometres east of the Manzini central business district - it is located next to Moneni.



Following the pollution that some residents were witnessing, they wrote to the Swaziland Environmental Authority (SEA) to deal with the matter.

In a letter where John Young, of Young Investments is signatory, he requested the SEA to act up on the issue of disposing the red soil as it was polluting the natural resource they were depending on.



The farmer noted that the red soil had contaminated the water they were using to irrigate their plants; which in turn hiked their costs. This, Young noted, escalated their costs of farming as the muddy waters blocked sprinklers used to irrigate.



He further noted that the muddy red water had made it impossible for the community to use it as drinking water further downstream.

As means to mitigate the situation, the entrepreneur had requested the SEA to intervene and request Inyatsi Construction to plant grass around the heaps of soil, in order to hold it together such that it did not wash into the stream.

Following a plea with the parastatal to intervene in the disturbance of the environment, SEAs acting Chief Executive Officer, Ishmael Ndwandwe responded to Young.LOBAMBA  Budget estimates could be a thing of the past as the King has called for a budget based on reality. In less than two weeks the country will learn how much government has allocated for the 2018/2019 financial year when Finance Minister Martin Dlamini tables the Appropriation Bill before Parliament.



Speaking during the official opening of the fifth session of the 10th Parliament yesterday the King said, Government is encouraged to prepare a budget that is based on available resources as opposed to funds yet to be collected as this affects its ability to pay service providers.

He said this did not only affect service providers but it also affected the implementation rate of programmes and projects that have been planned for that particular financial year.



He observed that it was critical for government to diversify the economy with multibillion Emalangeni industries, which would reduce our dependence on SACU.

As a country, which is peaceful and destined for First world, we should be able to create an enabling environment for foreign direct investment.

In his analysis of the countrys economic status the King noted that the country experienced positive economic growth of 1.9 per cent in 2017.



This was an upward revision to the earlier projection of 1.0 per cent and higher than the 2016 growth estimates of 1.4 per cent. His Majesty said government has identified some quick-win initiatives that promise a positive impact on economic growth and development.

These include but not limited to; the extension of border operating hours; identification and use of farms for investment purposes; the development of greater Sikhuphe area; among other projects.



He pointed out that the negative risks surrounding the current fiscal challenges had to be managed effectively in order to realise the full gains from these projects.

Adding he said, Government is encouraged to prepare a budget that is based on available resources as opposed to funds yet to be collected as this affects its ability to pay service providers.MBABANE  Bodies were sprawled over the tarmac on the Mnyokane  Motshane Road as six people died in a horrible accident.



The six passengers were on board a kombi that was travelling between Motshane and Mnyokane, headed for the Piggs Peak direction.

The police and eyewitnesses said the kombi collided with a truck belonging to the Swaziland Electricity Company (SEC), which was driving in the opposite direction.



Acting Chief Police Information and Communication Officer Assistant Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, confirmed that two women and four men including the kombi driver died on the spot around Mnyokane.

She said the cause of the accident was still being investigated by the police but preliminary results indicate that a driver of one of the two vehicles lost control, resulting in the collision.



At the moment we are trying to locate the deceaseds relatives and we are requesting people who may have had relatives travelling in that route around the time of the accident to check with the police, she said.

Vilakati could not confirm the number of passengers who were on board the kombi but she stated that three other passengers were admitted to the Mbabane Government hospital in a critical condition.



She also could not recall if the area that has seen many accidents was at any stage declared a high-accident zone.

SEC Corporate and Marketing Manager Sifiso Dhlamini, said the companys personnel and management were devastated by the loss of life. He extended his condolences to the members of the deceased on behalf of the company.MBABANE  Being placed on the Interpols list of most wanted people is not a guarantee that a fugitive will be arrested.



The likes of Sicelo Dzodzo Zikalala/Luthango, Mbuso Ncaza Nkosi and an unidentified individual might be on Interpols red alert notice but the South African government is not obliged to arrest them.



The three are wanted for the alleged murder of businessman Victor Gamedze and they are reported to be in South Africa where they are said to have fled to.

Dzodzo is a Swazi national while Nkosi is South African and it is suspected that the unidentified man is also from South Africa.



According to Interpol, a Red Notice is a request to locate and provisionally arrest an individual pending extradition.

It is issued by the General Secretariat at the request of a member country or an international tribunal based on a valid national arrest warrant and it is not an international arrest warrant.



Interpol, however, states: Interpol cannot compel any member country to arrest an individual who is the subject of a Red Notice. Each member country decides for itself what legal value to give a Red Notice within their borders.

Interpol also does not send its own officers to arrest the subject of the red notice.



Neither can Interpol require any member country to take any action in response to another member countrys request. Swaziland currently has 23 people it placed on Interpols Red Notice. Chief Police Communication and Information Officer Superintendent Khulani Mamba said placing fugitives on Interpol was helpful.



However, he could not provide the identities of escapees who have been arrested and brought back to Swaziland as a result of being placed on Interpols red notice.

I have been told that there are people who have been arrested through Interpol, so it works; its not something that is useless. The Interpol (Swaziland) office said it wouldnt be proper to divulge the names of those that have been arrested through this system.

But they say there are many arrests they have made, Mamba said.

He continued: It works for us, if it was useless we would have long withdrawn our membership from it. There are cases we have broken through that thing.

He said the Royal Swaziland Police should not be tagged along in the criticism of Interpol processes.MBABANE There was seemingly no background check done to ascertain if Prophet Walter Magaya was fit to address His Majesty the King.

Prophet Magaya faces a rape charge in his native country. The State is yet to prove if he did commit the offence.



The mainstream media in Zimbabwe extensively reported on this case. He has made a court appearance and is out on bail.

His bail has stringent reporting conditions. One of his bail conditions put it to him to report to the police station three times a week.

His bail was fixed at US$2 000 (E24 000).



The prophet is expected to appear before the Zimbabwe High Court in Harare on April 3, 2018.

Speaking to the Times SUNDAY from Zimbabwe, Magayas attorney Chadzo Chatambudza briefly said they were not yet sure if the trial would commence on April 3, 2017.



He did not want to elaborate.

The alleged rape occurred at No. 22 Colt Road in Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe after the complainant had honoured an invite by the prophet to his house.

He is alleged to have offered the woman a sum of US$200 (E2 400).



The messenger of God pleaded not guilty to the charge. In terms of the law, he is still innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.

He also faces a charge of obstructing the course of justice.



Magaya delivered a prophetic message to the King, Christians and the entire Swazi Nation last Saturday at Mandvulo Grand Hall in Lozitha.

He was among the first in the sitting arrangement as he was flanked by Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala, Deputy Prime Minister Paul Dlamini on the right and Pastor Shodi Msibi of the Free Evangelical Assemblies on the left.



He was arrested in 2016 and spent the night at Rhodesville Police Station.

Magayas case has taken twists and turns since the man of the cloth was arrested. This was compounded by the decision of the complainant to indicate her intention to withdraw the case on the grounds that she had received death threats from anonymous people.



She claimed she wanted to drop the case because she had been influenced into filing the charges by people who wanted to see Prophet Magaya going down.

In her affidavit, she said: I have received threats from people who are threatening to shoot me in the event that I do not testify well in order to get the accused convicted.[February 16, 2018] Lockheed Martin Receives Freedom-variant FFG(X) Conceptual Design Contract

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) a $15 million contract to mature its Freedom-variant Frigate design as a part of the Navy's FFG(X) competition. Lockheed Martin submitted its Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) parent design in response to the U.S. Navy's FFG(X) conceptual design solicitation with Fincantieri Marinette Marine as its shipbuilder and Gibbs & Cox as its naval architect. "We are proud of our 15-year partnership with the U.S. Navy on the Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship and look forward to extending it to FFG(X)," said Joe DePietro, Lockheed Martin vice president of small combatants and ship systems. "Built to U.S. Navy shipbuilding standards, our frigate design offers an affordable, low-risk answer to meeting the Navy's goals of a larger and more capable fleet." The Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine team is currently in ful-rate production of the Freedom-variant of the LCS, and has delivered five ships to the U.S. Navy to date. There are eight ships in various stages of construction at Fincantieri Marinette Marine, with one more in long-lead production.



Demonstrating the Freedom-variant LCS design flexibility and ability to integrate increased capabilities, the Royal Saudi Naval Forces selected an LCS derivative, the Multi-Mission Surface Combatant, to fulfill its small combatant requirement. This is the first sale in over three decades of a U.S.-built surface combatant to a foreign partner nation. For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com/frigate

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 100,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. About Fincantieri Marinette Marine

Founded in 1942, Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) is located on the Menominee River flowage into Green Bay. The largest shipyard in the Midwest, FMM has delivered more than 1,300 vessels to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and commercial customers, including the technologically advanced Littoral Combat Ship Freedom variant for the U.S. Navy. In 2008, FMM along with several sister shipyards also based in the Great Lakes region, became part of Fincantieri, one of the world's largest shipbuilding groups and number one by diversification and innovation, with more than 19,400 employees, of whom more than 8,200 in Italy, 20 shipyards in 4 continents. Fincantieri operates in the United States through its subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group, serving both civilian and government customers. Over the past five years, Fincantieri invested more than $100 million in both capital infrastructure and its resources to support FMM's transformation into what is now one of the best shipyards in the United States. Employing approximately 1,500 employees, today FMM is a state-of-the-art, full service new construction shipyard. About Gibbs & Cox

Gibbs & Cox, the nation's leading independent maritime solutions firm specializing in naval architecture, marine engineering and design, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. The company, founded in 1929, has provided designs for nearly 80 percent of the current U.S. Navy surface combatant fleet; approaching 7,000 naval and commercial ships have been built to Gibbs & Cox designs. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lockheed-martin-receives-freedom-variant-ffgx-conceptual-design-contract-300600397.html SOURCE Lockheed Martin

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][February 16, 2018] CONOCOPHILLIPS INVESTIGATION INITIATED by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates the Officers and Directors of ConocoPhillips - COP

Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP). On July 17, 2017, the California counties of Marin and San Mateo, along with the City of Imperial Beach filed lawsuits against the Company and others for a variety of complaints relating to climate change-related activities ranging from public nuisance and trespass to product liability claims. Similar cases were filed against the Company by the cities of San Francisco and Oakland on September 19, 2017, and by Santa Cruz County on December 20, 2017. Recently, on January 9, 2018, the City of New York filed its own climate change lawsuit against the Company, among others. All of the above litigation remains pending. KSF's investigation is focusing on whether ConocoPhillips' officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to ConocoPhillips shareholders r otherwise violated state or federal laws.



If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of ConocoPhillips shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-cop/ to learn more. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180216005580/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]1. Yes. COVID-19 can only be stopped through vaccinations. A mandate is needed.

2. Yes. This is a major step, but were facing a national emergency. It is a justifiable move.

3. No. The government is right to promote vaccinations, but not to require them.

4. No. This is government overreach and legally questionable. A mandate is wrong.

5. Unsure. Its in the publics interest, but mandates infringe on individuals rights.

Vote

View ResultsA federal court jury on Friday found two men guilty in the 2016 kidnapping and killing of a Kansas City man whose body was dumped along a south Kansas City street. The U.S.Some restaurant owners are concerned about the changes that will happen if a bill introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives is passed.

It would basically force business owners like myself, at bars, but not only that, day care centers, schools, even hospitals, to let people bring weapons in, concealed, loaded weapons in, said John Couture, the owner of Bier Station in Brookside, We have a lot of families. You can look around right now and see lots of kids in here, and frankly families are really nervous about this.Fantasy Life Resources For Real World Kansas City Problems

Planet Comicon takes aim at mental health KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Planet Comicon is finally here in Kansas City, and you'll probably see a little bit of everything. From superheroes to villains, people can be whoever they want. "I think it's kind of cool that we can get into costumes and kind of do whatever with people who are doing the exact same thing as us," April Roller said.

Local Scammer Adventures

KC man duped people out of $483K - bought a BMW, Bermuda trip and 'beauty expenses' A Kansas City man was found guilty on Friday of an investment fraud scheme used to dupe people out of nearly $500,000. Ryan Scott Luscombe, 45, used people's funds - which he said was going to be used to produce investment returns through his trading business - to buy a 2010 BMW and a trip to Bermuda, according to the U.S.

Urban Core Fire Report Friday

Kansas City G-Man Hot Take

Former FBI agents from metro saddened to hear agency didn't investigate tip on Florida shooting suspect KANSAS CITY, Mo -- The stunning news that the FBI didn't investigate a tip about Florida school shooting suspect Nicholas Cruz has not only shocked citizens they're supposed to protect but also those inside the agency. "I am saddened by this revelation," former FBI Agent Jeff Lanza said.

Local Last Call

Area's oldest operating auction house to close its doors After 40 years, England's Auction in Grandview will host its final sale on Friday, February 16. Over the last four decades, hundreds of buyers from all corners of the metro have spent their Friday evenings with Mike England. In 1977, England, with his brother and father, purchased the auction business that began in 1960, at 1530 Duck Road in Grandview.

Sunflower State Old School Styling

Kansas lawmakers consider 'Don't Tread on Me' license plates WICHITA, Kan. - Drivers would be able to choose a "Don't Tread on Me" license plate under proposed legislation. The Wichita Eagle reports that the state would model the plates after the Gadsden flag, which features a yellow background and hissing snake. It dates back to the Revolutionary War.

Kansas City Doggie Distress

New strain of dog flu affects Kansas City's canines Humans aren't the only ones coming down with the flu this year.

This evening we remember thatmight be the greatest raven-haired Brit hottie in all of the world as we compile some of the top news links for tonight. Take a peek:And this is thefor right now . . .If you make an emergency call for help in Kansas City, be prepared to wait. KCTV5 News has taken a closer look at all the records for 911 for past three years, and it's eye-opening. Twenty-three seconds is the average amount of time people waited just to connect with a real person to say they have an emergency and help.KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Kansas City, Kansas police are asking for the public's help finding two men who were allegedly photographed installing a scanning device over an ATM's card reader. According to a release, police were called to a KCK bank on Feb. 10 about a card-scanning device found on an ATM.Five women from Rhodes decided to join the fight for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to their birthplace, Greece.

They were photographed in front of the Greek exhibits at the British Museum wearing T-shirts that read Bring them back. They posted the photos on social media using hashtags such as #itsnotyours #bringthemback #bringthemhome #kariatides #reunitedthem #respectourhistory and managed to bring back to the spotlight a decades-old issue.

Mrs. Iliana Katsanakou, Mary Philippaki, Anna Strati, Stella Hantzikonstantinou and Pigi-Sofia Moroyianni support the Bring them back campaign, hoping to attract more than 1.000.001 signatures to get the issue of the return of the Parthenon Marbles at the European Parliament. So far, the campaign has amassed 469.495 signatures, and the number is growing daily.

We have the power to mobilize the global community, by uniting our voices and spreading the message, Mrs. Iliana Katsanakou noted during an interview at Dimokratiki and further added that we got emotional when we looked upon one of the most representing samples of the Greek civilization. We felt anger and indignation at the same time, because we had to ask for permission to see the Caryatid. Why, as Greeks must we find pieces from our own history abroad and have to ask for permission to see them up close? The Parthenon Marbles, along with all other Greek artifacts, speak directly to the soul of every Greek. For the rest of the visitors of the British Museum there are just artifacts. Out history belongs to us. It is high time the Parthenon Marbles returned to their home. They belong to Greece.

Mrs. Mary Pilippaki stated that this move was the least they could have done, she and her friends, in order to promote the Bring them back campaign and stir the public opinion on the issue of the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles. She also added:

The Greek civilization dominates the British Museum. The Greek exhibits are the most impressive. You feel awe before the grandeur of our ancient Greek civilization. However, you also feel anger and indignation for the fact that they are away from home. So we wanted to support the campaign fighting for the return of the Marbles. We wore T-shirts that read Bring them back and took a photo inside the Museum. I must say that the curator respected our wish to see the Caryatid and allowed us to enter the special wing, where we took our picture. We were really moved. It was the least we could do for this great cause. By uniting our powers, we can hope to gather the international attention and return the artifacts where they belong.

To participate, go online to www.bringthemback.org , sign up and leave your comment.

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: Solipsist~commonswiki License: CC-BY-SA

Source: thegreekobserverOlives and olive oil have featured prominently in Greek culture and economy from antiquity to the present

As the third largest producer of olive oil in the world, Greece has not met with the recognition it deserves on the international scene. The Athena International Olive Oil Competition hopes to change that through an annual global event that this year will take place at the European Cultural Centre of Delphi on March 26 to 28, ANA reports.

Organizers said the event, held for the third year, is "the fastest-growing international olive oil competition in the world."

Vinetum, originally founded to organise events promoting Greek wine, holds the event at olive oil-producing regions in Greece. Last year's event was held in Messinia, on the southern Region of Peloponnnese.

This year's location, Delphi, celebrates the fame the city held in antiquity as seat of the famous oracle and as one of Greece's largest olive groves today.

The deadline for registration is March 2, 2018, while the final deadline for samples to reach Vinetum is March 9.

(For more information: https://www.athenaoliveoil.gr/en/)

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: Petr Pakandl License: CC-BY-SAFollowing the end of ISIS conflict, Iraq is just emerging from the destruction and strategizing the rebuilding of the country to position itself as a regional super power, said a report.



Bridged between Asia, Middle East and African economies and strategically placed at the mouth of Europe, Iraq possesses immense locational advantage as a nation with opportunities that stand to be untapped.

The country benefits from immense natural wealth in the form of its huge reserves of natural resources. Having been brutally battered first by the Gulf war and more recently by the ISIS conflict, Iraq is just emerging from the destruction and strategizing the rebuilding of the country to position itself as a regional super power.



Newer opportunities are emerging with the return of semblance of political stability and initiation of the nation's redevelopment and reformation plans, according to leading consultancy expert Frost & Sullivan.



Even as the nation's re-building opportunity proves to be humongous and unique, investors and businesses alike are in need of business intelligence in understanding the right mode of entry, the most rewarding business model and business opportunity, stated Frost & Sullivan in its recent research report on "Assessment of Industry Sector Opportunities in Iraq" .



Iraq possesses one of the largest oil reserves in the world making it a highly attractive business opportunity.



As the country also focuses on diversification initiatives, opportunities unfurl in sectors such as construction, infrastructure, healthcare, transportation, energy and telecom which are being positioned as high priority development sectors, it stated.



Frost & Sullivan's recent research report provides a broad overview of the current status of these high priority sectors, apart from providing a brief peek into addressable opportunity areas.



Ali Mirmohammad, senior consultant for Iraq, Frost & Sullivan said: "With the end of the ISIS war, Iraq is on the path of reconstruction and economic resurrection that calls for sustained investment to the tune of over $900 billion within the next decade."



"Iraq plans to focus on the Oil & Gas downstream value chain as well as minerals value chain, construction and infrastructure industries, healthcare, energy, tourism and financial services sectors to move the GDP growth rate by 10 per cent annually within the next decade," explained Mirmohammad.



Following the ISIS war, multiple sectors are in a state of disarray and would need massive re-development and newer investments.



"Oil and gas, housing, infrastructure, industry, minerals, and service sectors will account for 65 per cent of the overall investment in the next 10 years, while ICT, transportation healthcare, water, electricity, tourism and renewable energy will grab the remaining 35 per cent investment in Iraq in the next 10 years," he added.



Mirmohammad pointed out that the country requires over $30 billion per annum of foreign direct investment (FDI) to achieve its reformation and stabilisation goals within the next 10 years.



"With more than 39 million population, Iraq remains and attractive consumer market with potential of over $40 billion," he added.-TradeArabia News ServiceSaudi Arabia's industrial boilers market revenues are projected to grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 5 per cent over the next six years, said a report.

The rapid industrialisation as well as increasing emphasis on development of downstream petroleum sector is likely to spur this market growth, according to 6Wresearch.

Government initiatives such as Saudi Vision 2030 and National Transformation Plan 2020 have been put in place to develop the country's non-oil sectors including manufacturing, chemical and hospitality, stated 6Wresearch in its new report, "Saudi Arabia Industrial Boilers Market (2018-2024)."

The report estimates and forecast the overall Saudi Arabia Industrial Boilers market by capacity, type, fuel, types of services offered, end users and regions.

Saudi government is focused on changing the current industrial landscape of the country by taking steps such as expansion of several chemical and petrochemical complexes and setting up of new industrial cities; for instance, recent plans to develop $4.4 billion worth Saudi Aramco's Industrial Energy City.

With an anticipated increase of around 150 per cent in foreign direct investment by 2020 and rise in investors' confidence, the country's industrial boilers market would register substantial growth over the coming years.

Non-condensing industrial boilers are more environment friendly, however their usage is limited in Saudi Arabia as end users are opting for more economical condensing boilers.

Expansion of the existing petrochemical complexes such as $47-million Yanbu Refinery and petrochemical complex as well as $95-million Jubail refinery coupled with rise in exports of refined products are likely to surge the demand for industrial boilers.

Ravi Bhandari, the assistant manager, 6Wresearch, said: "The processing industry, which includes food and beverage (F&B), automobile, surface finishing, plastics, pharmaceutical, cement, fabrics, dyeing and textiles is expected to grow rapidly due to growing investments in these sectors."

"Continuous steam generation is a pre-requisite in processing industry for various processes and thus the demand for industrial boilers are expected to surge over the coming years," he added.

According to Bhandari, the revenues of Saudi industrial boilers service market are projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.7 per cent during 2018-24 and is dominated by repair and maintenance services due to the constant need for repairing and maintaining industrial boilers - old or new.

Akash Jain, the research associate, 6Wresearch, pointed out that low capacity industrial boilers ranging from 0.5-10 tonnes/hr dominated the market due to growing demand from hospitality, pulp and paper and construction sectors.

"Further, Saudi Arabia is poised to become an automotive manufacturing hub in the Middle East region with several companies set to launch their vehicle manufacturing facilities over the coming years," stated Jain.

"Oil fired industrial boilers are expected to dominate the market while natural gas fired boilers are anticipated to register maximum growth during the forecast period. Water tube industrial boilers are preferred by end users due to their high capacity, sound work efficiency (up to 90 per cent) and better recovery than fire tube boilers", he added.

Some of the key players in Saudi industrial boilers market are Thermax, Bosch, Cochran, Cleaver Brooks, Macchi, Amec Foster Wheeler and Hurst Boiler.-TradeArabia News Serviceeditorial@tribune.com

Panchkula, February 17

The Panchkula police have booked two persons for allegedly beating up cops and damaging government property inside the Ramgarh police post.

As per an FIR registered at the Chandimandir police station, Home Guards Constable Chuhar Singh stated that he, along with his seniors, were at the police post when some people were creating a ruckus and using abusive language after rolling down the shutter of Goel Sweets Shop. They stopped when cops warned them. However, they again started using foul language later and were taken to the police post.

After entering the police post, the accused  Akhil Goel and Nikhil Goel  started throwing files and furniture, tore his uniform and attacked him. A few minutes later, female members of their family also came there and manhandled cops before fleeing the police post.  TNSeditorial@tribune.com

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 17

In all, 25 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces have been deployed across the state in view of Jat Balidan Divas being organised by the Yashpal-Malik-led All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) in all 22 districts tomorrow.

Sources say the major deployment is in sensitive districts such as Rohtak, Sonepat, Jind and Jhajjar.

Central forces have been deployed as a precautionary measure. But we do not see any reason for disturbance in view of the recent compromise between the state government and Jat leaders, said SS Prasad, Additional Chief Secretary (Home).

He said 25 companies of the Central forces out of those called for the Jind rally had stayed back in view of the Bharatiya Kisan Unions call to block roads leading to Delhi on February 23.

The Central forces will be deployed till the BKUs programme, Prasad added.

The AIJASS has announced Balidan Divas to pay homage to youths killed in the quota violence in February 2016. In all, 31 persons, including 18 Jats, were killed then.

As per our earlier programme, we were to announce our future course of action on February 18. As the state government has already accepted our demands, Jats will assemble tomorrow morning and disperse in the afternoon after paying homage to 18 Jats killed in February 2016 and three others who died during agitations before 2016, Malik said.

He said Balidan Divas functions would be held in all 22 districts of Haryana, besides in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The functions will be held at places were dharnas were organised last year, barring Jind district where the function will be held at Khatkar village instead of Ikkas village.

Malik will visit Panipat, Jassia (Rohtak) and Sonepat tomorrow.

State BKU president Gurnam Singh Charuni, meanwhile, said his organisation would block the Chandigarh-Delhi, Rohtak-Delhi, Moradabad-Delhi and Agra-Delhi roads to press for waiving farmer loans and implementing the Swaminathan Commission report.editorial@tribune.com

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, February 17

The district police have failed to make a headway in the the robbery at a gold loan company office in Bhim Goda Chowk on the Panipat-Haridwar highway two weeks ago.

The Panipat police have sought support from the Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh police to gather clues about the miscreants who robbed gold worth Rs 4.23 crore.

The police teams also suspect that the robbers might have entered the neighbouring state after committing the crime.

They also verified the mobile details collected by the cyber cell, but they have been unable to trace the miscreants.

The police have also searched data of former criminals and active gangs involved in such crimes in the state as well as in the neighbouring states of Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, but reportedly could not get any clue.

Superintendent of Police Rahul Sharma said no robber had been arrested so far, but the police were heading in the right direction to solve the case.

We have been in constant touch with the UP police, especially with the district police of Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Shamli and the Special Task Force (STF) in Meerut, he said.

He added the police were working on all possible angles and hoped to nab the culprits soon.

It may be recalled that three armed and masked miscreants robbed the office of the Indian Infoline Finance Limited (IIFL) of gold worth Rs 4.23 crore and Rs 2.45 lakh in cash on January 29. They held three employees of the private company hostage before fleeing.editorial@tribune.com

Our Correspondent

Sonepat, February 17

The CIA unit of the district police today arrested two youths on the charge of looting the strongroom of a local branch of ICICI Bank on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. The money was recovered from the accused  Praveen of Kailana village and Pawan of Bega village.

On February 15, bank manager Thakur Dutt had lodged a police complaint that unidentified persons stole Rs 57.5 lakh from the bank.

The CIA unit led by Inspector Indeevar arrested the accused and recovered Rs 56.5 lakh from them.

Indeevar said Praveen had joined the bank as a helper three months ago and he had access to every part of the bank, including the strongroom.

The police said that after 15 days plotting, Praveen and Pawan entered the bank from a door on the roof, which was kept unbolted by Praveen. The accused will be produced in court tomorrow. Their police custody will be sought, the CIA Inspector said.editorial@tribune.com

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 17

The alleged rape and murder of an eight-year-old tribal girl in Kathua has snowballed into a controversy, with the issue possessing the ingredients of dividing people on communal lines in the otherwise peaceful Jammu region.

Kashmir-based political groups, which had vociferously raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly, have also jumped in and have condemned the communalisation and politicisation of the rape and murder of the minor girl.

Residents of Hiranagar and adjoining villages, however, have described the investigation by the Crime Branch and the police as lopsided and biased, alleging that both were working under tremendous political pressure and a fair probe could not be expected in such circumstances.

She was also our daughter and the incident has shaken the conscience of every person. We also want justice should be delivered to the rape victim but no innocent should suffer in the process. The way the Crime Branch and the Police have acted so far, it is clear the governments intentions were not clear. We want a transparent and fair probe into the case. For that, the case should be handed over to the CBI. People have no faith in the Crime Branch and the police investigation, said Vijay Kumar Sharma, a local advocate and president of the Hindu Ekta Manch.

He said police officers were working under tremendous political pressure and even CM Mehbooba Mufti had declared the arrested person as a rapist without trial in any court of law.

Two Special Police Officers and a juvenile have been arrested in connection with the case.

The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) has denounced attempts to give any religious or communal colour to this worst-ever shameful act and said that the identification of the real culprits should be the interest of all right-thinking persons in society.

Demanding a foolproof probe to bring the culprits to book and ensure justice to the victim, the JKPCC spokesperson has said that any religious or communal twist was totally unwarranted and condemnable.

If such protests are an attempt to save the accused, then it is most unfortunate. But surprisingly, the protesters have sought a CBI inquiry to nab the real culprits, which makes the task of the investigation agency more difficult. It should doubly ensure that there is no element of suspicion or doubt on the efficiency and fairness of the entire process and should investigate all aspects of the gruesome incident, the spokesperson said.

The National Conference (NC) has also condemned communalisation and politicisation of the heinous crime, saying that these attempts were highly deplorable and against civilised behaviour.

NC provincial president Devender Singh Ranaexpressed surprise over the illogical and uncalled for protests in support of a criminal. He said the attempts might paralyse the investigation process, leading to an unfortunate situation.

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party said those who used the national flag during a protest to seek the release of the rapist and murderer of the Kathua minor girl had insulted the flag and could not be her well-wishers.

PDP general secretary Vaid Mahajan said the protest against the arrest of the accused was condemnable and the culprits involved in it should be dealt with strictly according to law.editorial@tribune.com

Ludhiana, February 17

Four Ph D scholars from the College of Home Science, PAU, participated in the 6th International Agriculture Students Symposium (IASS), at the Universiti Putra Malaysia from February 4-13. The students are  Manisha Verma, Sundar Lingam, Sheipra Saklani and Sloney Sachar. Manisha is a student of the department of food and nutrition and was awarded the Best Presenter Award for her research paper A comparative study on the nutritional evaluation of organically and conventionally grown cereals and legumes. The paper has been authored by Manisha, Neerja Singla and Charanjit Singh Aulakh, director, school of organic farming, PAU. She is also a recipient of UGC-Junior Research Fellowship for her doctoral research under the guidance of Neerja Singla, assistant scientist, food and nutrition. Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, congratulated and appreciated the efforts made by the team. Jatinder Gulati, Dean, College of Home Science, and Anita Kochhar, head, department of food and nutrition, lauded the PAU student and wished her success for her future.  TNSshalender@tribune.com

Syed Ali Ahmed

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 17

Former Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Arvinder Singh Lovely, who had joined the BJP in April last year, rejoined the Congress today saying he was ideologically misfit in the saffron culture.

Lovelys re-joining could boost the Congress prospects in the ensuing bypolls to 20 Delhi Assembly seats, an exercise necessitated following the disqualification of ruling AAP MLAs by the Election Commission.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

An Education and Transport Minister during the Sheila Dikshit regime, Lovely joined the party at the All India Congress Committee office. Accompanied by Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken, he earlier met party president Rahul Gandhi at his residence. Gandhi welcomed him into the party fold.

Lovely said he never felt good after quitting the Congress, a decision he took with a lot of pain. I was ideologically misfit in the BJP. I realised this the very next day I joined the party.

A Sheila Dikshit loyalist, he had quit the Congress following differences with Maken. He had joined the BJP along with Delhi Youth Congress chief Amit Malik in the presence of BJP president Amit Shah ahead of the Delhi civic polls in April last year.

A prominent Sikh and Punjabi face, Lovelys return is expected to strengthen the Congress in the national capital. The party, at present, does not have any MLA in the Delhi Assembly.pardeepdhull@gmail.com

Patna, February 17

Nearly 1,000 students were expelled for cheating during the Class 12 examinations in Bihar, officials said on Saturday.

Anand Kishore, the Chairman of the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), told the media here that more than 1,000 students were expelled for adopting unfair means during the examinations that concluded on Friday.

The examinations had started on February 6.

The Chairman said that 25 fake examiners were also caught and FIRs were lodged against guardians for helping their wards to cheat in the examinations.

He claimed the examinations this time were held in a fair manner this time and mass cheating in Bihar was a thing of the past. It is not possible now. Nearly 1,12,07,986 students appeared for the Class 12 exams at 1,384 centres across the state.

Mass cheating has been reported in Bihar for years.

Last year, the Class 12 Arts topper turned out to be a 42-year-old man, who had faked his age to take the test. He was arrested on charges of fraud.  IANSrchopra@tribunemail.com

Yash Goyal

Our Correspondent

Jaipur, February 17

Nine people were killed and 19 others injured following a blast in two cooking gas cylinders owing to leakage at a marriage function in Beawar town of Ajmer district on Friday night.

The death toll is likely to go up as rescue teams are clearing debris at the site.

Ajmer SP Rajendra Singh Choudhary said the deceased had been identified as Lakshit, Kartvaya, Khushi, Abhishek, Basant Kumar, Hitesh Bhati, Nirmala, Monika and Hemlata.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The injured were rushed to hospitals in Ajmer, Beawar, Bhilwara and Jaipur.

Two cars and a few two-wheelers were buried under the debris. Twelve houses around the building were damaged.

Two bodies were recovered on Friday night and seven on Saturday from the wreckage during the rescue operation undertaken by the NDRF, CDRF and police.

The incident reportedly took place as cooks were transferring gas from one cylinder to another.

A few people were reported missing after the blast.

Rescue operation is under way since Friday night, police officer SS Sodha said.

The district administration has assured ex gratia to the families of the deceased. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has condoled the deaths.monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 17

Former Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely on Saturday rejoined the Congress almost a year after he had left the party to go to the BJP.

Former Transport Minister in the Sheila Dikshit led-Congress government in Delhi, Lovely had quit the Congress after the partys severe drubbing in the Assembly and the local body polls.

Lovely also had major and irreconcilable differences with senior Delhi leader Ajay Makan, a Sheila Dikshit baiter.

Lovely today rejoined the Congress after meeting the party chief Rahul Gandhi in the presence of Makan, currently the Delhi Congress president.

Formal joining was announced at AICC headquarters here by Congress in charge for Delhi PC Chacko.

The development is in line with Gandhis recent initiatives to get sparring leaders to work together.

Gandhi managed to get Makan and Sheila bury the hatchet and appear together on stage to slam AAP for three years of mis governance in Delhi.

Gandhi has also asked Makan to keep personal preferences aside in larger party interest which is what explains the rejoining of Lovely, a diehard Sheila loyalist, into, the Congress.sanjiv@tribunemail.com

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 17

In probably one of his longest trips to any country, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would arrive in India on Saturday to reinforce the strong and strategic partnership between the two countries while seeking to expand commercial and investment opportunities.

Wheels up for India and a busy visit, focused on creating good jobs and strengthening the deep connection between the people of our two countries.  pic.twitter.com/Jg6UmL9y4S  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 16, 2018

During the weeklong sojourn, Trudeau will be accompanied by six ministers, including all four Sikh members  Navdeep Bains, Bardish Chhagar, Amarjit Sohi and Harjit Sajjan. MPs and business delegations would separately be in India.

The trip comes in the backdrop of concerns over activities of Sikh radicals in Canada amid reports that several gurdwaras had banned the entry of Indian officials.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said all issues of interest would be on the agenda. The official talks are to be held on February 23.

The Canadians are keen to conclude negotiations towards the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, citing that the latter would facilitate greater investment.

At present, Canada estimates an investment in the range of Canadian $14-16 billion and senses that funds, including pension accruements, could come in greater measure as a way of investments into India.

In 2017, two-way merchandise trade amounted to $8.4 billion, split equally between exports to and imports from India ($4 billion each). That year, India was Canadas eighth largest destination for merchandise exports.

Trudeau will visit Agra, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Amritsar and Delhi. He is scheduled to pay a visit to Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar, the Golden Temple and Jama Masjid, besides packing his itinerary with meetings with business and trade delegations, and outreach to the student community and academia.shalender@tribune.com

Suresh Dharur

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, February 17

In a veiled threat to his ally BJP over the alleged injustice to Andhra Pradesh in the allocation of Central funds, the Telugu Desam Party supremo and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today said he was prepared for any sacrifice to protect the interests of the state.

We will not sit quiet if the injustice continues. I demand that the Prime Minister and the Central ministers should, at least now, correct the injustice and fulfill the promises made in the Andhra Pradesh Bifurcation Act, he said.

Naidu was addressing a public meeting at Kakani in Guntur district after laying the foundation stone for a university building complex. His assertion comes in the backdrop of growing friction between the BJP and its biggest southern ally over the Centres failure to handhold Andhra Pradesh grappling with post-bifurcation blues.

Special package in lieu of Special Category Status, funds for building the new capital Amaravati, completion of Polavaram irrigation project and creation of a separate railway zone for Visakhapatnam were some of the key demands of the TDP. The ruling party is facing flak from the Opposition for failing to extract funds from the Centre despite being a key NDA ally.

I visited Delhi 29 times and met everyone seeking justice. But, injustice is still continuing. The Union Budget has failed to make proper allocations to us. Even in the previous budget, they did injustice to Andhra Pradesh, Naidu recalled.amansharma@tribunemail.com

Suresh Dharur

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, February 17

In a veiled threat to his ally BJP over the alleged injustice to Andhra Pradesh in the allocation of central funds, the Telugu Desam Party supremo and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said he was prepared for any sacrifice to protect the interests of the state.

We will not sit quiet if the injustice continues. I demand that the Prime Minister and the central ministers should, at least now, correct the injustice and fulfil the promises made in the AP bifurcation act, he said.

The Chief Minister was addressing a public meeting at Kakani in Guntur district after laying the foundation stone for a university building complex.

Naidus assertion comes in the backdrop of growing friction between BJP and its biggest southern ally over the Centres failure to handhold AP grappling with post-bifurcation blues.

Special package in lieu of Special Category Status, funds for building the new capital city Amaravati, completion of Polavaram irrigation project and creation of a separate railway zone for Visakhapatnam are some of the key demands of the TDP. The ruling party is facing the flak from the opposition for failing to extract funds from the Centre despite being a key political ally.

Stating that his party went with the BJP in the previous general elections for the sake of doing justice to the state, Naidu lamented that despite his repeated pleas, the Centre had meted out injustice to the state.

I visited Delhi 29 times and met everyone seeking justice. But, injustice is still continuing. The central budget has failed to make proper allocations to us. Even in the last budget, they did injustice to AP, he recalled.

Asserting that there would be no compromise on the issue of protecting the states interests, he demanded that the Centre fulfil all the promises made in the AP Reorganisation Act and assurances given in the Rajya Sabha.

On behalf of 5 crore people of AP, I am demanding the central government to do justice to the state. It should handhold AP until it gets on par with other southern states in terms of per-capita income, the Chief Minister said.

Asserting that he was ready for a debate on the actual quantum of central funds given to AP over the last three years, Naidu said, I am prepared for any sacrifice if injustice is done to the people of my state.

The TDP chiefs combative posturing comes against the backdrop of growing resentment within the party over the Centres failure to meet the demands of the state. There is also speculation in political circles that the TDP may opt for walking out of the NDA over the issue ahead of the 2019 elections.

The TDP, with 15 MPs from AP and one from Telangana, is the biggest ally of the BJP in the South. The partys demand for granting Special Category Status for AP was earlier rejected outright by the Centre.shalender@tribune.com

New Delhi, February 17

Countering the Congress charge that the PNB fraud took place under the BJP government, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said Rahul Gandhi was present at a promotional event of Gitanjali Jewels and that the fraud took place during the UPA regime.

The BJP underlined that Congress president Rahul Gandhi participated in the promotional event of Gitanjali Jewels in September 2013.

Sitharaman said: The Congress is wrongly blaming us, as it was they who let out a building to Nirav Modis Firestar Diamond International, acquired from Advait Holdings, which had Anita Singhviwife of Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvias one of its directors.

She said the company had been operating from the building located in Mumbai for the past seven years. She alleged all inheritance, legacy and properties in the case belonged to the Congress.

The minister alleged while the Congress was the beneficiary and promoter of the Gitanjali Group company, it was blaming the BJP for their own misdeeds.

It was during the UPA rule that the main offence was committed, the minister said.  IANS

Singhvi warns of legal actionrchopra@tribunemail.com

New Delhi, February 17

Delhi Police has announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for information about the unidentified man who had allegedly masturbated in front of a Delhi University (DU) student on a moving bus last week, a senior officer said.

The girl student had filmed the accused during the act and uploaded the video on social media causing widespread outcry.

A complaint was lodged at the Vasant Vihar police station and based on it an FIR was registered on February 10 under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) pertaining to sexual harassment and obscene act in a public place.

The police have appealed to the people for help in nabbing the accused and anyone providing information leading to his arrest will be rewarded with Rs 25,000, the officer said.

Information regarding the man could be given at Vasant Vihar or any other police station and the identity of the informant would be kept secret, he said.

The Delhi University (DU) student in her complaint claimed that no one came forward to help her even after she raised an alarm. She also alleged that the man tried to touch her waist several times.

I made a video of his act and even shouted at him, but he did not understand. I even tried to approach people but they ignored it, she said in her complaint.

The incident took place on a moving bus going from Vasant Vihar to IIT Gate, where the man got down, the student claimed, adding, After he got down at the IIT Gate, I again tried to approach people but did not get any cooperation. PTIshalender@tribune.com

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 17

More than 6,000 fake degrees, each sold for anywhere between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2 lakh. That was the business the Council of Paramedical, Punjab, a fake body being run in Mohalis Phase VII, did in just one course. It is turning out to be a fraud worth hundreds of crores.

The council, that offered degrees/diplomas in 41 courses, managed to evade action for 10 years.

As per eight registers confiscated by Punjabs Board of Ayurvedic and Unani Systems of Medicine (BAUSM), a government body with which all ayurvedic doctors are registered, the fake council issued 6,136 BAMS degrees.

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Sanjeev Goyal, Registrar, BAUSM, said: The fraudsters charged about Rs 1 lakh for diploma and Rs 2 lakh for a degree certificate, as alleged by the complainants. As per conservative estimates, the BAMS fraud comes to Rs 60 crore.

The BAUSM had conducted a surprise check on the council after it received queries from various government departments on the authenticity of the degrees/diplomas submitted by job aspirants. A senior health official said there had been numerous instances where job applicants had submitted fake certificates.

Besides the BAMS, the council had been offering courses in nursing, dentistry, veterinary sciences and for lab technicians. It was offering MBBS (biochemic systems) that could be done in just two years.

The fraud was going on over a decade. Except issuing public notices that the council was not recognised by the Punjab Government, the Department of Medical Education and Research (DMER) did nothing to stop it from issuing fake certificates.

It was only last year that the DMER sent a detailed report to the state DGP and sought action against the fraudsters. But the police failed to act and the fraud continued for yet another year. It was last month that the state polices Special Operations Cell, acting on a fresh complaint, conducted a raid at the councils office in Phase VII, Mohali, and arrested one of the accused.

When contacted, Varinder Pal Singh, Assistant Inspector General of the cell, said the scam was widespread and they were on the trail of the kingpin.shalender@tribune.com

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 17

Congress president Rahul Gandhi today led the partys top-ranking steering committee in asking tough questions on the Rs 22,000 crore banking scam and alleged that a fraud of such order could not have been possible without top-level protection.

Such a fraud cannot be done without high-level protection. The government knew beforehand of the scam. The PM took responsibility of protecting public money when he announced demonetisation. But he is silent on Nirav Modi escaping with Rs 22,000 crore. The PM will have to explain what happened, how it happened and what he proposes to make banks safe, Rahul Gandhi said after chairing the Congress steering committee meeting which decided to hold the AICC Plenary Session in Delhi from March 16 to 18.

Although Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had offered to host the session in Mohali, the Congress decided on Delhi in view of the Budget Session of Parliament which will be on at the time of the event. The party also did not want to deflect attention from the Karnataka poll that would be due by then.

The steering committee also deliberated on the bank scam and stated, The PM must apprise the nation of the facts instead of remaining silent as usual and of how the banking system was duped through Letters of Understanding; how this fraud escaped the eyes of auditors and investigators conducting statutory audit, internal audit, concurrent audit and RBI audit? The PM must tell the reasons for the failure of the fraud detection ability of the banking sector and the Finance Ministry. He must share with the nation the action taken by the PMO and other agencies of the government on complaints made on the scam starting May 7, 2015 and later.

Congress parliamentary party leader Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Finance Minister Chidambaram also spoke with worry on the developments.

Rahul Gandhi later echoed those concerns saying the PM has destroyed the economy with his moves starting with demonetisation.

He also wondered why the PM, who spent hours telling children how to take an exam, remains silent on Nirav running away with bank money.

The PMO knew of the scam in 2015. Why did it not respond? Social Justice Minister and Defence Minister are speaking on the issue. Why are the PM and FM, who are concerned with it, silent? asked Rahul as the party released a list of 367 LOUs pertaining to the bank scam with all issued between 2017 and 2018.

The Congress chief trashed BJPs charge that the scam is dated 2011. The first complaint in the scam was made on May 7, 2015, he noted.

Congress media head Randeep Surjewala today hinted at a possible go-by to elections for the constitution of the new Congress Working Committee by indicating that elections were an exception and nomination of CWC members by Congress chief a norm.

Anyway, this matter was not discussed today," he said.shalender@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 17

The CBI today arrested three persons, including former Deputy Manager of the Punjab National Bank (PNB) Gokulnath Shetty, in the Rs 11,400-crore banking fraud in which billionaire damantaire Nirav Modi is the prime accused. Nirav, along with his family, has fled the country.

The banks single window operator, Manoj Kharat, and the authorised signatory of the Nirav Modi group of firms, Hemant Bhat, too have been arrested. A special court in Mumbai today remanded them to CBI custody for a fortnight (till March 3). The scam has consequences for the economy of the nation, special CBI judge SR Tamboli observed.

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Sources said a CBI team visited Shettys flat at Rustomjee Ozone Complex in West Mumbais Malad on Thursday and Friday and questioned his family members on when the flat was purchased, the mode of payment and the source of funds. They also sought to know about his bank accounts, lockers and other assets.

In an FIR, the CBI has alleged that Shetty and Kharat, in connivance with the accused companies and others, defrauded the PNB of Rs 4,886.70 crore. It has accused the officials of issuing fraudulent and unauthorised letters of undertakings (LoUs) in favour of foreign branches of various India-based banks.

The officials allegedly omitted entries of LoUs in the core banking system of the bank issued on behalf of the accused companies to avoid being caught, the sources said.

In the new FIR, among the accused are Mehul Choksi (MD- Gitanjali Gems), Gokulnath Shetty, Manoj Kharat, companies Gitanjali Gems Limited, Gili India Limited, Nakshatra Brand Limited and directors Krishnan Sangameshwaran, Nazura Yash Ajaney, Dinesh Gopaldas Bhatia, Aniyath Shivraman Nair and Dhanesh Vrajlal Sheth.

The CBI had earlier filed a separate case regarding a Rs 280-crore fraud, which has now been expanded to cover LoUs worth Rs 6,498 crore issued to Nirav Modi and Choksi companies. In a complaint to the CBI last month, the PNB had alleged that 293 LoUs worth Rs 11,400 crore were fraudulently issued to these companies from one of its branches in Mumbai.

More raids, assets worth Rs 5,674 cr seized, says ED

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday raided 21 places across India in connection with the PNB scam. The ED conducted further searches at 21 locations in the Nirav Modi case and seized diamonds, gold, precious stones, and jewellery worth Rs 25 crore (book value). The total seizure till now is Rs 5,674 crore, ED spokes-man Anil Rawal said. IANS

Now, fraud at pvt bank

New Delhi: Chennai-based private sector City Union Bank on Saturday said it suffered three fraudulent remittances of nearly $2 million (about Rs 12.8 crore). Like the PNB fraud, no entries of remittances were made in the ledgers and transfers were pushed through the SWIFT financial platform. PTIuttara@tribuneindia.com

Kozhikode (Kerala), February 17

Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday asked all political parties in Kerala to shed the politics of violence.

"In any country, progress and development take place when there is peace. Development and political murders can't go together. Politics should not be fought with bullets as votes have more power. I appeal to the people of Kerala to isolate violence from politics," Naidu said.

His statement comes at a time when Kannur, the home district of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, witnessed the 22nd political murder ever since Vijayan assumed office 20 months back.

A 30-year-old Congress worker was hacked to death on Monday by suspected Communist Party of India-Marxist workers.

"Politicians should not work as enemies. Instead, they can be opponents with their own ideologies. Even though there will be differences of caste, community, religion, politics, colour and language, we are primarily Indians," the Vice-President said. IANSshalender@tribune.com

Ahmedabad, February 17

Various parts of Gujarat including Gandhinagar city remained tense as Dalits stoned buses and blocked highways following the death of Dalit leader Bhanuprasad Vankar, who had immolated himself on Thursday in front of Patan District Collector office.

With more than 80 per cent burns, he succumbed to injuries on late night Friday. The 65-year old Vankar was demanding early solution to the long-pending demands for land allotment to certain dalit families in north Gujarat villages.

Dalit leaders including the independent member of the State Assembly Jignesh Mevani gave a call for Patan bandh. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani held a high-level meeting and agreed to most of the demands of deceaseds kin, including immediate allocation of land to the family of Hemaben Makwana in Dudkha village in Sami taluka of Patan district.  TNSamansharma@tribunemail.com

Ahmedabad, February 17

The Gujarat government on Saturday accepted the demands of family members of Dalit activist Bhanubhai Vankar who had immolated himself on Thursday.

Vankar's kin had refused to accept his body after it was brought for post-mortem to the Gandhinagar civil hospital.

Vankar had set himself ablaze outside the Patan Collector's office on Thursday and had died of burn injuries at a private hospital in Ahmedabad the next day.

Hundreds of Dalit protesters gathered outside the hospital to support the family which was demanding the setting up of a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter and re-granting of land which had been allotted to Dalits across the state but whose ownership titles had not been regularised.

Talking to reporters, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said the land in question would be transferred in the name of the family member.

"We will also constitute a judicial commission under a retired high court judge or form an SIT for investigation, as per the decision of the family, and we will take strict action against those responsible," Patel said.

"A member of the family will be given a government job, and the family will be given Rs 8 lakh as per the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, out of which Rs 4 lakh will be handed over immediately," Patel told reporters.

"The government will, at the earliest, also regrant land which was allotted to beneficiaries across the state but were been given the titles of the land," he added.

Earlier in the day, Dalit leader and Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani and Leader of the Opposition Paresh Dhanani met Vankar's kin at the Gandhinagar civil hospital. Vankar was part of Mevani's Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch.

Mevani had threatened to launch a protest if the state government did not yield to their demands.

Protesters at the site had also turned away Karshan Solanki, the BJP MLA from Kadi, when he arrived at the hospital.

Vankar was fighting for Hemaben Vankar, a landless Dalit farm labourer, who had alleged that authorities were not allotting a plot of land to her family despite collecting Rs 22,236 in 2013.

In a memorandum submitted to the Collector a week ago, Hemaben, along with Vankar, had threatened self-immolation.

Despite deployment of police outside the Patan Collectors office, Mehsana-resident Vankar managed to set himself ablaze.

The state government had ordered an inquiry into the incident to be helmed by chief secretary JN Singh.  PTIrchopra@tribunemail.com

Theni/Chennai, February 17

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who last year merged his faction with that of Chief Minister K Palaniswami, has said that he had acted on a suggestion from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking at a party office-bearers meeting at Theni on Friday, the AIADMK coordinator said the issue came up during a courtesy meeting he had with Modi in New Delhi last year.

He (Modi) said that you (Panneerselvam) could join (merge the faction) to save the party, the Deputy Chief Minister said, without specifiying exactly when the conversation took place.

The merger of the two AIADMK factions took place in August 2016.

Panneerselvam, who had become chief minister of the state following the death of his predecessor J Jayalalithaa in December 2016, said he told the Prime Minister he did not want any cabinet position and could settle for a party post.

But the Prime Minister wanted him to join the ministry headed by Palaniswami, he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister said he had conveyed the same to two of his cabinet colleagues from the Palaniswami camp prior to the merger, and that they also insisted he accept a ministers post.

That is why I am a minister today. I have no desire to be a minister. Amma (Jayalalithaa) made me MLA four times and chief minister twice. That honour itself is enough for me, he told the gathering.

Panneerselvam took over as chief minister twice-- in 2001 and later in 2014--when Jayalalithaa was convicted in two different cases.

In 2014, Jayalalithaa and her confidante Sasikala were convicted in the Rs 66.66 crore disproportionate assets case.

Panneerselvam, who revolted against Sasikala and her family last year after allegedly being forced to make way for her elevation to the chief ministers post, charged that her family members tried to work for his defeat in the 2016 polls. Sasikala, however, could not become the chief minister due to her conviction in the graft case.

If anyone else had faced this amount of crisis and problems, they would have committed suicide or would have left the party. (But) I tolerated everything for Amma, he said.

Meanwhile, senior AIADMK leader and Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar declined to comment on Panneerselvams remarks about Modis suggestion on merging his faction, saying the remark could have been made during a one-on-one meeting between the two.

He, however, said the party would welcome anyone making suggestions for the AIADMKs well-being.

If someone says govern well, take forward Ammas rule and if that family (of Sasikala) is not required, we will see the postives in it, Jayakumar told reporters in Chennai on Saturday.

The BJPs state unit also declined to comment on the development.

Partys state unit president Tamilisai Sounderrajan said that during a conversation, the Prime Mminister may have said something but I dont have a right to give an opinion on that.

He (Modi) might have given suggestion, there could have been an exchange of ideas, you should only ask him (Panneerselvam), she said. PTImonicakchauhan@gmail.com

New Delhi, February 17

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held "substantive" talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to boost cooperation in key areas of security, trade and energy, after which the two sides inked nine pacts, including one on double taxation avoidance.

The two leaders also deliberated on regional situations during their wide-ranging talks.

Both leaders held substantive & productive discussion on cooperation in trade & investment, energy, connectivity, defence & security & regional issues," External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Addressing a joint press event with Rouhani, Modi said the visit by the Iranian president shows how the two sides want to deepen cooperation in key areas, including connectivity.

Giving details of their comprehensive talks, Modi said they discussed threats posed by terrorism, drug trafficking and other challenges.

On his part, Rouhani said, "We are determined to combat terrorism and extremism."

The Iranian leader also said that regional conflicts must be resolved through diplomacy and political initiatives.

PM Modi also appreciated the way the Iranian leader provided leadership in developing strategically-important Chabahar Port.

Apart from tax pact, the two sides also exchanged instrument to ratify the extradition treaty as well as to simplify visa process.

Earlier, Rouhani was given a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

In the morning, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on Rouhani and discussed various issues with him. PTIshalender@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 17

Advocating concerted efforts in the region to tackle challenges including terror, India and Iran today reviewed the gamut of their bilateral relations while entering into nine agreements.

At the end of delegation-level talks here led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, both sides signed nine pacts including ones for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Extradition Treaty besides those relating to agriculture, health and medicine and the lease of phase-1 of the Chabahar Port.

Amid concerns over the possible re-imposition of sanctions by the United States that could affect bilateral trade, both India and Iran agreed to set up a joint committee of officials to examine the feasibility of a rupee-rial arrangement and an Asian Clearing Union mechanism to establish functional payment channels.

Iran welcomed that India, which is developing the Chabahar port, is to invest in setting up fertiliser, petrochemicals and metallurgy plants in the free trade zone in the port area. Both sides recognised the unique role of both countries in promoting multimodal connectivity within and across the region.

Recognising the challenges of terrorism and ideologies of violent extremism, both leaders, in a joint statement, reiterated their strong commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. They stressed that there could be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism.

Asked whether India raised the issue of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in J&K during the talks, officials in the Ministry of External Affairs said there was an understanding on how India was a victim of terrorism, indicating that it figured in the deliberations.

On Irans nuclear issue, President Rouhani said both the countries have a common viewpoint that the commitment to the international agreement must be honoured.amansharma@tribunemail.com

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 17

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday launched a frontal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the 20,000-crore banking fraud involving Nirav Modi could not have been possible without top-level protection.

Gandhi was addressing reporters after the conclusion of the AICC steering committee which decided to hold the partys much-delayed session in Delhi on March 16, 17 and 18.

Gandhi said the PM has destroyed the economy with his moves starting with demonetisation.

It all began with November 8, 2016 when the PM demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency. People put their money in banks and others are running away with that money. The PM undertook to safeguard peoples money but look whats happening. The PM will have to answer what happened and why this happened and what he proposes to do about it, Gandhi said.

He rejected allegations that he personally knew Nirav Modi saying these are PMs diversionary tactics.

PM spent one-and-a-half-hour with children yesterday but said nothing on the Rs 20,000 crore scam by Nirav Modi who ran away with the money. Mr P Chidambaram told me such a scam is not possible without top-level protection. The government knew of the scam from May 2015, Gandhi said.

He wondered why barring the PM and FM, who are concerned with the scam, all other ministers are commenting on the issue.

Gandhi trashed allegations that the scam is dated 2011 saying 90 per cent of it happened in BJP time.amansharma@tribunemail.com

Agartala, February 17

Tripura would go to polls on Sunday with the BJP emerging as the main challenger to the ruling Left Front, which has been in power in the state for the last 25 years.

Polling would be held in 59 of the total 60 seats. Voting in Charilam Assembly constituency would be held on March 12 due to the death of the CPM candidate for the seat, Ramendra Narayan Deb Barma, five days ago.

Twenty seats have been reserved for the scheduled tribes.

The BJP held a high-voltage campaign with Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing as many as four rallies in the state.

Other heavyweight leaders of the saffron party to take part in the campaign were its national president Amit Shah, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and Smriti Irani and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Manik Sarkar, who is running for his fifth term as the chief minister, led the CPMs campaign addressing around 50 rallies in the state. Other Left leaders like Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat lent support to the party's campaign.

The Congress' campaign was somewhat subdued with party president Rahul Gandhi addressing a rally at Kailashahar in Unakoti district, about 180 km from Agartala, on the last day of campaigning.

Altogether, 307 candidates are in the fray.

The CPM is contesting in 57 seats and while the other Left Front constituents, the RSP, Forward Bloc and CPI, in one seat each.

The BJP, which has forged an alliance with tribal outfit Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) has fielded 51 candidates. IPFT will contest in the remaining nine seats.

The Congress is going it alone in Tripura this time and will contest in 59 seats. The party has not fielded any candidate for Kakrabon constituency in Gomati district.

There are 25,73,413 electorate, of whom 13,05,375 are males and 12,68,027 women while the number of third gender voters is 11. There are 47,803 new voters this time.

Voting would be held between 7 am and 4 pm tomorrow at 3,214 polling stations of which 47 would be managed by women, election office sources said.

Tripura chief electoral officer Sriram Taranikanti said the Election Commission has appointed police observers, general observers and expenditure observers to ensure free and fair polls.

He said Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) R K Pachnanda has been appointed as a special observer to coordinate the security forces deployed in the state.

State Director General of Police Akhil Kumar Shukla said tight security measures are in place across Tripura for free and fair elections.

Three hundred companies of central armed forces have been deployed across the state along with state armed personnel and the police, he said, adding the BSF is keeping keep close vigil along the 856-km Indo-Bangladesh border in the state.

Counting of votes would be take place on March 3, Additional Chief Electoral Officer Debashish Modok said.  PTIshalender@tribune.com

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his wife and children strike a charming Namaste pose as they emerge out of the aircraft in New Delhi on Saturday.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

During the course of his weeklong stay in India, Trudeau will also visit Agra, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Amritsar. PM Narendra Modi will hold bilateral talks on February 23. PTI

Also read:amansharma@tribunemail.com

Lucknow, February 17

A day after the Congress declared its candidates for bypolls to two Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, its alliance partner in the assembly elections Samajwadi Party on Saturday refused to reveal its cards, but asserted that voters will give a reply to the BJP on its unfulfilled promises.

I will appeal to the people of both Gorakhpur and Phoolpur to help us...now that the central government has presented all five budgets and Uttar Pradesh government has had two budgets, I think the BJP has nothing left to show to the people as the 2019 elections are round the corner," Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav told reporters here.

The SP chief was responding to a question on the Congress announcing candidates on both the seats and his party's strategy.

Has the BJP declared its candidates... Why are you so worried about our candidates? You will soon get a reply ... the central and state governments have not fulfilled even a single promise and the people of the state will give them a reply this year itself," he said to persistent questions.

The Congress yesterday announced Dr Sureetha as its candidate for the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha bypoll and local leader Manish Mishra from the Phulpur parliamentary seat. The byelections were necessitated as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath vacated the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya left the Phoolpur seat after the BJP came to power in Uttar Pradesh.

The elections will be held on March 11 and the results will be announced on March 14.

Taking a swipe at the central government over the PNB fraud, Akhilesh said "now that the Punjab National Bank has become cashless, the farmers also need to go there and take as much money as they want after showing a chit of paper.

He said soon "we may get to hear another news which will make us forget all this".

Referring to the Investors Summit slated in the state capital for February 21 and 22, the SP chief alleged "this government is attracting investors by showing them works done by our government as they have not done anything on their own so far".

He alleged that the small shops and stalls before the Samajwadi Party office have been removed in the name of the summit.

Which investor is going to come here... the BJP government is snatching the livelihood of people how can they talk about investment. Can some BJP worker set up a good pakoda shop in front of the SP office. We too will get to taste the BJP pakodas," he said in a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remark in an interview that even a pakoda seller should be considered employed.

Attacking the state government on the law and order front, the former chief minister claimed that only petty criminals were being killed in encounters while the police department was not taking any action against the notorious criminals.

"Officials are doing this only for promotions," he alleged while referring to an encounter in Noida. "The BJP only pays lip service on the issue of ensuring prosperity of people ... farmers are still committing suicide. How much loan of farmers has been waived by them," he asked.

He again demanded that future elections be held through ballot papers and said he would seek the help of smaller parties in this regard.

Parties like the SP and BSP had raised questions on the use of EVMs after the BJP's landslide victory in Uttar Pradesh assembly elections last year.  PTIsanjiv@tribunemail.com

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 16

There are no signs of Opposition unity as parties finalise their strategy for the March 11 Phulpur and Gorakhpur Lok Sabha bypolls.

The Congress tonight announced its candidates on both seats  Manish Mishra for Phulpur and Dr Sureetha for Gorakhpur. Both are local leaders.

The BSP is expected to field its national president Mayawati from Phulpur, while the Samajwadi Party has also said it will fight the seat.

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Non-alignment of non- NDA parties may well benefit the BJP in Phulpur, an important segment once represented by Indias first PM Jawaharlal Nehru.

Byelections to the two UP parliamentary constituencies were necessitated after the BJP MPs from here  Yogi Adityanath in Gorakhpur and Keshav Prasad Maurya in Phulpur  contested the UP elections and won.

Adityanath went on to become the UP CM.

It remains to be seen whether Gorakhpur, a segment held by local mahants for over 30 years, will see any change this time around.

Elections will be held on March 11.editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 17

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh today accused Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh of not acting against former CM Parkash Singh Badal, SAD chief Sukhbir Badal and former minister Bikram Majithia despite repeated demands by his Cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Talking to the media here, he said Sidhu always raised his voice against injustice and corrupt practices. He did so while being in the SAD-BJP coalition government and continued to do so in the Congress government.

He said Amarinder should step down on moral grounds for failure to honour his poll promises such as one job per family and writing off loans of farmers. He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was allying with corrupt corporate houses and industrialists. He claimed that a new Ambani company got Rs 22,000 crore contract to manufacture parts of aircraft after French aviation firm Dassault which offered Rafale fighter plane at Rs 1,640 crore each. He claimed ttat the same aircraft was priced at Rs 500 each during the UPA government.

Later, Sanjay Singh accompanied by AAP leaders paid obeisance at the Golden Temple.editorial@tribune.com

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 17

Replying to a query on some gurdwaras in Australia restricting the entry of Indian government officials, Australian High Commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu said the (Australian) government could not intervene as it was the prerogative of the gurdwara management.

Talking to mediapersons during her visit to the Golden Temple today, Harinder said that there was only one gurdwara in her country which did so.

Responding to another query about racial attacks on Punjabis in her country, she said such incidents were reported some 10 years ago and the Australian Government swiftly swung into action. Thereafter, no incident was reported, she claimed.

She said the people of Punjabi origin and Punjabi language were growing at a fast pace in Australia. My government wants to work in close cooperation with Punjab in agriculture and dairy farming, she said.

She said she would work to consolidate bilateral relations between Australia and India in different spheres.

On her visit to the Golden Temple, she remarked: I feel honoured and deeply pleased over my first official visit to the holiest Sikh shrine. Since I was raised in a Sikh family, I am familiar with its tenets and importance of the shrine.

SGPC officials, led by its chief secretary Dr Roop Singh, felicitated the Australian High Commissioner with a siropa, a model of the Golden Temple and a set of religious books.

On her four-day visit to the state, she would visit the Partition museum here tomorrow. She is also scheduled to visit Punjab Agriculture University in Ludhiana.sanjiv@tribunemail.com

(Read updated story: I-T raids on former minister Rana Gurjits offices)

Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 16

The Income Tax Department today conducted raids on the corporate offices of companies owned by the family of former Punjab Cabinet Minister Rana Gurjit Singh.

A team led by Additional Director, Income Tax (Investigations), Manish Sareen and comprising 200 officials, searched at least 10 establishments, including Rana Gurjits local residence and the house and office of chartered accountant Triloki Nath Singla. The latter handles the accounts of the Rana Group of Companies.

The raiding team, supervised by Parneet Sachdev, Principal Director, I-T Investigation (Punjab and J&K), came from Ludhiana in 70 taxis this morning and carried out searches till late in the evening. Sources said besides Chandigarh, raids were also conducted on Ranas business establishments in Amritsar and Kapurthala.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Employees and officials of Rana Sugars, Rana Polycot, Rana Distilleries and Rana Informatics were not allowed to enter the premises.

When contacted, Rana Gurjit refused to comment. His son Rana Inder Pratap Singh, questioned by the Enforcement Directorate recently for raising funds abroad without the requisite permission of the RBI, said he was busy.

Considered close to CM Capt Amarinder Singh, Rana Gurjit had last month resigned as Power and Irrigation Minister following a series of reports by The Tribune on sand mine auctions.

In its report on May 25, 2017, The Tribune had highlighted how four employees of the minister had bagged mines. While his cook Amit Bahadur had got a mining site at Saidpur Khurd village in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr) for Rs 26.51 crore; Kulwinder Pal Singh, a deputy general manager, had got the Mehadipur quarry for Rs 9.21 crore.

Rana Gurjit had then claimed they were his former employees who had quit prior to the auctioning.harinder@tribunemail.com

Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 17

Officials of the Income-Tax (IT) Department continued the raid for the second consecutive day at Sector 8 office and other business establishments owned by the family of former minister Rana Gurjit Singh.

The I-T officials have seized several documents and questioned Rana Gurjit's son Rana Inder Singh about the alleged undisclosed sources of income.

Official sources said Rana Inder Singh was questioned regarding the four employees who had got sand mining contracts.

They included cook Amit Bahadur, Kulwinder Pal Singh, a deputy general manager, Gurinder Singh and Balraj Singh. They had bagged contract for mines at Rampur Kalan village in Mohali and Bairsal village in Nawanshahr.

The sources said Rana Inder Singh was also questioned about certain companies, including Flawless Traders Pvt Ltd, Century Agros Pvt Ltd, RJ Texfab Pvt Ltd, in which Amit Bahadur and Balraj Singh were directors.

These companies had several common links with Rana's business empire. The I-T Department is also investigating Rajbir Enterprises, owned by Sanjit Randhawa (son of the minister's election agent JS Randhawa) and Sahil Singla, son of the minister's chartered accountant Triloki Nath Singla.

Sahil had claimed that they had financed the bid of minister's cook and another employee Kulwinder Pal Singh.

An I-T team also raided a factory in Lalru in the afternoon. An official, requesting anonymity, said several summons were sent to the owners to explain the source of undisclosed income. However, the summons yielded no response, following which the raids were carried out.

The manner of investigation suggests that it may be a precursor to a larger probe and the case might also be shifted to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and other central agencies to track the money trail.

"The investigation may take long. All assets acquired through unaccounted income will be sealed," said the official. Despite repeated attempts, Rana Inder Singh could not be contacted.

When contacted, Sahil Singla, son of Tirloki Nath Singla of Kansal and Singla Associates, the firm that handles the accounts of Ranas businesses, said: "The (IT) officials are still here and I will not be able to say anything yet."

The sources said a few officials had stayed at the Sector 8 office last night, while many others had checked into a hotel nearby.

On money trail since May last yeareditorial@tribune.com

B.N.Goswamy

Art, from the Medieval point of view, was a kind of knowledge in accordance with which the artist imagined the form or design of the work to be done, and by which he reproduced this form in the required or available material. The product was not called art, but an artifact, a thing made by art; the art remains in the artist. Nor was there any distinction of fine from applied or pure from decorative art. All art was for good use and adapted to condition. Art could be applied either to noble or to common uses, but was no more or less art in the one case than in the other.

 Ananda Coomaraswamy

There is, in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, an ivory casket, one of a group of nine, which is generally referred to as the Robinson Casket, named as it is after the Superintendent of Art Collections who, having bought it in Lisbon late in the 19th century, gifted it to the Museum. The casket has a most fascinating history, for it was neither Portuguese in origin, nor was it produced in the 19th century. It was made in Sri Lanka in the middle of the 16th century  much the Medieval period to which the great savant, Coomaraswamy, refers in the excerpt above taken from one of his countless writings  for the prince of Kotte in that island kingdom. This is how this brilliantly carved casket is described in the records of the Museum: Ivory casket, Robinson Casket, carved with Biblical scenes, with silver hinges, gold filigree and sapphire ornamentation, Kotte, Sri Lanka, ca. 1557.

My attention went to the casket not because I had seen it recently but because of an article by Sujatha Arundhati Meegama, writing on the Connected Art Histories of Sri Lanka in the Marg magazine, in which she discussed it, focussing specially on the presence of a carved figure in one of its panels which was based on a 1514 engraving by Albrecht Durer, the great German artist of the Northern Renaissance in Europe. The superbly drawn figure in that engraving is that of a coarsely dressed bagpiper, a shepherd perhaps, leaning against a tree, playing on his instrument, and looking to his left, eyes alight with merriment. How that bagpiper found his place in the work of a gifted but evidently traditional ivory carver in Sri Lanka can only be understood in the context of what was happening in the mid-16th century in Sri Lanka.

As a colonial and evangelising power, the Portuguese had entered the waters around Sri Lanka at this time, and had clearly become a force to reckon with. The then King of Kotte, who had many rivals, wanted to ensure that after him his grandson, Dharmapala, succeeds him, and approached the Portuguese for support. That support was given: an embassy was sent in 1542-43 from Kotte to Lisbon, and there the young Dharmapala was symbolically  through an effigy  but formally, recognised by the Portuguese ruler to be the successor-designate to the throne of Kotte. There was, in the background of all this, the hope on the part of the Portuguese that the Kotte king would, in return for this support, convert to Christianity and, with that, will the whole kingdom. This, which would have been seen as a missionary triumph, did not happen immediately, but when, in 1551, Dharmapala actually succeeded his grandfather, the conversion did actually take place. The initial hesitations, based on the fear of opposition from his Buddhist subjects, were thrown aside and, in 1557, Dharmapala formally embraced Christianity. A letter was written to the king of Portugal announcing this and it was carried home, joyously, by Franciscan missionaries active in Sri Lanka. There is no clear mention of the gifts sent by Dharmapala to Portugal on this occasion, but it is fair to speculate that among the gifts was this ivory casket, made especially for this occasion. Christianity, and Christian belief, is writ all over the casket, panel after delicate panel featuring it.

The great ivory carvers of Sri Lanka, sensitive to changing times on their own, and also possibly urged through a royal decree, must have set about their task of turning out this remarkable casket, joining Sinhalese skills with Christian themes. Depicted on it, one sees the Betrothal of the Virgin, the Flight into Egypt, the Tree of Jesse  all established Christian subjects  mingling with local, Kandyan apsaras and musicians and dancers. Clearly, printed European religious images must have been everywhere, having arrived in the baggage of the missionaries, and the carvers must have seen them. The Bagpiper of Durer, and the two village dancers also by him, were made by them to mingle with local crowds and semi-divine figures celebrating events with gay abandon on exquisitely carved ivory panels.

All the days of my life, I have seen nothing that rejoiced my heart so much as these things, Durer wrote once on seeing some gifts sent by an Aztec ruler to the king of Spain, for I saw amongst them wonderful works of art, and I marvelled at the subtle ingenia of people in foreign lands. Indeed I cannot express all that I thought there. The great artist would certainly have been excited by seeing his work integrated with the intricate carvings on the ivory casket that we have been talking about. But he was no longer alive in 1557, having died 30 years before.editorial@tribune.com

Pushpa Girimaji

I had booked a resort for my only daughters wedding. All the preparations had been made and even the invitation cards had been printed and dispatched. Suddenly, after two months of booking and just three months before the wedding, the resort management sent a letter returning the advance paid by me and cancelling the booking. The reason given was that the clerk who did the booking was unaware of an earlier booking for the same day and they had just realised their mistake! That came as a big shock to us and, to make matters worse, we could not find any other proper accommodation for that day and had to postpone the wedding by six months, resulting in considerable financial loss, besides loss of face for us. I now want to file a case against the resort in the consumer court. What are the grounds on which I can file a complaint?

If someone else had made the booking as claimed by the resort management, they should have registered it. But here, the resort management not only failed to register the first one and promised the hall to you, but took as long as two months to realise the mistake! This is nothing but sheer negligence and they are liable to face the consequences. And in this case, the consequences have been grave. Not only have you suffered financially, but mentally too on account of a postponed wedding. So when you ask for compensation, you must calculate all the financial losses suffered by you and then add the damages for mental harassment and agony caused to you and your family, particularly your daughter, on account of the postponement of the wedding. You can also ask for punitive damages and costs of litigation.

Are you aware of a similar case decided by the consumer court? If so, can you please quote that for reference?

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission decided an almost identical case in 2013. (Contour Holiday Resorts Private Ltd Vs KN Bhuvanendranatha Kamath, RP NO 393 of 2012 decided on March 7, 2013) The complainant booked the convention centre of Contour Holiday Resorts on January 11, 2008, for the marriage of his daughter, fixed for May 18, 2008 and paid 50 per cent of the rent, which was Rs 25,000. On February 16, however, the resort sent him a letter cancelling his booking. Their explanation was that during October 2007, a businessman from Bengaluru had booked the hall and paid the deposit. However, the owner who had taken the money during a business trip to Bengaluru, had forgotten to mention it to his staff and thats how the mistake had happened.

The complainant was forced to conduct the marriage in a small hall. Since by then, the invitation cards had been printed, they also had to make the necessary changes in it, all resulting in considerable financial loss and harassment to the family.

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, before which Mr Kamath filed a complaint, directed the resort to refund the advance amount with 9 per cent interest, pay a compensation of Rs 75,000 for the loss and suffering caused on account of breach of agreement and pay litigation costs of Rs 3,000. While the Kerala State Commission upheld the order of the District Forum and dismissed the appeal of the resort, the National Commission, in turn, directed the resort to pay in addition Rs 50,000 as punitive damages for indulging in needless litigation against a well-reasoned order.

The Commission said in this case: It is manifestly clear from the record that booking done by the respondent for marriage of his daughter was unilaterally cancelled by the petitioner just to accommodate another business associate. We can well imagine the trauma, pain and sufferings undergone by the respondent (being father of a daughter whose marriage was fixed) when venue of the marriage booked earlier was cancelled arbitrarily by the petitioner. It is not that respondent alone has undergone the mental agony due to illegal act of the petitioner, but his other family members also on the solemn occasion of marriage have undergone trauma, pain and suffering. The mental agony and sufferings undergone on such occasion by a family cannot be measured just in terms of money alone. The only purpose of the petitioner in cancelling the booking of respondent was just to oblige another business associate. This act on the part of the petitioner was most inhuman and cruel.Ira Pande

Ira Pande

WHY is it, I wonder, that we find it so easy to ape bad behaviour but are so reluctant to follow the path of sweet reasonableness? This is not an idle thought but one that has engaged several philosophers and writers down the ages who find themselves more drawn to a villain than a hero. Milton, a devout Christian, was so enchanted by Lucifer that his best work was based on this Prince of Darkness. Our own epics similarly draw our attention to the negative characters, perhaps to show us the many faces of evil that lurk everywhere. It is as if we define ourselves by identifying the Other.

In the current political scenario, with our neighbour (our dark Other perhaps) provoking us to pick up arms and start a war, public opinion is increasingly turning belligerent and certain TV channels have started openly advocating an armed conflict. Our attention is constantly drawn to the plight of minorities there, the breakdown of civil government and to their militarys role in arming and training jihadi groups. Even if we assume for a moment that we are as pure as driven snow in this proxy war, does anyone stop to consider whether war is a solution at all? Name me one armed conflict that has benefitted a nation or one where innocent lives are not sacrificed. It is never those who take such decisions that are killed but the foot soldiers and those caught in the crossfire. For a nation that prides itself on winning its independence without bloodshed, it is absurd to talk of violence and armed conflict as preferred state policy. Yet, night after night, we have bristling military moustaches and self-righteous anchors holding toxic discussions on the need to teach them a lesson. How far we have drifted away from the sane and gentle lessons that Gandhiji gave us as he headed the movement for freedom from foreign rule! Yet, instead of remembering him, we prefer to hark back to medieval times and the real or imagined pain inflicted by Muslim rulers to justify our moral position.

My generation came of age during a time of great political ferment (the apogee of American imperialism and the Cold War) and the stirring students movements in the West that spread to every part of the globe. The anti-war, anti-nuke rallies on university campuses across the world also inspired soul-stirring poetry and memorable revolutionary lyrics. Dont forget that the Beat Generation was not limited to just the Beatles but counted among its luminaries Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Leonard Cohen who sang their way into young hearts. They sang of love rather than war and were responsible in no small measure for drawing the worlds attention to Vietnam and the heroic struggle of the Vietcong against the American imperialists. In those days  long before Wahabbi Islam  Iran, Turkey and even Pakistan were islands of modernity where women led free lives and were not forced to drape themselves in burqas and hijabs. Who knew then that in a mere two decades blasphemy would be hauled out of its medieval coffin in most Muslim countries and made an instrument of torture? Or that Rajputs in India would suddenly be reminded of an imagined code of honour to glorify sati and jauhar? That Hindus would prostrate themselves before a cow and Muslim mullahs would outlaw music and cinema?

The Victorian prudery that we laughed at in our youth is back in full measure: girls are meant to be swaddled in modest clothes, they should not move out of their homes unescorted, drinking and smoking are banned not because they are bad for your health but because good girls just dont do that. We take pride in the women who have broken the glass ceiling at workplaces but they must remain within the lakshman rekha of patriarchal khap panchayats. In the hands of politicians who spout utter nonsense (such as the worthy Central minister who denounced the Darwinian theory of Evolution), one can see where such idiocy comes from but what is wrong with our so-called liberal parties? Why must they declare publicly that they are Hindu and write books justifying their belief? What prevents them from bravely declaring that they were born Hindus (or Muslims, Christians, Sikhs) but will not submit to the bigotry of their creed. Because that is what such religious faith is all about: intolerance, misogyny and bigotry. It is the My daddy strongest syndrome practised by adults with small brains. I shudder each time I see the glee on the faces of these bullies and goons wielding lathis and iron rods. They are drunk on the power that their religion is now giving them. Imagine what this country will be like if they are allowed to multiply without any check.

This is why I mourn the sudden death of the brave Pakistani Asma Jahangir, a fighter for human rights and democracy in Pakistan. She refused to be cowed down by the mullahs and generals of her country and spoke to give her people the courage to stand up. So the next time someone says we must go to war against Pakistan, please tell them we believe in peace not war. This is what our Bapu taught us and no self-respecting Indian defies his father.Harish Khare

Harish Khare

DURING my visit to Canada in October 2016, a friend, Dr PR Kalia, had presented me a book, called The Idea of Canada. It was an enticing title, given our own preoccupation with the Idea of India. The book, however, remained unread; but, it obtrusively recommended itself now that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is on a visit to India.

Canada is a fascinating country, almost as big as its neighbour, the United States, but without the American angularities and absurdities. We all are very familiar with the United States and its culture, thanks to Hollywood. We do not know much about Canada, despite the fact that it is home to a very sizeable diaspora, especially from Punjab.

The Idea of Canada is authored by David Johnston, who was Governor-General of Canada from 2010 to 2017. The governor-generals office is absolutely ceremonial, with all power residing with the elected Prime Minister, as per the Westminster model.

What is fascinating about the book is that David Johnston has tried to decode the idea of Canada through letters he has written to friends, family and strangers, weaving in the values, attitudes and beliefs he thinks the Canadian society subscribes to. The books format reminds one of Jawaharlal Nehru writing, from a British colonial prison, those famous letters to a daughter. David Johnston writes these letters because he believes that Canada itself is an idea worthy of expression and searching for refinement.

The Idea of Canada impelled me to pick up Justin Trudeaus Common Ground  Political Life, which was first published as a kind of political manifesto when he and his Liberal Party had set out to dislodge the firmly entrenched Conservative Party.

What is remarkable is that both Trudeau and Johnston are able to identify the same set of values and beliefs as central to the Idea of Canada  multiculturalism, inclusiveness, openness, transparency, gender equity, and rule of law.

Trudeau has no doubts: Finding strength in diversity is a core Canadian belief and Canadians know that we are stronger culturally, politically, and economically because of our diversity, and that we must turn away from fear and suspicion to ensure that it continues to be true.

Reading both Trudeau and Johnston is a joy. Both are spectacularly unpretentious. Despite the high office, neither of them is a stuffed-shirt. Both come across as modest, open and relaxed in intermingling with fellow citizens. Very, very unlike our leaders, who surround themselves with NSG and SPG Praetorian Guards.

While Trudeau has a natural knack for connecting with the public, the Governor-General has the cultivated gift of an educational administrator to communicate with young minds.

Reading these two books gives an idea of how Indian and Canadian perceptions are bound to differ on the role of the presumed radical Sikhs.

The Canadian political culture thrives in extreme diversity and, therefore, finds little objection in a section of Sikhs in Canada giving expression to their views; the Indians, naturally, find them alarming. The Canadian political idiom does not get hassled as long as no one is preaching violence or hatred; there is a degree of national self-assurance. The Indians, on the other hand, are fragile and are being made to feel more fragile with each passing day.

Come to think, it was only three decades ago that the Canadians, some of them, were flirting with the idea of separatism. What a remarkable journey of national self-assurance and the young, bubbling, premier symbolises that national mood.

*****************

JACOB Zuma finally had to step down, last week, as President of the Republic of South Africa. And, what a remarkably colourful, controversial and corrupt man  yet very much an authentic leader, commanding loyalty and obedience of partisan followers.

The first time I got an idea about this man was in October 2007. I had gone to South Africa to report for The Hindu on Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs visit. A big outdoor rally had been organised in Durban for an event in honour of Mahatma Gandhi. Prime Minister Singhs speech writers had worked in the concept of Gandhigiri, then very much popularised by the Bollywood movie, Munna Bhai MBBS. The Prime Minister was heard in respectful silence. Then it was the host, President Thabo Mbekis turn to speak.

The orderly tone was disturbed by a group of 60-70 people, trooping in, playing drums and singing in the stands; they managed to create more than a slight distraction before the security forces gently persuaded the group to leave.

It was only the next day that we learnt from the local newspapers that this disruptive group consisted of Zumas boys, and the song they were singing was, roughly translated, bring me back my machine gun,  a song that was a kind of anthem of resistance during the Apartheid era. It was meant to embarrass President Mbeki in the presence of the Indian Prime Minister, that too on an occasion which was meant to celebrate the power of non-violence. It was Zumas way of flaunting his resistance credentials. (He had joined the African National Congrss at the age of 15, and was imprisoned on the infamous Robben Island for 10 years). That was the time he was involved in bitter power struggle with Thabo Mbeki, over the leadership of the African National Congress.

Zuma came from a poor, humble family; and, he made a political virtue out of this background. Once he got himself elected as President of South Africa, he played havoc with institutions, hollowing them out.

A familiar failing.

*****************

RARELY is a death mourned on both sides of the India-Pakistan border in these strange times. An exception was made in the case of the intrepid Asma Jahangir. Her passing away last week evoked genuine sadness in India, as in Pakistan.

Here was a fragile woman who stood up to military dictators. Simple. It required physical courage and a kind of moral clarity about what kind of civil order Pakistan should tolerate and what kind of civil liberties the Pakistani citizens were entitled to.

In the context of Pakistan, Asmas lifelong service in the cause of human rights is exemplary. Whereas India has had a veritable tradition of resistance to oppression and authoritarianism, the Pakistani civil society took its time in asserting itself. Asma can be called the founder-member of Pakistans civil society, demanding fairness and justice for the minorities and the persecuted.

In good time, she was to emerge as the voice of sanity and peace in South Asia. And, she had become an object of envy for many liberals in India, as we have allowed ourselves to wallow in intolerance and narrow-mindedness.

*****************

WE at The Tribune have an extra reason to feel dismayed at all the hanky-panky at the Punjab National Bank. I am told that our founder, Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, had quite a bit to do with this banks founding. And, in any case, we in the region should have the first claim on any bank that bears the name Punjab on its marquee.

I am not sure if it would have been any consolation of any kind if those who had looted the Punjab National Bank were from Punjab or had been Punjabis. They are not even saade bande.

But, as they say, we live in the age of Gujaratis  in crime and politics. So also in scams, it would seem.

Would Nirav Modi deserve a cup of coffee? Certainly not.

Join me.

kaffeeklatsch@tribuneindia.comNaveen S Garewal in Chandigarh

Naveen S Garewal in Chandigarh

CHIEF Minister Manohar Lal Khattars love for motorbikes is not a plain secret: as a swayamsevak years ago he preferred the now-extinct Rajdoot to sputter around deep inside the Haryana hinterland, promising a sarkar that relied more on people than power. Into the fourth year in office, years later, Khattar managed scores of Bullets  in fact reportedly demanded a Rajdoot  for an excursion to Jind where BJP boss Amit Shah came riding pillion with state party chief Subhash Barala. The Feb 15 party was fabulous; the power play was perfect  the CM drove an unnumbered bike, and no one really knew if he was carrying a drivers licence. The people, eager to hear about some grand welfare scheme, were left counting the bikes and the number of leaders.

There was some math involved with the party calculations. The state BJP had boasted of a swarm of 1 lakh bikes. Each booth in the state was told to send five volunteers. The party has 47 MLAs and 8 MPS, even if each of them managed 1,000 people from their respective constituencies, it would have had a 55,000-plus crowd.

Optimistic calculations put the gathering at a measly 25,000 as evidenced by nearly one-fourth of the vacant chairs. Many young bikers to the rally left midway as the BJP could not get their petrol tanks full, as per promise. The bikers were also supposed to get two helmets worth Rs 350 each and a good jacket. But what they got were plastic helmets meant for construction workers and very thick polythene jacket whose worth lay only in adding colour to the rally.

The CM's aides are directly blaming state party president Barala, whom Shah praised, and state party in-charge Dr Anil Jain. The CM has reportedly stored the state intelligence inputs on which MLA brought how many people. This could be used during ticket distribution for the 2019 elections.

As for preparations, the state government had virtually come to a standstill for almost a month. The secretariat bore a deserted look. Even the BJP's legislature party meeting was held in Suraj Kund where the cabinet informally discussed only Shah's visit to the state.

Larger game plan

Within the state BJP, it is considered a good omen to sound the poll bugle from Haryana. During the 2014 elections, Narendra Modi, BJPs prime ministerial candidate, had launched the party's campaign from Rewari. The party bagged 8 out of 10 parliamentary seats. Haryana embraces Delhi from three sides. Of the 19 BJP-ruled states in the country, Haryana fits the bill on all counts for a 'Sri Ganesh' (auspicious beginning).

Party chief Amit Shah reeled out dry stats to leave all in awe. Most attendees went home believing in the generosity of the Centre and benevolence of the Khattar government. The Shah message did not mince words: Give us all 10 seats. Why leave two - Sirsa and Rohtak  for others?

Shah came from the helipad to the rally pillion riding. Christened 'Yuva Hunkar rally', the objective was to connect with the youth who form a major chunk of voters. These youth, the party believes, are booth-level workers from all 90 assembly segments. The choice of venue, too, was well thought out: Jind lies in the Jat heartland. The party wants to send out a signal that its support extends beyond traders and urban voters. Shah had held a three-day camp in Rohtak last year. So, Jind's choice is a tactical move to demoralize political opponents on the same lines. The timing of the rally almost coincided with Balidaan Diwas that Jat leaders observe on February 18 in memory of those who died during the job quota stir.

No change at top

The rally happened in the backdrop of the Jats threatening to restart their agitation for reservation in government jobs. Only a few days before Feb 15, the state government reached a compromise with the Jat leadership. The BJP appears confident of its vote bank among non-Jats and is hoping to make roads into the Jat votes that have traditionally gone with the Congress and the INLD. The BJP ambition looks fine, but in recent times the credibility of the All India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) has dipped with allegations of misappropriation of funds against AIJASS leaders. Shah praised Barala, who is under a cloud for his son's involvement in the Vernika Kundu case. Khattar, who is also state home minister, too, came in for admiration despite his repeated failure to handle law and order. Shah credited the CM with eradicating corruption and ending regional development disparities, a charge the previous Congress government had faced.

Shah avoided saying much against the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) that has a considerable influence in the area. He made it clear that BJP's main contest in 2019 will be with the Congress.

Signs of worry

Everything is not honky-dory with the BJP at the moment. Raj Kumar Saini, party's Kurukshetra MP has sounded a warning: Though I received a formal invitation to attend the rally, I chose to stay away. There is huge public sentiment against the state government for being soft towards those booked for violence during the Jat agitation. Those who suffered are struggling to come out of the shock. But the government has repeatedly succumbed to the pressure. Good governance and transparency are good things, but people's perception too matters, said Saini.

A senior BJP functionary doubts the party's over-centralised model of administration. Inability to connect with the grassroots workers is a major issue before the party. Elected representatives are being reduced to a non-entity.Majid Jahangir in Srinagar & Sumit Hakoo in Jammu

Majid Jahangir in Srinagar & Sumit Hakoo in Jammu

THERE are many borders in J&K besides the 350km-crisscross LoC along Kashmir and 394 km along Jammu. Over the past few months, these are the other borders that have brought into sharp focus the suddenness of attacks, the death-aspiring psychopathic assailants, the quick-footed fearless responses, and in some cases, martyrdom. The formalized borders have had holes from where it all begins. The twin-front ferocity does not, and will never, deter the men  our men  even if it comes to taking on the enemy with bare hands, even if it means paying for ones life. And no, they are not paid to die; these are the finest men, whom Krishna called immortalin the Gita. Their dharma is to fight on, their karma is to let us live.

First, the conflation of recent incidents: In September 2016 when Kashmir was in the midst of an unrest triggered by militant commander Burhan Wanis killing, a four-member fidayeen (suicide) squad of Laskhkar-e-Toiba stormed an Army base in Uri close to Line of Control. The attack left 19 soldiers dead. This was a reminder of the post-Kargil strategy of militants to infuse new life into armed insurgency. The Uri attack triggered surgical strikes from the Army.

The surgical strikes may have been a morale booster, yet aspirants of death from across the border wanted more. At least 30 security men have been killed in such suicide attacks. On New Year eve the security apparatus found that two local Kashmiris were part of a Jaish-e-Mohammad fidayeen squad on a CRPF camp at Lethpora in south Kashmir.

The Tribune profiles some of the men whose bravery and fearlessness is unparalleled.

Madan Lal Choudhary (50), JCO, J&K Rif

Martyred; survived by wife daughter and son

Feb 10: Choudhary stood like a wall against a hail of bullets fired by terrorists when they stormed the fortified Sunjawan military camp in Jammu. Choudhary belonged to Bakrak village in Hiranagar (Kathua district), some 65 km from Jammu. He fought with suicide attackers with bare hands before being shot dead. He not only saved his family members but others as well in a residential area stormed by suicide attackers belonging to JeM.

Eyewitness Sandeep Choudhary, JCOs nephew, was present in the apartment block when the attack took place. He and other members of his family had gone out shopping in Jammu for his marriage, due in April. Around 5 am Saturday, the sound of gunshots woke up the JCO and his family. As the terrorists lost time engaging the JCO, other families in the quarter were alerted and blocked their doors. Choudharys action prevented a massacre, says his son, an officer cadet undergoing training.)

Commandant Iqbal Ahmad (45), CRPF

June 5, 2017: He belonged to the 45th CRPF Battalion months after his predecessor Chetan Cheeta was injured in a fierce gunfight in north Kashmirs Bandipore district in February 2017. In the first week of June, Commandant Ahmad had risen for sehari (the customary pre-dawn meal in preparation for fasting) when message flashed about the fidayeen attack. He was nearly 200 metres from the camp. Without caring to take up his meal, Iqbal picked up his rifle and launched a counter-attack.

At least two terrorists had taken up position near the camp. They were firing to help the other two to storm the camp. As the gunfight was on, there was an electricity outage. We ensured that fidayeen dont storm the camp. In the gunfight, all four fidayeen were killed, says Ahmad, a resident of Allahabad, UP.

Gunner Rishi Kumar, Armys Field Artillery Regiment

April 27, 2017: Kumar survived a bullet by a whisker as it hit his bullet-proof patka causing temporary unconsciousness. A group of three fidayeen had stormed an artillery garrison at Panzgam close to LoC in Kupwara district. At the crack of dawn they attempted to enter the living area of the camp; they could not. As the gunfight continued, Kumar regained his senses and targeted two approaching suicide attackers and shot them dead.

Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said Kumar did not forget his training lessons even in a death-like situation. He waited for the terrorists to come within range before he pulled the trigger, the spokesman said. After running out of ammunition, he moved out of the bunker and tried to pick up the weapon of a slain militant. A bullet from the fleeing militant hit and wounded him. Kumar belongs to Ara district (Bihar).

In the gunfight, Captain Ayush Yadav and two soldiers were killed along with two fidayeen militants.

Constable Praful Kumar (26), CRPF

June 5, 2017: Praful Kumar of 45th Battalion repulsed a fidayeen attack in June last year on his camp housed at Sumbal Bandipore in north Kashmir. Four suicide attackers were killed before they could storm the CRPF Battalion headquarters. Constable Kumar was from Delta Company and was on sentry duty on a picket at the main gate. The attackers tried to cut the barbed wire to storm the camp at 3.30 am. Kumar got suspicious when he saw stray dogs barking near the camp.

I used my search light to find out what was happening. I noticed that when I switched off the light, the dogs barked loudly. When I switched on again, I saw a militant near the fence coming out of the bushes. I instantly fired at him and pressed the alarm to alert others in the camp, says Kumar. Constable Kumar is from Munger (Bihar) and was in the Valley since 2012.

Constable Dinesh Raja K (24), CRPF

June 5, 2017: The constable from 45 Battalion along with Constable Praful Kumar repulsed a major suicide attack in north Kashmir. Hailing from Tamil Nadu, Raja was in the watch tower when his colleague Kumar frantically used search lights as stray dogs started barking. I saw two militants in bushes trying to enter the camp. We engaged them before the Quick Action Team came in, he recalls. After they (fidayeen) were injured, they came near the main gate of the camp and opened heavy fire to get inside the camp. We retaliated and eliminated two of them in the initial gunfight. Constable Raja has been posted in the Valley since 2016.

Constable Raghunath Ghait (27), CRPF

February 12, 4 am: It was snowing in Srinagar. Constable Raghunath Ghait of F Company of Central Reserve Police Forces 23 Battalion was on a sentry duty at the picket to guard the camp at congested Karan Nagar locality in the city.

A high alert had already been sounded in the wake of death anniversaries of Parliament attacker Afzal Guru and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front founder Maqbool Bhat. Only two days ago militants had carried out a fidayeen attack on an Army base in Jammu. Also at a stones throw, a sensational militant attack took place on Feb 6 that left two policemen dead. A top Pakistani LeT militant Naveed Jaat had escaped.

Around 4.30 am, he noticed two armed men with rucksack bags coming from a house and approaching the camp. The militants were nearly 20-25 feet from the camp. I fired 30-35 rounds. The two retreated into darkness, Ghait said. The constable informed others on guard duty and his officer. A Quick Action Team of the CRPF arrived and the police cordoned the area. After nearly four-hour search the two militants were cornered in an under-construction multi-storey house close to the CRPF camp. In the initial gunfight, a CRPF constable was killed. The 30-hour gunfight ended with killing of the two militants. The CRPF would reward Ghait, a resident Maharashtra, with an out-of turn-promotion.laxmi@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 17

Uttarakhand BJP today issued a show-cause notice to Khanpur BJP MLA Pranav Kumar Champion for publicly criticising Chief Minister TS Rawat and Cabinet ministers. He has been asked to respond to the show-cause notice within 10 days.

Based on a prima-facie evidence, he has been found to have broken the discipline of the party. He has been issued a show-cause notice after investigation, said state BJP secretary Naresh Bansal.

Recently, Champion had publicly criticised the CMs style of functioning.

A maverick politician, Pranav Kumar Champion was among the Congress MLAs who had rebelled in 2016 against former CM Harish Rawat and later joined the BJP.

He had won the last Assembly elections on the BJP ticket. While still in the Congress, Champion had remained in news more for his antics and controversial statements.

Uttarakhand BJP chief Ajay Bhatt had entrusted senior party leader Naresh Bansal to examine the case. Since coming to power in the state last year, the BJP has served 60 show-cause notices to party leaders for indulging in anti-party activities. But, so far, the party has not taken any action as very few have responded to the notices.laxmi@tribune.com

Neena Sharma

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 17

Controversial businessmen brothers Atul Gupta and Ajay Gupta, facing a barrage of corruption charges in South Africa, have been provided Z security in Dehradun.

While the South African authorities are on the hunt for the Gupta brothers, it is rumoured that one of the brothers (Ajay) was in Dehradun on Thursday. He is said to have left under the Z security cover to an undisclosed destination.

The state government had given the Z security cover to both Ajay and Atul as soon as it came to power in 2017. Usually, the cover is extended only to Chief Ministers and other VVIPs.

The brothers, who own a palatial bungalow on 7-Curzon Road here, were believed to have requested Chief Minister TS Rawat through a Cabinet Minister to upgrade their security, which was adhered to.

In a letter dated June 16, 2017, a copy of which is with The Tribune, the DGP was asked by the state government to ensure Z security to the brothers during their stay in Dehradun. According to the terms of the agreement, the brothers are to pay the government for their security cover.

On being asked if the brothers will continue to have Z security even in the light of the swirling corruption charges being levelled against them, Principal Secretary Anand Vardhan clarified, There has not been any official orders regarding the withdrawal of security. Besides, the decision was taken when I was not heading the Home Department. A procedure is followed by the government while extending security cover to private persons, who make a formal request. The level of security given is based on the degree of threat perception.

It was during the tenure of former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna that the Y category security cover was first extended to the Gupta brothers in 2012. Later, the brothers were also in the news for allegedly facilitating and hosting the holiday trip of former CM Vijay Bahuguna to SA. The trip had generated a lot of heat as it was for the first time a chief minister from the state had gone on a holiday.

Guptas have bungalow on Curzon Roadmonicakchauhan@gmail.com

Washington, February 17

Thirteen Russian nationals and three Russian companies have been indicted for interfering in the 2016 US presidential election through social media propaganda.

The indictment, released on Friday by the office of US Special Counsel Robert Mueller, said the accused, through their actions, wanted to spread distrust towards the candidates and the political system in general.

According to the indictment, the Russians created hundreds of social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, making it appear that the accounts were controlled by persons within the US.

To hide the Russian origin of their activities, the Russians allegedly purchased space on computer servers located within the US in order to set up a virtual private network.

The accused posed as politically and socially active Americans, advocating for and against particular political candidates. They established social media pages and groups to communicate with unwitting Americans.

They also purchased political advertisements on social media and used stolen or fictitious American identities, fraudulent bank accounts, and false identification documents.

Deputy Attorney-General Rod J. Rosenstein said the indictment served as a reminder that people are not always who they appear to be on the Internet.

The indictment alleges that the Russian conspirators want to promote discord in the United States and undermine public confidence in democracy. We must not allow them to succeed, said Rosenstein.

According to the allegations, twelve of the individual defendants worked at various times for Internet Research Agency (IRA), a Russian company based in St. Petersburg.

The other individual defendant, Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin, funded the conspiracy through companies known as Concord Management and Consulting LLC, Concord Catering, and many subsidiaries and affiliates.

The IRA allegedly operated through Russian shell companies. It employed hundreds of persons for its online operations with an annual budget of millions of dollars.

In 2014, the agency established a translator project to focus on the US population. In July 2016, more than 80 employees were assigned to the project.

Two of the defendants allegedly travelled to the US in 2014 to collect intelligence for their American political influence operations.

According to the indictment, the Russians also recruited and paid real Americanswho did not know they were communicating with Russiansto engage in political activities, promote political campaigns, and stage political rallies.

After the election, they allegedly staged rallies to support the President-elect while simultaneously staging rallies to protest his election.

For example, the defendants organised one rally to support the President-elect and another rally to oppose him-both in New York, on the same day, the indictment said.

On September 13, 2017, soon after the news media reported that the Special Counsels Office was investigating evidence that Russian operatives had used social media to interfere in the 2016 election, one defendant allegedly wrote, We had a slight crisis here at work: the FBI busted our activity.... So, I got preoccupied with covering tracks together with my colleagues.

Muller is investigating into the allegations of Russian interference into the American political system. The opposition Democrats allege that Russian interference helped Donald Trump win the 2016 presidential elections. Trump denies the charges. PTIlaxmi@tribune.com

New York, February 17

A quick-acting Indian-American maths teacher is being hailed for saving the lives of her students during the shooting rampage at a Florida high school that left 17 dead.

When an alarm sounded for the second time on Wednesday afternoon, Shanthi Viswanathan shut the doors to her algebra classroom, made the students crouch on the floor and covered the windows, keeping them out of the reach and sight of the gunman, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

She was quick on her feet. She used her knowledge. She saved a lot of kids, Dawn Jarboe, the mother of one of Viswanathans students, told the newspaper.

When an elite police contingent known as a SWAT team came and knocked on the door asking her to open it, Viswanathan took no chance that it wasnt a trick by the gunman to get in, the newspaper said.

She said, knock it down or open it with a key. Im not opening the door, Jarboe quoted her as telling the police. Some SWAT guy took out the window and cleared our room, Jarboes son, Brian, texted his mother, the newspaper said.

In the entire Broward County, where Parkland is located, the Indian population is 22,600, according to statisticalatlas.com. But none of those killed are of Indian descent.  IANSpardeepdhull@gmail.com

Port-au-Prince, February 17

Haitis President said on Friday that sexual misconduct by staff of British charity Oxfam was only the tip of an iceberg and called for investigations into Doctors Without Borders and other aid organisations which came to the country after its 2010 earthquake.

The Oxfam case is the visible part of the iceberg, President Jovenel Moise said in a phone interview with Reuters on Friday. It is not only Oxfam, there are other NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in the same situation, but they hide the information internally.

The scandal has already shaken the aid sector, with Britain and the European Union reviewing Oxfams funding.

Oxfam, one of the worlds biggest disaster relief charities, apologised this week for unspecified sexual misconduct uncovered in a 2011 internal investigation. It has neither confirmed nor denied a recent Times of London report that some of its staff paid for sex with prostitutes.

There should be an investigation into other organisations that have been working here since 2010, said Moise. For example, Doctors Without Borders had to repatriate about 17 people for misconduct which was not explained, he added.

It was not clear what cases Moise was referring to.

Geneva-based Doctors Without Borders, known as Medecins Sans Frontieres in non-English speaking countries, is looking into Moises comments and welcomes scrutiny on the aid sector, said spokeswoman Analia Lorenzo. She added that the organization had zero tolerance of sexual misconduct.

On Wednesday, Doctors Without Borders, which sends medical staff around the world to regions stricken with war and disease, said it had dealt with 24 cases of sexual harassment or abuse among its 40,000 staff last year, and dismissed 19 people as a result. It did not provide details of where the harassment or abuse took place, who was dismissed or whether the complaints were also registered with local law enforcement.

Mistakes

Roland Van Hauwermeiren, the former Oxfam official at the center of the sex abuse scandal, said on Thursday he made mistakes by having a sexual relationship with the sister of a recipient of aid when working in Haiti but denied paying for sex with prostitutes or abusing minors.

In an open letter to a broadcaster in his native Belgium, he said he feared that Oxfam, other aid workers and those they help would suffer from false accusations.

We call on the Belgian and UK government to assume their responsibility, and we call on the whole international community to help make sure those guilty of such misconduct are punished, whether they are Belgian or of another nationality, Moise said.

The dignity of the Haitian people has been trampled on. Haitian Justice Minister Heidi Fortune told Reuters on Wednesday he had asked Belgium for help in starting legal action against Van Hauwermeiren. He did not say which laws he believed were broken.

Belgiums Justice Ministry said on Thursday it had received no such request and prosecutors said they were not aware of any investigation into Van Hauwermeiren. Belgium does not extradite its citizens to countries outside the European Union.

Prostitution is a crime in Haiti, but it was not clear what other crimes the Oxfam officials may have committed. Reuterspardeepdhull@gmail.com

Washington, February 17

The alleged Russian interference had no impact on the results of the 2016 US presidential elections, President Donald Trump said on Saturday, as a federal grand jury indicted 13 Russian nationals and three companies for interfering in the countrys political system.

The indictment, released on Friday by the office of US Special Counsel Robert Mueller, said the accused also interfered in the 2016 US presidential election through social media propaganda.

No collusion! Trump said about his presidential campaign as he pointed out that Russias alleged meddling had begun much earlier.

Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for President. The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong - no collusion! Trump said.

Later, in a White House statement, Trump urged his fellow countrymen to come together and foil the attempts of those seeking to sow confusion, discord, and rancor to be successful.

Its time we stop the outlandish partisan attacks, wild and false allegations, and far-fetched theories, which only serve to further the agendas of bad actors, like Russia, and do nothing to protect the principles of our institutions. We must unite as Americans to protect the integrity of our democracy and our elections, Trump said.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the alleged Russian interference began in 2014 before Trump declared his candidacy.

President Donald J. Trump has been fully briefed on this matter and is glad to see the Special Counsels investigation further indicates that there was NO COLLUSION between the Trump campaign and Russia and that the outcome of the election was not changed or affected, she said.

After the indictments were returned by a federal grand juries, both political parties  Democrats and Republicans  said this vindicated their respective stands.

Democratic Senator Mark Warner said the indictment was an important step to hold Russia accountable.

While platforms like Facebook and Twitter are allowing Americans to communicate and share ideas in ways unimaginable just a decade ago, were also learning that we each bear some responsibility for exercising good judgment and a healthy amount of skepticism when it comes to the things we read and share on social media, said Warner.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said the Russians alleged action was a sinister and systematic attack on our political system.

We have known that Russians meddled in the election, but these indictments detail the extent of the subterfuge. These Russians engaged in a sinister and systematic attack on our political system, said Ryan.

It was a conspiracy to subvert the process, and take aim at democracy itself. Todays announcement underscores why we need to follow the facts and work to protect the integrity of future elections, he said.

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said that the alleged actions laid out in the indictments are a direct assault against the people of the US and its democracy.

Russia is not our friend and this is another concrete example of their destabilizing actions, he said.

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, said that the indictment means that collusion theory will collapse.

..the Special Counsel stressed his investigators found no evidence the meddling influenced the outcome of the 2016 election. Indeed, the indictment indicates the Russians put out propaganda mischievously supporting both the Trump and the Clinton campaigns, said Rohrabacher.

After all these months of the Mueller probe, the collusion theory will likely collapse, and soon, he said.

Senator Dianne Feinstein said the indictment reveals, for the first time, that both Russians and Americans were allegedly involved in this sophisticated attack on US democracy.

Unfortunately, President Trumps lack of leadership in this area is becoming an issue of national security. He needs to stop denying that Russia interfered in the 2016 election and mobilize a robust federal response, she said. PTIpardeepdhull@gmail.com

Washington, February 17

Al-Qaeda operative Ibrahim Suleiman Adnan Adam Harun has been sentenced to life in prison, the Department of Justice said on Saturday.

The sentencing comes following his conviction by a jury on multiple terrorism offences, including conspiracy to murder American military personnel in Afghanistan and bomb the US embassy in Nigeria.

He was convicted on March 16, 2017.

The evidence presented at trial established that the defendant and other jihadists attacked a US military patrol in Afghanistan, resulting in the death of two American soldiers and the serious injury of others, Acting Assistant Attorney General James OCallaghan said.

Commissioner James P. ONeill of the NYPD said Harun was a dedicated and early soldier in Bin Ladens al-Qaeda, joining just weeks before the September 11 attacks.

Harun will rightfully spend the rest of his life behind bars. This department  with our partners in law enforcement  remains deeply committed to combating terrorism from New York to Nigeria and everywhere in between, he said.

As proven at trial, Harun travelled from Saudi Arabia to Afghanistan weeks before September 11, 2001, where he joined al-Qaeda, trained at al-Qaeda training camps, and eventually swore allegiance to Osama bin Laden.

Harun, 47, also known by the nom de guerre Spin Ghul, a Pashto name meaning White Rose, then travelled with other al-Qaeda jihadists to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan, where he operated under Abdul Hadi al-Iraqi, one of bin Ladens deputies and a senior al-Qaeda military commander.

On April 25, 2003, Harun and fellow al-Qaeda jihadists ambushed a US military patrol near the Afghan-Pakistan border.A Harun fired machinegun rounds and threw grenades at American soldiers and allied Afghan Militia Forces while shouting Allahu Akhbar or God is Great. Two US servicemen were killed in the attack  Private First Class Jerod Dennis, 19, of Oklahoma, and Airman First Class Raymond Losano, 24, of Texas  and several other soldiers were seriously wounded.

After the ambush, Harun met with senior al-Qaeda officials  including Abu Faraj al-Libi, then al-Qaedas external operations chief  to express his desire to commit acts of terror against US interests outside Afghanistan. He specifically sought to carry out attacks similar to the 1998 al-Qaeda bombings of the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which resulted in more than 200 deaths and 4,000 injuries, federal prosecutors said.

In the summer of 2003, senior al-Qaeda leaders dispatched Harun from Pakistan to Nigeria to bomb the US Embassy in Abuja. Haruns al-Qaeda handler directed him to obtain one ton of explosives for the bombing operation and to target Americans  whom he described as the head of the snake  at embassies, hotels and other places where they gather for fun.

Upon arriving in Nigeria, Harun recruited accomplices, scouted the Embassy and other potential Western targets, and sent an accomplice to find explosives. He also met with local terrorist leaders to expand al-Qaedas terrorist network in West Africa.

In 2004, Harun directed a co-conspirator to courier information and materials from Nigeria to al-Qaeda leaders in Pakistan.

After learning that the co-conspirator had been arrested in Pakistan, Harun fled Nigeria to Libya, from where he planned to enter Europe to carry out terrorist attacks against Western interests.

In early 2005, however, Harun was arrested by Libyan authorities and held in custody until his release in June 2011.

Harun was arrested in June 2011 by Italian authorities. He was indicted on terrorism changes in the US in February 2012 and extradited from Italy later that year, the Department of Justice said. PTIThere was some error handling your request. Please refresh your browser and try again in a while.1. GAZ A (1932) / Ford A

V. Davidov/Sputnik - Erich Schmidt/Global Look Press

2. GAZ M-1 (1936) / Ford Model B

Konstantin Kokoshkin/Global Look Press - Jiri Sedlacek/Wikipedia

3. KIM 10 (1940) / Ford Prefect

Alexei Stuzhin/TASS - Legion Media

4. ZIS 110 (1945) / Packard 180

Konstantin Kokoshkin/Global Look Press - Rex Gray/Wikipedia

5. Moskvich 400 (1946) / Opel Kadett K38

Martin Hans/Wikipedia -- Alfvan Beem/Wikipedia

6. Moskvich 408 (1964) / Opel Kadett A

V. Khomenko/Sputnik - Global Look Press

7. GAZ-24 Volga (1966) / Ford Falcon

Torsten Maue/Wikipedia - Dave7/Wikipedia

8. ZAZ-966 (1966) / NSU Prinz IV

Torsten Maue/Wikipedia - Alfvan Beem/Wikipedia

9. VAZ 2101 (1970) / Fiat 124

Ivan Denisenko/Sputnik - Charles01/Wikipedia

10. Moskvich 2141 (1986) / Simca Chrysler 1308

Kirill Borisenko/Wikipedia - Nakhon100/Wikipedia

Industry loomed large in the race for influence between the West and the Soviet Union, symbolizing power and the ability to create, innovate, and carry the world into the future. But while the Soviets held their own and in some cases bettered their capitalist rivals in some fields -- such as space exploration and weaponry -- they were behind from the start when it came to the automobile. Often, the U.S.S.R. had to copy its capitalist rivals just to keep pace. Here, below is a list of 10 famous Soviet cars 'driven' by Western ideas.In 1929, the Soviet Union signed an agreement with the Ford Motor Company to assemble cars under the Ford license. The first models, called Gaz A, were produced at the Gorky (now  Nizhny Novgorod) automotive plant (GAZ) in 1932. The Gaz A was based on the Ford Model A, discontinued in 1931. The power system of the engine was redesigned in the Soviet car. In total, over 41,000 GAZ A were produced. In 1936, the old model was replaced with the GAZ-M-1.The design of this model was based on the Ford Model B of 1934. Just like the previous vehicle, it was produced under the 1929 license, but survived significant changes. Its Soviet designers reinvented almost everything from the car suspension to its exterior. Produced in 1936-1942, it was one of the most popular cars in the prewar Soviet Union. Over 62,000 cars with several modifications were assembled in total.The KIM-10 was the first model of the Soviet subcompact cars inspired by the British Ford Prefect. The Soviet car got the modern design of the hood, windscreen and trunk. However, World War II thwarted further development. This car never went on sale officially, though, 64 vehicles were given away as lottery prizes.The first Soviet limousine ZIS 101 (1936) was already based on the U.S. Buick, and in September 1942 Stalin ordered the development of a new luxury-class limousine, the ZIS 110, this time under the influence of the Packard 180. This executive car was produced until 1958 with a total of 2,000 vehicles made for Soviet officials. Production of the Packard 180 itself was discontinued after World War II.On Dec. 4, 1946, the first Moskvich-400 car was assembled at the Moscow Compact Car Factory (AZLK). The four-seater car had a top speed of 90 km/h and was heavily inspired by the German Opel Kadett K38.Joseph Stalin pushed for the cars production as he was a big fan of the Opel after seeing it at an exhibition in the Kremlin in 1940. However, due to WWII, the project was postponed. But in 1947 the Moscow plant started churning out the model. It was produced up until 1954 before being replaced by the Moskvich-401, which had a more powerful engine. In total, 216,000 sedans and 17,000 cabriolets rolled out of the factory. In 1956, the car was replaced with the new Moskvich-402.The third generation of Moskvich cars was based on another German vehicle, the Opel Kadett A (1962), differing from the early model by the more spacious interior. In 1967, the Moscow Compact Car Factory started to assemble the new Moskvich-412 car with a more powerful engine and greater speed.The Moskvich-412 was also a popular car for export. In Bulgaria, it was assembled under the name of Rila, and in Belgium it was known as the Scaldia. The Soviet model was produced until 1976 in Moscow, and even until 1998 at the Izhevsk plant.The design of the Volga model was similar to the U.S. Ford Falcon (1962) and Plymouth Valiant (1962). The car was produced at the Gorky plant until 1985, mostly for use as taxis and chauffeured state vehicles. The GAZ-24 modification, titled the GAZ-24-76 Scaldia, was a popular taxi model in Belgium and France. In total, the Gorky plant assembled 1.4 million GAZ-24.This new subcompact Soviet car had an exterior similar to the German NSU Prinz IV of 1961. In its turn, the German car partly replicated the design of the U.S. Chevrolet Corvair of 1959. The two-door coupe was produced until 1972 at the Kommunar auto plant (modern Ukraine).In 1966, Italys Fiat and the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Trade signed a cooperation agreement. Under this deal, the USSR started to produce the station wagon VAZ 2102 and sedan VAZ 2101, based on the Fiat 124, voted European car of the year in 1967. Nevertheless, the VAZ 2101 was extensively Russified with over 800 changes.The VAZ 2101, aka the kopeck, became a real people's car in the Soviet Union. The model was the first car in the VAZ family and had lots of variations. Until 1988, the AvtoVaz plant in Tolyatti produced 4.85 million such cars, which is why in 2000 the VAZ 2101 was labeled the best Russian car of the 20th century by Russian media.In the 1980s, the Soviet Union succeeded in creating a completely new model of Moskvich, a front-wheel-drive hatchback based on the design of the French-U.S. Simca Chrysler 1308. The Soviet car was given a modern exterior and the export name of Aleko. The Moscow plant produced over 716,000 of these cars in different variations. The last model was assembled in 2002 under the name of Svyatogor.(via Russia BeyondAlibaba and 40 thieves move in on e-payments

Alibaba and the 40 thieves

At the start of 2018, the CEO of a Vietnamese commercial bank said that he was already planning to roll out a payment app after the Lunar New Year. Competition is heating up, so we have to pull out all the stops, he said.

The throne that Vietnamese banks now sit on is being shaken every day, as 25 e-wallet apps and several overseas firms are fighting their way into Vietnams booming financial market. In November 2017, Alibaba guru Jack Ma made headlines in the country by launching Alipay, a mobile and online payment platform, also signing a partnership agreement with the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam.

Only three days later, Alibabas competitor WeChat Pay made its debut in the country by shaking hands with domestic partner Vimo. Both Alipay and WeChat Pay are Chinese success stories, which means they are well-equipped to compete against Vietnamese fintech firms and commercial banks.

At first, Alipay and WeChat Pay will serve only the three million annual Chinese visitors in Vietnam. However, as Vietnam is a market with great potential for expansion, future plans to target Vietnamese consumers are surely on the horizon for these Chinese giants. In fact, Alipay is already researching a major Vietnamese fintech firm, possibly for partnerships or acquisitions. This is also a common strategy for Alipay and WeChat Pay in other markets in the region.

However, the battle goes beyond Alipay and WeChat Pay. Marketing specialist Vu Kim Hanh stressed that aside from Alibaba, Vietnam will welcome 40 other thieves that may include American tech giants like Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Apple.

Tran Thanh Nam, co-founder and CEO of mobile payment service Moca, admitted that Vietnamese fintech firms are highly sensitive of Alipay, WeChat Pay, or Apple Pay, as these are major competitors. These heavyweights have a global brand name, ample cash in hand, a strong cash flow, insurance benefits, and, most importantly, a well-rounded ecosystem for users.

To add fuel to the fire, Malaysias second-largest bank CIMB recently revealed that it would open a digital bank in Vietnam in early 2018.

As Industry 4.0 makes its waves in Vietnam, a big question has emerged: How can domestic banks and fintech firms compete? Can they win consumers hearts competing against these global giants?

Old tricks and the unique case of Vietnam

There have been many questions about the impressive expansion rates of Alibaba, Tencent, or Amazon in Southeast Asia. Their reach has quickly gone beyond e-commerce to payment services.

Vu Kim Hanh emphasises cheap prices as an old trick for these tech firms. Alibaba and WeChat Pay conquered Southeast Asia by running huge discount programmes, which include free delivery to buyers home addresses. This tactic has helped the two Chinese firms compete against other players in the market.

When in Vietnam, Alibabas Jack Ma was asked about his plans to boost e-commerce in the country. The Chinese billionaire said, I sell a bottle of water for $2 online, instead of for $10 for the same bottle at brick-and-mortar stores. To consumers, this is a great deal that they cannot ignore.

To do this, Alipay needs a complete ecosystem, ranging from e-commerce websites to logistics services. This is very challenging for Vietnamese firms, as their services (even for commercial banks) are scattered and not united under any one system.

Mocas Tran Thanh Nam admitted that he cannot run huge discount programmes, as the service charges of fintech firms are already very low. Even if services are free, it can still be hard to attract consumers.

Other players note that Vietnam is not an easy conquest for Alipay or any other tech giant. A leader of a commercial bank said that Vietnamese consumers are quite unique in their behaviour, as shown in the fact that most of them use smartphones all day for social media and messaging, but still prefer to pay in cash. Consumers aversion to card payment is a real challenge for anyone in the fintech industry here, including tech companies from overseas, he said.

The banker added that if fintech firms want to use promotional discounts as their main strategy, they may need an awful lot of money.

In addition, Vietnam has yet to develop a legal framework for the fintech industry. This legal grey area is something tech firms from overseas will have to deal with when they operate in Vietnam.

The secret weapon

It should be noted that all fintech firms, Vietnamese and overseas, have to open an account at a local bank when they start operations. This gives banks an advantage in the battle.

Nguyen Dinh Thang, deputy CEO of LienVietPost Bank, said that the Vietnamese government may choose to welcome foreign tech giants, but still nurture the young fintech firms in the country. This is to protect Vietnams tech industry while still honouring commitments to global integration.

Singapore is an example to follow. As the country is being targeted by various foreign firms such as Amazon or Alipay, this nations government has proactively forked out millions of US dollars to help domestic firms update their digital know-how. The country also protects its local merchants, fostering them to fight back against foreign competitors.

As foreign fintech giants may try to buy out domestic firms, Vietnamese fintech players need an immediate survival kit. In terms of technology, Vietnamese banks and fintech firms do not lose out to any foreign competitor, but what they lack is a conductor who can streamline all of these scattered services into one ecosystem. If all Vietnamese players can team up, their combined power can be strong enough to compete with foreign fintech rivals.

It is obvious that competition is not the only way to go in this battle. Some commercial banks have already planned to co-operate with Alibaba or Tencent, even Facebook. This is one way for Vietnamese banks to access the huge customer database and ecosystem run by these tech giants.

All in all, no matter how Vietnamese banks and fintech firms choose to address rising competition, all players need full support from the legal system. It is crucial for Vietnam to finalise its legal framework, a step that can boost the entire fintech industry and benefit millions of Vietnamese consumers.Rethinking business for a future in Industry 4.0

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) has quickly become the latest buzzword in Vietnam. However, is Industry 4.0 bringing in real opportunities for the Vietnamese economy or is it just a fashionable concept?

Industry 4.0 first appeared in a German high-tech strategy project for 2020 aimed at bolstering the computerisation of manufacturing. The importance and extension of Industry 4.0 was confirmed when the 2016 World Economic Forum held in Davos-Klosters (Switzerland) raised a discussion on the theme of Mastering the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Essentially, Industry 4.0 is the process of transforming the real, physical world into a digital one. This process is taking place globally, coupled with cutting-edge technology platforms, including the Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, virtual reality interaction, artificial intelligence, social networking, cloud computing, and big data. Such technologies act on great performance and give a competitive edge to businesses, organisations, and governments.

As such, Industry 4.0 has become a topical, hot story. But it will only be reduced to a fashionable concept if insiders miss the opportunities emerging and lag behind the trends movement. And Vietnam is no exception.

Opportunities emerging from Industry 4.0 are looming. So what position can Vietnam hold in the Industry 4.0 playing field?

In my view, Vietnam has three major advantages.

Firstly, Vietnam already has a good sense of Industry 4.0, which is spreading fast and extensively across the country. Aside from this, the robust development of Vietnams cheap, good-quality IT infrastructure and services does favours to the spread of Industry 4.0.

Secondly, the number of IT users in Vietnam is very high. They are already familiar with the great benefits of various IT applications, particularly those improving the quality of life and business operations. It can be said that the development level of Vietnams leading enterprises is not lower than the world average.

Thirdly, Vietnams integration into the international market has been getting stronger of late, in terms of both trade and investment. Thus, Vietnams economic openness and innovative spirit are expected to draw local entities closer to Industry 4.0.

However, Vietnam is facing limitations in terms of infrastructure and human resources to make digital technology a strategic tool for further development. Additionally, the efficiency of group work and teamwork remains a problem.

Traditional resources such as land, capital, and labour are restricted. How could Industry 4.0 combat these limitations?

Changes to the use of resources should be considered with some of the following points in mind.

Firstly, traditional resources such as land, capital, and labour need to be prioritised for the creation of renewable, shared, and combined products. For example, land could be used for solar farms rather than shrimp hatching. Vehicle and house development projects should be

encouraged in accordance with the shared product format, like the unique Airbnb accommodation booking system.

Support should be raised to accelerate collaboration and linkages for combined products.

Secondly, big data has emerged as an increasingly important resource. This resource has unique attributes. In fact, data resources are never depleted but instead increase exponentially. For instance, the more people use big data, the more valuable and efficient it becomes. Therefore, Vietnam needs to build on a digital resource ecosystem.

Thirdly, the government plays a very important role in shaping policy on gathering and exploiting digital resources. The government ought to be one of the largest and most valued sources of data and should take the lead in extracting the values of digital resources, particularly useful for the strategic planning and realisation of policies.

How does Singapore approach and deploy Industry 4.0? What could Vietnam learn from it?

Singapore puts a focus on supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs were selected as the strategic policy focus, aimed at promoting the acquisition of Industry 4.0.

Firstly, without an appropriate support policy, SMEs  who hold a large proportion of the total labour force and make essential contributions to the Singaporean economy  could be left behind. They could also lose their competitive edge and even face stagnation in productivity growth. On the other hand, a good incentive policy can promote their agility and flexibility, enabling them to grow into a leading force, bolstering the whole effort of the economys digital transformation.

Secondly, Singapore facilitates and encourages SMEs to approach Industry 4.0. They are assisted by the government in determining and clarifying the stages of digital transformation, in confronting issues that arise, and in making beneficial Industry 4.0 investments.

In addition, there must be an agency established to be in charge of supervising the process. The government must also allocate a sufficient budget to support SMEs approaching Industry 4.0 technologies. Focus should be placed on sectors which obtain obvious benefits from digital applications, including tourism, trade, logistics, and security.

Vietnam, in my point of view, should pay particular attention to supporting SMEs access to Industry 4.0 and take the lead in the trend. The country could consider the application of the SMART model:

-S - Strategy: This stage urges the consideration of SMEs as a strategic sector as well as the need to set forth powerful policies for them. Importance is attached to the mobilisation of enterprises with high readiness and spreading the spillover effects to keep abreast of, and even take the lead in, the trend.

-M - Monitoring: There is a set of indicators to periodically monitor and assess results and draw practical lessons.

-A - Accountability: This highlights the accountability of stakeholders. An agency and its staff must take responsibility for both the success and failure of a programme designed to support SMEs in Industry 4.0.

-R- Rethinking: This encourages us to change the way we think, alter our conceptions of what reality is, listen to businesses and professionals, and utilise international experience.

-T - Trust: There must be a deeper trust of businesses in the benefits of technological applications and the governments support for the business community.

Vietnam has many advantages to implement the above model, including a large number of SMEs and young entrepreneurs with good knowledge of technology and a desire to explore new trends. Remarkably, the Vietnamese government emphasises the significance of accelerating SMEs development and the promotion of startups, creativity, and Industry 4.0.

What should Vietnamese enterprises do to grasp opportunities emerging from Industry 4.0?

To achieve a higher development level, Vietnamese enterprises must change themselves, change their own minds first.

Lets think of the opportunities Industry 4.0 could bring in. Local firms need to gain the initiative in preparing platforms and strategic tools instead of worrying about challenges.

What are your expectations for the upcoming developments of Industry 4.0 in Vietnam?

In the 21st century, a poor country can reap robust growth and create a miracle development story thanks to two drivers  international integration and Industry 4.0. Vietnam seems to hold a very favourable position with which to exploit and promote these two dynamic drivers. With locals great aspirations for development, Vietnam will surely take the lead in the trend with creativity and breakthroughs in both its international integration and approach to Industry 4.0 in the decades to come.A demonstrator demands action against gun violence during a vigil held for the 17 people killed in the Parkland high school shooting. (Photo: AFP/Rhona Wise)

With President Donald Trump planning to visit bereaved families in the shocked southern community as early as Friday, a groundswell arose for a new push to restrict the availability of guns and better protect schools.

Lori Alhadeff, whose 14-year-old daughter Alyssa died in Wednesday's shooting, and who made a powerfully emotional appeal to Trump the following day, addressing a television camera with tears rolling down her face.

"We need action! action! action!" Alhadeff urged in an interview with CNN on Friday, addressing the US leader as the father of an 11-year-old son of his own.

"President Trump, Barron goes to school," she said. "Let's protect Barron, and let's also protect all these other kids here in Parkland, in Florida, and everyone everywhere else in the United States of America," she said.

"My child is dead. I can't help her. But I can help all those other kids at Stoneman Douglas High School. We have to protect our children."

Carly Novell, a senior at the school who survived the shooting, said it was time for politicians to act.

"I just want people to stop, like, talking about it and then not doing anything. People keep, like, saying your thoughts and prayers and all of these things, but it doesn't make a difference if nothing ever changes."

TRUMP TO VISIT STRICKEN COMMUNITY

Trump tweeted on Friday that he planned to meet with victims in the sprawling suburban community about 60 kilometres (35 miles) north of Miami, although it was not yet clear when the meeting would take place.

The US leader is spending the long President's Day weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort, a 45 minute drive from Parkland.

"I will be leaving for Florida today to meet with some of the bravest people on earth - but people whose lives have been totally shattered," he said.

But Trump risked being greeted with angry demands for action on laws that allowed 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz - a 19-year-old who was expelled from Stoneman Douglas and whose behavior had unnerved acquaintances - to buy an AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle.

"It's illogical that the law says a minor can't have a drink, but can buy a gun," said Mavy Rubiano, the 47-year-old mother of a student who survived the shooting.

Stoneman Douglas students have taken to social media to blast defenders of the nation's loose gun laws.

In an eloquent essay published online, 17-year-old Cameron Kasky blasted both Republican and Democratic politicians for not doing anything.

"We can't ignore the issues of gun control that this tragedy raises," he wrote.

"And so, I'm asking - no, demanding - we take action now. Why? Because at the end of the day, the students at my school felt one shared experience - our politicians abandoned us by failing to keep guns out of schools."

REPUBLICANS SIDESTEP GUN CONTROL ISSUE

In Washington the political response so far makes clear that the powerful National Rifle Association pro-gun lobby - which spent US$30 million to support Trump's election in 2016 - remains formidable.

On Thursday Trump's nationally televised address made no mention of guns, or of previous mass shootings.

Trump instead treated the Parkland massacre - the 30th mass shooting of 2018 according to the Gun Violence Archive - as a singular event. He focused on offering sympathies to the families of the victims, on the need to tackle the challenges of mental health.

Republican House leader Paul Ryan, whose campaigns have earned NRA support, said Thursday that it was not a time for arguing over gun control, while Republican Florida Senator Marco Rubio said new gun laws alone would not stop shootings.

EASILY BOUGHT WAR WEAPON

As with previous mass shootings, the focus of gun control advocates was on the ready availability of the AR-15, a semi-automatic civilian version of the US military's standard-issue M16.

The NRA calls the AR-15 "America's most popular rifle."

Millions have been sold around the United States - a new one costs as little as $600. Stephen Paddock, who opened fire on a Las Vegas country music concert on Oct 1, 2017, killing 58 and wounding hundreds more, had more than a dozen AR-15s.

Devin Patrick Kelley, who shot and killed 26 in a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Nov 5, used an AR-15.

And it was with an AR-15 that 20-year-old Adam Lanza murdered 26 students and adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut on Dec 14, 2012, the deadliest school shooting in US history.David Duong is a pioneer in the field of waste treatment in Vietnam

Great honour to the homeland

David Duong is a pioneer in the field of waste treatment in Vietnam. He invested in Vietnam Waste Solutions (VWS) in 2007, pushing modern facilities and advanced processing technology.

Most recently, the businessman became the first Vietnamese-American to receive the Oustanding Community Advocate Award by the Asian American Prosecutors Association (AAPA) in the US. AAPA is a professional organisation dedicated to promoting justice and to advancing the interests of prosecutors of Asian heritage.

The ceremony was held in California with the participation of law enforcement agencies, judges, prosecutors, businessmen, and attorneys of Asian heritage.

The ceremony also attracted representatives of the authorities of the state of California, honouring individuals who have made substantial contributions to the states socio-economic development. David Duong was honoured as president and CEO of CWS and as chairman of the Vietnam Business Association in the US.

Duong moved to Oakland in 1986 and set up CWS in 1992, with 62 per cent of its staff made up of locals. CWS has generated great employment opportunities for people in the area. Thus, we value his contribution to the community highly, said an AAPA representative. As chairman of the Vietnam Business Association in the US, Duong was recognised for his constant efforts to connect Vietnamese businesses in a variety of industries with local leaders to solve obstacles and problems in the course of business operations.

Duongs Vietnam Waste Solutions Company is also known for its CSR efforts including donations to the poor

Investment for the homeland

Aside from large investment projects in the US, David Duong has expanded investment in Vietnam over the past 10 years. He has developed two large-scale waste treatment projects in his homeland, namely VWS Da Phuoc Integrated Waste Management Facility (DPIWMF) worth $150 million, and Green Technology Park in the Mekong Delta province of Long An with total investment capital of $1 billion.

The Da Phuoc Integrated Waste Management Facility in Ho Chi Minh Citys Binh Chanh district has created jobs for hundreds of locals, while contributing billions of dong [VND1 billion is euqal to $45,454] to the state budget. Da Phuoc is a modern waste treatment facility with a processing capacity of 10,000 tonnes of waste per day. Waste is not just buried in landfills, but it is also used to produce compost. Meanwhile, leachate is treated to become clean water for safe use. As the city has discharged an increasing amount of waste daily, this has forced waste treatment companies like VWS to upgrade their technology.

We have invited experts from the US to evaluate our projects. This, coupled with our extensive experience in waste treatment, helps the firm to identify and classify waste materials. Based on the results, we have studied and selected suitable technology for the city to convert waste emissions into power and compressed natural gas (CNG) for transport use as well as producing micro and organic fertilisers, he said.

To facilitate Ho Chi Minh Citys collection of waste in a safe and timely manner, CWS has bought two garbage trucks from the US with specialised designs for conditions in Vietnam. Specifically, there are shields around the trucks to avoid collisions with motorcycles. The trucks are also equipped with sprays to spread pleasant scents in the citys polluted environment. Some parts are specifically designed to meet the transport conditions in Ho Chi Minh City.

We set a target of reducing the amount of waste buried in landfills to 15 per cent, in accordance with the governments waste treatment master plan, Duong stressed.

According to the requests by municipal authorities, VWS has mapped out a plan to transform DPIWMF from a landfill to a waste-to-energy approach. Specifically, VWS has proposed a $400 million incineration factory with a capacity of 1,000 to 2,000 tonnes of waste per day.

The city requested technology with a long performance lifespan, in line with the citys development conditions. Waste treatment technology also has to help protect the environment in the long term.

Furthermore, VWS will develop Green Technology Park in Thu Thua district of Long An province. Covering 1,760 hectares, the park is lotus-shaped when viewed from above. It boasts an educational centre focused on protecting the surrounding environment, like the network of canals, greenery, and foliage.

The park has an estimated capital of $1 billion for 20 years of development. In the first phase, VWS will inject $500 million into the project with a daily capacity of 20,000 tonnes of waste. Once completed, the project will be capable of handling 40,000 tonnes of waste per day. It will process different types of waste, including household waste, hazardous waste, medical waste, industrial waste, electronic waste, sewage, and old tires.

VWS shares with the community David Duong, president and CEO of VWS, and Huynh Thi Lan Phuong, vice president of VWS, have recently granted VND1 billion ($45,600) to the Sponsoring Association for Poor Patients in Ho Chi Minh City at Nguyen Trai hospital. The donation will sponsor eye surgeries for 100 poor patients, in particular those in need of cataract surgery in the provinces of Binh Thuan, Dong Thap, and Ca Mau. It also sponsors 25 heart surgeries for disadvantaged patients in critical condition. Speaking at the ceremony, David Duong said, VWS is committed to contributing to the homeland. Aside from business activities, VWS is also involved in many corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes. In particular, we have helped many poor patients who need eye surgery to cure their blindness. The company has run this programme for years with annual surgery costs of VND100 million ($4,500). When we visited a paediatric clinic sponsored by the association a few weeks ago, we saw some critical cases in need of surgery. Therefore, I decided to support the association to help the patients. In fact, many disadvantaged people need support from the community and businesses, he said. Moreover, VWS has set up a sponsoring fund for the community with a donation of VND1 billion ($45,600). The fund has helped many people to get loans to improve their livelihoods. VWS has also been active in CSR activities in both Ho Chi Minh City and Long An.

Applying the latest technology from the US, the facility has a closed system consisting of landfills, a high-tech sewage treatment facility, a compost fertilizer factory, and a waste-to-power plant. The complex also has an administrative centre, uses green energy, and has facilities to convert waste into fluid and CNG.

Once fully completed, the complex is expected to meet the demand of waste treatment for Long An, Ho Chi Minh City, and the southern key economic zone. The complex will create employment for 8,000 to 10,000 workers.Mourners leave the funeral of Meadow Pollack, a victim of the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Fla., on Friday. Nikolas Cruz, a former student, was charged with several counts of premeditated murder on Thursday.President Donald Trump gestures to the media as he leaves the White House on Friday in Washington for a trip to his private Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. A Russian troll farm tried to trick Americans into following Russian-fed propaganda in 2016 that pushed U.S. voters toward then-Republican candidate Trump and away from Democrat Hillary Clinton, according to an indictment.

Tom Ford and Tory Burch show contrasting views about women and fashion



New York's Autumn/Winter 2018 shows reflect the current debate about attitudes to women  above, Tom Ford (left) and Tory Burch (right)

InDigital.TV

In the wake of #MeToo and Time's Up - the defiance of women against male sexual aggression - what stance should designers take at the first collections of new year 2018?

Modesty? Anger? Contrition? Discretion?

Tom Ford: Splashy glamour

Well POW! to all that from Tom Ford. Or "Tom Ford Beverly Hills" as he announced in his own writing on a sparkling black and silver sweat top. That battled for attention with colour blocked puffer jackets, leopard print hosiery and the same raw, animalistic patterns on sporty outfits.

Tom Ford Autumn/Winter 2018

InDigital.TV

Tom has left London for LA, where he is a genuine player in the movie industry. But his fashion attitude was that of a West Coast novice with his references to the splashy glamour of Rodeo Drive. That spirit was transported to a specially constructed set in New York's Park Avenue Armory, where the designer held his menswear show earlier this week.

Tom Ford Autumn/Winter 2018

InDigital.TV

For 'normal' day wear, there was a touch of body-conscious swagger in tailored trouser suits and especially body-tracing jackets. But some of the show was played out in colour and pattern: vivid turquoise, shocking pink and blood orange on a puffer jacket worn with stretch leggings. As a contrast to the cascade of leopard or snakeskin patterns, there might be just plain stretch pants - but in shimmering metallic copper. A glitter bag spelled out the words "Pussy Power".

Tom Ford Autumn/Winter 2018

InDigital.TV

Was the purpose of the show to present defiance to the casting-couch sexual violence of a movie world that has been beating its breast and saying "Mea culpa"?

If so, that line did not work for me. If anything, the clothes - a black dress with a fleshy cutaway at sides and back, and the oversize sparkly earrings - seemed more like a throwback to the 1980s, or to Ford's rampant sexuality in clothes from his Gucci years in the 1990s.

Tom Ford Autumn/Winter 2018

InDigital.TV

There was not enough wit - or perhaps wisdom - in this collection, although it will no doubt be lapped up by his fans and people for whom even the name Mulholland Drive has a throb of sensuality.

Tom Ford Autumn/Winter 2018

InDigital.TV

Tory Burch: Pretty - but purposeful

"Resilience," said Tory Burch, backstage from a mighty arched room filled with pink carnations. "Resilience," she repeated as she hugged Sienna Miller, one of a posse of front-row women including Julianne Moore and Ethiopian sustainability activist Liya Kebede.

The show notes described a colourful but purposeful collection, referring to the "effortless style" of Lee Radziwill, often known only as Jacqueline Kennedy's sister; and also of modern dance troupe Pina Bausch.

This mix produced a more powerful view of womanhood than Tory usually creates with her precise floral patterns. For winter 2018, the vision was not just of flower prints with an arty edge. The outfits might intermix florals on slithers of crepe de chine, team georgette with a shearling winter coat, or blend wool and linen into a coat.

Tory Burch Autumn/Winter 2018

InDigital.TV

The result was not just about keeping warm in a winter season. It seemed to express different facets of modern femininity - right down to the low-heeled shoes with pointed toes.

Significantly, too, the garments encased body shapes without any cling. And apart from one single A-line skirt, hemlines more typically fell to mid-calf.

Tory Burch Autumn/Winter 2018

InDigital.TV

"Feminine layers mixed with classical tailoring," said Tory, as though it were a statement of sexual equality today.

You can't read too much politics into a fashion show. But it is a designer's role to capture the moment. And by loosening up her pretty precision and mixing hard and soft fabrics, as much as attitudes, this show scored high for a modern woman aiming at her peers.

Tory Burch Autumn/Winter 2018

InDigital.TV

Why Self-Portrait lace is loved by a future princess



Meghan Markle wearing a Self-Portrait dress at an event in New York in 2016 and a white dress from Self-Portrait's Autumn/Winter 2018 show

Getty Images/Indigital

Extraordinary as it might once have seemed that Meghan Markle, an American television actress, should be about to marry into the British royal family, just as surprising is the success of Malaysia-born Han Chong. His Self-Portrait line, especially the street-wise lace dresses, have been worn by both Meghan and her soon-to-be sister-in-law the Duchess of Cambridge.

Prince Harry with Meghan Markle wearing a lace Self-Portrait dress to attend her first Christmas lunch with the Queen and royal family at Buckingham Palace

Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in a crochet-lace Self-Portrait dress for a 2016 film premiere in London to benefit the charity Action on Addiction

Getty Images

"I think what I do is a bit young and at the same time it's corporate," said the designer. He was offering music to the ears of women who have work/life dress demands, even if that does not include having to put tiaras on their heads.

Self-Portrait Autumn/Winter 2018

Indigital

"I try to get the right balance of being not too feminine and to keep it quite modern - and I think the English are proud of their royals because they are like a new generation," continued the designer backstage, doffing a trilby hat. He was surrounded by a crowd of enthusiasts - not least buyers, who claim that almost every Self-Portrait outfit on offer is snapped up by clients.

Self-Portrait Autumn/Winter 2018

Indigital

So, what is the secret of Han Chong's success? This collection was a puzzle because Self-Portrait's previous routine was to offer a presentation of still models with the focus was mostly on lace. By contrast, at this Autumn/Winter 2018 show, the winter coat, layered over a dress or trousers, was one the categories that the designer identified as part of "building a wardrobe for winter that a real woman wants to wear".

Self-Portrait Autumn/Winter 2018

Indigital

"A good coat and how to layer it is always the starting point," he claimed - although whether that is true in the era of the puffer coat is open to question.

Self-Portrait Autumn/Winter 2018

Indigital

Even if there were some strong individual pieces such as a black and white plaid suit or a scarlet woolly cardigan pulled down to give it 'portrait' shoulders, the designer's forte is in the lacy fabrics that were at first slipped under the outerwear.

With this show, Han Chong had moved on. His ability to focus on the sporty rather than the sexy gave a sweet freshness to his work and made it a winning hand for a royal flush.General Jim Mattis, Secretary of Defense, declared that he did not have any proof that Syria had ever, at any time, used chemical weapons  neither in 2013 nor in 2017 when the White House ordered the bombing of the airbase at Shayrat as a reprisal measure for the chemical attack that the Syrian government had allegedly undertaken against the base at Khan Sheikhoun.

However, only two weeks before this declaration, that is on 23 January, the US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, participated at an International Conference in Paris against impunity when chemical weapons are used, accusing President al-Assad of having repeatedly used this type of weapon.On 6 February 2018, Israel bombed a Syrian Military Research Centre at Jamraya near Damascus [1]. The justification the Israeli army used for this operation: the important aim of destroying a centre of research on chemical weapons. This rhetoric has been rejected by the US Defense Secretary, General Jim Mattis, who declared to a journalist from Newsweek that there was absolutely no evidence that Syria had ever used chemical weapons [2]. In actual fact, the centre at Jamaraya was home to Iranian technicians who had been tasked with adapting methods of precision guidance for long range missiles.

Israels fear is that Iran might help Syria recover the Golan which, under international law, it (Israel) is occupying illegally. In any event, this is what we can conclude from the map published on 11 February in the evening by the Israeli army, later withdrawn by Tsahal. On this map, the Golan is described as a disputed territory and not an integral part of Israel.

From its base at Palmyre, Iran had probably sent a drone comparable to the US RQ-170 Sentinel above the occupied Golan. Tsahal had brought it down and had launched a vast operation aimed at destroying seven Iranian sites in Syria. An Israeli F-16 had been brought down by Syria.Photo: Patrick Wymore/The CW

If youre going to paint yourself into a corner, you might as well use the broadest brush available, and splatter the viewer while youre at it. This was the operative philosophy of Crazy Ex-Girlfriends third season finale  an audacious capper by this shows standards, and intriguingly reckless.

Co-written and directed by series co-creator Aline Brosh McKenna, Nathaniel is Irrelevant built to Rebecca (Rachel Bloom) pushing her ex-lover-turned-stalker Trent Maddock (Paul Welsh) off a roof to prevent him from stabbing another of her ex-boyfriends, Nathaniel Plimpton III (Scott Michael Foster) at a party. Although Trent didnt die  he conveniently fell into a swimming pool  Rebecca was charged with attempted second-degree murder. She intended to plead not guilty, with the assurance that Nathaniel, whod just dumped his longtime girlfriend to be with the woman whod saved his life, would represent her. But after a gleefully dark musical number that affirmed their bond  Nothing is Ever Anyones Fault, featuring the line, Psychology is a great excuse, plus exculpatory biographical details about John Wayne Gacy and Adolf Hitler  Rebecca ended up changing her plea from not guilty to guilty, or, in a Freudian slip, responsible. Maybe I have borderline [personality disorder], she told the judge and the assembled witnesses, but Im not insane. Im responsible for everything that happened. All of it.

The immediate trigger for this was the sight of her friend Paula (Donna Lynne Champlin), whom shed falsely warned of blackmail by Trent, entering the courtroom. But the last several episodes had built toward some kind of deep reckoning, heralded by a number of forewarnings, including the intertwining of Trents near-death with Heather Davis (Vella Lovell) giving birth as a surrogate mother for Darryl (Pete Gardner)  a not-too-subtle tip off that a new Rebecca may have been born on that roof  as well as a number of contrite statements by our heroine, including an admission that shed been feeling crushing, overwhelming amounts of guilt for all the things Ive done to people lately.

I honestly have no idea how the show will get itself out of the mess it just got itself into. But then, Ive said that after every season finale, plus several episodes within each seasons (such as that extraordinary run earlier this year where Rebecca bottomed out). McKenna, Bloom, and their collaborators somehow found a way to reset the shows narrative and keep going without seeming to just wave away everything that had happened up to that point. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend exists in a madcap romantic comedy-satire-musical universe where nothing that occurs can be judged by real world standards of plausibility, and neednt be, because the writers and actors are mainly concerned with emotional and psychological realism. A lot of the plotting this season had a whipsaw quality and there were a number of seemingly arbitrary, because we said so storytelling decisions. But as always, the unadulterated cheek of this series ultimately won out, as in the episode where Heather suddenly decided to take on the surrogate mom duties that Rebecca couldnt handle with no lead-up to speak of, and the show moved the plot forward eight months in a single camera move, tracking Heather as she made the declaration, entered a doorway, then emerged from another doorway with a hugely pregnant belly.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has been one of my favorite series ever since it debuted in 2015. Im still fond of it, in part because its obviously been a struggle for the writers to keep the plot engines chugging along in an agreeable manner. Bloom and McKenna have chosen to build their story around a charismatic antiheroine whos nothing but trouble to herself and other people, while doing their damnedest to build out the ensemble with almost equally eccentric and screwed up supporting characters, and balancing the need to have enormous events happen each year without completely destroying the fragile comic ecosystem theyve created. Of course, this is the same kind of conundrum that has challenged countless notable series starring charismatic antiheroes, from NYPD Blue and The Sopranos through Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and BoJack Horseman, but none of those shows mounted two or more original musical numbers each week. The culture critic James Wolcott once observed that after a certain point, any TV series with artistic ambitions invariably stops being about what it was originally about and becomes (at least partly) about itself. At that point, the show foregrounds the struggle to continue to entertain and surprise the audience after theyve familiarized themselves with every tool in the storytellers kit. Thats how you get numbers like the delightful Whos The New Guy? (which was reprised recently) and other metafictional, self-aware touches. Its how you get eye-popping feasts of absurdity like Paulas medically graphic showstopper Miracle of Birth, and Trents epic account of his time away from the show, which saw him getting run over by a bus, breaking every bone in my body  except, unfortunately, my eardrums, tearing himself out of his full body cast, going full-Cast Away in a desert cave, eating raw lizard meat and howling with coyotes. And its how you get plot escalations like this absurd and delightful ending, which practically dares you not to tune in to season four.Fentz. Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Note to self: Start choreographing True Detective routine for the Winter Games in Beijing now. While competing in the Mens Free Skate in Pyeongchang on Friday, Germanys Paul Fentz committed to a full Game of Thrones moment, complete with faux armor, show score, cheeky red-gloved hand and a vow sealed by blood and family to never, ever stop twirling. Sadly Fentz was reportedly forced to turn a quad into a triple out of necessity following a rocky launch, bringing down his score. As painful as it is to falter, at least he still has four whole years to nail down his Real Time With Bill Maher skate for 2022.3 billboards near Miami are trolling Sen. Marco Rubio after the Florida school shooting https://t.co/lgLji4dgUr pic.twitter.com/6tO8PiYBAz  CNN (@CNN) February 16, 2018

Ebbing, Missouri, might be a fake place, but Marco Rubios office in Doral, Florida, is very real. Today there are three mobile billboards going around the area, pressing the senator to take action on gun control. The signs imitate the protest Frances McDormands character stages in the movie Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri to chide the local police force for not solving the rape and murder of her daughter. The signs cruising around the Miami area today say:

Slaughtered in school

And still no gun control?

How come, Marco Rubio?

Seventeen people  teachers and students  were shot to death at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, earlier this week, with more still being treated for injuries, after a 19-year-old former student entered the campus and opened fire with an AR-15 that he legally purchased at a gun shop last year. The billboards were paid for by the progressive activist group Avaaz, and its deputy director, Emma Ruby-Sachs, told CNN, Today citizens are asking: How come Rubio refuses to protect our children? The senator has taken fire across the country for his toothless response to the shooting, calling it inexplicable. We called (that) inexcusable.On Thursday we told you about State Representative Will Ainsworth and his plans to introduce legislation to arm teachers after they go through training.



WAAY 31 asked Governor Kay Ivey about her opinoin on the bill and she said she is not commenting on that potential legislation, but she is willing to work with legislators to make our schools safer.

She didn't elaborate much, but she did have one idea about what she would like to see change.

"Metal detectors coming through the doors, like we have to go through at the airport. For openers," said Governor Ivey.

Governor Ivey isn't the only person weighing in on this topic.

The Alabama Education Association told WAAY 31, The proposed legislation has yet to be filed so we are reserving comment until we have the opportunity to read and review the bill. However, AEA is looking forward to working with Rep. Ainsworth to ensure the safety of all students and staff in Alabama schools, said AEA President Sherry Tucker.

A teacher with the AEA told WAAY 31 everyone is entitled to a safe work environment and that these senseless acts must be stopped.A blanket of smoke threatens to blanket homes in the Blue Mountains and western Sydney on Sunday as winds fan blazes in Hunter region.

A number of large fires burning in the Mount Kaputar, Barrington Tops and Wollemi National Parks are producing large plumes of smoke which are drifting across the state.

Easterly winds initially blew smoke from the fire across the Central Tablelands on Saturday with Mudgee, Wellington and Dubbo reporting heavy smoke in the area.

Updated smoking models released on Saturday afternoon however show that the smoke could start moving south, settling across suburbs in the Blue Mountains and Western Sydney.Turnbull demolished Joyce's scant remaining protection - his claim to a right to privacy. Consensual behaviour between adults had long been considered a private matter, Turnbull told the media, but no more. And the elephant? Irritated by all the bluster, it walked under a low branch on Friday to give the rider a bit of a scare, reminding him of its independence, as it makes its way back towards the path at its own pace. Loading The Prime Minister's remarks had been "inept" and "unnecessary". And the intrusion into his private affairs been hurtful. All he'd done was "pull the scab off for everybody to have a look at". Joyce told the press that he had no intention of considering his position. He was the leader of the Nationals, "an independent political unit". If anything, Turnbull's intervention had "locked in" Joyce's supporters in the Nationals. Joyce at least did the Prime Minister the courtesy of letting him know he was planning a press conference.

Turnbull is still cross but he can't do anything about it but hang on. His impotence has been exposed. He has tried to assert leadership but he's been humiliated.

Remember the last time he was on top? It was Barnaby who refused to follow Turnbull's lead on climate change. He led the Coalition in a revolt, and Tony Abbott took the opportunity to lead the Liberals in joining the revolt. On that occasion, the elephant threw the rider off and trampled him underfoot. The elephant that the Prime Minister rides has different moods, different personas. Sometimes it's Barnaby and the National party. Sometimes it's his conservative Liberal colleagues who take him off in unwanted directions. His most passionate beliefs, the causes he fought for all through his public life, whether the republic, climate change or same sex marriage, he had to shelve as the price of his accession to the leader's job. Sometimes it's a strong and determined minister. Peter Dutton almost invariably gets his way in the Turnbull cabinet, for instance. Congratulations on rearranging the government to create your new super-ministry, Home Affairs Minister.

Kevin Rudd laughs as he speaks with an elderly man after giving a speech at a breakfast in the NSW State Parliament ahead of the 10th anniversary of the National Apology to indigenous people. Credit:AAP Kevin Rudd returned to Australia for a few days this week. It's fair to say that he was not impressed with Turnbull's leadership skills. "Turnbull has demonstrated himself to be a leader's arse," the former prime minister told me. "A guy who always wanted to be Caesar, but not the faintest idea about advancing Australia into the future. That is the tragedy of his political leadership for us." As for the Prime Minister's assertion of moral leadership and his ban on sex between ministers and staff, Rudd's acid suggestion: "He should contract it out to the Saudi Religious Police."

Rudd is no admirer of Barnaby Joyce yet on this matter he sympathises. He laments the disappearance of any rights to privacy: "I'm no defender of Barnaby on public policy matters. I regard him as the worst Australian populist. But his family deserves privacy. "The benchmark for evaluating all of us engaged in public life continues to be raised to the extent that there is no longer any public-private divide." He reserves his toughest criticism for Turnbull: "The bottom line is that the core debates about our country's future continue to fall by the wayside. The essence of political leadership is to lead and not to follow. Turnbull's failure to lead on Aboriginal reconciliation, on climate change, on same-sex marriage, and let them all simply slide away is not inevitable.

"He should dare his party to remove him, given their parliamentary circumstance" of a one-seat majority. Turnbull has said that, if he were no longer leader, he would retire from Parliament. So his party dare not move against him for fear that it would lose government. "He should dare them on the back of having courageous positions on Indigenous reconciliation or climate change action. "Instead, we see him behaving as a slightly more elegant version of Barnaby Joyce in sliding down the populist road." Turnbull's overarching achievement is to survive, hanging on at any cost. Of course, Rudd, too, was thrown and trampled by his own party before remounting as leader years later. It's no easy feat to manage an elephant. True, he concedes, but he draws this contrast: "People may have loved me or loathed me in 2007, but I advanced debate. Whether it was our future beyond being China's quarry, infrastructure for the 21st century, climate change or Indigenous reconciliation.

"It seems that all these serious debates disappear into the sand when the latest piece of titillation arrives. It's no surprise that the people feel a deep alienation from the political system - we've been through nine months of politicians talking about themselves, whether it's citizenship or Barnaby Joyce." He blames Turnbull for failing to sustain the big debates, but Labor is hardly blameless here.

"Australians want us to stop taking about ourselves and start talking about them," Bill Shorten intoned to reporters on Thursday morning, pretending to take the high road even as his party prepared to take the low road of a stunt on the floor of the House to keep everyone talking about Joyce. The opposition confected outrage at every opportunity over even the smallest, most trivial detail of Joyce's situation while pretending that its only concern was for public administration. One example - Chris Bowen asked Joyce in question time whether he'd seen a real estate agent's video advertising the Armidale house that Joyce was living in. Irrelevant drivel, but any excuse to keep the story running. In truth, Labor was thrilling in the bloodsport of trying to bring down a member of the opposing tribe. And of course it couldn't have done this without the excited help of a very enthusiastic media. The whole episode was launched by The Daily Telegraph's new low for Australian media standards - the paper took paparazzi-style photos of Joyce's new partner, pregnant, as she crossed a road, and plastered her picture across its front page, knowing full well the pain that the intrusion was about to inflict on her, on Joyce's wife Natalie and their family.

And, once the Tele broke the story, it was picked up energetically by all the rest. Big matters, big debates, big stories fell by the wayside. For instance, the national effort to try to recover from the early colonial slow genocide waged on Australia's first peoples. This was the week of the annual Closing the Gap report into policies to bring Indigenous Australians out of the Third World-living conditions they've endured. And the 10th anniversary of the apology to the stolen generation. The grim news was that only three of the seven key metrics were on track to meet the bipartisan national goals. And there was much more besides. But this debate, these stories were soon overwhelmed and eventually buried by the pseudo-debate over Barnaby Joyce's marital woes.

It might sound like a pretty solid performance that there were 4226 mentions of Aboriginal affairs across all TV and radio stations this week, plus 213 references in print and another 2254 in online media, based on data from media monitoring firm Isentia. But this was dwarfed by 43,969 TV and radio references to the Joyce affair, more than 10 times the number, plus 964 print mentions and another 8017 in online media.

Under the blare of coverage of Joyce, a series of troubling Indigenous policy developments were lost. One was the fact that the longstanding and admirable bipartisan approach to Aboriginal reconciliation was lost. Labor asked that the government persist with the proposal for an "Indigenous voice", a council or committee of Aboriginal representatives to make recommendations to the federal government on indigenous matters. But Turnbull refused, ruling it out as an exclusionary "third chamber" of Parliament. It would have no power of lawmaking, so this is misleading. Yet rather than the leaders seeking a quiet compromise, Shorten demanded. Turnbull then escalated, promising to make it an election issue if Labor persisted. Progress to Indigenous reconciliation died on the floor of the Parliament this week, largely unnoticed and unmourned in the frenzy over Joyce. Another vital national matter came perilously close to the same fate this week - water supply to Australia's food bowl. When the Senate voted down the government's latest plan for water allocations in the Murray-Darling river system, some of the states threatened to abandon the scheme. Can Australia sustain an equitable water sharing plan, allowing enough water to be pumped out for agriculture and also enough to remain to sustain the river's many ecosystems? This remains in perilous balance. Again, it got scant interest and scant coverage in the all-consuming excitment over Joyce.Since Isaacs took over in 2007, the group has hosted big names including Nicole Kidman, Arianna Huffington and Richard Branson. So how do they hook such big fish? Isaacs, who relocated to the US in 2016 to run Business Chicks there, said it's all about building relationships. She said some of the deals can take years of back and forth to come together. "You can start talking to someone and five or six years later it comes off. It's not like you make a pitch and it comes off straight away," she said on Friday.

"We are very patient, we will wait for the right talent and strike when the opportunity comes up." That may be so but The Goss has another theory. Business Chicks has a history of bringing out some talent on a "private" contract. So when The Goss requested an interview with Hudson ahead of next week's lunches, we were told a firm "no". Isaacs said every guest is different and it is Business Chicks' job to accommodate their needs. "We give the talent a really good time. It's our job to protect the talent," she said. Turns out the only person who gets to interview Hudson will be Isaacs herself, who we're hoping will ask at least a few tough questions about Hudson's Fabletics active wear label, which has made nearly $250 million in four years.

In 2016, Fabletics was forced to improve the transparency of its pricing model after a raft of complaints to the Australia Competition and Consumer Commission. Business Chicks boss Emma Isaacs sees herself "as a curator of talent and subjects and ideas". Credit:Louise Kennerley Fabletics, which Hudson co-founded, works on a subscription model, much like a mobile phone contract, where customers pay a monthly fee in return for new merchandise. Some consumers complained to the ACCC they found themselves locked in to contracts without being aware of what they were signing up for. But enough about that. Let's at least hope Kate will talk about her central role in Time's Up, the movement started by 300 Hollywood women to help fight sexual harassment and abuse. As the owner of the country's biggest women's network, Isaacs said she felt a responsibility to address the #metoo and #timesup issues with Hudson.

"We're trying to answer all the questions on every single woman's mind," she said. "I see myself as a curator of talent and subjects and ideas. Celebrity gets ticked off with a talent like Kate but there's also her advocacy work ... they're the people who are interesting to us, not one-dimensional types." Ready for take-off It seems as the bad news continues to pour out of Myer like jars of molten Christmas gift Nutella  chief executive Richard Umbers was mercilessly forced out on Wednesday  the good news keeps coming for David Jones' stable of Australian designers. Star power ... Tess (left) and Beth Macgraw are attracting attention from celebrities for their fashion label. Credit:Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images for David JonesIllustration: Matt Golding On Friday ALH lodged a Victorian Supreme Court appeal to challenge a local government decision to block one of its pubs from installing 40 machines in Melbourne's northern suburbs. Today it has machines in 81 of its 82 pubs. Its aggression in the industry prompted the Reverend Tim Costello, director of the Alliance for Pokie Reform, to criticise Woolworths directly "I am appalled that ALH has decided to go to the Victorian Supreme Court in an attempt to force pokies into the Commercial Hotel in South Morang," he said. "Woolworths is already the nation's biggest pokies operator, with annual losses on its 12,000 machines approaching $2 billion of the world-record $13 billion a year lost on pokies in Australia."

So how did the Fresh Food People become the single largest pokie owner in Australia? It is a story that begins with a turf war with Coles in Queensland in the early 2000s. At the time Coles and Woolies were slugging it out in the race to corporatise the nation's high streets. They battled over the business once conducted by butchers and greengrocers, bakers and petrol stations. Then they began competing over bottle shop sales. The problem was that in Queensland, to be licensed to own a bottle shop you needed to first own a pub. Even better, once you owned a pub, you got the right not only to open up a liquor barn on site, but three bottle shops within a 10-kilometre radius. Soon the sunshine state was crawling with suits from down south looking for pubs to buy. One veteran of the pub wars, a former retail executive, recalls both parties were neck and neck for the first year or so, closing in on around 20 pubs each, most of them selected as having a suitable footprint for retail sales rather than having high-yielding gaming rooms.

Coles couldn't have known then that Woolworths had an advantage. At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney the then Woolworths boss Roger Corbett enjoyed a chance meeting with Bruce Mathieson, a Melbourne-based pub baron who had been one of the first in the industry to recognise how much money could be made from the pokie machines that were then starting to spread through the nation's local pubs. Corbett and Mathieson cut a deal and created a joint venture Australian Leisure & Hospitality Group (ALH) to take over pub businesses in Queensland. ALH bought the Foster's pub business, and in one move took over 131 pubs around the country. By 2004 Coles had been beaten cold. Under the deal Woolworths would provide the corporate might and hold a 75 per cent share of the business, Mathieson would keep 25 per cent and provide the pub and pokie industry expertise that Woolies lacked. (Today Forbes pegs Mathieson as Australia's 42nd richest man, with a personal fortune of almost $1 billion.) By comparison, says the former retail executive, Coles did not at first fully understand the business it had bought into. He recalls leading senior staff on a tour of the company's new Queensland acquisitions. They seemed unimpressed, he says, until they returned to Melbourne and, a short time later, saw a month's worth of figures from the pubs. "They rang up and said they thought we had made a mistake. We hadn't." Suddenly gaming was making real money for the retailers. Coles reported in 2009 that it grown its hotel portfolio to a total of 85 hotels on new sites in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.

Today Woolies, via ALH, owns 330 licensed venues and more than 12,000 pokie machines, far more than Star City or Crown Casino. By 2016 ALH pubs and clubs across Australia made an estimated $1.1 billion in net revenue from poker machines, while Coles' appetite for gaming revenue had waned and its return on about 3000 machines was much lower  around $185 million. With about 1460 machines in NSW, the annual net profit from gambling in ALH group hotels could be estimated at close to $140 million in 2016-17 and was put at $108 million in a 2012 study by Charles Livingstone, a researcher with Monash University's school of public health and a vocal opponent of the pokie industry. But the move into gaming did not come without some discomfort. Australian adults lose on average twice as much as those in any other Western nation to gambling.

According to research by the Australian Institute of Family Studies published last November, 1.4 million Australians gamble on the pokies. People dependent on welfare play pokies at a higher rate than most and those with a gambling problem account for 17 per cent of regular punters, the study found. Problem gamblers account for more than half of all spending on pokies. (In response to questions from Fairfax Media, Woolworths said surveys it had seen suggested less than 1 per cent of Australians were problem gamblers.) Other research suggests that around 20 per cent of the world's pokies can be found in Australia and 10 per cent in NSW, though Clubs NSW disputes these figures, saying they do not include other popular forms of electronic gaming around the world. None of this sits easily with Woolworths' sunny public face, nor according to some reports, with the views of some of its most senior executives. Time and again over the years following the ALH deal Corbett himself was asked how his devout Anglican ideals accommodated the expanding gambling business Woolworths controlled. In 2006 he told AAP in response to a question along these lines, "My greatest obligation is to do what I'm employed to do by the shareholders and that is to do my very best in their interests at all times, and that was the overriding principle," he said.

"So you never considered walking away?" "I wouldn't say that," he replied. It is not clear how much brand damage the company's pokies interests is causing Woolworths, though public sentiment appears to be turning against the industry. Two Essential polls in 2012 found there was 67 per cent support for pokie reform, while other polls suggest 80 per cent of Tasmanians now support a Labor policy to remove the machines from the state's pubs and clubs. In 2012 the activist group GetUp! campaigned to have both Coles and Woolworths agree to stop expanding their gaming portfolios, reduce gaming hours and impose $1 bet limits, in line with a 2010 Productivity Commission report. Woolworths declined. When a group of shareholder activists brought forward anti-gambling resolutions at an annual general meeting they were defeated by a resounding 97.5 per cent. Soundly beaten in the race to dominate the sector, Coles has embraced many of those measures and is calling for Woolworths to join it. Some analysts have suggested Coles is simply seeking to curtail its competitor's bottom line. Asked in 2016 if this was the case, the then boss of Wesfarmers, which owns Coles, Richard Goyder, denied this. "That's way too Machiavellian  this is something we've been thinking about for a while," The Australian Financial Review reported him as saying.

Woolworths rejects the characterisation of ALH as a pokies business. In a statement it told Fairfax Media that its ALH venues "offer a diverse hospitality experience including sports bars, bistros, restaurants, cafes, electronic gaming, retail liquor, accommodation, nightclubs and wagering" and that it employed 16,000 staff. The shareholder activist and journalist Stephen Mayne, who also works with the anti-pokies group the Alliance for Gambling Reform, rejects this outright, and uses the group's aggression in the sector in Victoria as an example. "This is not a pub business, it is a pokies business," he says, citing ALH's legal battle to have pokies installed in all of its pubs in Victoria, a state where just 18 per cent of pubs overall have pokies. Any qualms Corbett might have once had in taking a key role in gambling he appears to have overcome. Corbett left the helm of Woolworths in 2006 and later served as a consultant to the group. In 2016 he took over as chairman of ALH. Total revenue from ALH hotels in 2017 was $4.25 billion, with profit after tax of $206.8 million, in 2016 it was $4.1 billion with profit after tax of $122.8 million, according to the Woolworths annual reports. In 2015 it was $3.95 billion with profit after tax of $158.8 million.A police officer has had part of his leg amputated after he was struck by a driver who ploughed through a random breath test site in south-west Sydney on Friday night.

A 22-year-old man has been since been charged over the incident, for alleged dangerous driving while using his mobile phone.

The senior constable was one of two officers seriously injured in the incident.

The highway patrol officers were setting up the breath test site on Campbelltown Road at Leumeah when they were struck about 8.20pm.A woman is in critical condition following a family violence incident in Perth on Saturday evening.

Police were called to a Gosnells home about 5.15pm where officers found the woman with a serious head injury.

The woman was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital. Credit:Peter Bennetts / Fiona Stanley Hospital Design Collaboration

The 68-year-old was rushed to Fiona Stanley Hospital for emergency treatment.

An 18-year-old man has been arrested in relation to the incident.Barcelona: Catalan politicians and educational groups expressed anger on Friday after the government of Mariano Rajoy said it was considering using direct rule to bring the Spanish language back to schools in the autonomous community, igniting a touch paper in the independence crisis.

Demonstrators gather during a protest in support of Catalan politicians imprisoned at the Sant Jaume square in Barcelona, Spain. Credit:AP

Secessionists accused Madrid of -authoritarian behaviour and inflaming Spanish nationalism with the proposal to use Article 155 to impose changes in Catalan education - an issue that has long been a political and social battleground.

The outcry came after the Spanish Ministry of Education confirmed such a move was under discussion, following a meeting between Mr Rajoy and two Catalan groups that advocate -bilingual education.Bangkok: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has suggested Filipinos avoid using condoms because they arent pleasurable in the latest of many wisecracks that have outraged rights advocates and social welfare groups.

Duterte told returning overseas workers, mostly women, to use free contraceptive pills and illustrated his point by putting a wrapped piece of candy to his mouth.

Here, try eating it without unwrapping it, he said.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Credit:AP

Eat it. Thats what a condom is like.On Friday, Robert Mueller, the special counsel, indicted 13 Russian nationals and described a vast, sophisticated Russian operation to interfere in the election, delivering to Trump the kind of evidence that the president has long sought to dismiss as political attacks from his rivals.

"Every time he sees me he says I didn't do that, and I really believe that when he tells me that, he means it," Trump said at the time.

Washington: In November, President Donald Trump told reporters that he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin when he vigorously denied having meddled in the 2016 presidential election, an allegation that Trump has repeatedly called a hoax.

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Mueller's indictments do not directly address the question of whether Trump or any of his campaign associates colluded with Russia in the effort to affect the presidential election. Trump has insisted that "there is no collusion," and he repeated that contention Friday afternoon in his first comment on the Russian operation described in the indictments.

"Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for President," he tweeted shortly after departing the White House for Mar-a-Lago, his estate in Florida. "The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong  no collusion!"

But by laying out in excruciating detail the evidence of Russian meddling spanning the last four years, Mueller instantly created a new political reality for Trump.

It remains unclear how the president will respond to that reality. In addition to saying that he believed Putin's denial, Trump has repeatedly condemned those who have said that the Russian meddling occurred, including members of his own intelligence community.By Feb. 16, 2018

West Kentucky Community and Technical College students will showcase their talents at an Open Mic event February 26 beginning at 11 am in the college's Student Center. A new student contest will be part of the event for the first time.





The WKCTC Student Government Association (SGA) is organizing an ice cream eating contest to take place during intermission of the talent show.

"This is something new and fun for our students to participate in during Open Mic," said SGA President Gavin Posey. "We hope to see everyone come out to our first Open Mic event of the semester and to see us all get a brain freeze!"





For more information, contact Amy Elmore at amy.elmore@kctcs.edu.

PADUCAH, KY - WKCTC students showcase their talents at an Open Mic event, including the first Ice Cream Eating Contest.Cards hold off Mets 7-6 in 11 to move into playoff positionThe West Virginia School Board Association has adopted a resolution supporting the states teachers and service personnel. Notably, this resolution was drafted by Wetzel County Board of Education President Warren Grace and Wetzel County Board of Education member Amy Cooley.

Cooley said during the Winter Conference of the WVSBA, Grace requested the association show its support of teachers and service personnel.

Cooley said the resolution was adopted on Feb. 17 and will be submitted.

The resolution states that the WV State Legislature has the constitutional mandate to adequately fund public education, but teachers havent received a legislatively passed pay increase for six years.

A proposed increase in employee contributions to state insurance (PEIA) will place an additional financial burden on all current and retired educators.

Furthermore, the says WV is losing highly qualified personnel to surrounding states due to the fact that our teachers and service personnel rank 48th in terms of median teacher and personnel salaries.

Public education is the widely acknowledged backbone of any civilized society, the resolution states.

Meanwhile, the WVSBA represents all 55 county boards of educations, and through the resolution, the WVSBA urges immediate passage of legislation addressing these critically important issues.SISTER CITIES ANNOUNCES THIRD ANNUAL ART & WRITING CONTEST

ENTRIES DUE BY MARCH 29

Hendersonville Sister Cities Calling Young Artists & Authors

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 15, 2018)  Hendersonville Sister Cities (HSC) is inviting local students aged 13-18 to participate in its third annual art and writing contest, as part of the organizations participation in the international Young Artists & Authors Showcase (YAAS) hosted annually by Sister Cities International.

Locally, HSC will accept student artwork, photography, film, and writing through March 29, and display the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place winners and 10 finalists in a traveling showcase at Black Bear Coffee Co., and the Henderson County Public Library Main Branch from April 6-22.

Winners of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place prizes of $200, $100, and $50, respectively, will be unveiled the evening of Friday, April 6 at Black Bear Coffee Co. during a gallery opening event kicking off the two-week traveling showcase. The local 1st Place piece of art, photography, film, essay or poem will be sent to represent Hendersonville and HSC at the Sister Cities International 2017 Young Artists & Authors Showcase  which awards $1,000 to five Grand Prize Winners.

If the HSC entry to the international competition is a Grand Prize Winner or Finalist, HSC will sponsor the local students travel to the Annual Meeting in August in Aurora, Colorado.

By March 29, students should submit art, photography, films, essays, or poetry following the 2018 theme, The Art of Diplomacy, highlighting the importance of citizen diplomacy and the innovative ways citizen diplomats can achieve peace through people-to-people interaction. Students are encouraged to draw inspiration from their experiences with travel, exchange, international friendships, Sister Cities, and their goals to present their vision of where the future will lead.

Entries will be judged by a judging panel of local artists and writers. All local entries must be accompanied by corresponding Young Artists & Authors Showcase entry forms for Artwork, Essays & Poems, Photography, or Film, available for download at http://sistercities.org/YAAS.

Students submitting artwork and photography should email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to coordinate in-person submission of their original pieces; students submitting essays, poetry or film may email their entries as attachments and the entry forms to the above address.A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR DACA "DREAMERS" PREFERRED BY MOST WHKP.COM POLL RESPONDERS

WHKP.COM

Readers of the WHKP web site, WHKP.com, are about as divided as the United States Congress over the DACA and immigration reform issue.

But one thing was clear in a recent WHKP.com web site poll...the vast majority of those responding are opposed to "blanket" amnesty for illegal aliens.

Over some sixty one responses to the poll, fifty seven per cent of those responding favored some type of "pathway" to citizenship for DACA "dreamers". Thirty one per cent of those who responded are opposed to any type of amnestry, or "pathway", at all. Only two per cent of the responders favor total amnesty.

As the week ended, the Congress had been unable to take any final action on any of a variety of options for the DACA issue..

A new poll, now on the WHKP.com web site, asks for the public's opinion on whether public school teachers should be armed in their classroms...this after the week's mass killings in Florida.According to the backgrounder: "The Smith & Wesson M&P15 assault rifle demonstrates the clear and present danger of a gun designed for war and ruthlessly marketed for profit to civilians."

The same model assault rifle was also used in an attack that left 12 dead at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, in 2012, and in a mass shooting at a community center in San Bernardino, California, in 2015 that left 14 dead.

The VPC backgrounder (http://www.vpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/FloridashootingSmithWesson.pdf) details the history and profit motive behind Smith & Wessons introduction into the civilian market of its M&P15 semiautomatic assault rifles in 2006, as well as the companys financial support of the National Rifle Association.

In May 2013, the company was honored by the NRA at its annual meeting for donating at least $1 million to the organization.

The briefing paper also explains the history, distinguishing features and lethal capabilities of assault rifles like the M&P15.

The backgrounder includes production data for the rifle, as well as quotes from Smith & Wessons (now known as American Outdoor Brands Corp.) filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.WiGBits Headline News Would you like to receive our WiGBits? Signup today!

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Digital Issue Would you like to receive our Digital Issue? Signup today!The life of a child can be a blur, quickly moving from toy to toy, new adventure to new adventure.

In all of just a few short minutes on any given day, 8-year-old Tate Morgan may jump from his Pokemon card collection to his larger-than-life tiger head to his Batman and Spiderman action figures.

That frenetic pace may make his patience and determination about his hair that much more noteworthy.

Tate's had been growing his hair for more than a quarter of his young life. The last haircut came Dec. 24, 2015.

"He's like, 'Mom, I don't want to do it, I don't want to cut my hair,'" Tate's mother, Kassandra Morgan, said. "I was like, 'Why?' He's like, 'I don't know. I want to do something good with it.'"

Since then, the boy has skipped regular haircuts in favor of unbridled growth. On Friday, his hair extended well below his shoulders.

"Every time I go to a new school with long hair, they call me a girl," Tate exclaimed. "I'm a boy!"

To him, the questions and looks had been worth it. His long hair had a purpose.

Tate had planned for over two years to donate his hair, so another child with cancer could benefit from it.

Friday afternoon, he and his mom drove to Orem and walked into Cookie Cutters, a salon off of University Parkway that caters to children.

Stylist Tyra Eckersell gathered Tate's strands into a ponytail and handed the scissors to his mom.

In a few short snips, the long hair was gone.

"Can I say, 'Bye,' to my hair?" the boy asked, kissing the ponytail.

Mom beamed.

"I half want to cry, but I'm half excited," Tate's mom said. "I'm so happy. I'm proud of him."

The mother said the hair was being donated to Children With Hair Loss.

Eckersell said this was the first time she had seen a boy grow his hair long and donate it.

"I just love how little kids have the biggest hearts," Eckersell said. "They just want to give."

Tate danced as he looked in the mirror. He was happy with his new hairstyle that was short on the sides and up in front.

"Because I just love helping people," he exclaimed.

Tate and his mom were happy two years of determination were going to help someone else.

"I'm speechless," Tate's mom said. "I can't stop looking at him!"Six police cars, several officers and the Sherrill Police Chief were at VVS Schools Friday. They weren't there in response to a threat, but, rather, parents' and students' fear and anxiety over a situation that evolved on Thursday.

As school got underway Thursday, students and parents reported a threat on social media to school officials. A principal greeted the school bus and escorted the student in question directly to his office, searched the student, his bag and locker. No weapon was found. What was discovered was a video blog, or, 'vlog', that the student, a hunter and hunting enthusiast, had created. In it, he is depcited holding a rifle. The photo bears the caption, "It's going to be powerful...?!?" Superintendent Martha Group says NY State Police investigated, finding a history of similar, hunting-themed videos and pictures, but no threat to the school or any person.

"I'm confident with that and I'm confident around the state police investigation. That's their work, that's their job and i think they certainly are trained in looking for patterns of behavior. There was no plan, there's no record of any plan. There was nothing in the home," says Group. "The family was supportive of us sharing more details than we would normally share of a specific student circumstance and again is very disturbed by the anxiety this has caused across the community."

Group says the family and student willingly removed the pictures and videos in question and also removed the legally-possessed guns from their home. There's no school next week, due to mid-winter recess. Superintendent Group says the student will return to school the Wednesday of the following week, when a parent can bring him.

"I think it took on a life of its own, and I certainly can appreciate that in light of what had happened in Florida. Everybody was anxious and on high alert in the community," said Group.UTICA- Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney is taking a stand against President Trumps budget proposal. On Friday, just hours after returning from Washington, the congresswoman reached out to her community.

Tenney held a press conference Friday afternoon at the Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency in Utica to express her opposition to President Trumps proposal to eliminate funding for Community Services Block Grants (CSBG) and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in the budget.

Its been my mission in Washington to eliminate wasteful spending and ensure that government works for the people, said Tenney. The Presidents budget in its current form does not go far enough to achieve this goal.

According to Tenney the Presidents budget proposal is just a blueprint.

The budget would seriously jeopardize the funding that we are getting from these community service block grants that ultimately fund these organizations, said Tenney.

Organizations such as the Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency currently utilizes these grants to help those living in poverty. Tenneys goal is to help organizations like MVCAA in congress.

They do really good work for the people in our communities that are struggling and they help families stay together, said Tenney. We have to continue to restore the funding.

The congresswoman also said, although President Trump has made his budget it doesnt mean anything will be signed into action.

The House of Representatives has a unique power its called the power of the purse, said Tenney. That means all the spending and taxing originates in the House of Representatives not with the executives.

Tenney also believes whatever is signed in Congress will be signed by the President.CLINTON COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)  Linda Decker pled guilty to murder shortly after noon Friday in the Clinton Circuit Court.

Related: Police make arrest in Frankfort death investigation

Ms. Decker is set for sentencing on March 12 at 2:00 p.m.

In her plea, Ms. Decker admitted to the knowing or intentional killing of Betty Wann on September 27, 2016, in Frankfort.

Sixty-seven-year-old Linda Decker faced a preliminary charge of murder in connection with the death of 96-year-old Betty Wann, also of Frankfort.

The Frankfort Police Department investigated the matter with the assistance of the Indiana State Police.DELPHI, Ind. (WLFI)  A Carroll County church is sharing its strategy for safety in the event of a mass shooting or other emergency.

"People know each other and become family," said Delphi United Methodist Church Marriage and Family Life Pastor Sheri Rohrer. "So, you don't think that danger is going to enter the building, but our current events have told us otherwise."

Rohrer said security is something the church takes seriously.

"In light of recent events, we are definitely reviewing some of those things and always, always thinking of security," she added.

Those recent events include a mass shooting at a Texas Church in November. Rohrer said the tragedy shows that every place of worship needs to be prepared.

"No one coming from the outside is going to know whether you're big or small," said Rohrer. "They might just come in."

The Indiana Sheriff's Association is helping to make it possible. It's put together training materials law enforcement can use as a guide for places of worship in the community.

Carroll County Sheriff Tobe Leazenby attends Delphi UMC and is helping create a more efficient plan.

"I think what we want to do is take this plan and somewhat do a copy and paste, if you will, that will fit this church," Leazenby said.

He hopes to share this plan with other interested churches.

"If we can take what we have here and tweak that a little bit and implement that or at least offer suggestions," said Leazenby.

Rohrer hopes the church can lead by example when it comes safety and security.

"We want to be able to provide as safe of a place as possible," Rohrer said. "So, we want to take the steps and also reassure the community that we're taking those steps to keep this place a safe place."

Clinton County Chief Deputy Joe Mink said the training materials are used to teach church personnel and members how to react if something happens during a service. Some of the topics of the training include a security risk assessment and how to develop a security plan.

Mink said he's already been in conversation with a local church. Eventually, he hopes to provide the resources to every place of worship.

"It's a terrible time in this world right now that we have to protect our schools and our churches like this, but it's something that needed and we're available to give it to the congregations as they request it," Mink said.

The association has given the training materials to sheriffs in all 92 Indiana counties. Places of worship interested in learning more can call their local sheriff's office.



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Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home pageHome town hero Dennis Radstrom led the FIA Junior WRC category at Rally Sweden on Saturday night after getting the better of fellow countryman Emil Bergkvist.

Radstrom, who lives in Torsby where this opening round of the junior series is based, overturned a 6.7sec overnight deficit with a dominant performance through the snow and ice-covered Swedish forests this morning.



Driving a Ford Fiesta R2, he won all three speed tests and the afternoon opener to build a 21.1sec margin. Bergkvist had the better of the afternoon and the pair arrived in Torsby for the final overnight halt split by 13.8sec.



Today was fantastic and Im delighted to end it in the lead, weve had a lot of fun. Tomorrow well aim to continue in the same way and if we do that then we should have enough in hand to win, said Radstrom.



Ken Torns tenure of third ended early this morning when the Estonian rolled in the opening Torntorp stage after swiping a snow bank. His demise allowed Julius Tannert to move up, although the German was almost four minutes adrift of the battling Swedes.



Tannert had a late scare when he ran over a banner in the final sprint stage on the edge of Torsby. He arrived in the service park nearby with steam pouring from under his Fiestas bonnet as mechanics set about investigating the damage.



Tannert had a minute in hand over Frenchman Terry Folb, with Irelands Callum Devine and Frances Jean-Baptiste Franceschi filling the rest of the top six.



Head to WRC+ to watch WRC All Live from Rally Sweden

Video

More NewsRally Sweden leader Thierry Neuville hit trouble in Saturday mornings opening speed test when his Hyundai i20s automatic paddle shift gearchange failed.

Stage info: SS9 Torntorp 1, 19.88km

A blast from the past! The popular Torntorp is back with flat-out action through forests, open fields and meadows. There is plenty of snow in here and good snow banks into which drivers can lean their cars. Its pace and beautiful scenery make it a classic among drivers and fans alike.

Neuville was fifth through the Torntorp test, and actually extended his lead over team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen by 0.3sec, but the Belgians frustration was clear at the finish as TV pictures showed him reverting to the manual system.

It was OK. We have to go now, no issues, he said, before driving away from the finish and punching his steering wheel. Neuville stopped briefly on the liaison section and must tackle two more stages before service.

Mikkelsen had a clean run but his Hyundai Shell Mobis squads overnight 1-2-3 was interrupted when second fastest time for Craig Breen promoted the Irishman into third ahead of Hayden Paddon.

The notes are a little bit slow in a couple of places but I have a really awesome feeling in the car. Well keep on throwing the kitchen sink at it and see what happens! Breen said.

Paddon dropped 5.3sec behind Breens Citroen C3 but extended his advantage over Mads stbergs similar car by 2.0sec as their three-way fight for third raged on.

Maybe I was too cautious. Nothing to worry about, we can push on in the next one. Our set-up works better on the repeated stages, said Paddon.

Toyota Gazoo Racings Esapekka Lappi demoted a despondent Teemu Suninen to seventh while fastest time went to team-mate Ott Tanak, the Estonian 4.0sec quicker than Breen in his Yaris.

There was no fresh snow overnight and with temperatures hovering around -3C, conditions were good and grip was more consistent than yesterday.

Head to WRC+ to watch WRC All Live from Rally Sweden

VIDEO

More NewsBy Benjamin Jumbe

President Yoweri Museveni has hailed the Seventh Day Adventists (SDA) Church for promoting health and wellbeing of its members.

Addressing the congregation at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds at a special service led by the SDA world leader Pastor Dr. Ted Wilson this morning, the president has lauded the church for emulating Jesus by feeding the hungry and healing the sick.

He added that these pillars of the SDA church are not different from those of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

Earlier, while meeting Pr. Wilson at State House Entebbe on Friday, President Museveni said he was to instruct that no exams are held on Saturday in Uganda.

The president made the commitment in response to a request by the Seventh Day Adventist Church World leader Pastor.

President Museveni said more measures would be taken to cater for the interests of other Christian denominations that need to be freed from school examinations on Sundays and also for the Muslim community on Fridays.

He said that the remaining 4 days of the week would be sufficient to address examinations needs in the country.

Pastor Wilson saluted President Museveni for ensuring freedom of worship for all faiths in Uganda and also commended Government of Uganda for its contribution to the welfare of the refugee community now living in the country.

The SDA Church leader and wife Mrs. Nancy Wilson are in Uganda for a 4-day pastoral visit.

The Uganda SDA Union leader, Bishop Daniel Maate along with leaders from Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and South Sudan, attended the meeting among others.Hypocrisy abounded inside Australias parliamentary great hall this week when about 300 politicians and indigenous representatives gathered for a breakfast event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the former Labor governments national apology to the stolen generations of Aboriginal children who were forcibly removed from their families.

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who delivered the nationally-televised apology on the floor of the parliament in February 2008, was feted as a visionary who had offered an historic statement acknowledging the crimes committed against the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population since the British conquest of the continent in 1788.

One shocking statistic points to the monumental political fraud involved in the apology and its ongoing acclamation as a landmark event. Today, more than 17,000 indigenous children are living in out-of-home care, compared with about 9,000 a decade ago. In other words, a new stolen generation is being created, with the numbers of children taken from their parents almost doubling in 10 years.

As the World Socialist Web Site warned on the day of the apology, it was a cynical ploy. Rudds flowery rhetoric served a definite agenda for the then still-new Labor governmentone of deepening the crimes committed by the Australian capitalist class and its political servants against the indigenous people, as part of an intensifying assault on the conditions of the working class as a whole.

All those hailing the Rudd governments apology as a major advance are carrying out a monstrous deception, the Socialist Equality Partys statement explained. There is an old maxim that when the ruling class apologises for past crimes, it is only in order to better commit those of the present. The record of the past 200 years demonstrates that the entire Australian ruling establishment is organically incapable of addressing the terrible conditions facing Aboriginal people.

The real aim of parliaments sorry resolution, the statement declared, was to facilitate Labors plan to draw in a layer of privileged indigenous leaders and utilise them to continue and deepen the policies of the former Howard government. The Labor government continued Liberal-National Coalitions military-police intervention against Aboriginal communities across the Northern Territory, along with the arbitrary suspension of welfare payments to Aboriginal families.

The SEP warned that, in the name of maintaining Australias economic competitiveness, Rudd was poised to launch a no less ruthless attack on the social position of the entire working class. Labors economic agenda will inevitably hit the most vulnerable layers of the working class, including Aborigines, the hardest.

That warning has been vindicated. The past decade has seen a relentless assault on the jobs and conditions of the working class, producing a further massive transfer of wealth into the hands of the corporate elite and unprecedented levels of social inequality. Since the 2008 global financial crisis, while profits and billionaires fortunes have soared, working class wages and living standards have been driven down in Australia and internationally.

The appalling social situation confronting Australias indigenous peoplewhether in working class suburbs, regional towns or remote townshipsis one of the sharpest features of a broader impoverishment. In the past, children were separated as part of a drive to assimilate them, with the expectation that the indigenous population would disappear. Todays stolen generation is part of a wider social blight, bound up with the impact of grinding poverty on families living under immense stress. According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies, 46,448 children overall were placed in state care nationally in 2016, up by 17 percent from 39,621 in 2012.

A similar stark pattern can be seen in the soaring numbers of prisoners, indigenous and non-indigenous, in Australias jails. Aboriginal people have been the worst-affected victims of escalating police harassment, law and order campaigns, harsher bail and sentencing laws and the imprisonment of people with mental health and drug problems who cannot obtain decent treatment because of woefully inadequate services.

Last year, adult indigenous incarceration rates reached an all-time high of 2,346 people per 100,000. This was more than 10 times the national average, which also rose dramatically, from 187.2 in 2014 to 216.2 in the third quarter of 2017. The overall incarceration rate has more than trebled since the 1980s, the same period in which the earlier Labor governments of Hawke and Keating, in partnership with the trade unions, began the wholesale pro-market restructuring of the economy.

Another shocking indicator is the rising suicide rate. Between 2007 and 2011, the rate of suicide for indigenous children 14 years old and younger was 1.2 per 100,000six times the rate for non-indigenous children. For Aboriginal youth aged 15 to 24 years, the suicide rate was a horrifying 42 per 100,000, compared to 8 per 100,000 for non-Aboriginal youth.

This is also part of a wider trend. Nationally, there were 2,864 deaths from intentional self-harm in 2014up from about 2,100 in 2005, with steep increases among children and young women. Suicides occurred at a rate of 12 per 100,000 people in 2014up by 20 percent from about 10 per 100,000 in 2005.

None of these revealing indicators of social polarisation has ever been included in the narrow targets in the annual closing the gap reports that the Rudd government and the state and territory governments launched with much fanfare after the 2008 apology. To do so would further expose the phoney character of closing the gap, which supposedly aimed to achieve equality in social indicators for indigenous and non-indigenous people by 2030.

According to this weeks ten-year anniversary closing the gap report, only three of the seven official targets are on track (child mortality, Year 12 attainment and a watered-down measure for early childhood education). The remaining targetsfor life expectancy, employment, school attendance, and reading and numeracyare so off track that the federal and state governments, Liberal-National and Labor alike, are proposing to refresh the program, that is, drop such targets.

Employment levels among indigenous workers have fallen since 2008, especially in remote areas. By 2016, the indigenous employment rate fell to just 46.6 percent. Likewise, the life expectancy gapestimated at almost 11 years in 2009has widened by about seven months.

While these gaps reflect terrible impoverishment among many indigenous people, they also form part of the growing class divide between the poorest half of society and the wealthiest 10 percent, which now includes a cultivated layer of indigenous business owners, academics and bureaucrats.

This social polarisation will only intensify. In releasing the damning 10-year closing the gap results, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced a renewed approachan Indigenous Business Sector Strategy. This is a suite of initiatives to ensure sustainable economic success for Indigenous owned-and-run businesses. He boasted of already awarding contracts worth $1 billion to indigenous businesses in two-and-a-half years.

The new strategy would include an Indigenous Grants Policy, which involves handing over basic services to indigenous owned and controlled organisations, in line with the increasing privatisation of all health, disability, employment and other public services.

As part of our commitment to do things with, not to, we engaged some 200 Indigenous businessmen and women from across the country to develop the Indigenous Business Sector Strategy, Turnbull declared in a speech.

The enrichment of a small, select band of indigenous capitalists will be at the direct expense of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers, youth and poor, with all the profits being extracted by exploiting their labour power, decimating their basic services and enforcing their social misery.

Such is the rapacious class logic of capitalism. The capitalist-settler society established in 1788 was grounded on the private ownership of land, for the generation of profit. The Aboriginal people who had inhabited the continent for tens of thousands of years were cleared from the land by any means possibleshooting and poisoning as well as the ravages of disease.

As the WSWS stated 10 years ago, responsibility for the oppression of the Aboriginal people lies not with whites but with the capitalist profit system, and it is impossible to overcome this centuries-old oppression within the framework of the present social order. To genuinely redress the historic injustices perpetrated against the indigenous people of Australia requires nothing less than the abolition of the system of property relations that gave rise to, and continues to perpetuate, these injustices. Society must be reorganised from top to bottom on socialist and genuinely democratic lines, ensuring that the basic needs of all are met.

The statement called for the development of a unified mass political movement of the working classAboriginal and non-Aboriginal alikebased on a socialist and internationalist perspective. Today that task has never been more necessary.

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Australian Prime Minister apologises to stolen generation: rhetoric versus reality

[13 February 2008]

Australias 1967 referendum, fifty years on

[23 August 2017]The Medical College of Georgia last month said that a team of researchers had successfully used an inhibitor called HET0016 to block a chemical known as 20-HETE, which can promote the growth of breast cancer cells. The research was funded in part by the American Cancer Society and the National Institutes of Health.

Under normal conditions, 20-HETE metabolizes arachidonic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid that is present in cell membranes in the brain, muscles and liver. This reaction also helps regulate blood flow, blood pressure and inflammation and produces a host of different biologically active chemicals and metabolites necessary for proper cellular physiology and concerted signaling with other organ systems in our bodies.

For instance, our neurological health is dependent on sufficient levels of arachidonic acid. It helps protect the brain from oxidative stress by activating proteins involved in growth and repair of neurons. During tissue injury, the acid is released from cell membranes, leading to important inflammatory mediators that help repair the damage. Conditions such as diabetes and obesity may lead to aberrations in these chemical processes.

The catch is that while 20-HETE and arachidonic acid stimulate various necessary intracellular pathways necessary for the proliferation, migration and survival of healthy cells, it seems that cancer also uses these mechanisms to protect itself.

Not all breast cancer is the same. There are four subtypes that demonstrate distinct morphology and have different clinical implications. They are designated by their molecular categories according to their steroid hormone receptor status, estrogen and progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. The differences account for different mortality rates and different required treatments.

The most common type of breast cancer, known as Luminal A, accounts for 30-70 percent of breast cancer and has the best prognosis, with high survival rates and low recurrence rates. The other three typesknown as Luminal B, HER2-enriched and triple-negative breast cancerall have lower survival rates, tending to grow in lymph nodes and exhibit more aggressive behaviors.

In general, the more aggressive types of breast cancer have a higher propensity for spreading to the bones, liver, lungs and brain. Patients with breast cancer in their bones have a median survival rate of between two and five years, while those diagnosed with brain cancer have the worst prognosis, with an approximate survival period of four to seven months. The current research is looking at ways to inhibit these more deadly cancers.

These particular tumor cells thrive in what are known as tumor microenvironments. Essentially the breast cancer cell is able to communicate with its surroundings and recruit tumor-associated cells, reprogram them to create new blood supplies for its growth and suppress immune cells from targeting it. This allows the breast cancer cell to reproduce and metastasize in a protected sanctuary.

By using HET0016, the authors were able to slow the growth of these tumors in animal models. They were then able to demonstrate decreased tumor volume, migration and invasion by the breast cancer cells which led to increased survival time. They also observed a synergistic reduction of the immune cell populations used by the cancer to protect itself, as well as a decrease in factors that promote the growth and development of new blood vessels. They were also able to demonstrate that HET0016 was able to decrease myelodysplastic cells, which are thought to diminish the immune systems ability to attack the tumor cells.

The hypothesis that tumors need to grow new blood vessels in order to develop and expand was first proposed in 1971 by Judah Folkman. Since then cancer research has turned away from the concept of the tumor cells operating autonomously to meet their metabolic and nutritional needs and focused on understanding the interactions in the tumor microenvironment, which is comprised of normal support cells (called stromal), endothelial cells which line the interior of blood and lymphatic vessels, and immune cells of the individual which are reprogrammed to aid the tumor cells in surviving, growing and spreading.

These findings have considerable social implications. Globally, breast cancer is the most common malignancy and the leading cause of death from cancer in women. Age, time to first menses, age at first live birth and age at menopause are known risk factors. Ten percent of breast cancer is attributable to hereditary factors. Modifiable risks such as demographics, lifestyle and environmental factors have not as yet been studied closely to determine the associations with breast cancer risk.

For instance, the incidence of breast cancer is higher in white women compared to black women, though black women more commonly present with regional or advanced disease than white women and have a higher breast cancer-specific mortality rate. Belying these figures are unmeasured factors such as access to health care or facility expertise that can detect these malignancies at much earlier stages. And yet in light of these and many other factors that deserve to be explored, there are very few studies exploring the role of 20-HETE inhibition in the treatment of malignancies.

Studies and research like this one not only offer insight into new treatment options for breast cancer but also highlight the complex interaction between external factors that promote inflammation caused by early life exposures, obesity, diabetes and ongoing social life stresses to include substance abuse and internal processes that promote the development of aggressive malignant cancers.The tragic death of 53-year-old courier, Don Lane, underlines the terrible conditions workers face in the so-called gig economy.

Lane, from Christchurch on the south coast of England, had worked for parcel giant Dynamic Parcel Distribution (DPD) for 19 years, and suffered from diabetes. While a manageable disease, diabetes requires stringent medical supervision and regular check-ups. However, constant pressure of work and no sick pay, led to Lane missing vital hospital appointments.

Classed as self-employed, workers at companies like DPD have no employment rights like holiday or sick pay, maternity leave, redundancy pay or contractual hours. They work on zero hours contractsat the beck and call of employersand are paid for each delivery/job done. Time off at DPD incurs a daily fine of 150, unless a substitute driver can be found, plus loss of earnings.

Lanes widow Ruth, who works in the food hall at retailer Marks and Spencer, told the Guardian, There was a constant threat of a fine. They had to deliver the parcels to tight slots and the pressure to get them done was huge. He was putting the company before his own health. He wasnt able to do his parcels first and make the hospital appointments, so he would cancel on the day.

He collapsed in January 2017 and they [DPD] knew that because they collected his van. It was after that Don cancelled three appointments. DPD had a duty of care to make sure he got to those appointments, but they failed in it. In March, fearful about his health, Don told her, I think I am going to die.

As well as the workload being forced on him being a great danger to himself, the public was also endangered as Lanes job involved constant use of the highways. Lane first collapsed into a diabetic coma in December 2016, and again in January 2017, while at work in his van.

Last July, he was fined 150 for attending a hospital appointment, which he had informed the company about months in advance. A workmate commented, They didnt even have the decency to tell him they had fined him. ... He only found out that he had been billed 150 when he received his next payslip.

During that check-up doctors found his blood pressure and cholesterol were high, and he was anaemic with rising levels of creatine in his kidneys, an ominous indicator of renal failure.

After being fined, Lane missed three appointments, writing to his line manager some months before his death: I have cancelled so many appointments because I couldnt make the time to get there that the renal department have stopped treating me.

Lane collapsed again in September and then in December, after working during the Christmas rush. Despite feeling sick and vomiting blood, Lane struggled into work. He died in the Royal Bournemouth hospital on January 4, leaving behind his widow and a 22-year-old son.

After his death, a work colleague cited anonymously in the Guardian for fear of reprisals from DPD said, Don was falling apart, but they wouldnt take it easy on him. They push drivers till they break. I definitely think they contributed to this. They knew Don was diabetic. They should have looked after him more.

DPD, an international parcel delivery company owned by the French state-owned postal service, made more than 100 million in profit out of its 5,000 UK employees in 2016. Its use of self-employed workers and punitive fines is emulated by other courier companies like ParcelForcewhich imposes a 250 fine for a days absenceand Hermes.

According to the McKinsey Global Institute, there are 5 million people employed either full- or part-time in the UKs gig economy for courier firms, websites such as Task Rabbit, minicab apps such as Uber or takeaways such as Deliveroo. Forty percent of these are working to supplement their meagre income, including many students. More than half are in the 18- to 24-year-old age range.

The unregulated working conditions in the gig economy mean wages are low. Research by the department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy found that 700,000 gig workers are paid below the national minimum wage of 7.50 an hour.

Last year, couriers for the food delivery company Deliveroo protested outside the companys London office against plans to pay workers 3.75 per delivery, instead of an hourly rate of 7 plus 1 per delivery.

Gig workers also miss out on workplace pensions to supplement the paltry state pension. According to the Pension Policy Institute, a million gig workers aged 25 today, each earning an annual income of 25,000, will miss out on 22,000 in employer contributions toward their pensions.

Growing opposition to the notoriously bad pay and conditions in the gig economy is expressed in the growing number of legal cases. Both DPD and Hermes face employment tribunal claims from workers who are demanding employee status.

Last year, The Doctors Laboratory (TDL), a company that provides pathology services, lost the argument that its cyclists, motorcyclists and van drivers were self-employed contractors.

Uber and CitySprint also lost similar cases, though Uber is appealing and its case is likely to be heard by the UKs Supreme Court in 2019. CitySprint responded by applying the ruling against it to just one courier. It still treats its other 3,000-plus couriers as self-employed.

In 2016, Theresa Mays Conservative government commissioned a Review of Modern Employmentsupposedly to address the grievances of gig workers. It received the findings, a report called Good Work, in July 2017. A totally disingenuous paper exercise from the outset, the review was chaired by Matthew Taylor who praised the flexibility and choice on offer to gig workers. Taylor is the chief executive of the Royal Society of the Arts. In 2005, he headed Labour Prime Minister Tony Blairs Number 10 Policy Unit.

Maggie Dewhurst, 30, the courier who won her claim to be classed as an employee against CitySprint, said she was furious with the governments review. This is the industrys dream result and does nothing to protect workers, she said. By not enforcing our existing employment laws but instead talking about making the system easier to understand, they are playing into gig employers hands, many of whom are wilfully breaking UK law. How much more evidence do we need of gig economy exploitation?

The government responded to Taylors report last week, eliciting words of disappointment from the trade unions and Labour Party that the government was only promising consultation on possible changes to self-employment rules.

Labour MP Frank Field said the government had pledged some really valuable gains for workers, though lamented more consultation on the crunch issue of bogus self-employment while the country is crying out for action.

Labours Shadow Business Secretary, Rebecca Long-Bailey, charged May with more words with no real action to improve the lives of the millions of people in insecure work.

This rhetoric conceals the fact that it was under the last Labour governments of Blair and Gordon Brown (1997 to 2010) that the gig economy mushroomed.

In partnership with successive governments, the trade unions have laid the ground for the growth of the gig economy by suppressing strikes, and every struggle of the working class for decades.

The super exploitative gig economy is fast growing in Europe and internationally, as is opposition to the appalling conditions it entails. The financial software company, Intuit, predicts that, by 2020, 40 million workers in the US will employed under these conditions.

Deliveroo drivers struck in UK cities, Brighton and Bristol, last year as did their counterparts on the continent. Drivers held stoppages in five Belgian cities, including Brussels and Antwerp, in January, threatening to continue every Saturday thereafter. Strikes were held in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

In New Delhi, Uber drivers went on strike for four days in February last year because they barely make Rs10,000 a month for 14- or 15-hour day and competition is increasing.

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Conservative government review of UK gig economya whitewash for the corporations

[28 August 2017On Monday, the Trump administration turned over its $4.4 trillion 2019 budget to the Senate for approval. The budget proposes significant increases in defense spending and border policing. At the same time, it promises to cut or eliminate the programs that low-income Americans depend on to help them feed, house, and educate themselves or their families.

Under Trumps budget, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly referred to as food stamps, would be cut by more than $213 billion over ten years, nearly 30 percent. The budget also proposes radically altering the administration of the program, with cuts that would result in loss of benefits for at least 4 million people, including the unemployed, the disabled, the elderly, and low-income families with children.

The budget would shift more than $260 billion in food purchasing from individual households to the government. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) would withhold between $24 and $29 billion per year in SNAP benefitsabout 40 percent of the benefits issued to struggling familiesand use half of those funds to supply boxes of non-perishable food items, such as shelf-stable milk, dry cereal, pasta, peanut butter, beans, and canned foods to families using the program.

Unlike the commodities programs familiar to impoverished families in bygone years, these boxes would not supplement the foods purchased with SNAP benefits; rather, they would replace them altogether. The other half of the withheld funds would not benefit the families in any way; they would simply be unavailable.

The Trump administration claims that the government can efficiently and cheaply source, package, and distribute the proposed commodities, thereby saving money. These savings come at the expense of the poor, as well as the states.

As the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) explains in its analysis of the Trump budget, The new structure would impose new costs on states, which would be expected to implement the change without adequate financial support. And it would likely force households to incur greater transportation costs (and time) to get food for their families because they may have to pick up the commodities at centralized locations while still traveling to grocery stories for the remainder of their food purchases.

The CBPP estimates that the changes to SNAP would affect about 34 million people in 16 million households in 2019, almost 90 percent of SNAP participants. The budget calls for an additional $85 billion in SNAP cuts over ten years. It would force states to withdraw benefits from unemployed adults without dependent children after only three months, making no provision for areas with exceptionally high unemployment rates. Currently, states are allowed waivers from the three-month limit for these areas, but under the terms of the Trump budget they would only be able to waive the requirements in areas with unemployment rates above 10 percent, an extremely high bar that will miss many locations where few jobs are available to lower-skilled workers.

Moreover, the three-month limit would be extended to adults between the ages of 50 and 62. Due to the unique challenges of this age groupsuch as outdated job skills and declining healthfinding employment can be particularly difficult.

The budget would bar state programs that phase out benefits more gently as the unemployed start earning again, which will place workers at the mercy of benefit cliffs and will subject millions of working families to heightened food insecurity. Another two million individualsmostly low-income seniors, the disabled, and households with more than six memberswould face reduced benefits, even though current SNAP spending amounts to less than $2 per person per meal in a household.

SNAP funding is only one of the social programs that the Trump budget fixes its sights upon. Housing budget cuts would see the cessation of housing voucher programs and result in rent increases for people receiving Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rental assistance, forcing them to spend up to 35 percent of their income on housing. Currently, they are required to spend 30 percent of their income. The minimum monthly rent would be raised to $150. Most of these families currently live below half of the poverty line, and could see their rents double or even triple.

The housing budget also cuts funding for public housing repairs by 47 percent, compared to 2017. Many public housing units date to the immediate post-World War II period; these units are deteriorating and are, in many cases, unsafe. Public housing currently needs more than $26 billion in repairs; yet instead of upgrading to newer, safer, and more energy efficient units, the Trump budget is effectively defunding what is, in many communities, the only affordable housing for low-income people. Taken alongside the cuts to housing voucher programs, this budget would condemn people to homelessness or to exploitative housing schemes.

Several other social programs have been targeted for cuts or for elimination. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps low-income households pay for utilities, would be eliminated. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which provide aid to disabled people and their dependents, would be cut by $72 billion. Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) would be cut significantly; its ancillary program, the TANF Contingency Fund block grant, would be eliminated completely. The cessation of the TANF Contingency Fund amounts to a cut of $21 billion over ten years.

The Social Services Block Grants, which states can use to create and fund social programs, such as job training, childcare assistance, and after school programs for low-income working families, would be eliminated. The Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), given to needy students to supplement their Pell Grants, would be eliminated. The Work-Study Program, which allows college students to work on campus to help fund their education, would face significant cuts.

In the midst of these devastating cuts, $716 billion is proposed for defense spendinga seven percent increase. This would amount to the greatest defense spending buildup since the Reagan administration. On Monday, Trump proudly announced, So we're going to have the strongest military we've ever had by far. We're increasing arsenals of virtually every weapon. We're modernizing and creating brand newa brand new nuclear force.

Donald Trumps proposed budget is nothing less than a declaration of warnot only upon those caught in the cross hairs of American imperialism, but upon Americas low and moderate income residents.Selvam, a 32-year-old autoworker, (name withheld due to possible retribution by the company and union) employed at a prominent auto supplier situated in the outskirts of Chennai, South India recently spoke to the World Socialist Web Site about his daily life and working conditions in Maraimalai Nagar, an industrial hub for local and global companies.

Chennai, the capital of the state of Tamilnadu has seen an increased concentration of workers in and around its city limits due to over two decades of economic deregulation that is investor-friendly, attracting global IT, electronic and automobile investors to the city as well as jobseekers. Thus the 60 km long industrial belt circumventing the city is touted by the Indian elite as its Automotive Corridor or its version of Detroit in its heydays.

According to the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), based on predictions for the year 2015-16, Chennai alone produces over 40 percent of the countrys auto parts and vehicles with a capacity to produce 1,280,000 cars and about 350,000 commercial vehicles each year.

Despite a constant increase in productivity levels and profit margins for the companies, the industrial workers in Chennai work and live in shocking slave-like conditions.

A reflection of the growing resistance to these conditions was the struggle by workers at the Maruti Suzuki assembly plant in Manesar, who attempted to form an independent union in opposition to the official company-controlled union. In retaliation the company staged a provocation in July 2012 that led to the frame-up of 148 workers on murder charges. The attack on the workers involved the highest levels of the state as well as management and local government authorities. For their part the official unions, including the Stalinist-dominated All India Trades Union Congress, sought to isolate the Maruti Suzuki workers in order to forestall a broader movement of the Indian working class against sweatshop conditions.

The court proceedings themselves were a travesty, with the judge barring eyewitness testimony by Maruti Suzuki workers and relying solely on the version of events concocted by management. As a result, last year an Indian court sentenced 13 Maruti Suzuki workers to life in prison, including top officers of the Maruti Suzuki Workers Union.

In response to the brutal frame-up, the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) and the World Socialist Web Site have launched a worldwide campaign to defend these brave workers, including a petition demanding their release.

WSWS: How long have you been working and living in Chennai?

Selvam: I am originally from rural Nagapattinam and my family had been always farmers. But my parents heard that new companies in Chennai were looking for recruits and suggested that I get training at the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in my hometown. I came to Chennai in 2008 after completing my ITI certificate looking for work. I started as a temporary contact worker in the factory that same year, and only became permanent in 2016. WSWS: Temporary or casual jobs make up to 40 percent of the entire Indian labour force, and that is a conservative figure that dates back to 2012. Some independent studies suggest that between 70-90 percent of the contract and casual workforce do not even have a written contract. Could you explain what its like in your factory?

Selvam: The factory has 5 levels to its temporary program, they require a minimum of 6 years of training before you can become a permanent operator in the 7th year. You go through the stages of being an apprentice, initial, intermediate and special trainee and eventually an operator.

WSWS: According to government statistics about 70 percent of the labour force is not entitled to social security benefits. Could you describe your time as a contract worker in the auto industry?

Selvam: I got paid an annual net salary of Rs. 24,000 (US$274) during my first two years, increasing to Rs. 66,000 (US$1,029) by the seventh year. By 2015, I should have been permanent, with an annual salary of Rs. 2.10 lakh (US$3,273) in my first year as an operator. But the company initially refused to give us permanent positions, not just for me but also for 40 other workers, who joined the company around the same time.

WSWS: And this was in the backdrop of the ongoing Maruti-Suzuki workers management-state frame-up and purge in Manesar, Haryana that started in August 2012 when workers started challenging sweatshop conditions, poverty wages and the widespread use of contract labour.

Selvam: In 2015, according to the factory protocols, I became eligible for a permanent workplace. The management refused to confirm our jobs on a permanent basis stating company losses over the previous financial years. They only agreed to confirm our permanent positions by September 2016 following union negotiations.

WSWS: What was the role of the union in that process?

Selvam: It was a very frustrating and difficult two years. Temporary workers dont have any representation at all through the union, though we form the majority of the workforce at the company. We have about 1,000 workers in total, but only 200 workers have permanent jobs. About 500 workers are still temporary workers, who have been with the company between 0 to 7 years and 300 more workers on a casual daily payroll. Workers issues are usually handled at a snails pace and the factory union is affiliated to the Congress Party-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC).

There is a lot of anger towards the union and its leaders, perhaps even more than towards management, because any demand, such as an increase in wages or confirmation of permanent jobs, is handled through the union, and the union is certainly not on our side.

WSWS: With only a pittance as a wage for years and possibly parents to support back home, how do you manage in an expensive city like Chennai?

Selvam: It is tough. Actually my parents still support me with substantial payments, such as when I wanted to purchase a motorbike to avoid a long daily walk from my shared apartment to work. I could not afford it myself. I share an approximately 1,000 square foot unfurnished apartment in the outskirts with five other workers from the factory. Together we pay Rs. 5,000 (US$93) per month as rent. We cannot afford to buy furniture as we had to pay a deposit of Rs.50,000(US$780). Each of us keeps our belongings along with our sleeping mats at each corner of the bedroom or living room.

WSWS: What about other costs apart from accommodation? Unemployment and underemployment is rampant and only three out of four families in India claim to have a fixed wage income.

Selvam: The cost of living comes up to about Rs. 3,000 (US$45) including rent, bills such as electricity, mobile phone, petrol for the bike, canned water, cable TV and food. During my temporary years, the salary did not even make ends meet. Whenever, I attempted to save some money for a rainy day, it cost me my health. I would try to sleep through the day whenever I had night shifts to save spending for lunch. Whenever I did that, I was left with no energy during work and I began to lose weight, so I stopped doing it, because I was afraid of falling seriously ill.

I managed only by borrowing money from my roommates. My life is comparatively affordable, compared to workers, who strain hard to send money back home, even if it is for just Rs. 500 or Rs. 1,000 (US$7 to 15). As per company contract, we are not allowed to take up a second job during our temporary years. Some workers still take the risk and work at another factory. They work through day and night shifts, so that they can support a younger sibling with his or her education or a single parent with next to no income.

WSWS: Having received poverty wages for years under conditions where you had no access to minimum workers rights, what is your working day like?

Selvam: We work six days a week from Monday to Saturday, eight hours a day. Often we are asked also to work on Sundays, when the production quota is high. On the other hand, we are forced to take compensatory leave, when the production is low. We are sometimes made to work for weeks continuously with no breaks. Besides, we are only allowed a maximum of three instances of late arrival in a month. A fourth late arrival, even by a minute, would mean a half a days pay cut or standing at the factory gates for two hours until the supervisor arrives at work at 8 a.m.

Security guards inside the factory constantly monitor us. We are also watched during our visits to the toilet. If someone leaves five minutes early before the siren rings to wash hands for lunch, he gets stopped by a security guard or receives a warning letter.

If someone is found using a mobile device, he is fined for Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,000 (US$7-15), which for us a heavy penaltythat is more than a days wage. In addition to the monitoring inside the factory, we are also checked thoroughly as we exit the factory. This makes us feel demeaned at the end of the workday. We are treated like rogues and cheaters in our own factory, even after working for so many years at the same place. But we stay quiet, as we dont have any support from the union if we get into a dispute with the management.

WSWS: What you seem to be describing is a brutal work regime and sweatshop conditions that are prevalent across industrial hubs in India and internationally.

Selvam: Yes, thats why I think the Maruti-Suzuki developments in India seem to have struck a nerve, and why I find the ICFIs campaign to expose and defend the framed-up workers at the Maruti-Suzuki plant in Manesar to be so important.Federal courts in Boston, Massachusetts and Newark, New Jersey have temporarily stayed the deportations of over one hundred Christian Indonesian immigrants recently targeted by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The rulings, issued February 1 in Boston and February 2 in Newark, are in response to two lawsuits by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) arguing that the immigrants have the right to reopen their cases due to increasing hostility toward Christians in Indonesia.

Ethnic Chinese in general have been scapegoats in the Southeast Asian, majority-Muslim country since the period of Dutch colonial rule in the 1700s. After the bloody anti-communist coup of 1965, the Suharto regime banned Chinese names and cultural expressions and made it difficult for ethnic Chinese to find jobs.

Several thousand Chinese Christian Indonesians fled to the northeastern US throughout the 1990s, especially during the Asian Financial Crisis in 1998, when rioters assaulted ethnic Chinese and vandalized their businesses based on the reactionary stereotype that they were universally affluent. Many of these refugees arrived on and overstayed temporary visas and were not made aware of an arbitrary one-year deadline to apply for asylum passed under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996.

In 2009, ICE field offices in Boston and Newark advertised programs (crassly entitled Operation Indonesian Surrender in Boston) encouraging Christian Indonesians with final orders of removal to identify themselves to ICE. Provided they had no criminal records and consented to regular check-ins with immigration, officials would grant employment authorizations and tolerate their undocumented status. Families lived in relative stability under these terms for nearly a decade. But ICE reneged on this agreement following a pair of executive orders issued just five days into the Trump administration, instructing officials to prioritize, among other categories, removable aliens [immigrants]  subject to a final order of removal, but who have not complied with their legal obligation to depart the United States.

In May 2017, Ahok, the former governor of the largest city in Indonesia, Jakarta, was sentenced to two years in jail for blasphemy against Islam, answering the demands of rallies organized by hardline Islamist groups. He is a Chinese Christian. Just weeks later, ICE suddenly detained and subsequently deported four Christian Indonesian men during their regular check-ins with Newark district offices, including Arina Massie, who left behind a wife and 13-year-old son.

Three months later, beginning August 1, roughly 70 Christian Indonesians living in New Hampshire were instructed during their regular check-ins with Boston-district ICE to purchase one-way plane tickets to Indonesia and prepare to leave home within just 60 days: a casual sentencing to probable persecution, torture, or death.

ICEs Newark jurisdiction has been even less civil. On the morning of January 25, the anniversary of President Donald Trumps executive orders, ICE agents attempted to arrest three Indonesian men, pouncing upon Roby Sanger and Gunawan Liem after they dropped off their daughters at school. Harry Pangemanan, a noted leader in his church who has led disaster relief trips across the US, spotted a black vehicle with tinted windows stalking outside his home in time to call his pastor, who chased the vehicle away and took Pangemanan into sanctuary. There he, his wife and his two daughters joined Yohanes Tasik and Arthur Jemmy, two other undocumented Indonesians who took refuge there for over three weeks and over four months, respectively.

It is illegal under international and US immigration law to deport an immigrant to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened because of the aliens race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Deportations of Christian Indonesians clearly fit this description.

The Trump administration and ICE beneath it are pushing these illegal deportations based on orders of removal not reviewed for a decade or more, in many cases targeting parents with US citizen children.

Our Constitution and laws recognize that people must not be jailed or deported without an opportunity to seek court review of these harsh actions, said ACLU of New Jersey Senior Staff Attorney Farrin Anello in a statement, referring to the Fifth Amendment. Nowhere is this right to due process more important than in the governments decision to send people to a country where their lives would be in danger.

The ACLU joined a lawsuit on behalf of the New Hampshire-resident Indonesians on October 30. US District Judge Patti B. Saris halted the deportations via restraining order on November 27, and granted a preliminary injunction on February 1. The equivalent lawsuit for the New Jerseyans was filed the next day, and Judge Esther Salas granted a temporary restraining order within hours. Those who made it to sanctuary have since walked free, but Sanger and Liem remain in prison along with Parlin Sinaga, a father of three detained by ICE in October.

No faith should be placed in the courts to protect immigrant rights. When courts intervene, it is usually at a jurisdiction below the Supreme Court or only to correct the most blatantly unconstitutional acts in an effort to stave off mass opposition. Last year, during the ongoing refugee crisisthe largest since World War IIthe Supreme Court unanimously upheld Trumps anti-Muslim travel ban.Cyril Ramaphosa took office as president of South Africa yesterday, as the chosen representative of the African National Congress (ANC), and with the enthusiastic support of the major imperialist powers and global corporations.

His elevation to the highest office of state epitomises not only the political bankruptcy of the perspective of bourgeois nationalism, but the transformation of the old nationalist movements, which once professed anti-imperialist and even socialist goals, into direct instruments of imperialist rule. Moreover, workers in every country will recognise in Ramaphosa a particularly venal expression of the role of trade union bureaucrats everywhere as loyal servants of the state and the employers.

Two things recommend Ramaphosa to the worlds bourgeoisiehis fabulous wealth and the fact that he earned it through a readiness to deal ruthlessly with the working class, whose struggles first brought the ANC to power 24 years ago.

In yesterdays State of the Nation address, Ramaphosa pledged to continue the long walk to freedom, in which all may share in the wealth of our land and have a better life and to realise Nelson Mandelas vision of a democratic, just and equitable society. But Ramaphosas promise to end the era of corruption and state capture by the multi-billionaire Gupta family, which characterised the rule of Jacob Zuma, is based on pro-business policies that can only worsen the desperate situation facing workers and youth.

Ramaphosa will act on behalf of corporations who bridle against the clientism and nepotism of the ANC government because it acts as an impediment to their ability to fully exploit South Africas rich resources of diamonds, precious metals and minerals. Anglo American SA deputy chairman Norman Mbazima declared: Its very helpful if the president of the country understands your industry.

The Financial Times wrote of the need for a pact between the state, business and labour in the interest of South African competitiveness. When Britains premier business newspaper speaks of labour, it means the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) bureaucracythe key prop of the ANC in the Tripartite Alliance with the Stalinist South African Communist Party in imposing its attacks on jobs, wages and social conditions.

The crusade against corruption is to be waged by a man who is far-and-away the most corrupt individual in South Africa!

Ramaphosa led the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) during the struggle against the apartheid regime. From this vantage point, he played a key role in tying the working class to the pro-capitalist perspective of the ANCs Freedom Charterwhich separated the struggle against white supremacy and for formal legal equality for black South Africans from opposition to the capitalist system.

He went on to become the archetypal representative of the self-enrichment of a newly-created layer of black capitalists that was the essential function of the ANCs policy of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE). In 1996, the ANC selected Ramaphosa to front its penetration of the private sector. Through the National Empowerment Consortium, he utilised trade union pension funds, together with his ability to secure government contracts, to win positions on the boards of some of the countrys largest firms.

Each deal struck brought generous share options, so that, by 2017, he had become the ultimate tenderpreneurwith a personal fortune valued at over $500 million. Ramaphosa is South Africas second-richest black person after Patrice Motsepe, his brother-in-law and the countrys only black dollar billionaire.

Ramaphosa is above all trusted to become president because of his role as the butcher of Marikana.

No single event so brutally demonstrates the transformation of the trade union bureaucracy into a police force over the working class on behalf of capital as does the August 2012 massacre of 34 miners at Lonmins platinum mine.

The miners, striking for a living wage, were in open rebellion against the NUM. Ramaphosas company was Lonmins BEE partner, holding a 9 percent stake. In that capacity, on August 12, he contacted then Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, lobbying him to send more officers to Marikana. On August 15, Ramaphosa wrote to the mineral resources minister that the Marikana miners were not engaged in a labour dispute but a dastardly criminal act.

Under Ramaphosas prompting, the ANC sent in the police to shoot, kill and maim striking workers and arrest 270 on charges of murder and attempted murder under apartheid-era common purpose laws.

Less than six months later, Ramaphosa was selected as deputy leader of the ANC, alongside Zuma, signalling the governments loyalty to the major corporations. As Marikana activist Napoleon Webster said last year: We know the business community loves Cyril Cyril is still the same monster who caused the Lonmin massacre.

Speaking before parliament Wednesday, Ramaphosa declared of Zumas removal: This is not yet uhuru (freedom) We are going to seek to improve the lives of our people on an ongoing basis, and since 1994, we have done precisely that. Nothing could be further from the truth. The ANC came to power in April-May 1994 at the head of a mass revolutionary movement of the working classagainst not only apartheid rule, but also the immense deprivations inflicted on millions.

However, the ANCs Freedom Charter was based on the Stalinist perspective of a two stage revolution. Establishing democracy was to be the primary goal, to which the socialist aspirations of the working class must be subordinatedby the COSATU union apparatusuntil an unspecified future date.

In power ever since, the Tripartite Alliance government has ruthlessly imposed the dictates of global capital and the South African bourgeoisieenriching a thin layer of black businessmen, politicians and managers, while never undertaking a single measure to genuinely benefit working people.

The bitter reality is that the social position of the working class is worse than it was under apartheid. Income inequality is extraordinarily higharound 60 percent of the population earns less than $7,000 a year, while 2.2 percent of the population earns more than $50,000. Wealth ownership is even more starkly polarised, with 10 percent of the population owning at least 9095 percent of all assets.

More than half the population officially lives in poverty, earning below $43 per month, while 13.8 million are in extreme poverty. Unemployment officially stands at 28 percent, and 36 percent unofficially. It is a staggering 68 percent among young people.

None of the essential democratic and social needs of the working class and oppressed masses can be met under the rule of the national bourgeoisie, which is organically tied to imperialism and whose own privileges depend on the brutal exploitation of workers and poor farmers.

The advanced workers, above all the younger generation whose lives have been blighted by the ANCs defence of capitalism and the imperialist world order, must now undertake to build a new revolutionary leadership. Its perspective has to be to take state power and form a workers government to implement socialist policies to take over the banks, mining and other major corporations and run them to meet social need, not private profit.

In a globalised economy, facing the domination of the entire world by imperialist powers and giant transnational corporations and banks, this struggle can be successfully waged only based on the strategy outlined by Leon Trotsky in his Theory of Permanent Revolution and elaborated today by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI).

South Africas working class must adopt its own international socialist strategy, consciously seeking to unify its fight against the ANC, COSATU and their corporate and imperialist backers with that waged by their brothers and sisters throughout Africa and the entire world. This means beginning the construction of a section of the ICFI, the world party of socialist revolution.Last August, the medical journal Frontiers in Pediatrics published an academic report entitled Fear of Massive Deportations in the United States: Social Implications on Deprived Pediatric Communities which details long-term health consequences of stress suffered by children whose parents are at risk of deportation. The report, written by Marie Leiner, Izul De la Vega and Bert Johansson, provides a systematic and chilling summary of the socio-psychological impact of mass deportations on millions of people. The report comes amidst an intensified crackdown on immigrants with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) boasting a staggering 30 percent increase in arrests from 2016, totaling at least 143,470 arrests in the 2017 fiscal year.

Leiner and her co-authors point out that regardless of whether the children might be living in the country legally or illegally, their parentsusually the intended targets of immigration raidstend to use negative coping mechanisms to deal with the persistent stress and depression engendered by their situation. Because of the constant fear and insecurity, parentsand by extensionchildren will experience limited access to the pillars that sustain society, including access to education, protection by law, basic needs (e.g., food and housing, health care) and opportunities to plan for the future.

In real terms, this means parents who fear deportations stop taking their children to school, children fail to report family abuse, and parents stop seeking help in acquiring food, shelter or health care, both preventative and urgent, for themselves and their children. Above all, the environment of fear and instability prevents not just the parents, but also children from making any plans for the future.

As the report explains, each of the behaviors outlined above has an even more ominous consequence for childhood development. Missing school means that the children inevitably fall behind their peers; the continuation of abuse leads to a devastating physical and psychological fallout that will create lifelong scars.

Additionally, lack of access to basic needs and preventive health care will inhibit growth and brain development, and the inability to envisage a secure future makes children potentially prone to many physical, mental and emotional problems.

What adds to the danger is the fact that the targeted communities also generally tend to be the most economically disadvantaged. Some of the earlier studies on the subject quoted by the report have detailed findings on how living in poverty affects the brain development of children, leading to decreased reading/language ability and executive functions, as well as behavioral, cognitive and emotional problems. Children of immigrants dealing with the looming threat of deportations thus face double the structural barrier to a healthy life.

While the long-term effects of massive deportations on children have yet to be studied, Leiner and her colleagues point out that the situation they face is not fundamentally different from those faced by children living in condition of systematic generalized fear. Studies that have dealt with such conditionswhether due to immigration raids or violence that is the result of terrorism, war or organized crimehave all concluded that it is the main trigger for negative outcomes.

Based on these studies, the conclusion reveals that the long-term effects of the ongoing massive deportations yields a terrible societal consequence. The report notes that the feeling that society has failed individuals is the seed that generates individuals who are dedicated to crime, delinquency, or who are simply disconnected from society and have no intention to positively contribute to a harmonious and balanced society.

The dire consequences of massive deportations will not remain restricted to the targeted communities. They could, as Leiner et al. state, trigger potential unintended consequences involving increased racial/ethnic discrimination, feelings of stigma, and possible lower tolerance of racial/ethnic diversity. The negative consequences that will be initially seen in immigrant communities will soon spread and affect every person in the country.

The report concludes with the suggestion that the only way forward is through the creation of a multidimensional approach for planning, understanding and considering all social, economic, and cultural implications of the proposed immigration policies. In addition, what is needed is an investment in early childhood programs that focus on families as an inseparable nucleus.

The United States has the dubious distinction of being the only UN member state which has not ratified the Convention of the Rights of the Child (1989). The basic proposition underlying the convention is that in all actions that affect children a state should make the best interest of the child a primary consideration. A hallmark of a civilized society is its treatment of the most vulnerable sections of its population, including children. In this sense, the trauma produced by US government policy against immigrants, supported by both the Democratic and Republican parties, reflects the brutality of American capitalism.On Friday, the US Justice Department announced charges against 13 Russian nationals and three organizations for allegedly entering into a conspiracy to interfere in the US political system. The indictments are the first charges related to the 2016 elections filed by the investigation headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, the former head of the FBI.

The indictments are primarily aimed at providing the New York Times, Washington Post, and major broadcast media outlets with fodder for their claim of massive Russian involvement in US politics, including through the manipulation of the 2016 elections. The campaign has been used to justify a regime of Internet censorship and condition the population for war against Russia.

The New York Times led its report on the indictments with a breathless proclamation that it shows a sophisticated network designed to subvert the 2016 election and to support the Trump campaign. Agents of the Russian government, the indictment supposedly proves, posed as political activists and used the flash points of immigration, religion and race to manipulate a campaign in which those issues were already particularly divisive.

There is much in the indictment that is highly suspicious, including one alleged transcript of a supposedly highly-trained agent extensively confessing her activities to family members as an excuse for having to work late. However, even if everything in it were taken at face value, it amounts to very little.

The document alleges that a Russian organization called the Internet Research Agency, tasked with carrying out operations all over the world and in Russia itself, had a monthly budget of approximately one million dollars.

By one estimate previously reported by the New York Times and Washington Post, the Russian government supposedly spent about $100,000 in ads on Facebook and Twitter during the 2016 election campaign to promote various issues. This figure constitutes approximately one-one thousandth of one percent of the total $6.5 billion spent in the 2016 US election cycle.

The alleged foreign meddling is nothing but a rounding error compared to the massive election spending of billionaires and millionaires, who have been given almost unlimited influence by the 2010 Citizens United ruling and subsequent Supreme Court decisions.

Moreover, when it comes to meddling in the internal affairs of other countries, neither Russia, nor anyone else for that matter, can hold a candle to the United States.

During the 1990s, post-Soviet Russia was largely transformed into an American protectorate and an appendage of the CIA and US corporations. The United States buys candidates, creates parties, and sets up NGOs all over the world for the purpose of manipulating elections. And if these are not successful, it resorts to war and regime-change operations.

In a leaked December 2013 speech, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland admitted that the United States invested over $5 billion to build good governance in Ukraine since 1991. A substantial portion of this $5 billion was spent in promoting the 20132014 regime-change operation in Ukraine, which helped spark the civil war that continues to rage in that country.

The over-arching framework of the indictments, as with the anti-Russian campaign as a whole, is the claim that social and political conflict within the United States is the product of foreign interference. In announcing the indictment, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein declared that Russian conspirators want to promote discord in the United States and undermine public confidence in democracy, adding, We must not allow them to succeed.

The American population does not need Vladimir Putin to undermine public confidence in democracy. After all, as Philip Alston, the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights said after a visit to the United States last year, There is no other developed country where so many voters are disenfranchised  and where ordinary voters ultimately have so little impact on political outcomes.

The American political establishment did not need the Russian government to organize the theft of the 2000 elections, handed to George W. Bush through a 54 vote in the Supreme Court, a decision accepted by the Democratic Party.

The Democratic Party, in alliance with dominant factions of the military-intelligence apparatus, has focused its opposition to the Trump administration not on its reactionary domestic policy or war-mongering, but on its supposed collusion with Russia. This has been used to both fight out conflicts within the ruling class over foreign policy and to create the framework for domestic repression.

The greatest fear of the Democrats no less than the Republicans is not Putin, but the growth of opposition within the United States. Significantly, while the indictment claims that Russian meddling was largely aimed at disparaging Hillary Clinton to assist Trump, it goes on at considerable length to detail how Russian agents supposedly promoted left-wing political organizations, anti-war sentiment, and opposition to the US two-party system.

The indictment alleges that Russian agents aimed to support Bernie Sanders, and encourage Americans to vote for a third-party US Presidential candidate. One of the posts from an allegedly fraudulent Russian page read, Choose peace and vote for Jill Stein. Trust me, its not a wasted vote. Another called on American Muslims to boycott the election, declaring that Hillary Clinton wants to continue the war on Muslims in the Middle East and voted yes for Invading Iraq.

The present campaign has many similarities to the McCarthyite witch-hunts against communist agents, and the declarations by former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover and Southern segregationists that the Civil Rights movement was the work of malevolent outside agitators.

In the context of a series of policy documents indicating that cyber-warfare would constitute grounds for military retaliation, the indictments also escalate the danger of US military conflict with Russia. Rosenstein declared, The defendants allegedly conducted what they called information warfare against the United States.

It will also be used to intensify the demand that internet companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter take even more aggressive action to censor information and work with the state to suppress free speech online.US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson unveiled a tentative agreement with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Kavusoglu Friday after a bilateral meeting in Ankara aimed at patching up sharp differences. The meeting was part of a Middle East tour by Tillerson, who made clear that the US is in the advanced stages of preparing a major escalation of military conflict in the region.

A proposed joint mechanism for resolving disputes between the two countries was thin on detail, with neither Tillerson nor Kavusoglu providing information on precisely how it would work. Notwithstanding Tillersons depiction of the US-Turkey partnership as a time-tested alliance built on common interests and mutual respect, Ankara and Washington have increasingly been at odds over recent months and it is extremely doubtful that this latest announcement will change things.

As Tillerson admitted during the press conference, Washingtons relationship with Ankara had reached a bit of a crisis point. Kavusoglu was even blunter. He blamed the US for breaking promises and told assembled reporters that the two countries must decide whether to mend fences or go in a different direction.

Turkey remains infuriated by Washingtons reliance in Syria on the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara considers a terrorist organisation connected to the outlawed Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey. The Turkish military has waged a bloody crackdown on the PKK since the 1980s.

The US has at least 2,000 special forces in Syria supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces, which the YPG dominates, and US warplanes provide the Kurdish militia with air support. Though Washingtons official pretext for backing the YPG is that it is an ally in the struggle against ISIS, the US is in reality pushing for regime change in Damascus so as to sideline its rivals in the region, above all Iran and Russia.

Last month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered Turkish troops and aligned Syrian militias across the border to remove YPG fighters in Afrin and prevent the establishment of a Kurdish zone of control on Ankaras southern border.

Kavusoglu referred to the offensive at the joint press conference, accusing Washington of reneging on its pledge to remove Kurdish fighters from the city of Manbij and leave Turkey in control of the area west of the Euphrates River. Erdogan has repeatedly threatened that Turkish troops will extend their intervention eastward to Manbij, which could result in a direct clash with US special forces based there in support of the YPG.

A top US military officer in Manbij declared on February 7 that US troops would stay in the town and resist a Turkish army attack on YPG forces. In response, Erdogan blustered: Those who say we will respond aggressively if you hit us have never experienced an Ottoman slap.

Ankara was Tillersons last stop on a regional tour, which he used to further escalate tensions with Iran. His most aggressive thrust against Tehran came during his stop in Lebanon. He ominously raised the prospect of Washington deliberately blowing apart the complex power-sharing arrangement in Beirut, both to support the aggressive posture of its chief Middle East ally, Israel, and to push back Iranian influence. Tillersons visit took place just five days after Tel Aviv launched its largest air strikes in Syria for over 30 years, targeting a number of Iranian installations.

It is impossible to talk about stability, sovereignty and security in Lebanon without addressing Hezbollah, Tillerson told a joint press conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, whose coalition government includes parties backed by the Shia-based group. The US has considered Hezbollah a terrorist organisation for more than two decades now  It is unacceptable for a militia like Hezbollah to operate outside the authority of the Lebanese government. The only legitimate defender of the Lebanese state is the Lebanese armed forces.

US imperialisms regime-change operation in neighboring Syria, where Washington has been seeking for the past seven years to topple Bashar al-Assad, has been opposed by forces from Iran and Hezbollah, which have fought on the side of the Damascus regime. With the defeat of Washingtons Islamist proxies and the strengthening of Assads control over large parts of the country, the US military responded by dramatically intensifying its intervention. Washingtons aim is to thwart the establishment of an Iranian-controlled land corridor from Tehran through Syria to Lebanon, and prevent Assad from gaining access to critical oil and energy resources in the countrys east.

Over the past two weeks, the US has ratcheted up its intervention. On February 7, American aircraft attacked a column of pro-Assad forces advancing on Islamist rebel-held positions in Deir Ezzor, claiming around 100 lives. Reports strongly suggest that Russian personnel were among the dead.

Tillersons provocative remarks Thursday demonstrate that Washington is not only prepared to perpetuate the Syrian bloodbath to block Iranian influence in the region, but also throw other countries across the Middle East into turmoil in pursuit of its predatory interests. Lebanon, which was torn apart by more than a decade of civil war in the 1980s and 1990s, remains deeply divided along ethnic and religious lines and could rapidly descend into chaos were Hariris fragile power-sharing government to collapse.

Moreover, Tillersons explicit denunciation of Hezbollah as a threat to sovereignty and security can only have been interpreted in Israel as a green light for Tel Avivs preparations for a northern war in Lebanon against Hezbollah.

Demonstrating that Tillersons threat to Hezbollah and Iran was more than a verbal warning, al-Monitor reported that the Pentagon will request an additional $1.8 billion to purchase precision-guided bombs and other high-powered weaponry for use in the conflict in Syria and Iraq. This would increase the total allocation for the war by 15 percent in 2019 to over $15 billion. The $1.8 billion hike amounts to 20 percent more than the entire Pentagon budget for arms in the Middle East during 2017.

The fact that the arms purchased by this spending increase will be directed against Assads forces, and his Iranian and Hezbollah allies, was underscored by the inclusion of more than $31 million for anti-tank missiles. ISIS and the remaining Al Qaeda affiliates in Syria have no tanks.

Tillersons statements in Beirut and the hike in Pentagon arms spending are of a piece with the Trump administrations broader offensive throughout the region to confront Iran, and consolidate unchallenged US dominance over the energy-rich and strategically significant Middle East against its chief rivals, Russia and China.

Russia, Turkey and Iran are currently in a tacit alliance that has sidelined the US in much of the diplomatic negotiations over Syrias future but they have distinct and not necessarily compatible interests in the region. Russia, for example, made no issue of the Israeli air strikes that targeted Iranian infrastructure in Syria last week. Tillerson and other senior figures in the Trump administration will have undoubtedly taken note of this.

Moscow has also given its approval to Turkeys push into northern Syria, provided that the operation remains within certain limits and does not confront Assads forces. The Putin regime no doubt hopes to exploit the divisions between the NATO allies to strengthen its hand in Syria against the US.

Nevertheless, the possibility of a US-Turkish rapprochement is not excluded, especially as the Trump administration moves to rapidly deepen its confrontation with Iran, not just in Syria, but across the Middle East.

Speaking to journalists in Amman on February 13, Tillerson said: Turkey is still an important NATO ally of the United States ... We need to find a way to continue to work in the same direction. At a conference in Kuwait City the day before, he reiterated that the US was keenly aware of the legitimate security concerns of Turkey, our coalition partner and stands by our NATO ally in its counterterrorism efforts.

Before Tillersons arrival in Ankara, Defense Secretary James Mattis held talks with his Turkish counterpart Nurettin Canikli at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Mattis stated that the US and Turkey were finding common ground and called for a renewed focus on the campaign to defeat ISIS.

Canikli indicated a potential compromise with the US, claiming that Mattis had told him the US could separate the YPG from the PKK, and even try to make the former fight the PKK.

However, the various imperialist and regional powers ultimately line up, the ground is being prepared for a regional bloodbath that could rapidly escalate into a direct clash between the worlds major powers. This can be prevented only through the building of a socialist and international anti-war movement in the working class capable of connecting the struggle against war with the fight against its sourcethe capitalist system.The US ambassador to Sri Lanka and his Indian counterpart this week publicly stepped in to halt a planned breakup of the National Unity Government headed by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe after its heavy losses at local council elections held on February 10.

The Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPJP), the largest party in the parliamentary opposition, led by former President Mahinda Rajapakse, won 249 councils out of the total of 341 island-wide. Wickremesinghes United National Party (UNP) secured only 41 councils, while Sirisenas Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) gained only 10.

After the election debacle, Sirisena and Wickremesinghe began blaming each other for the defeat. At their instigation, followers of the two parties publicly announced the termination of the unity agreement.

The US ambassador to Sri Lanka, Atul Keshap, hurriedly met Sirisena and Wickremesinghe separately on February 13 reportedly to advise them to defuse the turmoil in the government and continue with it.

On the same day, in a move clearly coordinated with Washington, the Indian High Commissioner for Sri Lanka, Saranjit Singh Sandhu, met with Sirisena and Wickremesinghe to deliver a similar message.

The immediate response of both the government parties was one of servile adherence to the advice coming from their masters. The next day, the Daily Mirror reported that the United National Front (UNF) parliamentary group, led by Wickremesinghe, had decided to continue the unity government with some changes of portfolios and strategies.

In 2014, both the US and India were instrumental in bringing forward Sirisena as the common opposition candidate to oppose Rajapakse at the 2015 presidential election. Sirisena exploited the widespread popular discontent and anger with the Rajapakse regime to win the poll, then appointed Wickremesinghe as prime minister.

Washington and New Delhi intervened to oust Rajapakses regime because it tilted its foreign policy toward China. Over the past three years, Sirisena and Wickremesinghe have aligned Sri Lanka behind US efforts to confront and encircle China throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Amid rising geopolitical tensions in the region, Washington fears that its strategic gains in Sri Lanka could be reversed by the increasing political instability in Colombo.

Rajapakse, who was jubilant about his local council victory, initially called on Sirisena to dissolve parliament and hold a general election immediately to end the current political instability in the country. He quickly shelved that call after the US and Indian diplomatic interventions.

M.A. Sumanthiran of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) lost no time in announcing that although his party would not join the government, it would cooperate on progressive measures adopted by the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government as far as the issues of Tamil people were concerned.

Representing the Tamil capitalist elite, the TNA, which won 34 local councils in the north and east of the island, has repeatedly appealed to the US and India to pressure the Colombo government to grant its power-sharing demands.

Central to the political crisis is the growing social unrest over the governments austerity measures and anti-democratic methods. The dictates of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the strategic needs of the US and India have left no room for manoeuvre by the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government.

In the midst of the local council elections, non-academic workers in all the universities and Water Supply and Drainage Board workers took strike action over higher wages, defying a ban imposed by the Election Commission for the election period.

Recent protests over wages and conditions have included workers in the petroleum sector, ports, rail, postal and plantations. The rural poor have demonstrated against cuts in social services and subsidies, and university students have boycotted classes for months over the privatisation of education.

Tamils in the north and east have repeatedly protested against the continuing military occupation and demanded information about family members who were disappeared by military-linked death squads during the islands protracted civil war.

Despite this widespread opposition, the IMF has insisted the government implement its demands, particularly on slashing the budget deficit through increased taxes, such as the Value Added Tax (VAT) on essential commodities, and cuts in social benefits. As a result, tensions between the two coalition parties, the SLFP and UNP, and the two leaders, Sirisena and Wickremesinghe, over how to impose these policies have escalated.

While the media has generally ignored these acute social tensions, an editorial entitled To make or break of Unity Govt? on Thursday in the Daily News, the main government mouthpiece, touched on the issue.

The editorial concluded that the UNP and SLFP had been acting at cross purposes due to the governments sluggishness in implementing its policies. While the UNPs hands were tied in most instances [by the IMF], the SLFP was always trying to project the image that it was against placing burdens on the public due to the UNPs economic policies.

In other words, Sirisena has cynically attempted to distance himself and the SLFP from the governments austerity offensive dictated by the IMF. As a result, Rajapakse was able to exploit the popular anger and, at the same time, promote poisonous Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinism to divide working people on communal lines.

While doing the bidding of the IMF as well as the US and India, the entire political establishment in Sri LankaSinhala, Tamil and Muslimis desperate to suppress rising social unrest fueled by the austerity agenda that it is pledged to implement. The main bourgeois parties rely above all on the various pseudo-left parties such as the Nava Sama Samaja Party, United Socialist Party and Front Line Socialist Party, as well the trade unions and NGOs, to confine political opposition to safe parliamentary channels.

What is necessary is the building of a politically independent movement of the working class to mobilise the rural poor in the fight for a workers and peasants government committed to socialist policies. Only the Socialist Equality Party (SEP), Sri Lankan section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, fights for this program as part of the unified struggle for socialism by workers throughout South Asia and internationally.Haiti could expel Oxfam if allegations of sexual misconduct against the British charity prove to be true, a senior government official said.

"If there has indeed been an infraction ... I will not hesitate to revoke Oxfam's right to operate in Haiti," Aviol Fleurant, Haiti's minister of planning and external cooperation, told CNN in an interview Friday in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Fleurant is in charge of the oversight of aid agencies.

Oxfam's leaders are accused of attempting to cover up the behavior of some senior staff members while in the Caribbean nation in the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake. The aid workers -- including the Oxfam country director at the time, Roland van Hauwermeiren -- are accused of turning a villa rented by the organization into a makeshift brothel.

The charity also faces allegations that its staff used sex workers in the African nation of Chad in 2006

"If Oxfam is found (guilty) of any wrongdoing and also guilty of diverting funds (to pay for sex) and if the leaders at the time were also to be found guilty of sexual crimes, both will pay," Fleurant said.

Oxfam hasn't denied the accusations against its staff members but denied a cover-up, saying it launched a swift internal investigation after becoming aware of the allegations. Four people were fired and another three resigned, including van Hauwermeiren, the charity said.

In an open letter this week to a broadcaster in his native Belgium, van Hauwermeiren acknowledged his behavior was unacceptable.

"I myself, indeed I am not perfect, I am not a saint, a man of flesh and blood, and have made mistakes (not easy to admit), and I am deeply ashamed," he wrote in the letter.

Van Hauwermeirn admitted he had intimate relations with a woman in Haiti, but denied allegations that he paid for sex in the villa the charity had rented for him in the wake of the 2010 earthquake.

Oxfam under threat of losing UK funding

Oxfam has agreed to withdraw from bidding for UK government funding until the country's Department for International Development is satisfied that proper safeguards are in place to prevent abuse, International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said in a statement Friday.

Oxfam received about -32 million (about $44 million) from the government last year. It is one of the UK's largest and most prominent aid organizations, operating development programs in more than 90 countries. The agency also offers assistance to people after emergencies and disasters.

Mordaunt said she discussed the issue with Oxfam CEO Mark Goldring and the chair of trustees, Caroline Thompson, and received a formal response from the charity Friday.

"I made three demands: that they make clear how they will handle any forthcoming allegations around safeguarding -- historic or live; that they report staff members involved in this incident to their respective national governments; and that they fully cooperate with the Haitian authorities, including handing over all evidence they hold. Oxfam has now confirmed that they have complied with all of these points."

The UK Charity Commission, an independent regulator of charities in England and Wales, has opened a statutory inquiry into the allegations.

"Clearly Oxfam (has) a long way to go before they can regain the trust of the British public, their staff and the people they aim to help," Mordaunt said "... I am determined that we do our utmost to prevent exploitation and abuse happening -- and ensure that where it does happen it is identified and dealt with appropriately."

Urgent review

Oxfam announced Friday that an independent commission would carry out an "urgent" review into the allegations alongside a "comprehensive action plan to stamp out abuse."

In a statement, the charity's international executive director, Winnie Byanyima, said Oxfam is "absolutely committed to ensuring justice for survivors of abuse."

"What happened in Haiti and afterward is a stain on Oxfam that will shame us for years, and rightly so," she said. "From the bottom of my heart I am asking for forgiveness."

Byanyima also urged abuse victims to come forward on Twitter.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned this week that a culture change is required to enable women across the world to work without fear of sexual harassment.

In an interview with CNN, Guterres said the allegations that have engulfed Oxfam were a reminder of the "serious problem that is everywhere."

The United Nations has faced its own abuse scandals. In 2016, there were 80 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by uniformed United Nations personnel and 65 allegations against civilian workers who support the peacekeeping missions, according to a report by Guterres published last year.

UN peacekeepers accused of raping civilians

As a result of the report, Guterres unveiled recommendations from a task force attempting to eradicate sexual abuse by peacekeepers in the field.

Since the Oxfam revelations were first reported last week in The Times of London, the charity has lost two high-profile ambassadors -- actress Minnie Driver and Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu. On Monday, its deputy chief executive, Penny Lawrence, resigned.

"The cameras from the entire world were turned on Haiti on its plight, and its plight of its future, but behind the curtains sexual crimes were being committed against the people, to the detriment of their dignity," said Fleurant, the Haitian minister. "... As a human being, as a Haitian, I am profoundly shocked and saddened."SULLIVAN COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - Students have filed a federal lawsuit against the Northeast School Corporation and North Central High School.

Thats located in Farmersburg.

The students allege the school failed to respond appropriately by allowing harassment and bullying by a male student and others.

News 10 received the federal document earlier this week. It was filed on Tuesday, February 13th. The attorney's involved want it known this a serious problem and how it's completely devastated a local family.

Court documents say, the first incident happened in December of 2014. Thats when one female claims, she was raped. This happened not at the school, but in Sullivan County. Documents say she waited until November 2015 to tell parents or anyone at school.

Documents also say when the school was notified the male student remained in her classes and nothing was done. The lawsuit claims this brought on harassment and bullying from students, which led to her feeling fearful and dropping out of school.

The other female is her sibling, which the lawsuit says she was also a victim of bullying due to the situation. Court documents say both girls suffered physical and emotional stress, and have been treated by therapists and counselors.

Attorneys Eric Frey and Paul Jungers of Terre Haute are representing the girls. They both agree these are topics schools, need to focus on.

Frey told News 10 in an interview on Friday, "He got to stay in school and the girl who is attacked doesn't get to be in school and that's not right, he added, "Kids can be vicious to each other and it's the schools job to have a policy to prevent that and keeps that from happening. In this case we have information and evidence they just haven't been enforcing that policy or they don't have an adequate policy."

This lawsuit seeks damages for the girls injuries and discrimination on the basis of sex under Title IX.

News 10 did reach out to the Northeast School Corporation Superintendent for comment and this was their response:

"We have received the complaint and we are currently reviewing it with counsel. The School Corporation denies all allegations that it engaged in wrongdoing of any kind. Out of respect for the privacy of the students involved, we are, at this time, unable to comment in detail about the specific allegations set forth in the lawsuit."VINCENNES, Ind. (WTHI)- Many who call Vincennes home will tell you one thing that makes their town special is its history. Including Vera Foley whos family has been in Vincennes since the American Revolution.

"Im descended from some of the old French settlers that were here that settled this area before the revolution even and it just means everything really to us to have this town preserved and maintained," said Foley.

She's talking about one of the oldest houses in Vincennes at Grouseland. For years the Grouseland Foundation has run and maintained William Henry Harrisons old mansion.

Lisa Ice-Jones is the Executive Director of the Grouseland Foundation. She says it has been quite a while since its last restoration project.

"So 52 years ago was the last major restoration so it has been well taken care of. Prudent decisions have been made and people have loved it and honored it. But its time," said Ice-Jones.

Thats why the foundation is working towards a challenge grant. If the foundation can raise $800.000, they will receive a grant worth $400,000.

Earlier this week the foundation reached out to the city council for $100,000. It's a large amount of money but its an investment that could bring in more visitors.

"We feel like and I think they agree on the influx of the four hundred thousand into Vincennes, that's a major deal and everybody wants to take advantage of that and make that work for the good of tourism in the entire area, said Ice-Jones.

As for the citizens of Vincennes, they are in favor for the project. Doing whatever they can to help preserve the citys rich history for years to come.

"I think its well worth the investment but I certainly hope that people realize the importance of maintaining our heritage. Once these properties and these historic sites are gone you can never replace them," said Foley.

The Grouseland Foundation has until June 2019 to raise the money to receive the grant. The city council will vote at its next meeting if they will put up a hundred thousand dollars toward that goal.

If you would like to donate to the cause please check out their website here.INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A federal appeals court has heard arguments in Indiana's appeal of a federal judge's 2016 order blocking a state law that would ban abortions sought due to fetal genetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome.

The Indianapolis Star reports that Indiana Solicitor General Thomas Fisher told the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago on Thursday that the law is a prohibition on "discriminatory abortion."

Legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, Ken Falk, argues that Indiana's law is an infringement on women's privacy interests. He accuses the state of looking to figure out "why women seek abortion."

A federal judge in Indianapolis issued a preliminary injunction on June 30, 2016, blocking the law from taking effect the following day.

Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Conservative groups are urging Indiana lawmakers to pass a bill that would require parents to "opt in" for their children to take sex education classes in public schools.

The proposal approved last month by the state Senate would require notification specific to any sexual education content and prohibit public schools from providing that education without parental permission. The bill would cover classes with content on sexual activity, orientation or gender identity.

The House Education Committee heard Thursday from supporters who say the measure is about parental rights, citing fear of inappropriate sexual education materials.

Some opponents maintain the "opt-in" requirement could result in fewer students learning about important health matters.

The committee could vote next week on whether to advance the bill to the full House.

(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)WEST TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A West Terre Haute man faces charges after threatening to kill a woman and her children Thursday night, according to police.

Friday morning, the West Terre Haute Police Department took a report of a domestic battery. The reporting person said the incident happened Thursday night at a house on Lee Avenue in West Terre Haute.

Police say Cody Morris became angry after an argument and took the alleged female victim's phone. The female reported Morris then held a gun to her head and made threats to shoot her and her children.

The female told police Morris would not let her leave the house. As she took her children, she said Morris smashed her phone with a hammer, and then broke the house phone. The woman told police Morris physcially prevented her and the children from leaving the house.

Eventually, the woman said Morris let her leave with the children. Morris is accused of shutting off the power to the house, leaving the woman and children in the dark.

Officers obtained a warrant for Morris's arrest Friday afternoon. They arrested him in Terre Haute and took him to the Vigo County Jail. His bond was set at $50,000. He faces several charges including Domestic Battery, Criminal Confinement, and Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon.VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis revived his lapsed sex abuse advisory commission by naming new members Saturday, after coming under fire for his overall handling of the scandal and his support for a Chilean bishop accused by victims of witnessing and ignoring their abuse.

The announcement of the new members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors came on the same day that a Vatican investigator will take the testimony in New York of one of the main whistleblowers in the Chilean cover-up scandal.

Francis tasked Archbishop Charles Scicluna with the fact-finding mission into Bishop Juan Barros after he came under blistering criticism in Chile for defending Barros and calling the victims' cover-up accusations against him slander.

The initial three-year mandate of commission members had lapsed two months ago, on Dec. 17. Francis named nine new members Saturday and kept seven from the initial group. A Vatican statement said survivors of abuse are included, but didn't identify them to protect their privacy.

None of the most outspoken lay advocates for victims from the original group returned, but a statement stressed that the commission's work would be imbued throughout with the experience of victims.

Commission members are to open their April plenary by meeting with victims privately, and discussions are continuing to create an "international survivor advisory panel" to advise the commission and make sure the voices of victims are heard in all its deliberations, the statement said.

The new members are noteworthy for their geographic representation, hailing from Tonga, Brazil, Ethiopia and Australia, among other places.

"The newly appointed members will add to the commission's global perspective in the protection of minors and vulnerable adults," said Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the commission's president.

Francis has insisted he has "zero tolerance" for abuse and had pledged to hold bishops accountable when they botch cases. But there have been several well-known cases where he and the Vatican sided with the accused over victims, calling into question whether he shares the "victims first" policy that guides his own commission's work.

The Barros case is the most prominent example. Victims of Chile's most notorious predator priest, the Rev. Fernando Karadima, have for years accused Barros of witnessing their abuse, ignoring it and defending Karadima.

En route home from Chile, though, Francis insisted he had no "evidence" against Barros to warrant removing him. The Associated Press, though, reported that he received a letter from a Karadima victim, Juan Carlos Cruz, in April 2015 detailing the abuse he suffered and Barros' presence while it happened.

Francis' defiant defense of Barros suggested that he find Cruz or the other victims credible, and believed instead Barros' ecclesial supporters in Chile and at the Vatican.

Cruz testifies Saturday before Scicluna, who was the architect of the Vatican's get-tough approach to sex abuse in the early 2000s. Several recent cases, however, indicate that the Vatican under Francis doesn't favor the "one strike and you're out" approach adopted by the U.S. bishops, for example, after the scandal exploded there in 2002.

Francis himself has admitted that he opts to give offenders the benefit of the doubt, especially when solid proof - often hard to come by in decades-old sex abuse cases - is lacking.

"As must be done in good jurisprudence, always in favor of the offender," he told reporters Jan. 21 en route home from South America.

Francis applied that concept in the case of the Rev. Mauro Inzoli, a well-known Italian priest defrocked by the Vatican for having abused children as young as 12. He had his sentence reduced on appeal to a lifetime of penance and prayer in 2014 after what his bishop said was a show of mercy from Francis. But in 2016, an Italian judge convicted Inzoli of abusing five children aged 12-16 and sentenced him to four years, nine months in prison. The Vatican opened a new church trial against him and in 2017 he was definitively defrocked.

Francis has held out the Inzoli case as an exception, where he opted for a lesser sanction.

But Italy's Il Mattino newspaper has had a series of exposes about another case where the Vatican under Francis opted to take the priest's word over that of the victim's.

The victim in that case accused the Rev. Silverio Mura, a parish priest in Ponticelli, of raping him as a 13-year-old. He came forward in 2010 to accuse Mura, after remembering the abuse during the therapy he was undergoing for the panic attacks, depression and other medically certified reactions to his childhood trauma.

But the case, investigated by the archdiocese of Naples, was shelved in 2016 for lack of proof.

The victim had declined to submit to a second diocesan psychiatric evaluation after the first one subjected him to a "savage" police-style interrogation that sought to destroy his fragile defenses, according to a letter to the archdiocese' psychiatrist from the victim's personal psychiatrist, Dr. Alfonso Rossi.

Il Mattino this month reported, however, that other victims have since come forward alleging similar rapes.

Vatican spokesman Greg Burke confirmed Saturday that the case was now revived, on the express wishes of Francis. He said it had never been archived, just dormant "awaiting other elements of proof."

Il Mattino, however, reported Feb. 4 that the priest had been sanctioned based on the evidence already given. "Quickly admonish the priest," was the recommendation included in the file in the archives of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Il Mattino reported.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.UPDATE 02/16/18 at 9:30 p.m.

Starkville police and Oktibbeha County law enforcement are warning residents of this Facebook post. Starkville police and Oktibbeha County law enforcement are warning residents of this Facebook post.

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) - Law enforcement in Oktibbeha County are investigating two different cases involving a false social media post.

"The first one was about possible guns at one of the local schools here," said Starkville Police Chief Frank Nichols.

In a tweet posted around noon on Thursday, Starkville Schools said, "A social media post from an adult has created a frenzy of misinformation that is fueling untruths. AMS (Armstrong Middle School) is not on lockdown."

That tweet was followed with another that read, "It is extremely important that accurate, factual information is shared with out school community."

This case is being investigated by the school district's police.

Friday morning, Starkville police and the Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Department released a joint statement explaining they have received several questions about another post circulating Facebook.

That post warned women near or on Highway 389 of a masked man breaking into homes and raping women.

"We found that to be untrue," said Nichols.

Nichols encourages the public to really know what they are sharing on social media.

"I ask the citizens to first do you're own investigation before you share this type of information," said Nichols. "Call us. Send us a message on our Facebook page."

The false post has been deleted.

"If anything bad is going to happen in Starkville, I promise you, we're going to put it out on social media," said Nichols.



ORIGINAL ARTICLE

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) - Law enforcement in Oktibbeha County are advising residents to be cautious about a bogus social media post.TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - One of the architects of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program is not happy with the Republican proposal to change the formula that decides how much state money is sent to local school districts.

"The argument of House Speaker Philip Gunn and his allies is basically this formula is causing a political problem for us. So if we get rid of the formula, then people can't complain we're $200 million short," said Democratic Senator Hob Bryan of Amory.

Bryan is referring to the regular underfunding of MAEP. It has only been fully funded twice since the Legislature passed it in 1997, and he contends school districts will lose money under the new formula.

Supporters of the GOP formula, which has already passed the House, say it provides more reliable funding for K-12 educationSYLVESTER, GA (WALB) - The all-clear has been given at Worth County High School and Sylvester law enforcement is investigating after someone discovered a bomb threat.

A handwritten note was found in the school, prompting a lockdown.

According to a post on Facebook, students were moved to the gym at Worth County Middle School.

Officials with the Worth Co. Sheriff's Office said the school was checked for any possible threats.

Superintendent Bill Settle released the following statement about the incident:

We take all threats of this nature extremely seriously. Thats why our actions speak on that. In todays environment especially, we dont have any choice but to take them seriously. We include all our agencies our resources we can muster up to help us through these things.

The MCLB K-9 unit was called in for assistance and the Worth County Fire and Rescue was on standby.

Settle said Sylvester Police were on scene and they helped do an initial search. Settle said school officials made the decision to evacuate the building.

He also said that MCLB dogs did a very thorough search that took about 3 hours.

Settle said that when you deal with bomb threats, you've got to take everyone based on the information that you initially have. You have to analyze every situation differently. He said they wanted to bring the dogs through in order to confirm.

According to Settle, the punishment will have very serious consequences under the law and student code of conduct.

He said that he thought staff and students handled the whole situation like pros, saying everybody was calm and collected when they decided to evacuate the school.

Settle said he was proud of the entire school community.

Sylvester Police Chief Kenneth Washington said a student was in custody for questioning at one point Friday.

Washington said that the punishment for making a threat like is a felony terroristic threat charge.

No one has been arrested.

Copyright 2018 WALB. All rights reserved.By Tracie Mitchell

Staff Writer

Update on brucellosis status in Wyoming

WORLAND  Ranchers, farmers, veterinarians and curious community members gathered Thursday to learn what brucellosis abortus is, how it is transmitted, the types of animals, both wild and domesticated, who are affected by it, the danger to humans and what is being done to keep it under control and to hopefully eradicate it.

February 17, 2018

Tracie Mitchell WESTI Ag Days attendees received an update on brucellosis in Wyoming including efforts to monitor elk.People hold candles during a vigil for the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida, the United States, Feb. 15, 2018. Seventeen people were killed in a mass shooting in a high school in Florida in the United States Wednesday, local police said. (Xinhua/Liu Yang)

By Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Mass killings like the one seen on Wednesday are becoming increasingly common in the United States, highlighting a problem that only seems to be getting worse, experts said.

Wednesday saw a teenage shooter go on a rampage at a Florida high school, killing 17 people. The shooting is the latest in a long list of U.S. mass killings that have occurred in recent years, underscoring an argument of whether it's the guns, sociological factors, or a combination of both that is causing so much carnage.

"Mass shootings are frequent in America because guns are so readily available. Nearly anyone who wants a gun can purchase one. That means anyone who is deranged, angry, or has terrorist impulses can find a weapon and shoot a lot of people in a very short period of time," Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua.

"The ubiquitousness of guns is the prime problem behind the violence," West said.

Flowers are placed on a fence near Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to mourn for the victims, in Parkland, Florida, the United States, Feb. 15, 2018. Seventeen people were killed in a mass shooting in a high school inFlorida in the United States Wednesday, local police said. (Xinhua/Liu Yang)

Still others argue that while guns have always been easily available in the United States, the last decade has seen a rise in mass shootings.

Indeed, the last decade saw four of the deadliest shootings in U.S. history. In 2007, a student at Virginia Tech killed 32 people; in 2012 a deranged gunman entered the Sandy Hook elementary school and murdered 28 people, including many children; last year a gunman killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando. And October's Las Vegas shooting - in which nearly 60 people died and 500 were wounded -- dwarfed all three of these incidents in terms of the death toll.

Experts on mass killings say if someone is truly determined to carry out a mass murder, they will find other ways to do it if automatic weapons are unavailable, such as setting off a homemade bomb.

But advocates of gun control say stricter controls on automatic weapons could result in fewer casualties, as military-style weapons can fire hundreds of rounds in seconds, while many other weapons can only fire a few rounds before the shooter needs to reload. That could leave time for would-be victims to run away or disarm the gunman.

Experts said mass murderers can come from any socio-economic background, ethnic or other background. But there are some common patterns prevalent among individuals who commit such acts of violence.

Joseph A. Toomey, assistant professor and director of the forensic psychology concentration at William James College, told Xinhua that one common pattern is a failure to cope with loss and a response to those types of things that fits the pattern of isolation.

"They tend to be very isolated individuals," Toomey said of mass murderers. "And then when these losses occur they don't deal with them well. They become very angry, they ruminate over the losses, they externalize blame for the losses. They put the blame on those around them, or circumstances within society."

Experts said it is unlikely that U.S. President Donald Trump will make any new calls for more gun control, as the GOP has been opposed to action in this area for decades and have not been swayed by past mass shootings.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in a national address regarding the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Feb. 15, 2018. Donald Trump said here on Thursday that he is making plan to visit shooting scene in Parkland, Florida. (Xinhua/Ting Shen)

The right to bear arms, as guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution, is seen as sacred in many rural communities in America's heartland, whose support was a major factor that pushed Trump into the White House last November. Many firearms advocates -- but not all -- are opposed to even the most basic gun control legislation, as they view that as a slippery slope that would eventually result in infringement on their constitutional rights.

Those include the right to protect oneself when there is no law enforcement close by, as is often the case in rural areas. Others note that guns protect people's homes and families when intruders break in. Americans, as a culture, are also wary of the eventual formation of a police state in which the individual has no rights, and they view the right to bear arms as key to preventing this.

West said there are many different ways that mass shootings could be prevented.

"There should be tighter background checks and those with criminal convictions or histories of mental illness should not be allowed to purchase guns," West said.

"There can be a waiting period for gun purchases. Certain weapons such as high-speed automatic weapons should be banned from sale," West said.

He added that schools need to do a better job integrating all people into their social fabric so certain people don't feel like alienated outsiders.

"Those experiencing a sense of social isolation are the ones most likely to engage in these heinous acts," West said.

Mourners hug after placing flowers on a makeshift memorial for the victims of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida on Feb. 15, 2018. (Xinhua/AFP)

Dan Mahaffee, senior vice president and director of policy at the Center for the Study of Congress and the Presidency, said the partisan deadlock on gun issues will continue to limit the political response.

"Certainly, the impact of this tragedy is made greater by the fact that a young man with ominous behavioral and mental health warnings was able to get such a weapon. While the United States has a long tradition of firearms ownership-and many see it as a fundamental constitutional right-many want to know why it is easier to get such weaponry than to get a driver's license," Mahaffee said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 03:25:57|Editor: yan

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DUBAI, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai attended Friday the kilometers-long parade in Dubai's newest shopping and dining complex "Citywalk," formed by 1,500 Chinese expatriates on the occasion of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Under blue sky and temperatures of above 20 degrees Celsius, the Chinese expatriate community launched the start of the Year of the Dog with Chinese classical music performances, the famous Chinese dragon and lion dance and artistic performances. The gathering of 30 groups marked the biggest Chinese parade since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1984.

Li Lingbing, the Consul General of China in Dubai took part in the parade and met thereafter with Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, who greeted the Chinese community and lauded their performances.

On Thursday, the ruler wrote history himself when he sent a greeting message to the Chinese people across the world on the occasion of Chinese Lunar New Year in Mandarin.

"On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, congratulations to the Chinese people throughout the world for the happy Spring Festival," Sheikh Mohammed said.

Over 270,000 Chinese nationals live in the Gulf state and over 4,000 businesses from China run branches in the UAE, a major oil supplier. Over 10,000 small gifts decorated with Chinese characteristics were distributed during the parade.

Maryam Bin Fahad, a well-known media relation personality who has been working for various government entities in the UAE, watched the parade from a nearby cafe and shot photos with her smartphone, as many residents did.

"We always enjoy having celebrations of different nations in our country. We are a cosmopolitan city, and I also like the parade because I travelled to China several times," she said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 04:46:19|Editor: Chengcheng

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Munich Security Conference (MSC) Chairman Wolfgang Ischinger speaks at the opening ceremony of the 54th Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, Germany, Feb. 16, 2018. The future role of the European Union (EU) as a global actor and its relations with Russia and the United States are among the key focuses of the 54th MSC, which officially opened here Friday afternoon.(Xinhua/Luo Huanhuan)

MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The future role of the European Union (EU) as a global actor and its relations with Russia and the United States are among the key focuses of the 54th Munich Security Conference (MSC), which officially opened here Friday afternoon.

Over 500 participants from around the world attended the three-day major annual gathering for international security issues, amid uncertain transatlantic relations and challenges to the liberal international order, mainly protectionism and nationalism.

In addition, participants will also discuss an array of global security issues, such as conflicts in the Middle East, especially the deteriorating relations between the Gulf states, and political developments in the Sahel region in Africa.

Moreover, arms control issues will be a point of emphasis, in particular the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) nuclear program.

We came much closer to the brink of inter-state conflicts," said Wolfgang Ischinger, chairman of the MSC, at the opening ceremony. "We must make concrete steps."

WORLD AMID MULTIPLE SECURITY CHALLENGES

Since its foundation in 1963, the annual MSC has become a forum dedicated to promoting peaceful conflict resolution and international cooperation and dialogue. Participants discussed an array of new threats to the international community.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged participants "not to miss the opportunity of a peaceful resolution" to the standoff over DPRK's nuclear program, saying a military solution would have "catastrophic consequences".

Guterres said the world faces the threat of a nuclear conflict for the first time since the end of the Cold War because of events surrounding DPRK's nuclear ambitions, and stressed the need for global pressure for a diplomatic solution.

"NATO's goal is a world without nuclear weapons, but as long as they exist, NATO will remain a nuclear alliance," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani said at the conference that Middle Eastern states should put their differences behind them and forge a security pact modeled on the EU in order to pull the region back from the brink.

Participants also discussed technology's impact on democracy, as Guterres said that, it is high time to discuss in a serious way about international legal framework in which cyber wars take place.

On the sidelines of the conference, nine major global corporations have agreed to sign a joint cyber security declaration. In an initiative championed by Siemens, firms including the European aerospace company Airbus, German carmaker Daimler, U.S. software company IBM and German insurance company Allianz, vowed to adopt shared rules and standards with regards to cyber security.

The declaration highlights ten specific areas in which politicians and businesses are urged to do more to ensure the safety of an increasingly-digitalized world.

Economic issues are also discussed on the first day of the conference, with discussions concerning the global economic order and the return of protectionism.

TRANSATLANTIC TIES IN TENSION

At her opening address, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen strengthened Europe's responsibility in the future, saying that "We want to remain transatlantic, and at the same time become more European".

"It is about a Europe that can also throw more weight in the military. This can be more self-reliance and self-responsibility -- ultimately in the NATO," said von der Leyen.

While making committed to anti-terrorism efforts, the German defense minister also stressed the role of development besides security, in achieving long-term security, comparing to NATO and Marshall Plan after the WWII.

French Defense Minister Florence Parly said at her opening address that she believed that France and Germany will renew European defense cooperation and France is ready to join hands with Germany to address short-term and long-term security threats of Europe.

However, while stressing "unbreakable" transatlantic bond and welcoming EU's efforts on strengthened defense, Stoltenberg warned the risk of weakening transatlantic relations and EU's duplicating of NATO's role.

"We welcome EU's efforts on defense. It can further strengthen European pillar within NATO....EU cannot protect itself by itself," he said.

Among the conference's some 500 participants are U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster. Other participants include British Prime Minister Theresa May, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 05:16:23|Editor: Chengcheng

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By Christopher Guly

OTTAWA, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- There will be much style but little substance to emerge from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's first state visit to India, according to international trade expert Vivek Dehejia.

"The one big missing piece is that we will not see the signing of a comprehensive economic and trade agreement that would have been a crowning achievement for this visit, which has been in the works since 2010," said Dehejia, an associate professor of economics and philosophy at Carleton University in Ottawa.

"There will be business roundtables and the usual photo opportunities at the Taj Mahal and the Golden Temple, and stuff like that."

Trudeau arrives in New Delhi on Saturday and will be in India until Feb. 23, with stops also scheduled in Agra, Amritsar, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. His visit follows 11 others to India by members of his cabinet since September 2016.

Negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Canada and India began in November 2010 when Stephen Harper, the former leader of Canada's Conservative Party, was Canada's prime minister. Harper had a "natural kinship" with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a fellow conservative, said Dehejia, who holds a Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University in New York City and is a resident senior fellow at the IDFC Institute, a think-tank in Mumabi.

But he also pointed out that neither leader was a scion of political dynasties as Trudeau, whose father Pierre, was also a Canadian prime minister and Rahul Gandhi, president of India's main opposition Congress party previously led by his mother, Sonia, as well his father Rajiv, his grandmother Indira and his maternal great-grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, who all served as Indian prime ministers.

"When Mr. Trudeau became prime minister in 2015, he shifted gears from the Conservatives' playbook on trade that was pragmatic and commercially driven," said Mumbai-born Dehejia in an interview.

"Mr. Trudeau is more ideological and wants to push progressive issues on women, indigenous people, the environment and labor laws, which are legitimate but trade agreements are not the best way to push these issues. Mr. Trudeau's progressive trade agenda will not play well in India any more than it played in China."

The Canadian prime minister was criticized for promoting that agenda during a visit to China last December that many observers, including Trudeau's own government, hoped would advance trade talks between the two countries.

Annual two-way merchandise trade is worth about 6.4 billion U.S. dollars, representing less than one percent of both Canada's and India's total foreign trade and investment, said Dehejia, who believes the prime reason for Trudeau's trip will be for the benefit of the more than one million Canadians of Indian descent - and most particularly, the half-million Sikh Canadians - all of whom his Liberal Party has relied on in the past for support in general elections.

But Harry Sharma, who heads the Canada-India Centre for Excellence, also at Carleton University, expects the Canadian prime minister's visit to move forward negotiations on free trade and the Canada-India Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, which he noted is close to being signed.

"These are two very strong sovereign countries that want to make sure they are agreeing to things that they are comfortable with politically, socially and culturally before they get into a marriage on free trade," said Delhi-born Sharma.

"It's like a Bollywood movie, where both countries are dancing and still figuring out if they're going to fall in love. But I believe that eventually there will be a happy ending. There's so much the two countries have in common, and the two agreements on free trade and investment protection will be very useful in expanding their trade partnership to its full potential."HELSINKI, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Each year, two large scale firework shows are held in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. One is on New Year's Eve, the other on the Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve.

The Spring Festival celebrated in Finland, highlighted by the Helsinki Temple Fair, adds lively colors, cheerful laughter and harmonious atmosphere to this Nordic country when the long, dark winter prevails.

The annual event becomes now part of the Happy Spring Festival, a universal celebration for Chinese Lunar New Year across the globe.

However, the Helsinki Temple Fair has its own course. It was created in 2007 following an agreement reached between Helsinki and Beijing, and has ever since been gaining popularity among local citizens around Helsinki.

FIXED IN LOCAL CALENDAR

The 12th edition of Helsinki Temple Fair kicked off on Thursday evening as the drum beat of the dragon and lion dance gathered hundreds of people downtown. The dragon pilots were a group of Finnish youngsters keen on Kong Fu.

The parade then marched to the main promenade in the central shopping district, where an outdoor show was on stage for four hours despite the freezing temperature. The performance was given by Beijing National Orchestra, Long Yun Martial Arts Group and Beijing City Contemporary Dance Company, all arriving in Finland only days before.

Dozens of booths demonstrating Chinese folklores were put up along the promenade. At the booth of Beijing Tourism Committee, people were seen lining up for trying on dramatic costumes, while others were sightseeing Chinese tourism attractions with VR glasses.

At the booth of the Finnish food company Atria, visitors queued for the braised pork snacks cooked in Chinese style. One of the chefs said over 2,000 plates were handed out in just four hours. The company recently got the license to export raw pork to China, and became the first time sponsor of the Temple Fair.

Twelve newly carved zodiac ice sculptures were seen placed in various locations, including the railway station square, pedestrian streets, and the commercial centers. On an ice ring at the railway station square, girls from Finnish figure skating clubs danced against the musical background of Chinese theatrical singing.

Approaching 18:00 local time, or 00:00 Beijing time, Chinese Ambassador to Finland Chen Li and the Mayor of Helsinki Jan Vapaavuori addressed a thousands-strong audience and led the countdown to the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Synchronized with the New Year bells ringed in Beijing, fireworks were set off at the temple fair venue in Helsinki. Two hours later, a massive firework show was given near the Toolo Bay 500 meters away.

Like in previous years, it was estimated that some 40,000 viewers took part in the event on Thursday. As no more than 5,000 Chinese nationals live in the capital city of Finland, the Temple Fair has obviously become an indispensable festival for locals in Helsinki's winter calendar.

MORE THAN ART SHOWS

In an interview with Xinhua, Vapaavuori said the celebration used to take place on only one street but the venue extended to the nearby squares this year. In the past 11 years, a temple fair was held and completed in one evening, but this year's celebration lasted half a month.

An event named "Happy Spring Festival - Beijing Week" took place in Helsinki in late January, focusing on startup competitions, technology seminars and business match-making.

For the first time in 12 years, the issues of business, technology and sports, among others, were put into the Spring Festival basket of Helsinki. "Chinese New Year celebration is getting bigger and bigger in Helsinki," said Vapaavuori.

In the Chinese zodiac system, the period of twelve years concludes a cycle. As the Year of Dog arrives, analysts believe that the Spring Festival, originating from China, has gone beyond borders and to some extent has become a cultural event shared by the world.

Ma Wen, deputy inspector of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture, said that the celebration of Spring Festival particularly in Finland has developed in a natural way where the local partners play a key role and the event is broadly accepted by Finns.

"Beijing is the only sister city of Helsinki, and Finns regard Chinese people as friends," said Vapaavuori.CHICAGO, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Social media data can be used as a complementary source of information alongside traditional data sources like phone-based polling to gauge public opinion about health issues, a study by University of Illinois (UI) researchers in social psychology and marketing found.

An analysis of online communications on Twitter about the public health challenges of the Zika virus correlated highly with a Zika-related analysis of traditional survey data from landline and cellular phones.

"Our results demonstrate that it's possible to uncover and analyze information from Twitter communications that are associated with public health crises," said Dolores Albarracin, UI professor of psychology and co-author of the study. "The common perception is that what people read on social media might not be representative of mainstream sentiment but rather a biased or extreme representation. It turns out that, in this domain, social media, specifically Twitter in our research, represents exactly the average of the real-life population of the U.S."

The researchers also analyzed Twitter data about the Zika virus outbreak by searching for Zika-related keywords using the site's application programming interface. They winnowed the resulting dataset of 3.8 million tweets to an aggregated set that matched the time period of the more traditional phone-based survey data.

The results demonstrated a high ability to identify community attitudes, knowledge and behaviors in a timely manner and at low cost on social media, Albarracin said.

"The survey data of the phone responses correlated moderately to highly with what was going on in real time on Twitter," she said.

The study was "a proof of concept that we can make these inferences based on social media conversations and establish surveillance systems that rely on social media postings," Albarracin said.

The study also has implications for public health.

"If there's a public health crisis, or if you wish to see how people are responding to a public health crisis in real time, Twitter would certainly be a valid portal to look at," Albarracin said. "It's cheap, it's fast and it's ubiquitous, whereas traditional phone polling is slow and expensive, it can take weeks and can cost tens of thousands of dollars per week, if not more, to gather data."

Social media could potentially also be an effective tool to launch public health campaigns, Albarracin said.

"Clearly, people will talk about their health online, and they seem to have no qualms about obtaining information about public health issues from social media," she said. "People aren't afraid to go public and crowd-source their health concerns."

The methodology could be applied to collections of tweets from other domains of interest, from business to politics.

"If you're trying to do market research, instead of calling people, you could obtain these measures of consumer attitudes through social media," said Albarracin.

The study will be published in the journal JMIR Public Health and Surveillance.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 07:14:43|Editor: Yamei

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Brunei's Public Works Department (JKR) at the Ministry of Development on Friday reassured that although some areas have received "yellowish water", the critical parameters for safe potable water as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) are "very well still within the WHO standard despite aesthetically different to the norm."

This is the Bruneian government's second time assurance in about one week. JKR announced on February 8 that in view of the rainy season and floods in some parts of the country, the department has conducted monitoring efforts on the water quality since October 2017, and found that the water supply "still complies with the WHO standard guidelines for drinking water."

However, one week later, there is apparently no diminishing concern about the color of tap water. Some Bruneians complained on social media that they found yellow or other colour suspensions in the running water after recent heavy rainfall, which made them hesitated to drink.

"We have been using the yellow color running water for several weeks. We worry about the potential harm to our health when using it for cooking, drinking and shower", Mohd Rahman, a local living in Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan's central area told Xinhua on Friday."Now, for cooking and drinking my family use mineral water."

In Friday's announcement, JKR said that in view of the water color complaints, it is monitoring the situation and continuously undertaking efforts on ensuring the status of water quality.

"During periods of rainy seasons, the state of the raw water extracted from rivers are very high in organic material, which in part contributes to a very high Hazen or water color level. This in itself is very difficult and complex to treat," JKR said.

"Regardless, the department would like to assure the public that slight water color changes are of no immediate alarm and is generally safe for potable use. Further the Department would like to assure the public that every step is being taken to ensure water color returns back to the norm", JKR added.

Besides local Bruneians, some international visitors living in the Empire Hotel and Country Club, the sultanate's most extravagant hotel, told Xinhua that they also found the worrying colored water from the hotel taps. At the same time, several salesmen of local supermarkets told Xinhua that bottled water has been enjoying good sale recently, with some big-bottle types even out of stock.

Despite assurance of the water quality, JKR in its last announcement advised the public to boil their water for the beverage needs first as part of additional precautions.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 07:26:49|Editor: Yamei

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Rick Scott, Governor of Florida state, urged Friday the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to resign in the wake of the agency's admission that it failed to follow up on an earlier tip over the shooter who killed 17 people in a Florida high school.

"The FBI's failure to take action against this killer is unacceptable," Scott said in a statement. "The FBI Director needs to resign."

The remarks were in response to an FBI statement released earlier in the day, which acknowledged that the law enforcement agency received a tip in January on Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old shooter, but failed to act.

"Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isn't going to cut it," Scott said. "An apology will never bring these 17 Floridians back to life or comfort the families who are in pain."

"We constantly promote 'see something, say something,' and a courageous person did just that to the FBI," Scott stressed. "And the FBI failed to act."

The FBI said earlier in the day that a person close to the shooter called the agency's tip line on January 5 to warn about "Cruz's gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting."

The agency said that proper protocols were not followed for the tip, therefore the information was not provided to local authorities, and no further investigation was conducted at that time.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said that they are "still investigating the facts," adding that the agency's officials have spoken with victims and families, and "deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy."

The two statements came two days after Cruz opened fire on Wednesday with an AR-15 rifle at students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the city of Parkland in Broward County, just north of Miami on the state's southeastern tip.

Besides the 17 killings, the shooting also injured 14 others.

Cruz, who was expelled from the school for disciplinary reasons, made a brief court appearance on Thursday and was ordered held without bond.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Friday that he has ordered an immediate review of the processes at the Department of Justice and the FBI.

"It is now clear that the warning signs were there and tips to the FBI were missed," Sessions said in a statement. "We see the tragic consequences of those failure."

Wednesday's massacre also raised concerns about potential failure in school security and sparks ongoing U.S. debates on gun control.

During a national address on Thursday, President Donald Trump stressed safer schools for students and promised to tackle the "difficult issue of mental health" but did not mention the prevalence of guns or gun violence.

The president was expected to meet with those affected by the shooting in Parkland later Friday.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 07:36:51|Editor: Lifang

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HAVANA, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The role of universities in the defense of human rights contemplated in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has been one of the key issues debated this week at an international gathering of higher education experts in Cuba.

The 11th International Congress of Higher Education, "University 2018," has not only served as a meaningful venue for academic discussions but also as a political platform for different nations which are determined to face the hegemony of the United States.

Washington's recent actions against nations like Venezuela and Palestine, whose higher education ministers attended the event, were broadly discussed.

"We are taking the opportunity at this event to deplore U.S. intervention and meddling in Venezuela. It is intended to suffocate our people, deny them resources to access medicine and food while an economic blockade has also been implemented," Hugbel Roa, Venezuelan minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, said in an interview with Xinhua.

Meanwhile, Sabri Saidam, minister of higher education of Palestine, told Xinhua that his presence in University 2018 was not only to exchange experiences about the role of universities in contemporary societies but also to condemn the U.S decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

On Dec. 6, Trump announced the U.S. would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

"The most important thing now is to resist that decision and exhort our friends and other nations around the world to not give in to Washington's pressures to change their initial position of support for Palestine," he said.

Cuba has hosted this international congress since 1998 to promote dialogue on the most pressing issues facing higher education in Latin America and around the world.

This year, the event has drawn more than 2,000 international delegates from 60 countries, and 900 from Cuba, as well as 11 ministers and 39 representatives of international organizations.HOUSTON, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Mayor of U.S. city of Houston Sylvester Turner sent New Year greetings to the Chinese community in the city on Friday on the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Attending a celebration event by local Chinese community, Turner said the Chinese community in Houston has made huge contributions to the development of the city and the relations between the United States and China.

"Houston is the most diverse city in the United States. But we can't just be diverse, we have to be inclusive. You will see the diversity reflected among the decision making," Turner said to Chinese community leaders.

Chinese Consul General Li qiangmin and Chinese community leaders participated in the event.PARIS, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday called China an "ally" of France in the fight against climate change.

"From the signing of the Paris Agreement to the confirmation of her involvement, it is a radically new and profoundly structuring choice that has been made by our Chinese ally on this subject," Macron said in a speech to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year at the French presidency.

Macron said China has shown its determination to achieve a real political revolution on this issue.

"This is why, as I say, we will fully support China in the organization of the COP (Conference of the Parties) on biodiversity in 2020 and in the actions it will lead in this area," said the French president.

"We will make several projects in the framework of the French-Chinese year of ecological transition which will be launched in this autumn and I call for collective mobilization on this plan," he said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 10:57:23|Editor: Chengcheng

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JINAN, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- "Yiyuan" apples had never been sold in Russia before the launch of the cargo train route between the east China city of Linyi and Moscow in Russia, then Minsk in Belarus.

Twenty-six tonnes of yiyuan apples and 26 tonnes of garlic departed for Russia/Belarus on the China-Europe freight train right before the Lunar New Year.

According to statistics from the National Development and Reform Commission, a record 3,673 freight trains traveled between China and Europe last year, an increase of 116 percent year on year, surpassing the total number for the previous six years. The variety of goods the trains carry has expanded from electronic devices, to clothes, coffee, wine and crops.

"We have never had the chance to sell our apples in Russia before," said Zhang Shanquan, manager of a fruit and vegetable wholesaler in Linyi's Yiyuan County.

"It takes too long to transport the apples to Russia/Belarus by sea, and the cost is too much by road," said Zhang.

The cargo train route between Linyi and Minsk was launched in Jan. 25 this year. With a total length of 9,922 km, the route cut the travel time between the two to just 16 days, 30 days shorter than by sea, six to ten days shorter than by road.

According to Zhang, among the total of 20,000 tonnes of apples his company sells every year, more than half are sold abroad, mostly to Southeast Asian counties.

"We will send a couple of tonnes of apples to Russia in March," said Zhang.

"We are also planning to build a warehouse there. Our goal is to sell about 30,000 tonnes of apples in Russia every year," Zhang said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 11:07:25|Editor: Lifang

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HANGZHOU, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- It is rare to see farmers playing pianos, but even more rare that in a small town in east China's Zhejiang Province, farmers can earn a fortune making pianos.

Luoshe, a town with a population of less than 20,000, has more than 60 piano factories, and over 50,000 pianos were produced there in 2017.

Local residents started making pianos more than 30 years ago.

After China's economic reform and opening-up policies were adopted in 1978, people across the country were encouraged to start businesses.

In 1984, Wang Huilin established the first piano factory in Luoshe.

The farmer first decided to make toy pianos, but the idea to make real ones followed as he discovered many farmers in the town excelled in carpentry.

Wang received support from the local government, which brought four piano technicians from Shanghai to the factory with a 10,000 yuan lump sum payment (about 1580 U.S. dollars), and tripled their month salary to over 200 yuan.

But making a piano is nothing like making toys or furniture.

Under the guidance of the four experienced technicians, it took the farmers four years to make their first piano, then Luoshe started to fine tune its development.

"A piano is composed of more than 8,000 parts and requires over 300 procedures make it, but we have mastered them all," said Jin Wenying, who used to work at the factory.

Farmers learned to build, polish, string, and paint pianos, becoming piano-making professionals, or some even taught themselves to play.

When the market economy was taking shape in China in the 1990s, many started their own piano-making businesses, including Jin, who is now the director of Yueyun Piano Factory.

Currently, every one in eight pianos in China are produced in Luoshe, with a piano industry output of about 250 million yuan.

In March, 2010, a grand piano was displayed at the Shanghai Expo. The piano, made by a piano-maker in Luoshe in just 33 days, was auctioned for 9.9 million yuan for charity in Beijing later that year, the highest price seen for a Luoshe-made piano.

The pianos are exported to more than 10 countries and regions, and the town is the largest piano-making base in China's Yangtze River Delta region.

International brands, such as K.Clara from Austria, have also opened production bases in Luoshe.

Many of the residents still work in the fields during sowing and harvesting seasons, and their traditional lifestyle of farming and fishing is now accompanied by music.PARIS, Feb.17 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday pledged to step up efforts for the well-being of the entire Asian community in France.

"The first is security. In this respect, I want to be very clear. The criminal intentions that have led someone to attack your community have been condemned the most strongly and will continue to be condemned," he said in a speech to mark the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year in some Asian countries.

His audience were hundreds of Asian people from all walks of life, including entrepreneurs, lawyers, business persons, parliamentarians and diplomats.

The president said he had reinforced schemes in the neighborhoods where the attacks were committed against French of Asian origin, while ensuring total security for all tourists, especially Chinese.

"It is up to the Republic of France to protect you," said Macron.

The second priority is the fight against all forms of discrimination against the Asian community in France.

"No act of this nature is acceptable, yet it still exists," he said, denouncing stereotypes held by some French people about members of the Asian community.

"You have become French, who have the freedom to be attached to their culture at root, because it is their wealth and it is also the wealth of the Republic, but you do not have to be sent back to these stereotypes," he said.

The economy was listed as the third priority. Macron said he was aware of the expectation of entrepreneurs in the Asian community to "go further and harder to seize every opportunity."

Welcoming the economic vitality of this community, which is expecting a lot from the reforms led by the French government, Macron has promised to present concrete measures in the spring.

The French president also praised the Asian community's historic contribution to France.CHICAGO, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) denied a Chinese investor group's bid to buy the Chicago Stock Exchange over alleged "security concerns," the regulatory agency said late Thursday.

The deal didn't comply with U.S. Exchange Act and applicable rules and regulations, the SEC claimed in a document posted on its website, adding that it couldn't resolve concerns about whether the proposed new ownership structure would comply with the ownership and voting limitations.

The SEC said this "raises significant doubts" that it would be able to monitor the exchange if the deal went through.

An investor group led by Chongqing Casin Enterprise Group (Casin Group) has been seeking the SEC's approval of the 30-million-U.S.-dollar deal since late 2016.

In July of last year, 11 members of the U.S. House of Representatives wrote a letter to the SEC, urging the agency to reject the proposed acquisition, calling it "a threat to the U.S. financial security and Americans' faith in our national financial market infrastructure."

In August, the SEC said its commissioners would review the sale, a surprise announcement that overrode the recommendation by the regulator's staff that it should be approved.

Thursday's incident came after a series of U.S. trade protectionist actions in recent months, including imposing safeguard tariffs on some imported products, and launching trade remedy probes against imported steel products from Canada, China, Greece, India, South Korea and Turkey.

China's Ministry of Commerce earlier this month urged the United States not to "politicize" economic and trade issues between the two countries, calling on the United States to abandon its Cold War mentality to advance bilateral trade ties in the right direction.

Casin Group, headquartered in China's southwestern metropolis of Chongqing, is a leading diversified holding company with investments in financial, real estate and environmental services.

The 135-year-old Chicago Stock Exchange, where all trading is done electronically without a live trading floor, now handles about 0.5 percent of the U.S. stock trading.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 11:42:35|Editor: Yamei

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MEXICO CITY, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- A 7.2-magnitude quake jolted southern Mexican state of Oaxaca on Friday afternoon, according to Mexico's National Seismological Service (SSN).

The U.S. Geological Survey also put the magnitude of the quake at 7.2 rather than 7.5.

The strong quake occurred at 5:39 p.m. local time (1139 GMT, Saturday), 11 km south of the coastal town of Pinotepa Nacional in southwest Oaxaca.

Luis Felipe Puente, the national coordinator of civil protection, said that the earthquake was felt in the states of Oaxaca, Chiapas, Puebla, Michoacan and in Mexico City. So far, no injuries or damage have been reported.

A magnitude-5.8 aftershock struck the state of Oaxaca about an hour after the previous 7.2-magnitude quake.

The civil protection authorities activated protocols to review possible damage.

The earthquake triggered a seismic alert of the country's capital, prompting residents to evacuate their homes and offices to take shelter in streets and parks.

Mayor of Mexico City Miguel Angel Mancera said in an interview with the news channel ForoTV that he had no information on incidents after the quake and that only a few people had suffered nervous breakdowns.

On Sept. 7 and 19 last year, Mexico saw two earthquakes of 8.2 and 7.1 magnitude, which killed 471 people and damaged over 180,000 houses in eight states, including Mexico City.WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Two engineers on the International Space Station (ISS) completed the 208th spacewalk lasting 5 hours and 57 minutes to repair the Canadian-built robotic arms on Friday.

U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut Mark Vande Hei and Japan's Norishige Kanai moved spare handpieces called the Latching End Effectors (LEE), for the space station's Canadian-built robotic arm, known as Canadarm2, according to NASA.

They moved one to a long-term storage location for future use as a spare part and brought the other inside the space station to be returned to Earth, which will be refurbished and later relaunched to the orbiting laboratory.

The spacewalkers also positioned an interface tool for the Canadian Space Agency's robotic handyman "Dextre," and installed a grounding strap on a component of the LEE positioned on one end of the robotic arm.

They adjusted a strut on a component on one of the station's spare parts platforms.

The component is a flex hose rotary coupler that transfers liquid ammonia across a connecting point on the station's backbone to provide cooling for its systems.

The spacewalk is the third this year. It is the fourth time in Vande Hei's career and the first experience for Japanese Aerospace Agency astronaut Kanai.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 13:12:49|Editor: Chengcheng

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CARACAS, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan opposition party Popular Will (VP) said Friday that it "will not field nor support any candidate" for April's presidential elections called early by the government.

Earlier this month, the country's electoral body National Electoral Council (CNE) announced that the 2018 presidential elections are schedued for April 22.

The date was indicated in a document signed by the government of President Nicolas Maduro during the process of negotiating an election date with the right-wing opposition in the Dominican Republic, although the opposition refused to approve it.

The VP, founded by Leopoldo Lopez, who is currently under house arrest, is the first member of the opposition coalition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) to withhold its support for any opposition candidate.

The VP and another opposition party, Justice First, were barred from contesting the election by the CNE earlier this month.

The MUD is currently engaged in an internal consultation process to decide whether to field a candidate against Maduro.

A sector of the opposition rejects any participation in the elections set by the National Constitutional Assembly, saying there are no "electoral guarantees."

The government says such guarantees are in place and has invited international observers to supervise the electoral proceedings.

The 2018 elections were originally scheduled to take place in December.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 13:58:02|Editor: Lifang

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BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Strict fireworks bans in Beijing and the neighbouring Tianjin Municipality have helped rein in air pollution this year, environmental authorities said.

Fireworks are a major part of Lunar New Year festivities in China, but the local governments have restricted the use of fireworks due to safety concerns and their effect on air pollution.

Beijing has banned fireworks within the Fifth Ring Road and also densely populations areas on the northern outskirts. Tianjin does not allow fireworks within the outer ring area. Both cities still allow fireworks in suburban districts.

On Feb. 15, the Lunar New Year's Eve, seven people were injured by fireworks in Beijing, down by 42 percent compared with the last year and fireworks caused 12 fires, down 52 percent from 2016. PM2.5 density dropped 52.8 percent year on year, according to government agency figures.

Compared with last year, the PM2.5 density in Tianjin on the Lunar New Year's Eve dropped 54.2 percent, according to data from the municipal bureau of environmental protection.

"The air quality is markedly better in areas where the ban is being enforced, but in the outer suburban areas, pollution has increased," said Deng Xiaowen, director of the Tianjin environmental monitoring center.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 13:58:04|Editor: Lifang

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UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- United Nations (UN) peacekeeping chief, missions and ambassadors on Friday extended Chinese Lunar New Year greetings on social media to peacekeepers celebrating the festival.

Undersecretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix tweeted: "I join (UN Secretary-General) Antonio Guterres in marking Lunar New Year2018 and expressing my sincere gratitude to all UN peacekeepers celebrating this joyous festival for their sacrifices and contributions to peace."

The Russian Permanent Mission to the United Nations also tweeted greetings, saying: "A very happy Chinese New Year to all those celebrating Year of the Dog 2018 today!"

The British Permanent Mission to the United Nations retweeted a message of the British Foreign Office that wished a happy Chinese New Year to those celebrating in Britain and around the world.

Dutch Ambassador to the United Nations Karel van Oosterom also retweeted a message of the Dutch Foreign Ministry for the same purpose, which said: "The Netherlands wishes everybody peace, good health and prosperity in the Chinese New Year of the Dog!"

The Chinese Lunar New Years falls on Friday this year.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 14:08:07|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (Front) attends the opening ceremony of the Happy Chinese New Year celebration at Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand, on Feb. 16, 2018. The opening ceremony of the Happy Chinese New Year celebration were held here in Yaowarat, or the Chinatown, on Friday afternoon. Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

BANGKOK, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The opening ceremony of the Happy Chinese New Year celebration were held here in Yaowarat, or the Chinatown, on Friday afternoon, the first day of the Chinese year.

Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the opening ceremony while Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Chinese Vice Minister of Culture Yang Zhigang, Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Lyu Jian attended the ceremony.

Yang, representing the Chinese government, gave a new year gift to Princess Sirindhorn during the ceremony.

The Happy Chinese New Year celebration is a important platform to promote exchange between our two peoples and to strengthen the notion that "China and Thailand are one family," said Ambassador Lyu.

The celebration events will last until March 6.

The Ministry of Culture picked some 370 artists, 21 cultural delegations to perfrom in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Songkhla, Phuket, Nakhon Sawan and Udon Thani provinces to celebrate to new year with Thai people.

Ahead of the opening ceremony, Yang and Weerasak kowsurat, Thai minister of tourism and sports, sent their best wished to both peoples on the new year's eve.

On Sunday, a grand Chinese gastronomy event will be held in Nakhon Sawan province as part of the celebration to bring Chinese food created by 18 chefs that cooked for G20 state dinner in Hangzhou.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 14:13:08|Editor: Chengcheng

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TRINKOT, Afghanistan , Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 70 armed insurgents have been killed and 15 others wounded during the security forces operations in Uruzgan province, south of Afghanistan, since Thursday, a local security official said Saturday.

"At least 70 militants have been killed in the restive areas of Uruzgan province since Thursday and 15 others wounded as crackdown against enemies has been continuing," Khawja Yahya Alavi, an army spokesman in the southern region, told Xinhua.

A total of 12 hideouts of the insurgents have also been destroyed during the operations backed by air power, the official added.

Taliban militants haven't commented on the report.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 14:38:13|Editor: Lifang

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GUANGZHOU, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Fireworks residue caused an explosion and fire at a garbage station in south China's Guangdong Province on Saturday, killing nine people and injuring one, the local government said.

The fire occurred after midnight on Saturday morning at a garbage collection station in a residential compound in Shijiao Township, Qingyuan City, the local government said.

Preliminary investigation showed that fireworks residue initially caused the fire. When three workers were trying to put out the flames, an explosion occurred, killing more people living nearby.

The victims were workers at the station and their families, who lived in makeshift wooden rooms in an attic on the second floor.

The garbage burnt quickly and discharged heavy smoke. The victims were unable to escape, the statement said.

The injured man jumped from the attic. He suffered serious burns and is in hospital for treatment. Police have the suspects believed to be responsible in custody and further investigation is underway.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 14:48:16|Editor: Chengcheng

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NEW YORK, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of students here Friday celebrated the Chinese New Year by painting a 40-foot (12-meter) scroll depicting the landmarks of the city's five boroughs, inspired by an ancient Chinese painting.

The art project, in which over 400 students have participated, was done during a special event honoring the Year of the Dog held in the lobby of David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center.

The students from the city's five boroughs -- Staten Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Queens and Bronx, painted scenes from their own life in New York, such as schools, streets and pets, onto the giant scroll.

The project was inspired by the Chinese painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival," also known by its Chinese name as the "Qingming Shanghe Tu," a masterpiece that depicts the lives of people along the Bian River during the Song Dynasty over 800 years ago.

It is one of the highlights of the event for the Lunar New Year hosted by the U.S.-China Cultural Institute and its local and Chinese partners.

"The purpose of the event is to let young people understand why they get a vacation on the Lunar New Year, and provides them with a window into Chinese culture," Shirley Young, chair of the U.S.-China Cultural Institute, told Xinhua. "It builds on New York's inclusiveness and cultural diversity."

New York is one of the few cities in the United States where the Chinese New Year is a public holiday. Over one million public school students in the city have been observing it since 2016.

Musicians and young composers from the New York Philharmonic joined Friday's celebration along with a show from Lang Lang International Music Foundation's Young Scholar Program, an exhibition of 150 artworks selected from 40,000 child participants by China's Central Academy of Fine Arts, and other performances.KABUL, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged 70 million U.S. dollars to fund power transmission from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan, a local newspaper the Daily Outlook reported on Saturday.

Under the agreement inked by the two sides last week, the fund will be invested in transmitting some 1,000 megawatts of electricity from Surkhan area of Uzbekistan to Pul-e-Khumri power grid in the northern Baghlan province, the paper said.

Afghan government imports power from Turkmenistan, Iran, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to overcome electricity shortage in the insurgency-battered country.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 15:23:23|Editor: Lifang

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BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- China will expand production and consumption of bioethanol fuel this year as the country seeks more channels to use corn and grain stockpiles, the State Administration of Grain (SAG) said.

Bioethanol is a form of renewable energy that can be produced from crops such as corn and potatoes.

Years of support for corn farmers have left China with a substantial stockpile. To help make use of the excess stock, China last year announced a plan for nationwide use of bioethanol gasoline by 2020.

Outlining the work priorities for 2018, the SAG said it will accelerate the use of grain stockpiles and reform grain storage mechanisms to make them more market-oriented.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed about 618 million tonnes of grain were produced in 2017, the second highest output in history.WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- A plan proposed by the Trump administration to restrict steel and aluminium imports drew broad opposition from domestic stakeholders and the international community.

U.S. Commerce Department on Friday unveiled its recommendations for President Donald Trump to restrict imports of steel and aluminium products.

The agency found that "the quantities and circumstances of steel and aluminum imports 'threaten to impair the national security,' as defined by Section 232 (of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962)."

It recommended several options for the president, which include a blanket tariff for all countries, quotas, or high tariffs targeted at specific countries, including China.

Following the publication of the 232 investigation reports, the National Tooling and Machining Association and Precision Metalforming Association issued a joint statement, saying the recommendations would damage downstream industries.

"The recommendations by the Commerce Department to impose steep tariffs on steel would devastate downstream U.S. steel consuming manufacturers who employ 6.5 million Americans, compared to the 80,000 employed by the domestic steel industry," said the statement.

In a meeting with Trump this week, many U.S. lawmakers also voiced concerns over trade restrictions of steel and aluminium imports, saying it would drive up consumer costs and invite retaliation from other countries.

"The availability of those imports and the absence of additional duties on those means that those goods can be manufactured and sold more cost effectively. That keeps a whole lot of people, including a whole lot of voters in each of our states ... in jobs," said Republican Senator Mike Lee at the meeting.

"Even though there may be some job winners from an action like this, strongly suspect that, as has at times been the case in the past, you would end up with net job losses in the United States," Lee said.

"The 232 (investigation) is a different matter, and invoking national security, when I think it's really hard to make that case, invites retaliation that will be problematic for us," said Republican Senator Pat Toomey.

Experts also pointed out that history has shown that the U.S. trade protectionism measures often proved to be failures.

The Obama administration's decision to levy safeguard tariffs on Chinese tires in 2009 temporarily helped save 1,200 jobs in the U.S. tire industry, but at a cost of 900,000 U.S. dollars per job due to higher prices, according to a study by the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

"American trade protectionism - even in the periods most often cited as 'successes' - not only has imposed immense economic costs on American consumers and the broader economy, but also has failed to achieve its primary policy aims and fostered political dysfunction along the way," said Scott Lincicome, an international trade attorney and adjunct professor at Duke University.

"Using the national security power provided for by Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to justify steel protectionism sets a dangerous precedent - one that could unwind the post-World War II rules-based global trading system that had been an enormous benefit to the United States," said Clark Packard, trade policy manager at the Washington-based think tank R Street Institute, on Friday.

"Heavy steel tariffs will weaken the United States both economically and strategically," he said.

At a press teleconference on Friday, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross admitted that if imports restrictions come into action, the United States might face legal challenge at the World Trade Organization or trade retaliation from other countries.

European Union's trade chief Cecilia Malmstrom has said that the EU will seek retaliation measures if Trump administration's 232 investigation damages European steelmakers.

In regard to potential damage to Chinese exports, David Dollar, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua that there are a lot of value chains that involve production both in the United States and China.

"If you start disrupting those value chains, that will have large impact on U.S. economy," said Dollar.

He also expects that stakeholders in the United States who benefit from the bilateral economic relationship would urge the Trump administration to draw up a more rational policy toward China.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 17:03:49|Editor: Yamei

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HARBIN, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Yu and her husband used to hide from family and friends during the Spring Festival, because the sight of happy families reminded them of their daughter, who died 15 years ago from leukemia.

Yu, who gave only her surname, is one of around one million Chinese parents who lost their only child, and the number is growing.

During the Lunar New Year holiday, Yu, who lives in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, and 128 other families gathered together for a festival gala, organized by the local government and social organizations.

"My husband and I used to hide every Spring Festival. We tried to go out and travel, and once, we even spent Spring Festival in a bathhouse," she said.

Yu experienced the agony and helplessness of losing a child. "I have wanted to kill myself a million times since my daughter died. Now I'm trying to put my life back on track," she said.

In 2014, she and her husband began engaging with charity groups who help bereaved parents.

"Now we often get together to draw pictures or organize outings. I started to keep myself busy, so that I would not have time to think about things that make me sad," she said.

Liu Fuguo runs the public welfare center in Harbin that helped organize the gala for the families.

"These families should not be alienated from society. They may be sensitive and fragile, but we need to help them be involved in society and be strong," he said.

The Heilongjiang provincial government have set up funding to help these parents.

"What they need is more than support. Psychological counseling through various means are also needed," said Liu.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 17:28:52|Editor: Yamei

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SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. aeroplane manufacturer Boeing Company said Friday that its new 737 MAX-9 aircraft has been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration for commercial service.

Boeing said in a statement that the amended type certificate issued by the U.S. aviation regulator affirms that the airplane's handling, systems and overall performance all comply with required aviation regulations.

"This certification marks the culmination of a successful flight test program that began in March 2017," it said.

Boeing said the new airplane "is being prepped for delivery in the coming weeks," which means the Chicago-based company is in final stages of preparing the MAX-9 for its first delivery to launch customer Lion Air Group, an Indonesian carrier.

The 737 MAX-9 is designed for a capacity of up to 220 passengers, with a maximum range of 3,550 nautical miles (about 6,575 km).

The 737 MAX model is the fastest-selling airplane in Boeing history, accumulating more than 4,300 orders from 93 customers worldwide.File photo by Xinhua/Zhang Baoping

LAGOS, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 22 people were killed and 28 injured when three suicide bombers carried out an attack at a market in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state on Friday, the official News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported Saturday.

The attacks occurred late on Friday, when three suicide bombers detonated explosives at the Kasuwar Kifi, in the outskirts of Konduga town, the report said.

Idrissa Bana, an eye witness, was quoted as saying that the three bombers simultaneously detonated the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on their bodies in the crowded market.

"There were a lot of people doing last minute shopping when the suicide bombers hit the market," he added.

The Boko Haram militant group has stepped up its campaign of suicide bombing using girls, usually veiled, to blow up targets in Nigeria's northeast.

Earlier this month, six people were killed and 39 others injured in a suicide attack in northeastern Nigeria.

A New Year's Day blast killed at least three people in Nigeria's northeastern town of Madagali.

The West African nation has lost more than 20,000 lives in the Northern region since 2009 to the insurgency of Boko Haram.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 18:44:07|Editor: Lifang

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BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Palace Museum will bring a famous Chinese painting to "life" using holographic technology, enabling visitors to immerse themselves in the virtual scenes of the painting, according to Shan Jixiang, director of the museum.

The painting, "Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival," is a masterpiece by artist Zhang Zeduan from the Northern Song Dynasty (960 to 1127 A.D.). It reveals the lifestyles people from of all walks of life in the then prosperous capital Bianjing, today's Kaifeng in central China's Henan Province, during the Qingming Festival.

The 360-degree holographic technology and 4D dome screen will make characters of the painting -- street vendors, passengers on barges, and customers in shops -- more dynamic, Shan said.

"Cultural relics are not just lifeless remains. Armed with technology, the painting can bring the audience back to the Song Dynasty and impress them with the beauty of the art," Shan said.

The exhibition will be available in spring and summer. The painting is one of the 1.86 million cultural collections of the Palace Museum.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 19:24:13|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold hands with each other during the ceremonial reception for visiting Iranian President at the Indian Presidential Palace in New Delhi, India, Feb. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Partha Sarkar)

NEW DELHI, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held talks here Saturday on bilateral relations.

The talks focused on energy, trade and other fields, and after the talks the two sides inked nine agreements including one on Chabahar port.

At a joint media meet held after the talks, the Indian prime minister spoke about India and Iran's efforts to cooperate on many fronts, saying, "Indians and Iranians had learned a lot from each other."

Rouhani said he hoped to see great success in bilateral ties. "We had positive talks for trade, tariffs, visa, and several economic and cultural relations in the region," he added.

The Iranian president arrived in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad Thursday on a three-day visit to the country.MOGADISHU, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Somali government and the UN refugee agency on Saturday evacuated 11 migrants from Libya who had been held in areas controlled by militia.

Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia Mahdi Mohamed Guled who received the migrants in Mogadishu said the government is committed to bringing back refugees in some countries.

"Eleven migrants were brought from Libya and came here in peace, we are planning to bring 30 others from Libya soon," Guled said.

He added that the government has returned prisoners and Somali migrants back from Ethiopia, Seychelles and India earlier.

Photos and videos of Somalis tortured in smugglers' camps outraged the public in Somalia, prompting President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed to order evacuation of Somali migrants allegedly enslaved in Libya.

The migrants thanked the Somali government for coming to their rescue and for bringing them back to their motherland after years of dangerous situation in Libyan.

"I was away for over two years. I passed through Ethiopia, Sudan and Libya. I was beaten, and robbed three times," Mohamed Abdirahman Mohamud, one of the migrants, told reporters after landing.

According to reports, Libya's Bani Walid is a hotspot for smugglers moving migrants from sub-Saharan countries to the coast, where they then board boats in dangerous sea journeys to Italy.RABAT, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Six people were killed and 14 injured after a train collided with a van in the Moroccan city of Tangier on Saturday.

According to local authorities, the train was carrying goods to be exported through tangier port, while the van was carrying workers to a nearby factory.

Eyewitnesses told Xinhua that the van did not respect traffic signs and crossed the railroad crossing Beni Makada without paying attention.

The wounded were transported to local hospital for medical care, whereas an investigation was launched to determine the circumstances of the accident.

While road accidents register alarming levels, this kind of accidents are rare in Morocco.

A total of 3,499 people were killed in road accidents in Morocco in 2017, according to statistics issued by the Moroccan Transport Ministry earlier this month.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 21:34:47|Editor: Lifang

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SHENZHEN, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Multiple SIM slots, weeks of battery standby time, front camera exposure calibrated to suit darker skin tones... a Chinese mobile phone maker has become popular in Africa by making products tailored for the local market.

Since entering Africa ten years ago, Chinese phone maker Transsion, based in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, has acquired 38 percent of the African market, according to company co-founder Arif Chowdhury.

"A full understanding of the local market is the key to success," Chowdhury said, "together with our technicians, I have been to Africa over 100 times to get to know the specific needs of local people."

Dual SIM phones, a focus of the company, have gained a solid footing in Africa, since people often use several mobile phones or SIM cards due to inadequate telecom network infrastructure, according to Chowdhury who is from Bangladesh.

"We also have triple and even four-card phones, because there are many phone operators in some countries, and it is expensive to dial between networks," said Chowdhury.

In some parts of the continent, blackouts is a frequent occurrence as a result of poor power supply facilities. The feature phones produced by the company boast a long battery standby time, and some can even last nearly a month after a single charge.

The company has also launched a mobile phone with a front camera which can recognize faces according to the entire facial features, so that the African consumers can make better selfies.

"We also recognized that Africa is not a uniform market. For example, the demands in eastern and western Africa differ from each other, as is do areas south and north of the Sahara," he said.

In an effort to offer good after-sales service, the company set up over 1,000 service locations in Africa, both in big cities and small towns.

The company's success in Africa has been largely based on cheap feature phones, and it will focus more on smartphones, considering the rising purchasing power of the market.

Currently the company has entered over 50 countries across the world, with more than 200 million phones sold in a decade.

Besides Africa, some Asian countries including India, Pakistan and Vietnam have also seen the expansion of the brand.

In India, the company launched a phone model with a fingerprint recognition button that is good at recognizing greasy fingers, considering the fact that the Indians enjoy eating hand pilaf, said Chowdhury.

Vowing to become a country of innovators, China has been encouraging the development of technological and innovation-based enterprises. Made-in-China products are embracing a new brand image as being more creative and with higher added value.

Telecom giant Huawei, also headquartered in Shenzhen, said its smartphone shipments reached 153 million last year, grabbing a 10-percent global market share to become the third-largest international smartphone player.

Beijing-based mobile phone provider Xiaomi is now one of the largest unicorn companies in the world and aims to ship 100 million smartphones in 2018.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 21:39:48|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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ISLAMABAD, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces have killed three terrorists in eastern Punjab province in an anti-terror operation, the military said Saturday.

An army statement said that two paramilitary soldiers were also injured during the exchange of fire in Dera Ghazi Khan district of the province.

The paramilitary troops, along with the Elite Police and intelligence agencies, conducted an intelligence-based operation on a tip about the presence of the terrorists.

A statement from the army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations said that weapons and ammunition were also recovered in the operation, which was part of the major offensive "Radd ul Fasaad" (reject discord in English), according to the statement.

The major operation was launched in February last year to "eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country," which mainly targets sleeping cells of the militants, their supporters and financiers.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 21:44:49|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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TRIPOLI, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and Libyan authorities took the first steps to develop a plan to manage labor migration in Libya.

UNSMIL said in a statement on Friday that the step was taken during a three-day workshop hosted by the Libyan Minister of Labour and Capacity Building in Tunisia.

The workshop was on developing Libya's labour market and fostering youth empowerment throughout the country, with participation of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

"The event brought together government authorities such as the Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health, in addition to representatives from the private sector like entrepreneurs and young people," the statement said.

The workshop also examined "ways to empower youth into employment, as well as how to develop policies to regulate the labour market," the statement added.

On Wednesday, a working session was held in Tripoli between IOM and the heads of the main directorates of the Ministry of Labour in the Libyan capital Tripoli to "develop a strategic work plan on labour migration management, while identifying national priorities."

"This workshop is very timely, a step towards strengthening labour market integration," said Suleiman Jumaa, Head of the External Relationship Department of the Ministry of Labour.

"This is a substantial step towards labour migration governance in Libya," said Maysa Khalil, who participated in the meetings from IOM Libya.

Unemployment among Libyans is 5.5 percent, according to official statistics announced by the Minister of Labour in September 2017.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 21:44:50|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Iran and India on Saturday expressed readiness to expand comprehensive relations, Iran's state TV reported.

The comments were made in a meeting between Iranian President Rouhani and Prime Minister Modi in the Indian capital on Saturday.

"There are sizeable capacities for the development of Iran and India's relations," Rouhani said, adding that both countries are determined to deepen their ties in all cultural, economic, and commercial areas.

Rouhani pointed to mutual investment in the southern Iranian port city of Chabahar by Iran and India as well as Afghanistan as a means of turning it into a trade hub.

Chabahar could reinforce Iran and India's historical ties by serving as a bridge connecting the subcontinent to Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe, he said.

"We are ready to sign bilateral and trilateral agreements to turn the transit route passing through Chabahar into a strategic pathway serving the reinforcement of regional ties," he was quoted as saying by Press TV.

Iran can provide India with its energy needs by entering into long-term strategic agreements, he added.

Rouhani stressed that "Iran and India's ties are not to any country's detriment."

For his part, the Indian prime minister said many obstacles have been removed from the way of expanding bilateral economic relations.

He expressed hope that mutual investment projects to bear fruit and to accelerate the trend of growth in mutual ties.

"Indian companies are ready to further their investment in the areas of mutual cooperation, including oil and gas," Modi said.

Chabahar "can change the trade relations game across the region and the world," he said, noting that India had already begun exporting its goods, including wheat, to Afghanistan via the Iranian port city.

Rouhani arrived in India on Thursday for a three-day official visit at the invitation of Modi.

India and Iran have friendly relations in many areas. There are significant trade ties, particularly in crude oil imports into India and diesel exports to Iran.

Iran is the second largest supplier of crude oil to India, supplying more than 425,000 barrels of oil per day, and consequently India is one of the foreign investors in Iran's oil and gas industry.

On 22 May 2016, Modi paid an official visit to Iran. The visit focused on infrastructure, energy and trade.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 21:49:52|Editor: Lifang

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HAIKOU, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- South China's Hainan Province will implement stricter emission control measures on motor vehicles this year to control air pollution, the provincial government said.

The island province plans to implement the stricter State VI emissions standard, which is equivalent to the Euro VI standard, on all new cars by September this year. Petrol and diesel products meeting State VI standards will also be available province-wide beginning July.

In addition, the provincial government will take measures to limit the number of vehicles in the island, including restricting registration transfers of out-of-province vehicles and controlling the number of cars traveling to Hainan. It will also speed up efforts to phase out obsolete motor vehicles.

With no major factory pollution, Hainan has better air conditions than most parts of China. Haikou, the provincial capital, topped Chinese cities with best air quality in 2017, according to China's Ministry of Environmental Protection.

The new emission control measures come amid Hainan's efforts to become a world-class tourist destination. The island received more than 1.1 million overseas tourists in 2017, up nearly 50 percent year on year, according to the provincial tourism development commission.

A three-year plan will be rolled out this year to make the island a top-tier destination, with preferential policies such as visa-free services, ticket promotions and upgrades in service quality.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 21:54:53|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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BAGHDAD, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Interior Ministry Saturday said that the security forces thwarted the smuggling of an ancient antiquity and cultural manuscripts valued 13 million U.S. dollars and arrested the suspected smugglers.

Acting on intelligence reports, the security forces raided a house in the city of Kirkuk, some 250 km north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, and arrested two suspects with ancient manuscripts and an ancient statue of a head, according to a statement by the Interior Ministry's General Inspector office in Kirkuk.

The office estimated the manuscripts value at about 8 million dollars, whereas the statue is about 5 million dollars, the statement said.

The two suspects confessed, in the interrogation, that they are making their living from smuggling antiquities and that they were about to deliver the antiquities to someone on the border with Turkey, it added.

Up to 15,000 artifacts of Iraqi treasure-trove from the Stone Age through the Babylonian, Assyrian and Islamic periods were stolen or destroyed by looters across Iraq, including the National Museum in Baghdad, after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, which was toppled by U.S.-led troops in 2003.

Again after the extremist Islamic State militants took control of large territories in northern and western Iraq in 2014, the museum of Mosul as well as the ruin sites of the ancient cities of Hatra and Nimrod were destroyed and large number of antiquities were smuggled.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 22:09:56|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will leave Tehran for Germany on Saturday evening to partake in the ongoing Munich Security Conference (MSC).

Zarif will deliver a speech at the conference on Sunday about regional and international issues, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi announced on Saturday.

He is also scheduled to meet some officials from other countries to discuss security issues afflicting the region and the world, said Qasemi.

The 54th MSC kicked off in Munich, Germany, on Friday.

Major global security issues, including the future role of the European Union as a global actor and its relations with Russia and the United States, are among the focuses of the 54th MSC.

Over 500 participants from around the world have attended the three-day major annual gathering for international security issues.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 22:30:01|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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DUBAI, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Suhail Al-Mazrouei, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Energy and Industry and incumbent President of OPEC, said Saturday "will spare no effort to reach the state of market stability aspired by both producers and consumers," UAE state news agency WAM reported.

The UAE minister and OPEC president also lauded the efforts made by Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia, during his chairmanship of OPEC in 2017.

Al-Mazrouei noted that the Saudi minister exerted "unique efforts that added significant values to the international endeavours to stabilise the market and we are determined to pursue the same path and follow on the constructive and fruitful work performed during 2017."

He added "we are now set to initiate innovative efforts to deliver the future and build on the Declaration of Cooperation reached by OPEC member- and non-member states last year to secure the sustainable development goals."

Earlier last year in November, the oil exporting countries of OPEC and its partners agreed to extend the output cut till the end of 2018, nine months longer than the previous agreement.

Twenty-four countries led by OPEC and non-OPEC member Russia decided to maintain production cut of about 1.8 million barrels per day until Dec. 31, 2018.

The price of oil (Brent) reached a three-year high in January when the "black gold" hovered above 71 dollars a barrel (159 liters), before retreating to a trading range between 60 dollars to 65 dollars a barrel in the wake of the global stock market crash from February 5.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 22:30:02|Editor: yan

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LAGOS, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Police in northeast Nigeria's restive Borno state on Saturday confirmed that 18 people were killed while 22 others injured in the Friday attack at a market.

State police chief Damian Chukwu, who confirmed the incidents to reporters in Maiduguri, capital of Borno, said a male and two female suicide bombers detonated themselves at the Kasuwar Kifi in Konduga.

The police chief said normalcy has been restored to the area.

However, the National Emergency Management Emergency (NEMA) zonal coordinator, Bashir Garza, put the death toll at 17 and 51 injured.

The official News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had reported that 22 people were killed and 28 others injured in the suicide bombing.

Idrissa Bana, an eye witness, was quoted as saying that the three bombers simultaneously detonated the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on their bodies in the crowded market.

"There were a lot of people doing last-minute shopping when the suicide bombers hit the market," he added.

No group has yet to claim responsibility, though the Boko Haram militant group has stepped up its campaign of suicide bombing using girls, usually veiled, to blow up targets in Nigeria's northeast.

Earlier this month, six people were killed and 39 others injured in a suicide attack in northeastern Nigeria.

A New Year's Day blast killed at least three people in Nigeria's northeastern town of Madagali.

The West African nation has lost more than 20,000 lives in the Northern region since 2009 to the insurgency of Boko Haram.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 22:35:02|Editor: yan

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NEW DELHI, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from cooking gas cylinder blasts during a marriage function in India's western state of Rajasthan Saturday rose to nine, officials said.

A total of 21 people were injured in the blasts.

Two cylinders exploded Friday night, causing a building to collapse at Beawar town of Ajmer district, about 185 km west of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan.

"The death toll in the cylinder blasts has risen to nine and 21 others were also injured," an official at district office Ajmer said. "The injured, some of whom are critical, are undergoing treatment in Beawar, Ajmer, Bhilwara and Jaipur hospitals."

According to police, the blasts were triggered due to leakage in one of the cooking gas cylinders used during the marriage function to prepare food.

Officials said that following the blasts, police and fire brigade officials rushed to the spot. Rescue teams from disaster response force were also requisitioned.

"On Friday we recovered two bodies and today seven others were retrieved," a police official said.

The debris also fell on some vehicles parked in the vicinity.

Authorities have ordered investigations into the incident. However, preliminary police investigations into the incident said the blasts were triggered while cooks were transferring gas from one cylinder to the other.

The state's Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has condoled the deaths.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 23:50:17|Editor: Mengjie

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European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker speaks during the 54th Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, Germany, on Feb. 17, 2018. Juncker here on Saturday urged to simplify processes of decision-making in the European Union (EU) defense and security policy. (Xinhua/Luo Huanhuan)

MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker here on Saturday urged to simplify processes of decision-making in the European Union (EU) defense and security policy.

Addressing the Munich Security Conference (MSC), Juncker underlined that EU should simplify and unify its decision-making processes if it pursues capabilities in global political issues, while questioning the necessity of unanimous vote among the EU members on common foreign and security policy.

"It cannot remain that we must always decide unanimously on foreign and defense policy," he said.

For the EU, common defense has been a critical theme of the shift away from dependence on the United States, with the November 2017 signing and December 2017 launch of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) agreement, allowing 25 participating EU member states to pursue greater cooperation on matters of defense and security.

Juncker spoke highly of the progress made last year in this regard.

"We want to emancipate ourselves in defense and security policy issues," he said, adding that it didn't mean against NATO or United States.

Over 500 participants from around the world attended the three-day annual gathering, which kicked off Friday in southern German city of Munich.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-17 23:55:19|Editor: Mengjie

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BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- China has hosted 214 million tourists in the first three days of the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, up 9.7 percent from the same period last year, the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) said Saturday.

Tourism revenue rose 9.9 percent to 258.2 billion yuan (about 40.69 billion U.S. dollars) in the three-day period, the CNTA said.

On Saturday alone, some 870 million visitor trips were made across the country, CNTA data showed.

A total of 3.85 million passenger trips were made on Chinese railways Friday, the first day of the week-long Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, up 8.4 percent from the same day last year, according to the China Railway Corporation (CRC), which expects 6.89 million trips to be made on Saturday.

Short railway trips for family visits or travelling have become popular among Chinese as the country's high-speed railway network continues to expand, said the CRC.

Some 385 million Chinese are expected to travel around during the holiday spanning from Feb. 15 to 21, representing an increase of 12 percent, the CNTA forecast earlier this month.

China earned 5.4 trillion yuan from tourism in 2017, an increase of 15.1 percent.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-18 00:15:23|Editor: yan

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BEIRUT, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- A Lebanese security source said Saturday that a Syrian citizen was killed and another one injured during a shooting incident at dawn on the Lebanese-Syrian northern border.

The source said that the body of the killed Syrian was found on the Syrian side of the river separating the two countries.

The injured Syrian managed to swim across the river to Lebanon where he was rushed to a hospital for treatment.

The source identified the killed as Khaled al-Hassan, a Syrian displaced living in the Al-Sheikh Abbas village in north Lebanon.

While the injured was identified as Mohammad al-Jabouri, another displaced living in the Abboudieh village in north Lebanon.

Residents in Abboudieh told Xinhua that they heard at dawn Saturday gunfire and they saw member of the Syrian Army standing next to the body of the killed before transporting the body inside Syria.

The Lebanese security agencies are investigating the incident and interrogating the injured Syrian.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-18 00:20:26|Editor: yan

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CAIRO, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian court sentenced on Saturday 65 loyalists of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi up to 10 years in prison over inciting anti-state riots, protests and violence, official MENA news agency reported.

Zagazig Criminal Court sentenced 44 defendants to 10 years in jail and 21 to two years while acquitting eight of the said charges.

The convicts are mostly members and supporters of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood group which has been outlawed in Egypt as a terrorist organization.

Morsi was ousted by the military in early July 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year rule and his Brotherhood group.

His angry supporters attacked many security personnel and churches of the Coptic minority in several provinces, following a heavy crackdown on pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo and Giza in mid-August 2013 which left hundreds dead and thousands arrested.

Most Brotherhood leaders, members and supporters, including Morsi himself and the group's chief Mohamed Badie, are being detained.

Many of them have been given appealable death sentences and lengthy jail terms over charges of inciting violence, murder, espionage and jailbreak.

Morsi is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence over inciting deadly clashes between his supporters and opponents in late 2012 and a 25-year jail term over leaking classified documents to Qatar.

Since Morsi's removal, Egypt has been facing a wave of terrorist attacks that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers before expanded to target hundreds of civilians, mostly at houses of worship.

Most of the terror attacks were carried out by the Wilayat Sinai, a Sinai-based group affiliated with the Islamic State regional terrorist group.

Meanwhile, security forces also killed hundreds of terrorists and arrested thousands of suspects during the country's anti-terror war declared by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, the army chief then, following Morsi's ouster in 2013.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-18 00:25:27|Editor: yan

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ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian National Security Council (ENSC) on Saturday urged citizens to respect the state of emergency that came into effect on Friday.

Ethiopian Council of Ministers on Friday imposed a state of emergency, saying it was to protect the country's constitution, citizens and their property from the ongoing violent demonstrations in some parts of the country.

Siraj Fegessa, Ethiopia's defense minister, told local media on Saturday that the state of emergency, due effective for six months, will bring together the country's security forces to ensure "the country's law and order is effectively maintained."

The minister further warned "internal and external forces to refrain from deconstructive attempts that would jeopardize the current socioeconomic gains of the country."

The Africa's second most populous nation had witnessed a ten-month state of emergency since October 2016, following the Ethiopian parliament's decision to extend the initial six-month period by four months.

According to Fegessa, the ten-month state of emergency was effective in calming the violent demonstrations that rocked the East African country for much of 2016 and 2017.

Fegessa also revealed that the state of emergency would further extend its duration if the expected outcomes are not achieved.

The previously imposed state of emergency, during its initial days, had imposed restrictions including curfew, social media blocks, and a ban on diplomats traveling more than 40 km outside the capital Addis Ababa without approval.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-18 00:30:28|Editor: yan

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TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Electronic visas have replaced paper visas at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) as of early February, Financial Tribune daily reported on Saturday.

The smart system eases the process of visa issuance considerably and reduces the amount of time travellers need to spend before entering the country.

"Travelers from 180 countries can now apply for an e-visa if they plan to travel through IKA," Hossein Panahi-Azar, deputy for Iranians and parliamentary affairs at the Foreign Ministry, was quoted as saying.

Impossibility of counterfeiting a visa is among the advantages of the new system, Panahi-Azar said, adding that "travelers' visas can be verified easily through the passport number."

Based on statistics, some 1,200 visas are issued at IKA every day and with the launch of the electronic system, the number is expected to rise by four times, Panahi-Azar said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-18 00:30:29|Editor: yan

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VILNIUS, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania will support Poland in its dispute with the European Commission (EC) on controversial judiciary reform, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said on Saturday following talks with her Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda.

"Lithuania and the Lithuanian stance will be very strictly clear, that we won't support any coercion and any methods of power against any country, including Poland as well," Grybauskaite told journalists at a joint press conference with Duda in Vilnius after their talks.

The Lithuanian president ensured the country would not support any vote against Poland. "We would invite both sides to look for dialogue and solution."

In response, Duda described the Lithuanian stance as "balanced".

"Thank you for the position expressed by Ms. President. It is balanced and it shows that our situation is being understood," Duda said.

In December, Duda signed into law two bills overhauling the country's Supreme Court and the National Judicial Council in spite of possible sanctions from the EU.

The EC has then started unprecedented disciplinary proceedings against Poland over its judiciary reform which, according to the EC, allows the government to control the country's judiciary and threatens the rule of law.

The proceedings could lead to sanctions, including suspension of the country's voting rights at the European Council, if four-fifths of the heads of the EU countries decide in a vote "that there is a clear risk of a serious breach of the rule of law".

The EC would rescind the proceedings, if Poland implements the EC's proposed recommendations within three months.

"I believe these problems, which in my opinion stem from lack of understanding and wrong interpretations, will be solved," said Duda.

Grybauskaite and Duda also discussed strengthening of bilateral relations, economic, energy and security cooperation. Neighboring countries have also agreed to prepare a joint position on NATO reforms.

Duda, among other European leaders, paid visit to Lithuania to attend festive events of the centennial of the restoration of the state of Lithuania. It was the first visit of Poland's president to Lithuania in five years.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-18 00:55:32|Editor: Mengjie

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QINGDAO, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Honglian's company has focused on exporting one product for the last 11 years -- kimchi.

Workers at the Dongshengda Food Co. Ltd, in Qingdao, a coastal city in east China's Shandong Province, make tonnes of kimchi for export to the Republic of Korea (ROK).

"We have over 20 types of seasonings to pickle the cabbages and we use different sauces for different regions. For example, for consumers in coastal areas, we usually add fish sauce to cater to their tastes," Zhang said.

Zhang said the company has its own cabbage farms, where farmers use organic fertilizer and import the seeds of cabbages and turnips.

ROK people love kimchi made in China, because the price is lower, but quality is high, she said.

Qingdao is a major manufacturing base for kimchi in China. In 2017, the city had 52 companies dedicated to exporting kimchi to the ROK and exported 256,300 tonnes of pickled cabbage to its neighbor, year-on-year growth of 9 percent, according to local inspection and quarantine authorities.

Renyao Township, administered by Qingdao, has eight kimchi makers, who export 70,000 tonnes of kimchi a year to the ROK.

In order to maintain the quality of exported kimchi, joint inspection teams was set up by the commerce, agriculture, food and drug administrations. All ingredients come from areas that meet national-level quality standards. The origins of all ingredients must be traceable, and pesticides must be used within safe levels.

Chinese kimchi is improving in quality and taste, and is becoming popular on the ROK market, said Moon Gi Hye, general manager of kimchi maker Jingfugong Food Co. Ltd.

"Much of the kimchi used in restaurants and supermarkets in the ROK comes from China. Now only older people have enough time to make kimchi at home. But kimchi is something we just cannot live without," she said.

Liu Meixiang, general manager of Yongji'er Food Co. Ltd, said Chinese kimchi has the price advantage mainly because cabbages are cheaper in China.

"There are abundant supplies of cabbages, which helps bring down the cost of making kimchi. Half a kilogram of Chinese-made kimchi sells for 8 yuan in the ROK, while local kimchi is sold at over twice that price," said Liu.

"The cost of making kimchi is climbing. Now we also need to pay higher wages to hire workers," she said.LONDON, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Henry Bolton, leader of the British political party UKIP, was fired Saturday after losing a vote of no confidence at a special meeting of members in Birmingham.

By a vote of 867 to 500, members decided to part company with their leader at an extraordinary general meeting.

UKIP, the United Kingdom Independence Party, was established more than 24 years ago to campaign for Britain to leave the European Union.

Co-founder Nigel Farage, UKIP's most high profile member who sits as an elected member of the European Parliament, publicly backed Bolton to keep his job as leader.

Bolton came under fire after media details emerged of his relationship with model Jo Marney, which some UKIP members said was a disastrous lack of judgment by Bolton and showed complete disregard for the party's reputation.

Marney has sent a number of racist messages on social media critical of Meghan Markle, fiancee of Queen Elizabeth's grandson, Prince Harry.

Bolton said later he was disappointed by the decision, but he did not rule out making a come-back at a future date.

Saturday's meeting was called following a vote of no confidence in Bolton by the party's national executive committee.

Gerard Batten was named as interim leader, with an election for a new leader to take place within 90 days.

Bolton was only elected last September following UKIP's performance in last year's general election which saw the party's support slump at the ballot box.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-18 02:15:44|Editor: yan

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by Guo Mingfang

VILNIUS, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- A story about Chinese Lunar New Year customs was published in Lithuania's leading and most widely circulated newspaper Lietuvos rytas Saturday, the second day of Chinese New Year.

It is an interview with Zhou Jie, Chinese Director of Vilnius University Confucius Institute, highlighting Chinese New Year customs and food served during the festival.

"Actually the interview took place nearly one month ago, just here at my apartment. I was detailing the colorful Chinese New Year customs and traditions while showing how to make dumplings," Zhou told Xinhua at her residence in Vilnius.

Zhou said the reporter showed big interests in the Lunar New Year decorations she made, and all the customs and related stories she told and elaborated, especially the legend of the Nian Monster.

"They prepared for our New Year Festival one month ago and chose right time to publish... showing the newspaper treated it seriously, and wanted to show local people a real and typical Chinese New Year looks like."

She added this also shows the local people have a strong interest in Chinese New Year and want to know more about China and Chinese culture as well.

Two days ahead of the Lunar New Year, hundreds of students and teachers were taking part in a celebration in the Confucius Classroom of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University Engineering Lyceum to mark Chinese Lunar New Year".

The programs during the event included students' New Year gala, practicing Chinese calligraphy and kung fu, enjoying Chinese tea service and making and eating dumplings.

Organized jointly with Vilnius University Confucius Institute, the event won a big success and culminated in students rushing to taste dumplings made by themselves.

"l know it would be like that. We held this kind of celebrations and Chinese culture presentations every year on almost all big Chinese traditional festivals since 2011, and every time just as successful and welcomed. There are many pictures to show this," said Regina Mikalausikiene, principle of the Lyceum, while showing Xinhua the pictures on the computer.

The Lyceum introduced Chinese interest classes in 2011. In 2014, it officially opened Confucius Classroom and became the first and only Confucius Classroom established by Vilnius University Confucius Institute in Lithuania.

"Why introduce Chinese teaching and promote Chinese culture here? I have a strong interest in Chinese culture, and I want to broaden my students' knowledge and vision, making the school more international," said the principle.

Mikalausikiene told Xinhua that she planned to integrate Chinese teaching into the routine teaching system by adding two Chinese classes a week to the curriculum of grade one to grade 10.

"Then we must need your help to send more good Chinese teachers here," Regina turned to Vilma Sniukstaite, acting Lithuanian Director of Vilnius University Confucius Institute, who was present at the event.

Sniukstaite told Xinhua that with the development of Chinese economy, there are more and more people in Lithuania who want to learn Chinese and know Chinese culture.

"Many high schools have showed us the intention to open Confucius Classrooms. We will try to satisfy the need and offer more chances to learn Chinese and understand China by opening more Confucius Classrooms and Chinese teaching classes."Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-18 04:36:02|Editor: yan

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HELSINKI, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Several demonstrations against deporting Afghani asylum seekers are taking place in Finland over the weekend.

A gathering of 400 people in the Narinka Square in central Helsinki on Saturday met with a counter demonstration nearby, and conflicting words were exchanged loud.

The organizer of the demonstration, the network of Afghan asylum seekers, complained in a press release they did not get enough protection from the police.

Similar demonstrations are scheduled on Sunday in four other cities in Finland.

The demonstrations across Finland are part of a Europe-wide campaign to block repatriations to Afghanistan.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-18 04:46:03|Editor: yan

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KIGALI, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) said it handed over on Saturday bodies of three soldiers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) who were killed in Tuesday's fire exchange between the armies of the two countries.

The commander of RDF's Second Division, Eugene Nkubito, said the soldiers died in a fire exchange when they attacked an RDF position in Rwanda's northern district of Musanze.

The handover took place at the border of Rwanda and DR Congo in Rwanda's northern district of Rubavu. It was witnessed by military experts of the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), Nkubito said.

There is need for regular meetings of heads of military forces from both countries to diffuse any tensions which may lead to fighting, said Nkubito in Rubavu on Saturday.

A DR Congo army officer, who identified himself as Col. Lumba, thanked the RDF for the handover and also stressed the need for regular meetings of army leadership from both countries to avoid similar incidents in future, Nkubito said.

On Friday, experts from EJVM, a group of military experts from 11 member states grouped under the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region visited the area of the incident following a meeting with RDF on Thursday in Rwanda's northern district of Musanze.

At the meeting, Rwanda asked the EJVM to investigate the motive behind the attack.

On Wednesday, a spokesman of the Armed Forces of DR Congo (FARDC) said heavy fighting took place late Tuesday between the FARDC and "elements of the Rwandan army (RDF)" at the foot of Mount Nikeno in its province of North Kivu.

DR Congo also reported the incident to the ICGLR and "demanded unconditional withdrawal of Rwandan army from its soil," the FARDC spokesman said.

There have been border skirmishes between DR Congo and Rwanda over the years.

In 2014, Rwanda accused the FARDC of firing a rocket on its territory in Bugeshi Sector, Rubavu district, Western Province. The rocket did not cause any casualties.

In 2013, Rwanda said FARDC fired over 60 projectiles on Rwandan territory, killing and injuring civilians, including women and children.Terracotta Warriors which guarded the tomb of China's First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, on loan from China are displayed in The World Museum, Liverpool, Britain February 6, 2017. (Xinhua/REUTERS)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Federal authorities have said that a U.S. man stole late last year a thumb of a Chinese terracotta warrior statue being displayed at a Philadelphia museum in state of Pennsylvania.

According to an arrest affidavit filed Friday, Michael Rohana, a 24-year-old man from state of Delaware, was attending a party held at the Franklin Institute on Dec. 21 last year when he made his way into the museum's special exhibit "Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor."

The FBI said that Rohana used a cellular telephone as a flashlight, looked at various exhibits displayed in the then-closed showroom, stepped up onto a platform supporting one of the statues, and took a selfie with it.

Rohana, according to the affidavit, put his hand on the left hand of the statue, appeared to break something off from the Calvaryman's left hand and put it in his pocket, and then left.

Museum staff noted the missing thumb on Jan. 8 and a special agent from the FBI's Art Crime Team tracked down Rohana days later and showed up at home in Bear, Delaware to question him about the finger, authorities said.

In front of his father, Rohana admitted it that he had stashed the thumb in his desk drawer.

A U.S. attorney has decided to charge him with theft of a major artwork from a museum, concealment of major artwork stolen from a museum, and interstate transportation of stolen property.

He was arrested and released on a 15,000-USD bail, on the condition that he hand over his passport, consent to drug testing, and refrain from leaving the country before trail.

It was not immediately clear whether he had retained a lawyer.

A spokeswoman for the museum said that the statue will be repaired, adding that a security contractor did not follow standard procedures the night of the alleged theft.

The statue that temporarily lost its left thumb, called the Cavalryman, dates back to 210 and 209 B.C. It is one of 10 elegant Chinese Terracotta warrior statues currently on display at the Franklin Institute. The special exhibit will run through March 4th.Israeli fighter jets strike six Hamas military targets in Gaza on Saturday. (AFP Photo)

JERUSALEM, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter jets targeted a total of six military targets in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, in response to the detonation of an explosive device on the border fence in southern Gaza.

These specific military targets belonging to the Hamas organization were attacked, according to a statement issued by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday evening.

The IDF statements said a number of terror sites were targeted in the large-scale attack, including an offensive terror tunnel built by the Hamas organization in the Zaytun neighborhood towards Israeli territory; a military compound in the area of Deir ElBalah which belongs to the Hamas, including weapon manufacturing sites.

Earlier in the day, the IDF said that an explosive device was detonated against IDF troops adjacent to the security fence near the southern Gaza Strip.

Four IDF soldiers were injured, of which two severely, one moderately and one lightly. All the wounded were evacuated to the hospital to receive medical treatment.

Saturday's incident on the Gaza Strip border is severe, said the Israeli Prime Minster Netanyahu in a statement released on Saturday evening. "We will respond appropriately and I send my wishes for a quick recovery to the wounded."

The IDF views with great severity the incident in which popular and seemingly spontaneous demonstrations were used for terrorist activity and an attempt to destabilize the Gaza Strip.

The Hamas is accountable for this incident and its consequences, as well as everything happening in and from the Gaza Strip, above and below ground, said the Israeli army.

The IDF is determined to provide the civilians of Israel safety and security and will do so by all means at its disposal, said the IDF.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-18 05:46:13|Editor: yan

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TRIPOLI, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj on Saturday called for an end to the Libya political stalemate by issuing the referendum law on the draft constitution.

Serraj made his remarks in a televised speech on the 7th anniversary of the Libyan uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime.

"What matters to us today is to end the crisis our country is going through. We believe that the only way out is to achieve comprehensive national reconciliation, which ends the state of division and emphasizes the values of tolerance and popularization," he said.

"It is time to end the current political stalemate. This move starts by referendum on the draft constitution, of which controversy was ended by the Supreme Court two days ago," Serraj noted.

Last July, the constitution drafting assembly voted for a draft constitution and presented it to the parliament.

However, the parliament said it refused to issue a referendum law pending a court ruling regarding the validity of the drafting procedures.

A month later, the appeals court ruled that the draft constitution should be suspended on grounds that the Assembly held the voting session on a holiday.

However, the Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the administrative judiciary is not competent to hear cases against the constitution assembly.

Since the fall of Gaddafi's regime seven years ago, Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid insecurity and political division.Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-18 06:56:25|Editor: yan

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CARACAS, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela will stage defensive military drills on Feb. 24 and 25, President Nicolas Maduro said on Saturday.

"I have instructed the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB)... to undertake a comprehensive, multidimensional defense operation of our national territory -- the 2018 Independence military drill," Maduro said.

The president made the announcement from Vargas state, where he presided over a ceremony where the Simon Bolivar School Ship set sail for several Latin American countries.

The annual military drill aims to "fine tune" the country's defense readiness, said Maduro.

"We are going to fine tune all the troop movements, we are going to fine tune all the tank movements, all the missiles, all the airplanes, helicopters and, above all, we are going to fine tune the taking aim of the nation's soul," said Maduro.

The armed forces will be coordinating with the military reserves, national militia and civilian population.

"We will never allow an imperialist foreign military boot to touch the sacred ground of our Venezuelan nation," said the president.Pro-Russia militants fire at Ukrainian border guards defending the Federal Border Headquarters in Lugansk, eastern Ukraine, on June 2, 2014. (Xinhua/AFP)

Moscow, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Russian authorities expected the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to respond quickly to the latest attack on the building of the Russian Center for Science and Culture in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, Russia's Permanent Representative to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich said Saturday.

Earlier in the day, some 30 Ukrainian radicals, demanding the termination of the center's operation in Ukraine, broke into the building where the center is located and caused significant damage in there, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"In connection with this provocation and threats, we appealed to the the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) with a demand to respond quickly to the outrageous manifestation of aggressive nationalism and issue an urgent report on what happened so that all OSCE members can learn about this barbarity," Lukashevich said in a commentary published on the ministry's website.

Moscow also demanded from the Ukrainian leadership an official statement condemning the actions by the radical activists and the "frenzied nationalism," the document said.

Meanwhile, Russia will "take all necessary measures" via diplomatic means following the attack, Eleonora Mitrofanova, head of the Russian foreign cooperation agency Rossotrudnichestvo to which the Russian Center for Science and Culture is affiliated, was cited by Sputnik news agency as saying.

"Measures will be taken soon, including complaints to international organizations," a source at the Russian Foreign Ministry told Interfax news agency.

Relations between Moscow and Kiev have worsened since 2014 when Crimea joined Russia following a local referendum, while Ukraine said the peninsula was illegally annexed by Russia. Kiev also accuses Moscow of inciting conflict in its eastern Donbas region, which the latter has repeatedly denied.EAGLE RIVER, Wis.  A day after news broke that an Iron County murder suspect unsuccessfully tried to turn himself in to the Vilas County Jail a week ago, a reward for his arrest was announced.

James B. Lussier, 19, of Arbor Vitae, showed up at the Vilas County Justice Center in Eagle River on Feb. 9, but was told he needed to turn himself in to the Iron County Sheriffs Department in Hurley instead. He and two female companions then left the building without him being detained.

On Friday, Vilas County Sheriffs Department Chief Deputy Patrick Schmidt sent the Daily Globe a flyer sayi...Latest News

Washington, DC - Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson: "On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I wish to congratulate the people of Lithuania as you celebrate the 100th anniversary of the restoration of your independence.

"Lithuania is one of our most important partners in promoting democracy and individual freedoms. The relationship between the United States and Lithuania is deeply rooted in our shared values and our commitment to transatlantic unity. Lithuania is a vital NATO Ally, setting an excellent example in dedicating two percent of its GDP on defense spending for 2018 and deploying troops abroad in our fight against terrorism. In this special centennial year, I look forward to strengthening our relationship even further through our continued security collaboration, people-to-people exchanges, and economic and trade connections.

"I congratulate you once again as you celebrate all you have achieved in the last 100 years and look forward to honoring the occasion throughout the year."Latest News

Washington, DC - The United States Government would like to express sincere condolences on the passing of Morgan Richard Tsvangirai. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to all the people of Zimbabwe.

We join Zimbabweans from across the country in mourning the passing of a national hero and political icon who fearlessly stood against injustice and tirelessly fought for peace and democratic principles. We salute his relentless struggle and great personal sacrifices for the equitable treatment of all Zimbabweans, and his insistence that every voice in Zimbabwe share the right to be heard. We hope that his spirit of compromise for the good of the country and his determination will help carry Zimbabwe forward to a brighter future.Coun Perez reiterates warning to barangay leaders involved in drugs

07 Aug 2017 Hits:37 Comments(0)

Liga ng mga Barangay President, Councilor Jerry Perez yesterday reiterated his warning to all barangay officials from using or selling drugs. Perez said he is closely monitoring the activities of all the barangay officials and vowed sanctions against erring leaders. Aqui gane na mio barangay ya quita ya iyo na puesto cunel dos barangay leaders quien mas temprano ya sale positivo na...Washington: Thirteen Russian nationals and three Russian companies have been indicted for interfering in the 2016 US presidential election through social media propaganda.

The indictment, released yesterday by the office of US Special Counsel Robert Mueller, said, the accused, through their actions, wanted to "spread distrust towards the candidates and the political system in general".

According to the indictment, the Russians created hundreds of social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, making it appear that the accounts were controlled by persons within the US.

To hide the Russian origin of their activities, the Russians allegedly purchased space on computer servers located within the US in order to set up a virtual private network.

The accused posed as politically and socially active Americans, advocating for and against particular political candidates. They established social media pages and groups to communicate with unwitting Americans.

They also purchased political advertisements on social media and used stolen or fictitious American identities, fraudulent bank accounts, and false identification documents.

Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein said the indictment served as a reminder that people are not always who they appear to be on the Internet.

"The indictment alleges that the Russian conspirators want to promote discord in the United States and undermine public confidence in democracy. We must not allow them to succeed," said Rosenstein.

According to the allegations, twelve of the individual defendants worked at various times for Internet Research Agency (IRA), a Russian company based in St. Petersburg.

The other individual defendant, Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin, funded the conspiracy through companies known as Concord Management and Consulting LLC, Concord Catering, and many subsidiaries and affiliates.

The IRA allegedly operated through Russian shell companies. It employed hundreds of persons for its online operations with an annual budget of millions of dollars.

In 2014, the agency established a "translator project" to focus on the US population. In July 2016, more than 80 employees were assigned to the project.

Two of the defendants allegedly travelled to the US in 2014 to collect intelligence for their American political influence operations.

According to the indictment, the Russians also recruited and paid real Americans -- who did not know they were communicating with Russians -- to engage in political activities, promote political campaigns, and stage political rallies.

After the election, they allegedly staged rallies to support the President-elect while simultaneously staging rallies to protest his election.

For example, the defendants organised one rally to support the President-elect and another rally to oppose him-both in New York, on the same day, the indictment said.

On September 13, 2017, soon after the news media reported that the Special Counsels Office was investigating evidence that Russian operatives had used social media to interfere in the 2016 election, one defendant allegedly wrote, "We had a slight crisis here at work: the FBI busted our activity.... So, I got preoccupied with covering tracks together with my colleagues."

Muller is investigating into the allegations of Russian interference into the American political system. The opposition Democrats allege that Russian interference helped Donald Trump win the 2016 presidential elections. Trump denies the charges.GUNTUR: Amid the ongoing tussle between Andhra Pradesh government and the Centre, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday claimed that the Narendra Modi government has done injustice to the state. "I visited Delhi 29 times and met everyone several times. Still, justice has not been done. Even in the last budget, they did injustice to Andhra," Naidu said.

Speaking about his ties with ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he said that his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had joined hands with the BJP for the betterment of the state which does not seem to be working well. "We went with BJP for the sake of doing justice to the state of Andhra Pradesh. On behalf of 5 crore people of Andhra, I am demanding Centre do justice to the state," he said.

Challenging the Centre for an open debate on why the state needs additional funds, he said "I'm ready for a debate on how much other states got and how much we got. I am demanding the PM and Union Ministers to do justice to Andhra." He even went ahead and said that he is ready to make any sacrifices for justice to Telugus.

His statement comes at a time when speculations have been rife that TDP may step out of its alliance with the BJP. The ruling TDP government in Andhra Pradesh has been upset with the Narendra Modi government over the funds allotted to the state in the Union Budget. The state has been pressuring the Centre for additional funds to the state.

Taking potshots at the Centre, the TDP had also said that the collection of SS Rajamoulis film Baahubali was more than what the Centre gave to the state in the Union Budget 2018.

"Rs 1800 crore is what the government gave specifically to Andhra Pradesh in budget and Baahubali's collection is more than that. We received less than what a movie collected. If they (Narendra Modi government) can treat their allies like this, then many people will not want to be their allies in future," TDP leader Jayadev Galla had said.

The TDP is BJP's biggest ally in the South. The two parties had fought the 2014 elections in alliance where the TDP had emerged as the second largest party in the NDA in terms of seats won.

After Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced the Budget on February 1, several TDP leaders had suggested that the party should break away from the alliance.PATNA: Nearly 1,000 students were expelled for cheating during the Class 12 examinations in Bihar, officials said on Saturday.

Anand Kishore, the Chairman of the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), told the media here that more the students were expelled "for adopting unfair means" during the examinations that concluded on Friday.

The examinations had started on February 6.

The chairman said that 25 fake examiners were also caught and FIRs were lodged against guardians for helping their wards to cheat in the examinations.

He claimed the examinations this time were held in a fair manner this time and mass cheating in Bihar was a thing of the past. "It is not possible now."

Nearly 112,07,986 students appeared for the Class 12 exams at 1,384 centres across the state.

Mass cheating has been reported in Bihar for years.

Last year, the Class 12 Arts topper turned out to be a 42-year-old man, who had faked his age to take the test. He was arrested on charges of fraud.Mumbai: Actors Sidharth Malhotra and Rakul Preet Singh are happy that the audience is warming up to their latest release 'Aiyaary'. They are hopeful more viewers will be drawn to the theatres.

Sidharth and Rakul attended the launch of a new Carnival Select Lounge Programme here on Friday.

Sidharth said: "People have really liked the message of the film. They are connecting with the message which we have shown in the film and of course, it's a Neeraj Pandey film, so it's just the beginning of it."

'Aiyaary', also featuring Manoj Bajpayee, is a film with a patriotic undertone. It has not got the no-objection certificate for release in Pakistan.

Asked about it, Sidharth said: "It's a producer's thing. There are many (Indian) films which haven't released in Pakistan, so it's not the first time."

On the audience response for "Aiyaary" in India, Rakul said: "On the whole, the film is getting good compliments. I am happy that after four years, the audience has seen me back on the Hindi film screen and I have got some positive response for that. A lot of people are talking that the film is so authentic in showing the way the army functions.

"People are really appreciating the dialogues as they are very crisp, so we all are very excited and looking forward to a more positive response from the audience."

'Aiyaary' revolves around two strong-minded army officers having completely different views. The film portrays Sidharth as an army officer sharing a mentor-protege bond with Manoj.New Delhi: Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali is basking in the success of his latest release 'Padmaavat'. However, only a few know that the ace filmmaker was turned down not once but twice by none other but Shah Rukh Khan.

The actor-director had last collaborated for 2002 released 'Devdas' and the film

According to a report in DNA, the Baadshah Khan has politely declined two offers of Bhansali last year. The report stated that even while Shah Rukh Khan is waiting to work with Bhansali again, and the two discussed a few scripts, but nothing caught the Khan's fancy.

However, this did not affect their equation at all. In fact, the duo has promised to team up again very soon.

As of now, Shah Rukh is currently busy wrapping up Anand L Rai's 'Zero' apart from looking into the VFX for the film. The film will show him in the role of a dwarf. The movie also features Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif and is slated to release during Christmas.

Also, there were reports of him agreeing to meet Siddharth Roy Kapur, who is producing the Rakesh Sharma biopic titled, 'Salute'. In addition, once he is through with 'Zero', he is expected to begin shooting for the third franchise of Farhan Akhtar's 'Don'.

In the meanwhile, we learn that one of the roles that King Khan said no to was that of Alauddin Khilji in 'Padmaavat'. As per reports, the makers were keen to cast Shah Rukh in the role of a power-obsessed monarch. However, by that time, Shah Rukh had already allotted his dates to Anand's 'Zero' and did not wish to step back.

Well, it seems it will take some more time for the 'Devdas' director-actor duo to team up again.NEW DELHI: Days after the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud shook the country, private sector lender City Union Bank on Saturday revealed that it too has suffered three fraudulent remittances of nearly about Rs 12.8 crore ($2 million).

Just like the fraud at state lender PNB, no entries of remittances were made in the ledgers of City Union Bank and transfers were pushed through the SWIFT financial platform.

"During our reconciliation process on February 7, it was found out that 3 fraudulent remittances had gone through our SWIFT system to our correspondent banks which were not initiated from our bank's end. We immediately alerted the correspondent banks to recall the funds," City Union Bank said in a regulatory filing on stock exchanges.

Of the 3 fraudulent remittances, one remittance was made through Standard Chartered Bank, New York, to a Dubai based bank for $500,000 which was blocked immediately and was returned to City Union Bank, it said.

The Chennai-based City Union Bank said the transfers had been made through correspondent banks even though it had not requested the transfers. The second transfer of 300,000 ($372,150) was routed through a Standard Chartered Bank account in Frankfurt to a Turkish account, while a third totalling $1 million was sent through a Bank of America account in New York to a China-based bank.

The private lender said that it was working with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and officials in Turkey and China to repatriate the funds. "With the help of MEA through Consulate General of Shanghai and Istanbul and an office of the National Cyber Security Council (PMO) all possible efforts through diplomatic and legal channels are being taken to repatriate the money," it said.

The recent episode raises the question mark on the efficiency of the SWIFT network as of how secure it is.

The PNB fraud pertains to issuance of fake Letters of Understanding (LoUs) to companies associated with billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi by errant PNB employees which enabled these companies to raise buyers credit from international branches of other Indian lenders.

Last week, PNB had lodged an FIR with CBI stating that fraudulent LoUs worth Rs 280.7 crore was first issued on January 16. At the time, PNB had said it was digging into records to examine the magnitude of the fraud.

In the complaint, PNB had named three diamond firms  Diamonds R Us, Solar Exports and Stellar Diamonds  saying they had approached it on January 16 with a request for buyers credit for making payment to overseas suppliers.

The bank sought 100 percent cash margins for issuing LoUs for raising buyers credit, which was contested by the firms saying they had availed of the facility from as early as 2010.

Nirav Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal and uncle Mehul Choksi are partners in Diamonds R US, Solar Exports and Stellar Diamonds, which have shops in foreign locations such as Hong Kong, Dubai, and New York.

(With PTI inputs)AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today ordered an inquiry into an attempt of self-immolation by Dalit activist Bhanu Vankar over alleged delay in allotment of land to a Dalit family.

Expressing grief over the incident, Rupani said the government would bear the expenses of Vankar's treatment.

Sixty-year-old Vankar, who suffered severe burns after he set himself on fire outside Patan district Collector's office yesterday, has been admitted to a private hospital here.

In a statement, Rupani said chief secretary J N Singh would conduct an inquiry into the incident.

"The government will bear all medical expenses of the Dalit man who tried to immolate himself outside Patan Collector's office. The state government will also ensure that he gets the best treatment," Rupani said.

"The government will take appropriate action after getting all the details," he added.

Protesting against `delay' in allotment of land to a Dalit family under a government scheme, Vankar, associated with MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani's Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch, set himself on fire yesterday.

The land in question is in Dudkha village of Sami tehsil of Patan district.

Village resident Hemaben Vankar, a landless Dalit farm labourer, had alleged that the authorities were not allotting a piece of land to her family despite collecting Rs 22,236 in 2013 for the transfer.

In a memorandum submitted to the Collector a week ago, Hemaben, along with Bhanu Vankar who took up her cause as an activist, had threatened self-immolation.

Though police were deployed outside the Patan Collector's office and several Dalit activists were detained, Bhanu Vankar, a resident of Unjha town of Mehsana district, somehow managed to set himself on fire.

Mevani has demanded suspension of the collector and superintendent of police over the incident.Ahmedabad: The voting for 74 nagar palikas (municipalities) in Gujarat began at 8 am today. The results of these local body polls will be declared on February 19, 2018.

The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), which had swept the local elections, winning 107 seats out of total 123 seats in 2016, is eyeing for a second consecutive victory.

The voting will continue till 5 pm on Saturday.

The voting for 522 municipal boards and 1988 seats. A total of 2763 polling stations have been set up out of which 530 booths have been declared sensitive and 95 super-sensitive. Over 15,000 Polling Personnel have been deployed on the field.

Gujarat State Election Commission(SEC) Dr Varesh Sinha had announced the local body poll schedule on January 23, 2018.

In 2016, BJP had won in two municipalities and one taluka panchayat along with majority seats of various other local bodies. Congress had managed to capture just 16 seats in the local body polls last year.

As per the final result declared by the Gujarat State Election Commission, BJP had registered a victory in Vapi municipality of Valsad district by capturing 41 out of total 44 seats. Only three seats went to Congress.AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Saturday launched the inaugural flight of Bhubaneswar-based airline Air Odisha here.

The flight has been launched under the Centre's Ude Desh ke Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme. It connects Mundra with Gujarat's Ahmedabad.

Speaking to the media on the occasion, Rupani said that the project is the fulfilment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream.

"UDAN aims to provide air facility to the common man through regional connectivity," he said.

Air Odisha started its services as a non-scheduled operator in November 2012.

Earlier this month, the airline was granted the flying permit by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to launch flights under UDAN.

(With ANI inputs)Leh: The Air Force's helicopter unit Siachen Pioneers rescued a pregnant woman from a remote village in Shinkun-la pass in Ladakh on Saturday.

Thirty-five-year-old Stanzin Laton, a resident of Kurgiak village in a valley of Shinkun-la pass, is three-months pregnant.

Laton was suffering from suffering from eyesight loss and dysphagia, a condition which causes difficulty in swallowing.

#Leh: Air Force's The Siachen Pioneers undertook an evacuation of three month pregnant, 35 year old, Stanzin Laton, suffering from dysphagia from a remote village Kurgiak located in a valley of Shinkun La pass. pic.twitter.com/NlTG3JRSjX  ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018

After coming to know about Laton's condition, the Air Force unit immediately undertook an evacuation mission.

The state is currently experiencing an intense spell of cold wave, with temperatures nosediving to below zero. The region also received snowfall in the last few days.

The weather in the Kurgiak Valley was deteriorating with the cloud base lowering further, stated a release from the Indian Air Force. The terrain was completely snow-bound and the fading light due to the clouds increased the chances of disorientation.

After assessing the weather condition, the formation got airborne within 30 minutes, with Wing Commander S.I. Khan and Flight Lieutenant Pravin in the lead aircraft, along with Wing Commander S.K. Pradhan and Squadron Leader A. Bedekar as No 2.

The crew successfully negotiated the valley chose a landing site close to the village, which was sloping but manageable. The crew located the village successfully and picked up the pregnant woman.

With ANI inputsHYDERABAD: In a shocking incident, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in Hyderabad slapped a woman accused of theft while a press conference was going on.

Identified as S Ranga Rao, the Begumpet ACP was later transferred to the City Armed Reserve (CAR) headquarters.

#WATCH: S Ranga Rao, Begumpet Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), slaps a woman accused of theft during a press conference in #Hyderabad; ACP was later transferred to the City Armed Reserve (CAR) headquarters #Telangana pic.twitter.com/bQzdZoiv7G  ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018

In a video shared by news agency ANI on Saturday, the ACP is seen sitting on his chair while the woman accused is standing behind him.

Rao who was apparently interrogating the accused, turning towards her, suddenly slapped her in the middle of the conversation.

The entire incident, which was caught on camera, took place in presence of some other police personnel.Delhi: After a nine-month stint with the Bharatiya Janata Party, Arvinder Singh Lovely re-joined Congress on Saturday. Congress leader Ajay Maken confirmed the news.

Ideologically main wahaan (BJP) misfit tha (Ideologically, I was a misfit there), said the 49-year-old former Delhi minister of education and transport.

Mere liye koi khushi ka nirnay (leaving Congress, joining BJP) nahi tha. Peedha mein liya hua decision tha woh (It was not a joyous decision for me. It was a decision taken under distress), said Lovely.

The Congress party held a press conference in Delhi to announce Lovely's return.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi welcomes Arvinder Singh Lovely back into the Congress family. @ArvinderLovely pic.twitter.com/BiycSXkeJK  Congress (@INCIndia) February 17, 2018

Several Congress leaders took to Twitter to congratulate Lovely.

Congratulations @ajaymaken ji. Welcome to @ArvinderLovely. Many positive steps being taken after @OfficeOfRG elevation as Congress President. https://t.co/oFwnBPzh1S  Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) February 17, 2018

Thank you. It was a good Press Conference. A united Congress is always a strong Congress. @INCIndia https://t.co/Jc3SfirmMI  Sheila Dikshit (@SheilaDikshit) February 15, 2018

Lovely had joined the BJP in April last year ahead of the MCD polls in the national capital. A four-time MLA, Lovely was first elected to the Delhi Legislative Assembly in 1998.

Lovely`s comeback can be seen as a big boost for the Congress ahead of by-polls to the 20 assembly seats in the national capital.

Speaking on Lovely's departure from Congress, Maken said, "When the election for corporation was underway, I myself felt that there was communication gap on my part which hurt Lovely ji."

"When sentiments are hurt, talks begin to do rounds," said Randeep Surjewala.

Lovely and his family always had unfailing trust in the vision of Congess, said the Surjewala, further adding, "It is now time to look ahead and not back."

With agency inputsThe Punjab National Bank (PNB) left everyone stunned when it announced last week that fraudulent transactions worth nearly Rs 11,400 crore were made at one of its branches in Mumbai. In connection with the scam, the bank filed a complaint against three companies and four people, including billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, the managing director of Gitanjali Gems Ltd, saying they had defrauded the bank and caused a loss of nearly Rs 280 crore.

Here is how the scam, by far the biggest ever detected by an Indian bank, came to light.

On 16 January 2018, billionaire Nirav Modi's company sought a letter of undertaking (LoU) from the Mumbai branch of the Punjab National Bank. However, by then Gokulnath Shetty, Deputy Manager of the bank who is accused of being the main facilitator for providing LoUs for Nirav Modi in the past, had retired. The company then approached Shetty's successor at the bank for the letter but unfortunately for Nirav Modi, the deal with the new official did not fall in place, say sources.

The new Deputy Manager apparently asked the company to submit 100 percent margin as a deposit. But the company retaliated saying that never in the past had they been asked to submit any such amount to get the LoUs. On knowing this, the Deputy Manager got suspicious and alerted the bank. The bank then began to fish out the details and begin probe.

In the past, whenever Nirav Modi's company wanted any LoU, Shetty had been able to successfully conspire and materialise a way out to get it issued illegally. It was with the help of these fraudulently issued LoUs that the company approached the foreign branches of Allahabad Bank and Axis Bank and executed the Rs 280.7 crore fraud.

As per the FIR lodged with the CBI, Shetty transmitted SWIFT instructions to the above-mentioned banks for raising buyers credit and for funding the Nostro accounts of PNB, without due procedure. The LoUs were issued on behalf of Diamond R US, Solar Exports, Stellar Diamonds.

While PNB was trying to figure out the fraudulent transactions in January this year, the term of these LoUs which were issued by the Mumbai branch of the bank was due to end. The other banks approached the PNB to recover the loan amount. It was then that the PNB figured out what was going on and the scam was unearthed.

The PNB sent out an urgent alert message to all the other banks stating that if they too have received such a letter, it needs to be verified.

The raids by the Enforcement Directorate are now on at Nirav Modi's properties across India. He with his family, however, is safely parked outside the country, reportedly in New York.

Meanwhile, after being on the run since the scam came to light, Gokulnath Shetty was on Saturday arrested by the CBI. Along with Shetty, Manoj Kharat, the single window operator (SWO) and Hemant Bhat, the Authorised Signatory of the Nirav Modi Group of Firms, have also been arrested.New Delhi: Visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Friday called for giving veto rights to India, which, he described as a peace-loving country of over one billion people.

''Why India with a population of over 1 billion doesn't enjoy veto rights and why does the US have veto rights?'', the visiting Iranian leader said while addressing a press conference in the national capital.

Why India with a population of over 1 billion doesn't enjoy veto rights & why does the US have veto rights? Five countries who had atomic bombs were given the right of veto: Iran President #HassanRouhani in Delhi pic.twitter.com/jsBN4QbqWz  ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018

Rouhani also questioned why only five powerful countries, which had atomic bombs, have been given the right of veto at the United Nations Security Council.

Rouhani also slammed the US for trying to control the destiny of Iranians.

Our destiny was in the hands of US for a long period of time. They would decide for our economy, our culture. Even we didn't have an educational channel on TV. All military centers were in total control of the US: Iran President #HassanRouhani in Delhi pic.twitter.com/FgcljnlYgS  ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018

The Iranian leader made these remarks after the two sides signed 9 crucial agreements, with a renewed focus on the strategically important Chabahar Port.

During his speech, Rouhani stressed that India is a country which believes in peaceful co-existence of people from all religions and ethnicity. He also underscored that the cordial relations between India and Iran were beyond trade and business.

Acknowledging that India and Iran shared a similar history and culture with each other, President Rouhani said, "The relations between the two countries goes beyond trade and business, it goes back in history. We share cultural and historical relations with the two countries. Our and your artists, engineers, mathematicians and litterateurs ensured that our relations, which goes back in history are kept intact, which will strengthen our friendship and relationship in the future."

Shifting his focus on the global menace of terrorism, Rouhani said, ''India and Iran have a common stance in effectively dealing with terrorism and extremism, and called for concerted regional efforts to deal with the challenge.''

''We are determined to confront terrorism and extremism through culture and the exchange of information and experience," Rouhani said in a statement to the media.

Trying to reflect on growing congruence in bilateral ties, the Iranian leader said that the two sides deliberated on a range of pressing bilateral, regional and international issues but did not disagree on even a "single topic".

Asked whether India raised the issue of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir during today's talks, officials in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that there was an understanding on how India was a victim of terrorism, indicating that it figured in the deliberations.

Rouhani said he and Modi had very good discussions on stepping up cooperation in a number of key areas including oil and gas as well as on crucial connectivity projects like development of the Chabahar port.

"Today, we are witnessing the development of Chabahar Port and a momentum in the construction of Chabahar railway to Zahedan with India's investment," Rouhani said.

The Iranian President said Modi's visit to Tehran in 2016 paved the way for bringing new momentum in ties and its fruits are being seen today.

Rouhani said Iran was "fully ready" to intensify cooperation in the areas of energy, particularly oil, gas and petrochemicals.

"We also had a great deal of discussion today on facilitating economic relations, preferential trade tariffs, better banking relations, visa relations and facilitating travel between the two countries for business purposes," he said.

Referring to the situation in Afghanistan, he said both countries were of the opinion that all stakeholders should work for peace and stability of the country.

"We believe that the various issues of the region, especially in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, should be resolved through political initiatives," he said.

On Iran's nuclear issue, he said both the countries have a common viewpoint that the commitment to the international agreement must be honoured.

During his speech, the Iranian President added that the intertwining of two cultures indicated the strong bonding and reaffirming of the friendly relations between India and Iran.

Comparing the Qutb Shahi Tombs in Hyderabad with that of India's friendship with Iran, President Rouhani stated that the architectural style of the tomb safeguarded the relationship of both countries.

He thanked Prime Minister Modi for the kindness and the hospitality served during his three-day visit to India.

On Friday, President Rouhani had visited the Qutb Shahi tombs in the Golconda area of Hyderabad.

Located a kilometre away from the Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, the Qutb Shahi tombs consist of tombs of seven Qutub Shahi rulers.

Constructed on an elevated platform, the Qutb Shahi tombs are made up of grey granite. These are dome-structured and have a quadrangular shape, having a blend of Indian and Persian architectural styles.

The tombs were constructed by Sultan Quli Qutub-ul-Mulk, who was the founder of Qutub Shahi dynasty, a 16th-century dynasty that ruled parts of present-day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, with Hyderabad as its capital.

(With Agency inputs)NEW DELHI: Two FIRs have been registered against students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) after they had occupied the administration block and restricted two senior officials and staff members from leaving the building for hours. The two FIRs filed by the Delhi police are for wrongful restraint of two rectors - Chintamani Mahapatra and Rana Pratap Singh - in the administration block.

"Based on two separate complaints filed by the officials, two FIRs have been registered with the Vasant Kunj North Police Station," the police officer said. One more FIR has been filed against students who blocked the road near the administration office, demanding the withdrawal of compulsory attendance ruling of the university. However, it is not yet known that how many students have been named in the FIR.

Several students had gheraoed the administrative block in the campus demanding a meeting with Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar against the decision to make 75 per cent attendance compulsory in the varsity. Hundreds of students, led by Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU), had also gathered outside the gates of the building.

A human chain was formed by students around the building, skits and mimes were performed through the day near the main entrance of the administration block to mark their protest against the administrative decision. Security guards had to be deployed to block the students from entering the building.

Staffers at the university had claimed that students had confined a few professors and abused them. But the students refuted the charges saying they had not blocked any gates. "We demand to meet the JNU VC. We have been waiting to meet him since the morning. We have not blocked any gate, we are only waiting for him. We demand the circular over mandatory attendance be taken back and call a meeting of the academic council," Geeta, All India Students Association had said.

Calling the gherao an "illegal confinement", a group of professors sat on a dharna after they were not allowed to go in to let their colleagues out. The students raised slogans against the professors.

The students have been demanding the revocation of the decision to have compulsory 75 percent attendance in an academic year to availing scholarships and fellowships.NEW DELHI: Hitting out at both BJP and Congress, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday accused the duo of playing a blame game on the multi-million Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud. The Chief Minister took to Twitter and said that the scam which had started in 2011, is still going on.

Kejriwal said that during the era of the previous UPA government, the Congress used to earn from these scams, while now, the BJP government is benefiting from these frauds.

Taking a dig at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre, he added that this is the reason why the ruling party never sends a Congress member to the jail.

"BJP is putting the blame on Congress and Congress on BJP. But the truth is that all scams during Congress' time are still going on. Earlier, Congress used to make money, now from all those scams BJP makes money. This is the reason why BJP has till today not sent any Congress member to jail," tweeted Kejriwal.

PNB scam 2011   ,       cong       cong       cong            cong  ,                   cong       Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 17, 2018

Following a press conference held by Congress today, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accused the UPA government of misleading people and covering up the PNB fraud by accusing the BJP.

"The original sin in this particular episode of Nirav Modi was committed in 2011," said Sitharaman in a press conference.

Alleging that top Congress leaders are involved in this scam, Sitharaman said, "Fire Star Diamond International Pvt Ltd. is one of the companies of Nirav Modi. They have acquired it from Advait Holdings and one of the shareholders of it is Anita Singhvi since 2002."

Anita Singhvi is the wife of Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi.

"Gitanjali Gems was suspended for 6 months from doing business on NSE in 2013. On September 13, 2013, Rahul Gandhi attended a promotional event for this jewellery group," said the Defence Minister.

The entire focus of the Centre has been on getting hold of the main Nirav Modi in the PNB fraud case, said the BJP minister. It is the Modi government which has tried to get to the bottom of the situation. Several other actions being taken by govt."

"The Narendra Modi govt comes with a clear commitment to take actions against the corrupt practices," said the Defence Minister, adding, "Congress misleading people. It's part of their strategy. UPA tried to cover up the scam."

The blame game between the leading political parties has been going on since the news of PNB fraud went public. While the Congress has been accusing the BJP of letting billionaire Nirav Modi leave the country, the BJP has hit back saying the PNB scam took place in the previous UPA government regime.

Earlier in the day, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal attacked PM Modi on his refusal to accept BJP's role in the Nirav Modi-PNB scam.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today arrested Gokulnath Shetty, the then deputy Manager (now Retd) of the Punjab National Bank in connection with the Rs 11,400 crore fraud conducted at the Mumbai branch of the national bank. Along with Shetty, Manoj Kharat, the single window operator (SWO) and Hemant Bhat, the Authorised Signatory of the Nirav Modi Group of Firms, have also been arrested.

The three will be produced before the CBI special court in Mumbai later on Saturday. It had emerged that the fraudulently issued Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) from the Mumbai branch of PNB were issued in favour of Hong Kong branches of Allahabad Bank and Axis Bank. These letters helped facilitate Rs 280.7 crore fraud by jewellery designer Nirav Modi among others.

As per the FIR lodged with the CBI, Shetty and Kharat had transmitted SWIFT instructions to the above-mentioned banks for raising buyers credit and for funding the Nostro accounts of PNB, without due procedure. The LoUs were issued on behalf of Diamond R US, Solar Exports, Stellar Diamonds.NEW DELHI: A Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Saturday sent all three Punjab National Bank (PNB) Officials in 14-day police custody till March 3 in connection with the Rs 11,400 crore fraud conducted at the Mumbai branch of the national bank.

Earlier in the day, the CBI had arrested Gokulnath Shetty, the then deputy Manager (now Retd) of the PNB, Manoj Kharat, the single window operator (SWO) and Hemant Bhat, the Authorised Signatory of the Nirav Modi Group of Firms.

Defending one of the accused Kharat, his lawyer Kudrat Sheikh said that his client has no role in the scam. He was just a clerk and was forced to type letters by Shetty.

The Court sent them under 14 days police custody. Manoj Kharat was just a clerk & typed letter under pressure from Gokulnath Shetty. He has no role in the case, we'll file bail application: Kudrat Sheikh, lawyer of Manoj Kharat #PNBFraudCase pic.twitter.com/N9FVfBq0ju  ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018

"The Court sent them under 14 days police custody. Manoj Kharat was just a clerk and typed letter under pressure from Gokulnath Shetty. He has no role in the case, we will file bail application," said Sheikh.

It had emerged that the fraudulently issued Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) from the Mumbai branch of PNB were issued in favour of Hong Kong branches of Allahabad Bank and Axis Bank. These letters helped facilitate Rs 280.7 crore fraud by jewellery designer Nirav Modi among others.

As per the FIR lodged with the CBI, Shetty and Kharat had transmitted SWIFT instructions to the above-mentioned banks for raising buyers credit and for funding the Nostro accounts of PNB, without due procedure. The LoUs were issued on behalf of Diamond R US, Solar Exports, Stellar Diamonds.

Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate has been raiding the premises of Nirav Modi across the country. It conducted further searches at 21 locations and seized diamonds, gold, precious stones/ metals and jewellery worth Rs 25 crore (Book Value). According to ED, the total seizure value till now is Rs 5674 Crore.

"ED conducted further searches at 21 locations across India in Nirav Modi case and seized diamonds, gold, precious stones/ metals & jewellery worth Rs 25 crore (Book Value). Total seizure till now is Rs 5674 Crore," Enforcement Directorate told ANI.

A case under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against him and other accused has been registered. Nirav Modi is currently believed to be in a hotel in New York.NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Gokulnath Shetty, the then deputy Manager (now Retd) of the Punjab National Bank in connection with the Rs 11,400 crore fraud conducted at the Mumbai branch of the national bank. Along with Shetty, Manoj Kharat, the single window operator (SWO) and Hemant Bhat, the Authorised Signatory of the Nirav Modi Group of Firms, have also been arrested.

The three will be produced before the CBI special court in Mumbai later on Saturday. It had emerged that the fraudulently issued Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) from the Mumbai branch of PNB were issued in favour of Hong Kong branches of Allahabad Bank and Axis Bank. These letters helped facilitate Rs 280.7 crore fraud by jewellery designer Nirav Modi among others.

As per the FIR lodged with the CBI, Shetty and Kharat had transmitted SWIFT instructions to the above-mentioned banks for raising buyers credit and for funding the Nostro accounts of PNB, without due procedure. The LoUs were issued on behalf of Diamond R US, Solar Exports, Stellar Diamonds.

Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate has been raiding the premises of Nirav Modi across the country. A case under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against him and other accused has been registered. Nirav Modi is currently believed to be in a hotel in New York.New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday chaired the first meeting of party's Steering Committee during which the dates for its upcoming plenary session were decided.

According to ANI, the meeting was also attended by the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and senior leaders including AK Antony, Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge.

Sharing details of the meeting with media, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, ''A plenary session of the Congress to discuss and evolve the party's future strategy will be held in Delhi on March 16, 17 and 18.''

''The dates were fixed at a meeting of Steering Committee, which was formed after dissolving the Central Working Committee,'' he said.

Rahul Gandhi had dissolved the Congress Working Committee and formed the 34-member Steering Committee to work in its place till a new CWC was set up.

The party's plenary session will be attended by all AICC delegates who elected the new Congress chief.

While all outgoing CWC members are part of the new committee, some permanent invitees such as Amarinder Singh, Vilas Muttemwar, RK Dhawan, Shivajirao Deshmukh, MV Rajasekharan and Mohsina Kidwai and all special invitees have been dropped from the new panel.

As per the party's Constitution, the 25-member CWC has 12 elected members and 11 nominated members, besides the Congress president and the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

The new members of the CWC will be elected either at the plenary or after it.

(With Agency Inputs)NEW DELHI: Attacking the BJP-led Centre over the multi-crore PNB fraud, Congress leader Kapil Sibal launched into a fiery speech against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. Why is PM Modi refusing to disclose who all travel with him on official tours, questioned Sibal.

Accusing the BJP of sheltering billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi, Sibal asked, Is this the kind of 'Ease of Doing Business' the PM talks about?

The Congress party had earlier claimed that the billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi was a part of a delegation travelling with Prime Minister Modi to World Economic Forum in Davos. However, denying all allegations, the BJP had said that the PM did not hold any private meeting with the billionaire jeweller.

The senior Congress leader added, In 2015 there was a complaint filed against this issue but @PMOIndia replied that this has been 'dealt with'. How was it dealt it? This proves that they were aware of all this.

In 2015 there was a complaint file against this issue but @PMOIndia replied that this has been 'dealt with'. How was it dealt it? This proves that they were aware of all this: @KapilSibal #ModiGhotala  Congress Live (@INCIndiaLive) February 17, 2018

The Congress leader was addressing a press conference on Arvinder Singh Lovely re-joining Congress after a nine-month stint with BJP. I challenge BJP to come and talk about UPA's governance and their governance. Because of their ill-intentions, they have brought India's economy to its knees, he said.

Reacting to Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar's statement on how the PNB fraud started in UPA regime, Sibal counter-attacked, What is the relation between HRD Ministry and Nirav Modi? Why is the Finance Minister not answering our questions related to the Scam?

Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday morning arrested retired bank manager Gokulnath Shetty and two others in connection with the Rs 11,400 crore fraud conducted at the Mumbai branch of the Punjab National Bank.

In February 2018, the PNB announced the detection of the scam in which jeweller Nirav Modi acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking from a single Mumbai branch for overseas credit from other Indian lenders.

The scam started in 2011 and was detected in the third week of January this year, after which the PNB officials reported it to the concerned agencies.

Meanwhile, the PNB filed a second complaint with the CBI on February 13. The CBI had received the complaint from PNB on January 28 and a case was registered in the case on January 31.

With agency inputsJAMMU: Social activist Anna Hazare is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir before launching an agitation over Jan Lokpal and farmers issues in New Delhi next month, an NGO said on Saturday.

"We have invited him (Hazare) to visit Jammu and he has accepted the invite.

We are expecting him to address a public meeting here before the March 23 rally in Delhi," chairperson of International Anti-Corruption and Human Rights Council Manjot Singh Kohli told reporters here.

She said a team of her NGO met the social activist in Delhi last week on his invitation.

"We are happy to be the part of his movement and want everyone especially the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to join us for the success in the crusade against corruption," Kohli said.SINGHBHUM: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jharkhand Police on Saturday carried out special operations, wherein they had an encounter with Maoists in West Singhbhum District.An AK-47 was recovered during search operation.

In a joint operation, Troops of 60 Battalion, along with 174 Battalion of CRPF, carried out the operations.

No loss or injury of CRPF has been reported yet.Further details are awaited.BENGALURU: In line with the `Modicare` of the Central government, Karnataka too would provide healthcare to all people in the state soon, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday.

"The universal health coverage scheme under the name `Arogya Karnataka Yojane` will be started this month to provide primary, secondary and tertiary treatment to all people in the state," Siddaramaiah said in the Assembly, presenting the state Budget for the ensuing 2018-19 fiscal.

The scheme is expected to be implemented in the entire state by the end of the year.

The Budget, however, does not mention the funds allotted for the implementation of the healthcare scheme or the specifics of how many people in the state it benefits.

"A total of 9,000 health and wellness centres will be set up for every 5,000 people over the next seven years for providing quality primary healthcare services," asserted Siddaramaiah, who is also the state Finance Minister.

A total of Rs 6,645 crore has been allotted for health and family welfare in the 2018-19 Budget.

The Chief Minister also proposed in his budget speech to construct a 1,000-bedded additional ward in Bangaluru Medical College and Research Institute here.

"A grant of Rs 90 crore is being provided for 2018-19 to commence the construction of hospitals in medical colleges of Gadag, Koppal, Chamarajanagar, which will be built at a cost of Rs 100 crore each," he stated.VADODARA: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has assured that his government is pursuing the demand that Marathi be granted the status of `classical language' with the Union government.

Fadnavis inaugurated the annual Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan (All India Marathi literary conference) here last night.

"The proposal that Marathi be recognised as a classical language is before the Centre," he said.

The proposal was placed before a committee of linguistic experts, which approved it, and now it is under the consideration of the Union Ministry of Culture, the Maharashtra chief minister informed.

He recalled the contribution of late Sayajirao Gaekwad III, ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Baroda (now Vadodara), in the country's freedom movement.

Gaekwad was a visionary, reformist ruler who made primary education compulsory, allowed remarriage of widows, established the world-famous M S University of Baroda, founded Bank of Baroda, and started railway services in his state, Fadnavis said.

Gaekwad was also instrumental in organising the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in Vadodara in 1909, 1921 and 1934, Fadnavis noted.

Speaking on the occasion, Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde offered to host the next year's conference at Bhilar village in Satara district of western Maharashtra.

The president of this year's conference is Marathi writer Sripad Joshi.

Gujarati writer and Jnanpith award winner Raghuveer Chaudhary and chancellor of M S University Shubhangini Raje Gaekwad were among those present.AGARTALA: As Tripura goes to polls on Sunday, the security has been beefed-up near the Indo-Bangladesh border. The counting of votes will be done on March 3.

The campaigning for the state legislative assembly election concluded on February 16.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress are looking to root out the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which has been ruling the state for the past 25 years.

While the Manik Sarkar-led government is looking to secure another term in the state.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has appointed a Special Observer while the authorities have sealed the international and inter-state borders with Tripura.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) has a strong foothold in Tripura and is in power for the past 25 years.

The incumbent Chief Minister Manik Sarkar is at the helm for the past 19 years. He held the term for the fourth time after the party swept away the 2013 assembly elections.

In the last polls in 2013, the CPI (M) managed to bag an overwhelming majority with 51 seats, while the rest was shared by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Congress party.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which did not win even a single seat in the last polls, has been working hard to overthrow the CPI (M) rule this time. Six Congress MLAs, who first joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC), switched over to the BJP in August last year.

Apart from this, there are three major tribal parties in Tripura- the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) and National Conference of Tripura (NCT).

(With agency inputs)New Delhi: Ranveer Singh is one of the most talented looking Bollywood actors and is the 'lootera' of many hearts. The dedication with which he essays his roles always makes our hearts skip a beat! It is no wonder that latest internet sensation, Priya Prakash Varrier is also a Ranveer fan and wishes to work with him!

Priya Prakash Varrier is ruling the social media for past few days due to her 'winking act' in a Malayalam song which went viral.

After Shahid Kapoor shared a gym selfie with a wink, Ranveer has also joined the 'wink' league. Priya is indeed inspiring Bollywood actors!

Ranveer took to his Instagram stories and posted a photo which will send all his fans into a frenzy.

Here's the photo:

The 18-year-old, Priya, got her instant fame after a small clip from her debut Malayalam film 'Oru Adaar Love' went viral. It was a clip taken from the song 'Manikya Malaraya Poovi' where Priya got the big thumbs up from the viewers for her expressions. Her eyes did all the talking in the song.

The song which made Priya so popular brilliantly taps the sweet high school love story of a boy and a girl. Her 'winking act' won many hearts and what followed was a Tsunami of memes. All thanks to the video, Priya became a social media sensation overnight.

So, after Shahid and Ranveer who else do you think should try the 'winking' selfieNew Delhi: The Narendra Modi government set up the Seventh Pay Commission to recommend changes in the salary structure of Central government employees, and currently, it has implemented the Seventh Pay Commission.

Here are seven important details about the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations:

Recommended minimum pay for govt employees

The minimum pay of an entry-level government employee is increased from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000 per month. For an entry-level Class I officer, the minimum salary is increased to Rs 56,100 per month.



Recommended maximum pay for govt employees



The Seventh Pay Commission also recommends increasing the maximum pay for government employees to Rs 2.25 lakh per month for Apex Scale and Rs 2.5 lakh per month for Cabinet Secretary-level officers.

Pay Matrix

The status of a government employee will not be decided by Grade Pay but by the level in the new Pay Matrix.

Fitment



The Seventh Pay Commission has recommended a uniform Fitment Factor of 2.57 for all employees. The annual increment in the Seventh Pay Commission has suggested to retain the annual increment of 3 percent per annum.

Allowances



The Cabinet after examining 196 allowances, which are currently present, abolished 51 allowances and retained only 37 allowances.



House Rent Allowance



The Seventh Pay Commission has recommended that the House Rent Allowance increase of 24 percent HRA will increase to 27 percent, 18 percent, and 9 percent when DA (dearness allowance) crosses 50 percent. HRS will further increase and will be paid at 30 percent, 20 percent, and 10 percent when DA crosses 100 percent.



Advances



Apart from personal computer advance and house building advance, the Commission has abolished all non-interest bearing advances. House building advance has been increased from Rs 7.5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh.Ahmedabad: The tragic death of a 60-year-old Dalit activist, who had set himself on fire in Gujarat over governments alleged failure to regularize land tilled by a landless labourer, triggered protests in Gujarat.

Bhanubhai Vankars had succumbed to his burn injuries late on Friday.

Bhanubhai Vankar had set himself on fire on Thursday inside the compound of Patan Collector`s office.

He was rushed to a local hospital before being moved to the Apollo Hospital in Ahmedabad.

State's Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said earlier that the government officials were taking full care of Vankar.

He said the government would bear all the expenses the Dalit activist's treatment.

"We are receiving messages from many supporters across the state that they are frustrated and would resort to suicide. I request all of them not to take any such steps and instead go on an indefinite dharna (protest).

"I would request them to approach me and we will carry forward the fight," Jignesh Mevani, MLA from Vadgam constituency and a Dalit youth leader told reporters on reaching the hospital where Vankar died.

Vankar had been seeking physical possession of the land that was allotted to Dalit families by the state government.

He had written a letter to the Chief Minister last month, warning him of taking the step of self-immolation if the families were not allotted the land.

Though the Chief Minister`s Office had sent in an advisory to the collectorate, the officials there allegedly took the matter casually.

Vankar reached the Collector`s office along with the Dalit families of Hemaben and Ramabhai on Thursday, drenched himself in kerosene and set himself on fire.

After his death, Vankar's kin refused to accept his body after it was brought for post-mortem to the Gandhinagar civil hospital.

Hundreds of Dalit protesters gathered outside the hospital to support the family which was demanding the setting up of a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter and re-granting of land which had been allotted to Dalits across the state but whose ownership titles had not been regularised.

Talking to reporters, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said the land in question would be transferred in the name of the family member.

"We will also constitute a judicial commission under a retired high court judge or form a SIT for investigation, as per the decision of the family, and we will take strict action against those responsible," Patel said.

"A member of the family will be given a government job, and the family will be given Rs 8 lakh as per the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, out of which Rs 4 lakh will be handed over immediately," Patel told reporters.

"The government will, at the earliest, also regrant land which was allotted to beneficiaries across the state but were been given the titles of the land," he added.

The body of Vankar last rites will be performed in Unjha in Mehsana district.

(With Agency inputs)CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who was once engaged in a bitter struggle for power with his rivals within his party AIADMK, has revealed that he had decided to merge his faction with that of Chief Minister K Palaniswami on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

O Panneerselvam, who is also referred to as OPS, had said this while speaking at a party office-bearers meeting at Theni on February 16.

The AIADMK coordinator said that the issue came up during a courtesy meeting with PM Modi in New Delhi last year.

"He (Modi) said that you (Panneerselvam) could join (merge the faction) to save the party," the deputy chief minister said.

PM Modi told me 'To save party you should merge both AIADMK factions.' I agreed but said that I will not become a minister and will only take party position. PM said 'no no, you should be a minister& continue with politics,' and that is why today I am a minister- O Panneerselvam pic.twitter.com/mHSoI5U8Fc  ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018

OPS, however, did not elaborate when the meeting between the two took place.

Importantly, the two warring factions of the AIADMK  one led by OPS and the other by Palaniswami  merged in August 2016.

Panneerselvam, who become chief minister of the state following the death of his predecessor J Jayalalithaa in December 2016, also said that PM Modi that he did not want any Cabinet position and was ready to settle for a key party post.

However, the Prime Minister insisted on him to join the Cabinet led by Palaniswami, OPS said.

The deputy chief minister said he had conveyed the same to two of his cabinet colleagues from the Palaniswami camp prior to the merger, and that they also insisted on him to accept a minister's post.

"That is why I am a minister today. I have no desire to be a minister. Amma (Jayalalithaa) made me MLA four times and chief minister twice. That honour itself is enough for me," he told the gathering.

Panneerselvam took over as chief minister twice  in 2001 and later in 2014  when Jayalalithaa was convicted in two different cases.

In 2014, Jayalalithaa and her confidante Sasikala were convicted in the Rs 66.66 crore disproportionate assets case.

Panneerselvam, who revolted against Sasikala and her family last year after allegedly being forced to make way for her elevation to the chief minister's post, charged that her family members tried to work for his defeat in the 2016 polls.

Sasikala, however, could not become the chief minister due to her conviction in the graft case.

(With Agency inputs)Coimbatore: After Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, another BJP leader has dubbed Tamil Nadu as the 'incubation ground' of the terror activities taking place in Kerala and Karnataka.

BJP leader H Raja said that Tamil Nadu is the germination ground for sending people to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

"For terrorist activities in Karnataka and Kerala, Tamil Nadu is the cradle. People may not be indulged in terrorist activities here, but it is the incubation ground for the terrorist activities in Karnataka and Kerala," Raja said.

"Even for sending people to ISIS through Kerala, the germination ground in Tamil Nadu," H Raja added.

Raja was a member of the legislative assembly representing the Karaikudi constituency in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2006.

Raja made these critical remarks days after Pon Radhakrishnan claimed that Tamil Nadu no longer remained a peaceful state, but was fast turning out to be a "training centre" for extremists.

Addressing a meeting organised by various Hindu outfits and the BJP to pay homage to those killed in the serial bomb blasts here on February 14, 1998, he alleged that Tamil Nadu is "becoming a camp and training centre" for such forces.

"Tamil Nadu is no longer the peaceful state ("amaidhi poonga")... Naxalites, Maoists, Tamil extremists and Islamic terrorists have joined hands against the administration, which was evident during the Jallikkattu agitation last year," the Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping alleged.

Stating that these forces were engaged in a long-term planning for the next 10-20 years, Radhakrishnan said it was not known whether this had been brought to the notice of the government and the police department.

The massive agitation in support of Jallikattu at Marina Beach in Chennai and elsewhere in the state turned violent on January 23 last year, when the agitators continued to protest despite the promulgation of an ordinance to allow the bull-taming sport.

The Minister accused the state government of not allowing him to pay homage to those killed in the serial blasts 20 years ago - that claimed 52 lives - during an election rally that was to be addressed by BJP veteran LK Advani.

He also said the government did not allow the construction of a pillar in memory of those killed in the blasts.

(With Agency inputs)New Delhi: A number of people have been receiving random notifications from Facebook after giving the social network their phone number for two-factor authentication (2FA), the company admitted there was a bug and has promised to roll out a fix soon.

People who responded to these notifications saw them appearing as status updates on their Facebook account for all to see.

Facebook, Chief Security Officer, Alex Stamos explained that the website didn't intentionally spam people who signed up for two-factor using their phone numbers. After all, Facebook doesn't want to deter people from signing up for 2FA. "[T]he last thing we want is for people to avoid helpful security features because they fear they will receive unrelated notifications," he said.

People asked Facebook why their responses to these notifications appeared as status updates on the social media platform.

"For years, before the ubiquity of smartphones, we supported posting to Facebook via text message, but this feature is less useful these days. As a result, we are working to deprecate this functionality soon," Stamos added.

Facebook has promised to roll out a fix soon that will stop non-security-related notifications.

"We are working to ensure that people who sign up for two-factor authentication won`t receive non-security-related notifications from us unless they specifically choose to receive them. We expect to have the fixes in place in the coming days," the Facebook chief security officer said.

"To reiterate, this was not an intentional decision; this was a bug," he added.

According to tech website Engadget, until Facebook rolls out a fix, those affected by the bug can go to Settings and then to Notifications to switch off text notifications.Lucknow: Amarnath Mishra, the president of Ayodhya Sadbhavna Samnvyay Maha Samiti, was on Saturday expelled from Ramjanbhoomi Mandir Nirman Vyas for making objectionable remarks against former All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) executive member Moulana Salman Hasni Nadvi.

Mishra had earlier claimed that has Nadvi demanded money, position and nearly 200 acres of land for building a grand Mecca-like Masjid in Ayodhya.

Reaction to his expulsion, Mishra said, "I do not stand any negotiation. What is illegal in what I am doing? Is making Ram Temple illegal? But a person who thinks Bagdadi is a prophet and wants to convert Ayodhya into Mecca and spread Islam here, is it legal?"

Mishra, however, claimed that he has been working for Ram Mandir since last 30 years and will continue to do so.

"My role is to help all senior lawyers in this matter, when the proceeding starts in the Supreme Court on March 14,''Mishra said.

Mishra also termed the Ayodhya compromise formula proposed by Nadvi as a big conspiracy.

''It is a conspiracy towards transforming Ayodhya into Mecca," Mishra added.

Mishra had earlier claimed that the ousted AIMPLB member had met him on February 5 and discussed the issue of Babri Masjid-Ram Janambhoomi.

During the meeting, Nadvi made his demand for money and land for building a grand mosque in Ayodhya.

"I met Nadvi on February 5, we discussed the issue of Babri Masjid-Ram Janambhoomi. He asked me to give a written proposal on the issue and I did the same, which was forwarded to everyone. He wanted to make another Masjid like Mecca in Ayodhya, and for that, he asked for 200 acres of land, membership in the Rajya Sabha and Rs 1,000 crore," he claimed.

Nadvi, however, rejected Mishra's claims, saying that he did not know him at all.

Nadvi even accused Mishra of raising such issues to maintain tension between Hindus and Muslims.

"Such people do not want a temple or a mosque to be built in Ayodhya. He is a devil and their only work is to create tension in the work of God. They are scared that Hindu and Muslim will be united. He knows that I am the only one who is raising this issue," Nadvi told ANI.

(With ANI inputs)WASHINGTON: A US court has overturned a verdict to award a staggering USD 20 million to the family of an Indian-origin woman who died after doctors at a Detroit-area hospital mistakenly performed brain surgery on her.

Bimla Nayyar, 81, was admitted to Oakwood Healthcare's Dearborn hospital in January 2012 for a routine jaw realignment.

But due to an extraordinary blunder and records mix-up, she underwent the unnecessary brain surgery and spent 60 days on life support before she died, Washington Post reported.

In 2015, a jury awarded Nayyar's family USD 20 million. But Michigans highest court says they cannot collect a penny  all because of an apparently bad legal gamble.

The Michigan Supreme Court faulted the family's lawyers for arguing that Nayyars death was the result of ordinary negligence, a claim that places no limits on the number of money plaintiffs can be awarded.

An earlier ruling in the case had effectively barred the lawyers from pursuing an ordinary negligence claim, the justices wrote. Instead, they should have argued medical malpractice, under which financial awards are capped.

It was a colossal blunder, wrote Chief Justice Stephen J Markman.

"This case involves a remarkable confluence of what appears to be both medical and legal dereliction," he wrote, "resulting in an extraordinary miscarriage of justice."BERLIN: Germany's Social Democrats start campaigning Saturday ahead of a party referendum that spells the last threat to Chancellor Angela Merkel's hopes of forming a new government, five months after inconclusive elections.

In a vote expected to be tight, the more than 460,000 members of the deeply divided centre-left SPD will cast their ballots on a plan to enter a new coalition as junior partners to Merkel`s conservatives.

The vote, which starts on Tuesday, comes as the 153-year-old labour party`s ratings are in freefall, with latest polls giving it just 16 percent support -- only one point ahead of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

If the SPD rank-and-file give the thumbs up in the results to be announced on March 4, veteran leader Merkel will likely launch her fourth-term government by late March.

If they vote no, Germans will probably head back to the polls for snap elections, prolonging the political limbo in Europe`s biggest economy and threatening the end of Merkel`s 12-year reign.

A tense SPD leadership hopes that the restive party troops will back their plans for a new "grand coalition", dubbed "GroKo", despite deep-seated fears the party will suffer further in the shadow of Merkel.

Polls now suggest two-thirds of SPD voters support another right-left alliance, but the mood of active party members is hard to gauge.

Both camps are set to criss-cross the country from Saturday when the SPD`s designated next leader Andrea Nahles and caretaker chief Olaf Scholz will speak in the northern city of Hamburg.

Few dare makes any predictions about the ballot given the volatile mood in the party, which scored a historic low of 20.5 percent in September 24 elections and has been ruptured by harsh infighting.

The party`s youth and left wings are driving a concerted #NoGroKo campaign, backed by some regional chapters.

They argue that the party must recover and rebuild in opposition -- which would force Merkel to opt for a minority government or face new elections -- rather than betray its cherished ideals in another grab for power.

"If we`re scared of new elections, we may as well close up shop," argues youth wing leader Kevin Kuehnert, 28.

The SPD`s credibility and electoral fortunes have been badly bruised by a series of U-turns, which on Tuesday saw election loser Martin Schulz glumly resign as leader after less than a year in the post.

Schulz, the third candidate in a row defeated by Merkel, had declared minutes after the election debacle that he would take the party into opposition to rebuild its combative spirit.

However, he later reversed that decision when Merkel`s initial attempts to form a separate alliance with two smaller parties failed.

In arduous negotiations, Schulz`s team managed to wrest some policy pledges, and the foreign, finance and other crucial cabinet posts, from Merkel`s conservatives.

However, his subsequent grab for the post of top diplomat, after he had earlier ruled out personally serving in a Merkel cabinet, was seen as one broken promise too many and sparked a party outcry.

Schulz said he hoped that "time will heal the wounds" as he stepped down, and announced that Nahles would soon take over.

As the party tries to recover from the damaging turmoil, Kuehnert is pushing on with a passionate campaign to torpedo the GroKo deal.

His Jusos (Young Socialists) organisation has controversially urged voters to join the party with the sole purpose of preventing another Merkel power pact, arguing that any common ground the two big parties once had has been used up.

The ballot-box pain of Germany`s two mainstream parties was in large part a result of the rise of the anti-Islam AfD.

Railing against a mass influx of refugees that peaked in 2015 under the previous GroKo, the populists won almost 13 percent of the vote with their Germany-first rhetoric and angry demand that "Merkel must go".

If the SPD referendum fails, both major parties fear the likely result will be fresh elections and a further boost for the AfD.LAHORE: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Saturday sentenced a suspected serial killer to death for the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl, a prosecutor said.

The girl`s murder ignited nationwide protests over allegations of government inaction, and a media campaign led to his arrest after years of him being on the loose.

Police found Zainab Ansari`s body in a garbage dumpster in Kasur district near the eastern city of Lahore in mid-January, four days after she was reported missing.

Residents of the area have said the murder was the 12th such incident in a year. Police investigators said later that they had matched DNA from eight girls` bodies, including Zainab`s, with the convicted killer, Imran Ali, 24.

"The court handed down death on four counts and life imprisonment to Imran Ali in the rape and murder of the little girl, Zainab," government prosecutor Ehtisham Qadir Shah told Reuters.

He said Ali will be tried for rest of the cases later.

Hundreds of residents protested after Zainab`s body was found, and two were killed when police fired shots to disperse them.

Police identified Ali as one of Zainab`s neighbours, and CCTV footage on the day she was abducted showed her walking off calmly with a man.

In the same district, Kasur, there have been complaints of a number of missing children since 2015 when authorities uncovered what they said was a paedophile ring linked to a prominent local family.

At least two people have been convicted in connection with that case, in which authorities say hundreds of children in the district were abused.

Nearly 10 cases of child abuse a day are reported in Pakistan, according to Sahil, an organisation that works on child protection.

Zainab`s case has triggered a debate in Pakistan over whether to teach children how to guard against sex abuse, which otherwise is a taboo subject in the Muslim majority nation.ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON: As the United States and its allies push forward the resolution to put Pakistan on global terror funding watchlist, Islamabad has been quick to mop up its grievances and plunge into action.

Days after quietly pushing forward an ordinance that bans homegrown terror groups, Pakistan has now started seizing seminaries and health units controlled by Jamaat-ud Dawa (JuD), whose chief is Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed. So far, the country has taken under its control three JuD-run dispensaries from a rural area and confiscated more than three ambulances.

Authorities have further been directed to undertake surveys to figure out what else can be taken under control.

The Punjab government has directed the Rawalpindis district administration to conduct a survey for taking under its control more seminaries and health units run by the banned Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) and to seek information from cantonment administrations about the activities of the group in their areas, stated a report in Pakistani daily Dawn.

Meanwhile, the US once again expressed concerns about Pakistans deficiencies in implementing anti-money laundering and counterterrorism laws.

The Trump administration on Thursday handed over a new list of top terrorists who should be detained by Pakistan.

Unhappy with Islamabad's attitude to terrorism, the US along with the United Kingdom, France and Germany approached international financial watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to put Pakistan on the global terrorist-financing watchlist.

The move will severely impact Pakistan's economy.

The crucial FATF meeting, which considers new proposals for countering terrorism and money laundering, is scheduled to be held in Paris next week.

The FATF, an anti-money-laundering monitoring group maintains grey and blacklists for identifying countries with weak measures to combat money laundering and terror financing.

Another report in the Dawn claims that Washington has turned down Islamabads request for a meeting with CIA chief Mike Pompeo later this month.

Pakistan had reportedly requested a meeting to discuss intelligence sharing.

Over the last few months, the US has come down heavily on Pakistan for its failure to check terrorist organisations and individuals on home soil. After warning the country over providing safe haven to militants during the release of Afghan strategy, the Trump administration alsofrozed a $2.5 billion military aid earlier this year.WASHINGTON: Not all seems to be well with the Trumps if US-based poll numbers are to be believed.

Over a third of Americans think that the United States` first lady Melania Trump should "leave" President Donald Trump, following reports of an alleged affair with adult star Stormy Daniels, the Newsweek reported.According to the Marist poll, a US public opinion poll, which was published on Wednesday, 34 percent of Americans felt that Melania should end her 13-year marriage with President Trump.

However, 43 percent of Americans felt that the US first family should not end their marriage and stay together.

23 percent of Americans were unsure of Melania`s next course of action.

The Marist poll revealed some interesting observations about Americans` opinion on the alleged presidential infidelity. Gender-wise, 49 percent of men thought Melania should stay with President Trump.

Women, however, were divided- 38 percent felt that Melania should leave her husband, while 36 percent felt she should stay. Another 26 percent said that they were unsure.

Respondents aged over 45 supported the US` first couple to stay together. People aged 45 years also felt that Melania should stay with President Trump.

However, 41 percent of those under the age of 45 felt that Melania had to leave her husband.Meanwhile, in the political sphere, 71 percent from the Republican Party, to which President Trump belongs, felt that the Trumps should stay together.

However, 50 percent of the Democratic Party thought that Melania should leave her husband.Amid the reports, Melania arrived at the Marine One air base in Washington D.C, opting to drive separately without President Trump.

She also skipped the traditional South Lawn couple walk in the White House.

"With her schedule, it was easier to meet him on the plane," Stephanie Grisham, the first lady`s communications director, said in a statement.

Melania does plan to accompany her husband when he visits with victims of the mass shooting in Parkland in Florida, a White House official told CNN.

President Trump paid around USD 130,000 out of his own pocket to Daniels, who claimed to have had an affair with the US President, his personal lawyer Michael Cohen told the New York Times.

Cohen, who previously served as an attorney for the Trump Organisation and is now Trump`s personal lawyer, defended the payment to the newspaper.He, however, declined to discuss the payment further, including whether President Trump knew it or the motivation behind it.

Last month, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Cohen arranged USD 130,000 for Daniels as part of a nondisclosure agreement, one month before the 2016 presidential elections.

Trump`s lawyer had "vehemently" denied the WSJ`s report.In 2011, Daniels said in an `In Touch Magazine` interview with that she had a sexual encounter with Trump at Lake Tahoe in 2006, just one year after the US President had married now-first lady Melania Trump.

Melania had given birth to his son, Barron, four months before the alleged sexual encounter took place.

During an appearance on the "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" show last month, Daniels denied having an affair with Trump saying, "I do not know where it came from."Melania Trump was reportedly "blindsided" by the reports of the payoff and was "furious" with the US President, two people close to the first couple told The New York Times.NIGERIA: Three suicide bombers killed 19 people at a fish market in Konduga, northeast Nigeria, civilian militia leaders said today, in an attack blamed on Boko Haram jihadists.

Babakura Kolo, from the Civilian Joint Task Force, said the attack happened at about 8:30 pm (1930 GMT) yesterday.

"We have 19 dead and about 70 others injured," he told AFP.BENGALURU: Amid a political crisis in the island nation, exiled former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed on Saturday said that his country does not want any trouble between India and China. Speaking at an event in Bengaluru, he said, "We don't want India and China against each other, not at all."

Massive protests had erupted after President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom refused to follow the Supreme Court's ruling to release the key political prisoners and reinstate the 12 MPs. On February 5, a state of emergency was declared in Maldives for a period of 15 days.

Earlier, China had opposed any military intervention in the Maldives, saying such a move would further complicate the situation, a day after Nasheed sought India's help to resolve the political crisis in the island nation.

The Indian Ocean nation plunged into a political chaos after the Maldivian Supreme Court had acquitted former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, former Maldivian Vice President Ahmed Adeeb and ordered the reinstatement of the 12 other parliamentary members.

The Supreme Court had ruled that all politicians opposed to President Gayoom, including Nasheed, should be released. It had further said that their trials were "politically influenced".

The high-profile prisoners also include self-exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed and former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb.

The government has so far refused to implement the order, saying it had concerns about releasing those who were convicted for "terrorism, graft, embezzlement and treason".

Nasheed, when asked whether the Maldives crisis could turn out to be flashpoint for the strain in the relationship between India and China, said that his country is of immense strategic importance to India and China, the world's two most populous countries dependent on energy imports.

He further said that the island nation has nothing against China, but it should not attempt to change the "state type" and have democratic oversight, among other things.

"We do like China. I have nothing against China. All that we are saying is do not attempt to change state type; do not push your money in secrecy, have transparency and have democratic oversight, and things will fall in place. That is all we are saying. We are not asking for the sun, the moon and the stars," he said.

Nasheed, who is currently in exile in Sri Lanka, said that both India and Maldives should be mindful of the cold war brewing in the Indian Ocean because both are neighbouring countries.

"I have always been saying that there is a cold war brewing in the Indian Ocean and we should be mindful about that, and we can't be sandwiched in between. We must make sure India's national security and safety because we are just next door," he said.

"We cannot suddenly doing our own thing, simply because somebody (China) decides to give some millions of dollars. It shouldn't work like that, and hope that people in the Indian Ocean understand that this is not the way forward," he added.

Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader, took office in 2008. He was ousted in a coup in February 2012.

The country has seen political unrest since he was sentenced to 13 years in jail in 2015 on terrorism charges. He was given political asylum in the UK in 2016.

(With PTI inputs)Open source

Germany is ready to finance the restoration of the destroyed infrastructure of Donbas. This was stated by German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel at breakfast with representatives of business circles of Russia and Germany during the Munich Security Conference, the BBC reported.



Also, Gabriel said that it is necessary to make efforts to improve the lives of people in the east of Ukraine.



In addition, the politician also spoke for launching the work of the UN peacekeeping mission in Donbas.



"The idea of the UN peacekeeping mission has been lying on the table for six months already, we need to try to speed it up," the German minister said.



At the same time, Gabriel spoke in favor of a phased withdrawal of sanctions from Russia in the event of the withdrawal of heavy weapons in Donbas and the beginning of the work of UN peacekeeping mission.



"If we manage to withdraw heavy weapons from the east of Ukraine, then it will be necessary to lift sanctions step by step," the politician added.

Related: Poroshenko: Negotiations with Russia possible only after restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrityOpen source

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized Ukraines law on reintegration of Donbas in an interview for Euronews.

When asked how the Minsk agreements relate to this law, Lavrov said that the agreements are still in place from the perspective of international law, as they were approved by the UN Security Council.

And no Ukrainian law can be above the UN Security Council decision, he said.

He went on to criticize the Donbas reintegration law specifically.

It (law on reintegration) actually doesnt mention the Minsk agreements in any way. In fact, I would say it is a law of disintegration because it is directed against the logic of the Minsk agreements which demand a unified public and political environment through a dialogue between the Kyiv authorities and this part of the Ukrainian state.

The law on Donbas reintegration defines temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions as the territories over which Russias armed groups and Russian occupation administration have established control (including land, water, subsoil and air). The boundaries of such territories should be determined by the president on the proposal of the Defense Ministry based on the recommendations of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. The total absence of Russian servicemen in the occupied territories should be confirmed by the Defense and Internal Ministry - they must together submit a communication to Ukraines president, who shall take the decision. The president will decide on the beginning and completion of measures to ensure national security and counteract Russian aggression. Also, the Russian Federation is officially recognized as an aggressor country.The release of prisoners of war and deployment of UN peacekeepers in Donbas were the key topics of negotiation between Pavlo Klimkin and Sergei Lavrov, foreign ministers of Ukraine and Russia. The officials met in Munich, as the city hosts the international security conference.

According to Klimkin, the talks proved mostly fruitless. 'I asked the Russian side to apply significant pressure on the occupant authorities so that they do not violate the basic principles of humanity. We talked about the full access for the Red Cross workers so that they can get to POWs and administer the necessary aid. We've got to start searching those missing in action, it is our moral duty. Then, we discussed the option to restore the Joint Committee for Control and Coordination, which ceased to function due to the withdrawal of the Russian representatives. We should aim for long-lasting ceasefire', he said.

Speaking about UN peacekeeping mission deployment, Klimkin said it is crucial that 'the international community could gradually re-take control over the occupied territories'. 'Without that, we can't talk about anything else. We should continue the dialogue. However, we cannot come to terms for now; the Russian stance is quite different from ours. I do hope we can reach consensus on other matters. No deal for now,' Klimkin concluded.

The annual Munich Security Conference is underway; on Friday, Ukraine's president Petro Poroshenko held a speech about the European security and the Russian aggression.Previously Ukrainian and Russian Foreign Ministries announced the scheduled meeting at the level of Foreign Ministers

The planned meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Normandy Four countries is likely not to happen in Munich, an informed source told Interfax-Ukraine.

Such a meeting most probably wont happen today, the interlocutor told Interfax-Ukraine on Sunday at the Munich Security Conference.

Previously, Ukraines Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said that the meeting would happen late on Friday or on Saturday. Klimkin and his Russian counterpart Lavrov held a separate meeting in Munich, during which they discussed prisoner exchange and deploying a UN peacekeeping mission to Donbas.

According to Ukraines Foreign Minister, the negotiations were fruitless as they havent reached a consensus on a peacekeeping mission.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, however, said that they had a comprehensive discussion with Klimkin and discussed everything, so he didnt even know if it was worth it to gather in the Normandy format.Open source

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko met with the Prime Minister of Great Britain Theresa May in the margins of the Munich Conference on Security. This was reported by the press service of the head of state.



"The interlocutors discussed the deployment of the UN peacekeeping mission in the occupied part of Donbas," the report said.



Poroshenko also thanked Great Britain for continuing the educational mission for the Ukrainian military in the framework of Operation Orbital.



In addition, he invited Theresa May to visit Ukraine.

Related: U.S. accuses 13 Russians of meddling in elections112 Agency

President Petro Poroshenko considers it possible to begin negotiations with Russia only after the return of the occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas. He stated this during his speech at the Ukrainian lunch, which was held in Munich in the framework of the conference on security. The broadcast was conducted by the 112 Ukraine TV channel.



"The next day, when the Russians take their soldiers from the Ukrainian territory, the next day, when we restore the territorial integrity of the country, inclusive with Crimea, we will be ready to begin negotiations (with Russia - Ed.) on various other issues," he said.



The President also stressed that there is no "internal conflict" in Ukraine, but there is aggression from the Russian side, with regular troops, the annexation of Crimea, etc.



Let's note, according to Poroshenko, from the beginning of 2018. 21 Ukrainian servicemen were killed, 19 more were injured in Donbas.

Related: Normandy Four meeting probably not to happen in Munich, - sourcePetro Poroshenko, president of Ukraine delivered a speech at the annual Munich Security Conference in Germany. The top official joined the annual security forum in Germany on Friday.

Russian aggression in Ukraine

Currently, we can do nothing but admit that the hybrid action led by Russia is gradually turned into a full-scale hybrid world war. We should withstand Russia's attempts to destroy our unity and our democracies. The Kremlin knows no limits in its concealed intentions. No country knows Russia's hybrid tactics the way Ukraine does.

Donbas conflict and Russia's stance towards Minsk agreements

Despite all challenges, Donbas may become a successful example of peaceful regulation of violent conflict. For that to happen, Russia just needs to abide by Minsk agreements, namely say yes to the deployment of UN peacekeepers in Donbas, - something I offered previously. Currently, Russia has a chance to show some readiness for consensus and agree to UN peacekeepers' presence in the occupied Donbas.

EU and NATO membership in Ukraine

Keep the doors open for Ukraine, be it the EU or the NATO. Remember: main achievements in the security area come from expansion and transformation - not from steps back and status quo preservations. This will give us a chance to stop the Kremlin's alternative agenda from proceeding; it is based on lies, violence and disrespect for human rights. This will deprive Russia of the tools it has been using to de-stabilize countries.112 Agency

Sweden is ready to provide its troops for the UN peacekeeping mission in Donbas, if Russia and the West agree to this. Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist said this at the Munich Security Conference, Reuters reports.



"If we see the relevant conditions, and if we understand that this mission can help ... then we are open to it," he said.



We recall that during the speech at the Munich Conference, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that Russia has a chance to demonstrate readiness for a compromise and to agree to peacekeepers throughout the occupied Donbas.



Earlier, US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker stated that the draft resolution of Russia, which provides for the deployment of peacekeepers in Donbas only along the line of the clash, is unacceptable for the United States and the United Nations, since it will not guarantee security, but will deepen the conflict.

Related: Germany ready to finance restoration of Donbas, - German Foreign Ministry112 Agency

Representatives of Ukrainian nationalist organizations broke into the building of the Russian Center of Culture and Science in Kyiv. This is stated in the message of the nationalist organization C14 on Facebook.



"Activists of C14, Right Sector, Tradition and Order and other nationalist organizations came to Rossotrudnichestvo building. Interesting "souvenirs" were revealed, the report says.



As reported, during the incident in the premises were children from the theater studio, who rehearsed the play "The Inspector General". In total, there were about 100 people in the building at that time.

112 Agency



It is noted that the protestors left inscriptions on the walls - "Death to Russia", "FSB go away", "Suitcase, station, Russia", "Freedom to Sentsov", as well as the names of their organizations.



We recall that in August 2017, the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Kyiv stated that it sent about 70 pupils of Ukrainian schools in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Later the center reported that a group of young Ukrainian artists arrived from Kyiv to Novgorod.



Responding to this, the head of the Security Service Vasyl Hrytsak instructed the service staff to deal with the situation. At the same time, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine stated that they do not have the right to prohibit such initiatives.

Related: German Foreign Minister favours softening anti-Russian sanctions if peacekeepers are introducedThe drone didnt cross over to the militant-controlled territory

Open source

A drone of the American military RQ-4A Global Hawk conducted a surveillance flight over Ukrainian territory, according to the data of international aviation resources, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

On the morning of Feb. 16, the drone left the Sigonella Naval Air Field and conducted a surveillance flight along the front line in Donbas for some 12 hours, not crossing the line.

The drone flew at an altitude of 16,000 m at 600 km/h. It left the airspace over Donbas at around 20:00.

It came to Ukraine from the side Romania and flew to the East through Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions. It also got closed to the borders of Voronezh, Belgorod, and Rostov regions of Russia.

Previously American drones conducted flights over Ukraine on Feb. 11 and Jan. 8. RQ-4A Global Hawk can conduct surveillance from the distance of 300 km, so its able to monitor the situation on the militant-controlled territory and Russian border.The parties phrased their concern over the deteriorating situation with human rights in Crimea

In the course of the working visit to Germany to participate in the 54th Munich Security Conference, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko held a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as Poroshenkos press service informs.

It is said that the parties paid special attention to the prospects of deployment of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Donbas.

The interlocutors agreed that the main task of the future UN mission should be ensuring full peaceful settlement in Donbas, as well as restoration of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity within the internationally recognized borders.

Petro Poroshenko and Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the ongoing deterioration of the human rights situation in the temporarily occupied Crimea. In this context, the Ukrainian President stressed that the international community should apply additional measures to force Russia to fulfil UNGA resolutions 71/205 and 72/190.PLEASE NOTE!

Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate!

All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited!

(One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!)YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Jerusalem Hakob Sevan has no doubts that sooner or later Israel will recognize the Armenian Genocide. In an interview with ARMENPRESS Hakob Sevan referred to the bill urging to mark the Armenian Genocide day in Israel that was voted down in Knesset on February 14. The bill was introduced by the chairman of Israeli opposition party Yesh Atid Yair Lapid. 41 parliamentarians voted against and 28 voted in favor of the bill.

The bill was introduced without our initiative, unlike before when as a result of our efforts oppositionist party Meretz came with such initiatives. Yair Lapid announced about intentions to submit such a bill some months ago, in some sense taking into account the deterioration of Israeli-Turkish relations, Hakob Sevan said. According to him, at the moment some domestic political processes are underway in Israel connected with the corruption accusations pressed against Prime Minister Netanyahu. According to the Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Jerusalem, chairman of Yesh Atid party Yair Lapid is a witness in that case.

In the recent period we do not bring forward initiatives over the Armenian Genocide, not wanting the Armenian issues to become subject of speculations, considering also the tough struggle between the coalition government and the opposition. At the same time, we are convinced sooner or later Israel will recognize the fact of the Armenian Genocide, considering that Armenian-Israeli relations develop and strengthen and that there is no coldness in their relations, Hakob Sevan said.

He also added that the Armenian parliamentary delegation is in Israel, which had meetings at the Knesset, including with Yair Lapid.

The Knesset rejected a bill sponsored by the chairman of Israeli opposition party Yesh Atid Yair Lapid to have Israel recognize the Armenian Genocide, in a preliminary vote Wednesday. There is no reason that the Knesset, which represents a nation that went through the Holocaust, shouldnt recognize the Armenian Genocide and have a remembrance day for it, Lapid said.

Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely said a parliamentary delegation was sent to Yerevan to participate in the 100th anniversary event, but will not take an official stance on the matter, in light of its complexity and diplomatic repercussions, and because it has a clear political connection.



Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein called on the government in 2015 to change its stance, and in 2016 the Knesset Education Committee recognized the genocide.YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Economic Development and Investments of Armenia Suren Karayan received on February 16 Deputy Foreign Minister of Japan on parliamentary issues Hori Manabu.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Ministry, the sides highlighted the agreement on investment liberalization, encouragement and mutual protection signed a day before. Hori Manabu said that he hopes that by the signing of the agreement the business relations between the two states will be further strengthened. The Japanese official thanked Minister Suren Karayan and his staff for the efforts made for the preparation of the document.

Minister Suren Karayan noted that the two states have serious potential to deepen economic partnership. According to the Minister, the projects implemented with the support of the Japanese Government have been rather productive.

The sides exchanged ideas on the opportunities of strengthening relations between the business circles of Armenia and Japan.MUNICH, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan delivered a speech at the Munich Security Conference on February 17.

In the speech the President noted Armenias top foreign and security policy issues.

President Sargsyan also mentioned the current phase of the settlement process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Armenias readiness for normalizing relations with Turkey, and the lack of constructive efforts from Turkey.

The Armenian President spoke about the recent progress in expanding relations with the European Union with CEPA  Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, and the wide opportunities of EU-EEU cooperation.

Global leaders have gathered for the Munich Security Conference, which kicked off February 16 and will take place until February 18.

A more detailed coverage of the Armenian Presidents speech will be available soon.MUNICH, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. At the invitation of Munich Security Conference Chairman, Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, President Serzh Sargsyan, who is currently on a visit to Germany, attended the Munich Security Conference today. The President of Armenia delivered a speech at the In or Out?: Countries In between Russia and Europe panel discussion, the president's office said.

President Serzh Sargsyan addressed Armenias foreign policy in the current geopolitical environment, the countrys effective cooperation with the EAEU and the EU in the framework of the ongoing integration processes and the security challenges faced in the region. In that context, the President referred to the OSCE Minsk Group-brokered settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Azerbaijani authorities non-constructive stance, which hinders the talks.



The President also spoke about the commitments assumed and negotiated within the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, emphasizing that the Helsinki Accord, which started as early as in the 70s of the last century, sought to achieve security and cooperation in Europe, strengthen solidarity between peoples and ensure a dignified and legitimate cohesion, which still goes high on the European agenda.



The President of Armenia stressed that the ten principles enshrined in the Helsinki Final Prospect are closely interrelated, and none of them should be separated or opposed to others.

Remarks by President Serzh Sargsyan during the Munich Security Conference:

"Distinguished Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the outset, I would like to thank Mr. Ischinger for the invitation to this Conference. I greet all the participants of this panel. Events like this one contribute to and enrich the open and informal exchange of views and approaches.

They say geography is destiny; I, however, think that it is also biography. We know it well from our own experience. As a result of our journey, we have concluded that geopolitical competition bears nothing good. Therefore, the ability not to suffer from such competition is tantamount to benefiting from it. This experience of history is what drives our current policy.

Furthermore, I strongly believe that for Armenia and many other nations, being at the intersection of interests of the greater geopolitical powers is both a challenge and an opportunity.

When these powers collide, the interests of small nations sometimes get overlooked. Therefore, it is our objective to incessantly transform this challenge into an opportunitythrough cooperation and combining of various interests.

The Helsinki Process commenced in the course of the 1970s. It was aimed at consolidating security and cooperation in Europe. I believe that the solidarity and coexistence of nations in dignity and equality have been the promises that remain topical today.

The commitments undertaken in the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe should indeed dwell from Vancouver to Vladivostok. The ten principles of the Helsinki Final Act are an integral whole. None of them should be disjointed from or contrasted to the others.

The same can be said about all the other commitments negotiated in the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Equal rights and the cooperative approach should dominate across the OSCE region. It is the only path towards consolidating the concept of comprehensive and indivisible security endorsed in Helsinki.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Azerbaijans position regarding the Nagorno Karabakh issue is a flagrant violation of the Helsinki spirit. It is particularly evident in the recently-launched election campaign. President Aliyev uttered territorial claims reaching as far as Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, calling it a historically Azerbaijani territory - nothing but delirium - which can have serious consequences if Europe turns a blind eye to it.

The Nagorno Karabakh issue must be resolved as soon as possible, and by peaceful means. This mission of ours is led by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, namely the Russian Federation, France, and the United States of America.

The three principles of international law  non-use of force or threat to use force, peoples equality and right to self-determination, and territorial integrity  have been proposed by them as the cornerstones of the peace process. The European Union in turn has reiterated on numerous occasions that it supports the efforts and proposals of the Co-Chairs.

The efforts to resolve the Nagorno Karabakh issue can serve as an example of how Russia, the EU, and the US can positively coordinate their positions for the benefit of international peace and security. We desire to see more frequent manifestations of such common positions.

It is especially important, since conflicts in all corners of the world are increasing and expanding. We are concerned by the sweeping changes taking place in the Middle East and elsewhere, which are accompanied by neverending wars. We are concerned by the state failure and disintegration of a number of countries. We need to think of cooperative, comprehensive, and indivisible security, so as to effectively respond to those challenges. This is the only possible and realistic way to overcome the current crises.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Armenia has always been open for cooperation, and has respected the interests of others and done her best to match them. We have always attempted not to impose upon our partners a choice, and whenever possible, to build an environment of positive cooperation. I can say that all of our partners have by and large supported this policy of ours and the steps taken as a result of it.

Armenia acceded to the Eurasian Economic Union with a clear understanding that doing so would best serve the development of our economy and the future of our nation. The results achieved since our accession do prove our trust in the path we embarked upon. Meanwhile, it has in no shape or way impeded our cooperation with the European Union, especially in the areas of institutional reforms and modernization.

Our cooperation with the European Union has been elevated to a new level by the recently concluded Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. It is now important for the ratification of this document to proceed at due speed.

Modernization is a constant process, which makes us keep pace with the times. We shall always strive to cooperate with all those powers that boast great achievements and can contribute to the modernization of my country. The above policy facilitates Armenias cooperation with both the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union. It also unleashes opportunities for everyone who is interested in the development of entrepreneurial ties with these two integration structures.

We have been negotiating with all the interested countries with the objective of creating a new transit corridor between the Black Sea and the Persian Gulf. We hope that their successful conclusion will render a list of beneficiaries that will be far more extensive than the countries engaged in the negotiations process. In my view, collaboration of the member States of the EU and EAEU in both bilateral and multilateral settings is consistent with our shared interests and will contribute to our economic advancement.

Here, I would like to draw your attention to one more important feature. Our society has achieved broad consensus on the matters of Armenias foreign policy and the steps undertaken for Armenias economic integration.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the times of the Cold War, Armenia was on the border of one of the two rival blocks. Thirty years have passed since the fall of the Berlin wall, but Turkey still continues to keep the border with Armenia closed. It seems that the clock stopped ticking there.

I am convinced that Armenia has taken all the possible measures in order to overcome that impasse. I initiated a process of normalization of the relations between Armenia and Turkey, which could have created new opportunities for both of our nations and the region at large.

Nevertheless, the Protocols that Armenia and Turkey had signed back in 2009 remained on the paper. Turkey not only failed to ratify these documents, but also came up with preconditions that had no connection whatsoever with the Protocols. It was nothing but a failure to take advantage of the historic opportunity.

Is Azerbaijan preventing Turkey from establishing relations with Armenia, as many are trying to convince us? No, it is not the case. The chief impediment is the lack of political will on the part of the Turkish leadership.

I believe you may be aware that many representatives of the Armenian diaspora were not too happy about that decision of ours. It was natural, as they were successors of survivors of the Genocide and of homeland dispossession. I travelled around the globe back then, met with our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, community after community, and discussed with them this very sensitive issue.

Have the Turkish leaders displayed such political will? Have they been faithful to the commitments they had signed up to?

We cannot wait eternally for Turkey's response. The Protocols were negotiated under the existing circumstances. If Turkey desires to await other circumstances and only then to ratify the Protocols, then it is profoundly mistaken. Under potential new circumstances, a new document is to be negotiated. Armenia does not resort to the language of preconditions, but equally, Armenia shall never accept preconditions put forth by anyone.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A brilliant son and statesman of the French nation, Charles de Gaulle, outlined a vision of united Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals. I think that it is the most accurate response to the question put forth for the discussion by this panel.

I strongly believe that the fruits of mutually-beneficial and inclusive cooperation will best serve to bringing the European nations together and to ensuring their prosperity. This is the position adopted by Armenia, and we stand ready to further contribute to the realization of that objective.

Thank you."YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. President Sargsyan reassures that Armenia did not refuse signing the Association Agreement with the EU, but it was rather the EU itself that didnt want to sign the deal with Armenia.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, the Armenian President stressed that Armenia has always been open and honest with its partners, especially related to integration partners.

When we commenced negotiations with the EU, all our partners, our allies were aware of it, and our European partners were aware that we were also negotiating to join the Eurasian Economic Union, the then-Customs Union. We were considering it to be possible. And when the both principle was substituted with the either this, or that principle, we couldnt sign such an agreement. Meaning, it wasnt us that refused to sign the Association Agreement, it was the European Union that didnt want to sign an agreement with us. We even offered to sign the political section of the agreement, if possible, but our European partners refused. But only weeks later an agreement like the one we had offered was signed with Ukraine. We very well understand the opportunities of Armenia and the opportunities of Ukraine, Armenias role and Ukraines role, but nevertheless it was strange for us. So, we didnt refuse from signing such an agreement, and thank God not so long after the EU made a decision and this decision was approved at the Riga summit  this decision was the differentiated approach, and it was within this differentiated approach that we were able to sign a document with the EU, the President said.

The President once again emphasized that Armenia did not have any secret negotiations with anyone, and hasnt made decisions under any pressure whatsoever. Our historic experience shows that attempts of temporary benefiting from conflicts leads to great tragedies. We went through such tragedy and we wouldnt want for that tragedies to repeat, he said.YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijans position regarding the Nagorno Karabakh issue is a flagrant violation of the Helsinki spirit. It is particularly evident in the recently-launched election campaign in Azerbaijan, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said in remarks at the Munich Security Conference during the In or Out  The Countries in Between Russia and Europe Panel Discussion. The President noted how his Azeri counterpart recently went as far as uttering territorial claims for Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, calling it a historically Azerbaijani territory.

[Its]nothing but delirium - which can have serious consequences if Europe turns a blind eye to it.

The Nagorno Karabakh issue must be resolved as soon as possible, and by peaceful means. This mission of ours is led by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, namely the Russian Federation, France, and the United States of America.

The three principles of international law  non-use of force or threat to use force, peoples equality and right to self-determination, and territorial integrity  have been proposed by them as the cornerstones of the peace process. The European Union in turn has reiterated on numerous occasions that it supports the efforts and proposals of the Co-Chairs.

The efforts to resolve the Nagorno Karabakh issue can serve as an example of how Russia, the EU, and the US can positively coordinate their positions for the benefit of international peace and security. We desire to see more frequent manifestations of such common positions. It is especially important, since conflicts in all corners of the world are increasing and expanding. We are concerned by the sweeping changes taking place in the Middle East and elsewhere, which are accompanied by never-ending wars. We are concerned by the state failure and disintegration of a number of countries. We need to think of cooperative, comprehensive, and indivisible security, so as to effectively respond to those challenges. This is the only possible and realistic way to overcome the current crises, the President said.YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Armenias experience of cooperation with the EU and membership to the EEU has been praised during the Munich Security Conference.

Armenias experience was hailed both by Russian and EU representatives.

During a panel discussion attended by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Konstantin Kosachev Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Federation Council of Russia emphasized that Armenias membership to the Eurasian Economic Union and signing of a new agreement with the European Union is an excellent example on how problems can be solved.

This is a very good experience. Generally this is the first similar experience, Kosachev said.

He stressed that they are proud of Armenia, a country which was able to record progress without creating problems for itself in terms of cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union. Kosachev emphasized that the Eurasian Economic Union is a new structure, which is developing and creating wide opportunities for member states, and emphasized that he would be happy to see a better cooperation between the EEU and the EU.

Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Union said that Armenias experience is a good example  directions of cooperation must be agreed upon, if the country has a cooperation agreement with another international structure.

Therefore not everything is possible. We must take into consideration agreements with other partners as well. Therefore the agreement between Armenia and the European Union differs from the free and comprehensive trade agreement by its content. This all must be analyzed. It took us 2 years to specify the directions where we can cooperate, Hahn said. The EU official also mentioned that they want to cooperate with the EEU.YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Armenia does not resort to the language of preconditions, but equally, Armenia shall never accept preconditions put forth by anyone, President Serzh Sargsyan said in remarks delivered at the Munich Security Conference during a panel discussion titled In or Out? The Countries In Between Russia and Europe.

The President said that during the Cold War Armenia was on the border of one of the two rival blocks. Thirty years have passed since the fall of the Berlin wall, but Turkey still continues to keep the border with Armenia closed. It seems that the clock stopped ticking there.

I am convinced that Armenia has taken all the possible measures in order to overcome that impasse. I initiated a process of normalization of the relations between Armenia and Turkey, which could have created new opportunities for both of our nations and the region at large.

Nevertheless, the Protocols that Armenia and Turkey had signed back in 2009 remained on the paper. Turkey not only failed to ratify these documents, but also came up with preconditions that had no connection whatsoever with the Protocols. It was nothing but a failure to take advantage of the historic opportunity.

Is Azerbaijan preventing Turkey from establishing relations with Armenia, as many are trying to convince us? No, it is not the case. The chief impediment is the lack of political will on the part of the Turkish leadership.

I believe you may be aware that many representatives of the Armenian diaspora were not too happy about that decision of ours. It was natural, as they were successors of survivors of the Genocide and of homeland dispossession. I travelled around the globe back then, met with our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, community after community, and discussed with them this very sensitive issue.

Have the Turkish leaders displayed such political will? Have they been faithful to the commitments they had signed up to?

We cannot wait eternally for Turkey's response. The Protocols were negotiated under the existing circumstances. If Turkey desires to await other circumstances and only then to ratify the Protocols, then it is profoundly mistaken. Under potential new circumstances, a new document is to be negotiated. Armenia does not resort to the language of preconditions, but equally, Armenia shall never accept preconditions put forth by anyone, the Armenian President said.YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has been negotiating with all interested countries with the objective of creating a new transit corridor between the Black Sea and the Persian Gulf, President Serzh Sargsyan said at the Munich Security Conference.  We hope that their successful conclusion will render a list of beneficiaries that will be far more extensive than the countries engaged in the negotiations process, the President said.

He expressed opinion that collaboration of the member States of the EU and EAEU in both bilateral and multilateral settings is consistent with shared interests and will contribute to economic advancement.

Armenia has always been open for cooperation, and has respected the interests of others and done her best to match them. We have always attempted not to impose upon our partners a choice, and whenever possible, to build an environment of positive cooperation. I can say that all of our partners have by and large supported this policy of ours and the steps taken as a result of it. Armenia acceded to the Eurasian Economic Union with a clear understanding that doing so would best serve the development of our economy and the future of our nation. The results achieved since our accession do prove our trust in the path we embarked upon. Meanwhile, it has in no shape or way impeded our cooperation with the European Union, especially in the areas of institutional reforms and modernization.

Mentioning that the recently signed CEPA elevated cooperation with the European Union, the president noted that it is now important for the ratification of this document to proceed at due speed.

Modernization is a constant process, which makes us keep pace with the times. We shall always strive to cooperate with all those powers that boast great achievements and can contribute to the modernization of my country. The above policy facilitates Armenias cooperation with both the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union. It also unleashes opportunities for everyone who is interested in the development of entrepreneurial ties with these two integration structures, the president continued.YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Armen Sarkissian, the Republican Partys nominee for the upcoming presidential elections of Armenia, had a meeting with Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan to exchange ideas on prospects of economic development, expansion of foreign economic ties and attraction of foreign investments.

Hasmik Petrosyan, director of Mr. Sarkissians office, told ARMENPRESS that the meeting was held late in the evening of February 17.

Earlier in January Armen Sarkissian, Armenias Ambassador to the United Kingdom, was offered by incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, who also serves as President of the countrys ruling Republican Party, to be the partys candidate for the upcoming presidential elections. Sarkissian initially requested a brief period of time for pondering the offer, and in the meanwhile held various meetings with political parties, civil society representatives, Diaspora structures and others, and subsequently agreed to be nominated.Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov has announced February 12, 2018, that Russia will annually procure an average of 200 main battle tanks (MBTs). Currently, T-72B3 main battle tanks are the backbone of the Russian armed forces, but there is plan to deliver first T-14 Armata to the 1st guards tank regiment of Taman division.



T-14 Armata main battle during Victory Day Parade in May 2017 (Picture source Army Recognition)

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has announced in November 2017, that the Russian armaments program for 2018-2027 envisages serial supplies of T-14 tanks based on the heavy tracked Armata platform.

"The task is to fulfill the state defense order. We shall annually buy an average of some 200 tanks of various modifications in the coming years," he said during a visit to Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) enterprise, which, according to Borisov, is successfully replacing imports.

The unmanned T-14 tank on Armata platform can be created in Russia, UVZ CEO Alexander Potapov said. "We do not tread water. We are working on it. You will see the result in some time," he said.

The Russian Defense Ministry plans to sign major contracts to procure Armata-based armor after 2020. "Acceptance tests will begin this year and will continue up to the end of 2019. We have to reach the finish with new samples in 2020 and will then decide on major serial contracts," Borisov said.

New arms are being designed for Armata. "Work on a new set of tank munitions is nearing completion. It is no secret that we have contracted two battalions of T-14 main battle tanks and one battalion of heavy new T-15 BMP tracked infantry fighting vehicle for test operations," Borisov said.

The Main command of the Russian Ground Forces has announced in May 2017, that the 1st tank regiment of Taman division will be the first unit to be rearmed with new-generation Armata T-14. That will happen after 2020 when the new tank passes government acceptance tests and becomes operational. At present the regiment is armed with T-72B3.

The T-14 Armata MBT is the first Russia-designed armored combat vehicle after T-72 and T-80 created yet in Soviet times in the 1970-1980s. The unmanned turret is the main distinguishing feature of the new tank. The crew is seated in an armored capsule in the front part of the tank which is to replace T-72B3 and T-90. The main armament of T-14 Armata is a 125-mm gun 2A82.

The T-14 Armata suspension considerably differs from T-72/90 family. All Russian tanks have only six road wheels but the suspension of the T-14 Armata on each side consists of seven road wheels with the idler at the front, drive sprocket at the rear. T-14 is equipped with reactive armor sets mounted on the upper part of the chassis and the turret. Module armor protects two thirds of the sides of the tank. The remaining one third of T-14 is protected by bar armor.



T-15 BMP IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle during Victory Day Parade in May 2016 (Picture source Wikipedia)

The T-15 BMP Armata is the latest generation of AIFV (Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle) developed and manufactured by the Russian Defense Industry. The T-15 BMP Armata was unveiled for the first time to the public during the rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in April 2015.

The T-15 BMP is fitted with an unmanned turret located at the rear of the vehicle, designed and manufactured by the Defense Company KBP. According to Russian military experts, the turret is equipped with on 30mm 2A42 automatic cannon as main armament.

Second armament of the vehicle includes a PKTM 7,62mm machine gun and two anti-tank guided missile Kornet-D launchers mounted on each side of the turret. The Kornet-D use technical vision with an automatic target tracker to make it a "fire and forget" missile, giving it a 5-times increase in accuracy of target tracking at any range. It can engage target from a range of 150 to 10,000m.

The T-15 BMP Armata used a new design if you compare the old generation of Russian AIFV (Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle) as the BMP family. . The armour consists at some places of a layer of concrete sandwiched between layers of steel, ceramic and composite materials, which offers high level of protection against firing of small arms and blast of mine explosions.

To increase its protection, the T-15 is equipped with the "Afganit" active protection system including sensors and laser detection systems. This system is designed to defeat threats such as the rocket propelled grenade and the anti-tank missile, including newer anti-tank missiles with longer ranges.Now that it is fully apparent, to all who have the ability to pay some modicum of attention, that Imposter President Biden has extreme cognitive issues, in addition to being an inveterate liar: Can OUR Republic continue with this Executive Office that has completely failed, so many times, on far too many issues here at this early date in this abysmal presidency?

No, Joseph R. Biden is completely unqualified, morally and cognitively, to represent real Americans, and lead this Republic of disparate peoples.

Yes, Joseph R. Biden has started whispering again, even softer now than before; so, I know he still cares, plus, OUR media will soon stop reporting on Afghanistan in favor of OUR Socialist issues.Williams (president of the Alamance Chamber of Commerce) said though no new jobs would be added, part of process of adjusting manufacturing processes to a new product would be retraining employees, so the board wanted to "make the point of retaining people."

"Honda Power has been a good corporate citizen in Alamance since 1984," Williams said. "We were happy to be responsive to this request."

The incentives game just keeps getting worse. It used to be that state and local governments would put together a package to help lure a large company for a major project bringing significant numbers of new jobs to an area. It's the sort of thing that most people think of when they think about corporate incentives. It's the model at play, in extreme form, for Amazon's HQ2, and the sort of thing we saw recently with the Toyota-Mazda plant that North Carolina didn't quite get. And it's the type of package that's repeated time and time again in large cities and small towns across North Carolina and the United States.That sort of incentive package is problematic, as we've written time after time after time here at the Locke Foundation. It distorts the market, puts governments in the position of picking winners and losers, and tends to give preference to big, outside companies over home-grown businesses with deep roots in local communities.But bad as those deals are, increasingly we see deals that are even worse. Just such a deal passed in Alamance County this month - as much as $262,000 to Honda to expand a plant that already operates in the county, bringing precisely no new jobs . That's right, none.Here's the basic structure of the deal. This Honda plant builds small engines for things like lawnmowers, not cars. Honda already has a plant producing these engines in Swepsonville , a very small town in Alamance County just a few miles from Burlington. The latest estimates from the Census Bureau put the entire population of Swepsonville at a little over 1,300 people, which makes it particularly remarkable that the Honda plant alone employs about 1200 people. No doubt this is the major employer not only for Swepsonville but also for surrounding communities. I absolutely understand why the town and county are eager to keep Honda and see them expand.Honda proposed a $10.5 million expansion of the plant, adding 116,000 square feet. About 100,000 square feet of that will be additional production space, and 16,000 square feet will be office space. The county will give $157,000 in incentives for that. And they've agreed to another $105,000 if Honda spends at least $10.5 million on equipment. These incentives are worth 1.5 percent of the investment in the plant space, and no more than 1 percent of equipment cost. Does anyone believe that Honda's decision to expand the plant and buy equipment, or not, is dependent on that 1-1.5 percent? Sure, Honda will take it if it's offered to them. They'd be crazy not to ask. But is that money make or break for the expansion? I have a really hard time believing that it is.And it won't bring new jobs. No one's claiming that it will. It's just about trying to make sure the county doesn't lose any of the jobs that are already there. Honda is planning to branch into some new products, and Alamance County wants to make sure those new products are produced in Swepsonville, even if it won't mean any increase in local employment. According to Triad Business Journal That means we've moved from an environment where governments used incentives to lure new, major economic players, to one in which they're essentially paying bribes to get existing employers to stay. This is not real economic growth, and it's a terrible deal for taxpayers.Not only that but does it really make sense to say that, because Honda's been around for years, they're entitled to taxpayer money just for staying? What about the small barbershop that's been there for 50 years, the family cafe that's been passed down from parents to children, or a local mechanic whose been repairing local cars for decades? Are those not good small business citizens? Why the preferential treatment for Honda?Local governments need to resist the temptation to offer these kinds of deals. Instead, they should lower taxes across the board, reduce regulations, ease up zoning restrictions, and make it easier for all businesses - big companies like Honda or small local shops - to thrive in their communities.Former legislative counsel Cohen wonders why governor got involved in a deal normally handled by private parties

"As part of the approval process, we worked with all three states through which the pipeline passes to develop mitigation measures for these impacts. In North Carolina, a memorandum of understanding was developed as part of this mitigation process. The state determines how to administer those mitigation funds."

Constitutional questions persist about the murky $57.8 million deal between Atlantic Coast Pipeline operators and Gov. Roy Cooper.Gerry Cohen, former general counsel for the General Assembly, told Carolina Journal on Thursday, Feb. 15.Gov. Roy Cooper said Wednesday he would let House Bill 90 become law without his signature. The legislation diverts the financial gift from Cooper's control to local education agencies. School districts in the eight North Carolina counties through which the natural gas pipeline passes would decide how to spend the money. letter sent Thursday to legislative leaders by Cooper's chief of staff Kristi Jones didn't address the constitutional matter, either. It said the governor's top attorney William McKinney and senior adviser Ken Eudy negotiated the deal with pipeline operators. And had the General Assembly not interfered with the arrangement, the letter suggested, mitigation funds might start flowing soon. (Read the letter here .)While the letter doesn't mention possible legal action, Cohen said Cooper may act against the measure.Cohen said.He's not sure who else might have standing to file a court challenge. Because the Mitigation Memorandum of Understanding between Cooper and the energy companies building the 600-mile pipeline from West Virginia to Robeson County didn't name specific recipients, or designate exact sums of money for particular use, Cohen said they might not have standing to file a lawsuit.But, he said, the pipeline coalition could withdraw the money, as Cooper warned Wednesday.Cohen said. Cooper and the pipeline partners wanted to use the money for environmental mitigation, economic development projects, and renewable energy activities.Duke Energy and Dominion Power, two members of the pipeline coalition, failed to respond to a query about whether they intend to abide by the legislature's reallocation of their money, questions about Farm Bureau's involvement in stimulating the discretionary fund deal, or other matters.Duke's corporate communications office sent a response, stating:The biggest question in Cohen's mind remains whether the $57.8 million is state money.Cohen said.he said.Republican legislative leaders redirected the money because they believe Cooper's plan would violate constitutional requirements that state money be appropriated through the legislative process.But a wrinkle developed Thursday, when it was revealed by "NC SPIN" host Tom Campbell the $57.8 million, which Cooper has called a voluntary contribution, wasn't negotiated by Cooper's office but by private parties through the N.C. Farm Bureau. It is unclear what impact that development might have on an ethics complaint filed by the Civitas Institute against Cooper on Wednesday.Farm Bureau president Larry Wooten did not return a call for comment.Before Jones sent the letter to lawmakers, Republican leaders continued considering their options.said Joseph Kyzer, spokesman for House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland.said Shelly Carver, spokeswoman for Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham.Lee Lilley, a former Dominion Energy lobbyist recently hired by Cooper as a lobbyist, came under fierce questioning earlier this month about the pipeline deal.State Rep. Jimmy Dixon, R-Duplin, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and chairman of Appropriations for Agriculture, Natural and Economic Resources, said he was surprised when Cooper announced his desire to set up an escrow fund with the energy companies' money, that secret negotiations took place, and that Farm Bureau was part of the process.on a host of legislation the organization supported or requested, Dixon said.He wouldn't guess why Farm Bureau turned the deal over to Cooper.and tell them he would have liked to have been asked to contribute to the discussion, Dixon said.Cohen said it's a good question why Farm Bureau didn't simply consummate a private deal with the pipeline operators to run secondary gas spurs to businesses and communities along the pipeline route instead of shifting the negotiated deal to Cooper.Under state law,Cohen said. He is not aware of any federal regulatory restrictions to privately paid gas line extensions.

Jayquwan Lamar Newmones

Sheriff Ernie Coleman

Beaufort County Sheriff's Office

On 12/24/2017 shortly after 3:00pm the body of 27 year old Timothy Bernard Moore of Belhaven was discovered on a dirt road off of Beach Ridge Road in Belhaven. A passing motorist made the discovery and reported it to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff's Investigators responded to the scene and began their investigation. After processing the scene for over 7 hours, Investigators recovered over 30 pieces of physical evidence believed to be associated with the crime. Preliminary findings indicate Moore was shot however an autopsy is being performed today to determine the exact cause of death.Sheriff's Investigators have worked through the holidays interviewing Moore's friends, family and anyone who may have come in contact with him in the hours prior to his death.On Tuesday, January 2, 2018 Beaufort County Investigators were granted a warrant charging 23 year old Jayquwan Lamar Newmones with an open count of Murder for the shooting death of Timothy Bernard Moore. Newmones is also charged with one count each of Robbery With a Dangerous Weapon and Felony Larceny of a Motor Vehicle. Newmones is approximately 5"-5" tall and his whereabouts are unknown at this time. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office along with other local Law Enforcement agencies are actively searching for him. The Beaufort County Crime Stoppers Board has approved a $1,000.00 reward for any information leading to his location and arrest. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Jayquwan Lamar Newmones is asked to call the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office at 252-946-7111 or Beaufort County Crime Stoppers at 252-974-6400.After unsuccessful attempts in locating Jayquwan Lamar Newmones Sheriff's Investigators enlisted the help of the Greenville Police Department's Violent Criminal Apprehension Team and the NC SBI Fugitive and Missing Person Task Force. On Sunday, February 11, 2018 Members of the SBI Task Force, the FBI and the Richmond County Georgia Sheriff's Office located and arrested Khalif Muhammed Newmones, age 25 of 252 Duke Street, Belhaven NC and Alicia Hassona Polen, age 27 of 1903 Cooney Cir., Augusta, Georgia. Both have been charged with Accessory after the Fact to Murder. Both are being held in the Charles B. Webster Detention Center without bond and are awaiting extradition back to Beaufort County.On Thursday, February 15, 2018, Members of the Greenville Police Department's Violent Criminal Apprehension Team, the NC SBI Fugitive and Missing Person Task Force, the FBI, Augusta Police Department, and the Richmond County Sheriff's Office located and arrested Jayquwan Lamar Newmones without incident at a residence in Augusta, Georgia. He is currently being held in the Charles B. Webster Detention Center without bond and is awaiting extradition back to Beaufort County.Newmones had drastically altered his appearance and been dressing as a girl for over a week, portraying himself as a 9th grade high school student. A local family there in Augusta had taken in Newmones after he came to their residence asking for help. The investigation is ongoing with further charges possible.Sheriff Ernie Coleman states,News / Education

by Staff Reporter

STUDENTS at teachers' colleges are now required to learn at least three indigenous languages to ensure that they can be deployed anywhere in the country, a Cabinet Minister said yesterday.The new policy takes effect when the next intake of students starts and principals at teachers' colleges have already been told about the changes. The country's Constitution adopted in 2013 recognises 16 official languages.Addressing academics during a tour of Solusi University, Higher and Tertiary Education Minister, Professor Amon Murwira, said this was a new policy introduced by his Ministry."All our students when they are learning must learn at least three languages so that as a Zimbabwean you can go and communicate with elders anywhere in the country.We are saying besides your mother tongue that you were born with, you must learn three others in the Constitution. You can see it in South Africa, it's not part of the education system but if you are in Gauteng Province, you can speak any language," said Prof Murwira."Why should I have myself talking in English and being translated to somewhere down in Bulilima, it's not quite right so we want to take practical steps."The future is now so we are going to do it because it's constitutional and so we must make sure everybody in teachers' colleges does it."I don't know how practical it is in universities but it's so practical for teachers' colleges that they already start doing that because we've had problems where teachers are teaching Grade One and they are speaking in English. It's not right. Surely we can solve this, it's very easy actually."In Matabeleland provinces, some educationists and analysts have said the language issue was partly to blame for the poor pass rate in the region.The issue of non-Ndebele speaking teachers has been brought up at a number of fora and Government has since decided to address it.Prof Murwira said the policy shift in terms of languages was meant to ensure diversity and inclusivity regardless of ethnic background."So we want to start a culture of inclusivity. From Zambezi to Limpopo from Hwange to Mutare it's ours, so we must be comfortable in every centimetre of the country and it comes from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education. If we don't do this, nobody will do it. This is the vision we are having for languages and its constitutional, it's just will power which was not there so will power is there full time," he said.Prof Murwira encouraged academics to work hard for the good of the country.News / National

by Belinda Chowa

Due to Mr Morgan Tsvangirai's passing on, a lot of events are unfolding. A lot of secrets are being reviewed, some people are even saying things they could not say of failed to say. The death of Tsvangirai no matter how bad and sad it may seem to be, those with an eye that searching for only the positive are already seeing the good in it.This might even lead to the death of MDC-T. What if Tsvangirai has died with his party?. Already, there are internal conflicts. People should learn to respect the dead. Even when he was in hospital, conflict between party members and family members had already risen. Politics is indeed a dirty game. Think of home many people have died, left their motherlands, suffered, injured, disabled etc just because of politics. Some lost their lives and some almost lost them so those who made it try by all means to safeguard their lives.I say Tsvangirai was a hero and try fighter because regardless of what he lost and what he almost loses, he never backed down. He kept on fighting and fighting no matter how impossible his success seemed to be but he kept fighting. Now that Tsvangirai has died, his body is not yet in his motherland but in a foreign land he died in. Already, the fights for succession disputes have started. It is unfortunate that before Morgan Tsvangirai died, he never had a chance to select and announce his successor, not even to bless the successor. Death comes unexpectedly and it is really hard planning for it because of the pain it brings.People should learn to respect the dead as a sign of honoring and thanking God for their lives. People of MDC-T were supposed to have their succession disputes at least after Morgan Richard has been laid to rest. Already Chamisa instead of focusing on the mourning process and funeral procedures, he is already campaigning to be the Party's President. I know the chances of him being the President of the party are high and most people like him, but to respect the dead, whatever he has to do now should be focused on mourning and paying last respect to the late Morgan Tsvangirai.Mr Nelson Chamisa must focus on burying our hero first instead of fighting and campaigning. Does that mek any sense? Will not this lead to the downfall of MDC-T party? Politics is all about thinking politically. Whatever you think about, link it to politics if you are all about politics. Always remember that as a party, unity is the key and foundation. Once the foundation is strong, destruction of the party is very much impossible. If they are internal problems in the party , this will definitely give the opposition more power. Divided you fall, United you firmly stand. Within 2 days Tsvangirai has died, already Nelson Chamisa was attacked by fellow party members.Someone like Chamisa was supposed to be in deep tears as I write. He could have needed some strength a little time before he could stand and campaign. He learned a lot from Tsvangirai apart from his Political Degree. He should have been busy organizing funeral arrangements making his profile better than it is right now. There are so many people out there wishing to be the ones wearing Chamisa's shoes and are claiming to have been doing better. Since 1998 Chamisa had been serving for MDC and 2002 he was appointed the youth leader but still if we are to check his profile back then, he was just someone known for causing disorder. No wonder why last time he was attacked the airport, he never knew who had caused it because there are too many enemies surrounding him which is not good in politics. Some things need to changed.Your legacy will go on Mr Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe will be a better nation as you have always wished and fighter for.Some have already withdrawn the fact that Mr Tsvangirai the Party founder is no more but are rather focusing on who will lead the party. Learn to respect the dead up until at least he as been laid to rest lest if you want Tsvangirai to be buried with his Party, MDC-TNews / National

by Staff Reporter

MDC-T deputy chairperson, Morgan Komichi yesterday described the new military top brass as professional and people expected them to uphold the country's Constitution, unlike their predecessors.Addressing mourners at the late MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai's Highlands home, Komichi said the newly-appointed commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Philip Valerio Sibanda, was professional unlike his predecessor, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, whom he said often "illegally dabbled in civilian politics"."Changes in the new dispensation brought about transformation in the security sector and that's commendable, as these commanders are professionals and level-headed people," he said.Under former President Robert Mugabe's regime, the MDC-T often complained of a partisan military top brass, which they said supported Zanu PF.Komichi said this in the presence of a Zanu PF delegation led by party chairperson, Oppah Muchinguri, Zanu PF political commissar, Engelbert Rugeje, a retired army general, and spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo, who had gone to pay their condolences to Tsvangirai's family.The MDC-T deputy chairperson said in the forthcoming polls, the opposition expected no violence, as some of those who were known to be champions in fomenting violence were now responsible for building peace across the country."There was a time when we would meet as political opponents and people were being beaten. The new President has said that it is now a thing of the past. My uncle, Rugeje, you have a huge task that what used to happen long back does not happen again," Komichi said."The issue of the military asking for serial numbers from those who have registered to vote using the BVR [biometric voter registration] and the violence in Bikita must end."There is need for removal of fear and intimidation in the electorate by proposing a national committee of MDC Alliance and Zanu PF to do party rallies denouncing violence as we go towards elections and this will help to boost regional and international confidence so as to attract foreign direct investment (FDI)."Komichi said joint rallies would assist Zimbabwe gain international, national and regional confidence."This will also help us with the FDI that we want from international delegates," he said.In her address, Muchinguri described the late opposition leader as a true patriot, who worked for the new Constitution as well as provided checks and balances to the Zanu PF government.She chronicled Tsvangirai's political history dating back to the days he was in trade unionism up to the formation of the MDC in 1999, saying the former Prime Minister in the inclusive government sacrificed his personal life for peace.News / Religion

by Ihechukwu Njoku



Ihechukwu Njoku is a freelance Nigerian journalist...

The controversy surrounding the alleged 'angelic sighting' last month in Lagos, Nigeria has refused to abate.In January 2018, a video uploaded to YouTube showing a flashy figure in white purportedly crossing the road and entering The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) premises sparked huge debate on social media and subsequently went viral.The man behind the clip surfaced on Sunday 11th February 2018 to share a testimony at The SCOAN of the circumstances behind the now famous footage.Mr Hezron Konlan, a Ghanaian by origin, said that during his first visit to The SCOAN, he was unable to enter the main auditorium on Sunday due to the large crowds.Slightly disappointed and seated in a vehicle outside the church the following day, preparing to return to his homeland, the young man said he "prayed that God would give him a sign" to prove the church was genuine and his visit worthwhile.Whilst offering the prayer, Hezron was "moved" to bring out his mobile device and take a recording of the impressive church edifice."Suddenly, I saw a huge figure dressed in white on top of an animal which can be likened to a horse crossing the road and entering the Church," the Ghanaian vividly recounted.Dazed, Hezron looked up from his phone and exclaimed to his friend Joshua Laar, who later corroborated his account of events, that he had just seen something "physically".Playing back the recording, Hezron said he was astounded to discover that his phone had captured the "supernatural sighting", which he subsequently shared with his friends, one of whom later posted it onto YouTube."Since that encounter, my life has completely changed," the young Ghanaian testified, explaining that his visit to The SCOAN triggered a remarkable chain of events which culminated in promotion at his workplace."Truly, the Almighty God and His angels are here in The SCOAN," he emphatically declared.The clip, which has been seen over 500,000 times since it was published on Emmanuel TV's YouTube channel, has additionally been the subject of several global media reports.Although opinions significantly vary, the majority of comments on the YouTube clip suggest Hezron did indeed capture some form of "angelic being".VIDEO OF 'ANGEL'Opinion / Columnist

THE multitudes at Maphisa Shopping Centre in Kezi, Matabeleland South, have a life of their own. The people at this shopping centre move like a shoal of fish: so many in one space, lively, but bound together by the fear and mistrust of history with the fisherman.The centre has a complex life: exuberance tempered with mistrust, especially of the past. There is chatter between buyers and sellers on the streets, while a cacophony of music blaring from competing drinking spots fills the atmosphere saturated with sweltering heat and lingering dust.The bustling streets are teeming with a gamut of characters; from animated hawkers peddling traditional herbs among other wares to grandstanding gold panners - the young and old - each of them with a goal to achieve for the day.It is the kind of hustle and bustle of the centre that betrays the deep-seated sense of resentment that many still have about past experiences, particularly the Gukurahundi killings.Maphisa centre is nearly seven kilometres from Bhalagwe, a mountainous notorious detention centre where the Fifth Brigade killed hundreds of people and buried them in shallow mass graves during the early 1980s.It is a subject many in the bustling centre do not want to talk about.Fear abounds, while anyone who dares ask about the emotive Gukurahundi atrocities is met with suspicious stares, as the Zimbabwe Independent found out during a recent visit."I still remember that they (Fifth Brigade) arrived in Zamanyoni area on March 5, 1984. We first saw their jeeps passing through this area on their way to what was then a Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) camp (Bhalagwe) around 5pm on the day. Army trucks with food supplies and others were to follow the next day," said 68-year-old Jeconiah Moyo, a Gukurahundi survivor from Zamanyoni area, ward 19 in Bhalagwe village."It all started on March 7 when we heard that the Brigade had raided villages in Bidi area, rounded up people and detained them at Bhalagwe. Shops and schools were closed while harassment, beatings and detentions picked up. I was picked up at night on March 8, and detained weeks on end at the centre."The suffering, torture, the beatings and seeing fellow villagers being killed by the Fifth Brigade is still fresh in his mind, he said.According to Moyo, the Fifth Brigade was mainly in hunt of Zipra and Zapu cadres, and he claims it was not "hard to fish them out"."They would ask questions like where were you between 1976 and 1980, and what were you doing?' This is how they fished out Zipra cadres because the answer could expose where one was operating from, if he or she was a Zipra cadre and they would get detained at Bhalagwe, tortured, beaten and killed," said Moyo.A visit to Bhalagwe shows scattered bricks of destroyed detention centres, and other infrastructure. Some villagers have roofed their homesteads with asbestos sheets from the destroyed detention centres.The area is deserted, while villagers there view people who visit the area with suspicion. Some of the mass graves have been fenced off.The area is also rich in pit sand, but harvesting it for resale or for use in building or any other purposes has been unanimously banned by villagers, the Independent was told as "bones were in several cases left protruding from the ground".The Gukurahundi issue has regained prominence, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa coming under pressure to find closure to the 1980s mass killings.Mnangagwa refused to apologise for the massacres during a recent interview in Davos, Switzerland, saying he had signed into law the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission Bill (NPRC) to deal with the issue.The President said traditional leaders will handle the issue. The NPRC rolls out the hearings today in Gwanda, Matabeleland South.But the victims want their voices to be heard."The NPRC can conduct the hearings, the President can say sorry but is that enough? I don't think so. The perpetrators have to talk to the victims, apologise to them, tell why they did what they did, show remorse, compensate the people and give an assurance that this will never happen," Moyo said."They need to talk to the victims and assure them that there is nothing to fear because fear grips this community. People are traumatised and scared and that can only go away in a genuine truth telling and reconciliation exercise to allow closure."Bongani Mpofu, also a villager at Zamanyoni, added: "There is also need for government to allow the victims to hold memorials in Bhalagwe. Stopping people from grieving only but drives deep a sharp knife to their wounds."Licencing of gold panning in the area must also be stopped forthwith. To us, it is an insult that people are given licences to mine gold in areas where people lie buried in unmarked graves. Is it a deliberate ploy to destroy evidence? There must be exhumations, dignified re-burials, monuments, traditional rituals performed and victims compensated."Police late last year barred Zapu, Bulawayo-based Ibhetshu Likazulu and other groups from visiting Bhalagwe to conduct a Gukurahundi memorial service.Another memorial service has been set for February 21 to coincide with former president Robert Mugabe's birthday."This is to remind Mugabe that we have not, and will never forget the Gukurahundi that he sanctioned, leading to the death of over 20 000 civilians," said Ibhetshu Likazulu coordinator Mbuso Fuzwayo.Mugabe described the massacres as "a moment of madness". He never released the Chihambakwe commission of inquiry report that contained findings into the Gukurahundi massacres.A Chinese firm has been licensed - reportedly two years ago - to mine gold at one of the disused mines where murder victims were dumped.Mining activities could however be heard from a distance, while plumes of dust could be seen billowing.Mcedisi Tshabalala, a villager from Tshelanyemba, said he doubted there will ever be closure to the Gukurahundi issue "as the more it is talked about, the more wounds are re-opened"."We are talking about someone who for years of grieving, years of trying to forget the evil past, is told to talk about the issue. Some of us have not found closure, but we had found a way of keeping quiet as a way of dealing with it. The talk brings back the trauma we went through."Tshabalala said Gukurahundi victims should be compensated although this must not be misconstrued for a bribe to buy their silence."We also need to feel loved, feel proud to be Zimbabwean and feel safe that this will never happen and that can happen when the perpetrators not only apologise but also admit their evil past and confess what drove them to cause us the suffering," Tshabalala said.Recently, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) released a position paper it said could assist the government to deal with Gukurahundi and prevent the emotive matter from spiralling out of control.The clergy said they had come to a realisation that Gukurahundi was being used by some individuals and groupings for selfish political and financial ends, without regard to finding peace, national healing and reconciliation.Each year at the annual ProCigar Festival held in the Dominican Republic, there is a charity auction where many manufacturers donate a special item for the auction. This year, La Aurora Cigars will donate a special humidor containing 182 parejo cigars of the La Aurora Preferidos Double Barrel Aged.

The La Aurora Preferidos Double Barrel Aged made its debut at the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show in the form of a 5 x 54 double figurado. The humidor will contain parejo versions of these cigars (64 Coronas, 48 Toros, and 70 Robustos). The blend features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, a Dominican binder, and a combination of Dominican, Brazilian, and Cameroon fillers. The binder and filler are aged in rum barrels. Once the cigars are rolled, the cigars are then aged in rum barrels for another 90 days.

As for the humidor, it features Spanish cedar wood for the interior, trays, and cigar dividers. The exterior consists of solid walnut wood with a satin lacquer finish. The humidor also holds a thermometer and hygrometer.

ProCigar 2018 takes place in Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic from February 18th, 2018 through February 23rd, 2018. At this years festival, La Aurora will showcase the limited edition La Aurora Hors DAge line as well as a limited edition Corona Gorda size of the La Aurora ADN Dominicano. In addition, the La Aurora Preferidos Double Barrel Aged will be introduced into the Dominican market.

Photo Credit: La Aurora

Only the sun can cross borders without soldiers firing at it. This quote, from Henia (El Ghalia Ben Zaouia), the protagonist of Narjiss Nejjars eminently political film Stateless, only really resonates after we learn that she is one of the 45,000 families  about 500,000 people  who were ruthlessly expelled in December 1975 from Algeria to Morocco in the aftermath of the Green March.

Too often, the painful human realities of such migration is obscured by facts and figures, but with Stateless, Nejjar has created a powerfully subjective film that questions what it means to live across borders, and to feel detached from the land of your birth and family.The film follows Henia, a 35-year-old woman haunted by the memory of her childhood being ripped away from her when she was estranged from her family and forced into exile in Morocco. Stripped of her identity, Henia is determined to return to Algeria and find her mother.

Initially, it doesnt seem too hard a task. She lives on the coastal border between the two nations, and can even see the Algerian flag on the other side of the bay as it dances blithely in the sea breeze. She even practices holding her breath whilst taking a bath in preparation for making the short swim across the border. Unfortunately, the border is heavily policed and the papers she requires to cross legally disappeared along with her father. However, that doesnt stop her making the journey to the embassy every morning, only to be faced with rejection every time.

A powerfully subjective perspective of migration and its aftermath, Stateless is both a moving tale of personal trauma and a study into the conflict between personal and cultural identity, and what it means to find yourself forced to sympathise with those two sides at once. However, when Henia is forced to marry the elderly, blind brother of her adoptive mother, it feels like Nejjar has pushed this study into the psychological cruelty of robbing refugees of their identity too far, using extreme close-ups and unsettling sound to give the introspective and reflective dimensions of her heighten sense of confinement free rein. Yet, instead of wallowing exclusively in Henias trauma, the film expands into a more conventional family drama after her new husbands son, a young businessman visiting from France, takes a liking to her. It doesnt take long for things to get messy, especially when his wife turns up, and once again Henia finds herself the pawn in another violent display of power.

Despite being a story about a woman forced to make difficult decisions in a society where choice is a luxury, Stateless is a beautiful film, boasting a palette of vibrant magenta, golden beaches and blues so deep youd think they were painted in acrylic. But these flourishes of colour are subdued by the painful memories of the past, and only act to underline Nejjars point about how the traumas of migration often co-exists with the complexities of identity.

The Berlin Film Festival runs from 15-25 February. Follow our coverage here.

Patrick Gamble | @PatrickJGambleShare this: Twitter

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Istanbul, February 16, 2018The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned a Turkish courts decision to sentence four journalists to life in prison without parole, and called on Turkish authorities to release them without delay. In a separate case, Turkey must scrap charges against another journalist who was today released from custody but simultaneously indicted for terrorism propaganda, CPJ said.

A Turkish court today handed life sentences to Ahmet Altan, an internationally recognized novelist and former chief editor for the shuttered daily Taraf; Mehmet Altan, an academic, columnist, and TV host, most recently with shuttered outlets Can Erzincan TV and the daily Ozgur Dusunce; Nazl Ilcak, a veteran journalist, columnist, and TV host, most recently with shuttered outlets Can Erzincan TV and the daily Ozgur Dusunce; and Fevzi Yazc, former layout editor for the shuttered daily Zaman. The four, who have been jailed since 2016, were found guilty of attempting to topple Turkeys constitutional order in the failed July 2016 coup attempt through their journalistic activities, according to news reports.

The journalists all denied the charges in court, according to media reports.

In a separate case, Turkish authorities today released from jail Deniz Yucel, Turkey correspondent for the German newspaper Die Welt, who had been imprisoned for a year pending investigation, according to Reuters. A Turkish court today also indicted Yucel on charges of propagandizing for a [terrorist] organization and provoking the people to hatred and animosity, according to news reports. The maximum penalty for the two charges is 18 years.

Yucel has denied guilt, calling his imprisonment an injustice in an interview with the daily Evrensel.

We are appalled by the sentencing to life in prison today of Ahmet Altan, Mehmet Altan, Nazl Ilcak, and Fevzi Yazc, and we call for their immediate and unconditional release, CPJ Europe and Central Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova said from New York. Separately, we call on Turkish authorities to scrap all charges against Deniz Yucel, who spent an entire year in prison without being charged, and to lift any conditions on his freedom. It is high time for Turkey to reverse its unprecedented crackdown on the press.

Prosecutors alleged in the indictment, which was seen by CPJ, that Ahmet and Mehmet Altan, Ilcak, and Yazc transmitted subliminal messages during debates on television, through TV ads, and through their articles, which signaled the July 2016 coup attempt.

Despite a the Turkish top courts decision in Mehment Altans case that stated his arrest had been illegal and ordered he be tried without arrest, lower courts have ignored the decision, CPJ has documented.

Turkey is the worlds worst jailer of journalists, according to CPJ research.The European Union wants to see the death penalty abolished in Barbados and the rest of the Eastern Caribbean.





It is therefore putting its money behind the work of civil society organisations in the region that are working towards this goal, as well as supporting those seeking to protect the human rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) communities.





Head of the EU delegation to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Daniela Tramacere, said yesterday "the EU views capital punishment as inhumane, degrading and unnecessary" and had therefore made the universal abolition of the death penalty one of the two priorities in its external policy.





Speaking during disbursement of EU Human Rights and Civil Society Grants to 6 civil society projects in the region, Tramacere said contrary to the belief held by some, there was no link between the EU's position on these human rights issues and a cut in EU aid.





Rather, she said the EU was "putting our money where our mouths are" by allocating grants worth approximately 5 million euros, allocated for a 4-year cycle, "to help the region build resilient societies and protect values and principles".





"The EU is a stable partner of Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean and will remain such" Tramacere stressed, adding: "we do not want to impose our model; it is up to your society to decide how you want to respect the universality of human rights."





However, she contended there was no valid scientific evidence to support claims that the death penalty deterred crime more effectively than other punishments. "Neither can there be an economic argument that detention costs the state a lot," Tramacere contended. She also suggested that the possibility of miscarriage of justice by the "intentional killing of innocent persons by the state" ought to be a higher consideration in any argument regarding the death penalty.





Tramacere noted Barbados and most of the countries of the Eastern Caribbean had not carried out executions in over 2 decades and observed that, in essence, a de facto moratorium on the death penalty already existed.





"Why not just abolish the practice altogether?" Tramacere asked.

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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde

nationnews.com, February 16, 2018Secretary of State Rex Tillerson began his mid-February visit to the Middle East in Egypt, one of the United States closest allies in the region. There he met with his counterpart, Foreign Secretary Sameh Shoukry, to discuss some of the issues and challenges of interest to both countries.

Top among these is security. Last November, terrorists attacked a mosque in the Sinai Peninsula and killed over 300 people. Since then, Egypts armed forces have been focused on clearing the country of militants.

Egypts been battling this level of extremism for many years, and we continue to be steadfast partners in their response to these attacks throughout this time, said Secretary of State Tillerson:

We agreed that we would continue our close cooperation on counterterrorism measures, including our joint commitment to the defeat of ISIS, and Egypt has been a very important member of the Defeat-ISIS Coalition from the beginning.

The two also discussed the importance of the protection and promotion of human rights, as well as the vital role of civil society in Egypt. Noting that Egypt will hold a Presidential election from March 26th to the 28th, Secretary of State Tillerson said that the United States, as it does in all countries, supports a transparent and credible electoral process, and all citizens being given the right and the opportunity to participate freely and fairly.

On a similar note, the United States and Egypt support the United Nations Action Plan for Libya for credible and peaceful elections in their country, in hopes of promoting stability and economic growth in Libya. Secretary of State Tillerson noted that the United States hopes to continue supporting Egypt in its own economic recovery, particularly now that Egypt has smoothed the path by implementing a number of tough, but necessary, economic reforms.

The United States, said Secretary of State Tillerson, commits itself to standing shoulder to shoulder with Egypt in the fight against terrorism, and to help stabilize the entire Middle Eastern region.Mashhads firebrand Friday prayer leader hardline Ayatollah Ahmad Alamolhoda says there is no room in the Islamic Republic for a referendum.

Chiming in with others close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Alamolhoda reacted to President Hassan Rouhanis suggestion for holding referendum to settle disputes in the Iranian society.

Alamolhoda said that suggesting a referendum is tantamount to supporting a secular democracy.

Alamolhoda stressed that it is only the Supreme Leader who can call for a referendum.

IRGC-linked Tasnim News Agency quoted Alamolhoda as saying in his sermons on Friday February 16: The Supreme Leader solves all the problems that occur in the countrys management.

Several other Friday prayers leaders in various cities including Qom said in a concerted move that the pro-government rally on February 11 was in itself a referendum during which the people pledged allegiance to Khamenei.

He said: Iran is a religious democracy and a secular democracy is the wrong system for Iran.

Addressing President Rouhani, Alamolhoda said about Rouhani suggesting the idea of a referendum in his revolution anniversary speech on February 11: This might lead people to think that you support a secular democracy.

He warned Rouhani against undermining the foundation of the Islamic regime in order to please a laic pro-Western minority.

Several other Friday prayers leaders in various cities including Qom said in a concerted move that the pro-government rally on February 11 was in itself a referendum during which the people pledged allegiance to Khamenei. They asked state officials not to stir controversy.

Rouhani had said that based on Article 59 of the Iranian Constitution, resorting to referendum could solve disputes among various government institutions over matters such as vetting election candidates and respecting peoples privacy.

Ruhanis statement elicited hard reactions by people close to Khamenei, although the kind of referendum he suggested had nothing to do with the essence of the regime.

Khameneis representative at the leading hardline daily Kayhan, Hossein Shariatmadari, characterized Rouhanis statement as stirring controversy, playing to the hands of the enemy, and insulting those who took part in the revolution anniversary rally.

Tehrans hardline Friday prayer leader Ahmad Khatami called on Rouhani to correct himself, and told those who were pleased by Rouhanis suggestion that they would never see a referendum being held in Iran.

Hardline Islamic Coalition Party leader Mohammad Nabi Habibi invited Rouhani to a debate on the issue and Tehrans hardline Friday prayer leader Ahmad Khatami called on Rouhani to correct himself, and told those who were pleased by Rouhanis suggestion that they would never see a referendum being held in Iran.

On the other hand, reformist commentator Abbas Abdi wrote in the reformist daily Etemad that ruling out the idea of referendum would make some of the articles of the Constitution obsolete.

Based on Article 59 of the Iranian Constitution, referenda may be called to put major economic, political, social and cultural issues to the nations direct vote, adding that Two-third of the Majles (parliament) should approve the call for holding a referendum.

Article 177 of the Constitution, however, contradicts parliaments prerogative in initiating a referendum. It stipulates that it is the Supreme Leader who, after consulting the Expediency Council, issues an order to the president to amend the Constitution.

Simultaneous with Rouhanis suggestion, 14 political and civil activists and a number of lawyers and filmmakers also called for a UN-supervised referendum to change the current Islamic regime to a parliamentary secular democracy.

Noble peace award laureate Shirin Ebadi, promminent lawyers Nasrin Sotudeh and Nargess Mohammadi and world renowned filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mohsen Makhmalbaf were among those who signed this petition.Saeed Rezaie, one of the seven members of a former group of Bahai leaders in Iran has been released from jail after ten years of unfair imprisonment for his beliefs, the Bahai International Community reported on Friday February 16.

Rezaie and six other members of a group that led the Bahai community in Iran were arrested and jailed after security forces stormed their homes in 2008.

The seven members of the leadership group were sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. The leadership group attended to the social and spiritual needs of the followers of the Bahai faith.

According to the Bahai International Community, the leadership group, known as Yaran were formed after previous Baha'i leadership institutions were outlawed about three decades ago, and Iranian authorities were fully aware of that.

According to the campaign No to prosecution of Bahai citizens, Rezaie, 60, is a prominent Bahai figure. He was born in Abadan and grew up in Shiraz and is extremely knowledgeable about the Bahai faith and has authored several books about the religion.

Rezaie is an agricultural engineer and was the manager of an agricultural machinery firm in the Fars province.

He was also jailed for 40 days in solitary confinement in 2006.

Three other members of Yaran group, Fariba Kamalabadi, Mahvash Sabet and Behrouz Tavakoli, have also been freed at the end of their prison terms in recent months. Three more former Bahai leaders, Jamaleddin Khanjani, Vahid Tizfahm and Afif Naimi, are still in jail.

Rezaies release from jail took place within a few days of the arrests of seven Bahais in Bushehr in southern Iran.

According to the International Bahai Community the prosecution of Bahais has continued and the situation has worsened during Hassan Rouhanis presidency.

The Bahai International Communitys representative at the UN headquarters in Geneva, Dayan Alai, says in spite of the release of Rezaie and three other Bahai leaders, the prosecution and torturing of Bahais continue in Iran. Alai said: Rezaie is returning from jail to a community under heavy pressures from the government. Bahais are being subject to discrimination merely because of their faith in Bahaism.

The Bahai community in Iran has been constantly facing prosecution by the government since the beginning of the Islamic clerics rule in Iran in 1979. The followers of the faith have been deprived of their civil rights, and have been tortured and executed since then.

Human rights watchers and international institutions have repeatedly urged Iran to stop prosecuting the Bahais.

Most recently 25 lawyers from around the globe wrote a letter to the Iranian Judiciary demanding an improvement in the situation.

The Islamic Republic of Iran does not recognize Bahaism as a religion. The countrys Prosecutor-General has recently warned Iranians of the consequences of being in contact with Bahais.

The UN has protested to the Iranian governments treatment of the Bahais and considers it to be tantamount to systematic discriminationBritish Prime Minister Theresa May stated that the UK shared the concerns of the US on Irans activities in the Middle East, Reuters reported on February 16.

The British PM said her country was ready to take further action against the Islamic Republic.

According to the report, Theresa May announced during her visit to the German leader Angela Merkel in Berlin that London was still committed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action, JCPOA.

The British PM insisted that the nuclear deal had to be fully implemented.

And we agreed that as we continue to work to preserve the deal we also share the U.S. concerns about Irans destabilizing activity in the Middle East, and we stand ready to take further appropriate measures to tackle these issues, May told reporters.

British foreign minister Boris Johnson said on Monday that London was concerned at Irans role after anti-aircraft fire on Saturday downed an Israeli warplane returning from a bombing raid on Iran-backed positions.Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Feb. 17

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

The State Customs Service of Turkmenistan has hosted a meeting with Nick Cavellero, the Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program advisor at the US Department of State, and the program manager David Sulaberidze, the customs service said in a message.

EXBS is an initiative of the US Department of State.

The main goal of the program is to prevent illegal circulation of strategic goods, the message said.

At the meeting, the parties noted the need to improve the legislative base of states in this direction.

The parties expressed confidence that cooperation as part of the program will develop dynamically.

Turkmenistan has a land border with Kazakhstan, Iran, Russia, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and maritime border along the Caspian Sea with Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia and Kazakhstan.Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17

By Fikrat Dolukhanov - Trend:

Yerevans jealousy of the Azerbaijan-Israel relations is a widely known fact.

Strategic partnership between the two countries, especially in the defense sphere, has always caused undisguised irritation of the Armenian establishment, which has never missed a single opportunity to drive a wedge between Baku and Tel Aviv.

Armenian political technologists have tried and are trying to use the slightest opportunity to change the situation to their own advantage: starting from the Israeli-Turkish diplomatic conflict and ending with constant comparison of the Holocaust with the Armenian genocide.

In the first case, the successful foreign policy pursued by the Azerbaijani government played the main role in maintaining good relations with both Israel and Turkey in such a difficult geopolitical situation. In the second case, everything is clear - after all, there was no an "Armenian genocide", so Israel will not allow the Holocaust to be mentioned on a par with some fictional event.

Armenia is well aware that Israel will neither refuse to cooperate with Azerbaijan nor recognize the Armenian genocide, but, nevertheless, keeps trying.

The Armenian media reported that recently an Armenian delegation of the Armenia-Israel friendship group visited the Jewish state. During four days of the visit, 15 meetings were held, six of which were held in the Parliament of Israel.

It should be noted that during the visit we had meetings not only with MPs, but also with the Israeli defense minister, during which the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts settlement was discussed, Gagik Minasyan, MP from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, head of the Armenian delegation, said at a press conference.

Minasyan added that during the discussion of the problem, the Israeli minister often demonstrated pro-Azerbaijani position. Minasyan noted that the Armenian side has repeatedly expressed its opinion on this in the Israeli Parliament, pointing to the "fallibility" of the Azerbaijani position on the Karabakh conflict's settlement.

We asked a specific question, whether this is the position of the minister himself, the government of Israel, or any particular Israeli official, the Armenian MP added.

Members of the Armenian delegation touched upon the issue of Israels sale of weapons to Azerbaijan, which actively uses them against Armenia, stressing that Tel Avivs position on this issue remains unclear for Yerevan, Armenian media reported.

Recently, the Israeli Parliament rejected the bill on the recognition of the Armenian genocide, thus giving an answer to many questions of Yerevan.

Just after Yerevan learnt about the decision of the Israeli Parliament, new articles full of criticism and anger appeared in the Armenian media.

For example, an author of one of such articles, writes about how the Jewish state interferes in the life of Arabs and Armenians, apparently making an awkward attempt to demonstrate certain affinity with the Arabs, and expresses joy regarding the news about the downed Israeli F-16 jet.

The article is full of hysteria, despair and inadequacy.

Then the author switches to the Azerbaijani hydrocarbons and makes plans about how Armenia itself could profit from their sale. These plans, however, are all nonsense.

The authors, like the abovementioned ones, like to talk about how well Armenia lives without oil.

Moreover, various Armenian experts are giving forecasts that hydrocarbon reserves will soon run out in Azerbaijan. However, oil and gas companies are not familiar with the conclusions of the Armenian experts and believe that the reserves will last for a long time.

By that time, budget funds in Armenia are likely to be exhausted and the population to run out of money.

This is while Armenians dont want to return home from abroad and evade military service. While Armenians themselves leave Armenia in order to stay away from the chaos that is happening there, the authors in the Armenian media continue anti-Turkish, or rather anti-Turkic, nationalist and racist propaganda.

Speaking about the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Baku has always made it clear that Azerbaijan accuses the criminal Armenian government and its sponsors, and not the Armenian citizens. The Armenians of Karabakh were perfect neighbors to the Azerbaijanis during the Soviet times, and will become full-fledged citizens after the liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

Over 20,000 Armenians live in Baku, according to various estimates. Moreover, even the thesis recently voiced by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev about the return of Azerbaijanis to historical lands of the Irevan Khanate, Goycha and Zangezur districts doesnt imply the expulsion of the Armenian population living there.

In Azerbaijan, it is time to get used to such hysteria of Armenian politicians and the media. The greater success Azerbaijan achieves, the more anger and envy it will cause in Armenia.Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17

Trend:

Ziyafat Asgarov, first deputy chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament, chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Defense, Security and Fighting Corruption, and MP Rauf Aliyev will leave for Russia on Feb. 19 to monitor the presidential election to be held in Russia, the press service of the Azerbaijani Parliament said in a statement on Feb. 17.

The MPs will get acquainted with the pre-election situation in Moscow and St. Petersburg and with the organization of the election process.

They will also observe the candidates election campaign. The visit will end on Feb. 23.Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

Ali Ahmadov, Azerbaijans deputy prime minister, executive secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, has met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the ruling partys press service said in a statement on Feb. 17.

Ahmadov conveyed the greetings of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Viktor Orban and on behalf of the head of state invited him to visit Azerbaijan.

Viktor Orban, noting that he considers President Ilham Aliyev as his close friend, stressed that the visit of the head of the Azerbaijani state to Hungary played an important role in the development of relations between the countries.

The sides exchanged views on a number of issues of mutual interest, and noted that the development of mutual relations and close cooperation between the New Azerbaijan Party and Hungarys ruling party Fidesz will have a positive impact on the development of friendly relations between the two countries and peoples.

Ahmadov informed the prime minister that the presidential election in Azerbaijan will be held on April 11.

Viktor Orban expressed confidence in the successful holding of the parliamentary election in Hungary on April 8, and the presidential election in Azerbaijan on April 11. The prime minister expressed confidence that after these elections the ties between the two countries will further develop.Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17

Trend:

The nomination process for the upcoming presidential election in Azerbaijan continues, Chairman of the Central Election Committee (CEC) of Azerbaijan Mazahir Panahov said at a meeting on Feb.17.

Panahov said that there is still time ahead, and the willing can nominate a candidate for the president election.

He further added that so far 13 candidates have been nominated, while seven of them have been nominated by political parties, one candidate was nominated by an initiative group and four persons are self-nominated candidates.

Panahov said that the nomination of 12 candidates was approved by the CEC, while the issue of approval of one candidate will be considered at the next CEC session.Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17

Trend:

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister in the framework of the Munich Security Conference has met with European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Johannes Khan, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend Feb. 17.

During the meeting, issues of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU in the political, economic, trade, transport, energy, humanitarian and other spheres were discussed.

Recalling the visit of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Brussels in February 2017, the minister stressed its particular importance in terms of developing cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU.

Elmar Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan welcomes support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan on the basis of common principles within the borders recognized at the international level by the member countries of the Eastern Partnership of the European Union.

The Foreign Minister also spoke about the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan on April 11.

During the talks, importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and the East-West transport corridor in the framework of cooperation in the field of transport and connectivity was emphasized.

Elmar Mammadyarov, informing about the negotiation process on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said that in order to change the status quo and achieve progress in the settlement of the conflict, the Armenian troops must be withdrawn from the occupied territories in accordance with the requirements of the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17

Trend:

An exhibition entitled "Alphonse Mucha: in search of beauty" has opened at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku.

Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

The exhibition was organized in partnership with the Mucha Foundation.

President of the Mucha Foundation, Alphonse Mucha's grandson John Mucha, addressing the opening ceremony, said he was pleased that the exhibition was launched in such a spectacular building. He hailed the beauty of Azerbaijan and its capital city Baku.

Curator of the exhibition Tomako Sato thanked Leyla Aliyeva for her careful approach to Alphonse Mucha's art, as well as her support for the organization of the exhibition.

The event participants then viewed the exhibition, which features more than 80 works of the artist.

Mucha, for many people synonymous with Art Nouveau, was born in the town of Ivaneice, Moravia (today a region of the Czech Republic).

The exhibition will close on May 16.Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

Estonia considers Azerbaijan as a possible corridor to markets of Iran, Middle East and India, Deputy Secretary General for Business Development at Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs Viljar Lubi told Trend in an exclusive interview.

Estonian railway companies and sea ports have good relations with Azerbaijan Railways and Baku International Sea Trade Port, according to him.

"Estonia is currently working on opening a transit corridor between Scandinavia, Middle East and Central Asia," Lubi said, adding that Estonia carefully watches for cooperation development between Baku and Tehran in this regard.

He underlined that Azerbaijan plays a very important role for the access to Iranian market.

Azerbaijan and Iran together with other countries currently work on the North-South Transport Corridor designed to connect Northern Europe with Southeast Asia. It will serve as a link connecting the railways of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia.

At an initial stage, 6 million tons of cargo are planned to be transported through the corridor per year and over 15-20 million tons of cargo in future.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @AzadHasanli

Subscribers of Trend News Agency can read this and other exclusive materials before they are published in open access.

More information on Trends news products can be found here.Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund (ADIF) has paid compensations worth more than 38 million manats to the depositors of DemirBank OJSC, the license of which was revoked in December 2017, the ADIF said in a message Feb. 17.

The compensatory deposits in DemirBank total 63.5 million manats, while the non-compensatory deposits amount to 28.3 million manats.

DemirBanks license was revoked Dec. 23, 2017. The Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FIMSA) of Azerbaijan said the license was revoked due to a discrepancy between the total capital of the bank and the minimum capital requirement set for banks, adding that the adequacy ratio of the aggregate capital was lower than 3 percent stipulated by the legislation. The bank also lacked the capacity to fulfill its obligations to creditors.

(1.7001 manats = $1 on Feb. 17)Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Feb. 17

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

The State Customs Service of Turkmenistan has hosted a meeting with the delegation of Iran Drug Control Headquarters, the Turkmen ministry said in a message.

During the meeting, the sides discussed issues of informing the two countries citizens about changes in the legislative acts related to the customs, and, thus, preventing violations of customs rules, the message said.

During the talks, the issue of improving the information exchange system was also discussed.

Turkmenistan supplies oil products, gas, electricity and textile goods to Iran.

Iran supplies vegetables, fruits, building materials, ferrous and non-ferrous metal products, plastics, ceramics and vehicles to Turkmenistan.

The strengthening of cooperation with Iran can help expand export of Turkmen goods to many other countries through the Persian Gulf terminals, as well as through pipeline, railway infrastructure and power transmission lines.Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

Azerbaijan imported 1.2 million tons of wheat in 2017, 25 percent less than in 2016, Minister of Agriculture Heydar Asadov said addressing a session of the ministry board.

We achieved a significant success in grain-growing last year. As a result, we imported 1.2 million tons of grain in 2017, while 1.6 million tons of grain were imported to the country. A total of $227 million was spent on grain import last year. The imported wheat was mainly of the first and third categories and accounted for 37 percent of total wheat consumption in Azerbaijan, the minister said.

The country will continue to purchase harvesting machinery this year, Asadov noted.

We have contracts on purchase of combine harvesters. Their delivery will be fulfilled beginning from April. We plan to buy 190 combine harvesters in total this year, he added.Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17

By Anvar Mammadov - Trend:

Azerbaijan will be able to fully provide itself with rice by 2025, Agriculture Minister Heydar Asadov said Feb. 17 at an expanded meeting of the ministrys board.

Presently, Azerbaijans annual demand in rice is 40,000 tons, he added.

Last year, we spent $36 million on rice imports, Asadov said.

The harvest of rice is planned to be increased to 40,000 tons per year in Azerbaijan, according to the State Program for Rice-growing Development in Azerbaijan in 2018-2025, recently approved by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

According to the program, the area for rice planting is planned to be increased to 10,000 hectares, and the productivity up to 40 centners per hectare in Azerbaijan.

The program says that in 2016, the planting area for rice was 2,500 hectares and the harvest amounted to 5,600 tons in the country. In 2017, the sown area was increased to 5,100 hectares, and harvesting  to 15,900 tons. The productivity totaled 31.1 centners per hectare.

The state programs implementation will increase the rice harvest by more than 2.5 times by 2025.Details added (first version posted on 13:23)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17

By Anvar Mammadov - Trend:

Adoption of development programs in various agricultural sectors in Azerbaijan will allow to significantly lower dependence on imports, Minister of Agriculture Heydar Asadov said Feb. 17.

He noted that three such programs were adopted from July 2017 and three more  since the beginning of 2018.

These programs show that we have a goal to decrease imports and increase exports not only regarding one product, but regarding several directions, Asadov said. Besides ensuring the populations demand, it is also necessary to ensure currency inflow to Azerbaijan through expansion of exports and increasing its volumes.

The minister noted that in 2017, Azerbaijan considerably increased exports of agricultural products.

Last year, we imported products worth $715 million, while exports were worth $570 million, Asadov said. Compared with 2016, imports increased by $30 million, while exports grew by $164 million.Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.17

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

At this stage, no changes can be made in the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project, which envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe, European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic told Italian media.

He was commenting on the possibility for changing TAPs landing point in Italys Melendugno.

The construction is at an advanced stage, so no changes are possible, said Sefcovic.

The landing point in Melendugno was chosen after a long authorization process by considering every possible alternative, at least 11, before choosing the best option from the environmental point of view, he added.

The European Commission vice-president noted that the Southern Gas Corridor and its European leg, TAP in fact, are crucial for European energy security: it will help diversify sources and supply routes in more vulnerable regions such as the South East and Southern Europe.

The project will also contribute to increasing competition in the gas market, with clear advantages for consumers in terms of prices, he added.

Sefcovic also talked about the possible impact of the 2018 Italian general election on the implementation of TAP project.

"I do not go into local political issues, but I am convinced that the project will be successful and will bring benefits for Europe, for Italy and especially for Puglia, he said.

TAP is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor which is one of the priority energy projects for the EU.

TAP project envisages transportation of gas from the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas and condensate field to the EU countries.



The pipeline will be connected to the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) on the Turkish-Greek border, run through Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Italy's south.



TAPs shareholders are: BP (20 percent), State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (20 percent), Snam (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).

TAP will be 878 kilometers in length (Greece 550 km, Albania 215 km, Adriatic Sea 105 km, and Italy 8 km). Its highest point will be 1,800 meters in Albanias mountains, while its lowest point will be 820 meters beneath the sea.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_ZeynPresident of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov received UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative to Kyrgyzstan Ozonnia Ojielo on the occasion of the beginning of his diplomatic mission in the country, Kabar reports.

The Kyrgyz President's press service reported that during the meeting Ozonnia Ojielo presented Jeenbekov the credentials of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

The President congratulated him on his appointment and stressed the readiness of Kyrgyzstan to continue active and fruitful work with the UN system.

"I am confident that your activities will contribute to the further expansion and deepening of our cooperation. In 2017, Kyrgyzstan celebrated the 25th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan's membership in the UN, and we held several important events. The visit of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Kyrgyzstan was held," Jeenbekov said.

The head of state stressed that Kyrgyzstan had chosen the path of parliamentary democracy, and expressed gratitude to UNDP for the support provided to Kyrgyzstan's efforts in strengthening the principles of democracy and improving the electoral system.

Ozonnia Ojielo said that he is ready to do his best to assist in the promotion of programs and projects of national importance, announced by the President of the country.

"The UN system supports your initiative to declare 2018 the Year of Regional Development. This decree will unite the efforts of all forces in the country aimed at the development of Kyrgyzstan. In the regions of Kyrgyzstan there are many UN programs and agencies, and we would like to implement our projects in accordance with the programs indicated in the Decree," he said.

He also expressed his opinion on the items voiced by the president at the last meeting of the Security Council of the Kyrgyz Republic on combating and eradicating corruption.

"The goals and objectives of the Security Council to combat corruption are in tune with the directions of our programs. We also believe that corruption destroys resources aimed at the development of the country. We are also ready to support the implementation of the Taza Koom program aimed at promoting the principles of e-government, the development of digital public services and the open community in our country," Ozonnia said.

He also stressed the readiness of the UN system to support Kyrgyzstan's efforts to protect the environment, counteract the natural elements, fight against radicalism and extremism.Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17

Trend:

Representatives of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan once again discussed delimitation and demarcation of the Tajik-Uzbek state border, TajikTA news agency reported.

On Feb. 7-16, the Jizzakh city of Uzbekistan hosted a regular meeting of working groups of the Tajik and Uzbek government delegations on delimitation and demarcation of the state border, according to the report.

During the talks held in anticipation of the Tajik-Uzbek meeting at the highest level, the parties continued to define the state borderline, the Tajik Foreign Ministry said.

A protocol was signed following the talks.Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Feb. 17

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

Akja Nurberdiyeva, chairperson of the Turkmen Parliament, has received credentials from Leonidas Markides, extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus, the Turkmen government said in a message.

As the diplomat stressed, the Republic of Cyprus attaches great importance to strengthening cooperation with Turkmenistan. During the conversation, the priorities of Turkmenistans foreign and domestic policy were considered.

Particular emphasis was placed on transformations in science, education, healthcare, culture and sports.Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17

By Gazenfer Hamidov  Trend:

The development project of Azar oil field, in western Iran has witnessed significant progress, Keyvan Yarahmadi, the projects operator at Iran's Petroleum Engineering and Development Company (PEDEC) said.

The Azar, one of the joint fields with Iraq, spans an overall area of 482 square kilometers in southeast of Mehran town in the western Iranian province of Ilam. The field is estimated to hold 2.5 billion barrels of oil in place. The volume of possible oil reserves to be extracted from Azar field is estimate to be around 400 million barrels.

Yarahmadi said that the physical progress of the oil field has reached 78 percent, according to the official website of the PEDEC.

He said that the fields daily production capacity will reach 60,000 barrels in next year.

The fields output capacity is planned to reach 65,000 barrels per day at the first phase of the development project, he said, adding that under the first phase plan 17 wells must be drilled in the field, of that 13 wells is completed so far.

Yarahmadi further said that construction of the fields Central Processing Facilities (CPF) - a production unit- is completed by 50 percent, expressing hope that the facility will become operational as soon as possible.

Operating capacity of the CPF is 30,000 b/d in early production stage of the oil field and 65000 b/d in final production stage.

The Azar oilfields output currently stands at 30,000 barrels per day.

Earlier in July 2017, Russias Gazprom signed a cooperation agreement with Irans Oil Industries' Engineering and Construction (OIEC) over the development of the oil field. In December 2017, the two companies submitted their joint plan to the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) to develop the field.

Iranian oil sector officials say that Azar is a specific oilfield and the most challenging field in terms of drilling. The fields oil contains a high amount of H2S which leads to corrosion in equipment and pipelines.

In 2016, Iran for the first time implemented acid fracturing operation in the Azar field in order to increase its oil recovery rate.Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17

By Gazenfer Hamidov  Trend:

Iranian Central Bank was obliged to allocate 32 percent of the country's oil and gas revenues to the countrys currency-reserve fund in next fiscal year(to start March 2018).

Iranian parliament which is studying details of the next fiscal year's budget bill approved that 32 percent of revenues from oil, condensate and natural gas exports(after subtracting the value of imported gas) to be transferred to the National Development Fund (NDF), the oil ministrys official website reported Feb. 17.

The assets should be allocated to the fund in a monthly basis.



The NDF is Iran's sovereign wealth fund. It was founded in 2011 to replace the Oil Stabilization Fund. Based on Article 84 of the Fifth Five-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (2011-2015), the National Development Fund was established to transform oil and gas revenues to productive investment for future generations.

Some 23 percent of the revenues from the mentioned sources went into the NDF in 2013. This share was planned to reach 32 percent by the end of 2016, however the government was forced to keep it at 20 percent due to sharp fall in oil revenues.

Crude oil, gas condensate and net gas export revenues made 30 percent of the Fund during the first year of the 6th Development Plan, which started March 2017.

Also, according to the law, in the years 2 to 5 of the 6th Development Plan, the petrodollar share in the National Development Fund will rise by a minimum of 2 percent each year.

The NDF's reserves were around $54 billion when President Hassan Rouhani took the office in August 2013.

About 1.5 year ago, the Iranian officials announced that the funds reserves stands at $80 billion.Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17

By Gazenfer Hamidov  Trend:

Iran and India signed 14 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on the sidelines of a meeting between Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Feb. 17, Iran's state-run IRINN TV reported.

The signed documents cover cooperation in various fields, including double taxation abolition, preferential tariffs, and transit development as well as investment in the transportation sector and facilitation of banking ties.

Heading a big political and economic delegation, Rouhani arrived in New Delhi Feb. 15 on a three-day visit to strengthen trade and economic ties with India.Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17

By Gazenfer Hamidov  Trend:

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will participate in the 54th edition of Munich Security Conference.

The top Iranian diplomat is scheduled to leave Tehran for Germany on Feb. 17 night, the Iranian foreign ministrys official website quoted Bahram Qasemi, the ministrys spokesman as saying.

Zarif is planned to address the conference on Feb. 18, where he will touch upon the most important regional and international security issues and will explain the Islamic Republics positions in this regard, Qasemi said.

The spokesman added that Zarif is slated to meet with some foreign officials on the sidelines of the event.

The Munich Security Conference is an annual event where senior officials, think-tankers and former officials meet up to discuss the latest security developments across the globe.

The 54th edition of the event, which kicked off on Feb. 17, comprises three days of debates, speeches, and sideline meetings regarding international defense policy.

More than 30 heads of state and government and over 100 cabinet ministers from across the globe come together at the Munich Security Conference for discussions on major international security challenges.Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17



By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:

An explosion at a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station near the Iranian capital city of Tehran has left at least four injured.



The casualties have been transported to a nearby hospital, Fars news agency reported.

In the meantime, National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company has said that the cause of the incident is not clear so far, ILNA news agency reported.

According to the company, the officials are currently probing into the incident.European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Johannes Hahn welcomes the progress in relations between Georgia and the European Union (EU), Agenda reports.

Meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili at the 54th Munich Security Conference today, EU Commissioner Hahn also praised the governments efforts in carrying out reforms in Georgia.

Hahn further emphasized that the EU will continue supporting Georgia in reform-making as well as in the implementation of the Georgia-EU joined agenda.

EU Commissioner Hahn once again reiterated that the EU strongly supports Georgias territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders.

The Georgian delegation is headed by Prime Minister Kvirikashvili, at a conference which is bringing together heads of states from more than 30 countries, and more than 100 ministers worldwide.

Having officially kicked off today, the Munich Security Conference will last until February 19.More than 1,200 deaths of migrant children have been recorded since 2014, while the real figure is likely to be much bigger amid an upward trend in the number of child migrants, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced on Friday, Sputnik reported.

"Since IOM  began collecting data in 2014 it has recorded the deaths of more than 1,200 child migrants, nearly half of whom perished while attempting to cross the Mediterranean. The real figure is likely to be much higher, given that approximately 12.5 per cent of all migrants are under the age of 18, and the number of children migrating around the world has been increasing in recent years," the UN agency said in a press release.

The IOM expressed its special concern over the lack of information on the real scale of child migration essential to designing policies to tackle the problem, noting that in only about 40 percent of recorded migrant deaths it managed to estimate the age of those deceased.

The cases when such information was provided reveal that the average age of perished children is just eight years old, however it is difficult to determine the most vulnerable category of children, the press release said.

According to the IOM data, the most deaths were due to drowning  681 children, most of whom perished in the Mediterranean Sea or the Bay of Bengal. Another 68 children died due to vehicle accidents or suffocation during vehicular transport, 50 due to harsh environments that they faced en route to places of destinations, 35 as a result of violence, and 23 due to illness and lack of access to medicine.

"At least 396 migrants under the age of 18 died while crossing the Eastern Mediterranean since 2014, with a further 164 recorded on the Central Mediterranean route, and 16 on the Western Mediterranean route," the press release read.

Europe has been facing a large influx of migrants over the last few years, many of them fleeing from wars and poverty in their home countries in search of a better future. Earlier this month, the IOM reported that the number of migrants and refugees entering Europe by sea had come to 7,511 this year (a year-on-year decrease), while total deaths registered in the Mediterranean over the first five weeks of the year had increased and reached 390.The US embassy in Ethiopia on Saturday urged Addis Ababa to reconsider its decision to institute martial law.

In a statement posted on its website, the US embassy said the decision to impose martial law in Ethiopia on Friday reverses positive steps taken to create a more inclusive political space, including the release of thousands of prisoners.

"We strongly disagree with the Ethiopian government's decision to impose a state of emergency that includes restrictions on fundamental rights such as assembly and expression," the statement said.

Ethiopian National Security Council (ENSC) on Saturday urged citizens to respect the state of emergency that came into effect on Friday.

The Council of Ministers imposed the state of emergency on Friday, saying it was to protect the country's constitution, citizens and their property from the ongoing violent demonstrations in some parts of the country.

The US embassy statement said that "the challenges facing Ethiopia, whether to democratic reform, economic growth, or lasting stability, are best addressed through inclusive discourse and political processes, rather than through the imposition of restrictions."

"We strongly urge the government to rethink this approach and identify other means to protect lives and property while preserving, and indeed expanding, the space for meaningful dialogue and political participation that can pave the way to a lasting democracy," the statement said.

Ethiopia has been facing incessant protests since 2016, especially in three most populous Oromia, Amhara and Southern regional states.

The unrest has raised concern over the stability of Ethiopia, east Africa's largest economy.Turkey belongs to Europe, and if Turkey were ever to be pushed away from Europe, the continent would suffer many more problems than it experiences today, Council of Europe (CoE) Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland told on Feb. 16, turkish media outlets reports.

I will say to those Europeans who want to push Turkey away, if that happens, they will also see that Europe will have many more problems than we are have today. We depend on each other and we should realize that we a part of a bigger picture that everybody is dependent on, Jagland said.



Following meetings held with nine Turkish leaders including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul on Feb. 15 in Turkeys capital Ankara, Jagland told daily Hurriyet that the countrys European accession talks are very important for both sides.

As I see it, Europe needs Turkey because there are so many Turks and Muslims living in European countries. Turkey could help a lot by reconciling societies that are quite divided now, Jagland said.

Turkey should also think and understand that having a united Europe - a legal space from the high north to the southern Caucasus - is a good thing for Turkey. Turkey being a part of this legal space is no burden. On the contrary, the fact that Turkey is a part of this wide legal space gives a certain confidence to those who want to do business in this country, he said.

Asked about Turkeys ongoing Operation Olive Branch in the Afrin district of Syria, Jagland said: The Council of Europe is not involved in such issues. This is for other international organizations. We strongly condemn any kind of terrorism. But we are not involved in military conflicts.Three rockets fired by PYD/PKK terrorists in Syria hit Turkeys border province of Kilis Saturday as the Turkish-led Operation Olive Branch across the border in Syria continues, Anadolu reported.

The rockets landed in a vacant area near Kilis village of Kocabeyli, according to an Anadolu Agency correspondent on the ground.

No casualties were reported.

Turkish forces immediately responded to the attack by targeting PYD/PKK positions in Afrin, Syria via air and land strikes.

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to clear PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin in northwestern Syria.

Since the start of the operation, the PYD/PKK has targeted civilians in Turkey with some 100 cross-border attacks, leading to seven civilian deaths and 125 wounded.

According to the Turkish General Staff, Operation Olive Branch aims to establish security and stability along Turkish borders and the region as well as protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkeys rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN Charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity.Hours after the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the indictment of 13 Russian individuals and three entities for allegedly attempting to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, US President Donald Trump once again denied all reports of collusion, Sputnik reported.

While saying that Russia was involved in anti-US operations, Trump pointed out that the indictment mentions Moscow's campaign began in 2014  before he announced his intention to run for president. Trump tweeted this while aboard Marine One en route to Joint Base Andrews, prior to his departure for his resort and "second White House" at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

"Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for President. The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong - no collusion!" Trump wrote on Twitter.KYODO NEWS - Feb 17, 2018 - 12:45 | All, World

Pressure must be kept on North Korea to make it abandon its nuclear and missile development programs, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said Friday.

Amid a conciliatory mood on the Korean Peninsula following the North's participation in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea, Kono warned against falling for Pyongyang's charm offensive.

North Korea "sees that nuclear weapons are an important means to achieve their goals" including "removing U.S. forces from the Korean Peninsula," he said in a speech delivered at the Munich Security Conference. "This is exactly what we should never accept."

Kono called for strictly implementing U.N. sanctions against North Korea and pointed to suspected evasions by the country of the measures through ship-to-ship transfers of goods at sea.

Japan recently spotted a North Korea-flagged tanker engaging in such activities in the East China Sea and reported it to the United Nations, according to the Foreign Ministry.KYODO NEWS - Feb 17, 2018 - 17:33 | World, All

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross recommended Friday that President Donald Trump consider imposing curbs on steel and aluminum imports, a move apparently targeting China but which could affect Japan and other exporters.

As part of the proposed measures to safeguard U.S. "national security," Ross called for a new global tariff of at least 24 percent on all steel imports, as well as another blanket tariff of at least 7.7 percent on all aluminum imports.

Trump will make a decision on steel import curbs by April 11 and on aluminum restrictions by April 19, according to the Commerce Department.

U.S. investigations "found the quantities and circumstances of steel and aluminum imports 'threaten to impair the national security,'" a department report said, citing excessive imports and global production overcapacity driven partly by Chinese government subsidies.

"Free markets globally are adversely affected by substantial chronic global excess steel production led by China," the report said.

"A major cause of the recent decline in the U.S. aluminum industry is the rapid increase in production in China," it said. "For example, there is only one remaining U.S. producer of the high-quality aluminum alloy needed for military aerospace."

The Chinese Commerce Ministry, in a statement, said the findings of the U.S. investigation "have no basis and are totally inconsistent with the facts."

The ministry urged the United States to refrain from unilaterally restricting trade on ill-defined national security grounds, saying if other countries were to follow that example, "it would have a serious impact on the international trade order."

"If the final decision of the United States affects China's interests, China will definitely take the necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights," it said.

The proposed measures are intended to lift U.S. production to 80 percent in both industries. At present, domestic steel plants are running at 73 percent of capacity and aluminum plants at 48 percent.

Ross told reporters on a conference call that proposed measures do not violate global trade rules as the World Trade Organization recognizes import curbs on national security grounds.

Trump could determine that certain countries should be exempted from the proposed curbs "based on an overriding economic or security interest of the United States," the report said, suggesting he may exclude allies such as Japan and North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries from any action.

"The president may take a range of actions, or no action, based on the analysis and recommendations," it said. "Action could include making modifications to the courses of action proposed, such as adjusting percentages."

In 2017, Japan exported an estimated 1.78 million tons of steel products to the United States, making it the seventh-largest exporter, according to Commerce Department data.

China was the 11th-biggest exporter, but it ships steel to the United States via other countries as well, leading the department to propose import restrictions from a broader range of countries.

As for steel, Ross recommended that Trump consider three options including the imposition of a 24 percent global tariff on all imports.

Another is a tariff of at least 53 percent on all imports from 12 countries -- Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, India, Malaysia, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.

The third option involves a quota on all products from all countries equal to 63 percent of their 2017 exports to the United States.

On aluminum, Ross presented three options including the 7.7 percent global tariff on all aluminum imports.

He also proposed a quota on all imports from all countries equal to a maximum of 86.7 percent of their 2017 exports to the United States.

The third involves a tariff of 23.6 percent on all products from China, Hong Kong, Russia, Venezuela and Vietnam, while all the other countries would be subject to quotas equal to 100 percent of their 2017 exports to the United States.

U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer welcomed the proposed import curbs, saying they "are the beginning of efforts by this administration to finally get tough on China."

Schumer said in a tweet that he hopes the measures will level the playing field for American steel and aluminum producers and workers.Social Media

Russian troll farm indictment could boost social media legislation

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announces indictments against Russian groups and individuals accused of tampering with U.S. elections.

The Justice Department's indictment of 13 Russian nationals for using social media accounts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election may give new life to a pending bill to bolster disclosure requirements around social media.

The indictment, a result of the probe by Special Counsel Robert Muller, accuses the 13 nationals as well as three organizations with conducting electronic warfare on behalf of the Russian government during the 2016 campaign. One of those organizations, the Internet Research Agency, has long been identified as a troll farm that conducts disinformation operations and electronic warfare on behalf of the Russian government.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who is overseeing Mueller's investigation, announced the indictments at a Feb. 16 press conference.

Prosecutors allege the defendants created fake U.S. identities and stole real ones in order to conduct disinformation campaigns on social media and sow discord within the U.S. political process. All have been charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, five face additional charges of identity theft and three of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud.

The indictments may also boost the profile of a bill to compel greater disclosure around political advertisements on social media platforms, which has thus far languished in Congress over the past year.

Current laws prohibit political campaigns from receiving money or direct assistance from foreign governments, but loopholes that allow for the dissemination of election-related advertising that does not explicitly call for the election or defeat of a specific candidate. Campaign finance watchdogs also point out that digital platforms like social media are not covered by laws that require buyers of political advertising on radio and television to disclose their identity.

The Honest Ads Act, sponsored by Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), requires websites with 50 million or more unique U.S. visitors per month to disclose information about any ads purchased on their sites in excess of $500.

The Honest Ads Act was introduced in October 2017 but hasn't moved past a committee referral. Shortly after the charges were announced, a key sponsor took the opportunity to revive interest in the legislation.

"A federal grand jury just indicted 13 Russians for interfering in the 2016 electionslargely through social media engineering & anonymous online ads," tweeted Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

To go by an October House hearing on foreign interference in U.S. elections, such legislation may face an uphill climb, with many Republicans skeptical of the need for new regulations.

The Campaign Legal Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to stricter campaign finance laws, also released a statement urging Congress to pass the legislation.

"It shouldn't require an extensive Special Counsel investigation to address foreign interference in our elections. Had effective online disclaimer and disclosure laws been in place in 2016, Russia's wide-ranging influence campaign might have been detected sooner -- or Russia might have been deterred from engaging in the effort in the first place."

The Federal Election Commission also voted in November 2017 to strengthen disclaimer rules for online advertisements.Is T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Value Fund (TRMCX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now? Mutual Fund Report for TRMCX

SM Energy Company SM is scheduled to report fourth-quarter 2017 earnings on Feb 21, after the closing bell.

The upstream energy player surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the last quarter, the positive earnings surprise being 21.9%. For the trailing four quarters, the company has an average positive earnings surprise of 48.1%.

Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement.

Which Way Are Estimates Treading?

Lets take a look at the estimate revision trend in order to get a clear picture of what analysts expect from the companys upcoming earnings release.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate of loss of 15 cents for the current quarter has remained stable over the last seven days. It reflects an improvement of about 51.6% from the year-ago quarter.

SM Energy Company Price and EPS Surprise

SM Energy Company Price and EPS Surprise | SM Energy Company Quote

Factors at Play

The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude increased almost 20% in the October-to-December quarter of 2017, per The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Through most of November and the entire December, the commodity traded above the $55-per-barrel psychological mark. The extension of the production cut deal by OPEC players supported the rally in crude.

On Nov 30, 2017, OPEC members met non-OPEC players to decide on an extension of the crude production cut accord, first signed in late 2016, beyond the first quarter of 2018. More than 20 oil producers, including leading exporters like Russia and Saudi Arabia, participated in the meeting. As expected by most analysts, all crude exporters decided to extend the deal through 2018-end. Saudi Arabia, Russia and their allies have pledged to put 1.8 million barrels a day of crude oil out of the market through the end of this year.

Improvement in crude prices is likely to be favorable for crude explorers like SM Energy. However, the companys balance sheet does not seem to be strong. This is because the firms debt-to-capitalization ratio of 53.4% is higher than the industrys 49.4%.

Story continues

Earnings Whispers

Our proven model does not conclusively show an earnings beat for SM Energy this quarter. That is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) to be able to beat estimates. That is not the case here as you will see below.

Zacks ESP: Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is -13.17%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: SM Energy carries a Zacks Rank #3. Though a Zacks Rank #3 increases the predictive power of ESP, the companys negative ESP makes surprise prediction difficult.

Meanwhile, we caution against Sell-rated stocks (Zacks Ranks #4 and 5) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.

Stocks to Consider

Here are a couple of companies which, per our model, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter:

Houston, TX-based EOG Resources EOG is an upstream company. It has an Earnings ESP of +4.06% and a Zacks Rank of 1. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

WildHorse Resource Development Corp. WRD, based in Houston, TX, is also an upstream energy firm. It has an Earnings ESP of + 5.26% and a Zacks Rank #1.

Dallas, TX-based RSP Permian, Inc. RSPP is an upstream energy company with an Earnings ESP of +1.64%. It is a Zacks #1 Ranked player.

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Zacks Investment ResearchApplied Materials Inc. AMAT reported robust first-quarter fiscal 2018 results, with both the top and the bottom lines surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

The companys pro forma earnings per share (EPS) of $1.06 beat the consensus mark by 9 cents and came on the higher end of the guided range of 94 cents to $1.02 per share. Earnings were up 14% sequentially and 59% year over year.

Revenues of $4.2 billion beat the consensus mark by $101 million and were within the guided range of $4-$4.2 billion. Revenues increased 5.9% sequentially and 28.2% year over year. The revenue growth was backed by higher demand in most of the regions.

Following the strong fiscal first-quarter results, the companys share price increased 4.86%. Shares have increased 47.7% in the last 12 months, outperforming the industrys gain of 41.6%.

Inflection-focused innovation strategy was the primary growth driver. The company continues to witness technological advancements in semiconductor and flat-panel display areas. 3D NAND, DRAM and patterning have led to significant market share gains.

Applied Materials has well-differentiated products and high market share in foundry and logic. It is significantly improving on its memory market share as well. Management expects robust double-digit growth in semiconductor, display and service businesses in 2018. It expects wafer fab equipment (WFE) markets combined spending in 2018 and 2019 to reach around $100 billion.

Applied Materials remains strongly positioned in China where it continues to witness robust growth in semiconductor and display. Growing investments from Chinese domestic manufacturers have been the main catalysts.

Notably, the company has gained considerable success in expanding beyond semiconductors, particularly in display. Mobile OLEDs and large screen televisions are opening new market opportunities for Applied Materials.

Applied Materials sees significant opportunities from emerging trends on the semiconductor and display fronts such as artificial intelligence, big data, cloud infrastructure, Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality and smart vehicles.

Story continues

We believe that Applied Materials is in a great position to grow sustainably and profitably based on its strong pipeline of enabling technologies, supported by expanding opportunities on the semiconductor, service and display fronts.

Lets delve deeper into the numbers.

Revenues by Segment

The Semiconductor Systems Group (SSG) contributed 67.7% of revenues, reflecting an increase of 17.1% sequentially and 32.4% year over year.

The second-largest contributor was Applied Global Services (AGS) with 20.9% revenues share. Segment revenues increased 5.9% sequentially and 30.2% from the prior-year quarter.

The Display segment was down 32.8% from the last quarter but up 7.8% from the year-ago level, contributing 10.8% to revenues.

Revenues by Geography

Korea contributed 29% to revenues, China 22%, Taiwan 18%, Japan 11%, United States 9%, Europe 6% while Southeast Asia 4%.

On a sequential basis, Southeast Asia, United States and Japan were the weakest, declining 43.9%, 10.6%, and 5.1% respectively. All the other regions improved sequentially.

On a year-over-year basis, only Taiwan decreased 31.5%. All the other regions increased.

Margins

Pro forma gross margin was 46.7%, up 50 basis points (bps) sequentially and 130 bps from the year-ago quarter.

Applied Materials operating expenses of $724 million increased 5% sequentially and 14% from the year-ago quarter. Operating margin of 29.6% increased 90 bps sequentially and 360 bps year over year.

Net Profit

On a pro-forma basis, Applied Materials reported net income of $1.1 billion or $1.06 per share compared with $1 million or 93 cents in the prior quarter. In the year-ago quarter, Applied Materials had reported net income of $732 million or 67 cents per share.

Our pro-forma calculation excludes restructuring, acquisition-related, impairment and other charges as well as tax adjustments in the reported quarter.

On a GAAP basis, the company registered net profit of $135 million (13 cents per share) compared with $982 million (91 cents per share) in the previous quarter and $703 million (65 cents per share) a year ago.

Balance Sheet

At the end of fiscal first quarter, inventories increased to $3.13 billion from $2.93 billion in the previous quarter. Accounts receivables decreased to $2.18 billion from $2.34 in the prior quarter. Cash and cash equivalents balance was $6.8 billion compared with $5.01 billion in the prior quarter.

The company generated $1.47 billion in cash from operations. The company spent $203 million on capex and returned $782 and $106 million through stock repurchases and cash dividends, respectively.

Dividend/ Share Repurchase

During the fiscal first quarter, the company increased its quarterly cash dividend to 20 cents per share. Also, the Board approved a new $6.0 billion share repurchase authorization. This new authorization is incremental to $2.8 billion remaining in the previously approved authorization.

Guidance

Applied Materials also provided guidance for the second quarter of fiscal 2018. Revenues are expected between $4.35 and $4.55 billion, up 26% year over year. The guidance is also better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.16 billion. Non-GAAP EPS is expected to come in the range of $1.10-$1.18 per share, above the consensus mark of 99 cents.

Applied Materials, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Applied Materials, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Applied Materials, Inc. Quote

Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider

Applied Materials carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A few better-ranked stocks in the technology sector are PetMed Express PETS, Teradyne TER and Mercadolibre MELI. While PetMed and Teradyne sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Mercadolibre carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Long-term earnings per share growth rate for PetMed, Teradyne and Mercadolibre is projected to be 10%, 12% and 25%, respectively.

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Zacks Investment ResearchA view of Ducatus cafe, the first cashless cafe that accepts cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, on their opening day in Singapore December 21, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su

By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bitcoin rose above $10,000 on Thursday for the first time in more than two weeks, as investors bought back the digital currency after having fallen 70 percent from its all-time peak hit in mid-December.

Bitcoin has been buffeted this year by a series of negative headlines centering around increased scrutiny by global regulators. There has also been the incidence of hacks on exchanges, the latest being the theft of roughly $532.9 million in digital money from Tokyo-based cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck a few weeks ago.

The first digital currency was also affected by the risk-off mood that permeated financial markets since the beginning of the year, undermining views that bitcoin's price moves are generally uncorrelated to other asset classes. Sentiment on risk assets such as stocks and bitcoin has since improved.

Thomas Lee, managing partner at Fundstrat Global Advisors, sees a new record peak for bitcoin by July, based on the currency's 22 corrections since 2010.

On the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp, bitcoin rose as high as $10,234 (BTC=BTSP) and was last at $10,123.12, up nearly 7 percent on the day.

(Graphic: Bitcoin daily chart - http://reut.rs/2stJIqQ)

"Bitcoin's increase has coincided with the rally in global stock markets," said Miles Eakers, chief market analyst, at FX brokerage Centtrip, adding that a sustained break above $10,000 could open the $12,000 level.

The original cryptocurrency gained more than 1,300 percent last year, capped by a lifetime peak just shy of $20,000 on Dec. 17.

Other digital currencies also rose after posting steep losses the last few weeks. Ethereum, the second-largest by market value, was up 2.5 percent over the past 24 hours at $933.24, while the third-largest, Ripple, gained 5.3 percent to $1.15, according to cryptocurrency price tracker coinmarketcap.com.

(Graphic: Ethereum, Ripple price chart - http://reut.rs/2o5jGp5)

Fundstrat's Lee said bitcoin is still in a bull market phase even after a 70 percent selloff.

Story continues

"During bull periods, bitcoin recoveries take 1.7 times the duration of the decline and implies that 85 days are needed to recover prior highsthis is July 2018," Lee said.

He added that 2018 will remain a strong year for cryptocurrencies, but he sees the larger and more established blockchain networks such as bitcoin and ethereum dominating again.

As bitcoin recovered, European Central Bank executive board member Yves Mersch warned in a speech in Paris on Thursday that bitcoin is not a currency, but a speculative digital asset, according to a Market News International report.

He added that because virtual currencies do not have a trusted issuer behind them, "they may become worthless at any time."

Mersch said he is not surprised that virtual currencies are not widely accepted as a means of payment.

(Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)Chinese New Year 2018 on Friday, February 16, rings in the Year of the Dog, which is the eleventh of a dozen zodiac animals in the Chinese calendar.

As one myth has it, the Jade Emperor decided to place animals in the order they arrived at his party. The monkey, rooster and dog were in another country helping a god defeat evil spirits, and afterward headed to the emperors party together. Since they arrived at the same time, the emperor decided based on the order they met the other countrys dog. The dog became eleventh, after the rooster, whose year was 2017.

Recent years of the dog before 2018 are 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946 and 1934.

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In Asian astrology, a persons birth year and the zodiac animal it represents determines many personality traits.

"Each animal has different meanings, but we think people born in dog years are very sincere, they're very loyal to friends," Mei Li, the marketing manager of Chinese Community Center in Houston, previously told Newsweek.

The dogs most defining characteristic is loyalty. People who were born in a Year of the Dog supposedly never abandon their family, friends or work. They are just and honest people, and popular in social circles.

Don't miss: How the Gun Lobby Came to Be So Powerful

Everyone needs a Dog friend for advice and help. They are also good at helping others find and fix their bad habits, the website ChineseNewYear2018.com states. Despite how they act, they are worried and anxious inside. However, they will not let this stop them. Once they decide on something, no one can persuade them against it.

Chinese New Year is celebrated with public displays of the zodiac animal.

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Late last year, a Trump Dog statue with golden hair flipped near the front resembling U.S. President Donald Trump was erected in a shopping mall in the city of Taiyuan in northern China, according to China Plus News.

Story continues

The Chinese Year of the Dog could be particularly noteworthy for Trump, who was born in the Year of the Dog. The anniversary of an individual birth sign is said to signal a year of good fortune.

Celebrations extend over two weeks from Chinese New Years Day.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekBeijing has banned fireworks in central city areas during the Lunar New Year holiday in an effort to reduce air pollution and injuries - AFP

For years, Beijing's skyline has burst into light at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, with tens of thousands of fireworks exploding across the Chinese capital to mark the onset of the Spring Festival holidays.

Often lasting for hours, the colourful and deafening spectacle is the scourge of light sleepers, but a must for superstitious Chinese who believe pyrotechnics can ward off evil spirits and ensure the year will be filled with health and happiness.

But 2018 will be remembered as the year that the bang, pop and crackle of fireworks fell silent across Beijing, after authorities enforced a strict ban within the city's central areas.

Beijing is one of more than 400 cities across China which has ruled against the use of fireworks due to rising concerns about the hazardous pollutants that they emit into the night sky.

Anger at poor air quality in many Chinese cities has meant many people support the ban, but young Chinese were expressing sadness at the subdued start to the New Year holidays late on Thursday evening.

"It doesn't feel like a New Year at all," said Hao Rui, aged seven, as he peered out of his bedroom window towards deserted and silent streets near to Beijing's Worker's Stadium.

Many Chinese, including young children, would normally stay up late at New Year's Eve to watch the fireworks from a balcony or through a window.

People make sure that all firecrackers and fireworks have exploded during celebrations for the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year of Monkey in Beijing two years ago Credit: Reuters

But while youngsters across Beijing may have gone to bed on Thursday feeling sad, the disappointment would have been forgotten on New Year's Day, when they are traditionally handed red envelopes stuffed with cash from older family members.

Traders in fireworks, however, were expressing desperation due to the ban.

One retailer at Panda Fireworks in the Changping district of Beijing told The Telegraph that the store was forced to move out of the city by local authorities.

"The local government is so mean to move us on," said the retailer. "The business is not very good now, as fewer people come to buy products from where we are located."

Story continues

Beijings level of PM2.5, a measure of small particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the lungs, peaked at 647 micrograms per cubic metre early on New Year's Day last year, the national Ministry of Environmental Protection said.

The figure is more than 25 times the World Health Organisation's recommended maximum of 25 micrograms per cubic metre.

While there were no sightings of fireworks from around the central northern area of the city when The Telegraph ventured out around midnight, the unmistakable smell of sulfar suggested a minority may have defied the ban.

Rumblings of fireworks could also be heard in the far distance.

Fireworks were invented in China and are very popular in the country. Many Chinese set off firecrackers at important moments in their life, such as weddings or if they move into a new apartment.

Youngsters in China are told the story of how loud explosions are used to chase away Nian, a mythological beast who would come to harm people at New Year.

China's Spring Festival is the country's main national holiday. It is usually the only time of year when millions of migrant workers return home to their families.

Almost three billion trips are expected to be made until March 12 during what is known as the world's biggest annual human migration.

Additional reporting by Christine WeiYesterday started like a relatively normal day at Coinbase, the largest U.S. exchange for buying and selling Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The Bitcoin price was finally rising again, breaking above $10,000 for the first time in a month after a protracted crash.

But then the complaints started pouring in. Suddenly, Coinbase customers were being double-chargedand sometimes triple-charged, or even overcharged dozens of times overfor cryptocurrency purchases theyd made weeks earlier. Because the transactions were on credit and debit cards, the duplicate charges in some instances drained customers bank accounts and then some, generating costly overdraft fees from their banks on top of it all.

Executives at San Francisco-based Coinbase were blindsided as the companys dedicated Reddit foruma hotbed of customer angstexploded with fury. One person claimed to be hit with 50 new charges of a total $67,000, forcing the user to close his bank account. Others complained that the duplicate charges had rendered them broke at the worst time: Their rent or electricity bills were due, and they had no money left to pay. Many accused Coinbase of fraud, or suggested it had been hacked.

By Thursday evening, though, Coinbase thought it had identified the culprit: Visa v , which Coinbase said had retroactivelyand without any warningreversed and resubmitted myriad Coinbase charges under a new payments code, as demanded by the big banks, earlier this year. The so-called merchant category code (or MCC) now in effect treats Visa purchases on Coinbase as cash advances, which come with high fees from banks of as much 10%. The switch coincided with several banks decisions to ban credit card purchases of cryptocurrency, which may have triggered direct debits from customers accounts instead.

We immediately began an investigation, and through contacts with the card networks and the card issuers and our processor, determined that this was an action taken by Visait was not done by Coinbase, Dan Romero, vice president and general manager at Coinbase, told Fortune.

Story continues

More than one million Coinbase transactions were reclassified and reprocessed on Visas network, according to an industry source familiar with the situation. It appeared that the new Visa charges posted before banks were able to process refunds for the original transactions, resulting in overdrafts for many customers.

But the blame game is more complicated. Visa deflected fault for the incident, saying the problem was only affecting Coinbase customers. Visa has not made any systems changes that would result in the duplicate transactions that are being reported, a Visa spokesperson said. We are also not aware of any other merchants who are experiencing this issue. Rather, Visa laid blame with Coinbases so-called acquiring bank, or processor, to whom it has reached out to offer assistance, the spokesperson added.

In this case, Coinbases acquiring bank is Worldpay, one of the largest U.S. payment processors. A person close to Visa said it was only Worldpay, not Visa, that could have submitted transactions to the credit card companys network.

But Coinbase confirmed that only Visa cards experienced duplicate charges, and by Friday afternoon, Visa had begun processing refunds to erroneously charged Coinbase customers. Still, Visa stood by the classification under which the new charges were submitted, saying it had recently provided instructions to processors such as Worldpay clarifying the correct code to use for Coinbase transactions.

On Friday evening, Visa and Worldpay issued a joint statement posted on Coinbases blog, saying, We deeply regret any inconvenience this may have caused customers. The mea culpa followed a meeting earlier in the day between Coinbase and representatives of both Visa and Worldpay to determine which company was most at fault for the debacle.

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Worldpay, for its part, would neither confirm nor deny that the problem was tied to its own systems. We are actively working with and engaging all parties involvedincluding the card networks, issuing banks, other processors and Coinbaseto resolve this issue. We are all committed to helping resolve it for Coinbases customers as quickly as possible.

In their statement Friday, Visa and Worldpay said theyd already reversed all duplicate transactions and expected customers to receive refunds within a few days.

Still, one thing seems clear: The glitch would never have happened if the banks hadnt insisted on classifying Coinbase purchases as cash advancesdespite the fact that the U.S. government does not currently consider cryptocurrencies currency at all.

Wells Fargo, some of whose cardholders experienced duplicate Coinbase transactions, declined to comment on the glitch, but referred Fortune to Visa for additional information. Bank of America is also aware of the Coinbase issue and will refund any fees assessed as a result of the erroneous charges, but denies responsibility for the mistake, according to a person close to the bank.

Coinbase has been moving in recent months to improve its customer service after admitting that it has struggled to keep pace with the demand for its cryptocurrency offerings. At the beginning of the year, the company poached Tina Bhatnagar from Twitter, hiring her as its vice president of technology and operations, a role that seeks to build out its customer support functions. It previously brought on board Asiff Hirji, a former top executive at Hewlett-Packard and TD Ameritrade, as its president and chief operating officer.

This article has been updated to reflect new developments in the story.J.M. Smucker Co. is recalling several shipments of dog food after an independent investigation found traces of pentobarbital, a euthanasia drug, in samples from a range of popular brands.

The company announced on Thursday that it would withdraw shipments of wet canned dog food from Gravy Train, Kibbles n Bits, Ol Roy and Skippy.

The move follows an independent investigation, conducted by ABC7 in conjunction with Ellipse Analytics, a lab that specializes in food testing.

Sixty-two samples of wet dog food, from more than 24 brands, were tested over a period of several months.

Only one brand, Gravy Train, repeatedly tested positive for trace amounts of pentobarbital, according to ABC7. Of the 15 cans of Gravy Train tested, 60% were positive for the euthanasia drug.

Gravy Train is made by Big Heart Pet Foods, which is owned by J.M. Smuckers. Other pet food brands made by Big Heart Pet Foods include Meow Mix, Milk Bone, Kibbles n Bits, 9 Lives, Natural Balance, Pup-Peroni, Natures Recipe, Canine Carry Outs and Jerky Treats.

The move follows the recent recall issued by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over fears that several pet food products may be contaminated with Salmonella.Time to Buy the Beaten-Down Emerging Market ETFs? Some investors are rotating out of earlier high flying technology stocks into cheap emerging markets.

Duke Energy Corporation DUK is set to report fourth-quarter 2017 results on Feb 20, before the opening bell.

Last quarter, the company posted a positive earnings surprise of 1.92%. However, the company missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the past four quarters, the average earnings miss being 0.24%.

Lets see how things are shaping up prior to this announcement.

Factors at Play

Hurricane Irma led to wide-spread catastrophic losses in Florida during the third quarter of 2017. In relation to this, Duke Energy filed an application with the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) in December 2017, to recoup the expenses incurred to restore normalcy of utility services in the state post the hurricane

Per this filing, the company has requested for a restoration cost recovery of $381 million and an additional $132 million to replenish its storm reserve account. However, the company believes that due to the latest federal tax reform, its customers electricity bill will no longer increase on FPSC approving it.

Owing to these factors, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Duke Energys earnings of 91 cents reflects an improvement of 12.4% year over year, while sales are anticipated to rise 4% to $5.85 billion.

However, adverse outcome from pending regulatory cases may negatively impact results. Notably, the company incurred expenses in relation to coal ash release which in turn may weigh on its financials.

Earnings Whispers

Our proven model does not conclusively show that Duke Energy will beat estimates this quarter. That is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen. But that is not the case here, as you will see below.

Zacks ESP: Duke Energy has an Earnings ESP of -0.09%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: Duke Energy carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Please note that we caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Strong Sell) while going into an earnings announcement.

Story continues

Duke Energy Corporation Price and EPS Surprise

Duke Energy Corporation Price and EPS Surprise | Duke Energy Corporation Quote

Stocks That Warrant a Look

Here are some utility companies you may want to consider as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter:

NiSource, Inc. NI has an Earnings ESP of +1.45% and a Zacks Rank #3. It is slated to report quarterly results on Feb 20. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. CNP has an Earnings ESP of +2.65% and a Zacks Rank #2. It is scheduled to report quarterly results on Feb 22.

Public Service Enterprise Group PEG has an Earnings ESP of +0.72% and a Zacks Rank #2. It is slated to release quarterly results on Feb 23.

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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment ResearchElon Musk and SpaceX are 'adding energy to the space market,' Boeing CEO says

Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg told CNBC he likes SpaceX "adding energy to the space market."

The successful test flight of SpaceX's new Falcon Heavy rocket made it the most powerful in operation.

Boeing is the primary contractor for the SLS rocket being built for NASA, with a first test launch planned for 2020.

Boeing BA is undeterred by all the buzz around SpaceX and its founder Elon Musk , which launched its Falcon Heavy rocket into history last week.

"They're adding energy to the space market and we like the attention that that's generating," Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." "I think it's good for the country."

The successful test flight of the new SpaceX rocket made it the most powerful in operation, capable of lifting a payload nearly three times that of the next largest rockets from United Launch Alliance  a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin LMT  and Arianespace. While Falcon Heavy may crush its current competition, Boeing is the primary contractor for a new rocket built for NASA: Space Launch System (SLS).

"We are building the first rocket to Mars, and, as I told you, it's about 36 stories tall," Muilenburg said. "It's first test flight is in 2019."

Development for both Falcon Heavy and SLS began about seven years ago. But, while Falcon Heavy roared to life on Feb. 7 at Kennedy Space Center, the first flight for SLS slipped to 2020, according to NASA Administrator Robert Lighfoot on Monday. Lightfoot called SLS one of the "critical backbone elements" to NASA's effort to return humans to the Moon and "for moving farther in deep space," including human missions to Mars.

"I firmly believe that the first person that gets to Mars is going to get there on a Boeing rocket," Muilenburg said.

A jubilant Musk said after Falcon Heavy's launch that he wants "a new space race," as he thinks the success will "encourage other companies and countries" to be ambitious in the same way as SpaceX.

Story continues

Musk's company released plans in September to develop its BFR program (Big Falcon Rocket) as the basis to send cargo, and eventually people, to Mars starting in 2022. Yet SpaceX could go back to the Moon with just Falcon Heavy.

"It can launch things direct to Pluto and beyond. Don't even need gravity assist or anything," Musk said.

While the test flight version of SLS will lift around the same amount of mass compared to Falcon Heavy, that's where the similarities end. NASA has spent over $10 billion developing the SLS rocket thus far; Musk says SpaceX spent over $500 million in internal funds to build Falcon Heavy. The SLS version for crewed flight will lift 105 metric tons; Falcon Heavy tops out at around 64 metric tons. Each SLS rocket is expendable; Falcon Heavy comes in reusable and expendable configurations. A SLS launch comes with a price tag of over $1 billion; Falcon Heavy rockets go for $150 million at most.

This is also not the first time Muilenburg's touted that Boeing will power a crewed maiden voyage to the red planet: he made the same declaration in December.

Musk's response?

"Do it," Musk tweeted.

@elonmusk: Do it

WATCH: SpaceX launches its Heavy Falcon rocket



More From CNBC

By Bernie Woodall

PARKLAND, Fla., Feb 15 (Reuters) - A Florida community will join together on Thursday to mourn the 17 victims of a suspected lone gunman, as officials seek to discover how the heavily-armed teenager managed to mingle with students in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.

The ex-pupil, identified as Nikolas Cruz, 19, walked into the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Wednesday shortly before classes ended and opened fire on students and teachers, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said.

Cruz was armed with an AR-15-style rifle and had multiple magazines of ammunition when he surrendered to officers in a nearby residential area, police said. He loved guns and was expelled for unspecified disciplinary reasons, police and former classmates said.

The shooting was the 18th in a U.S. school this year, according to gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety.

It was the deadliest ever at an American high school, surpassing the 1999 rampage at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, where two teenagers killed 12 students and a teacher and then themselves.

It was also the second-deadliest at a U.S. public school, behind the 2012 massacre of 20 first-graders and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, by a gunman who also killed his mother and himself.

Since Sandy Hook, U.S. schools have installed electronically controlled doors and added security staff.

"Our focus at the School District is certainly to find out from a safety perspective what's occurred," Marjory Stoneman Douglas High Board Member Donna Korn told Treasure Coast, a local newspaper group.

A law enforcement officer is assigned to every school in the district. The sheriff's office also provides active shooter training and the schools have a single point of entry, she said.

"Weve got the people prepared, we have prepared the campuses, but sometimes people still find a way to let these horrific things happen," Korn said.

Story continues

Asked about having armed guards in schools, Israel told a news conference: "If a person is predisposed to commit such a horrific act ...there not a lot law enforcement or any entity can do about it."

'THE WORST AND BEST OF HUMANITY'

The Valentine's Day bloodshed in the racially mixed community about 45 miles (72 km) north of Miami was the latest outbreak of gun violence that has become a regular occurrence at U.S. schools and college campuses in recent years.

Television footage showed images of students streaming out of the building with hands raised in the air, weaving their way between heavily armed, helmeted police officers, as a fire truck and other emergency vehicles idled nearby.

Anguished parents raced to the school of 3,300 students and a nearby hotel that was set up as a checkpoint to find their children.

"This has been a day weve seen the worst in humanity. Tomorrow (Thursday) is going to bring out the best in humanity, as we come together to move forward from this unspeakable tragedy," Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie told a news conference.

Florida's two U.S. senators, briefed by federal law enforcement officials, said the assailant wore a gas mask as he stalked into the school carrying a rifle, ammunition cartridges and smoke grenades, then pulled a fire alarm, prompting students and staff to pour from their classrooms into hallways.

The gunman tried to blend in with students who were fleeing the school but was spotted and taken into custody, the sheriff said in a statement.

A chilling cell phone video clip broadcast by CBS News showed what the network said was the shooting in progress from inside a classroom, where several students were seen huddled or lying on the floor surrounded by mostly empty desks. A rapid series of loud gunshots are heard along with hysterical screaming.

One survivor, Kyle Yeoward, 16, said he and about 15 fellow students and a teacher hid in a closet for nearly two hours before police arrived.

Those dead were a mix of students and adults. Twelve were killed inside the school, two just outside and one on the street, while two further victims died from their wounds in hospital, Israel said.

(Additional reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; editing by John Stonestreet)The federal government is pleading with 2006 model year Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series pickup owners to park their trucks unless they've had their faulty Takata airbags replaced.

I cannot stress strongly enough the urgency of this recallthese airbags are dangerous, NHTSA deputy administrator Heidi King said in a release Tuesday. Every vehicle must be accounted for now.

MORE: Takata airbag recall grows by 3.3 million more cars

In most of the vehicles that fall under the massive Takata recall, federal regulators have advised owners to continue driving their cars until the issue can be fixed. This is not the case for the Ranger and the B-Series trucks, which were placed on a do not drive list in the U.S. in February when it was discovered that two people in 2006 Rangers were killed by Takata airbags produced on the same day.

According to figures released by Ford and Mazda, 33,200 Rangers and B-Series trucks were recalled and only about half of them have been fixed. Like other vehicles affected by the recall, the Takata airbags in the trucks could explode when their inflators fail and cause the airbags to activate without warning.

The NHTSA considers older vehicles located in high-humidity areas of the country a priority for repairs. Takata airbags exposed to high humidity and moisture have been found by an independent laboratory to be at a higher risk for rupturing.

Ford and Mazda have offered to tow vehicles to repair sites for free. Any Takata-related repairs will be completed at no charge to the customer.(Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Friday as a boost from the heavyweight energy sector helped the market rack up its best weekly performance in nearly two years. The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index finished up 44.98 points, or 0.29 percent, at 15,452.64. For the week, the index was up 2.8 percent in its biggest increase since March 2016, partly thanks due to a strong rally on Monday following last week's global equities sell-off. The energy group climbed 1.1 percent, boosted for the second day by TransCanada Corp, which advanced 2.3 percent to C$57.61 after it said on Thursday it would go ahead with the expansion of its NGTL natural gas system. Suncor Energy also helped support the market, gaining 2.2 percent to C$43.36 as the price of oil was boosted by a rebound in global equities. U.S. crude settled up 34 cents at $61.68 a barrel. But the market's gains were tempered by a drop in gold producers as gold futures fell 0.3 percent to $1,347.70. Agnico Eagle Mines was among the biggest drags on the index, down 3.9 percent at C$54.12, while First Quantum Minerals declined 2.7 percent to C$20.81. [GOL/] Shares of cannabis companies also came under pressure the day after Canadian government officials said the planned July start date for legalized recreational marijuana was set to be delayed further. Canopy Growth dropped 5.3 percent to C$26.50, while Aphria Inc slumped 5.5 percent to C$14.06. Aurora Cannabis was among the most actively traded companies, down 6.6 percent at $10.13. Separately, the province of Alberta said recreational marijuana will be sold in licensed private retail stores to be overseen by a government regulator. The federal government has left the details of how to sell cannabis up to the provinces. Among the day's corporate earnings, Air Canada rose 1.3 percent to C$24.64 after it reported better-than-expected profit and said it expects a joint venture with Air China to be wrapped up this spring. The TSX posted 7 new 52-week highs and 4 new lows. Across all Canadian issues there were 19 new 52-week highs and 21 new lows. Volume on the TSX index was 215.29 million shares. (Reporting by Leah Schnurr; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Chizu Nomiyama)Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), attends a conference on "Transforming Frances Economy and Completing the Integration of the Eurozone" with French Treasury and the IMF at the Bercy Ministry in Paris, France, February 15, 2018. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

VIENNA (Reuters) - International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde has no objection to plans to turn the euro zone's bailout fund into a European Monetary Fund, she said in comments published on Saturday.

The European Commission has suggested transforming the role of the government-controlled European Stability Mechanism (ESM) into a full-blown European Monetary Fund under parliamentary control and anchored in European Union law, which would also become a backstop for the euro zone's bank resolution fund.

The plan is backed by countries including France and Germany.

"Why not?" Lagarde said in an interview with Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger.

"The crisis the euro zone went through showed that it needs a crisis management system that is independent, able to act quickly and that works according to strict rules. What that mechanism is called is secondary. If one wants to call it European Monetary Fund, then please."

She also brushed aside the suggestion that the IMF's role was being usurped in a region where it has been involved in bailing out Portugal, Ireland, Cyprus and Greece in recent years - often in exchange for oversight and painful reforms.

"We do not serve a region but 189 countries. That also includes euro zone countries. And if together they decide that other crisis mechanisms like the ESM are involved, that is in order," she was quoted as saying.

(Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Andrew Bolton)Feb 16 (Reuters) - Intel Corp said on Friday 32 class action lawsuits had been filed against the company in connection with the recently disclosed security flaws in its chips.

The lawsuits claim that users were harmed by Intel's "actions and/or omissions" related to the flaws, which could allow hackers to steal data from computers.

Intel said in a regulatory filing it was not able to estimate the potential loss that may arise out of the lawsuits. (http://bit.ly/2CqlQ6S)

Security researchers last month disclosed two flaws, dubbed Spectre and Meltdown, that affected nearly every modern computing device containing chips from Intel, Advanced Micro Devices Inc and ARM Holdings.

Fixes for most affected systems were issued by the companies since then, but some patches slowed down computers.

Security experts had earlier said that Intel would face lawsuits claiming that the patches would slow computers and effectively force consumers to buy new hardware, and big customers would likely seek compensation from Intel for any software or hardware fixes they make. (Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)TOKYO, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Japanese government bond prices edged higher on Friday following an overnight bounce by U.S. Treasuries, although gains were limited as the Nikkei rallied for the second day.

The trading session was highlighted by the government's reappointment of Haruhiko Kuroda as Bank of Japan governor, a widely expected decision.

The 10-year JGB yield dipped 0.5 basis point to 0.055 percent and the 40-year yield fell 1 basis point to 0.915 percent.

Along with Kuroda, the government also chose Masazumi Wakatabe, an academic and advocate of bolder monetary easing as one of his deputies - a sign the central bank will be in no rush to dial back its massive stimulus programme.

U.S. Treasury prices rose on Thursday after sizable losses in recent sessions, as investors took a breather from selling bonds that took the 10-year yield to four-year peaks earlier this week. (Reporting by the Tokyo markets team Editing by Shri Navaratnam)As the Lunar New Year celebrations begin, CNBC looks at Chinatowns across the world

Forget January 1. For proponents of Far Eastern culture, the new year in 2018 begins on February 16.

The celebration of Lunar New Year has spread internationally, partly thanks to the far reach of Chinese expatriate communities.

CNBC takes a look at iconic Chinatowns across the world as they see in the year of the dog.

Singapore

Although the Chinese make up the largest ethnic group in Singapore, the city has its own Chinatown, located in its Outram district. After Singapore's establishment in 1824, the Chinese immigrant population boomed. The city state's Chinatown was geographically allocated by its British colonial founder, Sir Stamford Raffles. The area's alternative name  Niu Che Shui, or Bullock-Cart-Water  refers to the archaic practice of fresh water brought into the area by bullock-drawn carts.

London

London's Chinese community originally settled in Limehouse, to the east of the city, in the 18th century, before relocating to Chinatown's current Soho location in the 1950s, seeking cheap rent. In the ensuing decades, workers in their tens of thousands arrived from the former British outpost of Hong Kong. Chinese food businesses were boosted by British soldiers returning from wars in the Far East with a new appetite for Chinese cuisine. London's Chinatown as it looks today began to take shape in the 1980s, when it received its signature Chinese gates.

Toronto

Chinatown in Canada's largest city dates back to the 1870s, with the opening of the first Chinese business  a laundry. Chinese population growth in the following years was slow due to discrimination against Chinese immigrants finding jobs, although by the turn of the 20th century a firm population was established. Toronto's Chinatown comprises of immigrants from Asia broadly, including India, Vietnam and Laos.

New York

Chinatown in Manhattan's Lower East Side has a resident population of approximately 150,000. The Chinese population mainly comes from the provinces of Guangdong and Fujian, as well as Hong Kong. Today, the area boasts hundreds of garment factories with a yearly payroll bill of above $200 million, a jewelry industry worth roughly $100 million in gold and diamond sales annually and over 200 restaurants.

Story continues

San Francisco

San Francisco's Chinatown claims to be the oldest in North America. The first Chinese immigrants arrived in the city in 1848, and the area is one of San Francisco's most visited neighborhoods.

Johannesburg

Johannesburg's Chinatown is located in the Cyrildene suburb, which until 2000 was known for its Jewish community. It is thought that the first Chinese immigrants arrived in South Africa in the early 19th century.

Melbourne

Melbourne's Chinatown has existed since the goldrush of the 1850s, and claims to be the longest continuous Chinese settlement in the Western World.





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Maybe it wasnt the Trump campaign that colluded with Russian operatives in the 2016 U.S. presidential election after all. Maybe it was Facebook (FB) and Twitter (TWTR), instead.

Special counsel Robert Mueller filed an indictment on February 16 charging 13 Russians with crimes relating to interference in the 2016 elections. The indictment describes a well-organized Russian scheme that began in 2014 and had a strategic goal to sow discord in the U.S. political system, including the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The Russians plan was to communicate derogatory information about Hillary Clinton, to denigrate other candidates such as Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, and to support Bernie Sanders and then-candidate Donald Trump, the indictment states.

[Anybody interested in the indictment should read it for themselves.]

Mueller didnt charge Facebook or Twitter, and theres no evidence either company knowingly broke the law. But Mueller paints both companies as complicit dupes thoroughly exploited by the Russians, who couldnt have been nearly as effective without the use of Americas leading social-media platforms.

The Mueller indictment mentions the Internet Research Agency, the Russian outfit that ran the whole interference operation and is a named defendant, seven times. It mentions Facebook 35 times and Twitter nine times. Instagram, owned by Facebook, gets six mentions, while YouTube, owned by Google parent Alphabet, gets one mention.

A direct connection

Much of the tale Mueller spins has already been detailed in the press. Whats new about the indictment is the direct connection with Russian operatives creating social media accounts, buying ads, conducting on-the-ground research in the United States, and on a few occasions, making contact with unwitting members of the Trump campaign. (Theres no suggestion in the indictment that President Trump or anybody working for him knowingly cooperated with the Russian interference effort.)

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The indictment explains how the Internet Research Agency, based in St. Petersburg, Russia, appointed specialists to create social-media accounts that appeared to be operated by Americans. They worked day shifts and night shifts and adjusted their schedules according to U.S. time zones. Some of those accounts attracted tens of thousands of followers, such as the Twitter account @TEN_GOP, purporting to represent the Tennessee Republican Party, and the Blacktivist account on Facebook and Instagram.

By the fall of 2016, the Russians used these accounts primarily to attack Clinton and praise Trump. They also bought ads on the same social-media platforms to promote the fake groups and their disruptive messaging. The Russians are sophisticated, and they established both fake American accounts and stole the IDs of real Americans to make it look like payments for ads were coming from Americans in America. The Russians also established virtual private networks in the United States to mask their origin in Russia and defeat social-media security systems that might have scanned for foreign computers as one way of identifying fake accounts.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made one of the biggest business blunders of modern times when he said shortly after the 2016 election that it was crazy to think Russians had used his company to influence the election. Whats really crazy is how clueless Zuckerberg and his fellow Facebook executives were about the abuse taking place on their platform. The Russians, for their part, look like masters of the dark arts who toyed with naive Americans too simplistic to imagine such nefarious things were possible.

Facebook and Twitter have been hauled before Congress to explain themselves, and their starring role in the Mueller indictment could raise the heat in Washington. Its still possible they and other social-media companies could come under stricter regulation, although the Republicans who control Congress may look the other way.

Facebook and Twitter say theyve made changes, yet theres still plenty of evidence that fake news flourishes on their apps and sites. And U.S. intelligence officials warn that the Russians have big plans to mess with the 2018 elections, too. If nothing else, American voters should get their political news someplace other than Facebook and Twitter.

Confidential tip line: rickjnewman@yahoo.com. Encrypted communication available.

Read more:

Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman

Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedInBy Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Charter Communications Inc must face a lawsuit by New York's attorney general accusing the cable company of providing customers slower-than-advertised internet speeds, a New York state judge ruled.

Justice O. Peter Sherwood of the state Supreme Court in Manhattan rejected Charter's claim that Attorney General Eric Schneiderman failed to plausibly allege the company had short-changed and misled customers.

He also rejected Charter's claim that federal law pre-empted the lawsuit. The Feb. 13 decision was made public on Friday.

Schneiderman accused Charter's Spectrum unit, previously known as Time Warner Cable, of having systematically defrauded customers since 2012, including by creating an impression they would consistently get fast internet speeds.

The attorney general said at least 640,000 subscribers signed up for high-speed plans but got slower speeds, and many subscribers could not access promised content such as Facebook, Netflix, Google's YouTube and gaming platforms.

He also accused Time Warner Cable of leasing older-generation modems to 900,000 subscribers, knowing they could not generate faster internet speeds.

In a statement, Spectrum spokesman John Bonomo said the company "delivers its advertised internet speeds," and will continue to vigorously contest Schneiderman's claims about practices at Time Warner Cable, which Charter bought in 2016.

Sherwood rejected Charter's claims that its advertising was not misleading because the company had promised to provide speeds only "up to" particular levels, and reasonable consumers would understand that could mean slower speeds were possible.

The judge said the state's highest court, the Court of Appeals, had rejected this argument in another case where, as Schneiderman alleged, the advertised speeds were "functionally unattainable as a result of the defendants' knowing conduct."

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Sherwood said while there may have been "literal truth" to Charter's advertising claims, this was not a defence "where, as here, the claims create a false 'net impression.'"

Schneiderman called the decision a "major victory" for consumers. He said the lawsuit, which seeks restitution and civil fines, will proceed toward a possible trial.

"The allegations in our lawsuit confirm what millions of New Yorkers have long suspected - Charter-Spectrum has been ripping you off," the attorney general said in a statement.

The case is New York v Charter Communications Inc et al, New York State Supreme Court, New York County, No. 450318/2017.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Leslie Adler)An incredibly old Martian relic will soon be headed back from the planet where it originated thanks to the Mars 2020 mission. The space agency is planning on taking a piece of the meteorite known as Sayh al Uhaymir (SaU008) and including it in their highly-anticipated rover adventure to the Red Planet.

The rock, which was part of a larger meteorite discovery back in 1999, is thought to have originated on Mars. A chunk of the planet is believed to have been blown off into space by an impact, and the debris found its way to Earth. Now it will play a vital role is helping to calibrate the scientific tools on board the all-new rover.

Don't Miss: Meet the $40 accessory every single Apple Watch owner should have

Mars 2020s goal is ambitious: collect samples from the Red Planets surface that a future mission could potentially return to Earth, NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory explains. One of the rovers many tools will be a laser designed to illuminate rock features as fine as a human hair.

Thats great, but in order for the system to work up to its full potential it needs to be calibrated after landing on the Martian surface using some type of hard material. So, in the spirit of the red planet, JPL scientists decided that using an actual piece of Mars from here on Earth would be the perfect test candidate.

Were studying things on such a fine scale that slight misalignments, caused by changes in temperature or even the rover settling into sand, can require us to correct our aim, JPLs Luther Beegle explains. By studying how the instrument sees a fixed target, we can understand how it will see a piece of the Martian surface.

The rock should work perfectly for the test, and NASA sending it to Mars will mark another huge first for the space agency. Never before has material from another planet been returned by humans, and while that might seem like a meaningless statistic, its still a monumental achievement in the grand scheme of space exploration.

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See the original version of this article on BGR.comBy Ayai Tomisawa

TOKYO, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks rose on Friday morning, with investors relieved to see the government appoint Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda for another term and choose an advocate of bolder monetary easing as one of his deputies.

The Nikkei rose 1.1 percent to 21,699.71 at the midday break.

In a widely expected move, the government nominated Kuroda to serve another five-year term when the current one ends in April, a sign of Premier Shinzo Abe's confidence in the governor's efforts to stimulate the economy out of stagnation.

The government also submitted to parliament its nomination of Masazumi Wakatabe, a professor at Waseda University and an advocate of aggressive monetary easing, as deputy governor.

The other deputy governor post went to BOJ Executive Director Masayoshi Amamiya, a veteran central banker known for masterminding monetary policy strategies.

"In the short term, the BOJ gave the stock market relief by not derailing Kuroda's monetary policy. It sent a message to the market that the main part of Abenomics (the government's revival plan) will not change," said Norihiro Fujito, senior investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities.

"It must have made the right choice by selecting Wakatabe and Amamiya when the market is volatile."

The broader Topix gained 1.1 percent to 1,738.72, with all 33 subsectors except sea transport in positive territory. Shares in utilities, food and medicine companies, which are most sensitive to domestic demand, outperformed.

Tokyo Electric Power Co soared 3.4 percent, Chubu Electric Power Co jumped 5.4 percent, Astellas Pharma gained 1.6 percent and Ajinomoto Co added 1.5 percent.

Exporters were also strong, with Toyota Motor and Honda Motor and Panasonic Corp all rising 1.7 percent. (Reporting by Ayai Tomisawa; Editing by Eric Meijer)Gung Hay Fat Choi! Happy Chinese New Year, right? Well, not quite. In North America, we have believed that the lunar new year celebrations are specific to China, due in part to high numbers of Chinese immigration into the west. But the lunar new year is celebrated throughout Asia, and although its called different things, the Year of the Dog is happening throughout the east.

Vietnam

In Vietnam, Tet Nguyen an or Tet, as it is commonly known, is what is celebrated. Tet is the most important holiday in the Vietnamese calendar, and the holidays name means Feast of the First Morning of the First Day. The holiday celebrates the return of spring, and like other celebrations throughout the region, families gather, gift money in red envelopes and eat  in Vietnam families eat red sticky rice.

Vietnamese families eat red sticky rice, and wish their loved ones, Chuc Mung Nam Moi, or Happy New Year. Although the Vietnamese zodiac does recognize the year of the dog as well, the focus of the celebration is on connecting with family and creating luck and prosperity for the year ahead.

Korea

The Koreans call this holiday Seollal, and the celebrations last for three days: The day before the new year, the day of (February 16 this year), and the day after. Like in Vietnam, Koreans take this holiday to celebrate with family, sharing foods like Korean rice cake soup and radish cakes.

Koreans follow a 12-year zodiac and believe that the animals were created by Buddha after he sent all his creations into the world, but had only 12 return. The order of the zodiac is based on what order animals returned to Buddha. Koreans plan their year based on the zodiacs attributes in the hopes of having a prosperous new year.

China

Of course, many people know some of the traditions in Chinese celebration of the new year, like the gifting of money in a red envelope, the eating of spring rolls (since it is a spring festival like in Vietnam) and celebrations like a dragon parade and fireworks.

Story continues

In China, the country also often celebrates national achievement, but is finding its 2018 choice landing the producers of a celebratory new years show in hot water. The national broadcaster wanted to highlight Sino-African relations but cast a Chinese actress to play an African woman, complete with blackface.

Will you be celebrating lunar new year this weekend? Tell us how you celebrate @BritandCo!

(photos via Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images + Paula Bronstein/Getty Images + Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

You Might Also LikePet foods from four companies were recalled by the Food and Drug Administration Wednesday after Salmonella showed up in a variety of products.

Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause pets to get sick or become carriers that infect people with the pathogen, which leads to salmonellosis in humans.

Fortune spoke with Bill Marler, a food safety expert who has been a foodborne illness lawyer since 1993, about what pet owners should know about how the disease is spread and what to do if you or your pet is affected.

Editors note: This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Fortune: Do we see recalls on pet food products as often as human food?

Marler: Its pretty frequent that pet recalls occur. The FDA oversees pet food just like they do human food.

How different are the regulations on food produced for humans versus animals?

They are as stringent of regulations on pet food as there are human food, which might surprise most people.

Consumers, in my experience, sometimes seem more concerned with their pets health than they are about their own health -- and I suppose as a dog owner I can understand why.

There have been a lot of fairly significant recalls. Sort of a famous one was the melamine in the dog food back in like 2005 and there were literally thousands of dogs and cats that were sickened by a melamine additive that was added in China. And there was a class action litigation--I was involved in that--and the FDA did a substantial recall and it had enormous impacts on imports from China.

Its also had pretty profound affects in China, not only as far as their food safety with pet food, but with human food.

So there have been cases of finding chemicals or pathogens in animal food. There are, I wont say a significant number, but there are a few cases, like this recent recall, where its likely that the recall was prompted by human illnesses.

How does that get traced back to dog food?

The way that works is some kids come in with Salmonella and [the health department] investigates--because Salmonella is a really portable disease--and they see that the common denominator is that these kids maybe played with dog food or a toddler maybe ate some of it.

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Those happen, I wouldnt say as frequently as other recalls, but there was a rash of illnesses from pig ears or chew toys or bully sticks. A lot of the pet treats cause people to get sick due to the handling of them.

So thats why the FDA is so concerned about bacteriological contamination in animal food is because dogs and cats can get salmonella from eating the food and then theyre in such close proximity to humans that its easy to get transmitted illnesses from your animal to you.

Its not the thing that most people think about.

So pet food is pretty highly regulated?

Yes, I think the FDA takes this stuff pretty seriously.

Its interesting, with the recall thats happening and the scrutiny of both Listeria and Salmonella problems at this plant here in the Pacific Northwest, it seems like there might be some room to argue that the FDA didnt get on top of these people soon enough, given the numbers of recalls theyve had on their products.

Its a public health issue.

The regulations for human food and animal food are the same, but are there differences in the way theyre produced that would affect the risk for contamination?

Not necessarily. People might find it odd that human food may be produced at the same quality as dog food--youd maybe expect it to be produced at a higher level.

I think, frankly, because the FDA is concerned about human contamination, directly or indirectly, from handling or consuming pet food, they take the same sort of precautions.

You could argue that the FDA doesn't do enough on either [pet food or human food], but that's an issue of man power. The FDA does not inspect these facilities as often as a food safety lawyer would like.

But those are economic choices that Congress and taxpayers have made over time. We dont have the inspecting force at the FDA that, I think, we need given potential--especially imported food products.

What kind of legal options do pet owners have if they or their dogs have been affected?

The two kids or three kids who are sick, they clearly have legal rights that would allow them or their parents to get medical expenses and wages lost for the parents for time missed at work taking care of the kids, and a pain and suffering award, depending on how sick the kids were.

So with humans its pretty straightforward from a legal perspective. Animals are, despite how much people love them, considered property, so what pet owners can recover is medical expenses if the animal had to have some kind of medical treatment, but if the animal died the family would not be able to recover emotional distress losses from the injury to their animal.

You would get the market value of the animal if the animal died, plus any medical expenses.

What does this recall mean for the dog food companies?

There are very little economic consequences for these outbreaks, which, again, underscores why it's important that the FDA regulate them, because the market doesnt necessarily have a mechanism for making them accountable.

Are there any other steps people should take to prevent the spread of Salmonella?

From a consumer safety perspective, people need to--especially when it comes to raw pet food or chew toys--think about them like theyre handling raw meat.

You need to wash your hands--especially for kids, who get into dog food or the kitty litter. You need to wash your kids hands and have precautions. Even though the FDA is regulating [pet food companies], theres not going to be a zero chance of risk. So use good hand washing techniques and food handling techniques with animal food.

See original article on Fortune.com

More from Fortune.comFILE PHOTO: A sign on the Qualcomm campus is seen in San Diego, California, U.S. November 6, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

By Greg Roumeliotis and Diane Bartz

(Reuters) - Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O) on Friday called a meeting with Broadcom Ltd (AVGO.O) to discuss the latter's $121 billion bid constructive and opened the door to more talks, but continued to reject the proposed deal between the semiconductor companies.

Qualcomm's response raises the stakes in a battle over what would be the technology sector's largest-ever acquisition. The two companies have less than three weeks to negotiate a potential deal until Qualcomm shareholders are asked to vote on a challenge by Broadcom to Qualcomm's board of directors.

Qualcomm has been seeking to walk a fine line between resisting Broadcom's acquisition approach, which it says undervalues it and is fraught with regulatory risks, and demonstrating to its shareholders and proxy advisory firms that it is willing to engage to secure a better deal if possible.

"While the current Broadcom proposal is unacceptable, our board is intensely focused on maximizing value for Qualcomm stockholders, whether through executing on its growth strategy or by selling the company," Qualcomm Chairman Paul Jacobs wrote to Broadcom CEO Hock Tan on Friday in a letter released by Qualcomm.

Broadcom offered no immediate comment. Qualcomm shares were up 0.4 percent at $65.60, significantly below Broadcom's latest $82 per share cash-and-stock offer. Broadcom shares were down 0.8 percent at $249.89.

Qualcomm's meeting with Broadcom on Feb. 14 was the first time the two companies met to discuss a potential combination since Broadcom unveiled its unsolicited bid last November.

As part of the takeover battle, Broadcom is asking Qualcomm shareholders to back its effort to replace a majority of Qualcomm's board of directors in a vote scheduled for March 6. It has called its latest bid its best and final offer.

"While it sounds like the parties remain very far apart on the specifics (price, risk mitigation, etc), actual negotiations (with an understanding of opening positions) do appear to have kicked off, and Qualcomm is at least contemplating the bare possibility that they might get sold," analyst Stacy Rasgon at Bernstein said.

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In the meeting this week, Singapore-based Broadcom was willing to make certain divestitures to satisfy antitrust regulators, but was still resistant to "other commitments that could be expected" to be required by government regulatory bodies, Qualcomm said.

Broadcom has already said it is willing to sell two Qualcomm businesses to resolve any antitrust problems. These are its Wi-Fi networking processors and RF Front End chips for mobile phones.

In the meeting, Broadcom agreed to divest if needed its own Wi-Fi business, instead of Qualcomm's, a source familiar with the confidential details of the meeting said.

Broadcom also wanted Qualcomm to include in the merger agreement that Qualcomm will refrain from lawsuits related to licensing while the deal is being reviewed by regulators, according to the source. Qualcomm did not agree to that.

Qualcomm reiterated that Broadcom's promised breakup fee of $8 billion in the event regulators thwart the deal did not come close to compensating for risks related to the deal.

NXP DEAL

The takeover battle is at the heart of a race to consolidate the wireless technology equipment sector, as smartphone makers such as Apple Inc (AAPL.O) and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd use their market dominance to negotiate down chip prices.

Broadcom is mainly a manufacturer whose connectivity chips are used in products ranging from mobile phones to servers. San Diego-based Qualcomm primarily outsources the manufacturing of its chips which are used for the delivery of broadband and data, a business that would significantly benefit from the rollout of 5G wireless technology.

Qualcomm is currently seeking to complete a $38 billion deal to acquire NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI.O). NXP shares are trading at around $119, significantly above Qualcomm's $110 per share offer, as some NXP shareholders, led by activist hedge fund Elliott Management Corp, have called on Qualcomm to raise its price.

Broadcom has said its acquisition offer is contingent on either Qualcomm buying NXP at currently disclosed terms of $110 per share in cash or the deal being terminated.

China's MOFCOM is the only regulator around the world that has yet to approve the Qualcomm-NXP deal. With the start of the Chinese New Year public holiday this week, Qualcomm could potentially delay its decision on raising its offer for NXP until after the March 6 Qualcomm shareholder meeting.

(Reporting by Greg Roumeliotis in New York and Diane Bartz in Washington; Additional reporting by Supantha Mukherjee and Sonam Raim in New York; Editing by Savio D'Souza and Andrea Ricci)[caption id="attachment_3537" align="alignnone" width="620"]

Google headquarters, Mountain View, California

Google headquarters, Mountain View, California[/caption] Google Inc. did not violate federal labor law in firing an engineer who wrote a widely circulated memo that argued women were not as biologically fit as men for tech jobs, according to a National Labor Relations Board lawyer's memo that was disclosed on Feb. 15. Former Google engineer James Damore filed a complaint with the labor board after he was terminated by the Mountain View, California-based company. Damore's memo, which went viral, called inclusion efforts an ideological echo chamber where contrary views are shamed into silence. The memo cemented an impression that tech has been and still is a white, male-dominated industry. NLRB lawyer Jayme Sophir, associate general counsel in the agency's division of advice, concluded last month that Damores memo contained both protected and unprotected speech but that Google terminated the engineer based on reasons not protected by the National Labor Relations Act. Sophir's memo, written to a regional director, was dated Jan. 16. Damore's case was closed in January. Damore and other former Google employees filed a separate lawsuit, seeking class action status, against the company in Santa Clara Superior Court. Bay Area lawyer Harmeet Dhillon represents the employees in that case and served as Damores attorney before the federal labor board. Paul Hastings partner Cameron Fox in Los Angeles represented Google in the labor board dispute. Fox was not immediately reached for comment Friday, and neither was Dhillon. Damores internal memo, which originally circulated among his co-workers, attempted to justify a gender gap in the tech industry in response to a series of companywide inclusion efforts to close it. The memo said "women on average are more prone to anxiety" and that women on average have more "neuroticism" and "lower stress tolerance." Google determined that certain portions of Damore's memo violated existing policies on harassment and discrimination. The company's HR manager, in justifying the termination, told Damore: Your post advanced and relied on gender stereotypes to suggest that women cannot be successful in the same kinds of jobs at Google as men.  I want to make clear that our decision is based solely on the part of your post that generalizes and advances stereotypes about women versus men. Google said that its action against Damore was not based in any way on the parts of his memo that discuss training and programs offered by Google or about his expression of differing political views. Having a different political view is fine. Advancing gender stereotypes is not, Google said in a statement to Damore, according to the NLRB memo disclosed Friday. The portions of Damores manifesto that spoke of work conditions with his colleagues would be considered protected speech, according to the NLRB memo. The general counsels office agreed with Google that the use of stereotypes based on purported biological differences between men and women was discriminatory and not protected speech. Sophir noted that two female engineering candidates withdrew from consideration from Google after Damores manifesto was spread widely. Sophir added in her instruction to the regional director: Employers have a strong interest in promoting diversity and encouraging employees across diverse demographic groups to thrive in their workplaces. In furtherance of these legitimate interests, employers must be permitted to nip in the bud the kinds of employee conduct that could lead to a hostile workplace, rather than waiting until an actionable hostile workplace has been created before taking action. Google chief executive Sundar Pichai, recently addressing Damore's firing, said he had no regrets about the decision itself but, rather, how he believes the decision has been interpreted. I regret that people misunderstand that we may have made this for a political belief one way or another, Pichai said, according to a report in Verge, the tech publication. Its important for the women at Google, and all the people at Google, that we want to make an inclusive environment. The NLRB advice memo is posted in full below: [falcon-embed src="embed_1"] Read more:After Google Memo Suit, How Should Companies Handle Digital Discussions on Diversity?Ex-Google Engineer Fired Over Memo Launches Class Action SuitDamoreand Other Conservative GooglersBring On Republican LawyerGoogle Memo Sparks Questions about Legal Technology's Gender GapThis NLRB Memo Said Postmates Couriers Were Employees, Not Contractors[caption id="attachment_6417" align="alignnone" width="620"]

divorce money broken heart

shutterstock[/caption] Matrimonial litigators are bracing for big changes to their practice thanks to the overhaul of the U.S. tax code signed into law in late December. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 shifts the tax burden for alimony from the recipient to the payer, eliminating a deduction for anyone making such payments while no longer including them in the recipient's reportable income. The changes take effect for divorces signed after Dec. 31, 2018, and some practitioners say they've already seen signs of a last-minute rush by litigants who are seeking to wrap up divorce proceedings before year-end, thereby avoiding the changes to the tax law. Beyond the scramble to resolve divorce cases before the changes take effect, the new tax law is expected to make disputes over matrimony more difficult to resolve. Since the spouse paying the alimony is often in a higher tax bracket than the recipient, the change in law will often leave a smaller pot of money from which to pay alimony, some practitioners said. "It could make it more difficult to resolve a case," said Eric Solotoff, co-chairman of the family law practice at Fox Rothschild in Morristown, New Jersey. Solotoff's practice has begun to see an influx of clients who, mindful of the changing law, are seeking to have their cases resolved quickly. "Before, the deduction allowed the transfer of income from one spouse to the other. The problem is there will be less money to go around, starting in 2019," said Solotoff. Although the overall impact of the tax law is unclear, when factors such as an increased standard deduction and increased bonuses paid by corporations to employees in light of corporate tax reductions are factored in, Solotoff said "it will be more difficult to live a comparable lifestyle" after a divorce under the new law. In addition, although child support payments remain tax exempt under the new law, Solotoff expects to see downward pressure on the amount of child support payments under the new law. The new tax law upends a 75-year-old regime under which alimony was taxed at the recipient's lower tax rate because she was the one who spent those funds, said Claudette St. Romain, an associate professor at Seton Hall University School of Law. The vast majority of alimony recipients are women, she said. "There was a logic to the prior law: the high-income person didn't pay taxes because they didn't have the use or benefit of that money. The new law means the high-income person pays the taxes," said St. Romain. St. Romain said alimony is less prevalent now then when married women were more likely to stay home and take care of children, but it can be important in some two-income households. "Alimony remains a critical issue in family law because men are still the higher wage earners. And if they've been married a long time, women have the right to share in the proceeds of the partnership," she said. "What it means is there will be lower alimony offers being made to the needy spouse. The needy spouse's needs won't change but the amount of income to be assigned will be lower. Both spouses are likely to suffer some," St. Romain said. Matrimonial lawyers will face a greater challenge explaining the new laws to their clients and convincing them to accept terms the client might not find attractive, said Paris Eliades, a family law attorney in Sparta, New Jersey. Loss of the alimony deduction "is not going to sit well with [attorneys] who were used to conveying to the payor that, even though there's this harsh reality of paying alimony, there's a tax break. It's a completely new frontier," said Eliades. A divorcing client might tend to discuss the terms of his case with friends who were previously divorced, and will be puzzled to learn that he can't enjoy the same deduction that his friend enjoyed, said Eliades. In addition, calculating alimony payments will be a new challenge, without the aid of rules of thumb used in the past, said Eliades. Eliades said his firm expected the tax changes to take effect in 2018, and he hurried to close some cases in late 2017 to ensure his clients would be covered by the former tax code. Allen Scazafabo Jr. of the family law group at Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti in Morristown likewise hustled at the end of 2017 in order to get better terms for his clients, only to find out the new tax code will go into effect in 2019. Scazafabo said he expects a similar rush at the end of 2018, although not all his cases will lend themselves to resolution before the end of the year. Under the new tax code, bringing parties to an agreement on alimony will be more difficult, at least at the outset, said Scazafabo. Clients often come in with their own ideas about how much alimony should be, sometimes based on formulas they find online, but those ideas will be even farther away from reality after the tax code changes take effect, said Scazafabo. Explaining alimony payments to clients has always been difficult, even before the new tax law. "I think it'll create a larger gap in initial proposals from counsel. In the short term, it will make cases more difficult to settle, until lawyers get their bearings. We're all going to be adjusting. I do believe lawyers adapt and they settle cases," he said.Brian Krzanich

Intel

Intel disclosed Friday it now faces 35 lawsuits related to the Spectre and Meltdown attacks.

Customers are charging they were harmed by the attacks; shareholders charge that Intel misled them about the state of its business, because it didn't disclose them sooner.

At least one shareholder suit is taking aim at alleged insider trading at Intel; questions have been raised about a massive stock sale by the company's CEO after Intel was informed of the attacks but before it disclosed them to the public.



The Spectre and Meltdown attacks were a public relations nightmare for Intel. Now they've become a legal headache as well.

The chip making giant, its board members, and executives face 35 lawsuits related to the attacks, the company disclosed in its annual report on Friday. Because the suits are in their early stages, Intel said it couldn't determine how much they could potentially cost it.

"We dispute the claims ... and intend to defend the lawsuits vigorously," the company said in its annual report.

A company representative declined to comment on the lawsuits.

Security researchers disclosed the Spectre and Meltdown attacks last month. Taking advantage of a particular feature found in nearly all computer processors, the attacks could allow a malicious actor to view secret data stored on PCs, tablets, and smartphones, including users' passwords. In recent weeks, chip makers, device manufacturers, and operating system vendors have been scrambling to patch their devices and software to protect them from the vulnerabilities.

The attacks were actually discovered in June, and Intel was made aware of them soon thereafter. The vulnerability the attacks exploit has been present in nearly all Intel chips made over the last 20 years. And, unlike chips made by other manufacturers, Intel's processors are vulnerable to both Spectre and Meltdown.

Intel's handling of Spectre and Meltdown has drawn criticism  and now lawsuits

Story continues

Intel's handling of the situation has raised eyebrows not just because it waited more than six months to disclose the attacks to the public despite the fact that its chips were particularly at risk of them, but also because of a massive stock sale made by company CEO Brian Krzanich after the company found out about the attacks. In sale  through which Krzanich saw a $24 million windfall  the CEO sold off all of the shares of Intel he was allowed to sell under his contract.

Intel has noted that the sale, which Krzanich made in November, was done as part of a planned stock divestiture. But Krzanich only put that plan in place a month earlier, which was more than four months after Intel became aware of the attacks.

Thirty of the lawsuits filed against Intel are seeking class action status and were filed by customers who claim they were harmed by the attacks or by the company's failure to disclose them, according to the annual report. Two of the suits, also seeking class action status, were filed on behalf of shareholders who charge that the disclosure of the attacks shows that statements Intel made about its products or business were false or misleading.

Additionally, another three Intel investors have filed shareholder derivative suits in California state court, according to the annual report. Those suits charge that Intel's executives or directors failed in their duties to shareholders by delaying disclosure of the breach or not doing anything about insider trading at the company.

The Intel representative declined to say whether the company's board has investigated Krzanich's stock trade.

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SEE ALSO: Intel was aware of the chip vulnerability when its CEO sold off $24 million in company stockCasino mogul Steve Wynn wont receive a severance package after his resignation last week as CEO and chairman of Wynn Resorts amid allegations of sexual misconduct, according to the companys latest SEC filing.

The filing notes that Wynn, 76, is not entitled to any severance payment or other compensation from the company under the terms of his exit from the company. Wynns original employment contract called for $330 million in severance, The Wall Street Journal reported. Wynn earned more than $28 million from his namesake company in 2016.

The separation contract also forbids Wynn from working for any business that rivals Wynn Resorts for two years and mandates that he cooperate with any investigation or litigation related to his alleged misconduct. In addition, Wynn must vacate his residence at a Wynn resort by June 1 and his health care coverage will end Dec. 31.

Wynn resigned within days of a Wall Street Journal report that detailed dozens of accusations of sexual misconduct against him, including one instance in which he allegedly pressured a casino employee into having sex. Wynn purportedly paid $7.5 million to settle one such accusation. He has denied the misconduct allegations.

The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous, he said in a statement to The Journal.

Wynn currently faces open sexual assault cases in Las Vegas and Chicago. Despite his resignation, Wynn owns a stake in Wynn Resorts worth more than $2 billion, according to The Journal.

Wynn Resorts shares are down more than 18% since the allegations became public.

Related ArticlesTed Cruz Says Dems' Call for Gun Control Is 'Not the Right Answer'

Senator Ted Cruz claims Democrats are attempting to politicize Wednesday's school shooting in Florida with calls for tighter gun control, which he said was not the right answer.

The reaction of Democrats to any tragedy is to try to politicize it, said Cruz, a Texas Republican, during an interview Thursday on Fox & Friends. "So they immediately start calling that weve got to take away the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. Thats not the right answer.

On Wednesday, at least 17 were killed at a South Florida high school when a former student opened fire. Marked as one of the 10 deadliest shootings in modern U.S. history, it continues to stir national debate on gun control.

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Since January 1, there have been six school shootings, according to nonprofit, Everytown for Gun Safety, which has been tracking school shootings since 2013.

Cruz recalled the aftermath of last Novembers mass shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, that left 26 dead.

"When I was at the hospital with the victims, with the victims' families, over and over again what they said to me in Texasthey said gun control is not the answer here," Cruz said when asked about a ban on the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, which was used in the Florida high school attack.

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According to the National Rifle Association (NRA), the AR-15 is the most popular rifle, attributing its high sales to it being "customizable, adaptable, reliable and accurate." The military-style semi-automatic weapon was used in five of the six deadliest mass shootings in the past six years.

America remains polarized across party lines when it comes to gun policy. A recent survey by The Pew Research Center found that 79 percent of Republicans believe it's important to protect gun rights over limited ownership, while just 20 percent of Democrats held those views.

Story continues

Representative Mike Thompson of California, who has been leading Democrats' efforts on gun control, called on Trump to "get out of the pocket of the gun lobby" on Wednesday night.

Most popular: Nikolas Cruz Confesses to High School Killings Five Months After FBI Was Warned of Threat

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Thompson took to the House floor on Thursday, asking his colleagues, "Can you tell us when the House may muster the courage to take up the issue of gun violence?"

Following the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history in Las Vegas last fall, several bills were introduced in the House and Senate, including a bipartisan measure banning "bump stocks," which give semi-automatic weapons the capability to be fired as if they were fully automatic. The ban currently remains stalled.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekPresident Trump will address the nation Thursday morning about the Florida school shooting massacre, and says "our nation grieves."

"No child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school," Trump says in a tweet.

Trump has resisted calls for greater gun control measures after previous mass shootings.

President Donald Trump will address the nation Thursday morning about the Florida school shooting massacre.

"Our Nation grieves," he said in a proclamation ordering flags to be flown at half-staff. No one "should ever feel unsafe in an American school," he said earlier in a tweet.

Seventeen people were slain and 14 people were hospitalized in Wednesday's rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, authorities said. The suspect, 19-year-old former student Nikolaus Cruz, was booked on 17 counts of premeditated murder Thursday, The Associated Press reported. Authorities said he used an AR-15 assault rifle .

It was already the 18th  and deadliest  school shooting in 2018, more than twice as many as this time last year, according to a count by Everytown for Gun Safety , a gun control advocacy organization.

Trump has resisted calls for greater gun control measures after previous mass shootings. Here's how he reacted to the latest school tragedy.

Trump tweeted his prayers on Wednesday night.

My prayers and condolences to the families of the victims of the terrible Florida shooting. No child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school.

He also said he had spoken with Florida Gov. Rick Scott.

Just spoke to Governor Rick Scott. We are working closely with law enforcement on the terrible Florida school shooting.

On Thursday, he said people should report suspicious behavior.

So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!

Story continues

He later ordered flags to be flown at half-staff until sunset Monday, saying in a statement: " Our Nation grieves with those who have lost loved ones in the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida."

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted that Trump will address the nation at 11 a.m. ET Thursday.



A senior administration official told NBC News that advisors are discussing the possibility that Trump will visit the Broward County area when he goes to his private Mar-a-Lago resort this weekend. Mar-a-Lago is about 40 miles away.





More From CNBC

VALENCIA, Venezuela, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Billionaire businessman Lorenzo Mendoza has ruled out challenging Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in the upcoming election, sources from his company's workforce said on Thursday.

With the opposition's strongest potential presidential candidates barred from standing and polls confirming Mendoza's popularity, there have been growing calls around Venezuela for him to run in the April 22 vote.

But the 52-year-old boss of the Polar food and beer company has told workers he will not put himself forward, said a Polar employee in the city of Valencia and another former worker who speaks to employees there. (Reporting by Tibisay Romero; Writing by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Alexandra Ulmer and Bernadette Baum)Is blockchain secure enough for government?

As agencies experiment with blockchain to speed procurement, secure employee records and bring interoperability to health records, they are learning how the technology can transform how government does business. However, most work at federal and state levels is still in the pilot or proof-of-concept phase.

Lawmakers at a Feb. 14 hearing of two subcommittees of the House Science, Space and Technology Committees voiced concerns about moving such efforts into production. Committee members were particularly concerned about whether blockchain applications in government could be hacked the way some cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets have been in recent weeks.

Blockchain allows networks to continue to operate even in the presence of bad actors or carelessness through fault-tolerant algorithms. Jerry Cuomo, IBMs vice president of blockchain technologies, said.

Because users validate others transactions on the blockchain, the distributed ledger technology has elements of cryptographic trust when it comes to identity of users, according to Chris Jaikaran, a cybersecurity policy analyst in the Congressional Research Service's Government and Finance Division. It also creates an auditable and immutable record of transactions on the blockchain.

Jaikaran said that several agencies, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology, General Services Administration and Department of Homeland Security, were researching blockchain technology, but described their work as still in the test-bed stage of understanding how the technology works.

NIST released its first draft report on blockchain in January that offered a high-level explanation of how the technology works, the various platforms and common misconceptions. Charles Romine, director of the Information Technology Laboratory at NIST, said his agencys priority with the guide was to create a common vocabulary.

Addressing questions about vulnerabilities in the technology, Romine said he believes it would be extremely difficult in most cases to alter blockchain records. Subverting and changing records would require the collusion of a majority of the participants, and it would still likely be visible to the entire community that changes were made.

NISTs work with quantum computing also will play a role in the agencys investigation of the security of blockchain technology. Romine said it could be 15 to 30 years before quantum computers can break blockchain algorithms, but warned that timeline could change if there are dramatic improvements of the technology that we cant predict.

Aaron Wright, co-director of the Cardozo Blockchain Project at Yeshiva University, urged legislators to consider creating a National Blockchain Commission to foster the technology's growth in the United States. Wright said in written testimony that he sees a commission as the best place to devise common principles to guide the federal approach for regulating blockchain technology and a convening body to hold hearings, conduct research and make recommendations for industry, agencies and lawmakers.

The Congressional Blockchain Caucus, meanwhile, is planning a series of meetings this year to educate lawmakers on the technology's use in digital identity, payments and supply chain mechanisms. GSAs Emerging Citizen Technology Program also holds monthly interagency meetings to discuss ongoing projects that incorporate blockchain, artificial intelligence and virtual reality.A 'seal of approval' for IoT security?

To ensure internet-of-things devices meet basic security standards, Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) want a label  like the Energy Star seal  that would indicate to buyers that IoT devices meet certain cybersecurity requirements.

The Cyber Shield Act of 2017, introduced October 2017, would create an advisory committee to set the cyber and data security standards products would have to meet to receive the seal. The committee members would be chosen by the Secretary of Commerce from industry, academia, consumer advocates and the federal government, Markey said.

This would help consumers ID products that meet certain standards, Markey told a crowd at an event hosted by the American Enterprise Institute.

The program would incorporate existing data security benchmarks would address the sensitivity of the information collected, transmitted or stored by IoT devices as well as their functionality. The labels could be digital, and there could be different grades that display the extent to which a product meets the cybersecurity and data security benchmarks, according to the bill's text.

The voluntary program would not create a mandate for these standards, but it would be a way for manufacturers to show theyre following best practices, the lawmakers said.

The advisory committee would have two years to develop the standards and benchmarks. The Commerce Department's inspector general would be tasked with ensuring the benchmarks keep pace with changing technology and practices.

Its meant to be a living, breathing process that will change over time as technology continues to change, Lieu said.

The public sector has been integrating IoT devices, especially the local level as governments look to use sensors to monitor air quality, build flood alert systems and improve farming practices. For example, Pittsburgh hopes its smart spine of connected sensors can increase efficiency within the citys transit system by better managing the timing of traffic lights and crosswalk signals. Other cities  including Columbus, Ohio, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Kansas City, Mo. -- are experimenting on a broad scale with IoT-enabled smart city technology.

Chris Calabrese, the vice president for policy at the Center for Democracy and Technology, said government technology buyers would benefit from this kind of seal.

To the extent that the public sector are consumers, obviously they benefit from products that work and work safety, Calabrese told GCN.

Governments could also use this seal as a baseline for rules they create, or could commit to only buying products that meet the baseline set by the seal, Calabrese said.

Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) introduced a similar bill last year that would create these kinds of requirements for devices purchased by the federal government. The Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2017 would require vendors to ensure that their devices are patchable, do not include hard-coded passwords that cant be changed, and are free of known security vulnerabilities, among other basic requirements, according to a statement by Warner.

This legislation would establish thorough, yet flexible, guidelines for Federal Government procurements of connected devices, Warner said in a statement about the legislation.

Attention to IoT security has been heating up. Federal agencies including the National Institute for Standards and Technology and the Federal Trade Commission have been working to address securely managing IoT devices.

Released Feb. 14, NIST's draft "Interagency Report on Status of International Cybersecurity Standardization for the Internet of Things (IoT) is meant to help create cybersecurity standards for IoT. It starts with the basics of defining what IoT encompasses, goes through some existing standards and points to areas where standards are still needed.

The FTC, meanwhile, held a competition last year to develop tools that would address security vulnerabilities caused by out-of-date software in home-based IoT devices. The winner of the IoT Home Inspector Challenge proposed a mobile app-based tool that helps users manage the IoT devices in their homes by allowing them to scan their home Wi-Fi and Bluetooth networks to identify and inventory connected devices. The app would then flag devices with out-of-date software and other common vulnerabilities and provide instructions on how to update each device's software and fix other vulnerabilities.HOUSTON, Feb. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SMG Indium Resources Ltd. (the "Company") (OTCQB:SMGI), an oilfield services company headquartered in Houston, Texas, focused in selling products and services to drilling rig operators, E&P companies and other oilfield companies today announced the acquisition of RigHands, an industrial strength hand cleaner product line, and its intellectual property through its wholly-owned subsidiary MG Cleaners LLC. RigHands is a trademarked branded product which is focused on the oilfield and industrial markets.



Mr. Matt Flemming, CEO of SMG, stated: "We are excited to add RigHands to our existing product lines and related distribution channels. We currently anticipate RigHands will generate at least $150,000 of revenue within the first year post-acquisition which should accelerate the Companys growth. RigHands will be sold through the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary MG Cleaners LLCs sales force and its existing distribution partners." Mr. Flemming continued, We believe RigHands will provide an entrance into another sales channel in the industrial cleaning market for MG Cleaners.

The consideration paid for the product line and its intellectual property was $150,000, effected through the issuance of a promissory note by MG Cleaners LLC, bearing five percent interest and payable in equal monthly installments over 36 months.

About SMG Indium Resources Ltd.: SMGI is an oilfield services company that operates throughout Texas. The Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary MG Cleaners LLC, is focused on selling proprietary branded products including detergents, surfactants and degreasers (such as Miracle Blue) to oilfield drilling rig contractors and oilfield companies. In addition to the Company's proprietary products, SMGI sells equipment and parts and has service crews that perform on-site repairs, maintenance and drilling rig wash services for customers such as Nabors Industries, Patterson-UTI, Helmrich & Payne, Cactus Drilling and others. SMG Indium Resources Ltd's headquarters are located in Houston, Texas with facilities in Carthage, Texas and Odessa, Texas. Read more at www.smg-indium.com and www.mgcleanersllc.com.

Source: Matthew Flemming, SMG Indium Resources Ltd. +1-713-821-3153/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/



TORONTO, Feb. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gran Colombia Gold Corp. (the Company or Gran Colombia) (TSX:GCM) provided further details today for its recently announced best efforts private placement of up to 152,000 units (the Units) of the Company for anticipated aggregate gross proceeds of up to US$152,000,000 (the Offering). GMP Capital Inc. (GMP) and UBS Securities LLC (UBS and collectively with GMP, the Agents) have been retained as agents in connection with the Offering.

Serafino Iacono, Executive Co-Chairman of Gran Colombia, commented: We have been successfully turning around our operations the last two years since we restructured our debt into the current convertible debentures, improving our production, our adjusted EBITDA and our free cash flow. We remain committed to enhancing shareholder value and we believe the dilution overhang from our convertible debentures, as many investors have also communicated to us, is having an adverse impact on our share price relative to comparable valuations for our peers. For this reason, in light of the current market conditions, we are proceeding with the Offering to allow the Company to simplify its capital structure, having just one long-term debt instrument, and to enhance shareholder value by capping the potential dilution to existing shareholders through exercise of the new warrants at 18.8 million additional common shares compared with a range of 18.7 million to 72.1 million additional common shares under the current convertible debentures. We are also appreciative of the support received from debt holders in the 2016 debt restructuring who are now going to see full repayment of their debentures at par upon the successful completion of the Offering.

The key terms being offered include:

Each Unit will consist of US$1,000 principal amount of senior secured gold-linked notes (the Notes) and 124 common share purchase warrants (the Warrants) of the Company. Each Warrant will have an exercise price of CA$2.20 per warrant and will entitle the holder to purchase one common share at any time prior to the maturity of the Notes. Subject to minimum listing requirements, the Company will take commercially reasonable efforts to have the Warrants listed. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used for (1) the redemption in full, at par, of the Companys (a) Senior Unsecured Convertible Debentures due 2018, (b) Senior Secured Convertible Debentures due 2020 and (c) Senior Secured Convertible Debentures due 2024 (the securities referred to in (a), (b) and (c), collectively, the Outstanding Debentures) and (2) general corporate purposes. The Notes will have an eight-year term and are non-callable for the first three years. The Notes will represent senior secured obligations of the Company, ranking pari passu with all present and future senior indebtedness and senior to all present and future subordinated indebtedness of the Company. Standard high yield covenants consistent with transactions of this nature will apply. The Notes will bear interest at 8.00% per annum, paid monthly. The Company will set aside an amount of physical gold each month in a trust account (the Gold Trust Account). On a quarterly basis, the physical gold in the Gold Trust Account will be sold and the sale proceeds will be used to amortize the principal amount of the Notes based on a guaranteed floor price of $1,250 per ounce. The Note holders will be entitled to receive a premium on the quarterly repayments based on the sale price realized up to a ceiling of $1,400 per ounce. The Company will retain any excess sale proceeds above $1,400 per ounce. The scheduled annual number of physical gold ounces to be deposited into the Gold Trust Account will vary by year, ranging from 23,000 ounces in the first year down to 4,000 ounces in the seventh year and a balance of 23,600 ounces in the final year of the term of the Notes. There is no mandatory redemption of the Notes prior to maturity, although the Company may be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes if there is a change of control or following certain asset sale transactions. The Notes provide for standard high yield optional redemption provisions. Closing of the Offering will take place following receipt of shareholders approval for issuance of the Warrants as discussed below.

Fitch Rating

Fitch Ratings has assigned an initial rating of B- to Gran Colombia with a Rating Outlook of Stable. Additional information with respect to this rating may be found at www.fitchratings.com.

Existing Holders of the Outstanding Debentures Are Eligible to Participate in the Offering

Existing holders of the Companys Outstanding Debentures that are eligible to participate in the Offering may (subject to complying with certain procedures and requirements) be able to do so by directing some or all of the redemption proceeds from their current debentures into Units on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

Special Shareholders Meeting to Approve Issuance of the Warrants

The Offering includes the issuance of Warrants that, upon exercise in aggregate, would result in potential dilution to existing common shareholders in excess of 25%. In accordance with the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), the Company is seeking approval for the issuance of the Warrants from its shareholders of record on February 20, 2018 at a Special Shareholders Meeting scheduled to take place on March 26, 2018.

Early Redemption of the 2018 Debentures

Following closing of the Offering, the Company will be giving notice to the trustee for the early redemption of all of the issued and outstanding 2018 Debentures at par on or about April 30, 2018.

Consent Solicitation to Expedite Early Redemptions of the 2020 Debentures and the 2024 Debentures

To expedite the early redemptions of the 2020 Debentures and the 2024 Debentures following closing of the Offering, the Company will be seeking consent from the holders thereof to remove the notice period for the early redemption. This will allow the Company to complete the early redemption of all of the issued and outstanding 2020 Debentures and 2024 Debentures at par on the closing date of the Offering. Materials related to the process to obtain debenture holders consents are expected to be distributed by the Company on or about March 1, 2018.

Other Approvals

The completion of the Offering is also subject to the receipt of all necessary regulatory and stock exchange approvals including the receipt of approval by the TSX. Terms outlined herein may be amended as required to receive such approvals.

About Gran Colombia Gold Corp.

Gran Colombia is a Canadian-based gold and silver exploration, development and production company with its primary focus in Colombia. Gran Colombia is currently the largest underground gold and silver producer in Colombia with several underground mines in operation at its Segovia and Marmato operations. Gran Colombia is continuing its expansion and modernization activities at its high-grade Segovia Operations.

Additional information on Gran Colombia can be found by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on its website at www.grancolombiagold.com.

The distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession any document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

This announcement does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States, nor may any securities referred to herein be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration as provided in the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) and the rules and regulations thereunder. The securities referred to herein have not been registered pursuant to the Securities Act and there is no intention to register any of the securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering of securities in the United States.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information:



This news release contains "forward-looking information", which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Offering, including the expected timing and receipt of any required regulatory and shareholders approvals, the closing of the Offering, the expected use of proceeds, the redemption of the Outstanding Debentures, the anticipated improvement to the Companys capital structure and reduction of potential dilution, anticipated business plans or strategies. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative 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 statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Gran Colombia to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated as of March 30, 2017, which is available for view on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and Gran Colombia disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

For Further Information, Please Contact:

Mike Davies

Chief Financial Officer

(416) 360-4653

investorrelations@grancolombiagold.comMontreal, Quebec, February 15, 2018 - SEMAFO Inc. (TSX, OMX: SMF) today announced 2018 production and cost guidance for its Mana and Boungou Mines in Burkina Faso. All amounts are in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

Highlights

Consolidated production of between 235,000 and 265,000 ounces of gold, representing a 21% increase over 2017 production

All-in sustaining cost 1 for 2018 of between $900 and $940 per ounce

for 2018 of between $900 and $940 per ounce Total production of 75,000 ounces at Boungou in 2018, of which 60,000 to 70,000 ounces in commercial production

2018 Outlook

2018 Guidance Consolidated Mana Boungou (Commercial) Gold production ('000 oz) 235 - 265 175 - 195 60 - 70 All-in sustaining cost ($/oz) 900 - 940 1,020 - 1,070 545 - 570 Capital Expenditure (included in AISC)

(in millions of $) Sustaining 13 10 3 Stripping 55 44 11 68 54 14

Development capital expenditures that are not included in the AISC for 2018 are $14.5 million out of the total of $51.7 million for Siou underground.

The general and administrative expense for 2018 has been forecast at $16 million.

A number of assumptions were made in preparing the 2018 guidance, including

Price of gold: $1,250 US dollars per ounce

Price of fuel: $1.08 US dollars per litre

Exchange rate: $0.80 US dollars to the Canadian dollar

Exchange rate: $1.20 US dollars to the Euro

Four months of commercial production at Boungou

In 2018, the Mana mill should process approximately 2.6 million tonnes at an average grade of 2.52 g/t Au, with an average gold recovery rate of 89%. A total of 2.1 million tonnes of ore will be extracted from the Siou and Wona pits at an average grade of 2.71 g/t Au, with the remaining balance sourced from stockpiles and low-grade material.

The lower production and higher cost in 2018 result from the mine sequencing, the lower recovery rate, and the negative effect of foreign exchange. Following the PFS results, mining at Siou in 2018 is restricted to the northern part since underground development of the southern portion of Siou will begin in the third quarter. The lower recovery rate is attributable to the higher proportion of ore sourced from the Wona pit. The 10% increase in the value of the Euro affected approximately 75% of our costs, which are denominated in Euro or Euro-equivalent currencies.

During the year, we expect to produce about 75,000 ounces at Boungou, of which 60,000-70,000 ounces in commercial production. Once in commercial production, Boungou should process approximately 0.45 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 4.87 g/t Au with an average gold recovery rate of 93%.

2018 Exploration

Initial exploration expenditure for 2018 has been set at $26 million, $9 million of which will be spent at Boungou, $7 million at the Mana Project, $4 million at Nabanga, $3 million at Korhogo and the remaining $3 million in the Bantou area.

The 2018 exploration program at Mana includes 10,000 meters of core, 25,000 meters of reverse-circulation and 60,000 meters of auger drilling. The core drill program will primarily target the Siou area with the aim of assessing the north part of Siou at depth. The Bara Trend located some 20 kilometers from the Mana mill will see extensive drilling in the first quarter, including follow-up work on significant RC results and untested auger anomalies.

At Boungou, the 2018 exploration program comprises 42,000 meters of RC and 60,000 meters of auger drilling. The bulk of the RC drill work will test regional gold anomalies on the Boungou proximal, Dangou, Pambourou and 045 Trend Sectors.

The 2018 core drill program at the Nabanga deposit, which will be carried out in the first half of the year, will test lateral and-at depth extension of the mineralization. Furthermore, the Corporation will carry out core and RC drill programs on the Korhogo and Bantou areas following a series of prospective results in 2017.

About SEMAFO

SEMAFO is a Canadian-based mining company with gold production and exploration activities in West Africa. The Corporation operates the Mana Mine in Burkina Faso, which includes the high-grade satellite deposits of Siou and Fofina, and is targeting production start-up of the Boungou Mine in the third quarter of 2018. SEMAFO's strategic focus is to maximize shareholder value by effectively managing its existing assets as well as pursuing organic and strategic growth opportunities.

CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and accordingly, actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. You are hence cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include words or expressions such as "outlook", "guidance", "forecast", "assumptions", "should", "will", "initial", "maximise", "growth", "opportunities" and other similar words or expressions. Factors that could cause future results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include the ability to meet our 2018 production guidance of between 235,000 and 265,000 ounces of gold at an all-in-sustaining cost of between $900 and $940 per ounce, the ability to incur a total of $68 million capital expenditures at Mana and Boungou in 2018, the ability to keep our general and administrative expenditures at $16 million, the accuracy of our assumptions, the ability of the Mana mill to process approximately 2.6 million tonnes at an average grade of 2.52 g/t Au with an average gold recovery rate of 89%, the ability to extract a total of 2.1 million tonnes of ore from the Siou, Fofina and Wona pits at an average grade of 2.71 g/t Au, the ability to begin the underground development of the southern portion of Siou in the third quarter of 2018, the ability to produce a total of about 75,000 ounces at Boungou in 2018 of which 60,000 to 70,000 ounces in commercial production, the ability to process 0.45 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 4.87 g/t with an average gold recovery rate of 93%, the ability to invest a total of $26 million in our initial exploration program, the ability to follow our initial exploration program, the ability to start production start-up of the Boungou Mine in the third quarter of 2018, the ability to execute on our strategic focus, fluctuation in the price of currencies, gold or operating costs, mining industry risks, uncertainty as to calculation of mineral reserves and resources, delays, political and social stability in Africa (including our ability to maintain or renew licenses and permits) and other risks described in SEMAFO's documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. You can find further information with respect to these and other risks in SEMAFO's 2016 Annual MD&A, as updated in SEMAFO's 2017 First Quarter MD&A, 2017 Second Quarter MD&A and 2017 Third Quarter MD&A and other filings made with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com. These documents are also available on our website at www.semafo.com. SEMAFO disclaims any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.

The information in this release is subject to the disclosure requirements of SEMAFO under the Swedish Securities Market Act and/or the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act. This information was publicly communicated on February 15, 2018 at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.

For more information, contact

SEMAFO

John Jentz

Vice-President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations

Email: John.Jentz@semafo.com







Ruth Hanna

Analyst, Investor Relations

Email: Ruth.Hanna@semafo.com







Tel. local & overseas: +1 (514) 744 4408

North America Toll-Free: 1 (888) 744 4408

Website: www.semafo.com

Attachments:

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3024e91e-c657-41c6-9b50-cfa5846d7a53NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aurora Solar Technologies Inc. (Aurora) (Company) (TSX.V:ACU) (OTCBB:AACTF) (FSE:A82) is pleased to provide an update on the further development of its Decima Gemini infrared measurement technology for applications in the rapidly developing heterojunction (HJT) cell manufacturing market.



HJT is an ultra high-efficiency solar cell design pioneered by Japan's Panasonic Corp., who is now also partnered with Tesla Inc. for solar products. According to Solar Media Ltd., HJT production capacity is expected to increase by 20 percent this year.

To produce the electrical structure of a HJT cell, it is necessary to apply thin layers of amorphous silicon on both sides of a crystalline silicon wafer as well as transparent, conductive oxide layers (TCO) to absorb the generated power. The TCOs are the conduits allowing electrical current to flow from the active portion of the cell to the metal contacts. Optimizing and controlling the uniformity of the TCO layers during cell manufacturing is crucial to maximizing the power and yield of the HJT Cells.

Aurora is pleased to report that the company has now experimentally validated the capability of its Decima Gemini infrared measurement technology to measure critical parameters of TCO layers that can vary during production. This capability, combined with Auroras Veritas software, can assist in design verification, production line ramp-up and characterizing the sources of variation in the TCO layer that impact the final performance of the cell.

Our Decima infrared measurement technology is very versatile in its potential applications, and this is an excellent example of that versatility, stated Gordon Deans, Auroras Chief Operating Officer. Not only was this validation achieved with our existing field-proven technology, but we also understand from discussions with potential customers that no other viable measurement alternative exists at present.

An increasing number of HJT solar cell manufacturers have now expressed strong interest in using such a measurement capability in their R&D and manufacturing. The company is in the process of commercializing this capability. In this capacity, the Company will be making a presentation on techniques for measuring, analyzing and controlling production quality for advanced cell designs such as HJT at PV CellTech in Penang, Malaysia March 13-14 and will host a webinar for industry on March 6th (see https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/8273658261876158210 to register for this technical event).



The Company also will be exhibiting at the International Photovoltaic Power Generation Conference and Exhibit in Shanghai, China May 28-30, 2018. Finally, Auroras Steve McDonald, Vice President, Application Engineering was recently interviewed by the solar industrys media group PV Tech. The interview is available at https://www.pv-tech.org/interviews/pv-talk-adopting-inline-process-tools-to-maximize-fab-operations.

About Aurora Solar Technologies:

Auroras mission is to deliver exceptional results to the photovoltaic industry through measurement and control of critical processes during solar cell manufacturing.

We measure and map the results of critical cell fabrication processes, providing real-time visualization of material properties and true production tool performance. Our products provide process engineers and production-line operators with the means to rapidly detect and correct process excursions, material faults, limit variations, and optimize processes, thereby eliminating yield-reducing and profit-killing product variation.

We are creating the standard for quality control systems for the global photovoltaic industry.

Headquartered in North Vancouver, Canada, and founded by experienced leaders in process measurement, semiconductor manufacturing and industrial automation, the Companys shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and trade under the symbol ACU. The Company was formerly ACT Aurora Control Technologies. For more information, Auroras website is located at www.aurorasolartech.com.

For further information contact:

Michael Heaven, P.Eng., MBA

President & Chief Executive Officer

Aurora Solar Technologies Inc.

Phone: +1 (778) 241-5000

info@aurorasolartech.com

Investor Relations contact:

Nina Lafleur

Phone: +1 (604) 679-9964

info@aurorasolartech.com

Paradox Public Relations

Phone: +1 (514) 341-0408

info@paradox-pr.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Some statements in this news release contain forwardlooking information. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forwardlooking statement.Vavali wrote:

ANswer with explanation please. Thanks



Demographers doing research for an international economics newsletter claim that the average per capita income in the country of Kuptala is substantially lower than that in the country of Bahlton. They also claim, however, that whereas poverty is relatively rare in Kuptala, over half the population of Bahlton lives in extreme poverty. At least one of the demographers claims must, therefore, be wrong.

The argument above is most vulnerable to which of the following criticisms?

(A) It rejects an empirical claim about the average per capita incomes in the two countries without making any attempt to discredit that claim by offering additional economic evidence.

(B) It treats the vague term poverty as though it had a precise and universally accepted meaning.

(C) It overlooks the possibility that the number of people in the two countries who live in poverty could be the same even though the percentages of the two populations that live in poverty differ markedly.

(D) It fails to show that wealth and poverty have the same social significance in Kuptala as in Bahlton.

(E) It does not consider the possibility that incomes in Kuptala, unlike those in Bahlton, might all be very close to the countrys average per capita income.

Demographers doing research for an international economics newsletter claim that the average per capita income in the country of Kuptala is substantially lower than that in the country of Bahlton." -



"They also claim, however, that whereas poverty is relatively rare in Kuptala, over half the population of Bahlton lives in extreme poverty. At least one of the demographers claims must, therefore, be wrong."

At least one of the demographers claims must, therefore, be wrong."



Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor



Learn more about how Veritas Prep can help you achieve a great GMAT score by checking out their KarishmaVeritas Prep GMAT InstructorLearn more about how Veritas Prep can help you achieve a great GMAT score by checking out their GMAT Prep Options > Signature Read More

Responding to a pm:Let's understand the argument:Say average per capita income of K is $10,000Say average per capita income of B is $40,000This is possible with the numbers given above, right? Say, poverty is defined as < $5000. Say, most people in K earn $10,000. Very few are less than $5000 and very few are above $15000. Say most people lie close to the average.On the other hand, it is possible that 80% of people in B earn only $1000. Then the rest of the 20% must have very high income i.e. say $150,000. In that case, even though average per capita income would be relatively higher, most of the population would be below poverty line.This is incorrect conclusion. It is not necessary that at least one of the demographers claims must be wrong as we showed above with some numbers.The argument above is most vulnerable to which of the following criticisms?(E) It does not consider the possibility that incomes in Kuptala, unlike those in Bahlton, might all be very close to the countrys average per capita income.This is exactly what we thought. Incomes in K might be very close to the country's average so that very few people have less than average income (or below poverty line) whereas the gap between in incomes in B might be very high such that many people fall below the poverty line.Hence (E) is the answer._________________ATTENTION EVERYONE:- MCKINSEY'S EMERGING SCHOLARS 2018 APPLICATION IS LIVE!



INTRODUCTION:- Your MBA experience will set you on a journey of self-discovery and enrichment, and you will undoubtedly have many professional paths to consider. We hope youll consider McKinsey as the next step in your journey because we provide an unparalleled opportunity for you to be at your best, doing the best, most meaningful work with the best teams. Emerging Scholars presents an early introduction to the firm, which will enable you to build relationships with our consultants and your peers in advance of the fall recruiting season.

If you are interested in making a difference in the world by tackling some of today's most pressing challenges across industries and functions, we would love to meet you. We are particularly excited to meet admitted MBA students who are entrepreneurial, creative, and eager to participate in a close-knit, mentorship-focused community.





Eligibility requirements:-



Candidates need to be admitted to a full-time MBA program beginning in the Fall of 2018 at one of the following 17 schools*.



Please note that the program is limited to students entering full-time programs only. Dual degree program students are eligible to apply (e.g. MD/MBA, JD/MBA). Students currently living outside of the U.S. are also welcome to apply.



Eligible schools:-



Columbia (Graduate School of Business)



Cornell (Johnson)



Dartmouth (Tuck)



Duke (Fuqua)



Harvard (Business School)



New York University (Stern)



Northwestern (Kellogg)



Stanford (Graduate School of Business)



University of California at Berkeley (Haas)



University of California at Los Angeles (Anderson)



University of Chicago (Booth)



University of Michigan (Ross)



University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)



University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)



University of Virginia (Darden)



Washington University in St. Louis (Olin)



Yale (School of Management)



How to apply



Please submit your application online by May 17, 2018. The application process is simple and takes only a few minutes to complete.



All applications will be reviewed and we will notify you of next steps within a few weeks of our application deadline. We will announce our scholars by early July and host a celebration event shortly thereafter.

Emerging Scholars is a scholarship, a support network, and a coaching resource to help you get the most out of your MBA experience and to help you prepare for your GUARANTEED McKinsey interview. This is the HUGE opportunity for those who are looking to break into the consulting world. It cannot get better than McKinsey. Apply away if you are eligible.Lets hear it from the company itself :-_________________WillGetIt wrote:

To reduce productivity losses from employees calling in sick, Corporation X implemented a new policy requiring employees to come into work unless they were so sick that they had to go to a doctor. But a year after the policy was implemented, a study found that Corporation X's overall productivity losses due to reported employee illnesses had increased.



Which of the following, if true, would best explain why the policy produced the reverse of its intended effect?



(A) After the policy was implemented, employees more frequently went to the doctor when they felt sick



(B) Before the policy was implemented, employees who were not sick at all often called in sick



(C) Employees coming into work when sick often infect many of their coworkers



(D) Unusually few employees became genuinely sick during the year after the policy was implemented



(E) There are many other factors besides employee illness that can adversely affect productivity





Solution

Passage analysis

To reduce productivity losses from employees calling in sick, Corporation X implemented a new policy

Corporation X wanted to bring about a reduction in the loss of productivity that was caused by employees falling sick and being absent from work.

requiring employees to come into work unless they were so sick that they had to go to a doctor.

As per the policy, the employees would have to come to office if they were not too sick.

Too sick to come to office would be allowed only if the employee was so sick that he had to visit the doctor.

If he was not sick enough to visit the doctor, then he was to come to office.

But a year after the policy was implemented, a study found that Corporation Xs overall productivity losses due to reported employee illnesses had increased.

However, a year after the policy was put into effect,

the overall losses in productivity caused by absenteeism of sick employees actually increased.

Prethinking

Thought process

There is loss of productivity when an employee calls in sick and does not come to the office.

Corporation X wanted to minimize the absenteeism caused by employees calling in sick, since, the more the number of employees calling in sick, the more the loss of productivity

So, the employees were asked to attend office if they were not very sick (they would be considered too sick to come to office only if they had to visit the doctor).

A year after the implementation of the plan, the productivity loss caused by employees calling in sick, had increased.

Answer Choice Analysis

A

B

C

D

E

We know:If more employees were asked to attend office if they were not too sick, then the productivity loss should have decreased with a decrease in absenteeism due to sickness. But the productivity loss increased.This is the paradox in the passage that we have to resolve.It seems to be a case or policy having turned counter-productive.Firstly, it is possible that the slightly sick people who attended the office could have infected the other employees who perhaps owing to a weaker immune system, fell seriously sick and were absent for many days causing greater loss in productivity than would have taken place if only those employees had not attended office when they were slightly sickSecondly, it is possible that because of the policy, people felt they had to attend office in spite of being very sick. They could have landed up infecting other employees who also fell sick and that would explain the increased loss in productivity.Thirdly, it is possible that some kind of epidemic broke out in the city an unusually high number of employees fell very sick leading to the increased productivity loss.This option is about the number of times an employee visited the doctor. The option does not tell us that more employees felt sick enough to visit the doctor which would have explained the increased absenteeismThus, this is not the correct answer choice.This provides support for the implementation of the policy. But it fails to explain what happened a year after the implementation of the policy. In fact, after the policy was implemented, the number of employees who were lying to stay away from work should have decreased and subsequently, productivity losses should have decreased too.Thus, this is not the correct answer choice.This is in line with our pre-thinking.Thus, this is the correct answer choice.This in fact should have decreased productivity losses to a great extent. If very few employees became genuinely sick, then as per the policy they should have come to the office. In any case, this option does not really tell us what these employees finally did  whether they opted to stay away from work or attended office.Thus, this is not the correct answer choice.It may very well be so. But the passage specifically talks about increased productivity losses caused by absenteeism due to sickness. Therefore, this has no impact on the paradox. It stays unresolved.Thus, this is not the correct answer choice._________________New Delhi, Feb 17 (IBNS): Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that the country has to ensure social democracy along with political democracy to bring the fruits of democratic functioning to those who have been left out of our countrys development story.

He was addressing the National Seminar on Whither India, in Kozhikode, Kerala on Saturday.

The Minister for Local Administration, Kerala, K.T. Jaleel and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

The Vice President said that everyone must live up to the ideals not only of our ancient past but also to the ideas and the framework given to us by the Constitution makers.

He further said that Gandhi ji had said that cleanliness is much more important than political freedom.

He was probably referring to cleanliness in a metaphorical manner in addition to the literal manner of maintaining clean surroundings, he added.

The Vice President said that focus is needed on many blots on our social fabric which Gandhi ji had talked about including untouchability, corruption, communalism, casteism, religious fanatism and mindless terrorism.

He further said that one needs to honestly introspect and take necessary steps to strengthen democracy both political and social.

He further said that we must walk the talk by effectively implementing the policies we enact. Inaction, apathy and lip sympathy will not take our country forward, he added.

The Vice President said that public systems which are responsive to the emerging needs of the people must be put in place.

Ideals and ideas must get translated into programmes of action, he added.

Following is the text of Vice Presidents address:

I am happy to be with all of you for the inauguration of the national seminar on whither India in connection with the commemoration of 40 years of Shri P.S. Sreedharan Pillais professional career as an advocate as also the completion of his 100th literary work.

I have known advocate P.S.Sreedharan Pillai for a very long time. He is a highly accomplished person. He is a person with extraordinary legal acumen. He is also a prolific writer who has written 100 books on various topics ranging from poetry to socio-political issues. He is also a veteran political leader and a social worker.

I am glad that this programme is organized by citizen forum of Calicut which includes leaders of all major political parties and members of socio cultural organizations. It is also good that the Citizens Forum of Kozhikode is organising Seminars on Whither Indian Economy and Whither Indian Judiciary to celebrate his achievements.

The topic of todays seminar is Whither India? The questions you are going to discuss are what kind of an India we inherited, what was the vision of our Constitution makers and what kind of India we are collectively building.

We have a long illustrious heritage spanning more than a million years. We as a nation are very young but as a civilisation we are very old. The essence of Indianness has been defined by Will Durant in the following words:



India will teach us the tolerance and gentleness of mature mind, understanding spirit and a unifying, pacifying love for all human being.

These are timeless values that give Indian vision a unique universal appeal. Our concept of the whole world as one family (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam), our ability to welcome good ideas from around the world (Aano Bhadrah Kratavo Yantu Vishwathah) and the ability to work together (Saha veeryam Kara va vahai) have been the underlying philosophical underpinnings.

This world view got a new expression during our freedom struggle when Gandhiji used non-violence as the principal strategy for overthrowing colonial rulers.

If one has to summarize the world view of the Constitution makers one has to turn to the Preamble. The values of celebrating diversity, respect for individuals and different sections of the population and the resolve to ensure social, economic and political justice, liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, equity of status and opportunity and promotion of fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual form the corner stone of our democratic, republic which took shape 70 years ago.

The Preamble of the Constitution of India provides the moral compass for our countrys governance structure.

The legislature, the executive and the judiciary have necessarily been turning to the Preamble for guidance. The actions of the three wings of our polity are judged by the extent to which they deepen the roots of our democratic framework.

We take pride in the fact that ours is the largest democracy in the world. We can be legitimately proud of the fact that barring a few aberrations like the dark days of the emergency we have consistently strengthened the system of democratic governance we have chosen to adopt. Each of our institutions namely legislature, executive and the judiciary have been functioning quite effectively even though there have been moments of elation as well as frustration.

We can be proud of the fact that we had adopted Universal Suffrage right from the time we became independent and have been electing public representatives through a fairly credible election process.

Our parliamentarians and the state legislatures have been enacting laws in response to various public issues and concerns of the people of our country.

We have enough legal safeguards to ensure social justice and the protection of minority groups.

We have one of the best civil services in the world, a strong civil society and the presence of a free, vibrant media.

While all these make us feel proud as Indians and we continue to make progress on many fronts, we also recognize that innumerable challenges which have not been fully met. We are also faced with a number of emerging challenges in the context of the fast changing geo-political developments across the world.

We still have the largest illiterate population in the world, a sizeable section of the population lives below poverty line, hunger and mal-nutrition continue to be widely prevalent. Cleanliness, sanitation, lack of clean drinking water still continues to be problematic. The public healthcare and education systems need considerable strengthening. Atrocities on women, discrimination, intolerance continue to be the sore points in our contemporary society.

Clearly, these are unfinished agendas which we need to address.

The good news is that in the last few years, the economy has improved and India has become of the fastest growing economies in the world as can be clearly seen from the reports of World Bank, IMF and other bodies. What we need to do now is to ensure that this phenomenal growth translates into better quality of life for all citizens.

In a way what we should try to do is to deepen the roots of our democracy by ensuring effective performance of the existing institutions and also continuously reform them to improve service delivery.

As envisaged by Gandhiji and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, we have to ensure social democracy along with political democracy which would bring the fruits of democratic functioning to those who have been left out of our countrys development story.

We need to focus on the many blots on our social fabric which Gandhiji had talked about including untouchability, corruption, communalism, casteism, religious fanatism and mindless terrorism.

Gandhiji had said that cleanliness is much more important than political freedom. He was probably referring to cleanliness in a metaphorical manner in addition to the literal manner of maintaining clean surroundings. Today we need to live upto the ideals not only of our ancient past but also to the ideas and the framework given to us by the Constitution makers.

I would suggest that we need to honestly introspect and take whatever steps we can individually and collectively take to strengthen democracy both political and social. We must walk the talk by effectively implementing the policies we enact. Inaction, apathy and lip sympathy will not take our country forward. Solid work competently and confidently done with attention to outcomes is the need of the hour. We need to have public systems which are responsive to the emerging needs of the people. Ideals and ideas must get translated into programmes of action.

Lord Sri Krishna in Bhagvad Gita had two important messages for all of us. He told Arjuna Niyatam Kuru Karma Twam (Do you duty) and Yogah Karnasu Kaushalam (Doing your duty well is yoga). We must hitch our countrys development wagon to the stars and be ambitious. We must settle for nothing less that the best in our governance and ensure the Swarajya we inherited is transformed into Su-rajya contributing to the well being of every citizen in our country.

We must move our country forward on the strength of the positive thoughts from the past but with the wisdom to anticipate future trends in the world. We have to create our future now.

I am glad all of you belonging to different political parties and different ideologies and beliefs have come together today. This is the kind of confluence we need in India. A confluence of minds and hearts that our Vedic seers talked about millions of years ago when they said Samaani Hridayani Va, Samaanam Astu Vo Mano (May our intentions and aspirations be alike, so that a common objective unifies us all).

I hope eminent leaders assembled here as well as all enlightened citizens attending this seminar especially my young friends will avoid the dreary desert sands of dead habit that Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore warned us about.

The current Indian context is full of infinite opportunities. It is an aspirational India with a transformational vision. The next few decades can potentially be Indias decades. It is my fervent hope that with strong political will and competent administrative skill we have in our country, we should see an India that has internalised the Constitutional values.

I am happy to share with you a few thoughts on this pleasant occasion and compliment Shri Sreedharan Pillai on his contribution to the country over the last many years.

Jai Hind!New York, Feb 17 (JEN): Since the 1960s, Nigeria has been a major contributor of troops and police to United Nations peace operations, having served in dozens of missions. Most recently, Nigerian troops were the military backbone of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), from 2003-2018, helping to restore security throughout a country that had undergone a brutal civil war.

In January 2018, Liberians and the international community watched the first democratic transfer of power in the country in decades  thanks in no small part to Nigeria and other troop and police contributing countries.

Liberias new President, George Weah, recently commended UNMIL for its longstanding support to peace and stability, saying: The Liberian people will forever remain grateful to you for your bravery and service to our great nation Remember Liberia is your home.

Nigeria was one of the first countries to provide troops in Liberia in 2003, and was among the last to leave, its final troops flying out just last week.

Below is a snapshot of Nigerias active participation in UN peacekeeping around the world over the years.

UN Photo/Albert Gonzalez FarranKabul, Feb 17 (IBNS): At least five policemen were killed in Afghanistan's Zabul province by Taliban insurgents.

According to local Tolo News, the insurgents attacked a police check post in Mullah Din area of Qalat city on Saturday.

The outlet quoted officials as stating that the militants decamped with police weapons.

Meanwhile, a Taliban heroin lab was destroyed by a drone strike conducted by the US forces in western Farah province of Afghanistan.

At least eight militants were killed during the air raid.

"According to the police officials, the heroin lab was located in Ashkan village and around one thousand kgs of drugs were also destroyed during the raid," the state-run Khaama Press reported.

The Taliban is yet to issue a report for both the incidents.Victoria/Edmonton, Feb 17 (IBNS): New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh has aimed to stay neutral in the entire pipeline feud which involves British Columbia and Alberta, media reports said.

Singh has refused to take any side of either of the NDP premiers of both the provinces.

The new NDP leader has chosen to be a diplomat on the entire feud.

Singh told CBC Radio's The House that both premiers, Notley and Horgan, are doing exactly what they have promised to do.

Weeks ago, B.C. premier Horgan had proposed restrictions on bitumen shipments which flow through the pipeline from Alberta to west coast.

In response, Atlanta premier Notley had withdrawn his province from purchasing hydro and wine from B.C..

Though Notley had reached out to Canadian PM Justin Trudeau seeking resolution to the issue, neither of the premiers discussed the matter with NDP chief Singh.

Singh confirmed to The House, "I haven't spoken to either of them on this issue".He said that Irans invasion of Israeli airspace with a surprisingly advanced unmanned aerial vehicle, and Israels strong military response against Syrian air defenses was an example of just how complex the situation is throughout that part of the Middle East, and therefore why anyone incident has a potential to escalate.

Most people think this was an Iranian drone flown out of Syria, he continued. What this means is that Iran is right on Israels border. Iran has long been the largest state funder of international terrorism. We know theyre trying to get nuclear weapons, their ballistic missile program is well advanced, so Israel and many of the Arab states in the region are threatened.

According to Bolton, Israel retaliated quite properly to Irans action, regrettably losing an F-16 fighter jet in the process, which he believed was the first Israeli F-16 to be shot down in ten years.

He said, You have to ask: did the Syrians suddenly get a lot better? I think the answer to that is no. Probably what that means is there is a more sophisticated anti-aircraft air defense system now deployed in Syria. Is it a Russian S-300? Maybe something less sophisticated? Is it manned by Iranian soldiers? Quite possibly. Were there Russian advisers nearby? Did the Russian advisers participate in the air defense? We dont know. Its a question worth asking.

The incident was linked to defensive U.S. airstrikes in Syria over the past week, Bolton believes. Forces loyal to the regime in Damascus approached Syrian rebel positions where American advisers were present. He noted, It turns out that the result of the airstrike by American forces was dozensor, if you look at some press reports, a hundred or two hundredso-called Russian mercenaries.

Russia is projecting power in the Middle East. They are aligned with Iran. This is a very dangerous moment there for Israel, for some of the oil-producing monarchiesand obviously its dangerous for us, too, Bolton warned, and added, The Trump administration has a lot of ground to make up here. He called Iran, the principal threat to peace and security in the region.

Bolton also talked about the American intelligence communitys latest worldwide threat assessment  which he felt underestimated the dangers of nuclear proliferation. We are facing a very hard decision with North Korea in the very near future. Iran is right behind them. If these two countries get deliverable nuclear weapons, I think youre going to see a massive spread to other wannabe nuclear weapons states, he warned.

High up a long, winding road in the Appalachian Mountains, a small village is hidden among the hills and forest.

Red Swiss flags hang from the tops of Swiss-style buildings. Above some of the doors are signs with German messages. Folgen sein seligkeit reads one, meaning follow his bliss. Among the businesses is a large Swiss restaurant.

Visitors could, for a moment, think they were in Europe. But no, this is Helvetia, West Virginia, in the United States.

A beautiful mix of Swiss and Appalachian

A group of settlers from Switzerland settled Helvetia in 1869. West Virginia had only been a state for six years.

Anna Chandler works for the Helvetian Archives, which records the history of the town through photos and documents. She says West Virginias government was seeking to increase the states population in its early years. So, she said, state employees traveled to the city of Bern, in German-speaking Switzerland. There they found people willing to travel to West Virginia and build a community.

Helvetia has remained small to this day. And it also stayed true to its cultural roots. Or as Clara Lehmann, a member of the Helvetian Restoration and Development Association, explains, Helvetia is like a beautiful mixture of Swiss and Appalachian.

Because of Helvetias remoteness, traveling to or leaving the town was difficult, says Chandler. This has helped the town keep its strong Swiss identity.

Just that isolation makes it very difficult sometimes to bring new things in. So part of the fact that a lot of those traditions are still here is just because there was not a way for them to leave.

As of the most recent official count, 59 people live in Helvetia. Many are direct descendants from the original Swiss settlers.

Lehmanns great grandfather, for example, was among the first Swiss settlers of Helvetia. She says that everyone on her mothers side of the family grew up in Helvetia.

Lehmann herself left Helvetia for a few years for school and work. However, she says she always felt a pull to return, and in time, she surrendered to it.

Fasnacht: Guarding Swiss traditions

Part of those traditions means the town celebrates several Swiss holidays every year. The largest and most festive is called Fasnacht.

It has Catholic roots.

Fasnacht is a Swiss tradition, the root of the word is fasting night, its a tradition that you practice before lent. You're essentially gorging yourself and having excess right before you're going to be very austere. Just like Mardi Gras and Carnival.

Helvetias Fasnacht is observed on the Saturday before the start of the Christian period of Lent. Lent always begins in February or March. This year, Fasnacht took place on February 10.

In the towns early history, Lehmann said, Fasnacht was only celebrated privately at home or with friends. However, in 1968, Lehmanns grandmother, Eleanor Maillouix, and friends decided to make the festival a larger event for the town.

As word of the event spread through West Virginia, Fasnacht grew in popularity. Now hundreds of visitors come from surrounding communities to join the locals at the yearly party.

The celebration begins in the afternoon when local musicians gather at Star Band Hall to play music. Crowds come to eat, drink and enjoy the sounds of live old-time, folk, and country music.

Later in the evening, people move outside and put on many different homemade masks. Similar to Mardi Gras, the Fasnacht masks represent escape from ones identity. This permits more freedom in behavior.

We prepare masks in secret, in our homes, Lehmann said. Then, she said, mask wearers parade through town, to the community hall, holding candle lampions.

Inside the community hall, a model of old man winter hangs. The masked marchers walk around it, trying to frighten winter away so that spring will come. At that point the masks come off, the local Red Star Band plays, and the dancing begins.

Helvetia is known for dancing, and during Fasnacht, they demonstrate both their Appalachian and Swiss culture through square dances, waltzes, and Swiss polka dancing. Everyone is expected to dance. In Clara Lehmanns words, If you dont know how to dance, it doesnt matter, because somebodys going to teach you.

At midnight, the music stops. Partiers cut down old man winter, carry it outside, and throw it on a big fire.

That is supposed to say welcome spring, get out of here winter.

Food is also important for Fasnacht. During the day, the towns only restaurant, the Hutte, prepares Swiss-German food. This includes Sauerbraten, bratwurst, and Swiss cheese. Locals also prepare rosettes, a traditional Swiss pastry made with fried dough, which they serve during the dance.

Keeping the culture alive

Tradition is important to the people of Helvetia, who have always valued community, says Anna Chandler.

This event that Helvetia and some of the other communities around do through the year, lets folks come home and celebrate the way they knew as a kid, or as they remember their grandparents talking about.

Continuing these traditions in Helvetia does have its difficulties. Economic problems in West Virginia have made it difficult for Helvetians to find jobs. The population has decreased over the years.

But those still living in Helvetia refuse to let their culture disappear.

You have to really fight to maintain a tradition. But I think that's whats really cool about Helvetia is were super stubbornand we want to hold onto the Swiss identity We see the value of holding on to some of these traditions that speak to your soul and that elevate your experience of life, so I think thats why we continue to do it.

Im Phil Dierking.

And I'm Caty Weaver.

This story was written by Phil Dierking for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

Do you have any old traditions that your community still celebrates? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

austerity  n. a simple and plain qualit

bratwurst  n. a type of fine German pork sausage that is typically fried or grilled.

descendant  n. someone who is related to a person or group of people who lived in the past

excess  n. an amount that is more than the usual or necessary amount

festival  n. a special time or event when people gather to celebrate something

gorge  v. to eat large amounts of food

identity  n. the qualities, beliefs, etc., that make a particular person or group different from others

isolation  n. the state of being in a place or situation that is separate from others : the condition of being isolated

lampion  n. a small lamp

mask  n. a covering for your face or for part of your face

midnight - n. 12 o'clock at night

remote  adj. far away

sauerbraten  n. a dish of German origin consisting of beef that is marinated in vinegar with peppercorns, onions, and other seasonings before cooking.

winding - adj. following a series of curves and turnsA United States federal grand jury has charged 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies with plotting to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

The indictment, announced by the Justice Department, came from the office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

The indictment says the defendants used fake social media accounts and stolen identities to influence political opinion.

The Russians goal was to create conflict, the indictment says. It says the defendants efforts were meant to help the campaign of Republican Party candidate Donald Trump and hurt that of Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party nominee.

The charges also say the defendants communicated with unwitting individuals linked to the Trump campaign and activists to organize political activities.

President Trump himself has rejected any Russian interference in the campaign. On Friday, the president wrote on Twitter: Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for President. The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong - no collusion!

The Justice Department named Mueller special counsel in May. The office is under orders to investigate any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump.

Last October, the grand jury also indicted Paul Manafort, who served as Trumps campaign chairman and Rick Gates, another top campaign official. They were charged in connection with their work for the government of Ukraine, two Ukrainian political parties, and former president Viktor Yanukovych.

George Papadopoulos, another advisor for the Trump campaign admitted he had lied to federal investigators about meetings with a Russian agent in connection with the campaign.

In December, a former national security advisor for Trump, Michael Flynn, pleaded guilty in an investigation led by Muellers office.

Flynn admitted to lying about his contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak, before Trumps inauguration. Court papers also say that Flynn knows the identities of members of Trumps transition team that had detailed knowledge of his outreach to Russia.

I'm Dorothy Gundy.

Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on AP and VOA news reports. Caty Weaver was the editor.

_________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

indictment - n. an official written statement charging a person with a crime

defendant - n. a person who is being accused of a crime in a court of law

fake - adj. not real

account - n. a person's internet or service from a company

unwitting - adj. not aware of what is really happening

coordination - n. a process of organizing people or group to work together

associate - v. to work together or connect

transition - n. a change from one administration to anotherA new opinion poll shows strong Turkish public support for Turkeys military campaign in Syria against a Kurdish militia.

The A&G polling company questioned Turkish citizens about the campaign. It reported that 90 percent of those asked expressed support for Operation Olive Branch, the name of the military action.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly told the public that Operation Olive Branch is a national struggle.

He told parliament last week, Only Allah is victorious, and faith is more important than arms. If needed, we'll fight against the world.

Turkeys main media have all repeated Erdogans position, following a message with heavy religious overtones and talk of the countrys past.

Opposing voices, especially on social media, have faced arrest. Earlier this month, 24 people were arrested for publishing stories critical of the Syrian offensive on social media. Hundreds more have been detained.

Effect on upcoming elections

The aggressive reaction to criticism is seen by some observers as government nervousness over public support.

Huseyin Bagci is with the Middle East Technical University in Ankara. He said, People are supporting, yes. But are the people happy? I would doubt this. Every day, there are coffins, with politicians running from one funeral to another. It will not be easy in the long run for them.

The military launched Operation Olive Branch against the Kurdish militia YPG in January. Turkish officials have described YPG fighters as terrorists and linked the group to a rebellion inside the country. However, the militia is receiving assistance from the United States in the fight to contain Islamic State militants.

"There is a national pride among Turks for this operation," said Cengiz Aktar, a political scientist. "We can safely say today, he ((Erdogan)) will win all the upcoming elections this year and next year.

By 2019, Turkey will have faced three elections: local, general and presidential. Some observers think that Erdogan will call early elections to make the most of the nationalist feelings.

Observers say two questions are likely to affect him. The first is, how widespread is public support for Operation Olive Branch? The second: will the current level of excitement lead to votes for the Turkish leader?

Recent opinion polls have shown little change in support for Erdogan or his ruling AK party. While he has a big lead over his political opponents, polls show he is still short of the required 50 percent plus one vote needed to win re-election.

Since the launch of Operation Olive Branch, over 30 Turkish soldiers have been killed. Observers note that there have been few public demonstrations of support in Turkeys main cities.

Differences with the U.S.

On Friday, top diplomats from Turkey and the United States met in Ankara to discuss their differences in Syria. The two sides agreed to try to rescue a strategic relationship that U.S. officials admitted had reached a crisis point.

After the meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke with reporters. He said, "We find ourselves at a bit of a crisis in the relationship.

Tillerson called on Turkey to "show restraint in its operation. But he added that the two countries "share the same objectives in Syria."

At the Ankara talks, Turkey proposed a joint deployment in Syria if YPG fighters leave territory near the border.

Dorian Jones reported this story for VOANews.com. George Grow adapted his report for Learning English with additional report from Reuters. Hai Do was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

Allah  n. the name of God in Islam

faith  n. belief

overtone  n. a secondary meaning or effect

doubt  n. questioning of ones belief or opinion

coffin  n. a box for buying human remains

pride  n. feeling that you are better or more important than other people

survey  n. a study

strategic  adj. useful in carrying out a plan or reaching a goal

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

00:00:11 ALICE WINKLER: There were very few Nazi concentration camp survivors who were willing to tell their stories after World War II ended. A decade passed, and then some. They had lived through something that was beyond words, but Elie Wiesel, who had survived Auschwitz and Buchenwald, knew the stakes were too high for silence. His parents and younger sister had been killed. Six million of his fellow Jews had been killed. He shattered the silence with a slim volume called simply Night.

00:00:48 GEORGE GUIDALL: I pinched myself. Was I still alive? Was I awake? How was it possible that men, women, and children were being burned and that the world kept silent? No. All this could not be real  a nightmare, perhaps. Soon, I would wake up with a start, my heart pounding, and find that I was back in the room of my childhood with my books.

00:01:20 My father's voice tore me from my daydreams. What a shame, a shame that you did not go with your mother. I saw many children your age go with their mothers. His voice was terribly sad. I understood that he did not wish to see what they would do to me. He did not wish to see his only son go up in flames.

00:01:49 My forehead was covered with cold sweat. Still, I told him that I could not believe that human beings were being burned in our times. The world would never tolerate such crimes. The world? The world is not interested in us. Today, everything is possible, even the crematoria.

00:02:16 ALICE WINKLER: That excerpt was from the audiobook version of Night, read by actor George Guidall. Here is Elie Wiesel.

00:02:25 ELIE WIESEL: I wrote it not for myself, really. I wrote it for the other survivors who found it difficult to speak, and I wanted really to tell them, "Look, you must speak. As poorly as we can express our feelings, our memories, but we must try." I wrote it for them because the survivors are a kind of most endangered species.

00:02:51 Every day, every day there are funerals, and I felt they were  for a while, they were so neglected, so abandoned, almost humiliated by society after the war.

00:03:06 ALICE WINKLER: Elie Wiesels own funeral was just two weeks ago, as I am recording this podcast. The most outspoken witness of the Holocaust is gone, so we knew it was time to take his interview and his speeches out of the Academy of Achievements archive to share them with you. This is What It Takes, and Im Alice Winkler.

00:03:31 OPRAH WINFREY: "Hattie Mae, this child is gifted," and I heard that enough that I started to believe it.

00:03:37 ROGER BANNISTER: If you have the opportunity, not a perfect opportunity, and you don't take it, you may never have another chance.

00:03:43 LAURYN HILL: It all was so clear. It was just, like, the picture started to form itself.

00:03:48 DESMOND TUTU: There was no way in which a lie could prevail over the truth, darkness over light, death over life.

00:03:56 CAROL BURNETT (quoting CARRIE HAMILTON): Every day I wake up and decide, today I'm going to love my life. Decide.

00:04:03 JOHNNY CASH: My advice is, if they're going to break your leg once when you go in that place, stay out of there.

00:04:08 JAMES MICHENER: And then along come these differential experiences that you don't look for, you don't plan for, but boy, youd better not miss them.

00:04:22 ALICE WINKLER: When Elie Wiesel agreed to record an interview with the Academy of Achievement, in 1996, he was very concerned about editing. He asked the interviewer, Irv Drasnin, a couple of times, whether he could see the final version. He did not want the meaning of his words to be changed.

00:04:40 ELIE WIESEL: Words are so important to me, you know. Who knows what  once you take out one sentence, it can  you can distort the whole meaning.

00:04:46 ALICE WINKLER: Of course, in this podcast, I normally do a lot of editing, so I hope I do justice to his words. I will leave them as intact as possible. The excerpts youll hear come from several sources: his 1996 interview, a talk and Q&A session with students he gave that same year, as well as two other talks he gave at Academy events in 2003 and 2007. What you will not hear in any of this tape is Elie Wiesel talking about his experiences in a concentration camp.

00:05:21 Those stories, he explained, were literally unspeakable. He could only manage to tell them in writing, and even then, language was not up to the task.

00:05:33 ELIE WIESEL: I used the words simply, "Look, we have to tell the story as best as we can, and we know that we won't succeed." I know I won't succeed. I know I haven't succeeded.

00:05:42 ALICE WINKLER: But where Elie Wiesel did succeed was in forcing the world to confront a hideous reality, and he raised questions about God and man that will never be answered but must keep being asked. Questions, he liked to say, are always far more important than answers.

00:06:09 A few biographical details you should know about Elie Wiesel if you dont already: He was born in Romania to a Hasidic family. Hasids belong to a particularly pious and spiritual sect of Judaism. At 15, he was taken with his family and his entire community to Auschwitz. He and his father were transferred to Buchenwald, where his father would die. He would never see his mother or his youngest sister, Tziporah, again.

00:06:38 ELIE WIESEL: Well, my childhood, really, was a childhood blessed with love and hope and fate and prayer. I come from a very religious home, and in my little town, I was not the only one who prayed and was loved. There were people who were poorer than us, and yet, in my town, we were considered to be not a wealthy family but well-to-do, which means we weren't hungry.

00:07:10 There were people who were. I spent most of my time talking to God more than to people. He was my partner, my friend, my teacher, my king, my sovereign, and I was so crazily religious that nothing else mattered. Oh, from time to time we had anti-Semitic outbursts.

00:07:41 Twice a year, Christmas and Easter, we were afraid to go out because those nights we used to be beaten up by hoodlums. It didn't matter that much. In a way, I was almost used to that. I saw it as part of nature. It's cold in the winter, it's hot in the summer, and Easter and Christmas you are being beaten up by a few anti-Semitic hoodlums.

00:08:08 And now it is still the child in me that asks the questions. It is still the child in me that I am trying to entertain or to reach with my stories, which are his stories.

00:08:24 ALICE WINKLER: After the war, Elie Wiesel became a journalist and an author, a professor and an advocate for human rights. In 1986, he won the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Committee called him a messenger to mankind, one who had worked for peace, atonement, and human dignity, and not just on behalf of the Jews, but on behalf of all humanity. Interviewer Irv Drasnin asked Wiesel who had influenced him most before the war.

00:08:54 ELIE WIESEL: Well, naturally, my grandfather. He was a Hasid, meaning a member of the Hasidic community, and I loved him. I adored him. So thanks to him I became a Hasid, too, and my mother, who actually continued his tradition, she's the one who brought me to Hasidic masters. And all the stories I tell now  I've written so many books with Hasidic tales. These are not mine. These are theirs, my mother's and my grandfather's.

00:09:27 My father taught me how to reason, how to reach my mind. My soul belonged to my grandfather and my mother, and they enriched me, of course. They influenced me profoundly to this day. When I write, I have the feeling, literally, physically, that one of them is behind my back looking over my shoulder and reading what I'm writing, and I'm terribly afraid of their judgment.

00:09:58 ALICE WINKLER: The books he remembers best were religious: the Bible, the Talmud, Hasidic stories.

00:10:04 ELIE WIESEL: After the war, I began reading, of course. I went to the Sorbonne, and I began reading literature. It was still Dostoevsky and Thomas Mann, the usual, Kafka. I remember the awakening that occurred in me when I read for the first time, Franz Kafka. Literally, I remember it. I remember it was in the evening I began reading it and spent the entire night reading, and in the morning I heard the garbage collector around five oclock. Usually, I was annoyed at the garbage collector.

00:10:32 It's a very ugly noise that they make, ugly sounds. That morning I was happy. I wanted to run out and embrace them, all these garbage collectors, because they taught me that there was another world than the world of Kafka, which is absurd and desperate and despairing. I read a lot. I teach my students not creative writing but creative reading, and it is still from my childhood.

00:11:01 You take a text, and you explore it. You enter it with all your heart and all your mind, and then you find clues that were left for you, really foredestined to be received by you from centuries ago. Generation after generation there were people who left clues, and you are there to collect them. And at one point, when you understand something that you hadn't understood before, that is a reward.

00:11:27 As a child, really, at age 10, 11, 12, I was writing already, and I wanted to become a writer, and I even wrote a book of commentaries on the Bible. It's so bad. I found it after the war. It's so horrible. I'm embarrassed even to admit that I had written it. My ambition really was, even as a child, to be a writer, a commentator, and a teacher, but a teacher of Talmud.

00:11:52 And here I am. I'm a writer, for want of a better word, and I'm a teacher.

00:12:06 I was 15 when I entered the camp. I was 16 when I left it, and all of a sudden you become an orphan and you have no one. I had two little sisters. I knew that with my mother the first night, they were swept away by fire.

00:12:29 My older sisters I discovered by accident after the war in Paris. I was in an orphanage. But to be an orphan  you can become an orphan at 50. You are still an orphan, and very often, very often I think of my father and my mother, really. At any important moment in my life, they are there thinking, "What an injustice now, really."

00:12:58 To date, I haven't written much about that period. I wrote 40 books. Maybe four or five deal with that period because I cannot  I know that there are no words for it, so all I can try to do is to communicate the incommunicability of the event. And furthermore, I know that even if I found the words, you wouldn't understand. It is not because I cannot explain that you won't understand. It is because you won't understand that I can't explain.

00:13:33 ALICE WINKLER: And yet, he did try to make us all understand as best we could, but even Elie Wiesel waited ten years after the war before he attempted it.

00:13:48 ELIE WIESEL: You know, you can be a silent witness, which means silence itself can become a way of communication. There is so much in silence. There is an archeology of silence. There is a geography of silence. There is a theology of silence. There is a history of silence.

00:14:05 Silence is universal. And you can work within it  and it even has its own parameter and its own context  and make that silence into a testimony. Job, after he lost his children and everything, his fortune and his health  Job, for seven days and seven nights he was silent. And his three friends who came to visit him were also silent. That must have been a powerful silence, a brilliant silence.

00:14:33 Well, you see, silence itself can be testimony. And I was waiting for ten years, really, but it wasn't the intention that  my intention simply was to be sure that the words I would use were the proper words. I was afraid of language.

00:14:48 ALICE WINKLER: It was his friend Francois Mauriac, a leading French Catholic author and Nobel Prize winner, who pressed him to overcome his fear and find words, even if they were inadequate. Here is another excerpt from the audiobook version of Night, read by actor George Guidall.

00:15:11 GEORGE GUIDALL: Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp that turned my life into one long night seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the small faces of the children whose bodies I saw transformed into smoke under a silent sky. Never shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith forever.

00:15:41 Never shall I forget the nocturnal silence that deprived me for all eternity of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments that murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to ashes. Never shall I forget those things, even were I condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never.

00:16:30 ALICE WINKLER: It seems remarkable in hindsight, but after Elie Wiesel wrote Night, he could not find a publisher willing to take it.

00:16:38 ELIE WIESEL: In spite of Mauriac, who was the most famous author in Europe  he brought it personally from publisher to publisher  they didn't want it. It was too morbid, they said. "Nobody wants to hear these stories." Finally, a small publisher, who, by the way, was also Beckett's publisher  which means he had courage  and he published it. So we brought it to an American publisher. It went from publisher to publisher to publisher. All of them refused it.

00:17:08 They gave the same reasons, until a small publisher picked it up, and from '60 to '63, three years, it didn't sell 1,500 copies. Nobody wanted to read it. It doesn't matter. I am not here to sell. I'm here to write.

00:17:31 ALICE WINKLER: Over the next 50 years, though, Night did sell, an estimated 100 million copies, and Elie Wiesel went on to become the best known and most eloquent witness to the Holocaust. There are several questions that readers tend to ask him when they get the chance, as they did at the Academy of Achievement events.

00:17:50 NEWMAN NAHAS: Newman Nahas. Im a Ph.D. student at Oxford. I did religious studies, and now Im doing philosophy, youll be pleased to hear. I was wondering: How do you reconcile for yourself the ubiquity of suffering with your faith in God?

00:18:05 ELIE WIESEL: This is a  of course, a very important question to me, and I imagine to you, too, since you asked it, but in truth, I never really left it. I never divorced God. I have problems with God. I always had, meaning always, since the war. I come from a very religious background, and immediately after the war, when I went to France, to an orphanage, I really became as religious as before.

00:18:34 Its only after what the psychiatrists call the latency period that I began rebelling, asking questions, and the questions remained open. I did not find any answer. All that I asked then I ask now. In other words, where was He, or, "Where were You? What did You do? How is it possible?" One cannot understand that tragedy with God or without God. There is no answer to it. I can only tell you that I still have faith.

00:19:08 But my faith is wounded. But then there was a great Hasidic master, Rebbe Nachman. He said that: No heart is as whole as a broken heart. And I paraphrase it: No faith is as whole as a wounded faith.

00:19:25 ALICE WINKLER: Another question Elie Wiesel regularly gets asked is how he could possibly have gone on at all after what he endured, even occasionally finding optimism.

00:19:37 ELIE WIESEL: Well, I could answer you and say, "What is the alternative?" But that's not enough. In truth, I have learned something. The enemy wanted to be the one who speaks, and I felt  I still feel  we must see to it that the victim should be the one who speaks and is heard.

00:20:02 And therefore, all my adult life, since I began my life as an author, or as a teacher, I always try to listen to the victim. In other words, if I remain silent, I may help my own soul, but because I do not help other people, I poison my soul. Silence never helps the victim. It only helps the victimizer.

00:20:33 Faith  I think of the killer and I lose all faith, but then I think of the victim, and I am inundated with compassion.

00:20:44 ALICE WINKLER: Elie Wiesels compassion extended to victims of war around the world, whether in Darfur or in the former Yugoslavia, and that compassion often led him to travel and bear witness in person, as he did when he went to Bosnia.

00:21:00 ELIE WIESEL: I would go literally from house to house, from tent to tent, speaking to the victims. Thats all my role, to speak to victims. And I listened, and incredibly, not one person completed the story. He or she always  in the middle of the story  burst out in tears. And then I felt maybe this is the role of the writer today, to collect their tears and turn them into a story and perhaps into prayer.

00:21:38 ALICE WINKLER: Elie Wiesel famously said once that indifference is the epitome of evil, and so he took up the cause of Soviet Jews and Miskito Indians, the disappeared of Argentina, and Cambodian refugees, on and on. He was really a moral compass for the second half of the 20th century and on into the 21st. The one criticism I could find of him was from people who felt that his ardent defense of Israel blinded him to the suffering of Palestinians.

00:22:12 Im not sure ironic is the right word, but there is something profound about the fact that Elie Wiesel managed to find hope all the days of his adult life by running toward the fire, by opening his heart again and again and again to the victims of mans most savage acts against man. He spoke quite a bit about hope amidst despair, during a talk he gave at the Academy of Achievement in 2003. It seems like a good place to end.

00:22:42 ELIE WIESEL: My obsession has been lately hope. Where does one find hope in this century? The century just began. What a century it is. After all, remember, all of you who are students: December 31, 1999. It was a great day and a great night. All over the world, people were celebrating  champagne, dancing, laughing. Why?

00:23:12 Because we all had a feeling: At last, the 20th century is gone. Good-bye.

00:23:21 That was the feeling we all had because it was a terrible century, a century that had so many maledictions and so many curses, almost unparalleled in history. Why?  Because we had two totalitarian ideologies and two world wars and so many other wars and civil wars and revolutions. Wherever you turned there was despair, at least in the first part of the century, the first half.

00:23:52 Later on, we had other problems. We discovered the deception, the betrayal of any ideal, any human ideal, in the Gulag. Even those who in the beginning had hope for humanity as an option, as the kind of laboratory for good things, for fraternity, for peace  which communism used to be, at least in the very beginning, but turned out to be a prison for all that was good, all that was noble in human aspirations.

00:24:26 So where does one turn? And then we hoped the century will be gone and now we can start all over again, and here we are, almost three years later, and we know that its not finished. I think there are dozens and dozens of wars and conflicts, armed conflicts, still going on. Famine has not been vanquished, although it could be. Children still suffer.

00:24:53 Every minute that we speak, literally every minute, somewhere in this world a child dies of disease, of violence, of pain, solitude, hunger. And of course, that is inexcusable, that children should die. Any time a child dies  and here we go with Dostoevsky  it calls into question even Gods existence.

00:25:22 If a child dies, that means something is wrong with creation and perhaps the Creator. And we see now that we didnt do much. Personally, I feel let down by myself, by my generation. We  some of us at least  we tried immediately after the war to bear witness. That was our motto, that was our work, our philosophy, our moral philosophy, to bear witness. Why?

00:25:50 Because we felt if we bear witness and we tell the tale, certain things will not happen again. Impossible. If we tell the next generations, in plural, where hatred is born, why it comes into life, and where it leads, there will be no more hatred, no more racism, no more anti-Semitism, no more fanaticism.

00:26:20 We were convinced, strangely enough, in 1945 when the war ended  and my generation had all the reasons in the world to be terribly pessimistic and give up on anything and become hedonists. Why not? The hell with it; we paid our dues. Lets live a life of pleasure and joy. We owe nothing to anyone. Just the opposite  on a very strange level we were very optimistic.

00:26:49 We said history now will go in a different direction, and since it didnt, I think we feel let down a little bit, and we feel something is wrong. Where do we go? What does one do? What else can one do? I will say it bluntly: if Auschwitz didnt put an end to anti-Semitism, what will?

00:27:13 If it didnt put an end to racism, what will? If it didnt put an end to war, what will? So what else can one do to attain hope? Here I will quote Camus, who is one of my favorite writers and philosophers. Camus, at one point, said, "Where there is no hope, one must invent it." It's almost simplistic what I'm going to tell you, but I think it can have a meaning.

00:27:48 If I think of myself alone, I have the right to despair. If I think of you, I don't.

00:28:03 ALICE WINKLER: Elie Wiesel, survivor, witness, writer, teacher, and humanitarian. He died this year in 2016 at the age of 87.

00:28:15 You heard him speaking here to students at the Academy of Achievement in 1996, 2003, and 2007. There were also excerpts from an Academy interview conducted in 1996. This is What It Takes. Im Alice Winkler. And be sure to listen to our next episode in two weeks, featuring Sir Roger Bannister, the beloved Olympic runner and the first man to run a mile in under four minutes.

00:28:49 Support for What It Takes comes from the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation.

END OF FILEPlains GP Holdings LP owns and operates midstream energy infrastructure and provides logistics services primarily for crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas through its indirect investment in Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. The firm operates through the following segments: Transportation, Facilities and Supply and Logistics. The Transportation segment consists of fee-based activities associated with transporting crude oil and NGL on pipelines, gathering systems, trucks and barges. The Facilities segment consists of fee-based activities associated with providing storage, terminalling and throughput services primarily for crude oil, NGL and natural gas, as well as NGL fractionation and isomerization services and natural gas and condensate processing services. The Supply and Logistics segment consists of storage of inventory during contango market conditions and the seasonal storage of NGL, purchase of NGL from producers, refiners, processors and other marketers, extraction of NGL from gas processed at the facilities. Plains GP Holdings LP was founded in July 2013 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

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3 Under the Radar Dividend Aristocrats to Bank On

Whenever the stock market falters and goes through a period of weakness like we have seen thus far in September, there are two things that investors should do. First, they should reflect on the companies that they own and decide whether or not to reduce their exposure to underperformers that might really drag their portfolio down if the market indeed heads into a corrective phase.

Read ArticleThe following companies are subsidiares of CVS Health: @Credentials Inc., ACS ACQCO CORP., ADMINCO Inc., AE Fourteen Incorporated, AHP Holdings Inc., AMC - Tennessee LLC, APS Acquisition LLC, ASCO HealthCare LLC, ASI Wings LLC, AUSHC Holdings Inc., Accendo Insurance Company, Accordant Health Services L.L.C., Active Health Management Inc., Administrative Enterprises Inc., AdvancePCS SpecialtyRx LLC, AdvanceRx.com L.L.C., Advanced Care Scripts Inc., Aetna, Aetna (Beijing) Enterprise Management Services Co. Ltd., Aetna (Shanghai) Enterprise Services Co. Ltd., Aetna ACO Holdings Inc., Aetna Asset Advisors LLC, Aetna Behavioral Health LLC, Aetna Better Health Inc., Aetna Better Health Inc., Aetna Better Health of California Inc., Aetna Better Health of Florida Inc., Aetna Better Health of Kansas Inc., Aetna Better Health of Michigan Inc., Aetna Better Health of Missouri LLC, Aetna Better Health of Nevada Inc., Aetna Better Health of North Carolina Inc., Aetna Better Health of Oklahoma Inc., Aetna Better Health of Texas Inc., Aetna Better Health of Washington Inc., Aetna Capital Management LLC, Aetna Card Solutions LLC, Aetna Corporate Services LLC, Aetna Dental Inc., Aetna Dental of California Inc., Aetna Financial Holdings LLC, Aetna Florida Inc., Aetna Global Benefits (Asia Pacific) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Bahamas) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Bermuda) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Europe) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Middle East) LLC, Aetna Global Benefits (Singapore) PTE. LTD., Aetna Global Benefits (UK) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits Limited (DIFC UAE), Aetna Global Holdings Limited, Aetna Health Holdings LLC, Aetna Health Inc., Aetna Health Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Aetna Health Insurance Company, Aetna Health Insurance Company of Europe DAC, Aetna Health Management LLC, Aetna Health and Life Insurance Company, Aetna Health of California Inc., Aetna Health of Iowa Inc., Aetna Health of Michigan Inc., Aetna Health of Ohio Inc., Aetna Health of Utah Inc., Aetna HealthAssurance Pennsylvania Inc., Aetna Holdco (UK) Limited, Aetna Holdings (Thailand) Limited, Aetna Inc., Aetna Insurance (Hong Kong) Limite, Aetna Insurance (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Aetna Insurance Company Limited, Aetna Integrated Informatics Inc., Aetna International Inc., Aetna Ireland Inc., Aetna Korea Ltd., Aetna Life & Casualty (Bermuda) Ltd., Aetna Life Assignment Company, Aetna Life Insurance Company, Aetna Medicaid Administrators LLC, Aetna Multi-Strategy 1099 Fund LLC, Aetna Network Services LLC, Aetna Partners Diversified Fund LLC, Aetna Pharmacy Management Services LLC, Aetna Resources LLC, Aetna Risk Assurance Company of Connecticut Inc., Aetna Rx Home Delivery LLC, Aetna Services (Thailand) Limited, Aetna Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Aetna Student Health Agency Inc., Aetna Ventures LLC, Aetna Workers Comp Access LLC, Alabama CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Alaska CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Allina Health and Aetna Insurance Company, Allina Health and Aetna Insurance Holding Company LLC, American Continental Insurance Company, American Drug Stores Delaware L.L.C., American Health Holding Inc., Arbor Drugs, Arizona CVS Stores L.L.C., Arkansas CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Badger Acquisition LLC, Badger Acquisition of Kentucky LLC, Badger Acquisition of Minnesota LLC, Badger Acquisition of Ohio LLC, Banner Health and Aetna Health Insurance Company, Banner Health and Aetna Health Insurance Holding Company LLC, Banner Health and Aetna Health Plan Inc., Beauty Holdings L.L.C., Best Care LTC Acquisition Company LLC, Busse CVS L.L.C., CCI Foreign S.a R.L. (R.C.S. Luxembourg), CCRx Holdings LLC, CCRx of North Carolina LLC, CHP Acquisition LLC, CP Acquisition LLC, CVS 2948 Henderson L.L.C., CVS 3268 Gilbert L.L.C., CVS 3745 Peoria L.L.C., CVS AL Distribution L.L.C., CVS AOC Corporation, CVS AOC Services L.L.C., CVS Albany L.L.C., CVS Bellmore Avenue L.L.C., CVS Care Concierge LLC, CVS Caremark Advanced Technology Pharmacy L.L.C., CVS Caremark Indemnity Ltd., CVS Caremark Part D Services L.L.C., CVS Caremark TN SUTA LLC, CVS Foreign Inc., CVS Gilbert 3272 L.L.C., CVS Health Solutions LLC, CVS Indiana L.L.C., CVS International L.L.C., CVS Kidney Care Advanced Technologies LLC, CVS Kidney Care Health Services LLC, CVS Kidney Care Home Dialysis LLC, CVS Kidney Care LLC, CVS Manchester NH L.L.C., CVS Media Exchange LLC, CVS Michigan L.L.C., CVS Orlando FL Distribution L.L.C., CVS PA Distribution L.L.C., CVS PR Center Inc., CVS Pharmacy Inc., CVS RS Arizona L.L.C., CVS Rx Services Inc., CVS SC Distribution L.L.C., CVS State Capital L.L.C., CVS TN Distribution L.L.C., CVS Transportation L.L.C., CVS Vero FL Distribution L.L.C., Campos Medical Pharmacy LLC, Canal Place LLC, Care Pharmaceutical Services LP, CareCenter Pharmacy L.L.C., Carefree Insurance Services Inc., Caremark Arizona Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Arizona Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark California Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Florida Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Florida Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Hawaii Mail Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Hawaii Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark IPA L.L.C., Caremark Illinois Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Illinois Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Irving Resource Center LLC, Caremark Kansas Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark L.L.C., Caremark Logistics LLC, Caremark Louisiana Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Maryland Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Massachusetts Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Michigan Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Minnesota Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark New Jersey Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark North Carolina Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Ohio Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Pennsylvania Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark PhC L.L.C., Caremark Puerto Rico L.L.C., Caremark Puerto Rico Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Redlands Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Repack LLC, Caremark Rx L.L.C., Caremark Tennessee Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Texas Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Texas Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Ulysses Holding Corp., Caremark Washington Specialty Pharmacy LLC, CaremarkPCS Alabama Mail Pharmacy LLC, CaremarkPCS Health L.L.C., CaremarkPCS L.L.C., Central Rx Services LLC, Claims Administration Corp., Cofinity Inc., Compscript LLC, Connecticut CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Continental Life Insurance Company of Brentwood Tennessee, Continuing Care Rx LLC, Coram Alternate Site Services Inc., Coram Clinical Trials Inc., Coram Healthcare Corporation of Alabama, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Florida, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Greater D.C., Coram Healthcare Corporation of Greater New York, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Indiana, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Massachusetts, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Mississippi, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Nevada, Coram Healthcare Corporation of North Texas, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Northern California, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Southern California, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Southern Florida, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Utah, Coram LLC, Coram Rx LLC, Coram Specialty Infusion, Coram Specialty Infusion Services L.L.C., Coventry Consumer Advantage Inc., Coventry Health Care National Accounts Inc., Coventry Health Care National Network Inc., Coventry Health Care Workers Compensation Inc., Coventry Health Care of Illinois Inc., Coventry Health Care of Kansas Inc., Coventry Health Care of Missouri Inc., Coventry Health Care of Nebraska Inc., Coventry Health Care of Virginia Inc., Coventry Health Care of West Virginia Inc., Coventry Health Plan of Florida Inc., Coventry Health and Life Insurance Company, Coventry HealthCare Management Corporation, Coventry Prescription Management Services Inc., Coventry Rehabilitation Services Inc., Coventry Transplant Network Inc., D & R Pharmaceutical Services LLC, D.A.W. LLC, Delaware CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Delaware Physicians Care Incorporated, Digital eHealth LLC, District of Columbia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., E.T.B. INC., Echo Merger Sub Inc., Eckerd Corporation of Florida Inc., Employee Assistance Services LLC, Enloe Drugs LLC, Enterprise Patient Safety Organization LLC, EntrustRX, Evergreen Pharmaceutical LLC, Evergreen Pharmaceutical of California Inc., Express Pharmacy Services of PA L.L.C., FOCUS HealthCare Management Inc., First Health Group Corp., First Health Life & Health Insurance Company, First Script Network Services Inc., Florida Health Plan Administrators LLC, Garfield Beach CVS L.L.C., Generation Health L.L.C., Geneva Woods Health Services LLC, Geneva Woods LTC Pharmacy LLC, Geneva Woods Management LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy Alaska LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy Washington LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy Wyoming LLC, Geneva Woods Retail Pharmacy LLC, Georgia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., German Dobson CVS L.L.C., Goodhealth Worldwide (Asia) Limited, Goodhealth Worldwide (Global) Limited, Goodyear CVS L.L.C., Grand St. Paul CVS L.L.C., Grandview Pharmacy LLC, Group Dental Service Inc., Group Dental Service of Maryland Inc., Health Care Management Co. Ltd., Health Data & Management Solutions Inc., Health Re Inc., Health and Human Resource Center Inc., HealthAssuance Pennsylvania Inc., Healthagen LLC, Highland Park CVS L.L.C., Holiday CVS L.L.C., Home Care Pharmacy LLC, Home Pharmacy Services LLC, Hook-SupeRx L.L.C., Horizon Behavioral Services LLC, Idaho CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., IlliniCare Health, Indian Health Organisation Private Limited, Innovation Health Holdings LLC, Innovation Health Insurance Company, Innovation Health Plan Inc., Interlock Pharmacy Systems LLC, Iowa CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., JHC Acquisition LLC, Kansas CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Kentucky CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., LCPS Acquisition LLC, Langsam Health Services LLC, Lo-Med Prescription Services LLC, Lobos Acquisition LLC, Longs Drug Stores, Longs Drug Stores California L.L.C., Louisiana CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., MHHP Acquisition Company LLC, MHNet Life and Health Insurance Company, MHNet Specialty Services LLC, MHNet of Florida Inc., Managed Care Coordinators Inc., Managed Healthcare LLC, Martin Health Services LLC, Maryland CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Med World Acquisition Corp., Medical Arts Health Care LLC, Medical Examinations of New York P.C., Melville Realty Company Inc., MemberHealth LLC, Mental Health Associates Inc., Mental Health Network of New York IPA Inc., Meritain Health Inc., Merwin Long Term Care LLC, MetraComp Inc., Minor Health Enterprise Co Ltd., MinuteClinic, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Alabama L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Arizona LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Florida LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Georgia LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Hawaii L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Illinois LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Kentucky L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Louisiana L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Maine L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Maryland LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Massachusetts LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Nebraska L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of New Hampshire L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of New Mexico L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Ohio LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Oklahoma LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Oregon LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Pennsylvania LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Rhode Island LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of South Carolina L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Texas LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Utah L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Virginia LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Washington LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Wisconsin L.L.C., MinuteClinic L.L.C., MinuteClinic Online Diagnostic Services LLC, MinuteClinic Physician Practice of Texas, MinuteClinic Telehealth Services LLC, Mississippi CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Missouri CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Montana CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., NCS Healthcare LLC, NCS Healthcare of Illinois LLC, NCS Healthcare of Iowa LLC, NCS Healthcare of Kansas LLC, NCS Healthcare of Kentucky Inc. (Oh, NCS Healthcare of Montana LLC, NCS Healthcare of New Mexico LLC, NCS Healthcare of Ohio LLC, NCS Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, NCS Healthcare of Tennessee LLC, NCS Healthcare of Wisconsin LLC, NIV Acquisition LLC, Navarro Discount Pharmacy, Nebraska CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., NeighborCare Holdings Inc., NeighborCare Inc., NeighborCare Pharmacy Services Inc., NeighborCare Services Corporation, NeighborCare of Indiana LLC, NeighborCare of Virginia LLC, New Jersey CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Niagara Re Inc., North Carolina CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., North Shore Pharmacy Services LLC, NovoLogix LLC, OCR Services LLC, Ocean Acquisition Sub L.L.C., Ohio CVS Stores L.L.C., Oklahoma CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Omnicare, Omnicare Holding Company, Omnicare Inc., Omnicare Indiana Partnership Holding Company LLC, Omnicare Pharmacies of Pennsylvania East LLC, Omnicare Pharmacies of Pennsylvania West LLC, Omnicare Pharmacies of the Great Plains Holding LLC, Omnicare Pharmacy and Supply Services LLC, Omnicare Pharmacy of Tennessee LLC, Omnicare Pharmacy of the Midwest LLC, Omnicare Property Management LLC, Omnicare of Nebraska LLC, Omnicare of Nevada LLC, Omnicare of New York LLC, Oregon CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., PE Holdings LLC, PHPSNE Parent Corporation, PP Acquisition Company LLC, PRN Pharmaceutical Services LP, PT Aetna Management Consulting, Pamplona Saude e Beleza LTDA, Part D Holding Company L.L.C., PayFlex Holdings Inc., PayFlex Systems USA Inc., Pennsylvania CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Performax Inc., Pharmacy Associates of Glenn Falls LLC, Pharmacy Consultants LLC, Phoenix Data Solutions LLC, Precision Benefit Services Inc., Prime Net Inc., ProCare Pharmacy Direct L.L.C., ProCare Pharmacy L.L.C., Prodigy Health Group Inc., Professional Risk Management Inc., Pt. Aetna Global Benefits Indonesia, Puerto Rico CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Red Oak Sourcing LLC, Resources for Living LLC, Rhode Island CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Roeschens Healthcare LLC, RxAmerica, Schaller Anderson Medical Administrators Incorporated, Scrip World LLC, Sheffield Avenue CVS L.L.C., Shore Pharmaceutical Providers LLC, Silverscript Insurance Company, Soma Intimates, South Carolina CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., South Wabash CVS L.L.C., Specialized Pharmacy Services LLC, Spinnaker Bidco Limited, Spinnaker Topco Limited, Stadtlander Drug Company, Stadtlander Pharmacy, Sterling Healthcare Services LLC, Superior Care Pharmacy LLC, Sutter Health and Aetna Administrative Services LLC, Sutter Health and Aetna Insurance Company, Sutter Health and Aetna Insurance Holding Company LLC, T2 Medical Inc., TCPI Acquisition LLC, TargetPharmacy, Tennessee CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Texas Health + Aetna Health Insurance Company, Texas Health + Aetna Health Insurance Holding Company LLC, Texas Health + Aetna Health Plan Inc., The Vasquez Group Inc., Thomas Phoenix CVS L.L.C., Three Forks Apothecary LLC, U.S Healthcare Holdings LLC, U.S. Healthcare Properties Inc., UAC Holding Inc., UC Acquisition LLC, UNI-Care Health Services of Maine LLC, Universal American - Medicare Part D Business, Utah CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., VAPS Acquisition Company LLC, Value Health Care Services LLC, Vermont CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Virginia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Virtual Home Healthcare L.L.C., Warm Springs Road CVS L.L.C., Washington CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Washington Lamb CVS L.L.C., Weber Medical Systems LLC, Wellpartner LLC, West Virginia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Westhaven Services Co LLC, Williamson Drug Company LLC, Wisconsin CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Woodward Detroit CVS L.L.C., Work and Family Benefits Inc., ZS Acquisition Company LLC, Zinc Health Services LLC, Zinc Health Ventures LLC, bSwift LLC, and iTriage LLC.Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. operates as a multinational, specialty pharmaceutical, and medical device company that develops, manufactures, and markets a range of pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter (OTC) products, and medical devices. The company operates through three segments: Bausch + Lomb/International, Branded Rx, and U.S. Diversified Products. The Bausch + Lomb/International segment provides pharmaceutical products, OTC products, and medical device products, primarily consist of Bausch + Lomb products, with a focus on the vision care, surgical, consumer, and ophthalmology Rx products in the United States; and pharmaceutical products, generic pharmaceutical products, OTC products, medical device products, and Bausch + Lomb products in Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. The Branded Rx segment sells gastrointestinal and dermatological products in the United States. The U.S. Diversified Products segment offers pharmaceutical products, OTC products, and medical device products in the areas of neurology and certain other therapeutic classes, including aesthetics. The company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Laval, Canada.

Read MoreWeatherford International plc, an oilfield service company, provides equipment and services for the drilling, evaluation, completion, production, and intervention of oil and natural gas wells worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Western Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere. It offers artificial lift systems, including reciprocating rod, progressing cavity pumping, gas, hydraulic, plunger, and hybrid lift systems, as well as related automation and control systems; pressure pumping and reservoir stimulation services, such as acidizing, fracturing and fluid systems, cementing, and coiled-tubing intervention; and drill stem test tools, and surface well testing and multiphase flow measurement services. The company also provides safety, downhole reservoir monitoring, flow control, and multistage fracturing systems, as well as sand-control technologies, and production and isolation packers; liner hangers to suspend a casing string in high-temperature and high-pressure wells; cementing products, including plugs, float and stage equipment, and torque-and-drag reduction technology for zonal isolation; and pre-job planning and installation services. In addition, it offers directional drilling services, and logging and measurement services while drilling; services related to rotary-steerable systems, high-temperature and high-pressure sensors, drilling reamers, and circulation subs; managed pressure drilling, conventional mud-logging, drilling instrumentation, gas analysis, wellsite consultancy, and open hole and cased-hole logging services; reservoir solutions and software products; and intervention and remediation services. Further, the company provides equipment and drilling tools; tubular handling, management, and connection services; equipment rental services; and onshore contract drilling and related services through a fleet of land drilling and workover rigs. Weatherford International plc was incorporated in 1972 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland.

Read MorePlease enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue.

The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website:

We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service.The UN expressed concern over the return of normal life in Mosul, Iraqs second largest city, citing the presence of thousands of mines in the wake of the defeat of the Islamic State group (IS).

For Pehr Lodhammar, program director at the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), life after IS could take more than a decade.

Speaking at a news conference in Geneva, the UN expert explained that it could take more than a decade to de-mine totally the city despite ongoing efforts to clear the former IS stronghold of un-exploded bombs.

Lodhammar told reporters that two thirds of the explosive materials are believed to be buried in rubble, adding that the campaign to win back the city will be long for the terror group left 11 million tons of debris.

Our estimations indicate that it will take more than a decade to clear western Mosul. The density and complexity of the explosive materials will not allow this clearance to be completed within months or even years, he said.

We have noticed munitions that have been dropped from the air, bombs weighing 500 pounds have also been dropped, penetrating the ground for a distance of 15 meters or more. Just taking out one of them takes days and sometimes weeks.

Baghdad in December declared victory over IS following three years of intense fighting. The national forces, backed by international coalition and Iran-backed militias, finally drove out the jihadists. It is reported that close to 1,000 IS fighters are still roaming about in the are.

The UN demining agency reportedly removed last year 45,000 explosive materials and 750 improvised explosive devices throughout Iraq, including more than 25,000 in western Mosul alone.

The Iraqi government Wednesday received pledges of $30 billion for the countrys reconstruction. The sum is however far below the nearly $90 billion needed for the reconstruction plan.(HealthDay)Patients of African descent with glaucoma have increased visual field variability compared to those of European descent, likely contributing to delayed detection of progression, according to a study published online Feb. 15 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Carolina P.B. Gracitelli, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of California, San Diego, in La Jolla, and colleagues examined racial differences in longitudinal visual field variability in a multicenter prospective observational cohort study. Data were included for 236 eyes of 173 individuals of European descent and 235 eyes of 171 individuals of African descent. Participants were followed for a mean of 7.5 years.

The researchers found that the eyes of individuals of African descent had a larger mean standard deviation of the residuals than eyes of individuals of European descent (1.45 versus 1.12 dB). A larger increase in variability with worsening disease was seen in the eyes of individuals of African descent. There was a delay to detect progression in eyes of individuals of African descent versus those of European descent when simulations were performed assuming common progression scenarios. Detection of progression in individuals of African descent was delayed by 3.1 years for a scenario with baseline mean deviation of 10 dB and rate of change of 0.5 dB/year.

"Patients of African descent with glaucoma showed increased visual field variability compared with those of European descent, resulting in delayed detection of progression that may contribute to explain higher rates of glaucoma-related visual impairment in individuals of African descent," the authors write.

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical and eye care industries.

Explore further Cognitive decline linked to visual field variability

Copyright  2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved.Important stuff you won't get from the liberal media! We do the surfing so you can be informed AND have a life!Canon South Africa had a great 2017, with strong growth in its B2B unit, its office range of hardware and solutions, and its commercial print group.

Canon also achieved record market shares with its DSLR and DSC camera models, and has growth its professional video market share from 5% to over 50% in five years.

The company is now looking towards building on this strong performance, with more growth in 2018.

This will be done through a strong focus on printing solutions, where Canon feels it offers good value to consumers and businesses.

Canon South Africas marketing director Michelle Janse van Vuuren told MyBroadband that the small business printing market is growing in South Africa, but with more discerning customers.

Van Vuuren said small business buyers are more informed, and are comparing printers based on functionality, cost, and understanding the value of single ink.

This is where Canons MAXIFY printers are performing well, as they offer the functionality and efficiency of a business-class printer or multifunction device at an attractive price, she said.

Canons PIXMA G-series, in turn, fill the gap for users requiring less functionality  but who want a low cost-per-copy and reliability.

Business market

Canon South Africas head of B2B marketing James de Waal said that while high-quality products are important, backup, support, and expertise to help drive productivity is equally vital in the business market.

We have fine-tuned our offering to ensure that we can play a supportive role to businesses, said de Waal.

Although many challenges presented itself last year, this collaborative approach has allowed us to reflect a noteworthy growth.

Now read: Canon unveils new mirrorless EOS M6 digital cameraSamsung opened its factory in the Dube Trade Port in Durban during 2014, promising a total investment of $20 million over four years.

Due to the factorys success in creating jobs and giving back to the local economy and community, it is expanding its operations to export products into the rest of the SADC region.

The plant assembles the entire range of Samsung TVs, the company told MyBroadband.

Production capacity is 5,000 units per day, including monitors. The TVs manufactured are exported to SADC regions, and to East and West Africa.

Investment

While Samsung was able to provide certain statistics relating to the factory, it said it is not in a position to divulge the investment value at Dube Trade Port.

Since opening in 2014, only 4% of factory operators employed had formal manufacturing experience in the metal and engineering industries, said Samsung.

All 200 staff, of which 42% are female, have been upskilled and fully trained. Seven operators have been promoted.

Samsung is currently building a distributing centre on an adjoining site to the factory, which it said will streamline its operations and create more jobs.

The Dube TradePort Corporation announced in 2016 that the additional warehouse facility represented an investment of R35 million.

Samsung facilities

Now read: Samsung now making crypto mining chips8 international ombudspersons to participate in Russia's elections as experts, including Armenia's Ombudsman

Armenia Security Council Secretary meets with Russian counterpart in Dushanbe

Azerbaijanis celebrate anniversary of Armenian pogrom in Baku with military parade in Artsakhs occupied Shushi

Azerbaijani police detain two Iranian truck drivers on Armenia's Goris-Kapan road

Iran embassy in Armenia on situation on Goris-Kapan motorway section: Elimination of road obstacles is topical

Armenia FM unable to travel to Dushanbe due to aircraft engine malfunction

Armenia government officials answering questions from MPs (LIVE)

Armenia Labor and Social Affairs Ministry to carry out new social support program for displaced citizens of Artsakh

Armenia finance minister receives Japan Ambassador

Armenia State Revenue Committee chief receives Latvian State Revenue Service's Police Department delegation

CSTO Collective Security Council to discuss urgent security issues, Armenia PM to also attend meeting

Friendship group with India to soon be set up again in legislature, says Armenia parliament speaker

Armenian doctors protesting near Prosecutor General's Office in support of Armen Charchyan

Toivo Klaar: Important to reduce tensions on border to contribute to better climate for negotiations

Turkey, Azerbaijan air forces holding joint military exercises

Zas: CSTO foreign and defense ministers councils next meeting will be held in Armenia

PACE regrets tragic humanitarian consequences of Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict

Russia deputy FM, Red Cross president discuss humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh

US does not consider Karabakh status issue resolved, says envoy to Armenia

US government to provide $9.5m to combat corruption in Armenia

Opposition Armenia Bloc holds meeting chaired by ex-President Kocharyan (PHOTOS)

Armenia Security Council chief: Azerbaijan policy is obviously provocative

Armenia Administrative Court terminates proceedings on case of army General Staff ex-chief vs. President, PM

Prosecution insists that Armenia 2nd president Kocharyans pretrial measure, amount of bail not be changed

5 new cases of coronavirus reported in Karabakh

Armenia President receives Russia counterparts special representative on international cultural cooperation

Armenia Police special forces apprehend fallen soldiers relative from outside government building

Xi Jinping denies personal meeting with Biden

Baku celebrates 'liberation' from Armenians

Survey: 48.4% of displaced Artsakh residents moved to Armenia (VIDEO)

756 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

World oil prices going up

Politico: European Commission chiefs classified speech found in trash

Armenia Court of Appeal continues considering appeal of case on ex-President Kocharyan, some other former officials

Biden: Extreme weather events will cost more than $100bn in damages this year

Newspaper: Armenia authorities agree to opposition proposal to hold parliament session on Goris-Kapan road issue

Newspaper: Armenia authorities send Karabakh Security Council chief as envoy to imprisoned opposition MP

Energy security expert: Artsakh economic growth averaged 10.5% since 2000

UN General Assembly 76th session kicks off in New York

Karabakh President's spokesperson: Azerbaijanis shoot in direction of Taghavard village, no victims

Armenia Investigative Committee: Battalion commander who was on-duty in Karabakh's Khtsaberd village is arrested

Trilateral MoC signed to raise level of seismic safety of Armenian Nuclear Power Plant to the highest level

Armenia opposition MP: Authorities didn't help Ombudsman prepare report on tortures of Armenian citizens in Baku

Hanged body of 44-year-old serviceman of Armenia MOD found in village

Armenia opposition MP slams parliamentary committee chairman's statement

Police apprehend armed student at Yerevan metro station

Azerbaijanis demand punishing Member of the Russian State Duma Vitaly Milonov

Armenia Parliament Deputy Speaker receives Russia President's Special Representative

Armenia President grants high state award to chess grandmaster Elina Danielyan

Armenia PM appoints deputy economy minister

Putin holds phone talks with Iranian counterpart

Armenia Supreme Judicial Council chairman on his relations with PM Nikol Pashinyan

Karabakh President meets with journalists and editors of country's Free Artsakh newspaper

US Embassy in Armenia to Baku: Only comprehensive solution can help normalize Armenian-Azerbaijani relations

Armenia President receives Slovakia FM

Armenia defense minister's mother dies

Armenia parliament's foreign relations committee chairman meets with Ukrainian MPs

Armenia Syunik Province governor meets with newly appointed US Deputy Ambassador

Monument to heroes who took revenge over Armenian Genocide organizers to be placed in Yerevan

Armenia Parliament Speaker receives Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister-led delegation

Digest: Protests being held in Yerevan, more on COVID-19 in Armenia

Yerevan mayor: Not going to resign

Dollar still going down in Armenia

Karabakh emergency situations service: Remains of 1 Armenian serviceman found in Varanda

Armenia Cassation Court has new judge

PACE recommends holding debates over Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Afghanistan situation

National Archives of Armenia and Iran to sign memorandum within scope of cooperation

Armenia PM, Gazprom Management Committee chairman discuss Armenian-Russian energy partnership

Armenia Deputy PM participates in session of Eurasian Economic Commission's Council

Police apprehend Yerevan neighborhood resident on hunger, water strike

Armenia Ambassador to Ukraine: Aim of intergovernmental commission is to take steps to unblock communication

Deceased serviceman's little brother born at medical center in Armenia's Etchmiadzin

Taliban denies war crimes charges against human rights defenders

Armenia PM, Slovakia FM discuss Karabakh peace process

Criminal case opened into death of Armenia soldier, another one receiving gunshot wounds

Biden: You either keep Gavin Newsom as your governor or you'll get Donald Trump

Armenia Investigative Committee former chair, ex-Prosecutor Generals arrest appealed

4 of Yerevan neighborhood residents protesting outside city hall apprehended

Frances Macron makes social media post in Armenian

Iran ambassador tries to discuss, with Azerbaijan presidential aide, demarche against Iranian trucks in Armenia

4 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

US and EU urge global community to cut methane emissions by 30%

Ukraine official: We have always considered Armenia as important partner in South Caucasus

US, Japan and South Korea discuss new North Korean missile tests

Yerevan neighborhood residents close off street adjacent to city hall

Armenia Central Bank raises refinancing rate by 0.25 percentage point

Appeal filed against court decision to arrest mayor of Armenias Goris

25,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine sent by France arrives in Yerevan

Armenia FM informs visiting Slovakia colleague about Azerbaijan provocations

Armenia ruling partys parliamentary faction holding closed meeting

Armenia MOD confirms: There is also wounded soldier in tragic incident at the military outpost

Slovakia FM: Process of returning Armenian captives from Azerbaijan must continue

US intends to invite Russia and China to international summit on COVID-19 fight

Armenia legislature elects Corruption Prevention Commission new member

657 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Karen Vardanyan has allocated 105 million AMD to rescue the Yerevan Botanical Garden

Armenia MOD: Army representatives will observe Russia-Belarus joint military exercise

ArmLur.am: New details become known from tragic incident at Armenia military outpost

China to start cooperation with Singapore on drug development

Armenia to assume CSTO chairmanship on ThursdayUnder potential new circumstances, a new document is to be negotiated with Turkey.

The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, on Saturday stated the aforesaid in his address at the Munich Security Conference.

At the times of the Cold War, Armenia was on the border of one of the two rival blocks, he said, in particular. Thirty years have passed since the fall of the Berlin wall, but Turkey still continues to keep the border with Armenia closed. It seems that the clock stopped ticking there.

I am convinced that Armenia has taken all the possible measures in order to overcome that impasse. I initiated a process of normalization of the relations between Armenia and Turkey, which could have created new opportunities for both of our nations and the region at large.

Nevertheless, the Protocols that Armenia and Turkey had signed back in 2009 remained on the paper. Turkey not only failed to ratify these documents, but also came up with preconditions that had no connection whatsoever with the Protocols. It was nothing but a failure to take advantage of the historic opportunity.

Is Azerbaijan preventing Turkey from establishing relations with Armenia, as many are trying to convince us? No, it is not the case. The chief impediment is the lack of political will on the part of the Turkish leadership.

I believe you may be aware that many representatives of the Armenian diaspora were not too happy about that decision of ours. It was natural, as they were successors of survivors of the Genocide and of homeland dispossession. I travelled around the globe back then, met with our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, community after community, and discussed with them this very sensitive issue.

Have the Turkish leaders displayed such political will? Have they been faithful to the commitments they had signed up to?

We cannot wait eternally for Turkey's response. The Protocols were negotiated under the existing circumstances. If Turkey desires to await other circumstances and only then to ratify the Protocols, then it is profoundly mistaken. Under potential new circumstances, a new document is to be negotiated. Armenia does not resort to the language of preconditions, but equally, Armenia shall never accept preconditions put forth by anyone.Home | Headlines | Cows at airport: Fayose hails Air Peace pilot for saving passengerss lives

The governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has hailed Air Peace pilot for saving the lives of passengers when cows taking over the Airport runway in Akure on Saturday.

Fayose

The Governor on his Twitter handle said that he witnessed cows taking over the airport runway and preventing aircraft No. 5NBQQ from landing for more than 15 minutes and thanks to Capt Inyang for saving the lives of the passengers.

Today, while at the Akure Airport to board Air Peace commercial flight to Lagos, I witnessed cows taking over the Airport runway and preventing Aircraft No. 5NBQQ from landing for more than 15 minutes. Thanks to Capt Inyang for saving the lives of the passengers. He said

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: HeadlinesHome | Latest Addition | BREAKING: IGP Idris arrives Zamfara following killings by armed bandits

- Suspected bandits killed 41 persons in Zamfara state recently sparking outrage

- The bandits reportedly invaded a community's market and started shooting indiscriminately

- The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, is on his way to assess the situation

Nigeria's Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Kpotun-Idris has arrived Zurmi in Zamfara state.

The area was recently invaded by suspected bandits leaving 41 persons dead.

On Saturday, February 17, IGP Idris left Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos and arrived Katsina and then proceeded to Zurmi by road to assess the situation.

IGP Idris heading to Zamfara following killings by armed bandits. Photo credit: Nigeria Police Force

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The Zamfara state police command through its spokesman, DSP Muhammad Shehu, had said the conflict arose after hunters and local vigilantes mobilized and launched a pre-emptive attack on the armed bandits after they heard that the bandits to were preparing to attack their community.

He said instead of the residents to give the security operatives timely information to avert the attack they decided to take law in to their hands by going out to confront the gunmen.

IGP Idris is expected to meet with community and religious leaders in the area in order to access the situation and forestall any reprisal attacks.

NAIJ.com gathered that he was accompanied on the trip by other senior police officers from the police headquarters.

IGP Idris is accompanied by senior police officers to Zamfara to access the situation in the state. Photo credit: Nigeria Police Force

Meanwhile, the governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari, on Friday, February 16, accused security agencies of failing to prevent the killings that occurred in the state.

The governor speaking while he led a group of five northern governors on a sympathy visit to the Palace of Emir of Zurmi said the security agencies in the area failed to stop the attack despite warnings 24 hours prior to the killings.

Yari further said the agencies and its operatives failed to tackle the problem of cross-border banditry and terrorism affecting communities in the area.

READ ALSO: Bandits now write letters to communities asking for money in Zamfara - Governor's aide

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CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: Latest AdditionHome | Latest Addition | Nigerians being slaughtered, killings unacceptable  Aisha tells Buhari

Aisha Yesufu, co-convener of Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG), has again called on the Buhari government to end killings in Nigeria.

She said this in reaction to the latest bomb blast in Borno, which left over 20 people dead.

Over 25 others were also injured in the multiple suicide bombing at a market in Konduga Local Government Area of the state.

Reacting on Twitter, Aisha queried the federal government for incessant violent attacks in Nigeria.

She tweeted: People are being slaughtered like animals. This is not acceptable.

Where is the government whose primary responsibility is the protection of lives and properties?

Where is the Commander-In-Chief President Muhammadu Buhari.

Meanwhile, Police Commissioner in Borno, Damian Chukwu, on Saturday spoke on the Friday attack.

Chukwu said that a male and two female suicide bombers detonated themselves at the Kasuwar Kifi in Konduga.

He explained that the injured persons were referred to the Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri.

The commissioner assured that normalcy had been restored to the area.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: Latest AdditionHome | News | Crime/Legal | Zamfara killings: PDP bemoans daily massacre of Nigerians, calls for prayers

- The Peoples Democratic Party has called on Nigerians to join forces in praying for the nation

- The PDP national publicity secretary Kola Ologbondiyan said APC government must decisive steps to end the incessant killings in various parts of the country

- Ologbondiyan declared that it is heartbreaking that Nigerians were killed daily by marauders

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the gruesome murder of 41 Nigerians by marauders in Zamfara state and urged Nigerians to join forces in praying for the nation.

The party made the condemnation in a statement issued by its national publicity secretary Kola Ologbondiyan on Saturday, February 17, in Abuja.

Ologbondiyan urged the All Progressives Congress-controlled federal government to take decisive steps to end the incessant killings in various parts of the country.

READ ALSO: Give 2019 presidency to Igbo - Balarabe Musa

He said it was heartbreaking that Nigerians were killed daily by marauders.

Ologbondiyan alleged: ''In the last two months, hundreds of helpless citizens have been murdered by bandits in various parts of the country.

''Hardly have tears dried over the gruesome killings in Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Nasarawa and other states when marauders hit Zamfara, a state known for peace, killing 41 citizens in cold blood.

''Nigerians now live defenceless and in perpetual fear; our people are fast losing confidence in our institutions.

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''As we speak, citizens are now sourcing their own security as APC-controlled federal government daily manifest crass indifference to the protection of our people.''

He said that the PDP stood with all citizens across the nation and share in their pains at this critical time.

The party spokesman called on all Nigerians, irrespective of their religion, ethnicity and political affiliation, as well as all people of goodwill across the world, to join forces in praying for the nation.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that Senate president Bukola Saraki reacted to the killings and arson that took place in Shinkafi local government area of Zamfara state said the countrys security structure has collapsed.

Saraki made the statement on Wednesday, January 3 after Tijjani Kaura, the senator representing Zamfara north, sponsored a motion on the killings and arson that took place in Shinkafi local government area of Zamfara.

The senator said apart from the security issue in the country, there was also a need to redesign the countrys economic structure, adding that the legislature had been showing commitment to every issue.

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Loading...Home | News | General | Nigerian Senate moves to improve the welfare of prisoners nationwide

- The Nigerian Senate committee on interior recently held a one-day public hearing on four prison reform bills

- The bills were passed for second reading by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria na while back

- Chairman of the committee, Senator Andy Uba, stated that Nigerian prisons were a national embarrassment

The Nigerian Senate Committee on Interior on Thursday, February 15, held a one-day public hearing on the following bills:

1. Prisons Act CAP P29 LFN 2004 Bill (SB. 125);

2. Prisons Act CAP P29 LFN 2004 Bill 2016 (SB. 288);

3. A Bill to re-enact the Prisons Act (SB. 191); and

4. Correction, Reformation and Re-integration centre (establishment, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 308).

The committee chairman and other committee members at the one-day public hearing on prison reform bills. Photo credit: Joseph Itazi

READ ALSO: Senator Andy Uba congratulates Obasanjo on his doctorate degree

NAIJ.com gathered that the bills were passed for second reading by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and it became expedient for the committee to carry out a public hearing on the bills due to its significant importance to the reformation of Nigerian prison services nationwide.

Speaking on the bill, the chairman of the committee, Senator Andy Uba, said the present condition of Nigerian prisons is a national embarrassment, adding that theres a need for the establishment of a Prison Service Commission.

Senator Uba exchanging pleasantries with the CG of the NPS at the one-day public hearing on prison reform bills. Photo credit: Joseph Itazi

He continued: There are so many arguments that lend credibility to the need to promote prison reforms central to which is the Human Rights argument.

The rot in infrastructure has continued to pose a great setback in service delivery to persons serving jail term. In conforming with international best practices, it is imperative that we institute regulatory and legal framework to combat these challenges.

I am optimistic that the just concluded public hearing will afford us the opportunity to share opinions and ideas and to collaborate together in a bid to achieve a better prison reforms that will deliver on our reformation ideals for incarcerated people.

The Comptroller-General of Prison, Alhaji Ahmed Ja'afaru led the delegation from the Nigerian Prisons Service to engage with the committee on the best possible ways to tackle head-on, the precarious challenges and how to put a more humane face to the Nigerian Prisons.

Senator Uba promised that the issues raised by the CG of Prisons will be adequately looked into and the contributions proffered by the various NGOs, stakeholders, legal practitioners and other members of the Civil Society Organisations.

Senators present at the public hearing incude Oluremi Tinubu, Jide Omoworare, Clifford Ordia, Andrew Uchendu, Nafada Bayero and Shehu Sani

Senator Tinubu advocated special care for pregnant women and children under 0-3yrs, adding that some NGOs are willing to also assist in this regard.

There should be establishment of seperate prison facilities for the women, the female prison should be seperated physically with a certain distance from the male prison. she said.

On his part, CG Nigerian prisons services, Ahmed Jaafaru said: We have 2,281 condemned inmates nationwide who have exhausted their appeals and are awaiting the death penalty but the governors are not willing to sign their death warrants which is causing congestion in the prisons.

The committee recently condemned the budgetary allocation of N450 for meal per day for persons serving time in Nigerian prisons.

The Senator Andy Uba-led committee made this known at the 2018 budget defence of the ministry of interior on Thursday, January 25.

Reacting to questions by members of the committee, Jaafaru told lawmakers that N17 billion was allocated for feeding which is to spread across 244 prisons, thus one prisoner gets N450 meal per day.

Ex-prisoner turns advocate for release of former inmates on NAIJ.com TV

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Loading...Home | News | General | NNPC dispatches 29.058m litres of PMS to 13 northern states in 3 days

- Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it has supplied thirteen Northern states in three days with petrol

- The states are: Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, Taraba, Kano, Benue, Zamfara, Yobe, Sokoto, Jigawa, Borno, Bauchi and Adamawa

- Bauchi had the highest supply of 4.428 million liters of petrol, followed by Adamawa with 3.766 million litres

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said it supplied a total of 29.058 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol to thirteen Northern states in three days.

In its report on daily dispatch to filling stations made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday, February 16, it named the states to include Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara,Taraba, Kano and Benue. Others are Zamfara, Yobe, Sokoto, Jigawa, Borno, Bauchi and Adamawa.

According to the corporation, the supplies were made between February 12 and 14, 2018.

READ ALSO: Obasanjo visits Jonathan in Otuoke

A breakdown of the dispatches showed that Bauchi had the highest supply of 4.428 million liters of petrol, followed by Adamawa with 3.766 million litres and Kaduna with 3.565 million litres.

Yobe state got 3.295 million litres, Kogi 2.408 million, Benue 1.902 million litres, Borno 1.843 million litres and Kwara 1.508 million litres.

It further noted that Kano got 1.66 million litres, Taraba 2.42 million litres , while Jigawa got 0.919 million litres and Sokoto got 0.799 million.

It assured that the corporation would continue to ensure adequate supply of the product across the state.

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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that the federal government maybe considering an increase in fuel price as a solution to the lingering petrol scarcity in the country.

The Bauchi state governor, Mohammed Abubakar, gave an indication of the impending increase in fuel price when he spoke with journalists after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa on Thursday, February 15.

The governor was reported to have said that a NEC committee headed by the Gombe state governor, Ibrahim Dakwambo, will interface with NNPC with a view to determining the correct price for PMS considering the price of the product in countries bordering Nigeria.

Fuel scarcity: This is getting too much for us - Nigerians lament on NAIJ.com TV:

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Loading...Home | News | General | Female Libya returnee dies in Port Harcourt

- A female Libya returnee has been confirmed dead days after she was evacuated back to Nigeria

- She was among the 5th Batch of returnees from Libya on board Medview Airline at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH)

- The deceased hailed from Ogun state and arrived back ti Nigeria sick

One of the females recently evacuated from Libya, Miss Towabola Adebayo, is dead. She died on Wednesday, February 14, after two days of medical treatment at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).

Mr Sani Datti, the head of media and public relations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said on Friday, February 16, in Abuja that the 32- years-old returnee hailed from Ogun state.

He stated that she was among the 5th Batch of returnees from Libya on board Medview Airline that arrived in Port Harcourt on Monday night.

She arrived sick and was immediately taken in a waiting NEMA Ambulance to University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital where she was admitted.

READ ALSO: Obasanjo visits Jonathan in Otuoke

She was treated of vomiting, general weakness of the body, abdominal pains and associated illness.

She unfortunately died early on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2018, two days after admission in hospital.

Datti noted that contacts had been established with her parents and arrangements were being made to convey her remains home.

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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had earlier reported that the Federal Government reiterated its commitment to protect Nigerians in distress globally and to tackle the menace of child trafficking.

Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said this when she received a 14-year-old victim of child labour from South Korea in Abuja on Friday.

The 14-year-old girl from Imo state was taken to South Korea in September 2015 by her mothers sister who promised to further her education, but subjected her to manual labour.

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Loading...Home | News | General | NAF clarifies misconceptions about newly inducted fighter drone

- Nigerian Air Force (NAF), clears the air on the misconceptions surrounding the first indigenous operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) nicknamed, Tsaigumi.

- The Tsaigumi UAV was manufactured at the Air Force Research and Development Centre at NAF Base Kaduna in collaboration with UAVision of Portugal,

- The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) would be used for Intelligence Surveillance and Recognisance (ISR) operations in land and sea domains

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Friday, February 16, has set the record straight following misconceptions that the first indigenous Operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) known as TSAIGUMI was launched by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013.

NAF in a statement by Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force sent to NAIJ.com, said the GULMA UAV is indeed the NAFs first indigenous UAV, while the newly inducted TSAIGUMI UAV is the first indigenous Operational UAV.

READ ALSO: FG reiterates commitment to protect Nigerians in distress as teenage girl narrates her ordeal

Read the full statement below:

"It has become necessary to clarify certain misconceptions, which followed the announcement, by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), of the induction of its first indigenous operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

To set the records straight, while GULMA UAV is indeed the NAFs first indigenous UAV, the newly inducted TSAIGUMI UAV is the first indigenous OPERATIONAL UAV.

Both UAV types are the outcomes of Research and Development (R&D) efforts of a team of NAF Aerospace Engineers.

NAFs foray into UAV development commenced in 2008, when its student officers, who were undergoing postgraduate studies in aerospace engineering programmes at Cranfield University, UK, chose UAV development as their research project.

The student officers produced the AMEBO UAV as part of their project and it had neither autopilot nor Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability.

By 2013, the NAF developed an experimental UAV, codenamed GULMA, which was then unveiled as the first indigenous UAV.

It is noteworthy that Gulma UAV was a technology demonstrator used to gather performance data on UAV systems.

Consequently, in September 2015, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, directed the NAFs R&D Team to build an operational UAV, codenamed TSAIGUMI to be used in the Northeast and other theatres of operation in Nigeria.

The data gathered from the Gulma prototype was subsequently applied in the design of the operational UAV, known as Tsaigumi, and inducted into service on 15 February 2018.

Although the Tsaigumi UAV was manufactured at the Air Force Research and Development Centre at NAF Base Kaduna, the Team had to collaborate with an overseas facility to produce the moulds.

Tsaigumi UAV, which is capable of day and night operations, has an operational endurance in excess of 10 hours, a service ceiling of 15,000 feet and a mission radius of 100km.

It has a maximum take-off weight of 80kg and its payload comprises an electro-optical infrared camera system as well as weapon hard points.

The Tsaigumi UAV, whose engine sound is muffled, has a state of the art encrypted communication system.

It has a wingspan of 5.5metres and is able to gather real time weather information. On the contrary, the Gulma UAV has an operational endurance of 4 hours, a service ceiling of 5,000 feet and could not be operated beyond 20km.

It has a maximum take-off weight of 40kg and its payload is an electro-optical camera system only. The Gulma UAV, whose engine sound is not muffled, relies on direct radio frequency communication system with attendant limitations.

The Gulma has a wingspan of 4.4 metres and relies on Air Traffic Control for weather information.

Besides, while the Gulma UAV has an imported autopilot, the operational Tsaigumi UAV has an in-house developed autopilot. Tsaigumi UAV is thus a much more advanced and operationalized version of the earlier produced Amebo and Gulma UAV prototypes.

The NAF is currently working on the ICHOKU, which when completed, would be the first indigenous Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), following which the general public would again be updated.

It should be noted that R&D is a continuous process and the NAF believes in celebrating whenever a technologically higher stage is attained.

This is not just towards keeping the tax-paying public informed but also a way of motivating the young Nigerians who toil day and night to ensure that Nigeria becomes greater and technologically more self-reliant.

The NAF therefore expects that the focus of discourse at this point would be an appreciation of the progressive technological strides being made while also suggesting ways of making further improvements.

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According to an earlier report by NAIJ.com, President Muhammadu Buhari at the induction ceremony of the first indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Tsaigumi, held at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base, in Kaduna, on Thursday, February 15, said his administration to bring about the desired change in Nigeria.

President Buhari said the successful launch of the UAV is proof that his administration is interested in development of local contents, not only in the military, but across other sectors of the economy.

The president spoke extensively on the UAV and expressed satisfaction with efforts of the current NAF leadership.

President Buhari commissions first Nigerian drone on NAIJ.com TV.

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Loading...Home | News | General | My aunty took me to south Korea from Imo state, falsified my age and forced me to work in a factory - 14-year-old girl says

- Nigeria's Federal Government has vowed ti protect Nigerians wherever they are in the world

- The FG also claimed it is committed to tackling the menace of child trafficking

- Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa made this known in Abuja

Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to protect Nigerians in distress globally and to tackle the menace of child trafficking.

Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said this when she received a 14-year-old victim of child labour from South Korea in Abuja on Friday.

The 14-year-old girl from Imo state was taken to South Korea in September 2015 by her mothers sister who promised to further her education, but subjected her to manual labour.

She said: This girl is just a case of family maltreating family and what she is not aware of is subsequently she will have been made a prostitute, maybe when she turns 16.

READ ALSO: Obasanjo visits Jonathan in Otuoke

I want to thank our embassy in South Korea for this initiative of ensuring that this young girl got back to Nigeria.

The embassy saved this girls life and we are going to hand her over to a very comfortable and relatively secure shelter, courtesy of NAPTIP.

She will go back to school and we will do what we are supposed to do as instructed by the president and foreign affairs ministry, that any Nigerian in distress anywhere in the world be taken care of.

Dabiri-Erewa condemned the spate of child trafficking and labour and reiterated governments commitment to ensure that perpetrators were brought to book.

She added that: When a woman does this to a sister, using a 14-year-old girl to make money; with stories like these, we ask where our moral values are, even as women.

Mr Eze Thomas, the head of Chancery, Nigerian Embassy in Seoul, said the girl was picked up by the president of the Nigerian community in Seoul and her return to Nigeria was facilitated by the embassy.

Thomas said a report on the matter would be submitted to the ministry and sanctions meted out accordingly.

He explained that: The girls passport was seized by her aunt, Esther, and I gave her six hours to release it which she eventually did.

The ambassador, Amb. Amin Dalhatu, facilitated her transportation and other logistics; this is the first time this is happening and we are happy with the Nigerian community in South Korea.

Narrating her ordeal, the girl said her aunt made her falsify her age to work in a factory to earn money.

She said the money earned was paid to the aunt, who used it to travel to the U.S.

The girl added that the aunt promised her mother that she would take care of her education in South Korea but was expelled from school in the first week due to non-payment of fees.

I was not able to go to school since then and my aunt took me to a factory where she worked and asked me to say I was 27 years old so I could work.

The girl said she was constantly maltreated by the aunt, who later left South Korea for U.S. and left her in the care of a South African lady.

She said she suffered further maltreatment till she run away and located the Korean welfare centre that handed her over to another relative of hers in South Korea who also abused her.

There, she met a Nigerian pastor who eventually linked her up with the Nigerian community and the embassy, she added.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that the Nigerian Police Force, Gwagwalada, FCT, Abuja, arrested a middle aged woman for allegedly stealing 21 children from Kafanchan, Jemaa local government area, Kaduna state.

The unidentified woman was arrested alongside 4 accomplices.

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Loading...Home | News | General | Just in: Ethiopia declares state of emergency

Ethiopia on Friday announced state of emergency after Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced his intention to step down amid unrest and political crisis.

The state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation said rhe ruling EPRDF coalitions council met and decided to impose emergency rule in the Horn of Africa country.

The announcement did not say how long the rule would be in place.

The prime ministers resignation followed a wave of strikes and demonstrations demanding the release of more opposition leaders.

READ ALSO: Obasanjo visits Jonathan in Otuoke

Over 6,000 political prisoners have been freed since January as the government struggled to placate discontent.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that the prime minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn, tendered his resignation letter after series of anti-government protests in the country.

The prime minister said he tried his utmost effort to solve the crisis in his country and he is resigning now to be part of a solution to it.

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NAIJ.com gathered that Ethiopia has been rocked by months of protests demanding wider freedoms that have left hundreds dead and tens of thousands detained.

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Loading...Home | News | General | Buhari to reveal his plans for 2019 as APC governors storm Daura

- APC governors will be meeting with President Buhari in his hometown in Katsina state

- Report has it that the president will tell them his plans for 2019

- Some APC governors have encouraged the president to seek re-election

Governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress governors stormed Daura ahead of the meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governors are: Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, Abdulfatai Ahmed of Kwara, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto and Yayaha Bello of Kogi state.

Others are: Tanko Almakura of Nasarwa, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo, Sani Bello of Niger, Godwin Obaseki of Edo.

Governors Samuel Ortom of Benue, Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos and Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun were absent but were represented by their deputies.

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to meet with the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors in his home town in Daura, Katsina state in order to discuss his plans for 2019 on Friday, February 16.

Daily Trust reports that the president is expected to use the opportunity to tell the governors whether he would contest in 2019 or not.

READ ALSO: Senator Dino Melaye in court over false information charge

It was reported that the president was supposed to meet with the governors at Aso Rock villa but chose to meet them to Daura after he went there following his visit to Kaduna.

Some governors have already urged President Buhari to seek re-election in 2019 and promised to support him if he does.

Former presidents, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, have asked Buhari not to re-contest for presidency in 2019.

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A source said very serious political developments, would be discussed at the meeting.

The senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, also confirmed Buharis meeting with the governors.

Meanwhile, President Buhari reiterated the commitment and firm resolve of his administration to take Nigeria to the next level of growth and development.

He made the resolve on Thursday, February 15, in Kaduna state when he inaugurated a new drone developed by the Nigeria Air Force for intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance.

The president said his administration was determined to overcome all challenges militating against the countrys security and development.

He therefore appealed to all Nigerians to support his administration to achieve its objective, the News Agency of Nigeria.

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Loading...Home | News | General | APC governors open up on their mission to visit President Buhari in Daura

- The All Progressives Congress (APC) state governors have opened up on their mission to Daura

- The chairman of APC governors forum, Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, dismissed reports that their mission was to convince the president to seek re-election

- Okorocha also said the APC governors used the opportunity to commend Buhari for appointing Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the party's Chief Mediator

State governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday said their mission to Daura, Katsina state, was merely to condole President Muhammadu Buhari over the loss of two members of his extended family.

The Chairman of the APC Governors Forum, Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, stated this when he fielded questions from newsmen after a closed door meeting with President Buhari at his private resident in Daura, on Friday.

READ ALSO: Reps ask FG to create policy to ban buying of imported vehicles for official use

President Buhari met with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors Forum in Daura, Katsina State. Photo credit: Twitter. Bashir Ahmad

He dismissed media reports that their mission to Daura was aimed at convincing the President to seek re-election in the forthcoming presidential election in 2019.

He said the governors also used the opportunity to commend the president for appointing Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as APC Chief Mediator.

The president had last week appointed Tinubu to reconcile aggrieved members of the party.

We are yet to discuss that. That would be in next the meeting where we will discuss whether we want to support him to run or not.

But for now we came on the issue of the death of his two relatives and to commend him for action taken on Tinubu as a conciliator, Okorocha said.

Also speaking on the outcome of the meeting, Gov. Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa, said they were in Daura to also sympathise with the president over the involvement of his son, Yusuf, in a ghastly auto-accident and the death of his two relatives.

He described the appointment of Tinubu as APC chief mediator as a wonderful initiative by the President.

After the condolences, we had some very intimate discussion that further bound our relationships and affinity together and I believe this is a continuation of our closed association and support, loyalty and commitment to Mr Presidents cause and Nigerias cause, he said.

NAIJ.com previously reported that Governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress governors stormed Daura ahead of the meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

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The governors are: Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, Abdulfatai Ahmed of Kwara, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto and Yayaha Bello of Kogi state.

Governors Samuel Ortom of Benue, Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos and Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun were absent but were represented by their deputies.

List President Buhari's achievements in two years on NAIJ.com TV.

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Source: Naija.ng

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Loading...Home | News | General | Again, another Nigerian man stabbed in South Africa

- A Nigerian small business owner, Desmond, was attacked and stabbed in south Africa

- Desmond was reportedly rescued when he was about to be set ablaze after being wet with petrol

- The Nigerian community in South Africa lamented xenophobic attacks in the country

The Nigerian Community in South Africa said on Friday that a member was stabbed during a xenophobic attack in Rustenberg, North-West Province area.

The President of Nigerian Union, South Africa, Mr Adetola Olubajo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that the victim, identified as Desmond, was attacked on Feb. 14.

Desmond is a Nigerian hair piece hawker in Rustenberg, North West Province of South Africa.

He was attacked on Feb. 14 and sustained multiple injuries. He was rescued when he was about to be set ablaze after being wet with petrol, Olubajo said.

READ ALSO: Obasanjo visits Jonathan in Otuoke

He said that the Nigerian community in Rustenburg was currently living in fear as tension has heightened in the area.

Olubajo said that the union`s executive had visited the city on a fact finding tour and had already spoken to Nigerians in the area.

Nigerians and their families told us that the situation is very dangerous and that their lives are not safe.

They also alleged that some group of people were abducting Nigerians and requesting money to bail themselves.

A Nigerian who couldnt pay was murdered last month. This same group also looted businesses of foreign nationals, Nigerians in particular, the president said.

Olubajo said the union could not continue to keep quiet on this criminality and xenophobic act meted to Nigerians in South Africa.

He said that there was need for the mission and government to intervene in the matter to avoid further loss of lives and properties of Nigerians.

There is need for the Nigerian government to engage with its counterpart in South Africa. Its not correct that those who were attacked and killed are criminals.

Such statements are misinformation and misleading, he said.

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NAIJ.com previously reported that the ministry of foreign affairs has said that most violent conflicts and killings of Nigerians in South Africa were more of criminal activities than xenophobic attack.

The ministrys spokesperson, Dr Tope Elias-Fatile, stated this while briefing newsmen on Wednesday, February 14, in Abuja on a wide range of issues and activities of the ministry.

Elias-Fatile said the ministry was in constant touch with the Nigerian mission in South Africa to get reports of criminal-related issues involving Nigerians living in that country.

Nigerians protest against Xenophobia - on NAIJ.com TV:

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Source: Naija.ng

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Loading...Home | News | General | Xenophobia: Nigerian stabbed in South Africa

The Nigerian Community in South Africa said on Friday that a member was stabbed during a xenophobic attack in Rustenberg, North-West Province area.

The President of Nigerian Union, South Africa, Mr Adetola Olubajo, told newsmen on telephone that the victim, identified as Desmond, was attacked on Feb. 14.

Desmond is a Nigerian hair piece hawker in Rustenberg, North West Province of South Africa.

He was attacked on Feb. 14 and sustained multiple injuries. He was rescued when he was about to be set ablaze after being wet with petrol, Olubajo said.

He said that the Nigerian community in Rustenburg was currently living in fear as tension has heightened in the area.

Olubajo said that the union`s executive had visited the city on a fact finding tour and had already spoken to Nigerians in the area.

Nigerians and their families told us that the situation is very dangerous and that their lives are not safe.

They also alleged that some group of people were abducting Nigerians and requesting money to bail themselves.

A Nigerian who couldnt pay was murdered last month. This same group also looted businesses of foreign nationals, Nigerians in particular, the president said.

Olubajo said the union could not continue to keep quiet on this criminality and xenophobic act meted to Nigerians in South Africa.

He said that there was need for the mission and government to intervene in the matter to avoid further loss of lives and properties of Nigerians.

There is need for the Nigerian government to engage with its counterpart in South Africa. Its not correct that those who were attacked and killed are criminals.

Such statements are misinformation and misleading, he said.

NAN

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Loading...Home | News | General | Why Im supporting Buhari  El-Rufai

Ben Agande, Kaduna.

The governor of Kadu-na state, Mallam Nasir El Rufai has said that his decision to support the re- election of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term was not because he wanted to feather his political nest but because Buhari remained the best candidate at the moment.

In an exclusive interview with Weekend Vanguard in Kaduna, governor El Rufai said majority of Nigerians were ready to re-elect him, adding that those who were opposed to President Buharis second term bid were either afraid of his anti corruption fight or saw him as a stumbling block to the realization of their own political ambitions.

Nasir-El-Rufai

Mallam El Rufais position was conveyed by his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan.

According to him, Nigerians generally are satisfied with the performance of the president and would give him their votes overwhelmingly when he seeks re-election in 2019.

I do not think it is right to say people are dissatisfied with Buhari. You can categorize people that are dissatisfied with Buhari into three or four categories: those in opposition, those who believe the president should not play their game, those who are corrupt and others who feel that Buhari is a stumbling block to the realization of their presidential ambition.

In 2010, El Rufai left Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and when he joined CPC, his ambition was to support Buhari. He believed that Buhari had all that it took to move Nigeria forward. He believes in Buhari and as far as we are concerned, for now, Buhari remains the best candidate. It is not a cause we are pursuing to realize our ambition. It is about our confidence in Buhari.

Before Buhari lost the presidential election in 2011, he made it clear that that was likely going to be the last election that he would contest. It was El Rufai and others that mounted pressure on Buhari to reconsider his position. Buhari himself confirmed this publicly and he also said that he was the one that asked El Rufai to contest for the governorship election in 2015. El Rufais support has nothing to do with his personal interest. He feels that Buhari is the best bet for now he said.

Asked what Buhari could say were his achievements upon which he would anchor his 2019 campaign he said the president has tackled the security challenges in the country and has frontally tackled the issue of corruption. Look at the issue of security. Everybody knows what the security situation was in the country before Buhari came on board. We have made tremendous success in the fight against terrorism and other insecurity challenges.

Then when you look at the anti corruption fight, despite the fact that a lot of people criticize the anti corruption fight, you cannot take away the fact that this government under the leadership of Buhari has done well. These are things that Nigerians are very proud and happy about he said.

On the letter from OBJ and IBB, said both the government and the APC hav replied to that and the responses from the two were sufficient

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Loading...Home | News | General | The only work I know is how to kill Self-confessed assassin

Confesses killing members on the orders of his union leader

Its a lie, I paid him out of fearunion leader

By Evelyn Usman

It was a dramatic confrontation yesterday at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters, Ikeja Lagos between a self-confessed assassin and his sponsor who allegedly hired him to kill. At the Police Command, the hired assassin, Adeola Williams popularly known as Ade lawyer faced the former leader of the National Union of Road Transport Worker NURTW in Lagos, Alhaji Rafiu Olounwa and asked him to deny if he had not killed four persons on his orders for which he was paid N500,000 as part payment. The former union leader however described it as blackmail saying he only paid him out of fear for his life.

While the self-confessed assassin, said that he was hired by the former NURTW leader, , to assassinate the incumbent unions leader at Idumota, Azeez Adekunle Lawal , popularly known as Kunle Poly, he denied the claim, describing it as mere blackmail.

How it happened

Members of the Idumota branch of the union had converged for a meeting with their leader, Kunle Poly at the last floor of a three-storey building on John street, off Idumota bus-stop, on January 23, 2018. Time was 12 midnight.

After the meeting, Kunle Poly, accompanied by his Personal Assistant, Ganiyu Ayinla, popularly called Piero and two policemen, approached his vehicle. But they were rattled by sporadic gunshots from a restaurant where some hoodlums were drinking. At the end of the shooting spree, Ayinla died on the spot while the two policemen managed to escape with gunshot wounds. But the assailants target, Kunle Poly, escaped by the whiskers.

Arrest

Saturday Vanguard gathered that since the incident occurred, an initial arrest of two persons was made. Their confessional statement reportedly led to the arrest of Williams by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT headed by Abba Kyari, an Assistant Commissioner of Police.

It was gathered that 39-year-old Williams, who hails from Ogun state, was arrested in Akure, Ondo state where he fled to immediately after the murder. He was also discovered to have been on Police wanted list for five years, over several assassinations within the South West.

During interrogation, he admitted to the crime but disclosed that he was hired by Chief Rafiu Olohunwa, the former NURTW chairman. He further stated that the deal was sealed with a fee of N1.5 million, while a part payment of N500,000 made by him (Olounwa), with a promise to pay the balance after the assassination of Kunle Poly.

Trouble

Trouble, according to him, broke out following the refusal by Olounwa to pay the balance of N1 million after the operation. He disclosed that Olounwa refused to pay because he claimed that the person who was killed was not the target.

According to Williams (Ade lawyer): Chief Olorunwa cannot deny hiring me. Ask him what the N500,000 he paid me was meant for. Also ask him why I was demanding for the balance.

Why he hired me to kill Kunle Poly

Explaining how the operation was carried out, Williams, said:  I am an assassin. The only work I know is to kill. I have been working for Chief Olounwa since he was chairman of the union between 2008 and 2011. I am one of his errand boys and he cant deny that.

Suspects ( Williams (l) and Olorunwa (r)

He called me on a Monday, January 21, 2018 and informed me that he wanted me to assassinate Kunle Poly. He said he brought Kunle Poly to the union and that he was instrumental in his being the chairman. He said Kunle Poly ought to be paying him an amount on monthly basis but that he had not been living up to expectation. He lamented that it was affecting him financially.

We were supposed to carry out the operation the next day being Tuesday but it was postponed because we had not been paid. The following day on Wednesday, January 23, 2018, I went to meet Olouwa in his car that night, where he gave me the part payment of N500,000. He warned me not to let anyone know what I was doing there. And he also said that he would want me to do the job alone.

 I struck when I sighted Kunle Poly entering his car. I thought I had succeeded until the next day when I heard that it was his Personal. Assistant who died.

When I called Olorunwa on the phone to demand the payment of the balance, he did not pick. He eventually picked my call when I called him with my private number, three days later. He told me point blank that he had no balance to pay since I did not get the target.

I have killed four persons for him

I was left with no option than to seize his vehicle, one Hyundai Jeep from his driver. I called him to inform him that I had collected his car and that I would not release it until he paid me my balance. I have killed four persons for him. One of them was Baba Jide Dosumu alias Mados in Ebute Meta Lagos. I have also killed for prominent persons in the South West , he said.

He is a liar  Chief Olurunwa

But 51-year-old Olounwa described the claim as a lie and an attempt to blackmail him.

He said: I have never done any business with him. I only met him in Ekiti state at a burial ceremony.

Asked what the N500,000 he gave to Williams was meant for, Olounwa replied He told me he was involved in an accident and needed some money. When I travelled to India, he started calling me on the phone, threatening to kill me and members of my family if I did not give him the money.

When he was also asked why Williams seized his Jeep and why he did not report the threat on his life to the Police, Olounwa exclaimed  Ah! You dont know this guy. He is very deadly. Everyone dreads him in Lagos. I gave him the N500,000 out of fear.

Besides, he did not seize my vehicle. The following day after I arrived from abroad, I was informed that he had seized the car from my driver. What I did was to look for somebody that he respected to beg him to bring back my vehicle.

I could not also report to the Police so as not to endanger my life. I dread this man ( pointing at Williams ). There was a day he sprayed bullets on a vehicle in Ajah and killed nine passengers. He is also responsible for the murder of a former chairman, Mados. I did what I did out of fear , he stated.

Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, Imohimi Edgal, who paraded the suspects disclosed that one AK47 rifle with registration number 3501357, two empty magazines and one black Hyundai Santafee Jeep with registration number EKY 741DL that was seized from Olounwa were recovered from Williams.

Armoury

Williams armoury was also displayed. Astonishingly, his arms and ammunition were concealed inside a loudspeaker. From observation, it was discovered that the speaker inside was removed and replaced with the arms, while a side zip was sewn, from where the arms could easily be brought out. He usually carried it whenever he went to assassinate victims within the South West zone, without security operatives having an inkling that arms were stored inside, even if the vehicle was stopped for a search

Instigation according to the command boss, was still on. Edgal added that the command would go all out for other members at large

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Loading...Home | News | General | Gulfstream G500 Jet Launches in Nigeria

The all-new Gulfstream G500 business jet made its Nigerian debut this week, with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporations senior executives visiting Nigeria to give current and potential customers an opportunity to experience firsthand the new aircrafts cutting-edge technology, unparalleled comfort and superior craftsmanship.

The Gulfstream G500 business jet was on display for private viewing at the ExecuJet Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on February 16 and 17.

At a networking event attended by senior leaders from diverse sectors of the Nigerian economy, Commercial Counsellor Brent Omdahl reaffirmed the strong economic ties between the United States and Nigeria.

The U.S. Foreign Commercial Service continues to facilitate long-term business relationships between companies from the United States and Nigeria. We are excited to welcome this stellar group from the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to share their experience and expertise with Nigerian business executives, Omdahl said.

Private aviation is a growing industry in Nigeria, which is home to more than 20 Gulfstream business aircraft, most of them large-cabin, long-range jets capable of connecting companies and business owners with their corporate interests around the globe.

The Gulfstream G500, for example, can fly 8,149 km at nine-tenths the speed of sound, easily carrying passengers from Lagos to London or Moscow. At Mach 0.85, the aircraft can travel 9,630 km, linking Lagos with Caracas or Mumbai.

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Loading...Home | News | General | Buhari rejects Nigerian Peace Corps Bill

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor & Emman Ovuakporie

As the Nigerian Peace Corps battles the Nigeria Police to vacate its national secretariat, the legality of the organisation might have run into trouble as the President has not assented to its establishment bill, which was transmitted to him last year.

Saturday Vanguard learnt from competent sources that President Muhammadu Buhari, apparently bowing to security advice, has not appended his signature to the NPC Establishment Bill, which was officially sent to him by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Sani Omolori, in the last week of December 2017.

Findings by Saturday Vanguard indicate that the 30-day window under, which the president should sign a bill duly transmitted to him elapsed on January 31, 2018, leaving the National Assembly with the only option of mobilising two thirds of its members to veto the presidents rejection of the bill.

By implication, the Presidency has thrown out the NPC bill and the piece of legislation okayed by the two chambers of the NASS can therefore not be cited as a law in Nigeria and the outfit does not have the legal backbone to continue to operate as a legal entity unless the NASS mobilises two thirds of its members to override the president.

A top Presidency official conversant with the matter, confirmed to our correspondent last night that the President could not have assented to the NPC bill because there was no need for such an outfit under the Nigerian security architecture.

The source said, By implication the bill has been rejected by Mr. President since he did not sign it into law within the stipulated 30 working days.

By law, the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill will not fly in Nigeria as the President has not appended his signature to it within the period prescribed by law, the official explained.

Asked what could be done given the fact that the courts had ruled that the embattled security outfit had the right to operate as a voluntary organisation in Nigeria, the presidency official said that the organisation must first derive its legality from the law of Nigeria before functioning as an entity of the law.

But reacting to the development, the Spokesman for the House of Representatives, Abdulrazaq Namdas, said the members would wait patiently for President Muhammadu Buhari to write the NASS on why he would not append his signature to the bill before deciding on what next step.

Namdas told one of our correspondents that the lawmakers were aware that the president was in the habit of giving reasons whenever he rejects a bill sent to him by the NASS.

But if we wait up to a certain time and the usual excuses we expect of him does not come then the House may take a further action to override the president.

If you remember just last week he returned three bills stating the reasons he refused to sign them into law, Namdas said.

It will be recalled that the NPC has been having a running battle with the Nigeria Police since it came out as a security outfit but not yet licensed by the Federal Government, culminating in the sealing of its national headquarters in Jabi and the arrest and detention of its leaders by the NPF.

The running battle between the NPC and the NPF has also resulted in a lingering legal tussle between the two groups, with the court asking the police to pay the NPC N12.5 million as compensation, an order the police are yet to comply with.

File: Peace-Corps

The police have also refused to quit the headquarters of the NPC despite repeated court orders.

While the Senate passed the bill on November 25, 2016, a conference committee of both chambers was inaugurated on December 8, 2016, to harmonise the bill.

The House of Representatives laid and adopted its conference report on January 19, 2017, while the Senate adopted its report on July 25, 2017.

But on February 17, 2017 the police stormed the National Office of the NPC and arrested the head of the organisation, Dickson Akoh, and about 49 other members.

The police accused Mr. Akoh of using the Peace Corps, which was registered as a non-governmental organisation, but operating as a para-military agency, to fleece innocent young job seekers.

Mr. Akoh has however denied all the allegations and has since been granted bail by the court.

Meanwhile, CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, APC, Niger North has said that the Senate will do what the Constitution specifies in case Mr. President refuses to assent the Peace Corps Bill.

He said that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides for what should be done if a bill passed by the National Assembly, transmuted to the President for assent did not receive the assent of the President.

For me personally I see it as a very good thing; it is not new to Nigeria but it is happening in many other countries so that was why in the first instance, the National Assembly supported it.

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Loading...Home | News | General | Revealed: APC lawmakers behind change in election timetable

Fallout of intra-party crisis

Mobilising two-thirds majority unrealistic

Well do what the law saysINEC

New timetable will not standIgbokwe, APC chieftain

BY Charles Kumolu

WHILE supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari appear disturbed over the reordering of the 2019 election timetable by the National Assembly, NASS, an investigation by Saturday Vanguard revealed that the development was originally conceived by All Progressive Congress, APC, members.

The action which was carried out through the passage of a Bill for the amendment of the Electoral Act by both chambers of the NASS was gathered to be a fall-out of the internal crisis in APC, especially its perceived frosty relationship with the NASS.

Specifically, what was described as the absence of synergy between the Presidency and APC lawmakers was said to have directly informed the decision by both arms of the APC-controlled NASS.

President Buhari

Refuse assent to the Bill

It was also learnt that should the President refuse assent to the Bill, getting the required two-thirds majority to override it may not be easy for both arms of the NASS.

These findings which were revealed to Saturday Vanguard by ranking members of the House of Representatives who pleaded anonymity, were also corroborated by a Second Republic lawmaker, Dr, Junaid Muhammad.

He said that APC members in the NASS were the people behind the development.

Though Junaid faulted the Senate and the House of Representatives for taking the action, he said the Presidency was the architect of the current turn of events in the NASS.

He told Saturday Vanguard that the reordering of the election order, which he described as a breach would not have occurred if President Muhammadu Buhari had firm control of party affairs by the virtue of his position.

Two-thirds majority

Giving further insight, one of the lawmakers said: I like the amendment. Something triggered it. We need to look at it dispassionately from two perspectives. One is the nationalistic angle which is in the interest of the nation so that the victory one of individual does not sway the direction of all the votes in the nation.

There is the political angle which has to do with the relationship between the Presidency and the National Assembly. Unfortunately, it is obvious that the presidency is not in synergy with the National Assembly. That is why the ruling party which is in control of both Houses has not been able to influence its members in line with what it wants.

I strongly believe that this may have come up as a result of the internal problems of the APC. The acrimonies between them triggered this. That the motion was not moved by an APC member was just diversionary.

Acted for APC people

Someone from the opposition brought it up and the person acted for APC people. I think the PDP member from Port Harcourt did what he was asked to do. On the face value, one can say that the NASS is just carrying out its constitutional responsibility.

Whether there is a political undertone to it is another issue that can be decoded by those who are deeply into politics. But as a member of the NASS, I will say that we are carrying out our constitutional responsibility. The question now should be on whether the process is right.

Some people are arguing that ordinarily, it should be the responsibility of INEC to reorder the timetable, but we are not dabbling into the duties of INEC. What we have done is to reorder the election timetable in the interest of the nation. INEC does not make laws. It works with laws that are made by the NASS. Therefore, the best thing to do is to work with the law. We are not fixing dates. NASS only rearranged the order of elections. We had it during Shagaris time and other times.

Getting two-thirds majority

One thing some people dont know is that it may be quite difficult for us to get a two-thirds majority of the House because the chamber is always empty. Most times when the most critical aspect of lawmaking which is the consideration of Committee jobs is considered most members dont attend.

When a Bill gets to that point it is very expedient that every lawmaker is in the chamber to make contributions because that is the last process of a bill becoming a law. In most cases, we are less than 30 to consider a Bill.

 If it comes to a situation where the President withholds his assent, a two-thirds majority of both arms of the National Assembly is required to override it. That means that every member will be seated. This is just futuristic because the party withholding assent is the party in power.

When it comes to carrying out such a critical assignment, everybody is required to be there if we must override the Presidents veto. It does not really require a quorum. All it requires is for majority of the members to be present.

But when it involves plenary to consider bills and motions, a quorum is required. The consideration of the Bill is what every member should take serious but the quorum issue is not there. Consideration of Bills comes as the last item of the day, so most members often leave before that time. The chamber is always very empty at that point

Bandwagon effect

There is a former member of the House of Representatives, who was a very vibrant legislator. He is from Jigiwa State and headed the House Committee on Defence twice. I met him in the parliament. That was the young man that Kazaure defeated because of the Buhari bandwagon effect. I never believed that the young man who is very vibrant could be defeated by someone like Kazaure.

It is important to note that Kazaure won the election because he ran on the platform of Buharis party. Ordinarily, I dont think Kazaure would have defeated him if not for that bandwagon effect. That was how the House lost many vibrant legislators. Therefore, the amendment should be seen as progressive and key to the promotion of national interest. It is, however, not about Buhari.

Also speaking, another lawmaker, said: I cant say that APC members did not contribute to making it a reality. Whether it was influenced by APC members does not matter. As lawmakers, the interest of Nigeria is more important than the ambition of an individual or a privileged few. The position of the NASS is the outcome of deliberations on the future of the country.

On his part, Junaid Mohammed said: Members of his (Buhari) party are the people leading the revolt against him and the APC in the Senate and House of Representatives. And it will surely hurt him as a weak leader. He is the architect of his misfortune and the mess that is now playing out in the National Assembly.

The idea that people who won election into the parliament on the same platform with the President are now behaving as opponents of the President and their party is arrant nonsense. And that has happened because the system that brought them is utterly bankrupt.

We knew what happened. Of course, we knew how the leadership of both the Senate and House of Representatives emerged. For the President to assume that is for everybody and for nobody is a naive and dangerous assumption. He created the crisis that is now threatening to swallow him and his party.

Notwithstanding these positions, the Independent Election Commission, INEC, yesterday in Lagos, said it would abide by the action of the NASS when the bill seeking to change the order of election becomes law.

New timetable will not standIgbokwe

Speaking on the subject, APC Publicity Secretary in Lagos State, Mr. Joe Igbokwe said the new timetable would not stand.

He said: They are saying that APC lawmakers are behind the move. Whether it is true or not, what we know is that the timetable will not stand. What the NASS has done is not the last to be heard about the matter. They are just afraid because they cant win an election in 2019. The election will hold in line with the old timetable. They are just desperate people who are angry because the Presidents re-engineering of the country has stopped free money. Buhari is working.

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Loading...Home | News | General | Kano LGA election questionable  INEC

By Bose Adelaja & Gabriel Olawale

Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu yesterday expressed worry over the credibility of the Kano State Local Government election even as he pledged that proper investigation will be carried out to avail Nigerians with facts of the matter.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

Yakubu who spoke at the 2019 Election Project Plan Implementation Workshop convened by INEC with support of European Centre for Electoral Support in Lagos, said that recent report of under-age person voting in local government election in Kano State are deeply disturbing.

His words: It is true that the State Independent Electoral Commission requested for INEC voter register and soft copy of register was made available to the state.

The voter register in Kano State was the one used for 2015 general election and the same register was used for July 2016 State Assembly election which has 78,210 register voters spread across 126 polling unity.

In that election conducted by INEC, no single incident of under age voters was recorded. Why did it now happened in last LGA election conducted by State Independent Electoral Commission? Was the voter register actually used or not, we wish to assure Nigerians that the matter will be fully investigate.

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Loading...Home | News | General | Newly inducted UAV ll be used for land, sea intelligence surveillance  NAF

By Joseph Erunke

ABUJA-THE Nigerian Air Force has explained that its newly inducted indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle christened Tsaigumi will be used for land and sea intelligence surveillance operations.



The Air Force said the operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, UAV, could also be used for policing operations, disaster management, convoy protection, maritime patrol,and pipeline and power line monitoring as well as mapping and border patrol duties.

The service, in a statement by its spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, also said the aerial vehicle could be deployed for the protection of wildlife, weather forecast and telecast.

Additionally, in the maritime domain, the Tsaigumi UAV could be used for search and rescue, coastal monitoring and patrol of Nigerias Exclusive Economic Zone, the statement added.

Recall that the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, on 15 February 2018, inducted the first indigenous operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, UAV, nicknamed, Tsaigumi.

The full statement read: The Tsaigumi UAV, which was produced by NAF Aerospace Engineers in collaboration with UAVision of Portugal, would be used for Intelligence Surveillance and Recognisance (ISR) operations in land and sea domains.

It could also be used for policing operations, disaster management, convoy protection, maritime patrol, pipeline and power line monitoring as well as mapping and border patrol duties. In addition, it could be deployed for the protection of wildlife, weather forecast and telecast.

Additionally, in the maritime domain, the Tsaigumi UAV could be used for search and rescue, coastal monitoring and patrol of Nigerias Exclusive Economic Zone.

The UAV, which is capable of day and night operations, has an operational endurance in excess of 10 hours, a service ceiling of 15,000 feet and a mission radius of 100km.

 It has a maximum take-off weight of 95kg and its payload is an electro-optic/infra-red camera system. 

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Loading...Home | News | General | Voters Registration: Anger, frustrations trail exercise

Since the commencement of the Voters Registration Exercise, it has been complaints galore across the country. In some parts of the country, the exercise has been smooth with enough registration machines and adequate manpower to ensure seamless registration.

But in other areas there were allegations of deliberate acts to disenfranchise some sections of the country with inadequate deployment of staff and registration machines. The Independent National Electoral Commission staff who have been deployed to registration centres also have their issues with the exercise.

Saturday Vanguard went to town to feel the pulse of the prospective voters on how the registration exercise has been so far.

ANAMBRA: Poor turnout despite huge publicity

By Vincent Ujumadu

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, commenced the continuous voters registration (CVR) at INEC offices in all the 21 local government areas and other designated centres in Anambra State on Monday, but the response has not been encouraging.

A visit to some of the designated places for the exercise showed that even though the materials were available, there were hardly people to attend to. Some of the INEC staff told Saturday Vanguard that they were not happy at the turnout despite the publicity given to the exercise.

However, indications emerged mid week that some politicians with eye on elective positions in 2019, have started mobilizing people in the various communities, especially those who have attained the age of 18 years, to participate in the ongoing exercise.

The head of voter education and INEC media and publicity secretary in Anambra State, Mr. Leo Ikedife said the exercise would last from Monday to Friday between 9am- 3pm.

According to him, eligible voters who had not registered during the previous registration exercises and those who just attained the age of 18 years should avail themselves the opportunity and get registered.

Also targeted were those who had lost their permanent voters cards and those whose cards were defaced and spoiled or those with incorrect spellings and particulars to use the opportunity to correct such anomalies.

Similarly, Ikedife said, people who were transferred from where they registered before should visit the registration centers and have their data transferred to their new places of residence or work.

NIGER: Turnout of eligible voters encouraging

By Wole Mosadomi

The turnout for voters registration by eligible voters in Niger state had been very encouraging as evident by the total number of people already registered across the state.

So far, a total number of 95,434 eligible voters have been captured while their Permanent Voters Card, (PVC) were being processed. A breakdown of the registration showed that out of the total numbers registered, 61,687 were males while 33,747 were females.

When our Correspondent visited the different Registration Centres including those located at the Eastern bypass, Tunga and Low cost area of Minna, the state capital, more eligible Voters were seen trooping out to register without stress as INEC officials were on hand carrying out their official duties with utmost efficiency as the materials for the exercise were readily available.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Sam Egwu in an interview said the turnout by eligible voters had been very encouraging but lamented the inability of some of those already registered to come back and collect their PVC.

According to him, many people have come out to register but they have failed to come back and collect their Permanent Voters Card, (PVC).

This set of people should realise that their civic responsibility does not end on mere registration but collecting the PVC and voting which is the most important and they should therefore come back to collect their cards immediately to qualify them to vote.

One of the prospective voters who registered, Amina Abdullahi in an interview said,I am convinced that the only weapon I have is my voters card and that is why I have decided to come out for the registration as a first step to vote and I am satisfied with the exercise.

Another eligible voter at the Eastern bypass registration Centre, Peter Nwankwo said,I am fulfilled with the registration and I will surely vote next year especially if I am still in Minna and I have also directed my wife to come and register too and she has done that.

NASARAWA: Prospective voters lament insufficient machines, registration centres, staff

By David Odama

Prospective voters in Nasarawa state have decried insufficient registration machines, registration centers and INEC staff to attend to them.

Speaking to weekend vanguard on the state of the ongoing voters registration in the state, some stakeholders expressed apprehension over the exercise saying qualified voters would be disenfranchised in the 2019 general election if proactive measures were not deployed by INEC to address the challenges being faced in the state.

The state chairman of the major opposition party in the state, Barrister Francis Orogu maintained that inadequate deployment of machines, insufficient registration centers and the attitude of INEC staff were the major factors impeding the exercise in state.

According to him, more centers, machines and manpower should be deployed to the state so as to contend with the huge turn out of voters for the exercise.

Also speaking, some residents in the state alleged that prospective voters trooped out as early as 4am to queue to be registered for days with out succeeding.

According to pastor Godwin Ngaji and a retired civil servant, Jerry Peleng, INEC should create more centers as well as deploy more machines and manpower to reduce the hardship being encountered by the people.

Reacting, the INEC administrative secretary in the state, Opaleke shola Otolorin disclosed that a total of 29 data capturing machines have been deployed to the state with 7 allocated to Karu and Lafia in view of its dense population. According to him, over 1.15m voters have been registered since the commencement of the exercise in the state. He said that two machines have been deployed to each local government and were being used on rotational basis to fast track the exercise and to meet the urgent need of the voters in the state. While admitting the challenges of meeting the expectations of the people, Otolorin explained that a total of 100,762 voters were captured last year while 11,170 persons have been registered between January 1 and 19th 2018.

Otolorin who urged the prospective voters to avail themselves of the commissions commitment at ensuring that Nigerians were given the opportunity to chose their leaders in 2019, assured that more proactive measures were being put in place to ensure a hitch free registration exercises in the state.

ONDO: Inadequate manpower to cope with turnout

By Dayo Johnson

The on going INEC voters registration exercise across Ondo state was without hitch. Findings showed that the turn out was impressive. The commissions staff were at their duty posts attending to the people who trooped to the centres.

On the availability of materials, the staff said they had more than enough to work with. However the staff were inadequate in some registration points visited. Some of those spoken with requested that more hands should be employed to join the commissions staff to quicken the exercise.

The staff equally said that the number of prospective voters who were trooping to the centres for registration were more than what they expected.

OYO: Lack of publicity on registration centres

By Ola Ajayi

Eligible voters in Oyo State have lamented inadequate publicity about registration points in the ongoing registration of voters for the 2019 general elections. Most of the voters who were willing to register wandered from one place to the other in search of where registration points are located in Ibadan metropolis.

According to Adegboye Elegbeleye, a computer scientist, apart from educated ones who know they can go to INEC office to find out, most people were at a loss on where they were to register.

Sunday Ajayi, a professional photographer said several eligible voters were yet to register in Oyo because they could not locate registration centres.

Speaking on the issue, the INEC Head of Public Affairs, Mr Ayodele Folami said since April 2017 to date about 170,601 eligible voters have been registered.

He said that 18 local governments in the state have two registration units each, while the remaining councils have one each.

For the 18 councils that have two units each, he said, there was one permanent registration unit at INEC office in the councils while the other one moved about to register voters.

As for the remaining councils which have one registration unit each, he explained that since it was only one, the unit had to be moved from one place to the other.

OGUN: Anger, frustration greet voters registration

By Daud Olatunji

In Ogun state, many residents who were unable to collect their Permanent Voters Cards after they had been registered have expressed anger accusing INEC officials of frustrating their efforts. Those who were yet to register frowned at the nonchalant attitude of officials of the commission for keeping them waiting for long hours without being registered.

A resident, Akorede Adewale said I am not happy at all, in fact, I dont know what is wrong with the INEC officials here. I have stayed here for over four hours and they did not attend to us. The INEC officials here are lazy and are not ready to do the job given to them. I am appealing to the government to find a solution to this, because this is the third time I will be coming here and I have not been able to register for my voters card.

Also recounting his ordeals, Rilwan Ogunlade said I have been coming here for five days now and these people have not attended to me, they are only registering the people they know regardless of those they met on ground. Because we do not know anybody, we were left in the sun, while INEC officials were attending to their relatives and friends, honestly, the government should look into this registration anomaly.

ADAMAWA: INEC decries failure to collect printed PVCs

By Umar Yusuf

The continuous voters registration exercise commenced in Adamawa State on the 8th of January 2018 in all the Local Governments, except in Madagali and Michika where insurgency has prevented the commencement of the exercise. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC in the state, Barrister Kassim Geidam had at a stakeholders meeting in Yola expressed regret that failure to collect Permanent Voters Card PVC had been one of the major problems confronting the Commission. According to him, about 127,380 PVC which were printed before the 2015 general Elections had not been collected, even as he announced that the Commission registered 132,123 voters last year, and 22,668 as at January this year.

Most of the INEC offices in the state capital were always besieged by prospective voters who wanted to register. Some of the prospective voters who spoke to Vanguard said although the exercise was a little bit strenuous, they had been registering to vote.

ZAMFARA: Prospective voters spend days at centres

By John Gabriel

Since the commencement of voters registration in Zamfara state, the turn out by the eligible voters was very impressive as both the old and young who have turned 18 years and above have continued to troop into the registration centres across the state in order to be registered in preparation for the 2019 elections.

However, at the initial commencement of voters registration in the state sometimes last year, people were faced with inadequate registration machines to cater for the teaming growing population in the state. Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) immediately swung into action, provided additional six registration machines leading to the establishment of six new voters registration centres across the 14 local government areas in the state.

Interestingly, during vanguards visit to some voters registration centres, the electorates trooped out en mass to be registered, but there were still complaints of inadequate registration machines.

In Bardoki in Gummi local government for example, over 100 persons were on queue awaiting registration which started as early as 8.00am. Some prospective voters who were interviewed said most of them came to the centre as early as 4.00am in order to be attended to early when the INEC officials would resume at 8.00am. According to Mallam Shuaibu Ademu, the INEC voters registration centre in the area had only one registration machine which was not enough for majority of voters who were eager to be registered. As a result, some voters kept coming to the centre for days before they could be registered.

He said, This centre attracts so many people because of the large number of people in the area. The only registration machine cannot capture all voters same day. Some people sleep or go back to their houses only to return the following day but could not be registered. This has created a lot of difficulties for the people in the area. You come to the registration centre with the hope that you will register and go back to your place of business only to spend a whole day without being registered.

A female prospective voter, Hadiza Salisu said she spent N500 for transportation to the registration centre only to get disappointed, due to inadequate machine. She said some people who came for registration last week and could not be attended to, had accident the following day when they made similar attempt to come early to the centre at 4.00am only to run into some kidnappers who blocked the road and in attempt to reverse, their car collided with another vehicle leading to the death of all occupants in the vehicle. She told vanguard that besides inadequate registration machines in the area, they were also faced with shortage of INEC staff to attend to the people. She said the few INEC officials were insufficient to register voters as they quickly got tired and once its official closing hour, they would lock their office.

In Mada Gusau local government voters registration centre, Mohammed Yunisa who said he came to meet some people at the centre at 4.30 am in the morning, told Saturday Vanguard that sometimes, the registration machine would break down and once that happened, all prospective voters would either wait or go home to come back the following day because only one machine was available at each centre. Some of us have spent quite some days here. We are determined to be registered in order to be qualified to vote in the coming elections. That is why we left all we need to do to ensure that we first register. INEC officials are attending to us, but again, they dont work beyond official hour., Yunisa said.

There were also complaints from the commissions staff. Those who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on condition of anonymity said in addition to being overstressed, they had not been paid any allowance since the beginning of the registration exercise even as they spent a lot of money on transportation.

He said the illiteracy level of many prospective voters was also a problem to the staff. According to him, most of these voters coming for registration dont understand English. We have to explain to them, teach them and monitor the entire process to avoid making error that could lead to invalidation of cards. Sometimes, the impatient ones tried to create atmosphere for unnecessary disturbance. When such was observed, we would leave everything we were doing in order to calm the situation.

BENUE: Youths attack INEC officials

By Peter Duru

The ongoing continuous voters registration in the Wadata area of Makurdi town has been halted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following the harassment of registration officials by the youths of the area.

This was made known on Thursday by the INEC Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Emmanuel Okpe at the Commissions headquarters in Makurdi.

Okpe said security operatives had been alerted on the development while efforts were ongoing to address the matter to allow for the smooth conduct of the exercise in the area.

According to Okpe, we do not know why they resorted to harassing our officials but for their safety we have stopped the exercise in the area. At the moment we are planing to hold a stakeholders meeting to have the matter addressed before the exercise will continue in the area.

Despite that development, the exercise has been going on smoothly in all the centres across the 23 local government areas of the state.

There is however pressure on our workers because of the massive turn out which was a function of the aggressive enlightenment campaign we undertook before the commencement of the exercise.

In Makurdi we have two centres in Wadata and Wurukum and another mobile centre while in other local government areas the number of centres is determined by the size of the area.

All our officials are on ground in all the local government areas and so far we do not have problems except the issue at Wadata that I mentioned earlier.

Another problem we have in Makurdi is that some persons who had voters cards are still coming out to register thinking that the cards they had were being phased out but we have taken time to inform them that the exercise is not for those with valid voters cards. Okpe added.

On the figure of newly registered voters, Okpe said the figure was not readily available assuring that it would be made public in no distant time. When Vanguard visited the resignation point at the LGEA Primary School Wurukum, Makurdi, large number of prospective registrants were seen making efforts to register.

ENUGU: Voters registration encouraging

By Dennis Agbo

Since the Continuous Voters Registration, CVR, commenced last year, there have been continuous sensitisation and mobilisation of residents in Enugu state on the need for participation in the exercise.

The mobilisation was a joint efforts by the INEC, the state and local government councils, the civil society groups and political pressure groups.

Some councils, it was learnt, were considering helping INEC to move the registration round the communities in the hinterlands. Expectedly, all the efforts have paid off as INEC said that Enugu state is ranked fourth in PVC registration in the country.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr. Emeka Ononamadu said the result of the registration was encouraging in Enugu state, adding however that more people should be encouraged to come out and collect their PVCs still in the custody of the Commission.

Ononamadu said We recorded increased collection of PVC during the period, although I do not have the actual number collected on my table; but it was quite substantial compared to the collection rate before then. The commission also received a lot of request on relocation/ transfer of PVC voting-point from one location outside and within the state to the rural communities. Again, INEC staff were able to answer most questions bothering the minds of the rural people on the electoral process.

PLATEAU: Strategy adopted to cope with large turnout

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

The Continuous Voters Registration exercise in Plateau State in all the 34 Centres across the 17 Local Government Areas of the State recorded an impressive turn out. In order to cope with the development,

the Head of Department, Voters Education and Publicity, Osaretin Imahiyereobo told Saturday Vanguard that the Commission had to adopt a strategy to ensure the work was done.

He said, a rotation arrangement was put in place with our staff moving from one Registration Area to the other to ensure the process is seamless. However, the Commissions staff are always on duty from 9 am to 3pm Monday through Friday except on public holidays and the process involves registering new registrants, inter and intra transfers, PVC distribution, PVC incidents whether defaced, lost, omission or correction. The Commission, Imahiyereobo said could not give the exact number of the people who have been registered so far as there were cases of multiple registrations which need to be addressed.

ABIA: INEC embarks on aggressive enlightenment

By Anayo Okoli.

In Abia State the continuous voters registration exercise has witnessed an encouraging turnout of eligible voters in many of the centres. Also, the State INEC has been on aggressive enlightenment campaign involving town hall meetings where the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Joseph usually addressed the stakeholders of the various communities stressing the need for their people to be encouraged to register.

Besides, the State INEC has taken air time in the state radio station where its staff further enlightened the people on the need to be part of the ongoing exercise.

Again, the State government has mandated its officers to always mobilize their people and encourage them to go and register. The Government is also sponsoring various jingles on its radio station to encourage eligible voters to go regi ster.

BORNO: 73,000 PVCs unclaimed due to insurgency

By Ndahi Marama

In Borno state, it was the same story of enthusiasm on the part of prospective voters who turned out to register. At INEC Maiduguri Office situated along Maiduguri- Damboa- Bih road, it was observed that many people mostly students, women and youths were on queue and shunting to get registered, while the INEC staff including ad hoc ones were busy attending to them. Same thing happened in some of the IDP camps and host communities where INEC staff had to move from ward to ward attending to those who couldnt register.

In an interview with Member representing Hawul Local Government Area at the Borno State House of Assembly, Hon. Ayuba Wakawa, he expressed satisfaction with the large turn-out of eligible voters in the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. He said the massive turn out and the cooperation by the people showed that sensitization and enlightenment which was carried out before and during the exercise have yielded a positive result, as majority of people will now be able to vote in the next general elections.

The Administrative Secretary of INEC in the state, Abdulhamid Buba said a total of 20, 042 PVCs were distributed by the electoral commission in 2017 with additional ones being issued this year. He added that since the flagging off of this voters registrations exercise in Borno state, the electoral commission registered 47, 572 new voters, while it replaced 8, 105 PVCs.

He said that the commission also transferred 731 cases on account of relocations from the primary registrations in the state. He said last year, a total of 73, 233 unclaimed PVCs were identified, because of deaths or missing persons during the eight-year Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

KWARA: Low turnout of prospective voters

By Demola Akinyemi

In Kwara state, the ongoing Voters Registration Exercise has largely been greeted with apathy. While some residents claimed that they were not aware of the exercise, others said they didnt know the registration centres and when they were advised to go to their local government, they were unwilling because of the distance.

But the INEC Public Relations Officer in Kwara state Barrister Jacob Ayanda was surprised about the residents claim that they were not aware, saying that the electoral body has a weekly programme on the state owned Kwara TV and other privately owned Radio stations in the state capital such as Alubarika and Sobi FM Radios where campaigns for the exercise were being made

He added that at the local government level, INEC has staff who have been designated to educate the people at various community meetings.

He said 3,518 people have been newly registered across the state as at January 25, 2018 while those whose PVCS were ready had been reluctant to collect same. 3,623 people have collected their PVCs while we still have 238,446 with us, people should please come and collect their PVCto enable them perform their civic responsibility, he added.

The INEC spokesman, however seemed not to be disturbed about the peoples apathy saying that its an exercise that will last till December, 2018 so there is enough time.

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Loading...The World Bank yesterday approved an International Development Association (IDA) Credit of $486 million for the rehabilitation and upgrading of electricity transmission substations and lines.

Ms Olufunke Olofon, Senior Communications Officer, World Bank, Nigeria, in a statement said that the investments would increase the power transfer capacity of the transmission network.

The World Banks International Development Association (IDA), helps the worlds poorest countries by providing grant, low to zero-interest loans for projects that boost economic growth and reduce poverty.

The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mr Rachid Benmessaoud, said the Nigeria Electricity Transmission Project (NETP) would help address key bottlenecks in the transmission network.

It will also improve access to affordable and reliable electricity service to citizens. The credit will also enable distribution companies supply consumers with additional power.

Together with other investments and policy measures, the project will contribute to ensuring adequate and reliable electricity supply that is necessary for Nigerias continued economic development, he said.

Power, Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola reiterated the governments commitment to improving power supply in the country.

The Federal Government is committed to addressing the challenges in the public-owned transmission network.

The financing being provided by the World Bank under the Nigeria Electricity Transmission Project power sector underlines this commitment.

The Federal Government anticipates that private sector financing in the privately-owned segments of the value-chain will complement the governments efforts in bringing better quality service to citizens, he said.

The NETP is part of the Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP) by the Federal Government.

It is a comprehensive package of policy, legal, regulatory, operational and financial interventions that will restore the financial viability of the power sector.

The measures that will be implemented through 2021 are aimed at improving transparency and service delivery and re-establishing investor confidence in the sector.Home | News | General | Benue attacks: Can IGP, Defence minister check out these dates?

By Clifford Ndujihe

WHAT are the immediate and remote causes of the unceasing killings in Benue? How can the flowing rivers of blood in Benue be dammed and stopped?

Answers to these questions are legion and varied. And some of the answers have generated more problems and questions.

IGP Idris

Following the early January series of attacks on some communities in Logo and Guma Local councils of the state, which left 73 people dead, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, dismissed it as communal clashes and later attributed the attacks to the Benue Open Grazing (Prohibition) and Establishment of Ranches Law, 2017.

Obviously, it is communal crisis, herdsmen are part of the community. They are Nigerians and are part of the community, are they not? he said.

In like manner, the Minister of Defence, Col. Mohammed Dan-Alli, retd, said that the enactment of the anti-grazing laws by some states was the immediate cause of violence by herders.

The minister, who made the claim while briefing journalists at the end of a security council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in the State House, Abuja, said apart from the anti-open grazing law, he also attributed the attacks to the unwillingness of the affected communities to accommodate their fellow Nigerians and blockage of cattle routes which he said were available at independence.

You see, whenever a crisis happens at any time, there are remote and immediate causes. Look at this issue (of killings in Benue and Taraba), what is the remote cause of this farmers crisis? Since the nations independence, we know there used to be routes whereby the cattle rearers took because they are all over the nation. You go to Bayelsa, Ogun, you will see them. If those routes are blocked, what do you expect will happen?

These people are Nigerians. It is just like going to block the shoreline, does that make sense to you? These are the remote causes of the crisis. But the immediate cause is the grazing law. These people are Nigerians and we must learn to live together with each other. Communities and other people must learn how to accept foreigners within their enclave,  he reportedly said.

The IGP and Defence Ministers comments have attracted condemnation from Benue State Governor, leaders and elders, who said that herdsmen attacks predated the law, and the law was enacted to address the attacks.

Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Alidan alui

Indeed, members of the Movement Against Fulani Occupation, MAFO, presented a bill to the Benue State House of Assembly in March, 2016 after the Agatu massacre. Members of the Movement Against Fulani Occupation (MAFO), presented a bill to the Benue State House of Assembly in March, 2016 after the Agatu massacre. The law was passed by the state House of Assembly 14 months, specifically on May 5, 2017. The Governor signed it into law on May 22, 2017 and it became operational on November 1, 2017.

Reacting to the IGP and Defence ministers comments, Governor Samuel Ortom said: I felt so sad when the Minister of Defence and the IG of police were acting the script of Miyetti Allah instead of doing the jobs for which they are collecting tax-payers money every month. If not, how can you say that the Prohibition of open grazing and provision for ranching law of 2017 in Benue state brought about those killings? Didnt the killings take place in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017?

This law is a necessity arising from the killings. And for us, we sought to bring a permanent solution with the perennial problem of herdsmen and farmers clashes and we did our research and globally we adopted global best practice which is ranching for all types of animals. And so it is amazing for anyone to assert that it is because of the law.

In any case, is this law in Adamawa state, how many people did we hear that were killed? And almost everyday people are killed. Do we have the law in Plateau State, Kaduna State and Nassarawa State? We already have more than 10,000 IDPs from Nassarawa State camping in Benue State. Do they have this law in Edo, Ondo, Bayelsa and Rivers states?

So, it is not about the law, it is deliberate and we live in a country where people will come out in the name of Miyetti Allah and issue threat that they are coming to attack, that they will mobilise people to invade the land and take over the land and even when you report to the authorities, no action is taken.

Indeed, the timeline of herdsmen and gunmen attacks showed that they have been many attacks and killings since 2013.

Timeline of herdsmen attacks on Benue State since 2013

February 2013:  Herdsmen attacked Agatu burning Inoli, Ologba, Olegeje, Olegogboche, Olegede, Adana, Inminy and Abugbe communities. Many lives lost. April 23, 2013:  10 farmers were killed in an attack on Mbasenge community in Guma LGA by suspected herdsmen. May 7, 2013:  47 mourners gunned down in Agatu while burying two policemen killed the Tuesday before in Nassarawa. May 14, 2013:  No fewer than 200 herdsmen surrounded Ekwo-Okpanchenyi, Agatu LGA killing 40 locals. July 5, 2013:  20 people were killed in a conflict between Tiv farmers and herdsmen at Nzorov, Guma LGA, Benue state. July 31 2013:  Herdsmen invaded two villages in Agatu LGA allegedly killing eight villagers in retaliation for the killing of 112 cows. November 7, 2013: Attackers strike at Ikpele and Okpopolo communities killing seven and displacing over 6000 inhabitants. November 9, 2013:  36 locals were killed and seven villages sacked in an attack by herdsmen in Agatu LGA. Nov 20, 2013:  Herdsmen attack communities in Guma LGA, killing 22 locals and destroying properties worth millions of naira. January 20, 2014:  Gunmen attack Agatu LGA, killing five soldiers and seven civilians. January 20, 2014. Herdsmen attack Adeke village killing three. February 20-21, 2014:  Herdsmen attack Gwer West LGA killing 35 persons, displaced 80,000 persons and sacked six Local Councils. February 24, 2014:  Herdsmen attack a Tiv community along Naka road, Makurdi, killing eight people. March 6, 2014:  30 people were killed in Kwande, Katsina/Ala and Logo LGAs by attackers dressed in military uniform. Six villages were sacked. March 12, 2014:  Raid on Ukpam village of Mbabaai in Guma LGA left 28 persons dead, yam barns and farms burnt. March 10, 2014:  Former Governor Suswams convoy attacked by herdsmen at Umenger. He and convoy managed an escape. March 12, 2014:  . Herdsmen attack Suswams village in Logo LGA, killing 22 and sacked entire village. March 23, 2014:  25 people were killed and no fewer than 50 injured by herdsmen said to be bearing sophisticated weapons in Gbajimba, Guma LGA. March 25, 2014:  Police recover seven corpses following an attack on Agena village by herdsmen. March 29, 2014:  Herdsmen attack four villages in Agatu LGA. 19 people were killed and, 15 others abducted. March 29, 2014:  Suspected use of chemical weapons on Shengev community in Gwer West LGA left 15 people dead. March 30, 2014:  19 locals were killed and 15 abducted in Agatu LGA. April 10, 2014:  Herdsmen attacked four villages in Ukemberaga/Tswarev ward of Logo LG, kileed six people and destroyed properties. April 15, 2014:  Attack on Obagaji, Headquarters of Agatu LGA left 12 youths dead. September 10, 2014:  Herdsmen attacked five villages in Ogbadibo LGA leaving scores dead. January 27, 2015:  17 persons were killed in attacks on Abugbe, Okoklo, Ogwule and Ocholoyan in Agatu LGA by herdsmen. January 30, 2015:  Attackers stormed five villages in Logo LGA, killing nine persons. March 15, 2015:  . Egba village in Agatu LGA was sacked by herdsmen, over 90 locals, including women and children were killed. April 27, 2015:  28 persons were killed by herdsmen in attack on three villages at Mbadwem, Guma LGA; houses and farmlands were razed. May 11, 2015:  Ikyoawen community in Turan Kwande LGA was invaded by herdsmen, who killed five persons and injured eight. May 24, 2015:  100 people were killed in an attack by herdsmen in villages and refugee camps at Ukura, Gafa, Per and Tse-Gusa, Logo LGA. July 7, 2015:  One local was killed and several others injured following an attack on mourners at Imande Bebeshi in Kwande LGA. November 5, 2015:  12 persons were killed and 25 others injured in Buruku LGA following an attack by suspected herdsmen. Feb 8, 2016:  10 people were killed and over 300 displaced in a clash between herdsmen and farmers at Tor-Anyiin and Tor-Ataan in Buruku LGA. Feb 21-24, 2016:  Over 500 locals were killed and 7000 displaced in an attack on Agatu LGA by herdsmen. Over seven villages razed. March 9, 2016:  Eight residents were killed by herdsmen in attacks on Ngorukgan, Tse Chia, Deghkia and Nhumbe in Logo LGA. March 11, 2016;  Attack on Convoy of Senator David Mark by suspected herdsmen in Agatu LGA. No casualty recorded. March 13, 2016:  Six people including an APC youth leader were killed by herdsmen in an attack on Tarka LGA. February 29, 2016:  11 killed in Edugbeho Agatu LG including a police inspector. March 10, 2016:  Two killed in attack on Obagaji Agatu. March 5, 2016:  Houses burnt in Agatu. Security forces prevented killings. January 24, 2017:  15 persons were killed by rampaging herdsmen, who attacked farmers in Ipiga village in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State. March 2, 2017:  No fewer than 10 persons were killed in a renewed hostility between herdsmen and farmers in Mbahimin community, Gwer East Local Government Area. March 11, 2017:  Seven people were killed when herdsmen attacked a Tiv community, Mkgovur village in Buruku local government area. May 8, 2017:  Three persons were confirmed killed by herdsmen in Tse-Akaa village, Ugondo Mbamar District of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State. May 13, 2017:  Less than one week after many people were killed by herdsmen in three communities of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, armed herders struck again on May 13 killing eight more people

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Loading...Home | News | General | I killed many people for ex-NURTW chairman, Olorunwa - Serial killer confesses

- A self-confessed serial killer, Adeola Williams aka Ade Lawyer has revealed how he killed many people for ex-NURTW boss in Lagos

- They were arrested for the murder of Ganiyu Ayinla alias Pinero, the personal assistant to the NURTW chairman in Idumota

- The Lagos CP, Edgal Imohimi, who paraded the suspects, said they were arrested based on the confessional statements

A self-confessed serial killer, Adeola Williams aka Ade Lawyer, has owned up to several assassinations, saying he had killed four people allegedly on the orders of a former chairman of National Union Road of Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos state branch, Alhaji Akani Olorunwa.

Punch reports that Ade lawyer, 39 and 51-year-old Olorunwa were paraded on Friday, February 16, at the Lagos state police command headquarters in Ikeja.

READ ALSO: APC crisis deepens as gang-up against Oyegun thickens

NAIJ.com gathered that the ex-NURTW boss was picked up on Thursday, February 15, while Ade lawyer was arrested a day earlier in Akure, Ondo state, by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team.

The suspects being paraded by the police in Lagos state

They were arrested for the murder of Ganiyu Ayinla alias Pinero, the personal assistant to the NURTW chairman in Idumota, Azeez Lawal aka Kunle Poly.

Pinero was killed on January 23 during an attack on Kunle Poly as the duo wanted to enter a vehicle after attending a meeting on Lagos Island.

The police had earlier arrested four suspects in connection with the murder.

Ade Lawyer told journalists on Friday, February 16, that Olorunwa contracted him to kill Kunle Poly and they agreed on N1.5m to execute the plan.

He said Olorunwa paid him N500,000 and promised to pay the N1m balance after the deed had been done.

A rift, however, set in between the two suspects as Ade Lawyer eliminated the wrong target.

Ade Lawyer said apart from Olorunwa, he had been hired to kill people in the past by some individuals in the state, including traditional rulers, whose names he did not mention.

He said: I have been hired to kill many people. I carried out four killings for him (Olorunwa). During the clash between him and Musiliu Akinsanya, alias MC Oluomo, I killed two people for him. He said Kunle Poly betrayed him and contracted me to kill him.

He told me he brought Kunle Poly into NURTW and that there was a bonus he was entitled to as an ex-chairman of NURTW. He said he used to receive the money, but Kunle Poly blocked the payment.

He said as a result of that, he did not want to see Kunle Poly anymore. He asked me to meet him somewhere for a discussion, but I told him I didnt have a car. He personally drove to where I was at Igbosere and we discussed on how to carry out the operation in his car.

When I was about to leave, he gave me N500,000 and promised to pay the remaining N1m when the job had been done. He said he met with me in person because he did not want anybody to know about the operation. I assured him that nobody would hear about the killing.

Ade Lawyer explained further that the operation was supposed to be carried out on Tuesday January 22, but was shifted to the following day.

Unfortunately, we missed our target, Kunle Poly, but killed his PA (Pinero). I called Olorunwa on the telephone to inform him about the development. He started behaving strangely towards me because I missed the target.

I later called him with my private line and he said he did not want to talk to anybody for now. I told him not to be afraid and that I wanted the N1m balance, he added.

Ade Lawyer said Olorunwa sent a Toyota Camry to him through his (Olorunwas) brother called Skoda, pending when the balance would be paid. But he said he rejected the car and demanded a Jeep. He stated that he got the Jeep three weeks ago.

Olorunwa admitted to giving Ade Lawyer N500,000, but said the money was not meant for killing Kunle Poly.

He said: There was a time I was travelling to Ede in Osun state, he (Ade Lawyer) called me and said he had an accident along Lagos-Ibadan expressway. He was disturbing my boys that they should tell me to assist him.

I did not render the assistance until I travelled to England. While I was abroad, he was sending threat messages to me, saying that if I failed to give him money, he would kill me and my family members.

When I came back, I called one of my boys and told him about Ade Lawyers threats. He advised that I give him something because he is a troublesome person. I then sent him to give Ade Lawyer N500,000 to avoid trouble.

I did not send my brother to give him my car. It was my brother who gave him the car on his own. I was sleeping when my son and one of my brothers woke me up. They said Skoda had given my car to Williams (Ade Lawyer).

I contacted Abija to help me retrieve my vehicle and he promised to get it back for me but said I had to be patient.

What made me to fear Williams most was when he shot dead about nine people who were heading for Lagos Island from Ajah in a vehicle. He also killed an NURTW chairman at Oyingbo.

The Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, who paraded the suspects, said they were arrested based on the confessional statements of their accomplices arrested earlier.

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The CP said: One AK-47 rifle with number 3501357, two empty magazines, one black Hyundai Santafee Jeep seized from Olorunwa were recovered from Adeola Williams (AKA Ade Lawyer). Investigation is ongoing and effort is being made to arrest other suspects at large.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had earlier reported that suspected kidnappers and robbers killed an operative of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Machi Yusuf in Kwara state.

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Loading...Home | News | General | Amid various clashes with police, Buhari rejects Nigerian Peace Corps Bill

- The president has rejected the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill

- The Bill was sent to the executive through the National Assembly clerk in December

- Sources said it is possible that the president is bowing to security advice not to assent the bill which has faced lots of controversies

President Muhamadu Buhari has rejected the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill, Vanguard reports.

Sources said the president is bowing to security advice not to assent the bill which has faced lots of controversies.

The bill approved by the National Assembly was earlier sent to the president in December 2017 through the legislative clerk, Sani Omolori.

However, it was gathered that a 30-day window period which is needed for the president to append his signature on the bill has elapsed.

READ ALSO: Robbers, kidnap suspects kill SARS official in Kwara

While this expiration of the window period gives the National Assembly only option of mobilising two thirds of its members to veto the presidents rejection of the bill, a top official at the presidency said the president's decision maybe because there is no need for for an outfit in Nigeria.

The source said: By implication the bill has been rejected by Mr. President since he did not sign it into law within the stipulated 30 working days. By law, the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill will not fly in Nigeria as the President has not appended his signature to it within the period prescribed by law."

The noted that the NPC must first derive its legality from the Nigerian law before functioning as an entity.

READ ALSO: Governor Yari accuses security agencies of failing Zamfara people

But in his reaction, the spokesperson for the House of Representatives, Abdulrazaq Namdas, said the members would wait patiently for President Muhammadu Buhari to write the NASS on why he would not append his signature to the bill before deciding on what next step.

Namdas said: But if we wait up to a certain time and the usual excuses we expect of him does not come then the House may take a further action to override the president. If you remember just last week he returned three bills stating the reasons he refused to sign them into law.

NAIJ.com earlier reported that the House of Representatives has ordered Peace Corps of Nigeria to take possession of its office.

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The House also gave the police 48 hours to vacate the office, saying it cannot watch the police "mess up" the office of the attorney general of the federation.

The lawmakers also ordered that the inspector general of police and the attorney general of the federation appear before it within the next seven days.

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Loading...Home | News | General | Governor Yari accuses security agencies of failing Zamfara people

- Zamfara state governor has accused security agencies of failing the state

- Governor Abdulaziz Yari said the agencies failed to stop the killings that occured in the state despite a 24-hour notice prior to the attack

- He also said he feels let down anytime he has to face the people of Zamfara

The governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari, on Friday, February 16, accused security agencies in Nigeria for failing to prevent the killings that occurred in the state about 48 hours ago.

The governor speaking while he led a group of five northern governors on a sympathy visit to the Palace of Emir of Zurmi said the security agencies in the area failed to stop the attack despite warnings 24 hours prior to the killings.

Yari said the agencies and its operatives failed to tackle the problem of cross-border banditry and terrorism affecting communities in the area.

READ ALSO: Breaking: Obasanjo visits Jonathan in Otuoke

He said: Whatever was humanly possible that needed to be done, we as a government have done to mitigate this disaster. But it does appear that security agencies are failing in their responsibilities.

I feel let down facing the people of this state whenever I remember the promise I made to them that if they elected President Muhammadu Buhari into power, these killings would end. But unfortunately, things are now getting worse.

READ ALSO: Female Libya returnee dies in Port Harcourt

As such, I urge you security agencies to up the ante so as not to lose this war. If you let us put the matter in our hands, anarchy will reign, which is not what we hope for.

On this particular incident, we had intelligence reports 24 hours before it happened that the bandits were grouping and ready to attack. I alerted the security agencies but unfortunately, they sent inadequate personnel to confront these people," the governor said.

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NAIJ.com earlier reported that at least 41 people were killed at Birane village in Zurmi local government area of Zamfara state.

Yari had earlier said he was shocked by the attack on Birane village that led to the death of 41 people.

The governor insisted that he would continue to protect the lives and properties of the people of the state.

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Loading...Kabiru Marafa, Senator representing Zamfara Central, has accused Zamfara Governor, Abdulaziz Yari of paying more attention to being chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, than protecting lives of his people.

Marafa accused Yari of laxity in managing the security crisis in the northern State, urging him to seek for Buharis help if he cannot handle security situation in his state.

Marafa alleged that the gunmen who killed at least 41 people in Zamfara were known to officials of the state government.

Why are people not talking? Why is the state House of Assembly not addressing this issue? Definitely, some people have to be brought to book. He was voted to be the governor, not the Chairman of the NGF.

If he is not in charge , he should summon the courage to come out and say  this issue is beyond me, Mr. President I want your help.

I have been complaining but the state government always wants to sweep this thing under the carpet. I said (at the Senate ) that there was a problem and I said Zamfara was under a siege and that the state government had banned all vigilante groups . People who are not security agents now walk about with arms.

The governor keeps saying that he is spending money. Spending money on what, and why? What you see that just happened is not only in that community. Within the last three days, different communities were attacked in Zamfara. It is just that this one is bigger than others. There are killings and kidnappings going on in Zamfara on a daily basis and nothing is being done.

Instead of him to sit down and face his problem, he is always in Abuja doing one thing or the other in the name of being the Chairman of the NGF, Marafa told PunchA foremost playwright and culture activist, Professor Akinwunmi Ishola has died at his Bolajoko Estate home in Ibadan on Saturday at the age of 78 years.

While confirming the incident, one of his former students, Mr. Sola Ajayi said: The news of his death really shocked me when I heard this morning. He was a legend and and he left behind good legacies, praying his soul to rest in peace.

The late playwright, who had been down with illness for about two years, had several works to his credit which include, Oleku,  Kosegbe,  Saworoide, Agogo Eewo, among others.

Born in Ibadan in 1939, Prof Ishola attended Labode Methodist School and Wesley College in the capital of the old Western Region of Nigeria.

He studied at the University of Ibadan, earning a B.A. in French. He also earned an M.A. in Yoruba Literature from the University of Lagos in 1978 before commencing academic work as a lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University where he was appointed a professor in 1991.President Muhammadu Buhari has declined assent to the bill to establish Peace Corps which was transmitted to him last year.

According to Vanguard, Buhari has refused to append his signature to the NPC Establishment Bill, which was officially sent to him by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sani Omolori, in the last week of December 2017.

The 30-day window under, which the president should sign a bill duly transmitted to him elapsed on January 31, 2018.

The President now leaves the National Assembly with the only option of mobilising two thirds of its members to veto the presidents rejection of the bill.

A top Presidency official told the newspaper last night that the President could not have assented to the NPC bill because there was no need for such an outfit under the Nigerian security architecture.

The newspaper quoted the source as saying that by implication, the bill has been rejected by Mr. President since he did not sign it into law within the stipulated 30 working days.

Reacting to the development, the Spokesman for the House of Representatives, Abdulrazaq Namdas, told the newspaper that the members would wait patiently for President Muhammadu Buhari to write the NASS on why he would not append his signature to the bill before deciding on next step.

Namdas said lawmakers were aware that the president was in the habit of giving reasons whenever he rejects a bill sent to him by the NASS.

He added, But if we wait up to a certain time and the usual excuses we expect of him does not come, then the House may take a further action to override the president.

If you remember just last week, he returned three bills stating the reasons he refused to sign them into law.

The NPC has been having a running battle with the Nigeria Police since it came out as a security outfit but not yet licensed by the Federal Government.

Also reacting to the Presidents refusal to sign the bill, the chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, APC, Niger North, said that the Senate will do what the Constitution specifies in case Mr. President refused to assent to the Peace Corps Bill.

He said that the constitution of the country provided for what should be done if a bill passed by the National Assembly, transmuted to the President for assent did not receive the assent of the President.

He said, For me personally, I see it as a very good thing; it is not new to Nigeria but it is happening in many other countries so that was why in the first instance, the National Assembly supported it.The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the gruesome murder of 41 Nigerians by marauders in Zamfara State.

The party in a statement signed by Kola Ologbondiyan the parts National Publicity Secretary lamented that the continued failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled Federal Government to take decisive steps to end the incessant killings in various parts of the country, the latest being Wednesdays massacre of 41 defenceless Nigerians in Zamfara state.

The PDP called on all Nigerians, irrespective of religion, ethnicity and political affiliations, to join forces in praying for the nation as well as supporting one another at this critical time in our national life.

Ologbondiyan, on Saturday, said it is heartbreaking that Nigerians are daily slaughtered by marauders while those elected to protect our people are only concerned with their selfish re-election bid in 2019 and meaningless photo opportunities in the media.

In the last two months, hundreds of helpless citizens have been murdered by bandits in various parts of the country and nothing concrete has been done by the Federal Government to end the butchery and bring the perpetrators to book.

Hardly have tears dried over the gruesome killings in Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Nasarawa and other states when marauders hit Zamfara, a state known for peace, killing 41 citizens in cold blood, yet all we get is mere lip service from the APC-controlled Federal Government.

Nigerians now live defenceless and in perpetual fear; our people are fast losing confidence in our institutions; as we speak, citizens are now sourcing their own security as APC-controlled Federal Government daily manifest crass indifference to the protection of our people.

PDP stands with all our people across the nation and share in their pains at this critical time.

We therefore call on all Nigerians, irrespective of religion, ethnicity and political affiliation, as well as all people of goodwill across the world, to join forces in praying for our dear nation.

We call on the APC-controlled Federal Government to admit its failures and seek help from Nigerians who can assist in our current situation.

Our people have witnessed enough bloodletting and we must collectively find an end to the carnage.

The PDP commiserates with the families of those killed in Zamfara and other states and pray God to grant us peace and all round protection in our country.Home | News | General | National Assembly members to override President Buhari's powers to pass Peace Corps bill

- The controversy surrounding the Peace Corps bill is still on

- The National Assembly seems hell-bent on making sure the bill sees the light of the day

- Nigerian federal legislators say they are ready to override the president to ensure the bill sees the light of the day

The National Assembly, on Friday, February 16, said it would not hesitate to invoke the relevant session of the Nigerian 1999 constitution, and override the executive powers of President Muhammadu Buhari, if he does not eventually assent to the bill establishing Nigerian Peace Corps.

The Senate had passed the Peace Corps Bill on November 25, 2016, shortly after the House of Representatives passed same.

A conference committee of both chambers was also inaugurated on December 8, 2016, to harmonise the bill passed at different levels.

President Buhari's delay in signing the Peace Corps bill seems to have infuriated federal legislators. Photo credit: State House

READ ALSO: Vacate Peace Corps office within 48 hours - House of Representatives tell police

The lower house therefore, laid and adopted its report on January 19, 2017, while the Senate adopted its report on July 25, 2017.

The clean copy of the bill marked 'Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment) Bill 2017' was then transmitted to the presidency on December 27, 2017, by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Mohammed Ataba Sani-Omolori, after 3 months.

President Buhari has however kept mute on whether the bill would be assented to or not.

In a chat with a national newspaper this week, the spokesman for the House of Representatives, Honourable Abdulrazaq Namdas, said the members would wait patiently for President Muhammadu Buhari to write the National Assembly if he would not append his signature to the bill before deciding on the next step.

Namdas said the lawmakers were aware that the president was in the habit of giving reasons whenever he rejects a bill sent to him by the legislature.

But if we wait up to a certain time and the usual excuses we expect of him does not come then the House may take a further action to override the president.

If you remember just last week he returned three bills stating the reasons he refused to sign them into law, Namdas said.

Speaking on behalf of the Senate, the chairman, Senate committee on media and public affairs, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, said the Senate will do what the constitution specifies in case Mr. President refuses to assent the Peace Corps Bill.

He said that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides for what should be done if a bill passed by the National Assembly, transmitted to the president for assent did not receive the assent of the president.

For me personally I see it as a very good thing; it is not new to Nigeria but it is happening in many other countries so that was why in the first instance, the National Assembly supported it, he said.

The Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, had also vowed that the National Assembly would exercise its function as enshrined in the constitution, if Mr. President fails to sign the bill.

The Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment) Bill 2017, when signed into law, would give legal backing to the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria under the leadership of Dr. Dickson Akoh.

The head of the Peace Corps, as captured in the bill, shall be referred to as National Commandant, to be appointed by the president upon recommendations of the supervising minister, for the period of 5 years which is renewable once.

The core mandates of the Corps is to develop, empower and provide gainful employment to the youths, in order to facilitate peace, volunteerism, community services, neighbourhood watch, nation-building and other related matters.

READ ALSO: Police, Peace Corps supporters clash in Abuja

Similarly, members of the Not Too Young To Run movement, recently urged President Buhari to assent to the age reduction bill which they are championing for young Nigerians to be qualified for political office.

They however advised members of the National Assembly to veto the president, should he delay or declines assent to the bill.

EXCLUSIVE: Be patient with President Buhari, Femi Adesina tells Nigerians on NAIJ.com TV

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Loading...Home | News | General | Bandits now write letters to communities asking for money in Zamfara - Governor's aide

- Bandits now deliver letters to residents of various communities in Zamfara state demanding for money

- This was disclosed by an aide to the governor of Sokoto state Imam Imam

- Imam urged the federal government to consider the establishment of of a new security force dedicated to areas prone to attacks

An aide to the governor if Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal has revealed that bandits now write letters to various communities in Zamfara state asking for money.

Imam Imam, a journalist and former politics editor for Thisday urged the federal government to consider the establishment of of a new security force dedicated to areas prone to attacks.

The governor's aide reacting the recent killing of over 40 people in Zamfara state by some unknown gunmen said, the affected communities have tried various strategies to ensure that the now "annual attacks" does not occur again.

READ ALSO: I killed many people for ex-NURTW chairman, Olorunwa - Serial killer confesses

Imam who took to Twitter to commiserate with the people also said no form of success has been achieved with the efforts made by residents of the communities.

See his tweets below:

READ ALSO: Police move against 10 suspects for burning IDPs houses in Nasarawa

NAIJ.com earlier reported that at least 41 people were killed at Birane village in Zurmi local government area of Zamfara state.

The governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari had earlier said he was shocked by the attack on Birane village that led to the death of 41 people.

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The governor who accused security agencies of failing the people of the state insisted that he would continue to protect the lives and properties of the people of the state.

Yari said the agencies failed to stop the killings that occurred in the state despite a 24-hour notice prior to the attack.

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Loading...Home | News | General | 2019: Okorocha's wife, son in-law allegedly instigate impeachment moves against Imo deputy governor

- There are strong indications that the deputy governor of Imo state, Prince Eze Madumere may be impeached

- This is due to his growing popularity in the state among the electorates

- There are talks that the deputy governor may contest for the position of governor in the 2019 general elections

A report by Thisday indicates that the deputy governor of Imo state, Prince Eze Madumere may be impeached.

According to the report, the purported impeachment is being instigated by the kitchen cabinet of Governor Rochas Okorocha, led by his wife Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha and his son in-law, Uche Nwosu, who is also the governor's chief of staff.

The governor's allies are wary of the deputy governor as he is seen as the main opposition to Okorochas plan to install Nwosu as his successor.

Governor Okorocha is said to have endorsed his son in-law as his successor. Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: IMSU best graduating student Chigozie Ekenze receives N13.7m from Governor Okorocha

Unnamed sources quoted in the report says the governors wife and other collaborators in the plot to make Nwosu the next governor of the state come 2019 at all cost perceived the deputy governor's popularity as a major obstacle due to their plans.

It was said that the pressure on the governor coming from various quarters including powerful people from within and outside the state against endorsing Nwosu as his successor, may have influenced the decision by the wife of the governor and his son-in-law to resort to impeachment move.

The state ministry of finance is said to have been given a marching order to mop up huge funds to lobby members of the House of Assembly for the impeachment plot. Similarly, a serving commissioner is said to have been penned down to serve as a liaison with members of the House of Assembly to bring the plot to fruition.

The source further disclosed that a lawmaker from Owerri zone, where the deputy governor is also from, has been promised the position of speaker and automatic ticket for him and other lawmakers who are involved in the plot, while those who would sign the impeachment would be allocated landed property in choice areas.

Reacting to the allegation, chief press secretary to the governor, Sam Onwuemeodo dismissed it as of no substance , stating, of what political value will the impeachment of the deputy governor now add to anybody or organisation in the State at the moment?

The truth of the matter is that those who cooked up the impeachment story with the hope that it would help them in their ambition are also the ones marketing it.

The point is that anybody who thinks that he can win the governorship election in the state in 2019 without the contribution of Governor Rochas Okorocha should go and do what Rochas did in 2011 by taking the ticket of APGA and winning the election and in 2015 when he joined APC in a zone that was dominated by PDP and also won his election. That is the best action now.

There are a lot of political parties looking for people to come and take their tickets. Any of the aspirants who thinks or feels he has the political capacity to win election in Imo without Rochas contribution should go for the ticket of one of such parties and win election and let us see.

But for APC Imo, Rochas Okorocha cannot and will not be allowed to leave it for anybody because when he was risking his second tenure and life to build the party most of these people were either not there or were sitting on the fence, he said.

When contacted, the chief press secretary to the deputy governor, Uche Onwuchekwa, dismissed it as mere ruse intended to heat up the polity for mischievous reasons. He, however, confirmed that the office of the deputy governor had been inundated with calls from across the state and beyond concerning the purported impeachment.

Onwuchekwa further noted that even though the issue is still regarded as mere rumour, let it be known that any such scheme will be counter-productive and an ill wind that will blow no one any good.

He also described the said impeachment plot as the handiwork of detractors and those who are daily intimidated by the growing popularity and acceptability of the deputy governor across the state.

READ ALSO: House of Reps disagree over amnesty allegedly granted to cultist by Governor Okorocha

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Imo state chapter, has said that the alleged move by Governor Okorocha to install his son-in-law as his successor in 2019 will be rejected by the people of the state.

The chairman of the PDP in the state, Charles Ezekwem, said on Tuesday, February 13, that the state had gone beyond the stage of a father-in-law handing over political power to his son-in-law after eight years and mother handing over to his daughter as the first lady of the state.

He said: This family business will not work; the idea of Okorocha handing over power to his son-in-law after eight years will not work. This familiocracy will be rejected because Imo people are highly educated and civilised.

Ezekwem announced that the PDP had started the process of ensuring that it would reclaim the state in 2019.

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Loading...Home | News | General | Police uncover ritualist's den with shallow graves in Osun

- Police have uncovered ritualist's den in Osun state

- The state CP, Fimihan Adeoye, said the police acted on a tip off and they swooped on the den where two persons believed to be siblings were arrested

- He said that the leader of the syndicate was at large but said the police were on his trail

Residents of Ilobu town in Osun state were shocked as men from the Osun state police command stormed the town and uncovered a ritualist den with some shallow graves.

Punch reports that the ritualist den which is located inside a big house at Molete area of the town was on Friday, February 16, discovered by a team of policemen led by the commissioner in the state, Fimihan Adeoye.

READ ALSO: Okorocha's son-in-law finally reveals why he was endorsed to run for Imo governorship in 2019

NAIJ.com gathered that the commissioner of police said that the police acted on a tip off and they swooped on the den where two persons believed to be siblings were arrested.

Police uncover ritualist den with shallow graves in Osun

He said that the leader of the syndicate was at large but said the police were on his trail and would not give up until he was arrested and everybody, who had connection with the den.

He said: We acted on a a reliable tip off which led to the arrest of two brothers of same parents while their kingpin and leader is still at large.

Of particular interest was the discovery of a dungeon with path which connects one of the shrines to another. Several statues and hundreds of bottles of alcoholic drink were scattered around the shrine.

Some shallow graves were also seen scattered around the building but we still investigating to be sure if they are graves of some of the victims of the fraudsters.

The CP appealed to the people of the state to always assist the police by giving them useful information which could help them to perform their duties better.

He said security of any state or nation could not be left in the hands of a few security men but added that everybody should be involved. He stated that policemen could not be everywhere at the same time to know everything going on.

He said that this was the reason the police needed the cooperation and the support of the people of the state while assuring them that any information given would be treated with utmost confidentiality.

Some residents of the town lauded the police for coming to their rescue by arresting some of the operators of the shrine, saying they knew that the suspected criminals carried out nefarious activities in the building but they were too afraid to confront them.

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It will be recalled that a team of policemen and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had in January 12 uncovered a den around Ilesa and arrested three men at the place.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had previously reported that a middle age man, allegedly about to use a woman for ritual was caught somewhere in the north and forced to revive his victim by an angry mob. He was reportedly handed over to the police for further questioning after his victim woke up.

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Loading...Home | News | General | Northern leaders are always deceiving themselves about unity - Balarabe Musa

- Former governor of old Kaduna state and national chairman of the PRP Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa said Igbo are more united than north or south west

- Musa declared that they have always been for one united Nigeria than the Yoruba and Hausa that have always been secessionists

- He further stated that forget the north are always deceiving themselves about unity

Former governor of old Kaduna state and national chairman of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa has called for the zoning of the 2019 presidency to the Igbo.

Musa who made this known in an interview with Daily Sun said it has become necessary because the Igbo have been cheated for too long by denying them a shot at the presidency over the years.

The PRP national leader also alleged that Hausa and Yoruba should be held responsible for the political backwardness of the Igbo.

READ ALSO: I killed many people for former NURTW boss, Olorunwa - Serial killer confesses

He wondered why the nations dominant ethnic groups find it difficult to tolerate an Igbo presidency, adding that the northern elders push for a consensus northern presidential candidate for the 2019 polls is all about their personal rather than national interests. He warned that the bid is bound to fail like previous attempts.

He said: ''Igbo are more Nigerian than the North or South West in terms of their commitments to the unity of Nigeria. And this is right from 1950s.

''They are more committed to the Nigeria project. Lets even talk of tribe; the Igbo are more committed to national unity.

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''They have never expressed separatist tendency, until after the war because of the effect of the war. They have always been for one united Nigeria than the Yoruba and Hausa that have always been secessionists.

''Forget about the North, they are always deceiving themselves about unity. But talking about power bloc, yes, there is. However there is evidence that they are speaking with one voice in terms of this attitude towards cattle colony.''

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that the Presidency on Monday, November 6, assured Nigerians and the international community that the 2019 general elections will be free and fair.

Presidency also said the 2015 general election was credible just because of the then chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega.

Who is Nigeria's greatest president ever? - on NAIJ.com TV:

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Loading...Home | News | General | Police arrest 10 suspects for allegedly burning IDPs houses in Nasarawa

- The police has arrested 10 suspects following their involvement in burning down houses used by some internally displaced persons in Nasarawa state

- The suspects allegedly burnt three houses at Farin Ruwa 1 of Obi local government area

The Nasarawa police command said the arrest was possible due to the aggressive patrols of the affected areas

The Nasarawa state police command has arrested 10 people for allegedly setting ablaze the houses deserted by the Internally Displaced Persons (IPDs) in Nasarawa/Benue border towns.

DSP Idirisu Kennedy, police public relations officer stated this on Saturday, February 17, while addressing newsmen at the command headquarters in Lafia.

According to him, surprisingly some of the suspects arrested in connection with the offence turned out to be of the same tribal extraction with their victims.

READ ALSO: Just in: JAMB uncovers another N83 million fraud in 5 states

He said on February 11, one Nicholas Alua and three others, who are all Tiv people, were arrested for burning three houses of their Tiv brothers at Farin Ruwa 1 of Obi Local Government Area (LGA).

He added on Ijakeni Uhon of Gidan Nguinyi a Tiv man was arrested for setting fire on 25 houses belonging to some Tiv people at Gidan Wakili.

He said that Danis Utsa of Kadarko and three others were also arrested on January 1 for setting ablaze the house of Edward Alima of the same address.

READ ALSO: 25 states approve new age limit for Presidency ahead of 2019 election (list)

He, however, said that two people from Obi LGA namely Bagu Anaruwa and Rabo Anaruwa both of Obi LGA were arrested for burning 15 houses belonging to some Tiv people in Kuduku 11 village of Keana LGA.

The PPRO explained that the arrest was made possible due to the aggressive patrols of the affected areas.

He said that the suspects would be charge to court as soon as investigation is concluded.

He, therefore, assured the public that the police would do everything possible to bring the perpetrators of isolated attacks in boarder communities to justice.

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NAIJ.com earlier reported that suspected kidnappers have killed a SARS operatives in Kwara state.

The suspects were arrested by the Kwara state police command, the commissioner of police in the state said.

Also 233 cows and an AK 47 rifle were recovered from the suspects.

Source: NAN

Are Nigerian Policemen the worst in the world? - on NAIJ.com TV

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Loading...Home | News | General | Air Peace aircraft delayed from landing for more than 15 minutes by cows - Fayose

- Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state has raised an alarm over a misnomer at the Akure airport, Ondo state

- The governor said cows took over the runaway of the airport today, Saturday, February 17

- He made the revelation via his Twitter page

Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state has raised an alarm over a misnomer he witnessed at the Akure airport, Ondo state today, Saturday, February 17.

The governor said cows took over the runaway of the airport while an Air Peace aircraft from Lagos tried to and.

According to him, the presence of the cows in the runaway prevented the aircraft from touching down for about 15 minutes.

Governor Fayose hailed the pilot of the aircraft for his professionalism in handling the situation. Source: Twitter

His words: Today, while at the Akure Airport to board Air Peace commercial flight to Lagos, I witnessed cows taking over the Airport runway and preventing Aircraft No. 5NBQQ from landing for more than 15 minutes. Thanks to Captain Inyang for saving the lives of the passengers.

READ ALSO: Attack: Suspected herdsmen burn 100 acres of mangoes, pineapple plantation in Osun

NAIJ.com could not independently verify the claims of the governor before publishing this article.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigerian and the Nigerian Aviation Civil Authority are also yet to make any official statement on the alleged incident.

Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has raised concerns over the obstructions of roads by herdsmen and their cows in some parts of the country.

The assistant corps marshal, of the FRSC, Nwaka Agnes, said there was need to enlighten herders on how their cattle should cross the roads, noting that there was no reason for anybody to endanger the lives of other road users.

It (obstruction of traffic by herders and their cows) is worrisome alright but then there is always room for dialogue. There should be more dialogue so that people will really understand that we really need to understand one anothers limit, she said in an interview with journalists.

READ ALSO: Herdsmen killing: Fayose blows hot, vows to strengthen anti-grazing law

Nigerian herdsmen vs Nigerian farmers on NAIJ.com TV

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Loading...Home | News | General | BREAKING: PDP NWC members visit Babangida's Minna home

- Consultations for the 2019 general elections have begun in earnest

- The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to be leading the way in this regard

- The party national leadership has been consulting with elders of the party in recent times

Consultations for the 2019 general elections have begun in earnest as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national leadership of has been consulting with elders of the party in recent times.

Today, the party's National Working Committee lead by the national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, visited the home of former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), in Minna, Niger state.

Members of the PDP NWC pose for a photograph with former military president, Ibrahim Babangida's in his Minna home. Photo credit: PDP

Among those in the PDP NWC delegation to Babangida's home are the deputy national chairmen for the north and south, Senator Gamawa Babawo Garba and Elder Yemi Akinwonmi.

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Others are the national secretary of the party; Senator Ibrahim Tsauri, national publicity secretary; Kola Ologbodiyan, national legal adviser; Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem among others.

Prince Secondus speaking at the meeting with General Babangida. Photo credit: PDP

Two days ago, the PDP national chairman led the NWC members to a consultative meeting with Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

He recently boasted that the party is re-positioning to take over power in the 2019 general elections for a better Nigeria.

He said this during a grand rally, as part of activities to mark Governor Seriake Dicksons six years in office in Yenagoa on Wednesday, February 14.

READ ALSO: Our party has enough room for returnees - PDP

Nigerians want PDP back in 2019 - Goodluck Jonathan declares at PDP Caucus Meeting - on NAIJ.com TV

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Loading...Home | News | General | Air Peace confirms report on cows on Akure airport runway

The management of Air Peace has confirmed report by the governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose that cows took over the Akure airport runway on Saturday.

Air Peace

The management speaking to Vanguard on phone said that flight P4 7002 from Lagos had to delay landing into Akure Airport today (Saturday) when the pilot-in-command sighted cows on the runway at about 12.15pm.

On being alerted by control tower, aviation security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN AVSEC) quickly intervened and cleared the runway.

The flight was eventually cleared to land after about seven minutes. Our guests on board were all calm while the delay lasted.

The aircraft departed for Lagos at about 1.06 with full escort from FAAN security personnel.

[17/02, 17:32]

Confirming the incident, Air Peace Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah said: We confirm that flight P4 7002 from Lagos had to delay landing into Akure Airport today (Saturday) when the pilot-in-command sighted cows on the runway at about 12.15pm.

On being alerted by control tower, aviation security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN AVSEC) quickly intervened and cleared the runway.

The flight was eventually cleared to land after about seven minutes. Our guests on board were all calm while the delay lasted.

The aircraft departed for Lagos at about 1.06 with full escort from FAAN security personnel.

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Loading...Home | News | General | We will compel Buhari to re-contest in 2019, says Buhari Campaign organisation

Bauchi  Alhaji Danladi Pasali, National Coordinator, Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO), says that the organisation will compel President Muhammadu Buhari to re-contest in 2019.

Buhari

Pasali said this in Bauchi on Saturday while inaugurating BCO North-East Zonal Secretariat and officials that would run the affairs of the secretariat.

We will mobilise the masses of this country to compel President Buhari to re-contest during the 2019 general election since he had fulfilled most of his campaign promises, particularly in areas of security, war against corruption and revamping of the economy.

We will secure endorsements for re-election bid of Buhari from various groups across the country.

We will pressurise him to re-contest to enable him consolidate on his achievements and ensure that the corruption fight is irreversible.

We will work with other like-minded groups and the APC to secure President Buharis party nomination and victory in the general elections, he said.

Pasali said that the organisation would use all media platforms and billboards to highlight details of Buharis achievements in order to mobilise supports for the re-election of the president in all the 36 states of the country.

He, therefore, called on Nigerians, both within and those in the diaspora, to support the organisation and ensure that the president excel both during the partys primaries and the general elections.

While swearing-in the chairmen of the six states within the North-East Geo-political Zone, the national coordinator called on them to work tirelessly to ensure that President Buhari was re-elected in 2019.

He noted that all the legacies Buhari had made would be ruined if he was not re-elected.

The state coordinators are: Alhaji Isa Gonja, Alhaji Aminu Abubakar, Mohammed Mailta, Suleiman Bako, Tukur Sambo and Aminu Nguru for Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States respectively. (NAN)

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Loading...Home | News | General | Interior Minister urges NIS to tackle trans-border crimes in Jigawa

The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazau has urged the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to work with the traditional institutions to effectively tackle trans-border crimes.

Danbazau made the call at the inauguration of the state office of the immigration service in Dutse on Saturday.

According to him, these crimes include human trafficking, drug trafficking, arms trafficking and illegal migration.

The minister also urged them to remain focused in the discharge of their responsibilities to the people, especially in the issuance of passports.

Danbazau commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his tremendous financial support to the Ministry of Interior, which enabled the people to enjoy efficient services including security at the nations borders.

The minister expressed delight at the erection of the immigration service headquarters in Dutse, describing it as an improved version with none like it in the whole federation.

The Comptroller-General (CG) of the Immigration Service, Alhaji Muhammad Babandede, urged relevant agencies to continue to cooperate with the immigration service towards ensuring peace and security in the country.

He said the immigration service was working relentlessly to maintain maximum security at the nations borders, which still required improved structures.

Babandede also commended the Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Danbazau (Rtd), for providing offices conducive for the immigration service nationwide.

In his remarks, the Gov. Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa commended officers and men of the immigration service for consistently tackling cross border crimes in the state.

Badaru noted with delight the recent arrest of some criminals, who have been terrorising the people in Babura Local Government and responsible for vandalising cables in the area.

NAN

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Loading...Last time I was in Paris, I saw a beautiful African woman in a grand boubou have her child defecate on the sidewalk next to Notre Dame Cathedral. The French police officer, ten steps from her, turned his head not to see.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that a few decades later, liberals would be pushing the lie that Western civilization is no better than a third-world country. Or would teach two generations of our kids that loving your own culture and wanting to preserve it are racism.

In plain English: s--- is everywhere. People defecate on the open ground, and the feces is blown with the dust  onto you, your clothes, your food, the water. He warned us the first day of training: do not even touch water. Human feces carry parasites that bore through your skin and cause organ failure.

Three weeks after college, I flew to Senegal, West Africa, to run a community center in a rural town. Life was placid, with no danger, except to your health. That danger was considerable, because it was, in the words of the Peace Corps doctor, "a fecalized environment."

Senegal was not a hellhole. Very poor people can lead happy, meaningful lives in their own cultures' terms. But they are not our terms. The excrement is the least of it. Our basic ideas of human relations, right and wrong, are incompatible.

As a twenty-one-year-old starting out in the Peace Corps, I loved Senegal. In fact, I was euphoric. I quickly made friends and had an adopted family. I relished the feeling of the brotherhood of man. People were open, willing to share their lives and, after they knew you, their innermost thoughts.

The longer I lived there, the more I understood: it became blindingly obvious that the Senegalese are not the same as us. The truths we hold to be self-evident are not evident to the Senegalese. How could they be? Their reality is totally different. You can't understand anything in Senegal using American terms.

Take something as basic as family. Family was a few hundred people, extending out to second and third cousins. All the men in one generation were called "father." Senegalese are Muslim, with up to four wives. Girls had their clitorises cut off at puberty. (I witnessed this, at what I thought was going to be a nice coming-of-age ceremony, like a bat mitzvah or confirmation.) Sex, I was told, did not include kissing. Love and friendship in marriage were Western ideas. Fidelity was not a thing. Married women would have sex for a few cents to have cash for the market.

What I did witness every day was that women were worked half to death. Wives raised the food and fed their own children, did the heavy labor of walking miles to gather wood for the fire, drew water from the well or public faucet, pounded grain with heavy hand-held pestles, lived in their own huts, and had conjugal visits from their husbands on a rotating basis with their co-wives. Their husbands lazed in the shade of the trees.

Yet family was crucial to people there in a way Americans cannot comprehend. The men and those countries are bunch of slobs without any ambition-just look around it's a pig pen. Reminds me of Baltimore!

The Ten Commandments were not disobeyed  they were unknown. The value system was the exact opposite. You were supposed to steal everything you can to give to your own relatives. There are some Westernized Africans who try to rebel against the system. They fail.

We hear a lot about the kleptocratic elites of Africa. The kleptocracy extends through the whole society. My town had a medical clinic donated by international agencies. The medicine was stolen by the medical workers and sold to the local store. If you were sick and didn't have money, drop dead. That was normal.

So here in the States, when we discovered that my 98-year-old father's Muslim health aide from Nigeria had stolen his clothes and wasn't bathing him, I wasn't surprised. It was familiar.

In Senegal, corruption ruled, from top to bottom. Go to the post office, and the clerk would name an outrageous price for a stamp. After paying the bribe, you still didn't know it if it would be mailed or thrown out. That was normal.

One of my most vivid memories was from the clinic. One day, as the wait grew hotter in the 110-degree heat, an old woman, two feet from the medical aides  who were chatting in the shade of a mango tree instead of working  collapsed to the ground. They turned their heads so as not to see her and kept talking. She lay there in the dirt. Callousness to the sick was normal.

Americans think it is a universal human instinct to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It's not. It seems natural to us because we live in a Bible-based Judeo-Christian culture.

We think the Protestant work ethic is universal. It's not. My town was full of young men doing nothing. They were waiting for a government job. There was no private enterprise. Private business was not illegal, just impossible, given the nightmare of a third-world bureaucratic kleptocracy. It is also incompatible with Senegalese insistence on taking care of relatives.

All the little stores in Senegal were owned by Mauritanians. If a Senegalese wanted to run a little store, he'd go to another country. The reason? Your friends and relatives would ask you for stuff for free, and you would have to say yes. End of your business. You are not allowed to be a selfish individual and say no to relatives. The result: Everyone has nothing.

The more I worked there and visited government officials doing absolutely nothing, the more I realized that no one in Senegal had the idea that a job means work. A job is something given to you by a relative. It provides the place where you steal everything to give back to your family.

I couldn't wait to get home. So why would I want to bring Africa here? Non-Westerners do not magically become American by arriving on our shores with a visa.

For the rest of my life, I enjoyed the greatest gift of the Peace Corps: I love and treasure America more than ever. I take seriously my responsibility to defend our culture and our country and pass on the American heritage to the next generation.

African problems are made worse by our aid efforts. Senegal is full of smart, capable people. They will eventually solve their own country's problems. They will do it on their terms, not ours. The solution is not to bring Africans here.

We are lectured by Democrats that we must privilege third-world immigration by the hundred million with chain migration. They tell us we must end America as a white, Western, Judeo-Christian, capitalist nation  to prove we are not racist. I don't need to prove a thing. Leftists want open borders because they resent whites, resent Western achievements, and hate America. They want to destroy America as we know it.

As President Trump asked, why would we do that?

We have the right to choose what kind of country to live in. I was happy to donate a year of my life as a young woman to help the poor Senegalese. I am not willing to donate my country.Home | News | General | Amalgamated Youths Forum rally support for President Buharis re-election in 2019

- President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to re-contest in 2019

- The advice was given by the Amalgamated Youths Forum in Taraba state

- The group insisted that the country was better off under the leadership of President Buhari

The Amalgamated Youths Forum in Taraba state on Saturday, February 17 urged President Muhammadu Buhari to re-contest in 2019 so as to enable him to consolidate on the good work he started in 2015.

The chairman of the forum, Alhaji Murtala Maihula, who made the call in Jalingo at rally organised by the youths from the 16 local government areas of the state, said that the country was better off under the leadership of President Buhari.

He added that many programmes and projects had been initiated to improve the fortunes of the ordinary Nigerians.

President Buharis still a popular figure among various groups in Nigeria. Photo credit: State House

READ ALSO: 2019: NNYPA insists on leadership positions for Nigerian youths

According to him, the present administration was fighting corruption vigorously to save the country from collapse and for which, he said, it deserved a second term to consolidate these laudable achievements.

The chairman maintained that despite his health challenges, President Buhari has been able to bring development into sectors such as railway transportation, power, agriculture and also provided employment opportunities to millions of Nigerian youths.

Maihula explained that the Mambilla Hydro-Power Plant was being executed in Taraba state by the Buhari administration.

He added that the people of the state and youths in particular have no option than to encourage Buhari to contest again in 2019.

The multi billion naira Mambilla hydro-power plant is the most expensive project ever initiated by any government in Nigeria and that project is being executed by the Buhari government in Taraba state, he said .

He said that aside from calling on Buhari and Osinbajo to contest, the youths also urged the TUC president, Mr Bobboi Kaigama, to contest for the governorship of the state come 2019.

We are confident that Kaigama will not only work for the unity of our state but also deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state, he added.

Also, Taraba state coordinator Buhari/Osinbajo for 2019, Alhaji Yakubu Gwamna, called on President Buhari to ignore letters and insinuations from certain sections of Nigeria advising him not to contest in 2019.

According to him, such calls were not in the interest of Nigerians, who worked very hard to vote him to power in 2015.

Gwamna also stated that since 1999, no Nigerian leader had released so much amount of funds to state governors like President Buhari but, added that the funds had not been properly utilised to improve the living conditions of ordinary people. (NAN)

Alhaji Danladi Pasali, national coordinator, Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO), says that the organisation will compel President Muhammadu Buhari to re-contest in 2019.

Pasali said this in Bauchi on Saturday, February 17, while inaugurating BCO northeast zonal secretariat and officials that would run the affairs of the secretariat.

We will mobilise the masses of this country to compel President Buhari to re-contest during the 2019 general election since he had fulfilled most of his campaign promises, particularly in areas of security, war against corruption and revamping of the economy.

We will secure endorsements for re-election bid of Buhari from various groups across the country. We will pressurise him to re-contest to enable him consolidate on his achievements and ensure that the corruption fight is irreversible.

We will work with other like-minded groups and the APC to secure President Buharis party nomination and victory in the general elections, he said.

READ ALSO:2019: Obasanjo's call on Buhari not to contest is undemocratic - NGO

2019 reelection bid: Should President Buhari heed Obasanjo's advice? on Street Gist

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Loading...Home | World | Africa | MDC-T slates Chiwenga, praises Gen Sibanda

MDC-T deputy chairperson, Morgan Komichi yesterday described the new military top brass as professional and people expected them to uphold the country's Constitution, unlike their predecessors.

Addressing mourners at the late MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai's Highlands home, Komichi said the newly-appointed commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Philip Valerio Sibanda, was professional unlike his predecessor, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, whom he said often "illegally dabbled in civilian politics".

"Changes in the new dispensation brought about transformation in the security sector and that's commendable, as these commanders are professionals and level-headed people," he said.

Under former President Robert Mugabe's regime, the MDC-T often complained of a partisan military top brass, which they said supported Zanu PF.

Komichi said this in the presence of a Zanu PF delegation led by party chairperson, Oppah Muchinguri, Zanu PF political commissar, Engelbert Rugeje, a retired army general, and spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo, who had gone to pay their condolences to Tsvangirai's family.

The MDC-T deputy chairperson said in the forthcoming polls, the opposition expected no violence, as some of those who were known to be champions in fomenting violence were now responsible for building peace across the country.

"There was a time when we would meet as political opponents and people were being beaten. The new President has said that it is now a thing of the past. My uncle, Rugeje, you have a huge task that what used to happen long back does not happen again," Komichi said.

"The issue of the military asking for serial numbers from those who have registered to vote using the BVR [biometric voter registration] and the violence in Bikita must end.

"There is need for removal of fear and intimidation in the electorate by proposing a national committee of MDC Alliance and Zanu PF to do party rallies denouncing violence as we go towards elections and this will help to boost regional and international confidence so as to attract foreign direct investment (FDI)."

Komichi said joint rallies would assist Zimbabwe gain international, national and regional confidence.

"This will also help us with the FDI that we want from international delegates," he said.

In her address, Muchinguri described the late opposition leader as a true patriot, who worked for the new Constitution as well as provided checks and balances to the Zanu PF government.

She chronicled Tsvangirai's political history dating back to the days he was in trade unionism up to the formation of the MDC in 1999, saying the former Prime Minister in the inclusive government sacrificed his personal life for peace.

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Loading...Best Supporting Actress

Molly Shannon - Other People (2016)

Best Supporting Actor

Collin Farrell - Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

Best Actress

Isabelle Huppert - The Piano Teacher (2001)

Best Actor

Jake Gyllenhaal - Nightcrawler (2014)

Best Foreign Film

The Handmaiden (2016)

Best Costume Design

Belle (2014)

Nominations are everything in Hollywood. Nominations mean much more than they appear. Some nominations are bullshit (Casey Affleck, Emma Stone, Armie Hammer, Jared Leto, Linda Hunt, How Green Was My Valley, and Memoirs of a Geisha anyone?) while some are well deserved. However, quite often there are the films and actors that we believe should have been nominated, but were not, for whatever reason or another. Here are some surprising snubs.Often times, actors get offered little variety in their roles. There are very rarely any times we get to see them step outside their comfort zone and tackle something serious only to be laughed at for attempting to stray from their wholesome roles (Elizabeth Berkley in Showgirls anyone?). Molly Shannon broke that trend with her emotional performance in Other People, based on the true story of Chris Kelly and his family. Shannon plays a terminally ill mother dealing with the struggles and hardships of cancer while her son tries to hold everything together. (No, seriously, bring the tissues. This is not an easy film to watch) Although Jesse Plemons is the main protagonist, it is Shannon that provides the film with an emotional core, and it is she, like the fragile character that she plays, that holds the film together. Shannon got snubbed for Best Supporting Actress, with the award going to Viola Davis for her powerful performance in Fences. She did however win the Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 2017 Independent Spirit Awards.So,would slap me if I didn't include this. Collin Farrell's performance as P.L. Travers' father Travers Goff was criminally underlooked. Goff was an alcoholic and an unsuccessful banker, with a suicidal wife, raising his family with love and storytelling, the best he could in Australia in the mid 1900's, tragically succumbing to his own inner demons. Goff would become the inspiration for Mr. Banks in Mary Poppins. Saving Mr Banks takes some liberties with the material (showing a stunt at a fair with a tipsy Goff being the inspiration for the Fidelity Fiduciary number, as well as Travers sobbing at the film's premiere thinking of her father, rather than being mortified at what she perceived as an ill fated hatchet job on her beloved book. While not a major character entirely, Farrell brings a warmth to the role that unfortunately was passed by, as fuckface rapist Jared Leto won that year for Dallas Buyers Club, and if you aren't emotionally dead inside after seeing Farrell's performance, you have no soul.You didn't think I wasn'tgoing to include her did you? Before Emma Stone stole her Oscar, Huppert was overlooked for her role in the erotic psychological thriller The Piano Teacher. Based on the French novel of the same name, The Piano Teacher is about a repressed and horny piano teacher living with her shrewish mother in Vienna. One of her conservatory students decides to seduce her, and the two begin a torrid love affair that spirals out of control. Erika is into S&M, so you can guess where this goes, and yes, it isfucked up. This, like Other People, is not an easy film to get through, though for vastly different reasons; Fifty Shades this is not, although, interestingly enough a year later we would get Secretary, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader. Huppert's performance is raw and powerful, and it has been cited by both Nicole Kidman and Jessica Chastain as being an influence on both of their work as actresses.For all the Jake fans out there. Manycried fowl when Jake Gyllenhaal was snubbed for his role in the American thriller Nightcrawler, which is not to be confused with the comic book character of the same name. As a creepy voyeur-esque cameraman who prowls the streets filming in nocturne, he is equal parts terrifying as fuck and eerie as hell. The film is also a welcome return for Rene Russo, after she got a raw deal as Thor's mother in the Marvel film series of the same name. Gylleenhaal's performance is said to be one of the best of his career, surpassing Brokeback Mountain and Donnie Darko for some. It makes sense he would get a nomination, no? Sadly the Academy was on something, because the only nomination Nightcrawler ever got was for Best Original Screenplay.Before Thelma came along, The Handmaiden was the favorite lesbian film of the decade, right? Park Chan-Wook's adaptation of The Fingersmith was met with so many alocades, it was gaurenteed for an Academy Award. Until it wasn't....Korea decided not to submit it. The film is a beautiful love story of two women trapped in a class society with some uncomfortable moments (from the men), but it is a beautiful tale with fabulous costumes and scenery. The sex scenes are not gratuitous in any way, and, unlike Blue is the Warmest Color, Chan-Wook made sure that the scenes were filmed on a closed set with only female staff present, something that should be done every time, but isn't, because sexism. Personally I would have liked a written adaptation to accompany the film, a rewrite of The Fingersmith but as The Handmaiden, but the film is fantastic enough itself, and its a shame this film wasn't nominated, with the award deservedly going to The Salesman.The one I am most upset about is Belle. Before San Junipero, Gugu Mbatha-Raw was best known for her performance in this criminally underrated period drama. Belle was snubbed for everything. Screenplay, costume design, best actress for Gugu Mbatha-Raw, need I continue? This story, about Dido Elizabeth Belle, the multiracial daughter of an aristocrat in 18th century England, comes complete with extravagant costumes and jewelry. Gugu gives one of the best performances she's ever done, and I would have liked to have seen a nomination for her. But the costumes...the costumes. I cannot stress enough how fabulous they are. The award went to Mad Max: Fury Road, which is okay, but honestly....it should have gone to Belle.Phuket, 16 February 2018  Head Chef Patrizia of La Gritta crafts a special menu Gourmet Pasta for pasta lovers during the month of love in February 2018. Guests will experience authentic Italian cuisine with five recommended dishes.

Spaghetti al Nero di Seppia, priced at 850 THB++

Black ink spaghetti with salmon caviar, bottarga and fresh peppercorn

Paccheri alla Vodka, priced at 550 THB++

Paccheri pasta in vodka pink spicy sauce

Linguine allAragosta, priced at 950 THB++

Linguine with Phuket lobster sauce

Gnocchi di Patate alle Capesante, priced at 590 THB++

Potato gnocchi with Hokkaido scallop sauce

Fettuccine ai Porcini e Crema di Tartufo, priced at 680 THB++

Fettuccine with porcini mushrooms and truffle cream sauce

All prices are subject to a 10% service charge and 7% VAT. Terms and conditions apply.Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) is to start producing biofuel extracted from palm 'sago' (stem pith) waste - the first of its kind - through its Sago Research Centre.

The research was started 10 years ago by a group comprising several Unimas students and lecturers, and experts from Japan.

Based on the research, the sago waste is commercialised to produce bio-fuel which is the basic ingredient for making furniture, agronomy and textile, said Unimas vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Khairuddin Abdul Hamid.

Unimas has conducted a study on overall sago usage at the pioneer plant which started last year. This project is the result of the RM11 million allocation given by Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry and we expect to officially open the plant to the public as well as an exhibition next month, said Khairuddin at the launching of a librarian seminar yesterday.

Meanwhile, Unimas is having talks with Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) to produce bio-diesel and organic fertiliser from oil palm wastes.

We will use a factory owned by Salcra at Bau as our research centre by taking waste material from the oil palm plantation, and we will be the first to produce bio-diesel from oil palm wastes, he said.

The project is expected to commence mid next year and costs are expected to reach RM7 million.

He added that both projects were Unimas efforts to create something beneficial to the society.

Innovation is not just about creating something high-tech but also includes creating something beneficial to the society. Therefore, Unimas always thinks up ideas that can benefit the society overall.

This is the first time that Unimas Centre for Academic Information Service (Cais) is holding the seminar which is now themed Librarian Innovation Towards Graduate Excellence.

According to its head librarian Margaret Simeng, the seminar was previously known as the Librarian Forum.

Rapid knowledge and technological advancement requires librarians and information managers to prepare themselves with knowledge and skills in transforming towards innovation and creativity to strengthen the delivery system of a library or information centre, she said.

During the two-day seminar, 11 working papers were presented by professionals from various institutions.

Explore further Rare bay cat spotted in Pulong Tau national park

Provided by Universiti Malaysia SarawakThe innate system that controls behavior in worms is not entirely inflexible, allowing some individuals to stand out from the crowd. Credit: Rockefeller University

Put 50 newborn worms in 50 separate containers, and they'll all start looking for food at roughly the same time. Like members of other species, microscopic C. elegans roundworms tend to act like other individuals their own age.

It turns out that the innate system that controls age-appropriate behavior in a developing worm is not entirely dependable, however. Despite sharing identical genes and growing up in similar environments, some individual worms will inevitably march to the beat of their own drum.

New research from Rockefeller University illuminates the biology that guides behavior across different stages of life, and also suggests how variations in specific neuromodulators in the developing nervous system may lead to occasional variations. The work, led by Cori Bargmann, is made possible by a newly engineered system that allows scientists to record behavioral information for individual worms over an entire lifecycle. It is published in Cell.

"There are patterns at every stage of life that are different from the patterns at other stages, and with the system we created we can see that really clearly in ways that are surprisingly complex and robust," says Bargmann, who is the Torsten I. Wiesel Professor and head of the Lulu and Anthony Wang Laboratory of Neural Circuits and Behavior. "We can also observe something as complex as individuality and start to break down the biology behind it."

Chemical conformity

Our understanding of how genes govern behavior comes largely from experiments that involve altering a subject's normal state with external stimuli over a short period of time, such as giving a mouse some cheese as a reward for completing a maze. We know less about how genes affect behavior as animals go about their normal routines.

The activity patterns of individual worms were similar throughout development, with some exceptions. Credit: Rockefeller University

Shay Stern, a postdoctoral associate in Bargmann's laboratory, engineered a system to capture spontaneous, internally-generated behavior in worms over the span of their entire development, which totals about 50 hours. The scientists focused on foraging behaviorthe worms' roaming movements in search for foodand found incredibly similar patterns of activity between individuals.

"Even though the worms were separated and not receiving external cues, they were actively searching for food at the same time point in development as other worms," says Stern. "And we saw very precise differences in foraging behavior at each stage of development."

By creating genetic mutations in some worms, the researchers were also able to identify specific neuromodulators, or chemical messengers in the brain, that normally keep the animals on schedule. A mutation that disrupted the chemical messenger dopamine, for example, affected the worms' roaming speed during late development. Other mutations affected behavioral patterns within each developmental stage, suggesting that different neuromodulators influence behavior over different timescales.

Born this way

While the majority of worms conformed to the same behavioral patterns, a number of individual worms stood out for their atypical foraging behaviors. Variability between individuals is typically attributed to genetic differences or exposure to different environments, but the researchers designed this study to account for these differences, using genetically identical worms in identical environments.

One explanation for these individual variations could be small differences in how the nervous system develops. There is a randomness factor in how some neurons connect with each other that isn't controlled by genetics, notes Bargmann.

But Bargmann and colleagues showed that neuromodulators can also contribute. The researchers found that removing the chemical messenger serotonin from a population of worms drastically reduced the number of worms that displayed unique roaming patterns, or individuality. Indeed, without serotonin, all of the worms exhibited the same foraging behavior at the same timea finding that suggests how important individuality is to survival.

"From an evolutionary point of view, we can't have everyone going off the cliff all at once like lemmingssomeone's got to be doing something different for a species to survive," says Bargmann.

Explore further Scientists prove how genetics change behavior by studying worms' foraging strategies

More information: Shay Stern et al, Neuromodulatory Control of Long-Term Behavioral Patterns and Individuality across Development, Cell (2017). Journal information: Cell Shay Stern et al, Neuromodulatory Control of Long-Term Behavioral Patterns and Individuality across Development,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.10.041Credit: Northwestern University

A groundbreaking new wearable designed to be worn on the throat could be a game-changer in the field of stroke rehabilitation.

Developed in the lab of Northwestern University engineering professor John A. Rogers, in partnership with Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, the sensor is the latest in Rogers' growing portfolio of stretchable electronics that are precise enough for use in advanced medical care and portable enough to be worn outside the hospital, even during extreme exercise.

Rogers will present research on the implications of stretchable electronics for stroke recovery treatment at a press briefing "Biomedical Sensors in Service of Society" on Saturday, Feb. 17, at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting in Austin, Texas. Rogers also will discuss his work at the AAAS presentation "Soft Electronics for the Human Body" on Feb. 17.

Rogers' sensors stick directly to the skin, moving with the body and providing detailed health metrics including heart function, muscle activity and quality of sleep.

"Stretchable electronics allow us to see what is going on inside patients' bodies at a level traditional wearables simply cannot achieve," Rogers said. "The key is to make them as integrated as possible with the human body."

Rogers' new bandage-like throat sensor measures patients' swallowing ability and patterns of speech. The sensors aid in the diagnosis and treatment of aphasia, a communication disorder associated with stroke.

The tools that speech-language pathologists have traditionally used to monitor patients' speech function - such as microphones - cannot distinguish between patients' voices and ambient noise.

"Our sensors solve that problem by measuring vibrations of the vocal chords," Rogers said. "But they only work when worn directly on the throat, which is a very sensitive area of the skin. We developed novel materials for this sensor that bend and stretch with the body, minimizing discomfort to patients."

John Rogers presents stretchable electronics for stroke therapy at AAAS annual meeting. Credit: Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, a research hospital in Chicago, uses the throat sensor in conjunction with electronic biosensors - also developed in Rogers' lab - on the legs, arms and chest to monitor stroke patients' recovery progress. The intermodal system of sensors streams data wirelessly to clinicians' phones and computers, providing a quantitative, full-body picture of patients' advanced physical and physiological responses in real time.

"One of the biggest problems we face with stroke patients is that their gains tend to drop off when they leave the hospital," said Arun Jayaraman, research scientist at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and a wearable technology expert. "With the home monitoring enabled by these sensors, we can intervene at the right time, which could lead to better, faster recoveries for patients."

Because the sensors are wireless, they eliminate barriers posed by traditional health monitoring devices in clinical settings. Patients can wear them even after they leave the hospital, allowing doctors to understand how their patients are functioning in the real world.

"Talking with friends and family at home is a completely different dimension from what we do in therapy," said Leora Cherney, research scientist at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and an expert in aphasia treatment. "Having a detailed understanding of patients' communication habits outside of the clinic helps us develop better strategies with our patients to improve their speaking skills and speed up their recovery process."

Jayaraman describes the platform's mobility as a "gamechanger" in rehabilitation outcomes measurement.

Data from the sensors will be presented in a dashboard that is easy for both clinicians and patients to understand. It will send alerts when patients are underperforming on a certain metric and allow them to set and track progress toward their goals.

"We are so grateful for our partnership with the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab," Rogers said. "They are helping us move our technology from the research lab to the real world, where it already is making a positive impact on the lives of patients."

Rogers also is collaborating with the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab to test the sensors on patients with other conditions, such as Parkinson's disease.Distribution maps of a few elements characteristic of the pigments present in the different paint layers of La Misereuse accroupie.  Northwestern University/Art Institute of Chicago Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts (NU-ACCESS) Credit:  Northwestern University/Art Institute of Chicago Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts (NU-ACCESS)

An international partnership of the Northwestern University/Art Institute of Chicago Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts (NU-ACCESS), the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, has used multiple modes of light to uncover details hidden beneath the visible surface of Pablo Picasso's painting "La Misereuse accroupie" (The Crouching Woman), a major work from the artist's Blue Period.

The 1902 oil painting, owned by the AGO in Toronto, Canada, depicts a crouching and cloaked woman, painted in white, blues, grays and greens.

With knowledge of an underlying landscape revealed long ago by X-ray radiography at the AGO, researchers used non-invasive portable imaging techniques, including infrared reflectance hyperspectral imaging adapted by the National Gallery of Art and then an X-ray fluorescence imaging instrument developed at Northwestern, to detail buried images connected to other works by Picassoincluding a watercolor recently sold at auctionas well as the presence of a landscape likely by another Barcelona painter underneath "La Misereuse accroupie."

Marc Walton, a research professor of materials science and engineering at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering and co-director of NU-ACCESS, will discuss the collective new findings at a Feb. 17 press briefing at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting in Austin, Texas. He will present a full-scale reproduction of Picasso's iterative adaptations leading to the final painting. The briefing, "Technology Peers Into Picasso's Art," will be held at 9 a.m. CST in Room 6, Level 3, of the Austin Convention Center.

A separate study of Picasso's work in three dimensions will be discussed at the same press briefing. Francesca Casadio, the Art Institute of Chicago's Grainger Executive Director of Conservation and Science and co-director of NU-ACCESS, will talk about the findings from an unprecedented study of five decades of Picasso's bronzes in the collection of the Musee national Picasso-Paris.

"Picasso had no qualms about changing things during the painting process," Walton said. "Our international teamconsisting of scientists, a curator and a conservatorhas begun to tease apart the complexity of 'La Misereuse accroupie,' uncovering subtle changes made by Picasso as he worked toward his final vision."

NU-ACCESS members who are studying "La Misereuse accroupie" are Walton, Casadio and postdoctoral fellows Emeline Pouyet and Gianluca Pastorelli.

X-ray fluorescence instrument set up for the scan of La Misereuse accroupie, with Emeline Pouyet of Northwestern University (left) and Sandra Webster-Cook of the Art Gallery of Ontario.  Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) Credit:  Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)

The researchers used non-invasive methods they adapted to the study of paintings. The state-of-the-art tools enabled the scientists to analyze the painting relatively quickly inside the museum. The key findings of the multidisciplinary international study include:

Picasso painted over another painter's work after rotating it 90 degrees to the right, using some of the landscape forms in his own final composition of "La Misereuse accroupie." Picasso incorporated the lines of the cliff edges into the woman's back, for example.

Picasso also made a major compositional change, the researchers report. The artist initially painted the woman with a right arm and hand holding a disk but then covered them with her cloak in the final work.

By closely observing "La Misereuse accroupie," AGO's conservation department, now led in this project by senior conservator of paintings Sandra Webster-Cook, had observed distinct textures and contrasting underlying color that peaked through the crack lines and did not match the visible composition. X-ray radiography was the first non-invasive tool used to uncover hidden information in "La Misereuse accroupie"; it revealed a horizontal landscape by a different Barcelona painter, whose identity remains unknown, under the visible surface of Picasso's painting.

John Delaney, senior imaging scientist at the National Gallery of Art, then studied the painting with infrared reflectance hyperspectral imaging, which records underlying images depending on their relative transparency of the paint layers. He found an arm and a disk under the surface of the painting. Delaney's imaging method provides improved visibility of earlier compositional painted elements.

For a more detailed understanding of the repositioned arm, NU-ACCESS scientists next investigated the painting using images generated by their X-ray fluorescence (XRF) scanner. The NU-ACCESS team traveled twice to the AGO in Canada with their portable tools for the study.

This system produces grayscale images showing the distribution of elements associated with various pigments of the painting. The scientists were able to analyze 70 percent of the painting in 24 hours. Together with micro-samples extracted from strategic locations, the XRF results, along with further images generated by Delaney from the hyperspectral reflectance, reveal the steps of creation taken by Picasso.

The iron- and chromium-based pigments of the surface layer correlated with the painting's current structure and its palette of mostly blues (painted with the iron-based Prussian blue and with ultramarine, Picasso's Blue Period blue of choice) and yellow-greens (painted with chromium-based yellows). The elemental maps of cadmium- and lead-based pigments, however, revealed the presence of the woman's right arm and hand beneath the visible surface.

Pablo Picasso. La Misereuse accroupie, 1902. Oil on canvas, 101.3 x 66 cm (39 7/8 x 26 in.). Art Gallery of Ontario. Anonymous gift, 1963.  Picasso Estate.

The imaging techniques developed by Northwestern and the National Gallery have allowed Kenneth Brummel, the AGO's assistant curator of modern art, to better understand Picasso's style, influences and process.

"When we saw the rendering of the lead elemental map, it became clear to me that the arm hidden under the visible surface of 'La Misereuse accroupie' is the same as the proper right arm of a crouching woman in a Picasso watercolor recently sold at auction," Brummel said. The watercolor is titled "Femme assise" (1902).

Images generated by Delaneythrough the selection of different bandwidths in the near infraredconfirmed the relationship between "La Misereuse accroupie" and the watercolor.

"After seeing the lead map from the XRF scanning, we were able to make a map of pigment lead white, which, when overlaid with the false color infrared, gives a more complete image of an upstretched arm, sleeve, disk and fingers," Delaney said.

"We now are able to develop a chronology within the painting structure to tell a story about the artist's developing style and possible influences," said Sandra Webster-Cook, AGO's senior conservator of paintings.

Further details about the collaboration's research findings and the implications on Picasso's developing style and influences will be revealed June 1 at the American Institute of Conservation annual meeting in Houston.

Questions raised by this research on Picasso's influence and style during his Blue Period will be further explored in a Picasso Blue Period exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario and The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., in 2020 through 2021.

Explore further Rare Picasso painting in Hong Kong ahead of historic auctionEmma Gonzalez, a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who survived Wednesdays mass shooting, gave a blistering speech at an anti-gun rally on Saturday about the politicians complicit in the murder of her classmates. It was yet another reminder that the teenagers and children who grew up in the shadow of school shootings (and the 150,000 who survived one) are more practicaland less tolerant of empty rhetoricthan the adults who are supposed to protect them. Gonzalez had no use for crocodile tears from President Trump, who was in Florida on Friday to offer his condolences (and, reportedly, to drop by a Studio 54 theme party at Mar-a-Lago):

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If the president wants to come up to me and tell me to my face that it was a terrible tragedy, and how it should never have happened, and maintain telling us how nothing is going to be done about it, Im going to happily ask him how much money he received from the National Rifle Association. But hey, you want to know something? It doesnt matter, because I already know: $30 million.  To every politician who is taking donations from the NRA, shame on you!

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Gonzalezs grief and righteous fury electrified the crowd, which broke into chants of Shame on you. She was especially incensed at Trumps attempts to attribute the shooting to mental illness, given that the president specifically acted to make it easier for mentally ill people to purchase guns:

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In February of 2017, one year ago, President Trump repealed an Obama-era regulation that would have made it easier to block the sale of firearms to people with certain mental illnesses.  I dont need to be a psychologist to know that repealing that regulation was a really dumb idea. Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa was the sole sponsor of this bill to stop the FBI from performing background checks on people adjudicated to be mentally ill, and now hes stating for the record, Well, its a shame that the FBI isnt doing background checks on these mentally ill people. Well, duh: You took that opportunity away last year! The people in government who we voted into power are lying to us. And us kids seem to be the only ones who notice and are prepared to call BS.

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Gonzalez then led the crowd in a spirited call and response, running through a pretty comprehensive list of lies and excuses from the gun lobby and their lackeys.

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Companies trying to make caricatures of the teenagers nowadays, saying that all we are is self-involved and trend-obsessed, and hushing us into submission when our message doesnt reach the ears of the nation? We are prepared to call BS! Politicians who sit in their gilded House and Senate seats funded by the NRA, telling us nothing could have ever been done to prevent this: We call BS! They say that tougher gun laws do not decrease gun violence: We call BS! They say a good guy with a gun stops a bad guy with a gun: We call BS! They say guns are just tools like knives and are as dangerous as cars: We call BS! They say that no laws could have been able to prevent the hundreds of senseless tragedies that have occurred: We call BS! That us kids dont know what were talking about, that were too young to understand how the government works: We call BS!

Its easy for adults to use a speech like this as an excuse for complacency: Any version of the kids will save us that doesnt end with from the gun-loving death cult we tolerated and nurtured for decades and thus bear special responsibility for confronting, is, well, BS. But its heartening to see that the old lies arent working.On Friday, the Department of Justice detonated a legal bombshell, announcing the indictment of 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies accused of interfering in the 2016 presidential election. It was just as fascinating to watch who was doing the detonating. Standing at the podium was Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Donald Trumps much-reviled Democrat from Baltimore, who is widely believed to be just barely hanging on to his day job as special counsel Robert Muellers minder and whose deputy has just lurched off the national stage for a gig at Walmart.

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This was a fairly impressive piece of political maneuvering. On the one hand, it makes any attempt by Trump to remove Rosenstein an even more explicit obstruction of justice. Rosenstein has, after all, just publicly linked himself to indictments of Russians (foreigners!) who tried to throw the election to Trump. Hes also linked himself even more tightly with Mueller and the special counsels investigation, which turned up the evidence presented in Fridays indictment. Rosenstein now indisputably stands for the proposition that Russia interfered in the election and that anyone who denies this is lying. Earlier this week, incidentally, CNN reported that Trump still isnt buying that Russia interfered in the 2016 election.

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Perhaps most importantly, Rosensteinmerely by standing at that podiumpresented a unified front, backing up the proposition that the DOJ as a whole (with the possible exception of attorney general Jeff Sessions) takes Russian interference seriously. And in stating up front that nothing in this indictment alleges that any American was a knowing participant in this illegal activity, he cleared the Trump campaign of knowing collusion. For now.

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Obviously, things can change, but for today Rosenstein has allowed the president himself and Sean Hannity types to scream no collusion even when the door hasnt been shut on that possibility. Effective Friday afternoon, Rosenstein looks to be on the side of protecting us from Russian meddling. Hes also given some cover to the president, a fact that might protect him from Trumps morning rage tweets, at least for a week or two. And hovering silently over Fridays telenovela was Bobby Three Sticks Mueller. He says nothing. Nothing is leaked. That silence is powerful, as theater goes.

The fact that I believe Rosenstein just rendered himself a little bit more bulletproof likely means he is less so. Jed Shugerman of Fordham Law School reminds me via email that the fact that the optics have changed doesnt mean Rosenstein is actually safe. Until Congress passes a veto-proof bill to protect Mueller from firing without cause, what makes Trump think that there would be a significant cost to firing Mueller or Rosenstein? Shugerman asks. Every indictment raises the stakes of obstruction but also increases the chance of a temper tantrum firing with no clear consequences until Congress changes hands. If Congress cant pass a Mueller statute, in the very least the Senate Intelligence Committee needs to make a more public stance.

In other words, soberly intoning that someone has just rendered themselves bulletproof, in the face of a president who has said he could shoot people on Fifth Avenue with impunity, is never smart. But on this day, at this hour, I cant help thinking Mueller and Rosenstein just pulled off a slick move that protects the independence of the DOJ, at least for the moment. With this president, thats about the best you can do.Stop covering it up: If we could see photos of the aftermath of the Florida shootings, would that do anything to change peoples minds on guns? Jamelle Bouie is convinced that it would.

Weird manipulations: We have to understand that Russians live in a managed democracy, where operatives intervene to build entire political narratives, not just smear candidates on one side or the other, Josh Keating writes. That explains a lot about the actions described in the indictment Robert Mueller issued today. (Meanwhile, Dahlia Lithwick thinks todays indictment makes it a lot harder for Trump to fire Rod Rosenstein.)

Walking the line: Ruth Bader Ginsburg is doing a great job of not talking about Donald Trump, while quietly reinforcing the #MeToo message. Dahlia Lithwick admires that.

The king: Laura Ingraham took on LeBron James and made herself look like a racist fool, Nick Greene writes.

For fun: How to tell when celebrities are about to uncouple.

Nailed it,

RebeccaThe Mueller indictment of 13 Russian nationals for interfering with the 2016 U.S.

presidential election offers a remarkably detailed account of a complex plot to sow discord and influence the presidential contest in favor of Donald Trump. The indictment critically points to something else, though: It provides a roadmap for the Russians to do it all again, without violating any current campaign finance laws the next time.

Paragraph 50 of the complaint demonstrates the kinds of social media ads Russian government agents paid for during the last election season. Here are two relevant examples: Hillary is a Satan, and her crimes and lies had proved how evil she is, and Vote Republican, Vote Trump, and Support the Second Amendment!

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If the Russians interfere in the next presidential election, expect to see more of the Democrat is Satan sponsored Tweets and fewer Vote Trump messages. Under current campaign finance law, as the Supreme Court and lower courts currently construe it, it may have been perfectly legal for the Russians to run those Satan ads without disclosing their identity.

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As I explained in Politico back in September, while the federal courts have upheld laws banning foreign nationals from spending money to try to influence our elections, the laws have been interpreted to bar only express advocacyads that might say Vote Trump or otherwise expressly advocate for the support or defeat of a particular candidateand not ads which avoid those magic words. The exception to this, thanks to the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law of 2002, is for certain ads (called electioneering communications) broadcast close to the election on TV or radio which feature a candidates name or likeness. So foreign nationals could not call Hillary Clinton Satan! in a radio ad broadcast close to the election (and Americans paying for such ads have to disclose their identity).

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The rub, however, is that it was likely perfectly fine for the Russians to put such ads on the Internet and social media. As I explain in a forthcoming paper in the First Amendment Law Review, soon after the Supreme Court decided the 2010 Citizens United case, freeing corporate money in U.S. elections, a three-judge district court in a case called Bluman v. FEC upheld the federal law barring foreign spending in U.S. elections.

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Crucially, however, the court read the spending ban to apply to express advocacy and not to issue ads like Hillary is a Satan. The court did so because a broader interpretation may have run into First Amendment problems that the conservative Supreme Court had flagged in the past. The Supreme Court summarily affirmed Bluman, meaning it agreed without issuing an opinion that the three-judge court decision was right (though not necessarily all of its reasoning). The upshot is that there is potentially a huge loophole for foreign and undisclosed issue ads on federal elections.

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Indeed, Bluman means that some of the ads flagged in Muellers indictment in Paragraph 50 may not violate federal election law at all. And this may explain why Mueller did not bring any direct election-related charges, instead offering a broad conspiracy charge which included violation not only of federal campaign finance laws but also of the law requiring foreign agents to register with the government. Some of the conduct in the indictment may not be illegal at all.

What can be done for next time (and there no doubt will be a next time)? Proposed federal legislation known as the Honest Ads Act would extend the electioneering communications rules to digital ads, including those on social media. The bill, whose sponsors include Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Republican Sen. John McCain, appears to be going nowhere.

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The Mueller indictment shows how the Russians learned how to interfere with our election, for example, by seeking out political advice from Americans that led them to target purple states. They will potentially learn this lesson too. Unless Congress passes a law like the Honest Ads Act, it will be quite easy for Russian trolls and other foreign actors to avoid the foreign money ban, as well as for Americans to run such ads and avoid disclosure.

Opponents of the bill, like the Institute for Free Speech, claim it will squelch too much free speech of Americans. The group, which is close to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (an ardent opponent of campaign finance laws) issued a statement after the indictment suggesting that the Honest Ads Act isnt needed:

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[The Russians] brazenly violated multiple campaign finance laws already on the books, including prohibitions on expenditures by foreign citizens, disclaimer rules, and mandatory reporting requirements. This supports the Institutes position that proposals to respond to foreign interference with broad-based restrictions on American online issue speech, such as the Honest Ads Act, miss the mark. Nothing in the Honest Ads Act would have made these violations more readily detectable.

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The statement assumes that the Russians wont learn the next time, and that if legislators made more of their abusive conduct explicitly illegal it would be pointless. But its not. If more of these ads were illegal, and American companies like Facebook had an obligation to police ads to make sure they are not coming from foreign sources, we would likely be less susceptible to this form of foreign attack in 2018 and 2020. When we do see these types of ads, we would be more likely to at least know who paid for them.

Passing the Honest Ads Act wont be a panacea. For example, it would not stop some of the activity that Russians did which did not even mention a candidate, like urging black and Muslim Americans not to vote or trumping up false claims of voter fraud. But its a start.

The alternative of ceding American elections to the whims of hostile foreign powers is a lot worse.The White House has offered its take on Fridays bombshell indictment of a number of Russian nationals for allegedly conspiring in illegal efforts to support Donald Trumps election. The headline for Trump and the administration: The news further vindicates the president.

President Donald J. Trump has been fully briefed on this matter and is glad to see the Special Counsels investigation further indicatesthat there was NO COLLUSION between the Trump campaign, declared a statement from the office of Press Secretary Sarah Sanders.

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Indeed, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in announcing the charges stated: There is no allegation in this indictment that any American was a knowing participant in this illegal activity.

Thats true. The presidents extrapolation that no allegation of collusion being in this indictment proves NO COLLUSION occurred has no basis in reality, though. The indictment itself offered a number of potential clues about where special counsel Robert Muellers investigation might be going next.

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Bloomberg News, in fact, reported that the indictment should be seen as a limited slice of a comprehensive investigation, according to a person with knowledge of the probe.

Here are some of the other potential slices that have emerged in the past 24 hours, including key portions of the indictment itself:

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 In conjunction with Fridays indictment, Muellers office unsealed a guilty plea for identity fraud by Richard Pinedo of Santa Paula, California, making Pinedo the third known cooperator in Muellers probe. Between 2014 and November of last year, Pinedo used his company Auction Essistance to sell access to fraudulently obtained bank account numbers using stolen identities. This would dovetail with how the Russians allegedly funded their illicit campaign efforts.

 On Thursday evening, CNN reported that Rick Gates was likely nearing his own plea deal with Muellers investigators. Gates was the deputy to former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and both men were indicted last year by Mueller. If Gates flips, he will have to either testify against Manaforttightening the noose around the neck of Trumps heavily Russia-connected former deputyor provide new and damning information against the campaign.

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 The indictment says that the Russians sought to infiltrate the Trump campaign: Some Defendants, posing as U.S. persons and without revealing their Russian association, communicated with unwitting individuals associated with the Trump Campaign and with other political activists to seek to coordinate political activities.

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 The indictment mentioned that there are unnamed co-conspirators known and unknown to the Grand Jury. Pinedo might be one of these figures, but that leaves an open question as to who the others are.

 The Russians were not initially sophisticated in their knowledge of American politics, to the point that they sought out American political actors to learn the basics:

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In order to collect additional intelligence, Defendants and their co-conspirators posed as U.S. persons and contacted U.S. political and social activists. For example, starting in or around June 2016, Defendants and their co-conspirators, posing online as U.S. persons, communicated with a real U.S. person affiliated with a Texas-based grassroots organization. During the exchange, Defendants and their co-conspirators learned from the real U.S. person that they should focus their activities on purple states like Colorado, Virginia & Florida. After that exchange, Defendants and their co-conspirators commonly referred to targeting purple states in directing their efforts.

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 The Russians appeared to start to develop a deeper sophistication around U.S. politics in the spring and summer of 2016. This coincided with the same brief period that Manafort was in charge of the Trump campaign. The Russian efforts included purchasing political ads for Trump and against Clinton on social media starting in April, staging pro-Trump rallies and false flag pro-Hillary events starting in June, and doing the sort of low stakes political dirty tricks that have been a mainstay of the Republican Party for decades.

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For his part, former CIA Director John Brennan speculated on Friday that it would emerge that U.S. persons had actively conspired with the Russians. While some may have been unwitting, I do think that some individuals maybe were knowledgeable about what they were doing and basically strayed from what they should have been doing, he told MSNBC.

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As of two days ago, Trump was still reportedly expressing doubts about the conclusions of Brennan and others in the intelligence community that Russia interfered in the election. On Friday, Trump seemed to acknowledge this reality, but also perversely used it to argue that it was time to move on from investigating his own campaign.

Its time we stop the outlandish partisan attacks, wild and false allegations, and far-fetched theories, which only serve to further the agendas of bad actors, like Russia, and do nothing to protect the principles of our institutions, Trumps statement read. We must unite as Americans to protect the integrity of our democracy and our elections.On Aug. 20, 2016, supporters of the Donald Trumps presidential campaign attended Florida Goes Trump rallies that were held simultaneously in 17 cities across the Sunshine State.

Many, if not most, of them first learned about the events when they saw a paid ad on Facebook or Instagram.

More than 59,000 Floridians saw the rally organizers ads, and 8,300 users clicked. The social media campaign publicizing the rallies attracted enough attention that a local Trump supporter contacted the organizers to suggest additional cities be added to their original list. Eventually the organizers got in touch with officials from the Trump campaign to request assistance with the rallies.

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A year after the rallies were held, though, one of the organizers would be emailing her family about getting busted by the FBI and covering tracks, explaining, I created all these pictures and posts, and the Americans believed that it was written by their people.

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Thats because the rally organizers werent really Floridiansor even Americans. They worked in a Russian troll factory called the Internet Research Agency. On Friday, a grand jury indicted the agency, two other Russian entities, and 13 Russian nationals for interfering with the 2016 election.

The indictments, announced by special counsel Robert Mueller, describe a sprawling scheme in which the Russians posted on social media, stole Americans identities, fraudulently created bank accounts, and traveled to several U.S. cities for research. They had no shortage of resources, with a budget of $1.25 million a month. Their goal, according to Mueller, was to sow discord and interfere with the 2016 elections.

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Paid ads on websites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter were a lynchpin for the entire effort. The Russians used ads to spread propaganda directly to American audiences, and also to drive users to view and follow their fake social media accounts, where they would be exposed to much more content. An estimated 126 million users saw posts from Russian trolls on Facebook alone.

Although the indictment depicts a sophisticated scheme, the campaign was easier than it should have been. Thats because campaign finance laws and regulation have not been updated to adequately cover the internet, with far less transparency for political ads online than there is for ads on broadcast TV. That made it much easier for the scheme to go undetected.

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Although Congress can fix this, it has done little since the Russia-linked ads were revealed last summer. Yet the midterm elections are fast approaching, and the nations intelligence chiefs warned this month that Moscow will continue its election meddling through social media.

Fortunately, we dont have to rely on Washington. The internet companies that sold ads to the Russian trolls can enact their own reforms. Heres what they should do.

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First, block foreign buyers from purchasing ads that mention candidates before elections, even if they dont tell people how to vote. Foreign nationals (foreign citizens who are not permanent residents of the United States) are not allowed to buy such ads on TV. The same rules should apply to the internet.

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To make this work, companies will have to beef up procedures to verify that political ad buyers are American and catch identity thieves. Ad sellers can use the credit card industrys address verification system to block some foreign purchases. They could verify buyers addresses by requesting documents or using an information-reporting agency.

Internet companies should also make sure that all political ads, including any message that mentions a candidate, have a paid for by disclaimer on the face of the ad, and the disclaimer stays on the ad even if its shared or retweeted by another user.

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Most importantly, online ad sellers should create a public database of political ads that reveals the content of the ads, who paid for them, their cost, how the audience was targeted, and when they ran. The database should cover any ad that discusses the election, candidates, or national political or legislative issues. This last piece is important because the Russian trolls used divisive political issues like gun control, immigration, and LGBTQ rights to try to manipulate the electorate.

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Even more helpful would be a global database of political ad purchases. If online ad sellers work together to build a single, international database of political ad sales, the publicand law enforcementmay have a chance see if certain actors are spending in multiple countries elections.

Facebook, Google, and Twitter have announced reforms that would go part of the way. For instance, they have all pledged to ensure that ads mentioning candidates have disclaimers, and they each plan to create a webpage where all political ads on the platform can be found. But they havent said theyll include ads touching on political issues without mentioning candidates in these efforts. Nor have they said theyll block foreign nationals from buying ads that mention candidates, or that disclaimers will follow shares.

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Instituting these changes will no doubt present challenges, particularly since so much of the companies ad-selling process is automated. If any of these processes require human intervention, it could be expensive. But hard is not a good reason to stick with the status quo or institute partial reforms when the issue is protecting the sovereignty of American elections. These giant companies were founded in the United States. They have benefited enormously from being based here and have tremendous resources and technical expertise, in good measure because of this fact. For that reason alone, they have a duty to protect the integrity of American democracy.

In any event, these three companies are not the entire internet. The whole industry needs to be on board with all the changescompanies should collaborate on industry-wide standards by which all players abide.

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To be sure, trolls engaged in a government-supported conspiracy that includes creating false names and stealing identities are likely to lie to the platforms when they buy ads. But even fictitious disclosures can aid investigators, as Fridays indictment shows. The Russians used the same fake names and email addresses frequently, and Muellers team used the trolls online accounts to help track their various activities.

These sophisticated Russian trolls tricked a lot of people into thinking they were Americans, from the person they hired to dress up like Hillary Clinton in a prison uniform at a rally to officials at the banks where they opened accounts. Their most important marks were the online platforms that sold them the ads that fueled the entire scheme. Those platforms now have a responsibility to take the initiative to enact meaningful reforms to protect their users as well as our elections.If youve been following the discussion about how Russia meddled with the 2016 U.S. election, the Internet Research Agency is probably a familiar name. But if you havent been watching every congressional hearing and reading every report, Fridays indictment of the Internet Research Agency (as well as two other Russian entities and 13 Russian nationals) offers a good opportunity to look at the Kremlin-backed troll organizationnamely, how it attempted to manipulate U.S. voters and what we know about how it works.

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The Internet Research Agency is based in St. Petersburg, Russia, and has been at work since at least 2013 churning out memes, YouTube videos, Facebook posts, and Twitter accounts; pretending to be activist groups; and even organizing grassroots events in an attempt to sway with political campaigns and conversations around the world.

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The indictment is packed with new information about the Internet Research Agency, which allegedly has employed hundreds of people since it started operating from its main office in St. Petersburg. It alleges that the organization began targeting the 2016 presidential election in 2014. As time went on, according to the indictment, the agency compiled a list of more than 100 real Americans, including people associated with the Trump campaign, who had been contacted through by fake accounts made by the Russian trolls in order to recruit and unwittingly carry out requests. In February 2016, the indictment says, the workers at the Internet Research Agency were instructed to use any opportunity to criticize Hillary and the rest (except Sanders and Trumpwe support them.) The indictment also supports the long-held suspicion that the agency attempted to sow resentment on the left as well as the right, though its support for the Trump campaign was significantly greater.

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This news comes on top of what was already know about the efforts of the Internet Research Agency. Last fall, Facebook, Twitter, and Google all admitted to Congress that the Internet Research Agency had hosted thousands of fake accounts on their platforms, where they had reached millions of people through paid ads and posts on social media. Facebook alone estimated that roughly 126 million people likely saw content or followed accounts made by the IRA between January 2015 and August 2017.

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Twitter revealed in January that it has found 3,814 accounts believed to be made by the Russian troll group, and it sent emails to 677,775 users who had inadvertently followed or interacted with content made by the trolls. Twitter also noted that Russian bots retweeted Trump almost 500,000 times in the final weeks of the 2016 election10 times more than they retweeted Hillary Clinton. Furthermore, Twitter found that 50,000 Russian-linked accounts retweeted Wikileaks almost 200,000 times between Sept. 1 and Nov. 15, 2016.

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The Twitter accounts made by the Internet Research Agency often pretended to be real Americans or American advocacy organizations and shared news by American outlets. According to a new report released Tuesday from Jonathan Albright, the research director at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism, the news outlets most frequently shared on Twitter by Russian trolls were Breitbart, the Washington Post, and the San Francisco Chronicle.*

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In September, Facebook identified roughly 470 accounts as being linked to the Internet Research Agency. As on Twitter, many of those accounts were masquerading as belonging to U.S. activist organizations. One of the Russian Facebook groups, Black Matters, had an event page for a protest in New York City the weekend after the election, which it promoted with an ad. More than 16,700 people signed up to attend on the event page, while 33,000 more listed themselves as interested. The Guardian at the time wrote that thousands of people actually showed up with protest signs in tow, though many of those protesters may have heard about the demonstration through other channels.

Google shared roughly 3,000 ads with Congressional investigators that it believed were linked to the Internet Research Agency ahead of series of hearings on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

The Internet Research Agency didnt just use the major social media companies in its effort to meddle. It also turned to Pokemon Go and Tumblr, as well as PayPal, which Slate found hosted a donation page for a fake Black Lives Matterthemed site.A German court ruled in January that Facebooks policy requiring users to use a real name is illegal, and that individuals using the platform must be allowed to use pseudonyms on their profiles. Though the ruling was made last month, the Federation of German Consumer Organizations, abbreviated as VZBV, which brought the challenge against Facebook, shared details in a press release about the ruling Monday.

The court essentially found that Facebooks real name policy is a veiled way of compelling users to share their names without adequate consent, according to VZBZ. It also found that Facebook didnt obtain clear consent when sharing users location information on its mobile chat feature, and it declared illegal pre-formulated Facebook policies that allowed the company to use a users name and image for commercial, sponsored or related content. But this was only a partial victory for the consumer watchdog. The court didnt agree that it was misleading for Facebook to claim to be free, as VZBZ charged, since users pay with their data. Facebook and VZBZ both plan to appeal.

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The ruling marks an interesting turn for Facebook, which has argued with some users over its real name policy for years, and, like other internet companies, has been hard at work readying for the start of new EU data privacy laws that are set to go into effect in later this year.

Facebook has had a real name policy since the company started in 2004. As it expanded, the company began to enforce its real name policy with more rigor, since not doing so was starting to have real consequences for Facebooks bottom line.

In May 2012, Facebook said in a filing to the Security and Exchange Commission that 5 to 6 percent of the accounts on its platform were fake, which caused the social media networks stock to plunge nearly 15 percent at the time. The efforts werent always successful. As part of the companys cleanup efforts, it deactivated the account of novelist Salman Rushdie in 2011 because, technically, his real first name is Ahmed. Facebook eventually changed his name back to Salman. Still, the company continued with its awkward enforcement.

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Good idea. Dear #Facebook, forcing me to change my FB name from Salman to Ahmed Rushdie is like forcing J. Edgar to become John Hoover.  Salman Rushdie (@SalmanRushdie) November 14, 2011

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The companys policy is generally that your name on the social media site should be the same as the one listed on your credit card or drivers licensealthough it has allowed exceptions.

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By 2014, the people who were being adversely affected by the policy were racking up, and that fall they started to organize, in large thanks to the work of Sister Roma, a member of the San Francisco drag queen group the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. In September 2014, Facebook suspended her account because it was listed under her name Sister Roma, which Facebook contended wasnt real, and so like Rushdie, she took to Twitter to complain, using the hashtag #MyNameIsRoma. Her problem, it turns out, was shared by many, including other drag queens, people fleeing domestic violence, people in the transgender community, and many immigrants, all of whom could no longer use their legal names for serious safety reasons. Her complaint quickly snowballed into a campaign that garnered thousands of supporters.

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Our drag names are technically pseudonyms. They are not fake names, Sister Roma told me in an interview. They are authentic identities.

The next month, in October 2014, Facebook met with members from the campaign, including Sister Roma, and the company agreed to bend their policies and make room for people who have exceptional cases to use the names they go by, rather than their legal name. Now, Sister Roma says, theres a special circumstances option, where you can check a box and describe why your Facebook name isnt your legal name, like if youre transgender or use an alternate name because youre fleeing some kind of dangerous situation. Thats true, but when I tried as an experiment to change my name, it took a lot of digging to find the page where you can request a change.

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I have to commend Facebook for taking us seriously and working with us for years, said Sister Roma, but she said theres still more that could be done. For example, Facebook still has an option where people can be reported for using fake namesan apparent guard against people making imposter accounts. Sister Roma thinks that shouldnt be an option. Reporting someones name could be used as a form of harassment and lead to account suspensions.

So while Facebook says it plans to appeal the decision in Germany that struck down its fake name policy, people in the U.S. who have been reckoning with it for years see the German courts decision as a positive sign. Eden Will, a transgender activist in San Francisco, who has struggled with her name on Facebook for years, told me shes very happy to see the court making the correct decision on this one.A California law that prohibited businesses from passing along credit card fees to customers has just been overturned.

California Credit Card Surcharge Ruling Overturned

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco just released its ruling, overturning the original law passed back in 1985. Credit card companies impose fees on businesses when they process credit card payments. But because of that original law, businesses in the state had to either raise prices across the board or get creative with discounts for customers who pay using other methods.

The new ruling has been generally seen as a win for small businesses, since they now have more options for covering those charges. And those who prefer not to add a surcharge for credit card purchases dont need to make any changes.

CardX CEO Jonathan Razi said in an email to Small Business Trends, With this legal victory, businesses now have the option to pass on the fee to customers that choose credit cards for convenience or rewards. Under the new rules, businesses can accept credit cards at 0 percent cost. Based on what were seeing in other states, many businesses already processing cards will use this option to reduce costs, and businesses that previously did not accept cards at all (because the fees were prohibitive) will now be able to offer their customers the ability to pay by credit card for the first time.

The ruling, however, might not bring about as much change as some think. Previously, businesses were allowed to offer discounts for customers paying in cash or other non-credit card methods. So the reversal of this law simply lets businesses approach the subject differently with customers.

However small the change might seem, its still one that a lot of businesses in California and beyond have been clamoring for. And though this specific reversal only impacts California businesses, it could have an impact on the other states that still have similar laws.

Razi says, This is a landmark result for the country as a whole, because it is the first state-level decision under last years U.S. Supreme Court case, which decided these laws are regulations of protected commercial speech. For that reason, we believe the California decision speaks directly to what well see in the few remaining states: the bans are being ruled unconstitutional, and the courts are pushing towards acceptance in all 50 states.

Business leaders from the legal cannabis industry have filed a lawsuit against U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in an effort to reverse the decision to have cannabis classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance.

Cannabis Schedule 1 Lawsuit

The lawsuit, which was originally filed over the summer, aims to prove that this classification is unconstitutional in an effort to get cannabis descheduled. This move would allow states to set and enforce their own laws in regards to cannabis without fear of the federal government getting involved. This week, the court heard the Justice Departments motion to dismiss the case. However, attorneys for the plaintiffs are optimistic theyll be able to continue presenting their case.

One of the lead attorneys, Lauren Rudick, recently spoke with Small Business Trends in a phone interview to explain a bit about the case and how it could impact businesses in the cannabis industry.

She explained, Were arguing that the classification of cannabis as a Schedule 1 substance under the Controlled Substances Act is unconstitutional on a number of fronts.

That includes arguing that the classification violates the equal protection clause, freedom of speech and the right to seek medical treatment, among others. Currently, attorneys are arguing the constitutionality of the classification on all of these fronts. However, Rudick notes that a partial appeal would not be an option in this case. So if, for instance, the judge rules they can only argue its unconstitutional based on the equal protection clause but not freedom of speech or other areas, the team will have to continue its argument using only that part of the law.

The ultimate goal is to get cannabis descheduled, which would leave the legality of marijuana use and sales up to the states. Currently, the federal government does not recognize the legality of marijuana even where states have voted to legalize. So many believe that a ruling to deschedule the substance would lead to more potential for investors and outside support, as well as the possibility for innovations in medical research.

If the judge at some point rules against the plaintiffs in all of their arguments, Rudick says they would appeal. However, in the meantime, such a ruling wouldnt lead to any tangible negative changes for cannabis businesses. They could continue to operate in states where medical marijuana or recreational marijuana have been legalized, but without the backing of the federal government.

Rudick says, For businesses, it wouldnt necessarily lead to any changes from how things currently are.

The case has been granted expedited status. So Rudick is optimistic there will be some kind of resolution in the near future, though the actual timetable will depend on whether or not appeals are needed.

She also stressed the importance of cannabis businesses advocating for change and staying up-to-date with the ever-changing regulations and landscape of the industry.

Rudick adds, If youre in this industry, youre also in the industry of being an advocate. So its important for small businesses whose futures depend on legalization to stay abreast of the changes in laws and the regulatory landscape.The newly launched Outlaw platform seeks to help small businesses close deals faster by simplifying contracts. Outlaw helps small businesses and contractors who frequently make and sign deals with clients for products or services, do business faster with more transparency.

Outlaw transforms existing contracts from complex and unmanageable paperwork into easy-to-read, edit, share, negotiate and sign templates, available in real-time. Outlaws contract platform is based on a subscription model and features smart authoring tools.

A Look at the Outlaw Contract Platform

Composing, negotiating and signing contracts can be a lengthy, intricate and time-consuming process for small business owners. Being forced to spend time dealing with overcomplicated contracts means business owners are not spending time on what they do best, running their business.

By simplifying the whole process and bringing contracts back to basics, Outlaw takes the headache out of contracts, meaning small businesses dont waste time on this often-laborious administration task.

Evan Schneyer, co-founder of Outlaw, explained in a press statement about the new contracts platform, how Outlaw brings transparency and cooperation to the contracts negotiating and signing process.

Contracts are relationships. Because legalese is so intimidating, people lose sight of that essence. We started Outlaw to breathe mutual trust and understanding  the basis of successful relationships  back into contracts, says Schneyer.

With Outlooks fill-in-the-blank authoring tool that customizes contracts in seconds, small businesses and entrepreneurs can draw up contracts with custom templates.

The platform also provides summaries in plain English, which offer translated summaries without unnecessary and overcomplicated legal jargon.

Outlaw also allows contracts to be shared to multi-parties, alongside commenting and digital signing, to accelerate the legal process.

This new contract platform is ideal for small businesses and freelancers who are wanting to take their contracts and legal process to another level, whether its for HR purposes or sales processes.Data shows that nearly every small business loathes meetings.

OK, loathe may be a strong word but theyre probably one of the least looked-forward to events in your teams weekly calendar. They may all come to dread the sight, sounds and smells of your regular meeting space.

So, one solution is to move regular meetings to another location. Perhaps somewhere away from your business headquarters.

That could be anywhere from a local restaurant or coffee shop to a public park (if the weather permits). The change of scenery could loosen everyone up, including yourself, and present a nice change of scenery for your team. That new scenery could even spark some newfound creativity in your team.

Of course, it could also have the opposite effect. Taking your business team to a non-business environment could distract everyone from the task at hand. Tech that you rely upon in your regular business setting could malfunction or not work at all. Then the whole off-site meeting experience could turn into a total disaster.

So this week, in our poll, we want to know if you hold off-site meetings for your small business. After you answer, let us know some of your experiences with this in the past. Has it worked? Has it been a total failure? Use the Comments section to share your stories with our readers.

Do You Ever Hold Off-site Meetings with Your Team? Yes - often

Yes - once in a while

No - but have thought about holding one

No - and dont plan to hold any off-site

We don't have meetings View Results / See All PollsSlovak paleontologist discovers oldest vertebrate in Slovakia

The skeleton was hidden in a cave.

Until now, four-legged animals from the Mesozoic era, the dinosaur age, were not known to be in the area of Slovakia.

The majority of Slovakia was covered by water during the Mesozoic era and therefore the probability of finding remains of four-legged animals is very small. The only exception until recently were dinosaur footprints from the Triassic period in the High Tatras, discovered in 1977 in Ticha dolina.

That situation recently changed, however, thanks to the significant finding of paleontologist Andrej Cernansky from Comenius University and others.

I received information from the cave administration of Demanovska dolina that that a small skeleton was located in the ceiling of one of the inaccessible caves, explained Andrej Cernansky, as quoted from the press release.

He asked his colleagues Juraj Surka, from the Slovak Academy of Sciences, and Mario Olsavsky, from the Geodetic Institute of Dionyz Stur, for help.

We found the skeleton buried in limestone after an hour of crawling in the hall named Eldorado in Stefanova Cave, said Cernansky, as cited by the press release.

(Source: Juraj Surka)

To get the skeleton out of the limestone was not easy.

The limestone was hard as concrete after 245 million years so we couldnt take out the skeleton easily, noted Cernanasky, as quoted by the press release.

The researchers analysed the skeleton of the reptile from Demanovska dolina via computed tomography, which shows cross-sections of a solid body. It turned out that the nine vertebrae and ribs were in an anatomically correct position. Tomography also showed the bones of a hind leg and pelvis.

We found out that the skeleton is a pachypleurosauridae, a smaller group of reptiles living on coasts. They were swimmers even though they could not dive deep depths. They ate arthropods, molluscs and the adults could also catch fish, said Andrej Cernansky, adding that this group of animals were not dinosaurs.

Those reptiles have been found in Italy, Switzerland, Germany and China. However, until now none were found in the area of the Western Carpathian Mountains.

It seems that pachypleurosauridae were searching for a shallow salty sea environment, said Cernansky, adding that reptiles would have been in localities tied to a coast; they could swim but their limbs could also move on land. It means, according to Cernansky, that there were islands in the sea over Slovakia.

17. Feb 2018 at 8:10 | Compiled by Spectator staffAnadarko Petroleum Corporation engages in the exploration, development, production, and marketing of oil and gas properties. It operates through three segments: Exploration and Production, WES Midstream, and Other Midstream. The company explores for and produces oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). It is also involved in gathering, processing, treating, and transporting oil, natural-gas, and NGLs production, as well as the gathering and disposal of produced water. The company's oil and natural gas properties are located in the United States onshore and deepwater Gulf of Mexico; and Algeria, Ghana, Mozambique, Colombia, Peru, and other countries. As of December 31, 2018, it had approximately 1.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent of proved reserves. The company was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas.

Read MoreWall Street analysts have given Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

View MarketBeat's top stock picks here.Ormat Technologies, Inc. operates as a holding company. The firm engages in the provision of geothermal and recovered energy power business. It operates through the following segments: Electricity, Product and Energy Storage. The Electricity segment focuses in the sale of electricity from the company's power plants pursuant to PPAs. The Product segment involves in the manufacture, including design and development, of turbines and power units for the supply of electrical energy and in the associated construction of power plants utilizing the power units manufactured by the company to supply energy from geothermal fields and other alternative energy sources. The Energy Storage segment consists of battery energy storage systems as a service and management of curtailable customer loads under contracts with U.S. retail energy providers and directly with large commercial and industrial customers. The company was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Reno, NV.

Read MoreCAE Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and supplies simulation equipment and training solutions to defense and security markets, commercial airlines, business aircraft operators, helicopter operators, aircraft manufacturers, and healthcare education and service providers worldwide. The company's Civil Aviation Training Solutions segment provides training solutions for flight, cabin, maintenance, and ground personnel in commercial, business, and helicopter aviation; flight simulation training devices; and ab initio pilot training and crew sourcing services, as well as end to end digitally-enabled crew management, training operations solutions, and optimization software. Its Defence and Security segment offers training and mission support solutions for defense forces across multi-domain operations, and for government organizations responsible for public safety. The company's Healthcare segment provides integrated education and training solutions, including surgical and imaging simulations, curriculum, audiovisual and centre management platforms, and patient simulators to healthcare students and clinical professionals. The company was formerly known as CAE Industries Ltd. and changed its name to CAE Inc. in June 1993. CAE Inc. was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Saint-Laurent, Canada.

Read MoreThe following companies are subsidiares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise: 3Com International Inc., 3PAR Inc., Apogee, Aruba Networks Inc., Aruba Networks International Cayman, Aruba Networks International Limited, BlueData Software, Cloud Cruiser, Cloud Technology Partners, Cloud Technology Partners Inc., Compaq Computer (Mauritius), Compaq Trademark B.V., Cray, Cray Inc., EDS World Corporation (Far East) LLC, EYP Mission Critical Facilities Inc., H3C Holdings Limited, HP Enterprise Services Australia Pty Ltd, HP Financial Services (Australia) Pty Limited, HP Financial Services (Chile) Limitada, HP Financial Services (Japan) K.K., HP Financial Services Arrendamento Mercantil S.A., HP Financial Services Company (Korea), HP Financial Services International Holdings Company, HPE Government LLC, HPFS Global Holdings I LLC, HPFS Global Holdings II LLC, HPFS Rental S.R.L., Hangzhou H3C Technologies Co. Ltd, Hewlett Packard Caribe BV LLC, Hewlett Packard Colombia Ltda., Hewlett Packard Enterprise (China) Co. Ltd., Hewlett Packard Enterprise B.V., Hewlett Packard Enterprise B.V. Amstelveen Meyrin Branch, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Co., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Co. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Cie, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Costa Rica Limitada, Hewlett Packard Enterprise GlobalSoft Private Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise India Private Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Ireland Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Luxembourg SCA, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Polska sp. z o.o., Hewlett Packard Pathfinder LLC, Hewlett Packard Taiwan Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (Israel) Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (M) Sdn. Bhd., Hewlett-Packard (Nigeria) Limited, Hewlett-Packard (Schweiz) GmbH, Hewlett-Packard (Tanzania) Limited, Hewlett-Packard (Thailand) Limited, Hewlett-Packard ApS, Hewlett-Packard Argentina S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Australia Pty Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Belgium SPRL/BVBA, Hewlett-Packard Bermuda Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard Brasil Ltda., Hewlett-Packard Bulgaria EOOD, Hewlett-Packard Caribe B.V., Hewlett-Packard Caribe Y Andina B.V. LLC, Hewlett-Packard Chile Comercial Limitada, Hewlett-Packard Cyprus Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Hewlett-Packard Egypt Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Financial Services (India) Private Limited, Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Canada Company, Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Company, Hewlett-Packard France SAS, Hewlett-Packard G1 SPV (Cayman) Company, Hewlett-Packard Gesellschaft mbH, Hewlett-Packard Ghana Limited, Hewlett-Packard GmbH, Hewlett-Packard Guatemala Limitada, Hewlett-Packard HK SAR Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Hellas EPE, Hewlett-Packard Holdings Ltd., Hewlett-Packard International Bank Designated Activity Company, Hewlett-Packard International Bank Public Limited Company, Hewlett-Packard International Sarl, Hewlett-Packard Italiana S.r.l., Hewlett-Packard Japan Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Korea Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Leasing Limited, Hewlett-Packard Limited, Hewlett-Packard Luxembourg Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard Macau Limited, Hewlett-Packard Manufacturing Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Marigalante Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Hewlett-Packard Middle East FZ-LLC, Hewlett-Packard Mocambique Limitada - Sociedada em Liquidacao, Hewlett-Packard Nederland B.V., Hewlett-Packard New Zealand, Hewlett-Packard Norge AS, Hewlett-Packard OY, Hewlett-Packard Operations Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Hewlett-Packard Peru S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Philippines Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Portugal Lda., Hewlett-Packard SARL, Hewlett-Packard SIA, Hewlett-Packard Servicios Espana S.L., Hewlett-Packard Singapore (Sales) Pte. Ltd., Hewlett-Packard South Africa (Proprietary) Limited, Hewlett-Packard Sverige AB, Hewlett-Packard Technology Center Inc., Hewlett-Packard Teknoloji Cozumleri Limited Sirketi, Hewlett-Packard The Hague B.V., Hewlett-Packard Venezuela S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Vision Limited, Hewlett-Packard d.o.o., Hewlett-Packard s.r.o., Limited Liability Company Hewlett Packard Enterprise, MapR Technologies, New H3C Technologies Co. Ltd., Niara Inc., Nimble Storage, Nimble Storage Inc., Nimble Storage Israel Ltd, Nimble Storage Japan GK, Nimble Storage UK Limited, Plexxi, RedPixie, SGI (Silicon Graphics), Sapphire Holding Co, Scytale, Shanghai Hewlett-Packard Co. Ltd., Silver Peak, SimpliVity, Sinope Holding B.V., Trilead, UAB ES Hague Lietuva, and Unis Huashan Technologies Co. Limited. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved.

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 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research.SRC Energy Inc., an oil and natural gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids primarily in the Denver-Julesburg Basin of Colorado. As of December 31, 2018, it had net proved oil and natural gas reserves of 88 million barrels of oil and condensate, 771.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas, and 89.1 million barrels of natural gas liquids; and operated 985 net producing wells, as well as had 95,200 gross and 86,200 net acres under lease in the Wattenberg Field. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

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Read MoreSeveral experts in wildlife preservation have shared their knowledge with Tuoi Tre News of myths surrounding the medicinal benefits of wildlife consumption.

Not worth the risk

I first came to Vietnam in the year 2000 to work in both Cat Ba and Ba Vi National Parks, assisting in a facility which was set up to rehabilitate birds confiscated from the wildlife trade. It was that year that I made a personal commitment to return to Vietnam and improve animal welfare.

Ive been working with Animals Asia since 2011, holding the post of Bear and Vet Team Director and Animals Asia Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre (VBRC) since 2016. I lead a team of 66 people, both Vietnamese and foreign experts in the rehabilitation of the bears who call our sanctuary home."

There are currently 175 rescued bears living at VBRC, both Asiatic black bears and Malayan sun bears. Most of these bears were formerly incarcerated on bear bile farms across Vietnam where they underwent cruel and invasive procedures to harvest their bile for use in traditional medicine.

The Vietnamese Traditional Medicine Association promotes 32 different herbal alternatives to bear bile available in Vietnam. Animals Asia and the Vietnam Traditional Medicine Association published a book together to promote these herbal alternatives. Not only are these herbal alternatives kinder to bears, but they are safer for people. Bear bile is harvested in unsterile conditions and can be riddled with bacteria  we know of cases of people dying after consuming bear bile. Consuming bear bile is simply not worth the risk.

Using bear bile is entirely unnecessary, potentially dangerous to human health, and illegal. The trade in bear bile and bear bile farming have been banned in Vietnam since 1992. We know that it continues to happen due to a loophole in the law which allows people to keep bears in their households.

In 2017, Animals Asia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Vietnam Administration of Forestry to work together to rescue bears which remained on farms throughout the country and bring them to sanctuary. In a nutshell, the MOU closes the loophole by forbidding people to keep bears in private residences. The end of bear farming in Vietnam is coming.

Its not just peoples minds that are changing, but their hearts. We have school children and other visitors who come out to VBRC to learn about our work and see the bears. Seeing the childrens eyes light up when watching the bears forage in their enclosures or splashing in their pools and watching that spark of compassion as they realize the importance of kindness to animals give me so much hope for the future.

Heidi Quine, Bear and Vet Team Director

Animals Asias Vietnam Bear Rescue Center

Rhino horns are as effective as fingernails

Like many people and organizations involved in conservation in Vietnam, the Cat Ba Langur Conservation Project faces the problem of people poaching animals from the wild to use in traditional medicines on a nearly daily basis.

Tokay Geckos (Gekko geckos) are one of the most commonly poached animals on the island and the majority of them wind up in jars of alcohol or are dried for use in various treatments for illnesses, imagined or otherwise.

During breeding seasons, chicks of the Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis), known as bim bip in Vietnam, are caught and soaked in alcohol for medicinal uses, as are snakes of all sorts, especially King Cobras (Ophiophagus hannah) and Chinese Cobras (Naja atra).

Much of this is illegal, but it is still common. The laws regarding marine life are less strict and it is common to see seahorses, starfish, and other marine organisms soaked in alcohol for sale in town and marketed as medicine."

The marketability of these traditional medicines is the primary reason why the Cat Ba Langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus) is nearly extinct.

The population had already been falling, but when Cat Ba became a tourist destination around 1996, hunting langur to sell as traditional medicine to Vietnamese and Chinese tourists skyrocketed. Locals tell us that 1996-1997 was the period when the Cat Ba Langur went from being a commonly seen animal to one that was hardly ever seen.

There is no evidence at all that eating animals, pangolin scales, rhinoceros horn, or drinking wine that has had various animals soaking in it has any positive effect on health. Some studies have shown that the wildlife trade, the use of wildlife for food or medicine, poses a significant risk of Zoonotic diseases (illnesses that can be transferred from wildlife to humans).

Additionally, when it comes to rhinoceros horn and pangolin scales, people are just eating keratin. This is the same material our fingernails and hair are made of. These people would have the same results eating fingernails and hair collected from a barber shop as they have from consuming the horn and scales of these animals.

In Vietnam the rhinoceros is now extinct, many primates are on the verge of extinction, the pangolin population is falling rapidly, many of the terrestrial and freshwater turtles are endangered, and in some areas certain species of snake have been locally wiped out.

It is very difficult to make people change their minds and behavior. People must want to make changes on their own.

Education is by far the most important and effective way to effect a change, but this takes a long time and many of the species in Vietnam do not have much time left if things continue as they currently are. This means that we need to combine education with strong and effective enforcement of laws and that those laws need to be clear.

Neahga Leonard, Project Director

Cat Ba Langur Conservation Project

Education is the first step

I think education is the first step to changing human behavior in a positive way when it comes to increasing awareness and stopping wildlife consumption. Unfortunately, this can sometimes take decades or even generations to achieve. Responsible governments need to take active steps to avoid future disasters by changing and enforcing laws so that environments can be better protected. Ultimately, every human on the planet needs to understand the consequences of their actions, especially in relation to the things we buy and consume. What may feel good or convenient to me may be having a very painful and negative impact on another human or animal life, in Vietnam or elsewhere. Through education, we can develop a greater level of respect for all things.

Doctor William Fowlds from Wilderness Foundation Africa

It is my perception, based on many well researched publications and other forms of media, that most of Africas illegal wildlife trade is exported to Southeast Asia for consumption or ornamental use. According to a study published by Traffic (Rhino Horn Nexus), 80% of South Africas poached rhino horn went to Vietnam. Since that study took place, I do believe that there has been a reduction in the amount of rhino horn entering Vietnam, which is very encouraging, but, it will take many years for global perceptions to change. Vietnam still carries the label of bearing the most blame for Africas rhino poaching. China is a close second. This is something we would like to see eradicated completely and we are looking at Vietnam to become the global leaders in reversing this situation.

Wildlife consumption in South Africa of mainly antelope species for meat purposes is a large and growing industry. However, it has been grown and regulated in a sustainable way so that over the past 40 years, there are now many, many more wild animals in South Africa (from less than 1 million to over 6 million today) in spite of growing human populations. Species such as rhino have never been killed for meat or horn consumption in any African culture.

The regulation of any wildlife consumption needs to be based on scientific measurements of wildlife populations and their habitats. Only when there is excess available does the government issue permits which allow wildlife to be utilized. If the science indicates that there is not enough habitat available to sustain a wildlife population, the laws get changed or wildlife consumption permits get withdrawn so that those populations can recover. People that break these regulations should receive heavy punishments because they are stealing from our society and depriving the world of many beautiful things.

Humanitys future quality of life is dependent on the quality of our natural planet and when we stop caring about animals, we stop caring about people too. The consequences for current and future generations could be disastrous.

Doctor William Fowlds

Wilderness Foundation AfricaThe one-time residence of army officer wives in Da Lat City remains an attraction in the calm resort town.

>> Untold stories of Da Lat  P4: The Haunted House on Prenn Pass

>> Untold stories of Da Lat  P3: Royal partition

>> Untold stories of Da Lat  P2: Stone villa of Nguyen Kings concubine

>> Untold stories of Da Lat  P1: Nguyen Dynastys trusted retainer

Prior to 1975, a complex called the Girls Billet or C5 Girls Billet remained tucked away near the Bao Dai Palace, the residence and offices of King Bao Dai (1913-1997), Vietnams last monarch.

To reach the complex, one would travel along a street called Darlec (now Trieu Viet Vuong) and then take a road overgrown by weeds, da quy (wild daisy), a flower synonymous with Da Lat, and pine trees.

The location is now a valley enclosed by Trieu Viet Vuong Street.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters recently interviewed Le Phi, who has maintained his full mental faculty at age 90.

Considered an expert on the history of Da Lat and a resident for 60 years, Phi noted that the word girls in the Girls Billet did not refer to prostitutes as it does now.

According to Phi, the complex was previously a residential area for army officers and soldiers under the former political regime in Da Lat.

The army personnel, who were mostly either local residents or from neighboring areas, were granted accommodation at the complex as a way of relieving financial hardship.

Like other army residences in Da Lat, the complex was home to approximately 300 makeshift log cabins for the young families short-term stays.

Post-training, the army personnel, in particular young soldiers, were stationed at four strategic zones for long periods of time, leaving their young wives and children at home.

As in other villages established across the country, where wives would longingly wait for their husbands to return home from the battlefield, the young women there got on well and helped each other through the tough time of caring for their children alone.

This was when the name Girls Billet came into being.

The Girls Billet, also known as C5 Girls Billet, is where C5 Condo is located, on Nguyen Trung Truc Street, Da Lat City now. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The story

In May 1975, a marine commando battalion in Military Zone 6 had five companies stationed at strategic locations throughout Da Lat.

While other companies were tasked with ensuring safety at a nuclear research institution and other places where American troops were stationed, Company C5 took over the Girls Billet, and added C5 to the complexs name.

Nguyen Hong Khanh, a former marine commando, introduced Tuoi Tre reporters to his former C5 Company comrades.

We were intrigued by the name Girls Billet after receiving the takeover command. Our commander stressed that we handle the task with great care as only young women and children were still living there, he recalled.

When Khanh and his comrades arrived, the complex was empty as the inhabitants had all moved out.

The complex was later pulled down to clear space for the construction of a condo on Nguyen Trung Truc Street to be inhabited by provincial civil servants.

The condo was named C5 after Company C5, though few locals know the story behind the Girls Billet today.

In an interview with Tuoi Tre, Do Kim Hong, 70, an occupant of the Girls Billet at the time, refuted a story that the young women would gamble while their husbands were away.

Hundreds of young wives there had their hands full making a living and raising their children on their own. They were also anxious that their husbands would never come home, she recalled.

They really didnt have the time or frame of mind to be gambling, Hong said.

Le Phi, an expert on Da Lat City who has lived in the resort town for sixty years. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Mr. Phi Lake and Quang Thua Village In 1954, Le Phi settled in Da Lat City and founded a school. Four years later, he and four others collected money from local households to purchase a bulldozer and a Jeep to reclaim wasteland and develop a large reservoir for irrigation and fish farming. Many still respectfully call the reservoir Mr. Phi Lake. Phi and the others then established a village, which they named Quang Thua. The new settlers were comprised of officers and soldiers discharged from the army and families from the Girls Billet.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!Police on Friday apprehended an 18-year-old suspect in the mass murder of a family of five in Ho Chi Minh City, who had been found dead the day before inside their own house in Binh Tan District.

The suspect, Nguyen Huu Tinh, turned 18 on January 29 this year, according to Colonel Nguyen Sy Quang, chief advisor of Ho Chi Minh City Police.

Tinh reportedly confessed to the crime in his testimony at the police station, claiming that he had committed the murder out of rage over the unfair way he was treated by the house owners during his time working at their workshop.

Robbery was also a motive for Tinhs killing of the entire family of his employers, Quang said.

According to earlier reports, a family of five people were discovered dead inside their residence in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, after officers responded to a call that a foul smell was coming from the building and its owners had not been seen for days.

The victims were identified as house owners Mai Xuan Chinh, 46, and his wife Mai Thi Hong, 37, as well as their three children Mai Xuan Trieu, 13, Mai Huyen Dieu, 11, and Mai Huyen Diep, 6.

Nguyen Huu Tinh is seen in this photo posted on social media.

According to their neighbors, the father was a smith who ran a small workshop making stainless steel products that employed a handful of workers.

The residence had been locked with no signs of human activity since Monday (February 12), when its occupants held a year-end party.

Tinh was the only employee who joined the family in the party, as other employees had returned to their hometowns for Tet, or the Lunar New Year festival.

The suspect allegedly committed the mass murder on the same evening and injured his left hand during the crime.

He turned off his phone and fled from Ho Chi Minh City the next morning but was arrested by police officers while on the run in Can Giuoc District, Long An Province.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!Drama & documentary titles across the next two weeks will focus on gay & lesbian themes ahead of the 40th Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras.

SBS will screen the Parade on Sunday March 4th, although there is a Live online broadcast at SBS on Demand. ABCs Riot telemovie is another highlight.

ABC

Against the Law

9pm Thursday February 22

2017 sees the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, which decriminalised homosexual acts in England and Wales between adult males, in private. While it would take several decades before homosexuals would reach anything like full equality in this country, this legislation marks the beginning of this journey.

But the dramatic events that led to this Act took place over ten years before and are at the heart of Against the Law, a powerful factual drama starring Daniel Mays and Mark Gatiss. Mays plays Peter Wildeblood, a thoughtful and private gay journalist whose lover, under pressure from the authorities, turned Queens evidence against him in one of the most explosive court cases of the 1950s  the infamous Montagu Trial. Wildeblood, and his friends Lord Montagu and Michael Pitt-Rivers, were found guilty of homosexual offences and jailed. But the public thought the trial unfair and forced a reluctant government to set up a committee to investigate whether homosexuality should be legalised. The committee was led by Sir John Wolfenden. With his career in tatters and his private life painfully exposed, Peter Wildeblood began his sentence a broken man, but he emerged from Wormwood Scrubs a year later determined to do all he could to change the way these draconian laws against homosexuality impacted on the lives of men like him. He was the only openly gay man to testify before the Wolfenden committee about the brutal reality of being gay in this country at that time. In 1957 the committee recommended that the laws be changed. It would take a further ten years before these recommendations would become law.

Woven through this powerful drama is testimony from a chorus of men who lived through those dark days, when homosexuals were routinely imprisoned or forced to undergo chemical aversion therapy in an attempt to cure them of their condition. There is also testimony from a retired police officer whose job it was to enforce these laws and a former psychiatric nurse who administered the so-called cures. All these accounts amplify the themes of the drama and help to immerse us in the reality of a dark chapter in our recent past, a past still within the reach of living memory.

Riot

8:30pm Sunday February 25

Based on real people and events, RIOT shines a spotlight on Australias 1970s Gay and Lesbian Rights Movement and the passionate individuals who, facing ever-present adversity, conceived a celebration of diversity, in what is now a key moment in LGBTQ history. In the early 1970s, the Australian Gay and Lesbian Rights Movement is in its infancy, as women and men face police brutality, legislative persecution and social shunning.



Lance Gowland (Damon Herriman), a devoted and seasoned activist for various civil rights causes joins CAMP  the Campaign Against Moral Persecution  which focuses on law reform, educating the general public, and providing much needed community support. Here he meets fellow activists Marg McMann (Kate Box) and Robyn Plaister (Jess De Gouw), Ron Austin (Josh Quong Tart), Peter De Waal (Eden Falk) and partner Bon (Luke Mullins), Sue Willis (Fern Sutherland) and Gabrielle Antolovich (Hanna Mangan Lawrence). CAMPs plans for social change involves engaging with the media and a telephone counselling service. But passionate firebrand Lance wants rallies and protests, he sees the loud and belligerent tactics of his union past as the only way to bring change. Marg and Lance clash as well as complement each other; theyre both natural born leaders, and begin to focus the groups energies on more effective law reform.



During this time, Lance meets Jim Walker (Xavier Samuel), a young, conservative doctor with whom he has little in common, nevertheless they fall in love. While Marg finds herself fighting for custody of her children. University students Peter Murphy (Christian Byers) and Jeremy Fisher (Will McDonald) bring new voices into the activist fray but they all face the continuing threat of job dismissal, violence, and inaction from politicians. Their resolve grows, and by 1978, when the push to decriminalize homosexuality has stalled, they decide to make one final attempt to celebrate who they are.



Securing a permit for a legal protest, on the evening of June 24, in recognition of Gay Solidarity Day, a small but passionate group collect behind a truck driven by Lance, to stage a street party and joyfully declare their pride. The night will be marked by great violence, but the ramifications will path the way for equality, and the establishment of a world-renowned parade that continues to celebrate the spirit of these brave, pioneering men and women.

What Its Like

Saturday March 3 & 10 at 7.15pm ABC ME (Available Saturday March 3 on ABC ME app)

Two brand new episodes of this hit kids series, exploring themes of sexuality and gender diversity.

I Do  40 Years of Mardi Gras

Tuesday 6th March at 10pm on ABC ME (repeated 9th March at 7.30pm AEDT on ABC News)

An ABC NEWS special that goes behind the scenes with the first couple to get married at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras  as the internationally renowned event celebrates 40 years of protest, partying and social change.

iview

The ABCs new website abc.net.au/ourfocus/mardigras provides an overview of the content and coverage discussing and celebrating this important milestone.

Love Bites

Sunday 25 February on ABC iview

A series of 10 x 5 min documentary short films made by filmmakers from the LGBTQI community across Australia. Made with support from Screen Australia.

Trans Black

Sunday 25 February on ABC iview

A series of 4 x 10 min short films that follow the day to day lives of four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island transgender men and women, and how they changed perceptions of themselves and those closest to them

SBS VICELAND

Dragula

10.25pm Sunday February 18 & 25, MArch 4

The second season of the worlds most shocking queer TV series pits 10 punk drag queens against one another in a series of extreme challenges to decide which one will snatch the crown, the $10,000.00 cash prize and the title of Dragula  The Worlds Next Drag Supermonster.

Mardi Gras Movies Home Grown

8pm Thursday February, 22 & 8:30pm March 1 (also at SBS On Demand)

In the lead up to the 40th anniversary celebration of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival, The Feeds Pat Abboud will present a series of LGBTQI shorts, created by emerging filmmakers. Each of the shorts celebrates LGBTIQ diversity through a wide scope of themes including LGBTIQ acceptance in multicultural communities, small-town bigotry and a Muslim probationary policewoman amongst others. Before each short, Pat Abboud will go behind the scenes, providing exclusive access and interviews with the filmmakers. The six short films include Concern for Welfare (directed by Fadia Abboud), Black Lips (directed by Adrian Chiarella), Cherry Season (directed by Joshua Longhurst), the bilingual Tomgirl (directed by Vonne Patiag), Joy Boy (directed by Stef Smith) and Disco Dykes (directed by Sara West).

The Feed

7:30pm Monday February 26

Tonight: whats it like to realise youre a lesbian, when youve got adult children? IsIs there a reason for the growing numbers of older women coming out later in life? (News

7:30pm Tuesday February 27

Tonight: he has millions of fans, has won Grammys, a Golden Globe and an Oscar. So why is he unhappy? Sam Smith talks alcohol, self-doubt & shame spirals with Pat Abboud.

7:30pm Wednesday February 28

Tonight: whats it like being an Indigenous drag queen in rural Australia? The Feed gets up close and personal with the Dreamtime Divas.

7:30pm Thursday March 1

Tonight: winning The Voice Australia was just the beginning for Alfie Arcuri. The Italian-Australian sits down with Pat Abboud to chat: singing, cooking and coming out.

NITV

Black Divaz

8:30pm Thursday March 1

To coincide with the 40th Anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, NITV is proud to present, Black Divaz, a one-hour television documentary which shines a light on the Indigenous LGBTQI+ community.

Black Divaz goes beyond the make-up, the glue guns and the glamour of drag to reveal the complexities of a world that is little known or understood. The documentary follows Indigenous Drag Queens from around Australia as they embark on a quest to be crowned the Inaugural Miss First Nations Drag Queen. The pageant, hosted during Darwin Pride Week, showcases not just the incredible talent in the Indigenous drag community but also sheds a light on some of the bigger issues faced by Indigenous men and sistergirls who happen to love drag. We meet the fierce, sassy contestants, Nova Gina, Isla Fuk Yah, Crystal Love, Josie Baker, Jojo and Shaniqua and the pageants drag hosts, Miss Ellaneous and Marzi Panne, and hear the stories behind their outrageous Drag personas. Souls will be bared and connections made as one Queen makes history as she is crowned Australias Miss First Nation for the first time! Being LGBTQI+ in todays world differs greatly and for many gay, transgender, sistergirls and gender diverse members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. The fight for understanding and equality is sometimes just as difficult within their own communities, clan groups and families as it is in the wider Australian community.

NITV Channel Manager, Tanya Orman said: Black Divaz is an incredibly important documentary for NITV to commission, as it gives our vibrant Indigenous LGBTQI+ community a platform to celebrate and share their stories. The documentary not only aims to celebrate the fabulous Queens in the film, but to reach those members in our community who are struggling. Hopefully they watch Black Divaz and feel a sense of pride and belonging. Director of Black Divaz, Adrian Russell Wills said: My hope is that Black Divaz speaks directly to those kids in remote communities, or those living in small country towns, or even those kids living in big cities who feel isolated, misunderstood or different. I wish for them to see themselves on screen and recognise their hopes and dreams are valid and can come true, that they too can be celebrated. The Divaz teach us all to live our truth out loud and proud, through their personal stories we see life isnt always easy walking down a different road but it is a road many who have gone before have paved for them so they can discover their Diva! The one-off documentary is directed by Adrian Russell Wills (The Warriors, Wentworth) with producers Michaela Perske (After the Apology, Destination Arnold) and Gillian Moody (Family Rules).

SBS

China Queer

10pm Tuesday February 20 / 12:50am Tuesday February 27 (Wed Feb 28)

LGBT people in the worlds most populous country are learning from gay rights movements abroad to build their own campaigns at an unprecedented pace. These LGBT activists are gradually winning rights for members of their community by producing their own media, challenging homophobic policies through lawsuits, and building groups that challenge homophobic social values. Yet as this movement builds momentum, they increasingly run into conflict with Chinese government authorities. Their fight for acceptance cannot happen in public because they are often silenced, either through surveillance, intimidation, or imprisonment.

Saturday March 3.

A live stream of the parade will be available on SBS On Demand and the SBS Twitter account on Saturday, 3rd March. SBS Radio 3 will join forces with Australias premier gay and lesbian community radio station, JOY 94.9 for a Mardi Gras weekend simulcast, which can be accessed via the SBS Radio mobile app, digital radio and around Australia on digital television.

2018 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras

8:30pm Sunday March 4

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is one of the worlds largest and most high profile LGBTIQ+ celebrations. Having started as a civil rights protest in 1978, Mardi Gras has grown into an opportunity to celebrate diversity, equality, inclusion and pride on a global scale.

Following last years historic same-sex marriage vote, this years Mardi Gras will be a celebration of how far the LGBTIQ+ communities and their allies have come in the last 40 years, as well as a reflection on the communitys hopes for the future.

The television broadcast will feature the best and brightest floats and costumes in the parade, interviews with special guest and celebrities including international music icon Cher, commentary from Magda Szubanski and Joel Creasey, as well as on the ground coverage from Urzila Carlson.

The Feeds Patrick Abboud will present a series of stories which introduces us to parade participants, the people and special meanings behind the floats, and the stories of Mardi Gras marchers including the 78ers who pioneered this global event 40 years ago.

SBS On Demand

SBS On Demand will host a Rainbow Pride Movie collection, with titles such as Brokeback Mountain, Holding the Man, Heartbeats and My Beautiful Laundrette, starring Daniel Day-Lewis. SBS On Demand will also premiere Dont Ever Wipe Tears Without Gloves  a powerful Swedish drama exploring love in the shadow of AIDS.

This post updates.Michael Portillo, host of Great British Railway Journeys, is currently in Australia filming Great Australian Railway Journeys, doubtless for SBS..

3AW listeners spotted him at numerous Victorian locations, including aboard Puffing Billy at Queen Victoria Market and shearing a sheep in Birregurra.

Yes I am indeed, I am filming Great Australian Railway Journeys, were basically going to cover all the coastal cities, of course the Indian Pacific and well be on The Ghan as well, he told 3AW.

All those spottings are absolutely true, I was indeed on Puffing Billy, what a lovely train that is, he said.

The idea of a local series has been hinted at recently, given the shows continued success for SBS.

Last November SBS Director of Television and Online Content Marshall Heald told TV Tonight, If there was an opportunity to do it as a co-production then that would be a happy middle-ground. You need to get the stars to align with a few broadcasters.

Watch this space.It was my personal opinion a few weeks ago that something is up in the air because of the Syrian conflict. The Russian fighter jet pilot Roman Filippov was shot down over Syria and died in a fight against the enemies. All Russian people learned the story of his last stand with great interest and sorrow. The loss of one Russian war plane is nothing, but politically an impressive, heroic death of the young Russian airman is of great significance and far-reaching consequences.

Roman Filippov died in battle like the ancient Romans did

Major Roman Filippov bailed out successfully from the burning plane to be surrounded by an overwhelming force of al-Qaeda-linked militants.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, he engaged in a gun battle with the militants. But when they came close, he blew himself up with the hand grenade. President vladimir putin has posthumously awarded Filippov the nations highest medal, the Hero of Russia.

He was only 33 years-old. He left a wife and his four-year-old daughter behind. Before he blew himself up with the grenade, he shouted: "This is for our guys!, as he pulled the pin. He probably meant all the soldiers who fell in Syria. Putins commandos linked up with Turkish intelligence service to recapture his body.

Was the Russian combat Air Force man left to the wolves?

The Su-25 Frogfoot has an impressive self-defence suite, which includes various measures, such as flare dispensers capable of launching up to around 100 flares to misdirect the surface-to-air missiles.

Despite this, we can see here it is a defenceless warplane:

What I'm asking is: why did Major's Filippov's or his wingman's infrared search and track (IRST) system not detect the approaching rocket and why the self-defence suite was not activated?

Following the removing of the Filippov's body, the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out a massive strike on the area where the militants downed the warplane.

The pro-Assad information sources in Syria and Lebanon are expressing hope that the tragedy would provoke strong reactions from the Kremlin, contributing to the increase of both ground and air aspects of the Russian military involvement in the Idlib operation.

Has Putin neglected his duties as the Commander in Chief?

There was a lot of discussion in Moscow around the information that the MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defense Systems) used to bring down the jet was brought into Syria from a neighbouring country several days earlier.

In the Russian capital, it can be heard, the countries from whose territories weapons arrived to be used against Russian servicemen must understand that this wouldn't go on unpunished etc., etc.

On the other hand, the use of such weapons should by no means be surprising to the Russians. Besides Washington's ill-thought-out desperation to rid Syria of Bashar al Assad, we should also consider that several thousand MANPADS exist outside of state control, held by around 50 rebel/terrorist groups around the world.

Last December Vladimir Putin made a triumphant visit to Russian Syria airbase, claiming total victory in the war against terror in this Arab country. Only two weeks later two Russian servicemen were killed during an airbase mortar shelling because the base was fully unprotected to such a threat.

There is perhaps another explanation: the Russian imitation of the so-called false flag operations

For example; the explosion on board the battleship Maine, the sinking of the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania, and the most interesting among similar events: the surprise Japanese attack at the Hawaiian naval base Pearl Harbor.

Also, Putin and his generals simply had to know in advance of the possibility of the above-mentioned attacks. They have let them happen or indirectly encouraged them in order to force the Russian people into a full-scale Proxy war in the Middle East. It's of course only my personal opinion, but I think that the downing of the Israeli F-16 over the skies of the Syrian town of Quneitra could only be the first step in such an escalation.

Being at the same time also a false flag operation, perhaps also at least passively assisted by the Israeli government. Despite all of this the final judgement on it would have to wait till some subsequent actions will be completed.A Sinn Fein councillor wrote on a forum that 'Britain can be bought by Irish Republican Army (IRA) bombs.'

Councillor Michael McIvor, the Sinn Fein councillor for Ballinderry on Cookstown District Council, said: "The handlers like their handlers- how else did the Provos (Provisional IRA) devastate London and Manchester with one tonne bombs in 1996- and then the talks just happened- Brits be bought."

His comment is in direct reference to the Canary Wharf bombing, which occurred on 9th February 1996, when the Provisional IRA detonated a powerful truck bomb in Canary Wharf, causing 150 million worth of damage.

It also injured one-hundred people and killed two.

They then later bombed Manchester on 15th June 1996, when the Provisional IRA detonated a 1,500-kilogram bomb on Corporation Street in Manchester City Centre. Seventy-five thousand people were evacuated and two-hundred were injured, but there were no fatalities.

John Major, who was prime minister at the time, continued to engage in talks with all the main political parties in Northern Ireland, excluding Sinn Fein, due to their failure to support the government's position that the Provisional IRA disband their weapons prior to entering peace talks.

"Desist from the tribal 'eye poke' politics"

His remark has provoked anger among many Northern Irish Conservatives.

East Belfast Conservative Association told Blasting News: "Our position is that all the legacy parties in Northern Ireland need to focus on getting the Northern Ireland Executive up and running and to deliver for all the people of Northern Ireland and desist from the tribal 'eye poke' Politics."

Councillor McIvor also made other outspoken comments on this forum.

He said: "Stormont has been down for a year and the upsurge of dissident activity never happened. Media got it wrong again- no Brits or cops were killed last year and indeed, the three dissident armed groups that are still active (New Co, New ONH and the Continuity IRA) have never killed one Brit or soldier in their combined forty plus years of being active.

"These are Brit-run- just interested in putting out anti-Sinn Fein statements. Loyalists are also busy selling e-taps to do anything else, but only sell and shoot each other."

His post comes in direct contradiction of what happened on 9th March 2009, when the Continuity IRA shot dead Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI) Constable Stephen Carroll.

The Ballinderry councillor defended Barry McElduff, the Sinn Fein MP who posted a controversial video mocking victims of the Kingsmill massacre on 5th January 1976.

"McElduff was back working in the Sinn Fein office yesterday"

He posted: "McElduff was back working in the Sinn Fein office yesterday for his constituents- you not read today's front cover of the Irish News- I will be okay also."

Councillor McIvor made this post despite knowing Mr.

McElduff resigned his West Tyrone seat on 16th January 2018.

The Sinn Fein councillor defended the former MP's Kingsmill video by saying: "Sinn Fein tried to break bread with the unionists for years, but they weren't interested. But now they are interested in this loaf."

He added: "It was a good week for Sinn Fein- if you are still surviving, then there is no such thing as 'bad' news- everyone is talking about the Shinners."

Northern Irish Conservative activist Gary Hynds said: "This is just once again a sick and twisted comment from a sick and twisted individual. Innocent victims are broken-hearted enough over what they went through, yet all this person can think of is how it was a 'good week for Sinn Fein,' because everyone was talking about Sinn Fein, not a care about what victims went through.

"I am sick of dinosaurs like this dragging Northern Ireland down continually. People like this need to be removed from their positions and replaced with people who are not full of poison. Sadly, I fear the poison runs deep throughout Sinn Fein.

"If Sinn Fein expect people to work with them, they need to get their own house in order. They use words like respect and equality, but continually have representatives for their party show zero respect and equality towards innocent victims of IRA murder and violence."

A Sinn Fein spokesperon was approached for comment, but declined to do so.Benjamin Netanyahus tenure as Israeli Prime Minister is looking to be in jeopardy after the police recommended that he should be charged with corruption. But what does this mean for the Palestinians. Many in the UK would see this as positive step in removing the who said that he wants to wipe Palestine off the map. But it is well noted by Palestinians that the situation today is as worse than it has ever been.

Danny Rubinstein wrote in the Middle Eastern Eye, A broken society mired in poverty and subject to the partial rule of the Palestinian Authority whose security forces have become, to a great extent, collaborators with Israel.

Netanyahu backed into a corner?

The potential that this could effectively increase Netanyahus grip on power is greater than the possibility of him losing power.

Human rights organisations have been fierce opposition to the regime in Israel and this has kept Palestinians within Israel largely ok, evidence is from Netanyahus governments continuous attacks on those NGOs. A significant number of organisations such as, Civil Rights in Israel and the New Israel Fund plus more have existed for more than 20 years but it has only been in recent that Netanyahu has begun to see them as enemy number one.

This proves the effectiveness of the NGOs against the regime but the problem with the corruption charge is that it could see him grapple onto the far-right hard-line nationalist supporters of the regime to remain in power, using the rhetoric that this is another attempt by the treasonous left to remove him from his position.

What could be worse is that he uses this as an excuse to go back to hard-line support as a position he is more familiar and comfortable with. Either way the backlash would hit the Palestinians hard and he could use the attempt to crackdown further on their rights, annex more land and increase the violent and murderous raids on Palestinian communities.

Previously, Netanyahu said that ministers would grant formal authorisation to a rogue West Bank settlement in response to the murder of a rabbi last month. During the start of the year, Israeli Defence Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, approved the building of 1,100 new settlements in West Bank. The intent to build more settlements in West Bank is to annex more land from Palestine as only 400,000 Israelis live there compared to the 2.6 million Palestinians.

Last year, Israel moved forward with the plans to move a military checkpoint a few 100 metres further into the occupied West Bank, closer to al-Walaja, an agricultural village cultivated by locals for millennia. The village lost 296.5 acres from their land and the UN stated that since 1948, due to gradual annexation, al-Walaja have lost 85% of their land. Which is a microcosm of what is occurring throughout Palestine.Greencoat UK Wind has acquired Bishopthorpe Wind Farm near Grimsby in Lincolnshire from BayWa r.e. for 47m.

The deal, which completed on 30 June, was funded by the companys credit facility plus cash resources.

The wind farm has a capacity of 16.4 megawatts and a forecast net load factor of 35.5%. The wind farm, which was commissioned in May 2017, was originally developed by ASC Renewables and constructed by BayWa.

Bishopthorpe is the fifth wind farm that Greencoat has bought from BayWa r.e. and follows on from Cotton Farm and Earl's Hall Farm in 2013, Kildrummy in 2014 and Stroupster in 2015. Including Bishopthorpe, BayWa r.e. now operates eight wind farms in the company's portfolio.

Following completion, Greencoat's total borrowings amount to 175m, equivalent to 18% of gross asset value.BBC has taken the initiative to reduce dependence on single-use Plastic products like cups and cutlery from its operations. It has announced a three-step plan to phase out such items in order to save the Environment and will begin with a certain range of items by 2019. The plan is to totally remove all single-use plastics by 2020.

Independent UK reports that plastic Pollution is a major problem to marine life. The magnitude of the problem can be understood from the fact that nearly seven million plastic cups are used every day in the UK, and plastic is non-biodegradable.

It remains for years and poses dangers to marine animals who treat them as edible substances and end up as carcasses.

Plastic litter on the beaches

The presence of plastic litter on the beaches has been highlighted by different agencies. According to the Marine Conservation Society, a large percentage of litter collected by volunteers include straws, cups and coffee stirrers. These are dangers to the environment and will be targeted first.

Some business houses and supermarkets in the UK have agreed to do away with single-use plastics. The Scottish Government is working on plans to get rid of cotton buds and straws, and actions of this nature would help to contain plastic pollution.

The action plan of BBC begins with the scrapping of throwaway plastic cups and cutlery.

Another option is to remove plastic containers from canteens. BBC will also interact with suppliers to introduce more changes to ensure gradual removal of single-use plastics from the scene.

Plastic pollution is a threat to marine life

People must be made aware of the perils of plastic pollution. The exact point of time paper bags went out of fashion and were replaced by plastic carry bags is lost in history.

Similarly for soft drinks that switched from glass bottles to plastic ones. Along with these came the wide range of single-use plastics like throwaway cups, glasses, plates, and cutlery. These eased the workload for some but were dangers for the environment because they finally landed up in the oceans to endanger marine life.

According to Greenpeace USA, nearly 12 million metric tons of plastic enter our ocean each year. Unless this trend is arrested, a time might come when there will be more plastics than fish in the worlds oceans.

The Sun UK adds that the amount of plastic in our oceans is killing wildlife and damaging habitats, and experts have cautioned that there could be more plastic in the oceans compared to fish by 2050.During the 2016 presidential election, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton came under fire after referring to Donald Trump supporters as "deplorables." The term has since become a rallying cry for those on the far right, and was used once again during the president's most recent rally.

Trump's deplorables

During the heat of the last presidential election, both Democrats and Republicans became more partisan than ever before. With the rise of the internet and social media allowing people to communicate on a minute by minute basis, the political divide only widened.

The rift between those who supported Donald Trump and those who backed Hillary Clinton was evident, with both sides ripping into each other as often as possible. While addressing a crowd as the election came to a close, Hillary Clinton used the word "deplorable" to describe the supporters of the former host of "The Apprentice," with conservative media running with the story in an attempt to push the narrative that she was out of touch with the American people. Since Trump's upset win in November 2016, the president's base have proudly taken control of the term and often use it to describe one another. As reported by the Washington Examiner on January 18, Trump spoke to a crowd of supporters and declared them all "deplorables."

Trump takes swing at Clinton while saying his administration is ensuring the 'forgotten men and women' are "never, ever forgotten again": "Remember the deplorables?" pic.twitter.com/hXhSdbaOZl  Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) January 18, 2018

On Thursday afternoon, Donald Trump made his way down to Coraopolis, Pennsylvania to help campaign for Republican State Representative Rick Saccone was is running in a special election against Democrat Conor Lamb.

As he has in the past, Trump turned the rally into an event about himself where he made sure to take a shot at Hillary Clinton over the aforementioned "deplorable" remark. "We are putting America back to work and we are ensuring that the forgotten men and women of our country are never ever forgotten again," Trump said, before adding, "Remember the 'deplorables? We are all 'deplorables.'"

.@realDonaldTrump: "We're putting America back to work and ensuring the forgotten men and women in our country are never, ever forgotten again. Remember, the deplorables...That was not a good phrase that she used."  Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) January 18, 2018

"Who would have thought that was gonna turn into a landslide?" Donald Trump rhetorically asked.

"That was not a good phrase she used," Trump said, before adding, "That' something she would like to have back."

Twitter reacts

After Donald Trump made his remarks, critics on social media made sure to sound off. "Hes over a year into his presidency and hes still bringing up his campaign rivals jibes. Has any president in history done that?" one tweet asked.

In his latest speech @realDonaldTrump included a throwback to when @HillaryClinton called his campaign a basket of deplorables.



Hes over a year into his presidency and hes still bringing up his campaign rivals jibes.



Has any president in history done that?  Peanut [] (@Prose_Verse) January 18, 2018

.Good Lord, imagine Barack Obama, over a year after his election win over John McCain, still obsessing (and dividing Americans) over his political opponent.  Jude Nagurney Camwell (@Iddybud) January 18, 2018

Trump loves a divided nation. He revs up his base into a mob-mentality frenzy. He's DEPLORABLE.  Lisa Walsh (@lwalshmill) January 18, 2018

"hey don, the deplorables, rubes, enablers and divisive accomplices are still with you, but the rest of America, including the Real Majority is still appalled and horrified by your delusions and dementia and mendacity, and now your cardiac insufficiency," another tweet read.

"Good Lord, imagine Barack Obama, over a year after his election win over John McCain, still obsessing (and dividing Americans) over his political opponent," yet another tweet noted.

I swear.this man is obsessed with hillary clinton and he should worry about other shit than a woman who is not in any office. pic.twitter.com/DMjVtROhvf  ROBERT BENEUX (@curiousrob1224) January 18, 2018

Spot on phrase. Your base are racists uneducated phucks.  Sean Shammity (@SeanShammity) January 18, 2018

"Spot on phrase. Your base are racists uneducated phucks," a follow-up tweet read. "I swear.this man is obsessed with Hillary Clinton and he should worry about other sh*t than a woman who is not in any office," a Twitter user wrote.Unless Republicans and Democrats reach a deal to fund the government before midnight on Friday, the United States government will shut down. While both sides are pointing fingers and blaming each other, a host on Fox News decided to break from the network's conservative narrative to throw shade at the president and the GOP.

Fox News on Trump

The last time a government shutdown took place was back in 2013 when the likes of Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and many in the Tea Party caucus took a hard-line stance on spending, most notably over the Continuing Appropriations Resolution for 2014.

Between October 1, to October 17, the federal government was considered "shut down," in what was the third longest shutdown in United States history. Fast forward to present day and Republicans and Democrats are once again caught in a debate about spending, which includes funding for immigration issue like the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and border security, as well as the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). On Thursday morning, Trump blamed the Democrats for the potential government shutdown, while also calling for CHIP not to be included in any short term deal. These issues were highlighted during a January 18 segment on Fox News.

During a Thursday broadcast on Fox News, host Shepard Smith ripped into the Repubican Party and Donald Trump for having the majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and allowing the possibility of a government shutdown to take place.

After mocking Trump for campaigning in Pennsylvania for a Republican special election instead of working back in Washington, Smith sarcastically commented, "Of course, with one party in charge of everything, a government shutdown will not happen, right?"

Fox's Shepard Smith rips into GOP: Never in history has there been a shutdown with one party in charge https://t.co/aDuiO1KLvb pic.twitter.com/JM1aQBlByN  The Hill (@thehill) January 18, 2018

"Never in the modern history of the country has there been a government shutdown when a single party is in charge of Washington," Shepard Smith went on to explain.

"Hook, line and sinker. House, Senate, one party in charge," he added, before saying, "Thats it. Republicans have it all."

Double down

Shepard Smith then called out the Republican Party for trying to "dare" Democrats to play hardball with the CHIP funding prior to Donald Trump sending out his tweet. "Seems he wants CHIP funded, but not yet?" Smith wondered, before going on to report that Trump has now reversed his course yet again and is now in agreement with House Speaker Paul Ryan in allowing CHIP to be part of a stopgap spending bill.

Smith has made a name for himself over the last year by becoming one of the rare voices on Fox News to speak out against the current administration and the commander in chief. A vote on a stopgap is scheduled for Thursday night, but it's unknown if the Congress will have enough votes to come together and keep the government funded past Friday night.Another incident of gun-related violence in a school in Florida has left at least 17 dead with another 14 injured. Some of them have life-threatening injuries. The gunman is believed to be a 19-year-old man who used to be a student of the school and was expelled for disciplinary reasons. He had enrolled in another school in the district and used to work in a local store.

NBC News reports that the incident happened in the afternoon of February 14 and the suspect, who has been identified, tried to merge in the crowd and flee from the scene but was arrested by the police.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has termed it as "absolutely pure evil." President Donald Trump has also been was briefed about the tragedy.

It was an intentional act

The gunman was armed with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle and multiple magazines. He used to be a student in this school and knew the layout. He began shooting even before he entered the premises, and once inside, he shot dead 12 people and sprayed bullets to injure many more. He was at it for more than an hour, but it is not known how he laid his hands on the semiautomatic rifle. The school is in Parkland, in north Broward County, located northwest of Fort Lauderdale, and the school superintendent has confirmed that there are police cars on the campus daily.

The gunman must have known about this and he went ahead nevertheless. It was a case of gun-related violence and in the opinion of federal and local authorities, the shooter appeared to have worked on his own without an accomplice.

Such violence must be stopped

This tragedy brings back to mind an earlier instance of gun-related violence in a school.

It was the Sandy Hook Elementary School where the 20-year-old gunman shot dead 26 persons in cold blood.

According to the New York Times, the gunman had used an assault rifle to kill 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, in Newtown, Connecticut. It seems many children have access to unlocked guns at home, which is not a healthy trend.

Former President Barack Obama tried to introduce some form of gun control mechanism to prevent such deaths but failed.

There was another mass shooting at a country music festival in Las Vegas in October 2017, where more than 22,000 people had gathered. NBC News says it was also a lone gunman who shot from a vantage point in an upper floor hotel room. He killed 59 people and injured more than 500 others and he did not have any criminal background. Tragedies of this nature could be due to the easy availability of firearms in the United States, and the authorities must take necessary measures to check that lethal weapons do not fall into the wrong hands.It was announced on Friday that special counsel Robert Muller had indicted 13 Russian nationals in relation to their reported hacking of the 2016 presidential election. In response, Donald Trump was quick to push back, leading to his son doing the same on social media.

With todays revelations regarding Russian meddling how long will the leftist witch hunt against @realDonaldTrump continue?  Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 16, 2018

Don Jr. on Twitter

Ever since Donald Trump pulled off the shocking upset over Hillary Clinton to become the 45th President of the United States, speculation has increased with many wondering how all the experts got it so wrong.

In the year since his inauguration, Trump has denied any wrongdoing, constantly referring to the allegations as a "hoax," despite several of his past associates being indicted. Russian investigation special counsel Robert Mueller has been on the case and announced via Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on Friday that 13 Russian nationals, as well as three Russian entities, have all been indicted for meddling in the election.

13 Russian nationals charged in Mueller investigation. https://t.co/ADFCaZAfDg  The Associated Press (@AP) February 16, 2018

As expected, Donald Trump used the opportunity to claim that the news showed he had "no collusion" with Russia, with Donald Trump Jr. deciding to give a few thoughts of his own.

In a tweet on February 16, Don Jr. set up a poll catering to Trump supporters about the current state of the Russian investigation. "With todays revelations regarding Russian meddling how long will the leftist witch hunt against Donald Trump continue?" he tweeted. While the three options for answers were put together to appeal to the base, "7 more years," "100 years," or "to infinity and beyond," critics of the president had a few things to say.

Twitter backlash

Following the poll set up by Donald Trump Jr., it didn't take long for those who oppose the administration to fire back. "Those were the first indictments. Enjoy prison, Junior," one tweet read.

He has to say that hes going to be indicted soon  barrettpsu1 (@barrettpsu1) February 16, 2018

Until you and dad go to prison. And by the way, an investigation that continues to move forward with indictments and arrests, is not a witch hunt its due process and its at your front door...pretty soon your backdoor is going to be awfully sore! #NeedtoImpeach #Resistance  Jeff Moore (@Jmoore696) February 16, 2018

...Oh, and...I knew Buzz LIghtyear. Buzz Lightyear was a friend of mine--you, sir, are no Buzz Lightyear.  MutherBear (@MuthrBear) February 16, 2018

"Oh, I think there's still a little time to get your affairs in order...You're gonna look pasty in orange, but on the bright side, your dad will be practically invisible...Have a lovely evening," a Twitter user wrote.

"Until you and dad go to prison. And by the way, an investigation that continues to move forward with indictments and arrests, is not a 'witch hunt' its due process and its at your front door...pretty soon your 'backdoor' is going to be awfully sore!" yet another tweet stated.

You and your father are going to jail. Oh so is your brother in law. And a lot of your friends and business partners etc. Your kids are going to change there last name. And you know what? I LOVE IT!!!  Rick (@Rufnewf) February 16, 2018

Those were the first indictments. Enjoy prison, Junior.  Soviet Sergey (@SovietSergey) February 16, 2018

What will they do if theyre stripped of their (Russian) assets?   monique (@luvtheusa76) February 16, 2018

"13 more indictments, and you still think its a witch hunt?" a social media user asked.

"You and your father are going to jail. Oh so is your brother in law. And a lot of your friends and business partners etc. Your kids are going to change there last name. And you know what? I LOVE IT!!!" a tweet noted.Robert Mueller, the man named as Special Counsel tasked to investigate possible Russia interference, has filed indictments against 13 Russians and three Russian entities for possible interfering in the 2016 presidential election. The 13 Russians all face charges with conspiracy. Three of the Russians also face charges of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud.

According to Time, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced the charges during a press conference and said that the defendants conducted "information warfare" against the United States, with the intention of creating distrust towards the American political system and the presidential candidates.

Russians created fake personas

The indictments allege that the defendants created fake Internet posts, pretended to be American political activists and committed fraud when they bought advertisements. The indictment comes as Mueller's team investigates Russian interference and whether there was improper collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.

President Trump continues to deny any possibility of meddling by Russians. White House Press Sec. Sarah Huckabee Sanders told the media that Trump was aware of the indictments but did not comment any further. This is the first case against Russians. Prior to this indictment, Mueller had filed indictments against four people tied to the Trump campaign including former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and former Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort.

According to CNN, the indictment says a Russian troll group started interfering in U.S. politics in 2014 and continued up to the 2016 election. The indictment also says that the defendants failed to register as foreign agents and obtained visas through false statements. Those charged in the indictment allegedly posed as Americans under false personas and two of them traveled to the United States in 2014, solely for the purpose of gathering intelligence for their operation.

Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein on special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe: We are seeing evidence of a conspiracy. Who was witting, unwitting in that conspiracy, we dont know yet. But Mueller's indictments are pointing in a certain direction" https://t.co/o6E0sevUUz pic.twitter.com/RXkCBug80R  CNN (@CNN) February 17, 2018

Rosenstein confirmed that the recently filed indictment does not allege that any Americans knowingly participated in the activities mentioned.

The defendants allegedly used Facebook to organize Trump rallies. The indictment says they allegedly purchased advertising on Facebook to allege Clinton was supporting Islamic law. The Russians allegedly stole an American's identity to email grassroots groups throughout Florida.

Congress reacts

Congress strongly reacted to the indictment. Speaker Paul Ryan said that the actions were a conspiracy to take aim at democracy. Rep. Nancy Pelosi said the indictments clearly prove that the Russians tried to influence the 2016 Election.

Senator Mark Warner has said that the special counsel has made an important step in holding Russia accountable, with this indictment. Senator Chuck Schumer said that President Trump should immediately enact the Russian sanctions that Congress approved last summer.Administrators, teachers, faculty, and students know and live with the daily threat of a school shooting. School Shootings have become commonplace since Columbine, and with each passing day, schools are still plagued by the epidemic. It appears that schools are becoming emotional and physical war zones.

The Valentines Day massacre that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida was the result of a troubled 19-year-old boy who was expelled from school last year for possession of weapons and firearms. The tragic shooting took the lives of seventeen students and school faculty, injured fourteen others and traumatized an entire community.

This horrifying act has left an indelible mark on a school previously known for being a safe place for teaching and learning.

Since Wednesdays shooting, there has been an outpouring of sympathy from hundreds of communities around the globe. US law officials continue to urge people to say something if they see something. It must be noted that in this particular incident, students, teachers, and even a Youtube vlogger said something but there were still missteps, gaps in communicating with the FBI. This has led to the murkiness of where and with whom the responsibility lay once information is received.

Enough is enough!

In the aftermath, many are trying to understand the why behind it all. This certainly speaks to our humanity, and begs the question, how do those affected by tragedies derive meaning from the senseless loss of young lives.

The US has laws which protect the privacy of its citizens, inclusive of ensuring confidentiality about ones health. However, these same laws can hinder data collection and preemptive operations designed to counter violent acts like mass school shootings. To this end, what can be done before cruelty strikes (again)? What takes the place of presumptuous diagnosis of a mental health disorder to explain why children are being murdered?

What gives?

In the search for comfort, standard operating protocols and procedures must be developed, instituted and clearly spelled out to law enforcement and school officials. These procedures should then be implemented along with actionable linkages for cross-communication with authorities. Lastly, they should be practiced just like to code red and fire drills in schools.

The key here is to be proactive and not reactive.

Superintendent and students lead the charge of change and speak out

On Wednesday, in response to the MSD High School shooting, Tom Verni, CNNs Law enforcement Consultant, spoke about the need for action and expressed the limitations of Washington 'not being able to do anything.' He candidly spoke about the need to take care of each other and insisted that there be follow up to prevent gun violence from happening in schools.

Robert Runcie, Superintendent of Broward County, spoke with CNNs Anderson Cooper on Thursday near the schools campus and expressed how this massacre has jump-started the conversation about action. Runcie also shared that students in his district have a voice and they use them to speak out.

He noted that this horrific incident is not just about mental health it is also about gun laws. Runcie, along with countless parents, teachers, and students, emphasized the need for action and not just words.

Is Congress out of touch with whats really happening in Americas schools?

Students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are now challenging lawmakers and the POTUS to take action.There have been urgent pleas from MSD s stakeholders to keep assault rifles like the AR-15 out of the hands of youth. This was the same type of weapon used to murder their friends and teachers. These grief-stricken words continue to ping in the ears Americans across the nation. The same cries for help hang in the air on Capitol Hill, but are lawmakers listening?

What is the plan of action? How will Congress address the insanity that is a walking threat among those who attend and serve our American schools? Do lawmakers know or understand what actually takes place in our schools?

The potential of a student retaliating rests daily in the forefront and the recesses of school staffs minds. Principals, teachers and others who work in school systems risk their lives every day. It is the status and nature of modern education even if it should not be so. Unfortunately, it isnt until something happens that the forgotten students and school employees are remembered. This too is a harsh reality that should not existbut it does.

Those, like congressmen, who do not work in education, find it difficult to wrap their minds around the notion that a student armed with an assault rifle could gain access to a school.

However, what is most disturbing is that this is not the first time this has happened and there is a high probability that it will happen againthat is, if nothing is done about this deadly phenomena.

A message to President Trump: Parents should not have to bury their children

Many American schools lack resources and wrap around services to fully address the socio-emotional needs of teenagers. A great number of school districts do not have adequately trained security officers or proper equipment to check for weapons. Parents send their children to school each day unharmed and expect the school to return them the same way.

Budgets have been slashed across states and mental health facilities tend to fill up quickly; and now that Obama Care mandates have been repealed, this places some families in positions in which they are unable to get the necessary treatment for their children.

The White House's response and call to action with sensitivity to mental health have been heard. This is why America urges our leaders to stand shoulder-to-shoulder and start at the root of the problem. It is understood there will be meeting with governors and attorney generals later this month. An invitation to the Secretary of Education and members from the office of Homeland Security should be considered. These are the people who are in the trenches alongside school officials, security officers, police, teachers, parents, and students. They too should attend the discussion. Everyone is looking for leadership--and depend on the POTUS to get this right. The stakes are high and parents are losing their babies.

School shootings can happen anywhere, and as we have seen, these massacres are not just happening in metropolitan schools, they are everywhere. This is because guns are indiscriminate. The awfulness is cemented in hate and instability. The issue of school safety is an opportunity to effectuate and demonstrate a united bipartisanship. Let us put aside the rhetoric, rebuke and tongue lashings, and pick up the gauntlet that has been thrown at our feet. Let us not worry who we upset in the National Rifle Association (NRA) or cave-in to those who view gun control as an infringement upon their 2nd amendment rights. America stands together on the issue of keeping our schools safe for children. They have a right to be educated and live unafraid.

A personal message to Americas children: #Right2BeSafe

You have the right to be heard. This is clearly stated in the human rights treaty known as the UNCRC, United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children. The treaty, drafted nearly three decades ago, supports the rights of children to take political action in situations that cause harm and requires your protection. The treaty, which is bound by federal and international law, further supports your first amendment rights and your right to a free and appropriate education.

Your parents, teachers, and administrators have taught you to use your voice. You exemplify how far we have progressed in education and our democracy. It is you, our American youth who will band together to move the hand of justice and scribe new laws.

It is you who will shake up the nation to stand tall against gun violence and gun laws that allow teenagers, who are psychologically impulsive, to purchase assault weapons.

All too often we hear of mass shootings and are told this is not the time to discuss gun controlit was then, and it is now. You have the ability to supercharge and redefine the shared meaning and understanding of gun control. Many have given their lives in the name of the first amendment and the rights it affords. The ultimate sacrifice of life has been made by our friends and family in the spirit of all that is good and free. These are the same rights that prompt persistent forward progress in order to eradicate gun violence in our schools.

It is your generation that will lay the foundation of our history that is yet to come. Stories will be told about your resilience and unrelenting courage that spurred the change that had been long overdue. It will be this change that will reverberate across states and cultures because you not only have the right to be heard, you have the right to be safe.Syria is in the throes of big trouble. There are many groups fighting there and the USA has now effectively entered the arena. The Russians had almost pulled off a coup by decimating the ISIS and bolstering the Assad regime with support from Iran. This is something the US think tank cannot accept, as the American policy after the end of World War II has always been that any peace must be rubber-stamped by the USA and only as per what the USA wants.

The New York Times has reported that on February 16, CENTCOM authorized a bombing attack on the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, with the purported aim of targeting the Islamic state.

The American attack

The attack, however, ended up targeting troops of the Syrian Army loyal to President Assad. The US has admitted the sir strike and regretted it but as per reports, 62 Syrian soldiers were killed. The attack lasted for 20 minutes but this is a long time when planes fly at supersonic speed. The attack was called off after a Telephone Call by the Russians that the US warplanes were not targeting ISIS but the troops of President Assad.

Target Assad

Syria and Russia have called for an emergency session of the security council to discuss the unprovoked attack. The Russians are angry and this attack could lead to further escalation of the war in Syria.As per Syrian government spokesperson, the attack was deliberate and all along the US knew that it was attacking Syrian army troops loyal to Assad.

He further went on to add that the main aim of the USA is not to fight ISIS but to remove Assad from power. There is more than a grain of truth in this accusation. In the modern age with sophisticated radar and identification techniques, it is inconceivable that the US warplanes could have mistaken the Syrian army soldiers as ISIS fighters.

The state-run television channel SAMA of Syria, in an Arabic broadcast clearly stated that the attack exposed the "false claims" of the USA that it was fighting terror. Despite this bombing, the USA is nowhere in control of the situation in Syria. To top it off, Turkey, an ally of the USA and a member of NATO, has attacked Kurdish militia in north Syria.

These Kurdish fighters have for years been supported by the USA and are the Americans staunch allies.

Future

Assad remains in control of most of Syria but he is not having an easy time as the USA will not allow him any respite. With Russia and Iran backing him, the Americans cannot expect a cakewalk in Syria, like they had against SaddamBriana DeJesus has had a whirlwind week. She had been in a relationship with Javi Marroquin for a few months, but that ended a few days ago. Social media has been fixated on the two, reading into everything they post. DeJesus is a single mom of two little girls, and her days are spent focusing on them. A new season of Teen Mom 2 is reportedly being filmed, though there has actually not been official confirmation on a premiere date.

Upcoming plans

In roughly two weeks, Briana DeJesus will be in Miami to have a few procedures done by Dr. Miami. He is the go-to doctor for the Teen Mom girls.

In exchange for allowing him to film the procedures, the girls get a discount. This is one of the main reasons Javi Marroquin broke up with Briana. In fact, she issued a statement about it. DeJesus wanted to have the surgery and his lack of support was not something she was comfortable with, especially after the amount of time the two had been together.

Teen Mom 2 fans have been rather harsh to Briana DeJesus since she arrived back on the scene. In fact, when she attended the get together before they started filming, she wasn't welcomed with open arms. Although that isn't shocking, it appears she at one point, had a friend in Jenelle Evans. Kailyn Lowry wasn't very nice to DeJesus, especially after it was revealed that she was dating Javi Marroquin.

Now, fans are hoping the girls can repair relationships for the upcoming season.

Briana is her own person

After the breakup, Briana DeJesus wants to be recognized as her own person. People are reading into everything she posts. In an Exclusive statement to Blasting News, Briana DeJesus says; Not every tweet I send or word I speak has to do with Javi.

People are reading into my every word and its ridiculous. Me saying this is a f*cking joke had nothing to do with him. If I tweeted I want a cheeseburger, people are gonna say Im craving one cuz one time I ate one with him. Like I said the other day, we are talking and if things work out, great, and if they dont, thats whats meant to be.

In the meantime, people can take a deep breath and relax from reading into every tweet I send. She goes on to say; I am my own person after all, apart from Javi. I was before we started dating and am now.

this is a fucking joke  bri (@_BrianaDejesus) January 19, 2018

It is clear Briana DeJesus was fine before Javi Marroquin came along, and she will be fine after him. Raising her two little girls is her focus, and that is where her head is right now.Caroline Manzo and her sister-in-law, Jacqueline Laurita, could be set for a return to "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" for the series' upcoming ninth season. According to a new report, producers are reportedly thinking about approaching the two women, who both appeared as original cast members during season one, in regard to bringing them back to the show.

On January 17, Us Weekly shared a report in regard to the potentially impending casting shakeup of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," claiming Caroline Manzo played coy when they asked the former reality star if Bravo TV producers had approached her.

Its not a no and its certainly not a yes," Manzo told the magazine. "Its a who knows, she added.

When did Caroline and Jacqueline leave 'RHONJ'?

As Us Weekly magazine revealed to readers, the 56-year-old restaurant owner quit "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" in 2013 after starring on the show for five seasons. From there, she and her family began appearing in their own spinoff series on Bravo TV titled "Manzo'd with Children," which aired for three seasons.

As for Jacqueline Laurita, she also left the show after five seasons but was brought back midway through season six due to an alleged ratings decline. As fans will remember, Dina Manzo was brought back to the show for a one-season run during season six.

The following year, she once again appeared on the show in a full-time role, but left the series again one year later.

Is Caroline Manzo open to rejoining the 'RHONJ' cast?

While Caroline Manzo is definitely open to the possibility of returning to her role on Bravo TV for season nine of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," she made it clear to Us Weekly magazine that she would have to think long and hard before signing any deals.

As she explained, becoming a part of the cast once again isn't something she would immediately embrace. Instead, she would have to consider the possibility of once again exposing her life for the world to see.

As for who she is still in touch with, Manzo is on good terms with Jacqueline Laurita and is also friends with Dolores Catania.

As for Melissa Gorga, she said they weren't close but noted that she didn't have an issue with her. "And [Teresa Giudice] is Teresa, thats no secret there, she also said.

To see more of the cast of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," tune in to new episodes on Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. on Bravo TV. The series is currently in the midst of its multi-part reunion special."Vanderpump Rules" fans aren't happy with the way Scheana Marie's mom is defending her relationship on Twitter. As the SUR waitress and longtime reality star continues to be labeled as "pathetic" and "delusional" after allowing her boyfriend to "twirl and kiss" another woman, Erika van Olphen has taken to Twitter to respond to her daughter's critics.

Following a tweet from a fan, who slammed the "Vanderpump Rules" cast for their trashy behavior, Erik van Olphen pointed out that many members of the show have college degrees and acting credits. Then, after the same fan suggested that van Olphen was trash herself and likely lived in a trailer park, she fired back, stating that her home wasn't in a trailer park.

Scheana Marie's bank account is doing well

Scheana Marie's mother also pointed out that while the fan took aim at the small apartments of the series' stars, including Scheana, the size of the cast's apartments do no matter -- because they have tons of money in their banks. "The size of their bank accts are doing quite well sooo....," Erika van Olphen tweeted on January 16.

The fan continued on, telling Erica van Olphen to tell her daughter to stop chasing her ex-boyfriend, Robert Parks-Valletta, stating that he's "just not that into her." The person also stated that Scheana Marie has been looking "needy and pathetic" in recent episodes and said that her decision to bash her ex-husband Mike Shay showed that she was trash.

While van Olphen denied that her daughter was "obsessed" with Parks-Valletta, who she hasn't been dating since August of last year, the fan said she looked like a "gold digger" as she bragged about Parks-Valletta's successful career and a big house in Beverly Hills.

Scheana's mom responds to 'gold digger' allegations

"[Scheana Marie]'s no 'gold digger,'" Erika van Olphen promised.

"She makes plenty of money herself!"

Following van Olphen's numerous comments about Scheana Marie's income, another fan got curious about why she kept bringing up her daughter's money. "What does money have to do with anything?" the person asked. "So tacky!"

To see more of Scheana Marie and their co-stars, including James Kennedy, Brittany Cartwright, Lisa Vanderpump, Tom Sandoval, Jax Taylor, Stassi Schroeder, Lala Kent, Kristen Doute, Robert Parks-Valletta, and Tom Schwartz, don't miss new episodes of "Vanderpump Rules" Season 6 on Monday nights on Bravo Tv at 9 PM/David Beador is no longer being discrete about his romance with Lesley Cook. Although Beador and his new leading lady have reportedly been seeing one another for a couple of months, and commenting on one another's Instagram photos for weeks, their romance wasn't confirmed publicly until days ago. Since then, both Beador and Cook haven't hesitated to showcase their love for one another.

Most recently, as Page Six revealed to readers on February 15, Beador shared a special message with the mother of two on Instagram in honor of Valentine's Day. Happy Valentines Day!!

And away we go," he wrote, also adding the hashtags "Not Discreet Anymore" and "Happy Valentines Day." In response, Cook wished her boyfriend a Happy Valentines Day and told her followers on Instagram that the former "Real Housewives of orange county" star was the "most kind, funny, motivated, & loving man."

"The sky is more blue [and] my coffee taste better with you in my life, she added. As fans may have noticed, Lesley Cook shared a photo of herself and David Beador on Instagram several weeks ago as the two of them enjoyed spending some time in Las Vegas.

David Beador has moved on from Shannon Beador 'entirely'

Shanon and David Beador confirmed the end of their 17-year marriage in October of last year and less than two months later, the reality star and mother of three filed for divorce.

A short time after that, Beador began spending time with his new girlfriend and the rest is history.

According to a report by E! News earlier this week, Beador didn't waste any time moving on from his marriage to Shannon, the mother of his three children, and began dating Lesley Cook at least a few weeks ago, if not more. In fact, he has been facing rumors in recent weeks in Newport Beach, California, where they have reportedly been spending their time.

David and Shannon Beador's divorce has not yet been finalized

Following their October 2017 split, the former couple began attempting to work out the details of their split, and, according to reports, Shannon Beador is hoping to be granted both primary and physical custody of their three daughters, 16-year-old Sophia, and 13-year-old twins Stella and Adeline.

As the divorce continues, Shannon Beador is focusing her attention on her full-time role on the upcoming 13th season of Bravo TV's "The Real Housewives of Orange County," which recently began filming in Southern California.Melissa Claire Egan's exit from "The Young and the Restless" has spoiler alerts suggesting that Justin Hartley may reprise his role as Adam Newman. Fans have been hoping the couple will reunite and that Nick finds out the little boy he is raising is not his son. Celeb Dirty Laundry, however, is now suggesting a shocking twist that nips Adam's return in the bud. They suggest the possibility that Christian could turn out to be Nick's child after all. This would set things in motion that could lead to Chelsea leaving behind her entire life in Genoa City, including her business, Nick, and also both of her children.

Adam Newman remains in the spotlight

Fans continue to believe that Adam will return to Genoa City, but if spoilers are correct there will be no need. Should Nick be revealed as Christian's biological father, after all, this will end all the drama, lies, and secrecy with Chelsea. Once all of her deceptions are revealed, Ms. Lawson would have nothing left, and Victor would see to it that her boys remain behind. Celeb Dirty Laundry offers this as a possible scenario, but it could very well turn out to be true.

The only reason Adam Newman would have to return from the dead is to take his wife and children away.

Considering how much he loved Genoa City, and sparring with his father, this would not make sense, especially as there would need to be a logical explanation for where he has been all this time and why. With Melissa Claire Egan's exit date looming, there does not seem to be a way to quickly wrap up all the issues with Adam and his loved ones.

And who is Christian's dad?

Chelsea's departure should wrap up all loose ends

Chelsea fans certainly don't want to see her leave Genoa City in disgrace, but it looks as though this is the direction in which the storyline is headed. It would be nice if the writers tied up all the loose ends that are connected to Ms.

Lawson, so they will not affect future episodes. Adam needs to show up, or it should be made clear that he is dead and gone. The situation with Kevin and Chloe needs complete closure as to whether she murdered Victor's namesake or not. Greg Rikaart is returning on February 20, so perhaps this may be possible.

The truth as to why Chelsea stole from her own company needs to be explained in detail, and of course, Christian's paternity must be settled once and for all. If spoilers are right, all of this will nip Adam's return in the bud, or maybe not. Keep on the lookout for additional spoilers and continue watching "The Young and the Restless" weekday afternoons on CBS at 12:30 PM ET.4 hours ago

Weber Inc. Is As Cheap As It Will Get

Record Demand Drive Results For Weber Inc. Grill maker Weber Inc. (NYSE: WEBR) made a splash in the market this summer when the company IPO'd. Price action has been vigorous in the wake of the initial sale and we think it will continue to be so.

Read ArticleThe following companies are subsidiares of DaVita: Aberdeen Dialysis LLC, Accountable Kidney Care LLC, Adair Dialysis LLC, American Fork Dialysis LLC, American Medical Insurance Inc., Animas Dialysis LLC, Arcadia Gardens Dialysis LLC, Ashdow Dialysis LLC, Atlantic Dialysis LLC, Austin Dialysis Centers L.P., Barnell Dialysis LLC, Barrons Dialysis LLC, Barton Dialysis LLC, Bastrop Dialysis LLC, Beachside Dialysis LLC, Beck Dialysis LLC, Bellevue Dialysis LLC, Bemity Dialysis LLC, Beverly Hills Dialysis Partnership, Birch Dialysis LLC, Bladon Dialysis LLC, Bliss Dialysis LLC, Bohama Dialysis LLC, Bowan Dialysis LLC, Braddock Dialysis LLC, Bridges Dialysis LLC, Brimfield Dialysis LLC, Brook Dialysis LLC, Brownsville Kidney Center Ltd., Brownwood Dialysis LLC, Bruno Dialysis LLC, Buckhorn Dialysis LLC, Buford Dialysis LLC, Bullards Dialysis LLC, Bullock Dialysis LLC, Calante Dialysis LLC, Campton Dialysis LLC, Canyon Springs Dialysis LLC, Capes Dialysis LLC, Capital Dialysis Partnership, Capron Dialysis LLC, Carlton Dialysis LLC, Carroll County Dialysis Facility Inc., Carroll County Dialysis Facility Limited Partnership, Cascades Dialysis LLC, Caverns Dialysis LLC, Cedar Dialysis LLC, Centennial LV LLC, Central Carolina Dialysis Centers LLC, Central Georgia Dialysis LLC, Central Iowa Dialysis Partners LLC, Central Kentucky Dialysis Centers LLC, Channel Dialysis LLC, Cheraw Dialysis LLC, Chicago Heights Dialysis LLC, Chipeta Dialysis LLC, Churchill Dialysis LLC, Cinco Rios Dialysis LLC, Clark Dialysis LLC, Clayton Dialysis LLC, Cleburne Dialysis LLC, Clinica Central do Bonfim S.A., Clinton Township Dialysis LLC, Clyfee Dialysis LLC, Columbus-RNA-DaVita LLC, Conconully Dialysis LLC, Continental Dialysis Center Inc., Couer Dialysis LLC, Court Dialysis LLC, Cowell Dialysis LLC, Cowesett Dialysis LLC, Crossings Dialysis LLC, Crystals Dialysis LLC, Cuivre Dialysis LLC, Culbert Dialysis LLC, DC Healthcare International Inc., DNP Management Company LLC, DPS CKD LLC, DV Care Netherlands B.V., DV Care Netherlands C.V., DVA Healthcare - Southwest Ohio LLC, DVA Healthcare Renal Care Inc., DVA Healthcare of Maryland LLC, DVA Healthcare of Massachusetts Inc., DVA Healthcare of New London LLC, DVA Healthcare of Norwich LLC, DVA Healthcare of Pennsylvania LLC, DVA Healthcare of Tuscaloosa LLC, DVA Holdings Pte. Ltd., DVA Laboratory Services Inc., DVA Renal Healthcare Inc., DVA of New York Inc., DaVita - Riverside II LLC, DaVita - Riverside LLC, DaVita - West LLC, DaVita APAC Holding B.V., DaVita Brasil Participacoes e Servicos de Nefrologia Ltda., DaVita Care (Saudi Arabia), DaVita Dakota Dialysis Center LLC, DaVita Deutschland AG, DaVita Deutschland Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, DaVita El Paso East L.P., DaVita Germany GmbH, DaVita HK Holdings Limited, DaVita HealthCare Brasil Servicos Medicos Ltda., DaVita International Limited, DaVita Nefromed Servicos de Nefrologia Ltda., DaVita Nephron Care Servicos de Nefrologia Ltda., DaVita Rien Servicos de Nefrologia Ltda., DaVita S.A.S., DaVita Servicos de Nefrologia Asa Sul Ltda., DaVita Servicos de Nefrologia Distrito Federal Ltda., DaVita Servicos de Nefrologia Guarulhos Ltda., DaVita Servicos de Nefrologia Jardim das Imbuias Ltda., DaVita Servicos de Nefrologia Taubate Ltda., DaVita Servicos de Nefrologia de Araraquara Ltda., DaVita Sp. z o.o., DaVita Sud-Niedersachsen GmbH, DaVita Transrim Servicos de Nefrologia Ltda., DaVita UTR Servicos de Nefrologia Ltda., DaVita VillageHealth Inc., DaVita of New York Inc., Dallas-Fort Worth Nephrology L.P., Damon Dialysis LLC, Dialysis Holdings Inc., Dialysis of Des Moines LLC, Dialysis of Northern Illinois LLC, Dierks Dialysis LLC, Dolores Dialysis LLC, Dome Dialysis LLC, Doves Dialysis LLC, Downriver Centers Inc., EURODIAL - Centro de Nefrologia e Dialise de Leiria S.A., East End Dialysis Center Inc., East Ft. Lauderdale LLC, Ebrea Dialysis LLC, Edisto Dialysis LLC, Eldrist Dialysis LLC, Elgin Dialysis LLC, Elk Grove Dialysis Center LLC, Empire State DC Inc., Etowah Dialysis LLC, Ettleton Dialysis LLC, Eufaula Dialysis LLC, Falcon LLC, Family Health Care of Central Florida, Fanthorp Dialysis LLC, Federal Way Assurance Inc., Fields Dialysis LLC, Five Star Dialysis LLC, Fjords Dialysis LLC, Flagler Dialysis LLC, Flamingo Park Kidney Center Inc., Forester Dialysis LLC, Freehold Artificial Kidney Center L.L.C., Fremont Dialysis LLC, Frontier Dialysis LLC, Fullerton Dialysis Center LLC, GDC International LLC, Gambro Healthcare, Ganois Dialysis LLC, Garner Dialysis LLC, Garrett Dialysis LLC, Gaviota Dialysis LLC, Gebhard Dialysis LLC, Genesis KC Development LLC, GiveLife Dialysis LLC, Glassland Dialysis LLC, Glosser Dialysis LLC, Goliad Dialysis LLC, Grand Home Dialysis LLC, Greater Las Vegas Dialysis LLC, Greater Los Angeles Dialysis Centers LLC, Green Country Dialysis LLC, Green Desert Dialysis LLC, Griffin Dialysis LLC, Groten Dialysis LLC, Harmony Dialysis LLC, Hart Dialysis LLC, Hawn Dialysis LLC, Healthcare Partners, Helmer Dialysis LLC, Hennepin Dialysis LLC, Hewett Dialysis LLC, Hilgards Dialysis LLC, Hochatown Dialysis LLC, Home Kidney Care LLC, Honeyman Dialysis LLC, Houston Kidney Center/Total Renal Care Integrated Service Network Limited Partnership, Hummer Dialysis LLC, Hunter Dialysis LLC, Huntington Artificial Kidney Center Ltd., Hyde Dialysis LLC, IDC -International Dialysis Centers Lda, ISD Bartlett LLC, ISD Corpus Christi LLC, ISD I Holding Company Inc., ISD II Holding Company Inc., ISD Las Vegas LLC, ISD Lees Summit LLC, ISD Renal Inc., ISD Schaumburg LLC, ISD Spring Valley LLC, ISD Summit Renal Care LLC, Iroquois Dialysis LLC, Jacinto Dialysis LLC, Jenness Dialysis LLC, Kamiah Dialysis LLC, Kanika Dialysis LLC, Kavett Dialysis LLC, Kenai Dialysis LLC, Kershaw Dialysis LLC, Kidney Home Center LLC, Kimball Dialysis LLC, Kingston Dialysis LLC, Kinnick Dialysis LLC, Kinter Dialysis LLC, Kiowa Dialysis LLC, Knickerbocker Dialysis Inc., Lakeshore Dialysis LLC, Landing Dialysis LLC, Landor Dialysis LLC, Lassen Dialysis LLC, Leasburg Dialysis LLC, Leawood Dialysis LLC, Lees Dialysis LLC, Legare Development LLC, Liberty RC Inc., Lifeline Pensacola LLC, Lifeline Vascular Center-Albany LLC, Lincoln Park Dialysis Services Inc., Livingston Dialysis LLC, Llano Dialysis LLC, Lofield Dialysis LLC, Logoley Dialysis LLC, Lone Dialysis LLC, Long Beach Dialysis Center LLC, Lord Baltimore Dialysis LLC, Lory Dialysis LLC, Lourdes Dialysis LLC, Lyndale Dialysis LLC, MVZ DaVita Alzey GmbH, MVZ DaVita Aurich GmbH, MVZ DaVita Bad Aibling GmbH, MVZ DaVita Bad Duben GmbH, MVZ DaVita Cardio Centrum Dusseldorf GmbH, MVZ DaVita Dillenburg GmbH, MVZ DaVita Dinkelsbuhl GmbH, MVZ DaVita Dormagen GmbH, MVZ DaVita Duisburg GmbH, MVZ DaVita Elsterland GmbH, MVZ DaVita Emden GmbH, MVZ DaVita Falkensee GmbH, MVZ DaVita Geilenkirchen GmbH, MVZ DaVita Gera GmbH, MVZ DaVita Iserlohn GmbH, MVZ DaVita Monchengladbach GmbH, MVZ DaVita Neuss GmbH, MVZ DaVita Niederrhein GmbH, MVZ DaVita Nierenzentrum Aachen Alsdorf GmbH, MVZ DaVita Nierenzentrum Berlin-Britz GmbH, MVZ DaVita Nierenzentrum Hamm-Ahlen GmbH, MVZ DaVita Prenzlau-Pasewalk GmbH, MVZ DaVita Rhein-Ahr GmbH, MVZ DaVita Rhein-Ruhr GmbH, MVZ DaVita Schwalm-Eder GmbH, MVZ DaVita Viersen GmbH, Madigan Dialysis LLC, Magney Dialysis LLC, Magoffin Dialysis LLC, Makonee Dialysis LLC, Marlton Dialysis Center LLC, Marseille Dialysis LLC, Mason-Dixon Dialysis Facilities Inc., Mazonia Dialysis LLC, Mellen Dialysis LLC, Melnea Dialysis LLC, Memorial Dialysis Center L.P., Meridian Dialysis LLC, Mermet Dialysis LLC, Milltown Dialysis LLC, Minam Dialysis LLC, Minneopa Dialysis LLC, Mountain West Dialysis Services LLC, Mulgee Dialysis LLC, Nansen Dialysis LLC, Natomas Dialysis LLC, Nauvue Dialysis LLC, Navarro Dialysis LLC, Nephrology Medical Associates of Georgia LLC, Nephrology Practice Solutions LLC, New Bay Dialysis LLC, Nicona Dialysis LLC, Norbert Dialysis LLC, Norte Dialysis LLC, North Austin Dialysis LLC, Northwest Physicians Network, Oasis Dialysis LLC, Ohio River Dialysis LLC, Okanogan Dialysis LLC, Olive Dialysis LLC, Ordust Dialysis LLC, Owyhee Dialysis LLC, Palo Dialysis LLC, Palomar Dialysis LLC, Panther Dialysis LLC, Parkside Dialysis LLC, Pattison Dialysis LLC, Patuk Dialysis LLC, Pearl Dialysis LLC, Pendster Dialysis LLC, Percha Dialysis LLC, Pershing Dialysis LLC, Pfeiffer Dialysis LLC, Philadelphia-Camden Integrated Kidney Care LLC, Physicians Choice Dialysis LLC, Physicians Choice Dialysis Of Alabama LLC, Physicians Dialysis Acquisitions Inc., Physicians Dialysis Ventures LLC, Physicians Dialysis of Lancaster LLC, Physicians Management LLC, Pible Dialysis LLC, Pinson Dialysis LLC, Pittsburgh Dialysis Partners LLC, Piute Dialysis LLC, Plaine Dialysis LLC, Platte Dialysis LLC, Pluribus Dialise - Benfica S.A., Pluribus Dialise - Cascais S.A., Pluribus Dialise S.A., Prairie Dialysis LLC, Prineville Dialysis LLC, Purity Dialysis, RMS Lifeline Inc., RNA - DaVita Dialysis LLC, RV Academy LLC, Ramsey Dialysis LLC, Rayburn Dialysis LLC, Red Willow Dialysis LLC, Redcliff Dialysis LLC, Refuge Dialysis LLC, Renal Center of Beaumont LLC, Renal Center of Fort Dodge LLC, Renal Center of Lewisville LLC, Renal Center of Morristown LLC, Renal Center of Newton LLC, Renal Center of Port Arthur LLC, Renal Center of Tyler L.P.L.L.L.P., Renal Center of West Beaumont LLC, Renal Center of the Hills LLC, Renal Life Link Inc., Renal Treatment Centers - California Inc., Renal Treatment Centers - Illinois Inc., Renal Treatment Centers - Mid-Atlantic Inc., Renal Treatment Centers - Northeast Inc., Renal Treatment Centers - Southeast LP, Renal Treatment Centers - West Inc., Renal Treatment Centers Inc., Renal Ventures Management LLC, RenalServ LLC, Riddle Dialysis LLC, River Valley Dialysis LLC, Rocky Mountain Dialysis Services LLC, Rollins Dialysis LLC, Roose Dialysis LLC, Rophets Dialysis LLC, Roushe Dialysis LLC, Routt Dialysis LLC, Royale Dialysis LLC, Rusk Dialysis LLC, Rutland Dialysis LLC, SAKDC-DaVita Dialysis Partners L.P., Saddleback Dialysis LLC, Sahara Dialysis LLC, San Marcos Dialysis LLC, Santiam Dialysis LLC, Sapelo Dialysis LLC, Saunders Dialysis LLC, Seabay Dialysis LLC, Secour Dialysis LLC, Sensiba Dialysis LLC, Shadow Dialysis LLC, Shayano Dialysis LLC, Shelling Dialysis LLC, Sherman Dialysis LLC, Shetek Dialysis LLC, Shining Star Dialysis Inc., Siena Dialysis Center LLC, Simeon Dialysis LLC, Skagit Dialysis LLC, Soledad Dialysis Center LLC, Somerville Dialysis Center LLC, South Central Florida Dialysis Partners LLC, South Fork Dialysis LLC, Southern Hills Dialysis Center LLC, Southlake Dialysis LLC, Southwest Atlanta Dialysis Centers LLC, Sprague Dialysis LLC, Springpond Dialysis LLC, Star Dialysis LLC, Stevenson Dialysis LLC, Stewart Dialysis LLC, Stines Dialysis LLC, Storrie Dialysis LLC, Sugarloaf Dialysis LLC, Sun City Dialysis Center L.L.C., Sunapee Dialysis LLC, Sunset Dialysis LLC, TRC - Indiana LLC, TRC El Paso Limited Partnership, TRC West Inc., TRC of New York Inc., TRC-Georgetown Regional Dialysis LLC, Talimena Dialysis LLC, Terre Dialysis LLC, The Woodlands Dialysis Center LP, Tortugas Dialysis LLC, Total Renal Care Inc., Total Renal Care Texas Limited Partnership, Total Renal Care of North Carolina LLC, Total Renal Laboratories Inc., Total Renal Research Inc., Toulouse Dialysis LLC, Transmountain Dialysis L.P., Tross Dialysis LLC, Tugman Dialysis LLC, Tunnel Dialysis LLC, Turlock Dialysis Center LLC, Tustin Dialysis Center LLC, Twain Dialysis LLC, Tyler Dialysis LLC, USC-DaVita Dialysis Center LLC, Unicoi Dialysis LLC, University Dialysis Center LLC, Upper Valley Dialysis L.P., Valley Springs Dialysis LLC, Victory Dialysis LLC, VillageHealth DM LLC, Villanueva Dialysis LLC, Vively Health LLC, Vogel Dialysis LLC, Volo Dialysis LLC, Waddell Dialysis LLC, Wakoni Dialysis LLC, Walker Dialysis LLC, Walton Dialysis LLC, Watkins Dialysis LLC, Weldon Dialysis LLC, West Elk Grove Dialysis LLC, West Sacramento Dialysis LLC, Weston Dialysis Center LLC, Whitney Dialysis LLC, Willowbrook Dialysis Center L.P., Winds Dialysis LLC, Wood Dialysis LLC, Woodford Dialysis LLC, Wyandotte Central Dialysis LLC, Yards Dialysis LLC, Ybor City Dialysis LLC, Yucaipa Dialysis LLC, and Zephyrhills Dialysis Center LLC.The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc.,      ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics.The following companies are subsidiares of Bristol-Myers Squibb: 1096271 B.C. ULC, 345 Park LLC, A.G. Medical Services P.A., AHI Investment LLC, AbVitro LLC, Abraxis BioScience Australia Pty Ltd., Abraxis BioScience Inc., Abraxis BioScience International Holding Company Inc., Abraxis BioScience LLC, Abraxis BioScience Puerto Rico LLC, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Adnexus, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company, Allard Labs Acquisition G.P., Amira Pharmaceuticals, Amira Pharmaceuticals Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Apothecon LLC, B-MS Generx Unlimited Company, BMS Benelux Holdings B.V., BMS Bermuda Nominees L.L.C., BMS Data Acquisition Company LLC, BMS Forex Company, BMS Holdings Sarl, BMS Holdings Spain S.L., BMS International Insurance Designated Activity Company, BMS Investco SAS, BMS Korea Holdings L.L.C., BMS Latin American Nominees L.L.C., BMS Luxembourg Partners L.L.C., BMS Omega Bermuda Holdings Finance Ltd., BMS Pharmaceutical Korea Limited, BMS Pharmaceuticals Germany Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals International Holdings Netherlands B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Korea Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Mexico Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Netherlands Holdings B.V., BMS Real Estate LLC, BMS Spain Investments LLC, BMS Strategic Portfolio Investments Holdings Inc., Blisa Acquisition G.P., Bristol (Iran) S.A., Bristol Iran Private Company Limited, Bristol Laboratories Inc., Bristol Laboratories International S.A., Bristol Laboratories Medical Information Systems Inc., Bristol-Myers (Andes) L.L.C., Bristol-Myers (Private) Limited, Bristol-Myers Middle East S.A.L., Bristol-Myers Overseas Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Israel) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Proprietary) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Taiwan) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (West Indies) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb A.E., Bristol-Myers Squibb Aktiebolag, Bristol-Myers Squibb Argentina S. R. L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Axia Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb B.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Belgium S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada International Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Delta Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark Filial of Bristol-Myers Squibb AB, Bristol-Myers Squibb EMEA Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Egypt LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Epsilon Holdings Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Ltda., Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Portuguesa S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb GesmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holding Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings 2002 Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Pharma Ltd. Liability Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Ilaclari Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Company Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Investco L.L.C., Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., Bristol-Myers Squibb Kft., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg International S.C.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb MEA GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Manufacturing Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Marketing Services S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Nutricionales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Peru S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Holding Company LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Ventures Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Polska Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Products SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership Puerto Rico, Bristol-Myers Squibb Romania S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Service Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Services Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Spol. s r.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Theta Finance Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Trustees Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Colombia S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Guatemala S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb/Astrazeneca EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership, Bristol-Myers de Venezuela S.C.A., CHT I LLC, CHT II LLC, CHT III LLC, CHT IV LLC, CR Finance Company LLC, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celem LLC, Celem Ltd., Celgene, Celgene A.B., Celgene AS, Celgene Ab (Finland), Celgene Alpine Investment Co. II LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. III LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. LLC, Celgene ApS, Celgene B.V., Celgene BVBA, Celgene Brasil Produtos Farmaceuticos Ltda., Celgene CAR LLC, Celgene CAR Ltd., Celgene Chemicals Sarl, Celgene China Holdings LLC, Celgene Co., Celgene Corporation, Celgene Distribution B.V., Celgene EngMab GmbH, Celgene Europe B.V., Celgene Europe Limited, Celgene European Investment Company LLC, Celgene Financing Company LLC, Celgene Global Holdings Sarl, Celgene GmbH [Austria], Celgene GmbH [Germany], Celgene GmbH [Switzerland], Celgene Holdings East Corporation, Celgene Holdings II Sarl, Celgene Holdings III Sarl, Celgene Ilac Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Celgene Inc., Celgene International Holdings Corporation, Celgene International II Sarl, Celgene International III Sarl, Celgene International Inc., Celgene International Sarl, Celgene K.K., Celgene Kft., Celgene Limited [Hong Kong], Celgene Limited [Ireland], Celgene Limited [New Zealand], Celgene Limited [Taiwan], Celgene Limited [UK], Celgene Logistics Sarl, Celgene Ltd, Celgene Luxembourg Sarl, Celgene Management Sarl, Celgene NJ Investment Co, Celgene Netherlands B.V., Celgene Netherlands Investment B.V., Celgene Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Celgene Pte. Ltd., Celgene Pty Ltd, Celgene Puerto Rico Distribution LLC, Celgene Quanticel Research Inc, Celgene R&D Sarl, Celgene RIVOT LLC, Celgene RIVOT Ltd., Celgene RIVOT SRL, Celgene Receptos Limited, Celgene Receptos Sarl, Celgene Research Incubator At Summit West LLC, Celgene Research S.L.U., Celgene Research and Development Company LLC, Celgene Research and Development I ULC, Celgene Research and Development II LLC, Celgene Research and Investment Company II LLC, Celgene S. de R.L. de C.V., Celgene S.L.U., Celgene S.R.L., Celgene SAS, Celgene Sarl AU, Celgene Sdn Bhd, Celgene Services Sarl, Celgene Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Celgene Sp. Z.o.o., Celgene Sro [Czech Republic], Celgene Summit Investment Co, Celgene Switzerland Holding Sarl, Celgene Switzerland II LLC, Celgene Switzerland Investment Sarl, Celgene Switzerland LLC, Celgene Switzerland Sarl, Celgene Tri A Holdings Ltd., Celgene Tri Sarl, Celgene UK Distribution Limited, Celgene UK Holdings Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing II Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing III Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing Limited, Celgene d.o.o., Celgene sro [Slovakia], Celmed LLC, Celmed Ltd., ConvaTec Divestiture, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB, Crosp Ltd., Delinia Inc., Deuteria Pharmaceuticals Inc., DuPont Pharmaceuticals, E. R. Squibb & Sons Inter-American Corporation, E. R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C., E. R. Squibb & Sons Limited, EWI Corporation, EngMab Sarl, F-star Alpha, FermaVir Pharmaceuticals L.L.C., FermaVir Research L.L.C., Flexus Biosciences, Flexus Biosciences Inc., Forbius, Galecto Biotech, GenPharm International L.L.C., Gloucester Pharmaceuticals LLC, Grove Insurance Company Ltd., Heyden Farmaceutica Portuguesa Limitada, IFM Therapeutics, Impact Biomedicines Inc., Inhibitex, Inhibitex L.L.C., Innate Tumor Immunity Inc., JuMP Holdings LLC, Juno Therapeutics GmbH, Juno Therapeutics Inc., Kosan Biosciences, Kosan Biosciences Incorporated, Linson Investments Limited, Mead Johnson (Manufacturing) Jamaica Limited, Mead Johnson Jamaica Ltd., Medarex, Morris Avenue Investment II LLC, Morris Avenue Investment LLC, MyoKardia, O.o.o. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) AB, Padlock Therapeutics, Padlock Therapeutics Inc., Pharmion LLC, Princeton Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Receptos LLC, Receptos Services LLC, RedoxTherapies Inc., Route 22 Real Estate Holding Corporation, SPV A Holdings ULC, Seamair Insurance DAC, Signal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Societe Francaise de Complements Alimentaires(S.O.F.C.A.), Squibb Middle East S.A., Summit West Celgene LLC, Swords Laboratories, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Westwood-Intrafin SA, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals Inc., X-Body Inc., ZymoGenetics, ZymoGenetics Inc., ZymoGenetics LLC, ZymoGenetics Paymaster LLC, iPierian, and iPierian Inc..The following companies are subsidiares of Exxon Mobil: AKG Marketing Company Limited, Aera Energy LLC, Al-Jubail Petrochemical Company, Ampolex (Cepu) Pte Ltd, Ancon Insurance Company Inc., Barnett Gathering LLC, Barzan Gas Company Limited, Caspian Pipeline Consortium, Celtic Exploration Ltd., Coral FLNG S.A., Cross Timbers Energy LLC, Ellora Energy Inc., Esmeroon Oil Transporta Imperial Oil Limited, Esso (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd, Esso Deutschland GmbH, Esso Erdgas Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 17) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Angola (Overseas) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Chad Inc., Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Esso Exploration and Production UK Limited, Esso Global Investments Ltd., Esso Italiana S.r.l., Esso Nederland B.V., Esso Norge AS, Esso Petroleum Company Limited, Esso Raffinage, Esso Societe Anonyme Francaise, Exxo Holdings Inc., Exxon Azerbaijan Limited, Exxon Chemical Arabia Inc., Exxon International Finance Company, Exxon Luxembourg Holdings LLC, Exxon Mobile Bay Limited Partnership, Exxon Neftegas Limited, Exxon Overseas Corporation, Exxon Overseas Investment Corporation, ExxonMobil (China) Investment Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil (Taicang) Petroleum Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil Abu Dhabi Offshore Petroleum Company Limited, ExxonMobil Alaska Production Inc., ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., ExxonMobil Australia Pty Ltd, ExxonMobil B Resources Company, ExxonMobil Capital Finance Company, ExxonMobil Capital Netherlands B.V., ExxonMobil Central Europe Holding GmbH, ExxonMobil Cepu Limited, ExxonMobil Chemical France, ExxonMobil Chemical Gulf Coast Investments LLC, ExxonMobil Chemical Holland B.V., ExxonMobil Chemical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil China Petroleum & Petrochemical Company Limited, ExxonMobil Development Africa B.V., ExxonMobil Development Company, ExxonMobil Egypt (S.A.E.), ExxonMobil Exploracao Brasil Ltda., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Norway AS, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Limited, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Tanzania Limited, ExxonMobil Finance Company Limited, ExxonMobil Financial Investment Company Limited, ExxonMobil France Holding SAS, ExxonMobil Gas Marketing Europe Limited, ExxonMobil General Finance Company, ExxonMobil Global Services Company, ExxonMobil Golden Pass Surety LLC, ExxonMobil Holding Company Holland LLC, ExxonMobil Holding Norway AS, ExxonMobil Hong Kong Limited, ExxonMobil International Services SARL, ExxonMobil Iraq Limited, ExxonMobil Italiana Gas S.r.l., ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Inc., ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Ventures Inc., ExxonMobil LNG Services B.V., ExxonMobil Lubricants Trading Company, ExxonMobil Oil Corporation, ExxonMobil PNG Limited, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical BVBA, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical Holdings Inc., ExxonMobil Pipeline Company, ExxonMobil Production Deutschland GmbH, ExxonMobil Production Norway Inc., ExxonMobil Qatargas (II) Limited, ExxonMobil Qatargas Inc., ExxonMobil Ras Laffan (III) Limited, ExxonMobil Rasgas Inc., ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, ExxonMobil Russia Kara Sea Holdings B.V., ExxonMobil Sales and Supply LLC, ExxonMobil Technology Finance Company, ExxonMobil Ventures Finance Company, ExxonMobil Ventures Funding Ltd., Fujian Refining & Petrochemical Co. Ltd., Golden Pass LNG Terminal Investments LLC, Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC, Gulf Coast Growth Ventures LLC, Imperial Oil Limited, Imperial Oil Resources Limited, Imperial Oil Resources N.W.T. Limited, Imperial Oil/Petroliere Imperiale, Infineum Italia s.r.I., Infineum Singapore Pte. Ltd., InterOil Corporation, Jurong Aromatics Corporation Pte Ltd, MPM Lubricants, Marine Well Containment Company LLC, Mobil Australia Resources Company Pty Limited, Mobil California Exploration & Producing Asset Company, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company, Mobil Chemical Products International Inc., Mobil Corporation, Mobil Equatorial Guinea Inc., Mobil Erdgas Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Mobil Exploration & Producing Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil International Petroleum Corporation, Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil Oil Exploration & Producing Southeast Inc., Mobil Oil New Zealand Limited, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mobil Producing Texas & New Mexico Inc., Mobil SerLimited, Mobil Venezolana De Petroleos Inc., Mobil Yanbu Petrochemical Company Inc., Mobil Yanbu Refining Company Inc., Mountain Gathering LLC, Mozambique Rovuma Venture S.p.A., Palmetto Transoceanic LLC, Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas Global Company LDC, Permian Express Partners LLC, Phillips Exploration LLC, Qatar Liquefied Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (II), SPI Limited, Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company Ltd., Saudi Yanbu Petrochemical Co., SeaRiver Maritime Inc., South Hook LNG Terminal Company Limited, Tengizchevroil LLP, Terminale GNL Adriatico S.r.l, Trend Gathering & Treating LLC, Wolverine Pipe Line Company, XH LLC, XTO Delaware Basin LLC, XTO Energy Canada, XTO Energy Inc., and XTO Holdings LLC. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. 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 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research.ConocoPhillips engages in the exploration, production, transportation and marketing of crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, natural gas liquids, and liquefied natural gas on a worldwide basis. It operates through the following geographical segments: Alaska; Lower 48; Canada; Europe, Middle East and North Africa; Asia Pacific; and Other International. The Alaska segment primarily explores for produces, transports and markets crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. The Lower 48 segment consists of operations in the U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico. The Canada segment is comprised of oil sands development in the Athabasca Region of northeastern Alberta and a liquids-rich unconventional play in western Canada. The Europe, Middle East and North Africa segment consists of operations and exploration activities in Norway, the United Kingdom and Libya. The Asia Pacific segment has explorations and product operations in China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia. The Other International segment handles exploration activities in Columbia and Argentina. The company was founded in 1875 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

Read MoreRoyal Dutch Shell plc operates as an energy and petrochemical company worldwide. The company operates through Integrated Gas, Upstream, Oil Products, Chemicals segments. It explores for and extracts crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids; markets and transports oil and gas; produces gas-to-liquids fuels and other products; and operates upstream and midstream infrastructure necessary to deliver gas to market. The company also markets and trades natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), crude oil, electricity, carbon-emission rights; and markets and sells LNG as a fuel for heavy-duty vehicles and marine vessels. In addition, it trades in and refines crude oil and other feed stocks, such as gasoline, diesel, heating oil, aviation fuel, marine fuel, biofuel, lubricants, bitumen, and sulphur; produces and sells petrochemicals for industrial use; and manages oil sands activities. Further, the company produces base chemicals comprising ethylene, propylene, and aromatics, as well as intermediate chemicals, such as styrene monomer, propylene oxide, solvents, detergent alcohols, ethylene oxide, and ethylene glycol. Royal Dutch Shell plc was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Read MoreAlthough this most recent message was issued after a gunman killed 17 children and adults at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14, it echoes earlier urgent calls to action from the AAFP and resolutions from members.

The organizations -- the AAFP, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physicians, and American Psychiatric Association -- laid out three concrete steps for the president and Congress to take:

Label violence caused by the use of guns as a national public health epidemic.



Fund appropriate research at the CDC as part of the 2018 federal budget.



Establish constitutionally appropriate restrictions on the manufacturing and sale, for civilian use, of large-capacity magazines and firearms with features designed to increase their rapid and extended killing capacity.

"We urge our national leaders to recognize in this moment what the medical community has long understood: We must treat this epidemic no differently than we would any other pervasive threat to public health," said the organizations, which together include 450,000 physician and medical student members. "We must identify the causes and take evidence-based approaches to prevent future suffering."

The attack in Parkland was the latest incident in a public health epidemic that adversely affects patients as it continues to increase in frequency and lethality. And although mass killings draw the most public attention, this epidemic of gun violence puts "far too many Americans" at daily risk for suicide, homicide and unintentional injury, the organizations said.

"The families of the victims in Parkland and all those whose lives have been impacted by daily acts of gun violence deserve more than our thoughts and prayers," the organizations said. "They need action from the highest levels of our government to stop this epidemic of gun violence now."

More From AAFP

Familydoctor.org: Gun Safety

Additional Resource

Annals of Internal Medicine: Firearm-Related Injury and Death in the United States: A Call to Action From 8 Health Professional Organizations and the American Bar Association

South Dakota farmers contribute 400,000 acres to federal program

South Dakota ranked No. 2 in state contributors for the USDA's Grassland CRP program.The state is firing back at Molina Healthcare of New Mexico, accusing the company of engaging in a public relations campaign over the awarding of Medicaid contracts, according to new court documents.

In January, Molina filed an injunction and restraining order against the New Mexico Human Services Department and its secretary, Brent Earnest, alleging the procurement process was unfair. The state did not choose Molina, an incumbent, for a five-year Centennial 2.0 contract that begins in 2019.

In court filings, the state responded that Molina has engaged in a public relations campaign through the media and filings with this court in an apparent attempt to scare the court and HSD into awarding it a contract.

Among other claims, the state also argued that a stay in the procurement process is not required under relevant codes; that Molinas request for legal intervention is premature because the state is still reviewing protests submitted as part of the process; that Molinas allegations about the fairness of the process are unfounded; and that an injunction would harm the Centennial Care program and the states Medicaid enrollees.

In exhibits included with the filings, the state also noted Molinas cost proposal was the highest of the bidders, and would cost the Medicaid program $94 million more annually than any other successful offeror.

A Molina spokeswoman said the company submitted an actuarially sound bid that wouldnt require it or the state to be scrambling for more money in the future and maintained that the state acted arbitrarily and capriciously during the procurement process.

Caught in the midst of the scuffle are Molinas 224,000 Medicaid enrollees, who comprise most of the companys membership in New Mexico. The state has a total Medicaid population of 850,000, roughly 40 percent of all New Mexicans.

The state announced last month that recipients of the Medicaid contracts were incumbents Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico and Presbyterian Health Plan, as well as newcomer Western Sky Community Care, a subsidiary of the St. Louis, Mo.-based company Centene Corp. Neither Molina nor United Healthcare, another incumbent, had their contracts renewed.

Molina has said in court filings it is likely to leave New Mexico if not awarded a contract. The company also claims a consultant hired by the state to help evaluate proposals  a company called Mercer  had a business relationship with Centene that made it financially beneficial for it to favor Western Sky, among other alleged irregularities.

A Mercer spokesman directed the Journal to a letter included in the states court filings. In the letter, Mercers legal counsel wrote that the consultants involved in the procurement process did not have any knowledge of the relationship; furthermore, that nothing that Western Sky . . . could do as a successful offeror could result in compensation to Mercer.

Centene has not responded to a request for comment.Two Santa Fe chefs have been named semifinalists in the 2018 James Beard Foundation Awards, which are considered the Oscars of the food industry.

The prestigious list was announced Thursday, with semifinalists selected from among more than 20,000 entries in 21 categories, including exceptional chefs and rising stars, best new restaurants, outstanding bar programs and best bakers.

Martin Rios of Restaurant Martin and Colin Shane, formerly of Arroyo Vino , are semifinalists in the categories of Best Chef: Southwest and Rising Star Chef of the Year, respectively.

Last year, Shane was named a semifinalist in this category and Rios was a finalist. The James Beard awards are some of the most coveted in the food service business, and are named for Beard, an influential food critic.

Rios, who opened his restaurant in 2009, has figured prominently on the Beard lists nine times in categories such as best chef and best new restaurant, said Jennifer Rios, the chefs wife and general manager of Restaurant Martin, which serves up Progressive American cuisine.

Its a huge honor. Were thrilled to represent for New Mexico, said Rios, who said her husband was busy prepping for the lunch rush Friday and Santa Fe Restaurant Week, which runs Feb. 18-25.

Shane recently left the Land of Enchantment for the Sonoma area where he will be chef de cuisine at Single Tread Farm.

In previous years, Beard nods, but no wins, have gone to Albuquerque chefs Jennifer James and Jonathan Perno. Longtime Albuquerque eatery Mary & Titos Cafe was recognized with a James Beard Foundation award in 2010  one of five Americas Classics category award honorees.

Finalists will be announced March 14, with the awards ceremony on May 7. For a complete list of finalists in all categories go to jamesbeard.org/awards.The New Mexico Federation of Labor on Friday filed a lawsuit targeting a controversial right-to-work ordinance passed last month by the Sandoval County Commission.

Jon Hendry, the federations president, had previously said his organization would sue the county as a result of its decision.

The ordinance prevents employees from being required to join a union or paying union fees. Supporters say right-to-work legislation helps businesses; opponents say it undermines unions and worker rights.

The countys effort to over-regulate business and take away the freedom of businesses to negotiate contracts will impair crucial business opportunities in Sandoval Countys private sector, a federation spokesman wrote in a statement.

The ordinance had been called illegal in a letter by New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas that was released before the vote last month.

The lawsuit contends several unions would be harmed by the ordinance, including local chapters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the United Food and Commercial Workers.

Examples highlighted . . . . include the plight of an average Smiths butcher: Some Smiths butchers regularly work in Smiths stores in Bernalillo County and Sandoval County, according to the statement. The countys ordinance would make the Smiths butchers employment contract illegal some days and legal other days of the work week.

The statement said the litigation would be costly and likely embarrassing for the county.Prev 1 of 6 Next

Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

Deputies with the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office Ghost Unit arrested three out of five suspects involved in a nationwide sex trafficking ring Thursday.

Detective Kyle Hartsock said Jason Jackson, 23, Andrew Wyatt, 28 and Chante Bickham, 24, were arrested in Albuquerque.

Arrest warrants have been filed for 54-year-old John Dompierre and Destiny Way, 20, who are still on the loose.

We feel very confidant we will find the other two, Hartsock said during a press conference Friday afternoon.

A sixth suspect, 23-year-old Camara Cherry-Amos was arrested in January at the start of the monthlong investigation.

Hartsock said all six were involved in a multi-state sex trafficking operation and face charges related to sex trafficking.

Lots of people have all these different roles, he said. Some managed online ads sex workers are sold on, some are sex workers as well and they also helped manage this stuff.

Hartsock said the operation was based out of Albuquerque but operated since Feb. 2017 in multiple states, including Arizona, California, Oklahoma, Florida and Maryland.

The group used at least twelve sex workers, including three juveniles14 to 17 years oldfrom Albuquerque, advertising them on online sites like Backpage in different cities, he said.

Hartsock said the New Mexico Attorney General is currently prosecuting the case, but added the investigation is ongoing as detectives have identified other possible witnesses and suspects.

He said the Ghost Unit began its investigation in January after a social worker with the Children, Youth and Families Department said a mother reported her 16-year-old daughter as a run away and family members found sexually suggestive ads posted of her in Phoenix.

Thats when the worker reached out to us, Hartsock said.

From there, detectives found that Cherry-Amos had posted the ads multiple times in both New Mexico and in Arizona.

She was arrested and charged with human trafficking.

He said the juvenile, who is now in CYFD custody, was rescued in Phoenix within 24 hours after being a sex worker for 11 months.

Hartsock said the juvenile was initially coerced, and recruited, under the promise of a share of the profits in the operation.

When you are 15-years-old and essentially homeless, you cant really get a job thats going to pay the bills to rent a room, he said, noting that 85 percent of homeless kids will be sex trafficked. You look for people that can help you, ideally stay safe, but a lot of these people just take advantage.

Hartsock said, as in many cases, that initial promise eventually turns into less profit and more control over the victim, who is also being constantly given drugs and alcohol.

He said sex workers can be exposed to two to five strangers having sex with them every day putting them at further risk for physical injury and kidnapping, among other dangers.

Hartsock credited CYFD with going above and beyond to ensure the juvenile has as many resources needed to be successful following the ordeal.

CYFD Spokesman Henry Varela said CYFD has been working very closely with the Ghost Unit over the past year, holding training for social workers on signs to look for in human trafficking.

Its been a great collaborative partnership, he said. We were able to to help get a 16-year-old home safe.

Tips: Anyone with any information regarding the whereabouts of Destiny Way or John Dompierre is urged to contact detectives at 505-886-1065Feb. 7 was undeniably a dark day for New Mexico. Not only because the states largest newspaper published a racist cartoon, but because this action spoke to a larger phenomenon occurring nationwide: white supremacist narrative being channeled through public platforms.

This demanded immediate action, for no racist rhetoric has a place in the Land of Enchantment, a minority-majority state with a long and deep history of welcoming diversity and cherishing the contributions from immigrants and refugees.

Following the publication, a broad coalition of community organizations and leaders  including ABQ Center for Peace and Justice, the Southwest Organizing Project, N.M. Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice, former City Councilor and longtime activist Rey Garduno, Albuquerque Friends Meeting and the N.M. Dream Team  was formed. The coalition requested an apology from the Journal and to shape a space within their editorial decisions that includes community voices.

Today marks a good first step forward as the Journal makes a public apology, most importantly acknowledging their pledge to incorporate a diverse range of community voices into their editorial discussions.

The coalition, community members and allies welcome the following statement from the ABQ Journal, as a form of commitment to create an avenue for community dialogue with their editorial board, which will allow the diversity in New Mexico to be better represented in their pages.WASHINGTON  After House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., sent his memo laying out potential abuses of the FISA process by the FBI to the White House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., demanded that he be removed as chairman. Nunes was deliberately dishonest in pushing to release a bogus memo, Pelosi declared, and had disgraced the House Intelligence Committee with his partisan effort to distort intelligence.

But Democrats cant so easily dismiss the far more detailed declassified criminal referral written by two respected Republican senators  Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, and Lindsey O. Graham, R-S.C.  which confirms the claims raised in the Nunes memo. The Grassley-Graham memo has been all but ignored since its release, but it deserves attention from everyone  and answers from the Justice Department.

If youre concerned about Russia meddling in our election, as every American should be, then you should be deeply concerned about unverified allegations by Russian government officials, passed on to the FBI by a paid partisan of one candidate, leading to a warrant to spy on an American citizen associated with the other campaign.

According to Grassley and Graham, that is precisely what happened. The FBI relied heavily on the Steele dossier to obtain warrants for surveillance of Carter Page, a marginal former Trump campaign adviser, the senators write. Moreover, they say, the FBI did not have meaningful corroboration of Steeles claims when it submitted its application to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court. The bulk of the application consists of allegations against Page that were disclosed to the FBI by Mr. Steele and are also outlined in the Steele dossier. The application appears to contain no additional information corroborating the dossier allegations against Mr. Page except for a news article that appears to be sourced to Mr. Steeles dossier as well.

In other words, Steeles work was virtually the sole source of information the FBI relied upon to obtain a warrant to spy on a U.S. citizen. Without it, there would likely have been no surveillance approved.

The senators further confirm that the FBI did not, in fact, tell the court the full provenance of the dossier, writing, The application failed to disclose that the identities of Mr. Simpsons ultimate clients were the Clinton campaign and the DNC. Glenn Simpson is co-founder of the firm that hired Steele. They also failed to tell the court that an FBI official, Bruce Ohr  whose wife worked for Fusion GPS on the Russia project  had warned the bureau that Steele was desperate to see that Mr. Trump was not elected even though this information was relevant to his credibility and his stated political motive. Grassley and Graham conclude that it appears the FBI relied on admittedly uncorroborated information, funded by and obtained for Secretary Clintons presidential campaign, in order to conduct surveillance of an associate of the opposing presidential candidate.

The senators note the FBI used the dossier because Steele was considered reliable due to his past work with the Bureau. But in October 2016, the FBI suspended its relationship with Steele after it learned he had disclosed dossier information to the press and after he lied to the FBI about it. Yet despite Steeles deception, which calls into question his credibility, the FBI continued to rely on the dossier for renewals of the FISA warrant. Worse, the senators write, the FBI did not subsequently disclose to the (court) this evidence suggesting that Mr. Steele had lied to the FBI.

None of these ugly details exonerate Trump or undercut the Mueller investigation. Nor was that the purpose. Both Graham and Grassley have always supported special counsel Robert S. Mueller III  Graham by introducing a bill that would require the attorney general to petition a panel of federal judges for permission to remove a special counsel, and Grassley by holding a hearing on the bill.

But if the FBI, wittingly or unwittingly, made representations before the court that were in error, then the American people have a right to know. And if a paid advocate of one presidential candidate persuaded the FBI to conduct surveillance on a member of the other candidates campaign team, Congress has an obligation to investigate.

As for Democrats, are Grassley and Grahams claims bogus and dishonest? Have they disgraced their committee with a partisan effort to distort intelligence? I think not. They have raised serious questions that should trouble all Americans, no matter their political party.

On Twitter, @marcthiessen. (c) 2018, The Washington Post Writers Group.Have you ever watched that recurring ABC evening news segment called Made in America? They highlight small businesses that provide lots of jobs and make competitively priced products designed to reduce our appetite for cheap foreign-made goods. Stirs my patriotic juices every time I see it, and it makes me wonder what would happen to our economy if we all bought merchandise only made here in the United States.

Well, one of my friends has been thinking about this, too. Recently he has had a lot of time on his hands since he is serving an 18-month sentence in a federal prison. He did a stupid, non-violent service for one of his associates and is now paying the price. After being on the inside for a while he thinks the Bureau of Prisons ought to take a page from the Buy American handbook, too.

You know how bored I am, so I read everything, even labels, he wrote me recently.

When I noticed that the pillows and mattresses were foreign made, I decided to start checking the labels on everything from the packaged food in the commissary and chow hall, to all of the daily products that are distributed inside of these walls, he said. I was amazed to discover just how many things were.

To prove his point the last letter he sent included a group of labels he had torn from several prison-issued items. The label affixed to the pants and shirts each prisoner receives, he said, clearly shows they are made in Sri Lanka. The label from his 9-size prison boots included the words made in China. The label from inmates sweatshirts confirms they came from Honduras. The institutions T-shirts and towels are manufactured in Bangladesh. Sheets and prison pillows are made in Pakistan. Soap and shaving creams, he said, come from Mexico.

To be clear, some of the labels carried the name of U.S. distribution companies, meaning the foreign-made goods filtered through American firms and, therefore, benefited American workers. Among the vendors I found on the labels: the Red Kap company of Nashville, Tenn., the R&R Textile Mills operating in Illinois, California and Delaware, the Jerzees brand out of Bowling Green, Ky., and Charm-Tex of Brooklyn, N.Y.

But is there more the Bureau of Prisons can do to help fulfill the presidents pledge to Make America Great Again by easing reliance on foreign-made goods and putting more Americans to work?

Yes, my prison source says. All of these items could have just as well been made in Unicor by inmates here, saving the government money while assuring that the money stayed inside the U.S. borders, he wrote.

Unicor is a self-sustaining training program set up inside some 50 federal prisons across the country. At Unicor centers inmates get on-the-job training that teaches them to make a wide array of products. From mattresses, linens, towels, furniture, food service products, electronics, specialty signs and even eyewear. They are paid a nominal hourly amount, but they leave prison with a resume and an employable skill. Most of Unicors sales are to federal agencies looking to buy quality products at reduced prices.

So why doesnt the Bureau of Prisons buy more from Unicor and less from foreign sources?

I contacted the Bureau of Prisons to ask about their purchasing policies. Does the BOP encourage federal penal institutions to buy American whenever possible? Do their regulations allow prison personnel to buy directly from foreign companies? Does anyone check to see if child or human trafficking labor is involved in manufacturing the goods U.S. prisons buy? I was instructed to email in my list of questions but, unfortunately, I did not get a response by my deadline.

President Trump frequently mentions how movers and shakers from Silicon Valley to the auto industry are abandoning foreign factories and moving back to the U.S. He clearly wants Americans dollars to be spent on American-made products. But I wonder if the word has been officially passed down to federal agencies to fully reassess their purchasing procedures

During this time when the I.R.S. pays out $20 million to private companies that collect less than $7 million in outstanding taxes, when the Defense Department earmarks nearly $24 million to fix the refrigerators on Air Force One, it sure would be nice to know that at least some federal agencies are looking at ways to economize. I, for one, would appreciate it very much.

www.DianeDimond.com; e-mail to Diane@DianeDimond.com.SANTA FE  An Otero County woman is suing state Attorney General Hector Balderas and his records custodian for heavily redacting records she requested on how much the AGs office is paying an outside law firm to represent the state in a water dispute with Texas.

Balderas spokesman says its just another frivolous lawsuit by Blair Dunn, the attorney representing plaintiff Wendy Irby, to help support his run for attorney general.

Dunn has announced he will run this year for AG as a Libertarian. Democrat Balderas is running for re-election.

According to the lawsuit, Irby, who Dunn described as a citizen watchdog, sent Attorney Generals Office records custodian Patricia Salazar a request Jan. 10 asking for documents that detail invoices and payments made to the Robles, Rael and Anaya law firm in Albuquerque. A member of the firm made arguments on the states behalf at a Jan. 8 U.S. Supreme Court hearing on the interstate Rio Grande water rights litigation.

The requests were for all billing records for services the firm has provided to the AGs office from 2016 to 2018 and for expenses for all personnel from the office who attended the Supreme Court hearing in Washington, D.C.

Dollar amounts appear in the documents that were released to Irby. But a column that could possibly explain what the lawyers were paid to do is redacted. The attorney generals office maintains the information was redacted because it contains attorney-client communications and therefore falls under exceptions to the state Inspection of Public Records Act.

Attached to the lawsuit were redacted records showing the law firm was paid about $191,000, including taxes, in 2016. The per-hour charge for services ranged up to $325.

My understanding of the Attorney Generals office is that its client is the people of New Mexico, said Dunn. He has to have a reason for denying records for the people. We deserve to know how our money is being spent. Theres no foundation for denying it.

Although Dunn said the lawsuit isnt politically motivated, the attorney generals office thinks otherwise.

Whats most transparent is that Blair Dunn is more concerned with doing whatever he can to fabricate a resume to support his run for attorney general than he is concerned about wasting taxpayer money with yet another frivolous lawsuit, attorney general spokesman James Hallinan wrote in an email. The Office of the Attorney General looks forward to the swift dismissal of another in a string of frivolous lawsuits that have resulted in nothing more than wasted time and $11,000 in court imposed sanctions against. Mr. Dunn.Mitt Romney on Friday announced his long-expected Senate bid in his adopted state of Utah with a low-key rollout intended to duck roiling Republican divisions and avoid signaling that he will play the role of foil to President Donald Trump.

Utahs economic and political success is a model for our nation, Romney said in a written announcement distributed Friday morning. I am ready to fight for this great state and advocate for solutions that improve the lives of Utahns.

In his announcement, and in a video, Romney touted his leadership of the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, his tenure as Massachusetts governor, his degree from Brigham Young University and his 24 grandchildren. He made no mention of Trump.

That strategy, however, sets up a potentially fraught campaign path for the partys former presidential nominee as he tries to remake himself in Utah. In a Republican Party now dominated by Trump, most mainstream GOP leaders have struggled to stay neutral amid the presidents controversies.

Still, Romney will try.

This is not a Trump protest candidacy, former Romney spokesman Ryan Williams said.

Romney is likely to face plenty of questions from reporters  and from within his own party  about his views on Trump and his past statements criticizing the president.

In an early sign of the challenge, Utah Republican Party Chairman Rob Anderson sharply criticized the two-time presidential contender on Wednesday as a political interloper who is disconnected from the state and a potential headache for Trump.

Mitt Romney doesnt live here, his kids werent born here, he doesnt shop here, Anderson said in an interview with the Salt Lake Tribune. He compared Romney to Hillary Clinton, who grew up in Illinois but successfully ran for a Senate seat in New York in 2000 as a high-profile newcomer.

If Romneys soft launch is any indication  a social media push in which the former Massachusetts governor reintroduced himself to Utah voters by video  he is not seeking out those questions as he begins his campaign.

The video, produced by veteran Romney advisers and running over two minutes in length, recalled Romneys role in the Olympics and put an emphasis on Utah values.

In a speech at a GOP fundraiser in Provo, Utah, on Friday night, Romney highlighted his experience working across the aisle as the Republican governor of Massachusetts with an overwhelmingly Democratic legislature, a skill he said would be useful in Washington.

In answer to a question, he soft-pedaled his relations with Trump.

By and large, Romney said, his policies are very similar to the ones I campaigned for, and he praised the president for lowering the corporate tax rate.

But, he added, Im not always with the president on what he might say or do, and when that happens Ill call them like I see them.

Romneys tone differs dramatically from that of other Republicans seeking Senate seats across the country, or considering doing so. Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, who is seeking the Republican Senate nomination there, promised to stay in the race even if Sen. Bob Corker changes his mind and seeks reelection. Blackburn is a steadfast Trump supporter, while Corker has been one of his biggest critics.

Also this week, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, one of Trumps biggest cheerleaders, signaled in conversations with major Republican donors over the past week that he is moving closer to challenging Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla..

These races and others will provide windows into Trumps power and popularity as the GOP seeks to retain and expand its control of Congress in 2018.

Romneys careful Utah debut, planned for months by his family and longtime aides, cannot paper over the reality of his return to politics: Many Republicans nationally are desperate for him to be a champion for the partys traditional beliefs and a counterbalance to the president on issues such as morality and Russian election interference.

Romney, 70, has been a popular figure in Utah, if not a resident, for decades. Yet even there the race for the GOP nomination is unlikely to be the sleepy stroll to victory that some Romney allies are hoping for.

Former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon said in recent months that he would like to draft a populist candidate to oppose Romney in the Utah GOP primary race, but his falling-out with Trump over journalist Michael Wolffs book Fire and Fury stalled that project. A number of little-known Republicans have announced Senate campaigns ahead of Romney.

Mitt has the advantage in terms of name identification and resources, but hes got to connect with Utah, said Boyd Matheson, the opinion editor of the Deseret News and former chief of staff to Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. Matheson flirted with his own Senate campaign last year and spoke with Bannon about the possibility but decided against it.

Hes already been putting the shoe leather in, getting around the state, and you can tell itll be a Utah-centric campaign, Matheson said.

A Salt Lake Tribune poll last month showed Romney with the support of 85 percent of Utah Republicans  and 18 percent of Democrats.

Other Utah Republicans have encouraged Romney to run. Sen. Orrin Hatch, who announced in January that he would not seek reelection this year, has done so for months.

If elected, Romney associates said he would operate in the Senate as an independent-minded lawmaker but would resist being labeled as a reliable Trump critic in the model of retiring Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who regularly speaks out against the president.

More often, these associates privately compare Romney to Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who is reconsidering his retirement plans and leads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Corker has fiercely criticized Trump and recoiled at Trumps behavior, but he also has at times seemed torn about his leanings and worked with Trump on the partys big agenda items.

Mitt Romney is not running for Senate merely to be a critic of Trump. I dont think hed do this just to poke Trump in the eye. The call to service matters to Romney regardless of whos in the White House, said GOP operative Rick Wilson, who opposes Trump. There are broader conservative movement questions that will fall to him naturally, but thats not the motivation.

Foreign policy is one area where Romney could clash with Trump and join the ranks of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who has been ill, as one of the partys more hawkish leaders on that front. While Trump considered Romney during the presidential transition as a possible secretary of state, Romney is far more hostile toward Russia and supportive of international institutions.

The governor believes America cannot be withdrawn on the world stage, Williams said. He is much more of a hard-liner when it comes to dealing with a thug like Vladimir Putin, the Russian president.

Salt Lake County Council member Jenny Wilson, a Democrat, is also running for the seat and has said the victory of Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., would bring attention to her candidacy in a ruby-red state.

Romneys campaign leadership team will deliberately remain small to avoid criticism that the Utah campaign is simply a way of restarting the Romney political machine that boosted him during his bids for the White House in 2008 and 2012.

Matt Waldrip, a Utah-based aide who worked on Romneys presidential efforts, will manage the campaign. M.J. Henshaw, a former aide to a Utah congressman, will be the spokesman; consultant Will Ritter, who is close with Romney and his family, is handling media and digital activities through his firm Poolhouse, which produced the campaigns kickoff video. Romney confidants, such as strategist Beth Myers and financier Spencer Zwick, also will be involved.

Gone are the days of worrying about the 99 counties in Iowa, said former Romney campaign adviser Kevin Madden. This time, it all comes down to crucial Salt Lake County.



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Video: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) announced Feb. 16 that he will run for Senate in Utah.(Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)WASHINGTON  In an extraordinary indictment, the U.S. special counsel has accused 13 Russians of an elaborate plot to disrupt the 2016 presidential election, charging them with running a huge but hidden social media trolling campaign aimed in part at helping Republican Donald Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.

The federal indictment, brought Friday by special counsel Robert Mueller, represents the most detailed allegations to date of illegal Russian meddling during the campaign that sent Trump to the White House. It also marks the first criminal charges against Russians believed to have secretly worked to influence the outcome.

With the FBI indictment, the evidence is now incontrovertible of Moscows interference in the race, Trumps national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, said Saturday at a conference in Germany. Moments earlier, Russias foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, speaking through an interpreter, had dismissed the indictment as just blabber.

The Russian organization was funded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the indictment says. He is a wealthy St. Petersburg businessman with ties to the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin.

Trump quickly claimed vindication Friday, noting in a tweet that the alleged interference efforts began in 2014  long before I announced that I would run for President.

The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong  no collusion! he tweeted.

But the indictment does not resolve the collusion question at the heart of the continuing Mueller probe, which before Friday had produced charges against four Trump associates. U.S. intelligence agencies have previously said the Russian government interfered to benefit Trump, including by orchestrating the hacking of Democratic emails, and Mueller has been assessing whether the campaign coordinated with the Kremlin.

The latest indictment does not focus on the hacking but instead centers on a social media propaganda effort that began in 2014 and continued past the election, with the goal of producing distrust in the American political process. Trump himself has been reluctant to acknowledge the interference and any role that it might have played in propelling him to the White House.

The indictment does not allege that any American knowingly participated in Russian meddling, or suggest that Trump campaign associates had more than unwitting contact with some of the defendants who posed as Americans during election season.

But it does lay out a vast and wide-ranging Russian effort to sway political opinion in the United States through a strategy that involved creating internet postings in the names of Americans whose identities had been stolen; staging political rallies while posing as American political activists and paying people in the U.S. to promote or disparage candidates.

While foreign meddling in U.S. campaigns is not new, the indictment for an effort of this scope and digital sophistication is unprecedented.

This indictment serves as a reminder that people are not always who they appear to be on the internet, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said Friday. The indictment alleges that the Russian conspirators want to promote discord in the United States and undermine public confidence in democracy. We must not allow them to succeed.

The 13 Russians are not in custody and not likely to ever face trial. The Justice Department has for years supported indicting foreign defendants in absentia as a way of publicly shaming them and effectively barring them from foreign travel.

The surreptitious campaign was organized by the Internet Research Agency, a notorious Russian troll farm that the indictment says sought to conduct information warfare against the United States of America.

The company, among three Russian entities named in the indictment, had a multimillion-dollar budget and hundreds of workers divided by specialties and assigned to day and night shifts. According to prosecutors, the company was funded by companies controlled by Prigozhin, the wealthy Russian who has been dubbed Putins chef because his restaurants and catering businesses have hosted the Kremlin leaders dinners with foreign dignitaries.

Prigozhin said Friday he was not upset by the indictment.

Americans are very impressionable people, he was quoted as saying by Russias state news agency. They see what they want to see.

Also Friday, Mueller announced a guilty plea from a California man who unwittingly sold bank accounts to Russians involved in the interference effort.

The election-meddling organization, looking to conceal its Russian roots, purchased space on computer servers within the U.S., used email accounts from U.S. internet service providers and created and controlled social media pages with huge numbers of followers on divisive issues such as immigration, religion and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Starting in April 2016, the indictment says, the Russian agency bought political ads on social media supporting Trump and opposing Clinton without reporting expenditures to the Federal Election Commission or registering as foreign agents. Among the ads: JOIN our #HillaryClintonForPrison2016 and Donald wants to defeat terrorism  Hillary wants to sponsor it.

They engaged in operations primarily intended to communicate derogatory information about Hillary Clinton, to denigrate other candidates such as Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, and to support Bernie Sanders and then-candidate Donald Trump, the indictment states.

Sens. Cruz, R-Texas, and Rubio, R-Fla., ran against Trump in the Republican primary; Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, opposed Clinton in the Democratic primary.

The indictment details contacts targeting three unnamed officials in the Trump campaigns Florida operation. In each instance, the Russians used false U.S. personas to contact the officials. The indictment doesnt say if any of them responded, and theres no allegation that any of the campaign officials knew they were communicating with Russians.

Two defendants traveled to the U.S. in June 2014 to gather intelligence on social media sites and identify targets for their operations, the indictment alleges. Following the trip, the group collected further intelligence by contacting U.S. political and social media activists while posing as U.S. citizens. They were guided by one contact to target purple states like Colorado, Virginia and Florida, prosecutors say.

According to one internal communication described by prosecutors, the specialists were instructed to use any opportunity to criticize Hillary and the rest (except Sanders and Trump  we support them). And according to one internal review, a specialist was criticized for having a low number of posts criticizing Clinton. The person was told it is imperative to intensify criticizing Hillary Clinton in future posts.

The indictment also asserts that the posts encouraged minority groups not to vote or to vote for third parties and alleged Democratic voter fraud.

Before a Florida rally, the Russians paid one person to build a cage on a flatbed truck and another to wear a costume portraying Clinton in a prison uniform. But they also organized some rallies opposing Trump, including one in New York after the election called Trump is NOT my president.

The Russians destroyed evidence of their activities as Muellers investigation picked up, with one of those indicted sending an email in September 2017 to a family member that said the FBI had busted them so they were covering their tracks.

That person, Irina Viktorovna Kaverzina, wrote the family member, I created all of these pictures and posts, and the Americans believed that it was written by their people.

___

Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Desmond Butler, Raphael Satter and Tom LoBianco contributed to this report.

___

Online: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4380517-Russia-probe-indictments.htmlMEXICO CITY  A military helicopter carrying officials who were assessing damage from a powerful earthquake flipped as it was attempting to land in southern Mexico, crashing on top of people who had fled their homes and were spending the night outside. Thirteen people were killed  the only known fatalities related to the quake  and 16 were injured.

No one aboard the helicopter, including Interior Secretary Alfonso Navarrete and Oaxaca Gov. Alejandro Murat, was seriously hurt. Jorge Morales, a local reporter who was aboard the helicopter when it crashed Friday night, described harrowing moments as the pilot lost control and the helicopter attempted to touch down in a swirl of dust in Jamiltepec, a city in Oaxaca state close to the epicenter of the earthquake that struck earlier Friday.

The moment the helicopter touched down it lost control, it slid  like it skidded  and it hit some vehicles that were parked alongside the area that had been defined for the landing, Morales told a Mexican television news program. In that moment, you couldnt see anything, nothing else was heard beside the sound that iron makes when it scrapes the earth.

Navarrete told local media that as the army helicopter we were travelling in tried to land, the pilot lost control, the helicopter fell and flipped.

A state government official who was not authorized to be quoted by name said the chopper crashed into a group of people who had been spending the night outside after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the area. Aftershocks, including one of 5.8 magnitude that struck about an hour after the first, had caused people to flee their homes for fear they would collapse.

The Oaxaca state prosecutors office said in a statement that five women, four men and three children were killed at the crash site and another person died later at a hospital.

The Defense Department said the Blackhawk helicopter crashed as it was preparing to land in a vacant lot. The department said the victims had been waiting for the helicopter, but did not provide more details.

Navarrete and the defense department said they regretted the loss of life.

The quake damaged about 50 homes in Jamiltepec, as well as the town hall and church, according to the Interior Department. It also rocked buildings in Mexico City, about 240 miles northwest, and many other parts of the country.

But the damage was minimal compared to a massive 8.2 quake that struck in the same general area on Sept. 7 and a 7.1 magnitude quake on Sept. 19, which killed a total of 471 people between the two of them and damaged over 180,000 houses in eight states, including Mexico City.

The U.S. Geological Survey said Fridays quake was centered 33 miles (53 kilometers) northeast of Pinotepa in southern Oaxaca state and had a depth of 15 miles (24 kilometers).

Two people suffered fractures caused by the quake and were treated in Pinotepa Nacional. Their lives were not in danger.

Navarrete has led the Interior Department, which oversees most political and security issues, for little over a month. Earlier this month, an intelligence agent from an agency overseen by Navarretes department was caught tailing an opposition presidential candidate.MOSCOW  Russian officials had disdainful words Saturday for a U.S. indictment that charged 13 Russians with interfering in the 2016 presidential election. Childrens stories, the plot of a preposterous Hollywood movie and just blabber were a few of the glib analogies they pressed into service.

The language, while dismissive, suggested that Russia feels cornered by the unrelenting allegations that the Kremlin had a role in President Donald Trumps election. Repeated denials and hope that the intrigue would fade away have been Moscows strategy for maintaining the popular expectation that its ties with Washington would improve under Trump.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and other officials have deflected the suspicion that Trump colluded with Moscow and the evidence of Russians seeding social media platforms with pro-Trump content with indignant cries of Russophobia  a default argument that blames the election scandal to an outdated, Cold War view of Russia as a land of inherently devious plotters.

The story is straight from a Hollywood crime comedy, probably with the title 13 Friends of Putin, Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the lower house of Russias parliament, said.

The indictment handed up by a federal grand jury has elements of such a cloak-and-dagger plot. It alleges that a wealthy entrepreneur, widely dubbed Putins chef, funneled money to a so-called troll farm, which sent operatives to the United States, created fictitious social media accounts and used them to spread tendentious messages.

The aim either was either to influence voters or to undermine their faith in the U.S. political system, according to court documents.

They are just childrens statements, Andrei Kutskikh, Putins envoy for international information security policy, scoffed Saturday.

Although the 37-page indictment is detailed, it makes assertions without including evidence outright. Russian officials seized on that, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Until we see the facts, everything else is just blabber, Lavrov said Saturday to an international audience at the Munich security conference. Im sorry for this expression.

At the same conference, the former Russian ambassador to Washington, Sergei Kislyak reprised Moscows frequent contention that the angle of alleged Trump-Russia collusion was fabricated for political ends inside the Beltway.

Whatever allegations are being mounted against us are simply fantasies that are being used for political reasons in the United States in the fight between the different sides of the political divide that is haunting the United States right now, Lavrov said.

The internal dogfight explanation is a way for Russians to explain away their disappointment that Washington-Moscow relations have not improved under Trump, despite his promises to do so and his open admiration of Putin.

Russian officials had high hopes that Trump would move to abandon or reduce the sanctions that the United States imposed for Russias annexation of Crimea and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Instead, Trump approved selling lethal weapons to Ukraine for the fight against the rebels and he appointed a Russia hawk as Washingtons envoy for the Ukrainian peace process. His United Nations ambassador, Nikki Haley, declared that the Crimea sanctions wouldnt be lifted unless the peninsula is returned to Ukraine.

Trump even signed legislation that would allow new sanctions on Russia. However, instead of imposing more sanctions, the presidents administration released a list of Russias most prominent politicians and wealthiest tycoons.

The decision seemed to indicate that Trump wanted to avoid further alienating the Kremlin, even as it would be risky for his administration to make overtures to Russia amid the ongoing investigations of Moscows alleged meddling in the electoral process.

The Kremlin, in turn, appears to have no viable move other than to cling to its denials and wait to see if Trump survives. In the short term, that could be a useful strategy for Putin as he runs for re-election next month. The claims of Russophobia and unfounded allegations appeal to his base, which sees him as the man who has made Russia great again after so many years of international disrespect.

The indictment itself does not close the door on Russias hope that detente will flower before Trumps term ends in 2020. Andrei Zakharov, a journalist for Russias RBC organization who has written extensively about the alleged troll factory, told The Associated Press he has doubts about it.

This does not look like a solid investigation, Zakharov said. According to our information, part of these people dont work at the (troll) factory now and did not even work there during the election.

Russia does not have an extradition treaty with the United States, so the people charged appear to be safe at home. They could risk arrest if they travel abroad.

That prospect didnt bother one of them, Mikhail Burchik, described in the indictment as executive director of the troll farm.

I love my country. There are many beautiful places to go in Russia, Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda quoted Burchik as saying.

___

Iuliia Subbotovska in Moscow contributed to this story.Doug Manchester, the billionaire nominated by President Donald Trump to be ambassador to the Bahamas, made a fortune as a real estate developer in San Diego while also earning a reputation for his philanthropy, conservative convictions and lavish lifestyle.

In 2011, Manchester, then 69, decided to buy the struggling San Diego Union-Tribune. Over the next four years, he employed an unconventional, anachronistic management style that upended the newspapers culture and made many female workers uncomfortable, according to more than a dozen current and former employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

During the taping of a promotional video, Manchester once pulled a reporter in for a hug so intimate that it startled onlookers in the newsroom, multiple people said. He complimented young female employees on their appearances, and he and other senior managers required some of them hired for a new in-house television operation to wear short black dresses and serve as hostesses for advertisers and other guests at Union-Tribune events, current and former employees said. And he once asked an on-air program host to dye her hair platinum blonde, complaining that her roots were showing, employees said.

During that time, one woman received a small settlement after complaining about unwanted hugs from Manchester as well as unwanted texts from John Lynch, then-chief executive of the newspaper, Lynch told The Washington Post, though he characterized both claims as an effort to get some money. In the fall, an anonymous caller complained to the newspapers current owners that executives knew of offensive behavior by Manchester and his team but did little about it, a company spokeswoman acknowledged. Manchester sold the newspaper in 2015.

Manchester, Lynch and the newspapers current publisher, Jeff Light, said no one had accused Manchester of sexual harassment. But the current staffers and the former employees said the atmosphere was retrograde and often disrespectful toward women.

It was like taking a step back in time, Mad Men-style, said a former executive at the newspaper, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Recalling hiring meetings from that period, the former executive said, It was a boys club, and the boys picked which women they wanted.

Manchesters nomination comes amid a torrent of allegations of questionable behavior by powerful men, from unwanted kissing to groping to rape. His tenure at the newspaper raises other difficult and nuanced questions as the nation grapples with the mistreatment of women in the workplace: In this new environment of heightened awareness, what is the level of tolerance for boorish or chauvinistic behavior?

It also draws new attention to the Trump administrations ongoing struggles to fill appointed positions. Only 267 of 636 key Senate-approved jobs have been filled through Saturday  far fewer than the previous four presidents at this point in their presidencies, according to tracking by The Post and the Partnership for Public Service. Manchester has been under consideration to serve as ambassador for more than a year.

Manchester declined requests for interviews. In a statement, he strongly denied any inappropriate behavior and said he is dedicated to supporting womens rights and very troubled about the allegations. He said that when he learned about egregious mistakes by staff members at the Union-Tribune, he took immediate action.

I have never been accused of or sued for any kind of sexual misconduct, Manchester said recently in an email that he copied to White House officials and more than two dozen others. I am terribly hurt to learn of these allegations and apologize to any employee who felt uncomfortable or demeaned while employed at the UT San Diego during my tenure.

Cory Fish, a former human resources executive at the newspaper, said Manchester offended the newspaper staff in part because he sometimes insisted on being called Papa Doug. Fish said Manchester was an easy target for criticism but was a good man.

Hes a different cat. Hes an older man who has a history of liking young women, Fish told The Washington Post. Older men liking younger women is not a new story.

Light, the current publisher, said the television operation Manchester pushed to create  one that featured light, sometimes racy programming  upset women and men in the newsroom.

The implementation was an embarrassment  weak content, chauvinistic humor, big financial losses and gossip among the staff and the managers, said Light, who worked as editor and chief operating officer under Manchester. The news staff was . . . repulsed by the sexist vibe of the programming.

In a note sent to his staff Feb. 12 in the wake of The Posts questions, Light said, I have asked our own journalists, under the leadership of managing editor Lora Cicalo, to pursue the story. My hope is that people will be able to speak openly and clearly so we can find the truth with specificity and accountability.

In an interview, Lynch, the newspapers chief executive under Manchester, dismissed the womens concerns about the workplace as completely fallacious and attributed some grumbling to the friction that comes with change.

There were a lot of old-time people who misunderstood. They wanted the newspaper to be like it used to be, Lynch said. Everybody just wanted it to be like the good old days.

Lynch said one woman who had been laid off from the television operation received a financial settlement amounting to two or three months pay after alleging through a lawyer that Lynch sent her inappropriate texts inviting her to a St. Patricks Day celebration and that Manchester offered unwanted hugs. He described both claims as part of an effort to get some money and take advantage.

He called Manchester a bigger-than-life character who hugs everybody.

Most of the nearly two dozen women and men interviewed for this story refused to be named because of Manchesters prominence in San Diego and because they feared they might face retaliation. Some said they are still unsettled and angry about the environment they endured during his tenure.

 Toxic is almost a pleasant way of thinking of those days, said one woman, a former editor.

One of the women who was asked to wear a short dress and serve as host at newspaper events said she felt uncomfortable but that she went along with the requests because she was young and naive.

I thought, This doesnt feel right,  said the women, who was 22 at the time. I remember thinking I didnt have any options.

The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

Manchester is well known in San Diego as founder of the Manchester Financial Group and as the tough and sometimes caustic real estate developer behind some of the citys most prominent building projects, including the Manchester Grand Hyatt, the Manchester Financial Building and the luxury Fairmont Grand Del Mar resort and spa.

He has a hand in dozens of other businesses, including biotechnology, mortgage receivables, and television and movie productions, according to financial disclosure statements he filed as part of his nomination. In those reports, Manchester listed his assets as being worth at least $227 million and potentially more than $630 million. In July, Bloomberg calculated his net worth at more than $1 billion.

He and his wife gave about $1 million to groups that supported Trumps presidential campaign, and he served as a Trump delegate at the Republican National Convention.

Manchester is an outspoken conservative willing to back up his beliefs with donations. In 2008, he gave $125,000 to promote Proposition 8, a California initiative to outlaw same-sex marriage, a donation he later said was a mistake.

He has lived a lavish lifestyle and has at times surrounded himself with attractive young women, according to interviews and photographs of parties. For his 65th birthday, he celebrated by spending more than $500,000 on parties and other activities, divorce records show.

He was married to his first wife, Betsy Manchester, for four decades. They lived an opulent lifestyle that included multiple homes, one an $18 million mansion on the Pacific coast, as well as regular use of private jets and extensive travel, court records show.

The couple separated in 2009 and began negotiating over their finances, which included about $50 million in liquid assets, documents show. Manchesters wife estimated that she needed $100,000 a month to maintain her lifestyle, including an $8,000 monthly clothing allowance, documents show.

Manchester came to the media business in 2011 almost as an afterthought. Like newspapers across the country, the Union-Tribune was struggling. The owners, who had bought the newspaper just two years earlier, were ready to sell in a deal that would include valuable real estate in the city. In November 2011, Manchester paid a reported $110 million for the paper and renamed it UT San Diego.

Manchester, Lynch and other new managers launched the television operation, called U-T TV, to attract subscribers and expand the newspapers reach. They spoke coarsely about the young women they were considering hiring for the new operation, according to a former executive who sat in on closed-door meetings. Before discussing candidates professional qualifications, Manchester and other senior leaders sometimes discussed which ones were hot, beautiful and just gorgeous, the executive said.

One manager in the television operation said he told young female staffers to avoid going to the executive floors on their own after they complained about remarks and leering.

Uncertainty about Manchester among some women in the newsroom rose as word spread that he had installed a private bedroom suite on the buildings secure fifth floor.

It was clear from the start that the newspaper would be run in a new way.

In his statement, Manchester said that since the 1980s he has had executive suites in all of his properties. These suites are used to accommodate out of town business associates and family guests, he wrote.

The newspaper made no secret about the light, sexy aims of the television operation. One segment, called Massage Envy, showed hosts partly undressed under sheets.

In 2012, the paper published a provocative full-page color advertisement for a morning program. It showed the programs female host on a beach wearing a clingy dress as two male hosts openly ogled her bottom. Its a Heat Wave! Add some sizzle to your morning, the ad said.

The tenor of the programming drew derision from other local media.

Ultimately, if U-T TV wants to make a naked (sometimes literally) play for lowest-common-denominator programming, thats U-T TVs prerogative, reporter Sara Libby wrote in the Voice of San Diego, a nonprofit news organization. But lets call it what it is.

In the office, Manchester sometimes stared at and complimented the women he encountered, according to multiple women. One said the experience left her with just an icky feeling.

It was just, like, you dont want to get caught alone in the elevator with him, she told The Post, a remark that was echoed by other women who were there at the time.

Some men said they were also uneasy about the atmosphere. One male journalist was present on the day when Manchester pulled in a female reporter for an intimate hug.

In a way, that freaked me out, the man said.

The woman who was hugged declined to comment.

In 2015, Manchester sold the Union-Tribune to Tribune Publishing, now known as Tronc, the publisher that also owns the Chicago Tribune, New York Daily News and other publications. The $85 million deal left the newspapers real estate in Manchesters hands.

But hard feelings lingered.

In the fall, an anonymous caller left a message on a Tronc employee hotline for ethical complaints, alleging that Light and Fish, his human resources executive, knew about offensive behavior by Manchester and his team but did nothing to address it, documents and interviews with Tronc employee show.

The claims triggered an in-house review at the Union-Tribune.

A Tronc spokeswoman said the men were not found to be culpable of wrongdoing. Light said he and Fish responded quickly to all allegations of workplace harassment. Fish declined to comment.

Tronc expressed confidence in Light and said in a statement: As per our policy, we interviewed current and former employees with direct knowledge of the facts alleged and have concluded that there was no case of misconduct by the current leadership of the Union-Tribune.

Manchester expressed bewilderment over the criticism.

As a father of eight children and 13 grandchildren, six of whom are daughters and 11 are granddaughters, I have always fought hard for womens equal rights and opportunities, he wrote in his statement, adding: I assure you that as you have learned from former HR director Cory Fish, none of these allegations were against me personally, and I took immediate action as appropriate.

  

Researcher Alice Crites and database reporter Andrew Ba Tran contributed to this report.President Donald Trump's choice to lead the National Nuclear Security Administration has been approved.

On Thursday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Lisa Gordon-Hagerty as the under secretary for nuclear security for the U.S. Department of Energy.

Once Gordon-Hagerty is fully sworn in, she will be in charge of the nation's nuclear weapons complex  its infrastructure, its upkeep and its security  and will follow Trump's nuclear agenda.

The NNSA has a presence at the Savannah River Site.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said he was excited to have Gordon-Hagerty aboard.

Her knowledge in the national security space, including her history with the Department in running the emergency preparedness operation, will be an asset to the National Nuclear Security Administration, Perry said in a prepared statement.

Gordon-Hagerty has served on the National Security Council, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, and with the DOE. She now fills a position that was, essentially, vacant  Steven Erhart was the acting NNSA admin up until this point.

On Feb. 8, Gordon-Hagerty testified before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.

She immediately clashed with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., over the future of the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility.

MOX, an over-budget, under construction SRS facility, would turn weapons-grade plutonium into usable commercial reactor fuel upon project completion. Graham  along with Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C.  is an ardent supporter of MOX. In a visit to Aiken, Graham said he would put up "one hell of a fight" for the controversial facility.

Gordon-Hagerty, in submitted remarks, said she believes dilute-and-dispose  mixing plutonium with inert material and burying it  is the better option.

Trump's nominee to lead NNSA defends pit production priority, MOX aversion The NNSA is a semiautonomous U.S. Department of Energy agency that manages the nation's nuclear weapons complex.

Graham, who earlier said Gordon-Hagerty is "well-qualified" for the job, asked if she was just repeating what she was told. Gordon-Hagerty said no.

During the same hearing, Gordon-Hagerty said she, if confirmed, would be dedicated to modernizing the NNSA. That includes jump-starting the plutonium pit production mission. Pits are grapefruit-sized nuclear weapon triggers.

NNSA documents specifically mention SRS as a potential pit production stronghold.

"We do need to have a robust program to ensure that we can make pits, more reserve pits," Gordon-Hagerty said to the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Trump's budget request allots more than $15 billion to the NNSA, $11 billion of which is earmarked for weapons uses.CAIRO  Despite having no real challengers, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is shoring up his support in the March election, surrounding himself with his closest, most loyal advisers  the ones he hasn't fired, that is.

Sisi fired Khaled Fawzy as director of the General Intelligence Directorate (GID) on Jan. 19, replacing him with Maj. Gen. Abbas Kamel  Sisi's chief of staff  as acting director. Sisi had appointed Fawzy as GID director in December 2014. No reason was given for Fawzy's dismissal, though there has been plenty of speculation.

Former Chief of Staff Sami Anans bid for the presidency sparked controversy  even more so when his campaign was cut short after the army arrested him Jan. 23 for alleged fraud and attempts to stir a dispute between the people and the army.

In October, Sisi's administration fired several high-ranking government officials.

It proved difficult to obtain an official statement about the circumstances surrounding the appointment of Kamel, who is Sisis closest and most reliable ally at this time. Kamel was his assistant when Sisi was director of military intelligence from 2010 to 2012. Kamel has accompanied Sisi on many official occasions inside and outside Egypt.

Most sources in the government, parliament and official institutions who spoke with Al-Monitor said Sisi chose to rearrange the security apparatus before the presidential election to ensure loyalty and full coordination among intelligence and national security institutions. Kamels appointment as acting GID director comes in the wake of Sisis decision in October to name Mohamed Farid Hegazy chief of staff of the armed forces, replacing Mahmoud Hegazy, who was appointed presidential adviser for strategic planning and crisis management.

As for Fawzy's dismissal, "The decision  is not only about him, but is also related to issues that affect several leaders in general intelligence," an official close to the GID told Al-Monitor. The president has concerns due to information he received from security sources about arrangements Anan made with intelligence [officials] after announcing his candidacy.

It appears the Sisi administration thought Fawzy and other fired GID leaders were involved in the unspecified "arrangements."

The same official said on condition of anonymity, Appointing Kamel  Sisis office director and the closest person to the president since [Sisi] was chief of military intelligence, then the minister of defense  proves that Sisi doesn't trust any general intelligence leaders currently. Kamels main duty during this stage will be to ensure the loyalty of the general intelligence to Sisi.

Sisi also made some changes in the directorate, sending 17 intelligence undersecretaries into retirement in July 2016 and 19 others in January 2017.

Khaled Okasha, the director of the Egypt-based National Center for Security Studies, told Al-Monitor, Appointing Kamel as acting director of intelligence is a normal step. The president has the right to reshuffle the intelligence directorate, and this has nothing to do with the timing of the presidential elections.

Okasha added, Kamel does not have specific tasks during his term as acting director, but the GID will continue working on the cases delegated to it, most of which are related to the countrys national security. Internal affairs are not included, as those are the responsibility of the national security apparatus affiliated with the Ministry of Interior.

Hassan Nafaa, a political science professor at the University of Cairo, told Al-Monitor, Before the presidential candidacy doors were shut, the regime seemed afraid of any candidate who might seriously enter the presidential race. Therefore, the regime had to rearrange the security institutions to guarantee their loyalty until the end of the elections.

He added, Given the lack of transparency in announcing the real reasons that called for changing the GID director at this time, choosing Kamel indicates that the presidents circle of trust is narrowing down." He also said the security apparatus has interfered at times with political, economic and media affairs, "fueling conflict between institutions.

Sisi was firm in his threats during the Jan. 31 opening of the Zohr gas field in western Port Said when he said, I am not a politician. Whoever wants to bring chaos to Egypt has to get rid of me first. If any evil force thinks of messing with Egypts security, I will ask for a second authorization from the Egyptians.  I will take other measures. Sisis remarks came after he reportedly received information about certain parties working to destabilize the state.

Hashem Qassem, publisher and founder of Al-Masry Al-Youm news site, told Al-Monitor, Sisi is escalating his tone and seems fiercer in dealing with internal political affairs. Diplomacy has gone out the window, but at the same time, Egyptians are shocked at the constraints on candidates who were willing to compete against Sisi in the elections.

A precarious state of calm prevails in Egypt's political arena now that no real candidates are left to face Sisi in the coming elections. Anan was arrested and investigated, and human rights lawyer Khaled Ali withdrew for reasons his campaign described vaguely as violations in the electoral process.

Observers expect the elections to proceed calmly, as El Ghad Party leader and Sisi supporter Moussa Mustafa Moussa submitted his candidacy in the last hours before the deadline Jan. 29. Moussa has been accused of only running to provide the perception of competitive elections.

Calls for boycotting the elections are faint, but Sisi still has to ensure the loyalty of the major security institutions, which will be handling the most important and delicate issues during his second term, including the battle against terrorism, dealing with opponents and national security.ALEPPO, Syria  The Free Syrian Army (FSA) and Turkish forces have made remarkable advances against the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) in Afrin. According to the Turkish command, Operation Olive Branch has managed to take control of seven villages and strategic locations in the Afrin countryside, including the main road connecting Rajo and Shaykh al-Hadid.

Several Kurdish factions affiliated with the FSA are participating in Olive Branch, launched Jan. 20, to fight the YPG  the armed wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) controlling Afrin in the northwest of Aleppo.

Kurdish fighters in the FSA had participated in Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield to expel the Islamic State from north Aleppo between August 2016 and March 2017. But their inclusion in Olive Branch could be more about the demographic composition of the region, which is mostly Kurdish. The Kurdish-speaking fighters no doubt make it easier to work with the local population and belie YPG allegations that the battle has ethnic motivations.

Media activist Massoud Ibo (also known as Abu Majd Koumala) told Al-Monitor, Several Kurdish factions affiliated with the FSA are fighting in Operation Olive Branch  Mashaal Tammo Brigade, the Kurdish Front, Saladin Brigade and hundreds of Kurdish fighters in other factions like Faylaq al-Sham, Sultan Murad Brigade, the Levant Front and Ahrar al-Sham. These factions include Arabs, Kurds and Turkmens with a common goal in the operation.

Kurdish militants affiliated with the FSA said in a video posted a few days after the onset of the operation: We, Afrin citizens, are participating in Operation Olive Branch against the PYD and the YPG to spare our people in Afrin injustice. This operation is dedicated to the citizens who migrated to Europe and the West to escape the tyranny of the PYD, and it is for the sake of our friends in jail, and for peace and freedom. Do not believe that we are abusing civilians or destroying their houses. We are here for your freedom and protection from injustice. We want to return to our land, liberate it and topple [Syrian President Bashar al-] Assads regime. Freedom is ours and our peoples. The video shows six men wearing military clothes and holding weapons, with the flag of the Syrian revolution fluttering in the background.

Al-Monitor met with Ahmed Othman, head of the Sultan Murad Division, who said, The YPG are lying to Kurds in Afrin and are telling them the battle is targeting them because of their ethnicity. The truth is that the FSA participating alongside the Turkish forces in Operation Olive Branch includes militants from different ethnicities like Arabs, Kurds and Turkmens. There are many Kurdish fighters in the ranks of the FSA, including brigade leaders and military fighters working on different battlefronts. We cannot say this battle is Kurdish-Kurdish or Arab-Turkish-Kurdish. Syrian Kurdish, Arab and Turkmen fighters are partaking to target an organization the FSA considers terrorist.

Kurdish fighters affiliated with the FSA promise to liberate Afrin from the YPG and assert that the organization does not represent the Kurds. They believe that the YPG does not have the Kurds best interest at heart and that it is a tyrannical organization that arrests its opponents, confiscates property and forcibly mobilizes youths and the elderly and makes them carry arms to fight in its ranks.

Al-Monitor also met with Azad Shaabo, leader of Azadi Battalion, affiliated with the FSAs Elite Army. He said, Azadi Battalion includes around 100 Kurdish fighters affiliated with the FSA, and they are participating in Operation Olive Branch to liberate Afrin from the YPG. Afrin will return to the arms of the Syrian revolution and will win back the rights of its people. The YPG is no different from Assads regime. They have both practiced tyranny and murder against the Kurds. Operation Olive Branch will liberate Afrins inhabitants.

Abu Maryam al-Hasakawi, field leader of the Martyr Mashaal Tammo Brigade, told Al-Monitor, The villagers of liberated areas in Afrin were relieved by the presence of Kurdish fighters in the ranks of the FSA. They welcomed us because we told them we came only to fight the YPG. We will protect their lives and properties, and we will not meddle in their affairs. We told them they are our people and that we are here to liberate them from the YPGs tyranny.

Mohammed Hawash, leader of Saladin Brigade, told Al-Monitor, There are 1,000 Kurdish fighters in the ranks of the FSA participating in the operation. We intend to increase this number during the second stage of the battle.

He added, The YPG is a terrorist organization that killed Kurds and left them homeless. It forbade them from joining the Syrian revolution and bred tyrannical regimes.  The YPG does not represent Kurds in Syria, and the operation in Afrin paves the way for the liberation of the remaining Syrian lands from any form of terrorism. The FSA includes different ethnicities, and they all want a united and free Syria.A little background to the joke: Ms. MacLaine was interviewed by Matt Lauer a few years ago. She talked about her remarkable long-term memory, which was so accurate that she could recall her former identity as a citizen of the lost city of Atlantis.

Somewhere out in cyberspace, there is a cartoon portraying two salamanders sitting on a rock while having a conversation. One of the critters says, "In the lost city of Atlantis, I was Shirley MacLaine."

We'll leave the ironies inherent in the juxtaposition of the now disgraced and nearly invisible Mr. Lauer and Ms. MacLaine to be unraveled for another day. We'll merely note that Ms. MacLaine's belief in her former life as a citizen in Atlantis was not questioned by Mr. Lauer, who gave her credence because of her fame, longevity, and acting skills. It seemed that he believed her because her feelings about her former life in Atlantis were strong and deep. She was spouting nonsense but was being taken seriously by Lauer, who asked no questions, required no facts, demanded no proof. MacLaine's sincere conviction apparently was enough to validate her fantasies.

Lauer gave absolutely no hint if he thought Ms. MacLaine was crazy, though not too long ago, Ms. MacLaine would be considered mad, or at least compassionately recognized as a victim of senile dementia. She would have been regarded much as an elderly man who claims he is Napoleon Bonaparte reincarnated. Such a man certainly would not be taken seriously, much less granted an interview on national TV.

At least not so far.

We should be glad that people with senile dementia or other severe mental problems are not treated as badly as they were in the not so distant past. But lately, a new and dangerous form of thinking about mental illness has arisen  one in which those formerly considered insane are now considered normal or at least trendy, and one in which sane religious folk are considered nutcases unworthy of public office or other positions of responsibility. To put it another way, what was once considered mad is now deemed sane, while people once considered sane are now the ones attacked as being mad as hatters and as vicious haters.

For some time, it has been in vogue among the left to consider Christianity itself an insane belief system. Certainly, such seems to be the case for some of the talking heads on ABC's The View. According to Joy Behar, one of the most dangerously insane people in the United States is the vice president of the United States, Mike Pence.

Let's be frank: a well known spokeswoman has so thoroughly absorbed the left's definition of insanity that she believes she can trash without consequence a good man whose core beliefs are based on beliefs held by Judaism and Christianity for over four thousand years. Of course, she would never dream of trashing the Muslim mayor of London in a similar manner.

The fault in Behar's stars lies with the ideological extremists pushing politically correct ideology, a belief system that has created a change in the meaning of sanity. The current leftist reversion to paganism and pagan mythology teaches that the concept of morality is infinitely malleable and entirely subject to individual human will. That concept increasingly means that the left deems Christians, who believe in a universal moral order, insane  Christians, who hold to a sober analysis of the human condition while also holding an elevated view of what it means to be a redeemed and restored human being. Christians, whose narrative of several thousand years has been the basis of Western civilization, are deemed mad. They are the outliers in a country that was and still largely is Christian.

Such inversion of truth is what happens when a society is pagan or reverts to paganism, as is clearly illustrated in the case of the Apostle Paul, who was deeply involved in pagan (politically correct and politically reinforced) politics similar to that of today.

Summoned to appear in court by the Roman rulers of his day, Paul testified concerning his conversion to Christianity before Festus, procurator of Judea, and King Herod Agrippa II, who was in an incestuous relationship with his sister Bernice.

Paul spoke before the two men about the core claims of billions of Christians throughout the ages: Christ has died; Christ has risen; Christ will come again. He presented the case for Christianity compellingly, clearly, and persuasively.

The response from the two leaders before whom Paul was being tried? Agrippa was not persuaded. Festus shouted, "You are out of your mind. Your great learning is driving you insane" (Acts 26).

Not much has changed since the time of Festus and Agrippa. The women of The View would doubtless wink at Agrippa's incestuous relationship with his sister and would mock Paul for trying to persuade them of the foundational beliefs of Christianity.

Such is the cynicism and downright hatred on the part of the left that a person like Mike Pence, who believes in the Christian ideals of what is just, good, noble, and pure, is seen as an inherently hateful person clinging to rags of superstition.

Fortunately, Pence is speaking out against the virulent hatred of Christians promoted by Behar and others like her. He recently said:

To have ABC have a broadcast that compares Christianity to mental illness is just wrong I call them out on it, not because of what was said about me, but because it's just simply wrong for ABC to have a television program that expresses that kind of intolerance.

The vice president went on to say he considers his sustaining faith essential to his walk, adding that he and his wife regularly start their mornings with prayer and Bible-reading. "I am not unusual," he stated.

He is right about the intolerance as well as the fact he is not unusual. Tens of millions of American Christians and hundreds of millions around the world consider the core beliefs of Christianity the bedrock of their existence.

But Behar, as well as her fellow atheistic leftists, would have all Christians categorized as insane because they pray to God and expect to hear something back from their creator, Father, and Redeemer.

The question remains: who's crazy and hateful? Who is sane, and who is not; who is lying, and who is telling the truth?

Is the reprehensible person someone like Mike Pence, who behaves in a dignified and moral manner and who tolerantly invites those in opposition to his beliefs to dialogue with him? Or is it people like Behar, who are ignoramuses knowing virtually nothing of history and Christianity and who descend from the line of Festus and Agrippa?

In the long run, Festus and Agrippa were, and modern-day scoffers like Behar are, merely obscure historical footnotes. They will scarcely be remembered.

But Paul, the eloquent defender and expositor of Christianity, will prevail. So too will the Christ who founded the Church that will prevail even though the very Gates of Hell are against it.

Fay Voshell holds a M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, where she received the prize for excellence in systematic theology. She may be reached at fvoshell@yahoo.com."There is no allegation in this indictment that any American had any knowledge."

With former national security adviser Michael Flynn's guilty plea likely to be set aside , the indictments announced yesterday by Deputy A.G. Rod Rosenstein, in tenor, scope, and timing, are a desperate attempt by Mueller to save his crumbling collusion investigation from complete failure.

"[There is] no allegation in the indictment of any effect on the outcome of the election." Rod Rosenstein



June 23, 2013. President Obama announces the appointment of James Comey to succeed Robert Mueller as head of the FBI.

There are some easily seen exigencies in the Mueller indictments of 13 Russians late Friday afternoon.

Why release the indictments on a Friday afternoon? Friday is the traditional day in politics to announce something you want people to pay little attention to and quickly forget. This is doubly true when it is a holiday weekend. Monday is Presidents' Day.

Friday afternoon at the beginning of a three-day weekend is probably one of the worst times to release something big, something that could shake to its core the very foundation of the Trump administration, because most Americans will pay little attention to this beyond reading the headlines  at least until Tuesday, when they return to work.

The timing was deliberately chosen to ensure that most Americans would be greatly aware of the fact that Mueller had made indictments in "Russiagate," and that these indictments were of Russians, no less, and that there were many, thirteen in all. Wow, that's almost a dozen.

According to plan, Mueller is counting on most Americans having little information beyond that. By Tuesday, I'm sure Mueller hopes many will have lost interest in the content of said indictments because in this world of instant everything, the extent of the allegations will be old news, and many will have already formed their ultimate opinion and thus won't care about the nitty-gritty.

Why indict Russians, whom you can never bring to justice because there is no extradition treaty between the United States and Russia?

The crimes alleged and the people indicted are immaterial to it all. In fact, it's better for Mueller that none of those charged will ever see a day in court. Fake identities on Facebook and Twitter and organizing rallies (mostly for Trump but also for Hillary) are not Earth-shattering crimes, and fake Facebook and Twitter accounts are not exactly rare.

It's not as if Russia hasn't always meddled in our elections. Didn't Barack Obama try to meddle in Israel's election a few years ago? Maybe Mueller should indict him  or maybe the Israelis should.

Oh, and let's not forget: they also spent $100,000 on political advertising on Facebook and Twitter. Please, give me a break  a hundred grand? The coffee budget for the Clinton campaign was probably a lot more than that. Are we supposed to believe that a hundred grand tipped a multibillion-dollar election?

Maybe Mueller should have indicted every American who has ever used a fake identity on Facebook and Twitter for political purposes. Maybe Mueller should mobilize the Army and arrest everyone wearing a mask to hide his identity at an Antifa rally, done for political purposes and to raise money anonymously.

Why now, why this, and why them?

Mueller needed Russians. The MSM will salivate in onanistic glee, while your basic low-information citizen will hear the word "Russian" and assume that it proves Trump guilty. After all, it's been in the news for some time that this investigation is about Trump's collusion with the Russians to steal the election.

Most importantly, he needed as many indictments of Russians as he could get, and he needed them now for two reasons. Reason one is that the indictments will give the media a basis to argue that the investigation is not the "witch hunt" it has increasingly been looking like, and reason two is that he is about to lose his prize: Flynn's guilty plea.

Michael Flynn, Trump's national security adviser for a hot minute, copped a plea for lying to the FBI. Judge Rudolf Contreras of the FISC (the court that accepted from the Obama administration the Steele dossier as evidence supporting the issuance of a FISA warrant to spy on members of the Trump campaign) accepted Flynn's guilty plea. Six days later, Contreras was recused from the case.

The new judge is Judge Emmet G. Sullivan. His first order directed Mueller to release to Flynn's lawyers any exculpatory evidence in Mueller's possession. He also ordered that "if the government has identified any information which is favorable to the defendant but which the government believes not to be material, the government shall submit such information to the Court for in camera review."

In other words, any evidence Mueller feels is not material or contains classified information and therefore should not be released, must be provided to Judge Sullivan for him to make the determination as to what can and cannot be released  no hiding behind the magic of withholding evidence or prosecutor-determined redaction.

Andrew McCarthy, the former assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, who is famous for trying the "Blind Sheik," Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, in the first World Trade Center bombing, noted, "Sullivan's order supersedes the plea agreement and imposes on the special counsel the obligation to reveal any and all evidence suggesting that Flynn is innocent of the charge to which he has admitted guilt."

You see, Judge Sullivan was the judge in the Ted Stevens case. Do you remember him? He was the 85-year-old Republican senator from Alaska whose conviction for corruption was set aside by Judge Sullivan because the prosecution withheld exculpatory information. The prosecutors falsely charged and convicted a sitting U.S. senator who they knew was innocent. It is believed that because of Stevens's October conviction, he lost his November re-election bid to Democratic challenger Mark Begich.

Judge Sullivan angrily stated at the time when he set aside the conviction a month later that "[i]n nearly 25 years on the bench, I've never seen anything approaching the mishandling and misconduct that I've seen in this case."

Judge Sullivan also appointed an independent counsel to investigate misconduct by the government prosecutors.

Judge Sullivan is a man of honor. Many once thought Mueller was as well. Sullivan is not about to let prosecutors railroad another defendant in his court by withholding evidence.

Mueller's no dope; he knows that his Flynn guilty plea is going to fly away. After all, who would know better that if he can't withhold or redact, he has no case?

He is also aware that without Flynn's guilty plea and without these new indictments seeming to be more than they are but also bounteous in nature, his entire investigation will fold like the house of cards it is. Lies and innuendo can get you only so far.

There you have it: meaningless indictments, for mostly meaningless and insignificant crimes to shore up a meaningless investigation about to take a big hit when Flynn's prior guilty plea becomes meaningless.@JudicialWatch lawsuit uncovered how Mueller's FBI worked with Lois Lerner's IRS to try to prosecute the very groups Obama IRS was suppressing. Another reason I don't trust Mr. Mueller  or the FBI!

Just when you thought the Deep State swamp couldn't get any murkier and the stench any more repugnant, we are reminded by Judicial Watch's Tom Fitton in a Feb. 13 tweet of how Robert Mueller's FBI worked with Lois Lerner's IRS to target Tea Party and other groups in the run-up to the Obama re-election campaign:

The treasure trove of documents detailing the weaponizing of powerful government agencies, including Mueller's FBI, by the Obama administration to target the Tea Party was obtained by Judicial Watch as a result of court orders stemming from Freedom of Information Act lawsuits after the political targeting of the Tea Party:

That attention involved harassment and intimidation of conservative groups opposed to Obamacare in particular and big government in general. The irony is that the same Robert Mueller now investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election cooperated with Lois Lerner and the IRS to intervene on President Obama's behalf in the lead-up to the 2012 presidential election. As Investor's Business Daily editorialized, Tea Party activist Catherine Engelbrecht was a prime target of this effort at political suppression:

Shortly after Engelbrecht founded True the Vote, which trains election volunteers to help root out voter fraud, and King Street Patriots, a group with ideals similar to the Tea Party, and sought tax-exempt status from the IRS in July 2010 for both groups, she was hit by an onslaught of federal harassment. After seeing nary a government official in two decades of operation, Engelbrecht and her equipment manufacturing company suddenly had the pleasure of six FBI domestic terrorism inquiries, an IRS visit, two IRS business audits, two IRS personal audits and inspections by both the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Engelbrecht's persecution by the IRS and FBI was also detailed by Breitbart.com:

Engelbrecht's troubling saga was originally reported by Breitbart News' Brandon Darby. Engelbrecht's application with the IRS for non-profit status allegedly triggered aggressive audits of one of her family's personal businesses as well. The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) began a series of inquiries about her and her group; the BATF (Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms) began demanding to see her family's firearms in surprise audits of her and her husband's small gun dealership  which had done less than $200 in sales; OSHA (Occupational Safety Hazards Administration) began a surprise audit of their small family manufacturing business; and the EPA-affiliated TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environment Quality) did a surprise visit and audit due to "a complaint being called in." The Democratic Party of Texas filed a lawsuit against her, as did an ACORN affiliated group. Both the FBI and the BATF continued to poke around her life, the lives of people in her Tea Party group, and her businesses.

This latest reminder of Mueller's long history of supporting or protecting Democrats and their agenda comes just as it is revealed that another member of the Democratic elite was recently added to his star chamber staff of Democratic donors and Hillary sycophants:

An attorney on special counsel Robert Mueller's team was a writer for HuffPost, The Daily Caller News Foundation has found. Aaron Zelinsky, a self-described Democrat, wrote nearly 50 articles as a contributor for the liberal news outlet from 2009 to 2014. "I'm a Democrat," he wrote in November 2012. A review of his articles shows that he supported President Barack Obama's efforts to close Guantanamo Bay, opposed President George W. Bush's policy on torture [sic], wrote in defense of gun control and argued for government-imposed limits on how much corporate executives can earn. "Now is the time to begin enacting a progressive political agenda through the ballot box," he wrote in a 2009 article on gay marriage [sic]. Zelinsky, who joined the Russia probe in June 2017, is not among the nine attorneys to have made federal donations. But state records reveal a $100 donation he made to a Democratic committee in his home state of Connecticut in 2014, a couple months before he joined the Justice Department as a prosecutor.

Maybe Mueller can explain his efforts to interfere in the 2012 presidential election in cooperation with Lois Lerner and the IRS. Or maybe he agrees with former IRS chief John Koskinen, who once famously said he and the IRS obeyed the law whenever they could. Maybe that should include Mueller and his FBI. Maybe we need a special counsel to investigate the special counsel.

Daniel John Sobieski is a freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investor's Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine, and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications.Russian Investigation Offers a Ludicrous Indictment

The malicious but ludicrous Russian collusion investigation is now winding down. The Democrats and the Justice Department are trying to exit with face-saving grace despite colossal failure to prove their assertion against Trump and his team, which assertion was in fact bogus from the beginning. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced with tepid fanfare that thirteen Russians are being indicted for attempting to interfere with the U.S. presidential election. It was a ho-hum moment intended to suggest that the magnificent obsession of the left with election meddling has somehow born fruit. Rosenstein noted that the Russians had posted 176,000 tweets in ten weeks, and that 50,258 accounts had been created and tweeted a million times. The tweets presumably were slanted with anti-Hillary bias. The "interference" began during the nomination season, and the Russians, according to Rosenstein (the reader will please excuse my skepticism), preferred Bernie Sanders or Donald Trump. To put this tweet threat in perspective, the reader should know that there are 500 million tweets on average generated every day on Twitter. If the total number of Russian tweets were concentrated on one day, that would still come to only 0.00352% of all the tweets on that day. If it were one million tweets over a five-month period, that would come to 0.0000235% of all tweets over that period. What an impact those tweets must have had!

Rosenstein also informed us that the massive Russian interference generated 129 real-world events that drew 340,000 Facebook users. If we look at the number of mobile active Facebook users for December 2016, we see that there were 1.74 billion. Thus, the Russians commandeered 0.000195402% of the Facebook users for that one month. Again, we can see how incredibly destructive such a program must have been. The figures are so ludicrous that one can only wonder why the Russians ever believed that they could have a significant impact. And, looking at the stats, we must be drawn to the conclusion that the Democrats have not only been making a mountain out of a mole hill, but been making a veritable Mt. Everest out of an anthill. In order to come up with these picayune charges, the Mueller investigation spent $6.7 million of our money during his first 4.5 months. Further, the indictment against the Russky-13 (Vladimir Putin will, we are certain, put those 13 individuals on the first plane out of Moscow with Washington, D.C. as its destination) states, "Defendants conspired to obstruct the lawful functions of the United States government through fraud and deceit, including by making expenditures in connection with the 2016 U.S. presidential election without proper regulatory disclosure[.]" However, as noted by The New American, "America is no stranger to spending money to interfere with foreign elections. In the last Israeli election, the Obama State Department funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money to the opposition of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations found that the State Department and a group called One Voice coordinated political activities  including the building of a voter database, the training of activists, and the hiring of a political consulting firm tied to President Obama himself." Further, as all informed students of history know, the U.S. had a significant role in installing the former shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi. Further, under President Ronald Reagan, we made significant deals with the Contras in Nicaragua, and President Bill Clinton arranged for $10 billion from the International Monetary Fund to be put in the hands of Boris Yeltsin. How indignant can we be when our hands have become dirtied in the same trough? The intent of the indictments is clearly to save face and to justify an unjustifiable attempt to impugn the integrity and lawfulness of the Trump presidency. The mockers and the malicious ones will never give up, even as these indictments are, it seems to this writer, the climax of the ridiculous and disgusting play we have witnessed since November 2016. Now we are moving into the denouement phase of the play as all the players appraise the extent of their justification of this investigation and try to capture some face-saving elements from their obvious failure. Rep. Adam Schiff has his feet firmly planted in the malice of his intentions. He has stated that whether or not Mueller determines that President Trump's collusion reaches the level of being a crime beyond a reasonable doubt, there was sufficient collusion to warrant Trump's being called "unpatriotic" or "immoral." Obviously, the name-calling will not end. But the creepy labeling is an exercise in futility. We the people now see through the travesty of these accusations and this investigation and desire to move on to make America great again.The Obama Portraits: But Is It Art?

When I was in art school, studying pretentious subjects alongside pretentious students taught by pretentious professors, we had the privilege of learning about basic forms of visual expression, expressed at their highest levels. You can learn a lot about the human condition and the yearnings of the heart through the passionate articulation of a great artist. A painting of a landscape or still life can move one to tears, especially when done by a sad genius like Vincent van Gogh. One of van Gogh's biggest fans, the brilliant Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, said of him, "We knew he would either surpass us all, or go mad. We never thought he would do both." My art school was literally connected to a world-class museum, and many of my classes were actually taught in the picture galleries, where we could discuss artistic theory in front of famous masterpieces. Masterpieces have a tendency to shut you up, especially when you think you know a thing or two. You can't do much more than just inhale the genius around an old master painting. You're confronted with the reality that what you're looking at is far beyond your talents and abilities. The best thing you can do is keep your mouth shut and try to learn something.

The recently unveiled Obama portraits are of a type that I have seen many times in my career as an artist and art historian. The poses are wooden, the compositions hackneyed, and both subjects have obviously been copied from photographs. To make up for the technical weakness of the painting's execution, the artist relies on gimmicks to drag their image over the finish line, hoping that that will mask his limited technical abilities, or at least divert attention from them. The official portrait is part of an old tradition perfected by Renaissance painters more than 500 years ago. The artists were generally painting powerful old men, who tended to be a bit ugly. To make up for what lacked in the sitter's physical beauty, the artist would emphasize the internal. A great painting of a king or pope tells you something about the subject's inner thoughts, his psyche. The image is more about what's going on inside his head rather than the outer trappings of his position or status. Great paintings by Titian and Velazquez show us the most powerful men in their world, but we feel we know them intimately. This is what a great artist can do with simple paint and canvas  no copying photographs, no assembly line of assistants doing most of the work, and no gimmicks to hide their lack of ability.

Portrait of Pope Innocent X by Diego Velazquez. The Obama portraits are kind of shocking  not only because the paintings are so cliched and amateurish, but because Barack and Michelle would choose artists primarily by virtue of their skin color and radical views instead of whether they could actually pull off an official portrait. With no budget limitations, you choose these two? These substandard paintings will hang in the National Gallery for all time. I assume that the Obamas wanted to prove a point. With the Obamas, everything comes down to race and retribution, and here was one last chance to rub someone's nose in something. The Obama portraits are a sad reflection on how bad a choice someone can make when given the opportunity to do something great. Think of the position of absolute privilege you would be in, if you could choose any artist in the world to paint your portrait. No ceiling on the budget. You can choose any artist, and he will immortalize, knowing he will be paid handsomely, and his work will be prominently displayed in the prestigious National Portrait Gallery. Bizarrely, you base your choice on political affiliation and race rather than artistic ability. If we chose pilots and surgeons in the same way, most of us would be dead. In that fancy art school I attended, we often had lofty discussions around art theory and "what is art?" Many hours were spent pontificating about what separates art from propaganda and where "message" fits in in a work of art. We never reached any satisfactory conclusions. I later visited the Ndebele tribe in South Africa, the tribe where the women elongate their necks with metal rings and paint geometric patterns on their huts. I was privileged to get to know some of these amazing women in a rural setting that no longer exists. One of the ladies was building a stone wall in front of her hut that seemed to serve no purpose, as it was too low to keep out intruders, and there were no security issues anyway. She told me she was building the wall so she could paint her tribal patterns on it; it was a kind of stone canvas. That's when the penny dropped for me about art theory. Art is art when it exists to showcase the pure expression conveyed by the creator. This simple woman in the bush taught me more about art and art theory than any of my first-world professors in a gleaming American city. I'm happy for the two artists the Obamas chose, because they've made some money and increased their profiles, and it's difficult to make a living as an artist. God bless them. I just wish the former president and his wife would not feel the need to politicize everything. We don't need any more of their lefty propaganda, but I guess they're still on their mission to ensure that our noble institutions that celebrate American greatness contain the leaven of the hard left. They could have left us with two great portraits. Art to hang in an art gallery. Instead, we got decorative propaganda. Tim Mostert is a cartoonist, author, and art historian. His latest book is Know Your Nation . He can be reached at tim@timtv.biz.Time's Up: Anti-Trump Forces Face Their Day of Reckoning

Let's suppose for a minute that Hillary Clinton and all her fellow Resisters, along with all their allies in the Deep State, had accepted the results of the 2016 election, as has been the tradition and expectation. Remember Hillary's sneering question to Donald at the debates  whether he would accept the election results? At that time, nobody thought Hillary would be the one to throw the temper tantrum when she lost, much less organize a resistance movement. Suppose that, instead of anger and outrage over losing the election and launching what is turning out to be a suicidal frontal assault on Donald Trump, Hillary and her minions had set about to co-opt him with flattering news coverage and invitations to all the most glittering social events. In the past, that's how it worked. The Powers that Be co-opted newcomers to the Executive and Legislative Branches of government with seduction  showering them with all the enticements within the political insider's bags of goodies. It's been done often before; the GOP is populated with legions of politicians who came to Washington promising the voters that they would be change agents. Instead, the so-called RINOs succumbed to the voices of the Sirens who control the media, the money, and the chairmanships. It is, as the saying goes, so much more pleasant and profitable "to go along to get along." After all, who wants to endure a ceaseless torrent of negative coverage in the Washington Post, the New York Times, CNN, and the rest of the MSM?

This time, finding no sealed divorce proceedings to crack open at the last minute to rig the election and failing in destroying their opposition with character attacks, the Hillary forces' insurance policy was to trump up charges of Russian collusion. I suppose it is the Arkansas-Chicago way. Plus, destroying your opponents does afford a certain amount of ego gratification. In fact, it's been obvious for a long time that the Clinton way is akin to Conan the Barbarian's  i.e., to "crush your enemies" is "what is best in life." Having no way, really, to lure the Trumps into the D.C. insiders' club, Hillary and the resistance movement  ably aided by the NeverTrump brigade  launched an actual duel to the death. So far, the Democrat and media chokehold on truth, as well as their cover-up schemes, has held up. But truth has a way of breaking through the toughest roadblocks eventually. More and more, it's looking as though the light of truth about Clinton-Obama corruption will be exposed sooner rather than later. At this point, it must be noted that while Trump blustered during the campaign that if he were elected, Hillary would end up in jail, afterward, perhaps wanting to sound magnanimous and presidential, he recanted and said he would not lead the U.S. on the route of the banana republics, where the loser of an election faces personal destruction. Trump's olive branch was not just rejected, but despised as well. Instead, it was the Clinton machine that, as Thomas Lifson described it, "weaponized the FBI" and used a "senior-level cabal" to organize a resistance movement to ensure Trump's personal destruction after the election. The Resisters obliviously underestimated Trump's appetite for a fight and his formidable political instincts. Worse, they totally misjudged his determined focus on fulfilling his promises and taking control of the levers of government to clean up Obama's mess. They still don't "get" that he is systematically implementing policies that will "Make America Great Again." It is becoming quite obvious that the Clinton-Obama Administration Cabal engaged in (as Victor David Hanson put it) "many things quite wrong and illegal." Further, it is becoming clear that high-level Obama officials and Clinton campaign staff deliberately and intentionally kept those "things" under wraps with the expectation that Hillary Clinton would be elected president and those doing the cover-up of crimes and misdemeanors would be protected and rewarded. The pattern of wrongdoing is being exposed through the work of a growing list of scholars and journalists like Victor Davis Hanson, Thomas Lifson, Roger Simon, Sharyl Attkinson, and Andrew McCarthy. The favorite metaphor to describe these analysts' work is to say they are peeling off the layers of an onion. Lawyers, congressional investigators, and journalists refer to removing the layers of "scandalous behavior" to get to the ugly truth of corruption and collusion in the Clinton-Obama administration's efforts to deny Trump the election and, once elected, to destroy both him personally and his presidency. Michael Goodwin, who used the term "scandalous behavior" to describe the FBI's Russian collusion probe, noted that each layer exposed reveals "how flawed and dirty that probe was." Goodwin concludes that the "fix was in" to "hurt Trump and help Clinton." The stench from each new revelation lingers on the media  with their dozens of "anonymously sourced" reports; FBI and DOJ leaders in the Obama era; the DNC; the British spy, Christopher Steele, who compiled the dossier at the center of the plot; and all sorts of documents with unverified accusations and allegations. It is looking as though, at the center of the onion, we'll find the Clinton machine. As Goodwin surmises, "The Clinton connections are so fundamental that there probably would not have been an FBI investigation without her involvement." If the evidence holds, Clinton's "brazen work of political genius" will be "perhaps the dirtiest trick ever played in presidential history." Throughout this whole scheme  what Roger Simon called "one of the great disgraces of American history" -- those involved have made a lot of money. Simon revealed that a bit player among the "sleazy hypocrites" involved in the "entire nauseating, disingenuous Russia investigation" is Adam Waldman, who was paid at least $2.36 million for his work as a go-between of some sort. Simon concluded that the Russian collusion investigation "was about hate and vengeance against fellow Americans, smearing your opponent by any means necessary." Fortunately, truth is winning, and all the villains in this sordid chapter of American history are, according to Thomas Lifson, "in the midst of utterly discrediting themselves." As Lifson notes, "A grand narrative of breathtaking conspiracy and corruption awaits us as the biggest political scandal in American history unfolds." My father-in-law used to shake his head at all the "goings on" during his time and declared his firm belief that "right always comes out on top." We can only pray that at this turbulent and crucial time in our own history, those who have created and abetted this mess will be held accountable and that truth will, indeed, prevail.Why Government Schools Are Unsustainable

I have a handful of friends who are teachers. Gathering with them over the weekend and hearing about their experiences was eye-opening. One of my friends teaches at a traditional public school in an impoverished area. He makes a better than average salary but is completely disenchanted by the experience and plans to quit the profession altogether after this school year. He has raised his students' proficiency rate to 90 percent  a remarkable accomplishment made possible by his dedication and hard work. Yet he receives little support from his principal and barely any backup from the students' parents, and his day is so consumed by paperwork and bureaucratic nonsense that he's overwhelmed, frazzled, and exhausted much of the time.

Another friend teaches at a private Catholic school. Though he teaches almost twice as many classes as the public school teacher I know and earns about half his salary, the private school teacher enjoys his work much more. His principal is supportive, his fellow teachers are enthusiastic, and the parents and students are engaged in the educational process. It's a positive, rewarding workplace environment. Then there are the charter schools. My Catholic schoolteacher friend told me many people he knows prefer to send their children to their local parochial schools for a religious education, but since quality charter schools are available in the area, they go with the free option instead. The private school-charter school debate is complex, but it's obvious that the traditional government school system is broken. The very way it has been set up makes its demise inevitable. Its doom is a matter of not "if," but "when." How many students have to suffer and fail before its ultimate downfall becomes reality? My friend who teaches at the public told me about a truly heartbreaking situation in his classroom. A 13-year-old he instructs in the 5th grade (5th-graders are usually 10 or 11 years old) can't read a single word. He was held back one year, then passed out of protocol and on through to higher grades, despite having to sign his name with an "X" because he is almost completely illiterate. My friend told me that failing a student once is all that's allowed at his government-run school. And as the boy's teacher, he'll have to give the student a 70 grade and pass him, even though the student does none of the class or homework assignments. What will become of this student? I shudder to think. His life, at best, will likely be made up of minimum-wage jobs. At worst, homelessness and crime. My teacher friend doesn't know what to do about such an extreme case, and the school district doesn't care. This circumstance is just one of thousands of similar cases taking place all across the country every day. The "pass 'em through" mentality of many education administrators who care more about getting funding for their own interest than they do about students results in illiterate 13-year-olds in the 5th grade, many of whom then end up perpetuating a cycle of poverty and crime. The disheartened, frustrated teachers see their efforts to make a difference fail at the hands of a defective system, and fewer qualified people are attracted to the profession. What we're left with is the dregs of the education community, who don't care about teaching, do a poor job at it, and continue producing generations of uneducated children who often contribute little, if anything, to their communities. It can't continue. Sooner or later, the public school teaching profession will be empty. No one will be crazy enough to want to step into a classroom environment that is effectively set up for failure. So few students will be armed with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the real world that the future taxpayer base will dry up, and there will be no one left to fund the welfare state on which they'll all depend. Or perhaps parents will become so fed up with the current dysfunctional system that lawmakers will have no choice but to hear and respond to families' cries for education freedom. I pray it's the latter. Teresa Mull (tmull@heartland.org) is a research fellow in education policy at the Heartland Institute.We have no idea how many heart attacks occurred in Washington yesterday due to Special Counsel Mueller's indictment . And how many political careers will be thrown into the toilet today.

In 2005, American scientists deliberately sent a rocket to collide with a comet. After the collision, scientists were able to conduct a detailed analysis of the internal composition of the comet from the spectrum of debris ejected from the crater. It was a considerable achievement. But my friend working for NASA commented on this event differently: "You have no idea how many doctoral dissertations were thrown in the toilet yesterday."

The creatures of the Washington swamp for the past year have invested almost all of their political capital in fanning the story of Trump's criminal conspiracy with Vladimir Putin. They were helped by the echo chamber of well fed courtier journalists and the higher-ups of the American intelligence agencies. They secured the appointment of a special prosecutor, Mueller, to hold Trump accountable.

In other words, Mueller's investigation was the rocket that was to kick Trump out of the White House.

The rocket's blow was stunning  Mueller's investigation fully vindicated Trump. But Russian internet trolls were selected as the scapegoats.

In fairness, it should be noted that there is still a dose of reality in the indictment published by the Department of Justice on Friday. Some of the thirteen Russians who obtained a tourist visa to the United States provided false information about their employment and the purpose of their visit. If this allegation is proven in court, they will be banned from entering the U.S. forever.

However, they lied not only to the American government. They also lied to the Russian government when they promised to influence the formation of public opinion in America. The budget of the disinformation activities of the Russian intelligence is merely ludicrous  several million dollars. For comparison, to seriously affect the election of just one congressman in an uncharted rural district in New Jersey, you need to spend five to ten times more.

Also, Russian internet trolls illegally used the stolen Social Security numbers and the dates of birth of real American citizens to open bank accounts and PayPal accounts and organize political rallies in the United States (both pro and contra Trump). Illegal banking operations are a federal crime.

That's all, folks. Neither Trump nor his staff, as expected, is tarnished. On the election results, the activity of the trolls did not affect much of anything (and how could they affect with the laughable penetration of the entire U.S. political advertising market to the tune of 0.001%?).

The missile, launched by the Obama's Deep State, fell into the Trump White House but did not penetrate.

The criminal consequences for thirteen Russian scapegoats are more or less understandable (although few in America are interested). But politically, the implications for those American politicians who not only became anti-Trumpists, but also burned all the political bridges behind them will be severe. The political opposition is legal in America, but the delegitimization of the legally elected president is not.

Mueller finishes his investigation victoriously, although not at all as he intended. After all, the State Department issued a visa to these Russians under the leadership of Obama. And the FBI under the direction of Obama did not move a finger in this matter, although the organized activity of Russians on the English-speaking internet was known since 2015.

What will Obama's Deep State do if Israel and the United Kingdom officially file charges against one of Obama's lieutenants, Jim Messina, for precisely the same interference (and with the same result) in the democratic elections as what the Russians did?

In term of prognosis, it looks as though the word "impeachment" will disappear from the lexicon of the inhabitants of the Washington swamp from now on. And all of a sudden, they will be able to see through Christopher Steele's "Russian dossier" on Trump. As if nothing had happened, they will begin to speak as a matter of course of the "active measures" disinformation campaign of the KGB or FSB. Nothing sensational  the Russians have been doing this in the West since the mid-1930s.

They have had some successes over the years. But not at this time.On January 5, 2018, a person close to Nikolas Cruz contacted the FBIs Public Access Line (PAL) tipline to report concerns about him. The caller provided information about Cruzs gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting.

As if it couldn't soil itself more in the wake of its flawed Russian investigation scandal targeting Donald Trump, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is in hot water again, this time over its failure to act on at least two very specific tipoffs about the Parkland, Florida school spray shooter, who murdered 17 people in cold blood. Here is the FBI's press release :

Under established protocols, the information provided by the caller should have been assessed as a potential threat to life. The information then should have been forwarded to the FBI Miami Field Office, where appropriate investigative steps would have been taken. We have determined that these protocols were not followed for the information received by the PAL on January 5. The information was not provided to the Miami Field Office, and no further investigation was conducted at that time.

This tipoff failure follows an earlier one, from an Alabama bail bondsman, who sent email to the FBI about the gunman's plans, posted on YouYube, of becoming "a professional school shooter," which bounced back. After that, the bail bondsman called the FBI local field office, whose agents promised him they'd "look into it." They didn't. Their subsequent claims that they couldn't "identify" Nikolas Cruz from among the fourteen people who hold the name is ridiculous. Reporters have no problem finding the right person among such a small pool of names. And if the FBI, with all its far superior investigative resources just can't do that job, well, it isn't exactly an elite organization of lawmen that the taxpayers get their money's worth on.

It makes one wonder if anyone over there really is on the case in identifying school shooters who telegraph their intentions, again and again.

To its credit, the FBI has admitted blame and promises to try harder, which is a lot more than you would expect of the highly politicized organization as it operated under the Obama administration. But it was an inexcusable error, suggesting a bunch of disgusting incompetents unfit for work at the bureau over at its Public Access Tipline.

That group, which touts itself as "more than customer service," portrays its tipline operators as super-agents, and the voice of the FBI to the public. In its public relations presentation, one of its operators says:

We are analysts, we are intelligence, we arewe have to gather the information, we have to know the questions to ask, we have to know what a federal crime is and what is not. And we are assisting the agents in the field.

Oh, hurl. The behavior of the telephone operator who took the very specific tip about Nikolas Cruz, his guns, his angry statements and his apparent signals sent about shooting up a school was to yawn and go on to the next call. If the bureau is serious about the integrity of its tipline, it needs to fire whoever it was who s-canned that call.

But it needs to do more than just that.

It actually needs people who are tasked with identifying potential spray shooters and finding the means of taking them out of circulation, or else getting them the mental health or coping mechanism resources they may need if they can't be removed from society as threats to the public.

Much has been made of the fact that the FBI has expended considerable resources on targeting President Trump to paint him as a Russian agent, so it's natural to wonder if the resources spent there had anything to do with the absence of resources placed on targeting school shooters instead. It is a reality that counterintelligence and criminal matters are different. But money comes in one lump from the top for the 35,000-person agency, so intelligent people might ask if cash was misallocated.

But it's fair to say not enough did go into identifying school shooters or hiring quality personnel at the tipline where such people might have been identified. So who hunts potential spray shooters posting their plans on the Internet?

Based on a look at the FBI's organizational chart on its website, it doesn't really seem obvious.

Based on the kinds of public comments left on the FBI's Community Outreach Facebook page, the problem of ignored tips seems to be a widespread problem.

Just look at the organization: Which among the subdirectorates - National Security, Criminal, Cyber, Response & Services, Intelligence, Science & Technology, Infomation & Technology or Human Resources is most likely to be charged with dealing with tips about spray shooters. I would go with Criminal, Cyber, Responses & Services. Under that heading, there's a Critical Incident Response subdirectorate, there's a National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, which includes crimes against children in its behavioral analysis unit. Presumably there would be action on identifying potential school shooters. There is a pretty good report further on down by the unit here about how bad guys always send signals. Too bad no one at the bureau read it. But it's just analysis.

What I am looking for is a particular kind of sleuth who goes after nuts on the Internet who telegraph those violent intentions. I don't see it. And if it's not on the chart, there's a possiblity it's nobody's job. It might not be, given that it isn't easy to bust someone for threats. But if there is something missing, something needs to be fixed. The bureau is being flooded with tips and apparently it's not working.

The FBI does have an Active Shooter Resources page, which comes closer to the matter at hand:

The FBI notes that it is tasked to help clean up after spray shootings, in the wake of the Sandy Hook killings, and:

Second, working with other cabinet agencies, the FBI is finding ways to help prevent and respond to active shooters. A White House working groupconsisting of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Homeland Security, Department of Education, and Department of Health and Human Servicesis part of a broader initiative, Now is the Time, undertaken after the Sandy Hook shootings. DOJ, led by the FBI, was specifically tasked with training law enforcement and other first responders to ensure that protocols for responding to active shooter situations are consistent across the country.

Based on a Google search, the Obama-initiated 'Now is the Time' doesn't seem to have done anything worth noting. It did spend $115 million for the initiative, according to the partner-agency linked, and another $25 million for a Mental Health Block Grant as it was called "to help states and territories develop programs to address early signs of serious mental illness, including early signs of psychosis" which might fall under the parameters of catching Cruz.

If you look up how the Now is the Time program is going, which the FBI touts as its means of preventing school shootings, you get this. The FBI's own link to 'The Time is Now' goes here, which is a White House archived site, featuring President Obama stating in 2013:

This is not some Washington commission. This is not something where folks are going to be studying the issue for six months and publishing a report that gets read and then pushed aside. This is a team that has a very specific task, to pull together real reforms right now.

None of this inspires much confidence. While the governor of Florida's call on new FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign is extreme and unwarranted, it does point to an agency in need of a good scrubbing out, to get rid of non-productive time-servers and deadwood, and revitalize the agency with a renewed sense of mission. Coming on the back of a scandal involving the wasting of resources on targeting a political opponent, it can't come soon enough. Some fresh ideas are needed at the bureau now to make the agency work.Gaslighting Republicans for political gain

Las Vegas, the First Baptist Church, the Gabby Giffords shooting...the left has used "mass shooting" events to push a narrative: gun control. But the liberals' reaction to the Texas church shooting is not about gun control. Democrats care not a whit about the victims in the latest mass shooting in Parkland, Florida beyond their ability to use the bodies of dead children to gaslight Republicans for political gain. Again, they and they alone care about these children, and if we (Republicans) aren't prepared to accept their fix to this problem, we alone are responsible for these deaths.

If this most recent perpetrator (name withheld) acted out for fame and power, is that not exactly what Democrats are doing as they rush to the microphone (and fundraise) to signal their virtue? A sensible solution to "school shootings and other safe zone shootings" is to permit teachers, administrators, and other trained citizens to carry concealed in schools. As someone said on the radio yesterday; "let one of these nutbags get his head blown off while attempting to commit his heinous act, and future nutbags will think twice." But no  as with the DACA debate, and so many other pressing issues, the Democrats have no interest in solving this problem, unless of course we capitulate to their entire agenda. They will continue to use dead children and illegal aliens as a sick political ploy to win elections. The only question is, if Democrats (seemingly) gain from this ploy, could they be playing a more active role in the perpetration of said heinous acts?The Hill:

In text messages Hampton turned over to the Chicago Tribune, sent between September and December 2016, Quinn repeatedly asked Hampton to drinks, even after she asked him to stop. Quinn complimented Hampton's appearance, asked whether she had a boyfriend and asked why she did not find him attractive.

"I need you to stop. I have dedicated a lot of time to this election cycle and I will continue to do so, but I need to be able to do my work without you contacting me like this," Hampton wrote in October 2016, a month before Election Day. "I'm not interested. I just want to do my work."

A month later, Quinn asked Hampton out again, then asked whether she found him attractive.

Quinn is the brother of Marty Quinn, a Chicago alderman who represents the district in which Madigan lives and another senior member of Madigan's political circle. Hampton told Marty Quinn about his brother's behavior about a year ago, she said in a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Monday.

Quinn had worked for Madigan for almost 20 years, Madigan said in a statement released by his office.

Hampton left Madigan's organization in April. In the filing with the EEOC, she said she believed she faced retaliation for refusing Quinn's advances. She sent a letter to Madigan's Chicago home in November, detailing the harassment.

Despite the letter, Madigan did not fire Quinn until Monday, after Hampton detailed her treatment and showed the text messages to a Chicago Tribune reporter. Madigan said Monday he had assigned his former chief counsel, Heather Wier Vaught, to investigate Hampton's claims after receiving Hampton's letter in November.If a RINO beats the Dem for North Dakota Senate, have we really won anything?

North Dakota representative at large Kevin Cramer has decided to run for the Senate seat held by Democrat Heidi Heitkamp. North Dakota, which President Trump won by 30 percentage points, is expected to favor the Republican. Kevin Cramer is a "Republican in name only" (a RINO). He has a 36% rating from ConservativeReview.com. But hey, what do you want? Perfection?

Cramer has voted for every big spending bill you can think of, including the latest Trump-McConnell-Schumer spending bill recently passed. In 2016, he voted to fund Obama priorities and to give Planned Parenthood a raise. He voted to raise the debt limit by $1.5 trillion and increase spending. He voted against ending funding of Obama's illegal amnesty. In short, he'd be in perfect sync with Republicans in the Senate and President Trump. Cramer would vote for big spending bills. He would vote to give amnesty for millions of illegal aliens. He would do whatever Mitch McConnell told him to. But it's not all bad. If elected, Cramer would actually become the most conservative senator from North Dakota. That's because the other Senator, John Hoeven, has an even lower rating on ConservativeReview.com, of only 28%. Cramer also as an "F" rating, but his is 36%, so he would be the more conservative one. There is another candidate running in the N.D. GOP primary, but he is only a state senator who is deemed to have little chance against a statewide office-holder like Cramer. Given Trump's popularity in the state, we have a great chance to replace a Democrat with a RINO and make it less likely the Democrats will retake the Senate, keeping it safely in GOP RINO hands. Isn't that great? Ed Straker is the senior writer at Newsmachete.com.The United States of America, through its departments and agencies, regulates the activities of foreign individuals and entities in and affecting the United States in order to prevent, disclose, and counteract improper foreign influence on U.S. elections and on the U.S. political system. U.S. law bans foreign nationals from making certain expenditures or financial disbursements for the purpose of influencing federal elections. U.S. law also bars agents of anyforeign entity from engaging in political activities within the United States without first registering with the Attorney General. And U.S. law requires certain foreign nationals seeking entry to the United States to obtain a visa by providing truthful and accurate information to the government.

On Friday, February 16, Special Counsel Robert Mueller indicted thirteen Russian nationals and several Russian companies for "interfering" with the 2016 election. Paragraph one of the indictment reads:

The indictment does not charge that Russians colluded or conspired with Donald Trump or the Trump campaign. The indictment does not allege that Russia affected the results of the election. The indictment does charge that Russia started its campaign in 2014, before Trump announced, so that its intent to interfere did not matter as to the candidates.

Russia denigrated Hillary, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio and generally favored Bernie Sanders, Jill Stein, and Donald Trump.

The main thrust of the indictment is that the Russians "failed to register as foreign agents carrying out political activities within the United States, and obtaining visas through statements." Had the Russians registered and stated so in their visa applications, then presumably there would be no violations, except for stealing the identities of Americans.

The indictment lists the following ads placed by the Russians on social media, using phony and stolen names:

April 6, 2016. "You know, a great number of black people support us saying that #Hillary Clinton Is Not My President" April 7, 2016. "I say no to Hillary Clinton / I say no to manipulation" April 19, 2016. "JOIN our #HillaryClintonForPrison2016" May 10, 2016. "Donald wants to defeat terrorism . . . Hillary wants to sponsor it" May 19, 2016. "Vote Republican, vote Trump, and support the Second Amendment!" May 24, 2016. "Hillary Clinton Doesn't Deserve the Black Vote" June 7, 2016. "Trump is our only hope for a better future!" June 30, 2016. "#NeverHillary, #HillaryForPrison, #Hillary4Prison, #HillaryForPrison2016, #Trump2016. #Trump, #Trump4President" July 20, 2016. "Ohio Wants Hillary 4 Prison" August 4, 2016. "Hillary Clinton has already committed voter fraud during the Democrat Iowa Caucus." August 10, 2016. "We cannot trust Hillary to take care of our veterans!" October 14, 2016. "Among all the candidates Donald Trump is the one and only who can defend the police from terrorists." October 19, 2016. "Hillary is a Satan, and her crimes and lies had proved just how evil she is."

These are not original comments about Hillary.

We did not need the Russians to state the obvious about Hillary. This is a job that plenty of Americans do and are willing to continue doing. These comments and opinions were said by many Americans since 1992, when Hillary and her husband were first inflicted on us. But the Russians were indicted not for the content of their ads, but for failing to register as foreign agents and not disclosing their activities on their visas.

After almost one year, millions of dollars spent by a team of Obama- and Hillary-supporting attorneys, with the help of the Obama DOJ and Obama FBI to get warrants based not on probable cause, but on the unverified Steele-Hillary dossier, this is the evidence of Russian interference? Some ads on social media?

Given all the mainstream media hype about Russian interference, one would have thought the evidence would be that the Russians and Trump made up lies about Hillary to get votes for Trump.

One would think the Russians made up stories such as:

1. Hillary lied about Benghazi by blaming the attack on a video when she knew that it was caused by Islamist terrorists. She did nothing to improve security despite repeated requests.

2. Hillary lied about Watergate.

3. Hillary attacked the women who accused her husband of rape and sexual harassment.

4. Hillary enabled her husband to sexually harass women.

5. Hillary approved the sale of 20% of our uranium to Russia in return for contributions to the Clinton Foundation of over $140 million and speech fees of $500,000 in Moscow for her husband.

6. Hillary used a private unsecure email server to conduct her secretary of state duties, lied about it, and destroyed evidence of the emails.

7. Hillary paid a foreign agent, Christopher Steele, to compile an "unverified and salacious" document, based on paid Russian informants, and information from Hillary's dirty tricks boys, Blumenthal and Shearer, to damage Trump.

8. Hillary paid Steele to submit the "salacious and unverified" dossier to the FBI to be used to get warrants to spy on Trump.

There is no question that Steele, a former British MI6 agent, worked to interfere with the 2016 election to damage Trump and help Hillary. Was Steele, given his contacts with Russian informants and reliance on Russian informants, acting as a foreign agent? Did Steele register as a foreign agent? Was Steele acting on behalf of Russia in addition to acting on behalf of Hillary? These are questions that a special counsel should have investigated.

The Foreign Agent Registration Act, 28 USC 611, defines a foreign agent as follows:

1) any person who acts as an agent, representative, employee, or servant, or any person who acts in any other capacity at the order, request, or under the direction or control, of a foreign principal or of a person any of whose activities are directly or indirectly supervised, directed, controlled, financed, or subsidized in whole or in major part by a foreign principal, and who directly or through any other person (i) engages within the United States in political activities for or in the interests of such foreign principal[.]

Given Steele's close association with Russian informants, presumably authorized to cooperate with Steele by the Russian government, there is a good argument that Steele was acting on behalf of Russia within the meaning of the statute to interfere in our election. He also acted on behalf of Hillary.

Further, if Russia went to the extent alleged by Mueller and the Democrats to interfere with the 2016 election, it is reasonable to assume that Steele was used by Russia as part of its interference. Steele's interference is more serious because it also involved Hillary and the DNC.

Hillary paid Steele, which makes her a co-conspirator with Steele.

The Steele report, paid for by Hillary, also relies on Russian informants, which means that Hillary and Steele conspired with paid Russian agents to interfere with the election to help Hillary and damage Trump.

This indictment raises the obvious question of why Mueller has not indicted Christopher Steele, who is involved in carrying out political activities in the USA, and why Mueller has not indicted those who assisted Steele, such as Hillary, the DNC, Blumenthal, Shearer, and others. A real prosecutor can make a persuasive argument that Steele's association with Russian informants makes him a foreign agent.

18 USC 2, one of the statutes in the indictment, reads:

a) Whoever commits an offense against the United States or aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or procures its commission, is punishable as a principal.

Hillary paid Steele to assemble a "salacious and unverified" dossier, with help from Blumenthal and Shearer, and paid Russian informants.

Indict them.

Image via SecretName101, Wikipedia.Take for instance the liberal notion that stricter gun laws prevent mass shootings. If that's true, then why do the same individuals who demand restrictions on gun ownership also claim that if access to abortion is limited, women looking to terminate a pregnancy will find a way to kill babies in back alleys?

It's beginning to be glaringly apparent that those on the left cannot recognize the absurd double standard that exists in almost everything they say. On one day, a specific kind of logic applies to one scenario. Then, the next day, those same people mock the logic that was offered as gospel the day before.

Liberals refute themselves when discussing people, too. Those on the left will vilify a political figure they disagree with for behavior that one month prior they celebrated in one of their own.

A recent example of this kind of hypocrisy took place on The View, when one of the president's most vocal critics decided that Mike Pence is "mentally ill." It happened during a "hot topics" segment, when a tape of disgruntled ex-Trump White House staffer and former Apprentice star Omarosa Manigault Newman aired dirty laundry in the company of her Celebrity Big Brother competitors.

A supposed lover of Jesus, Omarosa counseled the group:

As bad as you think Trump is, you would be worried about Pence. Everyone that is wishing for impeachment might want to reconsider their life. I am Christian, I love Jesus, but [Pence] thinks Jesus tells him to say things.

In the clip, Ms. Newman referred to Pence as "extreme," which, ironically, is the kind of disciple Scripture demands.

Nevertheless, upon hearing Omarosa's critical remarks, The View crew, who regularly pan Trump, responded to Omarosa's fodder like a pack of salivating wolves.

Co-host and self-described "faithful ... Catholic" Sunny Hostin expressed negative feelings about Pence because, Hostin said, when the vice president was governor of Indiana, he was a "hated figure" who tended to put a "religious veneer" on things. No one knows whether Mr. Pence ever claimed to speak in tongues, but that didn't stop Hostin from pontificating, "I don't know that I want my vice president, you know, speaking in tongues and having Jesus speak to him."

Although Hillary Clinton regularly "communed" with Eleanor Roosevelt, the female panel agreed that having a leader who thinks he hears Jesus's voice is a problem. Apparently, that consensus didn't go far enough; Joy Behar had to take things a step farther when she offered up a psychiatric diagnosis based on Pence hearing Jesus's voice, which Behar said is synonymous with "mental illness."

The View co-host told the other ladies, "It's one thing to talk to Jesus. It's another thing when Jesus talks to you. That's called mental illness if I'm not correct, hearing voices."

Behar couldn't leave it at that. Instead, she continued by making a sarcastic reference to the wisdom Pence exercises concerning male-female relationships in the age of #MeToo. Joy, who was photographed once grabbing the late Robin Williams's crotch, continued by asking, "My question is, can he talk to Mary Magdalene without his wife in the room?"

Joy Behar's remark was not only discriminatory, but perplexing, especially coming from a Muslim apologist.

Why? Because in November of 2017, after writing the book The Great Gasbag: An A-to-Z Guide to Surviving Trump World, while appearing on MSNBC's Morning Joe, Behar said she penned the survival guide "Because [she was] being told by God to save this country."

In other words, just three months before calling Mike Pence "mentally ill," Joy Behar admitted that God spoke to her and that she wrote a book in response to conversation she had with the Almighty. Behar might not have realized it, but by calling Pence "mentally ill," she tacitly admitted that her book about the "Great Gasbag" was inspired by a questionable psychological state.

Then again, let's remember that based on the political expediency of what is said, liberals do tend to vacillate between condemnation and adoration. Leftist shills like Joy Behar practice political pragmatism at its finest.

Nevertheless, by labeling Pence psychologically unfit, Behar may have talked herself into apolitical corner, especially if The View airs the clip of Oprah's 60 Minutes Overtime interview on CBS's This Morning.

In that conversation, Oprah, a woman Joy Behar feels is capable of beating the "Great Gasbag," is asked by CBS senior producer Ann Silvio if the rumors of a presidential bid are true. During the sit-down, Oprah revealed that after the Cecil B. de Mille Award speech she gave at the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, "wealthy men began calling to tell her to run and that they'd raise $1-billion to help her campaign."

Winfrey told the curious correspondent, "I think that when you have that many people whose opinions you value coming at you, it's worthy of thinking about."

Then the billionaire mogul uttered something Joy Behar needs to think about before reaffirming her desire to have the Big O "run the world." Oprah clarified that despite all the offers from affluent men, "[she's] never looked outside for other people to tell [her] when [she] should be making a move."

Unsure whether a run for the White House is the direction she should take, Winfrey matter-of-factly asked Silvio, "If God actually wanted me to run, wouldn't God kind of tell me?" Then the former talk show host announced, "And I haven't heard that."

Not to burst the "Oprah-4-President" bubble, but based on Joy's assessment of Pence, doesn't the great black hope for foolproof victory over Donald Trump measure up to Behar's "mentally ill" yardstick?

With that in mind, Jesus is probably still whispering political directives into the View co-host's ear. The dutiful follower that she is, Joy obeys, and "saves this country," by continuing to embody the liberal mindset, whose inconsistent statements ensure that the "Great Gasbag" and his "mentally ill" vice president will run America for another seven years.

Jeannie hosts a blog at www.jeannie-ology.com.On February 26, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the request of Mark Janus, a public-sector worker in Illinois, to overturn Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, the 41-year-old precedent that allows public employee unions to collect mandatory dues from workers.

Janus's argument is that his First Amendment right to free speech is violated by compulsory unionism. Being forced to pay union dues, even if it's only in the form of an agency fee, is tantamount to forcing him to support a political agenda that he may disagree with. He further argues that there is no line between the unions' political activities and collective bargaining, since bargaining with the government affects taxes, spending, etc., all of which are political by nature.

Logic and the Constitution are on the side of Janus. If he prevails, the ramifications will be felt far and wide. To see why, consider the adverse effects that flowed from the Abood decision.

First, since 1977, membership in public-sector unions has exploded to about 7.2 million today. This has resulted in the coffers of the unions overflowing with money, much of which is devoted to political purposes. Union financial contributions skew local and state elections, favoring union allies.

As a result, many state and local governments in non-right to work states have become larger, more costly, and significantly harder to manage. Think how hard it is to fire an incompetent teacher or cop. Government officials are forced to bargain with those who can greatly influence election outcomes. This is a conflict of interest in the extreme, and it costs society greatly. Blue states like California, Connecticut, Illinois, and New Jersey, where public-sector unions are strong, are in a permanent fiscal crisis, mostly due to unaffordable and obscenely generous public-sector pensions.

This leads to a second factor. Because of excessive public-sector labor costs and pension commitments, many public service needs are starved for funds, including road maintenance, water and sewerage, and the like. Perhaps most pernicious is how human welfare funds get the short end while the unionized work force gets fatter. Where are all the progressive moralists on this? Why do unionized government employees get far better benefits than most of the taxpayers who pay for them?

Third, public-sector unions are one of the mainstays for the Democratic Party. In 2016, the teacher unions alone made $32 million in political contributions, 94 percent of which went to Democrats. Overall, public-sector unions contributed over $60 million in that election cycle. These unions are also a major source of volunteers for Democrat campaigns.

Fourth, because of the compulsion inherent in Abood, union bosses have been relieved of the responsibility of delivering good service to their membership. A recent AFSCME survey of its 1.6 million members found that a mere 35% of its members would pay unions dues if not required to do so. This echoes what happened in Wisconsin when Gov. Scott Walker passed right-to-work legislation. Public-sector union membership plummeted after the Walker reforms were put into effect. This shows how far out of touch public-sector unions are with their own membership.

If Janus wins, the public-sector unions will not disappear. But their gravy-train ride will be over. The unions will be, shall we say, civilized. Their knee-jerk political activity in support of the left will be curtailed. Many states and municipalities will be better able to manage themselves with union influence diminished. What's not to like about this?But his veterans secretary, David Shulkin, has gotten into a bit of trouble , apparently lying and forging documentation.

Boy, President Trump must really like Obama-era holdovers! He put one in charge of conducting phony immigration raids at ICE and picked another one to run Veterans Affairs. I guess he figured that Obama appointees would be best suited to drain the swamp!

A scathing report released Wednesday found "serious derelictions" in a 10-day, $122,000 business trip the secretary of veterans affairs took to Europe, which included airfare for his wife and extensive sightseeing. According to the report, Secretary David J. Shulkin traveled to Denmark and London for meetings about health care for veterans, accompanied by his wife, a small staff and a six-person security detail, but nearly half of his time was spent visiting castles and other tourist sites. "This was time that should have been spent conducting official V.A. business and not providing personal travel concierge services to Secretary Shulkin and his wife," Inspector General Michael J. Missal concluded in the report. To justify paying for the secretary's wife's $4,000 airfare, the report said, the department's chief of staff altered an email to indicate that Dr. Shulkin and his wife had been specifically invited to an honorary dinner in Denmark, when in fact they had not.

Is this how "draining the swamp" is supposed to work?

Meanwhile, many veterans still cannot get prompt medical care at V.A. facilities. GOP senators were pushing a bill to give veterans the options to go to private doctors, but Shulkin was apparently resisting the program, called "Choice."

It would allow veterans who have to wait more than 30 days for a doctor's appointment or live more than 40 miles from a VA facility to get private-sector care. The VA has bought some private medical care for decades. But Choice represented a significant expansion, and Democrats were wary that it would open the door to privatizing VA health care on a much broader scale. ... the Choice program was out of money again and needed an extension as part of the end-of-year spending deal. Tester vowed to make it the last one he would agree to. He called on Shulkin to break the stalemate by publicly endorsing his and Isakson's bill. "I would love to have the VA come out forcefully for this bill," he said on the Senate floor in late December. "I think it would help get it passed." In a private meeting, Isakson and Tester chided Shulkin for withholding support for their bill, according to three people briefed on the meeting[.]

So we have an Obama holdover who is ethically challenged and withholding support for veterans to get prompt medical care in the private sector.

President Trump has made some great appointments. Jeff Sessions is the best attorney general since Michael Mukasey. Nikki Haley is the best U.N. Ambassador since Jeanne Kirkpatrick. So far, Neil Gorsuch has proven to be an excellent Supreme Court justice. And Rex Tillerson's reign of terror at the State Department is heartening.

But Trump has made some terrible appointments, like Shulkin and Thomas Homan at ICE. As Obama holdovers, these people should never have been picked. It makes you wonder what was going through Trump's mind to pick people Barack Obama thought were good.

Ed Straker is the senior writer at Newsmachete.com.

Image: Dan4th Nicholas, Flickr.Approximately 73-percent of Snapchats Android and iOS reviews in February were of the one-star variety, data compiled by app market intelligence firm Apptopia shows. Android users reviewing the app looked somewhat more favorably on its controversial redesign than their iOS peers, with only 62-percent of their ratings given this month being entirely negative. The revamped version of the app prompted significant public backlash since becoming more widely available in recent weeks, with hundreds of thousands of users even signing a petition against Snaps annoying design change.

Despite the influx of one-star ratings observed on both the Google Play Store and Apples iOS App Store, Snapchat has been doing reasonably well in recent times and actually managed to grow its user base, Apptopias data shows. Snapchats number of daily active users in the United States increased by seven percentage points this month alone and jumped one-percent globally over the same 17-day period. In terms of actual numbers, the ephemeral messaging service so far added more than a million daily active American users in February, as measured by Apptopias analytics platform. The findings are in line with Snaps recent financial report that claimed the Venice, Los Angeles-based company managed to add nearly nine million people to its platform in the final quarter of 2017. Over the last 30 days, people aged 35 to 50 increased their Snapchat presence and now account for 17-percent of the apps user base. At this point last month, the same demographic made up 13-percent of its users, according to the analytics firm.

Even though Snapchat is reportedly continuing to grow, its polarizing redesign is still affecting its standing on two of the most popular app stores on the planet. While nearly three out of four people who reviewed it so far in February gave the app a one-star score, such dismal feedback only makes up 12.6-percent of its lifetime ratings, according to Apptopia. Snap has no intention of rolling back the old design of its interface, with CEO Evan Spiegel recently concluding the new version of the app works because celebrities arent your friends. The company will soon be celebrating its first anniversary on the public market, having concluded the last calendar year with a quarterly loss of $350 million, its best financial period to date.Google has today provided some details on its plans for expansion in 2018 within the US. These plans include a significantly larger office and data center presence across fourteen US States. In some cases, the expansion will see new offices and data centers emerging, while in other cases it will be a matter of expanding infrastructure at existing locations.

The blog post on this comes directly from Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, who announced a $2.5 billion investment project relevant to just five of those states  Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia and Oklahoma. As part of that particular investment, Pichai confirmed he was in attendance today in Clarksville/Montgomery County in Tennessee for the opening of the first of the companys new data centers. As for the other nine states, Pichai confirmed development was in place to either expand current offices or open new ones in California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington. The image at the bottom of this article visually highlights Googles plans for the year ahead by showing the companys current distribution of offices and data centers, as well as the new areas Google has pegged for new and/or expansion of facilities.

In the wider scheme of things, Pichai explained its data centers already employ around 1,900 people, while suggesting the number of jobs created through a combination of its current construction and renewable energy efforts is in the 1000s. With 1000s more jobs expected to become available in due course through the expansion plans detailed today  in line with comments made by the company earlier this month during the provision of its Q4 2017 earnings call. Pichai noted this sort of expansion which varies across the country is not only essential to the development of our products but also to bringing diverse perspectives to the company. While the expansion plans detailed here are specific to the US, this is only part of Googles growth ambitions with the company making a number of investments in other parts of the globe as well. Including the development of a substantial UK-based headquarters in London which is also expected to maintain and generate a number of jobs in the country.One of the most prominent venture capitalists in Silicon Valley is leaving the sector for political reasons. Investor Peter Thiel, arguably best known for his involvement in Facebook, has announced he is reducing his involvement in the sector due to the increased intolerance for conservative values. Over the past few years, Thiel has also sold his stake or left the board of several high-profile startups such as Asana, Zenefits, and Twilio. A resident of the San Francisco area for the past forty years, Thiel is moving his home and investment firms to Los Angeles. Thiels plans for Los Angeles include a new media outlet aimed at the discussion of conservative topics.

Thiel has been involved in several prominent startups during his tenure in Silicon Valley. One of the most noteworthy was as co-founder of PayPal with Elon Musk where he served as CEO until the company was sold to eBay in 2002. However, one of Thiels greatest financial success stories is his involvement in Facebook. Thiel purchased 10% of the company for $50 million in 2004. With Facebook now being valued at over 500 billion, Thiel has profited over $1 billion from the investment. However, due to support for presidential candidate Donald Trump during the 2016 election, Thiel drew much criticism from many at Facebook as well as fellow board member Netflix chief executive Richard Hastings. In a 2016 email, Hastings questioned whether Thiel was fit to continue his role on the board due to his Trump endorsement. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg declined the removal request stating political diversity was key to the workplace. Thiel is expected to remain on Facebooks board at least for the short term.

According to a recent survey by the Lincoln Network, the lions share of tech workers would describe their workplace as liberal culturally. More than a third of those that responded indicated the contrast in political views with co-workers adversely affected their output. This, coupled with increased conservative intolerance since the election, and fear of increased regulation are the root of Thiels decision to withdraw from the tech field. In a debate at Stanford University, Thiel stated Silicon Valley is a one-party state Thats when you get in trouble politically in our society, when youre all in one side.A new HMD Global-built device, thought to be a Nokia branded device to be sold as the Nokia 4, has now passed through the FCC bearing the FCC ID designation 2AJOTTA-1048. Unfortunately, there is not really much which can be gleaned from the currently available documentation. Thats because device images and other pertinent information are not to be made available via the FCC until sometime in April. In fact, the TA-1048 model designation in the listing may not even turn out to be the official model designation of this device since the company gets to choose those characters and the two numbers dont have to coincide with one another.

Fortunately, there are at least a few details that can be drawn from the listing. Most obviously, the FCC label for the device shows that it will feature both a slot for a micro SIM card and a micro SD card. That doesnt provide any information about how much the internal storage will be expandable by or how much will be available on the device by default. However, it is good to see that Nokia will allow for more space if its needed. It will also be compatible specifically with GSM, WCDMA, and LTE networking technologies. Finally, although FCC certifications can be used to allow devices to be sold in a number of regions in the Americas, this particular certification also says it has been authorized to sell in the U.S.  though whether or not it ultimately will is not necessarily confirmed.

The timing of the listing is interesting because it coincides with the expected launch of several other Nokia devices  namely, the Nokia 1, Nokia 6, and Nokia 9  in India. However, it isnt immediately clear if this FCC certification has anything at all to do with an American version of those devices and theres not necessarily any reason it would. It wouldnt be entirely surprising for Nokia to launch other devices around the same time, in other world regions. With that said, the timing also doesnt necessarily make sense with regard to the upcoming MWC 2018 event which takes place at the end of February and into March. So it seems HMD and Nokia have managed to keep at least a few secrets up their collective sleeves for this year.A new render depicting whats said to be Motorolas Moto G6 leaked earlier this week, having been shared by industry insider Andri Yatim shortly after the same source revealed another image of the upcoming handset. The render that can be seen above emerged online alongside new information on Motorolas 2018 Android smartphones, with Mr. Yatim claiming he managed to learn the positions of the fingerprint readers on nearly all of the companys upcoming devices based on some undisclosed listings provided by Alibabas suppliers. As such, the Moto G6 and Moto G6 Plus will feature front-facing scanners, whereas the Moto G6 Play and Moto E5 will sport rear-mounted ones. The Moto Z3 Play is said to boast a side-mounted sensor in the vein of some Sony Xperia devices, whereas the Moto X5 and Moto Z3 will have facial recognition capabilities but the positions of their fingerprint readers remain unclear, according to the source.

The Lenovo-owned original equipment manufacturer released a wide variety of mobile devices spanning all price segments over the course of 2017 and that strategy presumably paid off as the company is now said to be planning a similar product roadmap for 2018. The firm is expected to announce at least a handful of new offerings later this month at Mobile World Congress 2018, with the Barcelona, Spain-based trade show being scheduled to open its doors to the public on February 26. Its presently unclear which product families is Motorola planning to unveil at the mobile industrys largest annual fair, though the Moto G6 lineup is believed to be the likeliest candidate for a February launch, with previous rumors suggesting the three handsets will start retailing on a global level by spring.

The latest supposed depiction of the Moto G6 is in line with previous leaks, showing a handset with an elongated display panel featuring an 18:9 aspect ratio and an extremely slim physical Home key. A two-camera setup is also shown as being part of the package, supported by a dual-LED flash unit. The device is expected to run a slightly reskinned version of Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box and start at under $300, much like the Moto G5.The Argentine Ministry of Defense has announced via a decree its intention to acquire new capacity of air defense, to increase capabilities to defend and control its airspace. In November 2018, Argentina will organize the G-20 meeting and would like to improve protection during the event especially against air threats.



Soldiers Marine Infantry of Argentine Navy using RBS 70 short-range anti-aircraft missile system (Picture source www.zona-militar.com)

According to the military website www.zona-militar.com, Argentina could purchase RBS 70 NG latest version of the short-range air defense systems RBS 70 developed and manufactured by the Swedish Company SAAB. Currently, Argentine armed forces are equipped with Skyguard anti-aircraft 35mm gun GDF-002 and some 20/30mm anti-aircraft cannons.

The Argentina army is also equipped with 3 shelter-mounted surface-to-air missile ROLAND 2 SAM system designed to engage enemy aircraft flying at M1.2 or less between a minimum altitude of 10 m and a maximum altitude of 5,500 m and between a minimum effective range of 500 m and a maximum range of 6,300 m.

In late September 2016, Swedish Company SAAB has announced that it had procured a $44 million order for the RBS 70 SHORAD (Short Range Air Defense) without disclosing the customer but the military magazine Janes reported that the buyer country could be Argentina. According, to the SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) Arms Transfers Database, in 2009, Argentina has ordered 30 RBS-70 NG air defense system.

The first version of the RBS 70 is already in service with the Marine Infantry of Argentine Navy since 1990.

The RBS 70 NG is based on the RBS 70 with new-generation sighting system, high precision, unbeatable range and unjammable laser guidance. The RBS 70 NG was presented for the first time to the public during the DSEI defense exhibition in September 2011, London, United Kingdom. The RBS 70 NG uses the new BOLIDE missile which can defeat a wide range of targets, including ground and surface targets. BOLIDE has an intercept range of 8,000 m and altitude coverage of more than 5 000 m.The Belarusian Armed Forces are receiving Chinese-made CS/VN3 Dajiang (Dragon) 4x4 armored vehicles, according to the press department of Belarus' Ministry of Defense (MoD).



Dajiang CS/VN3 (Picture source : Autoreview.ru)

Another batch of Dajiang vehicles was delivered to Belarus in mid-January. "The Belarusian Armed Forces got Dragon armored cars (...) The Belarusian military introduced the vehicle into service last year. The Dragon participated in the Zapad 2017 joint strategic exercise," the VoenTV news channel says. However, the number of the vehicles delivered to Belarus was not specified.

The Belarusian military is reported to have modified the baseline CS/VN3. Having passed operational evaluation and trials (OE&T) in Belarus, the Dragon armored cars received new weapon mounts, an updated air cooling unit, a modified which control system and an upgraded driver's workplace.

The CS/VN3 vehicle can transport up to nine servicemen with individual equipment and personal weapons. The car's welded armored hull protects the crew and dismounts against bullets and fragments (Level 4). According to the VoenTV broadcaster, the CS/VN3 Dragon has a kerb weight of no more than 8,700 kg and a cruising range of nearly 600 km. The manufacturer of the vehicle, the Poly Technologies corporation, claims that the Dragon has a maximum road speed of about 120 km/h. The car is powered by a diesel engine with a power output of 245 hp coupled to a mechanical five-speed gearbox. The Dragon is fitted with a run-flat tires and a tire-pressure centralized control system. The Belarusian military has armed the car with a 12.7 mm heavy machinegun (HMG), namely, the DShKM or NSV Utyos.

The first batch of CS/VN3 vehicles was delivered to Belarus in June 2017 in accordance with an agreement between Belarus' MoD and the Chinese Ministry of National Defense on non-repayable military-technical aid. The number of the Dragon cars to be supplied to Minsk is not specified.

Donation seems to be the only reason behind the use of the Dragon by the Belarusian military. Moreover, the indigenous industry has already developed several such vehicles. At the Eurosatory 2016 defense show in Paris, the Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant (MZKT, Volat) unveiled the V-1 4x4 armored car. According to the manufacturer, the V-1 vehicle has a length of 6,400 mm, a width of 2,550 mm and a height of 2,660 mm. The car is powered by a YaMZ-534.52 turbocharged diesel engine with a power output of 215 hp coupled to an automatic transmission developed by MZKT. The V-1 features a maximum speed of 120 km/h and a cruising range of nearly 1,000 km. The car transports up to 10 servicemen. The V-1 protects the crew and dismounts against bullets and fragments (Level 4). At the MILEX-2017 defense show in Minsk, MZKT demonstrated a self-propelled anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system based on the V-1.

Belarus' 140 Armor Repair Plant has developed the Kaiman (Cayman) armored reconnaissance vehicle (ARV) based on the chassis of the Soviet-made BRDM-2. The Kaiman can transport up to six servicemen, protecting the crew and dismounts against 7.62 mm armor-piercing incendiary (API) bullets fired from the Dragunov SVD 7.62 mm sniper rifle. The vehicle is powered by a D-245 turbocharged diesel engine with a power output of 122 h.p. coupled to a mechanical five-speed gearbox. The manufacturer claims that the Kaiman has a weight of nearly 7 t, a road speed of up to 110 km/h and a cruising range of nearly 1,000 km. The car also features a V-shaped lower hull fitted with additional anti-blast protection. The Kaiman can cross water obstacles at a speed of up to 8 km/h. The vehicle's armament suite incorporates a machinegun or an automatic grenade launcher.

Therefore, the Belarusian automotive industry can produce its own 4x4 armored cars. Within the given context, the decision of the military to use Chinese-originated non-reliable CS/VN3 Dragon platforms seems to be at least strange, if not illogical.On 12 February the Belize Defense Force and the Belize Coast Guard received equipment, valued US $432,000, from the United States Government for the counter-narcotics operations.



One of the two Ford F250 pick-up trucks donated to Belize (Picture source: US SOUTHCOM)

The equipment includes two Ford F250 pick-up trucks, one video borescope/wireless inspection camera, one radio tester, one sight compass, one fuel quantity tester, one SMARTECH smart board, four Continental boat trailers, two Hamilton waterjet engines, two pneumatic fuel tank cleaning systems, six 250HP Mercury lower units, 50 ballistic floatation vests, six 40HP Yamaha motors, and 50 ballistic high cut helmets. The US Government also provided material and equipment, valued at US $50,000, to upgrade the Main Entry Control Point to the BDF base at Price Barracks.

This donation is part of a sustained effort by US SOUTHCOM, the U.S. military, and the United States partnership with Belize. By this present, the US Government demonstrates its continued commitment to the stability and security of Belize.

The equipment will help enhance the readiness posture of the defense forces of Belize by keeping previously donated equipment upgraded, updated, and effectively functional. It will also strengthen existing capabilities and establish new capabilities in the fight to counter the activities of transnational criminal organizations.

This project was a partnership between the BDFs Light Engineer Company, the Louisiana Army National Guard, and the US SOUTHCOMs Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection Section, which provided the funding. The project will help to enhance the security of infrastructure, equipment, and personnel at Price Barracks.Finland's Ministry of Defense (MoD) will acquire new automatic guns for BMP-2MD Torch infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), according to local media outlets. The request for guns worth EUR 8 million ($9.1 million) was approved by the country's Defense Minister Jussi Niinisto.



BMP-2MD of the Finnish National Forces (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The order will be implemented through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (SPA). Nine guns were reported to have been supplied by Slovakian contractor ZTS Special AS, and there is an option for 91 more guns in 2018-2021. These weapons will replace Soviet-era components of the BMP-2MD IFVs of the Finnish National Forces (FNF), local media outlets say.

The type of the gun to be procured by Finland is not specified. However, it should be mentioned that the ZTS Special AS enterprise produces Soviet/Russian-type artillery systems, including the 2A42 30 mm automatic gun, the D-10T 100 mm tank gun, the 2A46/2A46MS 125 mm tank gun, and a 152 mm L/45 howitzer for the vz.77 Dana self-propelled gun (SPG). The Slovakian company has also developed the Turret DVK-30 manned combat module armed with a 2A42 gun and smoke dischargers.

Despite recent developments and acquisitions of modern hardware, Finland still has a large inventory of Soviet-originated land platforms. According to the Military Balance 2017 analytical book issued by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the FNF operated 94 BMP-2 IFVs and 40 MTLBu and 102 MTLBv multipurpose light armored tracked tractors as of early 2017.

The FNF are planning to use BMP-2MDs until the 2030s. In January 2015, the Conlog Oy company was awarded with a contract to upgrade the Finnish BMP-2s to the BMP-2MD level. The upgraded IFV has received a driver's thermal imager, a new sighting system with integrated thermal imaging channel, and other optical-electronic subsystems. It is noteworthy that the BMP-2MD has retained the organic 2A42 automatic gun as it fully meets the requirements issued by the Finnish MoD. Therefore, the ministry is expected to acquire the Slovakian-made 2A42 gun.

The BMP-2 (Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty, Russian:   ; infantry combat vehicle) is a second-generation, amphibious infantry fighting vehicle introduced in the 1980s in the Soviet Union, following on from the BMP-1 of the 1960s.

The Finnish Defense ministry ordered 20 BMP-2 from the Soviet Union in 1988. They were delivered between 1988 and 1989. Another 84 ones were ordered in 1991 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1992 by Russia, as the USSR had been dismantled. The remaining 100 vehicles are being upgraded and designated BMP-2MD (FIN).

The Finnish BMP-2's were modernized to the BMP-2MD standard in 2016 with new storage boxes which function also as spaced armour, thermal camouflage enhancements, modern thermal optics for both the gunner and driver, a new visual spectrum observation device for the commander and a new communications system. In war the vehicle would also be covered with a Polish thermal camouflage netting similar to the Barracuda camo nets. Because of this modernization, the weight of the BMP-2MD increases from 13 tonnes to 13.5 tonnes, and width increases by 10 cm. All 100 BMP-2's will be modernized by 2019. Total cost for modernizing 100 vehicles is about 35 million euros.The Defense Company of Singapore, ST Kinetics unveils its new 5.56mm bullpup rifle BR18 at Singapore Air Show 2018, fully designed and developed by the Singaporean Company and now ready for production. The BR18 was designed based on the SAR21, a 5.56mm caliber bullpup assault rifle also designed and manufactured by ST Kinetics.



ST Kinetics BR18 bullpup assault rifle unveiled at Singapore AirShow 2018 (Picture source Army Recognition)

A bullpup is a firearm with its action and magazine far behind its trigger group. This configuration permits a shorter overall weapon for a given barrel length. This maintains the advantages of a longer barrel in muzzle velocity and accuracy while improving maneuverability and reducing weight.

The BR18 is a gas operated compact rifle system designed for the modern armed forces. A highly flexible mission-configurable weapon system with the shortest length, BR18 is lightweight and compact, with fully ambidextrous operations to enhance the soldier's warfighting capabilities in urban operations.



The BR18 is a highly accurate weapon that can be fired from both left and right sides without any modification. It has enhanced safety features, dry lubrication coating, low recoil, dual magazine capability (SAR21/STANAG) and comes with MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rails for optical aiming systems and other tactical accessories.

The BR18 is based on the well-proven concept of SAR21, and incorporates the latest technologies in the small arms market, such as advanced manufacturing processes and materials, dry lubrication coating, heat management technology and enhanced ergonomics. The weapon is fully ambidextrous with cocking handle on the right and left side of the weapon, along with firing selector and the magazine release button which are duplicated on both sides of the rifle.

The BR18 is available in three configurations, as assault rifle, marksman rifle and light machine gun rifle. In assault rifle version, the BR18 has an overall length of 645mm with a barrel length of 368. It is chambered for 5.56x45mm M193 and NATO SS109 ammunition and has a rate of fire of 650 to 850 rpm. As the SAR-21, the BR18 is fed using proprietary 30-rounds box magazines, made from the translucent plastic.

The standard sighting equipment of the BR-18 includes an integral 1.5X magnification telescope sight, with the emergency backup open sights formed at the top of the telescope housing.Angela Summersby also has extensive government experience having spent 20 years specialising in Australian Government work and advising on many key Commonwealth projects. She joins from HWL Ebsworth.

Speak out on sexual harassment says NZ Bar Association

In light of recent allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour in the legal profession, the New Zealand Bar Association is calling for action.

Its president, Clive Elliot QC says any form of workplace harassment or bullying is unacceptable.

"It is crucial that we manage power imbalance in the workplace in a respectful way. We are absolutely committed to achieving a safe work place for all barristers and members of the profession. This starts with individual standards of behaviour, but workplace culture and policies also need to be examined he says.McKean, who moved to HDY in April last year from HWL Ebsworth, is an expert in commercial dispute resolution and public and administrative law. Before HWL Ebsworth, she was also a partner at DLA Phillips Fox, which became DLA Piper.

With 18 years' experience advising and acting for governments, corporate, and private clients, she has extensive experience conducting major investigations for the Australian government.

Summersby has almost 20 years experience as a specialist in Australian government work, which has seen her advise on many of the Commonwealth's most recognised projects and programmes, Ashurst said. She has expertise in Australian Government contracting, information and communications technology (ICT) contracts, intellectual property, privacy and business process outsourcing.

Summersby was a long-time lawyer at Ashurst. She started her career at the firm in 1994 and became a partner in 2004. She moved to HWL Ebsworth in 2012.

Angela and Melanie are both highly regarded legal practitioners with impressive public sector expertise. Their hires support our growth agenda for the Canberra market, while greatly bolstering our government and corporate client service offering, said Paul Vane-Tempest, Ashurst Canberra managing partner.There are so many opportunities for legal service providers to expand their business if they can tailor their services to what this group of consumers need, raise awareness of their services and overcome perceptions of high cost, she said.

The study also found a significant increase in the proportion of small businesses doing nothing when experiencing a problem, which was found to be true for one in 10 businesses.

The study, which drew over 10,000 responses from small businesses, found that the proportions of those adopting strategies like handling alone (50%) or using an adviser (24%) have changed little between 2013 and 2017. Less than one in 10 of the surveyed organisations had an in-house lawyer or had a lawyer on retainer.

The LSB also discovered that when businesses sought advice, they consulted accountants more often than lawyer. Among those who did engage the services of a lawyer, 22% shopped around. Half of those who shopped around found it easy to compare lawyers.

Legal work has also decreased, with 31% of small businesses having a legal problem in the last 12 months, down from 36% in 2013.According to the auctioneers, Daniel Craig will give away all the proceeds from the sale to The Opportunity Network, a non-profit organization that provides young people with pathways to career development.It is not the first time such an event takes place. In 2016, Daniel Craig sold the Aston Martin DB10, featured in the Spectre movie , through the same auction house. All the money from the sale went to Medecins Sans Frontieres.Even earlier, in 2012, the auction house sold the 2008 Aston Martin DBS used in the production of the Quantum of Solace James Bond movie. The money paid for the car went to Banardos, a British childrens charity.The Vanquish to be auctioned in two months time has a very special Daniel Craig touch to it. The cars interior has been created by the actor himself together with Marek Reichman, Aston Martins Chief Creative Officer.It is also one of the only 100 examples of the car created by Aston Martin in 2014 to celebrate its 100th anniversary. It is powered by a 6.0-liter V12 engine that, paired with an automatic gearbox, gives the car a top speed of 183 mph (294 km/h).This Aston Martin Vanquish is a tour de force of automobile engineering and a distinct pleasure to drive," said Daniel Craig on Christies website. "While I will miss it, I am keen to further the very important work of The Opportunity Network with its sale.Before being sold, the car can be admired at Christies Los Angeles gallery from 27 February until 3 March. The buyer of the car will get, besides the unique vehicle, a paid-for trip to the Aston Martin Headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, and a tour of the facilities.In Germany, the task of promoting Mercedes-Benz falls to antoni, in the U.S. advertising is handled by Merkley+Partners while the Chinese market is overseen by BBDO, who also is the current global advertiser.Last week, the German automaker announced that the coordinated strategy for global advertising would be handled by Publicis starting this summer.Arthur Sadoun, the head of the advertising agency, said the contract is the biggest in the industry in a year and a half. To give you an idea of how big, Adweek reports that in 2017 Daimler spent as a group $950 million globally on advertising.Currently, Publicis is under contract with several other automakers, including General Motors. For the Mercedes-Benz account, the agency will establish a dedicated branch, named Publicis Emil, in honor of Emil Jellinek, responsible for the creation of the Mercedes trademark in 1902.It was Emil who placed a large order for a new car with Daimler with one condition: that they are named after his daughter, Mercedes. It is in this same spirit of progress that we have adopted his name for our new agency, Sadoun said in a statement cited by Adweek.Until this announcement, the Mercedes-Benz global contract was being handled by BBDO, with whom the carmaker collaborated in some 40 countries. Their contract expires on June 30.Our huge thanks to BBDO Worldwide and in particular to Andrew Robertson and Thilo Schotte personally for eleven years of extremely successful cooperation, which has elevated international marketing at Mercedes-Benz to new heights," said Jens Thiemer, Vice President Marketing Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars.This is why fighter jets are not allowed to go supersonic above populated areas.The first supersonic flight of a human being took place on October 14, 1947, when U.S. Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager achieved Mach 1.06 in the Bell X-1 plane. The sonic boom he created was heard from 30 miles away (48 km).As the U.S. started manufacturing supersonic planes, more and more sonic booms were beginning to be felt by the public. In just ten years, between 1950 and 1960, 40,000 claims against the Air Force had been filed by Americans who perceived the booms as very disturbing. That prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ban all overland supersonic commercial flights.In 1969, the world's first and last supersonic passenger jet airliner made its maiden flight, entering service in 1976. It flew until 2003, under the banner of British Airways and Air France. It never, in its 27 years of service, went supersonic above land.The QueSST X-Plane, or the Quiet Supersonic Transport, is planned as a replacement for the Concorde, one that will not be hindered by the FAA restrictions. Being developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the guys that brought us the SR-71 Blackbird, Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works, is meant as a way to fly fast with low boom.A sonic boom is generated when an aircraft, passing through the air, creates a series of pressure waves in front and behind it. The waves in front move at the speed of sound and, as the speed of the airplane increases, are squashed together and have no means of getting out of each other's way.They eventually merge into one wave, traveling at the speed of sound, and creating a rise in pressure at the nose of the plane, followed by a return to normal pressure when the airplane passes through the wave. The sound generated by an F-16 exceeding the speed of sound, for instance, may be more than 78 dB at over 8,000 meters altitude (26,200 feet).According to Lockheed, the QueSST is designed to separate the shocks and expansions associated with supersonic flight and reduce the sonic boom to as much as 60 dB, the volume you get in your average conversation with a friend. By comparison, the Concorde was rated at 90 dB.Despite being silent, the plane is supposed to fly at Mach 1.4, about 1,100 mph (1,770 km/h). That's twice the speed of todays commercial airliners and close to the maximum speed achieved by the Concorde.The design of the QueSST is, says Lockheed, resembling the paper airplanes we let sail in our youth. It features a long fuselage, a highly swept delta wing, and multiple control surfaces. The shape of the plane proved in wind-tunnel testing it can scatter multiple shock waves and minimize their cumulative effect.The most significant problem faced by the engineers is the force of drag the wing design must overcome. According to NASA data, friction drag contributes to about half of the total drag at supersonic speeds. The fact that the plane uses a swept wing design may contribute to a lower sonic boom, but in turn creates crossflow, or air flow disturbances that run along the span of the wing. Crossflow increases friction and calls for higher fuel consumption.The solution to this problem is the so-called laminar flow of air on the swept wing. To achieve this, NASA uses small Distributed Roughness Elements (DRE), along the leading edge of the wing. DREs create small disturbances that in turn make for a more laminar airflow.NASA plans to go supersonic in its new airplane over inhabited areas, in an attempt to gather relevant information from civilians about the perceived noise level. It will do so in a scaled-down version of the plane,In June 2017 NASA and Lockheed Martin engineers completed the preliminary design review of the QueSST, creating the scaled-down version they call Low Boom Flight Demonstration (LBFD) experimental airplane. It currently undergoes additional initial testing.The 2019 fiscal year budget proposal put forward by U.S. president Donald Trump includes funding for NASAs airplane, with the agencys Acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot saying that the proposed budget maintains a robust investment of $633.9 million to improve air traffic management.Should the plane come into existence, it may herald a new era of air transportation. At the speeds announced by NASA, travel time between London and New York would be cut down to a little over three hours. A flight from New York to Hawaii (a better part of it overland, where currently no supersonic speeds are allowed) could be cut to 4.5 hours.The first full test flight of the airplane is expected to take place in 2021.EV

Tesla revealed it had built its 300,000th vehicle , so it's hot on its tail and, should the Model 3 production reach its goal output, we could have a new leader over the next year or so. Meanwhile, the Renault ZOE continues to be Europe'sof choice, though the market for electric cars there is mostly restricted to a few countries.Mitsubishi was among the first brands to offer a fully-electric car, but it wasn't part of the alliance back then (plus it was a complete flop). The i-MIEV was developed together with Citroen (C-ZERO) and Peugeot (IOn) and was a small city car with very limited range and an awkward design that made it look as though it had sat between two tracks as trains ran in both directions at the same time. In other words, the Japanese brand doesn't really count in the electric efforts of the alliance at the moment.Making money off electric cars has been a problem traditional manufacturers, which could explain why there was no rush to build them in large numbers. For instance, FCA's CEO, Sergio Marchionne, declared that his company would make an EV the moment they became profitable and famously asked people not to buy the Fiat 500e because the Italian brand was losing money with it.Similarly, it was estimated - though never confirmed - that General Motors is also losing a few thousands of dollars with every Bolt hatchback it sells, but was forced to drop the asking price to be able to compete with the Model 3.The Renault-Nissan- Mitsubishi alliance, however, thinks it may be the only one that has managed to make EVs profitable. Its CEO, Carlos Ghosn, told CNBC : "We are probably the most advanced carmaker in terms of costs of electric cars and we have announced already in 2017 that we are probably the only carmaker who's starting to make money selling electric cars.""We know that there's a steep curve before you start to make money out of electric cars," he continued. "I think we are well advanced." He also offered a valid insight on why the growing price of raw materials shouldn't influence the price of EVs: "The increase in the cost of the raw material would be compensated by much better knowhow into how to make batteries more efficiently and how to substitute some of the raw materials going into the batteries."Nobody can deny Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi's expertise in building EVs, it's just that its products have been lacking in performance so far compared to the competition. Even the new LEAF, launched last year, was a disappointment, with the 2019 model promising to right some of the wrongs - most notably its range. The clients don't care whether the company makes money off the car they buy or not, but how the vehicle is, which is why they will always go for a similarly-priced Tesla over a Nissan or Renault if it has better specs.Elon Musk's tunnel-digging company, the Boring Company, could soon start cutting under D.C. roads to construct a tunnel for Hyperloop, his futuristic, high-speed transportation system that would travel between New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and D.C., WashPost reports.

What's next: The Boring Company is now allowed to begin digging and excavating in a portion of the parking lot at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. A Boring Company spokesman told WashPost that a New York Avenue location, if constructed, could become a station.About 30 women have been arrested in Iran as a result of hijab protests that began in December when one woman, Vida Movahed, silently waved her hijab in the air for an hour atop a utility box on the crowded Enghelab Street in Tehran.

Why it matters: In a country where women have been punished for not observing "Islamic values" in public, this is a bold move. Haleh Esfandiari, Director Emerita and Fellow at the Middle East program of the Wilson Center, told Axios that the protests are "very interesting, very bold, very courageous," but "on the other hand, this has been going on in Iran for the last couple of years in different ways."

The history

Women in Iran have been forced to wear the hijab since the 1979 revolution. Per the Huffington Post, Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini made the hijab "an emblem of its religious and political identity."

Since the revolution, the Gasht-e Ershad (which translates to "guidance patrols") have been "the main agency tasked with enforcing Iran's Islamic code of conduct in public," BBC reports. The focus of their enforcement is "ensuring observance of hijab."

But women have been pushing the limits. Esfandiari told Axios that some women were not wearing proper head scarves while driving in their cars alone, and argued "with the morals police...that this is their private space, and in a private space you can be dressed as you like."

Iranian journalist and human rights activist Masih Alinejad started an online campaign titled "My Stealthy Freedom" while living in Brooklyn, New York, in 2014. She encouraged women in Iran to post photos of themselves without hijabs. Her page has more than 1 million fans on Facebook.

Alinejad also started the "White Wednesday" social media campaign last year, in which women post pictures of themselves without their headscarves. She told CNN: "This is a campaign that's been going on for years and years. The women of Iran have long been ignored."

The penalties for refusing

Women used to be arrested for not wearing the hijab, and there have been cases of women being fined, jailed and even lashed.

The New York Times' Women In the World reported in 2015 that two women were fined 9 million rials  $300  for "not wearing the mandatory hijab properly in public." And, the same month, Iran's traffic police chief "warned that women could have their car impounded if they were seen driving with an improperly fixed hijab."

But, but, but: The rules changed in the capital at the end of last year, when police announced women would "educate" women who "don't respect Islamic values" instead of arresting them.

What's happening now

A group of women have started making public displays of removing their hijab and waving it in the air.

Esfandiari told Axios while this is "a new phenomena" that is causing a stir, is not yet a movement.

She said: "I don't think the government will react because one of the pillars of the Islamic Republic is to control the women, and the only way they think they can control the women is to force Islamic attire on them."

What's next

Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, a woman born in Iran who is now the executive director of the International Civil Society Action Network, told PBS: "The hijab is an important symbolic and practical element, but taking away the hijab is not enough. What women are really fighting for in Iran is equality under the law."

Esfandiari told Axios that "if the Islamic Republic was wise, it will just leave the women alone."

"These are the children of the revolution. Despite all the indoctrination, brainwashing, teaching in schools, preaching day-in and day-out, it didn't effect these young people at all. These people are connected to the world...they make themselves heard," she said.Russia has criticized Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev for again publicly declaring that Yerevan and other parts of Armenia are historic Azerbaijani lands.

Aliyev pledged to return Azerbaijanis to Yerevan, Armenias southeastern Syunik province and the area around Lake Sevan when he addressed a pre-election congress of his Yeni Azerbaycan party on Thursday. That, he said, is a strategic goal of his regime.

Armenia condemned the statement, with President Serzh Sarkisian saying it shows that Baku is not committed to a compromise solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Reports about Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs speech at a congress of the ruling party have certainly been seen in Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said on Thursday. We are well aware that Azerbaijans relations with neighboring Armenia are extremely tense. The comment in question will clearly not help to reduce the tensions.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry rejected the Russian criticism on Friday. A ministry spokesman, Hikmet Hajiyev, said it runs count to Russias strategic partnership with Azerbaijan.

Hajiyev was quoted by Azerbaijani media saying that Aliyev did not lay any territorial claims to Armenia and only spoke of an eventual return of Azerbaijanis to their historical lands.

Aliyev has repeatedly made similar statements in the past. In 2014, for instance, he stated that Baku will eventually gain control of not only Karabakh but also parts of the fascist Armenian state which he said had been created on historic Azerbaijani lands.

The Russian, U.S. and French mediators may have referred to the Azerbaijani leaders latest claim when they urged the parties to the Karabakh conflict to avoid inflammatory statements after wrapping up their latest regional tour on February 11.

Aliyev will be seeking a fourth term in office in a snap presidential election slated for April 11. The ballot will be held two days after Sarkisian completes his second and final presidential term. Sarkisian is tipped to become prime minister immediately after Armenia is transformed into a parliamentary republic later in April.

Aliyev and Sarkisian pledged to intensify the Karabakh peace process when they last met in Geneva in October. Their foreign ministers held follow-up talks in December and January.A former Armenian prime minister who has lived in Britain for nearly three decades officially accepted on Friday the outgoing President Serzh Sarkisians offer to serve as Armenias next president under a new, parliamentary system of government.

Armen Sarkissian (no relation) communicated his widely anticipated decision to Sarkisian after a series of meetings held with Armenian political parties, non-governmental organizations, prominent intellectuals and business circles.

The next president of the republic will be elected by the Armenian parliament, controlled by the ruling Republican Party (HHK), one month before the current head of state completes his final term on April 9. Armenia will then be transformed into a parliamentary republic, meaning that the most of the presently sweeping presidential powers will be given to the prime minister.

The outgoing president offered to nominate Armen Sarkissian as the HHKs presidential candidate on January 19. Sarkissian, who has served as Armenias ambassador to Britain since 2013, said he needs time to decide whether to accept the proposal.

With my entire essence and vigor, I am ready to get involved in that very important endeavor if the National Assembly elects me president, Sarkissian told the president on Friday.

The 64-year-old former scholar said his month-long meetings reinforced his belief that a lot needs to be done in various areas. He said that as president he will strive to make my contributions to Armenias foreign policy, international economic relations and, in particular, government efforts to attract more foreign investment. He said he will also try to improve the quality of public education and strengthen the Armenian civil society.

Under Armenias amended constitution, Serzh Sarkisians successor will be primarily tasked with ensuring observance of the constitution by various branches of government. He will be empowered to appoint members of the government, ambassadors abroad and the Armenian armys top brass. But all of those officials will be nominated by the prime minister, who will also be the armys commander-in-chief.

Sarkissian has insisted during his frequent contacts with journalists in recent weeks that he will be more than a figurehead if he runs for president and gets elected. He has also called for a national dialogue among Armenias political and other organizations, saying that it is necessary for healing serious divisions existing in the society.

The presidential frontrunner said on Friday that he intends to launch such a dialogue. Serzh Sarkisian praised his readiness for dialogue in his opening remarks at the meeting.

A physicist and mathematician by education, Armen Sarkissian worked at the Cambridge University when he was appointed as newly independent Armenias first ambassador to the United Kingdom in 1991. He served as prime minister for four months in 1996-1997 before being again named ambassador in London.

His second ambassadorial stint was cut short in 1999 by then President Robert Kocharian. Sarkissian stayed in Britain where he made a big fortune in the following decade, mainly working as an advisor and consultant for Western corporations doing business in the former Soviet Union. He was appointed as Armenian ambassador to Britain for a third time in 2013.

Sarkissian will have to be backed by a three-fourths and two-thirds majority of lawmakers in order to win in the first and second rounds of voting respectively. A simple majority of votes is enough to win the presidency in the third round. The HHK has such a majority.

Nevertheless, the president expressed hope last month that the former premier will win outright in the first round. In that case, he would need the backing of at least 79 members of the 105-seat parliament.

The HHK and its junior coalition partner, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), control 65 seats between them. They will therefore need the votes of businessman Gagik Tsarukians alliance which holds 31 seats. Despite being officially in opposition to the government, Tsarukian has not ruled out the possibility of endorsing an HHK candidate.By Edoardo Campanella

The poor dont often decide elections in the advanced world, and yet they are being wooed heavily in Italys current electoral campaign. Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the leader of Forza Italia, has proposed a dignity income, while Beppe Grillo, the comedian and shadow leader of the Five Star Movement, has likewise called for a citizenship income.

Both of these proposals  which would entail generous monthly payments to the disadvantaged  are questionable in terms of their design. But they do at least shed light on the rapidly worsening problem of widespread poverty across Europe.

Poverty represents an extreme form of income polarization, but it is not the same thing as inequality. Even in a deeply unequal society, those who have less do not necessarily lack the means to live a decent and fulfilling life. But those who live in poverty do, because they suffer from complete social exclusion, if not outright homelessness. Even in advanced economies, the poor often lack access to the financial system, struggle to pay for food or utilities, and die prematurely.

Of course, not all of the poor live so miserably. But many do, and in Italy their electoral weight has become undeniable. Almost five million Italians, or roughly 8% of the population, struggle to afford basic goods and services. And in just a decade, this cohort has almost tripled in size, becoming particularly concentrated in the countrys south. At the same time, another 6% live in relative poverty, meaning they do not have enough disposable income to benefit from the countrys average standard of living.

The situation is equally worrisome at a continental level. In the European Union in 2016, 117.5 million people, or roughly one-fourth of the population, were at risk of falling into poverty or a state of social exclusion. Since 2008, Italy, Spain, and Greece have added almost six million people to that total, while in France and Germany the proportion of the population that is poor has remained stable, at around 20%.

In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, the probability of falling into poverty increased overall, but particularly for the young, owing to cuts in non-pension social benefits and a tendency in European labor markets to preserve insiders jobs. From 2007 to 2015, the proportion of Europeans aged 18-29 at risk of falling into poverty increased from 19% to 24%; for those 65 and older, it fell from 19% to 14%. The share of young people now experiencing severe material deprivation, at 12% of the total population, is almost twice that of the elderly. As Christine Lagarde, the International Monetary Funds managing director, noted at the World Economic Forums meeting in Davos this year, young Europeans are putting their dreams on hold.

Although the current economic upswing could partly reverse the trend in youth poverty, the structural factors underlying the problem will remain. Workers skills can deteriorate irreparably during stints of long-term unemployment, or can suddenly be rendered obsolete by rapid advances in technology. For many poor people, re-joining the workforce will either be impossible, or it will require them to settle for precarious, low-paid jobs that leave them vulnerable to the next downturn. According to the OECD, 14% of the working-age population in Spain and Greece in recent years was employed but still in poverty.

In unequal societies, resources can be redistributed from the very rich to the rest through progressive taxation, monetary transfers, and salary caps. But eliminating poverty requires more than merely reapportioning the economic pie. The poor also must be re-empowered and reintegrated into societies that have pushed them to the margins. Ultimately, it is not just a matter of political stability and economic fairness, but of human dignity.

Looking ahead, Europes welfare states will need to be reformed to address current realities. The elderly are no longer the most economically vulnerable members of European society, but they still receive the largest slice of the pie. Governments should reduce pension benefits in favor of the poor, the unemployed, and the young. These three groups, which often overlap, are in desperate need of financial assistance, skills training, and family-friendly policies.

European governments should also overhaul their tax systems to make older workers contribute more, offer fiscal incentives to companies that hire disadvantaged workers, and move toward establishing an EU-wide poverty-insurance scheme. And entrepreneurs and private firms should invest more in social programs in the communities where they are active.

While Berlusconi (who is barred from running for office) and Grillo have homed in on the problem of poverty, their proposed solutions are nothing more than short-term fixes. A basic-income scheme might provide some immediate financial relief to the poor, but it would not address the structural causes of poverty. Even worse, because neither proposal seriously encourages the unemployed to seek work or training programs, the poor could end up reliant on state assistance forever. And it is not as if such policies would be budget-neutral. Rather, they would have to be funded by politically unpopular tax increases or spending cuts.

Still, as Berlusconi and Grillo have made clear, Europes leaders can no longer afford to ignore the poverty problem. They will have to offer real solutions, not simplistic schemes. As oblivious elites often learn the hard way, the poor will endure their lot only for so long.

Copyright: Project Syndicate: Europes poverty time bomb

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Trend

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order on measures to develop the education infrastructure in the Agdam, Lachin, Fizuli and Tartar districts.

According to the order, 2.59 million manats will be allocated to Azerbaijans Education Ministry in order to create eight modular schools for 444 places.By Trend

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree to expand the coverage of a pilot project as part of compulsory health insurance introduction.

In accordance with the decree, the pilot project on compulsory health insurance will be applied in the administrative territory of the Agdash district, and will be further applied in the administrative territories of the Yevlakh district and Mingachevir city.

The State Agency for Compulsory Health Insurance will receive 1.56 million manats and 16.76 million manats from the state budget for 2018 for implementation of the pilot project on compulsory health insurance in the administrative territories of Mingachevir city, Yevlakh and Agdash districts.Two men have been arrested in connection with a shooting at a Washington Boulevard car wash last month, Beaumont Police announced Saturday.

Johnathan "Johnny B" Benion turned himself in to BPD on Friday.The Philippine Department of Information and Communications Technology will fund a program training and medical coders and billers to become U.S.-certified, according to SunStar. Here are five insights:

1. Designated the Medical Coding and Certification program, the course is targeted toward Filipino professionals who specialize in information communications technology.

2. Program participants will be able to gain certification by the American Academy of Professional Coders.



3. The five-week program will involve 200 hours of training and cover fundamental coding skills in an outpatient physician setting.

4. DICT partnered with Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines and TeleDevelopment Services to create an assessment process for those interested in applying.

5. The top 28 applicants will qualify for training and be eligible for employment at HIMAP member companies. Only the top 14 will be permitted to take the certification plan.Iron Mountain, Mich.-based Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center had a third party conduct a review of thousands of colon exams from 2009 to August 2014, identifying four potentially subpar cases, the Iron Mountain Daily News reports.

Here's what you should know:

1. The cases were performed by three physicians; two no longer work at the center and the other is no longer seeing patients at the center, but still works for the VA.

2. The VA contacted all four veterans or their family members, and discovered one veteran had died of colon issues.

3. Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center performed the reviews in response to concerns that one of the three physicians who no longer work at the hospital was performing colonoscopies in an "outdated manner."

4. The surgeon accused of performing the colonoscopies conducted approximately 2,000 at Oscar G. Johnson VA before transferring to another VA facility in Oregon. The VA didn't charge the physician, but did note he performed several outdated practices.

5. Concerns over the outdated colonoscopies prompted the VA to conduct both an internal and a third-party review.

6. VA spokesman Terrence Hayes said, "This is not the standard of care we provide to veterans and their family members who entrust us with their health care. The doctor involved in this veterans care no longer works for VA."Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for Feb. 15, 2018.

Stryker achieves 95% ownership of Vexim

After crossing the 95 percent threshold in Vexim, Stryker plans to file a public buy-out offer followed by a squeeze-out for outstanding Vexim shares. Stryker first acquired 92 percent of Vexim's share capital and 91 percent of the company's voting rights from November to December 2017. Later in December 2017, Stryker acquired an additional 300,016 shares.





Trump's 2019 budget blueprint

President Donald Trump released his $4.4 trillion budget for fiscal 2019 with an addendum to partially account for the two-year bipartisan budget deal reached in Congress last week. President Trump's proposal would add $984 billion to the deficit in 2019 and more than $7 trillion over the next decade, which would bring the projected deficit down by $3.6 trillion, according to Politico. Read about the budget, here.





New Mexico judge demands Quorum Health pay patient $2.3M after botched bone cement spinal treatment

A New Mexico bankruptcy judge ordered Quorum Health Resources of Tennessee to pay an Alamogordo, N.M.-based Gerald Champion Regional Hospital patient $2.3 million after a failed bone cement spinal procedure, according to the Albuquerque Journal. The judge awarded another three patients $10 million in damages after finding Quorum Health failed to prevent harm to patients at Alamogordo-based Gerald Champion Regional Hospital from 2007 to 2008. Read more about the case, here.





3 neurosurgeons open Brigham & Women's Neurosurgery of Milford

Milford (Mass.) Regional Medical Center welcomed three neurosurgeons Timothy Smith, MD, PhD, Hasan Zaidi, MD, and Omar Arnaout, MD, to its staff. The neurosurgeons joined Milford Regional Medical Center after opening the Brigham and Women's Neurosurgery of Milford (Mass.).





Titan Medical reports 2017 full-year financial results

Along with launching a new minimally invasive surgical system, Titan Medical reported strong full-year 2017 financial results. Titan Medical's research and development expenses for 2017 reached $12.90 million compared to $22.58 million in 2016.





NASS seeks comment on lumbar interspinous devices without fusion, decompression coverage recommendation

The North American Spine Society opened a 30-day comment period on coverage recommendations for lumbar interspinous devices without fusion and decompression Feb. 8. You can find a draft of the proposed coverage policy recommendations here. The recommendation covers interspinous devices that are intended for use in conjunction with direct decompressive procedures.





University of Tennessee Medical Center opens $13.2M neurotrauma center: 3 highlights

Knoxville-based University of Tennessee Medical Center recently opened a new neuro critical care center within its Brain & Spine Institute. UT Medical Center spent 18 months developing the $13.2 million, 26,000-square-feet center adds 24 beds.





University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine to open new department of surgery for orthopedic, neurosurgery

Medical students at the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine will soon have a new department of surgery to build on their patient care and surgical training, according to Northern Nevada Business Weekly. The new department of surgery will be for third-year medical students who are specializing in orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, otorhinolaryngology and urology.



DUP leader Arlene Foster has denied her party is intransigent and has claimed she ended the Stormont talks because Sinn Fein wouldn't publicly demonstrate respect for her "British identity and culture".

Writing in today's Belfast Telegraph, Mrs Foster said: "Sinn Fein's position has been that devolution can only be restored on their terms. It is one which demands respect but is unwilling to offer it.

"It is a party whose president talks of her 'unionist brothers and sisters' but shouts 'Up the rebels' and 'Tiocfaidh Ar La' at those same brothers and sisters.

Read More

"Perhaps it is purely coincidence that the Sinn Fein online bookshop is currently sold out of the Tiochfaidh Ar La badges it stocks. There is no coincidence however in the choice to shape those words on the badge in the image of an Armalite rifle."

She was speaking after DUP MP Gregory Campbell insisted that her leadership was not under threat following the collapse of negotiations to restore power-sharing.

Mr Campbell told BBC Northern Ireland's The View: "Arlene Foster has no difficulty within the party, didn't have any difficulty last weekend, and won't have any difficulty this weekend.

"Any nonsense that people are peddling, that calls into question Arlene Foster's leadership - you really need to get a grip."

The DUP leader also claimed that portraying her party as intransigent "does not withstand basic scrutiny".

She described the Irish language as "part of the cultural fabric of Northern Ireland" and said those who spoke it deserved respect. But she added: "Respect however must be a two-way street and those who do not share the vision outlined by Irish language campaign groups must also be respected."

She maintained that political progress could be built only on an accommodation that could be supported by both unionists and nationalists.

"It will not be achieved by one party demanding progress on their terms alone," she said.

"I wanted this round of negotiations to work. I am disappointed they didn't but I was not prepared to continue in talks where the other participant was not interested in publicly demonstrating respect for my British identity and culture. That's why I led my party out of those talks."

Mrs Foster challenged Sinn Fein's assertion that her party had brokered a draft agreement with it which she then failed to deliver.

"There was no agreement nor draft agreement.

"I never brought any recommendation to my party officers other than to end the current round of negotiations," she said.

"Despite the setbacks I remain committed to securing the restoration of devolution. I will work with anyone prepared to go forward in a spirit of true respect and accommodation. Should Sinn Fein remain committed to their 'ourselves alone' attitude however then it is for the Secretary of State to ensure that Northern Ireland is no longer held to ransom with public services suffering as a result."

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly yesterday called on the British government to release funding for legacy inquests and to begin the consultation on legacy structures agreed at Stormont House.

He said: "Despite the fact that the DUP leadership collapsed the talks to restore the political institutions, victims and survivors of the conflict should not be punished by their failure to close an agreement.

"It is unacceptable that some families have waited more than four decades for this most basic of human rights and the British government should move immediately to bring their suffering to an end."A disgruntled Northern Ireland traveller has told of his anger after he received an email out of the blue to say his flight from Belfast to Reykjavik this summer has been axed

A disgruntled Northern Ireland traveller has told of his anger after he received an email out of the blue to say his flight from Belfast to Reykjavik this summer has been axed.

Hundreds of local holidaymakers could face similar disruption after the service, which was launched to great fanfare ahead of its inaugural flight last June, was scrapped quietly and without warning.

The final service from Belfast to the capital of Iceland will be on May 15, while the last service from Reykjavik to Belfast will be on the same day  a development that Gerry Lennon, chief executive at Visit Belfast, described as disappointing.

Pensioner Chris Donegan from Enniskillen was due to fly from George Best Belfast City Airport in July, having booked his summer trip last year at a cost of 850.

But Mr Donegan has just learned that he must now travel to Dublin to fly to Reykjavik in order to catch a connecting flight to Anchorage in Alaska ahead of a two-week holiday with a friend.

They offered me a refund but thats not an option because flights to Anchorage are now coming in at around 2,500, which is more than three times what I originally paid, he explained.

Its not only that; Ive already paid for accommodation and other expenses ahead of my fishing trip in Alaska so there would be other financial repercussions of not going ahead as planned.

As Im now flying from Dublin, its going to cost me an extra 28 to get there and back, and then, when I arrive at Reykjavik, the layover is four hours instead of an hour and 45 minutes.

But Im just relieved that Im actually going to be able to make the trip.

He added: When they launched the service they made a really big deal out of it. Its funny how we havent had a word about them pulling out after less than a year. The 60-year-old keen traveller, a former journalist, added that he was unimpressed with Icelandairs customer service in the wake of the disruption to his plans.

They didnt offer to upgrade me, which a lot of other carriers would do, and they wouldnt give me free access to their lounge while I wait for my connecting flight either, he said.

Im really annoyed with the way this has been handled. It took me most of the day to get through to someone in customer services and at one point there were 63 callers ahead of me.

The airline apologised for the suspension of the direct service.

Icelandair regrets to announce that the airlines direct flight service to Reykjavik from Belfast will be suspended from May 15, 2018 due to commercial reasons, it said.

The flights were a co-operation between Icelandair and domestic carrier Air Iceland Connect and operated by a 72-seat Bombardier Q400 aircraft. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused with these changes.

The Belfast-Iceland service started on June 1 last year and operated three times a week. The final service between the cities will be in May, but a direct scheduled flight to Iceland from Dublin is due to start that month and will operate six times a week throughout the year. Customers booked to travel with Icelandair from Belfast after May 15 have the options of travelling to Reykjavik from Dublin Airport, changing the date of travel or receiving a full refund. Mr Lennon said Visit Belfast remained optimistic about new opportunities.

He added: Visit Belfast will continue to work with both airports in supporting route development in order to grow visitor demand and reach our ambitions of doubling out-of-state tourism to Belfast by 2021.

When the route was launched last June, George Best Belfast City Airport chief executive Brian Ambrose described it as hugely exciting.

He added: We have a strong track record of forming successful partnerships with internationally-renowned airlines such as Icelandair.

Last night Belfast City Airport declined to comment when contacted.A DUP delegation met the PSNI yesterday over tensions in north Belfast interface areas.

More than 40 youths reportedly gathered near the Waterworks area on Tuesday and Wednesday, armed with improvised weapons including a crowbar and copper piping.

MLA William Humphrey attended Tennent Street police station alongside councillors Naomi Thompson, Brian Kingston and the recently co-opted Dale Pankhurst to discuss the incidents.

According to Mr Humphrey, there was also a large presence of youths on Thursday evening, but police attended the area and no trouble occurred.

He claimed the incidents were sectarian.

"On Tuesday evening a large group of nationalist youths entered the Westland estate armed with improvised weapons, and there was further trouble on Wednesday when nationalist youths came up through the Waterworks towards the Westland estate," he said.

"Only the deployment of PSNI Tactical Support Group officers along with the police helicopter prevented more serious trouble occurring.

"On Thursday evening youths gathered in the Castleton area, off the Antrim Road, but the PSNI maintained a presence iand no trouble resulted.

"Whilst the PSNI believe that the trouble this week is probably connected to the school half-term holidays and included attempts to arrange fights through social media, they agree with our assessment that there is a sectarian element to the gathering of these youths and the intimidation they have caused to residents."

He said his delegation's meeting with police had been useful, adding: "My party colleagues and I appreciate the measures the police have taken this week to prevent the situation from escalating and we urged them to maintain a high profile on the ground over the weekend.

"We reiterate our call for young people to stay away from interfaces, to show more respect for residents whom they are intimidating, and we urge parents and all people of influence to help bring these gatherings and incidents to an end."

A large group of young people gathered in the surrounding area last month, when a fire was started in the nearby Waterworks Park and stones were thrown at a police car. An ambulance also attended in response to a "highly-intoxicated" 13-year-old girl.

PSNI Inspector Paul Noble said: "We're aware these confrontations were arranged via social media. I appeal to parents to know where their children are and play a role in preventing them from becoming involved."Fire rescue vehicles converge at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following a shooting in Parkland, Fla., on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. (John McCall/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Students are released from a lockdown following a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. (John McCall/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Teens, who walked out from the direction of the high school, are escorted by police following a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018, in Parkland, Fla. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

People gather at Coral Springs Drive and the Sawgrass Expressway just south of the campus waiting for word from students following a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

A law enforcement officer rushes toward Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following a shooting at the school in Parkland, Fla., on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. (John McCall/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Students released from a lockdown are overcome with emotion following following a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. (John McCall/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Medical personnel tend to a victim following a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. (John McCall/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

People gather waiting for word from students at Coral Springs Drive and the Sawgrass Expressway just south of the campus following following a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

In this frame grab from video provided by WPLG-TV, law enforcement personnel arrest an unidentified man (in dark red), following a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. A former student opened fire at the Florida high school Wednesday, killing more than a dozen people and sending scores of students fleeing into the streets. (WPLG-TV via AP)

Medical personnel tend to a victim following a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. (John McCall/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Students released from a lockdown embrace following following a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. (John McCall/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

NORTH LAUDERDALE, FL - FEBRUARY 16: A program is seen from the funeral of Alyssa Alhadeff at the Garden of Aaron at Star of David Memorial Gardens on February 16, 2018 in Parkland, Florida. Alhadeff was one of 17 people killed in the February 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Former student Nikolas Cruz has been arrested and charged for the 17 murders. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX***

PARKLAND, FL - FEBRUARY 16: A young women places flowers at a memorial site that honors victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, at Pine Trail Park on February 16, 2018 in Parkland, Florida. Police arrested 19-year-old former student Nikolas Cruz for killing 17 people at the high school. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX***

OAKLAND, CA - FEBRUARY 16: A quote from a person that was witness to an active shooter situation is displayed during an active shooter training for Oakland Unified School District teachers, staff and administrators at Cole Elementary School on February 16, 2018 in Oakland, California. Days after a gunman opened fire and killed 17 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, teachers and staff with the Oakland Unified School District participated in an active shooter training that discussed strategies on how to deal with active shooter situations in schools. The training had already been scheduled prior to the Florida shooting. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

OAKLAND, CA - FEBRUARY 16: Oakland School Police chief Jeff Godown (C) talks with Oakland Unified School District staff during an active shooter training at Cole Elementary School on February 16, 2018 in Oakland, California. Days after a gunman opened fire and killed 17 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, teachers and staff with the Oakland Unified School District participated in an active shooter training that discussed strategies on how to deal with active shooter situations in schools. The training had already been scheduled prior to the Florida shooting. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Candles, flowers and stuffed animals serve as a memorial for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in a park in Parkland, Florida on February 16, 2018. A former student, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire at the Florida high school leaving 17 people dead and 15 injured. / AFP PHOTO / RHONA WISERHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images

A mourner kneels in front of a memorial for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in a park in Parkland, Florida on February 16, 2018. A former student, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire at the Florida high school leaving 17 people dead and 15 injured. / AFP PHOTO / RHONA WISERHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images

Candles, flowers and stuffed animals serve as a memorial for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in a park in Parkland, Florida on February 16, 2018. A former student, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire at the Florida high school leaving 17 people dead and 15 injured. / AFP PHOTO / RHONA WISERHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images

Mourners place flowers on a memorial for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in a park in Parkland, Florida on February 16, 2018. A former student, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire at the Florida high school leaving 17 people dead and 15 injured. / AFP PHOTO / RHONA WISERHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images

A memorial for student Joaquin Oliver and assistant football coach Aaron Feis, two of the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, sits in a park in Parkland, Florida on February 16, 2018. A former student, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire at the Florida high school leaving 17 people dead and 15 injured. / AFP PHOTO / RHONA WISERHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images

Mourners look at candles, flowers and stuffed animals serving as a memorial for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in a park in Parkland, Florida on February 16, 2018. A former student, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire at the Florida high school leaving 17 people dead and 15 injured. / AFP PHOTO / RHONA WISERHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images

Mourners look at a memorial for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, in a park in Parkland, Florida on February 16, 2018. A former student, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire at the Florida high school leaving 17 people dead and 15 injured. / AFP PHOTO / RHONA WISERHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images

Candles, flowers and stuffed animals serve as a memorial for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in a park in Parkland, Florida on February 16, 2018 A former student, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire at the Florida high school leaving 17 people dead and 15 injured. / AFP PHOTO / RHONA WISERHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images

NORTH LAUDERDALE, FL - FEBRUARY 16: Mourners are seen at the funeral of Alyssa Alhadeff at the Garden of Aaron at Star of David Memorial Gardens on February 16, 2018 in Parkland, Florida. Alhadeff was one of 17 people killed in the February 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Former student Nikolas Cruz has been arrested and charged for the 17 murders. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Candles, flowers and stuffed animals serve as a memorial for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in a park in Parkland, Florida on February 16, 2018. A former student, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire at the Florida high school leaving 17 people dead and 15 injured. / AFP PHOTO / RHONA WISERHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images

A memorial for Peter Wang, one of the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, sits on a bandshell stage in a park in Parkland, Florida on February 16, 2018. A former student, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire at the Florida high school leaving 17 people dead and 15 injured. / AFP PHOTO / RHONA WISERHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images

Mourners leave flowers on a memorial for Meadow Pollack, one of the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, sits in a park in Parkland, Florida on February 16, 2018. A former student, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire at the Florida high school leaving 17 people dead and 15 injured. / AFP PHOTO / RHONA WISERHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images

PARKLAND, FL - FEBRUARY 16: A young women places flowers at a memorial site that honors victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, at Pine Trail Park on February 16, 2018 in Parkland, Florida. Police arrested 19-year-old former student Nikolas Cruz for killing 17 people at the high school. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Flowers and crosses line a fence near the school on a makeshift memorial for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida on February 16, 2018. A former student, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire at the Florida high school leaving 17 people dead and 15 injured. / AFP PHOTO / RHONA WISERHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images

PARKLAND, FL - FEBRUARY 16: Candles still glow after last nights vigil for victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, at Pine Trail Park, on February 16, 2018 in Parkland, Florida. Police arrested 19 year old former studentENikolas Cruz for killing 17 people at the high school. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

PARKLAND, FL - FEBRUARY 16: Candles that were placed on crosses still glow after last nights vigil for victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, at Pine Trail Park, on February 16, 2018 in Parkland, Florida. Police arrested 19 year old former student Nikolas Cruz for killing 17 people at the high school. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Attendees raise their candles at a candlelight vigil for the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, in Parkland, Fla. The teenager accused of using a semi-automatic rifle to kill more than a dozen people and injuring others at a Florida high school confessed to carrying out one of the nation's deadliest school shootings and concealing extra ammunition in his backpack, according to a sheriff's department report released Thursday. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

People hoist up their candles during a vigil for the victims of the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Fla., Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018. Nikolas Cruz, a former student, was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder on Thursday. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

People attend a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Fla., Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018. Nikolas Cruz, a former student, was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder on Thursday. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Jorge Zapata, Jr., center, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, holds candles with his mother Lavinia Zapata, and father Jorge Zapata, Sr., during a candlelight vigil for the victims of the shooting at the school.

Condolences have been paid to a Northern Ireland family who lost a young girl in the Florida school shooting.

Seventeen people died after a gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday.

Nikolas Cruz, 19, has been charged with 17 counts of murder. Police say he has admitted carrying out the attack.

President Trump is set to meet with families and survivors of the devastating attack.

Read More

Cara Loughran (14) was among those killed in the massacre. Her brother who is also a student at the school and is thought to have witnessed the attack but survived.

It's understood their family is from Toomebridge and their grandmother still lives in the Co Antrim village. Their father is thought to have emigrated 15 years ago.

The tight-knit community was said to be shocked at the news and offered its condolences to the family.

TUV leader Jim Allister expressed his sympathies to the family.

"Condolences to local family in Toome after cruel murder of their granddaughter in Florida school attack," he said.

"Awful news for a family to receive."

Cara was described as an excellent student who loved the beach and her cousins, according to her family.

An aunt, Lindsay Fontana, wrote on Facebook: I had to tell my 8-year-old daughters that their sweet cousin Cara was killed in the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School yesterday. We are absolutely gutted.

While your thoughts are appreciated, I beg you to DO SOMETHING, she wrote. This should not have happened to our niece Cara and it cannot happen to other peoples families.

Caras neighbour posted a picture of her cheering on a young boy riding a bike with training wheels.

RIP Cara, Danny Vogel wrote, and fly with the angels. You will be greatly missed, and we will always love you and celebrate your beautiful life.

This morning, I had to tell my 8-year-old daughters that their sweet cousin Cara was killed in the shooting at Stoneman... Posted by Lindsay Fontana on Thursday, February 15, 2018A self-proclaimed counter-jihadist is to deny allegations of inciting hatred at a rally in Belfast, a court heard yesterday.

A lawyer for John Richard Banks (60) confirmed his client will be pleading not guilty to charges connected to a speech he gave along with the leaders of far-right group Britain First.

Banks, of Acacia Road in Doncaster, south Yorkshire, is the fourth person to be prosecuted over the demonstration last summer. He faces two counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words. He is alleged to have intended to stir up hatred or arouse fear by his comments, according to the police case.

He was arrested last month, transferred to Northern Ireland and charged by PSNI detectives.

Appearing for the first time at Belfast Magistrates Court, Banks spoke only to confirm that he understood the allegations against him. The case relates to speeches made at a 'Northern Ireland Against Terrorism' rally outside City Hall on August 6 last year.

Demonstrators had gathered on the same day as a republican march organised to mark the use of internment without trial by the authorities at the height of the Troubles in 1971. Similar charges have also been brought against Britain First leader Paul Golding (35), his 31-year-old deputy Jayda Fransen, and Paul Rimmer (55), of Modred Street in Liverpool.

They also deny the allegations and are expected to stand trial together in April.

In court yesterday Banks' solicitor Jonathan Burke of McConnell Kelly said: "My instructions are that he is pleading not guilty to the charges."

Listing the case for a further review next week, District Judge Fiona Bagnall excused the accused from travelling back to attend that hearing. Outside court Banks confirmed he is a member of Britain First and said: "I'm a counter- jihadist." He added: "Free speech in this country is dead, it's treated as though it's hate speech."A student places a candle with other tributes at a vigil the day after a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, U.S. February 15, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Drake

Mourners gather at a vigil that was held for the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Thusday, Feb. 15, 2018, in Parkland, Fla

Mourners hug after placing flowers on a makeshift memorial for the victims of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida on February 15, 2018.

TOPSHOT - Mourners stand during a candlelight vigil for the victims of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida on February 15, 2018.

TOPSHOT - Hector Romero Assistant Public Defender (L) and Melisa McNeill, Public Defender (R) are seen on screen at the first appearance in court for high school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz (C) on February 15, 2018

A student places a candle with other tributes at a vigil the day after a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, U.S. February 15, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Drake

The community in Toomebridge was said to be 'stunned' last night after it emerged that one of the victims of the Florida school massacre came from a local family.

The grandmother of Cara Loughran, who was one of 17 people murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parklands, near Miami, still lives in the Co Antrim village.

Cara, a keen Irish dancer, was just 14. Her brother Liam survived the attack.

Former student Nikolas Cruz (19) has admitted the killings.

On Facebook, Lindsay Fontana, Cara's aunt, described sharing the news of the murder with her daughters.

"This morning I had to tell my 8-year-old daughters that their sweet cousin Cara was killed in the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School yesterday," she wrote.

"We are absolutely gutted. Cara was 14-years-old. She was an excellent student, she loved the beach and she loved our girls."

Cara was also a dancer at the Drake School of Irish Dance in Coral Springs.

Last night, the murdered teenager's grieving grandmother was said by local people to be too shocked to speak to the media.

But a family friend said last night that the entire local community had been affected by the news of what had happened in Florida on St Valentine's Day.

"Our deepest sympathy goes out to Cara's granny and the whole family connection here in Northern Ireland," he said. "Everyone is just stunned by what has happened."

South Antrim MLA Pam Cameron told the Belfast Telegraph that her heart went out to the little girl's family as they tried to cope with the dreadful news.

"It's horrific. Very sad. The grief her family and friends are feeling is almost unimaginable.

"No one should ever have to hear news like that. My heart goes out to Cara's relatives and the people who knew her.

"None of us can adequately grasp the horror of what they must be going through. To lose a child in such circumstances is truly awful," she said.

Last night, the FBI came under intense pressure after it was revealed that it was told last month that the Florida school shooting suspect could be plotting an attack - but agents failed to investigate.

Florida governor Rick Scott called on FBI director Christopher Wray to resign after learning that the bureau failed to investigate a tip-off that the suspect could be planning to mount an attack.

The FBI acknowledged it failed to act on a tip-off to its hotline that Nikolas Cruz had a "desire to kill".

A person close to Cruz called the FBI's public tip-off line on January 5 and provided information about his guns and his erratic behaviour, including his expressed desire to kill people and his disturbing social media posts.

The caller was concerned that Cruz could attack a school.

Yesterday, the agency acknowledged that the tip-off should have been shared with the FBI's Miami office and investigated, but it was not.

FBI director Christopher Wray said the agency was still reviewing what went wrong.

He said he was "committed to getting to the bottom of what happened" as well as assessing the way the FBI responds to information from the public.

Mr Wray said: "We have spoken with victims and families and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy."

The FBI was also notified about a comment on a YouTube video posted by a "Nikolas Cruz" last year. It investigated the comment but did not determine who made it.

Cruz has been charged with killing 17 people at the High School in Parkland, north of Miami, on Wednesday.

Details of the attack have emerged, showing how the assailant moved through the school in just minutes before escaping with the same students he had targeted.

Prior to the attack, he jumped out of an Uber car and walked to building 12 of the school, carrying a black duffel bag and a black backpack. He shot into four rooms on the first floor, going back to spray bullets into two of the rooms a second time, then went upstairs and shot a single victim on the second floor.

He ran to the third floor, where, according to the Broward County Sheriff's Office, three minutes passed before he dropped the rifle and backpack, ran back down the stairs and quickly blended in with panicked, fleeing students.

Cruz excelled in an air-rifle marksmanship programme supported by a grant from the National Rifle Association Foundation - part of a multi-million dollar effort by the pro-gun group to support youth shooting clubs. The foundation gave nearly 2.2 million dollars (1.57m) to US schools in 2016.

On Thursday night, more than 1,000 people attended a candlelight vigil for the 17 victims. Some of them openly sobbed as the names of the dead were read aloud.

Dressed in the school's red colours, some held flowers while others carried signs asking for action to fight school violence, including gun control.

"Kids don't need guns. No guns under 21," read one sign.

At one point, some in the crowd began shouting: "No more guns! No more guns!"The police operation at Lismoyne Park in north Belfast last Sunday

An alleged burglar was remanded in custody yesterday accused of stealing a car belonging to a former teacher later found dead at her home.

Marc Samuel Spencer (24) appeared before Belfast Magistrates Court charged with a number of offences, including a break-in at Lismoyne Park in the north of the city.

The body of 64-year-old May Stevens was discovered by police inquiring about her car which had allegedly been stolen earlier last Sunday morning.

Spencer, of Centenary House in Belfast, is not charged with any offences connected to Mrs Stevens' death, which is no longer being treated as suspicious.

He faces counts of carrying out a burglary at Lismoyne Park to steal a handbag and car keys, aggravated vehicle taking in relation to a Hyundai i30 driven dangerously in the area, driving while disqualified and failing to stop for police.

Spencer is further charged with another burglary at Kelvin Parade and two attempted burglaries at Cavehill Drive and a separate Lismoyne Park property on the same night. He is also accused of burglary, aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving in relation to a separate incident on February 14.

Police said they detained two men after an Audi A1 was stopped in the Ballysillan area of north Belfast. The vehicle was allegedly stolen during an earlier break-in at Blackrock Park Avenue in Newtownabbey.

Spencer did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to appear in court again on March 16, the Courts Service said.

A co-accused, 23-year-old Jack Robinson, of Carrs Glen Park in Belfast, appeared on charges related only to the February 14 incident.

He faces counts of burglary at Blackrock Park Avenue and aggravated vehicle taking causing damage to the Audi.

The Courts Service said Robinson was granted bail on conditions including a ban on alcohol and being barred from contacting either the co-accused or alleged victim.A man is to stand trial for the attempted murder of a six-month-old boy who fell from an upstairs window of a house in an incident last year

A man is to stand trial for the attempted murder of a six-month-old boy who fell from an upstairs window of a house in an incident last year.

Appearing in the dock of Dungannon Crown Court was Timuras Kozlov of Derrychara Drive, Enniskillen, but who has been in custody since his arrest.

Originally from Lithuania, he is accused of attempting to murder the baby on the evening of May 6, 2017, at an address in the Castlecoole Road area of Enniskillen.

It is alleged the child was thrown from a second floor window, although Kozlov has always insisted the fall was accidental, and pleaded not guilty to attempted murder.

The infant sustained serious injuries and was treated in the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children.

His Honour Judge Stephen Fowler QC remanded Kozlov in continuing custody and ruled that a trial would begin on March 16.The aftermath of the IRA bombing of La Mon Hotel in 1978 which claimed the lives of 12 people

A memorial window dedicated to the victims of the La Mon Hotel bombing will be unveiled in a new location today on the 40th anniversary of the attack.

Twelve people were killed and 30 injured when the hotel was firebombed on February 17, 1978.

The stained-glass window, which had been in Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council headquarters for 18 years, has been moved to the new council offices at Lagan Valley Island.

It will be rededicated at a special service today.

The ceremony will be attended by families, survivors, representatives of the emergency services and civic and political leaders.

Co Antrim-based artist David Esler, who designed the window for the council, said he had vivid memories of working on it.

"I was commissioned to design the window and to tell the narrative of the event itself, including the people who were involved," he told the Belfast Telegraph.

"It was to bring a sense of hope as well as a sense of locality and place."

The window includes a peacock symbol, which harks back to the Peacock Room of the hotel where the attack took place.

Each of the 12 feathers on the symbol represents a life lost, as well as tributes to the emergency services and local clergy.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 17th February 2018 - Survivors, families, representatives of the emergency services as well as civic and political leaders came together today (Saturday 17th February) at a 40th Anniversary Service at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn, in memory of those who lost their lives in the La Mon Bombing. As part of the Anniversary Service, two stained glass windows were rededicated, having being moved from Bradford Court Council Offices, originally commissioned in 2000, to their new permanent home at Lagan Valley Island. Dr Andrea Nelson who lost both her parents, pictured at the window. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 17th February 2018 - Survivors, families, representatives of the emergency services as well as civic and political leaders came together today (Saturday 17th February) at a 40th Anniversary Service at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn, in memory of those who lost their lives in the La Mon Bombing. As part of the Anniversary Service, two stained glass windows were rededicated, having being moved from Bradford Court Council Offices, originally commissioned in 2000, to their new permanent home at Lagan Valley Island. Dr Andrea Nelson who lost both her parents, pictured at the window with the Mayor Councillor Tim Morrow. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 17th February 2018 - Survivors, families, representatives of the emergency services as well as civic and political leaders came together today (Saturday 17th February) at a 40th Anniversary Service at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn, in memory of those who lost their lives in the La Mon Bombing. E As part of the Anniversary Service, two stained glass windows were rededicated, having being moved from Bradford Court Council Offices, originally commissioned in 2000, to their new permanent home at Lagan Valley Island. Dr Andrea Nelson who lost both her parents, pictured at the window with the Mayor Councillor Tim Morrow. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 17th February 2018 - Survivors, families, representatives of the emergency services as well as civic and political leaders came together today (Saturday 17th February) at a 40th Anniversary Service at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn, in memory of those who lost their lives in the La Mon Bombing. E As part of the Anniversary Service, two stained glass windows were rededicated, having being moved from Bradford Court Council Offices, originally commissioned in 2000, to their new permanent home at Lagan Valley Island. Dr Andrea Nelson who lost both her parents, pictured at the window with the Mayor Councillor Tim Morrow. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. PACEMAKER BELFAST 17/02/2018: Arlene Foster , Robin Swann , Naomi Long and Jim Allister during a 40th anniversary memorial service for the La Mon Bombing at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn on Saturday. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker. PACEMAKER BELFAST 17/02/2018: Arlene Foster , Robin Swann , Naomi Long and Jim Allister during a 40th anniversary memorial service for the La Mon Bombing at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn on Saturday. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker. PACEMAKER BELFAST 17/02/2018: Family Members and Guests during a 40th anniversary memorial service for the La Mon Bombing at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn on Saturday. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker. PACEMAKER BELFAST 17/02/2018: Family Members and Guests during a 40th anniversary memorial service for the La Mon Bombing at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn on Saturday. Picture Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 17th February 2018 - Survivors, families, representatives of the emergency services as well as civic and political leaders came together today (Saturday 17th February) at a 40th Anniversary Service at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn, in memory of those who lost their lives in the La Mon Bombing. E As part of the Anniversary Service, two stained glass windows were rededicated, having being moved from Bradford Court Council Offices, originally commissioned in 2000, to their new permanent home at Lagan Valley Island. Relatives at the service. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 17th February 2018 - Survivors, families, representatives of the emergency services as well as civic and political leaders came together today (Saturday 17th February) at a 40th Anniversary Service at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn, in memory of those who lost their lives in the La Mon Bombing. E As part of the Anniversary Service, two stained glass windows were rededicated, having being moved from Bradford Court Council Offices, originally commissioned in 2000, to their new permanent home at Lagan Valley Island. Relatives and guests after the service. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 17th February 2018 - Survivors, families, representatives of the emergency services as well as civic and political leaders came together today (Saturday 17th February) at a 40th Anniversary Service at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn, in memory of those who lost their lives in the La Mon Bombing. E As part of the Anniversary Service, two stained glass windows were rededicated, having being moved from Bradford Court Council Offices, originally commissioned in 2000, to their new permanent home at Lagan Valley Island. Relatives at the service. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 17th February 2018 - Survivors, families, representatives of the emergency services as well as civic and political leaders came together today (Saturday 17th February) at a 40th Anniversary Service at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn, in memory of those who lost their lives in the La Mon Bombing. E As part of the Anniversary Service, two stained glass windows were rededicated, having being moved from Bradford Court Council Offices, originally commissioned in 2000, to their new permanent home at Lagan Valley Island. Dr Andrea Nelson who lost both her parents, pictured at the window. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 17th February 2018 - Survivors, families, representatives of the emergency services as well as civic and political leaders came together today (Saturday 17th February) at a 40th Anniversary Service at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn, in memory of those who lost their lives in the La Mon Bombing. E As part of the Anniversary Service, two stained glass windows were rededicated, having being moved from Bradford Court Council Offices, originally commissioned in 2000, to their new permanent home at Lagan Valley Island. Melanie Nelson lays a flower in memory of Dorothy Nelson Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 17th February 2018 - Survivors, families, representatives of the emergency services as well as civic and political leaders came together today (Saturday 17th February) at a 40th Anniversary Service at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn, in memory of those who lost their lives in the La Mon Bombing. E As part of the Anniversary Service, two stained glass windows were rededicated, having being moved from Bradford Court Council Offices, originally commissioned in 2000, to their new permanent home at Lagan Valley Island. General view of the window. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 17th February 2018 - Survivors, families, representatives of the emergency services as well as civic and political leaders came together today (Saturday 17th February) at a 40th Anniversary Service at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn, in memory of those who lost their lives in the La Mon Bombing. E As part of the Anniversary Service, two stained glass windows were rededicated, having being moved from Bradford Court Council Offices, originally commissioned in 2000, to their new permanent home at Lagan Valley Island. Dr Andrea Nelson lays a flower in memory of Paul Nelson Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 17th February 2018 - Survivors, families, representatives of the emergency services as well as civic and political leaders came together today (Saturday 17th February) at a 40th Anniversary Service at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn, in memory of those who lost their lives in the La Mon Bombing. As part of the Anniversary Service, two stained glass windows were rededicated, having being moved from Bradford Court Council Offices, originally commissioned in 2000, to their new permanent home at Lagan Valley Island. Dr Andrea Nelson who lost both her parents, pictured at the window. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

Before designing the window, Mr Esler engaged with some of the families affected by the atrocity in what he said were highly emotional meetings.

"I did feel pressure designing it," he admitted.

"I'm involved a lot in situations where people have lost loved ones.

"We treat that with great respect and care.

"We like to do it on a personal basis and meet the people face to face while getting to know their story and what's in their hearts.

"While I knew the background to the story, meeting with the families brought it home to me. The pain was very much relevant despite the bomb occurring in 1978."

He added: "What I learnt was while people went through similar experiences, they have different approaches to healing and forgiveness and that is very difficult for the people involved.

"I encountered various degrees of each of those things.

"I was humbled by what I heard, and understood the different stories.

"There's not one narrative, there's lots of different reactions and some that are ongoing still. It's quite poignant."

The Dunadry artist, who will be attending the rededication today, oversaw the removal of the window from its previous home.

Deputy mayor of the council Hazel Legge said it was appropriate to move the window to coincide with the relocation of the council.

"I think it's extremely important to remember the atrocity in this way," she said. It was a dark time in Northern Ireland's history and I don't think it should be forgotten, and the families don't want it to be forgotten either."

All those who died in the La Mon bombing were attending the annual dinner dance of the Irish Collie Club.

Three of the 12 people killed were married couples and seven were women.

They were all Protestants and included a reservist in the RUC.Sinn Fein has made a last ditch appeal for their powersharing partners to get back into government in Northern Ireland.

Mary Lou McDonald urged the Democractic Unionists (DUP) to reconsider its position on proposals to end the 13 month political stalemate at Stormont.

Speaking ahead of a meeting in Dublin, Ms McDonald said: Our appeal to the DUP is fairly straightforward. We had a draft agreement. We have a draft agreement. I would appeal to the DUP at this juncture to reconsider their position. Come back and talk to us and get that over the line.

"I donat buy into the politics of the impossible. I think any problem however big, however complex, if you are sufficiently dedicated and people are prepared to lead, those problems can be resolved," @MaryLouMcDonald on the current stalemate in Stormont #latelate pic.twitter.com/fVeSZTomp3  The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) February 16, 2018

But I would also say to the DUP if thats not a runner, and I suspect at this moment it is not, we are not standing still.

The show must go on and we have to move forward.

Negotiations between the regions two biggest parties were reportedly at a critical stage when DUP leader Arlene Foster effectively pulled the plug on Wednesday.

The DUP leader called on the UK government to set a budget and start making policy decisions for Northern Ireland.

"In our view, there is no current prospect of these discussions leading to an Executive being formed"https://t.co/fByW2WnHTg pic.twitter.com/M9uuZL6tYz  Arlene Foster #WeWillMeetAgain (@ArleneFosterUK) February 14, 2018

However, Sinn Fein has insisted direct rule from Westminster is not an option.

Direct rule would be entirely unacceptable to us, unacceptable to nationalist opinion across the country, particularly in the north and if anybody thinks or thought that by crashing this process they would return to the bosom of direct rule. They got it wrong, Ms McDonald said.

Vexatious issues such Irish language rights, marriage equality and how to deal with the legacy of Northern Irelands troubled must now be tackled by both British and Irish governments, she added.

The republican party leadership is expected to meet with the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Prime Minister Theresa May to discuss the way forward in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Sinn Feins Stormont leader Michelle ONeill was also in Dublin for the meeting.

She said: In any negotiation there has to be give and take. There were a number of issues which vexed the DUP and there were a number of issues which vexed ourselves.

We had on the table a draft agreement, an accommodation whatever, way you want to describe it, we are crystal clear, what we had was a way forward and the DUP leadership failed to back that way forward.Young couple Gian Drilon (right) and Reg Onglao

Starting a business is not an easy decision to make but 26-year-old entrepreneur Gian Drilon took his two cents worth and explored ways on how to start a business of his own. He researched and read articles on online selling until he stumbled upon Lazadas selling platform. In May 2016, he opened his first shop, Asenso Shop, where he sold products such as toys, games and items for mothers and babies. The first few days were smooth and easily handled, but as months went by, it came to a point where he would get hundreds of orders a day. His girlfriend of nine years, Reg Onglao, started helping out when she had free time off work. She did special projects for Gian, among which was to help automate processes in the business. With her help, handling the business became easier for Gian.Back when we started, I used to be the only full-time employee of the business handling everythingfrom product selection to packing. Within a few months, the orders quickly grew and became too much for me to handle alone, but like what others would say two is really better than one, says Gian. Gian and Reg, with the help of their five employees, now handle four shops aside from Asenso Shop. These are Watch Me!, their main shop where they sell fashion accessories; Asenso Healthcare, which contains health and beauty products; Gold Panda, a shop under a special partnership with Lazada where they sell gold bars; and ZG Designs, where they offer graphic T-shirt printing. I have very big dreams for our Lazada stores, and I always want to keep on improving. Every month, I keep on adding more and more assortment and I also venture on new product categories. Just like my life together with Reg, our love steadily grows each day with more and more varying experiences. I dream of starting a family with her, having kids, and buying a house, says Gian. By working together, their relationship and business grew together determining their mutual career plans. During Lazadas Online Revolution Sale in 2017, the couple received 7,000 orders in one day and this made Gian decide to take their relationship to the next level.Gian proposed to Reg in December when he asked her to help him reboot his broken computer. When she opened it, she was surprised to see photos popping out with the question, Will you marry me? to which Reg replied with a sweet Yes. Through Lazada, Gian made his dream a reality. Not only does he get to spend his future with Reg, but he also is able to reach a nationwide pool of customers. Juggling personal and business relationships altogether is no joke. I remind myself that Reg and I are in a committed relationshipwhere two different people choose to become one, working together towards a common goal, and where each person complements and helps the other one grow, says Gian. Gian and Reg plan to expand their business in the coming months. Lazada Philippines selling platform offers a straightforward start-up process for merchants who want to start their own online selling business.Newly elected Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald has defended ending her leadership acceptance speech with "Up the rebels" and "Tiocfaidh ar la".

Critics claimed that the remarks harked back to a "dark time" when the IRA campaign was in full swing.

Ms McDonald concluded her speech with "Up the rebels agus Tiocfaidh ar la" (our day will come) at her party's special ard fheis in Dublin last week.

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For unionists, the use of those two phrases overshadowed the parts of her speech that addressed the need for reconciliation and how Sinn Fein wanted to achieve a united Ireland with "graciousness and generosity".

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Upper Bann MLA Doug Beattie said he was disappointed by the new Sinn Fein president's remarks.

TUV leader Jim Allister said the incident reinforced why the DUP should not return to government with Sinn Fein at Stormont.

However speaking on the Late Late Show on Friday night Ms McDonald defended her language.

.@sinnfeinireland's @MaryLouMcDonald on the controversy surrounding her use of the phrase "Tiocfaidh ar la" in her first speech as president of the party #latelate pic.twitter.com/O0GmeNopMY  The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) February 16, 2018

She said: "I was setting out things that I believe passionately in.

"Things like social progress, social justice, shared prosperity, a new Ireland.

"And for me to utter the words Tiocfaidh ar la refers to that vision of a new Ireland. And I know for some people that sounds like a harking to the past, for me it absolutely is not.

"I'm a new leader of Sinn Fein, Tiocfaidh ar la, is about the future, it's about moving to the future and building a new Ireland. That's what I'm about and that's what my speech is about, including the last utterance.

She continued: "In terms of language that is used, if language carries a negative connotation you reclaim it. I speak words for me, for where I'm coming from and what my political ambitions are. And let me assure you the last place I want any of us to go to is the past or old ways.

"For me the speech was clearly about the present and much more importantly about the future."RTE presenter Claire Byrne told the High Court in Dublin yesterday she thought a former Irish minister of state "had gone doolally" on her radio show.

Ms Byrne thought claims by Joe Costello that Sinn Fein political manager Nicky Kehoe was a member of the IRA Army Council, controlling how councillors voted at meetings, were outrageous.

She said her tone towards Mr Costello, then a Labour TD and a former Irish minister, was incredulous. "I thought he had gone doolally. I remember sitting there thinking: 'Where is this coming from'?" she said.

"I expected him to represent government policy and what he was doing was bringing it down to local politics.

"My tone was incredulous because that is how I felt at the time."

She was giving evidence as part of RTE's defence of a defamation action against it by Mr Kehoe, a former city councillor and Sinn Fein director of elections and now employed as a political manager by the party.

He says he was falsely described by Mr Costello, on a Saturday With Claire Byrne live radio programme on October 2015, as a former chief of staff of the IRA who was controlling how Sinn Fein councillors on Dublin City Council voted.

Yesterday saw further cross- examination of Mr Kehoe and evidence from three community activists in the Cabra area who all said they did not believe his standing in the community had changed as a result of what was said on the programme.

In her evidence, which began yesterday afternoon, Ms Byrne said that after Mr Costello made the comments, her producer pressed the 'talk back button' - a warning system between producer and presenter, and a click came on in Ms Byrne's headphones.

She thought what Mr Costello had said was outrageous and a strange thing to say, and she was about to intervene when another panellist, Sinn Fein's Eoin O Broin, spoke and named Mr Kehoe. Before that, she did not know who Mr Costello was talking about.

Earlier, Mr Kehoe told the court he did not accept he now has "zero reputation" when it came to his association with the IRA.

He accepted that would be the case in relation to the Seventies and Eighties, when he was involved in IRA activities, but disagreed that was so today.

The case is set to continue on Tuesday.A convicted serial killer has reportedly confessed to killing a British woman in France 27 years ago.

Joanna Parrish, 21, from Gloucester, was raped and murdered in Auxerre in 1990, while working as an English teacher during her gap year.

Convicted rapist and murderer Michel Fourniret, dubbed the Ogre of the Ardennes, had for a long time been the prime suspect in the brutal attack on the student.

And according to Ms Parrishs family lawyer the killer has finally admitted to her murder.

Lawyer Didier Seban told the BBC that over the past week Fourniret had appeared in court two to three times and admitted the killing on each occasion.

He added that Fourniret would now be questioned further, which should lead to charges.

Ms Parrishs father, Roger Parrish, told the broadcaster the confession had come as a shock and that he hoped it was not another false lead.

In May 2008 Fourniret was sentenced to life in prison for the joint rape and murder of seven girls.The Ministry of Defence is selling the Royal Navys flagship vessel HMS Ocean to help plug a mammoth financial black hole.

The 84 million sale to the Brazilian navy is due to go ahead next month and Ocean will sail to South America in the summer.

Pressed on the amount of money that would be reinvested from the sale, an MoD spokesman confirmed it expected to yield a 55 million net profit, all of which would be pumped back into naval coffers.

Expand Close HMS Ocean leaves Portsmouth Press Association Images / Facebook

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In its report published last month, the National Audit Office said that despite building in a 6 billion contingency, there was an affordability gap of at least 4.9 billion in the MoDs equipment programme.

However if all the risks of cost growth associated with the programme were to materialise the shortfall would rise to 20.8 billion, it said.

HMS Ocean returned to Devonport in Plymouth in December following its final foreign deployment, which included assisting with the humanitarian efforts in the Caribbean following Hurricane Irma.

Announcing the sale of HMS Ocean, Clive Walker, head of the Defence Equipment Sales Authority which managed the deal, said: We have a proven track record of supplying surplus defence equipment on a government-to-government basis.

The successful sale of HMS Ocean to the Brazilian navy will provide a financial return to the UK which will now be reinvested in defence.

I served on HMS OCEAN. Sad day to see her go today, but determined our amphibious capabilities as a nation will only modernise and grow, and remain centred on #Plymouth. Looking forward to the Modernising Defence review later this year. pic.twitter.com/PuqSXuTMhM  Johnny Mercer (@JohnnyMercerUK) February 17, 2018

Modifications to HMS Ocean will be made by UK companies Babcock and BAE Systems, funded by Brazil, ahead of its transfer, the MoD said. It is understood the vessel will become a fully operational member of the fleet, rather than being used for display purposes.

HMS Queen Elizabeth will eventually take on the role as the nations new flagship, and will be able to act as a helicopter carrier once its sea trials have been completed.

The MoD spokesman said HMS Oceans helicopter-carrying capability would not be lost, with the likes of HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion able to take over those duties.

Johnny Mercer, the Tory MP for Plymouth Moor View and a former Army officer and Afghanistan veteran, said HMS Oceans sale marked  a sad day.

Writing on Twitter, he said: I served on HMS Ocean. Sad day to see her go today, but determined our amphibious capabilities as a nation will only modernise and grow, and remain centred on #Plymouth. Looking forward to the Modernising Defence review later this year.

The amphibious warfare craft was host to Theresa Mays first visit on board a Royal Navy ship in December 2016, and five years earlier members of its aviation crew became unlikely internet sensations after their rendition of Mariah Careys All I Want For Christmas Is You went viral.Police close to the scene in Canning Town, east London (Kirsty O'Connor/PA)

Tributes have been paid to unique character Promise Nkenda, who was stabbed to death on Valentines Day.

The 17-year-old, from Newham, east London, is believed to have been the victim of a sustained and targeted attack in Goldwing Close, Canning Town, Scotland Yard said.

London Ambulance Service paramedics were unable to save the teenager and he was pronounced dead at 8.38pm.

He is the third youth to be fatally knifed in the capital this year.

Promise was a longtime member of Fight for Peace, a group that offers martial arts training and social support to deprived youngsters.

We are devastated following news of the tragic death of Promise Nkenda, a cherished member of the Fight for Peace Posted by Fight for Peace on Friday, February 16, 2018

A club statement read: We are devastated following news of the tragic death of Promise Nkenda, a cherished member of the Fight for Peace family.

Promise had been a member of Fight for Peace for many years, he was ever-present at the Fight for Peace London Academy, and his warmth and unique character will be deeply missed by all that knew and loved him.

Meanwhile, social media was filled with tributes from friends posting warm words and pictures in his memory.

One friend told the Press Association: Its all very raw at the moment  this loss has hit the whole British Congolese community hard. He was really loved, my mum and aunt were crying all day.

As you can imagine its chaos right now, I mean he was just a kid.

Expand Close A police forensics tent at the scene in Goldwing Close, Canning Town, east London, after a 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death. (Kirsty O'Connor/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp A police forensics tent at the scene in Goldwing Close, Canning Town, east London, after a 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death. (Kirsty O'Connor/PA)

Another friend, Lance Ray Cepal, said: Its been really sad to hear. Im really heartbroken. He was such a good brother to me, always laughing. I will miss him dearly and I will be hurt for a very long time.

Detective Inspector Perry Benton said: While work continues to establish the motive and exact sequence of events which led to Promises murder, it appears he was the victim of a sustained and targeted attack.

I would continue to appeal to anyone who has information that could assist this investigation to come forward and speak to police.

Detectives believe a stolen abandoned black BMW estate found in Freemasons Road, near Victoria Dock Road in east London, is linked to the attack.

No-one has been arrested over the killing and inquiries continue, police said.

The latest fatal stabbing comes as both London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Scotland Yard face mounting pressure to bring the citys knife crime problem under control.

In 2017, there were 80 fatal stabbings in the capital.

Anyone with information is asked to call 020 8345 3775 or police through 101 quoting reference 8884/14FEB.Marvels new film Black Panther has got viewers excited after they spotted a Welsh flag in one scene.

Set in the fictional country of Wakanda, the scene, which appears after the films credits, shows King TChalla standing on stage alongside a Welsh flag at the United Nations.

It in the far right side on the end. pic.twitter.com/dZBcCKjOY4  Rhys Davies (@RhysIDavies) February 15, 2018

And Welsh viewers cant help but wonder whether their country is independent in this Marvel universe.

Not only does #BlackPanther support Welsh independence it appears to envisage Wales as a future superpower with a privileged seat at the UN alongside USA, Japan and uh...the Netherlands. England out of sight. Class haha https://t.co/Qzr6j3F4BE  Kieran (@kieran_d_owen) February 15, 2018

THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!  a i a  a  aa i (@RoxxieToxxic) February 16, 2018

The film, meanwhile, has been praised by critics for its representation of race and gender and the positive image it presents of Africa.

US actor Chadwick Boseman reprises his role as TChalla  aka Black Panther  in the film.The Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg is the sort of chap whose idea of being casual is to wear a tweed jacket and tie at weekends, rather than his normal double-breasted pinstripe suit.

The politician peppers his conversations with Latin phrases, drives around in a 1968 Bentley and, as the father of six children, proudly boasts that he has never condescended to change a nappy in his life.

"Nanny would not think it a good idea for me to be changing nappies," the 48-year-old explained, defying modern conventions of parental political correctness. "She thinks it is her job."

The nanny concerned, Veronica Crook, seems to loom large in the life of this marble-mouthed maverick. She looked after him as a child and then he used her services himself when he became a father.

When he first stood for Parliament unsuccessfully in Scotland two decades ago, he went canvassing with Crook, who drove him around the constituency in his mother's Mercedes.

Until recently, the MP for Somerset North-East could be casually dismissed as a cosseted cartoon aristocrat. After all, he was playing second fiddle to a more chummy old Etonian chap, Boris Johnson.

But now, the commentariat is beginning to take the claims of Rees-Mogg to high office more seriously, as the leader of the arch-Brexiteers.

He is chairman of an influential committee of MPs campaigning against any attempt to water down the UK's commitment to telling the EU to get stuffed.

With the Conservative Party in disarray over Brexit and Theresa May teetering on the brink, Rees-Mogg is the bookies' favourite to be the next Tory prime minister. Preposterous? Is it any more outlandish a prospect than Donald Trump as President of the United States?

The prospect of a new age of Moggocracy cannot be ignored, and it is now conceivable that the future of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic could be in the hands of the man leading the British charge against the EU.

Recently, one newspaper described him as the "MP for the 18th century whose time may have come".

That is a version of 'tiocfaidh ar la' that nobody, least of all the Shinners, really bargained for.

With Sinn Fein and the DUP failing to form a power-sharing executive, Northern Ireland may be facing direct rule by Mogg.

While Theresa May has struggled to make up her mind over which form Brexit takes, he is unambiguous in pushing for the UK to leave any kind of customs union or single market.

Unlike ministers on the Conservative benches, the backbencher does not sully his public utterances with any hint of compromise.

Before Britain ever decided to quit the EU, he declared the plans of Brussels eurocrats to be the "work of the devil".

In a characteristic flourish, he used the longest word ever recorded in the Houses of Parliament when lambasting the EU judiciary: "Let me indulge in the floccinaucinihilipilification of EU judges." He later defined the word as "the action or habit of estimating as worthless".

Born into the upper classes as the son of William Rees-Mogg, editor of The Times, Jacob was reading the Financial Times at the age of eight and used a 50 inheritance from a departed uncle to invest in the stock market.

His now legendary nanny had the task of phoning his broker.

Aged 11, he had already made decent profits from his investments and even turned up at shareholders' meetings to give speeches.

In an interview as a teenager, the precocious Etonian told of his ambition to be a millionaire at 20, a multi-millionaire at 40 and prime minister at 70.

Rees-Mogg once recalled how he'd been sent out of class twice: the first time for wearing a large Tory rosette on his lapel, and a second time after arguing with a teacher about the infallibility of the Pope.

These infractions show the most important cornerstones of the Rees-Mogg philosophy - true blue-blooded Conservatism and devout Catholicism.

Asked if he would ever join Nigel Farage's UK Independence Party, the man elected as an MP in 2010, replied: "No! Never, never, never! I was born a Conservative and I shall die a Conservative."

Many of Rees-Mogg's views chime with those of social conservatives in Ireland who campaigned against gay marriage and now want to stop the repeal of the Eighth Amendment.

"I am a Catholic and I take the teachings of the Catholic Church seriously," he has said.

Outlining his opposition to same-sex marriage, he said: "Marriage is a sacrament, and the decision of what is a sacrament lies with the Church, not with Parliament."

The Church's teachings on faith and morals were "authoritative", he said, but added it was not for him to judge others.

However, he said he was completely opposed to abortion, arguing that it was "morally indefensible".

"Life is sacrosanct and begins at the point of conception," he has argued.

Placing himself outside the spectrum of mainstream British opinion, he said he was opposed to abortion in cases of rape: "A great wrong has been created at the point of a rape. The question is, does a second wrong make it any better?"

Stories abound about his privileged upbringing. Some of them are inevitably apocryphal. He denied that he once paid a boy at Eton to shield him with an umbrella from the rain on a cross-country run.

But he confirmed a story that his nanny and his maid did take turns to shield his neck from the sun with a book at the Glyndebourne opera festival. And he validated a report that, along with the King of Spain, he has exclusive access to an upstairs loo at Claridges.

The Irish government will no doubt fear that a Mogg premiership will inevitably lead to the border being closed between north and south in a hard Brexit situation, but his own position on the border is quite simple - do nothing.

He told a Conservative event in the autumn that post-Brexit Britain would not have to put up border posts stretching from Carlingford Lough to Lough Foyle.

"I don't care if a few hundredweight of beef is smuggled across the Irish border. It will make no odds to the British economy. We have no obligation to put any border up. Full stop," he said.

"Challenge the EU to do it. I just don't believe that they will, and I don't believe that the Irish will agree to them doing it."

At the same time, PM Mogg will not have any truck with the notion of a United Ireland. He gives his party its full title as the Conservative and Unionist Party and recently declared: "Northern Ireland is as much a part of the United Kingdom as Somerset."

If Mogg moves into 10 Downing Street, he may have to patch up some differences with Leo Varadkar.

Last month, Rees-Mogg took exception to remarks by the Taoiseach. Varadkar expressed regret that the UK was leaving the EU and said he was conscious of "British veterans, very brave people, who fought on the beaches of France, not just for Britain but also for European democracy and for European values".

Rees-Mogg took a swipe at the Republic's Second World War record. "Mr Varadkar forgets Ireland was neutral during the war, which implies it had no interest in Europe, and Eamon de Valera signed a book of condolence at the German Embassy in Dublin on the death of Hitler.

"Perhaps if Mr Varadkar knew his own country's undistinguished wartime history better, his views on our history would be more informed."

In order to be chosen as leader if Theresa May is deposed, he would first have to be chosen by fellow MPs to be one of the candidates who are then elected by members of the party.

Professor Philip Cowley, political scientist at Queen Mary University in London, predicted: "If he stands in any forthcoming leadership contest, (and) he gets through to the last two, he'll walk it."

Career: Educated at Eton and Oxford. Worked in investment banking before becoming an MP in 2010.

Family: Married to wealthy heiress Helena De Chair. They have six children - Peter Theodore Alphege, Mary Emma, Thomas Wentworth Somerset Dunstan, Anselm Charles Fitzwilliam, Alfred Wulfric Leyson Pius, Sixtus Dominic Boniface.

First words on Twitter: "Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis (the times change, and we change with them)."

Philosophy: "I want people to be able to get on with their lives without the Government bossing them about. I'm all in favour of nannies but not the nanny state."

Nanny fan with no time for a nanny state

Career: Educated at Eton and Oxford. Worked in investment banking before becoming an MP in 2010.

Family: Married to wealthy heiress Helena De Chair. They have six children  Peter Theodore Alphege, Mary Emma, Thomas Wentworth Somerset Dunstan, Anselm Charles Fitzwilliam, Alfred Wulfric Leyson Pius, Sixtus Dominic Boniface.

First words on Twitter: Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis (the times change, and we change with them).

Philosophy: I want people to be able to get on with their lives without the Government bossing them about. Im all in favour of nannies but not the nanny state.Moncks Corner, SC (29461)

Today

Some sunshine with a thunderstorm or two possible this afternoon. High 84F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy. Low 69F. Winds light and variable.The remains of Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Joanna Daniela Demafelis have arrived at the Iloilo International Airport. The plane carrying her body arrived at about 6 am today. Demafelis' remains will be transported to her hometown in Sara tomorrow morning. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Head Hans Cacdac went with the siblings of Demafelis to Iloilo. He says, OWWA's Board of Trustee is extending financial aid to the family of the OFW. The agency is also shouldering the burial expenses as well as the cost of transportation for Demafelis' family members who went to Kuwait to fetch her remains. Over 200 friends and relatives of Demafelis were at the airport on Saturday morning. They were holding balloons and were wearing t-shirts that called for justice for the death of the OFW.Demafelis' uncle Pablo says, her wake may last for two weeks. He also notes, President Rodrigo Duterte may visit the wake. The OFW's body was found in a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait. Her remains bore torture signs and indications that she may have been strangled to death. Her demise prompted the President to ban new deployments of OFWs to the gulf state.A SISTERS GRIEF. Jessica (center), sister of Filipina worker Joanna Demafelis, whose body was found inside a freezer in Kuwait, after nearly a year when she went missing, wails in front of the wooden casket containing her sisters body on arrival Friday at the international airport in Manila. An angered President Rodrigo Duterte has lashed out at the Gulf state over reports Filipino workers are suffering abuse and exploitation there. AFP

THE Kuwaiti government vowed it will exert all efforts to capture the Lebanese national and his Syrian wife who are suspects in the killing of Filipino worker Joanna Daniela Demafelis, 29, whose body was found in a freezer in an abandoned apartment earlier this month. This was the assurance offered by Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano when he met Demafelis sister Jessica and brother Jojit, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Friday to receive her remains. Demafelis remains arrived at Terminal 1 past 10 a.m. on board Gulf Air flight GF154 from Kuwait. Cayetano said the Kuwaiti government was outraged by the killing of Demafelis, who bore stab wounds in the neck and torture marks all over her body.Kuwaiti police said she could have been in the freezer for over a year. I spoke to the Kuwaiti ambassador yesterday and they promised they will do everything to bring the accused to justice. Her [Demafelis] death was very tragic, but will also be a rallying point for all of the government agencies to be more aggressive in helping OFWs, he said, referring to overseas Filipino workers.Demafelis body was discovered after a Kuwaiti court gave its approval for the authorities to open the apartment of her Lebanese employer Nader Essam Assaf, wanted for falsifying checks. Cayetano said Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa said the initial autopsy findings showed Demafelis had been beaten several times before she died. She suffered broken ribs, internal bleeding, contusions and trauma to her body, including her pelvis and kidneys. We are now working as a one-team approach from the undersecretary level down to the director level, down to the people on the ground. Were putting a system of communications with our millions of OFWs abroad due to many cases of abuse, Cayetano said. Demafelis body was later flown to Iloilo for the wake and burial. Demafelis death triggered the Philippine government to declare the total ban on the deployment of workers to Kuwait. Cayetano admitted that the relationship of Philippines and Kuwait were going through a rocky period after the deaths of Filipino workers at the hands of their Kuwaiti employers.Were going through a very rocky period. We have had very, very good relations with them. In general, they love Filipinos, he said. But I think theres going to be some firm commitments and some resolutions. This is having a cascading effect. The relationship is important, but we have to communicate to them that our core interest is our people.... Theyre responding positively, but we want firm commitments and we want fast action, Cayetano added. More than 100 Filipino workers who had availed of the amnesty offered by the Kuwaiti government to illegally staying foreigners also arrived Friday at the Naia. Most of them were undocumented workers. Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said Friday he would push for the deployment of social welfare attaches to beef up the Philippine diplomatic mission in countries swamped with pleas for help from abused Filipinos or those in trouble with the law. Angara said there is an urgent need to send more SWAs because there are only four social welfare officers deployed by the government across the globe. The Department of Social Welfare and Development has two SWAs posted in Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, and one each in Kuwait and Malaysia. Plans are afoot to send three more SWAs to Dubai, Qatar and Hong Kong. In the division of labor inside what is basically a multi-agency embassy, there are assigned personnel that can handle legal cases, liaise with local police, as well as military, trade, agriculture attaches, the senator said. But what is lacking is a trained professional who can provide the three essential Cscare, comfort and counselingto Filipinos in crisis and in need of special protection. Traumatized Filipinos require the services of a trained professional, he said.CHINA appears to be making some headway from the Philippines soft stance on the South China Sea disputes, Jay Batongbacal, seen as a maritime expert, said Saturday. The government seems to be trading away its advantages too soon, just too much too soon, Batongbacal, director of University of the Philippines Institute of Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, told a forum in Quezon City. We are trading away too much too soon, and increasing our weaknesses... I dont think its wise because China is gaining too much from our softness on these issues, the maritime law expert emphasized. In July 2016, the Philippines won a favorable ruling in the international arbitration court that invalidated Chinas historical claims on several islands in the West Philippine sea. President Rodrigo Duterte, however, said he was temporarily setting aside the ruling to avoid confrontation with China, but vowed to raise it at the right time during his presidencya timeline that, in the view of his critics, was not clear. Batongbacal said: We might become too dependent on Chinas generosity. We will lose our energy security, our independence to explore and exploit our own resources. Elsewhere, Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano rejected the photos released this week showing Chinas almost finished reclamation in the disputed sea, justfying that all claimant countries had in fact their own reclamation.Aside from defending China, Cayetano said the structures were built even before President Duterte assumed the office and that they should not be blamed for it. You tell us, how do we stop it? And its not only China that has built a runway. Other countries have built a runway also in the features that are held by them, Cayetano told reporters. In 2014, it was reported that China began massive dredging operations in seven reefs in the Spratly IslandsFiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef, Mischief Reef, Cuarteron Reef, Gaven Reef, Hughes Reef, and Johnson South Reef. When the admininistration [of Duterte] came in they were already reclaiming and building there...How can we stop it? he said.Cayetano reiterated the promise of China to Duterte that it would no longer build in the disputed areas. The way were approaching it, lets stop it from getting worse... Cayetano said. But Batongbacal slammed Cayetanos remarks, stressing the situation in the South China Sea is already getting worse because the Philippines was not joining other claimant countries to call on China to stop its steady and ongoing militarization of its artificial islands. Philippines is not supposed to stop China on its own, it only has to work with others to do it, Batongbacal said. Batongbacal also rejected Cayetanos claim that all claimant countries had built their own runways. He said: None of the claimants except China had three runways that can launch attacks on the Philippines and other claimants. None of the other claimants can operate fighters and bombers, store extensive munitions, operate medium range anti-air and anti-ship missiles, engage in long range electronic surveillance, interdict international shipping, or threaten air traffic in the SCS region from their current possessions. He also said none of the other clamants could expand or create more artifical islands, install nuclear power barges in them, extend distant water fishing operations into other countries exclusive economic zones and inter-island waters, deploy and support the continuous operation of numerous gigantic navy and coast guard ships, permanently station ships at fixed points at sea, openly and occasionally threaten the use of force, interfere with other claimants fisheries law enforcement within their own waters, or coerce other claimants into submission. And before bringing up militarization by external powers like US, UK, and Japan, keep in mind that at least those forces are on ships and aircraft that can actually leave. Chinas artificial island bases wont, he said.I WAS told that its the best Marvel movie so far, and though I mistrusted the gushy review I was given, I decided to give it a chanceand discovered that it is all that its hyped up to be. Black Panther was the first black superhero for mainstream comics, created by the legendary Stan Lee and writer-artist Jack Kirby. The character debuted in Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966), predating the October 1966 founding of the Black Panther Party, a self-defense group which grew out of the American Civil Rights Movement and fought against brutality against the black community in the US. The Black Panther is King TChalla of Wakanda, a mysterious African nation whose wealth and technology are founded on the interstellar metal vibranium. A succession of Wakandan kings decide to keep the country a secret from the rest of the world so that their resources of the precious metal will not be exploited. In the film, the story revolves around how TChalla comes to the throne and the challenges he faces to keep the country together and into a new direction. Like most print-to-film adaptations, liberties have been taken with some characters and the story flows differently from that of the comics. For those coming fresh to the tale, or who set aside the comic book narrative to appreciate the film for itself, there is much to laud about it. First, the fact that the movie has a nearly all-black cast and director. This is such a rarity in Hollywood that it is no exaggeration to say this film is a milestone in that regard. Representation is important for people of color to find their spaces in society and to be comfortable within them. Having lived in the US for a while, I have had first-hand experience with issues related to race that we do not have to deal with in the Philippines. Seeing people that look like yourself in media goes a long way toward validating your place and gradually dismantling the structures of white privilege and presence in the public discourse that have historically excluded or ignored POC. The film also decries colonialism, violence towards the black community, and negative stereotypes of black people. Its costumes, settings, set design, and other visual factors present the richness of African history and culture. A glorious past is shown in the references to the ancient empire of Benin. The pre-colonial Benin Empire was located in what is now southern Nigeria (no relation to the present-day country of Benin, formerly known as Dahomey). Established around 1180, it flourished until its annexation by the British Empire in 1897. The Benin Empire, which had its own writing system, magnificent art, and unique architecture, is a source of pride for many Africans and those of African descent.I also love how the movie empowers women. Black Panthers sister, Princess Shuri, is the countrys foremost scientist, and has a fully outfitted laboratory better than anything Tony Stark or Bruce Banner had, and creates fantastic gadgets that leave Qs (of James Bond fame) in the shade. The Queen Mother Ramonda is strong and wise and helps save Tchallas life. Wakandas greatest warrior, according to Shuri, is General Okoye, who leads the elite forces who guard the King, the dora milaje (adored ones), female warriors coming from the different Wakandan tribes. Okoye is played by Zimbabwean-American actor and playwright Danai Gurira, who, with some of her castmates, see the movie as a movement. Weve been a world where the thrust of what we see in terms of superheroes, or in terms of this type of epic imagery, comes from one perspective, she said in an interview published on Aol.com. Ive talked to people of many ethnicities who feel the excitement and exuberance around it, and the expression it gives them about how they can celebrate themselves. Lets also give a shout-out to the use of South Korea as one of the locations in the film. Seeing Asians in and having a Hollywood film shoot in Asia brings attention to a large part of the world population that massively consumes American culture but is seldom represented in it save as sidekicks, villains, or comic foils. Speaking of representation, the film also presents a concept called Afrofuturism. Jamie Broadnax, writing for Huffington Post, says it is the reimagining of a future filled with arts, science, and technology seen through a black lens. The term was coined some 25 years ago by white author Mark Dery in his essay Black to the Future, which looks at speculative fiction within the African diaspora. Broadnax adds that having a black character in a futuristic world is not enough for a narrative to be called Afrofuturistic it must be rooted in and unapologetically celebrate the uniqueness and innovation of black culture. Why is Afrofuturism important? Devindra Hardawar on engadget.com says that representation matters because children will watch this movie and see possible futures where African influences are just as viable as those of the West and Asia. Black Panther is Africa and Africans coming into its own. It is POC reaching for their place in the sun. And the films message of acceptance, doing right, and working together for the greater good of humankind through science is timely and relevant in these troubled times.Manitobans will recognize the legacy of Metis hero Louis Riel with a statutory holiday named in his honour on Monday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/2/2018 (1306 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Manitobans will recognize the legacy of Metis hero Louis Riel with a statutory holiday named in his honour on Monday.

Most businesses and organizations will either close for Louis Riel Day or remain open during limited hours. The Brandon Sun is no exception, with our office closed on Monday.

The newspaper will also not be printed that day, although a news reporter will remain on duty and post breaking news at brandonsun.com. The newspaper will next be printed on Tuesday.

The following is a rundown of various local businesses and services hours of operation this long weekend.

The list is far from complete. If you want your service or business to be included in The Brandon Suns next holiday hours listing, email your hours of operation a few days in advance to reporter Tyler Clarke at tclarke@brandonsun.com, with "Holiday Hours" in the subject line.

City of Brandon

 Brandon City Hall (410 Ninth St.), the A.R. McDiarmid Civic Complex (638 Princess Ave.), the Civic Services Complex (900 Richmond Ave. East), the Parks Complex (2020 McGregor Ave.) and Brandons Community Sportsplex (30 Knowlton Dr.) will be closed on Monday and will resume regular hours on Tuesday.

 Brandon Transit routes will run on statutory holiday hours (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) on Monday. The Brandon Transit Info Centre will be closed on Monday.

 The Eastview Landfill will be closed on Sunday and will be open on Monday from 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Grocery stores

 The Real Canadian Superstore (920 Victoria Ave.) will shorten its hours on Monday, remaining open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 Sobeys Extra Brandon South (1645 18th St.) and Sobeys Brandon West (3409 Victoria Ave.) will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday.

 The Co-op Marketplace (1035 Richmond Ave.) will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday.

 The Corral Centres Safeway will open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday.

 The Corral Centres Walmart Supercentre will be closed on Monday.

Liquor

 Brandons three full Liquor Mart locations and one Express location will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday.

Medical clinics

 The Newmount Medical Clinic at 624 18th St. will be open from noon to 4 p.m. on Monday.

 The Richmond Avenue Medical Clinic at 1100 Richmond Ave. will be closed on Monday.

 The Brandon Clinic at 620 Dennis St. will be closed on Monday.

 Brandon Clinic West at 2835 Victoria Ave. will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday.

 Wheat City Clinic at 1711 Kirkcaldy Dr. will be closed on Monday.

 The Western Medical Clinic at 2425 Victoria Ave. will be closed on Monday.

 Rosser Medical Group at 841 Rosser Ave. will be closed on Monday.

 Trinity Medical Clinic at 335 18th St. will be closed on Monday.

 Meredith Medical Clinic at 1340 10th St. will be closed on Monday.

Pharmacies

With too many pharmacies to list, it would be best that one contacts their business of choice to find out their weekend hours. Even so, Brandons two Shoppers Drug Marts (139 Victoria Ave. East and 1350 18th St.) are known for keeping holiday hours. Theyll be open 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. on Monday.

Other things to do

 The Western Manitoba Regional Library will be closed on Monday.

 The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum will remain open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday.

 Thursdays edition of The Brandon Sun highlighted various Louis Riel Day events that are going on, including a celebration at Brandon University from noon to 4 p.m., which will include various family friendly activities and traditional Metis cultural practices.

 tclarke@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @TylerClarkeMBThe notion that a landowner should take justice into their own hands if an intruder barges onto their property exists in Westman, according to local RCMP, who are steadfast that all incidents must be handled lawfully.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/2/2018 (1306 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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The notion that a landowner should take justice into their own hands if an intruder barges onto their property exists in Westman, according to local RCMP, who are steadfast that all incidents must be handled lawfully.

Its a sentiment echoed by some rural residents who believe the police are too far away to adequately respond to isolated homesteads.

Its a belief behind some of the people who have come to the defence of Gerald Stanley, a white farmer acquitted of murder last week in the 2016 shooting of Colten Boushie, a 22-year-old Indigenous man.

The controversial decision, which has been decried as racist, has led to rallies nationwide and rival online fundraisers that have each raised approximately $200,000.

Many believe Stanley was coming to the defence of his family and property from a unruly group trying to steal his ATV. Farmers believe their property is not respected and an easy target for thieves.

Speaking broadly on the subject of defending a rural property against crime, Blue Hills RCMP Cpl. Mike Boychuk understands how landowners can feel insecure in remote areas, but that any confrontation has to be handled lawfully.

"We understand the frustration of rural landowners who try to protect their property but in the end, when there is an intruder and if there is an incident, it has to be dealt with according to the law," Boychuk said.

"We want to encourage people to call if theres suspicious people, call 911, the emergency numbers. Try to keep the emotions intact and understand that your actions, your behaviours may come into play in a court setting if it doesnt seem appropriate with the law."

Boychuk has heard from partner municipalities and residents alike on the use of firearms, like in response to killing unwanted vermin.

He hasnt heard of a resident within his detachment area picking up a weapon to scare off intruders, but said its happened elsewhere.

"Theres a certain schooling that we have the right to bear arms and protect ourselves, but theres also a school of thought of wanting to have a safe world and safe communities."

Virden RCMP Staff Sgt. Joe Frizzley suggests residents avoid confrontation if they can.

In his policing career, he has spoken with rural residents worried about recourse if they find a trespasser.

"Theres nothing wrong with telling somebody to leave," he said. "If you have that gut feeling that says you might get hurt, its best to avoid that situation."

He recommends people call police or 911 and record as much information as they can about any suspect, such as their appearance and vehicle details, to provide officers.

In their vast detachment area, which includes their offices in Virden, Melita and Reston, they can respond within 20-45 minutes to a rural crime, he said.

"Different people have different ways of dealing with things, but I wouldnt advise escalating things."

Dan Mazier, president of the lobbying group Keystone Agricultural Producers, said farmers themselves are vigilant.

"Usually if a neighbour has an occurrence, it doesnt take long that people are starting to look at things differently, like if theres a strange pickup."

Police detachments and municipalities are fairly good at alerting residents to crime, he said.

He noted a person wrecking unmaintained roads last year was quickly caught in the Municipality of Elton where he resides, Mazier said.

"Farmers, especially out in the growing season, theyre up early in the morning and late at night, so it might be just a set of lights but they can see it."

"They can put puzzles together rather quickly."

He didnt want to imagine what hed do in Stanleys situation. The Saskatchewan farmer testified in court he fired two warning shots to scare off the group, whom he thought were stealing his ATV. Stanley said his gun accidentally went off when he reached into the groups SUV to grab their keys out of the ignition.

His shot hit Boushie in the back of the head. Stanley was found not guilty on Feb. 9.

The driver of the SUV, meanwhile, testified their group was drinking during the day when they went onto the Stanley property for help with a flat tire.

"I cant imagine what either side is going through," Mazier said. "Its a tragedy all the way around."

 ifroese@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ianfroese150 jobs are being reserved by a Chicago recruitment firm for Irish J1 students.

The roles are only on offer to J1 Premium Package applicants.

A hiring fair will be held by Hospitality Services Group in Dublin from February 28 until March 2.

The fair is taking place at BaseCamp, Abbey Street, Dublin.

- Digital DeskConcern is rising about a member of staff from an Irish human rights group, who has been detained in Burundi.

Dublin-based Front Line Defenders say one of their Africa co-ordinators has been stopped - along with a colleague - at the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.Latest: A conference which aims to highlight concerns surrounding Ireland joining an EU defence pact has concluded.

Among the issues raised were the financial commitments of joining PESCO as well as the potential effect on Ireland's neutrality.

Jean Claude Juncker called #Pesco "A Sleeping Beauty"



In Denmark we would have to debate for months with a referendum before signing up to #PESCO - @LaveKBroch pic.twitter.com/mUvUdjAKKh  Mick Caul  (@caulmick) February 17, 2018

A vote on joining PESCO was passed in the Dail back in December.

It has since raised questions as to whether we have the financial clout to increase our military spending.

DCU Law and Government lecturer Dr Karen Devine doesn't think Ireland's reasons for joining hold merit.

"They said that the reason they were doing PESCO was because it was demanded by the public but it's not actually demanded by the public," said Dr Devine.

"So that in itself is quite an untrue basis for going ahead with the policy."

Today's conference in the Mansion House was organised by the Peace and Neutrality Alliance and the People's Movement, with a number of public representatives.

Danish politician Lave Broch was one of the speakers, and he believes Ireland should follow Denmark's lead by opting out of PESCO.

"I think if we want to build a world of peace, we have to do it from the first brick," said Mr Broch.

"We cannot build a system where we accept violations of human rights and where we think that being big gives us more power."

The conference has now concluded, with the issue of joining PESCO set to rumble on for the weeks ahead.

Earlier: Dublin conference taking place to discuss Ireland's PESCO involvement

A major conference will take place in Dublin to discuss Ireland's involvement in PESCO.

Ireland agreed to join the EU's defence pact in December, following a vote in the Dail.

Today's conference in the Mansion House is being organised by the Peace and Neutrality Alliance as well as the People's Movement, who are both concerned Ireland's decision to join PESCO will affect our neutrality.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, independent TD Seamus Healy and MEP Luke Ming Flanagan are among the speakers.

Proceedings look set to get underway from 12pm with the opening address from Dublin's Lord Mayor Micheal McDonnacha, with 3 separate sessions to follow.

- Digital DeskAn Irish teenager was among those caught up in the terror of the Florida school shooting.

The 16-year-old student had moved to Florida with her family, from Dublin, six months ago.Update 7pm: Sinn Fein is to hold meetings with the Taoiseach and British Prime Minister in the wake of the collapse of Stormont talks.

Sinn Fein are calling on the British and Irish Governments to implement agreements on Legacy, an Irish Language Act and provide for marriage equality in the north.

The party's Ard Comhairle has been meeting in Dublin to discuss a way forward.

Meanwhile, the Northern Secretary believes getting the Stormont Executive back up and running is what is best for the North.

Karen Bradley insists she will do all she can to restore devolved government.

"We've worked extraordinarily hard to do our very best to enable an executive to be form and I still believe that that can be done with the will of the politicians to deliver on what the people of Northern Ireland want and need which is their elected politicians doing the right thing and delivering devolved government for the people of Northern Ireland," said Ms Bradley.

Mary Lou McDonald.

Earlier: Sinn Fein in last-ditch bid to revive powersharing

Sinn Fein has made a last ditch appeal for their powersharing partners to get back into government in Northern Ireland.

Mary Lou McDonald urged the Democractic Unionists (DUP) to reconsider its position on proposals to end the 13 month political stalemate at Stormont.

Speaking ahead of a meeting in Dublin, Ms McDonald said: "Our appeal to the DUP is fairly straightforward. We had a draft agreement. We have a draft agreement. I would appeal to the DUP at this juncture to reconsider their position. Come back and talk to us and get that over the line.

"But I would also say to the DUP if that's not a runner, and I suspect at this moment it is not, we are not standing still.

"The show must go on and we have to move forward."

Negotiations between the region's two biggest parties were reportedly at a critical stage when DUP leader Arlene Foster effectively pulled the plug on Wednesday.

The DUP leader called on the UK government to set a budget and start making policy decisions for Northern Ireland.

However, Sinn Fein has insisted direct rule from Westminster is not an option.

"Direct rule would be entirely unacceptable to us, unacceptable to nationalist opinion across the country, particularly in the north and if anybody thinks or thought that by crashing this process they would return to the bosom of direct rule. They got it wrong," Ms McDonald said.

Vexatious issues such Irish language rights, marriage equality and how to deal with the legacy of Northern Ireland's troubled must now be tackled by both British and Irish governments, she added.

The republican party leadership is expected to meet with the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and British Prime Minister Theresa May to discuss the way forward in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein's Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill was also in Dublin for the meeting.

She said: "In any negotiation there has to be give and take. There were a number of issues which vexed the DUP and there were a number of issues which vexed ourselves.

"We had on the table a draft agreement, an accommodation whatever, way you want to describe it, we are crystal clear, what we had was a way forward and the DUP leadership failed to back that way forward."

- PAThe UK's Northern Ireland Secretary believes an Executive can still be formed at Stormont.

Karen Bradley had been facilitating discussions with the North's two biggest parties along with the Tanaiste Simon Coveney.Posted Saturday, February 17, 2018 5:00 am

Missouri U.S. Senators Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill recently announced that their legislation, S. 1438, which renames the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial as the Gateway Arch National Park, passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is headed to the presidents desk.

The St. Louis Arch is one of the worlds most iconic landmarks and a symbol of our states historic role as the Gateway to the West, said Blunt. Renaming the park will better highlight its central feature and make it more immediately recognizable to the millions of people who visit St. Louis every year.

The Arch is known worldwide as a symbol for our great city of St. Louis, the Show-Me State, and the Gateway to the West, said McCaskill. As the memorial grounds re-open this summer, its the perfect time to bring our majestic park together under a new name that highlights this remarkable symbol.

In 1935, the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial was designated as a national memorial by executive order. The Gateway Arch was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen in 1947 and completed in 1965. The Blunt-McCaskill bill aligns the name of the park with its most famous and widely-recognized feature.

S. 1438 passed the Senate on Dec. 21, 2017. Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Missouri U.S. Reps. William Lacy Clay and Ann Wagner.Donald Trump had a nine-month extramarital affair with the 1998 Playboy Playmate of the year, according to her account of the relationship obtained by a US magazine.

The affair began in 2006 and the president showed the woman his wife's bedroom in Trump Tower and took her to his private bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel, according to the eight-page, handwritten account.

The woman, Karen McDougal, confirmed in the The New Yorker magazine story published online on Friday that she wrote the account.

But she said she was constrained in what else she could say publicly about Mr Trump because she had signed a confidentiality agreement.

The affair ended in part after Ms McDougal started feeling guilty about it and after Mr Trump made an offensive comment about her mother's age as well as a vulgar remark about the anatomy of black men, the magazine reported.

The story said Ms McDougal was paid $150,000 during the 2016 presidential campaign for the rights to her account of an affair with any "then-married man" by the supermarket tabloid National Enquirer, which never ran it.

Just before Election Day, The Wall Street Journal reported the tabloid, whose publisher, David Pecker, is a longtime friend of Mr Trump's, had paid for Ms McDougal's story but was not printing it, a tabloid industry practice known as "catch and kill".

Former staffers at American Media, the company that publishes the Enquirer and other gossip sites, have told The Associated Press the company often bought the rights to unflattering stories about certain celebrities.

The practice, described by six former employees who had participated in such deals, could give Mr Pecker leverage over celebrities so that he could elicit future favours, such as appearing on his magazines' covers.

The company has approached Ms McDougal about extending her contract barring her from talking about Mr Trump in recent months as the behind-the-scenes negotiations to keep porn star Stormy Daniels' allegation of an afair with the tycoon have been made public, the magazine reported.

American Media has said it did not find Ms McDougal's account of an affair with Mr Trump credible and paid her to write fitness columns.

In a statement to The New Yorker, the company denied that having exclusive rights to Ms McDougal's story left it with any influence over the president, saying that contention "while flattering, is laughable".

The White House said Mr Trump denies having an affair with Ms McDougal.

The alleged affair occurred not long after Mr Trump married his third wife, Melania, who had recently given birth to a son, the magazine reported.

Ms Daniels, whose real name is Stefanie Clifford, has also said she had an extramarital affair with Mr Trump beginning in 2006.

This week, Mr Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, said he paid Ms Clifford $130,000 with his own money in October 2016 as part of a deal that would keep her from publicly discussing her account.

The same Los Angeles lawyer who represented Ms Clifford in that transaction also represented Ms McDougal in her negotiations with American Media, the magazine said.

Ms McDougal told The New Yorker she regretted signing legal documents that constrained what she could say.

"Every girl who speaks is paving the way for another," she told the magazine.

- PAA US grand jury has charged 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities, the office of special counsel Robert Mueller has said.

The defendants are accused of violating US criminal laws to interfere with American elections and the political process.

Charges include conspiracy, wire fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

The indictment alleges that Russians used bogus social media postings and advertisements fraudulently purchased in the name of Americans to sway political opinion during the race between Republican Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, his Democratic opponent.

The charges are the most direct allegation to date of illegal Russian meddling in the election.

The goal, the indictment says, was to "sow discord in the US political system, including the 2016 presidential election".

The charges arise from Mr Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the election and whether there was improper co-ordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.

Before Friday, four people, including Mr Trump's former national security adviser and former campaign chairman, had been charged in Mr Mueller's investigation.

The White House had no immediate response to the indictment.

Deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein said the goal of 13 Russians and three Russian entities was "spreading distrust" of 2016 candidates and the political system.

He said the new indictment does not allege that Russian meddling altered the outcome of the election.

A California man has pleaded guilty to unwittingly selling bank accounts to Russians meddling in the US elections.

Richard Pinedo of Santa Paula pleaded guilty earlier this month to using stolen identities to set up bank accounts that were then used by the Russians.

A US justice department spokeswoman said Pinedo did not know at the time he was dealing with Russians.

The plea deal is the third in special counsel Mr Mueller's continuing Russia probe.

- PATwo hours later they had their answer and within a week had an order for 30 units of 20 pieces to stock nine different stores, a response the Mannnings were told is "unheard of".

"We were lucky she didn't live that far away and she walked in wearing snow boots," says Vanessa.

For Vanessa, Cheryl and Gabrielle, the trio behind the Australian luxury brand Manning Cartell, their dream of breaking into the US market looked to be on ice with a model hired and a pop-up showroom space rented but no guarantee either would be available, or that the head buyer for the popular US department store Barneys would even show.

London: In March last year, the Manning sisters found themselves caught in the middle of what New Yorkers dubbed Winter Storm Stella, which forced the city into hibernation.

Designers Vanessa and Cheryl visited the Chelsea store last week and said it was a "wow" moment when they saw Manning Cartell next to Yves Saint Laurent. Their first pieces hit the store floor in August and after six months are selling above average which Barneys think is "incredible" "because we're brand new," says Vanessa.

"Americans love it, they love the name 'Cartell'," says Gabrielle, who oversees the business side of the brand. "They get the edginess," adds Vanessa.

"I'd like us to be one of their top brands," says Vanessa. Gabrielle sees no benefit in establishing stand alone US boutiques in the short-term, preffering instead to see how far Barneys can take the label. "You can start off small in a department store and then end up with 20-sqm footprint with your own concession so let's just see," she says.

Manning Cartell's US success is no surprise to Vogue Australia editor Edwina McCann, chairwoman of the Australian Fashion Council which, along with the UK Department of Trade has sponsored Manning Cartell and three other Australian brands Pared Eyewear, We are Kindred and Harman Grubisa to exhibit at London Fashion Week this year to help them break into the UK market.

McCann says it can be difficult for Australian designers, known for their "relaxed, youthful asthetic" and most commonly resort-wear, to follow in the footsteps of internationally recognised labels like Zimmerman and Ugg. But she says Australia bats above its weight in the fashion world and urges burgeoning designers to weaponise the Aussie "understated charm". "Learn your elevator pitch - but keep your Aussie attitude," she says. "Both will serve you well."While the rainbow flag may be flying all over the city to celebrate Sydney's 40th Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras this weekend, watch for a new fashion trend among the glitter and the sequins: the rainbow hijab. MOGA, a Muslim-owned fashion label that produces hijabs and head scarves for Islamic women, first created the "Pride" headscarf during last year's same-sex marriage debate in a show of support for the LGBTQI community. The silk scarf sold out within six days. The Melbourne-based fashion company, which has a large Islamic following, has now produced a special Mardi Gras-themed headscarf, in what's believed to be a first for a Muslim-owned fashion label. Zali Ghelardini, Kalida Edwards, Maya Weiss and Mable Syrup model the rainbow hijabs they will wear for the Sydney Gay Mardi Gras. Credit:Justin McManus. "Our fans range from trendy Muslim 'hijabsters' to festivalgoers to drag queens," said Azahn Munas, the creative director of the Melbourne-based company. "We really weren't sure how the religious community would react because we thought a lot of Muslims were intolerant to the gay and lesbian community.

"But we learnt this is a bit of a misconception  many of my friends in the Islamic community have LGBTQI friends or are LGBTQI themselves. "We were thrilled with the response to our initial release selling out in six days. We did however manage to save our very last scarf to send to our former prime minister, Tony Abbott, who was sadly one of the most vocal supporters of the no campaign." Mr Munas, 24, is a Sri Lankan Muslim who moved to Australia with his family at the age of seven. He started his company when a number of his Islamic friends complained that there was nothing colourful or bold about headscarf fashion. "We hope the 'Pride' scarf will be the 'must have' accessory for the Mardi Gras festival, march or gay wedding," Mr Munas said. Sydney's 40th Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras kicks off today with a Fair Day at Victoria Park, Camperdown which includes stalls from the 78ers (the likes of Julie McCrossin and other attendees of Sydney's first Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 1978, which ended in violence and arrests) and Dykes on Bikes. There will be a Game of Bones Dog Pageant as Sydney's finest dogs battle it out for the coveted titles of Best Dressed, Most Talented and Best In Show.Playwright David Finnigan has a slew of conservative commentators to thank for reshaping his new play Kill Climate Deniers.

From newspaper, radio and television commentator and Andrew Bolt, who railed against the play when it was selected by Arts ACT for funding back in 2014, to Breitbart News Network, the far-right American news, opinion and commentary website, whose readers' trolled him and hounded him with criticism.

Lee Lewis will direct playwright David Finnigan's provocative but funny Kill Climate Deniers at the Griffin Theatre. Credit:Louise Kennerley

"We have a sort of symbiotic relationship," says Finnigan, who lives in Canberra. He expects some conservative commentators will boycott the performance or at least protest about it when it starts next week at Sydney's Griffin Theatre.

The provocative play centres on a militant cell of eco-activists who take the audience hostage during a concert at Parliament House. Led by charismatic spokeswoman Catch, they demand Australia immediately cease all carbon emissions and coal exports  or they'll start executing their 1700 hostages. The embattled Environment Minister has no choice but to pick up a gun and stand up for her ideals.FLEABAG

Series premiere 

Monday 9.30pm, ABC Comedy

At first Phoebe Waller-Bridge's neurotic London singleton seems like an English Amy Schumer or Lena Dunham. Her inner monologue is delivered to camera whether she's having sex or a tense encounter with her sister. She's sharp, funny and floundering with everything from feminism to her failing cafe. But a darkness beneath the cavalier surface hints at a complex story to come.

Crimes that Shook Australia: genuinely informative.

TRAVEL GUIDES



Monday 9.10pm, Nine

This refreshingly honest take on the travelogue might deter more tourists than it encourages but at least those embarking on an adventure such as tonight's trip to the New Zealand ski fields will have a realistic idea of what they're in for. With only one amateur reviewer here possessing the experience or indeed a passing interest in the sport, there are more grumbles and stumbles than usual.NCIS



9pm, Ten

The lengths the writers will go to just to pop kooky forensics chick, Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette) into a fresh '90s Goth-inspired costume! In this Christmas Eve episode, a suspected attempted murder on the professional gambling circuit necessitates a cute retro croupier's outfit for Abby, complete with tinted sun visor hat. Meanwhile, Daddy issues play out in a bunker in Afghanistan.

NCIS

DRAGULA



10.30pm, SBS Viceland

This idea likely dreamed up at 3am in the back room of a drag bar should have stayed there. Dressing up in horror frocks is lots of fun for those doing it and the spectacle can ramp up a dancefloor vibe at silly o'clock. But as a reality contest it requires a lot of dressing-room catfighting to flesh out the spooky fashion parade that comes with stilted commentary by its vampy twinning hosts.WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? UK

***

7.30pm, SBS

Himself a student of history, celebrated stage and screen actor Derek Jacobi makes a welcome change from the weepy celebrity genealogy trackers. While fascinated by the French ancestor who becomes the real star of this show, Jacobi retains a level of detachment and dignity. Through his family tree we learn much about the French Huguenots and their flight from religious persecution.

Who Do You Think You Are?

ICE ROAD TRUCKERS

**

11.20pm, 7mate

There's no denying that life is tough on the long-haul trips across Manitoba, and commercial pressures only add to the ordeal, but if it weren't for the likes of drawling Darrel Ward, hot-tempered Art Burke, and "tough" Lisa Kelly, it'd be pretty much frozen pipes and stalling engines. Tonight, the first rule of the job is broken when a truck is forced to stop on the ice.Lent, a period of penance and self-denial for many Christians, began on Wednesday, but anyone to whom this story suggests a new menu should stop right there. Apart from the scarcity of laurices at the supermarket these days, the whole story is wrong, according to a new scientific report.

Their story was clear, and it was a strange and compelling tale. Around AD 600, Pope Gregory the Great decreed that foetal rabbits, or laurices, were not meat, and could be eaten during Lent, when meat was not allowed. Monks in France - where else? - quickly saw an opportunity and began to keep and breed rabbits as a meaty non-meat to nourish them through a cold and fishy Lent.

The details of how most animals became domesticated lie deep in the murky past, much debated and glimpsed only in tantalising hints from fossils and DNA.

A sculpture of St Gregory as Pope on display at The Cloisters museum in New York City. Credit:Nicole Bengiveno

"None of it is even close to being true," said Greger Larson, one of the main authors of the report debunking the myth.

"The whole thing is a house of cards," Larson said, acknowledging that he too has cited the story just like many other researchers. The remaining question, he said, is: "Why did we never question this? Why were we so willing to believe in this origin myth?"

By "we", he means scientists, not Christians or Roman Catholics who observe Lent. A quick, unscientific survey of several products of extensive Catholic education drew blank stares when the subject of foetal rabbits came up. I myself can say that in eight years at St Justin's Grammar School, during which time eating meat on Friday was forbidden and often discussed, not one nun ever said: "But laurices, now, no problem there."

I did ask some with expertise, just to be sure. Charlie Camosy, a theologian at Fordham University who writes about ethics and animals, read the paper and supplementary material from Larson's article in Trends in Ecology & Evolution. "Nothing about this is familiar to me," he emailed back. He did say that misconceptions about religious ideas on animals were common.Pakistan has sent troops to Saudi Arabia on a training mission after it refrained to do so in the past years, but the Pakistani military clarifies that the troops will not be deployed in conflict zones outside the kingdom.

Riyadh and Islamabad have been close allies for decades. The Saudis have been pressing Pakistan for the troop deployment since the outbreak of the Yemen conflict in 2015. The Pakistani parliament rejected such a request.

The deployment of a contingent in Saudi Arabia triggered the criticism of Pakistani lawmakers who rebuke the government for bypassing their resolution and making unilateral decisions to the detriment of the country.

Opposition members in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, also slammed the decision and sought clarifications to make sure the troop deployment in Saudi Arabia would not contravene Pakistans neutrality outlined in the parliamentary resolution.You see, this is not my first time attempting the entire month of February alcohol free, having lasted three days on the first occasion and pathetically until only lunch on the first day of the second attempt. No, Im not proud. But this time it would be different, I assured myself. It would be easy. But I must confess it hasnt been. At all.

''To be truly honest, two standard drinks are the amount my clumsy self is likely to spill on a big night.''

Last Sunday, at the St Kilda Festival, I swear I have never seen a sweeter sight that the ice-cold beers being enjoyed by those around me lapping up the sun and surrounding circus. My date at a French restaurant the week prior was a similar torture, as my dining companion swished a robust Bordeaux in his glass, its aroma drool-worthy. And finishing a complicated feature story yesterday before deadline felt less than replete without a congratulatory glass. To be honest, I felt cheated.

In fact, it has been so difficult avoiding alcohol that I have been avoiding being near it, shunning invitations from friends for a catch up to hide on my couch with a glass of sparking water in a wine glass to simulate my normal state. I really cant trust myself and its not just because I want the actual wine (which I do) but the fact I dont know what to do with myself without it.

And herein lies the real problem as I see it. Alcohol has become a ritual of sorts, especially socially, for me. As smokers miss the lighting, holding, ashing and stubbing elements of the process as much as they do the nicotine when it is gone, I miss the distraction that comes with having something to do when socialising and, for me, thats the constant rise and fall of a glass to my lips. Without it, I feel naked, exposed, awkward. Its this reliance that this endurance test is teaching me I have to change.It is a concern that new data shows Canberran tenants are being short changed on the return of their bond and at the worst rate in the country.

Just 43 per cent of the rental bond was returned to tenants in the 2015/16 financial year with the remaining 57 per cent either partially returned or forfeited altogether.

This level of return pales in comparison to states such as NSW, Victoria and Queensland that each return more than half of bonds and in the case of Victoria, about 64 per cent.

To think that more than half of renters in the territory are causing damage to properties or breaking lease conditions like housing pets, to lose their bond is fanciful.Local Jacob Keed believes he's invented a "one stop shop" for Australians looking to find local Indigenous services.

Mr Keed's app, Nations Connect, allows people to search near them for local elders or businesses and nearby health, cultural and social services for Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.

Developer of the Nations Connect mobile app Jacob Keed. Credit:Jamila Toderas

He said the inspiration for the project was his mother, a "very hardworking single mother" who was always looking for Indigenous programs for him and his brother to take part in.

"What if there was something that held all the information in one spot that could help people like my mother," Mr Keed said.Inner city dwellers now have a new bush track to trek.

Sydney's newest coastal bush trail was opened on Saturday and the 1.15-kilometre walkway opens up the western section of Malabar Headland National Park and provides public access to Malabar Headland, an area that was only recently re-opened for the public for the first time in 100 years.

The new walk on the western section is a circular loop and links up with the coastal Boora Point Walking Track.

Fresh outlook: The new bush trail along Malabar Headland National Park is now open to the public. Credit:Anna Kucera

This new track is critical in providing a healthy habitat for humans, wildlife and plants and ensures that Randwick remains a liveable city," Randwick Mayor Lindsay Shurey said, despite the new track fronting the New South Wales Rifle Association and being located near two other gun clubs and rifle ranges.Brisbane may be infested with cane toads, but the city's council is trying to keep the pest out of the few coastal Queensland locations that are yet to be invaded.

Moreton Island is considered cane toad-free and the council spends about $30,000 a year trying to keep it that way.

Brisbane is infested with cane toads, but there a few coast locations yet to be invaded.

The poisonous toad is considered a serious threat to other animals and kills native fish and reptiles as it is highly toxic to most animals when swallowed.

The councils environment chairman, David McLachlan, said the council was adhering to Commonwealth legislation to prevent cane toad-free areas becoming infested.South-east Queensland beaches have closed en masse, with a tropical cyclone near New Caledonia creating dangerous surf and powerful rips along the coast on Saturday.

More than a dozen beaches were declared off-limits, but lifesavers still had to rescue two men from the water, despite warnings about the dangerous surf created by Tropical Cyclone Gita.

Only three Gold Coast beaches remained open on Saturday. Credit:Craig Golding

A blanket closure was enforced on the Gold Coast, with Bilinga, Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads, Kurrawa, Mermaid Beach, Miami Beach, Nobbys Beach, North Burleigh, North Kirra, Southport, Surfers Paradise, Tallebudgera, and Tugun beaches all declared off-limits.

Coolangatta was also closed due to the rough surf. Maroochydore, Kawana, Boardwalk on the Sunshine Coast as well as Point Lookout Main Beach on North Stradbroke were also closed.A woman has been arrested after a passer-by found a man with stab wounds in a street in Moorabbin, south-east of Melbourne, in the early hours of Saturday.

The injured man, who is yet to be identified, was found on Keys Road near Herald Street just before 1am.

The man was taken to The Alfred hospital with upper body injuries.

An Ambulance Victoria spokesman said he was in a serious but stable condition.

A 22-year-old woman from Sydenham was arrested a short time later and remained in custody on Saturday afternoon.The Panlocks said they knew the laws would take time to take effect, but significant work still needed to be done to raise awareness of the legislation and the devastating impact bullying can have, calling for more support at government level. A law was created in Brodie Panlock's name to bring bullies to justice. People need to understand their rights. That you have got rights and you dont have to put up with these sorts of things and its not acceptable, Mr Panlock said. When Brodies Law has been used, like in Nicholas case, it can be life-saving. Mr Myintoo had noticed her son had changed from the quiet, goofy boy who loved to play video games with his mates.

He really withdrew. He became very angry all of the time and I thought it was just part of getting up so early, she said. She remembers noticing bruises on his body when he got out of the shower and she remembers a burn on his arm. He told me some story about being up in the roof. I remember asking him 50 questions about it and he was like Dont worry about it, just forget it, then hed get angry with me, she said. He changed, big time, from the boy that left school - the moody teenage boy that youd still get a conversation out of - to not being able to recognise him. He had lost his purpose.

It reached a boiling point and Nicholas texted her during the day: I cant do this anymore...Ive got to quit, Ive got to quit. When he got home that night, he showed his mum the relentlessly abusive texts his boss had sent him. Youre f***ed, was one text his boss sent when he tried to call in sick. Are you in tomorrow so I can organise labour! You f*** me up today!!! Lazy c***. "If I come out and things are not done you will get a scone."

He then opened up about the assaults. I just remembered this isnt real, this isnt real," his mother said. "I lost it, not at him, just at this man. This is my son, Ive protected him all these years from people like him and here was this man, who was my husbands friend ... I feel guilty that I dropped him off there every day, oblivious to what was going on. Nicholas quit after his disclosure and his mother took him to a doctor, which kicked-off a WorkSafe and then, a police investigation. By this point, Nicholas - sleepless because of nightmares and suffering from crippling post-traumatic stress disorder - was on suicide watch. He thought he must be worthless, that he must be useless, that he let his parents down and he didnt see the point of living. Thats when my nightmare began, Ms Myintoo said.

Hope came when Nicholas boss, Tommy Liu, was charged with three sets of stalking offences, which, in a last minute plea bargain, saw him sentenced for stalking with intent to cause mental harm. Jodie Myintoo pushed for justice for her son Nicholas, pictured in the background. Credit:Eddie Jim Prosecutor Ross Treverton read aloud Nicholas powerful victim impact statement in the Frankston Magistrates Court last August. My family trusted this man. I remember my Mum telling Tommy one Easter Thank you for taking my son on. I wanted to scream This man abuses me daily, Mum'! "I am not sure of my future. I feel useless as I was told daily. I feel inadequate to this world. I lock myself away. My mum does not let that happen. I trust no one."

He wanted to end his life, Nicholas wrote, and he felt he had let his family down. I wanted an apprenticeship, I wanted to make my mum and step-dad proud. This man alone was too much, he wrote. This is my first ever job, I had no idea this is what a boss does to someone ... I just want to feel normal again. Mr Liu's barrister told the court the behaviour his client inflicted on his apprentice was the same Mr Liu endured himself when he first started. It was commonplace. That importantly, does not justify it and we are no longer in an era where this behaviour should be tolerated, he said.

Mr Liu, who had no criminal history, was sentenced to a 15-month community corrections order with no conviction recorded. He is still able to work and take on apprentices. The regulating body, Energy Safe Victoria, cannot take action unless an electrician is convicted for a crime and jailed for more than six months. And WorkSafe, who had issued him with improvement notices, withdrew its investigation after police were able to prove a criminal case. What the court case did do, she said, was empower Nicholas. The now 21-year-old still battles PTSD and is re-training to go back to work. He cannot, Ms Myintoo says, go back to a trade. He can barely stomach looking at a work site. But without Brodies Law, Ms Myintoo said she doesnt know if her son would still be alive. We would have not got justice. It helped knowing this man didnt just get away with it, if there was nothing there, I dont know whether he would be here today, she said.A court in Istanbul Friday pressed life in prison sentences against several leading journalists and figures suspected of providing assistance to July 2016 failed military coup blamed on US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen.

A trio of prominent Turkish writers and journalists, Nazli Ilicak and brothers Mehmet and Ahmet Altan, were handed the heavy sentences for what prosecution termed attempt to overturn the constitutional order in Turkey, reports say.

The three journalists are accused of connection with Gulen movement that Ankara has charged for masterminding the 2016 coup.

A military coup to topple President Recep Tayyip Erdogan turned sour after thousands of the Presidents supporters took to the streets to reverse the course. Hundreds of Erdogan sympathizers died subsequently.

The regime, in the aftermath of the coup, drove a wide crackdown on tens of thousands among whom journalists, right activists, military staff, lecturers as well as mayors.

Ilicak, aged 73, wrote for several media among which Hurriyet. She was elected lawmaker in 1999.

Ahmet Altan, 67, is writer and journalist. He worked for several dailies including Hurriyet and Milliyet. He founded the now closed opposition daily Taraf.

Ahmets brother, Mehmet, is an analyst of Turkish politics. He wrote several books.

Both were arrested early September though Ahmet Altan was released in mid-September before rapidly being re-arrested, reports say.

The court decision also hit former Zaman newspaper marketing manager Yakup Simsek, police academy instructor Sukru Tugrul Ozsengul and Zaman layout designer Fevzi Yazici.

There are currently 156 journalists in detention according to P24 press freedom group cited by the New Arab.A website set up by Victoria's Centre for Sexual Assault that allows women to anonymously report cases of sexual assault and misconduct has led to arrests and the exposure of serial workplace harassers.

The Sexual Assault Report Anonymously website  sara.org.au  run by Melbourne's South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault allows women to make a report, seek information or talk to someone about their situation.

Centre Against Sexual Assault's Carolyn Worth with the 'Sara' website. Credit:Wayne Hawkins

CASA's Carolyn Worth said the centre established the website after the murder of Jill Meagher by Adrian Bayley in 2012.

Ms Worth said she had heard that women had complained about Bayley via social media, but had not made formal reports of incidents.Police have charged a 17-year-old girl over a brief car chase in Perth's south-east overnight which ended in a crash.

Police were conducting patrols in the Camillo area at about 7pm when they noticed a Toyota Aurion travelling at high speed along Braemore Avenue.

The girl is facing a number of charges. Credit:Kerrie Armstrong

Officers tried to stop the vehicle, however the car sped off, heading towards Tonkin Highway.

Near the intersection of Wollaston Avenue and Forrest Road in Haynes, the vehicle collided with two other cars.The local pool was the last place I thought Trump would resurface. Not (mercifully) from the spa in his budgie smugglers but in passing conversation. While watching our kids play, I befriended an American dad of Indian heritage, here on holiday. I asked how things were going back home under Trump; surely more game show than governance?

"Well, I voted for him," Dev said. As a woman of colour I took offence at his admission. But then I had to question my own bias. While I would have jumped on the bus with Rosa, it's true that not all coloured folk are a like-minded bunch of left-wingers. And according to Dev, he wanted to hold onto his gun. Yikes.

Donald Trump has created a culture of caution about outsiders, even if you share the same skin. Credit:AP

For some Americans the prospect of a de-liberalised utopia "trumps" solidarity with skin. Dev certainly embodies the nation's aspirational psyche; dream hard enough and success is all but guaranteed. My dad (who's Afro-Caribbean) has lived in Atlanta for 40 years. When visiting I'm surrounded by people of similar appearance but still feel like an outsider; my colour doesn't automatically grant me access to other cultures or world views. Perhaps if I'd met Dev in the States, his conservatism wouldn't have stuck out like a sore thumb. But fear, as Trump's primary political strategy, is working. It has created a culture of caution about outsiders, even if you share the same skin.

How far does allegiance to race, religion or ethnicity really travel when we're all such a complex mix of histories, personalities and circumstance? Many years ago my dad took me to a service at the church Martin Luther King had once preached in. I wondered if the arc of the moral universe, as Dr King asserted way back in 1967, would still bend towards justice when there's such a reliance on simplistic yet divisive ideas that separate communities into good and bad, black and white, right and wrong.Yet what few people have up until now acknowledged is the part that history  or rather, peoples erroneous perceptions of the past  plays in this sad saga of failure to effect meaningful changes to gun laws. Often, the frontier is blamed for the evolution of this phenomenon. Guns were needed for hunting and control of wild animals. They were also purportedly needed in defence against "wild" Indians  even though often these supposed savages, too, had guns (not infrequently given to them by Europeans so that the Indians could fight for them).

The reasons for this are doubtlessly complex and include the difficulty of changing the US Constitution. Yet even though it may be hard (yet not impossible) to make such legal changes, especially in recent decades, attempts at bringing them about have usually faltered even before getting to this hurdle. Generally the influence of the National Rifle Association (NRA) is blamed for this, and that is, to a degree, accurate.

There has been yet another mass shooting in the United States. Soon questions will be asked about why the perpetrator was able to acquire the weapon used (authorities confirmed last week the assailant's AR15 assault rifle had been purchased legally). Yet what this really drives home is the fact that successive US administrations have failed (if they even tried) to introduce more stringent gun controls.

However, the main reason about the strong belief in and attachment to guns actually has more to do with Britain and the American Revolution. In the Virginia Constitution of 1776, future US president Thomas Jefferson wrote that no freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms.

Jefferson and contemporaries objected to the army and took it to be a threat to those liberties that colonists sought to defend. They regarded it as a tool of oppression. For instance, John Adams saw the Boston massacre of 1770, in which several colonists were killed by soldiers, as proof for the danger posed by a standing army and feared that a tyrannical government might disarm its citizens.

Furthermore, he and others realised that such an army would also be a costly thing to maintain. At the same time, Jefferson, Adams, and others believed in civic virtue and military prowess and for this they relied on guns in the hands of private individuals, the "yeomen" that Jefferson held in such esteem. The idea was that there would be a militia system, comprised of an "an armed people" bringing their own guns.

This was the background from which the framers of the US Constitution came. The belief in militia found expression in the Second Amendment, which, as passed by Congress, read "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Yet even though the right to bear arms as described was a collective, not an individual, one as it was closely linked to the civic need for "a well regulated Militia", it came to be regarded as an individual liberty.

According to this myth, American freedom was won by armed yeomen who stood up for their believes and their country. However, it was actually the Continental Army, not the militia, who were crucial for the military fortunes during the revolutionary war. Nonetheless, there is an enduring myth which states the exact opposite and praises the militias for securing US Independence.National security adviser HR McMaster said on Saturday that evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 US election was "now really incontrovertible" after indictment of 13 Russian individuals and three companies.

Speaking at an international security conference in Munich, Germany, McMaster lent credence to a widening scandal that President Donald Trump has routinely dismissed as a hoax.

"The evidence is now really incontrovertible and available in the public domain," McMaster said. The US was becoming "more and more adept at tracing the origins of this espionage and subversion," he said.

The indictment announced on Friday describes a vast, secret, social-media campaign financed by a Russian entrepreneur with ties to President Vladimir Putin that worked to harm Hillary Clinton's candidacy and promote Trump.India today inked nine pacts with Iran, including one on getting operational control of the first part of the Chabahar port for 18 months, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held "substantive" talks to broad-base ties in oil, gas and banking sectors.

In their nearly two-hour-long talks, Modi and Rouhani also held extensive deliberations on pressing regional and global issues such as ways to combat terrorism.

The two sides signalled a convergence of strategic interests in the region, including in war-torn Afghanistan.

On whether the kidnapping of Kulbhushan Jadhav, currently on a death row in Pakistan, from Iran was raised in the talks, officials in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the issue did not figure in the deliberations.

Asked if India raised the issue of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir during today's talks, they said there was an understanding by the Iranian side on how India has been a victim of terrorism, indicating that it figured in the deliberations.

Apart from inking of lease contract between Iran's Port and Maritime Organization and India's Ports Global Limited (IPGL) to take over operation of existing facilities at the Shahid Beheshti Port -- Phase 1 of Chabahar -- for 18 months, the two sides signed avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.

Other pacts included ratification of nearly a decade-old extradition treaty, exemption from visa requirement for holders of diplomatic passports, traditional systems of medicine and establishment of an expert group on trade remedy measures.

In addition to the nine pacts, four more pacts were inked on the sidelines of Rouhani's three-day visit, officials said.

Talking about ramping up trade, the two leaders emphasised on the need to put in place an effective banking channel for business transactions.

"It was noted that permission for the Iranian Pasargadbank to open a branch in India was under advance consideration," a joint statement said.

It was also agreed to set up a joint committee of officials to examine feasible options, including Rupee-Rial arrangement and Asian clearing union mechanism to establish functional payment channels, the statement said.

The two countries also agreed to grant the e-visa facility to each other's nationals.

At a joint press event with Rouhani, Modi said India is commited to deepen ties with Tehran, particularly in trade and investment and will support the construction of the Chabahar-Zahedan rail link to improve regional connectivity.

Modi said the two countries want a terror-free world and they were committed to stopping the expansion of those powers which encourage terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, cyber crimes and other international crimes.

On his part, Rouhani said,"We are determined to combat terrorism and extremism."

Trying to reflect on growing congruence in bilateral ties, Rouhani said the two sides deliberated on a range of pressing bilateral, regional and international issues but did not disagree on even a "single topic".

Rouhani's India visit comes nearly a month after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip here, and hosting the Iranian leader is seen as a balancing act by New Delhi.

Calling for an immediate end to all support and sanctuaries enjoyed by terrorist groups and individuals, the two leaders said states that aid, abet and directly or indirectly support terrorism should be condemned, according to the statement.

Recognising the challenges of terrorism and ideologies of violent extremism, the two leaders reiterated their strong commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

"They called on the international community to end selective or partial approaches to combating terrorism and, in this regard, stressed the need to make every effort to reach an agreement on and conclude a comprehensive convention on international terrorism at the UN General Assembly," the joint statement said.

Modi said the visit by the Iranian president shows how the two sides want to deepen cooperation in key areas, including connectivity, and described the strategically-important Chabahar as a "golden gateway", development of which will help in reaching out to land-locked Afghanistan and central Asia.

On Afghanistan, both sides stressed that the interests of peace and stability in the region are best served by a strong, united, prosperous, pluralisitic, democratic and independent Afghanistan and supported the National Unity Government in the country.

"They stressed the significance of strengthening India-Iran-Afghanistan trilateral consultations and coordination, including by suitably supplementing their cooperation on Chabahar.

"In this context, they also called upon the countries of the region to come forward for enhancing regional connectivity and take steps to do away with the obstacles on land transit," the joint statement said.

The two leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council.

They also underscored the need for strengthening and reform of multilateral financial institutions and enhancing the voice and participation of developing countries in international economic decision-making.

The two sides also agreed to enhancing cooperation in the maritime domain.Russian deputy ambassador to Tel Aviv brushed off Israeli authorities claims that the drone which was destroyed last Saturday by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was launched by Iran, saying that Iranians in Syria are not insane.

Saturday the IDF brought down a drone  a replica of the American RQ-170, claiming it was launched by Iran from Syria.

Israel shot down UAV and attacked the Syrian regime positions. Syria in response brought down an Israeli F-16, causing injuries to the airmen manning the warship.

The Russian diplomat Leonid Frolov told Times of Israel that the Jewish state was in its right to bring down the drone but noted that it was launched by Syrian rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad to irk Israel.

I am sure that every UAV that intrudes into Israeli airspace needs to be shot down. It would be even better to bring down the UAV [without destroying it] and to see who created it, to whom it belongs, Frolove told the media.

One can accuse the Iranians of many things, but theyre not stupid. They know what would happen if they sent a drone over to Israel, he said.

The Russian official notes that Moscow will stand with Israel in the event of an Iranian attack on the Jewish state.

We certainly support Israels right to defend itself, and the actions of Israeli pilots were entirely correct.

Moscow is present in Syria, where together with Iran, it crops up Bashar al-Assads regime grappling with rebels who have been trying for over seven years to ouster him. Russia entered the conflict in 2015. The intervention was a game changer as it turned the tide.

The Russian diplomat, who served in Ramallah and Tripoli in Libya, and who is a savvy of the region politics and crisis, also addressed Russias position in the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, which became complex and spiraled out of proportion following Donald Trumps recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital.

Israels capital is indeed the western part of the old city, but the Palestinians also deserve a capital in the holy city, he said in reference to the eastern part of Jerusalem.

Moscow, according to the diplomat, would like to play a more significant role as suggested by Palestinians who have balked at engaging in US-led peace efforts following Trumps December decision. He also stressed that Trumps decision disrupted the peace process.

Frolove however maintains that the US still has a greater role to play should there be agreements between Palestinians and Israelis.The minister for road transport and highways, 60-year-old Nitin Jairam Gadkari is a man who does not lack imagination. Barely months into office in 2014, he swung into action looking to re-energise the laggard road construction activity in the country, setting an ambitious 40km per day construction target and bringing in innovative solutions to untangle the bottlenecks. At the same time he has also spearheaded ground-breaking projects like Sagarmala, a multi-billion dollar project that seeks to re-map ports around the country, and Bharatmala, a 50,000km roads and highways project that will connect the economic nerve centres of the country to the far-flung borders and beyond.

Toning down or leaving a project midway isn't his style. So it was quite out of character when last Thursday he said there was no need for a policy on electric vehicles now after being one of its most active advocates over the last one year.

"There is no need for any policy now," Nitin Gadkari, minister for road transport, said at a press briefing on Thursday. He was addressing reporters along with Amitabh Kant, chief executive of government think tank NITI Aayog.

It is a volte-face of near epic proportions. Over the last 12 months, the government has been steadfast in its vision of all-electric cars by 2030. On more than one occasion, the grandstanding has come without the necessary groundwork - a clear policy road map replete with incentives on how this vision can be achieved.

Electric cars as a category is still evolving globally and while costs are coming down, they are still very high. Further, for them to become a credible alternative, quick charging infrastructure needs to be in place. On all these counts, India is a laggard. As such, government's aggression coupled with its lack of preparedness to the level of disruption it would cause, has riled the domestic automobile industry.

Gadkari has been one of the most vocal supporters of electrification of personal transportation in India. At times in his exuberance he has even exceeded his brief as a minister in this aspect. Last September he created quite a flutter when he threatened the industry to start thinking about a future without gasoline and diesel engines. He was speaking at the annual congregation of the industry under the aegis of its lobby Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers and knew he had the attention of everybody - the who's who of the industry, bureaucrats and media.

"We should move towards alternative fuel... I am going to do this, whether you like it or not. And I am not going to ask you. I will bulldoze it. Petrol, diesel banaane walon kaa band-baajaa bajaanaa hai," he said. "You may not like it, but I wish it from my heart that your growth should be less. If this growth continues, I will need to add one more lane to national highways, which will cost a whopping Rs 80,000 crore. If you do not make electric cars yourself, then we will force you to do it."

Such stern words have been repeated on numerous occasions thereafter. But they havent been matched by action. Only a fortnight before the September address, the government had taken away fiscal incentives for hybrid cars - seen as a bridge between conventional vehicles and fully battery-operated electric cars. The takeaway was that the days of half measures were over and the industry needed to leap-frog to electric cars just like it is being made to leap-frog from BS IV to BS VI emission norms by 2020. The urgency pushed companies like Hyundai and Maruti to announce their plans to launch their first electric cars even though without adequate charging infrastructure they do not stand a chance of success. To that end, a policy for electric cars was awaited and promised with Gadkari himself saying it was ready and only required a nod from the cabinet.

"What we need is just action plans," said Kant. "Everyday, new technology is coming into the market. Technology is always ahead of rules and regulations. And in India, it becomes very tough to change rules and regulations, so let there be just actions," Kant said, explaining the reason behind the decision.

The climb down now, puts the ball back in the court of the industry seemingly leaving it free to decide the future course of action. This freedom is something that companies wanted anyway.

"Tell us what is the target for reduction in emissions for cars or the desired improvements in fuel economy to curb dependence on fossil fuel and then let industry decide which technology to go for," said Shekhar Vishwanathan, vice chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motor India.

"It's not a problem if there is no electric vehicle policy," added R C Bhargava, chairman, Maruti Suzuki India. "The broad message is government is willing to leave it to the industry to chart its course."

The fear though is that for the sceptics in the industry, Thursday's pronoucement feels more like a mood swing than an actual softening of stand. There is no love lost between the government and industry on this issue and the prevalent distrust is such that even good news is taken with dollops of salt.

"One day you (government) want us to bring electric cars as soon as possible and also to stop selling petrol and diesel cars. Next day you say, okie there will be no policy on this. Is this a joke?" says a senior industry executive who requested anonymity. "This is not the way any industry can work. If you want us to bring in the change then we need to be assured there will be no knee-jerk interventions in future. I dont think anybody can promise that so we can't promise anything either."

The EV story in India is imploding fast even before it can reach the starting line.Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the long overdue airport project at Navi Mumbai on Sunday. PM Modi said, "Issue of Navi Mumbai airport has been pending for years. And, this is not the only project that is pending. When I assumed office I realised there were several such projects. That is why we began a Pragati initiative and gave priority to completion of projects."

"In our country, nearly 450 planes are operational. 900 new planes will be bought this year. Aviation sector is moving ahead," he further said.

Sources familiar with the project development told Business Today that GVK group, the diversified infrastructure major working on the project, is confident that first phase of the airport with the capacity to handle 10 million passengers per annum will be ready in another four years.

This is despite the fact that land acquisition for the project is not complete yet. A small plot in the middle of the project site remains to be acquired. The group is confident of getting this done as the local administration seems keen to cooperate. Almost 3000 acres, which is bulk of the land for the project, has already been acquired with the key runway region totally clear.

For connectivity with Mumbai, which is not the responsibility of the airport development company or the state administration, contracts have been placed with Larsen & Toubro and Tata Projects for the trans-harbour link, billed as India's largest sea bridge.

On the key issue of financing, biggest challenge for any of the debt-laden infrastructure majors in the country today, GVK does not seem to anticipate problems. The first phase of Navi Mumbai Airport is expected to cost around Rs 6,000 crore. The internal accruals of the current Mumbai International airport are sufficient to take care of the equity requirements. Going by the project cost, this would incur equity requirements to the tune of around Rs 1,200 crore. For rest, GVK would raise debt from the banks and, going by our sources, the banks seem more than willing to participate.

The Hyderabad-headquartered GVK Group had led the consortium that modernised and re-developed Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in 2006. Mumbai International Airport Pvt Limited (MIAL), the same consortium, has a 74 per cent stake in the Navi Mumbai International Airport. This greenfield airport is being constructed at Ulwe Kopar near Panvel, and like the current international airport, will get both international and domestic flights. It has become necessary as the current airport, handling 48 million passengers a year, is nearing its full capacity of 55 million passengers per annum. It is anticipated that it will reach full capacity by the next year or so, making the new airport necessary. The company signed the concession agreement in January this year and in February last year, its bid was accepted.

For GVK, which has nearly stopped bidding for new projects and is focused on looking at various ways to prune its debt - its total debt today is around Rs 23,000 crore. Though when calculated, as per the new Indian accounting standard IndAs, it comes to around Rs 15,000 crore. The Navi Mumbai airport project is the only major project it is taking up recently. This perhaps has to do with the economics and its potential of the project, apart from GVK having the first right of refusal in the project.The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested three aides of absconding diamond trader Nirav Modi in relation to the Punjab National Bank fraud today. The central agency arrested former PNB deputy manager Gokulnath Shetty, single window manager Manoj Kharat, and Hemant Bhat, the authorised signatory of Nirav Modi's firms.

All three apprehended were named in the FIR registered against Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi on January 29, officials said. The FIR had initially listed eight fraudulent transactions worth over Rs 280 crores. Losing Rs 11,400 crore in suspicious transactions was came to the light only after a regulatory filing by PNB on Thursday.

CBI had registered a fresh FIR on Friday regarding the remaining 150 fraudulent LOUs worth over Rs 4,886 crore. The second FIR has been registered against Choksi and his companies Gitanjali Gems, Nakshatra Brands and Gili. Shetty and Kharat have been reportedly named in the second FIR too.

Shetty, now retired, had allegedly issued letters of undertaking without approval from his superiors in favour of Nirav Modi's companies and Mehul Choksi. Working with the foreign exchange department, he was one of the officials authorised to use the SWIFT messaging system for sending LoUs.

The Ministry of External Affairs had already suspended the passports of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi for four weeks. Moreover, now Interpol has joined investigating agencies and banks in locating the whereabouts of Modi.

Modi is at the centre of the Rs 11,400-crore 'fraud' detected at PNB's Brady House branch in Mumbai. The first complaint against Nirav Modi's company was filed on January 29, but he and his family had already fled the country on January 1.

08:51 pm: The Enforcement Directorate seized diamonds and jewellery worth Rs 25 crore from locations related to Nirav Modi. The total value of property seized from the jewellery designer has now reached to Rs 5,674 crore.

06:41 pm: Some acccused are abroad and will have to brought bac, CBI says in front of special court.

06:40 pm: PNB suffered losses of Rs 280 crore as per FIR, CBI tells special court.

06:30 pm: Gokulnath Shetty, Manoj Kharat and Hemant Bhat sent to CBI remand till March 3.



05:55 pm: The bulk of the PNB scam happened during Modi government's time, Rahul Gandhi said after the Congres Steering Committee meeting.



05:50 pm: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify on the PNB fraud case.

05:18 pm: ED will conduct more search operations tomorrow in relation to the PNB fraud case.

05:17 pm: Enforcement Directorate raided 20 locations related to Nirav Modi.

05:03 pm: Top officials from PNB and Finance Ministry have been summoned by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on February 19.

4:59 pm: Sitharaman said that the PNB fraud happened during the tenure of UPA government.

4:57 pm: "We are not conspiring to help scamsters flee the country, the BJP government is catching them instead," Sitharaman told reporters here.



4:54 pm: BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman stated that Congrss is spreading lies on the PNB scam issue.

4:39 pm: Shetty, Kharat and Bhat were presented in CBI court.



4:29 pm: The three arrested culprits will be presented in front of a CBI court in Mumbai later today.



4:27 pm: Former PNB deputy manager Gokulnath Shetty, PNB single window operator Manoj Kharat, and authorised signatory for Niraqv Modi group Hemant were nabbed by central sleuths.



4:27 pm: CBI arrested three accomplices of Nirav Modi in connection with the Rs 11,400 crore PNB scam.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.Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri reiterated the states rejection of current US proposals as unacceptable.

This was an apparent reference to a maritime demarcation line proposed by US diplomat Frederic Hof in 2012. The line would give Lebanon around two thirds and Israel around one third of a disputed triangular area of sea of around 860 sq km (330 square miles).

The Lebanese dissatisfaction with the US proposal came in response to the call of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who urged, from Beirut, Lebanon and Israel to ensure their frontier remained calm.

Iran-backed Shia militia, Hezbollah, urged Lebanon to stand firm in its offshore energy dispute with Israel and warned it could act against Israeli oil facilities if necessary.

If Lebanons Higher Defense Council were to decide that (Israeli) offshore oil and gas plantsshould be forbidden from working, I promise they would stop working within hours, Hezbollah chief, Hassan Nasrallah said at a rally.Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd has released an official employment notification calling out for experienced aspirants to apply for the post of Director in Operations. Selected candidates have the scope of earning up to INR 100000.

Those interested can check out the eligibility, salary scale, how to apply and the complete details of the railway job here. The last date to apply for the vacancy is 5 March 2018.

SVC Co-operative Bank Recruitment 2018 For Customer Service Representatives

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Post Director (Operations) Educational Requirement Bachelor's Degree in Civil/ Electrical/Mechanical or Electronics and Communication Engineering. Age Limit 45 to 60 years Salary Scale INR 75000 to INR 100000 Deadline To Apply 5 March 2018

Also Read: Railway Jobs 2018: RITES Recruitment For Engineer Posts

How To Apply For Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Recruitment 2018 For Director Post

In order to apply for Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Recruitment 2018 for Director post, follow the steps given here:

Step 1 Log on to the DMRC official website. Step 2 Click Careers tab on the home page. Step 3 A notice warning about miscreants trying to offer fake jobs will be displayed on the screen. Read it carefully and close the pop-up. Step 4 The list of job notifications will be displayed on the screen. Step 5 Against Advertisment No. DMRC/PERS/22/HR/2018 (117) choose the link that reads, Vacancy for the post of Director (OPERATIONS). Step 6 The detailed job advertisement will be displayed on the screen. Step 7 Scroll down to find the application form. Step 8 Take a print out of the application.

Step 9

Fill your particulars in the space provided and send the filled application form to the DMRC.

Railway Jobs 2018: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd Recruitment For Various Posts!

DMRC Recruitment Application Form Mailing Address And Format

Superscribe on the envelope as "Application to the post of Director" and send it to:

General Manager (HR)

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd

Metro Bhawan, Fire Brigade Lane,

Barakhamba Road

New Delhi.

Click Here to read the official advertisement.Electric vehicle development and promotion has been a priority for the government for quite some time now, where it aims to achieve 100 per cent electrification by 2030. The government of Maharashtra has announced lucrative incentive schemes for the EVs as part of extending support to the Faster Adoption of Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme.

Apart from exemption of road tax and registration fees, under the new policy the state will offer a subsidy of 15 per cent on the total price of the vehicle to the first one lakh electric vehicles registered in the state. However, the policy also has a capping limit with regards to maximum subsidy which can be given to a vehicle. Two wheelers in the state can avail maximum subsidy of Rs 5,000, three-wheelers have been limited to Rs 12,000, while four-wheelers can avail benefits of up to Rs 1 lakh. Post registration, the subsidy amount will be reverted to the vehicle owners bank account in about three months.

Moreover, the Maharashtra government will also offer 25 per cent subsidy amounting to a maximum of Rs 10 lakhs to first 250 charging stations to be set up in the state. Electric vehicle manufacturers can also install charging points at fuel stations after getting clearance and complying with safety norms. The new charging stations can avail electricity at non-commercial rates. The incentives for EVs will be offered in a phased manner in places likes Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, Nagpur, Pune and Aurangabad.Photo: DriveBC

UPDATE 10:48 a.m.

DriveBC has issued a travel advisory for the Coquihalla from Hope to Merritt due to significant snowfall expected through the weekend.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the Okanagan and the Okanagan Connector warning of heavy snow falling through Sunday night.

Drivers are reminded to prepare for changing road conditions and to watch for maintenance crews and vehicles and give them space.

ORIGINAL 10:19 a.m.

As the Okanagan braces for more snow, Highway 3 is closed in both directions for avalanche Control, at the Kootenay Pass, 30 km west of Creston for 27 km. The highway is expected to be closed from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday Feb 16.

You're advised to use hwy 3a as an alternate route from Nelson to Creston using the Kootenay Lake Ferry, Estimated travel time 2.5 hours.Photo: Contributed The Canadian Press

Adam Peddle says he has a growing collection of Tim Hortons Roll up the Rim cups, but they're not winners  there's no message at all under the rim.

The popular coffee chain has confirmed a "small batch" of misprinted extra large-size cups were distributed in Atlantic Canada and Alberta for the annual contest.

But Tim Hortons says no major contest prizing has been affected by their supplier's misprint, because third-party consultants audit the production process and the seeding of prizes.

"We can assure our guests that all odds remain the same," Tim Hortons said in an email statement.

Peddle, a 39-year-old avid coffee drinker and retail worker in St. John's, N.L., says he has collected at least 10 cups with either no message under the rim or a message that was cut off.

"I had it happen again this morning," he said on Friday. "One cup was a winner and was printed fine and the other was cut off."

Peddle said he "wasn't too torn up about it," adding that he just thought it was weird so he decided to tweet a couple photos of his cups.

"I didn't think any big winners would have been under the rim," he said.

Tim Hortons said if a customer comes across a misprinted cup, they can go to any outlet for a free replacement cup filled with a hot beverage of their choice.

News of the misprints seemed to amuse some Twitter users.

"Someone needs to call in the Mounties! This will not stand," a user named Tom Megginson tweeted.

And Twitter user Michael Dinn wrote: "Given it was Alberta and Atlantic Canada, I think the supplier was just busy having a donair."Photo: Val Palmer A car rolled down an embankment off Dilworth Drive Saturday morning.

UPDATE: 7:55 p.m.

The southbound lanes of the Coquihalla Highway have reopened near Merritt, according to DriveBC.

The highway was closed for about three-and-a-half hours due to "spun out semi trucks," DriveBC reported in an earlier update.

Motorists can expect congestion and lengthy delays.

UPDATE: 4:30 p.m.

Southbound traffic on the Coquihalla Highway has come to a standstill near Merritt after a vehicle crash closed the highway Saturday afternoon.

DriveBC says the crash is being assessed, and there is currently no estimated time of reopening.

The northbound lanes of the Coquihalla remain open.

The highway is blanketed in snow, and reportedly slippery.

Emergency crews in Kelowna are keeping busy as well. A car and a van collided on Shannon Lake Road near Bartley Road at about 4 p.m.

Fire crews are on scene, and a witness says no one was seriously injured.

UPDATE: 10:55 a.m.

The two people inside a car that rolled down an embankment on Dilworth Mountain Saturday morning escaped without any serious injuries.

The single-vehicle crash occurred just after 10 a.m. near Omenica Place, on the slippery Dilworth Drive.

Fire crews and ambulance are now on scene.

UPDATE: 10:05 a.m.

Travel is treacherous on the high-elevation mountain passes Saturday morning, as snow continues to blanket the road.

A pickup truck and a semi-truck collided on the Okanagan Connector near Elkhart Road just after 9 a.m., tearing the back end off the pickup truck.

It's believed the occupants of the truck avoided any serious injuries, but they were shaken up.

Travellers are reporting similar conditions on the Coquihalla as well, and a travel advisory remains in effect for both highways.

Travellers at lower elevations are facing slippery conditions as well. A Castanet reader reports that multiple vehicles have gone off the road on Highway 97, between Summerland and Penticton.

Emergency crews are responding to several crashes around Kelowna, including a single-vehicle rollover near Dilworth Drive and Omenica Place.

Snow is expected to continue until Saturday night, with upwards of 30 cm expected to fall at higher elevations.

ORIGINAL: 8:10 a.m.

A snowfall warning remains in effect for the entire Okanagan.

According to Environment Canada, up to 25 cm of snow is expected to fall before the day is over.

A strong Pacific low pressure system will move eastward across northern Washington State today, bringing with it a lot of the white stuff.

Snow began falling early this morning, and is expected to ease tonight.

In addition, strong winds and areas of blowing snow are expected.

A snowfall warning has been issued for the Okanagan Connector from Merritt to Kelowna with 15-25 cm expected to fall on the mountain road.

Road conditions are available at www.drivebc.ca.Students will never be returning to Building 12 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School again.

Florida legislators said Thursday they will provide the resources to help the Broward School District tear down Building 12, the site of the massacre that killed 17 students and teachers. They want to build a new classroom space and replace the site of the murders with a memorial to honor the victims and their families.

This building has to come down, Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, told the Miami Herald on Friday after visiting the school the day before. He said the horror was palpable. Story here.The images haunt Wilton Simpson.

The state senator, developer and egg farmer from Trilby came to Building 12 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Thursday with a small entourage of legislators. They wanted to get a firsthand look at what happened when 17 students and faculty were gunned down by a former student at the school in Parkland.

It could have been a killing field, recalled Simpson, the Senate Republican leader in an interview with the Herald/Times. He recalled how detectives described the movements of killer Nikolas Cruz as he shot his way through the freshman building.

Blood spattered the hallways, bullet holes pierced the walls. Books and papers were strewn everywhere. Textbooks sat open on the desks. And in the midst of it all were the bullet casings. Story here.Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

An Open Letter to Clayton Jennings:

Dear Clayton Jennings,

You don't know me but we have many things in common. Some of the things we have in common are things we can be proud of for sure. There are also things we have in common that have shaped our lives and impacted others in a way that we are ashamed of. You see I used to be a minister like you who traveled preaching the gospel to many thousands gathered at one time. Sure not as many as you but still I was focused on sharing Christ and then I like you came to the point of...

... Well let me back up a bit and explain who I am and how we are slightly connected.

Our Common Ground

I used to attended your grandfathers church. As a student of Tennessee Temple University (TTU) I sat under Dr. J. Don Jennings (your grandfather) the President of the school and Pastor of Highland Park Baptist Church. I still remember how he would challenge us to be bold, courageous and not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. His sermons impacted my life as I am sure they did yours.

Not long after leaving TTU I went into full-time ministry. I was young and my desire to please God with my life drove me. God blessed and saw fit to place me in a position were I could preach the gospel to thousands. What a thrill it was to present the truth to so many folks of which many were lost and responded to the invitations when I gave them. Many folks saw me as a great minister of God but I like you knew otherwise. You see Clayton I lived a lie and just like you I fell into sexual sin. Our commonality ends here.

My Sin Broke Me

I shamed the name of Christ. I let down everyone and I knew my ministry was over. Done. Never to return. I failed my family, church and the thousands upon thousands who looked at me as a man of God. I sinned grossly against our Holy God.

Yes after much time and pain I found forgiveness and restoration in Christ however, there was never going to be ministry again. I was (as you are) disqualified. I know God restored me and presents me as faultless to the Father but I also knew my days of public ministry were over.

Consequences Of Sin

I like you was stripped of my ministry credentials. Lost almost all of my friends and gained a world of haters. I did not press forward into another ministry as you have. I only looked to Jesus for comfort and restoration which took years.

It was years before I could walk into another church with my head held high in confidence of who I am in Christ because my fall was so great and damaging to all I ministered to.

You have to ask yourself as I did how could we have acted in such a way? Our sin is sick and shameful exposing us as not godly men but as weak selfish children. As Christian Ministers we publicly made a mockery of Jesus' name. Godly Men live for Christ not themselves. Lost men follow their lustful desires planning and scheming to sin as we have. Anyone with our history should question if they are a true follower of Christ. I did just that, have you?

I'm Concerned for your Soul

The most difficult years of my life followed my sin. This is why I write to you today Clayton. I watched your haters video and have read the many articles exposing your sin and I am concerned for your health, life and soul. My road to recovery was private, long and painful. You my friend are trying to recover publicly without full repentance as you seek to deny many of your transgressions. You are in grave danger of God's Holy Wrath. Please Clayton surrender before God's patience with you comes to an end.

My fear is that you are unmoved spiritually by the wretchedness of your sin because you are not in Christ. I know what it is like to be in your situation. If you are indeed a child of God He will break you. It will not be pleasant.

Those who are closest to you have called you to repent and withdraw from ministry. These Godly men know and love you. Do not hate those who seek to bring you to repentance. Those who warn the body of Christ concerning you do so not out of envy or insecurity as you have charged but out of love for Christ and His Church. They are obeying God's command to warn the flock of sinful men like you and me.

Clayton Jennings, For the sake of Christ, His church and your soul I implore you to repent.

Sincerely,

Tim Hurd

Tim Hurd (the Bible Thumping Wingnut) is a wretched sinner saved by and for the glory of our Lord and King Jesus. His walk has not always been faithful but all praise to God for He remained faithful and has never forsaken Tim throughout his sanctification process. Tim has 12 years of full time ministry experience as an associate pastor & missionary. Currently a layperson, he is ministering via social media, Christian podcasting, personal and occasional street evangelism. His experience includes running of large and small evangelistic outreaches, training of local church leaders, pulpit supply, street preaching, conference and youth camp speaker, event emcee & evangelistic rally preacher.

Originally posted at the Bible Thumping Wingnut Network.Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

In 2000, Wayne LaPierre told ABC News he believed President Clinton was willing to accept "a certain level of killing to further his political (gun control) agenda."

Agree or disagree with LaPierre, it's an indisputable fact that many on the left and right are willing to allow a certain level of killing of Americans because to stop it would impede their political and/or business agenda.

The day after the Super Bowl, the Colts' Edwin Jackson and his Uber driver, Jeffrey Monroe, were both run over by a drunken-driving, twice-deported illegal alien.

To say that these are needless deaths is a gross understatement. And whenever there is an epidemic of needless deaths, important people rush to microphones to express their outrage and horror at the situation.

People get upset at preventable deaths. For instance:

 Nancy Pelosi in 2017, said "hundreds of thousands of people would die" if the GOP health bill passed.

 Economist Larry Summers said 10,000 people would die annually from the GOP tax bill.

 Sen. Feinstein warned people would die if the government shut down.

I'm still waiting for the headline: "Widespread tax relief and employee bonuses bring avalanche of death and human misery."

On the other hand, people actually do die at the hands of some (not all) people in the country illegally. What are the responses of our fearless leaders for the killing of Jackson and Monroe? Here you go:

George W. Bush: No comment on killings of Jackson or Monroe this week. But this elitist patrician who never criticized Obama, criticized his president Thursday on foreign soil. Why? Because Trump wants to stop illegal immigration. Bush said, "Americans don't want to pick cotton at 105 degrees." Exceptionally ignorant statement. My daddy didn't have a Kennebunkport compound, and I loved digging ditches in college when it was 105 degrees because it was honest labor and money. Oh  and cotton picking has been mechanized since the late 1960s!

Nancy Pelosi: No comment. On Kate Steinle? "We need more gun control, and we shouldn't let George Bush ... errrr ... George Trump stop us! Tax bill is Armageddon for illegal, umm, crumbs  that's what the bonuses are  crumbs. My grandson wishes he was brown like his Guatemalan friend." She did stand for eight hours speaking not for Americans murdered by illegals, but in support of illegals.

Sens. Dianne Feinstein/Chuck Schumer/Dick Durbin: "We need a clean DACA bill. Because "dreamers" are better than Americans in Every. Possible. Way."

John McCain: No comment on the deaths but he did introduce a bill to give DACA amnesty. In 2006 he did say, "I'll build the God-dned fence if they want it." Borders seem to make him angry.

Lindsey Graham: Nothing about the killings this week, but he said, "We're not going to build a 1,900-mile wall." He is very passionate about amnesty and strangely passionate about working with Durbin and Schumer.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Illegals are cheap labor, often off the books, so we oppose ever solving this problem. Deaths? We're not a law enforcement agency or EMS. Not our problem.

If pressed, some will make a valiant attempt to explain that the problem is not illegal aliens. An illegal who kills someone while driving drunk is an "alcohol abuse" problem. An illegal who shoots someone is a "gun-control" problem (Pelosi's real-life response to Steinle's murder). And, of course, we hear all the time that Americans break the law with more frequency than illegals.

Two fallacies argued that cost American lives:

1) Americans drive drunk, too.

Sorry. The formula is simple: No illegal aliens would mean Jackson and Monroe would still be alive.

"But a drunk American could've done the same ..."

Stop.

We will always have to deal with Americans who break the law. But the government's job is to make sure our citizens don't have to fear bad actors from other countries on U.S. soil. We fought two world wars to keep bad actors from unlawfully entering (invading) other countries.

Every murder by an illegal alien would not have happened if the federal government did its job.

2) Illegals commit fewer crimes.

False. Why would any thinking person conclude that someone who is here illegally (against the law) would have an amazing reverence for the sanctity of all of our other laws? One example: recent studies have shown in the case of Arizona, illegals commit crimes at double the rate of native-born Americans.

So illegals commit more crimes than citizens (common sense), and an illegal who isn't here commits no crime.

The left ignores deaths at the hands of illegals because they want new Democratic Party voters. They don't get upset about the killings; they do get upset if someone brings up the killings.

The right, big business and tech moguls (like Mark Zuckerberg, who has a six-foot wall around his Hawaii vacation home) ignore deaths at the hands of illegal immigrants because they want cheap labor.

So, these groups view the deaths of Americans as a cost of gaining power and doing business, and we are nowhere near a death toll that would alarm them.

But a death toll of one citizen murdered by an illegal per year is one too many. That's one mother/father/son/daughter gone forever. Those people would not have died if there were no illegals.

Bottom line: Because the immeasurable cost to the families of citizens like Jackson and Monroe, we should never tolerate illegal immigration.Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

What do you call it when Western elites attempt to foist abortion on native African cultures?At the United Nations, two women were squaring off: one, a Danish abortion advocate, the other, African scientist Uju Ekeocha.

Their opinions expose the deep clash of civilizations across the globe: the culture of life versus the culture of death.

The Danish feminist admitted that she was "a bit provoked" by Uju's claim that Western countries are once again engaging in colonialism. In her view, she announced, African women should be able to decide for themselves what to do with their bodies, including how many babies they want, and whether to have abortions.

Uju was quick to respond.

"Culturally, most of the African communities actually believe, by tradition, by their cultural standards, that abortion is a direct attack on human life," she explained. "So for anybody to be able to convince any woman in Africa that abortion . . . can be a good thing, you first of all have to tell her that what her parents and her grandparents and her ancestors taught her is actually wrong.

"And that, Madame, is colonialism."

Bravo, Uju! She is absolutely right. What else can you call it when secular Western organizations fly into Africa with bundles of birth control and abortion equipment, determined to convince African women that these things are good for them?

Uju, by the way, is the founder of Culture of Life Africa, an organization dedicated to defending African values, including the sanctity of life, the honoring of motherhood, and the dignity of family life. When Westerners launch assaults on these values, Culture of Life Africa responds with the voices of African women.

And what are these women saying? That they love and celebrate their children. That they despise abortion. That they want their authentic needs met, such as the safe delivery of their babies. They want their values respectedespecially their belief that motherhood is a blessing, not a burden, even within a poor family.

But Western do-gooders are not listening. Their ultimate goal is the drastic reduction of children born to poor Africans.

For instance, in the wake of President Trump's decision to reinstate the pro-life Mexico City Policy, Western governments from Canada to Holland raised money not, as Uju puts it, "for food in Africa, not funds for water...and not funds that the Africans can use as they want," such as for education. Instead, they're attempting to raise billions of dollars "dedicated to the so-called safe abortions."

Routinely, African cultural values are aggressively pushed asidewhich is why Uju calls fundraising for African abortions "cultural" and "philanthropic imperialism."

We shouldn't be surprised that the biggest anti-life groups, such as Planned Parenthood International and Marie Stopes International, are so eager to cut down on the number of African babies. Both were established on a platform of virulent racism. Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger once wrote, "We do not want word to get out that we want to exterminate the Negro population." Marie Stopes was an enthusiastic eugenicist whose goal was to decrease the number of babies born to so-called "inferior" races.

Is it any wonder that those who follow in their footsteps are determined to pressure African governments to legalize abortion?

You and I need to speak up and speak outto our lawmakers, friends, and church groups about what the West is doing to Africa. And come to BreakPoint.org and I'll link you to the Culture of Life Africa websiteplease share the articles there with others.

Africans are right to be angry with Western attempts to impose the Western love of abortion on them. We need to stand with them as they fight this battle, recognizing that every baby is precious in the eyes of God.

First published at BreakPoint.Franklin Graham praises Donald Trump again because he 'defends the Christian faith' while others 'scolded Christians'

Despite the many critics President Donald Trump has to deal with on a daily basis, he at least has a staunch supporter in Rev. Franklin Graham.

When evangelist Billy Graham's son appeared on Fox & Friends Weekend, he once again lauded Trump for being a true defender of the Christian faith, whereas past presidents mostly "scolded Christians."

He was questioned about the political prisoners in North Korea and asked to compare them to the "religious prisoners" of the United States. With regards to the latter, Graham is confident that Trump is going to take good care of them.

"What I love about our president is that our president defends the Christian faith," he said. "Our past presidents scolded Christians. This president is defending Christians and he's very open about the Christian faith.

"I love that about President Trump and, of course at the prayer breakfast just a few days ago he was tremendous that America is a nation of believers," he continued. "And we're strengthened by the power of prayer, he reminded everyone. He also reminded us that faith is central to American life. It is. It is central to our life as a nation. I'm very thankful that Donald Trump takes this stand."

Graham knows a lot of people criticize Trump and do not really see him as a good example of Christian faith, but neither is he. Still, Graham appreciates that Trump is at least defending Christianity - even though his language can use some brushing up.

"He doesn't always articulate it like a preacher would," said Graham, "and I think people condemn him because they expect him to talk like a preacher. He's not. But he does have a very strong faith."

Not everyone in the Graham family appreciates his strong support for Trump, according to the Portland Press Herald. Jerushah Armfield, Billy Graham's granddaughter and Franklin's niece, thinks it would be best if her uncle veered away from politics and kept his views to himself. She said Trump "encouraged racism, sexism and intolerance, exactly what Jesus taught against."

She added her grandfather Billy "understood the love of Jesus that fought for the outliers while the president-elect ostracised them." But the evangelical leaders who supported Trump are not the same way, and prioritised power and influence over principles and character, Armfield asserted.WASHINGTON - Some renewable-energy industries will suffer and their growth will slow unless Congress extends tax credits set to expire soon, officials in the industries told senators Wednesday.

Representatives of wind power and biodiesel companies said temporary expiration of the credits in the past hurt production.

The biodiesel sector has relied heavily on a $1-per-gallon blenders' tax credit, set to expire in at year-end, said Paul Soanes, CEO of Houston-based Renewable Biofuels, whose Port Neches plant is the nation's largest biodiesel-producing facility.

When the credit lapsed for most of 2010, U.S. biodiesel production fell 40 percent, Soanes told the Senate Finance Committee's Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure.

This year, with the credit restored, his company's production rose from 9 million to 62 million gallons - also helped for the first time by a new renewable-fuel mandate, Soanes said.

If Congress doesn't extend the credit, Soanes said, American biofuel production will decrease, resulting in job losses.

A number of tax credits for renewable energy production are set to expire in the coming years, raising concerns among alternative-energy advocates about the country's economic well-being and U.S. competitiveness in shifting away from fossil fuels.

A tax credit for new wind farms expires in late 2012, and Congress should extend it now because companies already are making planning decisions for 2013 projects, said Martha Wyrsch, president of the American arm of Vestas, a wind-turbine manufacturer headquartered in Denmark.

Texas leads the U.S. in biodiesel and wind-generation capacity, the Texas Energy Foundation says.

More for you Renewable energy

Some committee members were skeptical about extending the credits.

"You can't make the case for tax credits going on forever," said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., though he lamented that some industries have long-term incentives while others' are temporary.

Wyrsch and Soanes said biodiesel and wind could become competitive enough to go without tax support within five years.

puneet.kollipara@chron.comAs climate-change lawsuits against the oil industry mount, Exxon Mobil Corp. is taking a bare-knuckle approach rarely seen in legal disputes: It's going after the lawyers who are suing it.

The company has targeted at least 30 people and organizations, including the attorneys general of New York and Massachusetts, hitting them with suits, threats of suits or demands for depositions. The company claims the lawyers, public officials and environmental activists are "conspiring" against it in a coordinated legal and public relations campaign.

Exxon Mobil has even given that campaign a vaguely sinister-sounding name: "The La Jolla playbook." According to the company, two dozen people hatched a strategy against it at a meeting six years ago in an oceanfront cottage in La Jolla, Calif.

"It's an aggressive move," said Howard Erichson, an expert in complex litigation and a professor at Fordham University School of Law in New York. "Does Exxon really need these depositions, or is Exxon seeking the depositions to harass mayors and city attorneys into dropping their lawsuits?"

What's at stake

Experts say Exxon Mobil's combative strategy is a clear sign of what's at stake for the fossil fuel industry. So far, New York City and eight California cities and counties, including San Francisco and Oakland, have sued Exxon Mobil and other oil and gas companies. They allege that oil companies denied findings of climate change scientists despite knowing that the use of fossil fuels posed "grave risk" to the planet.

Attorneys general Eric Schneiderman of New York and Maura Healey of Massachusetts are investigating whether Exxon Mobil covered up information on climate change, defrauding shareholders and consumers.

Exxon Mobil, the world's 10th-biggest company, has denied the allegations and says its defense is intended to show that it's being punished for not toeing the line on climate change, even though it agrees with the scientific consensus.

"The attorneys general have violated Exxon Mobil's right to participate in the national conversation about how to address the risks presented by climate change," said Dan Toal, a lawyer who represents the company. "That is the speech at issue here - not some straw man argument about whether climate change is real."

'Big scare tactic'

Plaintiff lawyers and legal experts contend the oil giant's tactics are meant to intimidate while shifting the spotlight away from claims of environmental damage. And they say there's nothing improper with lawyers discussing strategies together.

"It's sort of like a big scare tactic: Reframe the debate, use it as a diversionary tactic and scare the heck out of everybody," Sharon Eubanks, a lawyer who was at the La Jolla gathering, said of Exxon Mobil's strategy.

In recent years, the most notable attack on a plaintiff lawyer came in 2011 when Chevron Corp., claiming it was target of an extortion scheme, successfully pursued a civil racketeering suit against Steven Donziger, the attorney behind a $9.5 billion Ecuadorean judgment against the company over pollution in the Amazon.

Some experts say Exxon Mobil's strategy goes beyond mere litigation tactics.

"People often try to use litigation to change the cultural conversation," said Alexandra Lahav, a professor at the University of Connecticut School of Law. "Exxon is positioning itself as a victim rather than a perpetrator."NEW YORK - In the span of a decade, Chobani went from being in just one supermarket to becoming the country's best-selling yogurt brand. It hasn't all been smooth - the company faces more competition than it used to and has been embroiled in national debate over its open stance on refugees.

As Chobani turns 10, CEO and founder Hamdi Ulukaya talked to the Associated Press about yogurt's place in online grocery delivery, products made from almonds and peas that are moving into the yogurt case, and why the company is giving away free yogurts.

Chobani is providing coupons on its site, in Walmart stores and elsewhere until March 4. The company won't say how much it is spending on the effort, which is running in most of the U.S. except Louisiana or New Jersey, where it says dairy rules forbid it. The questions and answers that follow have been edited for clarity and length.

Q: Why give out free yogurt?

A: We wanted to say thank you to our fans and consumers. We have millions and millions of people buying our product, and we want to invite more to come into our brand.

Q: You're also giving out free yogurts through Amazon's Alexa voice assistant. Is online grocery delivery the future?

A: I see the value of it. But also, I'm a traditional guy. I love going in and touching food and tasting. There's always going to be both. But of course we have to participate. So we make sure that we are a part of every single way of shopping, so our fans get Chobani the easiest, fastest and most accessible way possible.

Q: Companies that make almond or cashew milk are now selling yogurt-type products made from nuts, peas and other plant-based ingredients. Are you worried about that?

A: Look, I love innovation. Some people want to have different types of products, which is fine. I never get excited or concerned about trends; they come and go. But there are certain things that stay forever. Yogurt has been around for thousands of years. But I think it's very important that we keep the identity of the milk preserved. It's nature's gift. So you want to make this thing in a different way? Should we call it yogurt? Should we call it milk? I think there's healthy debate going on out there.

Q: So do you think the government should say what companies can or can't call milk or yogurt?

A: No, I don't think we should get the government involved in stuff like this. But if something is not a pomegranate, don't call it pomegranate.

Q: Do you plan to sell the company or take it public?

A: We have no plans of doing anything in the foreseeable future. I am not against it at all, I just don't have plans.

Q: Because Chobani hires refugees, the company has been the subject of fake news stories and has been attacked by conspiracy theorists. Does that bother you or change your refugee hiring plans?

A: We have the same people making the same yogurt in the same communities. We have over 2,000 brothers and sisters in two plants that work side by side, shoulder to shoulder. Yes, we hear things here and there, and we raise our voice only when we believe strongly in things. But it's not political; we just share what we've been experiencing and what this country stands for. We open our doors for people to come and see how we make yogurt, who makes it and where it comes from.Cause One Productions Inc. and Cause One Manitoba Inc.

Your summer TV schedule is beginning to take shape.

Fox announced this week that its long-running dance competition, "So You Think You Can Dance," will be returning this summer, and NBC has renewed supernatural series "Midnight, Texas" for a second season.

"So You Think You Can Dance" will be celebrating its 15th season this summer. Cat Deeley will be returning as host, along with judges Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Vanessa Hudgens. Over the past 14 seasons, the dance competition series has won 15 Emmys and garnered 59 Emmy nominations.

RENEWED: Singing competition to come back despite sex scandal

However, "So You Think You Can Dance" has struggled in the ratings, especially in recent years, leaving it in constant jeopardy of being canceled.

Over at NBC, "Midnight, Texas" is facing major shakeups in its second season. The original showrunner, Monica Owusu-Breen, is out, being replaced by two consulting producers Eric Charmelo and Nicole Snyder.

Also leaving are two cast members, Sarah Ramos and Yul Vazquez, whose contracts with the show expired before NBC negotiated a deal to bring the series back. However, according to Deadline.com, the actors are being asked to return as guest stars.

In the gallery above, you will find all of the shows that have been renewed and canceled so far this season, and our best guesses on the fate of all the rest.

Therese Odell writes about television at FoolishWatcher.com.Dear Abby:

My daughter and her boyfriend have been together for four years. Despite being almost 30, he is very immature and constantly distracted by either his phone or his video games.

Abby, he travels with his PlayStation everywhere he goes. When he comes into our house, he sets up his console in the living room, puts on headphones and plays games all day and night. If the family asks to use the TV for a few hours, he will sit on the sofa and take a nap or pull out his phone and continue gaming.

I know nothing more about him than I did the first month I met him. He is rude, boorish, self-centered and has a criminal record (drugs). They live in another state, and for my daughter's sake, I try to accommodate him. When I asked for them to "visit us, not our TV," she became very defensive.

Is this the new norm? Must I provide a TV in their room for when they stay? When they went to visit his family, who live near us, he took the system to their house for the three-hour visit.

How do I deal with this addiction? My daughter now wants to bring him along while we have our mother/daughter lunch and manicures. It's like he's 3 and has to tag along. He has no friends. When she goes out for a night with her girlfriends, we are expected to "baby-sit." I've never encountered anything like this. Please advise me.

Done Mothering in Pennsylvania

Dear Done:

I'll try, but first you will have to admit your part in creating this problem. You have to learn to say no to your daughter and her "boy"friend. If you want to watch television for a few hours during their visit, remember it's your home and you don't have to apologize for it. If you want a mother/daughter lunch and manicures, and she wants to drag him along, say, "No, this is our mother/daughter time. An hour or so alone with you is not too much to ask."

The solution to your problem is to stop allowing your daughter - and her socially inadequate boyfriend - to dictate what's happening under your roof and in your life. Until you put your foot down, nothing will change.

Dear Abby:

By coincidence, I have a niece and nephew who will be graduating at the same time this spring. My nephew is getting a degree from a four-year college. My niece is getting a beautician's license from a high school/trade school. She has no plans to attend college.

I will be giving them both graduation gifts, but should the amount be based on their level of education, or the fact that they have both completed their educations?

I don't want my niece to feel slighted. She chose a profession she loves but does not require further education. I also don't want my nephew to feel slighted because he worked longer at far greater expense.

Unsure in the East

Dear Unsure:

If you are worried that your niece and nephew will compare your gifts, give each the same amount. What these gifts memorialize is not the money that was spent on their educations, but rather that they have both attained the level of education for which they were working.

DearAbby.comDear Abby P.O. Box 69440 Los Angeles, CA 90069 Andrews McMeel SyndicationPresident Donald Trump has embraced the rhetoric of chain migration to spread the message that the United States is legally letting in too many of the wrong kind of immigrant.

That term, however, distorts the facts.

As a scholar on U.S. immigration law and policy, Id like to correct and contextualize the numbers on the now maligned family-based immigration, and uncover the biases that underlie the preference for the highly-skilled immigrant. Family immigration is subject to significant limitations and it exists because American values include ideals such as family unification.

Myth #1: Family immigration is unlimited

On Jan. 5, the Trump administration published its framework on immigration reform and border security. To fulfill its promise to cut lawful immigration by half, the proposal limits family immigration to spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. This proposed cut would eliminate the ability of U.S. citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their siblings and adult children. It would also stop U.S. citizens from sponsoring their parents.

To support these cuts, President Trump alleged in his first State of the Union address that current law creates a chain of migration that allows immigrants to sponsor unlimited numbers of distant relatives. This claim is untrue.

With few exceptions, all lawful permanent immigration to the United States is subject to annual limits. Moreover, no single nation may send more than 7 percent of the overall total number of immigrants coming to the United States in a given year. Only U.S. citizens can sponsor immediate relatives  their spouses, minor and unmarried children and parents  without these limits. In recent years, immediate relatives have comprised nearly half of all family immigration to the United States.

All family immigration categories except immediate relatives are severely backlogged, and in particular for nations with high levels of immigration to the United States. In fact, applicants for family immigration from China, India, Mexico and the Philippines face wait times of up to 20 years. According to the U.S. State Department, approximately 3.9 million immigrants are waiting in line for an opportunity to immigrate.

Myth #2: Family immigration is overwhelming

The White House website features a chart on chain migration that presents a series of data points intended to suggest that legal immigrants are overwhelming the nation. For example, the chart states, Every year the U.S. resettles a population larger than the size of Washington D.C. While factually correct, this data point distorts reality by ignoring context.

Its true that in absolute numbers, immigration to the United States is greater than any other country. However, it is small when considering the overall size of the U.S. population. In fact, according to the libertarian CATO Institute, as a percentage of its population, U.S. immigration flows rank relatively low as compared to other major industrialized nations such as Canada and Australia.

Myth #3: Low-skilled immigrants dont benefit the US

The Trump administration has expressed a preference for highly skilled immigrants. The assumption is that immigration systems that value other factors  such as family unification, diversity or humanitarian goals  allows low-skilled immigrants into the U.S. They also assume these immigrants cannot or refuse to assimilate, or may even be dangerous. The profiles of permanent immigration to the United States today, however, reveal a much more positive reality.

Nearly 34 million legal permanent residents live in the United States, two-thirds of whom arrived based on family sponsorship. As a whole, demographic data show that lawful permanent residents work in a range of occupations and professions. They show good levels of social integration. Legal permanent residents and immigrants also generally have lower levels of criminality compared to the population of people born in the U.S.

Most studies on the fiscal impact of U.S. immigration conclude that immigrant contributions have been positive to the overall U.S. economy. They have little to no adverse impact on native workers.

There are, however, variations among immigrants across measures such as educational attainment, home ownership and English proficiency. In general, for example, Asian immigrants outperform immigrants from Latin American and even the native born on some of these measures. But there are historical and geographic reasons that explain why immigrants from Mexico and Central America to the United States have tended to be from poorer and more vulnerable communities.

These variations do not mean that some immigrants integrate poorly or fail to contribute to U.S. society. Rather, their contributions are devalued in this new rhetoric of merit migration.

This new standard of merit  measured in terms of high levels training and education, English-language proficiency and high wages  creates a hardly achievable race to the top. It narrows the definition of who should be considered a deserving immigrant. Nearly all U.S. citizens would likely be undeserving of U.S. immigration under these standards.

Other important values are lost that I believe should continue to define our identity as a nation. These values include family unification, compassion toward people who are persecuted and being good neighbors. They also mean valuing the contributions of immigrants who do the difficult work of picking our fruit, cleaning our houses, cutting our lawns and caring for our children and elderly.

***

Raquel Aldana os an Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Diversity and Professor of Law at the University of California, Davis. This article was originally published on The Conversation.

For comments, tips or to pitch for this blog, write to Olivia P. TalletSouth Padre Island is shaping up to be a good cruise ship destination, a newly completed study shows.

SPI Cruise Group released its first report Thursday, which looked into branding, consumer demand and revenue possibilities of turning South Padre Island into a cruise ship port of call. South Padre Island city councilors approved $100,000 in November 2017 to determine if creating a port of call there was possible.

SPI Cruise Group found South Padre Island offers biodiversity, "tropical adventures," and a rich history dating back to the 16th century, according to the report.

RELATED: South Padre Island officials looking into making city a cruise ship destination

More than 4.5 million visitors travel to the South Texas island annually, and the group found that "one-of-a-kind attractions" on land that would be attractive to cruise-goers.

Those attractions include a beach, Schlitterbahn water park, the SPI Birding & Nature Center and Sea Turtle Inc., according to the report.

"Like Key West, South Padre Island has history, culture, an inviting climate and both waterside and landside attractions in a compact package as well as a safe, navigable harbor and a berthing location just steps from the beach," said Jay Lewis, SPI Group's project leader. "I can't think of another American destination that offers a similar combination."

It would take years and a big budget for South Padre Island become a port of call, and a rough city timeline shows it would not welcome its first cruise ship visitors until 2022.

The last port of call established in the United States was Key West in 1969.

Kelsey Bradshaw is a digital reporter for mySA.com. Read more of her stories here.| kbradshaw@express-news.net | Twitter: @kbrad5Four suspects are under arrest following a 20-plus mile police chase Friday evening that began in Baytown and ended in north Houston, according to authorities.



Baytown police tried to pull over the suspects who fled, leading officers on a chase, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. The pursuit began on Cedar Bayou Lynchburg Road, according to the Baytown Police Department.

Baytown police tried to pull over a black Chevrolet Avalanche that matched the description of a vehicle used by suspects in car burglaries, Lt. Steve Dorris said. The driver of the truck fled instead of stopping.LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Arkansas' ban on the use of a weedkiller blamed by farmers in several states for crop damage will remain in place after a state judge dismissed a legal challenge by a maker of the herbicide.

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza dismissed the lawsuit by St. Louis-based Monsanto seeking to block the state Plant Board's decision to ban dicamba from April 16 through Oct. 31. Arkansas has the toughest restriction in place on dicamba, though several states have imposed other restrictions or requirements.

Arkansas enacted the ban after receiving nearly 1,000 complaints last year about the weedkiller drifting onto fields and damaging crops not resistant to the herbicide. Arkansas is one of several states where farmers have complained about dicamba drifting. Monsanto was also challenging an earlier rule that specifically targeted its brand of dicamba. BASF and DuPont also make dicamba weedkillers.

Piazza cited a state Supreme Court ruling last month that said the state Legislature can't waive Arkansas' immunity from lawsuits. That ruling has prompted lawyers and judges around to the state to say it amounts to a blanket protection for the state from a wide range of legal challenges.

"It's obvious that Arkansas is going to have to come up with a constitutional amendment to change this to make it where we can operate again as a court should," Piazza said, adding that he thinks the state Supreme Court case "prevents us from hearing this case at this moment."

Dicamba has been around for decades, but problems arose in the past couple of years as farmers began to use it to kill invasive weeds in soybean and cotton fields where specially engineered seeds had been planted to resist the herbicide. Because it can easily evaporate after being applied, the chemical sometimes settles on neighboring fields planted with seeds that are not resistant to dicamba.

Piazza issued his ruling after hearing hours of arguments from Monsanto and the state over the company's request for a preliminary injunction blocking the ban, as well as Arkansas' request to dismiss the suit. Monsanto did not say whether it would appeal to the state Supreme Court.NEW YORK - It happens in so many workplaces - two colleagues begin a romantic relationship. But a heightened awareness about sexual harassment means small-business owners can get more anxious when employees start dating.

Many owners have consulted with employment attorneys or human resources professionals since the accusations against movie executive Harvey Weinstein in November. Some owners have created or updated their policies on dating and sexual harassment, and they're making sure staffers know the rules and to speak up if they feel harassed.

Bosses who in the past just watched with interest as a relationship blossomed are being proactive, telling couples that if the romance sours, both people are expected to behave appropriately. And some owners are even asking couples to sign statements acknowledging that their relationship is consensual.

Sammy Musovic has seen many romances - and breakups - at his three Manhattan restaurants. After the reports about Weinstein and others, Musovic consulted with an attorney to understand what his legal liability could be if an employee relationship led to harassment charges. He decided against changing his policy that allows dating, but he's keeping a closer eye on interactions between employees.

"When I know staffers are dating, I speak to each of them in private and just try to understand the situation," says Musovic, who owns Sojourn, Vero Bar and Selena Rosa.

A few years ago, a manager at one of his restaurants dated a hostess and became jealous when he saw her chatting with customers.

"I told them, 'You guys have to stop this, or someone's going to have to find another job,' " Musovic recalls. The manager quit. On another occasion, Musovic fired an employee who wrote unwanted love letters to a co-worker.

Jacqueline Breslin, an executive with HR provider TriNet, is fielding more questions from businesses that want to know how to handle employees dating. The first step is often to determine whether companies have policies on dating and sexual harassment; if not, they need to be written.

Dating policies should set expectations for staffers' behavior, such as that emotions should not be displayed at work. Policies must also address issues like relationships between supervisors and subordinates. Some owners might be tempted to ban employee relationships altogether. But people attracted to one another may still date on the sly. And strict policies can backfire - talented employees may choose love over a job and leave.

Problems can also arise when employees want to date clients or vendors. Those relationships have the potential for conflicts-of-interest as well as harassment issues. Ashley Hunter's dating policy rules out relationships between her eight staffers and vendors of HM Risk Group, an insurance company based in Austin.

"If you're in a billion-dollar business, you can weather those problems, but I can't," she says.

Hunter is especially sensitive to issues around dating co-workers, having been in a romantic relationship with her chief financial officer for three years. He's worked at the company for nine months, and everyone at the company knows of their relationship.

One option for owners is to have dating staffers sign what's called a relationship contract, stating they're in a consensual relationship and that they've read and will abide by the company's written policy on sexual harassment.

Kate and Doug Hickey had two employees at Honolulu-based coffee grower Sunshower Farms - a supervisor and subordinate - who began a relationship in 2013. They had the couple sign a contract saying if the relationship ended and they couldn't work together comfortably, one would have to resign.

"We did this mainly to protect ourselves" in the event of a breakup, says Kate Hickey, who was an attorney and drafted the contract. The couple eventually married and moved away. If a similar situation arises again, Hickey says she would probably consult an attorney who has more expertise about sexual harassment and draft a "more detailed" contract.

Many bosses may not even be aware of a relationship until someone mentions it. HR professionals say an owner should approach the couple, discuss the situation, and if the company requires a relationship contract, have them sign it. More complicated is when an owner suspects there's an attraction or budding relationship - when's the right time to step in? There's no one answer, but a boss should certainly talk to the employees when it's clear there's a romantic connection.

A greater concern is what to do if the romance ends. As long as there's no sign of a problem, the boss should respect everyone's privacy. But if one person keeps pursuing another, an owner needs to be on alert.

"The person who's repeatedly asking for an unwanted date needs to be told, 'This is against company policy, and we don't tolerate this kind of harassment,' " says Michael Schmidt, an employment attorney with Cozen O'Connor in New York.

Even if unwanted contacts take place off the company's premises or on social media, a boss needs to intervene, Schmidt says. Businesses can be liable if they don't address potential harassment because employees might feel they're in a hostile working environment, Schmidt says.

Even business owners who have been part of workplace romances say they're warier now.

Marianne Bertuna was an intern and then an associate in Arthur Aidala's small New York law firm, starting in 1997. Aidala was attracted to her, but told himself, "This is a work person and nothing is going to happen." He married someone else.

Meanwhile, two attorneys who were dating joined the firm and eventually married. But now, Aidala says that if any employees start a relationship, he would tell them, "You need to proceed with caution because there are a lot of lives on the line here."

And Aidala himself? He got divorced, and he and Bertuna became a couple. In 2016, they got married.Q: I've always wanted to own my own business, and now that I've retired at a fairly young age from my longtime career, I have the resources to do it. However, I'm a little leery of risking all my retirement savings at this point. A friend suggested that buying a franchise carries less risk but would still allow me to realize my dream of owning a business. What do you think?

A: Franchise ownership could be just the thing for you, given your circumstances. That's not to say that there's no risk involved.

Franchises can fail. But the idea behind a franchise is that you are buying into a proven model. The franchisor is responsible for many aspects of the business, including the recognized name, the look and feel of the shop, the products or services you offer, and your marketing materials and methods. It also provides training and operational guidance to increase your chances for success.

Still, the day-to-day running of the business is up to you. You would hire and manage your employees. You would be responsible for promoting the franchise at your particular location. You'd purchase equipment and supplies, pay the bills and keep the books. You would deal with the customers and any issues that crop up, both positive and negative. You would be the boss.

A few caveats if you decide to go the franchise route:

Keep some of your retirement savings as a safety net. Look for an option that leaves you with enough resources to live on, and one that would give you a fairly quick return on your investment.

Don't be taken in by an unproven new franchise that may seem like an exciting opportunity but has no track record of success.

Be sure the opportunity comes with sufficient training, particularly if you haven't had much management experience in your previous career.

And look for something that gives you some free time to enjoy yourself. There may be a few things other than work you'd like to do now that you're retired from your first career.

On Thursday, the University of Houston Bauer College SBDC in midtown is offering a hands-on workshop, Finding the Perfect Franchise, to help you assess your entrepreneurial qualities.

During the workshop, you'll complete a proprietary online assessment and receive a profile report. The results will help you decide if franchising is the right path and help you narrow your choices for a franchise that suits you.

The class is taught by Cynthia Mora of FranNet, a leader in franchise consulting services. If you register online at sbdc.uh.edu, you'll pay only $39 for the class, the assessment and Mora's help interpreting the results.AGUACATE SUR, Mexico - Avocados may be the key ingredient in one of America's favorite snacks, but here in this rural region of Michoacan, the fruit serves a greater purpose than making guacamole. Avocados help keep a town safe from the violence that is plaguing so much of Mexico.

The financial rewards that have come from producing 80 percent of the avocados imported to the U.S. have led to a citizen council and police force made up mostly of avocado farmers taking back the town of Tancitaro from violent criminals over the past four years.

It's simple, said Jose Antonio Flores Quezada, 29, a farmer turned policeman: "The more Americans eat guacamole, the better off we are. Avocados are our livelihood."

Aguacate Sur is a small village within Tancitaro, which spends an estimated $1.2 million annually to fund a quasi-police force known as CUSEPT, a Spanish acronym for Public Security Corps. About half of the council's funding comes from powerful avocado producers in Tancitaro.

Before the citizens council and CUSEPT existed, ruthless organizations such as Jalisco Generation, New Cartel, Knights Templar and La Familia kidnapped, extorted and killed locals, using profits from avocado farmers to finance their criminal enterprises.

The criminal groups had an "intelligence system" that targeted wealthy avocado farmers, according to an investigation by the newspaper Reforma and Insight Crime, a nonprofit journalism investigation organization. The criminals used information from Mexico's now-defunct agriculture secretariat to identify targets to extort.

"These criminals ruled through fear," explained Jose Hugo Sanchez Mendoza, the head of CUSEPT. "If they wanted to scare people, they'd kill and say this is what happens if you don't obey. We were a town at the whim of those with guns and without mercy."

More than 29,000 homicides were recorded last year throughout Mexico, according to preliminary data from Mexico's Interior Ministry. That's the country's highest total since the government began compiling official statistics in 1997. Many towns in a state that's on the State Department's highest travel advisory warning have their own civilian self-defense groups. Tancitaro has its own special police force.

Tancitaro's unusual experiment, which began nearly four years ago, offers a lesson for other regions across the country that are battling crime and violence, Mayor Arturo Olivera Gutierrez said.

"We can't do this alone," Olivera said. "I don't think there's any place in Mexico that's safe without civic participation."

The citizens council's role has raised fears among some that authoritarian rule is replacing democratic institutions. Not much is known publicly about the council. When in Tancitaro, members were not immediately available for comment. Contacted by phone, a spokesman refused to answer questions, explaining that sharing information over cellphone networks posed security risks. Olivera dismisses those concerns.

"You cannot have security if there is not a culture of citizen participation," he said, explaining that police enforce state laws. "We also cannot do this in an arbitrary or authoritarian manner. We must work hand-in-hand with the institutions, the laws on the books, whether state or federal, but our citizens must be at the forefront."

Most Tancitaro residents are connected to the avocado business. In the two months before the Super Bowl, a peak time for guacamole consumption, production at Frutas Finas, one of the biggest manufacturers, soared by 50 percent, plant manager Hugo Naranjo said.

"This is our moment," Naranjo said. "We're sending only the best avocados."

About $1 million worth of avocados is exported daily from this region to keep up with U.S. demand. Per capita consumption in the U.S. stands about 7 pounds per person, up from 4 in 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. With demand from China soaring, the fruit is expanding its global reach.

The perfect guacamole depends on finding a delicate mix of cilantro, salsa, lime, tomatoes and onions, combined with the right mix of avocados. Keeping Tancitaro and its surrounding communities safe, rich in natural resources, requires a similar balance.

The 80-officer police force relies on 16 volunteer crews of eight or nine men and women who take a 24-hour shift every two weeks. The vast majority of the residents have weapons, though hidden.

Both the volunteers and the police officers are mostly men and women in their 20s and 30s. All are natives of the region with clean records. They are "vetted by the council and have the right profile," Sanchez said.

"It's difficult to fool people you know and who know you," explained Sanchez, who just turned down a job as a state cop because he feared his community wouldn't forgive him. "Every day we must go out in the community and win their trust. That's something criminal groups are good at. That's how this works, building trust, communication between police and the community."

How sustainable is this experiment in the long run?

"For as long as there is fear and no one drops their guard, we'll be fine," Sanchez said, "Right now, we're too focused on today, the moment, not tomorrow."

"We're all too busy healing our wounds from the past," Olivera said.

Flores Quezada shrugs his shoulders and shakes his head when asked about the temporary fix. He confesses he never thought of being a cop and misses being out in the avocado fields with his family, especially his father. He misses the dew of the plants, the ripening of the fruit in his hands. But he cringes when he thinks of the extortions, the killings of friends. His only hope is Americans won't tire of avocados anytime soon.A team of Lone Star College-CyFair students and professors are preparing for takeoff with their creation of a prototype zip tie cutter tool designed for use during spacewalks that will be tested at NASA's Johnson Space Center later this year.

"The students are addressing a real issue. It's a real challenge. It's not a textbook problem that you give to students," said Yiheng Wang, associate professor of engineering and co-adviser with Associate Professor Jared Cammon. "For our students to have this opportunity to apply real engineering design principals, that is just quite amazing."

Team CERO - which is stands for cutting, extraction, and retention operations - is a name based on the group's tool design.

"The zip tie cutter tool must be compatible with bulky (spacewalk) gloves, only use manual power during one-hand operation, and must be ambidextrous," Wang said. "In their proposal, Team CERO designed a pen-shaped tool with which the astronaut can cut and retain a zip tie securely in a motion similar to clicking a pen."

LSC-CyFair Team CERO includes Ryan Gomez, team lead, Daniel Vasek, deputy lead, Maria Gonzalez, Sean Palmer, Francesca Liso, and James Philippi.

"Working on this project allows us to get experience that we wouldn't get in a simple classroom. When you get your hands dirty and start to work with a team, that's something you can't ever learn in a classroom," Gomez said. "You can easily tailor this experience with an internship, job, or life if you want to excel. I want to take this experience to either a NASA internship or NASA job. That's my ultimate goal is to work with them."

Last fall, Team CERO placed in multiple categories, including winning first for best poster and overall winning third for top design team Texas Space Grant Consortium's Annual Design Challenge against universities, which included The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University.

The team is advancing to the testing phase in NASA's Micro-g Neutral Buoyancy Experiment Design Teams  Micro-g NExT Challenges. Members of the team will spend the next several months building their zip tie cutter prototype in preparation for the test, which will take place in NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, a 40-feet deep pool where astronauts train for spacewalks.

"The most rewarding part (is) the actual experience of making something that would be used in the real world. Usually, when you are in school you are making things that would theoretically work," Vasek said. "You have to work with real world limitations that you have to take into account with making the prototype."

Philippi who is also a member of Team CERO is considered a non-traditional student because he is husband, foster dad to two boys, and has retired from a career with Continental Airlines. Now, Philippi is back in school enrolled in 19 credit hours, earning two degrees, and working with his fellow team members on the prototpype for NASA.

"I've always had an interest in space and technology since I was a little boy and to be able to be apart of something like this is very fun," Philippi said. "The most rewarding part about this project has been working with the other students and see their ingenuity and creativity."

LSC-CyFair was the only community college team invited among 22 schools across the country.

Micro-g NExT aims to challenge undergraduate students to design build, and test a tool or device that addresses an authentic, current space exploration challenge. The overall experience includes hands-on engineering design, test operations, and public outreach.

If tools are tested successfully, the student-designed devices have the possibility of being used for future NASA exploration missions.

The company that will help manufacture the prototype for Team CERO is Sond Industries.

Some of the other schools invited include Cornell University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Purdue University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Tennessee Technological University, University of California-Los Angeles, The University of Texas at Austin, and Virginia Tech.

The Micro-g NExT program helps support an education policy of using NASA's missions and programs to engage and encourage students to pursue professions in STEM which include science, technology, engineering and math fields.

LSC-CyFair is the fifth comprehensive college in the Lone Star College System and serves more than 22,000 students.At first glance, the money certainly looked legitimate.

The bills were the correct shape and color. The images of Benjamin Franklin on the $100 bill and Andrew Jackson on the $20 were more-or-less similar to the pictures on actual U.S. currency. If you gave them only a passing glance, it might have been difficult to detect the crumpled cash was bogus.

But take a closer look and you'll see a warning emblazoned on the money: FOR MOTION PICTURE USE ONLY.

Employees at some Katy area businesses, however, did not examine the cash, said Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Constable Wayne Thompson.

He said about about $8,000 worth of the phony money was uncovered last week when his deputies were on routine patrol at the Katy Independent School District's Obra D. Tompkins High School, 4400 Falcon Landing.

Thompson said Katy ISD police officers assigned to the school showed them the money.

"They had gotten them back from businesses in the area," Thompson said. "It obviously fooled several people."

Thompson said he didn't know how many students at Tompkins High may have taken part in the scheme or if students from other schools also were involved.

"We are not the primary agency," Thompson said. "But we have a great relationship with Katy ISD police."

On Friday, Katy ISD officials would only confirm that an investigation by the district's police department is ongoing.

Local restaurants and grocery stores were the kind of businesses where the fake money was passed - usually during the busiest shifts when a harried worker might be too busy to pore over the bills.

"Your mind sees what it's supposed to see. It fills in the blanks," Thompson said.

While the cash seized by police is fake it is not strictly-speaking counterfeit. If that was the case, it would have triggered a federal investigation by the U.S. Secret Service.

"It does say 'movie production money,' on it," Thompson said. "You can buy it by the bag load from Amazon."

But even if you didn't make it, passing fake money to businesses is still illegal.

"We did this to let everyone know that it's going on," Thompson said.Sex trafficking is no longer confined to urban areas on the other side of the tracks, said the executive director of the advocacy group ChildProof America.

At a press conference Friday at the Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Constable's Office, Kelly Litvak called it a crisis that impacts schools, churches and neighborhoods.

"Sex trafficking has infiltrated suburbia. Parents are unaware of the threat that is very much present," said Litvak, whose family has been victimized by traffickers.

State Sen. Joan Huffman said more than 300,000 people in Texas are victims of human trafficking with almost 80,000 of that number being children.

"It's easy to sit back and think, 'This can't be happening. It's certainly not happening in my neighborhood,'" Huffman said. "But it can happen to you. It can happen in your neighborhood."

Litvak said domestic trafficking is different from international trafficking, which is often focused on immigrants who are forced to work in back alley brothels.

"Domestic trafficking is what is taking place in our schools," she said.

Officials say raising awareness about the issue is crucial to ending sex trafficking. To help with that, ChildProof America is hosting a trafficking education workshop at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at CrossPoint Community Church, 700 Westgreen.

"It is so critical that our community get in front of this issue and understand the very subtle strategies that traffickers use," Litvak said.

The presentation will highlight the different steps traffickers use to lure children, the ways pornography is often linked to the problem, and the trauma inflicted on its victims, she said.

Most victims are 12 to 14 years old, Litvak said, and have experienced some sort of traumatic event that makes them especially vulnerable to a trafficker.

"Perhaps a child is going through a breakup - which so many kids go through in high school," Litvak said. "Perhaps there's something going on at home such as a divorce or loss of a family member."

Traffickers prey on vulnerable victims, befriending them and slowly cultivating a relationship. Litvak said they are often willing to spend a year or more building that trust until it is too late.

"Traffickers are very patient," she said.

Human trafficking, whether international or domestic, is very much an organized crime. Constable Thompson said the victims are often shuttled around from place to place.

"Even if they do get out, they won't know where to go," he said.

As one of the senior lawmen in fast-growing Fort Bend County, Thompson said juvenile trafficking is a crime that is on their radar.

"We'll always go after those people and hunt them down," he said.

Organizers said the education program is suitable for "mature" 12 year olds. Registration for the event is at www.eventbrite.com.Harris County Sheriff's Office Major Jimmy Rollins suffered several cuts on his arm, a black eye and lacerations above his left eye while responding to a domestic disturbance near Aldine - and it was on his 66th birthday.

Rollins patrols District 2 for the Harris County Sheriff's Office, which spans from Aldine to Crosby, as a major in the reserve command. The reserve command is a volunteer branch with the Harris County Sheriff's Office on which Rollins has served for 33 years.

He took only a couple of days off to recover from his injuries and is now back patrolling the community - for free.

THREATS: Houston-area schools dealing with threats after Florida shooting

"These were the worst injuries that I've dealt with in my career with the sheriff's department," Rollins said in an interview.

On Feb. 2, Rollins and another deputy responded to a domestic dispute around 5 p.m.

Rollins said Israel Meza, 22, confronted a woman at a mobile home. Rollins was informed the woman has a protective order against Meza from another county.

"He wouldn't leave unless she gave him $20," Rollins said the woman informed him on the day of the incident.

DWI BUSTS: HPD arrested 32 on felony DWI charges in January

Rollins said he was able to get the woman out of the mobile home and she also informed him Meza was hiding in a closet.

Rollins said Meza failed to reply to his verbal commands and a physical altercation commenced. Rollins said Meza attempted to grab his neck and punched him twice with a closed fist. During the struggle, he was able to call for backup.

"(Meza) was very defiant that he wasn't going to give us (his) other arm. To my understanding he got tased twice (by another deputy) inside the trailer, " Rollins said. "(Meza) tried to get my pistol twice. I diffused that and then I took two closed fist hits to the side of my head."

The Harris County Sheriff's Office declined to release a police report because the investigation is currently active.

HARSH SENTENCE: Houston man gets life in prison for aggravated robbery

After things settled down, Rollins was taken to the hospital to get his injuries documented and treated. Before going to the hospital, he took a photo of his injuries and posted it on Facebook where it drew a lot of attention.

"It wasn't the intent of putting it out there, I put that on Facebook just to let my friends know what was going on and all of a sudden it blew up after that," Rollins said. "If we get a call for service or help we're going to show up and we're going to do whatever is necessary to get these people the help they're requesting."

The county is taking care of Rollins' medical expenses. Meza's only injuries were puncture marks from being tased, according to the sheriff's office.

Meza was in custody as of Friday in a detention facility for the Harris County Sheriff's Office with no bond. He is charged with assault to a peace officer and his next court date is March 13, according to the sheriff's office. Meza also faces two additional charges: verbal harassment set at a $5,000 bond and failure to provide identification to a peace officer with a $5,000 bond.

FRESHMAN KILLED: Texas girl killed in drive-by shooting

This is just one example of how the reserves command serves the community, chief deputy of the reserves command David De Leon said.

The department's reserves program is an opportunity for 208 individuals to donate their time to the county as licensed peace officers. Reserve deputies go through the same training as officers on payroll and wear the same uniform and equipment.

De Leon, who is also a full-time engineer, said most reserve command deputies have full-time jobs. There are some reserve deputies who are doctors, lawyers, engineers and business owners.

"All these people have one thing in common and that is they want to help their community (and) help the citizens of Harris County," De Leon said.

AR-15 DRIVE-BY: Teen killed near NRG Stadium

Rollins is a retired cable technician. He worked full-time with AT&T while training to be a reserves deputy and become certified in December 1985. He later retired from AT&T in 2012.

De Leon said he saw the original Facebook post and said there were some extremely positive comments especially when people found out Rollins does this for free.

"We all want to help people. That's the thing about law enforcement is that you get the opportunity to help people and you get the opportunity to make your community better," De Leon said. "Being in law enforcement gets extremely unpredictable."Houston-area schools are dealing with several threats of violence and gun-related incidents reported in the last two days following the deadly firearm attack at a Florida high school Wednesday.

On Friday, the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office announced it is investigating two separate threats to schools and have arrested two juveniles as a result. The threats targeted Billy Baines Middle School, near Sienna Plantation, and Harmony Public School near Katy, according to FBCSO Spokesperson Caitilin Espinosa.

The Billy Baines Middle School threat came Friday morning through Snapchat. A 14-year-old student allegedly claimed he was going to "shoot the school," Espinosa said. A student at the school who saw the message told their parents about it, who then called the school.

IMPERSONATOR: Houston man accused of claiming to be Harris County DA

The district's police department alerted the sheriff's office, who began their investigation. The 14-year-old was arrested off-campus and charged with terroristic threat, a third-degree felony.

Hours later, a student at Harmony Public School made similar threats, again on Snapchat. Authorities said the boy indicated students in the 7th grade at his school would be fleeing just like students fled from Parkland, Florida's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday as Nikolas Cruz, 19, opened fire and killed 17 people.

That student then sent a message with a link to a tutorial explaining how to sneak guns into schools. He was also arrested on a third-degree felony terroristic threat charge and is believed to have made similar threats on social media in the past month.

The Fort Bend County school threats are just two of a seven similar threats fielded by Houston-area schools since Wednesday's deadly shooting.

FBI BACKLASH: FBI says it failed to investigate tip on Florida suspect

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD was not specifically targeted Friday, but authorities had reason to believe the district was included in threats allegedly made by a South Carolina man. The threats appeared on Snapchat, according to CFISD, and included a school with "Cypress" in its name, causing school officials to take notice.

The man who sent those messages was arrested in South Carolina by the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office. However, all of the schools listed in his threats were in Florida, CFISD stated in an email to Chron.com.

One of the district's elementary schools was also the center of a hoax threat Thursday afternoon as students were leaving for the day. Around 4 p.m. someone made a 911 call saying that a teacher had been shot at Danish Elementary School, prompting a massive law enforcement response. The call was later determined to be false.

"This is beyond negligent, it is criminal to incite fear throughout our community," CFISD stated. "We will work with law enforcement to find out who the perpetrator is and seek punishment to the fullest extent of the law."

GUN THREATS: Teenagers charged with gun-related crimes at Houston schools

Also on Thursday authorities investigated a threat to Clear Creek High School in Clear Creek ISD, according to the League City Police Department. The Galveston County Sheriff's Office later determined the threat to be a hoax and are investigating.

A teenager at Houston's Can Academy was arrested on Thursday after allegedly bringing a firearm with him to school. Jaquinn Alani Smith, 17, is facing a charge of exhibiting a firearm in relation to that incident.

Separately, a Klein ISD student is facing a criminal charge after allegedly threatening to "shoot up" Klein Forest High School. Authorities identified the student as LaQuina Washington, 18, who was charged with exhibiting a firearm on school property, although a district spokesperson said Washington did not actually bring a firearm to school.

Jay R. Jordan is a breaking news reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan.The Crosby-Huffman Chamber of Commerce presented seven awards on Thursday night for their annual Commerce Awards Banquet at the Monument Inn Restaurant in La Porte.

Chamber President Kim Harris said many years ago the chamber hosted their annual banquet at the Monument Inn Restaurant and decided to host it there again this year.

Harris and Larry Koslovsky, Crosby-Huffman board chairman, welcomed the crowd and introduced chamber staff and the board of directors. Crosby Church Pastor Keenan Smith then gave the invocation.

The chamber presented 13 at the banquet, one for Crosby and one for Huffman. All the recipients received a plaque.

Employees of the Year

Crosby: Brittany Samperi

Huffman: David Carpenter

Citizens of the Year

Crosby: John Reynolds

Huffman: Christy Graves

Nonprofits of the Year

Huffman Education Foundation

Churches United in Caring

Volunteers of the Year

Crosby: Justin League

Huffman: Shirley Dupree

Businesses of the Year

Crosby: Hungry Jack

Huffman: Sarah Whiting State Farm Agency

Ambassador of the Year

Cathie Repp

Humanitarians of the Year

Crosby Church

First Baptist Church-Huffman

The Humanitarians of the Year award was presented by William Carter, constituent services representative for Congressman Brian Babin. Carter presented to the winners a plaque from the chamber and a Special Congressional Recognition Certificate from Congressman Babin's Office.

Harris said the Humanitarian of the Year award was implemented this year to recognize organizations in the Crosby and Huffman area that went above and beyond to help those who have been affected by Hurricane Harvey. Carter then proceeded to let the audience know Congressman Babin's office is looking to help businesses who still haven't recovered from Harvey.

After the awards were presented, the chamber then had the installation of the board. The board directors were sworn in by Presiding Judge Joe Stephens.

Koslovsky was then sworn in separately as the chairman by Stephens. He said he has been chairman for 25 years.

The chairman said the board's current goals for the Crosby/Huffman community is flood control, safety, traffic and quality of life.A Dallas teen was killed in an apparent drive-by shooting on Monday, Feb. 12, 2018.

According to the Dallas Police Department, Natalie Hernandez was with three other people when the shooting took place. A 16-year-old male was also hit. He is currently in stable condition.

The suspects, believed to be four males in a dark-colored vehicle, fled the scene and are still at large. Authorities are offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to their arrest.

MORE CRIME: AR-15 suspected in deadly drive-by in Houston

A report on Dallas News said that the victims were in another vehicle when the suspects drove up and fired multiple shots into the car.

The victims then drove to a nearby convenience store to ask for help. Both Hernandez and the 16-year-old male were rushed to the hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

Hernandez's aunt, Mireya Hernandez, launched a GoFundMe page in an effort to raise money to cover funeral costs.

Hernandez was a freshman in high school and according to Telemundo, was getting ready to celebrate her Quinceanera in July.

"Natalie was smart, kind, funny, and loved by all," reads her fundraiser page. "Instead of us celebrating her Quince now we are getting ready to Start arrangements for her funeral. No parent should have to go through burying their children. Natalie will leave a big whole [sic] in our families heart."

Anyone with information is being asked to contact the Homicide Detective Montenegro at 214-283-4801 or by email at e.montenegro@dpd.ci.dallas.tx.us. The case number is 031884-2018.

Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli is a digital producer at Chron.com. You can read more of her stories here and follow her on twitter at @Dani_DiNapoli.Ed Banks, who was deemed the honorary mayor of Houston's Third Ward for his commitment to the community's cohesion and uplift, died Thursday. He was 75.

Aside from military service, Banks spent his entire life in Third Ward. He grew up in the community attending Blackshear Elementary and Ryan Middle School. After graduating from Jack Yates High School, Banks served in the U.S. Army and trained as an electrician.

He raised a family in Third Ward with his wife, Mary, and was a warehouse worker for almost four decades at McJunkin Corp. Banks was featured in a 2016 Chronicle story about honorary mayors.

"They call him the 'Mayor of Third Ward' because he had a lot of pull and he had a tremendous consistency in the community," Kofi Taharka, the Houston-based national president of the National Black United Front, said Friday. "He was born and raised  and had a lot of faith and pride  in the Third Ward community."

A reserved presence, Banks was a dynamic force in electoral politics as well as in the community. He was influential in spheres from grassroots concerns to Congressional and corporate affairs.

Banks also helped Third Ward secure its multi-service center on Ennis, Taharka said.

"He was not the type of person who was going to be out in front of crowds and rallies giving speeches, but he was at the forefront of any positive activity in Third Ward," the NBUF president added. "He could have been like a lot of other people who moved to Missouri City or other places, but he stayed because that's where his heart and spirit and soul was."

In recent years, Banks was a special aide to Houston City Council Member Dwight Boykins  who has served as the District D representative since 2014.

The honorary mayor helped the councilman manage a minor home repair program for seniors. The initiative provides free upgrades such as bathroom rails to prevent falls during bathing, ramp repairs and painting. Banks was directly responsible for improvements to several dozen homes while developing positive relationships between older residents and the council member's office.

"It gave me more credibility in that area with those seniors," Boykins said Friday. "He opened the gateway for my relationships with them and I will always be appreciative."

In the last two years, Banks was slowed by a stroke and related health challenges.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Marsha Banks.

In addition to his wife of 52 years, he is survived by a daughter, Pamela Banks, and a son, Edward Banks II.

A funeral is scheduled for Saturday Feb. 24 at St. John's Church in downtown Houston, 2019 Crawford. The viewing begins at 10 a.m. followed by the service at 11 a.m.

Cindy George is a Metro reporter at the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at cindy.george@chron.com or twitter.com/cindylgeorge.A former Sharyland Pioneer High School teacher was arrested Monday after a student accused her of having sexual contact with him, according to a ValleyCentral.com report.

The boy came forward to McAllen police in January, according to the report, about the incident. He told them he made out with Vanessa McManness, 31, on "numerous occasions" during the summer of 2017.In the wake of a recent school shooting in Florida, law enforcement officials aren't taking any chances when it comes to threats made on social media.

On Friday, a Sienna Plantation middle school student and a 15-year-old Katy student were arrested for separate alleged threats against their schools.

According to Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls, the investigations that led to the arrests were triggered by information brought forward by fellow students and school administrators.

"How can we not take these things seriously given all the school shootings that have happened across the country?" Nehls asked reporters at a news conference on Friday.

Investigators say a 14-year-old student at Fort Bend ISD's Billy Barnes Middle School in Sienna Plantation posted a message on Snapchat saying "I'm shooting up the school." Another students saw the posts and told their parents, who notified police officials.

The student was arrested off campus.

A second social media treat led to the arrest of a student at Harmony Public School in Katy. School administrators reportedly notified officials at the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Department after the student allegedly made two threats against the school via Snapchat. One message was posted with an image of Florida students fleeing the school with a message that this would happen to seventh graders at the Harmony School campus. A follow-up post was allegedly made that included a link on how to sneak guns into the school.

Both students were charged with third-degree felony charges of making a terroristic threat.

"Parents need to talk to their children and have a conversation about the seriousness of posting threats on social media. We can't afford to look the other way. These are very serious matters," Nehls said.Elementary school level students at The John Cooper School jumped rope Friday to raise funds for the American Heart Association.

Physical education instructor Elaine Harris has been involved in the organization of Jump Rope for Heart for 23 years. She explained that leading up to the event, everything is done online, from registration to collecting donations, for the safety of the children and because it's most efficient.

"The American Heart Association stresses the fact that they really don't want the children to go door-to-door to collect donations. So it's all online," Harris said. "It's really cute. Some of them (the children) create their own page on Facebook."

Each child receives a prize for registering and declaring a healthy challenge, which can range from drinking more water to exercising 60 minutes a day.

The Jump Rope for Heart even has an app that students were able to use to collect donations as well. After receiving their first donation, students were given a key chain with a little monster on it as a reward to go with the theme-unleash your inner monster.

"If you hover your phone app over the monster it comes to life for them. It's really cool, so this is the first year for that. They're really excited about that," Harris said.

Last year, Cooper students raised more than $27,000 and ranked third in the state in amount of funds raised for the American Heart Association, Harris said. This year the goal is to raise $30,000.

"The students and the parents here at Cooper never cease to surprise me. It's pretty incredible how much they give, especially with Harvey and everything else that's going on," Harris added. "They're really really generous."

On the event day, students went to the gymnasium for about 50 minutes to be active and jump rope. A few jumped by themselves but many took turns jumping the long ropes wielded by two of their classmates. Some even jumped two or three at a time.

A large poster with "Jump Rope for Heart" emblazoned on it hangs in the gymnasium during the event each year. Children are allowed to write a note or the name of a person they are dedicating the day to.

"I make that poster every year, and they get to go and dedicate the day to someone they know that has had a heart issue," Harris said.

Dedications ranged from "everyone" to "Grampa, who had heart surgery two years ago." Other notes simply expressed well wishes and one even read, "Just live people."

Harris explained that getting children to understand at a young age that they need to take care of their bodies helps them be healthier in the future.

"I tell the children all the time: What happens if your mom's car runs out of gas? You can't go anywhere. What happens if you don't give it the oil it needs or the water it needs? It's going to break down. Now if you neglect it for too long you can always go out an buy another car," Harris said. "But you have one body, and you better take care of it because that's all you've got. And some things we can fix, but it's always best to keep things healthy. So if you start now at a young age and you eat right and stay away from tobacco and have plenty of water and eat your fruits and vegetables, that's what's going to keep your machine going."

By putting health into analogies that the students can visualize, it facilities open discussion and deeper understanding, she noted.

"The heart is a muscle. The stronger it gets, it doesn't have to work as hard throughout your life," Harris said. "We talk about that and they get that in science as well so it's just an overlap. It's incredible when you have a discussion like that with them how much they actually know."Hundreds of people turned out to hear what turned out to be a mostly positive forecast for the local economy during the 32nd annual Economic Outlook Conference held in The Woodlands Friday, Feb. 16.

Billed as the premier business event for the region, a crowd of more than 650 people included a virtual who's who of local officials. Local politicians and hundreds of others gathered in an expansive conference room inside the The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center to hear a series of speakers, including The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Chairman Gordy Bunch and U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, talk about the local economy. Along with Bunch and Brady, nearly a dozen local business leaders also spent a good portion of the morning providing mostly upbeat observations about local business.

With the theme of the conference being "Resilient Community/Innovative Future," the speakers spoke of the region's robust rebound since Hurricane Harvey hit, as well as the future economic outlook. During the course of the conference, attendees heard detailed numbers-ranging from office occupancy rates and hotel occupancy tax collections to more broad observations about the economy.

BUNCH SPEAKS OF 'CRAZY YEAR OF 2017'

"Our goal is to maintain the highest quality of life for our residents, visitors and businesses," Bunch told the gathering. Bunch offered insight into the challenges facing township leaders as they try to mitigate future flooding, and he also provided an accounting of how the township, with its 42,000 residents and its "taxable value of over $20 billion," performed during the "crazy year of 2017."

Referencing Harvey's impact, Bunch told the gathering that in the days following Harvey, the township's waste management services picked up 882 tons of debris created by the storm. And during the hurricane, according to Bunch, The Woodlands Fire Department responded to 2,493 emergency calls, while 844 high water rescues and evacuations were performed.

"We have a storm/water drainage challenge locally," Bunch said, adding that 33 inches of rain fell during Harvey, destroying or damaging 4,000 homes in Montgomery County. "We don't have direct authority over drainage and flooding. And really nobody does. There's not single agency that controls the flooding issues throughout The Woodlands."

Bunch also described the overall state of the township's finances, including describing the tax rate as being both stable and lower than most communities with comparable populations. Although sales tax revenues collected by the township have been weak, hotel occupancy tax collections are on the rise.

After pulling in $8.7 million in hotel occupancy tax revenues in 2017-which was about $500,000 more than expected-Bunch and township officials expect that number to climb in 2018.

"Early indications are the hospitality industry is thriving locally," Bunch said.

As for the future, and the key matter of The Woodlands possibly incorporating, Bunch said there would be a number of planning sessions this year, with the public invited to attend.

BRADY CREDITS RECENT GROWTH SPURT TO NEW TAX LAW

Also speaking at the conference was Brady, who is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and a key architect of the recent federal tax overhaul. Brady told the crowd the new tax rules were already helping to boost the economy and saving people money.

"Texas is a big winner," Brady said, adding that not only was the new law lowering taxes, but also helping to boost hiring across the state.

After the meeting, Brady said he was impressed by the recent growth spurt across the country, as well as locally, which he again attributed to the tax overhaul.

"I'm pleased with the early results, really encouraged," he said. "But this tax code is built for growth, for the long term. That's where the strength of it is. The early impacts are even extra encouraging."

HEALTHCARE HIRING HELPING TO BOOST JOB MARKET

Among other issues discussed Friday was the local job market, with Laura Lea Palmer, vice president of The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership, noting the number of large companies-including Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Exxon Mobil, Huntsman Corp. and Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center-with headquarters or major facilities in the area.

Palmer also noted the diverse companies are also looking for help, sparking a hiring boom that created 3,211 new jobs in the past year.

"We haven't seen growth like since 2014," Palmer said. "And most of those new jobs were in the health care industry. The real strength this year is health care. Health care is our fastest growing industry in this community."

Numbers provided by the partnership show that Memorial Hermann, with its 2,454 employees, is the third largest employer in the area. Not far behind is CHI St. Luke's Health - The Woodlands, with 1,650 employees, making it the sixth largest employer. Topping the list, is the Conroe Independent School District, with 3,759 employees and Anadarko, with 3,759 employees.

"This job boom is creating a diversity in this community that will result in a more resilient community in the future," Palmer said.

Other speakers during Friday's conference included Alex Sutton and Tim Welbes, both co-presidents with The Woodlands Development Company; Peter Huntsman, CEO of Huntsman Corp., and others. Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale, owner of Gallery Furniture, was the luncheon keynote speaker.

As for the conference itself, the speakers, the details they provided and their business insights didn't seem to disappoint.

Nick Wolda, the director of Community Relations for The Woodlands Township, agreed with what he heard about business environment in The Woodlands.

"The Woodlands is a regional hub for Class A office space," Wolda said. "Also convention meetings, corporate meetings, leisure and travel. We know The Woodlands is a great place to live, but it's also a great place to visit."A pair of connected early morning police chases stemming from a vehicle theft on Saturday prompted CHI St. Luke's Health-The Woodlands Hospital to go on lockdown, according to the Montgomery County Police Reporter.

Afterward, 33-year-old Frank Gallegos of New Caney and 23-year-old Kenneth Lynch of Conroe were both arrested and held without bond, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office confirmed a day later.

Shortly before 6 a.m., sheriff's deputies began following a Dodge 3500 pickup truck stolen from Lake Conroe Marina. They tried to pull over the driver as he got onto Interstate 45 headed south, but the man allegedly refused to stop.

Then, deputies realized that a white Chevrolet pickup may have also been involved in the car theft, and they started pursuing that vehicle, too - until the driver crashed the truck into a tree at the hospital.

He then fled, authorities said, and allegedly hid inside the hospital's chapel, where deputies found him and took him into custody.

A nurse told authorities that she saw the suspect run into the hospital with a gun, according to the Montgomery County Police Reporter. Deputies only found a magazine, but not a gun.

Meanwhile, deputies out on the road continued pursuing the other suspect in the allegedly stolen Dodge truck.

He eventually stopped when deputies laid out road spikes and he got two flat tires. He allegedly leaped out and fled on foot, but was taken into custody on a dirt road near the Magnolia Bend subdivision.

Gallegos was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and Lynch was charged with theft and evading arrest.A national atheist organization that advocates the separation of church and state has accused the City of Beaumont of promoting religion by adding "In God We Trust" decals to city emergency vehicles, citing comments made by council members about religious motives.

The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation wrote in a letter to the City Council this month that "declaring that the entire city trusts in God unequivocally conflicts with the beliefs of many of its residents."

The foundation said a "concerned city employee who objects to being compelled the display the phrase on their work vehicle" contacted them about the council's decision.

Council members decided at a Jan. 30 meeting to add the decals with the national motto to the city's 185 police, fire and EMS vehicles.

In the letter, Foundation lawyer Madeline Ziegler pointed to comments made by Ward 4 council member Robin Mouton, who proposed the decals, and at-large member Get Williams-Wright, who supported them, as evidence that they have religious reasons for the decision.

Mouton has made conflicting statements about the decals, telling The Enterprise after the Jan. 30 meeting that they are patriotic rather than religious. She said in an interview before the meeting that they would be beneficial because they reflect "the true pursuit of honor and God."

"God is first in my life," she said when asked why she proposed the stickers to council.

Williams-Wright said in an interview with The Enterprise that the motto is a "forceful positive statement."

"When you go out and work, when you go out and investigate, you go out with the hope that you'll come back safe, and trust in God," she said.

Those statements give "the appearance of government endorsement of religion," Ziegler wrote in the letter, citing Enterprise coverage of the January meeting.

The $1,200 needed to buy the stickers will be paid for by Ward 2 council member Mike Getz, who said he supported the idea but strongly opposed using taxpayer money to buy the decals.

He said Thursday that he offered to pay for the stickers because, "I didn't want the discussion of taxpayer money being used to pay for these to be used as an argument not to go forward with this."

Ward 1 representative Virginia Jordan called herself "a pretty big proponent of separation of church and state" but said she won't fight the decision as long as city funds are not used.

Ziegler referenced the distinction drawn by the council about paying for the decals in the Foundation's letter, writing that the decision "indicates that the council recognizes it is inappropriate for the government to fund religious statements.""It is just as inappropriate for the government to display them on government property," Ziegler wrote. "Statements about a god have no place on government-owned cars."

Attorney General Ken Paxton ruled in 2015 that displaying "In God We Trust" on patrol vehicles "is a passive use of a motto steeped in our nation's history that does not coerce citizen approval or participation."

The motto does not force people who disagree with it to participate in prayer or religion, he said, and is allowed under the U.S. Constitution.

"The Freedom From Religion Foundation has no confidence in the Texas Attorney General's Office to make measured, unbiased decisions on the separation of church and state," attorney Sam Grover said, because the office has expressed "a lack of sympathy for religious minorities and non-religious people in the past, and entangled themselves with Christian rights organizations."

After discussing the letter in a closed session meeting this week, the council has decided to take a formal vote on the decals at an upcoming meeting, Mayor Becky Ames said.

Council members initially discussed the decals in a work session and agreed to buy the stickers without voting, because they were not using city money.

Ames said the council decided this week that the decision would be clearer if their reasoning was "spelled out" in a resolution.

"It's good for deliberating bodies to put things on the record," Getz said. "Any formal resolution will state the reasons why the council thinks this is an appropriate action."

Getz said that it "would be different if we were putting a cross or a Star of David," because that would be "emoting government support of a particular religion."

"God is whatever you choose God to be," he said. "For those people that don't believe in a deity, they may be offended, but being offended and being violative of the Constitution are two different things."

LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com

Twitter.com/LizTeitzHouston's effort to close a longtime strip club has erupted into a federal court showdown over whether the city's ordinance for sexually oriented businesses is an unconstitutional "commercial bribery scheme."

After a state district judge ordered Fantasy Plaza Cabaret to shut its doors while a nuisance lawsuit is pending, a federal judge ordered the city to allow the strip club to operate under the loosened restrictions allowed for another group of gentlemen's clubs.

"This appears to be a concerted and arbitrary effort to kill Fantasy," U.S. District Lynn N. Hughes said in a order from the bench earlier this month. "The city has a higher duty than to play games with people's businesses. And I don't much care whether it's a sexually oriented business or a bank, a construction company or 16 yardmen."

Dobbins Chang LLC, owner of Fantasy Plaza on Interstate 45 in north Houston, filed the federal suit following the state court action filed by the city and the Harris County Attorney's Office, once again embroiling the city in litigation over its 2013 settlement with a so-called "Sweet 16" group of strip clubs.

The suit complicates efforts to shut down the establishment and brings new questions about whether the city's settlement will hold up in federal court.

City officials said the temporary injunction issued by Hughes will not stop efforts to police Fantasy Plaza.

"The federal court order does not expressly set aside the state court judge's order," city spokeswoman Mary Benton said in an email. "However, the federal court order may limit the actions that the city can take to protect the community in the state court case. The city will continue to do what it can, considering the federal restraining order, to combat human trafficking and criminal activity."

The 2013 settlement was meant to resolve a series of costly lawsuits filed against the city by 16 clubs protesting regulations that prevented topless dancers from being closer than three feet to patrons. Under the agreement, the clubs received a waiver from those requirements in exchange for making about $1 million in annual payments to the city's Human Trafficking Abatement Fund.

The Fantasy Plaza lawsuit accuses the city of violating antitrust laws and effectively taking bribes through payments from the Sweet 16 clubs to allow them to skirt enforcement of the city's sexually oriented business ordinances.

Stopping human trafficking

The city first filed suit in March 2016 against the property owners, and the Harris County Attorney's Office intervened in December to try to shut the club down with a nuisance lawsuit, claiming the business was a site for violence and prostitution, including the employment of underage strippers, according to court records.

State District Judge Fredericka Phillips granted an injunction against the club Feb. 5, ordering the club to shut down until it obtained a permit as a sexually oriented business and complied with the city's ordinances.

"The federal court order does not trump the state court's order," Assistant County Attorney Rosemarie Donnelly said in an email. "The state court's order is still in effect, and under the state court order the club has been ordered to remain closed until further order of the state court."

In the past four years, Houston police officers made more than 30 arrests at Fantasy Plaza for prostitution, employment of minors, and assault, among other offenses. The club has not had a liquor permit from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission since at least 2008, the county's suit said.

"It's a huge problem," Donnelly said. "We think human trafficking is a very serious problem in this city, and we think places like Fantasy Plaza foster an environment where human trafficking goes on, not only with minors, but with other very vulnerable people."

Albert Van Huff, attorney for Fantasy Plaza, however, said that Houston police made 13 prostitution arrests in four years, eight of which were dismissed. The club has operated in Houston for more than three decades.

"It's our position that this is not enough to close down a business," Van Huff said. "If you're not in the (Sweet 16) agreement, the city is going to come and try to close you down, which has the added effect of increasing business at the clubs in the agreement."

He said the club has tried to abide by the city's requirements by sealing off the club's VIP area, brightening lighting and lowering booth walls, among other changes.

Ongoing disputes

Efforts to shutter Fantasy Plaza are the latest salvo in a lengthy legal fight between local topless bars and the city.

The 2013 settlement allowed 16 strip clubs to operate outside the provisions of Chapter 28 of the Houston Code of Ordinances, which outlines regulations for sexually oriented businesses that include prohibitions on topless dancing and the three-foot rule.

In exchange, the clubs agreed to contribute to the city fund, which paid for a 12-person unit in the police department to investigate human trafficking. The city has not responded to questions from the Houston Chronicle about how much money it has collected since the agreement or how the funds have been used.

Van Huff argued in the federal lawsuit that the stricter rules under which Fantasy Plaza must operate mean it can't compete for customers in the same manner as the "Sweet 16" Clubs.

"This has caused and will continue to cause, Fantasy Plaza to lose business and ultimately fail," he said.

Van Huff's filing also argues that the Sweet 16 agreement is a "sham" because it lays out harsher rules for clubs that aren't part of the Sweet 16 agreement.

"The city has enabled the clubs to obtain a dominant position in the marketplace and to obtain market power sufficient to maintain that dominant position through the use of the unlawful, contractual restraint on trade," he wrote.

Since the 2013 settlement, five additional strip clubs have agreed to operate within the city's guidelines and joined in the Sweet 16 agreement.

Questions raised

Houston Vice Division officers conducted more than a half-dozen investigations at Fantasy Plaza last year from April to December, arresting six people for prostitution and four others for violating the city's sexually oriented business regulations, according to the lawsuit.

The suit also accuses the club of attracting violent criminal activity.

"Police have had to respond to numerous emergency calls at the club, including fatal shootings, violent assaults and narcotics," the lawsuit said.

Those incidents included a March 14 fatal shooting and a June 2016 incident in which customers leaving the club shot at a parking valet. In June, Houston police officers investigated the club after a woman told them her 16-year-old daughter had run away and was working there.

Undercover officers spotted a girl they believed to be her, and eventually identified her by a mole near her collarbone after she gave one of them a lap dance. They took the girl into custody and reunited her with her mother.

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo defended the officers' conduct during the undercover operation and commended them for rescuing the teen.

"The tactics they used were dictated by the challenging environment of ... the strip club," Acevedo said. "They didn't do anything inappropriate. I'm just happy we were able to get her and get her the hell out of there."

In the days following the incident, an HPD officer returned to the strip club and arrested three employees for violating sexually oriented business ordinances and harmful employment of a minor. Of those, two cases have been dismissed, court records show.

Van Huff questioned why the undercover officer needed a private lap dance from a topless teen before identifying her.

"You send a couple of Vice officers in there and they spend a couple of hours drinking and watching the girls," he said. "They have to justify why they're there with a couple of cases and that's what they do."

Geoffrey Alpert, a professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of South Carolina, said that while the conduct might appear questionable to civilians, officers likely would have needed to blend in with the club's clientele.

"You've got to fit in - that's the rule of thumb," he said. "You get a young kid like that, while she may only be a runaway, according to her parents, it's likely they might try to turn her (into a prostitute)."

The state court case is set for trial in May. A hearing in the federal case has been set for later this month.A Washington County jury Thursday sentenced a 47-year-old Houston man to life in prison for aggravated robbery and evading arrest with a vehicle, according to a press release from the 21st Judicial District.

Morris Paul Green was charged along with three others for the aggravated robbery of a Brenham convenience store Nov. 11, 2016. He was convicted Wednesday by the jury that sentenced him. He was fined $10,000 on both charges. Due to Green's extensive criminal history, including Louisiana convictions for armed robbery, he is considered a habitual felony offender. Green will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years, according to the news release.PARKLAND, Fla. - The FBI said Friday that more than a month before the shooting rampage at a South Florida high school, the bureau received a warning that the 19-year-old charged in the massacre might carry out an attack at a school - but then investigators failed to act on it.

The disclosure came two days after police say Nikolas Cruz marched into his former high school in Parkland, Fla., and gunned down 17 people, most of them teenagers. In a statement, the FBI said it received a tip on Jan. 5 from "a person close to Nikolas Cruz" reporting concerns about him.

This person, who was not identified, told the FBI's public tip line "about Cruz's gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting," the bureau said.

Such a warning should have been investigated "as a potential threat to life," triggering investigative efforts in the local FBI field office, but "these protocols were not followed" and no further inquiries were made, the bureau said in a statement.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he had ordered his deputy attorney general - the No. 2 law enforcement official in the country - to review the bureau's handling of the matter.

"It is now clear that the warning signs were there and tips to the FBI were missed," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement. "We see the tragic consequences of those failures."

He added, "The FBI in conjunction with our state and local partners must act flawlessly to prevent all attacks. This is imperative, and we must do better."

The tip on Cruz came in to the FBI's general call line, where call takers process thousands of calls each day, some of them more serious than others. When the process works, the call taker records information from the tipster, runs basic database checks on the person at issue and - if the matter is serious enough - passes a package to agents in the field.

More Information No ties found to white nationalist group PARKLAND, Fla. - A white nationalist appears to have lied to the Associated Press and other news organizations when he claimed that Florida school-shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz was a member of his obscure group. Law enforcement officials said they didn't have any evidence to support the claim that Republic of Florida leader Jordan Jereb made in interviews with several news organizations. Jereb told the Associated Press on Thursday that Cruz had participated in paramilitary drills in Tallahassee, where his group is based. The Anti-Defamation League also said it spoke with Jereb, who told it that Cruz was associated with his group. Jereb later backed away from his claims. Someone posting under Jereb's name on Gab, a social media site popular with far-right extremists, complained about getting criticized over a "prank." Associated Press See More Collapse

In this case, though, the call center never passed any information to agents, according to a federal law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The bureau knew the identity of the call taker - an adult - and the tip involved a threat to life, meaning it should have been passed on, a federal law enforcement official said. The official said the bureau is still exploring why it was not, and preliminarily, do not believe the number of calls was the reason that it fell through the cracks.

"We are still investigating the facts," Christopher Wray, the FBI director, said in the statement. "I am committed to getting to the bottom of what happened in this particular matter, as well as reviewing our processes for responding to information that we receive from the public."

Call for Wray's resignation

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, assailed the FBI's inaction as "unacceptable" and called on Wray to resign.

"Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isn't going to cut it," Scott said in a statement. "An apology will never bring these 17 Floridians back to life or comfort the families who are in pain. The families will spend a lifetime wondering how this could happen, and an apology will never give them the answers they desperately need."

Sessions said the deputy attorney general's review of how the FBI handled the tip would also broadly assess how the department responds in such cases.

"This will include possible consultation with family members, mental health officials, school officials, and local law enforcement," he said. "We will make this a top priority. It has never been more important to encourage every person in every community to spot the warning signs and alert law enforcement. Do not assume someone else will step up - all of us must be vigilant. Our children's lives depend on it."

As a grieving community mourned the lives cut short in the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, authorities have faced questions about why they did not act sooner on Cruz's history of unnerving, sometimes violent behavior.

The FBI had already been under fire for its response to a different tip about Cruz. That alert came from a Mississippi bail bondsman who told agents in September that a YouTube user with the handle "nikolas cruz" had commented on a video "Im going to be a professional school shooter." In that instance, the FBI said it could not identify the person who left the comment.

The FBI's admission about tip in January made the Parkland shooting the third time in as many years that a mass shooter who terrorized Floridians had come to the bureau's attention beforehand, a fact sure to increase scrutiny of how the country's premier law enforcement agency monitors potential threats.

Those two previous cases did not appear to include such a specific tip warning of a possible type of attack. After a man gunned down 49 people at Pulse nightclub in Orlando in 2016, the FBI said it had previously investigated him after he talked about extremist connections but concluded he was not a threat. A man charged with killing five people at the Fort Lauderdale airport last year had walked into an FBI office weeks earlier and made bizarre, albeit nonthreatening, statements.

The FBI's statement on Friday was the latest, and perhaps clearest, sign that authorities failed to act on the alarm that Cruz had triggered in his troubled life. Cruz's attorney said that while he does not doubt his client's guilt, he believed the massacre could have been prevented had officials recognized the repeated red flags in the teenager's life.

'Even here it's dangerous'

Howard Finkelstein, a public defender in Broward County for the past 40 years, said society failed Nikolas Cruz, who has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder for the 17 people slain at the school, most of them students too young to get their learner's permits.

"It's one of the most horrific crimes in the history of America," Finkelstein said in an interview before the FBI's statement. "Everybody was on notice. Every system should've been alerted, and not one of the systems did one thing. a This should not have happened and it didn't have to happen."

Since the Parkland massacre, officials have been asked about the ominous warnings that were missed as well as what, if anything, the country was doing to keep its children safe after yet another school shooting. Other campuses around the country were on edge after Douglas, an anxiety fueled by copycat threats that spread on social media networks.

Police say Cruz admitted that he walked into the school that had expelled him and fired bullet after bullet into classrooms and hallways on Wednesday.

The hail of gunfire lasted for just a few minutes, police said. When it was over, 14 students and three staffers were dead, and others were injured, some critically.

Parkland became a community - another community - shattered by gun violence, joining the grim list of cities including Columbine, Newtown, Aurora and Sutherland Springs, among many others.

"It has always been my dream to live in this neighborhood," said Tiffany Matthews, 42, who works at a gas station a few miles from the school. "The schools, everything here is just so nice. But even here it's dangerous to just go to school."

People who knew him described Cruz as having a pattern of troubling behavior, suggestions of violence and brushes with law enforcement. Neighbors said that police cruisers were a frequent presence at his house. Some saw a teenager trying to work through a dark period in his life, while others saw a growing malevolence.

"People were afraid of him," said Brody Speno, 19, who grew up on the same block as Cruz.

Malcolm Roxburgh, a longtime neighbor of Cruz's who lived just three houses down, said: "Just about everybody on this part of the street had a run-in with him."

After getting to high school, Cruz started selling knives out of a lunchbox, posting on Instagram about guns and killing animals, and eventually "going after one of my friends, threatening her," said Dakota Mutchler, 17, who attended middle school with him.

Cruz was expelled from Douglas for disciplinary reasons, school officials said, though they did not elaborate.

2,000 interviewed

The FBI, even before its revelation Friday, also had a near-brush with Cruz after receiving a tip about a comment threatening a school shooting. It was posted by a YouTube user with his name. Investigators looked into the comment but were unable to determine who wrote it, the FBI said this week. Officials now believe he wrote it.

Finkelstein, who sent his two children to school in South Florida, said the Douglas shooting is "devastating" and will leave Broward County "changed forever as a result of this."

While he has no doubts about Cruz's guilt, Finkelstein argued that the 19-year-old should be spared a potential death sentence for one of the country's deadliest school shootings because of all the missed red flags that marked his path back to Douglas.

"What a jury is going to have to answer for themselves is whether we as a community, when we as a village, ignore every sign, every scream for help from a sick child who eventually falls off the grid and does what we feared he would do, do we forfeit our right to kill him?" he said.

Prosecutors have not said yet whether they will seek a death sentence for Cruz. A spokeswoman for the State Attorney's office in Broward, which is prosecuting him, said no decision had been made yet about seeking the death penalty, though Finkelstein said he expects they will do so.

According to police, Cruz traveled to the school on Wednesday afternoon not long before the final bell rang. They said he Cruz fired an AR-15 assault-style rifle for a few minutes before dropping the weapon and his extra ammunition and escaping the school by blending in with students fleeing the chaos. He went to a Walmart, bought a drink, sat at a McDonald's and walked into a residential area on foot, where he was captured, police said.

The investigation into what happened is still relatively new, but authorities had already interviewed more than 2,000 people, according to Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel.

He also said they hope to speak to unnamed others who "might enlighten us as to why he did what he did," Israel said, though he emphasized that a day into the investigation, police did not believe Cruz had any accomplices.

Some of the loudest voices pleading for more to be done are the children who were at Douglas and lived, who have been demanding to know why the adults running the country have not done more to help prevent similar tragedies. Others have been parents of those who survived or those who lost their lives.AUSTIN  A grassroots group focused on giving parents the freedom to opt out of getting medical vaccines for their children is picking a fight in Houston, in the heart of an area thats home to the worlds largest medical complex.

Texans for Vaccine Choice has donated thousands of dollars and nearly a weeks worth of time knocking on doors and phone-banking to convince voters in southwest Houston to replace state Rep. Sarah Davis. They targeted the West University Place Republican because they contend she is trying to take immunization decisions out of parents hands.

I think they have picked the wrong district to wage a war on vaccines in, said Davis, who calls herself a proponent for vaccines.

The race is one of several the quickly growing Texans for Vaccine Choice group is targeting in this years March 6 Republican primary election at a time when a national anti-vaccination movement is spreading across the country. The group also is active in three races in the Dallas area.

The organization was created after the 2015 legislative session when Jackie Schlegel, an Austin mom who says her child was negatively affected by vaccines, noticed lawmakers were wanting to roll back rules that allow parents to opt out their children from otherwise mandatory vaccinations.

We promote the preservation of personal liberties and informed consent by opposing measures to limit vaccine choice rights or discriminate against those who exercise such rights, reads the mission statement on their website.

The movement grew quickly by making allies with conservative lawmakers whose platforms include the hallmark values of liberty and freedom that speak to traditional Texas values that jibe with the groups agenda.

The number of Texas children who have gone without medical vaccinations for non-medical reasons has skyrocketed, up about 2,000 percent in 14 years. Non-medical exemptions, such as for conscientious objections or for religion beliefs, climbed to more than 52,000 from 2,300 in that time.

Davis proposed four immunization bills in the 2017 legislative session, including one to require parents to review educational material about vaccines before opting their children out of vaccinations.

She also pitched bills seeking additional reporting on HPV immunization rates, allowing minors to consent to cancer prevention vaccines and changing state law to redefine opt-out decisions as "non-medical," deleting reasons "of conscience, including a religious belief."

None of those bills passed this year; neither did legislation that would increase public reporting on how many students have opted out of vaccines at each school.

OPT OUTS: Anti-vaxxer movement spurs call to post immunization stats by school

Texans for Vaccine Choice successfully opposed those bills, arguing in favor of parents rights and childrens privacy. At school where you do have a high number of opt-outs, we are creating a witch hunt against families, said Schlegel, who founded the group, said at the time. She has not responded to repeated interview requests.

Their message is falling flat in House District 134, where Texans for Vaccine Choice hopes to replace Davis with Susanna Dokupil, a businesswoman who worked for Republican Gov. Greg Abbott when he was attorney general.

The political action committee, comprised largely of parents, has donated $2,500 to Dokupil. They planned to rally in Houston this weekend and send members to block walk for her in West University Place.

Medical district

The district is home to the highest concentration of physicians in Texas: 11,873 medical residents and working and retired physicians live there, according to the Texas Medical Association. Thats nearly triple the next largest district of doctors in San Antonio home to about 4,000 physicians and residents.

The district is one of the most affluent in the state. More than half its households make more than $100,000 per year. Nearly one in four households earn more than $200,000 per year, compared with one in 20 statewide.

The southwest Houston district includes the Texas Medical Center, West University Place, Bellaire, Southside Place and stretches north past Memorial Park.

The timing also couldnt be worse for parents fighting for vaccine choice. This years influenza season has captured the national attention for weeks for being one of the worst in at least a decade. This race is also less than a year after a mumps outbreak in the Dallas.

"The reality is bugs don't care about your politics," said George Santos, president of the Harris County Medical Society.

"The anti-vaxxers are really a tiny, tiny minority of the community, however they're making a lot of noise and they're getting a lot of attention," he said, echoing concerns voiced by other physicians who live or work in the district.

"No one really understands why anyone would want to believe something like that," he said about the idea that vaccines could be harmful.

POLITICS: Outside money continues to stream into Houston state House race

He said doctors also are concerned, like Texans for Vaccine Choice, about the government getting too involved in the relationship between doctors and their patients. He likened the argument over requiring children to receive medical vaccines to the government setting a speed limit for the greater good of the community.

Many children with compromised immune systems are often times exempted from vaccines, but depend on herd immunity to stop contagious diseases like mumps from infecting a community.

Some in the anti-vaccination movement worry that vaccines can cause conditions like autism. Many studies have debunked those claims.

The political contest in District 134 is already contentious. Davis, a civil defense attorney and four-term incumbent, is the subject of at least $160,000 worth of political attack ads by Gov. Greg Abbott.

The governor favors Dokupil, who he said would better follow suit with his agenda.

Andrea Zelinski covers politics for the Houston Chronicle. As the election heats up, follow her on Twitter and Facebook. Send her tips at andrea.zelinski@chron.com.Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made clear that the fight over protecting the so-called Dreamers is not over.

Speaking to more than 1,300 Democrats at a ballroom in downtown Houston, Pelosi said her record breaking 8-hour speech on the House floor last week defending those immigrants was far from the last stand.

"We will not stop until they are protected," Pelosi said at the Harris County Democrats annual Johnson Rayburn Richards fundraising dinner at the Marriott Marquis Houston. "That is who we are as a country. So this fight will continue."

The California Democrat said the nation has always been strengthened by immigration and the determination, hope and optimism they bring to the fabric of the nation.

"These are American traits," Pelosi said. "The immigrants are making America more American."

Her comments come as Sen. Ted Cruz has stepped up his warnings to fellow Republicans to ditch proposed reforms that give DACA recipients a path to citizenship.

"Mark my words, if Republican majorities in Congress pass citizenship for millions of people - an amnesty - I think it is quite likely we will lose both houses of Congress and Speaker Nancy Pelosi will impeach President Trump," Cruz said during an interview on Fox News Channel Thursday morning.

Pelosi's speech Friday was at a dinner with the theme "It All Starts Here." That is a nod to the strategic importance Democrats say Harris County could play in turning Texas blue. Party officials point to Hillary Clinton beating Donald Trump by more than 161,000 votes in the county in 2016, voter registration gains this year in the county and the area being home to some of the most competitive Congressional and state legislature seats in Texas.

MORE DEMS: Schumer in Houston: 'We are not backing off'

Pelosi drew a standing ovation when she asked those in the crowd if they were ready to elect more Democrats up and down the ballot.

"Are you ready to turn Texas blue?" Pelosi said to a roar from the audience.

The event also included a phone call from Clinton, which was not on the prepared program of events. Like Pelosi, Clinton tried to fire up the crowd about the 2018 midterm elections.

"I have a feeling this could be the year," Clinton told the crowd of Texas become blue. "Go get them Harris County."

Local Democrats say the attention they are getting speaks to the importance of the 2018 elections.

"It's a testament to the fact that Harris County is ground zero for flipping Congress," said Harris County Democratic Party Chair Lillie Schechter. "[Pelosi] knows the importance of Harris County."

Pelosi, 77, is just one week removed from delivering her record setting speech on the House floor in a bid to get Congress to address immigration reform particularly as it related to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that President Donald Trump has announced he is ending.

During that floor speech Pelosi said there needs to be a permanent solution for undocumented immigrants affected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Texas has around 140,000 DACA recipients.

"We have to be strong as a country ... to respect the aspirations of people who are our future," Pelosi said in the House chamber. "The young people are our future and these dreamers are part of that. They've been enriched ... by the greatness of our country."

Pelosi's appearance in Houston comes just three weeks after U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made his own stop and also talked up the party's commitment to fighting for the so-called Dreamers.

Democrats need to pick up 24 seats in Congress to regain the majority. If that were to happen, Pelosi could again become Speaker of the House.

Pelosi, of San Francisco, was first elected to Congress in 1987 and was the House Speaker from 2007 to 2011 when Democrats last held the majority. Pelosi has not said if she would seek another term as Speaker if Democrats regained the majority.

But when U.S. Reps Shelia Jackson Lee and Al Green introduced Pelosi, both called her the future Speaker of the House.

Jeremy Wallace writes about state politics and government for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter at @JeremySWallace.While IT used to be limited to silos within an organization, today it is everywhere as more and more businesses become IT companies at heart. One of the dangers they face is that of legacy suffocation, where daily maintenance churn increasingly drains IT budgets and leaves diminishing funds for innovations. These companies gradually fall behind in the marketplace, sales slump, and it gets ever more difficult to attract the talent that could correct the situation.

To highlight this problem, Insight recently conducted the 2018 Insight Intelligent Technology Pulse Survey (contact details required to access the survey). Michael Guggemos, CIO at Insight Enterprises, spoke to me about what they were hoping to achieve with the survey and how people could use it. Mike also shared some personal insights about IT at a large, multi-national company, and our conversation covered a lot more ground than just the survey!

Insight Enterprises Mike Guggemos, CIO, Insight Enterprises

We started with Mike describing how many people focus on getting through the quarter, only to find after a few years that they have fallen by the wayside, both organizationally and professionally. (I like to describe this as being so busy shoveling snow, nobody has the time to get a snow blower.) Often, the only way companies can recover from that is to bring in new leadership, which led to Mike being hired at Insight. The idea behind the survey was to identify these dangers and describe how people can get themselves out of the daily churn and provide greater value to their organizations.

The shiny-object syndrome is rampant. People get sold on the latest business trends but fail to examine the ROI. Purchasing decisions are often based on very high-level information (e.g. the Gartner Magic Quadrant or something similar), but those new ideas or products are never critically examined in the context of the organization making the purchase. While the high-level fit with the needs might be there, the devil is always in the details, which is where most people tend to go wrong.

In Mikes experience, about half of major IT decisions are media ware decisions, where somebody attends a conference and returns with an idea. It falls to IT to defend that idea and try to make it fit. However, usually it does not fit the real needs of the organization, and that is where the problems start. For example, consider Robotic Process Automation. Bots are wonderful at taking over mundane, repetitive tasks, but companies can spend far too much effort automating low-value tasks, whereas they should rather be spending that intellectual effort on projects that drive revenue.

When Mike joined Insight, he was initially focused on two ERP implementations that were not proceeding as anticipated. Both were staffed with skilled, well-intentioned people but the ERPs were no longer aligned to Insights real needs. He found the ERP requirements documentation was a force fit to what the company was doing about four years earlier. Mikes new approach to identifying needs started with their sales associates and went all the way back to the deep operations in the Insight warehouses. This approach got executive heads nodding because the junior people who were doing the work were identifying functional gaps so they could be fixed. Mike and his team also looked at potential software products and worked back towards these needs. I described this as reverse engineering features into requirements; Mike commented that he had never heard the expression used in this context, but it made perfect sense and is, in effect, what they did.

Companies have to realize there are things that need to be done but dont differentiate them in any way, and outsource those things to those who do it better than they can. That is especially true with IT that has become commoditized. Take managing servers. It must be done, but even if you had the best server team in the world, would that provide any competitive advantage? Take security: Consider things like the data breaches at Sony, Target, Home Depot, and others. If large companies like these cannot provide adequate security, it makes sense to outsource it to specialists who amortize costs over many customers. For example, cloud ERP or CRM systems from larger vendors are likely to have far better security than similar systems in your data center.

IT decision makers are realizing that smarter IT solutions drive competitive advantages and, according to the survey, 60% of CIOs and CTOs put developing such solutions as their top IT challenge. However, according to Mike, most operations or IT teams are relegated to work the daily churn. Organizations need to outsource routine, commoditized work to third parties and free up employees creative intellect to solve far more interesting problems that provide real value to the organization.

Mike feels this is an exciting time, as people are willing to outsource that churn and take the opportunity to apply the creative intellectual horsepower they have in their companies to steer the business in a more profitable direction. While keeping the lights on will always be a reality for IT operations, IT is starting to deliver greater value to the business through things like better client experiences. That leads IT to becoming a major contributor to the organizations strategy, and an enabler of that strategy.Only three got back to him. And one of those was in Long Island, close to where he grew up.

So he cold-emailed and called more than 2,000 facilities across the country.

For years, Peck had closely followed the rise of telemedicine, a technology that connects doctors and patients via phone, messaging or video. It occurred to him that this product, which is primarily used by consumers via a mobile app, was sorely lacking at nursing homes.

All of that proved to be invaluable knowledge to get Peck's start-up, Call9, off the ground.

In return for the lodging, Peck treated the sickest residents, and got time with the nursing home's busy staff so he could better understand their needs. That meant coffee runs with the administrator, or errands with the chief executive. When he needed a shower, Peck  who was 35 at the time  would drive to his parents' home, which happened to be nearby.

Dr. Timothy Peck instead moved from Silicon Valley into a nursing home in Long Island, New York. For three months in 2015, Peck, a Harvard-trained physician, lived in a cot in the conference room of Central Island Healthcare.

Most technology entrepreneurs get their new ventures off the ground by relocating to Silicon Valley.

It was ideal timing. For about five years, regulators had been penalizing nursing homes for sending patients back to the hospital within 30 days. These costly readmissions were viewed by some policymakers as an indication that the facility wasn't properly caring for its residents.

Meanwhile, some nursing homes, including Central Island, were finding that their residents sent over from local hospitals were older, sicker and higher-risk than ever before. The hospitals were also under pressure from the insurers to reduce lengths of stays.

Recent research conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid from data collected in 2005 found that approximately 45 percent of hospital admissions via nursing homes could have been avoided, accounting for $2.6 billion in Medicare expenditures. Call9 estimates that the number is far higher today.

Central Island couldn't staff up quickly enough to treat or triage these chronically ill patients, so they often got sent back to the hospital unnecessarily.

"I was banging my head against the wall trying to figure out how to solve this problem," said Michael Ostreicher, owner of the 200-bed facility.

And that's when he saw a note from Peck via his website's contact form, offering to solve his problem.

Ostreicher knew it would be a major risk on his part to give this young doctor a chance, as telemedicine seemed so unproven. He was most concerned that his residents wouldn't get the best treatment, as well as the potential liability that comes from bad medical advice.

So he made a deal with Peck.

"I told Tim [Peck] that if he stayed in my building every night until I was comfortable with this time, we'd give him a shot," recalled Ostreicher. Peck agreed, as long as he could fly back to California every week or two to attend events at Y Combinator, the start-up accelerator program in which Call9 was enrolled.

The first patient that Peck treated had diabetes. Peck ran some tests and sent him to an ambulance. By the time he got to a hospital, the patient's lungs were filling up with fluid.

"He saved that patient's life," said Ostreicher.

After that experience, Peck was able to build up a rapport with the nursing home's residents and staff. Peck was able to see potential opportunities for patients to get the care they needed without an expensive emergency room visit, such as sending them to offsite facilities to get scans and MRIs.

He also retrofitted a medical cart at the nursing home to handle telemedicine consultations.

There's an iPad and iPhone, which the nurses can use to reach a Call9 doctor  all of whom are employed by the company, and not consultants. It also includes equipment that nursing homes haven't historically used, like portable electrocardiograms to detect abnormal heart rhythms, bedside lab tests, and sonograms.ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations unit raid to apprehend immigrants without any legal status and who may be deportable in Riverside.

The federal government's immigration crackdown in California widened Friday with the announcement that a five-day sweep led to the arrest of 212 undocumented immigrants and the targeting of 122 businesses in Southern California.

The action comes on the heels of raids in Northern California targeting undocumented immigrant workers.

The Trump administration's clampdown on illegal immigration in California follows the state's controversial "sanctuary law," which limits local law enforcement cooperation with immigration authorities, going into effect in January.

The state also passed a law that bars employers from voluntarily giving employee information to federal authorities. In January, the state's attorney general, Xavier Becerra, warned that businesses could face a $10,000 fine if they violated the new law.

"This seems to be a battle between California as a state and the federal government," said Angelo Paparelli, an immigration attorney in the L.A. office of Seyfarth Shaw. "The employers when they are served with notices of inspection have an awareness that this isn't just a civil enforcement proceeding  it could very well lead to a criminal enforcement proceeding."

According to ICE, its deportation officers and special officers arrested 212 people for violating federal immigration laws and served notices of inspection to 122 businesses in Southern California. ICE said 88 percent of those arrested were convicted criminals, including some convicted of serious or violent offenses, such as child sex crimes, weapons charges and assault.

ICE said in a press release the week-long enforcement action in the agency's Los Angeles region targeted those "individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security."

At the same time, the federal agency also said it "no longer exempts classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States."

"Angelenos should not have to fear raids that bring unnecessary anxiety to our homes, schools, and workplaces  and everyone is safer when our neighbors trust the officers who dedicate themselves to protecting and serving the people of this city," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement. "The administration should focus on people who have committed serious crimes or pose a threat to national security, rather than on separating hard-working families."

In late January U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents served at least 77 businesses in the San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento areas with notices to show hiring documents. Also, there was a report this week that farms in the state's San Joaquin Valley  one of the largest agricultural production regions in the nation  have been targeted with worker audits by federal immigration authorities.

The sweep announced Friday is larger than the one in ICE's Los Angeles region announced last May by immigration enforcement authorities, in which nearly 200 people were arrested. Those raids targeted criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants and immigration fugitives. ICE's Los Angeles region includes not only L.A. County but six other Southern California counties  Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.

"Because sanctuary jurisdictions like Los Angeles prevent ICE from arresting criminal aliens in the secure confines of a jail, our officers are forced to conduct at-large arrests in the community, putting officers, the general public and the aliens at greater risk and increasing the incidents of collateral arrests," ICE Deputy Director Thomas Homan said in a statement.

Homan said, "Fewer jail arrests mean more arrests on the street, and that also requires more resources, which is why we are forced to send additional resources to those areas to meet operational needs and officer safety."

In October, Homan spoke at a Heritage Foundation event in Washington and said the federal agency planned to increase enforcement in the worksite by "four to five times." The agency also has conducted enforcement actions outside schools and courthouses in California.Here's a roundup of the most important deals in venture capital from the past week.



Exits

Severin Schwan, chief executive officer Roche Holding. Scot Eells | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Swiss pharma giant Roche is acquiring Flatiron Health in a deal valued around $2.1 billion. Flatiron created an electronic medical records system for physicians treating cancer, which analyzes the information to recommend the best potential treatments. Flatiron was founded by ex-Google employees Nat Turner and Zach Weinberg and previously raised more than $300 million from investors including Roche and Alphabet's venture arm, GV (formerly Google Ventures).

A Sotheby's employee walks past Luciano II painted in 1976 by Franz Gertsch. Charlotte Ball | PA Images | Getty Images

Sotheby's has acquired Viyet, an online marketplace for vintage and antique furniture. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Sotheby's is in the midst of ramping up its online business. Owning Viyet will help Sotheby's to accept, and sell, entire estates the company told Architectural Digest. Prior to the deal, Viyet had raised around $7 million in venture funding from Social Stars and Rosecliff Ventures.

Grocery delivery start-up Instacart added $200 million to its coffers. Executives told CNBC that the merger of Amazon and Whole Foods has driven other grocers to partner with Instacart in order to extend easy online ordering and delivery options to shoppers. Coatue Management and Glade Brook Capital Partners led the new investment. The deal brings Instacart's valuation to around $4.2 billion.

Harry's products on display at Target's Herald Square store. Courtney Reagan | CNBC

Harry's raised $112 million to expand beyond razors and men's grooming products, the New York Times reported. While Harry's started out selling monthly shipments of razors online, it now also sells its products in major retailers including Target. The company has also purchased the factory that makes its razors. Investors in the series D round of funding included: Alliance Consumer Growth, Temasek, and earlier backers including Tiger Global and Wellington Management. The funding brings Harry's total capital raised to about $475 million.

A self-driving cart, developed by CommonSense Robotics, maneuvers around a fulfillment center.

Eric Schmidt's Innovation Endeavors, Playground Global and Aleph VC poured $20 million into CommonSense Robotics, a start-up building robot-operated fulfillment centers that help groceries make fast deliveries. CommonSense CEO and co-founder Elram Goren tells CNBC, "We want 'on-demand' to become profitable and sustainable for groceries who aren't Amazon." With the funding, the company plans to open its first facilities in the U.S. It is currently operating one 5,000 square foot fulfillment center in Tel Aviv. Outdoorsy raised $25 million in a series B round of funding to rent out RV's Airbnb-style. Investors included: Aviva Ventures, Altos Ventures, Tandem Capital and Autotech Ventures.

Priscilla Chan (R) and her husband Mark Zuckerberg announce the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to "cure, prevent or manage all disease" by the end of the century during a news conference at UCSF Mission Bay in San Francisco. Beck Diefenbach | Reuters

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Learn Capital and TCV invested $50 million into Varsity Tutors, a start-up that links students with experts in a field they're studying for private, online or in-home tutoring. A former Uber and Lyft VP, Travis VanderZanden, has raised $15 million for his new startup, Bird. The company offers electric scooter rentals. The scooters are strewn about campuses or cities, and unlocked for use through the Bird app. Investors included: Tusk Ventures, Valor, Lead Edge Capital, and Goldcrest Capital.

FundsPresident Donald Trump looks on during a bilateral meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg. Mikhail Metzel | TASS | Getty Images

President Donald Trump has repeatedly cast doubt on the US intelligence community's assessment that Moscow interfered in the 2016 presidential election in his favor, dismissing the investigation into whether or not his campaign colluded with Russia as "fake news," a "hoax" and a "witch hunt."



But Trump slightly changed his tune after a federal grand jury on Friday indicted 13 Russians and three Russian entities for allegedly waging information warfare against the United States.



In a tweet hours after the indictments were issued, Trump acknowledged that Russia did indeed wage a years-long operation against the United States. He maintained, however, that his campaign in no way colluded with Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. Trump Tweet



Here are the many times Trump has cast doubt on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and dismissed the investigation into alleged collusion between his campaign and Moscow.

Jan. 10, 2018

Trump said at a press conference on the Russia investigation: "For 11 months, they've had this phony cloud over this administration, over this government and it has hurt our government, it does hurt our government. It's a Democrat hoax".

July 12, 2017

After meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump told Reuters in an interview that he asked Putin whether or not Russia meddled in the US election. "I said, 'Did you do it?' He said, 'No, I did not, absolutely not.' I then asked him a second time, in a totally different way. He said, 'Absolutely not.'"



Trump went on to acknowledge that "something happened." "Look. Something happened and we have to find out what it is, because we can't allow a thing like that to happen to our election process," Trump said. "So something happened and we have to find out what it is." About Putin, he said: "Somebody did say if he did do it, you wouldn't have found out about it. Which is a very interesting point."

Nov. 13, 2017

Trump said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that he had assured Trump that there was no interference in the campaign. "I asked him again," Trump told reporters on a flight to Hanoi. "You can only ask so many times... He said he absolutely did not meddle in our election. He did not do what they are saying he did. "I really believe that when he tells me that, he means it... I think he's very insulted, if you want to know the truth,"

Sept. 27, 2017

April 30, 2017

On CBS' "Face the Nation," Trump said that if you don't catch a hacker in the act, it's hard to tell who actually did it. "Knowing something about hacking, if you don't catch a hacker, okay, in the act, it's very hard to say who did the hacking," Trump said. "With that being said, I'll go along with Russia. It could have been China. It could have been a lot of different groups."



The president then went on to call allegations that his campaign colluded with Russia a "phony story." When asked whether Russian meddling in the election was phony, Trump said: "That I don't know. I don't know."

May 18, 2017

May 11, 2017

In an interview with NBC's Lester Holt, Trump discussed the firing of former FBI Director James Comey. "When I decided to just do it I said to myself, I said, 'You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story," Trump told Holt.

Feb. 26, 2017

Trump tweets again, calling Russia talk "FAKE NEWS": Trump Tweet 4

Feb. 16, 2017

Trump claimed in a Tweet that the Democrats fabricated the Russia story due to losing the election: Trump Tweet 3 He also said in a press conference that day: "Russia is a ruse. I have nothing to do with Russia. Haven't made a phone call to Russia in years. Don't speak to people from Russia. Not that I wouldn't. I just have nobody to speak to. I spoke to Putin twice. He called me on the election. I told you this. And he called me on the inauguration, a few days ago."

Feb. 7, 2017

Trump mentions that he doesn't know Putin and that "haters are going crazy" in reference to Russia. He also mentions former President Barack Obama's deal with Iran: Trump Tweet 2

Dec. 15, 2016

Trump tweeted, questioning why the White House would wait so long if Russia or any other entities were hacking U.S. organizations. Trump Tweet

Oct. 10, 2016

At the second presidential debate, Trump said that he didn't know Putin, but he said it would be great if we could get along better with Russia so we could fight ISIS together. "But I notice, anytime anything wrong happens, they like to say the Russians are  she doesn't know if it's the Russians doing the hacking," Trump said at the debate. "Maybe there is no hacking. But they always blame Russia. And the reason they blame Russia because they think they're trying to tarnish me with Russia. I know nothing about Russia."

Sept. 26, 2016

During Trump's first head-to-head debate against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, Clinton argued that there was "no doubt" that Russia was using cyberattacks against American organizations. However, Trump said: "I don't know if we know it was Russia who broke into the DNC," Trump said at the debate. "She keeps saying Russia, Russia, Russia. Maybe it was. It could also be China, it could be someone sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds."

Sept. 8, 2016

In an interview with Larry King, King asked Trump his opinion on U.S. intelligence investigating whether Russia launched a covert operation to disrupt the election. Trump replied: "I don't know. I've been hearing about it. I've been reading about it. I think it's probably unlikely. I think maybe the Democrats are putting that out, who knows? But I think that it's pretty unlikely, but you know, who knows? I hope that if they are doing something, I hope that somebody is going to be able to find out, so they can end it, because that would not be appropriate at all."

July 27, 2016

Trump denied ties to the Russian government or investors to CBS4 Miami and said, "I mean I have nothing to do with Russia. I don't have any jobs in Russia. I'm all over the world but we're not involved in Russia." Trump told the station he had nothing to do with Russia. "I never met Putin, I have nothing to do with Russia whatsoever," he said.

June 15, 2016Russia's suspected meddling in U.S. politics wasn't expressly meant to elect President Donald Trump, but was intended to sow fear and hatred among Americans, a top Facebook executive said  an assessment that was endorsed by the president himself.

Rob Goldman, vice president of ads at Facebook, took to Twitter on Friday to applaud special counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing investigation of Russian trolls on social media. He also sought to clarify what he perceived as misconceptions surrounding Russian meddling in the U.S. political process.

"The main goal of the Russian propaganda and misinformation effort is to divide America by using our institutions, like free speech and social media, against us. It has stoked fear and hatred amongst [sic] Americans," he wrote on the social site.

"It is working incredibly well. We are quite divided as a nation," he added.

@robjective tweet

After catching wind of Goldman's tweets, Trump backed the executive's analysis. He stated Goldman's thread effectively endorsed his argument that there was "no collusion" between the Trump campaign and Russian actors on social media.

" Hard to ignore this fact from the Vice President of Facebook Ads, Rob Goldman!" Trump wrote on Twitter.

@readDonaldTrump tweetWhile Chrome's new policy is widely lauded, Google's dominance of the online ads business  in conjunction with the dominance of its Chrome browser and its influence on the group that selected which ads count as "intrusive"  raises some thorny questions.

The idea behind this move is pretty straightforward: If users don't have to deal with intrusive ad experiences, they may be less likely to download third-party ad blockers. Ad blockers crush revenue opportunities for websites that rely on ads to make money while also affecting the bottom line of ad providers like Google, which pays a fee to whitelist its ads in popular services like Adblock Plus.

Earlier this week, Google rolled out new filtering policies for its Chrome browser that will block all advertising on websites that serve particularly annoying ads, like autoplay videos with sound or full-page pop-ups.

Chrome has determined the 12 ad types which will trigger its blocking system based on standards set by the Coalition for Better Ads, an industry group where Google is a board member.

However, several members of the Coalition of Better Ads told The Wall Street Journal that they felt that Google had undue influence over the committees actions, because it spearheaded the research used to determine the intrusive ad types.

For example, YouTube's pre-roll video ads weren't included in research on intrusive ad types, which Johnny Ryan, the head of ecosystem at PageFair, a company that helps publishers protect against ad blocking, calls a "remarkable omission."

"Though Chrome's adblocker is a welcome improvement for users, it is not surprising that website owners are aghast that ads are being cleaned up on their sites, while Google's own formats go unharmed," he told CNBC.

Google told Wall Street Journal that it plans to test video ad formats in the future.

Meanwhile, some believe that the sheer scale of Google's business makes this move feel a bit like it's playing God with what users will or will not see online.

Google's global online ads business is bigger than its next five competitors combined, while Chrome has 59.23 percent browser market share across desktop and mobile, according to NetMarketshare.com.

"This gives Google even more power over the internet now than ever before," Rich Kahn, the CEO of digital advertising company eZanga tells CNBC. "When does one consider it to be too much power in the hands of one company?"

Even though users will be able to disable the adblock setting on Chrome, Kahn still sees the browser's move as dictating what websites can or cannot show and what internet users can or cannot see.

"I agree with the spirit of the CBA, there's no question we need to provide consumers with a better experience on the web," says Marc Guldimann, CEO of an ad startup called Parsec which had to phase out a version of it's product when Chrome first announced its changes.

"Unfortunately some of the implementation specifics, especially around research methodology, were less than ideal."A prominent GOP campaign donor has issued an ultimatum to Republican leaders: Introduce gun control legislation, or lose his support, The New York Times reported Saturday.

Al Hoffman Jr., a leading donor to former President George W. Bush and congressional Republicans, has vowed to halt all donations to the party unless leaders pass legislation to restrict access to guns and ban assault weapons, the newspaper said.

Seventeen people were slain and 14 people were hospitalized in Wednesday's rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County. The suspect, troubled 19-year-old former student Nikolas Cruz, was booked on 17 counts of premeditated murder Thursday. Authorities said he used an AR-15 assault rifle.

"For how many years now have we been doing this  having these experiences of terrorism, mass killings  and how many years has it been that nothing's been done?" Mr. Hoffman told the Times. "It's the end of the road for me."

Hoffman issued his ultimatum via email, addressing half-dozen Republican leaders. They included Florida Gov. Rick Scott, whom he has supported in the past and who may seek a Senate seat in 2018, the Times reported. Representatives for Scott did not immediately return CNBC's request for comment.

"I will not write another check unless they all support a ban on assault weapons," Hoffman wrote in an email acquired by the Times. "Enough is enough!"

Republican leaders have shown little interest in new gun legislation, following the Feb. 14 attack at the Parkland, Florida, high school, according to the Times. A previous ban on assault weapons, signed into law in 1994 by President Bill Clinton, expired in 2004 under Bush.

Hoffman has also encouraged other donors to follow in his footsteps. However, the Times reported that certain donors, including Bush family ally Mel Sambler, have already expressed that they likely won't. Sembler did not immediately return CNBC's request for comment.

Read the full story in The New York Times here.When asked about the "single greatest threat to global stability," Ursula von der Leyen, the German defense minister said: "I think it's the cyber threats because whatever adversaries you can think of and even if you talk about Daesh (the terrorist group) they use the cyber domain to fight against us."

Recent cyberattacks, namely NotPetya and WannaCry, have shown that sensitive and personal data have become the target to destabilize companies and governments worldwide  creating what's often described as a war, given the power of the information stolen.

Governments and several international groups have, as a result, boosted their efforts to better protect their networks against such attacks. At the same time, they have also stepped up works to become more offensive on the web against their enemies. The U.K., for example, is reportedly using cyber warfare in order to fight the so-called Islamic State.

According to von der Leyen, cybersecurity is going to be the main focus for this decade as both governments and companies try to protect their data.

"This decade will be the decade of improvement in cyber security and information ruling," she said at the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.America's greatest vulnerability is its continued inability to acknowledge the extent of its adversaries' capabilities when it comes to cyber threats, says Ian Bremmer, founder and president of leading political risk firm Eurasia Group.

Speaking to CNBC from the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, the prominent American political scientist emphasized that there should be much more government-level concern and urgency over cyber risk. The adversarial states in question are what U.S. intelligence agencies call the "big four": Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran.

"We're vulnerable because we continue to underestimate the capabilities in those countries. WannaCry, from North Korea  no one in the U.S. cybersecurity services believed the North Koreans could actually do that," Bremmer described, naming the ransomware virus that crippled more than 200,000 computer systems across 150 countries in May of 2017.

He also noted the NotPetya malware attack in July 2017, considered the costliest cyberattack in history, which U.S. and European governments have accused Russia's military of implementing. Believed to be a deliberate attack on Ukraine, it actually wiped off half a point from Ukraine's gross domestic product.

Borge Brende, president of the World Economic Forum, weighed in, stressing the economic cost of cyber crimes. "It is very hard to attribute cyberattacks to different actors or countries, but the cost is just unbelievable. Annually more than a thousand billion U.S. dollars are lost for companies or countries due to these attacks and our economy is more and more based on internet and data."Economic diplomacy should be embraced regardless of political problems, the head of Russia's investment fund told CNBC on Saturday, discussing the current economic sanctions on the country by the U.S. and European Union.

Speaking from the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Kirill Dmitriev, the chief executive of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), lamented the current political impasse between Russia and the U.S. and called on the latter to "separate business from politics."

"I think we've got to think about the way to move things forward. For example, the European Union was founded on the principle that economic ties prevent wars and conflict," Dmitriev said. "And I think U.S.-Russia economic ties have to improve, and that dialogue is very important. Because we cannot get stuck without a solution, we need a solution."

The comments come amid the highest tensions the two countries have seen since the Cold War. On Thursday, the White House directly blamed Russia's military for the July 2017 cyber attack known as NotPetya, which hit more than 64 countries and cost companies billions of dollars. And on Friday, the Department of Justice indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities for interference in the 2016 presidential election. A separate investigation is examining whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russians, which Trump denies.

RDIF is the $10 billion sovereign wealth fund created by Russia's government to co-invest in the Russian economy alongside other countries. Dmitriev was made chief of the fund in 2011 to improve foreign investment flows and investor confidence in the country, particularly among Westerners.European and Gulf countries need to give more cash to war embattled Syria, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) told CNBC Saturday.

Violence has been escalating in Syria since an anti-regime uprising in 2011. This turned into a civil war from 2013, with rebel forces trying to bring down the Bashar Assad government. Millions of Syrians have fled the country, with many seeking refuge in Europe.

The so-called Islamic State has also managed to capitalize on the chaos  turning the Syrian war into an even bigger problem for the international community.

Peter Maurer, president of the ICRC, said there's a "lack of interest and lack of support for mutual and impartial humanitarian access to Syrian people" among the international community.The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has to respond in different ways to Russia's interference in other political systems, its secretary general told CNBC Saturday.

Authorities in the United States have accused Russia of meddling in the 2016 presidential race. Just on Friday, the Department of Justice indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities on charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. The indictment accused the Russians of seeking to wage "information warfare" and "sow discord" in the American political system.

Speaking to CNBC at the Munich Security Conference, Jens Stoltenberg said that there have been many reports of Russian meddling in NATO countries and that the organization needs to act.

"We've seen many reports and many examples of how Russia is meddling, interfering in democratic political processes in many countries, including in NATO-ally countries and we have to be able to respond to that in many different ways," he said.The Coinbase cryptocurrency exchange application seen on the screen of an iPhone.

Payments processors Worldpay and Visa said Friday they are reversing duplicate transactions that recently caused unauthorized withdrawals for some users of cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase.

"Worldpay and Coinbase have been working with Visa and Visa issuing banks to ensure that duplicate transactions have been reversed and appropriate credits have been posted to cardholder accounts," the two payments processors said in a joint statement published Friday evening New York time on Coinbase's Medium blog."This issue was not caused by Coinbase."

The statement added that all reversal transactions should appear on customers' accounts in the next few days, and that the majority should already have posted.

Visa and Worldpay confirmed the statement to CNBC. Worldpay works with Coinbase to use Visa's network. Not all card issuers were affected by the issue of unauthorized transactions.

San Francisco-based company Coinbase is the leading U.S. marketplace for buying and selling major cryptocurrencies.

In the last few days, an increasing number of Coinbase users took to Reddit and other social media to complain about duplicate transaction charges that sometimes drained the bank account to zero, with overdraft fees.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission said in a statement to CNBC Friday that "the CFTC is aware of customer complaints and is looking into this issue."

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also said in a statement that, "We are aware of the reports, and expect companies to comply with all applicable laws regarding the treatment of consumers' funds. Consumers who find unauthorized charges in their bank account or credit card should contact their financial institution immediately."

J.P. Morgan Chase did not respond to a CNBC request for comment. But the bank's support Twitter account said earlier this month, in a reply to a customer who complained about a "$5 non chase atm fee," that:

"The recent change to the way Coinbase transactions are processed is due to a reclassification between the merchant and Visa. Any cash-like transaction, such as this, will be assessed the cash advance fee. This is typically $5 or 5% of the charge."

Wells Fargo declined to comment for this story.

Bitcoin marketplace Coinmama, which also supports Visa, told CNBC Friday they have had no issues so far with payments on their platform.

The impact of the issue Coinbase users were seeing appeared limited. CNBC reached out to more than 30 states where Coinbase is licensed to operate. Of the eight that responded, none of them reported an uptick in complaints against Coinbase.

A spokesperson for the Alabama Securities Commission did point out that typically, complaints can take weeks to arrive at their office. Customers generally first contact merchants, before regulators become involved.Google wants you to keep using Google. So to keep your interest, its working hard to apply some of the worlds most advanced technologies to making your online activities faster and easier.

Its attacking from several angles. One of them is prediction. Google is figuring out how to guess what youll want to do, then making that prediction available as an instant option.

This predictive power will transform how employees and executives in enterprises and other businesses operate. The predictive internet will do for work what self-driving cars will do for transportation.

Its starts with messaging.

Predictive conversation

Google is beta-testing a new tool called Reply that reads what your colleagues message to you and then suggests replies, which you can choose to send with a click or tap. That might sound like Googles existing Smart Replies, which is built into Gmail, Inbox and Allo. But Reply is Smart Replies for third-party apps, essentially. (Sign up for the beta here.)

The project, developed by Googles secretive testing group, Area 120, is an experiment. Details are hard to come by. And final features have probably not yet been determined.

What we do know is that suggested replies are customized, based on what Google guesses you might say and how you might say it. Google divines this using algorithms that monitor how you communicate, where you are and whats on your calendar. Youll probably get a choice between three replies.

The first apps to support it should be Hangouts, Slack, WhatsApp, Line, WeChat, Facebook Messenger and Twitter. (Reply for Twitter will probably initially affect only direct messages, and not public replies to tweets.)

You can also use Reply to fully automate replies while youre driving. Contacts are told that you cant chat right now.

Reply will even override the silent setting on your phone if it knows youre running late and someone sends you an urgent message.

Technology features evolve, become far more capable and extend their scope. Its easy to predict where predictive communication is headed.

The nascent technology behind Reply will almost certainly be applied in the future to mail-merge-type marketing, for example.

Today, email mail-merge software customizes canned messages for individuals, adding the recipients name, for example. As a technology journalist, I get a hundred such emails every day. They usually start with Hey, Mike, but sometimes they instead say something such as Hey, FIRSTNAME.

Future mail-merge software may customize a senders writing style based on the recipients preferences. This might even be determined after delivery, in which case senders would never know how their own communication was written in its final form.

Googles Inbox and Gmail are well-positioned for this feature. A possible scenario is that senders could write detailed emails in their own language, then choose the Smart Customize option. (To be clear, this is all speculation, and Im making up the branding here.) Upon arrival, the email is modified by a set of criteria encoded as part of the recipients email account, which itself is based on that users communications history.

People who prefer very short and concise emails, for example, may get a summary, whereas those who prefer all the details will get longer emails. Other preferences could include how colloquial the speech is, whether English or American spellings are to to be used, whether much of the information comes in bullets or running prose  a whole range of criteria is possible, even changing to a foreign language.

Predictive web surfing

But Google isnt just using predictive technology to massage communications. The company filed a patent this week for a system for guessing what youll do online.

If the technology is implemented in Google Search, it will start loading web pages before you even click on the URL to navigate to them.

The patent would make these guesses in part based on your subtle mouse movements, your search history and other factors.

That sounds to me like a first step toward more automated browsing.

Googles Im feeling lucky link might one day be moved to the Chrome browser; press it at anytime, and youll go where Google thinks you want to go. By repeatedly clicking the Im feeling lucky button, youll surf the web based on A.I. choices, not your own.

Again, the predictive web surfing method is a patent. Its just an idea at this point.

But other Google predictive A.I. has been in use for a long time.

Predictive photo editing

Google already automates photo editing and photo management.

When you take pictures, you often want to modify them: Boosting the saturation, changing the crop, adding a vignette or making other improvements.

Google Photos uses A.I. to choose photos for modification and then apply some changes. These appear in the Assistant tab. There youll find pictures combined into collages or animations.

The A.I. Stylizes pictures by applying filters.

A then and now feature combines into a collage two pictures of a person (identified through A.I.), one taken some time in the past, and another more recently.

Google photos selectively constructs albums of an event, or movies built with videos and photos, where a soundtrack is applied.

As with other predictive technology from Google, the guesses are presented as an option, which can be saved or shared with a click or two.

In the future, you might choose something called Smart Photos, where pictures are selected, edited and posted without any involvement by you. You might gain the benefits of social networking without spending so much time on it.

The predictive internet

A century ago, driving a car was a fully manual activity. Nothing was automated. The car moved forward when you pressed the gas pedal, changed gears when you moved the gearshift, braked when you pressed the brake, and turned when you turned the steering wheel.

Gradually, driving is becoming automated. It started with the automatic transmission. Later we got cruise control. Then came all kinds of computer-assisted automation: self-parking systems, assisted steering, automated collision avoidance, automatic distance control and more.

Were clearly on a trajectory toward full automation  self-driving cars.

In our self-driving future, we assume that riders will at least control the destination. But not necessarily with specificity. One could imagine an autonomous vehicle feature where the passenger says, Take me to a good restaurant, and the car decides based on past preference, table availability, traffic, the knowledge that youll be going to a movie and the information about when that movie starts and where the theater is located.

I view Googles automation as the cruise control or emergency braking assist of our information browsing and communication, with full or near-full automation coming eventually. Well choose the destination, or desired outcome, and A.I. will take care of the repetitive chore of, say, research or email interaction.

That sounds outrageous until you consider the degree to which people with human personal assistants do this sort of thing, for example letting memos and emails be drafted or crafted entirely by the assistant, and then only signing off.

Replace a great personal assistant with A.I. Automation, and its easy to imagine the future of the Google-style predictive internet.

The specific details of Googles coming predictive internet are hard to predict. But the general idea is not only certain, but already happening in the form of Smart Replies and Google Photos Assistant. We know its coming in the form of Reply. And predictive internet applications that we cant even imagine today will probably arrive over the next few years.

It will transform business, and mostly for the better. This is the vision of an A.I. future where A.I. helps us, rather than replaces us.

At least thats my prediction. `Those who threaten our security would like nothing more than to see us fractured. Mays security speech in Munich speech. Full text.

For more than half a century, this conference has brought nations together from Europe and across the Atlantic to forge our common security.

The fundamental values we share  respect for human dignity, human rights, freedom, democracy and equality  have created common cause to act together in our shared interest.

The rules-based system we helped to develop has enabled global cooperation to protect those shared values.

Today as globalisation brings nations closer together than ever before, we face a host of new and growing threats that seek to undermine those rules and values.

As internal and external security become more and more entwined  with hostile networks no longer only rooted in state-based aggression and weapons designed not just to be deployed on the battlefield but through cyberspace  so our ability to keep our people safe depends ever more on working together.

That is reflected here today in the worlds largest gathering of its kind, with representatives of more than seventy countries.

For our part, the United Kingdom has always understood that our security and prosperity is bound to global security and prosperity.

We are a global nation  enriching global prosperity through centuries of trade, through the talents of our people and by exchanging learning and culture with partners across the world.

And we invest in global security knowing this is how we best protect our people at home and abroad.

That is why we are the second largest defence spender in NATO, and the only EU member to spend two per cent of our GDP on defence as well as 0.7 per cent of our Gross National Income on international development. And it is why we will continue to meet these commitments.

It is why we have created a highly developed set of security and defence relationships: with the US and Five Eyes partners, with the Gulf and increasingly with Asian partners too.

We have invested in critical capabilities  including our nuclear deterrent, our two new aircraft carriers, our world class special forces and intelligence agencies.

We are a leading contributor to international missions from fighting Daesh in Iraq and Syria to peacekeeping in South Sudan and Cyprus, and NATO missions in Eastern Europe.

And within Europe we are working ever more closely with our European partners, bringing the influence and impact that comes from our full range of global relationships.

And we want to continue this cooperation as we leave the European Union.

The British people took a legitimate democratic decision to bring decision making and accountability closer to home.

But it has always been the case that our security at home is best advanced through global cooperation, working with institutions that support that, including the EU.

Changing the structures by which we work together should not mean we lose sight of our common aim  the protection of our people and the advance of our common interests across the world.

So as we leave the EU and forge a new path for ourselves in the world, the UK is just as committed to Europes security in the future as we have been in the past.

Europes security is our security. And that is why I have said  and I say again today  that the United Kingdom is unconditionally committed to maintaining it.

The challenge for all of us today is finding the way to work together, through a deep and special partnership between the UK and the EU, to retain the co-operation that we have built and go further in meeting the evolving threats we face together.

This cannot be a time when any of us allow competition between partners, rigid institutional restrictions or deep-seated ideology to inhibit our cooperation and jeopardise the security of our citizens.

We must do whatever is most practical and pragmatic in ensuring our collective security.

Today I want to set out how I believe we can achieve this  taking this opportunity to establish a new security partnership that can keep our people safe, now and in the years ahead.

Safeguarding our internal security

Let me start with how we ensure security within Europe.

The threats we face do not recognise the borders of individual nations or discriminate between them.

We all in this room have shared the pain and heartbreak of terrorist atrocities at home.

It is almost a year since the despicable attack on Westminster, followed by further attacks in Manchester and London.

These people dont care if they kill and maim Parisians, Berliners, Londoners or Mancunians because it is the common values that we all share which they seek to attack and defeat.

But I say: we will not let them.

When these atrocities occur, people look to us as leaders to provide the response.

We must all ensure that nothing prevents us from fulfilling our first duty as leaders: to protect our citizens.

And we must find the practical ways to ensure the co-operation to do so.

We have done so before.

When Justice and Home Affairs ceased to be intergovernmental and became a shared EU competence, of course there were some in the UK who would have had us adopt the EUs approach wholesale, just as there were some who would have had us reject it outright.

As Home Secretary, I was determined to find a practical and pragmatic way in which the UK and EU could continue to co-operate on our common security.

That is why I reviewed each provision in turn and successfully made the case for the UK to opt back in to those that were clearly in our national interest.

Through the relationship we have developed, the UK has been at the forefront of shaping the practical and legal arrangements that underpin our internal security cooperation.

And our contribution to those arrangements is vital in protecting European citizens in cities right across our continent.

First our practical cooperation, including our expedited extradition and mutual legal assistance relationship, means wanted or convicted serious criminals  and the evidence to support their convictions  move seamlessly between the UK and EU Member States.

So when a serious terrorist like Zakaria Chadili was found living in the UK  a young man who was believed to have been radicalised in Syria and was wanted for terrorist offences in France  there was no delay in ensuring he was extradited back to France and brought to justice.

He is one of 10,000 people the UK has extradited through the European Arrest Warrant. In fact, for every person arrested on a European Arrest Warrant issued by the UK, the UK arrests eight on European Arrest Warrants issued by other Member States.

The European Arrest Warrant has also played a crucial role in supporting police cooperation between Northern Ireland and Ireland  which has been a fundamental part of the political settlement there.

Second, cooperation between our law enforcement agencies means the UK is one of the biggest contributors of data, information and expertise to Europol. Take for example, Operation Triage where police in the UK worked extensively with Europol and the Czech Republic to crack a trafficking gang involved in labour exploitation.

Third, through the Schengen Information System II, the UK is contributing to the sharing of real-time data on wanted criminals, missing persons and suspected terrorists. About a fifth of all alerts are circulated by the UK, with over 13,000 hits on people and objects of interest to law enforcement across Europe in the last year alone.

The UK has also driven a pan-EU approach to processing passenger data, enabling the identification and tracking of criminals, victims of trafficking and those individuals vulnerable to radicalisation.

In all these areas, people across Europe are safer because of this co-operation and the unique arrangements we have developed between the UK and EU institutions in recent years.

So it is in all our interests to find ways to protect the capabilities which underpin this co-operation when the UK becomes a European country outside the EU but in a new partnership with it.

To make this happen will require real political will on both sides.

I recognise there is no existing security agreement between the EU and a third country that captures the full depth and breadth of our existing relationship.

But there is precedent for comprehensive, strategic relationships between the EU and third countries in other fields, such as trade. And there is no legal or operational reason why such an agreement could not be reached in the area of internal security.

However, if the priority in the negotiations becomes avoiding any kind of new cooperation with a country outside the EU, then this political doctrine and ideology will have damaging real world consequences for the security of all our people, in the UK and the EU.

Lets be clear about what would happen if the means of this cooperation were abolished.

Extradition under the European Arrest Warrant would cease. Extradition outside the European Arrest Warrant can cost four times as much and take three times as long.

It would mean an end to the significant exchange of data and engagement through Europol.

And it would mean the UK would no longer be able to secure evidence from European partners quickly through the European Investigation Order, with strict deadlines for gathering evidence requested, instead relying on slower, more cumbersome systems.

This would damage us both and would put all our citizens at greater risk.

As leaders, we cannot let that happen.

So we need, together, to demonstrate some real creativity and ambition to enable us to meet the challenges of the future as well as today.

That is why I have proposed a new Treaty to underpin our future internal security relationship.

The Treaty must preserve our operational capabilities. But it must also fulfil three further requirements.

It must be respectful of the sovereignty of both the UK and the EUs legal orders. So, for example, when participating in EU agencies the UK will respect the remit of the European Court of Justice.

And a principled but pragmatic solution to close legal co-operation will be needed to respect our unique status as a third country with our own sovereign legal order.

As I have said before, we will need to agree a strong and appropriate form of independent dispute resolution across all the areas of our future partnership in which both sides can have the necessary confidence.

We must also recognise the importance of comprehensive and robust data protection arrangements.

The UKs Data Protection Bill will ensure that we are aligned with the EU framework. But we want to go further and seek a bespoke arrangement to reflect the UKs exceptionally high standards of data protection. And we envisage an ongoing role for the UKs Information Commissioners Office, which would be beneficial in providing stability and confidence for EU and UK individuals and businesses alike.

And were ready to start working through this with colleagues in the European Commission now.

Finally, just as we have been able to develop the agreement on passenger name records in the face of terrorist atrocities in recent years, so the Treaty must have an ability to ensure that as the threats we face change and adapt  as they surely will  our relationship has the capacity to move with them.

Nothing must get in the way of our helping each other in every hour of every day to keep our people safe.

If we put this at the heart of our mission  we can and will find the means.

And we cannot delay discussions on this.

EU Member States have been clear how critical it is that we maintain existing operational capabilities.

We must now move with urgency to put in place the Treaty that will protect all European citizens wherever they are in the continent.

External security

But clearly our security interests dont stop at edge of our continent.

Not only do the threats to our internal security emanate from beyond our borders, as we look at the world today we are also facing profound challenges to the global order: to peace, prosperity, to the rules-based system that underpins our very way of life.

And in the face of these challenges, I believe it is our defining responsibility to come together and reinvigorate the transatlantic partnership  and the full breadth of all our global alliances  so that we can protect our shared security and project our shared values.

The United Kingdom is not only unwavering in its commitment to this partnership, we see reinvigorating it as a fundamental part of our global role as we leave the European Union.

As a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council, as a leading contributor to NATO and as Americas closest partner, we have never defined our global outlook primarily through our membership of the European Union or by a collective European foreign policy.

So upon leaving the EU, it is right that the UK will pursue an independent foreign policy.

But around the world, the interests that we will seek to project and defend will continue to be rooted in our shared values.

That is true whether fighting the ideologies of Daesh, developing a new global approach to migration, ensuring the Iranian nuclear deal is properly policed or standing up to Russias hostile actions, whether in Ukraine, the Western Balkans or in cyberspace.

And in all these cases, our success depends on a breadth of partnership that extends far beyond the institutional mechanisms for cooperation with the EU.

That means doing more to develop bi-lateral co-operation between European nations, as I was pleased to do with President Macron at last months UK-France Summit.

It means building the ad hoc groupings which allow us to counter terrorism and hostile state threats, as we do through the 30 strong intergovernmental European Counter Terrorism Group  the largest of its kind in the world.

It means ensuring that a reformed NATO alliance remains the cornerstone of our shared security.

And, critically, it means both Europe and the United States reaffirming our resolve to the collective security of this continent, and to advancing the democratic values on which our interests are founded.

Taken together, it is only by strengthening and deepening this full range of partnerships within Europe and beyond that we will be able to respond together to the evolving threats we face.



So what does this mean for the future security partnership between the UK and the EU?

We need a partnership that respects both the decision-making autonomy of the European Union and the sovereignty of the United Kingdom.

This is fully achievable. The EUs common foreign policy is distinct within the EU Treaties and our foreign policies will keep evolving. So, there is no reason why we should not agree distinct arrangements for our foreign and defence policy cooperation in the time-limited implementation period, as the Commission has proposed. This would mean that key aspects of our future partnership in this area would already be effective from 2019.

We shouldnt wait where we dont need to.

In turn, if the EU and its remaining Member States believe that the best means to increase the contribution Europe makes to our collective security is through deeper integration, then the UK will look to work with you. And help you to do so in a way which strengthens NATO and our wider alliances too, as EU leaders have repeatedly made clear.

The partnership that we need to create is therefore one which offers the UK and the EU the means and choice to combine our efforts to the greatest effect  where this is in our shared interest.

To put this into practice so that we meet the threats we all face today and build the capabilities we all need for tomorrow, there are three areas on which we should focus.

First, at a diplomatic level, we should have the means to consult each other regularly on the global challenges we face, and coordinate how we use the levers we hold where our interests align.



In particular, we will want to continue to work closely together on sanctions. We will look to carry over all EU sanctions at the time of our departure. And we will all be stronger if the UK and EU have the means to co-operate on sanctions now and potentially to develop them together in the future.

Second, it is clearly in our shared interests to be able to continue to coordinate and deliver operationally on the ground.

Of course, we will continue to work with and alongside each other.

But where we can both be most effective by the UK deploying its significant capabilities and resources with and indeed through EU mechanisms  we should both be open to that.

On defence, if the UK and EUs interests can best be furthered by the UK continuing to contributing to an EU operation or mission as we do now, then we should both be open to that.

And similarly, while the UK will decide how we spend the entirety of our foreign aid in the future, if a UK contribution to EU development programmes and instruments can best deliver our mutual interests, we should both be open to that.

But if we are to choose to work together in these ways, the UK must be able to play an appropriate role in shaping our collective actions in these areas.

Third, it will also be in our interests to continue working together on developing the capabilities  in defence, cyber and space  to meet future threats.

The UK spends around 40 per cent of Europes total on defence R&D. This investment provides a sizeable stimulus to improve Europes competitiveness and capability. And this is to the benefit of us all.

So an open and inclusive approach to European capability development  that fully enables British defence industry to participate  is in our strategic security interests, helping keep European citizens safe and Europes defence industries strong.

And Eurofighter Typhoon is a great example of this  a partnership between the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain which has supported over 10,000 highly skilled jobs across Europe.

This is also why the UK wants to agree a future relationship with the European Defence Fund and the European Defence Agency, so that jointly we can research and develop the best future capability that Europe can muster.

Last years NotPetya cyber-attack showed why we also need to work closely to defend our interests in cyberspace.

This reckless attack  which the UK and partners have attributed to Russia  disrupted organisations across Europe costing hundreds of millions of pounds.

To contend with a truly global threat such as this we need a truly global response  with not only the UK and EU, but industry, government, like minded states and NATO all working together to strengthen our cyber security capabilities.

And as our lives move increasingly online, so we will also become increasingly reliant on space technologies. Space is a domain like any other where hostile actors will seek to threaten us.

So we very much welcome the EUs efforts to develop Europes capabilities in this field. We need to keep open all the options which will enable the UK and the EU to collaborate in the most effective way possible. The UK hosts much of Europes cutting edge capabilities on space and we have played a leading role, for example, in the development of the Galileo programme.

We are keen for this to continue as part of our new partnership, but, as is the case more widely, we need to get the right agreements concluded which will allow the UK and its businesses to take part on a fair and open basis.

Conclusion

It was the tragic massacre at the 1972 Olympics here in Munich which subsequently inspired a British Foreign Secretary, Jim Callaghan, to propose an intergovernmental group aimed at coordinating European counter terrorism and policing.

At the time this was outside the formal mechanisms of the European Community. But in time, it became the foundations for the cooperation that we have on Justice and Home Affairs today.

Now, as then, we can  and must  think pragmatically and practically to create the arrangements that put the safety of our citizens first.

For ours is a dynamic relationship, not a set of transactions.

A relationship built on an unshakeable commitment to our shared values.

A relationship in which we must all invest if we are to be responsive and adaptive to threats which will emerge perhaps more rapidly than any of us can imagine.

A relationship in which we must all play our full part in keeping our continent safe and free, and reinvigorate the transatlantic alliance and rules based system on which our shared security depends.

Those who threaten our security would like nothing more than to see us fractured.

They would like nothing more than to see us put debates about mechanisms and means ahead of doing what is most practical and effective in keeping our people safe.

So let the message ring out loud and clear today: we will not let that happen.

We will together protect and project our values in the world  and we will keep our people safe  now and in the years to come.David Campbell Bannerman is a Conservative MEP for the Eastern Region.

When it comes to working up ideas for the end game outside of EU membership, I confess to being a bit of a geek. Ive been working on alternatives to the EU for over 14 years. I chose to serve for nearly ten years on the European Parliament Trade Committee to seek to understand how trade deals work within the framework of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and its global rules.

I fully recognise that finding a UK model is a headache, even mind-numbing occasionally: there is a huge learning curve; alternate models suddenly come into favour  and just as suddenly hit brick walls. Theres a distillation process by which, only over time and with the right perspective, is it possible to distil the whirring ingredients into a workable whole. No wonder the Cabinet has needed to take its time.

In this push for an acceptable solution, the notion of the U.K joining or rejoining EFTA (the European Free Trade Association of Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein and Switzerland) has now popped up as a proposed solution  a claimed catch-all panacea.

Sadly, I dont think it provides any solution at all  merely different problems. What EFTA is not is some kind of convenient bolt hole for departing EU members. Nor is it an agreement as some call it: whilst EFTA negotiates trade deals, each member state agrees and signs them individually.

I respect EFTA, like EFTA, admire EFTA and have worked with it on several liaison bodies: I sat as an MEP on the EU-EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee handling aspects of the EEA agreement, and was formally questioned many times on Brexit by EFTA Parliamentary delegations.

Hand on heart, I did originally flirt with a solution based on EFTA membership and a more flexible version of the EEA (the European Area Agreement)  what I called EEA Lite  in my 2013 book Time to Jump. That was at a time when leaving the EU seemed so impossible that a leaving option as close as possible to the EU but not Norways EEA was attractive. It is still a valid model, but things have changed markedly since Brexit, the Lancaster House and Florence speeches. We have moved on.

For all this was before the EUs largest and most modern free trade agreement  Canadas CETA (Comprehensive Economic & Trade Agreement  was delivered and agreed. FTAs then were smaller, weaker, restricted. But now we have a proven base model in CETA that has become the best foundation for the U.K.s bespoke deal  for what I call SuperCanada (CETA+++): bigger, better and wider than CETA, particularly in services.

For EFTA membership would bring a lot of problems with it:

The UKs population is around four times the size of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland put together : existing EFTA states are concerned that the UK would be over-dominent if it joined. And the U.K might feel rather like Gulliver  rather too big for its surroundings.

: existing EFTA states are concerned that the UK would be over-dominent if it joined. And the U.K might feel rather like Gulliver  rather too big for its surroundings. It is entirely possible that a U.K. application might be vetoed by Norway . Not only is Norway the top EFTA dog, but Norwegian politicians still harbour clear ambitions to get into the EU (despite 80 per cent of the population being anti). Norways Conservatives are far closer to our Liberal Democrats.

. Not only is Norway the top EFTA dog, but Norwegian politicians still harbour clear ambitions to get into the EU (despite 80 per cent of the population being anti). Norways Conservatives are far closer to our Liberal Democrats. EFTA Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are unsuitable for the worlds sixth largest economy : Britains. Norways economy is dominated by fish and oil; Icelands by fish, energy and aluminium (finance no longer); Switzerlands by finance, pharmaceuticals and food processing. All important  but not nearly as comprehensive the U.Ks economy, with its vital motor industry for example. Signing Britain up to existing EFTA-sized trade deals is not attractive, and some ongoing EFTA trade deals such as India, Indonesia and Malaysia would get in the way of far more substantial UK deals. Better to do our own.

: Britains. Norways economy is dominated by fish and oil; Icelands by fish, energy and aluminium (finance no longer); Switzerlands by finance, pharmaceuticals and food processing. All important  but not nearly as comprehensive the U.Ks economy, with its vital motor industry for example. Signing Britain up to existing EFTA-sized trade deals is not attractive, and some ongoing EFTA trade deals such as India, Indonesia and Malaysia would get in the way of far more substantial UK deals. Better to do our own. EFTA is complex . Switzerland is in EFTA but not in the EEA, and has 120 bilateral agreements with the EU, ones that hardly cover key freedoms such as services  which is why major Swiss banks like UBS operate out of London. To replicate these 120 plus agreements is a complete non starter, would take decades, and is one the EU has already ruled out.

. Switzerland is in EFTA but not in the EEA, and has 120 bilateral agreements with the EU, ones that hardly cover key freedoms such as services  which is why major Swiss banks like UBS operate out of London. To replicate these 120 plus agreements is a complete non starter, would take decades, and is one the EU has already ruled out. All EFTA states have to accept free movement of people, even in Switzerland  despite a referendum vote against it, the Swiss ended up with a limited deal by which Swiss employers give priority to Swiss-based jobseekers. Lichtenstein only has a derogation (exemption) because it is tiny. Canadas deal has no requirement for EU-style free movement.

 despite a referendum vote against it, the Swiss ended up with a limited deal by which Swiss employers give priority to Swiss-based jobseekers. Lichtenstein only has a derogation (exemption) because it is tiny. Canadas deal has no requirement for EU-style free movement. EFTA remains far too much in the orbit of the EU . The EEA was designed to get Norway & Iceland into the EU, not out. Whilst the three EFTA EEA counties are in the Single Market and have to slavishly follow EU regulations with no say, Switzerland is not  yet it must still follow many Single Market laws in any event. Thats not attractive for Britain.

. The EEA was designed to get Norway & Iceland into the EU, not out. Whilst the three EFTA EEA counties are in the Single Market and have to slavishly follow EU regulations with no say, Switzerland is not  yet it must still follow many Single Market laws in any event. Thats not attractive for Britain. EFTA countries make substantial voluntary contributions to primarily Eastern European projects through EEA and Norway grants bodies, and the Swiss contribution . Canada does not have to pay anything for market access nor to Eastern Europe.

. Canada does not have to pay anything for market access nor to Eastern Europe. EFTA conventions would tie the U.K. on customs and rules of origin matters , undermining our ability to do trade deals with other countries, as well as binding us back into the EU acquis in many areas. They would also tie the U.K. in to special rules governing liberalisation of trade in services and investment in land and air transport. The EFTA Convention integrates elements of the EU-acquis as well as relevant bilateral Switzerland-EU agreements.

So on examination the EFTA option fails to be an attractive or suitable option.

The reality here is that we are getting lost in the weeds  the massive, twisting, conflicting detail. Life is so much simpler if we see this as whether we want to wrestle with the complexities of European models or go for the kind of relationship so many other nations round the world enjoy with the EU.

We dont need a European solution; we need a global solution. We must think independent Anglosphere, not dependent Eurosphere.

When we do, with one bound we are free: no Customs Union, no Single Market, no ECJ, no EEA, no EFTA, just a free, independent sovereign nation like Canada, the USA, Japan, India, Australia or New Zealand doing a deal with the EU  and most of these nations have deals very much based on CETA.

By all means let us sit in on EFTA as an associate or observer member  we want friendly relations and need trade deals with its four members  but we must look beyond seeing EFTA as the bigger solution.

I am writing this in Columbia, which has eight technical committees with the EU covering everything from customs to government procurement, technical barriers of trade to market access, feeding into an overarching trade committee: this is where they manage the implementation of the deal and sort delivery and disagreements.

So a super variant of CETA for a departing EU member soon set to become the rest of the EUs largest single customer is suitable, welcome and doable. But, sorry: EFTA is a dead-end solution. Like a wall in a maze. SuperCanada is the neatest, most deliverable and familiar model to use. Lets embrace it fully now.Emily Thornberry is a forceful substitute for Jeremy Corbyn during Prime Ministers Questions. But she was given as good as she got during her last outing. At the age of 16, she told the Commons last month, we are free from parental control, we can leave home, we can start a family, we can get married, we can start work, we can pay taxes and we can join the forces. So why  she asked David Lidington, who was standing in for Theresa May  cant we vote?

This gave the well-briefed Cabinet Office Minister the opportunity to point out that it was the last Labour Government who raised the legal age for buying cigarettes to 18, raised the age for selling knives to 18, raised the age for buying fireworks to 18 and raised the age for using a sunbed to 18. Cue sound of punctured Thornberry.

Put party politics aside for a moment  votes at 16 would almost certainly favour Labour over the Conservatives  and weigh these curiosities. They are the right way of beginning to think about the matter, which the Commons will debate again sooner rather than later. A Bill tabled by a Labour MP failed last autumn. Another tabled by another is looking for its turn. On this site earlier this week, Nicky Morgan declared herself in favour. Peter Bottomley thinks likewise. So does Justine Greening. George Osborne has tweeted, with the engaging cynicism that so distinguishes him, that the Commons numbers give the Conservatives a choice. Back the winning side, and win credit for supporting another piece of social reform. Or else line up with a losing cause, and go down in flames  and further down in votes, too, among younger people.

In the short-term, he may be wrong. One private members bill has been talked out; the next may well be, too. But in the longer-term, the former Chancellor may have a point. The history of legislation is a journey from the heretical to the conventional: universal suffrage, votes for women, race relations laws, same-sex marriage, equalities legislation that protects disabled people.

Its true that what may seem to be the march of progress can lead instead up a blind alley. Take eugenics. It was once backed by a big slice of the great and the good, including Winston Churchill; the then Archbishop of Canterbury; H.G.Wells, and the Webbs. (Who knows what convention of the age will seem an outrage in 50 years time?) But votes at 16 cannot reasonably be seen in the same light. And the flow of private members bills looks set to continue. Were unaware of any sustained shift in polling that would back them up  even among the youngest tranche of voters, or people aged 16 or younger. None the less, Tories in general, and the Government in particular, should handle votes at 16 with care, given the division of the electorate by age last summer. The next generation is unlikely to be impressed by grumpy old sourpusses telling them that theyre too young to hold views that matter.

Instead, think again about those misapprehensions and incongruities. Thornberry said that one can pay taxes at 16. Yes, but one can at any age. She claimed that we are free from parental controlwe are free to get married. Not so, outside Scotland. She said that we can join the armed forces  but, again, parental permission is required.

During the 1950s, only three per cent of young people went to University. Now, almost half do. So if entry to the world of work is thought to be the arbiter of the right to vote, the case for votes at 16 has actually gone backwards. But if ones looking for arguments to the contrary, there is driving. One can do so at 17  16 in some cases  and yet not vote. And 16 year olds in one part of the country have voted. They did so during the Scottish referendum: Morgans argument for votes at 16 was precisely that this cat has been let out of the bag. But what would 16 or 17 year olds think were they allowed to vote, but not smoke? Push a piece of paper into a ballot box, but not lay themselves down on a sunbed? Register for a postal vote, but not buy a Roman candle? Some might feel just a bit, well, patronised, to use a word that sometimes comes up in this context.

This site feels a commission, a working group, an inquiry coming on  to look these inconsistencies, accidents of history and quirks, and see if some tidying-up and straightening-up is required. The long grass, we hear readers say. Yes: but the longest, the lushest, the deepest grass. The horses of prevarication are wiser than the tigers of denial. Better the long grass than No You Cant.

And at the end of the process, one might be a bit nearer votes at 16. Or one might not. Experience abroad is not helpful to the cause. There is no firm evidence that lowering the voting age increases democratic participation. None of our EU neighbours, bar Austria, has votes at 16. We appreciate that Britain is leaving the Union, but there can be too much of a good thing.SUBSCRIBE

Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates straight in your inbox.CORNWALL, Ontario  In a presentation to the Budget Steering Committee on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, Deputy Chief and future Chief of the Cornwall Community Police Service Danny Aikman said "I can assure the public and assure the board that there is no fat in our budget."

According to Aikmans report, the CCPS currently comprises 87 sworn police officers and 43 civilian employees, eight of whom are special constables who provide court security.

Aikman presented an Operating Budget for CCPS for 2018 of a little over $20 million, with revenue that comes out to $18.7 million net, which is a 1.56 percent increase over 2017.

The Deputy Chief also presented what the CCPS has achieved in recent years. His presentation described how Violent Crime and Property Crime rates fell by 27.5 and 62.7 percent respectively from 2012 to 2016. Other crimes, excluding drug violations fell 32.4 percent. Drug violations have remained steady at about 20 per year.

In general Aikman reported to the committee that 2016 saw break & enter, thefts, bail violations, disturb the peace crimes and robbery go down, while rates of drug crimes slightly increased and so did assaults, harassments, threats, mischief and fraud. The past 10 years have also seen a jump in mental health crisis calls of 255 percent.

The CCPS budget is passed by the Police Board with Council review.

Aikman also fielded questions about whether replacing CCPS with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would be cheaper, which is a question some councillors said they hear a lot.

The OPP is a fine police organization, Aikman explained. They would come in here and look at what the City of Cornwall needs and what the OPP could offer you.

He told Council, that there would be costs to switching to the OPP right off the bat.

One of the primary factors in the Brockville costing process was that the OPP deemed the Brockville police staion inadequate to their needs and I guarantee that would be the case here, the Justince Building is not a modern police station, Ill grant you that, he said.

Aikman also stated that the CCPS runs preventative programs, like their youth outreach program, which the OPP would charge the municipality extra to run.

Dont know what those costs would be, but I guess it would get very close to our current costs, said Aikman.Google's deal to acquire Xively, LogMeIn's internet of things business, could help Google go head-to-head in IoT with cloud competitors Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure.

All three cloud heavyweights currently have offerings that address data management and analysis from internet-connected devices. For its part, Google's Cloud IoT Core is the company's' managed service offering that allows users to securely connect, manage and ingest data from globally dispersed devices.

Xively, which has been selling its IoT platform for years, will also boost the maturity of Google's Cloud IoT Core, said Rick Erickson, executive vice president of Agosto, a Minneapolis-based Google partner.

[Related: Google CEO: The Google Cloud Platform Is 'A Billion-Dollar Per Quarter Business']

"This deal will advance Cloud IoT Core considerably because they will immediately have an ecosystem of micro-controller partners that Xively had," Erickson said. "This is the missing piece of the puzzle."

Micro-controller software providers, such as Raspberry Pie, give developers a quick way to manage edge devices and their data. Having them as partners could help Google compete in the public cloud arena because AWS and Azure don't have the same level of device management capabilities that Google will have with Xively.

"Amazon and Azure have some of the pieces, but I don't think it's as comprehensive as what Google will have after this acquisition closes and after this technology is integrated," Erickson said.

Xively will give Google a tool that lets designers build connectivity directly into the IoT application design process, as well remotely manage the endpoint via a mobile connection between the end-user app and the connected endpoint. Xively's technology will be combined with Google's existing security, analytics and machine learning capabilities, as well as the scale of the Google Cloud, according to Google.

For Google's partners, the Xively technology integrated into Cloud IoT Core could mean getting their IoT solutions out the door with less friction.

"It's going to let us take customers in prototype phases and help them realize their vision of production product faster and for less money on the implementation and operation side," Erickson said.

The existing Xively team of 45 employees, including its engineering team, will be incorporated into the broader Google Cloud Platform team, according to the companies.

In 2013, Boston-based LogMeIn, Xively's then-owner, envisioned itself pivoting into a cloud company that powered IoT. At the same time, LogMeIn was placing its bets on its Xively service as an important part of the cloud infrastructure that would allow endpoints to connect in a secure way.

"I think if you look by the end of this decade, I would not be surprised if (Xively) is the majority of our business  half or more of our business," said LogMeIn's founder and CEO at the time, Michael Simon. Simon still sits on the Board of Directors for LogMeIn, and the company's current CEO William Wagner joined the company two years later in 2015.

This week, however, LogMeIn addressed Google's acquisition of Xively in a blog post, saying that the company was "aligning and prioritizing" around three key areas: customer engagement, unified communications and collaboration, and identity and access management.

"We believe that Google Cloud, now armed with Xivelys team and great technology  and backed by their platform and developer heritage and reach  are a far better fit for the future of platform leadership, Wagner wrote in the blog post.Face Off

Every PC maker is aiming to create a laptop that has it all: performance, portability and a beautiful display. Apple's MacBook Pro and Lenovo's new ThinkPad X1 Carbon are two of the laptops coming closest to that ideal.

Apple is seeing strong demand for its latest refresh of the MacBook Pro while Lenovo has just released the sixth-generation model of its popular X1 Carbon. Which is the better fit for you?

In the following slides, we compare Lenovo's new ThinkPad X1 Carbon vs. Apple's latest MacBook Pro on specs and price.Two days after the mass shooting in Parkland, Fla., members of Congress dispersed for a break. But in those 48 hours, the issue of firearms violence had more than the usual post-tragedy, preburial airing in ways that could raise the hopes of gun-control advocates.

If its different this time  and it might well be, although we said that after the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012  both of Connecticuts U.S. senators are part of the reason.

Sen. Chris Murphys call to action from the Senate floor, blaming lawmakers for their inaction while the tragedy was still unfolding, set the tone for more immediacy this time around. His raw speech at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, which happened to be scheduled in advance on the immigration compromise, gave the Connecticut senator a chance to talk about gun control  the lack of it  even before most of the nation knew what was happening.

Watch Murphys speech here

Amazingly, Murphy appears to have drawn little direct criticism from fellow public officials for speaking so bluntly, so soon. Nothing from the Tweeter-in-Chief, for example. That alone tells us Murphys angry gambit is viewed as an acceptable, if still edgy, reaction.

Another difference this time around: Students

at the high school in

Parkland posted videos that brought us into the harrowing classrooms, with cowering kids and the clear sound of gunfire. At least one of the students later said on CNN that she and her friends were thinking and talking about gun control as their lives lay on the line.

And yet another reason for the immediacy to this tragedy: As Sen. Richard Blumenthal pointed out, its a midterm election year, one that could leave Republicans vulnerable anyway. With eight school shootings in 2018, Blumenthal is loudly pushing the idea that the jig is up for members of Congress who take money from the NRA.

There comes a time when we reach a tipping point and I think it is not a dramatic earthquake-like occurrence, it is the accretion of horrific moments that at some point become intolerable, Blumenthal said. And whether its this point or another point, the nations anger is building and I think that the NRA and the gun lobby simply have an unsustainable position.

Watch Blumenthals comments here

Thats all the more likely to happen when students are killed.

Fitting with this view, there are some measures everyone can, or should, agree on, which some Republicans are saying theyll support. On Thursday, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, used some of his time on the Senate floor  as the body discussed the ill-fated immigration compromise  to talk about a bill to close holes in the FBI criminal database, the National Instant Criminal Database System, or NICS, thats in place to determine whether a person should be able to buy a gun.

Cronyn and Murphy are co-authors of that bill, which should have passed days after it became clear the Sutherland Springs, Texas, shooter was able to buy a rifle because his background report was missing from the NICS. Blumenthal is in a small group of bipartisan co-sponsors.

Also Thursday, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., backed away from what he admitted was his own dismissive attitude about measures to control gun violence. He did, however, tell Fox News that Democrats should wait for an investigation in Parkland before you jump to conclusions that theres some law that we could have passed that could have prevented it.

House Speaker Paul Ryan appeared to show slightly less of a hard-line position.

Watch Ryans speech here.

President Donald Trump talked about mental health but didnt mention guns in his six-minute speech from the White House calling for unity, showing that he remains in the pocket of the hardliners in gun industry.

Many people in the industry are privately willing to move forward on reforms, but Trumps empty rhetoric doesnt advance that. Making our schools and our children safer will be our top priority, the president said. Let us hold our loved ones close, let us pray for healing and for peace and let us come together as one nation to wipe away the tears and strive for a much better tomorrow.

Watch Trumps speech here

Trump didnt bother to mention that he and Congressional Republicans last year undid an Obama reform under which people deemed unfit to manage their affairs by the Social Security Administration are added to the NICS list as ineligible to buy guns.

Put it all together and were still not likely to see any meaningful reform this year on guns, other than the NICS issue. But as Blumenthal and Murphy have both said, there are other signs of progress in the middle ground, where gun-control and gun-rights sides can agree.

Murphys mid-tragedy speech wasnt without critics. Former Milwaukee Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr., wearing a cowboy hat on Fox News, said, This is not a gun-control issue, we dont need any knee-jerk reactions.  My God, lets let the grieving period happen for these families.

Watch Clarkes comments here

The question for Democrats, and for grassroots gun-control advocates, is whether the hard-shaming tactics hurt efforts at compromise. And for Republicans, whether hewing to Trumps hardline will cost seats in November, with recent tragedies in the big, red states of Texas and Florida.

In a certain perverse way, Donald Trump is digging them deeper into a hole that eventually will bury them, Blumenthal said. Because he is in effect condoning and encouraging a position that is unsustainable and untenable.A decorated Navy SEAL who served in Iraq and Afghanistan will spend 27 years in prison after admitting he sexually abused a 5-year-old family member.

Gregory Kyle Seerden, 32, was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Norfolk, Virginia, to nearly the maximum 30-year sentence for his crime.

"Gregory Seerden victimized a child," Tracy Doherty-McCormick said in her first public statement since becoming acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. "As this prosecution makes clear, the United States will seek to hold accountable anyone who sexually exploits our most vulnerable citizens."

Seerden was stationed in San Diego but was staying with family in Virginia for the holidays last January when he was accused by a woman he knows of sexually assaulting her after a night out drinking and socializing on a Virginia Beach naval base.

When Navy investigators searched Seerden's phone, they found child pornography, according to court papers. A deeper forensic investigation uncovered more child porn and four videos in which Seerden himself sexually abused a 5-year-old child while she slept.

Those videos were taken the night before the alleged assault, he later admitted, while he was sleeping in the same room as his victim.

Seerden is now also charged in San Diego with sexually abusing another family member in 2014, when she was 7. That allegation was investigated by the Navy at the time but dropped because the child's mother was reluctant to pursue charges, according to prosecutors.

But the case was reopened after his arrest last year.

In court filings, public defender Keith Kimball said Seerden was abused in his childhood and suffered injuries in combat.

"After some rough times in his adolescent period, Kyle enlisted in the Navy. When he came back from Afghanistan he was hurting inside but still trying to be himself," his mother Jennifer Seerden wrote in a letter to the court. "Some of his friends were lost and others severely injured and it seemed to really impact him. However, it was his experience in Iraq that I believe really changed him."

In addition to his sentence, Seerden will pay a $10,000 fine and serve 25 years of supervised release.Milking It: So, what does it take to become a PA Dairy Princess?

Sure there are sashes and tiaras, but these Pennsylvania Dairy Princesses use their position, hard work on the farm, to promote an industry they loveCaptain Amarinder Singhs consistent refusal to engage with Sikh ministers within Canadas federal government who were reported to have Khalistani leanings has forced the ministers to clarify their position. The denials by defence minister Harjit Singh Sajjan and infrastructure minister Amarjit Sohi have been issued just days ahead of, and evidently prompted by, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus first state visit to India later this month.

Reports in the Canadian media have quoted Sohi as saying that he does not sympathise with the cause (Khalistan), nor does he hear much talk about it in the (Canadian) Sikh community. Sajjan, who was refused an audience by the Punjab chief minister when he visited Chandigarh and Punjab last year (2017) because of his purported Khalistani connections, also refuted the charge as being ridiculous. The Canadian defence minister said in Ottawa: Ive been a police officer, Ive served my country and any allegations like that is absolutely ridiculous and I find it extremely offensive as well.

Reflecting the growing political influence of the Sikh community in Canada, as many as 16 MPs of Sikh origin were elected in the federal elections in 2015. But this has been accompanied by a visible proliferation of Khalistani separatists, who have reportedly been employing North American gurudwaras to continue fuelling demands for liberating Punjab from Indian domination. In fact, there have been worrying reports of Khalistanis forcibly preventing Indian representatives and officials from entering gurudwaras in Canada. Police and intelligence officials in Punjab claim that Canada-based Khalistanis and their sympathisers contribute the largest chunk of illegal hawala funding that is being used to try and revive the moribund separatist movement in Punjab.

Although Prime Ministers Trudeau and Narendra Modi appear to share a comfortable rapport and have met one-on-one on the sidelines of several international meetings, including most recently, the World Economic Forum at Davos, the free rein given to Khalistanis in Canada has cast a shadow on Trudeau's upcoming five-day visit. The trip, slated to focus on trade and cultural ties between the two countries, significantly includes a visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Commentators say, given that Indo-Canadians now number at 1.2 million, the India-Punjab visit could boost Trudeaus prospects for re-election.

Reportedly advised to make amends, Sohi has clarified his position: If there is a small segment of people in Canada who talk about separation, who talk about the creation of Khalistan, if they do that in a peaceful way that is their right to do so but this is not an issue that I hear in the community, the minister was quoted (in Canadian media) as having said in Ottawa. From my point of view this is not an issue for the Canadian population, this is not an issue for the Indo-Canadian community within Canada, and I dont feel it necessary to be engaging in something that is completely irrelevant from a Canadians point of view.

Quick to respond, Amarinder welcomed the clarifications by Sajjan and Sohi. I congratulate Prime Minister Trudeau for creating the necessary environment against secessionist forces believed to be operating from his country, the chief minister said.

Its typically Amarinder to take what may seem like a contentious position to many, and then stick to his guns. On a visit to Toronto during his earlier, 2002-2007, tenure as CM, Amarinder was accused of "hob-nobbing with Khalistanis". His rivals in the Shiromani Akali Dal quite literally went to town decrying his visit to a "Khalistani" gurudwara in Dixieland (Toronto). Local media in Punjab was flooded with pictures showing the chief minister standing below a "Khalistan Zindabad" banner while addressing a congregation inside the shrine.

Unperturbed, Amarinder called a news conference in Chandigarh. Any gurudwara is the home of my Gurus and I reserve the right to go there. hanging up nonsensical banners doesnt change that and I will never be deterred from going to any gurudwara, he told visibly surprised reporters who had come expecting long, convoluted explanations, even an apology?

(Courtesy of Mail Today)

Also read: JNU compulsory attendance: Why must we deal with this farce?A woman has been arrested from Uttarakhands Nainital district for pretending to be a man, marrying two women, and torturing one of them for dowry.

According to the police, Krishna Sen alias Sweety Sen, from Uttar Pradesh, had created a fake profile on Facebook as a man through which she befriended a few women, and married one from Kathgodam in 2014.

The second wife, whom Sen married in April 2016, had been a guest at her first wedding. The first wife holds a double masters degree, and her family coughed up Rs 8.5 lakh so Sen could set up a factory.

It is ironical that while Indian parents think a hundred times before allowing their daughters to talk to strangers, they are perfectly okay with them marrying strangers. Photo: Reuters

While this tale is bizarre, there are many things familiar about the script  men befriending women on social media to extort money from them, families willing to put up with outrageous demands from sons-in-law, and dowry being an accepted, default part of marriage.

Going by the polices version, Sen harassed and physically assaulted his wife, extorted money from her family, and then married a second time, but she approached the police only after years.

A report in the Hindustan Times says: Sen told the police during interrogation that she has been a tomboy since childhood and pretended to be a boy. She said she had cut her hair to look like a man and used to drive a motorcycle and smoke cigarettes. After marriage, she did not let her wives look at her body or touch her and used to have a fake physical relationship using sex toys, police said.

It is difficult to wrap ones head around several things here, but what comes across clearly is this: a woman had had an unsatisfactory marriage for four years, but not only did she not walk out of it, she continued to indulge her husbands demands and got her family to pay him Rs 8 lakh.

The second wife, say police, had realised Sen was not a man, but did not speak out as she was promised money.

The police are now looking for Sens family, who came to the homes of both women for their engagement and wedding. It is not clear whether Sens first wife knew her husband was not a man at the time of filing the compliant. Before the marriage, Sen had posed as the son of a CFL bulb businessman from Aligarh.

Families being cheated after accepting men they meet online as sons-in-law is not unheard of. It is ironical that while Indian parents think a hundred times before allowing their daughters to talk to strangers, they are perfectly okay with them marrying strangers.

Also, the stigma of a broken marriage continues to make women, and even men, vulnerable  the society still looks down upon those who walk out of troublesome marriages, chaining people to spouses at the cost of happiness, dignity, and mental and physical well-being.

In all this, dowry continues to be acceptable, despite laws and the social progress we have made over centuries.

People such as Sens wives are not victims of one person alone, they are victims of a society that priortises womens silence over speaking the truth, silent martyrdom over demanding justice, and of a system that has institutionalised dowry.

The fact that their families will have to shell out a massive sum to get them their only possible destiny  marriage  is responsible to a great degree for the deplorable state of women today. Being constantly treated as a responsibility at best and a burden at worst affects not just societys attitude towards girls, but their own confidence and sense of self-worth, making them easy victims of exploitation.

When Sweety Sen took on a mans clothes and mannerisms, she also took on the perverse power patriarchy gives a man, and allegedly used it to exploit other women. While the police probe the Kathgodam case, the society too needs to probe why it has become such a useful enabler for such crimes.

Also read: Who is Nirav Modi and how did he pull off Rs 11,360-crore bank fraud?Franklin Covey Co. engages in consulting and training in the areas of strategy execution, customer loyalty, leadership, and individual effectiveness. It operates through the following three segments: Direct Offices, Education Practice, International Licensees and Corporate and Other. The Direct Offices segment includes sales personnel that serve the United States and Canada; international sales offices located in Japan, China, the United Kingdom, and Australia; governmental sales channel; and public program operations. The Education Practice segment includes domestic and international Education practice operations, which are focused on sales to educational institutions such as elementary schools, high schools, and colleges and universities. The International Licensees segment primarily comprised of royalty revenues received from these licensees. The Corporate and Other segment includes leasing operations, shipping and handling revenues, and certain corporate administrative expenses. The company was founded by Brent L. Bishop, Stephen R. Covey and Hyrum Wayne Smith in 1983 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT.

Read MoreWall Street analysts have given Dream Global REIT a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Dream Global REIT wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

View MarketBeat's top stock picks here.Detroit, MI  A University of Michigan-affiliated doctor was arrested and charged with receiving and possessing child pornography in a federal complaint unsealed Monday.

The complaint against Mark Hoeltzel, 46, of Ann Arbor, was unsealed a month after he left his job amid sexual misconduct claims, including allegations the pediatric rheumatologist had sex with a patient at work.

Hoeltzel was arrested after flying into Detroit Metropolitan Airport after undergoing six weeks of treatment for sex addiction at a clinic in Philadelphia. He arrived at federal court in handcuffs and a blue polo shirt and was ordered held without bond pending a hearing Wednesday.

He is demonstrating to the community, by seeking treatment, that he has an issue but he is dealing with it appropriately, defense lawyer Raymond Cassar told The Detroit News, noting that Hoeltzel is presumed innocent.

Receiving child pornography is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, while the possession charge is a 10-year felony. A state criminal investigation is ongoing.

The investigation dates to Dec. 4, when investigators received information that he was having a sexual relationship with a female patient.

The patient told investigators she had received treatment from Hoeltzel since she was a child. When she was 18, Hoeltzel texted her, instructing her to make an appointment, according to court records.

During her first appointment at (Hoeltzels) clinic, he grabbed her from behind, pulled her butt into his groin, and rubbed his erect penis on her, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Michael MacBride wrote in the complaint.

During the next three years, the patient and Hoeltzel engaged in regular and frequent sex acts at his clinic, the agent wrote. The doctor also had sex with the patient at her apartment, the government alleges.

Hoeltzel talked to the patient about his 12-15-year-old female patients, describing them as hot, according to the complaint.

A state investigator reviewed Hoeltzels prescriptions for the female patient and determined the number of medications was beyond recommendations for a patient with rheumatoid arthritis, according to court records.

The state investigation led to Hoeltzel being suspended by his employer.

Last month, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuettes office said that from 2004-06, the doctor also sent flirtatious and suggestive messages with a girl he first met through a UM arthritis camp when she was 11. After the mother reported it, university officials required him to undergo a boundaries course, according to the complaint.

Citing those instances, the attorney general argued Hoeltzels license should be suspended for failing to exercise due care, showing incompetence, lacking moral character and unprofessional conduct.

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs professional licensing bureau agreed and on Dec. 21, ordered the license suspended. State online licensing records show a license was issued June 6, 2013.

The federal investigation intensified on Dec. 12. Thats when investigators searched his Ann Arbor home and seized electronic devices, including a flash drive.

An investigator found approximately 210 images of child pornography on the device, according to federal court records.

The images primarily consisted of minor females with their genitals exposed in a lascivious manner, the agent wrote.

Investigators searched a laptop seized from his home and found approximately 94 images of child pornography, the government alleges.

Hoeltzel was removed from patient care duties in early December when his superiors learned about the state inquiry. He resigned Jan. 12.

The university and Michigan Medicine reported Hoeltzel to law enforcement and officials are cooperating with investigators.

These are very disturbing and serious allegations, and we have reached out to our patients to inform them of concerns related to Dr. Hoeltzel, offer resources and provide them with a way to report any concerns, Marschall Runge, executive vice president of medical affairs for UM and CEO of Michigan Medicine, said in a statement Monday.

An internal investigation is underway, Runge added.

We must and will continue to do everything possible to protect the patients who entrust Michigan Medicine with their care, Runge said. We also urge everyone to report any instances of potential misconduct that occur.Wall Street analysts have given The Hydropothecary a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but The Hydropothecary wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

View MarketBeat's top stock picks here.Varian Medical Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures, sells, and services medical devices and software products for treating cancer and other medical conditions worldwide. It operates through Oncology Systems and Proton Solutions segments. The Oncology Systems segment offers hardware and software products for treating cancer with radiotherapy, fixed field intensity-modulated radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy, volumetric modulated arc therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiotherapy, artificial intelligence based adaptive radiotherapy, and brachytherapy, as well as quality assurance equipment. Its products include linear accelerators, brachytherapy afterloaders, treatment accessories, and quality assurance software; and information management, treatment planning, image processing, clinical knowledge exchange, patient care management, decision-making support, and practice management software. This segment serves university research and community hospitals, private and governmental institutions, healthcare agencies, physicians' offices, medical oncology practices, radiotherapy centers, and cancer care clinics. The Proton Solutions segment designs, develops, manufactures, sells, and services products and systems for delivering proton therapy for the treatment of cancer. The company has a strategic agreement with McKesson Corp. to supply treatment delivery systems and planning, services, and radiotherapy information system solutions to its U.S. Oncology Network and Vantage Oncology affiliated sites of care; and a strategic partnership with Siemens AG to represent Siemens diagnostic imaging products to radiation oncology clinics in the United States and other select markets. Varian Medical Systems, Inc. was formerly known as Varian Associates, Inc. and changed its name to Varian Medical Systems, Inc. in April 1999. The company was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

Read MoreThe following companies are subsidiares of Masco: A&J Gummers, Airex 3 LLC, Arrow Fastener, BEHR PAINTS IT! INC., BSI Holdings, Behr, Behr (Beijing) Paint Company Limited, Behr Paint (Beijing) Commercial Co. Ltd., Behr Process Canada Ltd., Behr Process Corporation, Behr Process Paints (India) Private Limited, Behr Sales LLC, BrassCraft Manufacturing Company, Brasstech Inc., Bristan, Bristan Group Limited, Cambrian Windows, ColorAxis Inc., Davenport Insulation Group, Delta Faucet (China) Co. Ltd., Delta Faucet Company, Delta Faucet Company India Private Limited, Delta Faucet Company Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Delta Faucet Company of Tennessee, Diversified Cabinet Distributors Inc., Duraflex, Duraflex Limited, Erickson Framing, Glass Idromassaggio, Guy Evans Inc., Hans Grohe Pte. Ltd., Hansgrohe, Hansgrohe A.B., Hansgrohe A/S, Hansgrohe AG, Hansgrohe Armature Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Hansgrohe B.V., Hansgrohe Brasil Metals Santitarios Ltda., Hansgrohe CS s.r.o., Hansgrohe Deutschland Vertriebs GmbH, Hansgrohe Handelsges.mbH, Hansgrohe Inc., Hansgrohe India Private Ltd., Hansgrohe International GmbH, Hansgrohe Japan K.K, Hansgrohe Kft., Hansgrohe Ltd., Hansgrohe N.V., Hansgrohe Pty Ltd, Hansgrohe S. de R. L. de C. V., Hansgrohe S. a r.l., Hansgrohe S.A., Hansgrohe S.A.U., Hansgrohe SA (Pty) Ltd., Hansgrohe SE, Hansgrohe Sanitary Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Hansgrohe Sanitary Products W.L.L., Hansgrohe Sp. z.o.o., Hansgrohe Wasselonne S.A., Hansgrohe d.o.o., Hansgrohe ooo, Hansgrohe s.r.l., Hot Spring Spa Australasia Pty Ltd, Hot Spring Spas New Zealand Limited, Huppe B.V., Huppe Belgium S.A., Huppe GmbH, Huppe Insaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Huppe S. a r.l., Huppe S.L., Huppe Spolka z.o.o., Huppe s.r.o., IDI Group inc, Inrecon, Jet Acquisition LLC, Kichler Lighting LLC, L.D. Kichler Lighting Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Landex of Wisconsin Inc., Liberty Hardware Asia Co. Ltd., Liberty Hardware Mfg. Corp., Liberty Hardware Retail & Design Services LLC, Masco Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Masco Building Products Corp., Masco Cabinetry Hong Kong Limited, Masco Canada Limited, Masco Capital Corporation, Masco Chile Limitada, Masco Corporation Limited, Masco Corporation of Indiana, Masco Europe Inc., Masco Europe S. a r.l., Masco Europe SCS, Masco Framing Corp., Masco Germany Holding GmbH, Masco HD Support Services LLC, Masco Home Products Private Limited, Masco Home Products S.a r.l., Masco Retail Sales Support Inc., Masco Singapore Pte. Ltd., Masco WM Support Services LLC, Mascomex S.A. de C.V., Masterchem Industries, Masterchem Industries LLC, Mercury Plastics LLC, Milgard Manufacturing, Mill's Pride, Mirolin Industries Corp., My Service Center Inc., NCFII Holdings Inc., Newport Brass, Oz Acquisition LLC, Peerless Sales Corporation, SCE Unlimited, Service Partners, Shanghai Hansgrohe International Trading Co. Ltd., SmarTap, SmarTap A.Y. Ltd., Tapicerias Pacifico SA de CV, Tempered Products Inc., Texwood Industries, The Faucet-Queens, The GMU Group, The L.D. Kichler Co., Tvilum, Vapor Technologies Inc., Vapor Technologies Shenzhen Co. Ltd., Watkins Distribution UK Limited, Watkins Europe BVBA, Watkins Manufacturing Corporation, and Wellness Marketing Corporation.Red Hat, Inc. provides open source software solutions to develop and offer operating system, virtualization, management, middleware, cloud, mobile, and storage technologies to various enterprises worldwide. It offers infrastructure-related solutions, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux, an operating system platform that runs on hardware for use in hybrid cloud environments; Red Hat Satellite, a system management offering that helps to deploy, scale, and manage in hybrid cloud environments; and Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, a software solution that allows customers to utilize and manage a common hardware infrastructure to run multiple operating systems and applications. The company offers application development-related and other technology solutions, such as Red Hat JBoss Middleware, a solution for developing, deploying, and managing applications; integrating applications, data, and devices; and automating business processes in hybrid cloud environments; The company's application development-related and other technology solutions also includes Red Hat cloud offerings, a software solution that enables customers to build and manage various cloud computing environments; Red Hat Mobile, a software development platform that enables customers to develop, integrate, deploy, and manage mobile applications for enterprises; and Red Hat Storage, a software solution that enables customers to manage large, unstructured, or semi-structured data in hybrid cloud environments. It also provides consulting, support, and training services; and realtime operating system, distributed computing, directory services, and user authentication. Red Hat, Inc. has collaboration with Juniper Networks Expand to provide a unified solution for enterprises designed to manage and run applications and services. The company was formerly known as Red Hat Software, Inc. and changed its name to Red Hat, Inc. in June 1999. Red Hat, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Read MoreBest Buy Co., Inc. engages in the provision of consumer technology products and services. It operates through two business segments: Domestic and International. The Domestic segment comprises of the operations in all states, districts, and territories of the U.S., operating under various brand names, including Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile, Geek Squad, Magnolia Audio Video, Napster, and Pacific Sales. The International segment includes all operations outside the U.S. and its territories, which includes Canada, Europe, China, Mexico, and Turkey. It also markets its products under the brand names: Best Buy, bestbuy.com, Best Buy Direct, Best Buy Express, Best Buy Mobile, Geek Squad, GreatCall, Magnolia and Pacific Kitchen and Home. The company was founded by Richard M. Schulze in 1966 and is headquartered in Richfield, MN.

Read MoreThe following companies are subsidiares of Carnival Co. &: 1972 Productions Inc., 6348 Equipment LLC, A.C.N. 098 290 834 Pty. Ltd., A.J. Juneau Dock LLC, AIDA Kundencenter GmbH, Adventure Island Ltd., Air-Sea Holiday GmbH, Alaska Hotel Properties LLC, Barcelona Cruise Terminal SLU, Bay Island Cruise Port S.A., Belize Cruise Terminal Limited, CC U.S. Ventures Inc., CCL Gifts LLC, CSSC Carnival Italy Cruise Investment S.r.L, Carnival (UK) Limited, Carnival Bahamas FC Limited, Carnival Bahamas Holdings Limited, Carnival Corporation & plc Asia Pte. Ltd., Carnival Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Carnival Corporation Korea Ltd., Carnival Corporation Ports Group Japan KK, Carnival Finance LLC, Carnival Grand Bahama Investment Limited, Carnival Investments Limited, Carnival Japan Inc., Carnival License Holdings Limited, Carnival Maritime GmbH, Carnival North America LLC, Carnival Port Holdings Limited, Carnival Ports Inc., Carnival Support Services India Private Limited, Carnival Technical Services (UK) Limited, Carnival Technical Services Finland Limited, Carnival Technical Services GmbH, Carnival Technical Services Inc., Carnival Vanuatu Limited, Costa Crociere PTE Ltd., Costa Crociere S.p.A., Costa Cruceros S.A., Costa Cruise Lines Inc., Costa Cruise Lines UK Limited, Costa Cruises Shipping Services (Shanghai) Company Limited, Costa Cruises Travel Agency (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Costa Cruzeiros Agencia Maritima e Turismo Ltda., Costa Group Digital & Strategic Services GmbH, Costa International B.V., Costa Kreuzfahrten GmbH, Cozumel Cruise Terminal S.A. de C.V., Creative Travel Lab Ltd., Cruise Ships Catering & Services International N.V., Cruise Terminal Services S.A. de C.V., Cruiseport Curacao C.V., D.R. Cruise Port Ltd., Ecospray Technologies S.r.L., F.P.M. SAS, F.P.P. SAS, Fleet Maritime Services (Bermuda) Limited, Fleet Maritime Services Holdings (Bermuda) Limited, Fleet Maritime Services International Limited, GXI LLC, Gibs Inc., Global Experience Innovators Inc., Global Fine Arts Inc., Global Shipping Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Grand Cruise Shipping Unipessoal LdA, Grand Turk Cruise Center Ltd., HAL Antillen N.V., HAL Beheer B.V., HAL Cruises Limited, HAL Maritime Ltd., HAL Nederland N.V., HAL Properties Limited, HAL Services B.V., HSE Hamburg School of Entertainment GmbH, Holding Division Iberocruceros SLU, Holland America Line Inc., Holland America Line N.V., Holland America Line Paymaster of Washington LLC, Holland America Line U.S.A. Inc., Ibero Cruzeiros Ltda., Iberocruceros SLU, Information Assistance Corporation, International Cruise Services S.A. de C.V., International Leisure Travel Inc., International Maritime Recruitment Agency S.A. de C.V., Milestone N.V., Navitrans S.R.L., Ocean Bahamas Innovation Ltd., Ocean Medallion Fulfillment Ltd., Operadora Catalina S.r.L., P&O Princess American Holdings, P&O Princess Cruises International Limited, P&O Princess Cruises Pension Trustee Limited, P&O Properties (California) Inc., P&O Travel Limited, Prestige Cruises Management S.A.M., Prestige Cruises N.V., Princess Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Princess Cays Ltd., Princess Cruise Corporation Inc., Princess Cruise Lines Ltd., Princess Cruises and Tours Inc., Princess U.S. Holdings Inc., RCT Maintenance & Related Services S.A., RCT Pilots & Related Services S.A., RCT Security & Related Services S.A., Roatan Cruise Terminal S.A. de C.V., Royal Hyway Tours Inc., Santa Cruz Terminal S.L., SeaVacations Limited, SeaVacations UK Limited, Seabourn Cruise Line Limited, Shanghai Coast Cruise Consulting Co. Lda, Ship Care (Bahamas) Limited, Sitmar Cruises Inc., Spanish Cruise Services N.V., Sunshine Shipping Corporation Ltd., T&T International Inc., Tour Alaska LLC, Transnational Services Corporation, Trident Insurance Company Ltd., Westmark Hotels Inc., Westmark Hotels of Canada Ltd., Westours Motor Coaches LLC, Wind Surf Limited, and World Leading Cruise Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd..Les lunettes de marque ne sont pas ce qui manque dans les commerces. Il y en a de toutes les sortes dont les lunettes de []TelefAnica Deutschland Holding AG provides integrated telecommunication services to private and business customers in Germany. It offers voice, data, and value-added services in mobile and fixed line networks; access to infrastructure and services for its wholesale partners; and digital products and services in the fields of Internet of Things. The company provides its products and services through a network of independently operated franchise and premium partner shops, and online and telesales channels, as well as indirect selling channels, such as partnerships and co-operations with retailers. It markets its products and services under the O2, Blau, AY YILDIZ, Ortel Mobile, FONIC, netzclub, and TArkeiSIM brand names. As of December 31, 2020, TelefAnica Deutschland Holding AG had approximately 47 million customers. The company was formerly known as TelefAnica Germany Verwaltungs GmbH and changed its name to TelefAnica Deutschland Holding AG in September 2012. The company is based in Munich, Germany. TelefAnica Deutschland Holding AG is a subsidiary of Telefonica Germany Holdings Limited.

Read MoreDTE Energy Co. operates as a diversified energy company, which engages in the provision of electricity and natural gas sales, distribution and storage services. It operates through the following segments: Electric, Gas, Non-Utility Operations, and Corporate & Other. The Electric segment engages in the generation, purchase, distribution and sale of electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers in south-eastern Michigan. The Gas segment engages in the purchase, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout Michigan and the sale of storage and transportation capacity. The Non-Utility Operations segment engages in gas storage and pipelines, power and industrial projects, and energy trading. The Corporate & Other includes various holding company activities, holds certain non-utility debt, and holds energy-related investments. The company was founded in January 1995 and is headquartered in Detroit, MI.

Read MoreWall Street analysts have given Aberdeen Standard Gold ETF Trust a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Aberdeen Standard Gold ETF Trust wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

View MarketBeat's top stock picks here.The following companies are subsidiares of Franklin Resources: AdvisorEngine, AdvisorEngine Inc., Alumcreek Holdings LLC, Athena Capital Advisors, Balanced Equity Management, Balanced Equity Management Pty. Limited, Benefit Street Partners, Bissett & Associates Investment Management, Brandywine Global Investment Management Europe Limited, CCPF GP Holdco No.2 Limited, CCPF No.2 (GP) Limited, CCPF No.2 LP, CP Industrial Management LLC, CP Intermediate Holdco Inc., CRM Software LLC, Clarion Gramercy (Deutschland) GmbH, Clarion Gramercy (UK) Limited, Clarion Gramercy Limited, Clarion Partners Europe Ltd., Clarion Partners Holdings LLC, Clarion Partners LLC, Clarion Partners Securities LLC, Clarion REIM South America Holdings LLC, Clarion REIM South America Invsetimentos Imobiliarios Ltda, ClearBridge RARE Infrastructure (North America) Pty Limited, ClearBridge RARE Infrastructure International Pty Limited, Darby - Hana Infrastructure Fund Management Co. Ltd., Edinburgh Partners, FT FinTech Holdings LLC, FT Opportunistic Distressed Fund Ltd., FTC Investor Services Inc., FTCI (Cayman) Ltd., FTPE Advisers LLC, Fiduciary International Holding Inc., Fiduciary Investment Management International Inc., Fiduciary Trust (International) Sarl, Fiduciary Trust Company International, Fiduciary Trust Company International of Pennsylvania, Fiduciary Trust Company of Canada, Fiduciary Trust International LLC, Fiduciary Trust International of California, Fiduciary Trust International of Delaware, Fiduciary Trust International of the South, Franklin Advisers GP LLC, Franklin Advisers Inc., Franklin Advisory Services LLC, Franklin Marketplace Loan GP LLC, Franklin Mutual Advisers LLC, Franklin SystematiQ Advisers LLC, Franklin Templeton Alternative Investments (India) Private Limited, Franklin Templeton Asset Management (India) Private Limited, Franklin Templeton Asset Management (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Franklin Templeton Asset Management Mexico S.A. de C.V. Sociedad Operadora de Fondos de Inversion, Franklin Templeton Austria GmbH, Franklin Templeton Capital Holdings Private Limited, Franklin Templeton Chile SpA. V., Franklin Templeton Companies LLC, Franklin Templeton Digital Advisory Services GmbH, Franklin Templeton Fund Management Limited, Franklin Templeton GSC Asset Management Sdn. Bhd., Franklin Templeton Global Investors Limited, Franklin Templeton Holding Limited, Franklin Templeton International Services (India) Private Limited, Franklin Templeton International Services S.a r.l., Franklin Templeton Investment Management (Shanghai) Limited, Franklin Templeton Investment Management Limited, Franklin Templeton Investment Services GmbH, Franklin Templeton Investment Services Mexico S. de R.L., Franklin Templeton Investment Trust Management Co. Ltd., Franklin Templeton Investments (Asia) Limited, Franklin Templeton Investments (ME) Limited, Franklin Templeton Investments Australia Limited, Franklin Templeton Investments Corp., Franklin Templeton Investments Japan Limited, Franklin Templeton Investments Poland sp. z o.o., Franklin Templeton Investments South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Franklin Templeton Investor Services LLC, Franklin Templeton Investimentos (Brasil) Ltda., Franklin Templeton Luxembourg S.A., Franklin Templeton Magyarorszag Kft., Franklin Templeton Management Luxembourg S.A., Franklin Templeton Overseas Investment Fund Management (Shanghai) Co. Limited, Franklin Templeton Private Equity LLC, Franklin Templeton Services (India) Private Limited, Franklin Templeton Services LLC, Franklin Templeton Servicios de Asesoria Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Franklin Templeton Slovakia s.r.o., Franklin Templeton Social Infrastructure GP S.a r.l., Franklin Templeton Strategic Investments Ltd., Franklin Templeton Switzerland Ltd., Franklin Templeton Trustee Services Private Limited, Franklin Templeton Turkey Advisory Services A.S., Franklin Templeton Uruguay S.A., Franklin Venture Partners (Talos Cayman GP) LLC, Franklin Venture Partners LLC, Franklin/Templeton Distributors Inc., ITI Capital Markets Limited, K2 Advisors, LM (BVI) Limited, LM Holdings 2 Limited, LM Holdings Limited, LM International Holding LP, Legg Mason & Co (UK) Limited, Legg Mason & Co. LLC, Legg Mason (Chile) Inversiones Holdings Limitada, Legg Mason Asset Management Australia Limited, Legg Mason Asset Management Hong Kong Limited, Legg Mason Asset Management Singapore Pte. Limited, Legg Mason Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Legg Mason Holding (Switzerland) GmbH, Legg Mason Inc., Legg Mason Investment Funds Limited, Legg Mason Investments (Europe) Limited, Legg Mason Investments (Switzerland) GmbH, Legg Mason Overseas Investment Fund Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor LLC, Legg Mason Royce Holdings LLC, Onsa Inc., RARE IP Trust, RARE Infrastructure Limited, REDROSE Caesar S.a r.l., Random Forest Capital, Random Forest Capital LLC, Rensburg Sheppards plc, Riva Financial Systems Limited, Royce & Associates GP LLC, Royce & Associates LP, Royce Fund Services LLC, Royce Management Company LLC, TSEMF III (Jersey) Limited, TSEMF IV (Jersey) Limited, Templeton Asset Management (Labuan) Limited, Templeton Asset Management (Poland) TFI S.A., Templeton Asset Management Ltd., Templeton Global Advisors Limited, Templeton Global Holdings Ltd., Templeton International Inc., Templeton Investment Counsel LLC, Templeton Restructured Investments III Ltd., Templeton Restructured Investments IV Ltd., Templeton Restructured Investments L.L.C., Templeton Turkey Fund GP Ltd., Templeton Worldwide Inc., Templeton do Brasil Ltda., Templeton/Franklin Investment Services Inc., WHITEROSE Caesar S.a r.l., Western Asset Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, Western Asset Management (Brazil) Holdings Limitada, Western Asset Management (Cayman) Holdings Limited, Western Asset Management Company Distribuidora de Titulos e Valores Mobiliarios Limitada, Western Asset Management Company LLC, Western Asset Management Company Limited, Western Asset Management Company Pte Ltd., Western Asset Management Company Pty Ltd, and Winfield & Company.Fortis Inc. operates as an electric and gas utility company in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean countries. It generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 433,000 retail customers in southeastern Arizona; and 98,000 retail customers in Arizona's Mohave and Santa Cruz counties with an aggregate capacity of 3,233 megawatts (MW), including 59 MW of solar capacity. The company also sells wholesale electricity to other entities in the western United States; owns gas-fired and hydroelectric generating capacity totaling 65 MW; and distributes natural gas to approximately 1,048,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in British Columbia, Canada. In addition, it owns and operates the electricity distribution system that serves approximately 572,000 customers in southern and central Alberta; owns 4 hydroelectric generating facilities with a combined capacity of 225 MW; and provides operation, maintenance, and management services to five hydroelectric generating facilities. Further, the company distributes electricity in the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador with an installed generating capacity of 143 MW; and on Prince Edward Island with a generating capacity of 130 MW. Additionally, it provides integrated electric utility service to approximately 67,000 customers in Ontario; approximately 270,000 customers in Newfoundland and Labrador; approximately 31,000 customers on Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; and approximately 15,000 customers on certain islands in Turks and Caicos. The company also holds long-term contracted generation assets in Belize consisting of 3 hydroelectric generating facilities with a combined capacity of 51 MW; and the Aitken Creek natural gas storage facility. It also owns and operates approximately 91,000 circuit Kilometers (km) of distribution lines; and approximately 49,500 km of natural gas pipelines. Fortis Inc. was founded in 1885 and is headquartered in St. John's, Canada.

Read MoreThe following companies are subsidiares of Molina Healthcare: Aetna & Humana - Medicare Advantage, Affinity Health Plan, AmericanWork Inc., Better Health Network, Camelot Care Centers Inc, Children's Behavioral Health Inc., Choices Group Inc., College Community Services, Dockside Services Inc, Family Preservation Services Inc., Family Preservation Services of Florida Inc., Family Preservation Services of North Carolina Inc., Family Preservation Services of Washington D.C. Inc., Family Preservation Services of West Virginia Inc., Florida NetPASS LLC, Hclb Inc., Magellan Complete Care, Maple Star Nevada Inc., Maple Star Oregon Inc., Mercy CarePlus, Molina Clinical Services LLC, Molina Healthcare Data Center Inc., Molina Healthcare of Arizona Inc., Molina Healthcare of California, Molina Healthcare of Florida Inc., Molina Healthcare of Georgia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Molina Healthcare of Iowa Inc., Molina Healthcare of Louisiana Inc., Molina Healthcare of Maryland Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan Inc., Molina Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Molina Healthcare of Nevada Inc., Molina Healthcare of New Mexico Inc., Molina Healthcare of New York Inc., Molina Healthcare of North Carolina Inc., Molina Healthcare of Ohio Inc., Molina Healthcare of Oklahoma Inc., Molina Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Molina Healthcare of Puerto Rico Inc., Molina Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, Molina Healthcare of Texas Inc., Molina Healthcare of Texas Insurance Company, Molina Healthcare of Utah Inc., Molina Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Washington Inc., Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin Inc., Molina Holdings Corporation, Molina Hospital Management LLC, Molina Information Systems LLC dba Molina Medicaid Solutions, Molina Medical Management Inc., Molina Pathways LLC, Molina Pathways of Texas Inc., Molina Youth Academy, NextLevel Health Illinois, Pathways Community Corrections Inc., Pathways Community Services LLC, Pathways Community Support of Texas Inc., Pathways Health and Community Support LLC, Pathways Human Services LLC., Pathways of Arizona Inc., Pathways of Delaware Inc., Pathways of Idaho LLC, Pathways of Maine Inc., Pathways of Massachusetts LLC, Pathways of Oklahoma Inc., Pathways of Washington Inc., Providence Community Services, Providence Human Services, Raystown Developmental Services Inc., The Game of Work LLC, The RedCo Group Inc., Total Care Medicaid plan, Transitional Family Services Inc., Unisys -Health Information Management, and YourCare Health Plan.Vous etes confrontes a une infestation par la puce, la punaise de lit ? Voici plusieurs actions qui sont a mettre en uvre pour faire []The following companies are subsidiares of TransUnion: Accupost Corporation, AppLock Limited, Auditz, Autolocator (Pty) Ltd., Beheer en Beleggingsmaatchapij Stivaco B.V., CIFIN S.A.S, [email protected] plc, Callcredit Data Solutions Limited, Callcredit Information, Callcredit Lead Generation Limited, Callcredit Marketing Ltd., Callcredit Public Sector Limited, Callcredit Spain S.L.U, Centro de Informacion y Estudios Estrategicos Empresariales S.A., Centro de Operaciones Servicios de Informacion Estrategica S.A., CheckMend Ltd., Coactiva Limited, Collection Africa Ltd., Confirma Sistemas de Informacion S.L., Credit Bureau of Carmel & Pebble Beach Inc., Credit Information Services Limited, Credit Information Systems Company Limited, Credit Reference Bureau (Holdings) Limited, Credit Reference Bureau Africa (Pty) Ltd., Credit Reference Bureau Africa Ltd., Credit Reporting Services Limited, Credit Retriever LLC, Crivo, Crown Acquisition BidCo Ltd., Crown Acquisition Consumer Ltd., Crown Acquisition MidCo Ltd., Crown Acquisition MidCo. 2 Ltd., Crown Acquisition TopCo. Ltd., DMWSL 617 Ltd., DMWSL 618 Ltd., DMWSL 619 Ltd., DMWSL 620 Ltd., DataLink Services, Datalink Services Inc., Decision Systems Inc., DecisionMetrics Limited, Diversified Data Development Corporation, Drivers History Inc., Drivers History Information Sales LLC, FT Holdings Inc., FactorTrust, FactorTrust Inc., GMAP Japan KK, GMAP Marketing Consulting Shangahi Co. Ltd, Healthcare Payment Specialists, INSDEC LLC, IS Resources Inc., Immobilise.com Limited, L2C Inc., L2C Inc., Link Marketing Inc., Link2credit Inc., Moussoro Participacoes Ltda., RTech, RTech Healthcare Revenue Technologies Inc., Recipero, Recipero Inc., Recipero Limited, Regional Data Systems Limited, RentPort, Rubixis, Rubixis Inc., Rubixis Technologies Private Limited, STS Vail Beheeren Administracion S. DE. R.L. DE C.V., Servicios y Asesoria S CO BC SA de CV, Signal, Soluciones de Informatica de Centroamerica (SICE) S.A., Source USA Insurance Agency Inc., Tenant ID Limited, Title Insurance Services Corporation, Trans Union Central America S.A., Trans Union Chile S.A., Trans Union Content Solutions LLC, Trans Union Costa Rica S.A., Trans Union Guatemala S.A., Trans Union Honduras-Buro de Credito S.A., Trans Union International Inc., Trans Union LLC, Trans Union Nicaragua S.A., Trans Union Real Estate Services Inc., Trans Union Software Services Private Limited, Trans Union de Puerto Rico Inc., Trans Union of Canada Inc., TransUnion (Mauritius) Limited, TransUnion (Proprietary) Ltd., TransUnion Africa (Pty) Ltd., TransUnion Africa Holdings (Pty) Ltd., TransUnion Analytic and Decision Services (Pty) Ltd., TransUnion Asia Ltd., TransUnion Auto Information Solutions (Pty) Ltd., TransUnion Baltics UAB, TransUnion Brasil Sistemas em Informatica Ltda., TransUnion CIBIL Limited, TransUnion Colombia Ltda., TransUnion Consumer Solutions LLC, TransUnion Credit Bureau (Pty) Ltd., TransUnion Credit Bureau Namibia (Pty) Ltd., TransUnion Data Solutions LLC, TransUnion Digital LLC, TransUnion El Salvador S.A. de C.V., TransUnion Exchange LLC, TransUnion Financing Corporation, TransUnion Global Holdings LLC, TransUnion Global Holdings LP, TransUnion Global Technology Center LLP, TransUnion Healthcare Inc., TransUnion Holding Cyprus Ltd., TransUnion ITC (Pty) Ltd., TransUnion Information Group Limited, TransUnion Information Services Limited, TransUnion Information Solutions Inc., TransUnion Information Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., TransUnion Intelligence LLC, TransUnion Interactive Inc., TransUnion Intermediate Holdings Inc., TransUnion International Holdings LLC, TransUnion International UK Limited, TransUnion Kenya Limited, TransUnion Limited, TransUnion Ltd., TransUnion Marketing Solutions Inc., TransUnion Netherlands I B.V., TransUnion Netherlands II B.V., TransUnion Rental Screening Solutions Inc., TransUnion Reverse Exchange S de R.L. de C.V., TransUnion Risk Advisory Inc., TransUnion Risk and Alternative Data Solutions Inc., TransUnion Rwanda Limited, TransUnion S.A., TransUnion Soluciones de Informacion Chile SA, TransUnion Soluciones de Informacion S de R.L de C.V., TransUnion Teledata LLC, TransUnion UK Holdings Ltd., Tru Optik, TruSignal, TruSignal Inc., TrueLink, Trustev, Trustev Limited, Vail Holdings UK Ltd., Vail Systemen Groep B.V., Verifacts LLC, Visionary Systems Inc., Worthknowing Inc., eBureau, eBureau LLC, iovation Inc., iovation Ltd., and process benchmarking limited.Oil States International, Inc. engages in the provision of specialty products and services to drilling, completion, subsea, production, and infrastructure sectors of the oil and gas industry. It operates through the following segments: Well Site Services, Downhole Technologies and Offshore or Manufactured Products. The Well Site Services segment consists of completion and drilling services such equipment and services that are used to drill for, establish, and maintain the flow of oil and natural gas from a well throughout its life cycle focuses on completion-focused equipment and services as well as land drilling services. The Downhole Technologies segment provides oil and gas perforation systems and downhole tools in support of completion, intervention, wireline and abandonment operations. The Offshore or Manufactured Products segment designs, manufactures, and markets capital equipment utilized on floating production systems, subsea pipeline infrastructure, and offshore drilling rigs and vessels, along with short-cycle and other products. The company was founded in July 1995 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

Read MoreRandgold Resources Limited is engaged in gold mining, exploration and related activities. The Company's activities are focused on West and Central Africa. The Company operates through the gold mining segment. The Company operates various mines, such as Morila, Loulo, Gounkoto, Tongon and Kibali. The Company is exploring in African countries, such as Mali, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Company also holds an interest in the Massawa project. The Company holds Morila Limited, which holds interests in the Morila mine in Mali. As of December 31, 2016, Morila mine has produced 122,370 ounces (oz) of gold. The Company holds a controlling interest in the Loulo mine, located in Mali, through Societe des Mines de Loulo SA (Loulo). The Loulo mine is mining from over two underground mines. As of December 31, 2016, Loulo mine has produced 350,604 oz of gold. It has a controlling interest in the Gounkoto mine through Societe des Mines de Gounkoto SA.

Read MoreWaddell & Reed Financial, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides investment management and advisory, investment product underwriting and distribution, and shareholder services administration to mutual funds, and institutional and separately managed accounts in the United States. The company acts as an investment adviser for institutional and other private investors, and provides sub advisory services to other investment companies; and underwrites and distributes registered open-end mutual fund portfolios. It also offers fee-based asset allocation investment advisory products to advisors channel customers; distributes business partners' variable annuity products, and retirement and life insurance products to advisors channel customers; and sells life insurance and disability products underwritten by various carriers. The company distributes investment products through its wholesale channel comprising other broker/dealers, various retirement platforms, and registered investment advisors, as well as through independent financial advisors; and markets investment advisory services to institutional investors directly or through consultants. Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. was founded in 1937 and is based in Overland Park, Kansas.

Read MoreWe have lost almost everything we ...Christianity is not enough to build ...Rating:

Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Manoj Bajpayee, Rakul Preet Singh, Pooja Chopra, Adil Hussain, Kumud Mishra, Naseeruddin Shah, Anupam Kher, Vikram Gokhale

Director: Neeraj Pandey

As per the recent economic aiyaary of Pradhan Mantri Modiji, writer-director Neeraj Pandey is gainfully employed as far as his latest film is concerned. During his two-hour-forty-minute film, he successfully manages to turn our functional brains into runny batter and then deep-fries it all into many crispy pakodas. Agar aap soch rahe hain what aiyaary means, then let me save you some money and long spells of shifting listlessly in cinema seats. An Arabic word, it means cunning, craftiness, the ultimate trickery. And here its a title bestowed upon Col. Abhay Singh (Manoj Bajpayee) by militants in the Valley because he, we are told, is a master of disguises who wont be killed. We witness one rather inept attempt to off him. But Neeraj Pandeys film is not about that. Thats just a minor sidelight, unlike the major sidelight about Babloo the sick dog from Colaba, which, at some rather belated point in the film, takes centrestage and walks the film to its climax.

The film is not really about Babloo the sick dog either. Its about many sick but powerful dogs who are gnawing at the great institution that is the Indian Army from inside and outside. And its about some not-so-top dogs who are in sluggish pursuit to save the Army from dishonour and besti. Let me try and explain.

Army Chief (Vikram Gokhale) set up a hush-hush mission of seven officers, led by Col. Abhay Singh, to do stuff thats so covert that its kept a secret from us as well. One of the secret seven, Maj. Jai Bakshi (Sidharth Malhotra), goes rogue and is now threatening to compromise others. Babloo the sick dog holds the clue as to why. All we know of the secret seven is that in Cairo, despite having the orderly produce vitamin ki golis when asked to give bandook ki golis, Abhay is able to shoot a man. Who that was, or what bad-bad thing he did we know not. All we know is that he was taklu, had a mean expression and we see him pass something to another man. The handing over was shifty, so we must assume that it was not a shagun ka lifafa. Meanwhile, rogue Jai is tossing Rs 10 coins in the air to take critical decisions  for example, to do desh bhakti or become desh drohi.

His decision splits the world of Aiyaary into two. In Group A, which is the bad guys ka group, the link-chain goes like this: Maj. Jai has been engaged by Lt. Col. Gurinder Singh (Retd.) who works for ex-Army guy Mukesh Kapoor (Adil Hussain). Kapoor, a big arms dealer in London, is the CEO of Armour Inc. and rather close to some Czech arms people who are trying to push some weapons to the Indian Army. Jai is assigned to eavesdrop and record incriminating stuff, and he does that with the help of IT whiz Sonia (Rakul Preet Singh), a civilian hes sweet on. He has also parked a cranky old man and Babloo the sick dog in Seema Lodge, Pahadganj, where the only interesting thing is the receptionist. Group B is the good group and is led by the Army Chief who is offered bribe to push the Czech deal through. If he doesnt, Gurinder promises to expose his secret mission of seven, along with their links to Mossad, CIA, KGB and other such.

Now, I would have imagined that this would be good for the reputation of the Indian Army, but apparently not. So the Army Chief asks Col. Abhay to fix this mess. The raksha mantriji seems to be on the Army Chiefs side. But you never know with mantrijis. Whether you, I and Col. Abhay think Jai is a desh drohi is not important. Whats important is that by going rogue he is able to unearth the story of Babloo the sick dog recovering in a plot in Colaba, Mumbai, where a six-floor under construction building magically grows 31 floors tall. Which group wins and which one loses rests almost entirely on the good judgment of journalist Amna. Will she do the right thing and put republic before TRPs, or will she ditch desh for sansani tamasha? This needlessly convoluted story of corruption in the Indian Army is told in a manner that made me want to go out for a stroll, order a paan, chat with the paanwala about Nirav Modis dost-yaar and then return to my seat hoping that someone has done something. But no.

Jai is still playing with pen drives and headphones. Kapoor the arms dealer is staring at a see-through screen created by the CGI team. Suspenseful music is playing. Members of Group B are still trying to locate Jai, while Group A is still keen on carrying out its smear campaign against the Army Chief. In between shots of sarkari cars and the South Block, people are dashing to and from airports and yet the film is going nowhere. Aiyaarys plot is like a game of musical chairs where characters walk around in a circle again and again till one chair, one character is pulled out, and then the rest begin again round and round the same circle... At some point, eventually, Abhay and Jai find themselves staring at each other, and the one who is being called a desh drohi delivers a lecture on how people in power are making pakodas of desh ki izzat and selling them outside sarkari daftars, without once mentioning that he has pocketed Rs 10 crore. Bhai wah!

This sort of stupidity and tacky writing-direction is commonplace in Aiyaary. Guns are handed over and brandished openly, and taklu in Cairo, while dying, pokes our Colonel in the nose. Like, literally. I swear. No kidding. Also, the big arms dealer hires an assassin who shoots pretty much everyone in the frame except the man he was hired to kill. Aiyaary has so many talented actors  Manoj Bajpayee, Kumud Mishra, Naseeruddin Shah, Anupam Kher, Adil Hussain, Vikram Gokhale  but none, except Bajpayee, are given anything worth their time. Yet they try their best to pull off stupid scenes with terrible lines. Pretty boy Sidharth Malhotra is good in family dramas, but terrible in other films. In films like Aiyaary, he should just smile at us in close-up and, once in a while, do happy danci-danci. Isse jayada ki umeed rakhna bewakoofi hai. The only fun, memorable thing in Aiyaary were two dialogues. One by Abhay about parking and the other by his wife. Early in the film, she hands their toddler to him and then walks away saying, Ghar pe raha karo. Sab poochte hain itna late kyun hua. The film should have thrown a tantrum and refused to go helter-skelter with Abhay, and just stayed put at his home with his wife. Chai banaate, pakode khate. Bachcha itne late kyun hua, poochte.There was so much history at the Old Adobe, and so little time left for its builders descendant to return to it.

He arrived on a breezy, sunny Monday afternoon  a stocky and bearded man leaning heavily on his cane, inching his legs forward from a rented car only as fast as his failing heart would allow. Slowly he made his way to the porch, a female caregiver close by his elbow, before easing his frame to a seated position in front of the walls of brown mudbrick.

Napa was the city where his life began nearly 67 years ago, the place where he had grown up, even if little trace of his boyhood memories could be seen amid the auto showrooms, chain restaurants and the four-lane traffic rushing past.

But he knew the town from the time before this modern panorama had existed. His forebears roots ran deeper still, to the very beginnings of the settlement  all the way back to this, the oldest building in Napa.

The home raised by his great-great-great-grandfather, Don Cayetano Juarez. The man whose landholdings had become part of a frontier town in a newborn state.

The past  his familys past  was nearly gone, but not quite. And he had come to see it, in what he was sure would be the last year of his life.

Im sad, yet honored, Roy Cayetano Juarez Stephens said finally. Its still here.

qqq

Before words like Cayetano and Juarez and Tulocay were the names of streets and graveyards little noticed by passers-by, they pointed to the earliest years of settlement in what would become eastern Napa.

Don Cayetano Juarez, a soldier serving the Mexican government that then controlled California, received the Rancho Tulocay land grant in 1840, more than 88,000 acres east of the Napa River. Around 1845 he built a house of adobe on his landholdings, using the labor of Native Americans who put up other structures that perished with time. This mud-walled home would become the last surviving structure in the city-to-be from the days before the Mexican-American War.

By the time Roy Stephens was born in August 1951, five generations removed from his ancestor, his familys home was no longer at what had become known as the Old Adobe, but a less remarkable Muir Street bungalow he shared with his parents and two brothers.

Though Cayetano Juarez and his 11 children had lived for years in their adobe home, by the 1920s it had become home to a series of roadhouses, bars and restaurants that would occupy it for generations.

Even so, young Roy still had relatives close by in Napa, even more than a century after Cayetano Juarez had established his estates.

My great-aunts house, you could smell it a mile away for all the olive trees there, he remembered of her home near Trancas Street to the north. And it was all Mexican food there  shed spend all week getting the place ready for her next get-together.

Family legacy aside, Roys childhood passed much like those of others growing up in the smaller and slower-paced Napa of the 1950s and 1960s. He made friends at Phillips Elementary School, graduated from Napa High in 1969, then did a two-year Navy tour as a medic supporting Marines deployed to Vietnam.

But while he came home to Napa in 1971, work and love eventually would lead him away. A brief first marriage took him to nearby Sonoma before a truck-driving job led him over the Interstates to Texas, Illinois and New York. A second marriage uprooted him from the North Bay altogether, as he followed his spouse to her hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.

qqq

Stephens reminiscences were interrupted by the arrival of a visitor. A dark-haired man not quite half his age strolled toward the Old Adobe porch and introduced himself: Justin Altamura, whose developer grandfather George had bought the landmark four years earlier.

Asked by Stephens what the building might become once the work was finished, the 31-year-old Altamura volunteered that a restaurant could move in, or perhaps the office of a group like Napa County Landmarks. But whatever its future tenant, he quickly added, he promised to keep the place looking fresher  and more original  than it had in decades.

Since taking charge of the Old Adobe, a team of workers had removed additions to the building, exposed original wood beams and even painstakingly mixed mud-based mortar to shore up the bonds between the aging bricks. Whitewash coated the outer walls; inside walls were plastered in mud, sand and pine needles.

I want it to stay the way it is, Altamura told his visitor. I dont want others to mess with it.

What Cayetano Juarezs descendant returned to was a landmark brighter, cleaner and truer to itself than it had been for decades. Gone, above all, was the dilapidation he remembered with some bitterness from unhappy long-ago visits to the watering holes that had filled the space.

Worse than the shabbiness that had set in, in Stephens eyes, was the lack of any acknowledgement of his ancestors who had built the place. Surely a plaque or marker could be installed let those walking in know who its builder had been?

Altamura readily agreed with that sentiment.

People my age, its not even registering what theyre looking at, how old it is, he said. I hope that now, people will start asking about why this building is how it is, start asking about its history.

***

Nebraska had become home to Roy Stephens, but in 2008, time began to run out on him. A serious heart attack was followed by a quintuple bypass and three aortic aneurysms that I should not have made it through, he said.

Now my heart is on its very last legs  I cant even have anesthesia, he said. The doctors say Ive got six months, maybe eight at the very most. I can feel it slipping away now, every once in a while. My balance sucks. My memorys going. Ive become one with my recliner and DirecTV and Netflix.

For more than a year he dreamed of heading west one more time, to reconnect with what roots remained of his hometown and his family. But the money for such a journey was nowhere to be found, not for a dying man who needed someone caring for him at his side.

Napa had moved on in his absence, becoming a hub of the valleys winery tourism. House prices and rents had moved on  upward  even faster.

Even if I wanted to come back and spend the last few months here, I couldnt afford to live here, said Stephens. Thats one of the saddest things I can think of  that I cant even afford to live in my own hometown.

Then, unexpectedly, the chance came.

A care manager for the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, who was working with Stephens, set up a call to him by the Dreamweaver Foundation. Created in 2012 by Ron and Jeanie Carson, the Omaha-based nonprofit uses donated funds to fulfill the wishes of lower-income seniors with terminal illnesses.

By early December a Dreamweaver coordinator, Ashley Weirich, was on the phone with Stephens and his caregiver Julie Choma to hear their story and learn what his final wish would be. Of more than 100 seniors the group has aided, some had asked to see the ocean or take an Alaskan cruise, while others too frail to travel had been treated to a fancy banquet with up to 50 family members flown into town  new suits, ties and all.

He served our country and was on front lines, helping people medically, so we wanted to do something for him, recalled Weirich.

She asked me: If you had one wish, what would it be? said Stephens. And I said, To go home.

Dreamweavers would indeed make Stephens wish come true, footing the $5,500 bill in airfare, room, board and a rental car  and even new clothes  for him and Choma to return to the Bay Area.

***

Stephens had barely five days to tour his old Napa home turf, which three aunts and several cousins still call home, before he and his caregiver had to fly back to Nebraska.

Some of the family guideposts were gone, like the house his grandfather, father and uncle had built on First Avenue in Coombsville. Others had survived, like a photo album he thumbed through while visiting the Phillips school, even if he could no longer recognize which boyish face had been his. A few old hangouts were as vital as ever  I miss Butter Cream after all these years and they tell me it hasnt changed one iota! he said.

But Monday was a day for Stephens to go back to the source of his family, and of his hometown.

Thats what I came back to see, he said afterward of his visit to the Old Adobe. I wanted to touch my roots again.

Deep in thought outside the abode his forebear had built more than 170 years before, he had let his mind backtrack to family get-togethers, school chums now dead, and the simple pleasures of going into the fields with cousins to drink, sing, strum guitars and, in his cagey words, create havoc.

Then he had felt something in his eyes, and it wasnt smoke.

I didnt know it was going to hit as hard as it did, the scion of Don Cayetano Juarez said. I had to keep wiping my tears away.

Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.To explore how people might react, scientists had them read news reports about a number of potential alien discoveries. (Photo: Pixabay)

A new study now finds that humans will actually be very happy if their home planet is invaded by aliens.

While Hollywood might have created this idea that an alien invasion would be greeted with guns and ammunition by earth, but serious research proves something completely contradictory. In fact the results indicate that earthlings are far more positive in their thoughts about meeting extraterrestrials.

Speaking about it, Arizona State University Assistant professor of Psychology Michael Varnum said that people would be pretty upbeat if they came face to face with life outside Earth. He added, So far, there's been a lot of speculation about how we might respond to this kind of news, but until now, almost no systematic empirical research.

To explore how people might react, scientists had them read news reports about a number of potential alien discoveries.

Their reactions were very positive, the researchers found.

Subjects said they would be excited even if the life was primitive or happening elsewhere  as any encounter with extraterrestrials is likely to actually be.

Further work had people describe how they thought microbial life would be found on another planet, and how they would react.

Again, the software found that people were more positive about that news than negative.

And additional research looked at one of the most famous pieces of news about the potential of alien life in recent weeks. Scientists had people read about the suggestion that a a rock flying past Earth  known as Oumuamua  could in fact be an alien spacecraft, in news that sounded like something out of science fiction.

It found that people were very excited about that possibility, despite the fact it could mean aliens were headed towards Earth.The Dog is associated with the Earthly Branch and in terms of yin and yang, the Dog is yang. (Photo: AP)

According to Chinese Zodiac, the Dog is the eleventh of all zodiac animals. A myth says that the Jade Emperor said the order of the animals on the Chinese Zodiac would be decided by the order in which they arrived to his party.

Monkey, Rooster and Dog were at that time, in another country, helping a god defeat evil spirits.

Soon after defeating the evil spirits, they arrived at the same time at the Jade Emperors party. Thus the Emperor went by the order they met the god in the other country.

The Dog became eleventh.

The Dog is associated with the Earthly Branch and in terms of yin and yang, the Dog is yang.

Unlike Western astrology, in Chinese Zodiac, each sign lasts for a whole year and each year takes the name of an animal whose characteristics colour and influence everything that happens for the next 12 months.

2018 is the Year Of The Dog, signalling a fortunate 12 months ahead for most of those born in the 'dog' years of 1935, 1947, 1959, Jan 1971, 1982, 1994 and 2006. It also influences the fortunes of the other 11 animal signs, depending on their relationship with the dog.

Speaking to MailOnline, a master in feng shui and horoscopes revealed what the next 12 months holds in store for each of the zodiac signs.

The Rat: 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

A financially successful year, according to Tom, the Rat knows how to duck and dive in order to reach his goal and one to avoid confrontation at all cost, bringing a year of negotiation and diplomacy in order to reap the ultimate reward.

The Ox: 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009

The Ox also understands the money energy this year but this is discreet money that very few know about. The Rat and the Ox make an excellent team in the financial world particularly on long term investments.

The Tiger: 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010

Anyone born in the year of the tiger, the horse, the monkey, the rooster and the rabbit all connect well with the dog and understand how to be part of his team. For these people there is tremendous potential t go forth and multiply in 2018 because they have the energy of the leader watching their back.

This opportunity is strong for the Tiger as he has bright ideas of his own as well as a natural ability to know when to pounce and seize the moment.

The Rabbit: 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011

A social fellow who likes good things in life, there are opportunities for the rabbit to advance his career and ultimately improve his financial status in doing so. 2018 is also a good year for fertility and producing the next generation for the Rabbit.

The Dragon: 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012

The Chinese animal that needs to keep his head down this year and not make any important changes to his life is the dragon.

It is advisable that anyone born in the year of the dragon wears either a red string around his waist or wears red underwear or red socks all year for protections from any challenges the dog may want to throw his way.

The Snake: 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013

The Snake will do well to stay close to home this year, in other words, all he needs is in the palm of his hands. His greatest allies are his neighbours and with the right collaboration success can be his by the end of the year.

The Horse: 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014

The Horse will do very well this year if he teams up with the Tiger. Together they are formidable, can climb any mountain and achieve their goals through grit and determination.

The Sheep: 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015

A high achiever this year with success in examinations or legal matters, the sheep is a discreet player never inclined to blow his own trumpet too often and not one with high levels of ambition yet when he does achieve he is thrilled and proud. This year will not disappoint.

The Monkey: 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016

The Monkey and his neighbour the Rooster work very well together with the Dog to form a powerful team. This is a great year for the Monkey to use his intelligence and progress his career.

The Rooster: 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017

A confident fellow with his feet firmly on the ground, the Rooster is the spokesman of the team and one to rise to great heights with his confidence, leadership and strong sense of duty. The Rooster will go far this year, especially if he accepts the contribution to the cause from the Monkey and the Dog.

The Dog: 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018

The Dogs vulnerability is procrastinate too long and miss that opportunity so be sharp-eyed this year in order to maximise on his own potential.

The Pig: 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

The trustworthy and diligent Pig holds the purse strings to both money and power in 2018. The money is especially dominant if he joins forces with the team of the Rat and the Ox. The financial gains can then lead him into a world of regard and respect in the workplace if he joins forces with the Tiger.Hong Kong feng shui experts predict what's in store for POTUS, and the newly engaged royal couple. (Photo: AP)

As the Chinese zodiac switches into the Year of the Dog later this week, Hong Kong feng shui experts predict anything but a walk in the park for global leaders.

Born in another dog year, 1946, United States president Donald Trump faces a run of bad luck, according to soothsayers, as his zodiac animal clashes with 2018's canine theme.

Feng shui -- literally meaning "wind-water" -- is influential in many parts of Asia, where people adjust their lives and carefully position items such as a cup of wine or pieces of crystal in offices and homes to maximise their luck and wealth.

The philosophy says that all events are dictated by the varying balances in the five elements that make up the universe: metal, wood, water, fire and earth.

Trump's birth date makes him a "fire dog", but 2018 is an "earth dog" year, a mismatch of elements.

The fire in Trump's own birth chart will foment and affect his health, says feng shui master Thierry Chow, while his words -- the fire element also represents speech -- may bring about "real problems" and tangible consequences.

"The elements are too much fire and too much earth, so that's going to be causing him imbalance in his fortune," Chow told AFP.

Chow uses the "flying star" system to make her predictions based on constellation positions, foreseeing more tensions between the US and North Korea, which is afflicted by the most malevolent number five star.

She also warned of the risk of crossed wires between Trump and China on the thorny issues of trade and the economy.

"The seventh star is falling onto the east side -- the star affects communication, it causes gossip and misunderstanding," says Chow.

'Duty and loyalty'

Feng shui runs through life in Hong Kong, with many people seeking advice from masters before making important life decisions, from picking a wedding date to choosing a new home.

Major companies also employ their own feng shui consultants to dictate interior designs and give investment advice.

Each year, brokerage firm CLSA comes out with its own Feng Shui Index, predicting what the next 12 months holds for the business world.

In 2018, it divined that the internet, utilities and technology sectors would perform with flying colours.

All are categorised as "fire-related" industries, and will do particularly well between May and July, feng shui experts said.

However, with the city's bourse going through a rollercoaster of highs and lows, the brokerage masters advised a cool head to navigate the earth dog market.

"The dog represents duty and loyalty and is a sign of defence and protection," it said in its public predictions.

"Entrepreneurs should stick with their most loyal clients, and investors are advised not to bite off more than they can chew."

Away from politics and finance, Chow predicted a happy wedding for Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who will tie the knot in May.

The earth element represents royalty in the Chinese calendar and combined with the image of a candle associated with May in the traditional almanac the elements are aligned for a day of celebration.

"I think it will be very smooth -- it will bring very good things to the country and good energy to the world," Chow said of the marriage.The Delhi police on Saturday have announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for anyone who provides information about the man and said the identity of the informant will be kept anonymous. (Photo: ANI | Twitter)

New Delhi: The Delhi Police has swung into action and announced a reward for information of the man who was caught masturbating on a crowded bus on February 7, 2018.

The disgusting act was filmed by a Delhi Univeristy student who was sitting next to the man in the bus. The man was also constantly touching her waist while the co-passengers ignored the incident.

In the latest, the Delhi police on Saturday have announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for anyone who provides information about the man. The identity of the informant will be kept anonymous, the police notice further added.

On February 7, the man sitting next to the Delhi University student unzipped his pants and began to masturbate on the crowded bus. The girl managed to capture the entire act on camera and uploaded it to social media, where it triggered an outrage with users demanding immediate arrest of the man.

In the video, which the girl has posted, a middle-aged man is seen exposing and fondling himself, a bag on his lap shielding his activities from most passengers in the bus but the young woman sitting next to him.

The girl in her FIR stated the incident occurred on February 7 on the route between Vasant Village in South Delhi and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gate.

The complainant shouted at the accused, but "he did not understand" and the co-passengers also "ignored it," the FIR further read.

Also Read: Man masturbates in Delhi bus, co-passengers unmoved as student films act

Earlier talking to the news agency ANI, the victim said she was travelling in a crowded bus when a man sitting next to her masturbated. "I was left stunned but then I made a video of the incident and posted it on social media to make people aware of the incident. People don't even consider something like this a form of sexual harassment," the Delhi University student said.

An FIR has been lodged with Vasant Vihar Police under sections 354 (sexual harassment), 354A, and 294 (obscene act in public place) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). A probe is underway.Bengaluru: The death toll in the building collapse at Kasavanahalli on Thursday has increased to four, with one more worker succumbing at a private hospital on Friday. Two workers were rescued from the rubble on Friday morning and one of them succumbed. Police said two more are trapped in the debris. The deceased has been identified as Hazrath, who was rescued at around 8.30 am on Friday and taken to Sakra hospital, where he died at around 1 pm. One more worker Dhirendra (24), who was pulled out of the rubble alive at around 3 am, was lucky to survive as he was relatively unhurt. He is being kept under observation at Sakra hospital.

The officials of Fire and Emergency Services, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police and BBMP officials continued to clear the debris on Friday. There is still no clarity as to how many people were working inside the building, when the incident happened. As many as 16 injured workers are currently undergoing treatment at different hospitals.

The rescue operation will continue till Saturday evening as we are clearing the debris part by part using hammers and cutters. Heavy machineries are not being used as we fear more workers were trapped inside, said Ravi Shankar, Divisional Fire Officer, Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services.

DCP (Whitefield) Abdul Ahad said, The rescue operation cannot be called off until we are sure that nobody is trapped inside.

Ahad said that special teams have been formed to nab Mohammad Rafiq, the owner of the building who is currently absconding.

However, his wife and business partner Sameera, along with BBMP Executive Engineer (Mahadevapura) Munireddy have been detained for questioning.Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's birthday is being celebrated in a grand manner in Hyderabad's Jala Vihar.

Various leaders of his Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) party wished the leader on his 64th birthday, even as greetings and wishes poured in on his social media accounts.

This is the first time that the birthday of KCR, as he is commonly called, is being celebrated on this scale ever since he assumed the office in 2014. Rao played a key role in the creation of the Telangana state after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Mahmood Ali was amongst the first leaders to wish KCR. Speaking to news agency ANI, Ali praised the chief minister, adding that KCR contributed a lot in the formation of Telangana, while always aiming for the development of the state.

Ali said, "Telangana is a very young state and now our Chief Minister's main aim is to be the number one state in the country. Today we can see the brotherhood between Hindus and Muslims just because of him. Our state is a state where there are no disparities between any religions. Today on account of his birthday we wish him all the success."

Another senior leader of the TRS, Talasani Srinivas Yadav, organised various programmes on the occasion of the chief minister's birthday. Yadav said, "Today we have organised a blood donation camp where several members participated in this camp. We are even distributing saris and sewing machines to women and a wheelchair to the handicapped on account of chief minister's birthday. Not only this, we are even celebrating his birthday evening in a temple and now we are cutting the cake and also providing lunch for the public."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the Telangana chief minister on his birthday. "On his birthday, I convey my greetings to Telangana CM, KCR Garu. I pray for his wonderful health and long life. @TelanganaCMO," tweeted the Prime Minister.

K Chandrasekhar Rao was born on 17 February 1954 in the Medak District of what is now in Telangana.India committed up to USD 500 million for the development of Chabahar along with associated roads and rail lines. (Photo: MEA/Twitter)

New Delhi: Iranian President Dr Hassan Rouhani met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind on the last day of his three-day visit to India at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Saturday.

Modi will be hosting a lunch for Rouhani on Saturday while Kovind will host a banquet for him.

Connectivity and energy are seen as key items on the agenda for discussions between Rouhani and his Indian hosts.

India is helping Iran develop Chabahar Port on the Gulf of Oman for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan, which has refused to provide New Delhi access through a land route.

In 2016, India, Afghanistan, and Iran decided to establish a trade route for land-locked Afghanistan and Central Asian countries. India committed up to USD 500 million for the development of Chabahar along with associated roads and rail lines.

India shipped its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan by sea through Chabahar last October.

Rouhani began his three-day India visit after his arrival in Hyderabad on Thursday evening. This was his second visit to Hyderabad and the first after assuming charge as the president of Iran.

Addressing a meeting of religious leaders belonging to different schools of thoughts, Rouhani on Thursday, urged different Muslims sects to stay united and fight the Western forces, and added that the community should put an end to internal differences.

Rouhani advised the gathering to emphasize more in resolving their issues and strengthening relationships between the Muslim communities. He said Iran wants peace across the world and friendly relations with not only Islamic countries but other countries as well. It believes that there is no military solution to problems.

Also Read: Rouhani visits Qutub Shahi tombs in Hyd, calls for united fight against West

He said Iran has plan for the fraternity for India. We do not want to have any difference with other countries, he said adding how Iran stood against the nations, and regions, in order to stop war conflict and violence.

Rouhani also addressed a Muslim congregation at the historic Mecca Masjid after performing Friday prayers. He is the first Iranian President to have visited the Mecca Masjid.

He strongly criticized the Trump administration's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and urged Muslims to support the Palestinian cause.

The Iranian president also lashed out at the United States for imposing a ban on travelers from six largely Muslim countries.

(With agency inputs)Lucknow: Lauding itself and patting its own back for the recent encounters, Uttar Pradesh Police Department on Friday tweeted media reports on offenders surrendering themselves to the police - with a famous dialogue from Salman Khan starrer Bollywood film 'Dabaang' - Police se nahi, crime se darr lagta hai sahab (I am scared of crime and not the police), the tweet read.

This comes after two criminals, both repeat offenders, were seen carrying placards in Uttar Pradesh's Kairana town apologising for their behaviour and promising they would not get involved in any crime hereafter.

Main aage bhavishya mein koi apraadh nahi karunga aur mehnat majdoori karke apna aur apne parivaar ka bharan-poshan karunga (I will not get involved in any crime in future and will work hard to take care of my family and myself), read one of the placards.

Also Read: Sorry for crime: Repeat offenders in UP parade with placards pledging 'honesty'

Another report mentioned by the UP police in the tweet was that of an alleged criminal surrendering himself to claim the bounty of Rs 15,000 on himself.

The move comes after the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh began a major crackdown against criminals, with an increase in the number of encounters.

Uttar Pradesh saw 38 encounter killings by the state police in the just over ten months since the Yogi Adityanath-led government assumed charge.

In 25 days, there were 8 killings in 60 encounters earlier this year, mostly in Lucknow, Shamli, Saharanpur, Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, Bulandshahr, Gorakhpur, Hapur, Kanpur and Meerut.

On November 22, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government over 19 encounters in six months. Opposition members too have raised the issue in Assembly and in Parliament.

On Thursday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath informed the state Legislative Council that 40 criminals have been killed in 1,200 encounters in the state so far adding that sympathy for criminals was dangerous for a democracy.

Earlier, Adityanath had also said that criminals in the state should be answered in a language they understood. Those who believe in gun, should be answered back using the gun, he said at an event in Gorakhpur.New Delhi: Visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held detailed talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday following which India and Iran signed nine pacts including one for a lease contract as part of the first phase of the Chabahar port development which will lead to a strategic sea-land route linking India with Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia. Importantly, the two countries condemned terrorism and said  in what is being seen as a veiled reference towards Pakistan  that States that aid, abet and directly or indirectly support terrorism should be condemned.

During the talks between the two leaders, India is also believed to have briefed Iran about the role of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in attempts to destabilise the situation in Kashmir. Afghanistan was another major issue discussed during talks, with both India and Iran opposed to the attempts of the Taliban to destabilise the situation in Afghanistan. Iran and India have a common stance on confronting terrorism and extremism, President Rouhani said. Rouhani said Iran was fully ready to intensify cooperation in the areas of energy, particularly oil, gas and petrochemicals. In strengthening ties with oil-rich Iran, India is attempting to balance out the strong ties it has on the other hand with both the US and Israel.

Welcoming President Rouhani, PM Modi hailed the Iranian President's leadership on establishment of the Chabahar port which PM Modi described as the "golden gateway" of central Asia that will be of immense benefit to landlocked Afghanistan. India also "conveyed its readiness to support the development of the Chabahar-Zahedan Rail line" that will help in further transit of goods inside Iran towards its border with Afghanistan. India is looking to completely take over the operations of the strategically-located Chabahar port which is expected to offer stiff competition to the Gwadar port in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province that is being developed with Chinese help.

Chabahar will also end Afghan dependence on Pakistan for connectivity since goods can now travel from India to Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia and vice-versa through Chabahar. One of the important pacts signed was the "Lease Contract for Shahid Beheshti Port- Phase 1 of Chabahar" that will envisage "leasing of a part of the area of the multipurpose and container Terminal for a term of one and half solar year (18 months) to take over operation of existing port facilities." Both sides also "agreed to continue and increase the pace of negotiation for reaching appropriate results on energy cooperation, including Farzad B gas field".

With India now allowing investment in Indian Rupees in Iran, "permission for the Iranian Pasargadbank to open a branch in India" is "under advance consideration". Both countries also "agreed to set up a Joint Committee of officials to examine feasible options, including Rupee-Rial Arrangement, Asian Clearing Union mechanism to establish functional payment channels". After the talks, "it was agreed that India would grant e-visa facility for the Iranian nationals and Iran would grant e-visa facility to the Indian nationals". The signing of visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic passports was also a step in this direction.

Another pact was the "Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on Income" to "avoid burden of double taxation between the two countries in order to promote flow of investment and services". Other pacts included one on "Exchange of Instrument of Ratification of Extradition Treaty" that "brings into effect the Extradition Treaty signed between India and Iran in 2008', and others in the fields of health, medicine and agriculture.

Both sides also "expressed interest in enhancing cooperation possibilities in maritime domain" and "it was agreed to hold dialogue to look into measures for cooperation in defence sphere, including port calls by naval ships, training and regular exchanges of defence delegations". On Chabahar, the Joint Statement said, "The successful inauguration of the Phase-1 of Chabahar Port in early December 2017; the ratification of the Trilateral Agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan on Establishment of International Transport and Transit Corridor by all sides; and the successful shipment of wheat assistance from India to Afghanistan through Chabahar Port have opened a new gateway to and from Afghanistan, Central Asia and beyond. Both sides reiterated their commitment for early and full operationalisation of ShahidBeheshti Port at Chabahar."

On combating terrorism, the Joint Statement read, "Recognising the challenges of terrorism and ideologies of violent extremism, the two Leaders reiterated their strong commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations ... They stressed that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality or ethnic group. They urged an immediate end to all support and sanctuaries enjoyed by terrorist groups and individuals and were of the view that States that aid, abet and directly or indirectly support terrorism should be condemned. They called on the international community to end selective or partial approaches to combating terrorism .... ."

On Afghanistan, the two countries said, "Both sides stressed that the interests of peace and stability in the region are best served by a strong, united, prosperous, pluralistic, democratic and independent Afghanistan while supporting the National Unity Government in the country." On the cultural side, both countries also "agreed to hold the Festival of India in Iran in 2018/19; establish a Chair of Indian studies in Tehran University; organise Indology courses for Iranian diplomats by the Foreign Service Institute of India; support the Persian language courses in India".Two Napa men have been charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon for their suspected involvement in a bar brawl that sent three people to the hospital last month.

Valentin Michael Sanchez, 21, a Sureno gang member dropout, and Jose Manuel Rivera, 22, were arrested by Napa Police on Jan. 10, two days after the reported fight at the Green Door bar on Solano Avenue in Napa.

The two men were at the bar with two other Sureno gang member dropouts on Jan. 8 when they came into contact with two active Norteno gang members and a fight ensued, according to police reports.

Sanchez was slashed across the face with a sharp object while fighting with one of the Norteno gang members, police said. The Norteno gang member was stabbed once in the upper arm, police said.

Rivera, who witnesses identified as sitting alone prior to the fight, jumped in while one of his acquaintances, who has not yet been arrested, had Norteno gang member Americo Michael Hernandez, 25, in a headlock, according to the police report. Rivera got up and stabbed Hernandez several times with a knife, police said.K.V.Dhananjay, Advocate, Supreme Court

To put todays Supreme Court judgment in the Cauvery River Water Dispute in perspective to Bengalureans, let me cite an illustration.

You have a large family. You decide to build a high rise to accommodate all of them and apply for permission. Authorities allow you to build six floors, which you violate, constructing 19. Your family jostles for space inside and when it wont suffice, some 45% of them cluster along the sides of the structure. Authorities notice the violation and decide to raze down the building, sending you rushing to court. You omit to tell the Courts that you have already built 19 floors and the latter, in a moment of sympathy, makes a few calculations and decides to offer you relief by granting permission for 10 floors. Authorities are directed to enforce this and to keep watch over the building. Is this a verdict to be celebrated? Depends on what your lawyer told you. Were you informed that the building is now legal only to the extent of 6+4=10 floors? What happens to the remaining nine?

That is the situation Bengalureans find themselves in today after the Supreme Courts judgment. Lawyers for the Karnataka government have welcomed todays verdict, while the uninformed public and political party workers have resorted to celebrations at a few places. Reality is bound to hit us soon. Most lawyers are having a hard time digesting the fact that the Constitution of India expressly bars the apex court from settling inter-state river disputes, in keeping with Article 262. They fall under a different scheme.

The Central Government constituted the Cauvery River Water Dispute Tribunal in 1990 and issued its final judgment in February, 2007. In the current dispute between Karnataka, TN, Kerala and Puducherry, we consider only drinking water needs. A rule followed across the world says that only people living within the boundaries of the river basin are entitled to its water. Cities like Belagavi and Hubbali cannot claim water from the Cauvery, just as Bengaluru cannot demand water from the Mahadayi river which flows through the northern part of the state. Responsibility for the demands of specific cities and towns falls on the state government and are not recognized by the Tribunals. The Karnataka government had sought a large quantity of water for its drinking needs and the Tribunal, based on its calculations awarded it only 8.75 TMC from the Cauvery. All four states appealed to the Supreme Court and TN made numerous complaints about Karnataka failing to implement the order.

Bengaluru, Coorg, Mandya, Mysore, Hassan and the numerous other towns and villages were to make do with 8.75 TMC, but Bengaluru alone went on to draw 19 TMC annually. So now, while Bengaluru is already drawing 19 TMC, 45% of her population doesnt have access to this water. The Supreme Court went on to say that more water must be awarded to Bengaluru, considering her immense growth and global status. The city has increased the drinking water share by 4.75 TMC, which, in keeping with the Tribunals order, brings the tally up to 13.5 TMC only for all towns, cities and villages in the Cauvery basin. For Bengaluru, this means a drastic cut in water supply so that other areas can also manage with this amount.

Which segment in Bengaluru will suffer? The slums, the poor, the middle classes. It appears that the government failed to inform the SC about the actual state of affairs  the SC verdict now brings the same quality of solution as the 19-floor building conundrum!

The Supreme Court cannot be blamed; this modification to the Tribunal order is an unprecedented move in Karnatakas favour, although most of Bengaluru falls outside the purview of the Cauvery basin.

As a constitutional lawyer speaking without regard for the ramifications of the riparian dispute, I worry that the Supreme Court has opened up a Pandoras Box by going against a constitutional injunction. India has 14 very large inter-state rivers and 44 medium-size water bodies. States that have followed Tribunal orders with diligence will now approach the apex court seeking reprieve.

One thing is for certain. Bengaluru is poised on the brink of disaster and the state government is to blame. Can I provide a solution to these woes? Honestly, I dont have one and I doubt anybody else either. Our city has been left in the lurch, so press the Panic Button, if you will.GUNTUR: Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu has announced that he was ready to do any sacrifice for the rights and interests of the state and the public.

He started targeting Telugu Des-ams ally BJP by raising his voice against the BJP-led NDA government.

Addressing a public meeting, he said that now time has come to break the sile-nce about our fight for fulfillment of promises of bif-urcation and defended that he was guiding the TD MPs in the protest since the past few days in Parliament as this is a sensitive issue.

He announced that he will not flinch from the battlefield, will not collude against the interests of AP state and announced that he will be ready to make any sacrifice for AP people and the state. Mr Naidu came to Kakani near Narasaraopet on Saturday and laid the foundation stone for JNTU-K buildings construction. He claimed that the central and the state governments were sovereign and hence said the Centre cannot ask the state government about central funds utilisation.

Mentioning news and statements circulating in media about showing acco-unts to the Union government about the utilisation of funds, he said that some leaders were also demanding the same and said that he feels it is not correct.

Recalling the injustice done to AP by the Congress, he said, We went with the BJP for getting justice to our state, visited Delhi 29 times, met everyone several times for the past 3.5 years, but in vain as no justice was done by the BJP government.

Mr Naidu demanded that the Centre fulfil all promises given to AP during the time of bifurcation.

And further to help AP till the development of the state on par with other south Indian states, on behalf of five crore people in AP.

Naidu said that the BJP led Union Government did not fulfill its promises (of the Reorganisation Act) and further held that fulfilling those promises is the responsibility of the Union Government. Further increasing his attack on the BJP government, he said that funds were given to AP according to norms. He ruled out BJPs claims of giving surplus funds to AP State and challenged that the State Government is ready to discuss or debate on the allotted Central funds.Mohammed Amin shows a picture of his seven year-old daughter, Zainab Ansari in Kasur, Pakistan. (Photo:AP)

Islamabad: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday handed over four counts of death penalty to accused Imran Ali under Section 7 of anti-terrorism act in seven-year-old Zainab Ansaris rape and murder case.

The verdict was announced by ATC judge Sajjad Ahmed at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. The court also sentenced Imran Ali to life imprisonment and imposed Rs 1 million fine.

It is the first time in Pakistans history that a trial was completed in four days with 13-hour-long proceedings daily.

As per the orders of Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar, Punjab Prosecutor General Ahtesham Qadar personally attended all the hearings of the case.

He said the trial in the rape and murder of other seven girls against the suspect is underway as legal requirements have to be fulfilled yet.

Seven-year-old Zainab Ansari went missing on January 4 on her way back to home from maternal aunts house. On January 8, her body was found in a garbage dump in Kasur.

She had marks of torture on nose, neck, and other parts of the body and was raped before murder, revealed medical report.

The guardians complained upon return from Saudi Arabia that the police did not cooperate with the relatives, who were looking for her. On January 10, protests broke out against the murder and people demanded to hang the culprit in public.

Police officers resorted to aerial firing when violent protesters tried to storm commissioner office, killing two people and injuring three others. The wounded were shifted to the hospital for medical assistance.SALT LAKE CITY  A House resolution that urges the state's school system to implement restorative justice programs to better address student discipline was endorsed Friday by the House Education Committee.

The bill moves to the full House for further consideration.

HR1, sponsored by Rep. Sandra Hollins, D-Salt Lake City, notes that restorative justice programs help students stay in school and deal with their challenges in healthy, constructive ways.

Hollins, who is a social worker, said she became interested in the approach while working with homeless clients who had been suspended or expelled from school as punishment for misbehavior that was often linked to trauma they were experiencing.

According to the resolution, restorative justice has been used extensively "to divert people from criminal justice systems and as a program for convicted offenders already in the adult or juvenile justice systems."

The approach shifts the emphasis from managing behavior by focusing on "the building, nurturing and repairing of relationships while retaining the ability to hold misbehaving students accountable," the resolution states.

Hollins said in her own experience with restorative justice, a student who was bullying her daughter was counseled about how his conduct impacted others "and the bullying stopped.

Suspension and expulsion may punish misbehavior but fail to address the underlying causes of the conduct.

Mindi Holmdahl, director of student services and counseling for the Salt Lake City School District, said expulsions or suspensions are punishments that "build resentment and build (a sense of) institutional betrayal."

Rep. Derrin Owens, R-Fountain Green, said the bill dovetails nicely with sweeping criminal justice system reforms passed by the Utah Legislature in 2017.

Conversely, "restorative justice is an innovative approach to offensive and inappropriate behavior that addresses the root causes of the behavior issues," the resolution states.

Rep. Eric Hutchings, R-Kearns, said change in approach is not a passing fad.

"This is a tidal wave of philosophical change," he said.LEHI  A Lehi man was charged Friday with trying to start a fire in his house while his children were inside and making it look like an accident.

On Feb. 12, police say Brad Thomas Hanks, 36, locked his wife out of their house while allowing his three juvenile children to go inside.

"The wife could see smoke in the house," charging documents state.

When the woman told Hanks she was calling 911, he unsuccessfully tried to take her phone awa, according to the charges. She told police she was able to get the children out of the home and Hanks then ran off.

Inside, investigators reported finding evidence that Hanks had attempted to use the toaster to start a fire.

"The wife told officers that the defendant's father is a fire investigator and had told them about how you could burn a house down without it appearing as arson," the charges state.

Court records show the wife got a protective order against the husband on Thursday.

Hanks is charged in 4th District Court with aggravated arson, a first-degree felony; three counts of domestic violence in the presence of children, a third-degree felony; and damaging a communication device, a class B misdemeanor. All charges carry enhanced domestic violence penalties if he is convicted, according to court records.SALT LAKE CITY  The Utah Attorney General's Office has filed charges against a Layton man who it says stole more than $100,000 from an elderly LDS missionary.

Keith Evan McKnight, 54  who is still on probation for a prior conviction of communications fraud  was charged Thursday with communications fraud, a second-degree felony.

The 87-year-old alleged victim was conducting counseling sessions as a licensed clinical social worker for a 12-step program while serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he met McKnight, according to court documents.

In March of 2017, McKnight asked the missionary for "some financial assistance," which the man agreed to, the charges state.

Not long after, the missionary started receiving text messages from two men claiming to be McKnight's bosses at work. They claimed McKnight "had multiple wage garnishments from payday loan lenders, thus not allowing them as his employers to give him a full paycheck for his work," the charges state.

They asked the man if he "would be willing to help pay off the payday loans so that McKnight could receive a full paycheck," according to the charges.

The senior missionary "wrote approximately 190 checks from his personal Wells Fargo account totalling approximately $111,000" from March through August, the charges state.

The man's daughter, who is a local attorney, helped her father hire two private investigators and collect evidence against McKnight to give to prosecutors, the charges state.

The investigation determined that McKnight's bosses were unaware of what was happening, and that McKnight used the money received "for personal expenses, including a personal trip to Seattle," according to investigators.

Court records show McKnight was already convicted of communications fraud in 2015. In that case, McKnight worked for a company "that would buy products for clients and charge those items on the company credit card," according to charging documents.

McKnight, however, never delivered the purchased items, and instead returned them for cash, the charges state. He was sentenced in that case to home confinement and ordered to wear an ankle monitor, and placed on three years of probation.SALT LAKE CITY  Senate Minority Leader Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake City, was frustrated Friday after his bill making it a crime to leave an animal tethered outside without adequate shelter was held by a legislative committee.

SB91 faced opposition from the rural community, particularly farmers and hunters who are concerned the bill would have unforseen consequences on them and their animals.

Deann Shepherd, director of marketing and communications for the Humane Society of Utah, spoke in defense of the bill, saying Utah law already requires an animal owner to provide food, water and shelter. SB91, she said, is not an anti-tethering bill.

"It simply says if the animal is tied up and unattended  it still needs to have the ability to reach adequate shelter," Shepherd said.

The bill would have to applied to "companion animals" only, she said.

The committee had enough reservations about the bill that it opted to hold it, giving Davis time to work out the potential conflicts.Theres one Star Wars character whos unsure if she is alive or dead.

Gwendoline Christie, who plays Captain Phasma, the silent and stoic stormtrooper seen in both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, said shes unsure whether shes alive or dead after her character met what seemed like a fiery end in Last Jedi.

In the film, Phasma and Finn (John Boyega) battled before the stormtrooper fell into a fiery pit, seemingly ending the characters arc in the new films.

But Christie said shes unsure about her characters fate, according to a recent interview she gave with the Times.

In truth, I don't know, she said, according to CinemaBlend. And that scares and upsets me because I really want to see this character explored. I'm actually very invested in the character now. And that's genuine. That's not just chat. It has opened up a chain of stories and events in my mind about who Phasma is.

Last Jedi director Rian Johnson admitted Phasma didnt have a large role in the recent film, too, according to Business Insider. This would make her a lot like Boba Fett, who was a cult favorite in the original trilogy who didnt receive much screen time.

Phasma will have her chance to return in Episode IX, which is due out in 2019. But, according to Uproxx, Phasma (who got her own story in Delilah S. Dawsons Phasma Star Wars novel) probably won't: Theres too much other plot to get to.Recently in Washington, Congress passed the largest military budget in U.S. history. It is virtually a blank check to the Pentagon. I was stunned that both political parties went along with the huge amounts of both domestic and military spending that was not funded and which will be added to our enormous deficit.

I spent the entire year, 1967-68, in Vietnam as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. At the time I felt good about my service because I believed strongly in what we were doing in the Delta in Vietnam. In addition to our military duties, my unit was doing civil affairs, including delivering fertilizer and equipment to the agricultural center, as well as motor pumps for small boats transporting grain along the rivers. We thought we were helping Vietnam become a developed democracy because thats what President John F. Kennedy and President Lyndon B. Johnson told us amid the limited amount of information we had.

My year in 1967 spent in the Army in Vietnam was with the expectation that our military era would be over soon and we would return to a civilian dominated state. However, with the passage of this new budget last week, we are truly a military state, and a huge military parade is envisaged to celebrate all of this. As a once and maybe future Republican (I am looking for some good moderate Republicans to support), I am appalled that our party has abandoned its concern for the deficit.

Let us remember that the last balanced budget was the Clinton-Gingrich budget in the 1990s. And while in the Senate in the late 1970s and the 1980s, I always kept a debt-o-meter to remind me that I was to vote within a balanced budget. As Republican deficit hawks, we had a rule that if we spent too much money we would have to increase taxes to pay for it rather than add it to the debt.

I was a depression/war baby, born into a rather stressful society. My relatives and neighbors were in the war and we were constantly fearful of more combat deaths in our community. We depression/war babies had a great sense of public duty because we felt our country needed us, but we were very patriotically gullible. Both President Kennedy and President Johnson lied to us, and lied to me, about what was really going on in Vietnam. Kennedy, in particular, wanted to be a great war president. He created the special forces, experienced the Cuban Bay of Pigs disaster, and he wanted a big military victory somewhere to make him that great war president.

Kennedys inaugural speech, his speech to the West Point graduating class of 1962 and his statements on the creation of the special forces all created a framework for our current military state. In particular, his inaugural speech was a classic war speech, which was played to troops traveling to and coming back from Vietnam. I saw it several times in those days.

Kennedy boldly declared, Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

However, both Kennedy and his successor secretly knew very well that we did not have a path to victory in Vietnam. They were urging young, serious, patriotic, well-intentioned Americans such as myself to volunteer to serve in Vietnam without telling us the full truth about internal assessments. In fact, as Ken Burns painful PBS series on Vietnam recently demonstrates, both presidents had internal memorandums and briefings telling them just the opposite of what they were declaring in such beautiful language. They in fact knew that our military and our special forces were committing atrocities and that we had no realistic path to victory.

Burns documentary demonstrates that we were not sending our best and brightest to Vietnam; rather, the standards for the drafts were lowered such that the children from wealthier families would not have to be drafted and an elaborate system of exemptions was created. Poor people could not exercise those exemptions. Thus, the whole Vietnam ball of wax has become a source of great resentment to me. My 1967 and the first six months of 1968 was wasted and misspent time, and I resent Kennedy and Johnson for lying to me.

Now we come to 2018 when Congress suddenly passes an expensive military budget without any attempt at reforming weapons systems or at least getting the cost down. We seem to be on the verge of pledging to send more ground troops into the Middle East. Some have said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results, and that is what we have been doing.

For example, we are still building the same kinds of weapons we used in World War II and Vietnam  planes, tanks and guns. We use boots on the ground throughout the world. A recent article in the Economist (Feb. 10-16) shows that a homemade drone built at low cost could be more effective at fighting wars than conventional armies and navies. If we really want to kill someone, killing them with conventional ground troops is one of the least effective methods with the most horrific side-effects. Using commercial electronics and sophisticated software is about all we would need, and it would be a fraction of the cost. But the arms companies and labor unions building all the weapons would not be very happy.

In other words, from my years in the military in 1967-68, to the budget approved for 2018-19, indicates that we have just gone further down the same path. Meanwhile, we have fought and lost other wars using the same methodology that we had in Vietnam.

And yet, we seem to enjoy being a military state. We loved Kennedys war speeches, and we have followed his direction. Now, apparently, we will have a great military parade in Washington to tie all this together.

Is all of this insanity? Or is this just an old man resenting spending all of 1967 and part of 68 in a combat zone?

The point of this is that the confused goals and illogical approach to defense spending has not changed since 1967 to the present enormous budget that was abruptly passed in Congress.

Sen. Larry Pressler was a U.S. senator for 18 years and congressman for four years. He is a Rhodes Scholar, Harvard Law graduate, a Vietnam veteran and the author of Neighbours in Arms: An American Senators Quest for Disarmament in a Nuclear Subcontinent.SANDY  When he started as Sandy's new boss last month, Mayor Kurt Bradburn gave himself a $15,000 one-time raise as part of a plan he said would keep overall costs low.

Friday, amid backlash, Bradburn apologized and gave it back.

"Alright guys, I'm more than willing to admit I got this salary decision wrong," Bradburn wrote in a post on his Facebook page.

At the beginning of his term, Bradburn had decided to increase his salary from $147,000 to $162,000 as part of an office restructuring intended to consolidate staff and save money.

Bradburn said he meant to take on more responsibilities while also cutting staff and implementing a plan to only raise his salary once, by 10 percent, at the beginning of his term rather than taking a 6 percent pay raise each year, like former Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan did. Bradburn said the plan, including other employees' salaries, was expected to save about $100,000 a year.

The mayor said he had "good intentions" behind the increase, meant to ultimately end up with a lower overall salary at the end of his term. "But I certainly didn't mean for it to be a headline with the mayor giving himself a big pay raise.

"But I can see how it looks that way, and I know optics are important, and so I hope (residents) can support me and be patient with me," Bradburn said. "My goal will always be if I make a mistake, I will own it and make it right, and I feel like that's all we can expect of each other."

Bradburn said Friday he told the city's human resources director to reduce his salary to $119,000, among the lowest salaries of Utah's full-time mayors. He also said he wrote a check to the city for about $5,600 to pay back what he has received so far.

At $162,000 a year, Bradburn would have been making more than other mayors in Utah's largest cities.

During the 2017 fiscal year, Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski earned about $140,000, not including benefits, according to her spokesman, Matthew Rojas. Ogden Mayor Mike Caldwell took in about $129,000, and Provo's former Mayor John Curtis took in about $110,000, according to Utah's transparency website.

Bradburn said he was able to raise his salary himself because it didn't change the overall budget of the mayor's office.

But after media reports of Bradburn's self-imposed pay raise, Alliance for a Better Utah's policy and advocacy counsel Chase Thomas criticized Bradburn, pointing out he campaigned on promises to eliminate salary increases and bonuses in the mayor's office.

"Who knew that answering your texts and scheduling your own appointments qualified you for a salary of $162,000," Thomas said in a prepared statement issued Thursday night. "And two months on the job is hardly enough time to determine your work is worthy of a $15,000 raise."

Thomas also criticized Bradburn for not running the decision by the City Council and urged the council to "demand an independent review of Bradburn's actions" and to pass a new ordinance to prevent mayors from giving themselves pay increases in the future.

Bradburn said he had intended to present the budget changes to the council in March during the city's budget process, but "if I had to do it all over again, I would approach the City Council first" and ask them to vote on it.

Bradburn said Friday he's "great with" Alliance for a Better Utah's demand for an ordinance requiring City Council approval before mayors can give themselves pay raises, adding that "it certainly wasn't my intention to do it without their approval."

"I hope people understand I'm new to this, and we were trying to do some new things," Bradburn said. "I'm the first one to admit I could have done better, and I've definitely learned."More often than not, Kelly has aligned with his boss -- hardly unusual for a chief of staff but frustrating for those who had hoped he would be a fighter for the resistance. As historian Chris Whipple told The Washington Post this past week: "It's clear now that those expectations everybody had that Kelly would somehow be the grown-up in the room, a moderating force who would smooth the rough edges off of Trump, were just completely unrealistic."

Trump critics would do well to reflect on this moment. Because it's not just Kelly and the other generals in the Trump administration whom they've claimed as part of the resistance. It's judges, civil servants and newspaper reporters. It's special counsel Robert Mueller and the FBI. Americans are rallying around institutions as a means of opposing the president -- but also out of a desperate desire for truth and accountability as correctives to the constant chaos of Trump.

Yet these institutions can't provide the salvation people seek. And by setting expectations that are almost certain to be unmet, those who oppose the president may end up diminishing faith in America's institutions, too.SALT LAKE CITY  A bill that would penalize health care providers who don't show women an informational video or module before they undergo an abortion moved forward in the Senate on Friday afternoon.

The Senate voted 26-1 on SB118's second reading, sending the bill to a third reading.

Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, said the bill phases out an 1980s-era video and replaces it with a information module developed by the Utah Department of Health that could easily be updated as laws change.

It also moves away from legislatively required face-to-face physician consultations with patients that the fetus may experience pain during an abortion.

"One advantage of this bill is we're going to move that information to the information module. That way, no doctor is going to be forced by the Legislature to say things that the doctor doesn't believe himself or herself to be true. I think that's one of the major advantages of this bill," Weiler said.

The bill requires the woman to watch the module at least 72 hours before an abortion.

In committee debate, Weiler said he is running the legislation because he was "shocked" to learn there is no enforcement provision in current law ensuring health care providers comply with the video requirement.

The bill creates a class A misdemeanor if someone working in the clinic tells the doctor the module has been completed by a patient, "when in fact it had not been completed," Weiler said.

The bill does not create any new barriers to a woman getting abortion, he said.SALT LAKE CITY  In a confluence of efforts centered on social consciousness, Utah gear company Cotopaxi is among the first companies to receive funding from Rise of the Rest.

Rise of the Rest is an investment effort  launched by billionaire AOL founder Steve Case and "Hillbilly Elegy" author J.D. Vance  aimed at discovering and supporting innovation companies outside Silicon Valley and East Coast tech epicenters.

The fiscal infusion, announced Friday, will help Cotopaxi expand its branded brick-and-mortar stores in select U.S. cities, with a Utah store slated to open in Murray's Fashion Place mall, adding to the company's original, and only, retail space in downtown's City Creek Center.

Cotopaxi CEO Davis Smith said he connected with Case last summer during a Rise of the Rest tour stop in Utah, and it became clear that Cotopaxi's committment to giving back  the company commits 2 percent of its revenues to fund projects in the developing world  was simpatico with the goal of Rise of the Rest to seek out and fund startups in rural and out-of-the-way U.S. locales.

"(Case's) vision is that a lot of the innovation that will be coming out of the U.S. will not be out of Silicon Valley or New York or Boston but the rest of the country," Smith said. "Places that are ignored. I think he really connected with what we're shooting for with a Utah brand that's looking beyond ourselves. It's a great fit."

The Rise of the Rest mission statement has also resonated with a veritable all-star list of business titans with the likes of Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Eric Schmidt (Alphabet), Howard Schultz (Starbucks), Henry Kravis (KKR), Sara Blakely (Spanx) and numerous others tagging in as stakeholders. The New York Times characterized the backers of the $150 million startup fund  managed via another Case endeavor, Revolution  as possibly "the greatest concentration of American wealth and power in one investment fund."

While there are far larger funds out there, the intent of Case and Vance's effort is to leverage the resources, and expertise, of some of the most successful people in the country to kickstart businesses that are attempting to rise out of the dust of post-industrial, flyover states.

Vance, who earned national recognition after his book become a touchstone of political insight amid the 2016 U.S. presidential race, was a featured speaker at the recent Silicon Slopes Tech Summit in Salt Lake City. In what may have been a sly foreshadowing of future investment, he was sporting a Cotopaxi fleece during a presentation in which he lauded the vibe of the Beehive State's innovation business scene.

"Founders and CEOs that become too insular, too selfish, end up suffering and so do the ecosystems they work in," Vance said. "One of the things I've seen in Utah, and that I really like, is the collegiality among tech entrepreneurs. The ecosystems that do well  recognize they're all playing on the same team."

Besides plans to grow their portfolio of real-world retail outlets, Cotopaxi has also struck deals with REI and Nordstrom to carry a selection of their products.

Part of Rise of the Rest's strategy for finding up-and-coming businesses in out-of-the-way places has been to stage bus tours through middle-America. That's how Case and Smith connected and it continues to be part of the group's approach. In a statement, Case noted his enthusiasm for both the first round of investments and continuing the ground-based search.

Both the Rise of the Rest bus tour and fund are helping to raise the visibility of promising startups in cities across the country. We could not be more excited to announce our new investments and the next five stops on the bus tour, said Case. For the past four years, we have been encouraged by the entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders weve met on our tours and are excited to invest catalytic capital into these Rise of the Rest regions.PROVO  States  not the federal government  are the best places to find solutions for school violence like the deadly shooting in Florida earlier this week, Mitt Romney said Friday night.

I havent seen any federal legislation that would prevent these attacks, he said, though he noted that he likes Sen. Orrin Hatchs proposal for an enhanced background check program.

Passing legislation that might "make you feel a little better but that doesn't really do anything is not something I favor," he told reporters afterward.

State and local governments could consider a wide array of options, including police patrols, intervention teams and age and psychological restrictions on gun purchases, Romney said in a speech at the Utah County Republican Party Lincoln Day dinner.

Romney wouldn't say afterward whether states should go so far as to ban assault weapons, telling reporters he would let states make their own decisions.

In an interview earlier Friday, though, he said it makes sense to regulate bump stocks, an accessory the Las Vegas gunman used last fall to modify his rifles to fire like automatic weapons.

"They don't deserve to be generally available," he said.

Romney's presence at the Utah County event drew a large contingent of local and national media, and C-Span live-streamed his speech. More than 600 people attended the fundraiser, where tables went for as much $5,000.

Romney had a friendly audience  he received a standing ovation before he started speaking  for his first speech as a candidate since launching his campaign earlier Friday to replace the retiring Hatch. Utah County is the one of the reddest areas in the country.

But how well he appeals to the most conservative of Republicans remains to be seen.

"I might be the most conservative person in Utah to support Mitt, said former GOP state lawmaker David Lifferth, sporting a 2002 Winter Games tie. "I know a few people who are more conservative than I am, and Im not sure where they will land yet."

Lifferth, of Eagle Mountain, said its too early to know how GOP delegates, who lean further right than the Utah electorate in general, feel about Romney. Delegates will choose party nominees at the state GOP convention in April

Romney said he will participate in the convention but is also gathering signatures to ensure a place on the primary election ballot.

The former Massachusetts governor also has to overcome the perception that he swooped into Utah to buy a seat in the Senate.

Mindi and Tim Turgoose, of Riverton, showed up at the Utah County GOP dinner wearing Tim Jimenez for U.S. Senate" badges. Jimenez, of Tooele, is an environmental engineer and father of six children whose wife doesn't work outside the home.

What I really like about Tim and where hes coming from is hes one of us and he didnt grow up in a prestigious background, Mindi Turgoose said. Certainly, nothing fancy. Hes more relatable and I think that's what Utahns like."

Tim Turgoose said Romney doesnt know Utah as well as someone who has lived and worked in the state "as a regular Joe."

"Mitts kind of a Utah boy, he said.

Romney said he has lived in Utah for a total of 10 years, as a BYU student, head of the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, and as what he called a permanent resident since 2014.

Romney used most of his speech to answer questions local Republicans submitted ahead of time, including what it was like to run for president and if he really wants to be Utah's junior senator.

"Well, yes," he said to the latter.

Romney said like himself, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, is a deficit hawk.

"I hope to be your junior senator, Sen. Lee, and well work together on that," he said, acknowledging Lee in the crowd.

Romney also listed 10 "Utah-specific challenges" he would tackle, including improving education, attracting jobs to the state, lowering health insurance costs and having a greater voice on public lands.Are Jennifer Aniston And Brad Pitt Getting Back Together? Here's The Truth!

Jennifer Aniston may be single but she is not looking for a shoulder to cry on. And definitely not that of Brad Pitt! Following the news of Jennifer Aniston and Justin Therouxs split, the internet went into a frenzy with the possibility of a reunion of the actress and her former beau Brad Pitt. But that seems unlikely. Dismissing rumours, a spokesperson for the Friends star said a report by In Touch magazine that suggested that Brad is being her shoulder to cry on as fabrication.

A source close to Brad Pitt also said that while the actor is sad to hear the news about Jennifers split, he hasnt reached out to Jen, and has no plans to do so at this point.

In another article, People magazine said Jen and Brad havent met in a long time. They havent seen each other in ages, people.com quoted a source with knowledge of Pitt and Anistons current relationship as saying. For well over a decade now they have lived totally separate lives and so not surprisingly, they have become totally different people than who they once were when they were together, the source added.

Pitt, 54, and Aniston, 49, divorced in 2005 after five years of marriage. They broke up, and they did it because they had serious issues. Theyre not stupid. They remember why it didnt work, the source said, adding, Theyve been over each other for longer than they were ever together. It is such ancient history.

When it comes to the possibility of a new relationship, the source says their lives are simply too different from when they first met to make it work, reports people.com. Now you add six kids on his side and each of them having their own assorted battle scars into the mix? Forget it. Its not going to happen, the source added.

While Aniston and Pitt have remained friendly over the years, the source says two arent especially close.

They arent in regular contact, beyond an occasional text back and forth to wish each other the best when theres been a new project or big event, the source said.

Aniston and Theroux announced the end of their two-year marriage and nearly seven-year relationship in a joint statement on Thursday. The pair, who shared a mansion in the upscale Bel Air neighbourhood of Los Angeles, met on the set of the 2008 film Tropic Thunder in Hawaii, and started dating in 2011.

In an effort to reduce any further speculation, we have decided to announce our separation, the former couple said in the statement released by Anistons publicist Stephen Huvane.

This decision was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year. We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple, but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship.

The statement said the couple would have kept the arrangement private, but wanted to make sure people heard the truth, given that the gossip industry cannot resist an opportunity to speculate and invent.

Whatever else is printed about us that is not directly from us, is someone elses fictional narrative. Above all, we are determined to maintain the deep respect and love that we have for one another, it continued.

It was the second marriage for former Friends star Aniston, who wed Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt in 2000 -- forming one of Tinseltowns most glamorous couples at the time.

They divorced in 2005 after Pitt met Angelina Jolie, from whom he is now estranged, on the set of Mr and Mrs Smith. Theroux (Miami Vice, The Girl on the Train) was in a relationship with stylist Heidi Bivens for 14 years but the 46-year-old had never been married before meeting Aniston.As a nation, we are all trying to understand what could have prevented the tragedy at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Some of us will naturally focus on the means  the weapon used.

Others will focus on the motive  what angst or mental condition led a 19-year-old to commit such a horrific act.

Limiting availability to weapons may appear to be a way to stop events like these from happening. Sadly, as events in England have shown, even some of the toughest gun control laws in the world as the BBC reports have been unable to prevent such murderous acts as the Ariana Grande suicide bombing that claimed the lives of 22 human beings, many of them pre-teen girls.

Timothy McVeigh caused unbelievable carnage with a truckload of fertilizer back in 1995 outside a federal building in Oklahoma which housed, among other tenants, a daycare facility where infants were among the 168 killed.

Addressing the motive by reviewing social media accounts and holding companies such as Facebook and Twitter accountable to what they allow subscribers to publish online also appears to help. But this also so far has limited affect, only supplying after-the-fact evidence of the trail the killer took from conception to acting out their evil.Eliminatoires de la coupe du monde 2018 : le Burkina publie sa liste contre le Senegal



Jeudi 17 aout 2017. Ouagadougou. L`entraineur national des Etalons seniors du Burkina, Paulo Duarte, a publie la liste des joueurs convoques pour les matchs aller et retour contre le Senegal dans le cadre des eliminatoires de la coupe du monde Russie 2018.What does the perfect summers day look like? How about downing a big glass of murky Sydney Harbour water during golden hour.

Whilst its not exactly the first beverage one would consider (you know, incase you die), researchers at the CSIRO have gone ahead with the experiment and discovered a way to filter Sydney Harbours water down to a safe and drinkable standard.

RELATED: To Boost Your Sex Appeal, Science Says Eat This

Dr Dong Han Seo, Dr Adrian Murdock and Dr Zhao Jun Han took water samples directly from Sydney Harbour and trialled it on a new invention known as Graphair, CSIROs own patented compound made from the wonder material known as graphene.

Graphene on its own is rather intriguing. Its had starring roles as Iron Mans face armour in comic books, but in the real world its also known as one of the strongest materials ever created from a single layer of carbon atom. In final form to the naked eye its an ultra thin and entirely transparent structure  like sticky tape.

In the CSIROs interest, graphene is also water repellant which makes it perfect for water filtration. Sydney Harbour water was scooped up and taken back to the labs where it was tested with Graphair to surprsing results.

Water contaminants would normally pose a problem for traditional water filters without Graphair. This happens when chemicals or oil based substances clog up the filter pores, preventing any of the clean water from passing through. This resulted in extra filtration via a two stage process, making it both time consuming and expensive.

RELATED: Science-Backed Reasons You Should Consider Taking Cold Showers

With Graphair coated on the standard water filters membrane, there were no clogs and improved levels of filtration from contaminants. More specifically, researchers from the University of Sydney, UTS, QUT and Victoria University found that without Graphair, the membranes filtration rate halved in 72 hours.

Thats pretty damn impressive for something thats made out inexpensive soybean oil, most often found in vegetable oil (yes, the stuff in your kitchen pantry). So what does all this breakthrough research mean for the perennially perched?

Safe and clean drinking water for 2.1 billion people in the world who dont have access to it. As for drinking the murky stuff of Sydney Harbour, well let the enthusiastic guinea pigs at it first.As per ET, the launch of the new-generation Honda Brio has been put on hold and is unlikely to introduce the small car anytime soon. Honda wants to focus on SUVs as it has witnessed a commendable response to the Honda WR-V crossover, the carmaker also intends to focus on the sedan segment as well.

Speaking to ET, Yoichiro Ueno, MD of Honda Cars India, says, "We prefer the SUV space to small cars. The SUV is a growing segment in India; it offers more potential than a small car in the current context. We are studying multiple SUV options on the new Amaze platform." Honda is looking to employ the new Honda Amaze's platform, codenamed 2UA, to develop SUVs for the Indian market.

Recommended Video - Watch Now! New Honda Amaze Facelift Auto Expo 2018

Apart from the small SUVs and the sedans, Honda will focus on premium products such as the new-generation Honda CR-V, HR-V, Civic and the Accord to bring value to its brand image, while the Amaze, WR-V, City and the upcoming SUVs based on the new Amaze platform to deliver incremental volumes.

The current Honda Brio is not performing well in India, while the Honda BR-V has an average sales of 800-1000 units a month. Both these products have not performed well in the market; this could prompt the carmaker to stop the production of the Brio and the BR-V.

DriveSpark Thoughts About New-Generation Honda Brio Being Put On Hold

In the recent past, Honda has been slowing slipping its market share in India and is currently the fourth largest carmaker in India. The most significant aspect of the drop in market share is attributed to lower sales of mass-market cars such as the Brio and the BR-V. With the focus shifting to SUVs, Honda should look to offer premium features in the upcoming SUVs if it wants to increase its market share.

Instantly delete email threats for Office 365

365 Threat Monitor scans all emails as they reach your users' mailboxes to detect ransomware, phishing and spam. Receive real-time phone alerts, get real-time security breach updates and instantly delete threats with just one click - for free! Learn More.

Some small e-commerce website operators may think their relative obscurity offers protection, but the fact is that SMBs are especially vulnerable to cyberattacks and malware.

"Very often small businesses don't feel vulnerable to cyberthreats because they assume cybercriminals prefer to launch attacks on large companies," said Stephanie Weagle, VP of Corero.

"On the contrary, cybercriminals have greater success in targeting small businesses," she told the E-Commerce Times.

The most obvious attacks involve the use of overt malware, such as ransomware, or redirection to potentially competitive websites, noted Chris Olson, CEO of The Media Trust.

Other attacks "may insert embarrassing language on the homepage or stealthily execute unwanted programs such as cryptominers, toolbars and fake surveys," he told the E-commerce Times.

There are three major threats SMB etailers can address effectively.

1. Unvetted Open Source Code

SMBs that use open source software to keep down costs may increase their vulnerability to cyberattack, Olson suggested.

"There is no accountability for the developer community should a feature or plug-in be compromised," he said.

"Thousands of retailers use open source platforms and tools to successfully launch their Web-based commerce operations," Olson noted.

"These open source tools are compromised on a regular basis via extension corruptions or the creation of flawed versions," he explained, "and as traffic and revenues grow, so does the attraction for criminals."

Etailers should avoid using open source code that has not been thoroughly vetted, Olson recommended. "For a modest investment, etailers can identify all executing code, analyze its relevance to website functionality, and remediate anomalous activity that could propagate an attack."

2. Risky Third-Party Web Components

Third-party Web components "are a significant problem for small businesses," said Sam Curcuruto, technology evangelist at RiskIQ.

Their users employ "a lot of plugins and open source code which can be exploited downstream to give hackers access to any Web properties running them," he told the E-Commerce Times.

Among such exploits are keylogger software, which steals credit card data when customers make purchases online.

The Magecart malware package, for example, injects JavaScript code into e-commerce sites running unpatched or outdated versions of shopping cart software from Magento, Powerfront and OpenCart.

Etailers can combat threats posed by third-party Web components by selecting a reputable website hosting provider or Web development company, and "making sure your contracts or agreements with them include routine and periodic security reviews," Curcuruto said.

They also should include a patching service level agreement, or SLA, "that notes how quickly updates will be applied to their servers and machines that might run your website or payment processing," he continued.

That would not only address security concerns, but also ensure compliance with regulations such as PCI-DSS, Curcuruto pointed out.

3. The Mushrooming DDoS Trend

One third of IPv4 addresses were hit by some kind of denial of service (DoS) attack between March 2015 and February 2017, the University of California San Diego reported.

More than a quarter of the targeted addresses in the study were in the United States. Several website hosting companies were major targets. Among the most frequently attacked were GoDaddy, Google Cloud and Wix.

The frequency of distributed DoS, or DDoS, attacks -- which are launched from multiple sources and are almost impossible to stop -- has been rising steadily, as more devices are connected to the Internet and as the Internet of Things takes shape.

"Today's DDoS attacks have evolved into increasingly sophisticated and damaging events," Corero's Weagle said. Dealing with the fallout -- service outages, recovery, communication, and regaining customer trust -- "is a long and costly road."

SMB etailers should pay their trusted ISP or hosting partner for automated DDoS mitigation at the network edge, Weagle recommended.

Your Service Provider's Role

"Leverage the security and infrastructure of Web services such as Amazon Web Services, Google and Azure," advised Don Duncan, security engineer at NuData Security.

The Infrastructure as a Service environment typical of such companies "provides the business continuity needed to keep the lights on," he told the E-Commerce Times.

Further, these services have standard SLAs that let retailers focus on their core business, Duncan pointed out.

Working with such managed service providers will address "SMBs' limited skilled manpower and technologies," said Gabi Reish, VP of product management and marketing at Check Point.

"There is no excuse for SMBs not to integrate a dependable cybersecurity solution," he told the E-Commerce Times.

The cybersecurity industry as a whole "is on a mission to provide strong cybersecurity solutions for SMBs," Reish said. Such solutions "must be very simple to operate and manage."

Cybersecurity Self-Defense

SMB etailers can take several simple steps to protect themselves, RiskIQ's Curcuruto emphasized, even if they lack IT personnel.

Set Google Alerts to track mentions of your company name, your key executives' names, and your product names.

to track mentions of your company name, your key executives' names, and your product names. Maintain password security. "Use complex passwords, as well as different passwords for different online services," Curcuruto advised. "Change them often, especially when a major breach happens with another organization that you have a login to."

"Use complex passwords, as well as different passwords for different online services," Curcuruto advised. "Change them often, especially when a major breach happens with another organization that you have a login to." Keep a clean digital presence online. "Make sure you know where your website is hosted, and the key contacts at the hosting provider," he recommended. "Deactivate or cancel accounts for products and services you don't use, and monitor those that you do by setting up account alerts or enabling two-factor authentication, especially for social networks."

Richard Adhikari has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2008. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, mobile technologies, CRM, databases, software development, mainframe and mid-range computing, and application development. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including Information Week and Computerworld. He is the author of two books on client/server technology. Email Richard.

New Delhi: The entire opposition, including the Congress, has opened a front against the ruling Modi government at the Center of the countrys largest banking scam. Congress President Rahul Gandhi has directly blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the scam while sitting there silently for a long time, Arvind Kejriwal is also seen coming in full form.

Delhis CM Kejriwal says that this scam cannot be without the approval of the central government. Let us know that a case of disturbance of Rs 11,356 crore has been reported in Punjab National Bank. Allegations that billionaire jeweler businessman Neerav Modi (46) got a foreign loan from other Indian lenders, allegedly receiving a fraudulent guarantee letter (LOU) from the banks Mumbai branch.

Now the opposition has become vocal on this issue. In this episode, Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted how the central governments tactics were tweeted. He wrote in a tweet  Neerav Modi has explained how India can be looted.

First, meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also look at PM Modi in Davos. Rahul wrote that stole 12,000 crore rupees from the country and take away the money from the country like Vijay Mallya.

At the same time, Arvind Kejriwal tweeted on the PNB banking scam to target the BJP government under the leadership of Narendra Modi. He tweeted on Thursday afternoon and said the collision of the BJP government in the scam. In the tweet, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has said, Is it possible that Vijay Mallya or Nirav Modi should go out of the country without the collusion of the Bharatiya Janata government?

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, who escaped from attacking the central government, has sent a message to this attack that he will now be vocal and will attack the BJP central government.

Let us state that the countrys government banks dealing with many problems already have to deal with the biggest scandal in history. Punjab National Bank (PNB) has revealed that it has a scam of $ 1.77 billion (Rs 11,346 crore) in a Mumbai-based branch.

The scams strings are also associated with the famous gemstone and jewelry trader Neerav Modi, against whom PNB had handed over the investigation to the CBI by alleging a fraud of Rs 280 crores a fortnight ago. Enforcement Directorate has registered a case of cheating on Neerav Modi on the basis of CBIs FIR.

PNB briefed the stock market about the rigging that took place in one of its branches on Wednesday morning. According to the bank, he has registered some disturbances in one of his branches in Mumbai. Transactions were made to benefit some account holders. On the basis of these transactions, other banks have lent money abroad to customers.

The size of this whole case is $ 1.77 billion. The information of PNB has stirred up the finance ministry and the entire banking sector. The Ministry of Finance has summoned the report on the whole issue.

However, according to Joint Secretary Lok Ranjan, in the banking department of the Ministry, This is not a big issue and there is no such situation which should be told that the situation is not in control. But other officials of the Ministry are worried that its wire Other government banks are also involved.

Union Bank, Allahabad Bank, and private sector Axis Bank also gave loans on the basis of the letter of intent (LOU) issued to the account holders for PNB.

In this case, the bank will also come under the scope of the investigation. LOU is a form issued on behalf of a bank branch to another bank branch on which the second branch of the bank provides the loan facility to that customer.

The PNB banking scam is being called the countrys largest banking scam. The main accused in this scandal, Neerav Modi is a diamond businessman of Gujarat. However, he was born in Antwerp (Belgium), considered the Diamond Capital of the world. There are many showrooms in the country and abroad and they sell their belongings only with the Neerav Modi brand.

According to the information, Neeravs net worth is Rs 11,500 crore.

Look at other banks too

When the RBI summoned the PNB, then he made it public and there was no choice but to investigate the case. Other cases also came out in this order. Also, it is being ascertained whether this business of issuing LOU in other bank branches is going on. If the experts believe that the bank unofficially meets with the importers, they do this work very well and it is indirectly permissible from the top officials.

PNB Ten employees suspended

PNB has suspended its ten employees in this case. After the scam came to light, the ten price share of PNB shares fell in the stock market. The shares of other banks have also dived very well.The mastermind of the Mumbai attack, Hafiz Saeed, has been shocked after his organizations have been banned in Pakistan. He has threatened Pakistan and has said that he will not tolerate this action of the Pakistan government.

Hafiz Saeed has released a new video in which he appears to be cursing Pakistan. In the video, he said that even if Pakistan surrenders to America, He will not Move Down.

In the video, Hafiz said, You Have Read in the Newspaper that Pakistan government is calling you to close madrassa school and Handle them to the Government But If you will Close One School Then Allah is Here to Guide us Many Ways.

They say that such a great work is happening  you are silent..Not in the newspaper, there is no statement I understand what is happening against us, why is it that all of them wants to criticise Pakistan and we do not want the Restriction should be applied on the country with Our Name. We can not tolerate this.

Pakistan had banned the LeT in 2002, but after leaving Saeeds group and establishing Jamaat-ud-Dawa, he is under the supervision of the government and the ban on it has been lifted. Saeed was interned in his home in Pakistan, but he became free last year.

The Grand Prize winners are: Saperavi winemakers from Australia - Grand Gold, USA - Grand Silver; Kazakhstan - Grand Bronze. Wines of best-known Georgian variety from all over the world were judged in Georgia for the first time at SapPrize contest organized by us - the wine news publisher Hvino News.Stanford, CA--Roots face many challenges in the soil in order to supply the plant with the necessary water and nutrients. New work from Carnegie and Stanford University's Jose Dinneny shows that one of these challenges, salinity, can cause root cells to explode if the risk is not properly sensed. The findings, published by Current Biology, could help scientists improve agricultural productivity in saline soils, which occur across the globe and reduce crop yields.

Salts build up in soils from natural causes, such as sea spray, or can be introduced as a consequence of irrigation and poor land management. Salinity has deleterious effects on plant health and limits crop yields, because salt inhibits water uptake and can be toxic for plants.

But Dinneny and his collaborators, including Alice Cheung at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Carnegie's Wei Feng, the paper's lead author, determined a never-before-described effect that salt has on the plant cell wall--a structure that provides strength to the plant cell and determines the rate at which plant tissues can grow.

Animal cells are surrounded by a layer of material on the outside, called the extracellular matrix, which provides structural support and facilitates communication. But the walls that surround plant cells need to resist tremendous pressure that builds up inside them. Plant cell walls must be strong enough to resist pressures two to three times greater than that in a car tire, while also being elastic enough to allow for growth.

When this growth extends a plant root into a saline environment, the root's first response for self-protection is to shut off growth for several hours.

"After this dormant phase, roots are ready to pick themselves up and start growing again," explained Dinneny. "We were looking for genetic mutations that disrupted the ability of roots to successfully enter the recovery phase. We found one and the effect of the mutation simply shocked us."

Dinneny, Cheung, Feng, and their colleagues found that a cell surface receptor--a kind of protein that interacts with molecules on the outside of the cell--called FERONIA is crucial to a plant's ability to sense salinity's effects on the wall and prevent a loss of structural integrity.

"Plants with mutations that cause them to be deficient in FERONIA actually violently explode as they start to recover growth, their tissues degenerate, and ultimately they die," added Feng.

The damage caused by salinity could be partly reversed by adding chemicals to the environment that increased the strength of the wall.

Furthermore, the authors further showed similar defects could be observed in mutants that have disruptions in certain chemical bonds in the structures of their cell walls.

Taken together, these findings indicate that the FERONIA protein directly interacts with the plant cell wall and could be directly sensing some of the damage to the wall caused by salinity.

"What our work suggests is that the very processes that regulate plant cell wall chemistry may be important for sensing and surviving high-salt soil conditions," Dinneny explained. "This opens up a whole new exciting area of research on salt tolerance mechanisms in plants--it may even be possible to change the chemistry of the cell wall to alter its resistance to salt-induced damage."

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The paper's other co-authors are: Carnegie's Heather Cartwright; Daniel Kita, Vinh Doan, Qiaohong Duan, Ming-Che Liu, Jacob Maman, Robert Yvon, and Hen-Ming Wuof the University of Massachusetts; Alexis Peaucelle of AgroParisTech and University of Cambridge; and Leonie Steinhorst, Ina Schmitz-Thom, and Jorg Kudla of the University of Munster.

This work was supported by the Sainsbury Laboratory at Cambridge University, the U.S. National Science Foundation, the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the Carnegie Institution for Science Endowment, and the German Research Foundation.

The Carnegie Institution for Science (carnegiescience.edu) is a private, nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with six research departments throughout the U.S. Since its founding in 1902, the Carnegie Institution has been a pioneering force in basic scientific research. Carnegie scientists are leaders in plant biology, developmental biology, astronomy, materials science, global ecology, and Earth and planetary science.AUSTIN, Tex -- It's not rare that a baby experiences a stroke around the time it is born. Birth is hard on the brain, as is the change in blood circulation from the mother to the neonate. At least 1 in 4,000 babies are affected shortly before, during, or after birth.

But a stroke in a baby -- even a big one -- does not have the same lasting impact as a stroke in an adult. A study led by Georgetown University Medical Center investigators found that a decade or two after a "perinatal" stroke damaged the left "language" side of the brain, affected teenagers and young adults used the right sides of their brain for language.

The findings, to be reported Feb. 17 in a symposium at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting in Austin, Tex., demonstrates how "plastic" brain function is in infants, says cognitive neuroscientist Elissa L. Newport, PhD, professor of neurology at Georgetown University School of Medicine, and director of the Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery at Georgetown University and MedStar National Rehabilitation Network.

Her study found that the 12 individuals studied, aged 12 to 25, who had a left-brain perinatal stroke all used the right side of their brains for language. "Their language is good -- normal," she says.

The only telltale signs of prior damage to their brain are that some study individuals limp a bit and many have learned to make their left hands dominant because the stroke left right hand function impaired. They also have some executive function impairments -- slightly slower neural processing, for example -- that are common in individuals with brain injuries. But basic cognitive functions, like language comprehension and production, are excellent, Newport says.

Furthermore, imaging studies revealed that language in these participants is all based in the right side in an exact, mirror opposite region to the left normal language areas. This has also been found in previous research, but earlier findings have been inconsistent, perhaps due to the heterogeneity of the types of brain injuries included in those studies, Newport explains. Her research, which was carefully controlled in terms of the types and areas of injury included, suggests that while "these young brains were very plastic, meaning they could relocate language to a healthy area, it doesn't mean that new areas can be located willy-nilly on the right side.

"We believe there are very important constraints to where functions can be relocated," she says. "There are very specific regions that take over when part of the brain is injured, depending on the particular function. Each function, like language or spatial skills, has a particular region that can take over if its primary brain area is injured. This is a very important discovery that may have implications in the rehabilitation of adult stroke survivors."

This finding makes sense in very young brains, Newport adds. Imaging shows that children up to about age four can process language in both sides of their brains, and then the functions split up: the left side processes sentences and the right processes emotion in language.

Newport and her colleagues are extending their study of brain function after a perinatal stroke to a larger group of participants, and are looking at both left and right brain strokes and also at whether brain functions other than language are relocated and where.

Her group is also collaborating on studies that may reveal the molecular basis of plasticity in young brains -- additional information that might help switch on plasticity in adults who have suffered stroke or brain injury.

In the ongoing study, Newport collaborates with other investigators at Georgetown University, as well as at Johns Hopkins University, Children's National Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and MedStar National Rehabilitation Network.

Newport reports having no personal financial interests related to the study.

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This work is supported by funds from Georgetown University, MedStar Health, the Solomon James Rodan Pediatric Stroke Research Fund and the Feldstein Veron Innovation Fund to the Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery; by NIH grant K18DC014558 and American Heart Association grant 17GRNT33650054 to ELN; and by M01RR020359 and P30HD040677 to the IDDRC U54 HD090257 at Childrens National Health System and Georgetown University.

About the Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery

The Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery, a Georgetown University and MedStar National Rehabilitation Network collaboration, focuses on the study of biological processes underlying the brain's ability to learn, develop, and recover from injury. Through interdisciplinary laboratory and clinical research, the Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery aims to find ways to restore cognitive, sensory, and motor function caused by neurological damage and disease.

About Georgetown University Medical Center

Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through MedStar Health). GUMC's mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis -- or "care of the whole person." The Medical Center includes the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing & Health Studies, both nationally ranked; Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute; and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization, which accounts for the majority of externally funded research at GUMC including a Clinical and Translational Science Award from the National Institutes of Health. Connect with GUMC on Facebook (Facebook.com/GUMCUpdate), Twitter (@gumedcenter) and Instagram (@gumedcenter).An underlying painting, likely by another Barcelona painter, and major compositional changes are among findings

An international partnership of the Northwestern University/Art Institute of Chicago Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts (NU-ACCESS), the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, has used multiple modes of light to uncover details hidden beneath the visible surface of Pablo Picasso's painting "La Misereuse accroupie" (The Crouching Woman), a major work from the artist's Blue Period.

The 1902 oil painting, owned by the AGO in Toronto, Canada, depicts a crouching and cloaked woman, painted in white, blues, grays and greens.

With knowledge of an underlying landscape revealed long ago by X-ray radiography at the AGO, researchers used non-invasive portable imaging techniques, including infrared reflectance hyperspectral imaging adapted by the National Gallery of Art and then an X-ray fluorescence imaging instrument developed at Northwestern, to detail buried images connected to other works by Picasso -- including a watercolor recently sold at auction -- as well as the presence of a landscape likely by another Barcelona painter underneath "La Misereuse accroupie."

Marc Walton, a research professor of materials science and engineering at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering and co-director of NU-ACCESS, will discuss the collective new findings at a Feb. 17 press briefing at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting in Austin, Texas. He will present a full-scale reproduction of Picasso's iterative adaptations leading to the final painting. The briefing, "Technology Peers Into Picasso's Art," will be held at 9 a.m. CST in Room 6, Level 3, of the Austin Convention Center.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: A separate study of Picasso's work in three dimensions will be discussed at the same press briefing. Francesca Casadio, the Art Institute of Chicago's Grainger Executive Director of Conservation and Science and co-director of NU-ACCESS, will talk about the findings from an unprecedented study of five decades of Picasso's bronzes in the collection of the Musee national Picasso-Paris.]

"Picasso had no qualms about changing things during the painting process," Walton said. "Our international team -- consisting of scientists, a curator and a conservator -- has begun to tease apart the complexity of 'La Misereuse accroupie,' uncovering subtle changes made by Picasso as he worked toward his final vision."

NU-ACCESS members who are studying "La Misereuse accroupie" are Walton, Casadio and postdoctoral fellows Emeline Pouyet and Gianluca Pastorelli.

The researchers used non-invasive methods they adapted to the study of paintings. The state-of-the-art tools enabled the scientists to analyze the painting relatively quickly inside the museum. The key findings of the multidisciplinary international study include:

Picasso painted over another painter's work after rotating it 90 degrees to the right, using some of the landscape forms in his own final composition of "La Misereuse accroupie." Picasso incorporated the lines of the cliff edges into the woman's back, for example.

Picasso also made a major compositional change, the researchers report. The artist initially painted the woman with a right arm and hand holding a disk but then covered them with her cloak in the final work.

By closely observing "La Misereuse accroupie," AGO's conservation department, now led in this project by senior conservator of paintings Sandra Webster-Cook, had observed distinct textures and contrasting underlying color that peaked through the crack lines and did not match the visible composition. X-ray radiography was the first non-invasive tool used to uncover hidden information in "La Misereuse accroupie"; it revealed a horizontal landscape by a different Barcelona painter, whose identity remains unknown, under the visible surface of Picasso's painting.

John Delaney, senior imaging scientist at the National Gallery of Art, then studied the painting with infrared reflectance hyperspectral imaging, which records underlying images depending on their relative transparency of the paint layers. He found an arm and a disk under the surface of the painting. Delaney's imaging method provides improved visibility of earlier compositional painted elements.

For a more detailed understanding of the repositioned arm, NU-ACCESS scientists next investigated the painting using images generated by their X-ray fluorescence (XRF) scanner. The NU-ACCESS team traveled twice to the AGO in Canada with their portable tools for the study.

This system produces grayscale images showing the distribution of elements associated with various pigments of the painting. The scientists were able to analyze 70 percent of the painting in 24 hours. Together with micro-samples extracted from strategic locations, the XRF results, along with further images generated by Delaney from the hyperspectral reflectance, reveal the steps of creation taken by Picasso.

The iron- and chromium-based pigments of the surface layer correlated with the painting's current structure and its palette of mostly blues (painted with the iron-based Prussian blue and with ultramarine, Picasso's Blue Period blue of choice) and yellow-greens (painted with chromium-based yellows). The elemental maps of cadmium- and lead-based pigments, however, revealed the presence of the woman's right arm and hand beneath the visible surface.

The imaging techniques developed by Northwestern and the National Gallery have allowed Kenneth Brummel, the AGO's assistant curator of modern art, to better understand Picasso's style, influences and process.

"When we saw the rendering of the lead elemental map, it became clear to me that the arm hidden under the visible surface of 'La Misereuse accroupie' is the same as the proper right arm of a crouching woman in a Picasso watercolor recently sold at auction," Brummel said. The watercolor is titled "Femme assise" (1902).

Images generated by Delaney -- through the selection of different bandwidths in the near infrared -- confirmed the relationship between "La Misereuse accroupie" and the watercolor.

"After seeing the lead map from the XRF scanning, we were able to make a map of pigment lead white, which, when overlaid with the false color infrared, gives a more complete image of an upstretched arm, sleeve, disk and fingers," Delaney said.

"We now are able to develop a chronology within the painting structure to tell a story about the artist's developing style and possible influences," said Sandra Webster-Cook, AGO's senior conservator of paintings.

Further details about the collaboration's research findings and the implications on Picasso's developing style and influences will be revealed June 1 at the American Institute of Conservation annual meeting in Houston.

Questions raised by this research on Picasso's influence and style during his Blue Period will be further explored in a Picasso Blue Period exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario and The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., in 2020 through 2021.

Computer scientist to discuss use of algorithms in Picasso study at Feb. 17 AAAS session

In a related scientific session the afternoon of Feb. 17 at the AAAS annual meeting, Northwestern's Aggelos Katsaggelos will explain how he has paired signal processing technology with data collected from the advanced imaging tools used to extract images hidden beneath the surface of "La Misereuse accroupie." In addition to presenting the general findings of the investigation by the NU-ACCESS team, Katsaggelos will highlight the use of super-resolution approaches to estimate high-resolution XRF images and how these data are used in the art historical interpretations of the painting.

Katsaggelos, the Joseph Cummings Professor in the McCormick School's department of electrical engineering and computer science and an NU-ACCESS faculty member, used computational methods to reconstruct the missing pixels of the X-ray fluorescence signal from the acquisition of only approximately 25 percent of the total pixels.

Katsaggelos will speak at the scientific session "Analyzing Picasso: Scientific Innovation, Instrumentation and Education," to be held from 1:30 to 3 p.m. CST Saturday, Feb. 17, at the AAAS meeting. The symposium, co-organized by Walton, will be held in Room 17B of the Austin Convention Center. In addition to Katsaggelos, the event will include two other speakers discussing different aspects of Picasso's work. (See details below.)

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Additional information

This project with the Art Gallery of Ontario was made possible through NU-ACCESS, which is supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The center's mission is to provide scientific support for the investigation of art collections, to develop new technology to look at art and to research new methods to conserve art for future generations.

Other major NU-ACCESS projects have included studies of the works of Paul Gauguin, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri Matisse, Winslow Homer, George Seurat and Mary Cassatt. Most recently, the center spearheaded a study by scientists and Northwestern students of a series of mummy portraits produced in Egypt during the Roman period and a complete intact 1,900-year-old young girl portrait mummy.

About the Art Gallery of Ontario

Located in Toronto, Canada's largest city of 6.5 million, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is one of the largest art museums in North America. The AGO's collection of close to 95,000 works ranges from cutting-edge contemporary art such as "Untilled" by Pierre Huyghe to European masterpieces such as Peter Paul Rubens's "The Massacre of The Innocents"; 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 with deep holdings of works by artists such as Garry Winogrand and Diane Arbus; and with focused collections in Gothic boxwood miniatures and Western and Central African art. Drawing on this collection--as well as collaborations with museums around the world--the AGO presents wide-ranging exhibitions and programs, taking special care to showcase diverse and underrepresented artists. 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. Visit ago.ca and follow @AGOToronto to learn more.

About the National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art, Washington opened to the public on March 17, 1941. Founded by Andrew W. Mellon and accepted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on behalf of the nation, the gallery serves a singular role in American cultural life. As the nation's art museum, it is dedicated to preserving, collecting, exhibiting and fostering an understanding of works of art at the highest possible museum and scholarly standards. The gallery's collection includes more than 150,000 works spanning the history of Western art. Entry to the permanent collection, exhibitions and programs are always free of charge. Visit nga.gov and follow the gallery on Facebook at facebook.com/NationalGalleryofArt and Twitter and Instagram at @ngadc.New wearable device for the throat to be presented at AAAS annual meeting

A groundbreaking new wearable designed to be worn on the throat could be a game-changer in the field of stroke rehabilitation.

Developed in the lab of Northwestern University engineering professor John A. Rogers, in partnership with Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, the sensor is the latest in Rogers' growing portfolio of stretchable electronics that are precise enough for use in advanced medical care and portable enough to be worn outside the hospital, even during extreme exercise.

Rogers will present research on the implications of stretchable electronics for stroke recovery treatment at a press briefing at 11a.m. CST, Saturday, Feb. 17, at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting in Austin, Texas. The briefing, "Biomedical Sensors in Service of Society," will be held at 11 a.m. CST in Room 6, Level 3 of the Austin Convention Center.

Rogers also will discuss his work at the AAAS presentation "Soft Electronics for the Human Body" from 4:30 to 5 p.m. CST Feb. 17, at the AAAS meeting. Rogers' talk, to be held in Room F of the Austin Convention Center, is part of the scientific session "Biomedical Sensors: Advances in Health Monitoring and Disease Treatment."

Rogers' sensors stick directly to the skin, moving with the body and providing detailed health metrics including heart function, muscle activity and quality of sleep.

"Stretchable electronics allow us to see what is going on inside patients' bodies at a level traditional wearables simply cannot achieve," Rogers said. "The key is to make them as integrated as possible with the human body."

Rogers' new bandage-like throat sensor measures patients' swallowing ability and patterns of speech. The sensors aid in the diagnosis and treatment of aphasia, a communication disorder associated with stroke.

The tools that speech-language pathologists have traditionally used to monitor patients' speech function - such as microphones - cannot distinguish between patients' voices and ambient noise.

"Our sensors solve that problem by measuring vibrations of the vocal chords," Rogers said. "But they only work when worn directly on the throat, which is a very sensitive area of the skin. We developed novel materials for this sensor that bend and stretch with the body, minimizing discomfort to patients."

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, a research hospital in Chicago, uses the throat sensor in conjunction with electronic biosensors - also developed in Rogers' lab - on the legs, arms and chest to monitor stroke patients' recovery progress. The intermodal system of sensors streams data wirelessly to clinicians' phones and computers, providing a quantitative, full-body picture of patients' advanced physical and physiological responses in real time.

"One of the biggest problems we face with stroke patients is that their gains tend to drop off when they leave the hospital," said Arun Jayaraman, research scientist at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and a wearable technology expert. "With the home monitoring enabled by these sensors, we can intervene at the right time, which could lead to better, faster recoveries for patients."

Because the sensors are wireless, they eliminate barriers posed by traditional health monitoring devices in clinical settings. Patients can wear them even after they leave the hospital, allowing doctors to understand how their patients are functioning in the real world.

"Talking with friends and family at home is a completely different dimension from what we do in therapy," said Leora Cherney, research scientist at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and an expert in aphasia treatment. "Having a detailed understanding of patients' communication habits outside of the clinic helps us develop better strategies with our patients to improve their speaking skills and speed up their recovery process."

Jayaraman describes the platform's mobility as a "gamechanger" in rehabilitation outcomes measurement.

Data from the sensors will be presented in a dashboard that is easy for both clinicians and patients to understand. It will send alerts when patients are underperforming on a certain metric and allow them to set and track progress toward their goals.

"We are so grateful for our partnership with the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab," Rogers said. "They are helping us move our technology from the research lab to the real world, where it already is making a positive impact on the lives of patients."

Rogers also is collaborating with the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab to test the sensors on patients with other conditions, such as Parkinson's disease.

Ten Northwestern professors will present their work at the AAAS annual meeting. See a full summary at Northwestern Now.

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Still images and video available for download

Full summary of Northwestern presenters

Press briefing information:

"Biomedical Sensors in Service of Society"

11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17

Room 6, Level 3, Austin Convention Center

Presentation information:

"Soft Electronics for the Human Body"

4:30 to 5 p.m. CST Saturday, Feb. 17

Room F, Austin Convention CenterMusee national Picasso-Paris and the Northwestern University/Art Institute of Chicago Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts (NU-ACCESS) have completed the first major material survey and study of the Musee national Picasso-Paris' world-renowned Pablo Picasso bronzes using cutting-edge, portable instruments.

The international research team of scientists, art conservators and curators used the portable instruments and a robust database of alloy "fingerprints" to non-invasively analyze a priceless group of 39 bronzes (cast between 1905 and 1959) and 11 painted sheet metal sculptures (from the 1960s) in the Musee national Picasso-Paris' collection.

The researchers were able to trace five bronzes cast in Paris during World War II to the foundry of Emile Robecchi, a lesser-known collaborator of Picasso's. They also discovered Robecchi's alloy compositions varied significantly during 1941 and 1942, likely reflecting the challenging circumstances of the Nazi occupation of Paris. In their study of Picasso's cast-iron sheet metal sculptures, the researchers are the first to report the use of silver for facial features in a work inspired by one of his wives.

Francesca Casadio, the Grainger Executive Director of Conservation and Science at the Art Institute and co-director of NU-ACCESS, will discuss the findings at a Feb. 17 press briefing at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting in Austin, Texas. The briefing, "Technology Peers Into Picasso's Art," will be held at 9 a.m. CST in Room 6, Level 3, of the Austin Convention Center.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: A separate study of Picasso's art and methods will be discussed at the same press briefing. Marc Walton, co-director of NU-ACCESS and a materials scientist at Northwestern, will talk about a study of Picasso's Blue Period painting "La Misereuse accroupie" (The Crouching Woman, 1902). Using a scanning elemental analyzer developed by the center, the researchers uncovered buried images with connections to other works by Picasso as well as another painting -- likely by another Barcelona painter -- whose forms Picasso used to inform some parts of his own final composition.]

"Our project highlights the value of cutting-edge scientific tools and international collaborations in advancing discoveries in art," Casadio said. "It was exciting to partner with Virginie Perdrisot, curator of the Musee national Picasso-Paris, to unlock the material composition and technical details of Picasso's creative process. We now can begin to write a new chapter in the history of this prolific giant of modern art."

The NU-ACCESS team included Casadio and three scientists from Northwestern. Emeline Pouyet, a materials scientist and NU-ACCESS postdoctoral fellow, created the diagram of bronze compositions over which Picasso's production could be mapped. With their portable instruments, which use X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, the researchers could easily analyze the priceless objects in the museum galleries and in storage, without the need to move them.

Using non-invasive analysis of elements at a work's surface, NU-ACCESS has amassed the world's largest art database of alloy "fingerprints" for early 20th-century fine arts bronzes. More than a decade in the making, the database includes data on 350 works of art by the leading artists that came to Paris from all over the world to achieve the finest casts of their bronzes. This data is key to NU-ACCESS's "elemental fingerprinting" technique.

The researchers used this technique to analyze the alloys in the Picasso bronzes for clues about how, when and where they were cast.

Scientific analysis of the metal alloys of the bronze sculptures, coupled with recently discovered archival information, revealed that five of Picasso's 1941 and 1942 casts without a foundry mark were made by Robecchi's foundry. One of these sculptures is "Head of a Woman, in Profile" (modeled 1931, cast 1941).

The study provides provenance for these works and helps define the activities of Picasso and the Robecchi foundry during war times. (For the bronzes cast in the 1940s by Robecchi, Picasso first modeled the works in the 1930s in plaster.)

"In the context of increased material studies of Picasso's painting practices, our study extends the potential of scientific investigations to the artist's three-dimensional productions," Pouyet said. "Material evidence from the sculptures themselves can be unlocked by scientific analysis for a deeper understanding of Picasso's bronze sculpture-making process and the history of artists, dealers and foundrymen in the production of modern sculpture."

The researchers also discovered that in this short two-year period during World War II, the composition of the alloy used by Robecchi varied significantly -- possibly because of the scarcity of raw metals, German appropriation of non-ferrous metals for the war efforts and re-use of scrap metal from brass objects of ordinary use. This work was done in partnership with the Musee national Picasso-Paris staff and Clare Finn, a private conservator in London and an expert on the dynamics of fine arts castings during World War I and World War II.

Picasso made a relatively small number of sculptures (approximately 700, roughly one-sixth of his output in paintings) and issued few numbered editions of his bronzes, Casadio said. The circumstances of much of his early production as well as that of the sculptures cast during World War II have been unclear. Many of the bronzes analyzed by the NU-ACCESS team are unique casts.

In its analysis of Picasso's sheet metal sculptures, the research team is the first to discover the use of the precious metal silver to render the details of the hair, eyes and other facial features on the cast-iron sheet, polychrome sculpture titled "Head of a Woman" (late 1962). The artist's second wife, Jacqueline Roque, inspired the piece.

Analysis also sheds light on the productive relationship of Picasso with craftsmen in a workshop in the south of France. For this project, Ludovic Bellot-Gurlet, a molecular spectroscopist in Paris who has developed a mobile lab for paint and pigment analysis, worked side by side with NU-ACCESS scientists and their elemental analysis tools. They figuratively peeled back layers of paint to uncover what paintwork was done by Picasso to the sheet metal sculptures and what was applied by the workshop.

In addition to the press briefing, Casadio also will discuss the findings at 2 p.m. CST Feb. 17 in Room 17B of the Austin Convention Center. Her presentation, "Analyzing Picasso: Recent Breakthroughs Thanks to Mobile Instrumentation," is part of a scientific session co-organized by Casadio and Walton called "Analyzing Picasso: Scientific Innovation, Instrumentation and Education." Casadio will be joined at the session by two Northwestern speakers discussing different aspects of Picasso's work. (See details below).

###

This major project with the Musee national Picasso-Paris was made possible through NU-ACCESS, which is supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The center's mission is to provide scientific support for the investigation of art collections, to develop new technology to look at art and to research new methods to conserve art for future generations.

Other NU-ACCESS projects have included studies of the works of Paul Gauguin, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri Matisse, Winslow Homer, George Seurat and Mary Cassatt. Most recently, the center spearheaded a study by scientists and Northwestern students of a series of mummy portraits produced in Egypt during the Roman period and a complete intact 1,900-year-old young girl portrait mummy.Focusing science education on students through genetic and genealogical studies may be the way to increase minorities in the pipeline and engage students who would otherwise deem science too hard or too uninteresting, according to a Penn State anthropologist.

"Henry Louis Gates (Jr.) and I talked about using personalized genetics and genealogy in classrooms as a way to help get kids to understand their heritage and be proud," said Nina Jablonski, Evan Pugh University Professor of Anthropology, Penn State. "And especially for African-American kids to connect with their heritage. Then also, equally, as a way to create interest in science."

Gates is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University. He has also produced a variety of documentary films and is currently host and expert on the Public Broadcasting System's "Finding Your Roots," which is in its fourth season.

A working group of about 30 people explored the various approaches to this goal. Eventually, the group was whittled down to only a few and an informal approach centered on the "study of me" developed.

"What we wanted to see was if the genetic 'study of me' influences the feelings about science and aspirations about wanting to be a scientist," said Jablonski. "Does it impact understanding?"

The researchers felt it was critical to work with middle school children because that is when children are figuring out who they are and what they are going to do in life. They wanted to influence the middle schoolers before they got to high school to see if this intervention approach was effective. The program and curriculum they developed were for a two-week summer camp which was eventually orchestrated by Penn State's Science U, an outreach program of the Eberly College of Science.

In the process, the group realized that this curriculum and approach would work just as well for high school and introductory undergraduate students. A program was also begun at Spelman College and Morehouse College to incorporate the material as a module in an introductory biology class.

The researchers involved in both projects will present the results of their work at a session, "Understanding Your Roots: STEM Diversity and an Evidence-Based Curriculum," organized by Jablonski today (Feb. 17) at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Austin, Texas.

"We are trying to give students the impactful personal message that history is related to what they are studying," said Jablonski.

By focusing on genealogy and genetics, the curriculum ranges from DNA and inheritance to evolution and the origins of humanity.

"The students become more literate in science, but they also see themselves as part of the genealogy of humanity, that is, ultimately all people united," said Jablonski.

During the summer camp, African-American students were often able to trace their ancestry back to their ancestors' original entry into the new world. This was possible through family oral histories that still exist. Some students of European descent had more trouble getting that far back in their ancestry.

The summer camp includes two days of independent study where kids were able to choose the direction of their studies. Projects ranged from bacteria, to further DNA studies, to genealogical trees of anime characters complete with inherited traits.

"We took the risk to empower these kids," said Jablonski. "The risk paid off in the creative thinking they showed."

###

Also part of the symposium are Aditi Pai, associate professor of biology, Spelman College; C. Brandon Ogbunu, assistant professor of biology, Brown University; and Elizabeth Wright, postdoctoral fellow in anthropology, Penn State.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation and the National Science Foundation supported these projects.The head of France's rightwing Republicans opposition party came under fire Saturday over comments he made about President Emmanuel Macron and former head of state Nicolas Sarkozy.

In clips released Friday, Laurent Wauquiez can be heard telling students at a business college in the eastern city of Lyon that Macron and his team have contributed substantially to setting up a demolition cell to attack former Republican prime minister Francois Fillon.

Fillon, the one-time favourite for the French presidency, crashed out of last years election at the first round after it emerged that his wife was paid nearly 700,000 euros for a suspected fake job as a French parliamentary assistant.

Wauquiez, who has seen some more moderate members quit the party since he was chosen as the Republicans leader in December, also attacked right-wing former president Sarkozy.

He accused him of online manipulation to pump up all his texts and emails, in the text of his speech seen by AFP on Saturday.

The head of Macrons Republic on the Move party, Christophe Castaner, described the comments as cynicism, insolence and conspiracy theory.

Wauquiez likes nobody, he added.

Sarkozys camp denied the grotesque stories and said Wauquiez had apologised to the former head of state.

The leader of the Republicans denounced the illegal manner in which his comments were recorded.

He added that he had been talking in a private setting during a free discussion with students, sometimes in a humorous fashion.Privacy Settings

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NOTE: These settings will only apply to the browser and device you are currently using.Prominent Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan, who was remanded in custody in France on rape charges earlier in the month, has been hospitalised due to multiple sclerosis, his support group said Saturday.

The 55-year-old Oxford University professor, who will now undergo an independent medical evaluation to determine if he is to remain in jail before trial, was sent to hospital on Friday night, a source close the case confirmed.

His state of health is getting worse, particularly since the judges refused to issue a visit permit to his wife and children yesterday, a source close to Ramadan said on Saturday.

Another source close to the case said he would remain in hospital at least until Sunday.

Ramadans lawyers said that their clients condition was not compatible with detention, based on an initial medical examination on Tuesday.

Charged with rape and rape of a vulnerable person, Ramadan had been held at the Fleury-Merogis prison near Paris since February 2.

A court ordered Ramadan be detained ahead of his trial, saying he was a possible flight risk and fearing potential pressure on women who testified anonymously.

A Paris appeals court ordered the medical evaluation on Thursday and postponed its ruling on his detention until February 22 after Ramadan went to the hearing in an ambulance.

 #MeToo campaign 

The arrest of the influential academic  a regular on TV debates with more than two million Facebook followers  has rocked the French Muslim community.

Two Muslim women have accused Ramadan, a Swiss citizen whose grandfather founded Egypts Muslim Brotherhood movement, of rape.

They went public with the allegations late last year when women began sharing accounts of sexual harassment and assault as part of the Me Too and Balance Ton Porc (Expose your pig) campaign triggered by the revelations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Ramadan, who took leave of absence from Oxford in November after the allegations surfaced, is the most high-profile figure to be held in France since the campaign began.

Henda Ayari, a 41-year-old feminist activist who previously practised an ultra-conservative brand of Islam, claims Ramadan raped her in Paris in 2012.

Another woman, a 40-year-old disabled Muslim convert going by the alias Christelle, claimed he raped and beat her in the southeastern city of Lyon in 2009.

The married father of four has rejected the accusations saying he is the victim of a smear campaign.

bl/alh/serTune in every Tuesday afternoon for "Love Never Fails" with your questions and to hear exciting cutting edge programs that go beyond old ideas and understanding at 3:00PM Pacific Time on http://boldbravemedia.com/ and tune in radio, 866-451-1451.

Marilyn is the speaker for this millennium and offers a wide range of information for curious listeners. She answers your questions from her experience, understanding, and insight. Tune in every week with your questions and to hear "Love Never Fails" for exciting programs with answers that work and go beyond usual opinions. Her guests bring fresh information for her listeners.

She has unique knowledge and wisdom of the human dilemma and the solutions that will work for you, too. She shares her experience, strength, and hope including tools to help you find your inner strength for health, healing, empowerment, and a higher consciousness. Her pioneering and innovative work in restoring traumatic lives, healing emotional causes of illness, and releasing negative energy restores health and reality. Marilyn is multi-talented and wishes to share all her abilities with everyone.

Her many topics will embrace: Relationships, Holistic Health and Healing, Regression, Therapeutic and Past Life Therapy, Counseling, Empowerment, Self-esteem, Domestic Violence, Addictions, Education, Spirituality, Angels, Mediumship/ Psychic, Meditation, Tarot, and more.

Marilyn graduated from Western Washington University and attended the University of Washington for her graduate work. She is a retired school and college teacher. Marilyn was ordained as a spiritual minister for spiritual counseling along with becoming a healer, regressionist, past life therapist, and other related proficiencies.

In addition, she is teaches in colleges, wellness centers, and for metaphysical groups. She is an International award winning writer, author, and an artist of angels that she sees, as well as being available for readings, counseling, and portraits of your angel.

Her monthly column is in "The Sussex Newspaper" on the internet as their wellness and spirituality expert. Marilyn channels Ascended Masters, Archangels, and your family members passed over. She has many paperback books and EBooks at Amazon.com. Check out her website: Angelica's Gifts.com, her blog, and her many video interviews, lectures, and spiritual information on You Tube.

Marilyn is a member of the International Board of Regression Therapy, American Board of Hypnotherapy, and lifetime member of Edgar Cayce's Association for Research and Enlightenment.

Join her for this new, live call in radio show, "Love Never Fails" for answering your questions begins March 6, 2018 at 3:00PM Pacific Time on BBM Global Network.com and tune in radio. Call your host, Rev. Marilyn Redmond, at 866-451-1451.From: Joyce L. Gioia, CMC, CSP -- The Herman Group Austin , TX Saturday, February 17, 2018

The Herman Trend Alert February 14, 2018 Top VCs' Tech Trends of 2018 Venture Capitalists (VCs) are always on the lookout for cutting edge technologies. When we saw this article in Fast Company, we had to share the content with you. Venture Capitalists who invest in start-ups are obviously a perfect group to ask about the top tech trends. Some of the trend are new; others are building on known technologies. This Herman Trend Alert focuses on the insights from three VCs featured in the article The human side of AI



First Round Capital's Hayley Barna is interested in using AI to give people "superpowers", including helping the stylists at StitchFix, a personal shopping service, to make better suggestions to their customers. Barna is also interested in blending the physical with the digital, e.g., digital companies creating pop-up experiences or bricks and mortar businesses establishing digital portals. Prospects abound in e-sports



We were happy to see that Accel's Vas Natarajan highlighted the opportunities in E-sports. With the rise of a new platform called Twitch, there has been an exponential increase in the identifiable audience for global gaming. Twitch alone has 45 million viewers per month. Now the market is not just the tens of millions of core- to mid-core gamers, there is a huge additional audience of spectators. Natarajan believes (and we agree) that this multiplier effect will prompt the appearance of many "new product and company opportunities". Making genetics work for healthcare



We have often talked about personalized medicine being the future of healthcare. Venrock's Bryan Roberts sees that over the next 5 to 10 years, we should expect to see "more data-based, more genetic-based information being included in [our] interactions with [our] providers, whether on a generalized basis or in response to specific disease issues." Doctors will have much more information on which to base treatment decisions, because we will know much more about the associations between genetic markers and reactions in the body. Synthetic biology in consumer products



By far, the most fascinating to us is the trend named by the Roche Venture Fund's Karl Handelsman. For a while now, we have had clothes washing detergents that worked well in all different temperatures. What makes these cleaning agents work so well is the "evolved and engineered" enzymes. Handelsman also talked about rice that that has been engineered to "lose its resistance to cold" but gain 20 percent in metabolic efficiency. Given the warming trend in many areas that grow rice, we could see this product doing very well in some climates. Our Brave New Technological World



There are many other trends mentioned in this article, we just took our favorites. We see innovation, especially in start-ups, to be growing very fast, as a result of many factors, not the least of which is the availability of funding for these ventures. Hang on, it's going to be a wild ride! Special thanks to Fast Company and the VCs who contributed their insights to the article. To read the entire article, visit https://www.fastcompany.com/40503654/the-most-important-tech-trends-of-2018-according-to-top-vcs. ******** The Herman Group is a firm of Strategic Business Futurists concentrating on workforce and workplace issues. We forecast the future and advise clients regarding relevant trends and how those trends may affect their lives. Applying our expertise as Certified Management Consultants, we advise corporate leaders regarding employee retention and organizational development to help them build workforce stability. We help organizations become Employers of Choice. We also work with Employer of Choice, Inc. to formally recognize employers that meet the stringent standards dictated by the labor marketplace. As authors of management books and as active professional speakers, we inform and inspire people to make a positive difference in the world of work. You did really get the ball rolling with our retention presentation, overall we have seen a move in the right direction with our turnover. In practice since 1980, we have served a wide variety of clients throughout the United States and in other countries. Our global affiliates assist us in sharing our expertise and advice with clients internationally. Our team of professional consultants and trainers is supported by an administrative staff that gets things done. We also have consultants certified to deliver our programs in your local area. Delivering to both small and large groups across 100 industries, The Herman Group has provided over 2,500 educational and informative keynote speeches and training seminars worldwide. Based in Greensboro, North Carolina, we travel extensively to meet the needs of our clients. We can always be reached through the support team in our office at (800) 227-3566. Overseas callers may reach us through 336-210-3547. Should you have any questions after touring our website, please call or e-mail us at info@hermangroup.com. Get started now on improving the stability and performance of your workforce and increase your chances for success in the future.

In 2015, Bexar Countys rate of child hospitalizations due to asthma surpassed the state average for the first time in recent memory, data presented Friday at a summit sponsored by the University Health System showed.

That year, the most recent for which data are available, 13.9 children per 10,000 population were hospitalized with asthma, compared to the state average of 8.3 per 10,000, said Dr. Mandie Svatek, a University Hospital pediatrician and associate professor at UT Health San Antonio.

Bexar County also saw increased pediatric asthma hospitalizations compared to Dallas and Houston, where rates had in the past been comparable to or higher than San Antonios, Svatek said.

Somethings changed, she said.

San Antonios high ozone levels have been the most intractable contributing factor, Svatek said. Experts theorize that emission rates and long vehicle idling times are among the causes of the citys poor air quality. As a result, families and the medical system are spending more to treat asthma, a chronic lung disease that inflames the airways.

Four children died of asthma last year in Bexar County, Svatek said.

Children with asthma can miss numerous consecutive days of school, or lose a significant amount of classroom time to the school clinic, said Diane Rhodes, assistant director for asthma education in the North East Independent School District. About 12 percent of NEISD students have asthma or a history of the disease, Rhodes said.

Many children with asthma have action plans detailing their treatment for school nurses  but not all such plans allow parents to waive the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act so the nurse can talk to their childs physician. Summit participants recommended that doctors include FERPA waivers in the plans.

NEISD has a program to educate students and their parents about asthma and stockpile emergency medication and breathing aids, but many smaller school districts do not. The district also works with its facilities staff to reduce environmental asthma triggers, Rhodes said.

The summit Friday at the San Antonio Food Bank was a first step to reviving the South Texas Asthma Coalition, which has been dormant for several years, Svatek said. The group will address the ways insurance companies, schools and families can fight asthma.

Its not going to be a quick and easy thing to do, but its something that were very capable of doing if we take the right approach and take it one step at a time, Svatek said.Jennifer Tharps tough tactics toward defendants as Comal Countys criminal district attorney since 2011 are drawing fire from the three fellow Republicans trying to defeat her in the partys March 6 primary.

Tharp is well acquainted with her challengers, defense attorney Deborah Linnartz Wigington and area prosecutors Joseph Soane III and Steven deLemos.

No Democrat has filed to run in the November general election, so the winner of the Republican primary likely will win the seat.

The challengers blame a backlog of pending felony cases and a burgeoning local inmate population on what they call Tharps poor management and her disinclination to make what they consider reasonable plea offers.

We have a district attorneys office that really doesnt pursue justice. They think that justice requires convictions and prison time, said deLemos, 53.

In 1998, after eight years of practicing family law, deLemos became an assistant district attorney in Comal County. In 2013 he moved to his present job as a prosecutor in Guadalupe County.

Im tough but Im fair, said deLemos, touting himself as honest, ethical and hard-working.

Tharp began handling misdemeanors in the DAs office in 2004 and became its chief civil prosecutor in 2007.

I have one of the highest conviction rates for felony cases and one of the lowest dismissal rates (in Texas), said Tharp, 39.

Shes unapologetic about taking a hard stand with defendants, saying her plea offers are in line with the communitys values.

My opponents liberal approach to prosecution is to be soft on crime, make plea deals and let criminals walk free, she wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.

Her hard-nosed style earned an endorsement in the race from a prominent fellow conservative, U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio.

Jennifer has helped lead Comal County to be one of the strongest anti-crime counties in Texas and she did it in a cost-effective way, Smith said.

But critics contend Tharps hard line on plea offers actually drives up justice system costs as cases go unresolved for months or years, while defendants often remain incarcerated on Comal Countys dime.

Were filling the bucket faster than we are emptying it, said Soane, who was a prosecutor in the Comal district attorneys office from 1999 to 2007.

He was an assistant district attorney in Val Verde County in 2010-11 and, since then, has been an assistant county attorney in Kerr County.

With my training and experience, Ill be an effective DA on day one, said Soane, 47.

Theres a backlog in Comal County of more than 300 felony cases awaiting trial, he said, which has forced the county to rent jail space in other counties to handle the growing inventory of defendants awaiting adjudication.

They only held 27 felony trials last year, when the county spent $1.7 million to house prisoners in other counties, said Soane.

Tharp blames some of the backlog on deliberate stalling efforts by those eager to see her replaced next January.

Right now, jury trial requests are being used as a delay tactics by some defendants and some defense attorneys in hope that someone else will be elected DA to get a better offer, she said.

Soane has also been a Comal County reserve deputy since 2000, primarily working summer weekends to patrol tubing crowds.

He was endorsed on Feb. 11 by the Comal County Sheriffs Deputies Association, which posted on Facebook videos of its interviews with the candidates.

He is a fair, genuine, and honest man who we feel best represents our goals and values as an organization, its endorsement said of Soane.

Wigington congratulated Soane on Facebook, adding, That is brave of the association to step forward and not support the incumbent.

A lawyer since 2002, Wigington opened a practice five years later in New Braunfels, where shes been active in speciality courts established locally for veterans and DWI offenders.

I pride myself on being more prepared than the district attorneys office when I go into a case, she said.

Wigington, 39, also touted her training in law practice management, noting, Ive managed employees, which unfortunately is something our district attorney is not doing.

She cast her bid to become DA as a public service calling.

The challengers cite declines in the felony clearance rates in Comal County, from 75.5 percent in 2015, to 57.6 percent in 2016 and 50.8 percent in 2017, according to the state Office of Court Administration.

The number of felony cases filed nearly doubled since 2015, when about 500 were lodged, said Tharp, who blamed a lack of court resources for not keeping pace with adjudicating them.

We continue to dispose of more cases every year, she said, but we havent increased the number of docket settings, court rooms or judges, so there is going to be a lower percentage of cases disposed of.

One of Tharps assistant prosecutors, Clay Hearrell, joined the campaign fray Jan. 29, writing on Facebook of the challengers, Each and every one of these candidates is the puppet of a desperate defense bar that cares only about securing leniency for their clients.

He claimed that gang members, child molesters and habitual felony offenders now awaiting trial in jail favor Anybody but Jennifer in the primary.

That drew a rebuke from Susan Schoon, who said defense attorneys like her have a duty to seek leniency for most clients.

We are hardly desperate, and they are far from puppets, she wrote, adding that few locals oppose harsh punishments for child molesters, gang members, habitual felony offenders.

What upsets many people, Schoon explained, are cases like a teenager being charged with felony evidence tampering, rather than misdemeanor drug possession, for throwing a joint out a car window when stopped by police.

Talk about the many futures that have been devastated by overly harsh charges and/or punishment, even when the alleged victim or family begs you not to, she responded to Hearrell. Those are the kinds of cases I would love to postpone to see if we get a more balanced and empathetic DA.Since last summer, Emanii Younassoghlou, 14, has been in and out of Methodist Childrens Hospital in San Antonio for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

One of those stretches lasted four months. While undergoing treatment, she has worked with art therapist Courtney Martin, who taught her how to use painting to temporarily take her away from her painful circumstances and express her feelings.

On Friday, Emanii met the second lady of the United States, Karen Pence, who touted the program and its benefits during a visit to the hospital.

Art therapists are so misunderstood, said Pence, who was in town while her husband, Vice President Mike Pence, attended a Republican National Committee donor luncheon. People dont understand that art therapists are people with advanced degrees who are trained to help the healing process.

Emanii said she is drawn to depicting nature in her artwork, painting trees and sunflowers.

It just kind of brings me to another world, Emanii said. It makes you forget about your problems. A lot of the kids really need that. I really need that sometimes, when I have a lot of issues and I just dont want to talk about it. I just can put it out on a canvass.

Pence met with pediatric cancer patients like Emanii, as well as administrators and physicians at Methodist Childrens, which has provided art therapy for six years with funding from the Washington, D.C.-based organization Tracys Kids. Its the only program of its kind for pediatric oncology patients in San Antonio, according to the hospital.

In a discussion with hospital and Tracys Kids administrators and donors, Pence said she first learned about art therapy in 2006, when she was working as an elementary school art teacher. At a visit to a childrens hospital, she was surprised to see what an effect the therapy can have on sick children.

Four years later, she joined the board of Tracys Kids and helped bring art therapy to Riley Childrens Hospital in Indianapolis. By educating others about its value, Pence said, she hoped to encourage more people to make it a career, which requires a license.

We want people to understand this is not arts and crafts, Pence said. This is a mental health profession.

At the end of her visit, Pence donated to the hospital a painting of her own, a portrait of the exterior of the U.S. Capitol rotunda.

Robert Lenza, the CEO of Methodist Childrens, said art therapy can help combat the stress of being in the hospital for long periods, as well as factor into treatment.

These kids can be in the hospital for months at a time. Art therapy allows them to sometimes simply have a release, Lenza said. It allows the physicians and the therapists to be able to gauge the progress of children.

Each month, Martin meets with up to 30 outpatient and inpatient children at Methodist Childrens, working with their families and doctors to tailor the therapy to meet their needs. Its not about getting the children to produce the prettiest artwork, she said. Rather, the patients creations are more about the process than it is the product.

The art functions as an extension of the children, Martin said. The patients she works with cannot control the fact that they are in the hospital or are sick, but making art gives them an opportunity to have some agency in their situation, she said.

They have to see their doctor. They have to get their medicine. They have to do pretty much whatever anybody asks them to do, Martin said. But when they come to the playroom, it really is their safe space, and they have a choice between the art materials, they have a choice between what art they want to make.Google yourself. You wont always like what you see.

I certainly havent sailed free of less flattering online search results. Sprinkled in with the author bios and professional head shots is a surreptitiously snapped photograph of me circa 2014 wearing a giant, orange traffic cone on my head (for which I only have myself to blame) and a 2013 blog post titled Brian Chasnoff is a drooling idiot. (It was a rough couple of years, OK?)

State Sen. Carlos Uresti has it even worse.

Standing trial on 11 felony counts, including securities fraud and money laundering, Uresti is represented on Google these days primarily by news articles on his legal travails. Closing arguments in his criminal trial will begin on Tuesday.

The San Antonio Democrat and his co-defendant, Gary Cain, are fighting fraud charges in connection with their roles at FourWinds Logistics, a shuttered oil field services company that federal prosecutors say was a Ponzi scheme.

Jury selection kicked off on Jan. 17.

In the three months before the criminal trial began, from Oct. 16 to Dec. 29, Uresti paid Google nearly $17,000 in political expenditures for advertising, according to his most recent campaign finance report.

Uresti, however, is not on the ballot this year. (Only about half of state senate seats are up for re-election due to staggered elections.) For that reason, James Smith, director of digital media at the Austin-based Lee Tilford Agency, called the senators recent expenditures for online advertising flakey  and odd.

Thats a lot of money to spend and not be in cycle, Smith said. The only reason you put money into Google is to advertise. It makes zero sense why someone would advertise if theyre not running.  If youre not on the ballot, you have nothing to advertise.

Smith added, Political advertising runs at very specific times. Then theyre dark. If theres not an election going on, you cant get a dollar out of a politician. Trust me, I tried for 20 years. I know.

Google got thousands of dollars out of Uresti in a cycle without an election, but one in which bad press about FourWinds was piling up  and jury selection loomed.

How many potential jurors saw the senators online ads?

Its unclear what ads Uresti purchased through Google. The senator did not return a call on Friday.

Uresti also bought ads in July and November last year in La Prensa, the local bilingual publication, apparently to advertise a back-to-school fair at Palo Alto College and a Christmas party and toy drive at a local VFW post, respectively.

Google is not just Google, James said, noting that its ads can run as banners on web sites or as videos on YouTube, a subsidiary of Google; otherwise, they appear above legitimate search results.

You control how you show up when people search, he said.

On Friday, as the jury received instructions for deliberations in Urestis criminal trial before recessing for the holiday weekend, googling Carlos Uresti produced no apparent ads, only an avalanche of news stories about the proceedings.

Likewise, on YouTube, the search results werent flattering.

Visit Urestis Twitter page, though, and youd never know the senator was fighting for his political life. Most recently, he posted his condolences to victims of the high school massacre in Parkland, Fla., and links to news stories about a free gym for veterans and travel to West Texas.

In December, Uresti posted to Twitter a story about a toy drive he attended in Eagle Pass dressed as Santa Claus  the sort of article, no doubt, he would prefer to populate Google.

Google, though, prides itself on not allowing its advertisers to buy better positions in its search results: From the beginning, a company statement reads, our approach to search has been to provide the most relevant answers and results to our users.

For Uresti, a guilty verdict on any of the charges hes facing would likely lead to his disbarment  and possibly the end of his 21-year political career.

Unfortunately for the senator, his criminal trial is now the most relevant component of that career.Presidents of nonprofit, membership-based organizations have a lot of reasons to stand for election and serve. They probably embrace their organizations history and mission. They love community service and find it rewarding.

Sure, they also like the honor and prestige. Theres a certain clubbiness that comes with holding office, though its mostly hard work, personal sacrifice and headaches. Some leadership roles come with perks, too, and ethical issues can emerge with them.

After serving for several years, the most gifted leaders decide to step down. They mentor younger leaders and stand in the back of the room, to let them learn to lead. Sometimes, they leave the room altogether, and sometimes theyre pressed into service again.

All of these qualities and situations, however, wouldnt apply to Roger Rocha of Laredo, who at this writing remains national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, by way of filing a lawsuit Thursday and getting a temporary restraining order the same day allowing him to stay put.

Bully for him.

His suit against LULACs other leadership ignores some basic facts  that LULACs membership has turned against him, that he has undermined their wishes and that they have asked him to step down.

Because he has adamantly refused, seeking at all costs to keep his post  and its perks, which include a stipend  members have asked their national board to remove him from office. Hes not without support, however.

His lawsuit, filed in a state district court in Bexar County, got to the desk of visiting, retired Judge John D. Gabriel Jr., who granted Rocha his restraining order pending a hearing set for Feb. 28.

In the lawsuit, Rocha casts himself as victim, wronged attacked by evil intent against him. He seeks damages for willful, wanton malice without justification and excuse. He seeks exemplary damages in an amount far in excess of the minimum jurisdictional limits of the court.

Gabriels order says LULAC is causing imminent harm to plaintiffs and to the membership of LULAC. The ex parte order is necessary, he writes, because there was not enough time to give notice to defendants, hold a hearing and issue a restraining order before the irreparable injury, loss or damage occurs  to Rocha.

The judge also says LULAC, in attempting to remove Rocha, is causing bad media.

How odd that a court would get involved in the legitimate work of a national nonprofit membership organization trying to protect itself from bad leadership, especially when Rocha has no one else to blame but himself for getting to this awful point.

LULAC members have demanded that Rocha resign or be removed. Any organization has the right when a leader is no longer fit to serve, presents ethical questions, has violated the organizations member-approved resolutions and has brought controversy and shame to the office.

Rocha crossed those bridges when he decided, without the knowledge or consent of LULACs board, to write a supportive, grating, obsequious letter to President Donald Trump about his immigration proposals. Theyre part of the presidents political brand and have been roundly deemed hateful, xenophobic, anti-Latino and anti-American, including his call for a $25 billion border wall that LULACs membership has condemned, passing a resolution that says as much.

Rochas letter hit hard because Latinos have not forgotten Trumps first campaign promise on the day he announced his presidential bid. In it, he called for a wall and called Mexicans rapists and criminals.

Rochas letter angered and embarrassed LULAC. Others, too. It should have embarrassed Rocha, at the very least for openly violating the memberships legislative goals.

Rocha wants to remain in office at least until LULACs summer convention, where controversy-free voting has been rare. News reports from such meetings have read more like elections in dictator-led banana republics, underlining this reality: If any group needs an overhaul and new legal counsel, its LULAC.

Rochas lawsuit says LULAC has developed a significant amount of goodwill and has established an excellent reputation, but fails to acknowledge he has been behind its unraveling.

The suit also says LULAC has developed a reputation of competence and credibility in the corporate, political, judicial and advocacy communities, but fails to note that hes another reason such support is threatened.

One media report Friday said Rocha wants to stay on to help the case of Dreamers. So much work remains to be done, he said.

He can continue that work as a citizen, a voter and individual member of LULAC, if it will have him.Darlene Clements Murnin spent 20 years working at Kelly Air Force Base, half of that time as an aircraft hydraulic mechanic.

At the age of 95, she remains strong, assertive and quick-witted. She doesnt frustrate easily.

But Murnin has been frustrated lately as she and several of her fellow residents at the Village at Incarnate Word retirement community found themselves on the verge of being locked out of the March 6 Texas primary voting process.

Murnin is a dedicated Democrat whose late husband, John, once served as the executive director of the Bexar County Democratic Party. She recently received a Republican primary mail-in ballot from the Bexar County Elections Department, however, because her ballot application  which had been delivered to her by an unnamed source from a San Antonio P.O. Box  pre-checked the box for the Republican primary and she hadnt noticed it.

Murnin says at least 10 Democratic retirees living at the Village at Incarnate Word have run into the same problem.

Jacque Callanen, the Bexar County elections administrator, says the problem with these pre-checked ballot applications extends well beyond the Village at Incarnate Word. Callanen said the Elections Department has been forced to send out at least 100 new mail-in ballots, in response to complaints from local residents who wanted to vote in the Democratic primary, but unwittingly applied for a Republican ballot.

These pre-checked applications apparently were sent to local retirees by a Republican consultant. The pre-checked applications were enclosed in envelopes that also contained campaign literature for local GOP judicial candidates.

This bit of ballot confusion comes on the heels of a similar situation, exposed earlier this month by the San Antonio Express-News Austin bureau chief Peggy Fikac, in which the campaign of Gov. Greg Abbott sent a number of mail-in ballot applications to voters. In the case of that ballot push, Abbotts campaign did not specify whether the applications were for a Republican or Democratic primary.

Hundreds of vote-by-mail applicants sent in those applications without checking a box for either primary, causing the County Elections Department to go through the costly and time-consuming process of sending rejection letters to voters and inviting them to try again.

Abbotts campaign team left the primary-election box blank by design. They wanted to drive up his support among people who ordinarily dont vote in GOP primaries in mid-term election years, but might be willing to cast a ballot for Abbott in November.

Both the Abbott debacle and the confusion over the pre-checked applications sent to local retirees point to a simple fact: When people receive ballot applications in the mail, they often assume that the right primary has been checked for them and they dont tend to scrutinize that part of the application.

They certainly dont expect to be tricked into voting for another partys primary.

I vote by mail all the time, Murnin said. And this is the first time anything like this has happened. Its hard for the Elections Department and its confusing for the people who live here.

Brigid Pendergast, 87, a retired nun, lives at the Village at Incarnate Word and said she too unwittingly sent in an application for a Republican mail-in ballot.

All I want is a Democratic ballot, Pendergast said. I dont want anything else.

The problem for the Elections Department is that fixing this kind of a mess can get complicated.

When we get the call, Callanen said, we have to send out a rejection letter with a copy of their application and a new application and tell them, Please fill this out and circle the party you want. We cant do anything over the phone, obviously, for the protection and the integrity of the election.

Each new mail-in application sent out by the Elections Department to make up for this confusion is costing the county $1.25 in postage, plus the extra work for an already overextended staff.

The good news is that the Elections Department is all caught up on rejects and requests for new applications, according to Callanen.

For Pendergast and others hoping to vote by mail, state law requires their ballot applications to be received by the Elections Department no later than February 23.

Callanen urged all voters still hoping for new mail-in applications to immediately send a letter or postcard to the Elections Department (1103 S. Frio, Ste. 100, San Antonio, TX 78207) with the voters name, address, political party and signature.

ggarcia@express-news.net3 1 of 3 Mary Altaffer / Associated Press Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Michael Cummo / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 3





STAMFORD  New Yorks Supreme Court rejected last week a motion by Charter Communications seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed last year by the states attorney general, Eric Schneiderman, who alleges the company defrauded and misled New York customers by promising internet service it knew it could not deliver.

The court denied Charters request because it did not accept the companys arguments that federal law would preempt state action and that the plaintiffs failed to state a cause of action. It also said the case should not be suspended to wait for a potential response from the Federal Communications Commission to an industry trade groups petition seeking a ruling on certain regulatory questions.BRIDGEPORT  Just because Lt. Stephen Shuck was allegedly spending more time at home than at the Bridgeport Police Department does not mean he was not earning his paycheck.

Thats our position, Police Union President Sgt. Charles Paris said of Schuck, a 34-year-veteran of the force arrested Tuesday and charged with scamming the departments payroll and overtime system. He showed up every morning, went to crime scenes. He just so happened to do much of his work while either at home or out of the office.

The union head said nothing is in Shucks contract that says he had to be in the detective bureau during his whole shift

I think there is a rush to judgment here, Paris said. He performed his duties. Whats the difference where he did it? Its not like he was out of the state. He was five minutes from the city.

Police Chief Armando Perez wasnt buying that.

So does that mean I can run the police department from my home then? Perez said. That is nonsense. Chuck Paris is doing his job and I respect that, but in this case I disagree with him completely.

Perez said Shuck needed to be at work to supervise the sergeants and detectives working beneath him.

There are open investigations, and his job is to supervise and review his officers work, the chief said.

According to Shucks arrest warrant affidavit, the 64-year-old has a well-established pattern, over a period of more than eight months, of working only a small portion of the time in which he is being paid for, often working just minutes a day, and this equates to well over a $2,000 loss (the minimum amount required for prosecution) to the city of Bridgeport.

Shuck, who earned $128,972  including $23,737 in overtime  in 2017, has been charged with first-degree larceny.

Paris said he wished the chief had convinced Shuck, who would be eligible to collect 75 percent of his pay, to retire rather than have him arrested. Paris said he has received a number of calls from other officers wondering why a 2017 case of another cop accused of getting paid while out of the country was handled internally, with no arrest.

We sent the information on that other case to States Attorney John Smriga, and he determined there wasnt probable cause to make an arrest, so we handled the case administratively, Perez said. In (Shucks) case, John Smriga found there was probable cause to make an arrest. And he doesnt sign all our warrant requests, so you know we had a lot of evidence.

Perez and Shuck graduated from the police academy together. Perez said Shuck was capable, smart, likable, with a dry sense of humor. But he could not recall Shuck having won any awards within the department.

He flew below the radar, Perez said. I think thats what he wanted.

Chances to disappear

Associate Professor Jon Shane is a former New Jersey cop who now teaches policing policy and management at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.

This sort of things been a problem in policing even when officers were on foot in the 1800s, he said when told of the Shuck case. Theyd duck into a building, hide from their bosses. Stuff like that. Go home. Go to sleep.

One Bridgeport patrol officer who did not wish to be identified said it is easier for supervisors to abuse the system than it is for rank-and-file cops, who have to attend roll call, are assigned a car and a patrol sector, and must respond to periodic radio checks.

Supervisors like Shuck, this patrol officer alleged, can come in to work, then disappear, then return at shifts end

They make their presence known ... but in reality we dont know what they do, the officer said.

While Shucks arrest may deter abuse of what Perez called a payroll honor system, things are within the union contract that, while not intended for such purposes, could encourage gaming the system.

For example, Bridgeport police officers can boost their pensions with overtime. Shane said that is not unusual, and Bridgeports policy is modeled on that of the Connecticut State Police. But, he said, It does present somewhat of a corruption hazard, because the idea here is to maximize the amount of money youre going to get going out the door.

Acording to the union contract, officers called in on days off are paid a minimum of eight hours, even if they do not work that long. The city has been trying to reduce that minimum to four hours.

The mandatory minimum is common practice, said Shane. Those kinds of contract provisions  those very lucrative provisions  are subject to negotiation, but they kind of leave a bad taste in the publics mouth about reasonableness. Everybody can understand why you get paid if youre called in. But why eight hours for two hours?

Tracking technology

Perez, who has pledged to crack down on payroll violations, has a tool readily available.

The department has navigation technology in all its vehicles. But, Perez admitted, the global positioning system is not normally turned on, except during investigations. For instance, Perez authorized using GPS to build a case against Shuck.

Its in all the cars, and I can activate it if I have a cause to do so, the chief said. I dont track everyone. I trust my guys. But when I am made aware of something so terrible, I turn it on.

Asked why the GPS is not employed more regularly, Perez, whom Mayor Joe Ganim promoted from captain to chief in March 2015, said, Previous chiefs wanted to use this. And for whatever reason, they just never pulled the trigger.

His predecessor, former Chief Joseph Gaudett, could not be reached for comment.

Perez said more frequent use of GPS would have to be negotiated with the polic union, because it would be considered a change in work conditions. Paris confirmed that.

The union president said were the cruisers GPS units always on, he would want parameters set, including how the data could be used for discipline.

City Councilman Jack Banta, a chairman of the Public Safety Committee, and another committee member  Councilman Ernest Newton, who called for an independent audit of police overtime following Shucks arrest  were surprised to learn GPS technology has not been more commonly used.

Why theyre not on all the time is kind of questionable, Banta said.

Newton said, Youre telling me they have them on all the cars? Im going to make the recommendation that all cars must keep their GPS on.

But Perez claimed that wont be necessary because new technology called Nexgen  being launched in police vehicles in March to, among other things, allow officers to file reports from the road  will use GPS.

Ill know where everybody is at all times, Perez said. All I have to do is go to my smartphone or tablet.

There is an irony to the Shuck situation. He was arrested one day after a Superior Court judge refused to toss out a $1 million wrongful-termination lawsuit against the city, brought by someone whose job it was to ferret out alleged salary abuses, former Assistant Police Chief James Nardozzi.

Nardozzi was hired in 2013 by then-Mayor Bill Finch to cut police overtime and investigate allegations like those against Shuck. He was an outsider who earned the ire of the union, which endorsed Ganim over Finch in 2015.

Ganim eliminated Nardozzi position in January 2016 and transferred his duties to the chief, who at the time was Gaudett. Ganim later pushed Gaudett out and promoted the unions choice, Perez, the new mayors close friend.

In a letter to Ganim last April, Nardozzis attorney, Eric Brown, wrote: By all accounts Chief Nardozzi was doing the job that he was asked to do. ... We believe that his termination may have been politically motivated because the Bridgeport police union supported your candidacy for mayor.GREENWICH  As we look forward to the return of spring and summer, Aquarion Water Co. is reminding residents that the twice-a-week irrigation schedule is here to stay.

The watering restriction has been imposed in Greenwich as well as in Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, Newtown and Westport.

Water-dependent businesses  such as irrigation contractors, landscaping companies, and landscape architects  as well as town officials and interested residents are invited to attend Aquarions upcoming conference to learn about the program. The water company will also give updates on the water supply and changes to irrigation regulations from last year.

The conference will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, at the Gen Re auditorium at the University of Connecticut in Stamford, with a welcome and opening comments from Stamford Mayor David Martin.

We will discuss results from last year, said Peter Fazekas, Aquarions director of public relations. But we want to make sure everyone is prepared for the upcoming season.

We are adding Westport and Newtown this year to the restrictions, and will be continuing to add additional towns going forward.

Some changes to look out for include a reduction to 2 acres as the minimum property size allowed to get extra water or request variances to water restrictions.

But variances in the hottest parts of the summer will not be allowed.

We want to stress that in July and August variances will not available for new plantings, he said. We want, obviously, nurseries and landscapers to plan for that. ... Anything thats planted during that period of time would require more water, so its good to plan ahead and plant earlier.

To attend the informational event, register via email to Twig Holland at: tholland@aquarionwater.com with the number of people.

Parking is available for a fee at UConn. Paid street and municipal parking is available within walking distance.Anand Mahant, an accounting major from India, has spent nearly four years living his dream in America.

By August, the 21-year-old will have completed a bachelors degree in accounting at the University of Bridgeport.

It was a tremendous journey, filled with joy, said Mahant, who hopes to attend graduate school.

Whether UB can replace Mahant and hundreds of other international students on its campus remains uncertain.

After years of enrollment growth, particularly among those coming to UB from around the world, the university has experienced a drop in its international students, as have other colleges nationwide.

In the year since President Donald Trump took office, student visas have become are harder to get, prospects of working in the U.S. after graduation are less certain and the United States is no longer the only destination for international students and their tuition dollars.

Take a look at what Canada is doing, said Tarek M. Sobh, UBs senior vice president for graduate studies and research. Their doors are opening wide, its unbelievable.

Not everywhere

The Institute of International Education reports a 6.9 percent decline in new international students enrolling at U.S. institutions in the fall of 2017, according to a preliminary survey of 500 colleges. About 45 percent of institutions describe a drop in new international student numbers.

But another 31 percent of institutions report an increase in international students. The University of Connecticut, Yale and the University of New Haven all count themselves among campuses bucking the trend.

In the fall, UConn reported 3,792 international students, higher than the 3,506 the year before.

UConn officials said they see an increase among students from countries affected by the Trump administrations travel ban.

In 2016, 54 students from Iran were enrolled at the university. In fall 2017, the number increased to 56. UConns largest decrease was among students from Saudi Arabia, where a cut in that nations government scholarship program has given fewer Saudis access to an overseas education.

Yale reports its fall 2017 international student enrollment was the largest in its history, with 2,841 students from 121 countries and a 7.8 percent increase over the fall of 2016.

The University of New Haven reports 996 international students as of the fall, according to Walter Caffey, vice president of enrollment management. He said that number is up slightly from the year before.

Still, Caffey said, We know a lot of (international) students (are) going into appointments nervous, so we prepare them best we can. They worry about safety: Will we be welcome here? Are there students on campus from our part of the world.

Sacred Heart University in Fairfield has the fifth largest international student population in the state, according to a report by the Institute of International Education. University officials could not immediately provide numbers indicating whether international enrollments were up or down last fall.

Belt-tightening

At UB, where one-quarter of the student population is international, the drop-off has come primarily among graduate students.

Last fall, 127 new international graduate students enrolled at the university, compared to 327 in the fall of 2016.

Even though full-time undergraduate enrollment at UB increased by 160 students to 2,300 students in fall 2017, the overall headcount showed 4 percent decline to 5,434 students. That includes undergraduates, graduates, part- and full-time students, domestic and international.

The result has led to budget cuts.

In a carefully worded memo to staff earlier this month, UB President Neil Salonen called the cuts a focused reorganization that include a modest reduction in force.

Salonen would not say exactly how many positions were eliminated. Most suggest the number is fewer than 20 staff members, none among faculty ranks.

We took this last step reluctantly and only after considering every other option, Salonen wrote, calling the budget adjustments a conservative measure.

His overarching priority, he said, is to balance the universitys budget. Thats particularly important now, since Salonen is preparing to turn the reins over to a new president by summer.

Safety concerns

At UB, Mahant, 21, said many students like him from India are reluctant to take a chance on the U.S.

Every month (there is a) changing scenario, he said. They are unsure about what they will do after graduation, also whether to invest in expensive education and getting nothing in return.

After Trumps election, Salonen went out of his way to reassure international students.

Sobh, dean of UBs school of engineering  a program filled with international students, said perception is as important as reality for international students and their parents.

I go to universities around the world, Sobh said. I meet with parents, give wonderful presentations. Usually what I get are questions about logistics: Is my kid going to be safe in the U.S.?

Sometimes, Sobh said, enrollment is affected by timing.

Six or seven years ago, you might remember there was this incident in Bombay, Sobh said. There was a terrorist attack at a hotel. It happened during the visa-issuing season. It closed the Bombay consulate of the U.S. for a month.

As a result, international student numbers from India were affected, Sobh said. India is second only to China in sending college students to the U.S.

UB draws students from more than 50 countries, with India, China and Saudi Arabia being the top three. Karissa Peckham, UBs vice president for enrollment management, said despite the decline in international students, her staff continues to recruit internationally.

We are exploring promising new international markets to develop relationships that will be critical to long-term maintenance of a strong international student population, Peckham said.Llangollen Food and Drink Festival is one of the first food festivals in Wales, with a great number of fantastic stallholders.



Llangollen Food Festival was founded in 1997 and pioneered food tourism by creating a shop window for home grown producers.



Since then the event has gone from strength to strength, annually attracting around 8,000 food lovers from far and wide.



As a result, its been named as one of the Top 10 food festivals in the UK by the Independent and Daily Telegraph newspapers.

Rural Accommodation near this Show



Place Your Advert

Thousands of Active jobseekers are looking for new agricultural positions in 2020. Call us now to discuss the options for advertising your vacancy in our job section.Rural communities are being "left behind" despite rising levels of concern about crime, according to details of likely force grants contained in a provisional Home Office report.

Police funding plans would continue to provide almost 24% less per head in rural areas than in their urban counterparts.

Analysis by the Rural Services Network suggests per person direct funding in predominantly urban areas would be 206 on average in 2018/19, compared to 167 in mostly rural forces.

National Farmers' Union (NFU) chief land management adviser Sam Durham said rural areas have "unique policing challenges".

It is essential funding is available to take these specific needs into account. This report highlights concerns they are being left behind to become a soft target for criminals," Mr Durham explained.

The bill for rural crime in the UK is around 40 million and many NFU members are experiencing fear, intimidation and threats of violence.

Vehicle theft, hare coursing and fly-tipping are contributing to widespread anger, frustration and worry and an NFU Mutual report found that being watched, or staked out, is the biggest concern for people living in the countryside.

'Intimidated'

Mr Durham said under-reporting is typical in rural areas which has impacted funding. He said that farmers need to ensure all crimes are reported, no matter how minor.

The NFU recognises isolated rural communities often feel intimidated by criminal gangs. We are working with the government, police and police and crime commissioners to raise these issues and find solutions, he added.

The NFUs Combatting Rural Crime report calls for fairer funding, a better understanding of rural offences and a joined-up, consistent approach to tackling them.

Responding to the provisional grants, the National Rural Crime Network (NRCN) of rural police and crime commissioners said: Police forces in predominantly rural areas continue to be unfairly funded. While urban areas do, undoubtedly, face particular challenges, so do rural communities.

These may not be as well publicised or understood, but their impact is substantial and the NRCN is disappointed efforts have not been made to reduce the gap.Police are warning bikers who ride illegally and anti-socially following extensive damage to farmland in Hertfordshire.

Thousands of pounds worth of damage has been caused to farmland in Maple Cross.

Over the past two weeks there have been several incidents involving motocross bikes damaging land at Warren Farm, situated between junction 16 and 17 of the M25.

Hertfordshire police have now warned that if anyone caught riding illegally or anti-socially, they could end up having their bike seized.

The damage has reportedly had a severe impact on the owners livelihood.

PC Christian Gottmann, from the Rickmansworth Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: I want to stress that riding bikes across private farm land is illegal and anyone caught doing so will be dealt with robustly.

If someone is caught riding illegally or anti-socially, police can issue a written section 59 warning under the Police Reform Act 2002.

If that person is caught again within the next 12 months, police have powers to seize the bike.

If offenders do not subsequently reclaim their bikes and pay storage or recovery fees within a 14 day period, their vehicles can be crushed. Riders can also be reported for traffic offences.

If you see anyone riding anti-socially, or have any information about who might be responsible for the damage, please contact police straight away, continued PC Gottmann.

Please try and get a good description of the rider and the colour of the helmet, if they are wearing one, and make a note of any registration numbers.Ash Feels It's A Crazy Rat-Race

Recently while talking to Vogue Australia magazine, Aishwarya said, "It's such a crazy race. It's becoming such a barometer of popularity, with people feeling the need to feed that monster and to kind of reflect how popular you are: do you have enough likes or don't you? That seems to be consuming a lot of people and I just didn't want to belong to that."

Good News For All Her Fans

The beautiful lady admitted that she might join social media to keep in touch with her fans.

There, She's Dropping Some Hints!

"I do see the incredible ability to remain connected, I do see the power and the strength of the positive potential of social media. I may hop on, but you'll know when I do."

Why She Preferred To Stay Away From Social Media

In one of her earlier interviews, Aishwarya had said, "Coming back to the fact that I was married into a family with the three of us within this turf, I did not want to be part of the comparative space. It opens you up to trolling. So out of respect for my husband and my father-in-law, I don't need to be a part of this at this point of time!"

Meanwhile,

Ash even shared her beautiful secrets with the publication which quoted her as saying, "Be comfortable in your skin and be your best friend, enjoy being who you are and it's important to be happy! You've actually got to feel it from within and that's what really is. The rest can be put together, but what you exude is who you are, and it's important to feel good to look good."

On Why She Hasn't Been Able To Have A Fitness Routine

"I really wish I could schedule in a fitness routine into my life. I still haven't managed to do that," she had said. In fact, Abhishek Bachchan had once said in an earlier interview, "Anyone who knows her would know that she has never spent a day in the gym."Amrita Puri With Purab Kohli

The news of their wedding was shared by Purab's POW co-actress, Amrita Puri. The actress wrote, "My Sartaj Singh is hitched! Congratulations to my reel life husband! Wishing you all the love in the world @purab_kohli & Lucy Kohli   #mandown #sartajsingh #pow."

Purab Kohli & Lucy Paton's Wedding

At the wedding, Purab and Lucy were seen in traditional attire. While Purab was seen in a white sherwani, Lucy looked beautiful in a red lehenga.

Purab's Wedding

The wedding comes after their daughter, Inaya's birth. The couple decided not to get married while Lucy was pregnant. The actor was quoted by a leading daily as saying, "Lucy was three months pregnant when we learned about the baby. She didn't want to wear her wedding gown with the baby bump, so we decided to get married later."

Purab's Daughter

Purab further added, "My mother was the most concerned and my family did say you guys have to get married quickly when she was pregnant. But I was adamant about not doing it because I never wanted my baby to feel that we got into a relationship because she was coming."

Purab Says...

"Her coming into this world has transformed both our lives for the better. She is our love child and has bloomed even more love between both of us and made me love life more."

Purab & Lucy

"I don't want her to ever feel that it was not meant to be. It was meant in every possible way and she was the force of nature and nothing could stop her from coming into this world."Good Ford Dealer Admits and Compensates Mistake

Got a good story to help heal my long waiting. Ordered my 2018 KR back on 17 Oct., but it never shows on COTUS. Called dealer a few times over the months but he saw online code as "clean unscheduled" and asked me to be patient. I called again last week after seeing FTE folks getting their 18's and was like WTF? Today he called and admitted he completely dropped the ball on this order. He had a long talk up his food chain and learned Ford had him wrongly listed as "zero allocation" for new orders since at least last Sept.... He got my priority shifted to 01, should begin build next Tuesday. He apologized, wanted to keep my business, and lowered the price to $2500 below invoice, plus whatever incentives he can also get at delivery...If anybody had told me a year ago we would have a rubber track crawler, a self-propelled sprayer and a Fastrac on our farms at the start of 2018, I wouldnt have believed them.

Reliability issues with the existing make of tractor lead to extensive downtimes. This coupled with a dramatic fall in residual values made us to look at all options.

We now contract hire the rubber track crawler and the sprayer for a fixed annual fee over a five-year period.

See also: New farm kit: Is buying, hiring or contracting best?

We now know what our costs are going to be and dont have concerns about machinery downtime and the eye-watering cost of catastrophic failures, or any future concerns about the residual values of these machines.

New kit

In the past year we have also replaced our three 240hp tractors and replaced them with two new like-for-like replacements with 3,000-hour warranty packages. When they reach the end of their warranty period, they will be traded out.

Our 6m green combination harrow has been traded in after 18 years of sterling service for a blue 7.5m seed-bed cultivator that is suited to our growing area of sugar beet.

An 18-row beet drill has also been purchased. This will be used, along with the cultivator, on some neighbouring farms where beet growing has been introduced in the past two seasons following the demise of oilseed rape growing in the area.

We have been fortunate in achieving all the above machinery changes with virtually no cash outlay due to the decision to contract hire the two largest items.

Growing beet area

More settled weather this week has allowed field work to be undertaken. The final lifts of beet are happening both at the Nottinghamshire and Royston farms, while base fertiliser will be applied to the 2018 crop areas once the ewes have been housed, ready for lambing.

This Saturday I will attended my first ever Six Nations game. Retirement from being an active participant has enabled me to, although I did receive a text this morning requesting my participation in a local derby game in Cambridge on Saturday as well.

Robert Law farms 1,700ha on the Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex borders growing cereals, mustard, a range of forage crops for seed, sugar beet, up to 200ha of catchcrop stubble turnips and 300ha of grass supporting a flock of 2,500 ewes. All land farmed is in environmental stewardship schemes. He also manages 500ha of sandland in Nottinghamshire.Intl Criminal Court Opens Field Office in Georgia, Led by Head of Office Dr Kaupo Kand - GeorgianJournalEU is ready to continue supporting Georgia in the process of reforms - European Commissioner - GeorgianJournalGeorgia's PM introduces investment opportunities of the country to international and German companies - GeorgianJournalAsus may launch an Android Go smartphone at MWC 2018 News oi-Chandrika An Asus phone with Android Oreo and just 1GB RAM has been spotted on Geekbench.

Google had announced the launch of Android Oreo (Go Edition) OS for budget smartphones, in December last year. Android Oreo (Go Edition) carries the same features as Android Oreo, but it is specifically optimized for smartphones with memory between 512MB and 1GB. Brands like Nokia, Reliance Jio, and Micromax are said to be working on Android Oreo (Go Edition) smartphones.

And it seems like Taiwanese manufacturer Asus will follow suit. We say so as an alleged Asus handset with model number X00RD has been spotted on Geekbench. The benchmark listing has revealed the smartphone runs on Android 8.1 Oreo but it packs just 1GB of RAM. To be specific, the smartphone is listed with Android version 8.1.0.

While there is no confirmation on if the Asus X00RD will be an Android Go smartphone, we don't think a regular phone will feature Android Oreo with just 1GB of RAM. The company itself though has not made announcement on this regard.

Besides this, the benchmark listing shows the Asus X00RD is powered by a Snapdragon 425 SoC. Snapdragon 425 is an entry-level quad-core processor from Qualcomm which offers support for 8001,280 pixels resolution. Unfortunately, the Geekbench listing has not revealed anything more. That said, the smartphone has scored 640 and 1,664 in single-core test and multi-core test respectively.

We expect the Asus X00RD to get unveiled at the upcoming MWC in Barcelona. Asus has already sent out invitations for its event at MWC 2018. The company is also speculated to launch the ZenFone 5 series, which is likely to include several models. The ZenFone 5 series of smartphones are expected to ship with the trending 18:9 display.

Talking about the ZenFone 5, the smartphone is likely to be powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 430 processor clocked at 1.4GHz, coupled with at least 3GB of RAM. The handset is further tipped to arrive with dual-SIM functionality, a large 4,000mAh unit battery and Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box, with the brand's ZenUI skin on top.

Asus ZenFone AR First Impressions - GIZBOT

Moreover, the ZenFone Lite could be announced as well. It will reportedly feature a FHD+ display, and quad cameras.

Best Mobiles in India

Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow NotificationsMicrosoft celebrates Surface Pro's 5th anniversary in style; offer huge discount News oi-Vishal Kawadkar Microsoft Surface Pro turns five.

Microsoft's Surface with Windows 8 Pro has turned five and the company has decided to make it even more special for the consumers. If we look back, the first version was pretty strange -- a bit too big for a tablet, a bit too small for a laptop. But with the advent of Surface Pro 3, the company made a strong footprint in the market.

The first generation was an x86 tablet with an integrated kickstand and a detachable keyboard, but the third iteration had the altered screen resolution to 12-inches (up from 10:6-inches). It also used a kickstand that could place the device at any position from about 20-150 degrees. It also encouraged a lot of companies like Dell, HP, and Samsung in the coming years.

So, to celebrate the fifth anniversary, Microsoft is offering $200 off on two models of the latest generation Surface Pro. The Core i5 with 128GB SSD and 4GB RAM is available for $799, and the Core i5 with 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM is $1,099. The prices will last until February 19 only.

Besides, a study conducted by Creative Strategies on a panel of 1,300 US consumers, shows no less than 72 percent of the users who make do with a Microsoft Surface actually want it as their personal device as well, compared to 65 percent in case of the Apple MacBook.

The survey also shows that the Surface Pro is the popular choice among the users who want to replace their laptops with 2-in-1 devices. The Surface Pro outclasses the Apple iPad by 11 percent.

The study also shows that most Surface users are proud to be seen using a Microsoft device. Up to 77 percent of the respondents said that they enjoy working on a surface device, while only 52 percent of them had the same opinion about Apple devices.

Furthermore, the study suggests that most employees who get a Surface model fell more cared about the device, compared to who receive the Apple MacBook. However, both devices are said to be on par when it comes to functionality.

Windows 10 Fall Creators Update - GIZBOT

According to the research, Microsoft's Surface lineup is the only "the only brand" that can go head-to-head with the Cupertino giant.

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83 /58

More sun than clouds. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the upper 50s.Southcom Commander: Modest Investments Needed to Build Security Network

By Jim Garasmone DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2018  U.S. Southern Command has focused on building a "regional security network of principled, inclusive partnerships," Navy Adm. Kurt W. Tidd, Southcom's commander, told the Senate Armed Services Committee here yesterday.

The command -- the smallest combatant command -- works with partners throughout Latin America and the Caribbean to address shared challenges and build capabilities and capacity.

The challenges these nations feel often manifest themselves in the streets of the United States, the admiral told the panel. "Criminal and extremist networks continue to threaten regional stability and our national security," Tidd said. "We know of specific cases of individuals who were involved in plots to attack our homeland or our partners. Fortunately, they were stopped, but this remains a significant, persistent concern."

Great Power Competition

Great power competition has returned, and China and Russia are trying to gain influence in the Western Hemisphere by saying the United States is withdrawing from leadership in the world. "And as they succeed in their efforts, [there] comes an increased ability for them to interfere with our security relationships and to hold our interests at risk," Tidd said.

"These challenges are less overt and sometimes more insidious than in other theaters," he continued. "They are manageable with modest investment, sufficient attention and early engagement. For Southcom, that involves tools that strengthen relationships and build capacity."

"Modest" is the key word here, he said, noting that the command is not asking for a large commitment of the American military. Tidd said he doesn't want or need brigade combat teams or carrier battle groups.

"We're talking about small teams of general purpose and special operations forces to maintain critical training engagements," he said. "We're talking about medium-endurance ships with embarked helicopters, and particularly those that are interoperable with our partners, and with enough awareness to buy down risk against problems early and stop threats at their source, before they become more costly."

No One-Size-Fits-All Solutions

Southcom covers a large area and has a diverse population. Solutions in the Caribbean don't work in Brazil or Chile. Relationships must be tailored to each country and the whole of government approach works best, so Tidd engages military leaders in his area of operations. "My observations and my conversations genuinely reflect that they recognize and  are grounded in the same democratic principles that  were the founding characteristics of the Americas community," he told the senators.

Appealing to common values and law is an important concept globally, and this serves to separate the United States from Russia and China as those nations attempt to gain leverage in the Western Hemisphere.

The Soviet Union had relationships in the West -- notably with Cuba and Venezuela -- and Russia is attempting to use those past ties to influence the governments today. "[The Russians] continue to engage in a direct competition for influence with some of our key partners around the region," Tidd said. "Our challenge is to be able to disprove the false narrative that Russia peddles in the region that the United States is withdrawing, that we are not a reliable partner."

Many of the actions Southcom engages in are intended to show partners that the United States shares common interests. "We certainly share common democratic values and principles, which neither Russia nor China share," he said.

Democracy isn't always neat and pretty, and there have been fits and starts in South and Central America, but there have been "a number of elections that have occurred throughout the region that led to changes in -- in government positions," the admiral said. And the militaries of the countries -- which once would take power -- "in each instance have played a very reasoned, responsible role."

Venezuela

Venezuela, however, swims against the democratic tide. Recent elections there were neither free nor fair, Tidd said, and the economic collapse that is happening in the country threatens prosperity in the region. Venezuelans are fleeing -- more than 500,000 to Colombia alone, placing an incredible burden on a nation just emerging from a decades-long civil war. Tens of thousands of Venezuelans have also fled to Brazil and neighboring Guyana.

The country has vast resources -- notably oil -- and if used correctly could be an economic success story, Tidd said.

The nature of Southcom embraces the whole-of-government approach. Tidd had high praise for the U.S. Coast Guard -- part of the Department of Homeland Security -- in his testimony. "I've said before on a number of occasions, in the U.S. Southcom region, my maritime force has white hulls and orange stripes," he said. "And, frankly, if it were not for the United States Coast Guard and the -- and the significant effort by the commandant, we would not have a maritime presence."

This is not because the Navy doesn't think the area is important, but because "we run out of forces before we run out of mission," Tidd said. "The Coast Guard cutters are irreplaceable," he added.

The admiral asked the senators to fund replacements for medium-endurance cutters, many of which are past 30 years old. "The recapitalization of those medium-endurance cutters with the offshore patrol cutters, I view as extremely important to U.S. Southcom's ability to provide an adequate maritime presence in our region," he said.

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Army Air and Missile Defense Command prepares for Exercise Roving Sands

By Sfc. Brian Rhodes February 16, 2018

FORT BLISS, Texas -- In preparation for Roving Sands 2018, the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, and its brigades, unloaded incoming vehicles Feb. 12, 2018 at the rail yard on Fort Bliss.

Roving Sands, originally developed by 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade in 1989, is a joint air defense exercise integrating Army, Air Force and Marines.

Twelve soldiers from the 51st Expeditionary Signal Battalion from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, arrived Feb. 9, 2018 as the advanced echelon. Twenty-one supporting Point of Presence (POP) personnel were also present. POP is the signal communications that link up to the satellite and draw service. A total of 155 soldiers will be on ground from the 51st Expeditionary Signal Battalion in support of two battalions within 69th Air Defense Artillery brigade during the Roving Sands exercise.

Prior to the deployment, 51st Expeditionary Signal Battalion conducted a two-week communications exercise where they validated all of the communication systems before shipping them to Fort Bliss.

"Roving Sands is a good opportunity to test the expeditionary capacity of the battalion to deploy in support of other exercises," said Maj. Jeremey J. Fox, Battalion executive officer of the 51st Expeditionary Signal Battalion from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. "Coming from Washington all the way to Texas, it's a great exercise for our company level leaders, especially the company executive officer's and platoon leaders to plan a deployment of troops and equipment."

On February 13, 2018, after all of the vehicles have arrived, 51st Expeditionary Signal Battalion will conduct a small communications exercise to ensure everything is working properly.

"It's the same process that we would do if we were deploying to another country," said Fox. "We did line hall with approximately 43 flatbeds for the vehicles and containers as well."

Depending on which side a vehicles fuel tank is on, after the vehicles exit the flatbed, petroleum supply specialist immediately filled up the vehicle before it was staged in the snake pit.

"This method is very time efficient," said Sergeant 1st Class Patrick Charles, battalion petroleum supply non-commissioned officer in charge for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 142nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion at Fort Bliss. "This two day operation may turn into one day."

Charles said if there was only one area to fuel vehicles and the vehicles fuel tank was on the opposite side, they would have to run the hose underneath the vehicle, which results in more time.

Moving into the days ahead, Roving Sands will continue to test the brigades' ability to conduct our core competencies and move with a core element to conduct air and missile defense training.

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Training scenario with ground and air forces work together with a bang

By Capt. Briana McFarland February 16, 2018

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait -- There are possible enemy troops in the area, Soldiers are injured and black smoke signals mark the extraction site as the 1st Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment (Assault), 449th Combat Aviation Brigade medical evacuation helicopters approach. This was the training scenario for those participating in the combined arms live fire exercise marking the end of U.S. Central Command Commander's Conference Army Day at Udairi Range, Kuwait, Feb. 9, 2018.

Army Day was comprised of CENTCOM key leaders, service component command teams and Kuwaiti counterparts in order to demonstrate to the CENTCOM commanders the complexity and depth of U.S. Army Central Command's mission and responsibilities in theater.

"Being able to prepare for an event of this size as well as maintain our existing operational tempo for day-to-day operations was certainly a challenge," said Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Todd Hammett, UH-60 Black Hawk pilot. "Everyone pulled together and worked through obstacles, especially our maintainers."

Army Day encompassed numerous training events and was attended by multiple distinguished visitors to include U.S. Army Gen. Joseph L. Votel, commander of U.S. Central Command and U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael X. Garrett, commanding general of Army Central Command. The CENTCOM commanders traveled from Ali Al-Salem airfield to various locations around Kuwait via rotary wing aircraft to observe the arrival, movement and maneuver of various teams supporting a unified training scenario.

To ensure key leaders did not miss events, assets from A Company, 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, 449th Combat Aviation Brigade and A Company, 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion were tasked with providing air movement support. As the flight lead, Hammett was the primary planner for the event.The MEDEVAC operations were important because they simulated timely movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to wounded Soldiers being evacuated from the battlefield.

"Extensive planning went into this," said Hammett. "The 1-126th General Support Aviation Battalion and the 244th AHB worked together to ensure we had a solid plan and the resources to back it up. We did several rehearsals leading up to the day of execution in order to validate our plan and refine our methods."

The culminating live fire event included infantry, armor, artillery and aviation to demonstrate the coalition operations as Task Force Spartan. Army Day allowed TF Spartan to demonstrate its lethality, flexibility and interoperability.

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U.S. and Kuwaiti Marines share best practices

US Marine Corps News

By Staff Sgt. Jacob Osborne | 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade | February 16, 2018

Logistics Marines from the Command Element and Logistics Combat Element of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force  Crisis Response  Central Command organized a three-day Tactical Resupply Subject Matter Expert Exchange at the Kuwait Naval Institute to share best practices in logistics with the Kuwaiti Marine Battalion, Dec. 18-20, 2017.

"Whatever country someone comes from, those who serve in the Marines share the same mindset and spirit for protecting their country," said Maj. Andrew Harkins, logistics officer in charge, Command Element, SPMAGTF-CR-CC.

The Tactical Resupply Subject Matter Expert Exchange is one of multiple training engagements SPMAGTF-CR-CC will conduct with the Kuwaiti Marine Battalion over the next year.

A mix of 27 logisticians and infantryman from the Kuwaiti Marine Battalion attended the event with the U.S. Marines from the SPMAGTF-CR-CC. Having Kuwaiti Marines from both infantry and logistics backgrounds in attendance was an important part of the tactical resupply training.

"I like seeing a mix like this because the infantry and the logisticians must be able to communicate with each other for effective planning," said Harkins.

During the three-day bilateral exercise, the U.S. Marines showed the Kuwaiti Marines how they conduct logistics and observed how the Kuwaiti Marines conduct logistics. On the last day of the exercise SPMAGTF-CR-CC Marines and Kuwaiti Marines conducted a logistics tactical decision game together to practice what they learned.

"This was an incredible opportunity to engage not only a crucial partner nation, but their Marine warriors," said Maj. Michael Pigford, the future operations officer for the Command Element, SPMAGTF-CR-CC. "We look forward to building on these enduring relationships between SPMAGTF-CR-CC and the Kuwaiti Marine Battalion."

The SPMAGTF-CR-CC Marines involved in the tactical resupply training with the Kuwaiti Marine Battalion are working to pass training engagement opportunities on to the next rotation of SPMAGTF-CR-CC Marines so that the bilateral training can continue to benefit both nations.

On order, SPMAGTF-CR-CC conducts crisis response, contingency operations, theater security cooperation, enabling operations and all other missions as may be directed throughout the CENTCOM area of operations in order to support Commander USCENTCOM requirements.

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Remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the opening session of the Munich Security Conference

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

16 Feb. 2018

Wolfgang Schneiderhan: So, without further ado, may I ask Jens Stoltenberg to address his audience. Jens, you have the floor.

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: Thank you Wolfgang and it's really great to be back here at the Munich Security Conference, a very important platform for dialogue, especially in times when we see high tensions and many challenges, as we see now. And in the report for this conference, you have warned us all that we are moving towards the brink of a significant conflict, and my main message today is that it is our common responsibility to enable us to move away from that brink and to prevent conflict. And in my introductory remarks I will address three issues, which are key if we are to achieve exactly that; the transatlantic partnership, EU efforts on defence, and nuclear challenges.

First, some words about the transatlantic partnership. In front of the new NATO Headquarters, there are two memorials. One is a section of the Berlin Wall and the other, a twisted girder from the wreckage of the Twin Towers in New York, and together they symbolise NATO's steel hard commitment to our collective defence, and our solidarity in the fight against terrorism. But most of all, they symbolise the unbreakable bond that unites the continents of North America and Europe. During the Cold War, NATO successfully deterred the Soviet Union. When the Cold War ended, we extended a hand of friendship to former adversaries and welcomed them into the Euro-Atlantic family. NATO helped to end two wars in the Balkans and we remain in Afghanistan to ensure it never again becomes a safe haven for international terrorists.

Without the enduring power of the transatlantic partnership, none of this would have been possible. But the paradox is that, throughout our history, people have questioned the transatlantic partnership, from the Suez Crisis to the Iraq War, from America's Pivot to Asia, to perceived lack of support for Article 5, and unfair burden-sharing. All of this has fuelled an impression of weakening transatlantic bond. But the reality is that the bond has proven to be resilient, because both Europe and North America benefit from the bond. What we see now is North Americans coming back to Europe, just as Europeans are stepping up their contributions to our shared security. Not just in words, but also in deeds. After the end of the Cold War, the United States reduced its military presence in Europe. In autumn 2013, the last American battle tank left Europe. Now the Americans are back with a new armoured brigade.

And this week, Washington rolled out a plan for further substantial increases in US presence in Europe. Billions for equipment, prepositioned supplies, training and infrastructure. Canadian troops have also returned to Europe for the first time in a generation, leading a multinational battlegroup in Latvia.

But the transatlantic partnership is not a one-way street. European Allies and Canada have stood with America in the fight against terrorism for the better part of two decades: in Afghanistan, in Iraq and in Syria. European Allies are also sharing the financial burden of our security. For years, defence spending by European Allies and Canada was in decline. But in 2014, facing a changed security environment, all Allies made a commitment to reverse that trend. We promised to stop the cuts and the cuts have stopped. We promised to start increasing defence spending and defence spending, across Europe and Canada, has increased, for three consecutive years, for the first time in many years. We promised to move towards spending 2% of GDP on defence within a decade and we are moving. Remember that in 2014, only three Allies met the 2% guideline. This year we expect eight Allies and by 2024, we expect at least 15. All NATO Allies have put forward plans to increase spending in real terms. This is major progress and it is a very good start. But we still have a long way to go and hard work ahead.

The simple message is the transatlantic Alliance remains the most powerful, most effective and most reliable alliance the world has ever seen. Because, in times of need, we are all prepared to do what is necessary for our shared security.

Let me turn to EU's efforts on defence, which I know will be one of the main topics discussed during this conference. I welcome EU efforts on defence. They are an opportunity to further strengthen the European pillar within NATO and contribute to better burden-sharing. But with opportunity comes risk. The risk of weakening the transatlantic bond, the risk of duplicating what NATO is already doing and the risk of discriminating against non-EU members of the NATO Alliance. These risks must be avoided. The reality is the European Union cannot protect Europe by itself. European leaders themselves have underlined this point many times. NATO countries outside the EU play a fundamental role in the defence of Europe. After Brexit, 80% of NATO's defence spending will come from non-EU Allies.

However, this is not only about money, it is also about geography. It is hard to imagine European security without the close involvement of Norway in the North, Turkey in the South, and the United States, Canada and United Kingdom in the West. But if we remove the risks and make the most out of the opportunities, if the EU actions complement NATO and are not seen as an alternative, then I see great potential for improving European security. That is why a closer NATO-EU cooperation is vital. NATO and EU are natural partners, we share the same values, the same challenges, the same people. More than 90% of the people living in EU countries live in a NATO country. I am proud that, over the past couple of years, we have made unprecedented progress on NATO-EU cooperation. Today, we are working side-by-side in the Aegean and Mediterranean, in Afghanistan and Iraq, in Georgia, Ukraine and the Western Balkans, and on exercises, cyber and hybrid threats. EU defence can strengthen NATO and keep Europe safe, if they are anchored within the transatlantic partnership.

Then, before I close, let me say a few words about the re-emergence of nuclear challenges. For many years, the nuclear threat receded from view. Unfortunately, it is back on our agenda and it would be irresponsible to ignore it. Proliferation is happening now, today, and cornerstone nuclear agreements are under threat, including the INF Treaty. I belong to a political generation from whom for whom debates on nuclear forces in Europe in the 1970s and the 1980s defined our understanding of security issues. The deployment of SS20, Pershing and cruise missiles was a profound concern for publics and politicians alike. In 1987, the INF Treaty banned all these weapons. Since then, it has been a pillar for European security.

The problem is that the US has determined that Russia is in violation of the INF Treaty, by developing and flight testing a new intermediate-range ground-launched cruise missile. We must protect the INF Treaty and we call on Russia to address the concerns of all NATO Allies, in a substantial, transparent and verifiable way. We see that Russia is modernising its nuclear capabilities, developing new nuclear systems and increasing the role of nuclear weapons in its military strategy. This is a cause for real concern.

At the same time, North Korea continues to develop its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, which pose a threat to us all. All Allies are now within range of North Korean missiles. Pyongyang is closer to Munich than it is to Washington DC and therefore we must put maximum pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear programme, by political and diplomatic means and, not least, through effective economic sanctions. Russia and China have a special responsibility, as members of the UN Security Council and as neighbours of North Korea. Iran also possesses a proliferation concern. That is why NATO Allies place great importance on the Iran Nuclear Deal, but to be effective it must be properly implemented. All these developments forces us to pay more attention to nuclear threats.

And let me be clear, NATO's goal is a world without nuclear weapons, but as long as they exist NATO will remain a nuclear alliance. A world where Russia, China and North Korea have nuclear weapons, but NATO does not, is not a safer world. That is why the ultimate guarantee of NATO's security is the strategic nuclear forces of Allies, particularly those of the United States. We need to maintain a safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent. At the same time, Allies remain committed to reducing the number of nuclear weapons, in a balanced and verifiable way. And we have a strong track record. Since the height of the Cold War, NATO Allies have reduced the nuclear arsenal in Europe by 90%. In it's recent Nuclear Posture Review, the US reconfirmed its commitment to nuclears nuclear arms control and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. And United States has also reiterated its global leadership role in reducing the number of nuclear weapons.

Only last week, Washington and Moscow announced that the limits of the new START Treaty have been reached, restricting United States and Russia to 1550 deployed warhead warheads each, down from 12,000 in 1994, when the first START Treaty came into force. That shows the importance of such landmark agreements. It shows that arms control can work and it shows that the risk of conflict can be effectively reduced.

Ladies and Gentlemen, our world may have become more dangerous, but conflict is not inevitable. To preserve the peace, we need the military strength of the NATO Alliance, combined with the political courage to seek dialogue, to deescalate, reduce tensions and find peaceful solutions to our differences. Then we move away from the brink of conflict.

Thank you.

WOLFGANG ISCHINGER: Ladies and Gentlemen, we have about 20 minutes for Q&As and, before I call on any of you, let me start by asking a question myself. Mr Secretary General, when one looks at newspaper reports of the current situation in certain parts of Syria, it looks as if two NATO Allies are at risk of militarily confronting each other. Now of course, this is not the first time in the history of the Alliance that we have had friction between Allies, between Greece and Turkey, it's an old story, but this is the first time that two really major Allies, the United States and Turkey, are having a real problem. So, if you could tell us how you think this can or should be handled, and how it will be handled, in order to re-establish a perception of a NATO Alliance that is not divided in a very important way.

JENS STOLTENBERG [NATO Secretary General]: The way to handle this is that the United States and Turkey sit down and find ways to avoid any how should I say incidents or conflicts or further problems in Northern Syria, and I welcome the fact that that's exactly what they are doing. For instance, during the Defence Ministerial Meeting in Brussels of NATO yesterday, Secretary Mattis met with his Turkish counterpart. Secretary Tillerson was recently in Ankara and we have seen the reports that they are now sitting down and really making efforts to solve the problems we all face in Northern Syria, but they are on the ground and they are present. NATO provides support to the Global Coalition to defeat ISIS and Turkey has been a key partner, or member, of that Coalition. The progress we have made in defeating ISIS in Iraq and Syria would not have been possible to achieve without Turkey being a key player, because Turkey is bordering Iraq, bordering Syria, and has provided a critical infrastructure, airports, and many other facilities which has been important. But now, the important thing is to find ways for US and Turkey to deconflict, and I welcome that that is exactly what they are doing, through the many different high-level meetings which are taking place now.

WOLFGANG ISCHINGER: Thank you. I have [Klaudia Haut], [inaudible] from Moscow and I have a couple of more. Yes, Carl, I see you. And I have question from Fritz Felgentreu. Why don't we take, if you agree with this, why don't we bundle them, take three together. And we'll start of course with Klaudia Haut from the

QUESTION [Klaudia Haut]: [in German]

WOLFGANG ISCHINGER: I will read a question that is related not to Syria, but to Iraq, if you agree, from Fritz Felgentreu.

In a recently ongoing discussion, I'm quoting here, "NATO is considering taking responsibility for a mission of capability building with the Iraqi armed forces. This project is meant to be a sequel to the War on Daesh, aimed at stabilising Iraq in the process of reconstruction. The objective is reasonable, but why should such a mission be regarded to be a task for NATO?" Fritz Felgentreu.

And then we'll take a question from Mr Kuzichev, please.

QUESTION [Mr Kuzichev]: Thank you. Thank you, Mr Secretary General. My question would be about the last part of your speech related to the dangers of proliferation of nuclear weapons. You mentioned, as far as I could see, three nuclear countries; Russia, China and Iran, to my surprise, as and

[inaudible]

QUESTION [Mr Kuzichev]: Thank you. Then it was a misinterpretation, OK. But in any case, would you be so kind and make certain comments on United States' attempts to set additional pressure on North Korea, expressing its intentions to wipe North Korea out of the Earth's face in the UN General Assembly this year, as well as the United States' threats or intentions to withdraw from the Iranian deal. How do you believe these actions and threats either strengthen or weaken the proliferation system, in the case of North Korea and in the case of Iran? Thank you.

WOLFGANG ISCHINGER: OK, so we have three questions, Jens.

JENS STOLTENBERG [NATO Secretary General]: First, about Syria. Well, I was asked about the challenges between Turkey and the United States in Syria, that was the reason why I respond to that. But I agree that the situation in Syria is about much more than the relationship between Turkey and Syria and United States. Of course, we share the concerns about the humanitarian situation, the suffering of the people, the violence, the killing of civilians, and therefore the main message is that we all support the efforts to find a peaceful, political, negotiated solution and we strongly support the efforts of the UN and by Steffan de Mistura, to energise these efforts to find a political solution. So, NATO's main message is to support those efforts. Then, the reality is that, in the lack of a political solution, we have a very difficult situation in Northern Syria and the and the NATO Allies have have all participated in the campaign to defeat ISIS, both in Syria and Iraq, and NATO is member of the

Coalition to defeat ISIS, and we have also provided support to the Coalition with our AWACS surveillance planes and with training of Iraqi officers. But again, we don't think there is a military solution, we need a political solution.

Turkey has some legitimate security concerns. No other NATO Ally has suffered more terrorist attacks than Turkey, but we expect them to address these concerns in a proportionate and measured way, and we also welcome the fact that Turkey has briefed all NATO Allies on the operation in Afrin, where several Allies have underlined the importance of a measured and proportionate response.

Then, on Iraq, well the main message is that we are more safe when our neighbours are more secure and Iraq is a neighbour of NATO, a neighbour of Turkey, which is a neighbour which is a NATO Ally, so NATO feels a responsibility to try to also help to stabilise our neighbourhood. We do that of course in close cooperation with the Iraqi government. NATO has the structures, the experience, the knowledge, of how to train forces, and I think that we have seen a significant shift in the way NATO is contributing to the fight against terrorism over the last years. Before, NATO conducted big combat operations, as we for instance have done in Afghanistan over many years. Now, we are shifting from combat to train. So, for instance in Afghanistan, we ended the combat operation, we do now training of local forces, and that's exactly also what we are going to do, or scale up, in Iraq. Because I believe that in the long run, it's much more viable, much more sustainable, that we train local forces, enabling them to stabilise their own countries, instead of NATO conducting big combat operations. So, to enable the Iraqi forces to avoid ISIL or Al-Qaeda, or anything like that, to come back, we have to help them build their military institutions, train their officers, and one of the issues where NATO is going to work a lot is on how to build as a military academies, military schools, to train the trainers and to help Iraq build a strong defence and security sector.

Sorry, nuclear. Sorry. Yes, well first of all, we attach great importance to the Iran Nuclear Deal and it is important that it is fully implemented. Second, when it comes to North Korea, well I think the good news is that at least the UN Security Council, with all the permanent members, have or has been able to agree on tougher sanctions and we need maximum pressure on North Korea, which then of course depends on strict economic sanctions. And we have seen tougher sanctions and we have seen also that the sanctions are implemented to a larger extent now than before. I'm not saying this is easy, but I am saying that pressure on North Korea is the way to denuclearise and to make sure that North Korea abandon their nuclear missile programmes.

WOLFGANG ISCHINGER: Thank you. We have time for maybe three or four more questions. There is a question in the back, but there was Carl Bildt. So, I'll call on Carl. Then I'll call on the lady, is this Natalie? And on the gentleman over there, third yes. Is that Frank?

FRANK: Yes.

WOLFGANG ISCHINGER: OK. Right, Carl Bildt.

QUESTION [Carl Bildt]: Secretary General, you mentioned, rightly I think, the dangers associated with INF Treaty, if that were to sort of be endangered one way or the other, there are several issues there. But you highlighted the Russian one, needless to say, and the ground launch cruise missile that one way or the other is there. I noticed your how you phrased it, you say Russia has flight tested, no, developed and flight tested a cruise a ground launch cruise missile. But you avoided, or you did not mention, the word deployed. Was that a deliberate phrasing or was it just an omission?

WOLFGANG ISCHINGER: All right. Then the next one is Natalie. Yes, there.

QUESTION [Natalie]: Concerning European defence, indeed there have been remarkable steps being made over the last couple of years, and what's interesting is that these steps have been made in close communication with NATO and have gone hand in hand with an unprecedented deepening of EU-NATO cooperation. Now, you put a lot of emphasis on the risks and, listening to you, it seems a bit like going back to the 1990s, you know, the older debate of the three Ds, and what's not clear to me is, why is there this resurgence of doubts within NATO concerning the desirability of European defence?

WOLFGANG ISCHINGER: Thank you. And then we have Frank Wisner, over there.

QUESTION [Frank Wisner]: Secretary General, on 7th February the European Commission published a very strong report pointing to the deteriorating situation in the Western Balkans and calling for a number of measures to accelerate the progress the European of Western Balkans into Europe during this year, heading towards the Summit in Sofia. Integration is not just an economic and social matter. The Western Balkans is a dangerous place and security is a hugely important factor, particularly in the face of rising threats, including increased Russian activity. Is it possible to imagine close coordination between a fresh round of EU efforts and NATO efforts, to jointly bring the nations of the Western Balkans into the transatlantic community?

WOLFGANG ISCHINGER: All right. Back to you, Jens.

JENS STOLTENBERG [NATO Secretary General]: First, to Carl Bildt. Well, I used the official language the United States is using, and the reason why I did that was that I would like to be very precise, because this is not a NATO how should I say assessment, this is a US assessment, because US's part in the INF Treaty. Then there may be reports about other things, but I used the official US language because this is a US determination. Regardless, the important thing is to make sure that we protect INF Treaty and that Russia is transparent and verifiable, in compliance with the treaty. That's the main message.

Then, on EU defence. Well, I am as positive as I can, meaning that I welcome the efforts to strengthen European, or EU, defence in all my speeches, but I think also that in all my speeches I have also highlighted that we need to avoid duplication. I think I have used the word duplication in all my speeches, just to make sure that there is no risk for duplication and no risk for competition. And, for instance, that has to done in a way which strengthens the European pillar within NATO. I think that's a direct quote of Ursula von der Leyen, that has stated many times that this is not about creating an alternative to NATO, but this is about strengthening the European pillar within NATO. So, I think actually it is important that I, but also European leaders, as they have done many times, state again and again that this is not about competing with NATO, because and it's easier for us to provide full support and easier for us to also then calm down those who might be still a bit what should I say afraid that this may create duplication or be an alternative to NATO. And the reason why European leaders themselves so strongly have underlined that this is not about collective defence, this is not about creating alternative command structures or an alternative to NATO, it's that it is obvious that, when it comes to protecting Europe, which is more than the EU, then we need the transatlantic bond and we need non-EU Allies, as Britain soon to be, Norway in the North, Turkey in the South. So and of course Canada and United States. 80% of NATO's defence spending is non-EU, so there is no way EU can replace NATO, but EU efforts can complement and strengthen NATO, and therefore I strongly welcome those efforts. That's my I think that has been my message in all my speeches and and I continue to say so.

Then on the Western Balkans, well NATO has a history there, the EU has a history there, we have a responsibility and sometimes I am a bit afraid that we are so focused on Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, which is important, that we forget our closest neighbourhood, the Western Balkans. And we have to be focused on the Western Balkans, because there are some developments which are really going in the wrong direction, but at least we and I really believe that NATO and the EU can do more together. We already work together, but we can do more together. NATO, we have as EU members in the region, Slovenia and Croatia, but NATO ... also Albania and Montenegro, and I recently visited Skopje and I really hope that it is possible to find a solution to the name issue, because then we can also move on that issue, when it comes to membership. But this is not only about membership, this is also about working with partners, for instance Serbia. I welcome that we are strengthening our partnership with Serbia, I welcome also that EU is what should I say working on that. So, the Western Balkan is absolutely a region where we have to do more and have to do more together with the European Union.

WOLFGANG ISCHINGER: OK. Any final questions? Two more. [Horst Tajik] first and then Steve Arlanger.

QUESTION [Horst Tajic]: [in German]

WOLFGANG ISCHINGER: And the last question goes to Steve Arlanger.

QUESTION [Steve Arlanger]: Thank you Wolfgang. Mr Stoltenberg, you were pretty explicit about your concerns about EU strategic autonomy, as some people have put it. But I want to press you a little more on two things. One, do you think the French idea of a European intervention force is duplicative or a good idea or a bad idea, explicitly? And secondly, American officials have been quoted lately as saying they have grave doubts about PESCO and what it entails for NATO. Are those comments helpful to helpful to you or are they hurtful? And have they been coordinated with you? Thank you.

WOLFGANG ISCHINGER: Jens, before you reply, since we are talking here about NATO-related issues and about the transatlantic relationship, allow me to use just 30 seconds to set the record straight. There was a news item on German television, and this is why I will say what I say now in Deutsche; ... [in German]

WOLFGANG ISCHINGER: Back to you, Jens.

JENS STOLTENBERG [NATO Secretary General]: So, first on arms control. I agree that arms control is very important and that's also the reason why I actually spoke a lot about arms control in my introduction, about the importance of nuclear arms control. And the first thing we can do is to make sure that agreements we have are fully implemented, meaning that we make sure that the INF Treaty, which is not just a small agreement, but it's actually an agreement that abolish a whole category of weapons, intermediate-range weapons, that we make sure that that treaty is fully respected. The other message is that we have to make sure that Non-Proliferation Treaty is fully respected and that we avoid proliferation, and that's the Iran deal and that's also to make sure that, for instance, North Korea is not developing nuclear weapons. And then of course I mentioned the fact that a week ago, on 5th February, that was the date where we fully implemented the new START agreement, which puts a ceiling 1,550 warheads in total on each side, in Russia and United States. That's a big achievement and it shows that nuclears that arms control works. And I think we should use that as an inspiration to do more.

And then I welcome the fact that, for instance Secretary Mattis, in his testimony to the Congress, reiterated the US commitment to further reductions in nuclear weapons. So, we should protect the agreements we have and build on them to achieve more. Meaning also that we have to, for instance, protect what we call the Vienna Document, which is a very important document on conventional issues and how to make sure that we have transparency and risk reduction. We do get that Russia is finding ways to at least undermine the intentions and the way this document is working. We want to modernise it, but so far we have not been able to reach agreement with Russia on modernising the Vienna Document. Open Skies, an important agreement, which is working. And then we have to [forget] that CFE is not in place.

The NATO-Russia Council is important and the good news is that after two years with no meetings at all, from 2014 to the summer of 2016, we have had six meetings since then. Those meetings are not solving all the problems, but at least there are the meetings of NATO-Russia Council, they are a platform for NATO Allies and Russia to sit down around a table and address issues as Ukraine, as risk reduction and transparency, military posture, Afghanistan and other issues. I think that's that is important. The dialogue with Russia is not easy, but that's exactly why it is important and I will continue to work for dialogue with Russia. Russia is our neighbour, Russia is here to stay, we have to strive for a better relationship with Russia.

PESCO and well, we had a Defence Ministerial Meeting on Wednesday and Thursday and we all welcomed PESCO. We welcome PESCO, we welcome the European Defence Fund, but the message has been all the way, from me and from all other who have addressed this, that it has to be done in a way which is not duplicating NATO. I think that was in my first comment when I was commenting on the PESCO. I welcomed the launch of PESCO, but at the same time I actually quoted EU leaders and European leaders, who have themselves stated that this is not going to duplicate NATO, this is not an alternative to NATO, we are dependent on NATO, NATO is important for European security, and they are because they are aware of that 80% of NATO's defence spending is coming from non-NATO

QUESTION: That's what you just said three minutes ago and I'm asking you if [inaudible]

JENS STOLTENBERG [NATO Secretary General]: Well yeah, then I can so, we welcome

QUESTION: [inaudible]

JENS STOLTENBERG [NATO Secretary General]: Yeah. You asked me about then, as a new European capabilities, a French force. We welcome also of course new European capabilities. Forces, equipment and so on. What we have underlined, and again in all my comments and in all my meetings with EU Ministers and press statements and so on, is that it has that there are three important points. One is coherence when it comes to capability developments, because NATO has a defence planning process and we can not end up in a world where there is one list from NATO and then a competing capability requirements from the EU. And that's a problem for me, but it's an even bigger problem for the nations, because then they will have two institutions coming with two lists and asking for different capabilities. So, it's obvious that there has to be coherence in the capability developments between NATO and the European Union. No way it can work without coherence. I say that, but also EU leaders say that. Second, is the principle of availability. NATO has asked European Allies to provide more capabilities for years. Then we can not what shall I say criticise them when they start to develop capabilities. We should welcome that, as long as those capabilities are available for NATO operations. And they have stated clearly yes, these capabilities, if drones or divisions or brigades or ships, whatever it is, they will of course be available for NATO operations. So, that's fine. And the third principle is the strongest possible inclusion of non-EU Allies, taking of course into consideration, respecting the autonomy and the integrity of the European Union, but we have to integrate and include non-EU Allies as much as possible, because the European Union will not be able to protect Europe by itself, partly because we are dependent on North America, but also on non-EU NATO Allies. Because EU is big, but there are also actually some European countries which are not a member of the European Union, like Turkey, important in the South in the fight against terrorism, like Norway in the North, addressing all the challenges in the Barents Sea, and like for instance the United Kingdom in the West.

WOLFGANG ISCHINGER: Mr Secretary General, thank you so much. I want to remind the audience that those of you who are interested in the relationship between NATO and the EU, in the defence area, please come back in half an hour because we continue this debate with two Defence Ministers from the European Union, with Jens's Deputy, Rose Gottemoeller, and a few other experts. So, be back in half an hour. Now let's give a hand to Secretary Stoltenberg.



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Carl Vinson Strike Group Arrives in Manila

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS180216-12

Release Date: 2/16/2018 10:03:00 AM

From USS Carl Vinson Strike Group Public Affairs

MANILA, Philippines (NNS) -- Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) arrived in Manila, Feb. 16, for a routine port visit during a Western Pacific deployment.

More than 5,500 Sailors from both vessels will visit local attractions and participate in community service projects while in the Philippine capital.

"We are just very thankful for the support we have from the Philippine government and the Philippine people," said Rear Adm. John Fuller. "We have a longstanding relationship and we want to continue to build on that."

The strike group is operating in the Indo-Pacific region to work with partners and allies, promote freedom of the seas, and enhance regional security. Carl Vinson is based in San Diego and Michael Murphy operates from Hawaii.

Carl Vinson hosted top Philippine government and military officials, Feb. 14, before arriving. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Secretary Martin Andanar and others flew aboard the carrier with U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim.

The delegation ate lunch with strike group leadership, toured the hangar bay, and observed flight operations on the flight deck prior to boarding a C-2A Greyhound for the return to Manila.

While visiting the sprawling city, some crew members will experience Philippine culture for the first time.

"The crew is looking forward to USS Michael Murphy's first ever port visit in the Philippines," said Cmdr. Kevin Louis, the ship's commanding officer. "We have a great schedule of tours and events for our Sailors to explore the culture and history of Manila."

This deployment marks the second time the Carl Vinson Strike Group is operating under U.S. 3rd Fleet's command and control. U.S. 3rd Fleet's control of ships and aircraft beyond the international dateline to India enables U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleet to operate together across a broad spectrum of maritime missions.

The strike group includes Carl Vinson, Carrier Air Wing 2, USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) and Michael Murphy of Destroyer Squadron 1, and guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57).

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U.S. Navy Maps Downed C-2A Greyhound

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS180216-08

Release Date: 2/16/2018 9:31:00 AM

From Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- A Navy-led mission aboard research vessel RV Petrel has mapped the wreckage of a C-2A Greyhound aircraft that crashed into the Philippine Sea en route to USS Ronald Reagan, Nov. 22, 2017.

Using the vessel's side scan sonar and remote operated vehicle (ROV) to survey the aircraft from Feb. 2-5, the team determined the aircraft lies on the ocean floor in two main sections, cockpit and fuselage, and that the C-2A's flight recorder or black box is still intact.

Planning continues for an upcoming salvage mission, during which every effort will be made to bring both sections to the surface despite very challenging environmental conditions. At a depth of 18,500 feet (more than three nautical miles) this will be the deepest aircraft recovery to date and the team with have to contend with several variables including deep water rigging and weather that may affect retrieval.

The aircraft was initially discovered late last year (Dec. 29) by a U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) team using a towed pinger locator (TPL-25) system aboard a different contracted vessel. In January, the Navy contracted RV Petrel to support debris field mapping and inform aircraft recovery planning.

RV Petrel is a 250-foot research and exploration vessel with advanced underwater equipment and technology, making it capable of exploring to more than 3.5 miles. A team of SUPSALV personnel embarked Petrel late January and returned to the crash site.

Assigned to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC 30) forward deployed to Japan, the C-2A aircraft was carrying 11 crew and passengers when it crashed. Eight personnel were recovered immediately by U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC 12). For the next three days, Ronald Reagan led combined search and rescue for three Sailors with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF), covering nearly 1,000 square nautical miles before ending the search.

An investigation is in progress.

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China voices firm opposition to Indian PM's visit to disputed area

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:07, February 16, 2018

China on Thursday expressed firm opposition to the visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a disputed area, urging the Indian side not to take action that could complicate the boundary issue.

"China's position on the China-India boundary question is consistent and clear-cut," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang in response to reports that Modi visited the so-called Arunachal Pradesh Thursday.

"The Chinese government has never recognized the so-called Arunachal Pradesh and is firmly opposed to the Indian leader's visit to the disputed area," Geng said.

"We will lodge stern representations with the Indian side," he said.

The spokesperson said that China and India had reached important consensus on properly managing disputes, and the two sides were working to resolve the territorial disputes through negotiation and consultation.

"The Chinese side urges the Indian side to honor its commitment and abide by the relevant consensus, and refrain from taking any action that may complicate the boundary question," Geng said.

He urged India to cherish the hard-won momentum of improvements in bilateral relations and create enabling conditions for the boundary talks and the development of bilateral relations.

The so-called Arunachal Pradesh was established largely on three areas in China's Tibet -- Monyul, Loyul and Lower Tsayul -- which are currently under illegal occupation by India. These three areas, located between the illegal "McMahon Line" and the traditional customary boundary between China and India, have always been Chinese territory.

In 1914, British colonialists secretly instigated the illegal "McMahon Line" in an attempt to incorporate it into India at the above-mentioned three areas of Chinese territory. None of the successive Chinese governments have ever recognized the line.

In February 1987, Indian authorities declared the founding of so-called Arunachal Pradesh.

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EU's new military pact poses no threat to NATO: Mogherini

Iran Press TV

Fri Feb 16, 2018 03:03PM

The European Union has dismissed a call by the United States "to include in written EU documents" that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) role in protecting Europe would not be threatened by the EU's newly-established massive military pact.

"This is already clearly stated in black and white in the EU treaties, so no need further to speculate on that," the union's diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini told reporters on Friday in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.

The EU launched a massive military pact on December 11 as it seeks to coordinate policies and projects among member states in the face of alleged threats from the east of the continent.

The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, unveiled the Permanent Structured Cooperation, known as PESCO, which was signed by 25 participating EU member states.

The commission said the states are also set to endorse the European Defense Fund (EDF), a project with an annual budget of 1.5 billion euro.

The PESCO was signed at the European Council in Brussels on November 13 and is part of efforts led by Germany and France to bring the EU closer to having a permanent joint military force parallel to NATO but exclusive to the EU.

Mogherini, who is in Sofia to participate in a meeting of EU foreign ministers, emphasized that the new pact does not seek to replace or compete with NATO.

"NATO is mentioned in the EU treaty as the responsible organization for collective defense for those EU member states that are NATO allies, so it's clear the work we're doing on European defense in the EU is not aiming at substituting for NATO when it comes to collective defense," Mogherini pointed out.

The US is concerned that EU plans for closer military ties between the bloc's members risk undermining NATO as the alliance confronts Russia.

US ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison on Tuesday ramped up the pressure, warning the EU that there could be serious consequences if it shuts US arms companies out of cooperation projects.

"Certainly we do not want this to be a protectionist vehicle for the EU and we're going to watch carefully, because if that becomes the case then it could splinter the strong security alliance that we have," she told reporters.

The top EU diplomat pointed to a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday among NATO defense ministers including US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and said the talks had allowed her to reassure that the EU military pact has no intention of replacing the alliance.

Unlike similar efforts in the past, PESCO is not being opposed by the US-led NATO, which aims to benefit from stronger militaries.

Some members have also brandished the new union as an attempt to counter Russia. Western governments have been at odds with Moscow since the Crimean Peninsula, formerly territory of Ukraine, voted to unify with Russia in 2014.

Moscow has already been unnerved by NATO's increased military activities on Russia's western borders. Moscow says the military alliance seeks to establish permanent presence near Russia by gradually building up forces there.

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EU divided on Balkan expansion in face of Russia fears

Iran Press TV

Fri Feb 16, 2018 10:56AM

European Union foreign ministers have failed to reach agreement on a proposal to expand into the Western Balkans, citing problems such as ethnic wars and alleged criminal activities there.

Meeting in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia on Thursday, the EU ministers discussed for the first time plans by the European Commission envisioning 2025 as a target date for Serbia and Montenegro to be admitted to the bloc.

While the foreign ministers of Hungry, Poland, Austria, and Italy welcomed the proposal, top diplomats of the EU's leading powers Germany, France, and Slovenia expressed reservations about the move.

Berlin remains very reluctant, pointing to alleged rule of law deficiencies in the bloc's newer member states, such as Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, and Hungary.

"I've just come from Serbia, and in Kosovo, the situation is exceptionally difficult," said German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel. "We will speak frankly about this today."

Among the persisting issues complicating the Western Balkans' integration with the West is Serbia's refusal to recognize the independence of its former province Kosovo.

Moreover, Slovenian Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec said he believed that even 2025 was "not realistic" as a goal, insisting that the Western Balkan states would need more time to resolve their differences and meet the criteria for admittance into the EU.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also expressed caution.

EU diplomats further said that corruption and alleged powerful criminal gangs smuggling weapons, drugs, and asylum seekers over European borders top a long list of issues the six Balkan hopefuls would have to tackle if they ever were to be allowed into the bloc.

The proponents of stepped-up efforts to open the bloc to the Balkans also expressed concerns about allegedly rising Russian and Chinese influence in the region.

"Who will be first in Belgrade  China or the EU? It is that (which) we have to counteract, as it is our immediate neighborhood," said Austria's Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl while speaking to reporters.

Meanwhile, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov further declared that he would host the heads of the Balkan states on March 1 for talks with European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker on the construction of new highways and railways to improve links with the EU.

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'Afghans file 1.7 million war crime complaints with ICC'

Iran Press TV

Fri Feb 16, 2018 10:43AM

A human rights group says the International Criminal Court (ICC) has received over one and a half million statements of alleged war crimes from Afghan citizens in a span of three months.

The Human Rights and Eradication of Violence organization said on Thursday that the ICC had received 1.7 million statements since it began collecting material three months ago.

Abdul Wadood Pedram of the organization said each of the 1.7 million statements included multiple victims, meaning that the actual number of the individuals seeking justice could be several millions.

The Taliban and the US and its allies are among the main targets of the suits over crimes committed since the occupation of Afghanistan in 2001.

"It shows how the justice system in Afghanistan is not bringing justice for the victims and their families," Pedram said.

The ICC has not given details about the victims or organization providing information.

"I have the names of the organizations, but because of the security issues, we don't want to name them because they will be targeted," Pedram said.

The ICC was established in 2002 with a mission to investigate war crime allegations across the globe. The body can only look into cases in Afghanistan that allegedly occurred after May 2003, when the country accepted ICC jurisdiction.

In November last year, ICC chief prosecutor called for a formal investigation into war crimes in Afghanistan.

At the time of Bensouda's announcement, Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon described the investigation "wholly unwarranted and unjustified," adding that "our overall assessment is that commencement of an ICC investigation will not serve the interests of either peace or justice in Afghanistan."

The United States invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 after the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. That invasion overthrew a Taliban regime in power at the time. But US forces have remained bogged down there through the presidencies of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and incumbent Donald Trump.

Recently, the US military officially acknowledged that there are some 2,600 more troops in the war-torn country than the 8,400 previously reported.

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Pakistan 'hits Indian military post in Kashmir, kills 5'

Iran Press TV

Fri Feb 16, 2018 08:41AM

The Pakistani army says it has targeted and destroyed an Indian military post in the disputed region of Kashmir, killing five soldiers stationed there in retaliation against alleged Indian sniper fire that killed a civilian.

According to statements on Friday by Pakistan's Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor and other authorities, an Indian military post near the village of Tatta Pani was "destroyed" late Thursday after sniper fire earlier in the day targeted a school van carrying children in the Pakistani side of Kashmir, killing the driver and traumatizing the student passengers.

Ghafoor warned that Pakistani forces would continue to respond to "Indian terrorism against innocent citizens."

The Indian army on Thursday denied that its forces had violated a cease-fire deal in place since 2003.

Pakistan also said that the gunfire targeted the school vehicle days after India alleged that gunmen from a Pakistan-based militant group staged an assault on an army camp in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

During the attack last Saturday, armed assailants stormed India's Sunjuwan army camp and engaged the soldiers stationed there, killing five troops and one civilian living in the military installation as part of the community of relatives of army personnel.

The attack prompted New Delhi to warn Islamabad that it "would pay for this misadventure."

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi censured the alleged targeting of the school van by India on Friday, saying, "Such unprovoked and unethical acts have exposed the real face of India, which continues to violate the Geneva Convention by targeting innocent school children."

President of the Pakistani region of Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan also condemned what he referred to as India's "aggression." He further appealed to the United Nations Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan, or UNMOGIP, to probe the alleged incident.

Pakistani and Indian troops regularly exchange fire in the restive Kashmir, each accusing the other of initiating fire and targeting civilians. In 2016, Indian artillery fire and shelling allegedly struck a passenger bus in Pakistani side of disputed Kashmir, killing 12 civilians.

The violence on Thursday marked the latest escalation in Kashmir, which has been divided between the two nuclear-armed neighbors since Britain ended its colonial rule of the region.

Since the partition 71 years ago, India and Pakistan have fought four wars, three of them over Kashmir. The majority of Kashmir's population of nearly 12.5 million are Muslims.

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EU Upbeat On Macedonia Name, Urges Reforms In Balkans

RFE/RL February 16, 2018

A senior official says the European Union is "very confident" that a 27-year-old dispute over Macedonia's name, which has hampered the former Yugoslav republic's progress toward NATO and EU membership, will be resolved by the end of June.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn spoke upon arrival in Sofia on February 16 for talks between EU foreign ministers and their counterparts from countries that are candidates to join the 28-state bloc.

Asked whether the dispute between Macedonia and Greece could be settled during Bulgaria's EU presidency of the bloc, which ends in June, Hahn said he was "very confident about this."

Greece has long objected to Macedonia's name, contending that it suggests that Skopje has claims to the territory and heritage of the region in northern Greece that has the same name.

The dispute between Greece and Macedonia, which for now is formally known at the UN as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), has persisted since the country gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.

Amid a flurry of negotiations, UN mediator Matthew Nimetz has voiced optimism that a solution is within reach.

Leaders of the two countries have also said progress has been made in settling the dispute, and there are indications that an agreement -- if one is reached -- could include Macedonia adding "Upper," "New," or "North" to its name.

https://www.rferl.org/a/macedonia-greece-renames-airport-highway-alexander/29023972.html

Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov told reporters in Sofia that his country has matured and no longer needs "roots back 2,000 years to feel self-confident."

"It's better to cooperate and compete on things that matter today than compete on who had more glorious victories and defeats in our rich history," he said.

"We have the same approach towards the difference we have with Greece," he said.

Macedonia became a candidate for EU membership in December 2005, but EU-member Greece blocked the start of negotiations, which requires unanimous agreement by all EU states.

Hahn also reiterated a frequent message from the EU to Western Balkans countries that are prospective members, saying they will have to implement substantial reforms before they can be allowed in.

A new EU strategy says that Serbia and Montenegro, which are considered the front-runners among the six Western Balkans countries that are not members, could be allowed in by 2025 if they meet all the conditions.

"Everybody realizes that the conditions have to be met, that quality comes before speed, that the strategy is not an invitation to do away with conditionality," Hahn said.

In addition to Serbia and Montenegro, the Western Balkans countries that are not EU members are Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Macedonia.

Also speaking in Sofia, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the strategy addresses "the entire region" and "doesn't create different boxes or categories among the regional parties we have [in] the Western Balkans."

She said that 2025 "is a realistic possible perspective...not only for the two countries that are currently negotiating but also for others that could start to negotiate."

Laying out the new strategy on February 6, Mogherini expressed hope that all six countries will join "not in a faraway future but in our generation."

With reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-upbeat-macedonia-name- urges-reforms-balkans/29043849.html

Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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US Seeks Hypersonic Weapons as China Zooms Ahead

Sputnik News

22:00 16.02.2018

The US is facing an emerging threat in the form of hypersonic weapons, leading to calls for the US to develop its own defensive and offensive hypersonic capabilities.

"China's hypersonic weapons development outpaces ours," Admiral Harry Harris, head of US Pacific Command, told Congress on Wednesday.

"We're falling behind," Harris said, echoing US Air Force General Paul Selva's recent comments that the US has "lost our technical advantage in hypersonics" to Beijing and Moscow, whose programs have accelerated forward at mach speed.

The military needs to address the growing disparity "in a most aggressive way," according to Harris, "in order to ensure that we have the capabilities to both defend against China's hypersonic weapons and develop our own offensive hypersonic weapons."

Hypersonic weapons can travel at extremely high speeds  upwards of five times the speed of sound, or nearly twice the speed of any existent military aircraft  and thus evade missile defense systems. Either conventional weapons or nuclear weapons could theoretically be attached to a hypersonic missile, both horrifying prospects, but the raw kinetic energy of the projectile moving so fast is sufficient to wreak great destruction all on its own simply by hitting the target.

US Air Force officials have said that, depending on a hypersonic weapon's guidance system, such a weapon could destroy enemy naval vessels, buildings, air defense systems, drones or aircraft.

Warrior Maven reported on Wednesday that the US Missile Defense Agency would be pursuing more advanced sensors to monitor incoming threats. The new software the agency seeks "might have some capability to track hypersonic systems," MDA Director of Operations Gary Pennett told reporters, adding, "this evolving threat demands a globally present and persistent space sensor network to track it from birth to death."

In 2017, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuriy Borisov said developing and supplying hypersonic weapons to the Russian Armed Forces was one of the highest-priority programs in the 2018 to 2025 armaments review.

China has been cruising along with its own hypersonic program. The People's Liberation Army conducted two hypersonic glide vehicle tests last November, US intelligence officials said in a report shared with the Diplomat.

 Sputnik

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Karzai: US in Afghanistan Because of Rivals, No Need for So Many Bases

Sputnik News

09:39 16.02.2018(updated 09:40 16.02.2018)

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has warned Washington against "deceiving" Kabul, pointing out that his country's interests should be respected by the White House.

In an interview with the Washington Post, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai specifically focused on relations between Kabul and Washington as well as the US's military presence in Afghanistan.

"The United States is not here to go to a party. There is no need for them to build so many bases just to defeat a few Taliban. They are here because all the great American rivals are in the neighborhood, and we happen to be here, too," Karzai emphasized.

He also made it plain that the US military is "welcome to stay but not to deceive us."

Karzai mentioned "an uncertain future" looming for Afghanistan, which he said is "too small and poor to ask the US to stop."

"But we are a country, and our interests must be respected," he underscored.

Last year, it was Karzai who lashed out at the new US strategy for his country, which he said is "against peace and the national interest of Afghanistan."

In last year's exclusive interview with Sputnik, Karzai specifically underlined that the US sought to implement "its own goals when it entered Afghanistan."

"The Americans said from the very beginning that they did not come to help the Afghan people, but rather to ensure their security. Later, we realized that they see Afghanistan only as a tool for implementing their geopolitical plans in the region, and once we realized this, it became clear that we needed to find our own ways of normalizing the situation in the country," he said.

In August 2017, US President Donald Trump announced the continuation of Washington's support for Afghan authorities in their fight against Islamic extremists.

Trump explained that the new US strategy for Afghanistan stipulates that the US will not be involved in nation building, but in exterminating terrorists there.

He said that the strategy would be secret and any timetables for ending the war in Afghanistan will be removed. Trump pledged to publicly keep mum regarding US troop numbers or plans for ongoing activities in Afghanistan.

The United States has been in Afghanistan for almost 17 years after the 9/11 attacks on Washington and New York. During his pre-election campaign in 2016, Trump condemned sending US troops and resources to Afghanistan.

 Sputnik

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US Army Makes Massive Artillery Orders to Train for Conventional War

Sputnik News

03:37 16.02.2018(updated 03:39 16.02.2018)

The US is buying 150,000 artillery shells, about 825 percent more than the previous year's purchase of 16,500 shells, for "training to fight a decisive-action conflict," a US Army general said this week.

The US Army's 2019 budget proposal calls for 148,297 155 mm shells, the standard US Army, US Marine and NATO artillery caliber, Task and Purpose reported February 14. The budget also calls for 1,189 Excalibur rounds, an extended range artillery shell guided by the global positioning system.

Although they haven't been a major feature of the US Army's counterinsurgency focus this century, the Army has apparently run short on shells, since some of them have a limited shelf life and they are often used in training exercises, Jack Daniels, a Pentagon official, told reporters Tuesday.

Since the Army is training for conventional wars now, the service needs a lot more shells.

"We have a lot of munitions, but not enough munitions that are sitting there in ammo holding areas and in theater stocks," said Davis Welch, the Army's deputy budget director. "This is just building out those stockage levels."

"There is enough ammunition for us to fight tonight," Welch acknowledged. The military's new policy to focus on "great power competition" instead of terrorism likely played a role in the decision.

US President Donald Trump said the US is increasing its arsenal of "virtually every weapon." The president signed a budget bill last week ending a brief federal government shutdown that also removed caps on military spending until 2019.

 Sputnik

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Troika Statement on Phase 2 of the High Level Revitalization Forum for South Sudan

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

February 16, 2018

The text of the following statement was issued jointly by the Governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Norway.

The members of the Troika (Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States) welcome the parties' constructive efforts toward compromise for the benefit of the people of South Sudan at the High Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) over the last two weeks in Addis Ababa. The Troika expresses its appreciation for and fully supports the continuing effort by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to restore peace through the HLRF, and commends the tireless efforts of the IGAD Special Envoy Ambassador Ismail Wais and the mediation team.

The Troika underscores the critical importance of the parties creating a conducive environment for peacemaking: fighting while talking is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. The parties must make good on their promises to implement the Agreement on a Cessation of Hostilities (ACOH) signed in December 2017. We take note and support the intention by IGAD and the African Union to identify and impose consequences on those undermining peace as soon as possible and we stand ready to support them in their efforts. Implementation of the ACOH must also include the release of political prisoners and prisoners of war, the end to the use of child soldiers and sexual and gender-based violence as a weapon. The parties must also allow unfettered access for Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) monitors and for humanitarian assistance and aid workers responding to Africa's worst humanitarian crisis.

While useful dialogue has taken place over the past two weeks, there is much more for the parties to do if the HLRF is to make meaningful and sustainable progress towards peace. The Troika calls on all parties to reconvene as soon as possible, without preconditions, to address the important security and governance arrangements that are essential for peace. We urge all parties to take steps to maintain the momentum of the process and refrain from comments or actions that could make returning to dialogue more difficult. We urge the parties to agree that a negotiated arrangement for an inclusive transitional government that reflects South Sudan's diversity is needed. We encourage the parties to set as priorities the separation of powers, dispute resolution and reconciliation mechanisms, service delivery, and accountability. Arrangements must not advantage any political, armed, or ethnic group. We call on the parties to develop practical security arrangements that end violence and build confidence, and set out a realistic path to broader security sector reform. We urge the parties to support financial reforms that address corruption and build confidence in public institutions.

The Troika renews its firm view that elections in 2018 are not viable given the continuing conflict, lack of security, displacement of one third of the population, and severe food insecurity affecting half the population. It calls on all parties to reject any unilateral effort to extend power though the ballot box, the legislature, or military means. A negotiated path to elections also means the protection of fundamental political freedoms, and significant improvements in security and humanitarian conditions. The Troika continues to stand with the people of South Sudan and urges their leaders to move expeditiously to achieve the peace their people deserve.

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Ethiopia Declares State of Emergency After PM Resignation

By VOA News February 16, 2018

Ethiopia's Council of Ministers has declared a three-month state of emergency for the country, effective immediately.

The decision was announced on state media outlets Friday, a day after Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced he is resigning.

A government statement said the state of emergency was declared to "protect the constitutional order and to protect peace and security." The statement also said that recent ethnic-based violence, killings and destruction of properties were among the reasons behind the decision.

Ethiopia has witnessed waves of anti-government protests over the past few years, stoked by demands for free and fair elections and a more equal distribution of power among the country's ethnic groups. The ruling EPRDF coalition controls all the seats in parliament.

In an effort to ease tensions, the government this week released more than 700 prisoners arrested during the protests and a previous state of emergency. Those released included several prominent opposition leaders and well-known journalist Eskinder Nega, a critic of the government.

Hailemariam, 52, has served as prime minister since September 2012. Speaking on state television Thursday, he said he is stepping down "to be part of the solution and for the success of the reforms and the solutions we have put in place."

His resignation must be confirmed by parliament.

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Korea - Foreign Relations

Moon Jae-in and his party called for what they call "balanced diplomacy" with respect to the US and China, and, on the North Korea issue, they've argued that sanctions aren't the solution. Regarding the deployment of the US missile defense system THAAD, Moon had not definitively said whether he would reverse the decision. But he called for public and parliamentary discussion of the issue, and dialogues with the US and China.

Another liberal who passed for a centrist 'outsider,' rival for Moon Jae-in was software magnate, Ahn Cheol-soo, who was the 2017 presidential nominee of the Peoples Party. Ahn Cheol-soo called for parliamentary approval and also suggested a referendum concerning THAAD deployment. He advised that Seoul should not choose between Beijing and Washington, but through dialogue could manage strategic partnerships with both.

Moon Jae-in said 24 January 2017 said that South Korea should seek balance between the United States and China in dealing with diplomatic challenges. He unveiled this view in a roundtable discussion with security and intelligence experts. "Tension between the U.S. and China could increase in Northeast Asia," he said, touching upon rising uncertainty over the new US administration. "We need to advance the 70-year-long alliance with the US while developing the strategic partnership with China.... Seoul also needs to strengthen relations with Japan and Russia and European and Asian countries. In the face of new challenges, we need to expand our cooperation with countries all over the world."

He supports a Korean peninsula free of nuclear weapons -- meaning that Pyongyang should denuclearize itself and that U.S. tactical nuclear weapons cannot be allowed in South Korea. He hopes to resume operations at the Kaesong Industrial Complex -- an economic project jointly run by Seoul and Pyongyang that was suspended in February last year. Moon also said the agreement reached between South Korea and Japan in 2015 on wartime sexual slavery has to be re-negotiated because it was reached at a time when former president Park's close friend was meddling in government affairs.

The Roh administration, in which Moon served as chief presidential secretary, viewed South Korea as a balancer in Northeast Asia. The strategy emphasized the self-reliance of South Korea in resolving its Northeast Asian issues, including North Korean threats. Moon vowed to push projects for economic reunification as a step toward political reunification.

Moon Jae-in, candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, on 23 April 2017 unveiled his plan to make the Korean Peninsula nuclear-free. His denuclearization concept looks like the aborted diplomatic strategy sought by the government of President Roh Moo-hyun. The US demands the North scrap its nuclear program as a precondition for the negotiation. The North won't give up its atomic bombs under any circumstances. "I will persuade North Korea to come to the negotiating table," he said. "I will not try to make North Korea act first, but try to make both North Korea and the US act simultaneously." His remark echoed China's solution to North Korean threats. China wants the North to stop developing nukes and missiles, and the US and South Korea to stop military exercises at the same time.

"I will never allow any military provocations by North Korea. I will prevent war based on thorough crisis management and a strong Korea-U.S. alliance," he said during a press conference at the National Assembly. "I will put a priority on securing military capabilities to curb the North's nuclear and missile threats."

Moon said 20 April 2017, With regard to China, we should make it clear that if [North Korea] goes ahead with a nuclear test, the THAAD deployment becomes unavoidable. Moon, a former chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, said Tuesday that South Korea can "push ahead" with the ongoing installation of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery if North Korea's military threats continue to escalate. "The deployment of the THAAD battery can be pushed ahead with if North Korea carries out nuclear provocations again, and makes advances in its nuclear program," he said in an interview with the Chosun Ilbo newspaper 11 April 2017.

"I will persuade China to resume the six-party talks and the U.S. to improve its relations with the North, and North Korea to come to the negotiating table," he said 23 April 2017, stressing Seoul should take the initiative rather than relying on China. Moon pledged to speed up the deployment of the Kill Chain pre-emptive strike system and the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) plan, and improve independent surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities as part of such efforts. He also promised to advance the timetable for OPCON transfer, which is scheduled to take place in the mid-2020s, although he did not specify an exact timeline.

The political turmoil in South Korea over the 2017 impeachment of President Park Geun-hye exposed a sharp division in the country over national security policy, with conservatives who solidly support the US alliance and progressives who want to maintain friendly ties with China. Opposing Park also meant opposing her hard-line approach to dealing with North Korea, which failed to slow Kim Jong Uns resolve to increase his countrys nuclear and ballistic missile capability.

China opposed the controversial U.S. THAAD missile defense shield that the Park administration agreed to deploy. Beijing strongly denounced THAAD as an unnecessary and provocative military escalation that also posed a potential threat to China. China reportedly retaliated against South Korea by informally putting limits on imports and tourism. Many anti-Park activists say the potential military advantage of THAAD is not worth the growing tension it is causing with China.

Every election in South Korea is a confrontation between the countrys two major ideological forces: the conservatives and the progressives. The conservatives support a hard line in relation to North Korea and are believed to follow the U.S. foreign policy. The ruling Saenuri Party, President Park Geun-hye and her government belong to this group.

Although South Korea's progressives are not planning to break their alliance with the United States, they are trying to build a more or less independent foreign policy. The most obvious difference between the conservatives and progressives is seen in how they view their policy towards North Korea. The progressives are more likely to actively develop cooperation with Pyongyang or at least try to act in this direction.





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"The concept of global warming was created

by and for the Chinese in order to

make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive."

Donald Trump - 6 Nov 2012



I think that measuring with precision human activity on the climate is something very challenging to do and theres tremendous disagreement about the degree of impact. So no, I would not agree that its a primary contributor to the global warming that we see. But we dont know that yet, we need to continue to debate, continue the review and analysis.

Scott Pruitt, US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator







USA - Climate

Harvey, Irma, Jose, and Maria. Four major storms in a few weeks, surpassing meteorological history with their size and strength. This is what climate change looks like: more water in the atmosphere makes for larger, stronger storms. And this will be ignored. The new EPA Administrator is a climate denier, as is the new NASA Administrator. This is the United States, where Jim Inhofe brings a snowball to the Senate as evidence that climate change is a hoax. Rush Limbaugh spent a week telling his millions of listeners that the Irma warnings were "fake news" before fleeing his own Florida home just before the storm hit.

Polls show more than 80 percent of Americans favor action to reduce carbon pollution.

On 31 July 2016, leading national scientific organizations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Meteorological Society, and the American Geophysical Union, sent Members of Congress a no-nonsense message that human-caused climate change is real, that it poses serious risks to modern society, and that we need to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "Observations throughout the world make it clear that climate change is occurring, and rigorous scientific research concludes that the greenhouse gases emitted by human activities are the primary driver. This conclusion is based on multiple independent lines of evidence and the vast body of peer-reviewed science."

While the impacts of climate change clearly vary among the regions, there are issues of national importance that transcend regional boundaries. Trends observed in recent decades include rising temperatures, increasing heavy downpours, rising sea level, longer growing seasons, reductions in snow and ice, and changes in the amounts and timing of river flows. These trends are projected to continue, with larger changes resulting from higher amounts of heat-trapping gas emissions, and smaller changes from lower amounts of these emissions. The observed changes in climate are already causing a wide range of impacts, and these impacts are expected to grow.

Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) told a constituent in May 2017 that God can solve the problem of climate change, if the global phenomenon truly exists. The 66-year-old Republican made the remark at a town hall in Coldwater, Michigan. I believe theres climate change, Walberg said, according to a video of the exchange obtained by HuffPost. I believe theres been climate change since the beginning of time. I believe there are cycles. Do I think man has some impact? Yeah, of course. Can man change the entire universe? No. ... Why do I believe that? Well, as a Christian, I believe that there is a creator in God who is much bigger than us. And Im confident that, if theres a real problem, he can take care of it.

The Paris deal is too costly for the US, Donald Trump said 01 June 2017 as he withdrew his country from the accord. The US now joins Syria and Nicaragua as the only nations not to support the landmark global climate change deal. Throughout Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, he argued against the deal, saying China had created a climate change "hoax" to hurt the US economically. After taking office in January Trump immediately began gutting predecessor Barack Obama's environmental policies, saying he would prefer to reverse decades of decline in coal mining.

"In order to fulfill my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord," Trump said at the White House. "We will start to negotiate and we will see if we can make a deal thats fair. And if we can, that's great, and if we can't that's fine... As of today the US will cease all implementation of the non-binding Paris Accord and the draconian financial and economic burdens the agreement imposes on our country.... This includes ending the implementation of the nationally determined contribution and very improtantly the Green Climate Fund which is costing the US a vast fortune."

A group of 22 Republican senators issued a letter last week, urging Trump to make a clean break from the Paris agreement. The letter argued that remaining in it would subject the United States to significant litigation risk that could complicate Trumps effort to overturn Obama era regulations, known as the Clean Power Plan.

Freedom Works, an organization dedicated to the principle of smaller government, argued in a statement that adhering to the agreement would be too expensive, costing the U.S. economy more than $2 trillion and nearly 400,000 jobs. Americans havent seen real economic and wage growth for far too long, and this misguided treaty failed to strike anything close to a balance between preserving the environment and prosperity, the statement said.

In November 2012, Donald Trump tweeted that global warming is a Chinese hoax. He said that it's part of a plot designed to bring down US business and manufacturing. "The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive." He said he wants to dismantle the USA's involvement in the Paris Climate Agreementt  a pledge between world leaders to stop the earth heating up more than 2 degrees Celsius  because it is "bad for US business."

Since then, he was on both sides of the issue. After the election, he admitted there is some connectivity between human activity and climate change. Oklahoma attorney general Scott Pruitt was Donald Trumps pick to head of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Editorial Board of The New York Times wrote "Pruitt has repeatedly suggested that the science of climate change is far from settled, when in fact it is, and says that scientists continue to disagree about whether there is a relationship between human activity and rising atmospheric temperatures, which they dont ."

Donald Trump has proposed reducing the budget of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Washington Post reported 04 March 2017. The cuts to the NOAA could affect research, eliminate smaller initiatives and leave 3,000 people out of work. The Commerce Department agency "would be hit by an overall 18 percent reduction," the Post reports. NOAA's satellite data division would lose 22 percent of its funding, or $513 million (483 million euros). However, an unnamed White House official cautioned the paper against reporting specific numbers during the "evolving" process.

The AP reported that Trump plans to reduce the Environmental Protection Agency's staff by 20 percent now that campaign loyalist Scott Pruitt - who sued the EPA over regulations 14 times as Oklahoma's attorney general - has taken charge. Trump planned to fund beefed-up military spending through massive cuts to domestic agencies and departments.

The New York Times reported deep divisions within Trump's team ahead of an imminent decision on the US's participation in the Paris agreement. Energy and government officials told the newspaper that senior adviser Steve Bannon has pressed Trump to quit the historic agreement, which 194 countries reached in December 2015 to fight global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Former ExxonMobil CEO and current US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson rejected Bannon's position, the Times reported, as had Trump's more influential daughter, Ivanka.

In their book, "Merchants of Doubt", historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway explain how a looseknit group of high-level scientists, with extensive political connections, ran effective campaigns to mislead the public and deny well-established scientific knowledge over four decades. In seven compelling chapters addressing tobacco, acid rain, the ozone hole, global warming, and DDT, Oreskes and Conway show how the ideology of free market fundamentalism, aided by a too-compliant media, has skewed public understanding of some of the most pressing issues.

A growing body of scholarship examines the climate denial apparatus, including work by Harvard's Naomi Oreskes, Michigan State's Aaron McCright, Oklahoma State University's Riley Dunlap, Yale's Justin Farrell, and Drexel's Robert Brulle. Their work reveals an intricate, interconnected propaganda web that encompasses over 100 organizations, trade associations, conservative think tanks, foundations, public relations firms, and plain old phony-baloney polluter front groups.

Climate denial was the original "School for Scoundrels" in fake news techniques. Climate denial was the original fake news. They have been at it awhile. A a peer-reviewed academic study of the climate denial apparatus described how this works. The fossil fuel industry sets up an array of "environmental skeptics." But they are not just skeptics; they in reality "are predominantly agents of conservative think tanks." These think tanks, in turn, have the essential role of providing what the report calls "political insulation for industry," including "for companies such as ExxonMobil".

The "defining feature" of this apparatus is the "denial of the authenticity of environmental problems." Collectively, this climate denial apparatus created for the fossil fuel industry "a full scale counter movement" against environmental science. Concluding in the report, "Its major tactic is to manufacture uncertainty."

To collapse into fewer words these decade-old findings about the fossil fuel industry climate denial apparatus: front groups who disguise the identity of the real actors and pump out fake news--in their case, the fake news of climate denial. The tactics and methods of climate science denial are the tactics and methods of weaponized fake news: false front organizations, hidden funding sources, controllable means of communication, mimicry of legitimate groups, personal disparagement of opponents, relentless repetition of lies, and shameless persistence when debunked.

Fake news, dark money, and hidden political spending have been the fossil fuel industry's primary political weapons. This creates the problem. Once a fake news delivery system is in place, that system will not necessarily differentiate between different types or sources of fake news. Once that road is open, anyone can travel it with any fake news cargo. The same fake news delivery system that will distribute fake news designed to manipulate American politics for the fossil fuel industry can just as effectively distribute fake news designed to manipulate American elections for Russia or China or Iran. The fake news delivery system is not restricted to any one payload.

The fossil fuel industry also fought hard to create the dark money political spending apparatus that now despoils American politics. They lobbied the Supreme Court for the wretched Citizens United decision. They saw it coming and they were swift at the mark, and they have stopped any effort in Congress at political spending disclosure. They need and depend on dark money to buy influence in Congress.

Donald Trump in November 2018 rejected the warnings of a national climate-change assessment by more than a dozen government agencies. I dont believe it" he said.

In November 2018 an untold number of people lost their lives due to the Camp Fire wildfire in California, many are missing and communities have been destroyed. The air quality in Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay were the worst on the planet. Theres no question that climate change is driving these catastrophic wildfires and the deadly air quality that goes along with them.

Donald Trump, while visiting California, said Finland's President Sauli Niinisto had recently told him the country rarely has wildfires because "they spend a lot of time raking and cleaning and doing things" to clear the forest floor. Niinisto said raking did not come up in his conversation with Trump. US Interior Department Secretary Ryan Zinke said 20 November 2018 that the deadliest wildfires in California's history were partly due to lawsuits from environmentalists who have sought to stop forest management practices, such as forest thinning. "Radical environmental groups that would rather burn down the entire forest than cut a single tree or thin the forest" have brought lawsuits to stop forest management, Zinke told reporters in a teleconference about the California wildfires.

Earthjustice President Abigail Dillen said: As California struggles to recover from the most devastating wildfires in its history, we call on the nations elected leaders to take immediate action to strengthen climate resiliency and move legislation forward that will speed the transition to a clean energy economy. These catastrophic fires are part of a pattern of extreme weather that is putting our lives, our health, our homes, our cities, and our economy at risk. Hotter and drier conditions have turned our forests into a tinderbox. Over the past 30 years, the area affected by forest fires in the western U.S. has doubled because of climate change, according to a study from the National Academies of Sciences."

William Happer, a physicist who previously taught at Princeton University, has claimed that carbon dioxide, the main heat-trapping gas from the burning of coal, oil and gas, is good for humans and that carbon emissions have been demonized like the poor Jews under Hitler. Trump appointed him in late 2018 to the National Security Council staff, which advises the president on security and foreign policy issues.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, a former Oklahoma congressman who once questioned mainstream climate science, has come round to accepting that science. The Heartland Institute is one of the most vocal challengers of mainstream scientific findings that emissions from burning coal, oil and gas are damaging the Earths atmosphere. A May 2018 email exchange between Heartland Institute adviser, Thomas Wysmuller and Happer called the NASA chiefs change of heart on climate science a puzzle.







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Northcom Ready to Defend North America, Support Civil Authorities

By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2018  The commander of U.S. Northern Command told the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday that her command is ready to defend the United States today.

Air Force Gen. Lori J. Robinson, who also commands the North American Aerospace Defense Command, told the Senate panel she can defend against the North Korean missile and nuclear threat, but "it is critical that we continue to improve the ballistic missile defense enterprise, with emphasis on the development of improved sensor networks combined with interceptor capability and capacity and reliability."

The past year was a challenging one for Northcom, she said. Threats from North Korea, China and Russia required constant watch, and there was an unprecedented series of natural disasters, which fell to the defense support side of the command's mission.

The military handled all the calls absolutely professionally, Robinson said, adding that she was honored to represent the men and women of Northcom before the committee.

Adversaries Developing New Capabilities

"Looking forward, I see no reason to believe that the threats to our homeland will decrease," she said. "Our adversaries continue to extend their operational reach, and are developing new capabilities to range targets in North America. Our preparations for these threats depend on a predictable budget."

The general thanked the committee for all it did to pass the two-year budget agreement.

"The 2018 National Defense Strategy recognizes a return to great power competition and lays out a long-term strategy for addressing provocative behavior by China and Russia," Robinson said. "In NORAD and Northcom, we understand the urgency of keeping pace with these evolving threats. We also recognize that North Korea represents the most immediate threat to our homeland and therefore remains Northcom's highest priority."

In the past year, North Korea has detonated its largest nuclear warhead and conducted several successful intercontinental ballistic missile tests. North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un's rhetoric is aimed at the United States, and defense officials do not know if he has mated a warhead with a missile, but they must assume North Korea has done this and defend accordingly, she said. NORAD and Northcom continue to watch developments closely and are prepared to defend North America, Robinson added.

The command continues to work with the Missile Defense Agency and other combatant commands to ensure the United States can outpace the North Korean threat, the general said.

Russia, Other Threats

Russia continues to modernize its long-range bomber fleet and submarines and has developed new cruise missiles that "hold targets at risk at ranges that we haven't seen before," Robinson said. "To defend against advanced cruise missiles, it's important that we continue to make prudent and savvy investments in advanced sensors and defensive weapon systems."

The modernization of the Russian submarine fleet will threaten North America for years to come, she said.

The command also must be vigilant and prepared to meet other threats, including dealing with terrorism and the effects of natural or manmade disasters.

"As we review the 2017 hurricane response and prepare for the 2018 season, we are working with our mission partners, to include the active, guard [and] reserve forces, to incorporate the lessons learned to ensure that we provide our best support to lead federal agencies," she said. "With respect to Canada, we are building interoperability across domains, with a tri-command framework that's comprised of Northcom, NORAD and Canadian Joint Operations Command. This arrangement allows further planning, integration, while preserving our ability to conduct unilateral missions."

The military-to-military relationship with Mexico is "unbelievably strong," Robinson said. "We focus on illuminating the pathways used to transit illicit goods," she said. "Theater security cooperation is -- essential part of strengthening continental defense, and builds relationships essential for future cooperation."

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Grand Jury Indicts Thirteen Russian Individuals and Three Russian Companies for Scheme to Interfere in the United States Political System

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, February 16, 2018



The Department of Justice announced that a grand jury in the District of Columbia today returned an indictment presented by the Special Counsel's Office. The indictment charges thirteen Russian nationals and three Russian companies for committing federal crimes while seeking to interfere in the United States political system, including the 2016 Presidential election. The defendants allegedly conducted what they called "information warfare against the United States," with the stated goal of "spread[ing] distrust towards the candidates and the political system in general."

"This indictment serves as a reminder that people are not always who they appear to be on the Internet," said Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein. "The indictment alleges that the Russian conspirators want to promote discord in the United States and undermine public confidence in democracy. We must not allow them to succeed. The Department of Justice will continue to work cooperatively with other law enforcement and intelligence agencies, and with the Congress, to defend our nation against similar current and future schemes. I want to thank the federal agents and prosecutors working on this case for their exceptional service. Also, we received exceptional cooperation from private-sector companies like Facebook and Paypal."

According to the allegations in the indictment, twelve of the individual defendants worked at various times for Internet Research Agency LLC, a Russian company based in St. Petersburg, Russia. The other individual defendant, Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin, funded the conspiracy through companies known as Concord Management and Consulting LLC, Concord Catering, and many subsidiaries and affiliates. The conspiracy was part of a larger operation called "Project Lakhta." Project Lakhta included multiple components, some involving domestic audiences within the Russian Federation and others targeting foreign audiences in multiple countries.

Internet Research Agency allegedly operated through Russian shell companies. It employed hundreds of persons for its online operations, ranging from creators of fictitious personas to technical and administrative support, with an annual budget of millions of dollars. Internet Research Agency was a structured organization headed by a management group and arranged in departments, including graphics, search-engine optimization, information technology, and finance departments. In 2014, the agency established a "translator project" to focus on the U.S. population. In July 2016, more than 80 employees were assigned to the translator project.

Two of the defendants allegedly traveled to the United States in 2014 to collect intelligence for their American political influence operations.

To hide the Russian origin of their activities, the defendants allegedly purchased space on computer servers located within the United States in order to set up a virtual private network. The defendants allegedly used that infrastructure to establish hundreds of accounts on social media networks such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, making it appear that the accounts were controlled by persons within the United States. They used stolen or fictitious American identities, fraudulent bank accounts, and false identification documents. The defendants posed as politically and socially active Americans, advocating for and against particular political candidates. They established social media pages and groups to communicate with unwitting Americans. They also purchased political advertisements on social media.

The Russians also recruited and paid real Americans to engage in political activities, promote political campaigns, and stage political rallies. The defendants and their co-conspirators pretended to be grassroots activists. According to the indictment, the Americans did not know that they were communicating with Russians.

After the election, the defendants allegedly staged rallies to support the President-elect while simultaneously staging rallies to protest his election. For example, the defendants organized one rally to support the President-elect and another rally to oppose himboth in New York, on the same day.

On September 13, 2017, soon after the news media reported that the Special Counsel's Office was investigating evidence that Russian operatives had used social media to interfere in the 2016 election, one defendant allegedly wrote, "We had a slight crisis here at work: the FBI busted our activity.... So, I got preoccupied with covering tracks together with my colleagues."

The indictment includes eight criminal counts. Count One alleges a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States, by all of the defendants. The defendants allegedly conspired to defraud the United States by impairing the lawful functions of the Federal Election Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of State in administering federal requirements for disclosure of foreign involvement in certain domestic activities.

Count Two charges conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud by Internet Research Agency and two individual defendants.

Counts Three through Eight charge aggravated identity theft by Internet Research Agency and four individuals.

There is no allegation in the indictment that any American was a knowing participant in the alleged unlawful activity. There is no allegation in the indictment that the charged conduct altered the outcome of the 2016 election.

Everyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. At trial, prosecutors must introduce credible evidence that is sufficient to prove each defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, to the unanimous satisfaction of a jury of twelve citizens.

The Special Counsel's investigation is ongoing. There will be no comments from the Special Counsel at this time.

Attachment(s): Download Indictment

Component(s): Office of the Deputy Attorney General

Press Release Number: 18 - 198

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Al-Qaeda Operative Sentenced to Life in Prison for Terrorism Offenses Targeting Americans Overseas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, February 16, 2018



Earlier today, Al-Qaeda operative Ibrahim Suleiman Adnan Adam Harun, aka Spin Ghul, 47, was sentenced to life in prison following his March 16, 2017 trial conviction of multiple terrorism offenses, including conspiracy to murder American military personnel in Afghanistan, conspiracy to bomb the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, and providing material support to al-Qaeda.

Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Edward O'Callaghan, U.S. Attorney Richard P. Donoghue for the Eastern District of New York, Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr. of the FBI's New York Field Office and Commissioner James P. O'Neill of the NYPD made the announcement. The sentence was issued by U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan.

"With the sentence handed down today, our justice system has once again held accountable an al-Qaeda operative for his terrorist activities, ensuring that he will spend the rest of his life in prison," said Acting Assistant Attorney General O'Callaghan. "The evidence presented at trial established that the defendant and other jihadists attacked a U.S. military patrol in Afghanistan, resulting in the death of two American soldiers and the serious injury of others. Working with our partners in the law enforcement and intelligence communities, the National Security Division will continue to vigorously pursue and disrupt terrorists who target Americans and American facilities around the world. Thank you to the many agents, analysts and prosecutors whose hard work and dedication made this result possible."

"This case demonstrates our commitment to bringing to justice those who target American citizens serving their country abroad. We will be relentless in our efforts to hold terrorists like the defendant accountable for their crimes," said U.S. Attorney Donoghue.

"Justice has been served on behalf of the victims of Spin Ghul's grisly attack on U.S. military patrol members in 2003," said Assistant Director in Charge Sweeney. "This al-Qaeda operative will no longer pose a threat to society. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York is committed to working with our partners here and abroad to bring terrorists to justice."

"Harun was a dedicated and early soldier in Bin Laden's al Qaeda, joining just weeks before the September 11th attacks," said Commissioner O'Neill. "He launched attacks against U.S. service members in Afghanistan in 2003, killing two and injuring many others . After, he attempted to bomb the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, among other western targets. Harun will rightfully spend the rest of his life behind bars. This department  with our partners in law enforcement  remains deeply committed to combating terrorism from New York to Nigeria  and everywhere in between."

As proven at trial, Harun traveled from Saudi Arabia to Afghanistan weeks before Sept. 11, 2001, where he joined al-Qaeda, trained at al-Qaeda training camps, and eventually swore allegiance to Usama bin Laden. Harun, also known by the nom de guerre "Spin Ghul," a Pashto name meaning "White Rose," then traveled with other al-Qaeda jihadists to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan, where he operated under Abdul Hadi al-Iraqi, one of bin Laden's deputies and a senior al-Qaeda military commander.

On April 25, 2003, Harun and fellow al-Qaeda jihadists ambushed a U.S. military patrol near the Afghan-Pakistan border. Harun fired machinegun rounds and threw grenades at American soldiers and allied Afghan Militia Forces while shouting "Allahu Akhbar" or "God is Great." Two U.S. servicemen were killed in the attack  Private First Class Jerod Dennis, 19, of Oklahoma, and Airman First Class Raymond Losano, 24, of Texas  and several other soldiers were seriously wounded.

After the ambush, Harun met with senior al-Qaeda officials  including Abu Faraj al-Libi, then al-Qaeda's external operations chief  to express his desire to commit acts of terror against U.S. interests outside Afghanistan. He specifically sought to carry out attacks similar to the 1998 al-Qaeda bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which resulted in more than 200 deaths and 4,000 injuries.

In the summer of 2003, senior al-Qaeda leaders dispatched Harun from Pakistan to Nigeria to bomb the U.S. Embassy in Abuja. Harun's al-Qaeda handler directed him to obtain one ton of explosives for the bombing operation and to target Americans  whom he described as "the head of the snake"  at embassies, hotels and other "places where they gather for fun." Upon arriving in Nigeria, Harun recruited accomplices, scouted the Embassy and other potential Western targets, and sent an accomplice to find explosives. He also met with local terrorist leaders to expand al-Qaeda's terrorist network in West Africa.

In 2004, Harun directed a coconspirator to courier information and materials from Nigeria to al-Qaeda leaders in Pakistan. After learning that the coconspirator had been arrested in Pakistan, Harun fled Nigeria to Libya, from where he planned to enter Europe to carry out terrorist attacks against Western interests. In early 2005, however, Harun was arrested by Libyan authorities and held in custody until his release in June 2011. Harun was arrested in June 2011 by Italian authorities. He was indicted on terrorism changes in the United States in February 2012 and extradited from Italy to the United States later that year.

Mr. O'Callaghan and Mr. Donoghue expressed their grateful appreciation to the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs, the Department of Defense Army investigators, the Office of Military Commissions, the Italian Ministry of Justice, the Prosecutor's Office in Palermo, Italy, the Italian National Police, Guardia di Finanza and Carabinieri authorities for their support and assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shreve Ariail and Matthew J. Jacobs of the Eastern District of New York, and Trial Attorney Joseph N. Kaster of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section are in charge of the prosecution.

Component(s):

National Security Division (NSD)

USAO - New York, Eastern

Press Release Number: 18-199

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U.S. Special Counsel Indicts 13 Russians, Three Firms For Vote Meddling

Mike Eckel February 16, 2018

WASHINGTON -- A U.S. grand jury has indicted 13 Russians and three Russian companies, including one known informally as the "Troll Factory," for meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections, and on charges including bank fraud, conspiracy, and identity theft.

The charges, announced February 16 by the Special Counsel Robert Mueller, are the most significant criminal allegations to emerge to date from Mueller's deepening probe of Russian activities in the United States.

In the court document released by Mueller's office, the jury said that the Russian entities began interfering in U.S. political processes as early as 2014.

The 37-page indictment said some of those charged posed as "U.S. persons" who then communicated with individuals associated with President Donald Trump's election campaign. It said those individuals were "unwitting" in their communications with the Russians.

In comments to reporters after the indictment's release, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said that there was no indication that the Russian meddling affected the outcome of the 2016 presidential race.

"The indictment alleges that the Russian conspirators want to promote discord in the United States and undermine public confidence in democracy. We must not allow them to succeed," Rosenstein said.

Trump, who has downplayed the ongoing criminal and congressional investigations as well as mounting evidence about Russian interference, said the indictment, and Rosenstein's remarks, were further vindication.

"Russia started their anti-U.S. campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for President. The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong - no collusion!" he wrote in a post to Twitter.

In Moscow, a Kremlin spokesman told news agencies that he was "not familiar" with the indictment yet. The spokeswoman for Russia's Foreign Ministry posted a caustic response on her Facebook page.

"Thirteen people meddled in the U.S. election?! 13 against billion dollar budgets? Against intelligence and counterintelligence, against the latest methods and technology? Isn't that absurd? Yes, but it's the contemporary American political reality," Maria Zakharova wrote.

The main entity targeted is known as the Internet Research Organization, which the indictment said "had a strategic goal to sow discord in the U.S. political system, including the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Defendants posted derogatory information about a number of candidates, and by early to mid-2016, defendants' operations included supporting the presidential campaign of then-candidate Donald J. Trump and disparaging Hillary Clinton."

The organization gained its name as a "troll factory" from its efforts, documented by Russian and Western journalists, to post misleading or confusing information in blogs, chat room, and on news sites' reader comment pages.

Based in St. Petersburg, the company is widely believed to be financed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a man known as the "chef" to President Vladimir Putin for his catering contracts with the Kremlin.

Prigozhin, who was named in the indictment, was previously hit with financial sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department for his alleged actions in supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine. He has also been linked to a private military company that sent Russian mercenaries to fight in Syria. Some of those mercenaries are believed to have been killed by U.S. air strikes last week.

In comments to the RIA Novosti news agency, Prigozhin rejected the allegations.

"Americans are very emotional. They see what they want to see. If they want to see the devil, let them see the devil," he was quoted as saying.

The charges announced included conspiracy, bank fraud, identity theft, and failure to register as a foreign agent under U.S. law.

Mueller's team of investigators and prosecutors is conducting a far-reaching criminal investigation into Russian meddling, as well as suspicious interactions between associates of Trump and Russian officials. His office has handed down two previous indictments, including for Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and has resulted in two guilty pleas, including one by Trump's first national security adviser, Mike Flynn.

In a related matter on February 16, Mueller's office also released an announcement that a California man had pleaded guilty to identity fraud, stealing identities to create bank account numbers. The bank accounts were allegedly used to launder money, the counsel's office said.

The issue of Russia's interference had been gradually building in 2016, but it wasn't until January 2017 when the U.S. intelligence community released a pointed assessment, formally laying out the accusations against Moscow.

With Mueller's team making progress, and three congressional investigations looking into similar issues, some experts had been predicting that Russia might scale back its efforts to influence the political system in the United States and in some European nations.

However, earlier this week, the heads of several major U.S. intelligence agencies, including the FBI, the CIA, and the NSA, testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee, saying that Russians efforts were continuing unabated.

"At a minimum, we expect Russia to continue using propaganda, social media, false-flag personas, sympathetic spokespeople, and other means of influence to try to exacerbate social and political fissures in the United States," said Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence, who serves as head of the 17-member U.S. intelligence community.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/special-counsel-robert -mueller-indicts-13-russians-firms-election- meddling/29044347.html

Copyright (c) 2018. 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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13 Russian Nationals Indicted in US Election Meddling Probe

By Masood Farivar February 16, 2018

The special counsel investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election announced charges against the first group of Russians it says were behind the effort, unsealing an indictment against 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities.

The indictment, handed down by a federal grand jury on Friday, alleges that Internet Research Agency, a St. Petersburg, Russia-based company with ties to the Kremlin, and its 12 employees engaged "in operations to interfere with elections and political processes" from 2014 through the 2016 U.S. presidential elections.

The firm was long believed to have played a critical role in Russia's election meddling effort, employing fake social media accounts, paid online users and other tools to try to sway the election in favor of President Donald Trump.

Also named in the indictment were Internet Research Agency's alleged financial backer, Russian businessman Yevgeniy Prigozhin, and two companies he controls  Concord Management and Consulting and Concord Catering. The indictment says Prigozhin and his businesses provided "significant funds" for Internet Research Agency's operations to influence the 2016 American elections.

None of those charged in today's indictment are in custody, a spokesman for special counsel Robert Mueller's office said.

The charges

The indictment charges all the defendants with conspiracy to defraud the United States, three defendants with conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, and five individuals with aggravated identity theft.

Significantly, prosecutors say that Internet Research Agency, described as an outfit "engaged in political and electoral interference operations," and its employees sought to coordinate their effort with Trump campaign associates.

After the indictments were announced, Trump took to Twitter to again deny his campaign worked with the Russians.

Early during the 2016 campaign, the court document says Internet Research Agency and its employees posted "derogatory information" about a number of presidential candidates. By early to mid-2016, the indictment alleges the operation included "supporting" Trump's presidential campaign and "disparaging" Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Taking on fake American identities, the Russian operatives communicated with "unwitting" Trump campaign associates and with other political activists "to seek to coordinate political activities," the indictment said.

The indictment marks the first group of Russians charged in connection with Russia's interference in the 2016 election.

Mueller's sprawling investigation into Russian election interference has led to the indictments of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and associate Rick Gates.

Former Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and former campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos have pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about their contacts with Russian officials during the campaign and the transition.

Details of indictment

The indictment details how the operatives used subterfuge, stolen identities and other methods to stage political rallies, bought ads on social media platforms, and paid gullible Americans to "promote or disparage candidates."

To avoid detection by U.S. law enforcement agencies, the Russian operatives used computer networks based in the United States, according to the indictment.

"These groups and pages, which addressed the divisive U.S. political and social issues, falsely claimed to be controlled by U.S activists when, in fact, they were controlled by defendants," the indictment reads.

A number of the operatives are alleged to have traveled to the United States under "false pretenses to collect intelligence to inform the influence operations."

The indictment alleges that the firm began its "operations to interfere with U.S. political system" as early as 2014.

Also Friday, Mueller reached an agreement with Richard Pinedo, who pleaded guilty of aiding and abetting interstate and foreign identity fraud. Pinedo, of California, admitted to selling stolen bank and credit card numbers to the Russians, although he told investigators he "had absolutely no knowledge" about who was purchasing the information or what they planned to do with it.

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Details on Russian Indictees

By VOA News February 16, 2018

A federal grand jury investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election has indicted 13 Russian nationals including 12 employees of a St. Petersburg, Russia-based company that carries out online influence operations on behalf of Moscow. Below are some details from the indictment.

Count One: Conspiracy to defraud the United States

Entities:

Internet Research Agency LLC, also known as Mediasintez LLC, Glavset LLC, Mixinfo LLC, Azimut LLC, Novinfo LLC

Concord Management and Consulting LLC

Concord Catering

People:

Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin -- controller of the above entities. He and these companies "spent significant funds to further the organization's operations and to pay the remaining defendants, along with other uncharged organization employees, salaries and bonuses for their work at the organization."

The following people are charged with "posing as U.S persons and creating false U.S. personas," operating social media pages and groups designed to attract U.S. audiences. "These groups and pages, which addressed divisive U.S. political and social issues, falsely claimed to be controlled by U.S. activists when, in fact, they were controlled by Defendants. Defendants also used the stolen identities of real U.S. persons to post on organization-controlled social media accounts. Over time, these social media accounts became Defendants' means to reach significant numbers of Americans for purposes of interfering with the U.S. political system, including the presidential election of 2016."

Mikhail Ivanovich Bystrov

Mikhail Leonidovich Burchik, also known as Mikhail Abramov

Aleksandra Yuryevna Krylova

Anna Vladislavovna Bogacheva

Sergey Pavlovich Polozov

Maria Anatolyevna Bovda, also known as Maria Anatolyevna Belyaeva

Robert Sergeyevich Bovda

Dzheykhun Nasimi Ogly (cq) Aslanov, also known as Jayhoon Aslanov, also known as Jay Aslanov

Vadim Vladimirovich Podkopaev

Gleb (cq) Igorevich Vasilchenko

Irina Viktorovna Kaverzina

Vladimir Venkov

Count Two: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud

Internet Research Agency LLC

Dzheykhun Nasimi Ogly Aslanov

Gleb Igorevich Vasilchenko

Counts Three through Eight: Aggravated Identity Theft

Internet Research Agency LLC

Dzheykhun Nasimi Ogly Aslanov

Gleb Igorevich Vasilchenko

Irina Viktorovna Kaverzina

Vladimir Venkov

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US Navy: China Militarizing South China Sea With 7 New Bases

Sputnik News

02:04 16.02.2018(updated 02:23 16.02.2018)

Beijing has expanded its military presence in the South China Sea with the construction of seven new military bases, the head of the US Pacific Command told Congress this week.

"China's built up reclaimed islands in the South China Sea in the past year, with aircraft hangers, military barracks and extended runways to the point where China has seven operational bases in the busy international shipping waterway," US Navy Admiral Harry Harris said.

The facilities include jet hangars, barracks, radar houses, weapon emplacements and 10,000-foot runways, Harris added.

The admiral, who has been tapped by the White House to become the next US ambassador to Australia, explained that China's military is quickly catching up to the US "across almost every domain."

China is "attempting to assert de facto sovereignty over disputed maritime features by further militarizing its man-made bases," he said.

Trillions of dollars' worth of trade goods pass through the South China Sea annually. Islets and certain regions of the waterway are heavily disputed by several countries, including China, Brunei, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and the Philippines.

China's approach to militarizing islands on the South China Sea has been "coordinated, methodical and strategic," Harris noted, adding that Beijing is "using their military and economic power to erode the free and open international order."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned that the US' own increasing military presence in the region may lead to clashes. "The build-up of the US military aircraft and naval presence in this region can clearly, if not intentionally, provoke [a] military dimension of these territorial disputes," Lavrov said February 11.

"I think that these are very risky games. The United States is already looking not only at North Korea, although it justifies its military presence by the North Korean issue, but also at the South China Sea, where China is holding negotiations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries on the settlement of disputed territorial issues."

 Sputnik

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Sub-Par: Not a Single German Navy Submarine is Seaworthy

Sputnik News

01:29 17.02.2018

Germany's military hardware woes continue worsen: the German Parliament has announced that none of the German Navy's submarines are in operational condition. The navy maintains six submarines, but accidents and wear and tear have rendered all of them unusable.

"It's a real disaster for the navy, it's the first time in history that there will not be any submarine operating for months," said Hans-Peter Bartels, parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces in the Bundestag, in an interview with Berlin newspaper Bild am Sonntag.

Bartels added that the primary culprit behind the crisis was a failure of the German military to maintain the subs and replace outdated equipment.

The final working sub was knocked out of commision in October, when its rudder was damaged by an undersea rock.

The problem extends far beyond Germany's submarines. Germany is in the midst of developing four new F125 Baden-Wurttemberg-class frigates to replace its aging F122 Bremens, but the project has been plagued with problems.

The first of the ships was meant to be delivered in 2016, but had to be returned to contractor ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems due to the ship being drastically overweight and constantly listing to the right, rendering the frigate an $800 million doorstop until it can be fixed.

Two active ships, Type 702 Berlin-class auxiliary oilers, have similarly been sent to dry dock for 18 full months of repairs. "There are too many administrative responsibilities, a lack of staff and sometimes [ship repair] companies like to cling as long as possible to a given order," Bartels said.

"The navy will soon run out of operational ships."

It's not just Germany's navy that's facing such problems, either. A 2014 report on the status of the Luftwaffe claimed that about half of their Eurofighter Typhoon and Panavia Tornado multirole fighter jets were no longer airworthy, 15 of their 22 Wg-13 Sea Lynx helicopters had cracks in their tails that grounded them and that their aging fleet of Transall C-160 transports would need to be phased out.

And 149 of the German army's 244 Leopard 2 tanks were out of order and in need of repairs.

From 2003 to 2005, the German military underwent massive budget cuts, retiring 161 of their 426 fighter planes. This hamstrung peacekeepers in the spring of 2017 when they were deployed to the West African nation of Mali and the desert climate took out scores of their vehicles.

The German military's tech and budget woes have prevented them from fulfilling their commitments to NATO in the past. In recent years, the Luftwaffe had to scale down planned missions in support of Kurdish militias fighting Daesh and delivering medical supplies to West Africa during ebola outbreaks.

Germany also falls far short of NATO's recommended-but-not-mandatory defense spending goal of 2 percent of GDP. It currently sits at an estimated 1.13 percent of the German GDP.

The center-right Christian Democratic Union has proposed to reach that goal by 2024, but they're opposed by left-wing parties such as the Social Democratic Union  of which Bartels is a member.

 Sputnik

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Iran naval flotilla docks at Colombo Port in Sri Lanka

Iran Press TV

Fri Feb 16, 2018 01:38PM

The Iranian Navy's 50th naval fleet has docked at the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka as the Islamic Republic seeks to expand its naval presence and boost its power in international waters.

The 50th naval fleet, comprised of Tunb logistic-combat warship and Shaheed Naqdi and Bayandor destroyers, arrived at the port, the largest in Sri Lanka, on Friday.

It aims to strengthen mutual relations and develop peace and friendship.

A meeting between senior Iranian and Sri Lankan commanders and visits to military educational centers as well as cultural and historical sites are among the main plans of those on board the fleet.

Iranian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Mohammad Amiri Zayeri welcomed the crew of the flotilla upon their arrival.

The 50th flotilla embarked on the voyage on January 30 through a ceremony attended by Commander of Moqaddam Naval Base Rear Admiral Afshin Tashk.

He said the flotilla aims to display high capabilities of the Iranian naval forces and added that it is imperative for a strategic force to have presence in the high seas.

In recent years, Iran's Navy has increased its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers.

In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian Navy has been conducting patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008, safeguarding merchant containers and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran or other countries.

Iran's Navy has managed to foil several attacks on both Iranian and foreign tankers during its missions in international waters.

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U.S. Calls For UN Action, Citing Report Of Iranian Arms Embargo Violations

RFE/RL February 16, 2018

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley says it is "time for the Security Council to act" following the release of a UN report finding that Iran violated a UN arms embargo on Yemen's Huthi rebels.

"This report highlights what we've been saying for months: Iran has been illegally transferring weapons in violation of multiple Security Council resolutions," Haley said late on February 15.

The report by a UN panel of experts last month found that Iranian ballistic missiles and other weapons were introduced into Yemen after an embargo against arming Yemen's Huthi rebels was put in place in 2015, and that Iran failed to take measures needed to prevent those weapons from reaching the rebels.

The report by UN experts concluded that Iran was thus in violation of the arms embargo. Iran is also prohibited under a separate UN resolution from transferring weapons unless the security council approves it.

"The world cannot continue to allow these blatant violations to go unanswered," Haley said. "Iran needs to know that there are consequences for defying the international community. It's time for the security council to act."

UN diplomats have said the report finding Iranian arms embargo violations is likely to be addressed in a resolution renewing the Yemeni arms embargo that the council will consider later this month.

Haley has repeatedly pushed for Security Council action against Iran, inviting UN ambassadors that sit on the council to view what the United States maintains is evidence that Iran's ballistic missiles were used by the Huthi rebels to launch attacks against Saudi Arabia several times last year.

Iran denies supplying weapons to the Huthis, despite openly backing the Shi'ite rebels in their civil war against the Saudi-backed Yemen government.

Tehran maintains that the evidence supplied by the United States and the Saudis purportedly showing that its weapons were used by the Huthis was "fabricated."

Russian UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia traveled to Washington last month to view the missile fragments and other U.S. evidence, and afterwards expressed doubts about Iran's involvement in the missile strikes against Riyadh.

Nebenzia said Yemen has been littered with weapons from many conflicts over the years and that he could not determine "anything conclusive."

"I am not an expert to judge," he said.

Opposition from Russia, which has veto power on the Security Council, could sink any U.S. effort to push for further council measures against Iran.

With reporting by AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-calls-for-un-action -report-iranian-arms-embargo-violations- yemen-huthi-rebels/29042930.html

Copyright (c) 2018. 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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U.S. Calls On Iran To Release Detained Opposition Leaders

RFE/RL February 16, 2018

The U.S. State Department late on February 15 called on Iran to release three opposition leaders who have been under house arrest for seven years.

The statement came on the seventh anniversary of the detention of 2009 Iranian presidential candidates Mehdi Karrubi and Mir Hossein Musavi, as well as Musavi's wife and women's rights advocate Zahra Rahnavard.

Karrubi, a former parliament speaker, helped lead mass protests against alleged election rigging in 2009 after official election results in the country said he lost his bid for the presidency.

"The continued house arrest of these three individuals contradicts Iran's international obligations, including those under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to provide minimum fair trial guarantees and not to subject citizens to arbitrary arrest or detention," said department spokeswoman Heather Nauert.

"We join the international community in condemning the continued arbitrary detention of these three individuals without charges or fair trials and in calling for their immediate release and for the release of all prisoners of conscience unjustly detained in Iran," she said.

Karrubi last month criticized Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for blaming "foreign enemies" for a wave of street protests, saying he should "accept responsibility" for his "policies of the last three decades."

Karrubi, a Shi'ite cleric like Khamenei, also said the protests that began over economic conditions in Iran were inevitable because of the depth of "injustice, corruption, and discrimination" in the country.

At least 25 people were killed and more than 3,000 detained as authorities put down the protests, which had spread to more than 90 cities and towns.

U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly praised the protesters, and on February 15 Nauert said the United States wants Iran to "respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms" of all Iranians.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-calls-on-iran -release-detained-opposition-leaders- karrubi-musavi-rahnavard/29042936.html

Copyright (c) 2018. 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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NATO defense ministers agree to US demand for larger Iraq deployment

Iran Press TV

Fri Feb 16, 2018 10:18AM

NATO has agreed to deploy a larger military mission to Iraq after the US urged the Western military alliance to look into a long-term stay in the Arab country only after the defeat of the Daesh terror group there.

At a Thursday meeting in Brussels, NATO defense ministers reached an agreement to expand the alliance's small mission in Iraq with the aim of providing "training" and "advice" to Iraqi armed forces.

The agreement was a positive response to a formal request sent to NATO last month by US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.

"We will go to a consistent mission in Iraq," Mattis told a news conference.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that not maintaining such mission on the ground would open the doors for resurgent terrorism.

He attributed the rise of Daesh in Iraq to the withdrawal in 2011 of the US military from the country.

"The lesson learned from Iraq [is that] it is dangerous to leave too early because we may be forced back into combat operations," Stoltenberg told reporters.

The alliance will set the scope of mission with the aim of launching it in July at a NATO summit set to be attended by US President Donald Trump.

This is while Iraqi army forces, backed by popular volunteer fighters, managed last December to fully liberate their country of Takfiri Daesh militants, which had launched a campaign of terror there in 2014.

The US first deployed forces to Iraq in 2003 under the banner of war on terror two years after invading Afghanistan under the same pretext. The deployment was followed by rampant violence and chaos, which set the stage for the emergence of Daesh in 2014.

Washington then mobilized scores of its allies in another mission to purportedly root out the terrorists. The US-led coalition, however, was suspiciously slow in progress, while its airstrikes against purported terrorist positions led to heavy civilian casualties and damage to Iraqi infrastructure.

The volunteer forces helping the Iraqi army said on numerous occasions that they have documented evidence showing Washington provides the Daesh terrorists with weapons and military support.

Meanwhile, European members of NATO have been reluctant, fearing another open-ended assignment after more than a decade in Afghanistan, Reuters said.

Some 17 years into the US-led invasion of Afghanistan, the local Taliban militant group has only boosted its campaign of deadly violence there. More recently, the Daesh terrorist group has established a foothold in eastern and northern Afghanistan and stepped up its attacks.

Following the fall of Daesh in Iraq and Syria, Daesh remnants have been flowing into Afghanistan and expanding their presence there under the nose of the US military and other foreign forces.

Many Iraqi have called for all the 5,000 American troops to leave their country now that Daesh is gone. The Iraqi government said earlier this month that US forces had begun pulling out but that some would remain.

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Bangladesh hands over list of Rohingya repatriation to Myanmar

Iran Press TV

Fri Feb 16, 2018 06:54PM

Bangladesh has formally handed over to Myanmar's Home Minister Lieutenant General Kyaw Swe a list of more than 8,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees as Dhaka moves to launch their repatriation under an agreement signed between the two countries last year.

The delivery of the list occurred after officials of the two countries held a meeting in the Bangladeshi capital on Friday.

"We've today handed over a list of 8,032 people from 1,673 families to them. The (Myanmar) delegation received it very cordially and told us they would start processing their repatriation," said Bangladesh's Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan.

Bangladesh and Myanmar signed an agreement late last year to repatriate about 700,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees who have crossed the border since August to escape a brutal military crackdown.

The repatriation was set to start last month, but was delayed by a lack of preparation, as well as protests staged by Rohingya refugees against the plan to send them back to Myanmar, calling for guarantees of safety before their return.

Khan said more than one million refugees now live in overcrowded and squalid camps in southeastern Bangladesh, adding his country hoped all of them would go back to Myanmar.

"We discussed how would they repatriate these people. The Myanmar delegation was very cordial about it and said they will take them back gradually," he said.

Khan said, "No specific date came for repatriation", and expressed hope it would start soon.

The news comes while Rohingya refugees are still crossing the border into Bangladesh from Myanmar, fleeing rights abuses by Buddhist mobs and the military in their home state Rakhine.

Home minister Khan acknowledged the ongoing exodus, saying "The (Myanmar) delegation has admitted it and told us they will try their best to stop it as soon as possible."

Myanmar's government troops have been committing killings, making arbitrary arrests, and carrying out arson attacks in Muslim villages in Rakhine State since late 2016.

The UN says nearly 655,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled the Myanmar to Bangladesh since violence intensified last August.

The Rohingya have lived in Myanmar for generations but are denied citizenship and are branded illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, which likewise denies them citizenship.

The UN has described the 1.1-million-strong Muslim community as the most persecuted minority in the world.

Khan also called on Myanmar's authorities to ensure the refugees' return was "sustainable".

Referring to some 6,000 Rohingya refugees living in no man's land on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border since September, Khan said the two sides discussed the issue, adding "They said they have started processing repatriation of those refugees living on the (border's) zero line," Khan said.

He said Myanmar had "requested" a joint meeting on their repatriation on February 20.

Last week, a Myanmar government official was caught on camera threatening Rohingya Muslims living in a makeshift refugee camp on the Bangladeshi border to accept a government offer and return home or face dire "consequences."

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Pakistan To Send Troops To Saudi Arabia

RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal February 16, 2018

Pakistan is sending a "contingent of troops" to Saudi Arabia, the military announced late on February 15.

In a statement, the military's press service said the troops are being sent on a "training and advise mission" as part of ongoing "bilateral security cooperation."

It said the troops would not be deployed outside Saudi Arabia.

The news was announced after a meeting earlier on February 15 between Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa and Saudi Ambassador Nawaf Said al-Maliki in Rawalpindi, the city where the Pakistani military is headquartered.

Saudi Arabia has been demanding the deployment of Pakistani troops since the start of the Yemen conflict in 2015, despite Pakistan's parliament adopting a resolution that same year declaring Islamabad's "neutrality" in the conflict.

A Saudi Arabia-led coalition intervened in Yemen's civil war in 2015, backing government forces fighting Iran-allied Huthi rebels.

With reporting by Dawn and Samaa.tv

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-send-troops- saudi-arabia/29043220.html

Copyright (c) 2018. 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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Pakistan Under Scrutiny for Planned Troop Deployment in Saudi Arabia

By Ayaz Gul February 16, 2018

Pakistan's decision to deploy troops to Saudi Arabia has sparked domestic criticism the country is taking sides in the Yemeni conflict in violation of a parliamentary resolution, and it's a move some say likely will upset neighboring Iran.

The Pakistani military announced Thursday it was sending a "contingent" of troops "on a training and advice mission" to Saudi Arabia "in a continuation of ongoing  bilateral security cooperation."

The statement, however, explained the Pakistani "troops or those already there" will be stationed on the soil of Saudi Arabia.

Nearly 1,200 Pakistani troops are permanently stationed in Saudi Arabia as part of a training mission for more than 250,000 Saudi troops. The English daily DAWN quoted the Pakistan army spokesman as saying the size of the new contingent would be "less than a division," which usually consists of about 10,000 forces.

Riyadh and Islamabad have been close allies for decades. The Saudis have been pressing Pakistan for the troop deployment since the outbreak of the Yemen conflict in 2015.

But the national parliament that year unanimously adopted a resolution affirming Islamabad's strict "neutrality" in the conflict and called for the government to use diplomacy to end the crisis.

'Grave consequences'

On Friday, Pakistani lawmakers criticized the government for bypassing that resolution and "making unilateral decisions to the determent" of the country.

Opposition Senator Farhatullah Babar initiated the debate in the upper house and warned of " grave consequences " for Pakistan.

The senator from the Pakistani Peoples Party alleged that recent statements by the foreign ministry were aimed at justifying the troop deployment to "actively engaging the Yemenis in the conflict on the side of the Saudis."

The debate prompted Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani to summon the foreign minister on Monday for a clarification and to explain reasons for sending troops to Saudi Arabia.

Opposition members in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, also slammed the decision and sought clarifications to make sure the troop deployment in Saudi Arabia would not "contravene" Pakistan's neutrality outlined in the parliamentary resolution.

"Mr. Speaker, as you know, Saudis themselves are embroiled in the war [against the Shiite Houthi rebels] and it is not reaching any conclusion," observed Shireen Mazari of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

She demanded the government explain terms and conditions of the security pact with Saudis and the type of missions Pakistani troops will undertake there.

"How and on what grounds the government took the decision, or was this decision not taken by the government as such but it was just part of a routine that the military decided to send more troops?" Mazari asked.

The lawmaker was indirectly referring to widespread perception in Pakistan that the powerful military, and not the civilian government, makes key foreign policy decisions when it comes to dealing with countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United States, Afghanistan and rival India.

Ties to Iran

Pakistan has decided to deploy troops at a time when Iran-backed Houthis have increased missile attacks against Saudi targets, though the country's air defense system intercepted and destroyed most of the rockets and prevented any damage.

While Sunni-dominated Pakistan has deep economic, religious and military ties to Saudi Arabia, it shares a porous border with Iran, stretching 900 kilometers. A fifth of its more than 200 million residents are Shiite Muslims who maintain close cultural and religious ties with Iran.

Critics warn that Islamabad's military engagement could upset the country's minority Shiite community and undermine bilateral relations with Tehran.

Pakistani officials in background interviews, however, dismissed those concerns and told VOA that Iran "has been taken into confidence" with regard to sending troops to Saudi Arabia. They cited a recent visit to Tehran by Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, where he discussed the matter with the Iranian leadership.

Political commentator and television talk show host, Talat Hussain, questioned the army's statement that Pakistani troops will not be employed outside Saudi Arabia.

"It fools no one to say [troops] won't leave Kingdom boundaries. Saudi-Iran are fighting. Iran-Israel are fighting. In the middle of it are now are our contingents. This will have long-term implications," Hussain wrote on his Twitter account.

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After Syria Deaths, Creeping Anger -- And Kremlin Silence -- Over Mercenaries

Mike Eckel, Anton Zakharov February 16, 2018

Combat was not Ruslan Gavrilov's primary motivation in signing up to go to Syria with a shadowy private military company. But the 34-year-old Russian also wasn't "going to Syria to build houses," he told relatives.

Rather, his mother says, Gavrilov was simply down on his luck and "wanted to earn some money." He was one of at least 10 men around her son's age who were recruited from their village around the same time, she adds.

"He didn't have regular work -- it was temporary, hanging doors or putting up ceilings," Faina Gavrilova tells Current Time TV at the family home in Kedrovoye, in the central Russian region of Sverdlovsk. "Sometimes there's work; sometimes there isn't."

Gavrilov is on a growing list of Russian fighters who are thought to have died in massive U.S. air strikes in Syria's Deir al-Zor Province on February 7, at least several of them natives of Sverdlovsk.

His mother complains that she and other families grieving or fearing the worst have been left "living in ignorance" by officials.

The incident remains steeped in mystery amid reports suggesting it could mark the deadliest confrontation between U.S. forces and Russian fighters since the Cold War.

Gavrilova complains that she and other families fearing the worst "are living in ignorance."

But the unconfirmed reports of dozens or even hundreds of Russian casualties has also shone new light on the role of Russian mercenaries in Syria and elsewhere, and the men who enlist in such private armies.

Anger is building among relatives and survivors of the dead and injured as the public is left to speculate in the absence of clear information from Russian officials or the company widely believed to have been involved, ChVK Vagner.

Gavrilova says she still has no confirmation of her son's fate; she learned of his death from relatives.

The Kremlin has talked down casualty figures and insisted no uniformed troops were involved, while hinting that a private contractor may have been present in eastern Syria and partly to blame for any casualties.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stopped short of confirming on February 15 that Russian contract soldiers were among those killed during hours of U.S. bombardment on February 7 by B-52 strategic bombers, F-22 fighter jets, AC-130 gunships, and Apache attack helicopters.

Zakharova said five Russians may have been killed and others wounded in the attack but added that officials were still trying to verify identities and nationalities.

The U.S. military said up to 100 people had died but that identification of the dead was continuing.

Against a backdrop of mounting evidence from relatives and colleagues of Russian contract soldiers and anonymous officials, the Foreign Ministry's casualty total is expected to climb.

Russian and international news reports say dozens of injured fighters are being treated in St. Petersburg-area military hospitals.

Hours after Zakharova's statement, Ekho Moskvy radio station said it had identified another casualty from Syria, bringing the unofficial death toll tallied by reporters and open-source researchers to nine.

Reuters, meanwhile, reported on February 15 that the number of dead and wounded was around 300, quoting an unnamed military doctor and acquaintances and sources among the fighters-for-hire.

Even if the numbers are not in the hundreds, the Syrian incident appears to be the deadliest ever for Russian mercenaries abroad and the first direct hostilities between such fighters and U.S. forces.

Vagner At The Front

Virtually nonexistent in Russia a decade ago, private military companies have grown in strength and prominence.

In 2012, two years before the Ukraine conflict erupted, then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin endorsed creating a regulatory framework for them.

They "serve as an instrument of realizing our national interests without the direct participation of the state," Putin told lawmakers.

A nearly 4-year-old war in eastern Ukraine, where central government troops are battling Russia-backed separatists, has featured many Russian fighters alongside local separatists and what Kyiv says are uniformed Russian troops serving clandestinely. Moscow has rejected allegations that active Russian troops are in Ukraine and says Russians there are simply volunteers.

Russia's entry into the Syrian war in 2015 appeared to fuel an increased reliance on mercenaries serving alongside regular armed forces.

Open-source researchers have documented 10 private military companies in Syria, with the St. Petersburg-based Vagner regarded as one of the largest and the primary source of Russians contracted to work there. Vagner's fighters were said to have played an important role in helping Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces recapture the city of Palmyra in May 2016.

Vagner's head has been identified as Dmity Utkin, a former commander with Russia's military intelligence agency, known by its acronym GRU. He and Vagner were targeted by U.S. Treasury Department sanctions last year for their alleged roles in the Ukraine conflict. One of the company's main financiers has been identified as Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose company has major catering contracts with the Kremlin.

Prigozhin also is said to control an oil-trading firm, called Evro Polis, that reports have linked to Vagner's operations in Syria. The unit that was attacked by U.S. air strikes in Deir al-Zor appeared to have been trying to seize a Syrian oil field known as Conoco.

Private military companies' freedom from Russian regulation and close overlap with the activities of formal military structures like the GRU have allowed them to flourish.

Lawmakers from a Kremlin-supportive party, A Just Russia, tried to introduce legislation regulating such companies in 2016, but the government reportedly opposed it and the bill was withdrawn.

But that gray area has become increasingly problematic, particularly as contract soldiers who serve in places like Ukraine and Syria die and their families receive fewer of the benefits that regular conscripts might.

Vladimir Shamanov, a retired airborne-forces general who heads the defense committee in the lower house of parliament, signaled this week that legislators were considering new regulation.

"So that no one is left guessing what happened there and how, the state should be directly involved in these issues, all the more when this concerns the life and health of our citizens," Shamanov said.

No Work, Know War

Back in Kedrovoye, Gavrilov's mother notes that when her son left for Syria in October, it was open knowledge that he wasn't the only recruit from the village. Estimates ranged from six to 12.

Another villager, who asks not to be named, says his son-in-law was serving alongside Gavrilov. The last time he heard from him was February 7.

The fact that the men were unable to find steady, well-paid work angers Faina and other relatives. It also underscores the yawning economic gap between Russia's wealthier cities and distant provinces, where jobs are scarce.

Two years ago, mercenaries were reportedly making as much as $3,900 a month while serving in Syria. In 2016, Russia's RBK reported that as many as 2,500 private soldiers were contracted by Vagner to work in Syria, earning around $4,600 a month plus bonuses and other perks.

The average monthly wage across Russia in November 2017 was around 39,000 rubles ($670), according to official statistics. In many provinces, like the Ural region of Sverdlovsk, it is much lower.

Another woman in the Sverdlovsk region, whose husband is also thought to have died in Deir al-Zor, was more scathing in her criticism of authorities and a perceived lack of government support. She told Current Time TV that he and his fellow fighters were "thrown into battle like pigs."

The anger was not limited to relatives. The Kommersant newspaper offered a harsh editorial on February 14 in which it alleged, "The Kremlin has destroyed the image that it is the defender of all Russians."

Current Time is a 24-hour Russian TV channel produced by RFE/RL, in conjunction with Voice of America.

With additional reporting by Current Time TV

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-syria- deaths-creeping-anger-kremlin- silence-mercenaries/29044248.html

Copyright (c) 2018. 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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NATO Chief Urges Russian Transparency On Nuclear Treaty Compliance

February 16, 2018

MUNICH -- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is calling on Russia to address the alliance's concerns about what the United States has determined is Moscow's violation of a landmark Cold War arms treaty.

Stoltenberg's comments came in his February 16 address to the Munich Security Conference, an influential annual gathering that brings together world leaders, senior officials, and policy experts.

Washington accuses Russia of developing a ground-launched cruise missile that fell within prohibitions of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty, or INF.

Moscow has repeatedly rejected the charge, demanded more detailed information, and accused the United States itself of violating the INF treaty.

"We must protect the INF treaty, and we call on Russia to address the concerns of all NATO allies," Stoltenberg said, urging Moscow to be "transparent" in the matter.

Stoltenberg also urged greater pressure on North Korea over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. He added that while NATO's goal is a "world without nuclear weapons," the alliance would remain a nuclear bloc "as long as they exist."

"A world where Russia, China, and North Korea have nuclear weapons, but NATO does not, is not a safer world," he said.

Stoltenberg said he was encouraged by the declarations by Washington and Moscow this month that the two sides were in compliance with a 2010 arms-control treaty, known as New START, that limits the two countries' massive nuclear arsenals.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-chief- russian-transparency-nuclear-treaty -inf-stoltenberg/29044335.html

Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Syria's downing of Israeli warplane 'very big' achievement, Hezbollah chief says

Iran Press TV

Fri Feb 16, 2018 05:31PM

The secretary general of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement has praised the recent downing of an Israeli F-16 fighter jet by the Syrian air defense systems as a "very big military achievement."

"Syrian movement has decided to repel Israel's aerial assaults. The decision to shoot down the plane was taken by the Syrian leadership and President Bashar al-Assad. Those who executed the order were the officers and soldiers from the Syrian Arab Army," Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah addressing his supporters via a televised speech from the capital Beirut on Friday evening.

Nasrallah further noted that Israel launched the row with Lebanon over Block 9 on the account that the offshore oil and gas field, which lies in Mediterranean waters, is a boon to the Zionist regime.

"Our dispute with Israel over energy reserves could not be simply explained as an economic issue. Israel is making use of the energy issue in order to receive the US green light to annex occupied Golan Heights since there are reports about huge quantities of oil there," he pointed out.

The Hezbollah secretary general went on to say that numerous reports have confirmed "significant" quantities of oil and gas inside Syria, and that is one of the main reasons behind foreign-backed militancy and the presence of US military forces in the war-ravaged Arab country.

"The US military has occupied the eastern side of the Euphrates River since Syria's most important oil and gas fields are located there," Nasrallah highlighted.

The Hezbollah chief said US President Donald Trump is a businessman-turned-political leader and views Iraq as a "big barrel of oil."

"Offshore oil and gas reserves in the Mediterranean Sea belong to Lebanon, and they are the most important source of income for the country," Nasrallah said.

Nasrallah added that the Lebanese government needed to take a "firm and strong" position on disputes with Israel, emphasizing that his resistance movement was ready to act if necessary.

He said Lebanese officials must demand concessions from the US on the border dispute in return for "convincing Hezbollah to hold back from attacking Israel."

"Resistance is Lebanon's sole trump card in the oil and gas battle with Israel," Nasrallah commented.

The Hezbollah chief then warned Lebanese politicians against US administration's mediating role in the dispute with Israel over offshore gas drilling rights, stressing that Washington is not an honest broker.

"Americans did not come to Lebanon to resolve the issue. They were here to defend Israel's rights and issue threats to Lebanese politicians," Nasrallah pointed out.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Nasrallah described assassination operation against Mohammed Hamdan, a member of the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon as a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty, warning that intelligence reports have pointed to Tel Aviv regime's efforts to target more individuals in Lebanon.

Commenting on the 39th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Nasrallah said Tehran has never interfered in the domestic affairs of Lebanon.

"Iran is a country that no other country can meddle in its positions and strategies. The Islamic Republic has stood by all Arab nations, and defended their rights," he said.

Nasrallah also pointed to the anti-regime campaign in Bahrain, saying people have continued their protests in the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom despite seven years of heavy-handed crackdown.

"Bahrain is the only country in the world whose government strips citizens of their nationality," the Hezbollah secretary general said.

Nasrallah also lauded Lebanon's new election law, calling on members of the Future Movement to stay calm.

He roundly dismissed allegations that Hezbollah is seeking to gain the majority of seats in the Lebanese parliament as "nothing but mere lies."

"Our political alliance with the Free Patriotic Movement is strong and steadfast. On the electoral level, we are free to coalesce in some areas and compete in others," Nasrallah said.

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Syria to deploy troops to Afrin under deal with Kurdish militants: Reports

Iran Press TV

Fri Feb 16, 2018 06:13AM

The Syrian government is reportedly set to deploy troops to the northern district of Afrin, which has been the target of a month-long Turkish offensive, as part of an agreement with the Kurdish militants operating there.

Citing "special" sources, Lebanon's Al Mayadeen broadcaster reported Thursday that Damascus had reached an agreement with militants of the People's Protection Units (YPG) to station troops in Afrin with the aim of countering Turkish military attacks.

Russia's Sputnik news agency also quoted a source familiar with the situation as saying that Syrian forces would enter the flashpoint region within "the next few days."

"The agreement has been reached on the deployment of the Syrian Armed Forces at the Syrian-Turkish border in Afrin in the north of Aleppo in the next few days. The agreement was reached between the Syrian government and the Kurds," the source said.

According to Sputnik, the US, a longtime supporter of the anti-Damascus Kurdish militants, has no knowledge of the deal.

Ankara views the YPG as a terror organization linked to the homegrown militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been fighting for autonomy on Turkish soil over the past decades.

Angered by a Washington plan to set up a 30,000-strong Kurdish force at its doorstep, Turkey launched on January 19 the so-called Operation Olive Branch in northern Syria to cleanse those regions of the YPG, which forms the primary component of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Turkey has threatened to expand its military operation to the nearby Kurdish-controlled Syrian city of Manbij and beyond to the Iraqi border. It has also warned the US, its NATO ally, to halt its support for the Kurds or risk confronting Turkish forces on the ground in Syria.

In an exclusive report on February 11, Reuters said the Kurdish militants controlling Afrin are getting indirect assistance from Syrian government forces in the face Turkish assaults.

Kino Gabriel, the SDF spokesman, said the "fundamental route" to get reinforcements to Afrin is via government forces, adding, "There are understandings between the two forces ... for the sake of delivering reinforcements."

The developments come a few weeks after Kurdish authorities in the Afrin district appealed to the government of President Bashar al-Assad to send troops and help defend them against the Turkish incursion in line with protecting Syria's sovereignty.

The Syrian government has given a degree of authority to the Kurdish regions to run their own affairs in the face of a foreign-backed militancy. The US, however, has used the vacuum to establish a foothold in those regions with the help of militants.

Assad has described US-sponsored Kurdish armed elements as "traitors" to the nation but has also denounced Turkish incursions as an act of aggression.

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US Aims to Separate Part of Syria to Create Kurdish-Dominated Autonomy - Lavrov

Sputnik News

16:06 16.02.2018(updated 17:31 16.02.2018)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has commented on the situation in the war-plagued Syria, including the issue of US military presence in the country and its support of Kurdish factions.

"It is clear that the United States has some strategy which I believe entails staying in Syria forever with its armed forces They are gearing up for separating a huge part of Syria from the rest of the country, violating Syria's sovereignty of territorial integrity. There they will create quasi-local authorities, will try to create autonomy based on the Kurds," Lavrov told Euronews in an interview.

The Russian Foreign Minister has stressed that Washington has deployed its forces in the war-torn country without a sanction from the United Nations of a request from the legitimate Syrian government in Damascus.

In this photo taken on Tuesday May 23, 2017, provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group, the Hammurabi's Justice News, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows a U.S.-backed anti-government Syrian fighter form Maghaweer al-Thawra stands on a vehicle with heavy automatic machine gun, left, next of an American soldier who also stands on his armored vehicle, right, as they take their position at the Syrian-Iraqi crossing border point of Tanf, south Syria

Lavrov's interview follows a statement from Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who said on Thursday that the US had, in fact, created an "occupation" zone in the al-Tanf area. She added the US-controlled area was used by the remains of Daesh militants.

She also stressed that the US military "entered into a virtually open confrontation with the Syrian army" by openly supporting allied Kurdish militant groups.

Brett McGurk, US Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter IS, said in the end of 2017 that Washington would maintain a military presence at the al-Tanf garrison and other areas of Syria to prevent Daesh terrorists from returning o liberated parts of the country. The Russian military, in turn, noted that the al-Rubkan refugee camp was located 11 miles south of al-Tanf, stressing that the US presence could hamper the delivery of the humanitarian aid to the refugees.

The US has been conducting airstrikes in Syria as part of the international coalition's campaign to eradicate Daesh in the country. The US military coalition that consists of over 70 members has neither been authorized by the Syrian government nor the UN Security Council.

 Sputnik

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Syrian Kurdish YPG Denies Damascus' Joining Battle in Afrin Against Turkey

Sputnik News

15:19 16.02.2018(updated 15:23 16.02.2018)

As Turkish forces continue to pound the Kurdish militias entrenched in Syria's Afrin, the latter refute claims about making arrangements with the Syrian government in order to solve their current predicament.

Rojhat Roj, commander of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Afrin debunked reports about Kurdish militias making an agreement with Damascus to have Syrian armed forces deployed in the province to protect it from Turkey.

"The information about Syrian government army preparing to enter Afrin is not true. We did not conduct negotiations with the Syrian government on this issue and did not make any agreements pertaining to this matter," Roj told Sputnik.

Earlier Lebanese broadcaster Mayadeen reported that Damascus and the Kurdish militias have reached an accord, and that Syrian army units are about to be deployed to the beleaguered Afrin region, apparently as a deterrent against the advancing Turkish forces.

A source familiar with the situation also told Sputnik that the deployment "of the Syrian Armed Forces at the Syrian-Turkish border in Afrin" is expected to occur in the next few days.

Syrian officials condemned the operation, characterizing it as an assault on Syria's sovereignty.

Kurdish Angle

While Kurdish militias do clash from time to time with the Syrian government forces in Deir ez-Zor province, YPG representative Nuri Mahmoud insisted that the Kurds have no intention of waging war against Damascus.

According to him, the YPG alliance with the US was brokered purely against Daesh, while the Kurdish forces fight "for the stability of Syria" and strive to bring about "an early resolution of the Syrian conflict within a united Syria."

At the same time, YPG commander Sipan Hemo insisted that the Syrian army should take most of the responsibility for the defense of Afrin against what he described as a Turkish invasion, urging Damascus to "immediately send in reinforcements to the border region with Turkey."

The Turkish Agenda

Turkey began its military campaign against the Kurdish militias in Afrin on January 20 this year. Codenamed Olive Branch, the goal of the operation is to strike a blow against the US-backed People's Protection Units (YPG) which Ankara regards as an affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) that was branded as a terrorist organization by Turkey.

According to a statement issued by the Turkish General Staff on Friday, the Turkish troops have neutralized 1,551 militants belonging to the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the Democratic Union Party (PYD), and Daesh (ISIL/ISIS) since the start of the campaign.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Ankara has no intention of engaging the Syrian government forces in battle and respects Syria's territorial integrity.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that the US' plans in Syria are aimed against "Turkey, Iran and maybe Russia", claiming that the vast amounts of military hardware and munitions being shipped by the United States into the region are not meant to be used against Daesh alone.

 Sputnik

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Israel Believes Destroyed Up to 50% of Syrian Air Defenses in Strike - Source

Sputnik News

12:13 16.02.2018(updated 12:41 16.02.2018)

TEL-AVIV (Sputnik) - The Israeli military believes that it had managed to destroy up to a half of the Syrian Air Defense Forces during Saturday's airstrike, an army source told Sputnik.

"According to our preliminary, I emphasize, preliminary estimates, about 50 percent of the Syrian Air Defense Forces were destroyed. We will once again verify these estimates," the source said.

On February 10, the Israeli army said its helicopter intercepted what it called an Iranian drone launched from Syria and that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck Iranian targets in Syria. The Israeli moves prompted a response fire from the Syrian air defense systems. The Syrian air defenses have managed to strike several aircraft and triggered air raid sirens. An Israeli F-16 jet crashed in northern Israel, with its two pilots managing to eject of the plane.

In the second wave of the attack launched to hit "additional Iranian targets in Syria," the Israeli forces struck 12 targets, including Syrian air defense batteries and Iranian military facilities, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. The Israeli authorities said Syria and Iran were "playing with fire," adding that Tel Aviv was not interested in escalation of tensions.

Chief of Staff of the Israeli Air Force Tomer Bar has said that Israel's operation was the biggest confrontation with the Syrian Air Defense Forces since the 1982 Lebanon War.

A picture taken in the northern Israeli Kibbutz of Harduf on February 10, 2018, shows the remains of an Israel F-16 that crashed after coming under fire by Syrian air defences during attacks against "Iranian targets" in the war-torn country

Amid the spike in tensions, the Russian Foreign Ministry has called on the international community to respect Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty, urging both Israel and Syria to exercise restraint and avoid aggravation of the situation.

Israel and Syria have a long history of conflicts over the disputed Golan Heights. The countries that have never signed a peace treaty have repeatedly exchanged fire, with the latest incident occurring in January. At the time, the Damascus forces prevented three Israeli missile attacks. The Syrian authorities accused Israel of cooperating with terrorist groups, adding Tel Aviv "posed a threat to global security and peace on par with Daesh and Jabhat al-Nusra."

 Sputnik

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UN development agency remains committed to support Lebanon, says agency head

16 February 2018 - Reverberations of the Syrian conflict  which has now lasted longer than World War II  are being felt throughout the region, including in Lebanon, which shares most of its land border with the war-torn country, and hosts hundreds of thousands of its refugees, the head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warned on Friday.

"Almost seven years into the Syrian conflict, Lebanon remains at the forefront of one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time and continues to show exceptional commitment and solidarity to people displaced by the war in Syria," said Achim Steiner, the UNDP Administrator, wrapping up his first official visit to the country.

"[We] remain committed to supporting the Lebanese Government and local communities hosting refugees in their efforts to maintain stability and to continue its support to local communities hosting refugees."

The ongoing Syria crisis has impacted Lebanon's social services, infrastructure and jobs.

During his visit, Mr. Steiner met with the Lebanese Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, as well as many other senior officials and discussed the challenges the nation faces, seven years into the Syria crisis.

The UNDP chief also visited Bourj Hammoud, an area hosting close to 20,000 Syrian refugees, and saw the impact of the crisis at the local level and how the Lebanese community and Syrian refugees manage day to day issues such as their children's education, earning an income and accessing essential health services.

"Every refugee would like to return home but, in the meantime, until conditions permit, our role is to assist Lebanon in managing the global public good it provides," he said, underscoring UNDP's support for the upcoming Paris and Brussels Conferences.

During his visit, Mr. Steiner also attended a roundtable discussion on Lebanon's efforts in pursuit of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with officials from the Parliament and Government, alongside representatives of civil society and the private sector.



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34 Turkish troops, 177 pro-Turkey militants killed in Syria

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Damascus, Feb 16, IRNA -- Thirty four Turkish troops and 177 pro-Turkey militants have been killed in Syria since the start of Turkey's military operation 'Olive Branch' in Afrin region, according to an entity called Syrian Human Rights Watchdog affiliated to dissident groups.

The pro-Turkey terrorists were killed during confrontations with Syrian Kurds in Afrin region, it said.

Some 163 members of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) also lost their lives over the same period.

On Wednesday, the so called Syrian Human Rights Watchdog reported that The Turkish army and its accompanying terrorists have taken control of 24 townships and villages since the start of the operation.

it said the areas taken from Syrian democratic forces constitute only seven percent of townships and villages in Afrin region located north of Aleppo.

On January 20, the Turkish army launched its illegal operation 'Olive Branch' in the northern Syrian region of Afrin.

According to Turkish media, 6,000 Turkish military men are participating in the operation.

The Ankara government claims the aim of its aggressive operation is to destroy elements of Turkish Workers Party (PKK), Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and People's Protection Units (PYG). It accuses the military unit of PYG of cooperating with PKK.

1396**1396

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Turkey, US to work together in Syria occupation: Cavusoglu, Tillerson

Iran Press TV

Fri Feb 16, 2018 11:22AM

Ankara and Washington have reached an agreement to work together in their occupation of Syria, where the two NATO allies have been on a collision course over the US's support for the Kurdish militants operating at Turkish doorstep.

Speaking at a joint press conference following a meeting in Ankara, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said Washington and Ankara would establish working groups to resolve the issues that have sparked tensions in ties between the two sides.

"We are not going to act alone any longer, not US doing one thing, Turkey doing another," Tillerson said after the talks.

"We will work together... we have good mechanisms on how we can achieve this, there is a lot of work to be done," he added without elaborating.

The top US diplomat also urged Ankara to "show restraint" in its so-called Operation Olive Branch against the US-backed militants in the northern Syria district of Afrin, stressing that the two sides "share the same objectives" in the Arab state.

The Turkish foreign minister, in turn, said the two sides agreed on the need to normalize their ties.

He said that ties were at a "critical phase," pledging to create "mechanisms" to hold talks on the problematic issues.

Reports earlier Friday suggested that Turkey had proposed that Turkish and US forces station together in Syria's Manbij region.

An unnamed Turkish official said that Ankara had made the proposal during Tillerson's visit and that Washington was considering the issue, Reuters reported.

Observers said Tillerson would have have tough discussions with Turkish officials over the ongoing Turkish military operation in north of Syria. He met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday.

Turkey started the campaign last month in a bid to force Kurdish militia out of the city of Afrin after the US said it would set up a 30,000-force Kurdish force near Turkish border.

Turkish officials have vowed that after Afrin, they would move some 100 kilometes (60 miles) eastward to capture Manbij and force the Kurdsh to retreat to the eastern banks of the Euphrates.

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Turkish Foreign Minister Says Ankara at Critical Stage in Ties With Washington

Sputnik News

12:26 16.02.2018(updated 13:41 16.02.2018)

The Turkish foreign minister said that Erdogan and Tillerson held constructive talks in Ankara and agreed to normalize relations.

"We are agreed on normalising relations again," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said after talks with US counterpart Rex Tillerson in Ankara, saying that ties were at a "critical phase" and vowing to create "mechanisms" to discuss the issues causing problems.

Ankara and Washington agreed on the establishment of a mechanism for the normalization of relations, Cavusoglu said at a joint news conference with Tillerson on Friday.

Syria's Manbij

More than 100 Turkish citizens were were killed in attacks carried out by US-backed YPG, Cavusoglu said.

Ankara expects Washington's guarantees of the withdrawal of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) from the Syrian city of Manbij to the eastern bank of the Euphrates, Cavusoglu said.

"The problem around YPG is one of the most important for us. More than 100 our citizens were killed in attacks by YPG. Back in 2016, the US promised us the withdrawal of YPG from Manbij to the eastern bank of the Euphrates. [Former US President Barack] Obama said it, but he did not keep his promise. Now we must have guarantees  that they will relocate across the Euphrates Let us start with Manbij. After YPG leaves it, this will be a guarantee for us, and then we will move forward," Cavusoglu said.

According to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Washington's support to the Syrian Democratic Forces, which mostly consists of Kurdish forces, would be limited.

"We take it seriously when our NATO ally says it has security concerns, we have been always clear to Turkey that our support to SDF will be limited," Tillerson said speaking at a press conference with his Turkish counterpart in Ankara.

The United States recognizes Ankara's right to secure its borders, but calls on Turkey to show restraint in its operation in Syria's Afrin and not to escalate tensions, Rex Tillerson said.

Tillerson is in Turkey with a two-day visit. The US top diplomat held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, whereas earlier in the day he met with Cavusoglu.

The statement come a day after Ankara urged the US to remove the Syrian Kurdish YPG from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which the US is backing in the fight against the Daesh terrorist group in Syria.

On January 20, the Turkish Armed Forces announced the beginning of Operation "Olive Branch" against the Kurdish forces in Syria's Afrin district. The operation has been conducted together with Free Syrian Army opposition forces. Syrian government has condemned the operation as an assault on countries sovereignty.

Tensions between the US and Turkey has intensified amid the operation in Syria's Afrin. Ankara and Washington define terrorists organisations in different ways, Washington does not consider the YPG as a terrorist group.

Turkey S-400 Purchase

Turkey is against the language of threats in relation to its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense systems, Mevlut Cavusoglu said.

"We do not use and will not accept the language of threats. Yes, the US Congress adopted a law [on anti-Russia sanctions]. But we need to ensure our national security. We would like to purchase the means to ensure it from our allies  We spoke to not only Russia but with other countries too. We finished talks with Russia long before the Congress, only little details were left," he told a press conference with Rex Tillerson.

Earlier, the US State Department threatened to apply "appropriate measures" against countries which want to buy Russian S-400 systems.

In December of last year, in Ankara, Russian and Turkish representatives signed an agreement for the supply of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems. According to a statement issued by the Turkish defense industry secretariat, Ankara is buying two SAM batteries, which will be serviced by Turkish personnel.

 Sputnik

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Turkish Warplane Crashes, Killing Both Pilots

Sputnik News

11:41 16.02.2018(updated 13:13 16.02.2018)

The reported incident in Turkey's Izmir province comes as Ankara is carrying out its Olive Branch campaign against Kurdish forces in Syria, whom it considers terrorists.

Both pilots died after a training aircraft crashed at an air force base in the district of Cigli in Izmir province, the Turkish army reported via Twitter.

According to the DHA agency, the plane crashed immediately after take-off. An investigation into the incident is underway.

The crash occurred around 11:00 a.m. Emergency services and rescue workers arrived immediately at the scene. The aircraft wreckage was found 3 km from the air base.

The causes of the incident have not yet been established.

 Sputnik

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Press Availability With Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu

Remarks

Rex W. Tillerson

Secretary of State

Ankara, Turkey

February 16, 2018

FOREIGN MINISTER CAVUSOGLU: (Via interpreter) Distinguished members of the press, yesterday and today we have been hosting the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Rex Tillerson. We're very glad to host him here. We pay great attention to this visit because we're passing through a very critical timing in our bilateral relations, and therefore we do believe that this visit is of utmost importance.

Turkey and the United States of America have been continuing their strategic partnership over the course of the history, increasing its depth every day, and with the steps that have been taken on both sides, this strategic partnership has been extended into various spheres. And it does not just include the two countries, but in our region and beyond, it includes many countries as well as many states and many nations who are benefiting from this strategic partnership. The basis of this strategic partnership is actually the fight that we gave together in Korea.

In our past, we had some ups and downs in our relations. We even had times of crisis, but always and always, the strategic partnership vision was at the forefront in terms of its mid-term and long-term goals. When we started dialogue in a frank and sincere environment, we were able to overcome all these critical phases together.

Now, like I have said, we are passing through such a critical stage in our relations. Yesterday, we were received by the president of the republic, and we had a trilateral meeting, and we had the same sincere and frank atmosphere where both sides expected  expressed their thoughts, their expectations, and even their worries in a most sincere and frank manner. And the meeting, which took about three hours, was not just a meeting that we discussed our bilateral relations, but also our cooperation in regional issues as well as our mutual perspectives.

As I said before, our relations are at a critical turning point. We were either going to correct this and continue our relations or we were going to go into a much more worse position. But with the will that we put forward as of yesterday, we have taken an important turn in terms of normalizing our relations. We reached an agreement and an understanding.

Of course, there are certain steps that are needed to be taken to achieve this. There are expectations on both sides. We have certain worries about the Fethullahist terrorist organization and our fight against this FETO terrorist organization, and the support that is provided by the United States on YPG and similar organizations, and our expectations pertaining to PKK. Of course, these are very important security worries that are closely related to our existence, and we do want to believe that these are taken into consideration seriously.

But up to this point, there were certain promises that were made, there were certain topics that we discussed, there were certain promises that were not kept, and there were certain issues that we could not resolve. So from this point on, we wanted to focus as to how we can take solution-oriented steps so that the issues are not just on paper, and we wanted to talk about how we can implement this, how we can make sure that they are implemented. So we were able to talk about all of these, and we decided to create a mechanism or even mechanisms to be able to discuss these and resolve them.

One such mechanism, as you will see in the press declaration, is about the general issues: the consular issues, the issue regarding FETO, the Fethullahist terrorist organization, and some issues that the United States attaches importance to. Actually, we had a working group that we established after the visa crisis, but now we are going to extend the content of all of these and we will be talking about all of these together. For instance, on the FETO issue, do we have evidence or not? Do we need any additional evidence? Is the evidence that we have sent sufficient? Instead of discussing this in length before the public, we want to discuss this in the working  (break in audio)  because in order to reach any conclusion, any result, we need to work together and act together.

(Break in audio.)

On the Syria issue, we also talked about how we are going to overcome our worries regarding the Syrian issue: which steps are we going to take, how are we going to fight against terrorist organizations, how are we going to establish stability in those cities that have been cleared of terrorist attacks, how  who is going to do this, how are we going to respect the territorial integrity of Iraq, and most importantly, how are we going to work together to achieve a political resolution with the Geneva process. So we were able to talk about how we will take concrete steps with our experts so we're not talking about promises or commitments any longer. We want to overcome all of these by working together, and I am sure that all of these will bring important results for us.

All these mechanisms are not kicking the ball off to the corner. They are not delaying the process. To the contrary, these are important aspects to get results and mechanisms that will achieve results that will meet the expectations of both sides. So we are not trying to gain time, and hopefully, the next meeting is going to take place before the middle of March. We have agreed on this aspect as well.

In the end, distinguished members of the press, the meetings that we had yesterday and today have been important in terms of the future of our bilateral relations, in terms of overcoming our mutual worries, and both on Syria, Iraq, and especially on the issue of the fight against terrorism. The cooperation with respect to regional issues were important, and this was a critical visit and a critical series of meetings. I do believe that once the relations are set into track again, what is important is as a result of all these visits and meetings to be able to take step towards the future jointly, commonly, in partnership, and get results. So we will work like two allies, establishing trust once again, and we will base our relations on this basis that have been strengthened by our partnership and alliance thoughts. With these opinions and thoughts, once again I would like to say welcome to our guest, Mr. Tillerson, and leave the floor to him, and then we will be answering questions from your side.

SECRETARY TILLERSON: Well, I want to thank Foreign Minister Cavusoglu for his hospitality during this visit, and I also want to express my appreciation to President Erdogan for the extensive amount of time he provided to me yesterday evening so we could have a very full discussion of both sides' concerns but also a lot of discussion about the future and how we go forward from where we are today. I want to reaffirm the deep and important relationship between the United States and Turkey. Ours is not an alliance of convenience or of temporary interest. It is a time-tested alliance built on common interest and mutual respect.

Turkey was one of the first countries to join NATO. Turkish troops served alongside Americans in Korea, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Kosovo. We have made many shared sacrifices together. We stand shoulder to shoulder with Turkey against terrorist threats. Turkey is a critical partner in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, Daesh. We're grateful that Turkey has allowed the United States and other NATO countries to base forces in Incirlik, and Turkey is the linchpin of strategic stability at the crossroads of the three continents.

Our two countries share the same objectives in Syria: the defeat of ISIS, Daesh; secure and stable zones; an independent and unified Syria; and help chart a new democratic future for Syria under the UN Security Council Resolution 2254 process. We are hopeful that the Geneva process will produce a new constitution for the Syrian people and elections to be held under UN auspices. A democratic future for Syria is essential for preventing ISIS from re-emerging and from stopping the suffering that the Assad regime has inflicted on the Syrian people. The Turkish Government and people deserve the gratitude and recognition for the unprecedented hospitality they have displayed in hosting more than 3 million Syrian refugees.

We recognize the legitimate right of Turkey to secure its borders. We take it seriously when our NATO ally Turkey says it has security concerns. As to Afrin, we call upon Turkey to show restraint in its operation to minimize the casualties to civilians and avoid actions that would escalate tensions in that area.

From the beginning, we've been transparent with Turkey regarding our objectives in Syria. Our relationship with our NATO ally Turkey is enduring and strategic. I again conveyed this message to President Erdogan and to the foreign minister today, as have many other U.S. officials. We have always been clear with Turkey that the weapons provided to the Syrian Democratic Forces would be limited, mission-specific, and provided on an incremental basis to achieve military objectives only.

We have long supported and will continue to support Turkish democracy. Respect for the rule of law, judicial independence, and an open press are a source of strength and stability. When Turkey maintains its commitment to these principles, it expands our potential partnership. We support the Government of Turkey's right to bring the perpetrators of the 2016 coup to justice. It is important to handle these cases in a transparent and fair manner that respects human rights and fundamental freedoms. We continue to have serious concerns about the detention of local employees of our mission in Turkey and about cases against U.S. citizens who have been arrested under the state of emergency. We will continue to engage with our Turkish counterparts to seek a satisfactory resolution to these cases, and we call upon Turkey to release Pastor Andrew Brunson and other U.S. citizens whom we believe are being unjustly detained. With regard to Serkan Golge, we believe his release through the appeals process would be both just and appropriate.

I want to thank again President Erdogan and Foreign Minister Cavusoglu for the opportunity to discuss these and many other very, very important issues, and for the cooperation we both have been able to show one another and respect in charting a way forward in this relationship. The United States truly appreciates our long friendship with Turkey. We value it, and we look forward to strengthening it as we move forward. Thank you.

MODERATOR: (In Turkish.)

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) Sevil Erkus from Hurriyet Daily. My first question will be to our guest, Secretary of State. Mr. Tillerson, we are actually passing one of the most critical stages of the Turkish-United States relations. In order to overcome these problematic aspects  the aspect pertaining to the assistance of military equipment to YPG and PYD  Ankara worries. In order to overcome all these worries, and also, in the context of Syria, to establish cooperation between Turkey and United States, do you have any proposals for solutions? Could you share these with you?

Also, if the Afrin operation is extended to Manbij, the fact that there are American soldiers there  do you have any plans to withdraw forces from that region, or the fact that they're at harm?

My question to you, Mr. Foreign Minister --

FOREIGN MINISTER CAVUSOGLU: (Via interpreter) So we said actually two questions each, but you have asked more than 10 now.

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) My question to you: Before you said either these relations are going to go worse or going to be improved. You said today that you had taken a decision to normalize relations. Did you get the relevant warranties or safeguards from the United States that you were expecting from your side?

Another aspect: With respect to a news item that was reflected on the media, it was indicated that the troops on Manbij would be withdrawn to the eastern part of Euphrates and that this was a proposal that you brought. Did you make such a proposal indeed so that the American troops were withdrawn from that area, and how does American side resolve?

FOREIGN MINISTER CAVUSOGLU: (Via interpreter) So this is actually a question for two hours.

SECRETARY TILLERSON: In our discussions last night with President Erdogan, we brought forward proposals on how we can address all of the critical issues that are standing between this relationship today. And those will be addressed  some will be addressed in the joint statement that we will be releasing following this press avail. But the foreign minister did touch on a few of those, and we want to work specifically on the issues that are standing between us.

What we have agreed is our objectives for Syria are precisely the same. There are  there's no daylight between Turkey and the U.S. objectives: defeat ISIS, stabilize the country, create stabilization areas so eventually refugees and internally displaced persons can begin to return home, and support the political solution for Syria that will result in a whole, independent, democratic Syria with no special demarcations dividing Syria and with the Syrian people selecting their leadership through free and fair elections. And we all share that same objective.

And now, going from this point forward, we are going to closely coordinate our efforts against the final defeat of Daesh. We do not have them fully defeated today, but we're going to coordinate our efforts against the final defeat of Daesh as well as other terrorist groups that are located inside of Syria. We want to coordinate how to stabilize areas together and who will occupy those areas. And the objective and intent is to return these villages, these cities back to the composition of people who were there before they were overrun by Daesh. So we're going to address Manbij first. It's one of the first areas we're going to work on. The United States made commitments to Turkey previously. We've not completed fulfilling those commitments. Through the working group we're going to address that, and Manbij is going to receive priority.

But it's not just Manbij. We have to think about all of northern Syria, and we've agreed on certain areas we're  we'll continue to work together, and then we're going to coordinate very closely on supporting the Geneva process, because ultimately, that is the pathway to a peaceful, stable Syria. That improves Turkey's security as well on its border when we can achieve that final peace.

FOREIGN MINISTER CAVUSOGLU: (Via interpreter) Thank you very much. At the beginning of my remarks, I said that this was a very critical visit for the future of our relations. It was a critical timing. Therefore, in the meetings that we held since yesterday evening, we talked about how our expectations were to be met, and there were other concerns of the United States on their citizens, about the local employees of the consulate. There were, of course, expectations on their side.

We're already working on these consular issues, but our worries were in direct relation to the direct threats that we were receiving about the YPG attacking our citizens, because our people are dying. Up to this point, we had about 100 citizens, Turkish citizens, or Syrian-origin people coming from Afrin. They were killed by missiles or by arms that were coming from Afrin. They lost their lives because of this. So of course, undoubtfully, this working group which is going to meet our expectations and the concrete steps that we will take is crucial. This is important on YPG, on ISIS/ISIL, on FETO. These are important with relation to all of these aspects.

On the other hand, on Manbij, of course, Rex Tillerson gave the answer to your question. And in 2016, there were commitments of the United States to Turkey at every level, including President Obama, John Kerry, and Mr. (inaudible), who is still at his position, and by other people in high-level positions, but these promises were not kept. And even at one point, we were to send a delegation to tell that YPG was actually going to move to the eastern part of Euphrates, but from that visit we were not convinced and we learned later on that they had not moved. So in this process, we are going to start from Manbij, and we will be sure of the steps that we have taken.

We also need to ensure that YPG is going to move to the eastern part of the Euphrates. We need to see the implementation together, and Rex stated very clearly: For stability in these regions, we will talk about as to who is going to manage these cities and who is going to provide the security. If Manbij is 95 percent Arab town, it actually does not make any sense that YPG is going to provide security there, because that will mean that there will not be any stability there. So we will be talking with this understanding so that stability is attained and we will be rest assured of the security. It's not just for Manbij, but we will start from there. And once YPG leaves that and after we have the trust established, we will be able to take steps together with the United States of America, but now YPG needs to leave that zone, and this is a commitment that the United States of America has made to us, and we will be talking about the implementation of how this promise will be kept. Thank you.

MODERATOR: (In Turkish.)

QUESTION: Thank you. Mr. Secretary, there seems to be a little short on specifics here. Do you agree that you are talking about what you're going to do in the future and you have not agreed on specific steps that will begin starting today? And can you explain why it has taken so long for two allies to come together with an agreement on what seems to be a very basic principle, that two allies will not shoot at each other in Syria and one will not give the other an "Ottoman slap"? Are you confident that in the future some of the rhetoric will be turned down, and what has been the hang-up?

And Mr. Foreign Minister, I wanted to ask you if you agree that some of the rhetoric in recent weeks from yourself and your president has been overheated and unhelpful. And also, what will it take for your government to finally be confident enough to lift the state of emergency and release thousands of your own citizens, plus the American citizens and embassy employees who have been imprisoned on what much of the world considers to be very flimsy evidence? Thank you.

SECRETARY TILLERSON: Well, with respect to how we're going forward  and that's what all of the discussion here was about, recognizing where we find ourselves. And I think as the foreign minister indicated, we find ourselves at a bit of a crisis point in the relationship. And we could go back and revisit how we got here, but we don't think that's useful. We've decided and President Erdogan decided last night we needed to talk about how do we go forward. The relationship is too important, it's too valuable to NATO and our NATO allies, it's too valuable to the American people, it's too valuable to the Turkish people for us to not do anything other than concentrate on how are we going forward.

And out of the meetings last night  and much of our staff was up through the night to memorialize how we're going to go about this, and we'll share a little bit of that in the joint statement. We're going to reserve a lot of the details because there's a lot of work yet to be done, and we  and our working teams need to be allowed to do that work in a very open, frank, honest way with one another so that we can chart the way forward together. And I think that's the important point I want you to take away here, is we're not going to act alone any longer. We're not going to be U.S. doing one thing and Turkey doing another. We are going to act together from this point forward. We're going to lock arms, we're going to work through the issues that are causing difficulties for us, and we're going to resolve them and we're going to move forward with the future defeat of ISIS in terms of coordinating our efforts to complete this battle, which is not yet complete; to addressing other terrorist presence inside of Syria; to stabilizing areas and ensuring that the stability architecture, both security forces and governing councils, are representative of the conditions that existed in those cities before they were overrun by ISIS.

And we have good mechanisms on how we can achieve that, but there's a lot of work to be done. People are going to have to roll their sleeves up. We're going to get started very quickly. As the foreign minister said, we're going to have the first round of these engagements before the middle of March. We know we need to move with some sense of urgency and promptness to address this, because we have a serious situation still inside of Syria, and we need to address that jointly together.

So I would say the specifics will emerge out of the work as we allow these groups to come together, but I think the objective, we've made clear as to what our objective is. So now we're going to have a team of people working towards putting that in place and implementing it, and we've given you a little bit  just a little bit of a peek of some of the early priorities we're going to place for these groups to work on.

FOREIGN MINISTER CAVUSOGLU: (Via interpreter) Thank you very much for your question. Since last night, we have been talking about how we can overcome these problems, and these are not just explanations and announcements coming from our side. That will not be a realistic approach. Our declarations was not declarations of enmity. And of course, we were taking into consideration our worries and the realities that we show  show from our side.

Likewise, as politicians, sometimes we take certain steps, and by the steps that we take and by the commitments that we have paid, we might be guiding this popular sentiment with the positive inputs. But when it comes to a point  this is true for all political sphere, but in Turkey, the president of the republic and we as politicians, including me, we should be voicing the opinion of the Turkish public, because we are representing them. And the declarations that we made were just ramifications of the popular thought in Turkey.

Secondly, the detention or the prosecution that is taking place  this does not have anything to do with the state of emergency in Turkey, and this state of emergency is nothing to restrict the fundamental rights and freedoms of Turkish citizens or anybody living in Turkey. In 2003, one of the first steps that we took when we came to government was actually to remove the state of emergency in southeast part of Turkey. In some European countries, after one terrorist attack there is a state of emergency declared. But we, on the other hand, were  the leader of a terrorist organization who is residing in Pennsylvania attempted a coup in our country. So with the state of emergency, we needed to take rapid steps against this terrorist organization. This was the expectation of our people. So the prosecution that is continuing in Turkey has been in line with the EU, with the Council of Europe criteria, and in line with the case law of the European Court of Human Rights and the legislation which has been democratically enacted in Turkey in parallel with those standards.

So this prosecution within the state of emergency has nothing to do with any judicial proceeding that goes on in this period. Therefore, independent courts that have been established and that have been reformed with the legislation in parallel to the standards of the EU and the Council of Europe are conducted. It does not have any  does not receive any direction from any other third country or a political intervention from within. And the state of emergency does not have any connection to this. We do hope that within this whole process we would always have the following: that in terms of accelerating in the prosecution we might have certain recommendations, but in the end, the independent judiciary passes judgment. The appeal process is open. You can go all the way up to the constitutional court. We do have an individual application system to the constitutional court and even the European Court of Human Rights. So the remedies in terms of the legal sphere go all the way up to Strasbourg within that understanding.

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) Gonca Senay from TRT World. I have questions to both ministers. In terms of earning in the trust of the Turkish public, I think we listed the expectations on the Turkish side, but I do want to ask a question to Mr. Tillerson, especially reminding him of the budget drop that was proposed by Pentagon. Will the arms assistance provided to YPG by the United States of America  is it going to cease? And this morning, there was certain news that the Turkish soldiers would be acting together with the American soldiers in Manbij. Thirdly, will you take a step on the FETO issue?

Mr. Cavusoglu, my question to you is that you talked about certain mechanisms involving FETO, and you said that you were talking about the mid-March. Is there any timetable, or is this an agreement that both sides have reached? And what is going to be the level of this working group? What level in the administration? Thank you.

SECRETARY TILLERSON: With respect to DOD's budget for the coming year, only sufficient funds have been included in their budget to continue the defeat of ISIS campaign, and this is to continue to supply the SDF forces primarily with ammunition, because this fight goes on. There's no more being provided than we believe is necessary to complete the battle to defeat Daesh.

The question of Manbij is one that, as I said, is going to be given priority in our joint working group effort, and this is one of  as the foreign minister indicated, one of the issues for us to work together on is what kind of security should be provided. Manbij is strategically a very important city from the standpoint of our defeat of Daesh but also our containment and ensuring that they do not re-emerge. It's geographically important. That's why the U.S. has left a troop presence in Manbij to ensure that that city remains under control of our allied forces and does not fall into the hands of others. So that will be a topic for discussion in terms of how we go forward to ensure Manbij remains within our control because of its strategic importance.

And we did agree  we had a lot of conversation last night with President Erdogan regarding the concerns over Fethullah Gulen back in the United States as well as his organization, and we've agreed that we will continue to examine all the evidence that can be provided to us. We will continue our own efforts at our own independent investigations to ensure that we know when illegal activities are being carried out in the United States, and we remain open and anxious to receive any new information and evidence that the Turkish Government can provide us as well. So it remains an open investigation with the United States.

FOREIGN MINISTER CAVUSOGLU: (Via interpreter) Thank you very much. As I have just mentioned and I  as I repeatedly say, the purpose of these mechanisms and working groups is to keep the promises that were not kept so far, and in order to take tangible and concrete steps. This is true for YPG; this is true for FETO as well. And in Syria, not only ISIS/ISIL, because we have achieved important results regarding ISIS/ISIL, and the Republic of Turkey has fighted more than everyone in this fight, and it just killed more than 3,000 Turks in just Syria. And as  in  with regards to foreign fighters, their extradition and their prevention in terms of entering in the country, we have taken important steps and we have also served as a co-chair as well in the council. But we need to fight against all types of terrorist organizations in order to achieve the political framework that we have just described with new constitution, with new laws. We want to take the country to an election.

Of course, these working groups will have different boards, and for example, in the first one, the ministry of foreign affairs will be the coordinator. However, there will be officers from the intelligence unit from the ministry of justice as well. And especially regarding financial crimes and regarding topics about the corruptions of FETO terrorist organizations, we will have representatives from the department of financial crimes. And as it was mentioned by Rex and by relevant authorities, recently there are investigations carried out regarding FETO schools in this United States, and it will bear us the results about the corruption taking place in the U.S. and how they achieve, how they earn these money for election. And with just simple investigations, we  they will see these results.

And again, regarding Syria, we will have our soldiers  I mean the ministry of defense  we will have intelligence units and other relevant authorities in these groups and in these wars. So we have identified the participants and we have agreed on the parties as well, and from now on we will try to come together and achieve results altogether.

QUESTION: Did you warn Turkey that they could be subject to sanctions under CAATSA legislation if they go ahead with the purchase of the S-400 system?

And for you, Mr. Foreign Minister, would the threat of U.S. sanctions stop you from going ahead with the purchase of the S-400 system? And if you do buy the system, do you still want to remain in NATO if you're obtaining the weapons from Russia?

SECRETARY TILLERSON: We did discuss the impact of the CAATSA law that was passed by the Congress last summer that deals with purchases of Russian military equipment. I discussed it last night with President Erdogan; we had further discussions this morning about it. And indeed, it's in the first group of issues that the foreign minister is referring to. We need to put a group of experts together, and we'll look at the circumstances around that, as we've done with governments all over the world, not just Turkey, because the intent of that legislation was not to harm our friends and allies. But it is directed at Russia for its interference in our elections. So we've been advising countries around the world as to what the impact on their relationship and purchases that they might be considering with Russia, and many have reconsidered those and have decided to not proceed with those discussions.

Every case is individual on its own. We want to consult with Turkey and at least ensure they understand what might be at risk in this particular transaction. We don't have all the details yet, so I can't give you any kind of a conclusion, but it'll be given very careful scrutiny, obviously, and we'll fully comply with the law. And we are  we are now implementing CAATSA and fully applying it around the world.

FOREIGN MINISTER CAVUSOGLU: Thank you very much. First and foremost, I need to underline that I am against the terminology that you use. You used the threat terminology. That is not a correct terminology to be used because it is true for all countries and states. We never use the language of threat and we deny if it is used against us, because this is not correct.

But as Rex has also indicated, this was not something that we talked just yesterday and today. When we met in Vancouver, we talked about this, and from time to time when we have phone conversations, we talk about such issues. This was again brought to the agenda in one of those talks. Of course, there is a law that was enacted by the United States Congress, and they explained this legislation to us. But on the other hand, this is our national security, and it's important for our national security. I have emergency need of an air defense system. We want to purchase this from our allies, but this does not exist. So even when we are purchasing small-scale arms, the Congress or some other European parliaments, we have  we have and we had difficulty in purchasing these because of these excuses, and I have an emergency need. And the Russian Federation came up with attractive proposals for us. We also talked to other countries, not just with Russia, but we talked about this issue of emergency need with many countries and we had bilateral talks.

Also, in the mid-term, we talked about joint production and technology transfer. We focused on this because this is important for Turkey. And lastly, during the Paris visit of our president  with Eurosam  this is a French-Italian partnership  there was a pre-agreement signed, a memorandum of understanding signed with these groups. So we do not have any problems with our allies. Why should we not meet this requirement with NATO? But, of course, when it is not met within this platform, we need to look for alternative resources. Otherwise, some batteries  some Patriot were withdrawn from our frontier. Some European allies withdrew them. We have (inaudible) of the Italians and Patriots of Spain, and we do not have any other air defense. And we need to meet this requirement as soon as possible. And when we talked to Russia, this was actually an agreement that we reached before the legislation in Congress was enacted. And the remaining part was about the details of loans, et cetera.

Of course, we talked about all of these, and we will take into consideration this  within this working group the commission, but all of us need to understand each other and respect each other. Thank you very much.

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Tillerson in Turkey in Bid to Mend Relations

By Dorian Jones February 16, 2018

Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has met with senior Turkish officials amid rising tensions between the two NATO allies. The countries remain at loggerheads in part over Washington's support of a Kurdish militia in Syria, which Ankara accuses of being a terrorist organization.

While Tillerson was meeting his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, a crowd outside the venue chanted, "Murdering Americans," in a stark illustration of how low bilateral relations have sunk.

Turkey accuses the U.S. of arming the YPG Syrian Kurdish militia, which Ankara links to the banned PKK, a Kurdish organization that has been waging a decades-long deadly insurgency inside Turkey.

For Washington, the YPG is a key ally in the war against the Islamic State and affiliated groups. At a press conference with Cavusoglu, Tillerson urged Turkish forces to ease up on their ongoing offensive against the YPG in Syria's Afrin enclave, which has been under the control of Syrian Kurds.

"As to Afrin, we call upon Turkey to show restraint in its operation and to minimize casualties to civilians and to actions that would escalate tensions in that area," Tillerson said.

Both sides, however, announced a cooperation mechanism to address ongoing differences. Tillerson said particular attention will be focused on the Syrian town of Manbij, where U.S. forces are deployed with the Syrian Kurdish militia.

Manbij is the next target of Turkish forces in its Syria offensive. Cavusoglu accused Washington of failing to honor commitments that the YPG would withdraw after the capture of Manbij from Islamic State.

Tillerson acknowledged that the U.S. had not fully carried out agreements made with Ankara and that much work needed to be done to rebuild relations.

"We are not going to act alone any longer, the U.S. doing one thing and Turkey doing another. We are going to act together from this point forward. We are going to lock arms; we are going to work through the issues that are causing difficulties for us," Tillerson said.

The U.S. top diplomat also raised human rights concerns and the ongoing detention of U.S. citizens and local diplomatic employees in Turkey under emergency powers introduced after a 2016 coup attempt. No breakthrough was expected from Tillerson's Ankara visit, but both sides appear to remain willing to try to avoid a collapse in relations or military confrontation.

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Report: Turkey Nationalism on Upsurge Again

By Mehmet Toroglu February 16, 2018

Turkey is undergoing a new nationalist wave led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a study by the Center for American Progress (CAP) concludes.

The report and the findings of polls and focus groups conducted in Turkey late last year conclude that Erdogan is trying to craft a new nationalism.

"He is doing this with his political rhetoric, but he is also drawing on a genuine upswelling of nationalism from the Turkish populists" Max Hoffman, one of the report's authors, told VOA.

Hoffman said this new nationalism includes "real hostility towards the West, particularly the U.S., but also Germany and Europe. Correlated to that, there is widespread hostility towards Syrian refugees and to some extent, other immigrants to Turkey."

Ali Cnar, president of the Turkish Heritage Organization, said the main reason for the anti-U.S. attitude in Turkey is the anger against Washington for not extraditing U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen and for supporting the Syrian Kurdish militia group YPG in the war against Islamic State.

"Everybody in Turkey, both government and opposition, are sensitive about these two issues and they are in consensus. So it's wrong to see this as AK Party's [the ruling party in Turkey] cause and this is the biggest mistake some other countries are making," Cinar said.

"I don't think the main reason for the increase in nationalist rhetoric in Turkey is clearly reflected in the report," he added. "Also, it's not clear to me how realistically the report has reached to a conclusion that there were sharp divides about the overall direction of the country."

Since the 1920s, the Turkish republic has set its course toward more secular nationalism. But the report says the new nationalism brought by Erdogan is "assertively Muslim, fiercely independent; distrusting of outsiders; and skeptical of other nations and global elites, which it perceives to hold Turkey back."

Although a considerable number of Turks believe Islam has a central role in their national identity, there's also wide support for Turkey to remain secular.

"There is a component within the ruling party AKP, of about 35 percent, who put Islamic messages at the core," said Hoffman, adding that the rest of the party "OK with this religious rhetoric, but they also believe that Turkey is a secular state."

"They feel Erdogan is fulfilling Ataturk's legacy by being more independent and stronger vis-a-vis the West, and by charting [the country's] own course and being a strong leader just looking after Turkey's interests," he said. "And you could call them the 'Turkey Firsters'"  a reference to U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign slogan.

With nationalism rising, anti-Westernism is also finding deeper roots in Turkey. The CAP poll found only 10 percent of Turks have a favorable view of the United States, and 83 percent have a negative view. The total favorability rate for Europe is 21 percent.

Hoffman said "neither the West nor even Erdogan really want a clear break, but what this public opinion and this anger does is it narrows the options that leaders on both sides have."`

He said U.S.-Turkish relations are close to the breaking point, but "whether or not that break really happens is primarily in Erdogan's hands."

Syria

Elaborating further, the author said if Turkey's military operation against the YPG in Syria's northwest Afrin region is expanded into Manbij, where U.S. forces are deployed, then Washington may be forced to make "difficult choices."

Describing the Afrin operation as "the common action by the Turkish people against terror and the PKK that has killed 40,000 people in Turkey", Cinar said it was wrong to read the nationalism in Turkey as "extreme", since nationalism is on the rise in Europe as well and the fact that President Trump also used nationalist rhetoric in his election campaign.

Hoffman also played down the possibility of another right-wing challenger taking Erdogan's place because Erdogan himself garnered most of the support of the right-wing electorate.

"So all of the issues that a right-wing challenger might use to sort of run to the right of Erdogan and appeal to nationalist voters Erdogan himself has now done to head off that challenge," he said.

According to the Center for American Progress report, if Turks were to vote this Sunday, 49 percent of them would choose the governing AKP while the closest contender would only get half of that percentage.

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Poroshenko Accuses Moscow Of 'World Hybrid War,' Denounces 'Russian World'

Carl Schreck February 16, 2018

MUNICH -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had delivered a fierce denunciation of Russia before a high-profile security conference, accusing Moscow of waging a "world hybrid war" and urging the West to ratchet up pressure on the Kremlin over its expansionism in Ukraine.

Poroshenko's address to the Munich Security Conference on February 16 at one point veered into a condemnation not only of Russia's leadership but also of the "Russian world," which he likened to a kind of anti-King Midas that brings ruin to everything it touches.

His speech came shortly after the cancellation of a planned high-level meeting on the conference sidelines to discuss the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, where a war between Kyiv's forces and Russia-backed separatists has killed more than 10,300 since April 2014.

Poroshenko accused Moscow of seeking to undermine Ukraine and Western democracies by supporting ultraleft and ultraright political parties abroad, as well as deploying "armies" of Internet trolls to spread disinformation to sow discord beyond Russia's borders.

"Today, there is nothing for us to do but to acknowledge that the hybrid war being waged by Russia is gradually turning into the full-fledged world hybrid war," Poroshenko, who spoke in English, told the audience.

Poroshenko called on the West to strengthen sanctions against Moscow if it does not leave Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow seized in 2014, and implement a peace deal that has failed to stem the bloodshed in eastern Ukraine.

"Sanctions are working," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not make an appearance at the Munich conference, which brings together world leaders and top officials for three days of speeches, panel discussions, and sideline meetings and events.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is representing Moscow at the conference, and he was set to hold a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin in Munich to discuss the situation in eastern Ukraine -- including a possible UN peacekeeping mission there.

But planned peace talks in the so-called Normandy Format -- consisting of Germany, France, Russia, and Ukraine -- that had been scheduled for February 16 were called off, according to a conference spokesman and the German Foreign Ministry.

It was not immediately clear if the meeting would be rescheduled during the Munich conference.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks on the sidelines of the conference on February 16, though Klimkin said the two diplomats were unable to reach an agreement on a possible UN peacekeeping force in eastern Ukraine.

Both the U.S. and Russian sides had voiced a more optimistic tone about progress in talks about such a mission over the past month.

Poroshenko said a UN peacekeeping mission would be crucial to ending the violence in parts of eastern Ukraine controlled by separatists, which Moscow denies backing despite substantial evidence of such support.

"There is a chance for Moscow to show the sense of compromise and agree to UN peacekeepers throughout the whole territory of [the] Donbas including the uncontrolled part of Ukraine on the Russian border," he said.

Poroshenko's office said he had discussed the idea of a UN peacekeeping mission in a February 16 meeting in Munich with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who addressed the conference hours prior to the Ukrainian president's speech.

Kyiv and Moscow have repeatedly traded accusations of failing to implement their parts of the Minsk accords -- September 2014 and February 2015 cease-fire pacts that have failed to hold.

Poroshenko stressed in his speech that Ukraine's path forward should be in the direction of the European Union and not Russia, at one point holding up an EU flag that he said Ukraine troops had displayed on the contact line in eastern Ukraine as a symbol of the country's future.

At one point during the speech, he launched into a broad denunciation of "the Russian world" -- a stark shift from Western governments that say their problem is with Russia's leadership, not its people.

As one example, he asked the audience to compare the city of Munich to Kaliningrad, a former German city that is now a Russian exclave.

"King Midas was able to turn everything he touched into gold. The Russian world turns everything [it touches] intoruin and decline," Poroshenko said.

He added: "There is a shocking difference between the Russian world and the free world."

That rhetorical detour is likely to anger officials in Moscow, who portray Poroshenko's ascendance as the result of a Western-fomented coup against former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, a Kremlin ally.

Yanukovych fled Ukraine in February 2014 following months of mass street protests in Ukraine, and Russia says its subsequent military takeover of Crimea was aimed at protecting ethnic Russians on the peninsula following Yanukovych's ouster.

Russia's seizure of Crimea and backing of the separatists in eastern Ukraine has triggered waves of U.S. and EU sanctions targeting Russian officials, companies, and economic sectors.

With reporting by Reuters, dpa, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, and Interfax

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-poroshenko-accuses- russia-of-world-hybrid-war/29044338.html

Copyright (c) 2018. 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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Nuclear Review Ushers in Strategic Environment Change, Stratcom Chief Says

By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2018  From a warfighter's stance, the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review changes the strategic environment as a threat-based approach, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command said here today.

Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten delivered the keynote address at a seminar on the posture review at National Defense University's Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

The 2018 review is the Defense Department's fourth review of U.S. nuclear policy, posture and programs since the end of the Cold War. The strategic environment has significantly evolved in the past two decades, Hyten said.

"Our adversaries are building and operating these strategic weapons, not as a science experiment, but as a direct threat to the United States of America," he said.

The strategic environment is dynamic and changes constantly, the general said, noting that the U.S. approach to deterrence must be equally dynamic to address such threats.

"This tailored deterrence approach requires us to have flexible capabilities that include a broad mix of yields and modernized platforms to credibly deter the spectrum of adversaries and threats we face today and in the future," Hyten said.

Posture Strong Today, Future Uncertain

As the Defense Department evaluated its nuclear posture in light of the threats the United States faces, the department found the posture is strong today, he said. "We have everything we need to address the threats of today," he told the seminar audience.

"But it is potentially lacking in the future," he added. "My worry is that if we do not act now within the next decade, unlike me, one of my successors might not have the appropriate flexible and tailored capabilities to give the president of the United States options to adequately deal with the uncertain and evolving security environment."

Preventing Conflict by Preparing for Conflict

The best way to prevent conflict is to be prepared for it, Hyten said -- to be prepared to impose unacceptable cost and deny any benefit that any adversary may perceive. That, he said, is deterrence.

The Nuclear Posture Review defines and expands on what hedging against an uncertain future means for nuclear weapons, Hyten noted.

"As witnessed over the past decade, the security environment can change quickly," he explained. "Technology is constantly evolving. Adversaries are seeking to use these technologies to advance their own capabilities and put ours at risk. Hedging against an uncertain future means ensuring we're always ready, always confident, no matter what the future holds."

That requires an agile, adaptable deployed force and a responsive infrastructure, which requires trained, educated men and women dedicated to the mission and postured for success, the Stratcom commander said. It also means having the flexibility to adjust the force with new capabilities and acquire systems quickly, he added.

"Our deterrence force is strong, powerful and ready, but the pace of change in the strategic environment is rapid and demands that we adapt how we operate in order to stay ahead of evolving threats," Hyten said. "And, if we're not careful, I'm afraid, 10 or 20 years from now, our deterrent capabilities will be at risk. The United States cannot let that happen, he said.

Lost Ability for Fast Pace

"What really worries me is this: I'm afraid our country has lost the ability to go fast," the general said. "And, if we're to be successful in modernizing our capabilities to respond to this threat, it's going to require some big changes in the way we operate."

The DoD budget, requirements, acquisition and testing processes are all too slow, he said. The solution, he said, is to get away from a culture that is risk-averse and empower people to move fast once again.

"First, we need a budget," he said. "It's a critical enabler for everything else. I was encouraged last week, when Congress agreed to a defense budget framework that provides stable funding for the next two years. That would be huge.

"We also need to fix our requirements process," he continued. "Why does it take years to build a set of requirements?"

Hyten said DoD program managers in the acquisition process have to get approval for everything. "They're not authorized to make  any decisions," he added. "You can't execute a program that way. So we have to give our program managers the authority and responsibility to move fast, and then hold them accountable."

DoD also needs a test process that is efficient and also moves fast, he said, and operators need to understand how to take operational risk and be given the opportunity to do so when it comes.

"We need to empower commanders to take logical risk about how to employ weapon systems [and] how to accept weapon systems," Hyten said. "Our modernization efforts will not be successful if we only address one of the issues. We won't solve the problem. We need to fix all of these things -- budget requirement, acquisition, test, risk -- if we're to make a difference.

"Signs of improvement are beginning to show," he noted, but "we must move fast to respond to threats."

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Policy Official: Posture Review Emphasizes Capabilities, Deters Use of Nukes

By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2018  The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review emphasizes the capabilities needed to correct adversary miscalculations, and in doing so, it deters the use of nuclear weapons, the deputy undersecretary of defense for policy said today at National Defense University here.

David J. Trachtenberg spoke at an NDU Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction seminar.

The 2018 Nuclear Policy Review is the Defense Department's fourth review of U.S. nuclear policy, posture and programs since the end of the Cold War. The newest review, Trachtenberg said, "reaffirms long-standing bipartisan principles of U.S. nuclear policy, while at the same time recognizing the reality that a much more challenging nuclear threat environment has emerged since the previous 2010 Nuclear Posture Review."

Three Outcomes

The review's three corresponding outcomes comprise the "reprioritization of nuclear roles, the clarification of our nuclear policy, and the recommendations for deterrence capabilities, each of which has been subject to considerable mischaracterization in much of the public commentary today."

The first outcome is that the 2018 review returns deterrence of nuclear attack against the United States, its allies and its partners to the top priority of U.S. nuclear policy, he said.

Second, he said, to strengthen deterrence, the review notes that the United States will consider the use of nuclear weapons only in response to extreme circumstances that threaten its vital interests.

Third, the review recommends two nuclear programs to strengthen U.S. capabilities to deter attack and assure allies: the modification of a small number of existing submarine-launched ballistic missiles to include a low-yield option, and the pursuit of a nuclear sea-launched cruise missile, Trachtenberg said.

Effective Deterrence

"These specific capabilities are recommended to strengthen the deterrence of war and the assurance of allies, thereby helping to ensure that nuclear weapons are not employed or proliferated," he emphasized.

"Effective deterrence is about tailoring our capabilities to a potential adversary's calculations regarding the use of nuclear force to ensure that it never can appear to be a useful option," Trachtenberg explained. "We must assess our capabilities relative to the doctrine, exercises, statements, threats and behavior of potential adversaries."

The goal of DoD's recommendations is to deter war, not to fight one, he pointed out.

"If nuclear weapons are employed in conflict, it is because deterrence failed," he said. "And the goal of the 2018 NPR is to make sure that deterrence will not fail."

Modernization of the U.S. nuclear deterrent, adoption of tailored deterrence strategies with flexible capabilities, and clarification of the roles of nuclear weapons all send a strong deterrence message to potential adversaries, while also reassuring U.S. allies, Trachtenberg noted.

In addition, he said, the review helps to ensure that U.S. diplomats speak from a position of strength.

Nuclear Triad Modernization

"Russia has little incentive to negotiate seriously about nuclear reductions without a robust and ongoing U.S. modernization program," Trachtenberg said. "In fact, the 2018 NPR calls for the modernization of all three legs of our strategic nuclear triad."

Defense Secretary James N. Mattis recently told Congress that Russia is unlikely to give up something to gain nothing, he noted.

"Critics who favor eliminating U.S. nuclear systems in the face of what is clearly an expansive Russian nuclear modernization effort, I believe, are undermining America's greatest bargaining leverage and the prospects for future arms agreements," Trachtenberg said.

The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review is one of several important reinforcing U.S. national security documents meant to guide U.S. policy in an increasingly complex and challenging world, he noted.

"Much as we might prefer otherwise, nuclear weapons are a regrettable necessity in the real world," Trachtenberg said. "After the slaughter of two world wars, [nuclear weapons] have prevented large-scale great power conflict for more than seven decades. This is not a trivial outcome. In an era of renewed great power competition, adversaries, allies and the American people should know that the United States has the will and the flexible resilient nuclear forces needed to protect the peace."

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Hwasong 12 IRBM

On 29 August 2017 the DPRK fired a missile from an area near the capital Pyongyang, passed over the Japanese territory and landed in the Pacific Ocean, after a flight of about 2,500-2,735 km (over 1,700 miles). It was lofted as high as 548-550 km (340 miles). It later broke into three pieces before falling into the Pacific Ocean, according to Japanese media. According to South Korean media reports, South Korea's military saw the missile as the DPRK's newly developed Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile, which Pyongyang said in May had been successfully test-fired.

North Korea conducted a successful test of a new two-stage liquid fueled rocket on Sunday 14 May 2017. The missile was said to be capable of flying 4,000, and up to 4,500 kilometers. The North Korean state news agency KCNA said the test was to verify the capability to carry a "large scale heavy nuclear warhead," and the missile flew 787 kilometers, reaching an altitude of 2,111 kilometers. Preliminary assessment by US authorities indicated that North Korea launched a liquid-fuel single-stage KN-17 missile, NBC News reported citing two military officials. But this nomenclature was previously assocaited with a much smaller shorter range missile.

This was the seventh missile provocation by Pyongyang this year alone, and comes just two weeks after a missile test that South Korean and US officials said failed. South Korea's military confirmed that the North launched a ballistic missile Sunday morning, around 5:30 a.m. Seoul time, from an area near the city of Kusong, about 120 kilometers northwest of the regime's capital. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missile flew some 700 kilometers, and judging by the flight distance, military experts are looking at the launch as a successful one.

Some experts added to the doubts on the effectiveness and development of the Hwaseong-12, as they have pointed to video footage showing how the missile was launched from a stationary system instead of the preferred and more difficult to counter mobile system.

Japanese government officials said that the North launched a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan from near Kusong in the northwestern province of Pyongan-pukdo. They said it is the first time a North Korean missile has reached an altitude of over 2,000 kilometers. According to Japan, the missile reached an altitude of more than 2,000 kilometers in a matter of about 30 minutes before falling into the East Sea in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone, suggesting it was launched at a steep, or "lofted," angle.

The altitude reached by the missile meant it was launched at a high trajectory, which would limit the lateral distance it travelled. But if it was fired at a standard trajectory, it could have easily reached a distance of 4,500 kilometers. Guam is 3,400 km from North Korea. The missile could not have reached Alaska, at about 5,700 kilometers, or Hawaii at about 7,000 kilometers. An ICBM has a minimum range of about 5,000 or 6,000 kilometers. The US military's Pacific Command said the type of missile that was fired was "not consistent with an intercontinental ballistic missile."

"North Korea's latest successful missile test represents a level of performance never before seen from a North Korean missile," Washington-based monitoring project, 38 North, said in an analysis. "It appears to have not only demonstrated an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) that might enable them to reliably strike the US base at Guam, but more importantly, may represent a substantial advance to developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)," it said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was said to have been at the launch site to oversee the test. He was cited as saying that nuclear weapons capabilities shall not be monopolized by the US and he is sure the day will come for his regime to be able to take corresponding retaliatory measures against the US. The young North Korean leader said the US' mainland and its Pacific theater of command is within its striking range.

Monday's edition of the North's communist party Rodong Sinmun newspaper carried 36 photos of a missile climbing upward and Kim watching the launch. The state-run media outlets quoted Kim Jong Un as saying that the US mainland and Pacific operation region are now within North Korea's striking range.

"The test-fire aimed at verifying the tactical and technological specifications of the newly-developed ballistic rocket capable of carrying a large-size heavy nuclear warhead," the North's official KCNA news agency said. "If the US awkwardly attempts to provoke the DPRK, it will not escape from the biggest disaster in history," KCNA quoted Kim as saying. The DPRK leader accused the US of "browbeating" countries that "have no nukes" and warned Washington not to misjudge the reality that its mainland is in the North's "sighting range for a strike," KCNA reported.

Just days after being elected, South Korean President Moon Jae-in faced his first North Korean provocation, putting an early test to his stated policy to pursue peaceful dialogue with his defiant nuclear neighbor. The South Korean leader expressed solidarity with the United States and Japan. Within an hour from North Korea's missile test, South Korea's new President Moon Jae-in ordered an urgent meeting of top security officials condemning the move and calling it "deeply regrettable" as the provocation came only days after Moon took office calling for dialogue with the North.

The President said the missile launch was a clear violation of the UN Security Council's resolutions and a grave threat to the peace and safety of the international community, let alone the Korean peninsula. President Moon reconfirmed that the new administration has its door open for dialogue with North Korea, but dialogue is possible only when the North changes its attitude. South Korea's commander-in-chief said Seoul must act decisively against Pyongyang's provocations so that it will not miscalculate and make a wrong move calling on his military to be fully prepared for any future provocation by North Korea.

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Hwasong-13

Trying to make sense of the relationship between missile hardware and designations in nearly hopeless. Hans M. Kristensen & Robert S. Norris noted in January 2018 that "during a 2015 parade, a new missile that appeared similar to the Hwasong-13  transported on the same launcher, but shorter, and with a new payload section  was initially misidentified as the KN-14, or a KN-13 Mod 2. For examples of initial misidentifications see: Gertz (2016 Gertz, B. 2016. Pentagon Confirms New North Korean ICBM . The Washington Free Beacon, March 31 and Fischer (2015 Fischer, Jr., R. D. 2015. North Korea Unveils New Version of the KN-08 ICBM . Janes Defence, October 13.). The 2017 NASIC report instead identified the new missile as the Hwasong-14. The new missile, with the US designation KN-20, is a two-stage, liquid-fuel ICBM carried on an eight-axle road-mobile TEL."

KN-08:

The semi-mobile Limited Range ICBM

No-dong-C

By C. P. Vick, 2012-2015

Senior Technical & Space Policy Analyst

KN-08 Block-II Continuation now known as the KN-14

The KN-08 has been revised to the KN-14 lengthen the first stage with its two main engine nozzle and four steering Verniers now confirmed from imagery from the displays. The second stage has been greatly extended eliminating the Block-I third stage configuration. The warhead is greatly reduced in length and overall dimensions suggesting considerable nuclear device mass and size reduction. The entire design reminds of the former Soviet Unions UR-100/SS-11 mods in both range performance and design approach. By eliminating the KN-08 Iranian based design third stage revising the stages arrangement length as well as the payload has enhanced the overall performance suggest that this limited range ICBM prototype is much closer to becoming operational versus the previous Block-I design with its many revisions observed. It suggests that the Block-1 was merely a R&D model that has now been supplanted by the KN-08 Block-II, now called KN-14 LRICBM. It certainly reflects why the flight test of this system has been delayed to accommodate the upgraded design systems development for completion with in this Five Year Plan 2016-2021.



Introduction

Circumstantial evidence had been building up for some years that had begun to suggest to US and South Korean intelligence that North Korea was attempting to develop a semi-mobile ICBM. This information though thin was initially suggested in public speech in a Singapore conference and on a trip to China to the press pool by then U. S. Defense Secretary, Dr. Robert M. Gates followed later by Admiral Robert F. Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, before the House Armed Services Committee . (20, 21) On March 12, 2013 DNI the honorable James R. Clapper stated before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that the ..."last April it displayed what appears to be a rogue mobile intercontinental ballistic missile. We believe North Korea has already taken initial steps towards fielding this system, although it remains untested. "

KN-08 Block-II October 2015 Display

KN-08 Block-II

The KN-08 has been revised to lengthen the first stage with its single nozzle and steering Verniers now confirmed from imagery from the parade display. The second stage has been greatly extended eliminating the Block-I third stage configuration. The warhead is greatly reduced in length and overall dimensions suggesting considerable nuclear device mass and size reduction. The entire design reminds of the former Soviet Unions UR-100/SS-11 mods in both range performance and design approach. By eliminating the KN-08 third stage revising the stages arrangement length as well as the payload has enhanced the overall performance suggest that this limited range ICBM prototype is much closer to becoming operational versus the previous Block-I design with its many revisions observed. It suggests that the Block-1 was merely a R & D model that has now been supplanted by the KN-08 Block-II, LRICBM. It certainly reflects why the flight test of this system has been delayed to accommodate the upgraded design for completion with in this Five Year Plan.

Adm. Bill Gortney, the head of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, during his Senate confirmation hearing in July, 2014, said he believes North Korea has an operational road-mobile missile that could carry nuclear weapons to the U.S. and We assess that its operational today, and so we practice to go against that. Further Its the relocatable target set that really impedes our ability to find, fix and finish the threat, a problem which is compounded by the fact that the U.S. military does not have persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets over North Korea, and Our assessment is that they have the ability to put a nuclear weapon on a KN-08 and shoot it at the [U.S.] homeland.

The North Korean, Hwasong-13, NK-08, LR-ICBM [No-Dong-C] developed from the Acad. V. P. Makeyev OKB derivation of the Soviet SS-N-6 the DPRK, No-dong-B and the Soviet RSM-40 tankage and structures SLBM modified design, the RSM-50 and RSM-54 SLBM's engines for this land based semi-mobile ICBM presently in its research and development phase.

Intelligence Find Confirmed:

The Makeyev OKB ( SKB-385 )in the form of the new version of the KN-08. The New KN-08 is literally a stretched version of the R-29 / SS-N-8, Sawfly, RSM-40 Vysota utilizing a No-dong-B/NK-07/NK-11warhead inside the top tank of the second stage with its highly refined nose maneuvering post boost package and guidance system. This is final proof positive that the total missile program of the DPRK is founded on the Makeyev SKB-385 direct personnel and technology transfer thatr has been suspected fot years. Now there can be no doubt about that fact as exemplified in the hardware displayed recently.

Pending Experimental Flight Test Regime

The recent news according to the Yonhap News Agency of February 17, 2013 from South Korean multiple government, officials not for attribution on intelligence collected is that North Korea the DPRK has successfully test fired the KN-08/No-dong-C prototype missiles critical first & second stage engines in static test firings. It was carried out on the Pongdong-ni, or Dongchong-ri or Tongch'ang-dong, Sohae Satellite Launching Station in Cholsan County, North Phyongan Province static test firing center. This was not carried out on the Musudan-ri, Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground infrastructure in Hwadae County, in North Hamgyong Province R & D static test center previously used in earlier partially successful test firings as noted below. This testing was carried out during February 11, 2013 shortly before the DPRK carried out its third or fourth nuclear test on February 12, 2013. (88, 89, 90, 91)

This kind of ground testing based on typical past DPRK practices is probably a prelude to the experimental flight test to follow in the next 3-6 months or within one year of the test firings of the flight test engines. This fits within the DPRK mid Five Year Plan cycle when the test flights are expected. Once the engines are cleaned up from being disassembled and reassembled with new seals for flight they would be installed into the operational experiment flight test vehicle that is then shipped to the mobile range test site for its flight demonstration.

Also

Then Secretary of Defense, Leon E. Panetta expressed concerns about the perceived early DPRK country wide dispersal deployment of the KN-08 / No-dong-C semi-mobile ICBMs which is entirely explainable as noted below under the Purpose of Six or more Ground Test Models of the KN-08s [No-dong-C]. (92).

Although there have been suggestions post these event that in late March early April 2013 the Sohae Satellite Launching Station in Cholsan County, North Phyongan Province static test firing center had been used for the Unha-9 first stage engine cluster testing there remains unsubstantiated with no confirming evidence for this information coming from South Korean intelligence sources and methods. (93)

July 23, 2013 Observations: NK-SL-X, & Hwasong-13

It should be carefully noted that the roads, bridges, port and railroad infrastructure efforts for the NK-SL-X, medium lift booster have yet to be completed on the regional access to the Tonghae Satellite launching grounds. Until that is done the heavy weight equipment and the prefabricated components for the launch infrastructure cannot be brought on site much less be completed. Since the booster is still undergoing R&D for its final design requirement that directly impact the launch infrastructure requirements certainly defines the delays reasoning. This in fact was the case much earlier in the launch infrastructure development slowdown. It would not be expect that although we have seen the core booster ground test vehicle at the factory they are a good 1.5 Five Years Plans from a requirement for that facility .DPRP State Planning requires that kind of lead time effort. Additionally the Sohae facility can accommodate the large medium lift NK-SL-X booster core flight test booster in addition to handling the Unha-3, Unha-9 booster as it presently exists with few modifications. More recently there have been suggestions that the Sohae static test center was utilized to test fire the Unha-9 booster longer duration burn first stage engines. However there is no South Korean Intelligence sources and methods confirmation of this suggestion. They could only have been related to the Hwasong-13, KN-08 first & second stage engines ongoing testing.

Indeed to the contrary around February 11-16, 2013 the South Korean sources and methods did indeed confirm that the facility had been used for a series of test firings of the Hwasong-13, KN-08 first & second stage engines since the third upper stage engine is perfected and operational. Previous Static test firings of the KN-08 first & second stage engines had not gone so well with several failures. Those issues have apparently been addressed successfully. This analysis leaves the Unha-9 static test firings testing in serious doubt in my mind but until more information is forth coming we can only make these observations. It is equally interesting to note that the so called second launch pad on the Sohae launch infrastructure has no pad or launch gantry umbilical tower available making it ideal for the pending test launch of the Hwasong-13, KN-08 semi-mobile limited range ICBM from that site.

Background Information

The South Korea, Ministry of Defense says the Hwasong-13, KN-08 has a range of 5.000-6,000 kilometers rounded off {4,987.90 - 5,985.48 kilometers} essentially matching the TD-2 performance of 6,000  6,700 kilometers. However this all new storable highly toxic liquid fuel three stage Limited Range ICBM has the added advantage of being semi-mobile for pre-surveyed GPS supported launch sites instead of the open soft site for the DPRK space booster efforts. Initial views were that it was a solid propellant Limited Range ICBM but when the detailed close up imagery followed it revealing too many recognizable Makeyev, OKB, ports, vents and access hatches to be a solid propellant missile. Typically road semi-mobile missiles are based on solid propellants that make them hard to track and easier to hide but quickly to launch with almost no warning. It takes hours to prepare liquid propellant versions of semi-mobile ICBMs which is why the missile will probably be deployed in cave tunnel garrisons or other hardened sheltered sites.

Unexplained, Makeyev OKB Heritage Implication of Continued DPRK Developments

The KN-08 has a V. P. Makeyev OKB, technology heritage design wise but must be presumed to reflect a very real modernized strategic ballistic missile system that is in the advanced stages of development that is intended to match to the extent possible the Taepo-dong-2 space booster capability. In the long run the Taepo-dong-2 has outlived its strategic usefulness if it ever was intended for that purpose because only open soft sites have been built for it. There can be no further doubt about the ongoing Makeyev OKB liquid propellant RSM-25/RSM-40 vehicle, RSM-54/RSM-50 engines, SLBMs technology transfer to North Korea based on the entire previous systems heritage. That heritage goes back to the Scud-B through Taepo-dong-2 technology, and personnel, technology transfer that took place in the Gorbachev era. It strongly suggests that the Makeyev personnel remaining are still working on DPRK missile systems. It is interesting to note they are still having trouble developing space boosters which is not their experience base but they have been highly successful developing ballistic missiles. This Hwasong-13, KN-08 missile provokes and begs the question, Is the missile technology transfer continuing from rogue Makeyev, OKB personnel and Rocket Engine OKB's associated with the RSM-50 and RSM-54 SLBM's engines within the Russian Federation?

The North Korean and Iranian missile heritage family as developed from the Acad. V. P. Makeyev OKB missile systems technology transfer.

We now have a consistent Acad. V. P. Makeyev, OKB launch vehicle and Acad. A. MIsayevOKB -2 propulsion design heritage for the following systems that have flown in flight test except for the latest last two in research and development: They are as follows:

Acad. V. P. Makeyev OKB DPRK Heritage Missile Systems:

Name Type Designations, Missions, S/F

KN-03? Scud-B TBM Success KN-04? Scud-C TBM Hwasong-5 Success KN-05? Scud-ER TBM Hwasong-6 Success KN-07? No dong-A MRBM Success KN-07? No dong-B IRBM Success Cancelled Taepo dong-1 Space booster Unha-1 Failure Taepo dong-2, R & D Space booster Unha-2, 3, 4 Failures/5 success ? NK-SD-SL-X-?, R & D Dedicated Space Booster Geostationary/Manned L.V. KN-08 No-dong-C, R & D LRICBM to replace TD-2 Hwasong-13 [No-dong-C (cpv)]

TBM-Tactical Ballistic missile, MRBM-Medium Range Ballistic Missile, IRBM- Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, LRICBM  Limited Range Inter-continental Ballistic Missile

Yes Iran has the solid motor technology demonstrated but has it been transferred to the DPRK at this writing is not proven in spite of the level of cooperation in missile & nuclear weapons well documented and demonstrated. Iranian solid propellant missile developments and expectations as it is understood at this writing. It is believed that Iran is reworking Ashura with Sejjil proven technology but it is a delicate program with several dramatic failures experienced so far both on the ground and in flight. For the present the Sejjil has replaced Ashura. Iran is believed to be working on a solid propellant ICBM based on the extension of the Sejjil & Ashura missile systems. But is the DPRK getting that solid motor technology? There is no known public open sources evidence to suggest that.

Iran's Solid motor propulsion family developments

The North Korean and Iranian family of liquid propellant missile developments

Comparisons North Korean (DPRK) and Iranian ballistic missiles & Space boosters through 2013

The critical point is No-dong-B:

Iran and DPRK have the advanced closed cycle propulsion system placed inside their propellant tanks of the No-dong-B that was flight tested on January 17, 2006 out of Iran for both the DPRK and Iran traveling some 3,218 km of its known potential 3,861 km range demonstrated then during one of the DPRKs moratoriums. In that respect this is both confirmed by the Israeli Intelligence sources & methods but especially the U. S. Ballistic Defense Agency officials in speech.

The North Korean and Iranian No-dong-B missile system derived from the Acad. V. P. Makeyev OKB SS-N-6 missile systems technology transfer to the DPRK.

The North Korean No-dong-B missile transporter erector launcher TEL system as deployed in the DPRK.

The critical point is No-dong-B:

Finally on January 29, 2007 the US government acknowledged for the first time the existence of several new Iranian and North Korean missiles under development through a speech by the deputy director of the Missile Defense Agency of the Pentagon Army Brig. General Patrick OReilly before the George C Marshall Institute. In that speech he described the Iranian two stage Ghadr-110 solid propellant missile with a range of (1,324 miles) 1,995.16 or close to 2,000 kilometers. It has been known that the Iranians are working on the Ghadr-101 as well as the Ghadr-110 solid propellant missiles. The Ghadr-101 solid motor development was completed in 2005. He also described the two stage Taepo-dong-2b as having a range of (6,200 Miles) 9,975.8 kilometers and the three stage version with a range of (9,300 miles) 14,963.7 kilometers with a 250 kg warhead. He went further in his slides presentation to show that the No-dong-B has a demonstrated range of 2,000 miles or 3,218 kilometers (3,000 kilometers) when it is capable of flying (2,485 miles) or 4,000 kilometers. (24) The No-dong-B was described as a qualitative improvement in the performance from earlier North Korean missile systems. The Iranian Ghadr-101, 110, 110A will in fact also provides Iran with an ASAT capability besides its operational MRBM and IRBM capability. (23)

Today we know the maximum potential range of No-dong-B is 3,861 km not 4,000 km {But where did that come from in-country vertical probe flight testing?} though 3,218 km has been demonstrated successfully. It utilizes throughout a fuel of Unsymmetrical Dimethyl hydrazine (UDMH) while its oxidizer is a derivation of (Inhibited Red Fuming nitric Acid (IRFNA) & N204 = AK-27P) in its single stage. (29)

Advent of the KN-08 LRICBM development progress

Leaked Department of State Classified Cables Excerpts Confirm Rumors of Two New Missile Systems in Development in the DPRK while continuing the development of the Taepo-dong-2

Keeping an eye on two circumstantial developments in North Korea (DPRK) missilery Bill Gertz of the Washington Times, noted on December 5, 2011 the known passages from classified Department of State cables from the web site WikiLeaks. It reviews and confirms the KN-08 Semi-mobile LR-ICBM development. (20) The cables also indicates the two different systems at issue one a semi-mobile Limited Range-ICBM and one a large space booster potential super full range ICBM the mission of which was not at the time fully understood when written. (20)

February 2010 cable:  One is using the Taepodong-2, with a range of up to 9,300 miles, (14,963.70 kilometers) as its main strategic missile. A second way is to further develop the ranges of existing missiles like the Musudan, [No-dong-B, Mirim cpv] and last is to use the very large launch facility that is being constructed on the west coast of North Korea to launch a very large missile, the cable said. (20)

And

Oct. 6, 2009, cable on North Koreas missile program said the Musudan intermediate-range missile is based on Russias SS-N-6/(RSM-25) submarine-launched ballistic missile that has a range of up to 2,400 miles. That is 3,861.60 kilometers. (20)

Several quotes from a public speech in a Singapore conference and on a trip to China to the press pool by then Defense of Secretary, Dr. Robert M. Gates followed later by Adm. Robert F. Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, before the House Armed Services Committee shows that two different systems had evolved over the previous DPRK, Five Year Plan, a Semi-Mobile LR-ICBM and the Sohae Satellite Launching Station in Cholsan County, North Phyongan Province infrastructure growth potential pad and gantry umbilical tower for medium heavy lift space booster (20, 21)

Officials familiar with the intelligence said government analysts believe the missile could be a variant of North Korea's new Musudan intermediate-range missile,. (20) [I.E.: No-dong-B, Mirim cpv]

and

After a speech in Singapore, Mr. Gates said, "With the continued development of long-range missiles and potentially a road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile and their continuing development of nuclear weapons, ... North Korea is in the process of becoming a direct threat to the United States." (20)

and

"Mr. Gates first told reporters Jan. 11, (2011) during a visit to China that North Korea's progress in building intercontinental ballistic missiles was turning the Pyongyang regime into a "direct threat to the United States." (20)

and

"Pressed for details, he said, "I don't think it's an immediate threat, no. But on the other hand, I don't think it's a five-year threat." (20)

"Let me be precise," he added. "I think that North Korea will have developed an intercontinental ballistic missile within that time frame, not that they will have huge numbers or anything like that, but I believe they will have a very limited capability." (20)

and

"The Daily Beast quoted Mr. Gates in June (2011) saying, "They are developing a road-mobile ICBM. I never would have dreamed they would go to a road-mobile before testing a static ICBM. It's a huge problem. As we've found out in a lot of places, finding mobile missiles is very tough."(20) [I.E.: Possible Irans GPS, experience with liquid propellant semi-mobile ballistic missiles may have helped with perfecting the technology cpv]

And

There is development within North Korea of a road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile system that weve observed, Adm. Robert F. Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, told the House Armed Services Committee on Friday. (21)

We have not observed it being tested yet, to my knowledge. We are watching the development very closely. (21)

The question to ask of U. S. intelligence and DoD has it been flight tested vertically like a sounding rocket inside the DPRK or Iran and or what have they not told us? The same question especially applies to the South Korean officials of the Minister of Defense and executive branch? Leaked Department of State classified cables excerpts confirm rumors of two new missile systems in development in the DPRK

As of March 2012 no LR-ICBM has been launched according to A dm. Robert F. Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, but it has undergone dynamic and static test firing leading to future flight tests in-country with in this five year plan.

DPRK Parade April 15, 2012, the First Public Appearance of the KN-08 LRICBM

The April 15, 2012, the first public appearance of the KN-08 LR-ICBM were merely six KN-08 inert mock-ups for parade display just as the Soviets put on display in Moscow Square twice yearly during the Cold War that were incomplete in their full systems details as displayed. The primary example of what the Soviet did that is very document able is the SS-9, ICBM display with the structural under lying stringers of the warhead clearly visible on its mock-up metal skin. Whether the KN-08 750-800-1,000 kilogram warhead design displayed with its underlying stringers reflects the actual design intended is unknown. The displayed Soviet Parade missile model of the SS-9 models did not show the operational re-entry vehicle design. Yet the real operational SS-9 Scarp ICBM was a very real deployed strategic ballistic missile system. That ICBM today is known as the Commercial Tsyklon space booster of the Ukraine. It has external vernier engine mounting not shown in the parade versions. FOBS/Scrag is another example of the prototype missiles being paraded that was never put into production for deployment. See the following illustrations: http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/russia/gr-1-pics.htm

No nation displays fully fueled Ballistic missile much less solid propellant missiles. Never live armed weapons fully fueled. Those same structural underlying stringers are visible on the dummy warhead of the KN-08 in addition to the poor weld lines not ground down. The regiment of six semi-mobile missiles serves multiple purposes for design development, production, ground testing and DPRK, Strategic Rocket Forces training in logistic for operations to come.

Purpose of Six or more Ground Test Models of the KN-08s [No-dong-C]:

This usually entails utilizing some 10-20 models total in a standard hardware R&D operation:

1. Strategic Rocket Forces logistic brigade training for early field deployment demonstration ring out operations if not to firmly decide the best deployment strategy,

2. Ground Systems testing, fueling, de fueling operations,

3. Manufacturing demonstration with variation in the design considerations,

4. Dynamic testing models which involves several models some of which are destroyed during those stress loads operations,

5. Stage Static Test models two of which have already failed and must be replaced with better refined designs test vehicles based on the failures knowledge gained,

6. Overall Systems integration test development model

They were therefore not fakes but early field deployment models following the Soviet practices they were taught. Thus the parade displayed model designs details differences observed. They also serve both as a DPRK Maskirovka operation as well as reflecting a very real system that is in the advanced stages of development that will match the Taepo-dong-2 booster capability as a strategic system. The KN-08, LR-ICBM is a real vehicle seen by DoD, intelligence assets and discussed by former Secretary of Defense, Dr. Robert M. Gates as noted above. (20, 21, 22)

KN-08 Engine, Stage Systems & Dynamic Testing of Flight Hardware

The KN-08 boosters stage engines combination have been static test fired four times over sixteen weeks during 2011 and early 2012 at the static test firing and dynamic test facilities located on the Musudan-ri, (Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground infrastructure in Hwadae County, in North Hamgyong Province. (75, 75A)

It was reported on the 24 hour news channel, YTN TV of Seoul, South Korea quoted an intelligence source as saying the communist state carried out four tests over 16 weeks until early this year to develop an inter-continental missile at a test facility at Musudan-ri on the northeastern coast. And that The tests were aimed at improving engines and propellant fuel for the missile, code-named KN-08, the source said. (75, 75A)

It went on further to say as stated by South Koreas Yonhap News Agency and the YTN TV later citing military sources and analyst as saying the rocket is a new long-range missile. Presumed to be a ballistic missile with a range of to 6,000 kilometers rounded off (3,700 miles) This identifies the KN-08 as a limited range ICBM. (75) It is further indicated by Chosun Ilbo that the four, stage engine combination static test firings had at least one or two failure bringing into question whether the test series was successful according to the South Korean military sources. (80,80A, 87)

Recent firings as noted above would seen to indicate that the engine test have resolved the issue previously encountered. (88, 89, 90, 91)

The KN-08 Details as Presently Understood:

The KN-08 as understood today is about 18.7 to 19.0 meter long with the first two stages bodies about 1.8 meters in diameter. Its first stage features a base skirt transitioning from the 1.8 meter body diameter to the skirt 2 meter base diameter. This does not include the four steering vernier's inside the the 2 meter of the base skirt diameter. Its second stage utilizes the main thrust chamber immersed in the top of the first stage. The third stage is 1.3-1.35 meters in diameter and may utilize two or four vernier's on their own separate turbo-machinery derived from the No-dong-B vernier engine. These KN-08 engine, stage systems & dynamic testing of flight hardware were focused on improving the closed cycle propulsion performance of the engines before flight test of the KN-08 commence within this 2011-2015 Five Year Plan soon. The Hwasong-13 first and second stages are an apparent modification of the Soviet era Makeyev OKB RSM-40, Vysota, SS-N-8 SLBM with revision for the tankage and third stage requirements built to the required manufacturing technological level of the DPRK industry capability. KN-08 first stage utilizes improved propellant tank immersed closed cycle propulsion higher performance engine of 50,985.81 kilograms force thrust based on the RSM-54 Shtil R-29M SS-N-23 1st stage engine and the, RSM-50/SS-N-18 Volna 2nd. stage engine, SLBM's propulsion systems technology. Separate from the other vernier engine system the four vernier's on each stage operate based on a separate open cycle turbo-machinery system. The applicable propulsion systems being utilized for the KN-08 will be applied to the NK-SL-X dedicated geostationary space boosters development program. It utilizes throughout a fuel of Unsymmetrical Dimethyl hydrazine (UDMH) while its oxidizer is a derivation of (73% Inhibited Red Fuming nitric Acid (IRFNA) & 27% N204 = AK-27S) in all stages. (29, 82)

July 27, 2013 Observations: Hwasong-13 Ground Test Semi-mobile R&D, ICBM Prototypes Missile

On July 27, 2013 the DPRK had its 60th anniversary military parade to commemorate the Korean War in which there were only four Hwasong-13, KN-08's displayed in images and video from the event not six as had previously been observed. Those four missiles were much more complete reflecting the maturity of the ground test semi-mobile R&D, ICBM prototypes missile program right down to the white and red DPRK Strategic Rocket Forces standard paint job. During parade practice the KN-08's sported their camouflage netting covering over the missile through out the full length of the TEL.

Observation by some to the affect that the display missiles were fakes was truly a disservice to the public on the Hwasong-13 as if to fill some agenda believing their own lies that was not based in reality. They were anything but that as they were all to real ground test semi-mobile R&D, ICBM prototypes very close to flight testing configuration as previously noted. There were several better imaged access hatches in the inter stage areas between the first, second and third stage. Typical DPRK riveted non un-body welding construction in the inter stage areas was also observed. Staging translation rocket sets angled at the Center of gravity of the second and third stage and payload for separation from the fire in the hole ignition into the top of the first stage for the second stage engine and propellant injection/vent ports were added to the second stage. The displayed four-conic nose cone was much smoother looking than the previous metal shells appearance with a more rounded nose. Never are operational warheads displayed though they closely resemble the actual flight hardware. The First stage retro rockets remained at the staging center of gravity position for that stages propellant depletion to facilitate the proper staging separation alignment while the second stage ignition start up takes place. The stages separation planes are also clearly identifiable. The first stage steering verniers aligned with the retro rockets are off set from the four pad support hold down explosive bolts set ups.

The North Korean NK-08, Hwasong-13, LR-ICBM [No-Dong-C] developed from the Acad. V. P. Makeyev OKB derivation of the SS-N-6 the DPRK No-dong-B and the Soviet RSM-40 tankage and structures SLBM modified design, the RSM-50 and RSM-54 SLBM's engines for this land based semi-mobile ICBM presently in its research and development phase.

Serious Reality Questions on the Semi-mobile ICBM Viability.

Realistically these are large rocket systems of a semi-mobile designs on the order of 21 meter long and as wide as a railroad car requiring considerable support personnel and mobile fueling vehicles and mobile ground support systems in addition to hours of preparation on pre-surveyed sites. They may be deployed in coffin, silo or more likely than not  cave/underground tunnel which the DPRK is famous for based military garrison sites much like China has done in the past. This vehicle would require an entourage of many support vehicles including multiple propellant tankers trucks for the individual stage propellants as well as power generator and command and control vehicles. In both cases the Taep'o-dong-2 which has failed in three launches in 2006, 2009 and 2012 and KN-08/No-dong-C if launched at some world target would have well over repeating well over half of the vehicle fail to reach their targets. To date both missiles have had no successful demonstration flight tests ranging over 6,000-6,700 kilometers.

TEL Transporter Erector Launcher Revealed:

The North Korean NK-08, Block-1, LR-ICBM [No-Dong-C] transporter erector launcher the tractor and it carriage system was provided by the the PRC China manufacturer.

Serious Reality Questions on the Semi-mobile ICBM Viability

The April 15, 2012, Pyongyang, DPRK, military parade display of the first public appearance of the KN-08 LRICBM with it large Chinese 9 th Academy of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation [CASIC] known as the Hubei Sanjiand Space Wanshan Special Vehicles Co., Inc., factory for heavy transporter short cab model of the tractor WS51200 also called WS2600 super heavy-duty offroad chassis was quite a controversial public surprise. It utilizes a total of eight axles with 16 wheels 1.6 meters in diameter with six wheel steering up front and stretches a total of 20.11 meters and a width and height of 3.35 meters without the DPRK added related equipment bays, erector and pad for the KN-08 ballistic missile. That would extend its length to 21 meters and a loaded capacity of up to 122 metric tonnes at a cost of 30 million Yuan for six vehicles. (81)

On or about October 19, 2010 the DPRK probable front company Rimmok General Trading purchase six and or possibly eight with spare parts of these tractors transporters under the civil pretenses for  carrying timber operational use according to the Chinese company possibly through a third party country which remains an unanswered question. (81, 83, 84, 85, 86.) It is known that these tractors have been used to transport Chinese DF-31 ICBMs. (86) Although the April 15, 2012 Pyongyang, DPRK, military parade only displayed six of these TEL vehicles it is believed to have only initially received two or four of the tractor transporters vehicles earlier in 2011.

Subsequently a second shipment delivered four additional vehicles that were shipped from Shanghai, China, on the Cambodian-flagged cargo ship, Harmony Wish, on August 1, 2011 for a three day journey to the port of Nampo, DPRK where the four transporters were delivered in early August. The Cambodian registered cargo vessel then later on journeyed to Osaka, Japan during October 2011 where upon based on intelligence satellite tracking imagery of the ships activities the Japanese Coast Guard did a thorough inspection of the vessel and its record books for its detailed documentation on the cargo delivered to the DPRK. Therein they discovered that the Harmony Wish, Cambodian registered ship had delivered the four additional military vehicles transporters from the Chinese 9 th Academy of the China, Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation [CASIC] known as the [Wuhan Sanjiang Import Export Co.], Hubei Sanjiand Space Wanshan Special Vehicles Co., Inc., factory. They were the heavy transporter short cab model of the tractor WS51200 also called WS2600 super heavy-duty offroad chassis Subsequently Japanese Coast Guard officials shared this information with Japanese Intelligence that in turn shared it with the Republic of South Korea and the United States. This was a probable a difficult to prove technical violation of the U. N Security Council Resolution 1718 on the part of China though they say that they did not violate the resolution intent or Chinese law. (83, 84, 85, 86.)

Conclusions:

The KN-08, Hwasong-13 Semi-Mobile, Limited Range-ICBM system had evolved over the previous five year plan that is a very real R & D vehicle seen by DoD intelligence assets and discussed by former Secretary of Defense, Dr. Robert M. Gates. It is in the advanced stage of development heading to flight testing. Through this writing no LR-ICBM has been flown but it has undergone Research & Development, dynamic and static test firing leading to future flight tests within this Five Year Plan

References:

20. Gertz, Bill, North Korea making missile able to hit U.S. The Washington Times, Dec. 5, 2011. P. 1-4, http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/5/north-korea-making-missile-able-to-hit-us/?page=all

21. Gertz, Bill, Inside The Ring: North Koreas ICBM, The Washington Times, March 7, 2012, p. 1, http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/7/inside-the-ring-north-koreas-icbm/

23. http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20070130-122437-6559r.htm, Gertz, Bill, How the axis seeks the killer missile, The Washington Times, January 30, 2007, p. ?

29. Champion, Gilles, Japan deploys missile batteries as North Korea prepares to launch long-range rocket, National Post, AFP, April 8, 2012 pp. 1-3

75. N. Korea test long-range missile: report, From AFP, Seoul, South Korea, reporting on the 24 hour news channel, YTN-TV report on the testing of the DPRK, KN-08, limited range ICBM that was also

75A. Also reported by Yonhap news agency, April 14, 2012, P. 1.

80. N. Korea Shows Off Weapons at Military Parade, The Chosun Ilbo, englishnews@chosun.com/ , April 15-6, 2012, pp. 1-2. Between late last year and February this year, the North conducted four tests of a new booster at its research center in Musudan-ri, North Hamgyong Province. But the South Korean military believe they failed, with one resulting in an explosion.

80A. An earlier YTN broadcast, aired before the parade, called the new missile by the name KN-08. That report is summarized in English by AFP ( http://www.channelnewsasisa.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1195153/1/.html).

81. http://i.imgur.com/sfNCh.jpg , http://pollack.armscontrolwonk.com/archive/3932/north-koreas-icbm-unveiled, http://bemil.chosun.com/nbrd/bbs/view.html?b_bbs_id=10040&pn=1&num=66890 , these are some of the various Chinese 9 th Academy of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation [CASIC] known as the Hubei Sanjiand Space Wanshan Special Vehicles Co., Inc., truck factory heavy transporter short cab model of the tractor data sheet.

82. http://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/Diverse/KN-08/index.htm

83. China exported military vehicles to North Korea, [according to Asahi Shimbun, newspaper reported] The Yomiuri Shimbun, http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/world/T120613005610.htm ,June 14, 2012Ps 1-2.

84. Reports: NKorea missile launcher came from China, By Eric Talmadge, associated Press, Tokyo, http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-06/D9VCDE500.htm, June 13, 2012. P. 1

85. US kept quiet over Chinese UN breach on North Korea, The Telegraph, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/9328275/US-kept-quiet-over-Chinese-UN-breach-on-North-Korea.html ,June 13, 2012, p. 1-2

86. US says raised concerns to China on N.Korea missiles, By Shaun Tandon (AFP), WASHINGTON, http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g9W1qOQGp2FRYgIhdoAfHBo2CjMA?docId=CNG.f9b83f7af587b4f26b03db1f1079c3ed.351, June 13, 2012, p.1-2

87. Isolated North Korea says its rockets can hit U. S mainland, Reuters, http://www.reuters.com/assets/?, Oct. 9, 2012, p.1. Quote "....., but two recent rocket tests both failed."

88. N. Korea tested long-range missile engine before nuke blast soiurces, Yonhap News Agency, Seoul, South Korea, February 19, 2013 p. 1-2.

89 .WAFF, World's Wrmed Forces Forum, NOKO tests engine for 5,000 km range rocket, February 17, 2012, p. 1.

90. Source: North Korea tested ICBM engine before nuke test, by Akihiko Kaise, Correspondent, AJW, Asahi Shimbo, Seoul, South Korea, February 18, 2013 p.1.

91. N. Korea Tests New Missile Engine Before Nuke Test, The Chosun Ilbo, February 18, 2013, p. 2.

92. Movement of Missiles by North Korea Worries U. S. , by Thom Shanker, and David E. Sanger, The New Youk Times,January 17, 2013, p. 1, 2.

93. New Long-range Rocket Engine Tests at North Korean Launch Facility: Development Continues, by Nick Hansen, http://38north.org posted July 10, 2013, pp. 1-5.GREENWICH  With a pillow case of belongings slung over his shoulder, little Max Lanson shuffled up to the first station and handed over his immigration papers.

Youre quite a risk-taker to travel by yourself when you are 14, Whitby School teacher Diana Ljepoja told him in the stern voice of an Ellis Island immigration official. She looked the fourth-grader up and down.

Dressed in a blue blazer, red tie and blue slacks tucked into argyle socks, Max was Munio Szpirt for the day. Nearby, more than a dozen fourth-graders dressed in jackets, hats and tunics of many cultures waited for their chance to navigate Whitbys Ellis Island.

Ljepoja read over of Munios papers: a native Ukrainian, he was fleeing violence between Poland and Russia. The boy was traveling to America alone.

She made a few marks on his sheet before sending him on to the next station.

***

As Washington politicians debate border walls and DACA deals, teachers are faced with the sometimes challenging task of educating their students about the hot-button topic of immigration.

At most Greenwich schools, aspects of American immigration history are woven through the curriculum in many grades.

Elementary students, as young as kindergartners, discuss the movement of people and ideas around the globe, including the factors that might draw immigrants to a new country or force them to leave home. Both Whitby and Greenwich Country Day conduct Ellis Island simulations for their students.

Middle school students may learn to distinguish assimilation versus acculturation and the effect of these processes on individual and cultural identities. In upper grades, students discuss waves of immigration to the U.S.

Meanwhile, civics classes at Greenwich High introduce students to Democratic and Republican immigration platforms. Many classes also hold discussions of current events, some related to immigration.

The history of immigration and resistance to immigration are prominent themes in American history and other classes, said Kristen Erickson, Greenwich Academy history department chair. A lot of the issues we study historically are still present, are still being resolved.

And though immigration priorities and rhetoric have shifted from one presidential administration to the next, educators must teach the topic while keeping their own political views out of the classroom.

I want to be very mindful about all of the political parties in the room, said Whitby School sixth grade teacher Lindsay Sudeikis. That is something I have really checked myself on even more so since 2016.

Chris Hughes, a Stanwich School seventh grade history and AP Government teacher, said students often try to guess his political stances as he teaches.

Its a challenge, he said. I give them a variety of perspectives and let them make up their own minds.

***

Fourteen and youve never worked? Alexis Ryan, Whitby school librarian and former fourth grade teacher, asked as she interogated Munio Szpirt.

Calls of Lice! Lice! echoed from another part of the room, but Munio stayed focused. He shook his newsboy-capped head and explained that he was a scholar with a Hebrew education.

Moving from station to station, he was questioned about his skills, his references, his religion and his motivation for coming to America.

Have you ever been to jail? one teacher/immigration official pressed. Have you ever been married or divorced?

Munio shook his head furiously. So he progressed.

Next was a health inspection by an efficient doctor (teacher) in scrubs. She listened to Munios lungs, tested his eyes and checked his arms for rashes. She made the small boy pick up and hold large yellow kettle weights to measure his strength. Then she sent him along.

At the last station between Munio and citizenship, a final teacher made Munio repeat his story about leaving Ukraine before lobbing her own questions.

Youre not a communist are you, sir?

No, Munio responded.

Youre not an anarchist are you?

No, again.

She puzzled for a moment before making her decision. Munio was in. But new name was in order, something more American.

Milton Szpirt, she pronounced.

***

Many Greenwich history teachers are seizing two strategies in their lessons to help students comprehend Americas complicated, contentious relationship with immigration: debunking myths and personal connections.

Each year at the beginning of the unit on immigration, Whitbys sixth grade individuals and societies teacher Sudeikis covers the walls of her classroom with 10 pieces of large white chart paper. On each she scrawls a myth about immigration, such as most immigrants are here illegally, undocumented immigrants dont pay taxes and burden the U.S. economy, and refugees are not screened before entering the U.S.

Then Sudeikis and her students use statistics to discuss why is the myth untrue, who benefits from it and how it originated. They keep the myths up around the room as they dive into various historical aspects of immigration such as indentured servitude or Chinese exclusion.

Its very powerful and very inspiring how they refer back to it, she said.

Stanwichs Hughes attacks some of these same myths. In his courses, they talk about the number of immigrants coming to U.S. and where they are coming from, the number of jobs they create and the rate of crime among immigrants.

I think adults would benefit from that, too, he said. When they see the numbers, they get a better sense of the big picture.

The best conversations about immigration come as students connect to their own families stories, several teachers said.

From 1990 to 2014, the number of foreign-born people living in Fairfield County increased by 90,300, or 89 percent, and reflected a recent uptick in immigration nationwide, according to a 2016 Fairfield County community well-being index. By 2014, a fifth of the county-wide population, or 191,300 individuals, were immigrants.

In total, 43 percent of immigrants living in Fairfield County are naturalized U.S. citizens. Of the countys 109,300 non-citizen residents, more than half are legal U.S. residents, while an estimated 47,400 are undocumented immigrants.

Greenwichs strong representation of international families enhances discussions of and activities around immigration, many teachers said.

Our students understanding from their lived experience being an immigrant makes the unit that much more fabulous, Sudeikis said.

At Greenwich Academy, students covered a world map with color dots representing where their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents came from. The result was a mosaic of heritage.

You go back one or two generations and people are from all over the place, said Erickson.

***

After five stations of questioning, poking and prodding  not to mention a name change, Milton Szpirt lugged his pillowcase to a last table where an American flag was hanging.

He put his right hand over his heart to repeat the loyalty oath.

I hearby declare on faith that I absolutely and fully renounce all allegiance to any foreign states to whom Ive been subject, he said. I also absolutely and entirely renounce all allegiance to any state or country in which Ive been a citizen. I will, with all my power and might, support and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic.

Then, the boy signed his new name and walked over to the seats where clusters of other new Americans  or rather his classmates -- sat.

Milton Szpirt, Maxs persona for the day, was in fact his great-grandfather. Maxs father told his son the stories that allowed the boy to re-create Miltons immigrant experience in the school exercise.

Max enthusiastically rattled off facts about Miltons real journey to the U.S., including how he bribed border patrols with money sewn into his clothes in order to escape Ukraine. He actually passed through Ellis Island, Max said.

I dont remember him because he died when I was 3, said Max. But I have pictures with him.George P. Bush, seeking a second term as state land commissioner, touts his time in the Navy in a voter mailer brought to our attention by his predecessor.

"Did you know there are 1.7 million veterans in Texas alone?" Bushs mailer opens. His message continues: "Retired U.S. Navy officer George P. Bush is committed to protecting our veterans who have served this great nation."

Hold on. Did Bush, who turns 42 in April 2018, retire from the Navy? Jerry Patterson, the former land commissioner challenging Bush in this years Republican primary, questioned that after telling us hed received Bushs mailer at his home after hearing about it from other veterans.

Patterson asserted by phone: "It takes 20 years to retire from the armed forces." He himself, Patterson said, retired from the Marines as a lieutenant colonel after more than 20 years of service. "If this mailing goes out to military veterans, essentially hes saying I know what you went through, I served for 20 years--and thats not true," Patterson said.

We decided to check the facts.

For starters, Bush was a Navy Reserve officer.

By email, Navy spokeswoman Katie Suich gave us a document confirming that George Prescott Bush was commissioned as a Navy Reserve officer on May 21, 2007, and left the Navy Reserve as a lieutenant on May 9, 2017.

Bush's biographical entry on his campaign website says Bush served in "Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan as an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve." In a 2011 article for USA Today, Bush wrote: "Earlier this year, I returned to Texas from Afghanistan, where I was deployed as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve." Bush noted then that hed been inspired to enlist in his thirties after a ceremony honoring his grandfather, President George H.W. Bush, who served during World War II.

Bush campaign spokesman, Lee Spieckerman, told us that Bush was honorably discharged from the Navy in 2017, "having achieved the rank of Lieutenant." Spieckerman also passed along documents and photos including a May 15, 2007, letter congratulating Bush on his selection as an intelligence officer and a certificate showing Bush was honorably discharged as a lieutenant on May 9, 2017.

Another provided document, dated Feb. 4, 2011, discharges Bush from active duty. The form says Bush served one year, four months and 15 days on active duty from June 8, 2010, through Feb. 4, 2011, following on 26 days of active duty before that. (Spieckerman showed in another document that Bush was assigned to Afghanistan from August 2010 to January 2011.) The discharge form credits Bush with previously racking up two years, 11 months and five days of inactive duty.

Navy confirmation of service dates, retirement requirements

We also reached out to the Navy which says on a web page: "If you decide to pursue your Navy career for at least 20 years, youll qualify for generous retirement pay  and even more if you serve longer." Another Navy web page says that by serving in the Navy Reserve, a person earns "points toward retirement benefits every time you drill."

Suich also pointed out a Defense Finance and Accounting Service web page listing types of military retirement, most of them requiring 15 or 20 years of service. According to the page, reservists can retire at age 60 with 20 years of active service.

For our part, we spotted a Defense Department website devoted to military compensation including this statement: "Service members who remain on active duty or serve in the Reserves or Guard for a sufficient period of time (usually a minimum of 20 years) may retire and receive retired pay. Members who become disabled while on duty may be medically retired and receive a disability retirement."

Spieckerman says 'retired' used in colloquial sense

We asked Bushs campaign if hes indeed a retired officer given the general requirement that a retiree serve 20 years and be age 60.

By email, Spieckerman replied that Bush "was honorably discharged but is not technically retired under Department of Defense regulations. I think that the campaign used the term retired in campaign materials in the civilian, colloquial sense," meaning, Spieckerman wrote, that Bush "is no longer active in the military. There was no intent to imply that he was receiving retirement pay and benefits, etc."

Our ruling

In a voter mailer, Bush says hes a "retired U.S. Navy officer."

Bush served nearly a decade as an officer in the Navy Reserve. But that doesnt make him a retired officer, we find. At minimum, Bush would need to have served longer to call himself that.

We rate this self-description False.

FALSE  The statement is not accurate. Click here for more on the six PolitiFact ratings and how we select facts to check.

See Figure 1 on PolitiFact.comLooks like the Pixel 2 February update has brought along some major issues. A lot of users, both at Reddit as well as Google's own forums, are complaining about their units getting warm (even with normal usage) and battery draining comparatively faster.

If you take a detailed look at these online communities, there are some users who say they aren't facing any such issues, but their number is pretty small compared to those who are complaining.

And many have confirmed these issues while the device is in safe mode, so the possibility of third-party apps being culprit is clearly ruled out. Google is yet to officially offer a word on the matter.

If you have also been facing similar issues after the latest patch, do let us know in comments below.

Source 1 2 3 | Via



Haiti - Education : Cuba pledges to strengthen cooperation in higher education





Thursday, on the sidelines of the XIth Annual Congress on Higher Education on the theme "University, Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development" held in Havana (Cuba) which ends this Friday, February 16, Pierre Josue Agenor Cadet, the Minister of National Education of Haiti and Jose Ramon Saborido Loidi, Cuban Minister of Higher Education after a bilateral meeting at the Palace of Conventions, pledged to strengthen relations between the two countries in the field of higher education.



Minister Cadet welcomed and thanked, on behalf of the Government of Haiti, Cuba's strong contribution to Haiti in the field of education, particularly with the many scholarships offered to Haitian students.



Minister Cadet gave an update to his interlocutor on ongoing efforts in the field of higher education including initiatives undertaken to initiate a major reform in this field in Haiti. He announced the forthcoming Assises on Higher Education and Scientific Research in Haiti with the support of several foreign partner universities and academic agencies to find the best strategies to modernize practices and university management in Haiti while encouraging scientific research.



Minister Jose Ramon Saborido Loidi confirmed his full support for ongoing efforts in Haiti and the availability of his Ministry to support inter-university cooperation and research in Haiti.



Minister Cadet thanked his Cuban counterpart for his support and the widening of cooperation between Haitian and Cuban academics, particularly between regional public universities and Cuban universities.



A protocol of cooperation could be signed soon between the two countries to clarify the terms of the cooperation framework at the level of higher education.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23561-haiti-education-minister-cadet-calls-for-an-expansion-of-cuban-cooperation.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23550-haiti-politic-prospects-for-cooperation-between-haiti-and-the-united-arab-emirates.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23541-icihaiti-education-minister-cadet-in-cuba.html



HL/ HaitiLibre





















Haiti - Social : The Haitians make the wealth of counterfeiters in the Dominican Republic





During several migratory regularity checks carried out on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, the agents of the Directorate General of Migration (DGM) seized on Haitians in irregular migratory situation, 178 falsified documents and real documents (belonging to another person, identity theft). All the bearers of these documents were taken to the border to be deported to Haiti.



Lieutenant General Maximo William Munoz Delgado of the DGM said that the documents (138 cards of the National Plan of Regularization of Foreigners (PNRE), 34 Haitian passports, 4 identity cards, 1 Haitian identity card and 1 student card) xplained that the false cards of the National Plan for the Regularization of Foreigners (PNRE) were detected in using digital fingerprint readers and consulting the PNRE biometrics database.



Let's recall that hundreds of thousands of our compatriots in an irregular migratory situation on the Dominican territory, who risk expulsion at any time, are easy prey for the networks of counterfeiters of both Dominican and Haitian thugs, who enrich themselves by selling at a high price, fake PNRE cards or Dominican cedulas to our reckless compatriots who naively believe that they can use this device to foil a biometric verification.



A report from the DGM indicates that during the previous weeks, 3,807 documents altered or false were seized during migration control operations conducted in Dajabon, the National District, Elias Pina, Greater Santo Domingo and Santiago https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20762-haiti-dr-seizure-of-more-than-2-200-false-documents-in-the-hands-of-haitians.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23522-haiti-flash-more-than-250-haitians-arrested-in-santiago-dozens-of-false-documents-seized.html



Remember that these falsified cards (photo) that use the name of a Haitian regularly registered with the PNRE, lead to the expulsion of the bearer but also to the exclusion of the PNRE and the expulsion of the real owner if the latter can not prove that he has lodged a complaint and declared the theft of his card.



In the case of authentic documents not falsified in the hands of a Haitian masquerading as the real owner (identity theft, playing on the physical resemblance) the cardholder is expelled to Haiti for irregular migration and identity theft.



The DGM recalls that it will redouble its vigilance and in coordination with other state security agencies, to continue to detect falsified or false documents and to locate all foreigners in an irregular migratory situation on Dominican territory in violation of provisions of Law 285-04.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23522-haiti-flash-more-than-250-haitians-arrested-in-santiago-dozens-of-false-documents-seized.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23374-haiti-dr-seizure-of-hundreds-of-falsified-pnre-cards.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22776-haiti-dr-seizure-of-141-passports.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/article-22708-haiti-pnre-fausses-cartes-plus-d-une-centaine-d-haitiens-vont-etre-expulses.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21746-haiti-flash-dismantling-in-dr-of-a-mobile-laboratory-of-false-haitian-papers.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20762-haiti-dr-seizure-of-more-than-2-200-false-documents-in-the-hands-of-haitians.html



SL/ HaitiLibre





















Haiti - News : Zapping...





PetroCaribe : A judge of instruction designated

Me Bernard St-Vil, dean of the civil court of Port-au-Prince, has appointed investigating judge Paul Pierre to conduct an investigation into the use of funds from the PetroCaribe program.



Iron Market : The merchants indignated

The merchants, victims of the fire Hyppolite Market, express their indignation at the damage caused by this disaster, valued at several million US dollars. They encourage the authorities to open an investigation into this matter while seeking the State's assistance to enable them to resume their activities. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23578-haiti-iron-market-fire-probably-accidental-according-to-the-president-of-digicel.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23556-haiti-flash-the-iron-market-ravaged-by-a-fire.html



Electricity arrives in Chambon

Thursday, the Town Council of Petion-ville, the local authorities and representatives of the Minister of the Interior and Territorial Communities (MICT) have proceeded to the inauguration of the power line that now supplies Chambon (Fort-Jacques). Remember that the MICT has supported the steps of the Town Hall of Petion-ville in this project.



Difficulties to register the victims of the fire

Eunide Innocent, the Minister for the Status of Women and Women's Rights, says that the authorities are having trouble identifying the victims of the fire in the Iron Market, the fault of the director of the Market who would be unreachable since the disaster. For her part, Stephanie Auguste, the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor informs that her Ministry is waiting for the list of merchants victims to be forwarded to it so that the Social Assistance Fund (CAS), the ONA and the OFATMA, three institutions under her supervision, begin to intervene with the concerned. In addition, the Port-au-Prince City Council has formed a fire damage assessment team of Iron Market.



Media : Towards the payment of royalties...

Monday, February 25, in order to enforce articles 34 and 39 of the decree of 2005 establishing the literary, artistic and scientific property, the Haitian Bureau of Copyright (BHDA) organizes a meeting with the Executive Committee of the National Association of Haitian Media (ANMH). The objective is to envisage the means for these various organs of press which use for the purpose of diffusion or others the works of the creators who are under right, to pay their annual fee to the Bureau which ensure its collective management.



Cuba : Minister Cadet

On Thursday, Pierre Josue Agenor Cadet, the Minister of National Education paid a courtesy call to the staff of the Embassy of Haiti in Cuba. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23575-haiti-education-cuba-pledges-to-strengthen-cooperation-in-higher-education.html



HL/ HaitiLibre

















Planners recommend quarter-acre lots at Sylvan Terrace project

Landowner Chuck Anderson is seeking rezoning to allow six single-family homes on Sylvan Boulevard.

Neighbors are concerned that a rezoning to allow up to six single-family homes would add traffic to the winding and narrow Sylvan Boulevard.

Related Stories



Property owner Chuck Anderson requested the rezoning from R-15 to R-10 for 1.67 acres on Sylvan Boulevard east of Orleans Avenue and north of Knollwood Drive. Anderson, a home builder, wanted the change to a higher density not to add more homes but to gain the flexibility on where the houses can be built, landscape architect Scott Bolyard told the Planning Board. The current R-15 zone requires residential lots to be at least 15,000 square feet. The requested to change to R-10 zoning would allow 10,000-square-foot lots, or a quarter acre, and smaller setbacks and buffers.

Neighbors told the Planning Board they opposed the higher density because it would add traffic on Sylvan, which is already used as cut-through from N.C. 191 to Justice Street for motorists driving to and from the Pardee Hospital area, and result in clear-cutting of the woods. Surrounding property is zoned R-15 and includes single-family dwellings and vacant property, much of it wooded. Andersons company, CLA Builders Inc., bought the property in October for $160,000, land records show. Its valued on the tax rolls at $76,100.

City Planner Matt Champion said the rezoning would not change the maximum density of six units.

Bolyard said a small development close to Pardee and other workplaces is an opportunity for lower-cost housing.

With the (R-10) zoning, it does allow us to get our construction a little more affordable and able to keep our price point lower, he said. Its a nice piece of property, it has a good location.

Susan Frady, director of the city Department of Development Assistance, said the developer would be required to cut roads on the steep grade that allow a fire truck to make corners and get in and out. The R-10 zoning enables the builder to cluster the houses closer together near the road on the high side of the property.

Its really a lot more about the setbacks than it is density, Frady said.

The Planning Board voted 4-2 to recommend that the City Council OK the rezoning. Voting yes were John Coker, Robert Hogan, Ray Mundy and Aaron Black. Jon Blatt and Ben Pace voted no.

The rezoning request goes to the City Council on March 1.Tanaiste Simon Coveney with James Wall at the Cabinet meeting and launch of Project Ireland 2040 at IT Sligo.

Dublin is to benefit from billions of euro in investment as part of a massive 20-year project to develop transport links, hospitals, infrastructure and services.

The Government's new 116bn National Development Plan promised Dublin four new Luas lines and boosted Dart and bus services, the regeneration of large parts of the city and new housing projects.

It highlighted key challenges, including addressing affordability and urban amenities within the city.

Urban growth means Dublin is expected to expand substantially by 2040.

The document, launched after a special Cabinet meeting in Sligo yesterday, predicts the capital's population will increase by up to 293,000 in the next 22 years.

It warned Dublin needs to become greener and a more environmentally sustainable city in line with international competitors.

Plans include regenerating and developing underused lands within the canals and M50, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar saying "Dublin needs to grow up, not out".

It comes as part of a 2bn urban regeneration fund which is being allocated for the country's five main cities.

The capital will benefit from spending on transport initiatives, hospitals, schools and new water schemes, the creation of new public spaces and the introduction of environmental initiatives.

Sites

Four new Luas lines developed over the next decade will serve Bray, Finglas, Lucan and Poolbeg. New park and ride sites will be built on the outskirts of the city.

Around 1bn is set aside for the Bus Connects project, while the Metro is to finally get the green light.

It will bring passengers from the city centre to Dublin Airport and on to Swords and stretch south of the city, linking up with Dart and Luas services.

The plan included the new children's hospital and the new maternity hospital at the St Vincent's site.

It also committed to the completion of a second runway at Dublin Airport.

In the region of 14bn has been set aside for health spending. This included initiatives aimed specifically at resolving the trolley and waiting list problems.

Plans are also in place for the construction of 500,000 new homes nationwide by 2040.

Mr Varadkar admitted many of the individual schemes flagged in the document were already in the public domain but said now was the time to make them a reality.

"Metro North was postponed because it had to be, by me as Transport Minister, because of the fact we were in a financial crisis.

"We're now out of that financial crisis and in a position to invest again. That allows us to turn back on projects that had been stalled, including Metro," he said.

Asked by the Herald how the Government intends to proceed with a multi-billion investment plan at the same time as the country is experiencing a shortage of construction workers, Mr Varadkar pointed towards migration.

He said the post-crash lack of trades people is "a potential constraint on the ability to build new houses or the ability to invest in new infrastructure".

"One of the ways that we were able to expand our construction [workforce] so successfully back in the day when we were building 80,000 houses a year was through migration - having construction workers come in from other countries.

"We're going to need that. One of the few upsides of Brexit might be the fact that construction workers who are now welcome in the UK mightn't be able to get in there in a few years' time. That makes us more attractive," he said.

The Peter McVerry Trust has broadly welcomed the Government's plans to build more than half a million new homes by 2040.

Impact

"This plan provides a long-term vision to invest in housing and other critical areas such as education which ultimately will have a positive impact on efforts to tackle homelessness. It's important that within the 550,000 homes to be provided that the appropriate amount of social and affordable homes be provided," Pat Doyle, the homeless charity's chief executive, said.

Dublin Chamber of Commerce chief executive, Mary Rose Burke, said the plan has the potential to "transform" Ireland while ensuring the country grows in a "structured and sustainable way".

"Dublin's public transport network is currently creaking at the seams," she said.

"The delivery of new Luas lines to places like Bray, Finglas, Poolbeg and Lucan, together with improvements to the bus network, will ensure that Dublin's public transport network rivals that of the best cities in the world.

"If we're serious about getting people out of cars and using public transport, we need to ensure that the public transport offering is compelling.

"In Dublin today, too many people remain cut off from good public transport."

Dublin North-West TD Noel Rock said confirmation of the new Finglas line is "big news for the area".

He added: We now have a commitment to get it started in nine years at the latest.

"I have received a commitment that it will be the first of the Luas extensions to commence."A woman who accused Irish rugby international Paddy Jackson of rape was "fixated" with him, his friend said.

The alleged victim was staring at him and followed five minutes after he disappeared to his bedroom after a Belfast house party, a statement from Rory Harrison said.

Jackson (26), from Oakleigh Park in Belfast, denies raping the woman in June 2016.

He also denies a further charge of sexual assault.

Mr Harrison's statement said the alleged victim "appeared to be staring at and fixated with Paddy".

He said she "did not appear to take her eyes off Paddy".

Exposure

His statement to a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) detective was read out during a trial at Belfast Crown Court.

Stuart Olding (24), from Ardenlee Street in Belfast, also denies raping the same woman on the night in question.

Two others have been charged in connection with the same alleged incident.

Blane McIlroy (26), from Royal Lodge Road, Ballydollaghan, Belfast, denies exposure.

Mr Harrison (25), from Manse Road in Belfast, denies perverting the course of justice and withholding information.

Mr Harrison's statement said he did not notice anything out of the ordinary about the alleged victim. He told police he saw the woman standing outside a bedroom at Jackson's house in Belfast but was not sure what she was wearing.

They had been having a party downstairs and Mr Harrison said she had disappeared upstairs five minutes after Mr Jackson went up.

Mr Harrison's statement said he went upstairs to say goodbye to Mr Jackson and Mr Olding and saw the alleged victim standing outside a bedroom.

Mr Harrison told police: "I did not notice anything out of the ordinary."

He said Mr Jackson was lying on his bed half awake and said he would see him later.

He said Mr Olding was with a female, both were asleep and lying on a sofa fully clothed.

Mr Harrison was in the living room when the alleged victim came in.

He took her home in a taxi, they sat in the back seat and there was no real conversation.

His statement said: "She kept crying into herself and appeared to be unsettled."

He said he did not notice anything peculiar about her appearance.

"I gave her a hug and got back into the taxi. I then went to bed."

He said he, McIlroy, Olding and Jackson met up the following day at the Soul Food eatery in Belfast but just talked about the South Africa rugby tour which Jackson had recently returned from, rather than what happened the previous night.

Previous hearings of the court case have been told alleged details of WhatsApp messenger conversations about the night in question.

Briefing

Yesterday, the court was also told that a detective who was involved in the investigation was not made aware at an initial briefing that a woman, Dara Florence, walked into the bedroom when the alleged rape happened.

Earlier hearings have been told she thought a threesome was taking place.

Another detective said he was asked to quiz Ms Florence for a second time after she alleged she heard noises, characterised by a barrister as moaning.

The trial continues.The mother of a Dublin teenager who was caught up in Wednesday's horrific school shooting in which 17 people were killed has said she begged her daughter to "just keep running" during the attack.

Speaking yesterday, Olga Hurley said that it was a "blessing" that her daughter Adelina (16) survived the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday.

Olga lived in Ireland for 18 years before she moved from Clontarf, Dublin, to the US six months ago with her husband and their two children.

Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTE Radio One yesterday, Olga, who is originally from Russia, said that it was only when she went to collect Adelina from school at around 2.30pm on Wednesday that she saw more than 100 police cars approaching the building from all directions and knew that something was seriously wrong.

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Adelina said: "It was about 10 minutes before we were going to be dismissed to go home, the fire drill went off and everyone assumed it was just a normal fire drill.

"Then the teachers started to look worried, there were helicopters flying overhead and we saw stuff on the internet about a shooting.

"It was really scary because you were running and everyone was running, screaming and some people were crying. People were like climbing the fence just to get out as fast as they could.

"The teacher told our group to run along a secret route to the mall."

Olga was desperately trying to call and text her daughter to see if she was safe and she said she was relieved when she finally heard from Adelina.

Shooter

Expand Close Joe Zevuloni mourns in front of a cross placed in a park to commemorate the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Florida. Photo: Reuters / Facebook

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Whatsapp Joe Zevuloni mourns in front of a cross placed in a park to commemorate the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Florida. Photo: Reuters

"Eventually she saw my texts and calls and she called and said, 'Mum, I'm running'," Olga said. "I asked her where she was going to but she didn't know, she said she was just running. Once I heard her voice, I knew she would be OK because she was with a lot of people.

"At the same time I heard on the news that the shooter hadn't been caught.

"There was panic, I didn't know what to think. I just kept telling her 'Keep running, keep running and don't be alone'," she said.

"I was so relieved to see my beautiful child in front of me. It's a gift. Honestly, it's a blessing."

Adelina said being on the phone to her mum made her feel better.

The family said that they received confirmation overnight on Thursday that one of Adelina's classmates was among the victims of the massacre at the school.

Adelina added that going back to school "will bring back emotions from it but I think everyone will overcome it. It will be OK".

Former pupil Nikolas Cruz (19) has since been charged with murdering 17 people at his former school in Parkland, an affluent suburb north of Miami, Florida.

It has since emerged that he was trained to shoot by white supremacist group Republic of Florida, who said that he "acted on his own behalf".

Cruz passed a background check to buy the AR-15 rifle and ammunition, despite previously being treated at a mental health facility.

This is the 18th school shooting in the US so far this year and President Donald Trump has vowed to "tackle the difficult issue of mental health".The country's first supervised "shooting gallery" injecting centre for drug addicts will be located on Merchant's Quay in Dublin.

The Merchant's Quay Project has been chosen to run the facility, where addicts will be allowed to legally shoot up drugs.

"It will be located on our existing premises," Tony Geoghegan, CEO of Merchant's Quay Ireland, said.

"It means the drug users will have easy access to treatment facilities if they want to avail of them."

The HSE said the contract was awarded, subject to planning approval.

"I very much welcome this announcement of the location for the first medically supervised injecting facility at the Merchant's Quay Project following a robust procurement process," Dr Eamon Keenan, national clinical lead of the HSE addiction services said.

"This is a significant public health development in Ireland allowing a marginalised group of society, injecting drug users who may be homeless, to access a harm reduction service that will improve their health, access them into a range of medical and social services and contribute towards a reduction in drug-related deaths."

Drugs Minister Catherine Byrne said the pilot facility seeks to "bring vulnerable people into a safe and clean supervised setting while also helping to reduce drug litter and open injecting in our communities".

Dublin City Council has ruled the centre cannot go ahead without planning permission.

Application

The Temple Bar Company had sought a declaration from the council that such centres would require planning permission.

It was originally earmarked to open the end of last year but a planning application has yet to be made and it is likely to be appealed to An Bord Pleanala.

The HSE said a key element in the success of the pilot will be a demonstration of consultation and ongoing engagement with local stakeholders from the surrounding area.

Merchant's Quay Ireland will be required to have in place a specific plan in this regard and will be required to employ a community liaison worker to engage local businesses, communities and residents in a meaningful manner.

An external evaluation of the pilot phase will be carried out by an independent agent engaged by the HSE. Specific structures will be put in place to ensure comprehensive operational, clinical and supervisory governance arrangements.

These will include a monitoring committee comprising key stakeholders to oversee the facility chaired by Dr Keenan, on behalf of the HSE.

This will be a clinical governance committee that will provide appropriate clinical intervention to users.Judge OConnor said Olivares, who is a Mexican national, was being given credit for her co-operation with gardai and her early guilty plea. (stock photo)

A woman who "glassed" a man in a late-night row over jackets has avoided a jail sentence.

Ingrid Olivares (28) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Mr Padraig Hennessy at Flannery's pub, Camden Street, Dublin, on April 29, 2017.

Garda Keith Largan told a prosecuting barrister that Olivares admitted she had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol at the pub.

He said she became irate when she witnessed a verbal row between her boyfriend and another man who had been sitting at the bar.

Each man believed that a jacket left on a pub stool belonged to him.

As the verbal altercation continued, Olivares, of Collinswood Avenue, Whitehall, Dublin, threw a glass containing alcohol at Mr Hennessy, causing him an injury that required nine stitches and has left him with a permanent scar.

Sentencing the defendant, who is studying for a masters in marketing at DIT, Judge Karen O'Connor said Mr Hennessy was very fair to Olivares, saying in his victim impact statement that the scar "doesn't affect him too much".

The court heard the victim wears reading glasses to cover the scar, and avoids places where confrontational situations may arise.

Judge O'Connor said Olivares, who is a Mexican national, was being given credit for her co-operation with gardai, her full admissions and her early guilty plea.

She said that she also noted the defendant had no previous convictions, and had provided several letters wherein she was described as a law-abiding woman and a good person.

Agressive

Judge O'Connor also referred to a letter of apology written by Olivares, in which she said the assault was out of character and asked for forgiveness, saying she had never been in trouble before. She said Olivares had behaved in a completely and utterly aggressive manner when she chose to use a glass as a weapon.

Judge O'Connor said a two-year sentence was appropriate in this case, but that a very positive probation report indicated that community service was of more benefit to society.

She ordered that Olivares complete 200 hours of community service within a 12-month period.Demolition began Tuesday at the former Antietam Village trailer park

Funkstown officials seeking eviction of trailer-park residents, some of whom haven't paid rent in over a year.For years, Mohinder Surdhar was just another physiotherapist practising in Birmingham; the Dr prefixing his name lent him credibility. But until recently, few were aware of his double life as a key link in the sale of illegal arms and ammunition to the United Kingdoms criminal underworld. Surdhar was the salesman to one Paul Edmunds, who had a gun factory in Gloucester. Edmunds sourced, purchased, imported and supplied Surdhar prohibited guns and ammunition for onward sale. The arms they sold were linked to more than 100 crimes across the country, including the 2011 Birmingham riots. After a complex investigation, Surdhar got 14 years in jail in January, while Edmunds was put away for 30 years, making them an unlikely duo in the annals of the UKs gun culture, which remains at a far lower level than that in the United States.

There are reasons why instances such as this weeks Florida school shootings are less likely in the UK and Europe. As a society with a culture of rule of law, arms are widely frowned upon and there is tight legal and executive control over the sale and purchase of arms and ammunition. This creates demand in criminal networks for illegal arms that Surdhar and Edmunds exploited for money. Laws restricting possession of arms have been in place in Britain since the assassination of William of Orange in 1584 with a concealed wheel lock pistol, when Queen Elizabeth I, fearing assassination by Roman Catholics, banned possession of such pistols near a royal palace. Over centuries and decades, new laws have made possession of arms ever more restrictive, resulting in the UK having one of the lowest records of gun-related crime in the world (the laws are less restrictive in Northern Ireland).

The gun laws are so restrictive that during the 2012 Olympics in London, the government had to make a special allowance for foreign participants so that they could practise for shooting events. There is growing concern over knife and acid-related crime, but latest Home Office figures show that firearms offences make up a small proportion of overall recorded crime: they decreased by 34% over the last decade. Mass shootings remain unlikely, but they are not unknown in the UK. There have been three mass shootings since 1980: in Hungerford in 1987; in a school in Dunblane in 1996; and the Cumbria shootings of 2010.

If guns are difficult for citizens to legally acquire, they are also less visible on the police, who are not routinely armed. Deploying armed police remains unusual and a matter of controversy, mainly due to the Peelian model of policing the community by respect and consent rather than at the point of a gun. The unique model includes nine principles first issued in 1829 when Robert Peel was the home secretary. It views police officers as citizens in uniform  they exercise their powers to police their fellow citizens with their implicit consent.

The nine principles include the idea to seek and preserve public favour, not by pandering to public opinion; but by constantly demonstrating absolutely impartial service to law, in complete independence of policy, and without regard to the justice or injustice of the substance of individual laws, by ready offering of individual service and friendship to all members of the public without regard to their wealth or social standing, by ready exercise of courtesy and friendly good humour; and by ready offering of individual sacrifice in protecting and preserving life.

The ease of acquisition and possession of arms in the United States is no doubt a key factor in mass shootings, but in the UK, tight legal control alone does not explain why such massacres are unlikely, even if not impossible. The core values of a society are equally responsible. To visitors, it is something of a surprise to see policemen, even some with formidable-looking firearms, smiling and having relaxed conversations with tourists and onlookers outside the entrance to 10, Downing Street, often addressing them as Sir. The success of this police-public relationship is seen in everyday life, in the easy, friendly and sometimes humorous interaction between the two, including in the aftermath of the terror attacks across the UK in 2017.

prasun.sonwalkar@hindustantimes.comLondons Tate Britain has announced an exhibition exploring how a formative period in Britain inspired Vincent van Gogh. The gallery says the show, due to open next year, will focus on the Dutch artists crucial but obscure years in the UK.

Van Gogh lived in London between 1873 and 1876 as a trainee art dealer. He later moved to France, and died in 1890 after shooting himself. Tate Britain director Alex Farquharson said on Friday that the exhibition is a chance to reveal the impact Britain had on van Gogh as well as the enormous influence he had on British artists.

It will contain more than 40 works, including Starry Night Over The Rhone and Sunflowers. Van Gogh and Britain will run from March 27, 2019, to August 11, 2019.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for moreSyrian child refugees in Lebanon are using hand-written letters and drawings to bridge the vast gap between their experiences and the lives of other children in New York.

The 1,000 Letter Project allows the young refugees to share their hopes and dreams. So far about 700 letters have been exchanged between the refugees and children in Hudson, New York, since the project started several months ago.

I release my pain when I write these letters, said Nijmeh Almawla, a 14-year-old Syrian refugee living in an informal settlement south of Lebanons capital, Beirut.

Somebody is listening to me, and finally someone is hearing me, she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army fighter stands on rubble in Northern Afrin countryside, Syria. (REUTERS)

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) says nearly 1 million Syrians are registered as refugees in Lebanon, and account for about a quarter of its population. More than one in four Syrian refugees in Lebanon are children.

The project is a joint effort between Help Syrias Kids, a U.S. charity that assists young Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and Imagine Workshop and Concert Series (IWCS), a Lebanese art and outreach programme.

The goal is to exchange 1,000 letters by the end of 2018. Danette Gorman, the founder of Help Syrias Kids, which is based in Hudson, said the idea was to create unity between children and help them understand how the other lives.

The letters and drawings were exhibited on Thursday at the Lebanese American University in Beirut, where some of the Syrian children performed a song as part of a larger IWCS concert.

I want to learn to speak your language, one of the letters that came from New York read.

Another said: I hope you get the things that you need like a lot of food.

It shows that people care, said IWCS director Seba Ali.

It gives them self-esteem and tells them that they are a very, very important part in our society and that they matter.

Among the letters were drawings, one of which - drawn by a Syrian child - was of a broken heart with a knife through it.

Seeing is different from hearing. And when they read how we are living it will affect them ... they dont know how bad our living conditions are, said 12-year-old refugee Baraaa Anter.

I am every happy because I am talking to them, she added with a beaming smile. And I hope one day I can see them and they can see me.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for moreAre you a ledhead or a deadhead? The British band has rocked hard and lived large, and will release an illustrated book this year as part of their golden anniversary celebrations. But how much do you know them?

1. Plant, Page, Jones and Bonhams 50-year old band didnt start out as Led Zeppelin. What were they first called?

Cream

Steampacket

New Yardbirds

Cactus

2. The band used an electronic instrument that created music without physical contact by the performer. What is it called?

Electric ribbon

Rebaba

Ratchet

Theremin

3. How many Grammy awards has the band won in 50 years?

Four

Twelve

Eighteen

Six

4. Led Zeppelin received a lot of criticism in their early years. Which of these unkind epithets did a reviewer at Rolling Stone suggest as the bands new name?

Dread Zeppelin

Limp Blimp

Lead Heads

Zeppelin Off

5. All I see turns to brown/ As the sun burns the ground/ And my eyes fill with sand/ As I scan this wasted land/ Try to find, try to find the way I feel. These are lyrics from which Zeppelin hit?

The Song Remains The Same

Kashmir

Custard Pie

The Immigrant Song

6. What connects the band to the hexagonal basalt columns that form the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland?

Stairway To Heaven was written there

The columns have mystical connections, which inspired their later work

Its where the album cover for Houses Of The Holy was shot

They were going to play a concert there before one member passed away

7. Led Zeppelin were the first band to have their own plane. It had a fake fireplace, waterbed, built-in organ and a brass-trimmed bar. What was the plane called?

Great Gig In The Sky

Mile High Club

Seatbeltless

Starship

8. Which of these is not a Led Zeppelin album?

Presence

Led Zeppelin II

Physical Graffiti

All That You Cant Remember

9. What kind of guitar is most associated with Jimmy Page?

Ibanez electric

Gibson double-neck

Fender Stratocaster

Rickenbacker 360

10. Which of these bands claims to have taken inspiration from Led Zeppelin?

The White Stripes

Queens Of The Stone Age

Megadeth

Tool

Velvet revolver

Radiohead

All of them

Answers:

1. New Yardbirds

2. Theremin

3. Four

4. Limp Blimp

5. Kashmir

6. Its where the album cover for Houses of the Holy was shot

7. Starship

8. All That You Cant Remember

9. Gibson double-neck

10. All of themHow hard do you rock? Led Zeppelin, the London band that started coming together in 1968 and eventually comprised John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, rocked harder than most. They released nine studio albums and a string of noisy hits. Theyve sold 300 million albums. Theyre considered one of rock musics most risk-taking, influential and successful outfits. They defined the genres look and sound in ways so enduring theyre part of the canon.

THE GREATEST HITS Good Times Bad Times Babe Im Gonna Leave You Dazed and Confused Communication Breakdown Whole Lotta Love Immigrant Song Since Ive Been Loving You Black Dog Rock and Roll Stairway to Heaven

Golden anniversary celebrations include an illustrated book, which the band will release this year. Born too late? Turn up the volume and catch up here.

The origin story

To be fair, 1968 had plenty of loud rock. The supergroup Cream, The Who and Jimi Hendrix were audible enough. But The Yardbirds were a few decibels higher. The band was already playing their last gigs when The Yardbirds guitarist Jimmy Page began planning a new band with musicians Jeff Beck, Keith Moon, and John Entwistle.

Moon didnt care for the idea  he thought it would probably go over like a lead balloon. Entwistle added that it might be as successful as a lead zeppelin.

The band played briefly as the New Yardbirds, touring Scandinavia in October 1968 and returning to record an album. But by the next year, they were performing as Led Zeppelin, taking the name from ironic to iconic.

The Danish company that made zeppelins was not amused. Eva von Zeppelin, the founders granddaughter, threatened legal action if Led Zeppelin (a band that sounds like shrieking monkeys, she said) performed in Denmark. They played there as The Nobs in 1970.

The albums

Led Zep started off almost indie. Page funded their first self-titled album, to keep record labels from interfering. Their next, the bluesy Led Zeppelin II, came together as the band toured the US over six months, towing their master tapes along in a trunk.

Houses of the Holy with its surreal album cover is Led Zeppelins fifth album. It was a first in the albums to comprise only original material and was released in 1973 by the Atlantic Records.

Through the 1970s, however, things got really interesting.

Plants screaming was fortified by hazy, confounding lyrics. (Theres a lady whos sure all that glitters is gold. And shes buying a stairway to heaven. When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed, with a word she can get what she came for). Bonham brought in instruments as varied as the timpani, timbales, cowbells and congas; Jones mixed in unusual keyboards, a triple-necked guitar hybrid, and a theremin. And Page roped it all together with epic guitar riffs and groundbreaking recording techniques  distortion, feedback, reverb, even noise  to produce some of rocks most adventurous sounds.

They played around the world (travelling in a customised airplane  more on that later) refining the stadium-filling, thumping arena rock that seems inseparable from the genre today. And they produced now-classic records like Houses of the Holy, Physical Graffiti and Led Zeppelin IV (more on that later too).

The legacy

Every rocker cliche, ever: Long hair? Tight jeans and exposed chest? Shouty crescendos? Groupies? Debauchery? Long guitar riffs? If Led Zeppelin didnt invent it, they certainly popularised it. Lyrics that go, Baby, baby, baby? Plant sings Baby 271 times over nine albums.

That ONE album title: The first album is self-titled. The next ones are called II and III. SO the fourth one is IV, right? Wrong. It is a set of four symbols, each chosen by a band member. Blame Page, who used the title to get back at music critics who dismissed Led Zeppelin as hype. Producer Atlantic Records catalogues it as Four Symbols or The Fourth Album. Fans go with Led Zeppelin IV, Untitled and Runes. There have been untitled albums before and since. Prince even changed his name to a symbol. But this is the stuff of legend.

Led Zeppelins first album was a self-titled one, followed by II and III. Whole Lotta Love (1969) featured on the bands second album, Led Zeppelin II, and was also released as a single in many countries.

The otherworldly interests: Both Page and Plant were interested in mythology, folk music, the occult and Lord of the Rings. It shows up in their lyrics, album art and iconography.

The double-necked Gibson guitar: Because two guitars rock harder, baby!

Stairway to Heaven as chord practice: Sure you learned to play Eagles Hotel California on the guitar. But you practised your chords with the madrigal-like intro to Stairway, arguably the most-played rock song of all time.

Art on the record: By 1973, the Rolling Stones album cover, featuring a denim-clad crotch and a working zipper, had already been around for two years. Led Zep took the idea further for Houses of the Holy, hiring the photo design company Hipgnosis. The result: a surreal shot of nude kids climbing the basalt columns in Northern Ireland, echoing the Arthur Clarke novel Childhoods End.

The private jet: The rockers had their own Boeing 720-022, Starship, with a 30-ft bar with an attached electronic organ, a TV and video player, fur bedspreads on a king-sized waterbed and a fake fireplace. Did people get drunk and stoned? Sure. Was there oral sex during turbulence? Of course. Songwriting? Not a lot.

And of course the music: At the Mumbai LP store, The Revolver Club co-owner Jude de Souza says the bands records are among the most sold, alongside those of The Beatles and Pink Floyd. But The Beatles are like vanilla ice cream; even people who say they like Pink Floyd dont impress me as much as those who are interested in Zeppelin, he says. To borrow a quote from [American rocker, and another guitar god] Jack White, I dont trust anyone who does not like Led Zep. Contemporary music is missing high-quality rock.

The India connection

A clipping from the Telegraph newspaper, reporting Jimmy Page and Robert Plants impromptu 20-minute gig on October 16, 1972 at a grungy pub, Slip Disc in Mumbai.

They have a song called Kashmir (composed in Morocco). The band visited India three times in the early 1970s. Page and Plant dropped into Bombay after touring Japan in September 1971. In February the following year, they flew in en route to Australia, taking a taxi and filming the sights.

But October 16, 1972, is the date to remember. The band stayed at a suite at the Taj in Bombay  news reports say the room was in disarray, there was lots of beer and hordes of girls and boys seeking kisses and autographs. They also ditched the Tajs members-only club, Blow Up, for grungy Slip Disc down the road (where the shuttered Voodoo now stands) and played an impromptu 20-minute gig.

Sidharth Bhatia, founder-editor of The Wire includes the event in his 2014 book India Psychedelic, the Story of a Rocking Generation. From what I learned from tracking down the people who were there, the band was mistaken for a bunch of hippies and wasnt being allowed in, Bhatia says. But someone recognised them and took them in. They agreed to play a set after a few beers. People queued up at the payphone to tell their friends to hurry because Led Zep was going to perform. Keith Kanga from the local band Atomic Forest, who was at the venue and set to jam with them, had to rush home and get some equipment. It was quite a rocking night  what fun to have been young in the 60s and 70s! Three days later, they recorded with local musicians.

The B-side

Remember the critical dismissal that resulted in the untitled fourth album? Thats not all the hate Led Zeppellin endured. The band has lifted and charged up more bits of blues music than their contemporaries. They werent the strongest lyricists. Addictions to alcohol, heroin and the rock-star life were starting to take their toll on creativity. Towards the end, even Pages crazy guitar work stopped offering anything new.

By the late 1970s, rock itself was changing. Eddie van Halens guitar skills were taking music in new directions. There were more long-haired wild rockers competing with Plants Golden God persona. In 1980, John Bonham died of drinking too much (literally; he passed away hours after a breakfast of 16 vodka shots) and Led Zeppelin split.

The band has released new material off and on since then, notably remastered versions of their nine albums, and played a few gigs.

The other Zeppelins

Pictured above is one of the better known tribute band, Lez Zeppelin, an all-woman band based in New York City, with a cult following of their own.

Led Zeppelin hasnt gone quiet. It lives on in more than 200 lookalike, sound-alike tribute bands around the world.

The best-known ones are also the best-named ones. Take a look:

Letz Zep is one of the most popular in the UK and claim that both Plant and Page have attended and loved their gigs. Theyve played in India too.

Lez Zeppelin is an all-woman band based in New York City, with a cult following of their own. Their albums are recorded on the same vintage instruments as the original band used in the 60s and 70s to recreate the vibe.

Led Zepagain, in Los Angeles (where tribute bands seem to thrive), have been around since 1988 and have an army of young fans too.

Hats Off To Led Zeppelin, a UK band, has won tribute-band contests and claim theyre more than silly wigs and impersonations.

Zeparella, another all-woman band from the US, claims to explore their own improvised magic within the framework of Zeppelins mighty songs!

Jason Bonham: The Led Zeppelin Experience was set up by John Bonhams son, Jason, and has been paying homage through live gigs across the US since 2010.New York may already be crammed to breaking point with culture and tourist attractions, but on Friday the city added another feather to its cap: Spyscape -- a new museum giving visitors a taste of life as a secret agent. Part museum, part interactive installation, visitors can undergo a lie detector test, creep past laser beams and decode secret messages at a spanking new premises -- four years in the making -- close to Central Park.

A former British intelligence officer was recruited to help design the installation, says Spyscape chief of staff Shelby Prichard. Rooms are devoted to major periods of espionage history, such as the British cracking of the Nazi Enigma code during World War II -- and the museum displays an original model of the so-called bombe designed by Alan Turing to help do so.

It also features documents related to US double agent Robert Hanssen, who passed secrets to the Soviets from 1979 to 2001, and US-born Virginia Hall who supported the French resistance during World War II. The interactive exhibits give visitors the chance to test out their own espionage skills and pass through a series of challenges. Its also a personal journey to discover your own inner spy, said Shelby Prichard.

He said the museum offers a more contemporary perspective than the International Spy Museum in Washington, with sections on hacking and cyber warfare.Its optimized for teens and adults, but we think that smart kids are really going to enjoy it too, the chief of staff said.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for moreFilmmakers and actors often land themselves in trouble when their projects try to tackle religion or socio-political issues. Recently, a group in Hyderabad filed a complaint against internet sensation actor Priya Prakash Varriers song in the Malyalam film Oru Adaar Love for hurting religious statements. Earlier, Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmaavat, too, got into trouble with Karni Sena, forcing the makers to push the release. Actor Nimrat Kaur feels sad when artists arent given the freedom to express themselves.

I feel that in art, there is no place for politics. These kind of things (protests against films) keep happening. It makes me sad. This happened with filmmaker Karan Johar when he made My Name is Khan (2010). Then Pakistani artists were banned in India. Its just sad that these things happen and artists are not allowed the freedom to express, she says.

The 34-year-old actor says that an artist feels helpless in such situations. She is apprehensive that this can happen to anyone in the film industry. Tomorrow it could me. I could be a part of a project and someone might feel that its hurting their sentiments. And they can start protesting against me. You feel so helpless in situations like these. A lot of time, money and effort goes into the making of a film. Who would want to do that just to hurt someones sentiments? No one is making a film, or a piece of art to hurt anyone, she says.

Nimrat says that sometimes one is scared for the lives of an artist. You just hope, and pray that everything goes smoothly and no one gets affected by such events, she adds.

Interact with the author on Twitter/@sammysamarthMaxwell Pereira, who headed the team that investigated the tandoor murder case of Delhi, has told the inside story of one of Indias most sensational cases in a new book.

In The Tandoor Murder, Pereira provides insights into the way police and the legal and political systems work.

In 1995, Congress party worker Naina Sahni was shot dead by her husband Sushil Sharma, who was then Congress youth president. After killing her, he chopped her body into pieces and attempted to burn the body parts by stuffing them inside a tandoor at a Delhi restaurant. Needless to say, the discovery of the gruesome crime shocked the country.

In 1995, Naina Sahni was shot dead by her husband Sushil Sharma, who was then Congress youth president. After killing her, he chopped her body into pieces and attempted to burn the parts by putting them inside a tandoor at a Delhi restaurant.

But what exactly happened on the night of the murder? How did Sushil Sharma manage to stave off conviction for close to a decade? What were the twists and turns in the case and how did the investigation manage to stay the course?

Pereira, who was in charge of the case, provides answers to these questions and an insiders account of events as they unfolded, based on his notes and investigation reports as well as the many stories that appeared in the media.

The accused was awarded death penalty by a sessions court and the sentence was confirmed by the Delhi High Court but was commuted in 2013 to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court.

The book, which will release in March, has been published by Context, an imprint of Westland Publications

The manuscript was held back by me till the culmination of the trial and all appeals in the interest of not jeopardising the process in any manner, says Pereira. According to Westland CEO Gautam Padmanabhan, This is an unusual book that captures the realty of policing and the complexities of the judicial system in India.

Sharma had shot his wife Naina to death objecting to her alleged relationship with a male friend.

The tandoor murder case is one of the landmark cases in India in which DNA evidence and a second autopsy were used to establish the guilt of the accused.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for moreThe challenge of the hour for contemporary Indian business writers is to match promise with performance. Some reckon that a quick way to articulate promise is to use bold, even brazen, titles and subtitles just as authors Sharma and Hari have done. Competitive jostling for market space is rough enough for even true-blue conservative publishers to go with the flow.

Compromises are inevitable. A book rather than a volume has better chance of being picked by an intrigued browser when a colourful snappy cover emblazoned with savvy title catches her eye. Production shortcomings dont hinder her impulsive purchase decision. In a life of helter- skelter she doesnt notice them. Sale is registered notwithstanding undesirable features like cramming as many as 30 chapters of approximately 125,000 words into 300 pages. Page layout artwork guys did so using for typeset the obscure font Aldine 401 BT created by Moscow based designer Isabella Chaeva in 2008. Frankly, the congested print format makes for strenuous reading.

The authors probably werent consulted about the font so Ill let it pass. Their fault, though, lies in failure to write a manuscript where crap and jargon have been well and truly scrapped. Oddly, brief pedigreed endorsements dont warn potential readers that the book is full of pointless advice.

Heres a gem titled Manage Monkeys: Monkey management is about consciously or unconsciously taking ownership/commitment/accountability for something that someone else is responsible for. Consciously, and more often unconsciously, we pass on monkeys every day and create confusion when we should have been striving for quality. This confusion is one of the biggest derailers in a start-up! Develop the habit of avoiding monkeys (passing or receiving). Establish clarity on ownership and accountability.

Its plain and simple gobbledygook.

Now here comes advice on the important question, How Important Is It to Find the Right People? The reason this question is important is because most such questions tend to have an affirmative response without a deeper understanding of what it means to say, Yes its very important! It is extremely important to hire the right people for all key roles. It is easier said than done and calls for conviction that the right person in a job really makes a difference. It calls for willingness and spine to take some tough calls when the majority is in favour of hiring a candidate who you feel is a wrong choice.

Naturally, leadership issues are covered in the books 30 chapters. These questions are asked and authors answers follow. How should start-ups forge leaders? What is a good leadership framework for start-ups? Are there some universal competencies that leaders in start-ups need to demonstrate?

People in start-ups are starved for bandwidth and time. Putting them through traditional development programmes, like the way large and mature companies do, simply wont work. Therefore the fundamental design feature of a leadership model for a start-up should involve building leadership capability on the job. ... Leaders are forged through tough experiences. Leaders are shaped by other leaders. This is true in companies as much as in real life. Some situations make men out of boys or women out of girls. Life presents these situations to individuals mostly by accident, and when presented with these situations, individuals often curse their misfortune. However after going through these successfully they figure out that they are much stronger after the experience and better equipped to deal with similar situations in the future.

Read more: Review: A Biography of Innovations by R Gopalakrishnan

Theres pontification and waffle, no hands-on wisdom enriched with firsthand quotes from start-uppers who have battled from trenches to lead or fail.

The very last paragraph on page 310 is pure comedy. We do not claim this era is any different when it comes to the dynamism in the start-up ecosystem. We feel the start-up world is a different place. You would either love it or hate it. We loved it and wanted to share our experience in helping you make a success of your start-up journey. We made a lot of mistakes  we do not want anyone else to make those same mistakes. ... If there is even one lesson that an entrepreneur can relate to, and have an aha moment, we would have met our objective. We hope you enjoyed reading this book!

I refrain from answering rudely.

Sujoy Gupta is a business historian and corporate biographer.I wrote some months ago that sushi was the new Butter Chicken. Everybody loved sushi. More and more restaurants served it. And restaurateurs who were planning new multi-cuisine outlets had no choice but to include a sushi section on the menu.

While I admired the ingenuity of the Indian sushi industry, I said, it was important to remember that 95 per cent of the sushi sold in India had nothing to do with what the Japanese regarded as sushi. Yes, our sushi had something in common with the mass-produced sushi that was popular in the West, but our sushi was increasingly becoming a swadeshi dish, full of Indian-friendly ingredients and flavours.

I have been asked so many questions after that piece that I thought I would devote this weeks Rude Food to answering the most frequently asked queries.

Dont the Japanese eat sushi?

Yes, of course they do. They invented it. But the Japanese usually eat nigiri sushi  the kind of sushi that has a piece of raw fish perched on a rice pellet.The Indian sushi boom is predicated on sushi rolls which are quite different.

Are there sushi rolls in Japan?

Yes. There are. But they usually consist of a fish filling inside a roll of rice which is wrapped in seaweed. The rolls we eat here are inside-out rolls with the seaweed inside and the rice on the outside.

They were popularised (perhaps invented too) in Los Angeles in the 1960s, because a) Americans did not like the raw fish that was an integral part of nigiri sushi, b) sushi-quality raw fish was expensive and c) Americans did not like the look of seaweed.

Avocado is a common sushi ingredient outside of Japan (Shutterstock)

Is that why they are called California rolls?

Yes, it is. The classic California roll is bigger than the Japanese sushi roll. It is filled with a mixture of cooked and raw ingredients such as boiled fish or even crispy tempura. Because toro  the prized fatty belly of the tuna  is expensive, sushi restaurants in California started mixing crab with mashed avocado (an avocado is one third fat) to create a fatty, fishy filling for rolls. Now, avocado is a common sushi ingredient outside of Japan.

Are our sushi rolls like the ones invented in California?

Well, yes and no. We took our inspiration from the California format but we like more masaledar flavours than they do. So Indian sushi rolls not only feature lots of cooked ingredients but they are also masalafied: we add spicy sauces to the filling. And we like crispy crunchy textures so rolls featuring deep-fried ingredients work well. And then, of course, there are the vegetarian rolls which were invented in Delhi and Mumbai.

Is there no junk sushi in Japan?

Depends on what you call junk. You certainly wont find a paneer tempura/chilli sauce sushi roll in Japan. But you will get cheap (or at least, relatively inexpensive) sushi in many Japanese cities.

There are machines (sometimes called robots) that fashion the rice into nigiri pellets. Raw fish goes on top and the finished nigiri sushi is placed on a conveyor belt. Customers keep picking up plates of sushi as they pass them on the belt and they pay at the end. By eliminating the need to make rice pellets by hand, the machines make it possible to produce sushi at a lower cost.

The Japanese eat nigiri sushi that has a piece of raw fish on a rice pellet (Getty Images)

Is it true that most wasabi is fake?

Sadly, yes. In an upmarket place, the chef will grate fresh wasabi on a sharkskin grater and put it on your plate. This has a much subtler flavour than commercial wasabi but this flavour tends to fade quickly.

Commercial wasabi is made in factories from mustard, horse-radish and various other ingredients. It is designed to have a kick and to attack the inside of your nose. The industrial stuff is much cheaper than the real thing and the flavour does not fade.

Is great sushi really expensive in Japan?

It is more than expensive. The best sushi is nearly impossible to get. The top sushi places will rarely seat more than a dozen people. Guests will pay up to $1000 per head. (And sometimes even more.) The food will be omakase (as the chef pleases) and you wont get a seat unless they know you at the restaurant. In that sense, the top places are like private clubs with waiting lists of several months.

Why is it so expensive?

Because the Japanese, more than any other society including the French, respect the skill of the chef. At a top sushi place, the chef and perhaps one assistant will be the only people making the sushi. They can only serve a small number of people, which is why most top sushi restaurants will not seat more than a dozen people around a counter.

Fresh wasabi has a much subtler flavour than commercial wasabi (Shutterstock)

Can you order what you like?

At the top places, it is usually omakase. The chef will put one piece of sushi in front of you and you are expected to eat it immediately. Then, he will make the next nigiri. And so on. His choice of what to serve will depend on what fish he thinks is the best on that day.

How much skill does it take to just serve raw fish?

You would be surprised. Contrary to what we think, fresh fish is not always the best. Yes, some fish (prawns, for instance) taste sweetest when fresh. But others take time to reach their peak flavour. If a fish is served fresh from the sea, the muscles might be tight and the flavours may not have developed. Such fish as tuna develop flavours as they age. A great sushi chef will know when each chunk of fish is at its best. That is a skill that takes years to master.

Then, there is the slicing. A perfectly-angled knife stroke can relax the fishs muscle fibres. Poor slicing will destroy the texture. And theres the temperature. Sushi must be served at the right temperature so that the fish releases its natural oils. It takes practice to know when the temperature is perfect.

And what about the rice?

Well, that is actually the key. Great sushi is less about the fish than the rice. (But sashimi, on the other hand, is mainly about the fish.)

A great sushi chef will know how to drain out just the right amount of starch from the rice, he will know when the texture is perfect, he will usually wait after the rice is ready before serving it. (Rice may be at its best 60 minutes after cooking; but this could change depending on the ambient temperature and the age and quality of the rice.)

The nigiri rice pellet should be made with warm, loosely- packed grains so that when it hits your mouth, you can feel the taste and texture of each grain. Only an expert with years of practice will know how to do that.

While sushi is more about rice than the fish, sashimi is mainly about the fish (Shutterstock)

How does junk sushi differ from real sushi?

Well, of course, the quality of the fish is far worse. But an easy way to tell the difference is by tasting the rice pellet. If the rice is cold or tightly packed, then it is junk sushi.

Sadly, many expensive restaurants in India also serve junk nigiri at ridiculously high prices. The expat chefs, who probably do know better, are convinced that Indians cant tell the difference between junk and the real thing so they dont give a damn. And by and large, they are right. Top modern Japanese restaurants in such cities as Mumbai attract high society types who know damn-all about the food but like being seen at fashionably expensive restaurants.

At expensive places outside Japan, I usually order just one piece of nigiri, unless, of course, I have been there before and am confident of the quality. Something like 50 per cent of the time, the rice pellet is wrong so I dont order any more nigiri.

Should you dunk your sushi in soya?

At junk sushi places? Of course. That is the point of the experience. At good places? Well, you can put a little soya on the fish side of a nigiri but never on the rice. At great places? Never. The nigiri is perfect, just as the chef intended.

You can dunk sushi in soya at the junk places, but never at the great places (Shutterstock)

Should you mix wasabi in your soya sauce bowl?

If you are a barbarian or a monkey, then yes. Otherwise: no.

How should you eat your nigiri?

With your fingers. Delicate nigiri may fall apart with chopsticks. So use your hands. It is what the Japanese do. As for sushi rolls, they are all made-up junky dishes anyway. So theres no etiquette. Just do what you are comfortable with.

Where does the pickled ginger go?

It is a palate cleanser. You can eat it between courses.

Can you take small bites of a nigiri?

No. Think of a golgappa or a puchka. It is the same principle: always one bite with sushi.

From HT Brunch, February 18, 2018

Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch

Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunchIn the winter of 2013, I went to Northern Belgium following the boot marks left by Indian soldiers who had fought, bled and died there a hundred years

before I set foot on the land. Driving past the verdant countryside dotted with dreamy villages and quaint towns, it was hard to believe during World War I, Indians were fighting their way through the fields of Flanders in a war that they had nothing to do with.

The northern region of Belgium that borders the Netherlands is called Flanders and the language they speak is Flemish, though I have it on authority that it really is Dutch with a bit of accent. The Flanders region of Belgium is a modern day Don Quixotic land, where huge wind turbines dot the countryside And then you chance upon the occasional old windmill that tells you to stop and hear its story.

The Menin Gate is at one side of Ypres. It is a memorial to the war dead and, has etched on its walls the names of those who fell in battle during WW I (Shoejoy)

My Flanders story begins in Brussels, the bustling (unofficial) capital of the European Union. Tram lines, office hour traffic and comics capital of the world, I found Brussels neither nothing more nor less than my expectations. Historic buildings beside modern avant-garde architecture, this was one busy city trying to keep pace with the demand for space. Apart from the well known Herge Museum that is a bit on the outskirts, Brussels hosts some 80 other museums and has countless restaurants for those who like to be serious about food. But be warned that at the upmarket ones, the menu and choice of wine in French, Flemish and even English can be intimidating. (I didnt really always know what I was eating but it all tasted very good.)

Please mind your heart

A street scene from Antwerp, which is famed for its diamonds and fashion (Shoejoy)

From Brussels I went to Ypres or Ieper as it is locally called in Flemish. Ypres is about an hour and a half by car from Brussels and this small town dates back to the Middle Ages when there was a canal that ran right through the city centre. It was here that in October 1914, the Indian troops were fed piecemeal into some of the fiercest fighting that took place during WW I.

An imposing Gothic style building that I took to be a cathedral turned out to be what the locals still call the Cloth Factory. This was the heart of Ypres back in the days when trading in cloth was what ran the economy of the place. Today it houses the In Flanders Fields Museum that showcases the brutality of the First World War. I found some Indian Army artefacts on display, including a khukri from a Gurkha soldier of 1915.

The city of Brussels as seen at night (Shoejoy)

Ypres remained in the thick of battle for all fours years of WW I and was completely demolished. All around Ypres stretched the trenches...miles upon miles of dugouts and shallow canals where men lived, fought and died. The hundreds and thousands of deaths are now marked by the cemeteries that dot the region.

Of late, on TV or in person, the reader may have seen Europeans wearing red poppies on their coat lapels. Those are in commemoration of the poppies that grew on Flanders Fields, immortalised in the most quoted poem from WW I.

In Flanders Fields by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Every nationality and region that sent soldiers to fight in Flanders finds mention on the grave stones that stand reminder to the horror that visited this land. Tucked in corners of such cemeteries I saw the memorials of those Indians who never came back. Many of those tombs did not have names; they just said An Indian Soldier of the Great War. On a tombstone of a young English soldier, I read what his father had engraved in remembrance, Sacrificed to the fallacy that war can end war.

To one side of Ypres is the Menin Gate through which the soldiers marched to battle to defend the town. The Menin Gate is like the India Gate in New Delhi: it is a memorial to the war dead and, like the India Gate, has etched on its walls the names of those who fell in battle during WW I. I saw the Indian names etched on those walls among those who never came home.

Every evening at 8pm, in a tradition that began in 1929, the traffic stops as a small band assembles to play the Last Post. This ceremony has continued ever since then except for a period of four years during World War II, when the town was under German occupation. On the very evening that Polish forces liberated Ypres, the ceremony was resumed at the Menin Gate, in spite of the heavy fighting still going on in other parts of the town.

The Flanders winter is damp and cold, but at night Ypres is a sight out of a fairy tale. Standing there on the cobbled streets, looking at the buildings all around, it is very easy to be transported 100 years back in time. Quaint family run hotels overlook the Cloth Hall facade and it is an experience lying in bed and staring at the belfry of the building. Here is a tip for the tippler while in Flanders: do taste the Trappist Beer, the darker the colour, the better and stronger it is.

When it comes to the Trappist Beer in Flanders, the darker the colour, the better and stronger it is (Shoejoy)

Please mind your mind

Next stop Ghent: Under the watchful eye of Gravensteen Castle or Castle of the Counts, the city boasts an Opera House, 18 museums and 100 churches. At Ghent I decided to get myself a glimpse of a mystic lamb. The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb is possibly the most famous painting in Flanders. Painted by the brothers Jan van Eyck and Hubert van Eyck in 1432, it once again hangs in its original location at St Bavos Cathedral.

The Ghent Altarpiece is said to be the most stolen artefact in history and it came back to St Bavos after 600 years of nearly constant movement. At one time or the other it had been in the possession of some of historys most famous figures, including Napoleon, Goering and Hitler. After WW II, it was rescued by The Monuments Men... that story is known to anyone who has seen the George Clooney movie by the same name.

Ghent is also Flanders biggest university town, which means linger-as-long-as-you-like cafes and a laid-back atmosphere. In the evening I took a barge ride on the canal, sipping champagne as the boatmen skilfully guided their vessel under bridges that date back to the middle ages. I am almost sure that the maximum gap between my barge roof and the bridge could not have been more than four inches...so mind your head when in Ghent!

A trip to Flanders wouldnt be complete if you missed Antwerp of diamond and fashion fame. But it wasnt diamonds or fashion that I looked at in Antwerp, I went for history, and art and culture. There are some really interesting museums here, the newest attraction being the Red Star Line Museum that opened in September 2013.

The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by the brothers Jan and Hubert van Eyck is possibly the most famous painting in Flanders (Shoejoy)

The Museum is housed in the original warehouses of the Red Star shipping line that operated between 1873 and 1935. The core theme of the museum is immigration and it revolves around the individual stories, artistically symbolised by packed suitcases, representative of the millions who sailed from Europe to America in search of a new life.

When in Antwerp, dont miss a visit to the Central station even if you are not taking the train anywhere. It is called the Railway Cathedral and for good reason too. Built in 1905, it does look like a massive house of worship instead of a train station, with three semi-subterranean levels that link Antwerp to the rest of Europe.

Europe has been commemorating the centenary of the Great War since 2014 and in Flanders too, towns and villages have organised many exhibitions and history tours that relive the events of those terrible days. For Indians interested in remembering the exploits of the

Indian Army, a trip to Flanders would be an eye opener, about a near forgotten contribution that India made to the outcome of history.

Some corner of a foreign field The Indian contribution to World War I, as per official records, includes 47,746 Indians dead or missing and 65,126 more as wounded. Thirteen thousand gallantry medals were also given to Indian soldiers. India provided Britain with not just men, but material and money as well. As many as 1,440,437 men were recruited, 1,381,050 were sent for service overseas, and India bore the entire cost of these troops being used for imperial rather than Indian purposes. In 1917, India also made an outright gift of 100 million towards the cost of the war.

The author Sujay Bhattacharyya, who now goes by the name Shoejoy, is an award-winning TV producer and documentary director based in New Delhi.

From HT Brunch, February 18, 2018

Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch

Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunchAir Odisha on Saturday launched its maiden services under the regional connectivity scheme Udan with Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani inaugurating the first flight to Mundra from here.

The Bhubaneswar-based carrier, mandated to fly on 50 regional routes, had received its scheduled commuter operator (SCO) permit from the aviation regulator DGCA last Tuesday.

The permit allows a carrier to operate as a scheduled commuter airline.

Significantly, Air Odisha, promoted by the Radhakant Pani family of Odisha, has offloaded 60% stake to the Ahmedabad-based firms GSEC Aviation and Monarch Network.

Besides Mundra, the carrier also rolled out services on the Ahmedabad-Jamnagar route and plans to launch flights to Diu from Ahmedabad as well in the first phase of rollout, Air Deccan founder GR Gopinath said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to inaugurate the Diu flight on February 25, he said.

GSEC Aviation and Monarch Networth have made strategic investment in both Air Deccan and Air Odisha.

Udan aims to provide air facility to the common man through regional connectivity. Till now, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Surat were all connected to Mumbai, but with this service, these cities will be connected to Ahmedabad, Rupani told reporters on the sidelines of the event.

Air Odisha has deployed a 19-seater Beechcraft 1900D aircraft for carrying out these services.

The air operator will also provide connectivity from Ahmedabad to Bhavnagar and onward to Surat in the coming days.

Speaking at the event, Gopinath said it was a dream come true moment for him to see the venture taking off.

Gopinath, the pioneer of low-cost flying in India, said his air charter company had sought permission to fly on this route in 2013 but the then UPA government did not give him the go-ahead due to political reasons.

He said Air Deccan and Air Odisha have formed a joint venture with GSEC Aviation and Monarch Networth Capital to grow the network and infrastructure together.

Gopinath, however, refused to divulge the details of investment made by the two companies or the quantum of the stake sold by the two carriers.

The JV was necessitated to get a scale as the number of the aircraft by one company was not sufficient for that scale, he said.

Gopinath, however, said both Air Odisha and Air Deccan will continue to fly as different airlines.

Air Deccan has bagged 34 routes to operate under `Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN), the Centres regional connectivity scheme (RCS).

Today other carriers, including state-run Air India, operate on not more than 35-40 routes but Air Deccan and Air Odisha together plan to fly to 62 airports with a combined fleet of 13 aircraft over the next 4-5 months, he said.

Gopinath said Air Deccan plans to launch services from Kolkata to Jamshedpur, Coochbihar, Rourkela, Durgapur and Bagdogra on February 28 followed by flights to Shillong, Dimapur, Aizawal and Silchar from Kolkata.

It plans to connect towns like Bhubaneshwar, Utkela, Raipur, Ranchi, Gwalior, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Ahmedabad, Surat, Bhavnagar, Selam and Puducherry, among others.The US Department of Commerce has recommended that President Donald Trump impose steep tariffs on steel imports from India, China and other countries as they could threaten to impair the national security, according to the proposals released on Friday.

The commerce department recommended a tariff of at least 53% on all steel products from India, which accounted for 2% of the US steel imports in 2017, according to the International Trade Administration of the US department of commerce.

The department recommended global tariff of at least 24% on all steel products and 7% on all aluminium imports.

The recommendations were presented to Trump last after he authorised the probes under a 1962 trade law that has not been invoked since 2001.

He will announce his decision in mid-April.

If these recommendations are accepted and implemented by Trump, it could trigger a trade war if targeted the countries retaliated.

The other 11 countries for the selective hikes were Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.

I am glad that we were able to provide this analysis and these recommendations to the President, said commerce secretary Wilbur Ross in a statement. I look forward to his decision on any potential course of action.

The department insisted that the recommendations are currently under consideration by the President, and no final decisions have been made.

Some US lawmakers and steel and aluminium users have urged caution in any restrictions to avoid disruptions or price spikes in the raw materials, used in everything from autos to appliances and aircraft and construction.The big question before Chanakya and India is this: is the Congress revival for real? Or is it, as the Bharatiya Janata Party would have everyone believe, mere talk, with the anti-Modi brigade coming back to the original choice, Rahul Gandhi after testing out all others (and finding them wanting)?

The unfortunate aspect of this question  indeed, of almost all questions  in India, circa 2018, is that the answer is usually a function of political allegiance.

Still, it will be difficult to deny that the Indian National Congress hasnt put a foot wrong in recent times. One political analyst, who asked not to be identified, said that the party was actually displaying a BJP-like efficiency. Backhanded or nor, thats a huge compliment.

The BJP is now the party in the pole position in India. It has gone from strength to strength since winning the 2014 parliamentary elections with the first majority any party had managed in three decades. It swept Uttar Pradesh. It established itself in the Northeast. Directly and with or through allies, it is now in power in 19 states; it has won elections in 13 states since 2014. In this period  at least till the end of 2017  the Congress hasnt achieved much. For much of this time, it has appeared a muddled, confused party, still recovering from its shocking defeat in 2014  so much so that even when it had an opportunity to form the government in Goa and Manipur, it faltered, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Meanwhile, the BJP juggernaut, powered by campaigner-in-chief, Narendra Modi, and strategist-in-chief, Amit Shah, rolled on.

It rolled on through rash utterances by some of its ultra-Right leaders, attacks by fringe elements in the name of protecting cows, and demonetisation and the implementation of the unified Goods and Services Tax.

Whatever the long-term benefits of the last two, they caused disruptions that the Indian economy has just about recovered from.

Around the end of 2017, though, the Congress seemed to change. Gandhi, once described by some of his own partymen as someone who believed politics could be a part-time pursuit, seemed to become more focused. His messaging became more pointed and articulate, his demeanour more aggressive. This was most evident during the Gujarat elections, in which the Congress improved both its vote- and seat-share at the expense of the BJP. The agrarian crisis in parts of South Gujarat may have been responsible for this  much more than the Congress alliances with Patidars and Dalits  but the Congress was able to take advantage of this.

The Congress carried this momentum into 2018, with wins in the by-elections in Rajasthan, where it won two Lok Sabha seats and an assembly constituency  again, at the cost of the BJP.

It is, of course, important to realise that coming a close second in a state election and winning by-elections is not the same as winning, even closely contesting, a parliamentary poll.

It is equally important to acknowledge that neither looked within the reach of the Congress between 2014 and late 2017.

It was always a given that Indias Grand Old Party would adopt the BJPs successful social media playbook, and that too has come to pass  some of the Congress memes on Prime Minister Modi are as pointedly funny as the BJPs on Rahul Gandhi.

In December, before the results to the Gujarat election were announced, Gandhi took over as president of the Congress from his mother, Sonia Gandhi. Since then, he has made two key appointments. As Hindustan Times first reported, he picked Koppula Raju, a Dalit and a former bureaucrat, to head his core team. It was reported that Raju has been tasked with building Rahuls team for the future, and is vetting about a hundred Congress leaders from across the country for organisational roles at the national and state levels, party officials said.

He has also appointed investment banker-turned-political economist Praveen Chakravarty head of the partys new data analytics department. The party plans to use big data as a weapon to take on the BJP, Chanakya learns.

If the first appointment indicates Gandhis desire to be his own man  some people are already claiming that Raju will be to Rahul Gandhi what Ahmed Patel was to Sonia Gandhi  the second shows a willingness to try new things to combat the BJP.

Meanwhile, Sonia Gandhi has said that she will now manage her partys relations with other parties and is seeking to build an alliance that can take on the BJP.

But even as the Congress is trying to transform, there are signs that it remains the same (at least in parts). For instance, its Northeast strategy appears a mess and Rahul Gandhi seems to have decided to all but ignore the elections in Nagaland.

Still, on paper at least, the Congress isnt the party it was in 2014. Nor is the BJP.

Outcomes trump plans, though, and the performance of the two parties in important elections this year (Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh) will be the test of whether or not either party has changed.

letters@hindustantimes.comAs Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives in India, more than two years after taking office, the delay in his long expected visit could well serve as a metaphor of sorts for the current stop-start state of ties between the two countries. No one ignores the potential of the relationship, but the reality is a downer. Bilateral trade is at $8 billion. Even that measly amount may take a further hit as India prunes its import of pulses from Canada following an ample domestic harvest. The likelihood of a pair of economic pacts being signed as Trudeau meets his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, is as slight as the trade figures.

The heft, meanwhile, is being offered elsewhere. Canadian companies are increasingly investing in India. Over 100,000 Indian students are now enrolled at Canadian universities. India remains among the top three source countries for immigrants settling in Canada. And Indian techies and startup entrepreneurs are increasingly eyeing Canada as the Silicon Valley magnet loses some of its drawing power given the uncertainties surrounding work visas and green cards in the United States.

These connections, and others, bring weight to bear upon an underperforming relationship at the government level; one that Ottawa and New Delhi havent quite managed to optimise.

The principal problem is that of the festering Khalistan issue, the demand for a separate Sikh homeland carved out of Punjab. This is a movement steeped in violence, including, of course, Canadas worst incident of terrorism in the bombing of Air Indias Flight 182 in 1985, which claimed 329 lives with the majority of victims being Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

Meanwhile, India looks askance at Canadian politicians pandering to these extremists based there. India is concerned that these elements are becoming resurgent in Canada, often with the support of elected representatives, particularly those of Trudeaus Liberal Party. This is an example of the Indian term, vote-bank politics, being transferred to Canada.

But as chatter about Khalistan grows louder in Canada, Ottawas intent is viewed with suspicion in New Delhi, as is its argument that such activism is covered by freedom of expression. Legislative motions accusing India of genocide, passed to pander to a vocal minority, and bans on Indian officials visiting some Canadian gurdwaras, are among the signs of extremists feeling empowered.

This bilateral divide relates, obviously, to events that occurred more than three decades earlier. But those resentments have maintained a long tail, and one that continues to sting. As two functioning democracies, Canada and India have to bring some maturity to bear upon this impasse so that the road ahead is cleared of the debris of the past. Only that can provide sustainable momentum to the engagement between Canada and India.

The time may have finally arrived for the two countries to move beyond the 1980s, and into the moment. To paraphrase Trudeau, he needs to voice his firm support for a united India, Because its 2018!

Anirudh Bhattacharyya is a Toronto-based commentator on American affairs

The views expressed are personalOther than the platitudes about the supporting role of men in womens issues, matters related to men play a secondary role in gender conferences. So it was a pleasant turn of events that the issue of fatherhood and its role in gender relations played a prominent role in the just-concluded Difficult Dialogues meet on gender equality in Goa. In societies such as ours, it is almost a given that women will spend much longer caring for the home and children than men. With more women coming into the workforce, the participation of men becomes important.

It is well known that the absence of men as equal participants in housework diminishes opportunities for women to go out to work. But there is a more subterranean reason why men should be involved in bringing up children. Many studies have shown that a younger generation of men want to be involved in the lives of their children. The State of the Worlds Fathers report shows that around 77% of men say they would work less if this meant they could have more time with their children.

Ninety-two countries offer paternity leave to new fathers. India is not one of them. However, Haryana, considered the bastion of patriarchy, does offer 15 days of paternity leave, something which many, including womens groups, dismissed as a paid opportunity for men to loiter about and drink. But this is unfair and it has real potential to transform gender relations altogether. I know that Sweden is a bit removed from India but it was found there that if fathers took paternity leave, the mothers income would go up in the coming years. The woman would not have to drop out of work and she would not be overlooked in seniority. Emotionally, too it is a disservice to men to imagine that they do not want to be emotionally connected with their children. According to Margaret OBrien, professor in child and family policy at University College, London, the younger generation of fathers are keen to be involved in their childrens upbringing.

In many ways, the boy childs role model is his father. And if the father is seen as sharing in the household work, including bringing up children, this has a lasting impact as the boy moves into adulthood. One thing is that it reduces the double burden on women who, in most societies, have to manage home and work. It also gives men a chance to break out of the stereotypes set out for them. But in India, by and large, gender policies revolve around women. The ministry dealing with gender issues is called women and child. The man does not figure too much even in government policies relating to women and children. This, despite the fact that it is the men who take most of the important decisions in a family including parenting and who will do it.

Of course, we have the odd ad which shows the caring father in what are quaintly called gender reversed roles, the implication being that such roles are preordained. We need to push the boundaries much more, make the involvement of men a social, economic and political talking point. Numerous studies have shown that when fathers are involved in parenting, the children perform better at schools, they are more well rounded as they grow into adolescence, their verbal and intellectual skills are better and they are much less biased in many ways.

Whether in reproductive health and family planning or parenting, the role of the father should be part of policy. It is not that men are inherently averse to sharing housework and caring for children. It is that they are conditioned to be so. My own father, who played a significant role in my childhood, was always happy to do household chores, including cooking. But when he moved to his ancestral home back in India, he was expressly kept away from doing this by sundry relatives and household staff for fear of what people would say. So, my father confined himself to sneaking into the kitchen once in a while when no one was looking and whipping up a dish or two. A role he relished, and which I am sure many men do, was denied to him thanks to societal prejudice. It is heartening that many young men in India today want to help out not just for the sake of their wives or partners but for their own satisfaction and well being. This would be the real equal opportunities world.

lalita.panicker@hindustantimes.comThe Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) issued a show-cause notice to Khanpur MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion on Saturday after a preliminary investigation found him guilty of making comments against the party and the Uttarakhand government.

Naresh Bansal, general secretary, BJP reviewed the footage of the recording of Champions statement made in Haridwar on February 11.

Champion had been agitated over the appointment of Mohammad Sattar, a member of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), in the committee constituted to investigate the Haridwar district panchayat scam worth Rs 50 crore. The legislators wife Rani Devyani is a member of the committee.

The MLA claimed Sattar was close to a cabinet minister  indicating urban development minister Madan Kaushik. Champion also alleged that chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat of protecting the corrupt at the behest of a powerful cabinet minister.

We found him guilty and have issued a show-cause notice, Bansal said.

The party has given him 10 days time to reply. If he fails to do, he could be expelled, hinted Ajay Bhatt, state president BJP said.

Its a matter of indiscipline, which the party cannot tolerate. If he fails to submit his reply, we will take severe action against him, Bhatt said.

After failing to get a satisfactory reply from the CM TS Rawat on Sattars appointment, Champion he met BJP national president Amit Shah in New Delhi. His Facebook post underlining Mission Successful created unrest in the BJP.

I am a true BJP soldier and no one can doubt my integrity towards the partys ideology and working. Some people are trying to malign my image but will not fall into their trap. I will reply to the party after receiving the notice through party forum, Champion said.

Though senior party leaders claimed Champions visit to Delhi isnt a problem, insiders claim that the meeting has created a bad impression about the Uttarakhand BJP with the party president.

If a leader, for a small issue, reaches out to our national president, then it shows that the state organisation isnt doing much to resolve issues of its ministers and legislators. This incident shook the organisation after which the party took serious cognizance of his remarks, a BJP leader, who did not want to be named as he is not supposed to speak to the media, said.

Meanwhile, the CM avoided interaction with Champion on February 16 at an event. When the legislator went to greet him, Rawat ignored him, making his displeasure clear.

A party leader familiar with the incident claims that Champion is backed by MP Haridwar and former CM Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, while Kaushik had supported Sattar.

Champion had also been demanding OBC representation in cabinet. He is a four-time MLA and joined the party about two years ago. Other who joined the saffron party leaving Congress were Vijay Bahuguna, Harak Singh Rawat, Subodh Uniyal, Yashpal Arya, Rekha Arya, Umesh Sharma Kau, Pradeep Batra, Shailarani Rawat and Shailendra Mohan Singhal.A new chapter has been opened in Moroccan-South African relations following the ice-breaking meeting between Morocco and the outgoing South African President Jakob Zoma. The election of Cyril Ramaphosa is boding well for bilateral ties between two of Africas leading powers.

King Mohammed VI of Morocco, who showed interest in bolstering ties with South Africa, has sent a congratulatory message to Ramaphosa stressing his willingness to strengthen the promising prospects that have recently characterized our ties.

We look forward, in the kingdom of Morocco, to opening a new chapter of fruitful cooperation based on constructive dialogue and mutual esteem  one that would reflect the time-honored bonds between our peoples and help us serve their interests and promote unity and progress in our African Continent, said the King in the message.

Morocco and South Africa have for more than a decade given each other the cold shoulder on the backdrop of Pretorias support for separatists in the Sahara.

The two countries decided to upgrade their bilateral ties to ambassadorial level following a meeting between King Mohammed VI and Zuma in Abidjan on the sidelines of the EU-AU summit last November.The highway from Kathgodam (Haldwani) to Nainital will be widened to ease the increasing traffic congestion.

At present, the single lane highway, which is around 30km long, is 5.5m wide. The government plans to widen the road up to 7.5m.

The survey work of the highway widening was given to a Jaipur-based company, which has prepared a proposal. The proposal will now be sent to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for approval, after which the road will be widened.

PC Joshi, the superintending engineer of NHAI, said that the highway is being widened to facilitate tourist influx. He said land acquisition for the road widening will begin after the project apporoval.

Social activist Dushyant Mainali said that the Kathgodam-Nainital highway is important from the tourism point of view. It faces heavy rush of tourists and there is immediate need of widening works so that the commuters do not face problems, he said.

Nainital is an important tourist destination in Uttarakhand, which is visited by lakhs of tourists every year. According to police sources, on weekends around 50,000 vehicles move on the Kathgodam-Nainital highway leading to jams for hours. It is estimated that out of the total tourist influx in Uttarakhand, around 9% visit Nainital.Former Delhi Congress chief, Arvinder Singh Lovely, was reinducted into Congress on Saturday almost nine months after he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP).

The official announcement of Singhs reinduction was made after he called on Congress president Rahul Gandhi along with Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken on Saturday noon.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi welcomes Arvinder Singh Lovely back into the Congress family, a tweet from the partys official handle said sharing Lovelys picture with Gandhi. He was welcomed back into the party by AICC incharge of Delhi unit PC Chacko along with Maken.

Interacting with the press on Saturday, Singh said, Quitting Congress was not a happy decision... I was a misfit in BJP. .

The move is seen as a boost for the Congress party ahead of the likely bypolls to 20 assembly seats after AAP MLAs were disqualified for holding office of profit. More so, as it comes days after former CM Sheila Dikshit and Ajay Maken shunned past differences and shared stage while highlighting failures of Arvind Kejriwal government on its third anniversary.

Singh, a key minister in Sheila Dikshit government had joined BJP in April 2017 along with Delhi youth Congress chief Amit Malik ahead of MCD polls in the national capital. Reports said Malik would also rejoin Congress, but there was no official confirmation yet.

At the time of joining BJP, Singh had levelled bribery allegations in distribution of tickets ahead of MCD polls.

Singh held important portfolios such as education, tourism, urban development and transport as a minister. Elected to the Assembly from Gandhi Nagar seat for the first time in 1998, he had not lost a single election. He was removed as Delhi Congress chief in 2015 and did not contest the state elections when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won a brute majority.

At the time of leaving Congress, Singh had said he had failed to get appointments with then party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi to apprise them about the state of affairs in the organisation. I had given 31 years to the party but what did I get in the end? Nothing. I was not even included in the core committee set up for the municipal elections, Singh had said last year.

(With agency inputs)The editor of a Hindi news channel has been booked for allegedly raping a woman who claimed to be his colleague.

The Delhi Police, which registered a case against the editor on Friday, said the complainant had alleged that he raped her several times since June last year after hiring her at a senior position in the channel and promising to marry her.

The woman also accused the editor of allegedly threatening her with dire consequences if she filed the police complaint or told anybody about the crime, said police on Saturday.

Additional commissioner of police (New Delhi) BK Singh said that a case of rape and criminal intimidation was registered on Friday on the womans complaint, which she filed at the Tughlaq Road Police Station on Tuesday. The statement of the woman was recorded on Saturday. We are probing the case, said Singh.

When contacted, the editor of the news channel refuted the womans allegations, saying the woman was not working in his company and he had never offered her any job. The allegations of rape against me are false and baseless. Police is probing the case. The truth will prevail, he said.

The woman in her complaint, a police officer associated with the case said, told them that she came in contact with the news channels editor while she was working in a gym in 2016. The two reportedly became friends and the editor allegedly offered her a senior position in the news channel.

In April 2017, the woman joined the company. She has alleged that on June 9, her employer called her at his residence and raped her after promising to marry her. Thereafter, he repeated the crime several times, said the officer, quoting the womans complaint.

According to the police, the editor called the woman in a hotel in central Delhi on August 26 last year and sexually assaulted her and promised that he will marry her soon. A few days later, the woman learnt that the editor was already married and had two children. When she confronted him, a quarrel broke out between the two, said police.

The editor helped the woman financially to prevent her from filing a case against him. She has alleged that he also threatened her. To prove her claims, the woman has provided us with WhatsApp conversation between her and the editor, the officer said.

ACP Singh said that the hotel authorities have confirmed the presence of the editor in the hotel as the room was booked in his name.Three persons, including two women, were arrested for allegedly running a fake job racket in east Delhi. Police officials said that the syndicate has duped more than 50 unemployed people of around 5 lakh by promising jobs in multinational companies, schools and other private sectors.

Nupur Prasad, deputy commissioner of police (Shahdara), said the arrested man, identified only by his first name Ankush, is the alleged mastermind of the fake job racket. He had employed two women for allegedly accessing details of job aspirants on various job search and social networking websites and lure them by offering them non-existent jobs, said the DCP.

According to Prasad, the arrests were made on Friday following an investigation into the complaints filed by several job aspirants at the Anand Vihar police station. All the complaints were against a company run from a rented office in east Delhis Surajmal Vihar in the name and style of HR Bid Solution.

The complainants alleged that they had received calls and text messages, saying their biodatas were shortlisted for jobs and they should visit the companys office for interviews and other formalities, said Prasad.

The candidates were asked to fill in different forms and were made to pay between 5,000 to 10,000 as processing fee, said police. After taking money from over 30 such unemployed people, the racketeers switched off their contact numbers and shut down their Surajmal Vihar office, said Prasad.

While the investigators visited the office, they learnt that the racketeers had vacated the premises.

The racket was busted when the accused called one of the complainants, Sweta, the second time.

Prasad said that around 10 days after she was duped the first time, Sweta received a similar job offer call. She realised that the woman callers voice was similar to the one who had duped her of money previously. Sweta alerted investigators and probe revealed that a similar racket was being run from Jagatpuri area.

We raided the office and arrested two women. Their interrogation led to the arrest of Ankush. He told us that he ran such companies at various places, the DCP said, adding they were interrogating the arrested persons to ascertain the number of people they had cheated in the past.The drama of Thursday seems to have subsided, but Jawaharlal Nehru University is far from done with the mandatory attendance issues.

The teachers association (JNUTA) of the university on Saturday said they will be staging a sit-in protest on Monday, which will be joined by the students union (JNUSU). The students will also be taking out a march on Tuesday to the ministry of human resource development.

Jawaharlal Nehru University has been simmering ever since the varsity notified a new attendance policy. On Thursday, the students had allegedly confined the universitys two rectors in the administrative block for almost 15 hours over the issue.

On Friday, FIRs were registered against the union office bearers for wrongful restraint and voluntarily causing hurt, and the high court had issued an interim order directing them to not obstruct the entry or exit of the officials. Though the students havent been approached by the police, JNUSU president Geeta Kumari said they have been asked to appear in court on Tuesday.

The situation for this movement was created by university notices. Students across this country are under tremendous pressure. So you cant just issue such orders; it will just frustrate the students more. That was what we saw happening (on Thursday), said Sudhir K Suthar, the general secretary of the newly elected JNUTA, who added that the teachers body had sent a communication to the students asking them to end Thursdays alleged strike.

Suthar said that the teachers body, in their general body meeting held on Friday, had decided to stag a sit-in on Monday, against how the university had bypassed the statutory bodies like the Centre faculty committees, board of studies of schools and the academic council, in their decision making process including the one to mandate attendance.

Though a venue and time is yet to be decided, JNUSU joint secretary Shubhanshu Singh said that they will be joining the protest too and will be taking out a march to the MHRD on Tuesday. The strike which had begin on February 9, is still on.In April 2017, five days ahead of the municipal elections, former Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of party president Amit Shah.

Ten months on, Lovely returned to his parent party on Saturday, saying he felt like misfit in the BJP.

Lovelys switch was then projected as a major setback for the Congress because hea four-time MLA and a ministerwas considered an influential face among the Punjabis in Delhi.

Also, the Congress had faced a drubbing at the hands of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the 2015 Delhi assembly elections. The party did not win a single seat.

His homecoming is expected to give a boost to the Congress ahead of a likely mini-election to 20 seats vacated due to the disqualification of ruling AAP lawmakers.

Congress leaders privy to the development said the partys Delhi chief Ajay Maken was informed about the suffocation that Lovely was feeling in the BJP. Lovely, they said, was unhappy as he was not given the promised charge of two states in 10 months ever since he joined the BJP.

After coming to know about his uneasiness, Maken met him two weeks ago and offered to take him back, said a senior Congress leader who did not want to be named.

The initiative, leaders said, was part of Congress reach-out plans to bring back known faces in its fold. Former Youth Congress chief, Amit Malik, who joined the BJP with Lovely, may also come back, the senior leader said.

Former chief minister Sheila Dikshit expressed happiness over Lovelys return. At the time of his switch, Dikshit had blamed Maken. He has realised that in the end, our own home is the best, Dikshit told news agency ANI.

Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari termed Lovelys decision as a personal move.

Leader of Opposition Vijendra Gupta said Lovelys return wont affect the BJPs prospects in Delhi. Congress lost all the seven Lok Sabha Seats in Delhi when Arvinder Singh Lovely was Delhi Pradesh Congress president. BJP has embarked on an ideological basis in the nation and the world, he said.

Among other Congress leaders who joined BJP was Pratyush Kanth, who switched sides in October 2017. Now the partys social media head, Kanth said people like Lovely were hungry for power.

People who have been in Congress for generations would not survive in BJP, a party driven by ideology, for long. Lovely is a classic example, Kanth said.The Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) on February 19 will release the admit card/hall ticket of the written tests for recruitment to various teaching posts advertised by the commission in October 2017 (Notification Nos. 52/2017 to 56/2017).

You can download the TSPSC teachers recruitment test (TRT) admit cards at tspsc.gov.in

The entrance tests will be held between February 24 and March 4, 2018.

The notification for the exam released on October 21, 2017 was for the recruitment of approximately 8,792 teachers in the School Education Department of the state.

Out of the 8,792 vacancies announced, 5,415 were for secondary grade teacher, 1,941 for school assistants, 1,011 for Language Pandits, 416 for Physical Education Teachers and nine vacancies for school assistants (physical education).

Candidates applying for School Assistants, Language Pandits and Secondary Grade Teachers will be selected on the basis of combined marks secured in the written examination to be conducted by the TSPSC (80%) and Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) (20%).

Candidates applying for Physical Education Teacher (PET) and School Assistants (Physical Education), will be selected on the basis of marks secured in the written examination.

Note: Visit the official website of TSPSC for latest updates.Canadian luxury outerwear brand Sentaler made its first foray into London Fashion Week on Friday, with a private showcase that aimed to capitalise on its recent association with Meghan Markle, the actress fiancee of Britains Prince Harry. For fashion brands, having apparel seen on a member of Britains royal family can lead to a spike in sales. Sentaler was given such a boost from Markle, an actress who starred in the TV programme Suits, in December 2017 when she was pictured wearing one of the labels coats to a Christmas church service attended by the royal family in Norfolk, England.

Some British media outlets dubbed the surge in interest The Meghan Effect. The Meghan Markle effect is definitely real, Bojana Sentaler, the labels founder and creative director, told Reuters at the labels showcase at London Fashion Week. Since she wore the wide collar wrap in camel colour on Christmas Day, the coat sold out instantly and we had an enormous demand for Sentaler that day, as well as for many days after that. We were shipping coats all over the world.

Sentaler said that the increase in demand the brand had seen in recent months prompted them to come to London Fashion Week this year, where they held a private showcase event. Informal endorsements of products by members of the British royal family are worth some 200 million pounds to British companies alone, according to a 2017 report from consultancy firm Brand Finance.

Toronto-based Sentaler was founded in 2009 and has up to 10 employees according to its LinkedIn page. It has a showroom in the Canadian city, and is sold online and in department stores. Sentaler said that, for many consumers, the royals provided a degree of affirmation that was valuable to brands. Theyre a stamp of approval for a lot of women. If the royals wear it, it must be good.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for moreChristopher Bailey unveils his final collection for Burberry at London Fashion Week which started on Friday - a turning point for the British luxury brand which gained a global reputation under the designers tenure.

Burberrys star-studded show on Saturday will be one of the most high-profile events at Fashion Week, which runs from Friday to Tuesday. After 17 years, Bailey will say farewell with a final overhaul of the fashion houses signature beige, black and red check pattern.

Drawing inspiration from the internationally recognised gay pride flag, a new rainbow check will feature heavily in London as the 46-year-old Bailey dedicates Saturdays show to gay rights campaigns and models.

There has never been a more important time to say that in our diversity lies our strength, and our creativity, said Bailey, who was the first openly gay head of a company on Londons benchmark FTSE 100 index when he was named chief executive in 2014.

The appointment saw him replace Angela Ahrendts, who moved to Apple, and came a decade after Bailey joined Burberry as creative director. He has since propelled Burberry into the 21st century, incorporating new technologies such as social media into his shows.

Twice named Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards, he has also combined mens and womens collections and adopted the see now, buy now model becoming popular among high-end fashion brands.

He has also attracted some of the worlds most famous muses, including Kate Moss, Emma Watson and Cara Delevingne.

- An incredible designer -

His last catwalk for Burberry will be a testament to years spent experimenting with different colour palettes and materials, during which he reinvented Burberrys signature trench coat with a touch of lace.

Under his watch, a company formerly known as little more than an unexciting British producer of raincoats and checked scarves has exploded into the vast empire it is today, said British Vogue.

The designer, who trained at Londons prestigious Royal College of Art, was described as incredible and super smart by Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council.

Christopher has played a significant role in the British fashion industry, putting innovation at the heart of Burberry and ensuring that it is an exciting, relevant, forward-thinking global fashion brand, she said in a statement to AFP.

But Baileys appointment as chief executive at age 42 raised some eyebrows because of his lack of experience running a company of such stature. He held on to the dual role for just three years, until Marco Gobbetti, former chief executive of French luxury brand Celine, was brought in to take over the business side.

Bailey will formally step down from his two roles on March 31 but will work with Burberry on the transition until the end of this year. A replacement to fill the creative post held by Bailey, who previously worked for Donna Karan and Gucci, is yet to be announced. Rumours on the fashion circuit put British designer Phoebe Philo, who recently left Celine, in pole position.

- Young British talent -

The broader London Fashion Week, organised by the British Fashion Council, will see some 80 shows across the city as designers parade their 2018/19 autumn-winter womenswear collections.

Saturdays Burberry show will undoubtedly be closely watched, while the same day sees British heavyweight Jonathan Anderson showcase his latest collection. Also artistic director of luxury leather brand Loewe, the designer will be unveiling pieces from his own J. W. Anderson label.

He will also be reducing the number of shows from four to two, which J. W. Anderson said will help reduce the traditional gap between the catwalk shows and the pieces being available for sale.

Such an approach is being followed in the wider fashion world, as brands adjust their business models to fit new consumer trends. Other highlights of the London fashion bonanza include the Sunday show of Delpozo, a Spanish brand which has transferred from New York Fashion Week with the promise of refined elegance.

Post-modern champion Christopher Kane is one of a number of young British talents whose designs will hit the catwalk, as well as David Koma, known for his geometric pieces, and provocateur Gareth Pugh.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for moreJennifer Aniston may be single but she is not looking for a shoulder to cry on. And definitely not that of Brad Pitt! Following the news of Jennifer Aniston and Justin Therouxs split, the internet went into a frenzy with the possibility of a reunion of the actress and her former beau Brad Pitt. But that seems unlikely. Dismissing rumours, a spokesperson for the Friends star said a report by In Touch magazine that suggested that Brad is being her shoulder to cry on as fabrication.

A source close to Brad Pitt also said that while the actor is sad to hear the news about Jennifers split, he hasnt reached out to Jen, and has no plans to do so at this point.

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston were married for five years before their divorce.

In another article, People magazine said Jen and Brad havent met in a long time. They havent seen each other in ages, people.com quoted a source with knowledge of Pitt and Anistons current relationship as saying. For well over a decade now they have lived totally separate lives and so not surprisingly, they have become totally different people than who they once were when they were together, the source added.

Pitt, 54, and Aniston, 49, divorced in 2005 after five years of marriage. They broke up, and they did it because they had serious issues. Theyre not stupid. They remember why it didnt work, the source said, adding, Theyve been over each other for longer than they were ever together. It is such ancient history.

When it comes to the possibility of a new relationship, the source says their lives are simply too different from when they first met to make it work, reports people.com. Now you add six kids on his side and each of them having their own assorted battle scars into the mix? Forget it. Its not going to happen, the source added.

While Aniston and Pitt have remained friendly over the years, the source says two arent especially close.

They arent in regular contact, beyond an occasional text back and forth to wish each other the best when theres been a new project or big event, the source said.

Aniston and Theroux announced the end of their two-year marriage and nearly seven-year relationship in a joint statement on Thursday. The pair, who shared a mansion in the upscale Bel Air neighbourhood of Los Angeles, met on the set of the 2008 film Tropic Thunder in Hawaii, and started dating in 2011.

In an effort to reduce any further speculation, we have decided to announce our separation, the former couple said in the statement released by Anistons publicist Stephen Huvane.

This decision was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year. We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple, but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship.

The statement said the couple would have kept the arrangement private, but wanted to make sure people heard the truth, given that the gossip industry cannot resist an opportunity to speculate and invent.

Whatever else is printed about us that is not directly from us, is someone elses fictional narrative. Above all, we are determined to maintain the deep respect and love that we have for one another, it continued.

It was the second marriage for former Friends star Aniston, who wed Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt in 2000 -- forming one of Tinseltowns most glamorous couples at the time.

They divorced in 2005 after Pitt met Angelina Jolie, from whom he is now estranged, on the set of Mr and Mrs Smith. Theroux (Miami Vice, The Girl on the Train) was in a relationship with stylist Heidi Bivens for 14 years but the 46-year-old had never been married before meeting Aniston.Ten days before the European Court of Justice (ECJ) delivers its verdict on the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement, Willy Fautre, director of Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), told the EU Reporter news portal that the deal is mutually beneficial and conducive to promoting human rights in Morocco.

The EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement is due for renewal in July 2018. Since 2007, the agreement allows around 120 vessels from 11 EU member states to fish off shores of Morocco in exchange for a financial contribution from the EU of 30 million per year, plus around 10 million from ship owners.

Willy Fautre pointed out that the local population in the Sahara have benefited from the Fisheries Agreement and that the deal has helped create more job opportunities in the region.

He also voiced concern in case the deal was not renewed saying that such a scenario would result in job losses with a potential to harm Moroccos social stability.

Tensions between Morocco and the EU will also be among the consequences that nobody wants, he said.

The EU-Morocco fisheries deal is backed by many EU member states, notably Spain and Denmark.

Both the European Commission and the Moroccan government have expressed their willingness to renew the agreement.

Human Rights Without Frontiers is a non-governmental organization, registered since 1989 as an association without lucrative purpose in Belgium. It focuses on research, analysis and monitoring of a wide range of human rights concerns in many countries around the world.Turns out, Justin Theroux and Justin Trudeaus super-similar names are confusing people into thinking that Jennifer Aniston called it quits with the Canadian prime minister.

While Theroux and Trudeau share lots of similarities, such as same age, belonging to famous families, French-Canadian descent, some major tattoos, and the French-speaking skills - this goof-up has come out to be interesting.

Here is how Twitterati took it:

One tweet read,

ok wait this whole time i thought jennifer aniston was married to the prime minister of canada but i just realized shes married to justin theroux not justin trudeau  jessica (@jessmeyer23) February 8, 2018

Another user tweeted,

Am I the only person living under a rock who didnt know about Justin Theroux and Jennifer Aniston being together and thought she was splitting from Justin Trudeau? pic.twitter.com/gRhUdQpMoT  Camille Bautista (@CamBautista) February 16, 2018

One user wrote,

At a glance I thought Jennifer Aniston had separated with Justin Trudeau, the Canadian PM and was extremely confused for 30 seconds.  kieran homer (@kieran0444) February 16, 2018

Others wrote,

read this as jennifer aniston and justin trudeau, was disappointed, read it correctly, am more disappointed https://t.co/67govjU7Qr  n. (@ohnexility) February 15, 2018

Jennifer Aniston and Justin Trudeau are splitting up. I did not even know that shes the first lady of Canada. Sad.  Alma Moreno (@Loveliness14344) February 16, 2018

For a full minute I was entirely convinced that Jennifer Aniston was dating Justin Trudeau and I just had simply missed it.  Rachel Busse (@rachelthebus) February 16, 2018A young girl dressed in a black track suit greets Narpat Singh Bhati with a Jai jauhar (hail jauhar) and bends to touch his feet, as he sits comfortably in the office of Jauhar Bhavan in Chittorgarh. Others too greet him in the same manner as they pass by. While anyone who knows what jauhar is may find the greeting disturbing, especially in todays context, Bhati, treasurer of the Chittorgarh-based Jauhar Smriti Sansthan, says calmly, Here, at Jauhar Bhavan, we dont greet each other with namaste. We say Jai jauhar. Though the Sansthan was formed in 1948, Bhati says it was registered only in 1983. Jauhar Bhavan, the organisations office, was built in 2009, he says.

Jauhar is generally viewed as the Hindu custom of mass self-immolation by women in parts of the Indian subcontinent to avoid capture, enslavement and rape by any foreign invaders, when facing certain defeat in a war. Huge pyres were built, says Lokendra Singh Chundawat, head of the department of history at Maharana Pratap Government Post Graduate College, Chittorgarh, and women would jump into them. The women burnt themselves, or in some cases drowned themselves, instead of dying by any other means (such as swallowing poison). The reasoning: this way, the men of the enemy camp would not even be able to touch their dead bodies.

Strangely though, in Chittorgarh, few shudder at the evident gruesomeness and agony of such a death. Rather, it is upheld and celebrated as an act of valour, equalling the bravery of men who were killed in battle. So much so, that last month women protesting against the alleged distortion of history in Sanjay Leela Bhansalis film Padmaavat, threatened to commit jauhar if the release of the film was not stopped.

The film was released and the women did not commit jauhar  because of the last-minute discovery that jauhar can be equated with sati (a different kind of self-immolation practised by women in India in the past) and termed illegal. We had then appealed to the President and Prime Minister to grant us permission to kill ourselves, but have received no response, says 48-year-old Manjushree Bambori, president of the Jauhar Kshatrani Manch which had led a group of women in a Swabhimaan rally against Bhansalis film and also given the call for jauhar. On most days, the Manch is a loose organisation of Rajput women that holds events to keep their culture alive. The protest against Padmaavat was a different matter.

Honour Killing?

Jauhar is not suicide. It is the last weapon in a war. If all the people are dead, there will be no one for the ruler to subjugate. Simply acquiring territory is not enough, says Bambori. Married at 18, Bambori decided to continue her studies after her children grew up, and completed her Masters in sociology in 2017. She now plans to study law, but sees no reason why she should put her degree to use by taking up a job. Shrugging off the years of hard work that gave women the right to economic independence and their place in the public space, Bambori says, Whats the need of going out to work when my husband doesnt need me to? We have enough. She is dressed in the traditional lehenga of the Rajputs, head covered with a dupatta. In the presence of male members of the family, she says, the veil is drawn further, covering her face. Even her 28-year-old daughter, a teacher at a government school, says she follows the practice when shes at her in-laws house.

The act of womens self-immolation  both in the form of jauhar and the more commonly-practiced sati  has a long and painful history, and the battle to give women the right to live, even after the death of their men, was a hard fought one. While the colonial government banned sati in 1861, the law against the practice was made more stringent in 1988 with The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act of 1987, which criminalised any form of abetment to the act. The law came in the wake of death-by-sati of 18-year-old Roop Kanwar in Rajasthan in 1987. When it comes to jauhar, most recorded accounts of it in India can be found in the medieval era among the warrior class, predominantly the Rajputs, says historian Harbans Mukhia. Jauhar was committed while the husband was alive, but there was no chance of his return from war. Unlike sati, which was the practice of a woman burning herself on her husbands funeral pyre. After the women committed jauhar, the men would perform saka, or fight till death, explains Mukhia.

It (jauhar) became an act of honour. But we believe the practice to be far more common than it actually was. Jauhar was not committed after every battle, says historian Harbans Mukhia

It happened in 712 AD, says Chundawat, after Muhammad Bin Qasim attacked and defeated King Dahir of Sind, though he claims instances of similar self-immolations by women can be found even earlier in other parts of the world, and even in India. After Dahirs death, the queen is believed to have initially resisted the invaders, but eventually committed jauhar, along with other women.

In Rajasthan, says Chundawat, the first jauhar took place in 725 AD.In India, almost all the jauhars were performed in resistance to Muslim invaders, he adds. While Mukhia agrees that there are no records of jauhars in India prior to Muslim invasions, he says there were, however, examples of jauhar being committed even by Muslim women. These were either inspired by the Hindu practice, or the people had belonged to the Hindu warrior class before converting to Islam, and continued the custom even after their conversion.

In Chittorgarh, locals believe, there were three jauhars  in 1567, when Akbar attacked Chittor (the royal family escaped through a secret route and the jauhar was led by a woman named Phool Kanwar); in 1535 when Bahadur Shah of Gujarat attacked the fort and Rani Karnavati committed jauhar along with other women; and the first, by Padmini in 1303, when the kingdom was attacked by Allauddin Khilji. But as Mukhia points out, Amir Khusro, who accompanied Khilji on his wars, mentions jauhars in other kingdoms, such as the one in Jalor, but there is no mention of a jauhar in Chittorgarh in reaction to Khiljis attack.

The Worship Of Padmini

That hasnt stopped the people of Chittorgarh, however, from celebrating the sacrifice of the legendary Padmini, and from venerating the women who committed jauhar  a sacrifice, as 38-year-old Teena Shaktawat puts it. If Padmini hadnt killed herself, she would have been forced to join Khiljis harem. We would have come under Mughal rule and would have been sitting in burqas today, says Shaktawat. A Masters degree holder in sociology, Shaktawat rides a scooty, with a dupatta, and not helmet, covering her head. While on the scooty if the dupatta slips from my head, I just stop and pull it back, she says, with a laugh.

The celebration of jauhar is almost directly linked to a prejudice against Islamic rule and culture, and there is pride in choosing death over any kind of alliance with a Muslim ruler. Ironically, according to Rajasthani accounts, not supported by contemporary records, the second of the Chittorgarh queens to commit jauhar  Rani Karnavati  had sent a rakhi to Humayun, requesting for help, when attacked by Gujarat ruler Bahadur Shah. But Humayun was on another invasion at the time, and couldnt reach Chittorgarh in time to help her.

Narpat Singh Bhati (left) of Jauhar Smriti Sansthan and Govind Singh of Karni Sena. At Jauhar Bhavan, the Sansthan organises a daily puja of the three women believed to have led the jauhars in Chittorgarh. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Both the fort and the town of Chittorgarh have memorials to the jauhars committed by the women in the past. Inside the fort is a Jauhar Sthal, where locals believe the last of the three jauhars had taken place. After members of the Jauhar Kshatrani Manch threatened to commit jauhar, entry to the spot was closed with barbed wire and a team of police personnel was stationed there. The underground tunnel where Padmini is believed to have committed jauhar has long been closed.

At Jauhar Bhavan, statues of the three women who led the three jauhars  Padmini, Karnavati and Phool Kanwar  were erected two years back. For the past one-and-a-half years we have also been organising a daily puja of the three women here, says Bhati. The Sansthan hosts an annual Jauhar Mela around Holi. The worshipping of Padmini is a daily ritual at many homes in Chittorgarh.

Meanwhile a plaque at what is popularly referred to as Padmini Palace inside the Chittorgarh fort was covered, allegedly by the Archaeological Survey Of India, after protests against the information imparted there  the popular story of Khilji attacking Chittorgarh after being mesmerised by accounts of Padminis beauty as described in Malik Muhammad Jayasis 16th century poem Padmavat. The room from where Khilji was said to have glimpsed a reflection of Padmini was also locked. We recently held a historians meet here and were told that the story of Khilji attacking Chittor for Padmini was wrong. It was a battle for expansion, says Bhati. Since Bhansalis film is based on Jayasis imaginary account of the war, it is unacceptable in Chittorgarh.

The Right Over Her Body

Whatever the reason for the battle, the women here have no doubt that rape and forced inclusion in Khiljis harem would have been the eventual destiny of Padmini if she had not committed jauhar. The fact that rape and enslavement of women of the defeated side was common during battles cant be denied, says Lubna Irfan, research scholar at Aligarh Muslim University, who specialises in medieval Indian history. What she questions is the extent to which the women were willing to choose death over enslavement. Even when it comes to sati, we hear of widows being tied to the pyre so that they couldnt escape. Similarly, there are accounts of entire harems being massacred so that they wouldnt fall into enemy hands, says Irfan.

Whats brave about suicide? If they were brave, they should have gone and fought, after the men were killed, like Rani Lakshmibai had done, says Ranjana Kumari, director, Centre For Social Research.

During jauhars too, Chundawat says, drums would be played and ballads extolling the virtues and the family name of the women would be sung to encourage them to take this step. It became an act of honour, says Mukhia  an honour that Irfan says was linked to a womans sexuality, an honour not just her own, but that of her familys, so that any act of sexual abuse was viewed (and often continues to be viewed even today), as the woman and her family having lost their honour, a reflection of a patriarchal societys control over a womans body.

How did such an act come to be glorified as an act of bravery? Perhaps it has something to do with the way our history was recorded. All the accounts that we have of history were written by men. We dont have the womens perspective, says Irfan.

No Lesson Learnt

If one takes into account the criticisms against Bhansalis film Padmaavat, it would seem as if nothing has changed. Actor Swara Bhaskar courted controversy when she said that at the end of film she felt reduced to a vagina. While the film does start with a disclaimer that it does not support sati or any forms of the practice, Bhansali has been unable to stop himself from romanticising the act in the last part of the film, where a beautifully decked-up Padmini defiantly walks towards the pyre before Khilji can reach her. Her eyes are calm, theres a determination in her, and a palpable enthusiasm to end their lives in the women accompanying her. Theres no questioning of the practice, no hesitation or doubt shown in any of the characters.

I dont understand how one can have such a film when the Prevention of Sati Act clearly criminalises any form of glorification of the practice, including building of temples or any sort of worship of sati matas or women who committed sati, wonders Ranjana Kumari, director, Centre For Social Research. If sati can indeed be equated with the practice of jauhar, much of the veneration of the practice in Chittorgarh would become not just disturbing, but illegal. But then, Rajasthan also has temples to sati matas, such as the Rani Sati temple in Jhunjhunu.

Like many others, Kumari doesnt understand the glorification of these women who committed jauhar. What is brave about suicide? If they were brave, they should have gone and fought, like Rani Lakshmibai had done. All those who are protesting against the film, are protesting against the wrong issue. They claim to be fighting for a womans honour, but anyone fighting for women today should be fighting for a better life and safety for women, and not about how and why a supposed character in history killed herself, she says.

Rajshri Shaktawat (in pink), warden of the girls hostel run by Jauhar Smriti Sansthan, along with some of the girls who stay there at Jauhar Bhavan. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

The veneration of a woman killing herself rather than allowing herself to be touched by a man against her wishes, and other women threatening to do the same to protect her image centuries later, are dangerous examples to be set at a time when the discourse on crimes against women has moved light years ahead.

Today, there is discussion around the rights of the rape victim and the fact that sexual abuse is an act of aggression that doesnt rob the victim of her honour. Efforts are being made to remove the stigma attached to rape, so that victims and their families are able to access the law and get the guilty punished.

While the women of Jauhar Kshatrani Manch and the members of Jauhar Smriti Sansthan agree that jauhar is a historical practice and that women today should be taught to stand up and fight for themselves and approach the police and judiciary in case of any physical or sexual aggression, they still uphold Padminis jauhar and the principle of death over dishonour.

We had also moved the Supreme Court when we felt Bhansalis film was hurting our sentiments. But the court did not stop the release of the film. If the law also does not give one justice, death is the only option left, says Nirmala Rathore, another senior office bearer of the Jauhar Kshatrani Manch. She adds, Even today we teach our children to fight for their honour, but if it becomes impossible to protect ones honour, its better to die rather than

compromise. Her 21-year-old daughter, Bhagyashree, an M Com student dressed in jeans and also riding a scooty, has also been praying to Padmini from the time she was a child.

Meanwhile at Jauhar Bhavan, Rajshri Shaktawat, the warden of a girls hostel run by the Jauhar Smriti Sansthan, confesses that not all the women who participated in the rally against Padmaavat would have committed jauhar. She, as well as all the girls living in the hostel that is named after Padmini, had participated in the rally and daily venerate the legendary queen.

Was jauhar a brave thing to do? Yes, is the immediate reply from 18-year-old Chitra Rathore, who stays at the hostel and is studying to be a teacher. But she adds after a moments thought, Thats not what women today should do if in a similar situation. They should fight. Today women should also be trained in self defence. The salute Jai jauhar, however, comes spontaneously to her lips, as she turns to greet an elder.The BJP stormed to power in Uttarakhand last March, winning 57 of the 70 assembly seats, a first for any party in the state which has battled political instability ever since it was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000.

Considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi since his RSS days, Trivendra Singh Rawat pipped his rivals in the BJP to become the states eighth chief minister. The 57-year-old from Pauri Garhwal completes a year in office on March 17.

During a visit to New Delhi, Rawat spoke to Kumar Uttam on his achievements, challenges from within and outside, and how he prepares for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Excerpts:

You complete one year in office next month. How do you rate your government?

We have taken several steps to ensure good governance and eliminate corruption. We decided to have zero tolerance towards it. We brought transparency. Several initiatives have been taken in the field of health, education, power, revenue generation and infrastructure. Biometric attendance system has been introduced and 1,000 doctors have been appointed.

The BJP had accused the Congress government of indulging in corruption. Do you propose to investigate those matters?

There was a scam worth Rs 211 crore related to works on NH 74. Eighteen people went to jail and even the high court refused bail to them. We will take an impartial stand on probe relating to scams under the previous government. There will be no witch-hunt. We will ensure fair probe and transparency.

BJP got a three-fourths majority in Uttarakhand and won five Lok Sabha seats in 2014. How sure are you BJP will repeat its performance in 2019?

We will win all five Lok Sabha seats again. Prime Minister Narendrabhai has announced works for Kedarnath Dham, bharatmala projects worth Rs 13,000 crore, all-weather road worth Rs 12,700 crore, a new expressway connecting Delhi and Dehradun, and many more.

The result of Gujarat assembly election and bye-election in Rajasthan exposed BJPs vulnerability. Do you see the Congress rising again?

The BJP increased its vote share in Gujarat by 2%. There was polarisation on some seats, but it is a record for a state to be under one partys rule for 26 years. When one party rules for a long period, anti-incumbency sets in a bit. It happens that a section of people are unhappy and they want a change.

I believe there will be no impact of all these on the BJP. We are going to form the government in Tripura. Even we did not imagine some years ago that the BJP will have its government in many Northeast states. Today, BJP rules 62% of Indias population.

Rahul Gandhi recently took over as Congress president. Do you think he can revive his party?

He works like a robot. He repeats what is tutored to him. He has tried to drag the BJP in the Nirav Modi controversy. What has the BJP (got) to do with it?

But Rahul has levelled serious charges against the Centre and the BJP. Doesnt his aggressive politics trouble the BJP?

Rahul Gandhi has become out of date. He neither has political talent nor capacity. Till the time he is there, it is a blessing for the BJP.

Doesnt Rahuls charge dent BJPs reputation?

What has the BJP (got) to do with this? It is a matter between a businessman and a bank. It should be looked into in that context.

Some BJP MLAs have aired voices of discontent against you. Dont you listen to them?

I take note of every genuine suggestion made to me. I keep meeting ordinary people. If their grudge or advice is genuine, I listen to them.

Some former chief minsters from your party, too, are said to be upset with you. Do you face any trouble from them?

They (Ramesh Pokhriyal, BC Khanduri, Vijay Bahuguna and Bhagat Singh Koshyari) are like elder brothers to me.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday embarked on his first visit to India.

The Canadian Prime Minister took to Twitter and said his seven-day visit will be focused on job creation and strengthening ties between the two nations.

Wheels up for India and a busy visit, focused on creating good jobs and strengthening the deep connection between the people of our two countries.  pic.twitter.com/Jg6UmL9y4S  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 16, 2018

On Thursday, a government delegation from Canada paid a visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar ahead of Trudeaus visit.

Canadian Prime Minister will visit the Golden Temple on February 21.

The visit, which includes stops in Agra, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi, will provide an opportunity for Trudeau to connect with the Indian leaders in government and business, promote empowerment of women and girls, and strengthen Canada and Indias close economic ties.

The prime ministers will reaffirm the close friendship between the two countries, and discuss ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation.

Trudeau will also participate in several business roundtables to promote further trade and investment between Canada and India, as Canada works closely with Indian leaders to advance economic opportunities in both countries.

While in India, Trudeau will engage with youth and visit several landmarks, including the Taj Mahal, the Jama Masjid, and Swaminarayan Akshardham.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in India on Saturday for a week-long visit aimed at enhancing business ties between the two countries.

Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are also expected to focus on areas including civil nuclear cooperation, space, defense, energy and education.

Trudeau was received at New Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, a junior agriculture minister. A formal ceremony will be held on February 23 before his talks with Modi, who visited Canada in April 2015.

Wheels up for India and a busy visit, focused on creating good jobs and strengthening the deep connection between the people of our two countries, Trudeau tweeted on Friday before leaving for New Delhi with his family.

Canada has an estimated 1.4 million people of Indian origin.

During his visit, Trudeau will meet with top business leaders in Mumbai and visit key Indian monuments, including the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Golden Temple in Amritsar and the Jama Masjid in New Delhi.

At Davos last month, while US President Donald Trump supported new tariffs on imports, Trudeau and Modi came out forcefully against a drift toward protectionism in the global economy.

In 2017, two-way merchandise trade between Canada and India amounted to $8.4 billion, split equally between exports to and imports from India, according to Indian media.

Canada mainly imports pearls, organic chemicals, pharmaceutical products, textiles, bicycles and motorcycles from India. It exports vegetables, paper, fertilizers, wood pulp, iron and steel and precious stones to India.The Supreme Court on Friday marginally increased Karnatakas share of Cauvery water and ordered a reduction in the allocation for Tamil Nadu, settling a protracted dispute that has roiled southern India for more than two decades.

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said Karnataka will be required to release 177.25 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water from its Billigundlu site to Mettur Dam in Tamil Nadu. The earlier requirement, under a February 2007 award by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT), was 192 tmcft.

Waters of an inter-state river passing through corridors of the riparian states constitute a national asset and no single state can claim exclusive ownership of its water, the court held.

The top court largely upheld the 2007 tribunal decision and said the water allocation arrangement will exist for 15 years. The tribunals order is binding, it added.

The allocation for Kerala and Puducherry remained unchanged.

In totality, we deem it appropriate to award to the state of Karnataka an additional 14.75 TMC of water, i.e., 10 TMC (on account of availability of ground water in Tamil Nadu) + 4.75 TMC (for drinking and domestic

purposes including such need for the whole city of Bengaluru), the court said.

In February 2017, the CWDT had determined the total availability of water in the Cauvery basin at 740 tmcft. In a unanimous award, the tribunal allocated 419 tmcft of water for Tamil Nadu, 270 tmcft for Karnataka, 30 tmcft for Kerala and seven tmcft for Puducherry. It reserved 10 tmcft for environment protection and four tmcft for natural outlets into sea.

All states had challenged the tribunal award before the SC, which reserved its judgement four months ago. After Fridays verdict, Karnatakas share goes up to 284.75tmcft and Tamil Nadus will now be 404.25tmcft.

The 802-kilometre long river originates in Talacauvery in Kodagu district of Karnataka and flows mainly through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, with its basin covering parts of Kerala and Puducherry. The water of the river was originally shared according to two British-era agreements, the last of which lapsed in 1974.

Since then, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have fought each other over the river in a dispute that turned increasingly bitter in the past decade, triggering widespread violence in 2016 when rains failed. Both states depend on the river for irrigation and drinking water, especially during summer and droughts.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said he was happy as the state got some relief while Tamil Nadu CM E Palaniswami said it was unfair to take into account the states groundwater levels.

In its verdict, the SC placed drinking water requirements on a higher pedestal and set aside the tribunals decision to drastically reduce Karnatakas share of water, based on the argument that only a third of Bengaluru fell in the river basin and 50% of drinking water requirement would be met by groundwater. The court allocated 4.75 tmcft for Bengalurus drinking water requirements, keeping in mind the global status of the city.

The tribunal had not taken into account the availability of 20 tmcft of underground water in Tamil Nadu and had rejected it as a conjecture. But the SC took into account the use of 10 tmcft of this groundwater and deducted it from Tamil Nadus share of Cauvery water.The Gujarat government decided on Saturday evening to allot land to a Dalit family after a former revenue officers death in protest against alleged administrative delay in the case sparked road blockades and demonstrations.

Bhanubhai Vankar died of burn injuries late on Friday, a day after setting himself ablaze in front of the district magistrates office in north Gujarats Patan. He was protesting against the district administrations alleged stonewalling of an application by Hema Vankar to get a parcel of land, which she cultivates, sanctioned in her name. Bhanubhai and Hemabhai arent related.

The government has decided to allot the said piece of land to the family of Hemaben Vankar for which Bhanubhai sacrificed his life, deputy CM Nitin Patel said, hours after Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani threatened protests over the issue. He also promised a drive to allot land in similar cases, where cultivating families have encroached upon confiscated land.

As per the wish of Bhanubhais family, either a special investigation team or an inquiry commission led by retired judge will be formed to investigate the self-immolation incident and action will be taken against those responsible, Patel added. He also announced compensation of 8 lakh and promised to arrange transfers so that Bhanubhais son and wife  both of whom hold government jobs  can live in the same place. The announcement came after Bhanubhais family refused to take the body and demanded action against government officials as Dalits blocked National Highway 8 connecting north Gujarat to Rajasthan for almost 10 hours.

The issue (of land) is our constitutional right. We have been raising it for a while now and Bhanubhai sacrificed his life for the same. The community wants the government to act swiftly, said Mevani at Gandhinagar civil hospital, where Bhanubhai died.

This is the first time Dalits protested on the streets after the Una agitations of 2016, when the flogging of four scheduled caste men by alleged cow vigilantes sparked statewide demonstrations. The issue is also expected to dominate the assemblys budget session, which begins on Monday.

It is unfortunate that after so many years of independence, an activist had to sacrifice his life. The matter will be raised in the assembly, said Radhanpur Congress MLA and OBC leader Alpesh Thakor.Two warring factions of Tamil Nadus ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) merged last May on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the southern states deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam has said.

Addressing party workers in his home district of Theni in southern Tamil Nadu, Panneerselvam said he did not want any cabinet position, and conveyed this to Modi, but relented after the PM told him to join the ministry headed by chief minister E Palaniswami. During a courtesy meeting with the prime minister, he suggested that the two sides can mergehe (Modi) said you (Panneerselvam) could join to save the party, Panneerselvam told party workers on Friday.

The deputy CM had broken away from the party last year after he was removed as chief minister and the AIADMK anointed VK Sasikala as the successor to former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, whose death in 2016 triggered a factional fight. The merger of the two factions in May steadied the government, which ousted Sasikala and put paid to opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagams (DMK) plans of benefiting from the instability.

Reacting to Panneerselvams statement, the DMK said there was now official confirmation that Modi interfered in the internal matters of another party. Modi was manipulating the developments within AIADMK, DMK spokesperson A Sarvanan said, charging the BJP with running a proxy government in Tamil Nadu. Rebel AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran said the truth of the merger was finally out. There was someone else behind the whole game and now we know who it is, he said.

Defending Modi, BJP spokesperson Narayanan Tirupathy said there was nothing wrong if the PM advised in the overall interest of the state. State fisheries minister D Jayakumar said the AIADMK would welcome any suggestions for its well-being.India and Iran signed a clutch of agreements on Saturday with Tehran agreeing to lease to New Delhi operational control of a part of the Chabahar port for 18 months.

The port is a vital part of New Delhis plans to connect with Afghanistan and Central Asian countries as it creates a strategic trade route, bypassing Pakistan.

After the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the two sides signed nine pacts, including a double taxation avoidance treaty, and decided to fast-track agreements for preferential trade arrangements to boost economic ties amid US pressure to review the 2015 nuclear deal and re-impose sanctions on Tehran.

Tehran leasing to New Delhi operational control of part of the Chabahar was an important outcome of the visit. The $85 million project, just 90 km from the Chinese-built Gwadar port in Pakistan, ensures a transit route for India to Afghanistan and resource-rich central Asian countries bypassing Pakistan.

The two countries also called for an immediate end to all support and sanctuaries enjoyed by terrorist groups and individuals, said a joint statement.

We want to increase ties in finance, energy, connectivity and trade. We want to strengthen our age-old cultural ties. Landlocked Afghanistan has got a golden gateway in Chabahar. I congratulate you for the contribution, Modi said as New Delhi hosted an Iranian President after ten years.

Sharing the sentiment, Rouhani said: Iran and India are prepared for joint ventures in gas and petroleum sectors.

We also had a great deal of discussion today on facilitating economic relations, preferential trade tariffs, better banking relations, visa relations and facilitating travel between the two countries for business purposes, the Iranian President said.

The two leaders agreed on the deepening trade and investment cooperation . In this context, they recognised the need to put in place an effective banking channel for business transactions, the joint statement said.Iranian President Hassan Rouhani Saturday asserted that his country will adhere to the terms of the nuclear deal it signed with world powers till the last breath and warned that the US will regret if the pact was broken.

Rouhanis comments come after US President Donald Trump had threatened to pull out of the deal. He had sought a review of the nuclear pact.

We as a country have always adhered (to commitments). We will not violate it (the pact) and will stay on board. It is the order of God. If we are signing the pact then we will adhere to it, till the last breath, he said.

Rouhani, while delivering an address here on The priorities of the foreign policy of Islamic Republic of Iran, said the time for haggling by president Trump is over and negotiating after signing the deal is ridiculous.

The US is not dealing with Iran alone on the issue of nuclear pact but also with the United Nations Security Council, which has approved the pact, said Rouhani at the event organised by the Observer Research Foundation.

The US, he observed, will regret if the deal collapses and the people within that country would voice concerns over it.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, was a notable foreign policy achievement of the Obama administration.

The deal, struck in 2015 between between Iran and six world powers -- the US, the UK, Russia, France, China, and Germany, lifted economic sanctions on Tehran, and in return put limitations on its controversial nuclear energy programme.

President Trump has expressed its reservations about the deal. Last month, he waived sanctions against Iran as required under JCPOA, but warned that it will be the last such waiver if radical changes are not made in the pact.

A joint statement by India and Iran after Rouhanis delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India reaffirms its support for full and effective implementation of the JCPOA.

The JCPOA has been endorsed by the UN Security Council and is a crucial contribution to the non-proliferation framework and international peace, stability and security, it said.

Backing New Delhis quest for a permanent seat in the UNSC, Rouhani asked why India, a nation with population of 1.3 billion, was not a member of the powerful club.

Why doesnt India, with a population of 1.3 billion, have veto rights? Those who had atomic bombs were given veto rights, Rouhani said, emphasising on having ethics in foreign policy as against military might.

Veto right in the UNSC lies with the US, the UK, China, France and Russia.

Hitting out at the US, Rouhani said many issues in the world today have arisen out of miscalculation and Washington has constantly resorted to that mistake with regard to Tehran.

He said the US sought to control the lives of Iranians and even tried to stop the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Recalling the Iraq-Iran war, Rouhani said Saddam Hussain, the former president of Iraq, who ruled the country with an iron fist, reneged on the commitment made between the two countries and borders, which resulted in a devastating war.Alex Azars heart bleeds for the poor suffering people of Idaho who just want to go back to the wonder years before Obamacare. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Last month the Republican leadership of Idaho pursued a very innovative approach to lowering health insurance premiums for young and health people: just blatantly violating the Affordable Care Act to let insurers discriminate against older and sicker people.

Earlier this month, in response to complaints about rising health insurance premiums and as an alternative to Medicaid expansion, [Governor Butch] Otter signed an executive order instructing his state insurance agency to let insurers issue individual policies that did not comply with ACA requirements for essential health benefits or nondiscrimination on the basis of age or preexisting conditions. Now, said agency has made it official: Insurers can offer bare-bones policies that violate all sorts of Obamacare provisions, including price discrimination against sick people and caps on pay-outs.

Health care experts wondered right away what the Department of Health and Human Services would have to say about that, particularly after Blue Cross of Idaho hastened to take advantage of the states permission slip by offering one of these bare-bones plans.

As it turns out, the Feds tried pretty hard to look the other way.

Asked about Idahos scofflaw attitude by Senator Ron Wyden in a hearing at the Senate Finance Committee, HHS Secretary Alex Azar at first tried to suggest that Idahos action wasnt official.

Asked by Wyden how he would respond to Idahos actions, Azar said he had not yet seen a waiver request or other plan from the state.

I can assure you that if we do receive that  well be looking at that very carefully and measuring it up against the standards of the law, as is our duty, he said.

Wyden tried to get across to Azar that Idaho might never bother with a waiver request if they got away with violating the law without one:

Wyden then clarified that Idaho does not appear to be asking for a waiver. Idahos just saying, Were going to do this,  said Wyden.

He then pressed Azar to outline HHS planned response to Idaho actions within the next 10 days. And seeing Azars reluctance, [he] proposed a 30-day deadline.

In response Azar offered a breath-taking argument for civil disobedience:

I think what we are seeing here is a cry for help, Azar said. Its saying that where we are right now with our individual market because of the structure we have is not serving enough of our citizens. There are too many Americans who simply cannot afford the insurance packages we have in our program because of the way the statute is designed and the way it has been implemented.

This cry for help, mind you, involves letting insurers adopt virtually every abusive and discriminatory policy that led to the enactment of the Affordable Care Act in the first place. Voxs Dylan Scott runs it down:

Customers could be charged up to 50 percent higher premiums based on their or their familys medical history; the ACA has famously prohibited insurers from charging different customers different rates based on their health status;

Customers could be denied benefits for preexisting conditions unless they maintained continuous coverage; again, the ACA forbids this;

Caps are back: These new freedom plans have annual limits of $1 million in benefits, which are outlawed under the ACA; there are also specific dollar caps for certain services, such as physical therapy.

And so naturally, the people who couldnt medically qualify for these plans would be left in their Obamacare ghetto, with skyrocketing premiums.

Azar cannot, of course, just wave a wand and let Idaho violate  indeed, in effect nullify  the law. Lawsuits will be brought, and judges whose hearts are less likely to bleed for the plight of Idahoans who have to subsidize the health insurance of the poor and sick and elderly may be less forgiving. But Azars reluctance to step in remains remarkable in an allegedly law-and-order administration.Vice-president Venkaiah Naidu has cautioned against mixing religion with politics, saying religion was personal and a way of worship.

He was delivering the Sree Chithira Thirunal Memorial Lecture in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday.

Naidu said politics should not get into religion and religion should not get into politics and added that religion is personal...it is a way of worship...we may pray to Allah..we may pray to Jesus Christ... we may pray Rama.. Krishna...Sai Baba...Lord Ayyappa.

If we believe in vasudhaiva kutumbakam and the spirit of the country is to treat everybody equal, how can anyone discriminate against people on the basis of religion and caste, Naidu asked.

Closing temples in the name of caste is totally wrong and against the dharma, culture and the visions of the country, he said.

The vice-president said social justice and inclusion were part of the genesis of independent India and we couldnt have had a really free nation with a sizable unfree population.

In the socio-economic context of pre-Independence India, removal of barriers to social integration of the Dalits was a big challenge, he said.

Naidu said there were Dalit movements demanding temple entry in different parts of India. Dalits had to force their way into Jagannath Temple in Odisha and Chamundi shrine in Rajasthan.

India cannot be called an ideal nation and an egalitarian civilised society, if people were divided like this, he said adding that the country had a tradition to treat everybody equally.

Why is Indian civilisation still strong, vibrant...because we believe in sarva jana sukhino bhavantu...vasudhaiva kutumbakam...the entire universe is one family..we believe in the welfare of everbody...we take care of the well being of our neighbours..., he said.

India has no history of attacking any country and it never believed in aggression, he added.

Naidu said people should be elected and selected on the basis of four Cs--character, calibre, capacity and conduct, but unfortunately, some political fronts in the country go by three Cs--caste, community and cash.

Detailing the responsibilities of administrators, the vice-president said a king or a democratic government has to be ever vigilant, ever watchful, and ever open to new trends.

They need to be responsive to the changing needs and times if they have to stay relevant, he said.

Lavishing praise on erstwhile Travancore King, Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, Naidu said his historic Temple Entry Proclamation in 1936 was a bold step.

Sree Chithira Thirunal was a trailblazer in establishing sound systems of education and health. The erstwhile king was veritably an icon of good governance embodying the essence of Indianness.

He visualised that socio-economic development must be inclusive. He knew that this would necessitate broadening the base of education and universalise access to good quality education, the vice-president said.

Naidu also urged people to draw inspiration from the great social reformer and work collectively to shape a vibrant, forward-looking India in the years to come.

The 24th Sree Chithira Thirunal Memorial Lecture was organised by the state-based Sree Chithira Thirunal Smaraka Samithy at the Kanakakunnu Palace in Thiruvananthapuram.

Kerala governor Justice P Sathasivam, state minister of cultural affairs AK Balan and members of the royal family attended the function.Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who is on a three-day visit to India, held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and called on President Ram Nath Kovind in New Delhi on Saturday.

Rouhani, who arrived from Hyderabad to Delhi late on Friday evening, was accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday.

The Iranian and Indian contingents are likely to review the progress achieved in bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

On Friday, Rouhani addressed a congregation of Muslims after performing Friday prayers at the historic Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad.

Here are the highlights:

2:45pm: I hope we see great successes in bilateral ties between India and Iran, concludes Iranian President Hassan Rouhani after hailing the success of Chabahar port.

PM Narendra Modi and Iran President #HassanRouhani after the joint press statement. pic.twitter.com/BGPeDCLfOV  ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018

2: 45pm: We had positive talks for trade, tariffs, visa, and several economic and cultural relations in the region, says Rouhani

2:43pm: Rouhani asserts, We are determined to combat terrorism and extremism, adding that regional conflicts must be resolved through diplomacy and political initiatives.

2:42: pm: India has strategic relations, especially for transit and energy: Iran President

2:41pm: I thank you for your hospitality and kindness. Your (Modi) visit to Iran in 2016 was an important step in development of ties between India and Iran: Rouhani

Relations between India and Iran are far beyond trade and diplomatic. Our relations are historical, civilizational, says Rouhani.

2:40pm: After PM Modi concludes his address, the Iranian president takes the stage.

2:36pm: The two countries want to see our neighbour Afghanistan safe and prosper. We want to see our neighbors free of terrorism: PM

2:35pm: We want to enhance connectivity... I thank you for helping develop Chabahar port, says Modi in the joint statement.

2:31pm: Both Iran and India respect each other. Under your leadership (Rouhani), India-Iran ties have strengthened: Modi

2:30pm: PM Modi starts his address, welcomes the Iranian President. An Iranian president is visiting after 10 years.

I travelled to Tehran in 2016 and now when you come here now, it deepens and strengthens our relationships: PM Narendra Modi

2:25pm: PM Narendra Modi and Iran President jointly issue a postal stamp marking India-Iran ties.

2:20pm: Ahead of Modi and Rouhanis joint statement, India and Iran sign bilateral agreements and exchange MOUs.

Nine pacts have been signed between India and Iran, including on double taxation avoidance, visa liberalisation as well as to ratify extradition treaty.

1:30pm: Both leaders held substantive & productive discussion on cooperation in trade & investment, energy, connectivity, defence & security & regional issues, external affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweets.

1.15pm: Both leaders held substantive and productive discussion on cooperation in trade and investment, energy, connectivity, defence and security and regional issues: MEA spokesperson

12:40pm: Delegation level talks between India and Iran are ongoing at the Hyderabad House, reports ANI.

12pm: Rouhani meets PM Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

11:30am: The Iranian President meets external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on the last day of his visit to India.

9:45am: Rouhani pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

9:20am: Rouhani meets President Ramnath Kovind and PM Modi at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

#Delhi: Iran President Hassan Rouhani meets President Ramnath Kovind and PM Modi at Rashtrapati Bhawan. pic.twitter.com/5pXZWUPcev  ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018

9:15am: Iran President Hassan Rouhani inspects guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Highlights of Rouhanis India visit

 Rouhani, who is a senior Shia cleric, on Friday visited the historic Mecca Masjid, a Sunni mosque, in Hyderabad to offer prayers and called for unity among Muslims across the world.

In his 30-minute public speech in Persian, said to be the first by a any countrys leader in this mosque, Rouhani urged Muslims to treat all human beings with love and affection in the true spirit of Islam. If Islam is presented before the world in true sense, then the whole world will love this religion, he said.

Read | Hassan Rouhani in India: Will India-Iran ties match the rhetoric?

 Earlier, the Iranian delegation visited the historic Golconda Fort and Qutub Shahi tombs Hyderabad. They went around the Qutub Shahi tombs complex, housing mausoleums of rulers of the Qutub Shahi Dynasty (1518-1687) who had Iranian lineage.

 Meanwhile, Iran has expressed willingness to share its vast oil and natural gas resources with India and simplify visa norms to strengthen bilateral ties.

Rouhani also said the current century belongs to Asia where New Delhi and Tehran have an important role to play.

The Chabahar port in the Gulf country will open up the transit route for India to Iran and Afghanistan (bypassing Pakistan), Central Asian countries and Europe, he told the congregation at the historic Mecca Masjid after offering Friday prayers.

The president said Iran is hopeful India will reciprocate by simplifying visa rules to enhance people-to-people contact.The Madhya Pradesh police have announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for information on Congress MLA Hemant Katare who, police said, was not appearing before them in connection with a case of rape and abduction despite being served summons.

We announced a reward of Rs 10,000 against Katare Friday night as he is absconding and is not appearing before the police despite summons, Bhopal superintendent of police (SP-South) Rahul Kumar Lodha said Saturday.

Police have also announced a reward for Vikramjit Singh, an aide of the complainant in Katares case, officials said. Singh is untraceable since January 24 when a 21-year-old journalism student was arrested for allegedly trying to extort money from Katare after threatening to file a rape case against the MLA.

The student, while in jail, had complained against Katare alleging that he had raped her several times following which police lodged a case of rape and abduction against the Congress MLA on February 2.

Police had also constituted a nine-member special investigation team (SIT) to probe the allegations against the MLA.

Katare, in his defence, had earlier said that the journalism student had met him a couple of times and, along with her aide Singh, had tried to extort money.

Police had arrested the woman when she came to collect Rs 5 lakh as part of a settlement with the MLA. She was granted bail on February 5, officials said.An impoverished tribal woman in Chhattisgarhs Bastar district donated the body of her 21-year son, who died in an accident, to a hospital in Jagdalpur as she did not have any money to transport his body to her village for his last rites.

The victim identified as Baaman of Kutulnaar village was reportedly hit by an unidentified vehicle on Monday. He was taken to a hospital in Jagadalpur but passed away on Thursday.

I had no money to perform the last rites and to transport my sons body, said Sudhari Bai, while explaining the reason for donating her sons body. No one helped us. A person at the hospital suggested that we donate the body and we agreed.

Her village is about 20 km away from Jagadalpur. Sudhari Bais husband had died earlier and Baaman was her only child with whom she was living. The young man was a marginal farmer.

Mangal Singh, in-charge of the mortuary of Jagdalpur medical college, said he had asked the family to donate the body to the medical college.

While the news once again highlighted the grinding poverty in a remote tribal area, authorities saw virtue in the helpless mothers act of donating her sons body.

The media is looking only at the negative aspect of this act. Body donation is rarely done in this area...This is a positive thing which the lady has done, said Dhananjay Dewangan, the collector of Jagdalpur.

When asked why authorities did not provide monetary help to her for transporting the body for the last rites, the collector said, I dont know how this happened.Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said on Saturday that he was running out of patience with the Centre and that he was ready for any sacrifice to protect the states interest.

Speaking at a meeting in Narsaraopet of Guntur district, the chief minister said the Centre failed to do justice to the state despite repeated requests.

I cannot keep quiet for long if the Centre continues to do injustice to the state. I never compromise in my life on the interests of my state. We are ready for any sacrifice in the interest of the state, Naidu said.

I wish the unrest that prevailed in Assam and Punjab in the past does not arise in Andhra now, as the people are very much agitated and upset with the Centre.

His party, the Telugu Desam Party, is a constituent of the ruling National Democratic Alliance.

His comments came roughly a week after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) presented a 27-page note detailing measures and assistance given by the Centre to the southern state.

Key among them was the promise of a special development package, alternative measures to pay the state and promises to make up its revenue deficit till 2020. A Union finance ministry official had also confirmed that discussions were underway on new demands made by Andhra Pradesh.

But on Saturday, Naidu indicated that might not be enough. Stating that his party joined the NDA government only for rebuilding Andhra Pradesh after the creation of Telangana, the chief minister said he visited New Delhi 29 times and met everybody at the Centre seeking assistance.

But still, the state did not get what it was rightful due. Even in the latest budget, which is the last full-fledged budget of the NDA government, justice was not done to Andhra Pradesh, he said.

BJP state unit president and Visakhapatnam MP Kambhapati Hari Babu said he would not like to comment on the political strategies of the TDP.

Maybe they want to gain political mileage by telling the people that the BJP had done nothing for the state, he said. He reiterated the partys claim that the Centre had extended much more assistance to Andhra Pradesh than ever before.

We have fulfilled all the promises made in the Act, except three  Dugarajapatnam port, Vizag railway zone and Kadapa steel plant. The Centre is seriously looking into these issues and come out with a solution soon, he added

In his speech earlier in the day, Naidu demanded the Centre fulfil all promises made in the 2014 Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and also assurances given by former prime minister Manmohan Singh at the time of bifurcation.

The Centre should handhold Andhra Pradesh until it is developed on par with other south Indian states in terms of per-capita income.

Naidu said he was ready for debate on how much the state had got from the Centre vis-a-vis other states. He also took exception to the demand of some BJP leaders that the state should furnish accounts on the utilisation of funds released by the Centre so far.

Like the Centre, the states too have their own autonomy and sovereignty. The state is answerable to the assembly and the Centre to the Parliament. In my opinion, the Centre has no right to ask the state to show accounts for the funds released by the Centre for various schemes, he said.The political blame game over one of Indias biggest bank frauds continued on Saturday, with the BJP targeting Congress president Rahul Gandhi for attending an event organised by jeweller Nirav Modi.

Gandhi hit back minutes later, blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for destroying the economy.

In June 2013, (the state-owned insurer) LIC took a 4% stake in Gitanjali gems; the finance ministry questioned it. The ministry said the company has been questioned for malpractice and also suspended from doing business in NSE for almost six months. On September 13, Rahul Gandhi participated in a promotional event for this group and on September 15, a proposal for restructuring the loan and giving additional loan up to Rs 1,550 crore goes to Allahabad bank, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.

An independent director of Allahabad Bank has claimed he was against the loan, wrote to the Reserve Bank of India and the government against it, and then, when pushed to sign off on the loan, resigned in protest.

Gandhi brushed aside the allegations of his ties with the jeweller and said they are trying to divert the issue. He even drew a link between demonetisation and the PNB fraud, saying it all started when the PM banned Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes and when he took out all public money and put it into the banking system.

The government has said it will spare no one but Opposition parties have hit out at the government for the fraud and for allowing Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi to leave India.

Sitharaman alleged that Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvis wife Anita and his son are directors in the company Adwait Holdings that had given its premises in Mumbais Lower Parel on lease to Modis company, Firestar Diamond. The BJP also demanded to know why the Congress-led UPA government sought the resignation of a whistle-blower (the Allahabad bank director Dinesh Dubey) who had flagged concerns about giving loans to Modis Gitanjali Gems.

Rejecting the charges, Singhvi said his family has no links with Modi. Nirav Modis company was a tenant of a Kamala Mills property owned by Adwait Holdings in which my wife and sons are directors. Adwait Holdings owns a commercial property at Parel, as it does elsewhere, which was rented by Firestone many years ago. Neither Adwait nor my family has any interest with Modi or Firestone. Last August, Firestone gave notice to quit the tenancy and vacated the Kamala Mills premises in December 2017, Singhvi said.

The original sin was committed in 2011 with help of delinquent officials. Letters of undertaking with currency of 90 days were not put into the core banking system; they were with the delinquent officer who kept files under his control, Sitharaman said.

Meanwhile, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury initiated talks with other opposition parties to press for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the fraud.The Congress on Saturday made a direct allegation against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and finance minister Arun Jaitley, saying both were aware that the country was being looted in the over Rs 11,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud.

The party asked if Modi will order a probe in the fraud.

Why is PM Modi refusing to disclose who travels with him on his official trips? Is this the kind of Ease of Doing Business PM Modi talks about, asked Congress leader Kapil Sibal.

Some corporates are among the private persons who travel with the prime minister on official trips. I want to ask ever since he (Modi) became PM, how many assets have Nirav Modi bought and how much loans has he taken.

You will get to know that banks loans will be more and assets less. Will PM Modi order an inquiry on the PNB scam. These are all scams in the waiting, he added.

Sibal also said: You have institutionalised crony capitalism. They buy assets with our money and when they become defaulters, they flee the country.

The kind of Ease of Doing Business Nirav Modi has done, India has become number one in Ease of Doing Business, Sibal said sarcastically.

He further challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to talk about UPAs governance and their governance.

Because of their ill-intentions, they have brought Indias economy to its knees. BJP should be ashamed of calling 2G a scam. It should be ashamed of bringing countrys economy to its knees. IT, communication sector is under huge debt.

What was PMO doing when big bank scams were happening? Finance Ministry and PMO were aware that this country was being looted. We are making direct allegation against the prime minister and finance minister. They turned a blind eye. They knew that the country is being looted, he added.

According to CBI FIR, there are a total of 151 LOUs (Letters of Undertaking) in 2017, and the payments were due in 2018. why there is no clarification from FM and why is the PM silent, Sibal asked.

Read | As probe into PNB case widens, a look at what led to the loan fraud

Sibal also said: What has HRD Ministry, Social Justice Ministry and Law Minister got to do with Nirav Modi and the scam? Why is the Finance Minister not answering to our questions related to the scam.

PM Modi, if you dont take action against those who are holding banks 70-80 thousand crores, who will show faith in the Indian economy. People have lost faith in you and the way you are destroying our economy, soon people will lose faith in India, he said.

The state of the country is such that the chowkidar (PM) is sleeping and the thief has escaped, Sibal added.

The party also asked why Modi was silent on the issue and how did the agencies permit billionaire diamond merchant Nirav Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi and others to leave India.

When a complaint was lodged against Mehul Choksi in the PMO, it was not even taken into consideration, said Sibal.The NDA government will frame a policy in consultation with states to intervene in agricultural markets whenever prices of farm produce plunge below federally fixed minimum support prices (MSPs), agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh said on Friday, articulating a plan to alleviate one of the main causes of agrarian distress that could have serious electoral implications for the government.

To follow through on a key budget proposal promising 50% returns for 23 crops and compensation for market losses, the Centre will hold a meeting with all states in the first week of March, Singh said in an interview. Letters have already been sent out to all chief ministers, he added.

Prices of key commodities falling below MSPs  a floor price to prevent distress sales  led to a wave of protests last year by farmers in many states, including some large ones ruled by the BJP.

To fix 50% returns, the Centre will use a prevailing method called A2+FL to calculate cultivation costs; this includes all out-of-pocket expenses of farmers plus the value of family labour.

Farmer organisations have been demanding the use of a more complete measure called C2, which includes imputed costs of capital and rent on land.

NITI Aayog, the governments policy think-tank, and the agriculture ministry will discuss the details with the states when they meet, Singh said.

There are two,three models being studied. Essentially the broad policy will be that if prices fall below MSP, then there will definitely be government intervention to ensure that farmers are compensated adequately in accordance with the notified MSP, Singh said.

A senior government official said on condition of anonymity that the Centre might have to choose multiple mechanisms which run concurrently, depending on what states prefer.

These could include direct procurement (buying of produce) from farmers, payment of the difference between MSP and the prevailing average price, or a direct lump sum payment at the beginning of each sowing season. In each of these, the Centre will jointly fund the operations with states.

The Centre is also considering incentives such as tax breaks for private firms that are willing to buy from farmer, this person added, although he didnt elaborate on this proposal which will require significant changes in the way private firms are allowed to buy agricultural produce.

Whether we go for price-deficit payment like Madhya Pradesh or procurement intervention, for each type of intervention, we will have to have a standardized norms, the government official said.

The central government may have to spend Rs 12,000-15,000 crore on these interventions, he added. Madhya Pradesh already has a scheme to pay farmers for their losses, while Telengana makes a direct lump sum payment to farmers.Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Saturday chaired the first meeting of the partys Steering Committee, formed after dissolving the Central Working Committee (CWC), to finalise the schedule of plenary session.

Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, besides other leaders like AK Antony, Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge attended the meeting.

Gandhi had dissolved the CWC and formed a 34-member Steering Committee to work in its place till a new CWC was set up.

The partys plenary session, to be attended by all AICC delegates who elected the new Congress chief, is likely to be held before March 5 when the second part of Budget Session of Parliament starts.

While all past CWC members are part of the new committee, some permanent invitees like Amarinder Singh, Vilas Muttemwar, RK Dhawan, Shivajirao Deshmukh, MV Rajasekharan and Mohsina Kidwai, and all special invitees have been dropped from the new panel.

According to the partys Constitution, the 25-member CWC has 12 elected members and 11 nominated members, besides the Congress president and the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

The new members of the CWC will be elected either at the plenary or after it.The only time Manik Sarkar seems exasperated is when one suggests to him that Tripura has fallen behind in the race for development in the 20 years under him.

Do you even know where Tripura was before the CPM took over? says the states veteran chief minister, sitting in his office, a portrait of neither Marx nor Lenin, but Rabindranath Tagore, in the backdrop. He then reels off statistics to prove progress in each sphere.

As Tripura heads to polls, the 69-year- old Sarkars biggest challenge is fighting not the BJP, but public memory.

It is quite widely acknowledged that Sarkar ended insurgency and brought peace to the state. But the era of peace has meant that a new generation has emerged, with little memory of conflict, but with aspirations of modernity. And Sarkars CPM is seen to be struggling to meet those aspirations. Would the man  the only communist chief minister across the swathe of north, west, central, east India  be able to remind citizens of how Tripura used to be before he came to power? Or will dreams of a better future overwhelm the memories of conflict and push citizens towards poribirtan (change)?

Find your candidates in Tripura

In that lies the story of the 2018 election in the state, which votes for a 60-member assembly on Sunday.

The Agartala doctrine

While CPM has been in power for 25 years, Sarkar took over in 1998. In a state where the primary fault line is between Bengalis and tribals, Tripura was then reeling under a tribal insurgency. He recalls, At that point, people were under severe threat from the extremist onslaught. These groups were operating from camps in Bangladesh. They were pampered and nurtured by ISI and CIA. They divided people on ethnic lines and created trouble in the state. My biggest challenge was bringing peace.

To tackle this, Sarkar claims he involved people across communities and ran an ideological campaign. They were raising ideological-political questions by demanding secession and the ouster of outsiders. We had to debunk this first and counter it with correct explanations. Sarkar claims they supplemented this with development activities. On the security front, in a lesson that may have a resonance in other parts of the country, Sarkar said he did not interfere in operation of forces. My principle was liberty with caution. I gave them authority but you cannot be trigger-happy and cant win without the support of the people.

These three components  ideological, developmental, security  helped. But it may not have been enough without the external component.

We are surrounded on three sides by Bangladesh. The border is porous. Camps were there. I used to give them specific information, but the Bangladesh government was not helpful and we didnt get support.

This was when Begum Khaleda Zia governed the country. What Sarkar does not mention, but has been documented by journalist Subir Bhaumik in his book, The Agartala Doctrine, is how Sarkar authorised limited trans-border action against insurgents by Tripura Police in total secrecy.

These attacks on rebel bases and safe houses used a combination of surrendered militants and Bangladeshi mafia lords, writes Bhaumik. In this, Sarkar had the backing of the then home minister LK Advani. Rarely has an Indian state, not even the Centre, attempted a sustained covert trans border offensive campaign against armed militants like the Manik Sarkar-led government, wrote Bhaumik.

This led to a drop in violence and allowed CPM cadres to begin their political campaign. Externally too, Bangladeshs outlook improved.

Sarkar says, Things changed after Sheikh Hasina came to power and said their soil wont be allowed to be used against India. She cracked down. I must give her credit. The violence levels dipped so much that Tripura even withdrew the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the state, leading to the celebration of Sarkar as a man committed to civil liberties.

Not everyone agrees with this description of Sarkars record.

Many voters praised Manik Sarkars own integrity and austerity  he is a good man, goes the refrain  before suggesting a change may be in order. (Illustration: Malay Karmakar)

One of his fiercest critics is Congress working president, Pradyot Manikya Deb Barman, who is also from the Tripura royal family and is a tribal. Manik Sarkar is a Bengali chauvinist. Bengalis in Tripura have come largely from east Pakistan. They have suffered through the 20th century during Partition, in east Pakistan, during Bangladeshs liberation and after. Sarkar decided he would protect Bengalis and became their leader. In that quest, he quashed tribal insurgency. The fact that a lot of the media in the Northeast is controlled by Bengalis helped in his image building, says Deb Barman.

There were fake encounters under him. He has only allowed pliant tribal leaders to grow. There has been no development in tribal areas, says David Debbarma, a young tribal entrepreneur.

The development story

But for the most part, Sarkar is given credit for bringing peace. Many voters hailed the stability. This peace, rather than any form of dogmatic communism, is the key to understanding his success. But this could now be a source of vulnerability because a new generation wants more.

At Tripura University, students speak of the need for jobs and of how CPM cadre monopolise government employment. In the outskirts of the capital, local police officials speak of low pay (government employees are still on the Fourth Pay Commission in the state). An Agartala shopkeeper speaks of lack of industrialisation. A political opponent mocks how the capital got its first set of traffic lights only a few weeks ago.

Sarkar believes that this ignores what he has actually achieved. To go from Agartala to Kolkata via Assam used to be a 1600km trip. I remember protesting in Delhis Boat Club, meeting Rajiv Gandhi, demanding greater rail connectivity in Tripura. Air links were poor. When I took over, communication was so poor that I could not talk to even my BDOs (Block Development Officers). There was a power deficit.

Sarkar then enumerates the changes that have come about: national highways; 900km of state highways; 8,000 habitats connected by road; broad-gauge rail links; 26-28 daily flights from Agartala (We have the second busiest airport in the Northeast after Guwahati); power surplus (We sell 140 MW to Bangladesh); irrigation; 98% literacy (We have the highest literacy rate in the country now); healthcare (96% people avail public health services).

All of this, Sarkar claims, has paved the way for industry to come in. He speaks of connectivity plans with Bangladesh and South East Asia. It seems like speaking to a man with ambitions of placing Tripura at the heart of a grand capitalist enterprise rather than a left ideologue wary of capital-based economic engagement with the world. And on unemployment, which is a key issue, Sarkar says, No district, no state is free of unemployment across the country. Dont single out a small state like Tripura. We are now moving to the next stage of development. He also rejects charges that his administration has favoured Bengalis over tribals.

The poor CM

But if the CPM is able to retain Tripura, it will be less to do with the governments development record and more to do with Sarkars personal image.

Many voters praised Sarkars own integrity and austerity  he is a good man, goes the refrain  before suggesting a change may be in order.

An Association for Democratic Reforms list recently ranked him as the poorest chief minister, with total assets of Rs 26 lakh. He gives his salary to the party, which then gives him an allowance. It is now up to Rs 8,000, says Sarkar, with a laugh.

But critics say this cannot be a cover for the wrongdoings in the government. Tapas Dey, Congress Tripura Research Department Chair, says, Manik is poor but not honest. He has not controlled corruption in his ministerial ranks. The BJP, aware of the need to cast doubts on Sarkar, has taken up the issue of the Rose Valley Chit Fund Scam  a ponzi scheme which has victimised many in the state, and one in which CPM ministers are potentially implicated.

Sarkar himself inaugurated an amusement park of the company, opening himself to accusations. Sarkar dismissed these allegations. It is all false. This is all political.

It is in this backdrop  of a restive new generation, of tribal discontent, of four-term incumbency  that Sarkar is fighting his biggest political battle, of defending Tripura from his partys biggest enemy, the BJP. When asked about the saffron surge in the state, he said, Tripura is not an oasis. If India is threatened by them, how can Tripura not be? But Tripura is fighting valiantly and bravely. We are confident.

At a time when Indias communist movement is in the throes of a crisis, all its hopes rest on this one man to keep the red flag flying.Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is recommending new tariffs that many of his Cabinet colleagues oppose. Photo: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

Its not a big surprise, given Commerce Secretary Wilbur Rosss well-known protectionist sentiments, and the very nature of the rarely used legal authority Trump asked him to explore, which more or less presumes ill will from countries that are expanding exports to the U.S. But its still big breaking news that Ross is recommending that the president impose very large tariffs (and possibly other trade-restricting sanctions) on countries from which we import steel and aluminum products. Axios has the scoop:

The Department of Commerce will recommend tariffs on steel and aluminum that, if applied, would be the first shots in a global trade war, according to two sources briefed on the report.

Aluminum: 7.7% tariff on all aluminum exports from all countries. 23.5% on all products from China, Russia, Venezuela and Vietnam. A quota on imports from all countries to a maximum of 86.7% of their 2017 exports to the U.S.

Steel: Global tariff of 24% on all imports. Tariff of 53% (at least) on steel imports from Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, India, Malaysia, Korea, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. A quota of 63% of 2017 exports for the countries listed in the prior sentence. All other countries can export at 100% of 2017 levels, but above that face tariffs.

The authority for this proposed action is Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which was intended to address dumping of products through pricing designed to penetrate U.S. markets. Its use, ever, is controversial, particularly in orthodox conservative economic circles where unencumbered trade is assumed to be positive in all but the most exceptional circumstances. And the kind of sanctions Ross is recommending will cause major conniption fits in Republican and business circles, in part because of their potential effect on companies and products utilizing imported steel and aluminum, but mostly because of the potential for retaliation by affected countries, especially China. Axios quotes one trade expert predicting that if Trump accepts these recommendations, it will represent a declaration of war against the world on aluminum and steel, and another who suggests that it could wreck the World Trade Organization, the chief arbiter of trade rules.

Trump has until April 11 to accept or reject Rosss recommendations, and you can expect the mother of all internal lobbying fights over the issue between now and then.

Gary Cohn, Steven Mnuchin, Rex Tillerson and James Mattis have all been fighting against these tariffs on steel and aluminum  arguing they would harm the global economy and damage relationships with allies.

One political factor to keep in mind is a rapidly approaching special congressional election in southwest Pennsylvania, a historic steel-producing area where protectionist sentiments have been important to local politics not just for decades but for close to a couple of centuries. The GOP candidate in this heavily Republican district, Rick Saccone, is struggling a bit. Nothing would be more natural to Trump than to announce big tariffs prior to the March 13 balloting in this race. Indeed, a scheduled presidential appearance with Saccone next week might have offered the perfect opportunity, until the trip was postponed indefinitely as part of Trumps reaction to the massacre in Parkland.

This could give the opponents of high aluminum and steel tariffs a bit more time to lobby against their imposition. But make no mistake, trade policy is a subject on which Donald Trump has perpetually differed from most Republicans, and hes reportedly been itching throughout his presidency for an opportunity to throw a scare into China. Whether the proposed tariffs would most frighten Beijing, or instead the already jittery global markets, is a question to which we may soon learn the answer.The slogan of chalo paltai (lets change) is catching on in tribal Tripura, and thats a good news for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The tagline is part of partys emerging template for the northeast.

Tribals make up 31% of Tripuras population, which also has a large number of Bengalis.

Using symbolism to strike a chord with the tribal voters, the BJP decided to modify its political icon, Bharat Mata. Shes not dressed in a sari, but is dressed as a Reang in Reang regions, as a Chakma in areas where that tribe is prominent, and so on.

Stating that Bharat Mata can be dressed in all Indian attires, former RSS leader and BJPs Tripura in-charge, Sunil Deodhar, says it can be an effective way to counter the alienation that these tribes feel.

Though limited to social media for now, he plans to have 19 depictions of Bharat Mata in Tripura, and 300 across the northeast.

The partys poll promises include employment opportunities for every household, free smartphones for youngsters, accessible drinking water and greater national visibility and greater representation for tribals in the party and government.

As a sort of assurance, the BJP has allied with the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT), a party founded in 2009 to represent the interests of the states tribal population.

Though its demand for a separate Tipraland state alienated it from the Bengali population, the IPFT looks set to be a more serious contender this time after aligning with the BJP.

Ground report

Of the 20 tribal seats the BJP and IPFT are contesting from, the parties say they are confident of securing at least two  Bagma and Simna  for sure.

Electoral victories here could mark a significant start for the alliance partners. The CPI(M) has never lost an election in Simna (though it did lose one bypoll) and Bagma has been the bastion of current state forest minister Naresh Jamatia.

But the BJP has picked its candidate very carefully here. Rampada Jamatia, of the Jamatia tribe, was the treasurer of the Jamatia Hoda, the community council that has a strong say in community decision-making. To contest polls, he quit the council, but the party is banking on his influence on the community and the goodwill he has earned as a social worker.

Strong roots

RK Satapathy, a political science professor at the North-Eastern Hill University, says anti-incumbency began building against the Left before the 2013 election.

Senior journalist Shekhar Dutta, who has been writing on the state for over 30 years, agrees.

The Congress as the main Opposition was not able to turn the anti-incumbency to their advantage in the last election. There were close contests in many more seats though, Dutta says. That small margin may be bridged this time with BJPs cadre-based disciplined aggression and many senior Congress leaders joining them.

On a recent visit to the state, Satpathy found higher support for the BJP in urban areas while the rural regions were still Left leaning. These rural areas also include large tribal populations. On their own, the BJP and IPFT would not be strong in the tribal belt, but the alliance might fetch them better results, he says.

The BJPs over-ambitious electoral promises may have also worked in their favour, Satapathy feels.

Though these promises will be difficult to keep, for the voter they are enticing, he says. Their votes may eventually not be so much pro-BJP as they are anti-Left.More than 25 lakh voters will decide on Sunday whether Tripura continues to be a CPI(M) bastion or if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) manages to make inroads in the northeastern state.

In Indias electoral history, the countrys dominant Left party, the CPI(M), and the right-wing BJP have never been face-to-face in poll battle.

However, political developments in Tripura in 2016 and 2017 have set the stage for their first direct contest, with the saffron outfit emerging as the key Opposition in the Left bastion.

The CPI(M)-dominated Left Front has been in power in the state since 1978 except for 11 years (1972-1977 and 1988-1993) when the Congress and the breakaway Congress led by five chief ministers ruled the state.

A day before polling, both CPI(M) and BJP expressed confidence over their prospects, with the ruling party saying that people will reward it for the work it has carried out and the saffron party stating it will gain because of Prime Minister Narendra Modis developmental model.

In the lead-up to the elections, all top leaders of CPI(M), BJP, Congress and TMC participated in the hectic two-month-long campaign that ended on Friday. Modi held two rallies while Congress president Rahul Gandhi visited the state on the last day of the campaign.

CPI(M) leaders, including Sitaram Yechury and other politburo members, also addressed several rallies.

Trinamool Congress, which allied with two tribal-based parties  Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura and National Conference of Tripura  boosted its campaign by roping in leaders and film stars from West Bengal.

The voting will take place for 59 of the 60 assembly seats with voting for Charilam seat being deferred due to the death of sitting legislator and CPI(M) candidate Ramendra Debbarma.

A total of 297 candidates, including 23 women and many Independents, would be testing their electoral fortunes. The Left is contesting in all seats while the BJP will contest on 50 and leaving the remaining for its ally, an indigenous body, Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT).

The Congress, which has since 1983 fought the elections in alliance with a tribal-based party, is going alone this time.

The Election Commission has appointed RK Panchanand, former director general of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) as special observer to supervise security arrangement on the polling day. Two choppers and one air ambulance have been arranged to meet any emergency.

The 856-km-long Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura has been sealed and security forces have been deployed to ensure fair polls, the election commission officials said.

Adequate central and state security forces have been deployed to prevent any untoward occurrence. The voters can exercise their franchise fearlessly, said chief electoral officer S Tarunikanti.Indian-origin Gupta brothers - Ajay, Atul and Rajesh - at the centre of many of the scandals that led to the ouster of former South African President Jacob Zuma on February 14, enjoy paid Z-category security provided by the Uttarakhand government, government officials confirmed on Saturday.

Authorities said the South Africa-based Gupta brothers were provided the security as per rules.

Originally from Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh), the Gupta brothers, now on the run, own a plush bungalow in Dehraduns posh Curzon road area. Police personnel provide them security, besides guarding their mansion during the Gupta family members occasional visits to the town.

Officials familiar with the issue said Ajay was staying in his Curzon road mansion the day an embattled Zuma resigned following allegations of corruption. A day later, he flew to an unknown destination in a helicopter, the person said, adding that the high-flying Gupta brothers rubbed shoulders with bigwigs of the BJP, Congress and the Samjwadi Party in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

South Africas chief prosecutor Shaun Abrahams declared Ajay Gupta a fugitive from justice on Thursday after he failed to turn himself in to police.

Uttarakhands principal secretary (home), Anand Vardhan said the Guptas had been provided paid Z-category security by the state government but strictly as per norms. The decision to provide them paid Z-category security was taken by a committee strictly as per well laid out norms and following a proper scrutiny of all aspects including the threat perception, he said.

Director general of police (DGP) Anil Kumar Raturi refused to comment on the issue, saying orders in that connection were issued by the government.

Security issues are confidential and are not disclosed to the media. Such decisions on providing security (to individuals) are taken by the government, so you better ask the government, he said when asked if the police administration had objections to the governments move to provide Z-category security to the Gupta family.

Anil Gupta, related to the Guptas, held a minister-level post in the former Congress government led by then chief minister Vijay Bahuguna who is now in the ruling BJP. I dont know him personally but he (Anil Gupta) was the first politician Bahugunaji awarded the minister-level post under his government, Congress leader Surendra Kumar said.

The Bahuguna government first provided Z-category security to the Gupta brothers. The BJP government, which took over last year, withdrew their security but reinstated it later, officials familiar with the matter said.

According to media reports many politicians from Uttarakhand, such as former chief ministers Bahuguna, Harish Rawat and Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank attended functions hosted by the Guptas. But Surendra Kumar denied that former CM Rawat attended any such function.

We are in public life, so a number of people invite us to their functions. We can only be blamed when we attend functions of persons who are known criminals, Nishank said. How do we know that a person whose function we attend today would do something wrong tomorrow?Condemning the recurring political killings in north Kerala, vice-president Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday asked parties to sort out issues ideologically and appealed to people to isolate perpetrators of violence.

It is natural to have differences. But you should sort them out through discussions and debates. We can sort them out ideologically, not through violent means, Naidu told a gathering at a book release in Kozhikode, without naming any party.

Kannur in north Kerala is notorious for recurring politically revengeful killings and clashes between activists of the Left and saffron outfits, with more than 200 such murders taking place in the last 30 years.

Naidus comments come in the backdrop of the recent murder of a Youth Congress activist M Shuhaib in Mattanoor. He was allegedly attacked by a group of CPI(M) workers on Monday, weeks after the student wings of the two outfits clashed.

The vice-president, who released a book written by BJP leader P S Sreedharan Pillai, observed that violence and development cannot go together and parties should take initiatives to end bloodshed.

Violence is no answer to any problem. It will destroy the social fabric and affects development of the area. It is time to put a full stop to violence in the state, he said, appealing people to isolate forces that perpetrate violence.

Meanwhile, father of Shuhaib, M P Muhamed, a Gulf-returnee, sought a CBI probe into his sons murder. We have lost faith in the police. Five days have passed since the brutal murder took place, but the police are yet to contact me. It seems they are trying to shield the real culprits, he said.Contrary to the state governments claim that lakhs of farmers will benefit from the loan waiver announced by chief minister Vasundhara Raje in this years budget, the ground reality looks different, at least in western Rajasthan.

Raje has announced a one-time loan waiver of up to 50,000 for small and marginal farmers in Rajasthan.

However, 90% farmers of Barmer and Jaisalmer districts are not benefitting from the announcement due to geographical conditions of the region.

According to the announcement, loan waiver scheme is for small and marginal farmers in the overdue and outstanding category of short-term loan provided by cooperative banks. Farmers holding farm land up to two hectares will be eligible to avail the scheme.

However, in border districts of Barmer and Jaisalmer, an average farmer holds 30 to 60 bigha (5 to 10 hectare) land, though the land fertility is poor. On the basis of collected data, sources in the cooperative banks said that there are around 5 lakh farmers in Barmer. Of them, only 2 lakh farmers have taken short-term cooperative loans. Out the 2 lakh, 1.8 lakh are those farmers who possess 30 to 60 bigha land, which makes them ineligible for the scheme.

Only 15,000 to 20,000 farmers will benefit from the loan waiver scheme, the sources said.

Leaders of the two main political parties in Rajasthan  the Congress and the BJP  have raises their voices over the issue.

BJP legislature from Sheo Manvendra Singh Jasol, while speaking in the assembly, requested the government to review the scheme considering the geographical conditions of Barmer and Jaisalmer districts.

Congress legislature from Barmer Mevaram Jain also had requested for the same from the government. If norms will not change or special relaxation will not given be to the farmers of Barmer and Jaisalmer, this loan waiver scheme will be meaningless for them, he said.

Congress national secretary Harish Choudhary said that inclusion of only small and marginal farmers who got short-term loan through cooperative banks in the loan waiver scheme raises doubt on the governments intention.

Calling the government anti-farmer, Choudhary said it has nothing to do with their problems. Farmers in state are demanding total loan waiver, but government ignored them, he said. In a face saving exercise government has taken this step (waiving off loan), while betraying lakhs of farmers in a technical way, he said.Hundreds of students of Ajmer government girls engineering college on Saturday staged road blockade protesting against the high fee structure for the Bachelor of Technology courses in the institute.

The students shouted slogans the government and threatened that if their demand of reducing the fee was not met, they will campaign against the BJP in the coming assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

Students walked out of their classes and blocked the Ajmer-Nasirabad road for more than two hours. Police reached the spot and convinced the girl students to lift the blockade.

Taking a dig against Prime Ministers slogan of Beti Bachao aur Beti Padhao (save girl and educate girl), Neerja Sharma, a second year B.Tech student said: The slogan should be changed to save girl and burden her family with more than 6 lakh rupees by the time she passes out of college.

More than 80% of girls studying in college on education loan as their parents are not rich enough pay  90,000 for course fee and other expenses every year, said Sujata Gupta, another student.

By the time we pass out of the college after five years, each girl is under a debt of 5 to 6 lakh,  she said.

The fee for the B.Tech courses was increased by more than ten times from 8,000 every year when the college from the new academy session on April 30, 2007, a student, who did not want to be named, said.

State higher education minister Kiran Maheshwari during a visit to the college six months back, promised the students that their fee will be reduced to a reasonable level so that poor students do not find it hard to pay the fees while pursuing professional courses, the student said.

It is unfortunate that the government backed off from its promise when it started the college to give quality and affordable technical education to girls, a senior faculty member at the college, who did not wish to be named, said.

At the time of opening of college chief minister Vasundhara Raje promised that the government will take care of parents of girls who could not afford to educate their daughters, but the government has failed to keep its promise, the faculty member said, adding that fee is very high and is out of reach of poor students.A special screening of Akshay Kumar and Soonam Kapoor starrer Padman was organised for Anganwari workers, Asha Sahyoginis, female ward sarpanchs and panchs of Gogunda sub-division under the Swachch Bharat Mission in Udaipur on Saturday.

The aim through the screening of the film was to create awareness and eradicate the superstitions prevailing in India in connection with the use of sanitary napkins. It also aimed to educate the tribal women about menstrual hygiene and stop them from following unhygienic practices, Anjali Rajoria, the sub-divisional officer of Gogunda, told HT. Special arrangement was made for the film screening for more than 300 women, she said.

Manju Devi, one of the Anganwari workers, told HT, We found the film really inspirational. I will teach the girls coming to our Anganwari Kendra (centre) about using sanitary pads.

Another Anganwari worker, Meta Gameti, said, It was exciting seeing the big screen. The film is good. We have vowed not to use unhygienic practices during the menstrual period. We will inspire other women too about the importance of sanitary pads.

Udaipur district collector Bishnu Charan Mallick said, Keeping in view that equity and inclusion are important issues in sanitation and hygiene sectors and promotion of menstrual hygiene is also one of the important objectives of SBM (G) we decided to have a friendly interaction with school girls.

The idea was not just to promote clean hygienic practices, but also to ensure that the confidence of teenage girls is boosted and they do not feel limited or restricted because of a normal biological process. We shall continue holding lectures of similar kind among teenage girls, Mallick added.A local court in Kota on Saturday deferred the verdict in the Rudraksh abduction and murder case and set the next date for February 26.

The special scheduled caste and scheduled tribe court, that was hearing the case, was expected to give its verdict, but deferred it following a strike called by the members of the Kota Bar Association over their demand of setting up a bench of the Rajasthan High Court in the city.

Seven-year-old Rudraksh, a resident of Kotas Punit Handa neighbourhood, was abducted from a park near his house in on October 9, 2014.

The abductor had demanded a ransom of  2 crore from the boys parents for his release.

After the boys parents informed the Kota city police about the abduction, police recovered the body of the victim from a canal in Jakhmund in Bundi district the next day.

Police registered a case of and arrested the main accused Ankur Padia and his elder brother, Anoop from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh on October 27.

Police also arrested Padias servant Mahaveer Sharma for helping the accused while Karanjeet Singh, a resident of Delhi, was also arrested for selling a fake mobile SIM card to the accused.

In January 2015, Kotas Jawahar Nagar police filed a chargesheet and the hearing of the case continued for more than three years, during which the statements and evidences were recorded by the court.Responding to Gorkha Janmukti Morchas (GJM) demand for his resignation, BJP MP from Darjeeling and MoS, drinking water and sanitation, S S Ahluwalia, said on Friday that he was elected by the people and not by an individual.

Ahluwalias response came at a press conference in Siliguri, where he inaugurated a Passport Seva Kendra on Saturday. He is visiting his constituency after eight months.

Unless he tenders resignation and seeks apology, Ahluwalia could face protests from the aggrieved people in the hills. When people were suffering the local MP remained a spectator in Delhi, said GJM leader Binoy Tamang on Thursday.

Read: Centre yet to announce date for tripartite talks on Gorkhaland

Tamang is the government-appointed chairman of board of administrators in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). He is known to be close to the ruling Trinamool Congress. With the absconding GJM president Bimal Gurung charged with terrorist activities, Tamang and his associates now control the local administration.

Ahluwalia is visiting his constituency as a tourist after eight months. He has lost the moral right to visit the hills, alleged Tamang.

I shall come again after the budget session in Parliament is over, said the MP.

GJM is an ally of the NDA. Without GJMs support, neither Jaswant Sinha nor Ahluwalia could win the Lok Sabha seat in 2009 and 2014 respectively.

The political situation in the hills has however undergone a sea change since mid -2017.

Read: Bengal BJP chief accuses TMC government of trying to eliminate Bimal Gurung

With about a year to go for the next general elections, GJM now stands vertically split. The Binay Tamang faction and Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), the second largest party in the region, now share a cordial relation with the ruling Trinamool.

On Friday, Ahluwalia expressed his support for Bimal Gurung. If somebody wants to eliminate Bimal Gurung, or for that matter anyone, I shall protect him. The GJM led by Gurung was an ally, it still is, he said.

Manoj Dewan, the BJP Darjeeling (hills) district president, said, Tamang, who does not enjoy peoples mandate, has no right to speak against Ahluwalia, who has the peoples mandate.

Read: GJM calls off 104-day Darjeeling strike after Rajnath calls meet on Gorkhaland

Roshan Giri, general secretary of the GJM faction led by Bimal Gurung said, As peoples representative, Ahluwalia is doing his work sincerely in Delhi.

Both Gurung and Giri, apart from a few other GJM leaders, are facing UA(P)A charges and are on the run.

On September 26 last year, Gurung called off the 104-day-long shutdown in the hills following Union home minister Rajnath Singhs appeal and his assurance that a tripartite meeting would be held.

The meeting, however, never took place.A Kolkata court on Saturday rejected the bail plea of Hindu Samhati chief Tapan Ghosh, the teenager whose social media post led to the Basirhat riots and two others while hearing the case relating to attack on journalists by Samhati activists on Wednesday. The four were remanded in judicial custody till February 22.

The 17-year-old boy, out on bail after his alleged Facebook post triggered days of communal unrest in West Bengals Basirhat last year, was arrested along with Ghosh on Wednesday.

The chief of Hindu Samhati, a hardliner Hindu outfit in West Bengal, and the others allegedly attacked journalists at an event held in the heart of Kolkata to mark the organisations 10th foundation day.

Read: Hindu Samhati chief Tapan Ghosh, three others arrested for attacking journalists in Kolkata

Reporters and camera persons of various media houses were allegedly beaten up when they tried to talk to members of a Muslim family that, the Samhati claimed, had converted to Hinduism on that day.

Ghosh, also the founder of Hindu Samhati, was present on stage when the scuffle took place. He was later interrogated and arrested. He and the others were booked for attempt to murder, causing grievous hurt and other charges.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the attack and said strict action would be taken against the offenders.

Read: Minors behind FB posts that triggered communal clashes in Bengal granted bail, now in Hindutva outfits custody

Media is one of the pillars of democracy. They should not be attacked like this. An organisation can have its own philosophy. If they do not like the medias point of view, they can ignore it but such attacks must be condemned, said Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh.

Police said they would look into the reports of religious conversion at the event.

Read: Hindu outfits perform shastra puja across West Bengal on Bijoya Dashami

Formed in 2008, the Hindu Samhati website describes itself as an NGO that is the icon of hope to Hindus in West Bengal and says it regularly monitors and reports violence against Hindus in the state.

Last year, a 65-year-old man was killed as communal violence swept Basirhat in the North 24 Parganas district bordering Bangladesh after Muslim mobs went on a rampage, angered by a controversial Facebook post by the Hindu boy whose bail plea was rejected on Saturday.Katie Roiphe. Photo: Clint Spaulding/PatrickMcMullan

Last month, Katie Roiphe wrote an alternatingly brilliant and incoherent essay for Harpers on the #MeToo cultural moment. The combination of brilliance and incoherence accounts for the extraordinary volume of discussion it has provoked. Response essays continue to pour forth; two more, by Katha Pollitt and Adele Stan, appeared just yesterday. It bears a close enough resemblance to reality to demand widespread attention, but also contains enough distortions to provoke widespread attack.

Roiphe paints a convincing portrait of women forming whisper networks for sharing unfashionably skeptical views about #MeToo, which she likens to the whisper networks used by women to identify dangerous men in their workplaces.

Her complaint about the tenor of discussion, and the way in which angry and extreme rhetoric crowds out more nuanced thought, has some merit. Social media has made this dynamic more acute  not only in feminism but across the political culture, which has grown more polarized into communities in which the most strident iteration of the communitys shared belief is assumed to be the most authentic.

In a contentious and illuminating interview with Roiphe, Slates Isaac Chotiner contends that the antagonists Roiphe describes dont have the power of a crazy person as president behind them. Roiphe replies, You are saying they dont have power, but I think they do have power. I guess that is what I am trying to point out in my piece.

This disagreement about power, and who has it, has formed the main basis for the argument between Roiphe and her critics. They point out that she was able to publish her essay in a prestigious magazine. (Power!) She points out that in the course of attempting to stop it, they subjected her to a torrent of abuse. (Power!) They note, in response, that the attempt to suppress her story was intended to protect Moira Donegan, the author of the Shitty Media Men list, who they thought Roiphe intended to out, possibly subjecting her, Pollitt explains, to Gamergate-type stalking. (Power!) Donegan instead published her own account for the Cut, and has probably enhanced her stature as a result. One lesson here is that what looks on the outside like a cabal or a mob often looks on the inside like a community.

Framing her complaint in terms of power is Roiphes central error. It invites her critics to compare the dynamic she describes to sexual harassment itself. Roiphe embraces the comparison by calling her circle of friends who dont wish to be named criticizing #MeToo a whisper network. It preposterously turns their antagonists in a debate into the equivalent of Harvey Weinstein.

The real issue she identifies is not oppression. It is the increasing popularity of the strident discourse found on social media, in which the truth is seen within the community as fixed, and opponents motivated by evil. Hardly anybody disputes the existence of this dynamic any more, or bothers to defend it. As a substitute for a positive defense, the common reply is the one Chotiner made: So what? They have no power.

The answer is that, while they may not have a great deal of power over their victims, who are free to ignore their social-media mentions, they have power over their own community. The call-out culture is not something women are inflicting upon men, or the left is doing to the right. It is something the left is doing to itself. It is increasingly adopting norms and protocols of discussion that treat debate and deliberation as unnecessary or threatening. In these subcultures, which are mostly found in academia and online, but also sometimes in regular politics, the most left-wing position is axiomatically associated with oppressed groups, and any criticism of it with privilege. Any further search for truth or examination of the facts of a given case is superfluous, and an ever-expanding list of buzzwords can be deployed to categorize and foreclose any conceivable objection: it is #whitetears or #notallmen or or #whiteinnocence or #mansplaining, etc., etc.

You could see the poisonous dynamic unfurl when the Rolling Stone story alleging a rape appeared. You could see it when the initial, erroneous narrative that Michael Brown had been shot with his hands up while trying to surrender formed. I cant claim to have had a sharp enough eye to detect the weaknesses in these eventually discredited stories. I passively accepted both accounts before they blew up. But I did notice the swarms of angry progressives on social media, rallying to dismiss any and all skeptics of the factual accounts as rape deniers or white-supremacist defenders of police execution.

The issue isnt that the many women who are telling Roiphe theyre afraid to share their views on sexual harassment are being oppressed. The issue is that the left is being denied the opportunity to hear their perspective, to probe its own case for weaknesses. Progressives should take the fear Roiphe is describing more seriously for what it says about their movements internal health and long-term prospects.

++

Roiphe goes awry when she attempts to conflate extreme feminist rhetoric about the post-Weinstein reckoning with the operation of the reckoning itself. Here is the odd thing: the total number of men identified by Roiphe as having lost their jobs or suffered unfair consequences as a result of overblown sexual-harassment accusations is zero. Pollitt writes, Roiphe thinks that was unfair that Lorin Stein lost his job as editor of the Paris Review, but Roiphe doesnt actually say that. She simply notes in the essay that he was fired and disavows any judgment one way or another: Im not equipped to investigate or arbitrate acknowledged misconduct or any other allegations that may surface in the future.

Its easy to see why so many people believe Roiphe has made this case, though. I had to read her essay several times to notice the absence of any position about the subject on which everybody believes it has taken a strident stance. Instead she makes an argument about the discussions people have about the #MeToo movement. Roiphe is a skillful enough prose stylist to hide this gaping void. So, for instance, she states, Josephine Livingstone issued a fresh dictum in The New Republic: You probably shouldnt kiss anybody without asking  The world has changed, and affirmative consent is now the standard. Having previously spent 16 years writing for The New Republic, I can confidently state that an opinion shared within its pages is not a dictum and has no force of law whatsoever.

What would the world look like if the kinds of militant, uncompromising views Roiphe is grappling with had controlling power? It would look a lot like the kangeroo court process that is found on many campuses. Writers like Emily Yoffe and Jeannie Suk Gersen have reported out and analyzed the illiberal norms used to prosecute sexual-assault allegations in this environment, and have produced a litany of accounts of injustice. There is precious little evidence these methods and norms have been adopted within the news media and Hollywood, let alone corporate America writ large, which is more conservative.

The kinds of miscarriages of justice Yoffe collects are conspicuously absent from Roiphes argument. Possibly this is merely because there is so much low-hanging fruit available  decades of overdue reckoning with very bad actors like Weinstein, Mark Halperin, and so on  that the feminist police havent gotten around yet to tormenting the innocent. But I would say that on the whole, the #MeToo movement is acting in a measured and responsible fashion. The most culturally influential voices at the moment are feminist critics like Michelle Goldberg and my colleague Rebecca Traister, who take seriously the possibility of false accusations and the need for responses proportional to the offense.

Many a revolution has started off persecuting only the wicked, only to veer off track later. Perhaps the troubling signs Roiphe detects are portents of a dark future. Alas, her overwrought imagery makes no allowance for this possibility. Roiphes totalitarian imagery  they are low-level secret policeman in a new totalitarian state, she has a feeling of not being able to speak  makes barely any allowance for a debate that has very much been joined. It has not yet been lost. It may not be at all.Modernisation of madarsas (Islamic schools) seems to be the main focus of chief minister Yogi Adityanath government, who not only increased the budget for minorities welfare by 10% but allocated its substantial chunk for upgrading and transforming the institutions.

Of Rs 2,757 crore allocated under the minorities development and welfare schemes, Rs 404 crore has been set aside for the modernisation scheme for Arabi-Farsi madarsas.

Its a welcome step. We hope the funds would be utilized to provide modern education and improve teaching infrastructure as also the lot of madarsa teachers, said Mohd Farooq, who runs a madarsa on Lucknow-Sitapur highway.

The Yogi government has already taken a decision to introduce NCERT books and make math and science compulsory subjects at the higher secondary level in madarsas. Besides madarsas, a sum of Rs 486 crore has also been provided in the budget as grant for Arabic Schools.

To give a fillip to its madarsa registration scheme, the state government intends to provide another Rs 215 crore by way of grant to 246 permanently recognised Arabi-Farsi Madarsas of Aalia Level.

Last year, soon after coming to power, the BJP government had reduced the minority welfare budget by Rs 580 crores compared to the Akhilesh Yadav government. The total allocation for minorities welfare was Rs 2475.61 crores, which has been upped by Rs 282 crore (Rs 2,757 crore) this year.

For minority students, the Yogi government has allotted Rs 1500 crore for various scholarships and fee shortfall. Another key aspect is the provision to build female hostels in minority-dominated areas.

A sum of Rs 74 crore has been earmarked for the marriages of destitute and underprivileged. Akhilesh Yadav government had made a provision of Rs 100 crore for assisting marriages of Muslim girls.

The budget sets aside a decent provision of Rs 800 crore for madarsas. Good. But I would have been more happy if the state government had decided to set up ITI, IIT, medical or management institute for the minorities, says Fauzan Alvi, a young entrepreneur in meat procession business.

He said Muslims constitute around 20% of the states population. If you look at it from proportional representation point of view its not much. But I guess, the time has come when the community should introspect and try to progress on its resources rather than rely on government aid, he said.Tabling the budget for 2018-19 in the legislative assembly, UP finance minister Rajesh Agarwal on Friday said the government was committed to neutralising terrorist activities in the state.

The government is raising a special police operation team (SPOT) within the anti-terrorist squad (ATS) to meet the challenges of the terror groups active in the state, Agarwal said.

The state government has allocated Rs 35 crore for the purchase of equipment for SPOT and Rs 15 crore for salary and other heads.

The ATS officers will train the personnel of special weapon and tactics (SWAT) deployed in the districts to counter terrorist activities. Policemen deployed in counter-terrorist operations will be imparted intensive training, Agarwal said.

For the security of women, the government has increased the capacity of 181 Women Helpline from 6 to 30 networks. Women will get round-the-clock service from the helpline, he said.

Stressing that the government is working without discrimination Agarwal said special counters had been set up for registration of FIR. He said the aim was to create a society free of any fear.

The legislative assembly passed the UP Control of Organised Crime Bill (UPCOCB) in the winter session but the legislative council referred it to the select committee. Once enacted, UPCOCA will prove to be an important tool to control organised crime, Agarwal said.

After coming to power in March last year, the BJP government constituted an anti-Romeo squad for the security of women and girls. The squad has been effective in providing security to women. The anti-land mafia team has freed the government land from the clutches of land sharks, he added.

He said the state government had decided to purchase 673 vehicles to ensure quick movement of the police force. Each police station will get two new vehicles.

An allocation of Rs 9.50 crore has been made to strengthen policing during Kumbh-2019 in Allahabad.

RS 10 CR FOR SOLAR LIGHTS IN JAILS

Besides setting up gaushalas (cowsheds) in 12 prisons, the government has decided to illuminate jails with solar energy. The state government has allocated Rs 10 crore for the installation of solar energy-based power plant in jails. The state government has also decided to construct additional toilets in all the prisons.

VIP SECURITY TO BE STRENGTHENED IN GORAKHPUR, GHAZIABAD

In view of the visits of chief minister Yogi Adityanath to Gorakhpur and movement of VIPs in NCR region, the government has allotted Rs 58.55 lakh to strengthen security arrangements for VIPs in Gorakhpur and Ghaziabad districts. An allocation of Rs 641 lakh has been made for the purchase of 14 vehicles. An amount of Rs 50 lakh has been allotted to collect intelligence inputs for the CM and VIPs.

FIRE-FIGHTING SERVICES TO IMPROVE IN RURAL AREAS

Fire-fighting services will be strengthened in rural areas. The state government has allocated Rs 20 crore for the establishment of fire service station in 130 tehsil headquarters. The fire department will purchase vehicles, equipment and gadgets.Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav blamed the state government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, for stopping students from appearing in class 10 and 12 UP Board exams in the name of checking cheating.

The SP chief said the move was due to failure of the government to generate employment opportunities since a large number of students passed these exams. While interacting with media persons at Andhau airstrip in Ghazipur on Friday where he paid tribute to deceased father of an SP leader, he said: Now these students, who were stopped from writing examinations, cant ask for jobs till the next three years. The state government is doing this as it will be unable to provide jobs to so many students if they pass.

Without mentioning the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Akhilesh took a jibe at Chai pe charcha and pakoda employment remark, saying those who indulged in such discussions/comments should talk about reality.

He also took a dig at the Union budget and said Eastern UP didnt get anything in the last five budgets presented during the Modi governments tenure. He further said the government should make provision for constructing Purvanchal Expressway.

Akhilesh flayed the Yogi government for stopping Samajwadi Pension scheme for poor and said people were being cheated. The foundation of several schemes, which was laid earlier, is being re-laid. Schemes, which were inaugurated earlier are being re-inaugurated, said Akhilesh and elaborated, Our government provided Rs 3 lakh each for Lohia awas. Now, houses are being built under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. But they are no match for Lohia awas.

To a question related Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, Akhilesh said the corrupt would always find ways to do money laundering. During demonetization, I had said that money is not black or white but it is the transaction. Maybe in future they will say that there is no scam since people took money as per the rules, he said.

The SP chief said that more than 15,000 industrialists migrated to foreign countries during the last three years due to lacuna in the system. He said that there were talks about corruption in toilet constructions. He also took a dig at the state governments anti-bhumafia squads and anti-Romeo squad, asking where were the squads now?

He also alleged that fake encounters were taking place in the state while real criminals are being saved. Questions have been raised over Noida encounter. A CBI probe will reveal the truth, he said.

He appealed to all like minded parties to come together against the communal forces.

To a question on alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Akhilesh said he was busy finalising candidates for by-polls and was holding dialogue with mitra dal (alliance party).A debt-ridden farmer from Lalitpur district created a flutter near chief ministers high-security Kalidas Marg residence in Lucknow on Friday morning when he climbed atop a tree demanding loan waiver and a house under Below Poverty Line (BPL) scheme, police said.

He even threatened to hang himself when cops tried to bring him down, said circle officer of Hazratganj, Abhay Mishra.

The entire drama lasted for over four hours and the man-- Ram Raj of Lalitpurs Bathlapur village-- was brought down by a team of fire service personnel using hydraulic ladder after assuring him to get his demands fulfilled, Mishra said.

Ram Raj climbed up the tree and started shouting out his demands following which locals and passer-by gathered in large number around the spot, said Mishra.

Ram Raj said he had come to Lucknow to meet senior government officials to get his house built under BPL scheme.

Despite multiple efforts, I was not able to avail the house under the state governments BPL scheme due to lackluster approach of lower rung staff, he said adding that I was left with no other option but to climb a tree after failing to meet the concerned authorities.

He said he had a debt of  1.5 lakh and his family was going through extreme hardship. He also demanded waiving off his loan.

Mishra said Ram Raj has been assured of help and district authorities of Lalitpur have been informed about the case.The Uttar Pradesh government has made a budgetary provision of Rs 250 crore for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor of the Metro, which will get a total of Rs 500 crore for projects in Lucknow, Varanasi and Gorakhpur, among others.

The Rs 250 crore for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor, under the Regional Rapid Transit project, is expected to boost metro connectivity till Meerut.

Under the total allocation for Metro services, Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for implementation of projects in Gorakhpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Jhansi and Meerut and Rs 150 crore will be given for the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC).

Gorakhpur used to be the home constituency of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who is the head priest of the famous Gorakhnath temple there. Prime Minister Narendra Modi represents the Varanasi constituency in Lok Sabha.

In addition, the LMRC will get Rs 1,600 crore as a loan from European Bank and Rs 250 crore as assistance from the Centre for the completion of its Charbagh-Munshipulia corridor.

Besides, an amount of Rs 300 crore has been proposed in the budget for providing new infrastructure facilities in all the city development authorities, including Lucknow.

Metro train services are set to revolutionise transportation in Uttar Pradesh. The state government has already set up the UP Metro Rail Corporation to give a push to intra-city transport.

In the state capital, metro services started last year. The 8.9 km-long Transport Nagar-Charbagh corridor is already functional, while work on the Charbagh-Munshipulia corridor is going on. The 23km-long Amausi airport-Munshipulia corridor is expected to be completed by December 2018 and become functional by January 2019.

Lucknow To Be Linked To 15 Divisional HQs

Under the regional connectivity scheme, the state government has allocated Rs 150 crore for the financial year 2018-19. The aim is to provide faster and alternative transport options to people, especially those living in remote places.

At present, the state capital is connected to cities like Jaipur, Indore, Dehradun and Varanasi. The UP government has now planned to connect Lucknow with 15 other divisional headquarters.

Under this years budgetary allocation, attention will be paid to boosting airport infrastructure and facilities. This will include security, fire fighting services, operations, subsidised electricity supply, free water supply, ambulance and medical services and bus connectivity for nearby cities. The UP state road transport corporation (UPSRTC) will provide bus connectivity to different districts of a division from the airports concerned.

The regional connectivity scheme was launched under the Centres UDAN initiative. Under UDAN, a passenger has to pay only Rs 2,500 for an air journey lasting an hour or less, when the actual cost of such a journey is around Rs 4,500. The Centre pays Rs 1,600 as aid while the state government contributes Rs 400. The government also pays 50% of the amount if the passenger load is below 50%.

This scheme is expected to benefit the states industrial policy too, as better connectivity would attract higher investments.Happy Chinese New Year! Unlike the Gregorian new year which is celebrated on January 1, Chinese New Year is celebrated in late January or mid-February, the dates of which vary. This year, it began on February 16. Also observed as the lunar new year and spring festival, Chinese New Year is celebrated over a period of 15 days. The day symbolises good health, wealth and prosperity. All the families and loved ones reunite over good food, says chef Zhang Hao, Hyatt Regency. Hao was born in Tong Zhou, Beijing and came to Delhi in 2008. This is the Year of the Dog, and it [the animal] signifies loyalty, honesty, love, care and doing things for others without any motive, he says.

Chef Fuhai and chef Jian Wei Lee.

With festivities, comes delicious food. Traditionally, families get together for a reunion dinner and have a feast. Some must- have dishes prepared in a traditional household include new year cake, fried dates with sesame seeds, fried dim sums and a variety of prawn, chicken, fish and pork preparations, says chef Fuhai of Andaz. Fuhai  born in Guangzhou  has been in Delhi since May 2017. Rainbow combo fish made in traditional Cantonese style and white fungus broth with meringues (dessert) are two authentic Chinese dishes made in Shanghai, adds chef Jian Wei Lee, WelcomHotel Sheraton, a native of Shanghai, who has been Delhi for the last two years. Each dish has a significance, and the spread varies according to the region. For instance, longevity noodles or Yi mein (flat Cantonese egg noodles made from wheat flour ) is said to bring happiness and longevity, and Nian gao (Chinese New Years cake) are believed to bring higher income. Food choices of people from the northern region is completely different from the southern region. While in the northern region people are more inclined towards serving noodles, the ones in the south are more acquainted with eating rice with side dishes, informs Fuhai.

The traditional Chinese New Year spread consists of dishes like fried dates with sesame seeds, Rainbow combo fish and white fungus broth with meringues. (iStock)

INDIAN CHINESE

All this food talk is tempting, but the way these dishes are prepared is very different from the kind of Chinese food Indians have taken a liking to. Chinese recipes are bland and use basic spices. The fusion of Chinese and Indian food began in Kolkata. Besides the use of locally available vegetables and meats, it is the use of corn flour for thickening and coating, chilli, garlic and ginger and generous proportions of soya sauce that gives the Indian Chinese food the extra special spicy note, says Lee. But with awareness about global cuisine, there has been a rise in the demand for authentic Chinese cuisine. Restaurant menus are offering a selection of dishes from the regions of China. However, after spending two years in India, sometimes even I too crave for Tangra style chili chicken, Lee adds.

And you thought you knew your Chinese food:

Chefs share some myths that surround Chinese cuisine

 Not all our dishes contain sugar. We have various types of sauces and ingredients that spice up or season a dish and not everything has added sugar.

 We definitely dont eat rodents or insects like cockroaches.

 Monkey brains are not a Chinese specialty dish.

 Chinese cuisine is not all about stir-fry food.

 You do not get a fortune cookie at the end of your all your meals in China.

 Just because we are Chinese doesnt mean that we are related to noodles.

 Chinese food does not leave feeling hungry.

 Broccoli is not Chinese.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for moreOn November 12, Bishnu Mondal was picnicking at the popular Wandoor beach in the Andaman Islands when he dived into the waters and never emerged. Then someone caught a glimpse of him and screamed.

Mondals friends  men in their twenties, all migrant construction workers  rushed in to help. The group had been swimming inside a tattered safety net, meant to shield revellers from the reptiles of the Lohabarrack Crocodile Sanctuary a few hundred metres away. A 16-ft crocodile was entangled in the net. It had Mondal by the neck.

The men yanked out the poles holding the net together and approached, hoping to thrash the beast into submission. But nobody dared go too close.

By now, hundreds had gathered. Some turned on their cellphone cameras, others scrambled to get help. The lifeguard said he was trained in CPR, not croc attacks. The Wandoor wildlife department said the rescue equipment was at their headquarters, 30 minutes away at Port Blair. The police also put their hands up: Our duty is on the land, not the sea, said a constable.

FROM TOO FEW TO TOO MANY? Saltwater crocodiles were poached heavily until the 1960s, for skin, meat and as trophies. By the 1970s, there were only 31 salties in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, according to a Wildlife Institute of India report. The Indian government launched Project Crocodile in 1975, making killing a saltie punishable by up to seven years in prison. The government also began breeding the crocs at the Haddo zoo in Port Blair, for release in the islands creeks and streams. By 2015, the saltie population had grown to an estimated 500, according to estimates by the A&N forest department. While their numbers have grown, contributing to the man-croc conflict, so have ours. The human population of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands rose from 41,000 in 1951 to 3.8 lakh by 2011, according to Census data. The number of tourists has risen from 430,000 in 2016 to 500,000 in 2017. According to the forest department, there have been six croc attacks since 2014; media reports peg the number at 15.

By the time a wildlife patrol steamer roared in from Port Blair, it was too late. Rescue men pulled up next to the animal and jabbed a harpoon in its back. It let go, and the body of Mondal, 21  a brother, son, uncle, friend  sank into the depths.

Over the following week, the wildlife department laid traps along the Wandoor coast and caught five crocodiles. One was a suspected man-eater; it had been caught, marked and released after a similar attack on a Home Guard in 2015, but had returned to the same spot  not unusual, given their homing instincts.

The residents of Wandoor were livid. The crocodile menace, they said, had only been growing in recent years. An endangered species in the 1970s, these predators were now often spotted in creeks and streams. To them, it was an unintended consequence of a successful four-decade conservation programme led by the union environment ministry.

***

Since the 1970s, the saltwater croc population in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has grown from 31 to an estimated 500. The human population has gone from 41,000 in 1951 to 3.8 lakh in 2011. (Omkar Khandekar)

Saltwater crocodiles, known as salties, are native to eastern India, South-East Asia and Northern Australia. Before conservation efforts started in these countries in the 1960s, they were often poached for their skin, meat and as trophy kills.

According to a report published by the Wildlife Institute of India in 1999, salties in the union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (A&N) numbered only about 31 by the 1970s.

The Indian government launched its conservation effort, Project Crocodile, in 1975. Saltwater crocodiles, like tigers and rhinoceroses, were given Schedule 1 protection under the new Wildlife Protection Act. Their killing was punishable up to seven years in prison. In the newly constructed Haddo zoo in Port Blair, they were bred for release in the creeks and streams.

A possibility of conflict with humans could never be completely eliminated, but it was not considered probable that such conflict would occur, given the small numbers. After all, the islands aboriginal people had coexisted with them for millennia.

According to the forest department of A&N, there have been six croc attacks since 2014; media reports peg the number at 15. Either way, the stakes are high, for the islands residents and its tourism economy. The number of tourists coming to A&N has risen from 430,000 in 2016 to 500,000 in 2017, also raising the risk of more attacks.

Par yahan aisa hai, says a local resident and contract worker with the local government, ki jab baarish rahega tabhi chatri ki yaad aati hai (But the way it is here, officials only start to think about an umbrella once the downpour has begun).

***

Shankar Biswas was attacked in his field. (Omkar Khandekar)

One way to read this is as a tale of animal conservation gone wrong. Streams, creeks and coasts in the south Andamans are now dotted with signposts that say: Beware of Crocodiles, Never dangle hands or legs during boat rides, Please avoid entering into the sea. At one end of the Wandoor beach, the warnings turn rather sinister: Survivors will be prosecuted.

But the bigger picture is more complex. As the population of crocodiles grew, that of humans boomed. The crocodile habitat in A&N had been shrinking steadily ever since the Indian government began encouraging human settlements in the largely virgin 572-island chain, since 1947.

In 1949, tens of thousands of refugees from the erstwhile East Pakistan were moved here. Over the following decades, thousands more headed to the islands from across India. In 1951, the population of A&N was roughly 41,000; by 2011, it had grown to 3.8 lakh, according to the Census.

As the government doled out land parcels for cultivation and opened up the seas for fishing, many entered areas near crocodile nesting sites.

On December 26, 2004, a tsunami struck South and South-East Asia. Waves up to 6 metres high invaded the islands, killing nearly 2,000 people, submerging villages and displacing about 40,000 residents.

Apart from damages worth billions of rupees, the earthquake also caused a movement of tectonic plates. The northern part of Andaman rose by 1.5 metres and the southern sunk by 1.2 metres. By the wildlife departments assessments, it caused the crocodiles in the north to move down to the south. The result: crocodile sightings  and conflict  started increasing in these villages. On average, attacks on humans rose to two a year.

***

In the clusters of small islands interconnected by streams and creeks, residents fishing for dinner or a living, tourists out for a swim, could come face to face with a croc. (Omkar Khandekar)

Residents started realising something wasnt quite right when cattle, if kept in waterlogged fields, started to go missing. In 2005, Sukhada Sil from the Wandoor panchayat noticed a 4-metre something lurking around the local jetty. That year in Wandoor marked the end of the Durga Pujo tradition of entering the waters for idol immersion.

The forest department conducts awareness workshops in towns, panchayats and schools. Saltwater crocodiles, they explain, are opportunistic predators, meaning they eat any meat they can find. Too often, residents dump dead fish, kitchen and poultry waste into the islands network of streams, creeks and the sea. This attracts stray dogs, smaller animals and, at times, crocodiles.

But the residents have been using the interconnected streams for fishing and waste disposal for decades. Most of us here are Bengalis, says Ashim Dhali, 31, a farm labourer from Manpur village. A Bengali has to have fish three times a day. We cant afford to buy it all, so we also catch our own.

We have to evolve a system to safeguard the interests of forest [department], tourists and locals. But we need time, technology. Until then, restrict tourism. When you value a life, that is the solution.

 Naveen Kumar, deputy conservator of forests at Port Blair

In March 2015, a crocodile lunged at Dhali during a pre-dinner expedition at a neighbourhood stream. It sunk its teeth into his left arm and then his right leg. Dhali rammed his fingers in the reptiles eyes and crawled to safety. For months after, he says, he would wake up at odd hours, drenched in sweat. It was always the same dream: hes standing on an edge, someone pushes him from behind.

Jasinta Terkey, a 62-year-old farmer from Tusnabad, wasnt as lucky. In September 2016, a crocodile attacked her as she was washing her lunch plate at a nallah in her backyard. Furious at seeing her corpse in the jaws of the animal, her neighbours stormed into the waters.

They grabbed sticks, slippers, axes, recalls Sarita Devi, the victims daughter-in-law. They killed the crocodile.

After the first attack on Wandoor beach in 2015, the wildlife officials put up nylon safety nets to keep swimmers and crocs apart. Two monsoons and a cyclone later, the net had slumped off its poles.

The death of Mondal acted as a wake-up call. Beaches at Wandoor, Corbyns Cove and Munda Pahar in south Andaman were declared no-swimming zones. The authorities also shut down Radhanagar beach in the neighbouring Havelock Islands for three days in November, after local fisherman spotted crocodile paw marks nearby.

***

There are very few countries where a problem of man-saltie conflict exists, says Naveen Kumar, deputy conservator of forests at Port Blair. In Australia, authorities have the liberty to take down the animal when it grows beyond 4 to 5 metres. But our law is conservation-oriented.

At the current rate, he added, such instances will rise. We have to evolve a system to safeguard the interests of all, forest [department], tourists and locals. But we need time, we need technology.

It might take up to 10-15 years to test the efficacy of its ongoing pilot projects  grille-gates along high-risk streams; chain-link fences along streams and creeks; polypropylene-net enclosures for swimmers  and come up with a comprehensive safety plan with all measures in place. And until then? Restrict tourism. When you value a life, that is the solution.

The tourism industry isnt going to be as patient. Over the past 18 months, the number of daily flights to A&N has doubled to 30. Last year, the industry had an annual turnover of about Rs 1,300 crore and employed nearly a quarter of the islands 4 lakh people. A boom is predicted.

Technically, weve only had one crocodile attack on a tourist. No new tourist sites will be opened without precautions. The crocodile population is also an opportunity. We can promote sightings.

 Amit Anand, director of tourism with the Andaman & Nicobar Administration

Technically, weve only had one crocodile attack on a tourist till now, says director of tourism Amit Anand. He was referring to an American woman killed while snorkelling off Havelock Island in 2010. In the aftermath of the Wandoor attack, Anand said no new tourist sites would be opened up without proper safety precautions and scientific study.

The crocodile population is also an opportunity for us, he said. In areas where they are present, we can promote sightings. Indeed, the Cage of Death experience, where humans in glass enclosures are lowered into a crocodile pond, is already a sought-after tourist attraction in Darwin, Australia.

But in the Andamans, initiatives to remedy the man-crocodile conflict hinge on a larger debate: To whom do the islands belong? Tarun Nair, member of the Crocodile Specialist Group at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, is unconvinced with the current approach in the Andamans.

Putting up nets in the sea gives a false sense of security. Relocating a crocodile after an attack doesnt work because they are known to come back to the same site. Terming animals man-eaters is inherently problematic. If you present yourself as prey, a crocodile will take you.

The best way ahead, he says, is promoting awareness about animal behaviour and taking better precautions. In this ecosystem, we are not the top organism, he adds. Once we acknowledge that, half the problem is solved.Two unidentified men broke into a 23-year-old businessmans car and fled with 300g of gold jewellery and 500g of silver jewellery, collectively worth around Rs7 lakh, in Kalyan on Saturday.

Police said the businessman, Ankur Singh, had retrieved the jewellery from his bank locker to wear it to a wedding. En route, he had stopped to meet a friend, parking the car opposite his house.The two accused smashed the cars window and fled with the jewellery bag.

Singh found out about the burglary after a business associate, who was on his way to the meeting, called him saying his cars window was shattered.

The incident was captured on CCTV cameras, the tapes of which were handed over to the police. The footage is grainy, and police thus are interrogating history-sheeters to identify the thieves. We have filed a case and are investigating, said an officer of the Kolshewadi police station.Statistics obtained from the police reveal that in the year 2017 the city witnessed a 42% rise in cases related to credit and debit card fraud. The detection of these cases, however, went down by 28% during this period, as compared to the cases detected in 2016.

In 2017, 606 cases related to debit and credit card fraud was registered across the city, as compared to 423 cases registered in 2016. As far as the crackdown of the cases is concerned, the police had succeeded to crack 54 cases in 2016, but could crack only 42 last year, taking the rate of detection from 12% in 2016, to roughly 7% in 2017.

As has been noted by the police so far, there are two to three types of card frauds. One of them is phishing wherein the fraudsters pose as bank officials on phone and trick customers into giving their card details as well as the pin.

The second type of fraud is card cloning. Cards are cloned usually by waiters or shop-keepers when customers use them for the payment of bills. When customers enter the card pin, fraudsters record it.

The third type of fraud pertains to rigging ATMs to gain card details and passwords of individuals, to withdraw amounts from their bank accounts using those details.

According to statistics provided by the police, between 2011 and 2014, a total of 243 cases involving card frauds were reported in Mumbai. However, in 2015, the figure went up to 320.

Spokesperson for the Mumbai Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Deepak Deoraj said this spike in numbers was due to the awareness created by the police and the fair registration of First Information Reports (FIR).

Former Maharashtra DGP D Sivanandhan said cyber-crimes will increase, as the use of debit and credit cards is on the rise each day.

The detection rate is bound to come down, as the police are unable to keep up with the tactics used by cyber criminals, who are getting smarter and shrewder by the day, said the former police chief, adding, Investment in resources, technological capability and continuous training for police is essential to detect such crimes.

Cyber expert Ritesh Bhatia said, Cyber criminals often operate from interiors of certain states, and therefore to bring such offenders to book, inter-state cooperation is necessary.

He insisted that campaigns undertaken to create awareness must be in English, Hindi and other regional languages.



Advocate Vicky Shah, who specialises in cyber-crime said, In cases related to phishing, we have observed that fraudsters are using a lot of SIM cards by submitting forged documents. By linking the SIM card to the Aadhar-KYC, will help in reducing such frauds.

BANK REFUNDS RS 10 LAKH TO CYBER-CRIME VICTIMS

Around 30 Vasai customers who lost Rs10 lakh to a card cloning racket have received refunds from their Vasai branch of a private bank.

According to the Manickpur police, unidentified people used cloned cards of the customers to withdraw money from automated teller machines (ATMs) at Gurugram in Haryana. The withdrawal ranged from Rs10,000 to Rs1 lakh.

A bank official said the lender had transferred the amount into the customers account.

Meanwhile, Anil Patil, senior inspector of Manickpur police station said the police had seized CCTV footage which shows an unidentified man putting a skimmer on an ATM near Gurudwara in Vasai (West) on October 20, 2017. The man was wearing a cap and had his mouth covered with a handkerchief, so as he could not be identified. Around 50 victims have registered complaints. They may have lost Rs11 lakh, said Patil.Nearly 3,00,000 children below the age of five, in Maharashtra, were hospitalised in the past five years to treat respiratory infections, revealed data from the state public health department.

Data collected from public and private hospitals showed Pune (60,718), Mumbai (45,202) and Chandrapur (21,233) reported most number of cases. In Mumbai, 6,366 children were hospitalised between April and December 2017. There were 16,199 hospitalisations between April 2016 and March 2017, a decline from the 17,222 cases between April 2015 and March 2016.

Doctors said lifestyle changes, inadequate nutrition, outdoor and indoor pollution are major causes for respiratory infections in children. Experts said that possibility of a delay in treating primary symptoms may be causing the increasing number of hospitalisation cases.

Since 2013, the state reported 2,95,596 cases of hospitalisaton due to respiratory infections in children below five years. While the cases showed a rising trend for three years, with 2013-14 reporting 55,303 cases, 2014-15 (77,152) and 2015-16 (76,454), the cases have been declining since then. There were 57,525 cases in 2016-17 and 26,162 cases were reported between April and December 2017.

Pune and Mumbai, being the cities with larger population of children (0-5) years are likely to report more cases, said Dr Nilkanth Awad, head of the department of pulmonology at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, Sion.

Dr Awad said pollution related bronchitis and respiratory tract infections are quite common in city areas, whereas rural areas have traditional cooking mechanisms, dust, lack of nutrition, which cause respiratory infections in children.

Studies in the state have also proved that children who stay closer to highways or traffic junctions are 10% more likely to be diagnosed with respiratory infections than those who stay away from busy roads.

A major reason for this is the pollutants released by vehicular traffic which increases the allergic tendencies in children, said Dr Arvind Kate, pulmonologist from Zen Hospital, Chembur.

Two separate studies by Chest Research Foundation, Pune suggested lack of nutrition and eating habits are directly related to probability of respiratory infection in children. Researchers had found, children eating fruits thrice a week are 10% less likely to develop respiratory infections. Those eating junk food thrice a week are 8% more likely to face bronchitis or asthma.

While 100% prevention of respiratory infections is almost impossible, according to Dr Asmita Mahajan, consultant neonatologist and paediatrician at SL Raheja Hospital, building immunity of children is the best possible way to fight infections.

The best way to avoid hospitalisation is to make sure the child takes all the vaccines on time, said Dr Mahajan.

She added that since at times, cases of respiratory infections like swine flu become more virulent needing hospitalisation; parents should not delay the treatment.John Kelly. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

White House chief of staff John Kelly has approved an overhaul of how the White House handles temporary security clearances after facing bipartisan pressure in the wake of the Rob Porter scandal. Porter, the former White House staff secretary, had been allowed access to highly classified information via an interim security clearance, despite the fact that the FBI had learned of allegations of his domestic abuse and informed the White House. Kelly and the White House have offered unreliable explanations for this failure thus far, and subsequent reports have noted that Porter was hardly the only staff member in the White House working without permanent security clearance. On Friday, Kelly sent out a memo acknowledging that recent events have exposed some remaining shortcomings in the White House security clearance process, and that we should  and in the future, must  do better handling the issue.

Under the new policy, which Kelly developed with White House counsel Donald McGahn, staffers with interim security clearances will not be allowed access to certain highly classified information without explicit approval from Kelly, and top secret or SCI-level intelligence privileges will be revoked, as of next Friday, for any staffer whose background check has been pending since June 1, 2017. Those staffers affected should include Jared Kushner, who is is still without permanent security clearance after more than a year as President Trumps senior adviser. Kushner and Ivanka Trump could both be excluded from high-level meetings and have their access to sensitive information revoked as a result of the new policy, though it seems more likely that Kelly or the president will grant them some kind of exception.

Kelly announced that in the future, the FBI should hand deliver staff background investigation results to McGahn, and any significant derogatory information uncovered about employees should, if possible, be reported to the White House within 48 hours. How effectively, or thoroughly, the new policy is implemented remains to be seen. In addition, as national security lawyer Mark Zaid  who represents government employees when they are going through the security clearance process  pointed out on Friday, the overhaul shouldnt even be needed:Skin Stories: love. desire. disability WHEN: Daughters of St. Paul, Waterfield Road, Bandra West WHERE: Saturday, February 17 CONTACT: 85879-40546 Entry is free

A paraplegic who finds love in an unexpected way, a hearing-impaired sex worker expressing her views on marriage, a mental patient craving companionship. The line-up of films at Skin Stories: love. desire. disability, take romance and sexuality down a relatively unexplored path.

The festival of nine films from all over the world is organised by the non-profit, Point of View. There are audio descriptions and subtitles for each film, a sign language interpreter will help the hearing-impaired and the Bandra venue is fully accessible for those with disabilities. All screenings will end with conversations with disability and gender rights activists and filmmakers.

Unrest, a 98-minute English film directed by Jennifer Brea is a part of the festival. Brea, an active Harvard PhD student about to marry the love of her life, finds her life suddenly derailed by M.E. (commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome).

The idea of the event is to begin a conversation about living with disability and encourage sensitivity when it comes to accessible cinema screenings, says Nidhi Goyal, program director of sexuality and disability at Point of View. In popular media, we are either shown as heroic or as a burden, needing a superhuman person to accept us. But hey, we are people first, and have our share of goofy love stories!

Priti Shetty, 32, a digital marketing manager and shortfilm-maker, is looking forward to attending Skin Stories. I use a wheelchair but Ill be taking three or four non-disabled friends so we can be inspired to make our own films that break the stereotypes about love and disability, she says.A major fire broke out at a garage in Yevai village in Bhiwandi at 4 am on Saturday. No one was hurt, said officials. However, the flames spread to five small godowns in the area, which were charred. Seven Mercedes cars, collectively worth Rs70 lakh, and scrap items worth Rs50 lakh were destroyed, said officials.

We received a call at 4 am, said Suraj Yadav, fire officer from Kalyan.

Fire tenders from Kalyan and Bhiwandi reached the spot and doused the flames by 10 am.

Fire officials said locals had set a garbage heap near the godown ablaze. Owing to strong winds, the fire spread to the nearby garage.

The fire intensified as flammable material such as rubber cans, wood and plastic were stored in the gowdowns. The incident has led to a loss of property, he added.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate global investors summit Magnetic Maharashtra at MMRDA grounds in Bandra-Kurla Complex on Sunday evening. The Maharashtra government aims to rake in investments worth Rs10 lakh crore across various sectors.

The state industries department expects to ink around 4,500 MoUs in the automobile, housing, textile and information technology sectors. State industries minister Subhash Desai said the state government will be able to convert most of the MoUs to actual investments, as it did after the Make in India week in February 2016, when 51% of the MoUs inked were converted.

We have an excellent track record when it comes to converting MoUs to investments, unlike our neighbouring state. We have taken special care to inform these companies that these MoUs will be translated, and we have not made an announcement only to create a buzz, Desai said.

This the first time an event of this scale has been organised by the Maharashtra government. It is the state government answer to Gujarats Vibrant Gujarat investors summit, held to attract investment. In the past, Gujarat has pipped Maharashtra in attracting industries.

According to senior industries department officials, MoUs related to affordable housing will be inked during the conclave. The state government is set to showcase its infrastructure projects, including PM Modis pet project, the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis flagship initiative  the Nagpur-Mumbai super communication Expressway.

Desai said Italian automobile giant Lamborghini plans to invest in Maharashtra for its electric vehicle manufacturing plant. The MoU will be signed during the summit, he said.The Central railway (CR) has cancelled its scheduled maintenance mega block between Kalyan and Thane stations on Sunday and will undertake an eight-hour long traffic and power block on the main line, in order to launch girders for the new 12-metre wide foot overbridge (FOB) being built at Parel station.

The south-bound (Up) fast line will remain unavailable because of the block. According to the statement released by CR, the traffic and power block will begin from 8.30am and will last till 4.30pm. Nine girders will be laid between platform number three and four to the eastern end of the Parel station.

The CR said because of the traffic and power block, suburban locals on Up fast lines will be diverted to Up slow lines between Matunga and Byculla stations during the block. As a result, suburban services on the main line are likely to run late, causing troubles to the suburban commuters.

The CR said the routine five-hour maintenance mega block planned between Thane and Vashi/ Nerul on the Trans-harbour corridor, from 11.10am to 4.10pm, will be conducted as per the original plan. Earlier, the CR had planned a five-hour long mega block on the Up slow line between Kalyan and Thane stations from 11.20am to 4.20pm.

Railway authorities said 12 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)-bound mail-express trains including Sinhagad Express, Pragati Express, Deccan Queen, Panchwati Express, Sahyadri Express and Sewagram Express will be diverted to the Up slow corridors because of the block. Hence, these trains will run 15-20 minutes late. These long-distance trains will not halt at Dadar station. Instead, these trains will halt at Thane and passengers will be permitted to travel by suburban trains.

Railway authorities have undertaken construction work of the 12-metre wide FOB for decongesting it after the Elphinstone road stampede that claimed 23 lives and injured 39 others. Railway officials said the block for the FOB girder launch was approved on priority basis as it will help the completion of the FOB work within the set deadline.

About two weeks ago, the CR had launched girders at the new platform number three and four. The passengers were however troubled as the CR had failed to complete the block work within the stipulated period.Massive arrangements are being made in Navi Mumbai for Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit on Sunday. Modi is visiting the city for the ground-breaking ceremony of Navi Mumbai international airport at Ulwe and the inauguration of JNPTs fourth terminal.

A huge mandap, with a seating capacity for 20,000 people and 500 VIPs, has been set up for the event; the dais itself will be 80x32 feet. Entry into this area has already been banned. A 50-feet screen has also been installed to help people see the event better.

BJP plans for a full house The Bharatiya Janata Partys Panvel unit, led by former MP Ramseth Thakur and MLA Prashant Thakur, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the PMs first visit to the area is well attended. Party sources said they are planning to get around 30,000 people to the venue. Several school and private buses have been hired to ferry the crowd. Belapur BJP MLA Manda Mhatre has made a public appeal that people attend the ceremony in large numbers.

On Friday afternoon, Indian Air Force officials inspected the helipad that has been built for Modis helicopter to land and tested the site by landing their own chopper. Air Force personnel were also seen inspecting the neighbouring area.

Panvel tehsildar Deepak Akde and senior Navi Mumbai police officials and commandos also inspected the helipad and the public meeting space.

A special team from Delhi is camping in the area. GVK, which will construct the airport, has deployed personnel, too, for the programme, said Mohan Ninawe, chief public relations officer of CIDCO.

Ninawe said CIDCO officials are busy with various arrangements to ensure that nothing is left to chance. We have made elaborate plans for parking, and we are coordinating with the traffic police and the RTO department for traffic movement.

Traffic diversions Heavy vehicles will be banned from using Sion-Panvel highway up to Uran Phata, as also using Amra Marg to head towards JNPT. Instead, vehicles coming from Sion-Panvel highway will continue straight on the highway and at the CBD-Kalamboli junction, take a right turn to go on to JNPT road and then head to their destination. Heavy vehicles will also be banned from Gavhan Phata to Kille junction. Vehicles coming from Gavhan Phata should, from `D point, head towards Panvel and from Kalamboli circle take a turn to their destination. The diversions will be in force on Sunday, from 6am to 9pm.

The Navi Mumbai traffic police department have drawn up detailed plans to regulate traffic. Several diversions will be in place all of Sunday. The restrictions are mostly related to the entry of heavy vehicles, but keep in mind that this may affect the flow of traffic in other areas. Heavy vehicles, for instance, will be prohibited from plying on Amra Marg up to Uran Phata road.

Nitin Pawar, deputy commissioner of police (traffic), said: We have specified the entry ban and diversion of heavy and very heavy vehicles. The diversions will be in force on Sunday, from 6am to 9pm. We appeal to everyone to cooperate as the prime minister will be visiting the city along with a host of dignitaries.A 1,200-mm British era water pipeline below Lalbaug flyover burst at 5.05am on Friday, affecting the water supply at Dadar, Wadala, Matunga, Sion, Prabhadevi and some parts of south Mumbai, Ghatkopar and Chembur.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials said the leakage will be repaired and water supply will be normalised by Saturday morning.

During routine inspection, the hydraulic department team found a leakage in the British-era pipeline.

The supply was stopped to replace the damaged portion. After beginning the repair work, the officials found a bigger crack below the Tansa pipeline at Sant Jagnade Chowk in Lalbaug.

Earlier, civic officials had expected the water supply to be restored by Friday evening. It is now expected that the water supply will be restored by Saturday morning.

The cause of the crack in the pipeline is not yet known.

When our team inspected the leakage, we found a bigger crack, said a hydraulic engineer.

Residents complained about absence of alert from the BMC.

Janaki Venkateswaran, an 80-year-old resident of Vasant building, Matunga, said, We were not even informed about the water cuts. We will have to go to a relatives place as there is no water in the house.A 65-year-old school bus driver was arrested after he knocked down a 30-year-old man riding a bicycle in Andheri (West) on Friday evening.

The bus driver was ferrying students to a nearby school. The victim, Pramod Mandal, was riding a bicycle on the same road near Raheja Crest Apartments when the bus knocked him down.

Mandal, who worked as a cook, was on his way to work. Investigating officials remained tight-lipped about the school and the identity of the driver.

There were four to five children in the bus. We have arrested the driver following the death of the cyclist, said Bharat Gaikwad, senior inspector at Amboli police station.

He said the school children were not injured in the accident.

The Amboli police have registered a case of causing death due to negligence against the driver. Eye-witnesses alerted the Mumbai police control room after which the driver was taken into custody. The childrens parents were also informed, said the police.

Officials are checking if the drivers license is valid.To provide higher education to the underprivileged, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has for the first time decided to start a night college in the city. The first-of-its-kind degree college will consist of the Arts and Science streams. This college will provide free education to civic school students as well as to those below the poverty line. The city already has two night schools operated by TMCs education department.

Manish Joshi, the education officer, said, We will provide complete education from kindergarten to Degree College, to our civic students. Most of these students have to discontinue their education after school and work to support their family. They remain deprived of higher education. Thus we have decided to start a night college, so that students who need to work during the day can get to study at night.

Classes will be held in Kisan Nagar School No. 1, in the six empty classrooms.

These classrooms are empty in the evening, thus we can use them for the night college. We would not have to shell out any additional money for the construction of the college. 30 % of the seats in the college will be reserved for the TMC school students and 20% for students below the poverty line, Joshi said.

Joshi said the TMC will tie up with a private educational institute for setting up the college. The corporation does not have teachers or experts to operate a college, which would be provided by this private institute. The college will start from the academic year 2018-19. Depending on its popularity, the TMC can start more such colleges in its schools in future.

The corporation also operates a signal school for underprivileged street children at Teen Hath Naka signal.Three youngsters  one of them a 17-year-old  looking to make some easy money have been arrested on charges of extortion in two separate cases in Kalyan.

The two accused, who are in police custody, have been identified as Sunny Manoj Solanki, 21, an SYBCom student from a college in Kalyan, and Avesh Riyaz Momin, 23, alias Murgi, who is a history sheeter. The third boy, a minor, is an SSC student whose exams begin on March 2; he has been sent to the a childrens remand home till March 1.

A Vanve, assistant police inspector from Bazar Peth police station, said: In the first case, Solanki had been threatening the owner of a readymade garments shop, Chintan Sangoi,29, to hand over Rs5 lakh.

Solanki allegedly claimed that he was the right hand of a local goon, and that he knew everything about Sangoi, including where his shop is and how many people he employs. He called Sangoi a couple of times. Last Sunday, Solanki used his mobile phone to call him on his landline in the shop and threatened to kill him if he did not hand over Rs5 lakh in 30 minutes. But Sangoi convinced Solanki to wait, saying that his father was out of town and that he would give him the money once he returned, said Vanve. He registered a complaint with us on Thursday. We told him to ask Solanki to come to the shop on Friday to collect the money. He came, and we arrested him.

Vanve said Solanki was trying his hand at extortion as he wanted to live a life of wealth and luxury.

In the second incident, Momin, who already has a criminal record, teamed up with the teenager to extort money from truck and trailer drivers, specifically those from out of Maharashtra heading to the Kalyan APMC market . They would chat up with the drivers and then suddenly pull out a knife and demand money, said Vanve.

The victims would part with a couple of thousand rupees. However, one of the truck drivers approached the police a few weeks ago. On Friday afternoon, the duo landed up while the police were patrolling the area. We saw the two of them talking to a truck driver and caught them. During interrogation, they confessed, said R Tayade, senior police inspector, Bazar Peth police station.

The duo has extorted money from at least 50 to 60 truck drivers till date. This had been going on for a few months. Further probe is underway, Tayade said.The locals have been demanding two stations for 10 years and their efforts finally paid off.

The Central Railway has announced two new railway stations between Kasara and Kalyan  Umbarmali and Thansit.

The move will pave way for better amenities at these stations.

As both the stations have received official approval from the Railway Board, they will get more facilities for commuters, said AK Singh, public relations officer, Central Railway.

Umbarmali and Thansit railway stations come between Atgaon and Kasara railway stations.

Though the two stations have an operational halt, commuters travelling from these stations have many issues. The two stations have the basic structure of a railway station but no amenities as they had not been declared as proper stations.

Earlier, there were no platforms at these stations. Later, narrow platforms were constructed. As Umbarmali and Thansit were not considered as stations, commuters getting down on these stations pay fines for boarding locals from here, said Rajesh Ghangav, president of Kalyan-Kasara and Karjat Passengers Association.

Commuters travelling from these stations have been urging the railways to halt trains at these stations.

Since 2008, we have been following up with senior officials of Central Railway, added Ghangav.

Thansit railway station is between Atgaon and Khardi stations while Umbarmali railway station is between Khardi and Kasara.

With Umbarmali and Thansit being official railways stations, around 11,000 commuters will benefit. We hope that we get all facilities such as toilets, food stalls and proper platforms soon, said Sandeep Pawar, 32, a regular commuter from Umbarmali.Membership has its privileges. Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, whose inability to obtain permanent security clearance has come under renewed scrutiny in recent weeks, requests more information from the intelligence community than any other White House employee who isnt working on the National Security Council, according to an unnamed source who spoke with the Washington Post. Kushner continues to only have interim security clearance after 13 months in the White House, since his background check still isnt finished, most likely because he has had to repeatedly revise his disclosure form regarding foreign contacts to add information he had previously omitted.

At this point, its reasonable to wonder if the presidents son-in-law will ever merit permanent security clearance, yet in the meantime he enjoys access to classified briefings, top-secret and sensitive compartmentalized information, foreign leaders on behalf of the country, and, according to the Post, more requested intel than anyone who isnt a member of Trumps National Security Council.

Despite White House assertions otherwise, none of this is normal  either how long someone as high-level as Kushner has been able to keep their temporary clearance, or how long it has taken to do the background checks across the White House, according to experts on the subject. And yes, failing to disclose foreign contacts, let alone three times, would typically jeopardize ones chances at passing muster with the FBI.

On Friday, White House chief of staff John Kelly approved an overhaul of the security clearance process following bipartisan uproar over the recent scandal with staff secretary Rob Porter. Porter resigned two weeks ago after his ex-wives came forward to say that he had abused them  allegations which the FBI uncovered during Porters background check and informed the White House about, yet somehow did not lead to the cancellation of his interim security clearance.

Kellys new stricter policy would theoretically revoke Kushners access to classified information as of next Friday, but considering his position and relation to Trump, an exception will probably be made for him by either Kelly or the president. Kushners lawyer seems pretty sure of that too, telling the Post that Kellys new policy will not affect Mr. Kushners ability to continue to do the very important work he has been assigned by the president.

And while members of the National Security Council reportedly request more intel than Kushner, theres reason to be worried about security clearances among that group as well. On Thursday, NBC News reported that only 10 of 24 National Security Council members listed on an internal White House document had been issued permanent security clearances as of November of last year.The National Green Tribunal (NGT) dismissed a petition which sought demolition of the Ala Hazrat Haj House, constructed near river Hindon along GT Road in Ghaziabad. However, the green court also directed the UP Haj Committee to ensure installation of a sewage treatment plant to treat the domestic effluent.

Petitioner Himanshu Mittal, and two others, had moved a petition in the green court seeking demolition of the already constructed Haj House, contending that the facility has come up on three chunks of landkhasra numbers 1402, 1403 and 1399, falling under the floodplain zone of river Hindon.

According to the petitioners, the revenue record and Khatauni of the year 1992 stated the land chunk numbers 1402 and 1403 to be river Hindon, while land chunk 1399 was stated to be barren land. The petitioner also pleaded the buildings removal under the March 2010 order by the UP government, which directed, among other things, removal of constructions falling in the rivers floodplain zone.

The petitioners also challenged the legality of the land parcels leased to the UP Haj Committee.

In their replies in December, 2016, the state government and Ghaziabad district magistrate revealed that the Haj House is partly situated in Khasra number 1399 and partly in 1402 and 1403, according to the report of the deputy collector. The replies added that the Haj House was constructed after the parcel of land was leased out by the UP irrigation department through a January 11, 2005, government order as the land in reference was shown as community facility land under Master Plan 2021.

A status reportfiled in May, 2017 by the state of UP, Ghaziabad district magistrate and the irrigation departmentfurther stated: Khasra Number 1399 is registered as banjar (barren) land in revenue records but it is vested in irrigation department. It is further submitted that the total area of khasra numbers 1399 is 16.25 acres, out of which only 3.547 acre land, which is outside the floodplain, has been leased out (to the Haj Committee) and the remaining part of 12.703 acre is still in river flood/bed area, which is not leased out by the irrigation department.

It was further stated that the irrigation department has separated the river bed and floodplain area in year 1970 by constructing an embankment.

In view of this information, the tribunal dismissed the petition for demolition of the Haj House, stating, In such circumstances, particularly after having observed that this (land) does not fall in the floodplain zone, we are of the considered opinion that demolition of the Haj House is not called for. However, in the interest of environment we pass the following order.

It directed the UP Haj Committee to ensure that there is an STP to treat the domestic effluent of 136 KLD (kilolitres per day), installed and commissioned at the site as per the requirements of the UP pollution control board.

It also directed that the pollution control board inspect the premises within a weeks time, and in event of there being no STP of the specific capacity been found installed at the Haj House, the facility should be sealed.

The NGT gave liberty to the UP Haj Committee to approach the tribunal for de-sealing after full compliance of the directions of the pollution board.A 48-year-old police constable was arrested on Saturday for allegedly attempting to rape a six-year-old girl inside a police outpost in Greater Noida, officials said.

The accused, identified only by his first name Narendra, was said to be in uniform and heavily inebriated when he tried to assault the girl inside the Kulesara police chowki on Saturday morning.

Hundreds of angry people from Kulesara village  where the family of the minor resides  gathered outside the police chowki demanding arrest of the accused.

Greater Noidas rural superintendent of police Suniti, who uses only her first name, said the accused has been terminated from service with immediate effect and booked under non-bailable charges, including sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Narendra, a native of Partapur in Meerut, was posted at Kulesara for the last four years of his 27-year service period.

The Noida incident comes barely a few days after a special police officer was arrested in Jammu and Kashmir for allegedly raping and killing an eight-year-old girl in the Kathua area of Jammu.

The Noida minors father, who drives an autorickshaw for a living, said the accused lured his daughter to the outpost when she had gone to a nearby shop to buy some household items.

At 7am, my daughter was dressed in her uniform and was ready to go to schoolAs she was buying the commodities, the constable who was sitting outside the police chowki called her towards him and took her inside the chowki where he undressed her and did wrong things with her, he said. The girl resisted and managed to flee.

This constable kept chasing my daughter and reached our house. He was so drunk that he kept standing outside my house for 10 minutes waiting for my daughter to come out. When finally, she saw me sitting in my auto nearby, she ran towards me and narrated the incident. As I tried to apprehend the policeman, he ran away from the spot, the father added.

The family of four, natives of Azamgarh, has been living in Kulesara for the past 12 years

Gautam Budh Nagar police said the accused, who was on duty overnight, was the only policeman at the chowki in the morning hours.

Narendra was arrested under one hour of the incident by our team. He was found in a drunken state, said KK Rana, station house officer of Eco Tech III police station.

Harvir Singh, in-charge of Kulesara police outpost said though the staff strength is 5-6 on an average, all other personnnel had been deputed for board examination security at nearby centres.Congress president Rahul Gandhis campaign launch for the Karnataka elections has been marked by a significant departure from the partys approach for at least the past four decades. He has provided a much more prominent place for the state leaders of his party than has been the norm for Karnatakas Congress leaders since the years before Indira Gandhi. He began by advising Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet the governance standards set by chief minister Siddaramaiah. And he went on in other meetings to extol the virtues of other state leaders.

The tactical value of energising the local unit has been quite evident with Gandhi getting enthusiastic crowds along his campaign trail. But, coming as it does after the prominent place given to Amarinder Singh in the Punjab elections, the reliance on the state leadership could be an indicator of a larger strategic shift. The 2014 elections brought to the fore the depths to which the party could be dragged down if it projected Gandhi as its sole leader. It has thus become necessary to present Gandhi not as a charismatic face that will lift the partys fortunes on his own, but as a leader of an effective army of prominent state-level leaders.

Understanding what this change demands has not been easy for the Congress. This transformation has been presented as a movement towards a cadre-based party. The AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka had asked the constituency-level leaders of the Congress to set up booth-level committees of the party. But the Congress in Karnataka has always been a mass-based party rather than a cadre-based one. It has consisted of a large number of local leaders who have their own loyal following. These leaders are often not willing to hand over that following to a party. There was thus considerable resistance to the idea of setting up booth-level Congress committees.

The Congress appears, in recent weeks, to have come to terms with this reality. It has returned to the well-established practice of trying to attract leaders with their own personal following. Gandhi began his tour of the state recently by welcoming a BJP MLA with a large personal following into the Congress. And there are a number of other high-profile entries that are expected in the coming weeks.

This strategy is not without its costs. The 2013 victory of the Congress in Karnataka was built around a campaign against illegal mining by BJP leaders in the Bellary district. Siddaramaiah had, in fact, led a padayatra to Bellary against these leaders. The 2018 campaign has been launched by Gandhi welcoming one of those very leaders into the Congress.

If the Congress believes this stark opportunism will not have its costs, it is primarily because it is confident that its responsiveness as a state government over the past five years will pay dividends. These years have not been kind to rural Karnataka, with the state facing a series of droughts. But these difficult conditions have served to highlight the welfare focus of the Siddaramaiah government. Indira canteens with subsidised meals in Bengaluru or the Anna Bhagya scheme of subsidised rice across the state have had a direct impact on hunger at a time when India has been ranked a lowly 100 of 119 countries in the Global Hunger Index. Equally important in a dry land agriculture state, the Krishi Bhagya scheme has enabled farmers to set up farm ponds with pump sets.

The danger for the Congress is that this local level progress could be blown away by another polarising communal experiment. The BJP leaders have been highlighting the murders of some Hindu activists and Prime Minister Narenda Modi went so far as to speak of the ease of doing murders in the state as opposed to the ease of doing business. The Congress has tried to counter this move by emphasising the Hindu character of its leaders, with Siddaramaiah trying to make it a battle between a humanist Hindutva and an extremist Hindutva.

The results of this battle will only be known when the elections in Karnataka are over. But the larger question Rahul Gandhi will be seeking answers for is: can state leaders be the stepping stones to national power in 2019?

Narendar Pani is professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru

The views expressed are personalA Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Bihar came under fire from opposition leaders and locals on Saturday after he was caught urinating in an open area in the district collectorate premises minutes after allegedly attending a meeting on swachhta (cleanliness).

As local journalists and civilians present in the collectorate filmed the unhygienic act and shared it widely on social media, legislator from east Champaran Lalbabu Prasad Gupta blamed the lack of public urinals in the government building for his predicament.

Confronted by the journalists, he denied that he was at the district magistrates office for any programme on cleanliness and then held forth on the virtues of good sanitation habits.

I had gone to the DMs office for a meeting that was not on Swachhta (cleanliness). As I came out, I felt the pressure to answer the natures call. Finding no urinal in the surrounding, I located a secluded place where I relieved myself, the legislator said and soon went on to stress how significant the Centres resolve is to make the nation clean.

He said, Cleanliness drives are remedy for diseases. The campaign launched by the Centre and our state government has evoked good response. But it will take time to make a clean Bihar and clean India. Any campaign cannot become successful overnight.

East Champaran is celebrating a year-long centenary of Mahatma Gandhis Champaran Satyagrah with a series of events. The celebrations will culminate on April 17 but before that the local administration has the daunting task of making the district open-defecation free.

District magistrate, Raman Kumar is regularly holding meetings with local political and social representatives to accomplish the daunting task.

The legislator had allegedly gone to attend one such meeting. Kumar, however, could not be contacted for his comments. Several calls to him went unanswered.

As videos of the legislator peeing in full public view spread and began trending on social media such as WhatsApp and Facebook, it gave the opposition enough ammunition to attack the BJP and brand its cleanliness drive as a drama and farce.

District Congress president Shailendra Kumar Shukla asked if this was the way the BJP wanted to promote cleanliness in the nation.

Urinating in open, that too in the DMs office campus, proves their seriousness towards eliminating the social issue, he said.

State RJD spokesperson and Harsidhi MLA Rajendra Ram questioned BJPs double standards saying that while they were indulging in all kinds of unhygienic acts, they were shameless convincing others to promote cleanliness.Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials quizzed six persons, including a former deputy mayor, in connection with the mysterious disappearance of Navruna Chakravorty, a 14-year old girl, from the north Bihar town of Muzaffarpur in 2012.

A two-member CBI team, headed by an inspector-rank officer, called them to its camp office at Muzaffarpur, 71 km north of Patna, on Friday evening and interrogated them for nearly two hours on various points.

This is the second time in a fortnight that the CBI has interrogated Muzaffarpur municipal corporations former deputy mayor Vivek Kumar. He was earlier quizzed on February 3 .

While the CBI team members refused to divulge any details of the interrogation, saying they were not authorised to brief reporters, another official associated with the probe said Kumar and five other persons were summoned after call details records (CDR) of their cellphones confirmed that they were in touch with Navrunas family.

READ: 5 years on, no chargesheet in Navruna murder case

The official said Kumar was called to the CBI camp office after property dealer Mukesh Thakur revealed that he had interacted with the former deputy mayor while finalising a land deal with Navrunas father Atulya Chakravorty.

Thakur claimed that he and Kumar had telephonic conversions with family members of Navruna and some of the suspects in the case, said the official.

Navruna had gone missing from her house on Jawaharlal Road in Muzaffarpur on the intervening night of September 17 and 18, 2012. The CBI was assigned the investigation on the direction of the Supreme Court after the district police as well as state-run criminal investigation department (CID) failed to make a breakthrough in the case.

On November 26, 2012, a skeleton was found from the drain near the house, and, on the basis of forensic tests, CID said it was that of Navruna, but the family did not accept it.

On the basis of DNA report, the premier probe agency on August 20, 2014, told the special CBI court that the skeleton belonged to Navruna.

READ: Court sends Muzaffarpur ward councillor to two-day CBI remand in Navruna case

It is believed that the land mafia had kidnapped the girl, then student of Class 7, and subsequently killed her. The land sharks were eyeing a chunk of six katthas land, which Navrunas father, Atulya Chakraborty, wanted to sell and had even taken advance money of Rs 21 lakh for it from Thakur.

Having missed three previous deadlines  October 31, 2016, March 31, 2017 and September 30, 2017 for completing investigations in the case, the CBI is now racing against time to meet the deadline of March 31 this year, set by the Supreme Court.Pune Tension prevailed in Ahmednagar city, western Maharashtra, after members of the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and some Maratha outfits protested against an alleged insult of Chhatrapati Shivaji by the deputy mayor.

Sena workers pelted stones at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office near Gandhi Maidan, calling for a bandh (shut-down) in the city, after BJP member and deputy mayor Shripad Chindam allegedly used objectionable words while speaking about Shivaji.

Late in the evening, city BJP unit chief and member of parliament in the Lok Sabha, Dilip Gandhi said the party has decided to suspend Chindam. We have decided to dismiss him for his words.

Sena members ransacked a BJP office, after which, police bought the situation under control.

Chindam ticked off a municipal corporation employee on Friday morning for not doing his work. When the employee said he was tied up with work related to Shiv Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Shivaji, which falls on February 19, Chindam is reported to have used insulting language about the iconic 17th century king.

The employee recorded the conversation on his phone and shared it on WhatsApp, according to police officials.

We have deputed a police force at the BJP office and other sensitive locations. The situation is now under control, said inspector Abhay Parmar of Kotwali police station.

(With agency inputs)The Australian high commissioner to India, Harinder Sidhu, will start her four-day (February 17-20) visit to Punjab from Amritsar on Saturday. On the first day of the visit, the diplomat of Punjabi origin will pay obeisance at Golden Temple, besides visiting the Indo-Pak Partition Museum, said a release issued here on Friday by her office.

She was quoted as saying, Australia and Indias northern region enjoy close ties particularly in education, agriculture and sport sectors. A large proportion of Australias Indian community comes from the region, and Punjabi is now one of the top 10 languages spoken at home in Australia.

In Ludhiana, Sidhu will also launch two skill development initiatives by UDAY, a social enterprise run by Australian alumnus Param Singh  the Mooo app and a mobile dairy van.

This will be my third official visit to Punjab, and I look forward to advancing our cooperation in the agriculture sector, Sidhu added, as per the release. The visit to the Golden Temple is very special for me at a personal level. Both my parents are Punjabi, and my father was born in Punjab.

Sidhu will visit the Borlaug Institute for South Asia in Ludhiana, where she will meet with stakeholders from the state government and the farming community to talk about Happy Seeder, a technology that could help address the environmental issues of stubble burning. Happy Seeder is an excellent example of practical cooperation between Australia and India. It was developed by the Punjab Agricultural University and Australian engineers and scientists with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research a decade ago.

In Ludhiana, Sidhu will also launch two skill development initiatives by UDAY, a social enterprise run by Australian alumnus Param Singh  the Mooo app and a mobile dairy van.Australias high commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu on Saturday started her four-day tour to Punjab by paying obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Saturday.

On her first official visit to Amritsar, the Punjab-origin envoy also performed sewa (voluntary service) by baking chapatis at the community kitchen.

Replying to a query on alleged ban on entry of Indian officials in some gurdwaras in Australia, Sidhu said she was aware of such a development in only one gurdwara.

This, in any case, is an internal matter of respective gurdwara committees, she said.

After a group claiming to represent more than a dozen gurdwaras in the Canadian province of Ontario collectively resolved to bar officials representing India, its diplomats and others from entering the premises of these places of worship last month, there were reports of some Australia-based gurdwaras also following suit.

Punjabis fastest-growing community in Oz

Expressing happiness over the visit, Sidhu said: It is very special for me to be here as the high commissioner, having taken birth in a Sikh family.

Claiming that Punjabis comprise the fastest-growing community in Australia, she said: There are gurdwaras in every nook and corner of the island nation.

Sidhu said safety of foreign students remain the Australian governments top priority. She said the government is taking incidents of attack on Indian students very seriously. No such incident has been reported in recent times, she said.

Sidhu said 68,000 Indian students have gone to Australia for studies in 2017, pointing to favourable atmosphere prevailing there.

The high commissioner will also be visiting Ludhianas Borlaug Institute for South Asia. She said she is looking forward to advancing mutual cooperation in agriculture sector.

My visit will work towards strengthening cooperation in management of resources, animal husbandry and dairy farming, she said.A 19-year-old resident of Punjab has told Jharkhand police she was gangraped by two men in an empty bogie of a Delhi-Ranchi train two weeks ago , an official said.

Two days after the rape, the woman allegedly attempted suicide by consuming poison but was rescued and rushed to Ranchis Guru Nanak Hospital, where her condition is said to be stable.

She told police about the rape when they went to the hospital to record her statement on Friday.

The resident of Fazilka town in Punjab said she was gangraped by two men on Anand Vihar (New Delhi)-Ranchi Swarna Jayanti Express on February 6 between Muri junction and Ranchi.

After the alleged crime, the two men pulled the chain to stop the train in a deserted place and escaped in the bushes.

The girl has said that there was nobody in the bogie. Ideally, a security personnel should have been there. We will have to check with the concerned RPF official, superintendent of railway police Sangeeta Kumari said.

Kumari said the medical test of the woman has been done and the reports are awaited. The clothes she was wearing have also been sent for forensic tests.

An FIR was lodged with Ranchis GRP police station on Friday night.

Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das on Saturday said the government will provide all possible medical help to the girl, and ensure the arrest of the accused.Fame comes with its own set of perils. The song featuring Priya Prakash Varrier, who became an overnight internet sensation, as she winked at the camera, is now facing opposition from various quarters.

Aurangabad-based NGO Jan Jagran Samiti Maharashtra (JJSM) has lodged a complaint with the police demanding that the song in the forthcoming Malayalam film Oru Adaar Love, featuring Varrier, be deleted.

The complainant, JJSM President Mohsin Ahmed, said that the song and its lyrics are blasphemous and portray an improper and inappropriate way of life between Prophet Mohammed and his first wife Hazrat Khadija.

We have also demanded action against the films producers, director and the lyricist for this offensive song and want that it should be deleted from the film before its release next month, Ahmed told IANS.

An officer of the Jinsi Police station said the complaint has been forwarded to the Hyderabad police for further action as a similar complaint against the same film and its young actress is pending before them and this (Aurangabad) complaint would be added to it.

The song and Varriers eyebrow raising acts have been in the eye of the storm after its promotional clips went viral on social media last week, catapulting her to instant stardom.

Ahmed claimed that the song has hurt the sentiments of Muslims and such things that make irresponsible comments on sensitive religious matters should not be repeated in future.

He warned that in case the filmmakers fail to delete the song from the film before release, the JJSM will initiate legal proceedings against all the people concerned with it.

MeanwhileMumbai-based Raza Academy has penned a letter to Union Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani seeking a ban on the song. The academy has alleged that the said Malayalam song insults Prophet Mohammad and his pious wife.

Asif Sardar, president, Rehmani Group, urged Irani to immediately issue instructions to the censor board and the film maker to cut the song and spare the nation from yet another controversy.

The academy also held a protest here in front of the Minara Mosque, where they held placards with messages like, Stop misuse of sacred personalities.

ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktopDeplorable. Photo: Mike Theiler-Pool/Getty Images

Donald Trump has been lying to the public about his position in the (current) debate over Dreamers since the day it began. On September 5, the White House cancelled Deferred Action for Early Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the Obama-era program that had given American-raised undocumented immigrants the chance to secure temporary immunity from deportation. The president did not defend this decision on its merits. He had no interest in arguing that, contrary to popular opinion, gainfully employed, law-abiding Dreamers should be evicted from the only country they call home. Instead, he claimed that continuing the program wasnt actually an option  that DACA was simply unconstitutional.

But this claim was baseless. The judiciary has repeatedly affirmed the Executive branchs right to set priorities for immigration enforcement, and to supply temporary work permits to the undocumented. The administrations constitutional theory was so dubious, multiple federal judges have since ruled that it renders the (otherwise legal) decision to cancel DACA arbitrary and capricious  and thus, illegitimate. Even the White House didnt seem to believe its own rationale. In announcing the decision, Attorney General Jeff Sessions spent much of his remarks making a substantive case against allowing Dreamers to remain in this country. And despite claiming that DACA was a violation of our nations founding document, the president declared that he would keep it in place for another six months  or, perhaps, even longer than that, in the event that Congress failed to pass a legislative fix by early March.

And yet, the president has largely succeeded in obscuring the origins of todays immigration fight. The fact that the White House has never offered a coherent explanation for why it cancelled DACA  given the policys (newly affirmed) constitutionality, and the presidents self-professed support for Dreamers  is almost never mentioned in coverage of immigration debate on Capitol Hill.

And now, Trump is on the cusp of successfully obscuring the cause of that debates demise.

On Thursday, the Senate voted on a series of immigration proposals, all of which failed to attract a filibuster-proof majority. But a bipartisan package that combined a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million Dreamers, a provision barring said Dreamers from sponsoring the legal immigration of their parents, and $25 billion for the presidents border wall came close, winning 54 votes. The presidents proposal, which included sweeping reductions to legal immigration, only secured 39.

The media has (largely) framed these developments as a testament to Capitol Hills intractable divisions on immigration, or else, as a bipartisan failure to accept legislative compromise. But the truth is far more sinister: On Thursday, the president sabotaged a bipartisan immigration bill because he believes he will be able to force Democrats to do his bidding, once he regains the power to deport all Dreamers.

That isnt partisan hyperbole or speculation. It is the plain fact of the matter. And you dont need to take my word for it  take the White Houses:

The White House has been telling Republican senators that it expects the Supreme Court to overturn the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling extending protections for undocumented immigrants under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The implication is that what is now an indefinite grace period would quickly disappear  and that Democrats would be without leverage and forced to accept more Republican demands in order to codify DACA.

At present, former DACA recipients are eligible to apply to renew their work permits, thanks to the aforementioned federal-court rulings. If and when the Supreme Court overturns those, however, all Dreamers will become subject to deportation. The White House believes that Democrats wont have the stomach to abide their constituents ensuing suffering, and will thus, have no choice but to support sweeping cuts to legal immigration.

So, the administration killed the Senates compromise: Republican senators have told multiple outlets that the bipartisan bill would have had the votes had the White House stayed on the sidelines instead of actively lobbying against it. If Trump had enthusiastically endorsed the proposal  which combined a bipartisan measure he has claimed to support (legal status for Dreamers), with a far-right one he has championed as a top priority (full funding for his border wall)  there is little doubt that the bill would have made it out of the upper chamber.

Trumps actual position  that Dreamers should be kept in a state of perpetual fear so that Democrats will accept restrictions to legal immigration  is not viable with a mainstream audience. And he knows this. Which is why his administration has told nothing but bald-faced lies about what actually happened in the Senate on Thursday.

In a statement released Friday, the White House claimed that the Schumer Democrats had filibustered the presidents proposal, out of allegiance to an open-border fringe that opposes any immigration control at all. All of these claims are false. No filibuster was required to defeat Trumps bill because it did not have enough Republican support to win even 50 votes. Nearly every Senate Democrat voted for a bill that spends $25 billion on a border wall  which is not, generally speaking, a policy revered by the open-borders fringe. The disagreement between Trump and Senate Democrats is not about the legitimacy of the nation-state, but about whether Dreamers should be allowed to retain the legal right to live in this country, even if rates of legal immigration remain at their current level. Trump does not believe he has the winning side in that debate. So he lies about what the debate actually is.

Cannot believe how BADLY DACA recipients have been treated by the Democrats...totally abandoned! Republicans are still working hard.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 16, 2018

On Thursday, the White House attacked an immigration bill that would increase funding for border enforcement as a grievous threat to national security that would put many innocent lives at risk. The ostensible basis for such claims was that merely maintaining the right of American citizens to sponsor the immigration of their foreign siblings and adult children (i.e. chain migration) threatens public safety. But there is no empirical basis for that idea. And the notion that Trumps opposition to mass immigration is rooted in his overwhelming concern for Americans public safety is laughable; a president who opposes any and all regulations of the firearms market is not one uniquely concerned with public safety.

Media coverage of the immigration debate tends to suggests that neither side has a claim to an overwhelming, popular mandate. The public agrees with Democrats about some relevant issues, and with Trump on others. But this is only true if the actual point of contention is obscured.

Family-based migration is not a national-security threat. Cutting legal immigration in half is not a policy that any rational person would support for economic reasons. And there is no economic or national-security argument for why amnesty for Dreamers is only justifiable when paired with restrictions to legal immigration.

The administrations position only gains coherence when one stipulates that Trumps real concern is the one voiced by senior White House national-security adviser Michael Anton in 2016  that the ceaseless importation of Third World foreigners with no tradition of, taste for, or experience in liberty means that the electorate grows more left, more Democratic, less Republican, less republican, and less traditionally American with every cycle.

Granting legal status to Dreamers, without slashing legal immigration, would not put innocent lives at risk,  but it would accelerate the decline of a white majority in the United States, and thereby make it more difficult for the GOP, as currently constituted, to compete in national elections. This is why the White Houses immigration hard-liners pushed for DACAs original cancellation, and why they oppose any compromise that fails to address the demographic issue. Once again, this is not speculation. Senior members of the White House, and leading House conservatives, have expressed their admiration for explicitly, racially discriminatory immigration laws and expressed their concerns about immigration in demographic terms.

And if there is an alternative, good-faith argument for the administrations stance, why has no one in the White House ever bothered to make it?

The actual immigration debate in Washington today is not about open borders or MS-13; it is about whether prolonging the survival of a white majority in the United States is worth deliberately shrinking the American labor force through drastic cuts to legal immigration  and thus, accepting lower rates of economic growth, and a less sustainable Social Security program. The president believes that it is. Democrats believe that it is not. The White House believes it can coerce Democrats into supporting its position by inflicting suffering on hundreds of thousands of young people.

When Democrats considered shutting down the government to force debate on a Dreamers bill, pollsters asked the public whether they approved of such tactics. They discovered that, even though most voters supported legal status for Dreamers, most Americans believed that Chuck Schumers tactics were unjustifiably extreme.

How do you suppose Trumps position  that Dreamers should be psychologically tortured until Congress agrees to pass sweeping, racially motivated restrictions to legal immigration  would be received, if the mainstream press ever informed the public that this was, in fact, what all this was about?Two giant pandas on loan from China have been unveiled at a zoo in central Finland and they have frolicked, galloped, climbed trees and played in the snow after a month-long quarantine.

Hua Bao, a four-year-old male, and three-year-old female Jin Baobao arrived in Finland on January 18 and were immediately renamed Pyry (Snowfall) and Lumi (Snow) in Finnish. The Ahtari Zoo, 330 kilometers north of Helsinki, built a special Panda House annex for the pair.

Female panda Lumi plays in the snow during the opening day of the Ahtari Zoo Snowpanda Resort in Ahtari, Finland. (Reuters Photo)

China agreed to loan the pandas for 15 years as a gift to Finland, which celebrated 100 years of independence from Russia last year.

China has presented pandas to countries as a sign of goodwill and closer political ties, with Finland being the first Nordic nation to receive them.President Donald Trump came face-to-face Friday with hospitalised victims of the horrific school shooting in Florida and offered thanks to the doctors and nurses who helped the wounded, declaring the job theyve done is incredible.

Asked if hed talked with victims, Trump added: I did indeed, and its very sad something like that could happen.

After paying their respects to medical professionals at Broward Health North Hospital, Trump and his wife, Melania, visited with law enforcement officials in Fort Lauderdale, where he told officers that he hoped they were getting the credit they deserved for their response to the shooting that left 17 dead and 14 injured.

I was at the hospital with a lot of parents and they are really thankful for the job youve done, Trump said at the Broward County Sheriffs Office, where he was joined by Gov. Rick Scott, Senator Marco Rubio and other Florida officials. He added that the young victims were in really great shape considering what they have been through.

Trump relished bantering and praising the law enforcement officials, he marvelled at the speed with which first responders rushed the wounded to the hospital and he extended hearty thanks to first responders. But the President who has never been a natural at consolation didnt publicly address the grief and sorrow gripping a shocked community and nation, beyond his mention of how sad it was to meet with victims.

Nor was there any mention of the debate over gun regulation set off by the shooting. The President ignored a shouted question about whether guns should be more tightly regulated.

Trump said he originally planned to visit the Parkland area on Sunday or Monday, but decided he didnt want to wait.

But as Trump arrived in Florida, some of the parents, survivors and others affected by the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School said they were more interested in firm action to prevent future assaults than a presidential visit.

I dont want Trump to come but we want more gun safety, said 18-year-old Kevin Trejos, a senior at the school. Its a dream. It hasnt hit me yet. When I see empty desks, Ill feel it. Im numb now.

Trumps approach stood in sharp contrast to his predecessors reaction to the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, five years ago. After the Sandy Hook slayings, President Barack Obama quickly attended an emotional evening vigil in Newtown, where he read aloud the names of each victim and promised to use whatever power he had to prevent future shootings. In the wake of a mass shooting at a South Carolina church, Obama led thousands in singing Amazing Grace.

Trumps visit followed a similar script to his trip to Las Vegas in the fall after the worst mass slaying in modern history. On that trip, he also made a visit to a hospital, meeting with victims behind closed doors and then more publicly celebrated first responders.

In this case, it was Rubio who spoke directly to the raw emotions of the moment, telling Trump, This is a community and a state thats in deep pain and they want action to make sure this never happens again.

Mrs. Trump, for her part, thanked law enforcement officials for taking care of our children and added: They were put through a lot in what they were experiencing two days ago and we need to take care of them.

Mourners stand during a candlelight vigil for the victims of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida. (AFP Photo)

More than 1,000 people had attended a candlelight vigil Thursday night near the school, and at one point some began chanting, No more guns! No more guns!

Lori Alhadeffs 14-year-old daughter Alyssa was killed during the shooting. She invoked the Presidents 11-year-old son, Barron, as she angrily called for help.

President Trump, Barron goes to school. Lets protect Barron. And lets also protect all these other kids, she said Friday on CNN, her voice raising to a shout. You need to help us, now. We need security now for all these children. We need action, action, action!

Trump, who frequently boasts about his support for the National Rifle Association, made no mention of gun violence or any new measure to restrict access to firearms during his remarks Friday or a day earlier. He did promise to tackle school safety and the difficult issue of mental health.

He also tweeted Friday that he was working with Congress on many fronts, though he offered no details.

Before he was a candidate, Trump at one point favoured some tighter gun regulations. But he embraced gun rights as a candidate, and the NRA spent $30 million in support of his campaign.

The President made the trip to meet with first responders soon after Air Force One arrived in West Palm Beach for the president to spend the weekend at his Palm Beach estate, which is about 40 miles from Parkland.

In a departure from the Trumps original schedule, Mrs. Trump arrived at Air Force One separately from her husband for the flight to Florida and boarded the plane while reporters were kept away. A spokesperson said the change was due to scheduling.

As he departed, Trump ignored shouted questions from journalists about a report in The New Yorker magazine that he had an affair in 2006 with a Playboy model.A year before Donald Trump announced his presidential candidacy, two Russian operatives landed in the United States to lay groundwork for an intelligence operation targeting the legitimacy of the 2016 election.

What began as a Cold War-like attack by an old adversary would mix old-fashioned political agitation with 21st century social media tools that ultimately roiled the election and shook Americas political landscape.

The indictment of 13 Russians by special counsel Robert Mueller Friday revealed that the now well-documented Russian social media campaign also relied on extensive intelligence work by operatives on US soil. It also began earlier than commonly believed, first aiming to sow discord ahead of the 2016 election and later to boost Trumps candidacy.

The indictment does not specifically tie the influence operation to Russias intelligence apparatus. Instead, it fingers a group of operatives working for a unit called the Organization, financed to the tune of millions of dollars by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a St. Petersburg businessman dubbed Putins chef because his restaurants have catered dinners for the Kremlin leader and foreign dignitaries.

The scheme outlined in the indictment began with fraudulent visa applications for US travel.

Though some of the Russians were rejected, two operatives, Aleksandra Krylova and Anna Bogacheva, allegedly travelled as tourists through at least nine states over about two weeks in June 2014. They had developed evacuation scenarios in case their cover was blown.

Another unindicted operative travelled to Georgia in November of that year.

Prosecutors say the operatives were gathering intelligence used to evaluate political targets on social media. The operation developed metrics on social media groups, measuring things like frequency of posting and audience engagement.

Later, back in Russia, some of the operatives posed as US citizens to contact political and social activists.

Special counsel Robert Mueller (2nd left) leaves after a closed meeting with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee at the Capitol in Washington, DC. (AFP File Photo)

The indictment describes one interaction with someone at a Texas-based grassroots organization who suggested they target closely-contested purple states like Colorado, Virginia and Florida. It was banal conventional wisdom, but afterwards, the Russian operatives began using the jargon in their own interactions, which US authorities somehow were able to access.

The early groundwork set the table before the campaign was in full swing.

Social media accounts were established to lend credibility to their covert efforts. The Russian-based operatives posed as US political activists from all corners. Later, goals were set and enforced by the groups leadership: undermine Hillary Clinton while boosting her Democratic opponent in the primary, Bernie Sanders, as well as Trump.

To obfuscate their efforts, the operatives, working in concert with the Internet Research Agency, a St. Petersburg-based troll farm, purchased server space in the US Using virtual private networks they could conduct their social media interactions while appearing to be based in the US.

They also relied on identity theft, stealing and then using the social security numbers, home addresses and birth dates of real Americans without their knowledge, the indictment says.

The operatives set up bank accounts at a federally insured bank, set up accounts at PayPal using stolen identities and fake drivers licenses, and purchased fraudulent credit card and bank account numbers at as many as six US banks.

The operatives even received money from real Americans who wanted to use the Russian-backed social media pages for their own promotions, the indictment says.

The false identities and accounts aided the covert purchase of internet advertising, circumventing laws to prevent foreign influence in US politics. It also helped stage political rallies  while posing as American political activists, the operatives paid people in the US to promote or disparage candidates.

Starting in June 2016, just weeks after Trump had officially clinched the Republican nomination, the Russians upped the ante of their clandestine work. They began to organise and coordinate pro-Trump political rallies.

To build interest, the Russians promoted the events using their false US persona social media accounts, contacting unwitting American administrators of large social media groups focusing on US political issues. Using fake pro-Trump Facebook and Twitter accounts, the Russians touted two political rallies in New York, one slated for June 25, 2016, and a second for July 23.

In this July 7, 2017 photo, US President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G-20 Summit in Hamburg. (AP File Photo)

The Russians soon grew bold enough to enlist unwitting Americans in their efforts. One was asked to build a cage on a flatbed truck, while a second American was asked to wear a costume portraying Hillary Clinton in a prison uniform. The Russians, the indictment notes, paid these individuals to complete the requests.

On June 5, someone posing as an American activist used the Twitter account @March_for_Trump to contact an unnamed Trump campaign volunteer in New York. The Trump volunteer agreed to provide signs for the March for Trump rally, the indictment alleges.

That internet contact came four days before senior Trump campaign officials, including Trumps son, Donald Jr., and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, met in person with a group of representatives for Russian interests at Trump Tower. The Trump Tower meeting  separately being investigated by the special counsel  is not cited in Fridays indictment and is not known to have any connection with the allegations detailed in it.

By August, the Russian group had moved its sights to Florida, a key swing state, again using false IDs to contact Trump campaign staff involved in Florida activities. The Russians used Facebook and Instagram to promote a series of Florida Goes Trump rallies on August 20.

Using a false persona known as Matt Skiber, the Russians messaged Florida Trump supporters.

Hi there! the fake Skiber allegedly wrote awkwardly in English. Im a member of Being Patriotic online community. Listen, weve got an idea. Skiber suggested organising a YUGE pro-Trump flash mob in every Florida town.

Weve got the folks who are okay to be in charge of organising the events almost everywhere in FL. However, we still need your support. What do you think about that? Are you in?

Trump won the election in Florida by just under 120,000 votes out of more than 9 million cast.

The operation also targeted minority communities to exploit racial fissures and suppress Democratic votes.

On October 16, 2016, three weeks before the US election, the Russian-controlled Instagram account Woke Blacks encouraged followers not to go to the polls, saying hatred of Trump was forcing black people to vote for Killary: We cannot resort to the lesser of two devils. Then wed surely be better off without voting AT ALL.

Even after Trump won the presidency, the Russians continued to fuel his popularity with ersatz rallies, while at the same time using their false identifies to provoke anti-Trump rallies. One anti-Trump rally was held four days after the election in New York. It was called Trump is NOT my President. A week later another protest was held in Charlotte, NN, and was described as Charlotte Against Trump.

A reporter sends a text message after Michael Flynn arrived at the US Federal Court in Washington, DC on December 1, 2017. Donald Trump's former top advisor Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying over his contacts with Russia. (AFP Photo)

As reports of Russian influence began to surface in the US media, the operatives noticed.

After Facebook said publicly last September that it had found evidence of Russians buying ads on its platform, an email by Irina Viktorovna Kaverzina to a family member on September 13 cited by prosecutors said: We had a slight crisis here at work: the FBI busted our activity (not a joke). So I got preoccupied with covering tracks together with colleagues.A Scotland-based company expects to supply two third-generation deep search and rescue vehicles (DSRVs) to the Indian Navy by June following the successful completion of harbour acceptance trials.

The two complete flyaway submarine rescue vehicles are to be delivered under a 193-million contract awarded to JFD, a leading underwater capability provider, in March 2016.

The systems include launch and recovery systems equipment, transfer under pressure systems, and all logistics and support equipment required to operate the DSRVs.

The initial harbour acceptance trials of the first DSRV, which were undertaken at Glasgows King George V dock, are now complete. As part of this process the system has been comprehensively tested in a variety of conditions, JFD said in a statement this week.

Following the harbour acceptance trials, the DSRV will be fully integrated with the rest of the rescue system at a site in Glasgow, including the offshore handling system, intervention suite and 90-person decompression facilities.

Ben Sharples, India DSRV project director at JFD, said: The completion of the initial harbour acceptance trials for the first DSRV, to be delivered to the Indian Navy, is an important step in the delivery of this contract.

This is part of the progressive acceptance of the system designed to drive out risk during the later stages of sea acceptance.

Sharples added that the third-generation DSRV marked a significant step-change in real world submarine rescue capability with its weight optimised for maximum payload and optimum transportability.

JFD said the system had been developed to maximise the chances of successfully rescuing the crew of a distressed submarine. The full certified systems are due to be delivered to Indian Navy in June, it said.

A total of 72 Indian Navy personnel have also been trained by JFD at a facility in Scotland to operate the vessels. The Indian Navy, which operates a mix of Russian and Western submarines, has for long projected a need for deep sea rescue vessels to cope with possible accidents.Six civilians suffered breathing difficulties and other symptoms indicative of poison gas inhalation after an attack launched by Turkey on the Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin, Syrian Kurdish news outlets and Syrias state-run news agency reported Saturday.

The news outlets quoted local doctors in Afrin as saying the hospital treated six cases of people who suffered shortness of breath, vomiting and skin rashes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group also quoted local doctors in its report.

The claims could not be independently confirmed, and videos released from the hospital showed people being fitted with oxygen masks who did not otherwise show symptoms of gas attack inhalation such as twitching, foaming at the mouth or vomiting.

SANA on Saturday said Turkey fired several shells containing toxic substances on a village in Afrin on Friday night, causing six civilians to suffer suffocation symptoms.

The Turkish military repeated in a weekly statement published on Saturday that it does not use internationally banned ammunition in its Afrin operation and said, the Turkish Armed Forces does not keep such ammunition in its inventory.

The army also said it is careful to not harm civilians and only targets terrorists and their positions in the Afrin region.

The Turkish military launched an aerial and ground offensive on Afrin, in northwestern Syria, on Jan. 20. It says the aim of the operation is to push out the Kurdish militia known as the Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, from the enclave. Turkey considers the group to be a terrorist group and an extension of the Kurdish insurgents it fights inside Turkey.

Turkey never used chemical weapons in its operations in Syria, and takes the utmost care of civilians, a Turkish diplomatic source said.

These are baseless accusations. Turkey never used chemical weapons. We take utmost care about civilians in Operation Olive Branch. The source also described the accusations of wounding six civilians through a suspected gas attack as black propaganda.

SANA, as well as Kurdish news outlets including Kurdistan 24, quoted doctor Khalil Sabri at the Afrin hospital as saying the attack occurred on the village of Aranda and that victims suffered shortness of breath, skin rashes, vomiting and low blood pressure.British charity Oxfam on Friday unveiled an action plan to tackle sexual misconduct following the stain of a prostitution scandal although the man at the centre of the allegations denied organising orgies.

The charity also said it had agreed with the British government not to apply for any new state funding until it had satisfied demands laid out by International Development secretary Penny Mordaunt.

The aid group said it would create an independent commission which will have the power to access records and interview staff in a bid to stamp out abuse and impose stricter controls on employees.

We are going to create a vetting system, Oxfam Internationals executive director Winnie Byanyima told the BBC.

Im really inviting anyone who has been a victim of abuse by anyone in our organisation to come forward.

Oxfam will double the number of staff engaged in safeguarding and triple its funding in this area to more than $1 million (800,000 euros), while also increasing investment in gender training.

The new plan comes a week after revelations that Oxfam staff used prostitutes while working in Haiti following a devastating 2010 earthquake and a wave of subsequent allegations of sexual misconduct.

The charitys deputy chief executive Penny Lawrence has resigned and three Oxfam global ambassadors including South Africas Archbishop Desmond Tutu have quit their roles as a result of the scandal.

What happened in Haiti and afterwards is a stain on Oxfam that will shame us for years, and rightly so, Byanyima said, adding: From the bottom of my heart, I am asking for forgiveness.

Before the latest revelations emerged, Oxfam had fired four staff members for gross misconduct and allowed three others to resign following an internal inquiry into what happened in Haiti in 2011.

Lies and exaggerations

But Roland van Hauwermeiren, Oxfams director in Haiti at the time and one of the three who resigned from the charity, dismissed the allegations.

I have never been into a brothel, a nightclub or a bar in that country, the 68-year-old Belgian national said in a four-page letter published on the website of Belgian VTM News.

There were numerous men and women who tried to get into my house with all sorts of excuses to demand money, work, or to offer sexual services. But I never gave into these advances, he said.

Van Hauwermeiren, who has taken part in an internal enquiry at the British charity, said he told Oxfam he had engaged in intimate relations some three times at his home.

This was with an honourable, mature woman, who was not an earthquake victim nor a prostitute. And I did not give her any money, he said, adding that he was, however, deeply ashamed of the liaison.

Speaking to reporters with the Het Nieuwsblad newspaper, who tracked him on the Belgian coast, Van Hauwermeiren said there were lots of lies and exaggerations in media reports.

The hardest thing is that my family has rejected me, he said.

Global database for hiring

The charity has denied covering up the Haiti affair, which has prompted a drop in donations and led the British government to threaten to cut funds to organisations which try to hide sex scandals.

The government has made three demands of Oxfam: that it produce a plan on how to deal with any forthcoming allegations, that it report any staff members involved in the Haiti scandal and that it fully cooperate with the Haitian authorities.

It has until February 26 to satisfy the demands.

The charity admitted Thursday it rehired one of those sacked in Haiti just months later and is now checking whether any complaints were subsequently made.

The charity on Friday said it was also investigating allegations of sexual misconduct at a hotel in the Philippines after a destructive typhoon in 2013.

Oxfams regional director for Asia Lan Mercado earlier this week told the BBC she was aware of cases of sexual abuse involving staff in Bangladesh, Nepal and the Philippines between 2009 and 2013.

Oxfam has come under fire for failing to inform other aid organisations of the allegations against its staff including Van Hauwermeiren, who went on to work for French charity Action Against Hunger in Bangladesh.Reports that Oxfam staff members sexually exploited people in crisis zones are a stain that shames the charity, the organizations chief said in an interview broadcast Friday.

But the head of Oxfams British arm  the branch of the aid agency at the centre of the scandal  said the attacks on the organization are out of proportion to its mistakes.

Oxfam International executive director Winnie Byanyima said she is appointing an independent commission to investigate the allegations that staff members used prostitutes in Haiti after the countrys 2010 earthquake, and also in Chad. She urged all victims of abuse to come forward.

Im here for all the women who have been abused. I want them to come forward and for justice to be done for them, she told the BBC.

Byanyima said the commission would look into our culture and our practices and set up a vetting system for its staff.

UK based Oxfam has been rocked by allegations that senior staff working in Haiti after the countrys 2010 earthquake faced misconduct allegations, including using prostitutes and downloading pornography. The allegations relate to Oxfam GB, one of the 20 affiliate organizations that make up Oxfam International.

Oxfam says it investigated the case, fired four workers and let three others resign, but the British government and charity regulators have criticized its lack of transparency.

What happened in Haiti and afterwards is a stain on Oxfam that will shame us for years, and rightly so, Byanyima said.

The scandal could imperil the future of Oxfam, which relies on funding from governments and public donations. South African Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu, British actress Minnie Driver and Senegalese musician Baaba Maal all resigned as Oxfam celebrity ambassadors in the wake of the abuse allegations.

UK International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt has warned that British government funding to the group some 31.7 million pounds in 2016-17 is at risk unless it comes clean about the allegations, and Britains charity regulator has launched an investigation.

Mark Goldring, chief executive of Oxfam GB, admitted the organization needed to reform, but said the scale and the intensity of the attacks feels out of proportion to the level of culpability.

He told The Guardian that the scandal could have a substantial effect on public confidence, which would affect public donations.A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Saturday gave the death sentence to a suspected serial killer for the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl, a crime that had triggered protests across the country earlier this year.

The gruesome assault in Kasur town, located a short distance from the border of India, led to the setting up of a special task force which traced the rapist, 24-year-old Imran Ali, using DNA samples.

Ali was sentenced on four counts  murdering a child, kidnapping a child, raping a minor and committing an unnatural act with a minor. He was also given a seven-year sentence and fined Rs1 million for desecrating the body of the girl.

Ali will have 15 days to file an appeal.

The prosecution teams lawyer said his team has brought the culprit to justice. Our judiciary now uses DNA evidence like other countries to conclude a case, he said during a media briefing after the verdict was announced.

The verdict was announced in Kot Lakhpat jail amid tight security. The trial was conducted in the prison for security reasons. The victims father was present for the verdict.

On Monday, the anti-terrorism court had indicted Ali and started regular proceedings after he refused to accept the charges levelled against him by the police. Judge Sajjad Ahmad also recorded the statements of 20 prosecution witnesses during proceedings that lasted 11 hours.

According to investigators, Ali took the girl to an under-construction house where he raped and killed her. He later threw her body at a garbage dump site near her home.

The girl was kidnapped from near her aunts house in Kasur on January 4 and her body was found five days later.

People attend the funeral of the seven-year-old girl in Kasur, Pakistan. (AP File Photo)

The public demand for the immediate arrest of the rapist resulted in an unprecedented search that was joined by almost all law enforcement and security agencies. During the search, DNA tests were conducted on more than 1,100 people living in the area.

The massive search led to the arrest of Ali, whose DNA sample matched those found on eight victims, including the seven-year-old girl. Mehar Shakeel, the lawyer for Ali, decided not to plead his case after he confessed to his crime.

Ali also confessed that he had raped and murdered nine girls. He will be tried for the rest of the cases later.

Residents of Kasur have said the murder of the seven-year-old girl was the 12th such incident in a year. Hundreds of people protested after the girls body was found, and two died when police opened fire to disperse them.

There have been complaints of a number of missing children in Kasur district since 2015, when authorities uncovered a paedophile ring linked to a prominent local family. At least two people have been convicted in connection with that case, in which authorities say hundreds of children were abused.Pakistani authorities have ordered a survey for taking over more seminaries and healthcare units run by the Jamaat-ud-Dawah and to gather more information on the activities of the group, according to a media report on Saturday.

Several madrassas and other facilities run by the JuD and Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation, both linked to alleged 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed, were taken over by authorities in Punjab province after Pakistan amended its anti-terrorism law to include individuals and entities sanctioned by the UN Security Council in the list of proscribed groups.

The Punjab government directed the Rawalpindi district administration to conduct the survey and to seek information on the activities of the JuD from cantonment administrations, the Dawn newspaper reported.

However, there was no indication that the government planned to act against Saeed, whose arrest and prosecution has been demanded by the US. On Friday, Saeed attacked the Pakistan government and the US, saying: Our rulers are making this country an American colony.

The action against Saeeds groups was taken ahead of a crucial plenary meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), beginning in Paris on February 18, that will review Pakistans efforts to stop terror financing.

The Islamabad administration has presented a report to the federal government about JuDs healthcare and education facilities which it has taken over. The Islamabad Capital Territorys (ICT) administration has taken control of three JuD-run dispensaries and confiscated seven ambulances.

Islamabad deputy commissioner Mushtaq Ahmed said the administration had taken over facilities in Shareefabad, Ghouri Town and Quba Mosque at Sector I-8 in the federal capital. The ICT health department looks after the dispensaries while the ambulances have been handed over to Red Crescent, he said.

Referring to JuDs main centre in Islamabads Sector I-8, Ahmed said there was no seminary at the site. The government had directed authorities to take over only seminaries, schools and dispensaries, and not mosques. However, the JuD had been stopped from conducting any activity at the sector I-8 mosque, he added.

Three cases had been registered at as many police stations against advertisements for the collection of donations last week. He said the ICT conducted a survey in Islamabad and found no seminary or school was run by the JuD.

Reports said the JuD office in Multan city of Punjab had also been taken over by authorities.

Zahid Iqbal, a regional administrator for the Auqaf department, which is responsible for religious properties, said there were many mosques in Rawalpindi run by the JuD but the governments main focus is taking control of seminaries and dispensaries.

At present, we control a seminary in Rawalpindi, not mosques as mostly activities are held in seminaries, schools and health units, he said.

In 2017, a private group received permission from the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board for building a commercial-cum-education building. But the cantonment board stopped the work after receiving information that the JuD was behind the project.

Pakistan has cracked down on the JuD and FIF due to fears that it could be put on a watch list by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for failing to act against terror financing and money laundering. The US, the UK, Germany and France have moved a motion to put Pakistan on FATFs grey list, a move that could have significant consequences for the countrys banking sector.The Russian foreign ministry on Friday dismissed as absurd the indictments of 13 Russians by the United States for allegedly meddling in the 2016 US presidential race.

Thirteen people carried out interference in the US elections? Thirteen against the billion-dollar budgets of the special forces? Against the espionage and counter-espionage, against the newest developments and technologies? foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova wrote on Facebook.

Absurd? Yes. But this is the modern American political reality, she added, in the first official reaction from Moscow.

The businessman who tops the list of those indicted, Yevgeny Prigozhin, also made light of the indictments in comments to RIA Novosti state news agency.

Americans are very impressionable people. They see what they want to see. I have great respect for them. I am not at all upset that I am in this list. If they want to see a devil, let them, he said.

Prigozhin is nicknamed President Vladimir Putins chef by Russian media and runs a company that has catered for Kremlin receptions. He has been photographed with the strongman and his company Konkord is subject to US sanctions.

He has been linked by Russian media to a troll factory in Saint Petersburg working to spread pro-Kremlin propaganda online. He has denied meddling in US politics.Come on, Vlad. Photo: JORGE SILVA/AFP/Getty Images

The White House on Thursday issued a statement blaming the NotPetya cyberattack, which centered on Ukraine but affected computers around the world, on the Russian government and promising that Russia would face international consequences because of it.

The statement, coming hours after the U.K. government also accused the Kremlin of orchestrating the attack last June, marked the first time the Trump administration has formally attributed a major international malware attack to Russia. The Washington Post reported in January that the CIA had connected NotPetya to Russias military intelligence agency, GRU, which has conducted a number of cyberwarfare operations in Ukraine as part of the frozen conflict the Kremlin has been fomenting in eastern Ukraine since 2014.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the attack was part of the Kremlins ongoing effort to destabilize Ukraine and demonstrates ever more clearly Russias involvement in the ongoing conflict.

This was also a reckless and indiscriminate cyberattack that will be met with international consequences, she added.

NotPetya was similar in form to the WannaCry ransomware that hit hundreds of thousands of computers at hospitals, universities, and telecommunications companies around the world the preceding month, freezing victims out and requiring victims to pay a ransom in bitcoin in order to restore their access.

NotPetya initially targeted government agencies and businesses in Ukraine, but quickly spread beyond its borders, affecting companies around the world, including the British ad agency WPP, food company Mondelez, pharmaceutical manufacturer Merck, and shipping company FedEx. FedEx alone claims to have lost $300 million because of the attack, while WannaCry and NotPetya threw into stark relief the threat such attacks pose to businesses, government institutions, and essential infrastructure.

In that light, cybersecurity experts tell Wired, for the U.S. to directly accuse Russia of committing such a cybercrime is a big deal. The Russian origins of NotPetya were already widely known or suspected within the cybersecurity community, but the government had been reluctant to take this step previously. It appears the administration has drawn a line in the sand with an actor thats been extremely aggressive and enjoyed quite a bit of anonymity until now, John Hultquist, director of intelligence analysis at the security firm FireEye, commented.

For its part, Russia responded to the accusation with predictable outrage, calling it part of a Russophobic propaganda campaign. The Kremlin-funded media outlet RT was quick to note that several Russian companies were also affected by the malware, as if to suggest that malware of Russian origin would not have spread to Russia itself, and insinuated that these accusations were really coming from the pro-Western government in Kiev.

Despite the strong language Sanders used to describe the attack, it is not yet clear what these international consequences will be. President Donald Trump has resisted efforts to impose new sanctions on Russia, a country in which he is known to have done extensive business, over its meddling in the 2016 election. The administration is dragging its feet on implementing sanctions that Congress voted to impose last year. Whether it will be more willing to sanction Russia over NotPetya remains to be seen.

That the White House is willing to take the bold step of publicly accusing the Kremlin of carrying out a major cyberattack makes it all the more puzzling that the administration has resisted all attempts to punish Russia for interfering in U.S. elections, which the intelligence community unequivocally agrees that it did, even going so far as to lie to the public about that conclusion. Even as the indictment released by special prosecutor Robert Mueller on Friday spelled out in detail the extent of that interference, Trump was only interested in pointing out that he and his campaign had not been implicated (yet).

Not only did Russia meddle in elections in 2016, the top brass of our intelligence and national security apparatus are unanimous in the opinion that they will do so again this year. We expect Russia to continue using propaganda, social media, false-flag personas, sympathetic spokesmen and other means to influence, to try to build on its wide range of operations and exacerbate social and political fissures in the United States, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told Congress on Tuesday.

CIA Director Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and even former president George W. Bush have acknowledged that Russia interfered in the last national elections and will try to do so again this year. If this is all a Democratic partisan conspiracy to undermine the president, as Trump believes, these are some very unlikely co-conspirators.

To make matters worse, with the first primaries just weeks away, theres not much time left to shore up the security of our elections, and while some states have taken measures to hack-proof their polls, such as with paper ballots or backups, Congress has provided no funding to assist in these efforts and has even neglected to allocate $400 million in election-improvement funds that were pledged 16 years ago but never spent. Democrats are pushing a bill to provide states with over $1 billion in election-protection funds, but the bill has no Republican co-sponsors in the House and, as such, is effectively dead on arrival.

As for the White House, Trump has proven utterly resistant to being convinced that Russian interference in our elections is a serious threat because to do so would require him to admit that his own election was not entirely clean. The intelligence chiefs who testified before Congress on Tuesday said that while their agencies were working on plans to defend against potential election interference this year, the president had not personally directed them to do so.

Instead, Trump has been busy propounding a conspiracy theory about the deep state plotting against him, in order to sow doubt among the public about the intelligence communitys conclusions about the Kremlins election interference. Russian intelligence appears to be aiding that effort, with Russia-linked Twitter accounts churning out hashtags like #fisagate and #obamadeepstate. The misinformation campaign is working, too. Recent polls suggest that the public is divided, largely along partisan lines, about whether Russia meddled in the 2016 election, whether the investigation into that meddling is fair, and whether Trump has acted to obstruct it.

Considering that Trump and his Republican enablers in Congress stand to benefit from any Russian interference in this years elections, and that theyve done virtually nothing to prevent that from happening so far, its a bit rich to see the administration express outrage over another example of Russian cyberwarfare, not to mention puzzling that they would sanction Russia over an attack on Ukraine and FedEx, but not over an attack on the foundations of American democracy.

As the New York Times editorial board put it in an op-ed taking Trump to task for not heeding his own appointees warnings, the suggestion that Trump is giving Russia a green light to tamper with the 2018 elections  can no longer be dismissed out of hand. Indeed, what conclusion can Russian intelligence draw from these mixed messages other than to quit wasting their time putzing around with Ukrainian banks and focus on the midterms instead?US federal agents said Friday they arrested 212 people in Los Angeles for violating federal immigration laws.

The vast majority  88%  of those arrested were convicted criminals, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency said in a statement.

The arrests were carried out in a five-day operation that ended Thursday in the second most populous US urban centre.

Los Angeles is a sanctuary city that does not collaborate with federal officials on detaining people suspected of violating immigration laws.

Because sanctuary jurisdictions like Los Angeles prevent ICE from arresting criminal aliens in the secure confines of a jail, our officers are forced to conduct at large arrests in the community, said ICE Deputy Director Thomas Homan.

This puts officers, the general public and the aliens at greater risk and increasing the incidents of collateral arrests, he said.

While the focus of the sweep was to arrest undocumented migrants with a criminal record, others without such a record were also picked up.

All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States, the statement read.

ICE did not specify those arrested by nationality when asked by AFP.

The agents also served 122 notices of inspection to Los Angeles-area businesses, warning that ICE is going to audit their hiring records to determine whether or not they are in compliance with the law.

If they fail the audit, the businesses will face civil fines and potential criminal prosecution, the statement said.With Hinduism emerging as one of the fastest growing religion in Australia, Victorian government on Friday announced over $160,000 funds for the upgradation of Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple here.

The Cultural and Heritage Centre also known as Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple was consecrated in 1994. It is said to be the largest Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere.

The Victorias Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Robin Scott who visited the temple on Friday said the government will provide over $160,000 funds to the Hindu Society of Victoria to upgrade its Cultural and Heritage Centre.

He said the state government is keen to promote an inclusive society where every Victorian can preserve and share their culture and traditions in spaces of their own heritage.

Under the new funding from the Labor Government, the driveway and entry points of the Cultural and Heritage Centre will be upgraded and more than 300 car parks will be added on the site.

The new project is also expected to benefit thousands of Hindus and wider community members from Carrum Downs suburb where the temple is located.

The funding is being provided through the Labor Governments Community Infrastructure and Cultural Precincts (CICP) programme which aims to promote greater use of community facilities by states culturally diverse communities, increasing their participation in activities, improving access to services and enabling states cultural precincts to remain attractive for cultural and tourism activities.

The upgrades to the Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple will help our Hindu community enshrine and share their values of compassion, selflessness, harmony, tolerance and respect, Scott said.

By working together with local communities, we are building a Victoria where everyone belongs, feels accepted and can freely participate and contribute, he added.

Also present on the occasion, the local politician and a member for Carrum Sonya Kilkenny said,Our local Hindu community has been advocating for upgrades to the Cultural and Heritage Centre  were listened and were getting it done.

According to latest census, Hinduism had the most significant growth since in last decade driven by immigration from South Asia.

The 2016 census had revealed that over 440,000 Hindus were now living in Australia and there was 1.9% growth in Hindu population since 2006.Yes, the Olympics are underway in Pyeongchang, and with all the feats of skill and speed and artistry on display in South Korea, now felt like an appropriate time to celebrate all of the delightful things that originated in the country. From miracle-working beauty products and addictive snacks to Ultra HD electronics and the worlds best dishwashing gloves. Welcome to Made in Korea week on the Strategist.

Seoul Fashion Week is new, at least compared to the blockbuster weeklong events that happen in cities like New York, London, and Paris. But in the ten or so years since Seouls event started attracting more big-name designers and editors, the South Korean capital has also started to see an uptick in local brands setting up shop to feed the citys growing hunger for unique fashion  especially streetwear. Most of these emerging designers sell their goods at the citys growing number of concept shops (which we highlighted in our recent Seoul Urbanist guide). Those stores offer curated, museumlike experiences in person, but dont have easy online options for international shoppers. So we had Seoul- and London-based fashion editor and consultant Inhae Yeo send a dispatch with the best scores from new designers  and where to buy them online, from anywhere in the world.

Reike Nen

Who they are: One of the most popular independent shoe labels in Seoul, Reike Nen makes loafers and leather and suede booties that have started to gain a fan base in the U.S., thanks to vendors like Need Supply, Nordstrom and FWRD.

What Yeo would buy: I love the velvet ankle boots in copper  with the signature metal round-zip detail in the back  and the white leather loafer with a metal round detail. Korean shoe designers make really good, quality products.

SJYP

Who they are: A streetwear line that launched in 2014 and made its name off of torn-up, patched-together, 90s-style denim pieces. SJYP makes hoodies and pullover tops as well, but usually with an odd cut or an asymmetrical twist.

What Yeo would buy: The inspiration for SJYPs latest collection is race-car driving. I love the duos take on the denim range, playing with the structure. The collarless jacket patched with white fabric on the back that reads No Fear Get the Trophy upside down is constructed with clever inner seams around the shoulder to give an oversize effect. And the ribbon-sleeve denim jacket is easy to throw on top of cotton tees.

Ader Error

Who they are: Often called the Vetements of South Korea, Ader Error makes unisex clothing lines filled with pieces like colorful car coats, fanny packs, and hoodies with bell sleeves. Most items come with some kind of type on them  hence the Vetements comparison.

What Yeo would buy: Id wear Ader Errors striped top with a colorful cap, with some Your Life is a Joke socks.

Eenk

Who they are: Eenk is a concept store, but also a brand, by designer Lee Hye-mee. Her trademark move is to make products according to the alphabet (B for beanie, C for clutch), and she focuses on accessories.

What Yeo would buy: Her signature gold-square handle handbag and mobile-phone cases; the gold handle becomes handy when holding the phone as well as standing it on flat surfaces.

Beyond Closet

Who they are: A casual menswear line (although it could easily be a unisex line) that puts silly illustrations and logos on many of its sweatshirts. The poodle dog, reconfigured as famous people from history, is a favorite motif.

What Yeo would buy: Beyond Closets new I Love Pet series for SS18 takes its inspiration from the museum and is just too adorable. My favorite is the white bichon frise portrayed as Frida Kahlo on a black hoodie.

R.Shemiste

Who they are: Another streetwear label, R.Shemistes recent collection showed lots of oversize suiting on top of slouchy trousers and T-shirts. The brand is also known to be political: Last spring, R.Shemiste used its runway show at Seoul Fashion Week to play images in support of LGBTQ rights, still a difficult and contentious topic in South Korea.

What Yoo would buy: I love the simple oversize jumper in cream patched with a faded black-and-white print on the front. And this red hoodie can be worn on its own as a dress with a pair of over-the-knee boots, or matched with a same-color beanie in the way K-pop group BTS wears it.

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The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best womens jeans, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, ultra-flattering pants, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission.

Yesterday, we reported that Meek Mill's lawyers would be filing the paperwork for a Post-Conviction Relief Act following the recent news of corruption in the rapper's case. Today, those files have been taken into consideration and Meek has been granted an appeal hearing in April. The appeal is based on the news that the sole witness, police officer Reginald Graham, is on a secret list of "corrupt cops" that have committed perjury by lying on the witness stand or who have been improper in their arrests. The Philly native is currently serving time for violating his probation but, according to Meek's lawyers, Graham is lying about several elements surrounding the arrest.

For one, Meek allegedly did not point his gun at the arresting officer or at anyone else during the arrest, and he did not have any drugs on him at the time. These are both aspects that Graham has been untruthful about, a situation which we spoke about directly with Meek's lawyer Joe Tacopina. The Philadelphia rapper's legal team has been incredibly hard at work, looking for any angle they can swing to get their client out of prison.

The Post-Conviction Relief Appeal will be held in April and, in the meantime, Meek will need to tough it out in jail a little while longer. We will keep you posted with any new developments in the trial as they occur. For now, check out part one of our interview series with Meek's lawyer.

[via CBS]Nipsey Hussle's Victory Lap has arrived, leading the charge for a 2018 West Coast renaissance. The California rapper has kept true to the sonic influences of his hometown, with callbacks to G-Funk and the raw arrangements of The Chronic. While plenty of singles have already been in rotation, one of the deeper cuts stands out as a mid-album gem. "Hussle & Motivate" finds Nipsey going in over a chopped up sample from "Hard Knock Life"; you might recall Jay-Z having previously rocked this one back in 98, but after two decades, is it not fair game?

Producers DO Speaks, Street Symphony, Brody Brown, Larrance Dopson & Mike N Keys joined forces on this one, layering the Annie sample with some ominous piano progressions. Nipsey himself is in fine form, delivering a laid back flow as he flexes his revered status in the Los Angeles hierarchy.

Quotable Lyrics

Hit by the rules like a fuckin' ref

I got respect in like a hundred sets

Too many chains, need another chest

Playin' no games if it wasn't chessWASHINGTON - The Trump administration on Friday recommended an array of stiff tariffs and other tough trade actions on imports of steel and aluminum from China and other nations, saying the influx of foreign metals has compromised national security.

In a call with reporters Friday, Wilbur Ross, secretary of commerce, laid out a variety of recommendations for President Donald Trump to choose from, including a 24 percent tariff on all steel imports from all countries.

The scope and severity of any trade action will ultimately be determined by Trump, who has broad authority to decide whether to impose tariffs or quotas, and what countries should face them. Those measures, which could be announced in the following weeks, are aimed at saving U.S. steel and aluminum producers, which have struggled to compete with a flood of cheap metals from abroad, particularly from China.

The Commerce Department, in a report published Friday, proposed a 53 percent tariff on all steel products from 12 countries, including China, Brazil, India, South Korea and Vietnam. All other countries would be subject to a quota equal to the amount of their exports to the United States in 2017. Ross proposed a final alternative that involved no tariffs but a quota on all steel products from all countries equal to 63 percent of their exports to the United States in 2017.

For aluminum, the secretary presented a similar array of three options. The first was a 7.7 percent tariff on all countries and all products. The second was a 23.6 percent tariff on China, Hong Kong, Russia, Venezuela and Vietnam, with all other countries subject to a quota equal to the amount they exported the United States in 2017. The third alternative was a quota on all imports from all countries of up to 86.7 percent of their 2017 exports to the United States.

Any action to limit imports is likely to end up raising the price of steel, which could destabilize U.S. industries from automakers to food packagers. Tough trade measures could also sow discord and provoke retaliation among U.S. allies.

There would be a 90-day appeal period allowing U.S. companies to request exceptions, Ross said.

The statement came in a highly anticipated report released Friday morning by the Commerce Department, the result of twin investigations initiated last April to determine whether steel and aluminum imports were threatening national security.

The president has not yet announced what he will do as a result of the investigation. But in remarks to lawmakers Tuesday, he said that the U.S. was considering tariffs, quotas or both.

"You may have a higher price, but you have jobs," Trump told the bipartisan group.

The Trump administration has argued that steel and aluminum imports are compromising national security by threatening the viability of U.S. manufacturers that make planes, armored vehicles and other products for the military. It chose to initiate the investigation into steel and aluminum imports under a little-used provision of trade law that relates specifically to national security concerns, and gives the president broad leeway to act.

Supporters of the trade action, including steel companies like United States Steel, Nucor and ArcelorMittal, as well as the United Steelworkers union, say U.S. metal makers badly need the White House to step in and halt the flood of cheap imports, which has depressed the price for steel and aluminum. But the investigation has also prompted pushback from allies, including in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, that argue that they support the U.S. militarily, rather than harm it.

Dramatically remaking U.S. trade has been one of Trump's defining political promises. But his first year in office delivered a mixed record on trade accomplishments. He withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, an Obama-era trade deal, and began renegotiating trade pacts with South Korea, Canada and Mexico, though those talks now look likely to take longer than he anticipated.

The administration is also weighing a series of trade cases this year that would protect U.S. industries against imports. In January, the Trump administration decided to impose tariffs on washing machines and solar cells and modules to help domestic industry. It has also started an investigation into China's alleged infringement of U.S. intellectual property that could result in investment restrictions or further tariffs.WASHINGTON - A bankrupt Texas clean coal developer has been cited by the Department of Energy's inspector general for misspending $2.5 million in federal funds.

Summit Texas Clean Energy announced plans in 2008 to develop a coal plant in West Texas that would capture 90 percent of the carbon from its emissions after being awarded $350 million by the Energy Department under former President Barack Obama. The company, where former Dallas mayor Laura Miller worked as a project director until 2016, still has not built the plant and filed for bankruptcy in October.BATON ROUGE, La. - A 13-year-old oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico remains a "long-term problem" without a clear solution for eliminating slicks that often stretch for miles off Louisiana's coast, a government lawyer recently told a federal judge.

Up to 16 oil wells are possibly leaking at the site where a company's platform toppled during Hurricane Ivan in 2004, Justice Department attorney John Roberson said during a court proceeding in Washington last Friday. Roberson said federal regulators haven't decided whether to require Taylor Energy Co. to plug any of those wells, according to a court transcript.

A company lawyer insisted there is no evidence any wells are still leaking. Experts have determined that drilling underwater to plug those wells could do more ecological harm than good, another company lawyer told U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge Nancy Firestone.

New Orleans-based Taylor Energy sued the government in January 2016 to recover millions of dollars it set aside for work to end the leak. The suit claims regulators violated a 2008 agreement requiring the company to deposit about $666 million in a trust to pay for leak response work. The company argued the government must return the remaining $432 million.

Yearlong settlement talks have failed to resolve the case. Taylor Energy attorney Carl Rosenblum said the company wants to move forward with the lawsuit.

Roberson said the Coast Guard and Interior Department's Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement are weighing the "next steps," with options that include drilling to plug wells and a new containment system for capturing oil.

The judge asked Roberson if the company is still involved in the decision-making process.

"I don't think that's where we're at," he said. "I'll let Taylor address it, but I believe that their position is there's no more that can be done and they should be able to walk away from the issue."

Rosenblum said the company isn't trying to "get off the hook," but Taylor Energy has said nothing can be done to completely eliminate sheens at the site.

Regulators, however, have warned that the leak could last a century or more if left unchecked.

"Remember, judge, this event was not Taylor's fault," Rosenblum said. "This was Mother Nature doing what she did."Jambojet CEO, Willem Hondius (L) disembarks from plane with other officials from Jambojet airlines

Observers have welcomed the entry of Kenyan airline, Jambojet, into the Ugandan airspace, saying this is likely to reduce the cost of travelling between Entebbe and Nairobi.

The airline launched last week and will operate double daily flights with departures from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 09:10am and 17:30pm. They will also have two flights from Entebbe International airport for Nairobi at 11am and 19:20pm every day.

Jambojet is expected to bring competition among airlines plying the Entebbe-Nairobi route, a move that will lower air prices for frequent travellers.

The airline has an introductory fare of Shs 400,000 per route, which is among the cheapest. Currently, the cheapest ticket on that route has been going for Shs 525,000.

Speaking during the launch at Entebbe airport, Jambojet chief executive officer, Willem Hondius, said the price was intended to encourage more people to travel by air both in Uganda and the region.

In East Africa alone, we have a market of over 100 million people and we have barely scratched the surface in air travel. We believe that Jambojets entry into Uganda will make air travel more affordable to majority of people who travel for business or leisure in the region and beyond, Hondius said.

He noted that there is a huge opportunity for the tourism sector to develop too.

In particular, we expect the tourism industry to reap maximum benefits from facilitation of an EA circuit which would give tourists an opportunity to visit scenic attractions in Uganda such as the source of the Nile., Murchison Falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park and the rare Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable forest, he said.

The ministry of Works director of transport, Benon Kajuna, who represented government, said the growth of air transport sector was important for the entire economy since it created opportunities for investment, capacity building and employment including creating linkages for better intra-regional trade.

We need to build capacity to allow our local businesses to have greater access to foreign markets. Air transport and connectivity supports exports and simultaneously increases competition and choice in the home market from foreign-based producers, he said.

This in turn encourages firms to specialize in areas where they possess a comparative advantage, allowing for opportunities to exploit economies of scale, which lowers the cost of production and ultimately benefits domestic consumers.Cara Lucy O'Connor has a concern.

Pluto used to be one of the nine planets in the solar system, and it isn't anymore. That's not right, said the little girl from Ireland. So Cara, with the help of her teacher, wrote a letter to NASA hoping to persuade the space agency to "make Pluto a planet again."

"I listened to a song and at the end of it the song said "Bring Pluto Back" - and I would really like that to happen," Cara wrote.

She went on to explain that in 2006, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet, "a type of planet that isn't big enough to clear its orbit." She talked about the Kuiper belt, a doughnut-shaped ring beyond Neptune where many dwarf planets are located.

"I really think Pluto should be a main planet again like Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus & Neptune, because in one video I watched called 'Let's go meet the planets,' Pluto was at the very end," she wrote.

In another video, she said, Pluto "was put in the trash can and was scared by planet Earth."

"This was really mean," Cara wrote, "because no one or no planet or dwarf planets should be put in the trash can."

Cara dreams of becoming a NASA astronaut and "visit all the main planets including Pluto." But in the meantime, she told NASA, "you need to fix this problem for me."

Though not likely to result in a dramatic change in Pluto's demoted status as a dwarf planet, the 6-year-old's letter did not fall on deaf ears. James Green, director of NASA's Planetary Science Division, wrote her back.

"I agree with you that Pluto is really cool - in fact, who would have believed that Pluto has a heart? . . . It's a fascinating world that appears to be constantly changing. To me, it's not so much about whether Pluto is a dwarf planet or not; it's that Pluto is a fascinating place that we need to continue to study," Green wrote.

"I hope that you will discover a new planet," he added, "and I trust that if you continue to do well in school we will see you at NASA one of these days."

Cara, who hopes to discover a planet and name it Planet Unicorn, often peppers her teachers with questions about why black holes exist, or whether the moon landing really happened.

"She had the most interesting mind. She asked questions that I couldn't answer," said Sarah O'Donovan, who taught Cara last year at Glasheen Girls' School in Cork, Ireland. "She's always interested in things that are far, far above her level."

Cara said she's been interested in space and astronomy since last year. She loves learning about "the forming of the planets," she said.

Her interest was piqued even more after listening to songs and watching videos about Pluto. So one day, she asked O'Donovan to help her write a letter to NASA. Cara had not learned much yet about reading and writing, so her teacher wrote her words for her. As Cara talked almost nonstop, O'Donovan typed, at times interrupting Cara so she could Google some of the bits of information the little girl was giving her to make sure they're accurate (They were, she said).

The letter was written and sent to NASA headquarters last April. O'Donovan said they also wrote to the European Space Agency after they did not receive a response from NASA. NASA wrote back months later. The correspondence caught the attention of Irish media this week.

"I was happy," Cara, who wrote the letter when she was 5, told The Washington Post this week. "I was jumping up and down."

Green said he receives several letters every month, and he always answers them. Most recently, he said, he signed off on a letter to a young boy from Turkey who was quite concerned about the possible existence of another planet deep in the solar system. Another boy wrote NASA about his interest in applying for a job as a planetary protection officer, defending Earth from biological contaminants. Sometimes, Green said, he receives drawings and paintings.

"It's really a delight for me," Green said. "It's a break in my day when I open up a letter like that and have an opportunity to see where these kids are at and spend time to actually answer their question."

Cara, in particular, impressed Green with her knowledge about the Kuiper belt.

"She got that. She understood that," Green said. "It was really exciting, these kids that really want to dig in and understand our solar system. I get really excited about it."

Carly Howett, a Colorado-based scientist involved in NASA's New Horizons mission to explore Pluto, also wrote a letter to Cara after finding out about the girl from an astronomy magazine in Ireland.

"I felt that that could've been me when I was her age. Reaching out and not really expecting much," said Howett, who grew up in a small town in the United Kingdom. "It's important that that dream of hers, that spark not be extinguished."

"I kind of hope that this story shows that scientists don't have to be unreachable, that we're people," she added. "If you have a question, you reach out to whoever it is, whether it's Neil deGrasse Tyson or someone else. That's how curiosity starts."

The International Astronomical Union, not NASA, downgraded Pluto's status to that of a dwarf planet because it failed to meet all criteria needed to be classified as a full-sized planet. Pluto met two: It orbits around the sun, and it has sufficient mass to assume a nearly round shape. But it failed to meet the third, which says it needs to have "cleared the neighborhood" around its orbit. This means there should be no other bodies that are comparable in size in a planet's vicinity in space.

Cara is far from alone in her desire to restore Pluto's status as a planet. Last year, a group of NASA scientists proposed expanding the definition of a planet. The scientists suggested that "round objects in space that are smaller than stars," should be considered planets, USA Today reported.

Coming to America and becoming a NASA astronaut may sound like distant dream for a girl from southern Ireland, but Green, of NASA's Planetary Science Division, said Cara needs only to look at someone who had already done so.

Nicola Fox, who was born and raised in a small town outside of London, is now a scientist for NASA and Johns Hopkins University. Like Cara, Green said, Fox started as a little girl whose bedtime stories were about the moon landing.

"She's been here in the country for about 20 years. That started just like Cara does in terms of dreaming and thinking about this field," Green said. "I'm hoping that my letter was just a little tug in that direction."President Donald Trump late Saturday night criticized the FBI for failing to act on a tip that might have prevented the recent massacre at a high school in Parkland, Florida, and said the bureau was devoting too much time to its investigation of his presidential campaign.

"Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter," Trump said in a Tweet. "This is not acceptable. They are spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign - there is no collusion. Get back to the basics and make us all proud!"

The president's comment marks the first time he has weighed in on the bureau's failure to investigate a Jan. 5 tip about 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, who this week was charged with shooting and killing 17 people at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

The FBI acknowledged the tip on Friday, saying a person close to Cruz had warned a call taker on the bureau's general tipline that the young man had a desire to kill and might attack a school. The bureau said that information was not passed to agents in the field for investigation - an apparent breach of protocol.

The resources devoted to the Russia case should not have had any direct effect on the FBI's response in Florida because the tip about Cruz, although reported to a call-center supervisor, never reached agents who would do an investigation, officials have said.

Still, the incident comes at a precarious time for the FBI. Conservative lawmakers already had been reviewing the bureau's handling of two hotly charged political matters: the probe of possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election; and the now-closed investigation of Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state.

On Friday, the chairs of three powerful congressional committees that oversee the bureau sent letters demanding briefings on the FBI's Florida misstep, while others lambasted the bureau for its apparent failure.

"The fact that the FBI is investigating this failure is not enough," Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said in a statement. "Both the House and Senate need to immediately initiate their own investigations into the FBI's protocols for ensuring tips from the public about potential killers are followed through. Lawmakers and law enforcement personnel constantly remind the public that 'if you see something, say something.' In this tragic case, people close to the shooter said something, and our system utterly failed the families of seventeen innocent souls."

The FBI declined to comment on the various congressional requests.

While lawmakers and federal law enforcement officials assessed their response, state authorities were left to prepare for one of the state's highest-profile prosecutions in recent memory. Michael Satz, the state attorney for Broward County, said Saturday that the incident was "the type of case the death penalty was designed for," though his office would not formally announce whether it will seek such a sentence so families had time to mourn.

The incident comes at a precarious time for the FBI. Conservative lawmakers already had been reviewing the bureau's handling of two hotly charged political matters: the probe of possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election and the now-closed investigation of Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state.

President Donald Trump has been highly critical of investigators' actions in both of those cases, and some in the bureau have worried his persistent attacks might do lasting damage to the premier federal law enforcement agency's reputation.

Florida's Republican Gov. Rick Scott seized on the FBI's failure to investigate Cruz and called Friday for FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign.

"Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isn't going to cut it," Scott said in a statement.

Scott's call, though, did not immediately seem to gain wide traction. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi a Republican who, like Scott, is an ally of Trump, said on Fox News, "The people who had that information and did not do anything with it, they are the ones that need to go."

Republican leaders who oversee the FBI, while highly critical of the bureau, also did not immediately call for the director to step down.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., chair of the House Oversight Committee sent a letter to Wray demanding that the bureau brief the committees by no later than March 2 on why the agency did not act on a January tip about the suspected shooter and his propensity for violence. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, also asked that the bureau brief his committee staffers by the end of next week.

Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., said of the governor's call for Wray to resign: "He does not want to talk about gun control, so he is attacking the FBI."

On Friday night, Trump praised the FBI during a visit with law enforcement officials who responded to the shooting.

"We had a lot of FBI guys down here quickly. So great job; thank you very much," Trump said to an FBI special agent who was among those at the Broward County Sheriff's Office.

White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said Saturday on Fox News: "Director Wray obviously understood that there were mistakes made at the FBI. He made that clear; he took responsibility for it."

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he had directed his deputy attorney general, the No. 2 law enforcement official in the country, to look into the matter.

The bureau has in recent years faced significant scrutiny over whether it responds forcefully enough to possible threats. Agents had previously investigated the man who gunned down 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in 2016 but ultimately concluded they could take no action against him. The FBI also had prior contact with the man charged with killing five people at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport last year. He had walked into an FBI field office and made bizarre, though not threatening, statements.

Officials believe the Jan. 5 tip about Cruz was passed from a call taker to a supervisor, but it was not forwarded, as it should have been, to agents in the field. The FBI's call center in 2017 received more than 766,000 calls, though law enforcement officials said they do not believe the lapse here was one due to too much volume, but rather a failure to appropriately assess the particular tip.

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said police had received about 20 calls for service in recent years regarding Cruz, whom neighbors knew to be troubled. He had been expelled from school, and the administration there sent an email to teachers with a vague suggestion of concern about him.

Howard Finkelstein, the Broward County public defender representing Cruz, said that multiple government agencies failed to prevent what was an avoidable tragedy.

"It is the most horrific crime I've ever seen," Finkelstein said. "And I am overwhelmingly saddened that every single system failed, which means to me we don't have a system. . . . If this person didn't get anybody's attention, nobody will."

- - -

The Washington Post's Ed O'Keefe contributed to this report.He was too drowsy to drive, so Javonte Alhajie Brown said he handed keys to his rented sport-utility vehicle to a teenage friend. The 24-year-old entered a route on GPS from Southeast Washington to his brother's house in a Maryland suburb.

Then, Brown and a back-seat passenger went to sleep.

They were soon jolted awake by the shouts of police officers from the National Security Agency, Brown said. Some banged on the vehicle's doors and windows, he said, while others pointed guns that resembled assault rifles at their heads as the SUV continued moving.

At least one officer fired at the vehicle Wednesday morning, striking the windshield several times and leaving the unlicensed 17-year-old driver with an apparent shrapnel injury. The driver's mother and Brown, in interviews Friday, described the incident as a mistaken turn and question the use of potentially deadly force.

They said the driver turned in error onto a restricted-access road leading to the top-secret installation at Fort George G. Meade, between Baltimore and Washington.

Brown said his friend panicked when he saw police and hit the gas.

"I woke up with him slapping me in the face screaming, 'I'm going the wrong way. I don't know how I got here,'" said Brown, who works for a Maryland subcontractor laying sewer and water pipes. "I was screaming at him," Brown said, "'How the hell did you do this? And why aren't you stopping?'"

Brown's job had once taken him to the grounds near the NSA. "I knew where we were," he said, "and I knew we shouldn't be here."

The security breach and gunfire set off a public safety scramble amid fear of a terrorist attack - quickly ruled out - at a sensitive installation. The FBI took over the case as local authorities closed roads during the morning rush hour.

Brown said the gunshots came a split second before the SUV hit a concrete barrier adjacent to a visitor's gate accessible from an exit off Route 32, east of the Baltimore Washington Parkway. One sign points to the NSA; another says "restricted address." A third warns: "Person/vehicle subject to search."

Brown said they had been headed to an area near U.S. 29 and Patapsco Valley State Park. He chose the parkway route because he said his friend was more familiar with that road.

The FBI, which is investigating the shooting, has declined to say how many shots were fired and how many officers fired. As many as four, possibly six, bullet holes were visible in the SUV's windshield in images captured by TV news cameras.

Brown said he looked out the vehicle's window "and I saw a gun raised. I grabbed the driver's head and shoved it under the steering wheel." Brown and the teen driver's mother, Sharron Brown, 37, said the youth had a gash on the top of his head that might have come from a fragment or shrapnel. She said it took three staples to close. The two Browns are not related.

No charges have been filed, and the vehicle's three occupants have been released from custody. The FBI has confirmed that one theory it is looking at is that the driver made a mistake and panicked. The driver's mother said agents had not interviewed her son as of Friday.

Javonte Brown said agents questioned him about terrorism and whether the incident was an attack. He said the FBI confiscated cellphones and shoes he had in his trunk.

The FBI has not detailed the moments when the shooting occurred, or explained the decision to fire on the vehicle. An NSA spokeswoman declined to make available the police agency's rules for using deadly force guiding officers protecting the sprawling spy agency, whose existence was once classified.

Federal prosecutors in Maryland did not charge NSA police officers after a fatal 2015 shooting of a man after the driver of a vehicle he was in also mistakenly took an exit at the facility and ignored orders to stop. In that case, police said the driver hit an officer, a security post and sped toward another officer.

The driver of the SUV in Wednesday's incident, whom the mother asked not to be identified because he is a minor, has been released from the hospital to his home in Southeast Washington. She and Javonte Brown question why officers shot.

"They could have stopped this in a more reasonable way," Javonte Brown said.

"I don't know why they think they had cause to fire," he said. "We were trying to make a U-turn, get away from the base. We had no intention of trying to get on the base, or being there. They could see the driver was young and was panicking. They could see the passengers were clearly asleep. They could tell we were not a threat."

He said he could not recall the exact positioning of the vehicle or how the SUV ended up facing oncoming traffic headed into the NSA parking lot. The FBI has not said whether the vehicle made it through the checkpoint.

"I take full responsibility," Javonte Brown said. Of his friend, he added, "I shouldn't have let him drive."A veteran oil-field worker has won compensation after a seven-year fight to prove that a subsidiary of Houston-based drilling giant Nabors Industries Inc. dodged paying his accident claim after he fell on an Alaska oil rig and suffered life-altering head injuries.

The Alaska Workers' Compensation Board awarded Mitch McNamee $80,000 in back pay and other expenses. His attorney was awarded $120,000 in fees, and California insurers will recoup from Nabors some of the medical costs they paid.

McNamee's daughter, Christy Ferrell, said her father's fight to get Nabors to acknowledge the accident was "never about the money - it was about what was right, and that's what came out."

"I'm pleased with it - it's been a long time coming, though," said McNamee, now 68.

The safety record of Nabors' subsidiaries in land-based drilling in Texas and North Dakota has drawn attention over the last decade because of a string of deaths and injuries. McNamee's accident was detailed in a 2014 Houston Chronicle investigation of U.S. oil-field safety, "Peril in the Oil Patch."

Nabors Industries Inc. owns and operates the world's largest land-based drilling fleet and has subsidiaries that operate worldwide.

The Alaska board handed down its decision Jan. 11, and the company did not appeal within a 30-day window. Nabors did not respond to requests for comment on the ruling.

McNamee was 62 and had worked in the oil fields for decades when, in October 2011, he slipped on oily drilling mud during a midnight shift, hit his head and slid on his back toward a chute used to move lengths of pipe from the base of Rig 245 - a four-story tower perched on the edge of Alaska's North Slope.

It took his daughter nine months after the accident to arrange for brain surgery and the implant of a shunt that saved his life, his medical records show. By then, he had suffered permanent damage and could no longer work.

Discrepancy in records

McNamee spent years assembling far-flung witnesses and documents in an effort to prove that his longtime employer failed to report his accident, cut off his insurance and, he contends, sent him home on a plane "to die" after symptoms of his head injury became apparent.

McNamee contended that he called a company office immediately after being flown home from the North Slope to report his fall to a human resources official and request a doctor's appointment but was denied help and told he'd been laid off.

Nabors had long argued that McNamee reported his injury too late to collect a compensation claim. A spokesman told the Chronicle in 2014 that the company was informed about his fall months after McNamee's surgery.

Nabors' own initial injury reports, however, show that "it was notified of Employee's injury on October 16, 2011 - the very day Employee was flown off the Slope, not on July 26, 2012, as it now contends," the Alaska ruling says.

Nabors was ordered to pay for travel, medical and legal bills related to the accident, and the subsequent long-running dispute. The company also was ordered to pay McNamee workers' compensation payments for a limited time, since McNamee was unable to return to work because of the accident and other medical problems.

Previous deaths

In previous interviews about the case, Nabors has defended its safety record and insisted that it reports accidents as required. Its companies reported a string of fatal accidents during the U.S. oil boom that began in 2007.

From 2007-14, the Chronicle found, three Nabors subsidiaries - Nabors Drilling USA, Nabors Well Services Co. and Nabors Completion and Production Services Co. - together had reported at least 18 fatal accidents or work site deaths to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Texas, North Dakota and other states.

Nabors Drilling USA has reported at least one additional death to OSHA since 2015, according to OSHA accident reporting data available online. Last year, a Texas man was chopped into bits by an industrial-sized blender at a Nabors drilling site near the New Mexico border. Luis Velazquez, 42, was killed when a machine used to stir drilling mud was turned on as he was cleaning its giant metal blades.

OSHA fined Nabors for serious violations in that case. The company has appealed the penalty.

Velazquez's widow has filed a civil lawsuit in Harris County, alleging the company was negligent in the death.

Alaska records show that company employees told Alaska investigators shifting stories about McNamee's accident. A former Alaska-based human resources director for Nabors supplied records that show the accident was reported in October 2011. The same person told the board she believed the company's health and safety committee had looked into McNamee's reported injury but then repeatedly stated she did not know "for sure" whether the employee's injury was investigated.

McNamee's detailed firsthand account of his own accident was bolstered by other oil-field workers and documents unearthed by his daughter.

Daughter's persistence

Ferrell first learned of her father's injury only after she arrived to visit him in Anchorage, Ala., months after the accident. Ferrell found the formerly fit roustabout having trouble both walking and speaking. She brought him home with her to Bakersfield, Calif., in 2012 and took him to specialists who discovered a buildup of cerebral spinal fluid in the brain and ordered emergency surgery, according to medical records that are part of the case.

Ferrell had started law school but quit to help her father. She ended up being licensed as a private investigator as she combed through records and websites to find oil-field workers who might know about his accident. Ferrell said she often ran into walls.

"There's a culture of silence on the North Slope," she said. Some called it "the blue wall" - after the color of the coveralls Nabors' workers wear.

A few agreed to testify before the workers' compensation board or provide sworn statements about dangers they observed on the same rig and about the oilfield culture of not reporting accidents.

"It's been a long, long arduous fight - and a person who gets injured at work shouldn't have to fight this hard," Ferrell said. "You shouldn't have to fight for something that you're entitled to under the law."He pretended to be Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.

Before that, he impersonated former District Attorney Devon Anderson, prosecutors say.

He also masqueraded as District Clerk Chris Daniel and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The burly, bearded imposter accomplished his alleged misdeeds with a computer, not a disguise.

The District Attorney's Office has charged William Vicente Figueroa, 41, of Houston, with impersonating a public servant and felony theft.

Figueroa did it all to bilk his girlfriend's adult daughter out of $13,000, according to deputies with Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman.

Figueroa allegedly preyed on her after learning that her husband was having legal problems settling a lawsuit. It is unclear from court records what the lawsuit involved, but it appears the couple were expecting a check from state government.

Figueroa recommended a female lawyer to the daughter, Alexis Chavez, and gave her a contact email and cellphone number, the affidavit says. Using dummy email accounts and burner phones, he allegedly pretended to be the lawyer and persuaded Chavez to wire him money via Western Union to cover court costs, fees and taxes related to her expected settlement.

In the next stage of the scam, the "lawyer" encouraged Chavez to contact then-District Attorney Anderson, the district clerk and the attorney general. According to records, by pretending to be those people online, Figueroa was able to trick Chavez into wiring more money for fees and court costs, forcing her to ask friends and family for thousands of dollars.

Three years of paying

After Anderson was defeated in the November 2016 election, Figuroa impersonated her successor, Kim Ogg, and told Chavez the D.A.'s office was holding a check related to her husband's case.

"Mrs. Chavez I am sending you what I can about your case for security purposes," read the ersatz email. "What I have attached should be sufficient enough for you to see this is as real as it gets. We have your settlement check in the amount of $29,750 on hold as you may well know. Feel free to contact me if you need any further information."

Figueroa apparently implied the money would be released after more fees were paid. After almost three years of paying fees and waiting, Chavez called the police.

Investigators with the Precinct 4 Constable's Office tracked down Figueroa through computer addresses and cellphone records.

When Chavez heard Figueroa was the suspect, she brought her mother in to help police connect the dots.

Don't fall for it

Prosecutors said the case highlights the importance of being suspicious when dealing with online requests for money.

"Public officials aren't going to hold money that belongs to you hostage," said Assistant Harris County District Attorney Aaron Burdette. "We need to make the public aware that if they're receiving emails and messages that appear to be from public officials, they need to contact those offices directly."

Figueroa has yet to be arrested, and Constable Herman issued a call for citizens to help find him. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts was urged to call Crime Stoppers of Houston.

If convicted, Figueroa would face up to 10 years in prison for impersonating a public servant.

Harris County court records show that he was convicted in 2015 of misdemeanor theft. In that case, he was found guilty of stealing a speaker, three pairs of shorts and two dresses.In today's world, loneliness seems to have reached epidemic proportions. Countless studies have highlighted the serious and negative impact that loneliness has on our health, our sense of well-being and our ability to thrive in an increasingly chaotic world. Most recently, the urgency of the problem led the U.K. to appoint a minister for loneliness. Here in the U.S., winter is a particularly lonely time for elderly Americans.

But loneliness (feeling alone) and solitude (being alone) are not the same thing. And lessons can be learned from those who have found solitude essential for inspiration.

Solitude - being alone - has long been praised as a necessary condition for creativity. Author Virginia Woolf, in her book "A Room of One's Own," offered an extended meditation on the writer's need for solitude. So did many poets. In their writings, May Sarton ("alone one is never lonely") and William Wordsworth ("the bliss of solitude") were especially eloquent in their praise of solitude. Poet Marianne Moore has even argued that "the cure for loneliness is solitude."

My research on the history of religious hermits shows that there have long been individuals who seek solitude in remote and silent places, and there are many lessons to be learned from them. The etymological history of the word "hermit" is itself telling: "Hermit" comes from an ancient Greek word, "eremos," that means both a desolate and lonely place and a state of being alone.

Hermits exist in many of the world's major religious traditions: They are individuals who choose temporary or permanent solitude in remote and isolated locations, such as mountains, caves and deserts. These locations are frequently depicted as sites for revelation and transformation.

The emergence of hermits in early Christianity is particularly striking.

When early Christians read their Bible, they found the word eremos referring to places for important events: the stories of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, how Jesus went to a "lonely place" to pray, or how he was tempted by the devil in the desert. These stories evoked images of remote landscapes that most Christians never visited.

In the fourth century, however, a monastic movement emerged in Egypt, as some Christians began to withdraw permanently into "the desert." The harshness of a dry and barren landscape suited Christians eager to pursue an ascetic life.

A common theme in stories about early Christian desert hermits is a desire to leave the distractions of urban life and live a precarious existence in isolation in order to achieve holiness.

The most famous Christian hermit was Antony, whose story was told by Athanasius, the fourth-century bishop of Alexandria. As Athanasius tells it, Antony one day heard a passage from the Gospel of Matthew in his church:

"If you want to be perfect, go, sell all your possessions and give to the poor, and come follow me, and you will have treasure in heaven." (Matthew 19:21)

He felt the passage had spoken to him directly.

Antony sold his property and departed for the desert. The story of Antony's withdrawal into the desert became an example for later Christians eager to pursue solitude and contemplation. Athanasius says that, in spite of his quest for solitude, the desert "was made a city" by visitors to Antony's hermitage and by monks who wished to emulate him. Antony needed to move into more and more remote areas to find the isolation he was seeking.

Eventually, forms of monasticism developed that embraced both the solitary and the communal: Monasteries developed around communities of monks in the mountains and canyons of Egypt, Sinai and Palestine. Nearby caves served as hermitages.

This way of life was in keeping with what many Christians believed - that suffering was necessary for salvation. They praised the hermits who rejected the comforts of city and adopted the communal life. To them, the hermits were models of holiness and, paradoxically, happiness.

Loneliness was transformed into joy. Athansius describes Antony's face as "radiant" after a long period of isolation.

The lives of hermits may seem distant from our busy contemporary lives. But the romantic appeal of an unencumbered and undistracted life has not disappeared. Hermits in the 21st century come from all walks of life, religious and secular, but share with those from the past a longing for quiet solitude and simplicity.

Could the wisdom of artists, poets, and religious hermits offer comfort in a time of loneliness today?Russian citizens went through Texas to mess with U.S. elections, federal prosecutors said in an indictment released Friday.

Russian conspirators received rudimentary political advice from a Texas-based organization and sought to sow discord in the Lone Star State by pitting opposing advocacy groups against each other, often through social media, prosecutors working under special counsel Robert Mueller said Friday. The indictment, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, includes allegations mirroring claims that Russian trolls tried to incite a potentially violent confrontation last year in Houston, as members of Congress said last year.

Thirteen Russian citizens are accused of obstructing the U.S. government, failing to disclose political expenditures, failing to register as foreign political agents and fraudulently obtaining visas.

U.S. intelligence agencies have accused the Kremlin of interfering in the 2016 presidential election, with the goal of putting Donald Trump in the White House.

The indictment describes a wide-ranging, technology-based disinformation campaign that spanned three years and multiple states. Many details are omitted from the indictment, but the allegations include references to operations in Texas.

Investigators said the conspiracy began in 2014, when two defendants traveled to several states - Texas included - to "collect intelligence for their interference operations."

Two years later, in June 2016, some of the Russian defendants posed as U.S. citizens and made contact with a "Texas-based grassroots organization," which advised them to focus their political efforts on "purple states like Colorado, Virginia and Florida."

It's common knowledge in U.S. politics that "purple" states, which often flip between Democratic and Republican candidates in presidential elections, were likely to have outsized influence in the 2016 general election, and prosecutors said the conspirators "commonly referred to targeting 'purple states' in directing their efforts" after the exchange.

Prosecutors also confirmed earlier reporting that a Russian-coordinated Facebook group called "Heart of Texas," which had more than 225,000 followers as of summer 2016, sought to incite violence in Houston.

Members of Congress previously said "Heart of Texas" and another Russian troll outfit promoted two competing rallies - one called "Stop the Islamification of Texas," the other called "Save Islamic Knowledge" - outside the Islamic Da'wah Center of Houston held simultaneously on May 21, 2016. The Russians intended to pit anti-Islamic extremists against Muslims in close proximity, legislators said.

Daniel Miller, the president of the Texas Nationalist Movement, an organization that aims to secede from the U.S., told Business Insider in September 2017 that somebody from the Facebook group "Heart of Texas" reached out to him about holding anti-immigrant and anti-Hillary Clinton rallies. He said his group declined the invitations, in part, because "no one could really tell us who was organizing it."

The indictment also includes a reference to Russians spreading derogatory information about U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who lost the GOP presidential primary to Trump.With their approval of a billion-dollar bond referendum this month, Houston voters secured Mayor Sylvester Turner's landmark pension reform plan and erased $2.9 billion in liabilities from the city's books, beginning to fill an ever-deepening hole that threatened to undermine services.

Pensions, however, are not the only expensive long-term promise Houston has made to its workers.

Taxpayers also face a $2.1 billion liability for retiree health care costs in the coming decades, and Houston - like many state and local governments - has not set aside a penny to pay for those promises.

This burden is the city's "next major long-term fiscal challenge," according to PFM, a financial analysis firm Houston has hired to recommend ways to shore up its long-shaky books.

Turner said any financial hurdle concerns him, but the far-larger pension problem took precedence, as the city's recovery from Hurricane Harvey will do now.

"That's one of many issues that we have to address, but I am very much aware of it," Turner said. "Let's just say we tackled the biggest item and then we'll tackle the other ones as we go. One step at a time."

These costs for what are known as "Other Post-Employment Benefits" - OPEB for short - have become a growing issue for local governments, thanks to rising health care expenses and an aging population and public workforce. In Houston, retirees comprised a third of all the city's health care beneficiaries in 2012, up from 18 percent in 1994.

A shift in accounting rules also has played a key role. In 2008, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board began requiring governments to report their retiree health care costs, not as an annual operating expense, but in the same manner as pensions: Trust funds fed by payments from the city and workers on which investment earnings accumulate to pay for benefits over the next few decades.

More flexibility

Houston and many of its peers have never stopped treating the expense as simply an annual bill to be paid, however.

Turner's predecessor Annise Parker took a bite out of the problem in 2010 by hiking the monthly insurance premiums for thousands of retirees younger than 65 by nearly 50 percent and then, the next year, requiring all beneficiaries to enter Medicare upon eligibility at age 65. The city's share of premiums has fallen from 56 percent in 2010 to 37 percent this year, as those costs have been shifted to retirees.

These changes helped cut the city's unfunded OPEB liability from more than $3 billion to less than $2 billion; annual costs fell from more than $58 million to about $30 million within two years.

Still, the cost of care continues to rise, prompting the city to adjust copays, deductibles and drug benefits in recent years. Houston paid an estimated $308 million for employee and retiree medical care in the budget year that ended in June, and another $26 million to supplement retirees' Medicare coverage.

The $53 million the city reported spending on OPEB last fiscal year is barely a quarter of the payment that would be needed to begin setting aside sufficient funds to cover the projected cost.

"In the long term, this is not a sustainable approach," the PFM analysts state in a recent report.

The Government Finance Officers Association and the Pew Charitable Trusts recommend that governments begin setting aside funds for future benefit payments because promises being made today should not be left to future taxpayers to pay, and because failing to set funds aside leaves retirees at risk of having a cash-strapped City Council cut their benefits to balance a tight budget.

Josh McGee, an expert in retirement policy at the Houston-based Arnold Foundation, echoed those points.

However, he said, retiree health care costs are far easier to shrink through benefit changes than pension costs; in Houston, mayoral action alone can change health benefits.

"Anything that is pay-as-you-go that's been earned in the past has the potential to increase unexpectedly, so we've got to watch it," McGee said. "However, it's a little more flexible than pension promises, so there are more tools at our disposal to get benefit levels and costs back in line."

Consider the context

Still, senior Moody's analyst Tom Aaron said politicians' freedom to adjust benefits does not mean retiree health care liabilities can be ignored.

"While typically there is more flexibility there, it's not as if those are not promises that have been made," Aaron said. "Especially if you put it in the context of Houston's recent reforms, the political appetite to cut retiree medical benefits, given that there were just substantial changes to pensions, at the moment may not be all that high."

City Controller Chris Brown, Houston's elected financial watchdog, agreed, but said leaders cannot allow the liability to grow unchecked.

"There's a moral issue when you're specifically talking about retirees and their health care, which is so vitally important for peoples' well-being, especially in the later years of their life, but overall it's something we need to address," he said. "If we keep going another 10 years, this thing could easily be $5 billion, $6 billion, and again we find ourselves in a big problem of 'How do we get out of it?'"

Regardless, Aaron and McGee said, concerns about OPEB must be placed in context.

Houston's retiree health care liability is about $2 billion, whereas Aaron noted that Moody's viewed Houston's pre-reform pension liability as topping $14 billion. Health premiums cover only one category of benefits and largely last only until workers turn 65, McGee added, whereas pensions replace at least a portion of the worker's salary until death.

"At some point it just boils down to mathematics," Aaron said.Even after Mayor Sylvester Turner's landmark pension reforms, the city of Houston is on pace to spend $1 billion more than it will take in over the coming decade, and must cut spending and raise revenue bring its annual budget into balance, according to an exhaustive new report.

Failing to do so, the authors state, risks letting the city inch toward insolvency with all the symptoms that accompany such a fiscal crisis: Worker layoffs, an erosion in police staffing, fewer library hours, decaying parks facilities, a hollowing out of the city as the suburbs boom.

The analysts from Philadelphia-based consulting firm PFM did not shy away from controversial recommendations, including some that would dramatically restructure city government.

Among dozens of other reforms, the authors suggest Houston should:

break up its mammoth Houston Public Works department and consolidate its finance, procurement, human resources, and information technology staff;

cut the $9.5 million annual subsidy to the Houston Zoo roughly in half;

shrink the Houston Fire Department by up to 845 positions through attrition and lengthen firefighters' work weeks; reduce the number of fire stations; hire civilians to do fire inspections and take 911 calls; and raise ambulance fees;

hire civilians for the Houston Police Department to enable cops now doing administrative tasks to get back on patrol; free up officers' time by arresting fewer low-level offenders and writing more tickets; use civilians to conduct crash investigations and issue non-moving traffic tickets; consolidate with Metro's police staff, and, perhaps, local school districts' too;

cut health benefits for active and retired city workers; and

submit trash pickup, building maintenance and street repairs to "managed competition," giving all or part of each task to city departments or to private companies, whichever submits the most efficient proposal.

City Council hired PFM for $565,000 in 2016, Turner's first year in office, to craft a 10-year financial plan. Turner made clear in comments last week, however, that he views some of the recommendations as impractical.

"When you talk about structural changes, just because it's identified doesn't mean it's easily done. It's not about taking a report and just implementing it," he said. "There are some things that, from my vantage point, yes, we will accept. There are some things that are going to require additional study. There are some things that will be more long term. And then there are some things that we'll never get there."

Read the full consultant's report.

City Controller Chris Brown said he found merit in the report's suggestion that the city generate revenue from its existing assets, such as by entering into an agreement with Metro to share advertising revenue on buses and bus shelters.

"I'm pleased that they highlighted the fact that we don't have a choice between increasing revenue or reducing costs. We've got to do both to get there," Brown said. "Ultimately, it's going to be up to the mayor and the finance department to help implement a lot of those, but I think this is a good road map to get us started. There's a lot of viable options on here. We need to at least start the discussion about what can we do."

One item Turner said he would implement in the report is a recommendation to limit the use of special revenue funds. The report states that the city has 69 special funds with a combined balance of $250 million; 32 of those are not listed in the annual budget.

"We are looking to sweeping some of those accounts or limiting some of the fund balances in some of those special revenue accounts," Turner said, "because it doesn't really make any sense to be sitting on fund balances that go from one year to the next."

Despite the PFM report's recommendation that the city raise additional revenue along with making budget cuts, however, Turner deliberately avoided reiterating his prior calls to lift the city's revenue cap, a 14-year-old voter-imposed constraint on the amount of property taxes Houston can collect.

"We'll continue to make hard choices to continue to do what we can with the resources that we have until such time as there's a consensus to do something else," he said.

The mayor is keeping other recommendations at arm's length, as well. For example, he said, even a simple mathematical decision such as cutting the zoo subsidy is thorny, as the mayor learned in deferring a $5 million payment to the zoo in one of his first two budgets.

Similarly, the report's single most impactful suggestion, moving the Houston Fire Department from four shifts to three, employing hundreds fewer firefighters and paying the remaining staff more to work longer hours, is a "problematic" idea that would require ample vetting, the mayor said.

Fire Chief Sam Pena agreed that any structural changes would require talks with labor leaders, but said it is worth discussing a move to three shifts. Such a change, he said, could allow the department to raise firefighters' pay, deploy more ambulances and increase firefighter training without increasing the department's budget. PFM says the change in shift structure could save $40 million annually.

However, Pena said, union leaders would need to agree or state law would need to change to lengthen firefighters' work weeks beyond the current 46.7-hour average without incurring overtime costs. The PFM report says the three-shift model could require a work week of 52 to 53 hours, as is the case in Dallas and Fort Worth.

"It's one aspect that we could have a serious discussion about with the association as far as what the benefits are to going to three shifts, and financially if it makes sense for them, as well, I think there's some gains to be made," Pena said. "Everything needs to be looked at."

Pena said he opposes the report's suggestion that less busy fire stations be closed and consolidated with nearby facilities, but echoed a number of the report's other recommendations, including billing more for ambulances rides, and adding fees for responses that do not result in patients being transported to hospitals.

Pena also said he wants to move away from the city's existing response model, which seeks to lower response times by sending multiple vehicles to most calls, even if the call does not involve a medical emergency.

"That's a Cadillac service, but we're funded for a Hyundai right now," Pena said.

Marty Lancton, president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 341, was more wary of the recommendation to change from four to three shifts, and of the PFM report more broadly.

He said the union had found numerous errors in a early, truncated version of the report released last May in such areas as salaries and types of emergency calls. The union also remains engaged in two legal battles with the city over compensation, including long-stalled contract talks.

"In order to change any of the working hours, wages, workplace conditions, that is a negotiation and that is part of collective bargaining," he said. "The notion that the only way to fix the fact that the firefighters have only received a 3 percent pay raise in the last 6 years versus the police officers who have received over a 26 percent pay raise is that the firefighters have to work more hours? That's absolutely a nonstarter."

As for the report's recommendations that worker and retiree health care benefits be cut further, municipal union president Melvin Hughes said that would be hard to stomach. He also cautioned against pursuing outsourcing too aggressively.

"We're willing to do whatever we can do to help the city," he said. "When it comes down the budget I know we've got to cut some things, but I don't see a contractor coming in and doing something cheaper unless it's something city workers don't do."

City Council is scheduled to discuss aspects of the PFM report next week.

"Please look at the cuts we can do, and even look at revenue enhancements to balance our budget," Councilman Jack Christie told colleagues last week. "We have to do it. We have no choice."Uganda has no agreement with Israel to resettle tens of thousands of failed asylum seekers, according to the minister for Refugees, Eng Hillary Onek.



The claims are that Uganda and Rwanda struck an agreement to resettle tens of thousands of refugees and economic migrants from Israel in return for unspecified monetary and military assistance from Israel.

Minister Hillary Onek addressing journalists

Reports suggest that already some of the rejected refugees and economic migrants are actually in Uganda. The affected refugees are mainly from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan.



Minister Onek says he has heard claims that Ugandan immigration officials have intercepted the rejected refugees and economic migrants trying to enter Uganda from Rwanda, hastily adding that the police and immigration would be in a better place to comment on the claims.

According to Onek, anyone who attempts to enter into Uganda illegally would be committing a crime and should be dealt with under the law. He adds that Uganda cannot bring in 'burdens' yet the country already has many problems.



Onek also says that the ongoing investigation into corruption and mismanagement of the refugee's humanitarian response will deal with fresh biometric registration of refugees, especially urban ones, and asylum seekers.



He says that the investigations will also cover claims that refugees or asylum seekers have to bribe government officials in order to be offered registration assistance. Addressing journalists at Uganda Media Centre, Onek said police investigators as well as investigators from UN agencies have been given a month to conclude the probe.

He said the investigations commenced about a week ago. Once hailed as 'paradise for refugees', Uganda's refugee programme recently came international scrutiny following allegations of inflated refugee numbers so as to get more aid.

There are also allegations of human trafficking, with young South Sudanese girls and women forcibly taken back to their troubled country.



Onek noted that government has shown the strongest commitment to deal with anyone embezzling refugee's funds and food, something that has tainted Uganda's global image as a generous country when it comes to welcoming refugees.

Onek said the mismanagement could have been caused by increase of refugees in the country in the last two years. This, Onek said led to exponential growth of players involved in refugees affairs hence stretching the existing supervision and coordination capacity in the office of Prime Minister.



In the last two years, the refugee's population has grown from about 400,000 to over 1.4 million. Majority of these came from South Sudan. He said the ongoing biometric re-verification of refugees will ascertain whether these numbers are really correct.



The food distribution that has largely been affected by corruption is handled by international and local NGOs contracted by World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). For instance, Onek revealed that NGOs such as Samaritan Purse and World Vision have been handling food distribution in western Uganda and West Nile respectively.



Hilary Onek explained that food distribution is done monthly depending on available in World Food Programme stores. The role of Prime Minister's office in food distribution is to develop a food log as per registered refugees in the biometric system.



The food log of refugees is handed over to World Food Programme which then hands it over to contracted NGOs to start food distribution.



Minister Onek says Uganda's refugee policy is still among if not the best in the world. He cited Asians, especially from Pakistan who jetted into the country, claimed refugee status, yet they are now engaged in brisk businesses like car imports and sales and are making lots of profits.



He also cited Muslims of the Ahmadiyya sect who claim they are persecuted in the Middle East and Asia in order to acquire refugee status and end up as prosperous business people.(Thumbs up) Happy (Lunar) New Year! Friday ushered in the Year of the Dog, which, according to the Chinese Zodiac, is associated with loyalty and moral certitude.

(Thumbs down) Teens these days are always up to something, what with their Snapchats and internet memes and trying to vote wait what was that last one? Well, apparently Attorney General Ken Paxton thinks Texas 18- and 19-year-olds are just a little too gung-ho about their civic responsibilities during election season and issued an official letter telling public schools they can't help transport students to polling places unless the trip serves an educational purpose.

Here's a lesson students can learn at a ballot box: There's nothing in the rules that says a state attorney general can't run for reelection after being indicted for fraud. Who knew?

(Thumbs up) Another question for the election quiz: When does a "no" vote actually mean "yes"? Answer: When you're voting on the Astrodome. Harris County rejected a $217 million bond in a 2014 election to revamp the Dome, but that hasn't stopped county government from finding other revenue sources to save the Eighth Wonder. This week, commissioners court approved a $105 million plan to turn the massive structure into a parking lot. How will they pay for it? Revenue from county parking lots. Not that we're complaining. The Astrodome is just too important to architectural history - and Houston history - to turn into a pile of rubble.

(Thumbs down) Speaking of protected landmarks, more than 25,000 Houstonians so far have signed a change.org petition to preserve the "Be Someone" graffiti that spans a railroad bridge across Interstate 45 southbound. Last we checked, however, some other vandal decided the impossible-to-ignore art could use even more graffiti and covered parts in orange paint.

Everyone's a critic.

(Thumbs up) Good news for liberty, bad news for bail bondsmen: The U.S. Fifth Circuit upheld a lower court decision that smacked down Harris County's cash bail as unconstitutional. All but two (Republican Judge Mike Fields and Democrat Judge Darrell Jordan) of the misdemeanor court judges have spent around $5 million in taxpayer dollars to defend this indefensible bail system. Remember this story come the general election in November.

(Thumbs up) Raise a glass, and a steak knife and maybe some chopsticks for good measure, to all the Houston restaurants and chefs nominated as semifinalists for the annual James Beard Awards. Ross Coleman and James Haywood at Kitchen 713; Anita Jaisinghani of Pondicheri; Ronnie Killen of Killen's Steakhouse; Trong Nguyen of Crawfish and Noodles; and Ryan Pera of Coltivare all made the list for Best Chef Southwest. Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught's Xochi was listed for Best New Restaurant. And Anvil Bar & Refuge was, once again, listed for Outstanding Bar Program.

Thumbs up to these culinary maestros, and congrats all around, but we're still holding out a thumb in hope that one day Whataburger will also earn the national recognition it so richly deserves.Jim Rassol/MBR

Florida's deadly school shooting has, once again, shone a spotlight on the importance and relevance of safety in schools. Sadly, all too soon, the spotlight will dim.

During the 2015-2016 school year, nearly 40 percent of American schools reported at least one student threat of physical attack without a weapon, and 9 percent reported such a threat with a weapon, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. There have been more than 40 "active shooter" episodes in U.S. schools since 2000, the New York Times reports. Meanwhile, bullying and cyberbullying (reported at 12 percent of U.S. schools), along with verbal abuse of teachers (reported at 5 percent), are daily or weekly occurrences. Schools respond by creating plans and programs, yet these plans and programs may not be enough. Parents all across the country are clamoring for safety, and it is high time that school leadersand administrators address their justifiable concerns.In 2017, the state Legislature curtailed the use of tolling and public-private partnerships to pay for much-needed Texas highway infrastructure, first by declining to approve any proposed highway project funded via a public-private partnership, and second, by prohibiting the Texas Department of Transportation from investing state equity in any of such partnerships, known in the industry as P3s.

What's more, Gov. Greg Abbott pledged that none of the new infrastructure funding approved by voters in 2015 would be used for tolled projects.

RELATED: Let's make the right choice  not the rail choice  for getting around Houston

TxDOT and local officials in much of the state had fought to save these projects, most of which involved express toll lanes, such as those already providing congestion relief in Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth. In fact, the Texas Transportation Commission and TxDOT had developed a workaround that would use voter-approved highway funds for the general-purpose lane portions of highway projects and retain conventional P3 financing for the priced lanes.

Dubbing that an "accounting trick," grass-roots populist groups demanded Abbott rein in the transportation commission and TxDOT. Later the governor issued a statement that TxDOT was doing a good job on congestion-reduction, but added, "We want them to do that in a way as I promised, and that is without adding more toll roads."

MAYOR TURNER TO TXDOT: More freeways will will choke growth of state's urban centers

Last December, the Texas Transportation Commission, whose members are all appointed by the governor, voted unanimously to remove all toll projects from the 2018 Unified Transportation Program. At least for now, that kills planned mega-projects to add express toll lanes to I-35 East in Dallas, I-35 through Austin and many others.

The irony in these actions is the stunning success of the public-private partnership express toll lanes projects in Dallas and Fort Worth. The North Tarrant Express has reduced time spent in traffic in the general-purpose lanes by as much as 73 percent while increasing average speed by 10 percent to 15 percent. Similar congestion reductions are being achieved on the LBJ project in Dallas.

Meanwhile, anti-P3 groups, such as Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom and Texans for Toll-Free Highways, urged Abbott to take action based on claims that tolled express lanes are unaffordable for working class Texans, and that an average round-trip $5 toll each week, at $50 per week, would cost $135,000 over a commuter's lifetime. But that is not how most people use these lanes. Most users' bills average between $5 and $15 per month. Regular commuters on those expressways average only $35 per month, choosing the toll lanes for some trips and not for others.

The groups also claim Texans don't want more toll lanes. And they present all new projects as if they force drivers to pay tolls, when, in fact, all of these projects add new capacity to congested corridors, leaving motorists free to choose whether the time savings and reliability of the toll lanes are worth the price for any given trip.

That should undercut the constant repetition of these groups' favored term: "toll taxes." That's because there is difference between a toll (a user fee) and a tax (government revenue). Express tolls clearly are user fees.

As for the alleged unpopularity of tolled projects, that, too, is incorrect. One year after completion of the Tarrant County project, 70 percent of its users ( of both general purpose and electronic toll lanes) gave it a favorable rating. LBJ highway users rated that corridor even higher after one year, at 76 percent.

Liberty County officials and citizens strongly support the toll-financed completion of the last 50 miles in the Grand Parkway, the Houston metro area's outer beltway. In Montgomery County, north of Houston, there is major support for completing the 249 Tollway. And officials in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex are agonizing over how to complete the majority of the long-planned network of express toll lanes - without either tolling or public-private partnerships - as are capital residents and officials desperate for long-term congestion relief on I-35 through downtown Austin.

Fortunately, there is a ray of hope in Texas.

Texans for Traffic Relief is a pro-tolls, pro-P3 group, that supports the use of all available resources to fund roadway projects and empowering local communities to decide how they want projects done. TTR further wants to ensure that taxpayers are protected in in a P3 project bankruptcy, and it opposes converting existing roadways to tollroads. Organization leaders applauded the State Republican Executive Committee for including a proposition on the March Republican primary ballot regarding voter approval for toll projects.

The case for toll-financed P3 projects is strong.

First, under the revenue-sharing provisions built into Texas P3 agreements, TxDOT garners increasing shares of gross toll revenues in the out years if tolled projects do better than projected. Second, to the extent that they are profitable, these projects pay state and federal corporate taxes. The private-sector transportation infrastructure company Cintra estimates the net present value of such tax payments (through 2062) at $3.5 billion on the NTE and LBJ projects alone.

Unfortunately, many of the legislators enacting anti-toll and anti-P3 provisions evidently believe the many incorrect assertions made by anti-P3 groups. It will take an active public campaign of accurate information for Texas to be able to resume this cost-effect means of providing urgent relief for gridlocked highways.

A longer version of this essay first appeared in Public Works Financing. Poole is director of transportation policy and Searle Freedom Trust Transportation Fellow at Reason Foundation. An MIT-trained engineer, he has been an advisor in four U.S. presidential administrations.How can Houstonians access the help they need after Harvey? In the months since the storm, West Street Recovery has been working with other grassroots groups to connect those hardest hit by Harvey with resources to recover. What we've seen is that it is far too difficult for Houstonians to get the help they need. As a city, we must do better.

While we wait for federal dollars to arrive, Houston is fortunate that more than $800 million was raised in charitable contributions for recovery, much of which has been committed to large, established service providers across the city. One of the main public faces of the recovery effort so far is the 211 helpline administered by the United Way of Greater Houston. Agencies assigned cases through the 211 system communicate with each other through a "Coordinated Assistance Network" run by the Red Cross.

RELATED: Fight flooding now!

These systems are supposed to coordinate and administer assistance for Houstonians who need help. But there are troubling signs that 211 and CAN are falling short. As of Jan. 3, only 6,321 households were entered into the CAN database. With hundreds of thousands of Houstonians affected by Harvey, this number simply isn't a credible representation of the need that exists in our city.

Of even greater concern is the lack of confidence many residents feel in the systems and organizations that are supposed to help them. Calling the helpline is frustrating and time-consuming. Callers have to give the same information repeatedly and rarely get straightforward answers to common recovery questions. After they report an issue, residents are uncertain about whether their cases are being managed, or by whom. Despite the multitude of agencies providing aid in Houston, people aren't sure who they can turn to for help. Some are even getting the message that if you accept assistance now from one group, you could become ineligible for assistance from other agencies in the future.

BEDIENT, JUAN: Lack of infrastructure, regulation made Houston vulnerable

The frustration of working with agencies in the CAN partnership - Baker Ripley, United Way, Catholic Charities, and the Red Cross, among others - leads residents to give up on the system and navigate their recovery in the dark. This is avoidable and unacceptable.

We're eager to see 211 and CAN improve. Here are three suggestions:

Focus on users while expanding coverage: 211, CAN and relief organizations should be evaluated on how well and how quickly they resolve problems for individual Houstonians. The CAN partnership is concerned with preventing service duplication and fraud - making sure residents don't get too much help. We see a far greater risk in the neediest Houstonians going without any help at all. To address this, partner agencies must prioritize understanding and fixing the low rate of coverage and lack of efficiency in actually delivering services.

Engage marginalized communities: Decisions about how Houstonians can access assistance are both an early indicator and key determinant of how equitable Houston's recovery will be. While bumps in the road are understandable early on, it's time for the Red Cross, United Way and other leading services providers to establish clear processes for administering 211 and CAN that involve the communities they serve. Houstonians, who are in this for the long haul, must have a voice in every step of the recovery.

Also: Congress needs the authority to directly fund post-Harvey flood control projects

Make case management transparent and predictable: Residents being helped should have basic information about how their cases are being managed, and by whom. Individuals who call 211 should receive direct, real-time, accurate information about services available to them. As the administrators of CAN, the Red Cross should begin developing an accessible user interface, using models from other cities and systems. The Red Cross, along with the United Way, should undertake this effort without delay.

The quality of our recovery will be determined by how well we meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable in our community. Houston is a big-hearted, innovative city. These still-early stages of recovery should reflect that spirit.

Hirsch and Adams are members of West Street Recovery, a grass-roots mutual aid group in Northeast Houston, which participates in the HOUSTON RISING coalition fighting for equitable recovery from Harvey.Republican

State Representative, District 126: E. Sam Harless

Our recent history of devastating floods, topped off by the biblical rains of Hurricane Harvey last summer, has made the issue of flooding and what to do about it our leading concern as we approach the Republican and Democratic primaries on March 6.

So, we were pleased and impressed that E. Sam Harless, 55, nearly jumped out of his chair to discuss the topic in our meeting with Republican candidates for District 126 in northwest Houston.

ENDORSEMENT: The Houston Chronicle editorial board recommends...

"The number one issue in our district is flooding ... we've been flooded not just this year by Harvey, but the last three years," he said, referring to the Memorial Day flood in 2015 and the Tax Day flood of 2016.

Harless, a long-time business owner whose wife Patricia Harless held the post he is seeking for 10 years before stepping down in 2016, spoke of the urgent need for another upstream reservoir to go with Barker and Addicks Dams to control the flow of water into the city.

That, he said, must be coupled with the dredging and cleaning of lakes and creeks that have lost water capacity as sand and trash have built up over the years.

Harless, 55, also hit hard on the other major issue of this campaign - soaring property taxes. He explained that, since school taxes are the biggest part of property taxes, the best immediate solution would be to increase the state's share of education spending from its current 37 percent closer to the 50 percent it used to pay.

He has the endorsement of pro-growth groups like the Texas Association of Business and Republican leaders like Harris County Judge Emmett. Now he has ours.

Harless is opposed by Gail Stanart, 68, a Tea Party stalwart and wife of Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart, and lawyer Kevin Fulton, 46, a veteran and former judicial candidate. Whoever wins the general election in November will replace Kevin Roberts, who served one term in the Texas House before quitting to run for the congressional seat vacated by Ted Poe.President Museveni

President Museveni has said government will consider a request by the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church to abolish Saturday examinations at all public education institutions.

The SDA are a conservative religious denomination in the country that observe Saturday as their Sabbath, a day of dedicated to only worshiping God and rest.

The president made the announcement on Twitter this morning after yesterdays meeting with the SDA Church World Leader, Pastor Ted Wilson, and his wife Nancy, at State House, Entebbe.

The Wilsons are in the country on a four-day pastoral visit christened Total Member Involvement to continue entrench SDA beliefs in Uganda and the East African region.

They were accompanied to State House by Uganda SDA Union leader, Bishop Daniel Maate, and other leaders from Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and South Sudan.

I thank Pastor Wilson for visiting Uganda. I commend members of the SDA community in Uganda for their discipline. We shall consider the churchs request about our education institutions not conducting examinations on Saturday, the President wrote, adding: We shall also look at the interests of other Christian denominations that need to be freed from school examinations on Sundays and also for the Muslim community on Fridays.

On several occasions, Students from SDA families have been forced to miss lectures, tests or examinations slated for Saturdays opting to go to church, instead!

CO-EXIST

After arriving in the country on Wednesday, Pr Wilson addressed the media at Peniel Beach Hotel in Entebbe where he urged religious and political leaders to co-exist and complement each other for social development.

He noted that it is only through this religious-political symbiosis that the region can realise peace, political stability and end poverty.

There are a lot of inhumane killings around the world but what should be known is that every life counts, the world needs everlasting peace and this comes from God only, part of our mission is to make Uganda feel they are part of creating peace, he said.

Pr Wilson also promised to ask President Museveni to abolish Saturday exams because they are unfair to Adventists.

The problem of students doing exams on the Sabbath (Saturday) is critical in many countries and I will certainly bring this to the attention of government (President) to try to give the students much consideration as possible, he said.

Governments [should] allow freedoms and liberties of worship, by which we are happy that Uganda provides; when freedom of worships is implemented in a full way, a nation is blessed.

According to Israel Kefeero, the general secretary of SDA in Uganda, there are about four million SDA Christians in Uganda, with about 3,600 registered churches. There are about 21 million Adventists across the world.The company also had no lone worker policy in place and did not have a standard operating procedure for the safe operation of the machine.

"This fatality is a sombre reminder that some of the machines we work with have the potential to kill us," said Simon Humphries, WorkSafes deputy general manager of investigations.

"When it comes to big pieces of machinery, there are no second chances, he added. Limbs and lives are lost.

For reasons that cannot be published, no fine could be imposed  however, the court said, had a fine been available, it would have been $330,000. The maximum penalty is a fine not exceeding $1,500,000.

Reparation of $85,000 to the victim's family was ordered and payable, as well as $3,500 in costs.While the report reinforced that there is a dearth of women at senior levels of management and on boards, it also threw up alarm bells from an economic standpoint, suggesting that unequal gender representation in leadership could be costing the New Zealand economy a staggering $881million.

Perhaps even more concerning was that, of the companies surveyed, only one in four thought that would reach gender parity in leadership within five years.

The research on gender diversity in our workplaces  particularly at senior leadership level  is totally clear: it improves decision-making and ultimately improves organisational outcomes, says Sparks Justine Smyth.

The time has come to move from talk to action on this and so Im very much looking forward to joining this passionate panel of women, to work with everyone in the room and come up with some practical solutions, she added.

DLA Pipers Tracey Cross agreed  While the benefits are known, many of our organisations are slow to act, she said. We all have an important part to play with the Journey to Excellence event, its an opportunity to learn from each other.Boda Boda cyclists have this afternoon closed off Tufnell Drive in Kamwokya for almost 30 minutes as they shared money supposedly given to them by music promoter Sipapa (Charles Oryem).

At about 2:20pm, a fleet of at least 100 rowdy cyclists ascended Tuffnell Drive chasing one unidentified man who is believed to have received the money at 10am this morning but had refused to share it.

Boda boda riders blocking the road to share their bounty

When they caught up with him at the tail end of Tufnell Drive, just adjacent to the perimeter wall of The Observer newspaper premises, they started aggressively demanding for their money.

Some grabbed his collar as others tried to search him for their money. Some residents first thought that someone had stolen a motorcycle and was about to get lynched. They wanted to call police but later learnt that these were just cyclists sharing their bounty.

Omugagga Sipapa gave us Shs 3m at 10am at Meat Packers (in Industrial Area) from but the man has been evading us since then. We just want our money; he cant cheat us, said one angry cyclist.

In the process, they cut off all traffic and no oncoming traffic could continue down to Mawanda road. Cars started using Tagore Crescent as the cyclists parked in middle of the road and started receiving Shs 5,000 each from the unidentified man.

While the money was primarily given to cyclists in the area surrounding Meat Packers, even those that joined the chase through the City Centre to Kamwokya lined and received a share.

Others were seen going for double payment since there was no order or roll call. But some were less than pleased.

We have been chasing this man since morning and he just gives us just Shs 5,000. He has cheated us. The rich man gave him more money than this, said one cyclist.

The road slowly cleared as whoever received the money sped off to return to respective stages or look for customers. It is unclear why the promoter gave them this money. With the increasing scramble for fame in Kampala and Uganda at large, many people have been seen dishing out money to adoring crowds.

It is now common to see the likes of Brian White, SK Mbuga, Maama Fiina, Godfrey Kirumira dolling out money for no good reason.

Some commentators have related this to Ugandas desperate, poor population surviving on hand-outs chiefly championed by President Museveni.Karan Mehra Says He's Not Seen Son Kavish for More Than 100 Days: 'It's Been Painful Time'In honor of President's Day, I thought it befitting to reflect upon some of the most significant quotes from those who have led this country since its inception. While gathering these quotes it struck me that dating back to the birth of our constitution, the primary focus of our leaders has remained the same. We as a nation have struggled with maintaining integrity in leadership, achieving peace, and preserving the rights of the American people. Some say we've made great progress, others see us falling backward. What do you think?

Government and politics.

1. "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it." - Abraham Lincoln

2. "Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery." - Calvin Coolidge

3. "The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty." - James Madison

4. "I can imagine no greater disservice to the country than to establish a system of censorship that would deny to the people of a free republic like our own their indisputable right to criticize their own public officials." - Woodrow Wilson

5. "Although in our country the Chief Magistrate must almost of necessity be chosen by a party and stand pledged to its principles and measures, yet in his official action he should not be the President of a part only, but of the whole people of the United States." - James K. Polk

6. "You cannot extend the mastery of government over the daily life of a people without somewhere making it master of people's souls and thoughts." - Herbert Hoover

7. "There is something inherently wrong, something out of accord with the ideals of representative democracy, when one portion of our citizenship turns its activities to private gain amid defensive war while another is fighting, sacrificing, or dying for national preservation." - Warren G. Harding

8. "Those who want the government to regulate matters of the mind and spirit are like men who are so afraid of being murdered that they commit suicide to avoid assassination." -Harry S. Truman

9. "Officeholders are the agents of the people, not their masters." - Grover Cleveland

10. "To announce that there must be no criticism of the president is morally treasonable to the American public." - Theodore Roosevelt

11. "There should be no bitterness or hate where the sole thought is the welfare of the United States of America. No man can occupy the office of President without realizing that he is President of all the people." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

Peace

12. "I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it." - Dwight Eisenhauer

13. "Peace is the best time for improvement and preparation of every kind; it is in peace that our commerce flourishes most, that taxes are most easily paid, and that the revenue is most productive." - James Monroe

14. "Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron. Is there no other way the world may live?" - Dwight D. Eisenhower

15. "I would rather belong to a poor nation that was free than to a rich nation that had ceased to be in love with liberty." - Woodrow Wilson

16. "Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind." - John Fitzgerald Kennedy

17. "Peace is not merely the absence of visible conflict. Only a just peace based on the inherent rights and dignity of every individual can truly be lasting." - Barack Obama

Leadership

18. "Those who stand for nothing fall for anything." - Alexander Hamilton

19. "There is nothing more corrupting, nothing more destructive of the noblest and finest feelings of our nature, than the exercise of unlimited power." - William Henry Harrison

20. "A president's hardest task is not to do what is right, but to know what is right." - Lyndon B. Johnson

21. "It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn't." - Martin Van Buren

22. "The test of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there." - James Buchanan

23. "Every expert was once a beginner." - Rutherford B. Hayes

24. "So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

25. "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." - Harry S. Truman

26. "Remember, always give your best. Never get discouraged. Never be petty. Always remember, others may hate you. But those who hate you don't win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself." - Richard M. Nixon

27. "The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one who gets the people to do the greatest things." - Ronald Reagan

28. "Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude." - Thomas Jefferson

29. "We've learned that piling up material goods cannot fill the emptiness of lives which have no confidence or purpose." - Jimmy Carter

30. "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader" - John Quincy Adams

31. "No problem of human making is too great to be overcome by human ingenuity, human energy, and the untiring hope of the human spirit." - George Bush

32. "Accomplishment will prove to be a journey, not a destination." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

33. "Tell the truth, work hard, and come to dinner on time." - Gerald R. Ford

34. "To be good, and to do good, is all we have to do." - John Adams

35. "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." - Barack Obama

36. "Without passion, you don't have energy, without energy you have nothing." - Donald Trump

37. "In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson

38. "Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly." - John F. Kennedy

39. "Example, whether it be good or bad, has a powerful influence." - George Washington

40. "Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error." - Andrew Jackson

41. "The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would hire them away." - Ronald Reagan

42. "A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits." - Richard Nixon

43. "Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction." - John F. Kennedy

44. "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." - Abraham Lincoln

And, a little humor.

45. "Being president is like running a cemetery: you've got a lot of people under you and nobody's listening." - Bill Clinton

46. "If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln

47. "If one morning I walked upon the water across the Potomac River, the headline that afternoon would read: President Can't Swim." - Lyndon Johnson

48. "Washington, D.C. is twelve square miles bordering by reality." - Andrew Johnson

49. "Mothers all want their sons to grow up to be president, but they don't want them to become politicians in the process." - John F. KennedyWe slide down a steep path engulfed in clouds of kicked-up ochre dust. Pushing through the last of the palm fronds, we emerge onto a slice of white sand. The tide has come in, swallowing the beach  and our route home.

Might get a bit damp, says Pat, urging his horse out into the clear water.

We follow him. My little horse, smaller than the others, bounces happily forward, submerged up to his stomach. We wade through the glittering waves, roughly tracing a shoreline hemmed by tangled mangroves. Our boots fill with warm saltwater. A traditional dhow fishing boat glides past a few hundred metres away, its occupants waving. I find myself laughing in pure, childlike delight.

Patrick (Pat) and Mandy Retzlaff, owners of Mozambique Horse Safari, offer horse riding on an idyllic stretch of wild, dune-backed Mozambican coastline around 400 miles north of Maputo, the capital. The huge beaches gleam white in the hot sun. The water is rich in marine life, with manta rays, whale sharks and schools of dolphin.

Paradise it may be, but Mandy and Pat are not here by choice. The Retzlaffs owned a farm in the Chinhoyi district of Zimbabwe. In 2002, like some 4,000 other white farmers whose land was forcibly taken as part of President Robert Mugabes land redistribution programme, they were handed an eviction notice and given four hours to pack what they could and leave. They bolted, taking with them their horses and a few of their possessions, crammed into cardboard boxes.

The Retzlaffs keep seven horses on Benguerra Island (Rose Gamble)

As the land grabs intensified, the Retzlaffs found themselves collecting dozens of horses from their evicted neighbours. They became known as the horse people, taking calls from frightened farmers at all hours of the day and night.

After three years and six evictions, the Retzlaffs decided enough was enough. In 2003, they arrived in the border town of Chimoio in Mozambique with 104 horses.

Things didnt get any easier. An attempt at investing in the paprika trade saw them swindled of their savings. They lost horses to hungry locals, in road accidents and, later, 26 of their herd died after grazing on a poisonous plant.

Somehow in the midst of it all, the Retzlaffs settled outside of the sleepy coastal town of Vilanculos and began, initially in desperation, to offer horse riding on the beach.

Guests stay at the beautiful Sonhos Lodge (Rose Gamble)

The customers loved it. Eight years on, Pat and Mandy have 37 horses and offer day rides on Vilanculoss spectacular beaches or a longer five to eight day safari package.

Guests are housed in local lodges. We stay at the lovely, self-catering Vila de Sonhos, where I have the run of a beautiful thatched chalet with a wooden-floored balcony looking straight out over the Indian Ocean. In the morning I drink tea and watch the sun emerge, buttery-pale, from the waves.

The day begins in the Retzlaffs neat, sandy stable yard. Pat pairs me up with my mount  a pretty white Arabian horse called Viper.

Hes an Arabian, they do what they want, Pat tells me cheerily as he adjusts my stirrups. Im not sure what to make of this advice, so join the others in some trepidation.

The horses bounce happily into the sea (Rose Gamble)

Twenty minutes later, all fears are forgotten. Viper  although energetic and with a serious turn of speed  is beautifully behaved. We ride fanned out in an arc across the baking-soda white beach before scrambling up a cliff path and into the bush. We weave between acacia trees and wild oranges. We pass through tiny villages where the children rush after us, the horses still enough of a novelty to induce squeals of excitement, and return elated, hours later. The evaporated salt water has sketched white arcs onto my jodhpurs.

Mandy hires a chef for the week, so myself and the other guests pile into the larger of the two lodges for supper most evenings. We feast on enormous, buttery crayfish; tilapia laced in salt and breadcrumbs and large bowls of fresh salad.

Although the safari package offers the same selection of rides  exploring the local fishing villages; negotiating the sliding slopes of a phalanx of marmalade coloured sand dunes; a visit to the glittering honeymoon isle of Benguerra where the Retzlaffs keep seven horses  the entire week is flexible and arranged to suit guests.

Taking a break from riding, we explore the derelict husk of a hotel on nearby Paradise Island. In its Fifties and Sixties heyday, the hotel was the haunt of glamorous Rhodesians who came to sunbathe slathered in olive oil and dance on the terrazzo-floored terrace. Local legend states that Bob Dylan composed his hit Mozambique there.

Paradise Island was the haunt of glamorous Rhodesians in the Fifties and Sixties (Rose Gamble)

On our last morning we rise with the milky dawn and ride, bare-backed, into the sea. My horse, with snorts of glee, plunges in up to her neck and heads for the horizon.

Later, Mandy takes me to see the foundations of a building  its to be a cafe behind the stables. The empty frame of a large window looks out over swirls of vivid blue sea.

This is the Retzlaffs first foray into material assets. With no chance of a pension, and no home to return to, they need to think about the future, explains Mandy. Until this point they have just had their horses.

The horses have enabled us to survive, Mandy tells me as we weave towards Vilanculoss tiny airport. We owe them everything  because of them we have been able to set up a life here.

Travel essentials

Getting there

South African Airways (flysaa.com) flies from London Heathrow to Vilanculos via Johannesburg from 942 return.

Staying there

A four-day, five-night safari costs $2,800 (2,123) including all rides, accommodation, meals and park fees; mozambiquehorsesafari.com.Charle

The High court has ordered the director general of Internal Security Organisation (ISO) Fred Kaka Bagyenda to produce New Vision crime reporter, Charles Etukuri in court on Monday dead or alive.

The deputy registrar of the High court Civil Division, Alex Kauju made the directive on Friday afternoon. The order follows an application for a habeous corpus filed by the New Vision legal department backed with an affidavit sworn by Jimmy Ariko, an employee of New Vision following the kidnap of Etukuri earlier this week.

It is claimed that Etukuri was picked up by ISO operatives in connection with a story he wrote about the death of a Finish national at Pearl of Africa hotel commonly known as Aya.



In its application, New Vision claims that ISO has been holding their employee incommunicado since February 13, 2018.

Bagyenda told URN he is yet to see the order. "I have been up and down. I haven't seen that order yet, "Bagyenda said. He also declined to confirm or deny whether they are holding the journalist.



"I am not allowed to comment on that. It's a security matter," he said.

Etukuri was reportedly kidnapped by five men driving in a Toyota Double Cabin vehicle registration number UAH 038A, outside the New Vision premises in Industrial area. The men suspected to be ISO agents were reportedly dressed in military fatigue.



New Vision suspects that Etukuri's trouble stems from a series of investigative stories he worked on recently. His last story was about the death of Terasvuori Juha, a Finnish investor at Pearl of Africa Hotel in Kampala.

The story linked some operatives attached to the ISO to Terasvuori's death. He had traveled to Uganda with Finnish politician, Suvi Linden to allegedly to meet Col Bagyenda.

The story claimed that although security agencies claimed that deceased died after inhaling drugs, Linden told Saturday Vision that the deceased was not taking drugs.

In the same article, it was reported that Terasvuori died a day after he was arrested in an operation led by ISO operatives led by Joel Agaba in Entebbe on Monday, February 5, 2018.

He was arrested on accusations that he had travelled into the country on a forged clearance letter by Bagyenda and later set free. He died a day later.Fianna Fail wants the Government to pressure Europe into making higher contributions to farmers and make sure common agricultural policy (CAP) payments are not cut in the wake of Brexit.

The European Commission is preparing to make a series of budget cuts and wants to source new revenue streams as concerns grow about a significant financial gap in European coffers once Britain leaves the EU.

Fianna Fail agriculture spokesperson Charlie McConalogue said the Government needs to sit down and Brexit-proof farmers' payments after a possible 30pc cut to the CAP budget was proposed this week.

Such a cut would see farming incomes plunge.

Mr McConalogue said Agriculture Minister Michael Creed and EU Commissioner Phil Hogan have a responsibility to protect farmers ahead of a discussion among EU leaders later this month.

"Direct payments under CAP sustain rural communities and the family model of farming throughout Europe by providing a vital income source to European food producers," he said. "Fine Gael has a responsibility to stand up for Irish farmers in these negotiations. A cut to the CAP budget cannot be countenanced.

"The Government must put a strong case forward in Europe and build support for an increase in budget contributions among the remaining EU countries."

Farmers across Europe are concerned after it was revealed a European Commission document outlined options for a new budget. The document includes a proposal that would see CAP funding cut by up to 30pc from 2020. Some 80pc of direct payments go to 20pc of farmers.

This means average farm incomes could drop by as much as 10pc.

Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said he is not in favour of cuts but added he thinks CAP payments will have to be reduced "to meet all the new priorities we have to meet".

Mr McConalogue said such comments will worry farmers.

Annually, Ireland gets around 2bn in farm subsidies.

EU leaders will meet on Friday to discuss the CAP ahead of a budgetary proposal in May.

"Any reduction in this budget could prove catastrophic for the Irish agri sector," Mr McConalogue said.

"CAP is the backbone of Irish farming, with payments to Ireland making up around 75pc of total farm income. While a UK exit from the EU will leave a 3bn hole in the CAP budget, the remaining EU 27 need to show solidarity with their primary producers.

"Additional contributions must be considered if the livelihoods of 22 million farmers across the continent are to be secured."An artists impression of the plans.The former building society HQ is more than 50 years old and a protected structure. It was originally built as the HQ for tobacco firm PJ Carrolls.

An artists impression of the plans. The former building society HQ is more than 50 years old and a protected structure. It was originally built as the HQ for tobacco firm PJ Carrolls.

A PLAN by US property investment giant Hines and Hong Kong's wealthy Yeung family for a multi-million euro refurbishment of the former Irish Nationwide headquarters in Dublin and the construction of dramatic new office space on the site, has been appealed to the planning watchdog.

Appellants have previously argued that the "vast scale" of the plans for the site are "totally out of proportion and character with its surroundings of Victorian houses".

Dublin City Council approved the plans last month, but now An Bord Pleanala will assess the project, which would result in a dramatic new office space in the capital.

The existing office block on the site is more than 50 years old and is a protected structure.

The prime location, in the capital's business heartland at Grand Parade, is situated next to the Grand Canal.

The existing eight-storey, 39,200 sq ft office block sits on a 1.7 acre site. The remainder of the site includes old warehouses and almost 100 parking spaces.

Last year, a company controlled by Hines and the Yeung family applied for planning permission to refurbish the former Irish Nationwide Building Society (INBS) base, and to build what would be a landmark new office development ranging between three and six storeys in height.

The site was originally sold in early 2014, for about 15m, to London & Regional Properties, a UK investment fund. London & Regional is controlled by billionaire brothers Ian and Richard Livingstone.

The site had been put up for sale by the joint special liquidators of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, formerly Anglo Irish Bank.

The Irish Bank Resolution Corporation was the building's tenant at the time of the sale.

It had been predicted at the time that a refurbishment of the HQ building would cost in the region of 5m.

London & Regional Properties sold the site in 2016 to Hines and the Yeung family, making a 22m profit.

The new owners then set about devising their refurbishment and redevelopment plans for the location.

The former INBS HQ is also known as the Carroll's Building. It was original constructed as the headquarters for the Irish tobacco group PJ Carroll.

It's anticipated that a cafe and gallery will be included in the re-development.

The council has sanctioned the plans, noting they are "in the interests of the proper planning and sustainable development of the area".

Last year, it emerged that the Yeung family was also one of the co-buyers of the former Central Bank premises in Dublin.

The Yeung's Peterson Group acquired the building on Dame Street, also in conjunction with Hines, for 100m. The Central Bank has moved to a new home in a building on North Wall Quay that was previously being built as the intended headquarters of Anglo Irish Bank.

The Yeungs ultimately own their stake in the former INBS building via a Hong Kong company called Chance Prosper Ltd.Q I am expanding my herd from 55 cows to over 100 in the next few months.

The additional cows and workload mean I will have to employ extra help, but I am concerned by the additional responsibilities I will have in relation to personal injury claims.

I will also be increasing the amount of machinery that will be used so am worried about the risks of this and the potential for a claim against me as the farm owner.

Theresa replies:

Rights and responsibilities of the farm owner should be close to the mind of all farmers - not just those in expansion mode.

From personal injuries claims to employees' rights, farmers, like all business owners, need to act to ensure their exposure to claims is limited as much as possible.

Most farm owners take out insurance on their farms to protect against claims for personal injuries, as even minor injuries can result in claims of several thousand euro, along with legal and medical costs also running into thousands.

Health & Safety

Farmers often disregard themselves as employers in circumstances where they only hire labour on the farm for short periods or seasonal work.

Regardless of whether an employee is employed on a casual basis or on a permanent basis, there are regulations which apply to the protection of their safety, health and welfare that the employer must adhere to.

As farms are homes as well as workplaces, there are frequently children and young persons in this high-risk environment, either in the family or as visitors. This means children and young persons are at risk of death or injury on farms.

The Code of Practice for Children and Young Persons in Agriculture applies to on-farm work activities and their potential impact on children and young persons.

In many cases, where the farm owner has an insurance policy in place to cover injuries to employees, the Risk Assessment document will be sought by the insurer.

Farmers (although the vast majority are self-employed) must prepare a Safety Statement to comply with Section 20 of the 2005 Safety, health and welfare at work Act.

It must be based on an identification of the hazards and an assessment of the risks. This is to ensure their own safety and that of other persons.

However, farmers with three or fewer employees may instead follow the guidance in the Health and Safety Authority 2006 Code of Practice entitled 'Code of Practice for Preventing Injury and Occupational Ill Health in Agriculture' and complete a risk assessment within the framework set out in that Code of Practice.

The template risk assessment document is available online at hsa.ie.

In both cases, a risk assessment must be carried out relating to all minors involved in work activities assisting farmers in the farm setting.

The Safety Statement or the Agriculture Code of Practice process is essentially a document setting out how safety and health is to be managed on the farm.

It will include an appraisal of all the hazards on the farm, with an assessment of the risk of them causing injury.

Where the risk of injury is high, it identifies control measures to eliminate or reduce the risk.

Any employees using machinery or carrying out any activities that carry risk should be provided with proper instructions before they carry out any tasks.

Responsibility can fall back on the employer in the case of injury resulting from an employee not being adequately trained, for example, on spraying and other tasks involving heavy machinery.

Employers should also consider the environment and the safety of the environment that they are bringing employees into.

Tools and machinery lying around can result in injury and potential claims against the employer.

As well as taking proper precautions around training and safety, employers should also have employers liability insurance.

Employers liability insurance protects your business against your legal liability for injury, illness, disease or death of any employee.

You should always check the fine print as to who will be covered under this type of policy.

For example, if your spouse or adult child does not receive a salary from the farm but works on the farm, will they be covered?

Each insurer will have different terms and you should closely consider your policy to ensure it covers all the risks that you need it to.

Children on the farm

In general, it is recognised that minors are not mature enough to be involved in or exposed to the risks arising from hazardous farm work activities, including the operation of hazardous farm machinery, movement of livestock, loading and unloading of livestock, agitation and spreading of slurry or the mixing or use of chemicals, veterinary medicines and pesticides.

A risk assessment must be carried out before any minor starts work and should also cover minors such as family members and visitors, who may be affected by the work activities.

Children under the age of 14 should be prohibited from riding on agricultural machines including agricultural trailers unless the risk assessment shows it to be safe to do so.

Children between the ages of seven and 16 may ride on a tractor provided the tractor is fitted with a properly designed and fitted passenger seat (with seat belts) inside a safety cab or frame.

As is the case with employees, you should check your farm insurance policy for what exactly is covered from this perspective.

The risks are many and although it may seem that the paperwork and red tape associated with having an employee come onto the farm is huge, it should be considered that many of the practices around safety, health and welfare of the employee should also be taken on board by those farmers working alone on the farm.

In a sector which has one of the highest rates of workplace injury and death it is past time that greater levels of caution and safety are employed on farms.

This article is intended as a general guide only, you should seek professional advice in relation to your individual circumstances.

Theresa Murphy is a barrister based in Ardrahan, Co GalwayQuestion marks have been raised over how far the 1bn rural regeneration fund would stretch given the massive need for investment.

The 10-year blueprint sets out the aim of reversing rural decline by targeting measures to address vacant premises and deliver regeneration.

It sets out that local authorities will be supported in buying sites and providing local infrastructure for people to build their own homes in smaller towns and villages.

It also recognises there is a need for housing for people to live and work in the countryside, and will allow single housing in rural areas based on "economic" or "social need".

After the success of the Wild Atlantic Way, it points out it will move to boost tourism development with a National Greenways, Blueways and Peatways strategy.

Pat McCormack, president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association, said the funding is welcome but the plan will ultimately be judged on the level of actions carried out in rural areas.

Mr McCormack said without real implementation the vision could end up being seen as another false dawn.

"The 1bn Rural Regeneration Fund is a real step in the right direction but looked at over a 10-year period will that sum be sufficient given the massive need for investment in rural areas? We note too that only half of the fund is specifically dedicated to rural areas," he said.

On planning, Mr McCormack said that he welcomed the inclusion of social criteria in applications to build in rural areas but the test would be its success in allowing people to build in their own community.

Irish Farmers' Association president Joe Healy said it welcomed some of the aims of the plan. These include recognising the need for housing, the regeneration of towns and villages and the urgent need to deliver on the controversial National Broadband Strategy.Catherine Bartells Alzheimers Assoc of Ireland, Alison De Vere Hunt Auction organiser and Kathleen Den O Grady with the ireland rugby jersey which was auctioned and made 1050 photo john d kelly

A BULLOCK named after Ray D'Arcy and a signed Irish rugby jersey helped Cashel Mart and the Grass Gals crew raise more than 20,000 for charity this weekend.

Cashel Mart and the Grass Gals hosted a charity auction last Saturday to raise funds for The Alzheimer Society of Ireland. This followed The Grass Gals' successful fundraising weekend in Mount Melleray, Co Waterford last August, where they raised more than 14,000 for the charity.

A jersey donated by the Irish rugby team and a three-month-old Hereford bullock, named after TV and radio presenter Ray D'Arcy, were among the star attractions up for grabs on Saturday.

Cashel Mart manager Alison de Vere Hunt told the Farming Independent that Ray sold for an impressive 1,800, while the Ireland jersey went for for 1,050 as the Irish team thrashed Italy in the Six Nations.

"It went really well. We were delighted with how much the jersey went for as well. We were hoping to get 1,000 or more for the jersey as we'd got a lot of interest for it," says Alison.

"It was signed by the entire current team and most of that team would've been part of the historic win over the All Blacks in 2016."

Not surprisingly, Archie, the Scottish Highland bullock topped the sale when he sold for 2,220. With more than 30 animals on display on Saturday, Alison said she's grateful to the support of locals who were still donating animals up until the auction began.

"Everything sold on the day, and even calves made serious money. One Friesian bull calf made 500. Everyone was so generous," she says.

After the auction, the crew from Cashel Mart and the Grass Gals made their way to Dublin so that the bullock Ray D'Arcy could meet his namesake.

"We were on The Ray D'Arcy Show on Saturday. I'm not really one for the TV, but the girls were very excited and it was great. The bullock stepped on Ray's foot from time to time but he behaved well overall," adds Alison.

Auction organiser John O'Brien who donated Ray the bullock says that the Alzheimer Society of Ireland is one close to his heart as his late father suffered from the disease.

John says that he is "well aware" of the stress the disease can put on families and pointed out that 100pc of the funds raised on Saturday went to the charity.

"I know first hand what it's like caring for someone with Alzheimers.

"It changes the dynamic of the whole family. 7,000 of what we raised in August has gone towards a daycare bus for The Alzheimer Society in Clonmel, so I like to see we are making a difference."'The vast bulk of cash that's going to be needed to fund the new roads, hospitals and houses announced yesterday will be raised at home through taxation.' Stock Image

The vast bulk of cash that's going to be needed to fund the new roads, hospitals and houses announced yesterday will be raised at home through taxation.

The old fallback of infrastructure "part-funded by European Union funds", familiar from signage on hundreds of Irish roads and school and hospital walls, no longer applies.

The crash is now definitively over, and Ireland is now a net contributor to EU budgets, so this planned ramp-up in spending is going to be paid for by taxpayers - either directly or through new loans.

At 116bn over 10 years - the 2040 is a bit of a red herring - the numbers are big, but not enormous.

Based on the documents produced yesterday, State capital expenditure will double from last year's levels to 9bn by 2022 and will remain in or around that level. On top of that, semi-State companies like the ESB, port operators and CIE will invest a further 2.5bn a year.

But we're not taking about a 116bn loan to fund the National Development Plan (NDP), or even committing a fixed share of budgets to the plan. The spending will increase year to year if and when projects come on stream.

Delays with the likes of the planned National Maternity Hospital suggest that predicting when and whether projects actually get to the build stage is a lot harder than it ought to be.

Even so, Budget 2018 already allowed for a 17pc hike in capital spending - to 5.5bn out of the total annual budget of 60bn - and this year's spend will be comfortably met from taxation.

From the Government's perspective, that spike to 5.5bn was painless - there's no new tax needed or extra borrowing, nor has it required any effort for instance to rein in current spending by way of compensation.

All going to plan, by 2022 the State will only be back to 2008 levels of investment. That's in a country where the tax take is now significantly higher and where the population is about 12pc bigger than it was at the start of the crash.

There's also a broad consensus that the State has under-invested in infrastructure over the past 10 years - including by moth-balling projects, like the M20 motorway, that are now back in favour.

Based on what we've been told so far, the idea is to plot out 10 years of investment in tandem with a road map of priorities, but there's very little by way of real financial commitment.

Contracts have been signed-off on almost none of the schemes.

If anything, in the event of a fresh crash or a Brexit-linked downturn, the danger seems to be less that we'll be stuck with a massive 'boom-era' spending commitment so much as that many of the projects will be dropped again, because despite what they say, there's no evidence Irish politicians have abandoned the 'when I have it, I spend it; when I don't, I don't' attitude.

So, if the question of value for money is set aside, these proposals look doable and, if anything, betray a relative lack of ambition.

There's no game-changer here in terms of radically transforming the workforce by, for instance, rolling out a massive State-funded childcare system or developing new towns, ports or universities.

In terms of value for money, there's an obvious danger that construction-sector costs will spiral, particularly once multiple big road and rail projects are underway. There's no silver bullet for that.

Ultimately, ministers will have to be prepared to walk away from projects if they become unaffordable, something that unfortunately big public launches like yesterday in Sligo make harder, not easier.

The other big issue is Brexit.

Reassuringly, along with climate change, addressing the threat posed to the Irish economy by the break with Britain is woven fairly tightly through the NDP.

The plan pays more than lip service to the risks, though. That ranges from flagging specific, ideally short-term supports for Border areas and the most Brexit-affected sectors, to focusing infrastructure investment in a way that helps nudge existing ports and airports in such a way that the entire economy orients just that little bit more towards the continent.Ireland's population will be living in taller, smaller homes in existing built-up areas in our cities.

From making big promises to deliver 50,000 new homes to 2020, the Government is now talking about 500,000 to be built to 2040 under the National Planning Framework.

The plan seeks big changes for housing in the two decades ahead, both in regard to where it will be located and what type it will be.

Significantly, vacant sites will be seized to build new homes in our towns and cities to prevent further urban sprawl.

Councils and a new agency will be given sweeping powers to take control of strategic sites as part of efforts to curb the growth of our cities into the countryside.

The National Regeneration and Development Agency will develop state-owned lands for affordable homes, and will even take control of lands identified as suitable for housing.

It will also be able to take control of land to build the necessary infrastructure to open sites for development.

The overall plan acknowledges the lopsided development of greater Dublin compared with elsewhere. It envisages a greater proportion of the population housed in the four main cities going forward.

Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford cities are all earmarked for remarkable growth of "50pc to 60pc" in the next 20 years in order to enhance their potential to become "cities of scale" akin to Dublin, although the plan is light on this detail.

Meanwhile, both Sligo Town and Athlone are being targeted for growth to provide centres of critical economic mass and jobs in the Midlands and Northwest.

Project Ireland promises to:

'Build inwards and upwards rather than outwards.' This suggests high rise apartments. It cites, average household populations are set to fall to 2.5 by 2040.

Deliver at least half of all new homes in the big five cities within their existing footprints - suggesting a heavy use of existing buildings and sites.

Deliver at least 30pc of new homes targeted in settlements within their existing footprints.

Reverse town/village and rural population decline by encouraging new roles for buildings, streets and sites.

Reduce vacancy and reuse existing buildings.

The Framework states that between 2018 and 2040, at least 25,000 new homes will need to be provided in Ireland each year. Housing output will need to be frontloaded to provide 30,000 to 35,000 a year initially on average until 2027.

The speed of frontloaded provision increases to 45,000 new homes for Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford up to 2020.What phone or laptop should you splash your cash on? We discuss your options in the Big Tech Show

Best phone? Or Windows laptop under 1,000? What about noise-cancelling headphones? Or mid-level camera?

Adrian Weckler is joined by Independent tech whizz (and Dublin Roller Derby maestro) Sara Devine to go through some of the most common buying decisions that listeners throw up. Sara and Adrian also pit the iPad Pro against Microsoft's Surface Pro in what turns out t be something of a hardware battle royale.An Irish businesswoman is leading a top international business continuity firm's first office outside the US, and its based in Dublin.

With over a decade of experience in business continuity management (BCM) and IT recovery, Elaine Tomlin is a perfect fit to head up Avalution's European headquarters.

Founded by Brian Zawada and Robert Giffin in 2005, the Ohio-headquartered company provides BCM, IT recovery and data security services to organisations of all sizes across sectors including banking, tech, healthcare, insurance, retail, education, manufacturing and utilities.

Dublin-based Ms Tomlin, also a global Board Director with the London-based Business Continuity Institute (BCI) and the incoming Chair of the Risk and Governance Committee of the BCI, has been leading the group's European expansion.

Avalutions cloud-based software as a service platform, Catalyst, is part of the portfolio offered to Irish, European businesses and US businesses to make business continuity and IT disaster recovery planning easy and repeatable regardless of size, industry or geography.

Elaine Tomlin took some time out to explain what Avalution can offer at a time when cybersecurity is such a key issues for companies - and why BCM should be on every business's list for 2018.

Why did Avalution choose Ireland as their European hub - and you as its lead?

In addition to my 13 years experience in the industry, I was shortlisted for the Business Continuity Manager of the Year Award for both the European BCI Awards and Global BCI Awards and then again by the Continuity, Insurance & Risk (CIR) Magazine Awards.

Before joining Avalution, I managed an independent consulting company and that's when I met Brian [Zawada] before Avalution even considered setting up a hub in Ireland. The team reached out to me after our initial meeting and there was discussion about where the company would set up their European HQ.

Ireland became the obvious choice as it emerged as THE geography of choice for world-class businesses seeking expansion in Europe and impressed in terms of professional, high-performing, and business-friendly local business partners.

Avalution's service/product offering - why is that so important now?

Cyber attacks have become a global concern for firms, with data breaches, unplanned technical outages and adverse weather conditions all impacting business continuity, and therefore, the bottom line.

We specialise in creating business continuity and IT disaster recovery programmes that meet the unique needs of organisation of all sizes in nearly every industry. Avalution works with its clients to build credible, pragmatic and scalable programmes. Our team examine critical time-sensitive activities, assess gaps and issues and recommend controls and recovery strategies, all adhering to the various standards and regulations. It's very much about connecting recovery plans and controls to the strategy of the organisation.

With GDPR coming down the track, we've held a number of US and EMEA webinars around the impact of the new regulations to support the community around it. Part of the regulation highlights that firms must ensure timely system and process availability, restoration and resilience methodologies are in place.

Regardless of the new rules, taking the time to develop business continuity strategies can protect staff, clients, operations, profits, and brand. Understanding and identifying critical processes, gaps, and risks can enable effective response to any outage.

Four top tips for firms embracing a new BCM plan

1) High level senior management buy in/effective roll out company-wide

A lack of budget and resources is one of the top challenges faced in terms of BCM but having those at board level in agreement on the plan is only the first step. Communication is crucial. If the key employees are aware of what to do, how to do, and when to do it in the event of a major incident, your business has a better chance of survival. Potential operational, financial, and reputational loss and damage will be minimised accordingly.

2) Take time to identify risks - and make a plan

Aim to understand how each threat and risk impacts your business, and then identify the measures you already have in place to minimise negative impacts. When you have found gaps in the controls, make and document an appropriate plan to reduce, remove or accept these risks.

Back to communication again. Ensure all crisis/incident management protocols are clear and well-understood, with a particular focus on identifying what - and how - information about an incident should be managed and communicated both internally and externally.

3) Choose your team wisely/recognise responsibilities

Recovery support teams should be led by senior staff with experience and oversight in terms of critical processes, systems, interdependencies, and ensuring all employees are fully accountable for their recovery roles.

Note: The IT team is not responsible for the recovery of business operations from all causes  they are only responsible technology recovery!

The wider business function should take responsibility and ownership for non-technical operational recovery and potential interruptions to services caused by the unavailability of staff, workplaces, and third-parties, for example.

4) Train and test constantly

Key plan players with responsibility will require appropriate business continuity and recovery training, on a regular basis, and their accountabilities should be noted within their personal scorecard / performance objectives.

There are always plan gaps and performance issues that have not been considered. Testing and exercising helps to identify the gaps and provides an opportunity to address and close these corrective actions over time.Gabriel Byrne and Hannah Beth King arriving on the red carpet at the IFTA Film and Drama Awards 2018 at the Mansion House, Dublin. Photo: Michael Chester

Producer Hannah Beth King actor Gabriel Byrne attend the 70th Annual Tony Awards at The Beacon Theatre on June 12, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

Legendary Irish actor Gabriel Byrne has spoken candidly about his experience with alcoholism, shedding light on the moment he decided to quit drinking 21 years ago.

Byrne, from Dublin, is now based in New York, was back on Irish soil to receive his lifetime achievement award from the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) on Thursday night and took part in a lengthy chat with Ryan Tubridy on Friday night's Late Late Show in a specially designed paying homage to some of his most iconic roles.

He detailed his battle with alcoholism, saying that stopping drinking is his proudest personal achievement.

"I think like a lot of people, I drank to escape from myself and to escape from the pressure that I felt around me," he said. "But I knew that I could never handle it, I was absolutely allergic to it. It was not a good thing for me to do.

"With this lifetime achievement thing, it's not about the work, it's of a life and one of the biggest victories to me in my life was that personal one of stopping that and saying I'm not going to be that person anymore."

The 67-year-old said Ireland's attitudes to alcohol contributed to his addiction, saying: "We have a huge drink problem in this country and at that time, I'm not so sure now because I don't live here anymore, it was endorsed by the culture. you were a great man if you had 10 pints and woke up the next day and said, where was I last night...you jumped on the table at The Shelbourne and you were singing the Rocky Road to Dublin.

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Whatsapp Gabriel Byrne speaking with Ryan Tubridy on The Late Late Show

"That kind of thing became to me kind of frightening because my drinking was spiralling into a place where I couldn't remember what I did. One day I woke up and said, 'If I don't stop this, I am going to die'. If I don't get help to do this. It took me a long time to get help, to be brave enough to say I have a problem."

He credited his longtime agent Teri Hayden for her support in his recovery, arranging for him to receive treatment hours after he admitted he had a problem and said the reason he is speaking about it now to encourage anyone who might be experiencing something similar to seek help.

"My friend Teri Hayden. who has been my agent for 30 years, she's the one I went to and she said, 'At last. I'll sort this out'. I did it. it was the most difficult thing I've ever done to walk down the stairs the next morning into a room full of total strangers, I'm telling you this because I think...there's some guy or some woman sitting there...I know where your head was at that time.

"It's okay to ask for help. One of the great things that's happened in Ireland since I left is that it's not so strange or rare now to say help me, no matter what the problem is.

"We're as sick as our secrets and shame and secrecy will kill you."

In the lengthy sit-down, Byrne also shed light on disgraced former movie producer Harvey Weinstein, describing him as a "ferocious bully" and stood by Meryl Streep's comments in that most actors were unaware of how far his alleged crimes had gone.

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"He was an absolutely ferocious bully, that I knew, but I knew that about other people too. What happened to those unfortunate women, and I know five of those women, who are compromised by him, happened behind closed doors so nothing could be proved," he explained.

"It was he said, she said. Because Harvey had such incredible power and we know from our own culture here that power and institutions are protected, especially when the individual is involved, the institution has to survive. Harvey, as a powerful money maker, was allowed to continue. Nobody really knew and I agree with Meryl Streep when she says this, nobody really knew about the violence of his sexual behaviour.

"Most people did not know that."

When asked by Tubridy if he was in agreement with Liam Neeson's comments on #MeToo, which he described as "a bit of a witch hunt", Byrne issued something of a call to arms for women's right activists and hopes for a balance of power in the future.

"I love Liam, I've known him for many may years and of course everybody is entitled to their opinions, but I would say the movement hasn't gone far enough. I think the pendulum has been so far in the opposite direction for so long where you've had centuries and centuries of women silenced, discriminated," he said.

"When they say witch hunt, I don't like that word because with hunts are about women being burned alive if they were rumoured to be in some way going against the system.

People saying it's gone too far, I think it's a way of trying to stop it and keep it contained, 'Okay, that's far enough now, we get what you're saying, now go away'. But I think what has to happen is that the women's movement needs to be resurgent."

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"If this movement dies out simply with #metoo, then i don't think it's going to do a great deal of good in the long run. What we're talking about is human rights and we're talking about 50% of the population of the world - we're talking sisters, mothers, wives, daughters - that's who were' talking about. It's not an abstract gender thing that is a cause celeb du jour."Claire Byrne has interviewed countless contributors during her 22 years working as a broadcaster in Ireland, Britain and Jersey.

But by any standard what happened on her radio show on October 24, 2015, was "quite unusual", she told the jury in the defamation action by Sinn Fein political manager and former IRA activist Nicky Kehoe against RTE.

The topic being discussed was a PSNI/MI5 report claiming the Provisional IRA army council was influencing the work of Sinn Fein. Ms Byrne explained how five guests were assembled for the show, including Sinn Fein TD Eoin O Broin, then a councillor, to give his party's perspective, and then Labour Party TD Joe Costello to give the Government's reaction.

Setting the scene, RTE's barrister Cian Ferriter SC showed the jury a photo of the set up in studio, with Ms Byrne wearing headphones on one side of the desk and her five guests arranged in a semi-circle across from her.

"I was having a bad hair day," she quipped. It was a rare moment of levity before she was brought to the events at the centre of the case. The jury heard a recording of Mr Costello's claim that a former chief of staff of the IRA in Dublin was giving directions to Sinn Fein council members.

Ms Byrne told Mr Ferriter she felt the allegation was "outrageous".

"I thought he had gone doolally. I remember sitting there thinking where was this coming from?" she said. She immediately asked him: "How do you know that?"

"My tone was incredulous because that is how I felt at the time," she told the court.

Within seconds Mr O Broin identified the man referred to as Mr Kehoe and tackled Mr Costello's claim in strong terms.

Ms Byrne said had she stepped in to stop the discussion then, it would have done Mr Kehoe more harm.

She felt Mr O Broin quickly "destroyed" the claim, but to put "a double lock" on the issue she told listeners at the end of the show she had no reason to believe Mr Costello's allegation.The plan commits 8.8bn to the primary and post-primary sectors between now and 2027 (Stock image)

Decent science labs and PE halls for all second-level schools and energy conservation measures in all schools built before 2008 are among the priorities in primary and post-primary education.

In all, the plan commits 8.8bn to the primary and post-primary sectors between now and 2027. It includes provision for the building of new schools and extensions to meet population growth, with an average of 20,000 permanent school places to be delivered annually over the medium term.

Some 420m of the funding is earmarked aside for the embedding of digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment in schools.

Other promises include more certainty around funding for two school maintenance schemes, alongside plans to raise the value of these to 100m, annually, by the early 2020s.

Meanwhile, the third-level sector is to share 2.2bn to support vital infrastructural works, including an upgrade of old buildings and an expansion of campus facilities, including student accommodation, to deliver a quality experience to the growing number of students.

The seven universities alone are committed to infrastructural projects worth more than 3bn over the next decade.

Irish Universities Association director general Jim Miley welcomed the 2.2bn commitment, but said it "needed to be matched by an overhaul of the operational funding model for higher education which is long overdue to help improve the staff-student ratio".Three hospitals - in Dublin, Cork and Galway - will be dedicated to treating patients on waiting lists and providing quicker access to scans.

The new hospitals are the highlight of the National Development Plan's 10.9bn injection for the health service.

It also promises 2,600 more beds to relieve overcrowding in A&E departments.

But the lack of a definite timeline for the projects in the 10-year plan casts a shadow over the blueprint's tempting glimpse of the future.

Asked how soon the proposals would become bricks and mortar, a health official said: "As with a 10-year plan proposals are an early stage and will require further appraisal, planning,design and tender before a firm timeline can be established."

Questioned on how many of the 2,600 hospital beds will be ready for next winter's trolley crisis, the official said that Health Minister Simon Harris plans to "frontload" some of the development plan's extra beds before November this year.

The number will follow a HSE recommendation.

The plan pledges a new hospital for Cork, and various new units in other hospitals, including a ward block in Limerick and an A&E department in Galway.

Another 4,500 long-term and short-term public nursing home beds will be added.

It contains a range of projects already under way - including the National Children's Hospital, the new national mental hospital and the rebuild of Letterkenny Hospital.

More primary care centres and mental health facilities, including a 40-bed residential unit in Portlaoise, are included.

It is unclear if consultants will be allowed to treat private patients in the new hospitals for waiting list patients.

The advantage of these facilities is that they would have no A&E units so beds can be ring-fenced for surgery.

Commenting on the plan Deputy Billy Kelleher warned unless patients get treated quicker it will be a failure.

Tom Ryan, of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, said 2,600 beds over 10 years will not be enough.

Simon Nugent, of the Private Hospitals Association, insisted the Government is sidestepping the urgency of the current crisis, saying private hospitals could deliver more quickly.Tragic Joanne Lee (Inset: The entrance to the building in which her body was discovered in a wardrobe)

THE estranged husband of tragic Joanne Lee has been identified as the chief suspect in her murder.

The tragic 38-year-old was strangled to death before her body was stuffed in a wardrobe in a flat in Ranelagh, south Dublin.

Her estranged husband Keith Lee (42) has not been arrested yet as he is being treated for multiple injuries at St Jamess Hospital after he jumped from a third-floor window on Thursday afternoon when gardai raided the flat where Ms Lee was murdered.

Gardai are due to quiz Mr Lee in relation to his wifes death, but this is not expected to happen for a number of days at least as the suspect suffered two broken ankles, broken ribs and a broken arm.

It has emerged that Mr Lee had reported his wife missing when he presented at Store Street garda station on Tuesday night and outlined to officers that there were major difficulties in their relationship.

This led gardai to issue a public missing persons appeal late on Wednesday night stating that Ms Lee was last seen in the area policed by Mountjoy gardai on the capitals northside.

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Whatsapp Supt Gerry Delmar from Donnybrook Garda Station pictured outside the house on Ranelagh Road where the body of Jaonne Lee was discovered. Photo Credit: Frank Mc Grath

However, officers now believe that the victim may have already been strangled at this point. Gardai have confirmed that the man who threw himself out of a third-floor window before making admissions about killing Ms Lee is her estranged husband. Gardai are now satisfied that Ms Lee was murdered in the flat where her body was found.

Investigators are still trying to establish exactly how and why the tragic woman ended up in the property.

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Speaking at a press briefing at the scene in Ranelagh yesterday, Superintendent Gerry Delmar from Donnybrook garda station said they believed the man being treated in hospital is Keith Lee.

Asked who the man is, Supt Delmar said: The man, we believe, is her estranged husband.

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Supt Delmar has also said that the last known sighting of Ms Lee, whose maiden name was Ball, was on February 5 at her family home in Garristown in Co Meath. He appealed for anyone who had seen her since to contact gardai.

Ms Lee was living in a flat on North Strand in Dublin city so it is possible she may have been in that area before she was reported missing on Tuesday.

Joanne also has access to a car, a silver Nissan Micra 08 MH 16073. We would like to talk to anyone who may have seen her in that car, he said.

This car could prove vital to the investigation as it was what led gardai to search the Ranelagh property in the first place.

We found the car at this address and thats where enquiries went, said Supt Delmar.

Having discovered the car gardai made enquiries in the area and tried to get into one particular flat, but when they were not allowed entry they forced their way in, and that is when Ms Lees husband jumped out the third-floor window and caused himself self-harm.

Once inside the flat the grim discovery of Joannes body was made in a wardrobe.

A post-mortem examination carried out yesterday revealed that Ms Lee had been strangled.

Speaking at the scene on Thursday evening, Ms Lees devastated uncle John Curry said Ms Lees family had been torn apart by her killing.

An emotional Mr Curry said: She was a lovely girl, a beautiful girl, never any trouble, nothing from her, she was just...aw god, Im so upset, I cant speak.

"The whole family is.The new extra long LUAS on the Rosie Hackett Bridge.

Luas passengers have been left in the dark after a glitch left real-time passenger information signs blank for more than a week.

Luas passengers are normally notified of the arrival time of the next and subsequent trams or other issues such as delays by electronic signs known as the Luas Passenger Information Displays (PID) at each stop.

However, many of the signs have been blank for the past 10 days with no explanation other than a vague reference on the Luas website that reads: "The Luas Passenger Information Displays at some stops are down at the moment due to a technical fault."

When the Herald asked when the problem would be fixed, a spokesman for Transdev, the Luas parent company, could not say what the problem was or when it would be fixed.

"The passenger information displays have been out of service for the last nine days," the spokesperson said.

"This is due to an IT technical fault. Technicians from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) have been working daily to identify the source of the issue and to find a fix.

"There is still no permanent solution to the problem.

"Technicians will continue to work on this issue."

Officials from TII could not be reached last night.

The glitch has affected all of the stops on the Green Line between Sandyford and St Stephen's Green as well as all the stops between Tallaght and Connolly Station on the Red Line, said Transdev.

The only consolation is "it does not in any way affect tram travel nor the real-time passenger information on the Luas app or website".

However, South Dublin county councillor Charlie O'Connor, who represents Tallaght Central, said many people, including the elderly and tourists or those who simply do not carry smartphones, would not have access to the Luas app or website on their phones.

Nor should they be expected to, the Fianna Fail man said.

He said it was simply not good enough that passengers should be left in the dark for so long.

"The whole idea of the signs is to tell you when the next tram is coming," he said.

Chaos

"It's the first thing I do when I get to the stop.

"Nobody has contacted me yet about it, but as someone who uses the Luas I suspect it would cause chaos."

Mr O'Connor said he will raise the issue at the next monthly meeting of the council's Dublin Bus-Luas Community Forum.

"I see the Luas as very positive, but I can well say that people will be upset," he said.

"Whatever the issue is, it should be sorted and sorted soon."

Fianna Fail's transport spokesman Robert Troy agreed.

"This is just the latest in a long list of problems with the new Luas Cross City line. It's leaving a sour taste in people's mouths," he said.

While he conceded that technical glitches do happen, he questioned why it has taken so long to resolve.

"It would seem that a technical glitch should be able to be resolved fairly quickly," said Mr Troy.

Some Luas passengers took to Twitter to vent their frustration over the issue.

"Another morning at Balally with no visibility on Luas times," one wrote.

"Meanwhile, about 200 people waiting to get on. The Luas service since December is shocking."

Another said the lack of working signs was among a litany of issues he has as a regular commuter.

"Times on display wrong, app never works properly," he complained.The mother of a seven-year-old boy who is self-harming said she fears she will have to bury her son if he doesn't get professional help.

Vicki Cadogan from Clareview, Limerick said that her seven-year-old son Harry has autism and is constantly self-harming.

"Harry was diagnosed with autism last year after a private consultation. He has a lot of sensory issues but he is a good boy who can be very placid at times," Vicki told Independent.ie.

"When he gets mad or frustrated he takes it out on himself and it's very hard to watch. He starts banging his two fists against his head as hard as he can or he'll slam his head against our tile floor or anything that's near him.

"It's heartbreaking watching my son do this to himself. I brought Harry into this world hoping that he would reach his full potential and be the best person that he can be.

"As his mother, I'm supposed to love and protect him but when he starts harming himself, I don't know what to do. You're not supposed to restrain kids with autism when they get frustrated but nobody is telling me what I should be doing."

Vicki and her husband Aiden, who also have a four-year-old girl called Beth, have repeatedly tried to get psychological help for their young son.

"Through physical therapy he has tried the sensory route to release his frustration but it isn't working. He has a trampoline and sensory relief games to get his frustration out but it isn't helping. His speech and play therapists say he needs the help of a psychologist but we cant get an appointment for him."

Vicki said that her young son is facing a huge waiting list for both public and private mental health facilities in Limerick.

Harry is currently on the waiting list for child psychology services through the Blackberry care centre in Limerick.

"The centre is supposed to have two psychologists but since May 2017 there has been none. One of them is on maternity leave and another is waiting to take up the post pending clearance for policing authorities in the USA where he previously worked. A temporary psychologist is supposed to be starting in March but I don't know how long I will have to wait to get Harry seen.

"We have no psychologist available and the children are really suffering."

The distraught mother has called for an independent regulator to review mental health services across the country.

"The lack of funding from the HSE is the issue. The HSE does not want to spend money on the mental health services for children and it is appalling. An independent review board should be in place to monitor the services. We have a body for nursing homes, why can't we have one for our children's services?"

Vicki said she fears for her son's future if he doesn't get early intervention.

"I fear for his future. If this is what he is like at seven-years'-old, what will he be like as a teenager? I could have to bury my child in the future because he didn't get early intervention care. The HSE is just pushing the problem down the line."

She added that many other children across the country are similarly suffering.

"These children are our future but the HSE isn't concerned for their future. I'm begging the HSE to give these children a chance and give them an available psychologist in the area.

"The HSE is aware that the post is empty and leaving it empty is disgusting and sheer negligence. I just want Harry to have a fair chance at life."

In a statement the HSE said:

"Recruitment for the post of Clinical Psychologist commenced in 2017 with interviews held the first week in October. Currently a candidate is being processed for this position.

"In addition a part-time locum Clinical Psychologist is due to commence in late March/early April and other additional Psychology resources have been put in place. This will help to address the current waiting time."

Independent.ie is awaiting comment from Blackberry care centre.Paddy Boyle suffered facial injuries after he was attacked on a job

A taxi driver who feared he would die during a terrifying attack has said that more must be done to protect workers in the industry.

Longford man Paddy Boyle suffered facial injuries and was forced to take a month off work after the violent incident.

He said that taxi drivers are regularly attacked, but most are too afraid to report the incidents to the gardai.

Paddy, who was attacked on Christmas Eve 2016, said that he now worries for his safety before every shift.

He told Independent.ie how he was due to finish work early on the evening when a woman asked him to collect her from a house in Lanesboro, Co Longford to bring her to a house in Ballyleague so she could pick up some presents, and then to drop her off in Drumlish.

Paddy said that he waited for 15 minutes for the woman to come out of the property in Ballyleague, when a man came out of the property and started shouting at Paddy.

He told the Longford Leader: "I was in the car and couldnt get out of it; he had me pinned in.

"Then he grabbed the phone kit and made bits of it; he then started roaring and bawling like a young bull... he then proceeded to box the face off me.

"I tried to block him, and all of that continued for a good ten minutes."

Paddy managed to escape when a woman came out of a nearby house and distracted Paddy's attacker.

He reported the incident to the gardai and then travelled to the Midlands Regional Hospital, where he was treated for facial injuries.

Paddy, who has been a taxi driver for 25 years, said the attack has knocked his confidence and has made him more cautious.

He told Independent.ie: "I'm wary every night getting into the car, especially when you're carrying young people who might have had alcohol or drugs taken.

"Most people you pick up are fine but you just never know who is getting into the car."

He said there aren't enough measures in place to help protect taxi drivers.

"I've heard of lots of taxi drivers getting attacked... a lot of people are afraid.

"Who is going to do anything to help us, the gardai don't seem to be interested, a taxi driver can't even defend themselves because if you do then you could lose your licence.

"The regulator can do nothing about it, it's the law and the taxi drivers themselves have to push these cases.

"You cannot carry any kind of weapon in your car, you're just vulnerable," he said.

His attacker Sean Munnelly pleaded guilty at Roscommon Circuit Court to assaulting Paddy and causing harm, to threatening to kill him and also two counts of criminal damage.

He was sentenced last week to three years in prison, with the final year suspended, and he was also ordered to pay Paddy 25,000 compensation.

Paddy said that he is happy with the sentence.

He noted: "It was my first time getting attacked, thanks be to God and I hope it will be the last.

"I was happy enough to see justice being done.

"In Dublin every night of the week you would have these attacks going on, it's going on in every small town.

"Most drivers are afraid to push it because you have people saying they know where you live and they threaten to burn you out, I'm not afraid of any man though."Big-ticket items including a 3bn Metro and 2bn expansion of the Dart network to Drogheda, Maynooth and Hazelhatch are in the transport plan, along with major roads projects.

The National Development Plan (NDP) sets out spending of more than 8bn on roads, including the M20 between Cork and Limerick costed at up to 900m; the N2/A5 road linking Donegal to Derry and on to Dublin; as well as 600m for a Galway ring-road to alleviate chronic congestion in the city.

Other road schemes planned include the Cork to Ringaskiddy road to improve connectivity to the Port of Cork, and the long-awaited N2 Slane bypass, along with more than 4bn for local and regional road improvements and upgrades.

The Government also plans to invest in the bus network, with 2bn for a reorganisation of Dublin's system under the 'Bus Connects' project. There will be 200m each for Galway and Cork, along with a commitment to fund investment in Limerick and Waterford.

Development of comprehensive public transport systems in towns including Carlow, Mullingar and Kilkenny are planned, which the NPF says is crucial to creating more liveable towns and cities.

The biggest single project is Metro Link, formerly called Metro North, to run between Swords in north Dublin and the city centre via Dublin Airport. An underground Dart tunnel is not included. Planning and feasibility studies will also be undertaken on five light-rail projects - four Luas extensions in Dublin, to Bray, Finglas, Lucan and Poolbeg, and a light-rail scheme for Cork.

To facilitate the switch to public transport, investment will also be made in park-and-ride sites nationally around bus, rail and Luas locations.

Dublin Airport will proceed with its 320m second runway, while a 150m development of warehousing, a hangar and offices in the Shannon Development Zone around the airport will proceed. Expansion of ports at Dublin, Cork and Shannon Foynes are also planned at a total cost of just under 350m.Chancellor Philip Hammond could make a speech as early as next week detailing a mutual recognition system to regulate financial services after Brexit, which will allow United Kingdom banks to maintain access to the EU, The Financial Times has reported.

Three senior figures close to Brexit negotiations said the government had won agreement from Mark Carney, who as head of the Bank of England is responsible for macro-prudential regulation, and chancellor Philip Hammond, who is expected to endorse the idea in a speech next week.

A spokeswoman for the finance ministry declined to comment on the report which she said was speculation.

"In the interest of our members and the wider business community, while respecting the decision taken by the people in June 2016, we feel this is the best way forward".

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has previously said Britain and the European Union should adopt a system of mutual recognition or run the risk of a damaging hit to financial services across Europe.

The Institute of Directors (IoD) said on Friday its plan would solve one of the impasses hanging over the Brexit talks with just over a year to go before Britain's departure from the EU.

US health-care spending to climb 5.3% in 2018

A government health agency is projecting that the healthcare industry's spending will increase this year - by 5.3%. Health spending is determined by the price of goods and services, as well as how much health care people use.

The EU has said it will not agree to Britain's demands for a trade deal tailor-made to its priorities.

Speaking in a joint press conference with Theresa May in Berlin, Mrs Merkel said that a bespoke deal did not have to mean Britain that was "cherry-picking" the best elements of the single market without paying the price for European Union membership.

London's bankers may have to rely instead on what is known as equivalence. Access is patchy and can be revoked at short notice.

British negotiators are reportedly preparing to push for the kind of Brexit favoured by the UK's financial services sector, despite Brussels having already rebuffed a similar proposal.

About 6tn (5.33tn, $7.5tn), or 37%, of Europe's financial assets are managed in London, which is nearly twice the amount of its nearest rival, Paris.Newly elected Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said her use of the phrase 'tiocfaidh ar la' during her first speech as president of the party was about the future and not a harking back to the past.

In an unscripted conclusion to her speech as she assumed leadership of the party she said "up the Republic, up the rebels, agus tiocfaidh ar la".

She came under heavy criticism for her use of a slogan long associated with the IRA but speaking on the Late Late Show she defended her language.

"At the Ard Fheis I was setting out things that I believe passionately in things like social progress, social justice , shared prosperity. A new Ireland. And for me to utter the words 'tiocfaidh ar la' refers absolutely to that vision of a new Ireland.

"And I know for some people that sounds like a harking to the past, for me it absolutely is not," she said.

"I'm a new leader of Sinn Fein and it's about the future, it's about moving to the future. It's about building a new Ireland and that is what I am about and that was what my speech was about - including the last utterances."

When pressed on the phrase's link to the past she admitted that she could have used other words to express her meaning but said:

"I think in terms of language that is used I think if language carries a negative connotation you reclaim it."

She said the "last place" she wants to go is the past and when host Ryan Tubridy put it to her that she went "right there" by using that expression she replied "absolutely not".

Ms McDonald also denied Sinn Fein has a problem with a culture of bullying following the departure of several members of the party over alleged bullying.

She said there have been "instances that have been problematic" and that they had to be dealt with.

"I want people to come into Sinn Fein and have a pleasant experience and have a happy experience. I want them to be good in their activism and to support each other.

"If that breaks down there's rules that need to be applied but you know there are certain circumstances Ryan where you can do lots of things but you can't fix people and if relationships break down irrevocably and people aren't prepared to make them up you are in a position then where it ends in tears," she said.

In a wide-ranging interview the Dublin Central TD said she does not feel like she is emerging from the shadow of Gerry Adams who led the party for 34 years.

She urged people to just watch how her leadership unfolds and then judge her capability as a leader of the party and as a female leader.

She also touched on a Dail row in 2017 during which Taoiseach Leo Varadkar called her "cranky" joking that it was "one all" following her recent description of him as "smarmy" on Sky News.Rents shot up last year to hit another record high Photo: Deposit

As rent prices continue to rise, renters across the country are scrambling for a place to call their own.

According to a report by Daft.ie, the average monthly rent nationwide during the final quarter of 2017 was 1,227.

This is the seventh quarter in a row that a new all-time high has been set.

Read More

As a result of the continuously soaring rent prices, renters are facing housing shortages and sub-standard accommodation.

To show the reality of the housing hunt in 2018, Independent.ie looked at what was available across the country for:

A couple looking for a two-bedroom house in Dublin city centre

According to the Daft.ie report, Dublin rents jumped by almost 11pc last year, with the average monthly rent now costing 1,822.

For a young couple looking for a two-bedroom house in the city, there were no properties available at this request.

However, there were several apartments available in the city centre, and there were a number of houses available in the wider city area.

On MyHome.ie, there was one two-bedroom apartment in Smithfield priced at 1,800 a month.

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According to the ad on MyHome.ie the location "is second to none with many leisure and recreational activities on its door step".

The fully furnished apartment was located on the first floor of the complex.

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On Rent.ie, there were six two-bedroom apartments available near the city centre for under 1,900.

One included a two-bedroom home on Gardiner Street for 1,800 a month.

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The furnished apartment had two bedrooms and one bathroom and was on the fourth floor of an apartment block.

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According to Rent.ie, the apartment was "in good condition throughout and boasts designated parking, lifts and stairs and attic storage space".

It was listed as being close to the city centre, as well as bus and Luas routes.

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Across the wider Dublin area, there were 42 two bedroom apartments and houses available for under 1,900 on Daft.ie.

The most suitable option included a two-bedroom house in Ringsend, which is approximately 20 minutes on a bus to the city centre, available for 1,895 per month.

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The house, which had two double bedrooms and one bathroom was recently renovated and had a minimum lease of one year.

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The chances of nabbing this gem? A whopping six thousand people viewed the property within an hour of the listing being posted.

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Three young professionals searching for a three-bedroom house in Galway

According to the Daft.ie report, rents in Galway rose by a little over 12pc last year. The average rental cost in Galway is now 1,096.

For three young professionals looking for a house in Galway, there was one three-bedroom house available on Daft.ie for under 1,100.

The house which is located in Fearann Ri, Doughiska, had no pictures on the advert but said the house included three bedrooms and three bathrooms.

Similarly, on MyHome.ie there were no available three-bedroom houses for under 1,100.

On Rent.ie, there were two suitable properties. One was the above property in Fearann Ri.

The other available house, was a three-bedroom house in Menlough for 600 a month.

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The house was listed as being furnished, with one single room and two doubles.

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For 1,200 a month, there was also a three-bedroom house available in Doughiska, Galway.

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The three-bed townhouse was fully furnished and had a balcony and two bathrooms.

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The house was a 20-minute drive from Galway's Salthill promenade. The ad for the property described the house as being near to shops, a hospital and parks and also said it had good public transport.

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A family-of-four searching for a three-bedroom house in Limerick

Limerick city has seen rents rise by 14.8pc, to just over 1,000 a month.

Checking Daft.ie, MyHome.ie and Rent.ie, there were no available three bedroom houses in Limerick city for the average rent of 1,000.

Upping the budget to 1,200 a month, there was a three-bedroom house available on Old Singland Road, Limerick City.

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The furnished house had two double bedrooms and one single bedroom, as well as three bathrooms.

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The ad for the house said that it was recently renovated and "combines spacious modern living with convenient location".

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The house was a six-minute walk from St Brigid's National School, Limerick.

Another option for a family-of-four in Limerick City was a three-bedroom house on St. Joseph's Street for 1,150 per month.

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The house, which had two single beds and one double bed had also recently been renovated and refurbished.

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This family home had more than six thousand views within just four hours of being published on Daft.ie.

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The house was a 10-minute drive from St Brigid's National School.

Author of the Daft.ie report and economists at Trinity College Dublin Ronan Lyons said last year marked the fourth consecutive year of double-digit gains in rents nationwide.

"The underlying pressure for rising rents remains due to a chronic shortage of available rental accommodation, at a time of strong demand," said Prof Lyons.

He said that in some segments in Dublin rents had doubled since 2010.

The economist said at least 40,000 new homes a year were needed to meet underlying demand. But less than 20,000 homes were built in 2017.

The Simon Communities in Ireland said the figures showed that the private rental market remains unable to cope with demand.

The organisation said that the introduction of rent pressure zones in December 2016 did not go far enough and should be urgently reviewed.

The Simon Communities also expressed concern about the rise of "renovictions" and evictions for sale under Section 34 of the Residential Tenancies Act.

Spokesperson for Simon Communities Niamh Randall said rent pressure zones and other measures won't work without monitoring and enforcement by the Residential Tenancies Board.

Tenants cannot be expected to police this private market, she said.

If you pay above-average rents anywhere in the country, be sure to contact us with your story at contact@independent.ie or on our Facebook pageOn Saturday night I headed for the Clans clubrooms where a rather special Golden Jubilee wedding celebration which was taking place for Kevin and Christina Doyle from Cedarwood Park and there to make sure they had a fantastic night were their sons Kevin, David, Anthony, Ian and Christopher, his wife Michelle and their two grandkids Mikey and Clara and a huge collection of relations and family friends.

Kevin said it was actually 50 years to the day that they got married in St Patrick's, held their reception in the Queen's Hotel (12/6 a head) and went to Dublin for their honeymoon and never looked back.

I then headed over for a word with Kevin's brother Gerry Doyle also from Cedarwood Park, who told me it was going to be a major night of celebrations.

Not too far away I caught up with friend and neighbour Olivia McGee from Cedarwood Park, who was enjoying the night with the happy couple's daughter-in-law Michelle from Marian Park and kids Mikey and Clara. Olivia told me if I stayed long enough I'd see Michelle transform into Tina Turner and sing a few songs!

Next I caught Christina, who was having a laugh with sisters Lorraine O'Reilly from Cooley and Muriel Hoey from Broughton Street, who told me that their brother Vinny Hoey would have loved to be there to wish them all the best. Lorraine was there with husband Owen, who wanted to wish the happy coupe all the best too.

Not too far away I caught up with Michelle's husband Chris and he was chatting to Eric Rice from Castletown Road, Kevin and Margaret Conlon from Hughes Park, who told me they are 'kissing cousins' and were up for a major night of fun.

After this I got talking to Brian Watters from Castletown, who wanted to wish them all the best two.

Next I met up with a man, who is now a Clans legend Maurice Harrison Snr from Cedarwood Park, who wanted to wish Christina and Kevin all the best and another happy 50 years together.

I then headed towards the bar where I caught up with brot hers Mickey and Kevin Tuite from Fr. Murray Park and Oakland Park respectively, who were having a laugh with Mal Duffy from Ashling Park, Davy McGeown from Marian Park and Conor McGuinness from Hackballscross, who all assured me they'd try their hardest to make the best of the celebrations.

Heading for another table I met up with Michael Enright from Ashling Par and Andy Lennon from Greenacres, who was awaiting the arrival of Bernie O'Connor from Woodview Park and they were all set to party the night away with the Doyle's.

After this I got a quick word with Sandra Agnew and Marie Bromley both from Newry, who were enjoying the company of Derek Moran and they wanted to wish the happy couple all the best for the future.

Not too long later I met up with Aland Sheridan from Monaghan and Emma Hughes from Dromin, who told me they work with the couple's son David and were really looking forward to the night with him.

Making my way through the crowds I then met up with Sandra and Brendan McCabe from Cedarwood Park, who were only in and ready to make the best of the golden jubilee celebrations with Kevin and Christina.

Heading for another table I got a word with daughter and mother Sharon and Sean Doyle from Castle Park, who were with Marie and Malachy Toner from Fr Murray Park, who assured me it was going to be an epic night.

After this I got a word with Andrew Conway and Melissa Turley both from Beechmount Drive, who wanted to wish the happy couple all the best on their big night.

Not too long later I got taking to Maria Conlon from Hill Street, who was with her daughter Georgina McCabe from Aghameen Park, who are long-time friends of the Doyle's and wouldn't have missed the party for anything.

Finally, before I departed I got a word with Owen and Marie Hanratty from Mountain View, who said that Owen and Kevin had been school mates since their days in St Malachy's Academy and have remained so ever since and were delighted to be there to celebrate with Kevin and Christina."Hello! Can you give me a few minutes?," Nirav Modi said as he walked into his store at South Mumbai's Kala Ghoda to pose for a photo shoot for a Business Today story. The celebrity jeweller wore a blue Canali suit with a silk red pocket square and he had a Fitbit and a luxury watch around his wrist. But what looked rather weird were his shabby loafers.

Modi seemed a person with calm and poised personality when I met him at the ground floor of his two-storeyed showroom showcasing fine jewellery. This was in August of 2016. His claim to fame was that he was the first Indian designer to have a 1000 square feet store at the famed Madison Avenue in New York. He was also making waves in the international arena for his designs. In the same year, he was ranked amongst the thousand billionaires in the world. In India, he was in the top fifties. My assignment was to shoot him for our once-a-year luxury special edition.

I reached his showroom almost an hour before the scheduled time, which was at 11:00 am. It was too early. The showroom was closed. I was reminded by the security that the entry would be allowed only when the contact person comes in. I decided to grab a sandwich from the nearby bakery. The wait was finally over and I was allowed in. I was also offered a cup of coffee. There was also a good piece of advice; I cannot leave my camera and light bags out in the display area since the store is open for customers. Frankly, I had never seen him until I met him. I had a faint remembrance of seeing advertisement hoardings of Nirav Modi around Mumbai. I had also looked him up on Google. From the pictures, he appeared to be a calm person. I must say a perfect man for the shoot.

Finally, the wait was over. Nirav Modi was ready for the shoot. I first showed him some dummy shots, which I did with his employees. He smiled and started posing for the camera. I found him indulging, unlike many CEOs who are often distracted or look restless while posing. The ground floor shoot was quickly over and done.

The next set of pictures had to be shot on the first floor of his showroom. I had to shift my lights. I requested him to wait for some time as I adjusted the lights. He didn't look in a rush, and patiently waited in his office for some time. I wanted to take his portrait around his showcased jewellery which cost anywhere from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 5 crore. He posed around his creations and followed the instructions during the shoot. He came across as soft spoken and shy person who wanted to have stores around the world.

He gave me my fill. I spent almost half an hour.

Last Wednesday, when Nirav Modi hit the headlines for defrauding Punjab National Bank, the images of my shoot with him started snowballing into my mind. I quickly pulled out those images to see the man. Once again, my eyes were stuck at his completely worn out brown loafers. "Is it a style statement to wear shabby footwear?," is what criss-crossed my mind. I'm sure the banks are also clueless about the man they trusted with thousands of crore of depositors' money.

My camera lens has captured the who's who of India Inc., little did I know that my lens would also capture India's biggest fraudster ever!The Irish Blood Transfusion Service would like to say thank you to all 67 Donors who attended the recently held Blood Donation clinic in the Foy Centre, Carlingford, Co. Louth.

A special thank you to Enda Barry and Vincent Dullaghan, our joint Local Voluntary Organisers, for their help and support prior to and during the holding of the clinic. A

breakdown of the total figures show that 7 first time Donors and 5 former Donors attended. It is essential that we maintain and increase the level of support on our next visit to the Cooley Peninsula.Frank Pentony, Director of Services at Louth County Council, CEO of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Liam Hannaway, Chair of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Cllr Roisin Mulgrew, President of Newry Chamber of Commerce, Paul Convery, Chair of Louth County Council Cllr Colm Markey, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney, President of Dundalk Chamber, Michael Gaynor and CEO of Newry Chamber, Mary Meehan at the conference last Wednesday

A hard border is something which the Irish government will never accept again, Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs stated at the Post Brexit International & Cross Border conference in the Carrickdale Hotel.

He said 'the UK decision to leave the European Union poses unprecedented challenges for the shared peace and cooperation we have enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, on the island of Ireland.'

While they wished that wished the UK hadn't voted to leave, they had to accept the reality of the result, however narrowly it was decided.

He outlined that the Irish Government had prioritised protecting the Good Friday Agreement and the gains and benefits of the peace process as one of its headline objectives. 'This includes protecting North South cooperation, which is at the core of the Agreement, and of course ensuring that there will be no hard border or border infrastructure of any kind on the island.'

And he assured the huge attendance at the conference that Ireland had received and continued to receive 'unstinting support from our EU partners around these objectives'.

'The immeasurable disruption to people's lives and livelihoods that a hard border would cause - and the damage to the economy and to both business and community relationships - is not something we are ever willing to accept.

He called on the British Government to honour the commitments which had been agreed at the beginning of December, which saw the UK committing to maintaining full alignment with those rules of the Customs Union and Single Market which support the Good Friday Agreement, North South cooperation and the all-island economy.'

He was also pleased that the Common Travel Area was protected in the December agreement, allowing Irish and British people to continue to travel, live, work and access a range of rights and benefits on both sides of the Irish Sea.

'In terms of the framework for the future relationship, we have been candid for months now as to what we wish to see - the closest possible relationship, one which allows Ireland and Britain's 65 billion trading relationship to continue.'

He called for the British Government to put aside the 'previous red lines and tough talking points, so that they can have 'a calm and rational debate about what is in the best interests of the people of Britain and Northern Ireland can prevail.'

'That deliberation is overdue and the clock is now ticking closer to the time when a decision on future direction is needed. The closest possible customs and regulatory partnership is in the best interests of everyone across these islands and, indeed, across the European Union. He stressed: 'A strong and well-functioning EU Single Market is essential to economic growth and job creation and to Ireland's continued economic development.'

As negotiations continue, he said that the Government 'is fully prepared to ensure the best interests of the people of this island are fully represented and protected as the process continues.'

Mr Coveney said the Government is concerned 'that Northern Ireland has now been without a functioning devolved government for more than a year.'

'This is not a position that can be sustained for much longer,' he continued, expressing the view that a new Executive is critical for decision-making in Northern Ireland, for the Peace Process and for ensuring that Northern Ireland's interests as a whole can be directly and effectively represented throughout the Brexit negotiations.

'A new Executive will be able to speak for Northern Ireland as the UK progresses its approach to the Article 50 negotiations, and to engage again with the Irish Government through the North South Ministerial Council to address the many all-island issues and concerns that are raised by Brexit.'

It was, he said, becoming clear what impact Brexit would have on the Northern Ireland economy, where the loss of EU membership poses particular challenges for the agri-food, manufacturing and transportation sectors in particular.

The Irish Government was engaging in contingency planning for all possible scenarios, he said among the major steps they had taken were the our Action Plan for Jobs 2017 and the Trade and Investment Strategy. while dedicated measures in Budget 2018 included a new 300m Brexit Loan Scheme for Business, and a 25m Brexit Response Loan Scheme for the agri-food sector.

Referring to the concerns of the business community, he noted that 'many larger companies are of course concerned about the impact of Brexit on trade in all directions, particularly on an East-West basis. Smaller businesses are impacted disproportionately by unpredictable developments like currency fluctuations and many rely heavily on tariff-free North-South trade and integrated supply chains.'

He was glad to see such a good turnout at the conference by men and women from companies of difference sizes who had come together to learn how to cope with the fall out from Brexit.

'This preparedness is vital if businesses and the all-island economy are to prosper into the future,' he said.Businesses were warned not to adopt an 'ostrich approach' but to start preparing now for the impact which Brexit will have.

With Britain set to leave the EU in April 2019, the importance of being prepared was highlighted by several speakers at last week's conference.

While the exact nature of how Britain will maintain its relationship with the EU has yet to be established, companies were told that they have to start planning for major changes in how they do business in the future.

Anne Lannigan, head of Enterprise Ireland's Brexit Unit, warned that they were 'facing more challenges than opportunities' and advised companies to talk to their customers and staff about what they envisaged these challenges would be,

The message from Dundalk Chamber of Commerce 'is to plan', stressed PRO Paddy Malone. He advised that businesses would be able to get a lot of information and supports from Newry-based Inter Trade Ireland, which is funded by both Governments after the Good Friday Agreement.

Dr Conor Patterson, PRO, Newry Chamber of Commerce, described the situation as 'a mess - that's why we're here.'

He also referred to the lack of political leadership due to the suspension of Stormont and stressed the need for a strong political voice from Northern Ireland in London to point out the impact which Brexit will have on the Northern Ireland economy as a whole.

Businesses need to look at the impacts which various Brexit scenarios would have on them and he advised them to look at the information provided by Inter Trade Ireland which looks at how different sectors will be affected,

The Irish border 'is the issue', he continued, and the Chambers were lobbying everyone with influence to ensure that it remains a 'soft' border.

Speakers also highlighted steps which businesses could be taking regarding sourcing products and services, looking at how customs and logistics will affect them post-Brexit, of being aware of the challenges posed by currency fluctuations as well as making sure they are compliant with various tax and excise regulations.

'We don't want companies sticking their heads in the sand,' stated Paddy Malone.

A 'hard border' would be 'an absolute disaster' from a social point of view, said Dundalk Sinn Fein councillor Ruairi O Mhurchu. He describe the situation as 'an absolute shambles and disasters'.

'We have to plan for the worst and hope it doesn't happen,' said Paddy Malone. 'If we don't a lot of SMEs will e in trouble.

'This (Brexit) is going to change every aspect of life, cultural, social, health, education,' he continued. 'Every aspect of our lives here have been affected.'The AIB's Chief Economist Mr Oliver Mangan warned of the challenges posted by Britain leaving the EU at the Post Brexit International and Cross Border Conference.

He noted there had been a 'very strong recovery' by the Irish economy, which was continuing the uncertainly around Brexit and which had been helped by the marked improvement in the global economy, particularly the Eurozone.

Prospects remained positive notwithstanding Brexit with the expectation that the economy will continue to grow by 3.5-5%.

The impact of Britain's pending exit from the EU on the UK economy was no as dramatic as expected due to the global economy but growth has slowed.

The two main challenges now facing the Irish economy were the housing crisis and Brexit, he continued.

The UK accounted for 40% of exports for indigenous companies in the Republic of Ireland while the Irish Republic was the main export country for most SMEs in Northern Irelnad.

Economists from the ERSI had prepared modules for the effects of the different approaches which the UK could take on leaving the EU and estimated that a 'soft Brexit' would knock 2% off the Irish GDP while it could be 4% with 'hard Brexit'.

It's not the UK leaving the EU or the Single Market which poses the biggest problems but leaving the Customs Union, he said, as Irish exporters would now have to comply with an additional raft of regulations.Former Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams spoke of his confidence that a United Ireland can be achieved by 'a peaceful and democratic means' in a final statement from Stormont last Friday.

Having lead the party for 35 years, he thanked those he had worked and expressed confidence that the new leadership of the party - Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill - 'will help make Sinn Fein even bigger and stronger in the time ahead.'

'There are many challenges facing the people of this island,' he stated. 'Sinn Fein is the only major party committed to ending the crisis in our health services, in housing and homelessness and in rural communities.'

'A united Ireland has to be worked for,' he said. 'Sinn Fein is about bringing the people of this island together in a new Republic, a new Ireland in which the rights of citizens are protected, where poverty is eradicated and where we can all live in peace and unity and equality.

He recalled that when he joined Sinn Fein 50 years ago, it was a banned party. 'The nationalist people of the North had been abandoned and were subject to discrimination and inequality. We were on our knees. We are now off our knees. We have a Good Friday Agreement.'

'It is in some difficulty at this time. But it offers the way forward. There is now a peaceful and democratic path to Irish unity. A way to unite Orange and Green and end division. Everyone who wants a new and agreed Ireland should embrace that.'

Deputy Adams, who won his Dail Eireann seat in 2011, after resigning his West Belfast seat in Westminister, has also said that he won't contest the next General Election. Cllr Ruairi O Murchu has been nominated as the party's candidate North Louth for the next General Election.

Meanwhile Sinn Fein is launching a document outlining how a United Ireland would benefit Irish enterprise and businesses across the island in Dundalk today.Maria Dawe is preparing to teach in India this summer

Dundalk student Maria Dawe is preparing to teach in an Indian school this summer, as part of a voluntary project run by Irish charity Suas.

'It is something that I've always wanted to do,' Maria told the Argus.

A third year student at Trinity College, Dublin, she will join a number of Irish volunteers teaching in either Calcutta or a rural community school in India.

Maria explained that her inspiration for voluntary work was her dad Mickey, a member of Dundalk Fire Service, who travelled to Niger in Africa to deliver a fire engine to the community there.

'I think since then I knew I wanted to volunteer, and that it would be in the area of education,' said Maria.

'Suas is a fantastic Irish organisation that supports quality education for children in Ireland and in developing countries,' she explained.

'Suas believes in providing all children with the opportunity to learn and to realise their full potential, creating positive changes in the life of the child and in the wider society.'

The Irish charity has in fact provided access to education for over 10,000 children across the world each year.

And it was against this background that Maria put her name forward for the next voluntary project.

'I am very excited that I will soon play a part in making a difference to a child's life.'

The Dundalk woman will be volunteering as a teaching assistant for eight weeks in some of the most disadvantaged schools in India.

The Suas Volunteer programme offers enthusiastic young people the chance to make a difference by volunteering in community run projects in India and Zambia during the summer months.

This summer, Maria will join over 80 volunteers travelling to India and Zambia to volunteer

Volunteers work with local NGOs and schools, supporting the delivery of education in highly under-resourced communities.

Maria explained that in advance of travelling all the volunteers will take part in 'a comprehensive training programme, aimed at equipping them to work through the challenges they will encounter overseas.'

'We will also be trained to support the children to develop their written and spoken english.'

She explained that as part of the programme each volunteer is required to contribute 2,995 toward the total cost of the programme, and 100% of any additional funds raised over and above the participation fee will go directly to Partner Schools in India and Zambia.

Maria is preparing to hold several fundraisers over the next few months to reach her target.

She has also launched an online donation page - https://www.idonate.ie/mariadawe where all donations will be greatly accepted!A Bray native who moved to Kerry over 40 years ago will garner plenty of support from his home town when he appears on Winning Streak at the weekend.

Jimmy Kelly, originally from Vevay Road, moved to Tralee in 1976. He had been employed by Industrial Yarns and when it closed, he followed the work to Burlington in Tralee.

He remained in textiles until becoming a salesman for Crystal Clear Productions and then a sign company.

Now retired, he lives in Oak Park with his wife Kathleen, who will be leading the charge of support on Saturday in Dublin.

They have five children, and 11 grandchildren, as well as plenty of nieces and nephews in Bray.

Jimmy was watching Winning Streak on RTE last Saturday night, when his name was called out. He and his wife decided not to get too excited as there could have been others of that name in Tralee.

It was him though, and they're all off to Dublin on Saturday for a day of filming at Montrose.

Jimmy's 22 guests will be coming from all over the country, and there is even an international flavour, with a Polish daughter-in-law, and a French son-in-law.

His sisters will also come from Howth and Artane.

The banners are being diligently produced and the whole gang can't wait for the weekend.

Jimmy is guaranteed at least 12,000 in prizes and cash. 'Anything more than that is a bonus,' he said. He said that they will probably have a holiday and clear off a few bills.The Chairman of the Irish-German Society of County Wicklow has welcomed the new partnership between Loreto College Bray and the Marie Ward School in Wurzburg.

George Jones said this third partnership in addition to St Kilian's Community College Bray, and Colaiste Chraobh Abhann Kilcoole will commence in March of this year.

Jones thanked the Principal and Staff of Loreto involved in this arrangement and also paid tribute to the Chairman of the German -Irish Society of Wurzburg and teachers in Marie Ward School for their efforts in bringing this about.

'To celebrate the new partnership the newly appointed German Ambassador Ms Deike Potzel will visit the Loreto on Friday, February 23 to speak to their students,' said George.

'Ambassador Potzel, who only presented her credentials to the President in December, has made it clear she wishes to be a very active representatives of the German Government and I am sure we will see a lot more of her in view of our very successful partnership with Wurzburg,' he said.Up to 200 public lights in Bray are out of action due to the relevant bulbs becoming obsolete.

This came up as part of a discussion of a notice of motion by Joe Behan, looking for the repair of a public light at 189 Richmond Park.

The response was 'there is no public light outside 189 Richmond Park. There is a facility for the public who know where the faults are located to report the fault at SSE Airtricity Utility Solutions by identifying the pole on a map or by the pole number.

Cllr Behan said that he is sure that there is a light at that location. 'This is a wider problem which hasn't been highlighted enough,' he said. 'Throughout the county there are 300 to 400 public lights not working. This is because of a changeover of the type of bulb. The older one is no longer being manufactured. There was a comprehensive report gen in Wicklow and hopefully this is in hand.'

He said that 150 to 200 of the lights are in Bray. 'You only have to drive through estates to see there are plenty out of action. Are there immediate plans to resolve this? It's a danger to the public.'

Engineer Liam Bourke said that he has offered assistance to and is engaging with the roads section. He wondered if members would consider it appropriate to use their funds. Mr Bourke said that the lamp-heads need to be totally changed, at a cost of hundreds, as opposed to 20 for a bulb change. He said that even more will go out of action this year.

'It's a big problem, and looking at the report it'll get worse rather than better unless we take action,' said Cllr Behan. He suggested making the replacements a capital expenditure to be repaid over time. 'It's unconscionable that people paying property tax can't even be assured that the public light outside their house will be working. It's a crisis and it's going to get worse.'

Cllr Steven Matthews said that this is a national issue, not just affecting Wicklow. He said that he would be reluctant to dip into Bray's own small amount of funding. Cllr Matthews said that there would be better economies of scale for a national body.

He proposed that the council write to the Minister for the Environment on the matter, Cllr Fox seconded the motion.A woman in her 20s died after getting into difficulty in the water off Bray Head last Tuesday afternoon.

The woman was a Latvian native living in County Dublin.

Walkers on the Cliff Walk heard someone screaming and shouting from the water beneath them when they were about half way between Bray and Greystones. They raised the alarm at around noon on Tuesday, February 6. Greystones and Wicklow units of the Irish Coast Guard were tasked along with the helicopter, Rescue 116.

The National Ambulance Service and Dun Laoghaire RNLI were also alerted to assist the person in distress.

The Greystones Coast Guard boat and Dun Laoghaire lifeboat were launched and the casualty located. She was winched aboard the helicopter and transported to Tallaght hospital. Sadly, the woman in her mid-20s did not survive the incident. Although the lady was not carrying identification, she was reported missing that evening by her family in Dublin and her identity was established.The dates for the 65th annual North Cork Drama Festival will be from March 9-17.

The committee is putting the final touches to this year's programme, which will again be staged in its traditional home, the local community hall.

Full details of the open and confined sections of the festival will be made available shortly by the festival director Liz O'Gorman O'Brien.

The drama festival began as part of An Tostal, a national festival programme, of the period in Charleville, the same year as the All-Ireland event that takes place in Athlone.

Getting to perform on the stage of the Dean Crowe Memorial Hall in the Westmeath town is the ultimate goal of every drama society that enters the competition and attends the preliminary festivals around the country.

Charleville groups have figured in the All-Ireland drama finals in Athlone on no fewer than 16 occasions, with groups, (the Shoestring Theatre Company and St. Colman's Players) for all but one of these under the direction of Kevin O'Shea.

His productions have figured in all positions with his productions except first place, and actor William Lyons has won the best actor award for his playing in the one man show 'A Night in November' by Marie Jones.

Another Shoestring actor, Ger Liston, has also won the best supporting accolade for his playing of the priest in 'Trad' by Mark Doherty.'Staged', an eclectic night of drama, will be presented in Glash Community Centre on February 22/23/24 at 8pm nightly.

Mike Guerin, Newmarket Drama Group, Aidan O'Keeffe, Newtivity Youth Drama and Mary Angland will all be presenting short plays (5-15 minutes) on the night. There will be a mix of intense drama and sharp comedy on show and all the pieces are by local writers.

Aidan O'Keeffe is a Kanturk native whose 'Ceann Toirc Trilogy' series has featured on Culture Night in Kanturk for the last two years. He has had short plays staged in Cork Arts Theatre and he will be presenting a solo piece similar to the plays that he performs annually at Clonakilty Arts Festival.

Mary Angland writes fiction and drama, and has just finished her first novel. Her plays 'Catching the Train' and 'Coffee Break' have been performed in Friars' Gate Theatre in Kilmallock. Her comedic plays have been performed on Culture Night and at the night of drama at Kanturk Arts Festival for the last three years but for 'Staged' she's decided to give us a darker twist.

The highlight of Mike Guerin's writing career is a framed poem of his that hangs on the wall of Scully's Bar. He will be performing a gritty play of his that was staged at last year's Kanturk Arts Festival alongside fellow Newmarket Drama Group actors John O'Sullivan and Noelene Quinn. He will also be presenting a play by his oldest drama class, most of whom were involved in the short play which won Newmarket's Got Talent in 2016.

Newtivity Youth Drama will be making their debut on the night. They are a group of secondary school pupils from the locality who are interested in drama but are a bit too old for school nativity plays, hence their name. They might be a youth group but they intend to maintain a level of performance equal to (or maybe better!) than the adults who have been hamming it up for years.

Ireland has a long tradition of supporting the arts, from bards to fit-ups. In modern times we all watch a lot of American and English produced television shows and movies - whereas art is supposed to hold up a mirror to society - we are all spending a lot of time looking in the wrong mirrors.

So, come on out to Glash and support the work of Sliabh Luachra writers and actors in an intimate venue set in the heart of the mountainous uplands that make us who we are.

For enquires please ring Mike Guerin on 087 4124741.Artists from across the greater north Cork region have been invited to participate in a consultation process aimed at providing them with the tools needed to progress their careers.

The initiative is being undertaken by the North West Cork Visual Artists Group, one of three local groups recently allocated funding totalling almost 20,000 by Cork County Council under its Creative Communities Scheme.

Kanturk/Mallow Municipal District officer Liz Donovan said the scheme was designed to support arts projects across the county.

"Its principal aim is to encourage communities, artists and arts organisations and others to develop proposals for art-related projects that can enhance cultural and social life within their respective areas," said Ms Donovan.

She said council officials had received a number of applications seeking grant aid under the scheme, each of which had been assessed on certain pre-defined criteria.

These included how the projects proposed would enhance community participation and co-operation in the arts by engendering a culture of creativity, improve cross community access to the arts and how they would impact on community life through public events.

The Glen Theatre Group in Banteer was awarded 8,000 to produce a new musical by Cork playwright John Twohig, with the Blood in the Alley Theatre Company allocated the same amount for its North Cork 'Fit Up' Festival.

The North West Cork Visual Artists Group, a collective of practising artists living and working in Mallow, was allocated funding of 2,500 for a feasibility study aimed at addressing the lack of collective artist studio facilities across the region.

A spokesperson for the group said they are now asking locally based artists to contact them in order to discuss their "needs, ideas and requirements" to help develop their careers.

They are also interested in hearing from local property owners who may have space available that can be used by artists.

"We aim to foster visual contemporary art and design by developing spaces to network and collaborate with other artists. By doing so, we want to bring their work to the community and foster interest in contemporary art in Mallow," said the spokesperson.

"Ultimately we want to support and encourage artists to work and live in the area by providing space for exhibiting, working and collaborating on projects."

To find out more about the initiative email nwcvag@gmail.com or contact Sarah on 086 8671871 or Mark on 083 843 8040.Sli Gaeltacht Mhuscrai (Muskerry Gaeltacht Way) return with the Ultra Trail Race on Saturday, March 3 for a 70 km race over part of the famous O'Sullivan Bere route. Sli Gaeltacht Mhuscrai (Muskerry Gaeltacht Way) are hosting the Ultra Trail Race on this Saturday.

The opportunity allows the Irish Mountain Running Association bring participants to West and North to race over a challenging route for the first time.

Starting in Kealkil, the race is scheduled for a finish in Millstreet.

Those involved are scheduled to convene in Millstreet at 6am on the Saturday morning before being transported to the start in Kealkil.

Sli Gaeltacht Mhuscrai is a fully way-marked trail that covers just over 70km of the route, running between Kealkill and Millstreet. Runners will cross the Sheehy and Derrynasaggart mountain ranges over a variety of tough open mountain terrain, forest trails and quiet country roads.

Stage 1 of the route between Kealkill and Gougane Barra is also part of a local Pilgrim Walk entailing 16.6km with a cut-off time of three hours to complete. Next up is a 12.2 trek on Stage 2 from Gougane Barra to Ballingeary, the cut-off time for reaching this check-point from the original outset is 5 hours.

Stage 3 is the 19km trail from Ballingeary to Ballyvourney traversing the foothills of the Derrynasaggart mountains. This route passes the Shrine of St. Gobnait and its said O'Sullivan Beare and his followers stopped there on New Year's Day 1603 to seek the guidance of St. Gobnait for the long journey ahead.

The final stretch of the Sli climb involves stage 4, the 23.4km distance from Ballyvourney to Millstreet traversing the Derrynasaggart mountains, Mullaghanish and contouring around the north side of Claragh mountain before ascending towards Millstreet town for an official finish in the West End.

Shave or Dye to support Celine on India trip

Millstreet's Celina O'Mahony is travelling to India next month to undertake volunteer work which will involve teaching, child care and women empowerment.

In support of the trip, a 'Shave or Dye' fund raiser in aid of volunteer work takes place in the Bush Bar on this Saturday commencing at 8pm.

"I will be volunteering in India for 10 weeks in total, starting on March 26 in the Himalayas for four weeks consisting of teaching, child care and women empowerment, with two weeks being spent at a wildlife rescue and conservation area near New Delhi. That will be followed by another four weeks in Kochi (Southern India) teaching, child care and women empowerment.

Willing volunteers Connie Hickey, Michael Lucy, Jerry O'Mahony and Mary O'Mahony are just a few candidates who will be waxing or dying their hair on the night. And for good measure, Celina is shaving off all her hair on the night in an effort to raise funds.

A raffle and spot prizes takes place on the night, all welcome, please come and support.

"A massive thank you to all who have donated to date and continued support to this worthy cause is greatly appreciated", said Celina.

Good luck Maggie in Scor na nOg Finals

Cullen's Maggie Moynihan is amongst a strong line up of Cork participants in the All Ireland Scor na nOg Finals in Sligo this Saturday.

Maggie sampled delight to collect outright honours in solo singing in the Munster Final after delivering a surperb rendition of the emigration song 'Cooraclare' to land a provincial title for the Duhallow club for the first time in 45 years.

Best wishes are extended to Maggie in her quest for All Ireland glory and the privalage of representing her club in an All Ireland Final is very special.

Gramophone Circle

The Millstreet Gramophone Circle monthly presentation takes place on this Friday in the Canon O'Donovan Centre at 8.15pm. Guest presenter is Maura Sheehan, Boherbue.

Day Care Centre says thanks

Millstreet Day-Care Centre directors and management wish to thank everybody for their kind generosity at the annual Church Gate collection, also many thanks to all the collectors and organisers for their help. All funds generated go directly to Millstreet Day-Care centre.

Creative Writing

Millstreet Library present a series of Creative Writing workshops, classes are free of charge but places are limited. Patrons interested on attending, contact the library on (029) 21920 or email library@corkcoco,ie

Council AGM

Millstreet Community Council host their AGM on Tuesday, February 20 in the Wallis Arms Hotel commencing at 8pm. Current and new members are welcome to attend.

Enable Collection

The annual Enable Church Gate Collection takes place in Millstreet on this Saturday and Sunday prior to Mass times. Funding helps to provide services for children and adults with physical and sensory disabilities throughout County Cork. Support from the public would be appreciated.

Table quiz to boost Lourdes fund

Four students from Millstreet Community School are travelling to Lourdes as helpers with the IHCPT - Irish Pilgrimage Trust for a week during their Easter holidays.

To support their cause, a table quiz is confirmed for Friday, February 24 in the Wallis Arms Hotel starting at 8pm.

The cost per team of four is 40 and there will be a raffle on the night. Proceeds will help pay the travel and accommodation costs.

Participating students are Volunteers Denise Healy, Aoife O'Riordan, Grace O'Connor and Ciara Manning and the quartet invite the support of the publicLocals in Ballyvourney will next month be given the chance to have their say on a set of proposals aimed at addressing the issue of flooding from the River Sullane.

This after it emerged that the plans for the proposed Ballyvourney Flood Defence project will be going on display at a public consultation meeting taking place in the Abbey Hotel on March 22 from 2pm-8pm.

Local Fianna Fail TD Aindrias Moynihan has urged locals residents and business owners to avail of the opportunity to view the plans.

Just last December Deputy Moynihan slammed the government over what he described as the "unacceptable" delay in implementing the flood scheme, raising the issue in the Dail with OPW Minister Kevin 'Boxer' Moran'.

Minister Moran said the final plans were undergoing an independent review by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

"Once this has been completed and observations addressed, I would hope by early 2018 to seek approval for flood risk management plans under the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) programme," he said.

Speaking this week Deputy Moynihan said he was delighted that a definitive date for the next phase of the project had "finally" been confirmed.

"This flood defence project has been in the works for some time. Thankfully we are now finally seeing some progress on it," said Deputy Moynihan.

"This is a very important stage in the campaign to ensure that the village of Ballyvourney, its residents and business get the flood protection they need.

"I want people to come along to see the plans for the project themselves. This will allow them to make informed submissions when the time come," she added.

He said the importance of the scheme could not be overstated, given the "considerable damage" caused locally over the years as a result of flooding from the River Sullane.

"Once these defence works are completed, it should allow home and businesses owners, as well as landowners get cheaper flood insurance into the future," he added.The trial of a man charged with the murder of Tralee woman Nicola Collins is to take place in Cork next November.

Last August, Charleville native Cathal O'Sullivan (aged 44) of Popham's Road, Farranree, Cork City was charged with the murder of Nicola Collins - a 38-year-old mother of three - at his flat in Farranree on March 27, 2017.

At the Central Criminal Court on Monday Justice Patrick McCarthy scheduled Mr O'Sullivan's case to commence on November 6 in Cork.

A previous sitting of Cork District Court heard that Cathal O'Sullivan had replied 'not guilty' when the charge was put to him after caution by Detective Sergeant Kieran O'Sullivan of Mayfield Garda Station.

The body of Ms Collins, a native of St Brendans Park in Tralee, Co Kerry, but then resident at Clashduv Road in the Togher area of Cork, was found in an upstairs flat at Popham's Road, Farranree on Cork's Northside at around 3am on March 27 last.

Ms Collins was found with serious injuries when the emergency services were called to the flat, which was located over a convenience store.

The emergency services had been alerted by a man who was living in the flat and they attended to Ms Collins but they were unable to revive her and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gardai upgraded their inquiry to a murder investigation after a post-mortem examination was carried on Ms Collins's remains.Over 70 farmers who have been impacted by the Hen Harrier marked their 10 year anniversary by joining forces with other farmers from throughout the country before the joint committee of Agriculture in Dublin.

The committee session was organised by the IFDL (Irish Farmers With Designated Land) and the session lasted over four and a half hours. Jason Fitzgerald of IFDL highlighted the "continuing consequences of the designation, especially around devaluation."

Farmers from Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary attended with more sitting in the gallery. IFDL chairman, Mr Fitzgerald also highlighted that despite this scheme being proposed as a locally-led, ground-up approach that it "never happened."

"Farmers or farmer representatives had no input into the design of the new scheme despite this being a fundamental part of the model of EIP (European Innovation Partnership)," said Mr Fitzgerald.

Mr Fitzgerald said that unless a scheme is put in place that is of equal monetary value to the current forestry incentives with a similar duration of 15 years or more, the devaluation issues will remain.

"This scheme must be open to new entrants at all times and allow farmers to leave without penalty if they need to do so," he said.

After the committee meeting, the farmers held a protest outside the gates of the Dail.Fine Gael strategists are apparently attempting to woo the Independent poll topper Cllr John Paul O'Shea who narrowly missed a Dail seat by just 249 votes to Fianna Fail's Michael Moynihan in the 2016 general election.

Cllr O'Shea has declined to comment but sources close to him confirmed that approaches have been made and he is currently taking soundings from his political organisation which is made up almost equally of former members of both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

In the 2016 general election it was role reversal compared to the 2011 election for Cork North West as it returned two FF candidates, Michael Moynihan and Aindrias Moynihan, along with Michael Creed (FG). This was in stark comparison to the previous general election, which saw two FG candidates returned - the first time runner Aine Collins and Michael Creed along with Kiskeam's Michael Moynihan.

When Aindrias Moynihan, the son of former TD Donal, was added to the ticket in 2016, FF out-polled FG by 34.61% to 32.17% to capture the second seat with Deputy Michael Moynihan taking the last seat on the ninth count.

"John Paul topped the poll in the Kanturk-Mallow Electoral Area, which is partly in Cork North West in the 2014 locals when he got nearly 4,400 votes, and he increased his vote to over 4,800 in the 2016 general elections but picked up transfers from every independent and all the smaller parties. But he knows the Independents had a strong wind behind them last time which won't be there in the next election and his best chance of making it to the Dail is to join one of the main parties and with Fianna Fail already having two TDs in Cork North West, there's no room for him there," said a strategist.

Equally, Cllr Daithi O'Donnabhain (FF) of Ballincollig, the son of Circuit Court Judge, Sean O'Donnabhain, also ran in the 2011 general election in Cork North West but with Aindrias Moynihan placed on the ticket in 2016 along with Michael Moynihan - there was simply no room at the inn.

Cork North West is a huge consistency and runs north-south from Charleville in the north to Ballincollig and Macroom in the south, and although it also includes towns like Kanturk, Newmarket and Millstreet in the north, Ballincollig's large population means there are more votes in the southern end.

According to FG sources, O'Shea (34) who is from Lombardstown, north of the Boggeeragh Mountains which divides the constituency, is geographically well positioned to run alongside Minister Michael Creed who is based in Macroom at the southern end.

"Michael (Creed) and John Paul would complement each other well - one in the south and one in the north. There are two safe seats in Cork North West - Michael Creed and Aindrias Moynihan so we would be targetting Michael Moynihan - the constituency has almost always returned two from the south so we would see John Paul as going after Michael Moynihan, who is based in the northern side," said the FG strategist.

Cllr O'Shea would not necessarily have the votes to win a nomination at a FG selection convention; however, the informed source suggested the convention would select just one candidate, Michael Creed, and then FG headquarters could later add on O'Shea to the ticket.

After the 2016 general election Cllr O'Shea, who was at that time the mayor of Cork County, told The Corkman that he was "gutted" at losing out on a seat in the hard-fought CNW constituency. "To lose out by 249 votes to Deputy Michael Moynihan is obviously very disappointing to me. Of course I am disappointed but I did put up a great fight," he said.

He also said that he was delighted that so many people put their confidence in him - with over 4,800 people giving him their first preference vote.

In 2016, Deputy Aindrias Moynihan (FF) bagged a massive 8,924 first preference votes (18.8%) , while his running mate, Deputy Michael Moynihan, received 7,332, (15.4%). Michael Creed, at the first count, received 8,869 (18.7%).

The transfers did go Deputy Michael Moynihan's way but not in a massive tide until the elimination of Deputy Aine Collins and the return of Deputy Michael Creed. Both of their transfers gave him a very much needed boost to get him over the line, just 249 votes ahead of Cllr O'Shea.

Deputy Michael Moynihan was first elected in 1997 and has done so repeatedly. He said when elected in 2016 that it was a great day for Fianna Fail having won two seats in the constituency.

"Many people wrote our obituary five years ago. Brian Hayes famously said they were feasting on the carcass of Fianna Fail but we're back (today) and it's a fantastic achievement to take two seats in the constituency," he said at the time.A Scotsman who created mayhem when he tried to escape from court in Macroom last week has been further remanded in custody after he was charged with assaulting and resisting a garda.

James McCarney (aged 40), with an address at Branzeit, Balmore, Glasgow, made his third court appearance in the space of four days when he was brought before Bandon District Court on Friday, charged with two offences arising out of his last court appearance in Macroom.

Mr McCarney was charged with assault and resisting Garda Willie O'Donoghue in the execution of his duty at Macroom District Court on February 7 and with attempting to escape from garda custody, also at Macroom District Court on the same date.

Sgt Michael Kelleher gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to both charges and told Judge Mary Dorgan at Bandon District Court that Mr McCarney replied 'I'm very sorry' to both charges when they were put to him after caution.

He said the two charges arose as a result of Mr McCarney leaping out from the custody area and trying to escape out the door of Macroom courthouse only to be confronted by a number of gardai, including Garda O'Donoghue, who was shoved to the ground as he tried to restrain Mr McCarney.

Mr McCarney had been brought to Macroom District Court on two earlier charges of dangerous driving and driving without insurance at Toureen, Ballinhassig on February 6, after he had been arrested following a five kilometre pursuit by gardai when he took off from a checkpoint.

Last Friday at Bandon District Court, Mr McCarney's solicitor, Eamon Fleming, confirmed that his client was pleading guilty to all four charges as he was anxious to have the cases disposed of as quickly as possible and he hoped to have all matters finalised on the day.

Insp Pat Meany said that while gardai were able to deal with the two traffic offences at Ballinhassig, they were not in a position to deal with the two charges from Macroom, as they were still awaiting directions from the DPP as to whether they should be heard at district court or circuit court level.

In those circumstances, Insp Meany said, he was seeking a short remand in custody but Mr Fleming said his client was applying for bail and he thought it most unfair to deprive his client of his liberty when he was willing to plead guilty to the offences and dispose of them promptly.

He said that his client, who imported furniture into Ireland, was willing to surrender his passport, reside at an address in Rossmore near Clonakilty, where had a 12 months lease on a property with his partner, and sign on twice daily at Clonakilty Garda Station in order to obtain bail.

He pointed out that gardai had impounded Mr McCarney's 2007 Mercedes which was conservatively valued at 5,000 so they also had security and he further pointed out that Mr McCarney had apologised for his actions in Macroom courthouse,

But Insp Meany said that gardai were vehemently opposed to Mr McCarney getting bail as he had made desperate efforts to avoid capture or escape custody at both Ballinhassig and Macroom, and gardai feared he would not stand trial if not remanded in custody.

Insp Meany said that he would expect that if the court were to grant a short 'remand in custody' of a week, gardai would obtain the DPP's instruction and be in a position to proceed with the case against Mr McCarney on all four charges on this Friday, February 16.

Judge Dorgan noted that Mr McCarney had fled from the checkpoint and driven for some 5km with two garda cars in pursuit, and other garda cars tasked to intercept him, while she herself had witnessed his attempt to escape in Macroom on Wednesday.

She refused him bail and remanded him in custody to Bandon District Court on February 16 but she indicated that she would allow Mr Fleming to make a fresh application for bail if the state had not got back the DPP's directions and was unable to proceed this Friday.

Mr Fleming had earlier told the court that his client's mother had told him her son suffers from a bi-polar condition but is in denial about it. Mr Fleming asked that Mr McCarney receive appropriate attention while on remand in prison. Judge Dorgan ordered he receive all appropriate medical attention.Retired District Court Judge Michael Pattwell jokes that he knew that he was known as 'Padlock Pattwell' during his time sitting in North Cork.

And during his 13 years 'on the bench', there were many turns of phrase from the region that he was particularly fond of. 'You had better watch yourself or you will find yourself up the steps to Pattwell,' being a particular favourite.

Anyone who wants to venture 'up the steps to Patwell' can do so next month, when he will once again sit and hear cases of a different kind in Kanturk Courthouse.

Kanturk Arts Festival has invited the retired Judge to take up his old position in Kanturk and to hear poetry from the public. So if anyone wants to read a poem, comic verse, haiku or has a song tucked away in the handbag or back pocket, then Michael will be delighted to hear it.

Poetry Slam provides the opportunity for anyone to have their day in court in front of 'Padlock Pattwell' but in this instance the sentence will not be jail - but rather a round of applause. Equally so, there won't be a probation report or community hours to serve and better still, no one will have to pay a fine.

Michael will return to his old chair in the courthouse for one night only to pass sentence on the literary miscreants who appear in the dock before him.

Poetry Slam is a light-hearted event which promises plenty of laughs, and good natured heckling as well as poignant and comedic moments to an appreciative audience in an informal and historical setting.

Poetry lovers will be in good company with the retired judge, as he previously published his own book, 'Flaghopping' in 2011 which contains 71 poems touching every human emotion.

When he was a mature student studying Law at UCC, a prerequisite was to also take on board Arts modules. He put his name down for English and soon found himself entertained and enthralled by Professor Sean Lucey's lectures.

After working for 52 years in a host of occupations, Judge Michael Pattwell retired from the bench seven years ago. In a previous interview with The Corkman to mark his retirement, he said he started out is working life at 14 years old at Holohan's bakery, and then fitting in secondary school, college and during his time in college, he rolled up his sleeves and worked as an ice-cream salesman.

He was sworn in as District Court Judge in 1990 and in 1998, he began work in Mallow where he sat for 13 years. He said at the time that he enjoyed working in all of the North Cork towns during the time that he served, and joked that being a judge was the longest job that he ever had.

He also previously worked as a bakery worker, customs officer, a court clerk, businessman and a lorry driver.

In the interview on his published book of poetry, this reporter remarked that most people have two veils and for him writing poetry is one and being on the bench the other.

With a smile, he said, "I certainly have two veils. If you talk to the people around Mallow who do not know me personally, I am seen as a hard-nosed, tough guy who does not have any feelings, but get to know me and talk to me about my mother and tears come to my eyes."

And during that interview, he spoke about his beloved mother, Anna, who passed away in 1997 and who features prominently in Flaghopping.

The Poetry Slam night on Sunday, March 18, at Kanturk District Court at 8pm will be one to remember and will be a night with a difference.

And be warned - Padlock Patwell had very little tolerance for mobile phones ringing during court sittings. Solicitors, Gardai, the press and members of the public frequently took on the speed of Mo Farah and either made their way to the door or else tried to turn their phones off to avoid a tongue lashing, confiscation, or the threat of custody.Martin, Patricia, Glen and Mark McGowan at the take me out evening at Scholars Townhouse Hotel

Glen McGowan (31), from Scholar's Townhouse managed to impress the notoriously fussy contestants on gameshow Take Me Out when he made his first appearance on the show last weekend.

Friends and family gathered in Scholar's, the family business run by Glen, his parents Martin and Patricia and brother Mark, to watch his British TV debut - but almost missed it thanks to Johnny Sexton's drop goal!

'We nearly missed me on the show because we had to wait for Sexton to take that shot, imagine me turning over the TV in the bar to my dating programme from the rugby - they'd be throwing tomatoes at me!,' laughed Glen.

He was chosen for the show after producers put out a request on social media for an Irish contestant to take part in the popular ITV dating programme presented by Paddy McGuinness.

'My friend Paul O'Lima was on it a few years ago and he tagged me in the Facebook thing and so did a few other people. My friends are always saying you should go on because I'm a bit of a messer and I'd be good for a bit of banter.'

After meeting with the production team, Glen was chosen to take part and spent two days filming in Drogheda and Dublin for his sixty second video clip for the show.

'I flew over to London at the end of November to film the show. I was in the studio with three other lads who were appearing on the show and we all got on like a house on fire.

'They were tough competition, one was a model, one was a personal trainer and one was an international DJ. It was intimidating but in my head I was just going on for a bit of craic and a bit of a laugh for my mates and exposure for the hotel. I was thinking I'll either get a blackout or a few lights left on.'

Despite his reservations, Glen proved to be very popular with the ladies on the show and had 25 lights left which he eventually had to whittle down to two before finally deciding on his date, Lucy.

After filming in the studio ends, the lovebirds are taken off in separate directions before flying out to Tenerife the following morning for their official date.

'My Mam and Dad were over in London for the filming with some friends so we went out that night and had the craic and then the next day myself and the three other lads were flown out to Fernandos in Tenerife. You stay in the hotel on Saturday night and then on Sunday morning at 10am you go on your date.

While he enjoyed his date, romance didn't blossom for Glen but he said he enjoyed the experience and has had a number of TV offers as a result of his appearance on the show.The Alltech Craft Brews and Food Fair, Ireland's largest gathering of craft brewers and distillers, returns to the Convention Centre Dublin for the sixth year from Thursday March 8th - Saturday March 10th 2018. This year's event will host more than 50 exhibitors including Dundalk Bay Brewing Company and the Boyne Brewhouse in Co. Louth.

The Dundalk Bay Brewing Company is one of the largest craft breweries in Ireland which focuses on contract brewing on behalf of smaller breweries who do not have the capacity to brew themselves.

Dundalk Bay Brewing Company operates from the highest quality 45-50HL stainless steel brewhouse, created by engineering powerhouse Spectac International. The brewery is fully automated for all brewing processes and the high-spec facility can be controlled by the touch of an IPhone.

Boyne Brewhouse was founded by the Cooney family in 2015 in the Drogheda and has quickly placed itself among the most awarded craft breweries in Ireland with a range of award-winning craft beers brewed with passion in the heart of the Boyne Valley.

There are currently 10 core beers in the Boyne Brewhouse range and just before Christmas 2017, their 330ml cans hit the shelves and they launched an Oatmeal Stout in November 2017.

Speaking in advance of the event Sally-Anne Cooney of Boyne Brewhouse said, "One of the biggest challenges will be to protect the term "craft" and ensure there is transparency in the marketplace so consumers will not be misled."

With more than 400 brews on offer, the Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fair will showcase well-established favourites alongside new innovations, collaborations, and seasonal specials.Some of those involved in the Boyne Valley Food Series 2018, which was launched in Tankardstown House

Local chefs, farmers and producers gathered in Tankardstown House recently for the launch of the fifth annual Boyne Valley Food Series.

There is a fantastic and eclectic line up of fun outings this year with more than 45 events planned for food lovers to enjoy.

The launch was the first event for the Boyne Valley Food Network in 2018 and over 80 local producers, hoteliers and farmers were in attendance to listen to a stellar line-up of speakers including Drogheda businessman Colm Hanratty of Sixtwo Digital, entrepreneur Sam Dennigan of Strong Roots and Galway based, Michelin starred chef and restaurateur, JP McMahon.

The Boyne Valley Food Network event focused on inspiring and stimulating and providing fresh ideas for local food and drink businesses for 2018.

JP McMahon, who is also founder of Food on the Edge, one of the biggest international food events in Europe, said: 'We're blessed in Ireland to have great produce and it's important to tap into that micro economy. It's all about championing what we have!'

This perfectly sums up what the new Discover Boyne Valley Flavours brand, under which the Boyne Valley Food Series falls, is all about. It aims to collectively promote local Boyne Valley produce and raise the profile of the region as a foodie destination.

The 2018 Boyne Valley Food Series currently has 45 experience-led events which will celebrate the land, the heritage, the people and the produce of the region.

Under our new 'Discover Boyne Valley Flavours' brand, the Boyne Valley Food Series is a calendar of events which celebrates the local land, heritage, people and of course produce.

The experience-led events will immerse you in the food and drinks culture of the Boyne Valley region.

From guided food tours and weekend farm retreats to themed events and street feasts, there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

The Boyne Valley region continues to be recognised as one of Ireland's leading food tourism destinations and has been awarded Runner Up for Foodie Destinations 2017 having won the overall award in 2016.

The schedule is jam packed running from March to December with additional festive events taking place for Halloween and Christmas.

It is a jam-packed schedule of events with the first one, Ryan's Feast of the Boyne Valley Produce, kicking off the series on the 9th March at Ryan's Bar in Navan, County Meath.

Events are scheduled to run right up until December. Make 2018 the year you discover the culinary delights of the Boyne Valley.

For all the latest updates on events check out boynevalleyfoodseries.ie.St Peter's Parish is hosting a number of talks in respect of healing and peace, featuring the likes of Tyrone GAA manager Mickey Harte and Fr Peter McVerry.

The talks take place in Our Lady of Lourdes Church on each Sunday of Lent at 7pm.

February 18th - Mickey Harte, Tyrone GAA manager - has spoken on many topics in the public arena and particularly about the loss of his daughter Michaela who died tragically while on honeymoon.

February 25th - Fr Peter McVerry - A jesuit priest whose interest in social justice is unquestionable. From a position of 'seeing God in all people' Fr Peter believes that as a Church we must reach out together to the brokenness in our World. The Peter McVerry trust is currently the national leader in services to those affected by homelessness

March 4th - Archbishop Eamon Martin - appointed Co-adjutor Archbishop of Armagh in January 2013 and installed in September 2014. Archbishop Eamon has been a leading voice in calling for a more equal and just society and has been a key player through the Bishops Conference in the planning for the World Meeting of Families in August 2018 (Dublin).

March 11th - Katie Ascough - A former pressdent of the UCD students union, Katie is a vocal advocate of retaining the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution. Katie recently won the Westminster Award for Human life, Human Rights and Human Dignity.

March 18th - Rev Daniel Nuzum - A minister in the Church of Ireland - Rev. Daniel is a Chaplain to University College Cork where he also acts as supervisor to the Chaplaincy training programme CPE. Rev Daniel has worked on the national frame work on the treatment of patients who suffer miscarriage.

March 25th - Elaine Mahon - A mother and a teacher by profession - Elaine is the Author of the Catholic religious curriculum 'Grow in Love'. Elaine has a wonderful sense of how the Church can communicate its message to the world of 2018 with respect and dignity.

All are welcome and invited to join with the wider faith community this Lent in reaching out to the hurt in society.Gavin Duffy and Maeve Montgomery at the launch of the Internet Safety Awareness booklet for older people compiled by Louth Citizens Information Service, at Louth County Library

A unique new Louth-produced internet safety guide aims to prevent older people becoming cyber victims and curb the fear many have of using the internet.

The first-of-its kind booklet which encourages older people to surf online with confidence was launched this week at the County Library by Dragon's Den personality and age friendly advocate Gavin Duffy.

The information guide was devised by the Louth Citizens Information Service and supported by the Louth Age Friendly Programme to increase the usage of IT by older people and create awareness of the pitfalls of being online.

The comprehensive guide details all the dangers of the internet and advises on how to spot scams, protect passwords, buy safely online and become more cyber savvy.

The guide also gives older people an insight on online problems facing teenagers and children, who are often in the care of their grandparents.

The booklet, written by Dave Donnellon, was designed to take the fear out of using the internet and instil confidence in more older people to go online.

'The issue of the internet came up quite significantly during meetings of the Louth Older People's Forum which seeks to address and tackle issues facing the older generation,' said Louth Age Friendly County Co-ordinator Mary Deery.

'Many Government organisations have, or are in the process of going paperless and older people have to get more IT literate to cope with this and deal with the fear of using credit cards online.

'Applications for medical cards have now to be online and the new Government agenda is directing us all to do everything online.

'There are a lot of groups offering free IT training out there for all ages, which can be accessed freely.

'However, many older people still have no smart phones as they have a fear of using their credit cards online, thinking their account will be cleaned out.

'There's almost too much fear among older people of using the internet, while the younger generations don't even think about buying online.

'The Louth Citizen Information Service has stepped up to the plate with this guide to give the skills and safety tips to older people that they need to use to access the internet safely and confidently.

'The guide also includes advice for teenagers and kids. Older people are often custodians of grandchildren and look after them a lot of the time.

'It's good for them to know the dangers facing the younger generations and often it's the grandparents that children talk to easier if they do come under a negative influence online.'

Gavin Duffy raised the point that Louth is one of the best-served counties in Ireland in broadband terms, and that one of the easiest ways to ease older people into internet use is via YouTube, which puts a world of memories at their fingertips.

The guide addresses one of the main issues highlighted by older people - a fear of their bank accounts being scammed when online.

'This booklet was compiled after older people were constantly highlighting people being scammed online at the Age Friendly Forum,' said Marie Hayes, Louth Citizen Information Service Development Officer.

'Many don't use the internet, partly because of fear that they will become a victim.

'This guide deals with how to be safe online and it raises awareness and a better understanding of the internet.'

'This booklet is part of an ongoing collaboration with the CIS in tying in our services with each other,' said Amanda Branigan, Senior Executive Librarian in Louth County Library.

'Many elderly people, who don't have internet access, don't realise they can get online at the library for free.'St Peters (Church of Ireland), Parish Hall, Peters St, Drogheda are running their tenth year of a series of lunches, on each Wednesday during Lent commencing on the 14th February for the benefit of Drogheda Homeless Aid.

They will be offering a choice of tasty soups, sandwiches and tea or coffee, each Wednesday between 12:30pm and 2:30pm in return for a suggested donation of 6 for adults and 3 for children.

All ingredients for the lunches and costs are completely sponsored by businesses and individuals in the local community and as a result the entire proceeds will go towards Drogheda Homeless Aid.

Honorary Treasure of St Peters COI, Clive Bagnall said "Last year, the Lenten Lunches held in St Peters COI produced a magnificent result of 20,000 for Drogheda Homeless Aid and this year we hope to match this figure".

Pam Bagnall, the organiser said: "The idea behind the Lenten Lunches is that we are reaching out to our local community and it is a fantastic way for people to support this worthwhile local charity, and we are lucky to have this wonderful facility of our Parish Hall available to us.

If you wish to make an enquiry regarding the use of the St Peters Parish Hall, please phone the parish office on 041 9838792.

For further information on Drogheda Homeless Aid, please phone 041 9834492.Lolo Robinson has been announced as the Grand Marshal for the 2018 Drogheda St Patrick's Day Parade.

Chair of the St Patrick's Day Parade Anthony Lynch said the committee are delighted to have Lolo, who is the Chairperson of Drogheda Comhaltas, taking up the role and are excited that the Fleadh Cheoil group are lending their support to the parade.

The event is turning into a weekend of celebrations to mark the momentous occasion of the Fleadh coming to Drogheda for the first time this summer.

Up to half a million people are expected to descend on Drogheda for th Fleadh from all parts of the world.

With a theme of celebrating Irish Cultures there will be a wide array of events planned for St Patrick's Day and beyond celebrating music, language song and dance that is sure to bring plenty of colour and festivity to town to mark our patron saint's day.

Mr Lynch said plans for the upcoming parade are at an advanced stage and are going well.

The committee are due to meet with An Garda Siochana and Louth County Council this week to discuss practical issues, including the parade route.

With plans also well underway for the Fleadh Cheoil in August, it is hoped the weekend St Patrick's Day festiveal will give people a taste of what is to come this summer.

'It is great to see the Fleadh Committee getting so involved,' said Mr Lynch. 'There will be plenty of Ceoil agus Craic for the weekend with music and various events taking place.'

He said the committee are now appealing for local groups, organisations and participants to get involved and enter the parade.

The committee are hoping those who do sign up to participate in the parade will theme their entries around the 'Celebrating Irish Culture - The Year of the Fleadh' banner.

To get in touch with the St Patrick's Festival Committee and download an entry form log on to: www.droghedaparade.ieThis past week has seen much debate about Ireland's relatively new Public Services Card amid allegations that the Government is trying to sneakily introduce a new national identity card in through the back door.

Last week an Oireachtas Committee heard from legal experts on privacy rights that the PSC card - which is now needed to access a raft of State services - might not be compliant with EU data protection laws and that, as a result, the Government could be hit with millions of Euro in compensation claims.

So what exactly is the current furore all about?

The PSC card was first introduced back in 2012 ostensibly as a way to crack down on welfare fraud and to help streamline access to various social welfare programmes.

That's all well and good but since then new policies, introduced bit by bit and with little fanfare, have led to a situation in which the card is needed to avail of numerous other services, including driving licence and passport applications.

In a feat of bureaucratic logic and linguistics worthy of 'Yes Minister's' Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Government still insists that the cards - which contain significant amounts of personal data - aren't compulsory and that no one is actually being forced to sign up for them. Technically they are correct, however anyone planning on leaving the country or driving a car once their licences and passports expire will, likely, find the reality is somewhat different.

As one might expect, those leading the charge against the cards are primarily from among the left wing privacy protection movement. What is interesting about their take on the matter is that most don't seem opposed to either the concept or the general principle of the cards, rather their issue is how the Government has introduced the, supposedly, 'non compulsory' cards.

Here it would seem the privacy advocates have a point.

On the face of it there seems to be little wrong with the introduction of an ID card that could allow citizens access a whole range of services while providing that State with an effective way to monitor potential fraud.

Despite what some of the more rabid anti State commentators in Internet chat rooms might claim, Ireland is far from a police state and introducing a national ID card is unlikely to see people asked to present their papers to walk down the street.

Ireland is one of only two European nations that doesn't have a national ID card and, indeed, most people here don't appear to have a difficulty with their introduction.

The problem lies in the Government's secrecy and it is here that Mr Vardakar and his Departments have dropped the ball.

If there is nothing to fear about the cards - and that certainly seems to be the case - why not have an open debate about them and introduce them properly, with suitable public debate and scrutiny?

On this issue the Government - whose approach has now seemingly opened the door to potential law suits - needs to be open and honest. There's no need to hide behind jargon and bureaucratic nonsense. Just be open and have faith in the Irish people to have faith in their institutions.Students of Meanscoil Gharman swapped the classroom for the catwalk recently as they took their Junk Kouture Fashion show to Clayton Whites Hotel in Wexford town. The event saw students show off some wonderful creativity after putting in months of planning and work on some daring outfits made entirely from recycled material.

The national contest has become massively popular with secondary school students across Ireland, making some fantastic frocks from items that would ordinarily find their way to the bin. The Meanscoil students took the opportunity to host their own event ahead of entering the national competition to show off the level of creativity that exists in the school.

A total of 12 pieces were shown off on the catwalk on the night, after being designed, redesigned and constructed by a total of 38 students.

'The students have been working away on this, coming up with ideas and designs since September,' said teacher David Bennett. 'We had a great attendance on the night and it was great for the students to get the opportunity to show off all their hard work in front of such a big crowd.'

The school has a great reputation in the national competition and last year, out of seven designs, five made it through to the next round with one reaching the national finals. While all of the designs that were on display at the event at Whites Hotel will now be entered into the national competition, the level of competition was fierce on the night too with a students' vote for one winner and a Judge's vote for another.

'Charity Man' proved popular with the student body, while Cup Queen suitably impressed the judges. It wasn't all about fashion on the night either. There were also performances from a number of groups from the school including a band that had been put together specially for the night, the choir which won a national Scleip award and fifth year students who performed a song both by singing and in sign language. Mr Bennett congratulated all the students on their efforts and wished them all the best in the national competition.Tucked away just off Pearse Road, you'd be forgiven for being unaware of the existence of the Loreto Village retirement community. Despite it's central location in a bustling Enniscorthy town, the development seems to sit in it's own little bubble where things move at a slower pace.

The community, which has been up and running since the year 2000, consists of a total of 25 houses and is currently home to a total of 31 older people, happy to live out their days independently in peace and comfort and with a great social network around them. Run by a board of volunteers under the auspices of Enniscorthy Community Housing Ltd, the community has been a great success story over the past 18 years, however, with an average age of 70, the board are keen to ensure that this is a success story that continues and are hoping to recruit some new blood to help with the running and administration involved.

'There wouldn't be a whole lot of time involved,' said secretary Lillian McKenna. 'We only really have around six or seven meetings per year. Ideally we'd love to get someone in who has some experience in admin though. New laws and government regulations do require an amount of expertise, so it would be great to have more backup in that area. We want to maintain the voluntary ethos and the personal touch. On the board, we'd know a lot of the tenants and have a good relationship with them. It would be nice to see this continue as we can't go on forever.'

With magnificent views of Vinegar Hill, the private community consists of 25 houses, 11 of which are two bedroom and 14 of which are one bedroom. They cater for a great mix of older people, with 75% coming from the council housing list and the remaining 25% consisting of private tenants. Three nuns also live on site and are there to check in with residents and help out in any way they can.

'Some people have been here a long time,' said Lillian. 'Some have even been here since we opened in 2000. We get a lot of people who were living in the country and maybe can no longer drive or people who are looking to downsize. We're very central here and yet it's very secluded and quiet. Essentially these people want a place that's safe and secure to live out their days in their own home. While we don't provide care to tenants on site, they can apply to the HSE for their own home care and home help, which most of them do, and also the Meals on Wheels service from the hospital delivers here.'

'There's an independence about living here in that residents are encouraged to get out and attend local organisations and activities and socialise. As well as that, we have events like bingo in the community centre here of a Monday which provides a nice social outlet. On a Friday, we have transport that takes residents down to the post office, the bank and brings them to Pettitt's to do their shopping and we also have outings during the summer.'

Mary Redmond has been living in Loreto Village for 7 years and says it's been wonderful.

'I'm very happy here,' she said. 'I'm originally from England, but my husband is from Dublin. We lived in Spain previously before we moved here, but it's wonderful. We have access to everything we'd need.'

Fellow resident Richard Donoghue agrees that it's a lovely life there.

'I used to live in Drumgoold, but I've got a much better view of Vinegar Hill from here,' he laughed. 'It's wonderful here. We all love each other and the staff are always here to help us as well.'

Quite simply put, Loreto Village is an amazing service. It provides independence and a fantastic social outlet for older people and gives them a wonderful quality of life. While there is a waiting list to get into the Loreto Village, the focus now is on maintaining this excellent service within the local community. The board are hoping that some community minded people may come forward to volunteer just a small bit of their time to keep things ticking over and help with getting through some of the red tape and rules and regulations involved. Anyone willing to help can contact secretary Lillian McKenna on 0863364714.One year after he was stabbed to death in Sydney, Australia, the fiancee of Enniscorthy man David 'Motcha' Walsh has pleaded not guilty to his murder. New Ross native Cathrina (Tina) Cahill (27) was charged with the murder of the 29 year-old father of three, originally from Moran Park, at their home in Padstow between February 17 and 18 of last year.

Cahill, who had become Walsh's finacee the New Year's Eve before his death, appeared via video link from jail where she is on remand.

The prosecutor had asked for the arraignment to be stood over until April as police are still making inquires about potential witnesses who live overseas and about whether they will return to Sydney or give evidence from London.

But Cahill's lawyer asked for a trial date to be set, saying the inquiries have been going on for more than six months, and her client has been in custody for nearly a year.

Even with a trial date, police could continue trying to get witnesses from Ireland, she said.

Justice Elizabeth Fullerton went ahead with the arraignment and listed the trial, estimated to last six to eight weeks, for October 8.

She listed the case for mention on March 2, directing the prosecutor to give an update of who had been spoken to and who had confirmed their willingness to take part in the trial either by returning to Sydney or by video link.

While the Walsh family will now await the October trial date with interest, it will have come too late for David's father John 'Jonners' Walsh who sadly passed away in December following illness, ten months after his son's passing.Malahide native international concert pianist Maire Carroll will release her debut album ROADS.

The album, her first solo release, is a deeply personal one for Maire and will bring listeners on a journey through the classic and contemporary piano works which have inspired her most as an artist.

ROADS features an eclectic mix of classical piano pieces, film music and pulsating rhythmical and jazz-influenced tracks including the mesmeric Automne by the often-forgotten French female composer Cecile Chaminade.

Maire said: 'My debut album ROADS is a celebration of the various different paths l have travelled on my musical journey so far. I wanted to put together a selection of utterly different piano pieces that l hope will surprise and delight fans of piano music. So the album is a mix of much loved classic piano pieces by well-known composers like Bach and Rodgers and Hammerstein and edgier contemporary compositions that speak to me as an Irish female pianist.'

'I am deeply honoured to be the first to record Sebastian Adam's latest composition 2016.1-Two 1916 Pieces. It is a deeply moving work which poignantly contrasts the innocence of youth with the brutality of war.

'It was very important to me to include Automne by Cecile Chaminade. l fell in love with the piece when l first heard it and I researched her piano work. I couldn't believe that despite being a musical celebrity of her time, her piano work is mostly unknown today. I strongly believe her music deserves to be heard by future audiences.'

ROADS was entirely funded through a crowdfunding campaign on fundit.ie. With roughly 100 funders who contributed to Maire's Fund it campaign, it took just under one month to raise the funds to make her dream a reality.

'Crowdfunding for the album was a unique way for me to reach new audiences. To have people supporting me in Canada, New Zealand and Norway (to name but a few) was incredible. l was very keen for my funders to get to see the behind the scenes aspect of the making of ROADS. One of my favourite interactions included a weekly blog posted on my website which announced a track on the album and included a Q&A interview about the composer and why l was including the piece.'

Maire has toured internationally with performances in Wigmore Hall, the Barbican, Carnegie Hall and the National Concert Hall, Dublin, making her debut with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra in 2015. She is a recipient of the RDS Music Bursary, the only pianist to receive this award, and has recently been announced as the RDS 2018 Collins Memorial Award winner.

Maire has toured internationally with performances in Wigmore Hall, the Barbican, Carnegie Hall and the National Concert Hall, Dublin, making her debut with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra in 2015. She is a recipient of the RDS Music Bursary, the only pianist to receive this award, and has recently been announced as the RDS 2018 Collins Memorial Award winner.An Aer Lingus ground handler has been jailed for four years for helping to smuggle people illegally into the country.

Frederick Cham (63) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five charges of facilitating the entry into the State of a person who was an illegal immigrant or who was seeking asylum at Dublin Airport on dates between December 13, 2016 and January 22, 2017.

Cham, of Railway Cottages, Hazelhatch, Celbridge, Co. Kildare also admitted two charges of handling money which he knew to be the proceeds of crime on dates in December 2016 and January 2017.

The Hong Kong native, along with another Aer Lingus employee, helped foreign nationals to bypass Dublin Airport's passport control by using staff swipe cards to access an employee gate that wasn't being watched.

Judge Martin Nolan said it was a serious and devious crime. He said that it was at the end of a smuggling operation involving people desperate to obtain entry into Ireland.

He said Cham's ability to get people outside of the airport without going through customs or immigration control was invaluable to the people behind the operation .

Judge Nolan backdated the four year prison term to January 2017, when Cham was arrested. He noted that Cham was otherwise a very hard working man and a man of ability.

After his arrest Cham described the scheme to investigators, telling them: 'Tell a little rat there's a hole there, out you go, it's not a criminal enterprise.' He told gardai that he was getting 'a little bit of fast cash to get by'. He claimed it was a 'Mickey Mouse operation' and not a 'criminal enterprise' but the court heard gardai do not accept this.

He told investigators that the operation was linked to a man in China. He identified a number of Western Union transfers of cash, totalling around 6,000, from China and said he and his co-accused got around two to three thousand euro for each smuggling operation. He told gardai he spent the money on pints of Guinness. Cham has no previous convictions and has worked at Dublin Airport since coming here 15 years ago.

Inspector Michael Buckley told the court that Cham or the other man, who is before the courts and cannot be identified, would get a text from someone in Madrid to indicate that somebody was coming into Dublin Airport.

Once the plane got to the air-bridge, the co-accused would meet the foreign national off the plane and escort him to towards the immigration hall. Before entering this hall the co-accused would bring the foreign national into a nearby lift where Cham was waiting.

The men would exit the lift at ground level wearing 'high-vis' Aer Lingus vests and travel in a catering truck to a nearby hangar. It was here, via a staff turnstile gate, that the foreign national would move from air-side to land-side and enter the State.

The operation came to light on January 10 last year when a man with a false Irish passport presented at the boarding gate in Dublin Airport in order to fly to London. Investigations showed that this man had arrived from Madrid the day before and gardai tracked his movements through the airport using CCTV footage.

Detectives identified Cham and his co-worker from the staff swipe card identities and began monitoring them. Gardai set up a surveillance operation and identified the earlier foreign national arriving back to Ireland and being met by Cham and the co-accused.

Sean Gillane SC, defending, told the court that there was no evidence of exploitation or intimidation of the people being smuggled into the country.The town of Swords must not be split in the review of electoral boundaries currently underway, says a local councillor

Only a few days remain to play your part in stopping Swords and perhaps some of Fingal's other larger towns being split into two electoral districts for the next local elections, in 2019.

There is a review underway of the nation's local electoral areas where local elections are fought. The review is based on the latest Census figures and will mean big changes for the local electoral map in Fingal.

The new Local Electoral Areas will have to be between five and seven seats, so towns will have to be moved between wards with at least two new Local Electoral Areas created in Fingal. The Swords LEA, for example, will have to reduce from nine seats to seven seats, so will have to reduce in size somehow but Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) insists that cannot be achieved by splitting the town of Swords itself.

The Swords LEA also includes neighbouring communities like Rolestown, St Margaret's, Donabate and Portrane.

Cllr Butler is encouraging Swords residents to make submissions to the Boundary Commission by email to boundarycommittee@housing.gov.ie or by post to: Secretary, Local Electoral Area Boundary Committees, Room 1.67, Custom House, Dublin 1, to arrive no later than 5pm on Monday, February 19.

He said: 'My submission will be that Swords, including the environs of Rolestown, Kilsallaghan and St. Margaret's (electoral divisions of Dubber and Kilsallaghan), is the capital town of Fingal and must remain united within the one Fingal County Council Local Electoral Area. Fingal towns and their environs must be kept intact as part of any Local Election Area boundary adjustments. Swords, including Rolestown, Kilsallaghan and St. Margaret's, must remain intact as a seven-seat Local Election Area, which is the maximum permitted.' He added: 'The Dail Eireann boundaries of Dublin Fingal and Dublin West must be respected and remain aligned with the new Local Election Areas.'

Cllr Butler also demanded that 'no part of the town of Swords should be moved to the Howth / Malahide Local Electoral Area'.

A number of alternatives are on the table and one idea being mooted would see Donabate and Portrane move to the Balbriggan LEA which would then be split in two with one side containing Balbriggan, Balrothery and Skerries and the other including Donabate, Portrane, Rush and Lusk.St Patricks Day will be celebrated with parades across the county

Fingal County Council has released details of a number of St Patrick's Day parades it will support across the county, next month.

The council's events officer, Paul Barnes presented details of five of the main parades in the Balbriggan and Swords electoral areas, this St Patrick's Day.

A busy day for the council events teams as well as local organising committees and community groups putting the parades together will begin at the first parade in the county, and probably the biggest, as the streets of Swords are taken over by a huge and colourful parade.

It all begins at 11am and this year, the parade will grant Grand Marshal status to Colaiste Choilm as the school celebrates its golden 100 year anniversary this year, and takes pride of place at the top of the parade.

The parade will wind its way through the streets of Swords observed by thousands and will end at Swords Castle.

Also celebrating 100 years in existence this year, is O'Dwyer's GAA Club from Balbriggan and they will be similarly celebrated with Grand Marshal status in the Balbriggan parade.

The event kicks off at 2pm in Balbriggan and starts at Lambeecher, winding its way through the street of the town before ending at St Peter and Paul's Church and passing a viewing gallery on St George's Square. There will be music from the town's newly established Balbriggan Gospel Choir as well as other local performers to entertain the crowd.

The Rush St Patrick's Day Parade will start at 1pm and half and hour later, Lusk will follow at 1.30pm. Both of these events are run locally but will have funding support from the council.

Skerries is the last parade to get underway on the day and is scheduled to set off around the town at 3pm.

Over 100,000 people enjoyed these parades last year and councillors praised the local authority and its events team for the parades they are directly involved in as well as the local authority's support for local organised parades.

The council was also praised for its clean-up operation, particularly following the large parades in Balbriggan and Swords.

Cllr Joe Newman (NP) asked that the effort be kept up this year and senior council official, Paul Smyth assured him it would but also reminded parade attendees to dispose of their rubbish appropriately.St Catherine's National School in Rush is aiming to raise 30,000 to develop its ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) unit, which currently sees 12 children with autism educated at the school in two classes.

The school wants to develop an outside safe playing area with soft surfaces alongside the unit and a cheque for 5,000 generously donated by the Progressive Credit Union has started the fundraising ball rolling.

The ASD unit in the school opened in September of 2016 and last year, the school added a second classroom to the unit.

Now, St Catherine's NS has a waiting list of 20 to join the unit but is now at full capacity.

The ASD unit has proven to be a huge success for not only the children being educated their and their families, but also for the school itself and its staff.

School principal, Ger O'Se told the Fingal Independent: 'It has gone great - it's been fantastic. It is great to have the children here and we integrate them as much as we can with our mainstream classes.'

Responding to the very different needs of these children has proven a valuable learning experience for staff at the school, according to Mr O'Se who said the experience has been 'good for all of us'.

The unit has become hugely popular and has children from Rush and across Fingal as well as children from as far away as Swords and Malahide.

Like most units of its kind in Fingal, if not all of them, the unit is now oversubscribed and has 20 children on its waiting list.

'Mr O'Se said: 'You meet parents at their wits end trying to find a school place for their child and we would love to be able to accommodate them all but we don't have the capacity or the room for it.'

The school has reached the maximum capacity the Department of Education will allow for the unit and is therefore concentrating on delivering the best experience possible for the children it can accommodate.

That is where the outdoor play area comes in. When the units were set up, the Department of Education provided funds to establish the classrooms and had the school been a new build, it would have provided a play area too but since this unit was fitted into an existing school, it was up to St Catherine's to fund its continuing development and seek to raise funds for the outside area.

There is approximately 30,000 to be raised and the Progressive Credit Union has made the first major donation to the cause with the school hoping that other local businesses will respond in the same manner.

The school principal is hugely grateful to Progressive Credit Union for the donation and accepted a cheque recently from the local credit union which put a big dent in the school's fundraising target.

Mr O'Se appealed to any company or individual who can make a donation to make contact with the school. 'We would be delighted to hear from them - it's a very worthy cause.'

He said the Progressive Credit Union donation was very generous and added: 'St Catherine's is delighted to partner with Progressive Credit Union as we look to improve and develop our facilities for our ASD children.

'With help from organisations such as the Credit Union we hope to develop our external facilities, something that would not be possible without this kind of support.'

Progressive Credit Union was also delighted to be involved in the initiative praising the school for 'the amazing work that has already been done on the facility'.

'We look forward to seeing its future plans,' the Progressive Credit Union added.

The ASD unit in St Catherine's is one a small number of similar units running in schools across Fingal.

Given that the Rush school is over-subscribed by more students than it currently accommodates and that parents with children from Malahide and Swords are turning up on its door, it is clear there is a demand for more of these units in more schools across the county.

St Catherine's is clearly doing a fantastic job of providing a great learning environment for the children it accommodates and the school principal said that the feedback from children and parents has been very positive about the unit and how it is developing.There are 'questions to be asked' about the Department of Transport decision to make Fingal County Council the noise regulator for Dublin Airport, according to a local TD.

Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal, Alan Farrell has voiced his concerns regarding the decision to appoint Fingal County Council as the body responsible for the regulation of noise levels at Dublin Airport.

Outlining his position on the issue, Deputy Farrell said: 'I believe the recent announcement by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport that he intends to appoint Fingal County Council as the independent Airport Noise Regulator for Dublin Airport raises a number of concerns which must be addressed.

'While I understand that the Government's legal advice provided recommendations against the appointment of the Irish Aviation Authority as the regulatory body for Dublin Airport, it must be asked as to whether a separate entity should have been established to carry out these duties.'

Explaining his concerns about the move, Deputy Farrell said: 'Dublin Airport is one of the biggest rate-payers for Fingal County Council and, as such, a number of residents in the areas most impacted by noise emanating from the activities of the Airport, namely Portmarnock and St. Margaret's, have contacted me with concerns about the independence of Fingal County Council in this role.

'Furthermore, there will be significant costs associated with Fingal County Council taking on this role, particularly in terms of ensuring the adequate equipment, resources, and personnel with the necessary expertise are in place. Residents in Fingal must not be put in a position where they have to foot the bill for our local authority becoming the Airport Noise Regulator.'

Deputy Farrell added: 'The Department of Transport must stump up the necessary funds to ensure people in Fingal do not have to pay for this through their local property tax, taking money away from necessary works in every local community across Fingal.'

He concluded: 'Minister Ross must address these matters and outline how he intends to ensure Fingal County Council will be independent in the administration of its duties as the Airport Noise Regulator, and how he will ensure the costs associated with Fingal County Council taking on this new role are not passed on to local residents.'

Recently, Minister Ross announced Fingal County Council is to become the noise regulator for Dublin Airport and could have the power to overturn controversial planning conditions attached to the airport's new runway which restrict night-time flying.

Residents surrounding the airport are strongly in favour of keeping those conditions but the daa insist that they are too restrictive on its business and must be overturned.

Neighbours of the airport have questioned the council's ability to be independent in this role, given the airport's huge contributions to the local authority in commercial rates but Fingal County Council have said while it waits for the Bill to be enacted to bring the new noise regime in, 'the necessary resources will be put in place to deliver a robust and independent regulatory system'.A man who carried out two separate, random assaults on strangers in the street on the same day has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail, with the final two-and-a-half years suspended.

A judge described both attacks as 'horrific, gratuitous, violent and unprovoked' but said that perpetrator Gavin Mulgrew (23) was a 'different person today' to the person who carried out the 'horrendous' offences.

Mulgrew pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting David Rooney causing him harm on Suffolk Street on July 9, 2015, as Mr Rooney was walking home from work.

Mulgrew, of Old Brazil Way, Knocksedan, Swords, further admitted to assaulting Yannick Said, a French national, as he returned home from a language class that evening at Chancery Place in Dublin.

Mulgrew told gardai that his memory of both events was 'hazy' as he had been high on tablets, but he identified himself on CCTV footage and was described by a prosecuting garda as being 'visibly shaken and genuinely remorseful'.

'I do so many tablets, I couldn't tell you what I did an hour ago,' Mulgrew said to gardai on arrest.

Judge Karen O'Connor told Mulgrew that he had made good progress in custody but that 'time would tell' whether she was correct in her analysis that he was a different person today.

'I know you were shocked and ashamed when you saw the CCTV footage of yourself, and rightly so,' said Judge O'Connor, warning Mulgrew that it would not be easy for him coming out of prison.

'Some serious work is going to be required of you, but I hope that this is something that will be in your past,' she said.

Garda Gary Woods told Dean Kelly BL, prosecuting, that David Rooney was walking home from work along Suffolk Street when Mulgrew punched him in the face with a closed fist and then walked off.

Mr Rooney was in total shock and said it seemed to him that Mulgrew just 'walked off casually'.

Mr Rooney was hospitalised for five days with a fractured cheekbone, got nine stitches and underwent surgery. He had a permanent metal plate inserted into his cheekbone and suffered scarring and extremely bad bruising.

In a victim impact report, Mr Rooney said he suffered a financial loss of 1,700 and also had lost his confidence. He said he had had to stop playing contact sports, that he now avoided going into the city centre and was fearful that such an unprovoked attack could happen again.

A second prosecuting garda told the court that within an hour of the first attack, Mulgrew assaulted a French national on Chancery Place.

Mr Said, who had been in Ireland for a month studying English, was returning home when he saw a group of five or more youths approaching him.

He told gardai it was 'such a shock' when one of the group punched him out of the blue, and then all of a sudden, the group was all around him punching and kicking him.

He was hospitalised with a dislocated shoulder, facial injuries and a broken nose. His shoulder has dislocated again three times since the assault.

Mulgrew has 34 previous offences including assault, theft, burglary, criminal damage, handling stolen property, unlawful possession of drugs and intoxication in a public place.

The prosecuting garda agreed with Eoghan Cole BL, defending, that Mulgrew was 'visibly shaken' and genuinely remorseful when he was shown CCTV footage of the attack on Mr Said.

Mr Cole said that since going into custody in July 2015, Mulgrew had done 'everything the court would wish' in terms of his own rehabilitation.

The court heard that Mulgrew has become drug-free, has dealt with his addiction and works in the prison kitchen on an enhanced regime.

A probation report said Mulgrew had a good level of victim awareness and knew he had been associating with the wrong people.

The court heard Mulgrew had certain mental health difficulties, had been diagnosed with ADHD and was on medication.

'While his offences are horrendous, he is a different person now,' said Judge O'Connor. She suspended the final two and a half years of the sentence on condition that Mulgrew engage in victim-focused work, attend addiction counselling and all appointments made by Probation Services.

The three-and-a-half year sentence was backdated to October 10, 2017.Christina Mulvey Mescall from Gorey Educate Together with Vice President of New Technologies Group, Intel Noel Murphy, Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD and DCU president Brian MacCraith.

Months of hard work has paid off for Gorey Educate Together fifth class pupil Christina Mulvey who won Best Project Book at the Grand Final of Intel Mini Scientist.

More than 8,000 pupils from across Ireland took part in the competition, which is now in it's 11th year. But Christina's 'Ecological Roulette' project was picked as one of the overall winners at the final held in the Helix, Dublin.

Minster for Education and Skills Richard Bruton presented Christina with her award.

Principal for Gorey Educate Together Raymond Swan said: 'We are very proud of her and the hard work she put in to the project.

'This is the schools sixth time entering the competition, but it is our first time winning the Grand Final.'

Mr Swan explained the project, called Ecological Roulette, was an investigation in to the plastic in the eco system and the ocean.

'Christina got the idea from the Tsunami which happened in 2011 and the plastic that had drifted across the ocean,' added Mr Swan.

Mr Bruton said 'competitions like these are so important', because young people who take part in initiatives like this are more likely to go on and have a career that will help solve problems.

It gives participants the chance to explore science through project based learning and exhibitions.

The first phase of the program involves fourth, fifth and sixth class pupils entering local level exhibitions, where Intel judges visit the participating schools, choosing two winning projects in each. The second part is the Mini Scientist Regional Final, followed by the Grand Final.

The 8,000 participants were whittled down to just 28 for the Grand Final. They exhibited their projects for a panel of judges who had the difficult task of choosing the winners.

Each display included visual aids, books, and practical experiments.Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the American Authors Association

Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the Military Writers Society of America.Staff from Colaiste Bhride in Carnew celebrated the success of last year's Leaving certificate students.

The ceremony celebrated Charlotte Redmond, Kali Thompson, Anne Marie Doyle and Emer Rose Kealy, who each received a scholarship for outstanding results.

Charlotte, who is studying Veterinary Science, received an Entrance Award at the UCD scholarship awards. At the same event, Kali received a Comhthrom Feinne Scholarship and is currently studying Psychology.

Anne Marie, who is studying medicine in Trinity College in Dublin, received her Entrance Exhibition Award.

While Emer Rose, who is studying Medicine in the Royal College of Surgeons, received the Jim Allen Class of 1981 Scholarship in RCSI in October.

The award is presented to the Irish student in first year medicine who received the highest Leaving Certificate and HPAT results. Emer was also one of the 125 students who received a JP McManus Scholarship in the University of Limerick.

Principal Linda Dunne congratulated each student.Dr Lawlor said some 20,000 people in Ireland had been using Versatis, which cost around 120 a box

Dozens of people in County Wexford are being denied a very effective pain-killing medication because the HSE does not want to pay for it, according to a local doctor.

'It's purely down to money,' said Kilmuckridge-based GP Dr Val Lawlor.

Officially the HSE says the medication Versatis has not been withdrawn, however, since last September a second layer of approval has been in place for GPs who want to continue prescribe it beyond three months.

However, Dr Lawlor says that 90 per cent of the people who appeal decisions to stop using the pain relief patches are turned down and, in his opinion, it has nothing to do with whether or not they need them to treat their medical conditions.

'People are missing it, there's no doubt it's a very effective treatment,' said Dr Lawlor, who went on the Joe Duffy Show on Thursday to complain about the HSE action.

He said the response to the show had surprised everyone, with many callers complaining about the non-availability of Versatis.

'The last patient I had in on Friday was asking for it, he didn't know it was no longer available,' Dr Lawlor told this newspaper.

He said some 20,000 people in Ireland had been using Versatis, which cost around 120 a box.

And he dismissed suggestions that many people using Versatis long-lerm were using it to treat psychosomatic conditions.

'You can't have 20,000 people imagining their symptoms,' he said.

Despite the furore, the Health Service Executive insists there has been no withdrawal of cover for Versatis (Lidocaine) for people with a medical card or the Drug Payments Scheme.

HSE Director General Tony O'Brien last week told the Oireachtas Health Committee that since last September, there had been a second level of approval introduced for GPs who wish to continue prescribing the drug after three months.

Mr O'Brien said that the change was introduced due to the drug being inappropriately prescribed by condition and duration. He said GPs were notified that they had to register new patients online if they wished to seek approval from the HSE's Medicines Management Programme to prescribe the drug.

Continued prescribing after three months has also to be approved.

Mr O'Brien, who did not have figures on the number of refusals for continued prescribing by the Medicines Management Programme, said the change was introduced due to the drug being inappropriately prescribed by condition and duration. A number of committee members asked if GPs were aware of the changes as this did not appear to be the system operating on the ground. Minister for Health Simon Harris said that there was a need for clarity about the system.EirGrid is planning to bring a proposed 1bn subsea power cable between Ireland and France ashore in East Cork rather than at one of five potential sites in West Wexford.

The company made the announcement about the Celtic Interconnector project at an event in Cork Chamber headquarters last week.

Following a series of tests and surveys, five landfall options in East Cork were better performing over five potential sites in Wexford. The cable, once ashore, will be connected to a converter facility before onward connection to a substation in Knockraha in East Cork, for connection to the national grid, it announced.Wexford businessman Philip Cullen is going nationwide with a new local marketing initiative that was piloted in Gorey in 2016.

The launch of RUBAN, an accessible digital marketing platform for small businesses, is planned for the south east this April and will roll out countrywide after that.

RUBAN is an integrated web platform and free app, which uses social media and digital marketing techniques to help put businesses in front of their local customers, so they can compete with bigger brands. It connects local businesses and services with the community that is searching for them.

'The app will increase footfall in shops across Ireland by telling people exactly what they want to know,' said Mr Cullen. 'Often consumers are searching for a product or service that is available just down the road but it is invisible to them because it is invisible online.'

RUBAN does away with the need for lengthy online searches looking for nearby businesses and services. The app will show close-by businesses, opening hours, telephone numbers, special offers and new stock arrivals.

The digital platform will ultimately promote rural and urban businesses, clubs, council, tourist attractions and services from every town in Ireland. The name RUBAN comes from a combination of Rural and Urban. Local news and community groups will also feature on the platform.When Wexfordman Feargal Hynes, Head of Operations and Development at Druid Theatre was making arrangements to bring the touring production of the Samuel Beckett masterpiece Waiting for God to the 771-seater O'Reilly Theatre in the National Opera House at the end of March, he couldn't believe it when he realised it has been 20 years since the award-winning company staged a play in Wexford.

Back in 1998, The Lonesome West by Martin McDonagh, starring Pat Shortt and Jon Kenny was brought to the then Theatre Royal in High Street, three years after a Druid production of the Billy Roche play Poor Beast in the Rain was presented in the town as part of an Irish tour.

'It's been a long time. It's great to be bringing a show back to Wexford. We're really looking forward to it', said Feargal (26) who is following in the footsteps of his late and beloved dad Jerome, Galway-native and former chief executive of Wexford Festival Opera who was general manager for several years of Druid, the company founded in Galway in 1975 by his sister, the artistic director Garry Hynes and the actors Marie Mullen and the late Mick Lally.

'It amazed me that it had been 20 years, especially when you consider the strong theatrical tradition in County Wexford with so many award-winning groups such as Kilmuckridge and Bridge Drama', he said.

Former St. Peter's College student-of-the year Feargal who displayed an interest in arts management from an early age, grew up in Crosstown, Wexford against a backdrop of both Wexford Opera Festival and Druid Theatre and is no stranger to the corridors of the Opera House where he volunteered in front of house as a teenager.

As a Transition Year student, his first foray into the world of the impresario was a memorable success when he confidently organised a sell-out Des Bishop gig in the Opera House. The comedian was so impressed by him that Hynes has organised all his Wexford appearances ever since, while studying for a Bachelor of Commerce in UCD.

He worked with the late Wexford promoter Barry Ennis on a music festival in the Irish National Heritage Park in Ferrycarrig, assisted with the Charlotte Street Music Festival hosted by the Centenary Stores, promoted summer events for Wexford Borough Council and organised gigs in Greenacres Gallery. He is also a member of the Gaisce Council (President's Awards) which recognises the special achievements of young people.

'I'm loving it', he says of the Druid job which he undertook 14 months ago following a period as development lead. He is involved in the business side of the house, putting together deals with venues, co-productions and festivals and organising national and international tours for a busy company that is in production 90% of the year.

Last year, the Druid production of the Beauty Queen of Leenaneby Martin McDonagh took him to Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Pittsburgh and Hong Kong. Waiting for Godot spent three weeks in Charlestown, South Carolina at the Spoleto Festival and four weeks at the Abbey Theatre during 2017, playing to capacity audiences. Bringing the best of theatre to communities throughout Ireland and to prestigious national and international stages is in Druid's DNA but Feargal still finds time to return regularly to Wexford where his mother Alma is actively involved behind the scenes in the Art in the Open Festival and other organisations.

Once the current Beckett production starring Gorey native Garrett Lombard, Aaron Monaghan, Rory Nolan and Marty Rea is finished its five-week Irish tour, it will travel to the Shakespeare Theatre Company's Landsburgh Theatre in Washington from April 17 to May 20 and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Courtyard Theater from May 23 to June 3.

'I already have 2018 locked in. My focus now is on 2019 and 2020, mainly from a strategic point of view. I'm trying to make sure that we're hitting our strategic aims', he said, adding that a Druid production of the John B Keane play Sive, featuring Tommy Tiernan, which is continuing in the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin until March 3, is expected to be seen by a combined audience of 30,000 people which must surely be a target hitter.

The National Opera House will host three performances of Waiting for Godot over two days, on Friday, March 30 at 8 pm and Saturday, March 31 at 2pm and 8pm and Feargal says Wexford audiences are in for a classic treat.

'Waiting for Godot has a reputation as being a difficult play, a heavy play, but this interpretation which was devised by the Druid Ensemble (a group of experienced actors who drive the artistic policy of the company), has captured everyone's imagination'.

The Irish Times called it 'The freshest, funniest and most affecting production of the play in at least a quarter of a century'.

Waiting for Godot is set on a bare road in the middle of nowhere, two world-weary friends await the arrival of the mysterious Godot. While waiting, they speculate, bicker, joke and ponder life's greater questions. As dusk begins to fall, two figures appear on the horizon.

The play premiered at the 2016 Galway International Arts Festival and captivated audiences and critics alike. There wasn't a ticket to be had for the ensuing Unusual Rural Tour which played in outdoor locations at Glencree, Inis Meain and the Ceide fields.

'Our 2016 Unusual Rural Tour showed us just how much of an appetite there is for this production so it's great to take it to so many corners of the country, and internationally during 2018', said Garry Hynes. 'It's also fantastic to continue working on this extraordinary show with members of the Ensemble and creative team who have created something very special.'

Tickets for the Wexford shows can be booked by telephoning 053 9122144 and also at www.nationaloperahouse.ie.Ballygarry House Hotel has been listed in the top five hotels in Ireland in the 2018 TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards. Ballygarry was the top four star hotel in Kerry, also beating many five star hotels.

These awards reflect the opinions of guests who have stayed in the hotel which have been collected by TripAdvisor over the past year.

The hotel has been owned and managed by three generations of the McGillicuddy Family and this year celebrates 60 years in business.

This award is particularly pleasing to Padraig McGillicuddy who leads a team of enthusiastic and dedicated professionals, that specialise in delivering a seamless experience and exceeding expectations for all the guests of Ballygarry House Hotel, Tralee.

"The TripAdvisor Award reflects the dedication of our team, the majority of whom have been with us for many years and have proven to be popular amongst our guests over that time", said Padraig.

"While we have regularly featured in Trip Advisor Awards in top 10 and top 25 hotels, this year we have gained our highest place ever," he added.1. Take part in a charity Tralee 10 mile run: Michelle Greaney of Optimal Fitness has organised a fundraising 10 mile and 5k road race for Sunday February 18, with all funds raised from the event going towards the Kerry/Cork Health Link Bus.

The run will leave from 10am from the Rose Hotel on the morning; online registration is still currently open and is set to cost just 30 for the 10 Mile run and just 10 for the 5k run - registration details can be found on the 'Optimal Fitness Tralee' page on Facebook.

2. Ballylongford Coffee Morning

A coffee morning in aid of the Irish Heart Foundation will be held in the Parish Hall in Ballylongford from 10am to 12noon on Friday, February 16.

A bingo fundraiser will also be held in the same venue at 7pm on the Saturday, February 17 after the 7 o'clock mass; all are welcome to attend both events.

3. Fundraising Disco in Ardfert for hospital

There is a great night in store for the people of Ardfert this coming Saturday, February 17, as Caroline McAuliffe gets set to host a fundraising disco in aid of the South Infirmary Hospital in Cork.

The Abbey Tavern in the village is the venue of what will be an 80's/90's disco night; there will be great prizes on offer and raffle prizes will also be available during the event.

4. Killorglin dance to help fight cancer

There will be a fundraising dance held in the Manor Inn in Killorglin on the night of Saturday, February 17.

All funds raised on the night will go towards helping little Siobhan Mathers fight Neuroblastoma; the singing jarvey, Ger Healy, will be performing on the night.

Tickets are set to cost just 5 on the door - everyone is welcome to attend on the night.

5. Fashion Show in aid of Health Link Bus

The 'Scamps and Scholars' childcare centre in Killorglin will hold their annual fundraising pre-loved fashion event in aid of the Kerry/Cork Health Link Bus on Friday, February 16 from 5pm to 9pm.

The event will run again on the Saturday, February 17 from 11am to 4pm and again on Sunday Fenruary 18 from 11am to 3pm; all donations for this event can be dropped into the centre prior to the event.

6. Coffee Morning in aid of Health Link Bus

A coffee morning in aid of the 'Adapt Kerry Women's Refuge' will be held in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel today (Wednesday, February 14).

The charity morning will run from 10:30am to 12noon and all are welcome to attend on the day.

7. Foil, Arms & Hog to play in Siamsa Tire

There are a very limited number of tickets available to buy for the brand new upcoming 'Foil, Arms & Hog' show in Siamsa Tire.

The comedy trio, who have amassed close to 50 million YouTube hits with their weekly sketches, are bringing their brand new live show entitled 'Oink' to Tralee on February 15.

The show will consist of all new sketches, never-before seem on the groups YouTube channel.

Tickets for the show are set to cost between 22 and 25 and are available from Siamsa Tire.

8. Marlene Enright to play in 'Mike The Pies'

RTE Choice Music Prize nominated musician, Marlene Enright, will play in the 'Mike the Pies' venue in Listowel on Thursday, February 15.

The talented musician will perform a double bill on the night as she performs alongside Anna Mitchell; tickets still available on the door on the night - this is one not to be missed.

9. Speed Dating in the K-Town bar in Killarney

February is here and love is most certainly in the air this month, with bars such as the K-Town bar in Killarney gearing up to help you find your match.

The bar will hold a speed-dating night on Friday February 16, with all people from the ages of 20 to 30 welcome on the night; the event will cost just 8 and will start at 8pm sharp.

Text 0879613482 before the day to register your interest.

10. Get exercising this weekend with parkrun

Why not try to head down to take part in one of the many parkruns taking place around Kerry at the weekends?

There are four parkruns in Kerry: Tralee, Killarney, Listowel and the Tralee Junior parkrun.

These free 5km events are run every weekend by volunteers and they have been proven to be extremely popular in improving both physical and mental health.

The Tralee. Listowel and Killarney parkruns are held every Saturday morning from 9:30am onwards while the Tralee Junior parkrun takes place on Sunday at 9:30am - these 2km events are aged for children from 4-14 years old. People can register and print off their barcode at parkrun.ie.

Don't miss out on this great morning run - the perfect way to start off your weekend.There's a striking new banner flying over the County Council's offices on Princes Street.

On Thursday Mayor of Tralee Norma Foley and President of Tralee Chamber Alliance Aidan Kelly were joined by members of the local business community and representatives of various community groups as they raised a Purple Flag outside the Tralee Municipal District Offices.

Last November months of hard work paid off when, after an all out effort, Tralee picked up one of the coveted flags at a ceremony in November.

The purple flag programme is a scheme much like blue flags for beaches which recognises towns and cities which offer visitors a quality, safe night out.

Last July two judges from the programme arrived for a two day inspection trip which was the final hurdle in the town's long running Purple Flag bid.

That visit, which saw the red carpet rolled out for the judges all over town, followed two years of work led by Tralee Chamber Alliance, Kerry County Council, the Gardai, vintners and other community groups.

The concerted effort was led by the specially created Tralee Purple Flag team headed up by David Scott.

Last September, to much delight in and around town, the Tralee bid team learned their bid had been successful and in November a delegation from the county capita travelled to Norwich to pick up the flag.

Last Thursday morning Mayor Foley and President Kelly, to cheers from the assembled onlookers, finally raised the flag over the town.

Mayor Foley said it was a proud moment for the entire town.

"I was delighted to hoist the flag in Tralee coming as it did on top of Tralee's gold medal in the Tidy Towns last year and Tralee being named as Ireland's Most Enterprising Town for 2017," she said.

"This is another vote of confidence in the town. It will help to further enhance Tralee's reputation as a vibrant wonderful place to live," said Mayor Foley at the flag raising ceremony on Thursday morning.

Tralee Chamber Alliance President Aidan Kelly praised the team behind the successful bid.

"David Scott and his team deserve much credit for their tireless efforts over the past number of months to prepare the application and judges' tour of Tralee. Their hard work has paid off and now the onus is on everyone to ensure that we retain the purple flag into the future," he said.

"Purple flag destinations distinguish themselves by being vibrant and well-managed and this achievement will give Tralee a much needed boost," Mr Kelly said.Cork Kerry Community Healthcare has confirmed that it plans to open an additional eight beds at the Community Nursing Unit in Kenmare, in a move that has been welcomed by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

A spokesperson for Cork Kerry Community Healthcare told The Kerryman this week that it has proceeded immediately to what it said will be an extensive recruitment campaign, in order to facilitate the opening of the additional eight beds. An additional four staff nurses and three health care assistants are to be appointed.

The news follows lengthy engagements between Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and the INMO since 2015, and acceptance by the INMO of management proposals for staffing the unit. The 40-bed Kenmare Community Hospital opened in 2013.

The HSE spokesperson added that it is keen to open the beds as soon as possible. The currently unoccupied, fully-furnished rooms at the unit are ready to be occupied, and all beds have been inspected by and registered with HIQA. The HSE statement added that SIPTU have accepted the proposed rosters for Health Care Assistants.

The beds will open on a phased basis and will be dependent on a successful recruitment campaign. Cork Kerry Community Healthcare has placed advertisements in local print and radio outlets and has an ongoing campaign running online with jobs.ie.

"INMO members are satisfied that their long standing dispute regarding appropriate nurse staffing levels to care of an additional eight long-stay patients has been concluded," an INMO spokesperson told The Kerryman in recent days.

"We look forward to the recruitment of the additional nurses required, which will then facilitate to opening of these additional eight beds in Roughty house at Kenmare Community Nursing Unit."

The INMO has previously warned, however, that a shortage of nurses both locally and nationally can be a challenge to recruitment campaigns.Kenmare traders are set for life under Kerry County Council (KCC) bye-laws after all objections to the local authority's proposals for casual trading were withdrawn in recent days.

It brings an end to decades of wrangling in the tourist town. Last summer, the proposed bye-laws were modified at District Court Level, and this modified version is what will take effect after two appeals from both traders and the local chamber of commerce were withdrawn last week.

The new rules will restrict previously unregulated casual trading to 29 bays located on Park Lane and East Park Lane. Trading will be allowed every day, barring Sundays, from 9am to 5pm, although Kerry County Council can alter this window for certain occasions.

Anyone seeking to trade will have to apply to KCC at least 30 days in advance and will be assigned a specific bay.

Among the modifications agreed last summer is that a trader can avail of one additional, adjacent bay at an overall cost of 50 per day in cases of under-subscription.

No time-line has yet been put forward, but a KCC spokesperson said "the implementation of the bye-laws is a function of the elected members, and it is envisaged that a meeting for that purpose will take place in the near future".'We'll fight this move' is the strong message from the O'Sullivan family after Glencar Post Office was given an ultimatum to prove why it should not close for good.

The controversy stems from the recent passing of popular Post Mistress Sheila O'Sullivan, who provided an essential service to the locality for 16-years and whose family now want to keep the post office open.

But when Mary O'Sullivan (Sheila's sister-in-law) contacted An Post informing them of Sheila's death, she was told that the national postal service was assessing whether or not it was still viable to keep the rural post office open.

The O'Sullivan family now has until the end of February to make a case as to why the Post Office should not be closed as part of the semi-state company's plans to streamline the Post Office network.

"All this arose when Sheila passed away and the family decided to keep it open," explained Mary, who currently runs the Post Office alongside her son Michael.

"It just seemed like Sheila's death played into An Post's barrow. But we urge them to reconsider their position as this is a vital part of the community.

An Post says it is currently undergoing a public consultation which will end on February 23 and this will ultimately inform their decision, but the O'Sullivan family and local residents fear the worst as post offices continue to close across the country.

The community will gather this Friday evening, February 16, at 8pm in the Glencar Community Centre in a show of support for their local Post Office.

"We have a large elderly population in the area who rely on the convenience of Glencar Post Office for pensions and when doing other business. To close it would make life very awkward for people, so we're determined to fight any plans to close it. We've had huge support from the community, including from local councillors and TDs who recognise this is an attack on rural life," Mary added.

The issue was raised in the Dail last week by FF Deputy John Brassil who described the proposed closure as a contradiction in Government policy.

"The Government claims to be working towards advancing economic and social progress by creating jobs and promoting rural development, one of the proposals is to ensure the viability of our post office network but trying to close Glencar Post Office flies in the face of this policy," he said.

FF Cllr Norma Moriarty said the potential closure of the service is a symptom of a wider problem that exists under the National Planning Framework and a lack of understanding by central government towards rural life and culture.

"The dispersed population of the area is well served by this post office and, as a business model, it is viable so long as they take the diversification of the business into consideration. Glencar Post Office also has a strong tourist element with strong passing trade which can be tapped into," said Cllr Moriarty. The Waterville-based councillor believes there are certain social enterprises that must be subsidised in order for a rural society to exist, of which Glencar Post Office is one example. She also stressed that through decent government policy, a decline in rural population can be arrested with the enhancement of rural services.

"This is what we will be focusing on at Friday's meeting and I'm convinced this is a battle we can win. The late Sheila was an integral part of the community and this is already a difficult time for her family," Cllr Moriarty added.

Cllr Cahill said doubts over the future of the service were 'very insensitive' so soon after the passing of Sheila. "It really beggars belief the actions of An Post in this case. The parish is very isolated with houses dispersed and you are a long distance from the nearest town. There is also an onus on the residents of Glencar to utilise the services offered by the Post Office as this will also help in the campaign to keep it open," he added.The Sunrise Tractor Run makes its way through the streets of Cahersiveen

John Sheehan and his wife Mary with the tractor drivers and helpers after completing their early morning Tractor Run

John Sheehan's ambition of seeing a line of tractors make its way slowly through the Killenleigh, Teernihilta, and New Chapel countryside as dawn broke over south Kerry brings to an end his own personal journey.

But what he could never have imagined was the sheer size of the cavalcade as close to 100 tractors started to gather at Foilmore Community Centre before first light on Sunday last - all with the aim of raising money for Reask and Valentia Wards at University Hospital Kerry.

The tractors set off at 6.50am and returned again just before 9am. John had his own brush with depression last year and admits he was guilty of closing ranks when it came to talking about how low he felt.

He described the support on the day as 'just amazing' but what really made it special was that it got so many people talking about their own mental health, something John believes is still needlessly being bottled-up by people.

"Sunday's event helped break down the facade and while I'm pleased we managed to raise some money, talking about it is far more rewarding," said John.

"On one particular stretch of the road, near Dromid, there's a bend and to see the line of tractors moving along with flashing lights in the dawn was just amazing. I was delighted that so many people supported the event,"

The Dromid man was quick to praise everyone who helped make the day possible, people like Dan Tim O'Sullivan for providing his yard for the tractors, the community centre for hosting the huge crowds, the sponsors for their generosity, and all those who provided food and refreshments.

Family is number one to John and he said without the support from his wife Mary this event just would not have been possible.

"Mary has helped me every step of the way and she was the driving force behind organising the event. Farming can be a tricky job as a person can spent most of the day without ever seeing a person, let alone talk to someone.

The fact we spent most of Sunday talking about positive mental health can only be a good thing. Even the work involved in getting the tractors to Foilmore so early was an achievement in itself. I couldn't thank people enough," John said.

John now hopes to make The Sunrise Tractor Run an annual event.Over 400,000 has been spent laying one kilometre of sewer pipes from Irishtown to Nunnery Lane in New Ross.

Works were due to have been was completed on the project on Friday, more than two weeks ahead of schedule, Executive Engineer Abraham Dunne said.

Ms Dunne said the contractor MJS civil engineering Ltd has made tremendous progress with the installation of the Irishtown to Nunnery Lane, Main Drainage.

'The contractor had to work in very heavy traffic at the Irishtown junction. I attribute the earlier completion time, largely due to the cooperation of the local schools, businesses and community. They facilitated the works in every way they could.'

The contract for the work on the main drainage scheme was signed in the autumn at The Tholsel.

The contract was funded by Wexford County Council and Irish Water and was awarded to MJS Civil Engineering Ltd, Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow.

The project consisted of the separation of the existing waste water sewers and surface water sewers, which have been problematic for the town over a number of years, causing flooding and overflow discharge to the Barrow River in times of heavy rainfall.

The works entailed the laying of over 1,000 meters of varying size waste water pipes and surface water pipes and complete re-surfacing of all affected roads was also included in the project

The project was due to take 20 weeks to complete but was completed ahead of schedule.Funding of 200,000 is being sought to reopen the historic Goat Hill lane area which has been closed to the public since 2009.

New Ross Municipal District are applying for the funding to the Heritage Council under the Historic Towns Initiative Scheme and plan to put 100,000 towards the works, The ambitious application will see the 97 damaged concrete block steps in Goat Hill lane replaced with natural granite, a new handrail and cast iron heritage style lights. This will allow the local community to use this important pedestrian link again.

Town Engineer Abraham Dunne said these works are the last stage to reopening Goat Hill following the restoration of 75m of standing Town Wall along the lane in 2015, which was funded by the Heritage Council. The application also seeks funding to restore and repaint the street facing facades of approximately 20 properties on John Street. Property owners have committed to contributing financially to the works. The paints chosen will be from a Georgian palette in keeping with the building construction period.

Mr Dunne said as John street leads directly from the historic centre of town to the bottom of Goat Hill Lane, both projects combined will make a huge difference to the north area of town in terms of appearance and accessibility. He added it would also allow the town to formally launch the Town Wall Walking Trail, as visitors would then be able to walk the full 2.3km perimeter of the town wall.

Mary Browne from the New Ross Chamber of Commerce said the local business on John Street are fully behind this application and worked with the council during the year to upgrade all the footpaths on John Street with granite kerbs and sandstone setts. District Director Eamonn Hore said the Goat Hill Lane project fits in with the overall ambitious heritage plans for New Ross and draws on the Town Wall Conservation Plan, the New Ross Laneways Plan and the public realm plans for the town.Only two of the six Coastguard stations in County Wexford have running water, indoor bathrooms and internet facilities, a situation which shows a fundamental lack of respect by the Government towards hard-working volunteers who give up their time to help save the lives of others, according to Fianna Fail TD James Browne.

The lack of proper Coastguard infrastructure around the county was highlighted in a reply to a parliamentary question by the Minister for Transport Shane Ross who said progress on the upgrade of stations will depend on the availability of funding and resources.

In County Wexford, the only stations with running water, bathroom facilities and internet are Rosslare and Curracloe.

Carnsore which is a sub-station of Rosslare has internet facilities but no running water or bathroom. Courtown has no bathroom or internet connection. Fethard-on-Sea and Kilmore Quay have no running water, bathroom or internet facilities. Courtown, Fethard-on-Sea and Kilmore Quay have been earmarked for improvement works with planning permission already sought for pre-fabricated toilets in Courtown.

Deputy Browne criticised the Government for its neglect of Coastguard stations saying volunteers do not have access to the most basic sanitary facilities even though they may have to spend hours in a station while conducting search and rescue missions.

'Three stations in Wexford do not have any internet facilities, yet Coastguard members are expected to run a complex operation from these bases, to stay up-to-date on weather conditions and to liaise with colleagues and the coastguard's head office'

'Leaving Coastguard units to languish in these conditions shows a fundamental lack of respect on the part of Government towards the Coastguard and its work', said Deputy Browne as he called on the Minister to expedite the upgrade and refurbishment of any Coastguard premises without running water, bathroom or internet facilities. He said Fianna Fail intended bringing forward a Bill to place the Irish Coastguard on a statutory footing.

'Coastal communities the length and breadth of Ireland are well aware of the vital role that the Coastguard plays in keeping people safe.'

'The Irish Coastguard is almost entirely a voluntary organisation and its volunteers give up hours of their free time to get trained, to train new members and conduct search and rescue operations. That is not to mention the peril they face every time they head out to save someone's life in challenging circumstances'.

In meeting with members of the Coastguard in recent months, he was struck by the lack of basic infrastructure in some of its stations and his observations were confirmed by the answer to the Parliamentary question submitted by Fianna Fail in relation to Coastguard stations nationally.

Minister Ross whose department is responsible for the Coastguard said there are 45 units based in 58 stations with a number of units including Carnesore, Courtown, Fethard-on-Sea and Kilmore Quay operating from old Rocket Houses and these buildings have long been identified as needing better facilities.

He said New station houses are designed by the Office of Public Works in conjunction with the Coastguard and the OPW engages in discussions with the local authorities in respect of key issues.

'The rate of progress on these projects will depend on the timelines required for the various phases, the capital funding and other resources available.

'Matters are being overseen and closely monitored by Coastguard personnel in my department. As new build projects are completed, additional projects are put on the IRCG Building Programme', said the Minister.

Seventeen out of 19 buildings around Ireland which have no running water, bathroom or internet facilities, are located in old Rocket Houses of which 10 are sub-units or secondary unit buildings.

Rocket Houses are part of Ireland's maritime heritage and were built to house life saving apparatus used when conditions prevented the lifeboat from deploying.

They became a vital part of seafaring rescues. A rocket with a line attached was fired from the shore to stranded sailors and passengers on ships that had run aground. The shipwrecked sailors would then be brought safely to shore in a breeches buoy life ring,More than 100 people packed into New Ross Educate NS on Thursday night for a meeting about the Department of Education's decision to limit the number of pupils who can attend the school's Junior Infants class.

The message was sent out that parents of prospective pupils at the school will not tolerate being discriminated against by being deprived an education in a non Catholic school, with one parent suggesting they should protest at the Dail gates.

The school was one of five designated by the Department of Education to be 'half stream', meaning it is being deprived funding to teach a full Junior Infants class of 26, despite the fact that there are that number of pupils enrolled.

Presently enrolments are limited 13 pupils per year. Acting principal Aoife Mahon said: 'I know this is a very worrying development and we are very upset about it. It came out of the blue and there was never any indication that this would happen. We thought if we were successful we would grow and all that changed in the recent past when we received a letter from the forward planning section department that we were opened as a half stream school which was never put to us.'

The grounds upon which the school was denied full stream status was that it is adversely affecting existing primary schools in the area, in terms of enrolment. Ms Mahon said the latest enrolment figures for Shanbogh NS, St Canice's NS and Catherine McCauley NS show the figures are up. 'All the other schools seem to be growing beside ours.'

Four other Educate Together schools in Tramore, Tuam, Castlerbar and Trim are affected. 'Over 90 per cent of schools are religious run. We opened under the impression we were full stream school and instead we are facing a half stream cap.'

Chairperson Niamh FitzGibbon said given the fact the school was established under the divestment process following a survey undertaken in New Ross in which parents expressed a desire for a secular school, she said it is a total 'U-turn' by the department, adding that the Irish education system is supposed to support choice for pupils.

Niall Wall, Regional Development Officer with Educate Together, said the body was aware of plans to cap pupil enrolment at half stream only recently. 'We don't accept this and we are fully behind the five schools. This school opened with 15 pupils and we got two teachers. There is something going on here that doesn't add up or make sense. We have to keep fighting it and getting as much support as we can. We are not going to give up on this.'

Mr Wall said there are three empty school premises in the town. 'This school should be allowed to grow. The proof is that there is enough demand for 26 pupils. You can speculate as to the reasons but we need to declare that this is not on and this cannot happen as it's not what we were promised.'

Ms Mahon said the first 13 children on the enrolment list will be offered places next week. 'If they choose not to accept, people's places will be offered on a first come, first served basis.'

Anyone whose child is not offered a place was urged to write to the board of management stating that it was because of the cap put in place. Afterwards the department is notified and an official visits the school for a meeting in an appeals process.

'Pester public representatives. You are entitled to this. It's your choice of education and we want to give it to you. It's upsetting that someone thinks it's not OK for you to have that choice so you need to get behind this.'

Parents were encouraged to sign an online petition to the department urging them to revert back to its original decision to allow the school to become a full stream school. By Thusrday there were over 900 signatories to it, five days after it was started. Principal Elaine French said management were never told at the outset that Educate Together NS was a half stream school and there is nothing in writing to this effect.

The cost of accommodating additional pupils in a full stream school was given by one audience member as a reason why the school was being prevented from growing. Pupil teacher ratio will also be adversely affected if the school is not granted full stream status.

One parent asked if any Catholic school has encountered this problem. 'Surely this is total discrimination,' the parent said. Mr Caulfield suggested that parents and prospective pupils should protest together at the Dail 'to show the Government we mean business'.

'The ethos of the school is supposed to be that kids come first and are part of the running of the school,' one person commented, while another stressed the need for a solicitor.

Cllr Michael Whelan said the cap is based on Educate Together affecting enrolment in other schools within a 15km radius, when realistically it is the only secular school choice in the entire district.

Cllr Michael Sheehan said he will be bringing a motion of support to this Wednesday's municipal council meeting backing the school and its parents.

Ms Mahon said around 21 of the 26 students enrolled would be likely to take up the offer of a place if the department sanctioned the funding for a full stream class.

One parent said: 'This is discrimination. It's either Catholic or nothing!' Ms FitzGibbon said: 'We will continue to fight with everything we've got as we have to reverse this.' A public meeting is planned on the matter.

You can sign the petition urging the Department of Education at https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/secure-the-future-of-new-ross-educate-together-national-school.A young writer with strong ties to Ballymote has seen her play being staged by the Abbey Theatre later this month.

Margaret Perry, who is a niece of former Fine Gael TD John, is a successful writer based in London.

The 27-year-old's father, Ivan is a native of Ballymote who married a Cork woman, the city which Margaret grew up in.

She told The Sligo Champion that having her play, Porcelain, being staged in the Abbey was a dream come true.

"I was working on it for about four years on and off, I kept putting it away and going back to it while working on other stuff.

"It's about two Irish women from two different time periods, one is Bridget Cleary from 1895, who was murdered by her husband as he thought she had been stolen by fairies and replaced with a changeling.

"The second woman is Hat, who is of our time."

Porcelain is directed by Cathal Cleary and weaves together the tale from the past and a tale from the present day, in a tense, harrowing thriller.

The tale from the past is that of Bridget Cleary - the last witch burned in Ireland - whose husband murdered her in Tipperary in 1895, believing that she had been taken by the faeries and replaced by a changeling.

The tale from the present is that of Hat, an Irish ex-pat in London in 2017 and a new mother, who secretly wants to disappear completely.

It is a dark and devastating tale that mixes myth and fact to tell the story of two Irish women living parallel lives years apart.

Its run at the Abbey starts this week, February 16th and runs until March 10th.

Margaret said a lot more time goes into writing plays that might surprise people.

"They do take quite more time, even though they can be short enough.

"I've written two plays so far and Porcelain has also been published as a play text."

She said her dream is to write a novel further down the line.

"I would love to write a novel or write for television.

"I'm working on a new play at the moment about the Irish water debate, I've got a few things in the pipeline too."

In terms of Porcelain, it's running in the Abbey from February 16th until March 10th.

"I'm really excited about it. I'm going over for the last weekend of rehearsals. There are six actors in it."

Margaret said she was thrilled when she got word that her play was going to be staged in the theatre.

"They told me at the end of October. Normally it would take a year before they show it but they said they were showing it in February.

"I had sent them the script and was waiting by the phone. It's all very exciting, my family are thrilled.

"The Abbey are producing it but I would love to bring it to London and to Cork, so who knows.

"There's a big crowd coming from Sligo, I've a lot of extended family there and I try and get to Sligo at least once a year if I can."

Margaret said writing was always something she wanted to do once leaving school.

"I always had a big interest in it and I studied Drama & Theatre in UCC for four years and as part of that spent a year in Berkeley, California, which was brilliant, there's so much creative writing over there.

"I did a Masters in Dramatic Writing too and have been based in London since 201, where there are definitely lots of opportunities.

"My dad is really good at academic writing, he runs Public Health at UCC, while my mum is a consultant doctor, so there's writing in the family," she added.IT Sligo will celebrate 50 years of its existence in 2020 and will feature in a new book to be launched soon on the history of the country's regional colleges.

The late 1950s and 1960s were a pivotal period in Ireland's economic development. Visionary civil servants and modernising politicians led significant changes in Irish society; nowhere was this more obvious than in education. Free secondary education, free school transport and the development of a non-university, technically oriented higher-education system - the regional technical colleges and the national institutes for higher education - combined to create a new dynamic that furnished a missing rung in Irish education and democratised access to education.

The regional technical colleges, and their successors the institutes of technology were established de novo, conceived primarily as sub degree institutions and now stand on the threshold of re-designation as technological universities; they are thus internationally unique. The Institute of Technology in Sligo was one of the first five RTCs to be opened in 1970 along with Athlone, Waterford, Dundalk and Carlow.

As Sligo prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its opening this timely book paints the landscape of political chicanery, conflict and control, policy weakness, institutional ambition and autonomy, and the belief in self-efficacy within which the regional technical colleges developed. The book does not draw a map of dates, numbers, statistics, lists and places.

In offering a painting rather than a map, it is hoped the book will appeal to those who have come from, or have been associated with, the regional technical colleges and who are interested in the richness of the story of their colleges. It is hoped also that the book will appeal to those interested in education and policy development. The book is being launched on February 21st by Minster for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O'Connor in the Merrion Hotel in Dublin.

Richard Thorn is president emeritus of the Institute of Technology, Sligo. He has worked across the higher-education sector in Ireland and Europe at institution and sectoral level, and has undertaken research into, and published on, a wide range of higher-education topics.On January 8th, James Hardiman took the reins as Principal of North Connaught College.

Having previously spent almost ten years as the Deputy Principal in St. Mary's College, Ballisodare, this is a new challenge.

"The fact that I'm now dealing with adults is different but correspondence is also similar to that of young adults," he told The Sligo Champion.

He continued: "The big difference is that I'm not in the classroom now and I don't get to interact with students in that way but I'm out and about around the college and I get to meet people that way.

"For example, last week we had a 'Wellness Week' here and that was organised by the classes and I'm getting to know the students that way."

James is eager to continue the college's good work in the community, and he wants the caring environment to be as strong as ever during his tenure.

"I want to continue the college the way it is. It's a community and a caring environment. You're dealing with adults here and some of these adults have been out of education for 10-20 years.

"I want to maintain the caring environment and make North Connaught College a stronger institute for further education."

North Connaught College offers full-time courses and part-time evening courses. New modules are constantly being added.

"Tubbercurry is a great location, not just for Sligo but for people in Roscommon, Mayo and Leitrim.

"We offer courses in beauty, the health sector/nursing and business and IT.

"We want to further research new courses and if we can provide them here then great. Change is always going to happen so we have to embrace that.

"We want to embrace the good things here and adapt to change if we need to."

There are currently 150 students attending full-time courses, with 90 taking part in night-time courses, for which there is a waiting list.

"I'm looking forward to the adventure - my whole ethos is to work hard, be a good listener, do what's right for the staff, students and the community.

"I'd love to increase the link we have with the community here. We have a facility here and it's for the community too.

"We don't sit here in isolation, we are a community and we are part of the community here in Tubbercurry."

North Connaught College Tubbercurry is hosting its open evening on Thursday, 1st March, from 3-6pm for PLC and VTOS courses. School leavers and adults are all welcome.

Teachers, Guidance Counsellor, Student Support Tutor and current students will be available to deal with any queries or questions that you may have.

There will be taster sessions in some of the various courses e.g Beauty Therapy, IT/Business, Childcare, Nursing and Healthcare.

Further details on our website www.northconnaughtcollege.net or on Facebook www.facebook.com/northconnaughtcollege or ring us on (071) 9185035.Sligo University Hospital is looking for people to become Meet and Greet Volunteers.

Volunteers provide assistance to patients and visitors and help with directions, answer general enquiries and in essence be a 'go to' information point at the hospital.

The Meet and Greet Volunteer Service has been running successfully for eight years, and staff and visitors have been wholehearted in their praise of the work.

One of the Meet and Greet Volunteers, Ann Kerrigan has been working at the hospital for the last 5 years. Ann signed up to be a volunteer as she believed it would be a useful way of giving something back to the community.

The main role of the volunteers is to provide a friendly welcome and a reassuring first impression to everyone who enters the hospital and to help and guide visitors and patients to the various wards, departments and clinics in the hospital.

The volunteers are located on level 3, main foyer of Sligo University Hospital. When people need directions to a particular ward or clinic, the volunteers will bring them to their destination, chatting and easing stressed nerves along the way. The volunteers wear distinctive yellow bibs so they are easily identifiable and are always very approachable and willing to help.

Michael Kilroy who signed up three years ago says: "Volunteering at the hospital is just brilliant and something I really enjoy. The best part is that you are helping someone and making their visit to the hospital a more pleasant experience. People can get disorientated in a place they are not used to. Showing people where to go, or taking them to their appointment so they arrive relaxed and with a smile on their face gives me a great sense of achievement."

Eric Plunkett, Volunteer Co-ordinator, is fulsome in his praise of the volunteers, saying they have brought a wealth of life experience which has been of great benefit to patients, their families and visitors in general. "Since the 'Meet and Greet' Volunteer Service commenced, it has helped ensure that the hospital experience is as pleasant as possible in what can be a worrying, overpowering experience for some patients, families and visitors," says Eric.

"The Volunteer Service has been a great success at the hospital, with very positive feedback from the public.

"It may sound simple, but if a patient or visitor is worried or stressed when they come to the hospital, it can mean so much to be greeted by a friendly face that will help them get to their destination. The volunteers also wait with frail older patients in the foyer while relatives bring their cars to the front door, and again relatives value this service greatly.

"Volunteers have brought such positivity and energy to their role and have become an integral and valued part of the team in Sligo University Hospital."

Volunteers deliver this service 3.5 hour session per week either morning or afternoon for a minimum period of six months. They must be over 18 years of age, in good health and comfortable being on their feet for a few hours. Contact: 071-9171111 ext: 2609/4210/4302, email volunteer.coordinator@hse.ieThe community of Easkey came together last week after it was hit with the news that the community's post office is under threat.

Concerned locals organised a public meeting last week to discuss their plan of action as they continue to fight for their community.

Louis Smith, Postmaster, has been working there since 1973 before taking over the business in the 1980s.

Having informed An Post of his decision to retire, he was then told that the post office's future would be under consideration.

A huge community effort is underway to save the amenity, which is of huge importance to the area both economically and socially.

Around 300 people turned up to last week's meeting, a number which is 'indicative' of the post office's importance to the community.

Richard Morrissey, Spokesperson for the Save Easkey Post Office campaign, said the closure of the village's post-office would be a huge blow.

"We were really given very little notice. That's only really given us three weeks to get together and fight for this," he told The Sligo Champion.

"It would be a death knell for the whole place if it were to close."

February 23rd is currently set for 'D-Day' when An Post will make their decision.

Any campaigning has got to be done prior to that date in order to prevent closure of the post office.

The notice given to Louis Smith and the local community read as follows:

An Post is considering the future post office provision at Easkey, which could include the permanent closure of the office.

However, before the company takes any decision,interested parties who wish to are invited to submit their views on the matter to the address below no later than the 23rd of February 2018.

In coming to our decision, we will take account of:

Network coverage needs

The level of business at the office

Customer access to service elsewhere e.g. travel distances

Capacity of neighbouring offices to handle business if the office closes

Following consideration of any views received the Company will then proceed to take a decision on the matter.

Peter Gillespie,

Retail Operations Manager,

An Post,

Wine Street,

Sligo

F91 R898

Peter.gillespie@anpost.ie

"I'm not going to give you any of the usual cliches," Richard continued.

"Any community needs to revolve around something. A church, a post office, a pub, these are places where people meet and socialise," Richard added.

Richard's parents go the post office every Friday. It's part of their weekly routine.

"That stuff matters to the community," he added.

The current Postmaster has been in the role for so long that he knows everyone in the area.

His local knowledge is vital to the successful running of the post office. He knows the rhythms and patterns of the community.

"It's far beyond economic value. People getting their pensons on Friday will go to the shop and go to the butchers and that money is spent locally.

"We would be concerned that it would lead to the closure of other businesses and the domino effect of that. Businesses here are worried, some of them don't have a back-up plan," Richard stressed.

Richard, like many people living in rural Ireland, feels that the closure of businesses is almost forcing people to move into towns where they can access the required amenities.

"In my view, decisions made on the east of the country are making it impossible to have a community in rural Ireland. Some of these business people are not looking to make a fortune here. The pace of life suits them, they like it here. Sometimes you feel like they want us to move to cities.

"People have to be brought together. That's what matters."

The impact of such a closure on a community like Easkey would be felt by everyone in the area and indeed surrounding areas.

"Economically this would lead to other closures. Socially, people like to meet up the way they do now.

"For older people especially they don't want to be going the whole way into Sligo town. It's the glue that binds us together. It matters."

Members of the Save Easkey Post Office campaign are asking people locally to make a submission to An Post stressing the need for the post office in the area.

"Locally, we would like everyone to make a submission to An Post. We are not going to allow it to go quietly. Agitate your TDs and keep at them about it.

"We are going to hold another meeting this Friday so we'll see how many are there."

You can make a submission to An Post by contacting

Marc MacSharry has arranged a meeting. All we can do is demonstrate the importance of the post office in our community.

This is an opportunity for us all to come together.

If we do save it then it's just the start of it. We are often accused of being easy-going and laid back in the west of Ireland but we won't be about this.

The crowd of over 300 at the meeting showed the depth of feeling about this issue.

Deputy Marc MacSharry said he understands that the full review of the An Post network will be concluded in the next two months.

He was fearing closures as a result of this but believed that Easkey PO could be saved and that it was a viable operation in any event.

Deputy MacSharry has organised a delegation to meet with the management of An Post over the next couple of weeks while he is also encouraging those who use it to send their submissions in.

Councillor Michael Clarke, from Dromore West, told The Sligo Champion that he is extremely worried about the future of the post office.

"I'm really concerned. We have a huge fight ahead of us. This is happening everywhere in Ireland and it can only be solved on the floor of the Dail so I would call on our four TDs to ensure the post office continues in Easkey," he said.

Cllr. Clarke says the post office services around 650 families in the catchment area.

"Every household attended the public meeting last week. They are really up for the fight," he warned.

The effect of a potential closure would be felt by everyone in an area which has already suffered massively since the downturn in the economy, Cllr. Clarke said.

"I'd have no doubt that if it closed, one or two other businesses would go too.

"This is an area that has been terribly affected since the downturn.

"They have lost their hotel, their courthouse, their Garda station and their chemist.

"If the post office was to go too this would be a village without a focal point."

Cllr. Clarke has joined the Save Easkey Post Office committee along with Cllr. Joe Queenan.

"At the public meeting last week, it was decided that 18 volunteers were needed to form a committee.

"Eighteen people had volunteered immediately to join this committee. We are all behind the team and we know we will have a big fight on our hands to save it.

"This is all part of central government's commitment to rural Ireland, they want us all living in towns and working in Dublin," Cllr. Clarke added.

Padraic Hallinan has been appointed Chairman of the Save Easkey Post Office campaign, Bernie O'Brian and Olagh Cawley will share secretary role and Richard Morrissey is the group's PRO.

A message from the committee said: "We need to make sure all our voices are heard, we ask everybody in the area to write a short note to An Post and in it say what the closure of the post office means to you and how it will affect you and Easkey in general. A member of the Committee will call to your house this week and if you would like help with your letter please ask them. Drop off points are: Cavanaghs Meats, Bernies, McGowans bar, Blair Feeneys, Castle Inn and Rathlee Convenience Store. We ask that you put a stamp on your letter before you drop it off to cover the cost of postage."IT Sligo and Engineers Ireland are hosting Engineers Week February 24th - March 2nd to attract more to the profession

There's never been a better time to become an engineer, a profession with "limitless" job prospects.

That's according to Chairman of Engineers Ireland North West region, Michael O'Halloran, who was speaking in advance of Engineers Week at IT Sligo this months.

"Engineering is a vast discipline with limitless career opportunities and we organise this week of activities each year primarily to try to demystify it somewhat for interested students and their parents," he said.

"It's an exciting time to be an engineer at the moment and there are a lot of very promising employment opportunities for engineers in the North West and around the world," he added.

The Institute plans on bringing engineering to life with a wide range of free activities to mark Engineers Week this month.

Engineers Week is an annual campaign to promote engineering as a career and the importance of the profession to Ireland.

It will take place this year from February 24th to March 2rd and a wide range of free events are being organised by Engineers Ireland and IT Sligo to bring the subject alive for prospective students, their parents and other members of the public.

IT Sligo lecturer John Casserly from the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction, who will be coordinating the events in the college, said: "We are very excited to be hosting so many events in the Institute of Technology, Sligo as part of Engineers Week 2018. The events are designed to cater for all ages and members of the public from primary school children to professional engineers."

Events during the week include:

 A public lecture titled 'Electric Vehicle Infrastructure and Technology Developments' by John Mooney Operations Manager, ESB Electric Cars (IT Sligo, Feb 26th)

 A Primary School Showcase 'Ireland's Engineering Superheroes' By Scientific Sue (IT Sligo, Feb 28th)

 A Secondary School Showcase Film Screening 'Dream Big: Engineering Our World'.

 A Coder Dojo workshop will be held at IT Sligo (Mar 2) .

All events are free and most are open to members of the public to attend.

Engineering is a wide industry that employs thousands of people in the North West region in the areas of civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering, medical devices and environmental protection, to name but a few.

To register see www.engineersweek.ie.The imminent closure of the Alzheimer's Unit at St John's Hospital in Sligo town has been branded "inexplicable" and "outrageous".

Councillor Declan Bree tabled a motion calling on the Council to urge Health Minister Simon Harris and Transport Minister Shane Ross to intervene in the controversy.

"It's as if Sligo was some part of a third world country," Cllr Bree told the meeting. "We witnessed the closure of our cancer services only a few short years ago and now we have this decision to close down services for people suffering from dementia.

"The decision speaks volumes about the current Fine Gael - Independent Alliance government. It is a heartless government without any compassion for those who suffer from dementia - for we must remember that behind this proposed closure exist the human faces of all those living with this illness, their family members and their friends.

"Ten years ago there were 36 beds available in Sligo for people suffering from dementia. Now as the number of people who require the services in Sligo increases we have this scandalous decision to close down the unit and to force families to seek alternative and substandard services elsewhere in the private sector.

"How can Fine Gael and Independent Alliance Ministers stand over such a decision? I believe we should make it clear to them that they must intervene now so as to ensure that the Alzheimer Unit in Sligo remains open," he told members.

He was supported by Councillor Thomas Healy who said "we've seen the same done with Respite, with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and now this. When will it end?".

The motion was agreed by all members to call on ministers Harris and Ross to intervene to save the Alzheimer Unit.An action plan has been implemented by an Incident Management Team under the direction of Irish Water to try to resolve the crisis of a parasite being found in the drinking water in South Sligo.

However, it appears there may not be a solution found in the short term.

The Irish Water plan includes a two-week testing and sampling programme in several areas throughout the affected Lough Talt scheme which has been agreed with the HSE.

The sampling plan began last Wednesday and following this the results carried out over the two-week period will be reviewed collectively by all stakeholders involved before further action is advised by the HSE.

"In addition to this we will be increasing our routine scouring programme over the next few days throughout the network which may cause some discolouration to water.

"Customers who experience discolouration should run their tap until the water runs clear.

"Customers are reminded to continue to boil water before consumption," said a spokesperson for Irish Water.

The Boil Water Notice that was issued on Monday last week remains in place until further notice.

It was issued on the advice of the Health Service Executive following the detection of cryptosporidium in the treated water coming from the plant after a routine test.

Areas affected include the towns of Tubbercurry and Ballymote and a large rural hinterland including the villages of Annagh, Aclare, Bellaghy, Bunnanaddan, Curry, Lavagh, Ballanacarrow, Carroweden, Kilmacteige, Quarryfield and Coolaney.

This boil notice also includes customers supplied by the Ogham Group Water Scheme in Co Sligo along with Cloontia, Doocastle, and the Moylough group water scheme.

Seamus Granahan, Regional Asset Operations Manager for Irish Water said: "If further positive results for cryptosporidium are confirmed it is likely that the Boil Water Notice will be extended until additional treatment process barriers are put in place.

"This will involve the construction of a new water treatment plant for which planning permission will be required.

"The incident management team will continue to liaise with the HSE and give this incident its full attention."

Irish Water says it recognised in 2014 that the Lough Talt supply needed more advanced treatment to meet both risk of Cryptosporidium contamination and compliance with the specified limits for Trihalomethanes (THMs).

In July 2015 Irish Water lodged a planning application with Sligo County Council which was refused on the basis of the conservation of Lough Talt for reasons of protected habitat. Irish Water subsequently appealed that decision to An Bord Pleanala who also refused the application in April 2017.

Having consulted with the planning authorities and the EU Commission in relation to the Habitats Directive, Irish Water is working with key stakeholders including the National Parks and Wildlife Service to progress a planning application under the 'Imperative Reasons for Over-riding Public Interest (IROPI)' mechanism.

Irish Water hopes to be able to resubmit the revised planning application supported by the IROPI documentation in the next two months. In the event that planning permission is successful Irish Water would expect to begin construction on a site by early 2019 and have a fully functioning plant by early to mid-2020. In view of this timetable Irish Water says it is looking at what further measures it might be able to take in the interim that might be able to address the cryptosporidium risk in consultation with the HSE and the EPA.

In the meantime customers are advised that all water for human consumption including the washing of teeth, making of ice and in the preparation of food that is not cooked must be boiled before use and it is imperative that people adhere to the boil water notice.61 per cent of farmers in Sligo/Leitrim have less than half the fodder they need. Pic: INHFA

Farmers in the North West urgently need meal vouchers to halt the fodder crisis which is "deteriorating on a daily basis."

That's according to the National President of The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) Colm O'Donnell, speaking at a protest in Drumshanbo yesterday (Monday).

Farmers drove through snow-filled rural roads to gather outside the Department of Agriculture offices in Drumshambo to vent their anger and demand meal vouchers for farmers experiencing fodder shortages.

O'Donnell read out a letter which called on the Minister to reconvene the fodder action group to address the many inconsistencies and problems with the package designed by his Department and the co-operatives.

"This package was not what was proposed by the stakeholders action group," said the farm leader.

"To give credibility and confidence back to the forum set up by Minister Creed he must now call those stakeholders back to adjust elements of the package to make it workable for affected farmers," he told protestors.

While the Minister did deliver a transport subsidy, "its restrictive nature has ensured it will not deliver for most farmers," said O'Donnell.

O'Donnell said last month's transport subsidy "is a piecemeal attempt to sort a crisis that is deteriorating on a daily basis."

Apart from meal vouchers, the INHFA is looking for the following:

Licenced hauliers who traditionally source quality fodder to be involved in the transport subsidy scheme.

The 100km zone to source fodder to be changed.

Local Agri stores to be added to the scheme

Square bales of hay and straw to be included in the scheme because farmers with environmental restrictions on their farms they can only feed square bales to out-wintered livestock.

The DAFM must cover the cost of fodder assessment by approved advisors.There were smiles all round in the Grand Hotel on Monday as Wicklow Mental Health marked Pancake Tuesday a day early.

As part of the national Mental Health Ireland #SmileyPancake campaign, Wicklow Mental Health Association had pancakes at the ready in the Grand Hotel for people attending to buy and more importantly to dress with a smile.

They could chose from a selection of fruit, Nutella, peanut butter and cream to help everyone put a smile on their pancakes before wolfing them down.

People were encouraged to photograph their #smileypancake creation with their phone, making sure they got the lighting just perfect. They could then upload it to a social media site of their choice, be it Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the all-important #smileypancake tag.

Each text send to 50300 resulted in a 4 donation going to Mental Health Ireland. Money raised locally will fund local activities in Wicklow Mental Health Association. They are a volunteer organisation promoting positive mental.A big-hearted nine-year-old girl from Wicklow town will have her luscious locks lobbed off in the name of charity.

Generous Adriana Murphy decided she was going to take action after her aunt Karina was diagnosed with cancer.

Thankfully, Karina's cancer went into remission following treatment but, soon afterwards, Adriana's granny Liz became unwell and was also diagnosed with lung cancer.

Adriana watched Liz go through all her treatments and lose her hair. At this point Liz was fitted for a wig and lots of questions were asked.

After Liz had completed her treatment and her hair began to grow back, Adriana decided to let her hair grow too.

'I have let my hair grow for the past six months so that I can donate my hair to the Rapunzel Foundation so they can make wigs for children who lost their hair because of cancer or some other illness,' said Adriana. 'I would also like to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society to help in the fight against cancer.'

Adriana will have over 12 inches of her hair chopped off at Amanda's Hair Salon, Wicklow town, this Saturday, February 17, at 11 a.m.

A bucket collection will be held on the day.

Through family and friends, Adriana has already started her fundraising efforts.The HSE has confirmed it is working closely with Sunbeam House Services following the suspension of five staff members.

Minister for Health Simon Harris said that he has received confirmation from the HSE that Sunbeam House Services (SHS) have put five staff on leave as a result of allegations received on Friday, January 26.

Minister Harris understands that the allegations were considered by senior staff, including the SHS's internal safeguarding team, and the Gardai were informed that day. The HSE has confirmed to Minister Harris that they are fully informed and the appropriate safeguarding plans are in place for the residents concerned. HIQA has also been fully notified

Minister Harris said: 'This is obviously very concerning and distressing however I must welcome the swift action taken on receipt of the allegations. Wicklow people will be aware that there have previously been issues with the complaints procedure and the handling of allegations in SHS. The new procedures seem to have worked properly.'

Minister Harris, working with the SHS Family Advocacy Group has ensured that an investigation (the Jeyes Report) was conducted into issues of concern highlighted by families. An action plan is currently being implemented to ensure all complaints and safeguarding issues are handled correctly as a result of the Jeyes report.

The HSE has confirmed that SHS will be conducting a full investigation into the matter as soon as this can commence without prejudice to Garda enquiries, which are ongoing and that the HSE is working closely with Sunbeam House Services to ensure the continued safeguarding of all residents concerned.

Minister Harris has supported the SHS families throughout this process and continues to work with the SHS Family Advocacy Group to ensure all actions identified by the Jeyes report alert.

The Health Minister was also keen to acknowledge that many excellent people work in Sunbeam House Services and he regularly hears this from families. 'It is important that this organisation receives the attention and support it requires so that clients receive the best possible service and so that good and committed staff can work in a strong organisation', said Minister Harris.Arklow woman Kate Tyrrell is to be celebrated as the town marks International Women's Day next month.

Ms Tyrrell, who was born in Arklow, was the second of four daughters born to Edward and Elizabeth Tyrrell. She blazed a trail as the first female ship's captain.

Arklow Town Team has decided that the fiery and charismatic Arklow woman and her love of life at sea and working on ships should be celebrated.

Her father had a shipping company that imported and exported goods between Ireland and Wales. From childhood, Kate could be found around the shipyard learning her father's trade and it became clear that she would be his obvious successor.

He promised her that one day she would be the owner of her own ship and, in 1885, her father purchased a 62-ton schooner called the 'Denbighshire Lass' from Wales which Kate captained on its way back home to Arklow. A strong will meant she would fulfil the role she most wanted by becoming the first woman to be called Captain.

Her achievement and that of other significant women (past and present) associated with Arklow will be celebrated at a brunch on Thursday, March 8, in the Arklow Bay Hotel.

Local historian Jim Rees and John Mahon, grandson of Kate Tyrrell, will give talks about two different aspects of her life. There will be a cross section of women`s groups from Arklow town present, including some foreign national women who are now living and working in Arklow.

A raffle will be held on the day and all proceeds will go to Wonder Work's Women's charity in Nepal. This charity works to take young girls off the streets to train them in social skills and give them the knowledge needed to gain employment.

Welcoming the planned celebration, Cllr Tommy Annesley, chair of the Arklow Town Team and cathaoirleach of Arklow Municipal District, said: 'Kate Tyrell was an extraordinary woman and ahead of her time. In the face of outdated laws, she pursued her dream to be called Capitan. I would also like to congratulate the Town Team Heritage Subcommittee for this wonderful initiative.'

Tickets can be purchased from the Arklow Bay, McMullans, Kustomkids, Sandra Duffy, Cllr Mary McDonald, Cllr Miriam Murphy and at Arklow Municipal District.Brad Pitt has reportedly apologised to his ex-wife Jennifer Aniston, more than a decade after their 2005 marriage break-up.

According to US magazine In Touch, the actor (52) has offered an apology to his ex-wife for the way he treated her in the aftermath of their split.

Expand Close Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston started dating in 1998, they married in 2000 and divorced five years later. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) / Facebook

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The actor recently ended his marriage with his Mrs & Mrs Smith costar Angelina Jolie, with whom he has six children.

"He's been determined to apologise for everything he put her through and that's exactly what he did. It was the most intimate conversation Brad and Jen have ever had."

Expand Close Actor Jennifer Aniston (L) and Justin Theroux attend Jason Bateman's star unveiling ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, on July 26, 2017, in Hollywood, California. / AFP PHOTO / VALERIE MACONVALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Actor Jennifer Aniston (L) and Justin Theroux attend Jason Bateman's star unveiling ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, on July 26, 2017, in Hollywood, California. / AFP PHOTO / VALERIE MACONVALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images

"He apologised to Jen for being an absentee husband, for being stoned and bored. He also made amends for leaving her for Angelina," the source said.

Aniston wed actor and screenwriter Justin Theroux in 2015.

Expand Close Actor Brad Pitt (L) and actress Angelina Jolie arrive at the 84th Annual Academy Awards held at the Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) / Facebook

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Meanwhile, Pitt admitted earlier this year that he was boozing too much in the months before his split from Angelina Jolie, and has turned to therapy to help him through.

The Hollywood star also said he slept on the floor of a friends house for six weeks after his wife filed for divorce, because he could not bear to be in their family home.

In his first interview since the separation, Pitt told GQ Style he was a professional drinker, saying: I cant remember a day since I got out of college when I wasnt boozing or had a spliff, or something  I mean, I stopped everything except boozing when I started my family.

"But even this last year, you know  things I wasnt dealing with. I was boozing too much. Its just become a problem.

"And Im really happy, its been half a year now, which is bittersweet, but Ive got my feelings in my fingertips again."

He continued: "I enjoy wine very, very much, but I just ran it to the ground. I had to step away for a minute. And truthfully I could drink a Russian under the table with his own vodka. I was a professional. I was good."

Pitt, who has six children with Jolie, admitted that he had "hit the lottery" but let it go to waste, and is now finding comfort in therapy.

He said: "I just started therapy. I love it, I love it. I went through two therapists to get to the right one."

He added: "For me this period has really been about looking at my weaknesses and failures and owning my side of the street. Im an asshole when it comes to this need for justice  Its such a silly idea, the idea that the world is fair.

"And this is coming from a guy who hit the lottery, Im well aware of that. I hit the lottery, and I still would waste my time on those hollow pursuits."

After Angelina filed for divorce, Brad could not even bear to be in their house in the Hollywood Hills, saying: "It was too sad to be here at first, so I went and stayed on a friends floor, a little bungalow in Santa Monica.

I crashed over here a little bit, my friend (David) Fincher lives right here. Hes always going to have an open door for me, and I was doing a lot of stuff on the Westside, so I stayed at my friends house on the floor for a month and a half.

When asked if the split was like grieving a death, Pitt replied: Yeah, before adding that it has made him want to be a better father.

He said: "Its hit me smack in the face with our divorce: I gotta be more. I gotta be more for them. I have to show them. And I havent been great at it."

Pitt faced an FBI probe into an alleged altercation between him and his 15-year-old adopted son Maddox on a private plane, which happened just days before Jolie filed for divorce in September.

The investigation was closed in November, with Pitt facing no charges over the incident.Caitriona Balfe attends the Delpozo show during Fashion Week at Pier 59 Studios on September 13, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

Caitriona Balfe attends the official after party for the 70th EE British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) at The Grosvenor House Hotel on February 12, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)

Actors Sam Heughan (L) and Caitriona Balfe attend the "Outlander" Season 2 Premiere on April 4, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for STARZ)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 07: Actor Caitriona Balfe attends the 2018 InStyle and Warner Bros. 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards Post-Party at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for InStyle)

Caitriona Balfe is making the most of her brief return to Irish shores.

The Monaghan native (38) divides her time between Scotland, where hit show Outlander is filmed, and Los Angeles, where she has been living in recent years. But the supermodel-turned-Golden-Globe-nominated-actress flew to Ireland earlier this week for an appearance at the IFTA Awards on Thursday, where she won Best Actress in a Television Series, and appeared on Friday night's Late Late Show.

And despite being on one of the most high profile series' with a cult following that spans countries, she remains as low-key as it gets, and rarely speaks about her fiance Tony McGill, in fact she only confirmed their engagement at last month's Golden Globes after a magazine journalist let it slip on Instagram.

The couple are fiercely protective of their privacy: he avoids walking alongside her on the red carpet, but is often accompanying her at high profile awards ceremonies and he does not feature in pictures on her social media. The pair were snapped looking loved-up in Dublin, walking arm in arm around Stephen's Green during an afternoon of shopping.

Expand Close Actress Caitriona Balfe spotted with fiance Tony McGill close to St Stephen's Green / Facebook

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McGill, ia celebrated music producer, and Balfe have only been pictured together publicly twice during their two-year relationship.

On last night's Late Late, Balfe said: "He's a very shy person and he doesn't like much talking about him. I met him through one of my best friends which I think is the best kind of introduction you can get."

The former model championed Irish design in an electric blue mini-dress by Lennon Courtney for Dunnes Stores.Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual harassment and assault by dozens of women

The studio co-founded by disgraced mogul Harvey Weinstein has sacked its chief operating officer.

The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced on Friday that the board had unanimously voted to part ways with David Glasser.

The move came after a proposed sale of the studio was jeopardised when New Yorks attorney general filed a lawsuit accusing the board of failing to protect employees from Weinstein.

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The board of The Weinstein Company has unanimously voted to terminate David Glasser for cause, a TWC statement said, according to multiple reports.

New Yorks attorney general Eric Schneiderman also called for any sale of TWC to be used to compensate victims and said that neither perpetrators nor enablers must profit.

Mr Schneiderman said in a press conference that Glasser would have been put in charge after the sale despite, he claimed, there being evidence he failed to stop Weinstein.

Weinstein, 65, had a major fall from grace when dozens of women, including leading Hollywood stars, accused him of sexual harassment and abuse.

After the New York lawsuit, a lawyer for Weinstein, Ben Brafman, said there was certainly no criminality in his behaviour, despite it being not without fault.

Weinstein, who founded TWC with his younger brother Bob in 2005, has denied any allegation of non-consensual sex.

In October, the disgraced sibling was fired by TWC and then he stepped down from its board of directors as allegations mounted.Susan Sarandon has blamed Hollywoods corporate takeover for racism, sexism and ageism in the industry.

The actress, 71, made the comment on Friday during a discussion in Sydney, Australia, as part of the Tropfest short film festival, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The industry magazine reported that Sarandon blamed the increasing prevalence of remakes on a lack of imagination and the corporate takeover of making films.

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This is why we have so much sexism and racism and ageism in Hollywood, she added.

Theres a lot of businessmen that are making decisions, not people who necessarily love movies. This is where you get casting by how many followers you have on Instagram.

The US actresss comments come as Hollywood continues to see a reckoning over its treatment of women in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

She previously praised Cara Delevingnes bravery after the model became one of dozens of women to speak out about the disgraced movie mogul.

Delevingne claimed Weinstein asked her to kiss another woman and made advances to her in a hotel room meeting.

Weinstein, 65, is being investigated by police in London, New York and Los Angeles. He denies any allegation of non-consensual sex.A military helicopter carrying officials assessing damage from a powerful earthquake has crashed in southern Mexico, killing 13 people and injuring 15, all of them on the ground.

The Oaxaca state prosecutors office said the chopper crashed into a group of people who had been spending the night outside after a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the area.

Five women, four men and three children were killed at the crash site and another person died later in hospital.

Expand Close Family members mourn victims of the helicopter crash in Santiago Jimitepec, Oaxaca state / Facebook

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The Defence Department said the victims had been waiting for the helicopter, but did not provide more details.

The military helicopter apparently flipped and fell on top of the group of people as it attempted to land.

Mexicos Interior Department said that the helicopter was carrying Secretary Alfonso Navarrete and Oaxaca state Governor Alejandro Murat, who were evaluating reports of damage from the earthquake.

Mr Navarrete told local media that as the army helicopter we were travelling in tried to land, the pilot lost control, the helicopter fell and flipped.

You couldn't see anything, nothing else was heard beside the sound that iron makes when it scrapes the earthReporter Jorge Rosales

Jorge Rosales, a local reporter who was aboard the helicopter when it crashed, described harrowing moments as the pilot lost control and the helicopter attempted to land in a swirl of dust.

The moment the helicopter touched down it lost control, it slid  like it skidded  and it hit some vehicles that were stationed in the area, he said.

In that moment, you couldnt see anything, nothing else was heard beside the sound that iron makes when it scrapes the earth.

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The helicopter was attempting to land on a vacant piece of ground in the city of Jamiltepec, about 19 miles from the area of Pinotepa Nacional, the Mexican army said.

The US Geological Survey originally put the magnitude of Fridays quake at 7.5 but later lowered it to 7.2. It said the epicentre was 33 miles north-east of Pinotepa in southern Oaxaca state, and had a depth of 15 miles.

President Enrique Pena Nieto said via Twitter that both officials and crew were unhurt, although the interior department said that they had light injuries.A former 'Playboy' model has gone public about her alleged affair with US President Donald Trump after she claims a magazine bought her story in order to bury it.

Karen McDougal claims she met Mr Trump at a Playboy Mansion party in 2006, shortly after his wife Melania gave birth to the couple's son Barron.

Ms McDougal, a former 'Playmate of the Year', said that Mr Trump "immediately took a liking" to her, saying that one person at the party told her "wow, he was all over you - I think you could be his next wife".

Ms McDougal said she was wary of speaking publicly about her time with the future president for fear of legal reprisals.

Expand Close U.S. President Donald Trump leaves the White House yesterday. / Facebook

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However, the 'New Yorker' claims to have obtained a hand-written account of the affair, which Ms McDougal confirmed to the magazine was in her own handwriting.

On the eight-page document she details how they began a nine-month affair during which she visited him at a private bungalow in the Beverly Hills Hotel where he always ordered steak and mashed potatoes.

During their first sexual encounter, Ms McDougal claimed Mr Trump offered her cash afterwards.

"We talked for a couple hours - then, it was 'on'! We got naked + had sex," she wrote.

Afterwards, she said he offered her money.

"I looked at him (+ felt sad) + said, 'No thanks - I'm not 'that girl'. I slept w/you because I like you - not for money' - He told me 'you are special'.''

The former model claimed she was even introduced to Mr Trump's sons at a party.

She said she ended the relationship nine months later, in April 2007, after becoming frustrated with Mr Trump's inappropriate comments. She claimed he made racially charged comments about black men as well as sexually crude comments about a friend. ( Daily Telegraph London)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]The attack took place in Konduga, just outside the state capital, Maiduguri (PA)

A trio of suicide bombers detonated at a crowded fish market in northern Nigeria, killing at least 20 people, police said Saturday.

The bombers, all believed to be female, left dozens wounded at the fish market in Konduga, just outside the state capital, Maiduguri.

The city is the birthplace of the Boko Haram extremist insurgency and has been a frequent target.

Before I could pick up myself another one went off, then the third oneWitness Musa Bulama

Borno state police spokesman Joseph Kwaji confirmed the attack on Friday night and hospital officials said two patients later died from their injuries.

Musa Bulama, 32, said he was lucky to have survived the blasts.

I came to the night market to buy fish for dinner when I heard a loud bang some meters behind me and I saw myself on the ground, and before I could pick up myself another one went off, then the third one, he recalled.

I couldnt stand any longer and just laid down but everywhere was in total confusion.

He added: From the wailings, one can tell that there are many casualties.

Boko Haram continues to carry out deadly suicide bombings in Borno state and other parts of northern Nigeria as part of its violent campaign to establish an Islamic state in the West African nation.

The extremists have increasingly used women and youth as bombers, often after abducting and indoctrinating them.Undated file photo of Joanna Parrish from Newham on Severn, near Gloucester as convicted serial killer, Michel Fourniret, has reportedly confessed to killing the British woman in France 27 years ago. Photo: PA/PA Wire

A convicted serial killer has reportedly confessed to the murder of a British woman in France 27 years ago.

Joanna Parrish, (20), from Newnham-on-Severn, Gloucestershire, was raped and murdered in Auxerre in Burgundy in 1990.

The Leeds University student had been working as a English teacher as part of a university placement.

Convicted rapist and murderer Michel Fourniret, dubbed the Ogre of the Ardennes, was made prime suspect in the case.

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In 2008, Fourniret was sentenced to life in prison for the joint rape and murder of seven young women, aged 12 to 21.

Ms Parrishs family lawyer says he has now admitted to her murder.

Speaking to the BBC, lawyer Didier Seban said Fourniret had appeared in court two to three times and admitted to killing Ms Parrish each time.

He added that Fourniret would now be questioned further, which should lead to charges.

Expand Close Undated file photo of Joanna Parrish from Newham on Severn, near Gloucester as convicted serial killer, Michel Fourniret, has reportedly confessed to killing the British woman in France 27 years ago. Photo: PA/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Undated file photo of Joanna Parrish from Newham on Severn, near Gloucester as convicted serial killer, Michel Fourniret, has reportedly confessed to killing the British woman in France 27 years ago. Photo: PA/PA Wire

The victims father, Roger Parrish, told the broadcaster the confession had come as a shock and said he hoped it was not another false lead.

Ms Parrish had been teaching at the Jacques-Amyot high school in Auxerre in May 1990 on a work placement as part of her university degree.

Her flatmate at the time said Ms Parrish had been offering private English classes to supplement her income and had been contacted by a man who wanted her to teach his son.

Ms Parrish arranged to meet the caller in Auxerre but did not return home and her body was found the next day in the River Yonne.

She had been due to finish her placement a week after she disappeared and had planned to visit her boyfriend in Czech Republic, who was also a Leeds University student living abroad.

Speaking to the Telegraph in 2011, Ms Parrishs father said his bright, happy, caring daughter had reached the age when she was slipping free of the apron strings.The defence ministers of Germany and France pledged to redouble their military and foreign policy co-operation efforts yesterday, inviting other European countries to participate if they felt ready to do so.

In a speech to the Munich Security Conference, German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said Europe's countries would not be able to respond nimbly enough to global challenges if they were stymied by the need to decide joint foreign policy approaches unanimously.

"Europe has to up its pace in the face of global challenges from terrorism, poverty and climate change," she said. "Those who want to must be able to advance without being blocked by individual countries."

Her French counterpart, Florence Parly, said any such deepened co-operation would be complementary to the Nato alliance, which itself was based on the principle that members contributed differently depending on their capacities.

"The reality has always been that some countries are by choice more integrated and more able to act than others," she said.

The push comes as Germany's political class reluctantly concedes it must play a larger security role to match its economic pre-eminence in Europe, amid fears the European Union is unable to respond effectively to security concerns beyond its eastern and southern borders.

But in their deal for another four years of a "grand coalition" government, Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats have agreed to boost spending on the armed forces after years of post-Cold War decline.

The deal, which must still be ratified by the Social Democrat membership, comes as Germany reluctantly takes on the role of the continent's pre-eminent political power-broker, a role generations of post-war politicians have shied away from.

Days after US Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis reiterated President Donald Trump's demand that European countries spend more on their militaries, Ms Von der Leyen pledged to spend more on its military and the United Nations, but called in return for other countries not to turn away from multilateralism.

The pledges come as the EU seeks a new basis on which to co-operate with Britain, traditionally one of the continent's leading security players, after its vote to leave the EU.As Teflon politicians go, few compare to Israel's pugnacious Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

During a political career spanning some three decades, he has been accused on several occasions of alleged fraud or breach of trust but always managed to side-step prosecution. But the latest scandal to engulf his office has many in the region speculating whether it will prove his undoing.

Earlier this week investigators announced there was sufficient evidence to indict Mr Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in two cases that involve alleged favours for wealthy benefactors.

He is suspected of accepting some $300,000 (241,000) worth of gifts, including Champagne and expensive cigars, from Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer.

Netanyahu in turn allegedly lobbied US officials on Milchan's behalf regarding a visa matter and helped promote his business interests in Israel. The second case hinges on allegations Netanyahu offered preferential treatment to a newspaper publisher in exchange for positive media coverage.

Netanyahu has - true to form - come out fighting, rejecting the allegations and claiming investigators were overzealous.

In a televised address this week, he recounted that he had survived 15 other probes during his career and predicted these latest accusations would also come to nothing.

While Israel's attorney general will review the evidence before deciding whether to indict - a process which is likely to take several months - many are wondering how the weight of the case may affect Netanyahu's political manoeuvrings at a particularly difficult time, not just for the moribund Israeli-Palestinian peace process but the region more generally as Syria's war gets even more tangled.

Netanyahu likes to present himself as a political survivor and he is eyeing his place in the history books. He is currently serving his third consecutive term in office and his fourth overall.

Should he cling to power until summer next year, he would be the longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history after David Ben-Gurion, the state's founder.

This week's developments come as cracks began to appear in the relationship between Netanyahu and the Trump administration.

Two months after Trump upended decades of US policy by recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel - endearing himself to Netanyahu while alienating the Palestinian leadership - the US president told a right-wing Israeli newspaper he was concerned about the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and questioned Israel's willingness to make peace.

The White House this week rebutted Israeli media claims the US had discussed with Netanyahu a plan that would see Israel annex territory in the West Bank.

Some interpreted the reports as an attempt by Netanyahu to rally hardliners in his party and deflect from the gathering storm over the bribery and fraud allegations.

There is good reason for the Palestinians to worry that with the accusations hanging over Netanyahu he may try to further shore up his credentials with the harder reaches of the Israeli right and take more steps that could smother completely the prospect of a two-state solution.

Having dominated Israel's political stage for the past decade, the Netanyahu effect on the body politic means the public conversation has narrowed and tacked more to the right than ever.

Maintaining the coalitions of right-wing and religious parties he has crafted to keep him in office has exacted a heavy price on what remains of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, with the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank under his leadership a particular sticking point.

With months to go before the attorney general makes his decision regarding indictment, the way Netanyahu navigates this particular storm will have an impact far beyond Israel's borders.

In the case of former prime minister Ehud Olmert, who spent time in jail for bribery and fraud, it took eight months before he was indicted and he remained as head of a caretaker government until early elections were called.

An indictment for Netanyahu would likely trigger snap elections, raising all kinds of questions about what a post-Netanyahu political landscape in Israel would look like.

One thing is certain: the damage done during the Netanyahu era to the chances of a sustainable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be very difficult - if not impossible - to repair.Karen McDougal with Donald Trump in pictures she posted in September 2015 on Twitter, the post has now been removed

A former Playboy model has gone public about her alleged affair with Donald Trump after she claims a magazine bought her story in order to bury it.

Karen McDougal claims she began an affair with the future US president after meeting him at a Playboy Mansion party in 2006, shortly after his wife Melania gave birth to their son Barron.

Ms McDougal's handwritten account of the affair has been unearthed by Ronan Farrow, the journalist who was instrumental in exposing the allegations against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

The former model said she could not discuss details of her relationship with Mr Trump, for fear of violating the agreement she reached with AMI, the National Enquirer's publishing company, but said she regretted signing the contract.

"It took my rights away," she told Farrow in his report in the New Yorker.

However, the New Yorker has obtained a hand-written account of the alleged affair, which Ms McDougal confirmed she wrote.

What we learned from the hand-written letters

In the eight-page document she details how Mr Trump "immediately took a liking" to her, saying that one person at the party told her "wow, he was all over you - I think you could be his next wife".

Ms McDougal said they began a nine-month affair during which she visited him at a private bungalow in the Beverly Hills Hotel, where he always ordered steak and mashed potatoes.

Following their first sexual encounter, Ms McDougal claimed Mr Trump offered her cash.

"We talked for a couple hours  then, it was 'ON'! We got naked + had sex," she wrote, adding that afterwards he offered her money.

"I looked at him (+ felt sad) + said, 'No thanks - I'm not 'that girl.' I slept w/you because I like you - NOT for money' - He told me 'you are special.''

The former model claimed she was even introduced to Mr Trump's sons at a party.

Trump's 'crude comments'

Ms McDougal said she ended the relationship nine months later in April 2007, after becoming frustrated with Mr Trump's inappropriate comments.

She claimed he made racially charged comments about black men as well as making sexually crude comments about a friend.

Ms McDougal, who has since become religious, also worried about what her mother would think of her lifestyle.

She was persuaded to sell her story to AMI around the time Mr Trump was seeking the Republican party's nomination because a former friend began publicly discussing the alleged affair.

In a report last year, Mr Farrow claimed AMI colluded with Weinstein to silence his accusers by buying up exclusive rights to their stories and refusing to print them.

Ms McDougal, a former 'Playmate of the Year', said she was offered $150,000 (120,000) for the information on her alleged affair with Mr Trump but the National Enquirer never published her story.

Mr Farrow, whose journalism late last year has contributed to 75 allegations of sexual harassment against Weinstein, claims this is a regular tactic used by AMI's CEO, David Pecker, who describes the president as "a close personal friend".

A spokesman for AMI told The Telegraph: The New Yorker and Ronan Farrows suggestion that AMI engages in any practice that would allow it to hold influence over the President of the United States is laughable.

Ms McDougal said that poor health and the emergence of the 'Me Too' movement had prompted her to speak publicly despite her agreement with AMI.

I know its a different circumstance but I just think I feel braver, she said. Every girl who speaks is paving the way for another.

A White House spokesperson denied the allegations, saying: "This is an old story that is just more fake news. The president says he never had a relationship with Ms McDougal".

In a separate development, Donald Trump's lawyer earlier this week admitted paying an ex-porn star who has previously claimed she had an affair with Mr Trump.

he actress, who goes by the stage name Stormy Daniels, was paid $130,000 (104,000) by Michael D Cohen, Mr Trump's long-term personal lawyer, before the US presidential election.

Mr Cohen has previously said Mr Trump "vehemently denies" the sexual encounter occurred but refused to say what the payment was for.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]The Boston Globe's front page on Friday, February 16 - two days after the Florida school shooting

The Boston Globe newspaper's Friday front page featured coverage of a mass shooting that hasn't happened yet.

On Friday, the Boston Globe dedicated its entire front page to an imagined mass shooting. There are no images, just text. The column came under the headline: 'We Know What Will Happen Next'.

Written by Globe columnist Nestor Ramos, the poster front page addressed the familiar themes and common responses to mass shootings in the US. The newspaper argued that mass shootings have become so common in the US that they now follow the "same, sad script".

Ramos highlighted overlapping factors in gun massacres in the past few years, including those at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Parkland high school in Florida and Las Vegas.

"He will be a man, or maybe still a boy," Ramos wrote. "He will have a semiautomatic rifle  an AR-15, or something like it  and several high-capacity magazines filled with ammunition. He will walk into a school, or a concert, or an office building. And he will open fire into a crowd of innocents.

"We will hear about the heroes: Teachers who barricaded their classrooms or threw themselves between their students and the gunfire; concertgoers who shielded strangers as bullets plowed into their backs, the column read.

"And we will hear about him: He was strange and troubled and cruel to animals; hed shown signs of mental illness; he lost his job; he beat his wife, Ramos wrote.

"There are only three things we dont know about the next time: Who, where, and how many."

The issue of The Boston Globe was published two days after an attack on a Florida high school that left at least 17 people dead.

The Florida school shooting marks the 18th time a gun has been fired at a school in the US since the start of the year, according to Everytown for Gun Safety - a gun control group that monitors incidents.

It is the eighth school shooting in the US to have resulted in death or injury so far this year.H R McMaster, U.S. National Secutity Advisor addresses the conference in Munich (Sven Hoppe/AP)

The evidence of Russian meddling in the 2016 American election is beyond dispute, President Donald Trumps national security adviser has told an international conference.

H R McMaster was answering a question from a Russian delegate, shortly after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov left the same stage at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

Referring to the indictment of 13 Russians announced on Friday, Mr McMaster said with the FBI indictment, the evidence is now incontrovertible of Russia cyber-meddling.

He also scoffed at any move to work with Russia on cybersecurity, saying we would love to have a cyber dialogue when Russia is sincere about curtailing its sophisticated form of espionage.

Just moments earlier, Mr Labrov had dismissed the indictments as just blabber.

The federal indictment brought by special counsel Robert Mueller represents the most detailed allegations to date of illegal Russian meddling during the campaign that sent Mr Trump to the White House.

Asked about the indictment Mr Lavrov replied: I have no response. You can publish anything, and we see those indictments multiplying, the statements multiplying.

Grand Jury Indicts Thirteen Russian Individuals and Three Russian Companies for Scheme to Interfere in the United States Political System https://t.co/P0BA7UY8lC  Justice Department (@TheJusticeDept) February 16, 2018

He argued that US officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, have said no country influenced the US election results.

Until we see the facts, everything else is just blabber  Im sorry for this expression, Mr Lavrov said.

The 13 are charged with running a huge but hidden social media trolling campaign aimed in part at helping Republican Mr Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.

The indictment marks the first criminal charges against Russians believed to have secretly worked to influence the outcome.

According to the indictment, the Russian organisation was funded by Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Expand Close A views of the four-story building known as the troll factory in St Petersburg, Russia (Naira Davlashyan/AP) / Facebook

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He is a wealthy St Petersburg businessman with ties to the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Lavrov denounced this irrational myth about this global Russian threat, traces of which are found everywhere  from Brexit to the Catalan referendum.

In Russia, one of those indicted said that the US justice system is unfair.

Mikhail Burchik was quoted by the newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda as saying: I am very surprised that, in the opinion of the Washington court, several Russian people interfered in the elections in the United States. I do not know how the Americans came to this decision.

Mr Burchik was identified in the indictment as executive director of an organisation that allegedly sowed propaganda on social media to try to interfere with the 2016 election.

Mr Burchik was quoted as saying on Saturday that they have one-sided justice, and it turns out that you can hang the blame on anyone.Thousands of angry students, parents and residents have demanded stricter gun control laws, as new details were revealed about the suspect accused of killing 17 people in a Florida high school.

The rally, held in central Fort Lauderdale, was attended by scores of students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where the shooting happened.

Teenagers spoke passionately during Saturdays rally in front of the federal courthouse, pleading with legislators to change the nations gun laws.

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One student, Emma Gonzalez, angrily criticised politicians who take campaign contributions from the National Rifle Association. She challenged them to stop taking money, leading the crowd in a call-and-response chant.

They say a good guy with a gun stops a bad guy with a gun, she said, and the crowd chanted, We call BS.

She also said adults who knew that the shooter was mentally ill should have done more to prevent him from having a weapon.

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From a mosaic of public records, interviews with friends and family and online interactions, it appears that Nikolas Cruz was unstable and violent to himself and those around him  and that when notified about his threatening behaviour, law enforcement did little to stop it.

He reportedly left a suburban Palm Beach County mobile home in November because his benefactor threatened to remove him if he kept a gun.

The Palm Beach Post reported Rocxanne Deschamps said: He bought a gun and wanted to bring it into my house in public comments that have since been removed from her Facebook page.

Chad Bennett, a friend of Ms Deschamps, said Cruz chose the gun and he left.

He then went to live with another family; his mother died in November and his father died years ago.

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Floridas child welfare agency investigated after he cut himself in an online video but found him stable, according to state records.

The Sun-Sentinel reported that Floridas Department of Children and Families (DCF) investigated when Cruz posted a video on the social media network Snapchat showing him cutting his arms in 2016.

The agency was called to investigate. Cruz, then 18, was listed as an alleged victim of medical neglect and inadequate supervision. His adoptive mother, then-68-year-old Lynda Cruz, was named as the alleged perpetrator.

Mr Cruz was on Snapchat cutting both of his arms, the Florida DCF abuse hotline was told in August 2016, the paper reported. Mr Cruz has fresh cuts on both his arms. Mr Cruz stated he plans to go out and buy a gun. It is unknown what he is buying the gun for.

According to the paper, the DCFs investigation was completed that November. The agency concluded that Cruz had not been mistreated by his mother, was receiving adequate care from a mental health counsellor and was attending school.

Mental health centre staff came out and assessed the (victim and) found him to be stable enough not to be hospitalised, the DCF report said.

Cruz had been diagnosed with autism, a neurological disorder that often leads to social awkwardness and isolation, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

Three teenagers told Buzzfeed on Saturday that Cruz became jealous and angry when his ex-girlfriend broke up with him and began seeing someone else.

The FBI said it received a tip-off last month that Cruz had a desire to kill and access to guns and could be plotting an attack, but agents failed to investigate. The governor called for the FBI director to resign.

A person close to Cruz called the FBIs tip line on January 5 and provided information about Cruzs weapons and his erratic behaviour, including his disturbing social media posts. The caller was concerned that Cruz could attack a school.

In a statement, the agency acknowledged that the tip should have been shared with the FBIs Miami office and investigated, but it was not. The startling admission came as the agency was already facing criticism for its treatment of a tip about a YouTube comment posted last year. The comment posted by a Nikolas Cruz said: Im going to be a professional school shooter.

The FBI investigated the remark but did not determine who made it.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the shooting that killed 17 people on Wednesday was a tragic consequence of the FBIs missteps and ordered a review of the Justice Departments processes. He said it is now clear that the nations premier law enforcement agency had missed warning signs.

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said his office had received more than 20 calls about Cruz in the past few years.

Cruz faces 17 counts of first-degree murder in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and is being held at the Broward County Jail without bond.The ground texture seen in recent images from the rover resembles a smudged version of very distinctive stone stripes on some mountain slopes on Earth that result from repeated cycles of freezing and thawing of wet soil. But it might also be due to wind, downhill transport, other processes or a combination.

Opportunity landed on Mars in January 2004. As it reaches the 5,000th Martian day, or sol, of what was planned as a 90-sol mission (see related story), it is investigating a channel called "Perseverance Valley," which descends the inboard slope of the western rim of Endeavour Crater.

"Perseverance Valley is a special place, like having a new mission again after all these years," said Opportunity Deputy Principal Investigator Ray Arvidson of Washington University in St. Louis. "We already knew it was unlike any place any Mars rover has seen before, even if we don't yet know how it formed, and now we're seeing surfaces that look like stone stripes. It's mysterious. It's exciting. I think the set of observations we'll get will enable us to understand it."

On some slopes within the valley, the soil and gravel particles appear to have become organized into narrow rows or corrugations, parallel to the slope, alternating between rows with more gravel and rows with less.

The origin of the whole valley is uncertain. Rover-team scientists are analyzing various clues that suggest actions of water, wind or ice. They are also considering a range of possible explanations for the stripes, and remain uncertain about whether this texture results from processes of relatively modern Mars or a much older Mars.

Other lines of evidence have convinced Mars experts that, on a scale of hundreds of thousands of years, Mars goes through cycles when the tilt or obliquity of its axis increases so much that some of the water now frozen at the poles vaporizes into the atmosphere and then becomes snow or frost accumulating nearer the equator.



"One possible explanation of these stripes is that they are relics from a time of greater obliquity when snow packs on the rim seasonally melted enough to moisten the soil, and then freeze-thaw cycles organized the small rocks into stripes," Arvidson said. "Gravitational downhill movement may be diffusing them so they don't look as crisp as when they were fresh."

Bernard Hallet of the University of Washington, Seattle, agrees the alignments seen in images of Perseverance Valley are not as distinctive as the stone stripes he has studied on Earth. Field measurements on Earth, near the summit of Hawaii's Mauna Kea where the soil freezes every night but is often dry, have documented how those form when temperature and ground conditions are right: Soils with a mix of silt, sand and gravel expand more where the finer-grain material is most prevalent and retains more water. Freezing expands the soil, pushing larger particles up. If they move to the side, as well as down the general slope, due to gravity or wind, they tend to move away from the finer-grain concentrations and stretch out downslope. Where larger particles become more concentrated, the ground expands less. The process repeats hundreds or thousands of times, and the pattern self-organizes into alternating stripes.

Perseverance Valley holds rocks carved by sand blowing uphill from the crater floor, and wind might also be the key in sorting larger particles into rows parallel to the slope.

"Debris from relatively fresh impact craters is scattered over the surface of the area, complicating assessment of effects of wind," said Opportunity science-team member Robert Sullivan of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. "I don't know what these stripes are, and I don't think anyone else knows for sure what they are, so we're entertaining multiple hypotheses and gathering more data to figure it out."

Image Credits: NASA/JPL-CaltechNew Delhi, Feb 17 (IBNS): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recently stated that most of the fraud Letters of Understandings (LoUs) were issued or renewed by diamond czar Nirav Modi and his kin, who are alleged to have been involved in the country's biggest bank scam, in the year 2017-2018, media reports said.

Along with Modi, his maternal uncle Mehul Choksi is also involved in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam and fraudulent LoUs.

A fresh FIR filed by the CBI against Choksi claimed that Modi's kin along with three companies had defrauded PNB of money worth Rs. 4886.72 crore by issuing 143 LoUs in the year 2017-2018 through the bank.

The CBI's statement gave a new turning point to the tussle between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress who have locked their horns in blaming each other for the bank scam, unfolded days ago.

Meanwhile, the government on Friday announced that the passport of the fugitive billionaire Nirav Modi, the prime accused in the Rs. 11,292-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case, and his business partner Mehul Choksi have been cancelled for four weeks.

On the advice of the Enforcement Directorate, the passport issuing authority in the Ministry of External Affairs has suspended the validity of passports of Mr. Nirav Deepak Modi and Mr. Mehul Chinubhai Choksi with immediate effect for a period of four weeks u/s 10(A) of the Passports Act 1967, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.

Modi, who is in the centre of a huge storm, reportedly left the country in January, much before the scam came to light.

According to media reports, he is now in New York.

Meanwhile, Interpol has issued diffusion notice against Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal and partner Choksi.

The diffusion notice is a request for cooperation or alert mechanism, less formal than an actual notice but is also used to request the arrest or location of an individual or additional information in relation to a police investigation.

On February 14, the CBI received complaints from PNB, which detected a Rs 11,292 crore fraud involving Modi.

ED started raiding Nirav Modis home, offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Surat on Thursday.

According to reports, Punjab National Bank has suspended eight more officials. The number of suspended employees now stands at 18, which also includes General Manager level officers. Internal investigation of the bank is still underway."Though I have been closely following Indias political and economic trajectory for many years now, never before have I been struck by the maturity and confidence of Indias global outreach, and the manner in which it has been approaching international issues, as in the year gone by," he wrote in his piece published in EP Today.

Martusciello said India's engagement with other global partners has been unparalleled, citing example of Indias recent Republic Day celebrations, which witnessed the presence of Heads of State of 10 ASEAN countries.

Praising India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Martusciello said that the former's innate ability to build a personal rapport with world leaders has helped India stand out globally.

"The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has infused new vigour into Indias relations with nations globally, dramatically enhancing the countrys international standing. It would appear that apart from his innate ability to build a personal rapport with world leaders, PM Modi has also laboured hard to identify and build on the unique characteristics of each foreign policy engagement. One has observed equal attention to detail in his engagements with countries as disparate as Mozambique and the US," he wrote.

"At the multilateral level too, India has actively participated in, and contributed to, groupings such as the G-20, SCO, BRICS, IORA, SAARC and the ASEAN, to name a few. India has also hosted international events like the Global Conference on Cyber Space, the Global Entrepreneurial Summit and has institutionalised the Raisina Dialogue, an annual gathering of strategic thinkers, similar to the Shangri La Dialogue held in Singapore. All these send out a single message to the world community  it is time to recognise Indias rise as a regional power, a stabilizing force in South Asia, with the potential to positively impact global policy," he added.

The Italian lawmaker also highlighted India's latest tension with China pertaining to Dokalam, stating that the former refused to buckle under the latter's pressure.

"Even before the Doklam stand-off, India refused to buckle under Chinese pressure, and was the only country that declined to participate in the Belt and Road Summit in Beijing, citing issues of sovereignty and territorial integrity. India maintained that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the flagship BRI project, passed through Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan Administered Kashmir, which were sovereign Indian territories under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. By doing so, India had hit out against a Chinese core issue, something noted by the world community," the piece read.



Hitting out at Pakistan, he wrote that India has rightly campaigned to unmask Pakistan's growing links with international terrorism.

"Indias no-holds-barred global campaign to unmask the Pakistani States nexus with terror groups has also started showing results, coming as it does, at a time when the world community is waking up to the fact that Pakistan has become the incubator of international terrorism," Martusciello's piece read.

Urging democracies and groupings to invest in India's growth, he wrote, "Indias advent on the world stage would, no doubt, be raising concerns in Beijing and Islamabad. However all responsible democracies of the world, and groupings like the European Union, should welcome this development, and invest in Indias rise in Asia and the world. A politically and economically strong India would contribute substantially to the stability of the region, and to the overall global equilibrium."



Banner Image: Narendra Modi/Twitter

Body Image: fulviomartusciello.comKohima, Feb 17 (IBNS): Just 10 days are left for the assembly polls in Nagaland as poll violence incident has been reported from the poll bound state on Saturday.

According to the reports, a National Peoples Party (NPP) candidate has been reportedly attacked by an unidentified miscreant in Nagalands Mokokchung town on Friday evening.

NPP candidate from 28 Koridang assembly constituency in Mokochung district T Chalukumba Ao was attacked by an unidentified miscreant was thwarted by the quick response of his bodyguard, a Nagaland police constable on Friday evening at Mokokchung town.

The incident was took place at New Market area of Mokokchung Town while the NPP the candidate had stopped at the market area to purchase from a shop.

While the NPP candidate entered at the shop after attending a prayer meeting at a Baptist church at Impur, one of two miscreants had allegedly fired upon him and the bodyguard from Nagaland police had retaliated and firing several rounds blank fire and unidentified miscreant had fled from the area.

Nagaland Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma said that, police has taken the matter seriously and started investigation into the incident.

The DGP also announced cash reward to the Nagaland police constable who saved life of the NPP candidate.

Nagaland is going to hold the assembly polls on February 27 and 195 candidates are in fray.

On the other hand, 14 cases have been registered in connection with election related offences in the poll bound state.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)New Delhi, Feb 17 (IBNS): Iran's President Hassan Rouhani is currently visiting India and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday

During the meeting between two leaders, they discussed on cooperation in trade & investment, energy, connectivity, defence & security and regional issues.

Both the countries also signed nine agreements.

Among the nine agreements signed between the two countries are issues like easing visa rules and cooperation on medical sector, apart from a maritime agreement on Chabahar Port development.

Rouhani is paying a state visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Feb 15-17.

Narendra Modi had paid a State visit to Iran in May 2016.

Besides his official engagements in Delhi, President Rouhani will also visit Hyderabad.

New Delhi, Feb 17 (IBNS): Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that educational institutions must provide varied and rich learning experiences to students.

He was addressing the Addresses Platinum Jubilee Celebration of Rouzathul Uloom Association at Farook College in Kozhikode, Kerala on Saturday.

The Minister for Local Administration, Kerala, K.T. Jaleel and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

The Vice President said that we need to lay a strong foundation in the early years of schooling in order to become lifelong learners.



What is important is the ability to be curious, to observe, analyze, synthesize, draw conclusion, test hypothesis, and advance continuously the frontiers of knowledge, he said.

The Vice President said that educational managers, teachers and researchers should help build a system that has equity and quality as the two guiding principles.

He further said that each child is important for us and each moment we spend with the child and young person is precious.

It has tremendous potential - potential to inspire, the potential to catalyze creative, positive thinking, the potential to change individuals, families and countries for the better, he added.

The Vice President said that education is an emancipatory tool and it liberates us from dependence, restores self-confidence and enhances self-esteem. If we dont expand access to good education, we shall have widening gaps between different sections of our society which might negate economic progress, he added.

Following is the text of Vice President's address:

"I am privileged to be among the finest creative minds of the world assembled here for this inaugural function of the 8th Theatre Olympics at this historic Red Fort. The journey from Delphi (Greece) in 1993 to Delhi in 2018, completes 25 years and we are proud to host this important cultural event at this momentous time.

Art and cultural ties have united humanity from time immemorial. Ancient civilizations like the Greek, Roman, Babylonian, Egyptian and Indus Valley civilizations have enriched the cultural capital of the world. There is a fascinating diversity in the themes and presentation but the emotions conveyed appeal to all human beings across the globe.

The seven colours of the rainbow are different and beautiful but underneath the difference is a common origin. Which is why art has united and connected various cultures and continents.

The theatre Olympics is yet another initiative to connect countries and cultures and enrich our collective consciousness. Since it started in Delphi in 1993 and now it is being held in the equally historic city of Delhi, let me recall the great contribution made by two of the most ancient cultures in the world. Greek culture is replete with great philosophers like Plato, Socrates and Aristotle as well as dramatists like Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides. Theatre was an important and integral part of Greek civilization. Around the 4th century BC regarded as the Golden Age of Greek drama, the centre-piece of the annual festival Dionysia was a competition between three tragic playwrights at the Theatre of Dionysus.

Ancient Indian civilization also had a grand tradition of performing arts.

Bharata Munis NAaya AsAstra written around 5th century BC is an ancient encyclopedic treatise on the performing arts. Drama, in this ancient Sanskrit text, is an art to represent every aspect of life and imitate what happens in the lives of people (Avasthanukrutir Natyam) in order transport the audience to a state of joyful consciousness.

As the commentator Abhinavagupta says, the performing arts temporarily suspend us from the ordinary world and takes us into another parallel reality full of wonder.

In the Indian thought, life is an integrated whole into which Dharma (Righteousness), Artha (Wealth), Kama(Desire) and Moksha (Emancipation) are inextricably interwoven.

Similarly, there are nine aesthetic experiences called Nava rasas which can transform the inner state and where the beauty of art lifts us into higher consciousness.

From amateur village clubs to professional theatre groups, from folk and tribal theatre to highly sophisticated modern and post-modern theatre, India has witnessed a distinctive theatre tradition, dominating the societys cultural space. The theatre traditions of our country are our cultures enduring legacies. Our theatre is one of the oldest in the world, going back to 2500 years. Coming down to the present from the ancient times, the common roots of our apparently different genres of theatre tell the story of a cultural synthesis which distinguishes our civilization. Regardless of our diversities of language, religion or region, theatre in India is a common form of performing art and all states have a rich history of theatre tradition.

In fact, diversity has been the defining feature of our countrys reality. Play wrights and artistes, writers and poets have captured the essence of this reality in their creative pursuits in the past and, continue to do so today. This has given a distinct identity to Indian creativity. And, this Theatre Olympics showcases and celebrates our unique cultural identity.

Theatre, as I understand, is a powerful medium, where the practitioners may use different locales and different languages, to convey an idea, to entertain or enlighten and focus on a societal issue. The theatre performers have the power to transcend regional and cultural barriers and address the larger humanity. Often, the themes such as poverty, hunger, oppression, atrocities, wars and displacements which are common to all societies capture the imagination of the theatre directors. I feel that these themes could be creatively used through theatres to bring about social change and transformation by retrieving hope from hopelessness, optimism from despair and joy from seemingly endless sorrow.

Sisters and Brothers,

Art is a mirror of the society and is reflection of the lives of people. It is a creative transformation of the stories of ordinary lives into an extraordinary art form.

Art forms touch human hearts like no other impulse. It can produce different aesthetic responses in the viewers. It can move them to tears, make them laugh heartily, make them feel angry about an issue, make them feel disgusted about some reality. There are a whole lot of emotions it can generate. However, art is an expression of certain values inherent in a culture.

There are certain values that are universal like the desire for friendship, yearning for peace and harmony. Art can help us to sublimate many raw emotions or as the Greek dramatists called it, undergo catharsis in which our thoughts get purified. The Indian tradition also emphasized the need for art to keep in view the impact which should serve the larger objective of good to humanity (Vishwa shreyah kaavayam).

Sisters and Brothers,

It is a matter of great happiness that the Logo of this Theatre Olympics has been designed as Flag of Friendship. It brings to my mind a beautiful song composed by a contemporary Indian Saint, Paramacharya Chandrashekhara Saraswathi and which echoes the timeless Indian vision of the whole world as one family.

Maithreem Bhajatha Akhila Hrith Jethreem

(Cultivate Friendship and Humility, which will conquer the Hearts of Everyone)

This is a message that India has been giving the world for many centuries. It is probably a message that is most relevant in a world that is torn with narrow, fractured vision. I am hopeful that the theatre Olympics will keep the flag of peace and friendship flying high and melt the hardened, icy hearts and flood our world with the rejuvenating rivers of love and oceans of compassion.

I welcome all the artists from around the world and I am hopeful that you will share with each other different facets of your artistic excellence and take away pleasant memories of your stay here.

My compliments to the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the countrys premier theatre institute, the National School of Drama and its Chairperson, the distinguished playwright and theatre director, Mr. Ratan Thiyam, for organizing this mega theatre event.

My greetings to all the theatre personalities present here from as many as 35 countries participating in this theatre extravaganza.

Thank You, Jai Hind!"New Delhi, Feb 17 (IBNS): Attacking the Congress, the ruling BJP on Saturday said the recently unveiled multi-crore PNB scam, involving billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi, occurred during the tenure of the previous UPA rule.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, countering the Congress, said the government is taking action against Nirav Modi.

The Defence Minister alleged that Congress President Rahul Gandhi attended a promotional event hosted by Nirav Modi earlier.

"Nirav Modi's company had taken a property on rent in Mumbai from a company whose directors are wife & son of Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Both companies have done financial transactions. Despite the clear links, Congress has the audacity to make allegations against BJP," Nirmala said while addressing a press conference.

Alleging that Rahul Gandhi was present in the promotional event hosted by Nirav Modi, she said: " On 13 Sept 2013, Rahul Gandhi attends a promotion event of Gitanjali Gems. On 15 Sept 2013, a proposal to give loans of Rs. 1,550 crore to this jewellery group is put up in Allahabad Bank board meeting. One director opposes it. He is asked to resign. Join the dots."

The Congress targeted the BJP over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence so far in the Nirav Modi episode.

Attacking the BJP, the Congress tweeted: " One minister speaks for another's ministry. The minister, who is supposed to speak, doesn't. The PM hasn't spoken yet. When will the FM and the PM come clean on the Nirav Modi Scam? #ChhotaModi."

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recently stated that most of the fraud Letters of Understandings (LoUs) were issued or renewed by diamond czar Nirav Modi and his kin, who are alleged to have been involved in the country's biggest bank scam, in the year 2017-2018, media reports said.

Along with Modi, his maternal uncle Mehul Choksi is also involved in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam and fraudulent LoUs.

A fresh FIR filed by the CBI against Choksi claimed that Modi's kin along with three companies had defrauded PNB of money worth Rs. 4886.72 crore by issuing 143 LoUs in the year 2017-2018 through the bank.

The CBI's statement gave a new turning point to the tussle between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress who have locked their horns in blaming each other for the bank scam, unfolded days ago.

Meanwhile, the government on Friday announced that the passport of the fugitive billionaire Nirav Modi, the prime accused in the Rs. 11,292-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case, and his business partner Mehul Choksi have been cancelled for four weeks.

On the advice of the Enforcement Directorate, the passport issuing authority in the Ministry of External Affairs has suspended the validity of passports of Mr. Nirav Deepak Modi and Mr. Mehul Chinubhai Choksi with immediate effect for a period of four weeks u/s 10(A) of the Passports Act 1967, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.

Modi, who is in the centre of a huge storm, reportedly left the country in January, much before the scam came to light.

According to media reports, he is now in New York.

Meanwhile, Interpol has issued diffusion notice against Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal and partner Choksi.

The diffusion notice is a request for cooperation or alert mechanism, less formal than an actual notice but is also used to request the arrest or location of an individual or additional information in relation to a police investigation.

On Feb 14, the CBI received complaints from PNB, which detected a Rs 11,292 crore fraud involving Modi.

ED started raiding Nirav Modis home, offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Surat on Thursday.

According to reports, Punjab National Bank has suspended eight more officials. The number of suspended employees now stands at 18, which also includes General Manager level officers. Internal investigation of the bank is still underway.New Delhi, Feb 17 (IBNS): Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Saturday rubbished allegations leveled against him by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman that he and his family had links with Nirav Modi's companies.

He warned Sitharaman that she and her colleagues were 'liable to civil and criminal defamation for making ill considered and patently false allegations."

"BJP / NDA cheap sense of politics has reached ludicrous and ridiculous proportions. Neither My wife, sons nor me have anything whatsoever to do with Gitanjali or Nirav Modi companies," Sitharaman said in a statement.

"Nirav Modis company was a tenant of a kamla mills property owned by Adwait holdings in which my wife and sons are a director. Adwait holdings owns a commercial property at Parel, as it does elsewhere, which was rented by firestone many years ago," he said.

He further said: "Neither adwait nor my family has any interest with modi or Firestone. Last August firestone gave notice to quit tenancy and vacated parel kamla mills premises in December 2017."

Warning the BJP, he said: "Nirmala Sitharaman & her colleagues liable 2 civil & criminal defamation for making ill considere & patently false allegations. I reserve my rights 2 take al such appropriate legal action agnst d latter & all parts of d media whch carry such false & maliciously defamatory allegations."

Attacking the Congress, the ruling BJP on Saturday said the recently unveiled multi-crore PNB scam, involving billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi, occurred during the tenure of the previous UPA rule.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, countering the Congress, said the government is taking action against Nirav Modi.

The Defence Minister alleged that Congress President Rahul Gandhi attended a promotional event hosted by Nirav Modi earlier.

"Nirav Modi's company had taken a property on rent in Mumbai from a company whose directors are wife & son of Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Both companies have done financial transactions. Despite the clear links, Congress has the audacity to make allegations against BJP," Nirmala said while addressing a press conference.

Alleging that Rahul Gandhi was present in the promotional event hosted by Nirav Modi, she said: " On 13 Sept 2013, Rahul Gandhi attends a promotion event of Gitanjali Gems. On 15 Sept 2013, a proposal to give loans of Rs. 1,550 crore to this jewellery group is put up in Allahabad Bank board meeting. One director opposes it. He is asked to resign. Join the dots."

The Congress targeted the BJP over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence so far in the Nirav Modi episode.

Attacking the BJP, the Congress tweeted: " One minister speaks for another's ministry. The minister, who is supposed to speak, doesn't. The PM hasn't spoken yet. When will the FM and the PM come clean on the Nirav Modi Scam? #ChhotaModi."

My Statement on @nsitharaman 's ill considered, ignorant and patently false allegations #NiravModi pic.twitter.com/dFZZvGtmEj  Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) February 17, 2018

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recently stated that most of the fraud Letters of Understandings (LoUs) were issued or renewed by diamond czar Nirav Modi and his kin, who are alleged to have been involved in the country's biggest bank scam, in the year 2017-2018, media reports said.

Along with Modi, his maternal uncle Mehul Choksi is also involved in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam and fraudulent LoUs.

A fresh FIR filed by the CBI against Choksi claimed that Modi's kin along with three companies had defrauded PNB of money worth Rs. 4886.72 crore by issuing 143 LoUs in the year 2017-2018 through the bank.

The CBI's statement gave a new turning point to the tussle between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress who have locked their horns in blaming each other for the bank scam, unfolded days ago.

Meanwhile, the government on Friday announced that the passport of the fugitive billionaire Nirav Modi, the prime accused in the Rs. 11,292-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case, and his business partner Mehul Choksi have been cancelled for four weeks.

On the advice of the Enforcement Directorate, the passport issuing authority in the Ministry of External Affairs has suspended the validity of passports of Mr. Nirav Deepak Modi and Mr. Mehul Chinubhai Choksi with immediate effect for a period of four weeks u/s 10(A) of the Passports Act 1967, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.

Modi, who is in the centre of a huge storm, reportedly left the country in January, much before the scam came to light.

According to media reports, he is now in New York.

Meanwhile, Interpol has issued diffusion notice against Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal and partner Choksi.

The diffusion notice is a request for cooperation or alert mechanism, less formal than an actual notice but is also used to request the arrest or location of an individual or additional information in relation to a police investigation.

On Feb 14, the CBI received complaints from PNB, which detected a Rs 11,292 crore fraud involving Modi.

ED started raiding Nirav Modis home, offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Surat on Thursday.

According to reports, Punjab National Bank has suspended eight more officials. The number of suspended employees now stands at 18, which also includes General Manager level officers. Internal investigation of the bank is still underway.New Delhi, Feb 17 (IBNS): One of the key accused in the country's biggest bank scam by diamond czar Nirav Modi, ex-official of Punjab National Bank (PNB) Gokulnath Shetty has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), media reports said.

The arrest, which is considered to be a major crackdown on the PNB scam, was made on Saturday.

Apart from Shetty, another bank official Manoj Hanument and authorised signatory of Modi-run companies, Hemant Bhatt, have also been arrested by the CBI.

All three accused have been sent to the CBI custody till March 14.

Along with Modi, his maternal uncle Mehul Choksi is also involved in the PNB scam of Rs. 11,292-crore.

The government on Friday announced that the passport of the fugitive billionaire Modi and Choksi have been cancelled for four weeks.

Modi, who is in the centre of a huge storm, reportedly left the country in January, much before the scam came to light.

According to media reports, he is now in New York.

Meanwhile, Interpol has issued diffusion notice against Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal and partner Choksi.

On February 14, the CBI received complaints from PNB, which detected a Rs 11,292 crore fraud involving Modi.

ED started raiding Nirav Modis home, offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Surat on Thursday.New Delhi, Feb 17 (IBNS): Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday made a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by holding him responsible for the country's biggest bank scam by diamond czar Nirav Modi, media reports said.

While interacting with media, Rahul linked the scam with demonetisation of old currencies which was carried out by the Modi government on November 8, 2016.

"On that day, he (PM) took the entire nations money and put this into banks. Now, his friends and cronies have stolen that money from the banks, Rahul was quoted by News 18.

He added, "PM has through his actions destroyed the finances of this country, especially with moves like demonetisation. What is he going to do now to keep the banking system safe?"

The Congress chief has also raised question on the numbness of Prime Minister Modi and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on the entire matter.

He said ministers responsible to some other portfolios like Defence, Social Justice spoke on the matter but the PM could not make time to utter a single word on the entire scam though he had interacted with children for one-and-half hours on how to tackle examination pressure.

Along with Nirav Modi, his maternal uncle Mehul Choksi is also involved in the PNB scam of Rs. 11,292-crore.

The government on Friday announced that the passport of the fugitive billionaire Modi and Choksi have been cancelled for four weeks.

Modi, who is in the centre of a huge storm, reportedly left the country in January, much before the scam came to light.

According to media reports, he is now in New York.

Meanwhile, Interpol has issued diffusion notice against Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal and partner Choksi.

On February 14, the CBI received complaints from PNB, which detected a Rs 11,292 crore fraud involving Modi.

ED started raiding Nirav Modis home, offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Surat on Thursday.

One of the key accused in the country's biggest bank scam by diamond czar Nirav Modi, ex-official of Punjab National Bank (PNB) Gokulnath Shetty has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), media reports said.

The arrest, which is considered to be a major crackdown on the PNB scam, was made on Saturday.

Apart from Shetty, another bank official Manoj Hanument and authorised signatory of Modi-run companies, Hemant Bhatt, have also been arrested by the CBI.

All three accused have been sent to the CBI custody till March 14.Agartala, Feb 17 (IBNS): Voting in 59 out of 60 Assembly seats of Tripura will take place on Sunday as the state is witnessing a close contest between incumbent Left and emerging BJP.

The polling in the reserved Charilam seat of the state has been rescheduled to March 12 due to the death of CPI-M candidate Ramendra Narayan Debbarma, media report said.

Manik Sarkar, the poorest Chief Minister of the country, is leading the CPI-M-led Left Front government in the state for 25 years.

Manik Sarkar is the longest serving Chief Minister of any state followed by late Jyoti Basu, who was at the helm in West Bengal.

Tripura, a CPI-M bastion, is one of the two states where the Left still rules.

The campaigns in the state were held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah largely for the February 18 poll.

The Congress was barely present in the campaign trials in the state this time.

The BJP, which has stormed the north and northeast India in last few years, is trying to keep its footprint in the eastern state of India.

CPI-M and CPI together are having 51 out of total 60 Assembly seats in the state.

While CPI-M claims to return to power, BJP President Amit Shah has asserted that the next Tripura government will be formed by the saffron party only.

PM Modi said the Communist party will be uprooted from the state by the BJP.

The poll results will be out on March 3.Mumbai, Feb 17 (IBNS): Veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor has expressed his regret for not belonging to the era of internet sensation Priya Prakash Varrier.

Praising Priya, who has created a storm on social media with her expressions in a viral video, Kapoor tweeted to say the new sensation will give a tough time to her contemporary actors.

Kapoor described the 18-year old Malayalam actress as "expressive,coy coquettish yet innocent".

The tweet reads, "I predict huge Stardom for this girl. Priya Warrier (Varrier). So expressive,coy coquettish yet innocent. My dear Priya, you going to give all others in your age group a run for their money. God Bless and the best to you! Mere time mein naheen ayeen aap! Kyon? Lol."

The video which went viral on social media was from Priya's upcoming Malayalam film Oru Adaar Love, in which she will make her acting debut in south Indian movies.

The sweet video, where a girl, who is none other than Priya, could be seen winking at a boy, exchanging unsaid love messages, started treading across all social media platforms in India.

Her fan base on Instagram is growing at a rapid pace.

In fact, she is one of the few celebrities in the world who has got more than 600k followers in just 24 hours. She is currently having 3.7 millions followers on Instagram.

Her account has now been verified too by Instagram.Christened as Uma, the Bengali film is being directed by eminent filmmaker Srijit Mukherji with ace actors Jisshu Sengupta, Anjan Dutt, Anirban Bhattacharya and Rudranil Ghosh playing prominent characters. This film will also mark the debut of Jisshu Sengupta's daughter- Sara Sengupta playing the title role of Uma. The film is at the post production stage and is expected to release in June this year.

The film has been adapted from the real-life story of Canadian boy Evan Leversageknown as The Boy who moved Christmas after his hometown St. George staged a spectacular Christmas celebrationwith lights, parade and artificial snowtwo months before December 25 in 2015 to make sure that the seven-year-old boy suffering from an incurable brain tumour witnessed the last Christmas of his life. Leversages story had attracted the attention of people from different parts of the world, with Hollywood celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres and Ashton Kutcher pitching in.



SVFs Umathe change in the storyline made for artistic and cultural reasonsis a story about a young girl (raised in Austria) battling a terminal disease, a father struggling to make his daughters dream come true and a director with a past haunting him. Father Himadri makes an all-out effort to take Uma to Kolkata to fulfil her last desire to see Durga Puja before her life slips away, even if it means setting up a false Durga Puja, the most celebrated Bengali festival.

The film is all about searing emotions wracking the characters, including the father-daughter duo, something that will truly inspire the viewers while keeping them on the edge of their seats.



When I read about Evan Leversage, I was moved to tears. It was hard to imagine what had motivated the people of St. George to come together and move forward Christmasall for this child. I wanted to capture this rare act of humanity on celluloid so the inspirational story reaches a bigger audience cutting across geographical boundaries, said director Srijit Mukherji, the maker of such critically acclaimed films as Autograph, Baishey Srabon, Jaatishwar, Zulfiqar and Rajkahini, who contacted Leversages mother, Nicole Wellwood, and informed her of the decision to base a movie on the story of her sons last Christmas.



Mahendra Soni, Co-founder and Director, SVF said This is a truly touching and inspirational story and Uma will capture it for the audience in Bengal and elsewhere in the country. Moreover, it is being directed by a filmmaker as accomplished as Srijit Mukheji. We, at SVF, believe in promoting and producing path-breaking films that often sets the trend and I have no doubt in my mind that this film will touch peoples heart everywhere on earth, breaking the language and cultural barriers,New York, Feb 17 (JEN): Expressing concern over a surge in the number of juvenile offenders being executed in Iran, the United Nations top human rights official called on the country to abide by its obligations under international law and immediately halt all executions of people sentenced to death for crimes committed when they were under the age of eighteen.

The execution of juvenile offenders is unequivocally prohibited under international law, regardless of the circumstances and nature of the crime committed, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Raad Al Hussein, said in a news release Friday.

The imposition of the death penalty on people who committed crimes when they were under 18 is in clear violation of Irans obligations under two international treaties that is has ratified and is obliged to uphold  namely the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in January, three people  two male and one female  were executed for crimes they committed when they were 15 or 16 years old. A fourth juvenile offender, who was believed to be on the point of being executed on Wednesday, has reportedly received a temporary reprieve of two months.

In addition, a number of other juvenile offenders are also believed to be in danger of imminent execution, with a total of some 80 such individuals reported to be currently on death row, after being sentenced to death for crimes they committed when they were under eighteen.

I am sad to say that Iran violates this absolute prohibition under international human rights law far more often than any other State, expressed the UN rights chief, stressing that no other State comes even remotely close to the total number of juveniles who have been executed in Iran over the past couple of decades.

Zeid also said that Iran assigns criminal responsibility to girls as young as nine years old, whereas boys are not considered criminally responsible until they reach the age of 15.

This discrepancy between the two genders is wholly unjustifiable on every level, he stressed, adding that the application of the death penalty to any person, female or male, under 18 is illegal and unacceptable.

Some partial improvements in application of death penalty in drugs crime

Also in the release, the High Commissioner noted that there had been some partial improvements in relation to other aspects of the application of the death penalty in Iran, most notably a bill amending the drug-trafficking law that was approved by the Guardian Council in October 2017.

As a result of the amendment, some drug offences that were previously punishable by the death penalty are now subject to a prison term, although the mandatory death sentence is retained for a wide range of drug-related offences.

According to OHCHR, the amendment provides for retroactive applicability, which means that all people currently on death row for drug-related offences which are no longer punishable by the death penalty should see their sentence commuted.

In this context, Zeid urged Iran to swiftly establish the modalities for the review of all individual cases sentenced to death under the drug-trafficking law, following the principles of transparency, due process and to ensure effective legal representation of all those sentenced.

At present, there are about 5,300 inmates on death row for drugs crimes in the country.

UN Photo/Jean-Marc FerreNew York, Feb 17 (JEN): Thousands of civilians in east Ghouta now have life-saving food and medical supplies after the first aid convoy in nearly three months reached the besieged enclave just outside the Syrian capital of Damascus, the top United Nations humanitarian official in the country said on Friday.

Whilst this development is welcome, it is absolutely insufficient. The people reached represent 2.6 per cent of the 272,500 people in need in east Ghouta, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Ali Al-Zatari, said in a statement Friday.

The supplies were delivered on 14 February. Aid workers have had no access to the besieged city for 78 days.

However, other supplies, including much-needed water and sanitation, education materials and non-food items, such as kitchen sets, blankets and plastic sheets, were not allowed to be loaded in the convoy, added the UN official.

As to the situation on the ground, the convoy  comprising UN agencies and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent  reported that the months-long isolation has left the local population tired and exhausted.

Families are forced to skip meals, some only having one meal a day. A young ailing girl informed the team she has been eating yogurt and nothing else, noted Mr. Al-Zatari.

In addition, the stocks of basic commodities in the market are running dangerously low and prices are prohibitively expensive for the vast majority of people.

The rations delivered by the convoy will be shared among families, with five families sharing one basket.

This is not enough to sustain them for long and the impact of increasing levels of food insecurity  especially on children and pregnant women  is evident.



Furthermore, caesarean-sections (C-sections) now account for 25 per cent of all births, likely caused by malnutrition among women and their lack of strength to give birth.The UN team witnessed a number of cases of severe acute malnutrition amid growing reports of an impending crisis. Healthcare workers at Shofiniyeh hospital reportedly screened 317 children under five in the last two weeks with 69 cases of acute malnutrition and 127 of children at risk.

Paucity of medicines and health supplies taking a toll

The UN team also saw expired anaesthetics, the use of which has resulted in two deaths; and with vaccines running low, hundreds of children are feared to be at risk of disease.

Reports of cases of communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis, typhoid fever and scabies have emerged. Furthermore, with flare up of hostilities the number of people in need of urgent medical evacuation have also increased significantly.

The fighting has resulted in a surge of new displacement, with reports of hundreds of families desperate enough to seek refuge in other parts of east Ghouta  many of which are not safer  than the places they were forced to flee.

People in need must be served, wherever they are. If Nashabiyeh is a sample of communities in need, then the situation is far graver than imagined, said Mr. Al-Zatari, calling on all parties to the conflict, and those with influence over them, to allow immediate, safe, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access to all in need  particularly those in besieged and hard-to-reach areas.

To do so, we repeat our call for an urgently required one-month cessation of hostilities. We will continue appealing for access to all those in need, and remind those responsible of their obligation to grant it under international humanitarian law, he added.



OCHA/Ghalia SeifoNew York, Feb 17 (JEN): Reverberations of the Syrian conflict  which has now lasted longer than World War II  are being felt throughout the region, including in Lebanon, which shares most of its land border with the war-torn country, and hosts hundreds of thousands of its refugees, the head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warned on Friday.

Almost seven years into the Syrian conflict, Lebanon remains at the forefront of one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time and continues to show exceptional commitment and solidarity to people displaced by the war in Syria, said Achim Steiner, the UNDP Administrator, wrapping up his first official visit to the country.

[We] remain committed to supporting the Lebanese Government and local communities hosting refugees in their efforts to maintain stability and to continue its support to local communities hosting refugees.

The ongoing Syria crisis has impacted Lebanons social services, infrastructure and jobs.

The UNDP chief also visited Bourj Hammoud, an area hosting close to 20,000 Syrian refugees, and saw the impact of the crisis at the local level and how the Lebanese community and Syrian refugees manage day to day issues such as their childrens education, earning an income and accessing essential health services.During his visit, Steiner met with the Lebanese Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, as well as many other senior officials and discussed the challenges the nation faces, seven years into the Syria crisis.

Every refugee would like to return home but, in the meantime, until conditions permit, our role is to assist Lebanon in managing the global public good it provides, he said, underscoring UNDPs support for the upcoming Paris and Brussels Conferences.

During his visit, Steiner also attended a roundtable discussion on Lebanons efforts in pursuit of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with officials from the Parliament and Government, alongside representatives of civil society and the private sector.

UNICEF/UN0158355/Halldorsson



New York, Feb 17 (JEN): Strengthening the rule of law and improving the national police and the judicial system in Haiti will require political will on the part of the authorities, and the United Nations is determined to support this goal, said Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Bintou Keita.

Keita, who took up her post last September, traveled to Haiti from 5 to 9 February to support the efforts of the new UN Mission for the Support of Justice in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), to discuss the Missions mandate with the Haitian Government and other partners, and to ensure that human rights are at the heart of the countrys sustainable development agenda.

Established in October 2017, MINUJUSTH succeeded a previous UN peacekeeping mission, known as MINUSTAH, with a smaller mandate from the Security Council, focused on helping the Haitian Government strengthen its rule-of-law institutions.

In an interview with UN News, Keita said that the Security Council has given the Mission a brief two-year timeframe, starting in April 2018, to help Haiti overcome systemic problems and to ensure that fundamental progress is taking place in the justice sector, the judiciary, security and human rights. She added that all interlocutors in Haiti agreed that the judiciary was the weakest of the three branches of Government.

Her visit focused mainly on discussing the milestones, or benchmarks, that will make it possible to measure the gradual assumption of responsibilities by the Haitian authorities of those critical rule-of-law issues, to allow the Security Council to withdraw the peacekeeping presence all together by Spring 2020.

The Assistant Secretary-General also made a field visit to Jeremie, in the south-west of the country, to see and hear for herself the realities on the ground, where MINUJUSTH mobile teams engage with the local communities to hear how the justice system works in practice. She described her emotional visit to a civilian prison, where she saw the living conditions of the prisoners, the majority of whom are on pre-trial detention.

The overall system is really showing the symptoms of a sick system and dysfunctional system ... Its been years since the diagnosis was made. What we need now is a real political will to address the issues that will allow to deliver real change and create trust between the people and the justice system, she said.

The next steps for MINUJUSTH and Haiti, as Keita said in her joint statement on 9 February with President Jovenel Moise, is to move forward in partnership and seize the opportunity of the Missions presence over the next two years to consolidate gains and to redouble efforts to achieve ambitious but realistic common goals, thus preparing the exit strategy for the peacekeeping operation.

Efforts will focus on the fight against impunity and corruption, on improvements to the judicial system, and on measures in the field of preventive detention.

According to Keita, strengthening the institutions of the rule of law is a long-term goal. In the short term, however, the goal is to show visible results so that people can regain confidence in the will of the authorities to do things with the support of the international community.

MINUJUSTH/Leonora Baumann



Islamabad, Feb 17 (IBNS): In a major development, an anti-terrorism court (ATC), which was hearing the rape and murder case of seven-year-old Zainab, gave death sentence to Imran Ali Naqshbandi in its verdict on Saturday, media reports said.

The court sentenced Imran to death for kidnapping, for rape, for murder and under Section 7-ATA. Additionally, for performing an unnatural act with a minor he has been sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1 million and for desecrating human remains by dumping Zainab's body in the garbage he was sentenced to 7 years, Punjab Prosecutor General Ehtesham Qadir was quoted as saying by Geo News.

In this crucial case that had stirred a protest in Pakistan, saw the defence and prosecution concluding their arguments recently.

A total of 56 witnesses including Zainabs uncle and brother recorded their statements against Imran. The prosecutor informed the court that the forensic report and polygraph test proved that Imran murdered Zainab, reported Geo News.

Zainab Amin was kidnapped on Jan 4.

Her body was found in a garbage bin on Jan 9.

The rape and murder of Zainab left people shocked across Pakistan.

Protests hit Kasur later, demanding arrest of culprits.Florida, Feb 17 (IBNS): US President Donald Trump visited Broward Health North Hospital on Friday to meet several victims of the Florida school shooting incident are being treated.

" I will be leaving for Florida today to meet with some of the bravest people on earth - but people whose lives have been totally shattered. Am also working with Congress on many fronts," Trump tweeted.

Trump told reporters he spoke to the victims of the incident in the hospital.

"Very sad something like that could happen," he was quoted as saying by CNN.

After the incident, Trump had said in a statement: " Our entire nation, with one heavy heart, is praying for the victims and their families. To every parent, teacher, and child who is hurting so badly, we are here for you  whatever you need, whatever we can do, to ease your pain. We are all joined together as one American family, and your suffering is our burden also.No child, no teacher, should ever be in danger in an American school. No parent should ever have to fear for their sons and daughters when they kiss them goodbye in the morning."

He said: " Today, we mourn for all of those who lost their lives. We comfort the grieving and the wounded. And we hurt for the entire community of Parkland, Florida that is now in shock, in pain, and searching for answers."

At least 17 people were killed and another 14 were wounded in the shooting that took place Wednesday at a high school in Parkland.

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, beside traveling to hospital, the Broward County sheriff's office to meet law enforcement officials who had responded to the shooting incident on Wednesday.

Nikolas Cruz, the suspect in the crime, has been taken into custody.We can't stop crushing over Virat Kohli and the reason this time is completely different. Under the captain-ship of Virat Kohli, team India has registered itself as the winner against South Africa in the sixth ODI.

Thanks to the partnership of Virat and Ajinkya Rahane that the team managed to score 126-run, that led to their grand victory.

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And not many know that this also makes him the first batsman ever to score 500 runs in a bilateral ODI series. After his victory, Kohli spoke to media and had the most adorable things to say about his wife Anushka Sharma.

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A part of the interview as a video clip is going viral and it's love in its purest form. Hinting at Anushka, who also is his best cheerleader, he said,

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My wife has been keeping me motivated throughout, she deserves a lot of credit for this. She has been criticized a lot in the past, but she is one person who has kept me going through out this tour and when times have been tough and I am really grateful for that."

We wonder what trolls and haters have to say now!Defying the customary process of fall in love, get married and have babies, actor and VJ Purab Kohli gave us a lesson on how to do it differently.

The actor and his British girlfriend Lucy Paton welcomed their daughter two years ago and had some big plans for her. When Purab was asked two years ago what his plans for marriage were and he told media,

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My mother was the most concerned and my family did say you guys have to get married quickly when she was pregnant. But I was adamant about not doing it because I never wanted my baby to feel that we got into a relationship because she was coming. Her coming into this world has transformed both our lives for the better. She is our love child and has bloomed even more love between both of us and made me love life more. I dont want her to ever feel that it was not meant to be. It was meant in every possible way and she was the force of nature and nothing could stop her from coming into this world.

Purab had added how there was another reason why the wedding had to wait. He had said,

Lucy was three months pregnant when we learned about the baby. She didnt want to wear her wedding gown with the baby bump, so we decided to get married later."

And looks like Kohli managed to stick to his words. Purab Kohli and British girlfriend Lucy Paton had a dream destination wedding in Goa and it was every bit of dreamy. Their wedding was an intimate gathering of family and friends, the couple chose to go the traditional way.

Instagram

The news of Purab and Lucy wedding came as a pleasant surprise after his friend and Aisha actor Amrita Puri shared the news. She posted,

(Also read: Purab Kohli Talks About His Newborn Daughter For The First Time & It's Insanely Adorable!)All of us are familiar with the nightmare of suffering through flatulence and indigestion while travelling, and even worse, when someone else is playing the tumpet!

A passenger on low-cost Dutch airlines plane flying from Dubai to Amsterdam got frustrated because of this very problem. A co-passenger could not stop his flatulence. The flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Vienna after a fight broke out mid-air, forcing the crew to intervene. According to multiple media reports, the reason for the fight was a passenger who wouldn't stop farting.

The Daily Mail quoted a local newspaper De Telegraaf, which reported that a Transavia Airlines flight made an unscheduled stop in Austria after two Dutch men threw a fit of objection to a passenger who was flatulent. The man reportedly continued to fart, despite pleas from the crew and other passengers. Whether or not he had a medical condition is still unclear but he allegedly refused to stop, a fight broke out.

The pilot then had no other option but to land in Vienna because of the passengers going on the rampage. The Austrian police was called into the cabin on landing and escorted four passengers off the plane.

representational image / reuters

A police spokesperson told The Mirror that a passenger suffering from wind who was not attempting to restrain himself. The two women sitting in the same row as the two angry Dutchmen were escorted off the plane. It's unclear what happened to the passenger who was farting, but the escorted passenger were banned and had to get from Vienna to Amsterdam by making their own alternate arrangements.Nearly 1,000 students were expelled for cheating during the Class 12 examinations in Bihar, officials said on Saturday. Anand Kishore, the Chairman of the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), told the media that the students were expelled for adopting unfair means during the examinations that concluded on Friday.

The examinations had started on February 6. The chairman said that 25 fake examiners were also caught and FIRs were lodged against guardians for helping their wards cheat in the examinations.

representational image

He claimed the examinations were held in a fair manner this time and mass cheating in Bihar was a thing of the past. It is not possible now.

Nearly 112,07,986 students appeared for the Class 12 exams at 1,384 centres across the state.

Mass cheating has been reported in Bihar for years. Last year, the Class 12 Arts topper turned out to be a 42-year-old man, who had faked his age to take the test. He was arrested on charges of fraud.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is all set to arrive in India later in the evening for a seven-day long official visit to the country along with his family and a delegation comprising of his cabinet and business leaders.

His week-long stay in India he will travel across the country, meeting with business leaders and community leaders.

PM Trudeau is scheduled to visit Agra, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and New Delhi as part of his trip.

On Sunday he will visit the Taj Mahal in Agra after which he will travel to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat.

Trudeau has a number of programmes scheduled in Gujarat including a visit to to the Sabarmati Ashram and Akshardham Temple. He will also take part in a discussion in the IIM about business opportunities.

Reuters

He will also pay a visit to Delhi's iconic Jama Masjid, before travelling to Amritsar on Tuesday where he will visit the Golden Temple. The visit to the Sikh holy shrine is seen significant, especially given the community's presence in Canada.

There are an estimated 1.4 million India-origin people living in Canada.Religious diversity and freedom to choose and follow a particular faith have been a mark of the Indian constitution. It goes without saying that peaceful coexistence of people from different faiths in India is seen as an example of a near perfect pluralistic society. Many constitutions across the world seek inspiration for religious rights from the Indian constitution. Even a country like Iran that is a theocracy (where clergy are the key decision makers and can turn down the decisions made by the democratically chosen government) praises India for maintaining such high standards of multiculturalism over the years.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who is on a visit to India, could not himself from gushing over Indian secularism and religious freedom. The President lauded India's cultural diversity, saying multiple faiths and schools of thought co-exist peacefully in the county.

According to reports, Rouhani met with Muslim intellectuals, scholars and clerics, beginning his three-day India visit.

The leader clarified that Islam is not a religion of violence, but one of moderation.

"Iran wants unity, independence and support for the East. Iran wants fraternity with India. We do not want to have any differences with other countries as well," said Rouhani who is on his first India visit since assuming charge as president in 2013.

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He lauded India's culture and traditions, and said the country was a "living museum" of religions and schools of thought.

"We see a lot of temples, other places of worship, and they are living in peace. They are having peaceful co-existence," he said.

Muslims, non-Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs are coexisting in peace in India, he said.

afp

Iran believes that there is no military solution to problems which are diplomatic in nature, Rouhani said.

"When a war is imposed, people have no other option but to defend themselves, and those who defend are the true companions and true followers of the almighty God," he said.

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"We want to clear the hurdles for the people of Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen. The solution is unity and brotherhood in joint effort," he said.

Rouhani hoped that the historic Indo-Iran relations will continue to gather steam despite pressure from the American administration.

A large number of people who were present were moved by the heartfelt speech by the leader and surrounded him to take a selfie on the occasion.If everything turns out as intended, the 5.7-tonne GSAT-11 will be possibly the last heavy Indian satellite to be launched by a foreign space agency, according to K. Sivan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The GSAT-11 communication satellite will be launched by Arianespace's Ariane rocket soon.

"We are working on a dual concept: Increasing the carrying capacity of our heaviest rocket -- the 640-tonne Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mk III (GSLV Mk III) to six tonnes -- while producing high throughput and lower weight communication satellites," said Sivan.

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He said nearly 60 per cent of the satellite weight consists of onboard chemical fuel and by opting for electric power for manoeuvring in space the mass of the satellite will be reduced.

The Indian space agency had tried electric propulsion in its GSAT 9 satellite.

At present, the GSLV Mk III rocket has a carrying capacity of four tonnes. The Indian space agency is working on increasing GSLV Mk III's carrying capacity to six tonnes.

"Now most of the satellites will be contained to four-six tonnes," Sivan said. According to Sivan, the capacity enhancement is not restricted to GSLV Mk III alone but also to other rockets as it would bring down the overall launch cost. But that doesn't mean ISRO would freeze development of higher payload rockets.

AFP/Representational Image

"We have the capability to design and build over six-tonne payload rockets. We will start designing for bigger rockets," Sivan remarked.

"Our major objectives are to increase the production of rockets so as to increase the number of satellite launches; enhance our rocket's capability; look at reduction of rocket production cost; develop and realise the small rocket with a carrying capacity of 500 kg and also realise reusable launch vehicle/rocket," Sivan remarked.

According to him, to increase the production of rockets, the space agency is looking at transferring the technology for making Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket to industries.

"We are working out the methodologies like joint venture for that purpose," Sivan said. That apart, ISRO is also open for transferring the technologies developed by it to the private sector for commercialisation and wider use.

"For instance, we will be transferring the technology for making lithium ion battery that could be used to power automobiles," Sivan added.

AFP/Representational Image

Sivan said ISRO is also focusing on developing a reusable launch vehicle that involves a lot of new technologies and the Scramjet engine which in turn would reduce costs.

According to him, the first half of 2018 will be busy with the launch of Chandrayaan II (moon mission), GSAT 6A and a navigation satellite as the replacement for the first of the seven navigation satellites.

On January 12, ISRO launched its remote sensing satellite Cartosat.

Sixty-year-old Sivan, the new head of the Indian space agency, is not shy of saying that he wore trousers and chappals for the first time when he stepped into the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) here for a degree in aeronautical engineering.

"I studied in Tamil medium in a government-owned school. I wore only dhoti and shirt without any footwear till I finished my graduation at the ST Hindu College in Nagercoil. Only after joining MIT did I start wearing trousers and chappals," Sivan told IANS.

AFP/Representational Image

Son of a farmer, Sivan used to help his father in farming and also in his vegetables/fruits trading activity during his school days. Today, as the head of one of the world's premier space agencies, Sivan's task is cut out.

Sivan's elder son has completed electronics and communication engineering and the younger son is pursuing a graduate degree in animation while his wife is a homemaker.

Queried about his management style Sivan said: "I delegate work and expect deliverables as promised. Space system is unforgiving. If there is a problem, it will fail."Dealing with unpredictable rains is just one of Indian farmer's worries. And as if loans, price for the crops and lack of facilities in the interiors weren't enough, now they have to guard against land acquisition as well. To protest against their land being acquired, a group of farmers in Rajasthan's Sikar partially buried themselves in pits. Their lands are being acquired for a toll road.

bccl

The farmers are demanding the government to compensate for the losses. Narendra Batad, member of the Sangharsh Samiti told ANI that if their demands are not met by the government of Rajasthan, "our protest will intensify day by day," he said.

ANI

The farmers will increase the depth of the pits by one foot as each day passed by and the protest would be carried out during the daytime. Batad said on Monday a rally will be taken out to continue the protest.Australias Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull imposed a formal ban on sex between Ministers and their staff on Thursday after his deputy made a shocking error of judgment by having an affair that left an aide pregnant and the government reeling.

Mr Turnbull announced the amendment to the ministerial code of conduct at an extraordinary press conference during which he slammed deputy Barnaby Joyce for causing terrible hurt and humiliation to his wife and four children.

Barnaby made a shocking error of judgment in having an affair with a young woman working in his office, he said.

reuters/representational image

Such a sex taboo, he says

Mr Turnbull amended the code of conduct to make it unequivocally clear that Ministers, regardless of whether they are married or single, must not engage in sexual relations with staff.

Mr Joyce, 50, has been under immense pressure since his affair with former media adviser Vikki Campion, 33, who is now pregnant with their child, became public last week.

Mr Joyce, whose National Party is in a coalition with Mr. Turnbulls Liberals, will take leave next week.

reuters

Mr Turnbull could sack Mr. Joyce, but that risks fracturing the ruling coalition and could cause a rift between the Liberal and National parties.

Mr Joyce admitted to the affair after a picture of his pregnant lover was splashed across the front page of The Sydney Daily Telegraph, and has publicly apologised to his wife Natalie and their daughters.Continuing with his inclusive manner of functioning, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today put on a 'veshti' and celebrated the Tamil harvest festival of Pongal with the Tamil Canadians of his country.

Trudeau on Wednesday wished the Tamil community on the occasion of Pongal.

Taking to his Twitter handle Trudeau shared pictures celebrating the festival with the Tamil community of Canada and wishing luck on the day.

Trudeau said he "has a great time" at the festivities. It also happens to be 'Tamil Heritage Month' in Canada. He posted pictures of the celebrations on Twitter. And he wished everyone in Tamil: "Iniya Thai Pongal Nalvazhthukkal!", which means, "Sweet Pongal Greetings."

Iniya Thai Pongal Nalvazhthukkal! Had a great time celebrating Tamil Heritage Month and Thai Pongal in Scarborough this evening. pic.twitter.com/fjZMGclH09  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) 17 January 2018

John Tory, the Mayor of Toronto, was also present at the festivities. He and Trudeau also helped prepare the Pongal meal, also called 'Pongal'. It's a dish made of rice and lentils.

Helping prepare pongal this evening at Gary Anandasangarees Tamil Heritage Month and Thai Pongal reception with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The sweet rice celebrates a successful harvest. #TamilHeritageMonth #ThaiPongal pic.twitter.com/DsviCFwgiv  John Tory (@JohnTory) 16 January 2018

The 2016 census in Canada said there are 157,000 Tamil people in Canada, but the community itself estimates they number between 200,000 and 300,000. In October 2016, the Canadian Parliament decided to celebrate January as Tamil Heritage Month.

Happy Thai Pongal and Tamil Heritage Month to all those celebrating! Iniya Thai Pongal Nalvazhthukkal! https://t.co/aM84171IvC pic.twitter.com/QK5zvY26rV  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) 14 January 2018

They said this was to "recognise the contributions that Tamil-Canadians have made to Canadian society, the richness of Tamil language and culture, and the importance of educating and reflecting upon Tamil heritage for future generations".Chart of the Day: ICON - Healthcare Research Barchart - 28 minutes ago The Barchart Chart of the Day belongs to the healthcare company ICON (NASDAQ: ICLR ). I found the stock by sorting Barchart's Top Stocks to Own list first by the most frequent number of new highs... ICLR : 263.21 (-0.80%)

Natural Gas Prices Soar on Tight U.S. Supplies Barchart - 42 minutes ago October Nymex natural gas (NGV21 ) on Wednesday closed up +0.200 (+3.80%). Oct nat-gas prices on Wednesday extended this week's sharp rally up to a new 7-1/2 year nearest-futures high. Nat-gas prices... NGV21 : 5.465 (+3.90%)

Crude Oil Rallies Sharply on Depleted U.S Crude Supplies Barchart - 43 minutes ago October WTI crude oil (CLV21 ) on Wednesday closed up +2.15 (+3.05%), and October RBOB gasoline (RBV21 ) closed up +0.0342 (+1.57%). Oct WTI crude oil and Oct RBOB gasoline prices on Wednesday rallied... CLV21 : 72.65 (+3.11%) RBV21 : 2.2102 (+1.74%)

Cocoa Prices Remain Firm on Solid Global Cocoa Demand Barchart - 1 hour ago Dec ICE NY cocoa (CCZ21 ) on Wednesday closed up +7 (+0.26%), and Dec ICE London cocoa #7 (CAZ21 ) closed up +16 (+0.89%). Cocoa prices on Wednesday moved higher for a third straight session and posted... CCZ21 : 2,663s (+0.26%) CAZ21 : 1,809s (+0.89%)

Sugar Rallies Sharply as Crude Jumps to a 1-1/2 Month High Barchart - 1 hour ago October NY world sugar #11 (SBV21 ) on Wednesday closed up +0.56 (+2.95%). Oct London white sugar #5 (SWV21 ) closed up +16.30 (+3.29%). Sugar prices on Wednesday rallied sharply, with London sugar posting... SBH22 : 20.26s (+3.05%) SWZ21 : 514.50s (+3.06%)

Coffee Prices Settle Higher on Dollar Weakness and Brazil Dryness Barchart - 1 hour ago Dec arabica coffee (KCZ21 ) on Wednesday closed up +1.90 (+1.02%), and Nov ICE Robusta coffee (RMX21 ) closed up +19 (+0.92%). Coffee prices on Wednesday settled moderately higher as a weaker dollar sparked... KCZ21 : 187.35s (+1.02%) RMX21 : 2,082s (+0.92%)What Is a Concentration Account?

A concentration account is a deposit account used to aggregate funds from several locations into one centralized account. Institutions use concentration accounts to process and settle internal bank transactions, often with same-day settlement.

Key Takeaways A concentration account is a deposit account at a bank used to aggregate funds from multiple accounts into one centralized account.

The primary purpose of a concentration account is for cash management that allows for a simple and efficient movement of cash across multiple funds.

Concentration accounts are useful for accounts that need to maintain minimum balances or for sweeping accounts at the end of the business day.

Money laundering may be facilitated through the use of concentration accounts via the ability of quickly moving funds around.

The U.S. Patriot Act established certain banking guidelines to thwart illicit activity in concentration accounts.  

Understanding a Concentration Account

The intended goal of concentration accounts is to make cash management for customers simple and efficient, allowing them to move funds from one account to another depending on their business needs. Having a centrally located account allows for the quick disbursement of funds as needed.

Banks may employ concentration accounts for fund transfers, private banking transactions, trust and custody accounts, and international transactions. Fund transfers generally occur among checking accounts and savings accounts or from savings to an individual retirement account (IRA); however, these can occur on a larger scale than individual retail transfers.

Concentration accounts are extremely beneficial when some accounts need to maintain minimum balances. If these accounts fall below their requirement threshold then the funds in a concentration account can quickly be moved to the account with a shortfall and thereby satisfying the minimum requirement and avoiding costly penalty fees.

The reverse function of cash management is also an advantage of concentration accounts. Certain clients wish to have a zero end of day balance in an account for a variety of reasons, primarily earned interest, and so sweep accounts at the end of the day, moving funds back to the concentration account or another account that earns higher interest.

Concentration Accounts and Money Laundering

Money laundering is the process of concealing the movement of large amounts of money, obtained from criminal activity, such as trafficking illegal substances or terrorist projects. Organized criminals know that dealing in cash is highly inefficient and risky. Money laundering creates the appearance that these funds originated from a legitimate source.

U.S. authorities heavily scrutinize concentration accounts due to the possibility of money laundering in these vessels. For example, it may be difficult to trace the money trail if funds are being collected in one central source, but customer-specific information is separate. In concentration accounts, transactions from multiple customers may be grouped together. The United States Patriot Act requires banks to establish clear policies for detecting and reporting suspicious transactions. It also prohibits customers from moving their own funds into, out of, or through the concentration accounts.

Money laundering generally has three steps: placement, layering, and integration. Placement refers to the act of introducing "dirty money" (or money obtained by criminal means) into the financial system. Layering is the act of concealing the source of these funds via complex transactions and bookkeeping tricks. Integration involves acquiring placed monies via legitimate means.What Is a State Bank?

A state bank is a financial institution that a state has chartered primarily to provide commercial banking services. A state bank is not the same as a central or reserve bank; these institutions are primarily concerned with influencing a government's monetary policy.

Key Takeaways State banks are financial institutions chartered by a state to provide commercial banking services.

Unlike the Federal Reserve, they are not responsible for monetary policy and are restricted to providing banking and, in some cases, wealth management and insurance services.

State banks can still be large financial institutions; however, they are not permitted to expand nationwide since they do not have a federal charter.

Understanding State Banks

State banks were championed by economists, such as Arthur Lewis and Gunnar Myrdal, who were proponents of greater participation by the public sector in financial markets. Their argument was that government role smoothed out the imperfections and crises that the financial markets were prone to. As a result, state banks dominated Western economies up until the 1970s.

The emergence of neoliberal economists and policy makers led to a rethinking of the state's role in an economy in the 1980s. Several state banks were privatized, leading to a reduction in their market share. In some regions of the world, such as Eastern Europe and South Asia, state banks are still among the biggest government institutions. For example, the State Bank of India is the biggest bank in India and is ranked 236th in the world's 500 biggest organizations.

In the United States, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) does not regulate state banks. The OCC is a federal agency that oversees banks operating nationally. The Federal Reserve (the Fed) does regulate some state banks, along with those that are not under the jurisdiction of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

State banks can still be large financial institutions; however, they are not permitted to expand nationwide since they do not have a federal charter. State banks may be able to provide more nationwide services, such as automated teller machines (ATMs), by partnering with banks that have a broader presence around the country. In certain states, state banks have more authority than national banks in providing insurance solutions and private banking services.

State Bank Services: Commercial, Insurance, and Private Banking Offerings

Most state banks focus on personal banking services. These generally include accepting deposits, offering checking accounts, as well as business, personal, and mortgage loans. Additionally, many state banks will provide basic financial products (e.g. certificates of deposit (CDs)) and savings accounts to individuals and small businesses.

The Jonesburg State Bank in Jonesburg, MO, for example, highlights these services above, along with mobile banking options for its retail and business customers.

Some state banks will also provide some insurance solutions. Common personal insurance policies include auto, health, homeowners, and life insurance contracts. Special business insurance policies may protect against specific damages or injuries to employees, medical malpractice, and professional liability insurance, among others.

State banks also expand into private banking and wealth management services. The Iowa State Bank, for example, offers individuals tailored financial plans, along with fee-based management services, business retirement plans, and IRAs and retirement planning, in addition to several insurance options. The team is headed by two financial advisors.

For wealthier individuals, private banking options can be extensive. In addition to more exclusive advice, services can cover protecting and growing assets, more specialized financing solutions, and passing wealth on to future generations. High levels of assets allow some individuals to participate in alternative investments, such as hedge funds and real estate. UBS, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and Credit Suisse are examples of private banks.Air France-KLM said it will accelerate capacity increases, despite an uncertain economic climate, in order to defend its share of an air-travel market thats becoming flooded with discount rivals.

The Paris-based carrier will boost seating by up to 4% this year, in a bid to combat the low-cost challenge, even as fuel expenses jump by a forecasted 150m, it said.

The shares dropped as much as 7.5%, to the lowest in eight months.

Operating profit, last year, jumped 42%, to 1.49bn.

As we enter 2018, in a context of rising oil prices and even more intense competition, we will go on the offensive, chief executive, Jean-Marc Janaillac, said.

More partnerships are planned to help defend long-haul markets, but the company played down prospects for investing in Italys Alitalia.

Air France-KLM is keeping its foot to the pedal, after breaking a cycle of losses and labour unrest, helping to propel the stock up 160% last year.

The company faces a heightened challenge, as Ryanair moves to open its first French bases, while long-haul discounters, led by Norwegian, are encroaching on trans-Atlantic routes.

Shares of Europes largest airline, which cautioned that the global context remains uncertain, have slid 26% this year, after the mammoth 2017 advance.

Mr Janaillac pledged to keep a close eye on Ryanair, which said, this week, it aims to open at least two bases in France, starting with five aircraft apiece, as a reluctant embrace of unions removes barriers to expanding in a market where companies are required to let workers join unions.

We are for competition, but fair competition, the CEO said, adding that his company will watch to see they respect the laws.

Air France-KLMs planned capacity jump follows a more modest, 2.6% boost in 2017, encouraged by higher bookings and unit revenue (a measure of fares) in most arenas other than the French domestic market.

Seat increases will include inter-continental services, where the IAGs British Airways discount arm, Level, aims to offer Paris-New York flights for 129.

IAG also owns Aer Lingus and Iberia, as well as low-cost airline, Vueling.

Chief financial officer, Frederic Gagey, said there are no plans for Air France-KLM to launch its own, low-cost, long-haul unit, and that partnerships, including the purchase of a 31% in Virgin Atlantic Airways, are weapons to answer attacks from competitors.

BloombergFrench carmaker, Renault, posted record sales and profit for 2017, bolstering chief executive, Carlos Ghosns position, in the face of French government demands for a clearer succession plan and deeper integration with alliance partner, Nissan.

Renault owns 43.4% of its Japanese partner, which, in turn, controls Mitsubishi Motors, via a 34% stake.

Renault-Nissan also owns the AvtoVAZ business  the maker of Lada cars  in Russia.

Renaults shares rose 2.5% in the latest session, for a 3.5% gain in the past year, after it unveiled a 17% surge in operating profit, to over 3.85bn, on revenues of 58.77bn, which rose 14.7% on buoyant European demand.

Operating profit at the core automotive division, excluding the recently consolidated business in Russia, rose over 15%, to 363m.

The strong financial performance may help Mr Ghosn resist pressure from the French government, Renaults biggest shareholder, for a closer tie-up with Nissan that also serves national interests.

The French state owns 15% of Renault and has two board seats. But Brazilian-born Mr Ghosn made clear Renault and Nissan are in no rush to merge, especially not on French terms.

I dont see how the Japanese side is going to accept further steps with the French state as a major shareholder, he told analysts.

Frances president, Emmanuel Macron, said he was seeking a clear roadmap, safeguarding the interests of the company, the alliance, and all of the French industrial sites.

Shareholders, led by the French state, voted against Mr Ghosns pay in 2016, but narrowly approved it last year.

The package, to be submitted in June, includes 2.46m in fixed and variable pay, plus up to 80,000 long-term performance shares, currently worth 8.6m.

Net income rose 49.6%, to over 5.11bn, helped by a 2.79bn contribution from Nissan.

Renaults 2017 global vehicle deliveries rose 8.5%, the company disclosed last month, with about one-third of the growth coming from Europe  helped by its new, Koleos, mid-sized SUV and recently revamped Megane family of compact cars.

Christian Stadler, a professor and car industry expert at Warwick Business School, said that while booming European sales had helped, Renault had also made some smart acquisitions, such as buying Lada.

Renault is strong in Europe and this market is performing particularly well, at the moment, while Renault has made some smart acquisitions, he said.

Reuters, and additional reporting, Irish ExaminerGabriel Byrne has opened up about his alcohol addiction, writes Sally Gorman.

The Walkinstown native joined Ryan Tubridy on the Late Late Show following his big win at the IFTA's on Thursday.

The Into the West star walked away with a lifetime achievement award at the ceremony but still claims his 21 years being alcohol free is his proudest personal achievement.

"One of the biggest victories to me in my life was that personal one of stopping and saying I'm not going to be that person anymore," he admitted.

The 67-year-old explained that he started to drink heavily in order to escape the pressures around him.

He said: "I think like a lot of people, I drank to escape from myself and to escape from the pressure that I felt around me.

"But I knew that I could never handle it, I was absolutely allergic to it. It was not a good thing for me to do."

Byrne also addressed the issue of Ireland's drinking culture as a whole.

"We have a huge drink problem in this country, I'm not so sure now because I don't live here but at that time it was endorsed by the culture.

"You were a great man if you had 10 pints and woke up the next day and said, where was I last night.

"That kind of thing became kind of frightening because my drinking was spiralling into a place where I couldn't remember what I did," he continued.

Byrne then went went on to credit Ireland saying that "it's not so strange or rare now to say help me, no matter what the problem is."

He encouraged those suffering to speak out and look for help.

"We're as sick as our secrets and shame and secrecy will kill you", he concluded.Carol OCallaghan talks personal taste and living life with furniture designer/maker, Fergal OLeary at home.

On a bright and frosty morning, a trip to the Cork suburb of Ballintemple for coffee and a chat with a furniture designer, brings with it the bonus of discovering a clutch of red-brick houses sequestered at the end of a drive, once the entrance to a mansion.

Ten years ago, furniture designer Fergal OLeary, wife Shirley, an educator, and children Jack and Mary Jane moved into this enclave and made it home.

While I drift through it taking in the furniture, art, and objects of day-to-day family activities, Fergal serves coffee on what I suspect is an offcut of wood from his studio workshop, but today is masquerading effectively as a tray.

It speaks of a philosophy of using what you have, and also of inventiveness, and a home layered over time with the

texture of different experiences. It includes objects and art picked up on holiday, furniture gifted by family; prototypes of Fergals work; bought or swapped pieces; books and guitars, lots of guitars.

From day one, Fergal explains, it wasnt a show house.

I brought home furniture I had been making, although most of it was sold by Christmas.

Today, the living room is largely furnished with his work  a shelving unit, television and stereo cabinets, occasional tables, and the Stanley coffee table. The latter is made from red laminate and beech wood, a prototype which came home for testing, resulting in a rounding of the edges and corners after his daughter bumped her head on it.

His Mary Jane chair, his favourite piece, sits in four subtle variations around his dining table of American red oak on a base of Irish cedar and oak, at one end of an open-plan kitchen. Fergal says, It was made in a hurry so wed have it for Christmas dinner.

Its now his favourite part of the house, feeding into the familys love of entertaining.

We love having people round for long afternoon eating. Feed the kids first, then everyone sits for hours, eating, talking, drinking.

Hes supplemented the Mary Jane chairs with two Eames DSW models in blue and pink, and gives away a trade secret. When you add in colour, it makes natural wood ping, he explains.

But the piece Id like to take home is a dominant free-standing larder.

Given Fergals penchant for naming his furniture after people (he also has Jack and Stanley chairs) I reckon its a Khal Drogo  statuesque, desirable, and a tad menacing. Utterly practical, this storage beast is where drawers are filled with kitchen textiles and shelves offer up everything from cornflakes to champagne flutes.

For a touch of what Fergal calls Ikea  but with better materials, a configuration of his own modular pieces in a fireplace alcove shows off items like books, ceramics, wooden bowls, and a line of interesting postcards, no doubt picked up on family visits to museums, and a natural extension of original print art dotted around the house, much of it by local artists.

For an injection of humour, above the fireplace hangs what the family calls Fat Mona, a rotund La Gioconda brought back from honeymoon in Thailand, and which looks, as Fergal puts it, as if shes been blown up by an air pump.

Theres another work of note, somewhat quirky, but with decidedly local origins.

It seems a visit to the mechanic for car repairs yielded a metal timing belt, which Fergal mounted on a slice of waney edged European cherry wood and hung in the hallway.

Its definitely the conversation piece of the house, I think, until I drift into the living room and my eyes come out on stilts at the sight of two black vintage swivel chairs. Theres something of Arne Jacobsens Egg chair about them, but not quite.

I grew up with them in my parents house, Fergal explains. They were bought in the 70s but I have no idea who made them.

Not that it matters, as they have both sentimental and design value for a man who says if he could have any piece of furniture in the world it would be the Hans Wegner CH07 Shell chair.

Given that he might have to dispose of a few beloved guitars to accommodate it, I suspect it will stay on his wishlist for a while.As Irish designers showcase their designs at London Fashion week, Carolyn Moore meets the graduates set to be the next big names in fashion.

A few months from now, Irelands fashion colleges will release into the world their latest round of graduates, and speculation will begin as to who among them has the potential to become the next significant voice in Irish fashion.

Some will opt to begin their careers here at home, while others will move abroad, and any number of factors, from talent to luck to pure perseverance, will determine the level of success they go on to achieve.

But despite the tremendous talent exiting our colleges each year, the fact remains that without the support to propel them onto the international stage, many young Irish designers will struggle to make the impact of Simone Rocha, Richard Malone, or Jonathan Anderson  all highlights on this weeks London Fashion Week schedule.

Its difficult for young Irish designers to make the leap from a local to an international platform, says stylist and fashion consultant Aisling Farinella.

With a career spanning almost 20 years, Farinellas varied experience leaves her well placed to understand the challenges faced by designers. Studying for an MA at an international level is a real advantage she says, but that opportunity is beyond the grasp of many of our graduates.

Thats why, in 2016, the Kildare Village Fashion Bursary was founded to help make that dream a reality for the inaugural recipient, Clare designer Michael Stewart.

Stewart was one of eight emerging Irish designers showcased at In The Fold, a London Fashion Week event staged as part of ID2015, a year-long celebration of Irish design.

As ID2015s Fashion and Textiles Advisor, Farinella was charged with developing a programme to promote Irish fashion at a local and international level, and when In The Fold was conceived, she secured the support of Kildare Village to help take the project to the next level.

That support marked the beginning of a burgeoning relationship between Kildare Village and the wider Irish design community; one that ultimately led to the development of From The Isle.

A cultural initiative to demonstrate Kildare Villages ongoing commitment to nurturing and supporting Irelands creative sectors, From The Isle expanded its remit to include a lucrative fashion bursary when Stewart  having secured a place on the Royal College of Arts prestigious MA course  approached Kildare Village for support.

From The Isle was about engaging with Irish culture and giving something back to the creative community, Farinella explains.

When Michael was accepted into the RCA, he couldnt afford the fees or living expenses, so on his own initiative, he approached Kildare Village for support.

By coming on board with In The Fold, Kildare Village had recognised the need to support emerging talent, so under the umbrella of From The Isle they were open to addressing Michaels need for educational support. There isnt a fashion masters here in Ireland, so supporting an Irish designer to complete one abroad was key.

Stewart was awarded 15,000 to complete his two-year MA in Fashion Womenswear Design at the RCA, the most prestigious fashion masters in the world.

When he showed his widely acclaimed graduate collection last summer, AnOther magazine declared him nothing less than the future of Haute Couture, and his designs were photographed on Solange Knowles by the legendary Peter Lindbergh.

Proposing the bursary, having it awarded to me, and seeing it continue to help other students has been a really important thing to witness, Michael says.

Its about realising the power and value you have to offer, and taking control of a situation by asking for support that allows you to continue to grow.

I think Kildare Villages willingness to support Irish design is very genuine. The cultural, economic and social benefits of initiatives like the bursary will have lasting impact, in Ireland and internationally.

Stewart was further supported to showcase his collection at an industry event in Dublins Douglas Hyde Gallery, because as Farinella explains, Were fostering an ongoing relationship, so there is a real legacy there. Michael Stewart is an incredibly talented designer, so if he goes on to be head of Celine in ten years, that crucial support from Kildare Village will always be part of his story.

In 2017, the bursary became part of another promising young designers story when Dundalks Andrew Bell became its second beneficiary. Bell had been making waves on the Dublin fashion scene since his graduation from NCAD in 2014; now, having been awarded 25,000 to cover the 9,500 course fees for his two years of study, he too is set to be catapulted to international renown when he graduates in 2019.

Im excited to follow in Michaels footsteps and continue the legacy Kildare Village have offered Irish designers, says Bell. The MA has been a whirlwind of experiences and opportunities already. Ive met and worked with people from all over the world; its really broadened my horizons as a designer.

Since the bursary was announced, the RCA has confirmed a considerable increase in the number of applications from Irish students.

Were thrilled to have such a significant contribution from Kildare Village, to support creative talent from Ireland, says the RCAs head of fashion, Zowie Broach.

The RCA nurtures designers from across the world, and this enables talent from Ireland to follow in the footsteps of towering RCA graduates such as Orla Kiely and rising stars such as Danielle Romeril.

The standard of Irish students is really high, Farinella says.

RCA want them, but its a huge undertaking financially. Establishing the bursary has given Kildare Village the opportunity to create a lasting legacy in the story of Irish fashion and do something wonderful for Irish design.

With four candidates securing places on the course for 2017, Farinella explains, RCA are responsible for choosing the most talented student to get this. Theyre the professionals; they can identify the talent. From Kildare Villages perspective, its essential that the bursary is about genuine financial need, They have to have the potential to become a modern voice for Ireland and Irish fashion.Ireland, as a whole, has won the lotto and can look forward to endless funding for transport, housing, and hospital dream schemes for the next decade. This was the initial impression of the launch of Project Ireland 2040, which resembled a pre-election ard fheis with lots of pomp and ceremony, writes Juno McEnroe

Leo Varadkar and his ministers took to the stage in Sligo and promised the sun, moon, and stars to the country.

At the heart of the plan is the need to prepare for change over the next two decades. This includes examining how many people will live where and what services they need.

The national planning framework, one of two reports launched, aims to rebalance growth between rural and urban areas. But why is it so important?

By 2040, 5.7m people will live in Ireland  an increase of a million. And an extra 660,000 jobs and 500,000 homes will be needed.

A major criticism of the last national spatial strategy in 2002 was that it was undermined by winners and losers, with local objections over hubs or gateways. Decentralisation followed it and undermined the strategy, but national investment did not and it was also not given a statutory footing.

The Fine Gael government says it wants to get it right this time, as there is too much sprawl in areas. And so the new framework for the next 20 years has set goals for regions, for building, transport, education and even climate change action.

Development will be split between three regions, in the South, East/Midlands, and North-West. The Government want to build up regional centres and lessen rural isolation, after years of uncoordinated growth.

Tanaiste Simon Coveney noted that if Ireland does not plan, we will see people in cars commuting on average for three hours a day.

And so the NPF intends to reduce the dominance of Dublin, empower other cities and create regional centres, including Athlone and Sligo.

To back up the NPF, the Government launched the national development plan, some 116bn in promised spending on dream projects for towns and cities, including a Metro, 10 hospitals, and new roads nationwide.

This is where the goodies are in Project Ireland. A plethora of new projects was promised, including 12bn for roads, an extra 35,000 homes a year, and 2.2bn for higher education.

The important thing to remember is that these are all promises and not guaranteed. Moreover, many of the projects were announced or promised years back. These include a second runway at Dublin Airport, the Metro, the South-East university, primary health centres, and the National Childrens Hospital.

Nonetheless, there are innovations, including the 500m technology fund for start-ups, 22bn for climate change, 3bn for urban and rural projects, and a new national regeneration and development agency to oversee the use of land.

So where will the money come from? Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe says all is planned under projected growth rates. But, just like the bust before, anything  from Brexit to dramatic changes in the economy  could derail these.

To prevent the grand promises of Project Ireland 2040 becoming forgotten election gimmicks, the Government must show steel and resolve in following through on the radical ambitions. This means fending off local pressure groups and parochial demands.

The public will also want to see - sooner rather than later - the first steps, tracks and blocks for the grander designs launched in Sligo.

At a glance: Key questions answered

What projects are new under Project Ireland 2040?

One of the key initiatives announced is the 22bn climate change action programme. This will include more reforestation across the country and further proposals to upgrade homes. This includes energy efficiency grants rising from 30,000 to 45,000 from 2021, in order to help bring them up to a minimum BER rating B. Funds will also be ringfenced for energy efficient new builds.

The proposal to extend the Metro to south Dublin and for new Luas extensions in the capital as well as in Cork will also be welcome.

There are also moves to remove carbon from public and private transport. So much so, that so that NCT certificates will be denied for carbon emission cars in future decades, encouraging people to buy electric or non-fossil fuel vehicles.

There will also be a joint 3bn rural and urban fund for new projects as well as a new national regeneration and development agency. This will act like Nama and be tasked with driving development on State-owned lands. A number of towns will also be prioritised for growth and developments, including Athone, Sligo, and Letterkenny.

Some of the projects announced sound familiar. Has any of this been launched before?

Yes, is the simple answer. According to Fianna Fail, some 179 schemes or projects have all been put out before, with some 40bn of the total 116bn, it is claimed, allocated already to projects.

We know about the second runway at Dublin airport as well as the new Metro plans for Dublin. Furthermore, port expansion at Cork has already been planned while the proposed university in the South East has been talked about for some time. Similarly, the National Childrens Hospital and other health facilities in Project 2040 were already announced before this unveiling in Sligo.

What kind of timelines are set down for the projects and what happens if these are missed?

Some of the projects do indeed have projected timeframes, such as the Metro, some of the new health facilities, including ten new hospitals over the next ten years. Equally, some of the climate change targets are strict, but far off. These include the ambition to have 500,000 low-emission cars on Irish roads by 2030. At the moment, there are just 3,000 electric cars on Irish roads so it is difficult to see how this target will be met. The Government is also promising to build at least 25,000 homes a year by 2020, rising to 30-35,000 annually up to 2027. Its record on housing is not good, with many targets recently missed over attempts to tackle the crisis. Indeed, a lot of the promises are very long-term. This includes the plan for an extra 112,000 social houses over the next decade.

Are all the projects, such as transport, roads or health infrastructure, costed under or are they just ideas without any price tag?

Many of the bigger projects are costed. These include the 3bn price tag for the Metro in Dublin, the estimated 750m to 1bn for the new M20 between Limerick and Cork. Another example includes the 2bn urban regeneration and development fund to open up urban developments, include in Cork Docklands, Limerick 2030, Waterford North Quays Strategic Development Zone and in Galway. But it is unclear if linking up the Metro to south Dublin will cost more. Furthermore, plans for high-speed rail to Galway and Cork seem uncosted as do proposals for new hospitals in Cork, Galway and Dublin. The Government has said there will be a number of follow-up announcements in the coming days and weeks.Theresa May will urge Brussels to ignore the rule book and do whatever it takes to ensure the security of Europe is protected after Brexit.

In a speech in Munich, the British Prime Minister will warn that "rigid institutional restrictions" and "deep-seated ideology" must not be allowed to jeopardise the safety of citizens.

She will set out plans for a new treaty between the UK and the European Union to enshrine security cooperation and warn a reluctance to agree a new type of partnership would have "damaging" consequences.

Mrs May will say: "The challenge for all of us today is finding the way to work together, through a deep and special partnership between the UK and the EU, to retain the co-operation that we have built and go further in meeting the evolving threats we face together.

"This cannot be a time when any of us allow competition between partners, rigid institutional restrictions or deep-seated ideology to inhibit our cooperation and jeopardise the security of our citizens.

"We must do whatever is most practical and pragmatic in ensuring our collective security."

It comes after the head of MI6 joined with his French and German counterparts to appeal for continued intelligence sharing after Brexit.

In a rare joint statement after meeting at the Munich Security Conference, Alex Younger, BND boss Bruno Kahl and French DGSE chief Bernard Emie said cooperation between EU agencies was "indispensable".

The British Prime Minister again insisted Britain's commitment to maintaining European security is "unconditional" when she visited Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday.

But as well as facing tricky negotiations in Brussels to secure a strong agreement, the British PM is also under pressure from Brexiteers in her party who are fundamentally opposed to the European Court of Justice having any oversight role in a settlement, such as in relation to the European arrest warrant.

Mrs May wants the Supreme Court to have the final say over challenges to warrants issued in the UK.

She will highlight major cases where the UK and the rest of the EU have worked together to tackle terrorists and people smugglers and will insist it is in the interest of both sides to agree a strong security deal.

"To make this happen will require real political will on both sides," she will say in the speech titled Road to Brexit: A Security Partnership.

"I recognise there is no existing security agreement between the EU and a third country that captures the full depth and breadth of our existing relationship.

"But there is precedent for comprehensive, strategic relationships between the EU and third countries in other fields, such as trade. And there is no legal or operational reason why such an agreement could not be reached in the area of internal security.

"However, if the priority in the negotiations becomes avoiding any kind of new cooperation with a country outside the EU, then this political doctrine and ideology will have damaging real world consequences for the security of all our people, in the UK and the EU. As leaders, we cannot let that happen."

The speech is the second of six key addresses by the PM and senior Cabinet ministers mapping out the Government's plans for Brexit.

Mrs May will tell the security conference the proposed new treaty must be drawn up to allow the partnership to respond swiftly to the world of rapidly evolving threats.

She will warn "nothing must get in the way" of Britain and the EU "helping each other in every hour of every day to keep our people safe".

"Those who threaten our security would like nothing more than to see us fractured," Mrs May will add.

"They would like nothing more than to see us put debates about mechanisms and means ahead of doing what is most practical and effective in keeping our people safe.

"So let our message ring out loud and clear today: we will not let that happen. We will keep our people safe, now and in the years to come."

- PAKieran McQuinn, research professor at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), said the additional public funds amounting to 116bn over 10 years come at a time when the economy is already booming.

The ESRI  whose staff played a significant role in framing the draft of the National Development Plan  and other watchdogs, including the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and the Central Bank, have long warned about the risks of the Government pumping too much into the economy. They say, however, that the economy is not overheating at this time.

Mr McQuinn told the Irish Examiner that the plan represented a significant amount of money going into the economy which would require economic growth of 3.5% over the next 10 years for it to work. However, he believed the dangers lay more with the potential for overheating that could lead to another crash.

Mr McQuinn said activity was picking up strongly in the home-building and office construction industries.

Edgar Morgenroth, a professor at Dublin City University who helped advise on the framework of the draft while at the ESRI, said the plan relied on boosting large urban centres, including Cork and Dublin, without encouraging sprawl.

Cork and Limerick (cities) have the potential to double their size. In other countries, they would be bigger, Mr Morgenroth said, citing the large size of secondary urban centres in Denmark.

Boosting growth in centres was important but there was evidence that building motorways such as the proposed upgrade of the Cork to Limerick motorway would only encourage sprawl and work against concentrating growth in those cities.

On the 116bn investment, Mr Morgenroth said that politicians in the past had worked hard on the presentation of development plans.

The aim of the exercise is to make the number look big enough, he said.

Chris van Egeraat, who lectures in economic geography at Maynooth University and was part of an advisory group on the draft of the plan, said the real political game now begins, as regions outside of the big cities pitch to tap some of the resources.

He said he believed in the long-established principle of concentrating growth in a small number of urban centres but had argued for the inclusion of Sligo due to the underperformance of the north-west of the State in terms of economic and population growth.

Dr van Egeraat said the potential of including centres outside of the big centres would mean that the IDA would be encouraged to fight for foreign direct investment (FDI) on their behalf.

FDI is important. It will not go to rural areas, only to centres, he said.So far, so bizarre, particularly as Davids background is one of delivering human babies and treating human couples for fertility problems.

A consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist, originally from Donoughmore, Co Cork, Davids involvement with the largest living primates goes back over a decade.

He studied medicine in University College Cork (UCC) and subsequently worked in the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin where he developed an interest in reproductive medicine, prompted by contact with Colm OHerlihy, now Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University College Dublin (UCD) School of Medicine and Medical Science.

David subsequently went to Bristol in the 1990s to study and never left. He is now Professor in Reproductive Medicine and Medical Education at Bristol University. His day job takes him to St Michaels University Hospital where his focus is on gynaecology, specifically fertility treatment.

His day job has also taken him to Bristol Zoo where he was centrally involved in an event which caught the public imagination: the delivery by C-section of a baby gorilla on account of concerns that its mother had pre-eclampsia. On February 10, that baby, named Afia, celebrated her second birthday.

So how does a doctor segue from babies to great apes?

Vets dont do IVF, he says.

Davids involvement with Bristol Zoo goes back to 2004/2005 when the zoos efforts to get a gorilla pregnant were unsuccessful. Thinking outside the box, the zoo made contact with David because of his background in reproductive medicine.

They knew I knew how to get people pregnant so they asked if I could help, he says.

It was a bit of a challenge. It was practically impossible to do blood tests to measure the gorillas hormones, (try approaching a moody gorilla with a syringe) so they had to depend on urine samples. David still has deep sympathy for the zookeeper whose task it was to retrieve urine samples every day for three months.

The enclosure was well-designed so that everything flowed into a hole in the middle and he was able to retrieve urine from that point, David says. The samples were sent to a German laboratory for analysis. It emerged the gorilla, Salome, was not ovulating.

So we gave her tablets to get her to ovulate, mixed in with her food, and she got pregnant, David says. She gave birth to a son, Komale.

Afia enjoying her birthday celebrations, with surrogate mother Romina. It is expected Afia will remain with her until she is five.

Having proved his usefulness, David was recalled two years ago when Kera the gorilla showed signs of pre-eclampsia while carrying Komales child. David estimates she was 38-39 weeks pregnant, but I cant be certain, apes dont have a last period and you cant ask them. He says the zoo was concerned about Kera and they got in touch with him on a Tuesday.

We planned to go and scan the mother on the Friday. There was a chance we might end up delivering the baby. But when I scanned her, it looked like the baby was really in trouble, he says.

The vets subsequently gave David the go-ahead to deliver, and Kera was taken by stretcher to a van and then to the vets working area. She was shaved, David put iodine on her tummy and donned sterile drapes.

So how different was it to delivering a human child?

The whole thing was very strange and very weird. It was a very different environment and the smells were different. Kera vomited before the operation, a smelly green mess. And there were so many photographs being taken.

It felt like it went on forever but my junior colleague (another doctor from St Michaels) said it only took three-quarters of an hour.

Was there a fear Kera would wake up during the operation?

I was anxious. The zoo-keepers were holding her arms and feet and occasionally one would say shes twitching. Shed clobber me if she woke up and saw the knife, he says, laughing.

The surgery was trickier than a human delivery because of the different shape of the pelvis and uterus, but he managed it with minimal damage. The upshot was the birth of baby Afia, Ugandan for born on a Friday, and membership of an exclusive club of consultant obstetricians/gynaecologists to perform c-sections on gorillas.

There are reports of 12-15 c-sections worldwide, he says.

He is thankful he didnt have to remove Keras stitches: We thought about that  and put in subcuticular stitches  ones that are under the skin, and dissolve by themselves.

He did undertake follow-up visits, but Kera was in a bad place for nine months after the birth. In retrospect, David and the vets believe she may have been suffering from kidney disease, not pre-eclampsia. She was subsequently treated with steroids and recovered.

He did visit Afia once a week for a couple of weeks after the birth, and she was doing well. And he has since taken his two-year-old granddaughter to see Afia but hasnt yet told her of his role in her existence.

The baby western lowland gorilla Afia, who celebrated her second birthday last Monday.

Meanwhile, his brothers at home in Ireland, Paul, Declan and Kieran, and his Dad, Pat, are dining out on Davids walk into the gorilla hall of fame.

As for David?

I really didnt realise at the time that it was going to be such a big fuss, I was just doing the thing that I do. But in hindsight, its brought me into contact with a fairly small and fairly unique, global community of people dedicated to conservation of gorillas. It makes me feel part of that community. There are only 300 gorillas or so in captivity worldwide, so in that sense, what we did was a very big deal.Keith Lee, 41, was under guard in hospital, where he was being treated for broken bones and cuts, following the incident at a house on Ranelagh Road, in Dublin, on Thursday afternoon.

His estranged wife, Joanne Lee, 38, was found dead in a wardrobe in a flat at the building, when gardai forced their way into the property, after finding her car outside.

Ms Lee, also known as Joanne Ball, was reported missing by Mr Lee just before midnight last Tuesday, but the last-known sighting of her, before that, was eight days earlier, on February 5, when she left her parents house at Garristown, near Ashbourne, Co Meath.

Gardai yesterday made an appeal for help in tracking her movements between then and Thursday afternoon. Superintendent Gerry Delmar, who is leading the investigation, urged anyone who was in touch with her during that time to get in contact.

Joanne had access to a car, a silver Nissan Micra, registration number 08 MH 16073. The car was located at this address here, but we do not know where it was since February 5. Anyone who may have seen the car, or Joanne, in that time, wed like to hear from, he said.

Gardai were waiting the results of a post-mortem examination, before formally declaring Ms Lees death a murder, but confirmed a murder investigation was underway, late yesterday afternoon. Supt Delmar said officers were awaiting the release of Mr Lee from hospital, before formally questioning him.

They had no indication of when he would be released. Supt Delmar said his injuries, while not life-threatening, were serious and were consistent with a fall from a height. Gardai found him lying in agony on the ground, at the rear of property, directly beneath the flat they were searching.

Only for the swift actions of a garda from Mountjoy, who stemmed his injures, well, that certainly saved him, Supt Delmar said.

A member of the gardai at the scene. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins

The couple, both originally from Coolock, in Dublin, had been together since Ms Lee was a teenager and they shared a love of dogs and hillwalking, but the relationship had run into trouble in recent months and Ms Lee was living with her parents.

It is understood Mr Lee was not living in the flat where his wifes body was found, and gardai said they were awaiting the results of a technical examination of the property to try to establish whether she died there or whether someone had moved her body there. Early indications were that she might have been dead for a number of days, Supt Delmar said.

Tenants of other flats in the property were moved to hotels, while a forensics team examined the building.

Ms Lees uncle, John Curry, who visited the scene, spoke tearfully of her familys anguish. Im just devastated; the whole family is, just taken apart, just torn the soul out of us, he said.The Taoiseach is under fire over Project Ireland 2040 which the opposition has claimed contains 179 projects that have already been published. However, the Taoiseach and ministers quickly moved to defend the framework last night, strongly denying it is simply an election manifesto.

The plan contains significant transport, housing, health and education projects for the next generation as well as a blueprint to rebalance growth between rural and urban areas.

Key proposals include a second runway at Dublin Airport and regional airport investments as well as the Metro for Dublin and Luas lines, including in Cork.

Over 7bn will go on national and regional roads while rural and urban areas will get 3bn in funds.

In health, 2,600 acute hospital beds are also promised as are 10 new hospitals over the next decade.

Some 22bn has also been allocated for climate change, while there are also promises to build 110,000 social houses over 10 years.

A 500m innovation fund for start-up companies and the new M20 between Limerick and Cork are among the promises. The Government also hopes to prioritise growth in towns, such as Sligo and Athlone.

Responding to the Governments 116bn two-decade plan, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said this is a very cynical exercise and that the project is effectively about the launch of the Governments next election manifesto at the taxpayers expense.

Noting the fact his own party believes at least 179 of Project Ireland 2040s initiatives have already been announced, including 40bn of the 116bn earmarked, Mr Martin said there is the element of the political wheeze in this, so youll forgive me for being a bit cynical.

But Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe defended the plan stating: We already have a set of commitments that we have made to communities and citizens all over the country as a result of the last two budgets.

If I had stood up today and excluded those commitments, the same opposition would be lambasting us for breaking our word to our citizens, of course we are honouring the commitment that we already have but for many years beyond that we are honouring new commitments, outlining new things that we want to do.

Asked to provide 10 tangible and costed projects that were announced for the first time under the project the Taoiseach said it was a challenging question to answer off the top of my head. However he cited:

Bus connects for Dublin  2bn;

Bus connects for Cork and Galway;

The M20;

1.6bn investment in health IT;

The N4 from Collooney to Castlebaldwin;

The DCU project.

The strategy also looks at rebalancing growth. The project says three quarters of growth will be outside Dublin, with 50% of the projected population growth planned for our towns, villages and rural areas and 50% for cities.

Tanaiste Simon Coveney said there was a need to change how Ireland was growing, particularly to tackle sprawl.

Sinn Fein was equally critical of the apparent plan gaps, with Greens leader Eamon Ryan saying it poses more questions than answers and Labour leader Brendan Howlin and deputy leader Alan Kelly saying the plan was open to potential legal action.

The Irish Planning Institutes president Joe Corr said while a two-decade infrastructure strategy is a mature step, there are still serious gaps in the document which must be addressed and that the document is more about politics following politics rather than politics following planning.Brendan McCormack, IT Sligo president, and Una Parsons, head of engineering school, IT Sligo, present Leo Varadkar with an Annie West caricature of the Cabinet, as junior

education minister Mary Michell OConnor, and Sligo-Leitrim TD Tony McLoughlin look on. Picture: James Connolly

The Irish Planning Institute made the claim after the publication of the report by Leo Varadkar yesterday, saying the document raises as many questions as it answers.

In a statement responding to the plan alongside more positive responses from Engineers Ireland and regional organisations, the Irish Planning Institutes president Joe Corr said while a two-decade infrastructure strategy was a mature step, there are still serious gaps in the document which must be addressed.

Warning the framework is about politics following politics rather than politics following planning, he said for planners, it remains unclear whether the lofty promises will ever be acted upon.

While the Governments decision to put a framework in place side-by-side with investment is a positive and mature step for our nation, todays announcement raises more questions than gives answers about our ability to learn from our past.

We recognise fully the imperative, and indeed responsibility of public representatives to address citizens concerns.

From a professional planning perspective, however, Ireland 2040 is not following the evidence as we hoped it would in order to become a robust enabling tool to shape and enable future investment in the growth of our society and its economy.

It presents as a framework for politics following politics rather than politics following planning, Mr Corr said.

Engineers Ireland was more positive saying the plan provides confidence for the engineering sector and is central to enabling prosperity, well-being and long-term growth in all parts of the country.

A new national regeneration and development agency will be the centre of expertise in strategic land development, and the construction sector working group will ensure dialogue between Government the construction sector, the groups director general Caroline Spillane said.

Both Cork and Dublins chambers of commerce also welcomed the Government plans, with Cork Chambers president Bill OConnell particularly hopeful of the changes that have been promised.

Today, we have a historic vote of confidence in Corks future economic and social significance to Ireland.

We have repeatedly emphasised that Cork has the ambition and capacity to develop into a real complementary centre of growth to Dublin.

Today, Government has bought into this vision, with the focus on Cork also aligned in the 116bn national development plan, he said.

However, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association criticised the document, with its president Pat McCormack saying ultimately the report will be judged by how many of its promises ever come to pass.

The 1bn rural regeneration fund is a real step in the right direction but looked at over a 10-year period, will that sum be sufficient given the massive need for investment in rural areas?

We note too that only half of the fund is specifically dedicated to rural areas.

In relation to funding for climate change initiatives, there is a very real opportunity for the Government not only to reduce carbon emissions through renewables but also to develop a vibrant rural-based renewable energy sector based on a family farm and community enterprises that would really boost rural economies rather than the industrial model which will have little if any benefit for rural areas, he said.

It is important the plan has at least acknowledged that investment in rural areas has fallen behind and did outline a number of positive initiatives, but judgement will await actual implementation.Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein, Labour and other opposition parties hit out at the plan after it was published in Sligo yesterday, saying the document is long on promises but short on detail.

Responding to the Governments 116bn two-decade plan, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said this is a very cynical exercise from what I can see, and that the project is effectively about the launch of the Governments next election manifesto at the taxpayers expense.

Noting that his own party believes at least 179 of the Ireland Project 2040 initiatives have already been announced, including 40bn of the 116bn, Mr Martin said there is the element of the political wheeze in this, so youll forgive me for being a bit cynical.

Mr Martins view was supported by his partys public expenditure spokesman Dara Calleary, who said high-profile promises such as a second Dublin airport runway and the Metro Link were already included in the previous capital plan.

Finance spokesman Michael McGrath said the promises may be overtaken by economic events over the next two decades.

While all parties accept there is merit in planning for the future, Sinn Fein was critical of apparent plan gaps, the partys housing spokesman Eoin O Broin and health spokeswoman Louise OReilly questioning if promises will be delivered on.

Labour leader Brendan Howlin and deputy leader Alan Kelly said the plan is open to potential legal action because the Governments attempt to put it on a statutory footing is taking place before the relevant law is passed by the Oireachtas.

Similarly, party colleague and housing spokeswoman Jan OSullivan said despite the plan being three years in the making with two sets of public consultation and numerous submissions, the reality is that instead of a coherent plan for the future, we get another cock-up.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said a lot of old projects have been re-hashed and brought forward again by Government for political reasons, noting that controversial changes have been made. The earlier drafts were on the right track.

However, the loosening of restrictions on one-off housing will see up to 60% of future housing development outside villages, towns, and cities. This, without real, tangible plans for public transport, is a recipe for further sprawl and traffic chaos. The last-minute watering-down of proposals to concentrate development could undermine the whole plan.

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy expressed doubt over whether the plan involves any real joined-up thinking.James McCarney, 40, had previously appeared in the district court on February 7, in relation to charges of dangerous driving and of having no insurance at a garda checkpoint the previous day.

At that court appearance, he was refused bail and then appeared to try and flee the courtroom. He was tackled by a number of gardai, one of whom was injured.

That led to a subsequent court appearance, a week ago, in Bandon District Court. There, Mr McCarney, who has given an address at Balmore, Torrance, in Glasgow, and also at Rossmore, Clonakilty, in Co Cork, was charged with assault and resisting a garda in the execution of his duty, at Macroom District Court, on February 7, and with attempting to escape from garda custody, at the court on the same date.

Insp Pat Meany said, yesterday, that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed the charges of dangerous driving and no insurance be dealt with at district court level, but that the two charges arising out of the incident at Macroom, on February 7, be sent forward to the Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

The previous court sitting involving Mr McCarney, a businessman, had heard that he had apologised for his actions and would be pleading guilty to the charges.

Bandon District Court heard, yesterday, that the DPP also consented to Mr McCarney being sent forward to the Cork Circuit Criminal Court on a signed plea  something which would speed up the trial process, as it would not require a book of evidence.

Mr McCarneys solicitor, Eamonn Fleming, said his client had already indicated a plea of guilty in relation to the dangerous-driving charge from the checkpoint at Tooreen, Ballinhassig, on February 6.

However, he said he was not in a position to advise as to the no-insurance charge faced by his client, as he had not seen an insurance policy, and documents had not been forthcoming.

He also applied, again, for his client to be released on bail, but Judge Mary Dorgan said she had already dealt with this. I am going to recuse myself from dealing with this matter, she said, and that the alleged incident on February 7 had happened in her court and that it was important for justice to be done and for justice to be seen to be done.

She said she had organised for another judge to hear the district court matters, next Thursday, but Mr Fleming said he could not say whether he would have received all the information he required, so as to enter a plea, by then. Those matters will be mentioned on March 2, while Mr McCarney will be sent forward for trial, possibly as early as next week, in the Circuit Criminal Court, regarding the February 7 incident.

Mr Fleming said this would happen on a signed plea of guilty and added: The matter can be dealt with more promptly in the circuit court.Called The Suspected  Parastichtis suspecta  it was thought to be extinct in Ireland. It was last spotted in 1962.

Mr Strickland found eight of the brown moths in Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park, in Rathangan Co Kildare, last July, indicating that they were very happy there.

The species inhabits woodland and heathland, and the larvae feed on birch and willow. They are on the wing in late July and August.

It is not known why the moth almost became extinct, but it is believed deforestation and peat-extraction destroyed their natural habitat.

The manager of Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park, Ray Stapleton, said the park had been used by Bord na Mona for decades to extract peat and once resembled a black desert.

Since 2011, we have been trying to prove that these cutaways are not wastelands, but, potentially, very biodiverse habitats that will also attract tourism to an area that traditionally never had it, said Mr Stapleton.

The potential for numerous species to thrive in such a diverse habitat is great, as we have seen through Philips work.

As well as moths, the park is now home to red squirrels, pine martens, hares, lapwings, buzzards, newts, frogs, and butterflies.

Mr Stapleton said a former Irish Examiner columnist, the late Dick Warner, spent many years helping the park to develop the peatland biodiversity area.

It may take a while to happen, but I firmly believe that this is a win-win situation, as our peatlands biodiversity area is really beneficial to the environment and is key to us attracting tourism from all over the world.

Mr Strickland said there were about five records of The Suspected from five different sites in Ireland, but the last time it was seen was 56 years ago.

He uses a moth trap that has an ultraviolet light and empty egg cartons. The moths are attracted to the light, make contact with the plastic veins, and drop down into the trap.

The moths sit happily in the egg cartons, until I release them unharmed, the next morning, into the vegetation nearby, he said.

I have been studying moths for more than 20 years, but I do have a desk job.

I would describe myself as an amateur lepidopterist.

The name lepidopterist is derived from the name of the order of butterflies and moths, Lepidoptera.

Mr Strickland is a member of Moths Ireland, a group of amateurs and professionals.

They collect and collate records for the National Biodiversity Data Centre in Carriganore, Co Waterford.

The data centre is funded by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Heritage Council.

Mr Strickland is planning to continue examining moth species in Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park this year.

He recorded 201 species there last year.

The site is proving to be of national significance, with the recording of a considerable number of rare and scarce species, he said.

The site is really doing well, as it has a great mix of habitat. The Scots pine and birch woodland, with the undergrowth of bilberry, is a really important native habitat and is producing great records.Commentary Is Capital Punishment for Rapists the Answer?

A banner calling for the death sentence for rapists is displayed outside the North Dagon Township Court in Yangon on Thursday. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

YANGON  If you are a teenage girl in Myanmar, your mother, grandmothers and aunts worry about you. You are told to dress modestly, never to go out alone and not to leave the house after sunset. You are forbidden to play with teenage boys when you start menstruating. All the while you are warned of the dangers of being raped.

Almost every girl goes through her teens with that fear, a fear that gets passed on quietly from one generation to the next. Mothers worry for their girls and restrict their every move. But the rape of women and young girls is not declining. According to official figures from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA), the rape of young children and women has increased for the past two years. Sexual violence against women has continued, perpetrated either by civilians or soldiers, and especially in conflict areas, where seven decades of civil war grind on.

Severe punishment for the rapists, even when caught, is rare.

But in the 21st century, women no longer shut their mouths. They provide peer support for victims and help report cases. And more rape cases are being reported, mostly in towns. In many cases of child rape, the culprit is a member of the extended family or a brother, sometimes even the victims father. Some of the victims are only two years old.

We are become aware of more of these cases as the female victims or their guardians speak out. In the past these cases were just hearsay because cases were not brought to the police as women were too shy to do so, said U Min Zaw Oo, founder and executive director of the Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security, a think tank.

For the past few years, womens rights advocates have been calling for legislation that better protects vulnerable women from rape.

There has been a public outcry for harsher punishment for rapists, even the death penalty.

Perspectives on Capital Punishment

Some activists say rapists should be put to death because they wont bring any good to society.

These perpetrators should be punished with a death sentence because the current punishment is not enough, goes a common refrain. Some even say suspected rapists should be killed without a trial because the legal process takes too long.

Others would prefer a lengthy prison sentence of perhaps 20 years.

What worries us about punishing a rapist with a death sentence is the victims families or guardians wont speak up if the rapist is a close relative, said Daw Kyi Pyar, a Yangon Region lawmaker.

I dont support the death penalty because sometimes we forget that those rapists were acting because of their childhood experiences and that those actions have been transmitted, said Daw Yin Myo Su, founder of Inle Heritage and the first private community school in Nyaungshwe, in southern Shan State.

If a rapist is sentenced to death, it is not an answer to the case and it wont bring the victim immediate justice because the victim will have to live with the trauma for the rest of her life, said Daw Thet Thet Aung, a former political prisoner who now works for labor rights with the Future Ray of Light.

Stronger Law Enforcement Needed

Everyone agrees on the importance of the rule of law in preventing rape cases.

The rapists must receive harsh punishment in prison, but they dont have to be entitled to a pardon. Sadly, there have been presidential pardons in the past that have set those criminals free. Daw Thet Thet Aung said.

U Min Zaw Oo said Myanmars judicial system should allow victims to file their own complaints, as in some other countries, as rapes usually have no witnesses.

The police do not have specific procedures for sexual violence cases. We need people who listen to their problems. We dont have such procedures. We need that kind of training and information sharing so that the victims can raise their voices, he added.

Victims need psychological support services to help them rehabilitate their lives. When the victims are teenage girls, they cant return to their schools because they feel scared and ashamed. In some cases the families even move to try to leave the experience behind.

There have been many awareness campaigns on the rape of both minors and women. Legislation aiming to protect women from sexual violence is now at the attorney generals office; advocates expect it to become law soon.

The [number of rape] cases can only fall when the legislative, judicial and law enforcement sectors and civil society groups work together, said Daw Kyi Pyar.

Campaigns Need Male Support

Most participants in awareness campaigns are women, who mostly pass on their message to other women. More men need to join them.

Men need to be educated that they can only have sexual intercourse with women of a certain age, said U Min Zaw Oo. There needs to be more public awareness about the law regarding rape and the age for intercourse. The problem is that many men do not know about them.

Advocates say they also know of unreported cases of sexual violence against young boys. In Myanmar culture, for a young boy to become a man he must live up to certain expectations; no one wants to be seen as weak.

They may feel twice as shy because culturally boys and men are not encouraged to talk about such issues openly and they try to avoid that public perception, said Daw Yin Myo Su.

Social Norms

In addition to strengthening legal protections and raising awareness, preventing rape also requires changing mindsets, cultural barriers and social norms.

We cannot neglect the social norms, said Cheery Zahau, a human rights advocate and 2017 N-Peace Award winner. She said there was no protection for minors because of social norms and traditions that the men can do anything they want; such thinking and action needs to dissolve.

Can we truly admit to ourselves why such rapes happen? asked Daw Yin Myo Su. It is because of our culture, a culture of not talking about sexuality openly. We have been told since our teenage years that talking about sex is not polite and that we should not speak out. The mother wont talk to her daughter, and neither will the school. We were not taught in our teens about sexuality and reproductive health or how to deal with those feelings.

In Myanmar society, our elders and law enforcement authorities say it is the girls and women who must take responsibility for preventing rape. But making only girls and women aware of the dangers and check their actions is not the answer.

Legislation and awareness campaigns are important. But it is just as vital that everyone respects women and girls as fellow human beings.Opinion Transnational Terrorism and ARSA's Fight for a 'Just Cause'

For a comprehensive solution to the crisis in Rakhine State, ARSA must face international pressure to end its violent ways.

Sitting in their dilapidated ground floor apartment near the Indian city of Ghaziabad, Khalimullah and Faizal were discussing the fate of more than 700,000 Rohingya living in the Coxs Bazar refugee camps in Bangladesh when they were distracted by the television. There was news of a Jan. 5 ambush by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on Myanmar security forces in Rakhine State.

Khalimullah and Faizal are Rohingya who made their way a year ago to India, where they have been watching the developments in Rakhine from afar. Their lives, if not ideal, are much better than of those living in the refugee camps in Coxs Bazar. They want to return to their homes in northern Rakhine and for the Myanmar government to fulfill the demands that have been spelled out by those living in the camps. But unlike the many Rohingya refugees who seem to support ARSA, they feel differently.

A few days after the Jan. 5 attack, Khalimullah approached a journalist friend of mine in Delhi and told him that ARSAs involvement in the conflict has worsened the plight of the Rohingya. The more ARSA  which has been declared a terrorist group by Myanmar  tries to project itself as the savior of the Rohingya cause, the more it will mess up the entire situation, he said. One is forced to agree with Khalimullah, for no matter how small an ARSA-led assault may be, it is bound to provoke a major response from the military and have a huge political impact as well. The same concerns have been expressed by knowledgeable political analysts such as Yangon-based Richard Horsey in his recent interview with the New York Times.

The Myanmar military has of late cut a sorry figure many times as it continues to deny the brutal atrocities it has unleashed on Rohingya civilians in retaliation for the ARSA attack of Aug. 25. The recent discovery of a mass graves could also prove true the UNs concerns of a genocide targeting the Rohingya population. However, while we call for an independent investigation into the allegations  and there can perhaps be no substitute  there is an equally urgent need to go after ARSA and prevent it from adding fuel to the fire. It is debatable what ARSA represents today. But when leading international media call the outfit a resistance or even a rebel group, it does sound a bit ridiculous to say the least.

It is indeed a matter of great curiosity that a resistance group should have links to, and get support for its secret trainings from, well-known terrorist outfits such as Jamaat-Ud Daawah, another name for the Pakistan-based Laskhar-e-Taiba. Indian intelligence agencies have more than once sounded this out in the media. Actually these trainings are not much of a secret anymore as ARSA cadre have been openly telling the media about them and issuing press handouts to support its claims.

That the outfit started out as a faith movement in Pakistan in the shadow of Laskhar and Jaish-e-Mohammed only to later change its name to ARSA, and the fact that it has been openly issuing statements threatening to launch more attacks perhaps also lend credence to the view that the outfit has no intention of working toward a solution for the millions of displaced Rohingya.

Even Khalimullah, who once supported rebellion, does not see ARSA as even close to representing one. He is perhaps better informed than many by the Indian media, which has taken pains to trace ARSAs links to US-designated and banned Islamic terrorist groups such as Jaish and Laskhar.

Over the past few years, the Indian media have regularly highlighted that ARSA leader Ata-Ullah was born in Karachi and formed the terror outfit Harakah al-Yaqin. Dossiers of his links to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and other Pakistan-based groups, and records with Indian intelligence services of his recent telephone conversations with some Rohingya men in India have led the Indian establishment to take a firm stand in favour of deporting Rohingya refugees from India.

Much has already been written and said in Indian and international media about ARSA, including incriminating evidence of its involvement with various terrorist groups. For example: Aqa Mul Mujahideen is well connected to the faith movement formed by Ata-Ullah after the 2012 riots between Rohingya Muslims and Buddhists; Harakat ul Jihad al-Islami-Arakan, led by a Rohingya who goes by the name Abdus Qadoos Burmi, is said to have been instrumental in fostering international support for ARSA; Al-Qaeda offshoot Answar Gazawat-ul-Hind, in Kashmir, has been actively campaigning for the Rohingya in India.

So it is not without reason that the Indian government and most of Indian civil society are worried about the terror aspects of the Rohingya debacle. Their alarm is only natural and has absolutely nothing to do with any kind of Islamophobia, as some may claim for the mere sake of argument.

Therefore, when international media  as in the case of Al Jazeera in its report Myanmars ARSA: Freedom fighters or terrorists?  describe India as backing Myanmars clearance operations against the Rohingya, they reflect a very misplaced and myopic view that refuses to see the problem in its entirety. India, or China for that matter, is not by any measure helping Myanmar with its crackdown on the Rohingya.

Recently, professor Brahma Chellaney of the Center for Policy Research, a New Delhi-based think-tank, said that external forces fomenting insurgent attacks in Rakhine bear considerable responsibility for the Rohingyas current plight. I would argue that he has hit the bulls eye in many ways, for there are too many coincidences linking ARSA to external forces that preach hate and use terror as a weapon to realise their goals.

But even going with the milder resistance group tag for the sake of pacifying the international media, would it be wrong to say that the presence of ARSA has done more harm than good?

Without ARSA to worry about, it would certainly have been easier for Aung San Suu Kyi and her government to grab the opportunity to address the more serious allegations of ethnic cleansing. That opportunity vanished with the ARSA-led attack two days after the report was submitted. Continuing ARSA attacks and the militarys response to them also limit the opportunity for a more democratic and transparent process of repatriation and for the protection of the returning Rohingya.

The pressure on the Myanmar government and Aung San Suu Kyi to allow an independent investigation and access to northern Rakhine for humanitarian agencies and media must continue. But what must also start sooner than later is a push for international pressure to rein in ARSA and its violent ways.

There are contradictions galore in ARSAs claim of fighting for the cause of its people. The proliferation of arms in the Rohingya camps in Coxs Bazar via ARSA, with possible help from broader Islamist terror networks and militants in Bangladesh, raises questions about ARSAs real agenda. These arms have been used to silence the voices of the more than half-dozen Rohingya camp leaders killed for promoting repatriation.

Khalimullah summed it up well when he said, Of all the different narratives that are coming to the fore, the role of ARSA in fomenting the trouble and leaving innocent men, women and children to die and suffer in their camps cannot be ignored. Surely this gory tale, a vital component of the crisis in Rakhine, cannot and should not be overlooked if a comprehensive solution is to be worked out, one that not only deals with repatriation but provides justice for all, especially for the thousands of people killed by the security forces and Rakhine Buddhists.

The author is a former senior journalist who has worked for national and international news media in India and elsewhere. Currently he is a contributing editor for The Irrawaddy.

Nilesh Kumar, a journalist based in New Delhi, contributed reporting to this article.Thirty customer class action lawsuits and two securities class actions have been filed against Intel in connection with two vulnerabilities in its processor which were made public in January.

The company made the fact known in a regulatory filing on Friday. No mention was made of the class action which is being readied by the Boston firm of Block & Leviton against Intel chief executive Brian Krzanich for allegedly selling a vast majority of his Intel stock after the company was notified of the two security flaws.

But the company did mention a shareholder derivative action filed against the board and certain directors for allegedly breaching their duties in connection with the disclosure of the vulnerabilities and failure to take action in relation to alleged insider trading.

Krzanich reportedly sold the shares on 29 November, the same day that some OEMs were told of the processor flaws.

He had reportedly given instructions on 30 October that the sale was to be effected. Block & Leviton have also acted against Volkswagen over the emissions scandal known as dieselgate.

The two flaws were revealed in the first week of January and affect Intel processors made since 1995.

Meltdown removes the barrier between user applications and sensitive parts of the operating system. Spectre, which is also reportedly found in some AMD and ARM processors, can trick vulnerable applications into leaking the contents of their memory.

Intel, AMD and ARM have released patches for the flaws, but in many cases these have not achieved the desired impact.

Patches issued by Intel caused problems to the extent that the company told users in January to hold off on using them and to instead wait for fresh updates. Linux creator Linus Torvalds described the Intel patches as "total garbage".

In its Friday filing, Intel said: "The customer class action plaintiffs, who purport to represent various classes of end users of our products, generally claim to have been harmed by Intel's actions and/or omissions in connection with the security vulnerabilities and assert a variety of common law and statutory claims seeking monetary damages and equitable relief.

"The securities class action plaintiffs, who purport to represent classes of acquirers of Intel stock between 27 July 2017 and 4 January 2018 generally allege that Intel and certain officers violated securities laws by making statements about Intel's products and internal controls that were revealed to be false or misleading by the disclosure of the security vulnerabilities.

"Additional lawsuits and claims may be asserted on behalf of customers and shareholders seeking monetary damages or other related relief. We dispute the claims described above and intend to defend the lawsuits vigorously."

Regarding the shareholder derivative action, Intel said: "In addition to these lawsuits, in January 2018, Joseph Tola, Joanne Bicknese, and Michael Kellogg each filed a shareholder derivative action in the Superior Court of the State of California in San Mateo County against certain members of our Board of Directors and certain officers.

"The complaints allege that the defendants breached their duties to Intel in connection with the disclosure of the security vulnerabilities and the failure to take action in relation to alleged insider trading. The complaints seek to recover damages from the defendants on behalf of Intel."Digital security firm Gemalto last month released its 2018 Global Cloud Data Security Study report, commissioning the Ponemon Institute to perform the research, surveying more than 3200 IT and IT security practitioners worldwide.

The survey reveals 95% of global companies have adopted cloud services but there is a wide gap in the level of security precautions applied in different markets.

Fifty-four percent of global organisations believe payment information is at risk in the cloud, and 49% believe customer data is at risk. Fifty-seven percent think using the cloud increases compliance risk, though this is reduced from 62% last year.

Perhaps part of the problem is revealed by the survey: companies admitted on average, only 40% of the data stored in the cloud is secured with encryption and key management solutions.

Interestingly, the survey revealed large regional gaps in their adoption of, and attitude towards, cloud security. German businesses were 61% likely to secure confidential or sensitive information stored in the cloud. The figures plummeted for British (35%), Brazilian (34%) and Japanese (31%) organisations.

While its good to see some countries like Germany taking the issue of cloud security seriously, there is a worrying attitude emerging elsewhere, said Jason Hart, chief technology officer, Data Protection at Gemalto. This may be down to nearly half believing the cloud makes it more difficult to protect data, when the opposite is true.

Fortunately, 77% of organisations across the globe recognised the importance of being able to implement cryptologic solutions such as encryption and 91% believe this will become more important over the next two years.

Graeme Pyper, regional director, Australia and New Zealand, Gemalto, said The reasons why people are using the cloud has not really changed  pretty much all the decisions to go to cloud-based services are to do with reducing cost and time to delivery. However, if you are delivering something faster you have less opportunity to do your due diligence before you start consuming.

What jumped out for me, Pyper says, was 73% of Australian respondents said they were committed to protecting the information they have in the cloud. However, when you delve deeper into the numbers only half of that 73% have people and policies in place to manage the security of the information in the cloud. Thats a large number of companies using the cloud without any controls whatsoever and that concerns me.

Pyper adds, Thirty-five percent of Australian companies were proactive in terms of looking at security within cloud-based services. That didn't seem to be an awful lot to me. Normally the organisations I deal with have a framework for security and risk governance. Instead, the agile framework of the cloud has people going through a very assuming or tick-box exercise where they simply say our cloud security is good enough.

Pyper emphasis this point by referring to data breaches that occurred over the last 12 months. A lot of it is down to human error when someone hasnt changed the default password on an account.

If only 35% of companies are looking at the security assessments then theres an awful lot of applications people arent looking at, at all, so there is so much more to be done there, Pyper says.

Eighty-eight percent of respondents believe the new General Data Protection Regulation will require changes in cloud governance, and 37% said it would require significant changes. Seventy-five percent of companies reported it is more complex to manage privacy and data protection regulations in the cloud than on-premise, particularly France (97%) and the US (87%).

Worryingly, only 25% of IT and IT security practitioners said they were very confident they knew all the cloud services their business is using. This was especially pronounced in Australia (61%), Brazil (59%) and Britain (56%).

Perhaps to mitigate their concerns over not knowing all the "shadow IT" apps on their network, 81% of companies said having the ability to use strong authentication methods for cloud-based data and applications was essential or very important. This was strongest in Australia (92%) followed by India (85%) and Japan (84%).

In Australia, the big news is the imminent data breach amendment to privacy rules, and the research raises concerns. Im reluctant to say everybody is ready for that, Pyper says. I dont think people have done enough to protect the information theyre putting in places where they have lesser control.

Companies really need to up their game from lip service to encryptable security, on-premises or in the cloud..

Its very important, Pyper says, to make sure your company follows this process:

classify your data and determine, based on your risk appetite, what you put where; perform a cloud security assessment; implement strong authentication; implement encryption, no matter where your data resides; and manage your own encryption key yourself, on-premises.

This latter step means you can move encrypted data from one cloud provider to another without exposing it. Youre not giving your house keys to your next-door neighbour so they can water the plants, Pyper says.

Some companies might say they have no time to classify, or they will do it over time but have to put their application in the cloud now. The simple answer, Pyper states, is if youre going to be using the cloud or any other third party you need to ensure youve encrypted your data either at source or rest. Generally, if information is lying around, thats the point where it is vulnerable.Concerto-Aria Concert to Feature Student Soloists

Feb. 15, 2018

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.  The Illinois Wesleyan Symphony Orchestra (IWSO) will host the annual Henry Charles Memorial Concerto-Aria Concert on Friday, Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church (404 N. Prairie St., Bloomington). The event is free and open to the public.

The concert will highlight solos by three IWU students named winners of the School of Musics Concerto-Aria competition last fall. This years winners were Jack Gardner 18, Dean Scopelliti 19 and Ari Scott 20.

Becoming a soloist for the Concerto-Aria Concert is a coveted honor among IWU musicians. So many fantastic musicians at IWU have won this competition, said Scopelliti, who has been working toward the goal since his freshman year, and to have my name up there with them is really humbling and surreal.

In the months and years of preparation, each of the soloists invested tremendous time and energy in order to hone their talents, with the help and support of their mentors. I am very grateful to my accompanist, Nancy, and my cello teacher, Nina, for working with me throughout this process, said Scott, who is looking forward in particular to Prokofievs Sinfonia Concertante, which the orchestra will perform along with pieces by Popper, Khachaturian, Plau, Brahms and other notable composers.

When reflecting on the hard work and setbacks they faced on the path to success, the students found the honor of being named a soloist for the Concerto-Aria Concert was worth all their efforts. This is actually my third time trying for it, Gardner said. And I feel like all of the sacrificeall of the lost sleep, all the time spent in practice rooms obsessively engineering piece after piece, all the time on the technical work so my body could catch up to what I wanted in my headreally has culminated in the moment I get to go out there onstage and do what I love, which is just to have fun playing music.

The Illinois Wesleyan Symphony Orchestra, conducted by visiting assistant professor of music Lev Ivanov, brings together talented student musicians across all disciplines. Since its founding in 1984, the orchestra has performed alongside several distinguished figures in the music industry, such as Illinois Wesleyan alumna and Grammy Award-winning soprano Dawn Upshaw 82. It has also played in concert with the Volgograd Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, performed on CBSs Sunday Morning, and toured throughout the United States.

This concert will be followed by a free reception provided by the Alpha Lambda chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. For additional information, please contact the School of Music at (309) 556-3061.

By Rachel McCarthy 21Summerville, SC (29483)

Today

Mainly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.There is lot of scope for American and Indian defence industries to go for co-production and co-development of equipment: Rajnath Singh. co-production and co-development of equipment: Rajnath Singh.Moncks Corner, SC (29461)

Today

Overcast with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly this evening. Low around 70F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Overcast with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly this evening. Low around 70F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.Reddit Email 157 Shares

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

The Mueller inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 election campaign has now brought indictments against specific Russian individuals and organizations, including the crony of Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, known as Putins chef because the Russian president throws his business large numbers of high level government catering jobs.

The complicated Russian plot against the 2016 elections involves several distinct questions, as John Feffer points out:

1. Was there a concerted Russian attempt to influence the election?

2. Which individuals and organizations in specific were involved, if any?

3. If there were Russians so involved, were they directed by the Russian government?

4. How exactly did they intervene? Did they change votes by hacking into voting machines? [No, they did not change votes; yes, they hacked into the Illinois machines.] Did they attempt to suppress the Democratic vote? How?

5. If there was a major cyber-campaign to influence the US election, did it have any success? How could its success be measured?

6. Was the interference welcomed by the Trump campaign and did Trump and his cronies insert themselves into the ongoing Russian operation against the Hillary Clinton campaign once Trump emerged as a front-runner for the GOP nomination?

Fridays DOJ indictments answer some of these questions but by no means all of them.

The first takeaway of the indictments is that, yes, there was a significant Russian operation to influence the US election, funded in part by Prigozhin. While in legal matters guilt by association is not probative, in politics it cannot be dismissed. Prigozhins role points strongly to Putin direction of this campaign operation. Moreover, the Russian government is the primary likely beneficiary of a sidelining of Ms. Clinton. It is hard to see how Prigozhin himself could benefit. By the rule of means, motive and opportunity, we can reasonably conclude there was a Putin-directed plot.

The second takeaway we already knewthat Russian cells were formed to establish phony Facebook, Twitter and other accounts that pushed divisive politics in the United States. At one point a supposed Islamophobic group protested outside a Texas mosque, met by a pro-Muslim counter-demonstration. Both demonstrations were called for by fake Russian sites. These sites grew to have enormous popularity, with hundreds of thousands of followers. They spread around memes such as that Clinton supports sharia or Islamic law. Supposed Black Lives Matter sites argued that African-Americans should not vote, which would hurt Clinton. Im sure we all have relatives who kept sending us those Russia disinformation links on Facebook.

A corollary of this second takeaway is that the philosophy of the Russian operation was similar to that of ISIL and other extremist terrorist organizations. ISIL briefly took over 40% of Iraq by striving for a decade to provoke hatred between Shiites and Sunnis. They concentrated on bombing Shiites and making it clear Sunnis had done it. Then the Shiites attacked the Sunnis, driving them into the hands of ISIL. ISIL and al-Qaeda have tried to play the same number on Muslims living in Europe and North America. While the Russian operation was not violent, its premises were similar (and ISIL used its techniques on the internet, too).

In turn, I have argued that Muslim extremists were influenced by the old Soviet Communist tactic of sharpening contradictions. That is, the similarity of approach may actually have a common genealogy back to the early 20th century.

The third takeaway is how big the operations were. There were entire troll factories that got millions of Twitter retweets and Facebook shares.

A fourth takeaway (and on this I have changed my mind over time) is that the Russian campaign may well have had such success that it did actually affect the outcome.

Trumps victory was extremely narrow. If just a few tens of thousands of Black voters in Detroit stayed home rather than coming out for Clinton, that threw Michigan to Trump. Note that Michigan had been trending Democratic in presidential elections for two decades, by a 5% margin. So Clintons loss is weird. It cant be explained only by a swing of white working class voters to Trump. Only 14% of white blue collar voters who had cast their ballots for Obama defected to the GOP in 2016. Given that lots of other kinds of people live in Michigan, that wouldnt by itself have erased the 5% tilt to the Democrats.

On the other hand, it is also true that Detroit has hemorrhaged population in recent decades, shrinking from 1.1 million in 1990 to less than a million in 2000 and now we are down to probably 670,000 and going on down from there. African-Americans have moved to Atlanta in large numbers.

Moreover, Clinton declined to campaign in Michigan, which certainly contributed to her loss of the state. A friend of mine in the DP tried to get her to come talk to the Arab Americans in Dearborn and she would not do it, possibly because she was in the back pocket of Israeli billionaire Haim Saban and did not want to risk annoying him.

Also Clinton was a horrible candidate and her shilling for Goldman Sachs in return for hundreds of thousands of dollars per speech hurt her with those many Michiganders who had had their homes repossessed by the banks.

So whether the Russian attempts at voter suppression were the cause of Trumps victory in Michigan is still hard to know, but it cannot be ruled out. What is clear is that Clinton cant take any satisfaction in this possibility, since if she had been a better candidate she could have counter-acted the fairly flat-footed Russian propaganda mill.



Bonus video:

CBC: 13 Russians indicted for interfering in 2016 U.S. electionReddit Email 1K Shares

Middle East Monitor |  

Israeli demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv today to urge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign after police recommended he be charged with bribery in two corruption cases.

Police said on Tuesday enough evidence had been found for Netanyahu to be charged, saddling the four-term premier with one of the biggest challenges to his long dominance of Israeli politics.

Netanyahu, 68, denies wrongdoing in both cases and has said nothing will come of the police investigations. It is now up to the attorney general to determine whether to press charges against him.

Around 1,000-2,000 protesters rallied in a Tel Aviv square, some with signs saying crooks go home and crime minister.

We think the prime minister should immediately disqualify himself and resign, said Shlomit Bar, 63, a retired music teacher. He cannot be any longer the prime minister of Israel.

Netanyahu: What happens next?

From a moral standpoint, this is a disgrace to the state of Israel, where a prime minister is suspected of such serious crimes, said Oren Simon, one of the protesters. He should go home. Enough.

A poll published on Wednesday showed almost half of Israels electorate believe the police rather than Netanyahu.

Netanyahu is currently entangled in four political scandals: Case 1000 which involves allegations that the PM and his wife accepted illegal gifts from businessmen; Case 2000 which accuses Netanyahu of attempting to buy favourable newspaper coverage; Case 3000, also known as the submarine scandal; and Case 4000, in which a close associate of Netanyahu is suspected of providing confidential information to Israels largest telecoms company.

New Israel election poll places Yair Lapid ahead of Netanyahu

The prime ministers wife, Sara Netanyahu, has also been accused of using public funds for private expenditure in the prime ministers households. Only 20 per cent of respondents to the recent survey believe she is innocent.

It could be months before the attorney general makes a decision on whether to charge him.

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Via Middle East Monitor

-

Bonus video added by Informed Comment:

File from two months ago:

Guardian News: Protesters chant shame during anti-corruption rally in Tel AvivReddit Email 252 Shares

By John Feffer | ( Foreign Policy in Focus) |  

The bizarre denialism of some on the left and right about Russiagate doesnt bode well for the future of American politics.

When it comes to the Russiagate scandal, progressives usually take one of two positions.



Glenn Greenwald talking Russiagate on Fox News Tucker Carlson.

They either dismiss the scandal as a lot of hooey, a nothingburger, just a way for warmongers and the Deep State to revive a cold war between Washington and Moscow. Or they treat the scandal as just a means to an end, a way to cast doubt on the 2016 presidential election, implicate the administration in a variety of crimes, and ultimately impeach the president.

Both of these positions are wrong.

I last wrote about the perplexing positions of some progressives on Russia back in March 2015, long before the Russiagate scandal and the 2016 elections. At the time, I was trying to understand why some progressives were bending over backwards to excuse the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, both domestically (his authoritarianism) and externally (his meddling along the periphery of Russia and further afield in Syria).

Putin, I argued, was an autocrat, an anti-progressive nationalist, and an imperialist wannabe. By all means, the United States should negotiate treaties with Russia and avoid a resurgent cold war, I maintained, but progressives should have no illusions about the nature of the current wielder of power in the Kremlin.

What had once been a strange sideshow of geopolitics has now, with the election of Donald Trump, become the main act. And the bizarre overlap in positions between some elements of the left and the right about Russiagate does not bode well for the future of American politics.

The stakes, in other words, are far greater than the fate of the current president of the United States. Why focus on Russiagate when we face possible nuclear war in Korea, a slow-motion apocalypse through climate change, and growing economic inequality worldwide? Because Russiagate points to a new kind of politics, in the United States and elsewhere, that makes resolution of these crises increasingly difficult.

Yes, the U.S. status quo before Russiagate was grossly unfair. The future status quo, a world of continuous Russiagates, will be grossly unfair and authoritarian as well.

Addressing the Skeptics

The Russia scandal has scrambled the political spectrum. Consider the case of Glenn Greenwald, the journalist based in Brazil who writes for The Intercept.

Greenwald has emerged as one of the prominent skeptics of the investigation into collaboration between the Trump campaign and the Russians. Once a fixture in the progressive media for his dissection of the national security state, he is now more frequently cited by the far right in its efforts to discredit the investigation run by Robert Mueller. The journalist used to chat regularly with MSNBCs Rachel Maddow, but now hes more likely to appear with Tucker Carlson on Fox News.

I used to be really good friends with Rachel Maddow, Greenwald told New York magazine. And Ive seen her devolution from this really interesting, really smart, independent thinker into this utterly scripted, intellectually dishonest, partisan hack.

Wow, thats harsh.

Greenwald is not alone. You can find skeptical articles about Russiagate at The Nation, Counterpunch, Consortium News, and many other progressive outlets. And these articles can be equally scathing about the journalists, mainstream or otherwise, that take the investigation seriously.

Over at The Nation, Russia specialist Stephen Cohen regularly challenges the emerging narrative, most recently suggesting that the intelligence community essentially fabricated Russiagate, which has generated in turn a different scandal  he calls it Intelgate  even larger than Watergate.

I cut my Sovietology teeth on Stephen Cohen and have always had tremendous respect for him. I certainly understand his desire to counter the demonization of all things Russian and his skepticism of the organs of U.S. national security. But he seems to have lost sight of the fact that the two principal groups of actors in this saga  the Trump team and the Putin people  are ruthless operators who have imported their mafia style into democratic politics.

Remember: The enemy of my enemy, even if that enemy is the U.S. national security state, is not necessarily my friend!

Consortium News, meanwhile, likes to give voice to former intelligence operatives. For example, former CIA analyst Philip Giraldi accepts the charges in the recent Nunes memo at face value and asserts that Israel, not Russia, played a much more prominent role in determining the 2016 election. Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, also at Consortium News, believes that he can prove that the FBI, on behalf of the Deep State, is out to get the Trump administration.

But really its the same old material that Fox News has been trumpeting. I suppose it takes one to know one, but I suspect these former operatives have other axes to grind in this fight. Hell hath no fury like an intelligence operative scorned.

At Counterpunch, meanwhile, political economist Rob Urie argues that Russian involvement in the 2016 election is a red herring because, essentially, it has not been proven that any voter changed his or her mind as a result of Russian influence. Oh, and there isnt any proof anyway of Russian meddling  or, if there is proof, it comes from unreliable sources. And if Russia engaged in such meddling, it had good reason to do so, given U.S. foreign policy maneuvers in Ukraine and elsewhere.

Theres a lot here to parse (which I will do below). But lets return to Greenwald, because his perch at The Intercept is so influential.

Most of the time, Greenwald has delighted in revealing what the mainstream media has gotten wrong on the Russia story. In September, he ridiculed reports of Russian hacking of 21 state election systems, which turned out to be, in some cases, misreported. But some overly hasty conclusions dont entirely discredit the entire story. The Department of Homeland Security first mentioned the attempted hacks in June 2017 but noted that it did not affect any votes. Again, this month, the head of cybersecurity for DHS, Jeanette Manfra, repeated the same claim.

Perhaps DHS is continuing to engage in disinformation. But Greenwald didnt bother to write anything about Illinois, the one specific and rather well-documented case of Russian hacking that did manage to penetrate a state system (again without having any impact on the election results).

Also escaping his scrutiny have been the reports I mentioned in last weeks column: Dutch surveillance of Cozy Bear in Moscow as the operation hacked into the Democratic National Committee and the trial in Russia of a hacker who described receiving orders from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) to attack the DNCs servers for the purpose of manipulating the U.S. electoral process.

Okay, so the U.S. media has made mistakes in its coverage of Russiagate. Its not exactly a transparent story. And its very useful for journalists to keep other journalists honest (not to mention government officials).

But Greenwald is after something different. He is out to discredit all claims of Russias malign conduct. In a recent article, he made a list of all the false claims involving Russia  interference in the Brexit vote, responsibility for the #releasethememo Twitter campaign, intervention in the recent German and French elections  alongside the corrections.

These dismissals are too casual. The jury is still out on how much Russian social media presence influenced the Brexit vote. Greenwald cites a Senate report on Russian bots using Twitter and Facebook in large numbers then refutes the report with an article on YouTubes denial of Russian interference. Well, those are very different platforms. Greenwald is skeptical that the #releasethememo Twitter campaign was, in part, Russian-influenced, but cites as proof an article with a single anonymous source. On Russian involvement in the German election, he identifies a New York Times article with the headline: German Election Mystery: Why No Russian Meddling? But he neglects to investigate the deeper Russian involvement  in cultivating the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland, supporting its messages on social media, and unleashing a botnet onslaught in the final hours of the campaign (a story that broke after The New York Times article but well before Greenwalds putative takedown).

Finally, Greenwald points to an AP article refuting Russian involvement in a celebrated hacking of Emmanuel Macrons election campaign. Perhaps Fancy Bear was not involving in phishing schemes, as investigators allege. But, as with Germany, Russia was involved in other ways, primarily through support for the National Front and Marine Le Pen.

In other words, the exposure of one poorly reported story on Russia  or even a dozen such embarrassments  does not mean that Russiagate or reports of Russian interference in European elections are fake news. Greenwald should know better, as a lawyer and a journalist. Hes pissed at the Democratic Party for running a lousy presidential campaign. Hes pissed at the Obama administration for its drone and surveillance policies. Fair enough. But please, do us a favor and look at all the evidence instead of playing the blinkered prosecutor.

Now lets take a look at some of the other efforts to debunk this supposed myth.

Countering the Counter-Narrative

One of the major arguments of the skeptics is that Russian interference, even if there was some, didnt influence the election because it was only a trivial amount of Twittering, Facebook ads, and trolling. Okay, perhaps thats true. But Russian hacking was not just bots and trolls. The release of the results of the DNC hacking turned out to be quite damaging for the Clinton campaign.

But frankly, this isnt the most important question. The election is over, and the Democratic Party should own up to its failures rather than blame it on some other party, be it Bernie Sanders, the Green Party, the Russians, or the deplorables.

Instead, the investigation should focus on only two things  the Trump campaigns complicity and safeguarding future elections. Any interference in U.S. elections  whether from a foreign power or domestic actors trying to suppress voter turnout  should be taken very seriously.

A corollary to the Russia didnt really do anything argument is that other countries had greater impact on the elections. The two countries usually cited are Israel and Mexico.

Certainly Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown a fondness for Donald Trump, and hardline pro-Israel donors Sheldon and Miriam Adelson poured millions into the Trump campaign. But there were also plenty of friends of Israel pushing in the opposite direction because of an authentic fondness for Hillary Clinton, or because of authentic fears of the anti-Semitic forces supporting Trump. As for Mexicos meddling, this is largely a right-wing rant about how immigrants are subverting America, not about Mexico trying to sway any particular election.

Then theres the argument that Russia wasnt doing anything that the United States hadnt done over the years. Its certainly true that the United States has engaged in such conduct. So? It has also been involved in the assassination of foreign figures. Would that justify another country taking out the U.S. president? Do U.S. regime-change efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq justify another power taking over Washington DC and setting up a puppet government?

Its always useful to point out U.S. hypocrisy. But this should be done in order to reform U.S. policy  not to excuse other countries for acting in similarly reprehensible ways.

Finally, lets talk about the so-called Deep State.

I have to be honest. Im not really sure what the Deep State is. Given that the pushback against Trump has been widespread, does the Deep State include all the judges who have blocked the administrations immigration plans? Does it encompass all the career bureaucrats who refuse to go along with the anti-regulatory fervor at the Environmental Protection Agency, the Energy Department, and elsewhere in the federal system?

Should we include whistleblowers who are aghast at the abuses of power? What about the Washington playbook that pushed for military solutions during the Obama era but has also resisted Trumps more radical proposals?

Obviously such an amorphous entity lacks any meaningful coherence. So, lets assume that its just the intelligence community and elements of the Justice Department and the FBI that are out to get Trump because hes a rogue president.

Stephen Cohen argues that the intelligence community targeted Trump during the Obama administration and continues to push its agenda. But this is more usually an argument from the right wing. As Fox Business Network host Lou Dobbs put it, It may be time to declare war outright against the deep state and clear out the rot in the upper levels of the FBI and the Justice Department.

Im quite sure that there are a lot of folks at the FBI, the Justice Department, and the intelligence agencies who are freaked out about Trump. The president shows little interest in intelligence briefings, has casually given away sensitive information and shown no regard for security protocols, has sought to politicize intelligence, has given highest-level security access to people like his son-in-law without proper vetting, supports all manner of lawbreakers (Joe Arpaio, neo-Nazis at Charlottesville, sexual harassers left and right), has defied the emoluments clause of the Constitution, and so on.

Is it remotely possible that intelligence agencies are genuinely worried about Russian interference? At the latest congressional hearing on Russias gearing up for the U.S. midterm elections, even Trumps Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and CIA chief Mike Pompeo expressed their very clear concerns about Russian interference, directly contradicting their commander in chief.

Forget the Deep State. The intelligence agencies are just doing their day job  which I often dont like, but which I also dont think is conspiratorial against Trump.

Moreover, might Greenwald and others consider the possibility that a number of federal actors are pursuing investigations of Trump and his colleagues because this is how a democratic system operates?

Its not a question of partisan squabbling. Its not a question of some shadowy group of operatives trying to take down the president in secret. This is an open investigation, by people who call themselves Democrats and Republicans and independents, into the potential violations of the U.S. law by a presidential candidate and now a current president.

To the extent that these operators began to investigate Trump during the Obama administration, they only did so in a partial and, given the potential enormity of the threat, frankly half-hearted way. Now, when the very rule of law is threatened, the institutions of American democracy are arguably doing their job.

Ultimately, the strengthening of the rule of law and of democratic process  not the impeachment of the president  should be the goal of these investigations. Yes, it shouldnt be just any rule of law (apartheid was a rule of law, after all), but rather a rule of law informed by all the social movements that have shaped it. And it shouldnt be just any democratic process (Putin is an elected leader, after all), but it should be a democracy of citizens informed by a free press and influenced as little as possible by big money and the machinations of foreign governments.

Impeachment, however satisfying, would be just a quick fix to the more serious threats Trumpism poses to democracy and rule of law.

Trump is leading the country in the opposite direction, and hes doing so to a large extent by trampling on U.S. laws and institutions. If that isnt clear to Greenwald and others, then theyre missing the big picture even as they get so many of the details wrong as well.

Via Foreign Policy in FocusJaipur, Feb 16: Akshay Kumar's latest release "Padman", which creates awareness about menstrual hygiene, will be made tax-free in Rajasthan, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje announced today. Raje said she wants maximum number of women to see the film so that the message on sanitary hygiene can spread.

She also announced that sanitary pads machines will be installed in various schools and colleges in the rural areas in the state. Directed by R Balki, "Padman" also features Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte in pivotal roles.

The movie is based on the real-life story of Tamil Nadu-based social activist Arunachalam Muruganantham, who revolutionised the concept of menstrual hygiene in rural India by creating a low-cost sanitary napkins machine.The heads of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland came to visit Laois on Friday February 16, and promised to up their game to attract jobs to the county.

Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland, and Julie Sinnamon CEO of Enterprise Ireland came to County Hall for a meeting with Laois TDs Sean Fleming and Brian Stanley, Minister Charlie Flanagans representative Rosemary Whelan, the Chief Executive of Laois County Council John Mulholland and Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Cllr Padraig Fleming.

Mr Shanahan afterwards said that IDA Ireland "remains committed" to bring jobs to Laois.

IDA Ireland remains committed to working with all stakeholders including our sister agency Enterprise Ireland to win investment for Laois and the Midlands Region and for that reason todays engagement was extremely useful and constructive," he said.

Multi-million plan to regenerate Portlaoise - Flanagan

The IDA CEO said the agency is working to increase client site visits to Laois. So far in 2018, Laois has received four site visits, compared to four visits over the whole of 2017.

The IDA will support the skills audit underway by Laois County Council, of the 11,000 people who leave Laois for work elsewhere every day.

It promised to develop new promotional online content about Laois.

"IDA will also examine ways to make its Business and Technology Park more attractive to potential investors and will make all relevant supports available to potential investors considering Laois.

IDA will continue to work with Enterprise Ireland and Laois County Council to secure a strategic investment for available sites in Laois, Martin Shanahan said

A collaborative approach, with all parties working together to present the strongest possible value proposition for Laois is what will work best," he said.

The IDA has "historically not a good record" in Laois, Deputy Sean Fleming said afterwards.

"I arranged this historic meeting today... it is a good start on that road in putting Laois on the IDA map. It was the first time that there was a joint visit of the Chief Executives of the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to County Laois to discuss employment in the county. It was a constructive, productive meeting," he said.

Enterprise Ireland supports 55 companies in Laois which employ 1473 people. IDA Ireland supports just two companies in the county, with a total of 119 employees.

Julie Sinnamon, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, said they discussed plans for driving entrepreneurship, and building the scale of client companies in Laois.

Enterprise Ireland backed companies in Laois had an 8% job growth in 2017  one of the highest levels in the country. It invested 2.5m directly in companies in Laois between 2014-2017.

"In addition, we co-funded 3 Community Enterprise Centres in Portlaoise, Portarlington, and Mountmellick and 2 projects with Laois based partners were funded under the LEO competitive fund," Ms Sinnamon said.

Enterprise Ireland will hold a Brexit Advisory Clinic in Portlaoise on Feb 22.

"It is essential that Irish companies look to improve their competitiveness and review their supply chain, sourcing and customer base. Enterprise Ireland is actively working with its clients to face the challenges posed by Brexit. It has also developed a range of supports to help companies prepare," she said.

These supports include a Brexit SME Scorecard tool to help companies self-assess their exposure and give advice, and several types of grants to help companies adapt to new markets, assess skills gaps, and to hire key talent.

Ms Sinnamon said they want more start-up companies in Laois.

Earlier this week we launched a new 500,000 competitive start fund for regionally based projects. In addition, we will be announcing the second tranche of funding under our Regional Enterprise Development Fund at the end of the March which entrepreneurial projects in Laois can apply for," she said.

A key focus of todays meeting was to ensure that local representatives and business people in the county are aware of the full range of Enterprise Ireland supports and can make best use of our enterprise infrastructure and I look forward to seeing more companies from Laois work with Enterprise Ireland and avail of our supports for the benefit of Laois and the Midlands," she said.

See www.prepareforbrexit.ieA woman who stole a bottle of brandy because she wanted something nice for herself for Christmas has been given community service in lieu of prison.

Carmen Rostas (29), Cosby Avenue, Fairgreen, Portlaoise, was charged with theft, from Tesco, Portlaoise, on December 24, 2017.

The court heard the accused stole a bottle of brandy.

Sgt JJ Kirby said the accused had eight previous convictions, three for theft.

Defence, Ms Thomasina Connell said her client, a mother of three, wanted something nice for herself for Christmas and took an opportunity.

The accused, a Romanian national, came to Ireland in 2004 and was on social welfare. She was trying to do the best she could and it was Christmas Eve, said Ms Connell.

Remarked Judge Catherine Staines: I would understand if she took toys or food for the children, but a bottle of brandy?

The judge imposed 80 hours community service in lieu of three months in prison, with the matter put back to March 22.Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.

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Support our mission and join our community now.A day long seminar on art and heritage in walled towns will take place in Solas Bhride outside Kildare town on February 22 next at 9.30am.

The Irish Walled Towns Network (IWTN), an inititative of the Heritage Council of Ireland, is partnering with Kildare Heritage Office and Kildare Arts Office to present the event, entitled Exploring Ways to Work Together.

The network supports historic walled towns to make them better places to live, work and visit. There are three walled town members in Kildare: Athy, Castledermot and Kildare town.

In recent years, IWTN members are increasingly more interested in working with artists in presenting the story of their towns history, said spokesperson Hollie Kearns.

With the introduction of Creative Ireland, lots of art and heritage professionals across the country are also looking for ways to produce ambitious, and high quality art and heritage projects.

This seminar, delivered through the Kildare Creative Ireland programme, will feature presentations from artists making art and heritage artworks across Ireland.

Workshops in the middle of the seminar will help to upskill attendees in working with artists, funding art and heritage projects, the legislative context of heritage sites, and good heritage interpretation practices.

Speakers will include Charles Duggan, Dublin City Heritage Office; Michele Horrigan, curator of Askeaton Contemporary Arts; Deirdre OMahony, Alan Counihan, Michael Fortune and Aileen Lambert.I was delighted to get a response to my piece on credit union in the Leader of January 23, Is Credit Union bashing a national sport?

Chiefly because I believe that the credit union movement is being railroaded up alleyways which may not be in its best interest. And more importantly, that there has been little or no real debate on a strategy for the movement.

Bob Quinn, from Naas, responded in the February 6 edition (Bigger is better for credit unions), who basically disagreed with me when I said that turning good credit unions into bad banks, is not a good idea.

He argued that the mergers needed to go further and that a credit union with all the county Kildare credit unions would be big enough to offer services to compete with banks.

Perhaps. However, I worry that even our larger credit unions will not ultimately be able to compete.

In my submission to the Commission on Credit Unions in 2011, I argued that the entire movement should have set up a separate bank, owned by the credit union, which would bring in specialist for the various areas, including mortgage, cards, pensions etc.

Alas, I think we shirked it, possibly because we screwed up on big IT projects before.

The financial services industry is having a field day with the credit unions.

Due to regulations many of the smaller accountancy practices appear to losing out to the bigger lads and the Central Bank and the Oireachtas have imposed increased, and I believe unnecessary, costs on us.

Yet even our bigger credit unions still deal in small loans. I saw the 2017 accounts of one credit union with over 60 million in assets recently. Last year it issues around 12m in loans and over 80% of them for up to 5,000. Another 11% were for loans of between 5,000 and 10,000.

Yet the Oireachtas, the Regulator, deemed it fit to impose expensive regulatory regimes.

The increase in regulatory levies seems excessive.

The credit union referred to above paid almost 50,000 in levies in 2016 and this went up to over 190,000 last year

My January 23 comments received a response from someone who asked to remain anonymous.

They said the Irish credit union (CU) total loan book today is 4.2bn

CUs are regulated by the Central Bank (CB), for which they must pay an annual fee. The regulatory requirements for CUs include having a compliance officer, a risk officer, an internal audit function, Minimum Competency Requirements, a Fitness and Probity Regime, a Data protection function, an anti-money laundering function as well as levies from the CB to pay for collapsed banks and to set up a stabilisation fund. The cost of above in salaries and time varies between CUs but in a mid-sized one it would be 100k to 150k per year, which, they argued, do NOT apply to its main competitor.

They said CUs will face difficulties when the Central Banks new credit register comes in. (I had proposed in 2011 that the Bank set up one, with the aim of reducing the bills for this in the long term.)

My correspondent said CUs intend to keep both systems for as long as they can afford to, as the well-used Irish Credit Bureau shows HP payments records which the CB register will not.

The writer argues that the PCP-HP market share is bigger than the entire heavily regulated CU market but we cant be certain because this market is completely unregulated in Ireland.

The Government, they said, has been told. It it government policy to seriously disadvantage the CUs.The long-awaited Carrick-on-Shannon bypass is to be moved through the appraisal and planning stages this year according to details released as part of the Project Ireland 2040 plan for the North West of Ireland.

The document, released following yesterday's launch of the Project Ireland 2040 in Sligo outlines plans for major upgrades along the N4.

As part of this it notes: "This objective of this road development project is to improve the capacity and journey time on the N4, improve access to the West and North West and to relieve traffic congestion in Carrick-on-Shannon."

As part of this it is planned to move the project through the appraisal and planning stages in 2018.

Other works on the N4 include the complete replacement of the section between Collooney and Castlebaldwin to improve safety and a major upgrade of the N4 between Mullingar and Rooskey, Co Leitrim.

Fine Gael Senator, Frank Feighan has welcomed the announcement for Carrick-on-Shannon.

The Carrick-on-Shannon bypass has been prioritised," he said, "this is in recognition of the importance of dealing with the N4 and accessibility to the North West. I have been consistent in calling for a bypass of Carrick-on-Shannon over the years and it is clear that, if we are looking at improving the N4, Carrick-on-Shannon remains an issue that must be resolved as a matter of urgency."AN OLD wardrobe, drinking straws, crisp packets, egg cartons, bed sheets and leaves: just some of the recycled materials used by Limerick students to create original couture outfits.

Limerick students have made it through to the regional finals of this years Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture competition with four stunning creations.

Now in its eighth year, Irelands leading fashion and art competition for secondary schools challenges students to create unique, original and innovative outfits from recycled materials and junk.

Lilly OByrne, a fourth year student from Colaiste Iosef, Kilmallock, secured her place with her innovative design called Stralusion.

Hundreds of recycled straws were ironed and fused together in order to create a new material for her design.

Emily Noonan, a student from John the Baptist Community School, Hospital, also made it through to the regional finals of this years competition with her creation Intrepid.

Inspired by rebelling against the pressure society sometimes puts on people to keep their passions and creativity caged, Emily used parts of an old wardrobe as well as straws and egg cartons to create her gown.

Transition year students at Colaiste Ide agus Iosef, Abbeyfeale, were also successful in securing a place in the regional finals. Androgynous by twins Shona and Caoimhe Hickey had as its theme Gay Pride.

Using crisp bags their colourful creation co-ordinates with the rainbow flag, and features words like pride, equality and love.

The students designed the outfit with a futuristic look as a message for where society should go.

Also from the Abbeyfale school, Lady in Leaves by Grainne Flynn, Caoimhe Pegley and Shauna OShea, pictured below, is a design aimed at personifying the beauty of nature.

The students used natural and organic materials, including leaves, with off cuts of chicken wire, bed sheets and old fabric.

The Junk Kouture regional finals will take place in University Concert Hall Limerick on March 9. For the full list of students through to the regional finals, visit https://www.facebook.com/BOIstudentsA MAN who was caught with two petrol bombs in a Limerick village may have to carry our community service to avoid going to jail.

Andrew Devereux, aged 22, who has an address at Scanlan Park, Castleconnell has pleaded guilty to possession of an explosive substance at Bruach Na Sionna, Castleconnell on June 14, 2016.

During a sentencing hearing, Garda Niall ODonovan said gardai were alerted to a young male who was in an agitated state shortly after 5.30pm.

When he encountered the defendant a short time later, he observed him holding a glass beer bottle filled with liquid and with what appeared to a cloth-like item at the neck

Garda ODonovan told John OSullivan BL, prosecuting, there was a second identical bottle on the ground along with a plastic container containing petrol.

After being directed to drop the petrol bomb, the plastic container caught fire resulting in a small explosion.

While nobody was injured, a wall at the front of the house in the estate was badly scorched.

When questioned at the scene the defendant said he had the petrol bombs to defend himself as he was in dispute with another individual relating to a previous incident.

It was later established Mr Devereux had bought 2.69 worth of petrol earlier in the day as well as a cigarette lighter from a local shop.

Garda ODonovan agreed with Mr OSullivan who said the defendant had armed himself with a potentially deadly weapon and was in an agitated state when encountered by gardai.

Jack Nicholas BL said his client, who has no previous convictions, wasnt in his right mind on the date of the offence.

He said what happened was extremely out of the ordinary for the local community and that Mr Devereux had apologised for any stress which was caused.

He was was very foolish and it was an incredibly stupid thing to do, he said.

Judge Tom ODonnell was told the defendant doesn'tdrink or smoke and that he has a limited education.

The judge said what happened was an outrageous performance no matter what the source of agitation was and that it was a very serious offence.

He said he would much prefer to see Mr Devereux doing something positive rather than going to prison and he adjourned the matter to facilitate the preparation of a community service report.IT WAS a Valentines Ball with a difference in Limerick, all with the aim of helping those who have fallen on hard times.

And this years event, the Mid-West region ball organised by the Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund, has raised more than 20,000 for grocers in need and their families.

The charity assists people in the retail, wholesale and supplier trade sectors, providing financial relief for people who have been involved in the business.

The event is also the chance for those in the industry to enjoy a night of fun with colleagues.

Last Saturday evening, the glamour was turned up for the annual ball, one of the regions major highlights on the social calendar.

Two hundred people, with links to the grocery trade, flocked to the Castletroy Park Hotel for the elegant evening, which started with a wine and cocktail reception.

Guests were then ushered into the hotels grand ballroom, where they ate, drank, and toasted their colleagues and the organising committee.

The event was sponsored by some of the food and drink industrys biggest names.

Some lucky spot prize winners went home with generously sponsored prizes, including a holiday to Las Vegas, a television and an iPad, in a raffle that raised over 4,000.

But the real winners are those who are given a helping hand up from their colleagues, by availing of this fund.

For over 30 years, the fund has been used to relieve hardship. It is also used to help spouses who have fallen on difficult times.

The IGBF aims to assist widows and orphans of members of the trade, elderly and retired members in need, members whose dependents are seriously ill, members in need of nursing care either at home or institutionally, and cases of hardship from prolonged unemployment.

Testimonials from those who have been helped by the fund show just how important the financial help can be.

One young widower who worked in retail, and who lost his wife through cancer, received some funding from the IGBF. He was left with five young children to care for, and had to reduce his working day to mornings only so that he could care for them.

I am overwhelmed with your kindness, concern and generosity. My family and I are most grateful. With people like you and your organisation, it helps greatly to make the world a better place to live, he wrote to the committee.

A widow of a food company rep, who had no pension, wrote: Thank you for your gift, I feel reassured that someone is keeping an eye on me.

The national fund assists nearly 250 families monthly, and contributes over 560,000 annually on welfare support.

The 20,000 raised at the Limerick ball is the equivalent, for the committee, of helping eight families locally over the course of one year.ELEVEN families are expected to move into their new homes in Newcastle West by the end of the month, the organisation behind the initiative, Co-Operative Housing Ireland, has revealed.

Co-Operative Housing, which is an Approved Housing Body, has taken out 20-year leases on eleven two and three-bedroom houses in the Cois Teampail estate in Churchtown and hopes to take out leases on a further two houses in the future. The tenants will begin to move later this month, once they have been notified, Fiona Dunkin, policy and communications officer with the association told the Limerick Leader.

It is the biggest undertaking in Limerick so far by the Dublin-based association which manages eight social houses in Castleconnell and two, separate, houses in Newcastle West.

The Cois Teampail estate was originally built as a private housing estate and Co-Operative Housing has now leased the eleven houses from a private developer who carried out work on the houses prior to the leasing agreement.

The tenants were nominated by Limerick City and County Council based on their waiting list and have to go through a process of meeting with Co-Operative Housing.

New tenants, on payment of a nominal fee, become members of the co-operative which allows them a say in the associations work and to representation on the local management board.

This is very positive news, Fine Gaels Cllr Jerome Scanlan said. It is extremely welcome. We need houses, we need Approved Housing Bodies to come in and invest in homes in the town.

However, he added, it was disappointing that LImerick City and County Council had no plans to build any new social houses in the town.

That being said he welcomed the fact that the council had bought back a number of local authority houses which had gone into private ownership in estates in Newcastle West.

Not alone does it increase the stock of social housing, Cllr Scanlan said, it will enhance the Assumpta Park and Sharwood Estates where these houses are located.

However, he was critical of the inordinately long delays in turning around houses that had been vacated and installing new tenants. Tenants are waiting too long to take possession, he said.

He was aware, he said, of at least four cases where houses had been allocated but months had passed and the tenants were yet to move in.

In one instance, Cllr Scanlan said, a rural house was allocated last May but the council had not yet begun to prepare it for the new tenants.

There seems to be a shortage of workers and a lack of the urgency necessary to help solve the housing crisis, he said.SHOPPERS in the Crescent in Limerick got more than they bargained for thanks to one thoughtful school girl on Saturday.

A total of 74 children sprang into action at 1pm and performed a Sean Nos flash mob.

It was the brainchild of 12-year-old Aimee Walsh, from Caherconlish.

Last September, the sixth year pupil in Bohermore National School turned to her principal, Maria Anketell, and said she wanted to fundraise for Crumlin Childrens Hospital.

When a child comes up with an idea like that you want to encourage that charitable spirit. I was delighted she came up with the idea. Aimee liked the thought of children collecting for children, said Ms Anketell.

They then had to come up with a plan.

We were thinking of the usual things like cake sales. Pat ODea from The Teach in Cloverfied teaches dancing in the school. Pat and I were talking one morning.

When I told him what Aimee had suggested he said why dont we do a flash mob? and I said brilliant idea, said Ms Anketell, who set about contacting the Crescent Shopping Centre and organising the date.

Ms Anketells 20 pupils in her class of third, fourth, fifth and sixth children practised hard for the day.

They were joined by over 50 of Mr ODeas dancing students and the Crescent didnt know what hit it.

They each had a little slot and performed a Sean Nos flash mob for over 50 minutes. The Crescent was packed. A huge crowd gathered around them. The children got a brilliant reaction.

I had buckets with Bohermore NS collecting for Crumlin Childrens Hospital and we raised 700 in an hour. Everybody was so generous. Aimee and all the kids in the class are thrilled, said Ms Anketell, who thanked Mr ODea.

We couldnt have done it without him and his dancers, said the principal, who also praised the parents, all her pupils and Aimee.

Im very proud, she said.Scientists used X-ray fluorescence to look at the different elements in the paint layers of Picasso's "La Misereuse accroupie."

Pablo Picasso painted one of his "Blue Period" masterpieces, one showing a crouching, cloaked woman, on top of another artist's work.

A new examination of the painting, "La Misereuse Accroupie," or "The Crouching Beggar," reveals that Picasso painted over a landscape made by another artist, flipping the canvas 90 degrees and using what was once a cliff top as the line of the cloaked woman's back.

The discovery was part of a larger project looking at Picasso's works, including his sculptures. In separate findings, the same research team was able to trace the metals in several of Picasso's bronzes to specific foundries, and to track how wartime metal shortages in the 1940s affected the artist's materials. [11 Hidden Secrets in Famous Works of Art]

Painting and repainting

Picasso, born in 1881, was one of the pioneers of Cubism, a style of art that depicts objects abstractly and from multiple points of view at once. "La Misereuse Accroupie" is a more realistic composition, showing a woman in a green cloak and blue dress crouching against a gray-blue background. Picasso painted her during his "Blue Period" of 1901 to 1904, when he rarely used shades other than blue and blue-green.

Pablo Picasso's "La Misereuse accroupie," 1902. (Image credit: copyright Picasso Estate)

Researchers from Northwestern University and the Art Institute of Chicago's Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., used non-invasive imaging methods to peek beneath the visible layer of oil paint on the artwork. Specifically, the researchers used X-ray fluorescence, which can reveal the elements that make up a material, along with a method called infrared reflectance hyperspectral imaging, which can pick up images in both visible and near-infrared light.

Scientists Emeline Pouyet of Northwestern University (left) and Sandra Webster-Cook of the Art Gallery of Ontario set up the X-ray fluorescence instrument to scan Picasso's "La Misereuse accroupie." (Image credit: copyright Art Gallery of Ontario )

Collectively, the methods revealed not only that Picasso recycled his canvas from an unknown artist, but also that he initially painted the woman with her right arm and hand exposed, holding a disk. Ultimately, Picasso changed his mind and painted over the limb with the green cloak. Different elements in the yellowish paint of the arm and disk revealed their presence when compared to the elements in the blue-green paint overlying them, the researchers said. [In Photos: Van Gogh Masterpiece Reveals True Colors]

The researchers used X-ray fluorescence to look at the elements in the pigments for the different layers of Picasso's "La Misereuse accroupie." (Image credit: copyright Northwestern University/Art Institute of Chicago Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts (NU-ACCESS))

"We now are able to develop a chronology within the painting structure to tell a story about the artist's developing style and possible influences," Sandra Webster-Cook, the senior conservator of paintings at the Art Gallery of Ontario, said in a statement.

Sculpting history

The investigation of Picasso's sculptures, on the other hand, focused more on materials than artistic process. The same Northwestern University and Art Institute of Chicago-led team used X-ray fluorescence to determine the composition of metals that made up the alloys used in 39 Picasso bronzes cast between 1905 and 1959 and 11 sheet-metal sculptures made in the 1960s, no more than a decade before Picasso's death in 1973.

Five of the bronzes cast in Paris during World War II were made in the foundry of French metalworker Emile Robecchi, the researchers found. Robecchi was known to have collaborated with Picasso. Intriguingly, the alloys used in the casts during this period changed dramatically from sculpture to sculpture, probably because metal was scarce due to German appropriation of materials from France to fuel the German war effort, the researchers said.

Picasso also used silver to sculpt details on his cast-iron sculpture "Head of a Woman" (1962), the researchers discovered.

"In the context of increased material studies of Picasso's painting practices, our study extends the potential of scientific investigations to the artist's three-dimensional productions," materials scientist Emeline Pouyet of the Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts said in a statement. "Material evidence from the sculptures themselves can be unlocked by scientific analysis for a deeper understanding of Picasso's bronze sculpture-making process and the history of artists, dealers and foundrymen in the production of modern sculpture."

The findings will be presented today (Feb. 17) at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting in Austin, Texas.

Original article on Live Science.Efforts to reconstruct the Russian conspiracy to sway 2016's presidential election benefited from the digital trails left behind whenever people travel, make payments or communicate using common technology such as Facebook or Gmail. Such breadcrumbs provided plentiful evidence for Friday's indictment by the special counsel of the Internet Research Agency and 13 Russian associates.

But even as the disinformation campaign from two years ago finally came into focus, it was far from clear how to prevent future bids to distort American politics.

U.S. intelligence agencies warned this week that the federal government remains ill equipped to combat Russian disinformation even as crucial midterm congressional elections loom this fall. And technology companies, while cooperating with federal investigators, acknowledge that they still struggle to detect and thwart foreign propaganda without impinging on the free-speech rights of Americans.

One expert who has repeatedly warned Congress about these problems, former FBI agent Clinton Watts, said, "There's no one in charge of this. No one is tasked to do this. . . . The FBI doesn't do thought policing on social media in advance. It's not going to be able to detect this in advance."

Some technology companies have been reluctant to submit to greater government scrutiny or hinder the ability of users to speak anonymously and, if they so desire, with the help of automation tools that can dramatically amplify certain voices. But scrutiny of the power of their platforms - and how the Russians used them - has forced the companies into discussions with lawmakers and regulators.

The consequences of these business choices were made apparent again in recent days, as a dashboard monitoring Russian disinformation campaigns over Twitter detected a surge of conversation related to Wednesday's school shooting in Florida, along with apparent efforts to further polarize the online debate around gun control.

The same dashboard - Hamilton 68, hosted by the Alliance for Securing Democracy in Washington - recorded sustained Russian efforts in January to push the "#ReleaseTheMemo" online campaign. It sought the publication, ultimately successfully, of a Republican memo alleging misdeeds by the FBI in conducting surveillance of a Trump campaign associate.

"As we heard this week from the nation's top intelligence officials, Russia is still using social media to attack our democratic institutions and sow division amongst Americans," Sen. Mark Warner, Va., the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a statement after Friday's indictment. Warner helped lead a Senate investigation into Russian manipulation on Facebook, Twitter and Google.

Social media researchers are particularly critical of Twitter because users can register under fake names and, within certain guidelines, use automation tools to post at a pace hard for humans alone to match. Twitter declined to comment on Friday's indictment.

"The research is really unequivocal. We know that these features on Twitter get used more often to attack and to divide then they get used to bring people together," said Samuel Woolley, research director of the Digital Intelligence Lab at the Institute for the Future, a Palo Alto, California-based think tank. "It's time for the social media companies to design for democracy."

But most researchers consider Facebook significantly more influential. Its requirement that users submit their real names when creating accounts didn't keep the Internet Research Agency from creating fake accounts, buying 3,000 ads targeting American voters and creating free posts that reached 126 million people. Facebook also owns Instagram, which does not require authentic names of users and was also targeted by the Russian disinformation campaign.

The Internet Research Agency, a private firm in St. Petersburg often described as Russia's leading online troll farm, relied on simple identity theft of several Americans, including dates of birth, home addresses and social security numbers, to create Facebook and PayPal accounts in their names, according to the indictment.

Facebook has been cooperating with congressional investigators and special counsel Robert Mueller III, but the company has been among those saying that more needs to be done to prepare for the congressional elections.

"We know we have more to do to prevent against future attacks," Joel Kaplan, the company's vice president of global policy, said in a statement Friday. "We're committed to staying ahead of this kind of deceptive and malevolent activity going forward."

Twitter said in a statement Friday evening, "Tech companies cannot defeat this novel, shared threat alone. The best approach is to share information and ideas to increase our collective knowledge, with the full weight of government and law enforcement leading the charge against threats to our democracy."

This divide between what's knowable about the past and preventable in the future is exacerbated, Watts and other experts say, by President Donald Trump's reluctance to endorse what his intelligence agencies have long said about the Russian disinformation campaign and marshal government resources against it.

"Who has the ball?" said Watts, a fellow with the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia. "No one can have the ball because the president won't acknowledge that it even occurred."

Outside experts question how much technology companies and U.S. officials can do against a determined adversary skilled at exploiting traditional American strengths - technology tools, free-speech protections and the rule of law.

Michael Carpenter, a former Pentagon and White House official who worked on Russia policy for the Obama administration, said better education about the threat may be the answer. He noted that during France's presidential election in 2017, the release of supposedly hacked emails aimed at damaging candidate Emmanuel Macron did not keep him from winning.

"Just about everybody in France understood this was a Russian operation and discounted it heavily," said Carpenter, senior director of the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement.

Whether the United States is capable of withstanding Russian disinformation - or schemes by other countries - in coming elections remains unclear. Efforts to understand what happened in 2016 are advancing quickly. Efforts to stop a repeat occurrence are not, experts say.

"We're going to have to figure out how to make Internet conversation more robust in the face of these forms of institutionalized, professional trolling," said Peter Eckersley, chief computer scientist for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a civil liberties group based in San Francisco.

"The answer can't be censorship; it should instead be better user interfaces for labeling, analyzing and ranking the veracity of news and the manipulativeness of arguments. It's going to be a huge struggle for tech companies, the media and civil society to build vibrant and constructive spaces for public conversation in response to such tactics, but if we fail, democracy might fail with us."

- - -

The Washington Post's Ellen Nakashima contributed to this report.Kent Cooper, a Washington architect for more than 50 years who played a vital role in the creation of the Vietnam and Korean War memorials on the Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, died Jan. 27 at a hospital in the District of Columbia. He was 91.

The cause was pneumonia, said William Lecky, his former business partner in the architectural firm of Cooper-Lecky Architects.

Cooper began his career in 1958 as overseer for architect Eero Saarinen in the construction of Washington Dulles International Airport. Over the next four decades, he and his firm designed and remodeled churches in the Washington area, the Visitors Center at Great Falls, Virginia, station stops for the region's Metro system, the official residence of the vice president and Blair House, which is the residence for presidential guests across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House.

Cooper was best known for his work on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial, dedicated in 1982 and 1995, respectively.

For the Vietnam memorial, the basic design was the conception of Maya Lin, a 21-year-old Yale architecture student whose vision of a long, black-granite, open V-shaped wall inscribed with the names of the U.S. military dead has become a national icon. It was chosen in a nationwide competition and has since become one of the country's most venerated and frequently visited public shrines.

But Lin was not a licensed architect, so the firm of Cooper-Lecky became the architects of record. Lin was given a job in the Cooper-Lecky office, but Cooper supervised the necessary drawings and site specifications for the project to go forward, and he functioned as frontman in dealing with the federal Fine Arts Commission, which had selected Lin's winning proposal, Lecky said.

While sticking to the basic concept of Lin's design, the commission nevertheless had to deal with veterans' organizations and patriotic groups who disliked its stark simplicity. They wanted changes, one of which was approved less than a month before the memorial's dedication: the location of a flagpole and a statue of three battle-weary soldiers.

On the opposite side of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, the Korean War Veterans Memorial also was the subject of a national design competition, which was won by a team of architects from Pennsylvania State University.

But the Penn Staters rebelled at the changes demanded by the Fine Arts Commission and filed a lawsuit, which was unsuccessful. Cooper-Lecky took over the project, producing a design featuring 19 statues of ground troops in windblown ponchos emerging from a grove.

William Kent Cooper was born in Jamestown, New York, on Dec. 9, 1926. He was 16 when his father, a business executive, died in an airplane crash. He graduated in 1951 from architecture school at the University of Pennsylvania and received a master's degree in architecture two years later at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

He married a Cranbrook classmate, Margaret Robb Shook, in 1953. She died in 2012. They had two children, Kate Cooper of London and Manchester, England, and Robert Cooper of Washington; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

After finishing his work for Saarinen at Dulles Airport, Cooper opened a firm with Lecky. At its peak, it had 40 architects. The firm closed in 2000, but Cooper continued to practice independently.

"As one of a handful of architects who midwived architectural modernism into Washington, he helped drag the District's obsession with antiquated building design kicking and screaming into the light of the 20th century," the Washington Business Journal wrote of him.

Among Cooper's favorite projects, Lecky said, were his work with churches. At Falls Church Episcopal Church in Virginia, he designed curving pews to enfold the altar, believing that this arrangement would foster a sense of community and unity in the taking of Holy Communion. At St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill, the pews were replaced with movable chairs, which made it possible to have dances and other social celebrations in the nave.

Cooper, a resident of Washington, had served on the National Mall Coalition and the Committee of 100 on the Federal City. In 2007, the District's chapter of the American Institute of Architects honored him for making a difference in the community.With state officials eyeing $56 billion of wind farm projects off the American coastline, developers are worried the turbines will need to be stamped with a big "Made in the U.S.A."

Each structure is enormous -- almost half the height of the Empire State Building. Most all of them are constructed in Europe, at least for now. As states in the Northeast jump into wind power, they're betting they can create their own windmill industry. It'll be a costly but perhaps necessary move, especially as President Donald Trump pushes for more factory jobs and picks fights with those making parts abroad.

"There's no way of hiding that every single state, be it here in the U.S. or be it countries in Europe, are insisting on everything sort of being local," said Henrik Poulsen, chief executive officer of Orsted, the Danish company that is the world's largest offshore-wind developer. "It is an equation that's very difficult to solve without the whole technology becoming much more expensive."

Initially, the cost of offshore wind farms will be 45 percent more than those built in Europe, partly because much of the equipment will have to be imported, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The viability of any new projects will require long-term supply agreements that guarantee developers can sell their power at above-market rates, BNEF said.

Windmills aren't new for Americans, who get more electricity from the structures than any country except China, which is investing heavily. But almost all the capacity is on land and use smaller turbines than those at sea. Building 15 miles (24 kilometers) or more offshore is appealing because breezes are stronger and more uniform, and there are no neighbors to oppose structures with rotors that at their highest are almost 600 feet above the surface of the ocean.

Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Maryland have proposed offshore projects primarily to meet targets for reduced pollution from fossil-fuel power plants. The states are willing to offer incentives they hope will expand supplies of renewable electricity and help spur local job growth.

Eventually, the cost of building offshore should fall, especially if domestic manufacturing takes off. In Europe, where government support helped fund offshore windmills and a domestic manufacturing industry over two decades, offshore capacity for producing electricity almost quadrupled from 2010 to 2016. Some new wind projects at sea are now cheaper than building a natural-gas or coal plant on land, according to Orsted's Poulsen.

The cost of building some of the biggest offshore wind projects in Europe has been cut by more than half in the past decade, though they remain more expensive to build than solar-power and onshore-wind plants, according to BNEF.

"The critical mass in the U.S. is not there yet," said Adam Thomsen, head of U.S. market entry for MHI Vestas Offshore Wind, a Denmark-based joint venture between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Vestas Wind Systems that wants to expand into the American market. "We believe in the long-term potential."

The federal government has issued 14 offshore leases, and four states -- Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Maryland -- are targeting a combined addition of almost 8 gigawatts of electricity from offshore windmills by 2030. Massachusetts is already fielding bids from European developers including Orsted, as well as some domestic companies like Deepwater Wind, which built a small project off the coast of Rhode Island in December 2016.

Even if only half the proposed wind farms are developed in the next 12 years, that could generate enough demand to kickstart domestic manufacturing industries to support more than 25,000 new jobs, according to a study prepared for New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island by BVG Associates Ltd.

"We're doing this to attract private investment" that could make New York a "hub for the offshore industry in the U.S.," said Alicia Barton, president of the agency that promotes renewable energy use. New York plans to build 2.4 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030, and last month initiated a process to procure the first 800 megawatts.

Still, getting those projects built and a domestic manufacturing industry off the ground will depend on "how much the ratepayers are willing to stomach in cost increase" and "how quickly the costs can come down," said Amy Grace, a New York-based analyst for Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

The first indication of how far states are willing to go with incentives could come in Massachusetts, which aims to install 1.6 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2027. On April 23, the state will announce the results of bids by developers that could lead to the region's first power-purchase agreement, said Bill White, senior director for offshore wind at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.

The Massachusetts project could come in at $100 to $120 a megawatt hour, according to Tom Harries, wind analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance. That compares with $49 for a new natural-gas plant and $66 for a new coal plant.

Competition among the states could undermine efforts to create regional industries similar to those in Europe. Maryland requires that projects it approves add jobs and investment in the states. New York will spend $15 million to train workers and upgrade ports. New Jersey's new governor, Phil Murphy, issued an executive order last month that sets the state on a path to create 3.5 gigawatts of offshore power by 2030.

States probably will "fight tooth and nail to get the crown jewels of this industry," said Stephanie McClellan, director of the University of Delaware Special Initiative on Offshore Wind.

"Ideally, to bring costs down, you want a collective approach," said Harries, the BNEF analyst. "What you don't want is almost state protectionism where somebody says, 'We want to keep all the jobs here. We want to do it all ourselves."'MUNICH - Throughout the years, the annual Munich Security Conference has seen its fair share of encounters between representatives of nations who usually refrain from speaking to each other. After weeks of international debate over a controversial Holocaust complicity bill, Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Saturday became the latest world leader forced to unexpectedly explain himself on the conference stage.

During a panel discussion in the southern German city, prominent Israeli journalist Ronen Bergman, the son of two Holocaust survivors, confronted the Polish leader with the controversy that the Polish government initially stirred itself but has attempted to downplay following an international outcry.

"Sorry for being this personal," Bergman said, addressing the audience and Morawiecki, before recalling the stories of his parents. There were Poles who betrayed Jews by providing the Nazis with details about them, he said, referring to personal experiences of his mother. "After the war my mother swore that she would never speak Polish for the rest of her life."

"If I understand correctly, after this law is legislated, (...) I would be considered criminal for saying this," said Bergman, who is also a contributor to the New York Times. "What is the purpose? What is the message you're trying to convey to the world? You are creating the opposite reaction, just attracting more attention to those atrocities." Bergman's remarks triggered applause by some in the audience.

It was the first time the relative of a Holocaust survivor publicly confronted a senior Polish official over the law, which was signed last week by Polish President Andrzej Duda, even as critics in Israel, the United States and elsewhere warned that it would prohibit freedom of expression.

Once in effect, the law is phrased in a way that it could be used to ban accusations that some Poles were complicit in Nazi crimes committed on Polish soil, including in the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp, where more than 1.1 million people died. Germany operated six camps in Poland where Jews and others whom the Nazis considered enemies were killed. Anyone convicted under the law will face fines or up to three years in jail.

If Morawiecki's intention on Saturday was to calm tensions, he certainly wasn't successful. Several members of the high-profile selected audience and international commentators subsequently described the prime minister's response as "appalling,""intolerable,""surreal" and "shocking."

"You're not going to be seen as criminal (if you) say that there were Polish perpetrators, as there were Jewish perpetrators, as there were Russian perpetrators as well as Ukrainian perpetrators - not only German perpetrators," said Morawiecki.

His response was seen by some as putting the same blame for Nazi crimes on Jews and Polish citizens, even though historians have found a number of cases in which Polish citizens or groups collaborated with the Nazis.

The real intention of the law, Morawiecki said, was instead to ban the use of the word "Polish death camps," which has repeatedly been used to refer to Nazi concentration or death camps on today's Polish territory. There is widespread agreement that the term "Polish death camps," is misleading and wrong, but it has often been used accidentally, including by former president Barack Obama.

"Polish embassies had to react 260 times only in 2017 with regards to the expression 'Polish death (or) concentration camps.' (...) There were no Polish death camps. (...) There were German Nazi death camps," said Morawiecki, who went on to say that international understanding of Polish history was flawed because "for 50 years, 45 years to be precise, we couldn't defend our case." Morawiecki was referring to the Cold War era, when Poland was part of the Soviet bloc.

He also indicated that he believed other countries, including the Czech Republic, had been "promoting" the fate of exterminated villages under the Nazis during World War II in a more powerful way. The prime minister went on to refer to statistics showing that no other nation in the world suffered more under the Nazis than Poland - an assessment shared by historians. But the sudden focus on that dark chapter of history by a right-wing government that has been known to stir nationalist sentiments has led to questions about the bill's real motivations.

When the country's complicity law was signed by the Polish president last week, a government-associated body released a YouTube campaign under the slogan "Today, we are still on the side of truth," which has so far been watched by over 12 million people.

"We did much to save Jews. As a state. As citizens. As friends," the video summarizes.

Morawiecki on Saturday cited numbers showing that far more Poles had helped and rescued Jews than had collaborated with the Nazis. "There was no puppet government," he went on to say.

"There were Polish perpetrators," Morawiecki acknowledged, before backtracking: "We cannot agree with mixing perpetrators with victims, because this would be first of all an offense to all the Jews and victims who suffered during World War II."

But Morawiecki's remarks appeared far from convincing to those who have raised concerns over the law. "His reaction was unbelievable," Bergman wrote in a response to the Polish prime minister.

- - -

The Washington Post's Griff Witte contributed to this report.San Antonio police arrested three men linked to a highly organized ring of ATM thieves after a 6-mile chase that ended at the gates of the exclusive Dominion neighborhood.

Ring members have been targeting ATMs in cities across Texas, including Houston and Laredo, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said Friday. San Antonio got involved in tracking down members of the ring after a bank robbery in December.

Although the robbers in that incident were successful, this time we were ready, McManus said.

RELATED: Nice San Antonio neighborhoods with high crime rates

Randall Andre Bell Jr., 24; Terry Coddel Bradford, 19; and Robert Herman Smith, 44, have been charged with bank robbery after being arrested around 4:30 p.m. Thursday near the Dominion Country Club.

According to an affidavit filed Friday, San Antonio police officers Thursday afternoon were conducting surveillance on a 2006 white Hummer H-3 that had been tied to multiple ATM thefts throughout the state when it was driven to the Chase bank at 5258 De Zavala Road, near Interstate 10.

A technician who was servicing the ATM in the banks drive-thru told police that two men wearing masks that covered the bottom half of their faces got out of the Hummer and ran toward the ATM. The men were later identified as Bradford and Bell, according to the affidavit.

The technician said one of the men swung a fist at him, but he was able to dodge the blow. He then ran to a nearby restaurant, but looked back and saw the men get back into the Hummer.

According to the affidavit, the masked men took four cassettes from the ATM  containing more than $98,000 in cash  before getting into the Hummer.

RELATED: Sutherland Springs killer accused of waterboarding then-wife

The Hummer, which was being driven by Smith, took off and headed for the access road for Interstate 10 and headed north, according to the affidavit. It describes the Hummer as being driven erratically, going through a Home Depot parking lot and crossing a grass divider to get onto the access road.

After heading north for about 6 miles, the Hummer pulled into the parking lot of the Dominion Country Club, according to the affidavit. The men then fled on foot.

That prompted the Dominion Homeowners Association to send out a warning to residents at 4:28 p.m.: There has been a report of an armed suspect that is loose in the neighborhood. Please be advised to remain indoors and be vigilant.

In addition, a Lost Creek resident identified as Erika Franklin posted on Nextdoor, a neighborhood-based social media app, that she had just got nearly t-boned at the intersection in front of the Dominion entrance by two vehicles full of men carrying heavy weaponry that jumped out and ran into the brush. The police proceeded to pass me and jumped the curb after them.

Police captured the men near the lot, according to the affidavit. The Dominion HOA lifted its alert at 4:35 p.m.

RELATED: Uresti faces years in prison, millions in fines

The money and the ATM cassettes were recovered from the Hummer.

The affidavit also mentions that a black Toyota Camry was seen parked in an odd location near the bank and that it followed the Hummer onto the I-10 access road. Its not clear what the Camrys connection to the incident is.

McManus said the FBI is now handling the ongoing investigation. He said a suspect connected to the highly organized ring of ATM thieves was arrested several weeks ago in Laredo and that more arrests are expected. The Texas Department of Public Safety also is involved.

The Dominion HOA on Friday sent an email to residents briefing them on the incident, using information from the SAPD that was provided to them by Councilman Manny Pelaez, who represents District 8, which includes the Dominion neighborhood. It says that the ring of thieves, based in Houston, has been targeting ATMs while theyre being serviced by technicians. It added that the ring has been using surveillance and countersurveillance techniques.

Bell, Bradford and Smith are being held in federal custody until their detention hearings. A hearing has been scheduled for Smith for Thursday, while Bell and Bradford are to appear in court on Feb. 28.

If convicted, the men each could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.We recommend U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke in the Republican and Democratic primaries for this years senate race.

Cruz faces four relatively unknown primary challengers. ORourke has two opponents. But the political buzz is already about Cruz and ORourke in the fall, and for good reason. The two are adept fundraisers and aggressive campaigners, and they offer markedly different visions for Texas and the U.S. Senate at a unique political moment.

We have had our share of disagreements with Cruz, the government shutdown he led in 2013 among them. The government should never be shut down. Period.

RELATED: Express-News Editorial Board names its picks for Texas governor

But Cruz, who is seeking his second term, sits on powerful committees that can serve Texas  and certainly could support many of the conservative causes important to Republican voters. He sits on the judiciary, science and armed services committees.

Cruzs primary opponents repeatedly criticized him for being too focused on running for president rather than serving the state. We share this concern. When San Antonio inexplicably slipped in the federal rankings for a new federal courthouse  something desperately needed  local officials turned to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn for help.

But Cruz was responsive to the 2016 hot air ballon crash in Lockhart that killed 16 people. Cruz filed needed legislation that would require medical exams for commercial hot air balloon pilots.

On the Democratic side, ORourke, a Democrat from El Paso, has run an energetic and compelling campaign. He has refused to accept money from political action committees but raised $2.4 million in the last quarter of 2017.

This is ORourkes third term in Congress, and he could have easily held onto his seat. But he believes in term limits (eight years for the House and 12 in the Senate) and chose to give up his seat to make this run.

READ MORE: San Antonio native, former Air Force officer a great fit for Congressional District 23 in Democratic primary

ORourke is a supporter of comprehensive immigration reform, renewable energy and improving health care for all. He showed an impressive command of national and international issues during a recent meeting with this Editorial Board. He is against shutting down the government.

ORourke and Cruz are easily the most qualified candidates in their races.During what Judge Keenan Johnson described as a disturbing, distasteful and horrific case, Longford Circuit Court heard today that a paedophile ring was not in operation at a GAA grounds where four young children were sexually abused.

Graphic evidence, in relation to the abuse of the four children by the 63-year-old married man, at a midlands GAA grounds was provided.



The defendant, who previously pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court last November to 45 sample counts of sexually assaulting children; production, possession and distribution of child pornography and the sexual exploitation of minors on various dates between 2000 and 2013, was remanded back into custody by Judge Johnson following a further hearing this afternoon.



Mr Shane Geraghty, counsel for the prosecution, told the court that one of the victims - aged just seven-years-old when the abuse first began - came in contact with the defendant after he began mitching school and hanging around the grounds where the man was a caretaker.



The court was told that the defendant would give the youngster little jobs to do around the grounds like putting out flags, opening toilet doors and placing the scores on the scoreboard.

The boy was also allowed to drive a tractor occasionally while mowing and maintaining the grounds.



After the pair got to know each other better, the court heard the defendant asked the child to show him his pubes.



Thereafter, numerous incidents took place, some in the office of the grounds and others in the shower of the referees dressing room.



Counsel for the State told Judge Johnson that the abuse took many forms and included the defendant self masturbating; the masturbating of the defendant by the youngster, the defendant touching the childs anus with his penis but no penetration and the defendant fondling the youngsters genitalia while in the shower or when the child was driving the tractor.



The defendant, the court was told, also video recorded the abuse taking place and would later masturbate while watching the videos with the child.



The court heard that the abuse continued until 2008 and in December of that year, the caretaker left his position at the GAA grounds.



The court was told that the abuse never happened again after that.



A statement from a female victim was also read into evidence. The court heard the defendant touched her chest and would rub her legs when she was on the tractor.



The court also heard from another male victim. He said the defendant would put his hands on his crotch and rub his hands up and down the childs penis. He was also sexually abused by the defendant in the shower of the referees dressing room.



The third male, the court heard, presented himself to gardai but was unable to make a statement because he became frightened and was shaking over having to confront the matter.



The court was told that gardai became very concerned about his state of mind and made numerous enquiries about his welfare afterwards.



Detective Garda Damien McGovern then told Judge Johnson that gardai searched the defendants home in November 2013 and seized a number of hard drives which they later discovered contained 91 accessible movies.



There were a number of digital movies of child pornogrpahy including recordings of two pre-teen children, naked on a couch, in sexually explicit poses, Garda McGovern continued.

He added; The defendant was sharing and sending images with another person in the US.



The defendant, the court was told, was arrested in connection with matters and during interview he made full and complete admissions in relation to the claims against him.



The court heard that the defendant said during interview; I want to say something here; I am the adult here and what was said, I am not going to argue with.



Detective Garda McGovern also told the court that a paedophile ring was not in operation at the GAA grounds.



This was not a paedophile ring, he added. This was two individuals (the defendant and one other) who knew what each other was doing but didnt talk about it.



The other individual is currently the subject of a European Arrest Warrant.



Victim Impact statements from two of the victims were then read into evidence.



One of the males said he had gone to therapy in an effort to deal with his depression, a mental health difficulty that he attributes directly to the abuse that he suffered at the hands of the defendant.



I feel angry and frustrated every day and I think other people are going to judge me, he added.



I dont have any friends; he took away my childhood.



The female in the case, told the court in her victim impact statement that as a result of the defendants behaviour she never thought anything of herself.



Defence Counsel, Mr Des Dockery then told the court that he was adjourning mitigation pleas because he did not have a final and complete probation report nor did he have a psychiatric report on his client.



Before adjourning matters to June 1 next, Judge Johnson said that the case before him was disturbing and distasteful and horrific".Longford's much heralded regeneration blueprint will add another chapter to its growing chronology when it plays host to a European style workshop over the course of two days.

Thirty delegates from right across the European divide will be in attendance as part of an all encompassing project that looks at how disused military barracks can be better utilised.



The delegates hail from eight European partner locations including Piacenza (Italy), Varazdin (Croatia), Szombathely (Hungary), Cartagena (Spain), Esphino (Portugal), Serres (Greece), Telsai (Lithuania) and Koblenz (Germany).



All of the cities involved in the project have former military sites of different scales and conditions and are working together to identify potential solutions to breathe new life into these sites.



This is the first time for many of these delegates to visit Ireland and it is a great opportunity for us to showcase Longford and its potential, said a spokesperson.



The two day event will consist of workshops along with a visit to the County Council offices for a welcome by Chief Executive Paddy Mahon, Cathaoirleach Cllr Martin Mulleady and Chair of Longford Municipal District Cllr Mae Sexton.



A tour of St Mel's Cathedral and the former Connolly Barracks site has also been pencilled in by organising officials.

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Call for regeneration plan to be extended to BallymahonMinister of State for the OPW, Kevin Boxer Moran has said that the Project Ireland 2040 announcement of 1bn investment in flood relief management is a reflection of Government commitment to defend peoples homes and businesses.

Minister Moran said the securing of up to 1bn will greatly advance the building of 130 flood relief schemes identified in the OPWs Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management programme (CFRAM).

This announcement is a reflection of this Governments prioritising of flood risk management and the building of flood defences, said Minister Moran.

Since becoming Minister, I have strongly argued for increased resources so that the OPW can get on with the vital task of building flood defences without being held back by a lack of funding or staff.

The important thing now is that the Government is recognising that the hardship and suffering by people from flood events must be tackled with a greater sense of urgency, by ramping up investment in the area. Personally, I am delighted to have secured this billion euro investment.

Project Ireland 2040 is about planning for the future and flood relief measures must be part of it, concluded Minister Moran.

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Longford set to reap benefits of Ireland 2040 strategy u-turnFianna Fail TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy has slammed the much hyped Project Ireland 2040 as nothing more than a marketing campaign to promote a government which has failed to meet its own targets to date.

Deputy Murphy stated, The NPF (National Planning Framework) & NDP (National Development Plan) launch is one of the most cynical political launches in decades. It is being launched with an unprecedented marketing campaign, this NDP promises 116bn this government cannot deliver. We have already seen how their Housing, Broadband and Health Plans have failed to deliver.

In recent weeks we have seen the haphazard, last minute changes fail to address the serious concerns around balanced regional development. The North West Region was ignored in the first draft. They have now attempted to cover up their failings in rural Ireland based on the failed LIHAF model. All the while the plan does not tackle any issues in the short and medium term.

The governments record of over promising and under delivering undermines the media blitz over these new plans. In reality it is delivery on real needs rather than broad promises and sweeping commitments that matters.

In fact a lot of the details are just repackaging dozens of previously announced projects and passing it off as a new national development strategy. The National Development Plan contains at least 179 previously announced projects and more than 40bn of funding which was already earmarked for infrastructure initiatives.

He concluded, The National Broadband Plan was launched to much fanfare in 2011, yet there are more than half a million homes and businesses which will not have high speed access before 2023. The Rebuilding Ireland Plan, which promised over 3,000 direct builds in 2017 delivered fewer than 1,000 homes. Initiatives in health, transport, education and agriculture have all been victims of a government which over promises and under delivers.

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Project Ireland 2040: Boxer welcomes 1bn investment in flood relief

Longford set to reap benefits of Ireland 2040 strategy u-turnLocal News, Community, Charity & Cause, Arts & Culture

By Legislator Anker's Office Published: February 16 2018

Legislator Sarah Anker attended the Miller Place-Mount Sinai Historical Societys gallery opening at the historic Daniel Hawkins House in Miller Place.

Miller Place, NY - February 16, 2018 - On Saturday, February 10th, Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker attended the On Saturday, February 10th, Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker attended the Miller Place-Mount Sinai Historical Society s gallery opening at the historic Daniel Hawkins House in Miller Place . The reception included wine and cheese, and a display of beautiful photographs portraying local sites by artist Michael Eamotte, of Michael Ray Images, encased in frames donated by Rustic Frames by E.G.

Thank you to the members of the Miller Place-Mount Sinai Historical Society for their hard work and dedication to preserving out local history, said Legislator Anker. The photo gallery reception was an amazing opportunity to visit the Hawkins House, and to see photographs from a local artist who cares about the rich history of our community. I encourage everyone to visit this historic site and to support the historical societys preservation efforts.Edwards Lifesciences won European approval to introduce its brand new CENTERA transcatheter aortic valve prosthesis. The self-expanding stent comes attached to the delivery instrument, a major improvement over other valves that have to be squeezed, inserted, and attached to the catheter before they can be used. Moreover, a motor-powered handle helps with releasing the valve once it is positioned. It can be repositioned and removed, if necessary, the same way it came in.

The implant is indicated for severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis patients for whom open-heart surgery would not be a good idea.

Heres some data, according to Edwards, from the trial that led to the new approval:

European certification of the CENTERA valve was based on the CENTERA-EU Trial, which enrolled 203 high-risk patients at 23 centers in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Study results presented at EuroPCR 2017 demonstrated high survival rates (99 percent) and low rates of disabling stroke (2.5 percent) and new permanent pacemaker (4.9 percent) at 30 days. In addition, there was a low 0.6 percent rate of moderate paravalvular leak among patients, and zero incidents of severe paravalvular leak. All patients in the study were treated via the transfemoral access route with the majority under conscious sedation.

Via: Edwardsby Kaila Colbin , Featured Contributor, February 16, 2018

It was 1940 when the first version of the movie Gaslight hit the cinemas. Based on the play by Patrick Hamilton, it chronicles the psychological torture of Bella Mallen (Diana Wynyard) by her husband Paul (Anton Walbrook ).

Paul dims the lamps -- and then tells Bella theyre unchanged. He sneaks around on the upper floors -- and tells her shes hearing noises when she comments on his footsteps. Bella begins to doubt her sanity.

The play, the movie and subsequent remakes  including Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer in the more well-known Hollywood 1944 version  were such powerful thrillers that the term gaslighting entered the vernacular: a form of psychological abuse where the victim is manipulated into doubting reality.

Imagine it for a moment: you see a dog sitting in the middle of a hotel room foyer. You say to someone, Look at that dog! and they reply, What dog? At first, you might brush it off. But then imagine exchanges like this happen over and over again -- your reality denied, your perceptions questioned. After a while, you would begin to do the questioning yourself. Did I really see a dog? Or am I losing my mind?

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Right now, the President of the United States routinely engages in this kind of behavior -- so much so that, despite being nearly 70 years old, the term was the winner of the Most Useful/Likely to Succeed category for the American Dialect Societys 2016 Word of the Year. Writing about why such an old word won the award, author Ben Yagoda said, The new prominence came from Donald Trumps habitual tendency to say X, and then, at some later date, indignantly declare, I did not say X. In fact, I would never dream of saying X.

But this is not a political column, and my purpose here is not to mock Trumps behavior. Up until now, all Ive been doing is defining the term. Because whatever you may think of Trumps tendency to self-righteous self-contradiction, its nothing compared to whats coming down the pike.

It started late last year. A Redditor known as deepfakes posted a video purporting to show Gal Gadot having sex with her stepbrother. In reality, deepfakes had used machine learning to superimpose Gadots face onto the body of a porn star.

Bad enough. But within weeks, someone else had created an app to make face-swapping accessible to anyone, no deep learning expertise required.

So you can put someones face onto someone elses body. You can also manipulate someones face on their own body, making it track your expressions and creating realistic, in-situ video. And you can edit an audio clip of someone speaking or even generate speech from scratch in their voice, just by typing.

These technologies are already amazing, even if in most instances of their use youll find tell-tale artifacts of their unnatural origins.

But think about how technology progresses. It gets better. It gets cheaper. It gets easier to use.

In the very near future, someone with no technical expertise will be able to make a video of anyone saying or doing anything, and it will be impossible to know the difference.

After the infamous Access Hollywood tape came out in October 2016, Trump said, I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize.

A few months ago, after hearing about these new technologies, he reportedly began to suggest the tape was faked. This is not a Trump problem. It is so much bigger than Trump.

Thomas Jefferson wrote that, A well-informed electorate is a prerequisite to democracy. Imagine if we could not trust any video or audio to be authentic.

How could we possibly know what is real?A large-scale study has compared the lifestyle and mortality risk of single dads with those of partnered parents and single moms. The findings are now published in the journal The Lancet Public Health. Share on Pinterest While the causes are unclear, it appears that single dads are more likely to die a premature death than partnered parents or single moms. In recent decades, the number of single dads in the United States has skyrocketed. According to the Pew Research Center, fewer than 300,000 households were built around single fathers in 1960. By 2011, however, the number had jumped to more than 2.6 million. By comparison, single-mom households went from 1.9 million to 8.6 million during that time. As the authors of the new study note, despite these growing numbers, not enough research has focused on the health of single dads or compared the mortality of single mothers with that of single fathers. To remedy this, Dr. Maria Chiu  of the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences and the University of Toronto, both in Canada  and colleagues followed the lifestyles of almost 40,500 Canadians over a period of 11 years.

Death risk doubled among single dads Of all the participants, 871 were single fathers, 4,590 were single mothers, 16,341 were partnered fathers, and 18,688 were partnered mothers. On average, the participants were aged between 41 and 46. Single parents, explain the study authors, were defined as those who were divorced, separated, widowed, or single, never-married, and non-cohabitating, and partnered parents were defined as those who were married or common-law partners. In their analysis, Dr. Chiu and her colleagues included people aged 15 and above who lived in the household with at least one biological or adopted child under the age of 25. Using Cox proportional hazards models, the scientists performed what is  to their knowledge  the first head-to-head comparison of mortality across single and partnered parent groups. At the beginning of the study, single dads were more likely to have cancer and heart disease than their partnered counterparts and single mothers. Additionally, they were more likely to have been hospitalized in the year leading up to the study. Overall, single fathers were found to be more than twice as likely to die prematurely than their partnered counterparts and single mothers. They also led less healthful lifestyles and were more likely to binge drink once per month as well as consume fewer fruits and vegetables.Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Katrougalos today met with and hosted a working luncheon for Romanias Minister for European Affairs, Victor Negrescu.



Discussion focused on issues concerning better coordination between the two countries during the Bulgarian and Romanian Presidencies of the Council of the European Union (first half of 2018 and first half of 2019, respectively). Issues related to the future of Europe, ahead of the EU Summit Meeting, and matters concerning the refugee and migration issue, were also discussed.



During the luncheon, bilateral economic relations were discussed and ways to strengthen the cooperation between the two countries were sought.PORT AUSTIN  Issues that were raised about Port Austin area beaches have been turned over to the villages Parks and Recreation Committee to look into.

At this weeks Port Austin Village Council meeting, council members heard from a few concerned residents about the conditions of Veterans Waterfront Park and Bird Creek County Park.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, resident Jill Babcock-Meeks first asked the board what its plans were for the care and grooming of Veterans beach in the coming year. She said last summer, the beach was sometimes found in poor condition and probably needs to be groomed on a daily basis during the summer months.

We are the end of the world for most people, and they come here for our beaches, said Babcock-Meeks. This is our No. 1 resource, and if we are not taking care of that resource, then they are going to choose to go elsewhere.

When asked how much time the village spends on upkeep of the beach, DPW Supervisor Chad Perrish said it was probably a couple times per week.

Babcock-Meeks said she did not show up to the meeting to suggest anyone is not doing their job, she simply hoped the village could go further when it came to the presentation of its beaches. She said an action plan going forward is necessary.

If we are not taking care of our No. 1 resource, then we are not taking care of Port Austin, its residents and its businesses, she said.

Board member TJ Polega agreed the village could make it more of a priority to keep Veterans beach in great shape.

However, a much more complicated matter was brought up when Babcock-Meeks mentioned Bird Creek County Park. She inquired if the village had recently considered an offer from the county to take over the responsibility and care of the park.

Without us taking over, cleaning it up, getting it back to some semblance of use, its going to continue to be an absolute wasted space and wasted resource, she said, after sharing a story of a friend and Port Austin resident who takes her family to Caseville to swim.

Board member Fred Kendall then pointed out the fact that the county has appropriated $75,000 this year for the improvement of Bird Creek.

Obviously ,the boardwalk is in terrible shape, Kendall said. And something has to be done, because its a liability issue.

Everyone that spoke at the meeting agreed Bird Creek could use improvement, but board member John Brecht said its not as simple as letting the county hand it over to the village. He estimated it costs the county around $20,000 to $30,000 per year to maintain the park, and that expense would be passed along to the village.

For us to just let the county off the hook, let them drop $25,000 a year and well assume that debt just to say we can do a better job than you  Id rather see if the county is going to stipend us or give us something for taking care of it, Brecht said. Unless they are, basically were gifting them $25,000.

Brecht then said the village should be approaching the county and telling them they should be doing a better job with their park.

Officials said last summer, the county groomed Bird Creek beach once per week.

I dont know that we can come to a solution tonight, but I think we certainly have to get it in the hands of the committee and kick around some ideas, Polega said.

Added Polega: We have a lot to think about there. There are a lot of questions and things that need to be answered on the Bird Creek side.Doug Manchester, the billionaire nominated by President Donald Trump to be ambassador to the Bahamas, made a fortune as a real estate developer in San Diego while also earning a reputation for his philanthropy, conservative convictions and lavish lifestyle.

In 2011, Manchester, then 69, decided to buy the struggling San Diego Union-Tribune. Over the next four years, he employed an unconventional, anachronistic management style that upended the newspaper's culture and made many female workers uncomfortable, according to more than a dozen current and former employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

During the taping of a promotional video, Manchester once pulled a reporter in for a hug so intimate that it startled onlookers in the newsroom, multiple people said. He complimented young female employees on their appearances, and he and other senior managers required some of them hired for a new in-house television operation to wear short black dresses and serve as hostesses for advertisers and other guests at Union-Tribune events, current and former employees said. And he once asked an on-air program host to dye her hair platinum blonde, complaining that her roots were showing, employees said.

During that time, one woman received a small settlement after complaining about unwanted hugs from Manchester as well as unwanted texts from John Lynch, then-chief executive of the newspaper, Lynch told The Washington Post, though he characterized both claims as an "effort to get some money." In the fall, an anonymous caller complained to the newspaper's current owners that executives knew of offensive behavior by Manchester and his team but did little about it, a company spokeswoman acknowledged. Manchester sold the newspaper in 2015.

Manchester, Lynch and the newspaper's current publisher, Jeff Light, said no one had accused Manchester of sexual harassment. But the current staffers and the former employees said the atmosphere was retrograde and often disrespectful toward women.

"It was like taking a step back in time, 'Mad Men'-style," said a former executive at the newspaper, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Recalling hiring meetings from that period, the former executive said, "It was a boys club, and the boys picked which women they wanted."

Manchester's nomination comes amid a torrent of allegations of questionable behavior by powerful men, from unwanted kissing to groping to rape. His tenure at the newspaper raises other difficult and nuanced questions as the nation grapples with the mistreatment of women in the workplace: In this new environment of heightened awareness, what is the level of tolerance for boorish or chauvinistic behavior?

It also draws new attention to the Trump administration's ongoing struggles to fill appointed positions. Only 267 of 636 key Senate-approved jobs have been filled through Saturday - far fewer than the previous four presidents at this point in their presidencies, according to tracking by The Post and the Partnership for Public Service. Manchester has been under consideration to serve as ambassador for more than a year.

Manchester declined requests for interviews. In a statement, he strongly denied any inappropriate behavior and said he is dedicated to supporting women's rights and "very troubled" about the allegations. He said that when he learned about "egregious mistakes" by staff members at the Union-Tribune, he took immediate action.

"I have never been accused of or sued for any kind of sexual misconduct," Manchester said recently in an email that he copied to White House officials and more than two dozen others. "I am terribly hurt to learn of these allegations and apologize to any employee who felt uncomfortable or demeaned while employed at the UT San Diego during my tenure."

Cory Fish, a former human resources executive at the newspaper, said Manchester offended the newspaper staff in part because he sometimes insisted on being called "Papa Doug." Fish said Manchester was an easy target for criticism but was a "good man."

"He's a different cat. He's an older man who has a history of liking young women," Fish told The Washington Post. "Older men liking younger women is not a new story."

Light, the current publisher, said the television operation Manchester pushed to create - one that featured light, sometimes racy programming - upset women and men in the newsroom.

"The implementation was an embarrassment - weak content, chauvinistic humor, big financial losses and gossip among the staff and the managers," said Light, who worked as editor and chief operating officer under Manchester. "The news staff was . . . repulsed by the sexist vibe of the programming."

In a note sent to his staff Feb. 12 in the wake of The Post's questions, Light said, "I have asked our own journalists, under the leadership of managing editor Lora Cicalo, to pursue the story. My hope is that people will be able to speak openly and clearly so we can find the truth with specificity and accountability."

In an interview, Lynch, the newspaper's chief executive under Manchester, dismissed the women's concerns about the workplace as "completely fallacious" and attributed some grumbling to the friction that comes with change.

"There were a lot of old-time people who misunderstood. They wanted the newspaper to be like it used to be," Lynch said. "Everybody just wanted it to be like the good old days."

Lynch said one woman who had been laid off from the television operation received a financial settlement amounting to two or three months' pay after alleging through a lawyer that Lynch sent her inappropriate texts inviting her to a St. Patrick's Day celebration and that Manchester offered unwanted hugs. He described both claims as part of an "effort to get some money and take advantage."

He called Manchester a "bigger-than-life" character who "hugs everybody."

Most of the nearly two dozen women and men interviewed for this story refused to be named because of Manchester's prominence in San Diego and because they feared they might face retaliation. Some said they are still unsettled and angry about the environment they endured during his tenure.

" 'Toxic' is almost a pleasant way of thinking of those days," said one woman, a former editor.

One of the women who was asked to wear a short dress and serve as host at newspaper events said she felt uncomfortable but that she went along with the requests because she was young and naive.

"I thought, 'This doesn't feel right,' " said the women, who was 22 at the time. "I remember thinking I didn't have any options."

The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

Manchester is well known in San Diego as founder of the Manchester Financial Group and as the tough and sometimes caustic real estate developer behind some of the city's most prominent building projects, including the Manchester Grand Hyatt, the Manchester Financial Building and the luxury Fairmont Grand Del Mar resort and spa.

He has a hand in dozens of other businesses, including biotechnology, mortgage receivables, and television and movie productions, according to financial disclosure statements he filed as part of his nomination. In those reports, Manchester listed his assets as being worth at least $227 million and potentially more than $630 million. In July, Bloomberg calculated his net worth at more than $1 billion.

He and his wife gave about $1 million to groups that supported Trump's presidential campaign, and he served as a Trump delegate at the Republican National Convention.

Manchester is an outspoken conservative willing to back up his beliefs with donations. In 2008, he gave $125,000 to promote Proposition 8, a California initiative to outlaw same-sex marriage, a donation he later said was a mistake.

He has lived a lavish lifestyle and has at times surrounded himself with attractive young women, according to interviews and photographs of parties. For his 65th birthday, he celebrated by spending more than $500,000 on parties and other activities, divorce records show.

He was married to his first wife, Betsy Manchester, for four decades. They lived an opulent lifestyle that included multiple homes, one an $18 million mansion on the Pacific coast, as well as regular use of private jets and extensive travel, court records show.

The couple separated in 2009 and began negotiating over their finances, which included about $50 million in liquid assets, documents show. Manchester's wife estimated that she needed $100,000 a month to maintain her lifestyle, including an $8,000 monthly clothing allowance, documents show.

Manchester came to the media business in 2011 almost as an afterthought. Like newspapers across the country, the Union-Tribune was struggling. The owners, who had bought the newspaper just two years earlier, were ready to sell in a deal that would include valuable real estate in the city. In November 2011, Manchester paid a reported $110 million for the paper and renamed it UT San Diego.

Manchester, Lynch and other new managers launched the television operation, called U-T TV, to attract subscribers and expand the newspaper's reach. They spoke coarsely about the young women they were considering hiring for the new operation, according to a former executive who sat in on closed-door meetings. Before discussing candidates' professional qualifications, Manchester and other senior leaders sometimes discussed which ones were "hot," "beautiful" and "just gorgeous," the executive said.

One manager in the television operation said he told young female staffers to avoid going to the executive floors on their own after they complained about remarks and leering.

Uncertainty about Manchester among some women in the newsroom rose as word spread that he had installed a private bedroom suite on the building's secure fifth floor.

It was clear from the start that the newspaper would be run in a new way.

In his statement, Manchester said that since the 1980s he has had executive suites in all of his properties. "These suites are used to accommodate out of town business associates and family guests," he wrote.

The newspaper made no secret about the light, sexy aims of the television operation. One segment, called Massage Envy, showed hosts partly undressed under sheets.

In 2012, the paper published a provocative full-page color advertisement for a morning program. It showed the program's female host on a beach wearing a clingy dress as two male hosts openly ogled her bottom. "It's a Heat Wave! Add some sizzle to your morning," the ad said.

The tenor of the programming drew derision from other local media.

"Ultimately, if U-T TV wants to make a naked (sometimes literally) play for lowest-common-denominator programming, that's U-T TV's prerogative," reporter Sara Libby wrote in the Voice of San Diego, a nonprofit news organization. "But let's call it what it is."

In the office, Manchester sometimes stared at and complimented the women he encountered, according to multiple women. One said the experience left her with "just an icky feeling."

"It was just, like, you don't want to get caught alone in the elevator with him," she told The Post, a remark that was echoed by other women who were there at the time.

Some men said they were also uneasy about the atmosphere. One male journalist was present on the day when Manchester pulled in a female reporter for an intimate hug.

"In a way, that freaked me out," the man said.

The woman who was hugged declined to comment.

In 2015, Manchester sold the Union-Tribune to Tribune Publishing, now known as Tronc, the publisher that also owns the Chicago Tribune, New York Daily News and other publications. The $85 million deal left the newspaper's real estate in Manchester's hands.

But hard feelings lingered.

In the fall, an anonymous caller left a message on a Tronc employee hotline for ethical complaints, alleging that Light and Fish, his human resources executive, knew about offensive behavior by Manchester and his team but did nothing to address it, documents and interviews with Tronc employee show.

The claims triggered an in-house review at the Union-Tribune.

A Tronc spokeswoman said the men were not found to be culpable of wrongdoing. Light said he and Fish responded quickly to all allegations of workplace harassment. Fish declined to comment.

Tronc expressed confidence in Light and said in a statement: "As per our policy, we interviewed current and former employees with direct knowledge of the facts alleged and have concluded that there was no case of misconduct by the current leadership of the Union-Tribune."

Manchester expressed bewilderment over the criticism.

"As a father of eight children and 13 grandchildren, six of whom are daughters and 11 are granddaughters, I have always fought hard for women's equal rights and opportunities," he wrote in his statement, adding: "I assure you that as you have learned from former HR director Cory Fish, none of these allegations were against me personally, and I took immediate action as appropriate."

- - -

Researcher Alice Crites and database reporter Andrew Ba Tran contributed to this report.A Saudi-born follower of al-Qaida, convicted in March of killing two U.S. service members in Afghanistan, received a life sentence Friday in a New York courtroom.

But Ibrahim Suleiman Adnan Harun, a self-described al-Qaida "warrior," refused to attend his sentencing.

"I can't think of a more serious crime," U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan said as he announced the sentence for Harun in a Brooklyn, N.Y., courtroom where a monitor showing the entrance to Harun's cell rested near his lawyers. Harun also had refused to attend his trial last year.

The judge rejected Harun's claim that he was more a soldier than a terrorist, saying Harun wanted to kill "dozens or maybe hundreds of Americans" and those from other nationalities, as well.

"I'm confident the defendant doesn't differentiate whether they are civilians or soldiers," Cogan said.

A jury last March convicted Harun after prosecutors said he confessed while in Italian custody that he threw a grenade and shot at an American military unit in a 2003 ambush that killed Army Pvt. Jerod Dennis, of Antlers, Okla., and Air Force Airman Ray Losano, of Del Rio, Texas.

While on the run, Harun later masterminded a failed plot to bomb a U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, the government said. He was under the direct supervision of al-Qaida higher-ups, including some still held at Guantanamo Bay, it said.

The Saudi-born defendant who claims Niger citizenship had insisted he was a "warrior" who should face a military tribunal rather than a civilian court prosecution.

Cogan said soldiers in wartime don't target "embassies" in third-world countries.

Harun, 47, was extradited from Italy to the U.S. in 2012.

The judge said Harun told prison officials Friday: "This is not my court. That is not my judge."

Cogan called Harun "self-absorbed," noting that he was willing to speak to the judge and his lawyers as long as he thought he was going to get his way.

"If this man ever walks the streets again, the first thing he will do is try to kill Americans," Cogan said. "He has one gear. That's to kill Americans."

"There is not an ounce of remorse, not a smidgeon of self-doubt," the judge added.

He said he knew the life sentence would not end terrorism, but hoped it would work "best at the margins," where one potential terrorist might decide a life behind bars was not worth killing.

He also refused to recommend Harun serve his sentence at a particular facility.

The judge said the Federal Bureau of Prisons "is going to have its hands full with this violent and uncooperative defendant."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.With a trashed F-35, maintainers can take as long as they want to poke around and hone their skills without an squadron...When White House Chief of Staff John Kelly last week issued a glowing statement of support for Rob Porter, a White House aide accused of abusing his two ex-wives, new attention was called to the retired Marine Corps four-star general's record of defending the accused -- including those who arguably did not deserve his endorsement.

But vouching for military defendants based on their reputation alone is a cultural problem that extends far beyond Kelly, said Scott Jensen, a recently retired Marine colonel who serves as the CEO of the advocacy organization Protect Our Defenders.

Jensen, the former head of sexual assault prevention and response for the Marine Corps, said the stakes should be higher for general and flag officers who go to bat for an accused service member; they should stand to lose status or career advancement if proven wrong, he said.

"When there are no repercussions for getting it wrong, why not just stand up and defend everyone who goes into court?" Jensen told Military.com. "I could understand if someone is found innocent. When they get it wrong, there ought to be some repercussions for that."

When allegations regarding Porter, who has since resigned, were made public last week, Kelly came unequivocally to his defense, saying in a statement that the allegations were "slanderous and simply false."

He called Porter a friend and a man of "true integrity and honor," despite accusations of abuse from multiple ex-wives.

For some, the episode raised echoes of May 2016, when Kelly, then recently retired, testified as a character witness for Col. Todd Shane Tomko, the fired former commander of the Corps' Wounded Warrior Regiment who pleaded guilty to charges of drunk driving, inappropriate sexual communications with a female subordinate, violation of a restraining order, and use of steroids without a prescription.

Kelly, who had never directly supervised Tomko, testified by telephone that the colonel, a seasoned infantry officer, had a reputation as a "gunfighter" and respected leader.

"Socially, he's a great Marine," Kelly said, though he acknowledged Tomko had been altered by his experiences at war and faced personal demons.

Tomko would ultimately be sentenced to two months in the brig. Following his retirement, he was arrested late last year and charged with indecent liberties with a child, an alleged crime that dates back 15 years.

It wasn't the first time Kelly went to bat for the accused. In 2013, as commanding general of U.S. Southern Command, he testified at the administrative board of inquiry hearing for Capt. James Clement, an officer accused of failing to supervise Marine scout snipers in disgrace for misconduct in Afghanistan. The snipers created international furor when a YouTube video surfaced showing some of them urinating on the corpse of a Taliban fighter.

At the hearing, Kelly said the problem in the unit was a failure in unit discipline by leadership, not a failure to act on the part of Clement, an outstanding young infantry officer.

"Clement effectively communicated," Kelly said. "That's what his role was out there."

Clement was ultimately recommended for separation from the Marine Corps. But many felt he had been scapegoated amid an embarrassing servicewide scandal.

For some, Kelly's willingness to speak out for those taking heat demonstrates his refusal to compromise loyalty in the face of political or organizational pressure.

"I don't know that I've ever met a more wholesome creature than James Clement," John Dowd, Clement's pro bono attorney and now special counsel to President Donald Trump, told Military.com last year. Dowd, a longtime friend of Kelly, was the one who asked the general to testify on the captain's behalf.

Clement told Military.com that Kelly's gesture had left him grateful and overwhelmed.

"Who does that -- what four-star general in today's liberal military would be willing to do that?" he said. "He essentially put his life on the line. He really did stick his neck out for me in a serious way."

What stands out to Jensen, however, is not so much Kelly's mixed record as a defender of the accused as a larger trend in the general officer corps of taking the stand as a character witness without due diligence.

In the case of Tomko, multiple generals served as character witnesses, including Maj. Gen. James Lukeman, the former head of Training and Education Command, who had on one occasion personally ordered a military protective order against Tomko.

He argued that the Tomko facing charges was an altered and troubled version of the enthusiastic and outstanding officer he had once known, beset by symptoms of combat stress and trauma.

"I'm not a doctor, but he's not able to prevent himself from doing these things that he's pleading guilty to," Lukeman said in his testimony. "I can't imagine it would come to that."

Jensen said he had known Tomko since the two were captains at The Basic School together and had been head of sexual assault prevention and response when Tomko was assigned to Marine and Family Programs.

"I was dumbfounded by the circle, not just Gen. Kelly, but the number of people who were lining up to defend Tomko," Jensen said. "To me, it's symptomatic of a bigger problem. It's not just about Kelly; it's this idea of unchecked loyalty for people, and really the fact that there are no repercussions for standing up and defending someone's character and later being proven wrong."

He pointed to another case reported by Military.com in which Lt. Gen. Larry Nicholson, head of III Marine Expeditionary Force in the Pacific declined to alert top Marine Corps leaders after a colonel, Daniel Wilson, was relieved from a new post in Australia in just 10 days following a series of incidents of drunken misconduct.

Wilson later would be accused of child sex abuse at his next post at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and ultimately convicted and sentenced to five years.

In Nicholson's case, the inspector general's report that resulted will likely prove a career-ender for the three-star general.

When senior officers do step up to defend the guilty or take steps to overlook wrongoing, victims can pay a high price, Jensen added.

"This shows the lack of understanding of the implications that it has for victims, when they're constantly standing up, speaking for the good of the accused and making excuses for [their behavior]," he said. "There were a million colonels who went through combat and fought admirably and suffered from [post-traumatic stress] who weren't [abusing] children and showing up to arraignments drunk."

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.Court Determines Military Burn Pits Caused Lung Disease in Troops

The thousands of U.S. military personnel and private contractors whose health was compromised by the dense black smoke of burn pits  and who have been denied proper treatment  may finally be vindicated by a recent court ruling. A judge under the U.S. Department of Labor's Office for Workers' Compensation Programs decreed last month that open-air burn pits  where thousands of chemicals were released into the air after trash and other waste were incinerated at American military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan  are connected to lung disease. For more details, see this Military.com article.Orioles standout Manny Machado showed up to camp Saturday and told reporters (including Bob Nightengale of USA Today, via Twitter) that he and the team have not discussed a long-term extension. Interestingly, the soon-to-be free agent added that hed like to line up at shortstop for the rest of his career. Machado, 25, has played the majority of his career at third base since debuting in 2012, but the Os decided to move him back to shortstop  his original position  last month. This is where my heart has always been, Machado said of short (Twitter link via Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com). Barring an unlikely extension before next offseason, Machado will easily be the premier shortstop option available in a star-studded free agent class. In the meantime, if he thrives at short this year, Machado will have a chance to earn a bit more than his $16MM salary. Hed make an extra $100K by winning a Gold Glove Award and $250K by taking home Platinum Glove honors, Nightengale tweets.

A couple more notes on BaltimoreWould you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier?

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Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page.A double shooting in the Panhandle on Friday night killed one man and sent another to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said.

Just before the shooting, around 6:30 p.m., police said an argument broke out between a group of people near Oak and Stanyan streets that included the victims. At some point during the altercation, a man pulled out a gun and shot two men in the torso, killing one and critically injuring the other, police said.Fairfield police arrested two people Tuesday in connection with a Jan. 6 shooting that critically injured a driver and caused a three-vehicle crash, authorities said.

Benicia residents Monique Chatman, 29, and Lamont James, 33, were arrested and booked into Solano County Jail.

Its not clear whether the pair fired at the victim, as they were booked on drug-related and weapon-possession offenses. Chatman and James were arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana for sale, having a concealed firearm in a vehicle and child cruelty.

James knew the shooting victim, according to a police. He was additionally booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm and violating terms of his post-release community supervision, officials said.

Their arrest comes after a month-long investigation into the Jan. 6 shooting on Airbase Parkway near Interstate 80, police said. As part of the investigation, a SWAT team with the Fairfield Police Department used a warrant to search an apartment on the 100 block of Rankin Way.

Large amounts of marijuana, among other items, reportedly led detectives to believe the residents were selling cannabis. The drugs were being stored in areas accessible to two young children, ages 2 and 9, police said.

Along with the marijuana, detectives apparently found a concealed firearm inside the vehicle driven by the residents.

The investigation began Jan. 6 after several calls came in reporting a collision near Waterman Boulevard and Hilborn Road, according to a police statement.

Responding officers found one man with gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, said authorities, who did not identify the victim. Police later learned the victim was armed with a gun at the time, and he may face charges in the future, police said.

Investigators believe two vehicles were driving on Waterman Boulevard when the occupants of one began firing at a silver Honda Accord and hit the driver multiple times, police said.

The driver of the Honda reportedly lost control and crashed. Officials said at least four other people were treated for non-life-threatening injuries that stemmed from the crash.Stories of Russian interference in U.S. elections. A controversial president. Constant terrorist attacks and endless war. And worst of all, the threat of North Korea raining nuclear missiles on the United States. Yes, it's a scary period in history.

It must be particularly frightening for the generation born since 1991, the year the Soviet Union collapsed and the Cold War ended.John Anthony Brown, aside from serving on The Woodlands Township Board of Directors, is also the vice chairman of the township's Convention and Visitors Bureau Board, as well as a new member of the Development Standards Committee. Brown also sits on the Investment Committee and the Law Enforcement Advisory Council for the township. Originally from Philadelphia, Brown moved to The Woodlands with his family in 2010. He works as the facilities supervisor for Huntsman International at its corporate headquarters in The Woodlands.

Question: Tell us how you ended up in The Woodlands, and how you ended up serving on the Board of Directors.

Brown: I'm originally from Philadelphia. When I had my daughter back in 2007, basically we were trying to figure out where we wanted to raise her. So, we wanted to move to Texas, because we used to visit here all the time. My cousin lives here. We used to visit Texas every year, so when we decided where we wanted to move, we decided on Texas. We stayed with my cousin, and when we wanted to figure where we wanted to actually raise Madison and our family, we decided to move to The Woodlands for numerous factors.

The story is that we used to visit The Pavilion to see shows. So we were very familiar with The Woodlands. We actually spent, myself, my wife and my cousins, we used to stay at The Woodlands Hotel Resort and Conference Center. So, we would stay there as a "Let's get away and enjoy the amenities and the scenery." So, it was kind of a perfect fit.

The crime was very, very low, very safe. Everything we needed, technically, we don't really even need a car. And the old cliche of The Woodlands bubble is true. We practically don't have to leave The Woodlands for everything that we need. It just made sense. So I was really a visitor of The Woodlands before I became a resident of The Woodlands. So, good story, because as you know, I'm also the vice chairman of The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is now known as Visit The Woodlands. That story resonates with me because that's kind of what we were trying to do.

To go back on how I became on the board, once I moved here from Philadelphia I promised myself, because Philadelphia is such a huge city and that politics can be very, very-it could be a very corrupt system. And so I wanted to become more active because I wanted to become better informed. So, when I moved here to The Woodlands and moved to Alden Bridge I immediately became a board member of the Alden Bridge Village Association. So, I've been on there, still am, for over seven years now, since I've been here.

Locally, kind of in a small aspect of getting to understand how The Woodlands work and how the villages work, that's where I started.

At some point, I guess before I went to run for election, I kind of thought about I wanted to do. And, how I could be an asset to the community. And I thought well, I know a small framework of how The Woodlands works, I'd really like learn overall how The Woodlands Township works.

Because of my experience, I thought I could add a lot of value to the township. Because I'm very deep in my faith and I believe in service, this is basically another way of how I can put a stamp on how much I can give back. So that is what led me to run for The Woodlands Township, and luckily I won.

Question: When it comes to possible township incorporation, have you established a position yet of whether you're for or against incorporation?

Brown: My campaign running was that I was very adamant about incorporation, meaning that we need to do a very thorough plan (or) study. So I am very pro-incorporation, but only in the fact if it financially makes sense.

I'm an average blue collar kind of guy, if my taxes would go up exponentially, I personally as a resident, wouldn't vote for it. But we don't know yet.

Question: So, are you in favor at this point, or do you need to see more information or more data?

Brown: No, I'm for it at this point. But financially if it doesn't make sense I wouldn't be for it. So yeah, and the reasons for being for incorporation are for more than a few reasons, and one being, when a resident comes to me, which they do now, I'd never want shrug my shoulders and say, 'I'm sorry, I can't help you, because the township doesn't take care of that.'

It's very disheartening, and the residents look at us as leaders and yet, if something's wrong with the roads, that's the county. If something's wrong with the greenbelt, that's the MUD, right? If there's flooding going on it's either the MUD district, the river authority, there are so many entities that we have to basically rely on because it's not the township. So that in itself is a very good reason to incorporate, so you can come to me as your elected official and I can say, 'I can do something about that.'

Right now we can fight for you and send letters to local governments and try to work for them, but if they're not willing to work with The Woodlands Township, then we're basically out of luck.

Question: In one of the conversations I had with your colleague, John McMullan, he indicated relations between the township and the county were poor. He described the county as using The Woodlands as its "piggy bank." Do you agree with that description?

Brown: I agree (with) it and I'll say it in this fashion: I believe the county, that instead of working with the township, they want us to work for the county, right, if that makes sense. As the township has grown, the revenue source to Montgomery County, we'll take Montgomery County for this purpose, I think it's 30 percent of the township's taxes, go to the county. And, I see that as, we could better be partnering instead of basically working for the county, which we shouldn't be doing. Some of the precincts I would say are very against the ideology of what the residents want in The Woodlands. Not to say that any other neighborhood or any other community is any less important than The Woodlands, but I represent The Woodlands Township residents, so I am very for what the residents want.

Question: You mentioned that there are some things the township can't take care of. Gordy Bunch, chairman of the township Board, of Directors, has expressed frustration with the Design Standards Committee. You're now a member of the DSC. Was your move to the DSC to get more power to the DSC, or if not, why the move?

Brown: The DSC is a very complex group, and they work very, very hard. I know first hand that the hours and the commitment that DSC staff, just the staff alone has to go through, for the many, many applications that we get for both commercial and residential.

I really wasn't forced to go into this position, I wanted to be in this position because I have, I feel, in my personal opinion, I have a way of finding what's fair. In the real world it's called compromise. There are ways you can compromise and find a medium between, whether it's a residential complaint, commercial, there's always that compromise. And sometimes you can't have the rubber stamp to just say, 'No, no, no.' You have to find that way, what you want, what the other person wants, and you make it happen. I believe I have that skill. Not just my professional negotiation skills, but I have personal skills and I think that adds a lot.

Question: Do you see less controversy coming out of the DSC now that you and your colleague, Board of Directors Member Brian Boniface, are on the committee?

Brown: I think this our third meeting. There's not really any tension at all from what I've seen. Now again, this is our third meeting. I think what goes a long way is respect. Even at the township board level. We can have a disagreement, but we have to respect each other. But, we all should have our own opinions. And I think that's very important. We shouldn't vote yay or nay just because a group of people are voting yay or nay. You should have a say and stick with that say, whether someone agrees or disagrees with you, then you move forward. Because that doesn't help anybody. And I think, again, personal opinion, I think a lot of what happened in the past with the DSC was basically a lot of rubber stamps, and I don't think, and again they work very hard, so I want to underline that factor, they do, they work extremely hard. And it's an extremely complex system that we have, because we have multiple standards in The Woodlands. We have commercial standards, we have residential standards. We have standards that are different between what village you live in. It's very complex. But I think what happens at the end of the day, if you're very fair and you understand what each other wants, I think there's always a compromise. So, let's go back to tension. To date, I don't think there's any tension. And a lot of it has to do because we're new, we're fresh, we have new ideas, a new set of eyes. I can't speak for Brian, but I'm an upbeat kind of guy, I'm very sociable, happy kind of guy. I go into things with a positive attitude. Positive attitude is very, very important in anything that you do, especially politics. Because (if) I don't have the right attitude, it affects everything that you do.

Question: Speaking of politics, do you have any ambitions for higher office?

Brown: At this time, no. I am so happy to be where I'm at right now. And I love my community so much that there's so much that we can do here, that I want to be part of that. And I don't want to leave, knowing we can be part of something great here.

Question: Let's talk about flood issues. Obviously you were at the LiDAR meeting, how do you see the township progressing in mitigating future flooding?

Brown: That's another very complex issue, but the township, because again, we have to work with multiple entities on this issue and the effect of floods, although we essentially represent The Woodlands, basically it stems from other areas, north of us, west of us, depending on what part of The Woodlands you're at. So what the township can do, which we're doing now, is being proactive on a couple of things, working with all the entities, as (township) Director Bruce Rieser is doing in the drainage task force, is very important.

Because we all have to be on the same page, all the commissioners, all the precincts, all the entities, all have to have the same goal. Because everything we do to mitigate flooding in The Woodlands, if they don't do their part in Montgomery County, or what have you, it all flows downstream. So what we're doing now is currently is, as you know, we're working with the federal government in regards to funding, so I think that Chairman (Gordy) Bunch and Director (Bruce) Rieser were in Washington, D.C. to get in, basically get in front of Congress and say, 'Hey, The Woodlands needs some help, don't forget about us,' which again is something that our leadership should be doing, getting in front of (politicians), requesting the funds. Now, that being said, we aren't the only community that was flooded so we have to fight to get the funds appropriated. So it's important for our leadership to be able to fight for the appropriation of funding to our community.

Creekside was hit very hard and we're still fighting for that. Along with the presentation from MUD 386 at that meeting, which was very informative, is that they are now using modeling, this new system. You saw that the modeling system was very impressive. That's good to be proactive. I don't think we should be reactive. I think that (of) anything, the Tax Day flood (April 2016) should have been the eye-opener to do something instead of waiting for this catastrophic event. I understand people tell you, 'Well, these don't happen that often.' But the Tax Day flood wasn't really a catastrophic event. Those are more apt to happen at any time. So we have to look forward to those events, then thinking about, 'We won't get another hurricane for X amount of years.' That (event) wasn't a hurricane. So what else has to happen is we have to not only work with the surrounding counties in regards to drainage, drainage issues, maybe additional reservoirs. But hey, let's talk about development. The development which Montgomery County can still grow, and is going to grow exponentially, adding more concrete and not usage of the proper engineering firms, having that all in place when you're doing development, has a big impact on flooding in all surrounding areas, not just The Woodlands. It has to be a collaborative event.The popular, but embattled, Woodlands Waterway Cruisers ferry service has been suspended indefinitely, Woodlands officials announced Friday night.

Bruce Rieser, a member of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors and the board chairman of The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau, told the Villager late Friday that township officials and Lisa Spitz, the owner of Waterway Events LLC, had agreed to "amicably" end their business relationship.

After Hurricane Harvey inundated the Houston region with more than 50 inches of rain in late August, 2017, the four European-style tourist boats had stopped running due to damage to their electrical systems, requiring the need for extensive repairs.

Spitz, who used to run a similar tourist boat service in the Waco area before moving to The Woodlands to run the cruisers, had been in default of her agreement with the township because the boats were not running. In December, Spitz was given more time by the township's CVB board to get the boats operating again. The township had a business agreement with Spitz to provide the ferry service along the Woodlands Waterway.

The boats resumed tours of the Woodlands Waterway in a limited fashion on Dec. 8, with one of the four boats running. Spitz told the Villager in an interview in early December she had ordered a new motor from Germany for one of the crafts and was hoping to repair a third to continue to provide the popular cruises.

After being given more time to get the boats operating again, Spitz described the damage to the boats in a December interview.

"After the hurricane, it blew so hard and got so wet in there, that it basically fried the electrical system on the boats that were running," Spitz said at the time.

At the time of the resumption of services, Nick Wolda, president of Visit The Woodlands and the township CVB, said he and other township officials were excited the cruisers were going to be back in action.

"(The cruisers) are very important to this area. The Waterway needs some activity," Wolda said in December. "(Spitz) has been working hard to get them up and going again."

The boats and cruises along are an important element of the township's overall image, Wolda said at the time.

"(The service) is one of our distinguishing differentials to other downtowns in the Houston area," Wolda added.

But Rieser said on Friday the damage to the boats was so extensive that it was not practical to expect to have the service running again.

"It's just not worth putting them out on the water again," Rieser said.

Attempts to reach Spitz for comment on Friday were unsuccessful.

Rieser said township officials would seek to find a new ferry service provider for the waterways, but could not say when such a service would be operating againThe John Alden Chapter, NSDAR recently hosted its February meeting. Guest speaker, Dante Pinterpe presented "The Unlikely Heroes of the American Revolution from Bookseller to Mother of Eight."

Pinterpe has studied the Revolutionary War for many years.

The thing that drove or inspired me more than anything else to pursue my passion as a historian was the spirit and courage the common man summoned to go on and stay the course in the most dire and desperate situations humanity has possibly ever seen. Not only to stay the course, but somehow come out victorious against the most powerful fighting force in the world while enduring the most wretched and miserable elements you could ever imagine. All the while starving with no provisions or even being fully clothed in most cases.

"My mind can barely fathom the common man sacrificing everything like the way they did and defying all odds to rise to such greatness. All this suffering just for a principle or idea. The world, in my opinion may never see again. It's as inspirational and as encouraging as any story ever told and shows that when men or women are forced to, they can rise to any occasion and make even the impossible become possible.

The unsung heroes shared at this meeting were:

 The British marksman, Patrick Ferguson, who was so honorable that he did not take a shot against George Washington because his back was to him.

 Francis Marion, The Swamp Fox (the movie, The Patriot was based on him) a nickname given to him by General Tarleton.

 Dr Joseph Warren, the forgotten founding father. He spoke at the second anniversary of the Boston Massacre. His wife died at 26 leaving him a widower at 31 and moved his family out of Boston as it became unsafe for families. He was admired as a leader and started the Minutemen, to react swiftly to attacks. He was the first general of the Continental Army and he was killed instantly by a musket ball in the head by a British officer who recognized him. His body was stripped of clothing and he was bayoneted until unrecognizable, and then shoved into a shallow ditch. His body was identified by Paul Revere, who recognized the silver tooth he placed there.

 Elizabeth Burgin, had a bounty on her head for acts to help the prisoners held on the British prisoner ships. She drugged the guards and rowed across the New York Harbor to save the approximately 200 prisoners.

Pinterpe shared some of his artifacts from the American Revolution such as the Centennial Continental Army Uniform, a Hessian Boot and a document that contained original signature of Gen. Anthony Wayne, along with an enlistment form with two original signatures of Oliver Joe and William Woodward of the Connecticut regiment. He also shared a few of his favorite American Revolution history books.

Following the presentation was a closed business meeting.

The next meeting will be March 2 with speaker Jason Christianson, chief of voluntary service at Aleda E. Lutz VAMC. He will speak about the Veterans Administration. The Chapter is hosting Crop & Craft Around the Clock on March 24 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 3701 N. Jefferson Ave. Cost is $35. Deadline for registration is March 9. Contact Lynn at schielclan2@yahoo.com to register.The third Saturday of August 2016 seemed like a big day for Donald Trump in Florida.

A group called "Being Patriotic" had organized more than a dozen "Florida Goes Trump" rallies throughout the state - from Clearwater to Jacksonville to Miami. They bought Facebook advertisements for the occasion and hyped a "patriotic flash mob" for Trump. They even paid someone to build a large cage on a flatbed truck that could hold a costumed Hillary Clinton impersonator in prison garb.

"Go Donald!" concluded a Facebook post, outlining the day's festivities.

But the effort was not part of the official Trump campaign.

Instead, the pro-Trump rallies were just a small piece of an expansive shadow campaign engineered thousands of miles away by Russians who gained what prosecutors said Friday was a keen understanding of the fault lines of U.S. politics. From staging events on the ground in political battlegrounds to spreading misinformation across social media, the operation functioned in effect as a third party injecting itself into the hotly contested 2016 presidential race - exploiting the vulnerabilities of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and stoking ethnic tensions to help Trump.

The Russian effort to meddle in the 2016 presidential elections spanned at least two countries and multiple states and included fake rallies, false identities and divisive slogans intended to magnify Trump's message and undermine Clinton's candidacy, according to a 37-page indictment of a notorious Russian troll farm announced by the Justice Department's special counsel.

"I'm amazed - and I suppose I shouldn't be - what a widespread campaign it was," said Republican consultant Doug Heye. "It looks like the size of this was probably bigger than Jeb Bush's primary campaign."

The efforts in Florida that August day did not turn out to be particularly impressive. No people showed up to at least one of the proposed rallies, and online photos of some of the other events reveal ragtag groups with Trump signs staking out patches of grass or traffic medians.

But the fledgling events belied a broader Russian scheme. While Clinton and Trump battled one another, Russian saboteurs and propagandists working for the St. Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency were waging a secret political crusade to benefit Trump.

The group, which included 80 people, fashioned itself similarly to an actual political campaign, complete with departments for everything from search-engine optimization and data analysis to technology support and budgeting, according to prosecutors.

"I hate to say it, but it seems like the creative instincts and the sophistication exceeds a lot of the U.S. political operatives who do this for a living," said Brian Fallon, a spokesman on Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. "There were memes and advertisements that were really in sync with the Trump campaign's rhetoric. The messages were in sync, and they certainly exploited some of our vulnerabilities."

"To read about it in this level of detail is pretty gripping," added Fallon who, like other former Clinton aides, said he was unaware of the Russian meddling as it was playing out in real time.

In announcing charges against three companies and 13 individuals on Friday, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said that "there is no allegation in the indictment of any effect on the outcome of the election."

But the lengthy document provides the most in-depth look so far at how the Russians studied the Trump campaign and tried to amplify its messages and strategy, if not always in a linear or successful fashion.

The group of Russian trolls, for instance, quickly turned its focus to battleground "purple states" after being advised to do so in June 2016 by someone affiliated with a Texas-based grass roots organization.

"Florida is still a purple state and we need to paint it red," the group wrote two months later, using a false U.S. Facebook account to try to gin up real support for its Florida rallies. "If we lose Florida, we lose America."

Indeed, the effort appears to have been at its most savvy on social media, where there were echoes of many of the attacks Trump repeatedly leveled at Clinton.

The Russian-funded ads on social media emphasized the notion that Clinton was corrupt, prosecutors say. One trumpeted, "Ohio Wants Hillary 4 Prison," and another carried the hashtag #HillaryForPrison2016 - mirroring the "Lock her up" chants that had become commonplace at actual Trump rallies.

The ads portrayed Trump as far tougher on terrorism and more supportive of gun rights than his Democratic rival. Clinton, the ads suggested, was pro-immigration and pro-Muslim.

The ads also sought to stoke real tensions Clinton had with the Black Lives Matter movement, with one claiming: "Hillary Clinton Doesn't Deserve the Black Vote."

During the election, Trump periodically accused Clinton and the Democratic National Committee of rigging the primaries against her Democratic challenger, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. That included a late June 2016 tweet in which Trump said Clinton "colluded with the Democratic Party in order to beat Crazy Bernie Sanders."

And after Clinton narrowly prevailed over Sanders in the Iowa caucuses, the Sanders campaign, too, complained of voting irregularities and never got the full recount it sought.

The Russians seized on this theme, using it in political advertisements they placed on social media, including one that said, "Hillary Clinton has already committed voter fraud during the Democrat Iowa Caucus."

Fallon said it was stunning to realize that the Russians understood how Trump was trying to woo disaffected Sanders supporters and use that knowledge to exploit divisions within the Democratic Party.

"That takes a very sophisticated understanding of U.S. politics to know that would be a damaging line of attack," he said.

In late September 2016, the Russian trolls allegedly created and bought Facebook ads for a series of "Miners for Trump" rallies aimed at bolstering a critical constituency for Trump: coal miners in Pennsylvania.

Blue-collar voters in the nation's Rust Belt were a key target for the Trump campaign as it sought to pick off some traditionally Democratic states and create a path to victory in the electoral college. With coal miners in particular, Trump repeatedly cast himself as a champion and Clinton as a villain.

In one September speech in New York, Trump claimed that Clinton "wants to shut down the miners just like she wants to shut down the steel mills and shut down the steelworkers and we're not going to let it happen ... We're going to put our great miners and our steelworkers back to work."

In Florida, meanwhile, the Russians had pushed ahead with their planned day of "purple state" rallies.

Jim Fritsch, a retired real-estate development consultant in St. Petersburg, Florida, said he received a phone call that August from a young man who was associated with the "Florida Goes Trump" group. The man, whose name Fritsch said he does not recall, asked if he would be willing to wave signs in support of Trump.

At the time, Fritsch was running for local property appraiser and doing similar sign-waving on his own. He agreed to help with the Trump rally, but said the man on the phone ultimately produced no volunteers and no signs.

Instead, the participants at the Aug. 20 event were all supporters of his own - ultimately unsuccessful - campaign.

Fritsch dismissed concerns over the Russian effort as a waste of time, saying the Russians did nothing differently in 2016 than the Communists did for years in Soviet days.

"When you're a candidate for public office and somebody says, 'We want to help this candidate that you support too,' it's not a big leap to say, 'I'll help,' " he said. "If the Russians wanted to help someone or hurt someone, they're free to do it."

" If someone from Russia said, 'Hey, we think you ought to support Trump,' who cares?" Fritsch concluded.

- - -

The Washington Post's Rosalind S. Helderman contributed to this report.A Baltimore County jury awarded $37 million in damages to the family of Korryn Gaines, a black Maryland woman killed by county police in an August 2016 standoff that also injured her 5-year-old son.

The six female jurors decided in less than three hours that Cpl. Royce Ruby, the Baltimore County officer who fired the fatal shots, violated the civil rights of Gaines, 23, and her son, Kodi.

Ruby shot and killed Gaines on Aug. 1 during a confrontation in Randallstown, a suburb northwest of Baltimore City. Police serving a warrant for failure to appear in court over a traffic case kicked in the door to Gaines' apartment to find her waiting with a shotgun. The ensuing six-hour ordeal ended when Ruby opened fire, killing Gaines and injuring Kodi.

RELATED: Korynn Gaines posted social media videos with child before being fatally shot by police

The civil suit decision awarded more than $32 million to Kodi, $4.5 million to his toddler sister, Karsyn, and nearly a million dollars among Gaines' parents and estate, court documents said.

Gaines family attorney J. Wyndal Gordon told The Washington Post on Saturday that the verdict was a "great decision" that will help make Gaines' family whole after the incident. Gaines was shot four times by Ruby; one shot pierced her lungs and spine, and a ricochet struck her son, he said.

"Where is your moral compass?" Gordon asked rhetorically. "It was callous and sadistic."

Ruby, who is white, remains on the police force and was promoted to corporal last year.

After the verdict was announced, Baltimore County Attorney Mike Field said in a statement that the county was "disappointed" by the decision and was reviewing its options, including an appeal.

"A mother died, a child was unintentionally injured and police officers were placed in mortal danger. By any account, this was a tragic situation," Field said.

Field declined to offer additional comment to The Post on Saturday.

Baltimore County police spokesman Shawn Vinson told the Baltimore Sun that "the state's attorney's office reviewed the situation and deemed the shooting justified." He declined to comment further.

Gaines' mother, Rhanda Dormeus, told reporters Friday that she believed police were untruthful in testimony describing the shooting and the threat posed by Gaines.

"What we want is constitutional policing. We want them to be fair, we want them to have integrity, and we want justice," Dormeus said. "And if they can't do that, they shouldn't be a part of the police force." Since the incident, the county police department has expanded body camera wear for its officers and in 2017 began training for incidents involving people with mental health.

The county executive and local fraternal order of police group also did not return requests for comment.

Gaines was one of 962 other Americans killed by police in 2016, according to an analysis by The Washington Post.

Ruby testified that Gaines moved into the kitchen, with only her long braids and shotgun barrel visible. He fired once through a wall, believing she was raising her weapon to a firing position.

"There was no choice," Ruby testified. "Officers were going to die if I didn't take that shot." He entered the room and fired three more rounds into Gaines, saying he feared that her finger was on the trigger.

Gordon disputed that version of events, saying Gaines was shot in the back, her lungs full of blood, indicating the additional shots Ruby took were unjustified.

Speaking outside the courthouse Friday, Kareem Courtney, Gaines' boyfriend and Karsyn's father, said taxpayers will bear the burden of the award, not Ruby.

"He's not going to pay. He's going to go home to his family. My family has been destroyed. My daughter's not going to know her mother," Courtney said, according to the Sun.

Kenneth Ravenell, the attorney for Kodi's father, Corey Cunningham, told The Post that damages for the boy will be helpful for a lifetime of counseling and psychological treatment. Kodi explained in a therapy that his mother went to make him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when she was shot, Cunningham testified.

Bearing witness to his mother's death has jarred Kodi, his family members and teachers testified. "He's a shell of himself," Ravenell said, a once outgoing and happy child now introverted and sullen.

"It's sad to see a kid go through this," Ravenell said. "Hopefully this won't be something that will change him for life."A military judge indefinitely halted a death-penalty case Friday linked to the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, dealing a significant blow to the already troubled military court system for terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay.

The decision by Air Force Col. Vance Spath, who voiced exasperation at what he characterized as repeated defiance of his authority by defense attorneys, is a striking illustration of the deep-rooted problems plaguing the judicial process set up in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

More than 16 years later, trials for 9/11 suspects are still stuck in pretrial proceedings, and conclusions remain years away. Of the more than 700 inmates held at the military prison in Cuba since 2002, only a handful have been successfully tried. About half the remaining 41 prisoners are expected to be held indefinitely without charge.

"This is another wake-up call, and a dramatic one, because the issues go again to the fundamental legitimacy of the commissions," said Hina Shamsi, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's national security project.

The suspension caps a succession of crises facing the Guantanamo commissions in recent months, including the resignation of civilian lawyers for the accused Cole mastermind, Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri; a contempt ruling against a general overseeing defense teams; and the firing - without explanation - this month of senior Pentagon officials overseeing the courts.

"If that's not the wheels coming off, I don't know what is," said Rita Siemion, international legal counsel at Human Rights First.

The growing sense of disarray comes as the Trump administration considers bringing new terrorism suspects to Guantanamo Bay for the first time in a decade, instead of seeking to try them in federal courts, raising the possibility of new protracted legal sagas.

Past problems that have haunted the commissions' credibility include the torture of terrorism suspects at overseas prison sites, microphones hidden in attorney-client meeting rooms at Guantanamo and a "kill switch" that unknown officials used to mute court proceedings.

Hours after Spath's announcement, Cmdr. Sarah Higgins, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said the government was "studying transcripts from this week in which the judge made important findings and rulings."

"It is unknown when pretrial hearings will begin again," she said in an email.

The suspension prolongs years of anticipation for the families of the 17 Americans who were killed in the Cole attack, in which militants blew a hole in the ship's hull while it was stopped off the coast of Yemen in August 2000.

Spath, in a lengthy statement delivered during pretrial proceedings Friday, focused his displeasure on the defense team representing Nashiri. Only one lawyer, Lt. Alaric Piette, remains on that team after civilian defense attorneys resigned last fall, arguing that they could not ethically continue to represent their client, in what appeared to be a response to possible government interference in attorney-client communications.

That crisis was compounded when Spath held Brig. Gen. John Baker, the chief defense counsel for the commissions, in contempt and ordered him confined to quarters when he supported the lawyers' departure.

Spath's frustration mounted when two of Nashiri's former lawyers, Rosa Eliades and Mary Spears, did not obey his orders to appear in court via video and as Piette, a relatively junior attorney, argued that he could not proceed without a co-counsel experienced in capital cases.

The confusion was compounded this month when Defense Secretary Jim Mattis fired Harvey Rishikof, responsible for overseeing the military court, without explanation. Another official, Gary Brown, was also fired.

While it is unclear if their dismissals were related to the Nashiri case, Rishikof had circulated a memo several months earlier seeking a way forward on that case, making reference to a need to create a "clean facility" that would protect attorney-client communications.

Speaking Friday, Spath said the recent events had "demonstrated significant flaws within the commission process, particularly within the defense organization, and it demonstrates an organization intent on stopping the system."

"What they're doing is engaging in revolution to the system," he said, according to a transcript provided by the Pentagon. "It's shaken me more than I would have expected."

The judge said the case would remain suspended "until a superior court orders me to resume." It is not clear whether the Court of Military Commission Review or the District of Columbia District Court - or possibly another court - might intervene.

Stephen Vladeck, a professor at the University of Texas School of Law, said the suspension was unlikely to affect the commissions' three other active cases.

"This is just the latest of many flash points that all point in the same direction - that there are potentially insurmountable roadblocks to trying these cases the way the government wants to try them," Vladeck said.

Richard Kammen, a veteran death-penalty attorney who was among the Nashiri lawyers who resigned last fall, said he believed that his former client could be tried by a civilian judge in a year to 18 months.

"Maybe somebody will take a step back and realize that the best place for Mr. al-Nashiri's case, and the 9/11 case as well, is in a federal court," Kammen said.

According to Michel Paradis, Nashiri's Pentagon-appointed appellate lawyer, Nashiri's case was abated previously in 2015 while the Court of Military Commission Review reviewed several measures. He said Spath's decision was different.

"He's basically saying this case has become a dumpster fire," he said. "The good news I think is that Colonel Spath finally came around and realized this dumpster fire could not keep going."

Spath, closing court proceedings, told the court that he would decide in coming weeks whether to retire.

"We're out," he then said.WASHINGTON - White House Chief of Staff John Kelly announced Friday that beginning next week, the White House will no longer allow some employees with interim security clearances access to top-secret information - a move that could threaten the standing of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law.

Kushner, a senior adviser to the president, has been able to see some of the nation's most sensitive secrets even as his background investigation has dragged on for more than a year.

White House officials have privately discussed concerns that Kushner's clearance faces obstacles, according to people familiar with internal conversations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private talks. Among the potential problems: repeated amendments that he had to make to a form detailing his contacts with foreign officials. Two U.S. officials said they do not expect Kushner to receive a permanent security clearance in the near future, The Washington Post reported this week.

In the meantime, Kushner has maintained an interim security clearance that gives him access to top-secret and sensitive compartmented information - a rare level of access to hold for a long period of time, experts said. His elite position has allowed him to meet with foreign officials around the world and read the classified intelligence prepared daily for the president.

A senior administration official with knowledge of Kelly's thinking said the chief of staff has been frustrated with Kushner's high level of access without a final clearance and that he was aware the new policies announced Friday could jeopardize Kushner's ability to carry out his duties in the West Wing. The move puts a "bull's eye" on Kushner, the official said.

A spokesman for Kushner did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Abbe Lowell, an attorney for Kushner, said Kelly's directive "will not affect Mr. Kushner's ability to continue to do the very important work he has been assigned by the President." White House officials declined to comment on how the new policies would specifically impact Kushner.

Kushner's ability to maintain his current portfolio, which includes classified briefings, could change next week. That's when Kelly said he plans to discontinue high levels of access for White House employees whose security clearances have been pending since June 1 or longer, according to a memo obtained by The Post.

As part of the security clearance overhaul, Kelly said the White House has reviewed the status of outstanding background investigations with the FBI and encouraged their timely completion. And he laid out new policies to streamline the clearance process and better involve the White House Counsel's Office.

The changes were prompted by intense scrutiny that has followed domestic abuse allegations against Rob Porter, the president's former staff secretary, who was also working under an interim top-secret clearance. Dozens of other White House personnel also work under interim clearances, although not all of them are at the top-secret level.

"The events of the last ten days have focused immense attention on a clearance process that has been in place for multiple administrations," Kelly wrote. "We should - and in the future, must - do better."

It is not clear how Kushner could perform his current job without a high-level security clearance.

He holds a broad range of responsibilities, from overseeing peace efforts in the Middle East to improving the efficiency of the federal government. And he is the administration's interlocutor with key allies, including China and Saudi Arabia, where he has developed a personal relationship with the young crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.

Kushner has been present at meetings with the president where classified information was discussed and has access to the President's Daily Brief, a digest of intelligence updates based on information from spies, satellites, and surveillance technology, according to people with knowledge of his access.

And apart from staff on the National Security Council, he issues more requests for information to the intelligence community than any White House employee, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private discussions.

Security clearance experts said it is rare to have such a high level of interim security clearance for such a long period of time. It is particularly striking access for someone like Kushner, who has never served in government and has a complex history of financial transactions, business ownership and contacts and dealings with foreigners.

Most interim clearances are granted by the Defense Department, where they expire after 12 months, said Evan Lesser, president and founder of ClearanceJobs.com, which helps place cleared employees in government positions. Typically, other agencies follow that policy. "It's very unusual" to have an interim clearance for longer than one year, Lesser said.

Kushner's background investigation appears to have been prolonged after he filed three updates last year to a questionnaire that requires full disclosure of contacts with foreign officials reaching back several years.

Investigators scrutinize those activities to determine whether a person could be subject to influence or blackmail by a foreign government and to judge whether the person can be trusted to guard classified information.

Ordinarily, experts said, the failure to completely disclose all contacts would jeopardize an applicant's chances of obtaining final clearance.

Lowell, Kushner's attorney, said Kushner had disclosed more information on his security forms than was required out of an abundance of caution.

"My inquiries to those involved again have confirmed that there are a dozen or more people at Mr. Kushner's level whose process is delayed, that it is not uncommon for this process to take this long in a new administration, that the current backlogs are being addressed, and no concerns were raised about Mr. Kushner's application," he said in a statement.

The FBI declined to comment.

Inside the White House, officials - including White House Counsel Donald McGahn - have privately discussed during the past six months the slow pace of Kushner's background investigation, noting his amended disclosure as a possible factor.

In the fall, McGahn discussed the fact that Kushner was working on an interim clearance with Kelly and again raised the issue of his earlier incomplete disclosures, according to a senior administration official. McGahn and Kelly decided to wait for the FBI to complete its background investigation and took no action.

Kushner's pending security clearance comes as his actions and business dealings have come under scrutiny by special counsel Robert Mueller III, who is probing Russia's meddling in the 2016 election.

In interviews with witnesses, Mueller's investigators have asked about Kushner's contacts with foreign officials, according to a person familiar with the sessions.

Lowell said Kushner's job is "to talk with foreign officials, which he has done and continues to do properly."

Kushner is only the most notable White House staffer working without a final clearance.

The White House appears to have issued more interim clearances than previous administrations, probably because of the larger number of people who have never been civil servants and gone through the clearance process, or who came to their jobs with complicated business and financial histories, according to Lesser.

"We're in uncharted territory here for a lot of people in the White House," he said.

The White House Security Office is tasked with making a final assessment of the findings of an FBI background investigation.

But the White House's adjudication guidelines are different from those of other government agencies and departments and give wide latitude for awarding clearances. Ultimately, the president can give clearance to anyone he wants.

- - -

The Washington Post's Devlin Barrett, Ellen Nakashima and Philip Rucker contributed to this report.To some Russians, Friday's indictment means vindication.

Activists, journalists, and former employees have been working for years to shed light on the St. Petersburg troll factory known as the Internet Research Agency. While the organization is most famous for its role in the 2016 U.S. election, it has also sought to manipulate public opinion inside Russia, according to Russian news reports.

The Internet Research Agency has operated with impunity despite a mounting number of Russian investigative reports showing that employees created fake online personas in order to influence debates online. On Friday in Washington, special prosecutor Robert Mueller III delivered an indictment of the organization and 13 individuals associated with it that seemed to validate much of that reporting.

Friday's news broke late in the evening in St. Petersburg, but one of the former troll-factory employees, Lyudmila Savchuk, agreed to talk on the phone at 2 a.m. local time on Saturday morning. She told The Post that the Mueller indictment represented "huge progress" toward naming and shaming the people involved.

"This is a big step toward not necessarily punishment but toward naming these people and open discussion over what they did," said Savchuk, a journalist and former employee of the Internet Research Agency who won a lawsuit against the troll farm in 2016. "If we start tearing off the masks, then this may have a bit of an impact on some of them."

Savchuk worked on Russian-language content at the troll farm in early 2015, a time when the United States was already one of the top three to five topic areas for the organization, she said. She added that while the risk of getting arrested when traveling abroad might represent punishment to the people indicted on Friday, she expected them to be immune from prosecution within Russia for the foreseeable future.

"The trolls will be on trial after Putin - and I am not sure we'll ever live to see the day that Putin is punished in any way," Savchuk said.

And indeed - Russian elites publicly appeared unfazed. Among them: Yevgeniy Prigozhin, a catering magnate with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin whom the Mueller indictment describes as supporting the Internet Research Agency. He told a Russian state news agency that he wasn't disappointed to be indicted by Mueller and that if the Americans "want to see the devil - let them."

Maria Zakharova, the sharp-tongued spokeswoman for Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, published a Facebook post ridiculing the indictment while accompanying her boss to the Munich Security Conference.

"Thirteen people implemented interference in the U.S. elections?! Thirteen against the billion-dollar budgets of the intelligence agencies?" she wrote. "Is this absurd? Yes. But this is the reality of contemporary American politics."Sam Bloch, who was a teenaged resistance fighter in the forests of Eastern Europe during World War II and who devoted his career to preserving the memory of Jewish Holocaust survivors, including the establishment of museums and museums around the world, died Feb. 4 at his home in Queens, New York. He was 93.

The cause was congestive heart failure, said a son-in-law, Menachem Rosensaft.

Bloch grew up in what was then Poland, the son of a prominent Hebrew-language teacher. After his father was killed in a mass execution by Nazi forces in 1941, Bloch, then 16, was forced to survive on his wits and guile.

With his mother and younger brother, he escaped a Jewish ghetto just before it was about to be liquidated and sought shelter with a family of Polish farmers. They later fled into the countryside, hiding in the woods as Bloch made connections with a underground Jewish resistance movement.

He eventually joined the Bielski Partisans, an armed Jewish unit of resistance fighters led by three brothers. The Bielski group, depicted in 2008 film "Defiance" with Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber, included hundreds of people in makeshift camps hidden deep in the forests of modern-day Belarus.

Bloch engaged in sabotage, fought against Nazi forces and collaborators and helped rescue other Jews. According to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Bielski Partisans helped more than 1,200 Jewish people survive the war - including Bloch, his mother and brother.

"I tasted the bitter taste of everything,'' Bloch told USA Today in 1990. "I went through all the dimensions - the ghetto, the camp, underground, running, hiding."

In 1945, the Bloch family ended up at a displaced persons camp near the site of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany. About 50,000 Holocaust survivors underwent rehabilitation and treatment at the camp, where Bloch became the youngest member of the camp's governing committee.

While there, he met Lilly Czaban, who survived the war by hiding with her family in the grain cellar of a Polish farmer. She and Bloch were married at the camp in 1949.

They moved to New York, where Bloch took an entry-level job with the World Zionist Organization. He worked there for more than 50 years, eventually becoming director of publications and editing or publishing many volumes of Holocaust history, memoirs and poetry.

In 1965, on the 20th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, Bloch organized one of the first major reunions of Jewish survivors of the Holocaust. He edited a book, "Holocaust and Rebirth: Bergen-Belsen 1945-1965," that became a key early resource about survivors and their later lives.

Along with other victims of Nazi persecution, including Josef Rosensaft and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel, Bloch took a leading role in planning Holocaust memorials and museums. He was a founding member of the International Society for Yad Vashem, the leading Holocaust remembrance organization in Israel, and helped distribute financial support to survivors worldwide.

In the 1980s, Bloch was a principal organizer of survivors' reunions, including a 1983 gathering of more than 20,000 in Washington.

Among other responsibilities, Bloch served on a commission to create New York's Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. He was on key committees that oversaw the early development of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington and helped create museums devoted to the Holocaust and Jewish history at Bergen-Belsen and in Israel.

Shmayahu Eliahu Bloch was born Sept. 23, 1924, in Iwie, Poland (now in Belarus). In the United States, he became known as Sam E. Bloch.

His formal education ended in high school, after his father was among the approximately 200 Jewish residents who were abducted and later killed. Nonetheless, Bloch was fluent in six languages.

In addition to his wife of 68 years, of Queens, survivors include two daughters, Jean Rosensaft and Gloria Golan, both of New York; a brother; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Bloch spoke at gatherings around the world, including the 65th anniversary observation of the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen camp in 2010.

"Memory preserves the threads of sorrow and joys of people, and carries them forth," he said then. "Forgetfulness betrays not only the past but also the present and the future."Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee said Friday she will remain in the race for Senate even if fellow Republican Bob Corker changes his mind and seeks reelection, expressing confidence that she could beat the incumbent.

Corker upended the race this week when he signaled he might reverse his decision to retire, amid GOP concerns about Blackburn's viability in the general election and fear of losing a Republican Senate seat.

But a determined Blackburn is moving ahead. She spoke last weekend to President Donald Trump, who has not endorsed anyone in the race, and she spent more than an hour at the White House on Wednesday with Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway and other officials, according to a Republican familiar with the talks.

"I am running, and I'm going to win," Blackburn said in an interview Friday with radio host Hugh Hewitt. "I think what Tennesseans want to see . . . is a true conservative in the U.S. Senate. They want to see somebody there that is going to back Donald Trump and his agenda."

But Blackburn's main opponent in the GOP primary, former congressman Stephen Fincher, abandoned the race Friday evening and threw his support behind Corker, openly questioning whether Blackburn could win the general election in November.

"The party must get behind a candidate that can win in November and stop Democrat Phil Bredesen, who would be a rubber stamp for the Chuck Schumer liberal agenda," the Republican from western Tennessee said in a statement provided to local media.

"For that reason," Fincher said, "I believe Senator Bob Corker should continue to serve in the U.S. Senate, and stand with the President to fight for Tennessee families."

Corker announced in September that he would not seek reelection, expressing frustration with gridlock in the Senate and saying he had not imagined serving three terms.

Corker lashed out at Trump in the fall, suggesting he was putting the country on the path to World War III and was behaving like a child.

Trump criticized Corker, saying he could not be elected "dogcatcher." The president had originally tried to persuade Corker to run again.

Months after the falling-out, Corker has warmed to Trump on issues of national security and taxes, prompting questions about his political plans.

Blackburn, a longtime ally of Trump, is in her eighth term in the House. Earlier this week, her campaign said anyone who thinks she cannot win is "just a plain sexist pig."

Bredesen, the state's former governor, is the front-runner for the Democratic nomination.

- - -

The Washington Post's Josh Dawsey, Paul Kane and Sean Sullivan contributed to this report.SEBEWAING  In the wake of Thursday's tragedy in Sebewaing, members of the community have expressed their memories for the lives lost.

Katelyn Bonini and her mother Margo Bonini were killed early Thursday morning by their father/husband, Bob Bonini, before he turned the gun on himself. However, their presence and the lives they touched will forever live on.

Katelyn  or for those who knew her well, Katie  was a 2014 Unionville-Sebewaing Area graduate and an all-around great student and friend.

"Katie was a bright light and always had a smile on her face," said USA Superintendent George Rierson. "Forming relationships was easy for her. She was just one of those kids that was always doing the right thing."

"She got good grades and was a great friend to her peers," he added.

Although nothing has been finalized yet, Rierson said the district will do something in Katie's honor for everyone to remember her.

"It's hard to put into words the type of personality she had," said Gary VanSumeren, who had Katie in his strength training class for four years. "She was funny and happy-go-lucky, but at the same time, she could be tough."

VanSumeren said Katie was very well liked, and respected, by the student body and teaching staff.

"She brought the best out of everybody," he said. "She had one of the most infectious personalities and was a great self-esteem builder."

Even after graduating nearly four years ago, Katie was still idolized by younger students.

"She's the type of person that had a larger effect on myself  just the way she approached things  than I think I had on her," VanSumeren said.

Katie was a student who lit up the room when she walked into class, as told by her former photography teacher Jason Parmenter.

"She would kind of bounce into the room, waving her hair back and forth with a big smile on her face." Parmenter said.

When Parmenter heard Thursday's unfortunate news, it made him think of one thing.

"I flashed back to that big smile when she walked into the room. That's the picture I saw and that's how I will remember her," he said.

"She was so loving, bright, caring and helpful. I just cannot believe what happened," added Barbara Merchant Tilt, a former USA teacher. "Katie helped me in my classroom. She always had the biggest smile. Whatever she did, she was a hard worker. She was such a beautiful soul."

Katie's mother, Margo Bonini, was also involved in the Sebewaing community. For years, she was the director of the Sebewaing Township Library.

"It's so sad. She was such a nice person. I just can't wrap my head around what happened," said Bad Axe Library Director Mimi Herrington. "We (library directors) were going to meet next week. I can't believe she won't be at the meeting."

Bonini started some innovating events at the Sebewaing library.

"She started the chess club for kids, had cookies and cocoa, and had several winter activities for kids and others in the community also," said Herrington. "The library directors in Huron County coordinated several projects. She was always willing to help be involved in projects."

According to Herrington, one of the projects Bonini helped work on was where Huron County libraries would all interchange books.

"She was so dedicated to the library and making it the best it could be. We didn't see each other much because she worked so hard and was dedicated to the library," she said.

Mary Drier contributed to this report.As the Frost Bank Tower in San Antonio continues to rise, so does people's interest, at least according to social media posts.

Residents have begun taking notice of the $142 million tower while crews continue with construction, which began in February 2017.

The tower has been in the works since 2013, when former Mayor Julian Castro was encouraging downtown development with his Decade of Downtown initiative. In 2015, the city council cleared the way for the tower's construction when it approved a complicated public-private partnership with Weston Urban and Frost Bank.

RELATED: $142M Frost Tower breaks ground, raising expectations downtown

It's located at the corner of Travis and North Flores streets and is the first new office tower in downtown San Antonio in nearly 30 years.

Construction photo company OxBlue continuously updates time-lapse photos of the tower to show off the progress as it is made.

You can find the rest of the photos, along with time-lapse videos, here.

Elizabeth Robinson and Richard Webner contributed to this story.

Click through the slideshow to see the tower's construction.

Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here. | fsabawi@mysa.com | Twitter: @FaresInSAThis story has been corrected to reflect the correct location of the hotel.

A 4-year-old boy is dead and the mother's boyfriend is in custody after San Antonio police say the child was found dead lying next to the boyfriend at a hotel near the AT&T Center Friday night.

Officers say a woman left her three children in the care of her boyfriend, Michael Cruz Arroyo, 32, at the Days Inn at 4038 Interstate 10, where the couple were staying.

When the woman returned to the room about 7:16 p.m., she told police she found the body of her son next to Arroyo, who police say was intoxicated, on the bed.

Police say the victim had a visible head injury and bruising due to blunt force trauma. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The boy's siblings, ages 1 and 3, according to police, were transported to Christus Santa Rosa Hospital for possible injuries.

Arroyo was taken to University Hospital to be treated for possible toxic ingestion. Though police did not clarify what substance he may have taken.

Arroyo has been charged with capital murder and two counts of an injury to a child, according to a news release.

Police did not give details on how the child died, or how long the children were in Arroyo's care.An 18-year-old male was attempting to set up a drug deal over Facebook Saturday morning when events turned violent, according to San Antonio police.

Officers say the teen was in front of his home in the 7800 block of Hedrick Farm on the Northeast Side, coordinating a drug deal through Facebook at about 3:25 a.m.A giant of a man sat quietly on a folding chair by the door of a soup kitchen, trying to go unnoticed, rubbing a small tattoo on his hand.

People filed into the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Millville, N.J., with a "Hey, Joe" before heading off to the spaghetti and meatballs, and Joe Bednarsky Jr. smiled and said hello with a mastiff's timbre he couldn't hide.

Mostly, his blue eyes followed the pastor serving food, but when Bednarsky stood to hug a man struggling with depression, his 6-foot-6-inch, 330-pound frame made him look like a marble pillar.

"I love you, brother," he told the man, who clung to him.

Bednarsky, 49, didn't hug black people when he was younger. He hurt them. He burned crosses on their lawns and referred to them with a racial slur. It took him a long time, some of it in jail, to figure out what made him do it.

"I was incapable of loving others because I didn't love myself," Bednarsky said. "So many people today are unhappy with themselves and don't love themselves. I had that anger in me. I told people that I'd shoot you, your kids, your wife and think nothing of it. That's how bad it was."

The simple, crude tattoo on Bednarsky's hand is just three small letters in a circle: KKK.

Today, Bednarsky has an unlikely job for a man who once was a leader in New Jersey's Ku Klux Klan. He's the head of security at Bethel A.M.E, a predominantly black church where he's known by parishioners as "Chaplain Joe," and his closest friend is the church's leader, the Rev. Charles E. Wilkins Sr.

"I was sent here by God to protect Pastor Wilkins," Bednarsky said as he sat beside him. "I would take a bullet for him."

When Bednarsky started showing up at the church's soup kitchen for meals in 2009, everyone noticed.

"Oh yeah, you know, he was eating alone," Wilkins said. "The first thing is that he stuck out, and I'm thinking, 'Oh God, what is this big white boy up to?' I definitely noticed him, and everyone was telling me who he was, but I was thinking, 'He's here, so something's going on.' "

Wilkins, 63, said he was no saint growing up in Chicago, so he talked to Bednarsky and sized him up when most of the others just wanted him gone.

"We started talking, and I think the first time I really took note and realized something was different was when he said, 'Brother, where there's God's grace, there is no race.' And I'm thinking, 'OK, that sounds good,' " Wilkins said. "He told me God changed his heart and if I don't believe that, I need to get another job. I had to take him for his word, until I saw differently."

Wilkins had a backup plan in case Bednarsky hadn't fully shaken the hate.

"I guarantee I would have hit him with a chair before he got to me," Wilkins said.

Both men laughed.

"We're brothers," they said in unison.

Bednarsky said he grew up in the Wade East apartments in Millville, about 45 miles south of Philadelphia, fighting with black teenagers on and off the bus. An interest in photography led him to take pictures of a Confederate flag on a neighbor's porch. That man was in the Klan, and Bednarsky, who wasn't close to his father, was slowly pulled in.

"He had children that were my age, and I spent a lot of time there, and I tell people that's when the brainwashing starts," Bednarsky said. "They tried to sell the Klan as a patriotic thing, as people who were proud of their race that did things for the white community."

The hate came later, he said, after he became a full Klansmen at 18. He worked as a general contractor and traveled to rallies all over the country, donning the white hoods, then later, more colorful ones that marked his higher rank. He said he stood in circles in dark fields with other Klansmen and their families, the forest behind them illuminated by a massive burning cross.

For years, Bednarsky's name showed up in the Philadelphia Inquirer and local newspapers in rural Cumberland County. Many of the stories were about a rival who had plotted to kill him. In 2006, Bednarsky told the Daily Journal of Vineland that the Klan would protest the New Jersey State Police after he and another member were arrested handing out pamphlets at a harvest festival.

"We'll show up in our robes," he said at the time. "We're going to have a protest."

Bednarsky had seen the light long before that, but it didn't come from above. It was a flash of pain when a brick thrown through a truck window fractured his skull. He spent months in the hospital, but the attack, in Millville, just made him angrier and left him with short-term memory loss.

One night in 1996, he shot a black woman in the leg with a slingshot. She was holding a baby. He was later charged with assault. He served just under a year in the Cumberland County prison.

"I was either gonna end up dead somewhere or end up in prison for the rest of my life," he said.

God first called to Bednarsky to change his ways in 2005, he said, but it didn't stick and he went back to the Klan, becoming one of its highest-ranking members. It was hard, he said, to give up the power, to realize he had used hate to inflate his ego, when the truth was that he didn't like himself very much.

"You get on this power trip and this hatred inside you grows and grows," he said.

When Bednarsky resigned for good in 2007, he burned most of his KKK gear and sold his purple robe and hood. "I donated the money to a church," he said.

He has been harassed by other white supremacy groups and has received threats, both to him and the church, after speaking publicly about his change of heart. He says he's not scared.

Wilkins said Bednarsky is a living testament to everything he tries to teach his 185 congregants. It's been tough for them, he admitted, but if they can forgive a former Klansmen, they can forgive anyone.

"I have people in my church who don't trust him. I've got white people in the community who don't trust him. He's got it on both sides. I've got ministers in the community who preach the gospel of forgiveness but haven't been able to get past his past," Wilkins said. "Joe's heart is real. He comes to my home. He eats at my table."How terrible does a judges behavior have to be before someone calls foul?

In Bexar County, the tolerance for bad judicial behavior appears to be pretty high. Its not an unwritten code of honor or professional courtesy that keeps anyone from speaking out. More often than not, its that lawyers would rather put up with the questionable behavior than file a formal complaint that might have an adverse impact on their livelihood.

There are dozens of civil and criminal court benches in Bexar County, but each handles a specific type of case. While some lawyers appear in a cross section of courtrooms, many work in niche markets and deal only with a limited number of courts.

EDITORIAL: Texas needs a new way of picking judges

Many of the judicial candidates coming before the Express-News Editorial Board during endorsement meetings recently acknowledged there are some problem judges on Bexar County benches. Fear of retaliation, being shunned by peers and loss of income are driving factors when it comes to remaining mum about the abuses. No one wants to be labeled a tattletale or troublemaker.

The Bexar County judiciary has witnessed high turnover in the last decade due to retirements and political party sweeps at the polls.

The county has lost many of its tenured, well-respected jurists. The revolving door at the courthouse has given the county several fine new judges, but there has also been an influx of newbies lacking the judicial temperament and work ethic necessary for the job.

Judges answer only to those who elect them, but voters often know very little about what goes on in individual courtrooms.

In 1965, an amendment to the Texas Constitution created the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to protect the public, promote public confidence in the integrity, independence, competence, and impartiality of the judiciary, and encourage judges to maintain high standards of conduct both on and off the bench.

RELATED: Texas judicial vacancies must be filled

Each year, the commission reviews more than 1,000 complaints, many of them filed through the commissions online portal. The commission also initiates its own investigations based on media reports, court documents, the internet or other sources.

In fiscal year 2017, the commission disposed of 1,333 complaints filed about judges. Among them were 708 cases closed after initial review found action was unwarranted. Another 299 cases were closed after a preliminary investigation found the complaint was unfounded or frivolous, the facts alleged did not constitute judicial misconduct, or there was insufficient evidence.

The 326 cases in which the commission conducted a full investigation resulted in eight judges resigning in lieu of discipline, and disciplinary action taken against 51 other judges.

The cases that did not go further were dismissed outright for lack of evidence or because corrective action was taken by the judge, or the judge was given a letter of caution with advice about questionable behavior.

ALSO: Could Texas elect judges based solely on merit?

The most common conduct prompting disciplinary action was failure to comply with the law. Other troubling judicial behavior cited included incompetence, improper demeanor, willful or persistent conduct casting public discredit, and abuse of the prestige the office.

The public was made aware of the action taken in only 26 cases. Those were cases in which public sanctions were issued. The other 25 were private sanctions and, in these cases, the only ones notified of the 13-member commissions action were the complainant and the judge. And thats too bad.

It takes quite a bit of courage to file a signed complaint against a sitting judge with the Commission on Judicial Conduct. Private reprimands, warnings and admonitions only allow bad judges to remain on the job  with voters unaware of the transgressions.

The burden of proof that merits a full investigation is high. If an elected official is not doing a good job, voters deserve to know and make informed decisions at the polls.

Protecting bad judges is bad public policy.Throughout his elected career, U.S. Rep. Will Hurd has been something of a media darling. Hes a black Republican congressman in a heavily Latino, swing border district.

Hes sharp, affable and well-spoken, and hes had some noticeable breaks with his party.

He never endorsed the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump. He voted against the American Health Care Act, which would have stripped away health insurance for millions of Americans. Hes derided the border wall as a third-century solution.

Those were all sizable breaks with the president. They were also easily defensible. The border wall is an expensive and ineffective proposition, wildly unpopular in Hurds district. The American Health Care Act would have slashed Medicaid, hurting many of Hurds constituents. The presidents language on the campaign didnt meet Hurds personal standards.

Hes a reasonable representative serving during an unreasonable time, and that bind came into particularly painfully sharp relief with the release of The Memo.

This would be the Republican memo alleging FBI bias and surveillance abuses in the Russian investigation. Its a partisan document, and so is the yet-to-be-released Democratic response.

Hurd, a member of the Houses Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, voted to release the Republican memo. He voted against releasing the Democratic response, but later voted to release it following some revisions. The White House has refused to release it.

The Republican and Democratic memos should have been released at the same time.

Tellingly, Hurds defense of releasing only the Republican memo has been lackluster and underwhelming. He conveniently avoids the swirling political dynamics around it.

Hurd, for example, told National Public Radio that the memos release is not going to erode national security.

This was because there was nothing truly new in it. In fact, the memo says the FBI investigation was triggered by Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, who has since pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

Hurd also told George Stephanopoulous of ABCs This Week that most folks in San Antonio arent worried or thinking about the memo.

And hes raised concerns about the standards of evidence used to establish warrantless surveillance  in this case potentially unverified information.

None of these points is wrong, but thats not the same as being right.

If the memo fuels the perception of bias at the FBI, then it could easily erode public trust in the agency and national security.

Hurds bipartisan road trip buddy, U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke, D-El Paso, said the document itself didnt undermine existing intelligence.

But he said future sourcing and information gathering and sharing could be compromised. It also could affect public confidence in key institutions.

The thing that is so chilling for me is that the general publics faith in the FBI is undermined, ORourke said.

This comment reminded me of something Hurds primary challenger, Alma Arredondo-Lynch, said during a recent interview. She doesnt accept the recent FBI finding that a Border Patrol agent died near Van Horn from falling into a deep culvert  and not from an attack.

And while most San Antonians probably dont spin their wheels thinking about the memo, the Robert Mueller investigation, potential obstruction of justice or Russian collusion, polls consistently show most Americans support this investigation.

So, to the degree the memo could be used to undermine the investigation or fire key players overseeing it, then plenty of San Antonians would probably care.

Finally, Hurds concerns about unverified information would be more salient if he had read the underlying documents, or if he had not voted to renew the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Those underlying documents supposedly point to much more context, but Hurd has only talked to people who have read them.

Hurd has read the Democratic memo, however, which he said is more kind of like their opinion of the state of the investigation rather than a retort of the points of our memo.

Maybe we will find out for ourselves.

He also said the memo didnt change the political environment or the Mueller investigation.

Political actors are going to use any piece of information to reinforce their political opinion, he said. This does not have an impact on who Mueller interviews or what he is able to investigate or do.

Unless, of course, it does.After House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., sent his memo laying out potential abuses of the FISA process by the FBI to the White House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., demanded that he be removed as chairman. Nunes was deliberately dishonest in pushing to release a bogus memo, Pelosi declared, and had disgraced the House Intelligence Committee with his partisan effort to distort intelligence.

But Democrats cant so easily dismiss the far more detailed declassified criminal referral written by two respected Republican senators  Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.  which confirms the claims raised in the Nunes memo. The Grassley-Graham memo has been all but ignored since its release, but it deserves attention from everyone  and answers from the Justice Department.

If youre concerned about Russia meddling in our election, as every American should be, then you should be deeply concerned about unverified allegations by Russian government officials, passed on to the FBI by a paid partisan of one candidate, leading to a warrant to spy on an American citizen associated with the other campaign.

According to Grassley and Graham, that is precisely what happened. The FBI relied heavily on the Steele dossier to obtain warrants for surveillance of Carter Page, a marginal former Trump campaign adviser, the senators write. Moreover, they say, the FBI did not have meaningful corroboration of Steeles claims when it submitted its application to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court.

In other words, Steeles work was virtually the sole source of information the FBI relied upon to obtain a warrant to spy on a U.S. citizen. Without it, there would likely have been no surveillance approved.

The senators further confirm that the FBI did not, in fact, tell the court the full provenance of the dossier, writing, The application failed to disclose that the identities of Mr. Simpsons ultimate clients were the Clinton campaign and the DNC. (Glenn Simpson is co-founder of the firm that hired Steele.) They also failed to tell the court that an FBI official, Bruce Ohr (whose wife worked for Fusion GPS on the Russia project), had warned the bureau that Steele was desperate to see that Mr. Trump was not elected even though this information was relevant to his credibility and his stated political motive. Grassley and Graham conclude that it appears the FBI relied on admittedly uncorroborated information, funded by and obtained for Secretary Clintons presidential campaign, in order to conduct surveillance of an associate of the opposing presidential candidate.

The senators note the FBI used the dossier because Steele was considered reliable due to his past work with the Bureau. But in October 2016, the FBI suspended its relationship with Steele after it learned he had disclosed dossier information to the press and then lied to the FBI about it. Yet despite Steeles deception, which calls into question his credibility, the FBI continued to rely on the dossier for renewals of the FISA warrant. Worse, the senators write, the FBI did not subsequently disclose to the (court) this evidence suggesting that Mr. Steele had lied to the FBI.

None of these ugly details exonerates Trump or undercuts the Mueller investigation. Nor was that the purpose. Both Graham and Grassley have always supported special counsel Robert Mueller  Graham by introducing a bill that would require the attorney general to petition a panel of federal judges for permission to remove a special counsel, and Grassley by holding a hearing on the bill.

But if the FBI, wittingly or unwittingly, made representations before the court that were in error, then the American people have a right to know. And if a paid advocate of one presidential candidate persuaded the FBI to conduct surveillance on a member of the other candidates campaign team, Congress has an obligation to investigate.

As for Democrats, are Grassley and Grahams claims bogus and dishonest? Have they disgraced their committee with a partisan effort to distort intelligence? I think not. They have raised serious questions that should trouble all Americans, no matter their political party.With the seventh round of negotiations between the United States, Canada and Mexico to update the North American Free Trade Agreement quickly approaching, its critical to keep in mind how NAFTA helps businesses, workers, farmers and ranchers, like myself, throughout Texas and across the United States each and every day.

The agreement has helped the United States  and North America  retain its standing as an economic and manufacturing powerhouse that allows our companies to remain competitive in global markets. For example, NAFTA has made supply chains more efficient by reducing trade barriers, resulting in more affordable goods for consumers and increased access to Mexican and Canadian markets for American businesses.

Terminating the agreement, on the other hand, would not only make these markets less accessible and negatively impact our economys growth prospects, but it would also harm American businesses, workers and consumers now and into the future.

My fellow Texans can especially appreciate the importance of NAFTA because of the economic benefits at stake if the United States withdraws from the agreement.

In 2015 alone, Texas exported more than $125 billion in goods to Mexico and Canada. Thats over $20 billion in goods more than the next 23 export destinations combined. Additionally, that year NAFTA supported almost 1 million Texas jobs.

NAFTA has been a boon for the broader American economy, as well. NAFTA supported more than 12 million American jobs in 2014, with estimates showing that more export-intensive industries pay workers 16 percent more than less export-intensive ones. Additionally, NAFTA supported 125,000 medium and small businesses across the country in 2014.

Ive seen firsthand how NAFTA has also benefited our nations agricultural sector. One in 10 acres of farmland was planted to service American exports to Canada and Mexico in 2016. Canada and Mexico are two of our top export markets, accounting for nearly one-quarter of U.S. beef export sales. NAFTA accounts for $1.6 billion of U.S. beef exports, representing $69 of value per head sold.

However, detractors of NAFTA overlook the agreements benefits when insisting on the need for withdrawal. These misguided suggestions would cause significant harm for Texans and families across the country.

Without NAFTA in place, American exports would face a tax increase of $15.5 billion in the form of tariffs, which would make American goods less competitive abroad and hurt small businesses that rely on Mexican and Canadian consumers. If the United States withdraws from NAFTA, Texas would pay more in new tariffs to Mexico as a percentage of gross domestic product than any other state. It would have a direct impact on the price of my cattle because U.S. beef exports would suddenly face much higher tariffs (up to 25 percent in Mexico). Export sales would most likely decline if high tariffs were imposed, which would result in much lower prices for our cattle in the U.S. In this situation, it would be difficult to remain competitive and could potentially force many ranching families out of business.

Despite NAFTAs extensive economic benefits, the ongoing negotiations do provide an opportunity to strengthen and modernize the agreement, bringing it into the 21st century. A renegotiated NAFTA should account for how businesses have changed in the internet age, and should include provisions that strengthen intellectual property and help small and medium-sized businesses gain access to Mexican and Canadian markets.

As the debate over the future of NAFTA  and free trade more broadly  continues, we are excited to announce a collective effort among businesses in Trade For America, an educational campaign organized to defend the benefits of free trade agreements by highlighting their value across Texas and throughout the United States.

Trade with Mexico and Canada has helped Texas build the second largest economy in the country. However, withdrawing from NAFTA would harm the Lone Star economy, jeopardizing many of the gains achieved through tax and regulatory reform. To protect the economic livelihood of the millions of American workers and families whose jobs are supported by NAFTA, it is imperative for the United States to protect and strengthen the agreement for future success rather than withdraw from the agreement.The Editorial Board recommends incumbent Greg Abbott and Andrew White in the Republican and Democratic gubernatorial primaries.

On the Republican side, this is an easy call. Abbotts opponents  political unknown Barbara Krueger and Secede Kilgore (whose name says it all) are simply not credible candidates. And even if weve disagreed with Abbott  on the need for a bathroom bill, most notably  he has pretty much pursued the conservative agenda on which voters elected him when he defeated Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis in 2014.

RELATED: Editorial Board endorses Ted Cruz, Beto O'Rourke for senate races

On the Democratic side, 10 candidates are vying for the nomination, but there are really only two contenders in our view  White and former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez, who spent much of her childhood in San Antonio.

Of the two, White, a Houston businessman and son of former Gov. Mark White, demonstrates far more knowledge of the complexities of state governance and speaks with more specifics on the topic.

He pledges to close loopholes in the states equal and uniform tax law that, he says, allows commercial interests to escape paying their fair share of property taxes, burdening residential taxpayers. He recognizes that the true driver of high property taxes are policies that deprive public education of enough direct state funding, forcing local school districts to raise taxes.

Likely to be his most controversial position to fix school funding is putting expanded gaming on some future ballot to generate more revenue.

White recognizes that the Legislatures shifting of state troopers to the border has dubious merit and robs the state of funds that might be put to better use elsewhere  on schools, for instance.

READ MORE: Editorial Board names its picks for Texas Land Commissioner

The candidate is already generating unease among Democrats because he says he is personally against abortion, but he pledges not to make this a big issue and says, for instance, he would have vetoed Senate Bill 2, a measure that imposed draconian restrictions on the states abortion clinics.

On many issues, there is little to no daylight between White and Valdez. But, again, he speaks more knowledgeably and evinces a conciliatory demeanor that a Democratic governor will need if faced with a Republican Legislature.In the GOP primary for lieutenant governor, we recommend businessman and former Rockwall City Councilman Scott Milder. We recommend Mike Collier, certified public accountant and former comptroller candidate, on the Democratic side.

Why not incumbent Dan Patrick?

In Milder, Republicans will get a conservative interested in solving the states problems with real solutions. He would lead the Senate with much less partisan rancor and no emphasis on culture wars. He would avoid such items as the bathroom bill, one of Patricks signature legislative efforts. It was, Milder knows, a distracting waste of legislative effort.

RELATED: Editorial Board names picks for Texas governor in 2018 primaries

He pledges to help the Senate solve the states perpetual underfunding of public education and says that the $800 million or so Patrick helped go to Department of Public Safety operations at or near the border could have been used for that purpose. He believes in property tax relief and knows that fixing public education funding is the substantive solution. He knows immigration is a federal undertaking, not a state one.

He styles himself a Reagan Republican and laments that such a Republican would have a difficult time in Patricks version of the party. He is for getting to work on real problems, not inventing problems to inflame a base.

On the Democratic side, Collier brings financial gravitas to the race  simply, more than opponent Michael Cooper, a retired auto sales manager from Beaumont. Collier was in the audit department of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Collier, too, knows that the path to property tax relief  and the states economic future  lies in sufficiently funding public education. Among his interesting ideas: seeking a constitutional amendment to create an Audit, Performance and Integrity Commission to tackle permanent solutions to waste and corruption  independent and politics-free.

RELATED: New poll: Abbott, Patrick far ahead on GOP primary race

And he points to gerrymandering as the root cause of our political crisis in America. He would push a constitutional amendment to take direct redistricting responsibilities from the Legislature.

Milder and Collier are the best choices in the party primaries for lieutenant governor.The border and immigration debate is more than rhetoric in Congressional District 23, which includes part of San Antonio and some 800 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. Its daily life. Border security is a prevailing concern, as is family preservation. Dreamers live here and face deportation. Trade with Mexico is an economic linchpin. Big Bend National Park is an environmental treasure.

U.S. Rep. Will Hurd has been an engaged representative for the past four years. We recommend him over challenger Alma Arredondo-Lynch, a dentist, in the GOP primary.

RELATED: Express-News Editorial Board picks Cruz, O'Rourke in U.S. Senate races

Hurd, a former CIA operative, is a leading voice on national security, speaking with conviction and nuance that puts his district first. He has opposed a border wall and proposed legislation to provide legal residency to Dreamers, add 165 immigration judges and boost border security. That legislation has gained widespread bipartisan support.

What makes Hurd unique, though, is his ability to keep his distance from extremes while maintaining his conservative credentials. He did not endorse President Donald Trump and broke with the administration, on the wall and health care, for example. But he also championed tax cuts. In other words, he is conservative and genuinely and frequently aligns with Republican interests, but he is also a model for bipartisan compromise and governance.

On the Democratic side, we recommend Gina Ortiz Jones, a former intelligence officer with the U.S. Air Force. Ortiz Jones grew up on San Antonios West Side, graduating from John Jay High School. She attended Boston University on an ROTC scholarship. She has three masters degrees, including one from the U.S. Armys School of Advanced Military Studies.

Ortiz Jones has served in Iraq, and advised on operations in Africa and Latin America. Shes also overseen trade enforcement. She is deft on international issues and has demonstrated a deep understanding of this district.

Other Democratic candidates in this race have compelling backgrounds. Jay Hulings, a former federal prosecutor and national security policy adviser on Capitol Hill, is a dynamic and thoughtful candidate. Judy Canales of Uvalde is particularly strong on rural issues, having served in the U.S. Department of Agriculture under former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

READ MORE: Editorial Board names its choices for Texas governor is 2018 primaries

Other candidates include Rick Trevino, a teacher who recently ran for San Antonio City Council; and Angela Villescaz, who does not appear to be running an active campaign. Our efforts to reach her were unsuccessful.

All the candidates we spoke with are similar when it comes to supporting Dreamers and immigrant rights, and opposing a border wall. But Ortiz Jones stands out for her depth of knowledge on domestic and international issues, national security expertise, and her passion for service and thoughtfulness about governance.Republican incumbents generally dont attract many opponents in statewide races in Texas. Land Commissioner George P. Bush has three, including, surprisingly, his predecessor in that office, Jerry Patterson.

On the Democratic side, two are vying for the nomination.

We recommend Bush in the GOP primary and Miguel Suazo on the Democratic side.

First the Democrats. Its uncomplicated.

RELATED: Editorial Board endorses Craddick, McAllen for Texas Railroad Commission in primaries

Suazo is an energy attorney in Austin, he worked in government, and he is from a cattle ranching family. As an energy attorney with clients who want to protect the environment and as a former Senate aide  for New Mexico Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici  who worked on veterans affairs, land use, education and the environment, Suazos experience simply overwhelms that of Tex Morgan, the other candidate.

Morgan is earnest and we hope to see him again running for some other office, but the former VIA board member and technology worker simply doesnt have the experience or resume to match Suazos.

And Suazo, in an interview, displayed more knowledge of what the GLO does and how it does it than did Morgan. The agency has coastal protection duties, funds Texas public schools through oil and gas royalties from state lands, provides benefits for veterans and is involved in natural disaster recovery. But getting the most attraction in this race  at least on the Republican side  is the GLOs additional responsibility for oversight of the Alamo.

But we find the charge that Bush is not remembering  or correctly honoring  the iconic site unconvincing.

With the City of San Antonio and the private Alamo Endowment, he has helped shepherd a long overdue master plan that reimagines the Alamo with the proper fidelity to 1836, when the Alamo defenders fell to General Santa Anas army. And there were public hearings before and after the master plan, though Bush could have also taken these statewide. He will seek statewide input now.

READ MORE: Editorial Board names its endorsements for Texas governor in 2018 primaries

Whats come from this process represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that should not be allowed to be derailed for political gain. The state bought the buildings across from the Alamo church, which means the carnival-like businesses that detracted from the reverence due the site will be moved. A world-class museum is envisioned in those buildings, with exhibits that will, in fact, focus on the 1836 battle, but pay homage also to the rest of the sites history as well. That focus will also be applied to development  as much as is possible and practical  that restores the 1836 footprint. And Bush secured millions in state funding for the work done and planned.

No public input? The public scoffed at the glass walls proposed in the master plan to mark, as much as was possible, the 1836 footprint. And Bush and the other stakeholders took that off the table. There is similar concern over a proposal to move the Cenotaph off the grounds  because it wasnt there in 1836  to a nearby site also near a funeral pyre for the Alamo defenders. And Bush made it clear to us that he is listening to those concerns too. Our take: Dont bet on a move.

Another criticism surrounds the three non-profits the GLO formed to help manage the Alamo. Bush has already taken steps  after some legislative criticism  to make the Alamo Trust, which manages the site, more transparent and has named an Alamo chief financial officer to ensure all state funds are used properly. This is criticism that came not just from opponents but from a leaked draft audit that Bush said will be clearer when the final document is released in the spring.

Bush can point to increasing  while oil and gas prices have plummeted  the royalties that feed the Permanent School Fund.

His opponents criticize his agencys disaster relief efforts following Hurricane Harvey. But we see some confusion here about federal and GLO responsibilities. Bush points to much temporary housing provided for Harvey victims and other programs.

And Patterson in particular faults Bush for hobbling the agency via his reboot, in which he sought to reorganize the place. Bush credibly argues that he streamlined a bloated agency.

Some missteps, yes, but Bush has credibly had an effective first term and deserves a shot at a second.THE Government has said all Zimbabweans who are refugees in other countries should come back home as there is no reason for them to continue living outside the country under the new dispensation.

This comes as Government is working to facilitate the return of 700 people who sought refuge in Botswana during the tenure of ex-President Robert Mugabe.

It is not clear why the Zimbabweans sought refuge in the neighbouring country.

In an interview yesterday, the Minister of Home Affairs and Culture, Dr Obert Mpofu, said he learnt about the refugees during President Emmerson Mnangagwas State visit to Botswana on Monday and Tuesday.

During President Mnangagwas State visit to Botswana, we learnt that weve 700 Zimbabweans that are refugees in Botswana. We did not know about them until we visited Botswana. So we discussed with their Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and Immigration and we agreed that I lead a team to Botswana in a few days so that we understand the background to it, said Dr Mpofu.

He urged the countrys citizens to come back home.

There is no need for anyone to be out of the country following the new dispensation. We want all our citizens back. There cannot be any reason that we are aware of for their continued stay outside the country. We were advised that the United Nations is involved in this issue.

It wants to assist in the repatriation of these individuals. But we dont know who these people are. Our visit will give us further information on who they are, the Minister said.

Dr Mpofu, who was part of President Mnangagwas delegation to Botswana, said he was encouraged by the level of co-operation they received from the neighbouring country.

He said through bi-lateral relations, the countries would address issues of harassment of Zimbabweans working in Botswana as most of them highlighted their plight to President Mnangagwa.

The President addressed almost a thousand Zimbabweans living in Botswana. The complaint was that of unfair treatment by the authorities and the other issue that came out prominently was about Zimbabweans working in Botswana who highlighted that they are ill-treated and they are not even given employment papers that they are entitled to as employees of companies and individuals, said Dr Mpofu.

He said Government would work to ensure that the countrys citizens are treated with dignity as they contribute to development in the neighbouring country.

The Minister expressed optimism over the new relations with Botswana saying the neighbouring countrys attitude towards Zimbabwe has changed.

But generally the attitude of Botswana towards Zimbabweans has drastically changed. Botswana is quite happy that Zimbabwe is now on board in terms of regional and international co-operation, said the Minister.

Dr Mpofu said both Governments are also working towards addressing the smuggling and trafficking of juveniles between the two countries borders.

The Minister said some of the issues that would be discussed between the two countries is how both States can deal with stray cattle.

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Related Zimbabwe Latest NewsUNIVERSITY of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura was arrested yesterday on allegations of abuse of office over the awarding of a Doctor of Philosophy degree to former First Lady Grace Mugabe.

Prof Nyagura was arrested in Harare and is likely to appear in court today.

Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) spokesperson Ms Phyllis Chikundura confirmed the arrest.

Yes, he has been arrested on allegations of abuse of office over the doctorate of former First Lady Grace Mugabe, she said.

He is detained at Mabelreign Police Station and he will appear in court tomorrow (today).

Prof Nyagura is being accused of unprocedurally awarding the Doctor of Philosophy degree without the approval of both the University Council and the Senate Committee.

He recently blasted lecturers in the Department of Sociology for challenging the awarding of the contentious doctorate, saying they were ignorant Messrs and doctors, with no academic capacity to supervise a PhD student.

In a recent interview with our Harare Bureau on demands by 10 lecturers for the university to revoke Mrs Mugabes PhD, Prof Nyagura said PhD students were supervised by the post-graduate centre and not by a teaching department.

He dismissed allegations that the thesis was not in the library until this year, but was deposited in 2014.

Prof Nyagura said Mrs Mugabes thesis was supervised by two professors, who also supervised former Vice President Joice Mujuru.

Supervised by Professor Claude Mararike, Mrs Mugabe graduated with the Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Social Studies in September 2014.

Through their lawyer, Ms Fiona Iliff from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the lecturers said they were shocked to hear that Mrs Mugabe had been awarded a doctorate from their department when they never saw her application, acceptance letter, supervision and even awarding of the degree.

The 10 lecturers were Prof Rudo Gaidzanwa, Drs Sandra Bhatasara, Julius Musevenzi, Watch Ruparanganda, Gutsa, Mandizadza, Sadomba, Mate and Messrs Nelson Muparamoto and a T Chevo.

With regards to Professor Mararikes appointment, the lecturers alleged that he was appointed without their consultation as stipulated in the ordinance regulations.

The arrest of Prof Nyagura came after a Harare magistrate had issued a warrant empowering ZACC to search and seize all documents relevant to its probe on whether or not he corruptly awarded Mrs Mugabe the doctoral degree.

Provincial magistrate Mr Elisha Singano directed the UZ registrar or any other senior official at the institution to provide a set of relevant documents, records and articles to the investigators.

The documents ordered to be availed included Dr Mugabes pre-registration application form, her research proposal submitted to the Department of Sociology, minutes of the departmental board assigning a supervisor to Mrs Mugabe, academic certificates of her supervisor, minutes showing that the doctoral degree passed through the Academic Committee, and minutes of the UZ senate recommending to the university council the conferment of the doctorate on Mrs Mugabe.

Mr Singano directed the university to allow ZACC access to minutes of the University Council recommending to the University Chancellor the conferment of the doctorate on Mrs Mugabe, copies of progress reports at Post Graduate Centre, copies of contract of research assistant and contract of teaching assistant in respect of Mr Justice Tandire.

ZACC must also be furnished with the UZ Faculty Ordinance number 44, UZ quality assurance guidelines and benchmarks for management and supervision of higher degrees by research, General Academic Regulations for Post-Graduate Degrees of the university of Zimbabwe 1998/99 Volume 11, as well as copies of the transcript, notification and Doctor of Philosophy Degree awarded to Mrs Mugabe.

UZ has since filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court to set aside the search warrant, arguing that it was illegal.

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Related Zimbabwe Latest NewsBy Gaius Publius, a professional writer living on the West Coast of the United States and frequent contributor to DownWithTyranny, digby, Truthout, and Naked Capitalism. Follow him on Twitter @Gaius_Publius, Tumblr and Facebook. GP article archive here. Originally published at DownWithTyranny

A two-party race to the bottom (source)

As one commenter noted after reading this news, Well, that just says it all. My inner reply: Services rendered; services paid.

From The Hill (my emphasis throughout):

Obama energy secretary named to utility giants board Former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz has been tapped to serve on the board of electric utility giant Southern Co. Moniz, who served under former President Obama from 2013 to 2017, will be an independent director on the board. I have long admired Southern Company for its innovative approach to research and development within the clean energy space, and look forward to joining the board, Moniz said in a late Monday statement. Tom is an industry leader and Im eager to work with him and the entire board in helping Southern advance at a time of great change in the energy world, he said of Tom Fanning, Southerns CEO.

Its innovative approach to research and development within the clean energy space means  what? I love how cleverly they keep their profits flowing?

Or I love how nicely they reward me for service to their industry?

Perhaps the latter. The Hill again:

The company is working to build two new reactors at Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in Georgia, the only nuclear power plant currently under construction in the country. But they are years away from completion and billions of dollars over budget. The Vogtle project has benefited significantly from federal government actions, such as major Energy Department loan guarantees announced last year and Congresss decision this month to extend the eligibility dates for tax credits for newly-built nuclear plants.

Feathering his nest by irradiating yours. Thats Mr. Moniz below. If you see him on the street, feel free to say, Thank you for your service.

Obama Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz (Getty Images)

Services rendered; services paid.

Obamas Energy Secretary Is Not Alone

Other Obama alumni have taken well-paid Big Energy positions. Theres an excellent report here, from DeSmogBlog. The case of Obamas climate czar Heather Zichal is particularly galling  or telling. Obama in 2013:

Obama praises departing climate czar President Obama on Friday praised Heather Zichal, who is resigning from her post as his energy and climate czar. For more than five years, I have been fortunate to have Heather Zichal as a trusted advisor, Obama said in a statement on Friday. She crafted my energy and climate change agenda in the 2008 campaign, then again on my Presidential transition, and as my top energy and climate adviser at the White House, she has been a strong and steady voice for policies that reduce Americas dependence on foreign oil, protect public health and our environment, and combat the threat of global climate change, Obama said.

How does she combat the threat of global climate change? By cashing in her chips at the Bank of Big Energy, like Obamas Energy Secretary just did.

Obama Alums Are Pushing Fracked Gas Exports. Thats Exactly What Trump Wants. At least five of these Obama officials now work for natural gas export companies, four of them for Cheniere and another for Tellurian. Though pitched as the cleaner fossil fuel by many of these former Obama officials, the high levels of methane in natural gas carry a climate punch. Heather Zichal One of those Obama alums, former top White House climate and energy staffer Heather Zichal, now sits on the Board of Directors for Cheniere. She also recently was named managing director of corporate engagement for the environmental group The Nature Conservancy.

Keep those names in mind  The Nature Conservancy and methane giant Cheniere.

About The Nature Conservancy, Naomi Klein had this to say:

In her book This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate, Naomi Klein reveals that The Nature Conservancy actually owns an oil well in Texas and uses the financial earnings which come from it as part of its funding stream. Further, both BP and Chevron sit on The Nature Conservancys Business Council.

And about Zichal, Obama and Cheniere:

As DeSmog previously reported, White House meeting logs show that Zichal met twice with Cheniere officials in 2013 while she was working under Obama. Not only was Cheniere the first company to receive an LNG export permit from the Obama administration in 2012, it was the first to receive such a permit in over 50 years.

Working on the Cheniere Board of Directors seems to pay well: According to forms filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Zichal earned $90,000 for her service on the board in fiscal year 2016 and another $90,014 worth of stock options, for a total of about $180,000 in compensation.

Zichel is just one of several top Obama officials profiled in the report. Others include a Director of Public Affairs in the Obama Energy Department, a Coordinator for International Energy Affairs, a Chief of Staff in the Obamas Office of Fossil Energy, and several others.

Would Mainstream Democrats Risk the 2018 Election for Money?

Its really hard not to see these actions as venal. Mainstream Democrats  feathering their nest by boiling yours.

Its also hard not to see these actions as risky. Do mainstream Democrats think they wont take a hit in 2018 when they do stuff like this? Do they even care? Or do they imagine the blue wave (if it comes) will sweep them to power no matter what they do? (One could argue that Hillary Clinton risked her own election for money: Did she not know, when she gave all those Wall Street speeches, that shed start running for president two years later  and that theyd make a difference?)

Im amazed at what were witnessing. As low as the Republicans have sink  and theyve reached a decades-long Party bottom in their attempts to win absolutely for big money donors  mainstream Democrats are giving them a run for their money, a downhill run, looking for their own Party bottom.

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Rooskies. FWIW, a political scientist said his reading of Mueller indictments was that they would give the RussiaRussia! types pause because Mueller had so little after all this time.

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GunzThe Tipperary farmer who presides over ICMSA said that the credibility of the Beef Forum ultimately rests on its commitment to acting on the recommendations made at the meeting held in November 2015.

Pat McCormack said that his organisation always tried to be positive and remained convinced that there was a need for a roundtable that brought together all parties in our beef sector.

We believe that in light of the kind of challenges now directly looming up in front of us  Brexit and Mercosur, to name the two most obvious - that we absolutely have to have some forum in which we honestly analyse the problems that we all know are there and then move forward towards improvements. Put bluntly, the need for a Beef Forum that does the analysis is even more pressing now than it was when it was when it was first conceived.

But we have a situation where problems that were identified over two years ago, and on which we received commitments to act, are still on a shelf somewhere, said Mr McCormack, who farms at Greenan, near Tipp town.

A perfect example is the continued inaction on the Beef Grid which ICMSA identified as flawed and unfair to farmers on Day One of its introduction.

After the Beef Forum November 2015, the Department and then Minister Coveney committed to a fundamental review as it was obvious  even then  that the Grid was over-complex and that that the numbers hitting the top grades had inexplicably fallen.

In 2016 ICMSA produced figures that showed that between 2011 and 2015, the Grid had cost farmers at least 80 million. We have been a lonely but constant voice on this since 2011 but in the last few years it has become even more obvious that more and more farmers are dissatisfied with the Grid and the calls for a review grow louder and louder all the time. The Beef Forum now simply has to act on the knowledge it had over two years ago and move decisively to introduce that review with a clarity that will give farmers confidence that when they sell their animals on the Grid theyre going to get a fair and transparent figure.

The question of the absence of live exporters is another instance where ICMSA identified that lack and asked that they be invited to attend. Well be pursuing that as well  everyone who has a stake in the beef sector should be represented and it just wont do that there can be a perception that some people or elements have a louder voice than others, said Mr McCormack.(Natural News) In what many are now considering to be an unprecedented rollback of civil rights, Bermuda has officially become the first jurisdiction to repeal the legalization of same-sex marriage.

According to Bermudas minister of home affairs Walton Brown, the repeal legislation that was signed by Governor John Rankin will bring more balance and stability to the country. Social conservatives who oppose same-sex marriage will appreciate that the reversal means that marriage is between one man and one woman, while progressives will be satisfied with the fact that same-sex couples will still be recognized and protected under the law.

The act is intended to strike a fair balance between two currently irreconcilable groups in Bermuda, by restating that marriage must be between a male and a female while at the same time recognizing and protecting the rights of same-sex couples, explained Brown, whose own Progressive Labor Party initially proposed the repeal.

But even though Brown and Governor Rankin may have had good intentions when they supported and helped pass this repeal, LGBT civil rights groups are outraged, claiming that the repeal essentially grants same-sex couples second-class status.

Governor Rankin and the Bermuda parliament have shamefully made Bermuda the first national territory in the world to repeal marriage equality, said Ty Cobb, director of Human Rights Campaign Global. Another Bermudian, 64-year-old homosexual Joe Gibbons, said, I feel enormously disappointed. This is not equality, and the British government has obviously just said, This is not our fight.

Before the legislation passed, Labor MP Chris Bryant criticized the bill during a debate in the UKs House of Commons, calling it a deeply unpleasant and very cynical piece of legislation. Bryant later tweeted that the repeal would undermine [the] UK effort to advance LGBT rights.

Although the half dozen same-sex marriages that took place in Bermuda between the May of 2017 and the repeal will continue to be recognized, homosexual couples looking to take the next step in their relationship from this point forward will only have the option of registering as a domestic partnership. (Related: Begging the government for a license to marry isnt freedom; its enslavement to big brother.)

Truthfully, the outrage being expressed by Bermudians and members of Britains LGBT community alike shouldnt come as a surprise. According to a 2016 survey, British people, especially Christians, are beginning to become more accepting towards not only same-sex marriage, but also the act of getting an abortion, pornography and having sex before marriage.

More specifically, 64 percent of the public in the United Kingdom now say that same-sex relationships are not wrong at all, which is up from 57 percent back in 2013. With regards to same-sex marriage, roughly 75 percent of Brits believe that it is not wrong at all, up from 42 percent from back when the question was first asked in the year 1983. Furthermore, 70 percent of Brits feel that abortion should be allowed for women who dont want to have a child. What was most shocking about this survey, though, is that the majority of British Christians were following these trends.

This is a clear sign that the UK as a whole is becoming much less traditional than it once was, and certainly explains why there has been so much backlash over the repeal of same-sex marriage in Bermuda. (Related: Why is it that the same corporations that support gay marriage also support baby chop shops that harvest organs for profit?)

America is much less traditional than it once was as well, which, to many conservatives living in the country, isnt a good sign. While its important to strive to create a world of peace and tolerance, there are also certain traditions and deeply-rooted beliefs that are worth hanging on to.

Sources include:

TheGaurdian.com

Breitbart.com(Natural News) You may have noticed that I have a Twitter account, but you may also notice something else about it: I dont use it much.

Outside of making a few comments and observations here and there, my Twitter account is primarily for the distribution of stories from The National Sentinel where I serve as editor-in-chief. For that reason alone, you might want to consider following me (shameless plug).

But the reason I dont use Twitter for much else is because overall it is nothing more than a cultural sewer  a place for people to say things to each other mostly anonymously that they would never say to another persons face (out of humility or, in most cases, fear of physical reprisals). Its no wonder its the most popular social media site in the world that cant seem to make any money.

Case in point: President Donald J. Trumps daughter-in-law, Vanessa Trump, wife of his son Don Jr., had a scare earlier this week after some deranged Alt-Left sicko mailed her an envelope full of white powder. (Related: Washington Post, CNN, NPR, PBS all praise murderous North Korea and its slave state leaders.)

I reported earlier:

On Monday, officials said, Vanessa Trump was opening mail at her East 54th Street apartment in New York City when she found one of them laced with what has so far been reported as a nonharmful white powder.

As reported by a local NBC affiliate, the unidentified powder was determined not to be hazardous but was nonetheless sent in for additional laboratory analysis, according to a spokesman from the NYPD.

Its not clear who sent the envelope, but it was postmarked from Boston, according to a senior law enforcement official, the site noted further.

Trump, 40, opened the letter Monday morning. After discovering the powder, she reportedly became nauseated and began coughing, forcing her to call 911. Emergency personnel decontaminated her and, most likely her apartment, on the scene as a precaution.

Turns out everything was okay, but this wasnt the first time the Trump family has been targeted like this. In March 2016 police and FBI agents opened an investigation after Don Jr.s brother Eric received a letter that also contained a white powder that turned out to be harmless. Other envelopes containing white powder were also sent to Trump Tower, where the president had his campaign HQ, twice in 2016.

This is beyond sick  its threatening, and its wrong, and whoever is doing it should be found, arrested, and forced to explain just what is meant by the symbolism of sending white powder through the mail to the presidents family.

How does Twitter factor into this? As you already know, our president is a huge fan of Twitter, but he uses it to talk directly to the American people, without having his comments altered out of context by a disgustingly dishonest mainstream media. The president very often is the target of savage, cruel, unbelievably unhinged attacks on that social platform.

That might  might  be otherwise acceptable given our presidents often frank, coarse tone. But his daughter-in-law doesnt deserve to be attacked or belittled for being threatened, and yet one liberal pinhead after another did so following reports of her mail incident.

As noted by The Gateway Pundit, one Huffington Post contributor suggested the white powder was cocaine, the implication being that Don Jr. and Vanessa  parents of five with a direct line to the White House  are coke heads (wasnt it Obama who admitted to smoking dope?).

Huffington Post contributor says white powder that hospitalized Donald Trump Jr.'s wife was a cover-up for a coke binge. Totally deranged. pic.twitter.com/E3vrpi6kNg  Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) February 12, 2018

There are other ignorant, uncaring, and flat-out cynical responses and you can read them here, but the point remains the same: Twitter is a sewer, which is why it is a favorite attack tool of the Left because thats where they live their lives.

J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for NaturalNews.com and NewsTarget.com, as well as editor of The National Sentinel.

Sources include:

TheGatewayPundit.com

NewsTarget.comUp to a minute before the 7.2 earthquake shook southern Mexico Friday afternoon, millions of people 225 miles north of the capital were alerted. Sirens alarmed and phones vibrated warning them of impending shaking allowing many to evacuate.

The early warning system there has been in place since the 90s, but California still does not have a widely used public system like it.

Researchers at the Berkeley Seismology Lab say its difficult to compare the two areas. Mexico City is hundreds of miles from its most active fault while the Bay Area sits on top of its most active fault.

ShakeAlert Regional Coordinator Jennifer Strauss says the early warning system in Mexico can receive information, and disseminate it 10 seconds later to still give people a minutes notice in the capital. That technology would be too slow for the Bay Area, because we may only have 10-second warnings to begin with due to the faults proximity.

Right now we don't have the infrastructure to send alerts to every single person living on the west coast of the United States instantaneously, Strauss said.

Strauss says there are two main issues with getting the ShakeAlert early warning system up and running: funding and infrastructure. She says operational costs of running the system after its online is $16 million a year. Congress is working on funding the program. Researchers also only have about half of the earthquake monitors they need up and down the West Coast.

Still, Strauss says the early warning system is being used in some school districts, healthcare facilities, and emergency operations centers. Its also used by BART, so a train could be stopped seconds before shaking begins.

We feel those have the biggest impacts for the public and for resiliency and recovery, Strauss said.

Researchers say phones still need to be updated to receive the alerts once the system is online.

Because of those factors, they expect itll take another three to seven years until Californians get alerted like the people of Mexico did Friday.Police in San Francisco have detained a person of interest Saturday in connection with a deadly shooting that occurred Friday night near Golden Gate Park's Panhandle area.

As officers were trying to apprehend the person of interest, they were involved in an officer-involved shooting, police said.

There were no reported injuries in the officer-involved, police said.

Police have not released the identity of the person of interest.

On Friday at 6:28 p.m., officers with the San Francisco Police Department responded to Oak and Stanyan streets on a report of a shooting.

Responding officers located two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.

One victim died, and the other is being treated for life-threatening injuries, according to police.

No other information about the victims was immediately available.

Police said it appears there was an argument between a group of people when a man shot the two victims.

The suspect fled the scene on foot to Fell Street, used the gun to carjack a vehicle and then fled the area.

This morning at 12:13 a.m., officers located the stolen vehicle on Alameda Street near De Haro Street.

The vehicle was unoccupied, but it was parked behind a recreational vehicle that was occupied, police said.

Police made contact with the occupants, and several people exited the vehicle, but one person remained inside.

Officers made contact with the person inside, and an officer-involved shooting occurred.

The officers established a perimeter around the vehicle, and a Tactical Unit and Crisis/Hostage Negotiation Team responded to the scene.

At approximately 2:20 a.m., the occupant of the vehicle exited the vehicle, was taken into custody and transported to the hospital for evaluation.

Police said the occupant in the recreational vehicle is the person of interest in the Friday night homicide and carjacking.

The police department will hold a town hall meeting in the coming days regarding the officer-involved shooting.

The incident is being investigated by the SFPD Homicide Detail, The San Francisco District Attorney's Office, the Department of Police Accountability and the SFPD Internal Affairs Unit.Have you seen this man?

San Francisco police officials are asking for the publics help in finding 45-year-old Harlon Foss who is suspected to be in connection with the murder of his grandparents in Oklahoma.

Foss was last seen in the city in January and officials believe he may be in hiding near one of the citys most popular tourist spots.

In November 2017, Macintosh County officials in Oklahoma reported that a jogger found the bodies of an 81-year-old and an 84-year-old woman. Oklahoma investigators later identified the bodies as Virgil and Rowena Ingram, the grandparents of Foss.

Officials have not been able to locate Foss since he was first asked into questioning regarding the murder of his grandparents.

Authorities believe Foss to be driving a white late model Oldsmobile and is considered to be armed and dangerous.An unfortunate ending came Friday night for a wild turkey that has become a fixture on the VFW parkway in Boston's West Roxbury neighborhood.

He became so famous for the way he would fight cars and tie up traffic that neighbors have even named him "Larry."

But the infamous turkey was finally hit and killed by a car around 7:15 pm.

"With all that snow we had, he was forced out into the middle of the road, I thought that was going to be the time, he survived that. I thought he had it in him to make it through. He didn't," said Hanna Griffiths, who lives in the area and became attached to Larry.

For months now, Larry has caused traffic jams at the intersection of VFW parkway and Baker Street.

He's pecked at cars, tried to fight his reflection, walked in the middle of the road, and had what neighbors call "gumption."

"I spent about a half hour there and he was fighting traffic. I come back and he's still doing the same thing," said one neighbor.

Friday, crews tried to catch Larry without success. Neighbors wanted him relocated for everyone's safety.

"It's really sad, especially on the day that he had been approved for relocation and they were trying to remove him," said Griffiths. "That's the day he met his demise, after all this time."

Now, some in West Roxbury are looking to give Larry a proper burial.Thousands descended on Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood Saturday morning from across the city and around the country to say their final goodbyes to fallen police Cmdr. Paul Bauer and remember his kindness, heroism and selfless service.



"Paul, Im going to miss you," said Supt. Eddie Johnson, moved to tears during his message to the church. "I know youre looking down on us all, and while there are no words I can say to describe the depth of my gratitude, I just want to say thank you."



"Paul always did more than what was asked, and he did so with honor and humility for 31 years in the Chicago Police Department," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. "Yet the true measure of his devotion cannot be counted in years, it can only be counted by lives he touched."



Nativity of Our Lord Church "swelled to capacity" for Bauer's funeral with more than 300 out-of-town police departments represented and the entire 18th District arriving "to lay their beloved Commander to rest."

Cmdr. Bauer was shot to death Tuesday afternoon while assisting a tactical team in apprehending a suspicious person at the Thompson Center. His death has been ruled a homicide, and a suspect was charged in the murder.



"Even as commander, he would never expect one of his officers to do something that he didn't do himself," Fr. Dan Brandt said. "Like pursuing fleeing and armed criminals. And of course Tuesday that brave show of humility is what cost him his life."

Bauer's death marked an immediate outpouring of love and remembrance.



A procession of police and fire officials Tuesday evening stretched from Northwestern Memorial Hospital, through the city, to the Medical Examiner's Office. Chicago's downtown buildings were lit blue in his honor. Hours before Bauer's wake began Friday afternoon, Chicagoans lined up outside the church to pay their respects. The line spanned four city blocks late into the night.



Johnson on Saturday made a vow to Chicago and to Bauer's family.



"Paul didnt just run toward the danger. He ran into it," Johnson said. "And because of that he made the ultimate sacrifice. His sacrifice wasnt in vain and justice will be served."



"This department and this city, Erin and Grace, will be forever in your debt," he said, addressing Bauer's wife and daughter. "And long after the commotion subsides and everyone goes back to their parts of the country, we will still be there for you."



Gov. Bruce Rauner said he imagines Bauer "is smiling" to see his family "surrounded by family, surrounded by friends, surrounded by the entire community, all of us who love you."



Rauner thanked all police officers, saying "there is no more noble profession, there is no higher calling than to be a police officer."



"Today, all of us our blue," Rauner said. "We are blue in part because we are sad, we are broken-hearted to lose such a heroic man. But more importantly we are blue because we are proud. We are proud of the courage and the honor and the integrity of our police officers across Chicago and across the state of Illinois."



A common thread throughout the morning's speeches was Bauer's sincere selflessness.



"He wasnt just on our side, he was on the side of the men and women on the 18th District," Johnson said. "He was so proud of you all that whenever we would see each other, and Im telling you Paul would go on and on and on and on and on and on and on."

First Deputy Superintendent John Escalante, friends with Bauer since childhood, also noted during the service how Bauer often deflected attention from himself to others.



"As much as Paul would appreciate what were doing here for him today, theres a part of Paul that would be a little annoyed by it too because he never ever wanted to be the center of attention," Escalante said. "He actually skipped out on his own promotion ceremony to command."

"I beg that you remember Paul Bauer not by the way he died, but rather by the way he lived," Fr. Brandt said.



A funeral procession will begin west from the church in the 600 block of West 37th Street, then head south on Halsted, east on Pershing to I-90/94E, then to I-57 south to 111th Street to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery on 111th in Alsip.

"The healing process starts today for CPD as well as the family," Supt. Johnson said, "and this is going to be a difficult two days, but we can get through it. I thank you for your support."

A 14-year-old boy was wounded in a drive-by shooting early Friday in the Wicker Park neighborhood on the North Side.

The boy was walking about 12:45 a.m. in the 1700 block of West Beach when someone in a passing black vehicle opened fire, according to Chicago Police.

He suffered a gunshot wound to the back and was taken to Stoger Hospital, where his condition stabilized, police said.

No one was in custody as Area North detectives investigated the shooting.Late night TV host Jimmy Kimmel made an impassioned plea Thursday for President Donald Trump to do more to prevent gun violence in the wake of the latest most recent school shooting, which took the lives of 17 at a Florida high school.

Kimmel's eyes teared up and his voice cracked as he condemned Trump for offering "thoughts and prayers" instead of taking action to prevent gun violence.

You still havent done anything, nothing, youve literally done nothing, Kimmel said. Actually, youve done worse than nothing.

Kimmel also criticized some members of Congress for rehearsed responses to mass shootings that blame the mental health of the gunmen rather than the weapons they use.

"You like to say this is a mental health issue, but one of your very first acts as president, Mr. Trump, was to actually roll back the regulations that were designed to keep firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill. You did that. Your party voted to repeal the mandates on coverage for mental health. So, I agree, this is a mental illness issue because if you dont agree we need to do something about it, youre obviously mentally ill.

Kimmel was referring to a bill Trump signed last February that, as NBC News reported, rolled back an Obama-era regulation that would have added about 75,000 people to the national gun background check database to make it harder for people with mental illness buy a gun.



In an address to the nation, President Donald Trump offered his condolences to the victims of the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Kimmel called out lawmakers backed by the NRA, saying, "Were not gonna allow you to bow your head in prayer for two weeks until you get an all-clear and we move on to the next thing.

Kimmel urged viewers to call their representatives and visit everytown.org, a nonprofit group that advocates for gun control.Connecticut reacted swiftly in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting to start working on ways to prevent future tragedies.

One of the key elements was having a commission establish standards for how schools are built, designed and renovated in order to be safe from a possible intruder.

Those recommendations were in addition to some of the strictest gun ownership and purchasing laws in the country, which included banning certain weapons.

The standards, adopted in 2014, established that schools needed to limit how people could enter the school and provided specific instructions for the construction of vestibules that needed to be closed to the public.

The standards also created guidelines for the use of closed-circuit surveillance cameras on school grounds.

Gov. Dannel Malloy said on Friday that those laws have kept students, staff and faculty safe since the Sandy Hook shooting, and implored other states to adopt similar standards.

"There are some states that have followed our lead, and there are other states that refuse to make their citizens safer," Malloy said.

Some towns, like East Haven, are considering having police remain on patrol on school grounds for the foreseeable future, something Malloy said is something that should be decided by individual communities.

"We dont run peoples decision making in that regard. I think that has been left to local governments," Malloy said.More than 1,000 overdose deaths were reported last year in Connecticut, according to the state's chief medical examiner.

Over the last five years, accidental drug deaths have increased nearly 290 percent since 2012, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) testified at a joint committee hearing on Thursday.

In February 2017, OCME said it lost its full national accreditation because it did not have the sufficient amount of staff to handle the increasing number of autopsies the office needs to perform annually.

"This results in medical examiners (MEs) performing more than 325 autopsies a year. Our office had no choice but to work beyond professional standards for the past three years and hope that the autopsy would decrease," Chief Medical Examiner Dr. James Gill said on Thursday. "They have not decreased."

State officials said the majority of these deaths are due to opioid abuse. An OCME preliminary report found that 917 people died from accidental intoxication in 2016 and roughly 1,040 people in 2017. Only 357 overdose deaths were reported in 2012.

More specifically, the number of accidental intoxication deaths caused by fentanyl jumped from 14 people in 2012 to 675 people in 2017, a 12 percent increase from 2016.

The number of opioid-related autopsies the OCME had to perform in 2017 made up more than 44 percent of all autopsies the office had to perform.

"Over the past three years, we have seen a peaking and now leveling-off of autopsies. This increased work level has become our new baseline. In order to become fully re-accredited, we need to balance the number of medical examiners and autopsies," Gill said.

Gill said the Connecticut OCME office will be re-evaluated by the Nationa Association of Medical Examiners in the fall. He said the office is working towards hiring another medical examiner, in addition to correcting any other deficiencies.

He said the accreditation is important to instill confidence in those the office serves.

"Our loss of full accreditation already has been raised at criminal trials in attempts to impeach our work," Gill said.

In February 2016, the United States Attorneys Office and the DEA developed a statewide initiative in Connecticut to combat the crisis, including a protocol for investigating fentanyl overdoses.

Across the United States, fentanyl-related overdoses and deaths are increasing with approximately 8 percent fentanyl-related deaths in 2010 to more than 18 percent in 2015.West Hartford celebrated the Lunar New Year on Friday.

February 16 marks the beginning of the 2018 Lunar New Year, which is the year of the dog.

The Lunar, or often referred to as Chinese New Year, is a big holiday for many Asian-American families seeking health and prosperity.

In West Hartford and around the world, the celebration tends to revolve around food.

Sonny Chen, the owner of Black Bamboo in West Hartford, said he moved to the United States from China when he was seven years old.

For Lunar New Year, Chen sticks to the staples: dumplings and noodles. Dumplings symbolize good health and fortune, while noodles represent a long life.

"Weve already done a bunch of catering for [some schools]," Chen said. "You dont have to be Chinese to celebrate Chinese New Year. I think everyone, especially in the school system, [are] trying to participate in it."

Cities like Boston and New York plan to host Lunar New Year parades over the weekend. According to U.S. census data, Connecticut has roughly 11,000 Eastern Asian immigrants, mostly living in Fairfield and New Haven counties.What started as a father's grassroots effort to prevent delays in reaching emergency help, has resulted in a new law signed Friday by President Donald Trump.

Surrounded by the family of Kari Rene Hunt in the Oval Office, President Trump signed the bill known as 'Kari's Law.' The law, named in honor of Kari Hunt, ensures better, more direct access to 9-1-1.

The law was the mission of Kari's father, Hank, who set out after his daughter's death to make sure no extra digits were needed in reaching 9-1-1. Kari was stabbed to death by her estranged husband in a Marshall, Texas hotel room in 2013. Her daughter was in the room at the time and tried dialing 9-1-1 repeatedly for help, but did not know an extra '9' was needed to reach an outside line.

Hank Hunt's efforts started as a simple online petition and grew into state laws being passed in at least four states, including his home state of Texas. Legislation was passed on the state level in Illinois, Maryland, Tennessee and in the Hunt's home state of Texas. The Texas law passed in 2015, with Kari's daughter receiving the pen Governor Greg Abbott used to sign the bill, in honor of her mother.

Bipartisan legislation was introduced on the national level by U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, resulting in the bill that was signed by the President on Friday.

Although this law will not reverse the heartbreaking loss of Kari Rene Hunt and all the horrors of that day, her legacy will now live on and safeguard others from experiencing a situation of this magnitude, Rep. Gohmert said. Today is monumental -- no longer should a child, or anyone for that matter, pick up the phone to call for help and get nothing.In the wake of the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida, there are renewed calls for a focus on mental health.

Friday night, NBC 5 rode along with a new unit from the Fort Worth Police Department that is working to identify potential threats, to get those with mental illness the help they need and to prevent the next mass tragedy.

In an open office, in Fort Worth's central district, you'll find six officers who hit the streets every day with a huge job.

"Of course the goal is to prevent Columbine," said Officer Landon Rollins, of the department's new Mental Health Crisis Intervention Team.

The unit is tasked with tracking people with a known mental health history who could become a threat. They do home visits to make sure mental health patients are going to the doctor and taking their medications.

"How much did you sleep last night?" Rollins asked a woman on one recent visit.

The officers follow each case closely.

"The line is when she's a danger to herself or others," Rollins said.

It can be a hard line to find. But at least now Fort Worth police has a team dedicated to looking for the signs.

"We don't know if we succeed," Rollins said. "I don't know if we're going to keep somebody from shooting up a school or a church, which is great, that's what we want."

The unit can confiscate weapons when someone is clearly in mental crisis. In one recent case, they took 39 guns from one home.

"Rifles, shotguns, pistols, it was everything," Rollins said. "So that's a concern for us, because if he hits that breaking point, which every human being has, he's ready for war."

They're protecting the public and getting help to some very sick people, like a known paranoid schizophrenic who thinks his neighbors are out to get him and wants to confront them.

"We're going to go back and talk to the doctor. You're not in any trouble," Rollins told the man.

Instead of arresting people, they can take them directly to John Peter Smith Hospital for mental health treatment, filling a need the average beat cop can't.

At the end of the day they know they can't reach everyone.

"But I feel that this is a very important job that every department needs," Rollins said.

Since forming in September, the Crisis Intervention Team has responded to more than 2,300 calls, including 744 follow-ups, 122 suicide attempts and 35 welfare checks.

In 2016 and 2017, Fort Worth police answered 9,443 calls for service involving suicide attempts or people showing signs of mental crisis. In the past there was no police follow-up after a person was mentally detained, unless criminal charges were pending.

The team takes referrals from every other unit in the department asking to track people that concern them. Due to the high demand, they're hoping to double the unit's size from six to 12 officers.In the wake of another school shooting, there is more heartbreak and many questions.

The 19-year-old charged with killing 17 people at a Parkland, Florida, school had a "very disturbing" social media presence, according to Broward County authorities, as reported by NBC News.

Nikolas Cruz's social media actions are being investigated as communities around the country take stock of their own understanding of potential warning signs.

James Hawthorne, chief of police at the Cedar Hill ISD police department, says that locally school district police departments can monitor social media for signs of criminal activity and violence. The technology, however, has limitations and can't catch everything.

Hawthorne says his best intelligence comes from people who recognize and report warning signs.

"I always say the best way to have some impact in that is through the relationships we have every day with the students and the administrators and the staff at the schools," Hawthorne said.

Social media activity he wants to know about include signs that a student is fascinated with death or violence, either toward people or animals. If a student is associating with violent groups like white supremacists, he would like to investigate further.

A social media post alone isn't proof of a problem, but Hawthorne says it should prompt more investigation to find out if the student is also demonstrating behavioral problems.

"We will check things out, and there are times and occasions when things come out of that [you think] thank God somebody called in," Hawthorne said. "Somebody saw something that looked out of place, and that's the piece of information we needed in order to get this person help, or it's just the piece of information we needed to intervene in a situation that could have had heavier consequences later on."

Dr. John Jeffrey, a North Texas clinical psychologist, adds that he advises adults to be on the lookout for signs of despair, or hopelessness from a young person. He says giving up on the future or disregarding rules and other people are behavioral warning signs.

Parents should make a call to a school official or police if there is a known threat of violence and communicate with other parents to ensure accountability.

"Everybody needs to share the responsibility. Let's all be contacting school officials," Jeffrey said. "Make sure that we know everybody is aware of this and let's move on this quickly."

"We want to keep the equation simple. If a young person has made a threat and someone is not sure if they were serious or if there's a real threat there, we have to err on the side of safety," Jeffrey said.A military helicopter carrying officials assessing damage from a powerful earthquake near Pinotepa Nacional in southern Mexico crashed Friday, killing 13 people and injuring 15, all of them on the ground.

The Oaxaca state prosecutor's office said in a statement that five women, four men and three children were killed at the crash site and another person died later at the hospital.

A state government official who was not authorized to be quoted by name said the chopper crashed into a group of people who had been spending the night in an open field after a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the area. Aftershocks had caused people to flee their homes for fear they would collapse.

The Defense Department said the Blackhawk helicopter suffered the mishap when it was preparing to land on a vacant lot in the city of Jamiltepec, about 19 miles from the area of Pinotepa Nacional. The craft was carrying Interior Secretary Alfonso Navarrete Prida and Oaxaca Gov. Alejandro Murat, neither of whom had serious injuries.

Navarrete Prida suffered "slight concussions," according to a tweet by the Interior Ministry.

The accident was the latest embarrassment in Navarrete's short term at the Interior Department, which oversees most political and security issues. Earlier this month, an intelligence agent from an agency overseen by Navarrete's department was caught tailing an opposition presidential candidate.

Both Navarrete and the defense department said they regretted the loss of life in Friday's accident.

Jorge Morales, a local reporter who was aboard the helicopter when it crashed, described harrowing moments as the pilot lost control and the helicopter attempted to land in a swirl of dust.

"The moment the helicopter touched down it lost control, it slid-- like it skidded-- and it hit some vehicles that were stationed in the area," he told a Mexican television news program. "In that moment, you couldn't see anything, nothing else was heard beside the sound that iron makes when it scrapes the earth."

Navarrete and Murat were evaluating reports of damage from the earthquake before their helicopter crashed.

The U.S. Geological Survey originally put the magnitude of Friday's quake at 7.5 but later lowered it to 7.2. It said the epicenter was 33 miles (53 kilometers) northeast of Pinotepa in southern Oaxaca state and had a depth of 15 miles (24 kilometers).

President Enrique Pena Nieto said via Twitter that both officials and crew were fine, although the interior department said that they had light injuries.

--Telemundo contributed to this story.A federal grand jury's indictment of 13 Russians and three Russian companies for alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election mentions several Texas connections.

Special counsel Robert Mueller announced the grand jury's decision Friday. The indictment claims the defendants allegedly worked to discredit then-Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign while boosting Republican Donald Trump.

The indictment names a Facebook page called "Heart of Texas," which has since been taken down. It alleges the page was aimed at Texans, but started by Russians.

"I believe it was the second most popular Russian Facebook page we've seen. It has about a quarter of a million followers," said Casey Michel, a contributor to the progressive online news site, Think Progress.

A federal grand jury's indictment of 13 Russians and three Russian companies for alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election mentions several Texas connections.

In October, Michel wrote an article for The Washington Post that outlined how Russians pretended to be Texans on Facebook, and a lot of real Texans believed it.

"It has kind of a two-dimensional understanding of what Texas was," Michel said of the "Heart of Texas" page. "Everyone drove big trucks, drinks Dr Pepper at all hours, and hated vegetarians."

He said the "Heart of Texas" stirred the pot of discontent, organizing anti-Islamic rallies in cities like Houston.

The president of the Texas Nationalist Movement, a succession group, told NBC 5 a volunteer from "Heart of Texas" reached out to try to include them in a rally, but something seemed "off" and the TNM declined.

Former federal prosecutor Matt Orwig talks about the extraordinary indictment released Friday, the U.S. special counsel accused 13 Russians Friday of an elaborate plot to disrupt the 2016 presidential election.

There is a "Texas-based grass roots organization" mentioned in the indictment, but the TNM says it is not a reference to them. Friday they issued a statement "calling on Mueller and the Department of Justice to specifically name the organization."

The indictment also alleges that the Russians were attempting to disseminate negative information about Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who campaigned against Trump in the primaries.

Cruz was one of the last Republicans to drop out of the race before Trump became the Republican nominee.

A section of the indictment says they "engaged in operations primarily to communicate derogatory information about Hillary Clinton, to denigrate other candidates such as Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, and to support Bernie Sanders and then candidate Donald Trump."

NBC 5 reached out to Cruz's office on Friday for comment on the indictment, but we have not heard back.

Two of the Russians indicted Friday came through Texas in 2014, prosecutors say.

In 2016, they allegedly communicated with someone affiliated with a Texas grassroots organization, although we don't know which one. The indictment claims the person told them to focus their efforts on so-called "purple states" that could be swayed toward either Clinton or Trump  states like Florida and Virginia.

The names of those who may have been in contact with the accused Russians were not disclosed, and the indictment says the person in Texas didn't know he or she was even communicating with the Russians.Friday's election-interference indictment brought by Robert Mueller, the U.S. special counsel, underscores how thoroughly social-media companies like Facebook and Twitter were played by Russian propagandists.

And it's not clear if the companies have taken sufficient action to prevent something similar from happening again.

Thirteen Russians, including a businessman close to Vladimir Putin, were charged Friday in a plot to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election through social media propaganda. The indictment said the Russians' conspiracy aimed, in part, to help Republican Donald Trump and harm the prospects of his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.

The alleged scheme was run by the Internet Research Agency, a troll farm based in St. Petersburg, Russia, which used bogus social media postings and advertisements fraudulently purchased in the name of Americans to try to influence the White House race.

"I created all these pictures and posts, and the Americans believed that it was written by their people," wrote one of the defendants, Irina Kaverzina, in an email to a family member obtained by investigators.

Tech companies have spent months pledging to fix their platforms ahead of the upcoming midterm elections this year, and reiterated those promises Friday. Twitter said in a Friday night statement it is "committed to addressing, mitigating, and ultimately preventing any future attempts to interfere in elections and the democratic process, and to doing so in the most transparent way possible." Facebook thanked U.S. investigators for taking "aggressive action" and pointed out its own role in helping the investigation.

Researchers, however, noted that the companies' business incentives don't necessarily align with improved security and anti-hoaxing measures that might have frustrated Russian agents.

"I've never been convinced that these sites are motivated to fix a problem like this," said Notre Dame business professor Timothy Carone, who added that security controls make it harder for sites like Facebook to offer users new features and keep advertisers happy. "It's a really, really, really difficult problem."

The indictment confirms earlier findings from congressional investigations that Russian agents manipulated social media to promote social division by mimicking grassroots political activity. It also underscores that the problem wasn't just "bots"  i.e., automated social-media accounts  but human conspirators who fine-tuned propaganda and built online relationships with American activists.

"The idea wasn't necessarily to help one political party over another, but to sow as much discord as possible," said Melissa Ryan, a Democratic social media marketing expert who now keeps track of right-wing online activity. "This was America that was attacked."

The Russians, according to the indictment, created group pages on social media platforms to address certain demographics and hot topics in the U.S. Names for the group pages included "Secured Borders," "Blacktivist," "United Muslims of America," "Army of Jesus," "South United" and "Heart of Texas." These groups had garnered a following of hundreds of thousands of users by 2016.

At one point in September 2016, the person operating "Secured Borders" was criticized in an internal review for having a "low number of posts dedicated to criticizing Hillary Clinton."

And those operating "United Muslims of America" were encouraged to post anti-voting messages, with language such as, "American Muslims [are] boycotting elections today, most of the American Muslim voters refuse to vote for Hillary Clinton because she wants to continue the war on Muslims in the middle east and voted yes for invading Iraq."

That group also promoted a rally called "Support Hillary. Save American Muslims" in July 2016 in DC and "recruited a real US person to hold a sign depicting Clinton and a quote attributed to her stating 'I think Sharia Law will be a powerful new direction of freedom.'"

On Twitter, the conspirators created the "Tennessee GOP" account with the handle @TEN_GOP, pretending it was operated by a state political party. This account eventually surpassed 100,000 followers.

Social media companies weren't the only ones subverted in the influence campaign. Federal prosecutors allege that Russian criminals used PayPal as a primary conduit to transfer money for general expenses and to buy Facebook ads aimed at influencing voters. Prosecutors say the accounts were opened using fake identities to help bypass PayPal's security measures.

PayPal spokesman Justin Higgs said the San Jose, California, company has been cooperating with the Justice Department and is "intensely focused on combatting and preventing the illicit use" of its services.

Email servers Yahoo, Gmail and Outlook were also caught up in the scheme. The fraudulent bank accounts used to open the PayPal accounts were acquired with creative email addresses. Some of the addresses included usernames like "wokeaztec," "allforusa," "unitedvetsofamerica," "patriotsus," "staceyredneck" and "ihatecrime1."

In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Facebook Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer outlined the complexity of preventing abuse.

"Election integrity is challenging because again, you're dealing with adversaries," Schroepfer said during a conference in Half Moon Bay, California. "They are trying to accomplish a goal and they have smart people who are trying to figure out their way into the system to accomplish that."

For instance, infiltrators often react immediately to countermeasures. If they figure out Facebook is checking the internet addresses of computers to identify visitors from particular countries, Schroepfer said, "they'll take over a machine with malware in the U.S. and post from there instead. People say, 'Why don't you just check the currency or the IP address?' And as soon as you do that, literally that afternoon, they will change tactics."

Schroepfer said the company is making "good headway" on the problem, although he declined to give specifics. "By kind of doing a lot better job of trying to figure out the authenticity of these different actors, we can certainly stop that sort of behavior," he said. "There's a big focus on that."

On the other hand, now that the Russians have shown how this sort of campaign is done, the door is open for others  including American special interest groups  to use the same tactics to target disaffected voters in the right places, said David Gerzof Richard, a communications professor at Emerson College.

"This is the new norm," he said. "It's not going away. It's not going to be magically fixed by a Silicon Valley CEO or a group of executives saying they're going to do better."

AP Technology Writer Ryan Nakashima contributed to this report.What to Know Just last month, a person close to accused gunman Nikolas Cruz contacted the FBI's Public Access Line to report concerns about him

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has called for the FBI director to resign

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ordered Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to conduct a review of the DOJ and FBI's processes

The massacre at a Florida high school is again raising concerns about whether the FBI missed signs that might have stopped a mass shooting, amid an admission that the agency received a tip about the alleged shooter that wasn't properly investigated.

Just last month, a person close to accused gunman Nikolas Cruz contacted the FBI's Public Access Line to report concerns about him, according to a statement released by the FBI Friday.

"The caller provided information about Cruzs gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting," the FBI statement said.

According to the FBI, the information should have been assessed as "a potential threat to life" and should have been forwarded to the FBI Miami field office where it would have been investigated, but those protocols weren't followed.

"We are still investigating the facts. I am committed to getting to the bottom of what happened in this particular matter, as well as reviewing our processes for responding to information that we receive from the public. Its up to all Americans to be vigilant, and when members of the public contact us with concerns, we must act properly and quickly," FBI Director Christopher Wray said in the statement. "We have spoken with victims and families, and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy. All of the men and women of the FBI are dedicated to keeping the American people safe, and are relentlessly committed to improving all that we do and how we do it."

Florida Gov. Rick Scott called for Wray to resign Friday over the FBI's inaction. "Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isnt going to cut it. An apology will never bring these 17 Floridians back to life or comfort the families who are in pain," Scott said in a statement.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he has ordered Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to conduct a review of the Department of Justice and FBI's processes used to respond to potential violence.

"This includes more than just an error review but also a review of how we respond. This will include possible consultation with family members, mental health officials, school officials, and local law enforcement," Sessions said.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said it was "inexcusable" that the FBI failed to act.

Rubio said in a statement: "Lawmakers and law enforcement personnel constantly remind the public that 'if you see something, say something.' In this tragic case, people close to the shooter said something, and our system utterly failed the families of seventeen innocent souls."

At a news conference Friday, Robert Lasky, special agent in charge of the FBI's Miami Division, said they're still investigating.

"On behalf of myself and over one thousand employees of the Miami field office, we truly regret any additional pain that this has caused," Lasky said. "The men and women who work for the miami field office are part of this community, we walk the same streets our children attend the same schools, to include Stoneman Douglas."

At the same news conference, Broward Sheriff Scott Israel said the department had received about 20 "calls for service" about Cruz over the past few years. Isreal didn't go into the specifics of the calls but said they are being investigated.

"Everyone one of these calls for service will be looked at and scrutinized," Israel said. "If we find out, like in any investigation, that one of our deputies or calltakers could have done something better or was remiss, I'll handle it accordingly."



On Thursday, President Donald Trump urged Americans to report suspicious activity "again and again!"

"So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!" he tweeted.

The FBI had already been under intense scrutiny and faced unprecedented attack from Trump and some congressional Republicans who have seized on what they say are signs of anti-Trump bias, particularly as it relates to special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe.

The news of the phoned-in tip comes after it was learned that last fall, a Mississippi bail bondsman and video blogger noticed a comment on one of his YouTube videos that said, "I'm going to be a professional school shooter." He immediately reported it to YouTube and the FBI and the next day two agents came to his office to take a printout of the comment and ask him whether he knew anything about the person who posted it.

Although the commenter's username was "Nikolas Cruz"  the same name as the 19-year-old man who authorities say killed 17 people at his former high school on Wednesday  the FBI couldn't identify the poster, Lasky said Thursday.

Federal agents interviewed the man who reported the comment and searched public records databases, actions in line with those done during an FBI assessment  the lowest level, least intrusive and most elementary stage of an FBI inquiry  but came up short. The FBI says it still hasn't conclusively linked the account to the alleged shooter.

Cruz allegedly walked into his former high school in Florida with an AR-15 rifle on Wednesday and opened fire, shooting at students and teachers in hallways and on school grounds.

At Friday's news conference, Israel said despite earlier reports, the suspect never had a gas mask or smoke grenades but did have a facemask with eye slits. Isreal said seven people still remained hospitalized.

It was the latest attack to raise questions about whether people who once caught the attention of law enforcement should have remained on the FBI's radar. In the last two years, a man who massacred 49 people at an Orlando nightclub, another who set off bombs in the streets of New York City and a third who gunned down travelers at a Florida airport, had each been looked at by federal agents but later determined not to warrant continued law enforcement scrutiny.

FBI assessments are routinely opened after agents receive a tip, which could be sparked by something as simple as noticing odd activity in a neighbor's garage or a classmate's comments. Agents routinely face a challenge of sifting through which of the tens of thousands of tips received every year  and more than 10,000 assessments that are opened  could yield a viable threat.

Had agents been able to confirm Cruz was the same person as the YouTube poster, they would have found dozens of photos of rifles, ammunition, targets filled with bullet holes, which likely would have led to a face-to-face interview. The FBI did not notify police in Florida about the post before the mass shooting.

"They owe us some more detail on what they did," retired FBI assistant director Ron Hosko said.Imitating the Oscar-nominated movie Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, in which a grieving mom uses billboards to call out local police, an online activist group placed three billboards in Miami demanding gun reform and challenging Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

The three mobile billboards, released by the activist group Avaaz, read: Slaughtered in school, And still no gun control and How come, Marco Rubio?

The billboards were parked outside of Rubios Miami headquarters on Friday.

Inspired by the 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,' where a mother personally challenges the local authorities to solve her daughters murder, today we take the streets asking ourselves: How come, Rubio? said Emma Ruby-Sachs, the deputy director of Avaaz.

Florida has notoriously lax gun laws, and Rubio, who is supported by the NRA, has never attempted to reform them, Ruby-Sachs said.

Sen. Marco Rubio sat down with NBC 6 anchor Sheli Muniz on Saturday, where she asked him about the billboards.

I say any of the laws that they would have wanted passed, would not have prevented this attack, said Rubio. That doesnt mean that we should not pass any laws. That doesnt mean we shouldnt pass these laws.. There may be a different reason why we need these laws. It also ignores the things that we have done. For example, sponsoring a bill that would have required or incentivized states to report mental health into the database, sponsoring a bill that wouldve provided millions of dollars for school safety measures.

Avaaz describes itself as a global web movement to bring people-powered politics to decision-making everywhere on issues such as climate change and human rights.

The billboard-fitted trucks will roam the streets of Miami on Monday.

What to Know Two people were injured after a step from a fire escape fell seven stories in lower Manhattan Friday afternoon

An inspector checking the fire escape somehow dislodged the step that plunged to the street below

There are varying reports regarding the extent of the victims' injuries

An inspector visiting a lower Manhattan fire escape as part of a regular check somehow dislodged one large white metallic-looking step, sending it plunging seven stories to the ground below, where it injured two people, authorities say.



The inspector, who does not work for the Department of Buildings, slipped a bit but was able to pull herself up. Two people on the ground -- a 25-year-old woman and a man of unknown age -- were hit by the step, which was later seen cordoned off by officers responding to the Howard Street scene.

The step hit the man and woman in the head. Both were taken to Bellevue and are in critical condition.

According to Michael Gala, deputy assistant chief for the FDNY, the step dislodged under the weight of the inspector.

"She actually fell through the fire escape. Thankfully she was able to pull herself up," he said, adding that she was evaluated at the scene, but refused medical aid.

According to the New York City Department of Buildings, the inspector was a private engineer contracted by the building owner for a routine inspection of the facade of the 9-story commercial building.

Law mandatess that a building greater than six stories must submit facade inspection reports to the Department of Buildings every five years.

According to the Department of Buildings, the Facade Inspection Report for that building was last submitted in 2013 and the building's exterior was deemed safe as long as periodic maintenance is performed.

The 2013 report found that the fire escape had no unsafe conditions, according to the Department of Buildings.

The building's owners were issued permits to repair the exterior in 2014. Along with maintenance work on the building facade itself, the permits indicated that the fire escape had to be repainted and minor spot repairs were to be made if any defects were found underneath the paint. But, according to the Department of Building, these repairs are common for older buildings with fire escapes. This repair project was completed in December 2015.

The incident is under investigation.What to Know Prosecutors say a Massachusetts man stole a bakery delivery truck and crashed it into a Planned Parenthood in East Orange

The 31-year-old pleaded not guilty in court Friday

Planned Parenthood has been a target of anti-abortion activists

A Massachusetts man has been charged with stealing a bakery delivery truck and crashing it into a Planned Parenthood in New Jersey in what prosecutors are calling an "attack."

Essex County prosecutors say 31-year-old Marckles Alcius carried out the truck attack on the East Orange health clinic Wednesday.

Three people suffered minor injuries, according to prosecutors. One victim was a staff member and the other two were patients, including a pregnant woman.

Alcius was arraigned on a number of charges Friday, including aggravated assault, theft of a bakery truck, attempting to cause widespread injury or damage, and weapons offenses related to using a truck as a weapon.

He pleaded not guilty and was being held at the Essex County jail in Newark.

Planned Parenthood locations have been targeted by anti-abortion activists in the past, but prosecutors haven't said what allegedly motivated Alcius.

Top Tri-State News PhotosA runaway dog somehow managed to venture underground and onto the subway tracks in Brooklyn, forcing service to halt just before the evening rush as police worked to retrieve him from the track.

The dog named Dakota escaped from a dog park and bounded into the Jay Street-Metrotech subway station, where it ended up on the tracks, according to the MTA.

Service was suspended on parts of the A, C and F lines as police and NYC Transit crews went to rescue the dog. They searched for about an hour before finding Dakota cowering under the platfrom inside the Bergen Street station -- one stop away.

Dakota was safely brought back to its owners and is on its way to the vet for a minor injury, police said. Service was restored around 4 p.m..

NYPD Transit Chief Edward Delatorre apologized for the delay, tweeting, "Appreciate everyone's patience!"The first thing that Braton Jurasevich noticed as he clambered down Mount Hood toward his fallen fellow mountain climber was the blood  a lot of it.

The critically injured climber, later be identified as Miha Sumi, was sprawled with his feet above his head on icy slope about 10,300 feet (3,140 meters) up the mountain.

Moments before, Sumi had slipped while descending from the summit and plummeted head over heels down a snowfield on Oregon's tallest peak  his fall witnessed by nearly a half-dozen other climbers who called 911 as they watched helplessly.

Sumi would be pronounced dead at a Portland hospital later Tuesday after being airlifted off the slope, but when Jurasevich arrived, he was still alive.

"I'm the only one with eyes on the individual right now and I'm still 200 feet above the climber. He is not moving. I'm working my way down on a bad spot. I came across blood. There's a big blood trail," he tells the 911 dispatcher at the beginning of a call released by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office late Wednesday.

Sumi had come to rest in the shadow of a rocky outcropping known as Crater Rock, stuck in a chute that acted like a natural funnel for a barrage of rocks that slammed down the mountain as the sun warmed the ice and sent ice and rocks plummeting downhill.

As Jurasevich inched closer, those rocks careened past, making rumbling sounds in the background of the call. A terrified Jurasevich tells the operator he's not an experienced climber and doesn't know what he's doing, but will stay with Sumi until help arrives.

"Oh my God, a rock just went right by him. The sun's out and it's bad. The whole hill is falling apart," he says, breathing heavily into his mobile phone.

"We're still taking rocks and ice. ... Can you take a message for my mom for me? Tell her I love her," Jurasevich says a few moments later. "I'm in a bad spot."

The dramatic call is part of a release of three hours of 911 calls from the chaos on Mount Hood. While the 911 operator was on the line with Jurasevich, other climbers also called in to report seeing Sumi fall or to report that they were also in trouble.

A woman who had been climbing with Sumi called 911 to report she and two others were stranded high up Mount Hood, pinned down by sheets of falling ice and tumbling rocks and unable to reach him.

"We just want to know what's going on with our friend," the woman, Kimberly Anderson, says to the dispatcher while crying.

Another shaken climber called moments after Sumi's fall to say he wanted to climb down to his friend but was in a perilous position.

"I'm not sure if I can get to him. It's far, it's really far," said the friend, Matt Zavortink. "I thought maybe I thought I saw him moving, but I can't tell. I'd expect severe injuries."

The unidentified female 911 operator stayed on the phone with Jurasevich for more than two hours as he tried to save Sumi, first by himself and then with the help of several other climbers who reached the scene.

The climbers first reported Sumi's pulse was 64 and he was breathing regularly, but they began rescue breaths and then CPR as his pulse faded and his breathing became erratic and then stopped. The callers continued CPR for 90 minutes until a rescue helicopter arrived, even though Sumi's pupils were fixed and dilated.

The call is punctuated by warning shouts about tumbling rocks. At one point, the climbers move their backpacks above Sumi's head to protect him.

"Hey Miha, if you can hear us, hang in there," Jurasevich can be heard saying. "You're looking good, you're doing good. We're going to get you a ride out of here."

Anderson, the female caller in Sumi's party, was evacuated from the mountain nearly seven hours later on a sled after she became unable to move for reasons that have not been explained by authorities.

The other climbers were either brought down by snow tractor or hiked out with rescuers.

It was unclear how Jurasevich and the other climbers who helped Sumi got off Mount Hood.

Jurasevich did not answer his phone Thursday and his voicemail was full.

About 10,000 people climb Mount Hood each year, making it one of the most popular snow-covered peaks in the U.S. Its proximity to Portland and its accessibility contribute to that popularity, but conditions on the peak, which has 11 active glaciers, can be dangerous.

More than 130 people have died on the 11,240-foot (3,429-meter) mountain, including seven school children and two teachers who froze to death in 1986 and several climbers whose bodies haven't been found.

Associated Press Writer Steven Dubois contributed to this report.As state records of accused Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz begin to uncover the troubled past that led to the teen's deadly rampage, his defense attorneys say a guilty plea is being considered to avoid the death penalty and a lengthy trial.

Cruz's attorneys plan to meet with prosecutors to discuss the guilty plea, Broward Public Defender Howard Finkelstein confirmed to NBC 6.

"There is only one question: Should this young man live or should he die by execution?" Finkelstein told the Sun-Sentinel. "We believe its in nobodys best interest to go through a circus of a trial."

The Broward State Attorney's Office responded to the public defender's comments Saturday, saying in a statement that "this certainly is the type of case the death penalty was designed for."

The statement called Cruz's alleged attack a "highly calculated and premeditated murder of 17 people and the attempted murder of everyone in that school" and said a formal decision would come "at the appropriate time."

Cruz hasn't formally been charged in the murders of the 17 victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, but the defense lawyers said they're certain prosecutors would seek the death penalty.

Florida requires a 12-0 jury vote to hand down a death sentence.

Cruz's public defenders have been scouring his state records for information on his past. Those records show that Florida's child welfare agency investigated after he cut himself in a video but found him stable.

In a 2016 report from Florida's Department of Children and Families, obtained by NBC News it was reported that Nikolas Cruz posted a video on the social media network Snapchat showing him cutting his arms

Cruz had at the time also broken up with his girlfriend, who had been cheating on him, and he had gotten into a fight, according to the report. Cruz had drawn a racial epithet on his backpack, and officials worried his depression was worsening. He had also indicated he "plans to go out and buy a gun."

The agency concluded at the end of the investigation that Cruz was receiving adequate care from a mental health counselor and was attending school. DCF deemed him "stable enough not to be hospitalized."

The system broke down, said Gordon Weekes, one of Broward Countys chief assistant public defenders. It did not catch the red flags(and) its changed the landscape of this community.



The documents provide further evidence that Cruz was a troubled teen before being charged with 17 counts of murder in the Wednesday attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Defenders also have asked Henderson Mental Health, which appears to have had a long history with Cruz, for its records of his treatment. And the Florida Department of Children and Families petitioned the court to release records related to Cruz. DCF also asked to be allowed to release their records on Cruz, which are confidential under Florida statutes.



The Associated Press contributed to this report.What to Know At least 17 people were shot and killed on Wednesday at a South Florida high school.

The accused gunman used an AR-15 firearm, police said.

A report indicates the accused gunman may confess to avoid the death penalty.

President Donald Trump met with injured victims and first responders from the Parkland school shooting Friday, congratulating the first responders for an "incredible" job but not responding to a question on whether gun laws need to be changed.



Trump and first lady Melania Trump reached Broward Health North Hospital to pay their respects to victims and to thank medical staff helping keep the nine people who were injured, several critically, alive.

Trump's visit comes two days after Nikolas Cruz, who police said confessed, allegedly killed 17 people at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Trump's meeting with the press pool at the hospital was brief.

"First responders, everybody  the job they've done is incredible," Trump said, flanked by a hospital official and the first lady.

Trump, who confirmed he met with victims, remarked on the efficiency with which victims were quickly taken to the hospital after the shooting.

"Do our gun laws need to be changed, Mr. President?" one reporter asked as Trump and his delegation, which included White House chief of staff John Kelly, walked away.

After leaving the hospital, Trumps met with Broward County Sheriff's Office officials, including Sheriff Scott Israel and Det. Richard Olson, whose son Will was shot in the onslaught.

While speaking at BSO headquarters, where Florida Gov. Rick Scott was also present, the first lady emphasized that the victims must be cared for.

"Thank you all for what you do, and saving our children. That's the most important  they're our future, and let's take care of them because they will go through a lot from what they experienced two days ago and we need to take care of them," the first lady said.

Trump's visit comes amid heightened calls for gun reform in the United States  a common reaction in recent years following U.S. mass shootings.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., was aboard Air Force One, which landed at Palm Beach International Airport.

"I will be leaving for Florida today to meet with some of the bravest people on earth  but people whose lives have been totally shattered. Am also working with Congress on many fronts," Trump had written on Twitter.People in Asia and around the world are celebrating the Lunar New Year on Friday with festivals, parades and temple visits to ask for blessings.

This year marks the year of the dog, one of the 12 animals in the Chinese astrological chart. People in Beijing celebrated with family feasts and visits to bustling temple fairs amid the mid-winter chill.

Ditan Park in the city center was the most vibrant, with empty tree branches festooned with red lanterns and traditional goods and foods being snapped up by the churning crowds.

Other New Year traditions include the eating of dumplings in northern China and gift giving to children in the form of cash-stuffed red envelopes called "hongbao." However, a ban on fireworks in 400 cities, including the capital, severely curtailed such traditional ear-splitting displays this year.

Ethnic Chinese and others around the world also marked the holiday with celebrations. In the Philippines, which boasts a large ethnic Chinese minority, fire breathers performed at a street fair in Manila and children used crates and buckets to put on improvised lion dances.

In Japan, lion dances were performed in Chinatown in the port city of Yokohama, while in Malaysia, a diver dressed as the god of good fortune fed fish at an aquarium in Kuala Lumpur as visitors looked on.

In South Korea, the festivals were more solemn, with refugees from the 1950-53 Korean War and their descendants paying respects to ancestors at the Demilitarized Zone dividing the country from communist North Korea.

Taiwanese marked the start of the new year with a mad rush to be the first to plant a stick of incense in a temple censor, with the victor receiving a prize and blessings for a prosperous 2018.An investigation into a home in the Bay Terraces neighborhood of San Diego that reportedly caused problems for neighbors led to the arrest of four men and the recovery of multiple weapons and drugs Friday.

Officers with the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) were casing a home in the 7600 block of Prairie Mound Way, just north of State Route 54, at about 9:45 a.m. Thursday after receiving numerous complaints from the community about the home in a residential neighborhood just off Paradise Valley Road, SDPD Lt. Manny Del Toro said.

Neighbors reported to SDPD that drug activity was being conducted in front of the house and that the home had homelessness issues.

During the investigation, SDPD was able to gather information that allowed them to arrest three men on charges of the transportation and sale of a controlled substance, Del Toro said. A fourth man was arrested on an outstanding auto theft warrant.

Police recovered About two pounds of methamphetamine, a .22 caliber rifle a replica AR-15 rifle, and a replica semi-automatic handgun during the investigation.A driver traveling the wrong way on Interstate 5 in Sorrento Valley was killed Saturday after crashing head-on into another driver, officials said.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said the wrong-way driver was in a red Honda traveling south on northbound I-5, just north of Carmel Mountain Road, at around 3:50 a.m. A driver in a white Toyota pickup truck approached the area and the Honda slammed into the truck.

CHP officials said the driver in the Honda suffered critical injuries and died at the scene.

He was identified Monday as Jeremiah Nelson Gundry, 22, of San Diego, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office.

The driver of the truck suffered major injuries and was rushed to Scripps La Jolla.

Officials said a dog was also hurt in the crash and taken to a veterinarian for treatment. It is unclear which driver owned the dog.

The impact from the collision left debris scattered all over the freeway and led CHP officers to temporarily shut down traffic in the area. The pickup truck had been carrying some motorcycles in its bed and those motorcycles wound up in the roadway, along with chunks of the wrecked vehicles.

By 7:30 a.m., traffic had started moving slowly through the area.

The deadly crash is under investigation and CHP officers are trying to determine if alcohol or drugs played a factor.A powerful earthquake that rattled south and central Mexico caused little apparent destruction but rekindled fears in a population that still sees daily reminders of deadly earthquakes five months ago.

Maricarmen Trujillo was in the same place Friday on the eighth floor of a Mexico City office building where she rode out a Sept. 19 earthquake that killed 228 people in the capital alone.

"I relived a lot of those moments," Trujillo said, still jittery. But this time an emergency app on her cellphone gave her a 30-second warning before things started to shake. She stayed in place, but felt more prepared.

Other people in Mexico City and southern Oaxaca state, where the quake's epicenter was located, flooded the streets as the ground seethed, memories of collapsed buildings still fresh. A magnitude 8.2 quake on Sept. 7 killed nearly 100 people in Oaxaca and neighboring Chiapas.

In Mexico City, the wounds from the Sept. 19 quake still had not healed when Friday's earthquake struck. Many buildings left uninhabitable are still awaiting demolition. People pass roped off cracked buildings and cleared lots on a daily basis.

Mercedes Rojas Huerta wasted no time running barefoot out of her home in Mexico City's Condesa neighborhood when she heard the earthquake alarm on Friday. The district is the site of numerous collapsed and badly damaged buildings from last year's temblor.

"I'm scared," Rojas Huerta said outside her home, too afraid to go back inside, recalling how the buildings fell five months ago. "The house is old."

The streets of Condesa were flooded by residents fleeing their homes, including one woman wrapped just in a towel.

The U.S. Geological Survey originally put the magnitude of Friday's quake at 7.5 but later lowered it to 7.2. It said the epicenter was 33 miles (53 kilometers) northeast of Pinotepa in southern Oaxaca state. It had a depth of 15 miles (24 kilometers).

About an hour after the quake, a magnitude 5.8 aftershock also centered in Oaxaca caused tall buildings in Mexico City to briefly sway again.

USGS seismologist Paul Earle said Friday's earthquake appeared to be a separate temblor, rather than an aftershock of a Sept. 7 earthquake in Oaxaca.

Mexican Civil Protection chief Luis Felipe Puente tweeted that there were no immediate reports of damages from Friday's quake and by the evening there had been no reports of deaths.

The Oaxaca state government said via Twitter that only material damages were reported near Pinotepa and Santiago Jamiltepec. But it added that shelters had been opened for those fleeing damaged homes.

Gladys Barreno Castro was at work on the 29th floor of a downtown office building in Mexico City, but recognized quickly that the shaking was not as violent this time.

"It lasted a long time, but it wasn't as strong," Barreno said. "This time it moved, but I didn't think that it was going to destroy the city like the last time."

AP science writer Seth Borenstein contributed to this report.What to Know D.C.'s deputy mayor for education resigned after the mayor's office says she helped the schools chancellor bypass the lottery system.

Jennie Niles and Antwan Wilson have both been referred to the D.C. Office of the Inspector General and ethics board.

Niles' departure comes as two federal agencies investigate the school system following revelations of inflated graduation rates.

D.C. Deputy Mayor for Education Jennifer Niles has resigned after she helped schools chancellor Antwan Wilson bypass the public school system's competitive lottery system to secure a seat for his daughter at a top high school.

Niles' departure comes after revelations that she gave one of Wilsons children preferential treatment for an out-of-boundary school placement, in a direct violation of a mayoral order issued last year.

Previously, two other appointees of Mayor Muriel Bowser were found to have abused the out-of-boundary lottery system.

Parents who wish to enroll their children in schools other than their neighborhood schools must enter a lottery for limited spaces.

Niles' departure comes amid a time of crisis for DCPS. The FBI, U.S. Department of Education and the D.C. Office of the Inspector General are investigating the school system following revelations of inflated graduation rates.

Bowser said she was frustrated but believes in the future of DCPS.

"There's every feeling, from anger to disappointment -- but also resolve," she told News4.



According to a representative for Bowser, Wilson had entered his three children into the DCPS lottery according to the guidelines.

His daughter was placed at Duke Ellington School for the Arts, an in-demand school. Wilson lives in the Brookland area of Northeast D.C., where students are zoned for Dunbar High School.

Midway through the current school year, his daughter attending Ellington was having problems, and Wilson reached out to Niles for help.

Niles arranged for Wilsons daughter to transfer to Wilson High School, in direct violation of DCPS policy and the mayoral order, the mayor's office said.

The schools chancellor's other two children go to in-boundary elementary schools.

Bowser learned on Monday that the inspector general's office was investigating the placement of Wilson's children.

She said she stood by the decision to ask Niles, not Wilson, to resign.

"I recognize that the chancellor had what he thought was an untenable family situation, and he was trying to resolve it and trying to resolve it by asking his supervisor what to do," the mayor said.

Niles and Wilson have both been referred to the D.C. Office of the Inspector General and BEGA for separate investigations.

Niles did not respond to inquiries from News4. Wilson declined to comment.

In May 2017, two other Bowser appointees were found to also have circumvented the placement policy required for all DCPS students.

A D.C. Inspector Generals investigation found that Bowsers city administrator, Rashad Young, received preferential treatment in the school lottery for out-of-boundary placement from Kaya Henderson, who was chancellor at the time. Young had missed a deadline for entering the lottery but was allowed to enter anyway.

That same investigation found that D.C. Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity Courtney Courtney Snowden also received preferential treatment. Henderson placed Snowdens son at Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan, a public school with a waiting list of more than 1,000 students.

Snowden was referred to the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability (BEGA) for possible discipline. That investigation was completed; no wrongdoing on Snowden's part was found.

Niles resigned effective Friday. She became deputy mayor in 2014, after Bowser was elected. She founded E.L. Haynes Public Charter School and attended Brown University and Yale University.

Wilson sent a letter of apology to the DCPS community.

"This September, my family faced a difficult decision where we felt that my child needed to transfer schools. I sought assistance on how to do this correctly, and as a result, my child was transferred to another school. However, the process I followed did not align with DCPS policy," he wrote.

"My decision was wrong and I take full responsibility for my mistake. While I understand that many of you will be angered and disappointed by my actions, Im here today to apologize and ask for your forgiveness," he continued. "I am committed to regaining your trust and continuing the reforms needed to ensure that our students have the tools they need to succeed in the world."

While Bowser is not firing Wilson, she has referred his case to BEGA for further investigation and possible discipline.

BEGA has recently come under public scrutiny, after Executive Director Traci Hughes was removed from her position by the board of directors. Open government watchdog groups have cried foul on Hughes firing, citing the fact that the board members are Bowser appointees and Hughes had been highly critical of the Bowser administration over the years.

Wilson's high-school-age daughter is likely to be home-schooled for the rest of the year.

What to Know More than 200 police officers across three Northern Virginia police districts will wear body cameras as part of a pilot program.

Police patrolling the Reston, Mason and Mt. Vernon districts will wear uniforms with the body cameras.

The new cameras will be recording anytime officers respond to a scene and during routine traffic stops.

More than 200 police officers across three Fairfax County, Virginia, police districts will wear body cameras starting in March as part of a six-month pilot program.

Police patrolling the Reston, Mason and Mt. Vernon districts will wear uniforms with the body cameras, which Fairfax County Police officials said will promote transparency. Fairfax County Police have been using car cameras for 10 years.

In todays environment, when the profession is under attack, we welcome body-worn cameras, Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin Roessler said, to show the community, especially here in Fairfax, that we are professional at all times.

The new cameras will be recording anytime officers respond to a scene and during routine traffic stops. Under certain circumstances, though, people can ask that they be turned off. If a resident speaks to police to report a local neighborhood crime and wants to remain anonymous, for example, the resident could request that the camera not record.

For routine cases in which there is no criminal activity involved, the public can also ask officers to shut them off. Fairfax County Police Capt. Chantel Cochrane said that anyone can ask whether they are being recorded.

The new cameras will be introduced more than a year after the Fairfax County board delayed the programs start date. The department spent about two years drafting its body camera policy and consulted community officials from groups such as the NAACP.

Fairfax County NAACP President Kofi Annan said that having cameras only helps.

The body cameras could prove beneficial for significant police-involved incidents, such as when a U.S. Park Police officer shot an unarmed man after a chase on the George-Washington Parkway in November.

After that altercation, Roessler released dashcam video. Hell decide whether to release body camera video and said he'll do so when its in the publics interest.

We need to hold each other accountable, Roessler said, so if there are allegations against an officer for rudeness, we are recording. We are live.A man and a woman were found dead Thursday inside a parked and running SUV in Burtonsville, Montgomery County police said.

The bodies were discovered shortly before 10 p.m., when a neighborhood resident walking near Aldora Circle spotted the car in a parking lot of a townhome. The car was parked and running, police said.

The resident then noticed a man and woman in the vehicle. Both appeared to be dead, police said. The resident called 911.

When officials arrived at the scene, police say they confirmed the man and women were dead.

Police say their deaths are being investigated as suspicious and ask anyone with information to contact police.

The medical examiner is investigating the cause of death.

A woman's body was found in a pond in Montgomery County, Maryland, Wednesday night. News4's Darcy Spencer reports.

In January, officers responded to an address less than half a mile away from Aldora Circle and discovered the body of 36-year-old Kristin Danielle Bessix in a nearby pond.

Police have not said if there is any connection between the deaths, but multiple people who live in the neighborhood told News4 that they are concerned.A former Massage Envy massage therapist was sentence to 60 months in prison for sexually assaulting three female customers in D.C.

When he gets out Habtamu Gebreslassie of Silver Spring, Maryland, will be on supervised release for three years and will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Gebreslassie pleaded guilty in December to first-degree sexual assault, attempted first-degree sexual assault and misdemeanor sexual abuse.

Gebreslassie has been accused in four reports of sexual misconduct at three different locations: A Massage Envy in the Tenleytown neighborhood of D.C., a Massage Envy in Bowie, Maryland, and at an unaffiliated massage parlor in the 2000 block of P Street NW in D.C.

One woman told News4 Gebreslassie touched her inappropriately at a Massage Envy in Bowie June 20. She said management offered her a free spa day and told her he had been transferred to a location in D.C.

Then, a 66-year-old woman told police Gebreslassie assaulted her at a Massage Envy in Tenleytown on Aug. 28.

"I've never done this before. I don't know what got into me," she told police he said.

Management wrote a report, gave Gebreslassie additional training and allowed him to stay on the job, a D.C. detective testified.

Then, Tara Woodley said Gebreslassie attacked her three weeks later.

Woodley said she was getting a massage at the Massage Envy's Tenleytown location Sept. 17 when the massage therapist removed the sheet covering her pelvis and put his mouth on her genitals.

She said she immediately pulled the sheet back up to cover herself and ordered him to leave.

"We're done here. We're done here," she said she repeated, raising her voice.

On his knees, he begged for forgiveness, Woodley said.

She said she went outside and called her husband. He told her to call 911, she did and police arrived quickly.

Buzzfeed has reported more than 180 women have reported sexual assaults at Massage Envy locations across the country. The billion-dollar company trains franchise owners to conduct internal investigations on reports of misconduct and does not require that they report alleged crimes to police, Buzzfeed reported.

In response to the Buzzfeed report, Massage Envy  which has more than 1,100 franchises in 49 states, according to the company's website  said the incidents described in the report were "heartbreaking for us and for the franchisees that operate Massage Envy locations."Three separate fires, including one sparked at a townhome where four adults and a baby were asleep, have been linked to a volunteer firefighter in Prince George's County, Maryland, fire officials say.

Tyree Torney, 19, has been arrested for starting a fire at Suitland High School Feb. 12 while teachers and staff were inside the school, the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department said in release Friday night. Security cameras caught him entering the building.

"Fire investigators identified him and interviewed him, and at that point, he admitted to other fires he had committed," Prince George's County Fire spokesman Mark Brady said.

During the investigation, Torney admitted to causing two other fires in 2017, according to the department.

On June 10, 2017, he sparked a fire at a townhome in Upper Marlboro where his ex-girlfriend, three other adults and an infant were sleeping, fire officials said. The fire quickly spread up the outside of the home and into the attic.

"That's the chief of all cowards," neighbor Pat Milas said. "You have a family in a house, asleep, with a baby, and set the thing on fire. Who would do that?"

Torney admitted to setting a bridge on fire on Stretford Way in Hyattsville in May 2017, the department said.

Torney was a probationary member of the Glen Dale Volunteer Fire Association. Following his arrest, Torney was "removed from all affiliations and operations" with the department, according to the release.

He faces a litany of charges including five counts of attempted first-degree murder.

"Anytime you set fire to an occupied structure at that time in the morning, you're going to get charged with attempted murder without a doubt because you are certainly putting their lives in peril," Brady said.

He's also charged with three counts of first-degree malicious burning, five counts of reckless endangerment, two counts of malicious destruction of property over $1,000 and multiple arson charges.Two students - ages 14 and 15 - have been arrested for making threats to commit acts of violence at Rockland High School on Friday.

Police and school officials said the two Rockland High freshmen allegedly called an unnamed Boston television news station around 1:25 p.m. and told them they planned to harm people at their school. The station called police, prompting a police investigation.

The students believed to be responsible for making the threat were identified and arrested within 30 minutes of their call to the TV station. They now face charges of making terroristic threats and disturbing a school assembly. Their names are not being released because they are juveniles.

Police said they don't yet know if the threat was credible.



The 15-year-old was taken to a local hospital for an evaluation, police said. The suspects will be held pending their arraignment in Hingham Juvenile Court on Tuesday.

As a precautionary measure, all school facilities in Rockland were told to shelter in place during the investigation. The shelter in place was lifted once the situation was resolved, and students were dismissed in the usual manner on Friday afternoon.

"The Rockland Police Department acted quickly to respond to this threat, and the individuals are in custody," School Superintendent Alan Cron said in a statement. "I am very pleased that our faculty and staff and the police department worked closely this afternoon, following all of the policies and procedures we have in place in the event of an emergency. What matters most is that no one was harmed today."



The investigation is ongoing.In the days following the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida, several threats of violence against New England schools have been reported.

Schools in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut were impacted by threats or perceived threats in the wake of the attack at Stoneman Douglas High School, where a former student shot and killed 17 people Wednesday.

A former student of the Bridgewater-Raynham High School in Massachusetts was arrested Friday after allegedly making threats against the school on social media. Police were immediately contacted and took the individual into custody.

The suspect, a 17-year-old from Bridgewater, allegedly posted a photo to Snapchat showing a person holding what police believe to be a semi-automatic pistol. That post read "Florida part 2." As police were investigating, they recovered a stolen vehicle.

Charges against the teen include making terroristic threats, disturbing a school assembly and larceny of a motor vehicle.

Also in Massachusetts, two students  ages 14 and 15  were accused of making threats to commit acts of violence at Rockland High School on Friday.

Police and school officials said the two freshmen allegedly called an unnamed Boston television news station around 1:25 p.m. and told them they planned to harm people at their school. The station called police, prompting a police investigation.

The students believed to be responsible for making the threat were identified and arrested within 30 minutes of the call to the TV station. They now face charges of making terroristic threats and disturbing a school assembly.

Police said they don't yet know if the threat was credible.

The 15-year-old was taken to a local hospital for an evaluation, police said. The suspects will be held pending their arraignment in Hingham Juvenile Court on Tuesday.

Students at Durfree High School in Fall River were greeted Friday by increased security measures after someone made an anonymous threat online, referencing a Florida-style attack. According to the school district, extra precautions included the use of metal detectors, bag searches and a heightened police presence in the school.



In Vermont Friday, authorities arrested 18-year-old Jack Sawyer, a former Fair Haven Union High School student, after he allegedly threatened that school. Prosecutors say Sawyer kept a list of current and former Fair Haven students, which he titled "top of the should have died list." Investigators are also saying that Sawyer recently bought a shotgun and ammo.

In Exeter, New Hampshire, police arrested a 16-year-old Friday in connection with a threat at the Seacoast School of Technology. Thursday, Police received a report that a juvenile had told his friends that he was "going to shoot up the school."

The juvenile, who is not being named, turned himself in to the Exeter Police the following day.

In Rhode Island, police could be seen on the roof and inside Woonsocket Middle School Friday. According to WJAR-TV, police were called to the school after a janitor found several rounds of live ammunition in a boys' restroom. The school was put on a two-hour lock-down as authorities searched the building. It is unclear where the ammunition came from.

Police wore tactical uniforms and had their guns drawn during the search, but authorities have since confirmed that everyone is safe.

In Avon, Connecticut, schools were placed on a soft lockdown after what appeared to be a threatening message was found on a sticky note. However, police determined there was no threat, and that a member of a school's cleaning staff had written down something he saw in a television report with the intention of getting it translated.

Investigations into these incidents are ongoing. The identities of the accused not named are being withheld to protect their rights as minors.Authorities are investigating a double shooting in Lowell, Massachusetts that left a man dead.

The Middlesex district attorney's office said the shooting happened around 4:30 a.m. on O'Connell and Fay streets.

One man, identified later as 24-year-old Lowell resident Anthony Luna, was taken to Lowell General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The other male was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. He has since been treated and released.

People near the scene were surprised by the news this morning, calling the area a quiet part of Lowell.

"Crazy. We used to ride our bikes here late at night. Come home at like 3 in the morning. You don't expect something like that to happen, but what can you do?" said one resident.

The investigation into the deadly shooting by the DA's office, local and state police is ongoing.The mayor of Portland, Maine has made his hair loss someone else's gain.

Mayor Ethan Strimling lost a bet to Portland, Pennsylvania Mayor Lance Prator when the Patriots lost in the Super Bowl to the Eagles.

While the original terms of the bet included trading items from local businesses, Prator raised the stakes and challenged the loser of the bet to shave his head.

Strimling said he agreed, in part, because he was so confident in the Patriots.

On Friday, Prator traveled to Portland, Maine to collect on the bet. The two men had never met before, but once Prator saw Strimling, he realized how big of a deal this bet would be.

"I felt bad because he's almost like a human Ken Doll," said Prator. "His hair doesn't move."

The Presumpscot Elementary school was a-buzz Friday afternoon. The two mayors decided to conduct the shave in front of an audience of excited students.

Mayor Strimling said he wanted to take lemons from the Super Bowl loss, and make lemonade -- turning the haircut into a fundraiser for the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital. Anyone who donated $100 or more could have a turn with the razor.

By Friday afternoon, the mayor raised $3,000 for the hospital.

"It makes [the shave] more worthwhile, for sure," said Strimling.

Prator was so impressed with the response to the fundraiser, he decided to shave his head too.More than 150 people across New Hampshire are facing charges after a massive drug sweep carried out by local, state and federal law enforcement this week.

State police announced on Friday that the Operation Granite Shield arrests were made in communities across the state, including Concord, Laconia, Manchester, Nashua and Salem.

A total of 151 people were arrested by 88 agencies, including some in other states. More than half of those arrested are alleged drug dealers, police told the Union Leader

In addition to the arrests, police seized more than 550 grams of heroin and fentanyl, 24 weapons, a BMW and $37,000 in cash. The drugs amounted to 18,000 doses with a street value of more than $22,000.

New Hampshire State Police Capt. John Encarnacao told the Union Leader that the sweep was so intense, it had to use the state's Emergency Operations Center to help coordinate it.DANBURY  An attorney representing Bruce Bemer  a Glastonbury businessman facing human trafficking charges  argued Friday that the state broke the law when it named his client in its request for an HIV test.

Anthony Spinella, who represents Bemer, said prosecutors should have used a pseudonym in court documents to protect his clients identity.

He then argued his motions to have the case dismissed or transferred to the Litchfield Judical District should be sealed because of the procedural misstep, which prosecutors denied.

Our intention in attempting to have these motions sealed is right here  the rules and the law, Spinella said in court, holding up a book of state statutes. If I dont seek to seal these motions, then Im allowing the state to violate the law.

Bemer, along with Danbury resident Robert King and Westport resident William Trefzger, was arrested last year and charged with participating in a local sex ring. Authorities allege that King would target young men with disabilities, ply them with drugs and sell them to men like Bemer and Trefzger after the youth racked up heavy drug debts.

The state disagrees with the claim that there was some legal violation in the way the state filed its motion, Assistant States Attorney Sharmese Hodge argued in court Friday.

Hodge added that shes never before seen an attempt by a defense attorney to seal such standard documents.

What information would you like sealed, the whole document, the defendants age, name or health information? Superior Court Judge Dan Shaban asked Bemers attorney.

At the least his name should be taken out, Spinella said.

Shaban questioned the need for a pseudonym, noting that Bemers name has already been made public and appears on the courts docket.

Joel Faxon, a civil attorney who represents several purported victims of the sex trafficking ring, said his clients object to any secrecy.

This is a broad-ranging depraved conspiracy that in Bemers own words has operated for decades, Faxon said, noting admissions Bemer made to police shortly after his arrest. The victims need to know if the perpetrators of these crimes are infected with HIV or venereal diseases.

Spinella had a different take on why the victims wanted information on Bemers health.

We all know why they want to know  they want more money, he said. I dont know how testing now would help something that happened more than two years ago.

Bemer had already agreed to set aside $25 million of his assets for any potential civil judgments against him.

If youre not guilty then what are you trying to hide, yelled out one of Bemers purported victims as the defendant entered the courtroom. Just take the test.

Shaban has up to three months to make a decision. Bemers case is scheduled to go to trial on June 5. He rejected a plea deal last month that called for probation.

Shortly after rejecting the offer, Spinella said his client elected a trial by jury because he wants to avoid a felony conviction.SHERMAN  Just a few days before she turned 18, high schooler Lily Mancini found the perfect ending to her nine years competing as a junior dog handler  the Best Junior Showmanship title at the prestigious Westminster Dog Show.

Mancini, who celebrated her birthday Saturday, beat out 95 other junior handlers with her English springer spaniel, Liam, to earn the top spot at the national show last Tuesday in New York City.

A win like that, Mancini said, is what most junior handlers work toward their whole careers. Each junior handler must win seven other shows before becoming eligible for the annual competition with the Westminster Kennel Club.

For Mancini, the win, and the $10,000 scholarship prize, capped years of hard work, ending just before she leaves behind junior competitions for college next year.

It was definitely a surprise and Im really happy about it, Mancini said, who started competing at 9 years old, the minimum age. Ive put in so much work for all of this  doing it for nine years and giving up weekends nonstop  so it was perfect timing.

She said she hopes to continue competing, this time in the higher age groups, but isnt sure yet how much shell be able to once she starts school. She hasnt picked a college but hopes to study accounting, Mancini said.

But before she started leaving school every Friday to travel to competitions around the East Coast, Mancini said, she first had to learn the ins and outs of caring for, let alone competing, with the dogs.

I actually had never had a pet dog or anything, Mancini said. Dogs were totally something new for me.

Mancini learned the ropes from 2006 Westminster Champion Kathy Kirk, the mother of her sisters boyfriend at the time. Kirk was looking for help breeding and training dogs, so Mancini decided she to give it a try.

At the shows, Mancini would help take care of and groom the dogs before they stepped into the ring. She also learned the technical strategy that goes into showing dogs, including how to run them, show them to judges and where to look as she moves them around the ring.

Mancini said competing can sometimes be stressful, especially at larger shows like Westminster, but she still always enjoys it.

I 100 percent fell in love with (the dogs) once I started working with them, Mancini said.

Kirk, along with another breeder Dotti Cherry, raise the English springer spaniels from birth. The dogs can start competing at 6 months old.

Liam, whose official name in competition catalogs is Celtic Thunder, is an 8-year-old spaniel that Mancini had been working with for about a year before the Westminster show.

Mancini said Liam had just gotten back from showing in Japan before the New York City competition. He won Westminsters Best in Breed and went on to compete in the sporting group.

Mancini said Liam is always happy running around the ring.

Hes really outgoing...and loves showing, she said. Hes the sweetest dog youll ever meet.DANBURY  The Hat City is not the easiest place in the world for one single person to find another.

Thats the view of several singles, from their early 20s to their late 50s, interviewed during the week of Valentines Day.

Although the city has a population comparable to others along Connecticuts Gold Coast, it seems to lack the nightlife options that generate a lively singles scene, Michelle Gray said while sipping a beer during a post-Valentines mixer Thursday night at Molly Darcys on Mill Plain Road.

All the fun stuff is not for singles, Gray said.

Census figures also show wide variation from neighborhood to neighborhood within Danbury, and from town to town in the Danbury region, in the number of singles of both sexes, whether unmarried, separated, divorced or widowed.

In hopes of improving the dating odds somewhat, Molly Darcys had made the theme of the mixer Traffic Light, where attendees wore green to say Im available, red to say, Im taken, or yellow to say, Just ask.

Gray, in a red scarf, came with a green-shirt-clad friend, Caitlin Davis.

I have a very difficult time finding a singles scene in Danbury, said Davis. You would think there would be a lot more of one.

On the other side of the bar, five young women in their early 20s were starting the night with a round of drinks. The single among them said Molly Darcys, which is not far from the hilltop campus of Western Connecticut State University, is one of the few places to go to meet other young singles.

Mollys is definitely the place to go if youre looking for somebody, said Olivia Muniz, a student at the Paul Michell school downtown. There is really nothing else that is consistently busy.

Erik Miller, of Brookfield, who wore a green army jacket Thursday, said hes still looking for a match after coming to Darcys for four years.

Being single on Valentines Day sucks," he observed.

Things are still tougher for older singles.

Irene Schiavo, of Brookfield, runs a group on Meetup.com for Danbury-area singles 40 and over.

Theres no place to get together for our age group, she said.

To create a place virtually, she founded CT & NY Singles Having Fun! about 10 years ago. She said it has grown from 99 members to more than 4,000. Events at area restaurants often have waiting lists because of space constraints.

Its difficult in Danbury for our age group, she said. We need an over 40-only club.

One reason for the lack of singles is the Danbury regions housing patterns, tilted toward single-family homes inhabited largely by married couples and against the apartments and condos favored by singles.

Fed up with lackluster nightlife options, singles said they often travel to New York City or to Stamford, Norwalk and even Fairfield in search of livelier nightlife.

Trenia Norford, who re-launched her matchmaking businessConnectricity when she moved to Ridgefield last year, said her clients are often divorced and looking for commitment, unlike younger singles in lower Farifield County and New York just looking for dates.

I work with a lot of divorcees and single parents, she said. Thats a lot different than single life (in other cities).

Over the past few months, Norford said, shes held three events. Interestingly, most attendees come from towns other than those where the event is held, possibly because they dont want neighbors to know theyre seeking someone, she said.

By the way, the figures on the proportion of singles in each neighborhood can be slightly misleading.

In one slice of northern Danbury, for example, 70 percent of men and 85 percent of women are single.

Unfortunately, most of them are in federal prison.DANBURY  Three people were sent to the hospital after a pickup truck crashed through an occupied homes bedroom Saturday morning.

Police said the accident occurred around 3:50 a.m. when a large pickup truck drove down Garfield Avenue and straight into a four-family home across the road at 11 West Wooster Avenue.

The truck crashed through the homes bedroom wall and threw two residents from their bed, Danbury Sgt. John Krupinski said. The homeowners said they were hit by debris from the crash and were sent to Danbury Hospital with minor injuries.

The driver, who was also injured, was extricated after firefighters pried the rear driver-side door off the truck, Krupsinki said. Officers who attempted to ask the driver what happened said he was unable to speak and that they could smell a strong odor of alcohol on his body.

The driver was taken to Danbury Hospital and is in intensive care. Krupinski said the investigation is ongoing and it is possible the driver will be charged once it authorities determine what caused the crash.

The American Red Cross was on the scene to help uninjured residents find temporary shelter after the home was declared unfit for dwelling. It is uncertain how many people were displaced by the crash.

The scene was cleared around 5:30 a.m., fire officials said.

According to land records, the home at 11 Wooster Avenue was originally built in 1885, has an assessed value of $191,400 and was most recently sold in 1988.GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn moreAll the new Spider-Man comics, graphic novels, collections from Marvel arriving in 2021 and beyond

Spider-Man is the face of Marvel Comics, and we rundown everywhere you can read about himProposal to put Pakistan in FATF grey list: Senior official

New Delhi : There is a proposal to put Pakistan in the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an inter-governmental body combating money laundering and terror financing among other things, in its upcoming meeting, a senior official said here on Friday.

"There is a proposal by some countries as part of the FATF process to put Pakistan in the grey list," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in response to a question whether the issue of Hafiz Saeed would figure in the meeting during a media briefing here.

"This grey listing happens because the commitment which was given by Pakistan on the action which they were supposed to take, that has not happened," Kumar said.

Stating that India has shared its views with the members of FATF in this regard, he said: "We, of course, would like to ensure through this that the government of Pakistan take effective measures in letter and spirit to curb terror financing, to curb fund raising activities of UN designated and other terror entities which are operating from their soil."

Pakistan earlier this week launched a crackdown on seminaries and health facilities run by Saeed, chief of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and the mastermind behind the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai.

The action has sparked speculation that Pakistan is doing this to avoid getting grey listed at the plenary session of the FATF scheduled to be held in Paris later this month.

Asked how India viewed this action, Kumar said it was "quite surprising that it took Pakistan 10 years to figure out which was known by the entire world that he is a terrorist".

"In any case, the timing of such declaration of Hafiz Saeed as a terrorist is very suspect. We will have to see if they are willing to walk the talk and take concrete measures against terrorists and terror outfits which are operating from the soil of Pakistan."

The spokesperson said that India is committed to the objectives of the FATF and believes that UN Security Resolution 1267 and FATF standards pertaining to money laundering and terror financing must be implemented in letter and spirit by all nations.



"And those nationals and nations who are found wanting in implementing their obligations and are freely allowing the UN designated terrorist entities and individuals to operate and raise funds and have access to assets for their nefarious activities must be held accountable and subjected to appropriate action," he added.DANBURY  Longtime philanthropist Noel Hord no longer believes the foundation that bears his familys name is actually his.

This spring marks 25th year of The Hord Foundation, which has awarded more than $5 million in college scholarships to almost 2,000 local African-American students over the years.

But even though Hord is still an integral part of the group, he insists that he turned over leadership of the foundation long ago. Instead, he defers all credit for the success of the organization to the community that adopted his original idea and took it farther than he ever expected.

Am I surprised this has gone on for 25 years? Hord asked last week. Yes, I am. Ideas often have great energy when they start, but they run out of steam or lose momentum. Thats not been the case here.

I do believe that there will be a 50th anniversary and that the Hord Foundation will continue to have an impact long after Im gone, he continued. Its no longer a Hord vision or a Noel vision; its a community vision. Every year when we award the scholarships, it just refuels us and re-energizes.

The foundation will celebrate its landmark anniversary on Saturday at its annual fundraising gala at the The Amber Room Colonnade, which has itself become a staple of the community calendar. The $150-per-plate dinner and silent auction make the evening the foundations largest fundraiser each year. Tickets sold out weeks ago and the waiting list is still growing.

The celebration will include the groups annual awards and speeches from past scholarship recipients. The foundation also will launch the Gabrielle Wings endowment, a new initiative to support services for young children, named in honor of Hords late granddaughter, whose death just before last years gala rocked the community.

The annual fundraiser began as a small dinner party hosted by Hord and his late wife, Cora, at their home in 1988 to raise money for the NAACPs scholarship fund.

That first evening raised $2,700 and convinced the Hords to host it again. By its fourth year, the evening raised $18,000, he said.

In 1993, the NAACP discontinued its scholarship program and the Hords picked up the mantle by founding The Hord Foundation.

Then-IBM executive Johnny Barnes heard about the plan at 7-Eleven when he ran into Cora Hord, who asked him to become one of the foundations original trustees, he recalled last week. He had attended and donated at the Hords previous events and was happy to help, but he had no idea that the foundation would take off as it did.

Barnes has been involved in various ways with the foundation ever since, and on Saturday he will receive the groups Lifetime Achievement Award.

The amount of money we have raised and given out, for as small a community as this is, is always amazing to me, Barnes said.

Current foundation chairman Jerry Walton said the group has succeeded for a full quarter-century because community members stepped in to serve on the board or offer their time working with students.

When we have young people who believe that there are tremendous opporutnities in this world, it makes it a better place for all of us, he said. Its a place where kids dont become discouraged, where everybody thinks theres a better tomorrow and everybody can be part of it.

Three past Hord scholars will present at this years gala: Simone Hill, now an associate director of admissions at Stanford Universitys business school; Andrea Stanford, now a digital product manager at PNC Bank; and Ken Crouch, who now studies at Harvard Law and is one of the Crouch quadruplets who all received Hord scholarships and all attended Yale.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who has attended past galas and hopes to attend Saturday, called the foundations mission inspiring and its scholarships life-changing opportunities for students.

For 25 years, the Hord Foundation has made it possible for students in the greater Danbury area to achieve their education and career goals, Blumenthal said. I wish the foundation another 25 years of making a positive difference in hundreds of students who work hard and deserve a world-class education.

Mayor Mark Boughton, who taught at Danbury High before entering politics, echoed the senators praise.

I watched the foundation develop as a teacher and Ive seen the profound impact its made on students in Danbury, Boughton said. The gift of an education is probably the most incredible gift you can give to somebody, so we, as a city, are incredibly grateful.

As exciting as the milestone anniversary is for Hord, he believes its just the first of many more with continued support of the entire Danbury area.

The community adopted this foundation and has been very supportive, Hord said. Thats why a community this size  were not a New York City, were not a Chicago  has become engaged, because they see the return on this investment.

It takes a village to raise a child, and its really been the village that has given to this foundation; devoted time, talent, money, and the result is affecting not just greater Danbury, but the entire United States.Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc says it will take 12 years to build its prototype small nuclear reactor in the U.K. Rolls-Royce needs as many as five years for the licensing and design assessment process, while construction will take another seven for its first 440-megawatt model, Wood. China is talking about making a couple of new 400 MW deep pool nuclear reactor prototypes within 3 years and then mass producing them by the dozens with 2 years needed to make each one.

Britain is one of several countries assessing the feasibility of building small modular reactors, or SMRs, as they seek cleaner options to coal-fired generation. SMRs are seen as a cheaper and more manageable alternative to giant projects such as the 20 billion-pound ($28 billion) Hinkley Point C in England, which has already run over budget and is several years behind schedule.

China General Nuclear (CGN) and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) are both looking to develop small nuclear (400 MW thermal) reactors for district heating. They are Chinas top two nuclear energy companies.

Information is from China General Nuclear, NEI Magazine, Peoples Daily and China National Nuclear Corporation.

CGN and Tsinghua University are undertaking a feasibility study district heating using domestically-developed NHR200-II low-temperature heating reactor technology.

The NHR200-II low-temperature heating reactor technology is a mature design, which passed a safety review by the National Nuclear Safety Administration in the 1990s, and the design came first in NEAs review of small-scale nuclear reactor technology in 2016.

There was a 15 page technical document describing the NHR200 in 1994.

CGN said the NHR200-II can be used to provide heat, water and steam for applications including residential heating, industrial process heat and supplying remote areas with energy. It is also flexible to location and can be built near to the end-users. Construction would take only two to three years if done on a mass scale.

The NEA (Chinese National Energy Agency) released a five-year plan  covering 2017-2021  highlighting the innovation of clean heating technology and consideration of nuclear heating.

China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC) has already conducted a successful 168-hour trial run in Beijing of a small district heating reactor know as the Yanlong. CNNC put forward the DHR-400 as an alternative heat supplier for the northern region, with each 400MWt unit able to provide heating to 200,000 urban households. The pool-type design comprises a reactor core immersed in a water-filled tank. It will require CNY1.5bn ($226.7m) in investment, take three years to build and could be plugged directly into existing heating network.

District Heating of Northern Chinese Cities

Chinas government agencies, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration have announced a five-year plan to convert 70% of northern cities to mostly natural gas heating instead of coal.

The government has made concrete arrangements regarding geothermal heating, biomass heating, solar heating, gas heating, electric heating, industrial waste heating, and clean coal-fired central heating.

Half of northern China should be converted to clean heating by 2019, reducing bulk coal burning by 74 million tonnes, the reports said. That reduction should reach 150 million tonnes by 2021.

The launch of Yanlong is the first step of CNNCs ambitious plan to boost nuclear heating in north China in the coming years. The organization expects to build pilot nuclear-fired boilers by 2018 before putting them into commercial operation after 2020. (Beijing Review)

A 400-megawatt nuclear heating reactor can generate as much heat per year as the burning of 320,000 tons of coal or 160 million cubic meters of natural gas, and Yanlong releases no carbon dioxide or dust into the air. Yanlong, if used as an alternative to coal-fired or gas-fired boilers of the same supply capacity, will reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by 640,000 tons or 204,600 tons per year.

To produce a gigajoule of heat with a DHR-400 costs just 30-40 yuan ($4.58-6.1), on par with traditional coal-fired boilers, and around 40 percent of the cost to produce the same amount using a gas-fired boiler.When Eric Story and Alison Smith-Story started their winery in 2014, they didn't follow any conventional path. An old saw advises that to make a small fortune in the wine industry, you should start with a large one. That was not an option, so they went the modern way.

"We didn't have an inheritance, and we hadn't started and sold a software company," Alison explains.

So they turned to Kickstarter to create Smith Story Wine Cellars, which now operates out of a custom crush winery in Sonoma County. "We are the first winery we know of to be crowdfunded."

They raised $25,000 in 30 days with the theme "farmers first," pledging to pay a fair price to those who grow the grapes they buy. But as the donations came in, they noticed an interesting trend. A lot of their supporters were followers of an Instagram account they had established for their dog, an improbably large and immeasurably adorable goldendoodle named Lord Sandwich.

"We started getting notes asking, 'When is Sandwich getting his own wine?' " Alison says. "We weren't going to put a dog on the label. No critter wines for us!" But Lord Sandwich, who is "tall as doorknobs" and weighs about 80 pounds, has nearly 65,000 followers on Instagram. A market like that is not to be ignored.

So in 2016, the Storys produced 600 cases of Lord Sandwich Red, a blend of zinfandel, syrah, pinot noir, carignan, grenache and petite sirah. The dog was prominent on the label, and there was a philanthropic twist. It's a nonvintage blend, with each release noted by a paw print on the back label. (The current release of 1,200 cases has two.) For each bottle of Lord Sandwich Red sold, they would donate a pair of socks to a charity. They dubbed the campaign Socks for Sandwich.

Why socks? "All doodles are sock thieves," Alison explained. They thought initially of women and children who are victims of domestic abuse, as well as older foster children, but they also contributed to relief efforts for Hurricane Harvey in Texas and fire recovery efforts in Northern California. They are thinking about starting an emergency fund for animals as an outlet for the Socks for Sandwich campaign.

Alison, 46, grew up in the Dallas area and graduated from Baylor University, where "anytime the lights went on, we had to go to church," she says. And the tradition of tithing "taught me the importance of giving back."

So in a few years, the Storys built a brand by combining crowdfunding, the national obsession with cute pets on social media and a tradition of philanthropy. In addition to the Lord Sandwich wine, they produce a delicious sauvignon blanc from Sonoma County, an elegant pinot noir from Anderson Valley in Mendocino County and a superb cabernet sauvignon from Pickberry Vineyard on Sonoma Mountain. This spring, they will release a Lord Sandwich white wine based on sauvignon blanc. About 70 percent of their wines are sold through their website. The rest are distributed in 12 states, primarily to restaurants.

Eric and Alison met while working in retail at K&L Wine Merchants in Redwood City, California, in 2003. They started dating in 2011, and eloped in 2013 in Hawaii - formerly known as the Sandwich Islands. Of such things a brand is born.

Eric was a buyer of European wines for K&L, and he developed contacts in Germany, France and Austria. So Smith Story wines is not just a California label. They produce two wines from Germany's Rheingau region: a delicious slightly off-dry Riesling and a rose of pinot noir. The latter sells for $20, "but it would probably be $40 if we made it here in California," Alison says. They are planning wines from Austria and the Loire Valley in France.

With the European wines, Smith Story Wine Cellars joins other labels that transcend place to become global brands, focusing on value. Their California bottlings maintain a more traditional focus on place and terroir.

Eric does the winemaking, leaving Alison to handle the marketing, the dog's Instagram account and well, the talking. In the notes of our meeting, I only have him describing the Pickberry cabernet sauvignon as a "late '70s, early '80s version of cabernet" in the style of Ridge Montebello, Mount Eden or Chateau Montelena. And when I mentioned that the wines had a certain energy, he said, "That comes from our relationship with our farmers."

I met the Storys in a gleaming, minimalist multimedia tasting room at Grand Cru Custom Crush, a new facility in Windsor, California, north of Santa Rosa. G3C, as it's called, is already home to 12 wineries. We sat at a high-top bar as photos of Alison, Eric and Lord Sandwich flashed on the screens on the wall. The room could be transformed in an instant to feature any of the other wineries. It had an air of flexibility and agility, if not permanence or tradition, in keeping with this new way of making and marketing wine.

Yet, in the lobby of G3C is a battered old red tractor, a reminder that wine is, after all, an old agricultural tradition. And off to the side I noticed something installed that day: a shiny new water bowl for Lord Sandwich.NORTH HAVEN  Amid talk of businesses leaving Connecticut, First Selectman Michael J. Freda said thats not happening in his town.

Despite what the image may be across Connecticut of businesses leaving or that businesses dont want to come, North Haven will have new businesses, he said. Were going to have sustained business growth, and that growth will be in the industrial, manufacturing, commercial and retail zones.

The largest company coming to town is Amazon, which will need to fill anywhere from 1,800 to 3,000 jobs and will be fully operational in May 2019. Their operation in town not only increases revenue but also helps the surrounding businesses, he said.

In terms of the job creation, whether its Amazon or any other company, any time you can have more people working in what once was vacant, youve got multiplier effects, Freda said. These people are in the town and hadnt been here before. Theyre using the services, whether theyre shopping in stores, purchasing gas, using the dry cleaners or going to lunch at the restaurants.

Local businesses abound near the future Amazon site. They include North Haven Auto Body, Tip Toe Nail Salon, Grand Apizza North, Aircraft Package and Athenia Diner II.

The Breakfast Nook owner Charise Jandreau said she hadnt given much thought about the impact Amazons arrival might have on local businesses, including hers on Washington Avenue, but thinks it is a nice addition for the area.

I hope it will help local businesses, including mine, she said. The biggest benefit is people will be employed and hopefully it will help my business.

Unnati Patel said the Amazon warehouse will help local business, but not her familys Candid Cleaners and Laundromat, which opened 32 years ago. The business has been slowing for years as other businesses have closed and people are less interested in dry cleaning clothes, she said. However, Amazons arrival will help increase customer traffic for the liquor store the family is opening soon.

Its really good for that business and others in town, she said.

Similarly, Chris Kyriakis, owner of Adelphia Cafe on Washington Avenue, said Amazon is gonna be great.

Its going to be good for the town, good for the area, he said. I hope it will help my business. There will be a lot of traffic and a lot of people working there and it will be good for North Haven.

Freda said Amazons arrival has helped attract other companies and hes committed to filling vacant buildings around town. Several projects are unfolding now to begin operation this year.

Under construction is a Range Rover dealership on northern Washington Avenue. The job creation related to that business would see employees making $100,000 a year and over, Freda said, and the business represents a new building on a once-vacant site.

In the wholesale distribution sector, BYK, an additives and instruments supplier currently in Wallingford, is expanding into a vacant 135,000-square-foot building on Stiles Lane. The building was bought by Massachusetts company Calare Properties and BYK could see 80 to 100 jobs created.

Weve seen a lot of progress and well continue to see progress, Freda said. There are many more projects that will come to fruition here. I have a great deal of optimism of filling vacancies in town and that optimism is primarily from being directly involved with every one of these projects.

On State Street, wholesale medical supply company McKesson is coming and on Republic Drive, Alternative Dental Laboratory, which makes and supplies dentures to dental practices, is moving into another vacant building. In the Montowese Avenue section off Exit 9 of Interstate 91, Sherwin Williams is also coming, Freda said.

Two new food establishments are also moving into vacant buildings. One is Bagelicious II, a second location for the restaurant in Cheshire that will take the old Taco Bell building, and an Asian sushi restaurant will fill the vacancy left by the hibachi seafood buffet in the Stop & Shop plaza.

The jobs for these companies are being filled by people living locally and in surrounding towns, Freda said.

When we see these new businesses coming in, they have an effect for North Haven but its also a regional thing where people come from adjacent cities and towns, he said. Im on a mission and that is to continue to bring more businesses in, continue to create more jobs in North Haven and the effect of that is the people who are now working in North Haven will support the existing businesses that are here.NEW HAVEN  Mayor Toni Harp renewed her call Friday for the state to pass legislation removing the statutory 5,600-foot limit on Tweed New Haven Regional Airports main runway length, calling it crucial to the citys and the regions economic future.

The reason that I am coming here today is that we need to get to yes and we need to get to yes now, Harp said in a meeting with the New Haven Register editorial board. Were at a tipping point here, we believe.

She said that in no uncertain terms, Tweeds growth is critical to southern Connecticuts economic future.

Were very grateful to our legislative delegation for opening up the dialogue and their commitment to working with us to find a solution, Harp said. Were also in the process of meeting with legislative leaders to update them on Tweeds progress and ask them for their continued support, including a commitment to pass the necessary legislation to allow us to increase the runway length.

A state statute limiting Tweeds runway length to the current 5,600 feet was passed in 2009 as part of a settlement between former New Haven Mayor John DeSteftano Jr. and former East Haven Mayor April Capone.

As part of the settlement, East Haven withdrew its objections to the installation of federally mandated, unpaved runway safety areas at either end of the runway.

New Haven and Tweed also are fighting to overturn the state statute in federal court, with the case now on appeal after the airport and the city lost at the trial level. The effort to get the General Assembly to remove the 5,600-foot restriction essentially would be another way to achieve the same goal.

New Haven and Tweed also are fighting to overturn the state statute in federal court, with the case now on appeal after the airport and the city lost at the trial level. The effort to get the General Assembly to remove the 5,600-foot restriction essentially would be another way to achieve the same goal.

3 1 of 3 Mark Zaretsky / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Hearst Connecticut Media / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 3





State Senate Democratic President Martin M. Looney of New Haven, whose district includes Tweed and the Morris Cove section of the city bordering it, said Harp first approached him last fall about putting together some kind of community benefits agreement that would compensate neighbors of Tweed for any inconvenience.

He said hes still waiting to hear back about such a package, which would be a necessary precursor to any effort to change the statute limiting Tweeds runway length.

Looney also said there has to be more to the community benefits plan than just the noise mitigation project that already is underway, and were waiting to hear about it. ... We told the city representatives that on a number of occasions.

Nevertheless, I think that certainly the work that has been done on the noise mitigation for the houses closest to the airport has been very helpful, Looney said.

Any statutory change would also have to include consensus with the town of East Haven, as well, as well as the the people who represent East Haven, Looney said, mentioning state Senate Republican President Leonard Fasano of North Haven, and state Rep. Michael Albis, D-East Haven, by name.

He also said that state Rep. Alphonse Paolillo Jr., D-New Haven, who represents Morris Cove, would have to be on board.

I would think that the community benefits would be something that Yale University might contribute to, certainly the towns in the Greater New Haven area, the COG, Looney said. It shouldnt fall just on the city of New Haven.

Fasano could not immediately be reached for comment.

Harp said that not resolving this issue time after time has affected our ability as a city to grow  but not just our city  as a region to grow. Resolving this issue is critical to the regions future growth, she said.

We need an accessible airport for the world-class talent that we need here if we are to grow, Harp said, flanked by Tweed New Haven Airport Authority Chairman John Picard, Ginny Kozlowski, executive director of REX Development, Tweed Authority Executive Director Tim Larson and city Economic Development Administrator Matthew Nemerson.

We have one of the most underserved markets in the country  1.2 million in the Greater New Haven region, Harp said. Over 4 million passengers live closer to Tweed than any other airport.

But half of the air travelers in our region go to New York or New Jersey airports to travel by air, and 38 percent go to Bradley, she said. Taxes and dollars can be kept in the state of Connecticut, versus leaking them out to neighboring states.

A two-airport Connecticut strategy, with Bradley and Tweed, best positions our state to retain the majority of our own passengers, Harp said.

As of Nov. 29, 2017, Tweed has as new level of jet service ... American Eagle began replacing its 37-seat Dash 8 turboprop service with 50-seat CRJ200 regional jet aircraft and they have been full, and I think thats the real story, she said. The jet upgrade offers travelers a smoother and quieter traveling experience, while also offering an additional 78 seats a day to and from Americans global hub of Philadephia.

The new service clearly demonstrates Americans confidence in the Greater New Haven market, but theres still more work to be done to strengthen Tweed and make it the economic engine that our region so desperately needs, Harp said.

With a longer runway, Tweed can bring more airlines, more destinations and more non-stop flights, she said. American Airlines is showing great confidence in our market at this time and we really need to take advantage of that.

Over the years, industry standards for airports have changed, Harp said.

She said that support of Tweed from area business also is crucial.

During this crucial point in time, were asking business owners to support Tweed by flying out of it, Harp said. Were asking regional business owners to make every effort to fly Tweed. ... One of the things that we heard when Alexion left and they took their sales force with them was that they wanted to be closer to an airport.

Kozlowski said she believes the lack of adequate, convenient air service was a factor in the unsuccessful joint effort by New Haven, Bridgeport and their neighbors to attract Amazons proposed second corporate headquarters.

During that effort, one of the criteria was, you need to be within 50 miles of an international airport, Kozlowski said.

When Kozlowski speaks to other business considering the area, one of the first questions is, How easy is it to get here? and What is your airport situation? she said.

Picard said that with both Alexion Pharmarceuticals and the General Electric corporate headquarters, one of the reasons they left was because of the airport.

For the greater good of Connecticut, I dont see why a two-airport solution wouldnt work, he said, adding later, Lets not forget that Tweed is subsidized by the state for $1.5 million. ... It would be nice if Tweed could be self-sufficient.

Larson said the region is very well poised right now to see growth at Tweed and I truly believe that the opportunity to expand our runway would facilitate that.

Nemerson said that in business, People will just not move to an area that doesnt have a good airport.NORTH HAVENPolice were called to a restaurant on Universal Drive Friday night after staff members found heroin inside a patrons bag, according to a Tweet on the departments social media page.

Red Lobster staff had noticed that a patron left a bag behind in the restaurant, and they were frightened when they found the heroin in it, police said. They called police, who identified 100 small bags of heroin inside the bag.MILFORD  Dennis G. Hazard, 27, of New Haven, was sent to prison Friday for 28 years, suspended after 15 served, for the gunpoint robbery of a West Haven storage facility two years ago.

Hazard was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Peter L. Brown for first-degree robbery, threat with a firearm, as a persistent dangerous felony offender, a charge to which he admitted. Hazard also must serve five years of probation.

Pre-sentencing report

Before handing down the sentence, the judge said a number of things jumped out at him in the pre-sentencing report.

He pointed out that Hazard was very intelligent and tried to take advantage of opportunities. He wanted to take an EMT class with a fire department; he was in a scholars program at Wilbur Cross High School; and he worked with his fathers general contracting business. The judge said he didnt see any mental health issues, just some marijuana use.

But Hazard was subjected to things in childhood. Its sad. It shouldnt have happened, Brown said.

Also, he committed a first-degree robbery in 2010, Brown said.

Prosecution

Supervisory Assistant States Attorney Cornelius P. Kelly laid out the states case.

Hazard was found guilty by a jury Dec. 6 of robbery in the first and second degrees, Kelly said. Hazard also has cases pending from robbery charges in May 2016 in Berlin and Wallingford.

In the West Haven heist, Hazard pulled a handgun and demanded money from a clerk at a public storage facility at 168 Bull Hill Lane, around noon May 5, 2016. He took off in a tan car, but was spotted by West Haven officers, West Haven police said at the time.

The clerk suffered some issues initially related to having a gun pointed at her, Kelly told the judge.

Officers followed Hazard to Valleybrook Road, where he lost control of the car, they said at the time. The vehicle was totaled, Kelly said.

The chase continued on foot. Hazard ran, followed by West Haven and Orange officers, along with West Haven police K-9 Cody, police said at the time. Police found Hazard in a nearby dollar store. He was buying some flip-flops, as he had lost his shoes, Kelly said.

The pursuit caused a brief lockdown at a day-care facility on Bull Hill Lane, West Haven, police said at the time. They said they retrieved the money and handgun inside the car.

At the time, Hazard was on probation from a robbery he committed as a youth, Kelly said.

While seeking prison for Hazard, Kelly said he hoped Hazard would take advantage of programs offered by the state Department of Correction so he could better himself.

Defense

Public Defender Susan Brown pointed to Hazards age, 18, when he committed the first robbery, and said the human brain doesnt develop until the person is 25 or 26 years old.

The whole time his brain was developing, he was incarcerated, Susan Brown said.

Hazard was working, going to a community college where his mother was also a student, hoping to marry his girlfriend and trying to be a role model for his siblings, she said.

Hazard is soft-spoken, very articulate and extremely intelligent, she said. He is a man of potential.

He suffered lead poisoning and physical and verbal abuse. In nearly two years of incarceration since his arrest, his only visitors have been his defense team. None of that excuses his behavior, she said, but are impediments. She asked the judge to consider Hazards struggles when passing sentence.

Hazard has been held at the Hartford Correctional Center since his arrest about two years ago and will get credit for time served.NORTH HAVEN  A new telephone scam that preys on parents with teenage children has surfaced in North Haven, adding the municipality to a growing list of towns that have fallen victim to the terrifying new fad.

In recent weeks, towns like Easton, Monroe, Ansonia, Seymour, Darien and now North Haven have fallen victim to a new telephone scam that involves a suspect calling unsuspecting parents and claiming that their child is being held for ransom.

Scammers will claim that the victims child has been involved in a motor vehicle accident, police said. The suspect typically will tell parents the child attempted to contact police, but the driver of the other car kidnapped the child and is threatening to kill him or her.

Police said the suspect will then claim that if you provide money for the damage to the car, your child will be released unharmed. The suspect will tell you to go to the bank, and he will direct you from there where to bring the money.

On Friday, North Haven police took to their Facebook account to inform residents on how to avoid the scam.

During these calls, you may hear what sounds like your child calling for help in the background. The calls are very realistic, and the suspect is hoping your emotions will cloud your best judgement, North Haven police wrote.

Police officials said residents should never panic and give in to the demands. Officials said never to send money to an unknown person, regardless of the situation.

So far, North Haven police said potential victims have managed to contact their children prior to the exchange of money.

Residents who receive calls of this nature are advised to document the incoming phone number and to contact their local police department as soon as possible.Two of the nation's biggest drug distributors shipped 12.3 million doses of powerful opioids to a single pharmacy in a tiny West Virginia town over an eight-year period, a congressional committee revealed Thursday.

The Family Discount Pharmacy in Mount Gay-Shamrock received the drugs from McKesson Corp. and Cardinal Health between 2006 and 2014, according to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The committee is investigating the sale of pills in West Virginia by wholesale drug distributors, which are required by law to monitor and report to the Drug Enforcement Administration suspicious purchase orders for opioids. When they do not, millions of pills can be diverted to users and dealers from a single pharmacy.

The new data is included in letters sent by the committee Thursday to the "Big Three" drug distributors - McKesson, Cardinal and AmerisourceBergen - demanding more information on the steps they took during those years to keep drugs off the black market.

The committee said it had analyzed data provided by the DEA to determine that Cardinal Health sent Family Discount more than 6.5 million hydrocodone and oxycodone pills between 2008 and 2012. It said McKesson sent the pharmacy 5.8 million pills between 2006 and 2014. Smaller distributors also sold narcotics to the drugstore - in a rural town with 1,779 residents in 2010 - bringing the total to nearly 16.6 million by 2016.

McKesson is the fifth-largest company in the United States, with revenue of more than $192 billion, according to the Fortune 500 list. Cardinal ranked 15th on the list, with $121 billion in revenue.

West Virginia has by far the highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the United States, at 52 people per 100,000 in 2016.

"We need detailed answers and documents from these national distributors as to why large volumes of opioids were distributed to certain areas of the state," the committee's chairman, Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., and ranking Democrat, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., said in a statement. "West Virginians and families devastated by the opioid crisis all over the country deserve answers."

On Jan. 26, in letters to two smaller distributors, the committee cited data showing that wholesalers collectively sent 20.8 million doses of the painkillers to two pharmacies four blocks apart in Williamson, W.Va., a town of 2,900 people.

A spokesperson for Cardinal Health said in an email that "we can confirm that we received a letter from the House Energy & Commerce Committee and we look forward to cooperating with them in the future." AmerisourceBergen spokesman Gabe Weissman said in a statement that the company anticipates an "ongoing conversation with the committee while continuing our work with regulators, enforcement agencies and other participants in the health care system to do our part in combating prescription drug abuse."

McKesson Corp. did not reply to a request for comment.

In a separate report this week, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., showed that five drug manufacturers paid more than $10 million to patient advocacy groups and doctors who promoted painkillers, potentially exacerbating the nation's opioid crisis.

The report shows how the pharmaceutical industry funneled money to organizations that, in some cases, downplayed the risks of opioid use and promoted their use. Some of the groups criticized guidelines on opioid prescribing issued in 2016 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and attempted to limit accountability for overprescribing by lobbying against laws. They also minimized the risk of addiction.

That alignment of medicine and industry "may have played a significant role in creating the necessary conditions for the U.S. opioids epidemic, " McCaskill's report said.

According to the report, five manufacturers - Purdue Pharma, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Depomed, Insys Therapeutics and Mylan - gave the money to more than a dozen groups focused on pain. Purdue, which manufactures OxyContin, gave about half the contributions, including more than $1 million to the Academy of Integrative Pain Management and more than $700,000 to the American Academy of Pain Medicine.

Purdue, in a statement, said it has supported third-party organizations "that are interested in helping patients receive appropriate care and share our commitment toward addressing the opioid crisis."

Bob Twillman, executive director of the Academy of Integrative Pain Management, said his organization has tried to improve access to non-opioid pain relief while ensuring that patients who desperately need narcotics are able to obtain them. The American Academy of Pain Medicine said its policies do not allow "our education and advocacy positions to be compromised by outside influences."

Insys, whose founder was charged with a "nationwide conspiracy" to illegally distribute the powerful painkiller fentanyl, gave $2.5 million to the U.S. Pain Foundation. Both said the donation was made to a fund for cancer patients.

The report's authors say it probably reveals only a fraction of the money opioid manufacturers have spent to lobby on behalf of their products.

In statements, Depomed said it believes it acted responsibly and Janssen said it stopped developing and promoting opioid products in 2015. Mylan said it played a "minuscule" role in manufacturing and marketing opioids. It called McCaskill's report "irresponsible" and part of a "political agenda."The decision was published on Jan. 16 but was not made public until Thursday.

Google made clear that Mr. Damore had violated its policies on harassment and discrimination when he argued, for example, that women were more prone to neuroticism, meaning that they exhibited higher anxiety and a lower tolerance for stress, the labor agency said.

Employers have a strong interest in promoting diversity and encouraging employees across diverse demographic groups to thrive in their workplaces. In furtherance of these legitimate interests, employers must be permitted to nip in the bud the kinds of employee conduct that could lead to a hostile workplace, rather than waiting until an actionable hostile workplace has been created before taking action, Ms. Sophir wrote.

The decision said numerous Google employees had complained to human relations about Mr. Damores memo and two potential engineering candidates withdrew their names from consideration because of what he wrote. Google declined to comment on Friday, while Mr. Damore and his lawyer did not respond to emails seeking comment.

Mr. Damore and his lawyer withdrew his labor complaint about a week after the memo was published in January. Earlier in January, Mr. Damore sued Google for workplace discrimination, claiming that Google is biased against white men with conservative views. The suit, filed along with another former Google employee, also claims that the company uses illegal quotas to hire women and minorities.As the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., stokes the national debate over firearms, it may be easy to overlook another major development in the gun world this week.

One of the nations oldest and largest gun makers, Remington, said it was nearing a bankruptcy filing.

Hit with slumping sales and unable to sell itself, Remington has negotiated a deal with its lenders to cut its debt and keep operating.

Other gun makers are also struggling. Colt completed its trip through bankruptcy last year, while sales and profits at Smith & Wessons parent company have plummeted and its stock price is sagging. All three companies make a version of the AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle, which was used by the killer in Parkland on Wednesday and is the weapon of choice for mass shootings.



Kohima, February 17 : Just 10-day left for the assembly polls in Nagaland, poll violence incident has been reported from the poll bound state.





According to the reports, a National Peoples Party (NPP) candidate has been reportedly attacked by an unidentified miscreant in Nagalands Mokokchung town on Friday evening.





NPP candidate from 28 Koridang assembly constituency in Mokochung district T Chalukumba Ao was attacked by an unidentified miscreant was thwarted by the quick response of his bodyguard, a Nagaland police constable on Friday evening at Mokokchung town.





The incident was took place at New Market area of Mokokchung Town while the NPP the candidate had stopped at the market area to purchase from a shop.





While the NPP candidate entered at the shop after attending a prayer meeting at a Baptist church at Impur, one of two miscreants had allegedly fired upon him and the bodyguard from Nagaland police had retaliated and firing several rounds blank fire and unidentified miscreant had fled from the area.





Nagaland Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma said that, police has taken the matter seriously and started investigation into the incident.





The DGP also announced cash reward to the Nagaland police constable who saved life of the NPP candidate.





Nagaland is going to hold the assembly polls on February 27 and 195 candidates are in fray.





On the other hand, 14 cases have been registered in connection with election related offences in the poll bound state.



It was one of the more striking responses from the news media to Wednesdays killings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., an attack that quickly revived the national debate over restricting access to guns, and why politicians have taken few steps to do so.

The shift by The Post, among the friendlier news organizations toward Mr. Trump, was seen by proponents of gun control as a potentially favorable development.

In October, after a gunman killed dozens of people at a concert in Las Vegas, the paper editorialized that a 1990s-era assault weapon ban was merely cosmetic, and noted that mass shootings accounted for a fraction of domestic firearm-related deaths.

In Fridays paper, The Post devoted two full pages to an editorial that called for, among other gun-control measures, the reinstatement of the 1994 federal ban on various assault weapons, which expired in 2004. Mr. President, this is your moment, the paper wrote, urging Mr. Trump to prove how much you truly want to curb the carnage.

Another Murdoch-owned outlet, however, showed no sign of championing gun control measures.

FoxNews.com published a tough critique of other networks coverage of the shootings, noting that the major network newscasts cited a statistic from an anti-gun group, Everytown for Gun Safety, that 18 school shootings had occurred this year. As other outlets, including The Washington Post, have pointed out, that statistic included a suicide at a closed school and an incident when gunshots were fired in a high school parking lot but no one was injured.So Ill go to as many trapeze classes I can fit in, since once I get on the plane to Milan all exercise goes out the window, and Ill spend the weekend with my family getting my Olympic fix, especially of Johnny Weir, who is throwing some serious fashion shade (I actually think his outfits were more interesting than a lot of the shows in New York). I try, in other words, to remind myself of the context in which all these clothes function.

To that end, check out these Black Panther stories, check in with Leslie Joness Olympic fashion criticism, and spend 48 hours with the designer Prabal Gurung to see what Fashion Week is like from the other side. Talk to you from Milan!

Your Style Questions, Answered

Every week on Open Thread, Vanessa will answer a readers fashion-related question, which you can send to her anytime via email or Twitter. Questions are edited and condensed.

Q: Is there such a thing as a fashionable puffer coat? I need something light and warm for the chilly Los Angeles nights and for when I spend five weeks in N.Y. in the fall. I wear a lot of sweaters that come down to my mid thighs. I am a 70-year-old artist and I am looking for something interesting (but no belts, please!)  Eileen, Santa Monica

A: Take it from this similarly belt-adverse person: yes, absolutely. In fact, fashion has developed something of a thing for puffers. I literally just saw a puffer wrap on the Michael Kors runway, and some pretty great shearling trimmed puffers at Tory Burch.

Those wont be in stores til August though, so for some more immediate gratification, I asked Ts style director, Malina Joseph Gilchrist, what she would recommend. Heres what she said: Look at Moncler and Marques Almeida for more fashionable options. Moncler cuts for women where the waist is taken in and gives a more fashionable shape, sans belt. Marques Almeida has been incorporating puffer coats on the runway. Other good options are Norma Kamalis sleeping bag jacket, which was stylish in the 80s and is still good today. Or try Uniqlo, and opt for their knee-length quilted thinner down jacket.

Id also add another Italian brand that is less expensive than Moncler (though not cheap), as an option. I was standing outside a show the other day and chatting to another critic when I started admiring her puffer  silky, with a wide turtle neck a la Audrey Hepburn  and asked where it was from: Herno was the answer. You learn a lot waiting for a show to start.  VANESSA FRIEDMANNew York States highest court has tossed out a murder indictment against a man who sat on Rikers Island for more than six years awaiting trial, ruling the delay was caused by the Manhattan district attorneys office, which kept him locked up as it struggled to bolster its case against him.

In its split decision on Thursday, the New York Court of Appeals wrote in unusually pointed language that incarceration should generally follow conviction, not precede it. The courts decision, which cited the defendants constitutional right to a speedy trial, was issued less than a month after a federal appeals court in New York vacated a marijuana distribution charge against a man from Cattaraugus, N.Y., who spent seven years in jail and never went to trial.

The state courts 4-to-3 ruling came in the case of Reginald Wiggins, who was charged in May 2008 with fatally shooting a 15-year-old boy at a Sweet 16 party on West 90th Street in Manhattan. Mr. Wiggins, who was 16 at the time, was denied bail and was sent to Rikers Island, where he was locked up for years as Manhattan prosecutors tried to get his co-defendant in the shooting, Jamal Armstead, to testify against him.

Mr. Armstead had also been charged with murder, accused by the prosecutors of trying to take the first shot at the victim and handing the gun to Mr. Wiggins when it failed to fire. Even though Mr. Armstead repeatedly indicated through his lawyer that he would never testify against Mr. Wiggins, the ruling said, prosecutors spent two-and-a-half years  from January 2009 to June 2011  trying to secure his cooperation.Mr. Richardson, 33, was indicted on a felony animal-cruelty charge, prosecutors said Friday. If convicted, he faces up to two years in prison.

Image Onyx, the dog that was stabbed and killed, as a puppy. Credit... Bronx district attorney's office

This is an incredibly vicious crime, the Bronx district attorney, Darcel Clark, said in a statement. Cruelty against animals will not be tolerated.

According to the district attorney, Onyxs owner stopped by Mr. Richardsons apartment on Fulton Avenue in the Claremont Village neighborhood on the day of the killing to check up on Onyx as she often did, and found the 54-pound dog dead in the bathtub.

Around the same time, prosecutors said, someone in the building called 311 to report animal abuse. An officer, Anthony Alvino of the 42nd Precinct, was dispatched.

The criminal complaint condenses Mr. Richardsons statement to the officer, in sum and substance, as follows:

We went to the park and were playing. The dog bit me, I hit the dog a couple of times. The dog left and I walked back home. When I got home I saw the dog. I picked up the dog, put him in the bathtub and took him out of his misery.He had climbed with Robbins, Dean Fidelman, a Stonemaster who also made his name as a photographer, said in Valley Uprising, a 2014 documentary about climbing in Yosemite. He had climbed with everyone. That passion and commitment was something that we were looking for.

Mr. Bridwell was a teacher to the younger (though not much younger) climbers who congregated at a Yosemite site that became known as Camp 4. He was also one of the creators of the first formal Yosemite search and rescue team, volunteering his skills to park officials in exchange for a campsite. And, in those brash and colorful years in the 1970s, when the Stonemasters were drawing attention in the news media, he was a fashion coordinator.

Bridwell kinda dictated the dress, Dale Bard, a climber who arrived at Yosemite in 1971, was quoted as saying in a 2016 interview with GQ magazine. When we were doing special routes, Bridwell actually would dress us. It was for pictures, photo ops, that kind of stuff, to make us stand out, to look as rebellious as possible.

That meant loud shirts (though the male Stonemasters often went shirtless) and colorful headbands holding back free-flowing locks.

Mr. Bridwell was known for enhancing his climbing experiences with hallucinogens.

That was still when we had good drugs  you know, psychedelics, he recalled in the documentary. It was a definite fearlessness that comes with that liberation of the personality.Lerone Bennett Jr., a historian and journalist who wrote extensively on race relations and black history and was a top editor at Ebony magazine for decades, died on Wednesday in Chicago. He was 89.

The cause was advanced vascular dementia, Ebony said on its website.

Mr. Bennett was both lyrical and outspoken in his writing, arguing that the history of black people in the United States had been ignored or told only through a white filter.

His best-known book was Before the Mayflower, drawn from a series of articles for Ebony and first published in 1962. (Revised editions were still being published decades later.) In it he noted that the first blacks arrived in the colonies in 1619, the year before the Mayflower did, on a ship that reached Jamestown, Va. He wrote of that same arrival in a 1992 article in Ebony.We are witnessing a slow but insistent and intentional process of undermining the courts so that they will not enforce the Constitution against the executive and the legislature, Sarah Cleveland, the American member of the Venice Commission and a law professor at Columbia University, told me. Its a process of death by 1,000 cuts.

The death involved could be that of constitutional governance and Polands democracy itself.

Several things need to be said here. The first is that Poland, by far the largest of the formerly Communist Central European nations that joined the European Union and NATO, has gone from poster child of liberty to standard-bearer of nationalist reaction, propelled by the phantasms of migrant waves and European Union interference manipulated by Kaczynski. It is an extraordinary volte-face. It is also testimony to how illusory the triumph of liberalism in 1989 has proved under the pressure of globalization.

The second is that Donald Trumps United States, potentially the chief bulwark against illiberalisms rise, has gone AWOL. He gave Kaczynski and the nationalists a pass during his visit to Poland in July. Indeed, the president has been conducting his own campaign against an independent judiciary. Hes called the American criminal justice system a laughingstock and a joke, dismissed the legal system as broken, insulted judges, called for quick strong justice (read the death penalty), and labeled courts as political. The impression Trump leaves is that hed be happy with Vladimir Putins law courts, Xi Jinpings press, and Rodrigo Dutertes war on drugs.

All this, of course, has empowered the likes of the Polish government. Anyone who seriously believes Trump is innocuous through incompetence on the world stage should think again.

The third is that Poland and Hungary, countries for which the European Union was a sanctuary from oppression as they emerged from Communism, now pose a direct challenge to a Union that rests on the principles of democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights.

A formal European procedure has been initiated that could lead to the loss of Polands voting rights within the Union; it should be pursued with vigor. Poland and Hungary cannot be allowed to sabotage without cost the club of which they have been, and remain, such conspicuous beneficiaries.

The fourth is the most serious. Independent courts (like a free press) hold power to account; they establish facts and truth. In their absence, the way is opened to Michniks guillotine and the gulag. When truth goes, so does freedom.We hope a trial of these two dangerous men would lead to the capture of others, equally culpable, who seek to hide amid frightened refugees, and to an end to the impunity that allowed the Islamic State to spread. When such hate-filled perpetrators are captured, brought to a public trial and held accountable for their evil deeds, we hope their contagious hatred will begin to abate. It is a necessary first step.

As the heartbroken parents of Jim, Steven, Peter and Kayla, we beseech our government to insist that Mr. Kotey and Mr. Elsheikh receive a fair and public trial either in the federal criminal courts of the United States or the International Criminal Court in The Hague. When crimes like these are made public, victims like us can be heard and begin to heal. The accused will hear how their crimes have destroyed others, and perhaps even begin to repent. And we can hope that justice will put an end to such crimes against humanity.

These men should face justice in a public courtroom because they are criminals, not soldiers. They imprisoned unarmed civilians, then sadistically abused and murdered them. They are cowards, not warriors. The Islamic State is a delusional and exploitative cult, not a state.

Our first choice would be to try them in a federal criminal court, where they belong because their victims were Americans. Force them to be judged by a jury of our compatriots. Give them the fair trial that makes our nation great. Let that show the world how wrong the Islamic State is about America. That would be the best way to honor our children.

As parents who have lost children to violence, we also ask for life imprisonment for these men. Execution could be misconstrued as martyrdom, perpetuating violence and diminishing Americas stature as a defender of human rights.

If, as a nation, we truly believe that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, then let us be above the brutality and hatred of the Islamic State.Had Wednesdays massacre of 17 people at a Florida high school been different in one respect  that is, had alleged perpetrator Nikolas Cruz shouted Allahu akbar during the course of his rampage  conservatives would be demanding another round of get-tough measures.

Tougher immigration laws. Tougher domestic surveillance. A rollback of Miranda rights for the accused. Possibly even a Muslim registry. Constitutional protections and American ideals, goes the argument, must sometimes yield to urgent public safety concerns.

But Cruz, like Las Vegass Stephen Paddock or Newtowns Adam Lanza and so many other mass murderers before them, is just another killer without a cause. Collectively, their carnages account for some 1,800 deaths and close to 7,000 injuries in the United States since the beginning of 2013, according to The Guardian  though thats only a small fraction of overall gun-related deaths. And conservatives have next to nothing of use to say about it.

Well, almost nothing. Some conservatives talk about the importance of mental-health interventions with the potentially violent. Florida Gov. Rick Scott wants to keep firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill. The Obama administration tried to do that after the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre by requiring the Social Security Administration to submit the names of severely unwell persons to the F.B.I.After the election, they continued to spread confusion and chaos, staging rallies both for and against Mr. Trump, in one case on the same day and in the same city.

All along, they took steps to cover their tracks by stealing the identities of real Americans, opening accounts on American-based servers and lying about what their money was being used for. Last September, after Facebook turned over information about Russian ad purchases to the special counsel, a specialist named Irina Kaverzina emailed a family member: We had a slight crisis here at work: the FBI busted our activity (not a joke). So, I got preoccupied with covering tracks together with the colleagues. Ms. Kaverzina continued, I created all these pictures and posts, and the Americans believed that it was written by their people.

Fake news, indeed.

Mr. Trumps defenders, desperate to exculpate him, seized on a single word  unwitting  that the indictment used to describe certain members, volunteers and supporters of the Trump campaign involved in local community outreach who had interacted with the Russians.

In other words, as the White House subtly put it in a statement on Friday, NO COLLUSION. The president repeated the claim himself in a tweet, grudgingly acknowledging Russias anti-US campaign, but emphasizing that it had started long before I announced that I would run for President. The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong  no collusion!

Its true that, as Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said in an announcement, these particular indictments do not allege that any American knew about the influence campaign, nor that the campaign had changed the outcome of the election. But thats quite different from saying that there was no collusion or impact on the election. As Mr. Rosenstein also said, the special counsels investigation is continuing, and there are many strands the public still knows little or nothing about.

Remember, Mr. Mueller has already secured two guilty pleas, one from Mr. Trumps former national security adviser and another from a former campaign adviser, for lying to federal authorities about their connections to Russian government officials. He has also charged Mr. Trumps former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and his top aide, Rick Gates, with crimes including money laundering. Mr. Gates appears to be nearing a plea deal himself.

Then there were Russian cyberattacks on the elections systems of at least 39 states. And the hacking of emails sent among members of the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton campaign  which Mr. Trump openly encouraged.

This is all going to happen again. Intelligence and law enforcement authorities have made that clear. The question is whether Mr. Trump will at last accept the fact of Russian interference and take aggressive measures to protect American democracy. For starters, he could impose the sanctions on Russia that Congress overwhelmingly passed, and that he signed into law, last summer. Of course, this would require him to overcome his mysterious resistance to acting against Russia and to focus on protecting his own country.



LAHORE - A Pakistan court on Monday charged a man with raping and murdering a young girl in a case that enraged the country and sparked major riots in his home district.





Imran Ali, 24, pleaded not guilty to the offences against six-year-old Zainab Fatima Ameen in the Punjab city of Kasur last month, said defence lawyer Mehr Shakeel Multani.





"The police have levelled baseless and false allegations against my client," Multani told AFP.





The hearing was held in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat prison for security reasons. Witnesses will be called on Tuesday.





Zainab's murder last month sparked outrage across Pakistan, with riots erupting in Kasur as thousands swarmed police stations and set fire to politicians' homes, while Pakistanis took to social media demanding action.





The killing sparked calls for the public execution of Ali after officials said his DNA had been recovered from the scene of the crime and matched samples from similar cases.





At least four other cases of rape and murder have been recorded in the Kasur area in the past two years, but it is not yet clear if they are linked.



They hide behind Twitter hashtags, Facebook ads and fake news stories. Theyre the work of bots and trolls, and one of the most skilled countries at deploying them is Russia. So how do these entities actually work to spread disinformation? We asked two experts. This is St. Petersburg-based activist Ludmila Savchuk. She has tracked disinformation campaigns and even gone undercover to learn how they work. And this is Ben Nimmo, a London-based analyst who focuses on information warfare. Lets define whats what. A bot is short for robot. Its an automated social media account that operates without human intervention. During the 2016 presidential election, suspected Russian operators created bots on Twitter to promote hashtags like #WarAgainstDemocrats. A troll is an actual human being, motivated by passion or a paycheck to write social media posts that push an agenda. In 2015, Savchuk worked undercover for over two months at a troll factory in Russia that has gone by many names, including Glavset and the Internet Research Agency. Troll accounts are usually anonymous or pretend to be someone else, like hipsters or car repairmen. But it can even get stranger. Trolls can also set up bots to amplify a message. Facebook is one common platform for Russian trolls and bots, which, in 2016, used fake accounts to influence U.S. elections. Heres how some experts think that played out. American officials suspect Russian intelligence agents of using phishing attacks to obtain emails damaging to the Hillary Clinton campaign. They then, allegedly, created a site called DCLeaks.com to publish them. A troll on Facebook, using the name Melvin Redick, was one of the first to hype the site, saying it contained the hidden truth about Hillary Clinton. An army of bots on Twitter then promoted the DC Leaks, and in one case, even drove a #HillaryDown hashtag into a trending topic. Facebook believes that ads on divisive issues created by Russian trolls were shown to Americans over four million times before the elections. Russian-linked trolls and bots also tried to exploit divisive issues and undermine faith in public institutions. Federal investigators and experts believed Russian trolls created Facebook groups like Blacktivist, which reposted videos of police beatings, or another, Secured Borders, which organized anti-immigrant rallies in real life. Today, Russia hopes to win the second Cold War through the force of politics as opposed to the politics of force. How can you stop them? You cant. Even Vladimir Putin seems to agree. But IDing their tactics helps contain their influence. If a suspicious account is active during the workday in St. Petersburg or posting dozens of items a day, those are red flags. Decode the anonymity. Look for alphanumeric scrambles in a users name, and try Googling its profile picture. Look at the language. If an account makes grammar mistakes typical for Russian speakers, or changes behavior during times of strained Russian-U.S. relations, then congratulations. You might have caught a bot or pro-Kremlin troll.POMPANO BEACH, Fla.  President Trump made an unannounced visit on Friday to a hospital here to console victims of a school shooting in nearby Parkland, Fla., one of the deadliest mass shootings of his presidency, before meeting with law enforcement officials.

Its very sad something like that could happen, a solemn Mr. Trump told reporters who had gathered at the hospital, Broward Health North. In his public remarks, the president focused on praising law enforcement officials and doctors; he hailed the speed of emergency medical workers as record setting.

The presidents visit came as students at schools nationwide were on edge, and as an intense debate waged among lawmakers and public officials about gun restrictions.

Criticism has also been directed at Mr. Trump, who has so far focused on the mental health of the suspect, Nikolas Cruz, rather than on Mr. Cruzs access to an AR-15-style rifle that he had legally obtained at a gun shop.Over the course of just eight days, a kind of mini world war played out inside Syria. Conflict intensified, involving major players like the U.S., Russia, Turkey, Israel and Iran. Kurds, rebel groups, and forces loyal to Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad also got involved. Heres how one of the most chaotic weeks in the Syrian war unfolded. Saturday, Feb. 3. A Russian airplane is shot down over Idlib province, apparently by anti-Assad rebels. Sunday, Feb. 4. Pro-Assad forces bomb the same province. A suspected chemical attack is reported by doctors in rural Idlib. Rebels blame the Syrian regime. Monday, Feb. 5. Russians launch airstrikes targeting Eastern Ghouta, a rebel held area near the capital, Damascus, leaving more than 100 dead over the next several days. Tuesday, Feb. 6. The U.N. calls for a cease-fire, saying Syria faces an extreme humanitarian crisis. Syrians say Israeli warplanes fired missiles near Damascus. Fighting continues between Turks and Kurds in the Kurdish majority region of Afrin. And Turkey restates that from there, it will push 80 miles further into Manbij, a Kurdish-held city with a U.S. military presence. Wednesday, Feb. 7. Top U.S. generals visit an American base near Manbij, in what was seen as a direct message to Turkey, a NATO ally, to keep its distance. Pro-Assad forces attack U.S.-backed fighters in Eastern Syria. The U.S. launches a rare air assault in response. At least 100 pro-Assad troops, including Russian mercenaries, are presumed dead. Thursday, Feb. 8. Rebels and civilians continue to suffer withering air assaults in Eastern Ghouta. Some of the worst of the seven-year civil war. Saturday, Feb. 10. An Israeli F-16 crashes in northern Israel, after coming under heavy fire by the Syrian military. Israel said it had shot down an Iranian drone that entered its airspace after being launched from Syria. A Turkish helicopter is also shot down by Kurdish fighters. Two pilots are killed and seven other Turks die in fighting. Its the highest one day death toll since the Turkish incursion in Syria. All of this played out against the backdrop of the continuing U.S. mission to defeat ISIS  a fight that remains ongoing, even as other conflicts arise.On a Sunday evening a few weeks back, Shobana Ram was loading the dishwasher in her kitchen in Queens when her 85-year-old father-in-law rose from the dinner table, carrying his cane in one hand and an empty plate in the other.

From the corner of my eye, I saw him stumble and lose his balance, recalled Ms. Ram. I saw the cane fly out of his hand. His head hit the corner of our granite countertop.

She dialed 911 and thought, not for the first time, how fortunate it was that in 2016 she and her husband sold their house and bought one big enough to accommodate six people: themselves, their two teenagers and his ailing parents, plus the family dog.

Her mother-in-law, who has dementia, would not have been able to phone for help. In this case, after emergency room scans, her father-in-law was miraculously OK, said Ms. Ram, 48.When the deadliest fire in New York City in more than 25 years ripped through the apartment building where Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah lived, he made a choice.

Instead of escaping unharmed to live out his life as a newly minted soldier and American citizen, Private Mensah, 26, went back inside to rescue his neighbors, ultimately paying with his life. He was among the 13 victims of the December fire, including five members of a family rooted in Jamaica, five other immigrants from his native Ghana, a woman from Puerto Rico and her infant granddaughter. The blaze was started by a 3-year-old boy playing with a stove.

On Saturday, a white hearse bearing a picture of his smiling face in the rear window carried him to the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in the Bronx, where it was met by a line of soldiers offering their salute. Bagpipers played Amazing Grace, while on a nearby corner, two fire trucks hoisted an American flag over the center lanes of East 187th Street.

The soldiers father, Kwabena Mensah, and four siblings were among the mourners looking on as his light blue coffin, draped in an American flag, was taken inside the church, where the flag was temporarily replaced with a white cloth.A staff member and two patients, one of whom was pregnant, were hurt in the crash on Wednesday.

We are pleased that only minor injuries occurred, Planned Parenthood said in a statement. The organization said there was extensive damage to the waiting room and the clinic would be closed for several weeks.

The stolen truck belonged to a Newark bakery, the authorities said.

Mr. Alcius pleaded not guilty in a court appearance on Friday. He is being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, and his next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 21.

This month, New Jersey state lawmakers voted to restore millions of dollars in funding for health and family planning clinics. The funding had been cut under the administration of Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican.

The new governor, Philip D. Murphy, a Democrat, was endorsed by Planned Parenthood.MARIE JORDAN, OAK PARK, ILL.

To the Editor:

The varying Russia scandals are difficult to follow even for well-informed people spending a good deal of their time on the multiple threads. They are confusing and  for many voters the Democrats need  beside the point. Let Robert Mueller do his business and support him throughout. Otherwise restrain yourself. There may turn out to be not much there. There certainly arent many votes.

ERIC WEINBERGER

CAMBRIDGE, MASS.

To the Editor:

As a progressive member of the party who has consistently felt dismissed and belittled by mainstream Democrats, I would strongly recommend that they treat the progressives as though we matter, and that our opinions and positions have value. To disregard or ridicule our interests and then to insist that we must vote Democratic is demoralizing. We have enough trouble motivating people to vote without treating them as though their only importance to the party is pulling the Democratic lever.

Its true that both sides of the party need to compromise and work together in order to win, but so far compromise seems to mean progressive people, do as youre told.

T. COLE, BOSTON

To the Editor:

I have been a registered Democrat since being able to vote, and I come from a very progressive family. Nonetheless, the Democrats persistent pushing of identity politics has made it nearly untenable for me to vote for my party in 2018  yes, even in the face of Trumpism. The Democrats need to ease off the cis white male bashing and foster a narrative not based on identity politics, lest they lose their centrist base to appease a vocal radical fringe. Continuing doing what the party is currently doing is not convincing any middle-class and poor Rust Belt voters that we are the party that is best for them. We cant afford another deplorables gaffe in 2018.

MARC GRIFFIN

ST. GEORGE, UTAH

To the Editor:

The Democrats need to focus on a positive, inclusive and simple issue. I would suggest fairness, which strongly resonates with most people, including with many Trump voters who constantly complain that the system is rigged. Many people on the right feel that they have been left behind while others (immigrants, minorities, welfare queens, etc.) are cutting the line and unfairly using the government to their advantage. This anger needs to be redirected toward the real source of unfairness: the rich who take advantage of the poor and the middle class. The Democrats should above all explain as clearly as possible the causal link between the Republican tax cuts (very generous to the rich) and the Republican budget (very cruel to the poor and middle class).

PATRICK SINGY, NISKAYUNA, N.Y.

To the Editor:

When I was growing up (Im 71), the Democratic Party was a bold, brash big tent of diversity representing the working class, bursting at the seams with a plethora of viable and colorful candidates. It was the party that conceived Social Security, Medicare and the Civil Rights Act and was willing to fight for those programs, damn the consequences, because they were right and just. Flash forward to now.

The Democratic Party needs to begin by replacing the likes of the House minority leader, Nancy Pelosi, the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, and the Democratic National Committee chairman, Tom Perez, with new, exciting, dramatic figures. It needs to persuade young Democrats to run for leadership roles and national office. It needs to fully re-establish itself as the party of the working class and the forgotten, willing to pursue its ideals, damn the consequences.Last week, the United Nations published a report with news a lot of people dont want to hear. A panel of experts found that Iran is violating a United Nations weapons embargo  specifically, that missiles fired by Yemens Houthi rebels into Saudi Arabia last year were made in Iran.

The mullahs in Iran dont want to hear this news, because it proves Iran is violating its international agreement. Die-hard defenders of the Iran nuclear deal dont want to hear it because it proves, once again, that the Iranian regime cant be trusted. And some members of the United Nations dont want to hear it because it is further proof that Iran is defying Security Council resolutions, and the pressure will be on the U.N. to do something about it.

Yemen is the scene of the worlds worst humanitarian crisis today. After three years of brutal civil war, 75 percent of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance. The government has virtually ceased to exist. Terrorist groups like the Islamic State and Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula are exploiting that lawlessness to pursue their barbaric agendas.

The U.N. report reveals much more than just the Iranian sanctions violation. It charges the anti-government Houthi rebels with not only launching ballistic missiles into Saudi Arabia but also using the people of Yemen as human shields and kidnapping Yemeni children to fight in the war.Its a Hollywood cliche thats been adopted by villains from the trickster god Loki in Marvels The Avengers to James Bonds Skyfall nemesis Raoul Silva: They are captured, only for the heroes to realize  too late!  that being caught was part of the villains evil plan all along. With Fridays release of an indictment detailing Project Lakhta  the information operations component of Russias efforts to interfere with the 2016 presidential election  its worth asking whether President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has been reading from a similar script.

The charging document released by the Justice Department names 13 Russian nationals associated with the innocuous-sounding Internet Research Agency, a team of well-funded professional trolls who carried out a disinformation campaign that spread from social media to real-world rallies. If there were any lingering doubts that Russias intervention was aimed at harming Hillary Clintons campaign and bolstering Donald Trumps, an internal directive quoted in the indictment spells it out explicitly: use any opportunity to criticize Hillary and the rest (except Sanders and Trump  we support them).

That Russia should have preferred Mr. Trumps victory to Mrs. Clintons is hardly a surprise: The real estate mogul had long been open in his fawning admiration for autocratic leaders generally and Mr. Putin in particular. But in any game of strategy, the best moves are those that accomplish multiple objectives. Fridays indictment should serve as a reminder that Project Latkha didnt merely aim to influence the outcome of the election, but also its tone, and Americans attitudes toward their own democratic institutions.

Theres a critical back story to Russias interference: A longstanding Kremlin grudge against Mrs. Clinton, cemented in 2011 when, as secretary of state, she cast doubt on whether Russias parliamentary elections, plagued by allegations of fraud and vote rigging, had been free and fair.Meanwhile, Mr. Sessions, who as a senator was one of the most reliable roadblocks to long-overdue federal sentencing reform, is still throwing wrenches into the works as Congress inches toward a bipartisan deal. Mr. Sessions called the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, a sweeping bill that would reduce some mandatory-minimum sentences, and that cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, a grave error. That earned him a rebuke from the committees chairman, Senator Charles Grassley, who pointed out that the attorney general is tasked with enforcing the laws, not writing them. If General Sessions wanted to be involved in marking up this legislation, maybe he should have quit his job and run for the Republican Senate seat in Alabama, Mr. Grassley said.

Mr. Grassley is no ones idea of a justice reformer, but he supports the bill because, he said, it strikes the right balance of improving public safety and ensuring fairness in the criminal justice system.

So what has this administration done right? The list is short and uninspiring. In October, Mr. Trump declared the epidemic of opioid abuse a national emergency, which could be a good step toward addressing it  but hes since done almost nothing to combat a crisis that killed more than 64,000 Americans in 2016.

In his State of the Union address last month, Mr. Trump promised to embark on reforming our prisons to help former inmates who have served their time get a second chance. Its great if he really means that, but its hard to square his assurance with his own attorney generals opposition to a bill that includes recidivism-reduction programs intended to achieve precisely this goal.

Perhaps the most insidious part of the Trump administrations approach to criminal justice lies in its efforts to link crime to its broader crackdown on immigration. In a speech last month, Mr. Sessions said undocumented immigrants are far more likely than American citizens to commit crimes, a claim he found in a paper by John Lott, the disreputable economist best known for misusing statistics to suit his own ideological ends. In this case, it appears Mr. Lott misread his own data, which came from Arizona and in fact showed the opposite of what he claimed: Undocumented immigrants commit fewer crimes than citizens, as the vast majority of research on the topic has found.

But no matter; Mr. Trump and Mr. Sessions dont need facts to run their anti-immigrant agenda, which has already resulted in more than double the number of arrests of immigrants with no criminal convictions as in 2016, as the Brennan Center report noted. Soon after taking office, Mr. Trump issued an executive order cutting off federal funding to so-called sanctuary cities, jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials. A federal judge blocked the order in November for violating the Constitution.

The rhetoric from the White House and the Justice Department has emboldened some state and local officials to talk tougher, even if just as ignorantly, about crime. The good news is that its not working as well anymore. In Virginias race for governor last fall, the Republican candidate, Ed Gillespie, attacked his opponent, Ralph Northam, with ads blaming him for violence by the MS-13 gang.

It was a despicable stunt, its fearmongering recalling the racist but effective Willie Horton ad that George H. W. Bush ran on in his successful 1988 presidential campaign. Thankfully, Virginias voters overwhelmingly rejected Mr. Gillespie, another sign that criminal justice reform is an issue with strong support across the political spectrum. In the era of Donald Trump, candidates of both parties should be proud to run as reformers  but particularly Democrats, who can cast the issue not only as a central component of a broader progressive agenda, but as yet another example of just how out of touch with the country Mr. Trump and his administration are.Kathmandu, Nepal: A meeting held on Saturday between newly appointed Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and CPN-MC Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal failed to iron out in the differences seen in the issue of party unification.





In the meeting held at Olis Balkot of Bhaktapur based residence, the chairs of the two major communist parties of Nepal discussed about one and half hour concentration on the issue of unification between the two parties.





As the CPN Maoist has forwarded precondition of party unification before it's participation in the government, the top brass of the two parties sat today to settle the differences seen in the party unification process, a Maoist Center leader said.



Four years ago the essayist Helen Andrews wrote a critique, for the religious journal First Things, of what she described as bloodless moralism  meaning the decay of public moral arguments into a kind of a vulgar empiricism, a mode of debate so cringingly utilitarian that it cant advance the most basic ethical claim (Do not steal ) without a regression analysis to back it up ( because bicycle thieves were 4 percent less likely to obtain gainful employment within two years of swiping their neighbors Schwinn).

Since Andrews noted in passing that this tendency had infected not only proud utilitarians and explanatory journalists but even reputed conservative moralists like, well, me, Ive tried to keep her critique in mind ever since. In last weeks column, for instance, which argued that the #MeToo movement should turn its ire against pornography, I decided not to bore my readers with research papers and simply appealed to moral intuition and recent cultural experience, which make as strong a case as any study for the viciousness of porn.

But now that the massacre in Florida has made mass murder the weeks pressing subject, Andrewss essay also offers a useful way of thinking about some of the problems with the gun control debate  on both sides, but particularly among conservatives like myself, who often pick apart specific weaknesses in liberal gun control proposals, relying on studies and experiments that show the limits of prohibition, taking a clinical and somewhat bloodless approach to an issue that rouses liberal zeal.

There is value in clinical critiques, as there is in the rebuttals to my porn argument that emphasized the problems with enforcing smut restrictions. But technical issues and practical concerns are not the heart of the gun debate. The reason that mass shootings arent leading to legislative action is that we have a chasm between two sweeping moral visions, one pro-gun and one anti-gun, that is now too wide to be easily bridged by incrementalism.In November 2010, I took a bus from my home in Philadelphia to the National Mall in Washington. The night before the trip, I stood in my kitchen and wrote in large letters on cardboard: The Peoples Work Starts Now!

When the bus reached the mall and we stepped out into the bitter wind, I looked at the monuments and realized that I was not there as a tourist this time, but as an activist  an idea I would have been allergic to just a year before.

But I, like millions of others, was becoming the new American radical, defined by my belief in a limited government that allows people, not bureaucracy, to flourish.

Before all of this, my main contributions to American politics were voting, voraciously reading American history and Austrian economic theory and irritating liberals at dinner parties.The streets smelled of cordite, burning houses and dead bodies, all under a cold, dark sky and a misty drizzle that French soldiers in the previous war had called crachin, or spit. Along the wall ahead of us loomed a stone edifice, the Dong Ba Tower, that had been reduced to rubble by artillery, airstrikes, even gunfire from ships off the Vietnamese coast. Still, a few North Vietnamese remained alive and dangerous in the rubble.

It took the Marines several days to breach the wall and enter the Citadel, but the combat didnt end. The Communists refused to retreat or surrender, which meant that the Marines and South Vietnamese had to clear the city block by block, driving up the casualties on both sides, and among the many civilians unable to flee.

During lulls in the fighting, the Marines would shelter in abandoned houses, eat their combat rations, even shave in broken mirrors. Marines had never seen urban fighting like this, and they wouldnt again until the Battle of Falluja, almost 40 years later.

On Feb. 19, I was wounded in a blast and had to be evacuated. The battle ended six days later. During the 24 days of fighting for control of Hue, the North Vietnamese and their Communist allies from the south lost 5,000 combatants; the South Vietnamese Army lost around 2,500; and the Americans lost 1,800, including 40 percent of Delta Company. Some 80 percent of the city was destroyed, and untold thousands of civilians died in the crossfire or from Communist reprisals carried out during the occupation.

H.D.S. Greenway, a former reporter and editor at The Boston Globe, is the author of Foreign Correspondent, a memoir.Long Island, where prosecutors say two girls were beaten to death by MS-13 members in 2016, is one of the many places where the gang has expanded. The police have been fighting the gang there since 2007, but MS-13 continues to murder and grow more powerful because the authorities have failed to attack the organization at its roots.

The people accused of killing those girls were not hardened murderers with tattoos, members of a cartel, as Mr. Trump described the gang in 2017. They were teenagers. They were also part of the gangs hard-core American ground forces: young immigrants, either with or without papers, lost and lonely in a new and violent world, where they have responded to the first institution that has lent them a hand  MS-13, not the United States government.

To say that the gangs win over these young people is misleading, because it implies that the American government is doing something to compete with them, which it is not. The United States is not fighting for these boys.

Americans keep talking about deportation but focus comparatively little on how budget cuts in education serve to feed gang recruiting activity, as Howard Koenig, the superintendent of public schools in Central Islip on Long Island, recently pointed out.

Americans also keep talking about the wall President Trump wants to build, but few people have acknowledged that the governments total failure to establish an efficient process and meaningful oversight of the placement of unaccompanied minors has led to the MS-13 crisis, as Senator Charles Grassley, Republican of Iowa, said last June. Many of these children come from dysfunctional families, with parents who barely have time or money to take care of them; the government essentially releases them to the streets. Of the more than 240,000 unaccompanied minors detained at the border since 2012, only 56 were suspected of having connections to MS-13 when they arrived. If they made those connections after entering the United States, the United States is to blame.

Mr. Trump will continue to use his favorite word for MS-13 gang members: animals. And few people will focus on the fact that at high schools like Uniondale, home to two of Long Islands MS-13 clicas, there are only three social workers for over 2,000 students. One of those social workers, Sergio Argueta, told me that many of these students are recent arrivals still lost in their new surroundings. He works to help at-risk youth in Long Island through an organization called Strong.Freud is still dead, but psychoanalysis may be experiencing a rebirth.

This week, Maddie Freeman, 25, a candidate for a masters degree in social work at Smith College, was in town not only to see Waitress on Broadway but also for the American Psychoanalytic Associations annual conference at the New York Hilton Midtown, along with 1,600 or so other analysts, analysts-in-training and those who love them. (On Valentines Day, little bags of Necco Conversation Hearts were given out, swag from an insurance company.)

The four day psyche-fest was a bonanza of seminars, from the doctrinaire to the esoteric, the practical to the political. You could bone up on telepathic dreams and the quantum hologram, which has something to do with parapsychological phenomena and was way, way over this reporters head. Another seminar examined A Streetcar Named Desire from a structural and relational psychoanalytic perspective.

There were talks on collaborative care in low-income communities; working with technologies like video conferencing; and how to influence health care and other public policies. A session on the ethics of mental health professionals commenting on public figures had drawn nearly 300 sign-ups at last count.

There didnt seem to be a lot of unreconstructed Freudians hanging around  or Lacanians, for that matter  though you could imbibe the canon at a seminar on the Wolf Man, or at another on the correspondence between Freud and his protege, Sandor Ferenczi, and their falling out, which turned into a lively conversation about boundary violations and how ideas about them have evolved.He and Mr. Moukarbel, a filmmaker, were living in a TriBeCa loft, where they threw rowdy house parties attended by friends including Calvin Klein, Sandra Bernhard and Rufus Wainwright. There would be too many people, and they would run out of ice early on, Mr. Cooper said. The music was fun, but it was always too loud and the police would be called. I always stayed five minutes and then felt way too old and not cool enough to be there.

Mr. Moukarbels work was pulling him westward (he directed documentaries about Banksy and Lady Gaga), so they gave up their New York life and bought a Streamline Moderne-style house in Los Feliz for $1.92 million. I had nothing going on. Just partying a lot, Mr. Shears said. (He celebrated his 35th birthday with a disco foam party in the backyard.) That first year in L.A., I was just lost. Wanting to work, because Im happiest when Im working, but without the band I didnt know what to do.

The end of his 11-year relationship with Mr. Moukarbel was brutal. Even now, he said, I think Im over stuff, and Ill wake up from nightmares. (Mr. Moukarbel, for his part, said, Jason and I basically grew into adulthood together and I still think of him as family. Hes always inspired me and Im incredibly proud of his recent work.)

As Mr. Shearss personal life was falling apart, the director Moises Kaufman cast him in the play Bent at the Mark Taper Forum. That was a real catalyst for me and made me examine my life and really ask myself how I was going to make myself happy again, Mr. Shears said. I learned that its really important to be creative for the right reasons. And if youre not, itll come back and bite you.

Still, it wasnt until he got back to writing music, and writing his life story, that Mr. Shears returned to his swinging self. In addition to the new album, he is working on a musical with Elton John, following up his 2011 stage adaptation of Tales of the City. In June, he ended his solo tour with a concert in New Orleans, the same weekend he was celebrity grand marshal of the citys gay pride parade.

All my friends were down, my mom, everybody, he said. Everyone got to be in the parade. It was one of the best times Ive had in my whole life. This sounds so stupid, but it felt like a wedding, even though I wasnt marrying anybody. It was just this amazing celebration I got to have with everyone. It felt like I had found myself again.Equating the two, Mr. Hall says, is like saying cops and bad guys are the same because they both have guns  the motivation matters.

This broader history of election meddling has largely been missing from the flood of reporting on the Russian intervention and the investigation of whether the Trump campaign was involved. It is a reminder that the Russian campaign in 2016 was fundamentally old-school espionage, even if it exploited new technologies. And it illuminates the larger currents of history that drove American electoral interventions during the Cold War and motivate Russias actions today.

A Carnegie Mellon scholar, Dov H. Levin, has scoured the historical record for both overt and covert election influence operations. He found 81 by the United States and 36 by the Soviet Union or Russia between 1946 and 2000, though the Russian count is undoubtedly incomplete.

Im not in any way justifying what the Russians did in 2016, Mr. Levin said. It was completely wrong of Vladimir Putin to intervene in this way. That said, the methods they used in this election were the digital version of methods used both by the United States and Russia for decades: breaking into party headquarters, recruiting secretaries, placing informants in a party, giving information or disinformation to newspapers.

His findings underscore how routine election meddling by the United States  sometimes covert and sometimes quite open  has been.

The precedent was established in Italy with assistance to non-Communist candidates from the late 1940s to the 1960s. We had bags of money that we delivered to selected politicians, to defray their expenses, said F. Mark Wyatt, a former C.I.A. officer, in a 1996 interview.

Covert propaganda has also been a mainstay. Richard M. Bissell Jr., who ran the agencys operations in the late 1950s and early 1960s, wrote casually in his autobiography of exercising control over a newspaper or broadcasting station, or of securing the desired outcome in an election. A self-congratulatory declassified report on the C.I.A.s work in Chiles 1964 election boasts of the hard work the agency did supplying large sums to its favored candidate and portraying him as a wise, sincere and high-minded statesman while painting his leftist opponent as a calculating schemer.And Floridas gun lobby continues to instill fear in lawmakers. It is led by Marion Hammer, 78, who grew up shooting rabbits, reportedly packs a pistol in her purse and seeks political vengeance on legislators who disappoint her.

Though Florida is a purple state, Mr. Scott, a favorite of gun lobbyists, and other Republicans control state government, and they have steadfastly opposed new restrictions. For gun-control advocates, victories of late have included steps like defeating legislation to allow some people to carry guns into airport terminals.

Gun owners are now a major constituency, too: Nearly two million residents have permits to carry concealed weapons, far more than any other state.

Florida, however, cannot be called the place with the most permissive gun regulations. Some states, for example, do not require permits to carry concealed weapons. While Florida gets an F rating, the lowest, from one major gun-control group, the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, 24 other states also share that ranking.

The states more significant pro-gun legacy has been spearheading two influential changes in gun regulations that became models for many other states: Laws that essentially require the authorities to issue permits for carrying concealed guns to residents who pass a simple protocol.A Baltimore County, Md., jury on Friday awarded more than $38 million to the family of a woman who was fatally shot by the police in 2016 after a standoff that had been partly broadcast on Instagram.

The woman, Korryn Gaines, was shot several times by a Baltimore County police officer as her 5-year-old son lingered nearby, in the line of fire. During the standoff, the son, Kodi Gaines, was struck twice by the officers gunfire  once in the face and once in the elbow.

After an approximately three-week trial and less than three hours of deliberation, the all-female jury found that the first shot the officer had fired was not reasonable; they then doled out damages on the grounds that Baltimore County had violated the Gaineses civil rights and had committed battery on the mother and son.

The jury awarded Kodi Gaines, now 6, more than $32.8 million; Karsyn Courtney, Kodis younger sister, who was not in the apartment at the time of the shooting, was awarded more than $4.5 million; and Korryns mother and father were awarded $300,000 each, as was the estate of Korryn Gaines.As convenient as it would be, there is no one-size-fits-all profile of who carries out mass shootings in the United States.

About the only thing almost all of them have in common is that they are men.

But those men come from varying backgrounds, with different mental health diagnoses and criminal histories. Examining past New York Times coverage of mass shootings reveals some shared tendencies of the gunmen, including the fact that they are most commonly white, but such traits also describe thousands of law-abiding Americans who dont become murderous.

The United States high number of mass shootings is best explained by the availability of guns, as fully explained here. But here is some of what we do know about the motivations and histories of the gunmen.

Mental illness

Experts say the people willing to kill strangers dont all have a certain mental illness, and in many cases never sought professional help. They are often paranoid, resentful or narcissistic, but not always to the extent that they had been found to have a disorder.



MANILA: The body of a Filipino housemaid found stuffed in a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait was flown home to her grieving family Friday, as attention focused on the plight of millions of mostly poor Filipinos toiling abroad.





As Joanna Daniela Demafelis remains were wheeled to the Manila airports cargo bay, her sister broke into tears and embraced the casket before being pulled back and consoled. A brother wept quietly, speechless and overwhelmed by emotion.





I hope my sister will be given justice, Demafelis brother, Jojit Demafelis, later told reporters.





Demafelis body was found Feb. 6 in a Kuwait City apartment that had reportedly been abandoned for more than a year. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said her body bore torture marks and there were indications she was strangled.





Her death is the latest overseas tragedy to befall a worker from the Philippines, a major labor exporter with about a tenth of its 100 million people working abroad. The workers have been called the countrys heroes because the income they send home has propped up the Southeast Asian nations economy for decades, accounting for about 10 percent of annual gross domestic product.





Philippine officials are under increasing pressure to do more to monitor the safety of its worldwide diaspora of mostly house maids, construction workers and laborers. There are also calls for the government to boost employment and living standards at home, where nearly one in four people live in poverty, so that fewer people need to find work abroad.





Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano stood with the Demafelis family at the airport Friday and said a prayer.





Her death is very tragic but will also be a rallying point for all of the government agencies to be more aggressive abroad in helping our OFWs be protected, Cayetano told reporters, using the acronym for overseas foreign workers.





Duterte has ordered a ban on the deployment of new Filipino workers to Kuwait, where he said some Filipina workers have committed suicide due to abuses.





Cayetano said Kuwait had expressed outrage over Demafelis death and promised do everything it could to render justice. He said the Philippines lodged a protest over the case and at least six other recent deaths mostly of Filipino housemaids in Kuwait and asked that the Philippine Embassy be given access to investigations by Kuwaiti authorities.





Demafelis family told The Associated Press on Friday that Joanna was 29-years-old and the sixth of nine children born into a poor farming family in the central province of Iloilo. She left for Kuwait in 2014 to be employed by a Syrian and Lebanese couple and had never told anyone back home that she was being mistreated.





Kuwaiti police believe Demafelis had been hired by a Lebanese man and his Syrian wife who later left the country, according to local media reports citing police for the information. Authorities found her body when they raided the apartment over an eviction notice.





Its unclear how the woman remained missing for so long or if Kuwaiti police had requested extradition for the Lebanese man and his Syrian wife. Police said the two are wanted on suspicion of writing bad checks.





Philippine officials say they are re-examining how to better detect and stop abuse of its workers abroad. A Filipino labor officer in Kuwait has been recalled after reportedly failing to adequately help Demafelis family when they reported that she was missing.





If there is a complaint already, even if we can help them, its still too late like when theyre already dead, Cayetano said at a news conference. They should have been helped when we found out that there was abuse or as soon as they lost contact with their family.





Still the sheer number of Filipino workers abroad makes monitoring their wellbeing an overwhelming task. That is often complicated by the workers not having proper travel and work documents, such as in Kuwait where nearly 11,000 of the more than 252,000 Filipino workers are in the country illegally or not properly authorized.





The Philippines has banned the deployment of its workers some countries, but many desperate Filipinos chose to stay, even in war-torn Iraq and Syria.





Despite the offer to repatriate, to pay for their tickets, many chose to stay because there is no employment or less employment possibilities or theyll earn much less money in the Philippines, Cayetano said.





He said the long-term solution was for the Philippines to strengthen its economy so Filipinos wont be forced to look for greener meadows.





A pro-labor group, Migrante International, said it was ironic for Duterte to ask Kuwait to improve the plight of Filipino workers there when they left the Philippines because of difficult conditions, including low wages, unfair labor contracts and recent tax increases that have caused commodity price hikes. It called Duterte and past presidents false messiahs.





Duterte said last week he did not want a quarrel with Kuwait, but he warned he may resort to drastic steps, such as a complete ban on the deployment of Filipino workers, if Kuwait and other governments fail to safeguard Filipinos.





Duterte said 82 Filipino workers died in Kuwait in 2016 and that number rose to 103 last year, though he didnt specify the cause of death.





What are you doing to my countrymen? And if I were to do it to your citizens here, would you be happy? asked the volatile Philippine leader.





The Philippines relations with some countries have at times been strained over the condition of its workers. In 1995, Singapore proceeded with the execution of a housemaid for murder despite appeals and outrage from Manila.



Broward County Public Schools disciplinary records obtained on Saturday by The New York Times show Mr. Cruz had a long history of fights with teachers, and was frequently accused of using profane language with school staff. He was referred for a threat assessment in January 2017, the last entry in his record, two months after the Department of Children and Families closed its separate investigation into Mr. Cruzs worrisome behavior.

Howard Finkelstein, the Broward County public defender, whose office is representing Mr. Cruz, said the report was further evidence that Mr. Cruz needed serious help long before the shooting but did not get enough of it.

This kid exhibited every single known red flag, from killing animals to having a cache of weapons to disruptive behavior to saying he wanted to be a school shooter, Mr. Finkelstein said. If this isnt a person who should have gotten someones attention, I dont know who is. This was a multisystem failure.

The state agency investigated whether Mr. Cruz intended to harm himself in September 2016, when he made the alarming social media posts after an argument with his mother. Mr. Cruz, who had depression, was upset over a breakup with a girlfriend, his mother, Lynda Cruz, told investigators. The report does not say who called in the complaint, which was given immediate priority.

The report shows that investigators closed the case about two months later. The agency determined that the final level of risk is low  an analysis that one of Mr. Cruzs counselors at his school felt was premature  because his mother was caring for him, he was enrolled in school and he was receiving counseling. By the time of the shooting, however, Mr. Cruz had lost at least two of those elements: His mother was dead, and he had left Stoneman Douglas High School. It is unclear if he was still seeing a counselor.A chorus of Democratic lawmakers have joined the education secretary, Betsy DeVos, in calling for Congress to act after a gunman killed 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Fla.

In a letter on Friday, all 17 Democrats on the House Education Committee urged Representative Virginia Foxx, the committees chairwoman, to convene hearings on school shootings, describing them as a public health epidemic. The panel has not addressed the issue since February 2013  two months after a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut left 20 first graders and six adults dead, they said.

Wednesdays preventable tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, resulted in the deaths of at least 17 students and faculty, the letter said. Sadly, since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School five years ago, more than 430 people have been shot in over 230 school shootings.

The letter adds pressure on Congress to address the pervasiveness of school shootings across the country, an issue that Ms. DeVos raised during an interview on Thursday with the conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.WASHINGTON  Senator Mitch McConnell said in an interview on Friday afternoon that President Trump should rally behind the Senate candidacy of Mitt Romney despite his blistering criticism in 2016, arguing that Mr. Romneys potent bid was an illustration of the Republican Partys improving fortunes entering a challenging midterm campaign.

I cant imagine that hes not, Mr. McConnell said when asked whether Mr. Trump was comfortable with Mr. Romney, who on Friday made official his long-expected candidacy for a Senate seat from Utah. We dont want to lose the seat, and this looks like a pretty formidable candidate.

Mr. McConnell, the majority leader, said that Mr. Romney would enter the Senate with a stature similar to what Hillary Clinton brought as a junior senator. The best way to think about that, and I told him this a couple of months ago, I said: Youll be a freshman like Hillary Clinton was, Mr. McConnell recalled. He will come in here with a level of national identity and respect that will make him effective from Day 1.

His glowing appraisal stood in contrast to that of the White House, which aggressively lobbied Senator Orrin G. Hatch, the veteran lawmaker who currently holds the Utah seat, to seek an eighth term in large part to block Mr. Romneys path. Some close to Mr. Trump worry about giving Mr. Romney a platform from which he could run for president again, and Mr. Romney said in remarks Friday night to Utah Republicans that he would not shy away from taking on the president if necessary.A prominent Republican political donor demanded on Saturday that the party pass legislation to restrict access to guns, and vowed not to contribute to any candidates or electioneering groups that did not support a ban on the sale of military-style firearms to civilians.

Al Hoffman Jr., a Florida-based real estate developer who was a leading fund-raiser for George W. Bushs campaigns, said he would seek to marshal support among other Republican political donors for a renewed assault weapons ban.

For how many years now have we been doing this  having these experiences of terrorism, mass killings  and how many years has it been that nothings been done? Mr. Hoffman said in an interview. Its the end of the road for me.

Mr. Hoffman announced his ultimatum in an email to half a dozen Republican leaders, including Jeb Bush and Gov. Rick Scott of Florida. He wrote in the email that he would not give money to Mr. Scott, who is considering a campaign for the Senate in 2018, or other Florida Republicans he has backed in the past, including Representative Brian Mast, if they did not support new gun legislation.DAKAR, Senegal  An attack by three suicide bombers has left at least 20 people dead and more than 20 others wounded at a fish market outside the sprawling Nigerian city that gave rise to the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, officials and news reports said on Saturday.

The bombers set off explosives on Friday at the market, about 15 miles from the center of the city of Maiduguri, Reuters reported. No one claimed responsibility for the attacks, but they were similar to scores of others in and around the city in the past few months.

The attackers were all female, according to The Associated Press, and the victims were mostly women and children, local news outlets reported. Boko Haram has been known to deploy young women and children as suicide bombers, in addition to sending men to attack mosques, markets and other places where crowds gather.

The police commissioner of Borno State, Damian Chukwu, said at least 18 people died and 22 others were wounded in the attack on Friday, according to Reuters. Hospital officials said two patients later died of their injuries.

The war with Boko Haram, which has displaced millions, is entering its ninth year. Militants raging against decades of economic inequality and government corruption in the region want to create a state that adheres to a harsh version of Islam. In their quest, they have burned villages, slaughtered men and boys who refuse to join their ranks, raped and enslaved women and girls, and strapped suicide bombs to terrified hostages.

The Nigerian military has made progress in the past weeks in chasing fighters from their forest hide-outs, and this month the military secured the release of high-profile hostages  a group of female police officers and several university professors who had been held by the fighters.

Negotiations for the release of about 100 young women kidnapped from a school in Chibok in 2014 are still underway. Dozens of other Chibok girls have been released after similar negotiations or after escaping. Thousands of other residents from villages overrun by Boko Haram are also believed to be held in miserable conditions by the militants, who are known to conscript children into fighting.

Military and government officials have announced the defeat of Boko Haram several times, even as fighters have launched attacks and released propaganda videos taunting officials.

Last week, Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram, appeared in a 10-minute video released by the group, according to an A.P. report. In the clip, he disputed the Nigerian militarys claims that Boko Haram militants had been defeated in the Sambisa forest of northeastern Nigeria.

In the footage, he is wearing all black and holding a rifle, while two masked men stand alongside him. At one point, he looks into the camera and addresses the military saying, If you have killed us, why are we still alive?

It is unclear when and where the footage was recorded.

The militants unleashed bombers across Maiduguri in numerous attacks last year, but recently, they have sent suicide attackers to more rural areas.It is not our intention to infringe on anyones freedom of expression or their right to voice an opinion, said Eugenio Ricas, the director of the Federal Polices organized crime division, who is leading the fake news task force. The big question is when does a personal opinion become a lie about a candidate that is published with the specific intent of harming them and in doing so interfering with an election.

Judicial officials say the task force is studying the tactics used by groups that have been active in spreading fake news in the past and assessing under which current laws they could most effectively be charged. They have also been consulting and negotiating with American technology companies, including Google, Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp, in hopes of turning them into partners in the fight against fake news rather than targets of enforcement actions and fines.

If their initiative succeeds, Brazilian officials say that the October election, which will take place in a deeply polarized society, could serve as a template to address a problem that has undermined faith in democracy across the world.

But officials acknowledge that they are up against vexing legal, technological and ethical quandaries. Key among them is a 2014 law that gives internet users in Brazil strong privacy and freedom of expression protections.

While officials are mainly concerned about fake news strategies deployed by rival campaigns, not a foreign power, they caution that such tactics are often planned and executed abroad, which makes shutting them down difficult.TOKYO  Late in December, Taro Kono, the foreign minister of Japan, was hospitalized to have a ureteral stone removed. That night, he appeared at a party for the 84th birthday of Emperor Akihito. The next day, he campaigned on behalf of a mayoral candidate on the southern island of Kyushu, almost 600 miles from Tokyo. A day later, on Christmas Eve, he flew to Tel Aviv to begin a five-day trip to the Middle East.

It was the kind of relentless schedule, well documented on social media, that brought to mind a candidate for higher office. Which is what Mr. Kono is  just one who doesnt know when his race may start.

Last fall, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won a big election victory that put him on track to become the countrys longest-serving leader in modern times. Mr. Abe is 63 years old and has indicated he has no imminent plans to retire: He wants to stay in office at least through the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, and the governing Liberal Democratic Party changed its rules last year to allow Mr. Abe to do so.

But a new generation of politicians is already positioning itself to succeed him. Mr. Kono, 55, is one of the most intriguing, bringing a maverick streak to Japans usually stodgy political world.PERAI, Malaysia  Mahathir Mohamad, who led Malaysia for decades with dagger-sharp rhetoric and increasingly autocratic ways, is 92 and in frail health. But he wants his old job back.

To do it, Mr. Mahathir, already one of the worlds most durable political survivors, has engaged in yet another act of reinvention. This time, he is allying himself with opposition figures he once repressed in the name of beating his own former protege, Najib Razak, whom he helped make prime minister in 2009.

The man who defined much of Malaysias political history is, in effect, standing before both the country as a whole and the new opposition allies he once persecuted and asking them to ignore the past. But he is certainly not apologizing.

When it comes to the election, forget about everything and think only of winning, Mr. Mahathir said at a recent campaign rally in Penang.ISLAMABAD, Pakistan  An antiterrorism court in Pakistan on Saturday sentenced to death a 24-year-old man for the murder and rape of a girl, 7, in a case that caused nationwide outrage and put a spotlight on child sexual abuse in the country.

The killer, Imran Ali, was also sentenced to life imprisonment on a count of sodomy and a large fine was imposed for desecrating the body of the girl, Zainab Amin.

During the four-day trial, Mr. Ali also confessed to raping a total of nine girls, seven of whom, including Zainab, he killed over the last 18 months, according to Ehtesham Qadir, the prosecutor general of Punjab Province.

Zainab went missing on Jan. 4 after leaving her house to take Quran lessons at her aunts home in Kasur, a city about 30 miles south of Lahore. Her body was found in a garbage heap near her home after five days.BEIJING  A fire broke out on Saturday at one of the most hallowed sites in Tibet, the Jokhang temple in Lhasa, a day after the start of the traditional Tibetan New Year celebrations, official Chinese news media reported.

A brief bulletin issued by The Tibet Daily said the fire had broken out in the evening but was quickly extinguished, with no deaths or injuries.

Photos online showed flames ravaging part of the ancient Buddhist temple. The Daily report gave no details about the extent of the damage to the rambling complex, which many Tibetan Buddhists see as their most sacred site.

Some Tibetans said any damage to the cluster of buildings dating back nearly 1,400 years would be a harsh blow.ROME  After his spirited defense of a Chilean bishop accused of covering up sexual abuse prompted the greatest crisis of his pontificate, Pope Francis reactivated an abuse commission on Saturday that had lapsed into dormancy.

It was the latest in a series of measures by the Vatican to counter criticism that fighting abuse was not a priority for Francis papacy.

Cardinal Sean OMalley of Boston was reappointed as the leader of the group, called the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. A Vatican statement said the panel would include some victims of clerical sexual abuse.

The Holy Father has ensured continuity in the work of our commission, which is to assist local churches throughout the world in their efforts to safeguard all children, young people, and vulnerable adults from harm, Cardinal OMalley said in a statement.Also, this kind of operation is designed for deniability, with the overall mandate endorsed by the government but probably not the day-to-day operations.

People do not go ask permission from Putin: Vladimir Vladimirovich, can we go hack the servers of the Democratic Party? Its not like that, said Anton Merkurov, an internet analyst. Putin never really uses the internet, so he doesnt understand how it works.

Those named in the indictment have proved difficult for reporters to reach, with their cellphones often shut off and no response to messages left for them on social media.

The overall aim of the Russian government  be it through trolling, hacking or disinformation  was to spread confusion and unease about government institutions in the West and to shore up popular support at home. The actual techniques were unlikely to be laid out in a paper trail, Mr. Merkurov noted.

The fact that the efforts of the troll farm described in the indictment  the fake campaign protests in Florida or New York; the myriad accounts mimicking Americans set up on Twitter and Facebook; the trips to the United States to organize it all  were so easy to trace back to the Internet Research Agency that it probably underscores that the intelligence services were not involved in running the organization.

The government and its proxies had been using bots and trolls for so long against its internal critics that it probably did not consider that shifting the operations overseas demanded a significantly different approach, said Vladimir Frolov, a foreign affairs analyst.

It was very ad hoc, very amateurish, he said. They did not consider this to be a sensitive operation. They used easily traceable methods.I have seen so many indictments and accusations against Russians, Mr. Kislyak said on Saturday afternoon. I am not sure I can trust American law enforcement to be the most truthful source against Russians. He added, The allegations being mounted against us are simply fantasies.

Mr. Kislyak, who has been caught up in the investigation because of meetings with Trump campaign officials during his time as ambassador, went on to cite a study, which he said he was keeping in his briefcase, that proved the main source of computer attacks in the world is not Russia. It is the United States.

The accusations and counteraccusations about cyber- and social media attacks were the main point of division between the Americans and the Russians, but hardly the only ones expressed at the conference.

Mr. Kislyak argued that the Trump administrations new nuclear strategy involved the manufacture of low-yield weapons and made nuclear war more probable. The Americans argued they were just matching Russian capabilities and charged that Moscow was in continued violation of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces agreement, limiting tactical weapons.

Yet the cyberattacks on the Democratic National Committee and others, and the use of Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms to spread propaganda, dominated the discussion and reflected how quickly the use of these techniques has become the new battleground in a very different kind of post-Cold War conflict.

The White House cybercoordinator, Rob Joyce, was particularly direct in his accusations that Russia was behind the broad attack on Ukraine last June, called NotPetya. He described the attack as indiscriminate and noted that it paralyzed operations far beyond Ukraine, the intended target, and included the Maersk shipping system. He said the United States would retaliate, but did not say how, adding we will not telegraph these punches.

Mr. Joyce is no newcomer to offensive cyberoperations; previously he ran the Tailored Access Operations unit of the National Security Agency, overseeing American cyberaction against other counties. We are going to conduct cyberoperations, he said. But we need to do it in a responsible, balanced way.His name appears in public records as general director of Azimut  which, according to the indictment, was used to funnel money to the troll farm  and of the Reputation Management Center. According to its website, the Reputation Management Center first determines what kind of reputation a client has online through media monitoring, and then creates bots that improve its image through positive posts, drowns negative reviews in a sea of favorable information about the company and creates hype around it.

The Others: Irina V. Kaverzina, Vadim V. Podkopaev, Gleb I. Vasilchenko, Vladimir Venkov

Ms. Kaverzina grew worried after Facebook revealed last September that it was cooperating with the authorities to look into Russian advertising on the platform. We had a slight crisis here at work: the F.B.I. busted our activity (not a joke), she wrote to a relative, according to the indictment. So, I got preoccupied with covering tracks together with the colleagues, she added. I created all these pictures and posts, and the Americans believed that it was written by their people.

Mr. Podkopaev was an analyst for the translator project. He conducted research on the United States and drafted social media messages for the organization, according to the indictment.

Mr. Vasilchenko posted to, monitored and updated social media accounts while posing as Americans or as American grass-roots organizations. He led two subgroups focused on political interference in the United States, including the election. On Vkontakte, he shared a meme in October 2016 that imagined a drinking game in which players took a shot every time Mr. Trump talked about building a wall along the Mexican-United States border or making America great again, told voters to believe him, or complained about being treated unfairly; and every time Mrs. Clinton coughed, sipped water, laughed awkwardly, or mentioned her daughter or President Barack Obama.

Mr. Venkov inhabited multiple social media personas, according to the indictment. Someone with that name belongs to a Facebook group of social media marketing professionals and posted a photo last May of himself wearing a Republican elephant pin.This cannot be a time when any of us allow competition between partners, rigid institutional restrictions or deep-seated ideology to inhibit our cooperation and jeopardize the security of our citizens, she said.

Mrs. May said she wanted the security pact signed fast, even before negotiators agreed on the Brexit deal. We shouldnt wait where we dont need to, she said.

The prime minister also offered one big concession that might prove controversial at home. When cooperating with European agencies, Britain would respect the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice, she said. Hard-line advocates of Brexit have argued that Britain should take back control of its laws and judicial system and no longer be beholden to the rulings of the European court.

It is the latest self-imposed red line that Mrs. May has quietly crossed as Britain races against the clock to extricate itself from four decades of close cooperation with the 28-member bloc. She has conceded almost everything European negotiators have demanded in the first phase of talks, from a divorce settlement of 39 billion pounds (about $55 billion) to a transition period in which Britain will keep to European Union rules even after it legally quits the bloc.

Another red line has gone pink, said Mark Leonard of the European Council on Foreign Relations.

But for all of Britains tortured wobbles in the Brexit negotiations, it has leverage on defense, and many here paid close attention to Mrs. Mays speech.The right-wing United Kingdom Independence Party voted 867 to 500 to oust its leader, Henry Bolton, in a vote of no-confidence on Saturday, making him the fourth party leader to step down in the space of 18 months.

The party, which put its stamp on history by goading a reluctant prime minister into calling for a referendum to leave the European Union, has since drifted to the ideological fringes, struggling to cope with debts and a fractious membership.

Mr. Bolton, a married former army officer, was brought down by a matter of the heart.

In January, he was badly damaged by revelations that his girlfriend, Jo Marney, had used racist language to deride the actress Meghan Markle, who will marry Prince Harry this spring.

In text messages to a friend that were published by The Mail on Sunday, a tabloid, Ms. Marney expressed her distaste for interracial marriage, saying Ms. Markles seed would taint our royal family and lead to a black king.Zinareen Anas, 36, Militia Commander

Ms. Anas is the Euphrates Valley commander of the Womens Protection Forces, a Kurdish militia that is part of the S.D.F. Like many of her fellow commanders, she has been wounded in battle, while fighting in Kobani in 2014. Our commanders all lead from the front, she said. Ms. Anas fought alongside the American military in Manbij, Shadade and Al Haul, and last year in Raqqa and Deir al-Zour. The American Special Operations units always had one or two American women, and they were quick to bond with their Kurdish counterparts, she said. Some of them were chagrined, she said, when they realized the Kurds were way ahead of them in battlefield equality. They had limited powers compared to us, she said. We can make decisions and everything without a man approving them, and they cant easily do that. So you could say were more advanced than the American military, that way. During the Raqqa and Manbij fights, the womens militia could sometimes listen in on Islamic State radio conversations. It drove Daesh crazy to think women were fighting against them, she said. They used to say, Lets get one of their heads.  They never did; no Kurdish woman was captured alive by the extremists, she said. With Daesh, we always kept one bullet or one grenade for ourselves, and fought to the last breath.Thirteen Russian nationals have been charged with illegally trying to disrupt the American political process, according to an indictment filed by Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel investigating Russias interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Here are the tools the Russians used:

Fraudulent Social Media Accounts

According to the indictment, the defendants and their co-conspirators created hundreds of social media accounts impersonating real and fictitious Americans  and they paid for ads promoting their posts.

The Russians in the indictment acted as an organization, and employees who ran the accounts were directed to create political intensity through supporting radical groups and to criticize Hillary Clinton, but not Donald J. Trump or Bernie Sanders.

Many fraudulent accounts have been taken down, but Tennessee GOP, an account created by the Russian organization, was partially archived

Many posts by the accounts addressed religion and were critical of Muslims.

The accounts focused on issues like immigration, the Black Lives Matter movement and religion. Some were used to encourage minority groups not to vote or to promote accusations that the Democratic Party engaged in voter fraud.

Other fraudulent accounts, like South United and Heart of Texas, took on a geographic identity.

In an email written to a family member, a Russian defendant, Irina Viktorovna Kaverzina, explained: I created all these pictures and posts, and the Americans believed that it was written by their people.

Political Rallies

A post by March for Trump, a Twitter account run by the Russian organization, was retweeted by Tennessee GOP, another account run by the organization.

The indictment says that the organization staged several political rallies across the country from June to November 2016. Members of the group promoted the events through their social media channels and used accounts registered under false American personas to recruit volunteers.

2016 rallies planned and promoted by the organization:

June 25: March for Trump New York

March for Trump New York July 9: Support Hillary. Save American Muslims Washington, D.C.

Support Hillary. Save American Muslims Washington, D.C. July 23: Down with Hillary New York

Down with Hillary New York Aug. 20: Florida Goes Trump several Florida cities

Florida Goes Trump several Florida cities Oct. 2: Miners for Trump several Pennsylvania cities

Miners for Trump several Pennsylvania cities Nov. 12: Show your support for President-Elect Donald Trump New York

Show your support for President-Elect Donald Trump New York Nov. 12: Trump is NOT my President New York

Trump is NOT my President New York Nov. 19: Charlotte Against Trump Charlotte, N.C.

The social media accounts were sometimes used to contact and coordinate with local Trump campaign staff members. In June 2016, a volunteer for the Trump campaign agreed to provide signs for a March For Trump rally staged by the organization. The indictment does not allege that any Americans knowingly conspired with the group.

The indictment says that Matt Skiber was one of the false United States personas used by the organization to recruit rally attendees.

In some cases, the organization offered money to rally attendees for expenses. For one of several Florida Goes Trump rallies held in August 2016, the organization paid an individual to portray Mrs. Clinton in a prison uniform in a cage built on a flatbed truck.

The group also purchased advertisements to promote the rallies. The indictment said that Facebook ads for the Florida rallies reached more than 59,000 users and were clicked on by more than 8,300.

Multiple tweets from Florida rallies on Aug. 20, 2016 mentioned the groups March for Trump account.

In addition to the pro-Trump rallies it staged before and after the election, the group also organized anti-Trump rallies, including Charlotte Against Trump in Charlotte, N.C., and Trump is NOT my President in New York after the election.

Online Political Advertisements

The indictment says that from April to November 2016, the group paid for advertisements on social media and elsewhere that expressly advocated for Mr. Trump or opposed Mrs. Clinton.

This advertisement from the groups Army of Jesus page was released in November by the House Intelligence Committee along with other samples of Russian-purchased ads.

The defendants did not file those expenditures with the Federal Election Commission, although as foreign nationals, they would have been prohibited from making them in the first place.UP was run by gangsters before 2017, but now such elements are behind bars, says PM Modi in Aligarh

Parliament more about policy than politics: PM Modi at launch of Sansad TV

India, Iran ink 9 pacts after 'substantive' talks

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iran President Hassan Rouhani exchanged nine memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Saturday. PM Modi thanked Iran President Hassan Rouhani for extending support in developing Chabahar Port in Iran. PM Modi and his counterpart discussed terrorism, drug trafficking and other challenges.

Addressing a joint press event with Rouhani, PM Modi said, "I travelled to Tehran in 2016 and now when you come here now, it deepens and strengthens our relationships."

Both the countries want to see safe and prosperous Afghanistan. "We want to see our neighbours free of terrorism," said PM Modi.

Hassan Rouhani, said, "The kindness accorded to us by the great govt of India, I once again thank the people and the government of India.. The relations between the two countries goes beyond trade and business, it goes back in history."

Iran President said, "We share views on two crucial issues - transit and economy. We want to develop railway relations between the two countries are seeing development of Chabahar Port."

In a warm gesture, Iranian President Dr. Rouhani gifted an animated version of Kalila Wa Demna (Farsi translation of the Panchtantra) and a copy of the Mahabharat in Farsi to PM @narendramodi. #DustemanIran pic.twitter.com/5VjZmI3cEu  Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) February 17, 2018

Apart from tax pact, the two sides also exchanged instrument to ratify the extradition treaty as well as to simplify visa process. Earlier, Rouhani was given a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan. In the morning, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on Rouhani and discussed various issues with him.

On sidelines of the bilateral meeting between PM @narendramodi and Iranian President Dr. Rouhani, agreements were signed in areas like double taxation avoidance, extradition, agricultural cooperation, port lease, medicine and others. List at https://t.co/6tzYJSOF37 #DustemanIran pic.twitter.com/appJIO6kvw  Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) February 17, 2018

OneIndia NewsAmit Shah promises to make Meghalaya model state, asks voters to oust corrupt Congress govt

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

Shillong, Feb 17: A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its manifesto for Meghalaya--"vision document"--on Thursday, the party president Amit Shah on Friday addressed an election rally in the capital city of the state, Shillong.

The BJP's rally did not see enough crowds, however, Shah promised to make Meghalaya a "model state" if his party is voted to power in the upcoming Assembly elections scheduled on February 27. The results of the elections will be out on March 3.

The BJP president also asked the people of Meghalaya to oust the Congress government led by chief minister Mukul Sangma as he accused the ruling party leaders of pocketing funds meant for development.

The BJP, which is contesting on 47 of the 60 seats in the Assembly polls in the state, is hoping to unseat the Mukul Sangma government, ruling the state for nearly 10 years now.

Shah claimed that the acceptance level of the BJP in the northeast has increased tremendously after Prime Minister Narendra Modi worked day-and-night and had sent central ministers over 150 times to the region to bring in more development.

"These efforts, the acceptance of BJP in NE is increasing and we have a government in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. In Nagaland and Tripura, the BJP will form government (after the polls) as well," a confident Shah said.

The BJP chief quoting from the party's "vision document" for Meghalaya made a host of promises to the people of the state, including job opportunity for every youth, 24/7 electricity and assured coal miners and their families that scientific mining will be opened within 180 days.

Accusing CM Sangma of not delivering development to the people, Shah said 70 per cent of education budget of Rs 900 crore has not been spent, shortage of over 68 per cent of science and maths teachers in schools and no 27/4 electricity while there are shortages of 78 per cent of doctors in health centres.

Citing scams such as the mining scam, the sugar scam, the PHE scam and the police and teachers' recruitment scam which took place during the 10-year period, he said, "If you look at it from the scams, this is the record scam-making government of Mukul Sangma."

He also accused the Congress leaders of the state of pocketing money meant for the poor for which they constructed bungalows and bought fancy cars. "On accounts of scams and mismanagement...there was no mining, tourism had not taken off and no jobs and the number of suicides have gone up by 45 per cent," Shah said, adding that crimes against women have also gone up by an unprecedented 30 per cent.

Giving accounts of every penny allocated for Meghalaya since 2014 to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore for development, Shah said the government at the Centre had released Rs 25,417 crore to Meghalaya under the 14th Finance Commission against Rs 5,817 crore it got under the 13th Finance Commission.

"An increase of over Rs 19,000 crore, if implemented properly, would have decongested Shillong city and the traffic jams would not have happened," he said, adding that Rs 6,400 crore is in the pipeline for various developmental purpose for the state including the release of Rs 463 crore MUDRA loans.

Appealing to the people to vote for the BJP, the party chief said, "I request you to throw this corrupt dispensation which has been here for 10 years out of power and in five years we will make it a model state." Shah also addressed a rally at Jowai town in eastern Jaintia Hills region.

Along with Meghalaya, two other northeastern states are also going for polls in February. While Tripura Assembly elections are scheduled on Sunday (February 18), Nagaland Assembly elections will take place on February 27. The election results of all the three states will be declared on March 3.

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Story first published: Saturday, February 17, 2018, 8:22 [IST]How Priya Prakash Varriers winks are saving us from untimely deaths due to Modi govts shocks

'Jobs near me', 'Priya Prakash Varrier'- and other things Indians asked Google this year

Amul gets inspired by Priya Prakash Varrier, 'winks' in its latest ad

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

New Delhi, Feb 17: Priya Prakash Varrier winked and the entire nation got floored, literally. It's seems Amul--the popular dairy cooperative--too has got smitten by the hugely famous wink of the young Malayalam film actress.

Inspired by Priya's flirtatious act from the viral song--Manikya Malaraya Poovi--from the upcoming Malayalam film, Oru Adaar Love, Amul's mascot, the little girl, too is seen winking in a latest advertisement.

"Wink all, wink all, little star," reads the "punny" caption of the Amul's advertisement posted both on Twitter and Facebook.

"#Amul Topical: The overnight internet sensation!" tweeted Amul.

Last week, a clip from the song, Manikya Malaraya Poovi, went viral on social media. In the clip, Priya and her co-actor from the school romance drama are seen exchanging flirtatious glances.

However, it's Priya's wink which left all smitten by her charm and pretty face. Overnight Priya became internet sensation and national obsession. The song was shared millions of times on various online platforms.

Reports say Priya has got various film offers from Bollywood too. The actress was also in the news after a group of Muslim men in Hyderabad filed a police complaint against the song for hurting their religious sentiments.

A fringe outfit from Mumbai, Raza Academy, too has threatened to protest against the song for hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims across the world. However, the makers of the film have declined to remove the song from the film.

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Story first published: Saturday, February 17, 2018, 14:19 [IST]Bihar: BJP's SC & ST cell president murdered in Bhagalpur

India

pti-PTI

Bhagalpur, February 17: Unidentified miscreants gunned down BJP's Bhagalpur district Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC & ST) cell president in Bhagalpur late Friday night, police said. The victim Manoj Mandal (25) was shot dead while he was asleep in his home in his native village Khawaspur under Pirpainty police station, Kahalgaon Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Ramanand Kumar Kaushal said.

An unnamed FIR has been lodged with Pirpainty police station in this regard, the SDPO said adding that motive behind the killing is yet to be ascertained.

Police have started investigation into the matter, he added. Mandal was found shot dead in his room by the family members when they became anxious after he did not wake up in the morning. They knocked the door but he did not wake up after which the door was broken and he was found dead.

PTICases of Lambda COVID-19 variant found in Canada but too early to know how widespread it is

Explained: Why Canada again extended ban on arriving passenger flights from India

Covid: Indians with travel plans to Canada struggling with the norm to take RT-PCR test in third country

Canadian PM Trudeau arrives in India on a 7-day visit

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in Delhi on Saturday with an aim to boost job opportunities and strengthen the "deep connection between the people of our two countries".

"A long wait is finally over as Prime Minister of Canada @JustinTrudeau accompanied by Madame Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and their three children arrive in India on a State Visit," Vikas Swarup tweeted as Justin Trudeau landed at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport with his family.

Trudeau, who will be in India till February 25, will meet PM Modi on February 23.

Trudeau and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are also expected to focus on areas including civil nuclear cooperation, space, defense, energy and education.

On Friday, Trudeau tweeted that his visit would 'focus on creating good jobs and strengthening the deep connection between the people of our two countries.

Before his talks with Modi on Feb. 23, Trudeau will meet with top business leaders in Mumbai and also visit key Indian monuments, including the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Golden Temple in Amritsar and the Jama Masjid in New Delhi.

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Story first published: Saturday, February 17, 2018, 19:58 [IST]"Congress' victory in Karnataka polls will help Indian polity": State Congress chief G Parameshwara

India

oi-Anusha

By Anusha Ravi

Ahead of Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018, state Congress chief Dr G Parameswara has his job cut out. Not just galvanising members of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee but ensuring smooth assimilation of structural changes in the Congress have become his priorities. In an interview to OneIndia News, the KPCC President highlighted why he believes that a win in Karnataka meant a perceptional change for the Congress across the country and how the next Chief Minister of Karnataka will be chosen if his party comes back to power.

Edited excerpts

What makes the Congress confident of a victory in Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018?

We are very confident and I say this without any hesitation. We promised and have delivered. Not just have we announced programs but have also effectively implemented them. People are aware that there is an active government that cares. Our milk scheme, rice scheme, farm loan waivers, agricultural schemes have all reached the people.

How different is your approach to elections this time around?

There have been huge structural changes within the party. Congress can't be stuck in the 'grand old philosophy' despite being a grand old party. We have constituted booth committees and each member is allotted 15-20 houses in the booth. Their job is to reach out to the families and explain work of the Congress in the area, state as well as national level. Not just local workers, but big leaders too are made responsible for their constituency under 'My neighbourhood my responsibility'.

Will Karnataka bring change in fortunes for the Congress at the national level?

I do hope so. This country needs a government that can take care of all people and help them climb up the development pyramid. Congress is a party that can do so. A win in Karnataka polls will bring a perceptional change for the party. I think it will help the nation become competitive within Indian polity.

What was the thought behind visiting constituencies where the Congress had lost in the previous elections?

It was a conscious move to galvanise party cadres in those localities. We also wanted to reach out to people to draw a comparison of development between constituencies with a Congress MLA and others. In the last election, we have lost 16 seats with a margin below 5,000 and 26 seats with less than 10,000 margin. We may lose some of the 124 seats that we won last time according to our analysis and need to make up for the loss. We hope to win in at least 20 of the constituencies that we lost in last time to even out the possible loss.

Is a united BJP a threat to the Congress in Karnataka this time around?

That is the reason we are reaching out to seats where we lost. According to our analysis, seats, where we won with a thin margin, can go two ways- either the margin has shrunk leading to a loss or the MLA has done very well, increasing the margin ensuring a victory for us. Although there is no anti-incumbency for the government, there may be anti-incumbency at constituency level and we are trying to overcome the same.

Is the Congress being compelled to assert its Hinduness because of the BJP's Hindutva card?

Not really. We are only clarifying that we are Hindus too. 70 per cent of Congressmen are Hindus and there is no need to divide us on lines of religion. Ours is inclusive Hindutva, theirs is exclusive Hindutva. They call it Hard Hindutva and ours, in their words, is Soft Hindutva. Terminology doesn't matter, we are only telling people that we are as Hindu as BJP is.

Is appeasement the Congress' only poll plank to retain power in Karnataka?

I do not call it appeasement. The poorer sections, whether one likes it or not, largely constitute Dalits and minorities. Who should take care of them? Call it appeasement or whatever you like but we have to do it in the larger interest of the country and the society. Somebody has to do it and bring out a balance.

How does Congress view the venture of parties like All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) into Karnataka electoral fray?

BJP has always attempted to divide our votes. They are attempting this in Hyderabad Karnataka and heart of Bombay Karnataka regions. AIMIM, we suspect was funded by BJP in UP and they may try to repeat the same in Karnataka. But AIMIM won't dent Congress' prospects. The minorities are united and there is barely a presence of AIMIM.

Does S M Krishna campaigning for the BJP in old Mysuru region make the Congress uncomfortable?

It is unfortunate that a tall leader like S M Krishna, to whom the Congress gave everything, left the party. Having said that, would he be able to have the same impact like he did when he was in Congress? I don' think so. He is a different S M Krishna now whom people look at differently. I do not think he will be able to dent Congress' prospects anywhere he goes.

Has the change of leadership at the centre affected state units?

There is a tremendous transformation in the Congress in terms of the leadership itself and the way we look at politics. A new system and new ideas are emerging. Rahul Gandhi's personality is to reach out to the younger generation since they are the future. Party, at the state as well as national level, will soon be run by more than 50 per cent younger leaders. More responsibility to state leadership is also one of the changes. In this election, for example, we will take charge whether it is Amit Shah or Narendra Modi. As president of the Congress, Rahul Gandhi will address rallies and campaign but the onus lies on us.

Will the Congress project a Chief Minister face ahead of Karnataka Assembly polls?

We have never done that. The benefit of choosing a CM is given to the legislators. Siddaramaiah was also chosen through ballot papers and was elected as CM not selected. The same process will continue and if everyone feels Siddaramaiah should be reelected, then so be it.

Karnataka Assembly Election dates Date of notification April 17 Last date to file nominations April 24 Last date to withdraw nominations April 27 Date of polling May 12 Date of counting May 15

OneIndia NewsAt meet with PM, CDS says medical personnel of armed forced who retired in last 2 years being recalled

Gen Rawat turns teacher, tells J&K students to stay away from those indulging in terror

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Focus on building your lives through education and stay away from elements trying to indulge in terror activities, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said during an interaction with students at Jammu and Kashmir.

His comments came during an interaction with a group of students from Rajouri district of the state, who are in the city as part of the national integration tour from February 11-21.

"You have to grow up to serve the country, the villages you come from. So, stay away from elements involved in any kind of terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Tell them that such activities will not yield any results," Rawat said.

Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing rise in terror activities, with the latest being an attack on an Army camp in Sunjuwan in Jammu in which six Army men were killed.

Thirteen students, aged 17-19 years, most of whom have come to Delhi for the first time, have already visited Chandigarh.

"What differences did you see between Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir? There is development here and cars ply freely in the streets. And, what else, there are no bunkers here, cause there is peace," he said.

"Why we bring youth like you here, so that you can see atmosphere of peace... The common man is the biggest sufferer of terrorism," the Army chief said.

Rawat also exhorted the students to learn from failures and remember that success is only "short-lived".

"There was a student in my school days, who was a senior to me in Class 9. He failed his class, so he came to our class . In Class 10, he gave a moderate performance, and passed, but in Class 11, he topped. It took us all by surprise, but that was a great motivational story for us," he said.

After Delhi, they will go to Dehradun, Haridwar and then to Jammu.

In Delhi, they saw the Red Fort, Nehru Museum and Planetarium, Akshardham Temple, and took a ride in Delhi Metro, an official accompanying them said.

"In Dehradun, plan is to visit the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Forest Research Institute (FRI) and Timber Museum. In Jammu, we will visit Sainik School, Nagrota and Balidan Sthal (war memorial)," he said.

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Story first published: Saturday, February 17, 2018, 7:30 [IST]Third wave in West Bengal? 130 children hospitalised in Jalpaiguri with fever, dysentry

West Bengal: Child dies of pneumonia, 88 others in hospital with high fever

Girl child schemes of state and Centre compared by WB Guv

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi today drew a comparison between the Centre's 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana' and the state's acclaimed 'Kanyashree Prakalpa'.

Tripathi said that while the Central government's scheme helps a girl child starting from her basic education to establishing herself in society, the West Bengal initiative offers "limited assistance".

"Kanyashree is a limited financial help but the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana is educating the girl child from the start till establishing her in the society, in such a manner so that she can contribute towards the development of the country...," he told reporters here.

Notably, the West Bengal government's 'Kanyashree Prakalpa' has received accolades from the United Nations, bagging the UN Public Services first-place winner award in June last year.

The scheme, a targeted conditional cash transfer one, aims at retaining girls in schools and other educational institutions. It also works towards skill development and prevent child marriage.

According to state secretariat sources, over 4 million adolescent girls have already enrolled in the scheme.

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Story first published: Saturday, February 17, 2018, 7:03 [IST]How the Cauvery verdict is a shot in the arm for the Congress in Karnataka

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah would have heaved a sigh or relief after the Supreme Court delivered its verdict in the Cauvery Waters case. The verdict was a favourable one for Karnataka and what is more important is that the Bengaluru factor was part of it.

Injustice has been reversed Siddaramaiah said while reacting to the verdict. The verdict was crucial for the Congress government considering it came during the election year. Polls are due in Karnataka in the next two months.

The verdict which came out just minutes after Siddaramaiah began reading out the state budget will bolster the chances of the Congress especially in the Cauvery basin.

Cauvery: How Bengaluru's global status saved the day for Karnataka

It is out here that the Congress is in a direct fight with the JD(S). An adverse verdict would have put the Congress in a spot of bother. It may be recalled that S M Krishna had in 2004 shifted out of his Maddur constituency and opted for Chamrajpet in Bengaluru after facing the wrath of the people in the Cauvery waters issue.

When Siddaramaiah faces the elections he is sure to speak about the verdict and he would also go on to tell the farmers how he stood up for their cause.

In the run up to the verdict, Siddaramaiah has made all the right noises. When the court had in 2016 ordered Karnataka to release water, he defied the order. He even held a special session of the legislative assembly to make his point clear. However owing to contempt Karnataka changed its stance and released water. Siddaramaiah was criticised for buckling under pressure. The state's advocates however say that Karnataka could not afford a contempt as it would have had a bearing on the final verdict. The legal team was right.

While the Congress would gain in the Cauvery basin, it is the JD(S) which would lose. Siddaramaiah would also use this against the BJP. The BJP which has made the Mahadayi water issue a poll plank had got its calculations wrong. Siddaramaiah would use this against the BJP to tom tom about his achievement on Cauvery. He would say that the SC ordered more water to Karnataka while a BJP government in Goa has not released water for drinking purposes.

No single state can claim exclusive right over its waters: SC

Siddaramaiah would also make the most of this order in Bengaluru city. The urban area considered to be a BJP bastion. However in the final Cauvery order there was a silver lining with the Supreme Court addressing the concerns of Bengaluru city's drinking water woes. The court allocated 4.75 tmcft water exclusively for Bengaluru while terming it as a global city.

The Congress had come under criticism for not doing enough to address the drinking water problems in the city. However with this order, the Congress will hard sell this point to the voters in Bengaluru.

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Story first published: Saturday, February 17, 2018, 8:05 [IST]Is BJP overconfident of winning Tripura Assembly elections?

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

Agartala, Feb 17: Hours before Tripura goes to elections on Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expressed confidence of overthrowing the Left Front government in the northeastern state.

The BJP leaders say the party would gain a landslide victory in Tripura elections and the incumbent Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M))-led Left Front government in the state would not get more than four or five seats in the 60-member state Assembly. The results of elections will be out on March 3.

Assam BJP minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, one of the BJP's main men in-charge of the party in Tripura, said that his party would bag 35-40 seats in the elections. He also predicted that incumbent chief minister Manik Sarkar would lose polls from his constituency, Dhanpur.

Sarma and his party colleagues Ram Madhav, Sunil Deodhar and Biplab Kumar Deb are being given credit for the resurgence of the BJP in the left bastion.

"I think as of now we are comfortably getting 35 (out of 60) seats. But there are still 10 seats which are marginal, which can go either way. Presuming we get 5 out of those 10 seats, even then we should end up with around 40 seats," Sarma told News18.

"There is a strong anti-incumbency wave against the CPI(M). There's speculation that even CM Sarkar may lose his Dhanpur seat. If that happens then you may see a surprising result, something which I am not ruling out. But as a political animal, I am predicting that we will be in the range of 35-40 seats," he added.

To ouster the 25-year-old Left Front government from Tripura, the BJP has stitched an alliance with the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT). Several prominent national leaders of the BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party president Amit Shah, have campaigned in the poll-bound state.

Deb, the president of BJP in Tripura, also echoed Sarma's views. He said voters of the state would reject the incumbent CPI(M)-led Left Front government and choose the BJP.

"I wish we get all the seats. However, I will be happy with whatever mandate people give us," Deb said. He added that the Left parties wouldn't get more than four to five seats.

The high-decibel campaign in Tripura ended on Friday where the BJP is making a determined bid to demolish the Left Front government.

The BJP has never been a major player in Tripura, which hitherto has witnessed only a battle between the Left Front and the Congress. But the Congress campaign has not been aggressive this time with party chief Rahul Gandhi addressing rallies only on the last day of campaign in the state on Friday.

The northeast region is witnessing a steady flow of national leaders to its soil as two more states--Meghalaya and Nagaland--are also going to vote on February 27. The results of all the three assembly elections will be out on March 3.

Tripura Assembly Party 2013 Current Standing CPIM 49 50 Election Date : Feb 18 2018

Counting : Mar 03 2018 CONG 10 02 CPI 01 01 BJP 00 06 OTHERS 00 00 Total 60 59 (1 Vacant)

OneIndia NewsUP seeks urgent listing of plea in SC against Karnataka HC order quashing notice to Twitter official

'Mahamastakabhisheka'- Jain Maha Kumbh to begin today at Shravanabelagola

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

The 'Mahamastakabhisheka', grand anointing ceremony of Lord Gommateshwara Bahubali, will begin on Saturday in Karnataka's Shravanabelagola. The religious event is observed once every 12 years in Jain Dharmic cycle, is an integral part of the ancient and composite Jain tradition. The 57-foot-high monolithic Gomateshwara statue on Vindyagiri in Shravanabelagola, is located around 160 km west of Bengaluru.

The Mahamastakabhisheka will be performed for nine days from February 17 to February 25, 2018. The day of February 21st, 2018 has been set aside as a special day for the NRI's to perform Abhishek of Bhagwan Bahubali.

Around 5,500 police personnel, including different forces of the state will be deployed during the event. CCTV cameras, drones are being used for the first time in Shravanabelagola to keep an eye on the developments.

Shravanabelagola, nestled by the Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri Hills, protected by the monolith Bhagwan Bahubali, and home to over 2,300 years of Jain heritage, is a veritable picture postcard of our history and heritage spanning the centuries. In the town of Shravanabelagola, stands a colossal rock-cut statue of Lord Gommateshwara Shri Bahubali.

Chief Minister Siddarmaiah will be taking part in the abhisheka on the first day. According to Charukiriti Bhattarak Swami, the chief of Jain Muth, which is based in Shravanabelagola, an estimated 30 to 40 lakh devotees are expected to attend the ceremony.

OneIndia NewsModi govt institutionalising 'crony capitalism': Congress

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, February 17: The Congress accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of institutionalising "crony capitalism" and held the BJP responsible for the Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank scam involving jewellery designer Nirav Modi.

Congress leader Kapil Sibal accused the prime minister and his government of bringing the economy to its knees, and warned that the country's image would get a beating internationally under him. He also took a dig at Modi, alleging that while he was "sleeping" as the country's watchman, thieves were fleeing with the nation's wealth.

Quoting the second FIR filed by the CBI in the case, the Congress leader said that all letters of understanding (LoUs) to the accused were signed in 2017 under the NDA government, which failed to prevent the scam from happening.

Addressing a joint press conference with Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala, Shaktisinh Gohil and Pawan Khera, Sibal sought to know why Modi refused to divulge details of all those people who accompanied him during his foreign tours. "Is this the kind of 'Ease of Doing Business' PM Modi talks about?" he asked.

"I challenge BJP to come and talk about UPA's governance and their governance. Because of their ill-intentions, they have brought India's economy to its knees," he told reporters.

Sibal, a former minister and noted lawyer, accused the Prime Minister's office and the finance ministry of turning a blind eye to the multi-crore bank scam, saying they were very much aware of it. "They were aware of all this. But they turned a blind eye.

They were aware that the country was being looted," he alleged. Sibal also questioned why the HRD Minister and the Social Justice Minister were fielded by the government to defend it on the matter.

"What does a HRD Minister have to do with this? Is the minister very admiring of the quality of the human resource of Nirav Modi? What is the Social Justice Minister have to do with this? What has the Law Ministry to do with this scam?" he asked and said neither the finance ministry nor the RBI has come forward to answer questions.

He also alleged that the market capitalisation of listed companies in the gems and jewellery business is pegged at Rs 41.66 billion, while its gross current debt stands at Rs 94 billion. "This means that the debt is twice the market capitalisation and that is a scam in itself. Who can say that the government did not know this," he asked.

Nirav Modi, 46, a regular feature on the lists of rich and famous Indians since 2013, was booked by the CBI, along with wife, brother and Choksi on January 31, for allegedly cheating the state-run PNB to the tune of Rs 280 crore.

The bank subsequently sent two more complaints to the CBI on Tuesday, saying the scam was worth more than Rs 11,400 crore. The jewellery designer is understood to be a citizen of the country but his brother Nishal and wife Ami are not Indian nationals. They all left India between January 1 and 6, the CBI had said.

PTINo single state can claim exclusive right over its waters: SC

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

No single state can claim exclusive ownership over its water, the Supreme Court held while giving out the verdict in the Cauvery Waters Case. The 465 page verdict deals with a variety of issues and in its final verdict the court awarded Karnataka an additional 14.75 tmcft of water.

On the issue of rivers, the court cited the Cauvery Waters Tribunal's verdict. It said, "the Tribunal in its approach primarily referred to Helsinki Rules, 1966 which rejected the Harmon doctrine and laid stress on equitable utilization of international rivers.

Cauvery Waters verdict: Explained in 17 points

We are of the opinion that the Tribunal was correct in its approach. For determining reasonable and equitable shares, relevant factors have to be considered together, in reaching a conclusion. Keeping in view the various intricacies involved in the case at hand and the duty ordained upon this Court by the Constitution of India, the matter deserved to be adjudicated on the bedrock of equal status of the states and doctrine of equitability. Resultantly, the submission that the complaint of the State of Tamil Nadu did not warrant any adjudication, does not commend any acceptation.

SC order on Cauvery water allocation to remain for 15 years

Waters of an inter-state river passing through corridors of the riparian states constitute a national asset and no single State can claim exclusive ownership of its water. In this context, the principle of equitable apportionment internationally recognized by the Helsinki Rules, Compione Rules and Berlin Rules which have also been incorporated in the 1987 to 2002 National Water Policies, have been regarded to be the guiding factor for resolving disputes qua apportionment of water of an inter-state river, the Supreme Court also said.

OneIndia NewsWould have preferred OPS as CM had he not stepped down: Sasikala in new viral audio tape

PM Modi asked me to join hands with Edappadi: Panneerselvam

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam admitted that he agreed for a merger with the Edappadi K Palaniswami-led AIADMK faction on the insistence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking at a party office-bearers meeting on Friday , the AIADMK coordinator said that the issue came up during a courtesy meeting he had with Modi in New Delhi last year.

"PM Modi told me to save party you should merge both AIADMK factions. I agreed but said that I will not become a minister and will only take party position.

PM said 'no no, you should be a minister and continue with politics,' and that is why today I am a minister," OPS was quoted as saying by ANI.

"When I told this to my [present cabinet] colleagues Thangamani and Velumani. They also insisted that I have to be in the government. I don't desire to be a Minister. Amma [Jayalalitha]) had made me an MLA four times and Chief Minister twice. I can live with that pride," he said.

The merger of the two AIADMK factions took place in August 2016. Panneerselvam's revelation comes almost six months after both the warring factions of the AIADMK struck a merger deal under which Palaniswami was made the Chief Minister while Panneerselvam his deputy.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Saturday, February 17, 2018, 16:25 [IST]PNB scam: NCP protests outside Brady House branch in Mumbai

India

pti-PTI

Mumbai, February 17: The Mumbai unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Saturday staged a protest outside the Brady House branch of the Punjab National Bank in south Mumbai's Horniman Circle area in connection with the Rs 11,400 crore scam that has rocked the bank.

The protest, led by Mumbai NCP vice-president Ashok Dhatrak, wanted an assurance from bank officials that the money of ordinary depositors was safe in the wake of the fraud.

The party's state spokesperson Clyde Castro said that its functionaries were not allowed to meet bank officials, adding that the party shouted slogans against the bank as well as diamond businessman Nirav Modi who is at the centre of the scam.

He said that Dhatrak, who led the protests, and five others who participated, had accounts with the Brady House branch of the PNB.

PTIRaviji, the same thing just happened to me: Shashi Tharoor to seek explanation from Twitter

What is itat e-dwar the new e-filing portal of the IT appellate tribunal

Social media companies free to do business, but should be accountable to Indian laws: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Big step towards transparency: Prasad on first compliance report by Google, FB under new IT rules

If over 45 countries use Pegasus, why target just India?, asks Ravi Shankar Prasad

PSU banks incur 22,743 Cr loss to banking frauds between 2012 and 2016

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Union Minster Ravi Shankar Prasad citing Reserve Bank of India report recently told Parliament that Public Sector Banks in India lost at least 227.43 billion (Rs 22,743 crore) due to fraudulent banking activities between 2012 and 2016. The RBI report was released last March.

Quoting RBI data, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, banking fraud worth Rs 1.79 billion in over 25,600 cases are reported up to December 21, 2017. According to RBI, during the first nine-months of 2016-17, 455 cases of fraudulent transactions of Rs 100,000 and above were detected at ICICI Bank, 429 at State Bank of India, 244 at Standard Chartered Bank and 237 at HDFC Bank.

Between April and December 2016, a total of 3,870 fraudulent cases were reported involving Rs 177.50 billion, which were facilitated by 450 private and public sector employees.

State Bank of India's 64 employees , 49 of HDFC Bank and 35 employees of Axis Bank were involved in facilitating these transactions.

Also, as per a report by IIM Bangalore, profitability severely hit by rising trend of non-performing assets (NPAs), especially for the PSBs. Apart from global and domestic slowdown, but there is some evidence of a relationship between frauds and NPAs as well. According to the report, more than 95 percent of fraud cases and the amount involved in fraud comes from commercial banks.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Saturday, February 17, 2018, 13:50 [IST]Explained: What is Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, how is it useful?

Will fuel prices come down? Here's is what Nirmala Sitharaman has to say

BJP drags Abhishek Manu Singhvi's family into Nirav Modi scam

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman alleged that Rahul Gandhi attended a promotional event of Gitanjali Gems owned by Punjab National Bank scam accused Mehul Choksi in 2013. Sitharaman said Gitanjali Gems was suspended for six months from doing business on NSE in 2013.

Sitharaman, in a press conference, said that Congress' allegations against the Centre are misleading people. She said that repeating lies is a strategy being adopted by Congress.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a fresh case against Gitanjali group of Mehul Choksi, the uncle of billionaire Nirav Modi, for allegedly causing a loss of Rs.4,887 crore to the Punjab National Bank. In the fresh FIR, the CBI has named Mr. Choksi and his three companies, Gitanjali Gems, Gili India and Nakshatra Brand Limited.

"Original sin in Nirav Modi fraud was committed in 2011. The Letters of Understand (LoU) hold good only for 90 days. But the accused PNB officer kept rolling the LoUs till he got retired. He didn't put details in the banking system which lead to no one detecting the scam," she said.

On PNB Fraud Case, she said, "The entire might of the government has been invoked to pin the culprit Nirav Modi in the fraud case immediately after it came to light."

She further said that Fire star diamond international pvt ltd one of the companies of Nirav Modi. They have acquired it from Advait Holdings and one of the shareholders of it is Anita Singhvi since 2002. Anita is wife Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

Fire Star Diamond I'nal Pvt Ltd is one of the companies that #NiravModi runs. They've taken on lease property which belongs to Advait Holding Ltd in Trade Point Building in Lower Parel. From 2002 Anita Singhvi is one of the shareholders. You know who's wife she's:Defence Minister pic.twitter.com/irTcVza1PT  ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018

"Fire Star Diamond I'nal Pvt Ltd is one of the companies that Nirav Modi runs. They've taken on lease property which belongs to Advait Holding Ltd in Trade Point Building in Lower Parel. From 2002 Anita Singhvi is one of the shareholders. You know who's wife she's, " Sitharaman said.

"And also has Avishkar Manas Singhvi, possibly his son. But the wife of one of the senior Congress leaders is here as a property (Advait Holding) shareholder, she is a director by designation," she added.

OneIndia NewsOctogenarian wants peace, asks court to define religion: Not our area of expertise says SC

Right of major individual to marry person of choice a fundamental right: HC

Karnataka: 24-year-old stabbed for travelling with woman of other community in Mangaluru

Religion takes centre stage in Nagaland elections

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

Kohima, Feb 17: In the picturesque hill state of Nagaland, religion has become a key factor in deciding the fate of political parties in the upcoming state Assembly elections.

The elections are scheduled on February 27 in Nagaland. The result of the 60-member Assembly elections will be out on March 3.

In the Christian-dominated state, while the prominent churches body has openly asked voters to reject "communal" Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the saffron party's new ally, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), defended its partner stating that it's not a "religious body".

Neiphiu Rio, the founder-president of the NDPP and one of the tallest politicians from the state, said that the BJP was not based on any religion.

Rio, who is the CM candidate of the NDPP-BJP alliance, told Times of India, "BJP is not a religious party. It has only one agenda--development. As allies, we are confident of getting an absolute majority in the coming elections."

Replying to churches body's attack on the BJP, the 67-year-old politician, who himself is a devout Christian, added, "I feel the Church was merely expressing its apprehensions about the spread of Hindutva forces in the Christian-majority state. It has every right to caution members of the community."

Former chief minister Rio was declared elected unopposed to the Nagaland Assembly as his opponent withdrew his nomination.

Recently, the all-powerful Nagaland Baptist Churches Council (NBCC) launched a scathing campaign against the BJP. In an open letter, the NBCC has appealed to all other political parties not to support the saffron party and its "brand of Hindutva politics" as India had experienced the worst persecution of minority communities in 2015-2017 under the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-backed BJP government at the Centre.

In order to woo Christian voters, both the BJP and the Congress have offered free or subsidised trip to the holy land of Jerusalem if the parties are voted to power in Nagaland.

In its manifesto, the Congress said, "By an act of the state government, a board will be established to facilitate minorities to visit the holy land Jerusalem at a subsidised cost."

The BJP in its manifesto, released on Friday, promised free trips to Jerusalem for senior citizens. The ruling Naga People's Front (NPF), which was an ally of the BJP till recently, did not address religion in its manifesto.

The Congress, in its manifesto attacked the BJP for being "communal".

"The BJP is the political arm of the RSS and the Hindutva brotherhood driven by a devilish resilience to persecute all minorities. The single objective of this nexus of evil is to create a Hindu Raj. The NPF has pledged their soul to this force of evil to loot and plunder Nagaland."

The Congress has put up only 18 candidates for the elections.

In response, to both the Congress and the Baptist Church, the BJP manifesto said, "The BJP is a pro- people, people centric, pro-active development centred secular party with its ideological principles of "Integral Humanism" as propounded by its philosopher and guide Shri Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and... stand strong and committed for the harmonious co-existence of all communities and faiths within the country and with the global community."

Nagaland Assembly Party 2013 Current Standing NPF 38 45 Election Date : Feb 27 2018

Counting : Mar 03 2018 IND 08 08 CONG 08 00 NCP 04 01 BJP 01 04 JDU 01 01 OTHERS 00 00 Total 60 59 (1 Vacant)

OneIndia NewsNo one killed Sohrabuddin, Justice Loya, they just died: Rahul takes a dig at courts ruling

Sohrabuddin case: Did same cops escort Prajapati earlier, HC asks CBI

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The Bombay High Court has asked the CBI to confirm whether the four police officials who had accompanied Tulsiram Prajapati, an aide of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, to Ahmedabad just days before his death in an alleged encounter, had gone with him as his escort team on previous occasions as well.

The court's question came after Rajasthan IPS officer Dinesh M N, one of the discharged accused in the encounter case of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, a gangster, his wife Kausar Bi, and their aide Prajapati, denied all charges against him.

Dinesh claimed he had no role in choosing the escort team officials who had accompanied Prajapati to Ahmedabad for a court hearing.

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), soon after the court hearing in December 2006, Prajapati was killed in a fake encounter by a team of Gujarat and Rajasthan police officers.

However, the four officials, who were part of his escort team, made up a false story about Prajapati having escaped from custody while they were returning to Udaipur in a train, it said.

Inspector Narayan Singh, ASI Yudhveer Singh and constables Dalpat Singh Rathod and Kartar Singh, from the Surajpol police station in Udaipur, were part of the escort team that had accompanied Prajapati from Udaipur Central Jail to Ahmedabad for the court hearing.

Dinesh's counsel Raja Thakre told the high court that since the jail authorities had asked for an escort team on the ground that they did not have adequate number of officials, he merely directed the Surajpol police to send a team.

"The team was not chosen by me. Therefore, even if one is to presume for a minute that there was a conspiracy to kill Prajapati, I couldn't have played any role in it.

"I didn't know which police officers were going with him," Thakre said.

Justice Revati Mohite-Dere, however, remarked that some of the compilations of witness statements submitted by Rubabuddin Shaikh, the brother of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, had pointed out that the same team of the four officials had travelled with Prajapati between Gujarat and Rajasthan for court hearings on some previous occasions as well.

The judge asked the CBI to confirm this.

The high court is conducting a day-to-day hearing on pleas filed by Rubabuddin Shaikh challenging the discharge of three accused and the CBI challenging the discharge of two of the 15 accused from the case by a special court between August 2016 and September 2017.

Sohrabuddin Shaikh and Kausar Bi were killed in an alleged fake encounter by the Gujarat Police in November 2005, while Prajapati was killed in another alleged fake gunbattle by the Gujarat and Rajasthan Police in December 2006.

Of the 38 people charged by the CBI in the case as accused, 15, including senior IPS officers DG Vanzara, Rajkumar Pandian, Dinesh MN, and BJP President Amit Shah were discharged by the special CBI court in Mumbai between August 2016 and September 2017.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Saturday, February 17, 2018, 7:40 [IST]Liar Lashkar, it was the Jaish which struck at Sunjuwan

Sunjuwan attack: Jaish terrorists infiltrated into India in July

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The terrorists who carried out the attack on the Sunjuwan Army camp had infiltrated into India in July 2017, sources say.

According to preliminary investigation of the Army, the three terrorists were hiding in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir since July and were looking at carrying out an attack.

Six Army personnel and a civilian were killed in the attack on the Sunjuwan military station on February 10. Three JeM terrorists, who carried out the strike, were killed during the gun battle with the Army.

The JeM terrorists who carried out the attack had crossed over to India from Pakistan in July last year when infiltration had gone up, the sources said.

They said a detailed investigation is being carried into the Sunjuwan attack and the probe report will be examined by top echelon of the Army.

The sources said immediate steps are being taken to ensure that such attacks do not recur.

The attack on the camp came days after four Army men were killed in Pakistani firing in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Army sources said full freedom has been given to local commanders of the Army along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir to effectively retaliate any act of violence by Pakistani troops.

Following the attack on the Sunjuwan military station in Jammu, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman warned Pakistan saying the neighbouring country "will pay for its misadventure".

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Saturday, February 17, 2018, 6:50 [IST]Tamil Nadu: Stalin welcomes PM Modi's 'Tamil older than Sanskrit' remark

India

pti-PTI

Chennai, February 17: Tamil Nadu's DMK party on Saturday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark hailing Tamil as a language older than Sanskrit and suggested that it be made one of the administrative languages of the Centre.

A day after Modi told students that "Tamil is older than Sanskrit and is beautiful," DMK working president M K Stalin in a tweet welcomed the view.

In a "Pariksha pe Charcha," event, the Prime Minister told students in Delhi that he could however only say 'Vanakkam' (greeting) in Tamil and he regretted that he could not go beyond this. Referring to it, Stalin said Modi should make Tamil one of the administrative languages of the Centre and declare it as the language of the Madras High Court. Stalin, who is also the Leader of Opposition, demanded allocation of funds on par with Sanskrit for the growth of Tamil.

He urged Modi to declare "Tirukkural," a masterpiece of saint-poet Thiruvalluvar which inculcates moral values, as a national book.

PTIWant justice for AP, ready for any sacrifices: Chandrababu Naidu

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Telugu Desam Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday hit out at BJP led central government for not doing justice to the state.

Addressing a public gathering, Naidu said, "We went with BJP for the sake of doing justice to the state of Andhra Pradesh. All promises made in the AP Reorganisation Act should be fulfilled. Assurances made in Rajya Sabha must be honoured. I am ready for any sacrifice for justice to Telugus."

"The Centre should handhold Andhra Pradesh until it gets on par with other South Indian states in terms of per-capita income. On behalf of 5 crore people of AP, I am demanding the central government to do justice to the state. I am ready for a debate on how much other states got and how much AP got from the Centre", Naidu added.

"I visited Delhi 29 times and met everyone several times. But still justice is not done. Even in the last budget, they did injustice to AP. I am demanding that the Prime Minister and Central Ministers to at least now correct the injustice done to AP", Naidu said.

On Friday, TDP set March 5 as the deadline to BJP led Central government to fulfil all the promises made at the time of bifurcation.

The TDP had been at loggerheads with the Centre over the allocations of funds to AP in the Union Budget.

Naidu had expressed his disappointment with Centre for various issues including the Polavaram project and the Duggirajupatnam port in Nellore district in the Budget.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Saturday, February 17, 2018, 18:15 [IST]Talks with China will not help says USA NSA on situation on Ladakh

20 members of a family removed from US flight after mask of 1 slipped under nose

13 Russians charged for interfering in 2016 presidential elections

International

pti-PTI

Washington, February 17: Three Russian companies and 12 Russian nationals have been indicted for interfering in the 2016 US presidential election through social media propaganda. The indictment, released on Friday by the office of US Special Counsel Robert Mueller, said, the accused, through their actions, wanted to "spread distrust towards the candidates and the political system in general".

According to the indictment, the Russians created hundreds of social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, making it appear that the accounts were controlled by persons within the US.

To hide the Russian origin of their activities, the Russians allegedly purchased space on computer servers located within the US in order to set up a virtual private network. The accused posed as politically and socially active Americans, advocating for and against particular political candidates. They established social media pages and groups to communicate with unwitting Americans.

They also purchased political advertisements on social media and used stolen or fictitious American identities, fraudulent bank accounts, and false identification documents.

Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein said the indictment served as a reminder that people are not always who they appear to be on the Internet. "The indictment alleges that the Russian conspirators want to promote discord in the United States and undermine public confidence in democracy. We must not allow them to succeed," said Rosenstein.

According to the allegations, twelve of the individual defendants worked at various times for Internet Research Agency (IRA), a Russian company based in St. Petersburg. The other individual defendant, Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin, funded the conspiracy through companies known as Concord Management and Consulting LLC, Concord Catering, and many subsidiaries and affiliates.

The IRA allegedly operated through Russian shell companies. It employed hundreds of persons for its online operations with an annual budget of millions of dollars. In 2014, the agency established a "translator project" to focus on the US population.

In July 2016, more than 80 employees were assigned to the project. Two of the defendants allegedly travelled to the US in 2014 to collect intelligence for their American political influence operations.

According to the indictment, the Russians also recruited and paid real Americans -- who did not know they were communicating with Russians -- to engage in political activities, promote political campaigns, and stage political rallies.

After the election, they allegedly staged rallies to support the President-elect while simultaneously staging rallies to protest his election. For example, the defendants organised one rally to support the President-elect and another rally to oppose him-both in New York, on the same day, the indictment said.

On September 13, 2017, soon after the news media reported that the Special Counsels Office was investigating evidence that Russian operatives had used social media to interfere in the 2016 election, one defendant allegedly wrote, "We had a slight crisis here at work: the FBI busted our activity.... So, I got preoccupied with covering tracks together with my colleagues."

Muller is investigating into the allegations of Russian interference into the American political system. The opposition Democrats allege that Russian interference helped Donald Trump win the 2016 presidential elections. Trump denies the charges.

PTI'Eye of fire': Fire rages in the middle of ocean near Mexico

Helicopter with minister, Governor crashes in Mexico, kills 13

International

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

A military helicopter carrying Mexico's Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete and Oaxaca Governor Alejandro Murat crashed Friday night in the southeastern Mexican state of Oaxaca, killing at least 13 people, local media reported.

The accident occurred during an inspection flight of earthquake-affected areas, as the country was hit by a 7.2-magnitude quake,earlier in the day.

Twelve people died at the site of the crash in Santiago Jamiltepec, while another person died in the hospital, the state attorney general's office said. Three of the dead were children, the office said. Fifteen others were injured.

Initially, the Mexican Interior Ministry said via Twitter that two people were killed in the crash, noting that the senior officials survived.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said the crash took place while the helicopter was landing.

"Unfortunately, people on the ground lost their lives and others were wounded. My condolences to their families and my wishes for a prompt recovery to those injured," the President tweeted.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Saturday, February 17, 2018, 21:21 [IST]Thank you for reading!

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From Gush Shalom

PITY THE almond tree, especially when it is in full bloom.

The bloom of the almond is, in German, Mandelblut. That is also the name of Israel's chief legal official, called "the Legal Advisor of the Government."

The Legal Advisor is appointed by the government, but is supposed to be completely independent. He is in practice the Attorney General, the person who has the final say about indicting people, especially the prime minister. That is now his unhappy lot.

Now Mandelblit (as we pronounce his name in Hebrew) is in an impossible position. The prime minister has been officially accused by the police on two counts of bribery. Now Mandelblit must decide whether to put him on trial.

But Binyamin Netanyahu has been his benefactor for a long time, pushing his career to the top. Do you bite the hand that has fed you? Or do you shirk your duty?

An awful choice.

AVICHAI MANDELBLIT was born in Tel Aviv into a right-wing family. His father was a member of the Irgun and a rightist party stalwart. Avichai ("My Father Lives," meaning God) adopted religion at the age of 25 and put a kippah on his head.

After studying law, he served in the army as a military judge in the occupied Gaza Strip and other military jobs, until he became the chief legal officer of the army. From there it was but a short jump to the job of "government secretary," the right-hand man of the Prime Minister, who happened to be Binyamin Netanyahu.

When the office of "Legal Adviser of the Government," an official with immense power, became free, Netanyahu looked around for a candidate. And who did he see? Yea, quite right -- the good, loyal Mandelblit.

On the horizon there were looming already all kinds of criminal suspicions. The crucial position of Legal Advisor was becoming very important. So, choosing the religious, right-wing lawyer was a clever move.

How clever? Well, we will soon know.

NETANYAHU HAS not always made the cleverest choices.

Almost at the same time as he chose the Chief Legal Advisor, he also chose a new Chief of Police.

His choice was a total surprise. He did not pick one of the senior policemen, each of whom had years of experience behind him, but a completely anonymous person. And not anonymous by accident: he was the No. 2 of the internal security service (Shin Bet).

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The Afghan Taliban has published an open letter to the American people urging them to pressure their government to end the occupation of Afghanistan, now in its 17th year, and engage in peace talks.

Tellingly, President Donald Trump last month ruled out any talks with the Taliban.

The letter, published on the Taliban website, denounces the Bush administration's justification for launching the invasion, as well as the Trump administration, which "again ordered the perpetuation of the same illegitimate occupation and war against the Afghan people."

"No matter what title or justification is presented by your undiscerning authorities for the war in Afghanistan, the reality is that tens of thousands of helpless Afghans including women and children were martyred by your forces, hundreds of thousands were injured and thousands more were incarcerated in Guantanamo, Bagram, and various other secret jails and treated in such a humiliating way that has not only brought shame upon humanity but is also a violation of all claims of American culture and civilization," the letter states.

Ongoing failure for U.S. troops is ensured, the group argues. "If the policy of using force is exercised for a hundred more years and a hundred new strategies are adopted, the outcome of all of these will be the same as you have observed over the last six months following the initiation of Trump's new strategy."

The letter comes a day after U.S. intelligence agencies predicted that the "overall situation in Afghanistan probably will deteriorate modestly this year in the face of persistent political instability, sustained attacks by the Taliban-led insurgency, unsteady Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) performance, and chronic financial shortfalls."

Afghan government writ

In Afghanistan, the writ of Ashraf Ghani's government is apparently limited to big cities only while the rural areas are mostly controlled by the Taliban. But now it appears that even cities such as Jalalabad and Kabul are at the mercy of militants, who can target hotels, hospitals, schools, universities, or military bases at will. So the urban centers are gradually slipping out of the government's control just as the terrorists started their spring offensive -- in winter.

The Taliban are openly active in 70 percent of Afghanistan's districts, fully controlling 4 percent of the country and demonstrating an open physical presence in another 66 percent, according to a BBC study published on January 30.

The BBC estimate, which it said was based on conversations with more than 1,200 individual local sources in all districts of Afghanistan, was significantly higher than the most recent assessment by the NATO-led coalition of the Taliban's presence.



However, the coalition said on January 30 that the Taliban contested or controlled only 44 percent of Afghan districts as of October 2017.

NBC: The Taliban is gaining strength and territory

According to NBC more than 16 years after the U.S. helped overthrow the Taliban in Afghanistan, the metrics kept by U.S. and Afghan officials and security experts show the Taliban is gaining territory and strength.

As Kabul reels from a deadly wave of terror attacks, the numbers tell the tale. The percentage of the Afghan population under the control of the central government has slipped, the land mass under the control of coalition forces is shrinking, and the number of Taliban fighters may have doubled in the past four years.

In 2014, U.S. officials told NBC News that the number of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan was about 20,000. Four years later, one U.S. defense official said the current Taliban strength is at least 60,000.

According to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan (SIGAR), Resolute Support asked SIGAR not to make public the U.S. military's most recent internal estimates of Taliban control.

The appendix to SIGAR's January 2018 quarterly report, released Tuesday, says that Resolute Support asked SIGAR not to release either its estimate of Taliban territorial control or its estimate of the percentage of the Afghanistan population under Taliban control. The appendix quoted Resolute Support as saying the figures are "not releasable to the public." Both metrics are unclassified.

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Yesterday I was going to cover the shootings in Florida on Politics Done Right with a show centralized on righteous indignation. I featured instead someone who had a more measured approach which believes there is a better way to get to sensible gun control.

I invited Coffee Party USA former president Debilyn Molineaux and instead of addressing the gun control question directly, she postulated that if one instead solved ancillary issues, it could render gun control moot. While Debilyn is likely correct that solving people's problems -- boredom, abuse, molestation, lack of self-worth, -- would inhibit those who have access to guns from using them as their antidote, the problem is now.

We all know the ultimate solution because it is in effect in countries like the United Kingdom where these events don't occur. Limit access to guns, period. Australia instituted buyback programs and gun control after having liberal gun policies. They've not had a mass killing event since.

But Americans are under the grips of politicians who are controlled by the National Rifle Association (NRA). Most Americans want stricter sensible gun control. The problem is that to most it's not existential, so they are not revolting in the streets.

If messaging were better I think we would accomplish two things. First, it would show Americans that there is a better way that is not hypothetical given examples of countries without the problem and nations that solved their mass shooting problems. And second, many Americans would activate and put the fear of the masses in the psyche of even the politicians in hock to the NRA. We would have empowered the masses with a consistent message.

I recall an episode of The West Wing where President Bartlett did just that to shoot down the nonsense emanating from an Evangelical Host. It was not only epic, but it shows the effectiveness of a tightly constructed narrative. Check it out here.Dairy Not Found

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US Congressmen Steve King and James Sensenbrenner want to eliminate laws protecting consumers, animals, and the environment. Steve King's Protect Interstate Commerce Act (H.R. 3599/H.R. 4879) and James Sensenbrenner's No Regulation Without Representation Act (H.R. 2887), dubbed as the "States' Rights Elimination Act," would take great power away from state and local governments, a dangerous overreach of the federal government.

H.R. 3599/H.R. 4879 would render a broad range of state and local agriculture laws including animal welfare, environmental, workers' rights, food safety, and really any laws that have to do with agriculture, null and void. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) concludes, "[H.R. 3599] would preempt vital state agricultural policies designed to protect the safety and well-being of our farmland, waterways, forests, and most importantly, our constituents." The NCSL goes on to say the bills would have far-reaching effects on our economy.

H.R. 2887 would prohibit states from regulating activity in interstate commerce. For instance, a hazardous product made in another state could be sold in Michigan no matter how dangerous it is without Michigan having a say in the matter. Any state laws banning that product could not be enforced. Under this bill, pretty much any state and local laws related to interstate commerce could be eradicated. The NCSL warns, "If enacted, this constitutionally questionable legislation would codify a radical federal overreach that would undermine the longstanding constitutional right of states to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their citizens and local businesses, as well as preempt countless laws in all 50 states. In short, this legislation would strip states' ability to govern."

These bills will jeopardize numerous state and local laws. One example is voter referendums on battery-cage eggs. It's common practice that egg-laying hens are crammed into cages so small they cannot spread their wings or even move. Some voter referendums in recent years mandate the cages have adequate space. Furthermore, these anti-states bills could reverse laws banning the sale of dog meat in Michigan and other states. They could wipe out laws restricting the sale of diseased animals on factory farms, which is a public-health issue. State and local laws regulating puppy mills would be no more. They could affect food-labeling laws, laws banning BPA in infant food containers, laws requiring that imported firewood be free from invasive species, etc. The list of laws that could be affected goes on and on.

The United States Constitution grants states the power to regulate themselves. These overreaching bills violate the Tenth Amendment: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

Just a few of the more than 70 organizations that oppose these bills include the Animal Legal Defense Fund, ASPCA, Californians for Pesticide Reform, Center for Food Safety, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, The Humane Society of the United States, and United Farm Workers.

Our health and the rights of our states and local governments are important. I urge our federal representatives to oppose these bills.Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too.

If the shooter in Parkland, Florida, had been named Mohammad, we can be sure that Donald Trump would have immediately taken to Twitter in an effort to use the tragedy as proof for the need of his Muslim ban. If instead it was Jesus or Jose, the subject of those Tweets would have been his border wall. Instead, the killer was just a run-of-the-mill domestic terrorist who used a gun to kill 17 people in a high school. Therefore, we will be told to offer hope and prayers and ignore that this was the eighth school shooting in this new year. To do otherwise politicizes the tragedy and disrespects the victims and survivors and their families.

Bullshit.

America failed the students, staff, and families of the Stoneman Douglas High School. We put the profits of the gun industry ahead of the lives of our children and allowed this needless cycle of death to continue. We elected politicians who we knew were in the pockets of the NRA, ignoring all the other previous school shootings and letting the students from Columbine and Sandy Hook to die in vain. We allowed hopes and prayers to replace action.

The survivors of our latest mass shooting are having none of it. David Hogg, a senior and editor at the school's TV station, faced death by pulling out a camera during the shooting so that he and his fellow students could "get the message out there, about how we want change to be brought about." He continued the next day by stating "when you don't take action, things like this eventually will happen to you. And that is not acceptable...Don't stop fighting because children will continue to die if we don't take a stand now."

When right-wing commentator Tomi Lahren callously politicized the pain of these students by stating that "this isn't about a gun it's about another lunatic", the students fought back. Carly Novell claimed the high ground on the debate by pointing out that she was the one "hiding in a closet for 2 hours." From the perspective of a person whose life is forever changed by the incident, she stated that "Guns give these disgusting people the ability to kill other human beings." The student also answered Lahren's question "Can the Left let the families grieve for even 24 hours before they push their anti-gun and anti-gun owner agenda?" with blunt honesty. "While we were in there we were still talking about gun control and how something needs to change. We were in a closet and were still thinking about this... There is no waiting period... This is what needs to change."

The issue of gun violence is a storyline that can easily lead to cynicism. Trump's first comments on the tragedy didn't even mention guns, substituting the need to work on the issue of mental health. This after he signed a law revoking the ability of those "who weren't able to manage their affairs because of 'marked subnormal intelligence, or mental illness, incompetency, condition, or disease'" from purchasing a gun. However, the bravery of these students in speaking out in a time of immense pain is a sign of hope. If six- and seven-year-olds dying in Sandy Hook could not shame the American people into a meaningful debate on this subject, perhaps angry teenagers can force the issue.



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____________________________________________



A Tale of Two Presidents

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Carl Petersen is a parent and special education advocate, elected member of the Northridge East Neighborhood Council and was a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race. During the campaign, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action and Dr. Diane Ravitch called him a "strong supporter of public schools." His past blogs can be found at www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com.

(Article changed on February 18, 2018 at 19:31)

(Article changed on February 18, 2018 at 19:33)

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The 2018 midterm elections will occur on November 6th. Democrats have been predicting a "blue wave," but recently there's been an uptick of support for President Trump and, as a result, Democrats are nervous. Nonetheless, the eleven western states look positive for Dems.

The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll ( http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/strength-party-strongholds-key-midterm-outcomes-poll/story?) suggests why Democrats look forward to November 6th: "Democrats lead by 14 points among likely voters... But that reflects a vast 38-point Democratic lead in districts already held by Democratic members of Congress. In districts the [GOP] holds, by contrast, it's a tight 45-51 percent Democratic vs. Republican contest." Democrats also lead in enthusiasm: "They lead very widely among those who say it's especially important to vote this year."

A "blue wave" is predicted because experts believe that Democrats are more motivated to vote than are Republicans. Because most Democrats deplore Trump and his Republican Party, Dems are eager to curtail Trump by taking back the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate.

Intensity of feeling should play a critical role in the November 6th elections. In the latest Quinnipiac Poll (http://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail? ) 57 percent of respondents disapproved of the job Trump is doing (38 percent approved). 49 percent of the poll respondents disapproved strongly (29 percent approved strongly).

Notably, Trump is losing the support of women. The most recent Washington Post poll indicates that 65 percent of women disapprove of the job Trump is doing.

What is clear from the polls is that there is a big difference in how Trump is viewed in Red and Blue congressional districts. Red district voters support Trump: they feel he is doing a good job, ignore his lies, and believe the investigation into possible collusion with Russia is a hoax. Blue district voters have radically different feelings. This suggests that the 2018 outcome is going to be decided by swing districts. The balance of this article examines the swing districts in the west.

California: Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein is running for reelection and is likely to win her sixth term in office. The real excitement is in the House races where, according to the Cook Report, at least 10 races are competitive.

CA 4 McClintock (R) -- Likely Republican.

CA 7 Bera (D) -- Leans Democrat. (The one Democrat seat in jeopardy.)

CA 10 Denham (R) -- Toss up.

CA 21 Valadao (R) -- Likely Republican but Dems outnumber Republicans.

CA 25 Knight (R) -- Toss up.

CA 39 Royce (R) -- Leans Democrat; Royce is retiring.

CA 45 Walters (R) -- Leans Republican.

CA 48 Rohrabacher (R) -- Toss up.

CA 49 Issa (R) -- Leans Democrat; Issa is retiring.

CA 50 Hunter (R) -- Likely Republican.

(There's a lot of interest in Republican Devin Nunes seat (CA 22); the Cook Report rates it as Solid Republican.)

Because of California's "top-two" primary system, it's likely that on November 6th, California voters will chose between two Democratic candidates for Governor and two Democratic candidates for Senator; this should depress the Republican vote.

Nevada: Republican Senator Dean Heller is up for reelection and the Cook Report rates the race as a tossup. (Heller's likely opponent is Democratic Congresswoman Jacky Rosen.) There's an open Governor's slot because the existing Republican governor is term-limited out; Cook rates this Governor's race as a tossup. There are two House races of interest, both currently occupied by Democrats:

NV 3 Rosen (D) -- tossup; Rosen is retiring to run for Senator.

NV 4 Kihuen (D) -- Leans Democrat; Kihuen is retiring.

Arizona: Republican Senator Jeff Flake is retiring and the Cook Report rates this race as a tossup. (The likely Democratic candidate is congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema.) The Republican Governor, Doug Ducey, is running for reelection; Cook rates this race as likely Republican. There are three house races of interest:

AZ 1 O'Halleran (D) -- Leans Democrat

AZ 2 O'Salley (R) -- Leans Democrat; O'Salley is retiring to run for Senator

AZ 9 Sinema (D) -- Likely Democrat; Sinema is retiring to run for Senator.

New Mexico: Republican Governor Martinez is term-limited out. Cook Report shows race this as leaning Democrat. There are two open house seats of interest (both incumbents are retiring.)

NM 1 Lujan-Grisham (D) -- Leans Democrat

NM 2 Pearce (R) -- Likely Republican.

Colorado: Democratic Governor Hickenlooper is term-limited out. Cook Report shows this race as leaning Democrat. There is one congressional seat up:

CO 6 Coffman (R) -- Toss up.

Montana: Democratic Senator John Tester is up for reelection. Cook shows this as likely Democrat. There is one house seat, Gianforte (R), which Cook shows as likely Republican.

Washington: There is one house seat of interest: WA 8 Reichert (R); he is retiring. Cook rates this a toss up.

Oregon: The Democratic incumbent Governor, Kate Brown, is up for re-election; Cook shows this a likely Democrat. OR 5 Schrader (D) rates as likely Democrat.

Thus in the west there's an opportunity for Democrats to pick up 2 Senate seats, at least 8 House seats, and 3 governorships.Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too.



President Bush Nominates Robert S. Mueller as Director of the FBI600 -- 447 - 52k - jpg

(Image by georgewbush-whitehouse...) Details DMCA



"Do I understand this correctly? Mueller has charged 13 Russians with"using the internet?"

"To influence American elections," Alice explained. "It's illegal for one country to try to influence elections in another."

The Mad Hatter laughed. "Of course the United States would NEVER do anything like that. Cough--Voice of America--cough."

"But there are no charges that the Russians hacked into Diebold voting machines, right?"

"No. Not the Russians," agreed the Hatter.

"And nobody confronted voters on their way to the polls. Protests, placards, arguments, anything?"

"Nope," said Alice. "But think of the damage voters experienced by reading propaganda against Hillary and for Trump. I mean some voters might have actually started to think they should vote for Trump instead of Hlllary, imagine."

"That wasn't supposed to happen," said the Mad Hatter. "It was, by her own words, 'her turn'. And those danged Russians messed it all up. So now there's no war in Ukraine and Crimea, dangit."

"Looks like that won't happen again in 2020. They'll make sure she gets elected this time," said the Rabbit. "But, something worries me here. The way I understand it, a Russian dude went online and pretended to be an American, commenting on social media and writing a blog."

"Yes," said Alice. "Imagine going online and pretending to be someone you're not. Who does that?"

"Not me. I'm not the Sane Hatter. Or David Icke."

"And I'm not the Gray Hare. But that's my point. The internet has been a wonderful resource for everyone, and internet anonymity, such as it is, has kept free speech in play, even as the mainstream news sources have been clamping down, controlling messages, and pushing the "party" line."

"You're starting to sound like me," chuckled the Hatter. "IP addresses, remember? You can go down the rabbit hole, but if they want you, they'll find you. But remember, you're not really anonymous unless you use the dark web. ."

"I know, but I don't want to get involved with all the criminal elements, in or outside our government on the dark web. All I want to do is enjoy the 1st Amendment, learn from others' perspectives, and make up my own mind."

"Heresy," cried the Hatter, laughing. "Be careful. You don't have enough fur to survive in Siberia"or AIaska. And there Sarah Palin might shoot you."

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From Smirking Chimp

My beloved childhood friend, someone I've known since before elementary school, has lost his grandson in the latest Florida shooting.

He was a freshman in high school, a beautiful innocent, full of joy and promise. My sister cannot stop crying. Writing this article is the only way I can deal with it. I cannot yet bring myself to call.

Make no mistake about this: Sooner or later, these mass murders will strike you personally in your home and in your heart and in your soul.

You may see them as abstract ghosts, fleeting horror shows off in the distance. But there are so goddam many of them, it is absolutely inevitable you will lose someone you love very soon. Close your eyes and ask who it will be, and what that will do to you and yours for the rest of your lives.

It will be a stone in your core that will never go away.

America's gun holocaust has become a ghastly game of Russian Roulette and all of us are losing to the House, which is to say the gun industry.

The Manchurian Mafioso in the White House says it's a mental health issue, and for once he's absolutely right.

Trumputin and those like him are criminally insane when it comes to (among so many other things) guns. That the slumlord-in-chief has issued a statement blaming the victims, and without mentioning gun control, is par for his course.

The first thing to remember about gun violence is that it is A BUSINESS. There is an entire corporate infrastructure that makes BIG MONEY on these murders. Whoever makes and sells the automatic weapons and the bullets that do these slaughters makes a profit on them. Yesterday's shooting, like tomorrow's, puts money in their bank account. They will be enriched by the next mass slaughter and the one after that and the one after that.

They can haul out all the fake Constitutional rhetoric they want. But the National Rifle Association is out there promoting an industry that is IN BUSINESS to threaten your health, safety, legal rights, and long-term security.

By law, nothing beyond their own corporate bottom line has the least impact on them.

Every limitation on gun ownership COSTS THEM CASH. And it's no accident Trumptin's Russian backers chose the NRA (among so many others) to launder money into his campaign.

That they have warped the Bill of Rights comes with the territory.

Here's what the Second Amendment actually says:

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By continuing to cast doubt on Russian involvement, the president is helping the Kremlin get away with its election attack.



Donald Trump

(Image by maxpixel.freegreatpict...) Details DMCA



People forgot. Special counsel Robert Mueller was not only focused on investigating interactions between Trump world and the Russians; he was tasked with digging into Vladimir Putin's attack on the 2016 election. And on Friday afternoon, he announced the indictment of 13 Russian nationals for interfering with the presidential campaign. The indictment focused on the Internet Research Agency, a Kremlin-linked outfit based in St. Petersburg, where hundreds of trolls were paid to disseminate false information and propaganda on American social media to influence the election. The document noted that IRA trolls "posted derogatory information about a number of candidates" and its "operations included supporting the presidential campaign of then-candidate Donald J. Trump...and disparaging Clinton."

Here is yet more proof, not that any was needed, that Russia meddled in the election to benefit Trump -- and that Trump's continued denial or downplaying of Putin's intervention is nothing but bunk. The indictment is a reminder that Trump won a tainted election, in which he was assisted by Russian skullduggery -- and that he has refused to come to terms with that.

This indictment only covers one part of the information warfare unleashed by Russia against American democracy two years ago. Roughly speaking, Moscow's attack had three components: the social media assault, the hack-and-dump operation targeting Democrats, and the penetration of state voting systems. Each had the potential to undermine the election and cause discord or even chaos. The social media attack went largely unnoticed during the campaign, as Russian trolls and bots infiltrated Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms to spread and amplify messages designed to fuel political divisions within the United States and, in many instances, to boost Trump. They bought ads on Facebook that assailed Clinton. They set up fake Facebook pages that organized and promoted real-life pro-Trump or anti-Clinton rallies in the United States. Facebook and Twitter only grudgingly acknowledged last year that they had been exploited by Russia's cyber operatives, whose work complemented the social media efforts of the Trump campaign. And the Internet Research Agency, the target of Mueller's indictment, was a center of this clandestine online activity.Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too.

From Alon Ben-Meir Website

Once again, we are faced with another mass shooting. This time the cold-blooded killings took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, killing 14 innocent students and three adults. This horrific mass murder of young and old attests to the criminal negligence of our lawmakers and president, who dispense with their responsibility by offering to the bereaved families hollow condolences and fake prayers.

No parent can draw comfort from these empty expressions. Nothing can assuage the agony and the unbearable pain that parents feel when their child is lost to an outrageous and utterly senseless attack that could have been prevented.

When will lawmakers face the bitter truth that America is at war with itself? A de-facto civil war is consuming us from within. Firearms are mercilessly robbing the lives of 33,880 each year -- nearly five times more than American soldiers killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined (4,530 and 2,408 respectively). On average, 93 people are killed from gun violence every day, and at least 239 school shootings have occurred across the United States since 2012; a majority of the over 400 casualties are children under the age of 19.

And yet, after every such unconscionable carnage, you hear our derelict political leaders suggesting that it is not the right time to talk about gun control laws when the families and friends of the victims are agonizing about the loss of their loved ones.

When will the right time come? How much more pain and suffering must our own fellow citizens endure before we act?

Shame on every single House and Senate member who each year takes millions in blood money as a political contribution from the National Rifle Association to ensure their reelection. Perhaps only when some of these lawmakers lose a child of their own will they begin to grasp the excruciating pain that parents bear when their telephones ring, only to be told that their child was just gunned down at school by a random shooter. Yes, every lawmaker should stop and think how it really feels. But then again, are they even capable of feeling?

The Book of James says it best: "Faith without works is dead." Without action, "thoughts and prayers" cannot be counted on to stop random mass killings; this has been proven by history time and again. The occasion for condolences and prayers expired a long while ago.

How regressive and totally ignorant can our congressmembers be when they defend the Second Amendment of the Constitution, "A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed"? This amendment was written over 200 years ago, when firearms were essential for self-defense against foreign militaries and tyranny.

Wake up, you so-called legislators. Time has changed. There is no Gold Rush and no Wild West. Every congressmember, and Trump in particular, who opposes the passage of effective gun control, has the blood of innocent men, women, and children on their hands. Every single one.

Those hypocrites who oppose gun control keep telling us that guns don't kill people, people kill people. What a revelation! Does it take a genius to realize that if guns were not readily available, a would-be killer could not possibly execute dozens of people with a knife or a club before getting killed or captured? Here is the absurdity of their argument in real numbers, as demonstrated by only a handful of examples of mass shootings that unequivocally make the point:

In the Las Vegas shooting: 851 injured, 58 killed -- in Orlando's Pulse Nightclub: 49 killed -- at Virginia Tech: 32 killed -- at Sandy Hook Elementary: 27 killed -- at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School: 17 killed. How many of those victims would have been killed if the perpetrator did not possess a gun?

Take a look at some countries with strict gun laws; their annual death by firearms speaks for itself: in the United Kingdom, with a population of 56 million, on average 50-60 are killed; in Germany with a population of 82.29 million, an average of 165; and in Japan with a population of 129 million, 13 or (often) less are killed by guns.

In Australia, before enacting strict gun control laws in 1996 following the deadliest mass shooting in Australian history, there were 13 mass shootings in 18 years. In the same time period following the legislation, there were zero.

Every one of us must confront the truth. Just imagine, if we were engaged in another foreign war and suffered nearly 3,000 casualties -- the average number of Americans killed each month by firearms -- how would we react? Why are we not hearing the outcry of every American who is sickened by these horrifying occurrences?

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From The Hill

In testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, the leadership of the American intelligence community vehemently disagreed with President Trump, tactfully but unanimously, by warning the nation, aggressively and unanimously, that Russia is escalating its war against democracy by launching an attack against the midterm elections in 2018.

The intelligence leaders did not address whether the Russian attack seeks to support either party in 2018. I believe, with 90 percent confidence, that Russia will work to elect Republicans in 2018, as Russia worked to elect President Trump in 2016.

It is ominous that while former KGB boss Vladimir Putin directly ordered and masterminds the Russian attack against America in 2016 and 2018, our intelligence leaders testified on Tuesday that Trump has issued no commanding directive ordering them to expose and combat Russian attacks against American elections.

In one of the greatest derelictions of duty in presidential history, Trump refuses to unequivocally acknowledge that these attacks are happening, fails to designate one senior official to lead and manage the American response against them, fails to order his staff to develop a coordinated battle plan to counter them, fails to enforce American sanctions against them and praises the former KGB boss who directs them while he repeatedly attacks the FBI that defends America from them.

Imagine if Franklin Roosevelt had told the nation on Dec. 7, 1941, that reports of the Pearl Harbor attack were fake news!

Why would Putin work to elect Republicans in 2018?

Putin has made a huge investment in Trump, whose policies divide the American people and the democratic alliance, serving major strategic goals of Russian military doctrine. Trump and his allies in Congress continue aggressive attacks against the FBI, which is the enemy of Russian espionage against America.

While Russia attacks America with saturation cyber bombing of lies and propaganda, Trump describes investigations of Russia as fake news while the Democratic Congress that Putin dreads would conduct full and thorough investigations of Russian attacks against us.

Readers should google "Nunes memo Russian bots." Numerous stories detail evidence that Russian bots worked aggressively to promote the Nunes memo. It should make every patriotic American angry that Russians who attack America promote the work of Trump partisans who attack the FBI and Department of Justice.

While the Russian attack aims to corrupt the 2018 midterm elections, the Feds and many states lag far behind in planning, focus, tenacity, organization, execution and a will to win against the Russian onslaught.

The Russian attack against democracy is the moral equivalent of war, and in fact constitutes a new form of warfare. America must respond on a wartime footing appropriate to countering a foreign attack against our democracy. Even, and especially if, Putin seeks to help Republicans in 2018, GOP leaders have a huge patriotic and political interest in joining Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and others to lead America to victory over this war against democracy.

First, Americans should demand that one person be named to coordinate our defense of democracy against the Russian attack. Someone like retired general Michael Hayden, who led the CIA and National Security Agency, or retired general and former CIA Director David Petraeus, should coordinate the response of the Feds and states.

Second, this "czar" would develop a coordinated and aggressive federal plan to defeat the Russian attack, work with Congress to effectively fund it, coordinate with the National Governors Association to develop "state of the art" plans for individual states, and seek full federal funding for upgraded state efforts.

Third, Trump should enforce all pending sanctions against Russia immediately. Now. Today. Aggressively.

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From Paul Craig Roberts Website

Robert Mueller discredited himself and his orchestrated Russiagate investigation today (Friday, February 16, 2018) with his charges that 13 Russians and three Russian companies plotted to use social media to influence the 2016 election. Their intent, Mueller says, was to "sow discord in the US political system."

What pathetic results to come from a nine-month investigation!

Note that the hyped Russian hacking of Hillary's emails that we have heard about everyday is nowhere to be found in Mueller's charges. In its place there is "use of social media to sow discord." I mean, really! Even if the charge were correct, considering the massive discord present in the last presidential election, with the Democrats calling Trump voters racist, sexist, homophobic white trash deplorables, how much discord could a measly 13 Russians add via social media?

Note also that the Trump/Putin conspiracy is also not present in Mueller's charges. Mueller's charges say that the Russians' plan to sow discord began in 2014, before there was any notion that Trump would run for president in 2017. The link of the plot to Putin is reduced to the allegation that the plot was financed by a St. Petersburg restaurateur whose connection to Putin is that his business once catered official dinners between Russian officials and foreign dignitaries.

Finally, note that Mueller's release of his charges in the face of dead news weekend means that Mueller knows that he has nothing to justify the massive propaganda onslaught against Trump for conspiring with Putin with which the presstitutes have regaled us. If the charges amounted to anything, they would have been released on Monday morning, and the presstitutes would have been handed by the FBI and CIA the news stories to file with their papers.

How did the 13 Russians go about sowing discord? Are you ready for this? They held political rallies posing as Americans and they paid one person (unidentified) to build a cage aboard a flatbed pickup truck and another person to wear a costume portraying Hillary in prison clothes.

How much money was lavished on this plot? A monthly budget of $1.2 million, a sum far too small to be seen in the $2.65 billion spent by Hillary and Trump and the $6.8 billion spent by all candidates for federal elective offices in the last election.

Mueller claims to have emails from some of the 13 Russians. If the emails are authentic, they sound like a few kids pretending to friends that they are doing big things. One of the emails brags that the FBI got after them so they got busy covering up their tracks.

House Speaker Paul Ryan has fallen for Mueller's ruse.

Remember what William Binney, the person who designed the NSA spy program, said: If any such Russiagate plot existed, NSA would have the evidence. No investigation would be necessary.

One can conclude that Mueller and Rosenstein are fighting for their lives now that it is known that their spy requests for FISA court approval were based on deception. See here.

Mueller has produced this silly indictment of individuals who are not the Russian government in the hope that it will keep the attention off the FBI's deception of the FISA court.

As a special prosecutor Mueller has demonstrated the same lack of integrity that he demonstrated as FBI director.Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too.



The scene is the House of Commons; the date May 7, 1940. A simple motion to adjourn for the ten-day Whitsun recess is of little concern to Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain who has a comfortable 213-seat majority. Then things take a turn. A plan approved by the first First Lord pf the Admiralty Winston Churchill to land troops in Norway and engage the Germans directly has been a disaster with huge losses, and the eventual naval evacuation of the expeditionary force -- an Arctic Dardanelles planned by the same man.





President Trump in his remarks following the incident did not bring up the obvious question of why an AR-15 was so easily available for purchase. Gun owners and the gun lobby are part of his constituency.





Following a mass shooting in April 1996 when a man armed with two semi-automatic rifles killed 35 people in Port Arthur, Tasmania, the Australian government put together strict gun laws. They were supplemented with a mandatory gun-buyback program through which 650,000 firearms were destroyed. Did the program work? The data tells the story more vividly: From 1979 to 1996, Australia suffered 13 mass shootings; since 1997 it has had none.





Under his usual theme of 'guns don't kill people, people kill people', President Trump continues to talk about finding ways to deal better with disturbed people. The sure Australian way is to stop them acquiring guns.





Lost in the Florida school story was another shooting the same day when trigger-happy guards let loose at a National Security Agency entrance. The forested area is a confused mass of entries and exits. It has happened before that somebody inadvertently makes a wrong turn and panics when faced with shouting armed guards. In this incident, bullet holes can be seen in the windshield and the three men in the car were injured.





Introducing the Gates Foundation's annual philanthropic letter a few days ago, Bill and Melinda Gates appealed to Donald Trump to not cut foreign aid -- "even a 10 percent cut could lead to 5 million deaths in the next decade", Bill Gates warned. Will President Trump listen?



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The Kurdistan Communities Union or KCK (Kurdish: Koma Civaken Kurdistan) is a Kurdish political organization committed to implementing Abdullah calan's ideology of Democratic Confederalism. The KCK also serves as an umbrella group for all the Apoist political parties (the political parties that are based on the Abdullah Ocalan philosophy) of Greater Kurdistan, including the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), PYD (Democratic Union Party), PJAK (Kurdistan Free Life Party), and PCDK (Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party).

KCK is leading the entire Kurdish people to struggle for peace and freedom in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. As these lines are written down the Turkish arm forces with the help of Islamic extremist from Arabs, Turks and others including terrorist Islamic forces of Al-Qaeda, and ISIS or ISIL are waging war against peaceful Kurds in the only peaceful region of Syria in the state of Afrin-Syria.

Russian and Iran had an agreement with Turkey to carry out such unbalanced war, while the US and their ally are not doing much to stop Tukey's aggression.

The Islamic Republic of Iran becomes the local power with help of the Russian. And they are working to force out the US and EU countries out of the Middle East and part of Asia.

President Erdogan of Turkey saw the success of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Lebonan, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, while the US was hopeless to stop such success. Israel, the US, and EU countries hoped for Islamic Sunni of Turkey and Arabs war against Islamic Shi'a increase of power in that part of the world.

President Erdogan of Turkey as the member of NATO betrayed the US and ally's hope above. President Erdogan's hatred toward Kurds drove him to seek the alliance with Russian and Iran instead of fighting Iran.

In short Turkish President Erdogan does not want to fight for Israel and the Persian Gulf countries, under the guidance of the US and EU countries. The US hopes that Turkish President Erdogan will change his mind. Here is 'SECRETARY TILLERSON'S' Opening Remarks at the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Ministerial:

'We are keenly aware of the legitimate security concerns of Turkey, our coalition partner, and NATO ally. We will continue to be completely transparent with Turkey about our efforts in Syria to defeat ISIS, and we stand by our NATO ally in its counterterrorism efforts.'

The US and its EU countries labeled PKK organization of 50 million Kurds as 'terrorist organization' to help Turkey in last 40 years. The US and Israel even kidnapped Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan for Turkey 19 years ago. And they sold Turkey every kind of weapon to be used against unarmed Kurds compared to what the Turks have in this unbalanced wars waged on Kurds in last 40 years.

The majority of Kurds are united under the leadership of Abdullah Ocalan's teaching. The Kurdish arm forces are fighting Turkey and Islamic terrorist forces as an ally of Turkey using simple weapons while the Turks and an ally of Turks the Islamic terrorist are armed with the modern weapons supplied by the US, EU countries, and Israel.

The US must seek peace between Kurds and Turkey instead of seeking to change the mind of Erdogan. To stop Iran and Russian aggression the US needs Kurdish people's support.

It is time for the US, Israel, and EU countries to recognize Kurdish people's right in Kurdistan (the occupied land by Persian of Tamil-India, Arabs of Africa, and Turks of Mongolia).

References

Kurdistan Communities Union

wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdistan_Communities_Union

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This statistical surveying research report on the Global Technical & System Software Producers Market is an all-encompassing study of the industry sectors, up-to-date outlines, industry development, drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It contains an analysis of late augmentations in innovation, Porters five forces analysis and progressive profiles of hand-picked industry competitors. The report furthermore articulates an analysis of trivial and full-scale factors indicated for the new and tenured candidates in the market along with a methodical value chain exploration.Top Key Vendors in Market: Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, Salesforce.com, VMware, Fiserv, Adobe Systems, Symantec, Amadeus IT Holdings.Get Sample Copy Of this Report @The initial section presents the industry overview of the Technical & System Software Producers Market. This part of the study encompasses the specifications and definition of the market. In addition, the types of the machines have been detailed. The application areas of the market come next in the study. The dynamics impacting the development of the Global Market such as the drivers, challenges, opportunities, and trends are also described in detail in this research surveying report.The competitive landscape of the Global Technical & System Software Producers Market is discussed in the report, which also includes the players market share. The report profiles some of the leading players in the global market for the purpose of an in-depth study of the challenges faced as well as growth opportunities in the market. The report also considers the approaches implemented by the main corporations to sustain their hold on the industry. The business synopsis and financial synopsis of each of the companies have been examined.Get Reasonable Discount on This Premium Report @The report provides both, qualitative and quantitative research of the Global Technical & System Software Producers Market, as well as incorporates worthy insights into the balanced scenario and favored development methods adopted by key competitors. Distinctive distribution channels and slants inclined to bear fruit in the 2018-2023 forecast period have been bestowed in the report to permit readers to plan captivating strategies.On the basis of geographical regions, the Global Technical & System Software Producers Market is segmented broadly into Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. The global market is still in its exploratory stage in most of the regions but it holds the promising potential to flourish steadily in coming years. The major companies investing in this market are situated in Canada, U.K., and the US, India, China and some more countries of Asia Pacific region. Consequently, Asia Pacific, North America, and Western Europe are estimated to hold more than half of the market shares, collectively in coming years.In the last sections of the report, the manufacturers responsible for increasing the sales in the Technical & System Software Producers Market have been presented. These manufacturers have been analyzed in terms of their manufacturing base, basic information, and competitors. In addition, the technology and product type introduced by each of these manufacturers also form a key part of this section of the report.Table of Content:Global Technical & System Software Producers Market Research Report 2018-2023Chapter 1 Technical & System Software Producers Market OverviewChapter 2 Global Economic ImpactChapter 3 Competition by ManufacturerChapter 4 Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2018-2023)Chapter 5 Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2018-2023)Chapter 6 Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter 7 Analysis by ApplicationChapter 8 Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter 11 Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter 12 Market Forecast (2018-2023)Chapter 13 AppendixAbout Research N Reports:Research N Reports is a new age market research firm where we focus on providing information that can be effectively applied. Today being a consumer driven market, companies require information to deal with the complex and dynamic world of choices. Where relying on a sound board firm for your decisions becomes crucial. Research N Reports specializes in industry analysis, market forecasts and as a result getting quality reports covering all verticals, whether be it gaining perspective on current market conditions or being ahead in the cut throat Global competition. Since we excel at business research to help businesses grow, we also offer consulting as an extended arm to our services which only helps us gain more insight into current trends and problems. Consequently we keep evolving as an all-rounder provider of viable information under one roof.Contact us:Mr. Sunny DenisContact No. +1-888-631-6977sales@researchnreports.com(ResearchnReports)Mobile Wifi Market trends, research, Analysis and projections for 2017-2021 focusing on top key players - HUAWEI, 360Wifi, MI, TP-Link, Netcore, D-link and others

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This report on global Mobile Wifi market is a detailed research study that helps provides answers and pertinent questions with respect to the emerging trends and growth opportunities in this particular industry. It helps identify each of the prominent barriers to growth, apart from identifying the trends within various application segments of the global market for Mobile Wifi. Collecting historical and recent data from various authentic resources, and depending on all the factors and trends, the report presents a figurative estimate of the future market condition, along with compound annual growth rate (CAGR).This market report is a thorough analysis of the existing situation and the anticipated condition for Mobile Wifi market. Investigation for gathering the content for this report is done in depth and meticulously. Present scenarios, past progress, global recognition and future prospects of Mobile Wifi market is offered in this report. Main strategies, market shares, products of the companies and investments in Mobile Wifi market is also mentioned in detail.Key players:HUAWEI, 360Wifi, MI, TP-Link, Netcore, D-link, Baidu, Tencent, B-Link, skyroam, ZTEFor Sample Copy of this report:The major geographical regions which include, North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East & Africa and Latin America are studied. Top manufacturers from all these regions are studied to help give a better picture of the market investment. Production, price, capacity, revenue and many such important data is been discussed with precise data.The global Mobile Wifi market is also presented to the readers as a holistic snapshot of the competitive landscape within the given forecast period. It presents a comparative detailed analysis of the all regional and player segments, offering readers a better knowledge of where areas in which they can place their existing resources and gauging the priority of a particular region in order to boost their standing in the global Mobile Wifi market.Avail 30% Discount on this Report:The research report tries to understand the innovative approaches taken by vendors in the global Mobile Wifi market to offer product differentiation through Porters five forces analysis. It also points out the ways in which these companies can strengthen their stand in the market and increase their revenues in the coming years. Ongoing technological advancements and the unstoppable penetration of Internet in the remote corners of the world are also responsible for the remarkable growth of the global market.A detailed segmentation of the market has been conducted to make it possible for readers to study the market in a much more detailed manner. Charts, graphs, statistics, and tables have been included wherever required to present the information in a clear manner. The Global Mobile Wifi Market is a highly fragmented, niche market with the presence of a limited number of vendors. Providers in the market compete based on pricing, innovation, service, reputation, distribution, and promotion.Get Complete Report@:About QYReports:We at, QYReports , a leading market research report publisher accommodate more than 4,000 celebrated clients worldwide putting them at advantage in todays competitive world with our understanding of research. Our list of customers include prestigious Chinese companies, multinational companies, SME's and private equity firms whom we have helped grow and sustain with our fact-based research. Our business study covers a market size of over 30 industries offering unfailing insights into analysis to reimagine your business. We specialize in forecasts needed for investing in a new project, to revolutionize your business, to become more customer centric and improve the quality of output.Contact:QYReportsJones John(Sales Manager)+91-9764607607sales@qyreports.comAviation Analytics Market Revenue, Opportunity, Forecast and Value Chain 2017  2027

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Aviation analytics is adopted by most of the enterprises as these solutions facilitates them to improve their operational performance, profitability, and maintenance. Aviation analytics helps enterprises to develop analytical resolution in order to cater future demand such as needs of customer which will also help enterprises to maximize their operating revenue. Aviation analytics solutions are used across the aviation industry for various applications such as fuel management, customer analytics, revenue management, and risk management.Request For Report Sample:Aviation analytics solutions helps enterprises to measure, monitor and analyze their business goals, risk, and future growth of the enterprise.Aviation Analytics Market:Drivers and ChallengesPresently, the vendors of aviation analytics market are focusing on intelligence and analytics solutions to boost profitability of their business owing to this it is turning to be the major factor driving the aviation analytics market. The growing emphasis on jet fuel management is another factor driving the demand of aviation analytics market. Moreover, increasing demand for real time analytics in aviation industry is driving the aviation analytics market in positive manner. Additionally, increasing centricity in the aviation industry is also one of the major factor driving the aviation analytics market.The major challenge faced by the vendors of aviation analytics market is due to lack of availability of suitable analytical skills.Aviation Analytics Market: SegmentationSegmentation of aviation analytics market on the basis of end user:AirlinesAirportsSegmentation of aviation analytics market on the basis of verticals:FinanceOperationsSales & MarketingMaintenance & RepairSupply chainAviation Analytics Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players of aviation analytics market are: IBM Corporation, Oracle Corporation, SAP SE, General Electric, Aviation analytics Ltd. SAS Institute, Ramco International, Mu-Sigma, and Booz Allen Hamilton.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Aviation Analytics Market: Regional OverviewOn the basis of geography, aviation analytics market can be segmented into seven key regions namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan and Middle East & Africa. Among various regions, the aviation analytics market in North America is expected to dominate during the forecast period owing to high adoption of industrial aviation analytics by medium and large size enterprises to improve their operational performance. North America region is expected to be followed by Western Europe and APAC.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 Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:Automotive Maintenance Tools Market Analysis, Market Size, Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies And Forecasts, 2018 To 2023, Focusing On Top Key Vendors Like GreatNeck,Unior d.d.,Mobletron Electronics,R. Laurence

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The market research report helps analyze the Automotive Maintenance Tools Market on a global basis and also offers forecast and statistics in terms of revenue for the anticipated forecast period 2018 to 2025. This research study offers a detailed overview of the market dynamics that are expected to affect the overall industry in the coming few years. In addition, the study explains the impact of the key factors on the development and growth of the global market through the forecast period. Promising opportunities in the global market have also been mentioned in the study.Top Key Vendors in Market: GreatNeck,Unior d.d.,Mobletron Electronics,R. Laurence,JET Tools,Sir Tools,Matco Tools (Danaher Corp.),Lisle Corporation,Thexton Manufacturing CompanyGet Sample Copy Of this Report @Automotive Maintenance Tools Market has been studied in terms of all parameters such as applications, types, products and many other. Each and every data leading to growth or fall of the respective segments have been explained. Entire supply chain with respect to market is studied in depth and is conveyed in the most comprehensive way possible. The reasons there is going to be an increasing trend to this market are studied and are elaborated. Driving forces, restraints and opportunities are given to help give a better picture of this market investment for the forecast period of 2018 to 2025It explains a detailed outline of the Automotive Maintenance Tools Market depending on the important parameters. End users, products, regions, and many other segments are studied and explained. A brief idea about the driving forces which help make the market more flourishing is discussed in order to help the client understand the future market position. Estimated revenue growth in terms of volume with respect to the market for the upcoming years has been mentioned in depth.Get Discount on this Premium Report@Another key note to be declared here is the integration of market desirability index in the report particularizing growth, enactment, and opportunities in the Market. The report is determined by the enclosure of the competitive landscape among major players involved in the production of the market components. The subdivision contains a far-reaching company summarizing and dashboard presentation of major players.On the basis of geographical regions, the Global Automotive Maintenance Tools Market is segmented broadly into Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. The global market is still in its exploratory stage in most of the regions but it holds the promising potential to flourish steadily in coming years. The major companies investing in this market are situated in Canada, U.K., and the US, India, China and some more countries of Asia Pacific region. Consequently, Asia Pacific, North America, and Western Europe are estimated to hold more than half of the market shares, collectively in coming years.In the last sections of the report, the manufacturers responsible for increasing the sales in the Automotive Maintenance Tools Market has been presented. These manufacturers have been analyzed in terms of their manufacturing base, basic information, and competitors. In addition, the technology and product type introduced by each of these manufacturers also form a key part of this section of the report.Table of Content:Global Automotive Maintenance Tools Market Research Report 2018-2023Chapter 1 Automotive Maintenance Tools Market OverviewChapter 2 Global Economic ImpactChapter 3 Competition by ManufacturerChapter 4 Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2018-2023)Chapter 5 Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2018-2023)Chapter 6 Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter 7 Analysis by ApplicationChapter 8 Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter 11 Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter 12 Market Forecast (2018-2023)Chapter 13 AppendixWe at, QYReports, a leading market research report published accommodate more than 4,000 celebrated clients worldwide putting them at advantage in todays competitive world with our understanding of research. Our list of customers includes prestigious Chinese companies, multinational companies, SME's and private equity firms whom we have helped grow and sustain with our fact-based research. Our business study covers a market size of over 30 industries offering unfailing insights into the analysis to reimagine your business. We specialize in forecasts needed for investing in a new project, to revolutionize your business, to become more customer centric and improve the quality of output.QYReportsJones John(Sales Manager)+91-9764607607sales@qyreports.comChocolate Inclusions & Decorations Market Value Share, Supply Demand, share and Value Chain 2017  2027

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Chocolate inclusion is add texture in form of filling and a chocolate decorations is used for topping or to decorate the food products. Currently, the demand for chocolate inclusions and decorations is increasing among chocolate manufacturers, bakery products, confectionery, desserts, ice-creams etc. as it adds value to these products. Chocolate inclusions are available in different shape, size, color and flavor as per their application in different types of products. In the global market, region such as Western Europe and North America represents major market share in terms of value.Request For Report Sample:Chocolate Inclusions & Decorations Market: Growth DriversSome of the key drivers which are driving the demand for chocolate inclusions and decorations in the global market is due to health benefits of chocolates. Dark chocolates are enriched with antioxidants and rich source of nutrition such as iron, magnesium, copper, manganese etc. which helps to prevent from cardiovascular diseases and lowers the blood pressure. Due to increasing number of health conscious consumers in developed and developing countries the demand for chocolate inclusions and decorations is increasing. Moreover, consumers are more conscious towards health problems, and due to which demand for organic chocolate and sugar-free chocolates is also increased for chocolate inclusion and decoration purpose. Instead of using direct form of chocolate in food products, consumers mostly preferred to use chocolate inclusions and decorations as it brings exceptional taste experience, flavor, and texture in food products such as confectionery and dairy.Chocolate Inclusions & Decorations Market: Market segmentationChocolate inclusions and decorations is segmented on the basis of end use and type of chocolate inclusions and decorations used in the food industry. On the basis of end use, its market segment includes ice creams, chocolates, cakes and cupcakes, pastries and muffins, cream pies, desserts and others. In the food industry, chocolate inclusions and decorations has become the forefront of the products as it attracts the consumers to buy the product due to decorations and design of chocolates on products. Chocolate inclusions used for a filling purpose, to add texture in food items and for decorations purpose, they are used for icing, coating, frosting, topping and many other purposes. To make perfect inclusions and decorations of food products, different shapes and sizes of chocolates are used. Further, the market segment of chocolate inclusions and decorations is segmented by type that is of different types of chocolates used. It includes dark chocolate, white chocolate, milk chocolate, and others. These different types of chocolates are used for inclusions and decorations in cakes, biscuits, cookies, ice creams, confectionery items etc. as it gives flavor and unique taste to these food products. On analyzing the market share, it is expected that dark chocolate has higher demand in the global level market as food manufacturers have wide range of choices for application of chocolate inclusions and decorations in confectionery, bakery, and dairy products.Chocolate Inclusions & Decorations Market: Regional OutlookOn the basis of the regional segment, the market of chocolate inclusions and decorations is segmented in seven regions: North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan and the Middle East & Africa. On analyzing the demand for chocolate inclusions and decorations in graph, it is expected that Western Europe and North America accounts for largest market share in the global market. Moreover, Asia-Pacific region is also gaining demand due to increasing food manufacturers and increasing population in the region.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Chocolate Inclusions & Decorations Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players that are operating in chocolate inclusions and decorations market are: Dawn Foods, Chocolate Smet Canada Inc., Barry Callebaut, Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate, Kanegrade Limite, Nimbus Foods, Orchard Valley Foods, Carroll, Industries NZ Ltd, Confection by Design, ifiGOURMET and Kayem Foods.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 Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:Anti-Malarial drugs Market Predicted to Witness Surge in the Near Future 2017  2027

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Anti-malarial drugs are the medicines used to prevent and treat malaria. The malaria is the disease caused due to the parasite known as Plasmodium, belongs to the organism group Protozoa. The malaria disease occurred in the tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of the world. Around 3.3 Billion people as half of the worlds population are at a risk of contracting malaria. Every year near about 250 million malaria cases leads to the death of 1 million globally. The anti-malarial drugs are work in the treatment of malaria in individuals, prevention of infection in individuals and conventional intermittent treatment in the specific group in most prevalence endemic regions. Generally, malaria is treated by the single drug therapy as a first line therapy, and sometimes the combination drug therapy is for the second line of infection. Anti-malarial drugs are available in the market in the form of tablet, injectables, and capsules.Malaria is considered as a most dreadful disease as it causes of death due to limited availability of the anti-malarial drugs which has become the opportunity for the growth of the anti-malarial drugs market over a forecast period.The global anti-malarial drugs market is segmented on the basis of product type, solution delivery type, solution type and end user.On the basis of malaria type, the global anti-malarial drugs market is segmented into:Plasmodium FalciparumPlasmodium VivaxPlasmodium MalariaePlasmodium OvaleRequest Report Sample@On the basis of drug type, the global anti-malarial drugs market is segmented into:QuinineChloroquineAmodiaquinePyrimethamineProguanilSulfonamideMefloquineAtovaquonePrimaquineArtemisinin and derivativesHalofantrineDoxycyclineClindamycinOn the basis of application, the global anti-malarial drugs market is segmented into:ResistancepreventionOn the basis of distribution channel, the global anti-malarial drugs market is segmented into:Hospital PharmacyRetail PharmacyE- CommerceOthersThe global anti-malarial drugs market is anticipated to register a significant CAGR over a forecast period. The increasing prevalence of the malarial disease globally is expected to boost the demand of the anti-malarial drugs and drives the global anti-malarial drugs market. The increasing research and development activities for the new drugs and new combinations of drugs due to resistance by the parasites to the currently available drugs, also anticipated to drives the global anti-malarial drugs market. The strong initiatives taken by the various state governments and regulatory bodies such as U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce the prevalence of malarial disease throughout the world, also expected to fuel the demand for the anti-malarial drugs and has become the one of the factor drives the global anti-malarial drugs market over a forecast period.Visit For TOC@However, the possible side effects of the anti-malarial drugs such as insomnia, vivid dreams, mental clouding, dizziness, and anxiety may hamper the demand for the anti-Malarial drug and restrain the growth of the global anti-malarial drugs market. The availability of pure quality of drugs in the Southeast Asia and Saharan African countries leads to the inadequate treatment, which may pose a threat to the demand of the anti-malarial drugs and restrain the growth of the global anti-malarial drugs market over a forecast period.On the basis of regional presence, the global anti-malarial drugs market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Currently, North America is contributing the leading shares to the global anti-malarial drugs market in terms of value and anticipated to register a significant CAGR over a forecast period. The Europe is also contributing the moderate shares to the market due to the advanced medical facilities and availability of the anti-malarial drugs in the market. APAC is the most lucrative market for the anti-malarial drugs due to the highest prevalence of the malarial diseases in the region and expected to show a robust growth to the global anti-malarial drugs market. MEA is at a nascent stage to the global anti-malarial drugs market and anticipated to register a decent growth to the market over a forecast period. Overall, the global anti-malarial drugs market is expected to show significant growth over a forecast period.Market PlayersSome of the major market players in anti-malarial drugs market globally include Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline Plc., Ranbaxy Laboratories, Ipca Laboratories Ltd., Zydus Cadila, Merck KGaA, Novartis AG, Alvizia Health Care, Bayer AG and Roche Inc.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:Tower Crane Market to Record a Moderate CAGR of 4.5% from 2017 to 2027

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Future Market Insights, in an upcoming report titled Tower Crane Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012-2016 and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027 has assessed the global tower crane market for the decade ending in 2027. Increased demand for the building and construction segment is fuelling the tower crane market. The growth of different sectors such as real estate, civil infrastructure, and industrial construction should drive demand for energy efficient and more advanced tower cranes. The tower crane market is anticipated to record a moderate CAGR of 4.5% from 2017 to 2027.Product Type  Hammerhead Cranes have Immense Potential in Tower Crane MarketThe hammerhead crane segment is the most lucrative in the tower crane market and key stakeholders are advised to focus their attention on this product type. The hammerhead segment is expected to witness the highest CAGR of 5.2% for the forecast period, making it crucial to target. The mobile tower segment has the second largest revenue share in the tower crane market but is likely to witness a notable decline in BPS.Request for Sample @Capacity  5 -10 Ton Capacity Gains at Expense of Up to 5 Tons in Tower Crane MarketThe 5-10 ton capacity tower cranes have a little over a fifth of the market share in the tower crane market in 2017 and this could grow to approx. a quarter by end 2027. The 5 -10 ton capacity crane segment and 10-20 ton segments are projected to gain share at the expense of all others in the tower crane market. An incremental dollar opportunity of roughly US$ 2 billion is waiting to be tapped in the 5  10 ton segment for the period.End-Use  Greatest Scope in Building & Construction and Civil InfrastructureIn terms of end use, the building & construction and Civil Infrastructure segments dominated the tower crane market and should remain so. High investment by both the public and private sector in building & construction across developed and emerging economies is responsible for the construction boom. The building & construction segment should exceed a volume of 62,000 units by end 2027, i.e. larger than the residential & commercial and industrial segments combined in the tower crane market.Design  Top Slewing Segment to Gain Substantial Share in Tower Crane MarketThe top slewing segment is poised to witness a massive growth of 120 BPS from 2017 to 2027 and have a market share of just under 70% in the tower crane market. The top-slewing segment is sought after in the construction sector and should comprise half the volume by sales in the tower crane market at the end of 2017.Region  APEJ Rural to Urban Migration Requires Civil Infrastructure DevelopmentThe APEJ region had a market share greater than a third of the tower crane market in 2012 and is estimated to grow to more than 40% by 2027. Government initiatives such as Make in India have made APEJ countries an export hub. In addition to this, millions of people migrate annually from rural areas to urban ones in search of better job prospects. That is why there is a need for large-scale urban infrastructure projects, spurring the demand for tower cranes in this dynamic region.Request for Table of Contents @Competition Dashboard in the Tower Crane MarketCompanies profiled are Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Company Ltd., XCMG, Liebherr, Terex Corporation, Manitowoc, Sany Group, Kroll Cranes, Linden Comansa, FMGru srl, Konecranes, Fushun Yongmao Construction Machinery, Raimondi, AMS Kranbau GmbH, WOLFFKRAN International, Sichuan Construction Machinery, HKTC, Wilbert, ELMAK Crane & Equipment, JASO group, and Anka Hoist USA.TakeawaysKey stakeholders need to ensure that the lifespan, capacity, and efficiency of their tower cranes exceeds industry expectations. The best way to do so is by way of continuous product innovation. Long term contracts with end users and expansion of construction activities can also be very helpful indeed. Working training at manufacturing facilities can go a long way in reducing accidental injuries and deaths.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:Automotive Telematics Market will Register a CAGR of 11.6% through 2014 - 2020

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Future Market Insights (FMI) with sharp focus on emerging regions delivers key insights about the Asia Pacific automotive telematics market in its recent report titled, Asia Pacific Automotive Telematics Market Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2014 - 2020. According to this report, the global telematics market is expected to expand at a single-digit CAGR during forecast period 20142020. On the other hand, APAC will demonstrate the fastest growth in the global automotive telematics market at a double-digit CAGR during the forecast period. During this period, the contribution of the telematics market in the Asia Pacific region to the overall market is projected to increase from 26% to 30%, reflecting an increase of 400 BPS.This growth is attributed to high penetration of technologies and steadily increasing GDP. Moreover, Asia Pacific benefits from the presence of established vendors in the commercial vehicle telematics market, which includes PeopleNet, FleetMatics, Trimble, Telogis and Omnitracs. Furthermore, over 42% of the worlds Internet users in Asia (2013), combined with hundreds of millions of 4G users, will fuel growth of the APAC automotive telematics market during the forecast period.A sample of this report is available upon request @FMI lead consultant, Nikhil Kaitwade, sheds light on why Asia Pacific will emerge the fastest growing market in the near future. Telematics in the automotive industry has become increasingly relevant with a palpable emphasis on safety and security globally. New business models combined with increased technology adoption and remote vehicle diagnostics is fuelling growth of the Asia Pacific automotive telematics market, he said.The three key technologies that will drive the Asia Pacific automotive telematics market are:Embedded Technology  Currently, this segment dominates the Asia Pacific automotive telematics market. Greater ease of assembly, ease of troubleshooting, reliability of components and fall in cost of electronic parts are factors driving demand for automotive embedded systems in this region. Increasing use of cloud-based telematics will also influence the APAC automotive telematics embedded technology market segment. FMI projects that this segment will display a double-digit CAGR during the forecast period.Tethered Technology  The tethered technology segment in the Asia Pacific automotive telematics market will demonstrate the lowest growth at a single-digit CAGR during forecast period 20142020.Smartphone Technology  Price advantages and growing smartphone penetration will fuel growth of the smartphone technology segment in the Asia Pacific automotive telematics market. FMI anticipates that evolving smartphone technology will witness the highest CAGR in double digits during the forecast period.Access Full Report With TOC @Currently, North America dominates the global automotive telematics market, followed by Europe. High penetration of the aforesaid technologies in Asia Pacific combined with saturation of European and North American markets will continue to fuel growth of the APAC automotive telematics market.Elaborating on this trend, Kaitwade further stated, In order to differentiate their product offerings, automotive OEMs are integrating telematics technologies into vehicles they manufacture.In addition, the expanding safety and security end-user segment and increasing prominence of social media in Asia Pacific will drive the automotive telematics market in the region. The safety and security end-user segment is anticipated to dominate the Asia Pacific automotive telematics market between 2014 and 2020 due to increasing consumer focus on safety and security aspects. Growing prominence of social media in the Asia Pacific region will also contribute to the growth of infotainment segment during the forecast period.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:Abhishek BudholiyaFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:Refining Additives Market Share, Size, Growth Rate and Forecast 2017 - 2027

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Refinery additives (RA) are the compounds or chemicals that are used to improve and boost the performance in different refinery processes and the end-product fuels. The fuel performance is increased to meet and achieve the fuel specifications regulated by the government bodies and authorities. These refinery additives are generally added during the refinery process and also can be used to enhance and modify the performance of specific end-product specifications, such as motor spirit and diesel. The refinery additive products are used in numerous refinery processes such as reformer system, distillation, filling plant process, process cracker, desulfurization, coker, catalytic reforming, vacuum distillation and many more. These refinery additive products are only used by oil and gas downstream industry.There are numerous types of refining additives, such as antioxidants, stabilizers, antifoulants, defoamers, octane booster, catalyst regenerators, cold flow properties, biocides, cetane number improver, and amine solution, among others. Furthermore, more products comprise lubricity improvers and metal deactivators. Refining additives products are used in several end-use petroleum products, such as diesel, gasoline, asphalt, and aviation fuel, among others. With the help of refinery additives the major downstream players are increasing their refinery throughputs and productivity. These type of refining additives are formulated through different processing techniques and formulated in such way to fulfill the different end-use demand. In the construction industry, people are concerned about the health issues related to bitumen application. Recently, one of the company developed the H2S scavenger to address these types of industry challenges.Request for Sample @Refining Additives Market: Drivers and RestraintsGlobally, the refining additives market is witnessing a huge demand and growth in the previous few years and the similar trend will be followed in the forthcoming years. The key reason hidden behind the enormous demand of refining additives is the end use need for high specification imposed by the government for the fuel usage. Nowadays, people are particularly focusing on the vehicle performance in terms of pickup and average. In order to increase the mileage and pick up performance, refinery operators are using cetane and octane boosters in diesel and gasoline products, respectively. In order to achieve competitive advantage many refinery operators are increasing their nelson index, i.e., complexity of the refinery and also focusing on the expansion of their refinery operation, which further fuels the demand of refining additives. Also technological advancements help in the formulation of refining additives with increase efficacy and in a cost-effective way generates the demand for refining additive in the near future. However, volatile crude oil prices in last 3-4 years moulds major upstream companies to close down its operations in order to reduce their losses will hamper the oil production rate. Sudden decline in oil production rate hampers the refinery production and also hampers the refining additive consumption.Refining Additives Market: SegmentationBy Product type, the refining additives market can be segmented as:StabilizersCorrosion InhibitorHydrogen Sulfide ScavengerAntioxidantsAntifoulantsDefoamersCatalyst RegeneratorsBiocidesAmine SolutionsCetane number improverOctane boosterOthersBy Application, the refining additives market can be segmented as:Crude Oil ProcessingFluid Catalytic CrackingHydroprocessingOtherRefining Additives Market: Regional OutlookThe global refining additives market is segmented into the seven key regions: North America, Latin America, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and Middle East and Africa (MEA). As of 2016, North America is leading in terms of consumption and holds the maximum market share due to extensive refinery network followed by Western Europe and MEA. Complex refinery set up and expansion plans helps the Asia pacific region to grow with a significant rate in the near future. Latin America is also expected to grow with a moderate CAGR during the forecast period.Request for Table of Contents @Examples of some of the market participants in the Global Refining Additives Market identified across the value chain include:GE Power & WaterAlbemarle CorporationThe Lubrizol CorporationBASF SEDorf-Ketal Chemicals India Private LimitedJohnson Matthey PLCClariant AG SwitzerlandNALCO Champion (Ecolab)Exxon Mobil CorporationChevron CorporationAmspec ,LLCInfineum International LtdEvonik Industries AgTotal SAABOUT 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:Flexible Glass Market Estimated to Exhibit 36.5% CAGR through 2014 - 2020

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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.A sample of this report is available upon request @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.Access Full Report With TOC @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.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:Abhishek BudholiyaFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:Key Insights of Future Prospects of Mushroom Materials Market During 2015-2025

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Mushroom materials are developed from agricultural waste and other suitable materials which are completely biodegradable and free from any volatile organic compound content. These materials are the suitable alternatives for plastic and other synthetic based materials. The mushroom materials manufacturing process involves mixing agricultural by-products such as woody biomass, husks, cellulosic biomass, and other residual biomass with self-digesting crop residuals and other biomaterials. Fungi grows on the mixture for some days and the objects or molds are further cured to manufacture desired pieces needed for electronic components, spare parts and other accessories or components. These materials can be fabricated or molded into boards needed for furniture industry with considerable durability and working life.Mushroom Materials Market: Drivers & RestraintsMushrooms are good to eat, but their roots may be far more significant to manhood. They can be used to make mushroom based building materials that are stronger than concrete, have more insulating power than fiberglass, and are completely compostable. The drivers identified in growth of mushroom materials are eco-friendly characteristics, easier workability, and light weight than conventional materials which makes it easy to transport to distances. However, limited availability of the mushroom roots and other agricultural waste are the major constraints for the mushroom materials market.A sample of this report is available upon request @Mushroom Materials Market: SegmentationMushroom materials market is segmented on the basis of geography, application and feedstock type. The application segment of the mushroom materials is further segmented into thermal insulation panels, building materials, protective packaging and others. On the basis of feedstock type, it can be further segmented into wood fiber, buckwheat hulls and cotton seed.Mushroom MaterialsMarket: Region-wise OutlookThe global mushroom materials market is geographically segmented into seven key regions which are, North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and Middle East & Africa.The mushroom material is relatively new to the market and has been evolved over last decade, at present the market for this material is much concentrated in North American region but with increasing awareness among the industry players the adoption of this material is expected to grow in nearing future. The market for mushroom materials once hits mass commercialization; may exceed present growth potential multifold times across the globe. It may even outpace the growth of advanced materials which are currently exhibiting growth between 10% and 15% across the globe.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Mushroom Materials Market: Key PlayersThe market has currently few players operating at regional or domestic level. With the technological advancements and increasing degree of know-how more market players are expected to join the competition. The only settled players identified in the mushroom materials market is Ecovative Design.The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to categories such as market segments, geographies, types, technology and applications.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:Abhishek BudholiyaFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:Learn Details of the Global Mass Spectrometry Market During Forecast Period

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Mass spectrometry is a technique which is used in the identification of various types of chemical present in the sample. It is also used in the quantification of amount of specific chemical in the sample. Mass spectrometry is very common technique in analytical laboratories which helps in the study of biological and chemical properties of compounds. In life science area, mass spectrometry is primarily involved in the characterization and sequencing of proteins. It identifies and quantities crucial proteins involved in disease and altered phenotypes and recognized diagnostic biomarkers for treatment.The global mass spectrometry market is categorized based on various technologies and by applications. Technology segment includes gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight spectrometry (MALDI-TOF), triple-quadrupole liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, quadrupole-time of flight liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and others. MALDI-TOF is the fastest growing sub-segment in global mass spectrometry market. This is due to increased usage of the technology in clinical diagnostic field.Request for Table of Contents @Application segment is further sub-segmented into pharmaceutical, environmental testing, food and beverages testing, biotechnology, industrial chemistry and others. Pharmaceutical segment is the largest sub-segment in global mass spectrometry market. This is due to increased usage of mass spectrometry in drug safety. Mass spectrometry also reduces costs associated with drug discovery procedures.In terms of geographic, North America dominates the global mass spectrometry market. This is due to increased government investments in biotechnology and biomedical areas. In addition, increased research in the field of proteomics is also supporting in the growth of mass spectrometry in the region. The U.S. represents the largest market for mass spectrometry techniques followed by Canada in North America. In Europe, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K. holds major share of mass spectrometry market. However, Asia is expected to show high growth rates in the next five years in global mass spectrometry market. This is due to many companies constructing their manufacturing and research facilities in the region. In addition, increasing number of conferences and exhibitions by manufacturing companies to promote mass spectrometry technology is also contributing in the growth of mass spectrometry market in the region. Japan, China and India are expected to be the fastest growing mass spectrometry markets in Asia.In recent time, increasing government spending in life science research and increased R&D spending in pharmaceutical industry are some of the major drivers of global mass spectrometry market. In addition, growing food concerns in food and beverages industry has also fueled the growth of global mass spectrometry market. Moreover, technological advancement in mass spectrometry also attracts end users to adopt the technology.However, high cost of instruments is key restraint of global mass spectrometry market. In addition, lack of skill labor to operate expensive instruments also obstructs the growth of global mass spectrometry market. Increasing mergers and collaborations between key players is key trend of the global mass spectrometry market.Get Sample Copy of this Report @Some of the major companies operating in the global mass spectrometry market are Danaher Corporation, Shimadzu Corporation. Waters Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Bruker Corporation, PerkinElmer, Rigaku, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Jeol Ltd. and Agilent Technologies.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,Telephone - +1-646-568-7751USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:Semantic Knowledge Graphing Market Size will Observe Substantial Growth by 2025

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A knowledge graph is a knowledge base utilised by Google to optimise its search engine results with semantic-search information taken from many sources. It was added to Googles search engine in 2012 with the initial rollout in its home market, the United States. The Semantic Knowledge Graph market aims at extracting and presenting the knowledge of a specific domain automatically from a group of documents representative of that domain. The representation encodes the semantic relationship between different words, phrases and concepts such that those relationships can expose new information about the interrelationships between all entities in that domain.Request to Sample Report @The semantic knowledge graphing market has numerous applications like being used to discover related terms within a domain, explain multiple meanings of a similar phrase, boost semantic search by expanding user queries to related keywords/ phrases, and identifying trending topics among time-series data. It can also build a recommendation engine based on content, perform data cleansing by scoring each item according to relevance, summarise documents by judging the importance of each phrase and entity within the document and do a predictive analysis of time-series data.A key driver of the semantic knowledge graphing market is the sheer volume of data available on search engines. According to Internet Live Stats, there are approximately 1.11 billion websites live as of 2016 with hundreds more being added every minute. It can be extremely challenging for website owners to reach their target market or even customers to find the exact data they are looking for.Semantic knowledge graphs can act as the backbone of any information architecture, enabling entity-centric views on information, data, products, suppliers, employees, locations and research topics. Semantic graphs not only retrieve what is required but also provide the interrelations between the various objects, even if not stated in explicit terms. They thus help in converting unorganized data into useful information.The second driver of the semantic knowledge graphing market is the occasional personalization of information required. For e.g. - Some drugs might have regulatory aspects, a unique therapeutic character and an entirely different meaning to product managers or salespeople. At a given time, an individual might only require a certain aspect of information which is relevant in that particular situation.Request Report for TOC @This personalised information processing requires a semantic layer on top of the data layer, particularly when the information is stored in different forms and scattered in several different repositories. Semantic knowledge graph engines can link similar content and documents related to one another in a highly precise manner.China currently has the worlds largest online population, followed by the U.S. which makes these two countries the largest semantic knowledge graphing markets. India is expected to outpace the U.S within this decade and should be a key focus for companies offering semantic knowledge graphs.Some companies in the semantic knowledge graphing markets are Microsoft Bings Satori Knowledge Base, Yandex's Object Answer, LinkedIn's Knowledge Graph and Googles Knowledge Graph.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:Waterjet Cutting Machines Market to Exceed A Value of US$ 2.7 Bn By 2024

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Considering the fact that cutting will remain a crucial operation across various industrial verticals, companies are compelled to adopt the most efficient machines that will serve this purpose. Waterjet cutting machines are likely to be at the top of this list, and are widely used for cutting wide range of materials without the use of abrasives. Persistence Market Research projects that towards the end of 2024, the value of global waterjet cutting machine market is likely to get doubled, reflecting a raise from US$ 1.37 Bn in 2016 to US$ 2.7 Bn.During this forecast period, the global market for waterjet cutting machines will exhibit a value CAGR of 8.9%. According to Persistence Market Researchs report, titled Waterjet Cutting Machine Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2016-2024, the global waterjet cutting machine market will also witness sizeable growth in terms of sales. In 2016, the global sales of waterjet cutting machines surpassed 13,600 units. By the end of 2024, the global market for waterjet cutting machine is anticipated to record sales of 25,872 units, registering a volume CAGR of 8.3%.Read Report Overview @The report also reveals that North America will be the largest market for waterjet cutting machines. With more than 35% share in global revenues, North Americas waterjet cutting machine market will dominate the global market throughout the forecast period. US-based companies such as WARDJet, International Waterjet Machines, OMAX Corporation, Semyx, LLC, Plasma Automation Inc. (VICON), Hypertherm Inc. (Accustream), Hornet Cutting Systems, Koike Aronson, Inc., KMT Waterjet, and Jet Edge, Inc. are profiled among the markets key players in the report.With over 15% share in global waterjet cutting machine market value, Europe is also expected to be at the forefront of market expansion. Caretta Technology s.r.l., TrennTek GmbH, CMS Industries, Water Jet Sweden, Metronics Technologies S.L., PTV, spol. s r.o., and STM Stein-Moser GmbH are European companies actively participating in the growth of global waterjet cutting machine market. However, North America and Europes presence in the global waterjet cutting machine market will witness marginal dip towards the end of the forecast period. Meanwhile, the waterjet cutting machine market in Asia-Pacific (APAC) region will record fastest revenue growth at 10% CAGR. The report has also assessed that waterjet cutting machines are available at the lowest price across the APAC countries. This is certainly expected to boost the sales for companies such as Sugino Machine Limited, DARDI International Corporation, Foshan Yongshengda Machinery Co., Ltd., TECHNI Waterjet, and A Innovative International Ltd., which are also major contributors to the markets overall growth.Request Report For TOC @The global waterjet cutting machine market is also anticipated to witness rampant sales of intensifier pumps. Since intensifier pumps will be observed as top-selling products in the global waterjet cutting machine market, they are likely to showcase revenue growth at 8.9% CAGR during the assessment period. In 2017 and beyond, a little over 55% of the markets revenues will be accounted by application of waterjet cutting machines in two-dimensional cutting. In 2016, more than 6,500 waterjet cutting machines were sold across the world for 2D cutting applications. Likewise, over 70% of waterjet cutting machine sales will be attributed by high demand for machines with a pressure range of up to 4200 Bar. Metal fabrication and automotive are expected to be recognized as largest end-user industries for waterjet cutting machines. Revenues arising from these two end-users are predicted to showcase CAGRs of 9% and above.Request To Sample Of 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:Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) Market Size will Observe Substantial Growth by 2021

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Light Detection and Ranging, popularly known as LiDAR (derived from the common term RADAR) is a sensing technology that makes use of light pulses in the form of a laser to measure variable distances from the Earth. A three dimensional information about the surface characteristics and shape of Earth is obtained using this technology. LiDAR technology helps mapping professionals and scientists to examine and study man-made as well as natural environments with precision, accuracy and flexibility.Early, the use of LiDAR was confined to the government and military applications. However, with technological advancements, and reductions in the manufacturing cost of LiDARs, it is heavily penetrating into the industrial as well as the commercial sectors. A few of the major applications catered by LiDAR technology include: volumetric mapping, mining, forestry, archaeology, geology, seismology, mining, topographic surveying, and corridor mapping among others.Request to Sample Report @Additionally, light detection and ranging also encompasses the field of civil engineering with its applications in transportation, urban mapping and planning, infrastructure projects, and roadway planning among others. Currently, civil engineering and planning are the top revenue grossing applications for light detection and ranging systems. The LiDAR market is classified on the basis product type: airborne LiDAR, Terrestrial LiDAR, Mobile LiDAR and Short range LiDAR.However technological innovations are boosting the cost-benefit ratio of terrestrial and mobile LiDAR systems. Further, the LiDAR market may also be classified based on its components such as the inertial navigation system, GPS/GNSS, laser diode, camera and MEMS mirror.Currently, there is no potential substitute for the LiDAR technology. Moreover, market has witnessed increased rapid growth in the automation provided by the LiDARs, along with the technological superiority in its field of application. Owing to these reasons, the LiDAR market is anticipated to grow at a substantial rate in near future. FARO, introduced Focus 3D LiDAR Scanner, a newly added low end device to the stationary 3D scanning market.The PrimeSense 3D Sensor, a non-traditional LiDAR, delivers an innovative solution which is adapted for real-time robotic navigation and is expected to fuel the 3D scanning LiDAR market. The recently found wide application of LiDAR technology in the digital mapping area has helped growth of this technology. Additionally, the introduction of low-cost, hand-held LiDARs is expected to reform the surveying sector in the coming five years.Request Report for TOC @Some of the reasons responsible for a slow growth of the LiDAR market is high cost of the equipments and lack of awareness amongst the masses about the adoption of this technology. With technological advancements, LiDARs have found its usage in the field of agriculture majorly to create a topographical map of the fields that reveals the slopes and sun exposure of the farm land. This technology helps farmers to achieve the highest crop yield by indicating key areas for the usage of expensive fertilizers. In addition, the researchers are working on terrestrial LiDARs for automated indoor modeling, which would aid them in modeling interiors of the building.The LiDAR market is geographically diversified with its origin almost across the globe. Some of the key competitors in this market include RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems GmbH, Leica Geosystems, Renishaw Plc, Airborne imaging, Inc., Trimble Navigation Limited and Optech, IncAbout 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:Sodium Metal Market is projected to Reflect 3.3% CAGR throughout 2016-2024

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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.Read Report Overview @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.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.Request Report For TOC @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.Request To Sample Of 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:Organic Fertilizer Market to Reflect a Significant CAGR of 7% During 2017-2025

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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.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.Read Report Overview @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 Report For TOC @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.Request To Sample Of 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:Upcoming Market Forecast Study to Assess the Expansion of Polysorbate 40 Market for 2017-2027 Period

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Polysorbate 40 is a non-ionic, hydrophilic surfactant produced by reacting the ethylene oxide with polyol and sorbitol. Then the polyoxyethylene sorbitan is reacted with fatty acids, resulting in the formation of polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-oleate. Fatty acids are derived from vegetable fats and oils such as oleic acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid, and lauric acid. It is also known as polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-oleate or polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monopalmitat. Polysorbate 40 has a wide range of applications such as surface coating type antistatic agents, emulsifier for water based metal process cutting oils, emulsifier for adjuvant of agrochemicals, stabilizer for emulsion polymerizations, stabilizer for color materials, emulsifier for pharmaceuticals, fragrances solubilizer, detoxifying agent in shampoos, emulsifier and conditioning agent in cosmetics. Global polysorbate 40 market is expected to expand at substantial growth rate over the forecast period. Asia-Pacific is projected to dominate the global polysorbate 40 market over the forecast period, owing to the increasing consumption of colorants in food and cosmetics products in the region.Global Polysorbate 40 Market: DynamicsThe major factor driving the global polysorbate 40 market include growing industry such as food & beverages, personal care, cosmetic, textile, pharmaceuticals, etc. over the forecast period. Moreover growing dyes and pigment market is also influencing the global polysorbate 40 market. The significant trending factor for global polysorbate 40 market includes merger and acquisition of polysorbate 40 suppliers with end-use industry such as food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, etc. The company manufacturing polysorbate 40 products has a substantial opportunity in Asia-Pacific, attributed to rapid rate of industrialization and growing population in the region.Request For Report Sample@Global Polysorbate 40 Market: SegmentationThe global polysorbate 40 market is segmented by end-use industry, application, product form, and by region. By end-use industries, the global polysorbate 40 market is classified as food and beverages industry, persona care industry, cosmetic industry, pharmaceutical industry, textile industries and others including herbicides, insecticides, and polishes. Among the aforementioned segments, the food and beverages industry segment accounts for relatively high revenue share in the global polysorbate 40 market over the forecast period followed by person care industry, owing to significant demand for dyes and pigments across globe.Based on the end-use industry, the global polysorbate 40 market is segmented into:Food and Beverages IndustryPersonal Care IndustryCosmetic IndustryPharmaceutical IndustryTextiles IndustryOthers (Herbicides, Insecticides, and Polishes)Based on the application, the global polysorbate 40 market is segmented into:SurfactantsEmulsifiersAntistat AgentLubricantLevelling AgentPenetrantDispersantBased on the product form, the global polysorbate 40 market is segmented into:PowderLiquidGlobal Polysorbate 40 Market: Regional OverviewBy geographies, the global polysorbate 40 market is segmented into seven regions -- North America, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific except Japan (APEJ), Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East & Africa, and Japan. Among the regions, Asia-Pacific dominates the global polysorbate 40 market in terms of value as well as volume, owing to a significant share of the region in industries such as personal care, food and beverages, and pharmaceuticals. North America is followed by Asia-Pacific in the global polysorbate 40 market, attributed to significant value share of textile industry in the region. The Western Europe is expected to account for significant value share in the global polysorbate 40 market, owing to rapid growth of additives market. In terms of value, Eastern Europe is expected to account for a moderate growth rate in the global polysorbate 40 market. Latin America and Middle East Africa is expected to have a relatively low opportunity for the polysorbate 40 market compared to other regions across the globe, owing to the moderately growing economy and industries such as cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food, etc. in the regions. Overall, the outlook for the global polysorbate 40 market will have a positive growth over the forecast period.Visit For TOC@Global Polysorbate 40 Market: Key PlayersFew of the polysorbate 40 market players include Kao Corporation, Zhejiang Taizhou TU-POLY, Mohini Organics, Lonza Group, Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co, Ltd., Adamas Reagent, Ltd., J & K SCIENTIFIC LTD., TCI Development Co., Ltd., Fine Organics, and IRO GROUP INC.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.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: http.futuremarketinsights.comOngoing Forecast Study on Carnauba Wax Market to Map Its Growth for 2017-2027 Period

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Natural waxes are obtained through ecological process of biogenesis without any involvement of chemical process. Natural waxes can be derived from plant as well as animal source and represents renewable source of wax. Thereby, gaining traction among wax manufacturers. Carnauba wax is plant-based resin wax, which is obtained from palm leaves of Copernicia prunifera, found exclusively in Brazil. The wax is attained by beating the dried leaves of palm and then refining it. Carnauba wax is considered to be naturally occurring hardest wax. Due to its durability and high melting point, carnauba wax finds extensive use in various sectors such as cosmetics, automobiles, pharmaceuticals among others. Carnauba wax consists various exclusive properties such as it swells when exposed to water, has potential to retain oil and exhibits prominent glossy characteristics differentiating it from other naturally occurring wax. Apart from natural source, carnauba wax can also be obtained organically by filtering the highest quality of untreated carnauba wax.Global Carnauba Wax Market: Drivers and RestraintsIncreasing inclination of consumers towards naturally-derived products is driving the market for carnauba wax. Carnauba wax is hypo allergic in nature and easy to swallow hence finds extensive use in pharmaceutical industry for pills coating. As food & beverage industry is under continuous innovation, product such as carnauba wax that exhibit excellent emulsifying properties and binding capacity for oils, are gaining traction. Moreover, due to its high melting point and glossy characteristics it is becoming a desired natural additive choice among manufacturers of cosmetic industry for manufacturing of lip balms, lipsticks, mascaras among others. Thus, broad spectrum applicability of carnauba wax is propelling the market growth. Moreover, due to its hardness and viscosity modifier properties, it is extensively used as polish wax in automobile industry. Carnauba wax is gaining traction among consumers over the bee wax due to broad base of application hence accelerating the market growth.Request For Report Sample@However, the tropical variety of carnauba wax may cause some side effects such as skin rash, contact dermatitis, inflammation of hair follicle. Thereby, restraining the growth of carnauba wax market. Moreover, owing to less commercialisation, carnauba wax market offers low profitability margins to the manufacturers across the globe.Global Carnauba Wax Market: SegmentationCarnauba wax is used in the manufacturing of chewing gums, coated chocolates, lip balms, lipsticks, and dental floss, owing to its glossy and stabilizing characteristics. Moreover, due to its hardness characteristics it is extensively used as polish wax for car, furniture and surf board.On the basis of end-use, carnauba wax market is segmented into:-Food & BeveragesAutomobilesPersonal CarePharmaceuticalOthersOn the basis of source, carnauba wax market is segmented into:-NaturalOrganicOn the basis of form, carnauba wax market is segmented into:-PowderFlakesPelletGlobal Carnauba Wax Market: Region wise OutlookThe global carnauba wax market is categorised into seven regions, namely, Western Europe, Eastern Europe Middle East and Africa (MEA), Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, Latin America and North America. Brazil accounts for the major share of the market as carnauba wax is exclusively cultivated in the North-eastern Brazil. Asia pacific region is considered to be prominent segment for growth due to opportunistic investment and manufacturing hub for various industries under which carnauba wax finds extensive use. North America exports its major share of carnauba wax from Brazil.Visit For TOC@Global Organic Hair Care Market: Key PlayersSome of the prominent players identified in the global carnauba wax market includes:Strahl & Pitsch, Inc.Poth Hille & Co LtdKoster Keunen, LLC.CalwaxKahl GmbH & CO. KGFrank B. Ross Co., Inc.Akrochem CorporationABOUT 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.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: http.futuremarketinsights.comUK Artificial Disc Industry to witness over 19% CAGR

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Artificial disc market is gaining huge popularity, as the artificial disc replacement technique is proving to be a safe and a better alternative for spiral fusion. Basically, this procedure involves replacing a painful disc with a prosthesis or an artificial disc. Spinal disorders are getting increasingly commonplace subject to sedentary lifestyles, obesity, and a growing aging population. One such potential driver of artificial disc market is the growing prevalence of various degenerative diseases, which is rather frequent in the United States. These disorders are the leading causes of body pain and other ailments. They are often caused due to periodic stress and minor injuries that lead to the spinal disc losing water as the annulus bone weakens.Technological advancements and product innovation with increasing research and development activities have significantly propelled artificial disc market. There is a growing emphasis on the research of multi-level artificial disc replacement, which is likely to stimulate the ongoing research on artificial disc market. Normally, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a popular and most common treatment method for cervical disc degenerative disease. Nevertheless, with the soaring success rates of artificial disc replacement (ADR) operations, a major shift has been observed from the ACDF to ADR treatment method for lumbar and cervical disc replacement.Request for a sample of this research report -Given below are five key factors that affect the artificial disc industry outlook:With a striking CAGR estimation of 21% from 2016-2024, artificial disc market is set to observe a significant upsurge. As per a report by Global Market Insights, Inc., artificial disc industry stood at USD 770 million in 2015 and is projected to reach 4.5 billion by 2024. Increasing trend of non-invasive medical interventions is likely to accelerate the growth of this industry over the years.North America, led by U.S. artificial disc market is one of the major regions contributing to the overall development of this industry. A considerable surge in disposable incomes and rising healthcare expenditure have positively impacted the business expansion. Strong reimbursement policies in North America have further provided an impetus to the regional artificial disc market. In 2015, U.S. artificial disc industry held revenue worth USD 360 million and is projected to be valued at over USD 2 billion by 2024, which translates to a massive growth rate of more than 20% between 2016-2024. On the other hand, by accounting for the maximum growth rate of 24% over 2016-2024, Asia Pacific is set to be a key contributing region toward global artificial disc market share. Rapid growth in the regional healthcare infrastructure have set the artificial disc industry in motion to achieve lucrative growth prospects.Browse key industry insights spread across 105 pages with 49 market data tables & 9 figures & charts from this 2017 report Artificial Disc Market in detail along with the table of contents at:Accounting for the largest market share, metal on biopolymer material segment held 85% of the overall artificial disc industry share in 2015. This has been deemed as the device of choice for surgeons as the material facilitates convenient disc insertion during the operation. Flexible PU/PE material allows better shock absorption and motion. However, the cheaper cost of metal on metal artificial disc had led to artificial disc market size from metal on metal material segment to be valued at USD 72 million in 2015. Rising need for affordable products in the developing economies will fuel the growth of this segment, which is anticipated to record a CAGR of 20% over 2016-2024.This industry is likely to witness a number of strategic mergers and acquisitions in future. One such concrete example is of Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc. and LDR Holding Corp. In a transaction that was valued around USD 1 billion in cash, Zimmer-Biomet agreed to buy LDR Holding to add surgical technologies for the treatment of patients with spine disorders. With this deal, the company also launched a product called Modi-C and captured a considerable share of U.S. artificial disc market. Other dynamic artificial disc industry participants include Globus Medical, Stryker Corporation, Depuy Spine, Aesculap Implant Systems, NuVasive, and Medtronic.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Over the years, lumbar disc replacement emerged as the most prevalent non-surgical treatment option, as the procedure allows normal movement and quick improvement in back pain in comparison to other treatments. Owing to the greater acceptance of this procedure among people with several back-pain disorders, lumbar artificial disc market has gained considerable traction over time. Charite artificial disc was the first metal on polyethylene device approved by US FDA for lumbar artificial disc replacement. Later on, the success of this device brought many other players into the industry.The dynamic artificial disc industry is likely to see consolidation over the coming years. Market players will try to increase the revenue share through product differentiation, technological innovation, and mergers & acquisitions.Browse Related Reports:Orthopedic Devices Market Size By Product (Joint Reconstruction, Spinal Devices, Trauma Fixation Devices, Orthobiologics, Arthroscopic Devices), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, Italy, France, Spain, Poland, Russia, China, India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Taiwan, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, UAE), Application Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 - 2024About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog:Global Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market -Historical, Current, and Projected Future Valuation by 2025

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The study, Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market aims at offering vital data on the competitive landscape of the Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market for the forecast period, 2018 to 2025. SWOT analysis carried out during the study enlightens business owners regarding the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats likely to be faced by companies and individuals in the coming years. A thorough assessment of the past, present as well as new trends is conducted to reveal the real potential of the Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market during the estimated period. Findings on recent development in the competitive landscape including joint ventures, collaborations, acquisitions and mergers and new launches form an important part of the study.Scope of the Report:Researchers assessing the total revenue generated from the business make a conscious effort to examine the financial report of the prominent vendors and their effective business strategies. Data obtained through extensive evaluation of the market size, share and growth rate form an important part of the Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market research for the forecast period, 2018 to 2025. Vital data on sale and profit generated across different regions are showcased with the help of tables, charts and graphic images.Ask for Sample Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market Report at:In market segmentation by manufacturers, the report covers the following companies-4B Braime ComponentsAdSemCARELE+E ELEKTRONIKConax TechnologiesEuroswitchGemini Data LoggersHanna InstrumentsOMEGASeitron SpaTEWA SensorsThermokon SensortechnikIn market segmentation by geographical regions, the report has analyzed the following regions- North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)In market segmentation by Product of Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market, the report covers- TS-1K TS-5K TS-10K TS-100KIn market segmentation by applications of the Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market, the report covers the following uses- Home Air Conditioning Automotive Air Conditioning Water Heater Water Dispenser Dryer Incubator OtherHave Any Query? Ask Our Expert at:The research further answers various questions for business owners, stakeholders and field marketing executives related to prioritizing efforts as well investments. A detailed assessment is also performed to obtain comprehensive information on the current status of import and export, supply chain management, distribution channel, gross margin and demand and supply worldwide. The ongoing shift in the customer preference, consumption volume and demand for alternatives also remains an important part of the research on the Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market.The research provides answers to the following key questions: What will be the expected market share for the forecast period, 2018 to 2025? What will be the size as well as the growth rate of the Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market during this estimated period? What are the key drivers likely to impact the growth rate of the Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market across different countries? Who are the top companies and which of their strategies are likely to drive the Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market industry across different regions? What are the present, past and emerging trends likely to have an impact on the growth rate of the Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market? What are the opportunities for both the companies and individuals operating in the Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market industry for the forecast period, 2018 to 2025? What are the threats faced by the top vendors during the estimated period?Read the Complete Report with TOC at:There are 12 Chapters to deeply display the global Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market.The report is distributed over 12 Chapters to display the analysis of the global Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market .Chapter 1 covers the Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2 talks about the top manufacturers and analyses their sales, revenue and pricing decisions for the duration 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3 displays the competitive nature of the market by discussing the competition among the top manufacturers. It dissects the market using sales, revenue and market share data for 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, shows the global market by regions and the proportionate size of each market region based on sales, revenue and market share of Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market, for the period 2012- 2017;Chapter 5 and 6, are dedicated to the analysis of the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 7 and 8, talk about the application and types of Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market in the market using the same set of data for the period 2012-2017;Chapter 9 provides the market forecast by regions, types and applications using sales and revenue data for the period 2017-2025;Chapter 10, 11 and 12 describe the value chain by focusing on the sales channel and the distributors, traders, dealers of the Thermistors Temperature Sensors Market. The concluding chapter also includes research findings and conclusion.Contact US:John Watson| Head of Business DevelopmentDirect Line: +1-800-819-3052E-mail: John@marketexpertz.comMarket Expertz | Web:Marketexpertz offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Marketexpertz features reports from over 500 prominent publishers and updates on our collection daily to empower companies and individuals catch-up with the vital insights on industries operating across different geography, trends, share, size and growth rate. There's more to what we offer to our customers. With marketexpertz you have the choice to tap into the specialized services without any additional charges.John Watson| Head of Business Development40 Wall St. 28th floor New York City, NY 10005 United StatesDirect Line: +1-800-819-3052E-mail: John@marketexpertz.comMarket Expertz | Web:Midland and the surrounding area has had its share of radio stations.

WMDN, predecessor to WMPX, went on the air on Sept. 13, 1948, located on a 39-acre tract of land on Swede road. It was owned by Rich Publishing House (Philip T Rich, publisher of the Midland Daily News)

"We originally went into the broadcasting business in order to provide a fast method of relaying important news to readers of the Midland Daily News."

The station was sold in 1959 to a group of Bay City businessmen headed by Donald A. Sherman. Peter Wolf, who was manager of WMDN and would be associated with the radio station for years to come, was associated with the new group of owners.

In November 1961, the station relocated to its new building at 1510 Bayliss Street between Haley and Arbury Place. A new 153-foot tall transmitter was installed, increasing the daytime power to 1,000 watts.

The station was sold in 1968 to Patten Broadcasting Co. The station name was changed in 1971 to WMPX after firm president Myron P. Patten.

The station again changed hands in 1981 when its general manager Ronald W. Maines bought it from Patten Communications Corp. The station at 1490-AM was ready to "stereo" in 1982.

Midland's other stations in 1982 were WRCI, 93.5, and WUGN, 99.7 (Family Life Radio), both on the FM dial.

At 38, Tom Steel became the new majority owner of WMPX-AM in Midland and WMRX-FM in Beaverton in late 1992. Steel owned 55 percent of Steel Broadcasting Co. and Pat Patten, who had owned a share of the broadcast facility for about 20 years, had 45 percent interest.

Steel started at the station in 1977 as a sales representative, then transferred to an Iowa station for while. Back in Midland in 1981, he worked as assistant general manager and began putting his financial package together to buy the stations. Disc jockey Gary Williams was part of the new morning show.

WUGN-FM, 99.7, Family Life Radio began broadcasting Dec. 2, 1973. The station, which features Christian programming, is supported solely by listener contributions, according to a Daily News article in 1974. The station broadcast from a makeshift second floor studio on East Main, while its transmitting tower was at Saginaw Valley State College.

The station, originally WQDC of Midland, was purchased from Saginaw Valley State College. It had been donated to the college in 1970 by Mr. and Mrs. Ned Arbury.

Ground-breaking ceremonies for WUGN's new studio, located on the corner of M-20 and Five Mile Road, were in November 1981. Listeners pledged $182,000 for WUGN to move to its new location.

The station, on air seven days a week, 24 hours a day,broadcast in September 1982 from its new facility. Station manager was Darrow Parker.

Family Life Radio network based in Tucson, Arizona, with seven stations throughout the country, headed into its 25th year in 1990. Station Manager was Peter Brooks.

The station was named Radio Station of the Year by the National Religious Broadcasters Association in 1999. More than 1,000 stations were in the running. At that time, Family Life Communications Inc., which owned WUGN, had 14 stations, four of them in Michigan. Station Manager Brooks had worked at stations in Mason, near Lansing, and in Albuquerque and had come to the station 10 years prior.

Throwback: Sanford 1950s-1970s & more

Throwback: Red Cross

Throwback: Antique carsSentences may vary based on previous offenses committed by the defendant. Some sentences include other fees imposed by the state. Compiled by reporter Kelly Dame.

The following people were sentenced recently in Midland Countys 42nd Circuit Court by Judge Michael J. Beale or Judge Stephen P. Carras:

 Rachelle Rene Hess, 36, Coleman, was sentenced for drunken driving with an occupant less than 16 and accident to fixtures. The offenses occurred on July 11 in Lincoln Township. Beale sentenced Hess to four weekends in jail, $750 costs, a $500 fine which is suspended until the end of probation and may be waived if probation is successfully complete, two years probation and to be monitored by an alcohol tether for six months.

 Isaac Patrick Hilt, 19, Breckenridge, was sentenced for second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under the age of 13. The offense occurred in the summer of 2015 in Porter Township. Beale sentenced Hilt to one year in jail with credit for 150 days, $1,250 fines and costs, five years probation and to register as a sex offender.

 Amy Lynn Neve, 38, Sanford, was sentenced for purchasing pseudoephedrine to make methamphetamine. The offense occurred on Feb. 18, 2017, in Midland County. Beale sentenced Neve to six months in jail with credit for three days, two years probation, driver license sanctions by the state and to attend TriCap programs. Restitution was left open, and Beale granted a two-year sentence delay.

 Kenneth Robert Prieskorn, 36, Lake, was sentenced for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. The offense occurred on Aug. 14, 2016, in Jerome Township. Beale sentenced Prieskorn to 60 days in jail with credit for one day, $1,250 fines and costs, five years probation and to register as a sex offender.

 David Charles Riberdy, 56, Commerce Township, was sentenced for third-offense drunken driving and driving while license suspended. The offenses occurred on July 2 in Midland. Carras sentenced Riberdy to three days in jail with credit for time served, $1,750 fines and costs, one year probation, to be monitored by an alcohol tether for 90 days, and to complete 30 hours of community service. Carras granted a one-year sentence delay. Riberdy previously was convicted of drunken driving on Jan. 5, 2015, in Ohio, and of impaired driving on June 5, 2013, in the 51st District Court.

 Scott Richard Soper, 55, Fenton, was sentenced for open alcohol in a vehicle and second-offense drunken driving. The offenses occurred on July 24 in Lee Township. Beale sentenced Soper to 25 days in jail with credit for time served, $1,250 fines and costs, three years probation and to be monitored by an alcohol tether for one year. Soper previously was convicted of impaired driving on Dec. 8, 1991, and Aug. 23, 2002, and drunken driving on Sept. 20, 2002, all in the 67th District Court.

 Jimmy Lee Teal, 23, Wyllys Street, was sentenced for unlawful use of a motor vehicle and domestic violence. The offenses occurred on Jan. 13, 2017, in Mount Haley Township, and on Sept. 21 in Midland. Beale sentenced Teal to one year in jail with credit for 267 days for the first offense and 93 days in jail with credit for time served for the second offense, five years probation, and to attend TriCap programs. Restitution was left open.Dow High School graduate Katherine Karnoup will be returning to her hometown this summer to brighten up residences. The Michigan State University freshman has signed on with Student Painters to provide coats of paint to residential exteriors and other wooden home fixtures.

This is a fantastic way for high school and college students to earn money to go towards college since they will be expected to work full time (40 hours per week). This job is great if you need to work full time and enjoy manual labor and working outside, Karnoup said.The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Kelly Dame.

Thursday, Feb. 15

1:34 a.m.  A deputy was sent to Jerome Township to investigate a case of harassing texts.

2:21 a.m.  Police were called to a domestic assault at a Willow Street address.

3:34 a.m.  A Lee Township man, 38, reported his home was broken into and a safe was stolen. The suspect, a 41-year-old man, denied the crime and was arrested on an unrelated warrant.

3:46 a.m.  Deputies were sent to a Homer Township address for a report of a domestic assault. The incident was turned over to Midland Police because the assault occurred in the city.

4:21 a.m.  An Ingersoll Township man, 41, was arrested at his home on a warrant.

9:38 a.m.  A Lee Township man, 37, reported $240 was stolen. The suspect, a 30-year-old woman, said she did not steal the cash.

9:56 a.m.  A 12-year-old student stole a cell phone belonging to a teacher at a Jerome Township school. The phone was recovered and the student was suspended. A report is being sent to the probate court.

12:38 p.m.  A deputy was sent to a Warren Township home to investigate a case of harassment.

2:48 p.m.  A 36-year-old man was arrested at a Homer Township address on two warrants for failing to appear in court.

3:06 p.m.  A small lock box was found on the ice on the Pine River in Mount Haley Township. Deputies are in the process of locating the owner.

4:51 p.m.  A deputy was called to a Larkin Township home for a report of a fraud. An 18-year-old man lost $3,250 and his father, age 50, lost $1,500. Both needed police reports for the bank.

7:48 p.m.  Deputies assisted the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team with a traffic stop in Greendale Township.

7:54 p.m.  A Lincoln Township homeowner asked that a report about a Clio man, 33, who entered the home be sent to the prosecutor for review. The Clio man has a child with the homeowners daughter and said he has followed her into the home multiple times.

Wednesday, Feb. 14

12:34 a.m.  An Owosso man, 46, was arrested in Mount Haley Township for drug possession. He was stopped due to weaving.

12:44 a.m.  A Bay City woman, 29, was arrested in Jerome Township for driving while her license was suspended and ticketed for no insurance and unregistered vehicle.

4:07 a.m.  A Bay County man, 41, was arrested in Lincoln Township for drunken driving.

12:24 p.m.  A Mount Pleasant man, 42, was arrested in Jerome Township for driving while his license was revoked and on a warrant.

12:48 p.m.  Police assisted probation and parole agents in the 200 block of West Ellsworth Street.

5:17 p.m.  Deputies assisted Midland Police with a report of an 81-year-old woman with dementia who left the hospital and was missing. The woman was found in the city and was returned to the hospital.

8:31 p.m.  A deputy was sent to Homer Township to check a report of a vehicle being driven without headlights. The vehicle was not found.

8:12 p.m.  An Ingersoll Township man, 31, was arrested in that township for drunken driving and drug possession. His passenger, age 31, was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear in court.

8:16 p.m.  A Gladwin man, 43, was arrested in Lincoln Township for drunken driving and driving while license suspended.

9:03 p.m.  A deputy was sent to Warren Township after a woman reported a suspicious substance was found in a pack of sour gummy candy. The substance was tested for drugs with negative results, and the child exhibited no signs of sickness or altered behavior. The substance is believed to be excess sugar from the manufacturing process.

9:19 p.m.  Officers investigated a bond violation in the 900 block of Elgin Street.Daniel Chutrov Leads on Day 3 of OlyBet Kings of Tallinn Main Event

February 17, 2018 Jason Glatzer

Daniel Chutrov heads into Day 4 of the 2018 OlyBet Kings of Tallinn 1,100 Main Event with the chip lead, bagging 638,000 in chips at the end of Day 3. The Bulgarian is shooting for his second big win after previously shipping the Unibet Open Glasgow in 2015.

The day began with 60 hopefuls competing for the 62,000 top prize or at least the minimum cash paid to the top 31 players. The first blind level witnessed a slew of eliminations before the action slowed down during the second level.

The money bubble was reached near the end of the fourth blind level of the day after Maksim Petrov was eliminated in 32nd place when his pocket jacks were unable to out flip his opponent's ace-king.

A break was scheduled shortly after, and it only took 30 minutes for the field to be further trimmed from 31 to 24 players with each player cashing for 2,110, including Team OlyBet Pro Raigo Aasmaa.

In addition to Chutrov, two other players finished the day with more than 600,000 in chips; Lithuania's Arunas Garunkstis (second - 626,000), and Team OlyBet Pro Dmitrijs Meless (third - 623,000).

Garunkstis began the day with a big stack and extended it by the end while Meless started the day with 132,000 and zoomed up in the standings consistently throughout the day.

Dmitrijs Meless

After the day was over, Meless shared with PokerNews that his day started very strongly after he doubled up against a highly aggressive player with pocket jacks against pocket nines.

Meless: "I have a very good feeling about the rest of the tournament."

He further explained that he was moved to a softer table where he chipped up further by three-bet bluffing while he didn't have to go all-in once. He moved to a third table before the bubble and shared that a "green light" went off and he was raising just about every pot to chip up further.

Near the end the day, he took out two short stacks to bag a third-place stack into Day 4. The Latvian feels good about the rest of the tournament, even though he understands that anything can change at any time.

"Everything changes every minute," shared Meless. "But, I have a very good feeling about the rest of the tournament."

Also having a good day was Arto Antero Lehtonen ending the day with 514,000 in chips and Day 2 chip leader and Finnish poker legend Juha Helppi bagging a fifth-place stack of 474,000.

The action resumes tomorrow at 12 p.m. local time and will play down until the field is reduced from 24 players to 9 players. Blinds will resume at 5,000/10,000 with an ante of 1,000 for the remaining 30 minutes left on the clock when the day ended.

OlyBet Kings of Tallinn Top 5 in Chips After Day 3

Position Player Country Chip Count 1 Daniel Chutrov Bulgaria 638,000 2 Arunas Garunkstis Lithuania 626,000 3 Dmitrijs Meless Latvia 623,000 4 Arto Antero Lehtonen Finland 514,000 5 Juha Helppi Finland 474,000204 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

This was already a big week for immigration law at the Supreme Court, and it could get even bigger.

First, there may be news on the Muslim Ban. Recently, Trump added Venezuela and North Korea to his ban list, as if to say, See! This isnt a Muslim ban, after all!

Then the DOJ filed a motion with the Supreme Court of the United States, asking it to discontinue proceedings, and nullify all lower court rulings on the previous version of Trumps ban because it no longer exists. For their part, opponents of the ban asked the Court to go ahead and issue a ruling on the case.

Lawrence Hurley, who covers the Supreme Court for Reuters, suggested in a Tweet the court could discuss the current status of the Muslim ban case, during the Justices Friday conference.

Justices have their weekly meeting tomorrow so next steps on travel ban could be discussed then  Lawrence Hurley (@lawrencehurley) October 5, 2017

The fact that opponents of the Muslim ban want a ruling strongly suggests they are confident of a favorable outcome, while the DOJ would rather leave the case undecided. Its possible this is because the DOJ doesnt want to be embarrassed with yet another loss in court. More likely, they believe that Trumps tweaks of the Muslim ban may be sufficient enough to disguise the original intent to ban people from the United States on religious grounds. At any rate, if the court decides against ruling on the case, it means that if needed, further down the road, the DOJ has another chance to convince the court an unconstitutional Executive Order really is constitutional.

On Wednesday, the Court heard oral arguments in another major immigration case, Jennings v. Rodriguez. This was a class action challenging the constitutionality of several laws pertaining to the detention of immigrants. The court heard argument on if immigrants seeking admission and are subject to detention, must be afforded bond hears and possible release if detention exceeds six month. Another issue is if alleged criminal or terrorist aliens are entitled to bond hearings and possible release if detention lasts six months. Finally, the court heard argument on the claim that at bond hearings immigrants should be entitled to release if detention lasts six months unless the government can prove the immigrant is a flight risk or a danger to the community.

If the court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, the ruling will place restrictions on the terms and conditions under which the government can detain an undocumented immigrant for more than six months.

If the court rules in favor of indefinite detention for immigrants, it weakens this constitutional protection for everyone else  not based on criteria like if they are a flight risk or a risk to society, but simply because of who the detainee is. Once the roots of this concept are established in law, its far easier for the government to simply expand the list of who can be detained indefinitely. Were seeing the use of this approach in Trumps Muslim Ban.

Initially, the DOJ was trying to argue that immigrants have absolutely no constitutional protections and therefore could be held indefinitely without review, regardless of circumstances.

That argument didnt go very well, as reflected in this exchange between Justice Kagan and DOJ attorney, Malcolm L. Stewart.

JUSTICE KAGAN: Mr. Stewart, is  is your argument about the new admits, the people who are coming to the border, premised on the idea that they simply have no constitutional rights at all?

MR. STEWART: It is premised on that. Now, we do have the 

JUSTICE KAGAN: Okay. If it is premised on that, I mean, Justice Scalia in one of his opinions talked about, surely, that - that cant be right; could we torture those people, could we put those people into forced labor? Surely, the answer to that is no. Is that right?

MR. STEWART: Yeah, I should have been more precise in saying they have no constitutional rights with respect to the determination whether they will be allowed to enter the country.

There may be cases where that is justified, but the government wants a blank check.

The problem is as Justice Breyer pointed out, the treatment of undocumented immigrants is inconsistent some immigrants dont get bail hearings and in other cases, the decision on if an immigrant can have a bond hearing is at the discretion of the agency.

And so whats the basis for reading the word detained sometimes to allow bail hearings at the discretion of the agency; other times not to allow bail hearings and keeping the people possibly for a year, a year and a half, in a jail cell without  sorry, I dont mean my voice to rise  but  but with - without even a bail hearing?

The implications of a ruling in the Trump administrations favor is to allow indefinite detention, without charge and without bail hearings, for an unrestricted period of time, regardless of whether the immigrant is a suspected terrorist, or someone who is otherwise law abiding and is neither a flight risk nor a threat to society.

Should the court rule in the DOJs favor, it means the Trump administration could, theoretically, keep immigrants in detention for years, without any legal rights at all. Of course, this will appeal to nationalists. Heres the thing. If an authoritarian like Donald Trump establishes a way to hold immigrants indefinitely, its a matter of time before the list of people who can be held indefinitely expands.723 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

A fiercely divided Supreme Court voted 5-4 on Friday to lift an order filed by San Francisco District Judge William Alsup requiring the Trump administration to produce documents outlining the decision to end theDeferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The documents the order sought included emails, departmental memoranda, policy directives, meeting minutes, materials considered by Secretary Dukes subordinates, communications from White House officials or staff, communications from the Department of Justice, and communications between DHS and state authorities.

Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, and Elena Kagan voted against; Justices Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch voted in favor.

Unsurprisingly, all who voted against are Democrats, while those who voted in favor are Republicans. All three women justices sit on the blue side of the aisle.

By 5-to-4 vote, Supreme Court lets Trump administration shield documents in cases challenging DACA termination pic.twitter.com/kxyeLKmvu6  Adam Liptak (@adamliptak) December 8, 2017

Fifteen states, several DACA recipients, and the University of California are suing the government over the decision to end the Obama-era program, and Judge Alsup issued the order for additional documents arguing that the Trump administration could not say they had to rescind DACA because it exceeded the lawful authority of the agency while simultaneously refusing to disclose the legal research that led to that conclusion.

Had Alsups order been upheld, officials would have had to review roughly 1.6 million documents by December 22, which Trumps camp insisted would have taken up too much of the Department of Homeland Security and Justice Departments resources.

Justice Brayer, joined by the other three Democratic judges, issued a 10-page dissent following the courts ruling. In my view, the Governments arguments do not come close to carrying the heavy burden that the Government bears in seeking such extraordinary relief, Breyer wrote.

He further added that, The Government also complains about the burden imposed by the District Courts order, but that argument is also beside the point. The Government complains that it must review 21,000 documents as potentially part of the administrative record. But the underlying agency action here is important, and that is by no means an unusually large number of documents; administrative records often contain hundreds of thousands of documents.

After Mondays ruling allowing Trumps travel ban to take full effect, this is the second major blow the Supreme Court deals immigrants in just one week.552 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

While Donald Trump, as we have heard in the infamous Planet Hollywood tape, gloats about how his wealth and power enable him to violate women sexually without consequences and while he smears those, such as Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who call him on this behavior, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts recently offered a stunning contrast in leadership when it comes to addressing issues of sexual harassment and worker rights.

In a year-end report on the state of the judiciary issued last Sunday, Roberts forthrightly acknowledged the existence and severity of sexual misconduct and harassment in the workplace and vowed to address this oppression in the agencies and offices that comprise the judicial branch of government, the workplace over which he is the effective leader. The judicial branch is not immune, he wrote, from what recent events have illuminated, namely the depth of the problem of sexual harassment in the workplace.

As Ariane De Vogue reported for CNN, Roberts response to these recent events promised from the judiciary, he wrote, a careful evaluation of whether its standards of conduct and its procedures for investigating and correcting inappropriate behavior are adequate to ensure an exemplary workplace for every judge and every court employee. These recent events included the resignation of Judge Alex Kozinski of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in the wake of numerous allegations from clerks and staff of sexual misconduct.

Meanwhile, Summer Zervos, a former contestant on Trumps television show The Apprentice, is pursuing a defamation lawsuit against Trump comments he made ridiculing her accusations, made weeks before the 2016 Presidential election, that he sexually harassed her 2007. Nineteen women in total at the time stepped forward with allegations of sexual misconduct, only to see their allegations fall out of public hearing. As Margaret Hartmann has reported for the Daily Intelligencer, these women are now hoping that the same recent events inspiring Chief Justice Roberts response will earn their causes another hearing now that the environment has changed, altered by such actions as the #MeToo movement. Lets try round two, said one of Trumps accusers, Samantha Holvey, in Hartmanns report. The environments different, lets try again.

Trump and the White House have had little response other than complete denial. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders continues to confirm that the White Houses official position is that every single one of these women is lying.

Oh, well, there was that other response.

Lets not forget about Trumps notorious tweet about Senator Gillibrand, who had called on the GOP to investigate the ballooning number of sexual harassment allegations against Trump. In the December 12 tweet, Trump offered the sexually suggestive claim that Gillibrand used to beg for campaign contributions and would do anything for them. While Sanders roundly disputed any sexual current in Trumps tweet, arguing that one would read it that way only if your mind is in the gutter, many critics agree that the tweet constitutes a sexual smear. Gretchen Carlson, the former Fox news personality whose sexual harassment lawsuit against Roger Ailes led to his resignation, confirmed this reading, as did Senator Elizabeth Warren, who characterized the tweet as Trump trying to bully, intimidate, and slut-shame Gillibrand.

Carlson insisted, Sexual harassment is apolitical.

While the leader of our nations executive branch, Donald Trump, doesnt understand that, thankfully the effective leader of the judicial branch, Chief Justice Roberts, acts like he does, actively standing up in the name of both the law of our land and human decency.

In declaring unconditionally that people deserve an exemplary workplace, he is setting a standard for womens rights and all peoples rights in the workplace, hopefully drawing attention to the lack of democracy and basic rights that characterize many American workplaces.

It should be noted that just as Trump has demonstrated little to no respect for women and their basic rights, he has also repeatedly acted against the rights of workers, in his own workplaces and those of others, actively undermining workers efforts to unionize and have a voice in the businesses he owns but also, as I have detailed elsewhere, paying his workers less than unionized workers in their respective industries but also creating less than humane working conditions.

So, seeing leadership in one of our branches of government that stands up for basically humane working and living conditions, for basic human dignity, is a big deal.

Its an assertion of an ethos of government, a basic set of governing values, that offers an alternative to Trumps values.

And this isnt the first time Roberts has distinguished his leadership from Trumps.

After Roberts 2015 decision saving Obamacare for the second time against right-wing onslaught, this time declaring that the subsidies were not just for those buying health insurance on the state exchanges but for those who used the federal exchanges as well, Trump declared Roberts a great disappointment to conservatives, asserting that Roberts had no legal reason for his decision and that he must be currying favor with liberal politicians.

In fact, Roberts did have a reason, as Stephen Collinson of CNN reported. Roberts wrote in his opinion, Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve health insurance markets, not to destroy them. If at all possible, we must interpret the Act in a way that is consistent with the former, and avoids the latter.

Put most plainly, Roberts sided with the people and did not act on a technicality. In interpreting the law, at least in this instance, Roberts acts with an ethos that understands laws are supposed to protect people and serve the general welfare, that the institutions we inhabitlegal, political, social, and otherwiseare supposed to support the interests and well-being of those living in those institutions, not undermine or work against the health and welfare of Americans.

Hopefully, our executive and legislative branches of government will learn a lesson from the leadership being exhibited in the judicial branch, such that our Congress and President will govern not just to achieve the very important ideal of an exemplary workplace but the crowning objective of creating the conditions for Americans to enjoy exemplary lives in the fullest sense.375 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

By Andrew Chung

(Reuters)  When President Donald Trumps administration took its fight to end a controversial immigration program directly to the U.S. Supreme Court last month, skipping over a California federal appeals court in the process, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said it was a rare step to ensure a quick and fair resolution.

But the fast trip to the nations highest judicial body was not the first time the administration took the unusual route of circumventing liberal-leaning lower courts and heading straight to the conservative-majority Supreme Court for relief from legal setbacks.

In the last year, the Justice Department sought to bypass lower courts four times using varying legal procedures in several high-profile cases, most recently to defend the administrations right to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program.

It also skipped the normal legal process in a fight over whether pregnant immigrant teens held in detention can obtain abortions. And it asked the Supreme Court to quickly intervene in its defense of the presidents travel bans, which primarily affected people from several Muslim-majority countries.

Its unusual; it is stretching the boundaries, said Kevin Russell, a Washington, D.C. attorney who has argued frequently before the Supreme Court and worked in both Democratic and Republican administrations.

The strategy makes sense, some legal scholars say, for an administration that has seen so many of its key policy initiatives challenged aggressively by political opponents, who often file in courts where they are likely to find sympathetic judges.

Administration officials think theyll do better in the Supreme Court because it is more conservative than the average circuit (appeals) court, said John McGinnis, a professor at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.

While major, fast-moving cases often reach the Supreme Court quickly through expedited lower court rulings followed by appeals, skipping steps in the process is rare, many legal scholars said.

Precisely quantifying the number of times previous administrations have bypassed lower courts is difficult, given the volume of matters brought to the Supreme Court and the numerous ways in which cases can be appealed. But the last time the high court decided a case officially filed in advance of judgment by an appeals court was in 2005. That case, during the George W. Bush administration, involved a challenge to criminal sentencing guidelines, not a presidential policy.

Attempts to bypass lower courts are generally considered long-shots, as the court only takes up such requests when the case is deemed to be of imperative public importance warranting immediate review.

A Justice Department official told Reuters in a statement that the government seeks emergency relief only when necessary. The bottom line is we are careful in what we ask for, the official said.

The department has not sought Supreme Court review of every major ruling that went against it in lower courts, including two that allowed transgender recruits to join the military as of Jan. 1.

REPEATED SETBACKS

The Trump administrations Supreme Court strategy has grown out of repeated setbacks at the district and circuit court levels.

Many of Trumps most significant executive actions, in areas including immigration, transgender rights, energy and the environment, have been at least temporarily blocked by courts. The rulings have often been applied nationwide, not just where the lawsuits were filed.

In the DACA case, for example, a San Francisco judge issued an order on Jan. 9 that blocked the government from rescinding the program, which had protected from deportation nearly 800,000 young people brought illegally to the United States by their parents. A variety of states, individuals and organizations sued after Trump decided last year to rescind DACA, effective in March.

In explaining the unusual appeal directly to the Supreme Court, Sessions said the lower court ruling defied both law and common sense. He questioned how the DACA program could be mandated nationwide by a single district court in San Francisco.

The other cases taken directly to the Supreme Court by the administration also came after district courts moved to impede key Trump policies or actions.

In November, the administration asked the high court to halt an order by a Maryland federal judge blocking Trumps revised travel ban, preempting review by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

It bypassed the 9th Circuit in asking the Supreme Court to clarify its own ruling from last June over Trumps previous, now-expired, travel ban.

In the case over whether pregnant immigrant minors in federal custody could get abortions, the administration asked the Supreme Court in November to throw out future claims, even though a Washington, D.C. based trial judge had ruled only on specific teenagers abortion bids and not the wider issue.

The Supreme Court at least partially sided with the government in the travel ban cases, allowing the revised version to go into full effect and agreeing to resolve its legality before the end of June. The DACA and immigrant abortion cases are pending.

Trump has frequently lashed out at courts that have blocked his key policies. After the recent DACA ruling he said the system was broken and unfair. He has also accused opponents of judge shopping by filing in courts where appeals would go to the 9th Circuit.

Others now accuse Trump of doing the same at the Supreme Court. The strategy could backfire, some say, if the public perceives the court as stepping in prematurely to help the administration. It could also backfire with the Supreme Court itself.

If they maintain this steady stream of requests for the court to take extraordinary actions, said Russell, the court may start to take a jaundiced view of those requests.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung Additional reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Sue Horton)Katanga Johnson

WASHINGTON (Reuters)  Some U.S. Republican lawmakers joined their Democratic colleagues on Tuesday in criticizing President Donald Trump for labeling them as treasonous and un-American in response to the cold reception they gave him during his State of the Union address last week.

Well, that borders on divisive, the second-most powerful Democrat in the Senate Dick Durbin told reporters in a purposefully understated tone.

Speaking at a manufacturing plant in Ohio on Monday, the Republican president said Democrats would rather see Trump do badly than our country do well.

They were like death and un-American, he said of Democrats who sat stone-faced, robed in black in solidarity with victims of sexual misconduct, as he heralded the economys achievements in his address a week ago to a joint session of Congress.

Somebody said treasonous. I mean, eh. I guess, why not? Can we call that treason, why not?, he said.

The remarks sparked a firestorm of criticism from Democrats on Capitol Hill.

Senator Tammy Duckworth quoted President Theodore Roosevelt in a response on Twitter.

To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public, she tweeted.

White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said the remarks on treason  an offense punishable by death  were offered as tongue-in-cheek.

The president was obviously joking. But whats serious is the Democrats seem to put their personal hatred for this president above their desire to see America succeed, he said in a statement.

But Democrats werent the only critics.

Treason is not a punch line, Mr. President. Applause is approval of an idea, not loyalty to ones country, said Senator Jeff Flake, a Republican who frequently reproaches Trump and his policies, in a blistering attack on the Senate floor on Tuesday. Our Democratic colleagues love this country as much as we do. To suggest otherwise is simply unconscionable.

Even Representative Mark Meadows, a leading Republican conservative closely allied with Trump, took issue with the presidents comments. Certainly saying that someones un-American because of their unwillingness to clap is not something that most Americans would agree with, he said on CNN.

But Republican Representative Claudia Tenney, also speaking about Democrats on CNN on Tuesday, said I would say it was un-American, and they dont love our country. I dont know if I would go as far as treasonous, but the president is before a large audience and he likes to talk in colorful language.

(Reporting by Katanga Johnson, Richard Cowen, Patricia Zengerle, Steve Holland and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Katanga Johnson; Editing by Tim Ahmann, Phil Berlowitz and Lisa Lambert)2.4k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

A week ago, Trump declassified the Republican-written memo accusing the FBI and Justice Department of being biased against the president and abusing their power in the investigation looking into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to manipulate the 2016 election. On Friday, he opted to block the release of a memo by Democrats refuting every allegation in the GOPs document.

House Minority Speaker Nancy Pelosi was quick to slam Trumps hypocrisy and desperation in a statement:

President Trumps refusal to release Intelligence Committee Democrats memo is a stunningly brazen attempt to cover up the truth about the Trump-Russia scandal from the American people. The Presidents decision to block the Democratic memo from release is part of a dangerous and desperate pattern of cover-up on the part of the President. Clearly, the President has something to hide. The U.S. intelligence community has concluded, and members of Trumps cabinet agree, that the Russians interfered in our election and plan to do so again. Americas intelligence and national security are being politicized. Why wont the President put our country before his personal and political interests?

She went on to share similar statements on Twitter.

The US intel community has concluded, & members of Trumps cabinet agree, that the Russians interfered in our election & plan to do so again. Americas national security is under attack. Why wont the President put our country before his personal & political interests?  Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) February 10, 2018

Before the Republican memos release, a White House official told reporters that Trump supported making it public because he favored transparency. This makes his unwillingness to release the Democratic response even more rich.

Despite the GOP memo being discredited by nearly every lawyer and expert who read through it as a blatant, politically-motivated attempt to misrepresent the Russia probe as a witch hunt, Trump tried to defend his decision to not release the Democratic rebuttal on grounds of it being too political.

The Democrats sent a very political and long response memo which they knew, because of sources and methods (and more), would have to be heavily redacted, whereupon they would blame the White House for lack of transparency, he tweeted Saturday. Told them to re-do and send back in proper form!

Mr. President, what you call political are actually called facts, and your concern for sources and methods would be more convincing if you hadnt decided to release the GOP memo (100%) before reading it and over the objections of the FBI. https://t.co/L48kAQOztL  Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) February 10, 2018

Trumps decision should come as no surprise. On Tuesday, Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes predicted Trump would do the very thing hes done.

Ill tell you Ive never seen this president participate in anything that doesnt make him look good, he said during an CNN interview. He added that Trump would likely perceive the Democratic memo as portraying him negatively because it was a point-by-point refutation of the Republican memo.

As Himes went on to point out, the most egregious part of Trumps making the GOP memo being publicized is the fact that, for a noteworthy percentage of Americans, it succeeded in fomenting distrust for the intelligence community and the Russia probe.384 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Trump, who has never read the Schiff memo, but had people in his White House and Fox News tell him about it, declared it too political for release.

Trump tweeted:

The Democrats sent a very political and long response memo which they knew, because of sources and methods (and more), would have to be heavily redacted, whereupon they would blame the White House for lack of transparency. Told them to re-do and send back in proper form!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 10, 2018

Donald Trump doesnt read intelligence reports and memos. White House chief of staff John Kelly admitted that Trump didnt read the memo but was briefed on it, and the President gets his information from Fox News. By too political Trump means that the Democratic memo debunks the FBI conspiracy theory that the White House and the staff of House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) cooked up.

The only thing political about the Schiff memo that is too political is that it point by point debunks Trumps memo.

Trumps paranoia keeps shooting the White House in the foot

The refusal to release the Democratic memo is another example of this White House creating a negative story for itself out of nothing because of the paranoid presidents fear of transparency and facts. If the White House released the Schiff memo, everyone would look at it, and move on. Their refusal to release the memo has created controversy where there should be none.

Republicans are frustrated because Trump is sucking the oxygen out of their plan to run during the midterm election on tax cuts, and unforced errors like this one only serve to bury the Republican message even deeper.

Trump was never going to release the Schiff memo because he needs the Republican memo to stand in order to fire Rod Rosenstein and kill the Russia investigation. The refusal to release the Schiff memo is another brick in Trumps obstruction of justice wall.865 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Republicans are begging outgoing GOP Sen. Bob Corker  a frequent critic of Donald Trump  to reconsider his decision to retire because they are afraid deep-red Tennessee could fall into the Democratic column in November.

According to Politico, Retiring Sen. Bob Corker is listening to Republicans urging him to run for reelection.

Citing recent polling, the Monday report notes that Trump cheerleader and frontrunner for the nomination, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, could lose the seat for Republicans and possibly hand the Senate majority back to the Democrats.

More from Politico:

The two-term Tennessee GOP senator decided to call it quits in September amid an on-again, off-again dispute with President Donald Trump that has eroded his standing with the partys base. But now a faction of Republicans in Tennessee and Washington are worried that the favorite for the Republican Senate nomination, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), could lose the general election  and with it the Senate majority. They want Corker to get back in to hold the seat and preserve waning foreign policy experience in the GOP. And there are signs that he is open to it, despite the steep climb a Republican primary might entail.  An internal poll taken in late January shows former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen narrowly edging out Blackburn in a hypothetical match-up. With Republicans controlling just 51 seats, a loss in Tennessee and other competitive races could put the Senate in play  despite an electoral map tilted heavily in the GOPs favor.

Though it may seem like a great idea for Republicans to use Corker as a safety net in Tennessee, a last-minute change of heart would likely set up a brutal primary fight between Corker and Blackburn.

It would be a high-profile battle between two factions of the Republican Party: 1. The shameless Trump puppets who blindly follow the president (aka Marsha Blackburn); and 2. Those who think its important to call out Trump for his often reckless behavior (aka Bob Corker).

Given Trumps continued unpopularity and how he has been a political kiss of death for GOP candidates over the past year  see Virginia and Alabama, 2017  Corker would probably have the upper hand if he were to re-enter the race.

A spokesman for Blackburn was quick to shred the possibility: Its well past time for the good old boys club in Washington, D.C., to quit thinking they know who the best candidate and conservative leader is for Tennessee families.

Republicans see a blue wave coming this fall, and they are scrambling to get in front of it. The fact that they are forced to do this in Tennessee  a state Trump won by nearly 30 points in 2016  doesnt bode well for their chances in actual battleground states.If this isnt a sign of just how motivated Democratic voters are ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, then its hard to know what would be.

According to a new CNN report, the parents of a Republican Senate candidate in Wisconsin have contributed the maximum legal amount  to their sons Democratic opponent.

As the report notes, GOP candidate Kevin Nicholson announced his candidate just months ago, but mom and dad have already maxed out their primary campaign donations to Democratic incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

More from CNN:

Nicholson announced last July that he would seek the Republican nomination for US Senate in Wisconsin. A Federal Election Commission filing by Baldwins campaign dated February 5 and available online shows that each of Nicholsons parents, Donna and Michael, donated $2,700 to Baldwin in December 2017. FEC rules stipulate that those donations are the maximum Nicholsons parents can donate to Baldwin during the primary election. They can donate up to that amount again during the general election.

Nicholson played off the donations: My parents have a different worldview than I do, and it is not surprising that they would support a candidate like Tammy Baldwin who shares their perspective.

He continued, according to CNN: Im a conservative today not because I was born one, but because of the experience I earned as a Marine in combat, my experience as a husband and father, my choice to be a Christian, the schools I chose to attend and the decision to pursue the career that I have. Regardless of who may disagree with my life decisions, I would not trade these experiences for anything, and they will always guide my views as Wisconsins next U.S. Senator.

Despite his comments, its nothing short of embarrassing that the folks who know him best  literally, his folks  dont think he should be a U.S. Senator. And lucky for them, theyll be able to fork over more money for Baldwin once the primary season wraps up and the official general election campaign is underway.

At that point, its unclear whether Nicholson will be around to take on the Democratic incumbent, but his parents will certainly be there to help ensure she beats whoever the Republicans nominate.By Ginger Gibson and James Oliphant

WASHINGTON (Reuters)  President Donald Trump released his second budget on Monday, seeking to bolster military spending and requesting funds for infrastructure, construction of a wall along the border with Mexico and opioid treatment programs.

The $4.4 trillion budget plan, which is viewed by Congress as little more than a suggestion, will likely draw criticism from conservatives who worry that Republicans are embracing deficit spending.

The proposal for fiscal year 2019 includes $200 billion for infrastructure spending and more than $23 billion for border security and immigration enforcement. It also provides for $716 billion in spending on military programs and for maintaining the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

In a bid to show conservatives that the administration is embracing some fiscal discipline, the plan recommends cuts in non-military spending that would lower the federal budget deficit by $3 trillion over 10 years.

Presidential budgets are often ignored by the U.S. Congress, which controls federal purse strings.

Trumps budget request goes to Congress only days after Trump signed off on a bipartisan spending agreement by lawmakers that will increase domestic spending by $300 billion over two years  including $165 billion in new defense spending and $131 billion in non-military domestic spending.

Trumps budget also includes a number of economic forecasts and is expected to rely on estimates that the economy will keep growing at a rapid pace for the foreseeable future, which is critical to help cover the cost of the $1.5 trillion tax-reform bill passed by Congress in December.

The budget proposal includes two key elements: $18 billion over two years for Trumps long-promised border wall and $200 billion in federal funds to spur $1.5 trillion infrastructure investments over the next 10 years with state, local and private partners.

The budget also seeks some $13 billion in new funding over the next two years to combat the opioid epidemic.

(Reporting by Ginger Gibson and James Oliphant; Additional reporting by David Morgan and Katanga Johnson; Editing by Peter Cooney and Alistair Bell)In a preview for the latest episode of Celebrity Big Brother, former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman said that Vice President Mike Pence would make an even more terrifying president than Donald Trump.

Can I just say this? As bad as yall think Trump is, you would be worried about Pence, she said, surrounded by her housemates. So everybody thats wishing for impeachment might want to reconsider their lives. We would be begging for days of Trump back if Pence became president, thats all Im saying.

She went on to discuss the vice presidents fervent religious beliefs and claimed that he thinks hes got a direct line to Jesus.

Hes extreme, she said. Im Christian, I love Jesus, but he thinks Jesus tells him to say things. And like, Jesus aint say that. Hes scary.

Omarosa was first introduced to the American public in 2004 as a contestant on Trumps reality show The Apprentice, after which she appeared on several other reality programs. She was reportedly fired as Trumps Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison in December, though she insists she resigned. The White House did not deny reports that she had been physically dragged off White House grounds.190 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Thanks to the chaos Trump continues to unleash with everything he does, five former federal prosecutors have decided to seek House seats  and theyre running as Democrats.

As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Chris Hunter resigned from the job hed held at the Justice Department for over a decade in December, prompted by Trumps behavior and the changes in dynamics he witnessed. He listed Trumps firing of former FBI director James Comey, his belittling of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and pardoning of Sheriff Joe Arpaio as just some of the reasons he left.

He is now challenging Republican Gus Bilirakis, who represents Floridas 12th Congressional District. Hunter emphasized that, were a less erratic Republican the president, he probably would not have made the decision to run.

If Jeb Bush had been the [presidential] nominee and won, no way would I have run, he said.

Paul Pelletier, another former federal prosecutor running for office, is looking to fill Virginias 10th district seat, currently held by Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock. At a public forum on Saturday, Pelletier said Comstock sits silently each and every day as the president and this Republican Congress denigrate and impugn the integrity of federal law enforcement, the same men and women who protect us every single day.

Conor Lamb, the third former federal prosecutor running as a Democrat, quit his job in October to campaign for a House seat in Pennsylvanias 18th congressional district. The special election will be held on March 13.

Mikie Sherrill and Jay Hulings are former federal prosecutors trying to unseat GOP Reps. Rodney Frelinghuysen in New Jersey and Rep. Will Hurd in Texas, respectively.

The Wall Street Journal noted that it could not find any former federal prosecutors running as Republicans trying to unseat Democrats. Looks like this is another way Trump is unintentionally motivating the left.It looks like Mitt Romney wants to be Utahs next senator. Talk that he would be launching a bid for the seat has been swirling for the past month, but sources confirmed to the Washington Examiner that he would be formally announcing his candidacy on Thursday.

On Monday, Romney posted a message on Facebook making his intentions obvious. Stay tuned for my announcement on the Utah Senate race this Thursday, it read. Visit www.mittromney.com to be one of the first to know!

Romney is the former governor of Massachusetts and was the Republican candidate for the 2012 presidential election. He currently lives in Utah, where his late mother was originally from. Helped by the fact that hes a Mormon, Romney already enjoys high popularity in the heavily Mormon state.

Utahs current senator, Orrin Hatch, announced in January that he planned to retire at the end of the year and soon after began propping Romney up as his ideal replacement.

Theres no question that he loves Utah and wants to support Utah any way he can. And Im hopeful hell run, because he would be just fine, he said last month. And he would certainly be somebody who I think could succeed me into the job. We havent spoken in the last few days, but if Mitt decides to run, he knows hell have my support.

Though having Republican Romney become Utahs next senator is far from a victory for Democrats, its guaranteed to annoy Trump, who was pushing heavily for an Orrin Hatch re-election. Hatch is one of Trumps most loyal supporters in the GOP, whereas Romney was one of his harshest Republican critics during the 2016 election. While Romney has significantly decreased his attacks on Trump, he still occasionally speaks out against him. Since Trump cant handle any criticism whatsoever, hell likely be set off by news of Romneys probable new career as a senator.588 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

By Katanga Johnson

WASHINGTON (Reuters)  The military parade that President Donald Trump wants to stage, likely in Washington, would cost U.S. taxpayers up to $30 million, the White House budget chief said on Wednesday in remarks on the administrations fiscal 2019 spending plan.

Mick Mulvaney, who in a congressional hearing continued a broad defense of the $4.4-trillion plan he began earlier this week, was asked about the parade, which Trumps spending plan does not break out as a specific item.

The estimates Ive seen, theyre very preliminary, is between $10 million and $30 million, depending upon the length, said Mulvaney, director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Obviously an hour parade is different from a five-hour parade in terms of the cost and the equipment and those types of things.

According to media reports, Trump came up with the idea of showing off U.S. military might after a 2017 trip to France when he and French President Emmanuel Macron reviewed that countrys defense forces marching down the Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris.

Trump ordered the Defense Department to look into a comparable display of military might that he could review.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said last week he believed Trump wants Washington to host the parade but left open the possibility that it could be staged elsewhere.

Critics have ridiculed the idea of a costly display of troops and weapons at a time when the Pentagon is struggling to cover the expenses of training, support and personnel.

Democratic Representative Barbara Lee questioned Mulvaney at a House of Representatives Budget Committee hearing about the costs. She noted, You know the parade is very similar to those held in authoritarian countries like North Korea.

Mulvaney said at the hearing, Weve actually had many military parades in this country before. I think we had one as recently as the 1990s, and maybe one more recently than that.

MULVANEY SAYS BACKS BUDGET

Ahead of Mulvaneys testimony, Republican committee Chairman Steve Womack asked about the deficit impact of Trumps spending plan. Mulvaney faced similar inquiries earlier this week.

At a Senate panel hearing on Tuesday, he was asked if he would vote for the Trump spending plan if he were still in Congress, which he was before Trump hired him to run OMB.

I probably would have found enough shortcomings in this to vote against it, Mulvaney said at the time.

On Wednesday, Mulvaney walked that back, telling the House panel he thought he had been asked not about Trumps budget, but about a narrower two-year spending-caps deal.

I read in the newspapers this morning that someone reported that I wouldnt support this budget if I were in Congress. That is absolutely false, Mulvaney said. I absolutely, without reservation, support this budget.

(Additional reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Cynthia Osterman)2.2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

NBCs Chuck Todd debunked every excuse Republicans use to avoid talking about guns after the Parkland school shooting.

Video:

Chuck Todd debunks the Republican arguments not blaming the gun after the Parkland massacre. #parkland #guncontrolnow pic.twitter.com/aQomz0gUmI  PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) February 16, 2018

Todd said:



After a mass shooting like we saw yesterday, Second Amendment advocates and the lawmakers who represent them are finding a way to make the debate about anything but gun laws. And the president did his part, did not mention the word gun in an address on the mass shooting. The gun lobbys talking points are designed to avoid the gun debate. For instance, the Las Vegas strip massacre, theyd argue it is not about how he got the gun, it is about the thing he a  it is about the thing he attached to the gun. And Newtown, it is not how he got the gun, but it is identifying mental illness. What about the Virginia Tech massacre. It is not about how he got the gun, it is about arming schools to thwart an attack. About none of the arguments hold up this in case. Here is many other arguments that dont hold up. The gup was bought  gun was bought illegally. And someone should warn that the gunman had mental health issues and in this case someone did. The FBI was given a tip involving a YouTube comment with his name on it said, quote, Im going to be a professional school shooter.

The FBI acknowledges getting the tip but it is not clear what they did with the information. The other arguments to avoid debate might go something like this. Well Cruz shouldnt have been allowed on school grounds and he wasnt, he was expelled. The school should have been armed. In this case, it was. A school resource officer was on campus and was armed. The school should have been trained for this. And in this case, it was. By Broward County. The president said there were so many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed. Well if that is the case, why was he allowed to legally by an AR-15. Based on the current background check system it looks like none of those red flags would actually show up on a background check to buy an AR-15. So maybe that is the debate we need to have.

Todd was right. None of the Republican excuses for not blaming the gun or the ease of access to weapons doesnt hold up after the Parkland shooting. The country is well past the point where NRA backed howls of protecting the Second Amendment are going to stem the tide until the shooting falls out of the news cycle.

When a mainstream voice like Chuck Todd is debunking Republican talking points, the tide has turned and Republican inaction will no longer be accepted.

To discuss Rachel Maddow or anything MSNBC, please join our Rachel Maddow group178.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

By a vote of 225-192, House Republicans have voted to gut the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and stri[e equal rights away from 56.7 million Americans.

The vote:

*BREAKING* HR 620 PASSED the House 225-192 We ALL must  our 2 Senators & say NO to a bill that would roll back protections of the American Disabilities Act (ADA) Please call. We can STOP this.  the  202-224-3121 https://t.co/aaVvpvLcy0  Peter Morley (@morethanmySLE) February 15, 2018

Democrats and advocacy groups are blasting HR 620

Democratic Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said on the House floor, Now we have on the Floor a bill that would undermine the central tenet of the ADA, the right of victims of discrimination to seek redress for exclusion. Requiring victims of discrimination to provide notice of a violation before bringing a lawsuit is an improper shift of the burden of compliance onto victims  one not required of any other group by any other civil rights law. Not a single civil rights law gives this kind of provision.

The ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jarrold Nadler (D-NY) warned, The ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017, would undermine the civil rights of Americans with disabilities by significantly weakening the key enforcement tool of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which is the filing of private lawsuits by discrimination victims. Congress passed the ADA 28 years ago with the goals of fully integrating persons with disabilities into the mainstream of American life and counteracting discriminatory social attitudes towards the disabled. By making it harder for persons facing such discrimination to vindicate their rights in court, H.R. 620 ultimately undermines these goals.

The Alliance For Retired Americans said in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA, The bill removes the incentives for businesses to comply with the law and imposes significant burdens on Americans with disabilities. Currently, the law provides legal recourse to disabled individuals to ensure that business and other establishments comply with the ADA law. We must not take that away. By providing businesses a 120-day waiting period before the person reporting a violation can take the case to court, this bill weakens the ADA. During this time, businesses would not be penalized as long as they are making substantial progress towards becoming ADA-compliant. However, substantial progress is not defined and would be left to the courts.

HR 620 is intended to undermine the civil rights of Americans with disabilities

HR 620 has one goal, and that it to make it more difficult for disabled Americans to get equal access to businesses and establishments. It has been a goal of Republicans for more than a decade to undermine the ADA. If a person with a disability cant gain access to a business or establishment, thats their problem. We already know how Trump feels about differently abled people, so if the bill passes the Senate, it is certain to become law.

Civil rights are under assault, and only a united wall of Americans can keep this country equal and free for all.1.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

WASHINGTON (Reuters)  Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Paul Ryan, in a round of interviews with conservative radio shows on Thursday, said the Florida school shooting that killed at least 17 people on Wednesday should not threaten citizens rights to own guns.

Theres more questions than answers at this stage, the Republican lawmaker said in an interview with Tom Katz on Indiana radio station WIBC about the mass shooting less than 24 hours earlier.

I dont think that means you then roll that conversation into taking away citizens rights  taking away a law-abiding citizens rights. Obviously this conversation typically goes there. Right now, I think we need to take a breath and collect the facts.

(Reporting by Lisa LambertEditing by Chizu Nomiyama)In a closely watched special election in Pennsylvanias 18th congressional district, Democrat Conor Lamb has pulled to within three points of Trump-endorsed GOP candidate Rick Saccone  a statistical tie.

According to a new Monmouth University poll released Thursday, Saccone leads 49 percent to 46 percent  within the polls margin of error.

The fact that the race is essentially tied is stunning given the fact that, as Politico noted a short time ago, Donald Trump won the district by 20 percentage points in 2016.

In a special election this close, turnout and voter enthusiasm is likely going to make all the difference.

More on the Democratic enthusiasm surge from Monmouth:

Democratic voters are generally more engaged in this race than are Republicans. Among likely voters, 48% of Democrats compared with 26% of Republicans say they are following the PA18 special election closely. Among all potential voters interviewed for the poll  including those unlikely to vote in this contest  Democrats (65%) are more likely than Republicans (50%) to say they have a lot of interest in this race.



The fact that Saccone does better among all potential voters than he does in any of the probable turnout models is a clear sign of higher enthusiasm among Democrats. However, this districts strong Republican bent may simply be too high a hurdle for Lamb to overcome, said Murray.

Democratic enthusiasm could push Conor Lamb to an upset victory

While this district is clearly Republican-leaning, Democratic engagement and widespread disappointment in Donald Trump is giving Conor Lamb a chance to pull off another Democratic upset.

The same thing unfolded at the end of last year in the Alabama senate race between Democratic nominee Doug Jones and Republican Roy Moore. The final RealClearPolitics average showed Moore leading by more than two points going into election day, but Democratic enthusiasm boosted Jones to a stunning victory.

In Pennsylvania, a similar outcome could be in the works as polling shows a close race between Lamb and Saccone. Strong turnout among motivated progressives could easily close the gap in the race.

In a year when Democratic enthusiasm is through the roof and support for Donald Trump is in the cellar, not even the reddest districts are completely safe for Republicans.1.7k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Trump threw a fit and blamed Chuck Schumer and the Democrats for his immigration bill getting the fewest votes of any immigration legislation considered by the Senate.

You can almost hear the tantrum in this statement by Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders:

Today, the Schumer Democrats in the Senate demonstrated again that they are not serious about DACA, they are not serious about immigration reform, and they are not serious about homeland security. They filibustered a proposal with an extremely generous path to citizenship because it also contained reforms that secured our border and secured our immigration system. The Grassley bill was a compromise billas demonstrated by the fact that some conservatives opposed its very generous DACA provisions. Yet, the Schumer Democrats chose to filibuster it because they are held hostage by the radical left in their party, which opposes any immigration control at all. Today, they sided with an extreme fringe over the hardworking men and women of the Department of Homeland Security. The Administration will continue advocating for an immigration package that includes border security, ending chain migration, cancelling the visa lottery, and a reasonable DACA solutiona proposal Americans support overwhelmingly. And while radical Schumer Democrats align themselves with the open border fringe, the Trump Administration will continue advocating for the American people. The next step will be for the House to continue advancing the proposal from Chairman Goodlatte and Chairman McCaul.

Democrats only have 49 votes in the Senate, but 60 Senators voted against the bill, which means that the rejection of Trumps plan to basically end legal immigration into the country was bipartisan. Trump wants to blame Democrats for a rejection that came from both parties.

Trumps tantrum cant hide the reality that his Art of the Deal negotiating nonsense doesnt work on members of Congress. Trump can make one-sided offers, bully, and bluster his way to legislative success.

Trump blew up the DACA deal, and he could save the Dreamers with a stroke of his pen. The fact that he refuses to do so is not lost on anyone.325 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

So we know this is just the beginning of Muellers investigation, and already he has indicted 13 Russians for meddling with the U.S. election.

Here are five thought-provoking things about the indictments and the alleged crimes surrounding them.

1. The Russian operation had huge staff and money: $1.25 million per month by September of 2016. Not only is that a lot more than most Republican presidential campaigns, but it means the Russians were heavily invested in undermining U.S. democracy and they did this in large part by propping up Donald Trump.

This Russian operation had staff in the hundreds, and a monthly budget of $1.25 mil PER MONTH by Sept. 2016  for context, this is more manpower and resources than most Republican presidential campaigns.  Elise Jordan (@Elise_Jordan) February 16, 2018

2. Collusion is not a Russian spy tactic. You are either an asset or not. As Adam Schiff pointed out today, Importantly, the indictment sets out some of the U.S laws violated by the Russians, including various conspiracy counts. While it does not include an allegation that any U.S. persons conspired wittingly with the Russian actors, the indictment leaves open the vital question of whether Americans, including any associated with the Trump campaign, knowingly played a role in Russias active measures campaign.

Worth reminding everyone that collusion does not exist as a Russian spy tactic. They seek to recruit and direct assets. You either work FOR Russian intelligence or not at all.  Naveed Jamali (@NaveedAJamali) February 16, 2018

3. A very awkward date for Donald Trump:

Indictment: defendants began outlining campaign themes on Feb 10 2016. That is the date @realDonaldTrump won his 1st victory NH Primary. DOJ: Americans did not know they were communicating with Russians who organized rallies in the U.S. to help Trump disparage Hillary Clinton  Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) February 16, 2018

4. If there is no collusion, as Donald Trump claims, then why has he refused to enforce sanctions against Russia, a country that is now unimpeachably established as having attacked the United States:

How about some sanctions now, Mr President?  Preet Bharara (@PreetBharara) February 16, 2018

5. The attack is not over. Not only are the 2018 and 2020 elections going to be attacked by Russia, but they are still undermining our democracy by sowing division and they do this by siding with egregiously deplorable right wing platforms, like being so pro-gun that even a massacre wont slow their hysteria down. For example:

Pro-Gun Russian Bots Flooded Twitter After Parkland Shooting https://t.co/neeCG4CeKd via @WIRED  AM Joy w/Joy Reid (@amjoyshow) February 16, 2018

Dark humor cherry on top of these thoughts: The Russians know our weaknesses.

"Ultimately, it all comes down to Waukesha County." A cartoon by Paul Noth, from 2016. pic.twitter.com/MrjubqHeUH  The New Yorker (@NewYorker) February 16, 2018

The thing the indictments did not do? Exonerate Donald Trump.

1/ Sweet Jesus the MAGAS, the clickservatives, and Gentry Breitbart think he's exonerated. It's freaking spectacular. SPEC-TAC-ULAR.  Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) February 16, 2018

Update 9:49 PM Make it six things.

6. Yes, it impacted the election.

DOJ statement and indictments reveal the extent and motivations of Russian interference in 2016 election. Claims of a hoax in tatters. My take: Implausible that Russian actions did not influence the views and votes of at least some Americans.  John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) February 16, 2018246 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

By Kim Palmer

CLEVELAND (Reuters)  The ACLU filed a lawsuit on Thursday challenging an Ohio law that criminalizes abortions if a doctor performing a termination is aware that the woman has received a diagnosis that her fetus has Down syndrome.

The Ohio state chapter of the American Civil Liberties union filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Cincinnati, arguing the law violated the liberty and privacy clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Cleveland abortion provider Preterm, seeks to delay enforcement of the law, which is scheduled to go into effect March 23.The law was passed by the state legislature and signed by Governor John Kasich last December. Kasich had previously called the law appropriate.

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21.

Under the law, doctors would lose their medical licenses in the state and face a fourth-degree felony charge if they were to perform an abortion with that knowledge. Mothers would not face criminal charges.

If Ohio politicians wanted to proactively take a stance for people with disabilities, they should improve access to health care, education, or other services, Freda Levenson, legal director for the ACLU of Ohio, said in a statement. This ban is just a thinly-veiled attempt to criminalize abortion in Ohio.

Officials with the Ohio Attorney Generals office could not immediately be reached to comment.

Ohio Right to Life president Mike Gonidakis criticized the ACLU suit calling the act of ending a pregnancy after a Down syndrome diagnosis a discriminatory abortion.

It is a shame that an organization that claims to be the very biggest and best at defending victims of discrimination completely disregards the most vulnerable members of our society, he said in a statement.

The Ohio law marks the 20th restriction on abortion and reproductive rights signed by Kasich since 2011, according to Kellie Copeland, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio.

Similar laws have been passed in Indiana and North Dakota. An Indiana District Court issued a permanent injunction on a similar Down syndrome abortion ban on Sept. 22, 2017.

(Reporting by Kim Palmer; Editing by Ben Klayman and Susan Thomas)3.7k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

House Intelligence Committee member Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) responded to the indictments of 13 Russians for election interference by making it clear that a bigger investigation of Trump could be on the horizon.

In a statement provided to PoliticusUSA, Rep. Schiff said:

Todays indictment by Special Counsel Mueller is a significant step forward in exposing Russias political and electoral interference in our democracy and holding Russia, and its agents, accountable. The indictment spells out in exhaustive detail the breadth and systematic nature of Russias conspiracy, dating back to 2014, as well as the multiple ways in which Russian actors misused online platforms to carry out their clandestine operations.

The indictment reaffirms what our Intelligence Community concluded, what our Committees investigation has borne out, and what President Trump denies: that Russia interfered in our election in an effort to assist his presidential campaign and harm Hillary Clintons campaign. The indictments charges are also consistent with the Committees specific findings about Russias stealth exploitation of social media networks, which the Committee highlighted for the American public in its open hearing and will continue to expose in the weeks to come. The indictment outlines the great lengths to which Russian nationals working for Yevgeniy Prigozhin, a close associate of Russian President Putin, gathered intelligence as early as 2014, within the U.S. and about Americans, to carry out their covert operation.

Importantly, the indictment sets out some of the U.S laws violated by the Russians, including various conspiracy counts. While it does not include an allegation that any U.S. persons conspired wittingly with the Russian actors, the indictment leaves open the vital question of whether Americans, including any associated with the Trump campaign, knowingly played a role in Russias active measures campaign.

It is Schiffs last sentence that should have the White House worried. If Adam Schiff becomes the next chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, he is going to allow the committee to do what Devin Nunes has not. The House Intelligence Committee will launch a full investigation of Donald Trump. There is potential for a Democratic House to pick up on whatever the Special Counsel investigation finds.

If Democrats win back the House, Trump could be in for years of investigations.

The stage is being set. All Democrats need is for voters to give control of the House in November.1.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Robert Muellers office indicted thirteen Russian nationals and three Russian entities on Friday. The indictment accuses them of violating U.S. criminal laws in order to interfere with U.S. elections and political processes, including the 2016 U.S. election.

The indictment discusses Russians being on the ground to set up rallies and prop Donald Trump up for the election and denigrate Democratic candidate for president Hillary Clinton.

Summary:

The indictment says defendants operations included supporting Trump and disparaging Hillary Clinton. This included staging political rallies and buying political advertising while posing as grassroots U.S. groups.

During 2016 presidential campaign, Russian defendants spread derogatory information about Clinton, Rubio, Cruz and supported Sanders and Trump.

Defendants posed as Americans and created false online personas and social media pages.

Communicating with U.S.-based group, the defendants were advised to focus their activities on purple states like Colorado, Virginia and Florida.

Some defendants traveled to U.S., used some U.S.-based computer infrastructure to hide Russian origin of activities.

In second half of 2016, Russian defendants began to encourage minority groups not to vote in November election.

In summer of 2016, defendants began to promote allegations of voter fraud by Democratic Party through social media.

Russian defendants paid one American to build a cage and a second American to wear a costume portraying Clinton in a prison uniform.

There are no allegations in this indictment that the Russian interference affected the outcome of the 2016 election.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Read the indictment: internet_research_agency_indictment

.1.4k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) has found a way to blame Obama for Russias election meddling conspiracy for Trump.

In a statement provided to PoliticusUSA, Rep. Nunes said, The Putin regime presents a pressing threat to American interests, including through Moscows long-running influence operations against the United States. The House Intelligence Committee has been investigating these threats for many years: in 2014the year the Russians began their operation targeting the 2016 electionsI warned about Russias worldwide influence operations. In April 2016 I stated that the United States failure to predict Putins plans and intentions is the biggest intelligence failure that weve had since 9/11. Although the Obama Administration failed to act on the Committees warnings, its gratifying to see that Russian agents involved in these operations have now been identified and indicted.

Blaming Obama cant save Nunes and Trump

It was Barack Obama who wanted to issue a joint statement condemning Russian election meddling with Republicans, but Mitch McConnell refused to cooperate. It was the Obama administration that secured documents relating to the Russia investigation so that they couldnt be destroyed by Trump and the Republicans. It was Obama who warned for years that Americas election system and infrastructure needed to be upgraded and repaired.

Obama wasnt the problem. The problem was and continues to be that Trump and his Republican enablers deny their role in helping willing accepting assistance from the Russians to win a presidential election.

As Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said, The defendants posed as politically and socially active Americans. Advocating for and against particular candidates. The Russians were advocating for Trump and against Clinton. With that fact in mind, Devin Nunes blame Obama gambit is a laughable display of pathetic spin for a lackey drowning in scandal.13.9k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Rachel Maddow got emotional as she said that the indictments of 13 Russians are proof that finally, someone is defending us from the Russian threat to the United States.

Video:

Rachel Maddow got emotional as she said that the indictments of 13 Russians are proof that finally, someone is defending us from the Russian threat to the United States. https://t.co/F6aINirMGt #maddow #Russians pic.twitter.com/1EEpXI5Ajc  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 17, 2018

Maddow said, This indictment today was a surprise in so many ways like other indictment days had surprises. The biggest surprise I had after covering this story so closely for this whole freaking year now, the surprise for me personally was hearing these charges and hearing what they were charging the Russians for, was the first time that I felt like finally, finally for the first time since we realized this was happening, finally it feels like someone is defending us and going after them. And taking seriously what they did and showing not incidentally, showing what this adversary is designed for and capable of and still working on for our election this year. Finally, somebody is defending us and taking it seriously and doing something about it. That alone for me today is the biggest shock.

Rachel Maddow isnt alone. Many Americans were feeling powerless. Every day in response to a Russia scandal development someone will say, nothing will come of it, but indictments are coming out of it. The investigation is working. People are being charged and prosecuted. The indictment of the Russians feels different than the indictments of Manafort, Flynn, and the others.

The indictment of the Russians is proof that this really happened.

The Russians really did interfere in the US election. The Russians did have a vast conspiracy to help get Trump elected, and there is someone doing something about it. Robert Mueller is defending the American people and democracy. Trump has gaslighted his own country for a year, and Mueller has cut through Trumps psychological games and defended his country in a way Trump has refused to do.

Trump and the Russians are on the run because Robert Mueller has democracys back.

For more discussion about Rachel Maddow and MSNBC join our Rachel Maddow group.323 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

By David Ingram and Dustin Volz

SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON (Reuters)  The Russian influence operation designed to tamper with the 2016 U.S. presidential election used a combination of old-school espionage tactics and 21st-century technologies that will not be easy to stop, even now that the methods have been exposed, experts said.

Social media companies, especially Facebook Inc and Twitter Inc, have been under heavy pressure to find ways of stopping what is often referred to as information warfare on their services.

The indictment of 13 Russian nationals on Friday, announced by U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller, made extensive use of records from Facebook and Instagram, according to people familiar with the matter.

Yet the combination of tactics revealed in the indictment, including the use of shell corporations and stolen IDs, deployment of virtual private networks to avoid online detection, and payments to unwitting Americans, suggests even a company as powerful as Facebook could struggle to stop such activities by itself as they happen.

U.S. spy agencies have said Russia would try to interfere in the 2018 midterm elections, again by using social media to spread propaganda.

They cant out of hand stop it, because its very difficult for them to trace those things, said Ann Ravel, a former member of the U.S. Federal Election Commission. The clandestine purchase of advertising on the site through fake personas was particularly alarming, she said.

To know the identities of ad buyers, internet companies might need to duplicate the know your customer practices of banks and regularly share information with authorities, Ravel said.

Facebook has said it will start requiring thorough documentation from election-related advertisers to verify their identity and location, beginning with U.S. elections this year.

How extensive that vetting will be is unclear. If you want to put up a theme page for a group, in the ordinary course you wouldnt expect that a vendor like Facebook would require that sort of vetting, said Dan Petalas, a former U.S. federal prosecutor.

The indictment really details an elaborate scheme that would be difficult to identify, he said.

Facebook said on Friday it was making significant investments to guard against future attacks and was working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to deter election interference.

The Russians alleged campaign began with three weeks of reconnaissance in 2014, when two of them traveled to nine U.S. states, including Colorado and Michigan, according to the indictment. They were equipped with cameras, SIM cards, drop phones and, if needed, evacuation scenarios, the indictment says.

It describes the Kremlin-linked Internet Research Agency in St. Petersburg as an organized bureaucracy. It was backed by an annual budget of millions of dollars, employed hundreds of people and boasted several departments dedicated to specific projects, like search-engine optimization and graphics.

Even those who have demanded Facebook do more acknowledged on Friday it could do only so much.

We each bear some responsibility for exercising good judgment and a healthy amount of skepticism when it comes to the things we read and share on social media, Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a statement.

The defendants are accused of stealing social security numbers of Americans to open up fraudulent accounts on digital payment system PayPal Holdings Inc. They purchased space on computer servers located within the United States to use virtual private networks to mask their identities and pose as Americans.

Facebook could go further in monitoring its platform and adopt the process cryptocurrency firms use to verify bitcoin traders, said Jordan Lieberman, president of ad firm Audience Partners. But if Facebook raises the bar much higher, Its going to interrupt revenue flows and its absolutely going to cost them money.

(Reporting by David Ingram in San Francisco and Dustin Volz in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Weber and Lisa Shumaker)(Reuters)  A multipronged effort to sway the 2016 U.S. presidential election in favor of Republican Donald Trump and against his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton included a Florida rally with an actress portraying Clinton in a prison uniform, according to an indictment released on Friday.

Rallies for Trump, a Support Hillary, Save American Muslims rally and a Down with Hillary rally were also part of a project to interfere in the election, the U.S. special counsel said in an indictment of 13 Russians and a Russian Internet agency.

The following are details from the court document:

 On or about June 1, 2016, the defendants and their co-conspirators created and purchased Facebook ads for a March for Trump rally. They subsequently used allforusa@yahoo.com, the email address of a false U.S. persona, to send news releases for the march to New York media outlets.

 On or about June 23, they used a Facebook account registered under a false U.S. persona, Matt Skiber, to contact a real American to serve as a recruiter for the rally, offering to give you money to print posters and get a megaphone.

 On or about June 24, the defendants and their co-conspirators ordered posters for a Support Hillary, Save American Muslims rally, including a poster with a quote attributed to Clinton that read, I think Sharia Law will be a powerful new direction of freedom.

 On or about July 12, they created and bought Facebook ads for a Down With Hillary rally at Trump Tower in New York. They subsequently used the email address of a false U.S. persona, joshmilton024@gmail.com, to send news releases to over 30 media outlets.

 On or about July 28, they posted a series of tweets through the false U.S. personal account @March_for_Trump saying they were planning a series of events across Florida and seeking volunteers to help.

 On or about Aug. 2, they used the false Matt Skiber Facebook account to send a private message to a real Facebook account, Florida for Trump, set up to help Trump in the state. In the first message, they proposed organizing a YUGE pro-Trump flash mob in every Florida town and solicited Florida for Trumps help.

 On or about Aug. 2 and Aug. 3, they used the stolen identity of a real American, identified in the indictment as T.W., to send emails to grassroots groups in Florida saying that T.W. represented the Being Patriotic group that was going to organize a flash mob across Florida to support Trump.

Were currently choosing venues for each location and recruiting more activists, the email said. It asked recipients to spread this info and participate in the flash mob.

 On or about Aug. 4, they created and bought Facebook ads for a Florida Goes Trump rally, which reached more than 59,000 Facebook users in Florida. More than 8,300 Facebook users responded to the ads by clicking on them, which routed users to the groups Being Patriotic page.

 The next day, they used the false U.S. persona @March_for_Trump Twitter account to recruit and later pay a real American to wear a costume portraying Clinton in a prison uniform at a rally in West Palm Beach.

 Beginning on or about Aug. 11, they used the false Matt Skiber Facebook account to recruit a real American to acquire signs and a costume depicting Clinton in a prison uniform.

 On or about Aug. 15, they received an email at one of their false U.S. persona accounts from a real U.S. person, a Florida-based political activist identified as the chair for the Trump campaign in a Florida county. The activist identified two more sites in Florida for possible rallies. The defendants and co-conspirators used their false U.S. persona accounts to communicate with the activist about logistics and an additional Florida rally.

 On or about Aug. 18, the real Florida for Trump Facebook account responded to the false Matt Skiber account with instructions to contact a member of the Trump campaign (identified as Campaign Official 1 in the indictment) involved in the campaigns Florida operation and provided Campaign Official 1s donaldtrump.com email address.

Approximately the same day, the false U.S. persona joshmilton024@gmail.com sent an email to Campaign Official 1 saying the Being Patriotic group was organizing a statewide event on Aug. 20 to support Trump.

 About the same day, the defendants and co-conspirators wired money to another real American who had been recruited by one of the false U.S. personas to build a cage large enough to hold an actress depicting Clinton in a prison uniform.

 On or about Aug. 31, using a U.S. persona, they spoke by phone with a real American affiliated with a grassroots group in Miami. On or about Sept. 9, they wired the group money to pay for materials needed for the rally about two days later.

 On or about Aug, 31, they created and bought Facebook ads for a rally they organized and scheduled in New York for Sept. 11.

 On or about Sept. 9, they contacted the person who had impersonated Clinton at the West Palm Beach rally and wired that person money as an inducement to travel from Florida to New York and to dress in costume at another rally they organized.

 On or about Sept. 22, they created and bought Facebook ads for a series of rallies they organized for Trump in Pennsylvania called Miners for Trump and scheduled for Oct. 2.

(Compiled by Jonathan Oatis; editing by Grant McCool)By Bernie Woodall and Zachary Fagenson

PARKLAND, Fla. (Reuters)  The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Friday said it mishandled a January tip that the 19-year-old accused of killing 17 people in Florida had guns and the potential to carry out a school shooting.

A person close to accused gunman Nikolas Cruz called an FBI tip line on Jan. 5 to report concerns about him, the FBI said in a statement.

(For a graphic on Florida school shooting click http://tmsnrt.rs/2nX8ECo)

The caller provided information about Cruzs gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting, it said.

The tip appeared unrelated to a previously reported YouTube comment in which a person named Nikolas Cruz said, Im going to be a professional school shooter. The FBI has acknowledged getting that tip as well but failing to connect it to Cruz, who is accused of carrying out the massacre at a high school in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday with an AR-15-style assault rifle.

Under established protocols, the information provided by the caller should have been assessed as a potential threat to life, the FBI said in its statement. The information then should have been forwarded to the FBI Miami field office, where appropriate investigative steps would have been taken. We have determined that these protocols were not followed.

The second-deadliest shooting at a public school in U.S. history also raised concerns about potential failures in school security and stirred the ongoing U.S. debate about gun rights, which are protected by the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

We are still investigating the facts, FBI Director Christopher Wray said in the statement. We have spoken with victims and families, and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy.

Leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump have linked mental illness to Wednesdays violence, suggesting that it was the publics responsibility to warn officials of such dangers.

So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior, Trump said in a Thursday tweet. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!

Cruz, who had been expelled from the school where he allegedly staged his attack for undisclosed disciplinary reasons, made a brief court appearance on Thursday and was ordered held without bond.

Hes a broken human being, his lawyer, public defender Melissa McNeill, told reporters. Hes sad, hes mournful, hes remorseful.

Wednesdays shooting ranks as the greatest loss of life from school gun violence since the 2012 shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, that left 20 first-graders and six adult educators dead.

News of the FBIs mishandling of the last months tip about Cruz came as families of the 17 victims began to bury their dead. The first two funerals were for Alyssa Alhadeff, 14, a high school athlete and Meadow Pollack, an 18-year-old senior who had been headed to Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida.

Brian Gately, a friend of the Alhadeff family, said he attended Alyssas funeral and that the synagogue was so packed he had to stand in the rear.

There was just really a lot of sadness in there, Gately, a 51-year-old financial adviser who lives in Parkland said. The burial became more emotional, he added, saying, People were yelling, No, no. Kids were yelling, No, no.'

Trump tweeted on Friday morning that he would leave for Florida later in the day to meet people whose lives had been totally shattered by the shooting.

The vice mayor of Broward County, where the killings took place, blasted any visit by Trump, saying Republicans had failed to back common sense gun laws and had rolled back measures that made it harder for severely mentally ill people to buy weapons.

Him coming here is absolutely absurd, and hes a hypocrite, Mark Bogen told CNN in an interview following Trumps tweet.

(Additional reporting by Brendan OBrien in Milwaukee and Mark Hosenball, Steve Holland, Roberta Rampton and Susan Heavey in Washington; Writing by Scott Malone; Editing by Tom Brown and Andrew Hay)The worst kept political secret of the past year is now official. Mitt Romney is running to replace Sen. Orrin Hatch in Utah.

Here is Romneys announcement:

Mitt Romneys announcement video:

I am running for United States Senate to serve the people of Utah and bring Utah's values to Washington. pic.twitter.com/TDkas6gD2p  Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) February 16, 2018

Mitt Romney just needed Orrin Hatch to retire

Romney was always going to run for this seat. His biggest problem was convincing Orrin Hatch to retire. Romneys return to Utah is a big loss for Trump, as the president begged Hatch not to retire. Trump will be losing one of his few cheerleaders in the Senate who will be replaced by one of his biggest critics in the Republican Party. Look for Romney be morally repulsed by Trump, but try to find a middle path.

If there is ever an impeachment trial in the Senate for Trump, Mitt Romney will be an interesting person to watch, since he warned the country about Russia years before the rise of Trump.

Romney is a good fit for Utah and a potential future headache for Trump.21.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

The NRA is getting scared because, after Parkland, Americans arent only angry. They are getting organized and ready to primary pro-NRA Republicans.

Video of the Morning Joe discussion of primarying pro-NRA Republicans:

Primarying every single pro-NRA Republican is being discussed after #Parklandshooting pic.twitter.com/0nt0umWgeU  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 16, 2018

Transcript:



Mike Barnacle: Montel, off of that, I have a proposition for you given your history, given your past. It is this. I dont know whether you went to Marine Corps in San Diego or Paris Island. Take the weapon. Take the high ground: High ground is easiest to defend. The weapons we have to go against the NRA are multiple. We have the vote. Unfortunately, too many Americans dont use. We also have three really great Americans, three former presidents, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. If you and people like you would get behind forming an organization called not the national rifle association. The national safe gun association. And ask Americans in order to join, donate $5 or $10 or whatever. Raise $100 million. And go primary all of these Republicans who are pro-gun.

Montel Williams: Im in. Im in, and Ill tell you why. I got this. I cant see another one of these, man. Something needs to be doneSeeing all these school shootings just keeps bringing me back. You need to do something. We need to start doing it today. Im in. Its easy. You dont have to ask me twice. Lets do it.

.

Joe Scarborough: Yes, and I tell you what, the thing is I think Montel, your voice is powerful because youre a gun owner. You believe in the second amendment. Like me, you believe that Americans do have the right to keep and bear arms, but you can also read headlines and read the constitution and read the supreme court decisions that show that this is not some fundamental right for us to be crazy when it comes to this issue.

The liberals who want gun control are in many ways the NRAs best friend. The NRA hates the common sense moderate position. They want to argue that it is either everyone has easy access to guns, or no one has access to guns. The conversation that they dont want to have is one where the Second Amendment is protected, but guns are kept out of the hands of people who shouldnt have them.

The gun industry sells a lot of weapons and ammo to people who might flunk an expanded background check. Each of these mass shooters spends hundreds to thousands of dollars on guns and ammo. The gun industry loses customers if background checks are expanded.

People are coming together to stand up to them, and that is exactly what the NRA fears most.840 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi says Muellers indictments make Russian interference in the 2016 election absolutely clear. The Leader wrote in a statement sent to PoliticusUSA, As desperately as President Trump insists that the Special Counsel investigation is a hoax, these latest indictments build on multiple guilty pleas and indictments of several Trump campaign officials, demonstrating the gravity of the Trump-Russia scandal.

The indictment names the Russian-based Internet Research Agency, 13 Russian nationals, and two other companies.

In a statement provided to PoliticusUSA:

The Special Counsels indictments make absolutely clear that the Russians perpetrated a strategic effort to undermine and influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election to support the campaign of Donald Trump, and are continuing to interfere with our elections. As desperately as President Trump insists that the Special Counsel investigation is a hoax, these latest indictments build on multiple guilty pleas and indictments of several Trump campaign officials, demonstrating the gravity of the Trump-Russia scandal.

It is imperative that the Special Counsel investigation be allowed to continue to follow the facts on the Trump-Russia scandal, unhindered by the White House or Republicans in Congress. The American people deserve to know the full extent of Russias interference in our election and the involvement of Trump officials. Yet, disturbingly, the President has not presented a strategic plan to confront the Russians and refuses to enact the sanctions against Russians as required by Congress. Nor has the Republican-controlled House acted to secure our election system from further Russian and foreign interference.

We are on the eve of the 2018 midterm elections. There is no time to waste to defend the integrity of our elections and our democracy.

This indictment serves as a reminder that people are not always who they appear to be on the Internet, deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told reporters. The indictment alleges that the Russian conspirators want to promote discord in the United States and undermine public confidence in democracy. We must not allow them to succeed.

Russia denies interfering in the election and President Trump denies colluding with Russia. However, it is clear that Russia acted on Trumps behalf to help him and harm Hillary Clinton.913 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

The cooperation of Rick Gates with the Mueller investigation opens the door for the Special Counsel to confirming Trump collusion with Russia and financial crimes.

Video of attorney and former Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman on MSNBC:

The flip of #RickGates could confirm collusion and Trump financial crimes with Russia. pic.twitter.com/VNFSfCPE1G  PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) February 16, 2018

Holtzman said, Questions have been raised about his activities in Ukraine. Rick Gates is like a key that opens up Manafort. Opens up whether there was  can confirm whether there was criminality because Manafort has been indicted on money laundering. Remember, manafort was in the big meeting in Trump Tower with Donald Trump Jr. That everybody lied about, including the president. Gates wasnt at the meeting, but Manafort was. Maybe Gates knows, because manafort told him, what happened. So Gates is in a position to tell us about that meeting. He is in a position  not us, but Mueller and the grand jury  hes in a position to tell them about other activities Manafort was engaged in. Manafort, apparently, was willing to brief one of the Russian oligarchs. Maybe it is a way of getting back to Putin about the Trump campaign. So this could confirm all kinds of collusion. Also, other things that were going on in the campaign at that time because he was raising money for the campaign. He stayed on in the transition.

Rick Gates has a ton of information that goes beyond Paul Manafort. Long after Manafort was gone, Gates was still with the campaign, and most importantly, he was involved in the transition. Gates has information about the money, Mike Flynn, and Russia connections. Paul Manafort is going to find it hard to maintain his silence once Mueller flips Gates, and when the Manafort domino falls, the Special Counsel will get a lot of answers to key questions.

Beneath all of the daily chaos, the Russia investigation continues to grind along and get closer to Donald Trump.689 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

By Jan Wolfe

(Reuters)  Special Counsel Robert Muellers indictment of 13 Russian individuals and three organizations for allegedly interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election sets the stage for the prosecution of Americans who may have helped the Russian effort, some legal experts said.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told reporters on Friday there was no allegation in the indictment that any American knew about the alleged scheme. It said Russians did contact unwitting members of the campaign of now President Donald Trump in a bid to support him while denigrating his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton.

The indictment said the Russians conspired with persons known and unknown, which could include Americans.

While they went to great pains to say they are not indicting any Americans today, if I was an American and I did cooperate with Russians I would be extremely frightened today, said former federal prosecutor Patrick Cotter.

The White House took a different view, issuing a statement saying that Trump had been briefed on the matter and was glad to see the Special Counsels investigation further indicates there was NO COLLUSION between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Mueller has been silent on where the probe is headed. It has so far led to guilty pleas from Trumps former national security advisor and a one-time campaign aide to lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as indictments of his former campaign manager Paul Manafort and Manaforts business partner Rick Gates.

Moscow has denied meddling in the election. Leah Litman, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, said that meant the Russian government was extremely unlikely to turn over any of its nationals for U.S. prosecution. There is no formal extradition agreement between the United States and Russia.

There is no crime called collusion in U.S. law, but former federal prosecutor Randall Eliason, now a professor at George Washington University Law School, said the same conduct is often covered by the offense of conspiracy.

The fact is that collusion is potentially a crime, Eliason said. This has always been clear, and it is even clearer now.

The indictment alleges a scheme to impede the functioning of the U.S. Federal Election Commission and other government agencies. Prosecutors also accuse the Russians of opening bank accounts under false names and unlawfully using stolen identities of Americans to post on social media in support of Trump.

To charge an American with conspiracy, legal experts said, Mueller would need to show that person was aware the Russians were trying to interfere in the election and knowingly aided them.

For example, people who participated in activities to support the Trump campaign could be charged if they knew Russians had organized them to help sway the vote. If an American helped direct the Russian acts, that could lead to charges as well, said Harvard Law School Professor Alex Whiting.

If there were meetings between the Trump campaign and the Russians, and the Trump campaign officials encouraged the Russians or guided them to particular types of work, or provided them assistance so that they could focus their interference, that would be collusion, said Whiting, a former federal prosecutor.

Some experts said Fridays indictment does not indicate Muellers probe was broadening.

Bill Jeffress, a criminal defense lawyer at Baker Botts, said he thought it was significant that Mueller made clear that members of the campaign only dealt with Russians unwittingly.

If they had enough evidence that an American were complicit they would have included it, said Jeffress.

But Cotter said the narrative set forth in the indictment could easily include many more participants.

The net is tightening, he said. They have moved up a whole other step on the ladder.

(Reporting by Jan Wolfe; Writing by Anthony Lin; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Daniel Wallis)28.8k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Republicans need to look no further than the nearest mirror if theyre looking for who to blame for Russians attack on the United States. Mitch McConnell refused to do the right thing for his country when the Russians attacked us. Instead, he did what he always does; when asked by President Obama to take a unified stand against Russia, McConnell threatened President Obama.

Now that the Muller indictment of the 13 Russians and 3 Russian businesses makes the fact that the Russians attacked the United States in the lead up to the 2016 election unimpeachable, Republicans are doing what they do  blaming President Obama.

However, reality is again at odds with the, at best, traitor-enabling Republicans.

The Senate Majority Leader of the United States, Republican Mitch McConnell (R-KY), threatened President Obama against publicizing Russian meddling before the 2016 election.

It was Barack Obama who wanted to issue a joint statement condemning Russian election meddling with Republicans, but Mitch McConnell refused to cooperate, Jason Easley had to explain in response to Trump transition team member and House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes'(R-CA) absurd suggestion that if the Russians did attack the United States and Donald Trump and the Russian Congress were doing nothing, it was Obamas fault.

On December 9th, 2016, Adam Entous, Ellen Nakashima and Greg Miller published a very important piece in the Washington Post that revealed a behind the scenes tussle between President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

They wrote that by mid-September, the Obama White House was looking to take action on Russia and asked, in a secret meeting with the Gang of 12  a bipartisan group of House and Senate leaders  for a show of show of solidarity and bipartisan unity against Russian meddling in the election.

Guess what Obama got.

A big fat no, led by Mitch McConnell. A kick in the gut to democracy and patriotism by the Republican Senator.

McConnell raised doubts about the underlying intelligence and made clear to the administration that he would consider any effort by the White House to challenge the Russians publicly an act of partisan politics.

And again, in case anyone missed it, In September, during a secret briefing for congressional leaders, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) voiced doubts about the veracity of the intelligence, according to officials present.

Even when the CIA briefed key senators in December of 2016 that it was quite clear that electing Trump was Russias goal, Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, etc. refused to accept the intel. To be clear, it was at this time. not a unified belief of all 17 intelligence agencies, as it later became.

Republicans might wish to visit a calendar for this portion, because here they were fully denying the Russia attack in December of 2016 and that is after the election, and just weeks before Trump took office.

Obama had demanded a full report at this point.

It was at this point still not a known fact. This point that Republicans are now trying to hang on Obama.

The Washington Post article pointed out that intelligence agencies had been cautious in characterizing Russias motivations, reflecting the United States long-standing struggle to collect reliable intelligence on President Vladimir Putin and those closest to him and in previous assessments stopped short of saying the goal was to help elect Trump.

In fact those previous assessments said that the goal of the Russian attack was to undermine confidence in democracy by undermining confidence in our elections. So, given this information, making the attack public could have been seen as feeding into Putins hands.

If there is a fault for Democrats, President Obama, and our intelligence community here, it is their overly-cautious nature, however this comes with folks who prefer to let the facts lead. Being intimidated by Republican accusations meant to game the ref is where we land on this one, and its not pretty. The media is as much to blame for this as the intelligence community and President Obama. This is a weakness of Democrats, but it does not mean that this is the fault of Democrats.

It was not the Democrats or President Obama or the media or the intelligence agenices who refused to stand up to Russias attack on the U.S.

There is no denying, however, that when this attack was going on, it was Devin Nunes and Mitch McConnell who were burying it in doubt. Nunes poured denial water on the evidence, saying: Ill be the first one to come out and point at Russia if theres clear evidence, but there is no clear evidence  even now. Theres a lot of innuendo, lots of circumstantial evidence, thats it.

But it was Mitch McConnell who threatened Obama, warning him that McConnell would see it as partisan politics if the President were to protect the United States against an attack from a hostile foreign power. McConnell refused to join the President in a show of solidarity against the Russian attack.

We always land here, at McConnells grotesquely unpatriotic obstruction of President Obama and distorted-by-hyper-partisanship-lens leadership.

This is on McConnell. The Russian attack on our election and the current, ongoing destruction of our democracy are Mitch McConnells legacy.167 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

By Katanga Johnson and Zachary Fagenson

PARKLAND, Fla. (Reuters)  A teenager accused of shooting to death 17 people at a Florida high school was investigated by police and state officials as far back as 2016 after slashing his arm in a social media video, and saying he wanted to buy a gun, but authorities determined he was receiving sufficient support, a newspaper said on Saturday.

Nikolas Cruz, 19, is charged with committing multiple murders on Wednesday at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, a Miami suburb. More than a dozen people also were wounded in the deadliest shooting at a U.S. high school.

More vigils and funerals were scheduled for this weekend in and around Parkland. Two gun shows and a rally calling for the firearm safety legislation also were due to be held nearby.

According to a report by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, a video of Cruz cutting his arm posted to the social media network Snapchat in September 2016 raised concerns among law enforcement and at the Florida Department of Children and Family Services.

Mr. Cruz stated he plans to go out and buy a gun. It is unknown what he is buying the gun for, said a report written by department officials after investigators interviewed the teenager, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

The newspaper reported that the investigators ultimately decided that Cruz, then 18, was receiving enough support from mental health professionals and from his school, and that any risk in his case was low.

Representatives for the Department of Children and Family Services did not respond to requests from comment.

On Friday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation admitted it failed to investigate a warning this year that Cruz possessed a gun and the desire to kill.

A person described as close to Cruz called an FBI tip line on Jan. 5 to report concerns about him, according to the FBI. That information was not forwarded to the FBIs Miami office, in what agency officials called a breakdown in protocol.

The disclosure spread angry disbelief among Parkland residents and led Floridas Republican Governor Rick Scott to call for FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign.

We have spoken with victims and families and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy, Wray said in a statement on Friday.

FBI PROCEDURE UNDER REVIEW

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ordered a review of FBI procedures following the shooting, in which 14 students and three school staff members died.

The latest U.S. mass shooting has raised concerns about potential lapses in school security and stirred the continuing U.S. debate pitting proponents of tougher restrictions on firearms against advocates for gun rights, which are protected by the U.S. Constitutions Second Amendment.

U.S. President Donald Trump and some other political leaders have said mental illness prompted the massacre. Cruz had been expelled from the high school for undisclosed disciplinary reasons and former classmates described him as an outcast and troublemaker with a fascination for weaponry.

According to CNN, Cruz posted disparaging comments about Jews, African Americans and gays in a private chat group on the social media network Instagram.

I think I am going to kill people, Cruz wrote in the group, according to CNN, which also quoted an unnamed law enforcement source as saying the suspect bought at least five guns in the past year.

Cruzs attorneys at the Broward County Public Defenders Office could not immediately be reached for comment.

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel has said that his office had received about 20 calls for service in the past few years regarding Cruz and would scrutinize all of them to see if they were handled properly.

In Coral Springs, a neighboring suburb, Life Fellowship Church Pastor Harold Altamirano and about three dozen worshipers gathered on Saturday to walk around the community and pray for healing.

We just want to tell Parkland that you are not alone. We are hurting with you, Altamirano said. Lets not allow fear to win. Love has to have the last say.

(Additional reporting by Bernie Woodall in Parkland and Brendan OBrien in Milwaukee; Writing by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Alison Williams and Bill Trott)2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) made the argument that if Trump wont fight election meddling and impose sanctions on Russia, he is not carrying out his duties as president and could be working for the Russians.

Video:

House Intelligence Committee member Rep. Eric Swalwell asks if Trump is siding with the Russians against Americas best interests. #AMJoy pic.twitter.com/Jr9XDrhp6f  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 17, 2018

Swalwell said on MSNBCs Morning Joy, Do you believe it now? Thats what I ask, and most Americans ask of the president. And if he doesnt, is he siding with Russia? Because that  we saw in that indictment that we have the clearest evidence that Russia meddled and the evidence is so strong that prosecutors believed they could prove it beyond a reasonable doubt, highest standard in the law. If the president is not to act, not to enforce sanctions, if hes not to put in place a whole of government approach to prevent them from doing it again we have to ask what do they have on him that would prevent him from acting in Americas best interest?

Eric Swalwells argument leads to treason

Treason is constitutionally defined as, Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The reason why Trump or members of his administration are not likely to be charged with treason is that it would have to be proven that Russia is an enemy of the United States. The US is not at war with Russians, so defining Russia as an enemy is difficult.

Swalwells point is that Trump is doing the bidding of the Russians and violating his oath of office by not acting in the best interests of the United States. Its an argument for impeachment, but depending on what can be proven, it can also be an argument for treason. If the evidence merits it, all that would stand between Trump and treason charges is Russia not being a declared enemy of the United States, but when a member of the House Intelligence Committee talks about a president not working in Americas best interests, it is a discussion that leads down the path to treason.

Talk about AM Joy, Rachel Maddow, and MSNBC by joining our group here.731 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

As the grim task of burying the victims begins, the NRA is already making their move to monetize the tragedy.

As vigils and funerals continue for the victims of the deadliest shooting at a U.S. high school, NRA board member and gun lobbyist Charles Cotton is working to pass a law that will fore guns into Texas schools and arm teachers.

.@NRA Board member Charles Cotton is trying capitalize on the school shooting tragedy in Parkland, Florida. The gun lobbyist says hell work to pass a law in 2019 that forces guns into Texas K-12 schools and arms trained volunteers, aka teachers. #txlege pic.twitter.com/FYGwXcokc2  Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) February 17, 2018

Cotton is as reprehensible as the organization he represents. Cotton is known for having elevated the second amendment above humanity on a regular basis.

There is no low for this man when it comes to greedily pushing for gun sales. He blames victims for being shot and killed, says he might need to put a bullet in a Democratic representatives child, whines about his way of life (aka, swinging a gun around to make up for you know what) being threatened after Sandy Hook, accuses people who want common sense gun regulation of being self-serving as he pushes to sell more guns for the gun manufacturing lobby that is the NRA and is generally hyperbolic and out of bounds in reaction to anyone suggesting common sense gun control like keeping terrorists from being able to buy guns legally.

Let this not be confused with people being righteously angry and perhaps hyperbolic in reaction to yet another slaughter of innocent children because our country worships at the altar of the NRAs money. These two things are not the same.

Here are just a few examples from the link:

On June 18, 2015, Cotton discussed a mass shooting that took place a day earlier at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina on his Texas CHL blog. Writing about South Carolina state Senator Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney, one of nine people killed in the shooting, Cotton said, [Senator Pinckney] voted against concealed-carry. Eight of his church members who might be alive if he had expressly allowed members to carry handguns in church are dead. Innocent people died because of his position on a political issue.

2015-06-18

In February 2015, Cotton took to an online forum for Texas concealed handgun permit holders to comment about a bill offered in the Texas House of Representatives by Rep. Alma Allen (D-131st) that would prohibit corporal punishment in schools. Im sick of this woman and her dont touch my kid regardless what he/she did or will do again attitude, wrote Cotton. Perhaps a good paddling in school may keep me from having to put a bullet in him later.

2015-02-08

Cotton returned from a winter 2013 meeting of the NRA Board of Directors and described the Obama administrations support for gun reform in the wake of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in the following terms: Americans are not facing merely a legislative battle, but a war on our very culture and way of life.

2008-12-15

Cotton posted to his Texas CHL Blog one day after a mass shooting at Northern Illinois University that left five people dead and 21 injured. Writing about comments that U.S. Senator Barack Obama had made about the shooting, Cotton observed, There it is again; subject to common-sense regulation. Senator Obama, you cannot hide from your record opposing Second Amendment rights and Americans are not going to be fooled by buzz phrases. Your motives are clear, your rhetoric is unconvincing and you owe it to the American public to abandon self-serving, politically expedient buzz phrases. Americans know you support laws that would deprive them of the right to own and use firearms for self-defense and sporting purposes, so be intellectually honest enough to admit it.

The NRA pushed for armed guards to be at schools, but this school had an armed guard, according to the Florida sheriff. This is another way of saying that the NRA has not good ideas; but self-serving, money-generating ideas.

Their ideas are killers. Their ideas are kid-killers. They are kid-killers.

Seventeen people were murdered during the mass shooting on Wednesday at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, and more than a dozen wounded. It is not self-serving to push for gun control; it is the only decent thing to do, and long past due.

The founders never promised gun manufacturers that they had a right to make money no matter how many people their greed killed. That is a big, disgusting, deadly lie.2.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

The blue wave is taking shape as the country assesses the damage from the Putin-backed White House to the assault weapons stalking our citizens as they do innocent things like attend concerts or school.

Close Bush family friend Al Hoffman, a prominent Republican donor who was a lead fund-raiser for George W. Bush and worked furiously to raise money for John McCain, announced that he refuses to give Republicans any more money until they support a ban on assault weapons to civilians, the New York Times reported on Saturday.

For how many years now have we been doing this  having these experiences of terrorism, mass killings  and how many years has it been that nothings been done? Its the end of the road for me, Hoffman said in an interview reported by Alexander Burns.

Hoffman made his announcement in an email, in which he wrote that he would not give money to Governor Rick Scott or any other Florida Republicans if they did not support new gun legislation.

I will not write another check unless they all support a ban on assault weapons, he wrote. Enough is enough!

How big of a deal is this?

Well, in 2016, the Washington Post declared in an analysis of federal campaign finance reports, Close to half of all super-PAC money comes from 50 donors. Mr. Hoffman, a former ambassador to Portugal, was mentioned in this April of 2016 report, although it was for the $1 million he gave to Bushs Right to Rise.

Mr. Hoffman is no Trump fan, writing in an USA Today editorial, While this will probably not endear me to many voters, I spent this election fundraising for former Florida governor Jeb Bush. I put up a considerable amount from my own wallet and raised several million more for his super PAC

Trump brags that he is without big donors. That may be true. But it also means he is without restraint. He is free to agitate and feed chaos. In business and politics alike, oversight is a good thing. It keeps the ship in calmer waters.

Mr. Hoffman closed with what is now an ironic turn of phrase, Political donations are like a firearm. Money can advance both justice and injustice. It depends on whose finger is on the trigger. Spotlighting how local district attorney elections have become focal point for criminal justice reform advocates | Main | Notable White House personnel development that should help the cause of criminal justice reform 

February 17, 2018

Should jail inmates face tougher sentencing for applauding charged cop killer as he was brought into jail?

A helpful reader alerted me to this interesting AP story, headlined "Jail inmates applaud career criminal accused of killing Chicago police commander, may face reprisals," that provides the basis for the question that is the title of this post. Here are the particulars:

Five Cook County Jail inmates who applauded as the man charged with the fatal shooting of a Chicago police commander was led by their cell could face reprisals for their actions, a jail official said Friday. Cara Smith, the chief policy officer for Sheriff Tom Dart, said a security video shows them clapping as suspect Shomari Legghette was being led past a crowded holding cell on Thursday after his first court appearance. The inmates were in the holding cell awaiting action on their cases. Legghette is charged with first-degree murder in Tuesday's shooting death of Commander Paul Bauer. She said the five inmates were transferred overnight from Chicago to a jail in southern Illinois, where it will be more difficult for family and friends to visit them while they are in custody. The jail also is forwarding to prosecutors the video and reports of the incident Thursday afternoon so they can use the information if the inmates are convicted, she said. "The conduct that those detainees engaged in was disgraceful... and speaks to their character," Smith said. "We feel it should be considered by prosecutors in connection with their sentencing." The video could be a "factor of aggravation" considered by a judge in sentencing. But Steve Greenberg, a prominent Chicago defense attorney, said there is no way the inmates should be penalized for what he said is a clear exercise of their right to free speech. "These inmates ... no matter how vile or disgusting you may think their expression is, they have an absolute right under the First Amendment to express those feelings and it is a violation of their rights as citizens to penalize them or consider that as aggravation," said Greenberg, who is not representing any of the men. The video was taken moments after the 44-year-old Legghette appeared in court on charges of first-degree murder of a peace officer, armed violence, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and possession of a controlled substance. Police say they wanted to question Legghette Tuesday when he took off running and Bauer pursued him on foot. He caught Legghette near the James R. Thompson Center, a government building, where the two struggled and Legghette fell down the stairs. Bauer either fell or ran after him to a landing where, Legghette, wearing a bullet proof vest and armed with a semi-automatic handgun, allegedly shot the 53-year-old Bauer six times.

February 17, 2018 at 01:28 PM | Permalink

Comments

The First Amendment argument seems, um, specious. It bears on character, and character is in the mix when it comes to sentencing. The more interesting issue---is the transfer to a Southern Illinois jail ok? Probably not.

The bigger question, it seems to me, is the propriety of this. At the end of the day, it seems to me that this looks super vindictive, and it reflects poorly on the criminal justice system. The best response, it seems to me, would be to harshly criticize the reaction and point out to the public that we are dealing with some seriously depraved individuals.

Doug? I am interested in your take.

Posted by: federalist | Feb 17, 2018 1:57:32 PM

Criminals being supportive of someone who allegedly killed a police officer isn't exactly surprising especially if they had some negative experience with him or some other officer though it obviously is distasteful. Crowded holding cells result in a lot of disgraceful speech though, including when people pass by. Trying to silence this sort of thing is unlike to be practicable & in the long run counterproductive.

Putting aside some 1A argument, what exactly does it add to sentencing of these defendants? How much more punishment do they want to give for this one act? What if they "only" cheered at the mess hall or something? Or, treated him as a hero in the cell block? Is this one demonstration that notable? The emotional reaction for a slain police officer's killer being supported is quite understandable. But, the rest holds.

Posted by: Joe | Feb 17, 2018 2:47:18 PM

Applause of a cop killer is protected political speech. The provision of punishment food, and the shutting of visitation is a proper security measure, for the governmental purpose of enhancing inmate safety. One purpose of rehabilitation and of re-entry is to change the thinking of inmates, to get them to fit in better. Teaching them ways of thinking are right or wrong is good rehabilitation practice.

The lawyer will punish prison officials who verbally criticize the prisoners, for example, by saying, "That is not a nice thing to do, applaud a cop killer." Fired for harassment.

What Doug nor even Fed will never say, and which is of much greater importance than this minor irritation. The murder of the police officer is 100% the fault of the lawyer profession. Instead of killing the career criminal at 14, they protected, privileged, and empowered him. Does any one think he has just one murder victim?

Posted by: David Behar | Feb 17, 2018 2:48:52 PM

The idea that cheering the man who murdered a police officer, or anyone for that matter, does not relate directly to that offenders readiness and ability to be reintegrated into society is absurd. It may be their first amendment right to say it, but so is a confession to their crime. Both can and should be used in the conviction and sentencing process.

I recall looking into this area in a gang case I handled where the defense used the first amendment argument to try to prevent me using some gang rap songs. The US Supreme has not applied the first amendment to prevent this sort of thing and I dont think they will. Indeed what someone is thinking when they act can be the difference between lawful and unlawful acts (think homicide, murder v. self-defense).

Posted by: David | Feb 17, 2018 3:16:32 PM

Look at Joe the apologist--nice.

Posted by: federalist | Feb 17, 2018 5:35:42 PM

Absolutely not. The inmates were not in a position of power or creating a riot etc.

Tell me that cops dont talk trash when they make arrests, right. So should these guys get a reduced sentence because cops talked trash ir hit their heads on car roof when they jammed them in the squad car. How about when they toss the slop food to them.

I have no clue what jail is like, but I know people when they are in control and arentnot held accountable.

Look at our wonderful FBI crew who sat on their thumbs and 17 school kids got shot.

Now the FBI needs to be charged and hiorse whipped, them tied out in the sun with honey on them. let the ants and bugs bite at them for 2 weeks.

Posted by: MidWestGuy | Feb 17, 2018 6:32:02 PM

"Look at Joe the apologist--nice."

Is this supportive after the first comment that speaks of how the system looks "super vindictive" by doing this?

Posted by: Joe | Feb 17, 2018 7:44:06 PM

The underlying issue here is the determinate nature of our sentencing system. Necessary, perhaps, because Government has not been able to figure out a way to determine who is ready to reintegrate and who is not.

My suspicion is that brain science has advanced far enough that, if we forget about legal restrictions for the moment, private industry could figure out a way to tell. Possibly something related to those science experiments where they show a person words or images and measure the brain's reaction.

So you give tell the business you need to release x% of thus-and-such a pool of people, give them a recidivism-related incentive (the less, the better for them), and you let them do their thing.

If it works, which I suspect it would, everyone is better off. Prisoners have an incentive to better themselves in order to become release-eligible. Society has less recidivism to deal with.

From a legal point of view, I don't know if it could be made to work without a Constitutional amendment. An interesting question for Doug to chew on.

Posted by: William Jockusch | Feb 17, 2018 8:53:28 PM

federalist: I think you and David are right on the law, as defendants can and regularly do get sentences enhanced all the time for "protected speech" under a variety of punishment theories. In Marvin Frankel's classic book that inspired modern sentencing reforms, he recounted an incident in which a judge bragged about giving a defendant an extra year of prison for complaining he had been convicted in a kangaroo court.

That said, the context for this speech would incline me to urge prison officials, prosecutors and judges to not seek to bring the hammer down for this behavior alone. Peer pressure is a real force in all sorts of settings, and surely even more so in a holding cell. That does not excuse poor behavior, but I certainly would be disinclined to make a profound conclusion about a defendant's character based on this ugly incident alone.

Posted by: Doug B. | Feb 17, 2018 9:29:52 PM

Doug: In Elonis, the husband said, there was a 1000 ways to kill his wife, on Facebook. The Supreme Court ruled that speech and not conduct, voided his conviction and prison sentence.

Nevertheless, is ordinary prison discipline appropriate? That is not a sentencing change. It is appropriate to teach correct thinking, if anyone believes in rehabilitation at all. (I do not.)

I know someone has been to prison immediately, when they repeatedly "Sir" me. Military veterans do not do that. As you would teach a prisoner to be respectful by calling everyone, Sir, it is appropriate to teach, being glad of any murder is wrong.

Posted by: David Behar | Feb 17, 2018 10:27:50 PM

David, Elonis turned on an interpretation of mens rea under the applicable federal statute. You do not believe in mens rea, so perhaps why you misunderstand the case.

Posted by: Doug B | Feb 18, 2018 12:01:21 AM

The mens rea and foreseeability of harm by a reasonable person in Elonis were bad. Mind reading. Future forecasting. A fictitious person who is really Jesus the Christ, in violation of the Establishment Clause. The verdict required a trifecta of lawyer fictitious doctrines. Any lawyer calling me insane has to address these beliefs first.

In a rare instance of good reality testing, the Supreme Court rejected the scienter requirement.

There was no actus reus. I believe in actus reus.

Posted by: David Behar | Feb 18, 2018 12:43:44 AM

Recall the line in Johnny Cash's great song, Folsom Prison Blues: "I shot a man in Reno/Just to see him die."

When he sang that song at a concert in Folsom Prison, the inmates cheered wildly at that line...

Just sharing...

Posted by: Michael Perlin | Feb 18, 2018 8:19:58 AM

That is a nice reference Michael Perlin though don't recall the "man" being a police officer killed in the course of duty. That provides a lot of the heat here.

Posted by: Joe | Feb 18, 2018 10:03:59 AM

No Joe.

Your reponse is off-putting.

Posted by: federalist | Feb 18, 2018 10:37:48 AM

It seems to me that everyone is assuming that "clapping" signifies approval. I'd like to see the video because "clapping" can refer to lots of different things. Does clapping signify approval at an opera or theater? Yes. In prison the import of "clapping" seems less than obvious to me.

Posted by: Selfie Man | Feb 18, 2018 10:38:33 AM

The lash should return to prison by legislation. All those applauding should get 10 of them.

Posted by: David Behar | Feb 18, 2018 12:32:45 PM

Michael Perlin,

According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folsom_Prison_Blues that is not accurate, the released live recording certainly has the wild cheering you describe but according to Wikipedia it was added in post-production, that the actual prisoners were quiet in order to not draw attention from the guards.

Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Feb 18, 2018 1:25:58 PM

federalist responds to a somewhat rhetorical question.

Anyway, again, note we got to the same basic result. I realize my pragmatic balancing of both sides in this context might be deemed "off-putting," especially since I'm generally at best that to federalist on a regular basis.

An "apology" in this context is a defense of one side. I did not defend the actions of the prisoners. I found them, as I found the reaction to the public policy officer here and prison, understandable.

I didn't find the latter particularly "super-vindictive," if misguided and if carried out by the prosecutors bad policy. On the level of potential bad actions by a prison, doing what to me is almost a form of venting when reacting to cheering an alleged cop-killer seems a venial sin at best.

Posted by: Joe | Feb 18, 2018 2:18:27 PM

(If the prosecution actually added a year or whatever for simply cheering, it would be bad, but again, don't really think it will come to that. As I asked upfront, wonder if the policy officer seriously has some number that is deemed a legitimate enhancer for the act of cheering. Don't think it was a carefully thought out comment though, like many made in such cases by all sides. At this early point, we are a long distance from that. We have what amounts to venting.)



Posted by: Joe | Feb 18, 2018 2:39:17 PM

I found the reaction of the prison understandable.

Cheering, a venial sin at best (meaning, at worst).

***********************

I can't take it anymore. The weasel is eating my brain.

Posted by: David Behar | Feb 18, 2018 4:24:11 PM

Post a comment1.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

After the Valentines Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida that resulted in the deaths of 17 people, most legislators in Congress went on social media to offer their condolences. Posts by Democrats usually emphasized the need for gun control reform. Posts by Republicans, on the other hand, offered nothing more useful than thoughts and prayers.

Among those GOP members who posted were eight of ten senators most heavily backed by the National Rifles Association (NRA). They all got slammed by people pointing out the hypocrisy of their willingness to take money from the association, consistently vote against reforming gun laws that would make it harder for civilians to get guns, and then proceeding to share grieving messages.

Heres what those senators had to say.

John McCain

Cindy & I are praying for all those impacted by the senseless shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in #Florida. Our hearts are with the victims, their families, all first responders & the entire Parkland community.  John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) February 15, 2018

According to The New York Times, McCain is the Senates top GOP recipient of the NRAs financial support, with $7,740,521 Last February, he was one of 52 Republican senators to vote in favor of overturning an Obama-era law which mandated that an estimated 75,000 people deemed too mentally unfit even have control of their personal finances must be added to the national background check database. The Obama law was aimed at making it more difficult for people with severe mental health issues to obtain firearms.

Thom Tillis

Tragic news out of Florida. Please keep the victims, their families, first responders and the community in your thoughts and prayers.  Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) February 14, 2018

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis has received $4,418,012 from the NRA, making him the fourth most-supported candidate in the Senate supported by the association. He also voted in favor of rolling back the Obama-era law that implemented extra checks for those with serious mental heal problems.

Cory Gardner

I am heartbroken for the students & family of those involved in this horrible tragedy & I'm praying for our first responders as they act swiftly to contain the situation. https://t.co/rCn5lFYhHP  Cory Gardner (@SenCoryGardner) February 14, 2018

Sen. Cory Gardner is the fifth most popular GOP senator within the NRA. Hes enjoyed $3,879,064 of their financial backing. Like the two above, he also voted to nullify the Obama gun control law last February.

Marco Rubio

Just spoke to Broward School Superintendent. Today is that terrible day you pray never comes.  Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 14, 2018

Rubio has gotten $3,303,455 from the NRA over the course of his career. Being that hes a senator from Florida where the shooting took place, for the past few days Rubio has been posting biblical quotes and lashing out at the media for calling him and other Republicans out on the hypocrisy of their social media posts offering thoughts and prayers coupled with their never-wavering efforts to block practically every gun control measure introduced.

Joni Ernst

Please join me in praying for the students, faculty, and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, as well as their loved ones. Let us also show our gratitude to the courageous first responders.  Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) February 14, 2018

Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst also tweeted a message calling for prayers for the shooting victims. The NRA has given her $3,124,273 in support, making her the associations seventh most-supported GOP senator.

Rob Portman

Heartbreaking news out of Florida. Jane and I send our prayers to the school, the community, and the victims of this tragedy.  Rob Portman (@senrobportman) February 14, 2018

Rob Portman is the NRAs eighth most-backed Republican in the Senate with a total of $3,061,941 throughout his career.

Todd Young

Heartbroken by the news in Florida. Sending prayers to the students, faculty, families, first responders, and everyone affected by this horrific tragedy.  Senator Todd Young (@SenToddYoung) February 15, 2018

Indiana Sen. Todd Young, whos gotten the help of $2,896,732 from the NRA and consistently votes against gun control measures, also took to Twitter to offer his prayers.

Bill Cassidy

Praying for the students, teachers and first responders affected by the tragic shooting in Florida. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.  Bill Cassidy (@BillCassidy) February 14, 2018

And finally, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, the NRAs 10th most-supported GOP senator and recipient of $2,861,047, felt the need to go post a tweet sharing his prayers and nothing more.

Students of the high school where the shooting was carried out have been calling out both the NRA and legislators like the ones above, to much national attention. It definitely feels like times up for these lawmakers failure to act on gun control.Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 73F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 73F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.Nearly 400 students from the Charleston area descended upon the Regal Charles Towne Square theater in North Charleston Saturday morning for a free showing of the latest Marvel installment, "Black Panther."

The Charleston Chronicle and the North Charleston Police Department joined forces to host the event, which allowed students in the third through 12th grades to attend free of charge. Contributions from a number of donors, including the Carlos Dunlap Foundation and Senator Marlon Kimpson, helped make the event possible.

Although "Black Panther" was just released this weekend, it's already become an overwhelming cultural mainstay. As the latest superhero film to hit theaters, it's projected to outsell every other movie in its opening weekend. The current record is held by Deadpool, which took in $152.2 million when it was released, but analysts estimate "Black Panther" will earn at least $172 million.

Charity groups, organizations and celebrities across the country have been partaking in the trend of buying out theaters to allow young people to see the movie for free.

"This is an awesome film, and we needed to show partnership between the community, corporate organizations and the police department," event coordinator Radia Heyward said. "We all can work together, we're all inclusive."

This is the third free screening hosted for the community in North Charleston, Heyward said. The organizers also joined forces to purchase tickets for 2014's "Selma" and 2016's "Hidden Figures." The event was promoted around the community and across social platforms like Facebook.

Ayinde Waring, another coordinator for the event, said "Black Panther" is particularly important for students and young people.

"It's allowing many of the kids in the African American community to finally see a superhero that looks like them on screen," he said. "Of course we've had 'Blade' before and now we have the new show 'Black Lightning,' but this is something on a whole other level. It's coming at a good time, I think, where people want to feel that sort of empowerment and just see something positive."

North Charleston police chief Reggie Burgess was also at the showing. He said these movie events allow the police to interact directly with the community in ways they might not otherwise be able to.

For the showing of "Selma," officers talked with students about how things were in the community during the period portrayed in the movie and how they had advanced now. The North Charleston police department also spoke after the "Black Panther" showing.

"The whole idea is to also show the kids real life superheroes  people who risk their lives every day," Waring said.

"Black Panther" has made cultural waves for its portrayal of a Black superhero surrounded by a predominantly Black cast. Its lead actor, Chadwick Boseman, is a native of South Carolina.

For India Drayton, a fifth-grader at Hanahan Middle School who attended the showing, the movie is still at its heart a thrilling action feature.

"I'm most excited for the fights," Drayton said.Like many countries, Singapore has adapted the use of new technologies through the years in various areas. In the past, motorists in Singapore had to use parking coupons to pay for the use of public car parks. Each coupon was for a duration of 30 to 60 minutes and motorists would have to gauge how much time they would need to park their car. The government subsequently introduced the use of prepaid cash cards to pay for the use of public car parks. Today, one is able to make use of Parking.Sg, a mobile application, to pay for the use of public car parks. In addition, you can use the same application to locate nearby car parks. Another example of the use of smart technology is in the area of urban management. In the past, Singaporeans had to call different government agencies to resolve a municipal issue. In 2015, the OneService mobile application was launched; through this application, Singaporeans are able to provide timely feedback on municipal issues so that our government agencies are able to respond in a more coordinated and timely fashion, which hopefully, will enhance the living environment for Singaporeans. I have been reading and following with interest Ho Chi Minh Citys Smart City initiatives and its desire to become a Smart City by 2020. I wish the City all the best in achieving its objectives, under the very capable leadership of the government.

Ms. Leow Siu Lin

Relations between Singapore and Vietnam have grown from strength to strength over the years. Our bilateral relationship is characterized by wide-ranging and substantive cooperation across many fronts and relations were elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2013. Bilaterally, relations are underpinned by close interactions and exchanges at the highest political levels. Last year, we were honored to welcome Vietnams President His Excellency Tran Dai Quang who made a State Visit to Singapore; Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich also visited Singapore last year. In July this year, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh visited Singapore and Madam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, President of the National Assembly and a delegation from the Vietnam Fatherland Front in Ho Chi Minh City made separate visits to Singapore in November. In March this year, my Prime Minister Mr. Lee Hsien Loong made an official visit to Vietnam; PM Lee attended the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Da Nang in November. Among the Ministers who visited Vietnam this year were Singapores Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Mr. Khaw Boon Wan and Minister for Trade, Mr Lim Hng Kiang who attended the 13th Connectivity Ministerial Meeting in Hanoi.

We will be celebrating 45 years of diplomatic relations with Vietnam next year. As part of our celebrations, we are planning several commemorative events which include an art competition and other events throughout the year. The art competition will involve students from primary and secondary schools and we will be organizing this with our friends from the HCMC Union of Friendship Organization. It will showcase the artistic talents of young Vietnamese and more importantly, it will hopefully educate students on the excellent bilateral relations that our two countries share and encourage them to continue to build on the close friendship that has been built over the years.

MINH THAO-Translated by Gia LynhADVERTISEMENT

Yoruba playwright and culture icon, Akinwunmi Isola, is dead.

The Yoruba literary scholar died Saturday in Ibadan , Oyo state.

Reacting to his death, Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, described the death of the renowned playwright and literary giant as a colossal loss not only to his immediate family but to Oyo state, the Yoruba race and the world at large.

The governor, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy, Yomi Layinka, on Saturday, said that he received the news of the death of the Ibadan-born culture ambassador and progenitor of Yoruba literature with disbelief and utter shock.

By his death, the governor said the state had lost a venerated son of the soil, who devoted his life to the promotion of Yoruba culture through his creative works and huge contributions to the global body of knowledge.

As a student at the University of Ibadan, Mr. Isola wrote Efunsetan Aniwura, a play that has remained a timeless piece in teaching lessons on abuse of power and retribution.

He also wrote the epic novel, O leku, widely regarded as one of the best literary works produced by artists of his generation.

Born in Ibadan in 1939, Mr. Ishola, a professor, attended Labode Methodist School and Wesley College in Ibadan, the capital of the old Western Region of Nigeria.

He proceeded to the University of Ibadan, earning a B.A. in French. He also earned an M.A. in Yoruba Literature from the University of Lagos in 1978 before commencing academic work as a lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University where he was appointed a professor in 1991.

Among his most popular plays are Efunsetan Aniwura, Madam Tinubu, Oleku, among others.

His works, Oleku, Koseegbe, Saworoide, Agogo Eewo and Campus Queen were adapted to film by foremost cineast, Tunde Kelani.

Prof Akinwumi Isola was an unabashed believer in the promotion of the Yoruba language, which he once demonstrated by being the first person to deliver a university convocation lecture in Yoruba at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, which was very unconventional.

But, in the words of William Shakespeare All the worlds a stage, And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts. Baba has played his parts and he has exited gloriously. A ku ara fe ra ku, the governor said.The Federal Government flagged off the Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) revitalisation programme January last year. Several months later, PREMIUM TIMES visited 12 of the facilities across Nasarawa State and found only two of them under renovation. In the others, it was mostly the same case of a few ill-trained staff marking time in unequipped, dilapidated facilities, with a few local people paying them any attention.

The states Commissioner of Health, Daniel Iya, referred all enquiries about the revitalization scheme in the state to the Executive Chairman of the Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency (NAPHDA), Muhammed Usman Adis. But the chairman was not prepared to speak to the press. So it was left to the reporter to make her own judgement.

Below is the account of what she found in seven of the PHCs in the state that she visited over the course of weeks.

PHC Giza

Giza is in Keana Local Government Area of the North-central Nigerian state. The mixed community of Alago, Gwandara and Tiv ethnic groups is about 30 kilometres drive from Kadarko, the headquarters of the LGA, through a dusty road. Apparently, someone once nursed a plan to tar the road but the project was long abandoned.

The poor state of the PHC in the community is typical of rural PHCs around Nigeria and the struggle of their staff to deliver medical care to patients. The centre, which was built 28 years earlier, is the only one in the community and is virtually unequipped and lacks basic amenities.

The centre is run on fund provided quarterly through the states Decentralized Facility Financing (DFF). I was transferred here a month ago, but we have a lot of issues, Micheal Ogaja, the medical doctor and head of the centre told PREMIUM TIMES almost unnecessarily.

Water supply was one of these issues. The attendants fetch water from neighbouring houses for use at the PHC. Although there is a borehole, it packed up a long time ago, and the doctor was not aware of any plan to fix it.

Giza has not had public electricity for over seven years, so an inverter was installed at the PHC for power supply.

We put on the inverter at night for a maximum of three hours daily or when there is need for it, like when a woman is in labour, Mr. Ogaja said.

The doctor said the facility attends to about seven patients daily, because patients prefer private clinic.

Aishatu Sani Okaku, the deputy chief attendant had been working at the centre since 1995. Speaking in Hausa, she said: We dont have enough qualified medical personnel, the facility is understaffed and we are overworked. As an attendant, I also work as a midwife, cleaner, errand person etc. And my salary is being paid in bits despite the whole stress, which is a problem for me and my family.

There is only one security personnel in the facility who resumes at 5pm and leaves very early. I have been working here for the past 23yrs but I have not been properly promoted. My promotion stopped while I was in Grade Level o6, then I was demoted to Grade Level o4 before we were asked to go back to school.

There was no patient in sight at the time of the visit by a Premium Times reporter. It seemed like the people of Giza were not too impressed with services being offered at the PHC.

In fact, the wife of the traditional ruler, called the Sangari of Giza, Umaru Elegu Abu, put to bed on the day of the visit, but in a PHC in another community. Even Mr. Abu could not trust the facility in his own community with the health of his family.

I am not satisfied with the healthcare centre, Yusuf Adamu Giza, popularly known as Okocha and an indigene of Giza said. Each time I am ill, the medical personnel administer the same medication, irrespective of the situation. The last time I was here, there was no anti-malaria drugs at all; I had to go to the neighbouring village to buy some.

A passer-by who would not disclose his identity interjected: This primary healthcare centre is a disgrace to this community and Nasarawa State.

He urged the government to renovate and equip the facility, and employ qualified medical personnel. The staff should also be trained at least quarterly and be informed of new discoveries and research, the interloper said before the reporter took her leave.

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PHC Akwanga East

This Centre looked like an abandoned facility for a while. It was 7:54 p.m and the centre was in darkness and appeared to have no human inside it, until a coarse voice came through the broken gate: Come inside now, why you stand for there? The man who owned the voice appeared to be in his early 60s and had on a semi-white Lab coat.

Mr. Daniel, a community health extension worker (CHEW), was the only medical personnel on duty. He was waiting for 9 p.m to hand over to the next person. He had been working at the facility as a CHEW since 2014, when it was then a small structure before it was renovated as a Millennium Development Goals, MDGs project.

The facility is connected to public power supply but there was no electricity.

When there is no light, this is what we use, Mr. Daniel said, pointing at an old blue plastic lantern sitting beside him.

But there were other things to worry about, he would soon explain. Water is also one of our major challenges here. We have a borehole but the pumping machine was stolen by some hoodlums and ever since we have been buying water from Mai ruwa (local water vendors).

A community health extension worker, Mr. Daniel at the PHC in Akwanga (Photo taken by Stephanie Adams)

He said the local government used to supply drugs to the facility until the Performance Based Financing (PBF) system was introduced in the state. He said the PBF sometimes sends money to officer in charge of to maintain the facility and pay the staff.

At the time of the visit by Premium Times, the drug store was empty. Its because there will be (a) series of transfer in two weeks, so the store was not restocked, Mr. Daniel said.

At 8:18 p.m., a woman in her mid-20s was rushed in on an Okada motorcycle taxi by her husband and sister. The patient was groaning and chanting a prayer in Arabic as Mr. Daniel laid her on a broken bench that served as a makeshift bed by the entrance of the facility.

The CHEW then left to search for the patients file from 2016 with the dim blue plastic lantern. In the 10 minutes before he returned, the patient kept groaning and praying in the eerie darkness.

Mr. Daniel later administered an injection on her under the dim light of the lantern.

PHC Koroduma Karu

The centre is located in the heart of Koroduma (One man village) in Karu local government area. As the reporter arrived the facility, she was greeted by a stench oozing from a detached structure of rusted zinc. To confirm her suspicion that it was part of the facility, the reporter asked to use its toilet. A young patient pointed towards the structure: Na him be that, Aunty.

The patient, Ladi Yohanna, who was lying on a wooden bench in front of the facility, said it was the only facility she could afford, though she lived several kilometres away. She was there for malaria treatment but had also been advised to take an HIV test.

Another patient, Rosemary Ambrose, was clinging to her one-year old child she said she had brought for malaria treatment. Mrs. Ambrose said patients were treated fairly at the centre, although the drugs were expensive and sometimes beyond what she could afford.

Jetuthan Dako, a Junior JCHEW, complained about the facility being regularly burgled because it is an open building with no security arrangement. You can see traces of feet and hand prints on the wall, he said, pointing at the main building. That is what happens all the time.

A pit latrine in PHC Koroduma Karu (Photo taken by Stephanie Adams)

The facility claimed to have 11 workers on the staff but the record indicated six medical staff and two non-medical staff. There were no qualified medical staff, only community health and extension workers.

We resume at 8 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. because of the security challenges and depending on how busy work gets, Mr. Dako said.

Water is also one of the major constraints we have in this facility. We do not have water supply, we buy from Mai ruwa. 

Mr. Dako said government stopped sending fund long ago, so the centre uses whatever it earned from daily treatment of patients to procure drugs and other basic medical needs.

Taking a tour round the facility, PREMIUM TIMES spotted an attendant serving as a nurse to a patient. Asked if it was part of her duty, she replied: I sabi do am, na him make.

PHC Gudi

The centre in Gudi was being renovated at the time Premium Times visited. It barely looked like an health centre.

Afinki Tanko, a Community Health worker, said the renovation had been going on for five months, so the centre relocated to the nearby building where the reporter met her.

The centre had only one ward and no bed, so patients laid on paper-like mattresses placed on wooden benches. The same room was being used for delivery and other activities.

The facility was said to have 36 workers but no documentation of the staff was available.

According to Mrs. Afiniki, the major challenge was lack of space as a result of the ongoing renovation. There was also no power supply, so lanterns and candles were being used by staff and patients.

A patient laying on a bed placed on a wooden bench in PHC Gudi

At the centre, a patient paid N150 for registration card, much higher than at other facilities visited where it cost as low as N50.

PHC Kofar Fada

This dilapidated facility, surprisingly, is located directly opposite the palace of the Emir of Keffi. Although there were two wards, the over 20 patients in the centre at the time of the visit were crowded in the female ward. The Officer in Charge, Hadiza Adamu, said they were all out-patients, or visiting as she put it, although she said the facility runs 24-hour services.

The major challenge, she said, was power supply to preserve drugs and treat patients. The officer said the centre had power supply for a maximum of five hours a day. But there was regular water supply.

At the time of visit, the labour room was bare, because the delivery bed was broken. Yet some pregnant women were waiting for delivery.

The front of the PHC in Kofar Fada Keffi with a generator used to power the PHC (Photo taken by Stephanie Adams)

The facility had no qualified medical personnel, doctors or nurses. Mrs. Adamu said there were two CHEWs, two junior CHEWs and six volunteers at the center.

PHC Wamba Kurmi

Abbas Sani, the Chairman of the Primary Health Care, said the facility was established in 1992 when Nasarawa State was part of Plateau State. Although it looked better than most of the others visited by Premium Times in the state, the centre also lacked basic amenities like the others.

A CHEW, Grace Magi, who was transferred to the facility two years ago, ran the place with three other employed staff and six volunteers. An old man of about 70 years was the sole security official.

The facility opens for 12 hours daily, because of lack of manpower. There were five beds in its two wards. At the time of visit, there were no syringe or drugs.

Mrs. Magi said the centre had of late not been receiving any form of grant or support from government, which made it difficult to run it efficiently.

A PHC in Wamba Kurmi (Photo taken by Stephanie Adams)

Maryam Saidu, a 19 year-old woman, who was eight months pregnant, was around for treatment at the time of the visit by Premium Times. I am being given proper medical attention and the medical personnel treat me like their daughter, she told the reporter. This has been my registered health centre since I found out I am pregnant. As soon as I put to bed, I intend to go back to school.

PHC Agwatashi

This is one of the three primary health care centres in Nasarawa State selected by the Federal Government for renovation under the PHCs revitalization scheme.

A plaque announced to the visitor that the centre was commissioned on November 9, 1988 by Aliyu A. Umar Kama, a Nigerian Army Lt. Col. Who at the time was the Military Governor of Plateau State. This means the facility was established nine years before Nasarawa State was created.

The Officer in Charge, Ayuba Adole, was reluctant to speak with our reporter. I will not entertain any form of interview from you except I am given an order to do so by the Director, he said brusquely.

When a call was put through by PREMIUM TIMES to the Director, Adamu Ladan, for permission to speak with the officer in charge, he gave the go ahead but warned him to be mindful of what he said.

The facility is not much better than the others visited, aside the fact that it is spacious, with a large number of patients from different locations.

Mr. Adole said: the facility does not lack basic amenities, it is fully-equipped because this facility is supported by the Decentralised Facility Financing (DFF). Most of the funding sent to this facility is by the DFF and we make judicious use of it, as you can see.

A plaque showing when the PHC in Agwatashi was commissioned (Photo taken by Stephanie Adams)

There was a functional borehole supplying water round the clock and a generator to supply electricity mostly at night whenever the Inverter was out of service.

There were two security men, six medical staff, six voluntary staff and one NYSC Corps member. Though Mr. Adole said the lack of trained medical personnel and vehicles for transportation of transferred patients were the major challenges of the centre.

A tour round the facility showed that it is functioning and well-equipped. It boasts of equipment such as a cold room, staff quarters and a well-stocked drug store. The situation of this centre is way different from those at other centres visited in Nasarawa State, indicating the world of difference that a speedy and faithful implementation of the PHCs rehabilitation scheme can make to primary health care delivery in Nigeria.With current estimated loss by Africa through illicit financial flows put at over $80 billion annually, Nigeria on Thursday agreed to collaborate with some global anti-graft groups to combat the menace in the continent.

Minister of Finance, Kemi, Adeosun, who said Nigeria accounted for a significant percentage of the loss, identified some groups the country agreed a high-level collaboration to include Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Bank Group.

On February 1, 2015, the high level panel on illicit financial flows from Africa chaired by former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, launched its final report at the United Nations Conference Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In the report, the panel said Africa lost in excess of $50bn annually between 2000 and 2008, with the level of illicit financial outflows from the continent in excess of the official development assistance to the continent of about $46.1billion in 2012.

Since then, current estimates put the figure at about $80 billion, with the bulk coming from Nigeria.

Addressing the Platform for Collaboration on Tax, PCT conference at the United Nations in New York, Mrs. Adeosun identified IFFs as a problem that urgently required global focus and actions if significant developmental progress was to be realized in Nigeria and other developing countries.

The IFFs are driven by the desire to hide illicit wealth, hide the proceeds away from the public eye and law enforcement agencies and conceal the ways and means illicit wealth was created, it makes it difficult to trace the associated money flow, Mrs. Adeosun said.

Developing countries, including Nigeria, collect significantly lower levels of tax, as a percentage of gross domestic product, GDP, than wealthier States. This is partly because the income and wealth being created, is taken out of the country illegally, without being taxed, she added.

The Minister said the Nigerian government had engaged an international Asset Tracing and Investigation Agency (Kroll), to trace and track illicit flows and assets, apart from signing the Multilateral Competent Authority on Common Reporting Standards, to allow for exchange of financial account information.

Besides, she said the country also adopted the Common Reporting Standards and the Addis Tax initiative aimed at improving the fairness, transparency, efficiency and effectiveness of the tax system.

By 2019, she said Nigeria would be expected to carry out the first exchange of information as soon as the domestic legal framework was completed.

As part of the open government partnership, Mrs. Adeosun said Nigeria included in its national action plan a commitment to establish a public register of beneficial owners.

To this end, the Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigerias company registry, was pursuing relevant amendments to the Companies and Allied Matters Act to comply with global standards.

As part of measures to tackle IFFs, Mrs. Adeosun called for the tightening of Nigerias tax codes and laws to encourage tax avoidance as well as strengthen the tax system to make it more efficient.

Beneficial ownership registers, she pointed out, should be established to allow authorities track money in financial investigations involving suspect accounts/assets held by corporate vehicles.

She called for the elimination of safe havens that provide incentives for transfer of stolen assets and illicit financial flows abroad as well as development of a supportive, efficient and speedy process for returning assets to originating countries.

On Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme, VAIDS introduced in Nigeria in June 2017, she said it was to grant tax amnesty to increase tax payer base, raise revenue and regularise the tax status of defaulting tax payers.

Meanwhile, the Head of OECD Global Forum on Exchange of Information, Monica Bhatia, said the automatic information sharing had been adopted as part of proactive steps to curtail the IFFs from the African continent to developed countries..

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The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) specifically says that we must significantly reduce illicit financial flows by the year 2030. A lot of efforts are ongoing to achieve this and support developing countries to end the IFFs, Mr. Bhatia said.

The PCT Conference is a collaborative initiative of the OECD, World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund, IMF and United Nations.

The theme of the conference was Taxation and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It focused on the opportunities and challenges for taxation and its role in supporting the SDGs.Despite widespread condemnation of the Nigerian government for arresting and detaining some Cameroonian separatists, they were on January 26 deported to Cameroon where they would be tried as terrorists.

About 12 members of Southern Cameroon proposing an independent state of Ambazonia were arrested by Nigerian security officials after they arrived Nera hotel in Abuja on January 5 for a scheduled meeting.

The separatists led by Julius Tabe who had proclaimed himself President of Ambazonia last October, were reportedly in Nigeria to discuss the influx of thousands of Cameroonian asylum seekers to Nigeria following protests in October. The protests resulted in the deaths of over 20 civilians in the hands of the central African countrys security forces.

Amnesty International had warned against the expulsion of the separatists, noting that handing them over to the Cameroonian government would result in their prosecution in a military court, without recourse to certain fundamental rights of the prosecuted persons.

If they are extradited to Cameroon, they risk an unfair trial before a military court and the deeply disturbing possibility of torture. Efforts to tackle the Anglophone crisis should always respect the law, and avoid restrictions on freedom of expression, said Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.

The Nigerian government has kept mum on the expulsion and refused to speak about it. Reliable intelligence sources told PREMIUM TIMES the deportation was handled by the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, who has no spokesperson and has kept mum on the incident.

Before the deportation of the separatists, another group of over 30 detained members of the pro-Southern Cameroonian National Council, SCNC, had earlier been deported by the Nigerian government from Taraba State.

The group of 47 terrorists, among them Mr. Ayuk Tabe, has for some hours been in the hands of Cameroonian justice, before which they will answer for their crimes, Cameroonian Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary said in a statement reported by Reuters after they were deported.

The Cameroonian government, led by sit-tight leader, Paul Biya, views all separatists as terrorists, even if they pursue non-violent means.

RIGHTS VIOLATIONS?

Before they were deported, a fundamental rights suit was filed in Nigeria by the lawyer representing the separatists, Femi Falana.

Mr. Falana described their deportation as contemptuous of the suit pending at the Federal High Court.

Femi Falana writes on the lessons of COVID-19 pandemice for our shared humanity [Photo credits: Newsbreakers]

He condemned the Nigerian government for its decision to extradite the freedom fighters, describing it as a negation of Nigerias long standing support of other African freedom fighters.

Following an interview with Mr. Falana by PREMIUM TIMES, the lawyer, who has written the Nigerian government for explanation over some missing members of the movement sent an email where he listed the rights of the people allegedly abused by the Nigerian government.

Under the National Security Agencies Act, (CAP N74) laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004 and the immigration act 2015, the NSA is not competent to arrest, detain and deport any alien or immigrant from Nigeria to any other country.

By the virtue of section (1) of the National Commission for the Refugees etc Act, (CAP N21) laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004, the government of Nigeria has prohibited the expulsion, extradition or deportation of any person who is a refugee to the frontiers of any territory where(a) his life or freedom will be threatened on the account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular group or political opinion; or (b) his life, physical integrity or liberty could be threatened on account of external aggression, occupation, foreign domination or events seriously disrupting public order in any part of the whole of that territory.

The human rights of any person in Africa to enter Nigeria, reside, seek and obtain asylum has been guaranteed by article 12 (3) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and enforcement) Acts (CAP 10) laws of the federation of Nigeria which provides that, Every individual shall have the right when prosecuted to seek and obtain asylum in other countries in accordance with the laws of those countries and international conventions.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a signatory to the 1951 UN convention relating to the status of refugees and the 1969 Organisation of African Unity convention on refugees and the African Charter on human and Peoples Rights which have guaranteed the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Nigeria, he said.

Also speaking about the action of the Nigerian government, another Nigerian lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, questioned the governments action.

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Nigeria is not an agent of Cameroon, Nigeria is a sovereign countryeven if there were extradition treaties.

Before this democratic dispensation, Nigeria had a growling fight with the military. Political exiles from Nigeria had reasons to travel to West African countries, including Bene Republic and South Africa to hold meetings on how to overthrow legitimately without staging a coup, using citizens power and pressure.

Jiti Ogunye (Photo Credit: Lawyard)

Personally speaking, I was involved. We had meetings in Ghana, Benin Republic, and elsewhere. We were not harassed in any of those countries. We were not told that the separatists who came into Nigeria were armed.

Nigeria should be a haven for democracy loving people in Africa. We have done that in the 70s with South Africa and other countries. Nigeria even protected people who were armed. People who were waging an armed struggle, Mr. Ogunye said.

HOW THE AGITATION BEGAN

The crisis in Cameroon became intense after the latest declaration of independence by members of Southern Cameroon in October 2017. The crisis, however, dates back to over a century ago during the World War I, in 1916.

French and British forces connived to take over the control of the German Kamerun as it was formally called. The two countries defeated Germany in the war and were given control of the territory of German Kamerun with France getting a larger percentage of the territory: over 167,000 square miles ceded to that country.

Britain, on the other hand gained control of two among ten regions in the country, namely the North-western region with 17,500 square miles of land and South-western region which had 16, 580 square miles of Territory.

Both colonial masters governed their colonies separately, with the French controlled region known as French Cameroun while the territory under the control of Britain was called British Southern Cameroon and British northern Cameroon, respectively.

Both colonies remained like that until the end of the World War Two when calls for independence increased in Africa.

While the deliberations for independence were ongoing, British authorities believed that their colony lacked sufficient economic powers to become an independent country. So despite the provisions of the United Nations charter that none self-governing territories should be allowed to enhance the process of their independence through freely expressed views of the colonies, the British rejected the clamour of their colony who wanted to be made an independent country.

The British plebiscite of 1961 provided two options for the Cameroonian people under its colonial rule:

Do you wish to achieve independence by joining the independent Federation of Nigeria?

Do you wish to achieve independence by joining the independent Republic of Cameroun?

National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno

There was no third option for them on whether they wanted to be an independent country.

After the unification of the British Southern Cameroon with the Republic of Cameroon, the Foumban conference, held from July 17 to 21, 1961 constituted yet another cause of conflict for the people of Cameroon.

The Foumban conference was aimed at providing a single constitution for the British Southern Cameroon and the French Republic of Cameroun.

As part of contributions for that constitution, the British Southern Cameroon proposed a non-centralised federal system of government which clearly distinguished between the powers of the central and state government.

The French Republic of Cameroun led by its President, Amadou Ahidjo, on its part presented a draft constitution initially intended to be merged into a new constitution suggested by the British Southern Cameroonians.

At the end of conference however, rather than create the proposed new constitution, the suggestions made by the British Southern Cameroon were reflected as mere options to be considered in further re-evaluation of the constitution presented by Mr. Ahidjo.

Members of that conference were reportedly given the impression that the constitution would undergo further re-evaluation in due time.

Later in August 1961, the United Republic of Cameroon, as it was then called agreed to accept the constitution subject to its ratification by the house of assembly of the two states.

The South-west house of assembly however never ratified that constitution.

Nonetheless, on October 1 that year, the Federal Republic of Cameroon was created.

On May 6, 1972, Mr. Ahidjo announced his resolve to convert the Federal Republic into a unitary state. And in 1984, Mr. Ahidjos successor, Paul Biya, returned the name of the country to what it was before the unification in 1961: LA Republique Du Cameroun.

In 1996, further changes in the constitution were effected to ensure a removal of sections that suggested the existence of the British Southern Cameroon as a separate region before independence.

OUR GROUSE

Speaking during a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the communications secretary for the Southern Cameroonians. Chris Anu, highlighted some of the issues that gave rise to the nationalist movement.

According to the Mr. Anu, the issues are far beyond what should be compared to marginalisation.

I will not call it marginalisation, I will call it assimilation and annihilation. Another word for annihilation is banishment. When we talk about annihilation; what we mean is this: we have no union treaty with French Cameroon. Many people do not know this.

Also lets even assume that the treaty exists, the terms of the union was supposed to have Federal Republic of Cameroon as the name of the country, not the Republic of Cameroon. The Republic of Cameroon is the name of French Cameroon in 1960. So when I say annihilation; you will recall that they changed from Federal Republic of Cameroon to Republic of Cameroon.

Also when we joined the French Cameroon in 1961, the Cameroon flag at that union had two stars, one that stood for French Cameroon and the other that stood for English Cameroon, representing two distinct states. But today nobody knows that, because they took away the star that represents Southern Cameroon. That is where assimilation comes.

At that union, Cameroon was supposed to be a bilingual country. The English man went as far as possible to speak French. The French people never did that. Today when you mention Cameroon, everybody thinks, it is a French country.

At that union also, the Southern Cameroon had a Prime Minister and a National Assembly. We were like two sovereign states. The prime minister was equal to the other leader, who was French speaking. We had an educational system, we had the common law system, just like you have in Nigeria; we had the police force; we also had a system where mayors controlled our towns, we had our own generated electric supply. We had everything. Today, as we speak, none of these institutions exists.

Cameroon President, Paul Biya

What they do is that they send French speaking teachers, people who cannot speak English to teach in French in our schools. You will recall that this crisis began with the teachers, lawyers saying, among others, saying; if you do not take back French magistrates and French teachers from our schools and courts we are not going back to work.

Today the economy is basically French controlled, but the irony of it is that over 80 per cent of the GDP of Cameroon is funded with income from English Cameroon. Let me give you an example: Cameroon has 48 mineral walls, 32 of those are from English Cameroon.

In Cameroon today, the second biggest employer of labour is a corporation that is in Southern Cameroon. Thats the CDC, Cameroon Development Corporation. All the timber exported out of Cameroon comes from the Southern Cameroon.

But when it comes to the distribution of the national investment budget, (President) Paul Biyas region who are not up 1 million people get more than double the amount given to the people of Southern Cameroon who are more than triple the population of Biyas region, Mr. Anu said.ADVERTISEMENT

The controversy that trailed the passage of the amendment to the electoral act climaxed at the senate this week.

While some senators voted in concurrence with the House of Representatives, others openly showed their dissent to the new order proposed for the 2019 elections.

Separately, Nigerians were treated to an unusual comic relief when a senator stormed the headquarters of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, to deliver a rare gift.

Below are some of the major highlights of the senate this week:

Tuesday

 While narrating an issue relating to security in Zamfara state, Kabir Marafa, accused Senate President, Bukola Saraki, of preventing members from expressing themselves at the Nigerian senate.

 In reaction to the viral news that a snake swallowed N36 million, Shehu Sani, stormed JAMB headquarters with anti-snake venom and snake charmers to help the board deal a permanent blow on snakes.

 In reaction to a suit filed against him by the federal government, Dino Melaye, accused the Nigerian police of colluding with the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to arraign him on charges of misinformation.

Wednesday

 Amidst rowdiness and dissenting voices, the Senate passed the conference committee report on amendment to the Electoral Act.

 Ten senators, all from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, rejected amendment to section 25 of the electoral act which re-arranged the order of the 2019 elections.

 The senate issued a one-week ultimatum to 63 government agencies who are yet to submit details of their 2018 budget proposals.

 The Senate confirmed seven of the nine Resident Electoral Commissioner nominees sent for approval by President Muhammadu Buhari. Of the remaining two, one failed to show up for screening, while one is still under consideration.

Thursday

 The Senate suspended its Thursdays sitting after fire broke out in a section of the National Assembly building.ADVERTISEMENT

Corrupt practices in states, exploitation of the vulnerable and other vices are hindering the smooth running of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), the Federal Government has said.

Maryam Uwais, the special adviser to the president on social investment programme, said this while giving an update on the programme to journalists in Abuja.

She identified the challenges faced while executing the programme to include corrupt practices in the states where officials allegedly engage in shortchanging, racketeering and harassment of beneficiaries.

Similarly, she said the due to poor levels of literacy, the vulnerable ones are often exploited just as monitoring and communication in terms of insufficient awareness and publicity pose a challenge.

To overcome the obstacles, she hinted that NSIPs is collaborating with various organisations within and outside the government to overcome the challenges in the areas of monitoring and Security, sensitization, as well as communication.

The NSIPs also requires State Government support in the areas of micro loan programmes, support in fraud detection and prevention by local officials, mobilisation and enhancement of generation of BVN and the opening of accounts.

Ms. Uwais put the number of total direct beneficiaries from all the SIP Programme at 7,812,201, adding that the secondary beneficiaries, who are mainly farmers and cooks, are 1,500,000.

She also explained that the total actual spending in 2016 and 2017 is 15.58 percent of the budget.

She recommended states to fast track commencement of Home Grown School Feeding programme, adding that they re-train and re-screen cooks, strengthen monitoring and evaluation challenges.

The Federal Government of Nigeria established the National Social Investments Programmes (NSIP) in 2016, to tackle poverty and hunger across the country.

The suite of programmes under the NSIP focuses on ensuring a more equitable distribution of resources to vulnerable populations, including children, youth and women.ADVERTISEMENT

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the killing of 41 Nigerians in Zamfara State and urged Nigerians to join forces in praying for the nation.

The party made the condemnation in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan on Saturday.

Mr. Ologbondiyan urged the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled Federal Government to take decisive steps to end the incessant killings in various parts of the country.

He said it was heartbreaking that Nigerians were daily slaughtered by marauders.

In the last two months, hundreds of helpless citizens have been murdered by bandits in various parts of the country.

Hardly have tears dried over the gruesome killings in Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Nasarawa and other states when marauders hit Zamfara, a state known for peace, killing 41 citizens in cold blood.

Nigerians now live defenceless and in perpetual fear; our people are fast losing confidence in our institutions.

As we speak, citizens are now sourcing their own security as APC-controlled Federal Government daily manifest crass indifference to the protection of our people, Mr. Ologbondiyan alleged.

He said that the PDP stood with all citizens across the nation and share in their pains at this critical time.

The party spokesman called on all Nigerians, irrespective of their religion, ethnicity and political affiliation, as well as all people of goodwill across the world, to join forces in praying for the nation.

He also urged Nigerians to support the government and one another at what he described as critical time of the nation.

We call on the APC-controlled Federal Government to seek help from Nigerians who can assist in our current situation.

Our people have witnessed enough bloodletting and we must collectively find an end to the carnage.

The PDP commiserates with the families of those killed in Zamfara and other states and pray God to grant us peace and all round protection in our country, Mr. Ologbondiyan said.

(NAN)ADVERTISEMENT

The Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has condemned the habit of state governors visiting President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Villa while their states are in crisis.

The lawmaker wants President Buhari to ban the governors from embarking on such visits.

Mr. Sani made this known in a statement on Saturday.

His comments came as some state governors are being criticised for visiting Aso Villa even in the midst of violent crisis rocking their states.

Governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari, is currently facing such criticism for his response to the recent killings in his state. He stayed back in Abuja days after the attacks.

Mr. Sani said the new political culture of governors visiting the villa, while their states are in crisis, is political and should be banned.

The new sycophantic political culture of Governors leaving their duty posts, in their respective states, almost on a daily basis to climb the Rock of Aso in order to pledge loyalty, leave their citizens in the hands of moribund and powerless deputy governors and at the mercy of well-armed killers.

President Buhari must ban state Governors from the daily ritual of visiting the villa while their homes burn, he said.

Mr. Sani also lashed at northern leaders for their cowardice in the face of the crisis.

The silence and cowardice of the Northern political elites to the mass killings going on in the North is out of fear that they can be labelled or blackmailed as being anti Government, he said.

He bemoaned the current security situation in the country, where lives are no longer cherished.

We have become a nation in perpetual mourning and ceaseless funeral mass. In Nigeria today, blood is becoming cheaper than water and petrol. The most tragic of all tragedies is when tragedy becomes a routine in our daily lives.ADVERTISEMENT

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has said that three additional mobile police units would be deployed to Zamfara to beef up security.

Mr. Idris made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen on Saturday in Gusau after a condolence visit over Thursdays attack in Birane village, Zurmi Local Government area in which over 40 people died.

The IGP also said the police had set up a committee to investigate the incident and suggest measures to end such attacks.

Mr. Idris added that the Federal Government had approved the recruitment of 6,000 policemen in 2018, to further strengthen security in the country

We believe the recruitment would assist in the government efforts to address security challenges facing the country.

We are here to commiserate with Zamfara State Government, Zurmi Emirate Council over this incident.

We received complaints of shortage of personnel from the stakeholders; we are going to deploy additional three units of police mobile to the state to strengthen the state police command in tackling security challenges.

We are going to set up a committee to investigate the incident aimed at avoiding the re-occurrence of the menace in the future; the committee is coming to this state next Monday Insha Allah.

He commended the state government for its support to the police and urged stakeholders to assist all security agencies with relevant information to tackle the security challenges bedevilling the state.

The IGP was received by the state Deputy Governor, Ibrahim Wakkala at Government House, Gusau.

He had earlier paid similar visit to Emir of Zurmi to commiserate with the families and relatives of the deceased. (NAN)ADVERTISEMENT

Governor Abdulaziz Yari has claimed that his administration gave security agencies a 24 hour head-start to alert them on the impending invasion of communities in Zamfara by bandits.

The attacks resulted in the death of 39 persons in Zurmi local government area of the state on Wednesday night, the government said.

Mr. Yari has been criticised for his response to the killings, after staying back in Abuja days after the attacks.

Speaking Friday evening when he led five Northern Governors on a sympathy visit to the palace of the Emir of Zurmi, Mr. Yari said security agencies in the area have failed to tackle the problem of cross border banditry and terrorism bedeviling communities in the area.

Whatever humanly possible that needed to be done, we as a government have done to mitigate this disaster. But it does appear that security agencies are failing in their responsibilities. I feel let down facing the people of this state whenever I remember the promise I made to them that when they elect President Muhammadu Buhari into power, these killings will end. But unfortunately, things are now getting worse.

As such, I urge you security agencies to up the ante so as not to lose this war. If you let us take issues on our hands, anarchy will reign which is not what we hope.

On this particular incidence, we had intelligence reports 24 hours before it happened that the bandits were grouping and ready to attack. I alerted the security agencies but unfortunately they sent inadequate personnel to confront these people from where they came from, he said.

In his remarks, the Emir of Zurmi, Atiku Abubakar, said if not for the bravery of vigilante groups who confronted the bandits, the casualty figures would have been higher.

Giving insight into what really happened, the Emir alleged that 600 bandits made attempts to invade Zurmi but were repelled by vigilante.

They came on 200 motorcycles with three persons on each bike. Each of them was well-armed. We stationed 500 vigilante members who stood their ground and gallantly fought the bandits. Unfortunately, these same bandits turned their anger on travelers and other villagers on their way here, that was why we had 39 people killed.

Thes terrorists are known to us. Their major hide-out is in a village called Kagara, very close to Bafarawa in Sokoto State, and a few kilometers from Shinkafi in Zamfara State. But despite several appeal to security agencies to storm the area, our appeals have failed.

I need to state here that majority of weapons used by bad people in this country are brought in from this area. I had reason to personally inform Zamfara State Director of SSS sometimes back of a large cache of weapons being brought into the country but no concrete action was taken until the containers were moved away.

I am happy that other Northern Governors are here because we believe the solution to this problem lies in cooperation among all of you. I dont need to repeat here that we need a full battalion of soldiers here and in areas surrounding Maru, Maradun, Shinkafi and Zurmi LGAs, the Emir said.

In his remarks, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno appealed to the people not to lose patience. He sympathised with the victims and prayed to God to grant the deceased eternal rest.

In addition to Messrs. Shettima and Yari, other Governors on the entourage were Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Umar Tanko Al-Makura of Nassarawa state.ADVERTISEMENT

President Muhammadu Buhari is billed to meet Ahmed Tinubu and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress at his country home in Daura, Katsina state Saturday, a day after he received the partys governors.

The governors said they went to commiserate with the president over the loss of family members.

Mr. Tinubu and Bisi Akande had on February 13 met with Mr. Buhari behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Mr. Akande, who spoke after the Tuesday meeting with the president, denied that they met with the president over the 2019 presidential election, adding that they came to condole the president.

Mr. Tinubu, who also spoke to journalists after the meeting, expressed his commitment towards ensuring electoral victory for all APC candidates in the forthcoming 2019 general election.

He also commended Mr. Buhari for appointing him to lead the consultation, reconciliation and confidence building efforts toward improving cohesion within the APC.

Saturdays meeting is expected to discuss the 2019 election which the president is expected to run.

Look, in the next few weeks and months the president will continue to receive different groups and organisations whose sole aim is to put much pressure on him to declare his intention for re-election in 2019, NAN quoted a source as saying.

So, those Nigerians calling on him to seek reelection would continue to seek audience with the president with hope that he will finally agree with them to sustain continuity in APC-led administration, come 2019, the source said.(NAN)ADVERTISEMENT

The Nigerian Army on Friday dismissed as misleading reports indicating that the Boko Haram factional leader, Abubakar Shekau, escaped to Cameroon.

Sani Usman, a brigadier general and the director, Army Public Relations, said in a statement that the army was not aware of the whereabouts of the fugitive Boko Haram leader.

Mr. Sani said the army was in a manhunt for Mr. Shekau, adding that N3 million was offered as reward for any credible information that would lead to his arrest.

The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a news story on some news medium, alleging that the wanted factional terrorists group leader, Abubakar Shekau, is in Kolofata, Republic of Cameroun.

The report alleged that a top Boko Haram commander; Abdullahi Bello, alias Abu Zainab, who was captured by the Nigerian Army on February 14, disclosed that Shekau escaped to Cameroun.

This is not true; the Nigerian Army did not arrest such person, neither do we have such suspect in our custody.

Contrary to the allegations; the Nigerian Army is not aware of the whereabouts of Abubakar Shekau, hence the reward of the sum of N3 million for any credible information on his whereabouts.

Mr. Sani called on reporters to cross check their facts with the military authorities before publication.

(NAN)ADVERTISEMENT

A former presidential aide from Adamawa State on Saturday officially decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

Ahmed Gulak, who was political adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, and later tried unsuccessfully to become PDPs national chairman, said he was leading 42,000 people to the ruling APC.

He said they were forced to leave PDP by impunity and lack of internal democracy.

Members of the PDP numbering 42,000 across the 21 local government areas including party executives have today wished to formally dump PDP and join APC officially.

With this development, we formally bury PDP in Adamawa state, he said.

Though we are not like others, who kept decamping when their dreams and ambitions were not met.

Constitutionally we have the right to leave and join any other party. Former President Obasanjo had earlier left PDP and tore his party membership card.

So also former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; it could be recalled had first left PDP and joined AC that later metamorphosed to ACN. From ACN, Atiku returned back to PDP that he first left and before you know the former vice president again cross-carpeted to APC and now left to PDP again.

So everyone has right to change if they feel disenchanted and we have made consultations with our people who asked us to move to APC.

He said the governments degrading of Boko Haram terrorists was enough to justify the defection.

Salihu Mustapha, APC North-East chairman, said the decamping was a result of the good work of the APC administration.

All federal roads have been awarded for rehabilitation while some have reached concluding state of bidding for awarding by federal government, said he.

Reacting, the state PDP chairman of the party, Tahir Shehu, said their defection would be a big relief to the PDP, saying, most of them were lured by Governor Jibrilla Bindow for juicy position while others have skeleton in their cupboards, and they were afraid of EFCCs hammer.ADVERTISEMENT

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Friday weighed in on the debates about the first Nigerian-built unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

President Muhammadu Buhari sparked the debates when he claimed on Twitter Thursday night that he had just commissioned the first-ever UAV (or drone) built by the NAF engineers.

Today in Kaduna I attended the induction of @NigAirForces TSAIGUMI, Nigerias first indigenously-developed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). It is most gratifying that the Air Force has gone a step further than simply acquiring UAVs, to locally developing them, Mr. Buhari wrote.

But controversies soon followed the tweet when the presidents critics exhumed news reports from 2013 which showed that former President Goodluck Jonathan had commissioned a drone built by the Nigerian Air Force at the same facility in Kaduna.

PREMIUM TIMES published the historic achievement by the NAF on December 17, 2013 with the headline: Jonathan launches first Nigerianbuilt drone.

About three hours after Mr. Buharis claim was debunked with excoriating comments from Twitter users, the presidency used some of its numerous Twitter accounts to offer clarification.

Tsaigumi, the UAV inducted into service today is the first OPERATIONAL indigenous UAV developed by @NigAirForce. The earlier-produced Amebo and Gulma were UAV prototypes that did not go into operation. Details here:, one of such tweets, which was posted using @NGRPresident, said. Other presidency handles were also deployed to explain the presidents claim without necessarily acknowledging error.

On Friday night, Olatunko Adesanyo, a spokesperson for the NAF, corroborated the presidencys clarification that the drone launched by Mr. Buhari was the first to be operational, but added that it was not the first to be built by its engineers.

To set the records straight, while Gulma UAV is indeed the first indigenous UAV, the newly inducted Tsaigumi UAV is the first indigenous operational UAV, Mr. Adesanya, an air vice-marshal, said. Both UAV types are the outcomes of research and development efforts of a team of NAF Aerospace engineers.

NAFs foray into UAV development commenced in 2008, when its students officers who were undergoing postgraduates studies in aerospace engineering programmes at Cranfield University, UK, chose UAV development as their research project, he added.

It had neither autopilot nor intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability, he said.

The spokesperson said that Gulma that Mr. Jonathan commissioned was an experimental UAV developed in 2013 as a technological demonstrator used to gather performance data on drones systems. It was the first Nigerian-built drone with ISR capabilities, but it was not deployed for operations due to some limitations.

But the Tsaigumi that Mr. Buhari commissioned on Thursday was developed by the NAFs research and development team under the supervision of the current Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar. It would be used in the war against insurgency in the Northeast and other areas where the military is currently carrying out security efforts.

When the Gulma was launched, Alex Badeh, then Chief of Air Staff, said that the drone was designed to meet vast expectations and needs. Mr. Badeh said that the Gulma could be employed by the armed forces and security agencies for the protection of the country.

Mr. Adesanya said the Gulma was limited to flying 5,000 feet in a 20-kilometre radius while the Tsaigumi could fly up to 15,000 feet in a 100-kilometre radius. The Gulma flew for about 300 hours and some of the data collected were used to develop Tsaigumi, which also has a more advanced camera for better surveillance and reconnaissance results.

Mr. Adesanya also disclosed that the NAF is currently working on another UAV named Ichoku which would be the first indigenous unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). The drone would be equipped with missile-firing capabilities.The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun, on Saturday called on Nigerians to shun those casting aspersions on President Muhammadu Buharis administration and the party.

Mr. Oyegun made the call at a rally to welcome the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members who defected to the APC on Saturday in Lokoja.

The national chairman said the president was God-sent to heal the wounds of Nigeria, adding that his administration has made tremendous improvement in the socio-economic and political development of the country.

He said the administration has diversified the Nigerian economy from being oil-dependent to being an agriculture-based.

He said there was an ongoing expansion of the rail network and power generation had stabilised at 7,000 Megawatts from 3,000 megawatts at the inception of the administration.

That claim is not true. Power minister, Babatunde Fashola, said on Friday Nigeria had the capacity to generate 7,000 MW. He did not say that amount of electricity had already been generated.

It is only the beginning of good things that are yet to come, Mr. Oyegun said.

Mr. Oyegun urged Nigerians not to listen to detractors of the president but be patriotic and support him to achieve more and make life worth living for every Nigerians.

Kogi will be one of the major sponsors on the day President Muhammadu Buhari decides to go for second term. They say we are quarrelling, they say we are fighting, but credible people are trooping into APC, he added.

He advised Kogi people to support the administration of Gov. Yahaya Bello, saying the governor has positively affected every facet of the state economy.

I am happy to be here today. I noticed one of the billboards when I was coming in saying, A New Dawn for Kogi State.

Kogi People, I want to congratulate you for having an energetic governor in Yahaya Bello. This is a governor that is a good organiser, restless, energetic and full of ideas. I can feel a new energy in Kogi State, Mr. Oyegun said.

Speaking, Gov. Yahaya Bello urged Mr. Buhari to run for a second term in 2019.

We urge Mr President to run and fly in 2019. Twenty-four APC governors are ready to support you under the leadership of the National Chairman of the party, Mr John Oyegun, he said.

Mr. Bello welcomed PDP members from the three senatorial districts of the state who defected.

He said the APC was where they belonged in the first place adding, come and sin no more.

He urged those still in PDP to come back home.

Stephen Ocheni, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, said the crowd was a testimony of the strength of the party in the state.

ADVERTISEMENT

Edward Onoja, Chief of Staff to the governor, said the party started with nine members of the state House of Assembly and 100,000 members, but now has 19 legislators and 500,000 members. (NAN )ADVERTISEMENT

Governor Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa State has reiterated the state governments determination to collaborate with UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) to eradicate acute malnutrition in children.

Mr. Badaru gave the assurance when he received the UNICEF Chief Nutritionist, Simeon Nanama in Dutse, the state capital.

Represented by Adamu Fanini of the office of the Secretary to the State Government, the governor thanked UNICEF for intervention programmes to save the lives of malnourished children.

He said the state government would do everything possible to ensure sustained collaboration with the world body to eradicate acute malnutrition in the state.

Earlier, the UNICEF Chief Nutritionst said he was in the state to formally thank the governor for the counterpart contribution of N150 million made by the Jigawa Government in 2017.

Mr. Nanama said the contribution was used for the procurement of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RTUF) for treatment of more than 80,000 children with acute malnutrition in the state.

(NAN)ADVERTISEMENT

A sidekick of the immediate past chairman of the Lagos chapter of the National Union Road of Transport Workers, Akanni Rafiu also known as Olohunwa, on Friday alleged that he killed many people on the order of Mr. Olohunwa

Adeola Williams, aka Ade Lawyer, was paraded alongside Mr. Olohunwa at the Lagos State Police headquarters on Friday after they both were arrested by operatives of the Inspector -General of Police Intelligence Response Team on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

Their arrest followed the murder of one Ganiyu Ayinla aka Pinero, the personal assistant to the NURTW chairman in Idumota , Azeez Lawal, known also as Kunle Poly.

Premium Times reported how the late Mr. Lawal was killed on January 23 during an attack on Kunle Poly in Idumota area of Lagos Island.

On Friday, Ade Lawyer confessed that Mr. Olohunwa contracted him to assassinate Kunle Poly and they agreed on N1.5 million to execute the plan.

He alleged that after the attack, Mr. Olohunwa refused to pay him the balance of N1 million having paid N500,000 upfront.

The refusal, he said, was because he eliminated the wrong target, rather than Kunle Poly himself.

The suspect also recounted that he had been hired to kill people by various clients, among whom are traditional rulers.

He, however, declined to mention the names of the traditional rulers.

I carried out four killings for him (Olohunwa) . During the clash between him and Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo), I killed two people for him . He said Kunle Poly betrayed him and contracted me to kill him,Ade Lawyers said.

He alleged that Mr. Olohunwa sent a Toyota Camry to him through one Skoda, Mr. Olohunwas brother. He, however, claimed that he rejected the car and demanded a Jeep, which he said he got three weeks ago.

On his part, Mr. Olohunwa admitted to giving Ade Lawyer N500,000 , but said the money was not meant for the assassination of anyone.

He alleged that Ade Lawyer once shot dead about nine people who were heading for Lagos Island from Ajah, adding that he also once killed an NURTW chairman at Oyingbo.

Edgal Imohimi, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, said the suspects were arrested based on the confessional statements of their accomplices arrested earlier by the police.

Investigation is ongoing and effort is being made to arrest other suspects at large, he told journalists.ADVERTISEMENT

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives from Lagos State on Saturday endorsed Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for a second term in office.

The APC Caucus in the House made this known when they presented a letter to the governor at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja asking him to re-contest in 2019.

The caucus, led by the Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the decision to unanimously endorse Governor Ambode for a second term was as a result of his brilliant performance in office in the last two and half years.

They also cited what they called the massive infrastructural development and giant strides in all sectors of the State.

Speaking with journalists after a closed-door meeting with the governor, Mr. Gbajabiamila said the lawmakers were proud to associate with the achievements of the governor so far, and would support him in his second term ambition.

He said, We are members of the House of Representatives APC Caucus from Lagos State. We all came into Lagos today to perform a very unique and sacred duty; something we did not take very lightly at all; something we deliberated over a couple of days ago and we spoke with one voice.

Because of the giant strides of our amiable Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode in the last two and a half years in governing the State; because of the things he has done across board, across all the Local Government Areas, across different sectors, we sat together and we decided without a dissenting voice to seek his audience and endorse him for re-election in 2019 as the Governor of Lagos State.

The House Leader described the endorsement as history repeating itself as the Caucus was the first to endorse the governor for election in 2015. He said it was instructive that there was not a single dissenting voice in the decision to support Mr. Ambode for second term.

So, we are here today as stakeholders across all the Local Governments and federal constituencies of the State to present a very unique letter to our Governor seeking for him to run again in 2019. We will give him unflinching support and have him re-elected overwhelmingly as Governor in 2019, he said.

In his reaction, Mr. Ambode thanked the lawmakers for the endorsement.

The governor said, I am greatly humbled to receive the APC Caucus in the House of Representatives from Lagos State. I am more delighted that this word of encouragement by way of this letter is to inspire me further to continue to render service to the good people of Lagos.

I want to thank you so much for the honour you have done me; I receive it with all humility and I pray that God gives us the grace to actually honour all the letters and the words in this message.NEW YORK, Feb. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, reminds investors in Advance Auto Parts, Inc. ("Advance Auto Parts" or the "Company") (NYSE:AAP) of the April 9, 2018 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

If you invested in Advance Auto Parts stock or options between November 14, 2016 and August 15, 2017 and would like to discuss your legal rights, click here : www.faruqilaw.com/AAP. There is no cost or obligation to you.

You can also contact us by calling Richard Gonnello toll free at 877-247-4292 or at 212-983-9330 or by sending an e-mail to [email protected]

CONTACT:

FARUQI & FARUQI, LLP

685 Third Avenue, 26th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: Richard Gonnello, Esq.

[email protected]

Telephone: (877) 247-4292 or (212) 983-9330

The lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware on behalf of all those who purchased Advance Auto Parts securities between November 14, 2016 and August 15, 2017 (the "Class Period"). The case, Wigginton v. Advance Auto Parts, Inc. et al., No. 1.18-cv-00212 was filed on February 6, 2018.

The lawsuit focuses on whether the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by failing to disclose or indicate: (1) integration issues surrounding the Company's Carquest acquisition resulted in systemic inefficiencies and cannibalization of sales; (2) increased competition was negatively impacting sales; and (3) as a result, the Company's statements about its business, operations and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

Specifically, on May 24, 2017, Advance Auto Parts reported disappointing first quarter fiscal 2017 financial and operational results. The Company reported a quarterly decrease in gross profit, "primarily driven by investments in the customer, inventory optimization efforts and supply chain expense deleverage due to the comparable store sales decline." Further, Advance Auto Parts reported that its quarterly comparable store sales had declined 2.7%. On this news, Advance Auto Parts' share price fell from $140.66 per share on May 23, 2017 to a closing price of $133.02 on May 24, 2017a $7.64 or a 5.43% drop.

Then, on August 15, 2017, Advance Auto Parts reported disappointing second quarter fiscal 2017 financial and operational results. The Company disclosed, in part, that "[c]omparable store sales for the quarter were flat." On this news, Advance Auto Parts' share price fell from $109.32 per share on August 14, 2017 to a closing price of $87.08 on August 15, 2017a $22.24 or a 20.34% drop.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Advance Auto Parts' conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

SOURCE Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP

Related Links

http://www.faruqilaw.com

DUBLIN, Feb. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN) today announced that its data will be featured during the 2018 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting in San Diego, February 16-20, 2018.

The meeting will be held at the San Diego Convention Center and the scheduled times (noted in local Pacific Time) for the Allergan presentations, titles and authors are as follows:

Podium Presentations

Once-Daily Oral Sarecycline 1.5 mg/kg/day for Moderate to Severe Acne Vulgaris: Pooled Data From Two Phase 3 Pivotal Studies

Authors: Leon H. Kircik , Neal D. Bhatia , Edward Lain , Angela Moore , Joel Schlessinger , Linda Stein-Gold , Stephen K. Tyring , Carsten Schmitz , Terry I. Boodhoo , David R. Berk , Alexandre Kaoukhov

, , , , , , , , , , Alexandre Kaoukhov Saturday, 2/17, 9:24 - 9:36 AM , Room 6D

Serial Photographic Assessment of Effect of Oxymetazoline Cream 1.0% on Persistent Facial Erythema of Rosacea

Authors: Lawrence F. Eichenfield , James Q. Del Rosso , Jerry K.L. Tan , Julie Harper , Leon H. Kircik , Adelaide A. Hebert , Hilary E. Baldwin , Linda Stein-Gold , Guy F. Webster , Alexandre Kaoukhov, Nancy Alvandi

, , , , , , , , , Alexandre Kaoukhov, Saturday, 2/17, 10:00  10:12 AM , Room 6D

Oral Poster Presentations

Topical Oxymetazoline Hydrochloride 1.0% Effectively Reduces Persistent Facial Erythema of Rosacea on Day 1

Authors: Emil A. Tanghetti , Jeffrey S. Dover , David J. Goldberg , Sunil S. Dhawan , Yiyong Fu , David Berk , Gurpreet Ahluwalia , Nancy Alvandi

, , , , , , , Saturday, 2/17, 9:35  9:40 AM , e-Poster Presentation Center 2

Poster Presentations

OnabotulinumtoxinA for Treatment of Moderate to Severe Horizontal Frontalis Lines and Glabellar Lines From the Subject's Perspective: Patient-Reported Satisfaction and Impact Outcomes From a Phase 3 Double-Blind Study

Authors: Dayan S, Ogilvie P, Rivkin; Yoelin S, Ferrusi I

Available for online viewing during program

Simultaneous Treatment of Moderate to Severe Horizontal Frontalis Lines, Glabellar Lines, and Lateral Canthal Lines With OnabotulinumtoxinA From the Subject's Perspective: Patient-Reported Satisfaction and Impact Outcomes From a Phase 3 Double-Blind Study

Authors: Dayan S, Ogilvie P, Rivkin; Yoelin S, Ferrusi I

Available for online viewing during program

Efficacy, Safety, and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Male Subjects Treated With OnabotulinumtoxinA for Improvement of Moderate to Severe Horizontal Forehead Lines

Authors: Keaney T, Cavallini M, Leys C, Rossi A, Mao C, Garcia J, Gallagher C, Shumate G

Available for online viewing during program

In Vitro Inflammatory and Immune Response to Uncrosslinked Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and HA Fillers

Authors: Hee C, Nakab L, Messina D

Available for online viewing during program

Role of Bacteria on the In Vitro Immune Response to Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

Authors: Hee C, Messina D

Available for online viewing during program

Differential Facial Aesthetic Treatment Considerations for Skin of Color Populations: African American, Asian, and Hispanic

Authors: Boyd C, Chiu A, Montes JR, Narurkar V, Shumate G, Gallagher C

Available for online viewing during program

Maximizing Panfacial Aesthetic Outcomes: Findings and Recommendations From the HARMONY Study

Authors: Kaminer M, Cohen J, Narurkar V, Shamban A, Werschler P, Shumate G, Gallagher C

Available for online viewing during program

Long-term Topical Oxymetazoline Hydrochloride 1.0% Demonstrates Sustained and Increasing Effect in Persistent Facial Erythema of Rosacea

Authors: Gold M, Lebwohl M, Biesman B, Robinson E, Fu Y, Berk D, Ahluwalia G, Alvandi N

Available for online viewing during program

Improvements in Submental Fat Achieved With ATX-101 (Deoxycholic Acid Injection) Are Maintained Over Time: 3-Year Follow-up Data From the Phase 3 REFINE Trials

Authors: Humphrey S, Bhatia A, Green L, Cohen J, Green J, Liu C, Somogyi C

Available for online viewing during program

ATX-101 (Deoxycholic Acid Injection) Leads to Clinically Meaningful Improvement in Submental Fat: Final Data From CONTOUR

Authors: Beer K, Callender V, Fagien S, Munavalli G, Fabi S, Sadick N, Orejudos A, Gallagher C

Available for online viewing during program

About Allergan plc

Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a bold, global pharmaceutical company and a leader in a new industry model  Growth Pharma. Allergan is focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical and regenerative medicine products for patients around the world.

Allergan markets a portfolio of leading brands and best-in-class products for the central nervous system, eye care, medical aesthetics and dermatology, gastroenterology, women's health, urology and anti-infective therapeutic categories.

Allergan is an industry leader in Open Science, a model of research and development, which defines our approach to identifying and developing game-changing ideas and innovation for better patient care. With this approach, Allergan has built one of the broadest development pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry.

Allergan's success is powered by our global colleagues' commitment to being Bold for Life. Together, we build bridges, power ideas, act fast and drive results for our customers and patients around the world by always doing what is right.

With commercial operations in approximately 100 countries, Allergan is committed to working with physicians, healthcare providers and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful treatments that help people around the world live longer, healthier lives every day.

For more information, visit Allergan's website at www.Allergan.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

Statements contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Allergan's current perspective on existing trends and information as of the date of this release. Actual results may differ materially from Allergan's current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Allergan's business. These factors include, among others, the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of FDA approvals or actions, if any; the impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance of and continued demand for Allergan's products; the impact of uncertainty around timing of generic entry related to key products, including RESTASIS, on our financial results; uncertainty associated with financial projections, projected cost reductions, projected synergies, restructurings, increased costs, and adverse tax consequences; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Allergan's periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Allergan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and Allergan's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2017. Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

CONTACTS: Allergan:

Investors:

Daphne Karydas

(862) 261-8006





Media:

Mark Marmur

(862) 261-7558





Lisa Brown

(862) 261-7320

SOURCE Allergan plc

Related Links

www.allergan.com

ROHNERT PARK, Calif., Feb. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Many people dread filling out paperwork. For some, it's just a general dislike of forms or a fear of making a mistake. For others, the aversion is much more acute. No matter the situation, individuals who procrastinate because of an aversion to paperwork may lose out because of it, including when it comes to student loans and repayment. But student loan paperwork doesn't have to be so intimidating. Ameritech Financial is a private document preparation company that assists federal student loan borrowers in applying for income-driven repayment plans (IDRs). The company helps borrowers select an appropriate repayment plan and then prepares all the application paperwork on behalf of its clients for the clients' review and approval prior to submission.

"We provide a stellar service to help borrowers apply for and stay in the right repayment plan," said Tom Knickerbocker, Executive Vice President of Ameritech Financial. "We understand every borrower has a different story. For people who are having trouble with paperwork, for whatever reason, we aim to help make life easier for them."

IDRs, which are offered by the Department of Education, calculate a borrower's monthly payment based on income and family size. Borrowers who utilize these plans could potentially see their monthly payments lower substantially; for some, the payment may be as low as zero dollars per month. And getting borrowers into income-driven repayment plans also means getting them on track to forgiveness. After a period of 20 to 25 years of repayment in an IDR, any remaining balance of the loan is forgiven.

Ameritech Financial also prepares the yearly recertification paperwork required to remain in an IDR. The company will stay in touch with borrowers to make sure deadlines are met regarding annual recertification, which can be a comforting level of service that supports clients beyond the initial IDR application.

While Ameritech Financial works on borrowers' behalf, clients of the company always retain control of their student loan accounts and are always responsible for making payments to their servicer. Clients can ask for clarification about the documents being prepared for them.

"These repayment plans can be life-changing to student loan borrowers," said Knickerbocker. "But for many different reasons, the forms and documents required to get into them may act as a barrier instead of the path to enrollment. That's including the borrowers that need it the most. But Ameritech Financial assists borrowers so they can apply for the payment plan they need."

About Ameritech Financial

Ameritech Financial is a private company located in Rohnert Park, California. Ameritech Financial has already helped thousands of consumers with financial analysis and student loan document preparation to apply for federal student loan repayment programs offered through the Department of Education.

Ameritech Financial is a member of the Association for Student Loan Relief (AFSLR), and each representative on the phone has received the Certified Student Loan Professional certification through the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA).

Ameritech Financial prides itself on its exceptional Customer Service.

Contact

To learn more about Ameritech Financial, please contact:

Ameritech Financial

5789 State Farm Drive #265

Rohnert Park, CA 94928

1-800-792-8621

[email protected]

Related Links

Ameritech Financial home page

SOURCE Ameritech Financial

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The 2017-2018 Xinjiang Winter/Spring Series of Tourism Events - Kanas Invites You to Celebrate "The Original New Year" officially kicked off on February 15, this year's New Year's Eve in China. The event was hosted by the Kanas Scenic Spot Management Committee and co-organized by Altay Golden Lotus Culture and Tourism Company and Kanas Smart Travel Co., Ltd. After interviewing a number of tourism inspectors, the Kanas Scenic Spot Management Committee selected ten and invited them to spend a few days in Kanas during which they would have the opportunity to experience "The Original New Year", with all travel and accommodation expenses borne by Kanas Scenic Spot. They "cracked the bones and sucked the marrow" with the Tuvas on New Year's Eve, joined the Obo New Year's blessings ceremony, and participated in traditional folk activities that included singing, dancing, horse racing and archery competitions organized by the Tuvas residents of Hemu Village. They spent a few minutes trying their luck with ancient fur skis, sent best wishes for the coming year through the Xinjiang tradition of snow splashing and engaged in the building of a model Tuvas corrugated house.

"The Tuvas celebrate the Chinese New Year in a most original way. This is because their traditions, which they have, generation after generation, strived to maintain in their full integrity, goes back to the ways of welcoming the New Year and the coming spring that date back to prehistoric times. The various traditions are compelling in their very simplicity. A trip to learn more about the lives and festivals of the Tuvas and experience their intangible cultural heritage is something well worth doing," tourism inspector Long Shao said.

The Tuvas are a part of the population group defined in China as the Mongolian nationality. The majority of China's Tuvas population live in Aletai prefecture in Xinjiang, with Hemu village as the largest population center, where, every year, over 1,500 Tuvas gather and maintain in all their authenticity the ancient customs in celebration of the New Year. Kanas Scenic Area holds the Kanas Invites You to Celebrate "The Original New Year" event every year, and welcomes visitors from all over the world to greet the arrival of the lunar New Year and join in the prayer for a better life and national unity with the aim of showcasing Kanas Scenic Area's unique snow- and ice-themed tourist attractions as well as the area's many cultural artifacts. These efforts have boosted the transformation of the local tourism industry in the winter and spring seasons, as well as build a winter-themed tourism brand for Kanas and the wider Xinjiang region.

Kanas Smart Travel Co., Ltd. manager Xie Jiayan said, "as winter-themed tourism continues to grow, it is important to develop Kanas' unique winter-themed events. We are now promoting Kanas Scenic Area in some new and original ways. Combined with the tourist attractions that already dot the area, we have an opportunity to draw attention to some of the winter-themed events in Kanas, attract more visitors and promote the branding of the winter-themed tourism in the scenic area."

In addition to the ice-themed folk experience events, "The Original New Year" celebrations also include road trips along three must-see routes: a trip through the snowfields with stops at Hemu Hotel, the Ancient Villages and the Senior Qu Kai's home, the ice-themed Searching Wolves route and ice-themed Photography Route, where visitors have an opportunity to experience the original landscape of Kanas by riding in a horse-drawn sled or cross the forest on a snowmobile.

In winter, Kanas is a world of ice and snow. The crystal rime ice-coated birch forest along the Kanas Valley, the grandeur of the snowfields, the snow-covered ice lake and Hemu village where one feels as if they have been reincarnated in a Chinese ink painting, are something not to be missed and, for those who come, are destined to be part and parcel of an unforgettable memory.

SOURCE Kanas Smart Travel Co., Ltd.DENVILLE, N.J., Feb. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Voltaire Cycles Inc. announces the opening of its first e-mobility franchise located at 21 Broadway in Denville, New Jersey. The new 2700 sq. ft. showroom features electric bikes, electric scooters, and electric skateboards. Franchise owners Chris and Cindy Caiazzo decided upon opening a Voltaire Cycles because it offered the best of all worlds. "After researching other opportunities in the electric bicycle market, we decided that Voltaire Cycles provided the best opportunity to grow and adapt as the industry evolves," says Mr. Caiazzo.

Voltaire Cycles Denville Franchise a new light electric vehicle retailer Voltaire Cycles Denville Franchise interior offering all types of light electric vehicles

Voltaire Cycles Franchises is the first retailer focused exclusively on the retail of light electric vehicles such as e-bikes, e-trikes, and e-scooters. With recent advances in lithium battery technology, personal e-vehicles have captured the attention of Baby Boomers, Millennials, and entrepreneurs.

"We see this as a golden opportunity," says CEO and co-founder Derek Mithaug. "Light electric vehicles afford Baby Boomers easy access to bicycle trails, trips, and tours. At the same, these vehicles also attract Millennials who are using them for commuting and social enjoyment."

E-mobility manufacturers have been hard-pressed to find dedicated sales channels where their products receive the special attention they deserve. Historically, e-mobility products have been placed in big box retailers as novelty or holiday specialty items. Those attitudes have recently changed as an expanding audience of new riders' demand specialized, reliable service and more selection. This change in perception is why the Voltaire Cycles founders decided to launch their business. "Clearly, people need to feel secure in purchasing an electric bike that may exceed $2,000," says Jamie Gilson, Chairman of the Board of Directors. "This is one of the main benefits of a retail store. Consumers want diversity, and they also want to touch, ride, and compare different models at different price points."

Although the market for e-bikes continues to accelerate at a red-hot pace (U.S. e-bike sales in 2017 doubled previous years' totals), a shortage of dedicated retailers are preventing more customers for experiencing the technology. Voltaire Cycles Franchises was developed to help combat the bottleneck issue. "Customers are traveling up to 3 hours to visit the Voltaire Cycles Denville franchise," says Mark Baraniak, co-founder of the original parent company The Electric Spokes Corporation. "We continue to see and hear from people daily who live outside of our area."

Entrepreneurs eager to jump into the sustainable energy market have an enormous opportunity with a Voltaire Cycles Franchise. "We've done all of the heavy lifting," says Baraniak. "We've designed a soup-to-nuts retail store setup that provides new business owners the ultimate blue-print of success. Even if you could devote the next year to studying everything on your own, you'd still be left with trying to guess which tools, which accessories, and which brands would put you into the most profitable situation."

The franchise company's goal is to launch 25 units in the next 18 months. "Our company's training program insures that all franchise owners fulfill the highest level of training and certification. This builds enormous self-confidence in the franchise owner's abilities to effectively answer questions, troubleshoot issues, and most confidently participate in this new industry," says Gilson. "There is no pre-requisite for owning a Voltaire Cycles franchise. Entrepreneurs with limited to no background are ideal candidates because they are approaching the new industry free of any biases."

CONTACT: Jamie Gilson

Communications Department

VOLTAIRE CYCLES FRANCHISES

400 Bloomfield Avenue

Verona, New Jersey 07044

OFFICE: (873) 500-0197 ext. 2

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEB: www.voltairecyclesfranchises.com

SOURCE Voltaire Cycles Franchises

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McKINNEY, Texas, Feb. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital health care technology leader MyTelemedicine has partnered with PACEMD, an international organization focused on supporting health initiatives in Latin America, to provide telehealth services to Spanish-speaking patients in the United States and Mexico.

The partnership is spearheaded by MyTelemedicine's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Haywood Hall, MD, FACEP, FIFEM, FAAEM, an award-winning physician and Founding Director of PACE Global Health International (Grupo PACE). Dr. Hall has more than 30 years of clinical experience and expertise, and he is recognized as a tireless advocate for patients in underserved areas throughout Latin America.

Started in 2002, PACEMD provides hands-on, community-based training to physicians and other health care providers in rural Mexico and Latin America. Since its inception, the organization has trained more than 35,000 participants in lifesaving skills and certifications. In addition, more than 500 U.S. medical practitioners have received training in how to communicate with their Spanish-speaking patients through the organization's pioneering MedSpanish program.

The partnership with MyTelemedicine aligns seamlessly with the mission of both organizations to improve healthcare to underserved communities and is a natural extension of Dr. Hall's award-winning humanitarian work. "We are excited to partner with PACEMD and reach a broader patient population in their native language, to ensure they have access to quality health care," said Rey Colon, CEO and Founder of MyTelemedicine.

MyTelemedicine already has formed strategic partnerships with Univision and other large Hispanic enterprises, and in 2016 launched the industry first comprehensive Spanish-language telehealth platform and service model. Called Acceso a un Medico, the service lets users access their personal health portals online or through a smartphone app, and connects them 24/7 with fully licensed, Spanish-speaking physicians nationwide and Puerto Rico.

About MyTelemedicine

MyTelemedicine developed a proprietary, HIPAA-compliant telemedicine platform built in the IBM Cloud that lets healthcare providers consult with patients remotely. The digital healthcare company's advanced API technology and ecosystem allows third parties to integrate and offer a customized telemedicine experience to support their brand identity. Physicians can perform on-demand consultations with members anywhere via telephone and video technology. Patients get advice, recommendations and a diagnosis, which may include a prescription for common illnesses. For more information please visit www.mytelemedicine.com.

Media Contact:

Chelsea Zaragoza

[email protected]

469-640-6101

SOURCE MyTelemedicine

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MADRID, Feb. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The antibody conjugates MI130004 is the result of combining trastuzumab with the molecule of marine origin belonging to PharmaMar, PM050489



The prestigious magazine Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), has published the results of this antibody conjugate (http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2018/02/13/1535-7163.MCT-17-0795)



This new molecule causes in HER expressed breast, ovarian and gastric cancers, a longer lasting response and also inhibiting tumor growth increasing the progression free survival in comparison with trastuzumab

PharmaMar (MCE: PHM) has announced the positive results of MI130004, a novel antibody conjugate combining trastuzumab with PM050489, a molecule of marine origin. The company has analyzed its antitumor activity in different tumor cell lines (breast, ovarian and gastric cancers) that express different levels of HER2 in both in vitro and in vivo tests.

The results published by the prestigious magazine Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), (http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2018/02/13/1535-7163.MCT-17-0795) show that this new molecule provokes in tumors that express HER2 a longer lasting response and inhibits significantly tumor growth providing a higher median progression free survival time in comparison with trastuzumab.

MI130004 is the result of the research carried out by PharmaMar to identify and synthesize molecules of a marine origin for their use as active agents in antibody-drug conjugates, as is the case with PM050489.

As a Company, PharmaMar is positioning itself as a supplier of cytotoxic products that are necessary for companies specialized in the antibody-drug conjugate technology.

Contacts: Media Relations (+34-638-79-62-15) and Investor Relations (+34-914-44-45-00)

SOURCE PharmaMarCHICAGO, Feb. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ameren Illinois has proposed a $46.6 million natural gas rate hike. CUB is reviewing the increase, and we will fight every nickel the company can't justify. While we continue to analyze the proposed increase, we are pleased that Ameren is taking into consideration the change in the corporate tax rate and has committed to spending on energy efficiency programs. However, we are concerned that Ameren is asking for a high 10.3 percent Return on Equity (ROE), or profit rate for shareholders.

Background:

On Jan. 31, Ameren requested a $46.6 million natural gas rate hike. Ameren reportedly estimates that the typical customer using 745 therms annually will pay on average about 24 cents per month more on the delivery part of their bill.

natural gas rate hike. Ameren reportedly estimates that the typical customer using 745 therms annually will pay on average about per month more on the delivery part of their bill. The filing takes into consideration the decrease in the federal corporate income tax rate, from 35 percent to 21 percent, which had the effect of reducing the rate request by $24 million . (It would have been $24 million more if not for the tax rate reduction.)

. (It would have been more if not for the tax rate reduction.) The company is requesting a 10.3 percent Return on Equity (ROE), or profit rate for shareholders. Ameren's current ROE is 9.6 percent.

Ameren has committed to spending $21 million over the next four years on low- and moderate-income energy efficiency programs.

over the next four years on low- and moderate-income energy efficiency programs. This increase will impact delivery rates, which take up about a third to a half of gas bills. That's what Ameren charges customers to cover the costs of delivering gas to homesplus a profit.

Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. Since then, the nonprofit utility watchdog group has saved consumers more than $20 billion by helping to block rate hikes and secure refunds. For more details, call CUB's Consumer Hotline, 1-800-669-5556, or visit CUB's award-winning website, www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org.

SOURCE Citizens Utility Board

Related Links

http://www.citizensutilityboard.org

The 32nd International Publishers Association Congress, held in New Delhi from February 10 to 13, focused on the importance of traditional publishing values, such as respect for copyright, freedom to publish, and the need for publishers to maintain the veracity and reliability of their content.

Several hundred people attended three days of speeches and panel discussions, which took place at the Taj Hotel Diplomatic Center and were organized locally by the Federation of Indian Publishers. Attendees included members of the local Indian publishing community and a somewhat smaller group of international publishing professionals, including representatives from different national publishing associations. Some traveled from as far as Australia, Brazil, and Finland. Among delegates from the U.S. were Maria Pallante, CEO of the Association of American Publishers; Liu Simpson, executive director of enforcement and trade policy for AAP; Tracey Armstrong, president and CEO of Copyright Clearance Center; Paul Dota, general counsel, litigation, and compliance at Elsevier; and Peter Wiley, chairman of John Wiley & Sons.

The theme for this years event was Where Innovation Meets Experience, and it was touched upon numerous times throughout the congress. Pallante, for example, said publishers need to acknowledge the growing challenges to copyright, often resulting from technological advances that are outpacing publishers ability to respond. Publishers, she said, need to be fully engaged in the debates surrounding copyright law. The same message was echoed by Simpson, who pointed out that enforcing existing copyright law against pirates was like a game of Whac-a-Mole, and it was going to take cooperation among nations and new tools for enforcement to be truly effective in curbing piracy.

Richard Charkin, executive director of Bloomsbury and past president of the IPA, noted that today, the most innovative companies are also those that are the greatest threat to the book business. Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, and Google all pose a unique challenge to copyright, he said.

Though there was little discussion of the tech giants overall, several representatives from European publishing associations noted that they fully expect those companies to begin laying legal siege to existing publishing practices that the companies see as thwarting competition, such as fixed-price laws for books. Each of those companies has 10 lobbyists in Brussels for each of ours, said one European executive, who requested anonymity. But we are preparing for their attack.

A variety of panels sought to educate participants on a range of practical topics, including the size and scope of the Indian print market (valued at roughly $8.1 billion), best practices for rights management, and efforts around the world to foster childrens reading habits and strengthen educational-publishing capacity in places where it is needed most.

Tying together the discussions was an underlying sense of a shared mission. In a talk on the social responsibility of publishers, Henrique Mota, president of the Federation of European Publishers and v-p of the IPA, defined it as being required to work honestly, devotedly, and committedly on behalf of our readers and in favor of culture; always defending essential values of humankind; and shielding truth, protecting knowledge, and caring about wisdom. He noted that the purpose of publishing was not just some romantic notion out of a Bollywood movie.

To this end, in recent years, IPA has been increasingly active in working on human rights issues involving the publishing community. Most notably, it elevated China and Saudi Arabia to full-member status in 2015, a controversial move that the IPA defended by saying that it put the organization in a better position to promote its core values in those countries. Its relationship with those countries has been strained by the decision of the IPAs Freedom to Publish committee to present the 2017 Prix Voltaire, formerly known as the Freedom to Publish award, to Saudi Arabian blogger Raid Badawi, and to gave this years prize to Gui Minhai, a Hong Kong bookseller and publisher who is currently under arrest in China. The IPA delegates from China were notably absent from the award presentation to Minhai, which was accepted by his daughter in the U.K., via Skype. Two Prix Voltaires were also awarded posthumously: the first was to Bangladeshi publisher Faisal Arefin Dipon, who was killed by Islamic extremists in 2015, and a second to dissident Chinese author Liu Xiaobo, who died of cancer last year.

The next IPA Congress will take place in Lillehammer, Norway, in 2020.WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  A yearlong festival of ideas will be the centerpiece of Purdue Universitys sesquicentennial celebration in 2019 as the university looks forward to what the next 150 years will bring for Indianas land-grant institution.

President Mitch Daniels announced the initiative Tuesday (Feb. 6) with a letter and a call for proposals to all faculty, staff and students requesting ideas for events that would include high-profile nationally and internationally known speakers, curricular, classroom and community events to address the worlds most pressing issues in a provocative and engaging way.

As we celebrate this milestone and all our proud history, its important that we use this opportunity to look to the future, to the next 150 years that Boilermakers will do so much to shape, Daniels said.

Purdue was founded as Indianas land-grant university in 1869 as a result of the Morrill Act signed by President Abraham Lincoln. Its history of teaching, research and engagement is one of excellence and success, making Purdue an intellectual hub between the coasts. The university will follow the theme of intellectual excellence in developing events for the yearlong celebration.

The call for proposals is the first step in creating an Ideas Festival on the West Lafayette campus, as well as at Purdue statewide campuses, and in communities around the world. Topics for what would be daylong events could touch on:

Immortality: Can we achieve it? Should we?

Artificial intelligence: Where is it taking us and is it worth the risks?

Pros and cons of social media for individuals, society and democratic institutions.

Space: Our next frontier or the source of our demise?

Democracy: Wave of the future or historical aberration?

China, India, Africa, U.S. ... Whose World in 2120?

Our robotic future: Life without work?

A website in development at www.purdue.edu/150 will include information about all events and celebrations planned on campus and around the world.Televisa, Torreal, and Mediavideo have just confirmed an agreement to sell its shares in Imagina (Mediapro) to the Chinese investment fund Orient Hontai.





Under the terms of the agreement, first unveiled in October 2017, Orient Hontai will own a 53.5% stake of the Barcelona-based broadcaster, manager of LaLiga and Serie A TV rights, and one of the largest content producers in Spain.While Torreal (which owned 22.5%), Televisa (19%) and Mediavideo (12%) will see out of the company's financial structure, no much is expected to change on an organisational level.Taxto Benet and Jaume Roures, co-founders with a 12% share each, will continue directing the company's operations around the globe.The operation is still pending approval of the regulatory authorities and it's expected to be closed between April-June 2018.The agreement, which valued Mediapro at 1.9 billion, will drive "an important boost to Mediapro's competitiveness in Spain and Europe," pointed out Roures and Benet. "The deal will also bring the group towards a huge emerging market such as China."Driven by LaLiga, Mediapro has high expectations in the Asian markets, regarding both TV rights management and content production businesses."The acquisition is an important step forward in Orient Hontai Capital's international expansion in Europe, within the framework of the One Beld, One Road strategy," said Tony Ma, CEO, ***Orient Hontai*** http://www.dfham.com/. "We believe Imagina has great potential and growth perspectives in the media and technology business."This article appeared originally at 38 North.

When the 50th anniversary of the capture of the USS Pueblo hit a few weeks ago, the nations eyes briefly returned to this forgotten American spy ship that had been captured in the East Sea in January 1968. For a few days, the internet was awash in stories related to this long-forgotten tragedy. Some described the terrible consequences for the 82 crewmen who were beaten and tortured for almost a year in DPRK prison camps.[1]Other articles attempted to draw lessons from the 1968 crisis that could be applied to todays situation.[2]Others reminded readers that the DPRK still proudly held the ship, which has become a prominent tourist attraction.[3] But one fairly new and exciting theme in particular echoed across the social media landscape: the idea that the attack had come close to sparking a nuclear war. U.S. Spy Ship Captured by North Korea almost Caused Nuclear War, screamed a Newsweek headline.[4] Smithsonian Magazine agreed. Fifty Years Ago, North Korea Captured an American Ship and Nearly Started a Nuclear War, blared its headline.[5] CNN took this claim the farthest, with a long piece entitled How the Seizure of a US Spy Ship by North Korea Nearly Sparked Nuclear War. The CNN story, proudly noting that it was based on top secret diplomatic cables; CIA, NSA and State Department reports; and interviews with and testimonies from the crew, offered maps, photos, and links to documents, and concluded that US generals were prepared to use nuclear weapons to fight, and could have sucked in both the Soviet Union and China.[6] It is a powerful and dramatic addition to the story, one that perhaps seems appropriate considering the intrigue that has always surrounded this 177-foot floating Cold War metaphor. There is only one problem, however: the notion that the Pueblo seizure almost sparked a nuclear war is completely wrong.

A close look at the internal deliberations within the Johnson White House demonstrates quite clearly that the administration never seriously considered a nuclear response. On the afternoon of the 23rd, LBJs advisors met for the first time to discuss the Pueblo. Without much detailed knowledge of what had happened, their instinctive responses spoke of reinforcing Americas troop commitment in the area, and even of picking up units of the North Korean fleet or units of the North Korean army along the DMZ, but the idea of a nuclear retaliation was never mentioned.[7] The principles met again the next morning for a more extensive conversation. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara suggested a number of options: mining, conducting a quarantine, blocking shipping into North Korea, etc, but failed to propose any significant offensive action, let alone a nuclear response. General Earle Wheeler chimed in with his own list of possible military options that ranged from building up American forces in the area to capturing a North Korean ship to blockading North Korea and more, but he also failed to mention a nuclear possibility or even anything even remotely close.[8] Two other meetings were held that day to discuss options, but a nuclear path remained without even a mention. In fact, when, the principles met six days after the seizure to consider their military options based on a report prepared by the Defense Department, they discussed 11 possibilities, most of which were quickly dismissed out of hand; a nuclear strike did not even earn inclusion in the discussion, which rejected as too risky such options as a naval blockade of Wonsan Harbor.[9] Even the military was uninterested in escalation. We would have been in a fine fix if we had sent planes up there, noted Wheeler. We probably would have been in a war.[10]

As the days turned into weeks and then months, frustrated American leaders wracked their brains to devise even the most unlikely scenarios that might win the release of the men. Even in desperation, however, no one ever seriously broached the idea of using nuclear weapons. In fact, even the few relatively conservative military steps that the administration did approve, such as building up American naval forces in the area, were taken with great caution and with the central intention of pressuring the North into a diplomatic resolution.[11] Facing an already exhausting war in Vietnam and desperate to prevent the deaths of the 82 crewmen, the Johnson administration left no doubt that it was going to cling to a diplomatic path. As far as the end of the trail is concerned, Dean Rusk noted, the use of military force would make us feel better about it, but does not get our ship and our men back. We do not want to take on a second front if we can avoid it.[12] Revealingly, when the South Korean military wanted to launch conventional raids against the North in retaliation, American military officials interceded to restrain them, sparking tensions between the two allies.[13] The idea, then, that the administration might have seriously endorsed a nuclear attack when they would not even consider a small ROK retaliation against DPRK ships is simply not reasonable.

Other evidence argues against the idea that a nuclear response was a serious possibility. The Pueblo attack was not the first time the North had taken provocative action against American forces. In 1964, the DPRK had captured two American helicopter pilots who had strayed over North Korea and held the men prisoner for a year. No one went nuclear. In 1969, just months after the Pueblo men were released, North Korean forces shot down an American EC-121 spy plane operating over the East Sea. No one went nuclear. In 1977, North Korea shot down an American helicopter that strayed into its territory, killing three and holding the pilot prisoner. No one went nuclear. Emotions ran high in all of these (and other) situations, but structural constraints ranging from the other demands on American foreign policy to the fear of retaliation from the Soviet and Chinese to the constraints of world public opinion restrained American leaders in those other occasions, just as they had in 1968. Nor would a nuclear attack have fit into Lyndon Johnsons worldview. For more than three years, the Johnson administration had been engulfed in another war in Asia, one that had seen a much larger investment of American resources and was widely perceived as a much greater threat to long-term American interests, and yet Johnson had not endorsed nuclear attacks in Vietnam. And his foreign policy beyond Vietnam had generally focused on diplomatic solutions that could avoid the costly and draining conflicts that might have impeded his Great Society legislation; to have endorsed a nuclear strike is thus so out of character that is hard to imagine.[14] It is also worth noting that the Soviets were equally uninterested in sparking a military conflict of any size and were actually unhappy that the North had attacked the ship at all. We indeed have a treaty, the Soviets told Deputy Premier Kim Chang Bong in response to the DPRKs requests for support. Its essence is known to both you and us. We would like to stress that it has a defensive character.[15]

The underlying problem with the nuclear claim is that it fails to distinguish between theoretical and plausible options. When LBJ learned of the attack on the Pueblo, he ordered a comprehensive study of all possible American responses. As part of this process, all optionsincluding nuclearwere considered, as is standard operating procedure. A handful of documents thus exist that study the possibility. But that does not mean that all ideas that were evaluated by staffers were taken seriously by policymakers.[16] The truth is that a nuclear attack was absolutely unthinkable in 1968. The United States was already engaged in one costly and draining conflict. The North Koreans were holding the men in a well-defended area, making any rescue attempt almost impossible and ensuring that any retaliation would likely ensure their deaths. Accordingly, there was no one, not even the most bellicose voices inside the administration, who wanted to deviate from the diplomatic path that they had established from the start. One war at a time, explained Under Secretary of State Nicholas Katzenbach simply, is enough.[17]

Mitchell Lerner is Associate Professor of History and Director of the Institute for Korean Studies at The Ohio State University. He is also associate editor of the Journal of American-East Asian Relations.

Notes:POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (AP)  President Donald Trump came face-to-face Friday with hospitalized victims of the horrific school shooting in Florida and offered thanks to the doctors and nurses who helped the wounded, declaring the job theyve done is incredible.

Asked if hed talked with victims, Trump added: I did indeed, and its very sad something like that could happen.

After paying their respects to medical professionals at Broward Health North Hospital, Trump and his wife, Melania, visited with law enforcement officials in Fort Lauderdale, where he told officers that he hoped they were getting the credit they deserved for their response to the shooting that left 17 dead and 14 injured.

I was at the hospital with a lot of parents and they are really thankful for the job youve done, Trump said at the Broward County Sheriffs Office, where he was joined by Gov. Rick Scott, Sen. Marco Rubio and other Florida officials. He added that the young victims were in really great shape considering what they have been through.

Trump relished bantering and praising the law enforcement officials, he marveled at the speed with which first responders rushed the wounded to the hospital and he extended hearty thanks to first responders. But the president who has never been a natural at consolation didnt publicly address the grief and sorrow gripping a shocked community and nation, beyond his mention of how sad it was to meet with victims.

Late Friday, he tweeted about the school shooting: Our entire Nation, w/one heavy heart, continues to pray for the victims & their families in Parkland, FL. To teachers, law enforcement, first responders & medical professionals who responded so bravely in the face of danger: We THANK YOU for your courage! He included pictures of an injured young girl and her family that he and the first lady visited.

During his visit, there was not any mention of the debate over gun regulation set off by the shooting. The president ignored a shouted question about whether guns should be more tightly regulated.

Trump said he originally planned to visit the Parkland area on Sunday or Monday, but decided he didnt want to wait.

But as Trump arrived in Florida, some of the parents, survivors and others affected by the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School said they were more interested in firm action to prevent future assaults than a presidential visit.

I dont want Trump to come but we want more gun safety, said 18-year-old Kevin Trejos, a senior at the school. Its a dream. It hasnt hit me yet. When I see empty desks, Ill feel it. Im numb now.

Trumps approach stood in sharp contrast to his predecessors reaction to the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, five years ago. After the Sandy Hook slayings, President Barack Obama quickly attended an emotional evening vigil in Newtown, where he read aloud the names of each victim and promised to use whatever power he had to prevent future shootings. In the wake of a mass shooting at a South Carolina church, Obama led thousands in singing Amazing Grace.

Trumps visit followed a similar script to his trip to Las Vegas in the fall after the worst mass slaying in modern history. On that trip, he also made a visit to a hospital, meeting with victims behind closed doors and then more publicly celebrated first responders.

In this case, it was Rubio who spoke directly to the raw emotions of the moment, telling Trump, This is a community and a state thats in deep pain and they want action to make sure this never happens again.

Mrs. Trump, for her part, thanked law enforcement officials for taking care of our children and added: They were put through a lot in what they were experiencing two days ago and we need to take care of them.

More than 1,000 people had attended a candlelight vigil Thursday night near the school, and at one point some began chanting, No more guns! No more guns!

Lori Alhadeffs 14-year-old daughter Alyssa was killed during the shooting. She invoked the presidents 11-year-old son, Barron, as she angrily called for help.

President Trump, Barron goes to school. Lets protect Barron. And lets also protect all these other kids, she said Friday on CNN, her voice raising to a shout. You need to help us, now. We need security now for all these children. We need action, action, action!

Trump, who frequently boasts about his support for the National Rifle Association, made no mention of gun violence or any new measure to restrict access to firearms during his remarks Friday or a day earlier. He did promise to tackle school safety and the difficult issue of mental health.

He also tweeted Friday that he was working with Congress on many fronts, though he offered no details.

Before he was a candidate, Trump at one point favored some tighter gun regulations. But he embraced gun rights as a candidate, and the NRA spent $30 million in support of his campaign.

The president made the trip to meet with first responders soon after Air Force One arrived in West Palm Beach for the president to spend the weekend at his Palm Beach estate, which is about 40 miles from Parkland.

In a departure from the Trumps original schedule, Mrs. Trump arrived at Air Force One separately from her husband for the flight to Florida and boarded the plane while reporters were kept away. A spokeswoman said the change was due to scheduling.

As he departed, Trump ignored shouted questions from journalists about a report in The New Yorker magazine that he had an affair in 2006 with a Playboy model.

___

Thomas reported from Washington. AP writers Jon Lemire in New York, Zeke Miller, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Maria Danilova in Washington and Josh Replogle in Parkland, Fla., contributed to this report.For the first time in fifty years, U.S. and Russian military forces have engaged in direct combat. Soldiers from the two countries last clashed during the Vietnam War, when Soviet soldiers shot down U.S. warplanes with anti-aircraft weapons. Last week, on February 7th, the two powers met again, when U.S. drones, attack helicopters, and fighter planes struck a contingent of pro-regime fighters near Deir Ezzor, a Kurdish-held city in eastern Syria. As would emerge later, among those killed were up to a hundred Russian citizens who were fighting in Syria as private military contractors, a shadowy mercenary force whose presence in Syria is not officially recognized by the Kremlin.

Not long before the attack, the Russian contractors, fighting alongside members of pro-Assad tribal militias, carried out a strike against a compound held by Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-led army, backed and advised by U.S. troops. During the maneuver, the Russian contractors crossed the Euphrates River near the town of Khusham, breaching what Moscow and Washington have agreed is the dividing line separating their respective zones of authority. U.S. Special Forces embedded with the S.D.F. called in the ferocious response from the air.A painting of a Defense Support Program satellite from the Air Force Art collection. DSP provides a variety of national security capabilities. Its flagship mission of launch detection was made famous during the Cold War. (U.S. Air Force image)

Weapons capable of jamming or destroying U.S. military and commercial satellites will reach initial operational capability in the next few years, according to a new intelligence report.

According to the "Worldwide Threat Assessment" authored by National Intelligence Director Daniel Coats, the space domain will become ever more congested as hostile actors launch weapons into orbit.One important reason no one talks about Puerto Rico leaving the dollar zone is that the islands banks have minimal exposure to its governments debt. There is thus no need even to consider introducing a local currency to recapitalize them.

Europe is different. Particularly during the immediate crisis years after 2010, banks in southern Europe holding soured private debt loaded up on the safe debt of their national governments, while those governments, now facing growing deficits from the downturn, were pledging to backstop the banks. The banks thus became increasingly exposed to falling government bond prices, while the governments in turn became increasingly exposed to worsening bank balance sheets. Weak banks and weak sovereigns propping each other up is a recipe for national bankruptcy.

With the European Union finally in a solid economic upturn, this so-called doom loop is no longer front-page news. But as our graphic above shows, the problem has not gone awayfar from it. In Italy and Spain, banks are still loaded with their respective governments debt at nearly the same levels they were at the height of the crisis. In Greece, where doom-loop metrics plummeted in 2012-13, after a massive write-down of government debt, they are headed back up, while in Portugal they have been on a relentless climb since 2009.

What is to be done? Enter a European central bank task force led by Bank of Ireland governor Philip Lane, which is recommending the launch of a common Eurozone security that could potentially become an EU analog to U.S. Treasury securities. This safe asset would be backed by all 19 member states, but would necessarily involve the fiscally stronger onesGermany in particularbackstopping the weaker ones. Since this could discourage them from becoming more prudent with their financial commitments, the proposal will struggle to gain traction. But something like it is almost certainly necessary to avoid future Eurozone crises.Studying the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s gives us an understanding of the past, but watching the current leaders now can help us understand our societys current problems with racism.Some days are just especially quiet. That can be because of the weather, people or who knows what else. On their latest album Cranberry, theVagina  a word most people typically go all day without hearing or saying - was the focus of the night for 21 women at the University of GeoA $1 million grant from the state is helping a joint venture pharmaceutical company relocate from Wallingford to Branford.

The grant for ViiV Healthcare was one of the expenditures approved by the Connecticut Bond Commission at its meeting Friday. The company moved into its new facility on East Industrial Road in Branford late last year, according to Dan Doyle, a spokesman for state Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr., who helped obtain the grant money.

ViiV Healthcare is a joint venture of pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline.

ViiV Healthcare invested $4.1 million of its own money to pay for the new Branford location. The company develops drugs for the treatment of HIV.

Doyle said the state grant money will allow ViiV Healthcare to retain 25 jobs and add 45 more workers over the next five years. The company has roughly 100 people working in Branford, according to the GlaxoSmithKline website.

Kennedy said one of Connecticuts greatest economic strengths is the cutting-edge companies like ViiV Healthcare that populate Branfords bioscience corridor.

This company provides good-paying jobs to Connecticut residents and attracts some of the brightest minds in the country to our community, he said in a statement. I will continue to work with companies like ViiV Healthcare to identify opportunities for Connecticut to become a better state for bioscience businesses to grow and thrive.

Mark Cockett, vice president and head of discovery at ViiV Healthcare, said the Branford facility is the companys first wholly owned research laboratory in the state.

Innovation requires scientists who push the boundaries and infrastructure to support them, and Branfords bioscience corridor provides us with the opportunity to do just that, Cockett said.It's no surprise that a place nicknamed "Sin City" would land at number one on a list of the most sinful cities in the U.S. What's less obvious are the Connecticut cities that also got a spot on the list.

Financial site WalletHub analyzed 182 cities to determine the most sinful cities in the country and New Haven and Bridgeport made the cutalbeit not too high in the rankings. New Haven came in at 101 out of 182 and Bridgeport at 157.The number of drug intoxication deaths in Connecticut broke through the 1,000 barrier in 2017, and so many people are dying from drug overdoses, the state medical examiner is pleading in Hartford for more money to handle all of the autopsies.

At a legislative appropriations hearing Friday in Hartford, the state medical examiners office reported the preliminary total accidental drug intoxication death numbers for 2017 is 1,040.

This compares with 917 such deaths in 2016.

These opioid deaths have continued to put a strain on the medical examiners office, said Dr. James Gill, the states chief medical examiner, in a prepared statement. The office is currently under provisional national accreditation and will be re-evaluated in the fall. Currently, the only deficiency preventing full re-accreditation is the need for two additional medical examiners due to the increase in autopsies.

The 1,040 number included 675 deaths involving fentanyl, an increase from 483 in 2016, officials said. The remaining results, including the number of heroin deaths and the specific municipality data, should be available in a week or two, officials said.

Gill, in his testimony before the legislatures Joint Appropriations Committee, said that his department has seen a 290 percent increase in accidental drug deaths in the past 5 years and a 70 percent increase in the number of autopsies performed.

This increased work level has become our new baseline, Gill told the lawmakers. Our current medical examiner staff is performing more than 325 autopsies per year  our office had no choice but to work beyond professional standards for the past three years.

He said that the hope was that the overdose numbers would have decreased, but they continue to rise.

Our current ME staff is of insufficient size for the number of deaths that we are required to investigate, he said.

In October 2017, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Connecticut was granted only provisional accreditation by the National Association of Medical Examiners. The NAME at the time said that if the state medical examiner's office fails to address its staffing shortage within the next 12 months, its accreditation will be rescinded.

They noted at the time that the state is still "critically understaffed on the professional level" and this "is a most serious deficiency" and the "deficiency related to the unreasonable workloads of the medical examiners must be addressed."

Gill said Friday that some of the shortcoming have been corrected, such as construction of a colder storage unit. Now, the major hurdle to regaining full NAME accreditation is the need for three more examiner positions, Gill said.

The Office of the Chief State Medical Examiners budget has only risen slightly in the past few years, Gill said. It was $4.29 million in FY 2012 and its $4.7 million now  a 10 percent increase despite the skyrocketing increase in drug deaths and the pressing need for more autopsies, Gill told the committee.

Our loss of full accreditation has already been raised in criminal trials in attempts to impeach our work, Gill told the lawmakers. I anticipate that these challenges will continue.

Staff writer Amanda Cuda contributed to this report.Connecticuts population had a slight gain over the past year, with 499 new residents calling the Constitution State home.

State's prison population lowest in more than two decades

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On Wednesday, the U.S. Census Bureau released the latest national and state population estimates.

It showed Connecticuts population in 2017 estimated at 3,588,184, up from 3,587,685.

While Connecticuts population gain is small, it reversed a population decline of 14,434 measured between 2015 and 2016.

Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Vermont, which all lost population in 2016, all made slight population gains this year. Pennsylvania had a 0.1 percent increase with 18,452. Vermont  the least populated state with 623,354 residents, gained 303.

Population growth in Connecticut and Fairfield County is sluggish, but some communities  Stamford, Shelton and Danbury  are enjoying a growth spurt, according to census figures released earlier this year.

Danburys population of 84,922 posted the fastest growth, gaining 335 residents between 2015 and 2016, and growing by 5.1 percent since 2010.

Stamford, with 129,113 people, gained 239 residents and its population grew by 5.3 percent since 2010. Bridgeport, despite a one-year loss, grew by 1.2 percent since 2010.

Norwalk, with 88,438 residents, lost a handful of people between 2015 and 2016, but its population grew by 3.3 percent since 2010, the numbers show.

Shelton, with a population of 41,334, gained 108 residents and is up 4.5 percent since 2010.

The figures released Wednesday showed the U.S. population grew 0.72 percent to 325.7 million. Net international migration decreased 1.8 percent between 2016 and 2017, making it the first drop since 2012-2013. However, net international migration continues to be a significant factor in the population growth of the United States, adding just over 1.1 million people in the past year.

Nationally, eight states lost population between July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017. Illinois had the largest decline, losing 33,703 people  a relatively small percentage change compared to its population of 12.8 million. Wyoming had the largest percentage decline with 1 percent.

Idaho was the nations fastest-growing state over the past year. Its population increased 2.2 percent to 1.7 million from July 1, 2016, to July 1, 2017.

Following Idaho for the largest percentage increases in population were: Nevada, 2 percent; Utah, 1.9 percent; Washington, 1.7 percent, and Florida and Arizona, 1.6 percent.

States in the South and West continued to lead in population growth. In 2017, 38.0 percent of the nations population lived in the South and 23.8 percent lived in the West.

In addition to the population estimates for the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the new estimates show that Puerto Rico had an estimated population of 3.3 million, a decline from 3.4 million in 2016.LITCHFIELD  Ideal Jewelers recently moved from Waterbury to West Street in Litchfield, where Andrew Goldstein continues a family business dating back more than a century in a place hes happy to call home.

Goldsteins great-grandfather, Harry, came to Waterbury from Eastern Europe and found work as a watchmaker in the city, then opened Ideal Jewelers in 1907, he said Thursday.

According to its website, the business was passed down through the generations to Louis, William, and now Andrew, a Harwinton resident and the current president of the company. He said he started working there when he was small.

I would go down on Saturdays and help my father since I was high enough to look over the counter, said Andrew Goldstein.

After college, he came back to the business. They began to work over the internet and established a brokerage  IJ International Diamond Brokerage. Through that arm of the company, the business matches those who want to sell jewelry with buyers, avoiding the financial pressure of purchasing pieces on speculation, Goldstein said.

In addition to serving as a brokerage and buying and selling pieces, Goldstein said the business resizes rings, changes watch batteries, cleans, polishes and restores jewelry, and sets and makes jewelry, all at competitive prices.

Its a pleasure to do the work, he said. He visits New York City once a week to meet with others in the industry  a chance to interact with his peers  and enjoys meeting and dealing with customers.

We meet a lot of great people. Its fun. Were working with interesting items  sometimes very average stuff, sometimes very exciting stuff, said Goldstein. Its always interesting. Its nice if you can get a customer, and you can help them, and you can get them the right price. When everything works out well, it can be pretty rewarding.

He considered moving to 43 West St. about four years ago when the space was previously available, but it was later taken by an art gallery. When the opportunity came around again, he decided to make the jump and bring Ideal Jewelers from its historic home in Waterbury to Litchfield.

The town is a good home for the company, he said about Litchfield.

Its a classy, elegant area with nice people. Its a good shopping area; its a tourist area, late spring, summer, right through Christmas, he said. Its a destination for upscale merchandise, great restaurants, a beautiful green  events, Jazz on the Green, Litchfield Road Race. You can go on and on  theres a million reasons.

Jazz was playing Thursday in the softly-lit room, illuminated by a chandelier, and Golstein said he hopes the store is comfortable for patrons. Goldstein made a note of pointing out the sitting area.

You can come in here and browse. You can sit down, have a glass of wine, an espresso. I dont care if you buy something or not. Just come in and enjoy the atmosphere, said Goldstein.

Hes hopeful and confident that the new store will be successful, happy to be in a place he finds agreeable. He said people, both new customers and old, have come in to chat, and he enjoys providing the basic services. They can leave the door open in the warmer months.

The familys long history in the business has paved the way for what he does now  theyve passed down skill through the years. Its a good job, he said.

Its pleasant. (Customers are) happy when youre done, said Goldstein. Were good at what we do. Weve got a lot of experience. Obviously, Im not 111 years old, but your previous generations help instill that knowledge, so were really good at what we do. And our customers are generally very happy.

More information about the company is available at www.ijdiamonds.com/.

Those interested can reach the store by calling it directly at 860-567-0888 or by contacting the company as a whole at 800-813-0749.TORRINGTON  A Northfield woman was arraigned this week on an arson charge in Superior Court after she allegedly set her roommates belongings alight.

Miriam Vega, 23, of 277 Campville Road, was arrested Feb. 1 and charged with third-degree arson and first-degree reckless endangerment, according to court records.

According to an affidavit seeking a warrant for her arrest, firefighters from Litchfield, Northfield, East Litchfield, and Terryville, as well as Connecticut State Police and Litchfield Ambulance staff were dispatched to the Campville Road home for an active structure fire on the evening of Dec. 31.

Upon arrival, Trooper Erinne-Rose M. Litwinczyk and other personnel saw that the two occupants of the home, identified as a group home, had evacuated the building. A staff member at the home had found a fire burning in an unoccupied bedroom, then put out the flames with water and wet towels, officials said.

Litchfield fire marshals found that the fire had originated near an XBox gaming system on a shelf, which was unplugged in a cardboard box. No plugged-in electric equipment was found in the area, and the marshals determined that the fire was not of an accidental or providential nature and requested assistance. A detective with the state police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit concurred with their opinion, according to the affidavit.

Two staffers said Vega had got into a confrontation with one of the staffers prior to the fire, as a request to have someone over to visit went unheeded.

Vega told police she had lit the fire in hopes of being able to live without a roommate, according to the affidavit.

I knew it was wrong, Vega allegedly told police, noting that she had torn up and disposed of the matchbook she used to light the fire. I am sorry for destroying (the roommates) stuff. I didnt mean to destroy her stuff. I just wanted someone to hear me out.

Police noted that the fire exposed a staff member to smoke inhalation and potential injury.

Vegas case was transferred to Part A proceedings Thursday, where more serious matters are adjudicated. She is next scheduled to appear in court Feb. 28.Russian Faina Gavrilova talks about her 34-year-old son, Ruslan Gavrilov, who was thought to have been killed in Syria in early February while fighting for a private military company. She claims Ruslan was among more than 200 mercenaries killed in the incident, an unconfirmed figure that is far higher than the death toll that Russian officials initially conceded. (Current Time TV)MUNICH, Germany -- A minor kerfuffle broke out between Armenias president and an Azerbaijani diplomat during a panel discussion at a high-profile security conference in Germany on February 17 as the two men traded accusations over Azerbaijans breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The sharp words came during a Munich Security Conference event focusing on nations in-between Russia and Europe that featured Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian, Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip, EU enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn, and Russian lawmaker Konstantin Kosachyov.

When the panel moved to questions from the audience, a first secretary at the Azerbaijani Embassy in Berlin suggested to Sarkisian that Armenia could have played a role in regional energy and transport projects if not for the standoff over Nagorno-Karabakh.

If there was no policy of ethnic cleansing of Armenia against Azerbaijan, then probably today, Armenia could have benefitted from those projects, said the diplomat, Sadi Jafarov, invoking an accusation that Baku frequently levels at Yerevan.

The two neighbors have been locked in a conflict over the region for decades.

Nagorno-Karabakh, populated mainly by ethnic Armenians, declared independence from Azerbaijan during a 1988-94 war that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

Three decades of diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the conflict have brought little progress.

Jafarov also denounced what he called the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenia. As Jafarov packed both commentary and questions into his turn at the mic, the host of the panel -- Ian Bremmer, founder of the Eurasia Group political risk consultancy -- intervened in an effort to let Sarkisian reply.

We dont have time, Bremmer said, though Jafarov managed to finish his question.

Sarkisian thanked Jafarov for the question before saying that Azerbaijanis leadership needed to sober up and give up on their unrealistic expectations concerning Nagorno-Karabakh.

You want to live freely. I assure you, the people of Karabakh want to live freely, too, Sarkisian said. They want to live in their historical land.

He defended a 1991 referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh to secede from Azerbaijan as a civilized and legitimate expression of popular will, adding that no one can break the will of the Armenian people.

Yerevan and Baku frequently trade accusations of war crimes in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

During a speech at the UN General Assembly in September, Sarkisian accused Azerbaijan of committing"a number of war crimes" against civilians and "prisoners of war" in 2016.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev leveled the ethnic cleansing charge against Armenia during his visit to NATO headquarters in November.MUNICH, Germany -- Tensions between Russia and the West over the war in eastern Ukraine and Moscows alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election were on full display during the second day of a high-profile security conference in Germany featuring world leaders and top diplomats.

There were few signs of progress on the issue of a potential United Nations peacekeeping force in eastern Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference on February 17, while the envoys from Russia and the United States delivered barbs over fresh election-meddling accusations by Washington.

Meanwhile, talks in the so-called Normandy Format -- consisting of Germany, France, Ukraine, and Russia -- aimed at halting fighting between Russia-backed separatists and Kyivs forces in Ukraines east failed to materialize in Munich as of February 17, reportedly due to a scheduling conflict.

In his speech opening the second day of the conference, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said that a UN peacekeeping mission could lead to a step-by-step lifting of sanctions against Russia over its interference in Ukraine.

The European Union and the United States hit Russia with several waves of sanctions in response to Moscows role in the conflict and its 2014 seizure of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, however, said a day earlier that he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were unable to come to an agreement on the issue of peacekeepers during their meeting in Munich.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on February 17 that he discussed the proposed UN peacekeeping mission with Lavrov during their meeting earlier in the morning but that he saw little movement.

It remains to be seen if its possible, Stoltenberg said.

The situation in Ukraine is the main reason for the deterioration of the relationship between NATO and Russia and also the main reason why NATO has adopted its military posture in the eastern part of the alliance," Stoltenberg said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in September proposed sending a peacekeeping force along the demarcation line separating Ukrainian forces from the separatists in the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.



At the time, Ukrainian officials were lukewarm to the proposal, objecting to putting the peacekeepers along the front line of combat rather than at the Russian-Ukrainian border.



Kyiv fears deploying peacekeepers along the demarcation line would cement separatists control over the territory they hold, leaving Russia unencumbered to keep sending troops and arms across the international border.

Gabriel told the conference that all options should be explored to end a war that has killed more than 10,300 since April 2014.

He said earlier on February 17 that it was not realistic to insist on Russias full implementation of the Minsk accords -- September 2014 and February 2015 pacts aimed at resolving the conflict that have failed to hold -- in order to ease sanctions targeting Moscow.

In a fiery address to the conference on February 16, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called on Russia to agree to a peacekeeping force across areas of eastern Ukraine that are controlled by Russia-backed separatists and the uncontrolled part of Ukraine on the Russian border.

At a February 17 lunch sponsored by Ukrainian tycoon Viktor Pinchuk on the sidelines of the Munich conference, Poroshenko repeated his accusation from the previous day that Russian is waging a global hybrid war.

Claptrap And Incontrovertible

In his speech to the conference on February 17, Lavrov delivered a laundry list of Russias grievances against the West, including what he called the European Unions support of a coup detat against former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, a Kremlin ally.

Yanukovych fled Ukraine in February 2014 following months of street protests that swept in a pro-Western government.

The speech came a day after U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller announced charges against 13 Russians and three Russian companies, including one widely referred to as an Internet troll factory," for meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Responding to questions from the audience after his speech, Lavrov said he had no reaction to the U.S. indictments, but called the accusations nothing but claptrap until Moscow sees the facts in the case.

Sergei Kislyak, Russias former ambassador to Washington, called the U.S. allegations "fantasies."

"I'm not sure that I can trust American law enforcement to be the most precise and truthful source of information about what Russians do," said Kislyak, who denied he or his embassy conducted any effort to disrupt the U.S. elections.

Speaking after Lavrov's comments, Trumps national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, said the FBI indictments show Russian meddling in the U.S. election is now really incontrovertible."

Asked by senior Russian lawmaker Konstantin Kosachyov, who was in the audience, whether the United States should begin a dialogue with Russian cybersecurity experts, McMaster quipped: "I am surprised there are any Russian cyberexperts available based on how active most of them have been in undermining our democracies in the West."

Iranian Proxies

Iran, Syria, Brexit, and Britains future relationship with the EU were also on the Munich conference agenda on February 17.

McMaster warned that Iran is creating and arming a powerful network of proxies in countries like Syria, Yemen, and Iraq.

"Whats particularly concerning is that this network of proxies is becoming more and more capable, as Iran seeds more and more...destructive weapons into these networks," McMaster told the conference.

"So the time is now, we think, to act against Iran," he said.

McMaster also said that public reports clearly show that Syrian President Bashar al-Assads forces are continuing to use chemical weapons.

Assads government rejects accusations that it deploys chemical weapons.

British Prime Minister Theresa May, meanwhile, told the conference on February 17 that there was no going back on the result of the June 2016 vote on Britains exit from the EU.

"We are leaving the EU and there is no question of a second referendum or going back and I think that's important," May told top European and U.S. officials.

She called for an urgent agreement with the EU on a post-Brexit security deal that would capture the full depth and breadth of our existing relationship.

"We cannot delay discussions on this," May said.

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker welcomed a "security alliance" with Britain, saying the matter should remain separate from "other questions relating to Brexit."

With reporting by Interfax, AFP, Reuters, and dpaPRISTINA -- Kosovo has marked a decade of independence from Serbia with a weekend of events capped off with a parade of security forces through the capital, Pristina, on February 18.

President Hashim Thaci presided over the parade, which was observed by guests from Albania, Macedonia, Turkey, Croatia, and other countries.

On February 17, Thaci told the Munich Security Conference that he laments the European Union's lack of unity over Kosovo's status as an EU membership candidate.

Thaci told the conference that "we are not yet a member of the United Nations, while our journey to the EU is far too complicated."

Five of the 28 EU member states have not recognized Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia.

Thaci told the Munich conference that "if there were unity in the EU for Kosovo...I'm convinced that the state of Kosovo would be a more sustainable and stable country."

Earlier on February 17, at a special government session in Pristina, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj declared that "the state of Kosovo has upheld the people's demand for freedom."

The United States congratulated Kosovo, which is now recognized by 116 countries, while leaders in Belgrade issued pointed reminders that Serbia is not among them.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson late on February 16 praised Kosovo for "maturing into a more stable, democratic, and inclusive country."

"The United States continues to support Kosovos citizens as they work to strengthen democratic and multiethnic institutions, increase economic growth, and bolster the rule of law on the path toward full integration in the international community," Tillerson said.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia nine years after NATO's 78-day bombing in 1999 halted a Serbian crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists in what was then a province of Serbia.

"It was the happiest moment for all of us as a people," Thaci said in a February 16 statement about Pristina's declaration of independence.

The capital of Pristina was decked out in blue-and-yellow Kosovar flags for the weekend of celebrations, which featured a February 17 concert by Pristina-born British pop star Rita Ora before thousands in the city's main square.

"It's been a long journey to get to this point, and I think it's just a start of an ongoing incredible journey for our country," said the 27-year-old singer, whose family fled Kosovo in 1991 to escape repression by then-Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic after he stripped Kosovo of its autonomy.

Kosovo has made great strides over the past decade.

Barbados on February 15 became the latest out of 116 countries that recognize Kosovo's sovereignty.

Pristina has signed an agreement with the European Union, the first step toward membership one day. Kosovo also belongs to some 200 international organizations.

But its sovereignty is still rejected by five EU countries, including Spain and Greece, as well as by Serbia and by Russia, whose UN Security Council veto prevents Kosovo from becoming a full member of the United Nations.

Kosovo also faces other big challenges.

Crime and corruption are rampant. Unemployment is high in this country of 1.3 million people, a vast majority of them ethnic Albanians.

The minority Serbs, who were the territory's politically dominant ethnicity before the 1998-99 Kosovo war, live in enclaves.

Although people generally are no longer physically attacked for entering a different ethnic area, tension can be easily sparked. Some 4,500 NATO-led peacekeepers are still stationed in Kosovo to ensure security.

Serbia has rejected Kosovo's statehood, but is pressed by the West to compromise with ethnic Albanians on "good neighborly relations" or jeopardize Serbia's prospects of joining the EU.

Serbian officials say recognition of Kosovo's independence is a red line they are not ready to cross.

"Despite the great support it enjoys from Western powers, Kosovo is far, far from being recognized," Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said on February 17. "Without an agreement with Serbia, this issue cannot be solved."

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told Reuters on February 16 that any decision on recognizing Kosovo's independence would have to be put before Serbian voters, many of whom consider Kosovo the cradle of their Orthodox Christian faith.

The people would decide, Vucic said, but he said he doubts voters would approve full recognition of their Balkan neighbor.

We have to look at todays reality and to understand relations in the world and relations in Kosovo and to understand that [Kosovo] is not ours as we taught ourselves, but neither is it theirs as they try to show it, Vucic told Reuters.

With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and APKosovo and Montenegro have agreed on a process for resolving disagreements over a border demarcation deal between the two countries, taking a step that could enable Kosovo to gain visa-free travel to the European Union.

Kosovar President Hashim Thaci and Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic announced on February 16 that they agreed to create a cabinet-level working group charged with correcting "mistakes" in a 2015 demarcation accord that has been blocked by opposition in Kosovo. Montenegro already has ratified the agreement.

"Now there is a possibility to proceed and vote on the deal and open the way to visa liberalization for the citizens of Kosovo," Thaci said, calling on the parliament to schedule a vote on ratifying the 2015 demarcation agreement.

Kosovo's opposition parties have blocked the agreement for years, using tactics such as setting off tear gas in parliament. They claim it would wrongly hand over some 8,000 hectares of territory to Montenegro.

On February 16, Kosovar Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, who previously led opposition to the border agreement, threw his support behind the deal reached with Montenegro.

The European Unions top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, also welcomed the new agreement.

This shows that even complicated issues can move forward," she said at a news conference in Sofia. "Now obviously we not only welcome all efforts in the spirit of good neighborly relations, but also we are ready to support the full implementation of this agreement.

The EU has said Kosovo must ratify the border agreement with Montenegro to gain visa-free access to the bloc. Kosovo is the only country in the Balkans region whose citizens currently need visas to travel to EU member states.

Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina obtained visa-free access to Europe's border-free Schengen zone in 2010.

One Kosovo political party, the Self-Determination Movement Party, said it would continue to oppose the border deal, however, calling the announced deal to work out problems between the two countries "unfair and deceitful."

Meanwhile, the Caribbean country of Barbados on February 16 became the 116th country to recognize Kosovo's independence.

Kosovo's 1.8 million citizens are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the former Serbian province's declaration of independence on February 17.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson late on February 16 congratulated Kosovo on its decade of independence and praised it for "maturing into a more stable, democratic and inclusive country."

"The United States continues to support Kosovos citizens as they work to strengthen democratic and multiethnic institutions, increase economic growth, and bolster the rule of law on the path toward full integration in the international community," Tillerson said.

With reporting by AP and Reuters

MUNICH, Germany -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says he has no reaction to U.S. indictments on alleged Russian meddling in U.S. elections, calling the accusations nothing but "claptrap" until Moscow sees the facts in the case.

But U.S. national security adviser H.R. McMaster, speaking at the Munich Security Conference on February 17 after Lavrov's remarks there, said the FBI indictments show Russian meddling in the U.S. election is beyond dispute.

"We are becoming more and more adept at tracing the origins of this espionage and subversion. And as you can see with the FBI indictment the evidence is now really incontrovertible."

Lavrov made his "claptrap" remark during a question-and-answer session following his February 17 speech at the Munich event.

A day earlier, Washington announced charges against several Russian citizens and firms accused of trying to influence the 2016 presidential election.

U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller announced charges against 13 Russians and three Russian companies, including one widely referred to as an Internet troll factory," over the alleged meddling.

I have no response, Lavrov said, adding: Until we see the facts, everything else is just claptrap.

In his speech, Lavrov delivered a laundry list of Russias grievances against the West, including what he called the European Unions support of a coup detat against former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, a Kremlin ally.

Yanukovych fled Ukraine in February 2014 following months of street protests that swept in a pro-Western government.

Russia proceeded to seize Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and back armed separatists in eastern Ukraine, triggering Western sanctions.

Lavrovs speech followed Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenkos fiery address to the Munich conference the previous day in which he denounced what he called a Russian global hybrid war.

Lavrov on February 17 dismissed the idea of a global Russian threat as a myth.Iran is creating and arming a powerful network of proxies in countries like Syria, Yemen, and Iraq, U.S. national security adviser H.R. McMaster said on February 17.

"Whats particularly concerning is that this network of proxies is becoming more and more capable, as Iran seeds more and more...destructive weapons into these networks," McMaster told the annual Munich Security Conference.

"So the time is now, we think, to act against Iran," he said.

McMaster also said that, despite denials, public reports show that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was using chemical weapons, calling on the international community to hold the Syrian government accountable.

"Public accounts and photos clearly show that Assad's chemical weapons use is continuing," McMaster said, although he did not specify which public accounts or pictures he was referring to.

The Syrian government has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons.

In recent weeks, rescue workers, aid groups and the United States have accused Syria of repeatedly using chlorine gas as a weapon against civilians in Ghouta and Idlib.

Based on reporting by AP and ReutersMUNICH, Germany -- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says he has seen little progress in talks about a UN peacekeeping mission in eastern Ukraine.

Stoltenberg made the comments during a February 17 roundtable following his meeting with Russian Foreign Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, an annual gathering of world leaders, senior officials, and policy experts.

It remains to be seen if its possible, Stoltenberg said of the proposal to deploy a UN peacekeeping force to end fighting between Russia-backed separatists and Kyivs forces in eastern Ukraine.

Discussions of the proposal ramped up in September after Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested deploying such a mission along the line separating the Ukrainian military and the separatists.



But common ground on the issue has proved elusive.

Ukraine and the West worry that a peacekeeping force along the front line rather than the Russia-Ukraine border would cement Moscows control over separatist-held areas and allow Russian fighters and weapons to continue to flow into Ukraine.

Stoltenberg, who described his meeting with Lavrov in Munich as useful, said it was too early to say what kind of solution could be reached on the issue of UN peacekeepers in Ukraine.

He added that the two officials discussed implementation of the Minsk accords -- 2014 and 2015 peace deals that have failed to stem the violence in eastern Ukraine -- and that the conflict in Ukraine is the primary reason for the deterioration of NATO-Russia ties.A U.S. grand jury has indicted 13 Russians and Russian companies, including one known informally as the "Russian Troll Factory" with meddling in U.S. elections and other charges. The allegations were read out by U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on February 16. (Reuters)BELGRADE -- A state campaign aimed at boosting Serbias low birthrate is coming under sharp criticism in Belgrade, including condemnation from the countrys female prime minister and a deputy prime minister in charge of the governments gender-equality coordination body.

The campaign relies on slogans to encourage women to have children.

But it has been widely mocked on social media since the winners of a countrywide slogan contest were announced on February 14.

Deputy Prime Minister Zorana Mihajlovic said she thinks the winning slogans -- "Give birth, don't delay!" and "Love and babies are what we need first!" -- are offensive to women.

Mihajlovic also is angry about a slogan that tied for second place in the competition, Enough words! Let babies cries be heard.

I have warned several times that no one has the right to either order women to give birth or to blame them over the low birthrate by treating them as some kind of breeding machines, Mihajlovic said in a statement.

She said the slogans publicly embarrass women and misrepresent the role of women in Serbia and in population policies.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic weighed in by telling reporters on February 14 that slogans cannot increase the birthrate.

She said what is needed instead is better assistance to pregnant women and new mothers.

Brnabic said the state should focus on making more timely social assistance payments to pregnant women and by eliminating the bureaucratic red tape they face.

But Minister Without Portfolio Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, a member of the state commission that chose the winning slogans, is defending those decisions.

She told the Belgrade bureau of the N1 cable television news channel she doesnt think the slogans are offensive to women.

Djukic-Dejanovic, who is in charge of state population policies, also disagreed with critics who say the slogan Give birth, dont delay has a patronizing and commanding tone.

Serbia's aging population of 7 million people has been falling by thousands of people every year since the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia in 1992.

The population has declined by more than 20,000 people a year since 1998 and an average of about 36,000 people per year since 2005.

In 2016, 100,834 people died while just 64,734 were born.

Meanwhile, the "brain drain" of young, educated Serbs leaving to study or work in more prosperous countries also is taking its toll.

The leader of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Irinej, met with President Aleksandar Vucic in October to discuss their concerns about the countrys "very low birthrate."

The Serbian Orthodox Church opposes abortion and argues that it should be made illegal.

Serbian Orthodox Bishop Amfilojije has publicly accused Serbian women of becoming mass killers of unborn children -- claiming that they kill more children in their wombs in one year than Mussolini, Hitler, Josip Broz Tito, and Kosovar Albanians together.

But Ljubica Krstic, an editor with the Serbian website Noizz.rs, said authorities are playing a dirty game by shifting responsibility for the low birthrate to women.

She said the real causes of the problem are Serbias poor living standards, its high unemployment rate, and inefficient government.

Nevena Subotic, the director of the Belgrade-based Promolineplus public relations agency, said the slogan campaign highlights two important points about Serbias declining population.

The state recognized that a negative birthrate is our main problem, Subotic said. The second point is the state does not have any idea about how to deal with it.

Written by Ron Synovitz in Prague with reporting by Ljudmila Cvetkovic and Branka Trivic in BelgradeSerbs are unlikely to support full recognition of Kosovo's independence in exchange for European Union membership, Serbias president told Reuters on February 16.

Germanys Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel on a visit to Pristina earlier this week said that "acceptance of Kosovo's independence" is a condition Serbia must meet if it hopes to join the EU.

While 116 nations have recognized Kosovo since it declared independence from Serbia ten years go, Belgrade still regards the former Serbian province as part of Serbia.

Serbian leaders have been seeking a compromise that stops short of full recognition. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told Reuters in an interview that any decision would have to be put before Serbian voters, many of whom consider Kosovo the cradle of their Orthodox Christian faith.

The people would decide, Vucic said, but he said he doubts voters would approve full recognition of their Balkan neighbor.

We have to look at todays reality and to understand relations in the world and relations in Kosovo and to understand that [Kosovo] is not ours as we taught ourselves, but neither is it theirs as they try to show it, Vucic told Reuters.

If there is no compromise we will have a frozen conflict for decades. We should not leave that to our children to deal with.

Kosovo broke away from Serbia in 1999 during the Balkans war and declared independence in 2008.

Vucic told Reuters he believes a compromise on Kosovo's sovereignty is possible, but he said it would require political will in Brussels to reach a compromise, rather than continuing to put pressure on Serbia.

Quoting the Serbian writer Borislav Pekic, Vucic said Serbia should look to the future: We should not kiss the ground our ancestors walked on, but rather the ground our children will walk on.

Based on reporting by Reuters

The Swedish Foreign Ministry On February 17 confirmed that it has granted citizenship to a Stockholm-based scientist who is being held in Iran and faces a death sentence.

Ahmadreza Djalali, a medical doctor and lecturer at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, was arrested in Iran in April 2016 and later convicted on charges of espionage.

He was accused by Iranian authorities of providing information to Israel to help it assassinate several senior Iranian nuclear scientists.

Iran's Supreme Court upheld the death sentence in December.

Tehrans prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi says Djalali confessed to meeting agents of the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, to deliver information on Iran's nuclear and defense plans and personnel.

A Swedish Foreign Ministry spokeswoman on February 17 confirmed that Djalali was granted Swedish citizenship by the countrys Migration Board.

The spokeswoman said Sweden is continuing consular work for Djalali and has requested that Iran allow consular access to our citizen."

The spokeswoman also said Swedish diplomats have expressed Sweden's view about the death penalty to Iranian representatives, condemning it in all its forms.

Our demand is that the death penalty is not carried out," the spokeswoman said.

Djalali had been on a business trip to Iran when he was arrested and sent to Tehran's notorious Evin prison.

The rights groups Amnesty International says Djalali was held in solitary confinement for three months and tortured after his arrest.

Amnesty International also said Djalali wrote a letter from inside prison in August stating he was being held because he refused to spy for Iran.

Seventy-five Nobel prize laureates in 2016 petitioned Iranian authorities to release Djalali so he can "continue his scholarly work for the benefit of mankind.

With reporting by Reuters and AFPAs Russia gears up for a presidential election next month, one school in the North Caucasus region of Daghestan has not held back in showing its support for incumbent Vladimir Putin.



School N1 in the village of Belidzhi in the Derbent district organized a campaign on February 13 to support Putin, the district government posted on its VKontakte page.



The post, which has since been removed, was accompanied by several photos showing children inside a classroom holding pro-Putin posters.



We Vote For Putin, one poster read. Putin Is Our President, read another.

A female student is shown holding a placard: Thank You, Putin, For Everything. Another read: Thank You, Putin, For Existing.

The photos also showed a female teacher holding a poster that read: Russia Elects Putin.

Russian law bans using minors and state resources, including co-opting public workers, for election campaigns.

School Director Ruslan Bairamov told Current Time TV, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, that it was the childrens idea: The children themselves wanted this and they asked the teacher to organize this gathering.



The director said he wasnt aware that the law prohibited exploiting minors for election campaigns. Really? We wont organize such things anymore, then, Bairamov added.



According to a map of election violations, a project run by the election-monitoring group Golos, a similar pro-Putin event was recently held in Derbents Gadzhibaev school.

Putin is widely expected to win the election, which opposition leader Aleksei Navalny has described as nothing more than a reappointment of the incumbent. Russias Central Election Commission has barred Navalny from running, citing his criminal conviction in a controversial embezzlement case.



Golos has claimed that state-controlled TV networks in recent weeks have aired dozens of segments that constitute illegal campaigning for Putin ahead of the March 18 election.

Read the original story in Russian

Written by Farangis Najibullah based on reporting by Current Time TVU.S. lawmakers and luminaries expressed alarm at the extensive efforts allegedly made by a ring of Russian operatives to influence the 2016 presidential election, as outlined in a surprise indictment by the U.S. special counsel.

The indictment announced by U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller on February 16 revealed scores of previously unknown details, disclosing that Russian operatives not only placed social media ads and posts that reached millions of U.S. voters during the election, but they actually visited 10 U.S. "swing" states where the race was particularly close and helped stage political rallies boosting Republican Donald Trump and denigrating his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Republicans and Democrats alike expressed disgust and alarm, with many stating their resolve to take action to prevent such foreign interference in U.S. elections again.

"We have known that Russians meddled in the election, but these indictments detail the extent of the subterfuge," said the speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, calling it a "sinister and systematic attack on our political system."

"It was a conspiracy to subvert the process, and take aim at democracy itself," Ryan said. "We need to follow the facts and work to protect the integrity of future elections."

"[Russian President] Vladimir Putin has been using an arsenal of trolls, disinformation, and propaganda to try to undermine western democracies," said Representative Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"More must be done, including with international broadcasting, to counter this threat. Our midterm elections are rapidly approaching, and we must ensure the sanctity of our political process," he said.

A spokesman for Hillary Clinton -- who the Russian operatives actively sought to smear through media posts and rallies, according to the indictment -- said the charges confirmed what she has "long known."

"Russia went to great lengths to undermine our democracy," Nick Merrill said on Twitter. "No matter your politics, it's un-American. We have an adversary that is laughing at us, who will act again."

Senator Bernie Sanders, who vied with Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination and whose campaign was also targeted by the Russian operatives, said: "It is the American people who should be deciding the political future of our country, not Mr. Putin and the Russian oligarchs. It is absolutely imperative that the Mueller investigation be allowed to go forward without obstruction from the Trump administration or Congress."

Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder called the indictment "hugely significant" on Twitter. "The contours of the conspiracy are starting to be detailed," he said.

Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee, said he would continue to press social media companies like Facebook and Twitter "to be far more aggressive and proactive in responding to this threat."

But he admitted that preventing all such activity on open media sites is likely to prove impossible and citizens of Western democracies must simply learn to be more cautious about what the read online.

"We each bear some responsibility for exercising good judgment and a healthy amount of skepticism when it comes to the things we read and share on social media," he said.

With reporting by AP and Reuters

US imports more beer from Mexico than any other country

Mexico City, Mexico  Mexico has become the number one supplier of beer exported into the United States in 2017 say officials.

According to a report by Bloomberg, two out of every three beers imported by the United States comes from Mexico with Corona and Dos Equis being the most popular brands.

The report says that according to the Beer Institute, during 2017, approximately 2.7 billion liters of Mexicos brew headed across the US border, making it the number one beer importer for Americans.

The Netherlands came in as the second most imported, exporting some 549 million liters to gain a market share of almost 14 percent. Belgium, Canada and Germany followed behind with single-digit market share figures.

The most popular Mexican brands include Corona Extra and Modelo Especial, both manufactured for the US market by Constellation Brands as well as Dos Equis and Tecate, produced by the subsidiary Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma de Heineken.Victorias Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio takes gal pal trip to Tulum

Tulum, Q.R.  Victorias Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio spent time in the town of Tulum with gal pals as the group took in many aspects of the area.

Known for flaunting her taut tummy on and off the runway, a bikini-clad Alessandra Ambrosio turned heads while lounging on a beach with her friends in Tulum Friday.

The 36-year-old Brazilian model appeared relaxed as she enjoyed her much-needed paradise getaway, flaunting her assets in an olive green strapless bikini top and matching thong-like bottoms.

The mother-of-two was joined by friends as they walked the beach and swam in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea. Alessandra later swapped her olive green bathing suit for a yellow with black tribal print strapless bikini, pairing her beach ensemble with some trendy accessory pieces such as multiple layered gold necklaces.

The former Victorias Secret Angel looked sun-kissed to perfection as she showed off her yoga-toned body with photos on her Instagram account.

The group of women were also spotted at a nearby lagoon as well as climbing and posing on top of rocks to get that perfect picture. Later, they seen taking in a full tour of the nearby Maya ruins.

Alessandra Ambrosio is a Brazilian model and actress known for her work with Victorias Secret and was chosen as the first spokesmodel for the companys PINK line. The model began her career in fashion at the age of 12, appearing in her first show for the lingerie brand in 2000.They killed some 20,000 people and displaced more than two million since it began a campaign of violence to create an Islamic state in the north of the country in 2009. They have burned villages, slaughtered men and boys who refuse to join their ranks, raped and enslaved women and girls, and strapped suicide bombs to terrified hostages.



Suicide attack in Nigeria

The extremist group has increasingly used women and youth as bombers, often after abducting and indoctrinating them A women suicide bomber attack hit a village near Konduga last month. The Nigerian military has made progress in the past weeks in chasing fighters from their forest hide-aut. Negotiations for the release of about 100 young women kidnapped from a school in Chibok in 2014 are still underway. Last week, Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram, appeared in a 10-minute video released by the group and disputed the Nigerian militarys claims that Boko Haram militants had been defeated in the Sambisa forest.Emergency warning systems were activated in Mexico City, some 348 kilometers (216 miles) from the center of the quake Video on social media showed buildings shaking in Mexico City.The government said some superficial damage had occurred, but did not immediately report any fatalities. In Oaxaca, where the epicenter was located, authorities reported some structural damage to buildings in two towns, Pinotepa Nacional and Santiago Jamiltepec. Secretary of the Interior Alfonso Navarrete tweeted that Oaxaca, Chiapas, Michoacan, Puebla and Mexico City had not reported any major damages. No tsunami threat was detected, according to the US National Weather Service.



People on the street after the earthquake

A 5.9-magnitude aftershock hit nearly an hour later.The Mexico City Government reminded residents via Twitter to check for damage, close gas valves, and disconnect energy sources when returning home. Over 300 people, including schoolchildren, died from a powerful earthquake in central Mexico last September. Mexico had 7 earthquakes in the past 24 hours. A military helicopter carrying Mexicos interior minister and governor who were overseeing the damage left after the strong earthquake hit the city has crashed killing two people but the senior officials survived. They were not seriously harmed in the accident that happened as the helicopter was attempting to land.[MANILA] Despite a funds crunch and legal challenges mounted by coastal communities in Papua New Guinea (PNG), the worlds first deep-sea mining industry will go ahead, assures a spokesperson for Nautilus Minerals, the project developer.



Noreen Dillane, corporate communications manager at the Canada-registered Nautilus, tells SciDev.Net that the company views the Solwara 1 project as ultimately lucrative because of the rising demand for metals due to the development of electric vehicles and storage batteries.



"Commodity prices are very strong at present, with gold and copper prices currently at four-year highs, cobalt at an all-time high, and zinc at a ten-year high," says Dillane.



Solwara 1 aims to extract gold and copper deposits beneath the Bismark Sea under permits given by the PNG government, which also owns 15 per cent equity in the project.



Nautilus fell short of the target to raise US$41 million by the end of 2017, as well as an additional US$270 million to build and deploy the seafloor production system for the project. In December, the company warned the Toronto Stock Exchange that "there can be no assurances that the company will be successful in securing the necessary additional financing transactions within the required time or at all".

The local communities of Namatanai district in the New Ireland Province and the Duke of York Islanders in the Gazelle district of the East New Britain Province (all in PNG) are still very concerned about environmental impacts of mining activities to their traditional fishing waters Arnold Amet, former Papua New Guinea Attorney-General and Justice Minister

In January, Arnold Amet, former PNG attorney-general and justice minister, asked the government to end its partnership with Nautilus, saying that the mining project was financially risky and posed an environmental threat.



By the company's own admission, the project is an experiment with unknown environmental and social consequences and uncertain profits. The past few months have really shown the extent to which financiers and our own communities in PNG reject this project, he said in a statement.



The local communities of Namatanai district in the New Ireland Province and the Duke of York Islanders in the Gazelle district of the East New Britain Province (all in PNG) are still very concerned about environmental impacts of mining activities to their traditional fishing waters, Amet tells SciDev.Net. There are uncertainties about the tides carrying the sediments onto their shallow waters, affecting fishing, as well as marine life and marine environments.

On 6 December, local communities launched legal proceedings against the PNG government demanding production of documents relating to the licensing of Nautilus and potential environmental, health and economic impacts from the Solwara 1 deep-sea project.Two key officials recently left Nautilus: director Mark P.M. Horn resigned in October, followed by vice-president for PNG operations Adam Wright in January.This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets Asia & Pacific desk.[NAIROBI] Professionals with similar qualifications tend to work together but a new approach to addressing global challenges may break this tradition.

Listening to over 120 participants from 17 countries including Ghana, Tanzania and Zimbabwe at the global engagement meeting in Kenya recently (29 January to 2 February) introduce themselves and highlight their research interests, I wondered why the main organiser  the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) of the Research Councils UK  put together such a diverse team.

But Michael Aaronson, chair of the GCRF strategic advisory group, in a welcoming speech, made me know why. The main aim of this meeting is to discover new connections that we could put together to work in research for development, he said.

Africa can no longer depend on the goodwill of donors, we should be the one driving innovations and partnerships. Reuben Marwanga, Kenya National Innovation Authority

When participants were asked to form groups as case studies to address global challenges, the one I joined just highlighted the problems and opportunities of working together in an interdisciplinary team. For instance, while some participants with expertise in medicine argued for addressing cancer challenges, others with social science backgrounds made a case for those resulting from urbanisation. In the end, we focused on addressing population health challenges resulting from urbanisation.

According to Stuart Taberner, director of international and interdisciplinary research, Research Councils UK, the GCRF is 1.5 billion (about US$2 billion), five-year project funded by the UK government.

The initiative that began in 2016 aims to address global challenges through both disciplinary and interdisciplinary research. It is also designed to strengthen research innovation within developing countries and the United Kingdom, build capacity to address global problems guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and provide research solutions to emergencies.

What we are hoping to achieve is to bring together people from developing countries with their United Kingdom counterparts to work together and forge new networks for research partnerships, Taberner added.

A presentation that particularly made the aims of the GCRF come to life for me related to a project in South Africa that focused on informal settlements.

Claudia Loggia, a senior lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, who is a co-investigator on the project, explained: The core of our project is building partnerships, citing collaboration with local non-governmental organisations, local government institutions and UK researchers that is aiding transfer of skills from academic institutions to help communities build resilience.

I was left with no doubt that the GCRF is an initiative that could help researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions build capacity to address challenges that require multidisciplinary approaches.

What convinced me was that the initiative relies on both developing country and UK experts in identifying problems and solutions from multidisciplinary partnerships. But it is important that Africa governments also fund such partnerships. One such scheme called Newton Fund highlighted at the meeting involves UK and governments in 18 countries including Brazil, Egypt, India, Kenya, Mexico, Philippines and South Africa co-funding projects.

As Reuben Marwanga, chair of the Kenya National Innovation Authority, noted, Africa can no longer depend on the goodwill of donors. We should be the one driving innovations and partnerships.



This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against three Israeli residents, a Washington, D.C. attorney, and an Israeli auditor and his Maryland-based accounting firm for their roles in a fraudulent scheme in the creation of numerous public shell companies. Under the terms of their settlements with the SEC, the three Israeli residents will be subject to penny stock bars and the attorney and auditor will be prohibited from appearing and practicing before the Commission.

According to a complaint filed by the SEC in federal district court for the Eastern District of New York, Sharone Perlstein, Aric Swartz, and Hadas Yaron created at least 15 shell companies by filing false and misleading registration statements and periodic reports with the SEC, creating phony business plans, and appointing nominal officers and directors, who also acted as straw-man shareholders for the shell companies. The defendants also conducted putative initial public offerings of certain shell companies. In reality, the defendants continued to control the companies' shares and the defendants subsequently sold certain shell companies at a profit of more than $1.8 million.

The SEC also filed complaints in federal district court for the District of Columbia against gatekeepers who provided substantial assistance in the fraudulent scheme. According to the SEC's complaint against Jonathan Strum, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney, he assisted in drafting false and misleading registration statements and periodic reports and signed fraudulent opinion letters. In its complaint against Alan Weinberg, CPA, an Israeli resident, and his Baltimore-based accounting firm Weinberg & Baer LLC, the SEC alleges that they issued misleading audit reports for at least seven of the shell companies. Despite numerous audit failures and red flags, Weinberg and his firm issued audit reports falsely asserting that the audits had been performed in accordance with the auditing standards promulgated by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

The SEC's complaints charge Perlstein, Swartz, and Yaron with violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5; Strum, Weinberg, and Weinberg & Baer with aiding and abetting these violations; Weinberg and Weinberg & Baer with violating Exchange Act Section 10A(a)(2); and Weinberg & Baer with violating Rule 2-02(b)(1) of Regulation S-X.

To settle the SEC's charges, the defendants agreed, without admitting or denying the allegations, to the entry of permanent injunctions as well as disgorgement and prejudgment interest totaling $1,656,121.18 for Perlstein; $307,510.15 for Swartz; $106,146.64 for Yaron; $62,899.82 for Weinberg and Weinberg & Baer, jointly and severally; and $33,610.89 for Strum. Perlstein, Swartz, and Yaron have also agreed to the entry of penny stock bars. Subject to court approval of the settlements, Weinberg and Weinberg & Baer have also consented to be suspended from appearing and practicing before the SEC as accountants, and Swartz and Strum have consented to the entry of orders suspending them from appearing and practicing before the SEC as attorneys.

The SEC also instituted settled administrative proceedings against Simcha Baer, a Maryland-based accountant. According to the SEC's order, Baer failed to properly perform and document various engagement quality reviews for audits and interim reviews, and repeatedly back-dated and falsified documentation subsequently produced to SEC staff. The SEC's order finds that Baer engaged in improper professional conduct pursuant to Section 4C(a)(2) of the Exchange Act and Rule 102(e)(1)(ii) of the SEC Rules of Practice. Without admitting or denying the findings of the SEC's order, Baer consented to be permanently barred from appearing and practicing before the SEC as an accountant.

On Nov. 4, 2016, the SEC suspended trading in the securities of one of the Perlstein Group's shell companies based on fraudulent statements contained in the company's public disclosures. On April 10, 2017, the SEC suspended the registration statements of four of the shell companies.

The investigation was conducted in the SEC's New York Regional Office by Daphne Downes, Joseph Darragh, Peter Pizzani, and Kristine Zaleskas and supervised by Michael D. Paley of the Microcap Fraud Task Force and Sanjay Wadhwa, and in Washington, D.C. by Greg Hillson and Jeffrey Anderson and supervised by Peter Rosario, Yuri B. Zelinsky, and Antonia Chion. Preethi Krishnamurthy and Daniel Maher provided litigation counsel. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Israel Securities Authority, the Financial and Capital Market Commission of the Republic of Latvia, the British Columbia Securities Commission, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.On February 16, 2018, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts entered final judgment against relief defendant Shawnet Thibeault in an SEC enforcement action. The complaint, which the Commission filed in January 2015, charged investment adviser Daniel Thibeault and others with fraud for misappropriating money from an investment fund. The complaint named Mr. Thibeault's wife, Shawnet Thibeault, as a relief defendant. According to the complaint, she received some of the money that had been misappropriated from investors. The judgment entered against Shawnet Thibeault orders her to disgorge over $500,000.

According to the complaint, Mr. Thibeault misappropriated money from an investment fund that he was managing. Specifically, the SEC alleged that Mr. Thibeault and his companies were the investment advisers to the GL Beyond Income Fund, and that they misappropriated at least $15 million of the Fund's money. According to the complaint, Mr. Thibeault represented that investors' money would be pooled and used to make or purchase consumer loans. These consumer loans would then constitute the Fund's assets, and would provide a return to the investors when interest and principal payments were made on the loans. The complaint alleged that Mr. Thibeault and the other defendants (not including Shawnet Thibeault) engaged in a scheme to create fictitious loans to steal money from the Fund, and to report those fake loans as assets of the Fund. Mr. Thibeault and the other defendants designed this scheme to conceal their misappropriation of millions of dollars from the Fund.

The final judgment against Shawnet Thibeault orders her to pay disgorgement of $468,236, representing money she received as a result of the violations alleged in the Complaint, along with prejudgment interest of $49,826, for a total of $518,062. These funds will be added to the restitution fund in Daniel Thibeault's related criminal case, United States v. Daniel Thibeault, Crim. No. 15-cr-10031-LTS (D. Mass.), which is expected to be distributed to harmed investors by the United States Attorney's Office.

For further information, see Litigation Release Nos. 23718 (Jan. 12, 2017) [Final Judgment Against Defendant Entities]; 23654 (Sept. 26, 2016) [Final Judgment Against Thibeault]; 23573 (June 20, 2016) [Criminal Sentencing]; 23488 (Mar. 11, 2016) [Criminal Plea]; 23207 (Feb. 26, 2015) [Criminal Indictment]; 23178 (Jan. 22, 2015) [Entry of Asset Freeze]; 23171 (Jan. 9, 2015) [Civil Complaint].Its a new day for the Haas-Lilienthal House, a San Francisco classic that is the grand dame of the citys Victorian homes.

The big gray mansion on Franklin Street on the edge of Pacific Heights has just gotten a $4.3 million overhaul to make sure it lasts to be enjoyed for generations to come.

The house, a survivor of San Franciscos Gilded Age, nearly fell victim to the greatest enemy of wooden buildings  old age and dry rot. The house was built of redwood and oak in 1886 in the grand Queen Anne style, with turrets, peaked roofs, balconies, and a brick chimney three stories tall. The house, which has 24 rooms, is capped with a 67-foot-high tower faced with red shingles and shaped like a witchs hat.

The years had taken their toll, and surveys showed that the place needed serious work. If something wasnt done, said Alice Russell-Shapiro, we might have to close it to the public because it wasnt safe.

That would have been a tragedy for Russell-Shapiro, a Haas descendant whose family built and lived in the house for four generations. She became co-chair of a campaign to raise more than $4 million in private funds to make the old place look good as new. The Haas-Lilienthal House is owned by San Francisco Heritage, a nonprofit corporation that protects the citys architectural and cultural identity.

The repairs came just in time. As it turned out, some parts of the exterior were held together only by the paint, said Mike Buhler, Heritages president. Thats how far the dry rot had gone.

Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle

Now the house gleams with polished wood, sparkling crystal, and grand furnishings in the style of years gone by. But underneath, San Francisco Heritage has added a few 21st century touches, like modern wiring, and accommodations that make it accessible for people with disabilities.

Now, Buhler said, everyone can visit the house, which is open to public tours Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Heritage also opens the mansion for special events, like the grand ball held in the mansions ballroom on Valentines Day, when many couples came this year dressed in Victorian finery and danced to stately waltzes.

Im thrilled at what theyve done to the house, said John Rothmann, another descendant of William and Bertha Haas, who built the house 164 years ago. Its come to life again.

The Haas-Lilienthal House is more than a handsome face. It comes with a story, and that helped the National Trust for Historic Preservation choose it as one of Americas treasures.

The story begins in 1868, when Wolf Haas, a 19-year-old with big ambitions, landed in San Francisco to seek his fortune. He was born in a small town in Bavaria, part of the Jewish community there. He left the old country and came here, Rothmann said, because of the free air of San Francisco, where it was possible to not be afraid of being a Jew.

Haas had relatives in the city, got a job as a clerk with Haas Bros., a wholesale grocery firm owned by a cousin. He worked his way up to salesman and then partner in the firm. The company prospered, Haas changed his first name to William, and bought a house for $1,000. In 1880, he married Bertha Greenebaum, daughter of another San Francisco merchant.

By 1886, William and Bertha Haas had three children and had done so well they were able to hire architect Peter Schmidt to design the grand mansion that stands today. The building cost $18,000, not including the land.

Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle

The Haas family led the good life in San Francisco. They entertained at home, traveled abroad, had servants and even a country estate in Atherton, away from the citys summer fogs.

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They were members of what San Francisco historian Fred Rosenbaum calls the German Jewish elite who operated many successful businesses. They moved in the same circles, married each other and worked together, and the names of their enterprises are all over Northern California from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley to Levis Stadium in Santa Clara. Stern Grove, the Steinhart Aquarium in Golden Gate Park, and even the celebrated and now vanished Fleishhacker Pool near the zoo all have links to the Haas-Lilienthal House.

This was the epicenter of it all, Rothmann said of the house. This house is part of the fabric of San Francisco.

The family, their friends and associates and the businesses they built, made San Francisco the commercial capital of the West, Rothmann said.

But the story of the Haas-Lilienthal House was also one of parties, births, weddings, funerals, and Sunday family dinners for children, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, cousins. The last member of the family to live in the house was William and Berthas daughter Alice, who married Samuel Lilienthal in 1909. She and her husband moved into the house after William Haas, the patriarch of the family, died in 1916.

Alice Haas Lilienthal spent the rest of her long life there. Her beloved sister, Florine Haas Bransten, lived just down the street. When Alice died in 1972, the family presented the family home to San Francisco Heritage, a gift of the past to generations to come.Googles firing of an engineer over his controversial memo criticizing its diversity policies and politically correct monoculture didnt violate U.S. labor law, a federal agency lawyer concluded.

Statements in James Damores 3,000-word memo regarding biological differences between the sexes were so harmful, discriminatory, and disruptive that they fell outside protections for collective action in the workplace, an associate general counsel for the National Labor Relations Board wrote in a six-page memo disclosed Thursday.

Damore withdrew his complaint in January and his lawyer has said shes focusing instead on the engineers lawsuit accusing the Mountain View company of harassing him and others over their conservative political views.

When he was dismissed in August, Damore accused Google of violating the employee right to engage in concerted activity to address workplace issues, a category the labor board has found can include forms of activism ranging from lawsuits to strikes to social media posts.

Much of Damores memo was probably protected under the law, the labor boards attorney, Jayme Sophir, said in the Jan. 16 memo. But Sophir went on to find that Google discharged Damore only for his discriminatory statements, which arent shielded by labor law.

Because companies have a duty to comply with equal employment laws and an interest in promoting diversity, employers must be permitted to nip in the bud the kinds of employee conduct that could lead to a hostile workplace, rather than waiting until an actionable hostile workplace has been created before taking action, Sophir wrote.

The company carefully tailored its messages in firing Damore and in addressing employees afterward to affirm their right to engage in protected speech while prohibiting discrimination or harassment. Google also disciplined one of Damores co-workers for sending him a threatening email in response to the memo, Sophir said.

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Google declined to comment on Sophirs memo. Damores attorney didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The labor board lawyers conclusion is consistent with board precedent for decades, which has viewed speech which creates a hostile environment likely to produce both discord and divisiveness as unprotected, said William Gould IV, who chaired the board under President Bill Clinton.

In the course of protesting working conditions, you can be profane and aggressive and unpleasant, you can be militant, and its still protected, Gould said. However, he said, What separates this is its derisiveness and stereotypical characterization of one gender.Today I have answers to reader questions on the taxation of credit card rewards and dividends from mutual funds that invest in real estate investment trusts.

Q: John Wills of Oakland writes, Every time I purchase $1 worth of goods or services with my credit card, Capital One credits my rewards account with 1 cent. When these cents add up to $100, that amount is deducted from my rewards account and added to my purchase account, so that month I have to pay $100 less than I owe. Is that $100 taxable? The thing must get more complicated with tangible prizes, but what I am getting must be the simplest case: I get credited with money.

A: If you get cash or other incentives for opening a checking or savings account, its taxable. But if you get cash or other rewards when you open or use a credit card, its less clear-cut. Its probably not taxable if you have to spend something on the card to get the reward, experts say. But in some cases it could be.

A 2014 U.S. Tax Court decision made it clear that if you get cash or points for opening a checking or savings account, its taxable as interest.

In that case, Shankar vs. Commissioner, Parimal Shankar redeemed 50,000 thank-you points from Citibank for a plane ticket. He received Form 1099-MISC from Citibank for $668, the deemed value of the points. Shankar failed to report it on his tax return. The IRS said he should have.

Proceeding on the assumption that the points were a noncash award for opening a bank account, the court agreed with the IRS and said the points were something in the nature of interest and that interest is includable in gross income.

Many banks have been offering hundreds of dollars  in the case of HSBC up to $750  for opening checking or savings accounts. Most require you to sign up for direct deposit or maintain certain balances. If you open a deposit account and get at least $10 worth in cash or gifts, you will most likely get Form 1099-INT from your bank. Taxpayers are required to report interest even if it is less than $10, the IRS reporting threshold for Form 1099-INT, said Mark Luscombe, principal federal tax analyst for Wolters Kluwer Tax and Accounting.

The IRS has provided no clear guidance on credit card rewards. In 2002, it issued Announcement 2002-18, which said if you earn frequent-flier awards or other promotional benefits such as hotel points for business travel, and use those awards for personal use, they are not taxable as income.

It added that there are numerous technical and administrative issues relating to these benefits on which no official guidance has been provided. ... Because of these unresolved issues, the IRS has not pursued a tax enforcement program with respect to promotional benefits such as frequent-flier miles.

It warned, however, that This relief does not apply to travel or other promotional benefits that are converted to cash. And it never mentioned credit cards.

Nevertheless, some people have interpreted the discussion with respect to miles for airline travel to also apply to rewards for credit cards, Luscombe said.

Because someone has to pay for airline tickets to get the rewards, banks have decided there also should be a payment associated with the credit card to get cash back or other perks, he added.

These rewards have been escalating in recent years. Some cards offer cash or points worth $500 or more in airline travel or merchandise just for opening a card and spending a few thousand dollars on it within a few months.

Some have no annual fee or will waive the fee for the first year. If cardholders pay off their balance on time each month, they have paid nothing for the rewards, although their bank will earn a small fee when they use the card.

When I asked the IRS whether credit card rewards are taxable, a spokesman first referred me to the general rule in Publication 525 that states, In most cases, an amount included in your income is taxable unless it is specifically exempted by law.

However, he also directed me to a line in the same publication that states A cash rebate you receive from a dealer or manufacturer of an item you buy isnt income, but you must reduce your basis by the amount of the rebate. It gives this example: If you buy a new car for $24,000 cash and receive a $2,000 rebate, the $2,000 isnt income to you. But your cost basis in the car, which is used to figure your gain or loss if you sell it or depreciation if you use it for business, is $22,000, not $24,000.

Some experts say credit card rewards are not taxable for the same reason. Cash rewards given that count toward future purchases are considered discounts or rebates, and not income, since you are not actually receiving cash, but instead a discount towards future purchases, said Lisa Greene-Lewis, a CPA with TurboTax.

If rewards are for spending on a new credit card, it is not taxable. If it is for opening a new bank account or for opening a credit card without a purchase obligation, it is taxable, Luscombe said.

In the case where credit card rewards are considered income and exceed $600 in one year, they should be reported on Form 1099-Misc. However, failure to receive a 1099 does not necessarily mean it is not taxable, Luscombe said.

I asked six banks whether they issue 1099s to customers who get credit card rewards. Five replied by email. Bank of America did not respond.

Wells Fargo and Capital One said they do not issue Form 1099 on credit card rewards.

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Chase said, We determine the reportability based on the terms and conditions of each incentive offer.

HSBC said, When customers earn points for their card spending, a 1099 is not generated, however if they were to receive a lump sum of points for a campaign or other reason that is in excess of $600 in value (approximately 60,000 points), then we would need to generate a 1099.

U.S. Bank issues a card for Fidelity Investments that offers 2 percent cash back when deposited into a Fidelity brokerage account, individual retirement account, charitable giving account or 529 college savings account.

I have this card, and when I called customer service I was told, on two separate occasions, that Id get a 1099-Misc if my rewards exceeded $600 in a year.

However, a spokeswoman for U.S. Bank said, The Federal Government requires credit card issuers to send cardholders a 1099 if they received a non-card spend rewards cash bonus equaling $600 or more. Non-card spend rewards include sign-on bonuses, referral bonuses, etc. We dont offer such programs so we dont issue 1099s.

Q: Ken Perkins of Belmont asks if shareholders of mutual funds that own real estate investment trusts will get the same deduction under the new federal tax law that owners of REITs themselves get.

A: Not yet. REITs are companies that invest in apartments, office buildings and other commercial properties. They dont pay tax at the corporate level. Instead, their income is passed through to shareholders and taxed at their rates. Starting this year, people who own REITs wont have to pay tax on 20 percent of their ordinary dividends.

The law does not make the 20 percent deduction available to investors who own REITs through mutual funds or exchange traded funds, Ron Kuykendall, a spokesman for the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts trade group, said in an email. However, consistent with the aim of middle-class tax cuts, we believe that the clear intent of the new law is to provide the benefit of the 20 percent deduction to REIT investors whether they invest in a REIT directly or through a mutual fund and that the Treasury Department has the authority under the new law to confirm that in regulatory guidance.What would our lives feel like in this country without the constant threat of gun violence?

Its not a question Ive heard very often, even though the incidence of mass shootings in America is growing.

This weeks horrific Valentines Day incident, when a 19-year-old named Nikolas Cruz walked into his former high school in Parkland, Fla., and murdered 17 people with a semiautomatic rifle, is no different.

Immediately, the Republican politicians released statements about their prayers for the many people who will be affected by the massacre. The Democratic politicians expressed outrage and demanded a vote on narrow gun control measures, like a ban on bump stocks or required background checks for all gun purchasers.

Immediately, President Trump offered his usual cruelty on Twitter. He suggested that the students and community of Parkland should have reported the shooter to authorities sooner. (In addition to being cruel, Trumps statement is nonsensical. Reporting the shooter would have been unlikely to stop him. Cruz bought the gun legally under Florida law, and Trumps administration cut funding to combat the kinds of white supremacist organizations of which the gunman was allegedly a member.)

If history is any teacher, the rest of us will talk about this shooting for the next few days.

Our public debate, such as it is, has been hijacked by a few crazed true believers in unfettered gun access. So it will spiral out quickly from the central question about gun access into topics of decreasing relevance  mental health treatment, for example, or fan fiction scenarios where the incident could have been prevented by an armed, phantom hero on the scene.

Then well forget about the whole thing.

We dont, or wont, believe a similar massacre can happen to us. In a few weeks, or maybe months, there will be another slaughter. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Its a terrible and terrifying cycle.

Which is why Ive lately started to imagine something far outside of it  like a life lived outside of the constant, low-level dread of possible gun violence.

In countries with serious gun control laws, people actually live this way. It makes a real difference in what theyre able to imagine for their own lives, their own activities, and the lives of their fellow citizens.

Im not a pessimist about gun control  I believe well get there, but I dont think it will happen unless we first imagine an alternative. First, we need to understand what were actually living with by choosing to live under the threat of so much gun violence.

Heres one example.

Recently, I went to handle some business at the UPS Customer Center on San Bruno Avenue in San Francisco.

In June, there was a terrible mass shooting at this depot  an employee murdered three of his co-workers, wounded two more, and then killed himself.

Business was slow enough when I came in that I was able to fall into a conversation with two of the employees there. I asked them how they were doing, now that some months had passed since the shooting.

They were fine, they told me, and very happy for their good fortune. But life was still difficult.

Fear had stuck with both of them. They were cautious about entering rooms and public spaces. Sudden, unexplained noises were frightening. They were careful about the conversations they got into, for fear they might escalate into murderous arguments.

Their trauma is extreme, of course. Most of us havent survived a mass shooting  or its debilitating, destabilizing aftermath.

But all of us fear these shootings now. And to some extent, were all carrying similar, low-level symptoms of this stress.

How many of us have hesitated about going to a movie theater or a mall in the days after a mass shooting? How many of us have frozen with terror when a stranger started yelling on a train, or in a bar, or in any other public space, for fear that he might have a gun? How many parents have cried over their kids lockdown drills at school?

Gun advocates claim that their access to guns is about their access to freedom.

But the rest of us deserve freedom, too. We deserve freedom from ghoulish delusions that access to guns isnt the sole reason why the U.S. has far and away the highest levels of violence among developed nations.

We deserve freedom from violence, freedom from terror and freedom from the constant fear weve been living in. Once we can imagine what that feels like  how free well all be  well step off this horrible cycle. Thats when well really start to live.There is no restaurant in San Francisco like Cafe Jacqueline in North Beach, which serves souffles and little else. There is no Cafe Jacqueline without its 82-year-old chef, Jacqueline Margulis, who makes every single one.

The restaurant is constant in its peculiarities, its charm and its prickliness, and the exquisite fragility of its sweet souffles. Weve been this little unit for so many years, says Matthew Weimer, the restaurants head waiter. Margulis prep cook has been with her for 30. Weimer started in 1994. The new waiter has been the new waiter for seven years. Thats the thing that people love. To come into the room and see that the room hasnt changed and the waiters havent changed and the chef hasnt changed and the food hasnt changed and the salad dressing hasnt changed. And its still great.

Margulis admits she has not altered much since she took over an old shoe store in October 1979. The color of the walls has always been the palest sea-green blue. The scuffed wood floors were scuffed when she excavated them from underneath a concrete shell. Even the painted wooden egg that perches atop the wooden bowl of eggs in her kitchen  so high a mound of eggs you wonder if it isnt the roe sac from some giant, ivory-hued salmon  is the same.

Before the restaurant opened, when she was still raising two children in the Marina, the chef gained some sense of the sway souffles had on the American imagination. Shed go to the theater with friends, then invite them over for drinks. Oh, Jacqueline, make us a souffle! theyd cry, and shed head into the kitchen.

In Bordeaux, where Margulis was raised in a convent and attended cooking school, a souffle was as commonplace as an omelet, something you made on a weeknight when eggs and milk were on hand. Here, it represented the peak of culinary technique, of Frenchness.

Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

So Margulis opened Cafe Jacqueline, at the age of 45, thinking it would be a proper cafe: croissants and coffee in the morning, a few heartier entrees at night. But people just wanted to order souffles.

Thirty-eight years on, souffles are tinged with another emotion: nostalgia, perhaps, or the delight of rediscovery. The Francophilia that drove the Bay Area restaurant world until the 1980s has dissipated.

Yet Jacquelines souffles are no less remarkable than they ever were. If youve never had a Cafe Jacqueline souffle before, the savory variety  Gruyere and mushroom, or salmon and asparagus  can strike you as a humble dish, hardly worth $45. It slumps even as the waiter spoons its spongelike innards onto your plate.

And yet with every bite your pace accelerates  how did they make air taste so much like egg?  until youre prying the last bits of crust off the serving dish and wondering how youll survive until the dessert souffle arrives.

That one quivers as its set on the table, vibrationally attuned to every draft of air, and deflates even more quickly. The potency of its flavor, whether chocolate, lemon or Grand Marnier, is even more surprising: a Johnny Weir of a dessert, hiding so much strength in so much flounce.

The only problem is, you have to wait, Margulis says. Her tone is not apologetic. It is a sugar-dusted ball of steel.

Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

There are many reasons why Cafe Jacqueline has landed on Most Romantic Restaurant lists for three decades. People fall for the room, as well as the souffles, and for the curt waiters whose charms unfurl throughout the course of the meal.

For her part, Margulis says, it has to do with time. Its tete-a-tete, and you have time to love each other or hate each other. Weve had beautiful engagements. Weve had beautiful fights, too.

If you order the watercress salad with mustard vinaigrette or the French onion soup, she doesnt crack an egg until after youve taken the last spoonful. The dessert souffles go into the oven only after the waiters have run the crumbing tool over the tablecloth. That means you are in that chair, face to face with your partner, for three hours.

You may bolt through the first glass of wine and the salad with your usual patter, and then the conversation ebbs. Another glass of wine comes, then the souffle. Relief! You marvel, together, at it. But the waiter soon clears away the souffle dish and with it, your normal topics. You check your phone, feel guilty, then look back up and find your partner looking back at you.

Soon after  maybe aided by a third glass of wine, why not?  the conversation resumes, its rhythms more languid. The constants in your coupledom, the core subjects youve forgotten to discuss for so long, re-emerge, and you have the time to examine them, together, with gentleness and affection.

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Yelp and smartphones have certainly changed the experience, Weimer says. Sometimes its for the better: Most first-time diners already expect to wait, quite a while, for their food. More and more couples, though, cling to their phones through dinner and need to document and brag.

This gorgeous, trembling object comes, Weimer says, and theyre like: Picture! Not only do customers shoot photos of the collapsing souffle, they take the time to post them to their Instagram feeds. They dont even look at it anymore. Theyre not in the moment anymore. That happens every night.

Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

There is no Cafe Jacqueline without Jacqueline. You could say that of many restaurants, and itd be a platitude, or perhaps a hyperbolic tribute. But Margulis touches every dish that goes through the kitchen. When shes sick or on vacation, the restaurant closes.

She still works five nights a week. Standing in her tiny kitchen, working in swift, silent tandem with her prep cook, she says its no bother. Its a job and its very pleasant, she says. I enjoy the work, I enjoy the people working for me, and I enjoy the clients.

Weimer says she sometimes tells him, Two more years. To talk to her and watch her move, her age is not apparent. At the same time, the meal moves more slowly, so the restaurant takes fewer reservations than before.

Customers ask him what happens when Margulis leaves Cafe Jacqueline. Whats going to happen when its gone? Well, its gone, he says, more resigned than complacent. Its like a souffle. Its there and its gone.

Cafe Jacqueline, 1454 Grant Ave., San Francisco, (415) 981-5565. 5:30-11 p.m. Wed.-Sun. Beware: Reservations strongly preferred.The Trump administration is appealing federal court rulings in the Bay Area and Pennsylvania that have blocked Presidents Trumps order to let private employers deny birth control coverage to women for religious or moral reasons.

The Justice Department said Friday that it will appeal the December ruling by U.S. District Judge Haywood Gilliam of Oakland to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. Last week, the department appealed a similar decision, made in December by a Pennsylvania federal judge, to the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia.

The department has said it is defending the religious liberty of all Americans.

But California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, whose suit challenging the administrations order was joined by the states of Delaware, Maryland, New York and Virginia, said the Justice Department is out of line.

A woman, not her boss and certainly not a politician, should decide whats best for her own health care, he said.

The health care law signed by President Barack Obama required health insurance plans to include contraceptive care without a co-payment. The Supreme Court ruled in 2014 that closely held corporations whose owners had religious objections to birth control did not have to pay for it, but female employees could still receive coverage subsidized by their employers insurers or the government.

Trumps Oct. 6 order allowed any private employer to withhold contraceptive coverage for religious reasons, and gave many types of employers the option of denying coverage for moral reasons. The new rules allowed employers to prevent insurance subsidies, leaving the women without coverage.

State law in California requires insurers to cover birth control. But state officials say the federal order could affect as many as 6.8 million Californians who are on employer-sponsored health plans not covered by the state law.

Gilliams ruling said the federal government had imposed the sweeping changes without the legally required public notice or opportunity to comment.

For many women, the judge said, the Trump administrations orders transform contraceptive coverage from a legal entitlement to an essentially gratuitous benefit wholly subject to their employers discretion.Im confused.

These days, nationalism is all the rage on the right. I put it in quotes because there are a lot of different ideas of what nationalism means. Some of it is just rah-rah USA No. 1 sloganeering. For others, nationalism is basically code for white identity politics.

And for the so-called alt-right, its not even code.

The ideal of a white ethno-state  and it is an ideal  is something that I think we should think about in the sense of what could come after America, Richard Spencer, a leading alt-righter, has said.

Note the phrase after America. For that crowd, American patriotism  love for our creeds of liberty and devotion to the Constitution  is already a dead letter.

Among intellectual conservatives, there is a much more elevated and defensible call for a renewed sense of national identity, one that is racially inclusive and rooted in American history and patriotism.

For instance, my National Review colleagues Rich Lowry and Ramesh Ponnuru argued in a widely discussed essay last year that Nationalism can be a healthy and constructive force. Since nationalistic sentiments also have wide appeal and durability, it would be wiser to cultivate that kind of nationalism than to attempt to move beyond it.

That strikes me as entirely reasonable. While Im skeptical about the utility of relying on nationalism as an organizing political idea, I have always believed that a little nationalism is necessary for a country to bind itself together and for citizens to feel that their nation is worth defending. Sustaining the long twilight struggle against the Soviet Union would have been impossible without some amount of nationalist commitment (which is not to say that this sentiment couldnt boil over into hysteria from time to time).

Moreover, without a little nationalist sentiment, its difficult to cultivate patriotism or assimilate immigrants into American culture.

While many on the left are eager to blur the distinctions between the benign nationalism of Lowry et al. with the atavistic identity politics of Spencer & Co., there is actually very little overlap between the two camps, except in two aspects. As an analytical matter, the nationalists insist that nationalism is the wave of the future, transforming politics around the globe. And they may be right.

Second, and not unrelatedly, nationalists of all stripes have pinned some of their hopes on the idea that Donald Trump could serve as a useful champion for their particular kind of nationalism. Indeed, they are often quick to say that their real passion is for the nationalist cause and not the flawed vessel that is Trump.

So heres what Im confused about. It seems to me that virtually every understanding of nationalism is rooted in the idea that the nation should be jealously defended from foreign interference, aggression and insult. Even purely symbolic disrespect should quicken the blood of every true nationalist.

In ancient Greece, the Trojan War was waged over a romantic squabble. Modern Greece and the Balkan nation of Macedonia have nearly come to blows in recent years because the Greeks believe the name Macedonia is their historic property. Every learned American patriot knows that the Barbary Wars were fought on the nationalistic battle cry, Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute.

Meanwhile, it is now an accepted fact that the Russian government attempted to meddle in our elections and is planning on doing so again in 2018 and beyond. Members of the Trump administration, with the notable exception of the president himself, are unequivocally blunt about this. But where is the outrage from the nationalist caucus?

To be fair, National Review has issued stern editorials. But most of the rah-rah nationalists on cable, talk radio and social media have been remarkably blase about it, more interested in Hillary Clintons misdeeds than those of a contemptuous foreign power. For some of the alt-right, the silence is understandable; many of them are simply fanboys (or clients) of Vladimir Putin.

But at least part of this outrage lacuna must be attributable to the distorting effects of partisanship. The Russians didnt win the 2016 election for Trump, but the whole topic remains politically charged for him, and his refusal to squarely address this issue sends a powerful signal to his own party. So it gets downgraded to a mere technical challenge for the Deep State to handle. And maybe thats the right course.

But it does pose an interesting question: How powerful can nationalism be if it cannot overpower partisan loyalty?

 2018 Tribune Content Agency LLCThe Republican brand has been so severely damaged and diminished in California that, barring a dramatic reversal of fortune in the polls, the party will not have a candidate on the ballot for governor or U.S. senator in the November election. Under a system adopted by voters in 2010, the top two finishers in the June primary advance, regardless of party.

Only 1 in 4 voters in the state is registered Republican. No Republican has won a statewide office since Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was re-elected in 2006. One other Republican won that year: Steve Poizner, who was elected insurance commissioner.

Poizner is back, trying to regain his old job, but no longer as a Republican. He is running as an independent in a field that includes five Democrats, one Republican and a Peace and Freedom candidate.

His candidacy poses an interesting test of whether Californians, who are increasingly inclined to shed the party label, are ready to vote for a candidate who is similarly unaffiliated.

Poizner is convinced that he has picked the right time  and the right office  to run as an independent. He broke one mold in his 2006 campaign. For much of the posts existence, the struggle for control of the insurance commissioners office has been between the industry it regulates (typically funding Republicans) and trial lawyers (typically funding Democrats).

As a Republican candidate, Poizner refused to accept industry money. He will again refuse to take its money this time.

In an interview last week, Poizner said his decision to go independent had less to do with any disgruntlement with the party but with his belief that setting insurance rates and enforcing regulations was the job of a referee rather than a partisan. As commissioner he even tried, unsuccessfully, to persuade the Democrat-controlled Legislature to make it a nonpartisan office.

It fits the post, he said. Thats the thing that makes me so passionate about this. Its the right thing to do for the office.

However, while independents nearly match Republicans in registration, that still leaves 75 percent of Californians with a party identity. How realistic are his chances?

If you are running as an independent, you are a man without a country, said Garry South, one of the states premier Democratic consultants. He said an alignment with a major party offers a candidate a support structure to help identify and deliver voters.

South cited another factor against Poizner or any other independent: Voters who register with no party preference (or decline to state) still tend to have defined allegiances to one party or the other.

The dirty little secret in California politics is that an overwhelming majority of independent voters are not independent, South said, noting that Democrats represent about 45 percent of registered voters in the state but that were winning elections by 20 points.

The previous former Republican who tried to run as an independent was Dan Schnur, a University of Southern California professor and longtime GOP strategist who became a candidate for secretary of state in 2014. Schnur, like Poizner, had a credible case that the office he was seeking should be impeccably nonpartisan and more than a way station for politicians waiting for opportunities at bigger prizes.

Schnur finished fourth in the June primary with 9.2 percent of the vote, just behind state Sen. Leland Yee, a San Francisco Democrat who had dropped out of the race after being arrested on corruption charges.

Schnur talks about his bid with self-deprecating humor laced with a practical analysis of why he believes Poizner has a shot at becoming the first independent to gain statewide office. The big two factors, interrelated, are money and name recognition. Poizner starts the campaign better known, not only from his tenure as insurance commissioner, but from his 2010 race against Meg Whitman for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.

Also, as Schnur noted, there are myriad monied interests, not just the insurance industry, that care about who will be serving as referee in the insurance commissioners office. That was much less the case for secretary of state.

There are a relatively small number of good-government zillionaires, Schnur said. I think I found both of them.

One of the challenges that Schnur faced, as will Poizner, is the deadly ballot designation for an independent in California: NPP, or No Party Preference. Various other states allow the friendlier and more self-explanatory designation of independent.

As long as the two major parties run Sacramento, were never going to be designated as independents on the ballot, Schnur said. Even voters who are unhappy with the two parties will look at a ballot and know what the letter D and the letter R stand for. It takes an unusually well-informed voter to even know what NPP means.

Another problem for an independent candidate is that independent voters tend to show up in smaller numbers for a primary than in a general election. While independents account for nearly 25 percent of the registered electorate, they typically represent only 10 to 15 percent of a primary vote. Conversely, Republicans tend to vote in greater proportions in primaries.

The problem (for an independent) is getting out of June to the November runoff, said Rob Stutzman, a leading Republican strategist. He is a party loyalist, but also decidedly pragmatic about the GOPs current standing in a state where Democrats swept all statewide offices in the past two election cycles.

I think weve all been interested in that moment where we can see a well-funded, well-qualified independent, Stutzman said by phone last week.

Has that moment arrived?

Democrat South is an emphatic no, especially when California voters discover that the independent was a Republican until the campaign: They think theyre trying to hoodwink them.

Sometime soon, perhaps this year, Republicans will fall behind independents in registration. The significance of that is illustrated by the willingness of one of the last two Republicans to hold statewide office to shed the party label.

I do think Im a pioneer here, Poizner said. I am excited about the idea of being able to pave a new path for people who dont want to be partisan warriors ... and just want to serve.

Both major parties will be watching this race with a touch of trepidation.

John Diaz is The San Francisco Chronicles editorial page editor. Email: jdiaz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnDiazChron

The rise of the independents

Much has changed since 1988, when George H.W. Bush was the last Republican to carry California. Democratic registration has declined slightly, while Republican registration has plunged. Meanwhile, the percentage of voters registering with no party preference has nearly tripled.The San Francisco Ballet showed the other side of the coin Thursday, Feb. 15, at the War Memorial Opera House, and the experience told us much about the companys 33 years under Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson. Earlier in the week, the troupe offered a program of works created in other cities or choreographed by guests.

This time, Tomasson brought it all home, reviving three company-originated dances from the past decade. The variety was major. Tomassons On a Theme of Paganini embraces the neoclassical style. Myles Thatchers Ghost in the Machine trades in edgy modernism. Val Caniparolis Ibsens House calls for dramatic, quasi-narrative, almost expressionist treatment.

All offer challenges that test dancers in repertory companies like ours to the ultimate. They passed with much style and, in some cases, the ballets looked better Thursday than they did when freshly minted.

In all its revivals, Ibsens House has drawn dancers hungry to make a meal of its condensation of five plays by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. Caniparoli goes for the intense climactic confrontation in each play, and if theres a feminist bias, well, its in the originals. In Sandra Woodalls stunning decor, the women in period costume enter, followed by their partners. The women glide gloomily across the stage; the men demonstrate their despair in various ways, including reaching arms. Ibsens insightful debates have no place here, while the music, four movements of Dvoraks piano quartet, is too happy-folksy fare for Ibsen.

Yet, the dancers tore into their assignments almost ravenously Thursday. Thatcher, also a corps member, and Jennifer Stahl inflamed the Ghosts episode, while Vitor Luizs manic spins captured his desperate relationship with Hedda Gabler (Dores Andre). The other couples, all operating at peak performance levels, were Sofiane Sylve and Tiit Helimets; Kimberly Marie Olivier and Luke Ingham; and Ellen Rose Hummel and Sean Orza.

Ghost in the Machine looked vastly improved over last seasons premiere, and Thatchers intention for this piece seems clearer: Looking for love in all the wrong places is a problem that dogs his 10 dancers, none more so than Sasha De Sola, who meanders (delightfully) all over the place until Steven Morse embraces her. Compatibility is not a problem for Frances Chung and Jaime Garcia Castilla, who begin the piece. Andre tussles with Carlo Di Lanno. Thatchers powers of invention rarely fail; he seems to know how these dancers breathe, and they do not disappoint.

But the score by Michael Nyman, when it settles on chugging minimalism, sounds tired and whats worse, dated. The lyrical episodes are more congenial. Then, Thatcher almost forgets to conclude the piece (I counted three possible endings). Meanwhile, Alexander V. Nichols decor provides plenty of eye appeal. Ming Luke conducted.

In On a Theme by Paganini, Tomasson uses the familiar Rachmaninoff score in ways both novel and predictable. The male corps poses in attitude while the principals cavort. Max Cauthorn and Wei Wang squire the complicit De Sola in a witty trio. And the familiar 18th variation summons Maria Kochetkova and Luiz in a duet with heavy lifting. It all works, and Roy Bogas pianism and Martin Wests conducting help make it so.

Allan Ulrich is the San Francisco Chronicles dance correspondent.

San Francisco Ballet Program 3: Dances by Helgi Tomasson, Val Caniparoli and Myles Thatcher. Through Sunday, Feb. 25. $25-$327. War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness, San Francisco. (415) 865-2000. www.sfballet.orgIf campaign cash is a signal of political enthusiasm, Californias beleaguered congressional Republicans are a dour-looking bunch these days.

Already outnumbered 39-14 in the state delegation, GOP House incumbents are finding it harder than ever to raise re-election money in a strong Democratic state thats trending even bluer.

Of the 10 Republicans targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in this years midterm elections, five of the GOP incumbents raised less money than their Democratic opponents in the final quarter of 2017 and two others abruptly announced their retirements rather than face an uncertain re-election.

In a sign of the breadth of the Republican cash crunch  and the extent of Democratic optimism  incumbents in two of the GOPs safest seats, Rep. Doug LaMalfa of Richvale (Butte County) and Rep. Paul Cook of Yucca Valley (San Bernardino County), found themselves out-raised by little-known opponents with only a long-shot chance of winning in November.

Historically, Republicans always win the fundraising battle, said Drew Godinich, a spokesman for the Democratic committee. The fact that (Democrats) have been able to out-raise them shows how strong the challengers are.

But theres nearly nine long months before the Nov. 6 general election, a fact Republicans are quick to point out.

Pundits eager to write off Republicans in November need to take a step back and look at the entire picture, said Jack Pandol, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Democrats arent talking about the massive primary costs their candidates face, he said. Even before those Democrats have a likely one-on-one faceoff with a GOP incumbent in November, they will have an incredibly brutal and expensive primary.

About 70 Democrats already have filed to run against Republican incumbents in 2018, more than the total who ran in those GOP districts between 2012 and 2016, according to figures compiled by the nonpartisan California Target Book, which studies congressional and legislative races across the state.

Many of those districts feature two or more well-funded Democrats who will be struggling to be one of the two top finishers in the June 5 primary and advance to the November election.

In the 49th Congressional District now represented by retiring Rep. Darrell Issa of Vista (San Diego County), Cody Peterson, the campaign manager for Democratic challenger Doug Applegate, estimated in November that the various campaigns in the district could spend as much as $8 million in the primary alone.

Gregory Bull / Associated Press

Thats a lot of money, but the fall elections are likely to be even more expensive, especially since six of the Democrats targeted seats are in Southern California.

By and large, the Los Angeles media market is incredibly expensive, and you have to be able to afford to run TV ads, said Pandol, the GOP spokesman. The Republicans have a built-in structural advantage, since as incumbents they already have better name ID in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.

Its also easy to underestimate just how tough a challenge Democrats face in those traditionally GOP districts, even when polls show that voters across the state are unhappy with both President Trump and Congress.

In seven of those targeted districts, (Democratic presidential candidate) Hillary Clinton beat Trump in 2016. But in five of them, no Democrat has ever won anything, including state Senate or Assembly seats, said Darry Sragow, a former Democratic strategist who now publishes the California Target Book. If the past is a predictor, its going to be a very, very tough mountain for Democrats to climb.

Even some Democrats are concerned that their partys plan for California may be too ambitious, even with a flood of campaign contributions.

Were not going to produce seven to 10 seats, Rep. Jared Huffman of San Rafael said on an episode of The Chronicles Its All Political podcast. Realistically, three to four.

But the numbers, and especially the Republican financial figures, make the California contests intriguing for Democrats eager to flip the 24 Republican-held seats needed to take control of Congress.

GOP Rep. Tom McClintock, a five-term incumbent from Elk Grove (Sacramento County), was out-raised by two Democrats, Jessica Morse and Regina Bateson, and Morse has more money in her campaign account than McClintock.

Both Katie Porter and Brian Forde took in more money in the last quarter of 2017 than GOP incumbent Mimi Walters of Irvine (Orange County). Democrats Hans Keirstead and Harley Rouda each collected far more contributions than Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa (Orange County), who was first elected to Congress in 1988. Rouda also has more cash on hand than Rohrabacher.

Then theres GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter of Alpine (San Diego County). He raised only about $50,000 in the last quarter, behind a pair of Democrats, Josh Butner and Ammar Campa Najjar. Hunter, who was elected to replace his father in 2008, is under investigation by both the House Ethics Committee and the FBI over possible misuse of campaign funds. He already has spent about $170,000 of his campaign funds on legal expenses, with more likely to come.

With the primary still nearly four months away and the final ballot lineups not set until the March 9 filing deadline, the California Target Book found that Democratic candidates for GOP congressional seats collected $22.8 million in 2017, more than the previous six years combined.

Thats an indication of how very different the 2018 campaign will be, with recent polls showing that voters are becoming far more willing to base their decisions on local congressional races on their feelings toward Trump and the Republican-led Congress.

Normally, long-term incumbents have access to a lot more money than challengers, said Sragow of the California Target Book. Its not often (a challenger) can argue Im not the incumbent, and expect that will work.When Laurie Green was applying to medical school, one of the professors overseeing her application asked her, utterly serious: Why should you take this spot from a qualified male student?

Green, 22 and hungry and perfectly qualified, didnt take offense. It was the early 1970s, and women were only just beginning to venture into medicine. Instead, she took the question as a challenge, and has been, in a way, earning that spot in the 40-plus years since.

It was that drive that compelled her to start a nonprofit organization focused on reducing health disparities. The Maven Project of San Francisco connects volunteer physicians, most of them retired or nearly so, with health clinics that serve patients who may not have access to expert specialty care. Green describes it as Match.com meets the Peace Corps.

We want to be the organization that doctors go to when theyre retired or retiring, to be able to continue to make a contribution, Green said. We want to marshal this army of retired doctors.

Now Playing: video 1 of 2 Video: San Francisco Chronicle

For her innovation, Green was nominated for a 2018 Visionary of the Year award, sponsored by The Chronicle. The award comes with a $25,000 grant, which the winner may use to fund his or her work or apply to a chosen cause.

Green, a full-time obstetrician and gynecologist who practices out of California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, founded Maven in 2014, at a time when widespread doctor shortages, especially in certain specialties and in impoverished communities, were colliding with a large market of patients newly insured under the Affordable Care Act.

Now, with the act commonly known as Obamacare under attack and the number of uninsured people beginning to rise, the demand for expert care in at-need communities is even more acute, Green said. Her project is designed to bridge some of that gap.

At the core of the Maven Project is telemedicine technology, which enables doctors to consult face to face with physicians in faraway places. Its not practical for the Maven volunteers to work directly with patients  theyd have to be licensed in every state where they consulted, even by video  but they can assist and mentor doctors treating those patients.

While Mavens focus is to improve patient access to care, that wasnt Greens initial motivation for creating the project. Rather, her goal was to provide retiring doctors an opportunity to stay active and useful even if they no longer wanted a full-time career in medicine. Maven stands for Medical Alumni Volunteer Expert Network.

So much of a doctors identity is wrapped up in his or her career. Green, who has delivered thousands of babies and at 68 isnt planning to retire anytime soon, knew that firsthand.

Her project, she decided, would let doctors hang on to their identity a while longer, and at the same time help patients who could benefit from their decades of experience.

When I heard about the Maven Project, the lightbulb went off for me, said Lisa Levine, the organizations CEO. Youre connecting a depth of knowledge with places that dont have access to it otherwise. For the physicians, this is an opportunity to keep giving back.

Levine described Green as a relationship builder. The first time they spoke  via video conference, when Levine was applying to work with Maven  they spent hours talking and exchanging ideas.

Now Playing: video 2 of 2 Video: San Francisco Chronicle

When I talk with her, its hard to get off the phone, Levine said with a laugh. Theres just so much richness in speaking with her. Shes the kind of person who inspires you to want to build and do more.

Green was born and raised in Los Angeles. Her mother was one of her earliest inspirations: Shed lost sight in one eye due to congenital rubella, but she was a talented painter and never complained about her poor vision. Green was 16 before she even knew her mother had a false eye.

That irrepressible attitude carried Green toward a path in medicine in an era when women were only just starting to make headway. Her class of about 160 students at Harvard Medical School in 1972 included just 29 women.

After completing her residency at UCSF, Green settled in the Bay Area. She started a practice, Pacific Womens Obstetrics and Gynecology, with a colleague in Laurel Heights. Green still delivers several hundred babies a year  last year was a bit slow, she noted, with around 400 births.

She raised two children of her own and never eased up. Instead, she recalled with a laugh, she learned to eat lunch, pump breast milk and consult with patients over the phone all at once. At some point she started wearing her now-trademark fanny pack, which replaced a purse because she can run faster with it if called to an emergency.

Outside her practice, Green stayed busy. In the 1990s, she was an on-air medical reporter for KTVU, and over the years shes volunteered with several physician societies. She embraces the workaholic label and likes to joke that in her free time she delivers babies.

In 2013, she was elected president of the Harvard Medical School Alumni Foundation, and thats when the Maven flame was lit. As she met with former students in her new role, she was struck by how many were approaching retirement and not sure what was coming next.

The most obvious volunteer opportunities for doctors are in organizations that serve communities in developing countries, or in areas where disaster has struck. But not every physician is willing or able to help under those circumstances. And Green knew expert care was desperately needed in the United States.

Deborah Brigell, a Boston-area endocrinologist, plans to scale back her work to just one day a week this spring. Anticipating all that extra time, she looked for volunteer opportunities. But I was having a hard time finding what I could do that would specifically use my skills, she said.

Someone told Brigell about Maven, and she signed up. Shes since done several consultations on a laptop.

Being a doctor has been a huge part of my identity, Brigell said. This has helped me do some meaningful work with my free time.

The Maven Project now has more than 200 doctors, who have conducted 1,200 consultations. Volunteers must work at least four hours a month. They schedule appointments with doctors at clinics that work with Maven or are simply on call during specific hours.

A primary care physician might ask one of the organizations doctors for advice on a patient  maybe someone with multiple complex diseases for whom drug interactions are a concern. There are also broader, lecture-type meetings, when volunteers discuss cases and trends in their area of expertise.

Green and her team are working to establish routines they can scale to communities across the country. Maven is in California, Massachusetts, Florida, New York and Washington, and in talks to work with clinics in Louisiana, South Dakota and North Dakota.

Back in medical school, Green said, she and her female peers often felt pressure to prove themselves among their male colleagues. The Maven Project  on top of the thousands of babies shes delivered, the children shes raised, and countless other investments in her community  feels like another step in the right direction, she said.

We all felt that we wanted to do something for the world. That would yield happiness, Green said. So this work, its selfish in a weird backdoor way.

Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday

About VisionSF

This is one of six profiles of finalists for The Chronicles fourth annual Visionary of the Year award. The honor salutes leaders who strive to make the world a better place and drive social and economic change by employing new, innovative business models and practices. The finalists were selected by a nominating committee that included Emmett Carson, president and CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation; Ron Conway, angel investor and philanthropist; John Diaz, editorial page editor of The Chronicle; Steve Malnight, senior vice president strategy & policy of Pacific Gas and Electric Co., a program sponsor; Ken McNeely, president of AT&T California, a program sponsor; Libby Schaaf, mayor of Oakland; Charlotte Shultz, chief of protocol for the city and county of San Francisco; and George Shultz, former U.S. secretary of state.

Chronicle Publisher Jeff Johnson, Editor in Chief Audrey Cooper and Diaz will select the winner, which will be announced in late March.

To read more: www.sfchronicle.com/visionsfCarolyn Jones

WHAT'S NOT WORKING: DAY 1

Best to avoid this protruding rebar: Don't park too close to the curb on Hazelwood Avenue in San Francisco. You might end up with a flat tire. A daunting length of rebar is protruding from the pavement, ready to jab the nearest tire or trip a pedestrian. The problem began a few years ago, according to ChronicleWatch tipster Bruce Miller, who noticed concrete chipping loose on the curb, revealing a long piece of rebar. He notified the city's Department of Public Works, which promptly repaired the curb, but a few months later another segment of the curb began deteriorating, leaving another piece of rebar, about 3 feet long, sticking into the street. He's called the city several times to report the problem, but the curb remains a crumbled mess of chipped concrete and overhanging rebar. "This time it's actually worse as the pieces of rebar protrude out toward the street and are hazardous to car tires in that they can easily cause flats if they are run into," Miller said in an e-mail to ChronicleWatch. Meanwhile, a portion of the curb around the corner on Montecito Avenue has also started to erode, leaving another few feet of rebar protruding dangerously close to parked cars. The Department of Public Works did not return a phone call Friday from ChronicleWatch.A crowd of several dozen men and a couple of women gathered at Jane Warner Plaza on the corner of Castro and Market streets Saturday morning for a nude Valentine's Day parade, letting the sun shine on areas it normally doesn't reach.

"I'm half Sicilian. Do I look that different from David?" asked 49-year-old Giovanni Vassallo, holding up a sign with a picture of Michelangelo's iconic statue juxtaposed with an anti-public nudity quote from former SF Supervisor, current state Senator, and general public-nudity foe Scott Wiener.

Vassallo, who obtained the permit for the day's parade, said he thought the event was a useful antidote to all the hate and fear in the world.

"You're bombarded all your life with hate and fear. Sometimes you need to take a step back, deprogram and re-enter," he said. "Genuine love, altruistic love, it covers all things."

Accessories varied as widely as body types. Some wore wigs and others wore visors. There were tassels, tutus and a striking variety of straw hats. Genitals were festooned with sequins, pom-poms and rings, some as ornately decorated as hats at the Kentucky Derby.

Some of the naked men at the fringes were regular fixtures of the neighborhood out to enjoy the sunny day, such as 56-year-old Lloyd Fishback, who has lived in the city for decades and wore his signature gold-sequined penis sock paired with aviators and a colorful, backwards cap.

For him, he said, it was just another day in the Castro.

"I'm out here every day," he said. "The guy with the golden sock."

He was surprised that so many women (about two) showed up this year.

"It's a shame we don't get more ladies. But that's usually the case here," he said.

Asked if he planned to march in the parade, his response was lukewarm.

"I might  but they're going to City Hall, that's so boring," he said. "It's empty over there. Last year we went to Haight Street."

But for the crowd of onlookers, many of them tourists, gathering around the naked parade-goers and snapping pictures with smartphones, the scene was anything but pedestrian.

"We certainly are not in New Hampshire anymore," one passing woman remarked. "That's for damn sure."

Filipa Ioannou is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at fioannou@sfchronicle.com and follow her on TwitterFowl play is afoot in the turbulent waters near Alcatraz Island.

A massive chicken that bears a striking resemblance to the 45th president of the United States set sail about the island Saturday afternoon. A large boat, generally used to transport fish not fowl, was chartered for the occasion  a protest of President Donald Trump on a weekend designated for celebrating presidents.

The bird is flanked by five human handlers. "We need to inflate it and put on its shirt," said Danelle Morton, the Vallejo woman behind several "Trump Chicken" stunts and an organizer of Saturday's sail.

When you're a 33-foot-high plastic chicken, you require a shirt not for modesty but enhanced dramatic effect. Trump Chicken's shirt in this case is striped in black and white and embroidered with the "prisoner number" 00045. That, coupled with its sailing destination (around and around and around Alcatraz), should make the organizers' intended message clear to landlubbers perplexed by the sight of a chicken in the sea.

The great Trump Chicken sail has been months in the making. Morton debuted the bird at last year's Tax Day Protest, a national demonstration intended to pressure Trump to release his tax returns. The chicken was the undisputed Instagram star of the day, and the concept  inflated fowl as resistance fodder  spread to activists across the country. Now, there are Trump Chickens clucking in Chicago, New York and Washington D.C.

Story continues below.

The sea-faring Trump Chicken was supposed to make its maiden voyage during the Patriot Prayer rally planned for San Francisco's Crissy Field in August.

"These alt-right Nazi sympathizers want to use the symbol of the Golden Gate Bridge to promote their cause and we're not going to let them do it," Morton said at the time. "We're going to photo bomb them so every time someone tries to take a picture the Trump chicken is there."

The rally eventually changed locations to Alamo Square, thwarting a series of counterprotests and the photobomb ploy. The Trump Chicken team raised $10,000 for the event via crowdfunding, and organizers implored campaign backers not to withdraw donations.

"We hope you'll give us a chance to find another opportunity to deploy the Trump Chicken," read a letter sent to backers.

Opportunity  and proper weather conditions  came knocking with Presidents' Day on Monday, though the winds will be too intense to sail. The organizers settled for Saturday instead.

A giant balloon aboard a boat might sound like the stuff of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade disasters. Morton actually contacted the organizers of the annual parade for advice. They told her not to inflate the bird with winds faster than 30 mph.

"The winds on the bay will be 12 mph and the boat will go slowly," Morton told SFGATE on Thursday. She also brought cinderblocks  not to sink enemies in the waters off the island, but to weight the fowl down.

If that doesn't do the trick, or winds suddenly pick up, that's the end of sailing Trump Chicken.

Said Morton, "If it doesn't happen tomorrow, it doesn't happen. We reserved the boat."

Michelle Robertson is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @mrobertsonsf.A line of men and women decked out in leather, leashes and lingerie waited to be flogged and spanked in an enclosed stage as hundreds of spectators watched and snapped photos Sunday.

It was just another day at the Folsom Street Fair, a celebration of all things kink and an annual San Francisco event since 1984. Tens of thousands of fans of bondage, discipline and sadomasochism  along with the merely curious  filled the South of Market street.

It gives people the opportunity to experience something they might not otherwise feel safe doing, said Beatrice Stone, who was coordinating the spanking and flogging to raise money for local charities. If someone comes for the first time, we make sure its safe  we have experienced tops.

Zack, 25, made a spur-of-the-moment decision to be flogged onstage. The South Bay resident, who declined to give his last name, said it was pretty fun  the organizers made sure he felt comfortable, and they checked in often to see that he was OK as his legs became weaker from the lashing.

Its great to have a space where we can come out and not feel so weird about being weird, Zack said.

As the sun beat down on the self-proclaimed worlds biggest leather event, bare skin was on full display, with many people walking the street fully naked.

On one large stage in the middle of the festival, near-naked men simulated sex as the crowd called out suggestions. Nearby, dozens of people dressed up as dogs barked and howled in a large pen. At other booths, people were intricately bound in rope.

The fair, which had a suggested $10 entrance fee, raises money for community groups. The nonprofit that organizes it and other events says it has donated nearly $6 million to charities since the festival began.

While many of the booths were hawking sex toys, others were advocating for safer sex and services directed toward the LGBT community.

Black Brothers Esteem, a support program of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation that works with gay and bisexual African American men, was handing out condoms and information about HIV prevention.

Tony Bradford, the programs assistant director of community engagement, said it was the programs first year at the festival. The group decided to participate after hearing that the event had become more diverse, he said.

People of color who used to be closeted kinky are out now, said Bradford, who has been coming to the fair for years. Ive never seen a crowd here this diverse.

Thierry Rocchia, 52, said he knew of the fair only from photos until he attended Sunday. He said he expected it would be rougher, but was pleasantly surprised by the friendly and fun atmosphere.

Theres nothing like this in the United Kingdom, and Im not sure we could have a festival like it there, the London resident said.

Melvin Morgan, who has been coming to the Folsom Street Fair since the 1990s, said it has become more touristy over the years. But one thing hasnt changed, he said: the fairs body-positive atmosphere.

People are walking around naked and bare, and I love that, he said. We came into this world naked, and thats how it should be.

Joaquin Palomino is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jpalomino@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JoaquinPalominoSteven G. de Polo / Getty Image

A 65-year-old man sustained moderate to serious injuries when he was pinned under a car that plowed into a Little Caesars pizza restaurant in Fremont Saturday morning.

The Fremont Police Department responded to a 911 call at 11:39 a.m. indicating that a vehicle had been driven into the restaurant and that the car had collided with a customer inside.Firefighters broke the law to save little Jack from a Bakersfield house fire last summer.

Jack, a small white dog, was resuscitated with oxygen and taken to a vet, where his singed paws and irritated lungs had time to recover. But under current laws, only licensed veterinarians can treat an animal, regardless of the situation.

That could change with a bill introduced Friday in the state Senate by Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda), who wants to legalize mouth-to snout resuscitation and other heroic interventions to save pets rescued in emergencies.

SB1305 would shield first responders and their employers from liability for civil damages or criminal prosecution after providing emergency care to cats and dogs.

The states veterinary license law prevents firefighters and paramedics from treating animals they often rescue, including basic first aid. Treating an animal without a license is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $2,000, a one-year jail sentence or both.

We cant forget in these emergency situations, pets are as endangered as anyone else, Glazer said. These are circumstances first responders face every day.

Glazer got the idea for the bill from Jay Kerr, a veterinarian in his district, who is also a director on the San Ramon Valley Fire District Board. Kerr said that the bill would allow first responders to treat injured animals without fear of repercussions.

Most first responders want to provide emergency medical services to the dogs and cats they encounter, he said. This legislation will allow them to provide these services legally.

The bill is currently limited to cats and dogs but may expand as it moves through the Legislature. It does not require first responders to treat animals.

Ohio and Colorado are the only two states that have passed similar legislation.Use-of-force experts who viewed the video recording of San Francisco police shooting a man in a wheelchair questioned why officers moved dangerously close to the knife-wielding suspect and said an electronic Taser would have been the ideal weapon to use in that confrontation.

Tuesday's shooting outside the city's Department of Public Health building on 10th and Howard Streets occurred moments after officers responded to a 10:18 a.m. report of an agitated man puncturing car tires.

Police Chief George Gascon said the suspect, who remains at San Francisco General Hospital recovering from non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, had stabbed a responding officer in the upper left shoulder before a passer-by began video-recording the incident. Gascon also said officers used pepper spray on the man in a failed attempt to subdue him before the video started.

David Klinger, an expert on police use of force and an associate professor of criminology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, cautioned that the video offers a two-dimensional glimpse of the incident and that it remains only "one piece of the investigation."

Yet Klinger, a former Los Angeles patrol officer, also wondered why officers closed in on a man who had already stabbed one of their own and continued to behave erratically.

"Given that officers are trained to give distance between themselves with suspects who are armed and dangerous, at first blush I'd want to know why they were getting in that close," Klinger said.

At times on the video, it appears officers stand within 5 feet of the slow-moving suspect, then about 10 feet just before the shooting.

Officers are trained to stay at least 20 feet away from agitated and dangerous suspects when no barriers exist, Klinger said.

Klinger also said the officers may have experienced perceptional distortion - a momentary loss of time and distance awareness during heightened states of perceived threat.

"They may look at that video and say, 'Oh my gosh, I thought I was much farther away from him.' Or they might say, 'I thought I was right on top of him.' "

The sensory alteration may also explain why San Francisco police initially reported the suspect was standing when he was shot, not seated as the video shows.

On Tuesday, Gascon asked that the public consider the demands of policing in a life-threatening situation before casting judgment.

During a news conference where the chief gave a moment-by-moment explanation of the video to "put it in proper context," he admitted it appeared that the suspect had thrown his knife to the ground, not toward officers.

Less than one second after the suspect's throwing motion, the officers opened fire.

"The problem is that what the officers perceive and what is occurring are two different things," Gascon said.

The video shows at least four plainclothes officers with guns drawn and two uniformed officers surrounding the suspect in his wheelchair. At least two officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave, police said, and there could be more as the investigation continues.

Tuesday's shooting was the second by San Francisco police within a week's time that Gascon said could have been avoided if his department was equipped with Tasers.

On Dec. 29, police fatally shot a knife-wielding man, Vinh Bui, inside his Portola district home.

Steve Ijames, an expert in nonlethal police tactics, said that in Tuesday's shooting, a Taser would have been better suited than pepper spray or beanbag shots, which are useless against pain-averse suspects. Suspects who are incapacitated by drugs or enduring a psychotic episode often do not respond to such warnings.

"Of the few options they had, the Taser would have been the most effective," Ijames said. "The Taser locks up the body. That's why it's uniquely qualified. You don't want to hurt them, but you also don't want them throwing knives at people."

Watch the video at links.sfgate.com/ZKUO.If the thought of preparing your own tax return feels overwhelming  even with do-it-yourself software  theres always the option of hiring a professional preparer.

Even people who have done their own taxes for years can reach a point where their return becomes more complex and pushes them beyond their comfort level, said Brian Thompson, president of the National Society of Accountants. Perhaps they inherited a rental property and have to deal with depreciation, or added a freelance gig on the side.

If youre just putting in numbers and hoping for the best, said Thompson, a certified public accountant in Little Rock, Ark., then maybe you need a preparer.

Situations that suggest consulting a professional include experiencing a big life change, like a divorce, or starting your own business, said Cindy Hockenberry, director of tax research and government relations with the National Association of Tax Professionals. Also, if you owe back taxes or havent filed returns for a few years, or if you have received correspondence from the IRS, it pays to hire an expert.

It will be worth it in the long run, Hockenberry said in an email.

Choosing a qualified preparer isnt necessarily straightforward, though. Many paid tax preparers remain largely unregulated and arent required to undergo continuing training or testing to prove their expertise. So consumers should be prepared to do some research and ask questions.

Preparers with certain professional credentials  like certified public accountants, tax lawyers and tax specialists called enrolled agents  generally must meet minimum standards for education and training. States license CPAs and lawyers, while enrolled agents are federally licensed.

Its better if a preparer has some credentials, Thompson said.

The IRS tried several years ago to regulate all paid tax preparers, but a federal appeals court rejected the effort.

The IRS does, however, offer an annual filing season program in which preparers voluntarily take continuing education classes and a test to stay current on tax rules. Those completing the program, along with preparers holding professional credentials, are listed in the agencys searchable database of tax preparers.

A handful of states  California, Maryland, New York and Oregon  have laws to regulate paid preparers and make sure they meet minimum standards.

Also, Connecticut recently adopted new standards for commercial preparers that will be phased in over several years. The new law seeks to protect taxpayers and ensure that income tax preparers are qualified, in light of increased evidence of preparer error, unfair practices and even fraud, according to a statement from Kevin Sullivan, commissioner of the states Department of Revenue Services.

At a basic level, all paid preparers must have a preparer tax identification number, issued by the IRS, Hockenberry said. If your preparer doesnt have one, thats a red flag.

Taxpayers should always ask for references and inquire how much tax education the preparer gets during the year and what the preparers areas of specialty are, Hockenberry said.

If the preparer is unwilling to share this information, she said, walk away.

Other signs that the preparer may not be legitimate include charging a fee based on a percentage of your refund, telling you to take a deduction for an expense you didnt incur and refusing to sign the return.

The major tax chains generally provide some in-house training for their preparers, said Chi Chi Wu, a lawyer with the National Consumer Law Center.

H&R Blocks website, for instance, describes a 60-hour tax course for potential employees, covering topics such as wages, filing requirements and ethics. The company didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Michael Best, director of advocacy outreach with the Consumer Federation of America, warned that consumers shouldnt assume that returns produced by paid preparers were always accurate. In a small study of 19 randomly selected preparers in 2014, he noted, the Government Accountability Office found significant errors in returns. Just two preparers calculated the correct refund amount; errors varied from giving the taxpayer $52 less to $3,718 more than the correct amount.

So be sure to review the return after it is completed, and question items you dont understand, Thompson said. Ask yourself, Does this make sense?

Here are some questions and answers about finding a tax preparer:

Q: How much should I expect to pay for professional tax preparation?

A: Fees vary by geography (higher on the East Coast than in the Midwest), the education of the preparer (CPAs and lawyers tend to charge more) and the complexity of the return, Hockenberry said. Expect to pay $100 to $170 for a typical Form 1040 with a Schedule A, assuming you have only wage and investment income.

If youre comfortable with a virtual preparer, Henrytax.com matches taxpayers with CPAs online and offers returns starting at $250.

Trained preparers who participate in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program provide their services free, though you must meet income or other requirements to be eligible. For a site year you, you can go to the IRS website and search for free tax return preparation.

Q: Where can I search for a tax preparer?

A: In addition to the IRS database, various professional groups offer search tools, including the National Society of Accountants and the National Association of Tax Professionals.

Q: How can I file a complaint about a tax preparer?

A: The IRS offers instructions on its website.WASHINGTON  The Trump administration is recommending an array of stiff tariffs and other tough trade actions on imports of steel and aluminum from China and other nations, saying the influx of foreign metals has compromised national security.

In a call with reporters Friday, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross laid out a variety of recommendations for President Trump to choose from, including a 24 percent tariff on all steel imports.

The scope and severity of any trade action will ultimately be determined by Trump, who has broad authority to decide whether to impose tariffs or quotas, and what countries should face them. Those measures, which could be announced in the following weeks, are aimed at saving U.S. steel and aluminum producers, who have struggled to compete with a flood of cheap metals from abroad, particularly from China.

The Commerce Department, in a report published Friday, proposed a 53 percent tariff on steel products from 12 countries, including China, Brazil, India, South Korea and Vietnam. All other countries would be subject to a quota equal to the amount of their exports to the United States in 2017. He proposed a final alternative that involved no tariffs, but a quota on all steel products from all countries equal to 63 percent of their exports to the United States in 2017.

For aluminum, the secretary presented a similar array of three options. The first was a 7.7 percent tariff on all countries and all products. The second was a 23.6 percent tariff on China, Hong Kong, Russia, Venezuela and Vietnam, with all other countries subject to a quota equal to the amount they exported the United States in 2017. The third alternative was a quota on all imports from all countries of up to 86.7 percent of their 2017 exports to the United States.

Any action to limit imports is likely to end up raising the price of steel, which could destabilize U.S. industries from automakers to food packagers. Tough trade measures could also sow discord and provoke retaliation among U.S. allies.

There would be a 90-day appeal period allowing U.S. companies to request exceptions, Ross said.

The statement came in a highly anticipated report from the Commerce Department, the result of twin investigations initiated in April to determine whether steel and aluminum imports were threatening national security.

The president has not announced what he will do as a result of the investigation. But in remarks to lawmakers Tuesday, he said that the United States is considering tariffs, quotas or both. You may have a higher price, but you have jobs, Trump told the bipartisan group.

The Trump administration has argued that steel and aluminum imports are compromising national security by threatening the viability of U.S. manufacturers who make planes, armored vehicles and other products for the military. It chose to initiate the investigation into steel and aluminum imports under a little used provision of trade law that relates specifically to national security concerns, and gives the president broad leeway to act.The medical profession has an ethic: First, do no harm.

Silicon Valley has an ethos: Build it first and ask for forgiveness later.

Now, in the wake of fake news and other troubles at tech companies, universities that helped produce some of Silicon Valleys top technologists are hustling to bring a more medicine-like morality to computer science.

This semester, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are jointly offering a new course on the ethics and regulation of artificial intelligence. The University of Texas at Austin just introduced a course titled Ethical Foundations of Computer Science  with the idea of eventually requiring it for all computer science majors.

And at Stanford University, the academic heart of the industry, three professors and a research fellow are developing a computer science ethics course for next year. They hope several hundred students will enroll.

The idea is to train the next generation of technologists and policymakers to consider the ramifications of innovations  like autonomous weapons or self-driving cars  before those products go on sale.

Its about finding or identifying issues that we know in the next two, three, five, 10 years, the students who graduate from here are going to have to grapple with, said Mehran Sahami, a popular computer science professor at Stanford who is helping to develop the course. He is renowned on campus for bringing Mark Zuckerberg to class.

Technology is not neutral, said Sahami, who formerly worked at Google as a senior research scientist. The choices that get made in building technology then have social ramifications.

The courses are emerging at a moment when big tech companies have been struggling to handle the side effects  fake news on Facebook, fake followers on Twitter, lewd childrens videos on YouTube  of the industrys build-it-first attitude. They amount to an open challenge to a common Silicon Valley attitude that has generally dismissed ethics as a hindrance.

We need to at least teach people that theres a dark side to the idea that you should move fast and break things, said Laura Noren, a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Data Science at New York University who began teaching a new data science ethics course this semester. You can patch the software, but you cant patch a person if you, you know, damage someones reputation.

Computer science programs are required to make sure students have an understanding of ethical issues related to computing in order to be accredited by ABET, a global accreditation group for university science and engineering programs. Some computer science departments have folded the topic into a broader class, and others have stand-alone courses.

But until recently, ethics did not seem relevant to many students.

Compared to transportation or doctors, your daily interaction with physical harm or death or pain is a lot less if you are writing software for apps, said Joi Ito, director of the MIT Media Lab.

One reason that universities are pushing tech ethics now is the popularization of powerful tools like machine learning  computer algorithms that can autonomously learn tasks by analyzing large amounts of data. Because such tools could ultimately alter human society, universities are rushing to help students understand the potential consequences, said Ito, who is co-teaching the Harvard-MIT ethics course.

As we start to see things, like autonomous vehicles, that clearly have the ability to save people but also cause harm, I think that people are scrambling to build a system of ethics, he said. (Ito is a director of the New York Times Co.)

Last fall, Cornell University introduced a data science course where students learned to deal with ethical challenges  such as biased data sets that include too few lower-income households to be representative of the general population. Students also debated the use of algorithms to help automate life-changing decisions such as hiring or college admissions.

It was really focused on trying to help them understand what in their everyday practice as a data scientist they are likely to confront, and to help them think through those challenges more systematically, said Solon Barocas, an assistant professor in information science who taught the course.

In another Cornell course, Karen Levy, also an assistant professor in information science, is teaching her students to focus more on the ethics of tech companies.

A lot of ethically charged decision-making has to do with the choices a company makes: what products they choose to develop, what policies they adopt around user data, Levy said. If data science ethics training focuses entirely on the individual responsibility of the data scientist, it risks overlooking the role of the broader enterprise.

The Harvard-MIT course, which has 30 students, focuses on the ethical, policy and legal implications of artificial intelligence. It was spurred and financed in part by a new artificial intelligence ethics research fund whose donors include Reid Hoffman, a co-founder of LinkedIn, and the Omidyar Network, the philanthropic investment firm of Pierre Omidyar, the eBay founder.

The curriculum also covers the spread of algorithmic risk scores that use data  such as whether a person was ever suspended from school, or how many of his or her friends have arrest records  to forecast whether someone is likely to commit a crime. Ito said he hopes the course will spur students to ask basic ethical questions: Is the technology fair? How do you make sure that the data is not biased? Should machines be judging humans?

Some universities offer such programs in their information science, law or philosophy departments. At Stanford, the computer science department will offer the new ethics course, tentatively titled Ethics, Public Policy and Computer Science.

The expectations for the course are running high, in part because of Sahamis popularity on campus. About 1,500 students take his introductory computer science course every year.

The new ethics course covers topics such as artificial intelligence and autonomous machines; privacy and civil rights; and platforms like Facebook. Rob Reich, a Stanford political science professor who is helping to develop the course, said students would be asked to consider those topics from the point of view of software engineers, product designers and policymakers. Students will also be assigned to translate ideal solutions into computer code.

Stanford absolutely has a responsibility to play a leadership role in integrating these perspectives, but so does Carnegie Mellon and Caltech and Berkeley and MIT, said Jeremy Weinstein, a Stanford political science professor and co-developer of the ethics course. The set of institutions that are generating the next generation of leaders in the technology sector have all got to get on this train.A French carrier changes its name before launching new San Francisco-Tahiti flights; Southwest Airlines will invade a long-held Delta monopoly route and make other schedule additions; Aer Lingus may add another gateway in the western U.S.; Frontier adds a bunch of new routes; Singapore Airlines unveils plans for the very first 787-10; Spirit adds a pair of international routes from Ft. Lauderdale; Icelands WOW drops a U.S. gateway; and a Mexican carrier adds a Chicago route.

A couple of months ago, we reported that a French low-cost airline called French Blue planned to start flying this spring from Paris to Tahiti via San Francisco (and that United will begin service on the SFO-Tahiti route in late October). Now it seems that the French airline has firmed up its plans and gained U.S. authority to carry passengers on the SFO-Papeete segment  but the airline has also changed its name. It now calls itself French Bee, apparently to avoid any conflicts with JetBlue. Check out how it's already removed "Blue" from on of its planes.

French Bee filed plans to start flying Paris Orly-San Francisco-Papeete on May 11, offering two flights a week with a new Airbus A350-900, and increasing to three a week from June 20 to November 2. But it seems its website isnt up to speed yet  its only in French, and while it shows a Paris-SFO flight option, it doesnt show SFO-Papeete yet. (And trying to research fares on its website is an exercise in frustration. Plus its fares do not yet show up on Google Flights.)

Look for flights between Atlanta and Nashville, and youll find more than a dozen non-stops a day  all of them on Delta. But that will change on August 7 when Southwest Airlines jumps into the busy Atlanta-Nashville market with five daily roundtrips (three a day on weekends). Nashville Airport CEO Doug Kreulen said that the local business community has long sought more such service between BNA-ATL  no doubt because the entry of Southwest is sure to bring fares down. Thats what tends to happen when the only airline in a market loses its monopoly.

And thats just part of Southwests schedule plans this summer. Also on August 7, the airline will begin new daily flights between Cincinnati and Denver; increase fight frequencies from two a day to three a day between Los Angeles-Portland and LAX-New Orleans; and add new daily non-stops between St. Louis and Hartford. On April 8, Southwest plans to launch new daily non-stops between Kansas City and Raleigh-Durham. The carrier also said that it remains on-track with its intention to sell tickets this year to Hawaii, subject to requisite governmental approvals, although it still hasnt announced specific route plans.

In its latest route announcement last week, low-cost Frontier Airlines said it will add four new cities to its network this spring, and will start flying 35 new routes. The new cities are Birmingham, Ala.; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Branson, Mo.; and Savannah, Ga. As for the new routes, almost all of them are summer-seasonal only, and operate only two or three days a week. None of them are from Bay Area airports. If youre still interested, you can see a full list here.

Although no official announcement has yet been made, the Irish news website Irishcentral.com is reporting that Aer Lingus plans to begin new service between Dublin and Denver  although it offered no details. It also said that the Irish carrier is expected to announce several more East Coast destinations in the coming weeks. Aer Lingus previously announced plans to start Dublin-Philadelphia flights in March and Dublin-Seattle service in May.

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If youre an airplane nut who wants to be the first to try out a new aircraft type, your next chance is coming in May when Singapore Airlines will put the first Boeing 787-10 into regular scheduled service between Singapore and Osaka, Japan. Larger than the 787-8s and 787-9s that preceded it, the Singapore 787-10 will carry 337 passengers, with 36 business class and 301 economy class seats. The airline, which is the launch customer for the new plane, has placed firm orders for 49 of the 787-10s. Before the regular Singapore-Osaka flights begin, the airline will operate its first new 787-10 some Singapore-Bangkok and Singapore-Kuala Lumpur flights for crew training purposes. Don't miss Chris' review of SIA's inaugural Airbus A350 SFO-SIN nonstop in 2016.

Spirit Airlines is expanding its Ft. Lauderdale operations. It plans to begin three flights a week from FLL to Cap Haitien, Haiti starting April 12, and daily flights from FLL to Guayaquil, Ecuador beginning March 22. On the domestic side, Spirit just started daily Ft. Lauderdale-Columbus flights, and will add daily FLL-Richmond service March 15 and seasonal daily FLL-Seattle flights April 12.

Low-cost Icelandic airline WOW, which flies from Miami to Reykjavik three times a week, plans to discontinue that route on April 7. And Mexican low-cost carrier Interjet this week started up new daily non-stop service between Chicago O'Hare and Guadalajara.

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Chris McGinnis is the founder of TravelSkills.com. The author is solely responsible for the content above, and it is used here by permission. You can reach Chris at chris@travelskills.com or on Twitter @cjmcginnis.A man was detained early Saturday in connection with a shooting in San Franciscos Panhandle that left one person dead and a second man with critical injuries, authorities said.

The San Francisco Police Department arrested 31-year-old Joel Armstrong and charged him with murder, attempted murder, carjacking, possessing a firearm as a felon and receiving or possessing stolen property. Armstrong was identified by police as a transient.

Officers responded at about 6:30 p.m. Friday to the shooting at Oak and Stanyan streets, where the two men were found shot, according to police.

Just before the shooting, police said, an argument broke out among a group of people that included the victims. During the altercation, a man pulled out a gun and shot the two men, police said

One man, who has not been identified, was taken to San Francisco General Hospital with life-threatening injuries. A 28-year-old man, whose name also was not released, died from his injuries.

Armstrong ran to Fell and Stanyan streets, where he threatened a motorist and carjacked a Toyota 4Runner, police said. The driver was not injured.

Shortly after midnight, officers tracked the stolen Toyota to a spot near the intersection of Alameda and De Haro streets, about 3 miles from where the shootings occurred, police said.

The unoccupied Toyota was parked behind a recreational vehicle. At the request of police, all but one of the occupants left the RV. The remaining man did not respond to commands to come out of the vehicle, and shots were fired, police said.

No one was injured by the gunfire. Officers from the Tactical Unit surrounded the vehicle and at about 2:20 a.m., Armstrong was taken into custody, police said.

The incident remains under investigation.The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless.



The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well.







By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism.Lets start with a sweeping but fairly sturdy proposition: No composer has left a more pervasive or distinctive stylistic imprint on Western classical music in the last half a century than Philip Glass.

Glass music is everywhere  in concert halls, in opera houses, on film and television soundtracks. He has created both a singular sound world and a repertoire of compositional strategies that have almost single-handedly transformed the face of contemporary music. His work has become a reference point for much of what audiences have experienced for decades.

And Glass, who turned 81 in January, continues to exert his influence as a creator and a performer. The concert in Davies Symphony Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at which the Philip Glass Ensemble together with the San Francisco Girls Chorus and students from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music will perform his epochal 1970 work Music With Changing Parts, offers just a representative glimpse of how far that reach extends. (The concert is presented by San Francisco Performances as part of Glass 80th birthday celebrations  more than a year late by now, but whos counting?)

None of this is to say that youre bound to like or appreciate the music that Glass has created; some do, some dont. Nor is to assert that his influence has been an unmixed blessing, or to overlook the presence throughout his work of stylistic tics and predictable cliches.

But the sheer cultural reach of Glass artistic profile  the fact that countless thousands of non-expert listeners can hear a few bars of music and say Hmm, sounds like Philip Glass  represents a real and lasting legacy.

And that would still be true even if Glass catalog didnt include so many compositions of remarkable eloquence and imagination. To create a unique and widely recognizable stylistic language, a fingerprint that even lay people can recognize, is something rare in any art form.

Its rarer still to deploy that language in the service of such a huge and varied body of work. From the sleek, process-based early pieces, with titles like Music in Contrary Motion or Music in 12 Parts through the operas (Einstein on the Beach, Satyagraha, Akhnaten) that first transformed him into a powerful presence in theatrical music, and on through the remarkable profusion in recent decades of music of all sorts  operas, symphonies, concertos, piano music and more  Glass has remained an unflagging and seemingly tireless creative force.

The elements that make up his personal lexicon  the moody minor harmonies, the chugging three-against-two rhythms, the chordal arpeggios and burbling figurations  have varied surprisingly little over the decades. Yet one of the great revelations of his career has been how much expressive and structural mileage can be gotten out of those building blocks.

Its worth bearing in mind that for many years, Glass recognizability came in the form of cheap gags and derisive, ill-considered sneers. There was a knock-knock joke that was considered witty in some circles. (Knock knock. Whos there? Philip Glass. Knock knock. Whos there? Philip Glass. Knock knock.)

To a greater extent than the high modernists of the European musical tradition, Glass got the even my 5-year-old could do that treatment from Philistines, because what he was doing seemed too simple, too transparent, to be taken seriously. There was a nervous suspicion that he was running some kind of scam, or alternatively that he had genuinely, if delusionally, mistaken repetitive noodling for art.

In Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts, a 2007 film documentary by Director Scott Hicks, theres a wonderful moment when Glass, discussing the early criticism of his work, describes his gift as the ability to write music so radical that I could be mistaken for an idiot.

Those misapprehensions have largely been swept aside over time, leaving us with a clearer view of what Glass has accomplished. And the key to that achievement, I think, is his extraordinary fecundity  his ability to turn out two dozen full-length scores in the time it takes any of his colleagues to turn out two.

This is a trait that is dangerously easy to confuse with gimmickry, as if no one but a huckster could make so much music without cutting corners or relying on a generic formula. But what it really represents is a return to a pre-Romantic view of music as craftsmanship.

Glass enormous roster of works is predicated on the rejection of one of the central tenets of Romanticism, namely the idea that each new work of art has to create an entirely new conceptual world to inhabit. If you adhere to that principle  as many do without even questioning it  then racking up a body of work as extensive as Glass does represent an impossible challenge.

But a better way to think of Glass creative output is as a long series of variations on a few basic themes. Instead of posing and then solving a fresh array of artistic problems with each new opus, he uses each work to chip away at some detail of an overarching creative project.

This is an esthetic framework with a long and venerable history (albeit one that came into disfavor at the beginning of the 19th century). Its what allowed Bach to write 200 cantatas, or Handel to create some 40 operas and as many oratorios; its the difference between Haydns 104 symphonies and Beethovens nine.

And that very profusion, in turn, is what has enabled Glass to refine, purify and reconfigure his creative impulses into a myriad of forms  all clearly related to one another, but all magically diverse.

Joshua Kosman is The San Francisco Chronicles music critic. Email: jkosman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JoshuaKosman

Philip Glass Ensemble: With the San Francisco Girls Chorus and students from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20. $45-$120. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. (415) 392-2545, www.performances.orgBEIRUT  Six civilians suffered breathing difficulties and other symptoms indicative of poison gas inhalation after an attack launched by Turkey on the Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin, local doctors and Syrias state-run news agency reported Saturday.

Jiwan Mohammed, a doctor at Afrins main hospital, said the facility was treating six people who had been poisoned who arrived Friday night from the village of Arandi after it was attacked by Turkish troops.

Another doctor, Nouri Qenber, said the victims suffered shortness of breath, vomiting and skin rashes. One of the victims had dilated pupils, he said, quoting one of the rescuers. Both spoke to the Associated Press via messaging service.

State-run news agency SANA and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group also quoted local doctors in their reports.

The claims could not be independently confirmed, and videos released from the hospital showed people being fitted with oxygen masks who did not otherwise show symptoms of gas attack inhalation such as twitching, foaming at the mouth or vomiting.

A White House official said the United States is aware of the reports but cannot confirm them, and thinks it is extremely unlikely Turkey used chemical weapons against the Kurds. The official called for the protection of civilians.

SANA on Saturday said Turkey fired several shells containing toxic substances on a village in Afrin on Friday night, causing six civilians to suffer suffocation symptoms.

The Turkish military repeated in a weekly statement published Saturday that it does not use internationally banned ammunition in its Afrin operation and said, the Turkish Armed Forces does not keep such ammunition in its inventory.

The army also said it is careful to not harm civilians and only targets terrorists and their positions in the Afrin region.

The Turkish military launched an aerial and ground offensive on Afrin, in northwestern Syria, on Jan. 20. It says the aim of the operation is to push out the Kurdish militia known as the Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, from the enclave. Turkey considers the militia to be a terrorist group and an extension of the Kurdish insurgents it fights inside Turkey.

Turkey launched its offensive with more than 70 aircraft. Air strikes were followed by a ground assault in which an estimated 10,000 allied Syrian rebel fighters took part, backed by Turkish artillery and other troops.After a mass shooting left 17 dead at a Florida school, people on social media began calling for a nationwide school walkout.

Circulating the idea with the hashtag #NationalSchoolWalkout, many voiced support for a mass student and faculty protest to decry the country's gun control policies.

"ENOUGH of living in fear of yet another school shooting," wrote @YvonneP22 on Twitter. "Congress won't do anything. WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION OURSELVES!"

Similar sentiments were echoed across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook on Friday. With the movement still in its early social media stages, people seemed to disagree on dates and actions. Some parents suggested keeping their children home from school; others called for a mass, though brief, classroom walkout.

By early Friday afternoon, the youth arm of the Women's March announced plans to sponsor a March 14 walkout to last 17 minutes  one minute for each life lost in the Florida shooting on Thursday.

Story continues below.

A Facebook page for the event has since garnered more than 34,000 RSVPs.

The event description says the demonstration, to take place at 10 a.m. in all time zones, will "protest Congress' inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods."

The description claims "students and allies" are organizing the walkout "to demand Congress pass legislation to keep us safe from gun violence at our schools, on our streets and in our homes and places of worship."

Survivors of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., stepped into the national gun debate this week with their outspoken pleas for gun reform. Many said they hoped to speak with President Donald Trump during his Florida visit.

Elsewhere in Florida, about 100 students at South Broward High School walked out of their classrooms to protest gun violence, wielding signs with phrases such as, "Do Something," and "Protect our Kids, Not Your Guns."

"We are angry! We are angry!" the students chanted. "We want safety! We want safety!"

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Michelle Robertson is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @mrobertsonsf.PSI Senior Scientist R. Aileen Yingst was in the driver's seat Feb. 15 directing the science activities for NASA's Opportunity Rover as it spent its 5,000th day exploring the Martian surface.

Yingst served as Science Operations Working Group chairperson running the group that decided what the rover did that sol, or Martian day.

The rover's mission has far exceeded the 90 sols for which it was initially scheduled when it landed on Mars Jan. 25, 2004. A Martian "sol" lasts about 40 minutes longer than an Earth day, and a Martian year lasts nearly two Earth years.

"Five thousand sols after the start of our 90-sol mission, this amazing rover is still showing us surprises on Mars," said Opportunity Project Manager John Callas, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

Yingst said she never imagined the rover would continue to function this long. "Absolutely not, but not because I lacked faith in the engineering. Simply put, rocket science is difficult and risky; Principal Investigator Steve Squyres compared working on a rover to doing geology with a sniper over your shoulder," she said.

"There's no landed mission that compare to NASA's Mars Exploration Rover program's longevity and resilience, and that's due to the people who work so hard and give up their weekends and off-hours to solve the insolvable and work around the unworkable," said Yingst, who has worked on MER since 2006.

"I headed up the science planning for what Opportunity did during sol 5,000," said Yingst, who is an Associate Principal Investigator for the rover. "The rover got a nice selfie shot to mark the day. We also imaged a channel in which the rover has been driving. It's another day at the office, but the office is millions of miles away. Science on Mars is always special, amazing, incredible and different."

Opportunity has driven more than 28 miles (45 kilometers) from its landing site to its current location about one-third of the way down "Perseverance Valley," a shallow channel cutting from the crest of the crater rim down its inside slope. The rover has returned more than 225,000 images, which may be viewed at https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/gallery/all/opportunity.html

The long-lived rover continues to offer new insights on Mars, including the recent discovery of what are believed to be rock stripes. On some slopes within the Perseverance Valley where the rover is now located, the soil and gravel particles appear to have become organized into narrow rows or corrugations, parallel to the slope, alternating between rows with more gravel and rows with less. The pattern resembles a smudged version of very distinctive stone stripes on some mountain slopes on Earth that result from repeated cycles of freezing and thawing of wet soil. But it might also be due to wind, downhill transport, other processes or a combination.

Yingst said that Opportunity has seen a broad spectrum of scientific successes. "There just isn't one thing. I think the coolest part is the mission itself - the fact that I wake up every morning and go to work on Mars like it's a normal thing to do. It's crazy amazing that it's that way, but it also should be that way, because humans are capable of it. We stretch the limits of possibility every day, and that's something that our species can be proud of."

THE PLANETARY SCIENCE INSTITUTE:

The Planetary Science Institute is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to solar system exploration. It is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, where it was founded in 1972.

PSI scientists are involved in numerous NASA and international missions, the study of Mars and other planets, the Moon, asteroids, comets, interplanetary dust, impact physics, the origin of the solar system, extra-solar planet formation, dynamics, the rise of life, and other areas of research. They conduct fieldwork on all continents around the world. They also are actively involved in science education and public outreach through school programs, children's books, popular science books and art.

PSI scientists are based in 23 states and the District of Columbia, and work from various locations around the world.

Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.The fourth annual Goshen Yearling Sale has been set for Sunday (Sept. 9) at the Mark Ford Training Center in Middletown, N.Y., just down the road from the Goshen Historic Track, the Cradle of the Trotter.

The Goshen Yearling Sale has continued to grow year-over-year as an attractive option for both buyers and consignors. The 2018 sale will include consignments from Winbak Farms, Blue Chip Farms, Hanover Shoe Farms, Boxwood Farm, Concord Stud Farm and Cameo Hills Farm.

The Goshen Standardbred Horse Sales Co. is looking forward to another robust sale in 2018, as it offers a lucrative market for those buying yearlings in the Northeast region, including the prosperous New York Sires Stakes program.

This sale has grown every year and with its great popularity will continue to do so, said Mark Ford. The location is ideal for any horsemen located on the east coast and brings the industry out on a prime September Sunday to Goshen, which has the deepest harness racing roots of anywhere in the country. This sale is perfectly situated for anyone who wants to participate, whether its as a buyer or as a consignor.

The Middletown, N.Y. location is conveniently located within an hour of most racetracks and training centers in the tri-state area, making it an ideal location to consign N.Y.-, N.J.- and Pa.-bred yearlings.

All industry farms and agencies are welcome and encouraged to participate in the Goshen Yearling Sale. Entries close June 1.

For additional information, please contact Mark Ford by phone at (845) 294-1499 (office), or (973) 568-3253 (cell) or by email at [email protected]. Information and updates can also be found on the sales company's website.

(U.S. Trotting Communications)OAKLAND (BCN)

City of Oakland officials said today that they've reached a tentative agreement on a two-year contract with the largest city employee union.

The city said that under the proposed contract, members of Services Employees International Union Local 1021 will receive a 4 percent pay increase retroactive to July 1, 2017, a 1 percent increase in January 2019 and an additional 1 percent increase next year depending on city revenues.

Local 1021 represents more than 2,000 public works employees, parking enforcement officers, Head Start instructors, and early education teachers.

The city said the union's members will vote on the deal next week and if they approve it the agreement will be presented to the City Council for final ratification.

The city said the same wage proposal has already been ratified by the other three civilian employee labor groups: the Local 21 of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 1245 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Confidential Management Employees Association.

IFPTE Local 21 represents about 1,000 professional and technical employees, including engineers, building inspectors and planners, while about 20 city employees belong to IBEW Local 1245.

The city said that if SEIU Local 1021 members ratify the agreement the city will have two-year contracts in place with all four of its civilian labor groups.

However, city officials said negotiations with Local 55 of the International Association of Fire Fighters are still ongoing.

In early December, about 3,000 city workers, mostly members of SEIU Local 1021 and IFPTE Local 21, took part in a weeklong strike which shutdown most city services.

The strike ended after a mediator was brought in to help stalled negotiations between the unions and the city.

Employees went on strike today to protest what they said were unfair labor practices and the city's use of part-time workers, staffing levels, cost of living concerns and workplace conditions.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf alleged that the strike was unlawful.

SEIU Local 1021 spokesman Chris Flink confirmed that the union has reached a tentative agreement with the city and its members will vote on it next week. Flink said the union will issue a statement on the agreement later today.SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Police area asking for the public's help to find a man wanted in connection with a 2017 double homicide in Oklahoma and who was spotted in San Francisco as recently as last month.

Authorities have been seeking Harlon Foss, 45, after he was identified as a suspect in the Nov. 21 double murder of his grandparents in Oklahoma's McIntosh County, according to police.

RELATED: Man detained after double shooting in SF's Panhandle

Foss was last seen near San Francisco's Aquatic Park on Jan. 10.

Police said Foss is an outdoorsman experienced in wilderness survival and may be living in a wooded area or park. He also goes by the names Harold Lee Foss, Hawkin Lee Foss and Lee Foss.

ALSO: 3 adults rescued from cliff at Baker Beach

He's described as a white man, 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 230 pounds and with hazel eyes and brown, balding hair, according to police.

Foss is considered armed and dangerous and anyone who spots him should immediately call 911.

(415) 837-7395City of Oakland officials said Friday that they've reached a tentative agreement on a two-year contract with the largest city employee union.

The city said that under the proposed contract, members of Services Employees International Union Local 1021 will receive a 4 percent pay increase retroactive to July 1, 2017, a 1 percent increase in January 2019 and an additional 1 percent increase next year depending on city revenues.

Local 1021 represents more than 2,000 public works employees, parking enforcement officers, Head Start instructors, and early education teachers.

The city said the union's members will vote on the deal next week and if they approve it the agreement will be presented to the City Council for final ratification.

The city said the same wage proposal has already been ratified by the other three civilian employee labor groups: the Local 21 of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 1245 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Confidential Management Employees Association.

IFPTE Local 21 represents about 1,000 professional and technical employees, including engineers, building inspectors and planners, while about 20 city employees belong to IBEW Local 1245.

The city said that if SEIU Local 1021 members ratify the agreement the city will have two-year contracts in place with all four of its civilian labor groups.

However, city officials said negotiations with Local 55 of the International Association of Fire Fighters are still ongoing.

In early December, about 3,000 city workers, mostly members of SEIU Local 1021 and IFPTE Local 21, took part in a weeklong strike which shutdown most city services.

The strike ended after a mediator was brought in to help stalled negotiations between the unions and the city.

Employees went on strike Friday to protest what they said were unfair labor practices and the city's use of part-time workers, staffing levels, cost of living concerns and workplace conditions.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf alleged that the strike was unlawful.

SEIU Local 1021 spokesman Chris Flink confirmed that the union has reached a tentative agreement with the city and its members will vote on it next week. Flink said the union will issue a statement on the agreement later Friday.

Police area asking for the public's help to find a man wanted in connection with a 2017 double homicide in Oklahoma and who was spotted in San Francisco as recently as last month.

Authorities have been seeking Harlon Foss, 45, after he was identified as a suspect in the Nov. 21 double murder of his grandparents in Oklahoma's McIntosh County, according to police.

Foss was last seen near San Francisco's Aquatic Park on Jan. 10.

Police said Foss is an outdoorsman experienced in wilderness survival and may be living in a wooded area or park. He also goes by the names Harold Lee Foss, Hawkin Lee Foss and Lee Foss.

He's described as a white man, 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 230 pounds and with hazel eyes and brown, balding hair, according to police.

Foss is considered armed and dangerous and anyone who spots him should immediately call 911.

In a dramatic rescue, three people trapped on a cliff at Baker Beach just south of the Golden Gate Bridge Friday afternoon have been hoisted to safety by San Francisco firefighters.

The three got lost and trapped on a cliff around 1:30 p.m. Friday and called 911 dispatchers, fire officials reported on social media.

Around 2:15 p.m., fire department rescuers found the three stranded people and began a high-angle rope rescue to bring them to safety, according to fire officials.

In the rope rescue, the rescuers hoisted the victims up the cliff, the fire department said.

Around 4 p.m., the three were safely rescued, according to the fire department. None of the three were injured, fire officials said.

Officers investigating a fatal collision Friday morning in Antioch believe one of the drivers involved may have suffered a medical emergency.

The incident was first reported around 9:30 a.m. at Hillcrest Avenue and Davison Drive, police said.

Police and medical personnel arrived at the scene and found the driver, who appeared to have a medical emergency. Although life-saving measures were taken, the man, a 49-year-old Berkeley resident, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

Drugs and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the collision.

The collision remains under investigation and police are asking anyone with information to contact them at (925) 778-2441 or Officer Robert Solari at (925) 779-6900 ext. 82372. Tips can also be sent by text to 274637 using the keyword ANTIOCH.

About 100 students rallied Friday afternoon at the University of California at Berkeley to stand for Dreamers, refugees and demand Congress impeach President Trump, an organizer with the organization By Any Means Necessary said.

The rally occurred at about noon when UC Berkeley students and students from three Oakland schools marched through campus and voiced their opinions on Sproul Plaza, BAMN organizer Ronald Cruz said.

Students demanded U.S. legislators pass laws to keep Dreamers in the country, defend the Temporary Protected Status of refugees and impeach the president.

The Oakland students came from Oakland Technical High School, East Oakland Pride Elementary School and Edna Brewer Middle School, Cruz said.

In a separate but similar action at the University of California at San Francisco, students, faculty and staff made phone calls to demand Congress act to protect Dreamers.

Dreamers are young immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have remained in the U.S. through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The program has kept about 800,000 young people in the U.S. but the program will end March 5 unless Congress passes legislation to allow them to stay.

Cruz said the students in Berkeley met no resistance. Rather they received a lot of support as onlookers clapped and took photos.

The event was part of BAMN's national "Don't Walk on By" campaign, which aims to stop U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from entering school campuses and communities and stop the agents from arresting immigrants. Don't Walk on By is meant to be a model for community self defense, Cruz said.

More information on the Don't Walk on By program can be found at bamn.com/dontwalkonby or in Spanish at bamn.com/nosigacaminando.

Another separate immigration action was taken earlier this week by the San Francisco Labor Council when it passed a resolution demanding lawmakers provide a path to citizenship for all undocumented youth without increasing funding for ICE or making money available to build a wall on the Mexican border.

The resolution also calls on lawmakers to keep refugees on Temporary Protected Status in the country, for an end to I-9 audits, for an end to workplace immigration raids and for an end to deportations.

Legislation requiring police to track and regularly inventory firearms was introduced in the California Legislature Thursday.

SB 1185, introduced by Sen. Jerry Hill, would require law enforcement agencies to have a written procedure to account for all their guns, including a way to account for and document the guns and update that accounting when they are lost or stolen, the senator said.

"These bills will bring greater accountability to police firearm security and transparency to the use of surveillance as a crime-fighting tool," Hill said in a statement.

"I look forward to working with law enforcement and my colleagues in the legislature to enable greater oversight in these areas. Both have been the focus of growing public scrutiny and concerns."

There have been a number of widely reported incidents in the state in which firearms stolen from officers played a role in crimes. Perhaps the most notorious involved the fatal shooting of Kate Steinle at San Francisco's Pier 14 in 2015.

A bullet from a gun stolen from the vehicle of a Bureau of Land Management ranger ricocheted and killed Steinle. The stolen gun had found its way into the hands of an undocumented immigrant who was later acquitted of murder in the case.

In another case, Abel Esquivel was shot and killed in San Francisco near 26th Street and South Van Ness Avenue Aug. 15, just days after the theft of a .38-caliber revolver belonging to officer Marvin Cabuntala.

California law does not require law enforcement agencies to periodically inventory their firearms, according to Sen. Hill's office. The agencies must report acquisitions within 10 days and must report guns that are destroyed or somehow disposed of.

However, there are no requirements that the agency report lost, stolen or missing guns, though law enforcement officers must report a lost or stolen gun to their employer or the local police agency within five days, the senator's office said.

There also is no requirement for law enforcement agencies to set rules on gun tracking or to regularly report the results to the Department of Justice, though some do so voluntarily, according to the senator's office.

A public education campaign is underway in San Francisco to warn people about a gold scam that targets Chinese residents, county prosecutors announced Friday.

The scam goes by the names Chinese Gold Scam or Buried Treasure Scam and has cost the victims thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Prosecutors have issued the warning as people celebrate the Chinese New Year, which will climax in San Francisco with a parade Feb. 24.

"This is a special time of year for the city's thriving Chinese community, but it's also a time of year when we've seen scams targeting this population occur with more frequency," San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon said in a statement.

Gascon added that the scam has been attempted in San Francisco but so far residents have escaped unharmed.

Prosecutors said the ploy begins when two or three scammers either call or visit their victim.

The scammers portray themselves as poor migrant workers from mainland China who need help from a generous, friendly resident who speaks Chinese.

Scammers are known to research their victims, who tend to be successful business owners, professionals or public personalities.

Scammers may tell the victim that they share the same last name to suggest they have common ancestors to gain the victim's trust.

The perpetrators tell the victim they are in the U.S. to work in construction and during an excavation they found solid gold ingots or solid gold Buddha statues together with a note written in Chinese.

The scammers tell the victim they are illiterate and need help from a trustworthy and prominent person to read it.

The scammers set up a meeting so the victim can read it and inspect the gold.

Victims are generally impressed by the amount and weight of the gold. The note is distressed to make it look old and introduces the writer as a person who lived decades ago.

The note begs the finder to locate the writer's son in China.

The scammers ask the victim to give the son one-half of the gold and keep the other half as a finder's fee.

But the scammers go on to convince the victim that the son cannot be found and the victim can purchase the gold for a fraction of its value.

The scammers will tell the victim that they're afraid to try to bring the gold back to China because port authorities may seize it.

The perpetrators chip off a piece of what appears to be gold to let the victim inspect it and then the meeting ends.

The victim believes it to be gold and gets in touch with the scammers again. The two parties agree on a cash price and the scammers urge the victim to pay for it quickly because the scammers' visas are expiring in a few days.

After the exchange, the victim realizes the ingots or statues are worthless.

Oakland police on Dec. 11 reported that someone tried and failed to scam people in the Chinatowns of Oakland and San Francisco.SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

In a dramatic rescue, three people trapped on a cliff at Baker Beach just south of the Golden Gate Bridge this afternoon have been hoisted to safety by San Francisco firefighters.

The three got lost and trapped on a cliff around 1:30 p.m. today and called 911 dispatchers, fire officials reported on social media.

Around 2:15 p.m., fire department rescuers found the three stranded people and began a high-angle rope rescue to bring them to safety, according to fire officials.

In the rope rescue, the rescuers hoisted the victims up the cliff, the fire department said.

Around 4 p.m., the three were safely rescued, according to the fire department. None of the three were injured, fire officials said.

558-3404A 7-year-old child was seriously injured in a collision this morning in Antioch, a spokesman for the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District said.

The collision was reported at 7:38 a.m. in the area of Putnam Street and Lone Tree Way.SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Police in San Francisco this morning have detained a person of interest in connection with a deadly shooting that occurred Friday night near Golden Gate Park's Panhandle area.

As officers were trying to apprehend the person of interest, they were involved in an officer-involved shooting, police said.

There were no reported injuries in the officer-involved, police said.

Police have not released the identity of the person of interest.

On Friday at 6:28 p.m., officers with the San Francisco Police Department responded to Oak and Stanyan streets on a report of a shooting.

Responding officers located two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.

One victim died, and the other is being treated for life-threatening injuries, according to police.

No other information about the victims was immediately available.

Police said it appears there was an argument between a group of people when a man shot the two victims.

The suspect fled the scene on foot to Fell Street, used the gun to carjack a vehicle and then fled the area.

This morning at 12:13 a.m., officers located the stolen vehicle on Alameda Street near De Haro Street.

The vehicle was unoccupied, but it was parked behind a recreational vehicle that was occupied, police said.

Police made contact with the occupants, and several people exited the vehicle, but one person remained inside.

Officers made contact with the person inside, and an officer-involved shooting occurred.

The officers established a perimeter around the vehicle, and a Tactical Unit and Crisis/Hostage Negotiation Team responded to the scene.

At approximately 2:20 a.m., the occupant of the vehicle exited the vehicle, was taken into custody and transported to the hospital for evaluation.

Police said the occupant in the recreational vehicle is the person of interest in the Friday night homicide and carjacking.

The police department will hold a town hall meeting in the coming days regarding the officer-involved shooting.

The incident is being investigated by the SFPD Homicide Detail, The San Francisco District Attorney's Office, the Department of Police Accountability and the SFPD Internal Affairs Unit.EMERYVILLE (BCN)

The victim in a Sunday shooting in Emeryville near the city's Amtrak station remained in critical condition Friday night, police said.

Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Emeryville Police Department's Criminal Investigations Section at (510) 596-3774.

Officers responded Sunday at 9:11 p.m. to a report a person was on the ground and bleeding on 59th Street near Horton Street.

Responding officers located a 26-year-old man who had been shot and was unconscious.

The victim was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The suspect fled the scene and remains at large.The I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club would like to congratulate Don Hall of Westchester, NS, for winning the 2017 OBrien Awards Online Handicapping Contest.

Hall, along with three other entrants scored 17 out of a possible 20 points, answering seven of the eight questions correctly. He missed selecting the two-year-old filly pacer category for the horse division with the closest number of voting points. Halls name was selected in the blind draw.

Don has been involved in almost every aspect of the sport. During the past 50 years he has tried his hand as a groom, trainer, driver and owner.

Some of his highlights during this time include working with two OBrien award winners -- Somebeachsomewhere and International Moni, with his most memorable moment being when Somebeachsomewhere set a World Record of 1:46.4 at the Red Mile in Lexington, KY.

Hall won an I Love Canadian Harness Racing prize package and also has the choice of a $50 gift certificate to the Canadian harness racetrack of choice or a $50 donation to a registered Standardbred charity. Don has chosen to donate $50 to Morning Star Acres in Harcourt, N.B.

Below are the answers to the contest questions.

WHO WILL WIN THE OBRIEN AWARD OF HORSEMANSHIP? (2 points)

Marc Campbell took home his second OBrien Award of Horsemanship after having a career year in 2017.

WHO WILL WIN ARMSTRONG BREEDER OF THE YEAR? (2 points)

Partners Marvin Katz of Toronto, Ont., and Al Libfeld, of Pickering, Ont., collected their third consecutive OBrien trophy for Armstrong Breeder of The Year.

WHO WILL WIN DRIVER OF THE YEAR? (2 points)

Doug McNair of Guelph, Ont., won his first OBrien as Canadas Driver of the Year following a career year.

WHO WILL WIN TRAINER OF THE YEAR? (2 points)

Richard Moreau, of Puslinch, Ont., was awarded his fifth consecutive OBrien bronze in the Trainer of the Year category.

WHO WILL WIN THE FUTURE STAR AWARD? (2 points)

In only his third season of full time driving, Brett MacDonald of Manotick, Ont., was voted Future Star winner.

WHICH OBRIEN DIVISION HORSE WINNER WILL HAVE THE HIGHEST POINT TOTAL FROM THE VOTING RESULTS? (3 points)

The two-year-old trotting filly category had the highest point total with Kadabra Queen scoring 79 points.

WHICH OBRIEN DIVISION FOR HORSES WILL BE THE CLOSEST IN POINTS? (Points represent first and second place votes) (3 points)

The two-year-old pacing filly category was the closest. Percy Bluechip had 64 points and Kendall Seelster had 54 points.

WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE NAMED CANADAS 2017 HORSE OF THE YEAR? (4 points)

Hannelore Hanover was named Canadas Horse of the Year, now known as the Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year Award. She also won her second consecutive OBrien Trophy as Older Trotting Mare.

Click here to view a list of the 2017 OBrien Award winners.

Click here to see if your picture is in the 2017 OBrien Awards photo slideshow!OAKLAND (BCN)

A federal grand jury indicted a Windsor man Thursday for allegedly stealing housing grant money for homeless veterans and using it to pay his own rent, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

William Michael Andrews, 50, a caseworker at a nonprofit agency in the East Bay, is charged with theft of government property and aggravated identity theft, according to federal prosecutors.

Andrews allegedly used the veterans' personal information, including social security numbers, to illegally direct more than $26,000 in Department of Veterans Affairs grant money to pay his rent. The money was intended for short-term rental apartments for homeless veterans.

Andrews was arrested in San Francisco and appeared in federal court in Oakland Thursday. His next court date is March 14 in U.S. District Court.

Andrews faces a maximum 10-year in prison term, a fine and restitution if convicted of theft of government property and a mandatory, consecutive minimum two-year prison term and $250,000 fine if convicted of aggravated identity theft.The Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) Board of Directors and staff congratulate our CEO, Rob Black, on his appointment to the Senate of Canada.

The Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) Board of Directors and staff congratulate our CEO, Rob Black, on his appointment to the Senate of Canada. It is a remarkable recognition of his years of commitment and contribution to the agricultural sector and communities of rural Ontario.

I am incredibly humbled by this appointment and the outpouring of good wishes I have received from across the province and country and around the world. A steep learning curve is before me, but I am looking forward, with the support of my family, mentors and many friends, to my new role within Canadas Parliamentary system and to serving the people of Ontario and Canada, says Rob Black. While this means leaving my role as CEO of the Rural Ontario Institute, I am committed to the organizations success and will be working with the Board and staff over the coming weeks to ensure a seamless transition.

This appointment is bittersweet for our organization as we will miss his leadership, stated Suzanne Trivers, ROI Board Chair. We thank Rob for his many years of dedication and passion to the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) preceding the formation of the Rural Ontario Institute and especially for his guidance and stewardship since then. The success of the Institute is certainly a reflection of his abilities and we share his enthusiasm that he will have the opportunity to draw on those abilities in his service to the country.

Over the coming days, the Board will work along with Rob and the staff on a transition plan while Rob exits his role as CEO and begins his new position as a member of the Senate of Canada.

The Rural Ontario Institute is a non-profit organization committed to developing leaders and facilitating collaboration on issues and opportunities facing rural Ontario.

(Rural Ontario Institute)NY Abortionist -- 'Taking Life' Empowers Women

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Feb. 16, 2018 / Standard Newswire / -- Merle Hoffman, president and CEO of Choices Women's Medical Clinic (Choices) in Jamaica, New York, who was questioned under oath yesterday by Liberty Counsel, has said that the "act of abortion positions women at their most powerful" because abortion gives women "power-and the responsibility-of taking life" so that they may control their own lives. "Merle Hoffman has acknowledged the obvious -- that abortion is the taking of human life. What is shocking is that she believes killing a helpless child empowers women by enabling them to achieve their selfish goals," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel.

In court yesterday, Hoffman admitted she collaborated with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to bring this frivolous federal lawsuit seeking to punish and silence pro-life and Christian speech on public sidewalks outside of her facility. Their "mere existence," she said, is a "crime against women." The case is being heard in a federal court in Brooklyn and will resume next week.

Liberty Counsel represents one of the 13 defendants, Scott Fitchett, Jr., a pre-K teacher who has spent Saturdays peacefully sharing the gospel on public sidewalks wherever he goes, including outside Choices.

Hoffman's abortion facility has performed hundreds of thousands of abortions since 1971. During the hearing this week, the abortionist millionaire testified that peaceful sidewalk counselors are the "American Taliban" and that "their mere existence is a crime against women."

In Hoffman's memoir, Intimate Wars: The Life and Times of the Woman Who Brought Abortion from the Back Alley to the Boardroom, she shares the experience of her own abortion. "The idea of abortion was a valve, an opening, a way to breathe. There was no question of whether I would have one. As we crossed the Fifty-Ninth Street Bridge, I held my stomach and said aloud, 'Sorry little one, it's just not time.' My diary entry from that night reads, 'For one night I am a mother.'"

Hoffman further states in Intimate Wars that abortion is the taking of human life, and that is why it makes women so powerful. "Does the fetus not impede a woman's tendency to maintain her own existence? Is it not an unjust aggressor, threatening the survival of the mother? Is not a woman's choice of abortion an act of self-defense?... I wasn't immune to the physicality of abortion, the blood, tissue, and observable body parts. My political and moral judgments on the nature of abortion evolved throughout the years, but I quickly came to realize that those who deliver abortion services have not only the power to give women control over their bodies and lives, but also the power-and the responsibility-of taking life in order to do that. Indeed, acknowledgment of that truth is the foundation for all the political and personal work necessary to maintain women's reproductive freedom...The act of abortion positions women at their most powerful, and that is why it is so strongly opposed by many in society. Historically viewed as and conditioned to be passive, dependent creatures, victims of biological circumstance, women often find it difficult to embrace this power over life and death. They fall prey to the assumption, the myth, that they cannot be trusted with it."

Horatio Mihet, Vice President of Legal Affairs at Liberty Counsel, who questioned Hoffman in court on Thursday, said: "The depravity of those who find 'empowerment' from taking what they rightly acknowledge to be defenseless human lives is matched only by their insatiable desire to shut down any speech that exposes them." Commenting on the documented connection between Hoffman's ideology and the frivolous lawsuit filed by the State of New York, Mihet added: "The very fact that Merle Hoffman has assisted in the destruction of hundreds of thousands of 'little ones' over the last half-century is unspeakably tragic. But her conspiring with New York's Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to punish Scott Fitchett, Jr. for peacefully preaching truth on a public sidewalk is unconscionable. Their fraudulent scheme must be exposed and defeated."

"Merle Hoffman and Attorney General Schneiderman are examples of the shocking reality of the abortion industry," said Staver. "Countless precious lives have already been lost at Hoffman's abortion clinic. Hoffman and Schneiderman are now fighting to punish the peaceful free speech of Scott Fitchett, Jr. and others. It is no wonder they do not care about the First Amendment because they do not care about defenseless human life," said Staver.

Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.

MEXICO CITY  A military helicopter carrying officials assessing damage from a powerful earthquake crashed in southern Mexico, killing 13 people and injuring 16, all of them on the ground, authorities said Saturday.

The Oaxaca state prosecutors office said in a statement that five women, four men and three children were killed Friday at the crash site and another person died later at the hospital.

A state government official who was not authorized to be quoted by name said the chopper crashed into a group of people who had been spending the night in an open field after a powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit the area. Aftershocks had caused people to flee their homes for fear they would collapse.

The Defense Department said the Blackhawk helicopter suffered the mishap when it was preparing to land in a lot in the town of Santiago Jamiltepec, about 19 miles from the city of Pinotepa Nacional. The craft was carrying Interior Secretary Alfonso Navarrete and Oaxaca Gov. Alejandro Murat, neither of whom had serious injuries.

Jorge Morales, a local reporter who was aboard the helicopter when it crashed, described harrowing moments as the pilot lost control and the helicopter attempted to land in a swirl of dust.

The moment the helicopter touched down it lost control, it slid  like it skidded  and it hit some vehicles that were stationed in the area, he told a Mexican television station. In that moment, you couldnt see anything.

Navarrete and Murat were evaluating reports of damage from the earthquake before their helicopter crashed.

Authorities reported 200 homes were damaged, mostly in the southern state of Oaxaca, along with the city hall and main church in Santiago Jamiltepec.

The U.S. Geological Survey originally put the magnitude of Fridays quake at 7.5 but later lowered it to 7.2. The epicenter was 33 miles northeast of Pinotepa in Oaxaca state and had a depth of 15 miles.

President Enrique Pena Nieto said both officials and crew were fine, although the interior department said that they had light injuries.THE HAGUE, Netherlands  Ruud Lubbers, who as the Netherlands longest-serving prime minister led his country through economic turmoil to prosperity and helped shape the foundations of the European Union, died Wednesday. He was 78.

The Dutch government announced that Lubbers died in Rotterdam surrounded by his wife and children. No cause of death was given.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte hailed Lubbers, who led the Dutch government from 1982 to 1994, as a statesman who dragged the Netherlands through tough economic times.

With his broad knowledge and experience and his tireless creativity, he knew how to find a solution for every problem, Rutte said on Facebook.

Lubbers conservative economic policies were in step with his counterparts in Washington and London during the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He trimmed back the Dutch welfare state, persuaded powerful labor unions to rein in their demands and ushered in years of growth.

Dutch King Willem-Alexander, his wife, Queen Maxima and the kings mother, Princess Beatrix, paid tribute to his work for economic and social recovery. Beatrix was the Netherlands monarch during Lubbers time in office and stepped aside for her son in 2013.

We remember Ruud Lubbers as a great statesman with an impressive sense of responsibility, the royals said in a statement.

Lubbers international reputation suffered in 2005 when he was forced to step down as U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in a sexual harassment scandal. He maintained his innocence even as he resigned.

An economist by training, Lubbers believed the size of the Dutch government had become a hindrance to the countrys economic health.

With the words Holland is sick, he argued that generous disability and unemployment benefits had become fiscally unsustainable, and that too many people took advantage of them simply to avoid working.

He was sometimes criticized as too willing to compromise on principles, but to supporters he was a pragmatist and a deal maker. Carrying the Dutch tradition of consensus politics forward, Lubbers struck agreements with unions to limit wage growth in exchange for low unemployment, and curtailed government spending.

More markets, less government was a favorite campaign slogan of his.

Sybrand Buma, current chief of Lubbers Christian Democrats, called him a leader who made choices that might not have been popular at the time but were necessary to haul the Netherlands out of crisis.

After leaving national politics, Lubbers international aspirations were frustrated. A candidate to head the European Commission, he lost to Jacques Santer in 1994. He was tapped as NATO secretary general in 1996, but lacked American support and yielded to Spains Javier Solana.

He taught part-time at the universities of Tilburg and Harvard until 2001, when U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan named him High Commissioner for Refugees.

But his accomplishments were overshadowed by the sexual harassment case brought by an American UNHCR employee, Cynthia Brzak, who accused him of improperly touching her after a meeting in December 2003.

Lubbers denied impropriety, saying he had intended an innocent friendly gesture. He fought for more than a year to save his reputation and job, but an internal U.N. investigation in 2004 found a pattern of sexual misconduct.

Annan initially declined to act, saying the findings were not strong enough for dismissal. But under fire over this affair and the Iraq oil-for-food scandal, Annan asked the Dutchman to resign in February 2005.

It was a major embarrassment not only for Lubbers but also for Annan, and ultimately led to a revamping of the U.N.s whistle-blower policy.

Born in Rotterdam on May 7, 1939, to a wealthy contractors family, Lubbers as a young adult helped manage Hollandia BV. He and a brother became its co-directors in 1965 after his fathers sudden death.

A religious Catholic, Lubbers rose through the ranks of several powerful Christian employers associations and the national Catholic political party. It merged with two other closely allied Protestant parties in 1980 to form the Christian Democrats.

Lubbers was appointed economic affairs minister in 1973 at age 34, a post he held until 1977. He gained a reputation as a tireless, if sometimes abrasive executive, with a thorough knowledge of policy details.

After the new Christian Democratic Alliance won elections in 1977, Lubbers headed its first parliamentary faction  a difficult position that required keeping unruly members from three parties in line to support Prime Minister Dries van Agts government.

Lubbers developed a lasting talent for casting policy stances in difficult-to-parse terms that satisfied all sides.

When Van Agt unexpectedly stepped down after winning an election in 1982, Lubbers assumed the premiership almost by default.

At the time, the country faced major economic problems, including a dangerously large budget deficit. But after striking an agreement with industry and unions, Lubbers slashed spending, earning himself the nickname Ruud Shock in Time magazine.

Although his profile was lower than that of German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and French President Francois Mitterrand, Lubbers played a key role in European political integration.

He broke logjams at the 1991 summit in the southern Dutch city of Maastricht, which lent its name to the treaty that formed the European Union and laid the groundwork for the shared euro currency.

In 1984, Lubbers secured a compromise to a NATO demand for the Netherlands to house medium-range nuclear cruise missiles. The plan encountered bitter domestic opposition. Lubbers agreed in principle to accept the missiles, but delayed placing them pending a parallel move by the Soviet Union.

The issue became irrelevant as a result of missile reduction talks between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Lubbers is survived by his wife, Ria Lubbers, with whom he had three children.

Funeral arrangements were not immediately announced.DAKAR, Senegal  An attack by three suicide bombers killed at least 18 people and wounded more than 20 others at a fish market outside the sprawling Nigerian city that gave rise to the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, officials and news reports said Saturday.

The bombers set off explosives Friday at the market, about 15 miles from the center of the sprawling city of Maiduguri, Reuters reported. No one claimed responsibility for the attacks, but they were similar to scores of others in and around the city in the past few months.

The attackers were all female, according to the Associated Press, and the victims were mostly women and children, local news outlets reported. Boko Haram has been known to deploy young women and children as suicide bombers, in addition to sending men to attack mosques, markets and other places where crowds gather.

The police commissioner of Borno state, Damian Chukwu, said at least 22 people were wounded in the attack Friday, according to Reuters.

The war with Boko Haram, which has displaced millions, is entering its ninth year. Militants raging against decades of economic inequality and government corruption in the region want to create a state that adheres to a harsh version of Islam. In their quest, they have burned villages, slaughtered men and boys who refuse to join their ranks, raped and enslaved women and girls, and strapped suicide bombs to terrified hostages.

The Nigerian military has made progress in past weeks in chasing fighters from their forest hideouts, and this month the military secured the release of high-profile hostages  a group of female police officers and several university professors who had been held by the fighters.

Negotiations for the release of about 100 young women kidnapped from a school in Chibok in 2014 are still under way. Dozens of other Chibok girls have been released after similar negotiations or after escaping. Thousands of other residents from villages overrun by Boko Haram are also believed to be held in miserable conditions by the militants, who are known to conscript children into fighting.

Military and government officials have announced the defeat of Boko Haram several times, even as fighters have launched attacks and released propaganda videos taunting officials.To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.

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A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!"The Planet Factory" is a new book by astrophysicist Elizabeth Tasker, who presented a related lecture entitled "Dangerous Worlds" at the American Museum of Natural History on Feb. 5.

NEW YORK  On a chilly February night, astronomy enthusiasts of all ages gathered inside the Kaufmann Theater within the American Museum of Natural History for a special after-hours event. They made their way past sculptures invoking Jupiter and Mercury, which offered reminders that planets, albeit much more distant ones, would be E.T.'s subject. Yes, the lecture on alien worlds was led by a person with those initials, and it was the delightful first joke of the night.

E.T.  short for Elizabeth Tasker, a researcher at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency  took the stage in New York on Feb. 5 to break down the many colorful theories of how alien planets form and how to find them as explored in her new book, "The Planet Factory: Exoplanets and the Search for a Second Earth" (Bloomsbury Sigma, 2017).[TRAPPIST-1 Planets Could Harbor 250 Times More Water Than Earth's Oceans]

This illustration depicts a protoplanetary disc around a newborn star, the gas and dust that doesn't become part of a star, and provides the building blocks for planets. Rocky planets form closer to the star, and beyond the ice line where water freezes, gas giants form. However, planets sometimes migrate, so the orbit they take when building up isn't always the orbit they keep around a star. (Image credit: University of Copenhagen/Lars Buchhave)

There have been several recent mind-blowing exoplanet discoveries: the many worlds orbiting the star TRAPPIST-1  some of which could have liquid water  and surprising "hot-Jupiter" gas giants orbiting very close to their parent stars shatter the idea that our solar system is the only planetary setup.

Creative references to video games like "Pac-Man" and "Mario Kart" were highlights of the "Dangerous Worlds" lecture. Oh, and there was also a brief but memorable mention of a highly toxic gas used in early exoplanet detection.

"The 1990s is scarily recent, at least I still think it is," Tasker said. "Why did it take us so long to find planets around other stars? It's not like we didn't think they'd be there."

"The problem with stars is that they're really big and they're really bright, and planets are really scriffy and really dim, so it's super hard to see them at a big distance," she added.

The "'Pac-Man' stage" of planetary formation is, in Tasker's words, when a young planet is "munching up" the small rocks near itself. The planet and rocks are traveling about the same speed, and when the rocks make contact, they stick and the young planet gets "fatter." Over time, the planet's gravitational pull increases and its orbit can eventually make its parent star wobble. An early method of finding exoplanets relied on detecting a star's slight movement, and gas cylinders offered an early hack to identify the tiny change.

"What people did was they put a jar of gas in front of this telescopeit was like slamming a ruler right in front of your starlight," Tasker said. The gravitational pull of a planet made its parent star wobble ever so slightly, and this jar of gas "made a tiny shift much easier to measure." The gas emits a light little of its own at a constant rate, so by passing starlight through it, the gas served as a comparison point and wobbling in small stars could be observed.

But the gas was so potent, it ate through the jar. "Now the original contents of the gas cylinder was hydrogen fluoride, which is immensely toxic. In fact, it's so toxic that it used to corrode the gas cylinder, and so between observations, the only solution was for astronomers to, by hand, go to this incredibly toxic gasand change it for the next observation," Tasker said. "They don't use the same gas now."

Tasker used a simulation drawn from the racing game "Mario Kart" to explain why planets sometimes migrate when they're forming. To show how gas giant planets end up so close to their parent stars when they are born in a cooler part of the protoplanetary disk, Tasker imagined a circular racetrack: the character Yoshi in the innermost track, Mario in the middle lane and Princess Peach in the outermost track. They're zooming around a hypothetical parent star at the center, and all three Karts are attached to one another by a string. The string demonstrates the gravitational tug that big clumps of stuff can have on a forming gas planet (Mario) from different directions. [Super-Earth' Alien Worlds May Carve Up Planet-Forming Disks]

In the case of hot Jupiters, the gas planet forms beyond the ice line (where the radiation released by a star has weakened enough for water to freeze). Tasker said that after gobbling up silicates and ices in its Pac-Man stage, the gas giant planet is lured in closer to the star by dust and gas. And in the case of the solar system, the process explains why Jupiter is so big, and Mars is surprisingly small.

Some astronomers believe Jupiter was once closer to the sun while it was growing, clearing out all the little rocks known as planetesimals. "Now as it does this, Saturn appears, and Saturn also starts beefing up and starts to migrate inwards."

An artist's illustration shows the water snow line spotted around the young star V883 Orionis  the delineation between where the hot star vaporizes all water, leaving rocky dust and debris, and where ice and snow exist in the disk. (Image credit: A. Angelich (NRAO/AUI/NSF)/ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO))

"At this point, you have a lot of forces going on," Tasker said of the solar system formation process. "You still got that gas drag trying to pull you inwards, but now that gravity of each other is going to pull. And if you sum together all these rather complex forces, strangely enough, you do a U-turn. And the two [Jupiter and Saturn] start to move back out, and we call this the Grand Tack model. Because you go in, you do a turn, and come out. So in that case, these two planets move back out."

But this spells doom for Mars, which ends up, in Tasker's humorous take, "pathetic."

"Now after this happens, our little terrestrial worlds start forming, and that's just dandy for Mercury, Venus, Earth. But poor old Mars has had all its rocks eaten by Jupiter."

You can buy Tasker's book, "Planet Factory: Exoplanets and the Search for a Second Earth," on Amazon.com.

Follow Doris Elin Salazar on Twitter @salazar_elin. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.Suzanna Randall, a European Southern Observatory astronomer, has been chosen as a new trainee of the initiative Die Astronautin, which aims to train the first female German astronaut and send her on a research mission to the International Space Station.

A private effort to launch the first German woman into space has a new potential candidate.

Suzanna Randall, an astronomer with ESO, the European Southern Observatory in Garching, was announced as the new trainee for Die Astronautin (The Female Astronaut) on Friday (Feb. 16), replacing a fighter pilot who dropped out of the privately-run program in December. Randall will now compete with meteorologist Insa Thiele-Eich, the daughter of veteran German astronaut Gerhard Thiele, for a chance to become the first woman from Germany to launch to the International Space Station on a privately-funded mission.

"I want to show that it is possible for ordinary women to develop the necessary knowledge and skills to become an astronaut," said Randall in a statement. [Record-Breaking Women in Spaceflight History]

After the U.S. and Russia, Germany is tied with China for having sent more of its citizens into orbit than astronauts from any other country, a total of eleven since 1978. All of the German space travelers, and a twelfth now in training, have been men.

"And I think it is important that women are represented at all levels of society. It should go without saying that women work in space," said Randall.

Die Astronautin was launched almost two years ago by the aerospace recruitment agency HE Space to inspire young women in Germany to take up careers in space, science, mathematics and technology, as well as to launch the first female German astronaut into space. From an initial pool of 400 applicants, six semi-finalists were chosen, including Randall.

Astronomer Suzanna Randall (at left) and meteorologist Insa Thiele-Eich will compete for the chance to be the first German woman in space as Die Astronautin trainees. (Image credit: M. Zamani/ESO)

Thiele-Eich and Nicola Baumann were named as the Die Astronautin finalists in April 2017. Eight months later, after both women had begun training activities, Baumann chose to resign.

"I want to continue to be an astronaut, but this way is just not right for me," Baumann told the weekly German news magazine Der Spiegel in an interview. "The initiative and I do not go together."

Claudia Kessler, the CEO of HE Space and founder of Die Astronautin, said at the time one of the other semi-finalists would take Baumann's place, as has become the case.

"We regret the departure of Ms. Baumann, understand her motives and wish her all the best," said Kessler.

"We are pleased Suzanna Randall can jump directly into training with her previous knowledge as an astrophysicist," she added in a statement released Friday.

Born in Cologne, Randall studied astronomy in the United Kingdom before graduating from the University of Montreal in Canada with a doctorate in astrophysics.

Former Die Astronautin finalist Nicola Baumann. (Image credit: Die Astronautin)

Randall began her career at ESO as a fellow and is now involved with the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), a global partnership that operates the world's largest radio telescope in the Chilean Atacama desert. ALMA comprises 66 giant antennas observing millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelengths and is the most powerful observatory for the study of the cool and the distant universe.

The 38-year-old astronomer also focuses studies on the evolution of pulsating, blue sub-dwarf stars. She has been an avid paraglider, is a trained yoga instructor and enjoys winter sports, according to an ESO profile.

Over the next two years, Randall will compete against 34-year-old Thiele-Eich for a single seat on a space mission. Their training will include becoming familiar with systems aboard the space station, as well as taking part in "zero-g" parabolic flights, survival, flight and robotics training.

The ongoing training activities are funded in part by Airbus. Die Astronautin has yet to raise the 50 million euros (about $62 million) required for the mission to the space station, nor has it publicly identified the type of spacecraft it plans to use to launch Thiele-Eich or Randall into orbit.

Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2018 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved.At approximately 5 p.m. Hawaii local time on Feb. 15, the four crew members of the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) entered a dome habitat on Mauna Loa on the island of Hawaii. They are the subjects of an eight-month research study of human behavior and performance in conditions that future crewed missions to Mars could experience.

Atop a volcano, a new eight-month long Mars simulation is underway.

For the first time ever, the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) project, which tests how humans would endure the isolation of a Mars mission, will include participants from four different countries of origin.

At 5 p.m. Hawaii local time on Thursday (Feb. 15), the four participants of the HI-SEAS Mission VI crew, who herald from Korea, Australia, Slovakia and Scotland, respectively, began their eight-month stay inside a dome habitat atop Mauna Loa on the island of Hawaii, according to a statement from University of Hawaii.

Two crew members from HI-SEAS Mission V walk uphill on the Hawaiian volcano Mauna Loa while pulling a cart of scientific equipment. (Image credit: HI-SEAS V crew)

The mission's goal is to determine the long-duration requirements of a future crewed mission to Mars. HI-SEAS is a NASA-funded project, and is now in its sixth year.

"For humans to successfully undertake a long-duration spaceflight to Mars, it will require a global collaboration, and so it seems appropriate that our Mission VI begins with this spirit of internationalism," said Kim Binsted, HI-SEAS Principal Investigator, in the statement by the University of Hawaii, where HI-SEAS is based.

From left to right: Sukjin Han, Michaela Musilova, Calum Hervieu and Lisa Stojanovski, the four newest inhabitants of the HI-SEAS dome habitat in Hawaii. Their mission began Feb. 15, 2018. (Image credit: University of Hawaii)

The four test participants will live in confined conditions, according to the statement. They will also be subjected to 20-minute communication delays to simulate what message delay would actually be like between Earth and Mars, and to test how this can affect feelings of isolation. They'll be expected to engage in daily habits such as exercising and preparing recipes from shelf-stable ingredients, in addition to research and field work.

The participants are Sukjin Han, assistant professor in Economics at the University of Texas at Austin; astrobiologist Michaela Musilova, who is also the chair of the Slovak Organisation for Space Activities; Lisa Stojanovski, a science communicator managing the Australian chapter of the Space Generation Advisory Council; and astrophysicist Calum Hervieu, a systems engineer from rural Scotland.

Follow Doris Elin Salazar on Twitter @salazar_elin. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lands on a "drone ship" in the Pacific Ocean on Aug. 24, 2017, after helping launch the Formosat-5 satellite. This same booster will launch again on Feb. 18, 2018, lofting the Paz satellite for Spanish operator Hisdesat, along with two SpaceX satellite-internet prototypes.

Update for Feb. 22: SpaceX's Falcon 9 mission to launch the Paz satellite has successfully lifted off. See our full story here: SpaceX Launches 1st Test Satellites for Starlink Internet Constellation Along with Spain's Paz

Update for Feb. 21: High winds scuttled today's launch attempt. The next opportunity comes Thursday, at 9:17 a.m. EST (1417 GMT; 6:17 a.m. local California time).

Update for Feb. 18: SpaceX has delayed the launch of its next Falcon 9 rocket to no earlier than Feb. 21. See our full story here: SpaceX Delays Next Falcon 9 Rocket Launch to Feb. 21

SpaceX plans to launch the first two prototypes for its vast satellite-internet constellation Thursday (Feb. 22), and you can watch the liftoff live.

The satellites are scheduled to lift off aboard a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base on the California coast on Thursday at 9:17 a.m. EST (1417 GMT; 6:17 a.m. local California time). Watch the launch live here at Space.com, courtesy of SpaceX, or directly via SpaceX's website.

This Falcon 9's first stage has flown once before, helping loft a Taiwanese Earth-observing satellite in August 2017. The first stage landed on one of SpaceX's "drone ships" in the ocean on that occasion, but no such landing will be attempted Thursday, SpaceX representatives said. However, the company will apparently attempt to recover the payload fairing  the $6 million nose cone that will protect the satellites during launch  using a net-equipped boat named "Mr. Steven."

The main purpose of Thursday's launch is getting the Paz satellite to orbit for Spanish operator Hisdesat. Paz will generate sharp radar imagery of Earth for a variety of customers, including the Spanish government, over the course of the satellite's 5.5-year mission.

The two prototype satellite-internet craft will be riding along as secondary payloads, according to documents SpaceX has filed with the Federal Communications Commission. (SpaceX has not said much about the inclusion of these two prototypes, known as Microsat-2a and Microsat-2b, on Thursday's flight.)

The prototypes are designed to help lay the groundwork for SpaceX's Starlink constellation, a network of several thousand satellites in Earth orbit that the company envisions providing low-cost internet service to people around the world. SpaceX representatives have said the company aims to get Starlink up and running, at least in a limited capacity, by 2020.

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.EXCLUSIVE: Jeanine Mason (Greys Anatomy) has been tapped as the lead of the CW pilot Roswell, a reboot with an immigration twist of the cult sci-fi series.Reluctantly returning to her tourist-trap hometown of Roswell, New Mexico, Liz Ortecho (Mason), a jaded biomedical researcher and the daughter of undocumented immigrants, is haunted by a tragic incident. She discovers a shocking truth about her teenage crush who is now a police officer: Hes an alien who has kept his unearthly abilities hidden his entire life. She protects his secret as the two reconnect and begin to investigate his origins, but when a violent attack and long-standing government cover-up point to a greater alien presence on Earth, the politics of fear and hatred threaten to expose him and destroy their deepening romance.





Evil is made not born.

When Frozen was announced as the next theme for the series back in 2014, there was a collective groan from an audience who wished the Disney brand would just Let It Go. However, it was Elizabeth Lail who chipped the ice off our cold hearts when it came to the idea with her outstanding performance as Anna.For the most part, Anna didnt stray too far from the childish and loyal sister from the source material, but in all honesty, if aint broke, dont fix it! I really enjoyed her delightful and optimistic presence in a time where I was losing faith in the series.Her one lines and random word vomit had been smiling like an idiot and laughing out loud. Her I cant believe I sang with you! and Snow White prison scenes are some of the funniest moments which come to mind.OUAT expanded on Annas bravery and fierceness in a way the movie did not with her solo missions with David, Rumple and much more who challenged her moral compass and unwavering optimism. The show gave Anna a spotlight she may not ever get from the movies.Another thing I really enjoyed the series adaptation was the sweet chemistry between Anna and Kristoff. I loved how they complimented each other with Anna providing the outlandish missions, cheesy romantic overtures and flailing rants with Kristoff being there to back her up no matter how absurd or improbable the journey became.Anna is the kind of character you couldnt possibly dislike. Always so optimistic, even despite the odds. Her relationships with Kristoff and Elsa were great, despite us not getting a whole lot of scenes there. I loved it when she stood up to Hans, that kind of fierce determination really is contagious.MK: Ohh boy was he charming. OUAT's version of the most neglected Disney character had an extra dose of charm in this adaptation of the character. All the stories about Snow White and Prince Charming barely got any screen time or substance for that matter. He just had to have some perky lips ready to kiss and bring Snow White back to life. Josh Dallas' version of the character had a great story, well layered and a sense of honesty and justice only to be admired. Especially during the first two seasons as we found out most his story, how heroic and simple he is despite all the power he had in his hands. But maybe the most important quality of this adaptation is his ability to be masculine and a grown man who isn't afraid of the fierce woman beside him. And instead of being frightened he was the emancipated piece of man all of us should aspire to be.And yes he was very nice to look at.Being one of the only originals left, Rumplestiltskin is by far the most dynamic character adaptations Once Upon A Time has ever had. With his character based on many fairy tale mythologies from Rumplestiltskin to Beauty and the Beast, its hard to grasp hes not supposed to be an original character. From a storyline perspective, Rumple or Mr. Gold is integral to the fabric of series having woven himself into many of the characters lives throughout the series. Hell, the show itself would not be had Rumple not been around to guide the Evil Queen in casting the evil curse.One of the main credits to Mr. Golds originality is the actor who plays him Robert Carlyle, whose many thoughtful acting choices add nuance to this deeply complex character. I particularly enjoy his gleeful childlike giggles and theatrical hand flourishes that are that conflict with the danger of dealing with one of the most powerful villains of the series.Rumple is a man whos been plagued with instances of abandonment and the choice between ultimate power or unconditional love. The struggle to choose between the two has to lead the character down a fascinating road of dire challenges and morally grey moments as well as switching between hero and villain on multiple occasions. His constant struggle with good and evil is one of the most exciting aspects of his character, igniting fans in debates on whether The Dark One can ever be redeemed or if hes simply too damaged to be anything but the embodiment of pure, selfish evil.Despite the many ups and down, and whether you love or hate him, Rumplestiltskin will forever be one of OUATs memorable characters.The greatness behind this iteration of Captain Hook is all the shades of guyliner we got over the first six seasons. In the OUAT world Hook isn't a spiteful sea thief holding a grudge against some kids. He is a complex antihero whose backstory built up a character to remember. The true complexity of his character came to light with the introduction of his crocodile, the representation of his pain, all his suffering and his motivation to fight for over 300 years. We met him as Killian Jones a character unable to handle pain properly and who faced with that pain acts out and creates the iconic Captain Hook. OUAT gave Captain Hook the opportunity to peel off all those layers of pain showing new sides to a simplified character and showing some true character growth opposed to the one-sided character featured in various movies.I was a big Frozen fan so I was understandably excited when this arc came to the show. While it didnt really turn out how Id wanted to, I still loved Elsa. I actually wish shed been the focus of the story arc rather than the snow queen. Despite all her fears, shed sacrifice anything for her sister and thats the kind of love story I feel this show shouldve focused more on.My favorite part of Elsa's OUAT story was that they didn't pretend that everything was just fine after the events ofElsa survived the movie and she was still damaged. The OUAT writers didn't sugar coat her journey, they added up to the vulnerable and heroic character met in the movie, giving her another dose of vulnerability and heroism and a sister in the form of Emma Swan. The writers succeeded in creating a beautiful bond between the characters mirroring their stories and fears enhancing both of their journeys.My personal favorite and probably my most favorite character introduced into the world of OUAT. The Snow White played by Ginnifer Goodwin isn't a naive little girl who accidentally eat a poisonous apple, she is a fierce leader who fights all her battles head first leaving her heart on the battlefield and not in her palace. Snow's evolution from the frightened girl who made a simple mistake to the fierce and inspiring leader was simply breathtaking. The character growth and all the pieces put together with the delicate performance from Ginnifer Goodwin delivered an impressive and memorable version of Snow White to be talked about for years to come.The writers stepped away from the simple version of the story and enriched all the characters within the Original story. This Snow White went through hell and back but never gave up hope. Hope that she will always find her husband, that her daughter will be the Savior and rescue her/their people, hope that there is still something good in her Evil Stepmother. And we all should aspire to that level of hope.She is so fierce that she broke the term irredeemable. Her style is so fierce that no one cared about the "Evil" prefix. She is the one and only Evil Queen. I never cared about the Evil Queen prior to OUAT, yes not even Charlize Theron could make me care.This quote describes a lot of OUAT characters but no one more than the Evil Queen. Regina, the young naive girl, constantly suppressed by her own mother, pushed to someone completely different and thought by one of the darkest beings out there resulted in the creation of an unprecedented monster one that the Enchanted forest will remember forever. All these parts of Regina's story induced with Lana Parrilla's fierce energy created such a complex and convincing Evil Queen, that you didn't even feel for rooting for her.I didnt really like Regina is season 1, which is odd because in less than a year she became the only one I could stand. Ive always favored the flawed characters, and Regina is definitely flawed. What I love(d) most about her is that she owned who she was. She genuinely made amends for the things she did without making excuses, which made her an even stronger character in my book.Madrid (Spain), Feb 17, 2018 (SPS) - Sixteen Spanish artists from the Canary Islands are holding an exhibition entitled "The Exiled to Shed Light on Western Sahara Cause," displaying the suffering endured by the population forced into exile for more than 42 years.

The artists, through the exhibition, want to bring a financial contribution, by the sale of their works, to the Holiday of Peace programme meant for Saharawi children.

The exhibition (February 15-27), coinciding with the anniversary of the proclamation of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), "is not only a support to Western Sahara cause, but is also an opportunity to discuss the conflict of Western Sahara, located 100 km only from the Canary Islands," said Mari Carmen Cabrera, a member of the Canaries' group for friendship with the Saharawi people.

"In this respect, we demand the Spanish government to find a solution to the conflict, considering its historical responsibility as the colonizing country (of Western Sahara), which still has the administrative power over the territory."

Cabrera noted that such an initiative (exhibition) serves as a platform to feed the debate and exert pressure on Spanish political authorities to get involved in the settlement of Western Sahara issue.SPS

125/090/700T he worlds of fashion and film have gone hand in hand since the earliest days of cinema, with each industry influencing and inspiring the other.

Stylish costume and set designs are recognised during awards season every year, and the look of a movie is always so critical to the filmmaking process too. The most stylish films  from James Dean's Rebel Without A Cause to The Great Gatsby and beyond  can have great influence on our fashion choices too.

With the arrival of London fashion week, there's no better time to revisit the fantastic documentaries and feature films exploring life in the industry.

From from the September Issue to the Devil Wears Prada, these are the best fashion films ever made.

Zoolander

Zoolander trailer

Have you ever wondered if there was more to life than being really, really, really ridiculously good looking? Ben Stillers 2001 Zoolander is a hilarious and often outrageous pastiche of the fashion industry, featuring cameos from just about every celebrity going in the early 00s.

Coco Before Chanel

Coco Before Chanel

French film Coco Before Chanel explores the early days of legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel, chronicling her unlikely route to fame and acclaim. Audrey Tautou delivers an elegant performance in the 2009 movie, which treats its subject matter with the greatest respect and admiration.

Bill Cunningham  New York

Bill Cunningham  New York trailer

Its amazing to think that barely anyone outside the industry had heard of the legendary photographer Bill Cunningham before the release of this fascinating documovie. Cunningham is known far and wide to some of the worlds biggest fashion insiders but never received the worldwide recognition he deserved before the film.

Whizz round New York with Bill, a total eccentric with his signature blue jacket and bike, as he snaps some of the most prominent figures of the fashion world. His greatest quote? "Fashion is the armour to survive the reality of day-to-day life". Since its release, Cunningham sadly died after suffering a stroke in his Manhattan home in 2016.

A Single Man

A SINGLE MAN - Trailer

Tom Fords directorial debut is nothing short of breathtaking. Starring Academy Award winners Colin Firth and Julianne Moore, the film follows George (Firth) a gay widow who begins a relationship with his student Kenny, thoughtfully portrayed by Brit Nicholas Hoult. Like Fords latest flick Nocturnal Animals, the entire film looks like its hot of the press of a glossy magazine worthy of a prime spot on your coffee table. Moore  Fords longtime fashion muse  also stuns.

Fresh Dressed

Fresh Dressed trailer

Kanye West, Nas and Puff Daddy are just some of the huge artists who contribute to this 2015 documentary about the history of Hip Hops urban fashion. The doc takes an in depth look at the way music and fashion interact with each other, and how fashion has represented one of the strongest influences on society as a whole through the years.

Valentino: The Last Emperor

OFFICIAL TRAILER Valentino The Last Emperor HD

Famed designer Valentino Garavani is the subject of this 2008 documentary, which celebrates his life and work. The film explores his enduring influence on the industry, from opening his first fashion house in 1959 to becoming one of the most widely revered designers of the past 60 years

Mademoiselle C

Mademoiselle C Official Trailer

Mademoiselle C focuses on the fascinating life of Carine Riotfeld, who was Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Paris from 2001 to 2011. Its a chance to get to grips with the inner workings of the industry, as we see Riotfeld engage with the biggest names in fashion and run a hugely influential fashion title.

The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada trailer

"Thats all"  the iconic words of Meryl Streeps infamously celebrated portrayal of Runway editor Miranda Priestly (a thinly-veiled caricature of Anna Wintour) still sends shivers down the spine of fashion interns to this day. For those who havent seen it, know that this Oscar-nominated film isnt just a fashion movie, this is the fashion movie. It's the perfect chance to reminisce in the head-to-toe looks of the 2000s, and revel in the glory days on those glorious Prada and Chanel ensembles.

Dior & I

Dior and I - Official Trailer

Dior & I Raf Simons' first haute couture collection as artistic director of Christian Dior is the centrepiece of this insightful 2014 documentary. The buildup to this unconventional collection doesnt always go smoothly, but the journey from design to final display is always compelling.

Gia

Gia TV movie trailer

Angelina Jolie stars in HBO film Gia, which tells the heartbreaking true story of Gia Carangi. The 1998 movie documents Gias rise as one of the USs first supermodels, before being caught in a downward spiral of drug addiction. It makes for a pretty harrowing watch at times, but its a film well worth seeking out.

Saint Laurent

SAINT LAURENT International Trailer (2014)

Lea Seydoux and Gespard Ulliel star in the French Biographical film Saint Laurent, which takes a closer look at the enigmatic character of designer Yves Saint Laurent. The film portrays the hugely influential French designer at the height of his creative powers, all the while struggling with personal issues in the late 60s and 70s.

The September Issue

The September Issue trailer

Quite possibly one of the most important films in the fashion canon. Follow in Vogue editor and Chief Anna Wintours footsteps for a two hour odyssey of magazine corporate drama. The film marked the first time that anyone actually got a look in to the goings-on of a real-life fashion magazine. The fascinating flick tracks the creation, shoot and inspiration behind American Vogues 2007 September issue  the most read and important issue on the fashion bibles calendar. The heated debates between Wintour and former creative director Grace Coddington are the films major highlight.

Jeremy Scott: The Peoples Designer

Jeremy Scott - The People's Designer - Official Trailer

Moschino mastermind Jeremy Scott has made a huge impact on the fashion world in recent years. This 2015 film analyses his journey from small town boy to Creative Director of a major fashion house, while celebs such as Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry speak about his influence and unique style.

Iris

Iris Official Trailer 1 (2015) - Iris Apfel Documentary HD

Albert Maysless 2014 film Iris focuses on the acclaimed interior designer and eccentric fashion queen Iris Apfel, who at the grand age of 96 is still one of the most recognisable and likeable stars in the entire industry. Its a great opportunity to spend ninety minutes in Iriss company, learn more about her world and take in her incredible style.

Inside British Vogue

Absolutely Fashion_ Inside British Vogue _ Trailer - BBC Two

The American offices of Conde Nast have inspired a great deal of screen time over the years  but what about us Brits? In 2016, this BBC documentary series went behind the scenes of British Vogue in the final year of Alexandra Shulmans 25 year tenure as the magazines Editor In Chief. Expect Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham and a minor barney with Anna Wintour over who gets Rihanna.

Phantom Thread

Phantom Thread - Trailer

In what Daniel Day-Lewis has said will be his last ever film, the triple Oscar-winner plays fictional high society couturier Reynolds Woodcock. As obsessive in his personal life as he is in his professional pursuits, Woodcock embarks on a troubled relationship with a young, beautiful waitress. Phantom Thread is this seasons must-have.

In Vogue: The Editors Eye

In Vogue: The Editor's Eye trailer

Anna Wintour may have the spotlight in The September Issue, but this HBO documentary casts a wider look at the fashion editors that put together US Vogues legendary photographic spreads. Charting the changing face of fashion and the magazine (the two are interchangeable are they not?), editors including Grace Coddington, Polly Mellen and Babs Simpson discuss what it takes to keep Vogue in vogue.

Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf's

Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's Official TrailerT onight Youngs annual scotch egg challenge is set to crown the UK's Scotch Egg Champion, raising money for food charity the Felix Project while they're at it.

The annual event, now in its eighth year, began life seemingly as a simple hunt to find the capital's best scotch egg but has evolved into something far more competitive, with many of the country's top chefs vying to compete. It is free to attend and open to the public.

Last years winner Gina Hopkins (formerly of the Drapers Arms) will defend her title at Islington's Canonbury Tavern against the likes of Tempers Neil Rankin, Calum Franklin from the Holborn Dining Room, Sorellas Robin Gill and Ramblas Victor Garvey, among many others. Matt Hunter has come down from Yorks Star in the City to compete, while Phil Mason has travelled the best part of 300 miles from the Rat Inn in Northumberland.

Also there will be Eugenia Paiva, head chef of the Guinea Grill, whose manager Oisin Rogers founded the event back in 2010. Rogers will host the evening alongside compere Joe Warwick, and the winner will be judged by a panel including Bob Granleese and Felicity Cloake of the Guardian, editor of Restaurant Magazine Stefan Chomka, and Sunday Times food editor Lisa Markwell.

The lineup of chefs is extraordinary this year and includes some of the best cooking talent in the country, Rogers said, This year we have a special table in the competition zone.

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All of the proceeds from the auction will go to Massimo Botturos excellent Food for Souls Felix Project.A campaign group who launched a bid to buy an historic West End theatre to transform it into a venue that showcases female-led work have raised more than 10,000.

The all-female Accalia Arts founded the campaign to buy the Theatre Royal Haymarket in the wake of the #MeToo movement and allegations of sexual harassment that are widespread across creative industries.

While the asking price for the Suffolk Street theatre has not been made public, the groups fundraising target is currently set at 3million. By Friday afternoon they had reached a milestone of 10,000.

Using the social media hashtag #bossybuyout, Accalia Arts campaigners are urging theatre lovers to back their campaign to instigate change in creative industries.

Natalie Durkin, founding member of the all-female campaign group, told the Standard: Across every industry there are representation disparities and the arts are no different. In the visual aspect there is a 2.1 balance Male to Female Actors and the ratios only get lower on the creative fields.

"We are looking to be the change by actively using our campaign to educate and influence the pipeline of getting women to positions of influence within the arts."

She added that if they are unsuccessful in their bid, the money donated to the campaign will be used to fund a London-based female arts festival.

Julia Mucko, theatre producer and Accalia Arts campaigner, said: ""We are campaigning to inspire women, to give them an environment to make work, create a conversation and make their voices heard by using a platform which we have all formed together."

The GoFundMe page reads: We [Accalia Arts] intend to create a corner that contributes to global womens movements, with a focus on the inclusive nature of the arts. The arts engage us to explore, along with holding valuable transformational capacities whilst despite being the fastest growing industry to GDP we find funding is consistantly cut.

There are so many reasons why we want to make a success of this but our primary reason is uniting, as women to instigate and inspire creative modes of change in our social standing, treatment and power.

The Royal Haymarket first opened in Suffolk Street in 1720.

It was the first theatre to establish matinee performances and is believed by some to be haunted by several ghosts including the spirit of its 19th century actor-manager John Baldwin Buckstone.A n anti-Brexit campaigner has told how he quit his dream job to try to stop Britain from leaving the European Union.

Law graduate Femi Oluwole said he left a year-long internship at the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights in Vienna three months early to try to force a new referendum on Brexit.

The 27-year-old moved into his parents loft in Sheffield to focus on his work with campaign group Our Future, Our Choice (OFOC).

In an interview with the Evening Standard, Mr Oluwole said he took the decision to quit in December after becoming frustrated that the pro-Remain argument was not being made effectively by mainstream politicians.

Anti-Brexit campaign: Femi Oluwole / Costel Sandu

It should have been my dream job, he said. [But] if anyones going to stop this thing and protect the British people from something thats going to harm them, its going to be someone like me.

So if I dont do absolutely everything in my power I wouldnt be able to live with myself. I would hate myself.

He is one of four co-founders of OFOC, which produces slick viral videos highlighting the arguments in favour of staying in the EU.

It describes itself as a group of angry, determined young people who think Brexit is a disaster and should be stopped - and has won the backing of the likes of former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell and the pro-Remain peer, Andrew Adonis.

After Nottingham University graduate Mr Oluwole appeared on Sky News earlier this week, Mr Campbell tweeted: I want this guy to be on telly and radio all day. More sense out of his mouth in a few minutes than the thousands of hours from our so called political leaders right now.

Since then, slots on BBC News and a number of radio stations have followed, with OFOC gaining thousands more online followers.

Mr Oluwole himself is critical of how the debate has been shaped by members of the so-called metropolitan elite.

Theres an arrogance on the remain side, that remainers have all the answers, and that remainers are educated and that leavers are stupid. Pretending that were better than leavers, or more informed, is bull****.

Its not enough to just hit people with the facts; you have to win hearts and minds.

Mr Oluwole appealed for older generations to think again for the sake of younger people, highlighting that three-quarters of under-25s voted remain.

Were simply a generation who want to take back control of their futures. If Brexit goes ahead, the issue definitely wont go away because well have a population who voted against it.

But he has acknowledged that the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn - he should be my guy - must change its position if a second referendum is to become a reality.

He said: Parliament cannot unilaterally go against Brexit, it has to be the people deciding actually, given that you guys have screwed up with these negotiations, given that none of the promises about what Brexit would actually lead to look in any way realistic at this point, we want a say on the deal and we need a referendum.

A Department for Exiting the EU spokesman said: "The Government has made it clear that we are leaving the EU and there will not be a second referendum. Thats what the British public voted for and that is what we will deliver.G lastonbury Festival will stand by longtime partner charity Oxfam despite accusations of sexual exploitation among its staff.

Emily Eavis, chief organiser and daughter of the festival's founder Michael, said she "firmly believed that the good still outweighs the appalling behaviour of the few".

She said: "Here at Glastonbury Festival, we have been deeply committed supporters of Oxfam since 1993.

"Like everyone else, we've been horrified at reports in the news. Oxfam assures us they are continuing to take action to ensure a vigorous safeguarding plan for the future.

Oxfam has been a longtime partner of Glastonbury / PA

"But let us not forget that abuse of power is a wider issue in society.

"So we would like to pledge our continued support for Oxfam, and the bave and vital work which it undertakes.

"I have been to Haiti, and talked to people in remote communities where Oxfam is a lifeline.

"Oxfam do outstanding work all over the world and we firmly believe that the good does still outweigh the appalling behaviour of the few whose actions have caused such harm.

"We will continue to support Oxfam's incredible work for many more years to come."

Hollywood actress Minnie Driver has become the first celebrity to quit their patronage of Oxfam over the recent Haiti prostitution scandal.

The 48-year-old Londoner said she was "in no uncertain terms" withdrawing her support for the charity after more than 20 years working with them.

Taking to Twitter, she wrote: "All I can tell you about this awful revelation about Oxfam is that I am devastated."M illions of people across the UK have shared their reactions to the biggest earthquake to hit in a decade.

The British Geological Survey, which dubbed the tremor "reasonably sized", hit the village of Cwmllynfell at around 2.30pm on Saturday afternoon.

With a magnitude of 4.4 and a depth of 7.4km, the quake is the biggest of its kind to hit the area since 1906.

Llwydcoed resident Antony Temme took to Twitter, sharing a picture of upturned chair with the caption: "We will rebuild."

Meanwhile local clothing firm Liberty Printing & Embroidery mocked up a new t-shirt with the slogan: "I survived the great Swansea earthquake".

David Jones took a political slant with his joke, writing: "Yes quite a shake, assumed it was just part of the Brexit process breaking off from Europe!"

Meanwhile Swansea University evacuated some students over safety fears.

Thousands reported feeling the tremor from Cornwall to Liverpool, with many more sharing stories of the earthquake online.

The Independent scientific body EMSC, which gathers data on quakes, said it received 4,000 reports of tremors from Brits.P resident Donald Trump has met with victims of a deadly school shooting in Florida, as members of the community called for action to prevent such assaults.

The community in Parkland, Florida was devastated after 17 people from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were killed when a gunman opened fire on Valentine's Day.

Mr Trump visited Broward Health North Hospital on Friday, where he saw two victims and praised the doctors and nurses for their "incredible" job.

With his wife Melania, he also paid his respects to law enforcement officials in Fort Lauderdale, telling officers he hoped they were "getting the credit" they deserved.

Florida high school shooting - February 2018 1 /20 Florida high school shooting - February 2018 Emergency personnel at the scene of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School EPA Parents wait for news after a reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School AP Students are evacuated by police from Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School AP The suspect is arrested and put in the back of a police car Reuters Students hold their hands in the air as they are evacuated by police AP People wait for loved ones Getty Images Law enforcement personel work the scene Getty Images AP The suspect is escorted into Broward Jail after being checked at hospital Reuters Students are reunited with parents and family EPA A law enforcement officer rushes toward Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School AP Fire Rescue personnel work the scene Getty Images Students released from lockdown AP People are brought out of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School after the shooting Getty Images Police and rescue workers attend the scene REUTERS A family reunites following a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School AP Florida Gov. Rick Scott (right) walks with Sheriff Scott Israel of Broward County to a news conference near Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School AP Students released from lockdown AP Students are released from lockdown AP Students are comforted by parents and family after a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High Schoo EPA

At the Sheriff's Office, he also met Detective Richard Olson and his son, Will Olson, who was shot during the attack.

Mr Trump added that the young victims were in "really great shape" considering what they have been through.

The president said the young victims were in 'really great shape' considering what they have been through / REUTERS

He later told reporters that he had spoken with a female victim, who had been shot four times during the attack.

The US president and his wife also met with members of local police and sheriff's departments late on Friday, at a meeting attended by Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Governor Rick Scott, and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Thousands gather for school shooting vigil in Florida

Mr Rubio said the community was in great pain, and residents "want action to make sure this never happens again".

The president responded: "You can count on it."

Late on Friday, he tweeted about the school shooting: "Our entire Nation, w/one heavy heart, continues to pray for the victims & their families in Parkland, FL.

"To teachers, law enforcement, first responders & medical professionals who responded so bravely in the face of danger: We THANK YOU for your courage!"

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He included pictures of the injured young girl and her family that he and the first lady visited.

But as Trump arrived in Florida, some of the parents, survivors and others affected by the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School said they were more interested in firm action to prevent future assaults than a presidential visit.

"I don't want Mr Trump to come, but we want more gun safety," said 18-year-old Kevin Trejos, a senior at the school.

"It's a dream. It hasn't hit me yet. When I see empty desks, I'll feel it. I'm numb now."A former Playboy model has detailed her alleged affair with Donald Trump in an account obtained by The New Yorker magazine.

Karen McDougal claimed the affair began in June 2006, when the US president had been married to Melania Trump for two years.

Ms McDougal's eight-page, handwritten account was discovered by Ronan Farrow, the journalist who helped to uncover the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations.

The former model confirmed that the handwriting was hers, but said she was constrained in what else she could say publicly about Mr Trump because she had signed a confidentiality agreement.

She told Mr Farrow in the report: "It took my rights away."

Donald Trump denies having an affair with Ms McDougal, the White House said / AP

The president showed the woman his wife's bedroom in Trump Tower and took her to his private bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel, according to the account.

The affair ended in part after Ms McDougal started feeling guilty about it and after Mr Trump made an offensive comment about her mother's age as well as a vulgar remark about the anatomy of black men, the magazine reported.

The story said Ms McDougal was paid $150,000 (107,000) during the 2016 presidential campaign for the rights to her account of an affair with any "then-married man" by the supermarket tabloid National Enquirer, which never ran it.

Just before Election Day, The Wall Street Journal reported the tabloid, whose publisher, David Pecker, is a longtime friend of Mr Trump's, had paid for Ms McDougal's story but was not printing it, a tabloid industry practice known as "catch and kill".

Ms McDougal's eight-page handwritten account was unearthed by journalist Ronan Farrow for The New Yorker / Getty Images

Former staffers at American Media, the company that publishes the Enquirer and other gossip sites, have told The Associated Press the company often bought the rights to unflattering stories about certain celebrities.

The practice, described by six former employees who had participated in such deals, could give Mr Pecker leverage over celebrities so that he could elicit future favours, such as appearing on his magazines' covers.

The company has approached Ms McDougal about extending her contract barring her from talking about Mr Trump in recent months as the behind-the-scenes negotiations to keep porn star Stormy Daniels' allegation of an affair with the tycoon have been made public, the magazine reported.

American Media has said it did not find Ms McDougal's account of an affair with Mr Trump credible and paid her to write fitness columns.

In a statement to The New Yorker, the company denied that having exclusive rights to Ms McDougal's story left it with any influence over the president, saying that contention "while flattering, is laughable".

The White House said Mr Trump denies having an affair with Ms McDougal.

The alleged affair occurred not long after Mr Trump married his third wife, Melania, who had recently given birth to a son, the magazine reported.

This week, Mr Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, said he paid Ms Clifford $130,000 (93,000) with his own money in October 2016 as part of a deal that would keep her from publicly discussing her account.

The same Los Angeles lawyer who represented Ms Clifford in that transaction also represented Ms McDougal in her negotiations with American Media, the magazine said.

Ms McDougal told The New Yorker she regretted signing legal documents that constrained what she could say.A military helicopter carrying officials assessing damage from a powerful earthquake has crashed in southern Mexico, killing 13 people - three of them children.

The Oaxaca state prosecutor's office said in a statement that five women, four men and three children were killed at the crash site and another person died later in hospital.

Jorge Rosales, a local reporter who was aboard the helicopter when it crashed, described harrowing moments as the pilot lost control and the helicopter attempted to land in a swirl of dust.

"The moment the helicopter touched down it lost control, it slid - like it skidded - and it hit some vehicles that were stationed in the area," he said.

A soldier observes the remains of the military helicopter that fell on a van in Santiago Jamiltepec / Getty

"In that moment, you couldn't see anything, nothing else was heard beside the sound that iron makes when it scrapes the earth."

Mexico's Interior Department said that the helicopter was carrying Secretary Alfonso Navarrete and Oaxaca state Governor Alejandro Murat, who were evaluating reports of damage from the powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake, before their helicopter crashed.

The helicopter was attempting to land on a vacant lot in the city of Jamiltepec, about 19 miles from the area of Pinotepa Nacional, the Mexican army said.

The US Geological Survey originally put the magnitude of Friday's quake at 7.5 but later lowered it to 7.2. It said the epicentre was 33 miles north-east of Pinotepa in southern Oaxaca state, and had a depth of 15 miles.

President Enrique Pena Nieto said via Twitter that both officials and crew were unhurt, although the interior department said that they had light injuries.T hree billboards calling for gun control in the wake of a deadly school shooting that killed 17 were driven around Miami.

In the latest campaign to take inspiration from Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri the placards appeared on Friday, putting pressure on its Republican senator after the high school massacre this week in Florida.

The signs - reading "Slaughtered in school", "And still no gun control?", "How come, Marco Rubio?" - echoed the Oscar-nominated film where a mother challenges authorities over justice for her daughter who was raped and murdered.

The Miami protest was organised by activist group Avaaz / Jesus Aranguren/AVAAZ

The Miami protest was organised by activist group Avaaz, which highlighted the campaign donations Mr Rubio has accepted from gun advocates the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Emma Ruby-Sachs, Avaaz's deputy director, said: "The senator has taken fire across the country for his toothless response to the shooting, calling it 'inexplicable'. We call that inexcusable.

Trump visits Florida shooting victims

"Florida has notoriously lax gun laws and Rubio, who is supported by the NRA, has never attempted to reform them.

"There have been 334 mass shootings in last 12 months, and yet no new federal gun laws since 1994."

Meanwhile, Mr Rubio criticised the FBI after it admitted failing to investigate a tip-off last month that the shooting suspect, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, had a "desire to kill" and had access to guns.

Peers described Cruz as a troubled individual and said there had been warning signs, while police have not offered a motive but said he was previously expelled from the school.

Reports, citing law enforcement officials, said Cruz legally purchased the the assault rifle in Florida in February last year having passed a background check.R ussia's foreign minister has dismissed charges against 13 Russians accused of an elaborate plot to disrupt the US presidential election as "just blabber".

The federal indictment brought on Friday by special counsel Robert Mueller represents the most detailed allegations to date of illegal Russian meddling during 2016 Trump campaign.

But when asked about the explosive charges at the Munich Security Conference, Russias Sergey Lavrov said that he would not comment until he is presented with the facts.

"I have no response, he said. You can publish anything, and we see those indictments multiplying, the statements multiplying."

'Babble': Sergey Lavrov delivers a speech at the 2018 Munich Security Conference / Getty Images

He argued that US officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, have repeatedly insisted that no country influenced the US election results.

"Until we see the facts, everything else is just blabber - I'm sorry for this expression," Mr Lavrov said.

The 13 are charged with running a huge but hidden social media trolling campaign aimed in part at helping Republican Donald Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.

'No evidence' of Russia using YouTube to influence Brexit vote

The announcement marks the first criminal charges against Russians believed to have secretly worked to influence the outcome.

According to the indictment, the Russian organisation was funded by Yevgeny Prigozhin - a wealthy St Petersburg businessman with ties to President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Lavrov denounced "this irrational myth about this global Russian threat, traces of which are found everywhere - from Brexit to the Catalan referendum".

Meanwhile, President Trump has said the indictment shows his campaign did "nothing wrong".

He tweeted saying that there was no collusion, but suggested that there was truth behind the allegations.

Russia started their anti-UK campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for President, he wrote.P rime Minister Theresa May ruled out a second Brexit referendum, saying there was no going back on the result of the June 2016 vote.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Mrs May said: "We are leaving the EU and there is no question of a second referendum or going back and I think that's important.

"People in the UK feel very strongly that if we take a decision, then governments should turn not round and say no you got that wrong."

It came as the PM called for a new security treaty with the European Union to ensure military, intelligence and counter-terrorism cooperation after Brexit.

She told top European and US officials the treaty should be up and running from 2019.

Prime Minister Theresa May ruled out a second referendum in a speech on security in Munich / REUTERS

Britain and the EU must not let ideological differences block co-operation over security matters after leaving the bloc, the PM said on Saturday.

Mrs May said: "We must do whatever is most practical and pragmatic in ensuring our collective security."

She urged EU partners not to let "institutional restrictions" and "deep-seated ideology" get in the way of a wide-ranging post-Brexit security partnership.

Mrs May arriving at the Munich Security Conference in Munich on Friday / REUTERS

Britain has said that leaving the EU means that European courts should no longer have jurisdiction in Britain.

Mrs May argued that this should not make it harder to extradite terrorists or share information.

She highlighted major cases where the UK and the rest of the EU have worked together to tackle terrorists and people smugglers and insisted it is in the interest of both sides to agree a strong security deal.

"To make this happen will require real political will on both sides," she said.

"I recognise there is no existing security agreement between the EU and a third country that captures the full depth and breadth of our existing relationship.

"But there is precedent for comprehensive, strategic relationships between the EU and third countries in other fields, such as trade.

"And there is no legal or operational reason why such an agreement could not be reached in the area of internal security."

She warned "nothing must get in the way" of Britain and the EU "helping each other in every hour of every day to keep our people safe".

"Those who threaten our security would like nothing more than to see us fractured," Mrs May added.

"They would like nothing more than to see us put debates about mechanisms and means ahead of doing what is most practical and effective in keeping our people safe.T housands of angry American students, parents and residents have demanded stricter gun control laws, as new details were revealed about the suspect accused of killing 17 people in a Florida high school.

The rally, held in central Fort Lauderdale, was attended by scores of students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where the shooting happened.

Teenagers spoke passionately during Saturday's rally in front of the federal courthouse, pleading with legislators to change the nation's gun laws.

One student, Emma Gonzalez, angrily criticised politicians who take campaign contributions from the National Rifle Association. She challenged them to stop taking money, leading the crowd in a call-and-response chant.

David Hogg, a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, speaks at a rally / REUTERS

"They say a good guy with a gun stops a bad guy with a gun," she said, and the crowd chanted, "We call BS."

She also said adults who knew that the shooter was mentally ill should have done more to prevent him from having a weapon.

New evidence suggests Nikolas Cruz was unstable and violent to himself and those around him - and that when notified about his threatening behaviour, law enforcement did little to stop it.

He reportedly left a suburban Palm Beach County mobile home in November because his benefactor threatened to remove him if he kept a gun.

A student protester chants at a rally calling for more gun control three days after the shooting / REUTERS

The Palm Beach Post reported Rocxanne Deschamps said: "He bought a gun and wanted to bring it into my house" in public comments that have since been removed from her Facebook page.

Chad Bennett, a friend of Ms Deschamps, said Cruz "chose the gun and he left".

He then went to live with another family; his mother died in November and his father died years ago.

Florida's child welfare agency investigated after he cut himself in an online video but found him stable, according to state records.

The Sun-Sentinel reported that Florida's Department of Children and Families (DCF) investigated when Cruz posted a video on the social media network Snapchat showing him cutting his arms in 2016.

The agency was called to investigate. Cruz, then 18, was listed as an "alleged victim" of medical neglect and inadequate supervision.

His adoptive mother, then-68-year-old Lynda Cruz, was named as the "alleged perpetrator".

"Mr Cruz was on Snapchat cutting both of his arms," the Florida DCF abuse hotline was told in August 2016, the paper reported.

"Mr Cruz has fresh cuts on both his arms. Mr Cruz stated he plans to go out and buy a gun. It is unknown what he is buying the gun for."

According to the paper, the DCF's investigation was completed that November. The agency concluded that Cruz had not been mistreated by his mother, was receiving adequate care from a mental health counsellor and was attending school.

Mental health centre staff "came out and assessed the (victim and) found him to be stable enough not to be hospitalised," the DCF report said.

Cruz had been diagnosed with autism, a neurological disorder that often leads to social awkwardness and isolation, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

The FBI said it received a tip-off last month that Cruz had a "desire to kill" and access to guns and could be plotting an attack, but agents failed to investigate. The governor called for the FBI director to resign.

Public defender Melisa McNeill appears to hug Nikolas Cruz in his first court appearance / AP

In a statement, the agency acknowledged that the tip should have been shared with the FBI's Miami office and investigated, but it was not.

The admission came as the agency was already facing criticism for its treatment of a tip about a YouTube comment posted last year.

The comment posted by a "Nikolas Cruz" said: "I'm going to be a professional school shooter."

The FBI investigated the remark but did not determine who made it.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the shooting that killed 17 people on Wednesday was a "tragic consequence" of the FBI's missteps and ordered a review of the Justice Department's processes. He said it is now clear that the nation's premier law enforcement agency had missed warning signs.

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said his office had received more than 20 calls about Cruz in the past few years.

Cruz faces 17 counts of first-degree murder in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and is being held at the Broward County Jail without bond.W hile Sky Atlantic's Britannia was generally felt not to have lived up to its billing as the new Game of Thrones, the BBC's Troy: Fall of a City might just be the new action-filled, fantasy epic youve been waiting for.

Heres everything you need to know about the new show.

Whats it about?

A retelling of the Greek myth, adapted by man who brought The Night Manager to screen David Farr. It tells the story of herdsman Paris who has an encounter with the gods.

The young man visits Sparta as a guest of King Menelaus where he falls in love with Queen Helen. The consequences of their illicit love affair have the potential to bring an empire to its knees.

Whos in the cast?

Louis Hunter stars as Paris, he's a fairly under the radar actor who hails from Australia.

Supporting him in the role are Shameless actor David Threlfall as Priam, Humans star Bella Dayne as Helen, The Missings Frances OConnor as Hecuba, Containment cast member David Gyasi as Achilles and This Is Englands Johnny Harris as Agamemnon.

What happens in episode one?

New TV shows to look forward to in 2018 1 /17 New TV shows to look forward to in 2018 The Little Drummer Girl Florence Pugh as Charlie with Alexander Skarsgard as Becker in the John le Carre thriller BBC / The Little Drummer Girl Distribution Limited. The Cry Jenna Coleman and Ewen Leslie Synchronicity Films Ltd/Lachlan Moore Vanity Fair ITV and Amazon's remake of William. M. Thackeray's classic novel starring Olivia Cooke and Tom Bateman ITV Wanderlust Toni Collette and Steven Mackintosh star in BBC's new raunchy drama BBC/Drama Republic Press Charlotte Riley and Ben Chaplin go head-to-head as rival newspaper editors in new drama from Doctor Foster creator Mike Barlett BBC Death and Nightingales Jamie Dornan, Ann Skelly and Matthew Rhys star in a three-part drama for BBC Two BBC Maniac Emma Stone and Jonah Hill star in the limited Netflix series coming September Michele K. Short / Netflix Disenchantment Matt Groening is back and on Netflix with new adult comedy following Princess Bean and friends Netflix / Matt Groening Age Before Beauty Age Before Beauty on BBC One with Polly Walker, Sue Johnston and Lisa Riley follows a family business with plenty of secrets BBC/Mainstreet Pictures/Todd Antony Hard Sun Luther creator Neil Cross has another dabble at the cop show format in this crime/sci-fi drama inspired by the Bowie song Five Years. BBC/Euston Films A Very English Scandal Hugh Grant stars in this drama from Doctor Who/Sherlock writer Russell T Davies, which adapts John Prestons book about the scandal that surrounded Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe BBC/Blueprint Television Ltd Kiri National Treasure writer Jack Thorne pens a four-part drama about the abduction of a young black girl. The ever-reliable Sarah Lancashire is unconventional social worker Miriam, who finds herself being blamed. Channel 4 Britannia Filmed in Wales and Prague, Jez Butterworths historical drama is set in 43AD, when Roman General Aulus (David Morrissey) is attempting to conquer the Celts. Sky Collateral David Hares four-part drama (his first original TV series) explores the repercussions after a pizza delivery man is shot dead. Carey Mulligan plays Detective Inspector Kip Glaspie, who investigates. BBC/The Forge Save Me In the absence of Doctor Foster, Suranne Jones stars as the mother of a missing girl who believes that her ex- (Lennie James, who wrote the show) is guilty of the abduction, forcing him to work to clear his name. Sky Atlantic Troy: Fall of a City Swords and sandals epic in eight parts made in a collaboration with Netflix, written by David Farr (who also wrote The Night Manager). BBC/Wild Mercury Productions Patrick Melrose Benedict Cumberbatch looks right at home in this adaptation of the Edward St Aubyn novels about an outrageous aristocrat struggling to overcome the damage inflicted by an abusive father. Dave Benett

Episode one kicks off with Paris off encounter with the gods. He bumps into three goddesses in the woods and is forced to pick which he finds the most beautiful. The experience sets the wheels in motion for him to meet Helen of Sparta.

Whens it on?Israel is climbing up a high horse, Alex Fishman (the veteran Israeli Defence Correspondent) wrote in the Hebrew daily, Yedioth Ahronoth, last month, and is approaching with giant steps a war of choice: Without mincing words, its an initiated war in Lebanon. In Fishmans article, he notes: Classical deterrence is when you threaten an enemy not to harm you in your territory, but here, Israel demands that the enemy refrain from doing something in its own territory, otherwise Israel will harm it. From a historical perspective and from the perspective of international legitimacy, the chances of this threat being accepted as valid, leading to the cessation of enemy activities in its own territory, are slim.

Ben Caspit also wrote about a fair prospect of a war of choice, whilst a Haaretz editorial  explains Professor Idan Landau in an Israeli news blog  noted: The Israeli government therefore owes Israeli citizens a precise, pertinent and persuasive explanation as to why a missile factory in Lebanon has changed the strategic balance to the extent that it requires going to war. It must present assessments to the Israeli public as to the expected number of casualties, damage to civilian infrastructure and the economic cost of going to war, as compared with the danger that construction of the missile factory constitutes.

We live dangerous times in the Middle East today  both in the immediate present, and in the mid-term, too.

Last week saw the first game changer that almost plunged the region into war: the downing of one of Israels most sophisticated aircraft  an F16i. But as Amos Harel notes, on this occasion: Russian President Vladimir Putin put an end to the confrontation between Israel and Iran in Syria  and both sides accepted his decision  On Saturday afternoon, after the second wave of bombardments  senior Israeli officials were still taking a militant line, and it seemed as if Jerusalem was considering further military action. Discussion of that ended not long after a phone call between Putin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (emphasis added).

And that last statement represented the second game changer: In good old days, as Martin Indyk called it, it would have been to the US that Israel reflexively would have turned, but not this time. Israel asked President Putin to mediate. It seems that Israel believes that Mr Putin is now the indispensable power. And in terms of airspace in the north, he is. As Ronen Bergman wrote in the New York Times: "Israel will no longer be able to act in Syria without limitations; and secondly, "if anyone was not yet aware of it, Russia is the dominant power in the region".

So, what is all this about? Well for a start, it is not about a drone which may (or may not) have trespassed into what Israel calls Israel, or what Syria sees as occupied Golan. Let us ignore all that: or, think of it as the butterfly wing effect in chaos theory, whose tiny wing changes the world, if you prefer. Ultimately however, these various warnings of impending war, precipitated out from the Syrian States success in defeating the jihadi insurgency mounted against it. This outcome has changed the regional balance of power  and we are witnessing states reacting to that strategic defeat.

Israel, having backed the losing side, wants to limit its losses. It fears the changes taking place across the northern tier of the region: Prime Minister Netanyahu has several times sought guarantees from President Putin that Iran and Hizbullah should not be allowed to gain any strategic advantage from Syrias victory that might be to Israels disadvantage. But Putin, it seems clear, gave no guarantees. He told Netanyahu that whilst he recognised, and acknowledged Israels security interests, Russia had its interests, too  and also underlined that Iran was a strategic partner of Russia.

In practice, there is no effective Iranian or Hizbullah presence in any proximate vicinity to Israel (and indeed both Iran and Hizbullah have substantially pared their forces in Syria as a whole). But, it seems that Netanyahu wanted more: And to put leverage on Russia to guarantee a future Syria, free from any Shia presence, Israel has been bombing Syria on almost a weekly basis, and issuing a series of war-like threats against Lebanon (on the pretext that Iran was constructing sophisticated missile factories there), saying, in effect to President Putin, that if you do not give ironclad guarantees vis-a-vis a Syria free of Iran and Hizbullah, we will disrupt both countries.

Well, what happened is that Israel lost an F16: unexpectedly shot down by the Syrian air defences. The message is this: Stability in Syria and Lebanon is a Russian interest. Whilst, we recognise Israels security interests, dont mess with ours. If you want a war with Iran that is your business, and Russia will not be involved; but do not forget that Iran is, and remains our strategic partner.

This is Putins Grand Bargain: Russia will assume a certain defined responsibility for Israels security, but not if Israel undertakes wars of choice against Iran and Hizbullah, or if it deliberately disrupts stability in the North (including Iraq). And no more gratuitous bombing raids in the north, intended to disrupt stability. But if Israel wants a war with Iran, then Russia will stand aloof.

Israel has now had a taste of President Putins stick: Your air superiority in the North has just been punctured by the Syrian air defences. You, Israel, will lose it completely were our Russian S400s air defences to be enabled: Think it over.

In case of doubt, consider this statement in 2017, by the Chief of Staff of the Russian Aerospace Forces, Major-General Sergey Meshcheryakov. He said: Today, a unified, integrated air defense system has been set up in Syria. We have ensured the information and technical interlinkage of the Russian and Syrian air reconnaissance systems. All information on the situation in the air comes from Syrian radar stations to the control points of the Russian force grouping.

Two things flow from this: First, that Russia knew exactly what was going on when the Israeli F16 met with a barrage of Syrian air defence missiles. As Alex Fishman, doyen of Israeli defence correspondents, noted (in Hebrew) Yediot Ahoronot on 11 February: "One of the [Israeli] planes was hit by the two barrages of 27 Syrian surface-to-air missiles which is a huge achievement for the Syrian army, and embarrassing for the IAF, since the electronic warfare systems that envelope the plane were supposed to have provided protection from a barrage of missiles The IAF is going to have to conduct an in-depth technical-intelligence inquiry to determine: are the Syrians in possession of systems that are capable of bypassing the Israeli warning and jamming systems? Have the Syrians developed a new technique that the IAF is unaware of? It was reported that the pilots did not radio in any alert that an enemy missile had locked onto their plane. In principle, they were supposed to report that. They might have been preoccupied. But there is also the more severe possibility that they were unaware of the missile that had locked onto themwhich leads to the question of why they didnt know, and only realized the severity of the damage after they had been hit and were forced to bail out.

And the second: that subsequent Israeli claims that Syria was then punished by Israel through the destruction of 50% of her air defence system should be taken with a big pinch of salt. Recall what Meshcheryakov said: It was a fully integrated, unified Russian-Syrian system, which is to say it had a Russian flag flying over it. (And this initial Israeli claim has now been back-peddled by the IDF spokesman; see here).

Finally, Putin, in the wake of the F16 downing, told Israel to stop destabilising Syria. He said nothing about Syrias drone patrolling the southern border (a regular Syrian practice for monitoring insurgent groups in the south).

The message is clear: Israel gets Russias limited security guarantees, but loses its freedom of action. Without air domination (which Russia already has seized), the assumed superiority over its neighbouring Arab states  which Israel long since has folded into its collective psyche  will see Israels wings clipped.

Can such a bargain be digested culturally in Israel? We must wait to see whether Israels leaders accept that they no longer enjoy air superiority over Lebanon or Syria; or whether, as the Israeli commentators warn in our introductory quotes, the Israeli political leadership will opt for a war of choice, in an attempt to pre-empt Israels final loss of its domination of the skies. There is, of course, a further option of running to Washington, in order to try to co-opt America into adopting the eviction of Iran from Syria  but our guess is that Putin has already quietly squared Trump with his plan beforehand. Who knows?

And would then a preventive war to try recuperate Israeli air superiority be feasible or realistic from the perspective of the Israeli Defence Forces? Its a moot point. A third of Israelis are culturally, and ethnically, Russian, and many admire President Putin. Also, could Israel count, in such circumstances, on Russia not using its own highly sophisticated S400 air-defence missiles, stationed in Syria, in order to protect Russian servicemen stationed across Syria?

And the Israeli-Syrian-Lebanese tensions, in themselves, do not bring an end to the present clutch of risks associated with Syria. On the same weekend, Turkey lost a helicopter and its two crew, brought down by Kurdish forces in Afrin. Sentiment in Turkey against the YPG and PKK is heating up; nationalism and New Ottomanism is spiking; and America is being angrily portrayed as Turkeys strategic enemy. President Erdogan asserts forcefully that Turkish forces will clear all the YPG/PKK forces from Afrin to the Euphrates, but an American general says that American troops will not budge from blocking Erdogans route, midway  at Manbij. Who will blink first? And, can this escalation continue without a major rupture to Turkish-US relations? (Erdogan has already noted that Americas defense budget for 2019 includes an allocation of $550 million for the YPG. What exactly does Americamean by that provision?).

Also, can a US military leadership, concerned to play-out a re-make of the Vietnam war  but with America winning this time (to show that the Vietnam outcome was a wholly unmerited defeat for the US forces)  accept to pull back from its aggressively imposed occupation of Syria, east of the Euphrates, and thus lose further credibility? Particularly when restoring US military credibility and leverage is the very mantra of the White House generals (and Trump)? Or, will the pursuit of US military credibility degenerate into a game of chicken, mounted by US forces versus the Syrian Armed Forces  or even with Russia itself, which views the US occupation in Syria as inherently disturbing to the regional stability which Russia is trying to establish.

The big picture competition between states for the future of Syria (and the region)  is open and visible. But who lay behind these other provocations, which could equally have led to escalation, and quite easily slipped the region towards conflict? Who provided the man portable surface-to-air missile that brought down the Russian SU25 fighter  and which ended, with the pilot, surrounded by jihadists, courageously preferring to kill himself with his own grenade, rather than be taken alive? Who facilitated the insurgent group which fired the manpad? Who armed the Afrin Kurds with sophisticated anti-tank weapons (that have destroyed some twenty Turkish tanks)? Who provided the millions of dollars to engineer the tunnels and bunkers built by the Afrin Kurds, and who paid for the kitting out of its armed force?

And who was behind the swarm of drones, with explosives attached, sent to attack the main Russian airbase at Khmeimim? The drones were made to look outwardly like some simple home-made affair, which an insurgent force might cobble together, but since Russian electronic measures managed to take control and land six of them, the Russians were able to see that,internally, they were quite different: They contained sophisticated electronic counter-measures and GPS guidance systems within. In short, the rustic external was camouflage to its true sophistication, which likely represented the handiwork of a state agency. Who? Why? Was someone trying to set Russia and Turkey at each others throats?

We do not know. But it is plain enough that Syria is the crucible to powerful destructive forces which might advertently, or inadvertently, ignite Syria  and  potentially, the Middle East. And as the Israeli defence correspondent, Amos Harel, wrote, we have already this last weekend, come a hairs breadth from a slide into war.February 17, 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the independence of the territory referred to by its Western sponsors as Kosovo. This in spite of the fact that, according to UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and, thus, international law, Kosovo is a province of Serbia, whose Constitution refers to it as Kosovo and Metohija.

In the words of Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, whose country does not recognize the breakaway province:

This is certainly an occasion to take a close look at the dire consequences of the policy of retroactively legitimizing NATOs 1999 aggression and dismemberment of a European state  the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Unilateral secession that took place in 2008 in violation of the bedrock principles of international law failed to resolve the Kosovo issue and the prospects of its solution are still dim Unilateral declaration of independence has failed to solve the regions economic problems and attract investments. As a consequence, Kosovo remains the poorest part of the region from where people flee. This is compounded by rampant crime and corruption against the background of clashes of clan interests, security problems and vulnerability to the terrorist threat from the Middle East.

Russian officials have been saying similar things for years  and not only they. Five EU states  Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Slovakia  still refuse to recognize the territorys unilateral secession, as do China and India, major Muslim countries such as Iran and Indonesia, Israel, and the majority of Asian, African and Latin American countries.

But, somewhat surprisingly, on this round anniversary Russian assessments are being echoed by one of the main Western corporate media champions of the Kosovo Independence Project (not to mention of the current anti-Russian media hysteria gripping the U.S.)  the New York Times, in an article whose title speaks for itself: Kosovo Finds Little to Celebrate After 10 Years of Independence:

Returning this winter, I was struck by how the relentless optimism of Kosovars had yielded to disillusionment. The people seemed weighed down by resignation, as well as widespread disgust at perceived government corruption

I swear to God, if it wasnt for all those who have laid down their lives for this, I would say lets go back to the way it was before, one man told me. We had a better life then; we had more opportunities

Believe it or not, the disillusioned man is actually waxing nostalgic for the supposedly calamitous times of one of the most demonized figures of the Western unipolar, end-of-history victory lap  Slobodan Milosevic. The alleged Butcher of the Balkans himself. The man on whose frail shoulders the Western governing and media establishment has been tirelessly striving to heap the blame for its cynical joint criminal enterprise (JCE for short: an infamous device used by the Western-conceived ICTY ad hoc tribunal used to manufacture war crimes convictions without actual proof  mocked by some legal scholars to actually stand for just convict everyone) of facilitating the dismemberment of the former Yugoslavia and the ensuing mess thats emerged as its byproduct.

The end of the world is surely nigh After all, when was the last time the New York Times and the Russian Foreign Ministry agreed on anything?

Unfortunately, this congruence of views has come ex post facto. Had the sundry Western establishment centers heeded Russias pleas, warnings and counsel on this issue 10, 20, 27 years ago  the Balkans bloodshed of the 1990s, of which the Kosovo quagmire is a small, albeit important part, might well have been averted altogether, or at least mitigated. Imagine that, instead of favoring some parts and nations of multinational Yugoslavia (Croatia, the Bosnian Muslims, Kosovo Albanians) while, at the same time, demonizing others (Milosevic, the Bosnian Serbs and Serbia); that, instead of unilaterally recognizing various secessionist movements (especially those in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo), arming the secessionists and (only) then calling for peace while, at the same time, imposing sanctions and, ultimately, bombing those fighting against secession (Bosnian Serb-held territory and Serbia proper)  the then-triumphant West had been a truly honest broker

Admittedly, that is an oxymoronic concept. But, had such a miracle come to pass, the face of Europe might have been different. And, if not for the NATO bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (i.e., Serbia) and its subsequent military occupation of its Kosovo province, it is quite possible that tensions between Russia and the West would not be running so high now. Russian President Putin has said as much on more than one occasion (e.g. even as late as 2016, in answering a journalists question on whether US-Russian relations had deteriorated due to the Syrian crisis, Putin did not invoke Crimea but, rather, Yugoslavia, specifically the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia, as the true source of Russias alarm).

Faced with the past and present ugly reality of the Kosovo Independence Project, it is important not to lose sight of its true origins and motives. These were most convincingly and cogently presented in a May 2000 letter written by Willy Wimmer, then Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, to the German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, summing up the key points of a U.S. State Department/American Enterprise Institute-sponsored conference that had just taken place in Bratislava, Slovakia, less than a year after NATOs aggression against Yugoslavia/Serbia. These are the most relevant passages, as pertaining to the Kosovo Project and its (much broader) geopolitical aspects:

4. The war against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was waged in order to rectify General Eisenhowers erroneous decision during World War II. Therefore, for strategic reasons, American troops must be stationed there, in order to compensate for the missed opportunity from 1945

7. It would be good, during NATOs current enlargement, to restore the territorial situation in the area between the Baltic Sea and Anatolia such as existed during the Roman Empire, at the time of its greatest power and greatest territorial expansion

8. For this reason, Poland must be flanked to the north and to the south with democratic neighbor states, while Romania and Bulgaria are to secure a land connection with Turkey. Serbia (probably for the purposes of securing an unhindered US military presence) must be permanently excluded from European development.

So, the Russians might not be so paranoid after all in their views of NATOs behavior in Europe But, lest anyone think that this sort of militaristic megalomania has since been tempered, one need look no further than last Novembers report by the NATO-affiliated think-thank Atlantic Council, calling for a permanent American military presence in the Balkans, ostensibly to stabilize southeastern Europe amid increased Russian efforts to exert political influence across the region. The key staging area for American troops? None other than Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, the largest and the most expensive foreign military base built by the US in Europe, since the Vietnam War, set up after Yugoslav (i.e., Serbian) forces withdrew from the province after UNSC 1244 came into effect in June 1999.

So, the confused impartial observer still trying to figure out whos to blame for the increasingly dangerous level of Western-Russia tensions need look no further than the poor, nasty, brutish and short history of the Kosovo Independence Project to realize that the NATO chicken has, by at least 18 years, preceded the Russian egg.

In this light, the following part of Maria Zakharovas above-mentioned statement sounds more like a paragon of diplomatic understatement:

The chaotic situation in Kosovo is being used to deploy NATO infrastructure, specifically the US Bondsteel base, to project the alliances influence in the Balkans and manipulate the processes in the region under the cover of UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

To sum it up: as in Iraq, Syria, Libya  the results of US-led Western meddling in Yugoslavia/Serbia, and, specifically, Kosovo, have been unmitigatedly disastrous. Kosovo is, to quote Zakharova once more, truly a black hole. It is run by thugs, former (?) terrorists in Armani suits. Its president, Hashim Thaci, has been named as the head of a mafia-like Albanian group responsible for smuggling weapons, drugs and human organs through Eastern Europe, according to a Council of Europe inquiry report on organized crime. Its speaker of the parliament, Kadri Veseli, has been listed by the Kosovo Albanian Bota Sot newspaper as a former director of the Kosovo Albanian SHIK secret service, a death squad responsible for numerous murders, violence, and war crimes committed in the province during 1998 and 1999. Prime minister Ramush Haradinaj is wanted by Serbia for war crimes, including murder, rape, the beheading of a baby, the burning of still-living police officers, etc. According to former ICTY prosecutor Carla Del Ponte, Haradinaj escaped conviction in The Hague chiefly through the intimidation and killing of numerous witnesses.

Of the more than 200,000 Serbs forced to flee the province after the withdrawal of Yugoslav Army forces, less than 2% have been allowed to return, and those that have returned are subject to intimidation and pressure to leave. Attacks on Serbian Orthodox Church property and intimidation of the clergy are frequent. Kosovo is a well known hub for the transit of drugs into Europe. It is a fertile ground for ISIS* and has, per capita, the highest number of fighters in its ranks in Europe.

Yet, the U.S. and most of the EU are still pressing Serbia to recognize Kosovos independence. Serbias pro-Western leadership is openly calling for compromise, but so far this is falling on deaf ears in the West, obviously intent on compounding its erroneous ways.

Not even the New York Times dare call todays Kosovo mess a success story. Perhaps that is the only good news connected with this unhappy anniversary.

* Terrorist organization, banned in Russia by court order.China takes the long view about investing in Afghanistan, and how to protect those investments. Since 2002 China has tried, without much success, to establish extractive industries (oil and copper) in Afghanistan. While these efforts have not succeeded yet China knows there is a lucrative (mainly to gangsters and Islamic terrorists) illegal mining industry that generates half a billion untaxed dollars a year. China would like to help Afghanistan change that. Nothing new there, China has helped before.

But Afghanistan was, for over a thousand years, a lucrative branch of the Silk Road between China and South Asia, the Middle East and points west. China is rebuilding that route via railroads in Central Asia, Pakistan and Southeast Asia and now roads (and eventually railroads) through Afghanistan as well. The key to success is security. If the route is not safe, commerce will not use, and support, the route. Afghanistan is a special case as it was always one of the most dangerous portions of the Silk Road. To deal with that China is making a unique investment that is likely to succeed and it is all about border security. In early 2018 China agreed to pay for an Afghan military base in northeast Afghanistan (Badakhshan province) on the border with Tajikistan. China would also pay for equipping and arming the Afghan border guards at the base, as well as their salaries. China would have someone there to ensure the money went where it was supposed to and to monitor the performance of the Afghan troops.

This base would provide more security for a road from Afghanistan, via Tajikistan that carries mostly Chinese truck traffic and a growing number of Islamic terrorists going in both directions. China is particularly concerned with Chinese Moslems (mainly Turkic Uighurs) travelling to Afghanistan to join Islamic terror groups, gain some experience and return to China. The most direct land route from Afghanistan to China is this road in Tajikistan that has been used for over a decade to move Chinese workers and equipment into Afghanistan. In 2016 the road also moved Chinese troops into Afghanistan for joint security patrols with Afghan forces. These patrols ended in late 2016 but apparently continued on the Tajik side of the border in a more limited fashion.

This base building deal is an outgrowth of a 2017 deal in which Afghanistan agreed to allow Chinese firms to enter Afghanistan and examine if it was possible to rebuild the railroad from Tajikistan (the Sher Khan dry-port in Kunduz province) to Herat (the Iran border) as well as a separate project to build dams and hydroelectric facilities on the Kabul River. The Chinese are not certain if either project can be built much less maintained because of the corruption and violence (from the Taliban, drug gangs and assorted other bandits). China has more patience than most. The Sher Khan dry-port facility and existing roads are an example of what usually happens. Afghan officials in charge of maintaining these facilities steal as much of the money they receive for running and maintaining these facilities and often extort more cash from users. The opium/heroin gangs depend on widespread corruption to stay in business and most Afghans see nothing wrong with the many practices which wealthier and better run nations consider corruption. This is not an easy problem to fix and while China has its own problems with corruption most Chinese accept the fact that corruption is, in the long run, bad for everyone. Meanwhile the Taliban and Afghan security forces continue to fight for control of the Tajikistan border around where Sher Khan is because that is also the best route for illegal opium and heroin exports. Further east the situation is quieter and thats where the new base is being built.

China already has a lot of experience trying to do business in Afghanistan. Most of these efforts were failures, but all of them were instructive. For example in late 2016 the Taliban announced that it would not interfere with a huge copper deposit 40 kilometers southeast of Kabul at Mes Aynak. Such assurances were necessary turn that copper into cash. In 2008 China signed a deal with Afghanistan that gave them 30 years to develop a mine there and ship copper out. Mes Aynak is believed to be one of the top three copper deposits in the world and worth $50 billion or more if it ever got into production. But China has not moved because of the lawless situation in Afghanistan. The Afghan government believed the Taliban were trying to entice the Chinese to begin construction so the Taliban could extort regular payments to protect the facility from attack. That really doesnt work in Afghanistan, where there are too many potential attackers offering the same deal. The copper mine project never really got going because of the security problems. The Chinese are accustomed to paying bribes but they found the situation in Afghanistan too complex to handle. There were too many armed groups competing with each other to sell China protection. But the Chinese to not give up easily.

Earlier in 2016 China announced it would provide Afghanistan with $70 million in military aid. This was a continuation of increasingly close relations with China. For example in early 2015 Afghanistan admitted that it had an arrangement with China whereby Afghanistan would seize and turn over to China any Chinese Moslems (especially Turkic Uighurs) found in Afghanistan. In return China increased the diplomatic and economic pressure on Pakistan to stop supporting Islamic terrorists attacking Afghanistan. China is the largest foreign investor in Pakistan as well as the main source of modern weapons, so when China talks Pakistan must listen and at least pretend to act (which was all the Chinese could get from Pakistan). China is also becoming a major source of foreign aid and military assistance for Afghanistan.

There had been some partial successes. In 2011 the Afghans made a deal with China to allow Chinese oil companies to explore for oil in the northwest. The Chinese contract included China building a refinery in the north as well, which could make Afghanistan able to eliminate nearly all fuel imports. In late 2012 a Chinese firm began pumping oil from a well northwest (the Amu Darya basin) Afghanistan. This was a first for Afghanistan and the Chinese expected to get 2,000 barrels a day from this well and began drilling others. The government had to send 300 police to guard the Chinese as a local warlord was demanding payments to allow the exploration. Potential foreign investors tried to convince Afghan leaders to get the corruption and violence under control, at least in areas where lots of minerals, oil and natural gas are found. Exporting these raw materials (mostly via the northern routes) would be a major boost to the Afghan economy. But too often, local warlords and greedy government officials steal so much (in bribes and outright theft) that foreign investors quit or simply wont come in. A lot of senior Afghan leaders realize how this has to work but that was not enough. It wasnt in this case and oil production was halted in late 2013. The contracts with Chinese and Afghan companies to develop this oil field were cancelled in 2017. Chinese and Afghan firms were ready to invest $1.5 billion to build a refinery in Afghanistan but apparently corruption and Afghan politics got in the way. So the Chinese are taking the initiative to create security one tiny step at a time.

Earlier China was approached about building a direct route from China to Afghanistan via the short border the two countries share. But this is an odd border. It is reached through a long, narrow panhandle (the Wakhan Corridor), and the actual border with China is only 76 kilometers long. The actual passage between Afghanistan and China is the 4,923 meter (15,261 feet) high Wakhjir Pass.

The Wakhan Corridor area has never been very violent, and escaped most of the fighting that has torn apart Afghanistan since the 1970s. But China refused to open its border with Afghanistan, fearing complications with the mainly Moslem population on their side of the frontier. There are other problems with this border. There no roads through the pass, only trails. The pass is closed five months of the year by snow. For several more months the pass is closed intermittently by bad weather. The Wakhan Corridor itself was once part of the Silk Road, but only when weather allowed caravans through. The Chinese Wakhan Corridor border has been closed to traffic for over a century and China considers it too difficult and expensive to build a road or rail line through the Wakhan Corridor. The road via Tajikistan works because it is open all year and safe.

Google Earth images have shown that China built a new road to the border area, along with additional guard posts after 2010. The Chinese road was only built to make it easier to move border guards, and their supplies, to the frontier.Is there anything that spoils our citys streets, beaches, reserves for you?

Thats the question Tauranga City Council is asking the community to help inform the review of four public places bylaws.

The council is reviewing these bylaws to make sure they tackle all the issues they need to, and that they meet the changing needs of a growing community. This includes looking into topics such as begging, rough sleeping, signs, tables and chairs on footpaths, activities on beaches, freedom camping, and alcohol-free areas.

Bylaws help ensure that people can enjoy public places safely and free from nuisance. They are special rules that apply in the Tauranga area only. Not complying with a bylaw can result in prosecutions, court-imposed fines and seizure of property. Bylaws are enforced by warranted Council staff or contractors, and by external agencies like the New Zealand Police, says the council, in a statement.

The bylaws currently up for review are the Street Use and Public Places Bylaw, the Beaches Bylaw, the Freedom Camping Bylaw and the Liquor-free and Vehicle-free Zones in Public Places Bylaw.

Before making any changes to these bylaws, the council is gathering information from the community on any issues that spoil their enjoyment of Taurangas streets, beaches and reserves.

Residents are invited to have their say by Monday March 12 by completing a short survey at tauranga.govt.nz/publicplaces.

The council will use the communitys input to prepare proposals to update the four bylaws, and develop options for consideration by elected members. The draft amended bylaws will then be submitted back to the community for formal consultation  likely in July 2018.Bay of Plenty

Our client has plenty of work in the pipeline and as such they are in need of hammerhands for an immediate start.The successful...



View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nzSingapore Issues More Automatic Tax Info Exchange Guidance

by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong

17 February 2018

Singapore's tax agency has made two announcements recently concerning the automatic exchange of information on foreign taxpayers' affairs, on the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

In respect of the OECD's CRS, through which territories worldwide are to automatically exchange taxpayer data from this year, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has announced that reporting Singapore financial institutions (SGFIs) can now authorize their staff and/or a Third Party to access the new AEOI e-Services. A Quick Guide to the newly launched e-Services can be found on its website. It said the "Submit CRS Return" module for Reporting SGFIs to submit their CRS Returns for Reporting Year 2017 will be launched at the end of 1Q 2018.

An entity that became a Reporting SGFI at any time between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, must apply for CRS registration by March 31, 2018. On January 12, 2018, a list of Reportable Jurisdictions for 2017 CRS reporting was published.

On FATCA, the IRAS announced on February 5, 2018, a new IRAS Public Key for preparing a FATCA reporting packet. With effect from March 1, 2018, all FATCA reporting packets that are uploaded to the International Data Exchange System (IDES) for transmission to the IRAS must be encrypted using the new IRAS Public Key. The IRAS said those affected should look to Step 3 of the "Overview of FATCA Reporting through IDES section" guidance for a copy of the new IRAS Public Key.

Under the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Regulations, an SGFI is required to submit an annual return to the IRAS setting out the required information in relation to (1) every US Reportable Account and (2) all payments made to each nonparticipating financial institution. Returns must be submitted through the IDES, the single point of delivery for both financial institutions and host country tax authorities, to electronically exchange FATCA data with the US.Slovenia Pursuing 'Tax Haven' Asset Tax, Covering Also EU States

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

17 February 2018

The European Central Bank on February 14 published an opinion (CON/2018/8) on a proposal from lawmakers in Slovenia on a draft law on the return of monetary funds to the country from designated "tax havens" and the imposition of a penalty tax, providing an outline of the proposed regime.

Before issuing its opinion on the potential legality of the regime and the steps that will need to be taken by local authorities if the law is enacted, the ECB set out the details of the regime, received from Slovenian authorities. It said:

"The main objective of the draft law, which was prepared by the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia, is to introduce a regime resembling a penalty tax regime in order to combat the leaking of monetary funds into designated low- or no-tax countries (so-called 'tax havens') which, according to the draft law's explanatory memorandum, are causing harmful tax competition to traditional tax countries such as Slovenia. The draft law stipulates the conditions, procedure, and relevant authorities for enabling the return of funds from the designated tax havens into the national budget. The list of countries considered as tax havens under the draft law includes inter alia several EU member states."

"The draft law provides that funds which have been directly or indirectly transferred from Slovenian bank accounts into accounts in the designated tax havens will be subject to a penalty tax rate. For transfers made from June 25, 1991, until the entry into force of the draft law, a rate of 20 percent will apply and the liable persons will have to make payments within a six-month period following the entry into force of the draft law. For transfers of funds made after the entry into force of the draft law, a rate of 22 percent will apply and payments will be due within three months of making the relevant transfer. In case of breach of the obligation of payment of the relevant sum, the liable person will be charged by the tax authority at a rate of 80 percent of the transferred funds."

"Liable persons include natural persons with Slovenian citizenship; foreign natural persons holding accounts in banks and other payment institutions in Slovenia; legal entities registered in Slovenia operating in the relevant period covered by the draft law; and foreign legal entities holding accounts in banks and other payment institutions in Slovenia during the relevant period. The draft law excludes from its scope certain entities, including State authorities, international organisations, religious organisations, as well as remittances made by banks on their own behalf and payments made by Banka Slovenije."

"Public authorities and financial institutions, including banks and Banka Slovenije, are obliged to provide information to the authorities responsible for the implementation of the draft law on any payments made by liable persons to the designated tax havens and to provide any other assistance, free of charge. The draft law indicates that all data related to liable persons under the draft law and all data related to the payments made to the designated tax havens is public information that can be acquired and published by anyone."

In its response, on the scope of the proposals, the ECB noted that on December 5, 2017, the Council adopted the Council conclusions on the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. According to the Commission, when assessed against the EU list criteria, all member states are fully compliant.

"Since the taxation of funds transferred to member states designated as tax havens as foreseen by the draft law would also appear to affect the free movement of capital, the National Assembly should consult the Commission, as the guardian of the Treaties, on the draft law, if it has not already done so."

In its response, the ECB also discusses the necessary privacy safeguards for confidential data, provided by EU law; the obligation on the staff members of the national central bank to ensure confidentiality; and ensuring that the national central bank has sufficient additional resources, as required, to ensure its efforts in the area of financial sector stability aren't diminished by any new obligations on the bank to support the administration of the new law.So far, protesters have marched from the University of El Salvador to the Civic Square, where they denounced that the authorities tried to prevent the demonstration. | Read MoreA Melbourne filmmaker is one of the youngest winners of Tropfest for a film inspired by a shopping trip taken with her mother.

Greta Nash's short film, Two Piece, was chosen by a jury, headed up by esteemed Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon, to take home the top prize at the annual short film festival in Parramatta Park in Sydney's west on Saturday night.

Tropfest Australia 2018 winner Greta Nash Credit:Rocket K

It was inspired by trying to buy a dress with her mum to wear to the opening night of the Melbourne International Film Festival, where she had a short film screening, last year.

"I found a dress, I loved it but it was a little bit too tight," the 23-year-old said.A Canberra woman has been remanded in custody after being caught driving while disqualified, for the tenth time.

Jodie Marie Alchin, 37, of Braddon, appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with driving while disqualified and drug driving.

The woman was on a good behaviour order at the time.

It is alleged that police stopped a car that Ms Alchin was driving in Narrabundah on Friday night. She told police she did not have a licence.

The court heard the woman was driving because of "urgent circumstances" which were not detailed.Albert Einstein is said to have described insanity as repeatedly doing the same thing and expecting different results. The US is tragically blighted by collective insanity over guns. It refuses to curb gun ownership, yet rails against gun deaths.

Yet again, the world is witness to an eminently preventable mass slaying by someone who should not have had access to a high-powered killing machine, a semi-automatic rifle. The catastrophe is all the more sad and infuriating because not only was the alleged perpetrator openly posting on social media clear indications of insane and murderous intentions.

Students being evacuated by police from Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida last week. Credit:MIKE STOCKER/AP

The brutal murder by a former student of 17 people at a Florida school will not trigger the long-overdue necessary response to America's gun obsession. It is arguably criminally negligent that US lawmakers do not act, but bow perennially to one of the most powerful lobby groups, the National Rifle Association.

Sometimes the solution to a problem can be so blindingly evident that it beggars belief when no change comes. Polls show the majority of Americans support restrictions.The company that runs Box Hill Central shopping centre has had a big win in its bid to build skyscrapers above the suburb's bustling railway station.

And Whitehorse Council, which had hoped to restrict high-rise development, has been handed a damning rejection by a panel of expert government planning advisers.

Whitehorse Council's plans to put a height limit on Box Hill's skyscrapers has been knocked back.

Box Hill is undergoing one of the biggest building booms in Melbourne's history, as the city's population expands to an expected 8 million by 2050.

Dozens of towers, some rising to as high as 36 levels, have been built or approved over the past five years.I read an interview in The Age with Gary Oldman, who plays Winston Churchill in the film, Darkest Hour.

I well remember that period in history. I was seven in 1938 when Neville Chamberlain went to see Hitler to try for appeasement.

He came back to the people and the war ministry boldly stating, Peace for our time. One year later, war was declared. Britain stood alone.

Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill in a scene from Darkest Hour. Credit:AP

Within a few days almost 3 million mothers and children were evacuated to the countryside. Families who had never met us took us in. Sharing their homes, food, lives, giving up their privacy. And all this for our ration books and a few bob a week.Members of an outlaw motorcycle gang are believed to be responsible for the firebombing of a luxury Mercedes outside the Melbourne home of a property developer.

The Mercedes C63 AMG, worth more than $150,000, was destroyed by the petrol bomb attack last Sunday morning, which is being investigated by Victoria Police. Three bricks were also hurled through the front window of the Fulham Road property in Alphington on February 11.

The destroyed Mercedes outside an Alphington home.

The owner of the property, who is fearful for his life, declined to comment and asked not to be identified.

No one was home at the time of the attack at about 1am on Sunday morning, but a neighbour is understood to have seen three men fleeing the scene.The famous 1941 Glenn Miller Orchestra hit beginning, Pardon me, boy, is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo? Track 29! Boy, you can give me a shine? became Barnaby Joyce, the rebel senator from Queensland! Vote 39, He toes the government line. Loading The joke conveyed something of Joyces quixotic look-at-me style while speaking also to John Howards frustration as a rookie Nat played havoc with government discipline, using his pivotal Senate vote to block or at least threaten to block any government bill he wanted.

The Akubra-wearing rural accountant from St George loved the limelight, spilling mangled metaphors and folksy homilies to whatever camera he could find. And he found plenty. He had landed in Canberra in 2005 making no secret of his ambitions, determined to re-write the playbook, and intent on establishing the highest profile possible in doing it. It was a classic populist approach in which he presented as an anti-politician  lone champion of authentic Aussies in the regions too often overlooked by the city-centric preeners in the major parties. His test of policy was common sense sometimes called the pub test, in which lofty euphemisms are eschewed and inner-city pre-occupations about global warming, multiculturalism, and gender politics, are pilloried as the politically correct concerns of the elites. By February 2016 when this self-styled rebel crashed his way to the Nationals leadership, Joyce, a man wholly reliant on the loyalty of colleagues, had betrayed them by crossing the floor 28 times. Along the way, he had also swapped parliamentary houses and even changed states, switching from being a Queensland senator to a lower house MP for the NSW seat of New England.

All in the quest to be leader. Its always been Barnaby first, Barnaby second, and Barnaby third, said one of his party room critics this week. Now its the man known simply around the country as Barnaby that has an authenticity problem. Loading After a hubristic 2017 in which the Nationals tail frequently appeared to wag the Liberal dog (culminating in Joyces own disqualification from Parliament) the Deputy Prime Minister has single-handedly plunged the government into an even deeper trench in 2018. A trench from which Turnbull was forced to affect a bizarre aloofness from National Party business  including the awarding of lucrative government staff positions with material implications for the ministerial code of conduct.

As the week wound on, some Liberals grumbled at what one called Teflon Barnaby - the politician who seems to get away with things other ministers might not survive. But even teflon wears through eventually. Some Liberals are fuming over Joyces contradictory public defence of traditional family values, and the sanctity of marriage, while privately showing a blithe disregard for either. With the Nationals being responsible for just 7 per cent of the country-wide Coalition vote - a figure inflated by the unique Liberal-National Party joint ticket in Queensland - some may even be wondering if all of the pain is worth it. For Turnbull, the fact that the political crisis referred to universally as the Barnaby Joyce Affair works as a double entendre, is anything but hilarious.

The affair has all but swamped national politics in February arriving just as the government hoped better economic conditions and its resolution of difficult issues in 2017 had cleared a path back to competitiveness with the poll-leading Labor. Liberals fear any political momentum for Turnbull has been stopped. That the ruddy-faced Nationals leader survived what was undoubtedly a torrid week was significant but after Thursday's enforced suspension, his prospects seem utterly grim. One of the country's most respected political pollsters, John Stirton, said it was hard to see a way back for Joyce after this week. "His personal brand has been trashed," Stirton told the Herald. "When people conclude you're not the person they thought you were, you're in real trouble." For Bill Shorten, the question of whether Joyce goes or stays, might even be immaterial.

Even before Turnbull's remarkable excoriation of Joyce on Thursday, hardheads on Labors side conceded that while it would be a major blow to Turnbull if his Deputy Prime Minister was forced out through opposition pressure, the better outcome for Labor might be Joyce remaining in situ. Every time he appears in public, he will remind voters of his behaviour, of the difference between what he says and what he does, said one Labor tactician. Joyce might be the best thing that the Nationals have got, especially in the bush, but hes just become a big liability for the government. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was scathing of his deputy's behviour in a press conference earlier in the week. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Fuelling a sense of urgency through a week in which momentum towards his removal seemed to build, dissipate, then spike, were concerns Joyce would be required to step up as acting Prime Minister later this week when Turnbull travels to Washington.

Turnbull put paid to that late Thursday naming the governments leader in the Senate, Mathias Cormann instead. That the Nationals did not act quickly to change leaders despite a full-court press of negative media coverage, has itself attracted interest. And Turnbull's ire. There's little doubt the PM had the Nats' party room in mind when he ramped up his moral outrage at Joyce's intimate relationship with his then staffer. His comments effectively called on those with the power to decide Joyce's fate, to do so. A statement of moral strength underlining his political weakness. Appearing in the Prime Minister's courtyard, Turnbull was asked "'if Mr Joyces actions are so profoundly wrong that they force a rewrite of the ministerial standards, isnt that the most powerful argument that Barnaby Joyce should not be a minister?" His answer was telling. "Well, Barnaby is the leader of the National Party, okay? They are our Coalition partners. They have a Coalition agreement and you all know - every single one of you know - that the standard I have set out today is a big change. I know there are all sorts of stories about former ministers and former leaders and colourful tales that find their way into books. I am saying that from today, this change is being made in a way that is very, very clear. It couldn't be clearer."

One reason for the Nationals' paralysis is the absence of an obvious alternative leader around whom the 21-strong party room can rally. But another is simply cultural. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce hit back at the prime minister, calling his comments 'inept'. Credit:AAP National Party members with an eye to history have reason to be hesitant about changing leaders - particularly one from the Tamworth district. In 90 years, only one Nationals leader, Ian Sinclair, has been tossed aside. It didnt turn out well.

Sinclair was the tough but charming National Party leader of the second half of the 1980s. He was, if you were looking for historical resonance, the Member for New England - Joyce's seat.

Sinclair, who owned a cattle property outside Tamworth (Joyces base), replaced Doug Anthony as leader of what was then the National Country Party in 1984. His leadership, however, was undermined in 1987 when Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen launched his bizarre Joh for Canberra campaign, forcing Sinclair to bust the Coalition agreement with the Liberals John Howard, to whom he had become close. The result was that Bob Hawkes Labor government won a third term in 1987. By 1989, divisions within both conservative parties led to Howard and Sinclair being dumped from their leadership positions by twin surprise coups. Howard was replaced by Andrew Peacock.

Sinclair fell to the accountant Charles Blunt, who supported deregulation of rural industries, to the mounting dismay of traditionalist party members. Blunts leadership turned out to be a one-year wonder for the Nationals. Support for the rural-based party fell away beneath him, and in the 1990 election, he lost his seat of Richmond, which had been a conservative country stronghold since federation. It remains a widely-held belief within both Liberal and National parties that if the 1990 election had been contested by a Howard-Sinclair partnership, rather than Peacock-Blunt, the Coalition would have defeated Hawkes Labor. Instead, Labor would remain in government until Howards resurgence, alongside the Nationals Tim Fischer, in 1996. All these years later, the Nationals are faced with another decision about the future of another leader from New England.

How are they likely to deal with it? According to Marija Taflaga, a lecturer at the ANUs School of Political Science and International Relations, the Barnaby Joyce Affair is a real challenge. Conservatives, broadly, tend to be 'realistic' about humans - that they are flawed beings whose passions need to be controlled, Dr Taflaga said. They also value tradition, so in this case, traditional family life speaks to a way of living life that manages people's passions, funnelling them into productive pursuits - like having children in a stable ordered society, etc. So, its somewhat ironic that Barnaby has gotten into trouble for breaking his marriage vows. He's proven that he's flawed, but also failed to honour these principles most valued by conservatives." Glenn Miller made Chatanooga Choo Choo into a massive hit during the war years, but the band leader disappeared himself when flying over the English Channel in thick fog. No trace was ever found making the circumstances of his death, one of the more intriguing mysteries of the period.Liberal MPs are openly calling for the Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce to quit, after an extraordinary week in Australian politics which has plunged the Coalition into civil war.

Queensland LNP senator Ian Macdonald, the longest serving member of Parliament, said Mr Joyce should quit as deputy prime minister for his own sake and for the good of the government.

Queensland LNP senator Ian Macdonald called for Mr Joyce to move to the backbench. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Clearly in his own interests hed be better going to the backbench for a while, letting the dust settle and then come back and continue to make a great contribution to Australia," he said.

"He knows better than I the damage that hes causing. Without attributing judgment to anyone, its just got to end. Until we get this issue off the front pages the government's just going to bleed."Senior Nationals are openly canvassing a challenge to their embattled leader Barnaby Joyce, who was in crisis talks with Malcolm Turnbull on Saturday while Liberal MPs started openly calling on the Deputy Prime Minister to quit.

As the fallout from Mr Joyce's affair with a former staffer raged on, Veterans Affairs Minister Michael McCormack - considered the most likely to replace Mr Joyce - did not rule out a leadership challenge but said he didn't want to get "too far ahead of myself".

He told Fairfax Media a leadership showdown at next Monday's party room meeting "depends on what happens between now and then". His colleagues would use this week to "take a temperature reading and see what their own constituents are saying and make considered decisions based on that", Mr McCormack said.

Obviously what else transpires - not just in our electorates but obviously on a national front - has to be thought through," he said Saturday morning. Asked if he would contest the leadership, Mr McCormack said: "I dont get too far ahead of myself in anything in politics."

He said Mr Joyce "has been a very good leader" who had delivered for rural and regional Australia, and "if the party feels that needs to continue then that is what will happen".Bangkok: The United Nations investigator of human rights in Myanmar has accused Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi of complicity in the slaughter of Rohingya Muslims, an event which has the hallmarks of genocide.

Yanghee Lee, a leading child rights expert appointed to the UN post in 2014, said it is possible that Myanmars defacto leader could eventually face charges relating to genocide or crimes against humanity in an international tribunal.

She cannot not be accountable, Lee told Britains Channel 4 News.

Complicity is also part of accountability, she said.Xia Dongnan and her family have hauled four dining chairs up the stairs of the pedestrian overpass to Beijing station. She, her husband and daughter have only two seat tickets between them for the 11-hour slow train journey home to Anhui province. "The chairs will be useful to sit in the aisle," she says. Xia Dongnan and her husband and daughter take a rest on the overpass near Beijing Railway Station. Credit:Sanghee Liu Her daughter attends school in Beijing, but their son lives in the south. "Spring Festival is our special reunion time," she says. Touts selling small folding stools for 10 Chinese yuan ($2) at Beijing Station do a brisk trade, up to 200 a day, to travellers who missed out on seat tickets.

Around 390 million people will travel by train. Last Sunday alone, February 11, China Railways recorded 9.5 million passengers. China's large fleet of bullet trains, which can travel at speeds of up to 250 to 300 kilometres an hour, has cut the journey times for the 65 per cent of Spring Festival travellers lucky enough to have snapped up a seat online. Passengers heading towards check-in at Beijing Railway Station. Credit:Sanghee Liu Street nut vendor Gao Jianjiang and his wife He Jian are wrangling a baby's cot wrapped in sacking. They have bought it for their new granddaughter, born in Hangzhou province. The couple came to work in Beijing in 1998 and travel home once a year, at Spring Festival, to see Gao's 80-year-old father, their daughter, and a son who is in the army.

Struggling under the weight. Credit:Sanghee Liu "Beijing is the cultural capital, but for a living environment, our home town is better," he says. Construction worker Chen Jianlin, 51, sits on an old rice sack bulging with his possessions, clutching a mobile phone, waiting to make his annual journey. He is heading home to see his wife and son in Yuncheng, in Shanxi province. He has a bullet train ticket but no seat for the 15-hour journey. Beijing migrant worker Chen Jianlin will join his family in Yuncheng City. Credit:Sanghee Liu The train station concourse is a social leveller at this time of year. A few metres away is Wang Xuejiao, 25, who works in the semi-conductor industry. It the first time she has travelled home to Changchun, in Jilin province, since she graduated from university 18 months ago.

"There are better career opportunities in technology in Beijing," she says. Wang Xuejiao (left), who works for a semi-conductor company, on her way home for new year. Credit:Sanghee Liu The Spring Festival migration, or "Chunyun", reflects the huge change in China's economy since Deng Xiaoping's "reform and opening up" policy began 40 years ago. Back then, 80 per cent of Chinese worked in the countryside and had to stay there. As construction and factory workers poured into the cities under the economic reforms, there were 500 million trips made during Spring Festival in 1984, double that number a decade later, and 3 billion by 2012. China now has an estimated 287 million migrant workers - a third of the workforce.

But structural social problems created by this mass movement of people from the countryside to the cities for work persist. Chinese television talk shows this week debated the heartache underlying "chunyun" - the millions of children and elderly "left behind" in villages. In 2010, a survey found there were 61 million children left behind in rural villages, as their parents moved to the city for work, or 38 per cent of all rural children. Most lived with their grandparents. Intent on getting home. Credit:Sanghee Liu China's "hukou" system, which ties education rights and welfare to the place a person's parents were born, continues to impact heavily on Chinese rural families. Only one in five migrants move to cities as a family group, where children of low-paid workers enrol in unlicensed migrant schools.

Less than half (41 per cent) of Chinese hold an urban "hukou" or residence permit. The Chinese government has committed to a goal of granting urban hukou to 100 million migrant workers by 2020. But at the same time, Beijing has recently announced it will cap its population at 23 million, and began demolishing migrant schools and shanty housing used by migrant workers to drive away the "low end population". Beijing's population of 21.7 million even fell slightly in 2017, for the first time in 20 years. Rushing to the check-in counter. Credit:Sanghee Liu Priority for switching hukou is often given to the well-educated with jobs in the city, who can show a history of paying tax and have bought a house.Every fashion month I find myself getting mad about the same things. Are designers being more inclusive in casting and sizing? Are any designers including women of color, transgender, and non-binary in the conversation? Are street-style photographers going to stop shooting the same skinny white women over and over again? The answer is almost always no to all of that. This season the lack of inclusivity in street-style photographs was so blatant it felt cruel.

Unfortunately, Ive learned that if I do not demand diversity, it goes unnoticed, and I no longer care to suppress my stance as an angry black woman. If I dont say something, no one will. Once again the burden falls on black women to do the work that white women refuse to do.

Once upon a time (five to eight years ago on the internet), it was an actual status symbol to be included in a street-style feature. I loved watching the women walking outside of shows as photographers swarmed, yelling names as if the fashion editors were real celebrities. Even those who pretended like it was no big deal knew otherwise. People made careers out of it  both photographers and editors.

But, as it turns out, like so many other parts of the fashion world, its chock-full of racism. In our own street-style photos from New York, out of almost 300 pictures, I counted only 29 of non-white men and women, with the same seven people repeated in that number. The sad truth is that were hardly alone in these staggering numbers. This was our failure as editors, and it is not the fault of any one person on our team including our street style photographer. But we know we have to change and do better.

The publications say its up to the photographer, the photographers say theyre just doing a job and arent given creative freedom, and the influencers say they have to go to extreme lengths to get noticed. Whatever is at the root of this, its clear that the purpose of street style is no longer about taking photos of well-dressed people to publish and share and inspire conversations about what makes a good look. Its a calculated process of seeking out people on a checklist, and making sure to photograph people who have millions of followers regardless of their outfits.

This season, standing outside of Spring Studios in the rain, I watched in disgust as impeccably dressed women of color, curvy women, and most women over 35 were ignored by the swarms of photographers. Worrying about feeling validated, pretty enough, or even just good enough to be photographed is something that everyone in the industry has had to deal with, whether they like it or not. It is weird to think about how I have power over a complete strangers self-esteem, one prominent photographer admitted. But whats the point of seeking validation from people that dont see me in the first place?

As we all jump on the #MeToo movement, or proclaim our solidarity at the Womens Marches, we must demand that fashion do the same. When will time be up on this glaring lack of diversity? When I spoke to several people in the industry they expressed waning interest in street style, but some still want to fix it. Below, insiders in the fashion community share their thoughts.

Photo: Christian Vierig/Getty Images

Tyler McCall

Deputy Editor at Fashionista

Ive been bored with street style for several seasons now, which definitely boils down to the fact that it stopped being about true personal style a long time ago. Around 20102012 the real stylish people withdrew because to be seen as peacocking became embarrassing. Then more photographers started flooding in because they saw it as a way to make money (or pick up girls, in certain cases), but they dont necessarily have an eye for whats interesting, so they just study what other photographers are doing. The girls that these photographers are looking for are the ones being dressed by brands who dont offer sizes beyond a 10 or a 12. Ive seen so many stylish women over a size 6 at Fashion Week and youll watch them walk through a crowd of photographers who just stare at them.

Mary Kate Steinmiller

Brand Director at the Webster

When youre young and green and junior and trying to make your way in the industry it is very easy to get caught up in the silly thought that getting your photo taken means that somewhere in the industry you matter. One photographer actually said to me you sort of lost it for a bit didnt you? meaning he hadnt photographed me for a few seasons because I dont know maybe I wasnt dressed well? And somehow I had it again and he wanted to shoot me. That definitely haunted me. Now that Im working in the industry in a more low-profile and behind-the-scenes role, I see how silly it is. I see people dressed literally in costumes and I get embarrassed about the times I pretty much did the same.

Chrissy Rutherford

Senior Digital Fashion Editor at Harpers Bazaar

I do think about this often because I think I have great style, and I often feel overlooked by photographers unless Im wearing something that really stands out. But sometimes I see the street-style regulars literally just wearing jeans and a sweater, and the photographers will still go after them. So it makes you think, is it because Im not pretty enough? Am I not known enough? But isnt it also the photographers job to know who we are? And isnt it beneficial for them to focus on different people? When we edit street style we also keep in mind that its nice to see some fresh faces. One of the worst parts of street style is that its the same people season after season, wearing five different looks per day based on the days show schedule because the designer has dressed them to sit front row. Wheres the real personal style? Wheres the diversity?

Julee Wilson

Fashion & Beauty Director at Essence Magazine

The streets have always been the runway for Black people. While doors to fashion shows, boutiques, and fashion industry jobs have historically been closed for us  we found sartorial freedom on the streets. As a Black woman who is a size 14 and the fashion director of a major publication its natural for me to celebrate diversity in both race and size. But its maddening not to see others like myself reflected in the documentation of fashions biggest events. The time is up on a lot of things these days and we should certainly add this blatant misrepresentation and narrow view of style to the list.

Amelia Diamond

Head of Creative at Man Repeller

Besides the images our photographer takes for Man Repeller, the roundups from mens shows in Milan, and what I see in my Instagram feed, I dont really look at street style. I dont actively seek it out. It doesnt give me that, Cool idea, I want to try that! feeling that it used to. I take greater pleasure in looking at well-dressed people on the subway, or walking to work in the rain, because its like: heres this person on her way to start the day. Who knows what she does for a job. And its raining, the weathers shit, but even still, this human took the time to stick a flower in her lapel, or add ridiculous earrings, or wear funky rubber boots  for the sake of the city or a date later or herself, who knows. But not for a camera. I find that far more romantic.

Rachael Wang

Stylist & Brand Consultant

Its clear that many of the photographers are shooting what they think is beautiful and many of their standards of beauty are uninformed and straight-up racist or size-ist. They dont put care and love into taking flattering pictures of subjects who reflect a more inclusive view of society and thus, the editors dont select those images. But then again, if editors insisted on more ethnicity and size diversity the photographers would be forced to comply.

Jessica Andrews

Fashion Features Editor at Teen Vogue

Representation matters, and the lack of diversity in street-style photos sends the message that plus-size and nonwhite showgoers are not stylish  which we know is simply not true. Its the same reason we demand more of casting agents who book models for the runway and for advertising. If its not acceptable for those mediums to discriminate by race and size, it shouldnt be acceptable for street style either. Ive worked with street-style photographers in the past and Ive had to ask them, sometimes repeatedly, to include women of color. But its important that editors are persistent and unrelenting. And its important that photographers and media outlets are held accountable.

Photo: Matthew Sperzel/Getty Images

Aemilia Madden

Fashion Editor at Who What Wear

Street style is meant to be aspirational, but to be so it should also be reflective of all women. During Fashion Week there are so many women with amazing style but too often I feel like Im searching through photographs of the same handful of people over and over again. I think its frustrating for women to feel like they arent included in the fashion conversation, and its one change we can all push to change as an industry.

Nicolette Mason

Co-Founder of Premme & Creative Consultant

I definitely dont think its the fault of any influencers  I think its photographers, their inherent biases, and also the biases of what magazines are buying from them. Photographers are looking for specific looks, and its no secret that a lot of designers or PR showrooms loan or gift clothes to street-style stars for Fashion Week. And those clothes are almost always sample size. Ive been invited to showrooms before to pull and whenever Im like, oh cool, do you have things in my size? Theyre like errr no sorry. I am definitely not sample size. So if Im putting together a stylish outfit Im putting myself together with whatever resources I have, essentially truer street style, thats less marketable than all brand-new season, easily identifiable, designer clothes that you can turn into click-through shoppable content.

Laurel Pantin

Editorial & Fashion Director at the Coveteur

I think obviously its a symptom of a much, much bigger problem. I feel weird speaking to it because I definitely represent the standard thats shot and shown all the time. Its a bit of a cop out to say the problem is that samples only come in sample sizes, because that only addresses one aspect of diversity, but I think it is a part of it. Its hard to compete with someone spending 45 minutes looking for their car in a head-to-toe runway look when youre working within your actual closet  even though the actual closet outfit is ten times more interesting. As editors and the people selecting images to run, we have a responsibility to direct photographers to shoot a more diverse range of people, and then for us to run those images. There are an abundance of different types of people attending shows, and it might partially be laziness and a sense of this works for traffic, well stick to it when it comes to building these slideshows.

Lydia Hudgens

Photographer

Im actually a full-time photographer. Ive always worked with a wide range of people but what got me excited was always true style, people experimenting with fashion and having fun with it. I definitely work closely with a lot of plus brands and bloggers (Nicolette Mason, Gabifresh, Garner Style, Kelly Brown, Kelly Augustine, Premme, Eloquii, Universal Standard, Simply Be, Dia & co, Gwynnie Bee, Catherines, etc.) During NYFW, in the past I always shot paying clients. I was never at the tents, photographing random people as they walked by because my schedule was already filled to the brim and quite frankly, a lot of the people coming in and out all looked the same. I have noticed in the past that if another photographer saw me when I was shooting they would immediately rush over, but a lot of the time would lose interest if the subject wasnt white or thin.

These interviews have been edited and condensed.

The post has been updated to reflect no one person is to blame for our own lack of representation.6 Texas Students Arrested for Bringing Guns to School, Making Terror Threats

Students from four different schools in Texas were arrested Thursday for possession of firearms  a day after a mass shooting in a Florida high school killed 17 people.

Teens from Marcus High in Flower Mound, Plano West, South Garland and Houston Can Academy Hobby were taken into custody after they were found carrying deadly weapons to schools. Two others  one each from Nichols Junior High and Weatherford High, were also arrested for making terrorist threats to shoot up the school, Dallas News reported.

Plano West

An unidentified juvenile was arrested at Plano West high school by a school resource officer, while he was investigating a Campus Crime Stoppers lead, which indicated a student had brought a gun to school.

Plano police spokesman David Tilley said the fact that such an incident occurred a day after the Florida shooting was mere coincidence.

Its disturbing regardless of what happened yesterday or any other time; its always disturbing when a kid brings a gun to school, Tilley said. You really never know what their motive behind doing that is.

Tilley added students have to understand that firearms are not something to joke about.

I dont quite understand it, especially in the climate were facing today, he said. Its a disturbing trend that is taking place, and if these kids think that its funny to bring a gun to school even if they have no intent of using it  theyre finding out its not that funny.

It was not immediately clear where the student managed to get the gun from. It was not loaded and no ammunition was found on the student.

Plano West authorities sent an extended letter to all the parents informing them of the incident.

We will follow district policies and procedures and take appropriate action to the fullest extent of the law, the letter said, ABC-affiliated WFAA reported. We want to assure you that we take all security related incidents very seriously and we will always exercise caution regarding matters of safety.

Houston Can Academy

The Houston Police Department (HPD) arrested Houston Can Academy student Jaquinn Alani Smith, who had a gun in his backpack. The suspect was charged with carrying a weapon in a prohibited place.

A security officer at Houston Can Academy Hobby at 9020 Gulf Fwy found a revolver in a male students hoodie as the student was being screened before entering the school today. The student ran and the revolver was secured.  Houston Police (@houstonpolice) February 15, 2018

The weapon was discovered by the school officials during a security check conducted on students before they entered the school building. The gun was confiscated by the school principal and kept securely in the office before law enforcement were tipped off, ABC 13 reported.

During the normal screening, a security guard found a pistol, which we believe is a revolver, in a jacket of one of the students, HPD Cpt. William McPherson said. The student realized a pistol had been found took off running.

The academys Hobby campus was temporarily on lockdown as the police located the suspect and took him into custody.

Its overwhelming. One day youre coming to school and you hear that there is a gun in school. Anything could happen, you know, and it is really scary, Derin De Leon, a student of the school, said. Your life can be taken away at any moment and you dont really know what to expect, especially with all these killings going on in schools and stuff.

Marcus High

After multiple students reported seeing a teenager carrying a concealed weapon, the police arrived at Marcus High and arrested a 16-year-old suspect, who was not identified.

The suspect was removed from the classroom and soon after, an unloaded, small-caliber handgun and ammunition were found in the teenagers possession. Marcus principal Gary Shafferman told parents in a letter the police did not believe the student intended to harm anyone on campus.

South Garland

Kerry Guery, 19, was found in possession of a stolen phone, an unloaded handgun and marijuana in his backpack after a school resource officer and the principal confronted him. He has been charged with carrying drugs and guns in an area, where both of them are prohibited.

19 year old South Garland High School student arrested for Possession of a handgun on school property. The gun was not loaded and no ammunition was found. pic.twitter.com/480tFRqP53  Garland Police PIO (@GarlandPD) February 16, 2018

The police are yet to determine where he got the gun from since the weapons serial number was scratched off. Since no ammunition was found on the suspect, who had two prior theft warrants against him, the police cannot be sure if he intended to make use of the weapon.

Obviously, were very cautious in regards to any type of behavior that could lead us to believe some sort of violence could occur, Garland police Lt. Pedro Barineau said.

Nichols Junior High and Weatherford High

A 13-year-old and a 16-year-old were arrested in Nichols Junior High and Weatherford High respectively, for making terroristic threats. No guns were discovered on either of them.

The Weatherford High student  who made vague threats on social media  was taken into custody by a school resource officer and transferred to a juvenile detention facility.

What were seeing more and more of is that students and young adults are posting things on social media and kids dont realize  their words have consequences nowadays, Weatherford Deputy Chief Chris Crawford said.A law enforcement officer stands at the front door of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School after a shooting at the school that reportedly killed and injured multiple people on February 14, 2018 in Parkland, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Building Where Florida School Shooter Murdered 17 Students Will Be Demolished

Florida lawmakers decided on Feb. 15 to provide the resources needed to demolish the building on the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School campus where a teenager murdered 17 students.

This building has to come down, Sen. Bill Galvano told the Miami Herald.

Sen. Galvano, Sen. Lauren Book, and Sen. Wilton Simpson visited the school to seeand feelfor themselves the emotional impact of the scene.

These kids are not going to go back into that building ever again, said Sen. Book. She had arranged the trip and encouraged the others to join her.

After visiting the school, the legislators attended a vigil held to honor the murdered students.

Everything was strewn across the halls from people running and dodging and there were significant blood splatters on the wall, Galvano said after entering the school building turned slaughterhouse.

Galvano said he understood that returning to any part of the campus would be hard for traumatized students, but asking students to take classes in classrooms where their friends had died was far too much.

It will still be very difficult for students to return, Galvano told the Herald. But that particular building should be razed, and the memory of the perpetrator erased and a memorial honoring the victims and their families be put in its place.

Broward Superintendent Robert Runcie spoke to the Miami Herald on Friday afternoon.

Parents and students have told me very clearly theyre not going to go back into that building and I believe theyre right, he said.

In an ideal world there would be sufficient funding to do a replacement building at a different site on the campus and then erect a memorial on that location.

Sen. Simpson said that it would cost $25 million to $30 million dollars to do the job, but that shouldnt be the deciding factor.

We need to take a serious look at tearing down that building and build a facility that these kids could return to and be proud of, Simpson told the Herald Friday.

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Shark Makes Surprise Appearance in Australia RiverA close up of Canadian Rachel Homan holding her broom during the Canada-Denmark game in Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics on Feb. 16, 2018. (Reuters/Cathal McNaughton)

Canada Tumble Into 0-3 Hole With Loss to Denmark in Curling

GANGNEUNG, South KoreaDefending gold medalists Canada were in danger of crashing out of the Olympic womens curling tournament after a shock 9-8 extra-end loss to Denmark on Friday left them without a win through three rounds.

Holding the hammer the Canadian world champions had looked poised to secure a victory only to watch skip Rachel Homans last rock wreck on a guard in the 11th end as Madeleine Duponts Danish foursome looked on stunned by their good fortune picking up a first win.

We can play a little looser now because we came in as team number 10 (of 10), said Denmark second Julie Hogh. If we could get one win we would be really happy, and now we have it.

So of course were going to move forward and take one day at a time, but we can play a little loose now because we have the win we really, really wanted.

If Homans rink is to defend the gold won by Jennifer Jones foursome in Sochi it will likely require the a sweep of their last six preliminary round contests.

Japan and Sweden sit at the top of the standings with marks of 3-0 while Canada (0-3) are the only nation without a win and find themselves in a big hole with only four of the 10 teams advancing to the semi-finals.

Teams qualify with three losses all the time, said Homan, shrugging off the disappointment. We just have to win the next one.

Keep sticking together as a team and moving forward.

Leading 8-6 in the eighth end, Canada opened the door for the Danes who grabbed a pair in the 10th after Homan failed on takeout setting the stage for extra ends.

Obviously disappointed with the result, I think we have been playing pretty well just been missing some shots and weve had teams play really well against us, said Canadian lead Lisa Weagle.Cesarean section Versus Natural Birthan Obstetrician Examines a New Review

Mothers need more information about the sometimes dangerous implications

Births by cesarean section are rising worldwide. The latest figures (2016) show that 25 percent of births in Western Europe w ere by cesarean delivery, while in North America it was 32 percent and in South America 41 percent. Given these statistics, its not surprising that people are interested in new evidence that looks at the potential harms (and benefits) of this procedure. However, I read the latest review of the evidence with mixed feelings.

The review, published in PLOS Medicine, focused on three main outcomes: pelvic floor problems in the mother (such as urinary incontinence), asthma in the child, and death of the child in subsequent pregnancies (stillbirth or neonatal death). The headline findings were: Compared with vaginal delivery, there is a decreased risk of urinary incontinence and vaginal prolapse with a cesarean delivery. There is an increased risk of asthma in children delivered by cesarean section, up to the age of 12. And pregnancy after cesarean delivery was associated with increased risk of miscarriage and stillbirth but not of neonatal death.

As a scientist, I can appreciate the effort made in conducting a systematic review on the topic, but as an obstetrician, I worry that the results can be over-interpreted by patientsnot to mention obstetricians and midwivesand cesarean section marketed as a safe way to avoid problems with the pelvic floor. The pelvic floor includes the muscles, ligaments, connective tissues and nerves that support the bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum, and helps the pelvic organs to function.

The results of the study, conducted by the University of Edinburgh, are based on an analysis of the combined data (a meta-analysis) of one large randomized controlled trial and 79 observational studies, all from wealthy countries.

Overall, it is a well-conducted review. But there are weaknesses (which the authors acknowledge), such as not taking into account the type of cesarean section (emergency versus planned operations) and not taking into account the stage of labor when the operation was done. (Performing a cesarean section during the late stages of delivery is probably going to harm the pelvic floor in some ways.)

Driven by Fears of Urinary Incontinence

As an obstetrician, I meet many women who are concerned about their coming delivery and have a strong wish for a safe cesarean section. They often think it is a good way to avoid the pelvic floor problems that can occur after a natural birth. The benefits of a cesarean section for preventing pelvic floor problems are widely debated on social media and in parenthood and pregnancy magazines, which contributes to the increased demand for cesarean deliveries.

Women are well aware of the discomfort and embarrassment associated with urinary incontinence and have an understandable fear of sexual dysfunction. But despite the reported findings that suggest decreased risk with a cesarean delivery, these problems are manageable, treatable and, importantly, not life-threatening.

There are, however, life-threatening risks associated with a caesarean delivery on subsequent pregnancies, including increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and problems with the placentasuch as placenta praevia (the placenta covering the birth canal), placenta accreta (when the placenta grows too deep into the wall of the uterus), and placental abruption (where the placenta partially or completely separates from the womb before the baby is born).

A cesarean section delivery can also affect children. The results from this latest review show that it increases the risk of childhood asthma (21 percent increased risk) and the risk of obesity (59 percent) in children up to the age of 5, compared with children born by vaginal delivery.

All Risks Are Not Created Equal

Clearly, it does not make sense to compare the risk of urinary incontinence, say, with the risk of a stillbirth. Obstetricians are aware of the various risks of cesarean versus vaginal delivery and should help to guide the patient in making a decision. In order to prevent any further increase in the cesarean section trend, obstetricians need to take responsibility for how this information is conveyed to patients, taking the patients full reproductive life into account, and also aiming to minimize the risks for any following pregnancies.

advisable

It is an educational and ethical challenge for doctors to balance the potential risk factors of current versus future pregnancies. While women are being given more choice, I dont think that it is ethical orto let the patient prioritize between different outcomes as the authors suggest. Rather, patients should be informed of all of the risksat all life stages, for mother and childand assess their options based on that.

Stefan Hansson is a professor in obstetrics and gynecology at Lund University in Sweden. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.Falun Gong practitioners from Utah, United States, send a Lunar New Year greeting card to the founder of Falun Gong, Mr. Li Hongzhi. (Courtesy of Minghui.org)

Practitioners of Spiritual Discipline Worldwide Send Lunar New Year Greetings to Founder

Nearly two decades of Chinese regimes persecution hasnt stopped their faith

It is a tradition for the Chinese to welcome the Lunar New Year by sending greetings and well wishes to loved ones and those they respect.

Tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners around the world recently sent New Years greeting e-cards to Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of the ancient spiritual practice that was first introduced to the public in 1992.

The practicewith slow, meditative exercises and moral teachings based on the tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerancehas since spread to more than 70 countries around the world, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center, the official press office for the group.

Its popularity in Chinawith an estimated 70 to 100 million practitioners at its peakwas perceived as a threat to the Chinese regimes authority. In 1999, then-Chinese Communist Party leader Jiang Zemin launched a nationwide persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Thousands have died, with an estimated 450,000 to one million adherents held in Chinese labor camps, prison, and other detention facilities at any given time, according to the information center.

Inside China

But practitioners in China and beyond have persisted in their faith despite trying circumstances. Adherents from 30 provinces and directly governed municipalities in China sent New Years greetings to the founder, Mr. Li, to express gratitude and warm wishes for the coming year.

Adherents from a number of locales expressed their determination to continue abiding by Falun Gongs teachings despite the ongoing persecution.

Meanwhile, practitioners from Chinas military jointly sent greetings. They came from different departments of the army, including air force veterans and researchers at Chinas military academies.

Yu Changxin, the chair of a military hospital, described how his life changed after practicing Falun Gong. My life philosophy, worldview, questions about life sciences, social sciences, were all solved when I read Zhuan Falun [Falun Gongs main book of teachings]. My realm of thinking was uplifted and upgraded, he wrote in his greeting card.

Many Falun Gong practitioners in the military have suffered persecution, including Yu. He was sentenced at a secret trial to 17 years imprisonment because of his faith.

Another practitioner, a 24-year-old from Guangdong Province in southern China, spoke of the unexpected way he came to learn about Falun Gong. Using the pseudonym Hao Yun, he said he was questioned and detained by police several times for expressing his opinions on social issues online. Yearning to have the freedom to speak his mind, he learned how to breach the internet firewall and began accessing information that he couldnt before. He was then able to read the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times and found out the truth about the ongoing persecution of Chinaa sharp contrast to the states hate propaganda against Falun Gong, which is spread through state media and school education.

It was unbelievable. From when I was young until now, what I learned about Falun Gong was completely reversed. I had no idea Falun Gong practitioners were persecuted. What a tragic situation they are in, he told The Epoch Times.

Growing curious about the practice, he downloaded the texts of Falun Gong teachings and has since become a practitioner.

Meanwhile, a high school student from Wuan City, Hebei Province said while he does not practice the faith himself, he has admired practitioners kindness and carefree outlook on lifefrom seeing the impact of Falun Gong on his father and grandmother, both practitioners. He wished Mr. Li a happy new year and hoped that more of the world will know what is going on in China. To let all people know the truth, I will also make an effort to contribute what I can to let Falun Dafa be spread.

Europe and Americas

Practitioners spanning the European continent also sent greetings, including from Finland, the UK, France, Holland, Denmark, and Norway.

In North America, practitioners in Canada and 17 regions of the United States also expressed gratitude, some with poems written to ancient Chinese rhyme schemes.

In New York City, Chinese community leaders also sent greetings to Mr. Li. The president of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association in Manhattans Chinatown, Jerry Shiao, said he is grateful that Falun Gong practitioners who abide by truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance have allowed the world to become more kind and peaceful.Florida Governor Rick Scott (R), Broward County Superintendent of Schools, Robert W. Runcie (C) and Broward County Sheriff, Scott Israel (L) speak to the media about the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School where 17 people were killed yesterday in Parkland, Florida on Feb. 15, 2018. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Florida Governor Calls on Head of FBI to Resign After Agency Ignored Tip About School Shooter

Florida Governor Rick Scott called for the resignation of FBI Director Christopher Wray on Friday, Feb. 16, hours after the FBI admitted to ignoring a tip about school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz last month.

We constantly promote see something, say something, and a courageous person did just that to the FBI. And the FBI failed to act, Scott said in a statement, according to the New York Post.

Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isnt going to cut it, Scott added. An apology will never bring these 17 Floridians back to life or comfort the families who are in pain.

A person close to Cruz called the FBI tipline a month ago and reported that the 19-year-old had a desire to kill people and that there was potential of him conducting a school shooting. The agency failed to pass the ominous tip to the Miami field office.

Wray issued an apology after the tragic error came to light.

[We] deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy, Wray said, saying that an investigation will be conducted.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions also ordered an investigation of the FBIs handling of the tip, saying in a statement that warning signs were there and tips to the FBI were missed.

The FBI in conjunction with our state and local partners must act flawlessly to prevent all attacks. This is imperative, and we must do better, Sessions said. We will make this a top priority.

Sessions also said that every person is responsible for reporting warning sign to law enforcement.

Do not assume someone else will step upall of us must be vigilant, Sessions said. Our childrens lives depend on it.

According to a Justice Department statement, the FBI has 250 personnel dedicated to investigating the Florida shooting in addition to teams from a range of other agencies.

The tip which the FBI missed was not the only warning sign. New York Post reported on Friday that deputies were called to Cruzs address 39 times. Five months before the shooting, the FBI also received a tip about a YouTube user with the same name as Cruz who left a comment saying Im going to be a professional school shooter.

From NTD.tv

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President Trumps First State of the Union AddressOkay, Ill be the bad guy and say what no one else is brave enough to say, but wants to say.

Thats how a teacher of the year in Florida started her emotional response to the shooting in Stoneman High School where 17 students were killed.

Kelly Guthrie Raley was named Eustis Middle School Teacher of the Year 2017-2018 last month. Raleys response stands out from the rest because she grew up around guns and sees fundamental problems that need addressing in society.

Raleys post has been shared more than 500,000 times since she wrote it on Feb. 15. Below is her unedited message.

Okay, Ill be the bad guy and say what no one else is brave enough to say, but wants to say. Ill take all the criticism and attacks from everyone because you know what? Im a TEACHER. I live this life daily. And I wouldnt do anything else! But I also know daily I could end up in an active shooter situation.

Until we, as a country, are willing to get serious and talk about mental health issues, lack of available care for the mental health issues, lack of discipline in the home, horrendous lack of parental support when the schools are trying to control horrible behavior at school (oh no! Not MY KID. What did YOU do to cause my kid to react that way?), lack of moral values, and yes, Ill say it-violent video games that take away all sensitivity to ANY compassion for others lives, as well as reality TV that makes it commonplace for people to constantly scream up in each others faces and not value any other person but themselves, we will have a gun problem in school. Our kids dont understand the permanency of death anymore!!!

I grew up with guns. Everyone knows that. But you know what? My parents NEVER supported any bad behavior from me. I was terrified of doing something bad at school, as I would have not had a life until I corrected the problem and straightened my ass out. My parents invaded my life. They knew where I was ALL the time. They made me have a curfew. They made me wake them up when I got home. They made me respect their rules. They had full control of their house, and at any time could and would go through every inch of my bedroom, backpack, pockets, anything! Parents: its time to STEP UP! Be the parent that actually gives a crap! Be the annoying mom that pries and knows what your kid is doing. STOP being their friend. They have enough friends at school. Be their parent. Being the cool mom means not a damn thing when either your kid is dead or your kid kills other people because they were allowed to have their space and privacy in YOUR HOME. Ill say it again. My home was filled with guns growing up. For Gods sake, my daddy was an 82nd Airborne Ranger who lost half his face serving our country. But you know what? I never dreamed of shooting anyone with his guns. I never dreamed of taking one! I was taught respect for human life, compassion, rules, common decency, and most of all, I was taught that until I moved out, my life and bedroom wasnt mineit was theirs. And they were going to know what was happening because they loved me and wanted the best for me.

There. Say that Im a horrible person. I didnt bring up gun control, and I will refuse to debate it with anyone. This post wasnt about gun control. This was me, loving the crap out of people and wanting the best for them. This was about my school babies and knowing that God created each one for greatness, and just wanting them to reach their futures. Its about 20 years ago this year I started my teaching career. Violence was not this bad 20 years ago. Lack of compassion wasnt this bad 20 years ago. And God knows 20 years ago that I wasnt afraid daily to call a parent because I KNEW that 9 out of 10 would cuss me out, tell me to go to Hell, call the news on me, call the school board on me, or post all over FaceBook about me because I called to let them know what their child chose to do at schoolbecause they are a NORMAL kid!!!!!

Those 17 lives mattered. When are we going to take our own responsibility seriously?Lawyer Louis Zayas points to a picture taken of Nevaeh Hernandez when she was sick with the flu.

Girl Who Died of Flu Sent Home From Hospital With 104 Degree Fever, Family Says

NORTH BERGEN  Stephanie Conteron had plans to take her daughter Nevaeh to see Aladdin on Broadway tonight.

But instead of enjoying the show with the beloved 6-year-old, Conteron and her grieving family are preparing for the girls funeral this weekend.

Nevaeh Hernandez, a kindergarten student at Lincoln School, is the second child in New Jersey to die of the flu this season and her family says her tragic death likely could have been prevented, had she not been sent home from the hospital with a fever near 104 degrees.

The 6-year-old came home from school Friday afternoon and said she had a headache, family attorney Louis Zayas said during a press conference today. Nevaehs mother, Stephanie Conteron, gave her daughter some medicine but soon noticed her temperature began to rise. She took her to Hoboken University Medical Center that night.

After more than three hours, Nevaeh was seen by a nurse and a physicians assistant and was told both strep throat and flu tests came back negative, Zayas said, adding that she was sent home despite having a high fever.

Conteron, an emergency medical technician, knew something was still wrong Saturday. Navaehs temperature spiked to over 105 degrees and her family brought her to Hackensack University Hospital where she was diagnosed with the flu within an hour of arriving, Zayas said.

There, the girl had four seizures, slipped into a coma, and died Monday, the attorney said.

Navaehs father, Gabriel, is in the Army and was stationed in Germany. He was rushed home, escorted to the hospital by police, but didnt make it back in time to see his daughter before she died.

The purpose here is to alert the public how dangerous this flu strain is, that even if your child has been given the flu shot, that this flu shot may not be sufficient to warn off this particular strain, Zayas said.

Navaeh was given the flu shot in December, her family said.

Sandra Rivera, the 6-year-olds maternal grandmother, is now reminding parents they have a right to ask for a doctor to see their child and to stay at a hospital until they feel they have received the best care.

Only a parent knows how your child is feeling, Rivera said. Stay there, request whatever you need. Ask for a doctor, (say) I dont feel right, Im not going anywhere, because we feel (Navaehs) death could have been prevented

CarePoint Health, which operates the Hoboken hospital, said in a statement it will be cooperating with the states mandatory review of health records and lab testing, which is required for pediatric flu deaths.

We join the entire Hudson County community in mourning the tragic death of Nevaeh Hernandez, spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said. Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family and friends. While privacy laws strictly prohibit our commenting on individual patient conditions, testing, or treatments, Hoboken University Medical Center meticulously follows all CDC guidelines and protocol related to the flu or possible flu cases.

But as Nevaehs family searches for answers, her mother says shes really missing the sassy, intelligent little girl who had every Disney princess dress and loved going to her ballet class.

She would knock on the door while I was in the bathroom, telling me that she loves me, and then coming back five minutes later to tell me she loves me and ask if Im okay in there, Conteron said.

A wake is scheduled for Friday from 2 to 8 p.m. at Vainieri Funeral Home on Kennedy Boulevard in North Bergen. Those attending are asked to wear pink, Nevaehs favorite color. A funeral service will be held Saturday at St. Augustine Church in Union City at 10 a.m.Seattle Mayor Ed Murray speaks at a rally during the March for Science in Seattle, Washington on April 22, 2017. (Karen Ducey/Getty Images)

Man Who Sued Seattle Ex-Mayor for Sex Abuse Dies of Apparent Overdose

A man who accused former Seattle Mayor Ed Murray of teenage sex for hire was found dead on Friday, Feb. 16.

Delvon R. Heckard, 47, was found in a motel room in a Seattle suburb, surrounded by medication and drug paraphernalia, the Seattle Times reported.

Heckard had a history of drug addiction. He told the Seattle Times in an interview in April 2017 that both his parents had been crack addicts and that both had died of overdoses. His struggles with drug addiction were made worse by the shame he felt about being abused, allegedly, by Murray.

I tried to commit suicide a couple of times, just because I was disgusted with myself, but Im past that now, Heckard told the Times.

In fact, it was the death of his father and subsequent efforts to get sober which prompted him to deal with his past and come forward with the accusation, Fox News reported.

Man who accused Ed Murray of sexual abuse found dead in Auburn motel: https://t.co/Lc76sriqEp pic.twitter.com/hZeatgddJk  The Seattle Times (@seattletimes) February 16, 2018

Heckard brought a suit against then-Mayor Murray in April 2017, alleging that the politician had frequently paid him for sex during the late 80s when Heckard was a teenager.

Heckard dropped the suit, but by coming forward he had given courage to others to do the same.

Shortly afterward, three more men came forward telling similar stories, according to the Seattle Times. One of these was Murrays former foster child, Jeff Simpson. Another was Lloyd Anderson, who had lived in the same group home as Simpson.

Finally Murrays cousin, Joseph Dyer, publicly accused the Mayor of abusing him when he was a child.

Murray, 62, stepped down on Sept. 12, 2017, but continues to deny all the accusations.

After Murrays resignation, Heckard refiled, this time also naming the city as a defendant and claiming that Murray had used his political influence to discredit him and others, Fox reported.

In December Heckard settled with the city for the sum of $150,000.

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Neighbors React to Parents Arrest After Their 13 Children Found Shackled, Malnourished in HomeMother of Americas First Septuplets Dies at 63

The mom who made headlines more than three decades ago by giving birth to seven children passed away on Saturday, Feb. 10, according to her eldest son.

Patricia Frustaci, 63, suffered from pulmonary fibrosis and died at a San Diego hospital.

Frustaci gave birth to septuplets in 1985, the largest multiple birth instance in the U.S. at that time.

Frustaci underwent fertility treatment. When she was pregnant, doctors suggested that she undergo an abortion to avoid health problems. She declined because of her faith.

With our religious background and all we had gone through to have kids, that just wasnt an option, Frustaci told The New York Times in 1985.

Patricia Frustaci, who gave birth to the first septuplets born in the United States in 1985, dies at 63 https://t.co/8i0X3ElyNe  NYT Obituaries (@NYTObits) February 17, 2018

The children were born 12 weeks premature with many complications. One girl was stillborn. Another girl and two boys died shortly after.

The familys medical expenses ran up to over $1 million. Frustaci sued her fertility clinic for the deaths of her children and the permanent health issues for the children who survived.

The fertility clinic eventually settled the case for $450,000 without admitting wrongdoing. The clinic also agreed to provide monthly payments to the surviving children for life.

There is not a day that goes by that we dont talk about them, Frustaci, speaking of the dead children, said in a deposition, according to Fox News. There is not a day that goes by that I dont look at their pictures.

After the settlement, Frustaci was still plagued by financial problems and stress from looking after the children who needed care at all times. She also had bipolar, according to her son Joseph Frustaci.

Those issues, compounded by an intense media spotlight made it hard for the mom to mourn the loss of her babies.

Really, all she wanted was to be a mother, and I think the media got in the way, for a time, of her being able to be a loving and nurturing mother, her son said.

Frustaci had twins in 1990 after using the same fertility drug. Both are now college graduates.

The mom divorced from her husband in the mid-1990s and lived with her eldest son and his family since.

One of the surviving septuplets, a girl, is now happily married and has two children of her own. Of the others, one boy is living alone. Another boy lives with his father, Frustacis eldest son said.

She was the funnest person Ive ever known, Frustaci said. She made regular, mundane errands an adventure.

We miss her terribly, we miss her deeply, he added.

From NTD.tv

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45-Year-Old Woman Unexpectedly Gives Birth After Not Realizing She Was PregnantMultibillion-Dollar Private School Pays $80 Million for Covering Up Years of Child Abuse

A lavish private school serving often poor children of Hawaiian ancestry has agreed to pay $80 million to settle a lawsuit to 32 victims of 27 years of sexual abuse, which school officials covered up.

Kamehameha School in Honolulu, Hawaii, is valued at $11 billion, the Washington Post reported. It is named after the Hawaiian king who unified the islands and then they were endowed by the kings last living relative. The school has been in operation since 1887.

For the past two years the school has been negotiating with 27 former students, overwhelmingly male, who were sexually abused by the school-contracted psychiatrist between 1958 and 1985.

The settlement was announced on Thursday, Feb. 15.

Children were sent to the home of Dr. Robert Browne, chief of psychiatry at St. Francis Hospital. The children were told they needed psychiatric treatment and in some cases were threatened with expulsion if they refused.

With the children trapped in his home for the weekend, Browne forced the children to submit to various sexual and psychological abuses.

Some of Brownes victims reported the abuse, but nothing was done.

Some of the abuse victims were so traumatized they later committed suicide.

I spent 40 years of my life in shame and in hiding, thinking that it was my fault, when it wasnt my fault, plaintiff Alika Bajo told a news conference on Friday, Feb. 16.

This pain is never going to leave me, he concluded. Im probably going to get therapy for the rest of my life.

Confronted, Browne Made the Ultimate Escape

Browne held his job as the schools psychiatrist until 1991, when one of his victims, now an adult, confronted him on the phone.

Loy was one of six brothers who attended the school. His eldest brother Dr. Lambert Lee Loy, and at least one other were also assaulted, Hawaii News Now reported.

Emmett Lee Loy, now an attorney and plaintiff in the lawsuit, called Browne at his home. Browne made no attempt to deny his actions.

I said, Remember when you used to molest me from the time I was 12 years old, telling me it was therapy, remember that? Loy told Hawaii News Now.

He starts  breaking down and crying on the phone, Loy continued. Im sorry, Im sorry, Im really sorry, doing this crybaby thing on the phone. I said, Youre not sorry for what you did, youre sorry for getting caught.

Loy then told Browne, People are going to know about this.

Sometime later that night, Oct. 30, 1991, Browne shot himself in the head. He was 65 at the time.

#LIVE: Attorneys in Kamehameha Schools sex abuse case discuss $80M settlement; W: https://t.co/hHAhNHsuD7; M: https://t.co/nitVCPkLQ4  Hawaii News Now (@HawaiiNewsNow) February 16, 2018

Ongoing Coverup

The lawsuit mentions specifically four Kamehameha employeesa dorm supervisor who later became the schools principal, two other principals, and a school doctor.

Middle School Principal Diana Lord, was a personal friend of Browne, who let the doctor use her home for some therapy sessions. One victim told Hawaii News Now that he told Lord he was being molested in 1966. Nothing was done.

Kamehameha Schools physician Dr. George Mills had done his residency with Browne. Mills oversaw all the referrals of children to Browne for special treatment.

Former Kamehameha Principal Gladys Brandt had a grandson in the schooland in Brownes treatment. When her grandson, Christopher Conant, told her he was being abused, she took him out of the school. She did nothing about the abuse.

Anthony Ramos, who was the principal when Browne killed himself, started his employment at Kamehameha as a dorm counselor.

Abuse victim Gerald Carrell said Ramos had to have known about the abuse.

Everybody in the dorm knew, Carrell told Hawaii News Now. He had to know. All of the dorm advisers had to know. They were like sitting right there when he was saying this.

One victim went to the school health center after being abused because he was bleeding. he reported the assault to everyone up to the director of dormitories. Nothing was done.

Kamehameha Schools reaches settlement with victims in sex abuse scandal https://t.co/aRdFoWzpy1 #HNN  Hawaii News Now (@HawaiiNewsNow) February 16, 2018

Michael Chun was president of Kamehameha School when Browne died. When he heard about the abuse, he called the schools principal, Anthony Ramos.

Basically, Principal Ramos testified, I said, The man is dead. I dont know what to do with this.

Chun said he contacted the legal department and got no response. He said no effort was made to identify other victims, and all records of students being sent to Browne were destroyed.

I was really focusing on making no further harm, OK? Chun said in a recorded deposition on Hawaii News Now.

For 25 years, nothing was done to help any potential victims.

An attorney asked him, during the deposition, You could have done something?

Chun replied, Doing nothing is doing something, right?

From NTD.tv

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Emotional Footage Shows Overjoyed Family After Being Reunited With Missing DogThe logo on the front of an Oxfam bookshop is photographed in Glasgow on Feb. 10, 2018. The British Government announced late on Feb.9 it was reviewing all work with Oxfam amid revelations the charity's staff hired prostitutes in Haiti during a 2011 relief effort on the earthquake-hit island. (ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Oxfam Sex Abuse Criticism Disproportionate, Chief Executive Says

LONDONOxfams chief executive said criticism of the charity following a sex abuse scandal had been disproportionate, according to comments published on Saturday.

In an interview with British daily the Guardian, Mark Goldring again apologized over allegations of sexual abuse by Oxfam staff in Haiti, which broke last week and have shaken the whole aid sector.

(But) the intensity and ferocity of the attacks makes you wonder, what did we do? We murdered babies in their cots?, he was quoted as saying.

Certainly the scale and intensity of the attacks feels out of proportion to the level of culpability.

UK-based Oxfam, one of the worlds biggest disaster relief charities, has neither confirmed nor denied the Haiti allegations but has said an internal investigation in 2011 confirmed unspecified sexual misconduct occurred.

It has also agreed not to bid for any new state funding until Britains government is satisfied the charity meets appropriate ethical standards, development minister Penny Mordaunt said on Friday.

Anything we say is being manipulated Weve been savaged, Goldring also told the Guardian, which ran a full-page ad from the charity saying sorry for the appalling behavior that happened in our name.

The CEOs comments drew rebukes on Twitter, including from former interior minister Jacqui Smith, who posted: Dear Mark Goldring. Youre not the victim here.

Haitis president told Reuters on Friday that sexual misconduct by Oxfam staff was only the tip of an iceberg and called for investigations into Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) and other aid organizations that came to the country after a devastating earthquake in 2010.

Doctors Without Borders said on Wednesday it had dealt with 24 cases of sexual harassment or abuse among its 40,000 staff last year, and dismissed 19 people as a result.

Britain has said it will deny cash to aid organizations that fail to come clean on abuse.

But Prime Minister Theresa May said it would continue to meet its legal obligation to spend 0.7 percent of economic output on international development.

She made the comment in a speech in Munich on Saturday, in which did not directly address the allegations against Oxfam and other charities.The SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches from the Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Fla., on Feb. 6, 2018 (Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images)

Private Capital Heralds the Second Space Race

SpaceX, Blue Origin driving innovation in launch technology

Space, the final frontier began the memorable title sequence from the Star Trek television series.

After decades of stagnation and decreasing government funding following the Cold War, the U.S. space industry has found new legs in recent years due to massive private financing and an increased interest from the Trump administration.

At the forefront of space launch innovation is SpaceX, the Hawthorne, California-based private aerospace engineering and space transportation company founded by Elon Musk, a modern-day Howard Hughes figure, who also heads electric car manufacturer Tesla Inc.

On Feb. 6, SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon Heavy booster rocket, the worlds most powerful rocket, using the same spaceport as NASAs Apollo missions. The Falcon Heavy demonstrated that it could carry more payload at less expense than its competitors. With the ability to deliver 140,660 pounds (64 metric tons) to low Earth orbit, the Falcon Heavy could carry almost three times the payload of its closest competitor, the Delta IV Heavy built by the United Launch Alliance, according to SpaceX data. To top it off, the three first-stage boosters of the Falcon Heavy are designed to be recoverable and reusable.

The real game-changer is cost. SpaceX advertises that the Falcon Heavy flights cost $90 million per launch, which is a fraction of the $300 million to $500 million per launch charged by United Launch Alliance for the Delta IV Heavy.

Falcon Heavy opens up a new class of payload  it can launch things right to Pluto and beyond, no stop needed.  Elon Musk, CEO, SpaceX

The fact that SpaceX is able to support this research and make the technology commercially viableas a privately funded companyis no small feat.

In the decades following the launch of Soviet satellite Sputnik I in 1957, early innovations in space were sponsored by governments of the United States and Soviet Union. Funding slowed during the years following the end of the Cold War, while the spaceflight industry was dominated by agencies such as NASA, its counterparts in other countries, and defense contractors such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

But in the last 10 years, SpaceX has become a major innovator and contractor for governments and private institutions as a platform to launch satellites cheaply; its already successfully launched rockets to carry satellites and supply the International Space Station (ISS). The company was initially born out of a desire by Musk to send humans to Mars, and in recent years it has pioneered reusable rocket technology to become a price leader among space launch companies.

And Musk isnt alone. The worlds wealthiest man, Jeff Bezos, has his own rocket company Blue Origin, and entrepreneur Richard Branson also has plans to commercialize space travel.

Private capital from these billionaires, along with increased investment by incumbent aerospace contractors such as Boeing and Lockheed and countries such as China and Russia, have ushered in a second space age.

Beyond Falcon Heavy

Musk told reporters in Cape Canaveral, Florida, that the Falcon Heavy opens up a new class of payload  it can launch things right to Pluto and beyond, no stop needed, according to Space.com.

Musk predicts the next launch of the Falcon Heavy to be in the next three to six months, depending on how quickly the company can produce the airframe of the center core. To anyone who follows Musks other company, Tesla, this can sound concerning, especially given that the center core of the Feb. 6 launch was lost.

Two more Falcon Heavy flights are planned for 2018, one to launch a communication satellite Arabsat 6A for Saudi Arabia, and the other a test flight for the U.S. Air Force.

Beyond the Falcon Heavy, SpaceX plans to deliver NASA astronauts aboard its Dragon spacecraft on the smaller Falcon 9 rocket. So far, all of the Falcon 9 flights have been cargo-only.

Musk announced in late 2017 plans for the ambitious Interplanetary Transport System, code-named BFR, where the B and R stand for Big and Rocket, respectively. All our resources will turn toward building BFR, Musk told the audience at the International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide, Australia, in September 2017.

The BFR is a giant booster rocket with the ability to carry a large spaceship with potentially hundreds of people, to eventually send humans to the moon or Mars.

The New Space Race

Space is quickly becoming a focal point for governments and the private sector.

Rapidly falling costs are lowering the barrier to participate in the space economy, making new industries like space tourism, asteroid mining, and on-orbit manufacturing viable, and growing the existing flagship communications satellite services business while taking exploration deeper into space, Goldman Sachs analysts wrote in an April 2017 research note titled Spacethe Next Investment Frontier.

The key players in the space industry belong to three main groups: launch providers, satellite manufacturers, and operators. There are additionally emerging industries of space tourism, space militarization, and deep space mining.

Launch providersthe backbone of all space endeavorsare attracting the most investment. This market is dominated by SpaceX, United Launch Alliance (a joint venture between the aerospace arms of Boeing and Lockheed Martin), and European launch service provider Arianespace SA. Bezoss Blue Origin, which is developing its own reusable orbital vehicles, is an emerging player.

Blue Origin last month successfully conducted a test fire of its BE-4 rocket engine expected to power its upcoming New Glenn rocket. The New Glenn rocket, which has a slightly smaller payload than the Falcon Heavy, is expected to launch in 2020.

The space market is estimated to grow from $339 billion today to $2.7 trillion by 2045, according to an Oct. 30, 2017, research note by Bank of America. The bank estimates that over $16 billion has been invested in space-related startups since 2000, with $2.8 billion invested during 2016.

The influx of private capital coincides with the Trump administrations plan for NASA to focus its research beyond low Earth orbit. President Donald Trumps NASA Transition Authorization Act signed last year directs the agency to transition away from funding the ISS to focus instead on the development of deep space exploration and potentially returning humans to the moon.Road Rage Reaction Leaves SUV on its Side

What do you do when the car in front of you is blocking your progress in traffic?

For one California driver, the answer was supposed to be, You drive over the offending vehicle.

Unfortunately for the impatient driver, the answer he came up with left his car lying on its side.

(WARNING: Very Coarse Language)

This video submitted to NBC Los Angeles (Warning: the language is Very Adult) shows a pair of drivers stuck in traffic on Californias State Route 78 in North County on Feb. 15, according to Patch.com.

The driver of a convertible can be seen standing next to a large SUV, yelling at the driver. The man seemed to be complaining that the SUV driver was on his phone behind the wheel.

Whatever was said, did not satisfy the SUV driveat all. He saw the cars ahead driving away and decided to follow.

Even then, the driver of the convertible wouldnt let up. He stood by the window, shouting, even as the SUV began pulling out of traffic.

The SUV driver stuck his head out the window, scanned the road ahead, and kept going. He had plenty of room to get around the convertible, which was parked directly in front of him.

Then the SUV pulls out to pass the convertible aheadand then slams right into it.

Instead, the SUV climbed halfway up the convertibles door and tipped over. While the driver in the convertible calmly drove away, the SUV driver had to start thinking of how he would explain all this to his insurance company.

No matter how good a story he might have concocted, it would be for naught. The video of the incident was watched more than 90,000 times.

California Highway Patrol told Patch.com they were investigating.

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Lucky Motorcyclist Narrowly Missed Horrific Multi-Car CrashCharles Pearce was convicted of attempted murder and a double rape and sentenced to life in prison. (Leicester Police)

Teen Who Celebrated Birthday With Brutal Rape Gets Life Sentence

A teenage rapist who crushed his victims head with a concrete block was sentenced to life in prison on Friday, Feb. 16.

He smiled as the sentence was read.

Charlie Pearce of Leicester, England decided to celebrate turning 17 by attacking and raping his victim.

The British teen caught a young woman in Victoria Park in Leicester, about 100 miles northwest of London. He bashed her head in using a paving stone, then raped her, the Mirror reported.

When he was done, he dragged her bloodied body into some bushes to hide her.

The injured woman laid there for an hour before a passing cyclist saw a pool of blood and investigated.

The woman, whose name will not be released, spent the next two weeks in a medically induced coma. She had multiple skull fractures and bleeding on her brain.

Closed-circuit security cameras in the park caught Pearce as he fled the scene, the bloody paving stone still in his hand.

Pearce received a life sentencebut the minimum time he must serve is 11 years. He could be back on the street before he turns 30.

The Mirror reported that Pearce smiled when he heard the sentence being read.

No Defense, No Explanation

Pearce, who lived in Leicesters sophisticated Clarendon Park neighborhood, near the University of Leicester turned 17 in July 2017.

He was tried in Leicester Crown Court and found guilty in December of that year. After a three-day trial, the jury only deliberated for three hours.

Pearce admitted to bludgeoning and twice raping the young woman, the Leicester Mercury reported.

His only defense was that he did not mean to kill hera statement delivered by his lawyer.

Pearce never took the stand in his own defense.

Violent Internet Pornography

During the trial, it was revealed that Pearce had spent weeks prior to the attack watching violent pornography on the internet before finally acting out what he saw online.

Prosecutor Gordon Aspden explained to the jury, He was there loitering, he was looking for someone to attack. He has a fixation with violent rape, the Mirror reported.

Youve seen the Internet searches; its a disturbing fixation manifested in his interest to look at warped pornography and violent assault of helpless young women, Aspden continued. An attack of this type had been festering in the back of his mind. He was seen running into the park carrying something heavy under his arm. He went to attack that woman armed with that weapon.

People Heard the Screams

The judge, Mr. Justice Haddon-Cave held off on sentencing so he could study the case. the Leicester Mercury reported. The defendants age, his background, and the violence of the attack were all factors.

So too was the tearful statement read by his victim.

Pearces victim did not recall what had happened when she woke up. Only after reading police accounts of the investigation did she learn that she had been screaming intenselyand that many people had heard her.

She told the court, I do not remember screaming when I was assaulted though I am aware that screams were reported to the police by various people that night, the Mirror reported. My screams did not stop my attacker from causing me further harm and nor did they help me be found so I could receive medical care I needed. Knowing that my screams did not change anything for me that night continues to trouble me.

She told the court that the attack had robbed her of part of her life, but even more, it had permanently damaged her and the remainder of her life. She is in her mid-20s.

The six months which have now passed since I was discharged from hospital amounts to an ongoing period of time that can never be gotten back, time which has been taken from me and from how I live my life, without my permission and against my wishes, she said.

I am reminded on a daily basisand sometimes multiple times a dayof the extensive trauma my body has endured and my mind cannot remember happening to me.

She said that even though she did not remember the attack, just knowing what had happened to her, and seeing and feeling the mental and physical scars, made it hard for her to carry on with life.

I have had thoughts about hurting myself and ending my life because I feel that I cannot live with the knowledge I have that what happened to me has happened to me.

Pearce received his life sentence on the charge of intent to murder. He was also given two concurrent seven-year, six-month sentences for the two rapes.

His victim, sadly, has been given a life sentence of pain.

From NTD.tv

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Officer Saves Woman Who Was PinnedTennessee Announces Enrollment for Tuition-Free College

The governor of Tennessee announced that adults can enroll tuition-free this fall at a community or technical college in the state.

Bill Haslam said this week that the groundbreaking program enables high school graduates who are at least 24 years old two years of tuition-free community or technical college.

We want to send a clear message that wherever you fall on lifes path, you have the opportunity to earn an education beyond high school, Haslam said in a statement.

By 2025, at least half the jobs in our state will require a college degree or certificate. Tennessee will lead in creating highly-skilled jobs if we make sure that Tennesseans are ready for those jobs, and there is no smarter investment than increasing access to high-quality education.

People who already have an associate or bachelors degree arent eligible.

Those interested begin by filling out an application at TNReconnect.gov before applying to a local community college or eligible Tennessee Reconnect institution.



Then people should file the FAFSA and enroll in a degree or certificate program at least part-time.

Eligibility rules also state that a student must be a Tennessee resident for at least one year and be determined as an independent student on the FAFSA.

Nashville Public Radio noted that the state estimated that Reconnect will only have to cover about 15 percent of a students tuition costs because most people will qualify for a high amount of financial aid from the federal government.

The opportunity will be promoted through a state-wide marketing campaign.

The Reconnect program builds off of the Tennessee Promise program, which provides people who recently graduated from high school with two years of tuition-free community or technical college.

Knox News reported that the Promise program students are more likely to succeed in college than their peers.

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Wranglers Wrestle With Alligator to Remove Eggs From NestNORWALK  The Norwalk Land Trust has added another parcel to its growing list of open space.

The trust has acquired a 7-acre parcel off Pumpkin Road along the Westport border in northeast Norwalk, according to trust Acting President Seeley Hubbard.

The acquisition is part of a 20-acre tract divided into two with the additional acreage going to the Aspetuck Land Trust of Westport, the land trust said in a statement. The parcel was owned by Nat Greenberg, a real estate investor, and Leo Nevas, an attorney and philanthropist, who made many gifts toward the betterment of the lives of the residents of Westport.

The gifts have included donations of land to the Aspetuck Land Trust, Westport YMCA and the Block Island Conservancy. In donating the parcel to the Norwalk Land Trust, their children are following this tradition, the Norwalk Land Trust said in the statement.

The land provides habitat to many species of birds and small animals. Large tracts of wetlands and heavily forest areas help to offset the habitat destruction caused by heavy residential development all around Norwalk, Hubbard said.

For the time being, the newly acquired parcel will be closed to the public, the land trust said.

The Norwalk Land Trust now stewards nearly 90 acres of land throughout the city. The nonprofit organization recently embarked on a fundraising campaign to buy the 15-acre property in the Cranbury section of Norwalk that has been home to the Lucille Lortell White Barn Theatre.

That land, currently owned by Fieber Group, has been approved for a 15-home development. James Fieber and his family kicked off the $5 million fundraising campaign with a $1 million pledge, according to the Norwalk Land Trust.

In another development, the trust has appointed two new directors to its board: Lisa Shanahan of Rowayton and Julian Henkin of Cranbury. Shanahan brings years of nonprofit volunteer experience to the position; Henkin has been involved in environmental/managerial strategy for businesses, locally and abroad. They join the all-volunteer board of directors for a three-year term.

More information about the mission and activities of the Norwalk Land Trust can be found at www.norwalklandtrust.orgAnnika Dean survived last year's mass shooting at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport by hiding behind a luggage cart. Her 14-year-old son, Austin, survived this week's shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school by hiding in a classroom.

"I am in disbelief; I really am," Dean said in an interview with WPTV in West Palm Beach.

Her brother told her: "You're one of the luckiest people on the planet or you're one of the unluckiest," she told WPTV.

She told him, "Both."

At about 2:40 p.m. Wednesday, a gunman went on a rampage, killing 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Austin texted his mother from his hiding place in a classroom.

He typed, "Mom, there's a school shooting drill going on. It's really scary, they got a gun and fired it . . . IT'S NOT A DRILL," she said in the interview.

"As soon as I realized that it was an actual shooting, my heart just sank," Dean, an art teacher, said.

In his texts, Austin told her people had been running and screaming, but he was, thankfully, safe. "He said, 'But just in case, I love you,' " she told WPTV.

"I was grateful for every text he was sending me," she said in the interview. "It's different when it's your kid. And I wasn't with him. He was on his own."

Austin, a freshman, was tucked with 30 other students in a JROTC classroom, WPTV reported.

Dean said two of her closest friends were not as lucky as she was. One had a daughter who was killed at the school, and another has a child who was wounded. She said she knows both of the teens. "I'm their Sunday school teacher," she said.

She told WPTV she, unbelievably, was able to relate to her son's fear as he hid in the classroom.

"I definitely had a sense of what he was feeling and what he was going through," she said.

On Jan. 6, 2017, Dean was at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport when a gunman opened fire, killing five people. She hid behind a luggage cart and was shielded by a stranger, according to WPTV.

"As soon as I heard the gunfire, I knew it was gunfire," she told the station at the time.

Now, she said she feels grateful she is alive and her son is alive. Somehow, they both escaped physically unharmed.

"The moments I have with my kids may not have been," she said. "I'm grateful for every moment I have with my kids."

- - -

The Washington Post's Magda Jean-Louis contributed to this report.5 hours ago

Weber Inc. Is As Cheap As It Will Get

Record Demand Drive Results For Weber Inc. Grill maker Weber Inc. (NYSE: WEBR) made a splash in the market this summer when the company IPO'd. Price action has been vigorous in the wake of the initial sale and we think it will continue to be so.

Read ArticleIFG Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the intermediation and administration of financial service products primarily in the United Kingdom. It operates in two segments, Platform and Independent Wealth Management. The company offers platform services in retirement and wealth planning markets, including individual savings accounts and general investment accounts, as well as self-invested personal pension products; pension administration services; and independent financial advisory services to private clients and organizations. IFG Group plc is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

Read MoreFears of Syrian war expanding might trigger peace deal

Russian officers bearing the coffin of pilot Roman Filipov after his Su-25 jet warplane was shot down by Islamist rebels in Syria.

AFP, United Nations :

Syria's civil war is in danger of flaring into a regional or even global conflict, but some diplomats hope the high stakes could, paradoxically, pave the way for a peace accord.

Last week, five Russians were likely killed in a US-led coalition bombing on pro-regime Syrian fighters, the Russian government said.

A few days later Israel lost an F-16 warplane in reprisal attacks against Syrian and Iranian military targets after intercepting an alleged Iranian drone.

These serious and unprecedented events were discussed in an urgent mid-week UN Security Council meeting.

"The ingredients for a regional or potentially major global confrontation have come together now, and the risk must be taken seriously," France's UN ambassador Francois Delattre told AFP.

Since the destruction of the Iranian drone "there has been no escalation," said a colleague of Delattre's on the UN Security Council, speaking on condition of anonymity. But there is now a risk of direct confrontation between the United States and Russia, possibly with new deaths, another diplomat countered.

On Wednesday, a Security Council meeting on Syria that was initially slated to be public but was ultimately held behind closed doors, suggested a turning point had been reached.

The language that emerged was a mix of tension and caution that converged on one point: the need for unity to calm things down.

UN ambassador Nikki Haley said peace "is urgent" in Syria, then blamed Iran for its role in the violence.

"On every front of this conflict, we find fighters imported by Iran from Lebanon, Iraq, and Afghanistan," she said.

Haley described it as "a dangerous game of pushing boundaries, instead of behaving responsibly and committing to peace."

Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters that his country is "doing everything to prevent any major international confrontation in Syria. We are working on that hard."

According to Nebenzia, no country has "delivered more than us on the political process in Syria."

He cited Moscow's ties with the Damascus regime and the opposition, its support for so-called "de-escalation zones," and peace talks in Astana and Sochi which Russia says are aimed at facilitating other talks in Geneva.

A diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Russia is losing ground even after all it has invested militarily in Syria.



New apartments in honor of longtime dentist in downtown Watertown

New apartment building being named in honor of dentist who practiced there for over 50 yearsUS will not allow China to coerce nations in Asia

PTI, Washington :

The US will not allow China to "bully" or "coerce" nations in Asia, a senior Donald Trump administration official has said, amidst Beijing flexing its muscles in the region.

The President Trump administration has made clear that the US wants a "productive" relationship with China, and the two countries must work to manage and resolve differences, Susan Thornton, Acting Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during her confirmation hearing.

We have been equally clear, however, that we will not abide Chinese attempts to displace the US in Asia, to coerce countries in the region and that we will not be taken advantage of, she said.

If the international system that has enabled China's rise is to continue, then rules and standards must be observed and countries must not be bullied or threatened, but treated as equal players, Ms Thornton said.

The administration, under Trump's leadership, is working to expand and deepen partnerships throughout the region via the Indo-Pacific strategy, she said.

We also continue to prioritise work in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation to promote high-standards and fair trade and to support ASEAN-centered regional architecture, which underpins East Asian peace and security.

The US is a Pacific power and will remain committed to this regions success, Ms Thornton said.

The Asia Pacific region has a "very real security" and economic challenges, including the menacing threat of North Korea, the rise of an authoritarian China, and the spread of terrorism and extremism, she said.

Although the region has enjoyed peace and growing prosperity for years, the threat from North Korea continues to increase, tensions and extremism are on the rise, and the export-led model that underpinned, Ms Thornton said.

East Asia's stunning growth is no longer viable. We must insist on fair and reciprocal market access, if we are to sustain the global trading system.

Backsliding on democracy, governance and corruption, and human rights is also undermining prospects for stability and growth in some countries, she told the lawmakers.

Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the islands.

A Navy officer aboard a mammoth U.S. aircraft carrier brimming with F18 fighter jets said American forces will continue to patrol the South China Sea wherever "international law allows us" when asked if China's newly built islands could restrain them in the disputed waters.



DAMUDYA (Shariatpur): A networking meeting was held at Damudya Upazila organised by Madaripur Legal Aid Association yesterday.Social media profile for the job market

Joanna Hughes :



A whopping 70 percent of employers use social networking sites to vet job candidates, according to CareerBuilder. It's also becoming a go-to recruitment tool. Says CareerBuilder chief human resources officer Rosemary Haefner, "Tools such as Facebook and Twitter enable employers to get a glimpse of who candidates are outside the confines of a resume or cover letter. And with more and more people using social media, it's not unusual to see the usage for recruitment to grow as well."

The takeaway for job hunters? Social media may be invaluable when it comes to positioning yourself for success on the job market. Wondering where to get started? Read on for a roundup of four tips aimed at helping you polish your social media profile to perfection.

1. Don't hide.

Many people assume the best way to avoid social media mistakes is to become a social media ghost. However, having no profile at all may be just as detrimental. Why? Because research indicate that the majority of employers are less likely to follow up with a candidate who lacks a social media presence. Not only that, but not having a social media presence also means that recruiters can't find you. So while a negative social media profile can certainly be harmful to your job search, a positive, proactive profile can be an amazing tool for opening yourself to new opportunities.

2. Know what's out there.

How can you employer-proof your social media presence if you don't know what's out there? The best place to begin when it comes to understanding and optimizing your social media presence is to conduct a "pre-mortem".

Recommends the American Marketing Association (AMA), "Peruse your online profiles. Google yourself to see what comes up. Does it present you in the best light and make a strong argument for why you are the right candidate for the role? Is there anything that might cause a future employer to screen out your application? If so, fix the problem, or scrap that channel as part of your job search."

Things to watch for when evaluating your social media pages include the following: Is your profile photo presentable? Is there a clear link to your contact information? Are your skills and achievements highlighted? Do you have memberships in career-relevant groups? Paying attention to these factors can help you cultivate a professional presence. Conversely, a profile photo of a cute kitten and memberships in all pet-lovers groups may end up representing you as more crazy cat lady than compelling candidate.

3. Have a LinkedIn profile-and update it often.

All social media channels aren't created equal. And when it comes to job-hunting, LinkedIn reigns supreme. FlexJobs senior career specialist Brie Reynolds told Business News Daily, "When a recruiter searches an applicant's name to learn more about them, it's actually a red flag nowadays if someone isn't found to be active online. LinkedIn is the bare minimum a job seeker should be using to help show employers that they are technologically savvy and understand the basics on digital communication."

But it's not enough to merely have a LinkedIn profile. You must also update it often. Continues Reynolds, "Hiring managers may look to your LinkedIn profile to learn more about you," said Reynolds.

"If it doesn't match your resume with your most up-to-date jobs, projects and skills, they may be confused. It may send the message that you're not taking enough care with your job search or professional image"If you're interested in new opportunities, even in the least, keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-date so you'll be findable when a recruiter starts searching."

4. Show off your skills.

Social media isn't just a way to connect with employers and recruiters. It also has the potential to speak directly to your skills and talents in an increasingly social marketplace.The majority of organizations today need smart strategies for social engagement. By demonstrating your adeptness with your own social media presence, you're also demonstrating your capacity to contribute to the business in a meaningful way-regardless of your field of job title.

According to media monitoring leader Meltwater, "Social media isn't a siloed effort that the marketing and communications team owns, every department affects or is affected by social media.

In the near future, regardless of job title, you'll need to adapt to the social sphere to thrive in business." For example, establishing a Twitter account which demonstrates your industry knowledge as well as your ability to compelling use this popular communications medium can make double the impression on prospective employers.

While successfully navigating the world of social media can be tricky territory for job hunters, it's ultimately effort well spent given its potential to hook you up with a job and contacts. Which brings us to one final rule of thumb to keep in mind while moving forward with your social media strategy. While social media may comprise a variety of separate elements, together they serve a larger purpose: Building your comprehensive brand.

In other words, if a photo, post, comment, Tweet or share doesn't support and add value to your personal brand, does it really belong on your social media page?

(Joanna worked in higher education administration for many years at a leading research institution before becoming a full-time freelance writer. She lives in the beautiful White Mountains region of New Hampshire with her family).The 2018 Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto, presented by the Toronto Star and Wheels.ca., is now open to the public at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

In recent years, one of the many features of the AutoShow  which runs till Feb. 25  has been exhibits and displays that focus on automotive education and automotive careers.

As the retail automobile industry continues to grow and evolve, career opportunities in this sector for men and women of all ages have never been greater.

At this years AutoShow, the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association is highlighting many of those careers, along with the educational requirements and guidance for landing a job in this exciting industry.

The TADA will a have a strong presence of interactive and engaging, career-focused programming at this years AutoShow. The associations 700 Level booth will combine promotion of both Career Start and CarsAndJobs.com.

Information will be available on a wide variety of automotive education pathways, careers in the automotive retail and service industry, and effective methods of best connecting candidates with the car career of their dreams.

In collaboration with Canadian International AutoShow staff, the TADA has created a show-long education program, which will provide information, networking opportunities, and promotion of its initiatives to a larger number of students and school contacts than in previous years.

Our daily Live Stage sessions, which will be broadcast live on CarsandJobs Facebook, will feature some of our key education partners, including Centennial College, Automotive Business School of Canada, and Conestoga College. We will also host groups from the University of Toronto, McMaster University, and the University of Waterloo.

The associations booth will also showcase the easy-to-use online marketplace for substantial job opportunities in this industry across Ontario.

The TADA is proud and pleased to again host this years winners of the University of Waterloos Electric Vehicle challenge  the team from Bluevale Secondary School. Bluevales winning car, designed, created and raced by high school students, will be on display in the TADA booth, and the team has been invited to attend the show as guests of the TADA.

CarsAndJobs.com will also present Women on Wheels on Thursday, Feb. 22, an evening learning and networking event focused on increasing awareness of career paths, challenges, and successes for women in the industry. Moderated by automotive journalist Petrina Gentile, this unique session will feature Laura Schwab, President of Aston Martin of the Americas, Maria Soklis, President of Cox Automotive Canada, and Susan Gubasta, President & CEO of Mississauga Toyota.

To engage students and the general public, the TADA will feature interactive experiences such as a branded photo booth, headshots for LinkedIn profiles (Friday, Feb. 23), and both online and texting contests with some incredible prizes.

Whether you are in high school, post-secondary school or are looking for a career change, the automotive industry needs qualified men and women for many disciplines, including sales, digital marketing, accounting, human resources, auto tech, collision tech, and management; and the education and training available across Ontario is second to none.

When you visit the AutoShow this year, visit the TADA booths and exhibits to view the exciting education and career opportunities in this fast-changing and dynamic industry.

Buy tickets online at www.autoshow.ca. Family admission passes, multi-day passes and group rates are available, along with a special online Super Tuesday ticket giving access to the show on Tuesday, Feb. 20 for just $14.

For more information about the 2018 AutoShow, visit autoshow.ca.

This column represents the views and values of the TADA. Write to president@tada.ca or go to tada.ca. Larry Lantz is president of the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association and is a new-car dealer in Hanover, Ont.OTTAWAThe CBC reported a new Facebook group supposedly created by, and limited to, male RCMP officers contains sexually suggestive material that has angered female colleagues.

One post viewed by the broadcaster showed a painting of a fictional frontier scene of an RCMP officer with a burlesque dancer performing what appears to be oral sex on him.

When concerns about disrespectful content believed to be written by an RCMP employee are brought forward, they are and will be investigated and addressed, said Cpl. Annie Delisle, an RCMP spokeswoman.

Read more:

RCMP investigating post in officers Facebook group claiming Colten Boushie got what he deserved

Ex-RCMP recruiter gets 90 days in jail after admitting to sex with teen

Two ex-RCMP doctors accused of sex abuse now facing more than 80 complaints

The RCMP has initiated Code of Conduct investigations in the past based on inappropriate comments in third-party applications or on social networking sites and we will continue to do so when these situations arise.

Public trust is essential for the RCMP to effectively fulfil its mandate, she added. As a result, RCMP employees are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that meets the rightfully high expectations of Canadians.

Scott Bardsley, a spokesman for Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, said some of the behaviour that has been reported on the Facebook site clearly cannot be a part of the modern, respectful workplace Canadians expect in the RCMP.

Our government is committed to taking whatever action is necessary to help all women and men feel safe and respected at work.

Meanwhile, an RCMP member who was fined for disgraceful conduct in the workplace has launched a fresh court challenge to prevent further disciplinary actions against him.

Marco Calandrini is asking the Federal Court of Appeal to overturn a recent decision that opens the door to a conduct hearing for alleged sexual assault and harassment, which could lead to his dismissal.

The court action comes as the national police force grapples with new accusations of lewd and sexist social media posts by RCMP members.

The Mounties have been wrestling for years with problems of bullying, harassment and other inappropriate behaviour in the police force.

Calandrini, a civilian member of the force, was fined five days pay in early 2015 following an investigation into complaints of nudity at the explosives training unit of the RCMP-administered police college in Ottawa.

Meantime, a male co-worker brought allegations of sexual assault and harassment against Calandrini, saying he had touched his buttocks, inner thigh area while making suggestive remarks on three occasions between Aug. 31, 2012, and Oct. 29, 2013.

The RCMP notified the Ottawa police, but the local force did not lay criminal charges.

However, an internal RCMP probe substantiated the allegations in October 2015 and a penalty of 15 days pay was levied against Calandrini, who apparently accepted responsibility and expressed a desire to resolve the matter promptly.

The RCMP Act says that a conduct hearing  a more serious disciplinary step  may not be initiated against a member for an alleged contravention of the Code of Conduct more than one year after the alleged infraction becomes known.

But the RCMP invoked a time extension clause in the law and Calandrini was told in May 2016 that a conduct hearing would be in the public interest.

Calandrini unsuccessfully challenged the validity of the time extension in the Federal Court, which ruled last month the delay on the part of the RCMP was not excessive.

On Thursday, Calandrinis counsel filed a notice of appeal, alleging the judge made errors of law.

When news of the controversy at the police college broke in early 2016, Goodale expressed outrage to Bob Paulson, commissioner of the RCMP at the time.

Paulson, who retired last year, spent much of his tenure as top Mountie implementing measures aimed at making the police force more respectful and responsive.

Goodale has been clear with RCMP leadership that the expects comprehensive, transparent investigations, serious disciplinary measures, support for victims and concrete action to end toxic behaviour, he added.

Earlier this week, RCMP said it would undertake a Code of Conduct investigation into a private Facebook group posting by someone believed to be an officer who reportedly said a young Indigenous man deserved to die.

An Aboriginal Peoples Television Network report said a Mountie on the Prairies posted the message, which said the shooting of 22-year-old Colten Boushie on a Saskatchewan farm should never have been about race.

Boushie died two years ago when he and four others drove onto Gerald Stanleys farm near Biggar, Sask.

Read more about:HOUSTONSheriffs deputies didnt pursue a sexual assault investigation against the gunman in a mass shooting at a Texas church, even though the woman reporting it signed a complaint detailing the alleged attack, according to records released Friday.

The records also contradict the reason previously given for why the case stalled against Devin Patrick Kelley, four years before the November 2017 massacre at a tiny church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

Had Kelley been prosecuted for sexual assault, a conviction could have stopped a trail of violent allegations that culminated in the shooting.

Read more:

U.S. air force says failure to report Texas church gunman was not an isolated incident

Funeral for 8 family members killed in Texas church mass shooting brings out 3,000 mourners

Authorities acknowledged Friday that the alleged victim was not given a forensic exam in June 2013 after reporting the assault, which she said had occurred three days earlier. And the investigation was listed as inactive because a detective at the Comal County sheriffs office couldnt contact Kelley, thinking he had moved. It remained inactive even after deputies were called to Kelleys home in February 2014 to investigate a separate domestic violence complaint against him.

This was an error on the part of the sheriffs office, Comal County Sheriff Mark Reynolds told The Associated Press on Friday.

Kelley shot and killed 25 people on Nov. 5, 2017, at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. Authorities have put the official death toll at 26, because one of the victims was pregnant. Kelley died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after being shot and chased by two residents when he was leaving the church, authorities have said.

By that time, Kelley had been courtmartialed and removed from the Air Force on allegations that he abused his then-wife and a child. The following year, deputies were called to his home to investigate a domestic violence complaint, and he was accused of misdemeanour animal cruelty in Colorado.

The records released Friday include a handwritten statement from the woman who accused Kelley of sexual assault. She wrote that Kelley pinned her down in his room at his parents home on June 15, 2013.

He told me would hurt me when I didnt do what he said, she wrote.

The statement is dated June 18, 2013. The records also include a signed complaint agreement to press charges that included a warning that making a false statement was a crime.

Her signature is blacked out on the agreement, as are any references to her name. But the records also include a statement from Kelleys first wife, Tessa Brennaman, who said the alleged victim told her about the incident a day later, on June 16, 2013.

Brennaman also said Kelley abused her repeatedly during their marriage, including slapping and choking her, and even waterboarded her. Their divorce was finalized in October 2012, according to court records.

But the released records also include Comal County detective Chris Garzas timeline of the case that says he left three voice mails for the alleged victim between July 2013 and September 2013. The records dont indicate whether he tried to visit her in person.

In an Oct. 7, 2013, letter, Garza told the victim that she had not returned his messages and that he needed her co-operation. I cannot proceed without your help, Garza wrote.

According to Garzas timeline, the case was inactivated pending contact from the victim. The Comal County district attorneys office has said no case was filed with prosecutors.

Reynolds said Friday that deputies eventually spoke to the victim in October. Garza then tried to contact Kelley, but was unsuccessful, and that the investigation stalled, Reynolds said.

Kelley should have been arrested the following year, Reynolds said. But the sheriffs office did not have a case-tracking database that would have warned deputies responding to a domestic disturbance that Kelley was the subject of a sexual assault investigation. Reynolds, who took office as sheriff last year, said he is now creating such a database.

Phone numbers listed for Kelleys parents were out of service.

The Air Force has also said it failed to report Kelleys court-martial  and the resulting sentence of 12 months confinement  to the FBI, which keeps criminal history records in databases used to conduct background checks of gun buyers.OTTAWAThe Department of National Defence is seeking forensic DNA experts and funeral organizers to help its efforts to recover, identify and arrange burials for Canadas nearly 28,000 missing war dead.

The prospective group of anthropologists, archeologists and genealogists would help the departments Casualty Identification Program analyze DNA from the remains of formerly missing Canadian servicemen discovered around the world.

The program has been identifying and organizing burials for Canadas formerly missing war dead since 2007.

The Armed Forces current contract with Toronto-based mortuary service provider MacKinnon and Bowes Ltd. is set to expire soon and two previous attempts to find new bidders have come up short.

Sarah Lockyer, the head of the identification program and a forensic anthropologist herself, hopes a contractor will come forward soon, as the small group she co-ordinates cant do DNA testing and analysis on their own.

Since Lockyer took the programs lead in 2015, the remains of 22 Canadian Armed Forces service members have been discovered, including one found earlier this month near the French city of Lens, fewer than ten kilometres north of Vimy Ridge. However, only four of the remains have been identified.

Typically what happens is [the remains] are discovered because of modern farming activity or construction, said Lockyer. The vast majority of our cases are either from Belgium or France.

Lockyer travels to France twice a year to inspect the remains, then returns with a sample  usually a piece of bone  for forensic analysis.

The bone is then sent to a lab while a genealogist searches for viable DNA donors to match with the bones. With the help of a historian who narrows down how many service members went missing or died in the area the remains were found, Lockyer then creates a shortlist of possible candidates.

The families of men on that list are then asked to provide a DNA sample for matching. If the match is successful, the program arranges a for a proper military funeral and tombstone.

Its all about returning their identity and returning their name to them, said Lockyer. Until now, theyre nameless. Theyre faceless.

To be able to do that and to give them a proper headstone with their name on it rather than an unknown Canadian is quite a privilege and an honour to be a part of, she said.

Last year, the program identified the body of 22-year-old Manitoban Pte. Reginald Johnston, who died in August 1917 during the First World War near Lens, the same city where more remains were found this month.

Johnston was identified after his DNA was matched with a great niece, Lorraine Leniuk. His funeral was held in August at the Loos British Cemetary in Loos-en-Gohelle, France  100 years after his death.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan acknowledged the importance of the program in an emailed statement.

Canada is eternally grateful to the brave women and men who have given their lives in service to our country, Sajjan said in the statement. We hope that this effort to identify, locate and recover our fallen soldiers will bring solace to the families.

Bidding on the new contract closes March 12.Ron Covert is nearing the end of his singing days.

Not much longer, I dont think, the 84-year-old Torontonian said, sitting down after an hours performance. The old legs just dont take it anymore.

For 60 years, Covert has sung in a mens chorus dubbed the Fabulous Invictones  performing in retirement homes, long term care facilities, hotels and hospitals across the city. The men serenaded visitors at Expo 67 outside the French Pavilion. They used to fill Minkler Auditorium at Seneca College on a Friday night.

Though their membership has waxed and waned over the years, as hair turned silver and joints began to creak, approximately 20 remaining members took the stage on Wednesday for a geriatric audience at Scarboroughs Providence Healthcare. But Covert is the only one left from the original Invictones.

It started in the fall. September in 1958, he said. He was 25 years old. They wore red vests back then, he said  painted the hue they wanted, not able to find a manufacturer to make them  and jaunty boater hats. Covert marked time passing in changes of uniforms, from the vests to gold jackets to white frilly shirts with bow ties. These days, their bow ties clip on.

But very little else has changed.

We try to do songs that people hear on the radio or are familiar with, like the old type of songs, he told the Star. The seniors love the old songs. If you dont sing the songs that they can relate to, they cant sing along.

As the Invictones crooned through arrangements of Splish Splash by Bobby Darin and Nat King Coles L-O-V-E, an elderly man took the hand of the woman in a wheelchair beside him, gently swaying and tapping her weathered hand to the rhythm. More than 80 per cent of the 288 residents in the Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence have some form of dementia.

Its a simple Valentines Day in their quiet corner of Scarborough.

Music connects and engages residents of all capabilities, Providence spokesperson Emily Dawson told the Star. It helped residents feel linked to one another through memories, through movement, she said.

You could see that tonight in their smiles.

Connections between music and memory have been made across the world, with studies asserting a deeply rooted space in the human brain for the music of an individuals youth. During the Wednesday night show  starting at 7:30 p.m.  residents of the houses bounce their hands and feet along with the tunes, whistling softly or humming along.

During an instrumental bit, a gentleman in the audience sings his own verse.

If you get into the newer songs, they dont know em, Covert said of their usual audiences, chuckling. And neither do we! Especially us old timers.

Of course, the show will still go on when Covert leaves. The Invictones are in constant search of new members. If you have ever sung in the shower, in a choir, at karaoke nights, or at stop lights, you will find your place with us, their website says. You dont need a great voice but a big heart helps.

Alan Sinclair, 59, is their newest addition  and among the younger men in the group. He joined a few months ago after talking to Invictones member Dennis Tuck. He never asked me if I could sing, Sinclair said of Tuck, who sidled up next to Sinclair after the show.

No auditions required. Just come out, Tuck said.

All you have to do, Sinclair told the Star, is show up Wednesday nights and wear a bowtie. During his first practice, he was introduced to the whole group, and says all the names went past him. He was handed a binder of song lyrics and a CD of music, which he studied rigorously for two weeks.

Going over it, and over it, and over it, until it was running in my head even when I didnt want it, he recalled. I put a lot of effort into learning the words. I mean, some of them are tougher than others!

The group is something he plans on sticking with.

Wednesdays show moved through its hour-long program in an intricate dance between high-energy numbers and gentle ballads. They pulled out cowboy hats and clutched their belt buckles for one song; a gyrating Elvis impersonator emerged for another. He slowed down his high-kicks, which one member joked led to serious chiropractic bills, to serenade the ladies in the audience with a rendition of Cant Help Falling in Love.

The women are always after us, Covert said after the show, laughing. And indeed, the ladies in the audience laugh and beam as the Invictones Elvis impersonator moved through the crowd, taking their hands in his during slower ballads.

When the show closes, it does so with a musical goodbye.

Well meet again, the Fabulous Invictones croon. Dont know where, dont know when. But I know well meet again some sunny day.Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie and the leaders of 443 other Ontario municipalities say they desperately need it. Almost half of Toronto councillors agreed. Toronto Mayor John Tory used to seem open to the idea but is now brushing it off.

A municipal sales tax, either standalone or added to the 13-per-cent harmonized sales tax, could, according to experts and a city-funded study, pump a half-billion dollars a year into the repair and expansion of Torontos strained, stunted transit system and crumbling social housing units.

Advocates acknowledge new taxes are unpopular, politically risky and difficult to implement. But, they say, the payoff from a sales levy, even after implementation costs and exemptions to minimize the blow on low-income residents, would be transformational for cash-starved governments and the residents they serve.

Something has to give, Crombie said in an email to the Star, adding you cant build a 21st-century city with a 19th century tool  property taxes.

I join every other municipal leader in asking, if not this, then what? How do we close the fiscal gap that we face? Ad hoc funding thats subject to political change is not sustainable and doesnt allow us to plan for our future five, 10 and even 25 years out.

No Canadian cities have their own sales tax. Vancouver residents in 2015 rejected, in a referendum, a .5 per cent levy to funding transportation projects. Americans are more accepting of the idea. New York City alone earns more than $7 billion U.S. from its retail tax.

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario, representing local governments outside Toronto, last year started pushing the Ontario government to grant its members sales tax powers. AMO wants a province-wide 1-per-cent tax that would generate an estimated $2.4 billion a year, including $478 million to Toronto, for local infrastructure including roads, bridges and transit.

A 2016 City of Toronto-commissioned KPMG report on proposed revenue tools to help make city finances sustainable and attack $33 billion in unfunded capital needs, called a sales tax a strong option. It has the potential to broadly distribute the impact across different consumer groups and taxes both residents and non-residents with strong revenue potential that has shown to be more stable than other revenue options in both growth and volatility.

The report forecasts annual net Toronto revenues ranging from $124.9 million with a .5 per cent tax, to almost $516 million with a 2 per cent tax, while warning that trying to piggyback on the federally administered HST could be complex to the point of not being viable.

Oakville Mayor Rob Burton says a sales tax reduces if not eliminates the constant pressure to always be increasing the property taxes.

The road to a sales tax ends, however, at Queens Park and it appears to be a dead end. As an election approaches Premier Kathleen Wynnes ruling Liberals the Progressive Conservatives and the New Democrats have all rejected the proposal that would require provincial legislation.

Toronto Councillor Josh Matlow tried, at Mondays budget-setting council meeting, to get Toronto to join the fight.

His motion to simply ask the Ontario government to start giving municipalities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area a portion of HST revenues passed 38-4. But a follow-up proposal, asking the province to give the region sales tax powers specifically for transit and housing, with exemptions for items including groceries and diapers, failed 19-23.

Asked Tuesday why he voted for Matlows first motion but against the second, Tory, who plans to seek re-election this October, told reporters: I just don't think that's the best way to make public policy during budget deliberations. He said his plan to raise big revenue by tolling the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway  at first encouraged by Wynne but later rejected when non-Toronto MPPs protested  came after exhaustive study and debate.

As CivicAction chair in 2013, a year before he was elected mayor, Tory applauded a Metrolinx proposal for new taxes and fees, including a one-cent increase in HST, to help fund transit expansion and decrease traffic gridlock. Its been decades in the waiting, and the time has come for governments to invest in a dramatically better way to move people and goods across the Toronto region, he said at the time.

In an interview Matlow, who plans to seek re-election as councillor, said the mayor needs to show leadership and push for a sales tax even if Queens Park is saying no and it might be politically unpopular.

If we are serious about demonstrating real leadership and facing our challenges to provide the transit system people need, and the affordable housing for which almost 200,000 Torontonians are on a waiting list, we need to be courageous and we need to move forward with a revenue tool that actually brings in the funds necessary to do that job, Matlow said.

Read more about:The province has stepped in to block a controversial North York redevelopment that would have housed a Catholic high school and the storied Columbus Centre under one roof.

The $70-million proposal, which sparked months of protests and public feuding in the neighbourhood, was a joint venture between the Toronto Catholic board and Villa Charities Inc., which runs the Columbus Centre.

Opposition reached a fever pitch within months of the announcement last spring among those fearing it would mean the demolition of the centre, built 40 years ago by the Italian community and considered a vital part of its history.

But the province, which allocated $32.8 million to the Catholic board in 2011 for a new high school, drew the line on Wednesday, saying it wont provide funds for any project that will destroy the Columbus Centre.

In a letter Wednesday, Education Minister Indira Naidoo-Harris told the Toronto Catholic District School Board to consider a new path forward for this project.

Some opponents of the development, while welcoming the provinces move, said its only one step toward saving the Columbus Centre, which is in need of repair and is in a prime location at Dufferin and Lawrence Aves. for hungry condo developers.

Our objective is to keep the Columbus Centre open, achieve heritage status for the building and to return the building to the fine state of repair that it was in five years ago before this distractions disrupted its management from their responsibilities to the community, said Ian Duncan MacDonald, co-founder of a grassroots group that has fought to save the centre.

The provinces move comes a week before Catholic trustees had planned to hear presentations from the public about the redevelopment before voting on it. MacDonald said his group still intends to appear at meeting to object.

One thing all sides seem to agree on is that the current situation has been anything but a win for students and families, who have been waiting years for new secondary and elementary school facilities and still see no solution on the horizon.

For all the talk from people who were against it, the question is now what?  says Mario Nigro, a father of three who has lived in the neighbourhood for 40 years.

Nobody has an answer.

He says the question also applies to the future of the Columbus Centre, which needs money for significant upgrades.

Under the proposal, the aging Dante Alighieri High School would have been part of the new joint facility with the centre, and its existing site rebuilt to replace the aging Regina Mundi Catholic Elementary School.

This whole thing has done nothing but hurt kids, says local MPP Mike Colle, who had lobbied for provincial funds for the high school to address overcrowding and disrepair in 2011, and has been pressing his government to intervene in the redevelopment plans.

The school board must stop playing developer, he said Thursday.

It has been sitting on $32 million for seven years when students could have been in new classrooms by now if that had promptly proceeded with building a new school, he added.

Catholic board trustee Maria Rizzo, who had supported the redevelopment project, says the community is rightfully upset that after years of languishing, the future of the schools is still unclear.

Badly-needed repairs of roofs, windows and boilers had been put on hold and she said the uncertain situation has contributed to declining enrolment at Dante Alighieri, which has 900 students, down from 1,300 a few years ago.

The Catholic Board said in a statement that its joint project with Villa Charities was based on strong cultural bonds and that there was no plan to demolish the centre.

Although we are concerned that the Minister of Education is undermining the autonomy of the school board, the board respects that decisions need to satisfy both political needs and community values.Public health officials say theyve confirmed a case of the measles in a baby who returned home on a flight from Switzerland.

Peel Public Health says the infant from Brampton was on a Feb. 12 Air Canada flight from Zurich to Toronto.

Officials warn that anyone else on the flight, which left Zurich at 10:30 a.m. and arrived at Pearson International Airport at 2:15 p.m., may have been exposed.

Measles is highly contagious, and babies, pregnant women and people with weak immune systems are most vulnerable.

Symptoms include a high fever, coughing, sore eyes, small spots inside the mouth and rashes on the skin.

Officials say anyone who suspects they may have been exposed should call before going into a medical facility to avoid further spreading the infection.

Read more about:The Ministry of Labour is investigating complaints from two sculptors from India who accuse a Toronto Hindu temple of grossly underpaying them and housing them in an unfinished basement with bedbugs.

In complaints filed this month, the workers claim they were made to work between 60 and 70 hours a week and each received $4,500 for five months of work, far below the $18 hourly wage and $27 overtime rate their employment contract with the Sridurka Hindu Temple stated.

The temple denies the allegations, saying the workers were paid the agreed-upon rate and provided with comfortable living accomodations.

According to the complaints the workers  Sekar Kurusamy, 50, and Suthakar Masilamani, 46  are each owed $33,060.87 in unpaid wages, public holiday pay, vacation and termination pay. The two said they were sent home last September, three weeks before their job contract ended.

They claim the temple issued each of them a monthly cheque in the amount of $2,530 but would require them to deposit the cheques, withdraw the entire amount from an ATM and give back the cash. After that, the workers claimed they were returned $900 in cash each.

In affidavits filed with the complaint, the workers say they were housed in the basement boiler room with two other people and slept on cots that had bedbugs, that there were leaks from the ceiling and an unbearable stench. They also complain they were provided stale, leftover food.

Our Employment Standards Act does not address the power imbalance between these workers and employers, said the mens lawyer, John No, of Parkdale Community Legal Services.

Its a complaint-driven process. If something goes wrong, the worker has to initiate a complaint. A lot of foreign workers are afraid to come forward because of their restricted work permits. If they complain, they will be out of a job and not have any place to stay.

Established in 1991, the Sridurka temple, a registered charitable group, is one of the oldest in Toronto and its construction has been ongoing for the last 20 years, with spectacular traditional religious carving and design. Its front tower is scheduled for a grand opening later this year.

In a statement to the Star denying the workers allegations, the temples board of directors said:

The workers basement living area is a 2,000-square-foot open-concept living space, with television and Wi-Fi access; no workers have previously complained regarding the living conditions.

Overtime was not permitted and no overtime work was done, according to the terms of employment signed by the workers.

The workers were paid at the agreed-upon rate but in a few instances they requested cash advances from the temple, hence they were required to pay back the temple back after receiving paycheques.

Sometimes foreign workers at the temple are sent home before their contract ends because they want to go home early or the harsh winter does not allow outdoor work to continue.

We are displeased that such allegations have been made against us, the temple said in its statement. Hinduism is a religion that strongly believes in and promotes peace and non-violence. The staff reside in the temple and as such we create an environment that promotes this belief.

Tamil labour advocate Ram Selvarajah said he was approached in August by the workers, who complained to him about the working and living conditions at the temple. He referred them to Parkdale legal clinic.

The ministry confirmed it has received two complaints against the temple but would not divulge any information about its investigation.

Ministry spokesperson Janet Deline said officials would conduct an initial investigation but if a complaint is not resolved, it will be assigned to an employment standards officer, who will conduct a full investigation and decide what enforcement action to take.

Deline could not speculate on how long the investigation will take, but said the government is hiring 175 new employment standard officers aiming to resolve all claims within 90 days and inspect at least one in 10 Ontario workplaces proactively every year.The parents of a Chinese immigrant are suing Ottawa over the death of their mentally ill son, who was unrepresented at his admissibility hearing and killed himself hours after he was issued a deportation order.

For a dozen years, Shiming Dengs elderly parents in Beijing have been trying to piece together what happened to the new immigrant prior to his death. They accuse Canadian officials of intentionally or recklessly disregarding his mental illness when processing his removal from Canada, claims the government denies.

In their multimillion-dollar civil lawsuit now before the Federal Court, the family alleges Dengs suicide was the result of stress caused by the proceedings and the negligence of officials at an Immigration and Refugee Board tribunal and the Canada Border Services Agency.

Like the Chinese saying goes, our heaven has collapsed. Its been hell since Shimings death, his father, Qianhui Deng, told the Star. He was our only child.

Both Immigration Canada and Canada Border Services Agency declined to comment on Dengs case. In its statement of defence, the government says it is not responsible for Dengs death, arguing that the admissibility and deportation process was clearly explained to Deng and he chose not to retain a lawyer.

The government has asked the court to dismiss the case, saying the family has failed to show there is a causal link between the admissibility hearing and his death other than the timing. A hearing is scheduled in spring.

According to the submissions by lawyers for the federal government, Deng arrived in Vancouver in August 1999 as a foreign student, but sought asylum two years later, claiming he feared persecution in China as a practitioner of Falun Gong, a spiritual movement banned by Beijing.

His immigration records indicated he was granted asylum in 2002 and later became a Canadian permanent resident.

In 2004, Deng was admitted to the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam, B.C., where he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, symptoms of moodiness and paranoid delusions after claiming he was pursued by the FBI and army, according to a doctors note cited in the familys claim. He also wrote a letter to Immigration Canada saying that he made a false refugee claim, according to the governments statement of defence.

Later that year, he was arrested and convicted of aggravated assault for an incident at a bar in Vancouver. He was sentenced to one day in jail with credit for the four months and 20 days he served in pretrial custody. The provincial court also ordered him to take reasonable steps to treat his schizophrenia and not to commit further offences.

It wasnt until 2005 at his return from a visit to his parents in China when he was flagged by an immigration officer at the Vancouver airport for his criminal conviction and alleged fraudulent asylum claim. The admissibility proceedings ensued.

On Nov. 22, 2005, he was found dead by a roommate in their shared living room with his immigration documents and a deportation order by his side, just hours after his immigration admissibility hearing. He died of an overdose of diphenhydramine, a drug used to relieve symptoms of allergies.

The refugee board would not comment on Dengs case.

The boards guide to proceedings requires an adjudicator to designate a representative for someone who is unable to appreciate the nature of the proceedings because of mental health or cognitive inabilities.

Sometimes, the incapacity will not be apparent until the hearing, but more often than not, the ministers counsel or the counsel for the person concerned will indicate that a designated representative may be necessary, said the detailed guide that took effect in August 2005, three months before Dengs death.

Deng was not represented by counsel at his first admissibility hearing on Nov. 14, 2005, but the government said the adjudicator with the immigration and refugee board clearly explained to him the proceedings and his right to appeal.

He was afforded an additional opportunity to speak to or to retain legal counsel before proceeding. The (tribunal) member offered Mr. Deng a one month adjournment to speak to counsel, however, Mr. Deng elected to have his hearing a week later, says the statement of defence.

On Nov. 22, 2005, Deng told the second hearing again that he did not need counsel and asked to voluntarily relinquish his permanent resident status and return to China, according to the governments submission.

The government argues the lawsuit should be barred in law because the family failed to exhaust the available judicial review remedies.

Remedies, if sought and obtained in a timely manner, would have been a full and complete answer to any meritable complaints regarding processing of the related immigration applications, says the government in its statement defence.

In as far as (the plaintiff) failed to pursue those judicial review remedies, he failed to mitigate his damages, if any.

The family is seeking a court order to grant Dengs parents visas to visit their sons grave on a yearly basis and grant honourable citizenship to their son, along with monetary compensation for damages.

Read more about:International management in two languages

G. John Cole :

International management is all about creating global business strategies to foster positive change in international companies and organizations. Study business management with an international dimension and you will emerge fully-equipped to apply business practices on the global stage: sensitive to local cultural and political nuances, to broader economic contexts, and to the minutiae of communicating with international work associates.

European business networks are strengthening, with the EU facilitating more opportunities for graduate mobility.

Awareness of different business cultures and knowledge of local languages is becoming more valuable than ever.

Bilingual students who choose to study business management in two languages at once will discover a new business culture and the means with which to forge connections to it.

As Harriet Kleiminger, academic head of the NBS Northern Business School in Hamburg Business Management MA, says, 'English is the international language, knowledge of German is a prerequisite or at least a strong advantage for working in Germany, in German subsidiaries abroad or in other companies that operate in the German market.'

In the UK alone, it's estimated that a lack of language skills costs the economy 50bn in lost contracts each year. Employees who can communicate equally comfortably with their local office and international contacts are a significant asset to the businesses that employ them.

The ability to keep up with social and economic developments in a client's region enables a level of direct engagement that just isn't possible when a company relies on translators to bridge that gap. As a bilingual MIM or MBA, you'll develop career opportunities by raising your value within your organization - or making yourself vastly more employable in a market where the language deficit leaves a significant number of vacancies unfilled.

Employees and clients alike will pick up on your impressive empathy levels, problem-solving skills, and perception, too. That's not to mention the improved prospects for your social and professional networks.

NBS's Business Management M.A. is taught half in German, half in English.

As each of these is a major business language across the world, if you already speak both then developing your business skills in German and English simultaneously is a distinct advantage for any graduate.

Germany is the world's second-largest exporter, the number one economy in Europe, and directly invests over ten billion dollars in the US each year.

There are more native German speakers in Germany than there are English speakers in England, French speakers in France, or indeed native speakers in any other EU state.

As a Master of Management (MIM) rather than an MBA, no work experience is needed to apply. An MIM provides introductory knowledge on entrepreneurship and leadership and is a perfect starting point for students who may want to specialize in one particular business field later.

And it's a more versatile learning model, which is ideal if you see your language, networking, and collaborative skills as a key asset. Harriet Kleiminger identifies the program's most important features as the possibility to study in small groups, experienced and practice-oriented teachers, and internationality - as well as a deepening in business management in contrast to a specialization.

'For students who want to be broad-minded and therefore want to be able to work flexibly, a general education is preferable,' she says. 'We live in a rapidly changing world. This also applies to the specializations. What seems important today will be different tomorrow.

'Building on a good general knowledge base and then specializing on the job is, in our view, a good strategy for the professional world. In addition, it also implies a larger number of job possibilities.'



(John is a digital nomad and freelance writer for higher education and marketing publications. A native Englishman, he is always on the move but can most commonly be spotted in Norway, the UK and the Balkans).A group of U.S. diplomats stationed in Havana appear to have symptoms of concussion without ever having received blows to their heads, medical experts have found.

The diplomats originally were said to have been victims of a sonic attack, a possibility that the FBI reportedly ruled out in January.

The experts report, published late Wednesday in the journal JAMA, does not solve the mystery, instead raising even more questions about what could have caused the brain injuries.

The incidents occurred in 2016, when 18 of the 21 affected diplomats reported they heard strange sounds in their homes or hotel rooms. The noises were loud and sounded like buzzing or grinding metal, or piercing squeals or humming, the diplomats recalled.

Many said they felt increased air pressure, as if they were riding in a car with the windows rolled partway down. Three diplomats said they felt a vibration.

All but one reported immediate symptoms: headache, pain in one ear, loss of hearing. Days or weeks later, other symptoms emerged, including memory problems, an inability to concentrate, mood problems, headaches and fatigue.

The State Department asked researchers at the University of Pennsylvania to investigate. Their report confirmed neurological problems in the diplomats, including signs of what appear to be concussions.

The study was conducted by the top concussion research team in the world utilizing state-of-the-art methods, said C. Edward Dixon, a professor of neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, who was not involved in the research. The findings suggest a significant brain insult, he said.

Other experts were less convinced, noting inherent weaknesses in such a study, despite the expertise of the group conducting it. It would be premature, they said, to conclude there is a mysterious new medical syndrome with an unknown cause.

The studys lead author, Dr. Douglas H. Smith, director of the Center for Brain Injury and Repair at the University of Pennsylvania, emphasized there is much more to learn.

This is a preliminary report, he said. We thought it was important to get it out from a public health standpoint.

But, he added, the patients symptoms were notable. Uniformly, everyone who saw these patients was absolutely convinced, he said. It looked like concussion pathology. Processing speed, inability to remember  those are such classic symptoms we see in concussion.

We all believe this is a real syndrome, Smith added. This is concussion without blunt head trauma.

Like concussion patients, some of the diplomats improved on their own, while others recovered only after therapy to regain balance or cognition. Many went from being miserable to returning to work, Smith said.

Smith and his colleagues do not think audible sound caused the injuries, as sound in an audible range does not damage the brain. Perhaps, they speculated, a device that produced another sort of harmful energy also produced an audible sound. Low-frequency infrasound, high-frequency ultrasound and microwaves have all been shown to damage the brain, the researchers noted.

One drawback to the report is that there was no comparison group, said Karen Postal, immediate past president of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology.

The researchers relied on a battery of cognitive tests that determined cognition had been weakened or impaired if scores were below the 40th percentile. But scores between the 25th and 75th percentiles are considered normal, Postal noted.

A control group would have shown whether the diplomats who were posted in Cuba did better or worse than other subjects similar to them  ideally others in the State Department who also reported sleep problems, which can interfere with thinking.

It is common for injured people to have one or two low scores when given a large set of tests, Postal said. These test results may represent normal variability.

Dr. Christopher Muth, a neurologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, wrote an accompanying editorial noting that the report should be viewed with caution.

The diplomats were examined an average of 203 days after the purported incidents, and it is not known if they spoke to one another about their symptoms.

With certain symptoms, you have to take the word of people describing the symptoms, Muth said in a telephone interview.

At the same time, the examiners knew the patients had been complaining of neurological symptoms, he noted. Some of the findings depend on the doctors subjective interpretation, which could have been biased.

Since many of these symptoms are common in the general population, you dont necessarily have to evoke a whole new syndrome to explain them, Muth said. At the same time, no one clear diagnosis immediately comes to mind that can fully explain all of the reported findings.

Dr. Lee Schwamm, vice-chairman of the neurology department at Massachusetts General Hospital, also was unconvinced by the findings.

I dont want anyone to think these patients are making this up, he said. The patients deserve a tremendous amount of compassion and evaluation.

But weaknesses in the study  which are no fault of the researchers  give him pause. The fact that more than 200 days passed before the subjects were evaluated raises the risk of recall bias, he said: the patients memory of the initial exposure becomes less reliable.

We need to keep open the possibility that in a state of heightened vigilance and anxiety, it is quite natural for individuals to develop the same symptoms, he added. Sometimes a suggestion can provoke symptoms.Cara Lucy OConnor has a concern.

Pluto used to be one of the nine planets in the solar system, and it isnt anymore. Thats not right, said the little girl from Ireland. So Cara, with the help of her teacher, wrote a letter to NASA hoping to persuade the space agency to make Pluto a planet again.

I listened to a song and at the end of it the song said Bring Pluto Back  and I would really like that to happen, Cara wrote.

She went on to explain that in 2006, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet, a type of planet that isnt big enough to clear its orbit. She talked about the Kuiper belt, a doughnut-shaped ring beyond Neptune where many dwarf planets are located.

I really think Pluto should be a main planet again like Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus & Neptune, because in one video I watched called Lets go meet the planets, Pluto was at the very end, she wrote.

In another video, she said, Pluto was put in the trash can and was scared by planet Earth.

This was really mean, Cara wrote, because no one or no planet or dwarf planets should be put in the trash can.

Cara dreams of becoming a NASA astronaut and visit all the main planets including Pluto. But in the meantime, she told NASA, you need to fix this problem for me.

Though not likely to result in a dramatic change in Plutos demoted status as a dwarf planet, the 6-year-olds letter did not fall on deaf ears. James Green, director of NASAs Planetary Science Division, wrote her back.

I agree with you that Pluto is really cool  in fact, who would have believed that Pluto has a heart? ... Its a fascinating world that appears to be constantly changing. To me, its not so much about whether Pluto is a dwarf planet or not; its that Pluto is a fascinating place that we need to continue to study, Green wrote.

I hope that you will discover a new planet, he added, and I trust that if you continue to do well in school we will see you at NASA one of these days.

Cara, who hopes to discover a planet and name it Planet Unicorn, often peppers her teachers with questions about why black holes exist, or whether the moon landing really happened.

She had the most interesting mind. She asked questions that I couldnt answer, said Sarah ODonovan, who taught Cara last year at Glasheen Girls School in Cork, Ireland. Shes always interested in things that are far, far above her level.

Cara said shes been interested in space and astronomy since last year. She loves learning about the forming of the planets, she said.

Her interest was piqued even more after listening to songs and watching videos about Pluto. So one day, she asked ODonovan to help her write a letter to NASA. Cara had not learned much yet about reading and writing, so her teacher wrote her words for her. As Cara talked almost non-stop, ODonovan typed, at times interrupting Cara so she could Google some of the bits of information the little girl was giving her to make sure theyre accurate (They were, she said).

The letter was written and sent to NASA headquarters last April. ODonovan said they also wrote to the European Space Agency after they did not receive a response from NASA. NASA wrote back months later. The correspondence caught the attention of Irish media this week.

I was happy, Cara, who wrote the letter when she was 5, told The Washington Post this week. I was jumping up and down.

Green said he receives several letters every month, and he always answers them. Most recently, he said, he signed off on a letter to a young boy from Turkey who was quite concerned about the possible existence of another planet deep in the solar system. Another boy wrote NASA about his interest in applying for a job as a planetary protection officer, defending Earth from biological contaminants. Sometimes, Green said, he receives drawings and paintings.

Its really a delight for me, Green said. Its a break in my day when I open up a letter like that and have an opportunity to see where these kids are at and spend time to actually answer their question.

Cara, in particular, impressed Green with her knowledge about the Kuiper belt.

She got that. She understood that, Green said. It was really exciting, these kids that really want to dig in and understand our solar system. I get really excited about it.

Carly Howett, a Colorado-based scientist involved in NASAs New Horizons mission to explore Pluto, also wrote a letter to Cara after finding out about the girl from an astronomy magazine in Ireland.

I felt that that couldve been me when I was her age. Reaching out and not really expecting much, said Howett, who grew up in a small town in the United Kingdom. Its important that that dream of hers, that spark not be extinguished.

I kind of hope that this story shows that scientists dont have to be unreachable, that were people, she added. If you have a question, you reach out to whoever it is, whether its Neil deGrasse Tyson or someone else. Thats how curiosity starts.

The International Astronomical Union, not NASA, downgraded Plutos status to that of a dwarf planet because it failed to meet all criteria needed to be classified as a full-sized planet. Pluto met two: It orbits around the sun, and it has sufficient mass to assume a nearly round shape. But it failed to meet the third, which says it needs to have cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit. This means there should be no other bodies that are comparable in size in a planets vicinity in space.

Cara is far from alone in her desire to restore Plutos status as a planet. Last year, a group of NASA scientists proposed expanding the definition of a planet. The scientists suggested that round objects in space that are smaller than stars, should be considered planets, USA Today reported.

Coming to America and becoming a NASA astronaut may sound like distant dream for a girl from southern Ireland, but Green, of NASAs Planetary Science Division, said Cara needs only to look at someone who had already done so.

Nicola Fox, who was born and raised in a small town outside of London, is now a scientist for NASA and Johns Hopkins University. Like Cara, Green said, Fox started as a little girl whose bedtime stories were about the moon landing.

Shes been here in the country for about 20 years. That started just like Cara does in terms of dreaming and thinking about this field, Green said. Im hoping that my letter was just a little tug in that direction.WASHINGTONTwo months before Election Day in 2016, Donald Trump supporters attended a series of flash mob rallies around Florida. At one of them, attended by about 50 people in West Palm Beach, a woman dressed as Hillary Clinton in prison attire.

It seemed like a good old-fashioned afternoon of American democracy. According to special counsel Robert Mueller, it was part of a Russian criminal conspiracy.

Those flash mobs? Initiated by Russians pretending to be American, Mueller alleges, in an attempt to help Trump win.

That woman disguised as Clinton? Paid, Mueller alleges, with disguised Russian funds.

The allegations are part of an indictment, released Friday, in which 13 Russian individuals and three Russian organizations are charged with engaging in an extensive conspiracy of pro-Trump interference in the 2016 election.

Many of the allegations contained in the indictment had been made before, either by intelligence officials or by news outlets. Now, though, they have been given the gravity of a criminal charge. Muellers move further undermines three of Trumps frequent claims: that it may not have been Russia that interfered in the election, that the Russia story is a fictional invention of Democrats, and that Muellers probe is a useless waste.

The Russians are extremely unlikely to be extradited to face trial. Mueller appeared to use the indictment to make a point: their interference was real and important, and so is the investigation into it.

The Russians were allegedly working for a sophisticated organization, the Internet Research Agency, that conducts online influence activities on behalf of the Russian government. They allegedly had a budget of more than $1.25 million per month to mess with the U.S. Their goal, Mueller alleges, was generally to sow discord  and specifically, by early to mid-2016, to help Trump.

Their alleged efforts included initiating pro-Trump election rallies in Florida, Washington, D.C., New York and Pennsylvania. But their more significant work was done online.

Mueller alleges that the Russians ran a trolling operation in which operatives posing as hundreds of Americans posted on social media, including Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, to try to help Trump and hurt Clinton. They were allegedly directed to attempt to exploit and create political, racial and religious divisions.

For example, Mueller alleges, trolls posing as Black and Muslim Americans worked to convince voters of those identities to either stay home or vote for Green Party candidate Jill Stein rather than vote for Clinton.

Mueller alleges they attempted to harm Trumps Republican primary opponents, including Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, and boost Clintons Democratic opponent, Bernie Sanders.

Use any opportunity to criticize Hillary and the rest (except Sanders and Trump  we support them), the Russians were allegedly instructed in Feb. 2016.

Some of the Russian accounts became popular. One of them, Tennessee GOP (@Ten_GOP), attracted 100,000 followers. Even those that had few followers were still able to attract readers. Using hashtags like #TrumpTrain and #NeverHillary, they pushed their content in front of thousands of others.

But they were not content to stop there, Mueller alleges. The indictment says the Russian operatives purchased pro-Trump social media ads (Donald wants to defeat terrorism  Hillary wants to sponsor it!), contacted media outlets in order to promote activities inside the United States, and communicated directly with unwitting individuals associated with the Trump campaign.

The indictment also alleges that the Russians initiated anti-Trump rallies in the days following the election, in New York City and Charlotte, to continue to promote division.

The Russians are being charged with committing a conspiracy to defraud the United States; stealing the identities of people in the U.S. to open accounts with banks and PayPal; committing wire fraud and bank fraud; fraudulently obtaining visas to make trips to the U.S. to conduct research; and failing to register as foreign agents.

Mueller also announced a guilty plea from a California man, Richard Pinedo, who admitted to running a service that allowed people to get around the security of online payment companies by selling, to people outside the U.S., the numbers of bank accounts created with stolen U.S. identities. It was not immediately clear how this was connected to the charges against the Russians.

In a news conference, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, a Trump appointee, took pains to point out that the indictment does not allege that the campaign communicated with the Russians intentionally, saying the Russians took extraordinary steps to make it appear that they were ordinary American political activists.

Rosenstein, whom Trump is reported to have mused about firing, also emphasized that the indictment does not allege that the Russian activities affected the outcome of the election. That is one of Trumps own frequent assertions.

There was material in the indictment to which Trump could latch on, and he did. A White House statement issued two hours later said Trump is glad to see the Special Counsels investigation further indicates  that there was NO COLLUSION between the Trump campaign and Russia and that the outcome of the election was not changed or affected. It also noted that the alleged interference began in 2014, the year before he launched his candidacy.

There are several problems with this claim.

Both Trump and Clinton were known to be considering candidacies in 2014. The indictment makes no judgment either way about the impact on the outcome. And, perhaps most importantly, it is increasingly clear that the Mueller probe is nowhere near complete.

Mueller, the Republican former FBI director appointed as special counsel in May, has moved at lightning speed by the standards of special counsel probes  securing two guilty pleas from former Trump aides, charging two other former aides, and now this.

Eric Columbus, who served as senior counsel to the deputy attorney general in the Obama-era Justice Department, said Mueller would not have wanted or needed to disclose all of his knowledge in this indictment.

On the matter of collusion, Columbus noted, there are numerous open questions  such as those related to a Trump Tower meeting between campaign figures and a Russian lawyer  that are not about online trolling. And even if Mueller does know of any deliberate interactions between the Trump campaign and the Russian web agency, Columbus said, he would have had every incentive not to tip his hand and let people know that he knows.

In a quote the White House statement directly attributed to Trump, the president said, Its time we stop the outlandish partisan attacks, wild and false allegations, and far-fetched theories, which only serve to further the agendas of bad actors, like Russia, and do nothing to protect the principles of our institutions.

Trump did not say anything to condemn an alleged systematic attempt by a bad actor to harm his countrys democracy.

Read more about:The entry on Friday of Patrick Brown into the race to succeed Patrick Brown as leader of Ontarios Progressive Conservative Party is, under the circumstances, unlikely to improve the quality of debate on any subject other than Patrick Brown and the multiple and varied allegations he faces.

Thats a shame. Listening to the PC leadership hopefuls debate how best to respond to the supposed challenges of our time, it was sometimes hard to figure out what world they were describing.

Not Ontario, surely.

The positions staked out by the then-four aspiring PC premiers consistently ignored or denied the realities of this province, eschewing the progressive-conservatism of the partys erstwhile platform, the Peoples Guarantee, in favour of something more like willful blindness.

The minimum wage hike now being phased in by the Wynne government is regrettable, they agreed, unnecessary and recklessly implemented. Doug Ford even suggested it was bad for minimum-wage earners! No mention of the fact that the previous minimum wage, $11.40 per hour, was too low to keep workers out of poverty, even if they worked full time. No mention of the plentiful evidence that wage hikes are rarely the job killer they are purported to be. No mention of the significant benefits for economic growth of increased demand or of the corrosive effects of growing inequality.

None of this is surprising, but nor is it inevitable. The Peoples Guarantee, which recognized that too many Ontarians are not sharing in the provinces prosperity, proposed to phase in the hike to $15 per hour not by 2019, as the Wynne government is planning, but by 2022. Only Caroline Mulroney stood by this proposal, which might be described as both progressive and conservative; the others all promised to freeze the minimum wage at its current level of $14 per hour.

On carbon pricing, the candidates had already made their nonsensical consensus clear. None supports the carbon tax proposed by the Peoples Guarantee, though the revenues thus raised were supposed to pay for everything else in the platform and not one of the candidates has suggested how they will cover the $4-billion difference.

At the same time, all of the candidates would repeal Kathleen Wynnes cap-and-trade system for pricing carbon. But a recently imposed federal law, to say nothing of the existential threat posed by climate change, requires a minimum price on carbon. Either they stick with cap-and-trade or they impose some form of carbon tax. Neither is literally not an option. To suggest otherwise is either ignorant or duplicitous.

Duplicitous, too, might describe the candidates claims regarding the purported folly of Ontarios three-year-old sex-education curriculum. Maybe they could focus a little bit more on math if they werent talking about anal sex in the classroom, said one-issue candidate Tanya Granic Allen, as if the curriculum had somehow crowded out lessons on complementary angles.

In 1998, at the time of the previous update to the sex-ed curriculum, gay marriage was illegal, there were no smart phones, the word sexting hadnt been invented, and the debate around consent was barely a whisper. The world has changed and sex with it. It would be irresponsible if our pedagogy did not keep up. Yet only Mulroney said she would preserve the curriculum. The rest promised to scrap it on the grounds that it is wildly unpopular (false) and was designed without consultation with parents (false).

The candidates pretended away the presence of economic unfairness in the province and its consequences. They pretended that climate change is not real, that its economic impacts are not real, and that the federal law meant to address these is not real. They pretended that parents are best placed to provide sex-education, though both common sense and the evidence suggest this is not the case.

The conservative agenda of ever-smaller government and faithfulness to traditional values is one the Star has never supported. Yet we have always understood that conservatism represents an important part of this country and this province and that democracy is strengthened by real debate. We would all benefit from having clear alternatives to the current governments approach.

But these alternatives must be based on the facts of this world, of this Ontario. When candidates ignore or distract from our real problems or offer pandering solutions to invented ones, both party and province suffer.

Read more about:Kim Campbell slams sleeveless dresses on female broadcasters, Feb. 14

I agree with Kim Campbell that sleeveless dresses on female broadcasters (and cabinet ministers) detract from what should be an image of authority.

There is a reason why people playing certain roles wear uniforms. In business and government settings, men wear suits that disguise individual bodily characteristics  not that women should look like men, but to note the general principle. However much I may disagree with their politics, I admire the way Theresa May and Angela Merkel present themselves in the public arena.

Joell Ann Vanderwagen, Oshawa

Read more about:Anger over Colten Boushie hold important lessons for Canada, Editorial, Feb. 12

The acquittal of Gerald Stanley in the shooting death of Colten Boushie from the Red Pheasant First Nation in Saskatchewan is a stark reminder of how much work still needs to be done to address systemic and systematic racism in Canada.

Key to this process is education, a position held by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC).

Although federal action to restrict peremptory challenges in jury selection and other measures to make the legal system fair to Indigenous peoples must be prioritized, so too must provincial and territorial efforts to educate all students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 on the treaties, residential schools and the positive historical and contemporary contributions of Indigenous peoples to Canada.

Without this education, called for by the TRC, justice for Indigenous peoples, both within the justice system and in society as a whole, will not be possible.

Ed Bianchi, program manager, Kairos Canada, Ottawa

Our justice system needs overhauling. How can we call ourselves a democratic society when not all people are treated equally?

The law states that an accused person facing a jury should be judged by his or her peers. When those peers are all white and there is no representative from the Indigenous community, then there cannot be an open and honest assessment of guilt or innocence. There were opportunities to appoint Indigenous jurists but they were rejected. What a mockery to our system.

Pearl Silver, Toronto

Last weekend, there were various well-organized peaceful demonstrations indicating the high level of outrage throughout the country over the Colten Boushie verdict. But of course the die was cast the moment the defence counsel was allowed to peremptorily challenge (no reason needs to be given) all 14 of the 14 Indigenous people on the potential jury panel. Many civilized countries have done away with the law that allows this kind of discrimination.

Thus, we are confronted with the question of whether we wish to continue to live in a colonial country, one where the lives of Indigenous citizens are valued much less than those of Euro Canadian background. Statements about doing better have been heard from some of our federal leaders, with predictable political pushback from Conservatives). We will see if our colonial reality will really be challenged.

Lawlor Wm. Lee, Toronto

Five years ago, the elimination of peremptory challenges was recommended by retired Supreme Court of Canada Justice Frank Iacobucci. Senator Murray Sinclair, head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, made the same recommendation. Nothing has happened. Its time for action now.

Canada should immediately establish a Royal Commission to advise the judiciary and civil servants to solve delays and demand timely funding from government for the three different trial systems  criminal, civil and family  so that the rule of law is properly decided across Canada, especially for Indigenous peoples, adults with mental-health issues and families with child-welfare problems.

Justice should be designed and legislated for the people needing justice rather than just for lawyers, judges and experts. The three legal systems should be viewed through the lens of reconciliation to see the ways in which the laws can become part of the solutions to the litigants legal problems, reconciliation and solutions.

Willson McTavish, Q.C. LSM, Mississauga

As a former jury foreman in the murder trial of a minority person, I take umbrage at comments by both the prime minister and the justice minister regarding the verdict in the Boushie trial.

Emotionally, the feelings are understandable. But our countrys leaders should understand this is the process jurors work under.

People from all walks of life are taken from their families and jobs, are sequestered for days, weeks or months and are expected to come up with a unanimous decision. The deliberations can be tiring and acrimonious as jurors struggle to discern fact from conjecture and arrive at a verdict that is beyond a reasonable doubt in what are often grey areas.

To have our PM and justice minister now criticize the process we have used for decades because the result proves emotionally challenging smacks of politics. Perhaps instead of criticizing the process and jurors decisions, our leaders should pull together teams of former jurors and ask them for ideas about changing the process. I can tell you, they would have a few.

Neal St. Jacques, Toronto

Tories critical of Trudeaus response to shooting acquittal, Feb. 12

I am confident that had the prime minister rather than the Conservative justice critic said of the Stanley acquittal; We need to let the many steps of an independent judicial process unfold without political interference, Conservative deputy leader Lisa Raitt would still have questioned whether the prime minister and justice minister were implying that the jury arrived at the wrong verdict.

Regardless, our political leaders should be aware that we, the people, believe the decision should be appealed forthwith, and wonder why you are all just skating around the issue rather than doing something about it.

Louis Desjardins, Belleville, Ont.

The public should be very reluctant to criticize the jury for acquitting Gerald Stanley on the charge of second-degree murder, but should be very vocal about the fact he appears to be walking away completely free.

If the tables were turned and Mr. Stanleys son had been killed in a similar incident in an Indigenous community, would the person in control of the gun have been treated so leniently? That is hard to believe.

The prime minister is right, therefore, to acknowledge that our judicial system is unbalanced and that his government has a duty to address the matter.

It is doubtful that changes to the rules for peremptory challenges, even if such changes are needed, would be a sufficient correction. A jury comprised of three Indigenous members and nine others likely would have arrived at the same verdict on the charge of murder.

Nevertheless, it appears that Mr. Stanley is the beneficiary of very favourable administrative decisions taken long before the jury was empanelled. Canadians deserve to know what aspects of our legal system made those decisions possible so they can decide for themselves if those decisions were justifiable.

Finally, it must be noted with great admiration that the response by the Boushie family to the outcome of this legal process has been very measured, peaceful and respectful, and it is to be hoped that, one day, Canada will earn that respect.

Patrick Cowan, North York

Were going to fight back  Colten Boushies mother delivers emotional message, Feb. 10

It is disgraceful to our commonly accepted Canadian values that such an obvious act of racism can exist. I feel the outrage displayed by the protesters is completely justified.

This entire case has a To Kill a Mockingbird feel to it, where any rational person can see that the trial was unfair and biased. Look no further than the jury, which was devoid of any Indigenous members, and the defence that was provided. Its difficult to imagine that Gerald Stanleys gun went off three times by accident.

Abdullah Siddiqee, Ajax

This jury verdict is another blatant example of Canadas systemically racist justice system. The system needs radical surgery, not just liberal reformist tinkering such as abolishing the pre-emptory jury challenge.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus words of concern for the Boushie family are just another token gesture of concern, like former PM Stephen Harpers Parliamentary apology for the Canadian governments incompetent and intentional inaction on the many urgent recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

My heart, support and solidarity are with the Boushie family and all Indigenous people during their time of grief, rage and national protest.

Don Weitz, Toronto

We should all be outraged and ashamed. A jury of descendants of European settlers acquits one of their own. Anyone not offended or surprised by this verdict needs to take a long and serious honest look at the origin of bigotry inherent in this colony.

Ted Turner, Toronto

It is tragic that a young man has been killed when he had his whole life before him. It is a shame that the jury did not include peers from among the many First Nations.

But the 12 jurors found the accused not guilty. These people sought the truth. It is an exhausting process for any jury. Most of the outrage and protestations are from people who were not present in the courtroom.

Farmers have a right to defend themselves and their property from marauding outsiders. These guys were up to no good. Did an accident happen? I only know one thing: 12 ordinary people heard all the evidence and concluded it was not murder. The scenario was toxic. The result was tragic. It didnt have to happen.

It would be a precedent to order a retrial based on public outrage. But it would also be a good idea, with Indigenous people making up half the jury. There will be no rest for Boushies family unless it is redone. The truth will prevail.

Hugh McKechnie, NewmarketThere is some good news about the bad news about global trust in journalism: In Canada, trust in journalists has risen significantly, as has trust in traditional media overall.

According to the 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer released this week, 61 per cent of Canadians trust journalism  defined as traditional and online-only media. Thats a substantial increase of 10 percentage points over last years barometer of media trust.

The annual online survey of global trust in media and other institutions also found a significant distinction between levels of trust for traditional and newer forms of media  only 28 per cent of Canadians trust social media as a source of news and information.

The 2018 trust barometer is the global communications firms 18th annual trust and credibility survey. The online survey, conducted last fall, included 1,500 Canadian respondents over the age of 18, with 200 of them considered to be informed public respondents who pay attention to news and public affairs.

The survey also found that trust in journalists themselves as credible sources of information or figures of authority for truth has rebounded significantly, up 17 points over last year.

While the percentage who report trust in journalists is sadly still less than half  43 per cent  that 17-point jump is some measure of encouragement for the many journalists across Canada I know who work diligently to deliver trustworthy news: news that is accurate, accountable and gathered in line with best ethical practices.

This encouraging only-in-Canada data regarding trust in traditional journalism stands in contrast to Edelmans global findings, which found that throughout the world media is now the least-trusted institution, falling below business, government and NGOs.

I dont know why trust is greater in Canada, but these findings are consistent with several other media trust studies done over the past year. A recent Pew Research Centre study into global attitudes towards media placed Canada in the top 10 of 38 countries on all measures of media satisfaction, including trust.

According to the Edelman data, in 22 of 28 world markets surveyed media is now largely distrusted. Notably, given the past years focus on fake news and the role of platforms in amplifying misinformation, much of that distrust is driven by a significant lack of trust in social media and search engines.

Let me say here that I wish we could dispense with the term fake news altogether. Like many other journalists and those who study journalism, I believe this has become a meaningless term and that its weaponization by the current president of the United States does harm to the mission and work of serious journalism.

But the Edelman Barometer indicates that two-thirds of you are indeed worried about fake news: 65 per cent in Canada worry about false information or fake news being used as a weapon.

That fact matters much to news organizations committed to ethical journalism that stands against false news and misinformation, particularly in this year ahead when Canadians go to the polls in Ontario and in municipalities across Canada and the need for trusted real news that serves democracy matters much.

Fears about fake news are pervasive, and we are seeing Canadians turn back to credentialed experts in their efforts to dispel them, Lisa Kimmel, president and CEO of Edelman Canada, said in a press release this week.

But no journalist or news organization in Canada can afford to rest on these laurels of trust these days. The trust barometer also makes clear a significant measure of skepticism in Canada too about news organizations and distressingly low levels of engagement with the news.

Most troubling to me were the low levels of news engagement reported by Canadians. More than half  54 per cent  reported that they consume news less than weekly. About one third consume news weekly or more.

On the credibility front, the survey found that 63 per cent of Canadians believe news organizations sacrifice accuracy to be first to break a story; the same percentage believe they are more concerned with attracting a big audience than reporting; and 54 per cent believe that when it comes to reporting on politics, they are more interested in supporting an ideology than informing the public.

None of this feedback surprises me. These concerns echo what I sometimes hear in the public editors office and what some readers have told those of us involved in the Stars current trust initiative, which aims to foster greater reader trust.

Indeed, these are all serious concerns about journalism that bear greater examination by journalists and news organizations even at a time when Canadians seem more inclined to trust our work.

As always, that trust must be earned.

publiced@thestar.caKnock knock. Job opening alert. A senior position coming up at Dalhousie University. Want to apply?

A senior Dalhousie official said in an email to the university communitythat openings for the position of vice-provost of student affairs would be restricted to racially visible persons and Aboriginal Peoples.

Racially visible? Or racialized? As in, anybody who has lived the experience of systemically being perceived and treated as the other on account of not being white or passing for white.

But wait, thats not what the noise is about. The resistance to righting historical and contemporary wrongs is taking its usual well-beaten path of societal sanctimony, with cries of reverse racism! and the insulting, but what about merit?

Remember BuzzFeeds callout on Twitter seeking pitches for longform stories in 2016? Buzzfeed would particularly like to hear from you if youre not white or male, senior writer Scaachi Koul had tweeted. She was relentlessly harassed for it. Never mind that Canadian media was, and remains, overwhelmingly white.

Its similar in academia.

The percentage of racially visible employees at Dalhousie stood at 11 per cent in 2016, up from 8.3 per cent in 2015, based on the universitys internal census. But only 1.9 per cent of employees were Indigenous in 2016. Representation was lower in academic management positions, where 4.7 per cent identified as racially visible and 1.6 per cent as Indigenous.

Here is a Twitter version tutorial of Racism 101: Its racist if you seek only white applicants. Its not racist if you seek those who are not white.

Whoa, some might say, hold your horses, hypocrisy. To which one response might be: hold your horses, false equivalencies.

Seeking those who are not white is not about being punished for injustices of the past.

This is very much about levelling the playing field in the present.

Reverse racism exists for those who believe all players arrive on the field with equal power. It also exists if racism is reduced to being simply about an individuals race-based biases.

But racism isnt about hurt feelings. Its about how those negative stereotypes interact with systems of power.

The data-based reality, as opposed to fear-based suppositions, is that race and Indigeneity remain a key indicator of success in Canada. Institutional support of biases allow race-based inequities to show up in outcomes of jobs, incomes, health, and incarceration rates.

The job market continues to be ethnically segregated across industries.

The higher paying job openings operate de facto like a call for only white people to apply but they do so without the Whites Only signs. Minorities get a shot if they are exceptionally talented or have proximity to whiteness or if open-minded individuals happen to be hiring.

Seeking applicants who are not white is the equivalent of traffic management officials looking at a highway full of trucks and opening up a lane for the cars that are bunched up at the back. It is no more reverse racism than those traffic managers discriminating against trucks.

This limited analogy edges closer to reality if those cars were awaiting their turn for centuries, if its drivers were being asked to play by the rules even as they got roughed up, and also being told, What are you complaining about? That Ferrari got a turn.

Those wondering, but what about merit? might want to consider why they think merit is oppositional to race. Do they truly believe merit is the main reason white (mostly) men continue to dominate corporate boardrooms, and why racialized people continue to be underrepresented in white-collar jobs?

If so, they might also want to Google the definition of white supremacy.

Studies have shown that people with names that sound like they could be Black or Middle Eastern or Asian are less likely to get called for job interviews, even with a North American education. Biases run deeper than that  they further privilege those within the employers own social networks and least value those with non-Anglo sounding names and non-Canadian education.

Diversity isnt just about plonking a person of colour into a chair and checking HR-created boxes. Merit is obviously foundational. So what is one consideration of merit in a university vice-provost job?

Amina Abawajy, president of Dalhousies student union, who also sits on the hiring committee told the CBC, When issues of especially equity, diversity and inclusion come up, its really great to not have to explain where Im coming from or where students are coming from  to really know that this person has an understanding of intersectional oppression and forms of oppression and how they manifest on campus.

In other words, all things being equal, students would like to communicate with a person who is racially literate.

Universities, supposedly lost to far-left ideology, remain playgrounds of racist bile across the country with inadequate understanding or protections for the vulnerable. Seeking racial literacy in a candidate in such an environment makes for a perfectly fair merit-based job opening.

Shree Paradkar writes about discrimination and identity. You can follow her @shreeparadkarPatrick Brown, we hardly knew ye.

Now we know you only too well.

Even if you dont seem to know your own mind. Or when to call it quits without attempting a quick comeback.

The man most Ontarians had never heard of is now the most notorious politician in the province, a teetotaller accused of sexual misconduct among drunken teenagers. In the aftermath, he resigned as Progressive Conservative party leader  and renounced his claim to the premiership.

Today, Brown is back. With a vengeance.

The disgraced, discredited, disbelieved politician is vowing to clear his name while tarnishing the name of the party to whom he once promised power: Watch him settle scores against detractors, file lawsuits against alleged defamers, defy party elders, ignore elected MPPs, lash out at his accusers.

Friday morning it was announced that Brown had been ejected from caucus. Friday afternoon it was proclaimed that Brown wanted to be elected as leader  again.

He who has fallen shall seek redemption by re-election.

Is he out of his mind? Dont count him out.

Read more:

Patrick Brown enters the race for his old job, hours after the PC caucus turfed him

PC leadership candidate Tanya Granic Allen knocks better-known rivals, blames low student test scores on sex ed

Patrick Brown attacks CTV News and his accusers  three weeks after allegations surfaced

The membership is mostly his, despite assertions by interim leader Vic Fedeli that the lists are highly inflated. And the policy platform that his rivals have disowned still has his picture on the cover.

We dont yet know whether hell pass the partys vetting process, but the bar has been set awfully low for the existing leadership candidates: Doug Ford, described by the Globe and Mail as a drug dealer in his youth (he denied it and publicly mused about a lawsuit, but the paper tells me none was ever filed); Caroline Mulroney is a dual citizen (interestingly, the U.S. oath of allegiance requires newcomers to renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign  state, or sovereignty); Christine Elliott quit her seat in a huff and walked away from the party (after losing the past two leadership races).

Win or lose, allowed or disallowed, Brown has pulled off a spectacular publicity stunt  reclaiming the media spotlight, reasserting his innocence, rebranding himself as victim not victimizer. But his damage control campaign has done untold damage to the Progressive Conservative brand.

Never mind Browns pledge to caucus on the night of his resignation that his priority must be party unity, so that his fellow PCs might defeat their common enemy, Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Who can forget how he regressed before our eyes that night, enfeebled as he faced the media, blubbering about how his sisters were his best friends (apparently precluding the possibility of sexual misconduct), and then fleeing down three flights of stairs at the legislature with the press in pursuit.

On Friday, Brown again tried to escape down four flights of stairs after registering for the leadership contest at party headquarters before the 5 p.m. deadline, chased by yet another press pack (and with his sisters in tow).

Amid the disruption, an already ruptured party has been shaken to its core, its base, its grassroots. While leaderless, the PCs lead all public opinion polls, but now find themselves rudderless  and rotten, according to Fedeli and the partys executive team, which took over after purging Browns cronies and appointees.

Barely 100 days remain before election day, when voters will be asked to repose their trust in a repurposed Progressive Conservative party. A mere 21 days are left until PC members decide who will lead them into the spring campaign.

Time is surely running out. Yet with Fridays registration deadline looming, Brown went back on his bond, reversing his pledge to quit.

Credibility and authenticity have never been his strong suit. This week, Brown took a lie detector test to validate his coarse counterattack against those female accusers, but we dont need a polygraph to know whether a politician is a good or bad liar.

His public record  flipping and flopping on questions of abortion rights, sex education updates and carbon pricing  speaks for itself. While Brown says he will sue CTV for last months story alleging sexual misconduct, he is simultaneously (if inconveniently) being sued in a defamation action by the premier for falsely claiming she was on trial in a Sudbury byelection case  no polygraph required, the facts prove him dead wrong.

To some, Brown may appear to be out of his mind as he attempts a do-over of his leadership. But it all makes sense if you understand that politics is his life, the only life he has ever known  running for Barrie city council while still in university, then becoming a Conservative backbencher in Ottawa in his 20s, and capturing the provincial leadership in his 30s.

As a teenage Young Tory, Brown was photographed sitting in his bedroom looking up at posters of his political idols, never fathoming hed ultimately be undone by his alleged pursuit of teenage girls as a much older politician. All these years later, at 39, he is desperately determined to reclaim the leadership he lost in order to recover  and relive  his lifes dream.

Martin Regg Cohns political column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. mcohn@thestar.ca, Twitter: @reggcohn

Read more about:Fiona and John met in Singapore, where the both lived for five years before returning to Ireland where John popped the question while they were halfway through a hike one day in Glendalough.

Although the couple wanted a 'laid back and fun' wedding, they found the planning somewhat overwhelming, knowing exactly what they wanted before they even began to look at venues and suppliers!

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Fortunately when they came upon the ballroom at Borris House in Carlow they were smitten, and set about creating a 'rustic and personal' wedding, catered for by Eunice Power.

The bride wore a glorious gown by Daarlarna, which she said she had the exact style of in mind before finding it in The White Room in Mullingar, the bridesmaids wore dresses from asos, while the groom and groomsman wore tailored suits from Magee in Dublin.

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When it came to moments that stood out for Fiona, she said she found taking the photos after the ceremony the most relaxing part of the day, and while neither would change a thing about the day, both agree if they had to do it again, they'd hire a professional to do the planning!

Their photos are by Annie Kheffache, with second shooter Kevin Kheffache.

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The Dress

"Everyone says you should keep an open mind when it comes to dress shopping," said Fiona, "but I have to say I had an exact dress style in mind!" She toyed with the idea of getting it made, but luckily she ended up the perfect match by Daarlarna in The White Room, Mullingar.

The Groomsmen's Suits

John and his groomsmen wore navy blue three-piece suits which they finished with polka dot bowties. Their tailored suits were from Magee in Dublin.

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The Wedding

The couple wanted a rustic style, laid back and fun vibe for their day, with nothing too formal. They tied the knot in Sacred Heart Church, Borris, where Fr Paul Taylor presided over their vows. "We found the planning quite overwhelming, although we knew exactly what we wanted the day to be like, " said Fiona.

Their catering at Borris House was done by Eunice Power and her team. "We decided to go for family-style sharing starters and main course, which worked really well with the long trestle tables, and encouraged everybody to mingle! It also meant we could go with something a little different for the menu."

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The Venue

John and Fiona wanted somewhere they could make personal to them as a couple, and somewhere they could choose different elements such as the catering and decor to suit their theme. "It was the gorgeous ballroom in Borris House that sealed the deal!" said Fiona.

The Stand-out Moments

While for many couples taking too much time on photos can be a bit of a hindrance, Fiona and John enjoyed the time as it gave them an opportunity to spend some quality moments together and relax after the ceremony. "After the nervous adrenaline rush of the ceremony, it was a lovely opportunity to spend some down-time together before the business of the reception!" said Fiona. "Our photographers and videographer were so laid back and calming so it didn't feel awkward or forced!"

When it came to what really set the tone on the day, Fiona admits that the weather gave everything an extra boost; "Having a warm, sunny day was the best surprise! It put everybody in a great mood, which meant the atmosphere was brilliant and everything looked picture perfect!"

Regrets

"Have someone else do the planning!" said Fiona about doing it all over again, however she "wouldn't change a thing" about the day itself.

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The Advice

"With the planning," says Fiona, "try to do little and often so that on the week of the wedding you can completely relax and enjoy the build up!"

The Honeymoon

The couple honeymooned in Tuscany and Sardinia.

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WhatsappIPDC Finance, BB sign participatory agreement

Business Desk :

IPDC Finance Limited, the first private sector financial institution of Bangladesh established in 1981, has signed an agreement titled "Foreign Direct Investment Promotion Project (FDIPP)" with Bangladesh Bank under the assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Wednesday at Jahangir Alam Conference Hall of Bangladesh Bank in the city.

The primary focus of this project is to facilitate industry and business loan scheme with the support of IPDC refinanced by Bangladesh Bank assisted by JICA.

The project is designed to finance Japanese enterprises, Japanese and Bangladeshi joint venture enterprises, Japanese and other foreign country joint venture enterprises, Bangladeshi and other foreign country enterprises along with Bangladeshi enterprises who have substantial business relation with Japanese enterprises operating in Bangladesh. About 19 banks and 5 NBFIs will be eligible to avail financing facility under this scheme. Governor of Bangla-desh Bank Fazle Kabir, Deputy Governor Abu Hena Mohd Razee Hassan, Executive Director Ahmed Jamal, Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh office Takatoshi Nishikata, Managing Director and CEO of IPDC Finance Limited Mominul Islam, DMD and Head of Retail Business AFM Barkatullah, GM and Head of Business Finance Rizwan D Shams, Head of Corporate Communication Mahzabin Ferdous, MME In-charge Mahmudur Rahman Shawon, General Manager and Project Director of FDIPP Md Rezaul Islam and high officials from other PFIs were present in the signing ceremony.





Learning history of genocide in Liberation War emphasized



Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor urged all to know the history of genocide in the country's great Liberation War.

"Acquainting new generation with the genocide of liberation war is very important. The students should also learn about the sacrifices of the martyrs of Dhaka University during the genocide in 1971," he said this on Friday while speaking at a programme at Dhaka University (DU).

Centre for Genocide Studies (CGS) of DU organised the programme at the historic Bot Tala in the campus.

With a view to acquainting the new generation with the genocide of liberation war, a mobile museum titled "The Walking Museum: University of Dhaka and 1971 Genocide" was inaugurated by the minister.

Recalling the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Asaduzzaman Noor said, "Bangabandhu was the leader of all religions, races and parties."

Bangabandhu's 7th March speech touched every Bangalee's heart and inspired them to prepare for the Liberation War."Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. engages in global investment banking, securities, and investment management, which provides financial services. It operates through the following business segments: Investment Banking, Global Markets, Asset Management, and Consumer & Wealth Management. The Investment Banking segment serves public and private sector clients around the world and provides financial advisory services, help companies raise capital to strengthen and grow their businesses and provide financing to corporate clients. The Global Markets segment serves its clients who buy and sell financial products, funding and manage risk. The Asset Management segment provides investment services to help clients preserve and grow their financial assets. The Consumer & Wealth Management segment helps clients to achieve their individual financial goals by providing a wealth advisory and banking services. The company was founded by Marcus Goldman in 1869 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Read MoreBNP thinks its popularity gaining

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir along with senior leaders were present at the mass signature collection programme demanding to release BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. This photo was taken from in front of Naya Paltan party office in city on Saturday.

Reza Mahmud :

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) thinks that it has gained huge popularity and sympathy from all corners of the country after imprisonment of the party's Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

"You see, thousands of crores of taka is being looted from state owned banks, stock markets, financial institutions and mega projects after the Awami League taken over state power. But, none of the real culprits involved in looting such huge amount of money were tried yet. On the hand, the government jailed Khaleda Zia on a false graft case," BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas told The New Nation yesterday.

He said, the people are incapable to understand the real facts that why the government intentionally kept Khaleda Zia in jail.

Mirza Abbas said the people of the country are seriously irritated with this government for its misrule. "BNP is always a pro-people and popular party. The jailing of our popular leader Khaleda Zia has the increased the party's popularity. We realize it in every moment from every corner of the country."

BNP's other senior leaders also think that the government is now in an uneasy position over Khaleda Zia's imprisonment.

They said, 2018 is called as election year as the 11th parliamentary polls may be held at the end of current year. In such a time, the former Prime Minister and chief of the country's biggest political party Khaleda Zia is imprisoned in a ridiculous allegation. It is creating huge sympathy for Khaleda Zia and also for the BNP.

The party leaders are trying to make this public support and sympathy longer with a view to making the BNP stronger in every level.

Meanwhile, the party senior leaders have already started discussions with different professionals, civil society leaders and foreign diplomats in this regard.

After Khaleda Zia's verdict and imprisonment the party has sat several times with civil society members and foreign diplomats to show the BNP's stand on the issue and the government's failures.

As a part of the party's strategy to make the popularity long lasting, the party started its agitation programme as nonviolent in nature.

Political analysts said, after jailing of the party chief, BNP shows its utmost patience to gain popularity. The peaceful movement is also favouring the party gaining more popularity.

"BNP chief has been jailed for an allegation of misuse of around Tk 2 crore. But Khaleda Zia made it clear that the money was not embezzled, rather is still deposited with a bank in name of the trust's account. She also said that the money has increased by three times. In these circumstances, the people's sympathy is posed to the BNP," Dr. Professor Md Sharif Uddin of Jahangirnagar University told The New Nation. He said that the peaceful programme of the party really would help them achieve more love and respect from the people.The following companies are subsidiares of American International Group: AGC Life Insurance Company, AIG APAC HOLDINGS PTE. LTD., AIG Advisors S.r.l., AIG Aerospace Insurance Services Inc., AIG Asia Pacific Insurance Pte. 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Read MoreBrazil's army takes control of Rio security

Brazilian Army soldiers frisk a resident during a joint operation at \"Cidade de Deus\" (City of God) favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

AFP, Rio de Janeiro :

Brazilian Army soldiers frisk a resident during a joint operation at "Cidade de Deus" (City of God) favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. AFP file photoBrazilian Army soldiers frisk a resident during a joint operation at "Cidade de Deus" (City of God) favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. AFP file photoBrazil's President Michel Temer on Friday handed the military full control of security in Rio de Janeiro in an increasingly desperate fight to tame runaway gang violence.

Army patrols are already used in Rio's gang-ruled favelas, but a decree signed by Temer will now give the military full control of security operations in Rio state, which the president said had virtually been seized by organized crime gangs.

The army will now have primacy over the state police, a situation unheard of since the country's return to democracy in 1985 after two decades of military rule.

"I am taking these extreme measures because circumstances demand it," Temer said after signing the decree to combat seemingly endless waves of gang-driven violence.

"The government will give tough and firm answers, taking all necessary measures to eradicate organized crime."

He described organized crime as "a metastasis that spreads through the country and threatens the tranquility of our people." "We cannot passively accept the death of innocents," Temer said in a speech at his Planalto palace in the capital Brasilia in which he outlined the human cost of the violence.

"It is intolerable to be burying fathers and mothers, workers, policemen, young people and children and seeing whole neighborhoods besieged, schools in the crosshairs of rifles and avenues transformed into trenches."

Chamber of Deputies head Rodrigo Maia-who took part in a preparatory meeting with Temer on Thursday-described the move to reporters on Friday as "hard and extreme". Congress is expected to ratify the decree within 10 days.

The country has seen a wave of violence that prompted Defense Minister Raul Jungmann to declare last month that "the security system is broken."

Rio state Governor Luiz Fernando Pezao issued an apology Wednesday after the carnival in Rio was marred by violence and muggings: "We were not ready. There were mistakes in the first days and we reinforced the patrols." Jungmann had predicted a sharp response after meeting Temer late Wednesday.

"It is clear to us that the situation in Rio during the carnival was unfortunate," he said. "New measures will be announced."

"The total confusion and lack of coordination of the security forces during the carnival" triggered Temer's decree, said David Fleischer, professor of political science at the University of Brasilia.

But the analyst said other factors also came into play, with Temer desperately "trying to distract" attention from corruption allegations that have embroiled his presidency and his struggles to adopt pension reform.

Olympian task

Responsibility for security in Rio will now fall to General Walter Souza Braga Neto, who was the man in charge of coordinating security when the city hosted the 2016 Olympic Games.

The army's mission will last until the end of Temer's term as president, 31 December.

The decree will put in place "a more robust, better coordinated, security system, with a better intelligence service," the defense minister said.

Jungmann added however that the army would not replace the police on the ground, but provide logistical support in their fight against the drug lords.

According to Arthur Trindade, a university professor and former security secretary for Brasilia, the main objective of the decree is to "clean up" a police force undermined by corruption.

The move will have immediate political consequences, according to Silvio Cascione of economic analysts Eurasia Group. Pension reform "looks even more distant because it requires a constitutional amendment"-legislators will not be able to approve any constitutional changes for the duration of the decree.

It also shows Temer's administration "is increasingly worried about its low popularity" in the run-up to elections in October, he said.

Brazil's armed forces deployed to Rio de Janeiro in July 2017 to help the overstretched police. Rio state has been badly hit by Brazil's recession and the slump in the oil market in the last few years, as well as massive corruption.

Rio is Brazil's most populous state, with around 16 million inhabitants -- 6.5 million of them living in Rio de Janeiro.North Greenbush

An accused jewel thief who police called "armed and dangerous" was taken into custody after a 13-day search.

North Greenbush police said they arrested Charlie B. Hardt, 26, on Friday night with the help of the Rensselaer Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Police said Hardt had displayed a weapon when he stole merchandise from Don Cook Jewelry off Route 4 in North Greenbush during broad daylight on the afternoon of Saturday, Feb. 3.

After leaving the store, he broke into a nearby home and stole a getaway car, brandishing his weapon again. He ditched the car across the Hudson River in Albany a short time later.

No one was hurt in either incident, and Hardt was quickly identified as a suspect although he couldn't be located.

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Hardt was charged with five felonies ranging from robbery, burglary and grand larceny. He was also charged with misdemeanor menacing and petit larceny.

New York State Parole officials participated in the investigation.Stillwater

Carrie A. Lyons of Mechanicville was charged with felony burglary and criminal mischief after she was arrested by town of Stillwater police in connection with a January incident at a village home.

Police allege that Lyons, 45, forcibly entered a Stillwater home on Jan. 21, doing more than $1,500 in damage inside before fleeing.

Lyons was arrested Thursday.

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The victim in the case also obtained an order of protection against Lyons, who is prohibited from making any contact. Police did not identify the victim or the address.

Patrolman Alex Dunn led the investigation.NEW YORK-- Low show. Low profile. Low quality.

That's how a former co-worker described the job performance of Lisa Percoco during the time that the wife of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's former top aide collected $90,000-a-year as an education consultant at Competitive Power Ventures, an energy company that had business before the state.

Yanina Daigle testified at the Joe Percoco bribery and corruption trial in Manhattan federal court Friday that Lisa Percoco displayed shoddy work -- working from a home office and at times taking calls from the pool.

Percoco's wife didn't take part in a science fair competition that her employer participated in because "she didn't feel it was part of her job description," Daigle said.

"I don't really want to throw her under the bus but (the work) was really subpar as to what my expectations were and were often sloppy ," testified Daigle, who worked as a manager.

Asked to describe Lisa Percoco's availability, Daigle told Assistant U.S. Attorney Janis Echenberg, "Weak."

Daigle said the former New York City teacher was a good teacher and showed enthusiasm but was a disappointment. Lisa Percoco received $7,500-a-month starting in November 2012 to educate children about energy but did not step foot into a classroom nearly until March 2014 -- a year-and-a-half later, she said.

She said Lisa Percoco worked just 19 days -- and never more than three hours at a time -- over the three years she collected nearly $287,000 as an educational consultant for CPV. A document entered into evidence showed Lisa Percoco worked 10 times in 2014, seven times in 2015 and twice in 2016.

Federal prosecutors allege the hiring was a cover for bribes being paid to Percoco by CPV executive Peter Galbraith Kelly, now on trial with Percoco and Syracuse developers Steve Aiello and Joseph Gerardi. CPV wanted to build a power plant in the Hudson Valley and wanted state approval for that for help with a power plant in New Jersey.

The prosecutors say the program Lisa Percoco worked under, called CPV Educates, was hatched by Kelly as a way to mask those alleged bribes to Percoco. Daigle testified that Kelly directed employees not to include Lisa Percoco in tweets, pamphlets or anything else public because people could get the "wrong impression" given the job of her husband as Cuomo's right-hand man.

Daigle testified that she never recalled Lisa Percoco coming in for an interview. She said Kelly announced in December 2012 that she had been hired. The company had three months earlier paid for a dinner in Danbury, Conn. upward of $400, for Kelly, lobbyist Todd Howe and Joe Percoco but not his wife, the witness explained.

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Daigle, who worked for Kelly's father at a law firm for 30 years, said she ultimately complained to Kelly about Lisa Percoco's work.

"Often he would kind of brush me off about it at the beginning and then he'd say, 'Oh yeah, We're going to get rid of her,'" she testified.

Daigle said Kelly arranged to have Percoco's wife's position eliminated in August 2015 but did not let her go until the following January when she was told it was because of budget cuts.

Daigle said she interviewed candidates for Lisa Percoco's job months before the woman had any idea she was about to be cut.

And when the news of the cut was revealed, Joe Percoco learned it first, Daigle said.

Daigle's testimony is expected to continue Tuesday.GENGHIS KHAN

Background: He was born in Guyana and immigrated to New York City. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, stayed on to earn a master's degree in mechanical engineering and has worked for General Electric for 26 years. He attends the Islamic Center of the Capital District where he teaches a class in Arabic and Islam for teenagers. He, his wife and their daughter live in Niskayuna.

What were your early years like Guyana?

My family has deep roots in Guyana. My maternal great-grandmother was born there in the early 1800s. There had been a slave revolt led by an African Muslim and emancipation of African slaves in the British colonies was widespread. There was also a class of indentured Indians and Chinese. My father's father, who emigrated from India in the late 1800s, was indentured but skilled and worked at a sugar factory.

I was born in the countryside, and my family moved to Georgetown, the capital city, when I was 2 for the opportunity to get a good education. I went to Catholic school through fourth grade.

I didn't grow up in Guyana experiencing Islam as cultural. My parents prayed at home and fasted for Ramadan, but we were seamlessly integrated in society. Identity wasn't built around outward appearance of being Muslim. People didn't go about life in any specific religious dress; women didn't cover their heads. Things have changed there now. The Middle Eastern and South Asian Islamic culture has become more popular, but I don't know exactly to what extent, having never gone back to Guyana.

How did growing up as an immigrant shape your values?

We moved to America when I was 9. It took my family a while to get on your feet at our new home in Far Rockaway, Queens. I had a heavy West Indian accent that I quickly realized I had to train myself to lose. My father worked for Catholic Charities, serving folks with mental issues. Mom was a seamstress and then trained to be a nursing assistant which she did primarily for elderly people in Far Rockaway where there were a lot of nursing homes.

Far Rockaway High School geared for nursing and medical stuff. That wasn't for me. I always loved STEM, so I chose to go to Brooklyn Technical High School and the three-hour round trip every day to learn what I loved. High school was such a positive, formative experience for me. It was the '80s in New York City, and a rough as that could be, it's nothing like today. Right now I can't help but feel the profound sadness for the kids in Florida. How much has life for our young people changed? May God help them, their families and us as a nation.

With Guyana being a pluralistic, western society, there was no cultural reference I had for Islam, so to understand its uniqueness and teachings, I had to seek that for myself in this country. This was a favor from God because it opened the door for me to learn about Islam with its textual source material, specifically about the Quran as a reference as opposed to how it was historically interpreted in societies and cultures.

Coming to RPI, I was welcomed into the Muslim Students Association, which at that time was more a local Troy community than a college organization. Interacting with immigrant Muslim communities, I saw how diverse cultures could be different from Islamic teaching.

What is the essence of that teaching?

The most important teaching is to believe in the oneness of God. This is an internal action of the mind and heart. Second most important is justice and fairness, which is how belief in God is expressed in Islam,

In Arabic, justice means to treat others with equality, fairness, truth and uprightness; treat others like you want to be treated. The Islamic value of justice is universal, across borders, unlike American justice in the most just country in the world that ends at its borders. It extends to all the creatures on the earth and the earth itself. Every action in Islam is subservient to justice

Islam is about faith through works; acting justly signifies your faith. Being just all the time, in all circumstances good or bad, regardless of whom you're dealing with, requires effort and trust in God. It is not an inherent human characteristic. Our human nature is to be selfish, self-preservational. Justice requires work, practice and training

This training happens with prayer and fasting, two of the well-known Pillars of Islam. They are the main individual, ritual, acts as a Muslim. They develop the discipline and self-control needed for just action. Justice shows up clearly in the remaining pillars: Charity, which involves others, is about economic and social justice. Hajj, which means pilgrimage, is interactive  millions of people at the same time dressed the same way enforces the concept of equality. There is strict teaching about not getting angry and in arguments, which might be normal in a huge crowd; this is self-control on steroids; it is a training test of capability to treat millions as you would treat yourself.

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Although we are not inherently just, God created us with the instinct to know and detect justice and injustice, so we always have a measure  between the individual and God  to know if we're truly living up to it or not. It is also important, especially with the events of today where Islam is concerned. If you find things not serving justice, or things blatantly unjust, then they can't be a teaching of Islam. Apply this rule of thumb to all things you hear on the news and see and I can show you how they fit into this. God does not command injustice.

Why is the interpretation of the Quran so important?

Muslims must always be interpreting and re-interpreting the text. That is how the Quran lives.

When I teach, my first topic is on "How do we know what we know?" There are two branches to knowledge. One is through applying observation and scientific approaches to God's law in natural phenomena and later putting our understanding into books that we transmit across generations. Nothing in science conflicts with Islam. In a similar manner to observing natural phenomena, there is knowledge through the analysis of textual revelation and interpretation. The human mind and heart are the critical processor in both branches.

What's necessary to start this process is to axiomatically accept that the Quran is the word of God. With that, the things that are best taught through texts, like the characteristics of God, justice, compassion and values, are easily derived through analysis and interpretation.

Interpretations can vary over time and place. One challenge for Muslims is that they rely on interpretations from history and cultures of the past. The education to interpret correctly  basically Arabic textual analysis  is limited today. That's why I focus on it. Without following the rules of interpretation, you'll reach wrong conclusions. The negative you see about Muslims today comes from misunderstanding and misinterpretation.

"Self-reformation" is nothing new. It is the legacy of the many prophets of history that the Quran and other scripture teach about. Abraham rejected the polytheism and injustices of his people and while he didn't know what he was going to, he knew what he was leaving was wrong and he came to know God. The prophet Muhammad lived in Arabia, a pluralistic society with Jews and Christians living among the polytheistic Arabs. He saw beyond their cultural practices and went seeking without knowing until God was revealed to him. To believe in the Quran as the word of God is to believe in the truthfulness of Muhammad. From this comes the first Pillar of Islam  belief in the oneness of God and the prophethood of Muhammad. The textual foundation is the means to correct past misinterpretations and come back to true teachings instead of cultural practice. From my early days in Guyana to now, navigating between culture and teachings, this has been one of the most significant realizations I've been thankful to God for.

You've taken an active role in Schenectady in working for justice.

I always feel blessed to be able to serve God by serving the community. We live in a place where doing this with others has flourished. I see the people I serve with in the context of "common faith." We all have different paths. That's what diversity and freedom are all about, but our faith is common. Our drive for equality justice, kindness, compassion and working against the things that jeopardize those concepts, like hate and hate speech, is common.

I became an imam at the Schenectady County Jail in 1995. Back then in the U.S. the opportunities for formal Muslim clergy education didn't exist as they do today. One reason is that there is no formal clergy concept in Islam like there is in Christianity. People are recognized as leaders based on their Islamic knowledge and service to the community. My personal education in classical Islamic methodology and community service as a leader in the RPI and Schenectady Muslim communities were well known and when the request came from the jail, I was appointed as imam. Since then I had also served on the Schenectady County Human Rights Commission, worked on homelessness and housing with Bethesda House and participated in other community efforts. For the past few years I've been the adviser to the Muslim Students Association at Union College. My experiences with such diverse segments of society has been one of the most significant and appreciated parts of my lifelong education.

Most recently, I've been part of Schenectady Clergy against Hate. With the hate speech, vitriol and incivility that came after the presidential election, a small number of clergy wanted to write a letter to the editor reminding ourselves and the community about unity, peace, and being good to each other. Within two days of the idea over a dozen clergy had contributed to the writing and signed on. Today we meet as a group planning and participating in programs that serve to quell hatred in our community and promote the causes of justice and compassion wherever we can. It's important for the community to know that we are always there to stand up against hate in ways that are not hateful. As clergy we have a specific responsibility to remind and encourage all, regardless of people's beliefs, affiliations and perspectives. At the end of the day it's how we express our common faith through work.

 Rob BrillSchenectady

The state attorney general's office says the widow of a man who died in city police custody last year deserves to know what happened during the death of her husband Andrew Kearse in police custody  even if the chief calls some aspects "unusual and unfortunate."

Angelique Negroni-Kearse, who said she secretly recorded audio from the 45-minute video of Kearse's police encounter in May that had been shown to her by the state agency, said she decided to release excerpts to media outlets because she wants charges brought against the Schenectady cop who she sees as responsible for his death.

The attorney general's office, when asked about the video, declined to discuss the matter, saying neither the video nor audio has been released publicly.

Kearse, who had a heart ailment, repeatedly pleads with police for medical help in the poor-quality audio.

An emotional Negroni-Kearse can be heard in the background crying hysterically and at times cursing in reaction to the footage.

"I dropped it (made it public) to put pressure on the AG's office to prosecute the officer" the Bronx woman said Friday. "We needed the world to know what happened to Andrew and to get justice for him."

Negroni-Kearse said that the attorney general's office has told her the case is "rare because (Kearse) wasn't shot, he wasn't stabbed, he wasn't Tasered, he was just denied the medical assistance that he needed."

Police Chief Eric Clifford said Friday he "supports the Kearse family's right to know the truth and (is) in full support of giving it to them once we're able to give them all the facts."

Earlier in the week, Clifford, in response to media requests for comment on the audio, stated there are many facts about the case that have not been disclosed and that the department has "supported a full, reasoned and independent investigation of the incident in question."

"We immediately turned the investigation over to the NYS Police (May 11, 2017) and have cooperated fully with them, as well as the NYS Attorney General's Office since the time they decided to take over the investigation (May 31, 2017)," Clifford said. He also said the department has "respected the process and both agencies by not interfering or commenting" and that the "release of partial evidence or selected information before a decision is made is unusual and unfortunate."

Attorney Andrew Safranko, representing the half-dozen or so officers involved in the encounter, has said that cops are trained that if a person is talking they are breathing.

Kearse's encounter with police began in the late afternoon hours of May 11 when an officer saw him driving erratically on State Street and tried to pull him over.

Kearse, 36, continued on into a Ward Avenue driveway and ran into a backyard, city police said. Officers chased him.

The pursuit ended behind a Donald Avenue home. Kearse, who was in Schenectady visiting a female friend, was arrested, city police said. At the time, police said he was not shot or shocked with a Taser.

He was put in the back seat of a police car and on his way to the police station told officers he was having trouble breathing and felt dizzy, city police said.

By the time the car arrived at the station, he was unresponsive, police said.

Paramedics treated Kearse at the scene. He was taken to Ellis Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later, police said.

A city police spokesman has said Kearse did not display any signs of distress before mentioning his symptoms.

Kearse, who not long before the confrontation had been released from prison after serving two years, had nine children, three stepchildren and five grandchildren.

Clifford cautioned against jumping to any conclusions based on partial evidence.

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The attorney general's office said Friday the Kearse video was not shown to witnesses or people who would be called if the matter goes to trial and that Negroni-Kearse was not a witness.

The agency also noted that the video and audio have not been publicly released and that even as it maintains the integrity of its ongoing comprehensive probe the Kearse family deserves to know what happened.

On Friday, Mayor Gary McCarthy was diplomatic in discussing the latest development in the Kearse case.

"We're continuing to cooperate fully and are not making any public comments one way or the other," said McCarthy, adding he has personally assured Attorney General Eric Schneiderman of the city's commitment to doing the right thing.

It is the second time the leader of a regional police department has had differences with the attorney general's office over a state probe of a death involving police.

Troy's retired police Chief John Tedesco assailed the attorney general's office after it released a report accusing his department of prejudging the investigation into the shooting death of Edson Thevenin, a drunken-driving suspect gunned down by police as they tried to stop his car April 17, 2016 on Hoosick Street.

pnelson@timesunion.com  518-454-5347  @apaulnelsonWashington

In an extraordinary indictment, the U.S. special counsel accused 13 Russians Friday of an elaborate plot to disrupt the 2016 presidential election, charging them with running a huge but hidden social media trolling campaign aimed in part at helping Republican Donald Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.

The federal indictment, brought by special counsel Robert Mueller, represents the most detailed allegations to date of illegal Russian meddling during the campaign that sent Trump to the White House. It also marks the first criminal charges against Russians believed to have secretly worked to influence the outcome.

The Russian organization was funded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a wealthy St. Petersburg businessman with ties to President Vladimir Putin, the indictment says.

Trump claimed vindication Friday, tweeting the alleged interference efforts began in 2014  "long before I announced that I would run for President."

"The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong  no collusion!" he tweeted.

But the indictment does not resolve the collusion question at the heart of the continuing Mueller probe, which before Friday had produced charges against four Trump associates. U.S. intelligence agencies have said the Russian government interfered to benefit Trump, and Mueller has been assessing whether the campaign coordinated with the Kremlin.

The latest indictment centers on a social media propaganda effort that began in 2014 and continued past the election, with the goal of producing distrust in the American political process.

The indictment does not allege that any American knowingly participated in Russian meddling, or suggest that Trump campaign associates had more than "unwitting" contact with some of the defendants who posed as Americans.

But it does lay out a wide-ranging Russian effort to sway U.S. political opinion through a strategy that involved creating Internet postings in the names of Americans whose identities had been stolen; staging political rallies while posing as American activists and paying people in the U.S. to promote or disparage candidates.

While foreign meddling in U.S. campaigns is not new, the indictment for an effort of this scope and digital sophistication is unprecedented.

The 13 Russians are not in custody and not likely to ever face trial. The Justice Department has for years supported indicting foreign defendants in absentia as a way of shaming them and effectively barring them from foreign travel.

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The surreptitious campaign was organized by the Internet Research Agency, a notorious Russian troll farm that the indictment says sought to conduct "information warfare against the United States of America."

The company, among three Russian entities named in the indictment, had a multimillion-dollar budget and hundreds of workers divided by specialties and assigned to day and night shifts. According to prosecutors, the company was funded by companies controlled by Prigozhin, the wealthy Russian who has been dubbed "Putin's chef" because his restaurants and catering businesses have hosted the Kremlin leader's dinners with foreign dignitaries.

"Americans are very impressionable people," Prigozhin was quoted as saying by Russia's state news agency. They "see what they want to see."

Also Friday, Mueller announced a guilty plea from a California man who unwittingly sold bank accounts to Russians involved in the interference effort.

The election-meddling organization, looking to conceal its Russian roots, purchased space on computer servers within the U.S., used email accounts from U.S. internet service providers and created and controlled social media pages with huge numbers of followers on divisive issues such as immigration, religion and the Black Lives Matter movement.

The indictment details contacts targeting three unnamed officials in the Trump campaign's Florida operation. In each instance, the Russians used false U.S. personas to contact the officials. The indictment doesn't say if any of them responded, and there's no allegation that any of the campaign officials knew they were communicating with Russians.

The Russians destroyed evidence of their activities as Mueller's investigation picked up, with one of those indicted sending an email in September 2017 to a family member that said the FBI had "busted" them so they were covering their tracks.The proposal to increase ANC payment rates must be made to the EU Commission in Brussels shortly so that this years scheme contains the new payment system, according to IFA Rural Development Committee chairman Joe Brady.

The proposal follows on from the recent Budget decision to increase the allocation for this years scheme by 25m.

This will bring the total allocation for the 2018 scheme to 227m.

At the IFA agm, Agriculture Minister Michael Creed confirmed that a proposal must be made to the EU Commission as part of an amendment to the 2014-2020 Rural Development Plan.

The increase in funding is a welcome development and long overdue as payment cuts that were imposed in 2009 have to be reversed.

The additional 25m partly restores the cuts but the restoration of the allocation to its original level of 250m must be a priority. Mr Brady stressed.

He has already told Minister Creed that new ANC payment rates must reflect the natural handicap and also take account of the many farmers who lost out to cuts imposed in 2009.

IFA president Joe Healy has welcomed confirmation by Minister Creed of how the additional 25m will be allocated. Over half of the 25m allocation will go to farmers in hill areas,

Currently, 95,000 farmers benefit from ANC payments and they play a vital role in supporting farmers on the most difficult land where farm incomes are lowest.

bps online applications

Meanwhile, IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy has urged farmers to make their BPS online applications as early as possible.

He said that if anybody experienced any difficulties in completing the application online they should make direct contact with the Department of Agriculture.

Mr Kennedy pointed out that in 2017, around 114,000 farmers made their applications online, meaning 13 per cent made paper applications.

From this year, EU regulations require that all BPS applications be made online.

He said it was important that the Department provided assistance to farmers who had difficulty in making online applications. This could be done through clinics throughout the country.

It was important to note that other area-based schemes linked to the BPS application will now effectively be online. These include ANCs, National Reserve, Young Farmer Scheme, and the transfer of entitlements, said Mr Kennedy. He highlighted the advantages of online application, including preliminary checks, which can identify over-claims and dual claims which can then be rectified without penalty.

The closing date for BPS applications is Tuesday, May 15.The uncertainty of the U.K.s Brexit away from the European Union looms as one of the worlds biggest storylines since the shock vote that happened in 2016. Theres still a year away before the U.K. formally leaves the European bloc, but there are already concerns from other countries all over the world about the kind of trade agreements that will arise from the countrys departure from the EU. One of the concerned nations is Japan and, in an unusual move for the normally docile Japanese people, the country said that its companies would leave Britain if trade barriers made them unprofitable. Among the Japanese companies that could exit Britain include Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi.

The potential backlash of the U.K.s Brexit is serious business

The potential backlash of the U.K.s Brexit is serious business. A lot of industries are going to get affected, and for a country like Japan that considers the U.K. its second most important destination for investment outside of the U.S., the uncertainty of its future trade laws could have adverse effects on the Asian giant. Japans ambassador to the U.K., Koji Tsuruoka, made that point clear in a conversation with reporters. If there is no profitability of continuing operations in the UK - not Japanese only - then no private company can continue operations, he said. So it is as simple as that. This is all high-stakes that all of us, I think, need to keep in mind.

High-stakes. Thats a good way to describe Japans position here. The country has spent more almost $60 billion in the U.K. on the shoulders of a business-friendly base with the country. But those investments came with the potential of profitability, something thats now going to be thrown into limbo until the U.K. enacts new trade laws that are independent of the European Union.

Among the industries that will be most affected is the auto industry. Collectively, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan build almost half of the U.K.s 1.67 million cars. If these companies leave the country because of restrictive and unreasonable trade laws, the ramifications are impossible to predict. Safe to say its going to be in the realm of a doomsday scenario for the U.K.

A Brexit-type move is not unprecedented in the annals of history, but it is today given how important the EU is in stabilizing the worlds economy

For now, everyones walking on eggshells. A Brexit-type move is not unprecedented in the annals of history, but it is today given how important the EU is in stabilizing the worlds economy. Any disruption to that will have an effect on the entire world. That fear and uncertainty is a big reason why major Japanese corporations have sought a two-year transition period, which they hope will ease Britain into its new relationship with the bloc.

It may be unfair to say that the responsibility to make Brexit work falls squarely on the U.K., but the country wanted this. Now that its on the precipice of exiting the EU, it needs to make sure that its trade relationships with the rest of the world dont fall by the wayside as well.

References

Read more Toyota news.

Read more Honda news.

Read more Nissan news.

Read more UK news.

Source: ReutersBNP to submit memorandums to DC offices today

Alongside continuing its mass signature collection campaign, BNP is going to submit memorandums to all the Deputy Commissioner (DC) offices across the country, including the capital, on Sunday demanding the release of its chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Speaking at a press briefing at BNP's Nayapaltan central office on Saturday, party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said party leaders and activists will gather around Dhaka deputy commissioner's office at Old Dhaka on Sunday and submit the memorandum around 12 noon.

He said their party leaders and followers in all other districts will go in processions to the DC offices and submit the memorandum at their convenient time between 9am to 5pm.

The BNP leader alleged that though they are holding peaceful programmes, the government has kept arresting their party men all over the country.

He claimed that around 4,725 leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies have so far been arrested since January 30.

Rizvi demanded the government immediately release them.

BNP on Thursday announced a fresh round of peaceful countrywide protest programmes, including collecting signatures from mass people across the country on Saturday, submitting memorandums to all the deputy commissioner offices on Sunday and staging demonstrations in all the district towns and metropolitan cities, except Dhaka, on Tuesday.

A special court convicted former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on February 8 last. She was then sent to the old central jail at Nazimuddin Road in the city.

Earlier, the party observed a token hunger strike on Wednesday while formed a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club on Monday and staged a sit-in programme in front of the party's Nayapaltan central office on Tuesday.In case you didnt know, Nissan is bringing a new Altima sedan to the 2018 New York Auto Show. The automaker made that abundantly clear when it released a new teaser video featuring the Empire State Building. So thats happening. Whats less certain is our expectation of what the new Altima is going to be. Either way, save the date for March 28. The new Nissan Altima is on its way.

The teaser video didnt reveal much, but dont expect anything groundbreaking out of the new Altima.

Sedans might be on the decline in the U.S., but they still pull in heavy sales. The Altima, for example, sold 254,996 units in 2017. Thats a big total, even if it was down from its record sales year in 2014 when Nissan moved 335,644 units. Nissan still has big plans for its mid-size sedan, and were going to see the sixth-generation model when it hits the Big Apple in a little over a months time.

The teaser video didnt reveal much, but dont expect anything groundbreaking out of the new Altima. It should still receive a four-cylinder engine as a base powertrain. The likely candidate would be the same 2.5-liter four-banger that was used in the last model. Dont be surprised, though, if Nissan opts to switch things up for the sixth-gen model. A 3.5-liter V-6 unit is also likely given the fact that the Altima has always had a version of that engine. Likewise, a hybrid version should also be in the cards. The sedan will also sport a front-wheel drive setup, but rumors have circulated that an all-wheel-drive system could be thrown into the mix as an option.

The new Altima will adopt styling cues from the Nissan Vmotion 2.0 Concept that the automaker unveiled at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show

The design of the sixth-generation Altima is open to interpretation. Weve seen prototype versions go on test runs in the past few months, but theres growing belief that the new Altima will adopt styling cues from the Nissan Vmotion 2.0 Concept that the automaker unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show last month. Its not likely to be as dramatic as the concept, but the Vmotion 2.0 is a good peg for the Altima if its really going to make a statement in its super competitive segment.

More details should arrive as we draw closer to the New York Auto Show. For now, check out the Vmotion 2.0 Concept and imagine how its going to look like as the sixth-generation Altima. Intriguing, right?

References

Read our full review on the 2017 Nissan Altima.

Read our full review on the 2017 Nissan Vmotion 2.0 Concept

Read more Nissan news.

Read more New York Auto Show news.Nevertheless you should still ignore the fact that the train carries DB branding.

When it comes to the validity of passes what matters is the route, not the company.

Until a few years ago the Eurail Pass only gave 50% on the TPF network. That meant that to take the train to Bulle from Bern (to continue to the chocolate factory in Broc, or to go to Gruyere) someone with an Eurail Pass needed to get a ticket for the part from Romont onwards. and that even though the train in question is operated with an SBB trainset. For tariff purposes that train becomes a TPF train the moment it leaves the main line.

Similarly for a long time several BLS lines werent covered by passes either, even in those cases where only SBB branded trains ran over them.

Fortunately those exceptions have now mostly disappeared.

This is why when it comes to validity of passes in Switzerland it is the map you should look at. On Interlaken - Spiez you will see trains with BLS, SBB and DB logos (and soon even MOB). The line however is a BLS line, and the whole BLS network has now been covered by both the Swiss Pass and the Eurail Pass for some time.

(Interesting bit of trivia: it is actually possible occasionally to travel in Switzerland on an ICE that has a NS logo on it...)

Edited: 3 years agoIf you do some research on places like and also come back here for more information/asking specific questions, you certainly won't need a travel agent - and unless your travel agent has spent many months or years travelling in Australia, they will not be able to give you the level of detailed information you can gain from us here (volunteers who spend our time helping fellow travellers have the best holiday they can). Sometimes travel agents can give you absolutely erroneous information eg: one recent poster said her travel agent suggested February for the Whitsundays would be just fine and the weather would not be an issue - when in fact Feb is cyclone and stinger season in that part of Aus, and probably the worst time of year to visit there.

Do keep reading and come back when you have a better ideas of available travel time and interests.

WA certainly is a wonderful place to visit, but just like the USA, we are a huge country with diverse climates and landscapes and "best' is incredibly subjective.

Certainly, WA can offer you the wine country, beaches, hikes and outback - but WA is more than 2.6 million km2 (1.6km2 million MILES) so it is not all in easy driving distance - you need to fly places to maximise your time. Also, coming from USA, it makes sense to spend some time on the east coast as you are having to travel through there anyway.

Cheers.There's a workaround for Hartford if you're coming on I-84, which is the most direct route. I'll list it below, but what I'd do is check traffic conditions as you enter Connecticut. There's an unavoidable delay as you go through a very long running construction zone in Waterbury.

But after Waterbury, if the direct I-84 route through Hartford looks to be tied up, get off and take I-291 east to I-91 north. You now have another decision point. The direct route from I-91 back to I-84 is to get off at the Charter Oak Bridge (Connecticut 15.) This takes you immediately back onto I-84 east, and really isn't any longer than just staying on I-84 all the way.

BUT, the ramp from I-91 onto the Charter Oak Bridge can back up. Unless it's rush hour it isn't too bad, but if your mapping program shows more of a delay, here's the workaround. (This too is only slightly longer than the direct route.

Get off I-91 at Connecticut 3 northbound (actually going east) and take that to Connecticut 2 westbound (actually going north.) Take Connecticut 2 to I-84 east.

All this sounds worse than it actually is. All the roads are well-marked expressways and you're not on them very long.

Edited: 3 years agoThat was one dangerous situation! While vehicles might have technical problems, we are all thinking that at least the brakes are inspected regularly. Would you be so kind and share the model of the car used? And on which road did you have this terrible experience?

I am surprised that downshifting did not helped, specially as you obviously have not gained much speed. Was it a manual or automatic transmission car?

As for the attitude of the rental car company, well, I am not that surprised after reading your opening sentence: "They told us that we had no reservation, ignored us for several hours, and then offered us a more expensive car."; any one of those would make me exit their office at once (well, I would surely not waited to be ignored for several hours).

After that terrible situation, how did you manage with the damages? Did you have the CDW from the NU/Solid Car Rental? How much did they charged you for damages done to the car? Have you received any explanations to why the car was malfunctioning?

At the end of such an ordeal, my least concern/grief with the company would be how much "discount" they would offer me. In all sincerity, I would decline any from the company that have rented me a car that almost killed a member of my family! Yet I would tried my best to find out if the car was properly maintained, and inspected by road traffic authorities.Mueller charges 13 Russians with interfering in US election to help Trump

AP :

Thirteen Russians have been criminally charged for interfering in the 2016 US election to help Donald Trump, the office of Robert Mueller, the special counsel, announced on Friday.

Mueller's office said 13 Russians and three Russian entities, including the notorious state-backed "troll farm" the Internet Research Agency, had been indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington DC.

A 37-page indictment alleged that the Russians' operations "included supporting the presidential campaign of then-candidate Donald J Trump ... and disparaging Hillary Clinton," his Democratic opponent.

Mueller alleged that Russian operatives "communicated with unwitting individuals associated with the Trump campaign", but the indictment did not address the question of whether anyone else in Trump's team had knowingly colluded.

Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, said at a press conference in Washington: "There is no allegation in this indictment that any American had any knowledge." Rosenstein added that the charges did not mean the Russian activity had an effect on the outcome of the election.

Trump and the White House seized on Rosenstein's remarks to falsely claim that the indictment proved there had been no collusion and that the election result had definitely not been impacted.

In a statement on Friday, Trump suggested that what he called "outlandish partisan attacks, wild and false allegations, and far-fetched theories" relating to possible collusion were serving to further the Russian agenda.

The Russians allegedly posed as Americans to operate bogus social media accounts, buy advertisements and stage political rallies. They stole the identities of real people in the US to post online and built computer systems in the US to hide the Russian origin of their activity, according prosecutors.

"This indictment serves as a reminder that people are not always who they appear to be on the internet," said Rosenstein. He alleged that the Russians had "worked to promote discord in the United States and undermine public confidence in democracy," adding: "We must not allow them to succeed."

The charges state that from as far back as 2014, the defendants conspired together to defraud the US by "impairing, obstructing, and defeating the lawful functions of government" through interference with the American political and electoral processes. One defendant, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, is accused of using companies he controlled - including Concord Management and Consulting, and Concord Catering - to finance the operations against the US. The operation at one stage had a monthly budget of $1.25m, according to Mueller, which paid for operatives' salaries and bonuses. Events were organised by Russians posing as Trump supporters and as groups opposed to Trump such as Black Lives Matter, according to prosecutors. One advertisement shortly before the election promoted the Green party candidate Jill Stein, who is blamed by some Clinton backers for splitting the anti-Trump vote.

In August 2016, Russian operatives communicated with Trump campaign staff in Florida through their "@donaldtrump.com" email addresses to coordinate a series of pro-Trump rallies in the state, according to Mueller, and then bought advertisements on social media to promote the events.

At one rally in West Palm Beach, a Russian operative is even alleged to have paid Americans to build a cage on a flatbed truck and to have an actor posing as Clinton in a prison uniform stand inside.

55 Savushkina Street, St Petersburg, said to be the headquarters of Russia's 'troll army'.

One defendant, Irina Kaverzina, is accused of admitting her involvement in the operation and a subsequent coverup in an email to a relative in September last year, after Mueller's inquiry had begun. "We had a slight crisis here at work: the FBI busted our activity," Kaverzina allegedly wrote, "so I got preoccupied with covering tracks together with the colleagues." The Russians are also accused of working to suppress turnout among ethnic minority voters. They allegedly created an Instagram account posing as "Woke Blacks" and railed against the notion that African Americans should choose Clinton as "the lesser of two devils" against Trump.

In early November 2016, according to the indictment, the Russian operatives used bogus "United Muslims of America" social media accounts to claim that "American Muslims [are] boycotting elections today."

Following Trump's victory, the Russian operation promoted allegations of voter fraud by the Democratic party, according to Mueller's team. Around that time, Trump repeatedly claimed without evidence that he would have won the popular vote if not for large-scale voter fraud.

The individuals charged are Mikhail Ivanovich Bystrov, Mikhail Leonidovich Burchik, Aleksandra Yuryevna Krylova, Anna Vladislavovna Bogacheva, Sergey Pavlovich Polozov, Maria Anatolyevna Bovda, Robert Sergeyevich Bovda, Dzheykhun Nasimi Ogly Aslanov, Vadim Vladimirovich Podkopaev, Gleb Igorevitch Vasilchenko, Irina Viktorovna Kaverzina, Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin and Vladimir Venkov.

All were charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States. Three defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, and five defendants were charged with aggravated identity theft.

Separately, Mueller's office announced that Richard Pinedo, of Santa Paula, California, had pleaded guilty to identity fraud. Pinedo, 28, admitted to running a website that offered stolen identities to help customers get around the security measures of major online payment sites. It was not made clear whether his service had been used by the Russian operatives.

Rosenstein said no contact had been made with Russian authorities regarding the charges so far, but that US officials intended to seek extradition of the defendants.

US intelligence agencies previously concluded that Russians mounted an attack on the US election system aimed at electing Donald Trump to the presidency.

Mueller is conducting a criminal inquiry into interference by Russians and possible collusion by Trump's campaign. Two Trump campaign advisers have pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. Two others have been charged with federal crimes. US investigators have long signalled their belief that Prigozhin, a 56-year-old billionaire businessman, is behind Russia's internet troll factories.

Nicknamed the "Kremlin's chef", Prigozhin once ran Putin's favourite restaurant in St Petersburg, after which he was awarded multi-billion pound state catering contracts.

He provided catering for Dmitry Medvedev's presidential inauguration in 2008, and also has lucrative contracts to feed Russia's army and Moscow's schoolchildren.

Prigozhin, who has also been linked to the Wagner Group, a shadowy Kremlin-linked private military contractor believed to be operating in Syria, was included on a US sanctions list in July.

Speaking to the RIA Novosti state news agency on Friday, Prigozhin said: "The Americans are really impressionable people, they see what they want to see. I have great respect for them. If they want to see the devil - let them see him."

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the allegations "absurd".

"Thirteen people carried out interference in the US elections? Thirteen people against special services with a budgets of billions?" she wrote in a Facebook post.

Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian media he had not yet had a chance to study the indictments.-:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:-

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We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.My husband and I made reservations in November of 2017, for a trip flying into San Jose, Costa Rica on United Airlines in late February of 2018. The same day, we were to fly from San Jose to Quepos, Costa Rica via Nature Air Airlines. I thought everyone might need to know that one week prior to our departure (today), Nature Air emailed that they have cancelled our flight. No reason was given so I called them. They said they've had an "operational change and canceled some daily flights." I asked if the flights were full and the representative answered "yes." So, with one week notice, I've had to make other travel arrangements from San Jose to Manuel Antonio. Sansa Air had nothing available on such short notice so our concierge has arranged Uber for us to and from Manuel Antonio (a 3 hour ride). They then stated that our refund will take 4 weeks. They will have had our money for 4 months for nothing, assuming we receive our refund.

I actually flew with Nature Air about 10 years ago without incident (although it was a bit scary). It seems their business is not being run very well anymore. Needless to say I will not be flying with them ever again.Some suggestions for your Sunday . . . I agree with Christnp that you have a lot listed for that day before Brighton Beach and Coney Island. Being a Brooklyn partisan, I'd suggest hitting maybe one Manhattan neighborhood in the morning (perhaps Chinatown/Little Italy, since they're essentially the same neighborhood - you could grab pastries and coffee/tea there) and then heading to Brooklyn.

However, instead of going directly to Brighton Beach and Coney Island, I'd suggest making a day of it. The train ride there takes you through some of Brooklyn's most interesting neighborhoods (bonus: the D, F and Q are all elevated much of the way, giving you panoramic views of non-touristy NYC), so why not take advantage of it? Here's the way I'd do it:

After a quick foray to Chinatown, get on a Brooklyn-bound Q train at Canal St. This train goes over the Manhattan Bridge, with fabulous views of Chinatown, the Brooklyn and Williamsburg Bridges, the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge Park. Stay on the Q to the Prospect Park stop, and get off there to see a bit of the park and (since it's Sunday) grab lunch at Smorgasburg. You'll find an astonishing variety of food vendors there, and it's quite the scene. (It opens at 11.)

After lunch, get back on the train and continue on to Brighton Beach, taking in the views of Flatbush, Midwood and Sheepshead Bay (all interesting and totally untouristy neighborhoods) from the elevated train. Enjoy the Russian atmosphere in Brighton Beach, and the "old Brooklyn" feel of the streets, with the trains rumbling by overhead. Duck into a few markets. After you've had enough, head to the boardwalk, which you can stroll all the way to Coney Island.

Enjoy Coney Island, then get an F train at Stillwell Avenue for the trip back. This will give you elevated views of different neighborhoods (Gravesend, Borough Park, Kensington) before it disappears underground. Extend your Brooklyn day by getting off the train again to explore the shops, restaurants, cafes and bars of brownstone Brooklyn. You'll find tons of options around any stop from 15th St to Bergen. If you're into beer, consider hopping off at Smith/9th St - this is most definitely not a picturesque brownstone neighborhood (it's gritty and industrial), but it puts you just a couple of blocks from a great craft brewery, Other Half. From there, consider walking along either Smith or Court to get back on the F at either Carroll (about half a mile) or Bergen (another half mile). Both have tons of interesting small, local shops and restaurants/bars, with gorgeous brownstone residential streets running between them. (Court is the better bet between 9th and Carroll Streets - that section of Smith has fewer storefronts because of the train tracks.)

Have a great trip!How far do you want to go in the US? It's a big country.

Do you plan to have a stopover on the West Coast as well? Or just concentrate on the East Coast? You don't have a lot of time to plan an itinerary but you need to decide where you want to go at least.

I would do some research and pick a few destinations and then start browsing those forums. The Top Questions on those forums can give some ideas on what to see and how to get around once there.

Flights can be had between the East and West Coasts either as part of your main flight from Australia, or just book your own domestic flights within the US.

The West Coast has San Francisco and Los Angeles (including Disneyland if everyone likes that) as the main cities serviced from Australia. There are day trips you can do from these cities.

When you're in NYC, it's easy to get to some other cities such as Boston, Philadelphia and Washington DC via the Amtrak train system. It's efficient and when you book in advance (within the next few months) it can be cost effective.The alteration and act upon fashion over the past a hundred years has been exponential. Fashion is a language understood by many. In Kenya, it is so evident in women who are so cautious about how they look in every occasion they attend, as they believe it boosts confidence in the way they carry themselves when around a crowd or even to their spouses, friends, family and work places. Time after time, changes in fashion have been introduced. Each time a new fashion is out, so many embrace the changes and go with the trending culture till that time that a new fashion is out.

READ ALSO: Trends Of African Print Dresses For Plus Size Ladies

Fashion is a mode of expression for so many and considered basic and fundamental by every Kenyan girl. Gone are the days when fashion was associated with the rich. As time changed, everyone, no matter your social background has been seen to be fashionable at one point in time. Back then the ladies were only seen in skirts and no trousers, as time goes by women have also been introduced to the trousers as designers identified a gap in the market and decided to tailor make trousers for women.

I must admit that skirts are now fashionable and every Kenyan woman at least own one or two if not many. There are so many skirt designs that have been introduced in this era and most of them fit in almost every occasion. Different types of skirts are so stylish when the women rock them with matching shoes and design tips. There are five different types of skirts that at least every Kenyan girl should own.

Types of skirts that every Kenyan girl should own

Midi skirts

These skirt designs are generally mediating between the sexy mini skirts and maxi skirts. They are usually just above the ankles and they cover the knees as well. Midi skirts flater all figures, if you comb your styling techniques well, midi skirts will definitely be your favorite for almost all occasions. You can always sway it with a buttoned top for a corporate or do it as a casual with some stilettos. There are so many ways to turn up your style with the midi skirt. Open the link below to view an outfit with the midi skirt.

Pencil skirt

This type of skirt flatters every body type. Curvaceous women have well proportioned figures most especially when they have small waists. This skirt design will always appear formal as it braces so well with a coat irrespective of its color. Besides, complementing the office wear, you can as well dress it down with a lace top and sneakers for a weekend wear. For pencil skirts to look good on an individual, you have to take note of your body so as to know how to rock it.

A-Line Skirt

These type of skirts are generally wider at the hemline as compared to the waistline. To bring it out well as an outfit, you have to take the fabric and length into consideration. With these two factors in place be rest assured that you are smart as this boosts the womens confidence. You can always rock them at whatever length you desire that is, long or short. The reason as to why every Kenyan lady shoud have an A-Line skirt is because it fits all body types and can be work to any occasion thereof.

READ ALSO: Cabinet nominee confirms he will fire Atwoli from plum job

Mini Skirts

At any point in time every Kenyan lady needs a miniskirt in her wardrobe. Your list of skirts would not be complete without a mini skirt. Miniskirts are usually short skirts that are above the knee.If you are blessed with attractive limbs miniskirts are the only way to show off what your Mama gave you. When we come to mini skirts, there are a variety of designs. They include; Bubble skirts, plaited, tutus and tight ones among others. Miniskirts also depend on the fabric used to guide you on what occasion it is for and what top to put it on with.

Maxi skirt

Is basically the opposite of the Miniskirts. In most cases they even sweep ground as it is very long and completely covers the entire length of ones legs. The look is considered conservative as it does not reveal any part of your body from the waist. You do not need to put more effort in dressing it down as they are so versatile.

Source: Tuko- Calls for donation in Zimbabwe towards Mogan Tsvangirai funeral has caused a public outrage from the citizens

- The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party claimed the request was made by Tsvanngirai's family who felt the state won't provide enough for the funeral

- Morgan Tsvangirai passed on Wednesday, February 14 after battling coloon cancer for more than two years in South Africa

A call by Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party in Zimbabwe to raise funds for the late Morgan Tsvangirai's funeral has caused public outrage in Zimbabwe.

TUKO.co.ke understand that the request by the party was made despite plans by the state to offer assistance with Tsvangirai's burial in Zimbabwe.

Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens

READ ALSO: Africa mourns Morgan Tsvangirai

READ ALSO: Morgan Tsvangirai leader of Zimbabwe opposition is dead

Zimbabweans expressed concern over the donation call while others were quick to accuse the party of taking advantage of its president's funeral to collect money from them.

In defence, the party claimed Tsvangirai's family had requested for the donations because the state was only catering for the basics which according to the family is not enough.

READ ALSO: Raila's ally Morgan Tsvangirai announces he has colon cancer

READ ALSO: Ailing Morgan Tsvangirai's family refutes claims that he is set to retire from active politics

Tsvangirai died on Wednesday, February 14 after battling colon cancer for over two years in South Africa where he was receiving treatemet.

TUKO.co.ke reported Elias Mudzuri, vice president of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) took to his twitter handle to break the sad news.

Here are more of the reactions from Zimbabweans as compiled by TUKO.co.ke

READ ALSO: Morgan Tsvangirai leader of Zimbabwe opposition is dead

ALSO WATCH: Do you support Raila Odinga's call for fresh presidential election? on TUKO tv

Source: Tuko- High School student from Gatundu South, Kiambu County, suspended and ordered to bring 1000 loaves of bread for taking a loaf from the school's dinning hall without permission

- The unnamed form three student at Muhuho High School was sent home on Thursday, February 15, with a suspension letter ordering his guardian to buy the mentioned goods

- A loaf of bread is said to cost KSh 50 bob in the region, which means the student's guardian will have to spend some KSh 50,000 to get 1000 loaves, enough to feed all students in that institution

Theft has never been a good idea, and it doesn't matter if you are a student. If caught stealing, you will pay dearly. That is what one student from Gatundu South, Kiambu County, had to learn the hard way.

TUKO.co.ke has gathered that the unnamed form three student at Muhuho High School was caught stealing a loaf of bread from the school's dinning hall.

Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens

READ ALSO: Watoto waigizaji wa kipindi cha Machachari ni watu wazima sasa, picha zao zitakushangaza

According to a report by Citizen TV, the unlucky student was sent home with a suspension letter ordering him to report back to school with not less than 1000 loaves of bread as punishment.

Muhuho High School student from Kiambu county ordered to buy 1000 loaves of bread as punishment for stealing a loaf.Photo:The Telegraph.

Install TUKO App To Read News For FREE

And that was not all! The student was also ordered to clear school fees.

"You are ordered to return back to school by latest 9 am on Monday having cleared pending school fees. Also come back with loaves of bread enough to feed all students, read part of the suspension letter.

READ ALSO: Student fails to join Form One at a Catholic school for refusing to shave because of her faith

Now, a loaf of bread is said to cost KSh 50 bob in Gatundu South. This means the student's guardian will have to spend a staggering KSh 50,000 to get 1000 bread.

According to the letter signed by the school's deputy principal and which was leaked to the media, the 1000 loaves will be is enough to feed the entire school.

READ ALSO: The girl is mine! 900 students suspended after mass brawl over a girl

It is not clear how much in terms of school fees the student was left with, but from the look of things, the guardian may have to part with much more than KSh 50,000 if the student is to resume studies at Muhuho High School.

The institution's principal is, however, yet to comment on the costly matter.

I was accused of sleeping with Raila Odinga - On Tuko TV

Source: Breaking NewsDid you know public consumption of alcohol is against the law? Well it is during an SOE! ButRussian-backed militants launched 20 attacks on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) area in Donbas over the past day.

This is reported by the ATO Headquarters press center.

In Luhansk direction, militants used 120mm and 82mm mortars, armored personnel carriers, grenade launchers and machine guns to launch attacks on Luhanske (59km north-east of Donetsk). The shelling of this front-line area lasted over five hours. In addition, the illegal armed formations used mortars of various calibers and a whole arsenal of infantry weapons to shell Svitlodarsk (55km north-west of Donetsk) and Troitske (69km west of Luhansk). The militants also opened fire from 82mm mortars, grenade launchers and small arms near Krymske (42.5km north-west of Luhansk). The enemy violated the ceasefire near Zalizne, Malynove and Novooleksandrivka.

In Donetsk direction, militants used large-caliber machine guns and small arms to fire at Ukrainian positions near Taramchuk (30km south-west of Donetsk).

As a result of the enemy shelling, one Ukrainian serviceman was wounded and another one was injured.

ishBan on holding rallies in city still in force: Asad

UNB, Brahmanbaria :

Mentioning that the ban slapped by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on holding any rally in the capital is still in force, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Saturday said it will decide about allowing BNP to hold a rally once the ban is lifted.

"The ban imposed by the DMP commissioner has not yet been withdrawn. After lifting the ban, the commissioner will decide where to allow the rally that won't affect the law and order," he said.

The minister was addressing a programme at Ustad Alauddin Khan Memorial Auditorium marking the launching of a book titled 'Jibon Smrity-2', an autobiography of freedom fighter Humayun Kabir.

BNP on Friday announced to hold a public rally in the city on February 22, demanding the release of its chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.

Speaking at a press briefing at the BNP's Nayapaltan central office, party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said they decided to hold the rally either at Suhrawardy Udyan or in front of their central office.

He said they have already sought permission from the authorities concerned for arranging the programme.

Ahead of the verdict against the BNP chief and five others in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case delivered on February 8, the DMP on February 6 slapped a ban on holding any procession and carrying sharp weapons, explosives, flammable materials in the capital until further notice.

The home minister, however, said police do not obstruct any peaceful programme of BNP.

Among others, RAN Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, MP, Deputy Inspector General of police (Chittagong Range) Md Moniruzzaman, Deputy Commissioner of Brahmanbaria Rezwaunur Rahman and Police Super Mizanur Rahman attended the programme with Brahmanbaria municipality mayor Nayar Kabir in the chair.

One Ukrainian serviceman was wounded and another one was injured as a result of the enemy shelling in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) area in Donbas over the past day.

Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Spokesperson Maksym Prauta said this at a press briefing on Saturday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"One soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was wounded and another one was injured as a result of the enemy shelling. The health condition of one of the servicemen was reported as difficult and of another defender as satisfactory, he said.

ishUkrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed the law introducing amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine on corporate contracts, according to the website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

The law was passed on March 23, 2017 and sent to the president for signature on April 3. In almost a year, on February 15, 2018, the law was returned with the signature of the president.

One of the authors of the legislative initiative is an MP from the Samopomich Union political party, Viktoria Ptashnyk.

"The president signed our Law on Corporate Contracts (4470). Yes, this is about creating a favorable business environment in Ukraine! The law will soon come into force (we expect the next day after publication). This victory was preceded by long discussions by lawyers, drafting, amending, agreeing in the Rada, support from 279 people's deputies, a long signing process, my requests and appeals, upholding justice and, finally, a victory!" Ptashnyk wrote on her Facebook page.

opPresident of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has discussed with U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis the situation in Donbas, the issue of a UN peacekeeping mission, the sanctions policy against Russia and further steps to strengthen Ukraine's defense capability.

The meeting took place in the framework of the Munich Security Conference, the press service of the Head of State reported.

Poroshenko expressed gratitude for the firm position of the U.S. in support of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The two sides discussed the situation in Donbas and expressed their concern over the ongoing attempts of Russia and its supporters to undermine the peace process.

They also discussed the need to deploy a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Donbas in accordance with the UN principles and the goals of the Minsk process.

The interlocutors emphasized the importance of sanctions policy against Russia until the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine are restored.

The Head of State expressed appreciation for Washington's important decisions on strengthening the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Ukraine's defense capability.

The U.S. Secretary of Defense reaffirmed commitment of the United States to restore Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and noted a significant progress made by Ukraine in reforming the security and defense field.

The parties discussed further steps to strengthen Ukraine's defense capability and noted the priority of the development of strategic partnership between Kyiv and Washington.

U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker also attended the meeting.President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker has assured that the European Union is ready to enhance the comprehensive support for Ukraine in 2018 on its way of systemic reforms and implementation of the Association Agreement.

He stated this during a meeting with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko within the framework of the Munich Security Conference, the press service of the Head of State reported.

"The President of the European Commission has assured that the European Union is ready to enhance the comprehensive support for Ukraine in 2018 on the way of systemic reforms and implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU," the statement reads.

The parties also discussed the prospects of the European Union's allocation of the fourth macro-financial aid to Ukraine, as well as the ways of implementing the Eastern Partnership + initiative.

Poroshenko and Juncker discussed the course of reforms in Ukraine. The President of Ukraine noted the importance of forming an independent anticorruption infrastructure, in particular an independent Anticorruption Court.

The leaders agreed to begin preparations for the next 20th Ukraine-EU Summit.

ishPoroshenko also urged to strengthen Ukraine's resilience through internal reforms and external support.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has called on partners to keep the doors of the European Union and NATO open for Ukraine.

"Keep your doors open for Ukraine  whether the EU or NATO. The greatest security gains come from enlargement and transformation, not from stepping back and maintaining the status quo," he said at the 54th Munich Security Conference on Friday, the presidential press service reports.

Read alsoPoroshenko: "Russian world" turns everything it touches into ruin and declinePoroshenko also urged to strengthen Ukraine's resilience through internal reforms and external support.

"Remember that there is no other country in the world that has been delivering on both tracks simultaneously  countering aggression and implementing the biggest reforms in the history of our country. We will keep up the momentum of reforms this year, including my demand for establishment of a special anti-corruption court," he stressed.

Poroshenko emphasized that Ukraine's progress so far would not be possible without assistance of its partners. "But, we could multiply our reform achievements, including by means of such initiatives as the European plan for Ukraine," he added.

The president also urged to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities. "We are not claiming the territory of our neighbor, but we are protecting our soil. Ukraine's enhanced defense potential would raise the costs of Russian aggression. In the face of such a strong deterrent, Moscow will think twice before launching any new offensives," Poroshenko stressed.Sen. Graham, R-S.C., was far more candid, not only in his support of Ukraine, but in his disgust with Russia for aggressive tactics in Europe and election tampering in the United States.

Defense leaders from Europe and the United States expressed optimism about the prospect of Ukraine becoming a NATO member, with Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina arguing that relations with Moscow may be beyond salvageable anyway.

Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko raged against Russia during a speech at the Munich Security Conference, accusing its neighbor to the east of waging what he described as a hybrid war, and asking NATO allies to stand with the embattled country against an increasingly threatening adversary, Defense News reported.

Read alsoPoroshenko calls for keeping doors of EU, NATO open for Ukraine"My message to you is that it is in our joint interest to resist Russians attempt to break our unity and ruin our democracy throughout Europe or throughout the world... to prove Europe is a continent of stability, peace and cooperation," Poroshenko said. "Dear friends, these values are our greatest assets against the Russian threat."

Interestingly, the plea came after a dialogue among global defense leaders at the conference about whether Ukraine might ever become a NATO member. That prospect of Ukraine acceptance into NATO has been something of a quagmire for allies  reasonable on its face, but also bringing with it political ramifications that could ultimately erupt in a political disaster if not managed with great care.

Ten years ago the post Soviet state was denied consideration for membership at the Bucharest Summit, in part due to fear of heightening tensions with Moscow.

But a lot can change in a decade, said Rose Gottemoeller, NATO deputy secretary general. She pointed to the alliance's "open door policy," while also acknowledging that Ukraine has not as a matter of policy sought NATO membership as of yet. (The Ukrainian parliament did vote in 2017 to restore NATO membership as the country's strategic foreign policy objective, however.)

Read alsoMFA says Ukraine needs reform to be considered as candidate for NATO membershipSen. Graham, R-S.C., was far more candid, not only in his support of Ukraine, but in his disgust with Russia for aggressive tactics in Europe and election tampering in the United States.

"To our friends in the Ukraine, I want it to be your decision [to join NATO] not Russia's decision," Graham said. It's worth NATO allies considering that "the Ukrainians gave up a nuclear weapons arsenal, with the understanding that 'if I do this I'm good to go.' We signed up and everybody else did. And our friends in Russia step all over that.

"The rule of law means nothing to Russia," Graham continued. "Does it mean anything to us? I'd be glad to have a better relationship with Russia but it's difficult. I used to worry about antagonizing Russia. I won't worry about that anymore. You're going to get what you deserve if you keep this up. And to our friends in Georgia and Ukraine, be patient. Hopefully the rest of us will get a backbone and push back against aggression that I feel is unwarranted."

Advocacy is in fact critical to NATO membership, argued Estonia Defence Minister Juri Luik. He credited President George W. Bush and his cordial relationship with Russia President Vladimir Putin as a major factor in Estonia becoming a NATO member in 2004.

"I believe Ukraine will be in NATO, Luik said. "I cannot predict the time, but I've always said to my Ukrainian and Georgian colleagues, be patient, work for it, be ready. When we joined, President Putin said only one thing: 'Well we don't like it but we certainly won't start a war [over] it.' It was a windmill."The interlocutors emphasized the importance of sanctions policy against Russia until the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine are restored.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Saturday met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis in the framework of the Munich Security Conference, during which the parties discussed the situation in Donbas.

"The two sides discussed the situation in Donbas and expressed their concern over the ongoing attempts of Russia and its supporters to undermine the peace process," the presidential press service reports.

Poroshenko expressed gratitude for the firm position of the U.S. in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Read alsoPoroshenko: "Russian world" turns everything it touches into ruin and decline"People in Ukraine believe in the leadership of the U.S. in the reinforcement of transatlantic front of counteraction to the Russian aggression and the attempts to destabilize the world's legality and order," the president said.

They also discussed the need to deploy a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Donbas in accordance with the UN principles and the goals of the Minsk process.

The interlocutors emphasized the importance of sanctions policy against Russia until the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine are restored.

Poroshenko expressed appreciation for Washington's important decisions on strengthening the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Ukraine's defense capability. Washington's latest decisions are a signal against any intentional escalation of the situation in Donbas, which, due to Ukraine's new defensive capabilities, will increase the price of such an aggression.

Mattis reaffirmed commitment of the United States to restore Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and noted a significant progress made by Ukraine in reforming the security and defense field.

The parties discussed further steps to strengthen Ukraine's defense capability and noted the priority of the development of strategic partnership between Kyiv and Washington.

U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker also attended the meeting.Gabriel also defended plans for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that would connect Germany and Russia under the Baltic Sea.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Saturday he favored easing some sanctions imposed on Russia if a ceasefire could be implemented in eastern Ukraine with the help of U.N. peacekeepers.

Gabriel said it was "not realistic" to insist on full implementation of the Minsk peace accords before offering some sanctions relief, Reuters said.

He said he realized his view differed from the official position  that sanctions could only be eased when the Minsk peace accord was fully implemented  but said it was in the world's interests to break the current impasse.

A Russia-backed separatist insurgency led to fighting in eastern Ukraine that has killed around 10,000 people since 2014.

While the Kremlin denies providing military support for separatists there, the European Union and the United States have imposed sanctions on Russia for backing the rebels and for annexing Crimea from Ukraine.

Full-scale combat largely ended in 2015 after France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine sponsored a ceasefire agreement in the Belarus capital Minsk, but casualties are still reported on a near daily basis.

Russia last proposed bringing U.N. peacekeeping forces into eastern Ukraine.

Read alsoGradual sanctions lift should stimulate Russia to fulfill Minsk deal  Germanys GabrielGabriel said that, while there were fundamental differences over that plan, it was "one of the few realistic options" for trying to end the violence, and Germany would push for progress on it at the United Nations.

"We need progress urgently because the world is becoming more dangerous," Gabriel told a meeting also attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of a Security Conference in Munich.

Russia was an indispensable partner in global efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, Gabriel added, citing North Korea's efforts to develop a nuclear capability.

Gabriel, a former economy minister, and Lavrov said they aimed to expand bilateral trade, which rose 20 percent last year.

The two ministers are due to hold a face-to-face meeting later on Saturday, but plans for a four-way meeting on the Ukraine crisis on Friday also including France and Ukraine collapsed after a scheduling conflict.

Gabriel also defended plans for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that would connect Germany and Russia under the Baltic Sea, a project bitterly opposed by Poland, Ukraine and Baltic states on concerns it would increase Europe's dependence on Russian gas and could cut off Ukraine from gas transit fees.

He said Germany intended to ensure continued use of the existing transit pipeline through Ukraine, and he believed Russia was open to that possibility.

The United States last month said it viewed Nord Stream 2 as a threat to Europe's energy security.The parties also condemned the intention to hold Russian presidential elections in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Saturday held a meeting with a U.S. Congress delegation, during which they discussed, among other things, sanctions against Russia and the de-occupation of Crimea.

"Poroshenko expressed gratitude for the leading role of the U.S. Congress in rebuffing the Russian aggression and defending Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. A vivid confirmation of such support was the adoption of the 'Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act', some provisions of which are already being implemented," the president's press service reported.

The president emphasized that Washington's decision to grant Ukraine lethal defensive weapons and increase the sanctions pressure was not only a response to the destructive position of Moscow, but also created a favorable background for the peace process in Donbas.

Read alsoReuters: Ukraine progress should soften sanctions on Russia  Germany's GabrielIt is reported that Poroshenko is hopeful that financing of the programs of security assistance to the Ukrainian state, including the provision of defensive weapons, will be fully supported by the Congress in the future as well.

The parties also condemned the intention to hold Russian presidential elections in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea. Further steps were coordinated to strengthen the international front for the de-occupation of Ukrainian Crimea.

The parties discussed Ukraine's progress in implementing the programs of reforms and developing cooperation with the IMF. They noted the efforts made to reform the security sector, as evidenced by the intention to consider a bill on national security in the Parliament in the near future.

The president of Ukraine also urged the U.S. Congress to support the official recognition by the U.S. of the Holodomor of 1932-1933, artificially created by the Stalinist regime, as a genocide of the Ukrainian people.Russian-led forces in eastern Ukraine continue to use weapons banned by the Minsk agreements.

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 20 times in the past 24 hours, with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action (WIA).

Read alsoMilitants intensify attacks near Mariupol as UA reports 1 KIA, 1 WIA in last day"In the Luhansk sector, the enemy was most active at the Svitlodarska Duha bulge. Here, the militants repeatedly opened fire from 120mm and 82mm mortars, infantry fighting vehicles, grenade launchers and machine guns on the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Luhanske. The shelling lasted about five hours near this settlement. In addition, the occupiers used mortars of various calibers and a whole arsenal of infantry weapons near the town of Svitlodarsk and the village of Troyitske," the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation Headquarters reported on Facebook on Saturday morning.

Moreover, the illegal armed formations shelled the defenders of the village of Krymske, using 82mm mortars, grenade launchers and small arms. In other areas, the militants violated the ceasefire near the villages of Zalizne, Malynove and Novo-Oleksandrivka.

In the daytime, the invaders provoked Ukrainian soldiers by using heavy machine guns and small arms near the village of Taramchuk, which is in the Donetsk sector.Reform of quota system in govt jobs demanded

Protest program at all edn instts Thursday

Staff Reporter :

A group of general students on Saturday demanded to reform the existing quota system in various government jobs, including BCS (Bangladesh Civil Service).

They came up with this demand from a rally held at the base of the Razu Memorial Sculpture on the Dhaka University campus on Saturday morning.

Under the banner of Bangladesh General Students Rights Protection Movement (BGSRPM), the students also announced that they would observe a protest programme at all the educational institutions across the country on Thursday.

They said, currently only 44 percent persons are recruited on merit and the remaining 56 percent on privilege allocated under various quotas.

Imran Hossain, a Masters student of Persian Language and Culture Department of Dhaka University, read out a written statement addressing the Prime Minister.

In the statement, Imran Hossain placed an eight-point demand on behalf of the protesting students.

The demands are reform quota system to a moderate level, meritorious candidates should be recruited if eligible one is not found under the quota system, jobs hopping taking benefit under the same quota should be stopped, a person with a secured job under quota facility should switch to another only on the basis of merit, uniform cut mark should be ensured in preliminary examination, existing quota system should be reformed following experts' advice, no recruitment should take place under a fixed quota and full implementation of clauses no 1 and 2 of the Article 29 of the constitution and stop discrimination in the recruitment process.

They also suggested the government to follow the practice of Indian quota system while reforming the existing quota system so that the real marginalised communities are benefitted, the statement reads.

According to two clauses of the Article 29 of the Constitution of The People's Republic Of Bangladesh:

(1) There shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in respect of employment or office in the service of the Republic.

(2) No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, be ineligible for, or discriminated against in respect of, any employment or office in the service of the Republic.

The students also threatened of tough movement if the government did not meet their demand soon.

In the Donetsk sector, the enemy used banned weapons near the village of Pisky.

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 10 times on February 17, with no Ukrainian soldiers reported as killed or wounded in action.

Read alsoUkraine reports 2 WIA's amid 20 enemy attacks in last day"In the Luhansk sector, the enemy used 82mm mortars and 122mm artillery systems against our fortified positions near the village of Luhanske. The invaders also opened fire from 120mm mortars and infantry fighting vehicles near the village of Troyitske. In the afternoon, the occupiers were active near the village of Krymske. Here, they repeatedly shelled the Ukrainian defenders with the use of mortars, heavy machine guns and small arms," the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters said in an evening update.

In the Donetsk sector, the enemy used banned weapons near the village of Pisky. In particular, the aggressor fired 120mm and 82mm mortars and carried out five shots from a tank.(@rukhshanmir)

The Federal Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary appreciated the role of Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) for countrys economic development by attracting investments and creating employment opportunities.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018) : The Federal Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary appreciated the role of Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) for countrys economic development by attracting investments and creating employment opportunities. He was addressing the launching ceremony of ABAD International Expo-2018 to be held in Islamabad from 4 to 6 May. Chairman ABAD Arif Yousuf Jeewa, Patron-In-Chief ABAD Mohsin Sheikhani, Senior Vice Chairman Fayyaz Ilyas, Vice Chairman Sohail Warind, Chairman Sothern Region Altaf Tai, President FPCCI Gazanfar Billour, Former President FPCCI Rauf Alam, MNA Rashid Godil, Zmarrud Khan, former Chairman Northern Region Sahir Rashid and a number of people from all walks of life were present on this occasion. The State Minister said that the apex body of builders and developers ABAD is playing a leading role for uplifting national economy and progress of the country.

It is very heartening that ABAD is organizing another expo in Islamabad; he said and added that such events are boosting economic activities. He said that ABAD has planned construction of Social Housing Schemes all over Pakistan and that it is more pleasant for him as ABAD will kick-start this scheme from Islamabad.

The minister assured that his government would fully support ABAD Social Housing Scheme as this scheme if in line with governments manifesto of providing shelter to homeless people. He assured to resolve all issues of builders and developers in the larger interest of the industry. Addressing at the occasion, the ABAD Chairman Arif Jeva said that there is vast potential in the countrys construction sector for investment and creating employment.

He pointed out that there is shortage of over two million homes in Pakistan. He said that the size of construction industry is over Rs250billion and asked the government to incentivize the construction sector to fil the huge shortage of homes and create employment opportunities. Jeva said the ABAD has announced a housing project for low income group of society during last years ABAD expo under which ABAD promised to provide a reasonable home in just Rs2 million.

He revealed that the ABAD has finalized a land near new Islamabad Airport for the project and the development work would start on the land shortly.

He said that such low cost housing projects will also be announced for other metropolitans. He said that a number of new companies are being registered in ABAD and making investments in the construction sector.

Arif Jeva said that ABADs international expo are source of inspiration of overseas Pakistanis to bring back their investments in Pakistan and invest in Pakistans real estate sector.

The government should announce tax reforms and incentives to make for real estate sector attractive for overseas Pakistanis. The President Federation of Pakistan Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Ghanzfar Baloor appreciated the ABADs efforts the regularly organizing expo that are creating awareness among general public and also attracting investments from overseas. Amir Waheed, the President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) said that the raw material for construction industry should be manufacture with in country and the ABAD should discourage import of raw material for construction and housing sector. Earlier, Faiz Ilyas, Senior Vice Chairman ABAD gave a comprehensive briefing on upcoming Expo and announced that beside of hundreds of local companies, over thirty two foreign companies from the real estate and construction sector will exhibit their products and services in the exhibition to be held at Pak-China Friendship Center Islamabad.

He hoped that likewise previous years, this year again the expo will attract huge number of visitors and cause health impact of real estate sector. The MQM member of National Assembly Rashid Godial, former MNA PPP Zumard Khan, RCCI President Zahid Latif and other businessmen addressed the occasion.

The ABADs members thanked the participants and the chief guest Tariq Fazal Chaudhry for gracing the ceremony.Commerce Minister Pervaiz Malik has invited Canadian companies and investors to invest in Pakistan where there is no restriction on repatriation of profits and dividends.

ISLAMABAD,(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018) : Commerce Minister Pervaiz Malik has invited Canadian companies and investors to invest in Pakistan where there is no restriction on repatriation of profits and dividends. He was talking to representatives of large multinational companies of Canadian origin at Chamber of Commerce in Ontario on Saturday. The Minister apprised them that Pakistan has overcome socio-economic and security related challenges and laid down the foundation of sustained economic growth in the Country.

He said the governments prudent policies have also restored macroeconomic stability. The Minister informed that Pakistans investment policy is one of the most liberal in the region, provides conducive environment for attracting FDI. He said that no foreign firm has made losses in Pakistan. Pervez Malik said besides the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, investors from USA, UK, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, South Korea and the oil rich Gulf States are investing in Pakistan.(@rukhshanmir)

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the provincial government is spending more than fifteen billion rupees on construction of various hydro power projects

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the provincial government is spending more than fifteen billion rupees on construction of various hydro power projects.

According to Radio Pakistan, a spokesman of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization told that two hundred and fifty hydropower projects had been completed.

While one hundred and six hydro power projects are underway which will be completed within next two months.

These projects are being constructed in Hazara and Malakand divisions which after completion will generate forty megawatt electricity.Minister for Commerce Pervaiz Malik Saturday visited Ontario Chamber of Commerce and briefed its president and body members about economic opportunities in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :Minister for Commerce Pervaiz Malik Saturday visited Ontario Chamber of Commerce and briefed its president and body members about economic opportunities in Pakistan.

President Ontario Chamber of Commerce Rocco Rossi and representatives of large multinational companies of Canadian origin attended the meeting, a press release said received here from Ottawa, capital of Canada.

The minister said Pakistan had overcome socio-economic and security related challenges and laid down the foundation of sustained economic growth in the country. "The government's prudent policies have restored macroeconomic stability and improved security situation created favorable environment for economic growth", he said.

Malik said according to World Data Atlas, Pakistan joined the club of trillion Dollar economies in 2017. Similarly, price Water House Coopers Report 2017 has projected Pakistan to become the world's 20th largest economy by 2030.

Pakistan has also improved in the Ease of Doing Business indicators and the country has been recognized as one of the top ten performers globally in business regulation, he added. The minister informed the GDP growth had been increased to 5.2 percent in 2017, the highest in 10 years, adding, agriculture accounts for 19 percent, industry 21 percent and services sector has reached 60 percent of GDP in 2017.

"Pakistan's Investment Policy, one of the most liberal in the region, provides conducive environment for attracting FDI." He invited members and officials of the chamber to invest in Pakistan where there was no restriction on repatriation of profits and dividends, informing that no foreign firm had made losses in Pakistan.

Besides the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, investors from USA, UK, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, South Korea and the oil rich Gulf States are investing in Pakistan, he added. Rocco while briefing the minister said Ontario Chamber of Commerce represented 60,000 large and small businesses in Ontario.

He appreciated the vibrant Pakistani entrepreneurs who are contributing to Canadian economy. He expressed the desire to forge enhanced trade relations with Pakistan. The members of Ontario Chamber, doing business in Pakistan, informed about their experience in Pakistan and invited their colleagues to first visit Pakistan and see the opportunities available there.

The chamber agreed to boost ties with chambers of commerce and industry in Pakistan through exchange of visits.(@rukhshanmir)

Suhail Al-Mazrouei, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Energy and Industry and incumbent President of OPEC, said Saturday "will spare no effort to reach the state of market stability aspired by both producers and consumers," UAE state news agency WAM reported.

DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018) : Suhail Al-Mazrouei, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Energy and Industry and incumbent President of OPEC, said Saturday "will spare no effort to reach the state of market stability aspired by both producers and consumers," UAE state news agency WAM reported. The UAE minister and OPEC president also lauded the efforts made by Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia, during his chairmanship of OPEC in 2017. Al-Mazrouei noted that the Saudi minister exerted "unique efforts that added significant values to the international endeavours to stabilise the market and we are determined to pursue the same path and follow on the constructive and fruitful work performed during 2017." He added "we are now set to initiate innovative efforts to deliver the future and build on the Declaration of Cooperation reached by OPEC member- and non-member states last year to secure the sustainable development goals.

" Earlier last year in November, the oil exporting countries of OPEC and its partners agreed to extend the output cut till the end of 2018, nine months longer than the previous agreement. Twenty-four countries led by OPEC and non-OPEC member Russia decided to maintain production cut of about 1.8 million barrels per day until Dec.

31, 2018. The price of oil (Brent) reached a three-year high in January when the "black gold" hovered above 71 Dollars a barrel (159 liters), before retreating to a trading range between 60 dollars to 65 dollars a barrel in the wake of the global stock market crash from February 5.(@rukhshanmir)

Member British Parliament Lord Nazir Ahmed said on Saturday that many sectors of United Kingdom's economy had vast space for Pakistani businessmen and they could get good share through B2B (Business to Business) contacts, modern business techniques and technologies

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :Member British Parliament Lord Nazir Ahmed said on Saturday that many sectors of United Kingdom's economy had vast space for Pakistani businessmen and they could get good share through B2B (Business to Business) contacts, modern business techniques and technologies.

He was speaking at Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), where LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid and Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid also spoke on the occasion, while Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry, Awais Saeed Piracha, Naeem Hanif, Shahid Nazir, Zafar Iqbal, Muhammad Wasim and Muhammad Chaudhry were present in the meeting.

Lord Nazir Ahmed said that those countries were leading at economic front where private sector was playing good role, asserting that Pakistani business community had the ability to turn country into an economic power.

They should come forward and join hands with their foreign counterparts, he said and added that Pakistani expatriates were playing laudable role in the economy of UK and were ready to facilitate their Pakistani brothers who want to do business.

The Member British Parliament also emphasized the need for collective efforts to increase the existing trade volume between the two countries. He said that Pakistani businessmen should focus on joint ventures with their British counterparts to take full advantage of the expertise of UK.

Lord Nazir Said, "India is utilizing its all energies and propagating against Pakistan to cause huge economic loss but I have raised voice against this conspiracy at all international forums".

LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid said that Pakistani business community attached a lot of importance to the role played by Lord Nazir Ahmed to support Kashmir cause in the House of Lords.

He said that businessmen truly admired his efforts and stance to raise the voice for Kashmir. He said that despite the GSP Plus status, Pakistan had not been able to enhance its exports to UK. He said that there was an ample potential of joint ventures between two countries in the areas of auto parts, processed food, pharmaceuticals, leather made-ups, light engineering and surgical instruments.

Malik said that UK should provide some trade facilitation to us. The UK has sizeable imports of textiles, leather, furniture, paper, plastics and footwear from China. Pakistan can be considered for these items as our country has great export potential in these areas.

The LCCI President mentioned that trade diplomacy had a crucial role and for that matter Lahore Chamber kept organizing international business delegations. He informed Lord Nazir Ahmed that last week, he headed a delegation to Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia which proved very successful.

He said that both countries should not remain limited to strengthening trade ties rather Pakistan and UK should exchange parliamentarian, cultural and students delegations too.(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will visit Hafizabad Saturday to launch Prime Minister's National Health Program in district

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will visit Hafizabad Saturday to launch Prime Minister's National Health Program in district. During his visit, he will also address a gathering and will distribute health cards among the needy people to provide them medical treatment free of charges.Indian troops have launched a massive cordon and search operation (CASO) in Tral area of Pulwama district in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :Indian troops have launched a massive cordon and search operation (CASO) in Tral area of Pulwama district in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK).

According to Kashmir Media Service, the troops on Saturday cordoned off several villages of Tral including Aripal, Handoora, Wagad, Darganaie Gund, Satura, Gadpora and Youngwani, causing huge inconvenience to the people.

Door-to-door searches were going on when last reports came in. Meanwhile, the troops arrested five persons during a search operation in Kareemabad area of the district.

Witnesses said during the operation, the troops also vandalized the property, thrashed people including the family members of martyred mujahid of Hizbul Mujahideen, Naseer Pandit.

On the other hand, protests erupted in Hajin area of Bandipora district also after the troops launched a search operation. The forces' personnel subjected the protesters to brute force, triggering clashes in the area.The Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) surpassed the revised target of Rs 105 billion during the last financial year 2019-20 and collected more than Rs 107 billion by the close of the year

Records 14551 To 14575 (Total 65246 Records)

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Md. Joynal Abedin Khan :

The common people are reportedly reluctant to provide any information about leaking of question papers of the ongoing Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent examinations to authorities concerned in fear of unnecessary harassment by law enforcing agencies.

Many people, including examinees and guardians, have claimed that most of the question papers are regularly leaked between two and ten hours before the examinations start. On the other hand, police claimed that questions are leaked just 30 to 40 minutes ahead of the exams.

Meanwhile, the guardians have expressed deep frustration as the government and the law enforcers have failed to show any kind of step to check the leaking of question papers, which matched word for word with the original ones. This definitely determines what will the future educational fate of more than 20 lakh examinees of this year.

Seeking anonymous, some guardians, examinees and private tutors alleged that question papers reached their hands through messengers, whatsup, facebook and some other online media after paying Tk 100 to 2,500 to the concerned organized gang of question leaking.

They also claimed that they got Mathematics, Physics, English Paper-II about five to ten hours before the exams start while they received other subjects' questions about an hour earlier.

The question suppliers have repeatedly ensured the accuracy of leaked questions with the original questions a few days ago and that turned into true finally in all examinations since February 2.

In this situation, many examinees and guardians alleged that cops and education board staff are involved with questions leakage. of step to check the leaking of question papers, which matched word for word with the original ones. This definitely determines what will the future educational fate of more than 20 lakh examinees of this year.

Seeking anonymous, some guardians, examinees and private tutors alleged that question papers reached their hands through messengers, whatsup, facebook and some other online media after paying Tk 100 to 2,500 to the concerned organized gang of question leaking.

They also claimed that they got Mathematics, Physics, English Paper-II about five to ten hours before the exams start while they received other subjects' questions about an hour earlier.

The question suppliers have repeatedly ensured the accuracy of leaked questions with the original questions a few days ago and that turned into true finally in all examinations since February 2.

In this situation, many examinees and guardians alleged that cops and education board staff are involved with questions leakage.

The law enforcers detain several dozens of people, including teachers, examinees, and guardians, in the capital and several districts in last few days. But not a single person provided any information to police to detain the culprits, although many common people are well known their whereabouts.

Even they are refrained to get the bounty earlier announced for giving information about the culprits in fear of harassment by law enforcers. They remained silence due to lack of confidence on law enforcers.

"I got the mathematics question around 11:30pm on February 9 on my mobile phone along with the answers while the examination was held on Saturday morning as per exam schedule," an SSC examinee of Bangladesh Bank High Scholl, Faridabad Branch, Old Dhaka, told The New Nation.

A private tutor wishing not to be named said his tuition student gave leaked questions every day of examination and he solved the questions regularly with his messmates that matched the genuine questions.

Expressing her frustration, a guardian from Kamlapur area said that his son lost interest to take preparation for examination as he gets question before exam by paying Tk 200 to 2,500.

On-duty invigilators also allegedly overlooked several incidents where students kept mobile phones with them in exam halls that proved the law enforcers' negligence of duty in examination halls.

Amid widespread allegations and anger over the continued question paper leak, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on February 4 declared a Tk 5 lakh bounty for catching those involved in question paper leaks. The ministry also formed an 11-member committee to probe the alleged leaks.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has told the New Nation that they need more time to nab the culprits who are involved with question paper leakage.

State Minister for Technical and Madrasa Education Kazi Keramat Ali has claimed, "There are around 4,000 exam centres in the country. Some dishonest teachers take pictures of question papers just before the exam starts and upload them on Facebook to embarrass the government.

Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam, an educationist said, "I fear that question paper leaks will become normal. This is a failure of the Education Ministry, administration, law enforcement agencies, and even families."

Afsan Chowdhury, a noted right activist said, "This government is successful in finding out dangerous militants but they are not able to find question leakers.

Genuine question papers of SSC examination were leaked only 30-40 minutes before eams begin, claimed Abdul Baten, Joint Commissioner of Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

In a query, he rejected the allegation of negligence of duty and involvement of law enforcers with the question leakage. They (police) are trying to arrest the question leakers.



In the wake of role and sacrifices made by Pakistan on the fight against terrorism, Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal has called upon Norway's support at the up-coming meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Paris

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :In the wake of role and sacrifices made by Pakistan on the fight against terrorism, Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal has called upon Norway's support at the up-coming meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Paris.

He stressed that any move to place Pakistan in the "grey" list by the international community would be counterproductive and would undermine the extensive work that Pakistan had carried out under the National Action Plan to thwart extremism and terrorism, a statement received here on Saturday said.

The Minister was talking at an event organized by Embassy of Pakistan in Oslo Norway. During his one day official visit to Norway, Ahsan Iqbal interacted with a large number of Pakistani-Norwegians at the event.

Highlighting Pakistan state of economy, the Minister, who is also minister for Planning, Development and Reforms said that while a few years ago, Pakistan was considered the most dangerous place in the world, today it is ranked among the fastest emerging economies in Asia.

"Pakistan has become one of the top 5 economies in the world which have shown the highest growth rate in the last five years. He said the economic growth of the country had stagnated at 3 percent when this government came into power.

"Last year, we achieved a growth rate of 5.3 percent and we are expecting it to reach the figure of 6 percent this year, while industrial growth has significantly increased due to addition of 11,000 MW electricity to the national grid," he added.

Referring to the greatly improved law and order situation in the country, Minister Ahsan Iqbal said that until a few years Karachi had lost its status as a business and investment hub but today, target killings, land mafias and the culture of extortion were becoming a thing of the past.

More than a hundred factories had resumed operation reviving the entire economy of Karachi. Similarly, situation in Balochistan has improved due to unprecedented number of development projects initiated in the province.

He said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a game changer as more than USD 46 billion worth of projects were being implemented of which investments worth USD 29 billion has been materialized.

Major infrastructure projects related to CPEC were being completed on schedule in line with the policy of economic integration of the region as envisioned in the Pakistan Vision 2025. Highlighting the important role of the diaspora in building Pakistan's economy, the Minister stated that foreign remittances were a lifeline for the country.

He encouraged increased foreign investment by Pakistani-Norwegians and called upon them become ambassadors of a rising Pakistan by prioritizing research for the attainment of "knowledge supremacy" and to present a forward-looking face of Pakistan to the rest of the world.

Earlier in the day, Minister Ahsan Iqbal held substantive and fruitful discussions with his Norwegian counterpart, Sylvia Listaug and State Secretary Halvorsen in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on bilateral issues.Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Raja Mohammad Farooq Haider Khan has said that forests are the assets of our state and considered to be the backbone of tourism sector besides echo friendly environment, trees immense cutting and smuggling is intolerable.

MIRPUR (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) , :Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Raja Mohammad Farooq Haider Khan has said that forests are the assets of our state and considered to be the backbone of tourism sector besides echo friendly environment, trees immense cutting and smuggling is intolerable.

He expressed these views while addressing the inauguration ceremony of reforestation on Saturday. Minister for Forest Sardar Mir Akbar, Minister for Works Chaudhry Muhammad Aziz, Minister for Industries and Social Welfare Noreen Arif, Member Legislative Assembly Dr Mustafa Bashir, Secretary Forests and other prominent officers along with media representative were also present on the occasion.

The AJK prime minister said deforestation at huge scale causes climate change, incumbent government have allocated 1,400 million rupees in this regard to curb seasonal changes by afforestation, "It is ensured that all hydro power projects companies working within the state will allocate some percentage of the budget for environment friendly measures," he asserted.

Farooq Haider said there is a dire need for further improvement in the forest department. There is no any problem of resources, saying that the forestry not only keeps our environment clean but it is also our need to maintain the state's beauty for the enhancement of tourism.

"We are facing imbalanced biological diversity and disturbance in echo system because of cutting woods on large scale, one should use wood wisely and specially the forest department must consider merit at recruitment" he exhorted.

He said masses should invest on trees as their coming generation will take benefit from it.

he said, "Forests are the assets of the state, incumbent government has initiated to plant new trees on 28 thousand aces land and I invite all civil society members and media workers to monitor this process of reforestation" "I will not allow anyone to occupy the land of the forests, no one is allowed to occupy state resources," Prime Minister cautioned.

Talking on abolishing of Kashmir Council, he expressed that relations between Kashmir and Pakistan will become more strengthen when AJK will have more authority. "If Kashmir Council will be abolished, then the pertinent authority will be the government of AJK and we will remain no stone unturned for public service." He said.

"I believe that after passing the bill of Finality of Prophet Hood (SAWW) in the assembly, God may give us the strength and wisdom to work efficiently and our work will become easy," he prayed.

Farooq Haider said the legislators have the authority to make decision regarding constitution rather than employees and it is our commitment that not a single office bearer of Kashmir council would remain un-employed.

Minister Azad Kashmir said the workers of Kashmir Council take salaries from the people of Azad Kashmir, they should think before going on protest, "Azad Kashmir would be more stable and strengthen after the amendment in Interim Constitution Act 1974, we will not let any employee of Kashmir Council jobless." AJK PM admired the endeavors of Pakistan PM for the state, and said Shahid Khaqaan Abbasi also ordered to give water usage charges equal to Tarbela besides amendments in Interim Constitution Act 1974.Jamiat Ulema Pakistan's President Pir Ejaz Ahmed Hashmi on Saturday lauded the verdict of anti-terrorism court for convicting the accused of Zainab murder case

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :Jamiat Ulema Pakistan's President Pir Ejaz Ahmed Hashmi on Saturday lauded the verdict of anti-terrorism court for convicting the accused of Zainab murder case.

In a statement, he said the quick decision had increased the confidence of public on the national institutions and judiciary.

He suggested the government and the parliament to amend laws for openly hanging criminals of such type of offenses so that no one could dare to repeat the same in future.

He also expressed sympathies with the Zainab's family. Pir Ijaz also admired the media for keeping the case alive.Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Quddus Bizenjo said Saturday for peace and stability of Balochistan, Police department should be free from all kind of political pressure.

QUETTA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Quddus Bizenjo said Saturday for peace and stability of Balochistan, Police department should be free from all kind of political pressure.

Addressing the 7th bench passing out parade at ATF training school, he said police was facing number of challenges but its performance in ongoing fight against terrorism satisfactory. He said that professional training is very important to coup any law and order situation.

Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo while praising the ATF's professional training appreciated the performance of the Commandant ATF Training Center and his team.

He advised the passing out graduates to efficiently perform their duties and ensure protection of the lives and property of the masses.

The CM said that upgradation and promotions of Police officers and personnel is essential for their economic stability. CM Balochistan announced cash prizes for policemen performing high in various fields, ATF officials demonstrated various training exercises and greeted the honorable guests.

Chief Minister Balochistan said that all available resources will be utilized to fulfill the needs of the police and security personnel.(@FahadShabbir)

The district administration and police have urged the citizens not to allow their children to violate the kite flying ban imposed by the provincial government else strict action in accordance with the law would be taken and the ban violators would be sent behind the bars

RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :The district administration and police have urged the citizens not to allow their children to violate the kite flying ban imposed by the provincial government else strict action in accordance with the law would be taken and the ban violators would be sent behind the bars.

A police spokesman informed APP that over 110,000 kites have been recovered during January and February with 4,000 kites flying string rolls while 220 accused have been sent behind the bars. Six Suzuki pick-ups, six motorcycles and a rickshaw being used for transportation of kites have also been impounded.

He said police have registered 195 cases during this season while violators were sent behind the bars. He said, on the directive of Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Talat Mahmood Gondal and City Police Officer Rawalpindi Israr Ahmed Khan Abbasi, strict action is being taken against the ban violators.

Now, it has been decided that FIRs would also be registered against heads of the families whose children to be found violating the ban or their rooftops being used for kite flying. The deputy commissioner has directed the authorities to conduct regular operations against the ban violators and also launch an awareness campaign to acquaint the citizens about risks involved in kite flying.

He informed that police netted 52 rules violators on Friday and registered 45 FIRs while also recovered 7,000 kites and 150 string rolls. Superintendent of Police Potohar, Syed Ali informed that RA Bazar police recovered two pistols, sound system, kites, string rolls and rounded up seven violators including Behram Khan son of Chaudhry Sajjad from Tench Bhatta.

He informed that he himself supervised the raids conducted to net the kite flying ban violators and kite sellers. He said strict action in accordance with the law is being taken against the rules violators.

The city police officer also requested the parents to stop their children from getting involved in such activities as a crackdown against kite flyers has already started in the city. The spokesman informed that special squads have been formed to net the violators while deputy superintendents of police and station house officers are also taking part in the operation.

It is pertinent to mention here that the arrangements are being finalized to celebrate Basanat on February 22 and 23. According to sources, over 100,000 kites and thousands of kite flying string rolls including chemical have been stocked up in the stores and on the recommendations of old customers, the kite sellers are supplying kites and string rolls to new customers.(@rukhshanmir)

Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD), Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry Friday directed the administration to conduct a survey of the Korang River and Rawal Lake to know the points, if any, where contaminated water enters into the water channel and the reservoir

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Feb, 2018 ) :Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD), Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry Friday directed the administration to conduct a survey of the Korang River and Rawal Lake to know the points, if any, where contaminated water enters into the water channel and the reservoir.

The Minister directed the administration to block all drainage points along the river which throw their waste into the River and Lake. He visited the Camp established along the Korang River on the directions of the Supreme Court to curb the flow of contaminated water and sewerage from houses into the River.

Dr. Tariq also visited Lake View Park and Rawal Lake and received briefing on the waste disposal mechanism of the Park. Director Planning of Capital Development Authority and Assistant Commissioner Pothohar Captain (R) Saad also accompanied the Minister.

During the visit, the Minister was informed that no waste from the Lake View Park enter the Lake as there is proper waste disposal system in place in the park.

Sewage tanks have been made for waste collection, which are emptied and cleaned on a regular basis.

The Minister directed the administration to make proper demarcation of the boundaries of CDA land and Bani Gala. He said that the law and rules to approve the building plans in Bani Gala and the rural areas of Islamabad will be promulgated soon.

Dr. Tariq said that the mixing of sewerage into water channels will be prevented at all cost as access to clean water is the right of every citizen. He said that the directions of the Supreme Court are being implemented in letter and spirit.

The Minister said that the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation is in place which will help in establishing regulations for building by-laws for the rural areas. He said that efforts are being made to bring changes into the zoning regulations of CDA keeping view the needs of a modern city as the population of the city has grown at an exponential rate over the past decade or so.(@FahadShabbir)

Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani Saturday observed that unfortunately, after every five or six years, government announces an amnesty schemes waive off loans borrowed by the elites.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018) : Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani Saturday observed that unfortunately, after every five or six years, government announces an amnesty schemes waive off loans borrowed by the elites. While addressing participants of an event hosted by Azmat Pakistan Foundation to share achievements and success story of Akhuwat, the worlds largest interest free micro finance provider, Raza Rabbabu has said that the passion of service to humanity and downtrodden community is the hallmark of this society, however, the state is working for the elites of the society. He said that such policies have brought the country under economic stress and situation has gone from bad to worse as amnesty are not remedy to fix the problems. He said that Akhuwat has made a difference in this regard as its target communities is the poor and destitute.

Mian Raza Rabbani appreciated the achievement made by Akhuwat by bringing change in the soci-economic lives of the marginalized segments of the society and said that the poor and working class of the country wants to work with honesty and devotion and there is dire need to patronize them.

Chairman Senate also lauded its collaboration with Azmat Pakistan Foundation and said that establishment of a school for out of school children belonging to poor communities is a step in the right direction.

He said that there is no dearth of individuals who really want to serve the community but they remain unnoticed and there is need to highlight their contributions.

He wished success for both Akhuwat and Azmat Pakistan Foundations in their endeavours to share the burdon of the society and specially the poor and deprived communities. Secretary Senate Amjed Pervez Malik, who is also the Founder member of the Azmat Pakistan Foundation said that the foundation aims to contribute and mobilize resources for opening up windows of opportunity, learning and grooming of the people and children of selected areas focussing on disadvantaged and underprivileged. He said that Azmat Foundation Pakistan has been established by family, community and their friends to work.

He said that positives of Pakistan need to be highlighted and Akhuwat has worked on a model which is totally interest free with best dividends and returns. He said that Azmat Foundation has been launched to bring change in the lives of the disadvantage communities and would continue to serve the under privileged segments for a brighter Pakistan. The ceremony was also addressed by Dr.

Amjed Saqib, the CEE of Akhuwat, former Naval Chief Asif Sandhela, Nasir Nazir Dar, director Azmat Foundation. Miniter for Human Rights Mumtaz Ahmed Tarar, Senators and people from different walks of life attended the event.FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :On the directions of Punjab Government, the 2nd health week will be observed from February 19 to 24 in the district and 44 health camps will be set up at different THQ Hospitals, Rural and Basic Health Centers for the medical examination of people.

This was informed by Deputy Commissioner Salman Ghani while giving briefing to the newsmen here on Friday. He informed the facilities would be provided to the people at these health camps for the test of diabetes, malaria, hepatitis, TB and other diseases besides carrying out the counseling of the patients regarding their health.

He informed that special arrangements have been made on these health camps for the medical examination of pregnant women. Giving details, the Deputy Commissioner informed that during the health week the health medical camps will work at THQ Hospitals Samanabad, Chak Jhumra, Jaranwala, Samundri and Tandlianwala, Rural Health Center at Chak No.

153/RB, Chak No.65/GB, Khurrianwala, Satiana, Chak No.134/GB, Chak No.469/GB, Mamukanjan, Kanjwani, Dijkot and Chak No.30/JB, Basic Health Units at Chak No.189/RB, 44/JB, 133/RB, 222/RB, 214/RB, 283/GB, 105/RB, 76/RB, 200/RB, 635/GB, 560/GB, 353/GB, 433/GB, 115/GB, 143/GB, 228/GB, 50/GB, 198/GB, 136/GB, 404/GB, 429/GB, 400/GB, 603/GB, 192/RB, 66/JB, 74/JB, 209/RB, 258/RB and 57/JB.

The Deputy Commissioner informed that the health camps would work from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during the health week and duties have been assigned to the doctors and paramedical staff for the medical checkup of the people on special desks. He informed that vaccine of hepatitis-B will also be given to the people besides vaccinating the children. APP/aar/ia/zqr(@rukhshanmir)

The Judicial Commission on Water and Sanitation has directed the Sindh Government to provide residential plots to the people being affected due to removal of encroachment from Phuleli Canal in Hyderabad.

HYDERABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :The Judicial Commission on Water and Sanitation has directed the Sindh Government to provide residential plots to the people being affected due to removal of encroachment from Phuleli Canal in Hyderabad.

The Commission's Head justice (R) Amir Hani Muslim on Friday directed Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad to prepare list of people displaced from the canal's banks.After verification by District and Session Judge of Hyderabad the affected people will be given the plots with each measuring 120 square yards.During the hearing, Chief Secretary Sindh Rizwan Memon apprised the commission that Sindh government had already prepared a policy over the matter adding that displaced people in Sukkur were given plots under the same policy.The commission observed that the employees of Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA), Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and other development authorities in some districts were not being paid salaries and pensions for several months."An undertaking was given by secretary local government that the employees of WASA would be disbursed salaries and pension within a week.

But this has not been done," justice (r) Muslim noted.He pointed out that Sindh Local Government Department and the heads of these authorities hold each other responsible for paying the salary and pension.

The former contended that the authorities were responsible for the revenue generation and payment of salaries and pensions and the latter claimed that billions of rupees remain outstanding against Sindh and Federal governments in utility bills, he added.

"In the given circumstance ... (Sindh) finance department is directed to adjust salary and pension of the employees at source by adjusting the outstanding amount payable to the authorities] of different government departments," the commission ordered.

The provincial government had been ordered directly deposit the salary and pension in the bank accounts of employees instead of handing over a sum of money to the authorities for the payment. The CS Memon suggested that the proposed landfill sites for Hyderabad district should be relocated because they were close to educational facilities in Jamshoro.Memon told the commission that a new site would be identified within a week keeping in mind that besides in addition to Hyderabad the solid waste from Jamshoro and Thatta districts could also be carried to that place.

Memon informed that the DCs of rest of the districts in Sindh had been directed to identify the landfill sites at the earliest.The commission ordered that the process ought to be expedited throughout Sindh.Former Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Nisar A Memon's book "Insight into the Senate of Pakistan" was launched here on Saturday which discusses several issues including that of Senate of Pakistan, national security and the problems internal and external posed by terrorism

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :Former Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Nisar A Memon's book "Insight into the Senate of Pakistan" was launched here on Saturday which discusses several issues including that of Senate of Pakistan, national security and the problems internal and external posed by terrorism.

The launching ceremony of the book written by Nisar A Memon, was attended by eminent parliamentarians, diplomats, intellectuals and representatives of academia, and civil society. Addressing on the occasion, former Senate Chairman Waseem Sajad in his address appreciated the efforts of Nisar A.

Memon who had contributed a unique book about in-depth working of the Upper House of Pakistan and apprised general public about the contributions of Senators in legislation and performance of Senate Committees.

IftikharUllah Babar, in his observations remarked that book is one of the best references of the rules of business of Senate and its constitutional obligations in connection with legislation process.

Chairperson of Benazir Income Support Programme and Minister of State Marvi Memon said most of the people do not aware about the working of Senate in its true perspective and it was the need of the hour that it could be elaborated accordingly.

In this connection, the book Insight into the Senate of Pakistan has fulfilled the gap about the knowledge of Senate Working, she added.

Chairman of Rural Support Programme Network, Shoaib Sultan said the book is an interesting account of Nisar Memon's six years tenure in the Senate of Pakistan as a member of three Senate committees on defence, production and water resources.

He has presented in chapter 3 to 7 a concise summary of the substantive work of these committees accomplished during that period on many important issues and problems. He wished that other parliamentarians will follow his foot prints and record their recollections and views for the guidance of future generation.

Nisar A Memon in his closing remarks said he has just tried to play his role in recollection of his memories for the education and awareness of future generations. He said the Parliament is a supreme legislative authority and its members had always given their best for the nation and country.

Senator Memon also acknowledged the cooperation and support of his colleagues and friends in compiling the book. He said Pakistan is blessing of Almighty Allah and it is our moral and social obligation to uphold the traditions and high standards of ancestor who had rendered great sacrifices for the creation of Pakistan.More than Suu Kyi, the Generals deserve punishment first

THE UN special envoy on Thursday said, Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi has clearly failed to stand up for the Rohingyas, and can well be held accountable for crimes against humanity. To a greater extent the UN envoy is correct. While talking to a news channel, the UN envoy also added for Suu Kyi's complicity or neglect to do anything regarding the atrocities committed on the helpless Muslim minority in Myanmar.



Now that a responsible senior UN official has voiced her sensible complains and grievances - the international community must unite to investigate the breadth and length of Suu Kyi's crimes. The ostensible 'champion of democracy and human rights' Aung San Suu Kyi's mask was uncovered long time back, but we fail to understand why many western powers continue to side with her? The UN envoy has been recently barred from entering Myanmar because of her factual reports about the scale of violence, killings and carnage.



The truth, however, Myanmar's so-called democratic leader, otherwise known as 'the lady' is a creation of the western media and western leaders, and more than supporting the causes for democracy in Myanmar she has established a thinly veiled substitute of military regime there - nothing more. Her abhorrence for many ethnic minorities including the Rohingyas became clear more than a decade ago. Also she wouldn't have had the courage to remain impudent and silently support the Myanmar military - had many of the world powers condemned her statements regarding the Rohingyas from the very beginning. That Aung San Suu Kyi's decades old 'struggle for democracy' was actually backed by hidden agenda to assume power is known to all. Yet mysteriously she remains the focal point for the world leaders to deal with.



By just in confinement in her old age she has manipulated and misled the world community to take her as a great fighter for human rights and peace. The whole world want her to be ashamed for her complicity for ethnic cleansing and punishing her will not be enough. The Generals who are directly responsible for the systemic genocide in Myanmar must be the ones deserving punishment first.





(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Expatriate Pakistanis, residing in Moscow, especially Baloch community, Saturday celebrated "Pakistan Unity Day" under the slogan "United We Stand, Divided We Fall."

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :Expatriate Pakistanis, residing in Moscow, especially Baloch community, Saturday celebrated "Pakistan Unity Day" under the slogan "United We Stand, Divided We Fall." The event reached its climax when Dr.

Jumma Khan Marri, (Baloch sub-nationalist leader, intellectual and one of the most senior political activist) attended the event and announced his separation, along with his supporters, from so-called Baloch Independence Movement, social and electronic media reported.

It is important to mention that Dr Jumma Khan Marri is on self-exile in Moscow for the last two decades. He is the son Baloch leader Mir Hazar Khan Marri, head of Bajrani Marri tribe, Balochistan chapter.

Dr Jumma Khan Marri possesses huge following among Baloch Diaspora, residing all across the world. During his emotional and highly charged speech, he announced disassociation, along with his supporters, from the movement, besides launching an organization with the name of "Overseas Pakistani Baloch Community" to counter anti-Balochistan Movement abroad.

He said the new organization would confront and expose the evil designs of Indian paid disgruntled personalities like Brahamdagh Bugti, Hyrbyar Marri and Mehran Marri at all forums abroad. Besides, he said, it would make efforts to bring back all "misguided and innocent" Baloch, residing abroad on political asylum, in the mainstream, resolving problems through peaceful dialogue.

He extended invitation to Khan of Kalat for joining and supporting the organization. Dr Jumma said integrity of Baloch nation was seriously damaged when Brahamdagh Bugti, Hyrbyar Marri and Mehran Marri, applied for Indian nationality and laid flowers on Gandhi's statue in Geneva.

Defection of Dr Jumma Khan Marri from Baloch Independence Movement and raising of voice by Pakistani Baloch community against Indian sponsored Baloch disgruntled leadership, that too from Russian Federation is history in the making and a big blow to so-called Baloch Independence movement.(@ChaudhryMAli88)

A seven-member parliamentary delegation headed by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq will embark on a three-day bilateral visit from February 19, to Belarus.'

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :A seven-member parliamentary delegation headed by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq will embark on a three-day bilateral visit from February 19, to Belarus.' During his stay in Belarus, the speaker apart from meeting his counterpart will also meet with Belarus political leadership and business community and discuss matters of bilateral interest.

He will also discuss ways and means to further enhance bilateral relations through interaction of parliamentarians of either side as well as strengthening trade, educational, cultural and investment links between Pakistan and Belarus.

The parliamentary delegation comprises MNAs Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Zeb Jaffar, Engr Hamid ul Haq Khalil, Ghous Bux Khan Mahar, Bilal Rehman, Nasir Khan and Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani.(@rukhshanmir)

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that politics of public service had succeeded in Lodhran's by-election as people of Lodhran had shattered the ATM machine and threw it in river Sutlej by rejecting politics of arrogance, haughtiness, lie, accusation and anarchy.

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that politics of public service had succeeded in Lodhran's by-election as people of Lodhran had shattered the ATM machine and threw it in river Sutlej by rejecting politics of arrogance, haughtiness, lie, accusation and anarchy.

He said that the way these people had chosen a down to earth person had made me and Muhammad Nawaz Sharif indebted to their love. The historical victory of PML-N in Lodhran, was not getting recognition alone in Pakistan but in the whole world and we have gathered here to thank the people of Lodhran for this wonderful success.

Shehbaz Sharif shared these views while addressing the PML-N workers' convention in Lodhran, said a handout issued here. President PML-N Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, members of national and provincial assemblies and large number of workers were also present.

Addressing the convention, the CM said that from quiet a long time, he had been pointing out those elements who were involved in taking loans from the hard earned money of widows, orphans and poor people and then seek clemency at political basis.

Despite owning lavish residences, vehicles and factories, they have seek exemption from returning the loan at political basis, however, people have made justice and they have lost awfully in election.

These people arrogantly used to say that we already have won the election and only decision is to be made that whether the lead is of 50 thousand votes or 60 thousand. He said that their pride was rejected by Allah and in-fact the modesty of Iqbal Shah won and he earned respect.

He said that IG of lairs Imran Khan Niazi during his speech at Lodhran mentioned that thieves and robbers will be defeated here, thanks to Allah Almighty that it has come true. The people made decision in favor of that great leader who rejected US $ 5 billion offer and made Pakistan a nuclear power, he added.

The CM said that when the PML-N came into power in 2013, darkness of load-shedding and terrorism were ruling every where in the country. Under the vibrant leadership of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, government of Muslim League (N) has pulled the country out of these crisis.

He said that today there is peace in the country and load-shedding has almost been curbed. The CM while bashing Zardari said that he has not initiated energy projects during his rule rather looted national resources ruthlessly.

On the other hand, there is Khan sahib who says that we have generated 74 MW of electricity in KP. Khan Sahib! People want to know if this electricity is on moon or space as there is no such electricity on earth.

He said that Imran Khan is IG of liars and he has not generated electricity of even 1 MW in KPK. He said the PML- N had selflessly served the people in the past four years. For the past three years, farmers are getting cheap fertilizer, subsidy of billions of rupees has been given on the electricity operated tubewells also small cultivators are provided with interest free loans.

The chief minister said that millions of children of poor families are being given scholarships for education under PEEF. He said that there are numerous development works under progress in the Lodhran city and the finest roads have been constructed in villages.

The CM said that people have snatched the treasury machine from Imran Khan and now this treasure will be utilized for the development and welfare of people of this area. Shehbaz Sharif announced underpass at Pathan Wala, Dunyapur Bypass and overhead bridge at Shahab Abu Tahir and said that you people have won me with your wise decision and now I will serve you more dedicatedly.

He said that Minister of State Abdul Rahman Kanojo has been invited to Lahore with his colleagues and it is assured that all his demands will be met even if I have to sale my coat for it. He hoped that every constituency of Pakistan will become Lodhran in the elections of 2018.

He said that opponents have done nothing except leveling baseless allegations and false promises from past five years and today they are saying that they will learn lesson from the defeat of Lodhran.

In the past five years, opponents did nothing except lies and now they are saying that they will learn lesson from Lodhran but it is now the time that this nation will teach you lessons. Before that, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif welcomed Muhammad Nawaz Sharif at Bahawalpur Airport and members of national and provincial assembly from Lodhran called on them.

Shehbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif congratulated them on the victory in by elections of Lodhran. Meanwhile, the CM was received and welcomed by members of assembly including new elected member Iqbal Shah at Bahawalpur Airport.(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) during the last six years has achieved lot successes and in forthcoming three years, there would be three more campuses of SMIU with enrollment of 20,000 to 25,000.

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :Sindh Madressatul islam University (SMIU) during the last six years has achieved lot successes and in forthcoming three years, there would be three more campuses of SMIU with enrollment of 20,000 to 25,000.

This was stated by Dr. Muhammad Ali Shaikh, Vice Chancellor of the University while addressing the 6th anniversary of grant of university charter to SMIU, here on Saturday. He said that the Federal government has allocated Rs 1.57 billion for first phase of SMIU's campus in Education City of Karachi, spread on 100 acres of land.

Similarly, he said, the Sindh government has allotted ten acres of land in Hawks Bay, where Institute of Information and Communication will be set up. Apart from it a tower will be constructed on its plot, located in the premises of the present campus.

This plot has recently evacuated with the help of Sindh government from land grabbers. The vice chancellor further said that during the last three years, SMIU besides imparting quality education has groomed and trained its students for future leadership roles through leadership development programs.

He said in this respect a number of SMIU's groups had met the national leadership of the country, visited major universities located in Islamabad and also visited China, UK, Turkeyand Malaysia.

Dr Shaikh said the SMIU wants to revive the role of SMIU's great past, where great leaders including founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah was produced. "Today, the country needs good leaders and management in every sphere of life.

This is why SMIU gives emphasis to produce future leaders and managers with vision, commitment and national spirit," he said. Former federal minister and member of SMIU's Syndicate Sardar Ghous Bux Mahar in his speech said that Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh has made the institution one of the best institutes of the country.

He said that now it is the responsibility of us all to support him for development of the institution. Earlier, SMIU's students shared their views about the National and International Leadership Program.

Some groups of students also performed on various mystic songs of great mystic poets of their own country and also of other countries. The celebration was attended by noted academicians, government officials, SMIU's faculty, students and other guests.Ikom, Nigeria, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :For the first time in his life, Victor Obi believes that the only way to win freedom in Cameroon is with a gun. "I don't want to die, but the only future is our independence, and they will not give it to us," said the student, whose name has been changed for his own safety.

The 25-year-old is camped out in a small Nigerian village just kilometres from his home in Cameroon where authorities have launched a crackdown on English-speaking separatists. "They killed my sister and my brother," said Obi, his voice heavy with hatred.

"I have nothing to lose." In December, Obi says soldiers invaded his hometown of Kajifu and started shooting indiscriminately at suspected separatists, said to be running a major training camp in the thick equatorial forest surrounding the village.

Kajifu is located in one of Cameroon's two English-speaking regions that have been pushing for independence from the French-speaking elite who rule the West African country.

On October 1, separatists declared the two regions as the self-proclaimed republic of "Ambazonia", marking a turning point for the country's English-speaking minority, which makes up around a fifth of the population.

Cameroon President Paul Biya dispatched troops, combat helicopters and armoured vehicles to root out the dissidents, forcing tens of thousands to flee to neighbouring Nigeria. At least 26 soldiers have been killed in the violence, according to an AFP tally.

But the civilian death toll isn't known, with non-governmental organisations and independent media barred from the area. Though the original Ambazonia leaders have dissociated themselves from militant offshoots -- they claim their struggle is peaceful -- there are a growing number of attacks against the government.A US drone strike in central Yemen killed two suspected Al-Qaeda members on a motorbike including a local commander, a security official said Saturday

Aden, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :A US drone strike in central Yemen killed two suspected Al-Qaeda members on a motorbike including a local commander, a security official said Saturday.

The strike came as UAE-backed Yemeni special forces launched a new offensive against Al-Qaeda in southeast Yemen, losing two soldiers.

The unmanned aircraft struck the motorcycle carrying the men in Bayda province at around midnight Friday, the official told AFP.

"The strike targeted two Al-Qaeda militants, local commander Abu Hussein al-Theriya and another, Dawoud al-Sanaani, as they rode through the province," he said.(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Indonesia has inked a billion-dollar deal to buy 11 Sukhoi Su-35 jets from Russia, an official said Saturday

Jakarta, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :Indonesia has inked a billion-dollar deal to buy 11 Sukhoi Su-35 jets from Russia, an official said Saturday. The contract, signed by both countries' representatives in Jakarta on Wednesday, is worth a total $1.14 billion, Indonesia defence ministry spokesman Totok Sugiharto said.

"Two units of Sukhoi jets will be delivered in August 2018," he told AFP. Another six jets would be delivered 18 months after the contract comes into effect, and the final three a further five months later, he said.

The deal comes after Indonesia said in August that it would seek to trade palm oil, coffee and tea for Russian fighter jets, saying it wanted to capitalise on international sanctions on Moscow.

The EU and US have targeted Russia with sanctions for alleged meddling in the US presidential election and its annexation of Crimea. However, Indonesia's trade minister said the sanctions could be good news for his country as Russia is forced to seek new markets to import from.

Indonesia and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding to exchange 11 Russian-made Sukhoi fighters for key commodities in Moscow early August. It was not announced Saturday in what form payment would be made.(@rukhshanmir)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that historical relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and India are beyond diplomatic cooperation.

NEW DELHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018) : Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that historical relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and India are beyond diplomatic cooperation. President Rouhani made the remarks in a special ceremony for signing and exchange of memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries during which he expressed satisfaction with the current level of cooperation between the two sides. Indian Premier Narendra Modi was also presentin the signing ceremony on Saturday. 'I delivered a speech in the Friday Prayers sermon in Hyderabad mosque indicating cultural, civilization and architecture affinities between the two countries,' he said. The two sides are now determined to protect and even broaden the scope of such historical relations, President Rouhani said. Iran calls for expansion of relations in various commercial, economic, academic and technological know-how between the two countries; he said and underlined the importance of transit of goods as well as energy for both sides. Iranian officials also reached a very good agreement on expansion of cooperation on construction of rail tracks and transportation systems, President Rouhani said. Iran is ready to do more joint investments in oil, gas and petrochemical sectors between the two sides, the president added. The two sides also reached agreement in other sectors such as commercial and preferential tariffs, expansion of banking relations, issuance of electronic visa and easing of commuting by the two sides' nationals which will leave positive impacts in the region, he said.

Fortunately, Iran and India are not at odds on regional and international developments, President Rouhani said. Other issues of mutual interests were implementation of the Joint Plan of Action, expansion of multilateral relations with regards to current developments in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, he said. Iran and India believe that regional crisis and disputes should be resolved through political means and all should spare no efforts to put an end to exiting conflicts, President Rouhani said. By resorting to cultural methods and exchange of experiences, the two sides can also fight against extremism and terrorism, the president added. President Rouhani also thanked the warm hospitality of Indian premier and voiced happiness to find such opportunity to visit the country. Indian prime minister, for his part, described the visit as a golden opportunity for expansion of relations and cooperation between the two countries, and said the cornerstone of such relations is based on mutual trust. New Delhi and Tehran are determined to broaden scope of cooperation more than before, Modi said. Referring to expansion of rail road cooperation, he said, adding, 'India regards Chabahar as golden gate to find access to Afghanistan and central Asia.' Expansion of cooperation between the two countries helps maintain security and stability of the region, Indian premier said. Iran and India can jointly fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, he said. Some 15 MoU's were signed in the meeting between the two sides officials on Saturday.Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will leave Tehran for Germany on Saturday evening to partake in the ongoing Munich Security Conference (MSC).

TEHRAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018) : Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will leave Tehran for Germany on Saturday evening to partake in the ongoing Munich Security Conference (MSC). Zarif will deliver a speech at the conference on Sunday about regional and international issues, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi announced on Saturday.

He is also scheduled to meet some officials from other countries to discuss security issues afflicting the region and the world, said Qasemi. The 54th MSC kicked off in Munich, Germany, on Friday. Major global security issues, including the future role of the European Union as a global actor and its relations with Russia and the United States, are among the focuses of the 54th MSC. Over 500 participants from around the world have attended the three-day major annual gathering for international security issues.Myanmar's army chief received a royal decoration from Thailand on Friday, despite accusations his security forces have carried out ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims in northern Rakhine state

Bangkok, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Feb, 2018 ) :Myanmar's army chief received a royal decoration from Thailand on Friday, despite accusations his security forces have carried out ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims in northern Rakhine state.

Global condemnation has rained down on Myanmar since August 25 when a military crackdown on Rohingya insurgents prompted an exodus of nearly 700,000 of the stateless minority to Bangladesh. Civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has borne the brunt of the outcry and been stripped of a welter of honours from her days fighting for democracy under Myanmar's junta.

But Senior General Min Aung Hlaing controls the army and oversaw the "clearance operations" on Rohingya villages, which the United Nations has called ethnic cleansing. The military man was nominated for the award by Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn on August 21, 2017 -- days before the crackdown -- "for support and service to Thailand's army", according to palace mouthpiece the Royal Gazette.

Min Aung Hlaing posted a photo to his official Facebook page of him smiling alongside his Thai counterpart as he received the "Knight Grand Cross First Class of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant" in Bangkok.

It was awarded "to show the long and close relations" between the two countries, the Royal Thai Armed Forces said in a statement. But Matt Smith, of campaign group Fortify Rights, said Thailand should support calls for accountability and justice in neighbouring Myanmar rather than honouring its top military official.

"This is a man responsible for a military committing mass atrocities with complete impunity," he said, in reference to widespread allegations his forces raped and murdered Rohingya during the crackdown.

Junta-run Thailand defended the decision to decorate the powerful general. "It's tradition to give a royal decoration to supreme commanders of foreign countries," Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant General Kongcheep Tantravanich said.

This week the US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley urged the Security Council to ensure Myanmar's military answers for its campaign against the Rohingya. The army has said it did not target civilians and has only admitted to killing "terrorists".

Since winning elections in 2015, Suu Kyi's civilian government has been in a delicate power-sharing arrangement with Min Aung Hlaing. The US embassy in Bangkok did not immediately comment on whether Min Aung Hlaing would visit military exercises held in Thailand this week, where Myanmar's participation as an observer has sparked criticism.

Thailand has remained close to Myanmar despite friction over the Rohingya crisis within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which follows a policy of not interfering in the affairs of other bloc members.One shot dead in city, suspect held

UNB, Dhaka :

A youth was gunned down in the city's Merul Badda on Saturday.

Police arrested a suspected killer along with a revolver from the spot soon after the incident.

The deceased was known as Badsha, 30.

Police said miscreants shot at Badsha on the street in front of Merul Badda fish market and fled the scene leaving Badsha on a pool of blood at around 1:00 pm.

However, police with the help of local people caught one of the suspects, known as Nurul Islam, 30,

along with a revolver and six rounds of bullets from the area soon after the incident, said Kazi Wazed, Officer-in-charge of Badda Police Station.

Police rescued Badsha and rushed him to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition. Later, he succumbed to his injuries at around 6:00 pm.

Arrested Nurul Islam has been wanted by Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police in a case for a long time. Now, he is being interrogated under the custody of the DB, the OC Badda said.(@FahadShabbir)

Syrian border guards clashed with a group of people attempting to sneak into the country from neighbouring Lebanon, state media reported Saturday, saying one "terrorist" was killed

Damascus, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :Syrian border guards clashed with a group of people attempting to sneak into the country from neighbouring Lebanon, state media reported Saturday, saying one "terrorist" was killed.

News agency SANA said Syrian army guards clashed at noon Saturday "with a terrorist group" as they tried to enter central Homes province via an unofficial border crossing from northern Lebanon.

"The clashes ended with the killing of a member of the terrorist group, and the rest fleeing towards Lebanese territory," SANA reported. A Lebanese military source told AFP that a Syrian was killed overnight in an "armed skirmish" as people were being smuggled into Lebanon.

"One Syrian was killed and a second person was wounded and is being treated at a hospital in northern Lebanon," the source said.

And Lebanon's national news agency also said a Syrian national was killed on Friday night on the Syrian side of the Al-Kabir River, which serves as the northern border between the two countries.

"Another Syrian living in (the Lebanese village) of Al-Aboudiyah was wounded, but he managed to cross the river into Lebanon," the NNA reported. It was not possible to confirm if the Lebanese and Syrian sources were talking about the same incident.

Syria's nearly seven-year war has regularly split over into Lebanon, with several suicide blasts rocking the capital Beirut in recent years and armed groups entrenching themselves along the border.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described visit by President Rouhani to India as golden opportunity to broaden bilateral ties.

NEW DELHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018) : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described visit by President Rouhani to India as golden opportunity to broaden bilateral ties. He made the remarks in a ceremony held for signing a memorandum of understanding between the two countries. Modi pointed to thousand years of cultural relations between the two nations, and said that mutual cooperation is based upon trust. 'Tehran and New Delhi intend to expand mutual cooperation more than past,' he said. Modi appreciated Iran's efforts in developing rail cooperation between the two countries, and said that India through Chabahar as a golden gate may be connected to Afghanistan and Central Asia. He underlined joint negotiation in the field of economy and bolstering banking exchange as well as cultural issues the two sides had constructive talks.

The prime minister underlined the necessity for expansion of bilateral relations, especially in the field of regional issues, adding that cooperation between Iran and India in the field of security would be beneficial for stability in the region. He said Iran and India may expand their mutual cooperation against terrorism and drug trafficking. Modi called visit of President Hassan Rouhani to his country very important, and said that the visit may be beneficial for both countries and nations of the region. In the ceremony and in presence of President Hassan Rouhani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi 15 memorandum of understandings were signed by senior officials of the two states. President Rouhani, heading high-ranking officials, arrived in India last Thursday for a 3-day official visit.











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NARUS 2018: Chitosan Membranes to Improve Potency Recovery after Nerve-Sparing Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy Las Vegas, NV (UroToday.com)

Background

Physical damage to the neurovascular bundles (NVB) during robotic radical laparoscopic assisted radical prostatectomy (RALRP) results in various degrees of erectile dysfunction. Despite attempting to perform a full nerve sparing procedure, physical neuronal damage still occurs due to inflammation, stretching, thermal injury, and ischemic damage. This inevitably will affect recovery of erectile function.



With the usage of bio-engineering knowledge, it is possible to create biomaterials capable of providing neuro-protection and neuro-regeneration. The authors aimed to use Chitosan, which is a natural polysaccharide obtained from the exoskeleton of crustaceans. It is biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic, and readily available. It is also known to have a neuroprotective/neuroregenerative effect. Chitosan has been shown in a phase 2 study to safely promote erectile function recovery after RALRP.



In this study, the authors aimed to evaluate the functional outcome in patients undergoing nerve-sparing RALRP with application of a Chitosan membranes on the NVBs.



Methods

Between July 2015 and September 2016 patients were enrolled to this study. Inclusion criteria included a preoperative IIEF of over 17, and a safe indication to perform a nerve sparing approach. A group of patients undergoing RALRP, not receiving the application of Chitosan, served as a control group.



Results

A total of 167 patients received RALRP + Chitosan membrane application. Although a trend towards the benefit of Chitosan in potency recovery was noted (Table 1), no statistical significance difference was evident between the patients who received it and those who did not.



Conclusions

The authors concluded a trend towards a faster recovery of potency in patients who received Chitosan was noted. Randomized controlled studies with a larger sample size are required in order to support this preliminary data.



Presented By: Riccardo Bertolo, Division of Urology, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, School of Medicine - Orbassano (Turin), Italy



Written By: Hanan Goldberg, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow (SUO), University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre,@GoldbergHanan, at the 2018 North American Robotic Urology Symposium, February 16-17, 2018 - Las Vegas, NVLas Vegas, NV (UroToday.com) Dr. Kusuma and colleagues from the UK presented results of their use of a suprapubic catheter following retzius-sparing robotic radical prostatectomy. Over the past several years there has been reports from centers of excellence touting the improved urinary continence [1,2], as well as a single institution pragmatic randomized controlled trial reporting improved urinary continence and decreased urinary bother with the retzius-sparing approach [3]. The objective of the current study was to assess the consequences of using a suprapubic catheter instead of urethral catheter following retzius-sparing robotic prostatectomy.Between May 2016 and September 2017, 164 patients underwent retzius-sparing robotic prostatectomy. The initial 39 patients had a urethral catheter and the following 125 patients had a suprapubic catheter. Among these 125 patients, the urethral catheter was removed immediately following suprapubic catheter insertion. Complications were both physician and patient reported and were recorded prospectively.The median duration of catheterization for patients with a suprapubic catheter was 9 (IQR 9-9) and 14 days for patients with urethral catheters (IQR 14-14). The overall complication rate was 5.5% for patients with a suprapubic catheter and 20.5% for patients with a urethral catheter (p=0.01), of which all were Clavien grade 1-2. Patients with a urethral catheter had 25-fold increased risk of infected urine at the time of the voiding trial (p=0.0004). There were no instances of urethra or bladder neck contracture noted in either group at a mean follow-up of 8 months (range 1-16).The authors concluded that retzius-sparing robotic prostatectomy has renewed interest in suprapubic catheter use after radical prostatectomy as it is more comfortable for the patients than a urethral catheter. Furthermore, the lack of bladder neck or urethral stricture following suprapubic catheter use questions the traditional dogma that a vesicourethral anastomosis needs to be stented following radical prostatectomy to prevent cross-adhesions.Presented By: Venkata R.M. Kusuma, Dapartment of Urology, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UKCo-Authors: Pavlos Pavlakis, Dimitrios Moschanos, Christopher EdenWritten By: Zachary Klaassen, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow, University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, @zklaassen_md ,at the 2018 North American Robotic Urology Symposium, February 16-17, 2018 - Las Vegas, NVReferences:1. Sayyid RK, Simpson WG, Lu C, et al. Retzius-sparing robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: A safe surgical technique with superior continence outcomes. J Endourol 2017;31(12):1244-1250. 2. Menon M, Dalela D, Jamil M, et al. Functional recovery, oncologic outcomes and postoperative complications 12 months following robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy: Followup of an evidence-based analysis comparing the Retzius sparing and standard approaches.Dec 7 [Epub ahead of print].3. Dalela D, Jeong W, Prasad MA, et al. A pragmatic randomized controlled trial examining the impact of the Retzius-sparing approach on early urinary continence recovery after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.2017;72(5):677-685."Black Panther" has burst onto the screen in Africa, handing a powerful response to the unfortunate remarks about the continent by President Donald Trump.

As the red carpet in South Africa swirled with stunning outfits and exclamations in the local isiXhosa language used in the film's Wakanda kingdom, cast member John Kani laughed at the U.S. president's views, which several African nations have openly scorned. (Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o said simply: "No comment.")

The South African actor Kani, like many at Friday night's Johannesburg premiere, expressed pride at seeing an Afrofuturistic society that celebrates traditional cultures and dreams of what the world's second most populous continent can be.

"This time the sun now is shining on Africa," he said. "This movie came at the right time. We're struggling to find leaders that are exemplary and role models ... so when you see the Black Panther as a young boy and he takes off that mask you think, `Oh my God, he looks like me. He is African and I am African. Now we can look up to some person who is African."'

Added actress Danai Gurira, who grew up mostly in Zimbabwe: "To bring this film home is everything."

The film has opened in other top economic powers across Africa, where a growing middle class flocked to IMAX showings and shared vibrant opening-night images on social media.

"The African culture highlighted in the movie is so rich that it makes me feel proud of being black. I totally love it," said Liz Muthoni after a screening in Kenya's capital, Nairobi. "I can watch it again and again."

"Black Panther" screened a few days ago in Kenya's western city of Kisumu, where Nyong'o's father, Anyang, is the local governor.

"Sometimes we think that we have two choices to make in Africa," he wrote this month in The Star newspaper. "Choice one: We maintain our traditions and cultures and stay backward forever. Choice two: We modernize by becoming westernized and forgetting our cultural traditions which, by their very nature so we think, are stuck in the past. The experience of the Wakanda people teaches us otherwise."

In Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, "Black Panther" has been selling out its five-times-a-day screenings at the only theater showing the film.

"Moviegoers are enjoying the African heritage part of the film. This is also unique for us because Ethiopia is often mentioned alongside the black power and black movements as the only nation not colonized by Western powers," said Elias Abraha, the cinema's operations chief. "There are people who changed their flight plans just to watch the movie."

Some Ethiopian fans quickly changed their Facebook profile pictures and expressed their adoration.

"Tears stream down my face as I write this," said one Facebook user who goes by LadyRock Maranatha. "Black Panther was basically an enormous . roller coaster of emotions, adventure and most of all the affirmation of what I had felt since I left my country for Cambridge and came back. I cried for my people and felt immense pride in being Ethiopian and most importantly AFRICAN. We are truly resilient and beautiful."

As the audience poured out of the Johannesburg screening, spirits were high.

"Totally blown away. I got emotional," said reality TV star Blue Mbombo, who admitted that going into the film she thought the expectations had been "hype." But she praised its use of cultural touches like Basotho blankets and called the use of the isiXhosa language "very humbling."

Others considered the American side of the story. "An African-American coming back to Africa, it's a nice reminder of their heritage as well," said Ayanda Sidzatane. She called the film awesome. "We knew it would be cool but not like this."

Some anticipated a flood of interest from African-Americans, even cheekily. "Now I know Black Panther makes Africa look cool ... But please don't come to Lagos ... It's overcrowded," Nigerian artist Arinze Stanley tweeted of the continent's most populous city.

As Ghanaian celebrity blogger Ameyaw Debrah put it on social media: "What will #BlackPanther make the world think of Africa now?"Brazils president has ordered the army to take over command of police forces in Rio de Janeiro, saying drug gangs have virtually taken over the city.

I am taking these extreme measures because circumstances demand it, President Michel Temer said after signing the decree Friday at his Planalto palace in the capital, Brasilia. The decree affects the entire state of Rio, including Rio de Janeiro's metropolitan area of 12 million people.

He said organized crime threatens the tranquility of our nation. For that reason, we have just called for a federal intervention in the public security for Rio de Janeiro.

We will not accept a passive response to the death of innocent people. What is intolerable is that we are burying fathers and mothers and workers and police and young people and children, he added.

General Walter Souza Braga Netto speaks during a p General Walter Souza Braga Netto speaks during a press conference after signing a decree for the military intervention of Rio de Janeiro's local police, Feb. 16, 2018. General Walter Souza Braga Netto speaks during a press conference after signing a decree for the military intervention of Rio de Janeiro's local police, Feb. 16, 2018.

Brazil's army forces already patrol in parts of Rio de Janeiro, but Fridays decree gives the military full control of security operations in Rio state. Military generals were previously in charge of securing the city when it hosted the 2016 Olympic Games.

Defense Minister Raul Jungmann has said the army will not replace local or state police on the ground but will provide logistical support in their fight against drug lords.

Brazil's Congress is expected to ratify the decree within 10 days.

The violence in Rio was highlighted during Carnival celebrations that ended Wednesday in which images of gangs robbing tourists were repeatedly broadcast on national television.

Rio state has been hit hard by Brazil's recession and a downturn in oil markets in recent years.The British government has suspended new funding to the aid organization Oxfam following allegations that some of its staff had paid for sex with prostitutes in Haiti after the countrys 2010 earthquake.

British Development Minister Penny Mordaunt said the group has agreed not to bid for any new funding from Britain's government until London is satisfied the aid organization meets its high standards.

In a statement, the British-based aid group said, We are committed to proving that we deserve the confidence of the U.K. public.

The aid group has been rocked by allegations of sexually exploiting people in crisis zones, including using prostitutes and downloading pornography in Haiti after the countrys 2010 earthquake.

Oxfam, one of the world's biggest disaster relief organizations, said it investigated the case in 2011 and fired four staff members and allowed three others to resign. However, the British government has criticized the groups lack of transparency.

Earlier on Friday, Oxfam said it would create an independent commission to review the group's practices and culture.

Oxfam International's executive director, Winnie Byanyima, told BBC Friday, What happened in Haiti and afterwards is a stain on Oxfam that will shame us for years, and rightly so.

From the bottom of my heart, I am asking for forgiveness, Byanyima said, adding she wants all victims of abuse to come forward.

Mordaunt said the British government had asked Oxfam and other recipients of aid funding to provide assurances by February 26 that they effectively safeguarded people they helped, and reported any breaches to the government.

At that stage we will make further decisions about continuing or amending how those programs are delivered. Our primary guiding principle in this will be the welfare of the beneficiaries of U.K. aid, she said.

Oxfam relies on public and corporate donations as well as government funding. The allegations relate to Oxfam Great Britain, one of 20 affiliates that make up Oxfam International.

The scandal has led Britains charity regulator to open an investigation into Oxfam and has caused three celebrity ambassadors to the aid group  South African Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu, British actress Minnie Driver and Senegalese musician Baaba Maal  to resign."We are going to be the last mass shooting," vowed Emma Gonzalez, a survivor of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, who spoke at a gun-control rally Saturday, three days after an armed former student killed 17 of her classmates and teachers.

Gonzalez spoke bluntly to her audience, hundreds of people who gathered at the Fort Lauderdale federal courthouse, about 45 kilometers (28 miles) from the suburb where the shooting took place.

"The people in the government who are voted into power are lying to us," Gonzalez said."We are prepared to call B.S. [point out a lie]."

"They say that tougher gun laws do not decrease gun violence," she said. "They say a good guy with a gun stops a bad guy with a gun. We call B.S."

Gonzalez said mental health  a factor President Donald Trump and other authorities had pointed to in their responses to the shooting  was not the main problem; she blamed Florida's lenient gun laws, under which the teenage shooter, Nikolas Cruz, legally purchased his weapon.

"He would not have harmed that many students with a knife," she said.

Protesters hold signs as they call for a reform of Protesters hold signs as they call for a reform of gun laws three days after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, at a rally in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Feb. 17, 2018. Protesters hold signs as they call for a reform of gun laws three days after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, at a rally in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Feb. 17, 2018.

Gonzalez elicited a strong response from the audience when she mentioned the amount of money politicians take from the National Rifle Association (NRA), a powerful lobbying group. "To every politician who is taking donations from the NRA," she cried, "shame on you."

WATCH: At Florida Rally, School Shooting Survivors Argue for Gun Controls

"Shame on you!" the crowd responded, turning the phrase into a chant.

WATCH: 'People I Know Have Died'

?Gun rally

Meanwhile, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) away at the Dade County fairgrounds, hundreds of gun enthusiasts attended a gun show featuring more than 100 vendors of firearms and accessories.

Show manager Jorge Fernandez told the Reuters news service that the company holding the event, Florida Gun Shows, decided against canceling the show because of financial concerns.

At the show, Adolfo David Ginarte, 30, told Reuters that it would be "un-American" to cancel the gun show because of the mass shooting. "Facts don't care about your feelings," he said. "Things are going to happen. ... This isn't the first time and, unfortunately, it's not going to be the last time."

People holding placards take part in a protest in People holding placards take part in a protest in support of gun control in Coral Springs, Fla., Feb. 17, 2018. People holding placards take part in a protest in support of gun control in Coral Springs, Fla., Feb. 17, 2018.

Joe Arrington, 29, told Reuters he did not believe more regulation would have stopped the shooting. "I think a lot of agencies didn't do their job necessarily like they were supposed to," he said.

On Friday, the FBI  the top national law enforcement agency  admitted that it ignored a tipoff about the gunman.

Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. This is not acceptable, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted Saturday evening. They are spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign - there is no collusion. Get back to the basics and make us all proud!

The agency acknowledged it did not follow established protocols after receiving information about the shooter on its national tip line. The FBI said someone with a close relationship to Cruz left information on January 5 about the teenagers desire to kill people and other disturbing details.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions responded by ordering an immediate review of how the Justice Department and the FBI respond to warnings about potential mass killers.

APTOPIX Trump School Shooting Florida President Donald Trump, accompanied by first lady Melania Trump and Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, speaks to reporters while visiting with medical staff at Broward Health North in Pompano Beach, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018. President Donald Trump, accompanied by first lady Melania Trump and Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, speaks to reporters while visiting with medical staff at Broward Health North in Pompano Beach, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018.

Trump visits with victims

Trump and his wife, Melania, visited Florida on Friday, to meet with law enforcement officials and some of the victims of Wednesday's shooting.

At a Broward County hospital near the scene of the shooting, Trump praised the medical staff who treated the victims, saying, "The job they've done is incredible." He also praised the speed with which first responders arrived at the school. When asked by reporters whether the nation's gun laws needed to be changed, Trump did not respond.

Trump was to spend the long Presidents Day weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, about 55 kilometers (34 miles) from Parkland.

Cruz, who was being held at the Broward County jail without bond, has admitted carrying out the shootings with a semiautomatic AR-15 rifle, according to the county sheriff's office. Cruz, who had been expelled for disciplinary reasons last year from the school, faces 17 counts of premeditated murder.ACC launches probe, travel ban on Chisty

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched a probe into allegations of corruption brought against Farmers Bank's founding chairman Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and its former Audit Committee chairman Md Mahabubul Haque Chisty-both of whom were stepped down from their posts on November 27 in line with a Bangladesh Bank directive.

On Wednesday, an ACC team comprising its deputy director Shamsul Alam and deputy assistant director Zainul Abedin went to the bank's headquarters in Dhaka as part of its investigation.

They held a closed door meeting with the bank's Managing Director (MD) Ehsan Khasru to gather first hand information relating to the bank's loan scams, mismanagement and other irregularities during the tenure of Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and Md Mahabubul Haque Chisty.

The meeting lasted for more than two hours where the ACC team asked the bank's chief executive to produce some papers and documents to them.

"A lot of allegations have been raised against both of them. They allegedly resorted to various corrupt practices at various levels from loan sanctioning to bank management that have already hit media headlines. The ACC has started investigation into these allegations revelved by the media," an ACC official told The New Nation yesterday on condition of anonymity.

On top of this, the ACC also collected the central bank's investigation reports on the bank's loan scandals and other anomalies.

Between September and November in 2015, the Bangladesh Bank (BB) conducted special inspections at three branches of the Farmers Bank in the city's Gulshan, Motijheel and Shyampur, and found gross violations of the banking rules in sanctioning and disbursing loans of around Tk 400 crore.

The amount was sanctioned to various business entities, many of them associated with bank insiders, without proper security or collateral, putting the depositors at risk.

BB probe found that the bank's former chairman Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Executive Committee Chairman Mahabubul Haque Chisty, Managing Director Choudhury Moshtaq Ahmed, Additional Managing Director AKM Shameem and six other officials were responsible for the loan anomalies.

"We've sought relevant and necessary documents to complete the investigation," said the ACC official, adding, "Notice will be issued summoning Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and Chisty after receiving some necessary documents from the bank."

He added, "If they are found involved in the corruption, the law will take its own course."

The ACC also wrote the immigration department to place the bank's former Audit Committee chairman Md Mahabubul Haque Chisty on the no- fly list at airports. It sought travel ban on Chisty for ensuring his appearance before the anti-graft body for questioning.A disputed case of euthanasia in Belgium, involving the death of a dementia patient who never formally asked to die, has again raised concerns about weak oversight in a country with some of the world's most liberal euthanasia laws.

The case was described in a letter provided to The Associated Press, written by a doctor who resigned from Belgium's euthanasia commission in protest over the group's actions on this and other cases.

Some experts say the case as documented in the letter amounts to murder; the patient lacked the mental capacity to ask for euthanasia and the request for the bedridden patient to be euthanized came from family members. The co-chairs of the commission say the doctor mistakenly reported the death as euthanasia.

FILE - Pierre Pol Vincke poses with a painting by FILE - Pierre Pol Vincke poses with a painting by his daughter, Edith, in Ramillies, Belgium, June 26, 2017. Belgium is one of few countries that allow euthanasia but doctors refused his daughter's request despite years of psychiatric illness, and Edith eventually took her own life on Nov. 3, 2011. FILE - Pierre Pol Vincke poses with a painting by his daughter, Edith, in Ramillies, Belgium, June 26, 2017. Belgium is one of few countries that allow euthanasia but doctors refused his daughter's request despite years of psychiatric illness, and Edith eventually took her own life on Nov. 3, 2011.

Although euthanasia has been legal in Belgium since 2002 and has overwhelming public support, critics have raised concerns in recent months about certain practices, including how quickly some doctors approve requests to die from psychiatric patients.

Dispute revealed

The AP revealed a rift last year between Dr. Willem Distelmans, co-chair of the euthanasia commission, and Dr. Lieve Thienpont, an advocate of euthanasia for the mentally ill. Distelmans suggested some of Thienpont's patients might have been killed without meeting all the legal requirements. Prompted by the AP's reporting, more than 360 doctors, academics and others have signed a petition calling for tighter controls on euthanasia for psychiatric patients.

FILE - Psychiatrist Dr. Lieve Thienpont in Ghent, FILE - Psychiatrist Dr. Lieve Thienpont in Ghent, Belgium, June 29, 2017. FILE - Psychiatrist Dr. Lieve Thienpont in Ghent, Belgium, June 29, 2017.

Euthanasia  when doctors kill patients at their request  can be granted in Belgium to people with both physical and mental health illnesses. The condition does not need to be fatal, but suffering must be "unbearable and untreatable." It can be performed only if specific criteria are fulfilled, including a "voluntary, well-considered and repeated" request from the person.

But Belgium's euthanasia commission routinely violates the law, according to a September letter of resignation written by Dr. Ludo Vanopdenbosch, a neurologist, to senior party leaders in the Belgian Parliament who appoint members of the group.

The most striking example took place at a meeting in early September, Vanopdenbosch wrote, when the group discussed the case of a patient with severe dementia who also had Parkinson's disease. To demonstrate the patient's lack of competence, a video was played showing what Vanopdenbosch characterized as "a deeply demented patient."

The patient, whose identity was not disclosed, was euthanized at the family's request, according to Vanopdenbosch's letter. There was no record of any prior request for euthanasia from the patient.

After hours of debate, the commission declined to refer the case to the public prosecutor to investigate whether criminal charges were warranted.

Vanopdenbosch confirmed the letter was genuine but would not comment further about details.

Palliative sedation

The two co-chairs of the euthanasia commission, Distelmans and Gilles Genicot, a lawyer, said the doctor treating the patient mistakenly called the procedure euthanasia, and that he should have called it palliative sedation instead. Palliative sedation is the process of drugging patients near the end of life to relieve symptoms, but it is not meant to end life.

"This was not a case of illegal euthanasia but rather a case of legitimate end-of-life decision improperly considered by the physician as euthanasia," Genicot and Distelmans said in an email.

Vanopdenbosch, who is also a palliative care specialist, wrote that the doctor's intention was "to kill the patient" and that "the means of alleviating the patient's suffering was disproportionate."

Though no one outside the commission has access to the case's medical records  the group is not allowed by law to release that information  some critics were stunned by the details in Vanopdenbosch's letter.

"It's not euthanasia because the patient didn't ask, so it's the voluntary taking of a life," said Dr. An Haekens, psychiatric director at the Alexianen Psychiatric Hospital in Tienen, Belgium. "I don't know another word other than murder to describe this."

Kristof Van Assche, a professor of health law at the University of Antwerp, wrote in an email the commission itself wasn't breaking the law because the group is not required to refer a case unless two-thirds of the group agree  even if the case "blatantly disregards" criteria for euthanasia.

But without a request from the patient, the case "would normally constitute manslaughter or murder," he wrote. "The main question is why this case was not deemed sufficiently problematic" to prompt the commission to refer the case to prosecutors.

Other problems

Vanopdenbosch, who in the letter called himself a "big believer" in euthanasia, cited other problems with the commission. He said that when he expressed concerns about potentially problematic cases, he was immediately "silenced" by others. And he added that because many of the doctors on the commission are leading euthanasia practitioners, they can protect each other from scrutiny, and act with "impunity."

Vanopdenbosch wrote that when cases of euthanasia are identified that don't meet the legal criteria, they are not forwarded to the public prosecutor's office as is required by law, but that the commission itself acts as the court.

In the 15 years since euthanasia was legalized in Belgium, more than 10,000 people have been euthanized, and just one of those cases has been referred to prosecutors.

Genicot and Distelmans said the group thoroughly assesses every euthanasia case to be sure all legal conditions have been met.

"It can obviously occur that some debate emerges among members, but our role is to make sure that the law is observed and certainly not to trespass it," they said. They said it was "absolutely false" that Vanopdenbosch had been muzzled, and they said they regretted his resignation.A senior Pakistani official has told the country's lawmakers that Ehsanullah Ehsan, the former spokesman of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), both U.S.-designated terror groups, will be tried in a military court.

Responding to a Senate inquiry regarding the fate and status of Ehsan's case, Talal Chaudhry, the minister of state for interior affairs, made the announcement Friday to the upper house of parliament.

Military courts were established in 2015 to provide faster and more efficient trials of suspected terrorists and their facilitators following a deadly Taliban attack on an Army Public School in Peshawar, capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The attack resulted in the deaths of more than 130 people, the majority of whom were children.

Ehsan was TTP's spokesman at the time of the attack.

"Relevant institutions have decided not to pardon or release Ehsanullah Ehsan," Chaudhry reportedly told the Senate. He assured lawmakers that Ehsan would be tried in accordance with Pakistan's laws.

Chaudhry's assurance to lawmakers came amid speculation that Ehsan might be pardoned or released. On Friday, though, Chaudry tried to put lawmakers at ease by emphasizing that the government has zero tolerance for terrorists.

This was not the first time that questions had been raised about Ehsan's fate in government's custody. Last year in December, a court in Peshawar issued an order, barring Ehsan's possible release. The court instructed the government to keep the suspect in captivity and continue with his interrogation.

Ehsan's capture

Ehsan reportedly surrendered himself to Pakistan's intelligence agency last year in April. He then confessed on a video released by Pakistani authorities that he had been involved in terror activities and took responsibility for orchestrating a series of deadly terror attacks on behalf of JuA and TTP across Pakistan.

In the video, Ehsan also alleged that Indian and Afghan intelligence agencies had provided operational and financial assistance to the TTP and JuA to launch deadly terror attacks inside Pakistan.

Both New Delhi and Kabul denied the allegations at the time and charged that Ehsan's confession had been orchestrated by Pakistan's intelligence agency in an effort to shift the blame to India and Afghanistan.

Who is Ehsan?



Ehsan's real name is Liaqat Ali, and he is from the semiautonomous tribal belt of northwestern Pakistan that shares a border with Afghanistan.

Ehsan reportedly joined Tehreek-e-Taliban in 2008 as a college student and eventually became the mouthpiece of the terror group.

When a faction of TTP parted ways with the terrorist organization and established JuA in 2014, Ehsan became that new group's spokesman.

JuA has claimed responsibility for numerous deadly attacks in Pakistan, including a suicide bombing in Lahore Park during Easter last year that killed at least 70 people, the majority of them Christians.

The United States placed Jammat-ul-Ahrar on a list of specially designated global terrorist organizations in 2016. TTP was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department in 2010.The first funeral services were held Friday for the victims of this weeks massacre at a Florida high school.

Separate funerals were held for Alyssa Alhadeff, who at age 14 was one of the youngest victims of Wednesdays shooting, along with 18-year-old Meadow Pollack, who was preparing to go to college.

Alyssas mother, Lori, told family and friends at the funeral service, A knife was stabbed in my heart. I wish I could have taken those bullets for you, Alyssa. I would have protected you.

Lori Alhadeff earlier made a television appearance on CNN where she screamed and demanded that President Donald Trump take action to address the epidemic of school violence.

At Pollacks funeral, David Zafrani said he was talking with Pollack minutes before the shooting.

I know that shes in a safer place now and the angels will be with her, he said.

Mourners console each other at the gravesite for s Mourners console each other at the gravesite for shooting victim Meadow Pollack in North Lauderdale, Florida, Feb. 16, 2018. Pollack was one of 17 victims killed in a shooting incident at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Mourners console each other at the gravesite for shooting victim Meadow Pollack in North Lauderdale, Florida, Feb. 16, 2018. Pollack was one of 17 victims killed in a shooting incident at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

?More known about shooting

Seventeen people, 14 students and three teachers, were killed during the Valentines Day shooting.

Nikolas Cruz is accused of opening fire with an assault rifle on students and teachers at the south Florida high school where he had been enrolled before being expelled last year for disciplinary reasons.

Cruz fired in five classrooms on two floors of the high school, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said. Authorities say when he was done, Cruz allegedly dropped the gun and his backpack full of ammunition and left the building along with other students fleeing the scene.

Participants hold placards with the names of victi Participants hold placards with the names of victims of the shooting in Parkland, Florida, during a candlelight vigil at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, Feb. 16, 2018. Participants hold placards with the names of victims of the shooting in Parkland, Florida, during a candlelight vigil at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, Feb. 16, 2018.

Police arrested Cruz Wednesday afternoon outside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, about 70 kilometers north of Miami. The 19-year-old was ordered held without bond Thursday during a brief court appearance where he was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder.

Officials say Cruz has admitted to carrying out the shooting with a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle.

As the investigation into the violence continued, new details emerged about Cruz and how he committed his crime.

Witnesses say Cruz took an Uber to his former school and walked inside carrying a black duffle bag and a black backpack. Authorities say Cruz entered the stairwell, where he took out his rifle.

This video screen grab image shows shooting suspec This video screen grab image shows shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz on Feb. 15, 2018 at Broward County Jail in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This video screen grab image shows shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz on Feb. 15, 2018 at Broward County Jail in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

?No known motive

Florida state Sen. Bill Galvano, who visited the school, said authorities told him it appeared that Cruz tried to fire out of the third-floor windows at students as they were fleeing the school, but the high-impact windows did not shatter.

Authorities have not given a motive for the shooting, but people who knew Cruz say he was fascinated by weapons and violence and say his strange behavior caused him to lose some friendships.

In addition to the 17 deaths authorities reported, the shooting left 15 others hospitalized, some of them in critical condition.

Another funeral service is scheduled Sunday for 14-year-old Jaime Guttenberg.Afghanistans President Ashraf Ghani has pledged to bring back all refugees in Pakistan in the next 24 months, saying it will put an end to allegations the displaced community is a source of regional instability.

The pledge came as ties between the two uneasy neighbors have deteriorated over allegations the Pakistani military shelters and assists Taliban militants and those of the Haqqani network waging deadly attacks in Afghanistan against local and U.S.-led forces.

Pakistan hosts an estimated 2.7 million Afghan refugees, half of them undocumented, and has been pressing the need for an early repatriation of the displaced population, saying their presence helps Afghan terrorists to melt and morph among them.

In the next 24 months my priority and goal is to bring back all Afghan refugees in Pakistan, President Ghani said in a televised speech Saturday.

We don't want them [Pakistanis] to say refugees do this or do that. [We know] refugees are innocent. So, let us resolve to bring them back to solve this problem once for all, Ghani asserted.

He also promised to make efforts to bring back Afghan refugees in Iran.

Ghani was speaking to a gathering at the presidential place in Kabul marking the end of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan that had forced millions of people to take refuge in Pakistan and Iran.

Critics are skeptical, however, of Ghani's declarations because his government also initiated a refugee repatriation soon after it took power in 2014.

But a lack of jobs and basic services, such as health care and education, as well as allegations of rampant corruption in the relevant Afghan ministry discouraged displaced families from returning at the time, according to international aid workers and refugees.

Even those Afghans who did return home, ended up back in Pakistan or attempted to flee to other foreign destinations, they say.

In his speech Saturday, President Ghani disclosed that Kabul will host an international conference on February 28 where it will table a proposed plan to promote peace with the Taliban to end the violence.

But as he spoke, officials elsewhere in the country said separate insurgent attacks in western Farah and southern Zabul provinces killed at least 13 Afghan forces and overran security outposts there.

The Taliban has regularly attacked Afghan forces, and the violence is expected to intensify in the coming summer fighting season.Henry Bolton, ousted Saturday as leader of Britain's far-right United Kingdom Independence Party over a racism scandal involving his former girlfriend, said it would be "very difficult" for the party to survive its current leadership crisis.

UKIP, the party credited with the strongest support for Brexit in the 2016 vote on Britain's departure from the European Union, must now elect its fifth leader in less than two years.

While waiting for the decision by his party Saturday at a UKIP meeting in Birmingham, Bolton told reporters, "It's not whether I go, specifically. It's about whether or not the party goes through another leadership contest and an interim leadership beforehand."

With 1,378 UKIP members voting, 63 percent cast ballots to oust Bolton.

In a speech earlier in the day, Bolton made a case for staying in the party's top position and criticized those within the party who wanted him to leave.

The speech was not open to media, but the British newspaper Daily Mail reported that Bolton was booed when he threatened to sue the party.

Gerard Batten will serve as interim UKIP head. Bolton has not ruled out another run for party leadership.

Bolton's personal life made headlines in December after news broke that the 54-year-old had left his wife and young children and had begun a relationship with Jo Marney, 25, a fashion model.

In January, phone texts Marney had sent to a friend were made public, showing Marney had made racist comments about the fiancee of Britain's Prince Harry.

Marney said biracial American actress Meghan Markle, who is engaged to marry Harry later this year, would "taint our Royal Family."

"This is Britain, not Africa," she wrote.

Marney publicly apologized after news media published her words. Bolton later said he had ended their relationship.India and Iran sealed nine agreements during a visit by the Iranian President to New Delhi including a key accord that leases operational control of part of the Iranian port of Chabahar to New Delhi for 18 months.

India is helping develop the port to create a strategic trade route to landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics, bypassing rival Pakistan.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also agreed to step up efforts to bring stability to war-ravaged Afghanistan after holding talks in New Delhi.

"We both will work for restoring peace, stability, prosperity and a pluralistic system in Afghanistan," Modi said. We want to see our region free from terrorism.

During his three-day visit to India, the Iranian leader, who faces the threat of reimposition of sanctions, focused on seeking Indian investments as he tries to shore up his countrys economy.

Prime Minister Modi sent out a reassuring message, saying that both countries want to intensify economic cooperation and increase connectivity and trade.

New Delhi has been a key buyer of Iranian oil and gas and maintained trade ties with Tehran even when it faced international sanctions over its nuclear program.

Chabahar is Indias first major overseas port venture and is seen as a counter to Chinas development of the Gwadar port in Pakistan. India has committed $85 million for its development and although progress has been slow, the project has taken off the ground with India shipping the first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan through Chabahar in October.

Modi called Chabahar a golden gateway to Afghanistan and promised to help in construction of infrastructure that will make it possible to send goods from the port onto Afghanistan, and Central Asian countries.

We will support the construction of the Chabahar-Zahedan rail link so that Chabahar gateways potential could be fully utilized, Modi said.

Rouhani said the rail line will be an economic boon for both countries. He also said that both sides "are prepared for joint ventures in gas and petroleum sectors" and sought Indian investments in the industrial and mining sectors.

After sanctions were lifted on Iran in 2015, India had promised to invest billions of dollars in the country in petrochemical plants, railway lines and other industries in the areas. But U.S. President Donald Trumps warning that he could scuttle the nuclear deal with Tehran has slowed progress on investments, largely because Western banks are hesitant to do business with the country.

According to Indian media reports, India is exploring the option of investing in Iran through its own national currency, the rupee, to bypass potential problems that may arise if sanctions are reimposed.

Rouhani also said in New Delhi that Iran would adhere to commitments under its 2015 international agreement to limit its disputed nuclear program.

Before coming to New Delhi, the Iranian president visited the southern Indian city of Hyderabad where, during an address at a prominent mosque on Friday, he strongly criticized the Trump administration's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to use the West's pre-eminent annual security conference to argue for tougher Western action against Israel's regional rival, Iran.

Netanyahu is scheduled to make that case in a speech to global leaders and security officials at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday.

As he left for Germany on Thursday, Netanyahu said he would present proof of Iran's involvement in a cross-border confrontation between Israel and Syria earlier this month  the most serious clash of its kind since Syria's civil war began in 2011. He also said he would reiterate Israel's determination to defend itself against any threat "without restriction."

Iran has denied Israel's assertion that an Iranian drone launched from Syria infiltrated Israeli airspace on February 10. Israel retaliated by carrying out airstrikes in Syria, triggering return fire from Syrian forces.

Fragments of a Syrian anti-aircraft missile found FILE - Fragments of a Syrian anti-aircraft missile found in Alonei Abba, about 2 miles (3.2 km) from where the remains of a crashed F-16 Israeli war plane were found, at the village of Alonei Abba, Israel, Feb. 10, 2018. FILE - Fragments of a Syrian anti-aircraft missile found in Alonei Abba, about 2 miles (3.2 km) from where the remains of a crashed F-16 Israeli war plane were found, at the village of Alonei Abba, Israel, Feb. 10, 2018.

?Nuclear deal on agenda

Netanyahu also has joined a Trump administration campaign to press European powers to toughen the Iran nuclear deal that they and the previous Obama administration negotiated with Tehran.

U.S. President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to European powers last month, saying he would pull out of the deal unless they agreed to new limits on Iran's nuclear and other activities by May 12.

Netanyahu backed the ultimatum. Israel fears the existing deal will enable Iran to quickly develop nuclear weapons when its limitations on Iranian uranium enrichment begin expiring in the 2020s.

Israeli leaders see a nuclear-armed Iran as an existential threat because of repeated calls by Iranian leaders for the destruction of the Jewish state. Tehran says its nuclear ambitions are peaceful.

Israel's ruling parliamentary coalition and main opposition party dismiss the Iranian assurances.

In an exclusive January interview with VOA's Persian service in Jerusalem, Israeli parliament speaker Yuli Edelstein said he was working constantly to keep Iran's nuclear ambitions on the international agenda.

"We are trying not to let the world believe that in the last couple of years, everything's already fine because a deal was signed and many important players  the United States, China, Russia and European Union  were all behind the deal," Edelstein said. "We have to provide information, and we know for a fact what the Iranians are up to." He said he would communicate that message to EU officials, whom he met in Brussels on Jan. 23.

Netanyahu's former national security adviser, Yaakov Amidror, also speaking to VOA Persian at his home in the central Israeli town of Ra'anana, said he believed European powers were receptive to Israeli concerns.

"The Europeans don't feel well with the fact that the Iranians continue to enhance their long-range missile capability," Amidror said. "They also know about terror organizations that the Iranians are building around the world. So they might say, 'OK, we think it's very bad to change the [nuclear] agreement,' but the circumstances might lead the Europeans to understand that there is a need to contain Iran, and the way to contain Iran is by cooperating with the U.S."

Iran denies supporting terror organizations, saying instead that it fights such groups in the region.

FILE - European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini speaks during a media conference in Brussels, Jan. 11, 2018. FILE - European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini speaks during a media conference in Brussels, Jan. 11, 2018.

?Europe's alternate approach

EU officials so far have shown little sign of accepting U.S. demands for changes to the nuclear deal.

In remarks to the media Jan. 11, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said concerns about Iranian missiles and increasing regional tensions were outside the scope of the nuclear deal and should be resolved in other forums.

"The unity of the international community is essential to preserve a deal that is working, that is making the world safer and that is preventing a potential nuclear arms race in the region," Mogherini said. "And we expect all parties to continue to fully implement this agreement."

In another VOA Persian interview in Tel Aviv, the former chief of the Israeli spy agency Mossad, Efraim Halevy, said the EU was right to focus on preserving the nuclear deal, particularly through boosting trade ties with Iran.

"Economically, [the West should] open up areas of commerce, tourism, industry and communication [with Iran], in order to allow the Iranian public at large to benefit from the fruits of the agreement," Halevy said.

But with U.S. officials calling the agreement a "disaster," the Trump administration has said it is working with Britain, France and Germany to "fix" it by the May 12 deadline.

This report was produced in collaboration with VOA's Persian service.WASHINGTON - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to address the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday during a routine meeting on the Middle East, and reports say he is expected to focus on U.S. President Donald Trumps decision to relocate the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.

Last December, Trump broke with long-standing U.S. policy to say Washington would recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital and start preparations for a new mission there.

In response to Trumps announcement, the U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution urging nations not to establish diplomatic missions in the historic city of Jerusalem.

Palestinian leaders, meanwhile, said Washingtons position as mediator of a peace deal was over, although the White House said the U.S. was as committed to the peace process as ever. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state, whereas Israel has declared the whole city to be its united and eternal capital.

WATCH: Greta Van Susteren interviews Israel's U.N. ambassador

?Israels U.N. ambassador, Danny Danon, discussed the Trump administration's decision as part of a recent wide-ranging interview in Washington with VOA contributor Greta Van Susteren.

When asked whether he believed the embassy would be moved when past U.S. presidents have made similar promises, Danon said, I cannot tell you when and where it will be, the exact location, but I think it was a bold decision." He also said, It reminds me of the decision of President [Harry] Truman, who also took a bold decision to recognize Israel, and I think we will see other countries following the U.S.

There is no reason why all embassies will not move to Jerusalem, Danon said.

Danon was in Washington to present Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales with an award for Guatemalas decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, following Trumps announcement about the U.S. mission.

Separately, the Israeli envoy also told Van Susteren that he, Danon, intended to confront Abbas about payments by the Palestinian Authority to families of Palestinians who carry out attacks on Israeli targets. It is not about argument about land or territory, it is about recognizing the right of the Jews to live peacefully in Israel, Danon said.

Danon said he speaks to the Security Council almost every three months about it but that the council is not willing to confront the Palestinians.

Congress is considering withholding financial aid to the Palestinian Authority if it continues the practice.

Smoke rises from a missile, which according to the Smoke rises from a missile, which according to the Lebanon national news agency appears to be part of a Syrian air defense missile targeting an Israeli jet which landed in a lemon grove, Feb. 10, 2018. Smoke rises from a missile, which according to the Lebanon national news agency appears to be part of a Syrian air defense missile targeting an Israeli jet which landed in a lemon grove, Feb. 10, 2018.

Israel and Saudi Arabia

Amid reports that relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia are thawing over the common threat of Iran, Danon acknowledged Israel does have strong relationships with other moderate Arab countries in the region, including on sharing intelligence regarding terrorism. If we would know tomorrow that a terrorist would be trying to board a plane, it could be in Riyadh or Hong Kong, or in Berlin, we would share that information.

Danon accused Iran of supporting terrorism throughout the region, including with 82,000 troops in Syria.

I think we see today they have a lot of free money. Instead of investing that money in education and infrastructure, they invest it in terrorism worldwide, Danon said.

Several days ago, Israel said it had dealt severe blows to Iranian and Syrian forces inside Syria and would continue to combat any further aggression.

Israel said the raids came after Syria shot down an Israeli F-16 fighter with anti-aircraft fire, marking the first time since 1982 that Israel had lost a warplane in battle. The pilots ejected, although Israel said one of them was severely injured. Several Israeli officials have said they refuse to accept Iran establishing a military presence in Syria. Iran denies doing so. Iran supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country's conflict.

FILE - Polish President Andrzej Duda announces his Polish President Andrzej Duda announces his decision to sign a legislation penalizing certain statements about the Holocaust, in Warsaw, Poland, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018. Polish President Andrzej Duda announces his decision to sign a legislation penalizing certain statements about the Holocaust, in Warsaw, Poland, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018.

You cannot rewrite history

Turning to Europe, historians and the Israeli government reacted angrily after Polish President Andrzej Duda outlawed speech that blames Poland for crimes against humanity committed during Nazi Germanys occupation.

The law would make it a crime to call the Nazi genocide of Jews a Polish crime, or refer to the Nazi death camps as Polish death camps, even though some of the most brutal Nazi atrocities took place on Polish soil.

You cannot rewrite history, Danon said. It is true that the camps were built by Nazis but you cannot hide the fact that many, many people in Poland cooperated with Nazis.

Duda requested a constitutional review of the law to determine whether it infringes on freedom of speech. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have compared the legislation to Holocaust denial. Poland was home to one of the world's most thriving Jewish populations before Nazi Germany invaded in 1939.

FILE - Eritrean refugees hold placards during a de FILE - Eritrean refugees hold placards during a demonstration in support of a recent U.N. report that accused Eritrean leaders of committing crimes against humanity, outside the E.U. offices in Ramat Gan, Israel, June 21, 2016. FILE - Eritrean refugees hold placards during a demonstration in support of a recent U.N. report that accused Eritrean leaders of committing crimes against humanity, outside the E.U. offices in Ramat Gan, Israel, June 21, 2016.

Israel-Africa relations

On another subject, Danon defended a decision by the Jewish state to deport thousands of Africans to their countries of origin. Israel recently began issuing deportation notices, saying many of the Africans are economic migrants, not refugees.

Danon said, It is a very sensitive issue for us. You have to look at the facts; you have dozens of thousands of Africans who came to Israel to work. He acknowledged that they can earn three times as much in Israel as they would in places like Eritrea or South Sudan. So for them to come and to live in Israel, I can understand why they are doing it, he said.

Danon also said that to encourage the Africans to leave Israel, the government is offering them $3,500 along with one-way transportation. Almost 40,000 people face an uncertain future. Those facing deportation have the option to take the offer within two months or face imprisonment.

We know we have to do it in a humanitarian way, and when I was in the government, we thought about incentives, not to force them to leave, but to pay them to give them incentives to go back to their original countries and to continue with their life, Danon said.

Israel is sending the migrants to Rwanda after assessing it as a safe country with a growing economy. Rwanda denies Israeli claims that it has agreed to take in the migrants.A California man has pleaded guilty to inadvertently selling bank accounts to Russians who were indicted Friday by a federal grand jury for interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Richard Pinedo pleaded guilty to using stolen identities to set up bank accounts that were then used by the Russians, according to a February 12 court filing.

The special counsel investigating Russian meddling on Friday announced charges against 13 Russian citizens and three Russian entities for interfering in the election.

The indictment alleges that the Internet Research Agency, a St. Petersburg-based social media company with Kremlin ties, 12 of its employees, and its financial backer orchestrated an effort to influence the 2016 election campaign in favor of President Donald Trump.



Prosecutors charged Yevgeniy Prigozhin, a businessman with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, with funding the operation through companies he controls, Concord Management and Consulting LLC, Concord Catering and a number of subsidiaries.



Prigozhin and his businesses allegedly provided "significant funds" for the Internet Research Agency's operations to disrupt the U.S. election, according to the indictment.



Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said that the Russian conspirators sought to promote social discord in the United State and undermine public confidence in democracy.



"We must not allow them to succeed, Rosenstein said at a news conference in Washington.

FILE - Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein spea Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announces that a grand jury has charged 13 Russian nationals and several Russian entities, Feb. 16, 2018, in Washington. The defendants are accused of violating U.S. criminal laws to interfere with American elections Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announces that a grand jury has charged 13 Russian nationals and several Russian entities, Feb. 16, 2018, in Washington. The defendants are accused of violating U.S. criminal laws to interfere with American elections





The conspiracy was part of a larger operation code-named Project Lakhta, Rosenstein said.



"Project Lakhta included multiple components  some involving domestic audiences within the Russian Federation and others targeting foreign audiences in multiple countries," Rosenstein said.



Mueller, who has made no public statements about the Russia investigation since his appointment last May, did not speak at the news conference.



Charges against Russian nationals



The indictment charges all the defendants with conspiracy to defraud the United States. Three defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, and five individuals with aggravated identity theft.



None of the defendants charged in the indictment are in custody, according to a spokesman for the Special Counsels office.



The U.S. and Russia dont have an extradition treaty and it's unlikely that any of the defendants will stand trial in the U.S.



The 37-page charging document alleges that the Russian conspirators sought to coordinate their effort with Trump campaign associates, but it does not accuse anyone on the Trump campaign of colluding with the Russians.



Trump took to Twitter after the indictment was announced to again deny his campaign worked with the Russians.



"Russia started their anti-U.S. campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for president, Trump tweeted. The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong - no collusion!"



The indictment marks the first time Muellers office has brought charges against Russians and Russian entities for meddling in the 2016 election.



Muellers sprawling investigation has led to the indictments of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and associate Rick Gates.Former Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and former campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos have pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about their contacts with Russian officials.



Details of indictment



The indictment says the Russian campaign to interfere in the U.S. political system started as early as 2014 and accelerated as the 2016 election campaign got underway.



During the 2016 campaign, the Russian operatives posted "derogatory information" about a number of presidential candidates. But by early to mid-2016, the operation included "supporting" Trump's presidential campaign and "disparaging" Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.



Taking on fake American identities, the Russian operatives communicated with "unwitting" Trump campaign associates and with other political activists to seek to coordinate political activities," the indictment says.



The indictment describes how Russian operatives used subterfuge, stolen identities and other methods to stage political rallies, buy ads on social media platforms, and pay gullible Americans to promote or disparage candidates.



To avoid detection by U.S. law enforcement agencies, the Russian operatives used computer networks based in the United States, according to the indictment.

"These groups and pages, which addressed the divisive U.S. political and social issues, falsely claimed to be controlled by U.S. activists when, in fact, they were controlled by defendants," the indictment reads.



A number of the operatives are alleged to have traveled to the United States under false pretenses to collect intelligence to inform the influence operations.Thirteen people died when a Mexican military helicopter crashed Friday during a tour of earthquake damage in Oaxaca state.

The chopper was carrying Mexico's interior minister, Alfonso Navarrete Prida, and Oaxaca Governor Alejandro Murat, who were injured along with more than a dozen others. The state attorney general's office said both men suffered only "slight concussions."

In the same statement, the attorney general's office said 12 people died at the scene of the crash in Santiago Jamiltepec, and a 13th person died at a hospital afterward. Three of the dead were reported to be children.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has issued a statement via social media about the accident. He said it took place while the helicopter was landing.

Pena Nieto tweeted, "Unfortunately, people on the ground lost their lives and others were wounded. My condolences to their families and my wishes for a prompt recovery to those injured."

The president said none of the fatalities were due to the earthquake or aftershocks that hit southern Mexico on Friday.



The U.S. Geological Survey put the quake's magnitude at 7.2 and said its epicenter was a rural area of southern Oaxaca state near the Pacific coast and the border with Guerrero state.



Officials in Oaxaca say there was superficial damage to some buildings and that about a million homes and businesses lost power. The state government said shelters have been opened for those fleeing damaged homes.



In Mexico City, residents felt sustained shaking for about a minute, with tall buildings swaying and cracks appearing in the plaster of older structures.



Both Mexico City and the south of Mexico are still recovering from earthquakes in September that caused widespread damage.



Residents in Mexico City flooded into the streets Friday, fearing a repeat of the strong September quake, but there were no signs of major damage.



Tremors were felt as far away as Guatemala to the south.I am going to retire by December: Muhith

Staff Reporter :

Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Saturday said that he would retire by December this year.

"I now know for sure I am going to retire in December this year", Muhith said this in a regional conference of Agrani Bank held at a city hotel.

The minister came up with the desire days after Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury criticised two ministers including Muhith and advised them to go into retirement. Muhith also came down hard on Badruddoza and urged him to quit politics.

"Mr Badruddoza does not have any notion of such retirement. I would like to give him an advice-a point comes in our life when retiring is good for us," Muhith said.

The minister said he read a media repot that Badruddoza said Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid and he (Muhith) have done a lot for the country. Now, if they cannot be sent into retirement they should be transferred to some other less important ministries, Muhith cited the report.

"Since then, I was thinking that today (Saturday) my speech would be on retirement, " the finance minister said.

About his charge as finance minister of the government, Muhith said, "It's not right to be in charge for such a long time. If one is in-charge for long, a slump comes which is not good for people and the country."



MUNICH - The head of NATO has said the alliance is determined to avoid a new arms race with Russia, but he warned that Moscow is developing new nuclear weapons that pose a threat to the West.

Russia is modernizing its nuclear capabilities, developing new nuclear systems, and increasing the role of nuclear weapons in its military strategy. This is a cause for real concern, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told delegates Friday at the three-day Munich Security Conference.

Political and military leaders from across the world are gathered in the southern German city to discuss defense issues, amid growing doubts over the future of the current global order.

WTCH: NATO Chief Warns of Growing Nuclear Threat From North Korea, Russia

Stoltenberg said NATO is determined to avoid a new Cold War. He welcomed the European Unions embryonic plans to cooperate more closely on defense, under an agreement signed in December known as PESCO, or Permanent Structured Cooperation.

They are an opportunity to further strengthen the European pillar within NATO and contribute better burden sharing. But with opportunity comes risk. The risk of weakening the trans-Atlantic bond, the risk of duplicating what NATO is already doing, Stoltenberg said Friday.

Trans-Atlantic and European

The United States has echoed those concerns in recent weeks. However, Germanys Defense Minister Ursula Von Der Leyen told the conference that such fears were misplaced.

We want to stay trans-Atlantic in our outlook, but also become more European. A start has been made. Last December we finally launched plans for a European Defense Union. In a way we started out on the political path toward working on a European army.

Washington repeatedly has called for European allies to boost defense spending.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was present Friday in Munich, but will not address the conference.

Mixed American signals

Analyst and Professor James Davis of the University of Saint Gallen in Switzerland, who is participating in the conference, says the U.S. is sending mixed signals to its allies.

Weve got Americans ramping up their presence along the eastern flank of NATO. And so, at the level of commitment, real commitment of American capabilities, there seems to be actually a re-engagement. But at the political level, at the level of political leadership, strategic leadership, I think people sense the lack of voice, Davis told VOA.

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks at U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Feb. 16, 2018. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Feb. 16, 2018.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the brinkmanship over North Koreas nuclear program can be defused.

I would say the two key stakeholders in relation to this crisis, the United States and North Korea, are able to come together and to have a meaningful discussion on these issues. I believe the United States is ready to do so, and recent statements by the Vice President [Mike Pence] demonstrate that its absolutely essential to keep the pressure over North Korea and to convince North Korea that it is absolutely vital for them to come to the table and to be able to find a way for this denuclearization, the peaceful denuclearization, of the Korean Peninsula to be possible.

U.S. National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster is also to speak at the conference Saturday, and he is expected to address concerns over North Koreas nuclear program and the United States commitment to NATO.An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan gave four death sentences to a man it found guilty of raping and murdering a six-year old girl.

The victim, Zainab Fatima, was attacked last month in her native eastern city of Kasur in Punjab province. The news of the incident shocked the nation, sparking demands to swiftly bring the killer to justice.

A major manhunt in and around the city and DNA tests enabled police to arrest the man, identified as 24-year-old Imran Ali, who later confessed to his crime. He was tried in the special speedy court at a high-security prison in the provincial capital of Lahore and media was not allowed to attend the proceedings.

Police found Zainabs body in a city garbage dumpster four days after she was reported missing.

Provincial prosecutor general Ehtisham Qadir Shah told reporters outside the court Saturday that Ali was given four death sentences after being convicted of rape, murder and terrorism charges.

Shah explained that the convict can appeal the sentence in 15 days, though he predicted no relief, citing irrefutable evidence police have gathered against Ali, including his personal confession.

This serial killer has raped a total of nine young girls [including Zainab]. Two of them are alive and seven have been murdered. The trials in other cases are expected to be concluded in about 15 days, the prosecutor general said.

Investigators say they have matched DNA from other girls' bodies with Ali.

The girls mother, Nusrat Bibi, spoke to reporters shortly after the verdict was announced, and she repeated her demand for the death penalty in public.

I want him to be hanged publicly at the place where he took Zainab. He has not murdered just one young girl. He has killed many more and his public execution will deter others from committing such acts, Bibi said.

Prosecutor General Shah did not rule out the possibility of a public execution as has been requested by the victim's family.

We are considering [it]. Since he [the convict] has been tried and charged under the special law of Anti-Terrorism Act, in which the government can think over it, the mode and manner [for carrying out the death penalty]," he said.

Shortly after the news of Zainab's gruesome murder surfaced, protesters took to the streets in Kasur, where demonstrators stormed police stations and set fire to homes of local politicians for not taking action, despite repeated incidents of child rape and murder cases in the city.

Relatives have reported more than a dozen cases of rape and murder in and around Kasur in less than two years, but no serious action had been taken until Zainab's case surfaced.Pope Francis has reactivated his sexual abuse advisory panel by restructuring its membership, following criticism of his handling of scandals that have staggered the Catholic Church for more than three decades.

The Vatican announced Saturday that Francis reconfirmed Cardinal Sean O'Malley of the northeastern U.S. city of Boston as head of the panel, the reconfirmation of seven members and the appointment of nine new ones. The reshuffling comes two months after the panel's three-year mandate lapsed. None of the most fervent lay victims' advocates from the original group returned, but the Vatican said the commission's work would be influenced by the experiences of victims.

The announcement was made on the same day a Vatican investigator, Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta, is due to meet in New York City with Juan Carlos Cruz. Cruz says he was sexually abused when he was a teenager in Chile by a priest named Fernando Karadima. A Vatican probe found Karadima guilty in 2011 of abusing teenage boys over many years.

Scicluna was appointed by the pope to look into accusations that Chilean Bishop Juan Barros had covered up sex abuse crimes against minors committed by Karadima and others.

The appointment of Scicluna, the Vatican's most experienced sexual abuse investigator, surprised many, as it came just days after Francis initially said accusations against Barros were "slander." The pope told reporters after visiting Latin America recently that the Vatican had no hard evidence against the bishop, creating one of the greatest public relations crises of his papacy.

Amid intense criticism of the pope's defense of Barros, the Vatican said Thursday the pope regularly meets with victims of sexual abuse in an effort to "help them heal the grave wounds caused by the abuses they suffered."

The first members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, including Marie Collins, were appointed in March 2014. Collins, an Irish survivor of abuse and a victims' advocate, resigned in March of 2017, citing the "unacceptable" resistance to the commission from within the Vatican.MUNICH, GERMANY - Moscow is claiming the charges against 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies for meddling in the 2016 U.S. election are "blather."

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, where dozens of world leaders are gathered this weekend, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday questioned the evidence presented by the U.S. Justice Department and special counsel Robert Mueller.

"You know I have no reaction at all, because one can publish whatever one wants," he said. "We see how accusations, statements, allegations multiply. Until we see the facts, everything else is just blather. I beg your pardon for a not really diplomatic wording."

Mueller's investigation has shed further light on Russia's efforts to influence U.S. politics in cyberspace. The indictments suggest that a Russian propaganda arm oversaw a criminal and espionage conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential campaign, by supporting Donald Trump and disparaging his rival, Hillary Clinton.

The indictments have created added tension at the three-day gathering of global political and military leaders in Munich.

FILE - H.R. McMaster, White House national securit H.R. McMaster, White House national security adviser, speaks at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Feb. 17, 2018. H.R. McMaster, White House national security adviser, speaks at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Feb. 17, 2018.

Lavrov's appearance at the podium Saturday was followed immediately by that of White House national security adviser H. R. McMaster, whose response also was blunt.

"The United States will expose and act against those who use cyberspace, social media and other means to advance campaigns of disinformation, subversion and espionage," he told delegates.

McMaster said the United States would support Russia's proposition of a cybersecurity dialogue, but only when Moscow is sincere about curtailing its interference in Western democracies.

Effort seen backfiring

"What's happened is in this effort to polarize our societies  to support rightist groups, even the most extreme forms of fascist groups, and then groups on the left, in an attempt to pit Western societies against each other  all that has done is appeal to those big fringes while uniting all of our polities actually against Russia," McMaster said.

WATCH: National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster's speech in Munich

Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, also in Munich, said the West must counter Russian interference. "[Russian President Vladimir] Putin has to know the cost of this behavior in the long run will certainly outweigh the benefit" now perceived, he said.

Russian representatives in Munich have sought to present the claims of interference in Western democracies as part of a coordinated campaign of "Russophobia."

In Russia, news of the indictments was met with more scorn.

"There are no official claims, there are no proofs for this. That's why they are just children's statements," Andrei Kutskikh, the presidential envoy for international information security, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

A view of the four-story building known as the "tr A view of the four-story building known as the "troll factory" in St. Petersburg, Russia, Feb. 17, 2018. The U.S. government alleges the Internet Research Agency started interfering as early as 2014 in U.S. politics, extending to the 2016 presidential election, saying the agency was funded by a St. Petersburg businessman, Yevgeny Prigozhin. A view of the four-story building known as the "troll factory" in St. Petersburg, Russia, Feb. 17, 2018. The U.S. government alleges the Internet Research Agency started interfering as early as 2014 in U.S. politics, extending to the 2016 presidential election, saying the agency was funded by a St. Petersburg businessman, Yevgeny Prigozhin.

One of the 13 people indicted said that the U.S. justice system was unfair.

Mikhail Burchik was quoted Saturday by the newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda as saying that "I am very surprised that, in the opinion of the Washington court, several Russian people interfered in the elections in the United States. I do not know how the Americans came to this decision."

Burchik was identified in the indictment as executive director of an organization that allegedly sowed propaganda on social media to try to interfere with the 2016 election.

He was quoted as saying that "they have one-sided justice, and it turns out that you can hang the blame on anyone."

But Moscow is struggling to defend itself in the face of overwhelming evidence, according to Ben Nimmo of the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, a specialist in cyber- and hybrid warfare.

'Absolutely damning'

"The fact is that now we have independent Russian media that have named the troll factory accounts; Facebook and Twitter have confirmed the troll factory accounts on Facebook and Twitter. That is absolutely damning," Nimmo said. "There is no possible way you can say that that didn't happen. You now have the Department of Justice further confirming it."

U.S. officials say Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling is not finished. The White House maintains the indictments show there was no collusion between the Donald Trump presidential campaign team and Russian intelligence.

Some information for this report came from Associated Press.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in India on Saturday for a weeklong visit aimed at enhancing business ties between the two countries.

Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are also expected to focus on areas including civil nuclear cooperation, space, defense, energy and education.

Trudeau was received at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, a junior agriculture minister. A formal ceremony will be held on Feb. 23 before his talks with Modi, who visited Canada in April 2015.

"Wheels up for India and a busy visit, focused on creating good jobs and strengthening the deep connection between the people of our two countries," Trudeau tweeted on Friday before leaving for New Delhi with his family.

Canada has an estimated 1.4 million people of Indian origin.

During his visit, Trudeau will meet with top business leaders in Mumbai and visit key Indian monuments, including the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Golden Temple in Amritsar and the Jama Masjid in New Delhi.

At Davos last month, while President Donald Trump supported new tariffs on imports, Trudeau and Modi came out forcefully against a drift toward protectionism in the global economy.

In 2017, two-way merchandise trade between Canada and India amounted to $8.4 billion, split equally between exports to and imports from India, according to Indian media.

Canada mainly imports pearls, organic chemicals, pharmaceutical products, textiles, bicycles and motorcycles from India. It exports vegetables, paper, fertilizers, wood pulp, iron and steel and precious stones to India.Germany is welcoming home a journalist who spent a year awaiting charges in a Turkish prison, while the very same court on Friday sentenced six other journalists to life in prison.

Deniz Yucel, who holds dual citizenship in Germany and Turkey, made his return home to Germany Friday, where he writes for the German newspaper Die Welt and other publications.

We are infinitely happy and grateful that Deniz is free again after a year behind bars, the Axel Springer company, which publishes Die Welt, said in a press release Friday. We are very happy for Deniz and we are thinking of all those colleagues who are still behind bars, because they do what we all want to do: Be journalists  critical, incorruptible, persistent and passionate.

German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel and his wife German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel and his wife, Dilek Mayaturk Yucel, are pictured in front of their home after Deniz Yucel was released from prison in Istanbul, Turkey, Feb. 16, 2018. German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel and his wife, Dilek Mayaturk Yucel, are pictured in front of their home after Deniz Yucel was released from prison in Istanbul, Turkey, Feb. 16, 2018.

?Trial still pending

Yucels legal ordeal is not over, however. Turkish media reports he was released, pending trial, as the court handed down an indictment accusing him of spying on behalf of Germany. Prosecutors are seeking four to 18 years in prison.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told reporters that the release came after months of diplomacy, including two meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a call for Yucels release by German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday. But Gabriel told Deutsche Welle on Friday that the release was not the result of a diplomatic agreement.

I can assure you there are no agreements, tradeoffs or deals in connection with this, he said.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel gives a sta German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel gives a statement in the newsroom of Die Welt in Berlin, Germany, Feb. 16, 2018. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel gives a statement in the newsroom of Die Welt in Berlin, Germany, Feb. 16, 2018.

?Six journalists sentenced to life

Also Friday, after Yucels indictment and release were announced, the court sentenced three prominent Turkish journalists to life in prison on charges of involvement in a 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan.

The three, newspaper editor Ahmet Altan, columnist Mehmet Altan and TV news anchor Nazli Ilicak, were accused of having ties to a U.S.-based Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen, who Turkey says organized the coup attempt.

Three others, a graphic designer, advertising director and security analyst, were sentenced to life in prison along with them.

Erdogans government responded to the coup attempt by closing 150 news organizations and arresting tens of thousands of people, including large numbers of soldiers, judges, teachers and journalists.

Turkey has long been considered one of the worlds most active jailer of journalists, according to the U.S.-based nonprofit Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

CPJ reported in December that the number of journalists imprisoned around the world is at an all-time high, with Turkey, China and Egypt ranked as the three nations with the most journalists in prison.DIYARBAKIR, TURKEY - Turkish prosecutors are seeking the indictment of the widow of an Islamic State (IS) fighter, whom they accuse of making bombs with her late husband for the terror group in Syria, local authorities told VOA.

Prosecutors are asking the court for a 15-year prison sentence for Afra Shaar, a Syrian national and widow of Faysal Selimoglu, a deceased Turkish IS fighter. No trial has been held yet.

According to Turkish law enforcement authorities, Shaar was arrested in December 2017 during a raid on her in-laws house in the city of Diyarbakir, in southeast Turkey, after someone told authorities about her whereabouts and her affiliation with Selimoglu.

Shaar confirmed that her husband was involved in terror activities and was part of the Islamic State terror group. She claimed, however, she was not involved with her husbands activities. She told authorities she was an English teacher.

During the raid, authorities recovered a number of cellphones and phone calling cards, two computer tablets, a laptop and a computer. They also found two digital documents containing farewell letters from her deceased husband.

Police also reportedly found the couples photos. In one of the photos, Shaar is seen standing next to a man holding an AK-47. The man appears to be her husband, Selimoglu.

Turkish police released these photos of Afra Shaar Turkish police released these photos of Afra Shaar, the Syrian woman accused of being an IS recruit, with her late husband Faysal Selimoglu. Turkish police released these photos of Afra Shaar, the Syrian woman accused of being an IS recruit, with her late husband Faysal Selimoglu.

?IS symbols

Prosecutors said they found IS symbols on her cellphone and considered that sufficient evidence to put her on trial as a suspected member of the IS terror group.

During her interrogation, she told authorities she would rather target the Syrian soldiers who killed her husband than carry out a terror attack inside Turkey.

Shaar told the investigators that she met her husband in 2014 in Syria through a mutual friend. After they got married, they moved to Diyarbakir and lived there for several months before returning to Syria to live under IS rule in the groups self-proclaimed caliphate.

When asked why she would want to live under IS rule, Shaar said she had to accompany her husband, who wanted to go to Syria and fight for IS.

Fled to Deir el-Zour

In Syria, the couple reportedly settled down in the city of Tabqa, in northeast Syria, 55 kilometers (about 34 miles) west of Raqqa, the former de facto capital of the Islamic State.

Tabqa was declared liberated from IS by U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in May 2017, as part of the Operation Wrath of Euphrates.

Shaar reportedly told investigators that when fighting neared the city, the couple, along with other jihadi families, had to withdraw to the city of Deir el-Zour, in eastern Syria, in April 2017. She said it was there that her husband started making bombs.

Her husband was allegedly killed during operations by pro-Syrian regime forces to recapture the city in November 2017.

Shaar told authorities that following her husbands death, she returned to her in-laws house in Turkey and wanted to settle there permanently.The U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia said Saturday it opposes the Ethiopian government's imposition of a state of emergency.

Ethiopias Council of Ministers Friday declared a six-month state of emergency for the country, effective immediately, a day after Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced he is resigning.

"We strongly disagree with the Ethiopian governments decision to impose a state of emergency that includes restrictions on fundamental rights such as assembly and expression," the embassy said in a statement. The state of emergency, the embassy said, "undermines recent positive steps toward creating a more inclusive political space" and sends a message to the Ethiopian people that "they are not being heard."

Ethiopian Defense Minister Siraj Fegessa ruled out a military takeover Saturday, but said security forces have been told to take "measures" against those disrupting the country's operations.

A government statement said the state of emergency, which Siraj said must receive legislative approval within 15 days, was declared to protect the constitutional order and to protect peace and security. The statement also said that recent ethnic-based violence, killings and destruction of properties were among the reasons behind the decision.

Ethiopia has witnessed waves of anti-government protests over the past few years, stoked by demands for free and fair elections and a more equal distribution of power among the country's ethnic groups. The ruling EPRDF coalition controls all the seats in parliament.

In an effort to ease tensions, the government this week released more than 700 prisoners arrested during the protests and a previous state of emergency. Those released included several prominent opposition leaders and well-known journalist Eskinder Nega, a critic of the government.

Hailemariam, 52, has served as prime minister since September 2012.Speaking on state television Thursday, he said he is stepping down "to be part of the solution and for the success of the reforms and the solutions we have put in place."

His resignation must be confirmed by parliament.The Commerce Department is urging President Donald Trump to impose tariffs or quotas on aluminum and steel imports from China and other countries.

Unveiling the recommendations Friday, Secretary Wilbur Ross said in the case of both industries the imports threaten to impair our national security.

As an example, Ross said only one U.S. company now produces a high-quality aluminum alloy needed for military aircraft.

Raise US capacity

The measures are intended to raise U.S. production of aluminum and steel to 80 percent of industrial capacity. Currently U.S. steel plants are running at 73 percent of capacity and aluminum plants at 48 percent.

Ross emphasized that the president would have the final say, including on whether to exclude certain countries, such as NATO allies, from any actions.

Chinas Commerce Ministry said Saturday that the report was baseless and did not accord with the facts, and that China would take necessary steps to protect its interests if affected by the final decision.

Last year, Trump authorized the probe into whether aluminum and steel imports posed a threat to national defense under a 1962 trade law that has not been invoked since 2001. He has to make a decision by mid-April.

Three options

Ross is offering the president three options:

To impose tariffs of 24 percent on all steel and 7.7 percent on aluminum imports from all countries.

To impose tariffs of 53 percent on steel imports from 12 countries, including Brazil, China and Russia, and tariffs of 23.6 percent on aluminum imports from China, Hong Kong, Russia, Venezuela and Vietnam. Under this option, the U.S. would also impose a quota limiting all other countries to the amount of aluminum and steel they exported to U.S. last year.

To impose a quota on steel and aluminum imports from all sources, limiting each country 63 percent of the steel and 86.7 percent of the aluminum they shipped to the U.S. last year.WASHINGTON - White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, under pressure to act, strengthened the process for security clearances for President Donald Trump's aides on Friday in response to a scandal involving a former official accused of domestic abuse by two ex-wives.

Saying that recent events had exposed some "shortcomings," Kelly decreed that any interim security clearances for staffers whose background investigations have been pending since June 1 or before would be discontinued in a week.

The aim is to avoid a repeat of the case of former White House staff secretary Rob Porter, who worked for Trump for a year under a temporary clearance despite red flags raised by his government background check but not widely known.

Chief of Staff John Kelly has proposed changes to Chief of Staff John Kelly has proposed changes to the White House security clearance process. Chief of Staff John Kelly has proposed changes to the White House security clearance process.

Kelly has been under fire from some in the West Wing for his handling of the Porter case, and Trump confidants say the president has been sounding out his friends on possible replacements.

Dozens of officials, including Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are working under temporary clearances in the absence of final security clearance.

A new background system will also establish a process for updating senior officials on the end of a background investigation, Kelly said.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said earlier this week that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had completed its background investigation of Porter in July and submitted the findings to the White House.

The White House has yet to outline a clear timeline on who knew what and when about Porter's past, which includes accusations by his two former wives of domestic abuse.Barapukuria case: Khaleda won`t be taken to court today: Jail official

A senior jail official has said they are not taking Khaleda Zia, jailed for corruption in Zia Orphanage Trust 10 days ago, to court today for the hearing of another graft case.

The Special Judge's Court No. 2 of Dhaka is scheduled to hear the Barapukuria coal mine graft case on the day.

Senior Jail Superintendent Jahangir Kabir confirmed to this news agency on Saturday night that they were not taking Khaleda to the court.

It could be her first public appearance since Feb 8 when another special court sentenced her to five years in jail for corruption in Zia Orphanage Trust.

She is in the old jail on Nazimuddin Road now.

Lydia Tsvangirai, the mother of the late leader of the Movement for Democratic Change Morgan Tsvangirai, says she does not want Tsvangirais wife and acting MDC-T president Nelson Chamisa to attend funeral wakes of the former trade unionist, who succumbed to cancer of the colon last Wednesday.

A television clip aired on the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation on Saturday quoted Lydia Tsvangirai telling her grandchild at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on Saturday that she will kill herself if the two attend the funeral wakes.

Tell your uncles that I dont want to see Elizabeth (Tsvangirai) and Chamisa  And even Chamisas speech  (Otherwise) I will hang myself (if they come here).

Indications are that Tsvangirais brother, Collins, also tried to force Chamisa to leave the airport.

Its not yet clear what prompted Lydia Tsvangirai to utter those remarks at the Robert Mugabe International Airport where Tsvangirais body was received by thousands of people, including MDC-T officials and supporters.

Conflicts over the control of the party have spilled to the Tsvangirai family, which appears to be working with vice president Elias Mudzuris faction of the opposition MDC-T party.

The partys National Council on Wednesday appointed Chamisa as acting president for 12 months, a move that was criticized by the Mudzuri faction.

Chamisa was not reachable last night for comment. His close associates said Lydia Tsvangirais utterances were laced with poisonous political messages meant to discredit Chamisa, who is widely expected to be the MDC-Ts presidential candidate in the forthcoming crucial general elections.If you havn't done it yet,to get one of the fastest volcano news online:

The volcanic activity has continued with little changes, but shown a decreasing tendency. A recent gas measurement suggests a strong decrease in SO2 output from the volcano, which could suggest a beginning exhaustion of the magma supply. ...

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No, no one should be able to dictate whether people wear masks

Vote

View ResultsA new survey shows 94 per cent of Canadians feel journalism plays an important role in national democracy.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/2/2018 (1306 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A new survey shows 94 per cent of Canadians feel journalism plays an important role in national democracy.

Commissioned by News Media Canada and orchestrated by Maru/Matchboxs Angus Reid Forum, the survey was conducted from Feb. 9 to 11, and undertaken online by a representative sample of 1,500 Canadians.

Respondents answered seven questions about journalism, which varied from its role in democracy, to how the federal government could help the news industry and whether the CBC should continue to be funded by tax dollars totalling $1.1 billion.

Bob Cox, publisher of the Winnipeg Free Press and chairman of the Canadian Newspaper Association, said the results show people support a variety of measures to help news media  like including daily newspapers in the Canadian Periodical Fund (which 78 per cent of people supported) and removing obstacles to philanthropic financing of news organizations (which 77 per cent of people supported)  but not a newspaper bailout per se.

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"So, basically, again this showed that there is fairly good support for the government to change some things and to implement some measures that would support local news. Nobody likes the idea of a bailout, but, as weve always said, were not looking for bailout," Cox said.

"We dont want to bail out a failing industry. We want to support public journalism so we can develop sustainable business models for the long-term."

Other policy recommendations that garnered support in the survey were strengthening copyright laws for newspapers to protect content from aggregators (78 per cent support) and reversing the digital-first strategy for federal government advertising, which would mean doling more money to TV, radio and print (75 per cent support).

"These results send a clear message to elected officials that Canadians, now more than ever, believe that journalism is a crucial part of the democratic fabric of our country," said John Hinds, president and CEO of News Media Canada.

The federal government is currently mulling ways to help news media that are strapped for cash. New policy planks may appear in the next budget on Feb. 27.

jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @_jessbuA group of 60s Scoop survivors announced Friday they want to scuttle an $800-million settlement their lawyers worked out with the federal government last fall.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/2/2018 (1306 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A group of 60s Scoop survivors announced Friday they want to scuttle an $800-million settlement their lawyers worked out with the federal government last fall.

"May is the deadline where we can appear before the federal judge who approved this in principle. Theres a clause that says if 2,000 adoptees opt out of this agreement, we can stop it. Thats what were doing," Coleen Rajotte told a news conference Friday in Winnipeg with other members of the Manitoba 60s Scoop Survivors.

Provincial child welfare authorities removed thousands of Indigenous children from their families from 1951 to 1991 and adopted them out to non-Indigenous families in Canada, the United States, and as far away as Scotland and the Netherlands in what became known as the 60s Scoop.

The Oct. 5, 2017 agreement makes 20,000 First Nations and Inuit survivors eligible for compensation payments ranging from $25,000 to $50,000. It doesnt include Metis children.

The deal includes $75 million to pay lawyers and sets aside $50 million to create a healing foundation.

Survivors main concern in Manitoba is they werent consulted before the deal was unveiled or properly briefed on its terms afterward.

Rajotte is a 60s Scoop survivor who became a broadcast journalist and founded a North American Indigenous film festival in Winnipeg, before spearheading the movement for recognition and compensation of 60s Scoop survivors in Manitoba.

"We did not approve this. We had nothing to do with this and we do not like it... We were not consulted," she said. "We are calling this a drive-by agreement. We believe there were two or three adoptees who were consulted, but we just received our copy of the agreement four days ago," Rajotte said.

The lead Manitoba plaintiffs in the suit joined Rajotte on Friday. Both Priscilla Meeches and Stewart Garnett said theyve fired their lawyers.

"Theres a lot wrong with this deal. There was no transparency when the deal was made. As plaintiffs, we were not consulted as to what the deal meant and what had been decided. Basically, the decision was made without us knowing what was on the table," Meeches said.

Garnett said survivors who were mistreated or abused may never be heard or get justice under the settlement.

Jonathan Prince told the Free Press he served five years in the U.S. Special Forces in Desert Storm but lost his military future including pension rights because his adopted parents never filled out the paperwork to recognize him as a U.S. citizen.

Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennetts office defended the deal.

"This represents a significant first step in resolving this historic injustice, but we know that there are other claims that remain unresolved, including those of the Metis and non-status. We remain committed to working with allIndigenous peoples affected by the 60s Scoop to resolve the remaining litigation through negotiation," Ottawa said.

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A lawyer with one of four firms across Canada who reached the settlement said he couldnt comment on client consultations.

That would breach client-solicitor privilege, said Garth Myers with the Toronto law firm Koskie Minsky.

"I cant speak to any discussions weve had. The deal was a product of lengthy negotiations with the government of Canada," he said.

Law firms representing different regions of the country won court certification to pursue compensation for survivors in a class-action suit. Ottawa made an out-of-court settlement with them and the firms arranged to fly clients to Ottawa for the announcement.

alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.caHey there, time traveller!

This article was published 16/2/2018 (1306 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For 27 years, recommendations from the Manitoba Aboriginal Justice Inquiry to make jury selection fairer for Indigenous people gathered dust.

The issue resurfaced four years ago, but gained little traction, when former Supreme Court Justice Frank Iacobucci urged the federal government to amend parts of the Criminal Code that discriminate against Indigenous people when juries are chosen.

But last weeks verdict  and the explosive aftermath  in a racially charged case may finally spark change.

Related Items Click to Expand Articles Feb 13, 2018: Stanley verdict puts system on trial

This time, powerful reactions to a Saskatchewan farmer's acquittal reverberated across the country and reached the prime minister and federal justice minister.

"Its never too late to do the right thing," Sen. Murray Sinclair said this week.

The former co-commissioner of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry and co-author of its 1991 recommendations for reform was speaking in response to the not-guilty verdict for Gerald Stanley after his bullet killed 22-year-old Colten Boushie in a shooting the farmer argued was an accident. He was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter by a jury that appeared to be entirely white.

The case doesnt perfectly align with the AJIs recommendations for juries, which focused on the idea an Indigenous accused, not an Indigenous victim, should be able to see himself or herself reflected in the jury pool.

But it's the case that has restarted a national conversation about criminal-justice reforms within a cultural movement that draws on promises of reconciliation with Indigenous people and demands change.

"If there was ever an opportunity or a time to do it, it is now," said Manitoba NDP justice critic Nahanni Fontaine.

Would require changes to Criminal Code, panel infrastructure

It could all be the "political catapult" that paves the way to prioritize more inclusive jury panels in Manitoba, says a University of Manitoba law professor who has been studying jury representation in the province. But many of the challenges that slowed progress decades ago remain.

Richard Jochelson's research has shown that, according to a sample of Manitobans who participated in his 2015 study and strongly supported the idea, having a jury that is more representative of the population makes sense.

"This is something Canadians are ready for. I dont think this is a revolutionary idea, that if theres an Indigenous accused, there should be Indigenous voices on the panel," Jochelson said.

"I dont think thats shocking or particularly intimidating as an idea. I think where it starts to get controversial is where people start to think about the taxpayer implications of making this a reality."

The geographical remoteness of many Indigenous communities, particularly in northern Manitoba, is one hurdle that means it's more expensive to send notices, enforce jury-duty summonses and pay for travel costs for people to travel from their home communities to serve on a jury. The large majority of jury trials in Manitoba take place in Winnipeg courtrooms.

"This is something Canadians are ready for... I think where it starts to get controversial is where people start to think about the taxpayer implications of making this a reality." Richard Jochelson

Altering some parts of the jury selection process would require changes to Canada's Criminal Code  lawyers' ability to "challenge" and automatically dismiss potential jurors without having to give a reason, for example  but provinces control the way jury pools are formed.

"You could develop policies where you overtly aim to increase jury representation for marginalized populations like Indigenous persons, especially from remote communities," Jochelson said. "It would require the infrastructure to transport them, to lodge them, to compensate them and, perhaps most difficultly, to find them and get them to want to serve on juries.

"But in terms of the big challenges  traversing distance, place and time and compensating people to come and be involved, I dont think anything has really been done. We know what the issues are, but I dont think I know of any policy decisions or law reform to try to bridge those gaps."

No statistics collected on jurors' ethnicity

Roughly 10 per cent of Manitoba's population and 12 per cent of Winnipeg's urban population is Indigenous, but it's impossible to know how many potential jurors are Indigenous.

People enter the Law Courts in Winnipeg for the trial of Raymond Cormier, Tina Fontaine's alleged killer, Monday, February 5, 2018. A jury has finished hearing evidence in the trial for a man accused in the death of an Indigenous teen whose body was found wrapped in a duvet filled with rocks in Winnipeg's Red River. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Anyone with a Manitoba Health card could be asked to report for jury duty after their names and addresses are randomly selected from the health card data. Manitoba's Justice Department doesn't ask prospective jurors their ethnicity, their sex or any other information beyond their birth date, their occupation and their contact information to find out if there are any conflicts. People over age 75 are exempt from jury duty, as are people working in certain jobs.

None of the jury pool information is collected or amalgamated, so no statistics exist about the demographics of juries in Manitoba.

"Thats a point of procedure that has to change. Theres no real reason for that other than, I imagine, theyre trying to protect whatever privacy interests they imagine are there. But it might be that equality interests supersede privacy interests, and for that particular reason, they should be asking for and storing more information," Jochelson said.

"But people get nervous when you start asking questions about race in these sorts of processes."

Jurors drawn from neighbourhoods of accused, victim

Manitoba has not announced any plans to change its jury-selection process in the days following Stanley's acquittal.

One of the AJI's recommendations was for random jury pools to be drawn from neighbourhoods where the accused and victim live if the jury trial is happening in an urban area.

The provincial government implemented that practice beginning in November 2016, Justice Minister Heather Stefanson told the Free Press in an email Friday.

"Our government has taken steps to ensure that Manitoba juries are fully comprised of individuals from the district where an offence is alleged to have occurred," she said, adding her department uses plain language in its notices to jurors and on its Jury Declaration Form "in order to enhance accessibility and comprehension for jurors."

"We also continue to work toward enhancing educational tools available to the public about the jury selection process and the role of a jury," she said.

'Intrinsic distrust' of justice system

But the "unprecedented" response to the Stanley verdict from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould is a sign the time is right to revisit jury the possibility of including First Nation band registration rolls along with health card data in the jury selection process, said Fontaine, the MLA for St. John's.

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine introduced the bill for The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Honouring and Awareness Day.

"We need to have a more robust system that would capture Indigenous peoples across the province. Not everybody has a health card," she said.

That, along with public education about the role of juries, could go a long way toward encouraging more Indigenous participation, she said.

"For Indigenous people... there is an intrinsic distrust of the Canadian justice system," she said, adding the province needs to do a better job of explaining the role of juries.

"Im not even sure if weve done that at all  explaining those processes and why it would be important to have Indigenous people sit on those jury processes. I would suggest that there are a lot of people who dont understand that."

Indigenous rejections of a colonial-rooted justice system are understandable, Fontaine said.

"But the fact of the matter is that our people do deserve equitable and fair access to justice, and part of that is a responsibility for all of us to participate in that," she said. "If we dont participate in it, we just guarantee that the system continues as it has."

'Manitoba can be an international beacon'

A copy of the AJI report was "still encased in its original shrink wrap on the shelf," when Gord Mackintosh walked into his office as Manitoba's new minister of justice and attorney general in 1999, he remembers.

Under then-premier Gary Doer, the province launched the Aboriginal Justice Implementation Commission to look at putting the AJI's recommendations into action. More reports and more recommendations followed until the implementation commission ended in 2001. There was no mention of jury representation in its final report.

"Our people do deserve equitable and fair access to justice, and part of that is a responsibility for all of us to participate in that. If we dont participate in it, we just guarantee that the system continues as it has." Nahanni Fontaine

Now, in the midst of the Justice for Colten movement and federal reaction to the Stanley case, Mackintosh says he believes the potential for reform goes beyond jury selection and could make Manitoba a leader in restorative justice if the province takes "concrete action."

"This time, I am heartened by the response in Ottawa," said Mackintosh, who retired from politics after 23 years in 2016 and now teaches at the University of Winnipeg. "This is a change that has to come from the national government and Im very heartened to hear of their interest and concern. So I have some optimism about change.

"It has to be broader than just looking at jury selection. There are Indigenous approaches to justice that can be far more effective, and I think that Manitoba can be an international beacon for restorative practices, not only for lesser offences but as part of the processes for more serious offences as well."

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During a scrum with reporters in Winnipeg earlier this week, Sinclair was questioned about the work he did on jury representation 27 years ago, and whether change can happen now.

"There are laws that can be changed. And the laws that contributed to this need to be reviewed," he said of the Stanley verdict. "And thats my intention going back to Ottawa this week.

"Its not to simply come to that realization we need to do something about it. Ive known that for a while. But now I believe others will see the importance of it. And to take advantage of that, by putting forward some remedies that I think will be acceptable now."

 With files from Alexandra Paul

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemaySMITHS FALLS, Ont.  Seven members of the Senate of Canada walk into a giant marijuana grow-op.

This article was published 17/2/2018 (1306 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SMITHS FALLS, Ont.  Seven members of the Senate of Canada walk into a giant marijuana grow-op.

Not long after, the senators and their staff have seen almost all there is to see at the headquarters of Canopy Growth Corp. in this southeastern Ontario town, just an hour's drive from Ottawa.

They saw the parking lot packed with cars, many of them pickup trucks owned by contractors expanding the government-licensed facility.

They saw the rooms full of cannabis plants growing tall under high-powered lights, the trimming room where freshly harvested cannabis bud is processed, the rooms where the potent bud is dried and packaged, and the high-security vault where the final product is stored before being shipped to registered medical cannabis users across Canada.

They saw a gleaming research and development laboratory, an enormous extraction device that turns valuable cannabis bud into even more valuable cannabis oil, and an encapsulating machine spitting out cannabis pills.

Now it's almost time to pose for a group photo. But first, Canopy Growth CEO Bruce Linton takes questions from the visitors.

"You've looked at the legislation moving forward through the Senate; is there anything, part of the legislation, that concerns you?" asks Sen. Ratna Omidvar, a member of the Independent Senators Group.

"Outdoor growing," answers Linton. "This idea that you're going to put a fence around it it's the dumbest thing you'll let us do."

Growing commercial cannabis outside, he says, could leave the crop vulnerable to theft by teenage interlopers flying drones.

"A fence doesn't have a ceiling, it doesn't have alarms, it has the ability for people to interact with it."

THE CANADIAN PRESS/SEAN KILPATRICK Canopy Growth President Mark Zekulin, left, shows a container of cannabis to Senator Senator Marie-Francoise Megie, back left, and Senator Diane Bellemare, front left, along with Canopy brand manager Adam Greenblatt, back right, and Senate staffers as they are given a tour of the medical marijuana production rooms and research labs at the Canopy Growth Corporation facility in Smiths Falls, Ont., on Monday, Feb. 12, 2018.

The next day, Omidvar raised Linton's issue in the upper chamber, asking Sen. Peter Harder, the government's representative in the Senate, whether outdoor growing should be examined by a Senate committee.

"He pointed out that his concern would be that its an open field, accessible by drones  now, I hadnt thought about that  and that drones could fly in, and that could create another expression of criminalization," said Omidvar.

"That is exactly the kind of question that I would expect to be appropriate for committee," replied Harder.

The Cannabis Act, also known as Bill C-45, was passed by the House of Commons on Nov. 27. It arrived in the Senate a day later, and its fate now rests with the 105 unelected members of Canada's upper house of Parliament.

The Senate tour of Canopy Growth, which took place Monday, was organized by independent senator Tony Dean, who's sponsoring the Cannabis Act in the Senate. Dean, formerly a top public servant in Ontario and a professor of public policy at the University of Toronto, is a relative newcomer to the Senate, having been appointed in November 2016.

Dean was recovering from a medical procedure at his home in Toronto Monday and was unable to take the tour. In an hour-long phone interview the next day, he described the visit as just one part of a lengthy effort to educate Senators about the realities of cannabis legalization.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/SEAN KILPATRICK A worker bottles cannabis oil at the Canopy Growth facility, Monday.

"I wanted to get out as much information and existing evidence and research to all senators across the chamber, as early as possible so that when the bill arrived it wouldn't be so much of a cold start," he said.

"I started early in the fall by sending a series of packages, basic information, a copy of the bill as it was in the House of Commons, legislative backgrounders, research on what we know about the harms of cannabis that have been well-documented."

Dean's educational campaign included "a series of seminars to which all the senators were invited," including meetings with the co-chairs of the federal cannabis legalization task force, key policy-makers from the federal departments of Justice and Health, and researchers from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.

He also made his own database of research on cannabis available to all his fellow senators.

"This was probably the biggest surprise of all to the Senate community," he said. "That's what you think would be done. But these things, I think, are the right thing to do. There's no point in staying in our institutional silos and steaming away, thinking about how we can pull a fast one on the other guys.

"I mean, there's quite a bit of that in the Senate, but I don't subscribe to that way of doing business."

The Senate is meant to serve two purposes, according to Emmett Macfarlane, an associate professor of political science at the University of Waterloo. First, the upper house is supposed to represent the interests of Canada's regions, although Macfarlane notes this hasn't always worked in practice.

"The other key feature of the Senate, in theory, was meant to be that it's an institution that gives sober second thought" to legislation passed by the House of Commons without the distractions of "grubby politics," said Macfarlane, who provided unpaid advice to the Trudeau government on reforming the Senate appointments process, beginning in late 2015.

(THE CANADIAN PRESS/JUSTIN TANG) Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph Goodale, Minister of Health Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Jody Wilson-Raybould and Bill Blair, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of Canada and the Minister of Health, listen to a question during a televised Senate hearing on Bill C-45 on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018.

Despite Sen. Dean's efforts to give his colleagues credible information about cannabis legalization, the Senate's debate over Bill C-45 so far has shown that different groups of senators are gleaning their sober second thoughts from entirely different sets of facts. (Conservative Sen. Claude Carignan, the Opposition critic for Bill C-45 and its impaired-driving companion Bill C-46, said his caucus keeps its own research database on cannabis.)

During debates, a number of senators have made comments with undercurrents of the moral panic known popularly as "reefer madness."

That fearful tone was on full display when the federal ministers of health, justice, and public safety took questions from senators in a rare, televised session on Feb. 6.

"Minister, are you jeopardizing the health of our kids by creating a whole new generation of smokers?" Conservative Sen. Judith Seidman asked Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor.

Liberal Sen. Serge Joyal suggested the government was allowing "organized crime" to invest in legal cannabis companies via offshore bank accounts.

"Its mind-boggling to see who is financing the companies that have a permit," Joyal said.

'Its mind-boggling to see who is financing the companies that have a permit'  Liberal Sen. Serge Joyal suggesting the government was allowing "organized crime" to invest in legal cannabis companies via offshore bank accounts

"Did you obtain any legal opinions regarding the risk of class-action lawsuits seeking billions of dollars in damages and compensation being filed against the Government of Canada, which is putting this system in place, against the businesses and provincial Crown corporations that will oversee distribution, and against the cannabis producers?" asked Sen. Carignan.

"Your legislation allows every household in Canada to have four huge marijuana plants," said Conservative Sen. Denise Batters. "With this minimum age and this unprecedented accessibility, it cannot be said that your government is protecting kids."

Dean expressed concern that some of his fellow senators have focused exclusively on the potential harms of cannabis legalization. The Health Department has already made those harms abundantly clear, he said.

"We've got these people jumping up and down and saying, 'My God, the government doesn't realize that cannabis is harmful,'" he said. "Why would they say that? Why on earth would they say that, when that's uncontested?

"When you look at this issue through a political lens, and perhaps your interest is in possibly delaying it, or you'd rather not see a new regime for cannabis instituted, you're going to selectively use data that may be outside of the mainstream consensus," he said.

Senators "don't need to be moving to extreme positions or spiriting up arguments that are on the crazy edge of cannabis research," he said. "We know all that we need to know to sensibly review this bill."

The Senate's 2002 Report of the Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, chaired by the late Conservative Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, recommended legalization and regulation of cannabis.

In November, Conservative party leader Andrew Scheer told La Presse Canadienne that Senate Conservatives were "focused on the goal" of "blocking" C-45, and would use "all the democratic tools" to do so.

It's technically possible the Senate could refuse to approve Bill C-45, Macfarlane said, but "not likely, based on what we have seen in the past two-plus years. We haven't reached a point where the Senate has simply refused to pass a bill."

Sen. Art Eggleton, a member of the Independent Liberal caucus, was on Monday's tour at Canopy Growth.

"We recognize that the House of Commons is the elected house," he said. "That's where the government is. We have to understand our role is a complementary role, not to compete with the wishes of the people as expressed in the House."

Last week, Senate Conservative leader Larry Smith told the chamber that his caucus "will not proceed in an obstructionist manner, as some in the media and elsewhere have seemed to suggest."

Conservative Sen. Claude Carignan echoed that sentiment in an interview Thursday.

"I can guarantee you that we are doing our job without pressure," said Carignan. "The Senate, it's a (place of) sober second thought, so we try to do our best without directive and pressure coming from the other side.

"We have a lot of jobs to do on this bill, a lot of issues. So we don't have to use technical, procedural tactics to delay this bill."

THE CANADIAN PRESS/SEAN KILPATRICK A worker wears sunglasses to protect his eyes from exposure to high-powered lights while tending to a cannabis plant at the Canopy Growth facility.

On Thursday, two days after the threat of procedural deadlines was raised by Sen. Peter Harder, Senate leaders agreed to hold a final vote on the third reading of the bill "on or before June 7."

That new deadline, however, means legalization of cannabis in Canada gets pushed back to late summer, at the earliest.

In a Thursday scrum on Parliament Hill, the health minister told reporters the provinces and territories would need "eight to 12 weeks for implementation" of legalization after Bill C-45 becomes law.

"Therefore, if you do the math, you can certainly see that it certainly won't be July 2018," Petitpas Taylor said.

The leaders of the various Senate groups also agreed on a timetable for completing study of Bill C-45 in five separate committees. Those committees, where the bulk of the Senate's policy work is done, could result in amendments to the bill being sent back to the House of Commons.

Carignan said the Conservative caucus is most concerned about health issues regarding youth, home cultivation, workplace impairment, drug prevention and impaired driving.

After touring the massive Canopy Growth facility, Sen. Kim Pate said she was concerned "about the notion of how many people are looking at this as a big business opportunity."

"I think for smaller communities, for Indigenous communities, for those who might want to be involved in economic development in this area, I wonder how much room is going to be left for those individuals if it's predominantly very large-scale operations like this," said Pate, who also wants to examine whether the bill should include some kind of amnesty for Canadians with criminal convictions related to cannabis.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/SEAN KILPATRICK A worker enters the high-security vault at the Canopy Growth facility in Smiths Falls, Ont., Monday.

Grant Mitchell, a non-affiliated senator who serves as government liaison to the Senate, was also on the tour. Mitchell said he "absolutely, fundamentally" supports Bill C-45.

"Certainly there has been a practice since the reforms, for senators to be more inclined to amend legislation than before, and certainly we've got a government that's been very open to accepting amendments," said Mitchell. "It's quite remarkable actually."

Sen. Mike Duffy said he was "delighted" to see that Canopy Growth's cannabis oil extraction device was manufactured in his native Prince Edward Island.

"I think most people, most Canadians, if they came here and saw what the issue was really about, they'd be surprised, and even perhaps relieved," he said during a post-tour reception in Canopy Growth's lobby.

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"The issue," Duffy said upon being pressed for details, is "demonizing the demon weed."

"What we've got here is a pharmaceutical factory," he said.

Duffy, who resigned from the Conservative caucus to sit as an Independent in 2013 over an expense scandal that turned into a media circus, gave a wry smile when asked about the treatment of Bill C-45 by his former Tory colleagues.

"I'd be the last one you should ask about the Conservative caucus."

solomon.israel@theleafnews.com

@sol_israelOnce, a stage musical adaptation of the 2007 John Carney film of the same name, should stand as a demonstration of why its not always a good idea to reflexively adapt movies for the stage.

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This article was published 16/2/2018 (1306 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Once, a stage musical adaptation of the 2007 John Carney film of the same name, should stand as a demonstration of why its not always a good idea to reflexively adapt movies for the stage.

Movies can get away with meandering plots laced with quirky character vignettes. (Robert Altman maintained a long and fruitful career on this fact.)

Thats a much harder trick to pull off on stage, and this adaptation (book by Enda Walsh; music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova) proves the point.

DYLAN HEWETT PHOTO Most of the performers in Once are quadruple threats, singing, dancing, acting and playing their own instruments.

As in the movie, the Royal MTC co-production with London, Ont.-based Grand Theatre is the story of a romance between an Irish street musician/vacuum-cleaner repairman credited as "Guy" (Jeremy Walmsley) and a single mom Czech emigre credited as "Girl" (Amanda LeBlanc).

On the streets of Dublin, the two meet cute. Guy sings Leave, a bitter ode to an ex-girlfriend who has skipped Dublin for New York City. Girl is drawn to his musicality and passion. Taking him to a music shop where she is a fixture, she embellishes his song with piano and vocal harmony.

Soon, he goes to her place to meet her mother Baruska (Jane Miller), her daughter Ivonka (Isabel Haderer) and a coterie of colourful/eccentric/sexy roommates. He has her over to his apartment above the repair shop to meet his depressed, recently widowed Da (Cory Wojcik).

Discrepancy notwithstanding, it all starts to looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

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DYLAN HEWLETT The cast during a performance of RMTCs production Once.

Its just not very good theatre. The blossoming romance is just too nebulous in the structurally flaccid first act. Director-choreographer Tracey Flye seems to be hoping well be so charmed by the colourful characters, including Girls short-fused, self-appointed protector Billy (Daniel Williston) and a bank manager (Jeff Hamacher) with musical aspirations.

But as any worldly woman will tell you: charm alone only goes so far.

The folk-flavoured music is fine, if youre a fan of that genre, but variety is the spice of musical theatre, and in Once, the songs never vary in flavour. Pretty much every song is a wrenching, melancholy ballad. That gets old fast in a musical that stretches to two hours and 15 minutes (including intermission).

The two romantic leads have little chemistry. Walmsley cuts a romantic figure, but sings and plays guitar too proficiently to warrant a characters admiring descriptor of "raw." LeBlanc, of the sketchy Czech accent, cant quite sell her characters eccentricity.

Yet there is much to appreciate here, particularly the fact that 12 of the 13 actors on stage are doing quadruple-threat duty, singing, dancing, acting and playing their own instruments. The multi-purpose set design by Brian Perchaluk is lovely... although one wonders if Irish expatriates might resent that all of Ireland is represented by a pub.

randall.king@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @FreepKingAfter being blasted by Indigenous leaders, MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette said he should have chosen his words about the outcome of the Gerald Stanley trial more carefully.

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After being blasted by Indigenous leaders, MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette said he should have chosen his words about the outcome of the Gerald Stanley trial more carefully.

In his effort to express sympathy for the family of Stanley  the Saskatchewan farmer acquitted in the shooting death of Colten Boushie  Ouellette said he wasnt as clear as he could have been.

"Perhaps in a very awkward way I felt sorry for the Stanley family," the Liberal MP for Winnipeg Centre said. "He (Gerald Stanley) took a life. You cant take that back. Whether it was intentional or accidental, he took a life and that is on his conscience. If it was on mine, it would weigh very heavily.

"I wish I perhaps had explained myself in a clearer way, but it is what it is. You cant take stuff back."

Those comments came Friday following an unrelated news conference in Winnipeg. Ouellette was asked to respond to the sharp criticism he drew from Arlen Dumas, grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.

"I actually kind of agreed with him (Dumas). I saw the comment. I heard the comment... Property is never more important than human life," he said.

Boushie, a 22-year-old Cree man, was shot and killed during an altercation on Stanleys farm near Biggar, Sask., in August 2016.

Last week, an all-white jury acquitted Stanley of all charges, sparking nationwide protests.

"The Stanley family was placed in an impossible situation thats been building up over a long period of time... I feel sorry for them," Ouellette told the Free Press shortly after the acquittal.

"Theyve essentially lost two years of their lives. Theyve faced legal bills and great difficulty."

When asked at the time if his comments would draw the ire of Indigenous leaders Ouellette said they "probably" would. That is exactly what happened.

Dumas denounced the remarks in a statement released Monday, saying he felt the MPs comments could "result in an increase in violent confrontation and the deaths of more innocent people."

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Ouellettes family is from Red Pheasant First Nation, Sask., which was also Boushies home.

The Liberal MP was specifically asked if he regretted what hed said and paused before saying he wished he had been clearer with the message he was trying to convey. He added that he hadnt spoken with Dumas since the public criticism was levied against him.

"Obviously, I dont think there is any politician or human being with any morality who would say that property is worth more than a human life. A human life is obviously the most important thing that we have," he said Friday.

"How do we create a society where, not only changing the jury system and the justice system, but how do we prevent another young man from dying like that in the future? At the end of the day my larger issue is: how do we actually move beyond this?"

Dumas was not immediately available for comment Friday.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @rk_thorpeOTTAWA  Federal Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said he has no plans to follow the Conservatives call to raise the national quota for privately sponsored refugees, saying existing targets are generous enough.

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OTTAWA  Federal Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said he has no plans to follow the Conservatives call to raise the national quota for privately sponsored refugees, saying existing targets are generous enough.

"Were doing exactly what theyre saying were not doing. It doesnt make sense," Hussen told the Free Press.

On Monday, the Tories asked the Liberals to increase the federal private sponsorship allotment to allow in more Yazidi refugees fleeing the so-called Islamic State group.

On Monday, Manitoba Tory MP Larry Maguire said he gets calls from groups in his riding who want to bring in refugees through private sponsorship, in which small groups of Canadians pay a familys living expenses for a year.

"There is that generosity... throughout Canada," Maguire had said. "Anything we can do to help them come in would be a plus."

Winnipeg is home to one of the largest Yazidi communities in Canada. Local group Operation Ezra has brought more than 50 privately sponsored Yazidi refugees to Manitoba since July 2016. Some have mentioned relatives facing deteriorating living conditions in Iraq displacement camps.

On Thursday, Hussen noted that the current years allotment of 18,000 private sponsorships is four times the quota the Conservatives set in 2014, "to try to meet the demand of the generosity of Canadians."

He said hes puzzled that the Tories want Ottawa to process more permits through the program, because bureaucrats already fast-track applications for people fleeing IS, also known as Daesh. "Were doing whatever we can; we have been expediting those applications."

But the Tories had argued that the quota could be widened for some of the most vulnerable social and ethnic groups.

In the past, theyve raised concerns about LGBTTQ* people who suffer violence in refugee camps.

In November 2016, the immigration department reported there were roughly 45,000 refugees for whom private sponsorship applications were being processed.

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That backlog has church and community groups phoning their MPs, wondering when they can sign a lease and start finding jobs for arriving families.

Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel said Monday that Canadians fundraising "are being stymied by the governments inefficiency."

Separately, the government has almost reached its goal of resettling 1,200 northern Iraqi refugees fleeing violence by the Islamic State group.

That was the result of a unanimous House of Commons motion that Rempel tabled a year ago. That airlift involves "government-assisted" resettlement, where Ottawa financially supports them for a year, instead of a sponsor group.

"What are we not doing that they want," Hussen asked of the Conservatives, with a shrug.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.caA sea change in the religious landscape of Canada is underway. Led by millennials, Canada is increasingly moving towards a secular culture. Spiritual but not religious has become our new normal.

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This article was published 17/2/2018 (1306 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

A sea change in the religious landscape of Canada is underway. Led by millennials, Canada is increasingly moving towards a secular culture. "Spiritual but not religious" has become our new normal.

A 2015 Angus Reid poll found 39 per cent of Canadians identify as "spiritual but not religious." Another 27 per cent identify as "neither religious nor spiritual;" 24 per cent as "religious and spiritual;" and 10 per cent as "religious but not spiritual."

What sparked this dramatic change in beliefs and self-identification? And what does it mean for the future of Canadian society?

The rise of "spiritual but not religious" (SBNR) is bound up with the civil rights revolutions of the 20th century. The movement away from religion towards "spirituality" reflects a desire to leave behind hierarchical understandings of religion towards a more socially liberal one. This idea has attracted critics: conservative commentators have generally denounced SBNRs, seeing them as narcissistic, lazy and without a clear sense of morality.

Yet, this characterization is distorted and leaves out many attributes of SBNRs who display a robust sense of ethics: mutual respect and acceptance of difference. In fact, I believe the ethical core of SBNR spirituality holds human rights as sacred.

In 2015, I began conducting qualitative research with Canadian millennials (born between 1980-2000) who self-identify as "spiritual but not religious." I have interviewed more than 40 millennials about their spiritual lives in order to better understand their beliefs, practices and values.

They look to self for guidance, above all. Critics say they're narcissistic and lazy.

Follow your heart

SBNRs look to the self for guidance, above all. When my interviewees make decisions about what to do, they do not appeal to a sacred text, but rather look within for guidance. What their gut tells them, or what their intuition reveals, is what orients them. For this reason, a number of scholars have deemed it "self-spirituality."

In his book Varieties of Religion Today, Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor writes, "the Western march toward secularity has been interwoven from the start with this drive toward personal religion." According to Taylor we in the North Atlantic countries are living in a "culture of authenticity."

SBNRs generally believe individuals have a self that is authentic to them (their "true self"), and, consequently, believe we ought to allow individuals to express themselves; that it would be wrong to force them to repress or hide their true self.

It has become commonplace in Canadian society to be told to follow your heart, be true to yourself or stand out from the crowd; and conversely, both rare and undesirable to be told to stick to your role, abide by tradition or work hard to fit in.

For example, one interviewee said: "That isnt what I would want, but if thats who they are, Im not going to judge." This attitude towards difference highlights how important freedom of choice is among SBNRs.

Self-spirituality prizes individual rights. Moreover, acceptance is considered an ultimate virtue among Canadian millennial SBNRs; given their vulnerability, marginalized identities  be they ethnic, sexual, or otherwise  are considered especially in need of protection.

Burger King spirituality?

My interviewees rejection of religion often derived from their assumption that religious people are not respectful of others rights to exist as they are.

Few of my interviewees had any interest in joining a religious institution  they are often deeply suspicious of them and see them as ultimately hotbeds of corruption, greed and fear-mongering  entirely at odds with and corrupting of an authentic spirituality.

It is perhaps for this reason conservative commentators have generally denounced self-spirituality, arguing that its rejection of religious institutions is antithetical to a moral life. Self-spirituality, they argue, leads to either narcissism or hedonism, or both.

For example, author and Reverend Lillian Daniel argues that self-spirituality sits "comfortably in the norm for self-centred American culture," while Jesuit priest James Martin calls it proof of "plain old laziness." Others have disparaged SBNRs for their "promiscuity of belief," condescendingly representing the way in which they approach religion as a "Burger King spirituality."

Their criticisms are less directly targeted at a specific religious form  self-spirituality  and more generally at social liberalism itself. It has been a longstanding conservative critique of social liberalism that it weakens the binds of tradition and community, placing too much authority on the individual.

Yet these criticisms crucially miss a distinct ethical imaginary at work; one finds affirmed by SBNRs not only an ethic of authenticity, but also an ethic of freedom, and an ethic of mutual respect.

The rise of mutual respect

The rise of self-spirituality is bound up with the 1960s counterculture and the rights revolution: the civil rights, second-wave feminist and gay liberation movements have significantly shaped contemporary Canadian culture. Many social and economic factors led us there  the post-Second-World-War affluence boom, the rise of consumer culture, increased urbanization and the spread of expressive individualism.

Allowing individuals to be their authentic selves has become a moral imperative. As Charles Taylor has written: "Indeed, precisely the soft relativism that seems to accompany the ethic of authenticity: let each person do his or her own thing, and we shouldnt criticize each others values; this is predicated on a firm ethical base, indeed, demanded by it. One shouldnt criticize others values, because they have a right to live their own life as you do."

Human rights as sacred

Self-spirituality sacralizes human rights. Sociologist Emile Durkheim argues religion is a fundamental and permanent aspect of humanity, to be found in every society. Religion represents the collective conscience of the community, and arises out of the fundamentally social nature of human life. What goes by "religion" in any given society, according to Durkheim, ultimately reflects that which is held to be sacred to a moral community.

For Durkheim, liberalism was a religion insofar as it sacralized individual rights. Writing in France in the 19th century, he viewed the Declaration of the Rights of Man as a religious document, as it sacralized the individual. Philosopher Luc Ferry puts it this way: what we find is a humanization of the divine, and a divinization of the human.

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Self-spirituality is the religion of social liberalism, sacralizing those values and ideals  authenticity, mutual respect, acceptance of difference, individual freedom  which are most sacred to our society.

While conservatives denounce what they view as a lacklustre and ultimately individualistic stance towards religion, many liberals celebrate the triumph of individual autonomy in the face of outdated traditions.

Although there is some credibility to conservative fears that self-spirituality may inhibit the kinds of commitment and community that are necessary to sustain both individual and societal well-being, we ought not fall into their trap of thinking it is entirely without moral merit.

Self-spirituality is a form of religiosity very much at home in the socially liberal (not simply self-centred) culture of Canada, and bound up with the rights revolution, which has arguably done more than anything else to define our national identity in the 21st century.

Galen Watts is a PhD candidate in the cultural studies graduate program at Queen's University, Ontario.

This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca.The fish in the movie Finding Nemo had made their great escape. After a far-fetched plan and an unlikely set of circumstances, five fish made it out the window and into the ocean. But since they each floated as buoyant prisoners in plastic bags, one asked, Now what?

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This article was published 17/2/2018 (1306 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

The fish in the movie Finding Nemo had made their great escape. After a far-fetched plan and an unlikely set of circumstances, five fish made it out the window and into the ocean. But since they each floated as buoyant prisoners in plastic bags, one asked, "Now what?"

Its the very question those on the plastic-bag-ban bandwagon need to ask.

The Great Pacific Ocean Patch, some claim, is the size of Texas. This swirling mass of garbage is said to be full of plastics that will never break down  to the detriment of marine life and eventually of people.

But as many scientists have noted, the amount of garbage is sparse and bears no resemblance to the marine equivalent of a landfill. Not all the garbage is plastic and 60 per cent of what is plastic is discarded fishing gear.

Not even an animal activist such as Pamela Anderson could ban fishing, though she might be able to distract fishers for awhile.

So what can be banned? Plastic bags!

Montreal and Victoria have enacted bans, while Halifax and Edmonton may soon follow. Merits aside, a ban of anything the environmental movement doesnt like is smart politics for a government that wants to look green. Its straightforward to enact and has no direct cost to the taxpayer. It has none of the pitfalls of a renewable-energy investment that fails in its goals and makes political friends richer and taxpayers poorer. Legislators need not fear a scandal that could ambush them for banning anything. They need only endure the justified grumbles of people who wish they had more freedom and fewer rules.

But if we ban disposable plastic bags, now what? Here, the plot thickens and leads to an ironic conclusion more astonishing than Nemo finding his parents.

In 1976, Mobil Oil brought the Swedish invention of plastic bags to America to replace the paper bags. Would environmentalists who always oppose the petroleum industry push us back to paper? This would mean higher carbon emissions in the production of the bags and even in their transportation. Paper bags have greater bulk and weight, requiring more trucks burning more diesel fuel just to get the bags to market.

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Plastic bags could also be replaced with cotton bags, if poison is your thing. The World Wildlife Fund reports that although cotton accounts for 2.4 per cent of the worlds cropland, it accounts for 24 per cent of the market for insecticides and 11 per cent of pesticides. Plus, cotton is the thirstiest crop ever, needing nearly 19,000 litres of water to produce a single pound of cotton. A cotton bag is responsible for even more carbon emissions than a paper bag  it would need to be re-used 131 times to have the same carbon emissions as a single-use plastic bag. Besides that, it would consume even more water in washing (without washing, E. coli and other bacteria collect on a reusable bag).

So, the most environmentally friendly solution? Plastic bags.

The superiority of a permanent plastic bag was demonstrated in a "life-cycle assessment of supermarket carrier bags" study released in 2011 by the Environment Agency of the United Kingdom. It examined global-warming potential, abiotic depletion, acidification, eutrophication, human toxicity, fresh-water aquatic eco-toxicity, marine aquatic eco-toxicity, and petrochemical oxidation. The reusable plastic bag came out on top in all but one category.

Concerns about ocean ecology and garbage cant justify the demonization of plastic bags.

But we need to stop letting our garbage end up in the water.

Lee Harding is a research associate at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.The value of bitcoin may have stumbled in recent months, but in Iceland, it has so far only known only one direction: upward. The stunning success of cryptocurrencies around the globe has had a more unexpected repercussion on this island of 340,000 people: it could soon result in an energy shortage in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

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This article was published 17/2/2018 (1306 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The value of bitcoin may have stumbled in recent months, but in Iceland, it has so far only known only one direction: upward. The stunning success of cryptocurrencies around the globe has had a more unexpected repercussion on this island of 340,000 people: it could soon result in an energy shortage in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

As Iceland has become one of the worlds prime locations for energy-hungry cryptocurrency servers  something analysts describe as a 21st-century gold-rush equivalent  the industrys electricity demands have skyrocketed, too. For the first time, they now exceed Icelanders own private energy consumption, and energy producers fear they wont be able to keep up with rising demand, if Iceland continues to attract new companies bidding on the success of cryptocurrencies.

Companies have flooded Iceland with requests to open new data centres to "mine" cryptocurrencies in recent months, even as concerns mount that the country may have to slow down investments amid an increasingly stretched electricity generation capacity.

"There was a lot of talk about data centres in Iceland about five years ago, but it was a slow start," Johann Snorri Sigurbergsson, a spokesman for Icelandic energy producer HS Orka, told the Washington Post. "But six months ago, interest suddenly began to spike. And over the last three months, we have received about one call per day from foreign companies interested in setting up projects here."

"If all these projects are realized, we wont have enough energy for it," Sigurbergsson was quoted as saying.

The Associated Press first reported the surge in demand.

Every cryptocurrency in the world relies on a so-called blockchain platform, which is needed to trade with digital currencies. Tracking and verifying a transaction on such a platform is like solving a puzzle because networks are often decentralized and there is no single authority in charge of monitoring payments. As a result, transaction involves an immense number of mathematical calculations, which in turn occupies vast computer server capacity  which requires a lot of electricity.

The bitcoin rush may have come as a surprise to locals in sleepy Icelandic towns that are suddenly bustling with cryptocurrency technicians, but theres a simple explanation to scientists. "The economics of bitcoin mining mean that most miners need access to reliable and very cheap power on the order of two or three cents per kilowatt hour. As a result, a lot are located near sources of hydro power, where its cheap," Sam Hartnett, an associate at the non-profit energy research and consulting group Rocky Mountain Institute, told the Washington Post in December.

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Iceland produces about 80 per cent of its energy in hydroelectric power stations. That and the cold climate make it a perfect location for new data-mining centres filled with servers in danger of overheating.

While some are already sensing a possible new revenue source for the country that is so far mostly known abroad as a tourist haven and low-budget airline hub, others are more concerned by a phenomenon that has so far mostly alarmed analysts because of its possible financial unsustainability. Some predictions have concluded that cryptocurrency computer operations may account for "all of the worlds energy by 2020," or may already account for the equivalent of Denmarks energy needs.

But many other analysts say the real figure is likely smaller, and several experts recently told the Washington Post that Bitcoin  currently the worlds biggest cryptocurrency  used no more than 0.14 per cent of the worlds generated electricity, as of last December. Even though global consumption may not be as significant as some have claimed, it still presents a worrisome drain to a tiny country like Iceland where consumption suddenly began to spike with almost no warning  and continues to grow fast.

Some networks are considering or have already pushed through changes to their protocols, designed to reduce energy use. But implementing such changes for the leading currency, Bitcoin, wont be as easy because it is inherently decentralized. The companies that provide the vast amounts of computing power needed for these transactions earn a small share, comparable to a processing fee.

They are the source of the Icelandic bitcoin miners income  a revenue source many Icelanders are still not quite sure what to make of, especially if the lights start flickering.

 Washington PostThe first funerals were held Thursday and Friday for several of the 17 students and staff killed in the horrific massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

The shooter, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, was arraigned before a local judge on Friday, saying nothing in court except to indicate he had understood the proceeding. He reportedly spoke freely to local police after he was arrested, admitting responsibility for the bloodbath. His lawyers are not disputing his role as the shooter, stating only that he is severely mentally ill and had suffered several recent emotional traumas. One described Cruz as deeply disturbed, emotionally broken, and said he is on suicide watch.

Police have said that there is no indication that anyone else participated in the planning or the execution of the attack on Douglas High School, or that anyone was even aware of Cruzs specific intentions.

What has become clear over the past 24 hours is that the FBI had considerable information on Cruz, including a telephone tip only six weeks before the shooting rampage that warned he might carry out an attack on a school, but failed to take any action.

The agency admitted Friday morning in a public statement that the telephone tip came in on January 5, 2018, reporting concerns about Cruz based on his gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting. The FBI described the person making the phone call as an adult and a person close to Nikolas Cruz, but did not otherwise identify the caller.

This was the second telephone alert given to the FBI about Cruz, who had ties to a white supremacist organization. The owner of a Mississippi bail bond agency found a message on YouTube in the name of Nikolas Cruz proclaiming his intention to become a professional school shooter. He reported it to the FBI, which sent two agents to interview him, but officials said that the FBI was unable to identify or locate the 19-year-old south Florida man.

When the second call came in on a line that processes thousands of such tips each day, it was not passed on to the local FBI field office in Miami because protocols were not followed, the FBI statement claimed. There was no follow-up, even though all tips relating to threats to life are supposed to be pursued.

The apparent FBI failure immediately became a political weapon in the conflict within the US political establishment between the Trump administration, backed by the Republican Party, and sections of the military-intelligence apparatus, backed by the Democrats.

Florida Governor Rick Scott, a Republican and a close ally of President Trump, immediately denounced the FBI for failing to prevent the Douglas High School massacre and called for the resignation of FBI Director Christopher Wraywhom Trump appointed only eight months ago after firing James Comey over the Russia investigation.

Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isnt going to cut it, Scott said in a statement. An apology will never bring these 17 Floridians back to life or comfort the families who are in pain.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to review how the FBI handled the tip on Cruz, as part of a wider review of the federal response to school massacres.

Press accounts pointed out that three of the four people responsible for mass shootings in south Florida in the last two years had been in contact with or reported to the FBI before the incidents. The gunman who killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando had been investigated over possible connections to extremists. The gunman who killed five people at Fort Lauderdale airport had walked into an FBI office weeks before and drew attention with bizarre statements.

Former FBI assistant director Ron Hosko, who publicly defended the agencys failure to follow up the tip on Cruz last Septemberpointing out that the FBI receives 100 such warnings every daytold the press he was sickened by the evident failure to take action on the tip on Cruz last month.

The media attention has already begun to shift away from Parkland to new sensations, such as the indictment of 13 Russians by the Mueller investigation, without a single effort to probe more deeply into the social reasons why the United States, with 4.4 percent of the worlds population, has 31 percent of the mass shootings.

Liberal publications aligned with the Democratic Party, like the New York Times and the Washington Post, published editorials calling for gun control and an effort to mobilize voters to defeat the NRA (National Rifle Association) as the Times put it. This amounts to little more than an effort to use the corpses of the victims at Douglas High School to harvest votes for Democratic candidates in the 2018 elections.

The Post editorial was headlined, Ban these weapons of war, and demanded that laws be changed to make it more difficult for the general public to purchase assault-style rifles. The editorial made no connection between the use of such weapons overseasin Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and elsewherein American military aggression that it supports, and their use at home, to slaughter equally innocent people in Parkland, Las Vegas and elsewhere.

The response in the pro-Trump media was, if anything, even more cynical and reactionary. The Wall Street Journal published no less than three major editorial commentaries on the Parkland tragedy. An editorial, Responding to Parkland, declared that one solution that works is shooting back at shooters, thus advocating more armed violence in the schools, not less.

And a column by former Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan, which posed the question, Whats gone wrong with our culture that produces such atrocities? and then proceeded to give a deeply reactionary answer. Its the cultural revolution since the 1960s, the disruption of the family unit, the absence of fathers, divorce, and, of course, inevitably, abortion.

Noonan made one truthful statement: In the society we have created the past 40 years, you know we are not making fewer emotionally ill young people, but more. But like every other pundit in the corporate-controlled media, she seeks to blind readers to the reality that it is capitalism, and particularly the endless series of imperialist wars engaged in by American capitalism, that is the driving force of the saturation of American culture with violence, alienation and madness.

The author also recommends:

The Parkland massacre and the dysfunction of American society

[16 February 2018]Asia

Bangladesh

Bangladesh power workers demand permanent jobs

Workers involved in the development of the newly-built 275MW Barapukuria coal-fired power plant began an indefinite strike on Monday. They were demanding permanent operational jobs at the plant, which is located in Parbatipur subdistrict in northern Bangladesh.

About 500 workers were involved in the development of the third unit of the plant, which began more than three years ago. Their work was terminated once the project was completed last November. Workers have accused Chinese-owned Harbin International, which is contracted to run the plant, of only hiring people from manpower companies.

Community health care workers resume hunger strike in Bangladesh

Hundreds of Bangladesh Community Health Care Providers Association members resumed an indefinite hunger strike on Saturday outside the National Press Club in Lahore to demand the government nationalise the network of companies they work for and provide them with permanent employment.

The association has held a series of nationwide protests since January 22, including a hunger strike which began on February 1. The hunger protest was stopped on February 7, however, following demands from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. There are around 13,500 community health clinics in Bangladesh which were established in 2011 under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. According to press reports, her government has made no decision on the community health workers demands.

India

Brihanmumbai Electrical Supply and Transport workers walk out

Brihanmumbai Electrical Supply and Transport (BEST) workers held a one-day strike on February 15 in protest against cuts in January salaries and the replacement of government buses with about 450 privately-owned small buses. Members of the fascist Shiv Sena, which is affiliated to Indias ruling BJP government, were used as strike breakers.

According to press reports, 550 rupees or 10 percent was cut from employees monthly wages to pay for last years Diwali religious festival bonus. The annual festival occurs in October. While nine unions were involved in the walkout, the BEST Workers Union and the BEST Electric Workers Union are the only entities officially recognised by management.

One-day transport strike in Assam

All India Road Transport Workers Federation, All Assam Motor Workers Joint Council and the All Assam Cab Operators Union members held a 24-hour strike on February 12 in protest against an increase in petrol and diesel prices by Indias central government. The strikers also demanded medical benefits and financial aid for education of their children, as well as training for drivers and their assistants.

Sacked Tamil Nadu food logistics workers continue protest

Twenty-nine SICAL Logistics workers and their families are maintaining an indefinite protest near the companys warehouse in Minjur, Chennai to demand reinstatement and equal wages with new recruits. They were sacked on July 28 after protesting against low wages.

SICAL Logistics, which has operations in all of Indias coastal states, is connected with the Coffee Day Group, which is owned by the son-in-law of former Karnataka Chief Minister S.M. Krishna.

The sacked workers, who remain in limbo because their case is still before an Assistant Commissioner of Labour, allege that the company is refusing to negotiate. The workers are members of the Minjur regional General Workers Union, which is affiliated to the Stalinist controlled Centre for Indian Trade Unions.

LPG cylinder delivery workers demonstrate in Andhra Pradesh

About 30 LPG cylinder delivery workers protested in the city of Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, on Monday over the sacking and victimisation of 14 workers by the Sri Agency. Gas Delivery Workers Union members want the company to reverse its decision and have accused the Sri Agency of violating Indian labour laws. The sackings were announced on February 3, straight after the workers established and presented management with a wage contract claim.

A union official told the media that labour laws were in force at six of the other gas agencies in the city but not at the Sri Agency. Workers want labour department officials to inspect the Sri Agency and for the implementation of pensions and other legally-mandated benefits.

Pakistan

Punjab education workers protest

Hundreds of Literacy and Non Formal Basic Education Department employees protested on February 8 in Lahore, Pakistans second largest city. Teachers and other department employees are demanding a wage rise and permanent jobs. Demonstrators accused the government of paying only 5,000 rupees ($US 45.15) per month, which is less than the official minimum wage, and demanded it to be increased to 15,000 rupees.

The department receives international funds, including from UNICEF and UNESCO, to run literacy improvement programs. The low-wage regime imposed by the Pakistani government impacts on 4,000 teachers and over 1,200 other education workers, many of whom have been employed by the department for more than 10 years.

The protest, which blocked a major intersection in Lahore and caused a significant traffic jam, was called off that evening by the Punjab Literacy Association after a government official claimed that workers demands would be addressed.

Health workers demonstrate in Lahore for permanent jobs

About 1,500 employees of the governments School Health and Nutrition Supervisors program protested last Saturday in Lahore for a third consecutive day to demand job permanency. Over 1,800 people work in the nutrition program, with most of them employed for more than 10 years on contract.

The demonstration was organised by the Punjab Nutrition Association and blocked the city. Many of those involved travelled from across Pakistans Punjab province to participate.

Attempts by government officials to end the protests failed when workers demanded immediate action to make them permanent government employees. The workers have threatened to boycott a polio vaccination campaign, which was scheduled to begin on February 12.

Sri Lanka

Northern Province volunteer and contract teachers protest

Over 3,200 volunteer and contract teachers in Sri Lankas Northern Province protested outside the chief ministers office in Jaffna on Wednesday for more permanent appointments. Teachers accept low-paid voluntary and contract work in the hope that they will eventually enter the permanent workforce. The government is using them as a cheap labour solution to teacher vacancies, especially in rural schools.

Demonstrators denounced the chief minister, alleging that he gave appointments to his political supporters but blocked the regular appointment of others. Many of those involved in the protest said that they had worked for more than ten years on poverty level wages, without annual leave, salary increments or other benefits enjoyed by permanent teachers.

Cambodia

Cambodian workers jailed over strike action

Four union leaders in the Cosmo Textile factory in the Snuol district of Cambodias Kandal province were imprisoned on Monday after the company claimed they had led an illegal strike.

The four workers, Chhean Vannak, Moeun Chhit, Lok Neang and Phan Sary, are members of the Workers Friendship Union Federation (WFUF). They were arrested on Monday and sent to Kandal Provincial Prison for pre-trial detention. Police said they were planning to arrest other workers.

The dispute erupted the previous week after the company sacked two union members for allegedly not stamping their attendance cards. The WFUF claims that one of employees had lost their card and already reported it to management but that management was targeting union members.

Cambodias authoritarian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is facing national elections, has been posing as a champion of garment factory workers. The Cambodian state machine is directed towards keeping the countrys 700,000 garment industry workers, who produce 80 percent of export earnings revenue, in check and enforce a low wage regime.

Australia

Queensland construction workers hold second rally

Dozens of workers employed by Monadelphous Engineering rallied on Thursday outside Queensland Alumina Limited in Gladstone, situated 400 kilometres north of Brisbane. Monadelphous Engineering carries out maintenance at the alumina refinery.

It is the second time this month that the workers, who are members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), have rallied in opposition to Monadelphous drive to casualise the workforce and slash a raft of working conditions.

The AMWU, which is currently negotiating a new work agreement (EBA) with the maintenance contracting company, claims that Monadelphous has been replacing permanent employees with casuals and is seeking to remove weekend and public holiday penalty rates, casual loading and overtime.

The workers have had their pay frozen since 2015 and a variation in a previous agreement has been used to cut wages by 17 percent. The union took no action against the past assault on wages and is now containing opposition to the limited rallies.

New Zealand: Lyttelton Port Workers vote for strike action

Two hundred workers at Christchurchs Lyttelton Port on Thursday overwhelming voted for industrial action after mediation between the company and the Rail and Maritime Union (RMTU) over a new work agreement broke down on February 13.

According to press reports, Lyttelton Port workers unanimously endorsed a ban on overtime or a complete withdrawal of labour for up to three weeks.

The RMTU has already had 21 meetings with the company since it began negotiations over a new work agreement. The company wants the port run on a 24/7 basis. The union has no fundamental opposition to this demand but is feigning concern for the safety of the workers. It has called for more talks with the company and not announced a date for the industrial action.

The union is required to give 14 days notice before taking any industrial action. RMTU South Island organiser John Kerr told the media that strike action at the port was the last thing we want to happen. We would much rather get this sorted out around the table.

The RMTU covers hundreds of public transport workers in Wellington and Auckland and is currently in negotiations with TransDev, which operates transport in the two cities. The union opposes any unified action in defence of jobs, wages and working condition by its members. RMTU members in Auckland were recently balloted over whether they will strike over their work contract. The union has not publicly released the results of that ballot.Thousands of workers in Tahiti and other parts of French Polynesia joined what was originally called an indefinite general strike on February 15 against the governments plan to raise the pension entitlement age from 60 to 62 by the year 2020 and increase employee contributions. The proposal also requires workers to contribute to social security for 38 years, up from the current 35, to receive a full pension.

The remote South Pacific French colony, with 67 inhabited islands and a population of 280,000, has been wracked by political crises and social unrest for more than a decade. There were four strikes last November and December, by staff from the Depeche de Tahiti newspaper, Air France workers, hospital workers, and kitchen workers who prepare school meals.

The general strike is the latest manifestation of widespread anger among workers over the austerity measures imposed by successive governments in Papeete and Paris, including repeated attacks on jobs, wages and conditions.

Reports indicate that telecommunications, electricity and postal workers, some hospital and school employees, among others, joined the strike, which was called by five trade unions: O oe to oe rima, CSIP, Otahi, CSTP-FO and COSAC.

Local media reported that about 3,000 people protested outside the territorial assembly in the capital Papeete to demand that the government withdraw its regressive pension reform bill. The unions said there were 8,000-10,000 demonstrators. The legislation is due to be submitted for debate at the end of the month and passed into law on March 1.

The trade union leaders called an end to the indefinite strike at 5 p.m., following an hour-long meeting with Assembly President Marcel Tuihani behind closed doors. Details of the talks were not revealed. The unions declared they would call further strike action unless the legislation was withdrawn.

President Edouard Fritch, leader of the ruling Tapura Huiraatira party, has refused to back down. In a statement on February 13, he said raising the pension age had been a topic of discussion by different governments for the past 10 years, but no action had been taken and sacrifices were now required.

We have waited enough, Fritch declared. He noted that the five trade unions, along with business organisations, had been involved in negotiations over the new law and the text had been modified to take their views into account.

Fritch threatened that pensions would be cut off unless spending was reduced. He warned the unions: The day that a pension is not paid to someone who worked 35 years, who saved money for 35 years, there will be a revolution.

The president stated that neither his government nor Paris was prepared to keep spending at current levels. Last August, Fritch made clear that he approved of deeper austerity measures planned by French President Emmanuel Macron. According to Radio NZ, Fritch said he was aware that the French state needed to tighten its belt as do French Polynesians. Fritch will campaign on the pension cuts in the elections, to be held in April.

The French Polynesian economy went into recession in 2006. Like the entire Pacific region, it was severely affected by the global economic crash of 2008 and remains heavily indebted. Between 2007 and 2012, tourist arrivals plummeted by 42.9 percent, resulting in hotel closures and hundreds of job losses.

Unemployment stands at around 20 percent. According to the unions estimate, in 2016 some 80,000 French Polynesians, almost a third of the population, were living in poverty.

The trade unions, however, offer no way forward for workers and are actively preparing a betrayal. They have already accepted spending cuts in principle. They merely differ with the government on which areas should be targeted first, warning that the population will not accept a pension cut.

On February 14, the website Tahiti Infos quoted Lucie Tiffenat, general secretary of the Otahi union and spokeswoman of the union alliance, saying five billion [Polynesian francs] could be saved through various cuts to the health system.

Radio 1 reported that Tiffenat said the unions wanted a more comprehensive reform of social security in general, not just the retirement bill. She attacked doctors for being too highly paid.

Underscoring their pro-capitalist orientation, the unions claimed that the business federations Medef and CPME, despite opposing the strike, also had concerns about the pension reform. This is because it would reduce their say in future decision-making and put all pension-related decisions in the hands of the ministers.

Similarly, French Polynesias main opposition party Tahoeraa Huiraatira criticised the governments decision to raise the pension age, but called for a discussion about a comprehensive reform of both pensions and health care.

Tahoeraa Huiraatira is a right-wing party whose leader, former President Gaston Flosse, supported Marine Le Pen, leader of the fascist National Front, in last years French presidential election.

French Polynesia has long-standing strategic significance for France. The French military used its islands as the site for 193 nuclear weapons tests between 1966 and 1996, leading to soaring rates of cancer.

The general strike has undoubtedly provoked concern in Paris as well as in Australia and New Zealand, which regard the South Pacific as their backyard. All three imperialist powers have joined US military preparations and threats against China and are hostile to Chinas growing economic influence in the Pacific, including French Polynesia.

The entire Pacific region is a cauldron of social tensions. Fiji airport workers recently gained widespread support during a month-long lockout. Last year Papua New Guinea was engulfed in widespread protests against police brutality, austerity, poverty and inequality.

Significantly, Frances corporate media and trade unions have remained silent on the French Polynesian strike, as have the New Anti-Capitalist Party (NPA) and other pseudo-left groups that orbit the political establishment.

The last thing the French ruling elite and its political servants want is for a mass anti-austerity strike in one of its colonies to set an example. New Caledonia, French Guyana, Martinique and Guadeloupe are all beset by economic crises and have experienced significant strikes recently.

Fifty years after the revolutionary upheavals of 1968, the French working class is also suffering from record levels of inequality produced by a decade of austerity measures. Protests have risen against the Macron government, which is intensifying the assault on living standards, including plans to cut pensions and unemployment benefits, while at the same time diverting billions of euros to prepare the country for war.

Workers in French Polynesia cannot fight to defend their pensions, health care and other social rights within the straitjacket of the unions, which accept the entire framework of austerity and the capitalist nation-state system.

What is needed are workers committees, democratically controlled by the workers themselves and independent of the political establishment. These must be guided by a socialist and internationalist program, to unite workers throughout the Pacific, in France and other countries, in a struggle for a planned world economy and a workers government, based on meeting human needs, not protecting the fortunes of a wealthy elite.A common octopus fights off an attack by a pyjama shark in Blue Planet II. (Photo: BBC 2017)

Weve seen a lot of amazing things in the first four weeks of BBC Americas Blue Planet II, but the Feb. 17 Green Seas installment has an octopus that episode producer Kathryn Jeffs likens to Sherlock and a spider crab she thinks of as Jon Snow.

The former sequence takes place in a South African kelp forest, where the hunter, a common octopus stalking a crab, suddenly becomes the hunted. A pyjama shark, which is an expert at hunting in the undergrowth, is just small enough to reach into the crevice where the octopus tries to hide. It grabs hold of the octopus and shakes it violently  until the octopus slips its tentacles into the sharks gills (as seen in the photo above). The shark cant breathe, so it has to let the octopus go.

This octopus then does something that had never been filmed before: she (yes, its a she) gathers shells with her tentacles and creates an armored disguise  hiding in plain sight, as narrator Sir David Attenborough says.

The octopus forms a ball and surrounds itself with a protective armor of shells. (Photo: BBC 2017)

The shark ultimately figures out the ruse, but the shells confuse it long enough for the octopus to escape.

The octopus lives to fight another day. (GIF: BBC America)

Jeffs has long considered octopuses one of her favorite animals because theyre so wily. You have this impression that they just have this sort of alien intelligence that we couldnt perhaps understand, but seeing this footage was just mind-blowing because then theres proof, she says. Theres this phenomenally clever animal thats just doing everything it can, using its wits to survive against quite a ruthless predator.

As viewers will learn in the making-of segment that ends the episode, the attack was particularly upsetting for cameraman Roger Horrocks and naturalist Craig Foster, who allowed Horrocks to follow alongside him for months in search of an octopus on the hunt. Foster uses the tracking skills he mastered in the Kalahari to try to understand the lives of the animals living in the kelp forests, and after six years of daily morning dives, he knows individual octopuses and their personalities. Because they got to know this octopus so well, their hearts were in their mouths when a shark did actually attack her. Were they about to see their little star predated? Jeffs says. The behavior with her pushing her arms through the gills really was quite a surprise to us all  certainly a surprise to them, I think. They thought shed had it. She fought back and escaped, and its quite amazing.

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When you watch the sequence Saturday, the music from composer Hans Zimmer and the team at Bleeding Fingers might remind you of the Benedict Cumberbatch-starring Sherlock. Thats intentional. She was so clever and had such a lovely way of moving through her environment with such stealth and intelligence that she reminded me of Sherlock, Jeffs says. That was actually the approach that we made in the edit as we were putting this piece together. Octopus have such powerful observations, and thats how theyre constantly making exceptionally important decisions about when to move, where to move, how to move, to move with the movement of the kelp. Theyre constantly observing their surroundings and adjusting their bodies and their postures and their colors as theyre moving. A lot of that comes from an innate behavior, but theres certainly an intelligence there as well. She really was Sherlock to me, and so we wanted to bring that across.

Game of Throness Battle of the Bastards, meanwhile, was on Jeffss mind when it came to the spider crab sequence. Hundreds of thousands of the giant spider crabs march together in Australia because theres safety in numbers. When its time to break out of their shells so that they can grow, itll take days or even longer for their new shells to harden  leaving them vulnerable to predators. For me, our hero crab was always Jon Snow in that incredible battle scene, Jeffs says. So that was absolutely one of the focuses as we were cutting that scene  this poor individual just kind of clamoring to survive in this mass of bodies.

A tease of a few other memorable moments in this Saturdays hour

Giant cuttlefish in Whyalla, South Australia, gathering together to mate. (Photo: Hugh Miller/BBC America)

Giant cuttlefish mating: The Blue Planet II team worked in South Australia with cuttlefish scientist Alexandra Schnell, whos been studying what Jeffs terms this quite incredible, tumultuous scene of amazing behaviors. When a large male has its eye on a female thats clearly over him, a smaller male may take it upon himself to mute his coloring and tuck in his arms and pose as a female  so he can swim right up to the larger male and then to the female, with whom hell mate. What fascinated Jeffs more than how sneaky the battling males can be is the role females play in deciding their partners. They were almost giving the brushoff to certain males and allowing others to approach, and it was all about this little white stripe signal that they were using, she says. So that was absolutely the story that we wanted to tell.

It was tricky for the camera team being surrounded by the largest mating aggregation of any cephalopod in the world and trying to spot that particular signaling (a white stripe on her side means no). Because of course its not all females that are doing this all the time, Jeffs says. Youve just got to find the right scenario where the right individuals are interacting in that way. It was only when the cameraman started to rise above the action and he was getting shots looking down on the cuttlefish that he started to actually pick up on this one female who was using the signaling and then was able to hone in on the trio. It was fantastic to see these individual animals really having an impact on what was happening around them.

Purple urchins have teeth made almost entirely from calcite. (Photo: BBC 2017)

Sea urchins eating: Sea urchins have tough, self-sharpening teeth  and when urchins move in as an army, they can decimate a kelp forest and leave it barren. Close-ups like the one above are mesmerizing. Obviously when youre looking for very close-up macro shots like that, you are moving into using special filming tanks, Jeffs says. So what we tend to do is we get the big wide shot in the field, in time-lapse, then we take a number of the individuals into captivity [for a short period of time]. They are eating machines, so they are very happy to keep munching away on the kelp. We use special, thin filming glass, and that enables us to get those very tight macro shots, and then we can release the urchins back into location.

When not hunting, sea otters rest by floating on their backs, frequently wrapping themselves in fronds of kelp for better stability. (Photo: Espen Rekdal/ BBC America)

Sea otters rafting: Sea otters, it turns out, eat urchins, which helps keep them in check in the kelp forests off Americas Pacific coast. What may surprise some people: sea otters almost went extinct. It was only because of them being protected that their numbers have bounced back, Jeffs says. While those numbers are going down again in some areas, the team was able to capture gorgeous aerial shots of a large group of otters huddled together, or rafting  a sight not seen for over a century. Its intriguing, because you wonder, Is this the kind of scene that wouldve been seen up and down the American coastline not that long ago? If we continue to protect them, might those kinds of raftings be seen again in the future? And what impact will that have on the kelp forest? Because you can see quite clearly that when otters are around, the diversity of animals in the kelp forest goes up, and the kelp forests themselves can expand, so there is that wonderful beneficial relationship.

A male zebra mantis shrimp  the largest mantis shrimp in the world, measuring up to 40 centimeters  spends most of its life ambush-hunting fish from its burrows in the sandy sea floor at the edge of the mangrove. (Photo: Yoland Bosiger/BBC America)

Zebra mantis shrimp ghosting: Jeffs admits this story is quite dark, in a way. The team worked with biologist-cameraman Alexander Vail, who studies these large shrimp hunting in the mangrove areas around Australias Lizard Island. For many months, he put tiny little remote cameras out into the field, next to their burrows, and he was able to capture the hunting behavior seen in the episode (a sneak attack from below similar to the bobbit worm in Episode 3). The male collects food for its mate, since the female stays in the burrow and focuses all her energy on her eggs. It seems like a good plan. But the team was also talking with scientist Roy L. Caldwell in the States, who told them how these shrimp mate for life, but that it doesnt always run smoothly  sometimes a male leaves his partner, of maybe 20 years, to shack up with a larger female whos been abandoned by her life partner. Having worked with the mantis shrimp in the wild, Alex was able to identify particular couples that were hunting and that hes been able to film well. So we were able to capture those, again for a very short period of time, and bring them into filming burrows. Then, as we were releasing them, we were able to get shots as well in order to tell the story.

Planet Earth: Blue Planet II airs Saturdays at 9 p.m. on BBC America.

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux have announced they split last year, however, the pair seemed very much the couple as they rang in the New Years with a getaway to Mexico.

Six weeks before confirming their separation, the now ex-couple was spotted in Cabo San Lucas on Jan. 1 vacationing with close friend Jason Bateman and his family.

The seemingly idyllic getaway would be their last together and appears to have come in the final days of their relationship or even after they decided their marriage was no longer working.

However, according to a source at the time, nothing seemed amiss.

Jen and Justin rang in the New Year with friends. For the past few days, they have enjoyed the sunny Cabo weather, the source told PEOPLE.

They have hosted friends by the pool and for dinner. They both seem great and very happy.

Justin Theroux and Jennifer Aniston in Cabo San Lucas on Jan. 1

On Thursday, after two and a half years of marriage and seven years as a couple, the actors announced they had broken up.

In an effort to reduce any further speculation, we have decided to announce our separation. This decision was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year, said the statement released to PEOPLE by longtime Aniston publicist Stephen Huvane.

We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple, but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship. Normally we would do this privately, but given that the gossip industry cannot resist an opportunity to speculate and invent, we wanted to convey the truth directly, the statement continued.

Concluding, Whatever else is printed about us that is not directly from us, is someone elses fictional narrative. Above all, we are determined to maintain the deep respect and love that we have for one another.

Justin Theroux and Jennifer Aniston in August

In the past weeks, Theroux was often spotted in New York City away from the pairs L.A. home.

Meanwhile, she attended Ellen DeGeneres star-studded 60th birthday party in Hollywood on Saturday and celebrated her 49th birthday with girlfriends in Malibu on Monday.

They have also had a busy year as Aniston signed on with Reese Witherspoon for a new Apple TV series and filmed Dumplin in Atlanta, while Theroux filmed the comedy The Spy Who Dumped Me in Budapest.

Aniston and Theroux first met on the Hawaii set of 2008s Tropic Thunder and began dating in 2011. They later married in a surprise and secret ceremony on August 5, 2015  just a few days before Therouxs 44th birthday.Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux have confirmed theyve split after two years of marriage.

In an effort to reduce any further speculation, we have decided to announce our separation. This decision was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year, they said in a statement. We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple, but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship. Normally we would do this privately, but given that the gossip industry cannot resist an opportunity to speculate and invent, we wanted to convey the truth directly. Whatever else is printed about us that is not directly from us is someone elses fictional narrative. Above all, we are determined to maintain the deep respect and love that we have for one another.

Its no surprise Aniston and Theroux mention the gossip industry in their joint statement. Throughout their seven-plus years together as a couple, they have been tabloid favorites. Perhaps thats because when they first got together, they had weeklies drooling over a Brangelina-type love triangle.

Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux attended Jason Batemans Walk of Fame ceremony in July 2017. (Photo: Splash News)

Jen and Justin first met in 2007 but reconnected in 2011 while filming Wanderlust. At the time, the actor was still together with his girlfriend of 14 years, Heidi Bivens. When exactly Theroux and the stylist broke up and when he got together with Aniston is unclear, but man stealer Jen read one of many similar-themed headlines.

The pair never publicly addressed the rumors  which is usually their MO  and forged on with their relationship. While the public ate up Hollywoods new coupling, tabloids were at the ready to craft a lonely Jen narrative.

Justin will never marry her, a close friend supposedly told InTouch Weekly in August 2011. Hes not the marrying type  as you can see from the 14-year relationship he was in that didnt end in marriage.

Two months later she was pregnant with twins, according to Life & Style, while OK! claimed the Friends star was planning a wedding before Angelina Jolie sabotaged it. Jen and Justin had about a hundred babies, got married, and split all in a year. It wasnt until August 2012 (after 17 faux wedding and engagements stories) that Theroux actually popped the question.

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Some of the lonely Jen covers. (Photos: Life & Style, In Touch, Star)

The Aniston obsession hardly went away. In 2014 alone, according to Vanity Fair, she was jilted or heartbroken 11 times, pregnant nine times, planning her dream wedding eight times, feuding six times, on a romantic getaway three times, and married twice. She also had exes reveal secrets about her twice and had plastic surgery twice.

Just dont pay attention, Aniston told CBS. I think I used to really; there was a period where I was hell-bent on saying, Thats not true, thats not right, thats not fair. And now I just think you have to let it roll off your back and you realize, I think everyone knows its all B.S. and like a soap opera on paper.

As for her and Justin, she added, We know what our truth is. Thats all just static.

The static didnt slow down the couple, who finally tied the knot in August 2015. With the wedding narrative out of play, it was all about babies and divorces. That first topic even prompted the actress to speak out on the topic, in an essay for the Huffington Post titled For the Record.

Let me start by saying that addressing gossip is something I have never done For the record, I am not pregnant, she wrote in 2016. What I am is fed up. Im fed up with the sport-like scrutiny and body shaming that occurs daily under the guise of journalism, the First Amendment and celebrity news.'

She added, From years of experience, Ive learned tabloid practices, however dangerous, will not change, at least not any time soon. What can change is our awareness and reaction to the toxic messages buried within these seemingly harmless stories served up as truth and shaping our ideas of who we are. We get to decide how much we buy into whats being served up, and maybe some day the tabloids will be forced to see the world through a different, more humanized lens because consumers have just stopped buying the bulls***.

Despite the actresss powerful essay, false headlines didnt stop and only increased when Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie announced they were divorcing in spring 2016. And the Brad-Angie-Jen-Justin love square stories have been nonstop for nearly a year and a half. In 2018 alone, there have been nearly 20 stories involving the four stars. Brad and Jen are even reportedly engaged, if you feel like believing that one.

The fact that low-brow publications have Jen and Justin to be on the rocks all year made it white noise at this point. Which is why its so shocking its actually true.

Aniston and Theroux were last spotted together over New Years Eve in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Since then, hes been noticeably absent while she has attended events solo, like the Golden Globes, Ellen DeGeneress birthday, and Amy Schumers wedding.

So what went wrong? Jen and Justin make clear in their statement not to believe any fictional narrative, but you know a lot are coming.

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:Jimmy Kimmel took careful aim at President Donald Trump, Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, and Marco Rubio and blasted them for their usual non-response to the latest school mass shooting.

Another very sad day in America. Another senseless shooting, Kimmel said at the top of his Thursday late-night show.

This time at a high school in Parkland, Florida, where a gunman, a former student, opened fire yesterday, killing 17 and wounding more than a dozen.

President Trump weighed in on the tragic events this morning from the White House; Kimmel played a clip:

Teleprompter Trump: We are all joined together as one American family and your suffering is our burden also. No child, no teacher should ever be in danger in an American school.

Agreed, responded Kimmel.

Teleprompter Trump: No parent should ever have to fear for their sons and daughters when they kiss them goodbye in the morning.

Agreed, Kimmel said again.

Kimmels advice to Trump: Tell your buddies in Congress  tell Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, Marco Rubio  all the family men who care so much about their communities, that what we need are laws. Real laws that do everything possible to keep assault rifles out of the hands of people who are going to shoot our kids.

Go on TV and tell them to do that. That is a perfect example of that common sense you told us you were going to bring to the White House. Its time to bring it, Kimmel continued.

Tell these Congressmen and lobbyists who infest that swamp you said you were going to drain  force these allegedly Christian men and women who stuff their pockets with money from the NRA, year after year after year, to do something. Now. Not later.

Kimmel warned Trump & Buddies against trotting out their Its too soon to be talking about it gag  though Rubio, for instance, already has done so.

Because you guys said that after Las Vegas. You said it after Sandy Hook. You say that after every one of these eight now-fatal school shootings weve had in the United States this year, Kimmel blasted.

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Worse than doing nothing, One of your very first acts as President, Mr. Trump, was to actually roll back the regulations that were designed to keep firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill, Kimmel said, continuing to clobber POTUS.

And it is amazing to me that if one illegal immigrant causes a car accident, weve got to build a wall. Why are you looking for solutions to that problem and not this one? Kimmel asked.

Kimmel finally agreed to let Teleprompter Trump finish his thought:

Teleprompter Trump: To every parent, teacher, and child who is hurting so badly, we are here for you, whatever you need, whatever we can do, to ease your pain.

What we need, Kimmel told TT, is for a teenager to not be able to buy an AR-15.

Somewhere along the line, these guys forgot they work for us. Not the NRA  us, Kimmel told his audience, of Trump, Ryan, Rubio, and McConnell.

And this time, we arent going to allow you to bow your heads in prayer for two weeks until you get an all clear and we move onto the next thing, Kimmel warned, ferociously. We are going to make sure you do something this time.

Urging viewers to visit website everytown.org, Kimmel also wanted them to write their representatives and demand action. And, if they dont listen, vote them out of office, he suggested.

Whatever you do, do something, Kimmel told his audience. Because I, for one, am very, very, very, very tired of this.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0vLiQLpsc8&w=620&h=340]

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'The Royals' Holiday Message: Trump Does Not Think Mexico Paid For StonehengeJohnny Galecki apparently made some enemies with his response to Wednesdays school shooting.

The Big Bang Theory star took to Instagram on Friday to say that many people were outraged and threatened and angered by his call for change after the Florida high school shooting that left 17 people dead.

In my last couple of posts, Ive not suggested a single idea for new gun laws or background checks or even mental illness issues after the latest school murders in Florida. I only suggested change. And yet many folks were outraged and threatened and angered by only that, the actor wrote.

Also Read:Kaley Cuoco Displays Her Churning Desire With Johnny Galecki on 'Big Bang Theory' Set (Photo)

According to Galecki, some critics of his response unfollowed his account, which is fine with him, while others suggested he should pack his bags, which was less fine with the actor.

REALLY? You feel theres zero change needed? Galecki wrote. You hate and want me out of the country and belittle my opinion after three generations of my fathers served and gave their lives because I suggest its not shameful to maybe explore taking a page from another country where their children havent been mass murdered in a school shooting in over 20 years?

Ultimately, Galecki had two words for those that had unfollowed him on social media: good riddance.

Also Read:Josh Gad Vows Activism Against 'Worthless' Leaders After Friend's Son Killed in Florida Shooting

At this point I say to the unfollowers, good riddance. Im sorry that the suggestion of a conversation frightened you off. You have no interest in having any conversation and I have no interest in wasting my time trying to convince you to be a more evolved human being, Galecki wrote. Those of you that will stay, despite our shared heartbreak at times, I plead with you to find energy to rise and dissent and make change.

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On Wednesday, after news of the deadly shooting broke, Galecki took politicians in the U.S. to task, writing on Instagram that it was time to make a change and that saying youre sorry isnt enough.

In 1929, four professional mobsters used four guns to kill seven people and it has since been known as the Saint Valentines Day Massacre, Galecki wrote Wednesday. Today, a lone, disturbed teenager killed 17 people with a single weapon. To the president, Congress and our Senators  a sentiment you may have heard on previous Valentines Days for differing reasons  Sometimes saying youre sorry isnt enough, you need to make changes.

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Kaley Cuoco Displays Her Churning Desire With Johnny Galecki on 'Big Bang Theory' Set (Photo)

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Johnny Galecki House Fire: 'Big Bang Theory' Star Unharmed in BlazeA Pennsylvania couple pleaded guilty to multiple charges after prosecutors said three young children in their care were starved so badly they ate peeled paint off the walls of their bedroom, multiple outlets report.

Joshua Weyant, 34, and his 39-year-old wife Brandi Weyant, of Halifax, pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of aggravated assault, conspiracy, false imprisonment, unlawful restraining and child endangerment, the Associated Press reports.

According to police, the three children in their care  ages 4, 5 and 6  were severely underweight and could not keep food down, ABC27 reports.

ABC reports that a doctor examining two of the children said they would have died had authorities not intervened.

 Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.

Dauphin County Chief Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Gettle told Pennlive.com that police and workers from Children & Youth Services visited the Weyants home in 2016 after receiving an anonymous tip.

According to Gettle, the children were found in an unheated bedroom that lacked furniture including beds, the outlet reports. Gettle said paint was missing from the walls for as high as the children could reach because the children were eating it to try to survive.

The outlet reports that according to prosecutors, the Weyants starved the children because Joshua didnt want them anymore.

 For more compelling true crime coverage, follow our Crime magazine on Flipboard.

According to the AP, the children  who are not the biological children of the Weyants  are currently in foster care.

The Weyants will be sentenced in May and face a minimum of 10 years in prison, the AP reports.

Pennlive.com reports that Joshua also pleaded no contest to unrelated charges of indecent assault and corruption of minors for molesting a a pre-teen girl from 2013-15.

PEOPLE was unable to reach Dauhpin County prosecutors.Figure skater Adam Rippon has officially wrapped his first Olympic competitions  and he tells PEOPLE hes likely to celebrate with a stiff drink.

The 28-year-old, who made history as the first openly gay man to compete for America in the Winter Games, has become the toast of Twitter in recent weeks, as much thanks to his strong showing in the skating team event as for his quick-tongued social media presence.

Hollywood, too, has taken notice, with Rippon exchanging messages with the likes of Zach Braff, Mindy Kaling, Reese Witherspoon and other stars.

But all of that  the personality-driven spotlight, the plaudits from celebrities, the thousands and thousands of retweets  is secondary to the skating, and its his skating that gave Rippon reason to smile.

I came here as an athlete to show why Im at these Olympic Games, why I was chosen for the team, why I needed to be on that team event and thats been so important to me and that Ive gotten to show the world who I am, he told a ring of reporters after his free skate in the mens event on Saturday (which aired Friday night stateside).

I think Im leaving showing the world that you can also have a big personality and be who you are in the process, he said.

Keep Following PEOPLEs Complete Coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics

Figure skater Adam Rippon competing during the free skate portion of the men's event in the 2018 Winter Olympics

Figure skater Adam Rippon during the free skate portion of the men's event in the 2018 Winter Olympics

Rippon first drew notice on the ice at these Games when his team mens free skate helped keep aloft the U.S.s medal chances. Performing to a mix of Arrival of the Birds, by The Cinematic Orchestra, and O, by Coldplay, he earned third and America ultimately won bronze overall.

That same skate this weekend in the mens individual event got him slightly lower marks and his total score there came in at No. 10  still a success, in his eyes.

To come away from this Olympic Games to skate three clean programs in the midst of what seems like a lot going on, and a top-10 finish in the individual event and a bronze medal [in the team event], I think this is sort of like a dream Olympic Games for me, Rippon told the press later Saturday.

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I think Ive shown the world that Im a fierce competitor, he said, but I think Ive shown them that Im also a fierce human being.

While Rippon says he has no idea whats next for his career (and another Olympics seems unlikely), he did have immediate plans for what came after his clutch of interviews.

I know the next thing off the ice for me is to take off this sweaty hot-mess costume but then after that, who knows? he tells PEOPLE. They usually say that after the Olympic Games, somebodys life changes forever and a lot of times its the gold medalist. But I have a feeling that my life has changed forever.

Rippon also had warm words for fellow Team USA skaters Nathan Chen and Vincent Zhou, who both turned in strong free skates in the mens event to land in the fifth and sixth slots.

Chens skate, particularly, was a redemption: After two error-prone appearances at these Games, he made history landing six quadruple jumps in his third routine.

Zhou followed Chen to attempt five quads, landing three. None of their competitors tried more than four.

Figure skater Adam Rippon after his free skate portion of the men's event in the 2018 Winter Olympics

Figure skater Adam Rippon competing during the free skate portion of the men's event in the 2018 Winter Olympics

Both Chen and Zou are at least a decade Rippons junior and, with the ability to pull off physically imposing quads, represent the cutting edge of the sport, he said.

I saw how Nathan skated and then I saw how Vincent skated and I have to say, you know, I am so honestly grateful that I can skate here and in this same competition with these guys. They are incredible, Rippon said.

Of Chens comeback on the ice, he said, I skate with Nathan every day and he has had such a rough effing week. And for him to kind of put that all behind him and skate so well today  I saw him before I had my six-minute warmup and he was in street clothes and I gave him a huge hug and I said, Im so proud of you. The weight of the world was on him.

And Vincent, the future is out there for him, Rippon continued. These kids are amazing, and Im honored and grateful to be on this team with these kids. They feel like my kids, but Im so proud of them. And on top of that, Im proud of what I was able to put out there as well.

Speaking to reporters after his skate  and as he has for weeks  Rippon continued to field questions about his visibility as a gay athlete. He was unabashed.

Ive just been myself and so genuinely me this whole entire time, and I think people just arent expecting that, he said. But you know what? Expect the unexpected.

He had a few thoughts as well for what his status as a role model might mean, noting that certainly he hoped his place at these Games would ease the way for others going forward. His success in figure skating, despite his age in a sport so focused on youth, was also seemingly on his mind.

I want to inspire other young kids, no matter what their background is or where theyre from or anything like that, that they can go out there and if you work hard, you can do anything, he told reporters.

And make no mistake, he said: Im representing my country whether they like me or not.

Ive gotten a lot of attention I think just for being myself. I think that a lot of people, when they come to a competition, are afraid to be themselves no matter who they are, Rippon said, sounding both serious and wry. I think one thing that I want people to come away with from this competition is that Im not a gay icon or Americas gay sweetheart  Im just Americas sweetheart and Im just an icon. And if you have a personality like mine, its for everybody.

The Olympics are airing live on NBC. To learn more, visit teamusa.org.Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux looked happy during their last public appearance together, at the Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony honoring Jason Bateman on July 26, 2017. (Photo: Getty Images)

Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux announced their separation on Thursday, but, judging from their statement, its a permanent thing. Looking back, the signs were there that they were  for lack of a better term  living separate lives.

After a flurry of back-to-back appearances together early last year  Vanity Fair Oscars party! Paris Fashion Week! The Leftovers Season 3 premiere!  it all sort of came to a screeching halt. Their last public appearance wasnt a flashy red carpet. It was a Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony for their friend Jason Bateman, on July 26.

Aniston  who preferred the West Coast to Therouxs NYC livin  delivered a speech about her frequent co-star Bateman. When she sat back down, it was next to Theroux. They smiled big. She rested her arm on his lap. He gave her a squeeze. They looked happy.

And that, folks, was all she wrote. After that, they both made appearances but solo ones

One day later, Theroux was on the carpet holding hands with someone else  Bateman. The buds went to the 5th Annual Ping Pong 4 Purpose in L.A.

Jason Bateman and Theroux attend the 5th Annual Ping Pong 4 Purpose on July 27, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo: Allen Berezovsky/WireImage)

In August, Theroux was off to Budapest, where he filmed The Spy Who Dumped Me with Mila Kunis and hung out with her and her husband, Ashton Kutcher, at a music festival. Meanwhile, Aniston headed to Atlanta to work on Dumplin, which one of her BFFs, Kristin Hahn, wrote the screenplay for.

Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, and Theroux watch Wiz Khalifas set during Sziget Festival 2017 last August in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo: Joseph Okpako/WireImage)

By September, Theroux was back in the U.S. and ready to promote the LEGO Ninjago Movie, for which he voiced a character. While Aniston had looked h-o-t as his plus-one for the Leftovers premiere a few months earlier, he went stag to the Sept. 16 movie premiere, but there was no hint anything was wrong.

Theroux attends the premiere of The LEGO Ninjago Movie, September 2017, in Westwood, Calif. (Photo: Getty Images)

A few days earlier, he attended a press conference for the film with co-stars including Olivia Munn, Dave Franco, Jackie Chan, and Fred Armisen.

Aniston wasnt expected here. Theroux (in black leather jacket) promoted the movie with Zach Woods, Kumail Nanjiani, Fred Armisen, Olivia Munn, Michael Pena, Abbi Jacobson, Dave Franco, and Jackie Chan at Legoland in Carlsbad, Calif., on Sept. 14, 2017. (Photo: Getty Images)

When Theroux wasnt promoting projects or filming, he started spending more time at his home in NYC  despite his ongoing drama with his neighbor. He didnt stay holed up at home, though. On Nov. 30, he stepped out solo for an evening honoring Louis Vuitton and Nicolas Ghesquiere at Lincoln Center.

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Theroux at Lincoln Center in New York, late November 2017. (Photo: Noam Galai/WireImage)

Aniston wasnt hiding out either. She appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!  Kimmel is another mutual friend of the pair  around the time she and Theroux were deciding to part ways. And she stepped out on Dec. 7 to support her old pal Jennifer Meyer at the launch of the jewelry makers collaboration with Jenna Dewan Tatum, benefiting the charity Baby2Baby.

Jennifer Meyer and Aniston at the launch of Meyer and Jenna Dewan Tatums jewelry collaboration, Dec. 7, 2017, in West Hollywood. (Photo: Getty Images)

Although Aniston and Theroux said in their statement that they quietly separated at the end of 2017, they rang in the New Year together in their favorite place: Los Cabos, Mexico. This trip marked the last time they were photographed together. (If you remember, Aniston and her first husband, Brad Pitt, took a vacation leading up to their separation too.)

The last photo of Aniston and Theroux as a couple, snapped in Los Cabos over New Years. (Photo: Backgrid)

While they split, they kept it to themselves and their inner circle. Aniston attended the Golden Globes, skipping the red carpet, to present with Carol Burnett on Jan. 7. (Who would turn that down?!)

Presenters Carol Burnett and Jennifer Aniston onstage during the Golden Globe Awards in January 2018. (Photo: Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

And she partied that night. Aniston attended Netflixs after-party at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, posing with Ted Sarandos, the companys chief content officer.

Aniston and Sarandos at the Netflix after-party following the 2018 Golden Globes. (Photo: Getty Images)

Just days ahead of Anistons 49th birthday, Theroux stepped out for New York Fashion Week. On Feb. 8, he sat front row for the Adam Selman show looking dapper and not stressed over the fact that his breakup news was about to change his life for a while.

Theroux attends the Adam Selman show during the 2018 New York Fashion Week. (Photo: Getty Images)

Aniston wasnt sitting at home either. On Saturday, she attended Ellen DeGeneress star-studded 60th birthday bash, where she hit the photo booth with Olivia Munn and her old pal Kathy Najimy.

Scroll to the second photo to see Aniston hamming it up:

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On Sunday, Aniston celebrated her big day  with girlfriends. Her manager Aleen Keshishian posted a photo from the Malibu fete, which was also attended by Courteney Cox and Kristin Hahn.

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And on Tuesday, Aniston attended Amy Schumers supersecret (and last minute) wedding to chef Chris Fischer in Malibu.

Next step, Thursday afternoon, when Aniston and Theroux released a statement to the Associated Press: In an effort to reduce any further speculation, we have decided to announce our separation. This decision was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year. We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple, but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship. Normally we would do this privately, but given that the gossip industry cannot resist an opportunity to speculate and invent, we wanted to convey the truth directly. Whatever else is printed about us that is not directly from us, is someone elses fictional narrative. Above all, we are determined to maintain the deep respect and love that we have for one another.

The pair, who were married just two years, were tabloid targets from the start of their relationship. (Thanks, Brangelina!) Their split, of course, has the rumor mill swirling that Aniston could (would? should?) reunite with Brad Pitt. But this is our favorite tweet on that topic.

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Look for the pair to have to face questions about their split in the coming months as they promote their new projects. In addition to films, Aniston has an upcoming show with Reese Witherspoon for Apple. Luckily, Aniston and Theroux are both PR pros at this point.

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:I know its expensive to go to the theater, but its worth it for this one.

The community spirit and ownership surrounding the release of Black Panther was noted by fans and the film's stars long before it arrived in theaters.

Nearly a month before the film's release, local community organizations and individuals started the #BlackPantherChallenge, holding fundraisers that would allow others to see the movie for free. And though the movie is officially out in theaters as of Friday ( February 16) the challenge has continued, with social media coming together to buy movie tickets for others that may not have the means.

Friday morning on Twitter, Brie Larson asked if any of her followers wanted to see Black Panther but were unable to afford a ticket. Many responded, including a parent and their son, who Brie selected to receive tickets.

The generosity didn't stop there, though. Other users have since chimed in on Brie's tweet and expressed their desire to help the cause. One user wrote: "Brie, I will gladly buy tickets for anywhere, anytime, for #BlackPanther if they dont have the means. Little boys and girls need to see themselves represented!" Other followers have also offered to buy tickets for residents of New York City, Bulgaria, Kansas, San Diego, and more cities around the world.

Brie has continued to retweet some of the offers to purchase tickets from people all over the world, while others have connected in her mentions to purchase tickets for one another. Places include Indonesia, Argentina, and the United States. "brie larson spreading the word about people giving out or trying to sell black panther tickets for today is so wholesome," one user wrote, and based on the reaction of social media it seems many would have to agree.

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Related:

-Lupita Nyong'o Has a Message for Fans Feeling the Black Panther Impact

-No, White People Aren't Being Attacked at "Black Panther" Screenings

-This Young Woman Is Sending 1,000 Girls to a Screening of A Wrinkle in Time

Check this out:Photographing wildlife in Namibia isnt easy. Its fraught with challenges, hardships, setbacks and stress. But the southern African nations peaceful landscapes, majestic animals and kindhearted people always make it worth the trouble. A recent two-week trip to Namibia, my third, was plagued by an unending series of mishaps, but it left me with a mountains worth of memories and thousands of photographs. When things werent going well, I couldnt help but think of how much easier life is back home in New York. Now that Ive returned, I cant help but think about the photographic opportunities that abound in the harsh but beautiful deserts of Namibia.

The 1,000-foot-high sand dunes in the Namib-Naukluft National Park are a popular tourist attraction for climbing, sand boarding and photography. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

Among the nations of sub-Saharan Africa, Namibia is visited less often by Americans than countries such as South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania. Namibians are more accustomed to travelers from Germany, France, Britain or Belgium and were slightly surprised to learn I had come from the United States. But they always greeted me warmly.

The nation is bordered by Angola to the north, South Africa to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the west and Botswana to the east. A panhandle in the countrys northeastern corner, called the Caprivi Strip, stretches toward Zambia and Zimbabwe.

All countries have problems, and Namibia has its share of them. There is extreme economic stratification, high crime rates outside gated communities, lingering racial tension and a heartbreaking AIDs epidemic. But, in comparison to neighboring countries, Namibia excels in protecting wildlife: poaching is pretty much nonexistent there.

An elephant walks across the grassy plains near Batia waterhole in Etosha National Park in Namibia. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

Due to a fear of flying, most of my life and career has been in the United States. But my mentor Bruce Colins photographs from his trip to Botswana in 2011 lit a fire inside me to visit Africa myself. I joined him for a photography adventure to Namibia in 2012. The following year, I returned alone. It would be four years before I visited again.

After a 30-hour commute, including a layover in Johannesburg, I landed in Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia, on Dec. 4, 2017, and traveled alone through the mountains and countryside in a rented Toyota 44 SUV for about two weeks. Heres the breakdown of my trip: I stopped by the coastal city of Swakopmund before heading up the Skeleton Coast toward the Palmwag nature reserve, and I traveled extensively within Etosha National Park, staying at four different camps  Dolomite, Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni.

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I arrived in Swakopmund, an old German colonial town, just before sunset. The cool weather along the Atlantic coast reminded me of the California coast near Monterey, with a massive fog bank floating on and off the shore. The ocean pounded the coastline; the waves were violent, not friendly at all. The streets were coated with wet sand blown from the beach. The homes were quiet and few people walked the streets, with the exception of security guards who watched over gated homes throughout the night.

The paved road leading me up the Skeleton Coast the next morning was slick with sand, mist and fog. To my left was the Atlantic; to my right, a Namibian desert that resembled the surface of the moon. Sailors whose ships ran aground here did not find salvation  just certain death. The Namibian Bushmen, or San people, call the region the Land God Made in Anger. I reached Cape Cross, the largest colony of brown fur seals in the world. The putrid smell of dead seals was inescapable.

Visitors need to be careful. These are not the cute seals in the circus or zoo. Humans are dangerous to wildlife and to themselves. I watched people try to get close to seals and then begin to realize they were dangerous. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

The unpaved road eastward through Skeleton Coast National Park was slow going, with limited photo opportunities. But the landscape slowly transformed from gravel plains into a painted desert of red plateaus and golden-grass plains with verdant trees against blue skies. This is the Africa I dream of at night.

I had to sign an animal attack waiver when I arrived at the lodge in Palmwag, but I didnt need it. I didnt encounter many predators in that area  perhaps the oppressive heat kept them at bay  but I had plenty of chances to home in on desert elephants grazing on the vegetation scattered throughout the rocky terrain and dry riverbeds.

A spotted hyena eats a bird near a waterhole just before sundown near the Namutoni camp in Etosha National Park. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

Etosha National Park, where I spent the bulk of my trip, was a different story. Its main gate had been changed, there were new buildings and some of my favorite roads for photography outings  where I had done some of my best work  were now off-limits. Nevertheless, I was treated to countless opportunities to see and capture magnificent African wildlife. Gemsbok, springbok, zebra and giraffes enjoyed long afternoon drinks from concrete basins. Lions stalked their prey, confronted each other in bouts of dominance competition and sought refuge from the blazing sun beneath Africas natural canopies. I watched a hyenas hair turn yellow in the twilight as blood dripped from his face and paws, a rhinoceros bathe in a shallow creek and herds of beautiful creatures emerge from the woods into the open plains: blue wildebeest, kudu, impala, red hartebeest and many others.

There was a particularly powerful moment in Namutoni on a cool, gray morning after a rainy night, when the wind wasnt rustling the trees and the birds werent singing. I spotted three lionesses along the side of the road. One sped across the field low to the ground to capture a baby springbok, which cried out for help. The springbok  one of many varieties of antelope in the region  tried to escape several times, but couldnt. And the lioness never attempted to eat it. Instead, she treated it as an adopted cub for the rest of the day and growled as other lions tried to interfere. That was a bizarre yet stunning sight to behold and photograph. Later I learned that the lioness was part of a pride that had been taken over by a new male, which had killed her male cubs. She appeared to have adopted the springbok as a substitute for her cub. The other two lionesses were pregnant. Several locals from the camp told me they must have been traumatized by their loss.

The lioness cuddles with her captive, a baby springbok, near Namutoni camp in Etosha National Park. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

The weather was temperamental. Dry heat gave way to fierce thunderstorms, and temperatures would drop suddenly. In nature, you observe how the movements of wildlife  and yourself  are orchestrated by the sudden shifts of wind, clouds, sun and rain.

My trip was beset by technical problems, red tape, jet lag, flu and dehydration. But thats also part of the appeal. It isnt easy to get these photographs. Africa and its bountiful beauty is humbling and inspiring. When you journey into Namibias wild on your own, you have to abide by its terms, not yours.

When photographing wildlife, frustration and doubt are omnipresent, but sometimes nature surprises you with a gift, one breathtaking moment that makes up for many fruitless days. Once, on my previous trip to Africa, I got lost in a wooded area where the road markers were illegible from neglect and faded by the sun. As I prayed for help getting back, I looked up into a tree and saw peering down at me a gorgeous leopard, a creature of awesome power, beauty and speed. After I shot off a burst of 20 frames, she leapt down and crept into the tall, tan grass near my vehicle. We stared each other down for minutes. I wished she would sit on the hood of my truck like cheetahs do. But it was a moment to remember the rest of my life.

A leopard sits in a tree in the Dolomite section of Etosha National Park on Jan. 18, 2013. The roads this photo was taken is now restricted and off-limits to the public. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

Its memories like these that caused me to toss and turn while trying to sleep on my last night in Africa. I didnt want to leave them behind. At a quarter to five, I began packing for my flight home. I stepped outside into the darkness to hear the lions roar, just outside the gate, under the night sky.

I took more photos of the lions in the early morning light before returning my truck. The young Namibian man from the vehicle rental place who gave me a lift to the airport asked questions about my trip. Smiling, he asked, Are you coming back?

Yes, I will be back, I told him. I miss it when Im not here.

I was leaving a place that caused me so much pain and misery, but also so much happiness that I cant put into words. I can only show you photos. People told me Africa would change me, and it did. I will be back soon: Africa is now in my blood.

With Michael Walsh

Special thanks to Jerry Adler, John Branch, Alan Edelstein, Charity Elder, Victoria Elliott, Kelli Grant and Sam Mathews. Thanks to the staff of Your Safari for arranging this special trip.

Another dramatic sunset at the Moringa waterhole, always worth the price of admission. Sunsets are quiet, with only the sounds of wildlife and cameras clicking. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

Read more from Yahoo News:He asked viewers to write to their representatives and vote them out if they don't do their jobs.

Once again Jimmy Kimmel is making an emotional plea on TV for President Donald Trump and Congress to do something about gun control. Only four months after he tearfully used his platform to address the Las Vegas shooting, the talk show host has had to make a similar monologue about the school shooting in Florida that left at least 17 people dead.

"As Im sure you know and feel, this is another very sad day in America," Kimmel began, based on a transcript provided by The Washington Post. "Another senseless shooting. This time at a high school in Parkland, Florida, where a gunman, a former student, opened fire yesterday again. Seventeen lives have been lost, more than a dozen people have been hospitalized. And our president, as he should, weighed in on the tragic events this morning from the White House."

Kimmel then cut to footage of Trump's White House address. "No child, no teacher, should ever be in danger in an American school," the president said in the clip. "No parent should ever have to fear for their sons and daughters when they kiss them goodbye in the morning.

"Agreed. So I agree with both of those statements," Kimmel said. "And heres what you do to fix that: Tell your buddies in Congress, tell Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell and Marco Rubio, all the family men who care so much about their communities, that what we need are laws, real laws, that do everything possible to keep assault rifles out of the hands of people who are going to shoot our kids. Go on TV and tell them to do that."

After calling for Trump to force the "congressmen and lobbyists" and "allegedly Christian men and women who stuff their pockets with money from the NRA year after year after year" to take action, Kimmel warned the president against saying "its too soon to be talking about it." "Because you said it after Vegas, you said it after Sandy Hook, you say that after every one of these eight now fatal school shootings we had in this country this year," he said. "Children are being murdered."

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"Do something!" Kimmel begged. "We still havent even talked about it. You still havent done anything about it. Youve literally done nothing. Actually, youve done worse than nothing. You like to say this is a mental health issue, but one of your very first acts as president, Mr. Trump, was to actually roll back the regulations that were designed to keep firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill. You did that. Your party voted to repeal the mandates on coverage for mental health."

Kimmel continued by asking why a teenager should legally have an AR-15 and calling for action before asking viewers to go to everytown.org and write and call their representatives. "If they don't listen, vote them out of office," he said as the studio cheered. "Whatever you do, do something. Because I, for one, am very, very, very, very tired of this."

The talk show host ended with a montage of politicians and spokespeople saying it's too early to talk about gun control laws in the wake of an attack, including a clip of Trump saying, "This isnt a guns situation. I mean, we could go into it, but its a little bit soon to go into it.

"Yeah, no, it isn't," Kimmel said.

Watch the full clip below.Student survivors of the Parkland, Florida, shooting are demanding gun control in the wake of the violence at their high school.

Students who survived the Parkland, Florida, shooting on Wednesday are vocalizing their grief and outrage on Twitter, where they are flatly refusing to accept the usual empty condolences, thoughts, and prayers from pundits, legislators, and Donald Trump. At least 17 people died at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School after a 19-year-old former student carrying an AR-15 opened fire outside and inside the school. The attack marks what is now the 18th school shooting in America so far in 2018and the teens who have inherited a world in which mass shootings and their casualties have increased so dramatically, with no signs of adults doing anything about it, are refusing to be silent.

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Not only were the students pushing for concrete action to prevent more mass shootings, many of them reacted with anger specifically at Donald Trumps response to the shooting, which was to tweet a generic message of support for victims, one that has become something of a form letter for him, and to shift focus on the shooters mental health history rather than on gun laws: So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!

Parkland students were quick to condemn Trumps unwillingness to confront the gun lobbywhich makes sense when one considers the $30 million dollars the National Rifle Association spent in support of his presidential campaign in 2016.

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Elsewhere, Parkland teens refused to give noted right-wing pot-stirrer Tomi Lahren a pass when she too tried to deflect a renewed national discussion on gun control, tweeting, Can the Left let the families grieve for even 24 hours before they push their anti-gun and antigun owner agenda? My goodness. This isnt about a gun its about another lunatic. #FloridaShooting. Nothing like traumatized victims who were listening to gunshots ring out in the hallways of their high school less than 24 hours ago to remind a TV commentator that, yes, it actually is very much about guns.

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They were also incensed at claims that Snapchat and cellphone recordings of the violence were somehow a signal of generational flippancy or naivete, as said by conservative YouTuber Mark Dice, who issued a now-deleted tweet criticizing terrified students for taking out their phones during the attack. Someone want to tell the Gen Z kids that in the event of a school shooting, they should call 911 instead of posting video of it on Snapchat, the tweet said.

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Whats more, one Parkland high schooler was even willing to call out media descriptions of the shooter that neglected to use the language of terrorism, terminology thats quickly associated with perpetrators of mass violence who are non-white.

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In a week where teens displayed a playful and uncanny sense of self-confidence and joy at the Winter Olympics, it is heartbreaking and sobering to see them speak with such fervor and clarity in the wake of such an attack, only hours after losing some of their peers and mentors. And it provides a small semblance of hope for future generations unwilling to submit to the influence of the NRA. As 17-year-old David Hogg, begging representatives in Congress with the power to curb gun sales to act, said in a television interview: We are children. You guys are, like, the adults. Take action, work together, come over your politics, and get something done.WASHINGTON  A federal grand jury empaneled by Special Counsel Robert Mueller indicted 13 Russians and three Russian entities on Friday, laying out evidence that foreign nationals interfered in the 2016 election and boosted the candidacy of President Donald Trump.

The 37-page indictment represents a massive blow to Trump and his supporters on Capitol Hill, who for months have tried to undermine Muellers investigation and have dismissed the existence of pro-Trump Russian activity in the 2016 election.

Trump has maintained that there was no collusion between his campaign and Russia during the 2016 election, and called Muellers probe a witch hunt and a hoax. He has both conceded that Russia meddled in the election and said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin when he denied meddling.

Muellers team indicted a Russian state-controlled troll farm called the Internet Research Agency, as well as two Russian organizations that funded election interference operations  Concord Management and Consulting and Concord Catering  and 13 individuals accused of working with those groups.

Mueller, who was tasked with investigating possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign in the 2016 election, had already brought criminal charges to four aides to the Trump campaign. But Fridays indictment represents the first charges in direct connection with election interference.

Mueller charged the defendants with one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, and six counts of aggravated identity theft.

The special counsel also released a plea deal on Friday with Richard Pinedo, who admitted to knowingly using other peoples identification in connection with unlawful activity. He was paid at least $1,000 for those activities during a one-year period, according to an unsealed court filing.

Russias effort to interfere with the U.S. political system dates back to at least 2014, according to the indictment. By September 2016, just before the presidential election, the monthly budget for election interference operations was more than $1.25 million.

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The defendants posed as Americans to create social media pages, purchase political advertisements and stage political rallies, the indictment alleges. In some cases, the defendants stole the identities of real Americans to carry out these activities. Posing as Americans, some of the defendants communicated with unwitting individuals associated with the Trump campaign and with other political activists to seek to coordinate political activities, the indictment said.

Some of the people listed in the indictment traveled to the U.S. under false pretenses for the purpose of collecting intelligence to inform Defendants operations and to purchase computer infrastructure that would obscure the Russian origin of their online activities, according to the indictment. They allegedly falsely claimed they were traveling to the U.S. for personal reasons and did not fully disclose whom they worked for when applying for a visa.

Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general who appointed Mueller and has overseen the investigation, said at a press conference on Friday that there was no allegation presented in the indictment that the Russian activity actually had an impact on the outcome of the election. That essentially means that DOJ isnt taking a position on whether the Russian activity swung the election. Rosenstein said there was no evidence presented that Americans knew they were working with Russians.

After the indictment was made public on Friday, Trump doubled down on denying any coordination between his campaign and Russia.

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It is more important than ever before to come together as Americans. We cannot allow those seeking to sow confusion, discord, and rancor to be successful, Trump said via a statement Friday. Its time we stop the outlandish partisan attacks, wild and false allegations, and far-fetched theories, which only serve to further the agendas of bad actors, like Russia, and do nothing to protect the principles of our institutions. We must unite as Americans to protect the integrity of our democracy and our elections.

Contact With Trump Campaign

In August of 2016, the indictment alleges, a person who identified themselves as the chair of the Trump campaign for a Florida county communicated with the Russians, who were pretending to be Americans. The person allegedly discussed logistics and locations for rallies.

The indictment alleges three instances in which the Russians, posing as Americans, contacted Trump campaign officials in Florida responsible for coordinating logistics in the state. In two instances, the Russians allegedly obtained the contact information for Trump campaign officials from someone with access to the Florida for Trump Facebook page. The Russians allegedly used a fake Gmail address to contact two of the campaign officials. The Russians allegedly contacted the third official using a fake Facebook account with the name Matt Skiber.

The indictment does not say whether the Trump campaign officials ever wrote back. The campaign officials and volunteers who the Russians communicated with, according to the indictment, were unwitting.

The Russians also allegedly used the Twitter account @March_for_Trump to contact a volunteer with the campaign in New York and got the volunteer to provide signs for a rally in support of Trump.

The Troll Farm

According to the indictment, the Internet Research Agency employed individuals to work throughout the night so that they could post during times that would make sense in U.S. time zones. The organization circulated a list of U.S. holidays so that employees could tailor their social media content and instructed them to write about U.S. foreign policy and economic issues. The goal was to create political intensity through supporting radical groups, users dissatisfied with [the] social and economic situation and oppositional social movements, the indictment alleged.

By 2016, some of the IRA-controlled groups and accounts had hundreds or thousands of online followers. Trump personally thanked one of the more popular Russian-operated Twitter accounts, @TEN_GOP. On several occasions, Donald Trump Jr. retweeted the account, which attracted more than 100,000 followers.

Around 2015, the defendants began purchasing ads on social media sites to promote their efforts, spending several thousand dollars a month, according to the indictment. The Russian-run ads were expressly pro-Trump and anti-Clinton, the indictment alleges.

The Russians purchased computer servers located inside the U.S. to set up virtual private networks (VPNs) to hide their Russian identities, according to the indictment. They also allegedly registered and controlled hundreds of web-based email accounts hosted by U.S. email providers under false names so as to appear to be U.S. persons and groups.

Posing As Americans

Around 2016, the Russian defendants used the social security numbers and dates of birth of American citizens to open PayPal accounts, create fake drivers licenses and post on social media posing as those Americans. They also used their assumed identities to purchase political ads. Some of those ads were paid for with credit cards registered under the names of fictitious Americans. The defendants allegedly failed to report their expenditures to the Federal Election Commission or register as foreign agents with the Justice Department.

The advertisements contained inflammatory language that was pro-Trump and critical of Clinton. They say things like Hillary Clinton doesnt deserve the black vote, Donald wants to defeat terrorism...Hillary wants to sponsor it, Hillary Clinton has already committed voter fraud during the Democrat Iowa caucus and Hillary is a Satan, and her crimes and lies had proved just how evil she is.

The Russians also allegedly used social media to try and encourage minority groups not to participate in the election. The indictment claims they used an Instagram account called Woke Blacks to say African-Americans would be better off not voting in the 2016 election. They also allegedly used another Instagram account called Blactivist to encourage voting for Jill Stein as well as United Muslims of America social media accounts to encourage Muslims to boycott the election.

By posing as U.S. citizens, some of the defendants were able to gain information about where to focus their operations. During one exchange with a real American affiliated with a Texas-based grassroots group, some of the defendants learned they should focus on states like Colorado, Virginia, and Florida, according to the indictment.

After the election, they continued to coordinate rallies, both in support of Trump and also events protesting the results of the election.

Cover-up

The indictment alleges that the Russians tried to impede the investigation by deleting and destroying data, including emails and social media accounts. After Facebook disclosed that it was cooperating with the U.S. government in September 2017, the conspirators allegedly tried to cover up their activity. One of the defendants wrote an email to a family member indicating their involvement in the scheme and their attempts to cover their tracks.

We had a slight crisis here at work: the FBI busted our activity (not a joke). So, I got preoccupied with covering tracks together with the colleagues, she allegedly wrote. I created all these pictures and posts, and the Americans believed that it was written by their people.

Read the full indictment below.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.(Corrects the word "Defence" to "Democratic" in paragraph 4)

* Talks came after weeks of heightened strain

* Turkey wants Washington to remove YPG from Syrian militia

* Tillerson to meet Cavusoglu on Friday

By Yara Bayoumy and Tulay Karadeniz

ANKARA Feb 15 (Reuters) - Top U.S. diplomat Rex Tillerson and Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan had a "productive and open" talk on Thursday about improving ties strained recently over their policies on Syria, in a meeting following weeks of escalating anti-American rhetoric from Ankara.

Tillerson arrived in Turkey on Thursday for two days of what officials have said would likely be uncomfortable discussions between the allies, whose relations have frayed over a number of issues, particularly U.S. support for the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, seen as terrorists by Turkey.

Turkey launched an air and ground assault last month in Syria's northwest Afrin region to drive the YPG from the area south of its border. Ankara considers the YPG to be an arm of the PKK, a banned group that has waged a decades-long insurgency in Turkey.

The militia is the main ground element of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which the United States has armed, trained and aided with air support and special forces to fight Islamic State.

"The two engaged in a productive and open conversation about a mutually beneficial way forward in the U.S.-Turkey relationship," said a U.S. State Department spokesman travelling with Tillerson.

In a photo distributed by the Turkish presidency before the start of the more than three-hour meeting, the two are shown shaking hands, although only Tillerson was smiling.

Erdogan conveyed his priorities and expectations on Syria, the fight against terror and other regional issues, a Turkish presidential source said.

Ahead of the meeting, Turkey had called for the United States to expel the YPG from the anti-Islamic State SDF forces it is backing in Syria.

"We demanded this relationship be ended, I mean we want them to end all the support given to the Syrian arm of PKK, the YPG," Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli told reporters in a briefing in Brussels, a day after meeting U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on the sidelines of a NATO meeting.

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"We demanded this structure be removed from SDF," he said.

TACTICAL DIFFERENCES

Tillerson, who is on a five-city tour, told a news conference in Beirut before arriving in Ankara that the United States and Turkey had the same main objectives, and put their differences down to tactics. He is due to meet the foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, on Friday.

Islamic State fighters were driven last year from all the population centres they occupied in both Syria and Iraq, but Washington still considers them a threat, capable of carrying out an insurgency and plotting attacks elsewhere.

Ankara has placed greater emphasis in recent months on the need to combat the Kurdish militia and has said the United States is merely using one terrorist group to combat another.

Turkey says the United States has yet to honour several pledges: to stop arming the YPG, to take back arms after Islamic State was defeated in Syria, and to pull YPG forces back from Manbij, a Syrian town about 100 km (60 miles) east of Afrin.

Canikli also said that Mattis had told him the United States was working on a plan to retrieve weapons given to the YPG, especially heavy weapons. However, Tillerson later said that Washington had "never given heavy arms" to the YPG and there was therefore "nothing to take back".

Turkey is the main Muslim ally of the United States within NATO and one of Washington's most powerful friends in the Middle East dating back to the Cold War era. But widening differences on Syria policy are just one of a number of issues that have caused a rupture in that strategic relationship.

Speaking with reporters on the sidelines of the NATO meeting in Brussels, Mattis said his talks with his Turkish counterpart were open and honest, but acknowledged the differences.

"I believe we are finding common ground and there are areas of uncommon ground, where sometimes war just gives you bad alternatives to choose from ... We continue to collaborate on ways to ensure their legitimate concerns are addressed."

The Turkish offensive against the YPG in Syria has so far been limited to Afrin, a border region where the United States is not believed to have troops on the ground.

But Turkey has openly discussed extending it to other areas where its forces could potentially come into contact with units supported by the Americans. It says Washington should pull its forces out of the way; the United States says it has no plans to withdraw. (Additional reporting by Idrees Ali in Brussels; Ezgi Erkoyun and Ali Kucukgocmen in Istanbul; Lisa Barrington in Beirut; Editing by David Dolan/Peter Graff)Maggie Voisin, of the United States, jumps during the womens slopestyle finals at Phoenix Snow Park at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. (AP)

BOKWANG, South Korea  Maggie Voisins Sochi Olympics ended before they even started. And for most of Saturday morning, it looked like her PyeongChang Olympics wouldnt get out of first gear, either.

She recovered, though, and was in position to take the bronze  until it was snatched away.

Voisin began qualification for the ski slopestyle event by posting a 72.80, good enough for seventh place after one round. The top 12 skiers from a pool of 23 advance to the finals, so she was in reasonably good, if not completely safe, position. But she only marginally improved her score in the second round, notching a 73.00. And behind her, skier after skier bested her score, pushing her down onto the bubble at the 12th position.

Only one skier remained who could bump Voisin: South Koreas Meehyun Lee, who executed a solid, if not spectacular, wreck- and drama-free run. But despite the vocal pleas of the hometown audience, the judges gave Lee a 72.80  just two-tenths of a point outside the top 12.

Voisin advanced, and her first round appeared headed for brilliance until a crash on the final slope left her with an opening score of 26.40. With two more runs remaining and only the best of three scores counted for a final victory, she had more opportunities. Another fall on the final jump of Run 2 meant it was all or nothing

She was in position for the bronze until Isabel Atkin bested her in one of the final runs of the day, pushing Voisin just off the podium.

Switzerlands Sarah Hoefflin took the gold.

Voisin, 19, made her bones on the X Games ski slopestyle circuit, but until now, Olympic success had eluded her. Selected to the Sochi squad, the youngest athlete for Team USA since 1972, Voisin suffered a fractured fibula just days before she was supposed to compete. She marched in the Opening Ceremony anyway, but always had an eye on returning to the Olympics. Now, shes had her chance.

More from Yahoo Sports:

 USA on pace for worst Winter Olympics medal output in two decades

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 Fans unfurl Putin banners at Russian Olympic hockey game

 Mexicos German Madrazo just delivered the most dramatic last-place finish of all-time

 Photos: Olympic figure skaters with and without competition makeup

Discovering ancient cities typically involves countless hours of digging. But now archaeologists are able to save some time, thanks to a high-tech laser technique.

The method, which is called light detection and ranging scanning (LiDAR), uses a combination of aerial light pulses and GPS to create a 3D map. Its been used to uncover a number of cities and most recently played a role in rediscovering a more than 1,000-year-old city in western Mexico, according to The Guardian.

It was known that the ancient city Angamuco existed, but it was buried deep down under lava that spread over more than 10-square-miles. What wasnt known, however, was how dense the city was.

Trending: Ohio Governor John Kasich Breaks With GOP In 'Wake Up' Call for Tighter Gun Laws After Florida Mass Shooting

If you do the maths, all of a sudden you are talking about 40,000 building foundations up there, which is [about] the same number of building foundations that are on the island of Manhattan, Chris Fisher, an archaeologist at Colorado State University, told The Guardian.

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If that many buildings truly existed, it would have been the largest city in western Mexico at the time, Fisher said.

Don't miss: Robert Reich: What Does Trump Mean By America?

During a presentation of his findings at the 2018 AAAS Annual Meeting on Friday, he also discussed how LiDAR helped him uncover a different city in the wilderness of Honduras. Its much smaller than Angamuco, but still featured impressive architecture including 10 plaza complexes.

Although the discoveries are exciting, LiDAR is only one piece to the puzzle of discovering ancient cities. At the end of the day, the dirty work is still necessary.

Ultimately we still have to get on the ground and then excavate, Elizabeth Graham, professor of Mesoamerican archaeology at University College London, who was not involved in the research, told The Guardian.

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Most popular: House Speaker Paul Ryan Slammed After He Snubbed Florida Teacher On Gun Control

LiDAR was developed in the 1970s and was originally used to map out the surface of the moon, according to The Conversation. But it now has much more widespread applications, including being used for city planning and mining.

SaveSave

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekAnti-aging products from skin creams to chemical peels are part of a $250 billion industry, but scientists have yet to discover a longevity elixir that stands up to medical scrutiny. A group of researchers believe theyre getting closer, however, thanks to a compound called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD+ for short.

NAD+ is the closest weve gotten to a fountain of youth, says David Sinclair, co-director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging at Harvard Medical School. Its one of the most important molecules for life to exist, and without it, youre dead in 30 seconds.

NAD+ is a molecule found in all living cells and is critical for regulating cellular aging and maintaining proper function of the whole body. Levels of NAD+ in people and animals diminish significantly over time, and researchers have found that re-upping NAD+ in older mice causes them to look and act younger, as well as live longer than expected. In a March 2017 study published in the journal Science, Sinclair and his colleagues put drops of a compound known to raise levels of NAD+ into the water for a group of mice.

Within a couple hours, the NAD+ levels in the mice had risen significantly. In about a week, signs of aging in the tissue and muscles of the older mice reversed to the point that researchers could no longer tell the difference between the tissues of a 2-year-old mouse and those of a 4-month-old one.

Now scientists are trying to achieve similar results in humans. A randomized control trial (considered the gold standard of scientific research) from a different group of researchers published November 2017 in the journal Nature found that people who took a daily supplement containing NAD+ precursors had a substantial, sustained increase in their NAD+ levels over a two-month period.

Sinclair takes an NAD+ upper daily. Anecdotally, he says he doesnt experience hangovers or jet lag like he used to, he talks faster, and feels sharper and younger. His father takes it too: Hes 78, and used to act like Eeyore, says Sinclair. Now hes going on six-day hikes and traveling around the world.

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Im not saying weve proven it works, Sinclair adds. But I can say that if its going to work, I hope to be the one to prove it.

He has competition. Sinclair plans to take his NAD+ research through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process and eventually create a pill that could be prescribed by a doctor or purchased over the counter, but another company, called Elysium, is already selling a supplement called Basis that contains compounds known to boost NAD+ levels. (Basis is the supplement tested in the 2017 Nature study.) Leonard Guarente, Elysiums chief scientist and co-founderwho also directs the Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research at MITsays Basis is not intended to extend peoples life spans, but to help them stay healthier for longer.

Eight Nobel laureates are on the companys scientific advisory board. I dont really mind how long I live provided the life is as good as it is now, says board member Sir Richard Roberts, winner of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (who is 74). The only difference Ive noticed is that the skin on my elbows is smoother than it used to be. Whether its Basis or something else, I have no idea.

By bringing Basis to market as a supplement, and not a drug, Elysium is not required to undergo years of clinical research and FDA approval processes. That decision, and the support of prominent scientists, has stoked criticism from some medical-community experts who wonder why Nobel laureates would attach their names to a supplement without much human research behind it. Elysium declined to confirm if the scientific advisory board members are paid.

Although Basis is already available for purchase, Elysium is currently conducting clinical trials of the supplement. This research, plus that of Sinclair and others, may finally reveal whether NAD+ is the health-extending compound they hope it is.Grim reality copied this tool from movie art. (Photo: Courtesy Fox Searchlight)

Borrowing a scene from an Oscar-nominated film, three red billboard-sized messages have appeared in the streets of Miami and beyond to flame Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for his inaction on gun control in the wake of the tragic school shooting in Parkland.

Together the signs, which are displayed on the sides of three trucks, read: Slaughtered in school ... and still no gun control? How come, Marco Rubio?

The signs echo a key plot element in the movie Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. The billboards in the film, rented by a mother played by Frances McDormand, pose the same kind of question to the local sheriff concerning the unsolved murder of her daughter.

The Rubio signs, which have moved around Miami and outside the senators office in nearby Doral, were arranged by online activist group Avaaz.

Rubio has received $3.3 million in campaign contributions from the National Rifle Association. The gun rights group has given Rubio an A+ for his NRA- friendly legislative positions.

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The senator has taken fire across the country for his toothless response to the shooting, calling it inexplicable. We call that inexcusable, said Avaaz deputy director Emma Ruby-Sachs in a statement.

Rubio has insisted that stricter gun laws  such as banning the sale of the assault-style rifle used in the tragedy  would have done nothing to prevent the deaths of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. That is a fact, he told WPBF-TV. He also said that schools are complicated.

Shortly after Wednesdays shooting, the senator told Fox News that lawmakers should reserve judgment and not jump to conclusions that theres some law that we could have passed that could have prevented it.

Rubios office had yet to respond to media inquiries about the signs at the time this story was posted.

Related Coverage

Students Take Control Of Gun Reform Narrative In Wake Of Florida Shooting

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.The Spring Festival Gala in China - CCTV

China's biggest television show has been ridiculed after it featured a "racist" skit involving an Asian woman with a painted black face and large fake buttocks who was followed around by a "pet monkey".

The comedy sketch was shown on the Spring Festival Gala, an annual variety show, which is said to be the world's most watched television programme with an audience of up to 800 million people.

The skit involved the male Chinese host being asked by a young African woman if he could help convince her mother that he is her boyfriend, so that she would not have to go on a blind date.

The woman's mother was an Asian actress with her face painted black who arrived on stage with a fruit bowl placed on her head.

She was followed around on stage by a man dressed as a monkey with a basket on his back.

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The sketch - which ended with the mother expressing in perfect Chinese Africa's love for China and the Chinese people - may have been a well-intentioned attempt to highlight warm relations between African nations and Beijing.

However, it was lambasted on both China's heavily censored social media and on Twitter.

"Cringeworthy at best, completely racist at worst," said a Tweet from Parthepan.

"It's Africa, so bring out tribal dancers & animals? And was that a Chinese woman in blackface with a fake posterior?"

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Twitter user Krish Raghav said: "My first Chinese New Year watching the annual CCTV spring gala and they trot out a Chinese lady in blackface, exaggerated proportions and everything, with a pet "monkey" (played by a man from Cote D'Ivoire), shouting "I love China!" - I can't even.

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On Sina Weibo - China's version of Twitter - there was a mixture of bemusement and ridicule towards the sketch.

Foreign media are going to explode, said one comment.

"I really can't believe what I just watched. This show gets worse every year," said another.

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What's on Weibo, a website which tracks hot topics on Chinese social media, said the actress playing the mother was well-known Chinese performer and producer Lou Naiming.

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The Spring Festival Gala - which is also called the New Year Gala - is produced by China's state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) and would have been heavily vetted before it was shown.

Chinese companies have previously been criticised for their depictions of other races.

In 2016, Air Chinas Wings of China magazine warned travellers to the UK that precautions are needed when entering areas mainly populated by Indians, Pakistanis and black people".

It was carried in English and Chinese in an article about Londons attractions under the headline "Tips from Air China.

Earlier that year, a Chinese laundry detergent commercial sparked outrage with its depiction of a black man being cleaned in a washing machine before he came out as a Han Chinese man.On Friday, President Donald Trump visited Parkland, Florida in the wake of a school shooting in a high school that left 17 people dead. But Trump has faced criticism over the way he carried himself during that visit.

After an awkward meeting with first responders, the president and first lady Melania Trump stood together for a friendly photo op, which in itself seems insensitive. Trump had a huge smile on his face in the photo, and flashed his now signature thumbs up.

Trump updated his Twitter cover photo with the picture from the meeting Friday evening.

SEE ALSO: Donald Trump contradicts himself on gun violence and mental illness

Image: Twitter/Realdonaldtrump

Trump also visited Broward Health North hospital in Pompano Beach, where many of the victims received care after the shooting. On his official Instagram, a series of images posted in an album featured Trump wearing a large smile on his face, flashing a thumbs up in a photo with hospital staff.

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The press asked Trump if he met with any victims at the hospital. Instead of speaking about the impact those meetings may have had on him as a president, as a human, Trump decided to fluff up the hospital.

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"Fantastic hospital, and they have done an incredible job," Trump boasted. "The doctor was amazing, we saw numerous people and incredible recovery. And first responders  everybody  the job they've done was in incredible."

Trump then congratulated a doctor he was standing next to.

While yes, first responders and hospital staff should be thanked and praised for their hard work in wake of the shooting, congratulations here are completely tone deaf considering 17 people lost their lives in the attack.

In any other presidency, this would be a time for mourning. But Trump is using it to boast and brag.

Many were quick to criticize Trump for his demeanor on social media, with some pointing to Barack Obama's reaction to the Sandy Hook massacre in December of 2012. In 2016, Obama also delivered a powerful and emotional speech on gun violence, in which he broke down crying.

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Obama's official White House photographer, Pete Souza, who has made it his duty to criticize the Trump administration by way of his photography from the Obama era, uploaded a photo of Obama sitting alone in a classroom in Sandy Hook Elementary School. It captures the former president in a quiet moment after he met with families for hours, and before he attended a prayer vigil.

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While it often seems like President Trump's actions couldn't be more shocking, this type of behavior is disgusting, and the heavy criticism is merited. There's a time for photo ops, and then there is time for mourning. This was not the moment for Trump to show off how great he's making America.

America has a real problem, and Trump isn't even trying to fake it.The third Monday of February, which many Americans know as Presidents Day, is supposed to be a time to remember George Washingtons Feb. 22 birthday. And few would argue that the first U.S. president doesnt deserve to be remembered; likewise for Abraham Lincoln, whose Feb. 12 birthday is also remembered by many on the same day.

But, while Presidents Day may be well and good in terms of historical recognition, Washington and Lincoln hardly need a special day to stay uppermost in Americans memories.

For other presidents, the matter of memorability is quite a different story, two recent studies have shown.

For a 2014 study published the journal Science, psychology researchers Henry L. Roediger and K. Andrew DeSoto had nearly 500 adults ages 18-64 write down the names of as many presidents as they could remember in five minutes, and the order in which they served, on a blank sheet of paper. (You can take a similar quiz, with pictures of the presidents, on TIME.com.)

The list of the most memorable presidencies is unsurprising. Overall, people tended to remember the first five presidents  94% remembered Americas first President George Washington  and the five most recent presidents. In terms of who they remember in the middle, Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy (both of whom were assassinated, and also associated with memorable eras in American history) also did well, remembered by 88% and 83% of the participants. Its also not surprising that 60% would remember Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who served for four terms, or that 82% of participants could recall Richard Nixon, who resigned because of Watergate. But having a historic presidency wasnt always enough to jog participants memories; for example, though Gerald Ford remains the only man to serve in the office who was neither elected President nor Vice President, only 62% named him.

Unless you are associated with a really famous event, Roediger tells TIME, you will probably be forgotten.

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Participants had the most trouble recalling the 19th century presidents other than Lincoln. Chester Arthur was the worst-remembered president, with only 6.7% of participants being able to recall him, followed by Franklin Pierce (7.1%), and Millard Fillmore (8.2%).

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Arthur, Pierce and Fillmore were also out of luck in Roediger and DeSotos second study.

For the follow-up paper, published in Psychological Science in 2016, the two ran another test in which they displayed the names of presidents and asked people if they recognized them. To further complicate things, the study, which was conducted online, also included the names of people who might sound like presidents  such as famous Americans, men who were Vice President and generic Anglo-Saxon male names  who never actually held the office. Participants selected President or not-President for each of 123 options. They also had to rate on scale of 0 to 100% how confident they were in their answer.

Only 46% of subjects recognized Arthur, 56% recognized Pierce and 65% recognized Fillmore. To add insult to injury for those forgotten presidents, significantly more people (71%, with 83% confidence) incorrectly thought that the first U.S. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton was a president than thought that these actual commanders-in-chief held the office.

The four other individuals who were falsely recognized as presidents more than 25% of the time were vice presidents Hubert Humphrey and John Calhoun, American statesman Benjamin Franklin, and the generic name Thomas Moore. (Though there have been Congressmen named Thomas Moore, the paper noted, they werent particularly well known. Historys most famous person with a similar name would likely be Sir Thomas More, who advised King Henry VIII. He never, unsurprisingly, served as President of the United States.)

Testing yourself regularly is one proven method to counter this forgetfulness  and there many proven tricks to memorizing the presidents specifically. For example, memory athletes  and Mark Twain  have used an Ancient Greek technique that involves associating items youre trying to remember with certain items in a room or on a walk. Another way to remember the names better is to actually learn more about what the forgotten presidents did. For example, if teachers pointed out that Chester Arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which has recently been the subject of parallels drawn to modern immigration debates, would that help students remember him better?

As for the reasons behind these results, Roediger suggests that a lot of it has to do with which moments in history get the mass-media treatment in novels and movies, as thats where many people get a lot of what they know about the past. The human tendency to remember recent events better than past events is also a big part of this.

Roediger and DeSoto predict that Harry S. Truman will be forgotten to the same extent as William McKinley by about 2040.An exhibition at the National Gallery in Central Jakarta presents 70 paintings by Couteau until Feb. 15. The pieces showcase an amazing revelation of the female gaze expressing the other in the countries of the orient as part of her own self.

She sought to define the divine in the human countenance, Alain Favelle, secretary of the International Association of Art Critics, said in his introduction some 10 years ago.

Looking at her oeuvre, one will find that Couteaus narrative is infused with a profound sense of culture, mystique and the spiritual.

They do not emanate the human body, which was a major attraction to European male artists coming to Asia. Instead, she was fascinated by the spirit within.

This difference should draw the attention of art historians who chronicle European artists coming to Bali, such as Hofker, Walter Spies, Rudolf Bonnet and Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur.

Now Couteau, the only female artist to visit from Europe, needs to be historically included.

Balinese women (Genevieve Couteau/File)

Born in 1925 in Paris, Couteau studied art at Beaux Arts in Nantes. She graduated with flying colors and soon became a prominent artist in the Paris art scene.

She was unique early on, when her exquisite black-and-white drawings earned her the Prix Lafont Noir et Blanc (Lafont Black and White Award) in 1952. Then, her works were already touched by surreal imagery, which was to expand into the mystical in her paintings after she visited the East.

Not surprisingly, Prince Souvannah Phouma of Laos invited her to paint the soul of Laos as a counter to the image of a warring nation.

Come to Asia, he reportedly said in Venice, Italy, where she was exhibiting at the time. You will find there the same magic as in Venice.

Although it was unusual for a woman amid a reigning patriarchal situation to travel alone, she eagerly accepted the invite.

Cakra Animal that feeds itself from the Moon's rays (Genevieve Couteau/File)

Indeed, Couteau found magic in the people of a country that was infused with a sense of the spiritual. She spent six months visiting the palaces of princes, lived with the people, took part in their rites, festivals and ceremonies, visited the markets and pagodas, and held long dialogues with Buddhist monks in monasteries, which nurtured her spiritual senses even more.

My curiosity was insatiable, she wrote in her diary.

She noted the unusual colors of Laos illuminating everything, while evoking a sense of melancholy. She was impressed by the serenity of the people, their relaxed behavior; she sensed an intense spirituality.

Prayers at Vat Kaognot (Genevieve Couteau/File)

The Sun  featuring a monk looking up at the sun  is among the many works focusing on monks emanating sacred mystery, while Oraison or Prayers at Vat Kaognot, featuring six Buddhist monks each holding a sort of fan, refers to her easy access into the interior of the temples where she was able to have long dialogs with the monks, nurturing her spiritual senses even more.

A prominent feature in many of her paintings is the eye, which her son, renowned art critic and curator Jean Couteau, explains as always looking into the future, such as is also the case in womens gazes into the distance as if they, like herself, were avoiding reality and wishing to be in another world, a better world.

Hommage du vieux Lempad (Genevieve Couteau/File)

The eyes in Hommage au vieux Lempad of legendary artist Lempad showed an owl-like depth. Jean said that through Lempad, Couteau had imagined death. She met him two years before he passed away, but her painting The Old Lempad, featuring him as an emaciated figure with unusual elongated fingers, already gave a sense of what was to come.

Her journey and experiences in Laos are chronicled in her seminal book Memoire du Laos.

From Laos, Couteau continued her spiritual journey to Bali, where her son had settled earlier.

Life in Bali in the 1970s was still very much attached to tradition, which maintained the slow pace of life. It was exactly what attracted her, revealed Jean.

He said Couteau loved life in Bali; she was fascinated by the dances and the wayang (shadow puppet) theater and was inspired by the natural gestures of the people. She absorbed the folk tales, the myths and legends, and the amazing lightness of life.

She found beauty everywhere, said Jean.

Couteau lived in a small house in Ubud, where she was a regular guest at a painters house in Padangtegal, where she and the Balinese painter liked to compare each others works.

She would then head to Campuan River, where she met women going about their daily activities. The nights were for dances and wayang shadow plays.

Everything was theater, dance and music.

In Bali, the fantastical is part of the everyday, she once said.A government watchdog organisation has filed a complaint to the Federal Electoral Commission (FEC) over the $130,000 (92,500) Donald Trumps lawyer paid to porn star Stormy Daniels before the presidential election, suggesting the payment could have influenced the outcome of the vote and should have been declared at the time.

Earlier in the year, reports emerged that Daniels had been paid the amount shortly before the 2016 election to keep quiet about an alleged relationship she had with Mr Trump in 2006  a year after he married his current wife Melania Trump.

The US President could potentially face another FBI investigation during his time in office if it transpires the money paid to Daniels was an attempt to influence the 2016 presidential election.

Who filed the complaint?

Common Cause, a Washington watchdog, has asked the FEC to investigate the source of the $130,000 payment made by Mr Trump's lawyer and determine whether it constituted an excessive campaign contribution.

On Wednesday the organisation called on both the independent regulatory agency which enforces campaign finance law in US federal elections and the Department of Justice to carry out a full investigation. The watchdog said the timing and circumstances of the payment make it appear that the hush money was paid to Daniels in an effort to influence the election.

In its complaint Common Cause argued the payment amounts to a campaign contribution way over the $2,700 limit to the amount any individual can give.

Michael Cohen [Mr Trumps lawyer] has now admitted to being the John Doe named in our complaints who paid off Daniels, apparently to buy her silence, at a time when she was reportedly negotiating with major media outlets to discuss the potentially damaging details of a relationship she carried on with Trump, reads the complaint.

Questions about the payment and the circumstances behind it must be answered, and they must be answered under oath.

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Will the FBI be involved?

David Brock, a commentator and founder of the media watchdog group Media Matters for America, has also filed a complaint with the FEC, arguing it is imperative the US public knows more about the payment exchange.

These revelations do more than just confirm what many of us already knew about Trumps personal character. They raise serious questions about whether Trump will face yet another FBI investigation during his time in office, he said in a piece for NBC.

The American people deserve to know the truth about why their president was paying $130,000 to a former paramour in apparent exchange for her silence in the middle of the campaign, and whether he broke federal election law or violated the public trust in the process.

The complaints come after Mr Cohen admitted to paying the money to Daniels, who reportedly once told a journalist she had had an affair with Mr Trump more than a decade ago.

What has Trumps lawyer said?

Mr Cohen said he paid the porn star, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, $130,000 out of his own pocket in the months leading up to the election. But Mr Cohen insisted he was working alone and it was not a campaign expense.

Neither the Trump Organisation nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms Clifford, and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly, Mr Cohen said in a statement released on Tuesday night.

In his statement, Mr Cohen said the payment was a private transaction but failed to explain why the sum was paid or reveal whether Mr Trump knew about it.

Addressing the complaint filed by Common Cause, he said: The complaint alleges that I somehow violated campaign finance laws by facilitating an excess, in-kind contribution. The allegations in the complaint are factually unsupported and without legal merit, and my counsel has submitted a response to the FEC.

He added: Just because something isnt true doesnt mean that it cant cause you harm or damage. I will always protect Mr Trump.

In a statement to The Independent, a spokesperson for the FEC confirmed it had received Common Causes complaint. They declined to comment further, citing confidentiality rules that apply until the case is resolved.

And where does Daniels stand?

Daniels now believes she is free to talk about her alleged relationship with the president after accusing Mr Trumps personal lawyer of breaching a non-disclosure agreement.

The adult performer's manager said Mr Cohen's admission represented a breach of their contract. Everything is off now, and Stormy is going to tell her story, Gina Rodriguez, told the Associated Press.

Both Mr Trump and Ms Daniels denied there had been any relationship despite the fact she provided details of the affair to In Touch magazine in 2011. The interview was not published until recently.

In the wake of the reports, Ms Daniels issued a statement denying the affair ever took place. She also refused to confirm or deny a relationship when she appeared on TV on the night of the Presidents State of the Union address.

The fact of the matter is that each party to this alleged affair denied its existence in 2006, 2011, 2017 and again in 2018, she said. I am not denying this affair because I was paid 'hush money' as has been reported in overseas-owned tabloids. I am denying this affair because it never happened."

The Independent contacted the White House for comment.US President Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up as he walks to Marine One prior to departure from the South Lawn of the White House: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

President Donald Trump has acknowledged that Russia conducted an "anti-US campaign" in the wake of an indictment accusing 13 nationals of meddling in the US presidential election.

The indictment, issued by the US Department of Justice, claimed the Russians had conducted a years-long campaign to sow discord in US politics in advance of the 2016 election. In a tweet, the President said the indictment was further proof that his campaign had not colluded with Russia.

"Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for President," he wrote. "The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong - no collusion!"

The tweet was a groundbreaking admission for Mr Trump, who has previously expressed hesitance in accepting the US intelligence community's conclusion that Russia meddled in the 2016 election.

The President has previously called the "Russia story" a hoax started by Democrats, and suggested that he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin when he denied any election interference. As recently as this week, multiple sources close to Mr Trump told CNN he still wasn't convinced of Russian meddling.

Mr Trump issued a formal statement on the indictment as well, urging the country to "come together as Americans".

"We cannot allow those seeking to sow confusion, discord, and rancour to be successful," he said. "Its time we stop the outlandish partisan attacks, wild and false allegations, and far-fetched theories, which only serve to further the agendas of bad actors, like Russia, and do nothing to protect the principles of our institutions. We must unite as Americans to protect the integrity of our democracy and our elections.

Friday's indictment from special counsel Robert Mueller accuses the Russian nationals and three Russian entities of staging a physical and virtual misinformation campaign to sway the election in Mr Trump's favour.

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The indictment claims Russian operatives created fake social media accounts to spread misinformation about Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, and even went as far as to stage physical pro-Trump rallies. It contains no specific allegations of collusion by the Trump team, saying at one point: "There is no allegation in this indictment that any American was a knowing participant in this illegal activity."

Mr Mueller is said to still be investigating possible Trump team collusion with Russia, as well as allegations of obstruction of justice by Mr Trump himself. The President has repeatedly denied colluding with Russia or interfering with any federal investigations..HR McMaster speaks during the Munich Security Conference: EPA

Donald Trumps national security adviser has said there is undeniable proof of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference after 13 Russians were charged by US Special Counsel Robert Mueller, HR McMaster said: With the FBI indictment, the evidence is now incontrovertible.

His pronouncement came in answer to a question from a Russian delegate shortly after the countrys foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking on the same stage, had dismissed the indictments as just blabber.

A Kremlin-linked internet firm has also been charged, along with the 13 Russian nationals, with conspiring to sow discord in the US political system.

Some of the defendants, posing as US citizens, communicated with unwitting individuals associated with the Trump campaign and other political activists, according to an indictment filed by a federal grand jury in Washington DC.

The indictment represents the most detailed allegations to date of illegal Russian meddling during the campaign that put Mr Trump in the White House.

Asked about the charges in Munich, Mr Lavrov said: I have no response. You can publish anything, and we see those indictments multiplying, the statements multiplying.

Until we see the facts, everything else is just blabber  Im sorry for this expression.

He claimed US officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, had said no country influenced the presidential election results. US intelligence agencies have previously concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin set out affect the outcome of the vote but stopped short of saying whether he succeeded.

Taking the stage after Mr Lavrov, Mr McMaster scoffed at working with Russia on cybersecurity.

We would love to have a cyber dialogue when Russia is sincere about curtailing its sophisticated form of espionage, he said.

On Friday, after the indictments were announced, President Trump acknowledged for the first time that Moscow had conducted an anti-US campaign. But he claimed the results of the election were not impacted and said there was no collusion with and no wrongdoing by his campaign.

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Mr Muellers team is investigating whether the Trump campaign colluded with the Kremlin during the run-up to the election.

The 13 Russians are charged with running a huge but hidden social media trolling campaign, aimed in part at helping the Republican defeat his Democrat rival, Hillary Clinton.

The indictment marks the first criminal charges against Russians believed to have secretly worked to influence the outcome.

According to the indictment, the Russian organisation was funded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a wealthy St Petersburg businessman with ties to President Putin and the Kremlin.

Mr Lavrov denounced this irrational myth about this global Russian threat, traces of which are found everywhere  from Brexit to the Catalan referendum.

In Russia, one of those indicted said that the US justice system was unfair.

Mikhail Burchik was quoted by the newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda as saying: I am very surprised that, in the opinion of the Washington court, several Russian people interfered in the elections in the United States. I do not know how the Americans came to this decision.

Mr Burchik was identified in the indictment as executive director of an organisation that allegedly sowed propaganda on social media to try to interfere with the election.

He was quoted as saying on Saturday that they have one-sided justice, and it turns out that you can hang the blame on anyone.Goma (DR Congo) (AFP) - Six soldiers died in fighting to repel an incursion by Rwandan troops in eastern DR Congo this week, the army announced on Friday.

In the latest flareup between the two neighbours, Rwanda rebutted the accusation and instead charged Congolese troops with attacking positions in Rwandan territory.

The Congolese army recorded "a total of six dead and four wounded, two of them with serious injuries," General Bruno Mandevu told a press conference.

On Tuesday, heavy fighting broke out "on Congolese soil", close to the Rwandan border at the foot of Mount Mikeno in North Kivu province, the army said.

Congolese army patrols exchanged fire with Rwandan army positions some 100 metres (yards) inside the Democratic Republic of Congo before their respective governments spoke and intervened, a military spokesman said.

Mandevu, who is in charge of an operation against Rwandan rebels in the area, said the casualties occurred "after we had obeyed the order from Kinshasa to cease fire."

"The Rwandan soldiers kept firing," he said.

He said the Rwandans "had taken up three positions in Congolese territory and dug foxholes, which means they had come to wage war."

Separately, the Rwandan defence ministry said late Thursday that it had asked the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) -- a regional team of military observers established to monitor security incidents on the volatile border -- to probe what it called an incursion by Congolese troops on Tuesday.

"The Rwandan army has just informed the EJVM of the facts relating to the violation of Rwandan territory by the Congolese army, and to an attack on a Rwandan army position in Musanze district in the Shingiro area," it said in a statement.

"(...) The Rwandan army defended its positions from (the territory of) Rwanda, not from the DRC, as has been falsely announced."

The two neighbours have had a fractious relationship since the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

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Some of those accused of involvement in the killings of an estimated 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda set up militias in eastern DR Congo.

- Border confusion? -

Rwanda has been accused of backing the M23, a mainly ethnic Tutsi rebel group that emerged during that period.

The militia rebelled against Kinshasa in 2012, saying it had not respected the terms of a 2009 peace accord, but it was defeated a year later when hundreds of its fighters fled the country.

The Congolese army initially thought it was fighting ex-M23 militia members, before realising it was the Rwandan army, a spokesman said.

The DR Congo's huge eastern region has long been wracked by violence, but fighting between government soldiers and militia groups, as well as inter-ethnic clashes, increased significantly in 2017.

The operation led by Mandevu, called Sokola 2, is aimed at rooting out Rwandan Hutu rebels from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a group set up in 2000 to oppose the post-genocide leader, Paul Kagame.

Investigators based in Goma, the capital of North Kivu, have opened a probe to determine whether this week's flare-up was caused by confusion over the demarcation of the border between the two countries.A judge denied El Chapo's request to speak in open court after prosecutors expressed concerns he could be trying to send messages to cohorts: Getty

The accused Mexican drug lord known as El Chapo is struggling to pay his legal fees, his lawyer has said.

Joaquin Guzman is eager to address the court directly in order to tell his family to pay his fees, Eduardo Balarezo told a hearing at a Brooklyn federal court.

Guzman is accused of running a global cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine smuggling operation as the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel and playing a central role in a decade-long Mexican drug war where more than 100,000 people have died.

Mr Balarezo said Guzman wanted to knock down any speculation he might plead guilty and cooperate with American authorities.

He wants to go to trial, his lawyer said. Hes not interested in cooperating. Hes not interested in cutting a deal.

Mr Balarezo also renewed complaints about conditions at the Manhattan jail where Guzman is being held in solitary confinement.

The Manhattan cell where Guzman spends 23 hours a day is either too hot or too cold, Mr Balarezo said, adding that his client suffers constant headaches.

At the hearing, US District Judge Brian Cogan denied Guzmans request to speak in open court about the case after prosecutors expressed concerns he could be trying to send messages to his cohorts.

The judge said in the future he would need to be notified in advance on what Guzman wanted to talk about before he could speak.

Mr Balarezo told reporters outside the courthouse following the hearing he had been paid part of his fee by some friends of Guzman, but Guzman had so far been unable to instruct his family about further payments.

Earlier this month, the judge agreed to withhold the names of jurors at the trial to address any fears that they could be harassed or intimidated. Jurors also will be escorted to and from the courthouse by deputy US marshals and sequestered from the public while inside.

Prosecutors offered strong and credible reasons why the jury needs protection, including Guzmans use of sicarios, or hitmen, to carry out thousands of acts of violence over more than two decades, the judge wrote in an order.

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In the past, Guzman used his connections to continue to run his drug empire from behind bars, prosecutors said.

Mexican authorities captured Guzman and an associate in January 2016 by pulling over a Ford Focus they had stolen, after Guzman had fled through tunnels and drains from a raid on a safe house in northwest Mexico.

Six months earlier, Guzman had escaped through mile-long a tunnel dug to the shower in his cell in a high-security Mexican prison.

He was extradited to the United States in January 2017. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

Additional reporting by agenciesADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopia's state of emergency imposed on Friday includes a ban on protests and publications that incite violence, Defence Minister Siraj Fegessa said on Saturday.

The move was made a day after Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced his surprise resignation in a televised speech on Thursday, saying he wanted to smooth the way for further reforms.

(Reporting by Aaron Maasho; Editing by Alison Williams)By Aaron Maasho

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopia announced a state of emergency on Friday, a day after the prime minister resigned, as pressure mounted on the country's ruling coalition.

The coalition decided emergency rule was "vital to safeguarding the constitutional order", state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation said. The announcement gave no further details.

The defence minister was expected to hold a news conference on Saturday morning giving further details, but it was delayed.

Ethiopia only fully lifted its last state of emergency in August following months of curfews, restrictions on movement and the detention of 29,000 people.

Those measures followed two years of anti-government protests in which security forces killed hundreds of people in Amhara and Oromiya, the nation's two most populous provinces.

The imposition of a new state of emergency may indicate that Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn's resignation on Thursday was the result of tensions among the four parties in the ruling coalition.

The coalition has been in power since 1991 and controls all 547 seats in parliament. But cracks have appeared since the outbreak of unrest, with some senior officials resigning and others being sidelined.

OPPOSITION DEMANDS

The two largest ethnic groups in the Horn of Africa country, the Oromo and Amharic, complain they are under-represented in the country's corridors of power.

Mulatu Gemechu, deputy secretary of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress, said on Friday Ethiopia needed a completely new political system. The Congress is one of seven parties that make up the biggest opposition coalition, MEDREK.

"Ethiopians now need a government that respects their rights, not one that keeps beating and killing them," he told Reuters.

Mulatu's views are echoed in the Oromo heartlands that surround the capital Addis Ababa. It was there that protests against an urban development plan in 2015 sparked larger demonstrations demanding more freedom and civil rights.

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"Oromos should not be jailed for exercising their rights," said Dinkissa, a university student in Ambo, a town in the region.

"Oromos have been always mistreated. His (the prime minister's) resignation will not mean anything unless our rights are respected. Whoever comes to power should know that. Otherwise, we will not stop protesting."

Rights advocates have frequently criticised Ethiopia's government for mass arrests and long jail terms handed to political opponents and journalists.

PRISONERS FREED

But more than 6,000 prisoners have been freed since January as the government struggles to calm discontent. Most were detained during the mass protests; some were charged with terrorism offences.

As well as tensions in its Oromo and Amharic regions, the government has grappled with several armed groups in the past decade.

Among them is the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), which has fought the government since 1994 and draws support from some of the country's ethnic Somali population. Somalia and Ethiopia share a long and porous border.

This week the ONLF and Ethiopian authorities held private talks in Nairobi, an observer present at the discussions told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

A tentative accord was reached on a ceasefire, prisoner releases, boundaries between the Somali and Oromiya regions of Ethiopia, and economic development, the observer said.

But a final deal was not signed because the ONLF wanted a signatory from Ethiopias central government, rather than the leader of the Somali region who represented the government at the talks.

For a factbox on Ethiopia's main ethnic groups, click on

(Additional reporting by Katharine Houreld; editing by Andrew Roche and John Stonestreet)By Aaron Maasho ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - A state of emergency imposed in Ethiopia a day after the prime minister resigned will last for six months, the defense minister said on Saturday, as authorities sought to tamp down unrest in Africa's second most populous nation. Outbreaks of violence had continued in parts of the country and the government was banning protests, along with the preparation and dissemination of publications "that could incite and sow discord", Defence Minister Siraj Fegessa told reporters. "The government has previously made several efforts to curtail violence, but lives have continued to be lost, many have been displaced and economic infrastructure has been damaged," he said. Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced his surprise resignation in a televised speech on Thursday, the first time in modern Ethiopian history that a sitting prime minister had quit. He said he wanted to smooth the way for reforms. A day later, the government imposed the state of emergency. Parliament - where the four-party ruling coalition controls all 547 seats - is expected to ratify it within two weeks. Ethiopia is East Africa's biggest and fastest-growing economy and a Western ally in the fight against Islamist militancy. But rights groups often criticize the government for clamping down on political opponents and the media. The United States, a major aid donor, said it "strongly disagreed" with the decision to call for emergency rule. "We recognize and share concerns expressed by the government about incidents of violence and loss of life, but firmly believe that the answer is greater freedom, not less," the U.S. embassy in Addis Ababa said in statement. "The declaration of a state of emergency undermines recent positive steps toward creating a more inclusive political space, including the release of thousands of prisoners," it added. Since January, Ethiopia has released more than 6,000 prisoners charged with a variety of offences, including taking part in mass protests and crimes against the state. It has also closed down a jail where activists alleged torture took place. Many of the prisoners took part in anti-government protests in 2015 and 2016 in the country's two most populous provinces, whose ethnic Oromo and Amharic communities complain they are under-represented in the country's corridors of power. The demonstrations began against a government plan to expand the capital Addis Ababa but then morphed into greater demands for civil rights. The government previously imposed a state of emergency in October 2016, which was lifted in August 2017. During that time, curfews were in place, movement was restricted and about 29,000 people were detained. (Reporting by Aaron Maasho; Writing by Katharine Houreld; Editing by John Stonestreet and Edmund Blair)Addis Ababa (AFP) - Ethiopia said Saturday that a state of emergency will remain in place for six months, as the authorities move to quell "chaos and unruliness".

The council of ministers declared the country's second emergency decree in two years on Friday evening.

It capped a tumultuous week that saw Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn resign, a strike in the country's largest region and a massive prisoner amnesty.

"The state of emergency will be for six months and will be approved by parliament," state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) wrote on Facebook, quoting Defence Minister Siraj Fegessa.

The government had cited "ethnic-based clashes" and "chaos and unruliness" as the reasons for the declaration.

"To be able to protect the constitutional system, declaring a state of emergency has become necessary", EBC said, quoting a government communique.

While the decree is already in effect, parliamentary approval for the requested six-month period appears likely as the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and its allies control all the seats in the House of Peoples' Representatives.

Ethiopia last declared a state of emergency in October 2016 after months of protests in Oromia -- home to the country's largest ethnicity, the Oromos -- and neighbouring Amhara region.

The 10-month decree succeeded in quelling the unrest, which killed hundreds and resulted in tens of thousands of arrests, despite criticism from rights groups.

But anti-government sentiment remained in the two regions and the analysts believe Hailemariam's response to the protests eventually led to his surprise resignation, a first in modern Ethiopia.

The prime minister said he was leaving to give the EPRDF space as it pursued political reforms.

"I myself want to become part of the solution," he said in announcing his resignation Thursday.

Last month, Hailemariam announced Ethiopia would release some jailed "politicians" in order to "improve the national consensus and widen the democratic platform".

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In the weeks since, hundreds of prisoners were pardoned or released from custody, including some of the country's most prominent dissidents.

Nonetheless, Oromo activists called a strike earlier this week that saw businesses shutter and young men armed with rocks and sticks block roads in Oromia to push the government to keep its prisoner amnesty promise.

The strike was called off after detained Oromo politicians were freed along with hundreds of other prisoners including journalist Eskinder Nega and opposition leader Andualem Arage.

The next day, Hailemariam announced his resignation.

He will remain in office until parliament and the EPRDF coalition confirm his resignation. It remains unclear who will then take over.By Gabriela Baczynska SOFIA (Reuters) - The European Union on Thursday called for a swift restart of the stalled United Nations peace talks for Syria, worried by Russia's efforts to tighten the grip on power of its ally, President Bashar al-Assad. The U.N. talks in Geneva have made little progress during seven years of the war, struggling to even bring Assad's envoys and the Western-backed opposition into one room and reaching deadlock in December. Moscow has been promoting alternative talks in Astana with Turkey, which also supports rebel groups in Syria's multi-faceted civil war. Armed interventions by Russia and Iran have allowed Assad to recapture large parts of Syria but the U.N. says February has seen some of the worst fighting since violence erupted in March 2011. EU foreign ministers in Bulgaria were holding their first full discussion about Syria in almost a year on Thursday. "We'll discuss how to mobilize humanitarian support but also how to use the convening power of the European Union to support the U.N.-led political process that is facing difficult moments in these weeks," said EU's top diplomat, Federica Mogherini. Mogherini will host an international conference on Syria in Brussels in April to support the ailing peace process and seek more pledges of humanitarian aid. A previous such event in 2017 was overshadowed by a chemical attack in Syria. France said this week it would strike against Assad if his government carried out new attacks with chemical arms. Several EU ministers told reporters on the sidelines of Thursday's meeting that the U.N. should deal with such instances. AID The conflict shows no signs of abating as powers in the region and beyond back rival forces in the proxy war. Now entering its eighth year, it has killed hundreds of thousands and driven millions from their homes. "The tragedy continues," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters. "It is important for the Geneva process to restart as quickly as possible." The EU has so far played only a marginal role in efforts to resolve the conflict. It is trying to leverage its status as the world's largest aid donor to gain sway and has said it will not pay to help rebuild Syria if Moscow and Damascus crush Assad's opponents and ensure he holds on to power. Assad's forces have recently bombarded two of the last major rebel areas in Syria. Dire humanitarian conditions in the besieged areas of Eastern Ghouta and the northwestern province of Idlib have prompted the U.N. Security Council to hold discussions this month on a month-long ceasefire to allow aid deliveries and the evacuation of sick and wounded. "We always call for an increase in humanitarian aid for Syrians," Mazen Darwish, a Syrian lawyer and campaigner, told Reuters after addressing EU diplomats in Brussels earlier this month. "But we warn against using reconstruction money as a weapon. We want the reconstruction money to serve ethical goals, not be a weapon for the regime." (Additional reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek, Alissa de Carbonnel and Peter Maushagen; writing by Gabriela Baczynska; editing by Andrew Roche)By Gabriel Stargardter

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's foreign minister will travel to Jamaica, Grenada and Saint Lucia in March, a Mexican official said on Thursday, as part of efforts to erode Venezuela's oil-based influence in the Caribbean.

Meanwhile, Cuban diplomats will visit Mexico in March to discuss the regional impact of the crisis in Venezuela, the official said. The Cuban embassy in Mexico City said the trip was not yet confirmed but that the two countries have regular bilateral meetings. Still, there are no signs that Cuba, a steadfast ally of Caracas, is ready to turn its back on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray's planned trip follows a visit to Latin America and the Caribbean earlier this month by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who announced plans to study how possible oil sanctions against Venezuela could be mitigated in the Caribbean.

The Mexican foreign minister's trip represents the latest development in U.S.-led pressure on Maduro, who retains loyalty from some Caribbean nations that have long benefited from Caracas' oil largess and have been unwilling to shun the country in regional diplomatic efforts.

"The message is: Venezuela is not the only country that can help (Caribbean nations), that if there's a crisis in Venezuela, they have more friends," said the Mexican official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the as-yet undisclosed trip.

In a statement, Mexico's foreign ministry said Videgaray was planning trips to the Caribbean.

"The foreign ministry is eager for those trips to be arranged, and so possible dates are being sought," it said, adding that several Caribbean countries had invited the minister for work visits since last year.

The foreign ministries of Jamaica, Grenada and Saint Lucia could not be reached for comment.

Videgaray has led Mexico's efforts to try and improve cooperation with its top trade partner on security, immigration, and foreign policy, hoping to convince the United States to take a softer stance on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that underpins the majority of Mexican exports.

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U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to quit the pact if it cannot be improved to benefit U.S. workers.

On his way to Jamaica, Tillerson said the United States was closer to deciding whether to impose sanctions on Venezuelan oil, adding that Canada, Mexico and the United States were studying how to mitigate the impact of such a move.

Restrictions on Venezuela's oil industry would represent an escalation of financial pressure on the OPEC member, which is gripped by severe shortages of food and medicine. Such sanctions could also hurt U.S. refineries that process Venezuelan oil.

Sanctions have so far focused on individual members of Maduro's government and a ban on buying new Venezuelan debt.

CARIBBEAN BLOC

In a June meeting in Cancun, foreign ministers from the 34-nation Organization of American States (OAS) failed to reach agreement on a resolution criticizing Venezuela, with only 20 countries backing the proposal, shy of the 23-nation threshold.

Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica voted against the resolution, while Grenada, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua and Barbuda abstained.

Jamaica and Saint Lucia backed the proposal.

Officials from other Caribbean nations will be present at Videgaray's Jamaican stop, the Mexican official said, adding that the Caribbean trip represents an attempt to end the stalemate in the June OAS meeting.

"It's a result of Cancun," the official said. "There was a bloc in the Caribbean that wasn't pulling in the same direction as the OAS."

Reuters reported last year that Mexico was looking at the possibility of replacing Venezuela's Petrocaribe program that provided cheap loans for oil to Caribbean nations - and has helped Maduro retain diplomatic support in the region.

However, the Mexican official said it was still not clear how Mexico could furnish Caribbean nations with cheap energy, given the country's struggling domestic fuel production, and that Mexico relies on oil income for about a fifth of the government budget.

The energy ministry remains unconvinced by the oil diplomacy plan, led by Videgaray, but there are signs it is becoming more flexible, the official said.

(Reporting by Gabriel Stargardter; Additional reporting by Frank Jack Daniel; editing by Diane Craft and David Gregorio)The FBI admitted Friday that it received a detailed tip about accused Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz in January, but failed to follow up and investigate.

Within hours of the revelation, Florida Gov. Rick Scott demanded FBI Director Christopher Wrays resignation  despite Wray offering an apology to the family of victims.

Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isnt going to cut it. An apology will never bring these 17 Floridians back to life or comfort the families who are in pain. The families will spend a lifetime wondering how this could happen, and an apology will never give them the answers they desperately need, Scott said in a release.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio voiced similar comments, asking the House and Senate to launch investigations into FBI protocols.

Lawmakers and law enforcement personnel constantly remind the public that if you see something, say something. In this tragic case, people close to the shooter said something, and our system utterly failed the families of seventeen innocent souls, Rubio said in a statement.

In a statement, the FBI said that a person close to Cruz, who has allegedly confessed to killing 17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., called the FBI tip line with concerns on Jan. 5. The caller gave the FBI information on Cruzs gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting.

That information should have been forwarded to the FBIs Miami field office for agents to investigate, but it was not.

We have determined that these protocols were not followed, a statement from the FBI read.

The FBI statement also included an apology to victims of the shooting from Wray.

We have spoken with victims and families, and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy, he wrote.

FBI Special Agent Rob Lasky confirmed on Thursday that the organization also received a tip about five months ago on a YouTube comment from someone with the username nikolas cruz that read, Im going to be a professional school shooter. Lasky said the FBI was not able to identify who made the comment.

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Read the full FBI statement below:

On January 5, 2018, a person close to Nikolas Cruz contacted the FBIs Public Access Line (PAL) tipline to report concerns about him. The caller provided information about Cruzs gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting.

Under established protocols, the information provided by the caller should have been assessed as a potential threat to life. The information then should have been forwarded to the FBI Miami Field Office, where appropriate investigative steps would have been taken.

We have determined that these protocols were not followed for the information received by the PAL on January 5. The information was not provided to the Miami Field Office, and no further investigation was conducted at that time.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said:

We are still investigating the facts. I am committed to getting to the bottom of what happened in this particular matter, as well as reviewing our processes for responding to information that we receive from the public. Its up to all Americans to be vigilant, and when members of the public contact us with concerns, we must act properly and quickly.

We have spoken with victims and families, and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy. All of the men and women of the FBI are dedicated to keeping the American people safe, and are relentlessly committed to improving all that we do and how we do it.

Read Florida Gov. Rick Scotts full statement:

Today, Governor Rick Scott made the following statement regarding the FBIs admission that they failed to take action after receiving information on January 5, 2018, regarding [Nikolas] Cruzs gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting.

Governor Scott said, The FBIs failure to take action against this killer is unacceptable. The FBI has admitted that they were contacted last month by a person who called to inform them of Cruzs desire to kill people, and the potential of him conducting a school shooting.

Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isnt going to cut it. An apology will never bring these 17 Floridians back to life or comfort the families who are in pain. The families will spend a lifetime wondering how this could happen, and an apology will never give them the answers they desperately need.

We constantly promote see something, say something, and a courageous person did just that to the FBI. And the FBI failed to act. See something, say something is an incredibly important tool and people must have confidence in the follow through from law enforcement. The FBI Director needs to resign.The shooting left 17 dead in Florida - REUTERS

FBI director Christopher Wray was last night facing calls to quit after the organisation admitted it failed to act on a tip off it received about the suspect in the Florida high school shooting.

Rick Scott , the Florida Governor, said Mr Wray "[needed] to resign" over the "unacceptable" failings after the intelligence agency revealed it was warned that the suspect, Nikolas Cruz, had a "desire to kill people" almost six weeks ago

The FBI's stunning admission has raised questions over whether it could have prevented Wednesday's shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which left 17 people dead.

Mr Scott hit out at the intelligence agency in highly critical statement, saying the "FBI's failure to take action against this killer is unacceptable".

"An apology will never bring these 17 Floridians back to life or comfort the families who are in pain."

Florida senator Marco Rubio also criticised the FBI, saying it was "inexcusable" that the bureau did not follow protocols and called for Congress to launch its own investigations into what happened.

The FBI said a person close to the 19-year-old Cruz contacted the agency with concerns about his social media posts and his possession of firearms on January 5 but agents neglected to pass the information on to its Florida branch.

"Under established protocols, the information provided by the caller should have been assessed as a potential threat to life," the FBI said.

"The information then should have been forwarded to the FBI Miami field office, where appropriate investigative steps would have been taken. We have determined that these protocols were not followed."

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On Thursday, it was revealed that the FBI was separately warned in September that a YouTube user with the same name as Cruz had threatened to become a "professional school shooter".

Ben Bennight, a 36-year-old YouTube video blogger from Mississippi, told CNN he contacted the agency after a comment by a user with the name Nikolas Cruz left the alarming comment on a video he had posted.

Story continues

Mr Wray, the FBI's director, said the bureau is continuing to investigate how the oversight occurred.

"We have spoken with victims and families, and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy," Mr Wray said in the statement.

Read more | Florida school shooting

"All of the men and women of the FBI are dedicated to keeping the American people safe, and are relentlessly committed to improving all that we do and how we do it."

The massacre in Parkland, Florida, was one of the deadliest school shootings in US history and has stirred debate about the country's school security and the right to buy guns.

Donald Trump is expected to travel to the small, middle class community to meet the victims' families, but he may not receive a warm reception.

The US president has been criticised for failing to mention guns during his national address following the tragedy.

Instead Mr Trump linked the shooting to mental illness, suggesting that it was the public's responsibility to warn officials of such dangers.

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Cruz, who had been expelled from the school where he allegedly staged his attack for undisclosed disciplinary reasons, made a brief court appearance on Thursday. He has confessed to being the gunman, police said.

"He's a broken human being," his lawyer, Melissa McNeill, told reporters. "He's sad, he's mournful, he's remorseful."Washington (AFP) - The FBI said Friday that it received a detailed warning last month that Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz was a danger but that it failed to act.

"On January 5, 2018, a person close to Nikolas Cruz contacted the FBI's Public Access Line tipline to report concerns about him," the FBI said in a statement.

"The caller provided information about Cruz's gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting," it said.

The information was not handled appropriately, however, the top US law enforcement agency said, and no action was taken.

Cruz, 19, shot dead 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida, on Wednesday using an AR-15-style rifle that he had legally purchased.

Cruz, who had a history of troubling behavior, was expelled from the school last year for "disciplinary reasons."

The FBI said the information from the caller "should have been assessed as a potential threat to life" and forwarded to the FBI Miami field office.

This was not done and "no further investigation was conducted at that time," it said.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said he was "committed to getting to the bottom of what happened in this particular matter, as well as reviewing our processes for responding to information that we receive from the public.

"We have spoken with victims and families, and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy," Wray said.Manila (AFP) - Philippine lawyer Jude Sabio felt it was his duty to bring President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly war on drugs to the attention of international war crimes prosecutors, but now that a probe into the killings is under way, he fears he too has become a target.

Sabio, who describes himself as penniless and on the run, said he had received death threats from Duterte supporters on social media after filing a petition with the Hague-based International Criminal Court in April last year.

"I'm in a state of constant paranoia because I fear for my life," Sabio, 51, told AFP in an interview. "It could be very possible that a bullet will hit me."

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda launched a "preliminary examination" after receiving Sabio's petition, which alleges around 8,000 extrajudicial killings, and this could lead to a full investigation by the court.

Sabio wants the president arrested.

Duterte won a landslide victory in 2016 elections largely on a pledge to eradicate drugs. He is accused of stoking the killings with inflammatory statements and repeated promises to pardon any police officer charged with murder.

Police say they have killed 4,021 drug suspects in self-defence, but rights groups claim police and shadowy vigilantes have actually killed more than 12,000 people.

Duterte maintains he is beyond the ICC's jurisdiction and has threatened to withdraw his country from the treaty that created it if the tribunal pursues a formal investigation.

"The problem with me is when I see something wrong I fight," said Sabio, who had a low-key legal practice for two decades and unsuccessfully ran for public office twice.

"Now to the question of how it feels to be standing against Goliath, to me the fact that he is president, I'm sorry to say this, doesn't matter to me."

- 'Treacherous -

The unassuming lawyer -- the son of public school teachers of modest means -- lost the 2010 election for mayor of a southern town and was disqualified for being a "nuisance" senatorial candidate in 2016, officially ruled as lacking funds to run his campaign.

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But his life started to change course when in October 2016 he agreed to represent Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed assassin whose deposition forms part of the ICC case.

Matobato had spectacularly confessed at a Senate public hearing a month earlier that he was a member of the "Davao Death Squad" that killed at least a thousand people on Duterte's orders when the president was mayor of Davao city.

The lawyer alleged in the suit that the drug war was the "Davao Death Squad" on a national scale, which Duterte rejects.

"It is targeting a vulnerable civilian population, composed mostly of the poor living in depressed communities," Sabio said.

"The only way to stop the killings is to issue a warrant of arrest. Arrest president Duterte and bring him to The Hague."

Sabio, a short, stocky man with an unruly moustache, has feared for his life ever since and he left his southern home city of Cagayan de Oro for his own safety a year ago -- the last time he saw his 75-year-old mother.

His assassins could be "riding in tandem" he said, referring to gunmen on motorcycles, said by witnesses to be behind many of the unsolved street murders of known small-time drug dealers.

Responding to questions about the threat against Sabio, Duterte's spokesman Harry Roque said Tuesday the president bore no "ill will" against the lawyer.

"Let's make sure that if there's a threat, he should report it to the police," Roque told reporters.

However, Sabio hit back Friday, saying "these people are treacherous".

He said he does not know Duterte personally and denied working for the opposition, taking on the case purely on principle.

But Sabio does not look like a crusader and is battling myriad health problems including diabetes and heart disease -- twice going under the knife, the last in mid-2016, to insert six stents for clogged blood vessels.

He still owes the hospital 900,000 pesos (more than $17,000), and when he flew to the Netherlands to file the case "I had no money so people contributed for my plane ticket, and also for my hotel".

Since leaving Cagayan de Oro, he has missed doctors' appointments as well as meetings with other clients.

"I could have died in that operation," Sabio said. "But I don't know, I was brought to life and maybe this is my mission in life."Florida high school killing suspect Nikolas Cruz expressed racist views and threatened violence in a private Instagram chat group, CNN reported Saturday.

According to the report, after joining the group in August, Cruz said that Mexicans should be killed, black people should be chained and gay people should be shot in the back of the head.

02_16_Nikolas_Cruz

REUTERS/Broward County Sheriff Handout

Trending: Chicago Blackhawks Fans Ejected After Hurling Racist Taunts At Black Player

He also railed against interracial relationships to members of the group called "Murica great."

On the forum, he posted videos of himself shooting a rifle, and when quizzed by another member about his interest in body armor, replied he was interested because of school shooters.

I think I am going to kill people he told group members, before dismissing the comment as a joke, according to CNN.

Don't miss: Pirates Repelled By Crew Pouring Boiling Water and Oil on Attackers

He also wore a Make America Great Again cap in one Instagram post and boasted of receiving a reply to a letter he sent to President Donald Trump, though this has not been confirmed.

The Sun Sentinel reported that he also showed disturbing behavior on Snapchat, displaying pictures of self inflicted wounds on his arms after a breakup, and expressing a desire to buy guns.

Cruz is currently held in custody after allegedly killing 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday. He is reportedly willing to plead guilty to the attack in exchange for a life sentence.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from Newsweek(Photo: Johanne Rahaman for HuffPost)

HOLLYWOOD, Fla.  Theyre furious about political stonewalling, and most of them arent yet old enough to vote.

Two days after a gunman used an assault-style rifle to kill 17 people at a nearby school, the students of South Broward High School protested in solidarity. Just a couple of dozen miles down the road in Parkland, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was still sealed off as investigators pored over the horrors inside.

About 50 teenagers gathered on the street Friday, rallying around the common causes of gun control and school safety  two issues politicians continue to ignore even though polls show most Americans support them.

(Photo: Johanne Rahaman for HuffPost)

Teenagers, armed with political signs  and the occasional snack brought from home  chanted slogans like You are responsible! and Justice for Douglas! and Protect the kids! as cars passed by and honked in solidarity.

Sara Rodriguez, 16, was among those protesting, holding up a handmade sign that read NRA is a terrorist organization.

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I want to end gun violence, Sara told HuffPost, adding that she thinks adults and lawmakers have absolutely failed her generation.

They dont pay attention to our voice and were really tired of staying silent, she said. We are the future. Were trying to make it but we cant do it if theyre not listening.

Shane Dale, 14, said his marching band competes against Stoneman Douglas  and that the proximity makes the tragedy all the more real.

It doesnt feel like school anymore, Shane said, reflecting on how the atmosphere changed this week.

Nobody needs an AR-15 rifle for hunting, he added, referencing the shooters choice of weapon. We need to get rid of assault rifles overall.

(Photo: Johanne Rahaman for HuffPost)

Ianna Seemungal, 17, fought back tears as she described her motivation for protesting. She said she was sick of not feeling safe and having a government that refuses to do anything about it.

We dont deserve this, she said. We need to be safe. Theres nowhere to be safe. ... We cant even go to school.

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When asked if she was worried about getting in trouble for leaving class on a school day, Ianna shrugged.

No, she said. And if I do, it was worth it.

See more photos from the protest:

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Sebastian Murdock contributed reporting from Florida. Ryan Grenoble contributed reporting from Denver.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.Mourners stand during a candlelight vigil for the victims of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida on 15 February 2018: RHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images

The crowdfunding page to assist victims and their families in Parkland, Florida has raised over $750,000 in just 24 hours.

Earlier this week, three adults and 14 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were killed in the 18th mass shooting in the US this year.

The page was set up by the Broward Education Foundation, a charity whose mission it is to support the Broward County public school system.

Broward County Public Schools district is dealing with the unimaginable tragedy that unfolded on Feb. 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. There are no words to express the sorrow that we are all feeling, the page read.

The campaign went live only one day ago during a news conference when police and country authorities had announced more detail about the suspected gunman, a former student Nikolas Cruz, and the status of the investigation.

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The funds will go to victims families to defray funeral costs and other expenses.

Nearly 14,000 separate donations have been made thus far according to the GoFundMe page for a total of over $750,000 (534,000), often accompanied by public messages of grief and condolence.

One donor named "john grimanis" said: "For the fallen and their families- may we all finally change this country's laws in their honor and the honor of all other victims of senseless violence."

Alyssa Singh wrote: "May God continue to bless the families and loved ones of the victims! Those who lost their lives will never be forgotten! This senseless act is only going to bring our community closer together and make us stronger!"

The page is full of nearly 100 pictures posted of scenes from the high schools surrounding community, children who attend or have attended the school, and tributes to victims.

The 19-year-old suspect is being held in police custody without bond and allegedly suffers from mental health issues.

Police said he came on to school grounds as classes were being dismissed for the day and opened fire. He reportedly fled the scene by blending in with students but was apprehended at a nearby fast food chain.Diana Haneski stands next to a cross erected for the victims of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida: REUTERS

A librarian saved the lives of 55 people when a gunman opened fire at a high school in Florida, killing 17.

Diana Haneski, a library media specialist at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, jumped into action when she heard the school was under lockdown on her radio.

Before shots were even fired, she ushered 50 students and five adults into a media equipment room at the back of the library and locked the doors, shouting Get back in here! Get back in here!

Speaking to Reuters, Ms Haneski, 57, said she knew what to do as her friend, a fellow librarian, had managed to save 22 people during the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012.

She was there that day in Sandy Hook and because of her I knew what to do, she said.

Her friend Yvonne Cech, a 58-year-old librarian, had previously locked 18 children and four adults into a small cupboard during the shooting.

Ms Haneski said some teachers at her school believed the shooting was a drill as they had recently undergone training and had been informed a simulated incident would take place.

Realising the shooting was real, she told people to sit on the floor in the media room and hide behind objects. She covered a window and turned off the lights.

I could see between the door and the floor. I could see if the bad guy  the shooter  walked past, she said.

At first it was just lockdown then right away we heard shooting. We heard his name.

Nikolas Cruz, 19, has confessed to carrying out the attack on Valentines Day and has been charged with 17 counts of murder.

Ms Haneski, who knew Cruz from her previous school, was a troubled child and called for gun laws to be changed.

We did everything we were trained to do. And still this happened. And still 17 didnt go home after school, she said.

Related:The grieving mother of a Florida school shooting victim has invoked Donald Trumps 11-year-old son Barron, as she called on the President to protect American school children by introducing proper gun control laws.

Lori Alhadeffs emotionally charged outburst will add to the pressure on a President who has so far avoided all mention of gun control after 17 people died in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

Speaking after spending two hours arranging the funeral of her 14-year-old daughter Alyssa, a tearful Ms Alhadeff looked into a CNN news camera and told Mr Trump: President Trump, Barron goes to school. Lets protect Barron. And lets also protect all these other kids.

With her voice rising almost to a scream, the distraught mother added: The gunman, a crazy person, just walks right into the school, knocks down the window of my childs door and starts shooting, shooting her. And killing her.

President Trump, you say, What can you do? You can stop the guns from getting into these childrens hands. Put metal detectors at every entrance to the schools. What can you do? You can do a lot. This is not fair to our families that our children go to school and have to get killed.

After pausing in an apparent attempt to compose herself, she said: I just spent the last two hours putting [together] the burial arrangements for my daughters funeral, whos 14!

President Trump, please do something. Do something. Action! We need it now! These kids need safety now!

Ms Alhadeffs outburst came on the same day that more than 1,000 people attended a candlelight vigil near Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the town of Parkland, with some in the crowd chanting: No more guns! No more guns!

Traumatised pupils at the school have also demanded the President take action on gun control, and rejected his offer of condolences.

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When Mr Trump tweeted his prayers and condolences, 16-year-old Sarah Chadwick responded by writing: I dont want your condolences you f***ing [piece] of s***, my friends and teachers were shot. Multiple of my fellow classmates are dead. Do something instead of sending prayers. Prayers wont fix this. But Gun control will prevent it from happening again.

Her message was retweeted more than 144,000 times.

While politicians including Florida Senator Marco Rubio insisted tighter firearms laws would not have prevented the massacre, students who survived the shooting emerged as powerful advocates of gun control.

One Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School pupil helped start a nationwide Students for gun legislation petition, which stated: Adults have failed us  how many shootings will it take, how many innocent children have to die, until adults decide we, as our nations children, are more important than our nations guns.

Some Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students, including Ms Chadwick, expressed a desire to discuss gun control with Mr Trump.

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But when the President visited Parkland, there was reportedly no mention of the debate over gun regulation. Mr Trump praised first responders, praised the victims families, saying they were in really great shape given the circumstances, but ignored a journalists shouted question about gun control.

The White House also refused renewed requests to release photos from 2017 of Mr Trump signing a bill that made it easier for some people with a mental illness to buy guns.

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After the mass shooting, Mr Trump tweeted that there were So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed.

In the same tweet he also said that neighbours and classmates should have reported the erratic behaviour of suspected gunman Nikolas Cruz to the authorities, leading to accusations that the President was suggesting pupils at the school were partially to blame for what happened.This flu season has been particularly grim. More people are dying of the flu than medical professionals would expect at this time of the year. One in 10 people who died during the fourth week of January died of pneumonia and influenza, and 84 children have also died so far this flu season. The number of people seeing a health care provider for flu symptoms is almost as high as 2009, when the flu hit pandemic levels.

One reason for that? Theres little faith that the vaccine will work. This year, initial estimates had suggested that the vaccine may be just 10 percent to 17 percent effective against H3N2, this seasons most common strain. Thats based on interim reporting from Canada and the final effectiveness rate in Australia for this strain.

But those figures turned out to be an underestimate. The numbers on the effectiveness of the shot among Americans, released Thursday, reveal that for all ages, the vaccine is 25 percent effective against H3N2. For children ages six months to eight years, it was even more effective against the strain, at 59 percent.

However, taking into account combined effectiveness of all of the strains, the vaccine is just 36 percent effective  lower than the usual 40 to 60 percent effectiveness of past shots.

Arguably the biggest reason that Americans dont seem to take the flu vaccine seriously is that it simply doesnt live up to our expectations for what a vaccine is, and how it should work, said Dr. Pat Salber, founder of the healthcare blog The Doctor Weighs In.

One or two shots that confer lifetime or years-long immunity at near 100 percent effectiveness is the model we have for serious illnesses like measles, mumps, rubella and other viruses. But the flu vaccine, with its variable effectiveness and weaknesses that require people to go in year after year, presents a compliance barrier for busy people.

We know this from taking pills, Salber said. If I give you a pill and you only have to take one a day, youre going to do a pretty good job. If you take it twice a day, your compliance falls off. If you have to take three pills a day, I can guarantee you wont get three pills in a day on most days.

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Some flu experts hope that the severity of this years flu will provide a silver lining, motivating people to get the flu shot this year and in years to come. Typically, fewer than half of all Americans bother to get a flu shot in any given year, and the numbers are mostly concentrated among those who are uniquely vulnerable to the virus: children under 12 years old, and seniors over 65, said Dr. Arnold S. Monto, an epidemiology professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. This leaves out older children and young adults, who have the most opportunities to transmit the flu virus.

Do we use enough vaccine to really cut down on the transmission? The answer is no, we really dont, said Monto.

But Eric A. Weaver, a scientist working on research for a universal flu vaccine at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, agreed that theres a fundamental problem with the flu vaccine as a product, and that keeps Americans away.

When I teach about flu vaccine, I ask students, Why do you need a new shot every year? They always answer, because the strain changes from year to year, Weaver said. But the other part of the answer is that by the time the next flu season comes around, youre no longer protected because the flu vaccine is weak, even if the strain doesnt change.

Of course, public health experts are quick to point out that even flu vaccines with limited effectiveness are still worth getting, because they can both lessen the severity of your symptoms if you do get the flu and also prevent you from passing on the virus to people who are more vulnerable, like kids or the immunocompromised.

Weaver, who is currently testing his universal flu vaccine in mice, hopes that his research will one day provide lifetime protection in children who get the shot. Currently, yearly flu shots that are 50 percent effective are just not an attractive product for Americans, he said.

I work on flu vaccines and I defend flu vaccines, but Im not going to argue with somebody who says Im not going to take it, Weaver said. Im disappointed [in the flu shot]. I think we could do a little bit better.

CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, a previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the vaccine effectiveness of the flu shot against H3N2 was 25 percent for people over 8 years old. In fact, that figure is for people of all ages.

Also on HuffPost

Hepatitis B

Your newborn should get this shot even before leaving the hospital, and receive another dose at one to two months and a third at six to 18 months. The vaccine protects against an incurable, liver-infecting virus, hepatitis B, which can be passed to a baby during childbirth if the mother is infected. This virus spreads through contact with blood or other body fluids (sharing toothbrushes and utensils can put you at risk). Soreness at the site of the shot, or a slight fever, is the most common side effect, according to Gabrielle Gold-Von Simson, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York.

DTaP

The DTaP vaccine protects against diphtheria (a germ that can form a gray or black film in the throat), tetanus (an infection that can cause muscle spasms so strong they can break bones), and pertussis (a highly contagious disease that causes a severe, uncontrollable cough, known as whooping cough). Five vaccine doses are given to children at two months, four months, six months, 15 to 18 months and four to six years. (And boosters at age 11 or 12 and then every 10 years.) DTaP may be combined with other vaccinations to reduce the number of shots needed. "Now, it's DTaP with hepatitis B and the polio vaccine. So, it's five in one," Dr. Gold-Von Simson says.

MMR

This combo shot protects against three viruses: measles (which causes high fever and a body-wide rash); mumps (which causes face pain, swelling of the salivary glands, and sometimes scrotal swelling in boys); and rubella or German measles (which can cause birth defects if the infection occurs during pregnancy). The first shot is given at 12 to 15 months of age and once again between the ages of four and six. MMR is sometimes combined with the chickenpox vaccine into one shot (brand name ProQuad). "All these different preparations are designed to reduce the amount of shots the pediatrician has to give," says Dr. Gold-Von Simson.

Chickenpox

Chickenpox, a highly contagious rash that many people remember from childhood, is caused by the varicella virus. A varicella vaccine was first licensed in 1995 and now spares future generations this itchy misery. Chickenpox infections can be especially dangerous in adults who don't have immunity from the vaccine or haven't had it in childhood, and can also lead to shingles, an extremely painful blistering rash. The shot is given to children at 12 to 15 months and again between four and six years. The vaccine can cause soreness at the site of the shot, fever, and, in some cases, a mild rash.

Haemophilus Influenza Type B (Hib)

"Haemophilus influenza type b is the bacterium that causes meningitis," says Dr. Gold-Von Simson. Meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, is particularly dangerous for kids under the age of five. Hib vaccines are generally given at two, four, six, and 12 to 15 months of age. Depending on the vaccine used, the six-month shot may not be needed. Fever, swelling, and redness at the site of the shot are potential side effects.

Polio (IPV)

Polio vaccine is "such a success," says Dr. Gold-Von Simson. "Because of the vaccine, there are no more cases [of polio]." There are no more in the United States that is. The virus hasn't been eradicated worldwide, so kids still get the IPV, or inactivated polio vaccine, which is a shot containing killed virus. Polio is bad news, and can cause paralysis and even death. Children are given the IPV at two months, four months, between six to 18 months, and then again between the ages of four and six years.

Pneumococcal Conjugate (PCV)

This vaccine, known as PCV13 (brand name Prevnar), protects against 13 types of Streptococcus pneumoniae, which are bacteria that can cause all sorts of mayhem, including meningitis, pneumonia, ear infections, blood infections, and even death. A total of four shots are given to kids (at two, four, six, and 12 to 15 months of age) to protect them against the germs, known collectively as pneumococcal bacteria. The most common side effects of the vaccine include drowsiness, swelling at the site of the shot, mild fever, and irritability.

Influenza (flu)

Flu vaccinations are given each year starting in the fall. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends them for kids ages six months or older, although they aren't required for school attendance. (Connecticut and New Jersey require the vaccine for attending child-care centers and preschool.) Common side effects from the vaccine include soreness, redness, or swelling at the site of the shot. Fever and aches may occur too. "If you have an egg allergy, you shouldn't have the influenza vaccine," says Dr. Gold-Von Simson.

Rotavirus (RV)

The rotavirus vaccine (RV) (brand names RotaTeq, Rotarix) is given to children at two and four months of age. (RotaTeq is also given at six months.) The vaccine protects against a virus that is the most common cause of severe diarrhea and vomiting in young kids worldwide. About 55,000 children in the U.S. were hospitalized each year due to rotavirus before the vaccine was licensed in 2006. It is not required for school attendance. The vaccine is in liquid form and given by mouth to babies. It may make them a bit more irritable and can also cause mild diarrhea or vomiting.

Hepatitis A

Kids can catch hepatitis A from sharing food or drinks or by putting contaminated food or objects in their mouths. It's a viral infection that affects the liver, and can cause a number of symptoms, including fever, tiredness, jaundice, and loss of appetite. Children ages 12 through 23 months generally get two doses of the Hep A vaccine, with a minimum interval of six months between shots. Some states require the vaccine for school attendance. Soreness where the shot was given, headache, and loss of appetite are the most common side effects of the vaccine.

Meningococcal Conjugate (MCV4)

This vaccine, known as MCV4 (brand name Menactra), protects against meningococcal bacteria, which can infect the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. MCV4 is recommended for kids at 11 or 12 years of age, and anyone between ages two and 55 who is at increased risk of infection (people with certain health conditions, military recruits). Teens starting college should be vaccinated with MCV4 before going to school if they didn't previously get the shot. (Freshman living in dorms are at increased risk of infection.) A little pain at the site of the shot is the most common side effect.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (brand names Gardasil, Cervarix) is given in three doses over a six-month period, and is approved for girls between ages nine and 26. While there are over a hundred types of HPV, this vaccine protects against two sexually transmitted types that are the most common causes of cervical cancer. Gardasil also protects against two types that cause genital warts and is approved for boys between nine and 26 as well. The vaccine works only if given before an infection, so doctors recommend it for kids well before they could become sexually active. Although most states don't require HPV vaccination, many are considering mandating it for preteen girls.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.Paris (AFP) - Serial killer Michel Fourniret has finally "confessed" to murdering British language student Joanna Parrish in France nearly three decades ago, the family lawyer told AFP on Friday.

Jailed for life in 2008 for killing seven girls, Fourniret was dubbed the Ogre of the Ardennes.

He was interviewed last by two instructing magistrates in Paris and, according to lawyer Didier Seban, admitted murdering the 20-year-old Parrish and French teenager Marie-Angele Domece.

"He made detailed and repeated confessions. He clearly recognises, and this several times over, having killed Joanna Parrish and Marie-Angele Domece," Seban said.

"It's a new development, a resolution of the affair, it seems, in a remarkable way," he added.

"It's hard (for the family) but the end of a long legal battle."

Parrish had been working as a language assistant at a secondary school in Auxerre, in the Burgundy region.

Seban said he hoped a trial would soon go ahead now.

Paris prosecutors would not comment on the revelations with investigations under way.

Fourniret's lawyer made no comment when contacted by AFP.

Parrish's body was found on May 17, 1990, soon after she disappeared. She had been raped and beaten, the autopsy found.

Domece, who was mentally handicapped, disappeared July 8, 1988, and her body has never been located.

Fourniret was charged in 2008 with kidnapping and murdering the two girls but the court of appeal dismissed the case on September 14, 2011.

Fourniret's wife Monique Olivier had twice accused him of the two unsolved murders but later retracted.

"Monique Olivier will in turn have to be questioned," Seban added.

Fourniret had always denied involvement in the two cases, including during his trial in the northern Ardennes area where he was found guilty on May 28, 2008, of murdering seven girls.

Olivier was found guilty of complicity in five murders and jailed for life with an order that she serve at least 28 years behind bars.

In June 2012, the court of appeal in Paris cancelled the dismissal order on Fourniret and asked for investigations to resume based on new leads.Photo credit: Facebook

From Good Housekeeping

On a tragic day for Florida, something similar was averted here. Posted by Everett Herald on Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Authorities arrested a Washington state student suspected in a school shooting plot after his grandmother showed officers plans for an attack.

Police in Everett, which is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Seattle, arrested 18-year-old Joshua Alexander O'Connor on attempted murder and other charges at ACES High School on February 13, The Daily Herald reported.

Earlier, O'Connor's grandmother, who NBC News later identified as Catherine Katsel-O'Connor, called 911 and showed responding officers a journal where he allegedly drew up plans to shoot students and use homemade explosives at the school, police said.

In the journal entries, O'Connor described in detail how he was preparing for the attack. "My aim has gotten much more accurate," he wrote (via NBC News). "I can't wait to walk into that class and blow all those f--kers away."

O'Connor's also discussed making pressure-cooker bombs, activating inert grenades and deploying explosives for maximum casualties, court papers said.

"I need to make this count," O'Connor reportedly wrote. "I've been reviewing many mass shootings/bombings (and attempted bombings) I'm learning from past shooters/bombers mistakes."

Detectives serving a search warrant at the grandmother's house seized the student's journal, a rifle found inside a guitar case and inert grenades.

Public defender Rachel Forde noted the gun and the grenade shells were legal to possess. She said the "musings and ventings" in O'Connor's journal weren't enough evidence to support a charge of attempted murder.

Another entry allegedly described an armed robbery of a convenience store that police believe O'Connor participated in Monday night.

Cash from the robbery was supposed to help fund the school shooting, said deputy prosecutor Andrew Alsdorf in court.

O'Connor's bail was set at $5 million.Photo: Getty Images

An Ohio judge has given custody of a transgender teen to his grandparents instead of his parents, who objected to his transition. The new custody arrangement will allow the grandparents to make medical decisions for the teen, KTLA5 reports.

The parents of the 17-year-old (who identifies as male) did not want him to receive hormone treatments and refused to call him by his chosen name, according to testimony in court, which was triggering suicidal feelings in the young man.

Judge Sylvia Sieve Hendons ruling says that in addition to receiving custody, the grandparents can petition to change the childs name in probate court. The teen will now be covered by the grandparents insurance.

The parents wanted to retain custody in order to make medical decisions for the teen and prohibit the treatment that his medical team had recommended.

This is an important ruling, because it addresses the searing reality that nearly half  41 percent  of trans people attempt suicide at some point in their lives, according to the Trevor Project.

Contributing to these attempts are many factors, including feeling victimized, misgendered, and rejected by society, according to study by Rylan Testa, an assistant professor of psychology at Rhodes College. The 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, released by the National Center for Transgender Equality, found that 60 percent of respondents who are out to their immediate family received support from those people about their identity. Still, 10 percent of respondents who had come out to their immediate family experienced violence from a family member because of their identity.

The teen has been receiving treatment at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center, who advised the court that he should start treatment as soon as possible to decrease his suicide risk. However, before any hormone treatment is allowed, the court has ordered the teen evaluated by a psychologist who is not affiliated with Cincinnati Childrens on the issue of consistency in the childs gender presentation, and feelings of non-conformity.

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The parents attorney argued that the young man was not even close to being able to make such a life-altering decision at this time. However, Judge Hendon granted visitation rights to the parents, encouraging them to work toward a reintegration of the child into the extended family.

If you are transgender and need someone to talk to, you can call the Trevor Project Lifeline, 866-488-7386, and Trans Lifeline for the U.S., 877-565-8860.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.



By Bernie Woodall and Zachary Fagenson

PARKLAND, Fla. (Reuters) - The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Friday said it failed to act on a tip that the teenager accused of killing 17 people in Florida had guns and the desire to kill, drawing calls from Florida's Republican governor for the FBI director to resign.

A person close to accused gunman Nikolas Cruz called an FBI tip line on Jan. 5 to report concerns about him, the FBI said in a statement.

"The caller provided information about Cruz's gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behaviour, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting," it said.

The tip appeared unrelated to a previously reported YouTube comment in which a person named Nikolas Cruz said, "I'm going to be a professional school shooter." The FBI has acknowledged getting that tip as well but failing to connect it to Cruz, who is accused of carrying out Wednesday's mass shooting with an AR-15-style assault rifle.

Florida Governor Rick Scott said FBI Director Christopher Wray should step down over the agency's mishandling of the tip.

The FBIs failure to take action against this killer is unacceptable," Scott said in a statement. "We constantly promote see something, say something, and a courageous person did just that to the FBI. And the FBI failed to act."

Other Republicans including Florida Senator Marco Rubio also harshly criticized the FBI and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he had ordered a review of the bureau and Department of Justice procedures following the shooting.

At the funeral for massacre victim Meadow Pollack, an 18-year-old senior who had been headed to university, family friend Jeff Richman expressed disbelief at the FBI fumble.

"The FBI apologised? Tell that to families," said Richman, 53, an advertising executive who lives in Parkland. "Everybody always tells you when you see something, say something. Well, here people were seeing something and saying something and it still happened."

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The FBI said the information on Cruz should have been forwarded to its Miami field office and investigated, but that never happened.

"We have spoken with victims and families, and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy," Wray said in a statement.

The killings in the affluent Miami suburb of Parkland have raised concerns about potential failures in school security and stirred the ongoing U.S. debate about gun rights, which are protected by the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The sheriff of Broward County where the shootings took place said in a Friday press conference that authorities had received around 20 "calls for service" in the last few years regarding Cruz.

The sheriff, Scott Israel, said not all of the calls had resulted in the dispatch of law enforcement officers but added that his office would scrutinize them all to see if they were properly handled.

Leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump have linked mental illness to Wednesday's violence, suggesting that it was the public's responsibility to warn officials of such dangers.

Cruz, who had been expelled for undisclosed disciplinary reasons from the school where he allegedly staged his attack, made a brief court appearance on Thursday and was ordered held without bond.

"He's a broken human being," his lawyer, public defender Melissa McNeill, told reporters. "He's sad, he's mournful, he's remorseful."

Wednesday's shooting ranks as the greatest loss of life from school gun violence since the 2012 shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, that left 20 first-graders and six adult educators dead.

Broward County officials have called for the demolition of the school building where the killings took place.

"No parents are going to want to send their children back into that annex, no one is going to want to go there," said Broward County Commissioner Michael Udine.

Trump tweeted on Friday morning that he would leave for Florida later in the day to meet people whose "lives had been totally shattered" by the shooting.

The vice mayor of Broward County, a strongly Democratic area, blasted any visit by Trump, saying Republicans had failed to back common sense gun laws and had rolled back measures that made it harder for severely mentally ill people to buy weapons.

"Him coming here is absolutely absurd, and he's a hypocrite," Mark Bogen told CNN in an interview following Trump's tweet.

Graphic - Florida school shooting: http://tmsnrt.rs/2nX8ECo

(Additional reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee and Mark Hosenball, Steve Holland, Roberta Rampton and Susan Heavey in Washington, Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Writing by Andrew Hay; Editing by Tom Brown)By Manoj Kumar NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India and Iran on Saturday signed agreements including Tehran leasing to New Delhi operational control of part of the Iranian east coast port of Chabahar for 18 months. The $85 million project, just 90 km from the China-sponsored Gwadar port in Pakistan, creates a transit route between India, Iran and Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan. India is trying to develop Chabahar as a way to gain access to the markets of central Asia as well as Afghanistan. But progress is slow because of concern that President Donald Trump's administration in Washington may eventually scrap the Iran nuclear deal. A leasing agreement giving operational control to India of Shahid Beheshti port - phase one of the Chabahar port - was signed in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Later, addressing a joint press conference with the Iranian president, Modi said both countries wanted to expand bilateral ties and cooperation in economic development. "We will support the construction of the Chabahar-Zahedan rail link so that Chabahar gateway's potential could be fully utilized," Modi said. "We want to expand connectivity, cooperation in the energy sector and the centuries-old bilateral relationship." Other agreements included a double taxation avoidance treaty, extradition, and cooperation in the farm sector. Rouhani, who arrived in the southern city of Hyderabad on Thursday, will later address industrialists. (Reporting by Manoj Kumar; Editing by Andrew Bolton)By Muvija M

(Reuters) - Intel Corp said on Friday shareholders and customers had filed 32 class action lawsuits against the company in connection with recently-disclosed security flaws in its microchips.

Most of the lawsuits - 30 - are customer class action cases that claim that users were harmed by Intel's "actions and/or omissions" related to the flaws, which could allow hackers to steal data from computers.

Intel said in a regulatory filing it was not able to estimate the potential losses that may arise out of the lawsuits. (http://bit.ly/2CqlQ6S)

Security researchers at the start of January publicised two flaws, dubbed Spectre and Meltdown, that affected nearly every modern computing device containing chips from Intel, Advanced Micro Devices Inc and ARM Holdings.

The companies have issued fixes but some patches slowed down computers, leading sector analysts to say producers could potentially face suits from clients and consumers claiming damages because their devices did not work as they should.

The company said the remaining two suits were securities class actions, where the plaintiffs allege that Intel and some of its officers violated securities laws by making statements about products or its internal controls that were later revealed to have been false or misleading.

The company's filing also listed three individual Intel shareholders who had filed actions against members of Intel's board and other managers, alleging that they failed their duties to Intel by failing to take action in relation to alleged insider trading.

It did not specify what allegations of wrongdoing the suit dealt with.

Intel Chief Executive Brian Krzanich sold 889,879 shares in the company on Nov. 29 as per a trading plan adopted on Oct. 30, making roughly $39 million from the sale, well before the details of the flaw were made public. (http://bit.ly/2Glfzfp)

Bloomberg reported last month that although Intel says Krzanichs sales were part of a pre-arranged stock plan, securities lawyers believed the larger-than-usual transaction could be examined by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC).

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Krzanich said last month that Google researchers told Intel of the flaws "a while ago".

Google says it informed the affected companies about the Spectre flaw on June 1, 2017 and reported the Meltdown flaw after the first flaw but before July 28, 2017.

The two securities-related class action suits were filed by individuals who claim to represent classes of buyers of Intel's stock between July 27 last year and Jan. 4.

(Additional reporting by Supantha Mukherjee and Shailesh Kuber in Bengaluru; editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Patrick Graham)The recent military clashes between Israeli, Iranian and Syrian forces have injected new volatility into an already explosive Middle East, increasing the likelihood of miscalculation and escalatory military action across the region.

As the Syrian civil war grinds on, the pressing concern is not an all-out war between Israel and a Syria whose military has been substantially depleted.

Instead, the real flashpoints are the potential for a permanent Iranian military presence in Syria and the transfer of precision-guided advanced weapons to Lebanese Hezbollah, both of which are stated redlines for Israel.

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The most recent altercation began when an Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from central Syria penetrated Israeli airspace and was shot down. Israel responded with an air attack against Tiyas airbase in central Syria, the facility that controlled the UAV.

One Israeli F-16I fighter was shot down during the strike, and Israels retaliation was swift and severe. It launched two waves of strikes, hitting Syrian air bases, air defense units, command and control facilities and Iranian targets.

While this most recent clash represents a significant escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iranian forces in Syria, Israel has conducted several strikes on Syrian territory in recent years, aimed at convoys carrying advanced weaponry to Hezbollah, stores of advanced weapons, Syrian government facilities and an Iranian base under construction.

The Israeli government has been clear that permanent Iranian bases in Syria, Iranian and Hezbollah forces on its northern border, the transfer of advanced weapons to Hezbollah and missile production facilities in Lebanon are unacceptable.

GettyImages-875196682

MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty

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The Netanyahu government has indicated it is not seeking further escalation or a broader conflict, but has warned Iran that it will defend its sovereignty. The attacks were clearly meant as a warning not only to Iran, but also to Syrian President Bashar al Assad, who is hosting Iranian and Hezbollah forces on Syrian territory.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps personnelincluding a special operations unit known as the Quds ForceLebanese Hezbollah and Shia militia fighters are all operating in Syria, bolstering the Assad regime.

Israel has largely attempted to avoid getting entangled in the Syrian civil war, but both Iran and Hezbollahs presence in Syria and Hezbollahs acquisition of advanced weaponry, potentially including a nascent precision strike capability, present a new and significant threat. Indeed, Israel estimates Hezbollah has up to 150,000 rockets and missiles ; a precision targeting capability would be a game changer, allowing Hezbollah to hold vital Israeli infrastructure and population centers at risk with far fewer weapons due to increased accuracy.

Of note, during this latest clash, Israel temporarily closed Ben Gurion Airport, its main transportation hub and point of access to the outside world, out of concern about a retaliatory attack.

Likewise, Iran and Hezbollah are not looking to escalate in the near termboth are still focused on the conflict in Syria. However, Irans willingness to penetrate Israeli airspace with a UAV, build facilities in Syria and continue attempting to transfer advanced weaponry to Hezbollah in Lebanon, despite Israeli interdiction efforts, is highly provocative and increases the risk of miscalculation and war.

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Israel has repeatedly demonstrated it will take military action against this threat.

If war breaks out between Israel on the one hand and Iran and Hezbollah on the other, it almost certainly will be far larger in scope and more destructive than the conflict in 2006. Hezbollah has a more capable military with a much larger rocket and long-range missile force that can strike deep into Israeli territory.

For its part, Israel will likely feel compelled to demonstrate a decisive victory on the battlefield, unlike in 2006, and try to eliminate Hezbollahs military capabilities as fully as possible. Hezbollah strikes against key Israeli infrastructure and population centers would likely be met with a ferocious air campaign targeting Lebanese vital infrastructure, along with a wide range of Hezbollah targets. Any Israeli operation would almost certainly include a robust land campaign as well.

And unlike in 2006, this conflict probably would not remain contained to Lebanon and Israel. Given the Iranian and Hezbollah presence in Syria, Israeli attacks almost certainly would include targets in Syria as well.

Moreover, the presence of Russian, Iranian and U.S. forces in close proximity risks a broadening of the conflict. Israel could formally request U.S. military assistance in the event it is overwhelmed by Hezbollah rocket and missile strikes, potentially putting U.S. forces in contact with both Iranian and Russian ones.

As the fight against ISIS winds down, the U.S. could work with both the Israelis and Russians to end advanced weapons transfers to Hezbollah and secure the withdrawal of Iranian and Hezbollah forces from Syria to minimize the risk of an escalatory conflict. This could be a significant challenge; Tehran will likely resist as it seeks to secure its influence in Syria over the long term and ensure easy access to its Hezbollah proxy in Lebanon.

At the same time, Israel cannot tolerate a long-term Iranian military presence near its northern border, advanced weapons with precision guidance in Hezbollahs arsenal, or indigenous missile production facilities in Lebanon.

While none of the parties are looking to launch another war at present, military engagements are likely to continue as long as Iranian and Hezbollah forces are deployed in Syria and engage in provocative behavior, increasing the likelihood of a new, destructive war between Israel, Hezbollah and Iran.

Richard C. Baffa is a senior international/defense policy researcher at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekThe Office of American Innovation, led by President Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, has been sued for allegedly attempting to skirt federal transparency laws while shaping the administrations infrastructure policy.

Related: Did Jared Kushner Help Puerto Rico? White House Claims About His Hurricane Maria Efforts Are Unclear: Report

The nonprofits Democracy Forward and Food & Water Watch filed the lawsuit Thursday after the Kushner-led office ignored Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. The organizations made FOIA requests to see whether policy making was being improperly influenced by conflicts of interest within the Trump administration, Food & Water Watch senior staff attorney Zachary Corrigan told Newsweek.

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Established last March, the Office of American Innovation (OAI) played a major role in Trumps $200 billion infrastructure plan that puts more emphasis on finding private investors and less on how it benefits the public.

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Despite the obvious public interest and urgency in disclosing how the government developed this infrastructure policy, including the role of various government leaders and private individuals, OAI has not acknowledged or responded to Plaintiffs FOIA requests, let alone produced responsive records, all in violation of the law, the complaint states.

Though the offices involvement in crafting the plan is unknown because the public records requests did not produce documents, Democracy Forwards policy and strategy director Corey Ciorciari told Newsweek that the groups believe it is ripe for cronyism.

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How it was developed, some critical aspects of the plan such as the fact that funding will be available to private entities, that large amounts of discretion will be given to the Trump administration to choose projects they will award, Ciorciari said as examples. So the plan itself is concerning.

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The plan appears to be a big grab bag for private companies that want to make a buck out of the American people and their water bill, Corrigan added.

Attorney Karianne Jones, who is representing both groups, told Newsweek that the office is obligated to comply with the Freedom of Information Act because it is engaging in agency-type work.

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Another concern, Ciorciari said, is that Kushner has been allowed to work with only interim security clearance. The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington also on Thursday filed a complaint with the White House demanding that Kushners temporary security clearance be revoked until he passes a background check required for permanent clearance.

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We think its important that the American people are able to, as legally required, have some light on whats going on in an office that is operating behind closed doors, Ciorciari said.

White House officials and a spokesman for Kushner did not respond to a request for comment from Newsweek.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekJennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux said they were

Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux are separating after two and a half years of marriage, but insist they remain good friends.

The couple said on Thursday in a statement to The Associated Press released through a publicist that the decision to split "was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year".

The couple said they were making the announcement publicly "in an effort to reduce any further speculation."

"Normally we would do this privately, but given that the gossip industry cannot resist an opportunity to speculate and invent, we wanted to convey the truth directly," they said in the statement released by Anistons longtime publicist, Stephen Huvane.

"Whatever else is printed about us that is not directly from us, is someone elses fictional narrative. Above all, we are determined to maintain the deep respect and love that we have for one another."

Jennifer Aniston: her life and career in pictures

Aniston and Theroux were engaged in August of 2012 and married in August of 2015. They have no children.

The two worked together on 2012s "Wanderlust," in which she starred.

They said they were "two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple, but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship."

Theroux, 46, had a small role in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" and has several films slated for release this year, including Netflixs "Mute" out this month. His writing credits include "Tropic Thunder," Iron Man 2" and "Zoolander 2."

Theroux said in an interview earlier this week that he and Aniston were not together on her February 11 birthday, and he would not be spending Valentines Day with her.

Aniston, whose marriage to Pitt ended in divorce, is one of America's most popular celebrities.

The news swiftly became the top trending topic on Twitter, where fans chimed in with memes and comments about a possible Pitt-Aniston reunion.

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Pitt left Aniston for actress Angelina Jolie in 2005, but he and Jolie split up in 2016. Their divorce is being dealt with in private court and Pitt is currently single.

Aniston, 49, is featured on the cover of the current issue of Architectural Digest with a story about the "pure domestic bliss" of the Beverly Hills, California, home she shared with Theroux. Known as much for her style and stalwart acting career as she is for being a tabloid target, Aniston was previously married to Brad Pitt from 2000 to 2005.

Aniston denounced tabloid culture in a 2016 op-ed, saying she "has worked too hard in this life and this career to be whittled down to a sad, childless human."

Aniston rose to fame on TVs "Friends" and has appeared in such films as "Horrible Bosses," Office Christmas Party," Cake" and "Marley & Me."Los Angeles (AFP) - Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux are separating after two years of marriage, they said in a statement to AFP on Thursday.

The pair, who shared a mansion in the upscale Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles, met on the set of the 2008 film "Tropic Thunder" in Hawaii, and started dating in 2011.

"In an effort to reduce any further speculation, we have decided to announce our separation," the former couple said in the statement released by Aniston's publicist Stephen Huvane.

"This decision was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year. We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple, but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship."

The statement said the couple would have kept the arrangement private, but wanted to make sure people heard the truth, "given that the gossip industry cannot resist an opportunity to speculate and invent."

"Whatever else is printed about us that is not directly from us, is someone else's fictional narrative. Above all, we are determined to maintain the deep respect and love that we have for one another," it continued.

It was the second marriage for former "Friends" star Aniston, who wed Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt in 2000 -- forming one of Tinseltown's most glamorous couples at the time.

They divorced in 2005 after Pitt met Angelina Jolie, from whom he is now estranged, on the set of "Mr and Mrs Smith."

Theroux ("Miami Vice," "The Girl on the Train") was in a relationship with stylist Heidi Bivens for 14 years but the 46-year-old had never been married before meeting Aniston.Julia Rose Miller for Torrid. (Photo: Courtesy of Torrid)

Meet Julia Rose Miller, the winner of Torrids 2018 Model Search. Miller is originally from Texas but has her sights set on L.A. or New York, on her way to becoming the industrys next top curvy model. Yahoo Lifestyle has followed Millers journey since Torrid staged its historic first fashion show during NYFW in September 2017. At the time, Miller was one of the top 10 finalists, narrowed down from a pool of 15,000 applicants after a nationwide search. Now, months later, Miller is the 2018 winner of an exclusive modeling contract with Torrid and will serve as an official brand ambassador. Yahoo Lifestyle spoke with Miller to gauge her thoughts and feelings on being the winner, her goals, and what still lies ahead.

Yahoo Lifestyle: In a past interview with us, you mentioned how you were bawling your eyes out when you found out you were a finalist at NYFW. You said, Everything I wished for was coming true. Can you talk me through your journey from that moment to where you are now?

Miller: Ive just had a smile on my face every day. I wake up and Im so grateful to have this opportunity, and to say that Im the new face [of Torrid] is something that blows my mind because all of the top 10 [models], all of them were beautiful, but I kept my fingers crossed. Because when you have a positive mindset things will come out positive.  Once I found out, I was completely in shock. I wanted to cry, but I couldnt because I was so happy. I just had a smile on my face every day from then on.

Where were you when you found out you were picked as the winner?

Torrid had invited me to a local Torrid [store] in my area. I had [gone] on a mini Torrid shopping spree and, as I was trying on outfits, picking out accessories  I came out of the dressing room and then they just dropped this big banner, The new face of Torrid 2018 and I just couldnt believe it. I was like, Oh, my goodness, my life [is] about to change.

Did you call your family right away?

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Actually, my family was there. [Torrid] took me and my family out for dinner. They all knew, of course, but when I saw them walk in, I started crying because they got to experience such a special moment with me.

Julia Rose Miller for Torrid. (Photo: Courtesy of Torrid)

It seems like youre on the verge of starting a very long, fruitful career in modeling. What do you hope to achieve? And what are your goals now that youre the winner?

I definitely want to expand in the modeling industry, but for now Im just going with the flow. Im just taking everything one step at a time, and whatever I can get here and there, of course I would do it, but for now I just want to take this opportunity and help empower women and make them feel beautiful, and thats a really big goal for me.

In a past interview, you mentioned you struggled with your body image and you battled bulimia. Can you tell us how you regained that body confidence and positivity?

My mother was very encouraging. She kind of helped me wake up and smell the roses. She constantly told me to look in the mirror and just tell myself, Im beautiful, along with my sister as well. And I think theres a point in your life when  you just have to realize your body is not going to change, nothing is going to change about you, so just express what you have. I mean, your mama gave it to you, so might as well flaunt it, right?

Julia Rose Miller for Torrid. (Photo: Courtesy of Torrid)

What would you say to women who dont have a strong family network and unfortunately dont look at themselves in a very positive light? Is there anything else besides a family network that you might suggest that they do?

I would say go on Instagram. Go find the people that inspire you. Read up on them and how they became inspired. Because you never know, that might help you as well.

And speaking of Instagram, is there anyone in the fashion industry on social media or as a whole that you currently look up to? It could be a model, designer, or someone else?

I really look up to Candice [Huffine] and Stella [Duval] a lot. Since winning, they have really helped me learn some things that I never thought I would ever know.

Julia Rose Miller for Torrid. (Photo: Courtesy of Torrid)

Where do you think we still need to go in terms of race, shape, and size across the industry?

I think the industry is becoming more inclusive of all sizes. I mean, [last] year at Fashion Week there were so many plus-size clothing brands  and I think thats a change. And thats why Im honored to work with Torrid because theyre one of those inclusive brands that is focused on women feeling beautiful and empowered.

What are your thoughts on the term plus size? Do you want to be referred to as a plus-size model?

I feel like plus size is just a word at the end of the day. I understand why people say they dont want to be labeled or alienated through a specific word  [but] you should not let it define you.

You mentioned you had dreams about moving to New York someday. Do you think now that youve won and your career is taking off that moving is on your horizon?

Well, now that Im the new face of Torrid, its definitely been running through my mind, like Whats next? Where do I want to go? Because to me, I feel like Im bigger than Texas, I feel like I need to go more places, but Im kind of stuck between New York and Cali. But definitely for sure, Julia will be leaving Texas.

Do you have a favorite piece from the new Torrid collection?

Yes, one of my favorite pieces from the collection was actually one of the first looks to walk the runway. It was the faux leather jacket worn by Stella Duval.

Shop the NYFW Torrid collection now on torrid.com.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

 Alice + Olivia rewrites Bill of Rights to reflect womens rights at Fashion Week presentation

 These hairy heels have a surprising connection to Black Panther and natural hair

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Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.Tripoli (Libye) (AFP) - Thousands of Libyans on Saturday marked the seventh anniversary of the start of protests that ousted dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with rallies and concerts despite the country's political and economic morass.

In the capital Tripoli, and across many cities in the North African country, thousands packed public squares where the authorities were organising concerts and other festivities.

Libya descended into chaos after the 2011 NATO-backed uprising, with rival militias, tribes and jihadists vying for influence across the oil-rich country.

A 2015 UN-backed deal to set up the unity government in Tripoli was meant to end the turmoil.

But Libya has remained riven by divisions between the Government of National Accord (GNA) and a rival administration backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar in the east.

The GNA has failed to assert its authority across the oil-rich country, which is also grappling with deadly attacks, and a migration crisis seven years since the uprising erupted.

Internationally-backed Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj acknowledged his government's shortcomings in a televised speech on Saturday to mark the seventh anniversary, and called for national reconciliation.

"Maybe a regime has ended, but the truth is we have not managed to rid ourselves of a culture that has dominated the minds and behaviour of many people, who today are at the forefront of politics and who consider the homeland as booty," Sarraj said.

National reconciliation, he said, was key to a solution to end divisions in Libya and ease the crisis facing the country.

Sarraj also accused countries, which he did not name, of "fuelling" the Libyan conflict and called on them to stop intervening in his homeland.

In Tripoli, Libyans thronged the central Martyrs' Square waving the country's red-green-black flag.

Boy scouts marched and concerts as well as fireworks were planned as part of the festivities, which were kicked off on Friday.

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"Maybe 2018 will be a good year for Libya," said Mohsen Ali, a civil servant, who brought his wife and two small children to Martyrs' Square.

"We must start the year well so that good things happen," he added.

But if some were keen on celebrating the start, seven years ago, of protests that led to the toppling and killing of Kadhafi, others took to social media to declare there was nothing worth celebrating.

Every day life is a struggle for Libyans, who face constant electricity cuts, cash shortages, a drop in the national currency and a dire public services.The 3D aerial laser mapping technique also helped uncover Mayan villages in a jungle in Guatemala: AP

A "lost" Mexican city built by rivals to the Aztecs has as many buildings as Manhattan and was home to around 100,000 people, according to new research.

The sprawling urban centre of Angamuco which was part of the Purepecha empire that peaked in the 16th century was detected by an aerial laser mapping technique called the Lidar system.

An aircraft beamed out laser pulses and experts later examined the signals that bounced back from the ground, which helped them pull together a 3D map of the city near modern day Morelia in the state of Michoacan in western Mexico.

It revealed Angamuco covered an area of more than 10 square miles, complete with monuments such as pyramids, temples, plazas and road systems.

To think that this massive city existed in the heartland of Mexico for all this time and nobody knew it was there is kind of amazing, archaeologist Chris Fisher told The Guardian.

The Purepecha were a major civilisation which peaked in the 16th century, with its capital Tzintzuntzan also located beside Lake Patzcuaro in western Mexico.

Mr Fisher was part of a team which studied the 3D maps of Angamuco city. He estimated some 100,000 people lived there at the height of the civilisation between 100Ad to 1350AD.

That is a huge area with a lot of people and a lot of architectural foundations that are represented, he said. If you do the maths, all of a sudden you are talking about 40,000 building foundations up there, which is [about] the same number of building foundations on the island of Manhattan.

He added that its size "would make it the biggest city that we know of right now in western Mexico during this period."

Archeologists initially found Angamuco in 2007 and tried to explore the area the traditional way on the ground, but realised it would take at least 10 years to map out the area.

The researchers later deployed the Lidar laser mapping technique which helped them uncover the area in detail.

University College London archaeology professor Elizabeth Graham, who was not involved in the project, hailed the system but said archeologists still had to get on the ground and excavate.

The aerial laser mapping technique also helped researchers discover a lost Mayan "Snake King" city in a jungle in the Peten region of Guatemala earlier this month.Authorities arrested a student from Clarksburg High School, in Maryland, on Thursday after he bought a loaded gun and knife to school.

Alwin Chen, 18, was charged with three offenses related to bringing a loaded 9mm handgun and knife to campus, Montgomery County police said in a statement.

AlwinChen-300x267

Montgomery County Police

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At approximately 2:10 pm today at Clarksburg High School, a School Resource Officer arrested a Clarksburg HS male student for having a loaded handgun on school property. The investigation is ongoing. We will release additional information as it is confirmed, Montgomery County Police wrote in a tweet on Thursday.

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At 2 p.m. yesterday the School Resource Officer (SRO) received information that Chen had brought a gun to school, according to the statement. Following the tip-off, school security went to Chens classroom and pulled him out of class.

The security employee and SRO took Chen to a school office and asked him if he was carrying a weapon on his body. The student admitted there was a knife in his front, shirt pocket and a handgun in his book bag.

The SRO successfully retrieved the weapons and placed Chen under arrest. The teenager was then taken to the Central Processing Unit where he was charged with possession of a handgun, possession of a firearm by a person under 21 years old and possession of a firearm on school property.

Chens motive for bringing a gun to school remains unclear at the time this article was published. Police say the investigation is still ongoing and detectives are working to collect further information and evidence.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekA helicopter attempting to survey damage from a major earthquake in Mexico crashed and killed 13 people on Friday, authorities said.

The military helicopter, about 22 miles away from the epicenter of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Mexico Friday evening, crashed into two vans and killed 12 people immediately, while an additional person died later at the hospital. The helicopter was carrying senior government officials, including the interior minister, who were not injured.

Alfonso Navarrete, the Mexican interior minister, told local media that the pilot lost control of the helicopter.

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Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto wrote on Twitter that Navarrete and the governor of Oaxaca were not injured. "Unfortunately, many other people on the ground lost their lives and others were injured. My condolences for their families and my best wishes for speedy recoveries for those injured."

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So far, no deaths have been reported as a result of the quake itself. The earthquake hit just before 6 p.m. local time on the country's southern coast, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A 5.8 magnitude aftershock hit an hour later.

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Mexico's latest series of earthquakes  one in Chiapas and one in Mexico City in September  left hundreds of people dead, thousands injured and the country reeling. The first of the two, on September 7, measured at an 8.2 on the Richter Scale, and the second, on September 19, measured at 7.1. Friday's quake in Oaxaca could be felt all the way in Mexico City, 225 miles away.

Mexico is a hotbed for earthquakes, because it sits on three large tectonic plates. And for Mexico City (where an earthquake with nearly the same magnitude as Friday's earthquake was far more deadly), its especially soft soil amplifies the effects of the tremors and leads to more damage.

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This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekA powerful earthquake has rocked south and central Mexico, just months after a pair of deadly quakes pummelled parts of the country last year.

The 7.2-magnitude quake struck at 5:39pm local time, making buildings sway and sending people running into the street. The epicentre was a southern, surfer town on the Pacific Coast, according to the US Geological Survey. but tremors were felt as far away as Guatemala.

The government said some superficial damage had occurred, but did not immediately report any fatalities.

Emergency warning systems were activated in Mexico City, some 348 kilometers (216 miles) from the centre of the quake, and many buildings were evacuated. Footage posted on social media showed lights swinging from ceilings in a shaking building in the city, while other videos showed people fleeing outside from their trembling offices.

Video posted by a Washington Post reporter showed crowds of people standing calmly in a central Mexico City square, waiting for the rumblings to pass. Crowds of people also gathered on the streets in Oaxaca state's capital, closer to the epicentre of the quake, which hit 37 kilometres north-east of the coastal town of Pinotepa de Don Luis.

Patricia Gutierrez, a 66-year-old English teacher, told Reuters she was taking a nap with her 11-month-old granddaughter, when she heard the alarm.

"She recognised the sound. When I opened my eyes, I saw her eyes in terror," Ms Gutierrez said of her granddaughter. "Her eyes were wide, like plates. She didn't say anything."

Secretary of the Interior Alfonso Navarrete tweeted that Oaxaca, Chiapas, Michoacan, Puebla and Mexico City had not reported any major damages thus far. Mexican Civil Protection chief Luis Felipe Fuente also said that there were no immediate reports of major damages from Friday's quake.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said the National Civil Protection system protocols had been activated, and the Oaxaca state civil protection agency tweeted that it was monitoring the coastline. No tsunami threat was detected, according to the US National Weather Service.

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The Mexico City Government reminded residents via Twitter to check for damage, close gas valves, and disconnect energy sources when returning home.

A pair of powerful earthquakes struck the country in September, killing more than 300 people. The second earthquake knocked out power to some 5m people, and temporarily shut down schools and public transportation.

Agencies contributed to this reportU.S. Vice President Mike Pence with South Korean President Moon Jae-in during the 2018 Winter Olympics on Feb. 10, 2018. (Photo: ARIS MESSINIS via Getty Images)

A debate has again ensued in recent days over whether or not Vice President Mike Pence supports conversion therapy  something thats come up time and again in the past. One conservative outlet, The Federalist, actually claimed this week that there is no proof that Pence is anti-LGBTQ at all.

The latest discussion erupted last month, when gay U.S. Olympic skater Adam Rippon criticized the fact that Pence would lead the U.S. delegation in the Pyeongchang Winter Games. Rippon brought up the issue of conversion therapy  a scurrilous practice that attempts to turn LGBTQ people heterosexual, and that every reputable medical, psychiatric and psychological organization has discredited as both ineffective and harmful.

And USA Today reported last week that Rippon, whos become an icon in the LGBTQ community for his stance, had refused a meeting with the vice president, according to Rippons agent.

In a statement, Pence denied that he had reached out for meeting. On Twitter, he claimed it was fake news and a nonstory to purport that he had supported conversion therapy, which has been banned for minors in several states across the country. As they have in the past, Pences spokespeople also denied that he had ever supported conversion therapy.

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But its ludicrous to debate whether Pence showed support for conversion therapy  as he did in a statement on his campaign site in 2000, when he was a U.S. House member  without looking at Pences larger, blood-curdling record on LGBTQ rights and the extreme pronouncements hes made in promoting bigoted policies in the name of his religious faith.

In a speech on the House floor in 2006, Pence, in urging support for the anti-gay Marriage Protection Act, warned that same-sex marriage would lead to the deterioration of the family and, ultimately, complete and utter societal collapse. Marriage is not just the glue of the American family that would come undone if gays were afforded the right, Pence claimed; it in fact wasnt mans right to give to others, as he said in a statement that clearly revealed his theocratic impulses:

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I believe first, though, marriage should be protected because it wasnt our idea. Several millennia ago it the words were written that a man should leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. it was not our idea; it was Gods idea. And I say that unashamedly on the floor where the words In God We Trust appear above your chair, Mr. Speaker.

Pence has spoken out against giving LGBTQ people federal protections in hate crimes legislation, and literally called enhanced penalties and increased investigations of hate-based crimes against queer people a radical social agenda.

Pence opposes banning discrimination against LGBTQ people in the workplace because, he claimed, it discriminates against Christians. He ridiculously stated that if a federal anti-discrimination law were passed, an employer has to ban employees from having a Bible at the workplace.

In a full-throttled and appalling attack, Pence stated on his 2000 campaign website:

Congress should oppose any effort to recognize homosexuals as a discreet and insular minority entitled to the protection of anti-discrimination laws similar to those extended to women and ethnic minorities.

As Indiana governor, Pence signed a religious liberty bill into law that would create exemptions for hiring or serving LGBT people in businesses, based on the employers or business owners religious beliefs. The law was so broad that a national firestorm ensued, creating a business boycott that forced the legislature and Pence to water down the law. A year later, after the controversy died down, the zealous Pence, along with Indiana conservative anti-LGBTQ Republicans, was at it again, this time with a failed attempt to pass a series of anti-LGBTQ laws.

That was January 2016, just months before Donald Trump would tap Pence as his vice presidential running mate.

Could there really be any doubt, with such a record that has spanned years and right up until recently, that Pence supports conversion therapy?

As The Daily Beasts Samatha Allen noted, Pence could just come out against conversion therapy if its not true that he supports it, and say that it is something harmful. Instead of continuing to claim he didnt ever support it in the past, he could say he opposes it  but curiously, he wont.

The passage in question regarding Pences support for conversion therapy comes from the very same 2000 campaign website where he attacked homosexuals as a group that should not have anti-discrimination protections:

Congress should support the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act only after completion of an audit to ensure that federal dollars were no longer being given to organizations that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus. Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior.

Last year, and recently, Pences spokesperson tried to argue that changing sexual behavior meant safer sex practices, not conversion therapy.

But for that to be even remotely true, there would have to have been AIDS organizations at the time that were promoting unprotected sex  the institutions Pence referred to that were getting federal dollars from the government via the Ryan White Care Act.

Thats a reckless lie, and I defy Pence or anyone to find major organizations receiving government money while not promoting safer sex practices. AIDS groups, in fact, spent much of their money on HIV prevention, including promoting condom use, as well as on treatment, outreach and education.

Its beyond a stretch to interpret what Pence said as anything other than promoting institutions that engage in conversion therapy  changing peoples behavior to the point of not engaging in same-sex sexual activity. Within the context of his larger agenda and beliefs, it becomes completely impossible to believe thats not what he meant.

Pence is an unrequited bigot, plain and simple. He has taken back none of these statements and policy prescriptions over the years, and instead, is taking a page from his boss Trump, trying to cast coverage of these realities as fake news.

But until Pence actually addresses the issues one by one and recants his past statements and positions, they remain the clear truth.



Follow Michelangelo Signorile on Twitter: www.twitter.com/msignorile

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.Munich (Germany) (AFP) - Moscow on Saturday dismissed as "blabber" and "fantasies" allegations that it interfered in the election that brought President Donald Trump to power, denials that drew immediate scorn from US officials.

The traded barbs, made at the Munich Security Conference, came a day after the United States indicted 13 Russians for running a secret campaign to sway the 2016 vote.

"I am amazed that... the Russians come, send someone every year to basically refute the facts," US Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the Munich attendees about the US charges: "So as long as we don't see facts, everything else is blabber."

The indictments, which include the first charges laid by US special counsel Robert Mueller for election interference, detailed a stunning operation launched in 2014 in a bid to sow division and influence American politics "including the presidential election of 2016".

Mueller alleges that by mid-2016, the campaign -- under the direction of Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin -- became focused on boosting Trump and demeaning his rivals including Democrat Hillary Clinton.

It allegedly involved hundreds of people working in shifts and with a budget of millions of dollars. Three companies were also indicted.

- 'Simply fantasies' -

Mueller charges that members of the group posed as US citizens on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram, posting content that reached "significant numbers" of Americans.

The indictments made no judgement however on whether the alleged Russian efforts had altered the outcome of the election.

When asked to comment on the charges at the gathering in Germany, Lavrov stressed that US officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, had in the past "denied that any country influenced results of the election".

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Former Russian ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak was equally dismissive when he took to the stage at the top security gathering in Munich.

"We didn't meddle in the American political life," said Kislyak, who was posted in Washington when Trump's White House win stunned the world.

"Whatever allegations are being mounted against us are simply fantasies that are being used for political reasons inside the United States in the fight between different sides of the political divide," he added.

Kislyak's own name has popped up in Mueller's probe as part of his inquiries into contacts between Russia and the Trump team.

In December, Mueller announced that former Trump national security advisor Michael Flynn had pleaded guilty to lying about his conversations with then-ambassador Kislyak in 2016.

- 'Incontrovertible' evidence -

Despite the vehement Russian denials, US National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, speaking in Munich immediately after Lavrov, said "evidence" of such attempts to "interfere in our democratic process" would become harder to hide.

"We're becoming more and more adept at tracing the origins of this espionage and subversion, and as you can see with the FBI indictment, the evidence is now really incontrovertible and in the public domain," McMaster said.

While in the past, investigators were wary of divulging their IT intelligence capabilities, "now that this is in the arena of a law enforcement investigation, it's going to be very apparent to everyone," McMaster said.

Trump meanwhile has seized on the indictments as proof that his campaign team did not conspire with Moscow.

"Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for president," he tweeted Friday.

"The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong - no collusion!"

None of the 13 Russian suspects are in US custody.Special counsel buries Trumps obfuscations over Russian meddling, but has not yet produced compelling evidence of collusion

After the indictment was released, Trump tweeted: The Trump campaign did nothing wrong  no collusion! Photograph: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

What Robert Mueller delivered in Fridays indictment were the first charges for interfering in the 2016 presidential election. He is getting to the heart of the matter.

The special counsel also buried once and for all Donald Trumps mealy-mouthed obfuscations over whether Russia was responsible for this confidence trick of breathtaking scope and scale. Former CIA director-general Michael Hayden has described it as the political equivalent of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

But what Mueller has not yet produced is compelling evidence that demonstrates the president or his campaign knowingly coordinated with Russians to cheat Hillary Clinton out of the election.

Trump, predictably, claimed vindication. Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for president, he tweeted on Friday as he departed the White House for Florida. The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong  no collusion!

According to Fridays indictment of 13 Russians and three Russian companies, the strategic goal was to sow discord in America and dated back to 2014. Online propaganda efforts by a troll farm called the Internet Research Agency were primarily intended to communicate derogatory information about Hillary Clinton, to denigrate other candidates such as Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, and to support Bernie Sanders and then-candidate Donald Trump.

In addition, an ad shortly before the election promoted the Green party candidate Jill Stein, who proved crucial in splitting the Clinton vote in the decisive states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Russians posing as Trump supporters, and as anti-Trump groups such as Black Lives Matter, organised campaign events.

Clintons supporters will seize on the charge that there was a deliberate attempt to undermine their candidate. But Trump loyalists will be quick to point out that Sanders and Stein were also intended to benefit. That would appear to support the theory that the meddling was more about Vladimir Putins personal animosity towards Clinton, or about stirring chaos in general, than anything else.

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The charges say that Russians also communicated with unwitting individuals associated with the Trump campaign and other political activists to coordinate activities. There is succour for Trump in that word unwitting.

And in a televised press conference that may have been to Trumps benefit, Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, was at pains to say the 37-page indictment does not allege that anyone on the Trump campaign was aware of or involved in the Russian effort, nor that the outcome of the election was affected  the latter claim being surely impossible for anyone to know.

Ari Fleischer, former White House press secretary, tweeted: The report knocks the legs out from the Democrats most serious charge  that Trump colluded. If there was collusion, it would have been made known today.

But this is hardly the end of the matter. Before Friday, four people, including Trumps former national security adviser and former campaign chairman, had been charged. Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist, was interviewed for 20 hours this week. It remains to be seen if Trump himself will be questioned.

As Adam Schiff, ranking member of the House intelligence committee, noted on Friday, the indictment leaves open the question of whether Americans  including any involved in the Trump campaign  deliberately played a role in Russias industrial-scale election meddling.Anchors from WGN-TV questioned Hoda Katebi on her Iranian-American identity. (Photo: WGN-TV)

After Hoda Katebi appeared on WGN-TV, the Muslim blogger become a viral sensation for politely responding to an interviewer who said she didnt sound American.

Katebi, who went on the show to discuss her work dealing with the intersectionality of fashion and activism, as well as her photography book Tehran Streetstyle, was instead asked questions with Islamophobic overtones.

Lets talk about nuclear weapons. Some of our viewers may say we cannot trust Iran. What are your thoughts? Katebi was asked by WGN-TV anchor Robin Baumgarten.

The 23-year-old, who studied international relations and Middle Eastern politics at the University of Chicago, responded: I dont think we can trust this country [the United States]. I am a pacifist, I dont believe in violence. But also when we look at the legacy of imperialism and colonization in the Middle East and we see the legacy of this country and the violence that it has not only created but also created the capacity for, a lot of these weapons in the Middle East are completely brought in by the Unites States.

To that, Baumgarten said, A lot of Americans might take offense to that. Youre an American, you dont sound like an American when you say [that]  you know what I mean?

Katebi didnt miss a beat and stated matter of factly: Thats cause Ive read. She continued, Its really important that we look beyond these really simple narratives that were told, whether its about Muslim women, whether its about the legacy of this country was literally built on the backs of Black slaves and after the genocide of indigenous people.

According to a WGN-TV spokesperson, Baumgarten apologized to Katebi and they had a constructive dialogue about micro-aggressions. The pair will also be working together to use this as a teachable moment to encourage education and a deeper understanding of race, religion and identity struggles.

However, the 23-year-old wants people to know that this incident, despite a productive outcome, isnt out of the ordinary.

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I think that was just very shocking, but unfortunately not surprising, Katebi tells Yahoo Lifestyle. That blatant sort of double standard of one momeet me being asked to basically denounce half of my identity as an Iranian, by unquestionably saying, Oh yeah, I denounce this and that about Iran. But then fool blind patriotism towards this country in the same breath, within the span of a minute. For them, not being able to get those answers out of me I think was unsettling, just because people arent taught that thats not okay. And especially from Muslims, our political voice is oftentimes criminalized when it is against the state.

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In the case of this particular segment, Katebi says it was the beauty of knowing that it was live and unedited that allowed her to make use of the moment and express her truest opinions  something that she hopes more Muslim women can do in the future. For many, its still difficult to speak out in the way that she had the opportunity to, but she looks forward to change.

Unfortunately, for the daughter of Iranian immigrants who grew up in Oklahoma, ignorance to Katebis identity and culture is nothing new. From a very young age, she says that she was recognized as the token Middle Eastern and subjected to bulls*** questions about conflict and culture in the east. As a means to defend herself and respond to peoples ignorance, she gained an interest in reading about history and politics integral to her background  things she later discovered had a relationship to fashion.

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In an anthropological setting, fashion is a way of looking at womens histories, and womens histories are often not documented historically, Katebi explains, as a result of her research at the University of Chicago. But really, you can see tension sort of mapped onto womens bodies. Political tension and things like that, where otherwise, womens histories would oftentimes be lost.

In the past, fashion had been a way for Katebi to distance herself from her familys history and Muslim-ness, choosing to wear American brands like Abercrombie & Fitch to blend in with people at school. But when blending in seemed impossible for the self-conscious young girl, she decided to use her knowledge about the politics behind clothes to stand out.

From a political lens, Im gonna get stares regardless, so I might as well use my body as a way to reclaim my agency and demand peoples stares to the way that I dress, she says. I might as well make them stare at me on my own terms, rather than just being a passive person who has no agency in this public transaction of looks.

Katebi has the same mindset when it comes to her moment in the spotlight. I dont want to turn a movement into an individual, its not about me, she says of the segments viral nature. I want people to not just cheer from their computer screens, but go out into the community and do something about it. Pick up a book, if you have access and are able to read. And dont let this happen.

As for the future of her work, Katebi says that her mission is to help others in the Muslim community deepen their engagement with fashion beyond just accepting what I like to call surface level representation or revolution washing.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

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Most of the pricey machines NASA outlined in a 2019 budget proposal this week  a 32-story mega-rocket, moon landers, and Mars rover  will be launched to Earth's orbit or beyond.

But aside from those big-ticket items, the space agency's budget also requests funding for a curious airplane that currently exists only in sketches and the minds of NASA engineers: The X-Plane.

This aircraft is designed to travel faster than the speed of sound, and to do so relatively quietly, without sending sonic boom sound waves into unsuspecting neighborhoods thousands of feet below. If it works, NASA's X-Plane could revolutionize flight, cutting flight times in half and changing the way we fly.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's vision of human spaceflight can take us to Mars, but there's a cost

If NASA has its way, the first X-Plane  a prototype  will take flight for the first time in 2021, according to the budget.

"Were heading into an exciting phase here  we have the funds to proceed forward," said NASA engineer David Richwine, in an interview.

An artist's conception of what NASA's X-Plane might look like.

Image: nasa

Flight engineers already know how to build planes that can break the sound barrier  take the retired European craft the Concorde, a commercial jet that could hold over 100 passengers, as an example. But governments would not allow the Concorde to fly over land in order to protect their citizens from the sonic booms the plane emitted.

Beyond that, sonic booms also produce blasting bursts of sound waves that jolt buildings.

"If youre not expecting them, they can be startling," said Richwine, who is the Deputy Project Manager of Technology for the X-Plane, known more formally as the Low Boom Demonstration project.

The X-Plane, unlike the Concorde, will be designed to produce low booms that will sound like "a thump or a heartbeat," said Richwine.

The exact design of the plane is yet to be determined, but it will look something like the Concorde, said Richwine, with a needle-like body and swept-back wings, as opposed to the look of a traditional airplane's wings.

Story continues

To break the sound barrier without creating massive shockwaves, the plane will also need to change shape during flight  though quite subtly. Most of those in-flight changes will be imperceptible to passengers, however.

The Concorde preparing to land.

Image: flickr user Aero Icarus

"A little tweak goes a long way when it's traveling 30,000 feet to the ground," said Rodney Bowersox, director of the Texas A&M National Aerothermochemistry Laboratory, in an interview. "Its not like transformers where the plane is really going to change shape or anything."

According to Bowersox, the plane will likely need to subtly change its shape during various weather conditions  like hitting a storm front, for example  in order to keep the sonic booms quiet.

"The goal is to shape the airplane such that the shockwaves generated by the plane dont coalesce into a large shockwave that hits the ground," Bowersox, who leads a team responsible for making recommendations to NASA about how the shape of the plane will need to change in flight, said in an interview.

"You want a series of smaller waves so it sounds more like a rumble and less like a boom."

This could mean that the body, or fuselage, of the plane may need to change its shape by just 1 percent while in flight. This could take the form of small bumps that would extend or retract on a portion of the plane's body or wings to deflect sound. Engineers will spend the next few years figuring out what will produce low booms, and what doesn't.

Test engineer Samantha OFlaherty works on an X-Plane model.

Image: nasa

These subtle changes are necessary for NASA's purposes with the X-Plane.

"You have to be able to fly over land for this enterprise to be commercially viable," said Darren Hartl, an aerospace engineer at Texas A&M University and member of Bowersox' design team.

Hartl added that the Concorde's business model didn't work out "because you could only go from New York to Paris."

Once NASA gets its first X-Plane flying, it plans to test it by flying over government lands at first, but eventually the agency plans to fly the supersonic craft over real U.S. communities.

However, before any of that happens, NASA is going to have some hoops to jump through.

The Federal Aviation Administration, will need to approve any plane that changes its shape, even slightly, in-flight. In all likelihood, that approval will take years, though exactly how long remains unknown.

"It is a long process for a new airplane to be put in production," said Hartl.

"As exciting as it is, when it comes time to put your aunts and mother on the plane it becomes a very conservative business."NASAs K2 missionthe current focus of the Kepler spacecrafthas revealed 95 new planets beyond our solar system. The treasure trove of new exoplanets joins the thousands of others that had already been identified as of February 1.

An international team of scientists analyzed 275 possible exoplanets. Of those, 149 were validated and 95 were entirely new. The discovery, published Thursday in the Astronomical Journal, is good news for scientists trying to figure out what planets beyond our solar system might be like. More exoplanets mean more opportunities to parse through what these mysterious planets atmospheres might containand if those atmospheres mirror our own, with common molecules like carbon dioxide or otherwise.

Exo-planets-feb-2018

ESA/Hubble/ESO/M. Kornmesser

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There are no surprises, per se, but its a great new haul of planets, and plenty of fodder for exploring the individual systems within the catalog, Jessie Christiansen, an astronomer at NASAs Exoplanet Archive who was not involved with the study, told Newsweek by email.

The discovery nearly doubles the number of exoplanets found by the K2 mission. The finding began with a senior thesis by Andrew Mayo during his undergraduate studies at Harvard University. K2 was sending a massive amount of messy data back to Earth, and 275 exoplanet candidates were lying around, Mayo told Newsweek. Mayo and his colleagues sorted through the data, analyzing each potential exoplanet and ultimately validated 149 of them.

The K2 mission is especially good at finding bright stars and planets. The Kepler telescope had a mechanical failure in 2013 after observing one swath of space for four years, picking up faraway, dim planets and stars. The instrument was repurposed following that failure (and the new mission was named K2), changing the region of space its observing every few months and picking up brighter and closer planets and stars.

Story continues

Don't miss: Florida Shooting Victims Mother Shouts at Trump to Please Do Something' About Guns

kepler-k2_artistconcept

NASA

Those extra light photons could help scientists better understand exoplanets atmospheres. More photons are always better, Mayo said. That way, if there are certain molecules that are making the exoplanet look puffy at certain wavelengths, but not at others, I can see that. One of the new exoplanets was orbiting around the star HD 212657, the brightest star found to date by either the Kepler or K2 missions, according to Mayo, now a postdoctoral student at the National Space Institute at the Technical University of Denmark.

Around 3,700 exoplanets have been discovered in around 2,700 systems. The planets range from rocky, Earth-like planets to massive gas planets like Jupiter. The search for more is far from over, and each discovery brings us a little closer to understanding how Earth fits into our galaxyand maybe to finding life elsewhere.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekPaul R. Pillar

Syria Russia Iran, Middle East

Needed in Syria: Disengagement

The cauldron of intervention known as the Syrian war has recently become even more likely to boil over than it was just a few weeks ago. There are two immediate dangers of escalation.

One is the outbreak of another war between Israel and its neighbors. A reminder of this danger has come from events that began when Israel said it shot down an Iranian drone that had entered its airspace. Israeli F-16s then attacked a command center in Syria, during which Syrian air defenses downed one of the Israeli warplanes (a rare event for Israel). Israel subsequently launched a much more widespread set of aerial attacks within Syria. The Israelis have conducted scores of attacks in Syria over the last five years, but this most recent assault may have been the largest Israeli attack there since the 1980s.

A new war involving Israel would surely also involve Lebanese Hezbollah. There is no indication that Hezbollah seeks such a war. The group has incurred significant costs by participating in fighting within Syria and has many wounds to lick. Its leaders still have regrets about the brinksmanship that last got Hezbollah entangled in a war with Israel. Even though it could get in some hits with cross-border rocket fire, the groups leaders know that in a new clash it would get badly bloodied by its militarily more capable foe.

The inclinations of the Israeli government are less apparent. Its clear military superiority would make it the winner on most scorecards in a new war. The Israeli itch to escalate was in full view this past week. The reported Iranian drone did not, according to the Israeli account, get off a shot, and it may not even have been armed. A fresh war with Irans ally Hezbollah also would serve for the government of Benjamin Netanyahu the purpose of emboldening anti-Iran U.S. hawks and rallying them to isolate and punish Iran even more, perhaps tipping the Trump administration into repudiation of the agreement that restricts Irans nuclear program.

Story continues

An added wild card are the corruption allegations against Netanyahu and the possibility he would use a foreign clash to divert attention from the scandal and shore up his domestic political position. The veteran Israeli commentator (and critic of Netanyahu) Uri Avnery writes, When the police chief hinted on TV about the coming police decision to recommend indictment, my first impulse was to rush and clean the air-raid shelter at my home. When you are prime minister and in deep domestic trouble, the first thing you think about is a military crisis.

The other current danger is on the northern side of Syria, where there is a significant chance of proxies of the United States and maybe even U.S. troops clashing directly with the forces of a fellow NATO member, Turkey. The source of the standoff is the accurate U.S. view that a Kurdish militia involved has been among the most effective fighters against Islamic State (ISIS), and the Turkish view, also accurate, that the Syrian Kurds in question are organizationally tied to the PKK, the Turkish Kurdish group that has waged terrorist campaigns and large-scale insurgency against Turkey. Secretary of State Rex Tillersons just-completed talks in Ankara appear to have cooled things a bit for the moment, but the underlying cause of the tension has not been resolved. Dont expect the Turks to budge much on this one. To get an idea of how they feel, imagine that some foreign power was supporting in an enclave in northern Mexico rebels who were tied to insurgents who had tried to separate a chunk of the southwest United States while conducting terrorist campaigns against U.S. targets.

To deal with both these problems and to avoid the substantial damage that eruption on either of these fronts would cause, two realities need to be recognized. One is that the ISIS caliphate has been defeated. One hears from U.S. officials much talk about how that last two percent of ISIS-held territory needs to be recaptured, but this perspective makes the mistake of treating the problem of this group as if it were exclusively a military problem of seizing ground. When ISIS had a mini-state holding much Syrian and Iraqi territory, it was indeed in part such a military problem. But the mini-state is no more. ISIS is now more of a traditional international terrorist group, and dealing with it requires more traditional counterterrorist methods. To give disproportionate priority to that last two percent of soiland, in the interests of capturing it, to do things like maintaining proxy militias that cause other problemsinvolves passing a point not only of diminishing returns but of counterproductivity as far as counterterrorism is concerned.

Another reality, less comfortable to accept than ISIS being defeated, is that the Syrian regime, with the help of its Russian and Iranian supporters, is the winner of this civil war. Given the divisions and ineffectiveness of the Syrian opposition and especially the supposedly moderate parts of it, there probably was never much of a chance for a different outcome. Now, there certainly is no such chance. For an outside intervenor such as the United States to continue, either directly or through proxies, to try to keep control of a piece of Syrian territory becomes a Western equivalent of the Russians continuing to muck around in the Donbass region of Ukraine.

As a sovereign state, Syria can choose its friends. And none of the main facts about this regime or its alliances are new. Not only have the Assads been around for decades; so too have been the ties between Damascus and both Moscow and Tehran. And during these decades the Assad regime, with its Russian and Iranian support, has been for Israel the devil it has come to knowwith Israel enjoying a remarkably quiet frontier, notwithstanding its occupation of a piece of Syrian territory. It has continued to enjoy this, despite the war raging within Syria. The shots fired across the frontier have been almost all from Israel into Syria, not the other way around.

To do its part in avoiding a boiling over, the United States should stop its Donbass-like effort to keep a piece of Syria under the control of itself or its proxies. There is no justification for continuing this effort in terms either of what is most needed to minimize ISIS terrorism against Western targets or what would induce the other players in Syria to de-escalate or disengage. The United States should do what the Trump administration has not been doing so far, which is to participate in serious, inclusive, multilateral diplomacy aimed at containing and damping down the Syrian conflict. It has left most of the diplomatic action to Russia, Turkey, and Iran.

A comprehensive resolution of the Syria conflict may well be out of reach for the time being, but more feasible would be adjustments, redeployments, and tacit limitations that reduce the chance of explosive escalation. Damascus, Moscow, and Tehran all have firm bottom lines on what they see as their core interests in Syria, but they probably are flexible on some matters outside the core that make the Israelis (or the Turks) nervous. Such matters might include the specific positioning of forces within Syria or activities such as manufacture of munitions. Neither Russia or Iran has an interest in endless, let alone escalating, warfare in Syria, no matter how strong are their basic interests in maintaining political and security ties to Syria.

Adjustments and limitations cannot be all in one direction. Avoidance of escalation requires Israel to move away from its penchant for seeking absolute security even if this means absolute insecurity for someone else, and for launching airstrikes at the mere possibility that someone else might try to acquire a capability that Israel already has. The journalist Ronen Bergman reports that a furious phone call last weekend from Russian President Vladimir Putin dissuaded Netanyahu from an even greater military escalation than the one in which Israel indulged. It is interesting that such a message came from Russia. Now would be a good time to test whether $3.8 billion in annual U.S. aid to Israel buys any influence at all. Some furious phone calls from Washington would be in order.

Image: A participant holds a Syrian flag as he attends a session of the Syrian Congress of National Dialogue in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia January 30, 2018. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

Read full articleFlorida Gov. Rick Scott speaks about the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School: Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP

Floridas Governor is calling on the FBIs director to resign amid revelations the agency failed to follow up on a tip about a suspected school shooter.

The FBIs failure to take action against this killer is unacceptable, Governor Rick Scott said in a statement.

Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isnt going to cut it, Mr Scott aded. An apology will never bring these 17 Floridians back to life or comfort the families who are in pain.

As authorities reconstruct the events that led to the bloodletting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School this week, they have discovered that the FBI had received warnings on at least two occasions about suspected shooter Nikolas Cruz.

The investigative agency acknowledged that, a little more than a month before the shooting, a person contacted the FBI tip line with information about Cruzs gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting.

In a violation of protocol, the information was never passed along to the FBIs Miami office for followup.

I am committed to getting to the bottom of what happened in this particular matter, as well as reviewing our processes for responding to information that we receive from the public, Mr Wray said in a statement about the lapse, adding We have spoken with victims and families, and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said he is launching a view of FBI and Department of Justice practices.

It is now clear that the warning signs were there and tips to the FBI were missed, Mr Sessions said in a statement. We see the tragic consequences of these failures.

The agent in charge of the Miami office has also said the agency received a tip about an online comment, posted under the name nikolas cruz, in which the commenter said Im going to be a professional school shooter.

Story continues

No other information was included with that comment, which would indicate a time, location or the true identity of the person who made that comment, Special Agent Robert Lasky told reporters. The FBI conducted database reviews, checks, but was unable to further identify the person who actually made the comment.

Mr Cruz, who is facing seventeen counts of murder, was expelled from the school for bad behaviour before the shooting, and some students and teachers there have described him as troubled. His defence attorney described him as a a broken human being.BEIJING (Reuters) - Nine people have died in a fire at a waste processing facility in southern China that is suspected of being sparked by fireworks residue, state news agency Xinhua said on Saturday. The fire broke out in the early hours of the morning in Qingyuan city in the southern province of Guangdong, Xinhua said, citing the local government. The fire has been extinguished and a survivor with serious burns was sent to hospital, the report said. Police have detained several suspects in connection with the fire, Xinhua said, without giving details. "Preliminary investigation showed that fireworks residue initially caused the fire. When three workers were trying to put out the flames, an explosion occurred, killing more people living nearby," it said. The victims consisted of workers at the facility and their families, who lived in makeshift wooden rooms on the second floor, Xinhua said. "The garbage burnt quickly and discharged heavy smoke. The victims were unable to escape." China has just begun a week-long holiday for the Lunar New Year, when fireworks and firecrackers are traditionally let off in celebration. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Tom Hogue)Shortly after his unexpected victory in the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump told Time in an interview that Russia had not interfered in the 2016 election.

I dont believe they interfered. That became a laughing point; not a talking point, a laughing point. Any time I do something, they say Oh, Russia interfered, Trump said. It could be Russia. And it could be China. And it could be some guy in his home in New Jersey.

Over the past year, Russias interference in the 2016 election, and the federal investigation into that interference and the possibility that the Trump campaign had abetted it, have been a sore spot for the president. Hes called the Russia investigation a hoax, a political witch hunt and fake news. He said it was a joke, a ruse, and phony. The Democrats made up and pushed the Russian story as an excuse for running a terrible campaign, Trump insisted. Even after January of 2017, when American intelligence agencies released a report concluding that Russia had interfered in the election on Trumps behalf, both the president and his allies continued to insist that the story was untrue. In his confirmation hearing to be attorney general, Jeff Sessions would not even acknowledge that Russia had interfered. I have done no research into that. I know just what the media says about it, Sessions testified.

Recommended: What Mueller's Indictment Reveals

Trump allies werent the only ones expressing skepticism over the Russia story. There has been a very extreme dearth of evidence to actually support the claims that have come from the U.S. government, the journalist Glenn Greenwald told Democracy Now in January of 2017. Unfortunately, there is very little skepticism being applied to the agencies that have repeatedly misled and deceived and lied to the American public.

Story continues

Special Counsel Robert Muellers indictment of 13 Russian nationals associated with the Internet Research Agency, better known as the Russian Troll Farm, on charges related to interfering with the 2016 election, leaves little doubt as to the Kremlins intentions. Originally, the operation was meant to spread distrust towards the candidates and the political system in general. By early to mid-2016, the indictment reads, Defendants operations included supporting the presidential campaign of then-candidate Donald J. Trump and disparaging Hillary Clinton. The indictment describes a Russian operation that was essentially a Super PAC operating on Trumps behalf, one that employed hundreds of individuals with an annual budget of the equivalent of millions of U.S. dollars, more precisely, $1.2 million per month by September 2016. Separately, the special counsels office announced that an American citizen had pled guilty to facilitating payments through stolen identities.

Recommended: Read the Full Text of Mueller's Indictment of 13 Russians

The indictment alleges that the Russians stole Americans identities, purchased political ads, attempted to organize rallies, and operated social-media accounts designed to inflame racial and sectarian tensions in the U.S. A document cited in the indictment as guidance distributed to the operatives instructed them to use any opportunity to criticize Hillary and the rest (except Sanders and Trumpwe support them).

The indictment makes no claim of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian effort. There is no allegation in this indictment that any American was a knowing participant, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said during a press conference Friday. There is no allegation in the indictment that the charge conduct altered the outcome of the 2016 election.

Both of Rosensteins observations have a key caveat: that this indictment does not make either allegation does not preclude future indictments from doing so.

Some of the initial skepticism towards the intelligence communitys conclusions about Russian interference was understandable, and offered in good faith. After all, as the Iraq War shows, American spies are not infallible. People make mistakes. And sometimes, representatives of U.S. intelligence agencies simply lie to the American people.

By the same token, its perilous to draw broad conclusions about the Troll Farms impact based on the indictment alone. The detailed indictment unsealed by Mueller, with internal messages from the Troll Farm, descriptions of specific bank accounts used, ads purchased, and social-media accounts deployed, does not speak to the effectiveness of the Troll Farms methods. American bigotry and intolerance are not products of foreign interference. Its possible that these efforts played a key role in delivering to Trump the few crucial votes in battleground states that led to his election; its possible that they had no effect at all, or even that they backfired. But the indictment itself makes no claims on that question.

Recommended: Mueller's Message to America

Although the indictment does not speak to effectiveness, it does speak to intent. Mueller and his team will have to substantiate the indictments claims in court; for now, they are the assertions of prosecutors, and the defendants are entitled to a presumption of innocence. But the details that Mueller offers, corroborating previous reports, should settle a related question in the court of public opinion: That Russia attempted to interfere in the 2016 election on Trumps behalf has been demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.By Greg Roumeliotis and Pamela Barbaglia (Reuters) - Switzerland's Novartis AG is preparing to auction its U.S. generic pill business, looking to shed a unit that has struggled amid fierce price competition, people familiar with the matter said on Friday. The move illustrates how the unit has diverged from the fortunes of the rest of Novartis' $10 billion Sandoz generics and biosimilars division. The company has fared better in manufacturing hard-to-make generic drugs, such as injectables and inhalables, than it has with easier to produce pills. "It is a unique situation," new Novartis Chief Executive Vasant Narasimhan told investors and analysts during the company's fourth-quarter earnings call last month when asked about the future of the U.S. generic pills business. "There are significant pricing declines. At least in the medium term, we don't see a shift to that situation, and so we're assessing how best to optimize that given that dynamic," Narasimhan added, without saying what Novartis is looking to do with the business. Novartis' generic pills business could fetch as much as $1.6 billion based on estimated 12-month earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of around $200 million, the sources said. A sale process for the unit will launch in the next few weeks and could attract other pharmaceutical companies or private equity firms, the sources added. The sources asked not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential. Novartis declined to comment. Sandoz was established in Basel in 1886 by Alfred Kern and Edouard Sandoz. By 1895 it had produced its first pharmaceutical substance, antipyrine, which was a fever-controlling agent. In 1996, Sandoz was merged with rival Ciba-Geigy to form Novartis, one of the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies which now has a market capitalization of 206 billion Swiss Francs ($223 billion). Novartis has been looking for new blockbusters after its top seller, blood cancer drug Gleevec, lost its cancer protection. It is counting on approvals for new drugs against macular degeneration, a cause of blindness, and migraine, in partnership with U.S. drugmaker Amgen Inc , as well as a pair of new multiple sclerosis drugs, to revitalize its growth. Novartis also said last year it is considering a spin-off of its eyecare business Alcon. (This version of the story corrects Novartis' market capitalization in 8th paragraph) (Reporting by Greg Roumeliotis in New York and Pamela Barbaglia in London; Additional reporting by John Miller in Zurich and Carl O'Donnell in New York; Editing by Susan Thomas)"Single Atom in an Ion Trap," by David Nadlinger. (Photo: David Nadlinger/University of Oxford/EPSRC)

An Oxford University student who captured an image of a single atom has won a top science photography prize.

David Nadlinger captured the winning photo of an atom suspended between electric fields using a standard digital single-lens reflex camera, the council that organized the U.K. photography competition announced on Monday.

The idea of being able to see a single atom with the naked eye had struck me as a wonderfully direct and visceral bridge between the miniscule quantum world and our macroscopic reality, Nadlinger said according to an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council press release.

A back-of-the-envelope calculation showed the numbers to be on my side, and when I set off to the lab with camera and tripods one quiet Sunday afternoon, I was rewarded with this particular picture of a small, pale blue dot, he added.

Nadlinger, a Ph.D. student in physics, traps atoms as part of his research on quantum computing at Oxfords Clarendon Laboratory. Atoms are incredibly small, but he used a few tricks to make the atom visible to the human eye in a photograph.

A close-up of David Nadlinger's photo of a strontium atom. (Photo: David Nadlinger/University of Oxford/EPSRC)

The researcher first turned the atom of strontium, the 38th element on the periodic table, into an ion  an atom with a positive or negative net electric charge. Nadlinger then used currents that four needle-shaped electrodes emitted to isolate and suspend the ion. He illuminated it with a blue-violet colored laser and took the photo through the window of a vacuum chamber, using an exposure time of 30 seconds.

The pale dot that Nadlinger captured is not the true size of the strontium atom, however. The atom is actually re-emitting the light from the lasers to create a glow that is hundreds of times wider than its radius.

I think people are ... surprised by how big the atom looks here, Nadlinger told LiveScience. I hope Im not undoing 100 years of science education with this photo  atoms actually are unbelievably small!

The research council received over 100 entries this year for its fifth science photography competition. Other winning images included a colorful close-up photo of spherical soap bubble about to burst in a kitchen sink and a photo of a volunteer wearing a headset that records brain activity while walking along a road in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Story continues

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Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.[videoid=5734674404001] As authorities piece together information in Wednesdays school shooting in Parkland, Fla., details are emerging on the timeline of events that took place in and around Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Police released a timeline of the movements of accused shooter Nikolas Cruz Thursday. Cruz is said to have confessed to the shooting that killed 17 people and wounded 14 others. Here is what authorities say alleged shooter is alleged to have done before, during, and after the shooting:

2:19 p.m.

The suspect exited an Uber car, arriving at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School around dismissal time. Uber has confirmed to TIME that Cruz did use the service and said they are working with authorities.

2:21 p.m.

The shooter allegedly enters the school and takes his AR-15 out of a case. He begins shooting into three classrooms, returning to two of them, shot into anther classroom, then shot into two more classrooms before dropping his rifle.

2:28 p.m.

The suspect is believed to have run outside, mixing in with students who were running away from the scene.

2:50 p.m.

Police say the alleged shooter went into a Walmart and bought a drink at a Subway before leaving on foot.

3:01 p.m.

The suspect allegedly walked into a McDonalds, sat down for a while and then left on foot again.

3:41 p.m.

Cruz was taken into custody by a police officer without incident, after the officer matched the 19-year-olds clothing with a description being shared by authorities.Pope Francis has revived the lapsed child abuse advisory committee Saturday, after facing criticism for backing a Chilean bishop accused of covering up abuse by a priest.

Francis named nine new members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors Saturday, after the commissions initial three year mandate lapsed on December 17, the Associated Press reported.

11_15_Pope_Francis

Andreas Solaro/AFP/Getty

Trending: Trump Branded 'Psychopath' After Blaming FBI's Russia Probe for Failure to Investigate Florida Shooting Tip

The announcement came on the same day that a Vatican investigator is set to meet a whistleblower in the Chilean priest abuse scandal in New York. Archbishop Charles Scicluna is investigating allegations that Bishop Juan Barros witnessed abuse being carried out by his mentor, Reverend Fernando Karadima, and took no action.

Barros denies the allegations.

The meeting between Scicluna and whistleblower Juan Carlos Cruz will take place at a Roman Catholic church in Manhattan.

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Critics questioned the Vaticans commitment to fighting child abuse after the commission's lapse.

According to a Vatican statement, the new members of the commission will join eight existing members. The group said in a statement that some of them are abuse survivors who have yet to publicly identify themselves.

Six founding members of the commission were not re-appointed, a move criticised by abuse survivor Marie Collins, who resigned from the commission in March.

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"I'm shocked at the discarding of some of the most active and independent members of the commission," Collins told the National Catholic Reporter. "Four of the laywomen have gone and they were really the most active and had the most experience of working in child protection and working directly with survivors."

Story continues

Francis is facing the most urgent crisis of his papacy over his support for Barros, whom he made a bishop in 2015 in face of protests from Catholics. He has described the allegations against Barros as slander.

He has vetoed a proposal from Chilean church leaders that Barros, and two other priests trained by Karadima, resign and take a year-long sabbatical.

In a rare u-turn, last month he apologized for saying that abuse survivors should show "proof" of the crimes against them, and dispatched Scicluna, one of the Vatican's most respected abuse investigators, to Chile to probe the claims of victims.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekMexico City (AFP) - A strong earthquake shook a large swathe of southern and central Mexico on Friday, triggering the quake alarm system in Mexico City and causing buildings to sway.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from the quake, which measured 7.2 in magnitude, according to Mexico's National Seismological Service and the US Geological Survey.

Panicked residents flooded into the street, fearing a repeat of two earthquakes last September that caused buildings to collapse and killed 465 people combined.

"To be honest, we're all pretty upset. We start crying whenever the (earthquake) alarm goes off. We're stressed out, we have flashbacks. So we run out into the street. It's all we can do," 38-year-old publicist Kevin Valladolid told AFP through tears after evacuating from his building in La Roma, in central Mexico City.

On the north side of the city, Julia Hernandez said she felt like she was "in a boat" as the ground swayed beneath her feet.

"Is it ever going to stop?" she said.

"We live in constant fear, with the memory of what happened" in previous quakes, her daughter added.

Officials in affected states said they were already inspecting buildings damaged by last year's quakes, which are especially vulnerable to collapse.

"Obviously people are afraid," said the emergency response chief for the city of Puebla, Gustavo Ariza.

The latest tremor comes less than six months after last year's devastating earthquakes in central and southern Mexico.

On September 7 last year, an 8.2 earthquake shook the nation and killed 96 people, mostly in the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas.

Then on September 19 -- the 32nd anniversary of a huge 1985 quake that killed 10,000 people -- another 7.1 quake rocked the country, leaving 369 people dead.

The US Geological Survey put the latest quake's epicenter 37 kilometers (22 miles) northeast of Pinotepa de Don Luis, in the southwestern state of Oaxaca.

The US National Weather service said it was not issuing a tsunami alert.A lot of Vincentian produce, ground provisions especially  find their way into vegetable/food crop markets in Trinidad and Tobago.

Government has taken a decision to enforce the Exchange Control Act, which had previously been suspended, as it pertains to trading with Trinidad and Tobago.





Minister of Finance, Camillo Gonsalves announced on Monday during the 2018 Budget presentation, that as of March 1 this year, any payment in United States (US) dollars from St Vincent and the Grenadines to the twin island republic will now require prior approval of the Director of Finance and Planning.

"The Ministry of Finance will be happy to revisit this in the future, if all parties can arrive at a less bureaucratic cumbersome solution, Gonsalves said.





The decision was taken in response to issues faced by Vincentian traffickers who trade on behalf of farmers, in Trinidad and Tobago.





Under the Exchange Control Act, there is freedom to repatriate capital and profits up to US$100,000. Any amount exceeding that sum requires approval before repatriation.

But this provision had been suspended, until now.





Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves first addressed the issue, saying that he had included it on the agenda for discussion at the CARICOM meeting to be held in Haiti this month.

Speaking at a press briefing earlier this year, PM Gonsalves explained that when goods are purchased from Trinidad, payment is usually made in US currency.





However, traffickers, who journey to that country to sell the produce, are forced to purchase goods for resale in St Vincent, following on which, payment is made to the farmers for their produce.





In his budget presentation, Finance Minister Gonsalves explained that T&T, over the last five years, enjoyed a trade surplus averaging EC$149.9 million, with this county. Over that period, this country imported EC$167.1 million annually while exporting EC$17.2 million to Trinidad each year.





He also noted that payment is made in hard currency, but at the same time, local exporters had difficulty repatriating income earned there.





"This is negatively impacting our farming community in St Vincent and the Grenadines. So it is not only the traders who suffer, but also their suppliers, the small farmers of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Gonsalves said.





Among the measures taken, according to the Minister of Finance, were: cooperation between the government and the Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines (BOSVG) to devise a short term foreign exchange solution for agricultural traders; discussions with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), commercial banks in the country and other stakeholders.





"But unfortunately, we have been unable to arrive at a satisfactory lasting solution with the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago.





Furthermore, Gonsalves said that a proposal had been made during a recent meeting with commercial banks for payments to be made in TT dollars.





"Once implemented, this measure will bring relief to the situation. The banks have indicated that they will need to discuss the proposal with their head offices.. However, the fate of our farmers and traders cannot wait indefinitely on corporate consensus in far-flung bankers boardrooms, Gonsalves said. (DD)A Florida student recounts the shooting on Feb. 15, 2018, in Parkland, Fla. (Photo: Getty Images)

In the wake of a gruesome shooting spree that left 17 dead at a Florida high school, the student body of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has been nothing short of awe inspiring.

Just hours after the attack, in which a former student allegedly gunned down students and teachers with an AR-15, survivors took to social media to express outrage at their country, speak out about those who saved them, and call on adults to stop the violence. Its a fitting response from a school thats named after a feminist icon, and an undeserved dose of inspiration for a nation reeling over the tragedy.

We need to do something. We need to get out there and be politically active, David Hogg, a senior who was present at Marjory Stoneman Douglas as the shooting broke out, told The New York Times. in the aftermath. Congress needs to get over their political bias with each other and work toward saving childrens lives.

Hogg was in science class when he heard gunshots, a sound  owing to his fathers former role in the FBI  he recognized instantly. After a janitor ushered him away from a direct run-in with the shooter, he took shelter in a side room, with more than two dozen others. While hiding, Hogg courageously recorded interviews with his classmates.

Whats your message, Hogg whispers to a female classmate, who is visibly shaken. If you looked around this closet and saw us all hiding together you [would] know that this shouldnt be happening anymore, the student, nearing tears, says. It doesnt deserve to happen to anyone. No amount of money should make it more easily accessible to get guns.

As the image goes black, Hogg continues interviewing, this time speaking with a classmate who identifies as a gun supporter. I had wanted to be a junior NRA [National Rifle Association] member, the student says. But this experience was so traumatizing to the point that now I cant even fathom the thought of a gun in my house.  Its eye opening.

Story continues

Even after the incident, Hogg continued reporting, appearing on CNN with Kelsey Friend, a classmate who was near the shooter. Fighting back tears, Friend takes the opportunity to spread gratitude to the family of Scott Beigel, a geography teacher who died while ushering kids to safety in his classroom. Friend was one of them. I will never forget the actions that he took, Friend says. If his family is watching this, please know that your son or your brother was an amazing person and I am alive today because of him  his name in me will live on. Ill make sure of it.

Students on Feb. 15, 2018, in Parkland, Fla. (Photo: Getty Images)

Hogg and Friend are far from the only ones speaking out.

After President Donald Trump tweeted offering his prayers and condolences, a junior named Sarah Chadwick expressed her outrage at the move. In a since-deleted tweet (which began by referring to him as piece of s**t), Chadwick offered a searing call to action: My friends and teachers were shot. Multiple of my fellow classmates are dead. Do something instead of sending prayers. Prayers wont fix this. But Gun control will prevent it from happening again.

At Stoneman Douglas, it seems socially conscious students are not the exception, theyre the rule. More can be found in the pages of the most recent issue of the schools magazine The Eagle Eye, published this January, where students cover everything from the dangers of vaping to the conflicting arguments that make up the kneeling ordeal in the NFL.

In a letter to the editor titled Not Cool Enough for School, one student named Thais Guerra discusses bullying and the problem with ideals of perfection that society perpetuates. I dont know if its a problem thatll ever be fixed, but hopefully one day it will be, Guerra writes. And I think it can start with us.

On a two-page spread that follows, students are shown embracing during a day in November when the student body watched a screening of a film about mental health awareness. Chadwick (the junior who tweeted at Trump) is quoted in a nearby article that outlines the merits of #MeToo. People just dont really believe women in the same way they believe men I think, Chadwick says. And that kind of sexism [is] just so deeply rooted in our society, we dont even realize were doing it.

In the days after the shooting, thoughtful, well-articulated points of view and plans of action have continued to surface from the student body. On Friday afternoon, a 17-year-old named Cameron Kasky published an op-ed on CNN titled My Generation Wont Stand for This. In it, he details the chilling moment when, upon picking up his special-needs brother, he realized his school was under attack.

I thought it was going to be a wonderful day. My high school was full of cheerful students, Kasky writes. But then, of course, everything changed.

After hours of confusion and terror, Kasky and his brother made it home safely. But for the 17 who didnt, hes not giving up. Im asking  no, demanding  we take action now, Kasky writes. Why? Because at the end of the day, the students at my school felt one shared experience  our politicians abandoned us by failing to keep guns out of schools.

Kasky calls out Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for failing to take responsibility for the gun culture that may have fueled the shooting  and faults both the left and right for failing to enact change. Its a strikingly smart and articulate piece on gun control, one written by a student still too young to vote.

And if all of that wasnt already enough, some students have even created an online community on Facebook dedicated to taking on the issue of gun control. Named #NeverAgainMSG, the organizations bio is simple yet chilling, a perfect encapsulation of a study body determined not to let their classmates die in vain. Seventeen lives taken yesterday by a gunman wielding an AR-15, it reads. The survivors are here to speak up.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.



The Daily Beast

YouTube/KARE 11The FBI has been called in to assist local authorities in rural Wisconsin after four young friends from Minnesota were found murdered and randomly left in an abandoned SUV in a cornfield.Authorities in Dunn County, Wisconsin, where the quadruple homicide victims were discovered Sunday, have made no secret that they have been left baffled by the crime.Its highly unusual for this area. Obviously weve had homicides in the last several years, but something of this magnitude[Im]San Francisco (AFP) - US mobile chipmaking giant Qualcomm on Friday rejected for a second time a hostile $121 billion takeover bid from Singapore's Broadcom, but said it was open to "further discussions" on a tie-up.

Two days after a meeting of top executives of the two computer chipmakers, Qualcomm chairman Paul Jacobs said the recently revised bid remained unacceptable.

But he added that the Qualcomm board "is intensely focused on maximizing value for Qualcomm stockholders" and could reconsider if Broadcom revises its offer.

"Our board is open to further discussions with Broadcom to see if a proposal that appropriately reflects the true value of Qualcomm shares, and ensures an appropriate level of deal certainty, can be obtained," Jacobs said in an open letter to Broadcom chief executive Hock Tan.

Jacobs said the latest offer "has an unacceptably high level of risk," and noted that Broadcom had failed to allay concerns about whether the deal could get approval from antitrust authorities in the United States, Europe and elsewhere.

Broadcom, which made its first offer in November and last week sweetened the proposal, aims to put pressure on its US rival to accept a takeover bid which would be the largest-ever in the technology sector.

If completed, it would create a powerful player in the booming sector fueled by growth in smartphones and an array of connected devices from cars to wearables.

Broadcom is appealing to Qualcomm shareholders ahead of the California-based company's March 6 annual meeting, and is offering a slate of new directors for Qualcomm who would be favorable to the offer.

Broadcom made its first offer on November 6 following a visit by its CEO to the White House, where he met President Donald Trump and announced plans to move the tech company back to the United States from Singapore

The latest offer amounts to $60 per share in cash plus $22 in Broadcom stock, in a deal worth $121 billion, along with the assumption of $25 billion in Qualcomm debt.

Qualcomm is the dominant maker of microprocessors for mobile phones, and has faced a series of antitrust investigations in several countries over its market power.In the aftermath of a Florida school shooting, gun control advocates and others have repeatedly brought up the financial contributions from the National Rifle Association to criticize lawmakers for their inaction.

But while the NRA is a major player in campaign finance, experts say the groups real might comes from the grassroots members who back it up.

Robert Maguire, an investigator with the Center for Responsive Politics, said that passion is exactly what makes the organization so influential, giving it the ability to combine massive financial firepower with large scale grassroots support.

Every dollar they spend is backed up by the fact that they have members that are going to hit the streets and canvass on their behalf, he said. If theyre angry at a particular politician or if the NRA scores that politician badly or you know key votes a particular vote the NRA doesnt like.

In the 2016 elections, the NRA spent over $54 million, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. That made it ninth in terms of groups providing the most outside spending that cycle, but it was still less than half the amount spent by groups like the progressive super PAC Priorities USA.

But unlike super PACs, the NRA also has a large member list: it claims over 5 million members. Demographically, its a small group in light of the entire U.S. population. But many of them are incredibly passionate about guns and Second Amendment rights, and take that advocacy all the way to the voting booth.

NRA member Arly Richau, a 67-year-old attorney in Scottsdale, Arizona, said that people like him are the real backbone of the group.

Wayne LaPierre is the most incredible lobbyist I have ever heard of, Richau told TIME Wednesday, referring to the NRAs executive vice president. But the point is he is not the NRA. The NRA is the 5 million good citizens.

According to data from the Pew Research Center, 46 percent of gun owners in the NRA said they had contacted a public official to voice their opinion on gun rights, in comparison with 15 percent of gun owners who do not belong to the NRA. (The NRA did not respond to request for comment on this article, and has yet to issue a statement on this weeks shooting.)

Story continues

That combination of fundraising and a committed grassroots has allowed the NRA to win politically even though the public overall appears to be against it on several key issues.

In a poll in October taken after the Las Vegas shooting, the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, 60% of Americans supported stricter laws covering the sale of guns, the highest percentage since 2004. But Congress never acted to restrict bump stocks, which were used by the Vegas shooter to allow a semiautomatic weapon to fire more like an automatic weapon.

Many lawmakers avoid voting for any gun control measure because it is being scored by the NRA, meaning that a vote the wrong way would lead to a lower grade come election time. Those grades can be a key measure for NRA supporters in a competitive race.

This is the case for Michael Jelormine, a military veteran and NRA member from Naples, Florida, who said he votes in every election in which he is able. Im not an activist by any stretch of the imagination, but if you were to have a conversation with me you would know that Im supportive of Second Amendment rights, he told TIME in an interview Friday.

The NRAs candidate ratings factor into Jelormines consideration of candidates to support, he said, but he doesnt abide by them religiously.

If the NRA came out against a candidate, and I was for a candidate, just because they were against the candidate wouldnt necessarily sway me, he said Friday. I vote for what I believe, not someone else telling me what I believe.

Jelormine said he supports Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and Gov. Rick Scott, both of whom have received A+ ratings from the NRA, a grade reserved for lawmakers with excellent voting records on Second Amendment issues who have vigorously fought to promote and defend the right to keep and bear arms. When asked if he would still support these candidates if they were to theoretically advocate for gun control legislation, he said it would depend on what they were proposing.

But if a candidate or lawmaker shifted course entirely, that would be a different story.  If he was totally against the Second Amendment, if he was Bloomberg, you better believe he would get no votes, he said, referring to the former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an outspoken advocate for gun control. You better believe he would get no votes. It would be 100 percent I wouldnt vote for him, he said.

They do have a lot of power and influence, Jelormine said of the NRA. But I think its because their supporters have a lot of influence. And I think thats a good thing.Update | A California man has pleaded guilty to identity fraud as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian interference in U.S. elections.

Richard Pinedo, of Santa Paula, ran an online service called Auction Essistance, through which he bought and sold bank account numbers that would help users circumvent security measures of digital payment companies. Pinedo transferred, possessed and used the identities of other people in connection with unlawful activity, according to a statement of the offense. He pleaded guilty on February 12, according to court documents.

Pinedo faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to the plea agreement. It said he has no criminal history and that he agrees to cooperate with Mueller's office.

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Related: Russian Troll Farm Meddled in Election, Mueller Team Alleges

The Auction Essistance website said it was down for regularly scheduled maintenance on Friday afternoon. But a cached version of the site said it helps people who have found out that eBay has suspended their accounts or have sided with buyers for ridiculous claims that these buyers have filed.

The website said it offers services that will enable you to get back onto eBay or Amazon ranging from pre-made eBay & Paypal accounts or verification tools. It said it guarantees the accounts are legitimate and not hacked or stolen like most other sellers offer.

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No one answered a phone number listed for Auction Essistance.

auctionessistance.com

auctionessistance.com

A LinkedIn page that appears to belong to Pinedo said he worked for Auction Essistance between November 2012 and February 2014 as a customer marketing manager. (Court documents state he worked for Auction Essistance from 2014 at least through December 2017.) According to the LinkedIn page, he most recently worked for a digital marketing company called SEO Distortion, which lists the same phone number as Auction Essistance. Under a section labeled "Who We Are," the website for SEO Distortion lists Pinedo as the only employee, with the title of CEO.

Story continues

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The SEO Distortion website appears to contain testimonials from people who do not exist. The site features a photo of a woman it names as Georgina Nichollas and says is an executive director at Rogerson Law Firm. But no such law firm appears to exist, and the image matches one on the LinkedIn page for a woman in the Netherlands with a different name. Another testimonial says it is from David Brandford, apparently an admissions director at West Virginia Tech. But a representative for the school said it had never hired anyone with the last name Brandford. A third testimonial says it is by Lisa Reynolds of "Quality Dallas Realty Service. But no one by that name has a real estate license in Texas, and the image matches a sample picture on a website for a Dallas company that does headshots.

One of the testimonial images matches the first result for the Google search "dummy image for testimonial."

Pinedo, 28, also said he got an associate's degree in computer science from Ventura College in 2009. The LinkedIn page indicates he worked various jobs between 2009 and 2012, including as a sales associate for LA Fitness, a gym.

Earlier on Friday, Mueller's office announced an indictment against 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities affiliated with the Internet Research Agency, a troll farm. The indictment alleged that the defendants meddled in the 2016 election.

This article has been updated to include information about testimonials on the SEO Distortion website.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekBy Andrea Shalal MUNICH (Reuters) - Moscow's efforts to meddle in Western elections are backfiring, serving instead to strengthen and unify a broad range of people against Russia, top U.S. security official H.R. McMaster said on Saturday, a day after Washington indicted 13 Russian individuals and three Russian companies. Russian officials denied the allegations, and one senior diplomat dismissed the charges as "fantasies" being used by some in Washington for political gain in a deeply divided United States after the election of Donald Trump as president. Officials from both countries sparred openly about everything from espionage to nuclear weapons at various events at the annual Munich Security Conference, attended by some 500 high-level diplomats, executives and politicians. McMaster, the U.S. National Security Adviser, told the conference the surprise FBI indictments provided "incontrovertible" evidence of Russia's actions. The indictments and the continuing U.S. investigation could potentially convince Moscow to back off, he said, noting that U.S. officials were also becoming more adept at "tracing the origins of this espionage and subversion". "Russia may evaluate what it's been doing ... because it's just not working," he said. The U.S. indictments on Friday said a Russian propaganda arm oversaw a criminal and espionage conspiracy to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign to support Donald Trump and disparage his rival, Hillary Clinton. It said Russians adopted false online personas to push divisive messages; traveled to the United States to collect intelligence, visiting 10 states; and staged political rallies while posing as Americans to "sow discord in the U.S. political system, including the 2016 U.S. presidential election". ALLEGATIONS "ABSURD" Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the allegations as "absurd" and ridiculed the notion that so few Russian nationals could undermine U.S. democracy. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also pushed back, saying he viewed the allegations as "just blather". In a subsequent panel at the conference, Sergei Kislyak, who served as Russian ambassador to Washington at the time of the alleged election meddling, denied that he or his staff had carried out any such activities during his time there. "When it comes to my being ambassador in the United States, we never got involved in the political life in the United States. I have never done anything of this sort, none in my embassy did," he said. "Whatever allegations are being mounted against us are simply fantasies that are being used for political reasons inside the United States," he said. Kislyak, whose contacts with members of Donald Trump's campaign team made him a central figure in the row about any Russian influence over the U.S. presidential election, left Washington in August. McMaster said Russia was trying to polarize Western societies by backing "the most extreme forms of fascist groups" and left-wing groups, but the result had been to strengthen and unite people in the political middle against Russia. He noted that the deeply partisan and divided U.S. Senate had voted 98 to two to renew sanctions against Russia, calling the vote clear evidence that Moscow's campaign was not working. Senior officials from the two countries also traded barbs over a new U.S. nuclear arms policy that will expand the Americans' low-yield nuclear capability. "The American administration seems to be taking a very relaxed position as to the conditions of the use and the first use of nuclear weapons," said Kislyak. "They are looking at nuclear weapons more like a war fighting instrument, rather than a classical deterrent." John Sullivan, Deputy U.S. Secretary of State, said: "Our nuclear posture review is based on a factual assessment of the changed security circumstances ... We want to deter nuclear war. We don't want to engage in nuclear war." Despite the heated exchange, the two men shook hands warmly at the end of the panel discussion. (Additional reporting by Paul Carrel in Berlin and Joern Poltz; Editing by Andrew Bolton)(Repeats story from Thursday)

* Military contractors victims of major battle this month

* Russia denies employing private contractors

* Clashes show Moscow deeply involved in Syria

By Maria Tsvetkova

MOSCOW, Feb 15 (Reuters) - About 300 men working for a Kremlin-linked Russian private military firm were either killed or injured in Syria last week, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

A Russian military doctor said around 100 had been killed, and a source who knows several of the fighters said the death toll was in excess of 80 men.

The timing of the casualties coincided with a battle on Feb. 7 near the Syrian city of Deir al-Zor where, according to U.S. officials and associates of the fighters involved, U.S.-led coalition forces attacked forces aligned with Moscow's ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Russian officials said five citizens may have been killed but they had no relation to Russia's armed forces.

The clashes show Moscow is more deeply involved in Syria militarily than it has said, and risks being drawn into direct confrontation with the United States in Syria.

The casualties are the highest that Russia has suffered in a single battle since fierce clashes in Ukraine in 2014 claimed more than 100 fighters' lives. Moscow denies sending soldiers and volunteers to Ukraine and has never confirmed that figure.

The wounded, who have been medically evacuated from Syria in the past few days, have been sent to four Russian military hospitals, according to five sources familiar with the matter.

The military doctor, who works in a Moscow military hospital and was directly involved in the treatment of wounded men evacuated from Syria, said that as of Saturday evening there were more than 50 such patients in his hospital, of which around 30 percent were seriously wounded.

The doctor, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to disclose information about casualties, said at least three planeloads of injured fighters were flown to Moscow between last Friday and Monday morning.

Story continues

He said they were flown back on specially equipped military cargo planes which can each accommodate two or three intensive care cases and several dozen less severely wounded patients.

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, said initial information was that five Russian citizens in the area of the battle may have been killed, but they were not Russian troops. She said reports of tens or hundreds of Russian casualties were disinformation inspired by Russia's opponents.

The Russian defence ministry did not respond to Reuters questions about casualties in Syria. A Kremlin spokesman, asked about Russian casualties on Thursday, said he had nothing to add to previous statements. The Kremlin said earlier this week it had no information on any casualties.

Reuters was unable to make direct contact with the contractors' employers, the Wagner group, whose fallen fighters have in the past received medals from the Kremlin.

The military doctor said that a fellow doctor who flew to Syria on one of the recent medevac flights told him that around 100 people in the Russian force had been killed as of the end of last week, and 200 injured.

The doctor who spoke to Reuters said most of the casualties were Russian private military contractors.

Yevgeny Shabayev, leader of a local chapter of a paramilitary Cossack organisation who has ties to Russian military contractors, said he had visited acquaintances injured in Syria at the defence ministry's Central Hospital in Khimki, on the outskirts of Moscow, on Wednesday.

He said the wounded men had told him that the two units of Russian contractors involved in the battle near Deir al-Zor numbered 550 men. Of those, there are now about 200 who are not either dead or wounded, the wounded men had told him.

Shabayev said the ward he visited contained eight patients, all evacuated from Syria in the past few days, and there were more in other wards in the hospital.

"If you understand anything about military action and combat injuries then you can imagine what's going on there. That's to say, constant screams, shouts," Shabayev told Reuters. "It's a tough scene."

A source with ties to the Wagner organisation, and who has spoken to people who took part in the Feb. 7 clashes, told Reuters his contacts told him more than 80 Russian contractors were killed.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the total of about 300 killed or injured was broadly correct.

He said many of the injured had shrapnel in their bodies that was not showing up on X-rays, making treatment difficult. "The prognosis for most of the wounded is dismal," he said.

PROXY WAR

Other military hospitals treating the contractors are the Third Vishnevskiy hospital in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow, the Burdenko hospital near Moscow city centre, and the Military Medical Academy in St. Petersburg, according to the doctor, Shabayev, and three other people who know dead or wounded fighters.

When Reuters contacted those hospitals by phone on Thursday, staff either declined to comment or denied having any patients evacuated from Syria.

A Reuters reporter visited the Burdenko hospital on Wednesday and spoke briefly to patients who said they knew nothing about anyone evacuated from Syria. Reporters also visited the hospital in Krasnogorsk, and a fifth military hospital, at Balashikha near Moscow, but were denied entry.

Russia launched a military operation in Syria in September 2015 which has turned the tide of the conflict in favour of Assad.

Russian officials deny they deploy private military contractors in Syria, saying Moscow's only military presence is a campaign of air strikes, a naval base, military instructors training Syrian forces, and limited numbers of special forces troops.

But according to people familiar with the deployment, Russia is using large numbers of the contractors in Syria because that allows Moscow to put more boots on the ground without risking regular soldiers whose deaths have to be accounted for.

The contractors, mostly ex-military, carry out missions assigned to them by the Russian military, the people familiar with the deployment said. Most are Russian citizens, though some have Ukrainian and Serbian passports.

The United States and Russia, while backing opposite sides in the Syria conflict, have taken pains to make sure that their forces do not accidentally collide. But the presence of the Russian contractors adds an element of unpredictability.

PROBING MISSION

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said last week that a force aligned with Assad, backed with artillery, tanks, rockets and mortars, had on Feb. 7 attacked fighters with the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces near Deir al-Zor.

U.S. special forces were accompanying the SDF forces that came under attack, officials in Washington said.

The U.S.-led coalition in Syria retaliated, killing about 100 of the pro-Assad forces, according to the official.

Since the battle, associates of Russian military contractors have said Russians were part of the pro-Assad force involved in the battle, and among the casualties.

Shabayev, the Cossack leader, said casualties were so high because the force had no air cover, and because they were attacked not by poorly equipped rebels, their usual adversaries, but by a well-armed force that could launch air strikes.

"First of all the bombers attacked, and then they cleaned up using Apaches (U.S.-made attack helicopters)," Shabayev said, citing the wounded men he visited in hospital.

The source with ties to Wagner said they told him the force struck by the U.S.-led coalition was made up mainly of Russian contractors, with a few Syrians and Iranians in support roles.

He said that on Feb. 7 the force had advanced towards the settlement of Khusham, in Deir al-Zor province, into a zone designated as neutral under a deal between the Russian military and the U.S.-led coalition.

The aim was to test if the U.S.-led coalition would react. The force advanced to within less than 5 km (3 miles) of the SDF and American positions, he said.

He said that the U.S.-led forces, in line with procedure agreed with the Russians, warned Russian regular forces that they were preparing to strike. He does not know if the warning was passed on to the contractors.

"The warning was 20 minutes beforehand, in that time it was not feasible to turn the column around," said the source.

He said once the strikes began, the contractors did not return fire because they believed that would provoke even more strikes from the U.S.-led coalition. (Additional reporting by Anton Zverev in MOSCOW; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Giles Elgood)By Maria Tsvetkova MOSCOW (Reuters) - About 300 men working for a Kremlin-linked Russian private military firm were either killed or injured in Syria last week, according to three sources familiar with the matter. A Russian military doctor said around 100 had been killed, and a source who knows several of the fighters said the death toll was in excess of 80 men. The timing of the casualties coincided with a battle on Feb. 7 near the Syrian city of Deir al-Zor where, according to U.S. officials and associates of the fighters involved, U.S.-led coalition forces attacked forces aligned with Moscow's ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Russian officials said five citizens may have been killed but they had no relation to Russia's armed forces. The clashes show Moscow is more deeply involved in Syria militarily than it has said, and risks being drawn into direct confrontation with the United States in Syria. The casualties are the highest that Russia has suffered in a single battle since fierce clashes in Ukraine in 2014 claimed more than 100 fighters' lives. Moscow denies sending soldiers and volunteers to Ukraine and has never confirmed that figure. The wounded, who have been medically evacuated from Syria in the past few days, have been sent to four Russian military hospitals, according to five sources familiar with the matter. The military doctor, who works in a Moscow military hospital and was directly involved in the treatment of wounded men evacuated from Syria, said that as of Saturday evening there were more than 50 such patients in his hospital, of which around 30 percent were seriously wounded. The doctor, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to disclose information about casualties, said at least three planeloads of injured fighters were flown to Moscow between last Friday and Monday morning. He said they were flown back on specially equipped military cargo planes which can each accommodate two or three intensive care cases and several dozen less severely wounded patients. Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, said initial information was that five Russian citizens in the area of the battle may have been killed, but they were not Russian troops. She said reports of tens or hundreds of Russian casualties were disinformation inspired by Russia's opponents. The Russian defense ministry did not respond to Reuters questions about casualties in Syria. A Kremlin spokesman, asked about Russian casualties on Thursday, said he had nothing to add to previous statements. The Kremlin said earlier this week it had no information on any casualties. Reuters was unable to make direct contact with the contractors' employers, the Wagner group, whose fallen fighters have in the past received medals from the Kremlin. The military doctor said that a fellow doctor who flew to Syria on one of the recent medevac flights told him that around 100 people in the Russian force had been killed as of the end of last week, and 200 injured. The doctor who spoke to Reuters said most of the casualties were Russian private military contractors. Yevgeny Shabayev, leader of a local chapter of a paramilitary Cossack organization who has ties to Russian military contractors, said he had visited acquaintances injured in Syria at the defense ministry's Central Hospital in Khimki, on the outskirts of Moscow, on Wednesday. He said the wounded men had told him that the two units of Russian contractors involved in the battle near Deir al-Zor numbered 550 men. Of those, there are now about 200 who are not either dead or wounded, the wounded men had told him. Shabayev said the ward he visited contained eight patients, all evacuated from Syria in the past few days, and there were more in other wards in the hospital. "If you understand anything about military action and combat injuries then you can imagine what's going on there. That's to say, constant screams, shouts," Shabayev told Reuters. "It's a tough scene." A source with ties to the Wagner organization, and who has spoken to people who took part in the Feb. 7 clashes, told Reuters his contacts told him more than 80 Russian contractors were killed. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the total of about 300 killed or injured was broadly correct. He said many of the injured had shrapnel in their bodies that was not showing up on X-rays, making treatment difficult. "The prognosis for most of the wounded is dismal," he said. PROXY WAR Other military hospitals treating the contractors are the Third Vishnevskiy hospital in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow, the Burdenko hospital near Moscow city center, and the Military Medical Academy in St. Petersburg, according to the doctor, Shabayev, and three other people who know dead or wounded fighters. When Reuters contacted those hospitals by phone on Thursday, staff either declined to comment or denied having any patients evacuated from Syria. A Reuters reporter visited the Burdenko hospital on Wednesday and spoke briefly to patients who said they knew nothing about anyone evacuated from Syria. Reporters also visited the hospital in Krasnogorsk, and a fifth military hospital, at Balashikha near Moscow, but were denied entry. Russia launched a military operation in Syria in September 2015 which has turned the tide of the conflict in favor of Assad. Russian officials deny they deploy private military contractors in Syria, saying Moscow's only military presence is a campaign of air strikes, a naval base, military instructors training Syrian forces, and limited numbers of special forces troops. But according to people familiar with the deployment, Russia is using large numbers of the contractors in Syria because that allows Moscow to put more boots on the ground without risking regular soldiers whose deaths have to be accounted for. The contractors, mostly ex-military, carry out missions assigned to them by the Russian military, the people familiar with the deployment said. Most are Russian citizens, though some have Ukrainian and Serbian passports. The United States and Russia, while backing opposite sides in the Syria conflict, have taken pains to make sure that their forces do not accidentally collide. But the presence of the Russian contractors adds an element of unpredictability. PROBING MISSION A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said last week that a force aligned with Assad, backed with artillery, tanks, rockets and mortars, had on Feb. 7 attacked fighters with the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces near Deir al-Zor. U.S. special forces were accompanying the SDF forces that came under attack, officials in Washington said. The U.S.-led coalition in Syria retaliated, killing about 100 of the pro-Assad forces, according to the official. Since the battle, associates of Russian military contractors have said Russians were part of the pro-Assad force involved in the battle, and among the casualties. Shabayev, the Cossack leader, said casualties were so high because the force had no air cover, and because they were attacked not by poorly equipped rebels, their usual adversaries, but by a well-armed force that could launch air strikes. "First of all the bombers attacked, and then they cleaned up using Apaches (U.S.-made attack helicopters)," Shabayev said, citing the wounded men he visited in hospital. The source with ties to Wagner said they told him the force struck by the U.S.-led coalition was made up mainly of Russian contractors, with a few Syrians and Iranians in support roles. He said that on Feb. 7 the force had advanced toward the settlement of Khusham, in Deir al-Zor province, into a zone designated as neutral under a deal between the Russian military and the U.S.-led coalition. The aim was to test if the U.S.-led coalition would react. The force advanced to within less than 5 km (3 miles) of the SDF and American positions, he said. He said that the U.S.-led forces, in line with procedure agreed with the Russians, warned Russian regular forces that they were preparing to strike. He does not know if the warning was passed on to the contractors. "The warning was 20 minutes beforehand, in that time it was not feasible to turn the column around," said the source. He said once the strikes began, the contractors did not return fire because they believed that would provoke even more strikes from the U.S.-led coalition. (Additional reporting by Anton Zverev in MOSCOW; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Giles Elgood)Of all the posts from people grappling with the Florida school shooting that flooded my social media feeds this week, one in particular, shared by a fellow mom at my 9-year-old daughters school, stood out:

I want to seriously talk about active shooter drills in school right now, it began. We need to stop and rethink what we are teaching children about school shootings.

American moms and dads  we have to engage with our school boards NOW and think about what we are allowing to be done to our children and what unintended consequences are possible.

The post then proceeds to go through the possible problems  that they give potential school shooters fantasy dry runs and information, normalize school shootings, and can inflict psychological damage. Plus, she notes, Safety experts disagree about whether lockdown is the best option, or whether students should be taught to more actively resist.

Parents reacted with worried, fearful comments. I can absolutely attest that it is traumatizing for the kids. My nine year-old panicked just knowing she would have the drill that day, noted one, while another reported, When I taught 1st grade and had these drills, the kids always asked are we going to be ok, is someone here, are we going to die?

Another teacher had this to say: It sickens me when I have to teach my kindergarteners how to behave in a lockdown drill. I tell them its to stay away from all windows just in case (and I assure them it wouldnt happen) a big tornado or hurricane comes Sadly and inevitably some of them know the truth.

It all gave me chills  not because my own daughter has reported any anxiety (The fire drills are scarier, she told me, because we dont know if theyre just drills or not)  but because all I really know about the lockdown drills are what come through school emails. (Dear Families, read the latest, Participating in emergency preparedness drills empowers our students to feel more in control of situations that might otherwise be frightening and disorienting)

Story continues

To break it all down, I spoke with some school safety pros  including Ohio-based school safety expert and consultant Ken Trump, with 30 years of experience in the field. Sandy Hook was a punch in the gut to parents around the world, and people have been reacting emotionally and not cognitively ever since, he tells Yahoo Lifestyle, noting that such reactions become reignited after news of any other shooting, such as this weeks in Florida. People are grasping at straws and looking for a quick fix, he says, and the mantra is always, Do something, do anything, do it fast.

But, Trump explains, Next year will be 20 years since Columbine, and there are some best practices that still apply. Namely? Lockdown drills  the kind practiced at my daughters school, which entail kids hiding in the corner of their locked classroom and remaining very quiet and still.

Lockdowns work, he stresses, while also offering his opinion that other, less passive, approaches to emergency drills do not.

Such alternatives, Trump says, are adopted more and more as parents grasp for a new route in order to feel more empowered. Ive had superintendents tell me, I agree with lockdowns But I have to do something different, or appear to be doing something different, because its the only thing calming our parents, he says. And thats dangerous.

A recent Education Week story explores the something different that more and more schools are adopting: Most controversially, the drills also teach young students how to counter a shooter by running in zig-zag patterns, throwing objects, and screaming to make it difficult for a gunman to focus and aim.

The leader in this new, pro-active approach is ALICE, an acronym for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. It was developed by former police officer Greg Crane and his wife, Lisa Crane, a former school principal, after the 1999 Columbine High School shootings. Crane told Education Week that the program has really taken off since the 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, with ALICE-trained personnel in about 4,000 school districts across the country.

There is a new standard-of-care which emphasizes the need for pro-active, options-based, strategies, the website explains. The federal and state government recommendations, as well as, major law enforcement associations support these strategies. ALICE Training is the model upon which these official recommendations were built.

Trump has been a consistent and outspoken critic of the ALICE technique  which includes training teachers and students to throw objects at a shooter and also to asses whether or not they should evacuate on their own  claiming that its approach is not proven by research and may in fact put children in harms way. As an alternative, he suggests diversifying lockdown drills by practicing them at various times  in the morning, during a class change, and at lunchtime, for example  or maybe while blocking an exit during a fire drill and testing kids that way. It pushes the envelope without going over the top, he says.

A 2013 federal report, created in response to Sandy Hook, suggested that school staffers consider disrupting a shooter through aggressive force. Though it did not advocate students getting involved, some school safety experts criticized the report, cautioning that such an approach could be too risky.

Whatever approach a school uses, a key element is knowing how to strike a balance between preparing children and traumatizing them for life. Thats something the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) took into careful consideration before releasing its Best Practices Considerations for Schools in Active Shooter and Other Armed Assailant Drills document in 2014 (and updating it in 2017).

Its really sad we have to be doing this, but unfortunately for the safety of kids and staff, we have to, Cathy Paine, a psychologist and leader with the school safety and crisis response committee of NASP tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Lockdown drills, she says, should definitely be done in grades K-12 for students and staff. We do not see any psychological harm as a result, she says, as long as the drills are planned out carefully and are tailored to their development level.

So in elementary school, Paine explains, we talk about stranger danger, a concept they already understand. We say that schools are generally safe, but if a stranger were here and dangerous, heres what we would do We try to keep it positive We dont talk about a shooter but a dangerous person. She adds, If a teacher is calm and uses the right language, Ive not seen adverse reactions, and says they suggest more specific language for children with special needs.

While the NASP does not endorse any specific program, Paine says, The basic lockdown drill is still what we want people to know how to do, and adds that an important part of any drill is to always announce that its just a drill, which reduces the anxiety about it. Unlike with fire drills, to which Paine says, Im guessing schools might start changing their procedures around that, particularly after the role the fire alarm played in Parkland.

When it comes to teachers and other school staffers, in addition to knowing the lockdown drill, Paine notes, the new thinking is, if theres an armed intruder, you should know you have three choices, and so youre trained to use any information that you have, such as hearing an announcement that theres an intruder, or hearing gunshots. Then, based on that information, you make the decision about whether to evacuate the kids (always the best option if its safe), go into lockdown mode, or, as a last resort, distract the shooter and then get out quickly.

We dont teach kids to fight or aggressively attack, but to not be passive if a shooter is in the room with you, she says.

To parents who wonder why kids need to be involved at all in drills, Paine explains, Its important they have enough knowledge thats appropriate for their development level. So for high school students, that means learning to make many of these crucial decisions on their own. But even little kids need to be informed in some way, she stresses. If youre a 5-year-old, and you hear about [a shooting like the one in Florida], you might think, what if it happens at my school? I think its worse for them to know nothing and be afraid.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.Of all the posts from people grappling with the Florida school shooting that flooded my social media feeds this week, one in particular, shared by a fellow mom at my 9-year-old daughters school, stood out:

I want to seriously talk about active shooter drills in school right now, it began. We need to stop and rethink what we are teaching children about school shootings.

American moms and dads  we have to engage with our school boards NOW and think about what we are allowing to be done to our children and what unintended consequences are possible.

The post then proceeds to go through the possible problems  that they give potential school shooters fantasy dry runs and information, normalize school shootings, and inflict psychological damage. Plus, she notes, safety experts disagree about whether lockdown is the best option, or whether students should be taught to more actively resist.

Parents reacted with worried, fearful comments. I can absolutely attest that it is traumatizing for the kids. My nine-year-old panicked just knowing she would have the drill that day, noted one, while another reported, When I taught 1st grade and had these drills, the kids always asked are we going to be ok, is someone here, are we going to die?

Another teacher had this to say: It sickens me when I have to teach my kindergarteners how to behave in a lockdown drill. I tell them its to stay away from all windows just in case (and I assure them it wouldnt happen) a big tornado or hurricane comes.  Sadly and inevitably some of them know the truth.

It all gave me chills  not because my own daughter has reported any anxiety (The fire drills are scarier, she told me, because we dont know if theyre just drills or not)  but because all I really know about the lockdown drills are what come through school emails. (Dear Families, read the latest, Participating in emergency preparedness drills empowers our students to feel more in control of situations that might otherwise be frightening and disorienting.)

Story continues

To break it all down, I spoke with some school safety pros  including Ohio-based school safety expert and consultant Ken Trump, with 30 years of experience in the field. Sandy Hook was a punch in the gut to parents around the world, and people have been reacting emotionally and not cognitively ever since, he tells Yahoo Lifestyle, noting that such reactions become reignited after news of any other shooting, such as this weeks in Florida. People are grasping at straws and looking for a quick fix, he says, and the mantra is always, Do something, do anything, do it fast.

But, Trump explains, next year will be 20 years since Columbine, and there are some best practices that still apply. Namely? Lockdown drills  the kind practiced at my daughters school, which entail kids hiding in the corner of their locked classroom and remaining very quiet and still.

Lockdowns work, he stresses, while also offering his opinion that other, less passive, approaches to emergency drills do not.

Such alternatives, Trump says, are adopted more and more as parents grasp for a new route in order to feel more empowered. Ive had superintendents tell me, I agree with lockdowns  but I have to do something different, or appear to be doing something different, because its the only thing calming our parents, he says. And thats dangerous.

A recent Education Week story explores the something different that more and more schools are adopting: Most controversially, the drills also teach young students how to counter a shooter by running in zig-zag patterns, throwing objects, and screaming to make it difficult for a gunman to focus and aim.

The leader in this new, proactive approach is ALICE, an acronym for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. It was developed by former police officer Greg Crane and his wife, Lisa Crane, a former school principal, after the 1999 Columbine High School shootings. Crane told Education Week that the program has really taken off since the 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, with ALICE-trained personnel in about 4,000 school districts across the country.

There is a new standard of care which emphasizes the need for proactive, options-based strategies, the website explains. The federal and state government recommendations, as well as major law enforcement associations, support these strategies. ALICE Training is the model upon which these official recommendations were built.

School safety expert Trump has been a consistent and outspoken critic of the ALICE technique  which includes training teachers and students to throw objects at a shooter and assess whether they should evacuate on their own  claiming that its approach is not proved by research and may in fact put children in harms way. As an alternative, he suggests diversifying lockdown drills by practicing them at various times  in the morning, during a class change, and at lunchtime, for example  or maybe while blocking an exit during a fire drill and testing kids that way. It pushes the envelope without going over the top, he says.

A 2013 federal report, created in response to Sandy Hook, suggested that school staffers consider disrupting a shooter through aggressive force. Though it did not advocate students getting involved, some school safety experts criticized the report, cautioning that such an approach could be too risky.

Whatever approach a school uses, a key element is knowing how to strike a balance between preparing children and traumatizing them for life. Thats something the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) took into careful consideration before releasing its Best Practices Considerations for Schools in Active Shooter and Other Armed Assailant Drills document in 2014 (and updating it in 2017).

Its really sad we have to be doing this, but unfortunately for the safety of kids and staff, we have to, Cathy Paine, a psychologist and leader with the school safety and crisis response committee of NASP, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Lockdown drills, she says, should definitely be done in grades K-12 for students and staff. We do not see any psychological harm as a result, she says, as long as the drills are planned out carefully and are tailored to the students development level.

So in elementary school, Paine explains, we talk about stranger danger, a concept they already understand. We say that schools are generally safe, but if a stranger were here and dangerous, heres what we would do.  We try to keep it positive.  We dont talk about a shooter but a dangerous person. She adds, If a teacher is calm and uses the right language, Ive not seen adverse reactions, and says NASP suggests more specific language for children with special needs.

While the NASP does not endorse any specific program, Paine says, The basic lockdown drill is still what we want people to know how to do, and adds that an important part of any drill is to always announce that its just a drill, which reduces the anxiety about it. Unlike with fire drills, to which Paine says, Im guessing schools might start changing their procedures around that, particularly after the role the fire alarm played in Parkland.

When it comes to teachers and other school staffers, in addition to knowing the lockdown drill, Paine notes, the new thinking is, if theres an armed intruder, you should know you have three choices, and so youre trained to use any information that you have, such as hearing an announcement that theres an intruder, or hearing gunshots. Then, based on that information, you make the decision about whether to evacuate the kids (always the best option if its safe), go into lockdown mode, or, as a last resort, distract the shooter and then get out quickly.

We dont teach kids to fight or aggressively attack, but to not be passive if a shooter is in the room with you, she says.

To parents who wonder why kids need to be involved at all in drills, Paine explains, Its important they have enough knowledge thats appropriate for their development level. So for high school students, that means learning to make many of these crucial decisions on their own. But even little kids need to be informed in some way, she stresses. If youre a 5-year-old, and you hear about [a shooting like the one in Florida], you might think, What if it happens at my school? I think its worse for them to know nothing and be afraid.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.By Thomas Escritt and Robin Emmott MUNICH (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May made her case on Saturday for a new security treaty with the EU from next year, winning support from EU and U.S. officials who agreed the issue was too important to risk getting subsumed in broader Brexit negotiations. In a speech to Western leaders and officials in Munich, May promised that London would continue to lead military missions and share intelligence if Brussels agreed to a pact "effective from 2019", the year Britain is due to leave the bloc. May's government is using a series of speeches to set out its vision for Britain outside the European Union. But the loudest applause during her appearance came when the event's organizer, German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger, said: "Things would be so much easier if you stayed." But May was adamant: "We are leaving the EU and there is no question of a second referendum or going back, and I think that's important," she told the Munich Security Conference. "The partnership that we need to create is one that offers UK and EU way to combine our efforts to greatest effect where this is in our shared interest," May said of her security plan. Britain is one of the top three users of data from European Union police agency Europol. But as it leaves the EU, there is a risk that it will be shut out of this cooperation, becoming more vulnerable to Islamist militants, officials say. Jean-Claude Juncker, the EU's chief executive, welcomed a "security alliance" with Britain, adding that the issue should be separated from the rest of the Brexit debate. Britain, along with France, is Europe's biggest military power and leads two European Union military missions while sending troops to Estonia under a NATO flag. With a host of issues still unresolved and infighting over Brexit dividing May's government just over a year before Britain is due to leave, security is one of London's biggest bargaining chips as it seeks a new deal with Brussels. Britain's interior minister last year told the EU it could "take our information with us" if it left the bloc without a deal on security. May emphasized she was committed to European security, warned against competition between Britain and the rest of Europe and said that both sides should do "whatever is most practical and pragmatic in ensuring our collective security." Juncker said security should not be conflated with "other questions relating to Brexit," also quashing any British hopes that a security treaty might be a way into a free-trade deal. "I wouldn't like to put security policy considerations with trade policy considerations in one hat. I understand why some would like to do that, but we don't want to," he said. VEILED THREAT? NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also welcomed close security cooperation between Britain and the EU after Brexit, while Stoltenberg's predecessor at the alliance, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, told Reuters May's was a strong speech. "I think that is what we should aim for, but any treaty is very time-consuming. The timeline is unrealistic," Fogh Rasmussen said. A senior U.S. official said: "We know the goal, but I don't know if this is the right vehicle." But May's call to set aside "rigid institutional structures" to enable a quick agreement on security was less well received. "What she meant was not specified and sounded like a veiled threat," said EU lawmaker Marietje Schaake, a Dutch centrist. One senior EU official in Munich said that May would need to submit a formal negotiating paper to detail her ideas and then allow EU and British negotiators to move forward. But the EU official said May's proposal was essentially not new and could only come after Britain and the EU had agreed a divorce settlement. "The European Union also wants a new security arrangement with Britain, but it can't be done before we agree on other issues," the official said. While the status of the Irish border and citizens rights were broadly settled in December, EU negotiators say they are now waiting for Britain to say what kind of future trade relationship it wants. Agreement on that front would allow EU leaders to endorse the plan at a Brussels summit on March 22-23 and move on to a special transition arrangement ending in December 2020. (Reporting by Thomas Escritt and Robin Emmott; Writing by Alistair Smout and Robin Emmott; editing by John Stonestreet)HR McMaster calls evidence incontrovertible in wake of latest US indictments against more than a dozen Russians

Donald Trumps national security adviser, HR McMaster, said on Saturday that Russian meddling in the 2016 election is incontrovertible and beyond dispute in the wake of new US indictments.

McMaster spoke after Robert Mueller, the special counsel in the Russia investigation, revealed new details about Moscows sophisticated cyber-meddling campaign on Friday.

The national security adviser made the remarks at the Munich Security Conference and spoke shortly after the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, had dismissed the allegations as just blabber.



The 37-page indictment, returned on Friday by a grand jury in Washington, accused 13 Russians and three organizations of an elaborate, years-long plot designed, in part, to sway the US presidential election in favor of Trump. The indictments come as part of Muellers wider investigation into the ties between Trump campaign associates and Moscow.

As you can see with the FBI indictment, McMaster told an audience at the security conference in Germany, the evidence is now really incontrovertible and available in the public domain, whereas in the past it was difficult to attribute.

McMaster spoke moments after Lavrov, appearing on the same stage in Munich, railed against what he called an irrational myth that Russia poses a global threat, traces of which are found everywhere  from Brexit to the Catalan referendum.

Until we see the facts, everything else is just blabber  Im sorry for this expression, Lavrov said through an interpreter.

Donald Trump was quick to claim the indictments prove there was no collusion between his campaign and Russia. Photograph: Jorge Silva/AFP/Getty Images

Sergey Kislyak, meanwhile, the former Russian ambassador to the US, said the allegations were part of a hunting spree at the conference on Saturday.

In a series of tweets on Saturday afternoon, Trump repeated his assertion that there was no collusion between his campaign and Russia, pointing to an opinion piece published in the New York Post, the presidents tabloid of choice, titled: Russian indictments prove Trump won fair and square.

Story continues

Trump also criticised the FBI for failing to heed signs that could have prevented last weeks Florida school shooting, saying the agency was too preoccupied with investigating his campaign team over Russian election meddling.

Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. This is not acceptable, he wrote on Twitter.

They are spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign  there is no collusion. Get back to the basics and make us all proud!

The indictment provided powerful new evidence into the scope and sophistication of the Russian election-tampering campaign, which began in 2014 and cost millions of dollars, in an alleged conspiracy to undermine the US election system, according to prosecutors.

The document also provides extensive evidence of a sustained effort to disparage Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, by backing Trump and Bernie Sanders, who challenged her for the Democratic nomination.

The Russian nationals were accused of working with the Internet Research Agency, a St Petersburg-based troll farm to flood social media with pro-Trump content, including election-related hashtags such as #TrumpTrain #Trump2016 MAGA and Hillary4Prison.

But the campaign went further, according to the indictment, which alleges that Russians agents traveled clandestinely to the US and posed as US persons and contacted US social and political activists. The extraordinary effort included organizing demonstrations and rallies in support of the former businessman.

The 2020 election

The most likely price Trump would pay, if he were perceived guilty of wrongdoing, would be a 2020 re-election loss. He can't afford to lose many supporters and expect to remain in office. Any disillusionment stemming from the Russian affair could make the difference. His average approval rating has hung in the mid-to-upper 30s. Every president to win re-election since the second world war did so with an approval rating in the 49%-50% range or better.

Congress

As long as Republicans are in charge, Trump is not likely to face impeachment proceedings or to be removed from office. A two-thirds majority in the Senate is required to remove a president from office through impeachment.

Public opinion

If public opinion swings precipitously against the president, however, his grip on power could slip. At some point, Republicans in Congress may, if their constituents will it, turn on Trump.

Criminal charges

Apart from impeachment, Trump could, perhaps, face criminal charges, which would (theoretically) play out in the court system as opposed to Congress. But its a matter of debate among scholars and prosecutors whether Trump, as a sitting president, may be prosecuted in this way.

Other

Robert Mueller is believed to have Trumps tax returns, and to be looking at the Trump Organization as well as Jared Kushners real estate company. Its possible that wrongdoing unrelated to the election could be uncovered and make trouble for Trump. The president, and Kushner, deny wrongdoing.



In specific cases, prosecutors allege that Russian operatives promoted allegations of voter fraud by the Democratic party, echoing Trumps claim during the campaign that he was the victim of a rigged political system.

The indictment also provides strong support for the conclusion reached by his intelligence agencies that Russia waged a disinformation campaign to help him win the election and to sow discord in the US political system.



Since his victory in November 2016, Trump has repeatedly cast doubt on the assessment, contending that the allegations of Russian interference was a hoax perpetrated by Democrats and the Mueller investigation a witch hunt.

On Friday, Trump falsely claimed that the indictment proved just that.

Mueller alleged that Russian operatives communicated with unwitting individuals associated with the Trump campaign, but the indictment did not address the question of whether anyone on Trumps team had knowingly colluded. He also stated that the results of the election were not impacted, a conclusion that has yet been independently established.

Robert Mueller alleges Russian operatives communicated with unwitting individuals associated with the Trump campaign. Photograph: Yuri Gripas/Reuters

The White House press secretary, Sarah Sanders, followed Trumps tweet with a statement that claimed no collusion in capital letters. She included a statement from Trump, which seized on the indictment to call for an end to the outlandish partisan attacks, wild and false allegations, and far-fetched theories, which only serve to further the agendas of bad actors, like Russia, and do nothing to protect the principles of our institutions.

We must unite as Americans to protect the integrity of our democracy and our elections, Trump said.

On Friday the US deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, who is the top justice department official overseeing the Russia investigation, said in a carefully worded statement: There is no allegation in this indictment that any American was a knowing participant in this illegal activity. He also noted that there was no evidence presented in the indictment to suggest the disinformation campaign successfully altered the outcome of the 2016 election.

Reacting to the indictments on Friday, John Brennan, the former CIA director under Barack Obama, said Trumps claim that the Russia investigation is a hoax was now in tatters. He added that he believed it was implausible that at least some American votes were not affected by the sustained Russian effort.

Meanwhile, the administration is facing mounting questions about how seriously it is heeding warnings that Russia plans to interfere again in the 2018 midterms, and what it is doing to safeguard the electoral system before then.

Earlier this week, the nations top intelligence chiefs, testifying before a Senate panel, warned that Russia is continuing to disrupt the US political system, targeting the upcoming 2018 midterm elections.By Harriet McLeod

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Reuters) - A 15-year-old accused of killing his father and driving to a South Carolina elementary school playground in 2016 where he opened fire and fatally wounded a 6-year-old student, will be tried as an adult, a South Carolina judge ruled on Friday.

Jesse Osborne faces from 30 years to life in prison if he is convicted on charges that include murder and attempted murder. He is also accused of shooting a teacher and one other student who survived, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said Osborne, then 14, killed his father Jeffrey Osborne, 47, in September 2016 in their home in Townville, South Carolina, about 40 miles (64.4 km) from Greenville.

Prosecutors said he then drove to Townville Elementary School, crashed a pickup truck into a fence and began shooting with a handgun on the school playground. He was tackled by a firefighter, who pinned him down until police arrived, authorities said.

One student, Jacob Hall, 6, was shot in the leg and died three days after the attack.

Prosecutor David Wagner said in a statement he was pleased that Osborne was charged as an adult. The decision came after a court hearing this week.

"This case has been sad for everyone involved," Frank Eppes, an attorney for Osborne, said by telephone. Eppes also questioned a confession police say they obtained from the teenager, arguing the interview was conducted without an attorney present.

The crime rocked the small South Carolina town and also had national implications.

Jacob's friend, first-grader Ava Olsen, witnessed the shooting and in a letter last year to U.S. President Donald Trump obtained by the Washington Post and local media, told him she was scared and pleaded with him to keep kids safe from guns. Trump replied it was brave of her to share her story, they said.

The decision in South Carolina came in the wake of Wednesday's mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in which a gunman fatally shot 17 people and injured more than a dozen.

(Reporting by Harriet McLeod in Charleston, S.C.Writing by Jon Herskovitz in Austin, TexasEditing by Matthew Lewis)Pompano Beach (United States) (AFP) - US President Donald Trump on Friday visited a Florida hospital to offer comfort to those wounded in a mass school shooting, after the FBI admitted it mishandled a tip about the troubled teen behind the massacre that left 17 dead.

The arrival of Trump and his wife Melania came at the end of a difficult day for the families of those killed in Wednesday's rampage at a high school in Parkland, Florida, who learned that the carnage could perhaps have been averted.

The FBI admitted it had received a chilling warning in January from a tipster who said the 19-year-old gunman, Nikolas Cruz, could be planning a mass shooting, but that agents had failed to follow up.

At Broward Health North Hospital, where Trump met with survivors of the shooting, the president thanked the doctors, nurses and first responders for their "incredible" work, and described the carnage as "very sad."

He and his wife then headed to the Broward County sheriff's office, where they met with Florida Governor Rick Scott, Senator Marco Rubio, Sheriff Scott Israel and other law enforcement officers.

Trump told the group he had met with a female survivor who had been shot four times, including in the lung, adding that quick first responders had saved her life.

"Give them a raise," he said.

He later tweeted several pictures of himself and Melania, visiting with a survivor and her family, as well as posing with hospital staff.

"We are committed to working with state and local leaders to help secure our schools, and tackle the difficult issue of mental health," Trump wrote in an Instagram post alongside the picture.

The president's visit to the Parkland area north of Miami came amid growing anger among parents and students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School over America's seeming unwillingness to toughen gun control laws.

"My princess wasn't safe in that school," said Andrew Pollack, speaking at the funeral of his 18-year-old daughter Meadow.

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"Please pray that this horrific tragedy never happens to another family."

At the evening briefing at the sheriff's department, Rubio said: "This is a community and a state that is in deep pain and they want action to make sure this doesn't happen again."

Trump replied: "You can count on it."

- FBI chief under pressure -

The FBI made a stunning admission earlier in the day, saying a "person close to Nikolas Cruz" made a call to the agency's public tipline on January 5 to "report concerns about him."

"The caller provided information about Cruz's gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting," the FBI said in a statement.

The information from the caller "should have been assessed as a potential threat to life" and forwarded to the agency's Miami field office, it said.

Instead, "no further investigation was conducted."

"We have spoken with victims and families, and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy," said Federal Bureau of Investigation director Christopher Wray, who took up his post in August.

Wray said he was "committed to getting to the bottom of what happened," and Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered an immediate review to ensure "effective response to indications of potential violence."

But Scott, the state governor, nevertheless called for the FBI chief to step down, saying the failure to act was "unacceptable."

"Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isn't going to cut it," Scott said.

The January warning to the FBI was not the first it had received about Cruz, who used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle that he legally purchased a year ago to spray classrooms with bullets.

In September, the FBI was alerted to a message posted on YouTube, in which a user named Nikolas Cruz vowed: "I'm going to be a professional school shooter."

The FBI said it had looked into it at the time but was unable to identify the person who made the post.

Cruz was also known to local police after his mother "repeatedly called police to the home to help deal with his violent outbursts, threats and self-destructive behavior," over the course of several years, according to CNN.

- 'Illogical' -

Trump's visit to the Parkland area -- not far from his Mar-a-Lago resort, where he will spend the long President's Day weekend -- was not announced in advance, perhaps because he risked being greeted with angry demands for action on gun laws.

"It's illogical that the law says a minor can't have a drink, but can buy a gun," said 47-year-old Mavy Rubiano, whose child survived the shooting.

In Washington, the political response so far makes it clear that the powerful pro-gun National Rifle Association -- which spent $30 million to support Trump's election in 2016 -- remains formidable.

As with previous mass shootings, the focus of gun control advocates was the easy availability of the AR-15, a civilian version of the US military's M16.

Millions have been sold around the United States, and AR-15-style rifles were used in the mass shootings in Las Vegas, Sutherland Springs, Texas and Newtown, Connecticut.Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - Three suicide bombers killed 19 people at a fish market in northeast Nigeria, civilian militia leaders said on Saturday, in an attack blamed on Boko Haram jihadists.

Friday's deadly attacks came in the week that hundreds of Boko Haram suspects went on trial at civilian courts at a military base.

One fighter involved in the 2014 abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls from the Borno state town of Chibok was jailed for 15 years.

The suicide blasts happened at about 8:30 pm (1930 GMT) on Friday in Konduga, some 35 kilometres (20 miles) southeast of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri.

Babakura Kolo and Musa Ari, from the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) assisting Nigeria's military against the Islamists, said the bombers were all men.

"We have 19 dead and about 70 others injured... Two of the bombers attacked the Tashan Kifi fish market. Then four minutes later, a third bomber struck nearby," said Kolo.

"The victims included 18 civilians and one soldier. The Tashan Kifi is an informal market which serves as an eatery, market and also hang-out for residents."

Ari said 22 of the 70 injured were in a critical condition, adding: "There is no question as to who did it: Boko Haram has targeted Konduga several times."

There was no immediate comment from the military or the police in Borno state, which has borne the brunt of the violence in Boko Haram's nearly nine-year insurgency.

At least 20,000 people have been killed and more than 2.6 million others made homeless since 2009. Nigeria's military and government maintains the group is a spent force.

But suicide attacks and raids persist, with civilians in hard-to-reach rural areas and outlying towns at risk.

On January 31, two female suicide bombers blew themselves up at Mandarari village, near Konduga.

- Trials and reward -

The blasts happened shortly after another bomber killed four and injured 44 at a displaced persons' camp in Dalori, 22 kilometres away on the same road to Maiduguri.

Story continues

A fourth bomber also blew herself up outside the camp.

The Nigerian officer in charge of operations against Boko Haram, Major General Rogers Nicholas, on Wednesday said the Islamic State group affiliate was "in disarray".

Operations since the start of this year had flushed them out of their stronghold in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno state, which had previously been cleared in December 2016.

Nicholas called the jihadists "callous" for "forcefully using the most vulnerable in our society... as IED (improvised explosive device) couriers".

On Tuesday, the army claimed Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was "running for his dear life" because of military action against his hideout.

Army spokesman Brigadier General Sani Usman said Shekau was "desperately trying to escape... disguised as a woman" wearing a hijab to avoid detection.

The military said it would give a reward of three million naira ($8,310, 6,697 euros) for "credible information" leading to his arrest.

In 2012, the army had said it would give a 50 million naira reward.

The United States, which considers Shekau an international terrorist, has said it would offer up to $7 million for information on his whereabouts.STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden has granted citizenship to a Stockholm-based scientist being held in Iran under sentence of death, the Swedish foreign ministry confirmed on Saturday. Ahmadreza Djalali, a medical doctor and lecturer at the Karolinska Institute in the Swedish capital, was arrested in Iran in April 2016 and later convicted of espionage, having been accused of providing information to Israel to help it assassinate several senior nuclear scientists. Iran's Supreme Court upheld the death sentence in December and Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said Djalali had confessed to meeting agents of Israeli intelligence agency Mossad to deliver information on Iran's nuclear and defense plans and personnel. "We know that he has been granted citizenship by the Migration Board. We continue in our consular work for Djalali and request consular access to our citizen," a Swedish foreign ministry spokeswoman said. "We have been in regular contact with Iranian representatives, requested access to Djalali and presented Sweden's view of the death penalty, which we condemn in all its forms. Our demand is that the death penalty is not carried out," the spokeswoman said. Djalali had been on a business trip to Iran when he was arrested and sent to Evin prison. He was held in solitary confinement for three months and tortured, campaigning group Amnesty International has said. Amnesty said Djalali wrote a letter from inside prison in August stating he was being held for refusing to spy for Iran. Seventy-five Nobel prize laureates petitioned Iranian authorities last year to release Djalali so he could "continue his scholarly work for the benefit of mankind". (Reporting by Johan Ahlander; Editing by David Holmes)BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand awarded Myanmar's army chief a royal decoration on Friday amid allegations of crimes by Myanmar security forces against Rohingya Muslims that have prompted international condemnation. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state and crossed into Bangladesh since last August, when attacks on security posts by insurgents triggered a military crackdown that the United Nations has said amounts to ethnic cleansing, with reports of arson attacks, murder and rape. Myanmar army commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing was granted the Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant at a ceremony in Bangkok, according to the general's official website. The website also showed a picture of the commander-in-chief shaking hands with his Thai counterpart, General Tarnchaiyan Srisuwan. Buddhist-majority Thailand often gives royal decorations to army chiefs of other countries who are supportive of Thailand's army, Thai army spokesman Lieutenant General Nothapol Boonngam said. "He received the honor because of our military relations. We support each other's missions and exchange visits. Our armies have many joint activities," Nothapol told Reuters, adding that the Thai army had requested Hlaing's award since last year. "This is a separate issue from human rights." The Burma Human Rights Network said Thailand had crossed a "red line" by granting the award to Hlaing because Thailand is seen as a place of refuge by many Rohingya and other minority groups fleeing persecution in Myanmar, also a Buddhist-majority country. "This kind of person doesn't deserve to win this great award," Kway Win, the group's executive director, told Reuters. Earlier this week, Thailand and the United States kicked off the annual Cobra Gold military drills in Thailand - the largest such exercises in the Asia-Pacific region. Thailand invited Myanmar as observers to the disaster relief and humanitarian assistance portions of Cobra Gold, prompting criticism from rights groups who questioned why a military accused of ethnic cleansing was being given access. The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok this week said Myanmar was not a participant in any of the exercises. (Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Nick Macfie)The Trump administration appears to have pulled relations with NATO ally Turkey away from a crisis point after a slew of high-level meetings over the past week. But sharp disagreements on everything from the war in Syria to Russias role in the Middle East make it unlikely that the United States can restore warm ties anytime soon with a country long seen as the southern flank of the Western alliance in Europe.

Were not going to act alone any longer. Were not going to be the U.S. doing one thing and Turkey doing another, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said at a press conference on Friday in Ankara after meetings with Turkish officials, including Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Were going to lock arms, were going to work through the issues that are causing difficulties for us, and were going to resolve them, Tillerson said.

Cavusoglu echoed the effort to put a brave face on the rapidly souring relationship. We have taken an important turn in terms of normalizing our relations. We reached an agreement and an understanding, he said.

But few details were forthcoming. U.S. and Turkish officials worked through the night to put out a joint statement on Friday meant to showcase some diplomatic breakthroughs, but it was heavy on promises and light on specifics. It included a plan to establish something referred to as a results-oriented mechanism to bolster their relationship, which will be activated no later than mid-March.

There were no details on what the mechanism is  or how it could possibly address the fundamental disagreements that have surfaced between Washington and Ankara in recent years and which have grown even more stark in recent weeks.

The sharpest point of contention between the two sides  other than long-standing Turkish suspicion that the United States was somehow behind a July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey  is a widely divergent view of how to deal with the crisis in Syria. The United States is backing and arming Kurdish militias fighting in northern Syria, seeing in them among the few effective troops on the ground to fight both Islamic State terrorists and regime forces of Bashar al-Assad.

Story continues

Turkey, which views Kurdish militants as terrorists and a top domestic threat, launched a military offensive against U.S.-supported Syrian-Kurdish forces in Afrin, a region in northwestern Syria.

Turkey reportedly proposed jointly deploying U.S. and Turkish troops to Syria to ease tensions amid its offensive.

On the surface, simply muddling through looks like a much-needed diplomatic win for the Trump administration, which is struggling to keep its patchwork of Middle Eastern allies, and especially Turkey, focused on defeating the Islamic State in Syria.

Tillerson wasnt alone on this quest. Days before the secretary of states meetings in Ankara, President Donald Trumps national security advisor, H.R. McMaster, visited Istanbul to meet his Turkish counterpart. And Defense Secretary James Mattis met his counterpart along the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels this week.

But European diplomats and experts who spoke to Foreign Policy say the new air of cooperation may not be sustainable in light of the underlying fault lines in the relationship. In addition to the Kurdish dispute, American officials have bristled at Erdogans tilt toward authoritarianism; Turkey has retaliated against local employees at U.S. diplomatic facilities; there is rising anti-American and anti-NATO sentiment in the country; and Turkey plans to buy advanced air defense batteries from Russia in a deliberate snub to its NATO allies.

The meeting was a success, but there was no hard deliverable, and the very hard policy problems that the two countries still face are all still out there, said Aaron Stein, an expert on Turkey at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank. It is really easy to talk about top-line, big-picture things but a lot harder to implement some of things floated after this meeting.

I see this as a Band-Aid, not a long-term solution, said Amanda Sloat, who served as deputy assistant secretary of state for Southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean in the Barack Obama administration.

Those tensions arent likely to ease anytime soon, especially since Turkey is headed into election season. Erdogan and other politicians can score easy political points by stoking anti-American and anti-European rhetoric. Recent polls by the Pew Research Center found that only 18 percent of Turks view the United States favorably. And though Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952, only 23 percent of Turks have favorable views of the alliance.

The anti-American prong of Turkish domestic politics is, well, good politics, Stein said.

Continued missteps in U.S. diplomacy arent helping.

The Trump administration fired off a slew of contradictory and mixed messages in the run-up to its meetings with Turkish counterparts, according to Sloat. That included Trump promising Erdogan he would stop arming the Kurdish militant group YPG, much to the chagrin of the U.S. Defense Department, which has no plans to cut support for its Kurdish partners.

Tillerson also reportedly refused to use an American translator during his lengthy closed-door conversation with Erdogan and Cavusoglu, opting instead to have Cavusoglu translate for him. The decision shocked former U.S. officials and some current State Department officials, who said professional American translators are key to ensuring each word and emphasis gets properly translated to avoid miscommunication.

In this case, the risk of something being mistranslated is a lot higher, said Julie Smith of the Center for a New American Security, a Washington-based think tank. Thats particularly risky because of how hypersensitive the U.S.-Turkey relationship is now. You dont want to roll the dice on something like this, she said.

A State Department spokesperson refused to confirm whether Tillerson declined to use an American translator or, if so, why. Tillerson and Erdogan engaged in a productive and open conversation about a mutually beneficial way forward in the U.S.-Turkey relationship, the spokesperson said.

As in many other high-profile crises, Washington also has no U.S. ambassador to Turkey. Trump moved John Bass, a veteran career diplomat, from his post as ambassador in Ankara to be ambassador in Afghanistan last year and has yet to name a replacement. Experts and officials say it will be harder for Washington and Ankara to mend fences without one.

Right now were in a muddle-through phase, Sloat said of U.S.-Turkey relations, with relations likely to remain difficult in advance of Turkish elections.President praises response to shooting while public defender says Nikolas Cruz will plead guilty to 17 counts of first-degree murder

Students at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school. The suspect, Nikolas Cruz, allegedly abandoned many dozens of unspent rounds. Photograph: USA Today/Sipa/Rex/Shutterstock

Donald Trump visited a Florida hospital on Friday night to meet survivors of this weeks deadly high school shooting, as the local public defender said the suspect would plead guilty.



Its very sad something like this could happen, Trump told reporters at Broward Health North hospital. But the job the doctors did, the nurses, the hospital, the first responders, law enforcement, was really incredible.



But when asked if gun laws needed to be changed, Trump had no comment.



Also Friday night, the Broward County public defender Howard Finkelstein told CNN that Nikolas Cruz, 19, planned to plead guilty to 17 counts of first-degree murder in order to escape the death penalty.

Everybody knows who committed the crime and that the only question is does he live or does he die, public defender Howard Finkelstein said, adding: This is an opportunity to put the criminal case behind and help the victims and families begin to pick up the pieces of their lives.

The president and the first lady also planned to meet with law enforcement officials at the Broward County sheriffs office later Friday. The president arrived at the hospital, immediately after landing in West Palm Beach where the president will spend the weekend at his estate, which is about 40 miles from the school in Parkland.

Donald and Melania Trump at a hospital in Pompano Beach, Florida. Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

The arrival of Donald and Melania, who visited several victims in hospital as well as first responders and medical staff, came amid mounting anger within the town and beyond about political inaction on gun control and an admission by the FBI that it failed to investigate a January tip about the alleged attackers instability.

Some of the parents, survivors and others affected by the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school have angrily called for firm action to prevent future assaults.



I dont want Trump to come but we want more gun safety, said 18-year-old Kevin Trejos, a senior at the school. Its a dream. It hasnt hit me yet.

Story continues

As Parkland began the distressing process of staging funerals for the 17 students and teachers killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school, grief in the community gave way to anger and renewed calls to change the nations gun control laws.

The mood began to swing from shock to protest Thursday, led by Scott Israel, the sheriff of Broward County at an emotional candlelit vigil. Police said Cruz, a former student of the high school, used an AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle to carry out the attack.

If youre an elected official, and you want to keep things the way they are, and not do things differently, if you want to keep the gun laws as they are now, you will not get re-elected in Broward County, Israel told about 8,000 mourners at Pine Trails park, less than two miles from the scene of Wednesdays shooting.

By Friday, the close-knit city of 30,000 prepared to begin burying their dead. A thousand people and Florida governor Rick Scott crammed into Temple Kol Tikvah for the funeral of 18-year-old Meadow Pollack, where her father, Andrew Pollack cried out in reference to Cruz: You killed my kid.

He looked down at his daughters plain pine coffin. My kid is dead, he said. It goes through my head all day and all night. I keep hearing it. This is just unimaginable that I will never see my princess again. As he paused, mourners began to wail.

Meanwhile school students who survived attacked Washingtons inaction after a slew of previous mass shootings in American schools.

Cameron Kasky, a 17-year-old in his junior year at Stoneman Douglas high, criticised the Republican party.

Everything Ive heard is we cant do anything, this is out of our hands and this is inevitable. But thats just the facade the GOP is putting up, said Kasky, who has set up a Facebook page for fellow students and the community to press for action.

Mourners at the vigil on Thursday night. Photograph: Rhona Wise/AFP/Getty Images

It emerged on Friday that Cruz, who legally bought the rifle and ammunition used in the shooting at a tactical supply store in Coral Springs after passing a background check, allegedly fired more than 150 rounds at the school, and abandoned many dozens of unspent rounds.

Trump failed to use the word gun in his address to the nation on Thursday and in a coded message to his pro-gun supporters in the NRA, set his face against tougher background checks and a ban on assault weapons as he said: It is not enough to simply take actions that make us feel like we are making a difference. We must actually make that difference.

The campaign group Everytown for Gun Safety said on Friday it has received $800,000 in unsolicited donations since Wednesdays shooting, calling it a precursor for voter sentiment in the midterm elections in November 2018.

In the search for basic safety measures, parents who lost their children in the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook are pushing for one route through the political inertia in Washington which could help make every school in America safer.

How many have there been so far this year?

There have been eight shootings at US schools this year that resulted in injury or death, including 17 dead on Wednesday. In December, the fifth anniversary of the Sandy Hook school shooting, in which 20 children and six teachers died, was marked by congressional Republicans seeking to weaken restrictions and make it easier to carry a concealed weapon across state lines. Donald Trump promised to support the National Rifle Association (NRA) and oppose limits to gun ownership.

Key statistics

97 children have been killed and 126 injured in mass shootings in schools since 1989. These are the three worst incidents:

14 February 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School, Florida

14 December 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary, Connecticut

20 April 1999 Columbine High School, Colorado

Why is the NRA so powerful?

In 2017, the NRA spent at least $4.1m on lobbying. In the 2016 US elections, it spent $14.4m supporting 44 candidates who won, and $34.4m opposing 19 who lost, according to CRP. But the real source of its power comes from voters, said Adam Winkler, a UCLA professor of constitutional law. The 145-year-old organisation claims 5 million active members and Prof Robert Spitzer of the State University of New York at Cortland said it has a very powerful ability to mobilise a grassroots support .

The public view

79%: Proportion of Americans who favour banning assault-style weapons, according to a recent poll

84%: Democratic voters who said that gun laws should be a lot or somewhat stricter than at present

72%: Republican voters who agreed that the benefits of gun ownership outweigh the risks



In the five years since 20 children were murdered in the Connecticut elementary school, Mark Barden, whose son Daniel died in that shooting, has worked with a small group of other Sandy Hook families to try to change Americas reaction to the red flags, warning signs that indicate a student might be a risk.

Sandy Hook Promise has shared its Know the Signs training programs with 2.5 million students and adults, working across the country, one school district at a time, offering the training free of cost to school to educate kids and teachers about what to look for and what to do.

Legislation brought forward by Republicans and Democrats would authorise federal funds to expand the programme.

Barden said he felt extreme sorrow and frustration. We know all too well that this is preventable, that there were plenty of warning signs missed, he said.Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump announced Friday he was headed to Florida to meet with victims of the mass shooting that claimed 17 lives at a high school in Parkland.

"I will be leaving for Florida today to meet with some of the bravest people on earth - but people whose lives have been totally shattered," Trump tweeted early Friday.

The US leader -- who is spending the long President's Day weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida -- did not specify when the meeting would take place.

"Am also working with Congress on many fronts," added Trump, who has vowed to tackle mental health and school safety in the wake of the shooting, but has yet to make any mention of gun control.

A troubled former student, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, has confessed to gunning down 17 people at the high school north of Miami on Wednesday, in the country's worst school massacre since the horror at Sandy Hook six years ago.

While the latest atrocity has reignited questions about US gun laws, Trump -- the first president to have addressed the powerful National Rifle Association gun lobby -- staunchly opposes any additional controls.

In a televised address to the nation on Thursday, Trump suggested the root cause of the mass shootings that regularly stun the United States was a crisis of mental health -- an argument regularly made by opponents of gun curbs.

Since January 2013, there have been at least 291 school shootings across the country -- an average of one a week, according to the non-profit group Everytown for Gun SafetyUS President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited Broward Health North hospital in Pompano Beach, Florida, where victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were brought.

Trump said he met with victims, and praised first responders for reacting so quickly. The speed that they got victims to the hospitalrecord setting, said Trump. One case 20 minutes, one case 19 minutes, from the time of the shotits an incredible thing.

As Trump finished his remarks, a reporter shouted, do our gun laws need to be changed, Mr. President? Credit: The White House via Storyful(WASHINGTON)  President Donald Trump has consistently pushed back against the idea of Russia meddling in the election that put him in power, dismissing that claim as a hoax and an affront to the legitimacy of his victory.

Now, in a 37-page indictment Friday, special counsel Robert Muller has laid bare in excruciating detail the details of one Russian scheme, designed in part to benefit Trumps election run. It even shows contacts between foreigners and his campaign, albeit unwitting.

And Trumps national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, said Saturday at a conference in Germany that the evidence is now incontrovertible that Moscow interfered in the 2016 campaign.

Trump had seized on the fact that the Russian information warfare effort, as a top Justice Department official called it, began in 2014, before Trump announced his White House run. His team noted that the Russian efforts to sow discord are also said to have benefited Bernie Sanders, who was running for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Trump also asserted that the indictment proved there was no collusion between his campaign and the Russians.

His cheers of vindication Friday appeared to be more show than substance.

The administration still harbors deep worries about the direction of Muellers nine-month probe, which has shown no signs of abating and has expanded to explore potential obstruction of justice on the part of the president and his top aides.

Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for President, Trump tweeted after the indictment was unveiled. The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong  no collusion.

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White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders followed minutes later with a statement echoing the no collusion claim in capital letters.

Trump attorney John Dowd was jubilant in a statement of his own. The only thing I have to say is that Im very happy for the country and Bob Mueller did a great job.

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But neither the indictment nor Muellers office has ruled out any potential collusion in any other plot to disrupt the election. U.S. intelligence agencies have previously charged that a separate Russian effort hacked Democratic Party and Clinton campaign emails and leaked them to WikiLeaks in an effort to sway the election. And Mueller is probing a 2016 meeting in Trump Tower between the presidents son, son-in-law, top campaign aides and Russian nationals promising damaging information on Clinton from the Russian government.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversees the probe, carefully chose his words Friday as he stated, There is no allegation in the indictment that any American was a knowing participant in the alleged unlawful activity.

Privately, White House officials acknowledged that the indictment is only one line of inquiry in Muellers swirling probe.

Trumps estranged former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, met for hours with Muellers team this past week. Other current and former senior White House officials have already met with the special counsels office as he examines the firing of former FBI Director James Comey and misleading statements about the Trump Tower meeting.

Trump seized on the indictment to call for an end to outlandish partisan attacks, wild and false allegations, and far-fetched theories about the election, asserting they only serve to further the agendas of bad actors, like Russia, and do nothing to protect the principles of our institutions.

We must unite as Americans to protect the integrity of our democracy and our elections, Trump added.

Meanwhile, new questions mount about what his administration is doing to prevent Russia from doing it again.

The White House has demonstrated little enthusiasm for holding Russia to account. Privately, the president has chafed at suggestions that Russia worked to help his campaign, believing they undermine the legitimacy of his victory.

Trump has repeatedly called the Russia probe a hoax, and during the transition attacked intelligence agencies for their warnings about Russian intervention. Aides said Friday he was only referring to the collusion allegations.

But it took Trump until January 2017  months after the intelligence community publicly asserted that conclusion  to make clear that he believes that Russian entities tried to sway the election. His administration has resisted taking some steps to protect the electoral system from future meddling.

Trump formed and then disbanded a commission to study unfounded allegations of electoral fraud in 2016, but not one to study Russian interference. His administration just weeks ago bucked a congressional deadline to impose new sanctions on Russian entities over the countrys continued destabilizing actions.

The Department of Homeland Security, which the administration has tasked with safeguarding the electoral system ahead of the 2018 elections, has faced questions about how seriously it is taking those efforts.President Donald Trump has been criticized for a tone deaf photograph of himself making a thumbs up gesture and grinning broadly while posing with police officers and medics who responded to the Florida high school shooting.

trumpdonald_floridahospital_twitter_21718

White House

Trump posed for the image while visiting Broward County Sheriffs Office on Friday, and shortly after updated his @realDonaldTrump Twitter banner with the image.

Trending: Ohio Governor John Kasich Breaks With GOP In 'Wake Up' Call for Tighter Gun Laws After Florida Mass Shooting

Critics said that Trumps upbeat gesture was puzzling given the gravity of the incident, in which 17 students were shot dead.

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Some criticized the president for failing to show empathy.

Don't miss: Robert Reich: What Does Trump Mean By America?

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Democratic Wisconsin Representative Mark Pocan tweeted How can you stand there smiling and give a thumbs up when 17 Americans were killed in one of the nations deadliest school shootings?

Where is your courage to stand up to the @NRA, @realDonaldTrump?

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Neither the White House nor Trump has responded to criticism of the images.

Most popular: House Speaker Paul Ryan Slammed After He Snubbed Florida Teacher On Gun Control

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited officers and victims of the shooting Friday, where the president focussed on praising the reaction of emergency services rather than memorializing victims.

"What a great job you've done, and we appreciate it very much," Trump told officers at the sheriffs department. "Everybody is talking about it."

He added: "I hope you are getting the credit for it because believe me, you deserve it. The job you have done is unparalleled."

In a visit to Broward Health North Hospital where many of those wounded in the shooting are being treated, Trump posed with medics making the same thumbs up gesture.

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"It's an incredible thing," he said of the speed with which people were taken for treatment at the hospital after being wounded. "I want to congratulate them."

He did not publicly greet the families of any of the children killed in Wednesday's attack by former student Nikolas Cruz, reported the The Washington Post. In remarks to reporters, he did not address the issue of gun regulation reform.

In the wake of the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting in which 20 young children were killed by gunman Adam Lanza, President Barack Obama famously wept at a White House press conference where he called for tighter gun restrictions on gun ownership.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekPresident Donald Trump said he called on victims of Wednesdays high school shooting in Florida, which left 17 dead, on a hospital visit Friday evening.

I did indeed, he said when asked if hed met any of the seven still hospitalized. Its very sad that something like that could happen.

Trumps remarks followed a brief stop at Broward Health North hospital in Pompano Beach, Florida, with his wife, Melania. The couple had already planned to stay at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach for the holiday weekend. The visit to the hospital and the Broward County Sheriffs Office were added to the schedule following Wednesday afternoons massacre at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, a well-to-do community about 40 miles south of Palm Beach.

In brief comments to reporters, Trump praised the work of first responders and medical staff. They have done an incredible job, he said, adding later, The job theyve done is incredible.

When asked if new gun laws are needed, Trump walked away without answering.

Police have charged Nikolas Cruz, a 19-year-old former student who was expelled from the school last year, with 17 counts of murder. Police said he used an AR-15 military-style rifle that he legally purchased. Fourteen students and three school staff members were killed.

How many victims Trump met is not immediately clear, nor is the tenor of those conversations.

When President Barack Obama spoke to the nation after the Newtown, Connecticut, shooting that left 20 kindergarteners and first-graders dead, he had to stop several times to wipe away tears. Trump, in contrast, read his remarks Friday off a teleprompter in a flat tone and displayed little emotion.

Trumps visit to the community is also a rare foray into an area where hes generally not liked. The vast majority of his presidential trips have been to areas where he did well in the 2016 election.

Broward County, Florida, is quite the opposite. While Trump lost Parkland by just 5 percentage points to Democrat Hillary Clinton, he lost neighboring Coral Springs  where many of the Stoneman Douglas students live  and Broward County as a whole by a 2-to-1 margin.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.Nicolas Maduro, president of Venezuela, warned President Trump against a ban on imports of oil from the crisis-stricken nation.

Maduro tweeted Thursday that an oil embargo would not only be illegal, it would also be one of the biggest mistakes that the U.S. could commit in terms of international politics.

"The oil embargo is an illegal measure in the light of international law, an inconvenient measure in the light of America's interests, and is one of the biggest mistakes in international politics that it would commit," Maduro tweeted.

The tweet came after Secretary of State Rex Tillersons statement last week that the U.S. was considering a ban on Venezuelan oil imports to pressure Maduro to implement democratic reforms.

One of the aspects of considering sanctioning oil is what effect would it have on the Venezuelan people? Is it a step that might bring this to an end more rapidly? Tillerson said at a press conference.

Venezuelas economy is in a tailspin. After years of socialist rule during which the government overspent to win the favor of the nations poor, oil entered a bear market and the countrys revenue collapsed. Things have become so dire that its people lack such basic necessities as food and medicine.

But not only are citizens impacted, the government has been hit. One of the business casualties of Maduros policies has been oil production. In an ironic twist, oil prices have recovered, but the plunge in oil production has left the country missing out on billions of potential revenue each month.

Oil is Venezuelas primary export. In 2016, according to the Energy Information Administration, the U.S. obtained 8% of its oil imports from Venezuela.

Related ArticlesBy Michael Nienaber and Fabrizio Bensch

BERLIN (Reuters) - A Turkish court freed German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel on Friday pending trial after indicting him for alleged security offences, in a move welcomed by Berlin and which could lead to an easing of tensions between the two NATO allies.

Germany has been pressing for months for the release of Yucel, detained since last February on suspicion of spreading propaganda in support of a terrorist organisation and inciting violence. He denies the accusations.

After his release, Yucel headed straight to Germany. A Reuters photographer saw his plane taxiing after landing at Berlin's Tegel airport. German ARD television reported that he had disembarked the aircraft.

"This is a good day. Deniz Yucel is free," German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel earlier told reporters. "I can assure you there are no agreements, trade-offs, or deals in connection with this."

Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency said the court had accepted an indictment seeking up to 18 years in jail for Yucel but had also opted to free him ahead of trial.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed the release, but she also called on Ankara to guarantee fast judicial proceedings for other German citizens still being held in Turkish custody.

"I'm pleased, just like many, many others, that he was able to leave jail today," said Merkel, who on Thursday held talks in Berlin with Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. Earlier this week Yildirim had raised the prospect of Yucel being freed.

"We know that there are also other cases of people, maybe not as prominent, who remain in custody, and also for them we hope that there will be fast and constitutional judicial proceedings," Merkel told a news conference in Berlin.

There are currently five other German citizens who are being held in Turkish custody over alleged security offences.

"BEST NEWS EVER"

Yucel's newspaper, Die Welt, had earlier announced his release from custody, citing his lawyer.

Story continues

"Finally! Best news ever. Deniz Yucel is free", German Justice Minister Heiko Maas said in a tweet.

German government spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer told a regular news conference on Friday that Yucel's release would be "an important first step" after massive diplomatic efforts.

Last month Turkey urged Germany, its biggest trading partner, to mend fences and they have since resumed bilateral government consultations suspended after Yucel's arrest.

A foreign ministry spokesman cautioned that there were still contentious issues between Germany and Turkey, whose ties deteriorated sharply after Ankara's crackdown on suspected supporters of a failed military coup in 2016.

In the indictment Yucel is accused of spreading propaganda in support of both Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based cleric accused by Ankara of plotting the failed coup, and also of the outlawed PKK group waging an insurgency in southeast Turkey.

Turkey says its crackdown since the coup attempt  with the arrest of some 50,000 people - is needed for security reasons. It has criticised Germany for not handing over asylum seekers it accuses of involvement in the failed coup.

(Additional reporting by Daren Butler in Istanbul, Paul Carrel in Berlin and Andrea Shalal in Munich; Editing by Gareth Jones and Raissa Kasolowsky)BEIRUT, ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey never used chemical weapons in its operations in Syria, and takes the utmost care of civilians, a Turkish diplomatic source said, after Syrian Kurdish forces and a monitoring group accused it of carrying out a gas attack in Syria's Afrin region. "These are baseless accusations. Turkey never used chemical weapons. We take utmost care about civilians in Operation Olive Branch," the source said. Syrian Kurdish forces and a monitoring group said the Turkish military carried out a suspected gas attack that wounded six people in Syria's Afrin region on Friday. The source also described the accusations of wounding six civilians through a suspected gas attack as "black propaganda". Turkey launched an air and ground offensive last month on the Afrin region, opening a new front in the multi-sided Syrian war, to target Kurdish fighters in northern Syria. Birusk Hasaka, a spokesman for the Kurdish YPG militia in Afrin, told Reuters that Turkish bombardment hit a village in the northwest of the region, near the Turkish border. He said it caused six people to suffer breathing problems and other symptoms indicative of a gas attack. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told Reuters that Turkish forces and their Syrian insurgent allies hit the village on Friday with shells. The Britain-based war monitoring group said medical sources in Afrin reported that six people in the attack suffered breathing difficulties and dilated pupils, indicating a suspected gas attack. Syrian state news agency SANA, citing a doctor in a Afrin hospital, said Turkish shelling of the village caused choking in six people. On Feb. 6, the United Nations called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Syria. Since the onset of the conflict in 2011, the YPG and its allies have set up three autonomous cantons in the north, including Afrin. Their sphere of influence expanded as they seized territory from Islamic State with U.S. help, though Washington opposes their autonomy plans as does the Syrian government. U.S. support for Kurdish-led forces in Syria has infuriated Ankara, which views them as a security threat along its frontier. Turkey sees the YPG as terrorists and an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) that has waged a three-decade insurgency on Turkish soil. (Reporting by David Dolan in Istanbul, Ellen Francis in Beirut and Rodi Said in northern Syria; Writing by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Alison Williams)Ankara (AFP) - Turkey has "never used" chemical weapons in Syria and accusations that it had done so during its offensive against a Syrian Kurdish militia are "baseless", a Turkish diplomatic source said on Saturday.

Turkey last month launched military operation dubbed "Olive Branch" supporting Syrian rebels with ground troops and air strikes against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia viewed as "terrorists" by Ankara.

The Turkish source was reacting to claims by the head of Afrin hospital in northern Syria that six men were treated late Friday after shelling during the offensive and had symptoms that were in line with exposure to toxic agents.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said shelling from either Turkey or allied factions hit Al-Sheikh Hadid, west of the town of Afrin, and left six people with "enlarged pupils" and "breathing difficulties".

Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP he could not confirm whether toxic gases were used.

But the Turkish source said Ankara took the "utmost care" regarding civilian safety and that the claims Turkey was responsible for an alleged gas attack were "baseless".

"Turkey never used chemical weapons," the source added. "(These are) lies... this is black propaganda."

Turkey says the YPG is linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been waging an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984.

The PKK is blacklisted as a terror group by the United States and the European Union.

But the YPG has been working closely with Washington to oust the Islamic State extremist group from Syria, which has strained relations between the two NATO allies.

The Observatory says at least 78 civilians have died during Turkey's operation but Ankara repeatedly insists it is taking all the necessary measures to protect civilians.In this article:

President Donald Trump sparked some online anger when he gave a thumbs-up while posing for a photo with law enforcement officers whod responded to Wednesdays deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Many people called out Trump over the gesture, which he reportedly made during a visit to the Broward County Sheriffs Office on Friday. Washington Post reporter Mark Berman noted how the president had also updated his personal Twitter accounts banner with the image:

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Tweeters accused Trump of being tone deaf and lacking empathy and compassion.

A sampling of the responses below:

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Related Coverage

Stephen Colbert Unleashes New Batch Of Alter Egos For Donald Trump's White House

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Former Mexican President: Mass Shootings Are Consequence Of Racism Like Trump's

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal authorities have charged three men with illegally exporting drone parts and other material from the United States to Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group, the U.S. Justice Department said on Friday.

It said in a statement that suspects Usama Darwich Hamade and Issam Darwich Hamade were in custody in South Africa while Samir Ahmed Berro remained at large.

According to the indictment, the trio conspired and attempted to export goods including inertial measurement units suitable for use in drones, a jet engine, piston engines and recording binoculars to Hezbollah in Lebanon from 2009 to 2013, the statement said.

Hezbollah is a heavily armed Shi'ite movement which is part of the Lebanese coalition government and backed by Iran. The United States regards it as a terrorist group.

(Reporting by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Tom Brown)While the majority of Americans consistently report that they disapprove of President Trump, and millions rally to protest the Muslim Ban, attacks on the Affordable Care Act and anti-immigrant policies, one group has not wavered in its support of Trump: his faith advisors. Jerry Falwell, Jr. has celebrated Trump as a dream president and Franklin Graham said Gods hand intervened to elect him. At the 2018 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., several speakers said no President in American history has done as much as this one to promote religious freedom.

To many within and beyond the faith community, these preachers claims raise eyebrows. How do Christian ministers reconcile the Jesus who said Love your enemy with a President whose policy is to strike back at all critics? Why would people who claim to stand for family values so uncritically support a thrice-married man who according to Ronan Farrows reporting for the New Yorker set up complex legal arrangements to cover up multiple affairs throughout his current marriage?

Eighty percent of white evangelicals voted for and, by and large, continue to support President Trump. To almost everyone else in America, this seems like a fundamental contradiction. But to Trumps faithful, it is Providence at work in human history. They believe God is making America great again through an imperfect human agent. And like any true believers, they will not be moved.

As a preacher who grew up in the South during the Moral Majority movement, I know where my sisters and brothers are coming from. They feel that the liberal media and secular humanists seek to embarrass their heroes for standing by this President and therefore only confirm their conviction that they are an embattled minority, up against great odds with none but God on their side.

Trump is far from the first person to feed us this lie. In the 19th century, when black and white people built a moral movement in America to abolish slavery, plantation owners paid preachers to write theological defenses of white supremacy. Human bondage wasnt only allowable for slaveholder religion. It was reflective of Gods design  a righteous order in society to be preserved at all costs.

Story continues

Slavery went away, but this peculiar American faith did not. Historians refer to the movement to end Reconstruction in the South as the Redemption movement because Southern preachers told their people that God was redeeming them from Northern aggression and Negro rule when President Rutherford B. Hayes removed federal troops from the South in 1877. By 1896, separate but equal was the law of the land. A celebrated preacher of the early 20th century, Thomas Dixon, wrote a bestselling novel glorifying the Ku Klux Klan as champions of morality; by 1915, it was a major motion picture, The Birth of a Nation.

In Americas Gilded Age, slaveholder religion went national, blessing an alliance between industrial capital and white nationalism. When corporate tycoons lost credibility after the Great Depression, members of the national Chamber of Commerce paid The Birth of a Nation director D.W. Griffiths pastor, the Rev. James Fifield, to popularize a 20th-century version of slaveholder religion that blessed the market and cursed those who preached a Social Gospel. Like the Redemption movement of the previous century, this campaign for One Nation Under God promised to save America from the immorality of the New Deal, Communism and the Civil Rights movement.

Americas long history of slaveholder religion makes clear that the faith of Trumps preachers is not new. But it is also not the only faith in this land. Writing in the 19th century, when slaveholder religion was still taking root in white Americans consciousness, Frederick Douglass said, Between the Christianity of the slaveholder and the Christianity of Christ, I see the widest possible difference.

The faith that drove Douglass and thousands of others to risk all in the fight for abolition has also been passed down, one generation to the next, in the American story. Preachers like Sojourner Truth and J.W. Hood rallied the faithful to fight for Reconstruction after the Civil War, just as Social Gospelers were motivated by a moral vision, and the Civil Rights movement was sustained by the preaching of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the freedom songs that flowed out of Southern churches into the streets and jails. This faith is with us still in churches that offer sanctuary to immigrant neighbors facing deportation and in the Moral Movement led by the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II.

If slaveholder religion is still with us in the 21st century, the moral force of this other tradition is with us as well. To distinguish between the two is to make clear that people of faith have a choice to make. Faith that props up extremism isnt the only religion in our public life, but our history makes clear that slaveholder religion will dominate unless people of faith are willing to put our bodies on the line to insist on a better way.It's mid-February and the flu patients keep coming. Flu vaccine and screening supplies are becoming scarce at the Findlay, Ohio, medical practice where family nurse practitioner Gina Vaughn sees her patients. The influx continues as the infection spreads. "The flu season has just gotten out of control because people are not staying home," she laments. "They're not using common sense."

Slogging through the flu is miserable enough. If you try to tough it out at the workplace or power through in public, you're not doing yourself -- or anyone else -- a favor. To be a hero, stay home, say public health experts and patient care providers like Vaughn. By doing so, you help protect your co-workers, classmates, fellow worshipers, small children, pregnant women, seniors and those with chronic health conditions from exposure to the flu virus.

It's important to get an early handle on the flu to stave off complications such as pneumonia or sinus infections, or in extreme cases, a life-threatening infection called sepsis. Reach out to your health care provider sooner rather than later.

That's much more helpful than waiting until symptoms worsen and you're forced to make a midnight trip to the nearest emergency room. "They don't want you in the ER," Vaughn says. "It's too dangerous -- you could spread germs all over."

When patients develop rapid-onset fever, generalized malaise -- feeling achy and rotten all over -- and respiratory issues like a tight cough with phlegm, Vaughn suggests they visit the primary care providers' office for evaluation and treatment. Some may receive the antiviral medication Tamiflu.

[See: 10 Reasons You May Be Feeling Fatigued.]

Although the best advice is for patients to stay home, rest and recover, many worry about missing work time or classes. Health care providers can lend support. For those who need it, Vaughn offers excuse notes to pardon them from the workplace or from school. She's been known to call supervisors herself. "I've gotten good, positive feedback," she says. "We don't need [the flu]," employers tell her. "We don't want to spread it to our customers."

Story continues

If you've been exposed to the flu, it's not the ideal time to visit a relative in the hospital or nursing home or drop in at your child's day care center. If you must go out in public, practice good hygiene. Prevention can't be emphasized enough, Vaughn says: "You wash your hands. You put on a mask. You sneeze into your sleeve and spray [disinfectant] on it. Whatever it takes. Stay home. Stay away from people. Use sense."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends yearly flu vaccines as the best way for people to protect themselves from contracting the flu or to at least reduce its effects. Getting a flu shot also contributes to herd immunity, which helps protect entire communities from disease outbreaks when a large percentage of people participate. However, many people don't receive flu shots. In addition, flu vaccine performance varies from year to year. On Friday, the CDC reported that the 2017-2018 seasonal flu vaccine was 36 percent effective.

According to the CDC's latest flu surveillance report, influenza virus A(H3) was the most commonly identified flu subtype identified in the first week of February 2018. It's been responsible for a particularly severe form of flu. That week, 10 flu-related deaths were reported among children across the U.S. Overall, about 60 confirmed flu hospitalization occurred for every 100,000 people.

[See: 9 Ways Saliva Reflects Your Health.]

"It's been a very busy time," says Dr. Marianna Sockrider, a pediatric pulmonologist and chief of pulmonary clinics at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, where she sees young patients with high-risk health conditions like cystic fibrosis.

When anyone in the family is exposed to the flu, they receive preventive treatment and everyone takes precautions. The sick person will virtually sequester him or herself in a bedroom. "You need to think of yourself as being in quarantine," says Sockrider, who is also an associate professor at Baylor College of Medicine. "Even if you're taking the antiviral drug, you're still contagious."

That approach applies to anyone with the flu. "People should not be running around doing errands because they have to be off work," Sockrider says. "Sometimes you start feeling better but that doesn't mean you aren't a risk to yourself or others." With flu, she recommends staying home until you're fever-free for at least 24 hours -- and not just experiencing temporary relief from dosing yourself with ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Older adults in the community may not have as strong an immune system as others, which is why certain flu vaccines are specifically designed for seniors. According to the CDC, between 71 percent and 85 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths occur in people ages 65 and older, and up to 70 percent of flu-related hospitalizations occur in that age group.

Young children are more vulnerable, as well. "Very young babies have a harder time with any flu illness," Sockrider says. "Infants under 6 months of age can't get flu shots, so caregivers are all advised to get vaccines."

At your workplace, certain colleagues may be more at risk from the flu than you realize. Pregnant women, for instance, are likelier to develop severe illness. It's also possible their developing babies may be affected.

Co-workers who manage medical conditions can struggle harder with flu symptoms. Chronic conditions such as diabetes or asthma, or autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, put them at higher risk.

"Even typically healthy young people have been getting hit hard with the flu," Sockrider says. "That's been true in the past with some other flu epidemics. We shouldn't think that anyone deserves to have some exposure that we can avoid."

Flu sufferers reluctant to spend possible vacation days on sickness, or who don't want to let down employers, might drag themselves to their desks. "You're not going to work as effectively if you have fever or flu symptoms," Sockrider points out. "So are you really doing them a service?" There's a better approach, she says: "If you recognize symptoms promptly and get treated, you can potentially get well faster."

[See: 9 Ways to Boost Your Immune System.]

Recuperating at home protects you as well as others. "If you have the flu, you, too, are now more vulnerable," Sockrider says. "Your body is under attack, so you could get a secondary infection. Why would you want to go out and expose yourself to something more when your body is still trying to get over a major illness?"

Tending to the flu at home allows you to really focus on symptoms. Along with any medications you're prescribed, it's a chance to treat flu achiness, sneezing and fever with over-the-counter products in private. It's an opportunity to open your congested airways with steamy showers and to drink plenty of water, sip some hot soup and above all, rest.

Lisa Esposito is a Patient Advice reporter at U.S. News. She covers health conditions, drawing on experience as an RN in oncology and other areas and as a research coordinator at the National Institutes of Health. Esposito previously reported on health care with Gannett, and she received her journalism master's degree at Georgetown University. You can follow her on Twitter, connect with her on LinkedIn or email her at lesposito@usnews.com.Donald Trump was saying everything Vonie Long wanted to hear, not that Long believed him.

The head of the United Steelworkers local union in Coatesville, Pa., Long was sitting in his electrical-maintenance truck in June 2016, listening on the radio to Trump give a speech on trade at an aluminum plant on the other side of the state, outside Pittsburgh. Trump had begun with a tribute to the steelworkers who built America. He blasted the politicians who pursued globalization and pledged to fight unfair trade practices that threatened U.S. jobs. Most of all, he made promises, from renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to imposing a tariff on steel.

Long, a stout man with a bristly gray mustache, was impressed. Republicans didnt usually talk like this. Any of us steelworkers could have given that exact speech, he told me recently. And while Long, a Democrat, voted against Trump, after the election he hoped that Trump might actually follow through.

But it hasnt panned out that way. A year into Trumps term, the factories have not roared back. His accomplishmentsa massive corporate tax cut, a strong stock markethave largely redounded to the benefit of the bankers and fat cats. Trump has taken few of his promised actions on trade and manufacturing. The American steel industry has suffered as the market floods with imports, forcing prices down, all while the Administration dithers and delays over tariffs.

As Long sees it, no one should feel more betrayed by the Trump presidency than the archetypical Trump supporter: the white working-class voter whom Trump dubbed the Forgotten Man. And yet, to his great frustration, many of his fellow blue collar workers dont seem to grasp how Trump has abandoned them. As of last month, the Presidents approval rating was 46 percent among white non-college-educated voters, down 7 points since he took office, according to the polling firm Morning Consult. The most vocal supporters of him, theyre just unwavering, Long says, shaking his head.

Story continues

Coatesville was once known as Pittsburgh East for its steel production. Today the local steelworkers union has just a few hundred workers at the towns plant

The immovable loyalty of Trumps narrow but vocal base has broad ramifications, not just for the Democratic Party but also for the nation. Unbridgeable divides make governing nearly impossible: there can be no consensus in a politics of blind tribalism. But the real tragedy of Trumps broken promise to the working man is the missed opportunity it represents. Trump had a chance, advocates argue, to bring back American manufacturingand spur a populist political realignment in the process. Many of the residents of Trump Country, the nations hollowed-out former industrial heartland, still hold out hope that he can do it. But the President seems to have forgotten them.

The blue collar man is the mascot and enigma of the Trump era: endlessly analyzed, endlessly interrogated. Reporters and researchers have returned again and again to Trump Country since 2016, asking the same questionWhat do you think of the President now?and getting the same answers: Its a witch hunt. Hes shaking things up.

Scott Paul, head of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, has given up asking; the answers are always unsatisfying. Theres a lot of forgiveness, Paul, a slight, fine-featured 51-year-old, tells me as he drives his battered Ford SUV down the two-lane highway out of Coatesville. Theres kind of a list of reasons why he hasnt done this or hasnt done that. But Paul keeps coming back to places like Coatesville anyway. Hes not on a mission to win votes for the Democrats. His aim is to try to get the President to keep his commitments.

A picturesque town of 13,000, Coatesville was once known as Pittsburgh East for its booming steel industry that employed as many as 8,000 people. The massive plant that looms over the town is the U.S.s longest continuously operating steel mill, open since 1810. It produced the 152 nine-story fork-shaped supports that formed the base of the original World Trade Centermany of which stayed standing when the towers fell on Sept. 11. It makes nuclear-submarine parts and mine-resistant armor for military vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Today the plant is badly diminished. In 2003, it was acquired by an investment group led by Wilbur Ross, now Trumps Secretary of Commerce; it was eventually bought by the Luxembourg-based industry giant ArcelorMittal, and operates at a fraction of its capacity. The steelworkers local that Long oversees now has just 580 members at the plant.

Like Long, Paul hails from Trump Country, having grown up in rural northwestern Indiana. A former trade lobbyist for the AFL-CIO, his association is funded by American steel unions and manufacturers. And while he didnt vote for Trump, he understood why so many working-class white people did.

When you see Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin all end up in the same place, Paul tells me, theres a reason for it. Trumps opposition to globalization broke with the GOPs elite consensus. But it tapped a wellspring of sentiment in the partys base that politicians like Ross Perot and Pat Buchanan recognized decades ago. Theres a similar fissure in the Democratic Party, where populists like Bernie Sanders opposed the Obama Administrations push for deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Its not a coincidence, Paul believes, that both Sanders and Trump drew so much support from the industrial Midwest.

To be sure, some white working-class voters were nativists who thrilled to Trumps rants against China, Mexicans and Muslims. Paul doesnt deny that racism and sexism played a role but says that some of it is a sense that their manufacturing communities have been left behind. President Obama promised to add a million manufacturing jobs in his second term; the total came to only about 360,000.

Business is booming and workers are in demand at the John Rock Inc. pallet company in Coatesville. Owner Bill MacCauley says Trumps recently enacted tax cuts spurred him to invest in new equipment

Paul was willingeven eagerto work with Trump. He saw it as an encouraging sign when the just-elected President asked him to serve on a newly created advisory council on manufacturing jobs. A year ago, I thought there was a reasonable possibility wed get an infrastructure bill, well get Buy American laws, therell be a crackdown on China, hes going to look out for the steel industry, and hes going to renegotiate NAFTA, Paul says. Thats something I wanted to be a part of.

Instead, Paul found himself cringing as Trump did things he didnt support, from pulling out of the Paris Agreement to the ban on travelers from some Muslim-majority countries. In August, when Trump hesitated to denounce the deadly white-nationalist march in Charlottesville, Va., Paul hit his breaking point. He was one of eight members to resign from the manufacturing initiative, which the White House then disbanded.

Since then, Paul has watched from the sidelines as Trumps promises have been indefinitely delayed. The lack of progress on a controversial Chinese steel tariff is a case in point. An obscure provision, Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, allows the U.S. to restrict imports if national security is at stake. In an April ceremony at the White House attended by steelworkers representatives and CEOs, Trump announced an investigation into steel imports under Section 232. But the Administrations original June deadline has come and gone, and still no decision has been announced.

The Buy American order Trump signed in January didnt actually, as he claimed, require that the Keystone XL oil pipeline be built from American steel. The trade deficit with China recently hit $375 billion, the highest level in history. Although Trump pulled out of TPP and has undertaken talks to renegotiate NAFTA, all the trade agreements the U.S. was a party to when he took office remain unchanged. It wasnt until Feb. 12 that the White House finally unveiled its infrastructure plan, to indifference on Capitol Hill. Rather than support building new highways and bridges and airports and railways, as Trump once promised, the proposal provides seed money to encourage private companies to build things like toll roads.

The lack of action is partly the result of a battle under way within Trumps own Administration. Trade hawks like Peter Navarro and Robert Lighthizer stoke Trumps protectionist impulses, only to be resisted by more mainstream economic advisers, from Gary Cohn to Republicans in Congress. Meanwhile, the Chinese have wooed the President aggressively, with apparent success: so far, the only win for the protectionists has been a minor action imposing trade restrictions on solar panels and washing machines. (Recently, the President has appeared to refocus on these priorities, touting infrastructure and meeting with senators on tariffs. Everything that President Trump has done since taking office has been directed toward making the country better for all Americans, a White House official told me, including the men and women who had felt forgotten by decades of bad deals and regulations that sent their factories and jobs overseas.)

Economists differ on the potential effect of trade restrictions. But in the near term, the effect of Trumps indecision on towns like Coatesville has been immediate. When Trump announced the Section 232 investigation, other countries began pumping out steel to ship to the U.S. before a tariff took hold. The glut of supply sent steel prices tumbling. A pipe mill outside Harrisburg has had layoffs, as has a steel mill in Conshohocken. Another in Kentucky announced it will shut down.

Paul wonders what might have been. Ive been around politics enough to know theres a gap between campaign promises and what an elected official can deliver, he says. But imagine if, at the beginning of his Administration, Trump had said to Democrats, Lets work on trade enforcement, lets do infrastructure, instead of trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act and pushing a very partisan exercise on taxes. He chuckles ruefully. What a different place we could be in now.

Trade proponents argue that the steel jobs arent coming back, and towns like Coatesville need to adjust to a new economy. In Coatesville, the future may have already arrived in the form of the humble pallet.

Theres plenty of jobs, shouts Bill MacCauley, yelling to be heard over the sound of heavy machinery as he strides through his cavernous warehouse. Just across town from the old steel mill, the John Rock Inc. pallet factory is booming. Our biggest challenge is labor, says MacCauley, a rangy, easygoing man in blue jeans. In his telling, the pallet, that simple slatted platform, is the unsung hero of the American economy. Pallets are a better barometer of the economy than anything else, he contends. Everything in this country moves on a pallet.

MacCauley, who grew up on a farm, was working as the plant manager in 1997 when its founder decided to retire. Since taking over the business, he has modernized and expanded it, commissioning efficient new nailing and sawing machines and doubling the warehouses footprint. Today MacCauleys plant nails together 20,000 pallets a day, making it one of the top five pallet-making facilities in the country by his reckoning. The nails are from Koreathey tried American nails, but the quality didnt pass muster.

Winters are typically busy in the pallet business as the holidays and Super Bowl spur shipping demand. But MacCauley says business has been gangbusters since Trump took office a year ago. Since the passage of corporate tax cuts in December, MacCauley has dramatically increased his capital investments: he has $2 million worth of new machinery scheduled to arrive in the next three months, purchases he says he wouldnt have made now if not for the legislation.

With unemployment down to 4.1%, companies across the U.S. have had to scramble to find workers, driving wages up and forcing recruiters to get creative. John Rock is no exception. Pay starts at $11 per hour, with full benefits and a 401(k). MacCauley has raised wages by $1 over the past year, in part to compete with landscaping jobs. He estimates that a majority of the plants workers are Latino. The job market is so tight that the company has started recruiting women for what has traditionally been mens work. Whether you like Trump or not, the fact remains: everybodys doing better than they were a year ago, MacCauley says. Were probably going to look back at this as one of the biggest booms in our lifetime.

Its not quite accurate to attribute all this to the new Administration. Unemployment was plummeting before Trump was elected; in fact, jobs have grown more slowly under Trump than any other year since 2010, and wage growth slowed during his first year. The President boasted in his State of the Union on Jan. 30 about the addition of 200,000 manufacturing jobs, but there are still 1 million fewer Americans working in manufacturing than there were 10 years ago.

Still, to MacCauley, things look better than ever. Foreign trade doesnt bother him: When they import goods, they import em on a pallet, he says. Reducing immigration would worsen MacCauleys hiring crunchthats a part of Trumps agenda hes not so keen onbut so far Trumps crackdown hasnt affected him.

We walk out past MacCauleys office, where a bikini-girl calendar hangs on one wall and the others are festooned with livestock-show ribbons for the specialty ewes he raises as a hobby. Above a receptionists desk is a mug reading I just want to drink coffee and listen to Rush Limbaugh. This plant, powered by global trade and immigrant workers, may not match Trumps populist vision, and MacCauley, the man with his name on the payroll checks, was never quite forgotten in the global economy. But from where he sits, there are plenty of reasons to be happy with Trump.

The Trump base that part of the electorate that supports him not reluctantly but ardentlyis not the political mainstream: just 22% strongly approved of the President in one recent poll. But Trumps working-class supporters continue to fascinate and flummox political experts in part because they are stubbornly, heartbreakingly hopeful that he will eventually keep his promises to them.

At Coatesvilles Little Chef Family Restaurant, 64-year-old John Gathercole sits at the lunch counter with a cup of coffee, talking about how Trump will bring back steel jobs. He spent 29 years cutting heavy steel, retiring two years before the plant closed and laid off the remaining workers. Politicians romanticize manual labor, but it was a brutal job: Gathercole believes he could have been killed if the Occupational Safety and Health Administration hadnt intervened to protect him from illegal emissions. Now he makes pocket money driving Amish workers to and from their factory gigs.

Im a big union man. I always will be, Gathercole says. Solidly built with slicked-back gray hair, he wears a gold chain under his Under Armour shirt. A lifelong Democrat, Gathercole cast his first-ever Republican vote in 2016. I dont know how Trump is on unions, he says. I liked him because he was change.

Sentiments are similar 30 miles up the road, in the once vibrant manufacturing hub of Reading. The citys garment factory is now an outlet mall, and it has one of the highest urban poverty rates in the U.S.. at 39%. At an indoor farmers market here, between stalls selling Amish pastries and fresh poultry, locals are yelling at one another about politics.

Trump is going to revisit NAFTA and take a hard line with China, insists a voluble man with curly gray hair in a Snap-on tools jacket. Trade, he says, is his No. 1 issue; his wife is a United Automobile Workers union member, and his sons both work at a steel-alloy plant. Theyve been busy as heck since Trump got in, says the man, who wont give his name because hes afraid hell be attacked by Trump critics.

At the other end of the table, a white-mustached man in a black driving cap cant believe what hes hearing. Eighty-two-year-old Charlie Fisher doesnt like the slogan make America great again, he says, because he always believed America was great. When Fisher demands that the other man defend the Access Hollywood tape, the Trump supporter brings up Hillary Clintons emails. How about eight years of Obama, the Muslim in Chief, who never made 3% GDP growth? he hollers. See, I do my homework. I know what Im talking about.(In fact, the economy grew 3% during several quarters under Obama.)

At the next table, Todd Hiester, 61, sits quietly thinking about the past. In 1979, when he was 19, his father got him a job at the Dana auto-parts plant. Hiester apprenticed as a tool and die maker, loved the work, and did it until the company went bankrupt in 2000. The day the factory closed, two men who worked alongside Hiester were so despondent that they shot themselves, he says. Hiester had been pulling in $36 per hour but missed qualifying for a pension by three months. He tried going back to community college for a computer degree, but he never found another job that paid half of what he had once made.

Hiester says he voted for Trump for a host of reasons: because of the need for Judeo-Christian values on the Supreme Court, because he believes undocumented immigrants are living off government benefits, because he didnt like Clinton and because of trade. He blames the system for Trumps struggles and holds out hope that change is still coming.

I think his intentions are good, says Hiester, a soft-spoken man wearing a dark green fleece. His heart is very good. He is sure that Trump is doing his best to fight for the working man, and you have to admit, he says, that the President is not like all those other politicians.

No matter that Trumps lawyers worry that he will perjure himself if he is interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller. Forget that the Washington Post has recorded more than 2,000 falsehoods in Trumps first year alone. At least, Hiester says of the President he trusts, he doesnt lie.Dont worry, Winnie the Pooh is not dead.

British author A.A. Milnes lovable fictional bear began trending worldwide on Twitter early Saturday, but for a heartwarming Winter Olympics-related reason.

Each time Japans figure skating star, Yuzuru Hanyu, concludes a routine, his fans throw their replica golden bears into the rink. It was no different after he scooped a gold medal in the mens individual figure skating event at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

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The practice reportedly began back in 2010 after fans spotted Hanyu carrying a Pooh-themed tissue box cover. Per The New York Times, the bear has now become Hanyus lucky mascot. As for the dozens of toys that rained down onto the ice in Pyeongchang, they will be donated to local charities.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.To all the men who have worried since the start of #MeToo that their careers and reputations could be shattered by mere allegations, as the President put it recently, Id like to say: Welcome to the club.

Even before social media made slander user-friendly, a womans reputation could be destroyed with a single cruel rumor or photo. Maligning her character or sexual behavior can neutralize a womans accomplishments and her grievances. That threat has kept us quiet and cautious about whom we challenge and why.

Till now, the court of public opinion has been harsher on women than on men. There, a mans talent or value as artist, politician or executive, especially a white one, was weighed against his personal transgressions. More often than not, many peopleincluding women, who are often complicithave chosen to ignore or wall off ugly, abusive behavior from professional competence.

But those walls are increasingly porous. Cruelty, deception and corruption inevitably leak through and taint the work and the lives of all those associated. Many of those toppled by #MeToo were already known to be bullies or harassers. Those open secrets didnt wreck their careers if they were making money for someone or fulfilling some need. Instead, the people around them suffered. Those who openly resisted men like accused rapist Harvey Weinstein say it was their careers that took a hit, and that standing up made it hard for them to rise in their field.

Tellingly, the person who has so far paid the greatest price for Weinsteins behavior is a woman. Hollywood manager Jill Messick was devastated when her former client Rose McGowan suggested that she enabled the moguls abuse. Messick committed suicide earlier this month. She became collateral damage in an already horrific story, her family said in a statement.

Monica Lewinsky was also collateral damage. Congress impeached Bill Clinton for lying about their affair when she was an intern. He was called a liar, a philanderer and an opportunist. Yet by the end of his term, his approval rating soared, surpassing that of any modern Presidenteven Reagan. We gave him a mulligan; the intern took the real hit. She was the one who couldnt shake the stigma. It blighted her life for decades and drove her to become, for a time, suicidal.

Story continues

But now the rules are changing, and I understand why men are unnerved. Its no fun to worry that you wont be believed.

Senator Orrin Hatch seemed shocked when White House staff secretary Rob Porter, who had served as Hatchs chief of staff, was accused by both his ex-wives of punching, kicking and abusing them. Porter said he was being smeared, that one ex-wifes black eye came from a fall, not his fist. Senator Hatch and President Trump jumped to his defense. Shame on the politically motivated, morally bankrupt character assassins that would attempt to sully a mans good name, fumed Hatch. And after Porter was forced to resign, Hatch said he would hire someone like him again.

But this time the women would not be shamed into silence. When the President implied in a tweet that Porter was falsely accused, Porters ex-wives Colbie Holderness and Jennie Willoughby reluctantly stepped into the spotlight to refute the idea that they would lie about these painful experiences, or that their claims were mere allegations rather than findings in a months-long investigation by the FBI, a process that produced enough evidence to deny Porter a security clearance.

Perhaps to the surprise of a President who has ascended despite the many women who have accused him of sexual assault and misconduct, the public is listening to these women. Regardless of who knew what when about both Porter and a White House speechwriter who also denied accusations of domestic violence, its clear that for some period of time, top officials turned a blind eye to evidence that a man who hits women was at the heart of this Administration.

At last, abuses like these are seeping through the wall between personal and professional that for so long has shielded powerful men from their own misconduct. And as women know all too well, those stains can be permanent.

For more on these stories, visit time.com/ideasHarare (AFP) - Zimbabwe's main opposition party is facing the threat of damaging splits just months before a historic election, as feuding erupts after the death on Wednesday of its leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Tsvangirai's final months were accompanied by increasingly public quarrelling between his three deputies over who would succeed him as head of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

The party -- which has a history of splintering -- had been trying reunite to fight the coming election, but the death of its widely-admired founder triggered renewed rivalry.

Fresh divisions could mean that President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the ruling ZANU-PF face little opposition at the election, which is expected by July.

Voters will go to the polls for the first time since Robert Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe with an iron fist since 1980, was ousted in November after a military intervention.

"We are going to see a major split in the MDC now that Tsvangirai, who was the glue that held the party together, is gone," Harare-based political analyst Alexander Rusero told AFP.

- Competing claims -

The latest bickering came to a head when one of the deputy leaders, Nelson Chamisa, called a meeting at MDC headquarters in Harare the day after Tsvangirai's death.

Chamisa had supposedly been named as the interim MDC leader by Tsvangirai as he underwent cancer treatment in South Africa.

Hundreds of party activists gathered outside the building to honour Tsvangirai -- but without the party's other deputies, Thokozani Khupe and Elias Mudzuri.

A furious Khupe lashed out at Chamisa.

"Tsvangirai dies and you go on with a meeting to appoint yourself as leader. How shameful!" she told the local press.

"You are power-hungry. You can't even wait for two days to have Tsvangirai buried."

Shortly before Tsvangirai's death, Mudzuri visited him in hospital in Johannesburg to establish his own claim to be the rightful heir.

Story continues

"It is myself and no one else," Mudzuri told South African television. "People must respect authority as given by my president and make sure they work towards... winning the 2018 elections."

In turn, Chamisa has called for the party to unite and be disciplined.

Chamisa is thought to have the largest number of supporters. Many analysts tip him to emerge as the MDC's next leader and say he could manage to head off a permanent split.

- Opposing Mugabe -

The MDC once posed a formidable challenge to ZANU-PF, even winning the first round of a presidential election in 2008 vote.

Tsvangirai then pulled out of the run-off after a wave of deadly violence unleashed by Mugabe supporters, and the MDC entered into a troubled coalition government.

Under relentless pressure from Mugabe's regime -- and the threat of intimidation and violence -- the MDC have suffered major splits since Tsvangirai founded the party in 1999.

But Tsvangirai last year reunited with his former allies Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube, who both left Tsvangirai's wing of the party, to run together in the 2018 elections.

Now the party could struggle to launch a credible election challenge to ZANU-PF, which is often accused of decades of brutal repression and overseeing the collapse of Zimbabwe's economy.

"These games are being played during this dark period of mourning. I see a weaker opposition and a weaker MDC," Eldred Masunungure, a political scientist at the University of Zimbabwe, told AFP.

Tsvangirai's body is expected to return to Harare this weekend, ahead of his funeral next week.On regular days, awarding the Israel Prize in literature to David Grossman would have been perfectly obvious.

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Grossmans literary work has gained an enthusiastic readership in Israel and around the world and huge critical acclaim, both at home and abroad. Its universal yet very Israeli, penetrating deep into Israelis pains and providing them with relief and remedy. His legs are deeply ingrained in the land of this country, in its landscapes, and even more so in its human landscape.

His selection is so obvious, that many people were surprised to hear that he is only receiving the Israel Prize now.

The congratulations focused on Grossmans literary virtues, but his political cogitation and journalistic work must not be forgotten (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

But these are not regular days. The politics controlling Israel today is tribal, instigating, inciting and dividing. Anyone who dares to disagree with the government is honored with delegitimization and personal rejection. The culture minister is the chief censor. She legitimizes and disqualifies works of art, she names patriots and traitors, she decides who is entitled to governmental aid and who is cast out, who is worthy of being featured in festivals and who isntgoing against the authorities granted to her by law.

The Israel Prize for literature was last awarded in 2015. The Knesset elections were held on March of that year. On the eve of the elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to use his authority as the acting education minister and dismiss two members of the judges panel, Prof. Avner Holtzman and Prof. Ariel Hirschfeld.

It was an odd move: Why should the prime minister care about the identity of the literature professor on the prize committee? To this day, it is still unclear whether the judges dismissal was the result of an uncontrollable temper tantrum or aa brilliant trick aimed at attracting a certain kind of voters. In any event, it was an obscene, violent interference in the independence and honor of the Israel Prize. Following Netanyahu's move, Grossman withdrew his candidacy and others followed in his footsteps.

So this time, there was something joyful and hope-inspiring in the story of the prize. First of all, the panel of judges was led by Prof. Avner Holtzman, the same professor who had been dismissed by Netanyahu in the previous round; second, Education Minister Naftali Bennett was on his best behavior.

The Israel Prize tradition gives the education minister the privilege of telephoning the winners and informing them of the decision. Its an exciting occasion, a sort of test both for the minister and for the winner.

Education Minister Bennett. Sought to unit rather than divide (Photo: Marc Israel Sellem)

Bennett, whose political vision totally contradicts Grossmans, congratulated the winner with warm words, which sounded completely sincere and genuine. Later, he issued a statement praising the winners deep wisdom, human sensitivity and unique language. Bennett spoke open-mindedly, in a way which used to be considered non-partisan here. He sought to unite rather than divide. President Rivlin congratulated Grossman and wrote that he is one of the greatest writers we have ever known.

The congratulations focused, and rightfully so, on Grossmans literary virtues. Nevertheless, his political cogitation and journalistic work must not be forgotten. Grossmans book The Yellow Wind brought the reality in the territories on the eve of the first intifada into Israels homes. He essentially warned against it, predicted it.

He has been repeatedly warning ever sincein newspaper articles, in interviews and speechesof the gaping gulf at Israels feet. We will become, he has warned, a binational state, an apartheid state or a state of all its soldiers, all its rabbis, all its radicals, all its racists. Israel will become a militant, fundamentalist, inward-looking sect on the margins of history.

These are difficult things to hear from an Israeli patriot, a man who cares about the state as much as he cares about his own life. They were born from the same wisdom, from the same human sensitivity Bennett spoke about.

Its nice to see the state awarding Grossman with its most important prize. Listening to him from time to time wouldnt do any harm either.In the shadow of the latest events in the north, Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot is completing his three year term as army Chief of Staff. However, as is often the case, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman extended his term an additional year. Eisenkot announced though that he will complete his service at the close of 2018, and not wait until February, 2019.

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Eisenkot believes that his replacement should begin his term on the first day of the calendar and IDF fiscal year.

Nobody knows what the coming ten months holds for the Mideast, a place where any miscalculation can ignite a war. It is still too early to assess Eisenkots performance as IDF Chief of Staff; the real test is how well the army he leads performs on the battlefield.

IDF Chief of Staff Eisenkot (Photo: Avi Moalem)

However, it can still be said that Eisenkot is an exceptional military leader owing to the impressive amount of objectives, which he set for himself at the start of his term, which were fulfilled; not only in military preparedness, reorganization and manpower efficiency measures, but in terms of operations.

Almost any military objective that comes to fruition is built upon the efforts and risk-taking of commanders and defense ministers who preceded him. Nevertheless, such an impressive array of achievements under one Chief of Staff says something about his leadership.

Tunnels outsmarted; Sophisticated weaponry transfers thwarted

At the start of his term, Eisenkot prioritized thwarting Hamas terror and smuggling tunnels. Today, three years later, it seems the IDF has succeeded to a large extent. Tunnels dug under Israel are being uncovered one after the other.

Eisenkot did not invent the solution, but he knew how to manage the matter and devote the necessary resources to achieve the goal.

Eisenkot gives US Mid-East envoy Jason Greenblatt a tour in an uncovered terror tunnel (Photo: COGAT)

Another accomplishment is the fact that Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad still lack precise missile technology which can pose a significant danger to Israel; this, despite the fact that Iran invested a lot of effort in order to arm their proxies with such weapons.

During the tenure of the previous Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, the IDF also carried out dozens (or perhaps hundreds) of covert missions during times of relative quiet to thwart the transfer of precise rocket technology to Syria, Lebanon or Gaza. Then however, the Russians were not present and Israels freedom of movement was absolute without worrying about getting into a conflict with a superpower.

Iran too, had not yet tried to build weapons factories in Lebanon and Syria to improve its proxys arsenals, nor did it try to set up air, sea and land bases in Syria.

Without getting into exact details how, Eisenkot increased the IDF's capabilities and with stealth it kept Iran from establishing itself in Syria. Moreover, the Syrians have lost half of their anti-aircraft batteries and during IAF raids, dozens of enemy combatants have been killed or wounded.

All this was done quietly, without Israel taking responsibility and often without the knowledge of local and world media.

Last Saturdays incident was only a slight revelation of the clandestine battle the IDF has been operating which is successful in creating military deterrence without getting drawn into an escalation or war.

Scene of the downed Israeli F-16 (Photo: AFP)

While in Israel, people are occupied with the fighter jet that was downed by Syrian fire, on the other side of the border, conclusions are being drawn regarding the intelligence capabilities and precise destructive firepower of the IDF.

Throughout his career, Eisenkot always attributed a lot of importance to the war of consciousnessa campaign with moral, legal, diplomatic and other elements, which is conducted not only to undermine the enemy's "soft power" components but also to bolster the national strength of Israeli society and the legitimacy that Israel and the IDF receive from the international community. On that note, he has dedicated resources of the Operations Branch for psychological warfare, public diplomacy and social networking activities.

Saving millions by shrinking officers and reserves corps

Under Eisenkot, the IDF undertook a reorganization which expressed a clear preference for advanced weaponry, armor and computerization for the forward infantry, Intelligence, Air Force and Cyber warfare units. The shrinking of the militarys officer corps and reserves units saved hundreds of millions of shekels that were diverted to more efficient uses.

Manpower operations are one of the most challenging aspects for the army and the department is dealing with initiatives to shorten the length of service and annual reserves duty days. These challenges will require Head of the Manpower Directorate Major General Mordechai (Moti) Almoz to develop a new strategy to tackle them.

Number of women in combat roles reached record high

I would rather have a general who was lucky than one who was good, said Napoleon Bonaparte. On that note too Eisenkot has had success. Under both recent defense ministers, Moshe Yaalon and Avigdor Lieberman, he has succeeded in gaining their trust and was given free rein in running his sphere.

Yaalon granted Eisenkot five years of quiet on the budget front. The multi-year plan he implemented is still in place and being applied. Eisenkot has been able to attain a high level of readiness as ammunition and spare parts stores are full and the field units are training more than they have been for more than a decade. Units have returned to the pattern of 17 weeks of training followed by 17 weeks of operational deployment.

Despite differences, government remains cooperative

Defense Minister Lieberman, who was a mere quartermaster during his service, has not only backed Eisenkot completely, but contributed quite a lot in matters that others did not devote enough attention to; namely, the matter of missile warfare and precise naval armaments.

What former Defense Minister Amir Peretz has achieved in the field of active missile defense (the Iron Dome), Lieberman is doing today in the field of offensive warfare, and may even get a  missile corps  like he was hoping.

Eisenkot enjoys cooperation with the politicians despite a 2010 letter opposing a strike in Iran, which Netanyahu and Ehud Barak were aiming for. His moral worldview, especially in the case of Elor Azaria , is also opposed to that of Liebermans. Politicians have also fully adopted Eisenkots IDF strategy doctrine where he lays out what he expects of the political echelon during a war.

Elor Azaria (Photo: Reuters)

Oftentimes during his tenure, Eisenkot has expressed operational ideas or set standards that fall between the lines of civil society and the army, contrary to the worldview of the present coalition; From the operational conception that separates the fight against terrorism from the effort to maintain a normal routine and earn a livelihood among the uninvolved Palestinian population, to the IDF effort, led by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories , to prevent a humanitarian disaster in Gaza; to the unyielding approach, in the face of widespread public opinion, in the Elor Azaria affair, as well as a smart and efficient integration of women in as many as possible IDF units.

Politicians, and even the more zealous national religious rabbis, continue to maintain respectful dialogue with Eisenkot, and at times even accept his views, probably due to his lack of ego and the recognition that the only thing standing before his eyes is national security. Also important is the sentiment that he refrains from any manipulative and political maneuvers nor does he ask of anything for himself, now or for his political future.BEIRUT - Syrian Kurdish forces and a monitoring group said the Turkish military carried out a suspected gas attack that wounded six people in Syria's Afrin region on Friday.

There was no immediate comment from the Turkish military, which has previously denied accusations of hitting civilians in its Afrin operation.

Birusk Hasaka, a spokesman for the Kurdish YPG militia in Afrin, told Reuters that Turkish bombardment hit a village in the northwest of the region, near the Turkish border. He said it caused six people to suffer breathing problems and other symptoms indicative of a gas attack.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told Reuters that Turkish forces and their Syrian insurgent allies hit the village on Friday with shells. The Britain-based war monitoring group said medical sources in Afrin reported that six people in the attack suffered breathing difficulties and dilated pupils, indicating a suspected gas attack.Heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and hail hit Israel Friday night, continuing into Saturday morning.

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The Israel Police's Ein Gedi rescue unit, with the help of the Arad Police, extracted a bus with some 50 tourists from Ukraine around 5:30am after it got stuck in the Tze'elim Stream. No one was hurt.

Ukranian tourists extracted from bus (  )

X

Because of the stormy weather, highway 90 has been closed from the Dead Sea hotels area to the David's Stream area in both directions.

Meanwhile, highway 31 was blocked for traffic between Arad and the Dead Sea after rocks fell onto the road. The road has since been cleared and reopened.

Hail at the Lakhish Regional Council (Photo: Yoav Dahan)

Some 36 millimeters of rain fell in Tel Aviv by 10am, 15 mm of which fell within one hour, while Haifa said 18 mm.

Hail in Kiryat Malachi (Photo: Elad Zohar)

Meanwhile, Kibbutz Eilon in the Western Galilee experienced 33 mm of rain, Ein Afek saw 25 mm, and Safed had 28 mm.

Flooding at Arugot Stream (:  )

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Be'er Sheva recorded 10 mm in one hour, and a total of 12 mm, while Samakh near Tiberias had 18 mm, Kibbutz Negba saw 30 mm and Ashkelon 11 mm.

The settlement of Ariel measured 25 mm, while Beit Dagan in the Shfela Region registered 23 mm.

Arugot Stream (Photo: Yehuda Rot)

The rainfall, possibly accompanied by hail, is expected to continue throughout the day Saturday. Temperatures are expected to drop, and snowfall is forecasted on Mount Hermon.The Israel Securities Authority has finished its inquiry into Bezeq majority shareholder Shaul Elovitch's ties with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and has transferred the case to the Israel Police.

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Channel 2 journalist Amnon Abramovich quoted police officials on Friday as saying that a criminal investigation is likely to be opened in what has been dubbed Case 4000.

The investigation will revolve around Elovitch's ties to the prime minister and his close associates and the suspicion he enjoyed benefits for the Israeli telecommunications giant Bezeq in return for favorable coverage of Netanyahu on the Walla! News website, which is fully owned by Bezeq.

Shaul Elovitch and PM Netanyahu (:  ,  , ")

According to police officials, the Lahav 433 investigations unit is expected to soon start summoning witnesses to provide testimony in an effort to ascertain what instructions were given concerning the coverage of the Netanyahu family and who gave them.

The Israel Securities Authority has begun examining the allegation in June 2017, submitting its conclusions to the State Attorney's Official some three months ago.

The Authority found sufficient evidence to indict Elovitch, senior officials in Bezeq and its subsidiary satellite TV company Yes, and former Communications Ministry director-general Shlomo Filber for a series of offenses.

Among other things, the Authority probed actions taken by Filber, a close associate of Netanyahu's, that benefited Bezeq, finding that Filber systematically passed on classified documents from the ministry to Bezeq officials so they could make comments on them and protect their interests.A federal grand jury in Minnesota indicted three people on charges that they conspired to export drone parts and technology from the US to the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, authorities announced Friday.

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The US Attorney's office for Minnesota said two of the suspects -- brothers Usama and Issam Hamade -- are now in custody in South Africa, while the third, Samir "Tony" Berro, remains at large. All three are Lebanese citizens. Usama "Prince Sam" Hamade also has South African citizenship, while Berro and Issam Hamade are also UK citizens.

The US considers Hezbollah a terrorist organization. The Shiite militant group has used drones at least since 2004. The indictment alleges the conspiracy operated from 2009 through December 2013. It says the equipment included electronics that can be used in drone guidance systems, one jet engine and 20 piston engines that can be used in drones, and a pair of digital video recording binoculars.

Simulation of Hezbollah drone

The updated indictment unsealed Friday was dated October 11, 2017, but the original was filed in 2015 and kept sealed to keep the investigation secret from the three men.

The brothers were arrested Tuesday in South Africa for extradition to the United States to face trial in Minnesota, according to another prosecution filing Friday. They appeared before a magistrate there and were ordered held pending another hearing February 26. Usama Hamade is a South African resident. The filings don't say where Issam Hamade lives, but said he would visit his brother in South Africa.

The parts included inertial measurement units, which can be used to track an aircraft's position, and digital compasses, which can be paired with the IMUs for drone guidance systems. The indictment doesn't name the companies, but the model names and numbers indicate the IMUs were manufactured by Concord, California-based Systron Donner Inertial, and that the digital compasses were made by Honeywell International's operations in suburban Minneapolis.

The jet engine was sold by an unnamed Indiana company, while the piston engines were sold by an unnamed Florida company. The model number indicates the digital binoculars were made by Sony. None of the items could legally be exported to Hezbollah, the indictment said.

Berro controlled SAB Aerospace based in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, the indictment said. The defendants had most of items shipped to Lebanon and Hezbollah through the UAE and South Africa, it said. One shipment of piston engines also went through Minnesota.

Usama Hamade falsely claimed the IMUs and digital compasses would be used in drones in South Africa to monitor wildlife to prevent poaching, the indictment said. As part of the conspiracy, the indictment also alleged, Issam Hamade made nearly $174,000 in wire transfers from a bank in Beirut, Lebanon, to accounts controlled by his brother.Despite mounting tensions between Israel and Syria in the wake of last weekend's border incidents , the IDF continued this week to provide medical care to seven Syrians who fled the fighting in the war-torn country.

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Over the past five years, Israel has opened its gates to 4,071 Syrians who sought help from the country they were taught to hate.

It began five years ago, when several Syrians arrived at the Israel-Syria border and asked for medical assistance from the Golani troops who were stationed there at the time. Then-GOC Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Yair Golan, made the unprecedented decision to permit their entry.

Israeli doctors treat Syrian children (:  ")

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"I remember the first time the wounded Syrians came in," recounted Dr. Salman Zarka, the director of the Ziv Medical Center in Safed. "I just finished a term as the Northern Command's Chief Medical Officer, and I'm glad that when facing this dilemma, there were strong voices of doctors who supported bringing the wounded in."

After receiving life-saving treatment, these Syrians said they were convinced they would be shot dead by the IDF upon their arrival at the border, but decided to try and ask for help regardless out of desperation.

Dr. Salman Zarka, the director of the Ziv Medical Center in Safed with a young Syrian girl (Photo: IDF Spokesman's Office)

The IDF has decided to continue providing medical assistance to Syrians despite last weekend's incidents, which began when an Iranian drone, which took off from Syria, was shot down after infiltrating Israeli airspace. Israel retaliated with an attack on 12 targets in Syria, some of them Iranians. Syrian anti-aircraft missiles managed to shoot down one Israeli F-16 fighter jet, with both pilot and navigator bailing out over Israeli territory.

But while Israel will continue providing medical aid to Syrians even if an all-out war breaks out, the project will likely be reduced to only life-saving urgent cases.

Among the seven Syrians who came to Israel for help this week were two children and five adults, two of whom had suffered serious injuries to the head and chest, which necessitated urgent surgery while still at the border and subsequent evacuation to hospitals in northern Israel.

(Photo: IDF Spokesman's Office)

"We spare nothing in treating the Syrians. What IDF soldiers get, so do the Syrians - such as the blood units we gave the wounded Syrians last weekend," a senior Northern Command office told Ynet.

"They come at a rate of 3-4 wounded every week, but we don't bring in those we know we can't save, such as terminal patients or those in need of a transplant. Both because there's already a line for transplants in Israel and because without follow-up treatment, the body would reject the transplanted organ," he explained.

The Northern Command officer added the army also takes into consideration the timing and the availability of beds at northern Israel hospital.

"Our focus is in providing aid to children. Only last year, we treated some 1,000 Syrian children," the officer further noted.

Sick and wounded Syrians make their way to Israel (Photo: IDF Spokesman's Office)

Most of the wounded Syrians arrive from some 70 villages and towns in the central Syrian Golan - such as El Breika, Khan Arnabah and Quneitra - since the northern Syrian Golan is controlled by the Assad regime, while the southern Syrian Golan is controlled by ISIS. However, in recent months, Israel saw wounded and sick Syrians coming from as far as Damascus.

"There are no specialists on the other side, as most of them have fled. We got to talk to some who claimed to be doctors but turned out to be pharmacists or physiotherapists," the Northern command officer said. "The wounded come in civilian clothes, and are no longer surprised to be allowed in."

Hearing aids and glasses

In recent days, the Ziv Medical Center in Safed has started providing hearing aids to Syrian children who are deaf or hard of hearing. For some of them, their hearing worsened because of the loud bombings near their homes.

So far, five children have received these aids and can now hear sounds for the first time.

"It was amazing to see a Syrian child hearing something for the first time," said a Medical Corps officer from Operation Good Neighbor.

Hearing aids for the Syrian children (Photo: IDF Spokesman's Office)

"A third of the Syrians children who came to us over the past year and a half have been suffering from hearing problems, and we realized it has mostly to do with the bombings, as well as with the fact there is a shortage of proper medical equipment in a country like Syria," explained Dr. Zarka.

Syrian child undergoes ear examination in Israel (Photo: IDF Spokesman's Office)

"We were bothered by this. We turned to the army and we met with Kahn through the Genesis organization. It didn't take much to convince him to donate," Dr. Zarka added, noting some of the children would also have to undergo ear surgery.

In addition to the hearing aids, Syrian children with vision impairments will receive eye glasses, funded mostly by foreign donors.MILAN - Italian police have clashed with hundreds of anti-fascist demonstrators in Bologna who were trying to disrupt a planned campaign appearance by the head of the neo-fascist Forza Nuova. The news agency ANSA said six demonstrators and one police officer were injured.

Police used tear gas, water cannons and batons on demonstrators who tried to breach cordons to reach a square where the far-right campaign appearance was scheduled Friday in the traditionally left-wing city of Bologna. Forza Nuova leader Roberto Fiore eventually addressed a small crowd behind a banner "Italy for Italians" that ANSA put at several dozen.Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki was confronted Saturday afternoon with the story of Yedioth Ahronoth journalist Ronen Bergman's familypart of which was murdered during the Holocaust by Poles who assisted Nazisand responded by claiming there were also "Jewish perpetrators" in the Holocaust.

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Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Morawiecki said it won't be punishable to say that there were Polish perpetrators under a controversial new law in the country outlawing public statements that falsely and intentionally attribute Nazi crimes to Poland under the German occupation

Morawiecki and Bergman's exchange

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In a questions and answers panel taking place during the Munich Security Conference, Ronen Bergman said, "This is about the new law that you just legislated that forbids people from claiming that you had part in the genocide of my people.

Polish PM Morawiecki (L) responded to journalist Ronen Bergman's story by saying there were 'Jewish criminals' during the Holocaust (Photo: AP)

"I come from Israel. I'm an Israeli journalist and a contributing writer for the New York Times. Sorry for being a little personal. Both my parents were born in Polandmy late mother and my father.

"My mother received a prize from the Polish Ministry of Education when she was five. Then the war started and they lost much of their (respective) families, because their neighborstheir Polish neighborssnitched to the Gestapo that they were holding Jews.

"My mother was able to save much of her family because she heard during the night that her neighbors were going to tell that they have Jews in their vicinity to the SS the next morning.

"After the war, my mother swore that she would never speak Polish for the rest of her life, not even a single word. If I understand correctly, after this law is legislated I will be considered a criminal in your country for saying this. What is the purpose? What is the message that you are trying to convey the world? You are creating the opposite reaction and just attracting more attention to these atrocities."

Bergman received a round of applause for his his comments, and Prime Minister Morawiecki addressed his claims, surrounding the "Polish death camp bill" that created a diplomatic crisis between Warsaw and Jerusalem.

A demonstration of Polish Holocaust survivors outside the Polish Embassy in Tel Aviv (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Morawiecki said, "It's extremely important to first understand that of course it won't be punishable or seen as a crime to say that there were Polish perpetrators as there were Jewish perpetrators, as there were Russian and Ukrainian perpetrators, not only German perpetrators.

"Polish embassies had to react 260 times in 2017 alone with regards to the expression 'Polish death camps' or 'Polish concentration camps.' Well, ladies and gentlemen, there were no Polish death camps or concentration camps. There were German Nazi death camps.

"The mere fact that we have to explain it today stems from our history. For 50 years after the Second World War45 to be exactwe couldn't defend our case. There was no Polish independent state."

Morawiecki then went on to speak of the many Poles who paid with their lives for helping Jews. He said, "Anyone who wants to know what the German occupation on Polish soil (was like), I would invite to the discussion, to historical research, because this is something completely beyond your imagination.

"Many of you have probably heard about the Lidice village in the Czech Republic. In Poland we had 800 Lidice800 villages completely annihilated, exterminated by German Nazis.

(Photo: Motti Kimchi)

"In Polandon Polish soil, I should have said, because there was no Poland during the Second World Waron Polish soil, this was the only place on Earth where all the families, all the neighbors, all the villagers were killed for helping our Jewish brothers and sisters.

"In Poland, we lost six million people during the Second World Warthe highest percentage lost among all the nations on Earth. There is a book by Gunnar Paulsson, a Swedish-Canadian historian, who did a very through research on Warsaw during the Second World Warhow many Jews were hiding in Warsaw and how many Polish families were helping those Jews.

"At least around 30,000 Jews escaped the Warsaw Ghetto and they were helped by three, four or five times more Polish citizens, even if this was under the threat of death for the whole family.

"We will not prosecute people who say there were Polish perpetrators, because there were Polish perpetrators, but we cannot agree with mixing perpetrators with victims. This would be an offense to all the Jews and all the Poles who suffered greatly during the Second World War."

Responding to Morawiecki's claims, Israeli politicians accused the Polish premier of anti-Semitism.

Yesh Atid Chairman Lapid called on Israel to recall its ambassador from Poland due to the PM's claims (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid said Israel's ambassador to Poland should be recalled immediately in response to Morawiecki's comments Saturday in Munich. Lapid said his comments were, "Anti-Semitism of the oldest kind. The perpetrators are not the victims. The Jewish state will not allow the murdered to be blamed for their own murder."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also attended the Munich conference, called his Polish counterpart's comment "outrageous."

"There is a problem here of lack of understanding of history and lack of sensitivity to the tragedy of our people," Netanyahu said, adding that he planned to speak with Morawiecki soon.

Labor Party leader Avi Gabbay, meanwhile, said Morawiecki spoke like any other Holocaust denier.

"The blood of millions of Jews cries from the earth of Poland over the distortion of history and the escape from blame. Jews were murdered in the Holocaust and Poles took an active part in their murder," Gabbay said. "The government of Israel has to be a voice for the millions of murdered and strongly denounce the Polish prime minister's words."

As written, the legislation calls for prison terms of up to three years for falsely attributing the crimes of Nazi Germany to Poland. The law takes effect 14 days after it's officially published, but it wasn't immediately clear when that will be.

Poland's authorities have described it as an attempt to protect the country's reputation from what it believes is confusion about who bears responsibility for Auschwitz and other death camps Nazi Germany set up in occupied Poland. They say it was modeled on anti-defamation laws in many other countries, including laws criminalizing Holocaust denial.

The proposed law has fueled a diplomatic crisis with Israel, which fears it would stifle discussion about the Holocaust and enable Poland to whitewash the role of the Poles who killed or denounced Jews during the German occupation of Poland during World War II.

Polish official Andrzej Zybertowicz said Israel's objections to the law stemmed from 'feeling of shame at the passivity of the Jews during the Holocaust' (Photo: Polskawielkiprojekt.pl)

Last week, Andrzej Zybertowicz, an adviser to Polish President Andzrej Duda, asserted that Israel's objections to the law stemmed from a "feeling of shame at the passivity of the Jews during the Holocaust" adding that Israel was "clearly fighting to keep the monopoly on the Holocaust."

"Many Jews engaged in denunciation, collaboration during the war. I think Israel has still not worked it through," Zybertowicz said in the interview published in the Polska-The Times newspaper.

The United States also strongly opposed the legislation, warning that it could hurt Poland's strategic relations with both Israel and the US.

After Duda signed it, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the new law "adversely affects freedom of speech and academic inquiry."

Holocaust scholars and institutions strongly denounced the law as well, arguing that its unclear wording created the potential for abuse. Polish officials note that a provision in the law exempts historic research and works of art.Zionist Union MK Itzik Shmuli slammed Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki Saturday after the latter said there were Jewish perpetrators of the Holocaust as well.

"The next stage of Morawiecki's pitiful project to erase the crimes of the Polish people will probably include accusing the Jews in the Holocaust of our people and presenting the Nazis as victims of the circumstances," Shmuli said.

The MK added Morawiecki "would have to sue the six million who were murdered and their relatives who survived before that happens."US President Donald Trump's national security adviser has told an international audience that the evidence of Russian meddling in the 2016 American election is beyond dispute.

H.R. McMaster was answering a question from a Russian delegate, shortly after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov left the same stage at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

Referring to the indictment of 13 Russians announced Friday, McMaster says "with the FBI indictment, the evidence is now incontrovertible" of Russia cyber-meddling.

He also scoffed at any move to work with Russia on cybersecurity, saying "we would love to have a cyber dialogue when Russia is sincere about curtailing its sophisticated form of espionage."WARSAW - Matylda Jonas-Kowalik has spent most of her 22 years secure in the belief that she would never know the discrimination, persecution or violence that killed or traumatized generations of Polish Jews before her. She once thought the biggest problem that young Jewish Poles like herself faced was finding a Jewish boyfriend or girlfriend in a country dominated by Catholics.

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But an eruption of anti-Semitic comments in public debates amid a diplomatic dispute with Israel over a new Holocaust speech law has caused to her to rethink that certainty. Now she and others fear the hostile rhetoric could eventually trigger anti-Semitic violence, and she finds herself thinking constantly about whether she should leave Poland.

"This is my home. I have never lived anywhere else and wanted this to keep being my home," said Jonas-Kowalik, a Jewish studies major at Warsaw University. "But this makes me very anxious. I don't know what to expect."

The head of Warsaw's Jewish community, Anna Chipczynska celebrates the Shabbat along with others in a synagogue in Warsaw.

Since communism's collapse in 1989, Jewish life has been re-emerging, with young people feeling safe enough in Poland's democracy to embrace a heritage their parents and grandparents had largely repressed.

Yet anxieties have been creeping in amid a global rise in xenophobia that was also felt in Poland.

A conservative party, Law and Justice, won power in Poland vowing to restore national greatness while also stressing an anti-Muslim, anti-migrant message. Jews -- whose presence in Poland goes back centuries -- were increasingly the targets of verbal hate on social media.

Matters escalated a few weeks ago when Israeli officials sharply criticized new Polish legislation that criminalizes blaming Poland as a nation for crimes committed by Nazi Germany. They accused Poland of seeking to use the law to whitewash the role of the Poles who helped Germans kill Jews during the war.

Polish authorities deny that. They say they just want to protect Poland from being depicted as a collaborator of the Nazis when the country was Adolf Hitler's first victim and resisted the Nazis through nearly six years of war and occupation.

Amid Israeli criticism, a prominent Polish right-wing commentator used an offensive slur to refer to Jews. Rather than being punished, he was welcomed on TV programs, including a state television talk show where he and the host made anti-Jewish comments, including jokes about Jews and gas chambers.

The negative comments just kept on coming. A Catholic priest said on state TV that it was hard to like Jews, and his words were then quoted by the ruling party spokeswoman. An adviser to the president said he thought Israel's negative reaction to the law stemmed from a "feeling of shame at the passivity of the Jews during the Holocaust."

Commentators have also suggested that opposition to the Holocaust law was a cover for Jews wanting money from Poland, a reference to reparations that international Jewish organizations seek for prewar Jewish property seized by the communists.

Anna Chipczynska, the head of Warsaw's Jewish community, said members feel psychologically shaken or even depressed, and that the hostile rhetoric has triggered hateful phone calls and emails and other harassment.

In recent events, two men tried to urinate in front of Warsaw's historic Nozyk Synagogue, and then shouted obscenities when security guards intervened. One Jewish community member found a Star of David hanging from gallows spray-painted outside a window of his apartment. A woman found the word "Zyd" -- Polish for "Jew" -- written in the snow outside her home.

Agnieszka Ziatek of the Jewish Agency for Israel said she has seen a spike in the number of Polish Jews inquiring about immigrating to Israel.

The current wave of discrimination comes just weeks before the 50th anniversary of an anti-Semitic campaign orchestrated by Poland's communist regime in March 1968. That campaign began with rhetoric eerily similar to the things being said today and ended up with 20,000 Jews forced to relinquish their possessions and their Polish citizenship and flee the country.

Polish Senate approves Holocaust law (Photo: EPA)

Many liberal Poles are also shaken by the developments, which come amid what human rights officials see as a larger erosion of democratic standards. More than 8,000 people have signed a letter of solidarity to "our Jewish friends," decrying what they call "a wave of hatred and disgusting language."

Hanna, a 33-year-old Jewish woman from Warsaw, says she has finally understood the deep fears of her mother, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor who witnessed the 1968 persecution. She said her mother has always said Jews in Poland had to be mentally prepared to flee at little notice with just a suitcase.

"I always thought she was crazy," said Hanna, who asked that her last name not be used because she, too, is now afraid. "Now I see that maybe my mom isn't crazy. Maybe this is the circle of life and history is repeating."

Jonas-Kowalik said she is thinking about continuing her studies in Sweden, but that even thinking about leaving is deeply painful. While some family members left Poland after the war and in the 1960s for the United States and Sweden, her immediate family chose to stay.

"If our grandparents and parents didn't leave after World War II, and didn't leave in 1968, it meant they overcame a lot of difficulties to stay," she said. "The question is if we are able to do the same, if we are ready for such a hard future."

Mikolaj Grynberg, a writer and photographer, said while young Polish Jews feel shocked and "lost," he, at 52, has long been aware of Poland's anti-Semitic undercurrent. While on book tours, Grynberg said people would sometimes ask him "why did you choose to write in our language?" as if he weren't as Polish as they.

As the descendant of Warsaw Ghetto survivors, he has faced years of hateful emails and online messages and says he has been prepared psychologically for a return of bad times.

"Each time you have an anti-Semitic wave, there are Jewish people who leave," Grynberg said. "It's not just a whim: It's about their fear. Jewish people know what can come after."Two soldiers were seriously wounded and two others moderately and lightly wounded Saturday afternoon when an explosive device was set off near an IDF patrol around the border fence in the southern Gaza Strip, opposite the Ein HaShlosha kibbutz.

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The IDF retaliated with tank fire at an observation post in the southern strip seemingly operated by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Emergency services flooded the scene and the wounded were airlifted to the Soroka University Medical Center in Be'er Sheva. Their families were notified.

Events surrounding the explosive device's detonation (:  ,    )

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Among those wounded are a Combat Engineering officer who was seriously wounded and a company commander from Golani's 13th Battalion who was lightly wounded.

A wounded soldier near the Soroka Hospital

Soroka's spokesman said, "After receiving initial treatment in the trauma room, the wounded were taken to operations." The hospital's deputy director added the soldiers' lives were not "immediately in danger."

Senior army officials visited the explosion's casualties and assessed the extent of their injuries as well as the treatment they were receiving. In addition, their families were called to the hospital and were kept abreast of their medical conditions.

Palestinian sources reported the Israeli Air Force attacked several targets in the Gaza Strip in retaliation, some of which were Hamas outposts. The attacks seemed to mostly target the outposts and rocket launch nooks and armament storages. No Palestinian Islamic jihad assets were targeted.

Forces near the border (Photo: Reuters)

Despite not being targeted, Palestinian Islamic Jihad offered comment on the explosion, saying, "Gaza's guns are ready and the arms of its sons will spread rage against the siege and aggression. Gaza is neither a picnic nor an agricultural farm for Israel."

Hamas, for its part, said Israel will be held responsible for any escalation in the strip.

The explosive device was affixed to a Palestinian flag and appeared to have been placed near the fence under the cover of Friday's demonstrations nearby. Golani and Combat Engineering forces were inspecting several suspicions locations in the vicinity when the explosion occurred.

An initial inquiry into the incident found that trackers scoured the area, after which Combat Engineering soldiers approached the flag, under cover of the Golani soldiers, at which point the device was set off.





IDF forces near the site of the explosion (Photo: Barel Efraim)

The IDF noted a growing trend of escalation in the protests organized by Hamas near the border fence, which have included use of weapons such as frag grenades. The demonstrations were "unacceptable manipulations," as per the army.

A situation assessment was held Saturday evening following the explosion with the participation of Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, GOC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, Air Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Amikam Norkin and other IDF top brass.

IDF forces near the site of the explosion (Photo: Herzel Yosef)

The IDF also intends to create an inquiry team to investigate the manner in which the force handled its examination of the suspicious flag, but initial estimates said they followed accepted protocol.

"We consider any point in which a flag, bag or rock is placed as a suspicious point," the army said, adding, "This is an extremely serious terror incident that may destabilize the region. The device, which included a pipe and was part of a flag, was placed on the Palestinian side of the fence with the explosion's main casualties coming from a Combat Engineering bomb removal squad, who had protection.

Hamas organized 'spontaneous' demonstrations near the border fence (Photo: EPA)

"The device belonged to rogue organizations and not Islamic Jihad. Hamas is responsible for the incident because it brought protesters to these 'spontaneous' demonstrations during the past few weeks, which are then utilized for terror."

IDF Spokesman Ronen Manelis added, "We are committed to calm and stability but remain ready for a variety of scenarios. We have channels of sending the message that Hamas remains responsible for anything that happens both above and below ground in the strip."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, attending a security conference in Munich, said, "Today's incident on the Gaza Strip border is severe. We will respond appropriately. I send my wishes for a quick recovery to the wounded."

This marked the most serious such incident since the conclusion of Operative Protective Edge in 2014.

Near the scene of the explosion

While the discovery or detonation of an explosive device near the Gaza border is unusual, it has taken place on several instances in the past since the end of Operation Protective Edge.

The last two times the IDF discovered explosive charges near the border took place about a year ago, in March 2017. In both instances either the devices or the people responsible for laying them were neutralized by IDF forces without Israeli casualties.

Relative calm had been maintained recently in the Israeli communities on the Gaza perimeter, on the backdrop of increasing Israeli warnings that he humanitarian situation in the isolated enclave is growing worse.

The IDF retaliated with fire at a PIJ observation post

Two terror tunnels were discovered in the same region near the end of 2017, one excavated by Hamas and the other by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

The IDF detonated a PIJ terror tunnel running into Israeli territory this past October near the border with the strip. This past December, another tunnel was located, this time running several hundred meters into Israel. The tunnel, dug by Hamas, was also neutralized.

Several rockets were then fired from Gaza at Israel near the end of December, with one hitting a structure in the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council and two others intercepted midflight. The IDF retaliated by attacking several Hamas posts in the northern strip.

Several hours later, some 2,000 Palestinians demonstrated in nine different locations near the border. They threw rocks and attempted to comprise the fence, as per the IDF, and Israeli security forces returned fire at four of the disturbance's main instigators.

IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot said at a weekly Cabinet meeting early February that no actors sought war or another round of hostilities in Gaza, but there was growing concern over a conflagration happening nonetheless due to the circumstances in the stripthe precarious humanitarian situation and the crisis in Hamas-Fatah relations.

IDF Chief of Staff Eisenkot said the humanitarian situation in Gaza was precarious (Photo: Yair Sagi)

The chief of staff added that efforts should be made to prevent a total humanitarian collapse in Gaza, but that humanitarian assistancewhich the IDF supportedneeded to be kept separate from a complete rehabilitation of Gaza, which should be conditioned on returning the bodies of IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin as well as the Israeli civilians held captive by Hamas.Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to immediately recall Israel's Ambassador to Poland Ana Azeri following the Polish prime minister's remarks.

"The Polish prime minister's statement was anti-Semitism of the bad old kind. The criminals are not the victims and the State of Israel will not allow the murdered to be blamed for their own deaths," Lapid tweeted.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said during the Munich Security Conference that, "There were some Jewish criminals in the Holocaust just as there were Polish criminals."US National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said on Saturday that, despite denials, public reports showed that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was using chemical weapons, and added that it was time for the international community to hold the Syrian government to account.

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"Public accounts and photos clearly show that Assad's chemical weapons use is continuing," McMaster said at a major international security conference taking place in Munich.

"It is time for all nations to hold the Syrian regime and its sponsors accountable for their actions and support the efforts of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons," he said.

National Security Adviser McMaster said evidence showed the Assad regime was using chemical weapons in the Syrian civil war (Photo: AFP)

McMaster did not specify which public accounts or pictures he was referring to.

Earlier this month, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the Syrian government had repeatedly used chlorine gas , but stressed that the US did not have evidence of sarin gas use.

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that, "France will strike" if chemical weapons are used against civilians in the Syrian conflict in violation of international treaties, but that he had not yet seen proof this is the case.

The Syrian government has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons and said it targets only armed rebels and militants.

In recent weeks, rescue workers, aid groups and the United States have accused Syria of repeatedly using chlorine gas as a weapon against civilians in Ghouta and Idlib.

Victims of alleged use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime in Idlib (Photo: Reuters)

Earlier this month, Syrian government forces, which are backed by Russia and Iran, bombarded the regions, two of the last major rebel-held parts of Syria.

Diplomatic efforts have made scant progress towards ending a war now approaching its eighth year, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and forced half the pre-war Syrian population of 23 million from their homes.The family of IDF soldier Hadar Goldin, whose body is held by Hamas in Gaza, attacked the government following the return of terrorists' bodies to the Palestinian Authority this past weekend.

"The decision to release the bodies is a security weakness and a betrayal of IDF soldiers," Goldin's family said, adding the government failed to act in accordance with High Court rulings.

"This government has no respect for its kidnapped soldiers and has no shame to lie in court," the family added.The Israeli government returned to the Palestinian Authority Friday the bodies of two terrorists who carried out deadly attacks against Israeli civilians, prompting Simcha and Leah Goldin, the parents of IDF soldier Hadar Goldin whose body is held by Hamas, to accuse the government of exhibiting "security weakness and betrayal of IDF soldiers."

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The bodies returned to the Palestinians for burial were those of Nimer Jamal of Beit Surik , who murdered three Israelis in Har Adar in September of 2017, and of Hamza Zamareh of Halhul, who carried out an attempted stabbing attack in Gush Etzion's Karmei Tzur last week.

"We thought the prime minister and the Cabinet members were merely lying to the public in the media, but have now learned they have no qualms about lying to the High Court as well," the Goldin family said in a statement.

Simcha and Leah Goldin (Photo: Amit Shabi)

"This past Thursday, the state vowed before the court to implement the Cabinet's decision regarding (terrorists') bodies in full, but 24 hours later released the terrorists' bodies for burial," Hadar Goldin's enraged parents said.

"This government has no respect for its kidnapped soldiers and no shame about lying in court. It's sad we have come to a point where the government lies to a bereaved family and does not implement its own decisions," the Goldin family concluded.

The aforementioned court hearing Thursday dealt with a petition submitted by the Goldin family demanding to implement Cabinet's decisions regarding making the conditions of the incarceration of Hamas prisoners harsher as well as not returning terrorists' bodies.





Nimer Jamal, one of the terrorists whose bodies were returned

"My son was killed in Operation Protective Edge and we are now entering the fourth year of his body being held by Hamas in Gaza," Simcha Goldin said. "I'm a reserve lieutenant colonel, my children are all officers, and I know soldiers may die in battle. I raised my children that the IDF sends soldiers to battle and the prime minister is also responsible for bringing them back."

Goldin said the family is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on March 15, but said, "The government did not forget Hadar, it abandoned and ignored him."

"Netanyahu knows he left in Gaza and excellent Golani officer and an excellent Givati officer. He knows that. The defense minister and the IDF chief also know that. The question is, what are they doing (about it)? They ignore and abandon, which is a very bad way to begin the 70th anniversary celebrations to the State of Israel," he accused.

The IDF commented on the bodies' return and said, "The bodies of two terrorists were returned to the Palestinians following a status evaluation.

"The body of the terrorist who carried out the attempted stabbing attack near Karmei Tzur was returned to his family in Halhul near Hebron. The body of the terrorist who carried out the Har Adar shooting attack, in which two security guards and a Border Policeman was killed, was returned to his family in Beit Surik."The IDF announced that the air force has attacked six Hamas targets around the Gaza Strip in retaliation to the detonation of an explosive device near the Ein HaShlosha kibbutz.

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said a Hamas terror tunnel running from the Zytun neighborhood in Gaza to Israel was hit in the attack, as well as a military complex in in the vicinity of Netzarim and another complex around Khan Yunis.

"The IDF is determined to provide security for the people of Israel and will do so through all means at its disposal," the army said.The IDF attacked 18 terror targets in the Gaza Strip overnight Saturday, just hours after the Israeli Air Force attacked six Hamas targets all across the Gaza Strip, including an offensive tunnel running from the Zaytun neighborhood in Gaza towards Israel.

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Returning fire, a rocket launched from the strip landed on the roof of a residence in the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council. The family was home, but no one was harmed as the rocket failed to explode.

The rocket was launched mere hours after four IDF soldiers were woundedtwo seriously and two moderatelywhen an explosive device detonated near the border fence. The IDF responded to the rocket's launch by again attacking a Hamas outpost in northern Gaza.

Saturday's events near the Gaza border (:  ,    )

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The army views with great severity the attempt by the Hamas terror organization to carry out popular and spontaneous demonstrations which are seemingly intended to turn the fence area in to a confrontation zone, and IDF statement said, and to carry out there terror activities that will undermine stability in Gaza.

Residents reported hearing explosions after Code Red alarms were triggered in several Sha'ar HaNegev and Eshkol Regional Councils communities, although the Eshkol Code Red was later deemed a false alarm.

One of the IDF's attacks in Gaza

Amos, whose home was hit while he, his wife and their three children were home, said, "A huge miracle happened to us. Fortunately, our house's roof is heavily cemented and so the rocket couldn't get through."

"My youngest, who's 5, fell asleep already. My 9-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son were still awake, though," he continued. "We heard a Code Red alarm. We went into our shelter, as we're used to by now.

"The moment we entered there was a really loud explosion. The entire house shook. We went outside. My wife went out to our yard, saw the damage and called me.

"When I returned inside I saw the roof partially caved in. My daughter, who was already traumatized by (Operation) Protective Edge, took it really hard. There was a lot of panicking. My youngest, on the other hand, was asleep in the shelter and didn't even wake up.

The roof of the Sha'ar HaNegev home hit by a rocket

"(The rocket) hit the roof and was diverted to a secondary roof. We've always lived with the feeling that it might happen to uswe live near Gaza, after allbut when it truly does happen, it's incomprehensible. It's really scary.

"The most important thing is no one was hurt. We'll be sleeping at our neighbors' tonight until the roof is fixed."

Later Saturday, A group of at least four Palestinians attempted to infiltrate the Israeli communities south of Gaza through Rafah. IDF forces picked up on the attempt and opened fire on the infiltrators using tanks and other means. Palestinian reports said two Palestinians were wounded by tank fire and were taken to a hospital.

Egypt has been appealing to both sides to prevent further escalation. Hamas's leadership notified Egypt on a visit to Cairo it had no interest in escalation in the strip, as per a Palestinian source in Gaza.

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said Hamas terror targets were hit in Gaza, including a military complex on the former grounds of the evacuated Netzarim settlement "belonging to Hamas's unique military alignments, including weapons manufacturing sites." A Hamas military complex near Khan Yunis was also attacked.

Emergency services in Sha'ar HaNegev (Photo: Roee Idan)

Hamas responded to the IDF's attacks by saying Israel will be held responsible for the escalation in Gaza, and then later claimed to have targeted the air force's planes with antiaircraft firethe first time Hamas admitted to targeting the army since Operation Protective Edge.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad added a threat of its own, saying, "Gaza's guns are ready and the arms of its sons will spread rage against the siege and aggression. Gaza is neither a picnic nor an agricultural farm for Israel."

IDF forces near the Gaza border (Photo: Reuters)

The air force reportedly attacked Hamas outposts in eastern Gaza, as well as a rocket launch nook or an armament storage facility not far from the Karni crossing. Attacks have not yet targeted Islamic Jihad. An IDF tank fired at an observation post in the southern strip earlier.

Footage of one of the IDF's attacks in Gaza

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4 soldiers wounded when explosive device affixed to Palestinian flag exploded

Among those wounded when the explosive device detonated were a Combat Engineering officer who was seriously wounded and a company commander from Golani's 13th Battalion who was lightly wounded.

Emergency services flooded the scene and the wounded were airlifted to the Soroka University Medical Center in Be'er Sheva.

Soroka's spokesman said, "After receiving initial treatment in the trauma room, the wounded were taken to operations." The hospital's deputy director added the soldiers' lives were not "immediately in danger."

One of the soldiers wounded en route to Soroka Hospital (Photo: Haim Horenstein)

A situation assessment was held Saturday evening following the explosion with the participation of Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, GOC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, Air Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Amikam Norkin and other IDF top brass.

The IDF also intends to create an inquiry team to investigate the manner in which the force handled its examination of the suspicious flag, but initial estimates said they followed accepted protocol.

Israeli home hit by Hamas rocket (Photo: Avi Roccah)

"We consider any point in which a flag, bag or rock is is placed to be suspicious," the army said, adding, "This is an extremely serious terror incident that may destabilize the region. The device, which included a pipe and was part of a flag, was place on the Palestinian side of the fence with the explosion's main casualties coming from a Combat Engineering bomb removal squad, who seemed to have protection.

"The device belonged to rogue organizations and not Islamic Jihad. Hamas is responsible for the incident because it brought protesters to these 'spontaneous' demonstrations during the past few weeks, which are then utilized for terror."

The IDF noted a growing trend of escalation in the protests organized by Hamas near the border fence, which have included use of weapons such as frag grenades. The demonstrations were "unacceptable manipulations," as per the army.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, attending a security conference in Munich, said, "Today's incident on the Gaza Strip border is severe. We will respond appropriately. I send my wishes for a quick recovery to the wounded."Britain, the United States and France want the United Nations Security Council to condemn Iran for failing to stop its ballistic missiles from falling into the hands of Yemen's Houthi group and commit to take action over the sanctions violations, according to a draft resolution seen by Reuters on Saturday.

The draft text to renew UN sanctions on Yemen for another year would also allow the 15-member council to impose targeted sanctions for "any activity related to the use of ballistic missiles in Yemen." Britain drafted the resolution in consultation with the United States and France before giving it to the full council on Friday, diplomats said.

US President Donald Trump's administration has been lobbying for months for Iran to be held accountable at the United Nations, while at the same time threatening to quit a 2015 deal among world powers to curb Iran's nuclear program if "disastrous flaws" are not fixed.Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai published a post on his Facebook page calling on Gazans to keep away from the border fence.

"Any further degradation of the situation will be Hamas's responsibility," he wrote. "Don't let them lead you to hell."

Mordechai also commented on the IDF's attacks in the strip and wrote, "As promised, we now keep our word."Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said terrorist organization must be defeated and radical regimes must be prevented from obtaining nuclear weapons.

"We have to prevent radical regimes from threatening our safety," Netanyahu said at the Munich Security Conference. "They must be prevented from obtaining nuclear weapons and we must also defeat the terrorists."Emirates NBD, a leading bank in the region, has been ranked as the UAEs most valuable banking brand with a $3.534 billion brand valuation in The Bankers annual brand valuation league table.



The Bank also secured a spot among the top 100 global banking brands, coming in seventy-first worldwide up from seventy-fifth in 2017.



Emirates NBD has moved up four places from its 2017 spot in The Brand Finance Banking 500, a prestigious ranking of the worlds 500 biggest banks, conducted by leading brand valuation consultancy, Brand Finance, and published in the February edition of The Banker.



The Bank has been ranked second among all banks in the Middle East and Africa region, and was also recently named The Bankers Bank of the Year  UAE for the third consecutive year.



We are honoured yet again to hold on to our position as the UAEs most valuable banking brand by a renowned institution such as The Banker, said Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, Vice chairman and managing director, Emirates NBD.



In the past year, Emirates NBD has launched campaigns that speak directly to customers, helping us forge meaningful, engaging relationships with them. In 2018, we will continue to lead initiatives to simplify banking, incorporating our high tech+ high touch approach, to deliver a modern technology-driven banking experience with the human touch.



Expanding on the Banks values and commitment to the UAE, Al Qassim added that Emirates NBD will continue to engage with the community with inclusive campaigns, programmes and initiatives which celebrate the nations unity and progress and pay tribute to the UAEs founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.  TradeArabia News ServiceBalfour Beatty, a leading international infrastructure group, in partnership with Skanska and Costain, has successfully completed the second of 34 bridges and main structures on the UKs biggest road project.

The Balfour Beatty-led A14 Integrated Delivery Team worked on the newly opened bridge, which forms part of Highways Englands 1.5billion major improvement scheme on the A14.

The project will see the upgrade of a 21-mile stretch of the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon from two to three lanes in each direction including a brand new 17-mile bypass south of Huntingdon.

Connecting Brampton and Grafham in Cambridgeshire, the new bridge is 50 m longer than the previous bridge as it is required to span both the new, widened A1 and future A14  totalling 10 lanes of carriageway.

The old bridge will be demolished by excavators over the coming days and the concrete recovered will be crushed and reused on the project, said the British construction major.

Mike Evans, Highways England senior stakeholder manager for the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon, said: "The Brampton Road bridge is an important link for communities living across the A1 and A14 just south of Huntingdon and we are delighted that many turned up to mark the occasion and open the new bridge to traffic with us."

Now that the new bridge is opened we can get on with demolishing the old bridge and continue building the new A1 and A14 carriageways at this location and keep to the projects challenging timetable to open the new A14 to traffic by the end of 2020, he added.-TradeArabia News ServiceAvanti Communications, a leading provider of satellite data communications services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), has signed a minimum commitment contract valued at $500,000 with Global Radiodata Communications to provide high speed and resilient Ka-band satellite communications to defence and commercial operations.

A leading UK-based group, GRC is a designer and supplier of innovative and specialist communication products, systems and consultancy service.

The strategic partnership directly supports defence and security organisations in the provision of flexible, agile and portable satellite communications to the military across EMEA.

The capability also demonstrates Avantis ability to support the exponential growth in the Internet of Things (IoT) and connected sensors, as well as enable defence and security organisations to take advantage of full motion video, as well as other C4ISR data.

Following successful trials, Avanti and GRC will deploy secure high data-rate communications across Avantis High Throughput Satellites, HYLAS 1 and HYLAS 2, using GRCs very small (man-pack and SCYTALE) terminal solution.

Graham Peters, the managing irector of Avanti Government Solutions, said: "The collaboration between Avantis High Throughput Ka-band technology and GRCs innovative portable communication systems provides a capability that has enormous potential across defence and security markets. We are proud to be working with GRC to support Defence communications."

Iain Pope, the managing director of GRC, said: "GRC specialise in designing small, portable communications systems and Avanti provides us with exceptional capacity and high throughput Ka-band communications leading to greatly improved operational capability for our military users."

Avanti said the partnership with GRC will enable the group to offer a unique and highly sought-after capability to defence and security markets around the world, including in the areas of Satellite on the Move.-TradeArabia News ServiceInternational players in the fine leather products sector will out in force at the upcoming Leatherworld Middle East 2018 expo in Dubai for a piece of the $1.5-billion regional luxury goods market, said a report.



The 4th edition of Leatherworld Middle East will run from February 27 to March 1 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, with more than 40 exhibitors from nine countries set to take part.



Exhibitors from Italy, Australia, Thailand, Pakistan, India, Lebanon, and the UAE will line-up alongside 15 South African companies at the Middle Easts premier showcase of end-user leather goods.



All eyes will focus on an expanding regional marketplace that has a strong preference for high-quality, bespoke leather products, said the organisers.



The South African artisans of fine leather products will be under the spotlight at the expo, as they look to entice trade buyers and retailers with their latest offerings, from handbags, wallets, and travel accessories, to exotic belts, sandals, and even mens ties, they added.



According to analysts Euromonitor International (EMI), the retail value of the Middle Easts luxury leather goods market, including bags, travel goods, and mens and womens small leather items, was worth $1.54 billion in 2017, compared to $1.46 billion in 2016.



The UAE accounted for a third of the market in 2017 ($501 million) according to EMI, an increase of 5.6 percent over 2016 ($474 million). Consumer spending in the Gulf country is also estimated to rise to $586 million in 2020 by the time the Dubai Expo rolls around, while the Middle East market as a whole will be worth $1.84 billion.



The steady growth is underlined by the strong international presence at Leatherworld Middle East 2018, including from South Africa, where many companies are returning having built up a solid customer network base from previous editions of the show.



Leatherworld Middle East has successfully brought together the regional leather industry under one roof over the past three years, remarked Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of organiser Messe Frankfurt Middle East.



It will arrive again in 2018 as the embodiment of luxury and exclusivity, providing retailers, boutiques, fashion buyers and other regional trade visitors the perfect platform to discover, experience and source the latest in wares, leather goods, accessories and more, noted Pauwels.



Reptile Trading is returning for the second year in row in 2018, and will launch its new collection of exotic leather apparel comprising handbags, purses, wallets, belts and corporate wear, he added.



Helen Simpson, Reptile Trainings managing director said: "Since the last edition of Leatherworld Middle East, we received private brand customers from the region to manufacturer their leather goods, while we also sold crocodile leather belts."



We have another pending enquiry for crocodile leather cell phone pouches and theres generally been a lot of interest for our products here. The Middle East is a fast growing region which is hungry for change and we produce top end quality leather apparel that appeals to this market, stated Simpson.



WEEF, another South African company, is a debut exhibitor at Leatherworld Middle East 2018, and will bring its handmade accessories including samples of leather suspenders, belts, and new skinny tie and bow tie options aimed at the dapper gentleman movement.



Devan Swanepoel, the founder and head of production, at WEEF, said the Middle Easts growing economy is at the forefront of innovation, design, and fashion: "Middle East men are focusing more on their appearance and grooming, and WEEF has re-ignited the dapper gentleman movement from Cape Town, South Africa. We believe you only need one piece of apparel to activate the true gentleman inside."



"Furthermore, consumers are moving away from mass produced goods and supporting handmade, small batch goods made by individuals with passion. We pride ourselves on offering sustainable handcrafted leather products for gentleman around the world," he added.



Elsewhere, Aruvali is another debut South African exhibitor at Leatherworld Middle East 2018, and will introduce its handcrafted ostrich leather handbags, purses, and accessories.



Director Lo-Jeanne Muller said Aruvali also has the well-dressed gentleman in mind this year: We will launch the 2018 Sunset Collection at Leatherworld Middle East along with two new styles; Sydney, a modern cross body handbag; and Dallas, a refined cross body tote for gentlemen, said Muller.



We would like to expose the Middle East to our elegant yet chic handbags and accessories, bringing more value to high end boutiques and stores. The leather goods market is an ever expanding business, whilst the African export of ostrich leather goods is becoming increasingly sought after by reason of the status and luxury that accompanies such items, he added.



Leatherworld Middle East is the regions dedicated showcase of finished leather goods, from footwear, clothing, bags, wallets, and accessories, to premium corporate gifts, stationery, and household decorations.

The three-day event is an ideal networking platform for regional traders, private brand owners, retailers, boutiques, designers, and corporate gift promotions companies searching for all things leather-related.



Leatherworld Middle East is co-located with Paperworld Middle East, the regions dedicated trade fair for paper, office supplies, stationery, corporate gifts, and childrens toys and games.-TradeArabia News ServicePlans for a super group of oil producing countries could be in place by year-end as Opec works to institutionalise the ongoing collaboration between 24 member and non-member nations that has helped crude prices to recover, said a report.

Suhail Al Mazrouei, the Minister of Energy and Industry of the UAE, which currently holds the Opec presidency, said that a draft framework for a long-term alliance will be finalised in 2018, reported The National.

"The aim is together with the secretary general [of Opec, Mohammad Barkindo], to put together a draft agreement for this group (of 24) to stay together for a longer time," said Al Mazrouei in an interview to the UAE daily.

Al Mazrouei has some hope that the draft framework could even be endorsed and signed by all 24 countries before the end of the year.

Optimism is running high that there is now a strong base on which to make the collaboration with non-Opec members a more permanent fixture of energy markets, said the report.

The Saudi oil minister Khalid Al Falih said last month that the kingdoms energy alliance with Russia will continue for decades and generations and on Wednesday, there was news of plans for joint investments by Saudi and Russia.

Al Mazrouei said Opec was encouraging its 14 members to build oil capacity buffers to temper any wild upswings in price as a result of a weakening dollar this year.

"We are incentivising all the group members to have some buffers. That buffer is [to assure] that if you have a surge [in demand] or issue in one of the countries you can replace that in the market and achieve a short and medium-term re-balance of the market," said the minister in the interview when asked about the potential downsides of a weak dollar on global prices.

The US dollar is currently trading at its lowest level in more than three years having lost two and a half per cent of its value against other currencies this year, pushing up the price of commodities including gold.

Experts, including Mark Mobius of Franklin Templeton, are betting on a subdued dollar to push the price of oil to a high of $100 a barrel by next year.Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) held discussions with technology giant General Electric (GE) to boost co-operation in developing services and projects to enhance its position as one of the best utilities in the world.

The duo met during the recently held World Government Summit 2018, and discussed co-operation in digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability, energy efficiency, smart grids, innovation, energy storage, and other technologies to improve efficiency in the production, transmission and distribution of energy and water.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, the managing managing director and CEO of Dewa, welcomed a high-level delegation from GE that included Azeez Mohammed, the president and CEO of GE's Power Conversion, and Dr Dalya Al Muthanna, the president and CEO of GE Gulf.

During the meeting, Al Tayer presented Dewa's key projects and programmes including the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, and its efforts in research and development (R&D), drones, and 3D printing.

He highlighted Dewas achievements in Shams Dubai initiative, which aims to encourage building owners to install photovoltaic systems to generate electricity and connect them to Dewas grid.

Al Tayer also discussed the 250 MW hydroelectric pumped-storage station that will make use of the water stored in the Hatta Dam, which is the first of its kind in the GCC countries.

He also referred to the feasibility study that Dewa launched to develop a 400 MW hydroelectric pumped-storage island.

GE delegation presented the latest solutions, technologies, and R&D efforts, especially in AI, robotics, and energy efficiency.

The meeting was attended by HE Ahmed Buti Al Muhairbi, secretary general of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Abdul Rahim Sultan, director - World Green Economy Organisation (WGEO).-TradeArabia News ServiceAt the time, I responded that this was a baseless allegation and demonstrably false.

Last year Unitechs former Pro-Chancellor, Ralph Saulep, alleged that, upon my appointment as Vice-Chancellor in January 2012, I had been less than truthful about my academic qualifications.

Heres the story so far as I know it.

It was a bizarre series of events for me in my role of Vice-Chancellor of the PNG University of Technology (Unitech).

Through official channels, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Canberra (I am a Dutch national) has asked for an explanation, so far to no avail.

I was given no chance to say goodbye to my wife or speak to my lawyer and was given no valid reason for my deportation. I was threatened with force if I refused to leave.

Id been to Singapore for a brief medical visit and, upon returning to Port Moresby, I was refused entry and put on a plane to Brisbane.

ON 8 FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, I was deported from Papua New Guinea to Australia.

After all, I had defended my PhD in 1994 on an economic-historical subject at the European University Institute in Florence. Since then I had taught for several Latin American, US and European institutions of higher education.

My last appointment before PNG was as research funding advisor at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands, one of the best young universities in Europe.

Shortly after taking office, my colleagues and I decided we needed to improve the campus and Unitechs academic quality and financial sustainability.

Since 2006 Unitech had been receiving negative reports from external auditors, and for all this time the Council and management had sat on their hands.

In 2011, the unaccountable financial management at Unitech became public knowledge. In the Auditor General's report to Parliament, the university was the only one of about 70 state institutions to receive an adverse opinion.

At my first board meeting on 5 April last year, I discussed these external reports and announced corrective measures including a number related to financial management, accreditation and personnel management.

Soon after, panic broke out among Council members, who had been sitting on the board for years; some for decades.

The Chancellor, who was not empowered to do so, tried to sack me there and then, after violent protests by students during which the car of the president was set on fire, he changed his mind.

In the following months, former Chancellor Ralph Saulep and former Chancellor Phillip Stagg filed complaints with Lae and Port Moresby police and harassed me and my management team through the courts and in the media.

Subsequently the University conducted an internal investigation on the spending of infrastructure improvement funds in previous years. Major irregularities were found as was proof of criminal negligence and fraud.

It was found, for instance, that the head of department of electrical engineering, Naraya Gehlot, with the approval of management, had received a personal cheque for K676,600 (about $310,000) without proper acquittal.

Then, on Thursday 8 November last year, a minority of Council members convened a meeting in Port Moresby at which I was not present.

There they appointed a new management team. I was dismissed, without due process and without a valid reason.

The meeting, however, had been subject to a restraining order, so its decisions were null and void. In fact, the minutes of the meeting mention the restraining order.

So, until this day, I have never been legally dismissed. Nevertheless I have had to file an appeal with the Supreme Court to ensure I will not be dismissed without a valid reason.

Four days after the Council meeting, on Monday 12 November, David Arore, the Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology did the right thing and ordered a thorough investigation into the affairs of Unitech.

He dissolved the Council and appointed an Interim Council led by Sir Nagora Bogan. On Tuesday 20 November the National Executive Council endorsed the Minister's decision.

Although the old Council had been dissolved by the government, on Sunday 9 December, Saulep and his newly appointed management team tried to take over the administration building. They were accompanied by armed police.

For this purpose, it is alleged that Saulep had falsified a court order and circulated it among Council members and the Director of the Office of Higher Education. Fortunately the bluff was called and the attempt failed.

There were three other attempts to take control of the university administration by force. Meanwhile nobody took action to rein in the deposed Council members or the illegally appointed new management team.

In an upshot to this story, on Friday 15 February the former head of electrical engineering, Naraya Gehlot, was arrested for alleged involvement in fraud. He has since been refused bail and brought to Buimo prison.

He has allegedly implicated the Bursar, who I believe also has been arrested, and more arrests seem bound to follow. Strangely, Minister Arore has publicly come out defended Gehlot.

I hope to get back my work permit, which I believe was illegally cancelled. I also need the police to give assurances for my safe passage into and out of the country pending the fraud investigation.

I feel that, as an outsider, I can bring peace back to the Unitech campus and lead the university along a path to better academic quality, financial sustainability and accountability.

I am very thankful for the unwavering support of the students and staff throughout this ordeal.

Late last week, students clashed with police over this matter at the university gate. There was shooting. I pray that this strange story will end well and that nobody gets hurt.

Prof Albert Schram is Vice-Chancellor of the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (Unitech) in Lae, PNGs second largest universitySALLY POKITON | PNG Edge

THERE was jubilation at Nadzab airport yesterday afternoon as exiled Unitech vice-chancellor Dr Albert Schram arrived to a big welcome by Unitech students.

Students travelled in truckloads from their campus to the Nadzab airport to welcome Dr Schram with what they described as PNG Style welcome as they carried him through the crowd.

Members of the Students Representative Council were in Port Moresby this week to receive the vice chancellor who flew in from Cairns and they returned with him to Lae.Bengaluru, (IANS): In line with the Modicare of the Central government, Karnataka too would provide healthcare to all people in the state soon, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday.

The universal health coverage scheme under the name Arogya Karnataka Yojane will be started this month to provide primary, secondary and tertiary treatment to all people in the state, Siddaramaiah said in the Assembly, presenting the state Budget for the ensuing 2018-19 fiscal.

The scheme is expected to be implemented in the entire state by the end of the year.

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The Budget, however, does not mention the funds allotted for the implementation of the healthcare scheme or the specifics of how many people in the state it benefits.

A total of 9,000 health and wellness centres will be set up for every 5,000 people over the next seven years for providing quality primary healthcare services, asserted Siddaramaiah, who is also the state Finance Minister.

A total of Rs 6,645 crore has been allotted for health and family welfare in the 2018-19 Budget.

The Chief Minister also proposed in his budget speech to construct a 1,000-bedded additional ward in Bangaluru Medical College and Research Institute here.

A grant of Rs 90 crore is being provided for 2018-19 to commence the construction of hospitals in medical colleges of Gadag, Koppal, Chamarajanagar, which will be built at a cost of Rs 100 crore each, he stated.Ahmedabad, (IANS): A 60-year-old Dalit activist, who set himself on fire in Gujarat over governments alleged failure to regularize land tilled by a landless labourer, succumbed to his burn injuries late on Friday.

Bhanubhai Vankar set himself on fire on Thursday inside the compound of Patan Collectors office. He was rushed to a local hospital before being moved to the Apollo Hospital in Ahmedabad.

Earlier on Friday, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that the State government was taking full care of Vankar. He said the government would bear all the expenses the Dalit activists treatment.

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We are receiving messages from many supporters across the state that they are frustrated and would resort to suicide. I request all of them not to take any such steps and instead go on an indefinite dharna (protest).

I would request them to approach me and we will carry forward the fight, Jignesh Mevani, MLA from Vadgam constituency and a Dalit youth leader told reporters on reaching the hospital where Vankar died.

Vankar had been seeking physical possession of land that was allotted to Dalit families by the state government.

He had written a letter to the Chief Minister last month, warning him of taking the step of self-immolation if the families were not allotted the land.

Though the Chief Ministers Office had sent in an advisory to the collectorate, the officials there allegedly took the matter casually.

Vankar reached the Collectors office along with the Dalit families of Hemaben and Ramabhai on Thursday, drenched himself in kerosene and set himself on fire.

The body of Vankar is likely to be moved to Unjha in Mehsana district on Saturday for last rites.By Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is gearing up to establish a research chair in the name of Mirza Ghalib, the renowned poet from the 18th century. The initiative to establish chair has been taken up by the Department of Urdu, Faculty of Arts. Professor Aftab Ahmad, head of the department, has planned to pass letters to all the relevant official channels, up to the Ministry of Human Resources and Development, to establish the chair as soon as possible.

The plan to establish a Ghalib chair was introduced in 2008, when Professor Punjab Singh, the then vice-chancellor of BHU, promised the same in a seminar jointly organised by BHU and Ghalib Institute, Delhi. But the verbal initiative to establish a chair in the name of Mirza Ghalib was stalled as there was no sound approach from the administration of BHU.

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Almost a decade after the announcement, Aftab Ahmad  who gained the head chair in November 2017 only  has taken the charge of it. Ahmad told TwoCircles.net, We believe that there should be more research on Ghalib and his stand on the cultural aspects of Banaras, as well as that of India.

It is not the question of poetry, but of the cultural heritage. Ghalib termed Varanasi as Qaba-e-Hindustan. There was some reasoning behind it, he understood it all with his eyes for minute details, said Professor Aftab Ahmad. Ghalib chair will enhance the Urdu and cultural research on the campus, he added.

As of now, the Urdu department of BHU has around 30 research scholars, a number which was gained very slowly. Establishment of the chair will add eight more seats for research purposes, but to gain the same, a minimum fund of Rs 1 crore is needed to support the research under the Ghalibs chair.

With radical nationalist propaganda spreading quickly inside BHU, the chairs establishment is likely to face certain objections from the administration and certain groups inside the university. But Professor Ahmad claims that he has all the support needed to establish the chair, including the university administrations, adding that Ghalib has the true answer to all the fanaticism and ultra-nationalism gestures which are infamous these days.

BHUs various faculties and departments have several chairs  recent one is the Deendayal Upadhyay Chair established in September 2017 on the special request by Ministry of Culture  but Urdu department has none. With the establishment of its first chair, BHUs Urdu department  which is fighting hard to be counted on education map  hopes to gain some name and recognition.By Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net

The Uttar Pradesh government, led by Yogi Adityanath, introduced its annual budget on Friday, with Rs 2,575 crores allocated under the name of minority development and welfare schemes.

Rajesh Agrawal, Finance Minister at Uttar Pradesh, informed while announcing the budget that out of the allocated Rs 2,575 crores, Rs 404 crore will be spent modernising Arabic and Farsi Madrasas of the state. Moreover, Rs 486 crore will be used as a grant for Arabic schools, and Rs 215 crore of Aalia level madrasas.

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The recent budget of Uttar Pradesh sees a rise of Rs 282 crore from the last years budget allocated under the same head. State minister Mohsin Raza claimed that increasing the budget is a welcome step and shows governments commitment towards the agenda of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas.

The budget allocation under minority head for the fiscal year 2018-19 becomes important as, since its election in 2017, the state government has been cracking down on Madrasas for several reasons. During August 2017, the government put out an order asking all the Madrasas of the state to submit proof of celebration of Independence Day.

The state government it seems, however, is using modernisation of madrasas to distract any attention over the absence of new schemes of minority welfare. State minister Mohsin Raza told TwoCircles.net, Modernisation of Madrasas in the state is one thing which every regime till now has been overlooking. This years funds expenditure under minority head will be used chiefly for modernisation of madrasas.

Muslim community is backward, said Raza while adding that the government is trying to link the modern education with the religious teachings of madrasas. Raza further explained, We see many Muslims studied Maulviyat (the study of Islamic clericalism) past independence, but we know only a few in the society. The rest struggle hard to get into the mainstream. They are not doing any good. We want to change.

Coming again to the absence of new schemes, Mohsin Raza said that the state government will assist the central government in implementation and increased the reach of its various programs, which are not just for minorities, but for all the religions, castes and groups of the society.

Commenting on the budget, Khali Rashid, a Lucknow-based cleric, said, The government did not introduce any new scheme. The Muslim community is facing unemployment. The government could have increased scholarship more. Also, it would have looked towards handloom practices, which is the major source of living in Muslim community, the budget would be more welcoming.KEITH JACKSON

Professor Albert Schram

NOOSA  It was a brief response from Albert Schram that I received last night: Thank you for your support. This has gone beyond facts, logic or truth.

Now, as regular readers of PNG Attitude will know, Professor Schram is vice-chancellor of the University of Technology in Lae, Papua New Guinea.

In 2013, as he tried to revitalise an ailing institution, Schram was booted out of the country because hed discovered a nest of vipers in his own institution and in PNGs higher education sector.

But sanity eventually prevailed and in 2014, to the delight of Unitech staff and students, he was allowed to return to PNG and to his post.

He received the homecoming of a hero.

And now, as his institution rebuilds and begins to make real progress, it is all happening again."Over the last 20 years, FEMA has declared similar multi-day storms on at least seven occasions," Cayuga County Legislature Chairman Patrick Mahunik said. "Denying our communities financial assistance for the costs associated with responding to these events is a $4 million hit that has to be absorbed by the local and county taxpayers."

Despite FEMA's denial, there will be some federal help available for businesses and homeowners.

Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

Cuomo requested a disaster declaration from the Small Business Administration. SBA Administrator Linda McMahon announced this week that low-interest loans will be available for the counties, including Cayuga, covered by the agency's disaster declaration.

"The SBA is strongly committed to providing the people of New York with the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters with federal disaster loans," McMahon said.

The loans will be available for businesses, homeowners, renters and private nonprofit organizations. SBA customer service representatives will be available to assist individuals and organizations with applications. Village of the Arts



Set in the heart of the Sarasota-Bradenton area, the Village of the Arts is an eclectic and vibrant artists community that features over 100 homes, restaurants, cafes, art galleries, studios, and workshops. Spanning 36 acres, the Village of the Arts is home to many artists who live and work in beautifully restored cottages dating back to the 1920s and 1930s. The cottages have been lovingly renovated and repaired and painted in bright colors, which adds to the already artsy vibe, and the artists-in-residence produce works that are shown and sold in one of the many art galleries in the village. The quirky town offers an array of things to see and do, from admiring the beautiful and unusual architecture and visiting art galleries, studios, and workshops to dining out or sipping coffee in a sidewalk cafe, or strolling through the streets and soaking up the vibrant ambiance.

1017 12th Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205

You are reading "20 Best Things to Do in Bradenton, Florida" Back to Top Courtesy of Aleksey Dmetsov - Fotolia.com





Starting its life in 1894 as Riverview Park Zoo, Henry Doorly Zoo grew into one of the worlds best and largest zoos with more than 950 animal species and some of largest exhibits in the world. The Lied Jungle occupies 80-foot tall building covering 1.5 acres. You can peek behind a curtain of water of a 50-foot tall waterfall and watch animals in the largest indoor jungle in the world. Walk along a trail on the jungle floor or on a raised walkway and see blue monkeys, common squirrel monkeys, black howler monkeys, pygmy hippopotamuses , scarlet macaws and many others.

An enormous geodesic "Desert Dome" contains examples of geologic features from some of worlds biggest deserts and is home to many animals that are well suited to an arid environment such as central bearded dragons, collared peccaries, greater roadrunners, desert cottontails, swift foxes and others. There are two rides that can take you around the zoo and the attached Walter and Suzanne Scott Kingdoms of the Seas. There is also a carousel for kids and a Skyfari, an aerial tram that takes visitors from the Butterfly and Insect Pavilion to the lion exhibit.

3701 S 10th St, Omaha, Nebraska 68107, Phone: 402-733-8401

You are reading "Fun Things to Do in Nebraska this Weekend with Friends" Back to Top or More places to see near me today, what to do, weekend tripsThe European Union told Turkey on Friday it would not ease travel requirements for its citizens unless Ankara softens counter-terrorism laws that the bloc says are excessive. As Reuters writes in an article "EU will not lift visas unless Turkey eases terrorism laws", the EU has been taken aback by President Tayyip Erdogans security crackdown following a botched coup in 2016 that saw some 50,000 people, including journalists, arrested and 150,000 more, from teachers to judges to soldiers, sacked or suspended from their jobs. That has soured the blocs relations with its NATO ally that is also instrumental in keeping a lid on Middle East immigration to Europe.

Turkey has been seeking to mend ties, telling the EU this month it had met all criteria for visa-free travel to the bloc. But Belgium Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said Ankara must first ease its terrorism laws, which Turkey has long declined to do. Turkey says it needs them, given the severity of security threats it faces on its own soil and in the region.

If it is possible to align the legislation with the values of the European Union, it will be possible to make some progress, Reynders said on the sidelines of an EU foreign ministers meeting joined by Turkeys EU minister, Omer Celik. The link is this - a real evolution in Turkey in the legislation on terrorism and the possibility to move on the visas.

The EU suspended Turkeys long-stalled membership talks last year over democracy concerns under Erdogan and his jibes at some of the blocs members. But next month it is expected to offer Ankara more money for hosting Syrian refugees. The EUs top enlargement official, Johannes Hahn, said the blocs executive European Commission in Brussels was analyzing the Turkish visa documents. Turkey understands that in principle Europe is the most reliable and predictable neighbor they have, and they are well advised to have a good relationship, he told reporters. There are some signals but when it comes to issues of rule of law, the situation is still not satisfactory.

Erdogan on Thursday hosted the top U.S. diplomat, Rex Tillerson, in a bid to ease the latest tensions between the two over their policies in the multi-sided war in Syria. German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday also demanded a fast and fair judicial process to secure the release of a German-Turkish journalist jailed in Turkey a year ago.On February 16-17, the head of the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan, Parviz Shahbazov, took part in the 54th Munich Security Conference, the press service of the ministry reports.

Within the framework of the event, the Minister held a number of bilateral meetings. In particular, the negotiations were held with US Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette, UNIPER Director General Klaus Schafer, and Chairman of the Munich Conference Wolfgang Ischinger.A delegation of the Milli Majlis (parliament) of Azerbaijan will leave for Russia on Monday to participate in the election monitoring in connection with the presidential elections on 18 March, the press service of the parliament reported.

The delegation will include the first deputy chairman of Milli Majlis, chairman of the Committee on Defense, Security and Fighting Corruption Ziyafet Askerov and deputy Rauf Aliyev.Wells College's Visiting Writers Series will next welcome Amy Butcher at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, in the Art Exhibit Room at Macmillan Hall of the Aurora campus, 170 Main St.

Butcher is an award-winning essayist and memoir author, and will read from her work. "Visiting Hours" earned starred reviews and praise from the New York Times Sunday Review of Books, and her 2016 op-ed, "Emoji Feminism," was cited by Google as the inspiration for 11 new professional female-empowered emojis. Butcher has also been published in Harper's, The Washington Post and more.Head of the Ministry of Education and Science Olga Vasilyeva and head of Kabardino-Balkaria Yuri Kokov signed an agreement on creation of the Chess school in the republic, press service of the government reported.

She highlighted level of education development in the republic and suggested that it may become one of Russia's centers when it comes to development of chess.Azerbaijani Foreign Minister in the framework of the Munich Security Conference has met with European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Johannes Khan, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend Feb. 17, Trend reports.

During the meeting, issues of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU in the political, economic, trade, transport, energy, humanitarian and other spheres were discussed.

Recalling the visit of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Brussels in February 2017, the minister stressed its particular importance in terms of developing cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU.

Elmar Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan welcomes support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan on the basis of common principles within the borders recognized at the international level by the member countries of the Eastern Partnership of the European Union.

The Foreign Minister also spoke about the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan on April 11.

During the talks, importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and the East-West transport corridor in the framework of cooperation in the field of transport and connectivity was emphasized.

Elmar Mammadyarov, informing about the negotiation process on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said that in order to change the status quo and achieve progress in the settlement of the conflict, the Armenian troops must be withdrawn from the occupied territories in accordance with the requirements of the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.A free-goods store was opened in Astana. A relevant message was published on the official website of the capitals administration.

The project "Kayyrimdylyk. Kindness" aims to support socially vulnerable members of the population and the elderly people in need.

"A special boutique for the poor was opened in the area of the universal spare parts market Koktal, on Koktal street 18. There are no prices for goods there. Anyone can bring clothes, shoes, toys, books to the special boutique," Sputnik- Kazakhstan reports.Sigmar Gabriel has revealed Germany REFUSES to achieve Natos defence spending target of 2 percent, Express reports. He instead called for money to be spent on building a strong European defence union.

Answering questions after his speech, he said: I consider the figure difficult. He said if Germany spent 2 percent of its GDP on Nato defence every year for ten years, it would spend more than 70 million every year.

He added: "I'm not quite sure after ten years all European partners would consider that a good idea."Authors of the report to the Munich Security Conference present Moscows influence in a negative way, Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the forum on Saturday, TASS reports.

"When the West talks about Russias influence, most often it is presented in a negative way," he said. "Authors of the report, prepared for the current conference, have not avoided this approach.".Georgian President Georgi Margvelashvili has not yet decided whether he will run for another term in the elections that will take place this fall and will be the last direct presidential elections in the country.

The head of state admitted that it was a great honor for him to serve Georgia as the first person and commander-in-chief, however he was tired of the continuing storms in a teacup and black PR.Russian low-cost airline Pobeda (a division of Aeroflot) has received the approval of Armenias aviation authorities to operate regular flights from Russian Saint Petersburg and Rostov-on-Don to Armenias second largest city of Gyumri, the administrative center of the northwestern province of Shirak, Arka News Agency reported.

Armenias Main Civil Aviation Department said the flights from St. Petersburg to Gyumri and back to St. Petersburg from April 18 to October 27 will be carried out twice a week. Flights from Rostov-on-Don to Gyumri and back to Rostov-on-Don will also be carried out twice a week from May 25 to September 14. The cost of air tickets was not announced.

Currently Pobeda makes seven flights a week from Moscow to Gyumri and back. In 2017 the airline transported 4.6 million passengers, selling at least 350,000 tickets at the minimum price of 499 rubles (less than $10), including all airport taxes.The preparations for the Syrian army to enter the northern Kurdish-controlled Afrin enclave have started, Xinhua reported citing pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV.

The Syrian army has started logistic preparations about the number of soldiers and military gears that will enter Afrin in the northern countryside of Aleppo province, as the area is under a nearly one-month military attack by Turkey and allied Syrian rebels, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Rezan Heddo, the media advisor of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), said in a live interview with al-Mayadeen aired on Friday evening that the group's aim is to preserve the unity of Syria.

He said his group welcomes any Syrian who would like to help to confront what he called the "Turkish aggression."

Regarding the Syrian army, Heddo said Afrin is a Syrian city, adding that the Syrian army can be present in any part in Afrin to help defend the city against Turkish military campaign.Russias 2018 presidential election race is entering the phase of campaigning in the mass media on Saturday, February 17 - the most thrilling and intriguing phase of all. Voters will be able to see the opinions of rivals clash in televised debates, TASS reports.

Not all candidates will participate in the debates, though. For instance, the incumbent president, Vladimir Putin, will refrain from using this opportunity.

Any candidate is free to begin the election campaign starting from the moment of submitting the application to the Central Election Commission. It is allowed to arrange for public events, meet with voters and distribute handouts. Electioneering in the mass media is possible only during the period of 28 days before the voting day. Taking part in the campaign will be only the registered candidates whose names feature in the ballot papers, and also the parties that nominated them.

The election period will end one day before the polling date, March 17.

The law establishes certain opportunities for electioneering in the mass media. Free time on the air is provided by five government-run federal television channels - Rossiya 1, Rossiya 24, Channel 1, TV Center and Russias public television OTR and three radio stations - Radio Russia, Mayak and Vesti FM. About 60 hours of air time on TV and 36 hours of air time on the radio were distributed by drawing lots at the CEC office.

One-third of the air time is granted to political parties, which are free to use it for telecasting electioneering ads.

As the CECs secretary Maya Grishina said earlier, the self-nominees (in this election campaign there is only one such candidate - Vladimir Putin), will have just a quarter of the air time to telecast electioneering ads of the amount a political partys candidate is entitled to. Two candidates lost this opportunity because they refused to participate in the lots drawing procedure.Today, the Russian center for Science and Culture in Kiev was attacked by radicals: several dozen people broke iron doors and burst into the building, arranging a pogrom there. The police arrived at the scene but did not take any active action and detained none of the actions participants.

The head of the center, Konstantin Vorobyev, said about 30 people from the Right Sector (banned in Russia) and the nationalist organization C14 participated in the attack. They shouted demands to close the center, extremist slogans, threats to employees and guests.Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

"Just because slavery ended doesn't mean it ended there, life is still hard and almost everything was unfair, we were separated, we were segregated," Watson-Porch rhymed.

Amy Doyle and Kelly Sue Haines, both junior high English teachers who started the student dance group that book-ended the assembly, organized the event.

Haines lauded the students before the event began, saying that they might not been able to take the stage separately, but were able to "collectively collaborate to stand up in front of their peers and celebrate Black History Month."

William E. Berry Jr., publisher and CEO of the digital journal aaduna, spoke at the event, pacing around the audience rather than staying on stage. He spoke about the history of Black History Month and the idea that students' ability to respect and embrace the differences in human beings "will make you better people."

"I can guarantee you, by the time you leave and go to college and enter the world and work, the entire country, if not the world, is going to be different, and your skill sets are going to have to include the ability to understand, to be tolerant, to be accepting," Berry said.

Speaking toward the end of the event, Doyle and Gaines said they were moved by the dedication of those who performed.

"Thank you to all of our kids who have put themselves out there, because a lot of kids said, 'No,' but these guys said, 'Yes,' and I am so inspired by that," Doyle said.

Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau.

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Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.HA NOI  Viet Nam is trying to tackle the weakness of the pig industry, including the processing and distribution of pork, to promote the export of high-quality meat products to the world market.

The statement was made by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Nguyen Xuan Cuong while attending the groundbreaking ceremony for Masan Groups meat processing complex in the northern province of Ha Nam on February 4.

This project has a total investment of more than VN1 trillion (US$44 million) and is built on 10ha. It will have the annual capacity to process 140,000 tonnes of pork.

Processing linkage

The production line in Masans complex is in compliance with the strict standards of the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to provide the market with cool meat, in a closed 3F (Feed-Farm-Food) model. The supply of pigs for the plant is guaranteed from the expanding pork production model in Ha Nam .

Another example is the clean food processing and green breeding complex of the Bien ong Trade and Investment Joint Stock Company in Nam inh Province . The slaughtering plant can handle up to 250-300 pigs per hour and the company aims to export meat to Japan , the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Hong Kong . This company has already agreed in principle with an RoK partner to sell 2,000 tonnes of pork per year.

Or in the case of Hung Nhon Group, in order to export the chicken to Japan in September last year, this company (with nearly 40 breeding farms in Binh Phuoc) has invested in modern equipment machinery from Germany to create a closed system of cold and automated chicken farms.

In order to promote the export of chicken meat, Hung Nhon Group has participated in a closed chain production system, which meets the strict quality standards of the Japanese market, in which this firm played the role of raising chickens at Global Gap chicken farms. Besides, three other foreign companies  De Heus (the Netherlands ), Bel Ga ( Belgium ) and Japanese Koyu & Unitek also took part in this chain.

Experts believe that processing meat products for export in the direction of chain linkage is completely feasible and profitable for both producers and businesses.

At the same time, enhancing added value in the livestock production chain is an urgent necessity today when the free trade agreements (FTAs) enter into force.

Plenty of space for export

This approach ensures that actors involved in the production value chain can share their rights and responsibilities with one another, ensuring regulation of market supply and demand and traceability of food products.

2018 is expected to be a strong year for Vietnamese enterprises to export chicken to Japanese market. After 2018, some Vietnamese companies can export processed chicken to other potential markets such as Hong Kong , Singapore , Malaysia , Myanmar and RoK.

At the same time, Vietnamese enterprises will complete the dossiers on exporting processed poultry meat to be sent to competent agencies of countries wishing to import poultry products from Viet Nam .

For the pig industry, many international experts assess the potential of Vietnamese enterprises in pork exports. With four million tons of flesh, only 20,000 tonnes exported is a very small portion, while there is still room for supply in the global and regional markets.

According to Cuong, the export of pork is not only aimed at the Chinese market but also other markets. In addition, there should be active preparation of facilities as well as means to approach the export of sliced pork, one of the requirements to help the industry recover early.

Vietnamese enterprises should step up the development of slaughtering, freezing and processing of a wide range of products up to standards, so as to meet the demand for export to foreign countries.

Smaller livestock can be reduced, but large scale livestock and high-tech investments in the chain will yield stronger growth. Vietnamese meat products are also aiming for clean food and this will also help lift the value of pork.

In terms of attracting businesses to invest in livestock industry today, Hoang Van Son, chief of VNC Law Office, said if we only attract some big corporations with large capital investment, it is not guaranteed that the livestock industry will develop sustainably and compete with other countries in the world as we open the door for them.

Son also emphasised that no protectionist measures can be taken to support the livestock sector as more FTAs are signed. In order to develop the livestock sector, we have to rely not only on a few strong economic groups, but also on diversifying production and adopting appropriate policies to encourage traditional livestock production to make proactive changes.  VNSHA NOI  Commercial banks are expecting the revenue from fees and retail banking services to become their main income sources this year, as a result of rising market demands.

According to Nguyen uc Vinh, general director of VP Bank, after years of investing in the financial company FE Credit, his bank was expecting to receive a large profit from the company in 2018.

FE Credit started to gain profits from the retail banking segment in 2016, and the profit improved continuously last year. VP Banks financial reports showed that the banks profits last year hit a record high of more than VN6.43 trillion (US$283.25 million), of which FE Credit made up some 51 per cent.

Vietcombank also expects to better exploit the potential retail banking segment this year, as it recruited Thomas William Tobin, a Canadian foreign senior expert in retail banking, last year, to be its retail banking director. It was the first time the State-owned bank appointed a foreigner in its management board, showing its priority for the retail banking segment.

Vietcombanks chairman Nghiem Xuan Thanh hoped that the expert, who has expertise in global and Vietnamese finance, will help the bank make a leap in the retail banking segment.

Vietcombank is targeting to become the countrys leading bank in retail segment in 2020, Thanh said.

According to Nguyen inh Tung, general director of the Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank, his bank is expected to earn a pre-tax profit of more than VN1 trillion in 2018, thanks to specific strategies in the sales of financial products, especially in non-credit services.

Some other banks have also planned to better exploit the potential business segment in 2018 through mergers and acquisitions last year. Typically, Shinhan Bank Vietnam acquired ANZs retail banking services or the Vietnam International Bank (VIB) acquired the HCM Citys branch of Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

According to experts, banks are investing significantly in retail banking services, instead of only focusing on corporate lending in the hope of gaining higher profits from the potential segment this year.

With more than 93 million people and sharply increasing consumption, Viet Nam is considered a hot destination for the retail banking segment, which is why banks have strategically planned to boost the segment.

In fact, the in-cash habit of Vietnamese people is no longer an obstacle to the development of card network and non-credit services. Thus, several banks are aiming to give their customers a variety of non-traditional credit services, such as savings and transactional accounts, mortgages, personal loans, debit and credit cards.

Notably from the beginning of this year, many banks have considerably improved the quality of their retail banking services to enhance competitiveness in the market. They are also focussing on other aspects such as marketing, technology and human resources to attract more individual customers to non-credit services.

The move was decided after the retail banking segment contributed to a large amount of the total profits of many banks last year. BIDV and MB Bank, for example, gained high profits last year, thanks to a 34 per cent to 35 per cent rise in retail banking services.

Nguyen Thanh Nhung, general director of VietBank, said retail banking services would be a key to making a sustained and stable profit for the banking sector this year. The development of non-credit services contributes to diversifying banks services, thereby bringing more customers. This type of service will also disperse risks and create higher profits for commercial banks, said Nhung.

According to Tran Du Lich, a member of the National Financial and Monetary Policy Advisory Council, banks currently not only gain profits from lending but also from retail banking services, so the move to invest in retail services is inevitable in the future.

Based on the results gained, leaders of commercial banks said they would continually apply this business strategy, with a focus on retail banking services next time.  VNSHCM CITY  A famous novel by the late author oan Gioi, winner of the State Awards for Literature and Arts in 2001, has been adapted into a movie and will be filmed this summer.

at Rung Phuong Nam (Southern Land) is an epic in praise of southerners, their history, culture and lifestyle. It is based on the book of the same name, at Rung Phuong Nam, one of Giois favourite books.

The producer HK Film, one of HCM Citys leading private film companies, has invited director Nguyen Cao Minh to join the production.

Meritorious Artist, film director and scriptwriter Nguyen Vinh Son will also work on the screenplay.

In 1997, Son directed the 11-part TV series, at Phuong Nam (Song of the South), which is based on Giois book.

The film won the first prize for Best TV Series at the 1997 National Film Festival presented by the Viet Nam Cinematography Association.

The association awarded Son the Mai Vang (Golden Apricot) prize for best director, launched by the HCM City-based Nguoi Lao ong (Labourer) newspaper a year later.

The film was subtitled in English and has been exported on DVD to the US, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore since 2000.

It is still rebroadcast on Ho Chi Minh City Television and provincial TV stations.

We decided to invest both money and human resources on our new version, at Rung Phuong Nam, to meet the demand of Giois fans, who are all ages and backgrounds, said Nguyen Trinh Hoan, owner of HK Film.

Weve worked with talented directors Cao and Son to make our film high quality in images, sound and light effects, Hoan told local media at the film launching ceremony held recently.

Casting will begin in the city and southern provinces this week. Its post-production is expected to be completed late this year.

The film will be in cinemas in 2019.

Southern land

Gioi was born into a landlord family in Chau Thanh District of My Tho Province (now Tien Giang) in 1925. His family donated their properties to Viet Minh guerrillas after the August Revolution in 1945.

He wrote at Rung Phuong Nam in June 1957 when he was 32. One month later, it was released by the newly opened Kim ong Publishing House in Ha Noi.

The 255-page book is about the adventures of a boy named Nam, who loses his family in a battle and lives in the southwestern region under the French colonists.

He learns new things and experiences with the help of many poor farmers and children, and travels around the region and witnesses the sufferings of farmers during the war.

He joins the Viet Minh guerrillas to fight against the French troops.

at Rung Phuong Nam encourages people to love nature and discover the country and people. It has been printed in dozens of languages, such as English, Russian, Chinese, Spanish and Polish.

Its chapter titled Song Nuoc Ca Mau (Rivers of Ca Mau) has been used in textbooks for sixth-grade students.

at Rung Phuong Nams 20 chapters capture the imaginations of readers, both young and old. It is one of the countrys favourite books, said the films scriptwriter Son.

The book provides readers, particularly children, with new ideas about nature, animals, rivers, plants and people of the south, he added.  VNSA NANG  The central city of a Nang held a warm welcome ceremony at the airport on February 16 for the first 180 tourists visiting the city in the lunar New Year.

The Hong Kong Express airline carried tourists from Hong Kong visiting the city and other areas in the central region for the Tet (Vietnamese lunar New Year) festival.

According to the citys tourism department, more than 100,000 tourists, 75 per cent of them foreigners, have booked hotels and resorts to explore the Tet festival and other attractions.

On the occasion of Tet, a flower festival started on the same day in the Ba Na Hills Mountain resort, 1,471m above sea level. The festival will conclude at the end of March.

Visitors at the resort have been receiving li xi (lucky money) from February 16-21.

In Quang Nam Province, an exhibition of 60 coloured photographs was opened at the village of Tam Thanh  famous for its murals  7km from Tam Ky City.

The photographs have been put up on sidewalks of the village road to attract tourists during the lunar New Year.

The village gets almost 500 tourists every day, while some 2,000 young, offbeat travellers and backpackers visit to enjoy the colourful paintings on the walls of old houses in the fishing village.

Last year, the Tam Thanh art community village was awarded the 2017 Asian Townscape Award for its colourful murals. It is the first commune in Viet Nam to have colourful murals painted on its moss-covered walls by artists from Korea.  VNSHA NOI  President Tran ai Quang and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent condolences on Friday to US President Donald Trump for the Florida high school shooting that killed at least 17.

A former student armed with an AR-15 rifle opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, a city about 80 kilometres north of Miami on Wednesday, killing at least 17 people.  VNSHA NOI  The government targets to provide vocational training to 2.2 million people in 2018 to meet the increasing demand for human resources, according to the Directorate of Vocational Education under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Vocational training over the past years has received encouraging results, with over 70 per cent trainees having found jobs after graduation, according to Le Quan, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

These trainees get an average salary of VN7-10 million (US$310-400), Quan told the media at a recent press briefing.

These achievements have helped raise public awareness on the importance of vocational training, and many families have supported their children to undergo training as an option to quickly join the labour market, he said.

Nguyen Ngoc Linh, who hails from Hai Ba Trung District, said although she had graduated from the university with specialisation in English, she still decided to attend a six-month vocational training course.

I think it is important to learn vocational skills to find a good job. I am studying a course on hotel management where I have learnt a lot of new things and new skills, which will help me to find a job easily, she said.

However, shortcomings remain in vocational training, such as low training quality of some institutions, failure to meet the human resources demand of specific sectors and industries as well as lack of economic reforms, Quan said.

He noted incompetence in foreign language, lack of soft skills of vocational trainees and slow renewal of public vocational training institutions were some of the other challenges.

Minister ao Ngoc Dung shared the same view and said the training quality of vocational education was low, failing to meet the demand of businesses and society.

He said the main target of vocational education should be to improve the quality of human resources, particularly when the fourth Industrial Revolution was underway in the country. Therefore, vocational training should focus on strengthening the linkages between training institutions and enterprises to meet labour market demands, building standards for vocational education and having in place a supervision and assessment mechanism, he said.

Quan said promoting the application of information technology was necessary. The ministry plans to launch a vocational training application on mobile phones in May to help trainees know more about training programmes, training institutions and employment opportunities.

The ministry is piloting a programme to provide joint vocational training with many businesses to meet their real demand, and the programme has yielded positive results.

Pham Vu Quoc Binh, Director of the Viet Nam Vocational Training Accreditation Agency, said at a recent conference on vocational training cooperation between Viet Nam and the United Kingdom that the rapid development of the fourth Industrial Revolution was posing numerous challenges for Viet Nams economy.

To have high-quality human resources, Viet Nam needed to build an open and modern occupational education system, he said.

According to Binh, businesses should play a leading role in occupational education and participate in several stages, such as defining training demand, increasing the quality of student-centric training and building quality training system.

There are currently more than 1,900 vocational training establishments across Viet Nam, including 395 colleges and 545 vocational schools. They offer programmes in various sectors, including tourism, beauty services, IT, construction, fashion, garment and textiles, pharmaceuticals, precision mechanics and hotel management.  VNSHCM CITY  Police arrested an 18- year-old man on Friday who is suspected in the killing of five members of a family in HCM Citys Binh Tan District and robbed their house.

The bodies of the couple and their three children were discovered in their home on Thursday.

Nguyen Huu Tinh of An Giang Province was arrested in Long An Province, next to the city.

He was a metalworker in a factory owned by the deceased family.

After allegedly killing them, he stole a number of items from their home, including a motorbike, and fled.

The HCM City police said the murder was a result of a conflict between the suspect and the family.

The victims bodies were found by a shipper who had come to the house.

Their neighbours said the family had organised a year-end party on Tuesday afternoon, but they had had no contact with the victims until their bodies were discovered.

The police said they are investigating expeditiously.

On Friday, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent a letter of appreciation to all agencies involved in the case, in recognition of their prompt investigation.

In the letter to the Ministry of Public Security, HCM City Peoples Committee, and the HCM City Police, the Prime Minister praised the quick investigation, saying that their actions contributed to the fight against crime and the protection of citizens lives.  VNSPOMPANO BEACH, United States  US President Donald Trump on Friday visited a Florida hospital to offer comfort to those wounded in a mass school shooting, after the FBI admitted it mishandled a tip about the troubled teen behind the massacre that left 17 dead.

The arrival of Trump and his wife Melania came at the end of a difficult day for the families of those killed in Wednesdays rampage at a high school in Parkland, Florida, who learned that the carnage could perhaps have been averted.

The FBI, the top US law enforcement agency, admitted it had received a chilling warning in January from a tipster who said the 19-year-old gunman, Nikolas Cruz, could be planning a mass shooting, but that agents failed to follow up.

At Broward Health North Hospital, where Trump met with survivors of the shooting, the president thanked the doctors, nurses and first responders for their "incredible" work, and described the carnage as "very sad."

He and his wife were also expected to visit the Broward County sheriffs office "to meet with the law enforcement officials whose bravery helped save lives," a White House official said.

The presidents visit to Parkland -- an area about 80 kilometers north of Miami -- came amid growing anger among parents and students in the south Florida city over Americas seeming unwillingness to toughen gun control laws.

"My princess wasnt safe in that school," said Andrew Pollack, speaking at the funeral of his 18-year-old daughter Meadow. "Please pray that this horrific tragedy never happens to another family."

Lori Alhadeff, whose 14-year-old daughter Alyssa was killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, made an emotional appeal to Trump on camera with tears rolling down her face.

"We need action! Action! Action!" Alhadeff urged in an interview with CNN, addressing Trump as the father of an 11-year-old son of his own.

"Lets protect Barron, and lets also protect all these other kids here in Parkland, in Florida, and everyone everywhere else," she said.

Admitting error isnt going to cut it

The FBI made a stunning admission earlier in the day, saying a "person close to Nikolas Cruz" made a call to the agencys public tipline on January 5 to "report concerns about him."

"The caller provided information about Cruzs gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting," the FBI said in a statement.

The information from the caller "should have been assessed as a potential threat to life" and forwarded to the agencys Miami field office, it said.

Instead, "no further investigation was conducted."

"We have spoken with victims and families, and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy," said Federal Bureau of Investigation director Christopher Wray, who took up his post in August.

Wray said he was "committed to getting to the bottom of what happened," and Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered an immediate review to ensure "effective response to indications of potential violence."

But Florida Governor Rick Scott nevertheless called for the FBI chief to step down, saying the failure to act was "unacceptable."

"Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isnt going o cut it," Scott said.

The January warning to the FBI was not the first it had received about Cruz, who used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle that he legally purchased a year ago to spray classrooms with bullets.

In September, the FBI was alerted to a message posted on YouTube, in which a user named Nikolas Cruz vowed: "Im going to be a professional school hooter."

The FBI said it had looked into it at the time but was unable to identify the person who made the post.

Illogical

Trumps visit to the Parkland area -- not far from his Mar-a-Lago resort, where he was spending the long Presidents Day weekend -- was not announced in advance, perhaps because he risked being greeted with angry demands for action on laws that allowed Cruz to amass an arsenal.

"Its illogical that the law says a minor cant have a drink, but can buy a gun," said 47-year-old Mavy Rubiano, whose child survived the shooting.

In Washington, the political response so far makes it clear that the powerful pro-gun National Rifle Association -- which spent $30 million to support Trumps election in 2016 -- remains formidable.

On Thursday, Trumps nationally televised address made no mention of guns, or of previous mass shootings.

The president focused instead on offering sympathy to the families of the victims and the need to provide better mental health care.

Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said it was not a time for arguing over gun control, while Republican Florida Senator Marco Rubio said new gun laws alone would not stop shootings.

As with previous mass shootings, the focus of gun control advocates was the easy availability of the AR-15, a civilian version of the US militarys M16.

Millions have been sold around the United States, and AR-15-style rifles were used in the mass shootings in Las Vegas, Sutherland Springs, Texas and Newtown, Connecticut.  AFPMEXICO CITY  A strong earthquake shook a large swathe of southern and central Mexico on Friday, triggering the quake alarm system in Mexico City and causing buildings to sway.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from the quake, which measured 7.2 in magnitude, according to Mexicos National Seismological Service and the US Geological Survey.

Panicked residents flooded into the street, fearing a repeat of two earthquakes last September that caused buildings to collapse and killed 465 people combined.

"To be honest, were all pretty upset. We start crying whenever the (earthquake) alarm goes off. Were stressed out, we have flashbacks. So we run out into the street. Its all we can do," 38-year-old publicist Kevin Valladolid said through tears after evacuating from his building in La Roma, in central Mexico City.

On the north side of the city, Julia Hernandez said she felt like she was "in a boat" as the ground swayed beneath her feet.

"Is it ever going to stop?" she said.

"We live in constant fear, with the memory of what happened" in previous quakes, her daughter added.

Officials in affected states said they were already inspecting buildings damaged by last years quakes, which are especially vulnerable to collapse.

"Obviously people are afraid," said the emergency response chief for the city of Puebla, Gustavo Ariza.

The latest tremor comes less than six months after last years devastating earthquakes in central and southern Mexico.

On September 7 last year, an 8.2 earthquake shook the nation and killed 96 people, mostly in the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas.

Then on September 19 -- the 32nd anniversary of a huge 1985 quake that killed 10,000 people -- another 7.1 quake rocked the country, leaving 369 people dead.

The US Geological Survey put the latest quakes epicenter 37 kilometers northeast of Pinotepa de Don Luis, in the southwestern state of Oaxaca.

The US National Weather service said it was not issuing a tsunami alert.  AFPSupport Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

Following the incident, O'Brien said there had been a lot of misinformation from students and parents on social media. He said the district notified parents at 6 a.m. Friday that there was an ongoing investigation at the school but stressed that there was no articulated threat to the school, staff or students.

"Our decision to deliver the news that the threat was not credible, as determined by the police investigation, was an effort to dispel rumors that the district had been threatened when, in fact, it had not," O'Brien said in a newsletter. "The tragedy in Florida has heightened fears across the nation. These events are an opportunity for us to review the safety protocols and measures we take at Port Byron to keep our students and staff safe."

Meanwhile, Trooper Mark O'Donnell confirmed that investigators were at the school Friday to ensure there were no viable threats. He said state police were also investigating a second student who had inadvertently brought some ammunition to the middle school Thursday  that ammunition had been left in the student's backpack, which he had recently used on a hunting trip and at a shooting range.past daily news Sep 13 (1) Sep 09 (15) Sep 06 (12) Sep 04 (10) Sep 03 (10) Aug 31 (17) Aug 29 (14) Aug 26 (13) Aug 22 (11) Aug 21 (12) Aug 19 (21) Aug 14 (6) Aug 13 (10) Aug 10 (10) Aug 08 (9) Aug 07 (10) Aug 06 (10) Aug 05 (8) Aug 03 (8) Aug 02 (7) Aug 01 (7) Jul 31 (14) Jul 29 (1) Jul 27 (7) Jul 25 (5) Jul 24 (10) Jul 22 (11) Jul 19 (16) Jul 17 (6) Jul 16 (10) Jul 15 (13) Jul 12 (7) Jul 11 (5) Jul 10 (8) Jul 08 (8) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (5) Jul 05 (8) Jul 04 (11) Jul 03 (8) Jul 02 (7) Jul 01 (5) Jun 30 (8) Jun 28 (7) Jun 27 (8) Jun 26 (7) Jun 25 (8) Jun 24 (6) Jun 23 (6) Jun 22 (9) Jun 20 (5) Jun 19 (9) Jun 18 (8) Jun 15 (9) Jun 13 (13) Jun 11 (11) Jun 09 (19) Jun 06 (10) Jun 04 (10) Jun 03 (8) Jun 01 (6) May 31 (5) May 30 (5) 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15 (25) Nov 14 (17) Nov 13 (21) Nov 12 (18) Nov 11 (9) Nov 10 (15) Nov 09 (9) Nov 08 (9) Nov 07 (12) Nov 06 (8) Nov 05 (4) Oct 29 (1) Oct 01 (1) Jul 29 (1) May 11 (1) Jul 11 (1)Today's recall will be the biggest election since Joe Biden became president, and its results may hint at the political trajectory of the country.An 18-year-old is in jail after allegedly leading sheriff's deputies on a high speed chase.

According to the Defiance County Sheriff's office, around 12:43 am on Saturday, February 17, deputies noticed a car speeding down US 127 just south of Sherwood.

The driver, Damien Bell, 18, led police on a pursuit down Jericho road, reaching speeds faster than 100 mph. Deputies called for backup and continued following the driver into Hicksville. Units setup on Jericho and SR 49 in an attempt to stop the driver.

The driver slowed down and he was arrested for failure to comply. His passenger, Dean Bustos, 20, was charged with drug possession. Bell is locked up in the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio.Julian Baggini in The Guardian:

If the Illuminati is real, its got to be the least secret secret society in the universe. Its so bad at keeping itself hidden that its existence is proclaimed all over the internet by people whose investigative toolkit consists entirely of Google and a lively imagination.

The most recent would-be whistleblower, however, is far from your usual ex-sports commentator. Paul Hellyer, a former Canadian minister of defence, has blamed the Illuminati for suppressing technology brought to Earth by aliens that could end our reliance on fossil fuels.

Why the possessors of such fantastic kit should prefer to cash in on the extraction of still abundant oil rather than on their incredible, exclusive alternative is mysterious. But since the whole point about secret all-powerful elites is that they are mysterious, maybe thats to be expected. Perhaps the Illuminati is like that other great mystery, quantum theory: if you think you understand it, you dont.

Mockery is easy, but its also reassuring. Its good to know that were much more sensible and rational than these clearly deluded conspiracy theorists. The problem is that they differ from the rest of us only in degree, not kind.

The reasons why people believe in secret, controlling elites are rooted in basic human nature. We are constantly on the lookout for both patterns and agency. Pattern-seeking is essential for our survival, and the penalties for seeing patterns where none exist are lighter than those for missing patterns that really are there. If our ancestors had failed to notice that crops left to dry tended to die, they too would have expired through starvation. But if they thought they had noticed that sacrificing a goat increased the likelihood of rain, then at worst they wasted the odd bit of meat.

The assumption of agency is also extremely helpful.

More here.Emma Brockes at The Guardian:

Afterglow is described on the jacket as a dog memoir, and by Eileen Myles as a weirdo, Kafka-type book that is also a screwy memoir of queerness. For those familiar with Myless work, these descriptions shouldnt surprise; for the past 40 years, Myles has lived in accordance with the principle, expressed in the 1991 poem Peanut Butter: I am absolutely in opposition / to all kinds of / goals. The book, like the life, defies categories. What is surprising, perhaps, is that at 68 Myles has been taken up by the mainstream, featuring in a New York Times magazine shoot last year, lauded byLena Dunham and Maggie Nelson, and providing the basis for a character in Transparent. The world of fringe poetry can be unforgiving and in previous years, on the basis of much milder success, Myles was accused by some peers of selling out. And now? The poet smiles, and says drily: I think I would know if I had written Eat, Pray, Love.

We are in the East Village, New York, where Myles has lived for the last four decades, in a rent controlled apartment that doesnt cost much more than it did in the 70s. It is the writers preference to be referred to in the third person plural, because I think it holds masculine and feminine and everything in between. Using the pronoun they, although it sounds a little funny, is worth having a stab at, says Myles, because it confirms the poets view that men and women arent monoliths.

more here.New York State Police opened an investigation at the Port Byron Central School District after a middle school student made a concerning post on social media Thursday night, Superintendent Neil O'Brien said.

O'Brien said a student posted something on Instagram at about 7 p.m. Thursday that caused concern at the district, which asked state police to investigate.

O'Brien on Friday would not disclose the exact contents of the post, but said there was "no direct threat to the school or students." He said police had conducted an initial assessment and found "no imminent threat" from the student.

O'Brien said the student was not at school Friday. While the student has not been suspended or expelled, the superintendent said there had been a disciplinary issue with the student earlier in the week. O'Brien would not say what that issue was, but said it did not involve any weapons or physical contact with any student.

Following the incident, O'Brien said there had been a lot of misinformation from students and parents on social media. He said the district notified parents at 6 a.m. Friday that there was an ongoing investigation at the school but stressed that there was no articulated threat to the school, staff or students.Phoenix police raided a pet boarding facility Thursday morning, seizing numerous sick and neglected animals from the business.

Police served the search warrant at Planet Petopia Doggie Dude Ranch on 13th Avenue and Hatcher Road.

The owners of the facility, Barb Whitley, 49, and Glen Whitley, 52, were each booked on suspicion of animal neglect, failure to provide medical care and hoarding.

The Arizona Humane Society (AHS) and police were both on the scene.

Our drone flew overhead, showing us a number of dogs being led out of the buildings.

Police say 164 animals were inside the facility. Those animals were mostly dogs and cats, but also included bunnies, turtles and chickens.

"It is not a healthy environment for animals," said Phoenix police Sgt. Alan Pfohl.

Police say this has been an ongoing investigation.

On Jan. 22, 49 animals in need of medical care were seized from the facility.

"They just aren't receiving the care that they should be receiving," said Pfohl.

According to Bretta Nelson, AHS public relations manager, their emergency animal medical technicians spent hours removing 36 dogs and 13 cats from the facility. Four of those animals have since died. "They are almost all suffering from what's called tick fever - a blood parasite," said Nelson.

On Feb. 5, three additional animals were seized.

Then on Thursday, the remaining 150-plus animals were seized.

"We came back periodically and checked on those animals just to see if they were making any progress," said Pfohl. "Unfortunately, no progress was made, and we felt it was necessary to step in and seize the animals."

Nelson described the awful conditions inside the facility, where many animals were found sick, emaciated, and sleeping on concrete with no bedding.

"Kennels with a lot of feces, diarrhea," said Nelson. "A lot of these animals had open wounds and sores; lacerations."

Officials say the facility has become less of a boarding business and more of an animal rescue.

"It has morphed into a rescue," said Nelson.

Additional charges against the Whitleys are possible.

"If anyone in the community needs to claim an animal that was being boarded at this facility, they will need to go to the City of Phoenix Courthouse at 300 West Washington Street, Courtroom 608, and request a hearing," Pfohl explained. "They will need to tell the court their animal was seized from the business. If they have further questions, they may contact Detective Krimm at 602-495-7293."NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - A former U.S. Navy Seal has been sentenced for producing images of child sexual abuse.

News outlets quote a U.S. attorney's office statement as saying 32-year-old Gregory Kyle Seerden was sentenced Thursday to 27 years in prison, 25 years of supervised release, and fined $10,000 for producing images of child sexual abuse.

According to a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, the investigation into Seerden began after a woman reported that he sexually assaulted her.

A digital forensic examiner found child pornography images after NCIS agents seized and searched Seerden's iPhone. Further analysis confirmed several images and videos of child pornography.

Seerden is also charged in San Diego. Court documents show the accusations involve a minor Seerden knew and the recording of sexual abuse involving the child on an iPhone.

(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)The senseless shooting massacre that took the lives of dozens of innocent victims - most of them children - at Sandy Hook Elementary School of Newtown, Connecticut was a horrific and unprecedented tragedy. Age of Autism mourns the deaths of all innocent victims of this awful crime and offers its deepest condolences to their families. Additionally, we are deeply disturbed by the association of the perpetrator of this awful crime by various media outlets to a vulnerable community - the autism community - with rumors that he was on the autism spectrum. Regardless of whether or not the shooter truly is on the autism spectrum, we wish to make it clear that autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are in no way associated with criminal violence. More often than not, people with ASDs are the victims of such violence, not the people committing them.

As the Daily Web Newspaper of the Autism Epidemic, we fight every day to combat persistent misinformation about autism, particularly about its causes and natural history, as well as the denial of its causes. Today, we are fighting some of the most vile stigmas that can befall people with autism and disability in general, and we ask other newspapers - both online and print - as well as other media outlets in general to take a strong and public stand against such bigotry. The best way to honor the victims of this atrocity is for us as a society to work towards building a safer, healthier environment for all people - both those with and without ASDs - that is free of stigma and free of fear."Despite 22 international drug regulatory warnings on psychiatric drugs citing effects of mania, hostility, violence and even homicidal ideation, and dozens of high profile school shootings/killings tied to psychiatric drug use, there has yet to be a federal investigation on the link between psychiatric drugs and acts of senseless violence."

On Friday, December 14th, 2012, Adam Lanza, an unknown name to the world on December 13th, allegedly forced his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newtown Connecticut. There he allegedly shot and killed 26 victims, 20 young children and 6 female adults. He is also believed to have killed his mother before this attack and then killed himself after the attack. If you google his name today, you will see 517 million hits. A monster? What do these two cases have in common? Weapons? Murder? Yes, both were tragic crimes but also with another commonality -- the perpetrator had been treated by a psychiatrist. Another clue, is the lesser discussed use of medications that may have a bigger piece, in not only these two cases but in other savage and senseless deaths of innocent people:

"Since then, there has been a school or campus shooting somewhere in the United States almost every year. In many years, there have been three or four campus or school shootings."

On May 20th,1988, Laurie Dann walked into an elementary school in Winnetka, Illinois and shot five students, killing one. She was to kill herself later that day. I remember vividy hearing about that as I was working at a psychiatric hospital about 15 miles away. It was a shocking reality to know that a school could become a sitting duck to a violent mind. Here was a recent article about that horrific day, the young boy killed, and the fact that school shootings keep increasing:

It is important then to look at reality and root causes because without them, it can be hard to find a solution. I would like to share some important data about these tragedies since we are all in the midst of a recent, gut-wrenching inciden,t but to do so, we have to go back in time, to look at patterns, something we think is important here on AoA.

Here at Age of Autism, we have been sharing with our readers the realities of the increasing numbers of children being diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. With that comes many topics, including vaccine injury and regression, school issues, adult housing and also various treatments. I have a daughter diagnosed with severe Autism and recently, an autoimmune disorder. Megan regressed in health and skills after vaccinations. With the continuing surreal killings in public settings over the years - schools, college campuses, malls and even a movie theater, the media has had a history of attempting to link some of these cases to Autism or Aspergers. You can read our recent statement Age of Autism Responds to Newtown Tragedy as this point is important: " Age of Autism mourns the deaths of all innocent victims of this awful crime and offers its deepest condolences to their families. Additionally, we are deeply disturbed by the association of the perpetrator of this awful crime by various media outlets to a vulnerable community - the autism community - with rumors that he was on the autism spectrum. Regardless of whether or not the shooter truly is on the autism spectrum, we wish to make it clear that autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are in no way associated with criminal violence."

Note: Teresa Wrote this post in 2012, after the shooting by Adam Lanza in Newtown, CT. Seems this post should just be "on deck" at any given moment in the USA. By Teresa Conrick

"At least fourteen recent school shootings were committed by those taking or withdrawing from psychiatric drugs resulting in 109 wounded and 58 killed (in other school shootings, information about their drug use was never made publicneither confirming or refuting if they were under the influence of prescribed drugs.) The most important fact about this list, is that these are only the shooters where the information about their psychiatric drug use was made public. To give an example, although it is known that James Holmes, suspected perpetrator of a mass shooting that occurred July 20, 2012, at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, was seeing psychiatrist Lynne Fenton, no mention has been made of what psychiatric drugs he may have been taking. Also note that all these mass shootings didnt just occur in the United States:

1 -- Huntsville, Alabama  February 5, 2010: 15-year-old Hammad Memon shot and killed another Discover Middle School student Todd Brown. Memon had a history for being treated for ADHD and depression. He was taking the antidepressant Zoloft and other drugs for the conditions. He had been seeing a psychiatrist and psychologist.

2 -- Kauhajoki, Finland  September 23, 2008: 22-year-old culinary student Matti Saari shot and killed 9 students and a teacher, and wounded another student, before killing himself. Saari was taking an SSRI and a benzodiazapine. He was also seeing a psychologist.

3 -- Dekalb, Illinois  February 14, 2008: 27-year-old Steven Kazmierczak shot and killed five people and wounded 21 others before killing himself in a Northern Illinois University auditorium. According to his girlfriend, he had recently been taking Prozac, Xanax and Ambien. Toxicology results showed that he still had trace amount of Xanax in his system. He had been seeing a psychiatrist.

4 -- Jokela, Finland  November 7, 2007: 18-year-old Finnish gunman Pekka-Eric Auvinen had been taking antidepressants before he killed eight people and wounded a dozen more at Jokela High School in southern Finland, then committed suicide.

5 -- Cleveland, Ohio  October 10, 2007: 14-year-old Asa Coon stormed through his school with a gun in each hand, shooting and wounding four before taking his own life. Court records show Coon had been placed on the antidepressant Trazodone.

6 -- Red Lake, Minnesota  March 2005: 16-year-old Jeff Weise, on Prozac, shot and killed his grandparents, then went to his school on the Red Lake Indian Reservation where he shot dead 7 students and a teacher, and wounded 7 before killing himself.

7 -- Greenbush, New York  February 2004: 16-year-old Jon Romano strolled into his high school in east Greenbush and opened fire with a shotgun. Special education teacher Michael Bennett was hit in the leg. Romano had been taking medication for depression. He had previously seen a psychiatrist.

8 -- Wahluke, Washington  April 10, 2001: Sixteen-year-old Cory Baadsgaard took a rifle to his high school and held 23 classmates and a teacher hostage. He had been taking the antidepressant Effexor.

9 -- El Cajon, California  March 22, 2001: 18-year-old Jason Hoffman, on the antidepressants Celexa and Effexor, opened fire on his classmates, wounding three students and two teachers at Granite Hills High School. He had been seeing a psychiatrist before the shooting.

10 -- Williamsport, Pennsylvania  March 7, 2001: 14-year-old Elizabeth Bush was taking the antidepressant Prozac when she shot at fellow students, wounding one.

11 -- Conyers, Georgia  May 20, 1999: 15-year-old T.J. Solomon was being treated with the stimulant Ritalin when he opened fire on and wounded six of his classmates.

12 -- Columbine, Colorado  April 20, 1999: 18-year-old Eric Harris and his accomplice, Dylan Klebold, killed 12 students and a teacher and wounded 26 others before killing themselves. Harris was on the antidepressant Luvox. Klebolds medical records remain sealed. Both shooters had been in anger-management classes and had undergone counseling. Harris had been seeing a psychiatrist before the shooting.

13 -- Notus, Idaho  April 16, 1999: 15-year-old Shawn Cooper fired two shotgun rounds in his school, narrowly missing students. He was taking a prescribed SSRI antidepressant and Ritalin.

14 -- Springfield, Oregon  May 21, 1998: 15-year-old Kip Kinkel murdered his parents and then proceeded to school where he opened fire on students in the cafeteria, killing two and wounding 25. Kinkel had been taking the antidepressant Prozac. Kinkel had been attending anger control classes and was under the care of a psychologist.



The list above does not include this terrifying event:

Police identified Cho Seung-Hui as the shooter who carried out the massacre that left 33 people dead, including himself. He was an English major whose creative writing was so disturbing that he was referred to the school's counseling service.....Police and university officials still offered no clues as to exactly what set off Cho, a 23-year-old senior, on the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history. News reports said that he may have been taking medication for depression.

Immediately after the incident, reports carried speculation by family members in Korea that Cho was autistic [33] However, no known record exists of Cho ever being diagnosed with autism, [33/34] nor could an autism diagnosis be verified with Cho's parents. The Virginia Tech Review Panel report dismissed an autism diagnosis [35/36] and experts later doubted the autism claim. [37]



Sadly, the issue of guns, security at schools and parenting continue to be scrutinized yet the glaring link of medications are dismissed. Here

was a list of medications that had reported violence associated with them. From that 2010 study:

In the 69-month reporting period we identified 484 evaluable drugs that accounted for 780,169 serious adverse event reports of all kinds. This total included 1,937 (0.25%) cases meeting the violence criteria. The violence cases included 387 reports of homicide, 404 physical assaults, 27 cases indicating physical abuse, 896 homicidal ideation reports, and 223 cases described as violence-related symptoms.

Last year, TIME sounded the alarm on that study:

"Top Ten Legal Drugs Linked to Violence"

Here are the top ten offenders:

10. Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) An antidepressant which affects both serotonin and noradrenaline, this drug is 7.9 times more likely to be associated with violence than other drugs.

9. Venlafaxine (Effexor) A drug related to Pristiq in the same class of antidepressants, both are also used to treat anxiety disorders. Effexor is 8.3 times more likely than other drugs to be related to violent behavior.

8. Fluvoxamine (Luvox) An antidepressant that affects serotonin (SSRI), Luvox is 8.4 times more likely than other medications to be linked with violence

7. Triazolam (Halcion) A benzodiazepine which can be addictive, used to treat insomnia. Halcion is 8.7 times more likely to be linked with violence than other drugs, according to the study.

6) Atomoxetine (Strattera) Used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Strattera affects the neurotransmitter noradrenaline and is 9 times more likely to be linked with violence compared to the average medication.

5) Mefoquine (Lariam) A treatment for malaria, Lariam has long been linked with reports of bizarre behavior. It is 9.5 times more likely to be linked with violence than other drugs.

4) Amphetamines: (Various) Amphetamines are used to treat ADHD and affect the brains dopamine and noradrenaline systems. They are 9.6 times more likely to be linked to violence, compared to other drugs.

3) Paroxetine (Paxil) An SSRI antidepressant, Paxil is also linked with more severe withdrawal symptoms and a greater risk of birth defects compared to other medications in that class. It is 10.3 times more likely to be linked with violence compared to other drugs.

2) Fluoxetine (Prozac) The first well-known SSRI antidepressant, Prozac is 10.9 times more likely to be linked with violence in comparison with other medications.

1) Varenicline (Chantix) The anti-smoking medication Chantix affects the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, which helps reduce craving for smoking. Unfortunately, its 18 times more likely to be linked with violence compared to other drugs  by comparison, that number for Xyban is 3.9 and just 1.9 for nicotine replacement.

Lariam may be familiar to AoA readers as Dan Olmsted has written some exclusive and extensive articles on its dangers in the military.

It is more than likely that there are others that did not make this list -- yet -- but are known to be dangerous to some of their users. How do I know that? Back to Laurie Dann: Police also would like to speak with two other psychiatrists who treated Dann. One of those doctors prescribed an experimental drug to her, which she received from Canada by mail. Traces of the drug, clomipramine, were found in her blood.

The drug does carry warnings that high doses could cause suicidal depression, delusion and extreme bewilderment, and that combination of the drug with another could be dangerous, said DeVito. But psychiatrists said the drug would not induce any violent behavior. `It is not a homicidal drug by any means,`` DeVito said......

CLOMIPRAMINE

Call a healthcare provider right away if you or your family member has any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:

thoughts about suicide or dying

attempts to commit suicide

new or worse depression

new or worse anxiety

feeling very agitated or restless

panic attacks

trouble sleeping (insomnia)

new or worse irritability

acting aggressive, being angry, or violent

acting on dangerous impulses

an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)

other unusual changes in behavior or mood

Then there is the question of Adam Lanza : Friends of Nancy Lanza, the mother of Newtown shooting suspect Adam Lanza, told 60 Minutes on Sunday that he suffered from Asperger's syndrome, and that dealing with the condition dominated both their lives. It's already been reported that Lanza reportedly had the condition, but there's no evidence it had any effect on his rampage. As the nation sets out to understand how Friday's massacre came to pass, some are rightly worried that the high-functioning form of autism will become unfairly stigmatized......Adam Lanza's mother had been increasingly concerned over her son's well-being in the weeks before the tragedy, telling a friend just a week before that he was "getting worse" and that "she was losing him," the New York Daily News reported. That report makes no mention of Asperger's syndrome, but it cites Adam's uncle who said he was taking an anti-psychotic drug called Fanapt.

Reading up on Fanapt, it is a newer medication not used for Aspergers but for Schizophrenia.

"Fanapt is specifically indicated for the acute treatment of adults with schizophrenia"

AUTISTIC DISORDER

There is limited evidence for the efficacy of pharmacotherapy in autistic disorder; however, SSRIs and atypical antipsychotics are used to alleviate some of the associated symptoms.

Is it possible that there are negative side effects from medications, capable of rendering a user into a murder spree? You be the judge.

Fanapt:

Psychiatric Disorders: Frequent  restlessness, aggression, delusion; Infrequent  hostility, libido decreased, paranoia, anorgasmia, confusional state, mania, catatonia, mood swings, panic attack, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa, delirium, polydipsia psychogenic, impulse-control disorder, major depression.



Teresa Conrick is Contributing Editor to Age of Autism.(Photo courtesy of FotoMaximum)

The End Heroin walk that drew thousands to Railroad Park last year will return on Feb. 24.

"I think Birmingham is ready," said Danny Molloy, brand ambassador for the Addiction Prevention Coalition. "It's ready to forget the shame and stigma, forget whose fault this is and start to help people."

The walk begins at 10 a.m. at Railroad Park.

Last year's walk drew a crowd of between 3,500 to 4,000, but Molloy said he only expected a few hundred.

"When we (posted the event) online, it took off. Between 2,000 and 3,000 people said they were going to the event within like a month," he said.

More than 42,000 people died from drug overdoses nationwide in 2016, according to most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The opioid epidemic has made waves in the media across the country and across Alabama, where more opioids are prescribed per capita than in any other state.

Earlier this month, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the state has filed a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma, the drug company that produces opioid painkillers such as OxyContin, Dilaudid and Butrans.

In 2016, Fentanyl overdoses in Jefferson County more than doubled with 114 percent more overdose deaths attributed to the powerful and dangerous opioid used to treat severe, continuous pain. Fentanyl is often prescribed to cancer patients and those recovering from major accidents and surgeries.

In 2016, there were 100 heroin overdose deaths in Jefferson County, up from 97 in 2015. There were 105 fentanyl deaths, which is more than double 2015's 49, said Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates. Of the 205 combined heroin and fentanyl deaths, 40 of the victims died from a combination of both.

Fentanyl is estimated to be up to 200 times more potent than morphine, and about 50 times stronger than heroin.

Among the 2017 drug overdose deaths was April Carpri, a former drug counselor who worked at the Shelby County Treatment Center from 2011 to 2013, according to Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Bill Yates.

Carpri started using drugs shortly after she left her job as a drug counselor and died from a deadly concoction of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine on July 31, 2017.

"This walk specifically is unique in that is was a melting pot of people," Molloy said, noting that the APC has done other awareness walks. "We had Christians, politicians, people from the medical community, people who hate suboxone and people who have been helped by it. People that generally don't get along were getting along. It was a coming together. We're here together."

This year, the APC will be selling T-shirts and lanyards to raise money for scholarships for those who are seeking addiction treatment but cannot afford it. A portion of the proceeds will go to this effort, Molloy said.

The event is free for anyone who wants to walk.

Pre-registration for the event costs $20 and guarantees one T-shirt and one lanyard. T-shirts will cost $20 the day of the event.

Preregister online at endheroin.org.

The Jefferson County Department of Health will be distributing and teaching people how to use naloxone, an opioid antidote. Several Birmingham-area addiction treatment centers will also be there providing information about treatment.Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin (at podium) announces Orlando Wilson as interim Birmingham police chief. Mike Richards will serve as deputy chief of patrol. (Erin Edgemon/eedgemon@al.com)

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin on Friday announced the appointment of a retired captain to serve as interim police chief while the national search continues.

Capt. Orlando Wilson, the former commander of the Birmingham Police Department's Tactical Unit, will take over the department's top spot temporarily.

Wilson served the Birmingham Police Department for 30 years before retiring in August 2017.

Woodfin said Wilson is not applying for the permanent position.

Also Friday, the mayor announced the appointment of Mike Richards as a deputy chief. Richards was the former commander of the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Task Force. He retired from the U.S. Marshals in 2013 after 30 years of service.

Friday was A.C. Roper's last day as police chief, Woodfin said.

Roper announced his retirement in November, saying he wasn't going to reapply for his job under Woodfin's administration. Roper served as chief for 10 years.

The deadline for applications for the chief's position is March 1.

Woodfin said applicants for chief range from "individuals within our department, throughout the state and across the country."

He said an "exhaustive assessment" will take place to determine the best candidate.

"While the process is underway we can't wait," Woodfin said. "We must address crime and violent crime head on. It is time to step up."

Woodfin said he gave the interim chief and deputy chief a clear mission to get more officers on the street.

"Under their leadership, we are launching 'Operation Step Up,' which will look at strategies to fight crime, take back our streets and send multiple city departments into our neighborhoods to spark change," he said.

Woodfin said police administrators will look at officers' shift structure in an attempt to get more officers on the streets.

"What we have to do is have a renewed emphasis on connecting with our community," he said. "Right now, that is lacking."

Woodfin said the city will invest in the morale of its police officers.

"That includes an expectation that captains, lieutenants and sergeants will get out of the office to be with the officers on patrol," he said.

Woodfin said the police department has analysed data to determine the city's high crime areas.

"In the coming days, 'Operation Step Up' will focus on taking back those areas. There will be increased police presence, but it won't stop there," he said.

Woodfin said he is calling on codes enforcement, public works, planning and engineering and other city departments to get into the neighborhoods. These departments will work on cleaning up neighborhoods.

He also asked residents to get involved in their neighborhoods.

Wilson said the city can't be dismissive of violent crime. He said police can't it do it by themselves.

He asked residents to report crime and suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.

"You see something, you call the police," he said. "Be involved in your communities."Birmingham police are asking for the public's help in finding a 17-year-old who has been missing for more than a week.

Daniel Rickett was last seen by family and friends on Feb. 8, said Sgt. Bryan Shelton. Rickett had eye surgery the previous day and is supposed to be on a list of medications.

Shelton said it is believed Rickett is in danger of physical harm. "His mother stated to police that this is not like him to just disappear,'' he said.

Rickett is described as a black male. He is 5-feet, 6-inches tall and weighs about 135 pounds. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Birmingham police Det. Valentine at 205-908-6828, or 205-297-8413 or 205-328-9311.A 15-year-old Dothan High School student was arrested and jailed Friday after other students told school officials he threatened to "shoot up the school," according to Dothan police.

This arrest makes the fourth student charged on Friday for making terrorist threats against a school and a fifth student arrested for making threats since last week.

Houston County

On Thursday, Dothan High students told school officials about the threats made against the school.

School staff notified the school resource officer, who took the student to the Dothan Police Department for questioning, police said.

He was later charged with making a terrorist threat, police said.

Blount County

A Susan Moore High School student was charged with making a terrorist threat today after he told a school employee Thursday he was going to shoot up the school Friday, said Blount County Sheriff's Operations Manager Tim Kent.

The employee told the school SRO, who took the student to his guardians. The SRO went to the juvenile probation office Friday and signed a petition on the charges, Kent said.

The student is with his guardians at this time and will not be taken to juvenile detention at this time, he said.

Limestone County

Earlier today, two students from East Limestone High School were jailed for threatening to "blow up the school."

Students reported the threat to school administrators and the students were arrested Friday, officials have said.

Jefferson County

A student from Leeds High School will not be returning to school after he commented last week that he might "shoot up the prom," Superintendent John Moore said in a Facebook post.

To all LCS Parents from Superintendent John Moore: In light of the tragedy this week in Florida, I believe it is... Posted by Leeds City Schools on Friday, February 16, 2018

After the comment, Leeds High School staff contacted the Leeds Police Department, Moore said. The student was later charged with a "Class III offense," he said in the Facebook post.

"The student will not be back on campus and certainly will not be at the prom," Moore said in the post. "The student has denied that he intends to harm anyone, but in this environment, we must take even a hint of a threat very seriously."

Prom is scheduled for next month.

Moore said there will be multiple armed police officers at prom.

Baldwin County

Thursday, a Fairhope Middle School student was arrested for bringing a gun to school.Two students from East Limestone High School were jailed Friday after they made terrorist threats against the school on social media, according to the Limestone County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's spokesman Stephen Young said the threats were made against East Limestone High School. However, he did not say what the students threatened to do.

BREAKING: LCSO has arrested two juvenile students for making terrorist threats against a school on social media.  Limestone Sheriff (@LimestoneCoSO) February 16, 2018

Both students were arrested at the school and are still in custody of sheriff's deputies, he said.

Karen Tucker, Director of Technology and Public Relations at Limestone County Schools said she could only confirm one of the arrests, but said the student was arrested at the school Friday morning without incident.

She said the threatening comment was, "I'm going to blow up the school."Other students saw the threat and immediately reported it to the school administrator, she said.

"We really commend the students for going straight to the administrator," Tucker said.

She could not verify what social media platform was used to make the threat.

The school was not put on lockdown.

"It was all without incident," Tucker said. "It was handled quietly and quickly."

The students' ages were not immediately available. Additional information about the threats was not immediately available.

This is a developing story.After a lifetime together, an east Alabama couple is returning to the hotel where they spent their honeymoon to celebrate their 69th anniversary.

Lamar Dill, 92, and his 95-year-old wife, Mary Nelle, said they've always wanted to go back to the Battle House Hotel in Mobile, but never made the trip. For years, their work schedules got in the way. Their son and daughter surprised them with a trip back to the hotel this weekend. The family is travelling about 300 miles on Friday from their Anniston home in a limousine that Lamar bought last year.

Mary Nelle, a retired schoolteacher, grew up in Gadsen while Lamar worked as chief electrician of Anniston, where he was born and raised. He served three years with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during WWII. In 1948, the couple was introduced by a cousin in Anniston.

"I said I don't like blind dates, but she brought him by anyways," Mary Nelle told the Associated Press. "But he was real cute. I fell for him real hard."

The couple had their first date at a movie theater in town. They both loved Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, and Lamar started calling Mary Nelle "Pinky" after one of Hepburn's characters. The name stuck and their grandchildren still call her "Pinky".

Three months after they met, Lamar gave Mary Nelle an engagement ring in the same theater -- after he'd already proposed in his car one night.

When asked how they knew they should spend the rest of their lives together, Lamar said: "My heart jumped out of my chest."

The couple was married on April 24, 1949 -- a Sunday afternoon -- at the First Presbyterian Church of Anniston, which they still attend. They spent their wedding night in Montgomery before driving to the Battle House Hotel in Mobile the next day.

"The Battle House has always been nice," Mary Nelle said. "In those times hotels were more ornate than they are now."

The pair said they paid less than $5 for the night. (A room at the hotel now costs more than $150.) The couple continued on to Gulfport, Mississippi, for the rest of their honeymoon.

Back in Anniston, they built and moved into a small house in December 1951, just before their daughter, Lark, was born. They had a son, Jay, three years later. Today, Lamar and Mary Nelle still live in the same house.

What has this couple learned after nearly seven decades of marriage?

"To do what you're told," Lamar said with a laugh.

Mary Nelle added: "To be patient and caring and loving and to trust that God will take us from day to day."U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., is embarking on a statewide tour next week that includes visits to Alabama's military installations, defense industries, rural health care centers and talks with the state's African-American community.

"It's been a privilege to represent Alabama in Washington, but there's nothing like getting home and hearing from folks first-hand," Jones said in a statement announcing the tour, which kicks off Monday in Mobile and ends with a Friday visit in Montgomery. "I'm eager to hit the road and visit with as many Alabamians across the state as I can next week. We're going to focus on the issues that are most important to our communities, from healthcare to jobs to education."

In Mobile, Jones is scheduled to tour Austal USA and participate in a roundtable discussion with students at Bishop State College.

Alabama's junior senator follows up those stops with a roundtable with Selma community leaders, including Mayor Dario Melton, and tours of rural health centers in Selma and Centreville.

On Wednesday, Jones is visiting Birmingham and Muscle Shoals. In the Magic City, he's scheduled to visit the Alabama Air National Guard's 117th Air Refueling Wing. In Muscle Shoals, the senator is touring a child care program at Northwest Shoals Community College and holding a roundtable with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama President David Fernandes at the college with students in the school's workforce development program.

Jones is headed to Huntsville on Wednesday, where he's set to tour the FBI Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center, the Missile Defense Agency and NASA.

The senator ends the tour in Montgomery, where he's expected to give remarks to the YMCA Alabama Youth Legislature."Teachers, we're going into lockdown."

When Brittney Etheridge, a teacher at Dawson Elementary School in Huntsville, hears those words over the school intercom, she knows what to do.

Check the hallway for any kids who might be out there and pull them into her classroom. Lock the door. Turn off the lights and gather her students into the corner of their classroom, away from the door.

In a real situation, she might get an emergency text on her phone through a texting app, where teachers can communicate with each other - without making noise - to let other teachers know the whereabouts of students who might have been in the hallway or bathroom when the lockdown occurred.

Rachel Evans, an assistant principal at Riverton Elementary School in Madison County, said her students and staff go through a similar drill. Law enforcement officials have told principals that children should have something ready to throw at an intruder if he were able to get into the classroom.

The image of children armed with books or scissors confronting an intruder with an assault rifle gives her chills, she said.

Officials have also said kids could wear their backpacks on the front, like bulletproof vests.

"I would do anything to protect the kids in my school," said Evans. "I would take a bullet for them."

Intruder or "active shooter" drills are as common as fire and tornado drills for students in Alabama schools.

"It's a huge responsibility, but it's part of the job," Etheridge said. "We're there to educate them, but we're also there to protect them."

The state requires public schools to hold at least one intruder/active shooter drill each semester. In most, if not all schools, outside doors remain locked during the day. In some systems, teachers are trained to stop bleeding with tourniquets and combat gauze. In others, they're armed with pepper spray or taught that fire extinguishers can work as self defense weapons in a crisis.

On lockdown

Ken Storie, director of safety for Jefferson County Schools, said the most important thing schools do is keep intruders out to begin with. In Jefferson County and elsewhere, schools' perimeter doors remain locked during school hours. To enter, guests must press a buzzer at the front door where a camera allows office staff to see them before allowing them into the building.

Drills typically involve teachers locking doors, turning out classroom lights and ushering students away from windows and doors. They're told to keep quiet.

Keeping younger children quiet can be one of the hardest parts, said Evans.

"The Pre-K and Kindergarteners, they don't really understand what's going on," she said. "But my principal does a good job at the beginning of the year telling the kids about the drill, the importance of taking it seriously, and that we're going to keep them safe."

Marissa Weir is a Pre-K teacher at Rainbow Elementary School in Madison. With her students, she focuses on what they can do to be safe.

"I tell them that sometimes there are big, scary things that happen and I am here to keep you safe, so when I tell you to be still and quiet and we need to hide, I need you to listen and do that," she said. "I don't tell a 4-year-old that someone could come to the school with a gun."

Statewide, administrators hold safety meetings with teachers and staff each year, and attend crisis training and conferences during the summer. School resource officers (SROs) now patrol many schools, particularly high schools.

"We constantly update," said Storie. "Unfortunately, any time there is a situation, sometimes you learn something in the after-reports that we could tweak or do a little better."

Beyond the drill

School systems have found beyond basic drills in an effort to protect students and staff.

New schools in some districts have been designed with active shooters in mind. For example, classrooms in some new buildings have internal connecting doors, allowing students and teachers to safety pass from one class to another and toward an exit without having to use the hallway in the event an intruder has gotten into the building.

Huntsville City Schools hosts a multiagency active shooter exercise every summer. Local law enforcement agencies, ambulance services, the fire department, and security and operations staff from the schools participate.

"Each year we pick a different school building and hold the exercise during the summer," said Keith Ward, communications director for Huntsville City Schools. "We have volunteers that do role playing."

Hoover City Schools and Vestavia Hills School District were among the first in the nation to add bleeding control supplies like tourniquets and Quik Clot combat gauze to schools and classrooms to help treat bleeding victims of violent attacks.

In Limestone County, teachers have been trained in the use of pepper spray, tactical batons and other tools to keep students safe. That district was the first in Alabama to arm its teachers and staff with an "active shooter system" called SafeDefend that combines technology and self-defense tools.

Teachers were given fingerprint-activated safes for their classrooms that hold pepper spray, batons, arm cuffs, a strobe light and other items.

Limestone County Superintendent Tom Sisk told AL.com in 2016 that he chose to implement the system because "It empowers every educator and staff member to be the one to sound the alarm. It also empowers you to take (the shooter) down."

In Madison County, principals participated in an active shooter simulation at one of the schools in the district, where they role-played being the intruder.

Changing times

Schools have been holding active shooter drills for several years, though the methods have changed.

"Initially, when schools first started dealing with crisis situations, a lot of times they would come up with a code," said Storie. An intercom announcement telling teachers there was "a faculty lunch at 3 o'clock," for example, would alert teachers and staff that an intruder was in the building.

"the idea was we didn't want to alert the intruder that we knew they were there, and didn't want to alarm the kids," said Storie. "That line of thinking has totally changed."

Now, he said, the intercom announcement just says the school is on lockdown. That way, everybody in the building, including guests or substitute teachers, knows exactly what's happening.

"I think all teachers have a sense of responsibility for their kids," he said. "And the reality is, it's not just schools" that have to worry about mass shootings, he said. "The more we can educate ourselves, the better we can protect our kids."

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.A man who was wanted for kidnapping two men Wednesday was arrested Friday afternoon, according to Mobile police.

Curtis Bennett, 32, was wanted on 12 warrants after police say he kidnapped two men Wednesday.

Bennett is accused of attacking one of the victims before breaking into his house in the 1300 block of North Drive, police said. He then made the victims contact family members for ransom, police said.

The victims were able to escape.

Bennett was charged with making terrorist threats, first, second and third-degree theft, first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery and first-degree kidnapping, jail records show.A Daphne student was suspended on Friday after he reportedly called 911 to report what he believed to be a threat of gun violence at school.

The student's mother took to Facebook Friday to say that after her son called 911, which prompted police to surround a school bus. Later at school, the boy was taken out of class, made to write a statement and was suspended.

"Suspended," the mother wrote on her Facebook page, which was circulated on social media. "For doing what he thought was right. We are as bewildered as anyone reading this."

The mother said that Baldwin County School Superintendent Eddie Tyler was going to review the matter on Monday. Earlier in the day, Tyler had sent out a statement say that the school system's safety protocols would be reviewed after a stolen gun was found at Fairhope Middle School on Thursday.

Tyler then said that the incident in Daphne occurred after a student made a "flippant remark" and that police activity that followed resulted in "needless panic and chaos." He urged students and parents to follow proper communication channels when reporting concerns, such as to a teacher, administrator or school resource officer.

Tyler, in a statement later on Friday, reversed the suspension and applauded the boy's efforts in notifying the school system "what he thought was a legitimate threat." Tyler also called the parents and personally apologized.

The student's mother, in her initial Facebook post, said she had spent Thursday night "drilling into" her son's brain that "if you see or hear something, say something." The concerns emerged in the aftermath of a Valentine's Day massacre at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., in which 17 people were killed and 15 injured by a lone gunman.

"He did what he thought was the safest and most right thing to do," the mother said about her son.

It's unclear how old the boy is. Fox 10-TV news reported that the bus the boy was in was heading to JW Carroll Intermediate School and Daphne East Elementary on Friday, and that principals from both schools issued statements assuring parents that students were not in danger.

Said Tyler in his later statement: "All of us are still reeling from the tragedy in Florida and the copycat threats that generally come from such a tragedy. I understand that the administrators had reason to believe that the child involved may have disregarded directions from the bus driver, but I also know that everyone is worried, including the children in our schools. I believe the student (Friday) acted in genuine interest and fear."Athens, Greece  The Greek Asylum Service was one of the last to be founded in the European Union, but quickly became the EUs testing ground as migrants and refugees arrived in Europe in 2015.

Maria Stavropoulou, who founded the service in 2013 and recently stepped down as director, said she believes Europe is wielding bureaucracy as a deterrent to immigration.

She said that instead of restricting family reunification and resisting burden-sharing among member states, EU member states should find creative ways to channel migratory pressures.

Al Jazeera spoke to Stavropoulou about apparent bureaucratic hurdles and what could happen if the bloc fails to come up with a common asylum policy.

Al Jazeera: Last April, the Greek Asylum Service published a flowchart to help refugees and migrants understand how to apply. Officials have told Al Jazeera that the Asylum Procedures Directive of the European Commission complicated the process, perhaps by design, as a bureaucratic deterrent. Do you believe this?

Maria Stavropoulou: The process did indeed seem very complicated. We used to tell this to the European Commission and I think its the accepted wisdom now: If you try to put too many legal or procedural obstacles in the process, hoping to discourage applicants, all youll succeed in doing is lengthening the process, because every step becomes an object of legal wrangling.

If you try to put too many legal or procedural obstacles in the process, hoping to discourage applicants, all you'll succeed in doing is lengthening the process.

If you make it simple, even at the risk of being overgenerous, you reap the benefits in time and efficiency. This is very difficult for someone to understand who doesnt know the process, but we keep saying this, and as a result, the process hasnt essentially changed since April 2016. It hasnt become simpler, but it also hasnt become more complicated.

Al Jazeera: Observers point to other possible deterrent tactics, such as the length of time it took the European Asylum Support Office to support the Greek islands; the slowness of family reunification; the rise in returnees to Greece under Dublin rules  which require asylum seekers to apply in the first EU country they enter; and the restriction of relocation to a few nationalities. How would you characterise these apparent bureaucratic hurdles?

Stavropoulou: Lets put ourselves in the refugees shoes for a moment. What did they want? For the situation in 2015 to go on forever  an open avenue from Turkey to northern Europe. They saw anything that got in the way of that as a bad thing. We would think the same in their position. But this couldnt have gone on, for security concerns alone, if for no other reason.

You can build a dam, but if the water pressure builds up too much it will collapse. If you construct streams you can channel the pressure. There is truly a restrictive policy.

On the other hand, is it right that, although the flow of refugees is so reduced  it fell almost by half in 2017, Europe continues to have a restrictive policy? As [Chinese dissident artist] Ai Weiwei says, water always finds a way. You can build a dam, but if the water pressure builds up too much it will collapse. If you construct streams you can channel the pressure. There is truly a restrictive policy.

It was evident in the relocation scheme, which only really applied to two nationalities, the problems in family reunification where there are increasing restrictions, and the European asylum process is also becoming more difficult. Where will all this lead? I dont know. Im not sure that they will help reduce the flows to Europe in the medium and long term.

Al Jazeera: In 2016 and 2017, you found yourself at odds with several EU member states which wanted the Greek Asylum Service to proceed rapidly with tens of thousands of applications. Why did you not yield to that pressure?

Stavropoulou: An asylum application is not a nationality screening. Its a narration of why someone is afraid to go back to his country. That cant happen in three minutes. Its impossible. A person needs an hour, two hours, three hours.

Al Jazeera: Since the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) stepped in to help with Greeces caseload, it conducted first instance interviews and submitted them to the Asylum Service with a recommendation for final decisions. Were you satisfied with how these interviews were conducted?

Stavropoulou: The case handlers who came in were very uneven in terms of experience and training.

On the whole, they have certainly helped, but havent been as helpful as we had hoped. If nothing else, we sat down with EASO and established how interviews would be done. This has greatly contributed to a common European asylum process. Plus, once they return to their home countries, case handlers were vastly better trained, because it is here, on the [Greek] islands that the European asylum curriculum is really applied. We became a school.

Al Jazeera: The number of Turkish nationals who have sought asylum in Greece has jumped. Is this going a new asylum trend?

Stavropoulou: In 2014, 41 Turkish nationals sought asylum in Greece. In 2015 it was 43. In 2016, it was 189, and last year, it was 1,827.

Given this sudden increase in Turkish asylum applicants in Greece and all of Europe, one can predict that this rise will continue in 2018.

Al Jazeera: Does this increase risk introducing political complications in the EU-Turkish relationship?

Stavropoulou: Anyone who practises refugee law knows that one of its basic principles is that international protection is a humanitarian act, which has to be kept separate from politics. This principle embodies our duty.

Al Jazeera: If all EU27 member states dont agree on a common asylum policy, can you envisage a core Schengen group that will adopt one and move forward with only part of the EU?

Stavropoulou: I would prefer a pan-European project, but I dont see the harm in an experimental process to test the systems limits.

We're still under the shadow of the events of 2015. We haven't regained our equanimity and we're still looking to prevent a repeat of it, instead of looking more creatively and positively.

There have been successful European projects whose creators couldnt have imagined how successful they would be at their outset, and now we cant imagine living without them.

But some people have to really believe in this [common asylum policy] to take it forward. Were still under the shadow of the events of 2015. We havent regained our equanimity and were still looking to prevent a repeat of it, instead of looking more creatively and positively.Gjakova, Kosovo  On February 17, 2008, through a unilateral declaration, the Republic of Kosovo proclaimed its independence from Serbia.

As of 2017, 110 UN member states recognise Kosovo as a country.

{articleGUID}

Its independence was the result of a bloody conflict  a war of ethnic cleansing by paramilitary forces inspired by Serb hardliners.

More than 2,000 people are still missing in mass graves.

The 1998-1999 conflict in Kosovo claimed the lives of around 13,000 victims, mostly ethnic Albanians.

A team of doctors and forensic pathologists work daily, exhuming corpses and analysing the remains and their DNA.

The United Nations Office on Missing Persons and the Legal Police is responsible for this process, and retrieves information on mass graves not yet identified in the Balkans.

The United Nations mission has taken over the civil administration of the province, carrying out joint activities with the International Committee of the Red Cross and other local NGOs.

Some survivors describe the days of terror that even today, after almost 20 years, still plague their memories.

A surviving woman, taking refuge in the mountains, describes the day she returned to her village in the province of Drenica, when even the rain could not cover the smell of decaying bodies.

The main ethnic groups in Kosovo lead separate lives.

The wounds of a fierce war means national identity is fragile.

The following series illustrates the consequences of ethnic cleansing.Did the UK act illegally in splitting off the Chagos Islands from Mauritius prior to its independence in 1968? Mauritius successfully petitioned the UN to ask the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to consider this question, against the UKs wishes, but the outcome might not be what either country is hoping for.

Following a vote in the UN last June, the ICJ is due to consider the legal consequences of the separation of the Chagos Islands from Mauritius in 1965, three years before Mauritius gained independence. The deadline for written submissions has been extended to March 1, 2018. Its probably fairly easy to guess what the Mauritian and UK government submissions will contain. But there are more players involved than just those two countries. Most importantly, there are the Chagossians themselves, who were forcibly exiled from the archipelago to make way for what is now a full-fledged US military base on the island of Diego Garcia.

The UK maintains that the Chagos Islands were only administered by Mauritius as a matter of convenience (PDF) and were not really a part of Mauritius territory. It will also point to the agreement it signed with the Mauritian colonial administration in 1965, under which the UK paid Mauritius 3 million British pounds ($4.2m) in recognition of the detachment of the Chagos Islands and gave undertakings to cede the islands to Mauritius when no longer needed for defence purposes as well as other benefits including fishing and mineral rights.

Mauritius will argue the opposite: that the Chagos Islands are an integral part of Mauritius and the agreement with the UK was obtained under conditions of duress and coercion (PDF).

Far from having to hand sovereignty to Mauritius, the UK may find themselves under an international legal obligation to ensure the Chagossians are able to exercise their right to self-determination, which will mean facilitating their plans to return to their Indian Ocean home.

But the wording of the UN resolution that the Court will address is fairly broad, allowing the ICJ to look beyond the core question of sovereignty, to consider wider issues of decolonisation and the exercise of the right to self-determination.

This means the Court can look, for example, at whether the UK breached some of its obligations towards the former inhabitants of the Islands. Over the years, the UK has taken exceptional steps to prevent the Chagossians from returning to the Islands; a sign, maybe, of its own uncertainty over the legality of its actions. In 2000, it withdrew the Chagossian right of abode in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)  as the UK calls the Chagos Islands  and, in 2004, it reinstated full immigration restrictions over the BIOT. In 2010, it declared a controversial marine protected area around the BIOT which was later rendered unlawful by an international tribunal. And it is worth remembering that it was against the background of the UN-inspired decolonisation process in the 1960s, that the US and UK governments covertly agreed that the entire population of the Chagos Islands would be removed before the US government took possession of Diego Garcia.

Despite knowing that the Chagos Islands supported an indigenous population which was ethnically and culturally distinct, the UK government chose not to disclose this information to the UN General Assembly, possibly for fear that the BIOT would be classified as a non-self-governing territory. Under Chapter XI of the UN Charter, countries which administer territories whose peoples have not yet attained a measure of self-government have to ensure and promote the interests and the well-being of the inhabitants of these territories and to transmit relevant reports to the UN Secretary-General. If the BIOT were deemed a non-self-governing territory, it would mean the Chagos Islanders had the right to choose their own political future and achieve self-government. It would also mean that the UK, as the administering State, did not have the right to divide up or dismember the BIOT in violation of self-determination, as leading expert, Stephen Allen, argues. Or, indeed, forcibly remove the inhabitants and prevent their return.

So, despite what Mauritius is hoping for and what the UK fears, the Courts advisory opinion might not hinge on UK sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, but on their status. Far from having to hand sovereignty to Mauritius, the UK may find themselves under an international legal obligation to ensure the Chagossians are able to exercise their right to self-determination, which will mean facilitating their plans to return to their Indian Ocean home. Not the outcome that Mauritius or the UK  or the US  are hoping for, but one that would be welcomed by those Chagossians who have been campaigning for the right to return for over 40 years.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.Benjamin Dangl is currently a doctoral candidate in Latin American History at McGill University, and edits UpsideDownWorld.org, a website on activism and politics in Latin America, and TowardFreedom.com, a progressive perspective on world events.

Evo Morales will most likely be re-elected today because he is a better alternative than his neoliberal predecessors and their contemporary counterparts.

Morales presidency is historic for a number of reasons. Consider the fact that before the 1952 National Revolution, indigenous people werent even allowed to enter the Plaza Murillo in front of the presidential palace because they were believed to be too dirty and unsanitary. Now an indigenous president and poor farmer without a college education sits in the presidential palace itself, and is likely to be re-elected to a third term in office today with a huge wave of support.

Morales presidency is also notable when considering his predecessors. For much of the past 30 years, Bolivian heads of state simply massacred workers when they didnt comply, sold off mineral wealth to foreign corporations while Bolivians remained bound in poverty, and worked closely with Washington to undermine the countrys sovereignty and militarise coca producing regions.

As Bolivians head to the polls, this history will be present as voters reflect on this racist past and Morales neoliberal predecessors (and their contemporary counterparts) who, rather than attempting to empower the indigenous and poor majority, typically repressed and exploited them.

The upper and middle classes in the country were afraid of his radical rhetoric, and criticised his fiery condemnation of US imperialism and capitalism. These wealthier sectors of society wanted one of their own to run the country  but they had already had their chance, for decades, and the results were disastrous.

In spite of critics from the right and upper classes, Morales background has contributed to his popularity, as Bolivias poor and indigenous majority identify with him. Indeed, his rise to the presidency is a story of humble beginnings, radical politics and grassroots activism, pointing to some of the reasons hell be re-elected today.

Humble beginnings

Evo Morales was born in 1959 into a poor llama-herding family in Isallavi, near Oruro, at an altitude of around 12,000 feet above sea level. This isolated area lacked access to electricity, drinking water, and healthcare, leading to the young deaths of three of Morales seven siblings due to a lack of medical attention.

As a child, Morales once walked for a month with his father and their herd of llamas from Oruro to Cochabamba. His most vivid memories of this trip were the large buses that travelled on the highway, full of people who threw out the peels of oranges and plantains. I picked up these peels to eat. Since then, one of my biggest dreams was to travel in one of those buses.

The family migrated to the Chapare region of Cochabamba in hopes of a better life. Here his life was marked by the US-led war on drugs, which in Bolivia meant a war on the leftist and anti-imperialist coca farmers who grew the leaf to survive and sold it to a legal market. (Though it is a key ingredient in cocaine, the coca leaf is used legally for medicinal and cultural purposes in the country.)

One event vividly stuck out for Morales after moving to the coca-growing region: In Chipiriri, a cocalero (coca farmer) was killed by the military for refusing to plead guilty to trafficking drugs.

Without any contemplation, [the military] covered his body in gasoline and, in front of many people, burned him alive, Morales said. The gory scene pushed him to become involved in coca unions to fight against the repression under the war on drugs. Morales was later jailed and tortured on various occasions for this activism.

When drug-war related violence galvanised the cocalero movement for change, Morales quickly became their spokesman. He was a cocalero leader before he became a congressman and later a president. For cocaleros in the streets, Morales was a crucial ally in the government.

Grassroots uprisings

Morales was also a participant in various uprisings in the 2000s which paved the way for his election in 2005. He and other cocaleros were involved in Cochabambas Water War in 2000 against a plan to privatise the citys water, and a 2003 movement advocating the nationalisation of Bolivian gas. Such struggles rejected the standard neoliberal policies that dominated Bolivian politics since the 1980s, when a string of presidents came to power undermining worker and indigenous power, and sold off much of Bolivias natural resources to foreign corporations. Morales rode this discontent into the presidential palace when he was elected in 2005, promising to institutionalise many of the victories already won in the streets.





When Morales came into office in 2006, many doubted that an indigenous farmer without a college education could bring the country out of a cycle of economic and social crises.

The upper and middle classes in the country were afraid of his radical rhetoric, and criticised his fiery condemnation of US imperialism and capitalism. These wealthier sectors of society wanted one of their own to run the country  but they had already had their chance, for decades, and the results were disastrous.

Yet Morales rhetoric against Washington and the economic model which had ruined the country resonated with the millions of poor Bolivians who had seen enough of business as usual and wanted an alternative, an alternative Morales promised to deliver. In addition, the impoverished and indigenous majority of Bolivia identified with Morales humble beginnings; unlike the standard racist and elite presidents of the past, Morales was seen as one of their own.

For many Bolivians, Morales presidency meant a window of opportunity for historic change. Morales popularity was born and buoyed by neoliberalisms harmful effects on the country. Shortly after taking office, he put sectors of the countrys gas industry under state control, convened an assembly to rewrite the countrys constitution, and made good on many of his promises to focus on alleviating poverty in the country and empowering marginalised sectors of society. And Morales wasnt alone, he was joining a wave of presidents across the region who championed progressive and anti-imperialist policies, from Argentina to Venezuela.

Popular alternative

At the time of this writing, the policies of Morales government have had a positive impact on much of the population. The GDP has steadily grown from 2009 to 2013, and the UN reports that Bolivia has the highest rate of poverty reduction in Latin America, with a 32.2 percent drop from 2000 to 2012. Employment rates and wages have also gone up, with a notable 20 percent minimum wage raise last year.

The Morales approach of putting various industries under state control, from mines to telecommunications companies, has generated enormous funds for the government, which it is using for infrastructure  only 10 percent of the countrys roads are paved  and social programmes to lift children, mothers and the elderly out of poverty. Thanks to a successful literacy programme, UNESCO has declared the country free of illiteracy.

Such success indicates that socialist-style policies do indeed work better than those of the Morales administrations neoliberal predecessors. This kind of progressive change is likely to lead his re-election today.

This isnt to say that his time in office hasnt been without its contradictions and pitfalls. The extractive nature of the economy has put more of the mining and gas wealth into government hands through nationalised industries, providing much-needed funds for social programmes and infrastructure. However, such industries have also displaced rural communities and polluted rivers and the land. Recently, the Morales government passed a law which criminalises protest against mining operations, and grants more water rights to miners than to local agricultural communities.

Many of the countrys vibrant social movements have also been coopted under the hegemonic power of Evo Morales and his political party, the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS). Such cooptation has led to lost autonomy among social movements and a lack of critical spaces for dissent and open critique from the left.

Such critiques aside, Morales and a significant number of other politicians in his party are likely to win today because of their break with a neoliberal past and what they have done to positively impact the lives of many Bolivians.

Benjamin Dangl is currently a doctoral candidate in Latin American History at McGill University, and edits UpsideDownWorld.org, a website on activism and politics in Latin America, and TowardFreedom.com, a progressive perspective on world events.The 1993 Oslo Accord is a critical juncture that shattered the cohesiveness of Palestinian discourse and weakened and divided the Palestinian people. However, it is not too late to remedy this through decisive and concentrated efforts that overcome the challenge of a Palestinian political viewpoint beholden to self-seeking political aspirations and competing factions.

In the absence of a Palestinian leadership populated by the Palestinian people themselves, intellectuals must safeguard and present the Palestinian story to the world with authenticity and balance. The clarity and integrity of the Palestinian story has been damaged and divided by Palestinian Authority (PA) tactics which remove Palestinian refugees right of return from their political platform.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, of the Fatah party, has actually stated that he has no interest in going back to Safad, the Palestinian town from which his family was expelled in 1948!

Such an attitude is expected from the so-called moderate Palestinian leadership, whose language and political outlook is still bound by the limits of Washingtons long espoused peace process; however, this kind of political pragmatism has ravaged the Palestinian narrative, distancing it from the on-going struggle of the Palestinian people.

Palestine is not a story of factions  they are but a by-product of a tumultuous and multifaceted history of colonialism and resistance, foreign political and ideological influences, and the fierce competition of various social movements.

Of course, it would be remiss to blame the misrepresentation of Palestine solely on Palestinian leadership  it is also the result of a domineering Zionist narrative that seeks to erase reality.

A history of resistance and the self

Essentially, the story of Palestine is the story of the Palestinian people, for they are the victims of oppression and the main channel of resistance, starting with the creation of Israel on the ruins of Palestinian villages in 1948. If Palestinians hadnt resisted, their story would have concluded right then and there, and they too would have disappeared.

Those who admonish Palestinian resistance, armed or otherwise, have little understanding of the psychological ramifications of resistance, such as a sense of collective empowerment and hope amongst the people. In his introduction to Frantz Fanons Wretched of the Earth, Jean-Paul Sartre describes violent resistance as a process through which a man is re-creating himself.

And for 70 years, Palestinians have embarked on this journey of the recreation of the self. They resisted, and their resistance in all forms moulded a sense of collective unity, despite the numerous divides that have been erected amongst them.

A new articulation of the Palestinian narrative is necessary now more than ever before.

Relentless resistance, a notion now embodied in the very fabric of Palestinian society, denied the oppressor the opportunity to emasculate Palestinians or reduce them to helpless victims and hapless refugees. The collective memory of the Palestinian people must focus on what it means to be Palestinian, defining the Palestinian people, what they stand for as a nation, and why they have resisted for years.

Time to move away from intellectual elitism

A new articulation of the Palestinian narrative is necessary now more than ever before. The elitist interpretation of Palestine has failed, and is as worthless as the Oslo Accords. It is no more than a tired exercise in empty cliches aimed at sustaining American political dominance in Palestine as well as in the rest of the Middle East.

The Great Man Theory, which stipulates that all-powerful individuals shape history, is an embarrassment that has far too long defined how Palestinian discourse has been relayed. Portraying Palestine through this lens is a stain on the forehead of many intellectuals.

This is reductionist discourse which has marginalised the Palestinian people, their suffering and their heroism for decades, instead favouring well-dressed Palestinian negotiators speaking pompously of a peace process and painful compromises, as if it is acceptable for the rights and freedoms of an entire nation to be reduced to a bargaining chip.

The truth is vastly different from such media distortions. The peace process is dead, but the Palestinian people are still resisting; unsurprisingly, the people are mightier than a group of self-centred individuals. Grassroots resistance is not constrained by the frivolous politicking of Abbas or any other actors.

Abbas and his men have not only muzzled the political will of the Palestinian people and falsely claimed to represent all Palestinians; they have also robbed Palestinians of their narrative, one that actually unites the fellahin (peasants) and the refugees, the occupied and the shattat (diaspora), into one distinct nation.

It is only when the Palestinian intellectual is able to repossess that collective narrative that the confines placed on the Palestinian voice can be finally broken. Only then can Palestinians truly confront the Israeli Hasbra and US-Western corporate media propaganda, and, at long last, speak unhindered.

Perhaps most importantly, if the story of the people is to be told accurately and fairly, the storyteller must be a Palestinian. This is not a veiled ethnocentric sentiment, but rather confirmation that facts change in the process of interpretation, as explained by late Palestinian professor Edward Said, Facts get their importance from what is made of them in interpretationInterpretations depend very much on who the interpreter is, who he or she is addressing, what his or her purpose is and at what historical moment the interpretation takes place.

Dr Soha Abdel Kader describes Middle East history studies as generally bearing the imprint of orientalism, with limited sources and methodologies used to study the region. The same is true of Palestinian studies. Most notable since the peace process commenced, Palestinian historiography largely neglected ordinary people and remained hostage to narrating the history of the elites, their political institutions, diplomatic events, and their self-indulgent understanding of conflict, whether socioeconomically or conflict-wise.

Among the average Palestinian citizen, however, history from below is what captures attention. Adab al-sijun (prison literature) has remained a staple in most Palestinian book stores and libraries until this day. History from below, in contrast to the Great Man Theory, contends that while individuals or small social groups (ruling elites and their benefactors) might prompt certain landmark events, it is largely popular movements that significantly influence long-term outcomes.

The First Palestinian Intifada demonstrated this assertion. Thus, the constant calls for a Third Intifada by many Palestinians are not brought upon by a whim; rather, they come from the historical success of such movements from below.

Palestinians presented as an inconvenience

There are obstacles to these calls for another popular movement led from below. There are the challenges of raising awareness and effective planning, as well as the ruthless attempt by Zionist (as well as many western) historians and institutions to replace the Palestinian historical narrative with their own.

In the Zionist Israeli narrative, Palestinians, if relevant at all are depicted as drifting nomads, an inconvenience that hinders the path of progress  a duplicate narrative to the one that defined the relationship between every western colonial power and the resisting natives, always.

It is incumbent upon us - not only Palestinians, but those who wish to present a truthful understanding of our historic struggle - to reclaim the Palestinian narrative and dislocate the propaganda-driven Zionist on

From the Zionist point of view, Palestinian existence is an inconvenience that was meant to be only temporary. We must expel Arabs and take their places, wrote Israels founding father, David Ben Gurion.

This type of brazen discourse has consistently translated to the kind of military aggression that ethnically cleansed nearly a million Palestinians from their land in 1947-48 and continues to drive the colonial settlements enterprise in the Occupied Territories.

This narrative continues to be championed by historians, media and political scientists without much quarrel. In his 2004 interview with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Israeli historian Benny Morris views on the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians exemplifies the depth of moral depravity of the Israeli narrative: I dont think that the expulsions of 1948 were war crimes. You cant make an omelette without breaking eggs. You have to dirty your handsThere was no choice but to expel that population.

Between a rock and a hard place

Assigning Palestinian people the role of dislocated, disinherited and nomadic people without caring about the ethical and political implications of such false representations has erroneously presented Palestinians as a docile and submissive collective to be wiped out by those more powerful.

Nothing could be further from the truth, and Palestinian resistance is the unremitting example of the strength and resilience of the Palestinian people.

Yes, the fight has been an arduous one. Between the rock of Israeli occupation and Hasbara, and the hard place of Palestinian leadership acquiescence and failure, Palestine, Palestinians and their story have been trapped and misconstrued.

It is time for us to step up. We, as Palestinian writers, historians and journalists, assume the responsibility of reinterpreting Palestinian history and internalising and communicating Palestinian voices, so that the rest of the world can, for once, appreciate the story as told by wounded but tenacious victors.

It is incumbent upon us  not only Palestinians, but those who wish to present a truthful understanding of our historic struggle  to reclaim the Palestinian narrative and dislocate the propaganda-driven Zionist one. The story must now focus wholly on the lives, perspectives and representations of ordinary people  refugees, poor, underclass and working-class Palestinians. It is they who truly epitomise Palestine, not Abbas and his imaginary peace process.

Ramzy Barouds newly-released book The Last Earth: A Palestinian Story tells the story of Palestine through the ongoing struggle of the refugees  Published by Pluto Press, London, 2018 and distributed in the United States by University of Chicago Press)

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.Freedom Party to pay compensation to Muslim Youth Austria for accusing it of spearheading Islamist ideologies.

Austrias far-right Freedom Party (FPO), which entered government last December, will pay compensation to the Muslim Youth Austria (MJO) organisation for failing to prove in court its accusations that the MJO is an Islamist organisation.

Last June, Heinz-Christian Strache, FPOs chairman, said at a press conference that there are numerous indications that the MJO spearheads Islamist ideologies and are part of a nested network  over which political Islam organises.

These allegations were also published on the FPOs website.

MJO denied these allegations and filed a lawsuit against Strache, the FPO and the Freedom Parliamentary Club.

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In proceedings before the Commercial Court of Vienna, the defendants were unable to prove that their allegations were true.

This week as part of the settlement, they offered the MJO compensation and revoked their statements.

These statements about alleged closeness to political Islam and the Muslim Brotherhood, which were deliberately circulated by the same individuals, have no basis whatever, the MJO stated in a press release.

The Muslim Youth of Austria will continue to defend against false allegations and slander that seeks to discredit their decades of volunteer work in the service of society.

MJO plans to donate the compensation to Austrian organisations that fight racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism.

The FPO has labelled itself as a defender of tradition in Austria and Strache, its anti-immigration leader, has made many Islamophobic statements previously.

The FPO controls Austrias foreign, interior and defence ministries.

Austria is the only country in Western Europe with a far-right government since Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of the centre-right Peoples Party (OVP) formed a coalition government with the FPO last December.Doubt over US role in Middle East peace process

The US denies reports that its discussing the possibility of Israel annexing illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.Defence minister says measure includes ban on dissemination of publications that could incite and sow discord.

A state of emergency declared in Ethiopia after the resignation of the countrys prime minister will last for six months, the minister of defence has said, as the government seeks to stem political unrest amid long-standing demands for greater freedoms.

The measure, which was first announced by state media after a cabinet meeting on Friday, includes a ban on protests and the dissemination of publications that could incite and sow discord, Siraj Fegessa told reporters on Saturday.

The government has previously made several efforts to curtail violence, but lives have continued to be lost, many have been displaced and economic infrastructure has been damaged, Fegessa said, as quoted by Reuters news agency.

The state of emergency order will be sent to Ethiopias parliament within 15 days for ratification, the minister also said.

It will give law enforcement officers the power to detain anyone suspected of violating the constitutional order and the ability to search houses, cars and individuals, all without a court warrant, state broadcaster FANA reported.

Displaying signs which could stir up violence is also prohibited, FANA said.

Mass demonstrations

On Thursday, Hailemariam Desalegn abruptly announced he would step down as prime minister and head of the ruling Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) coalition.

He cited ongoing unrest and a political crisis in the country as major factors in his resignation, which he described as vital in the bid to carry out reforms that would lead to sustainable peace and democracy.

Hailemariam, who has sat at the helm of the Ethiopian government since 2012, said he will stay on as prime minister in a caretaker capacity until the EPRDF and the parliament accept his resignation and appoint his successor.

This is the second state of emergency to be declared in Ethiopia in the last two years.

In August 2017, Ethiopia lifted a 10-month state of emergency imposed after hundreds of people were killed in anti-government protests demanding wider political freedoms.

The countrys Oromo and Amhara people  who make up about 61 percent of the population  have staged mass demonstrations since 2015 demanding greater political inclusion and an end to human rights abuses.

The protests have continued this month, with many people expressing frustration over a perceived slow government release of political prisoners.

In January, Ethiopia promised to free all political detainees in an effort to foster national reconciliation. More than 6,000 prisoners have been released so far, news agencies have reported.

On Saturday, the US embassy in Ethiopia said the state of emergency undermines recent positive steps toward creating a more inclusive political space, including the release of thousands of prisoners.

Restrictions on the ability of the Ethiopian people to express themselves peacefully sends a message that they are not being heard, the embassy said in a statement.Special anti-terrorism court in Lahore convicts accused Mohammad Imran Ali of rape and murder of seven-year-old girl.

A Pakistani serial killer convicted of rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl Zainab Ansari has been sentenced to death, prosecutors say.

The trial was held in the eastern city Lahore by the countrys special anti-terrorism court on Saturday in the presence of the killer, Mohammad Imran Ali.

Zainab was found dead in a rubbish dump on January 9 in Kasur district near Lahore, in Punjab province, several days after her disappearance.

Imran was arrested two weeks after he committed the crime that ignited nationwide protests.

I am very thankful to the chief justice; he treated Zainab like his own daughter, Zainabs father Amin Ansari told Al Jazeera.

Imran Ali is sentenced to death on four counts but Zainabs mother deems this as insufficient for the crimes he committed.

I want him hanged where he threw Zainabs body. And he should be stoned. Hanging him is just ordinary for him, Nusrat Amin told Al Jazeera.

Everyone should take part in stoning him. And this thing about four hangings, one hanging, two hangings, what difference does it make? I want him hanged where he killed my girl.





The rape and murder of Zainab Ansari was the 12th such case in Kasur district in the last year, according to local media reports.

Ehtesham Qadir, the public prosecutor, said while Imran has the right to appeal, the verdict cannot be challenged since Imran confessed to eight similar attacks, including Zainabs.

The court handed down death on four counts and life imprisonment to Imran Ali in the rape and murder of the little girl, Zainab, Qadir told Reuters news agency, adding that he will be tried further for at least seven other similar cases.

In addition to the verdict, Zainabs family will receive one million Pakistani rupees in compensation by the attacker.





Imran Ali was identified as one of Zainabs neighbours. He was seen in a chilling CCTV footage that emerged showing Zainab walking with her killer.

At least 10 such cases a day of child abuse are reported in Pakistan, according to Sahil, a non-governmental organisation that works on child protection.

In 2015, more than 200 children were targeted by a criminal gang operating a paedophilia ring in the village of Hussain Khanwala, about 10km south of Kasur.

The children were sexually exploited and recorded on video, with footage being sold and used to blackmail their families, according to a fact-finding report by the Human Rights Commission Pakistan.

At least a dozen suspects were arrested in connection with that ring, with two convicted so far.

Some children who were victims of the ring have recently spoken to local news media of their trauma, and the social alienation they have felt since they were identified as sexual abuse victims.

Generations to come need to be safeguarded and children everywhere need to be protected, Amin Ansari told Al Jazeera.

Additional reporting by Zia ur Rehman in Lahore, PakistanLibya celebrating 7th anniversary of the revolution

While many people say the revolution has led to much change, ongoing political division is still taking its toll on the lives of many Libyans.More than 1,000 people rally in central Sofia to pay tribute to ultra-nationalist leader Hristo Lukov, who died in 1943.

Sofia, Bulgaria  More than 1,000 far-right supporters have rallied in Bulgarias capital, Sofia, to pay tribute to a fascist general with close ties to Nazi Germany.

Lukov March is organised every year by the Bulgarian National Union (BNS) to mark the death of Hristo Lukov, a 1930s defence minister and an ultranationalist leader who was assassinated by a communist group in 1943.

Shouting slogans such as Freedom or death! and All communists to court! Bulgaria is taking a new nationalist path!, the two-hour procession passed through central Sofia on Saturday amid heavy police presence.

Members of far-right groups from a number of other European countries also joined the rally, including about 50 Germans from the Die Rechte and Junge Nationalisten organisations.

Ten members of the French Jeune Nation group were also in attendance, along with several Swedish supporters of the Nordic Resistance Movement.

Earlier in the day, 200 people gathered in Sofia for a counterprotest under the slogan, No Nazis in our streets! And no to Fortress Europe!

Various public figures and politicians condemned the annual event [Mariya Petkova/Al Jazeera]

Who was Lukov?

In the 1930s and 1940s, Lukov led the Union of Bulgarian National Legions, which is seen as a fascist and anti-Semitic organisation. Its ideological successor, the BNS, has been accused of espousing similar views.

Plamen Dimitrov, a BNS leader, rejected accusations that the march to honour Lukov was anti-Semitic.

The Jewish community is not a subject of our march so there is no reason to talk about anti-Semitism, Dimitrov said, claiming that the rally has not violated Bulgarian law throughout its 15-year history.

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When asked about the accusations of anti-Semitism against Lukov, Robert Eklund, a member of the Nordic Resistance Movement who attended the march for the third time, said: Even if he was an anti-Semite, it wouldnt be a problem for us, not for me anyway.

Prior to the march, organisers had instructed participants not to engage in provocative behaviour.

BNS minders followed the procession closely, and at least on one occasion sanctioned a marcher who did a Nazi salute.

Widespread condemnation

The rally went on despite efforts by local authorities to block it.

According to Dimitrov, the BNS leader, the Sofia municipality has sought to stop Lukov March for the past five years, including issuing a ban last year.

In September 2017, an administrative court struck down the ban, saying it violated the organisers constitutional rights.

Various public figures and politicians condemned the march, including Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova from the ruling GERB party.

At a conference titled Sofia says NO to hate speech and extremism on Thursday, Fandakova said the annual event has no place in Sofia.

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GERB is currently in coalition with a union of ultranationalist parties. Dimitrov said that representatives of at least one of those parties, VMRO, had previously attended Lukov March.

We dont have anything to do with this march [] We never supported actions connected with anti-Semitism, xenophobia or any other manifestation of extreme [views], VMRO spokesperson Ekaterina Aneva told Al Jazeera.

According to Radoslav Stoyanov, an expert at the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, a human rights group, the BNS does not break the law by organising the march.

He added, however, that it contributes to popularising xenophobic, Islamophobic and homophobic views, noting that hate crimes have risen in Bulgaria over the past 15 years.

The reason for this is the pushing of public opinion towards anti-minority attitudes, and that happened gradually through the growth of the yellow press, said Stoyanov, referring to publications emphasising sensationalism over facts.

He said the yellow press has supported the growth of far-right groups in Bulgaria in recent years by normalising racist and discriminatory speech  as did the presence of ultranationalists parties in positions of power.

This is very worrying and this tendency will continue, Stoyanov told Al Jazeera.Hundreds of people rally in Florida for stricter gun control laws in the aftermath of a deadly school shooting.

Hundreds of people rallied outside a courthouse in the US state of Florida to demand stricter gun control laws in the aftermath of one of the deadliest school shootings in the countrys modern history.

Several student survivors of this weeks deadly attack in the town of Parkland were among those attending Saturdays rally in Fort Lauderdale, only 40km from the school that came under attack.

Holding signs that read Never Again, demonstrators called on the US government to take action to prevent future violence.

To every politician taking donations from the NRA, shame on you! said student Emma Gonzalez, who criticised Donald Trump for the multi-million dollar support the US president has received from the powerful gun lobby group, the National Rifle Association.

The crowd then chanted, in turn: Shame on You! Shame on You!

At least 17 people were killed when a gunman entered the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday and opened fire on students and teachers with an AR-15 automatic rifle.

A 19-year-old former student, Nikolas Cruz, was arrested and charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder in relation to the attack.

300 school shootings

For his part, Trump made two brief stops  at a hospital and a sheriffs office  in Florida on Saturday, where he praised the doctors, police officers and others who responded in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, The Washington Post reported.

Incredible job and everybody is talking about it, Trump reportedly said, after a meeting at the local sheriffs office.

Across the street, a single protester stood holding a sign that read: Protect our Childrens [sic]!, the newspaper said.

Trump has been criticised for taking money from the NRA gun lobby group [Andrew Harnik/AP]

The 18th school shooting so far this year, the attack has prompted another debate over gun control in the US.

Elected officials have been strongly criticised for refusing to enact legislation that would restrict the ability of Americans to purchase weapons.

About 300 school shootings have taken place across the US since 2013, gun control advocacy group Newtown estimates.

David Hogg, another student survivor of the Florida shooting, added his voice to those criticising the elected officials out there today who refuse to take action and continue to take money from these special interest groups.

Stop, Hogg urged them, at the protest in Fort Lauderdale. Stop it now!Russian foreign minister dismisses accusations of Moscow interference in the 2016 US presidential as blather.

Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has dismissed allegations that Moscow meddled in the US presidential election that brought Donald Trump to the White House as blather.

His comments on Saturday came a day after authorities in the United States indicted 13 Russian nationals and companies with running a huge secret campaign against Trumps 2016 rival, Hillary Clinton.

You can publish anything, and we have seen those indictments multiplying, the statements multiplying, Lavrov said on Saturday at a major security conference in the German city of Munich.

As long as we dont see facts, everything else is blather.

Major investigation

The indictments detailed a multimillion-dollar operation launched in 2014 to interfere with the US political and electoral processes, including the presidential election of 2016.

The charges brought by US Special Counsel Robert Mueller allege that by mid-2016, the campaign  under the direction of Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin  became focused on boosting Trump and demeaning his rivals, including Clinton.

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The operation allegedly involved hundreds of people working in shifts.

A major target of the probe is the St Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency, also known as The Troll Factory.

It is accused of manipulating social media in the US and staging political rallies in support of Trump

According to the indictment, Russian impostors on social media used hashtags such as TrumpTrain, Trump2016, Hillary4Prison and MAGA, a reference to Trumps slogan Make American Great Again.

However, the indictments made no judgement on whether the alleged Russian campaign had affected the outcome of the election.

In his comments to the Munich Security Conference, Lavrov said that US officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, had in the past denied that any country influenced results of the election.

Incontrovertible

But speaking at the same event, US National Security Adviser HR McMaster said the evidence that Russia tried to meddle with the US election was undeniable.

Were becoming more and more adept at tracing the origins of this espionage and subversion, and as you can see with the FBI indictment, the evidence is now really incontrovertible and in the public domain, McMaster said.

Now, this is in the arena of a law enforcement investigation, its going to be apparent to anyone.

In his speech, McMaster also spoke about the alleged use of chemical weapons by the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, saying the US would use military force if such attacks continued.

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Public accounts and photos clearly show that Assads chemical weapons use is continuing, said McMaster, a serving army general.

It is time for all nations to hold the Syrian regime and its sponsors accountable for their actions.

In April 2017, the US fired several missiles at a Syrian airbase in retaliation for an alleged chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun that killed scores of people.

Since then, the Syrian government has been accused several times of using chemical weapons against its citizens, most recently in the rebel-held territory of Eastern Ghouta.

Those allegations have been denied by the Syrian government.

Eastern Ghouta is the last remaining rebel stronghold near the capital, Damascus, and has been under a government siege since 2013.

It is believed that around 400,000 people still live in the area, which suffers from acute food and medicine shortages.Speaking at Munich Security Conference, UK PM calls for continuation of European security cooperation even after Brexit.

Theresa May has urged security cooperation by European Union partners to continue in the aftermath of Brexit, on the second day of the annual Munich Security Conference.

The 54th international conference brings together government representatives and defence and security experts from across the globe.

The UK is just as committed to Europes security in the future as we have been in the past, May said in her keynote speech on Saturday.

This cannot be a time when any of us allow competition between partners, rigid institutional restrictions or deep-seated ideology to inhibit our cooperation and jeopardise the security of our citizens.

Al Jazeeras Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Munich, said that Mays focus on security collaboration between European cohorts and the UK is a significant issue to her government, as the UK is set to leave the EU in March 2019.

Theresa May was trying to say that the security arrangements are the best thing that could happen both for the UK and for Europe in terms of military cooperation, security cooperation, intelligence gathering, arrest warrants, against a backdrop of a world where groups like ISIL [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] have been staging attacks killing people in different parts of Europe.

However, Mays speech received a lukewarm response from the rest of the conferences attendees, whose first reaction was, according to our correspondent, You could have made a better world to live in had you chosen to stay within the EU.

Furthermore, European officials have previously accused May of wanting the best of both worlds for Brexit.

EU officials have been saying that the British government cannot just cherry-pick different aspects of the deal they would like in the near future, Al Jazeeras Ahelbarra said.

For the EU, this is something different, its a broader package that needs to be negotiated.

On June 23, 2016, Britain voted in favour of Brexit, with the Leave campaign receiving 52 percent in a referendum.

May pledged to protect EU citizens rights in Britain after Brexit, saying that decisions by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) would be taken into account by UK courts.

However, the British government remains divided on other issues such as trade, where Al Jazeeras Ahelbarra said, some [are] saying that lets take some aspects of the deal and stay within the single market, while others are saying that the UK has to redefine new policies in the near future when it officially exits from the union.Thirteen Russians charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, Special Counsel Robert Mueller says.

More video clips from the storyPeople allegedly paid to attend meeting on sanctioning Qatar, organised by the Saudi-led bloc in Munich.

While an international security conference is under way in Germany, another has been organised by the four countries blockading Qatar.

Held on Friday in Munich, the conferences objective was to encourage the imposition of sanctions against Qatar.

The countries imposing a sea, land and air blockade on Qatar invited journalists to attend their own meeting, Al Jazeeras Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Munich, said.

When no one showed up, organisers reportedly hired a PR company  and the room was filled with young women who told us they were mostly from Eastern Europe.

One of them read a statement shed been handed by organisers.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic ties with Qatar on June 5, 2017, and imposed a land, sea and air embargo, accusing it of supporting terrorism.

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Qatar has repeatedly denied the allegation.

I would like to say at todays conference that I am surprised by what is being done by the state of Qatar, and I think that Germany, Europe and the whole world should stop Qatar in any way, one of the attending women had said.

When asked by an Al Jazeera reporter why they were attending the event, some said they were paid to do so.

Another woman, presented as a senior analyst at a Washington-based think-tank, called upon the UN, the US and India to stop purchasing oil and gas from Qatar.

Similar meetings continue to take place elsewhere in many European countries, our correspondent said.

Many of the events are said to have been orchestrated and financed mostly by the Saudi-led group.

More than eight months since the start of the crisis, the US and the EU have called on the countries to engage in dialogue.

But the quartet issued a 13-point list of demands, including the shutdown of Qatar-based media network Al Jazeera, limiting ties with Iran and expelling Turkish troops stationed in the country as a prerequisite to lifting the blockade.

Qatar rejected all the demands, denouncing them as attempts to infringe its sovereignty.Dr Marc Lamont Hill is an award-winning journalist and author and is the Steve Charles Professor of Media, Cities, and Solutions at Temple University. Hill is known for his work addressing the intersections of race, justice, politics and culture. His latest best-selling book is We Still Here: Pandemics, Policing, Protest and Possibility which follows on the success of Nobody: Casualties of Americas War on the Vulnerable from Flint to Ferguson. Hill has received numerous prestigious awards from the US National Association of Black Journalists, GLAAD, and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.Moral courage is finding the strength to act despite the consequences. As a student leader, if you choose to act with moral courage, you risk ending close friendships. You risk political retribution. You risk a loss of opportunities which could advance your career. Acting with moral courage is never the easiest path, but it is ultimately the correct one.

As I wrote this, I was at the U.S. Military Academy, attending the National Conference on Ethics in America. At the conference, I met a four-star general, who is a former chief of staff of the army. He discussed his perspective on why people abuse their power. He said, "Often those people who abuse their power lack the respect for the manner in which power is earned. These people truly haven't earned their power because they dont recognize the root of that power: that others have entrusted them with that power and an understanding that power is earned.

I have worked with many Student Government political parties over my four-year career as a student leader at UF. I have seen parties I am proud of, and I have seen some fail to put students first. I have known people who lacked the moral courage to push against their party when it failed to do what was best for the Student Body.

Moral courage is finding the strength to act despite the consequences. Today I choose to act by announcing my endorsements for this Spring election. While I am confident Janae Moodie and Revel Lubin would each serve as exceptional Student Body presidents, I have no confidence in the party organizations who are promoting them. I believe both of these organizations ultimately stand to promote their party brand over the lives of students.

As such, I am proud to support Ian Green for Student Body president, David Enriquez for Student Body vice president and Stefan Sanguyo for Student Body treasurer.

I have known Green and Enriquez for years, and I can speak to their moral character and commitment to the Student Body. Though I have just recently gotten to know Sanguyo, I can say without question he is the most qualified candidate for the office of Student Body treasurer, and he has my full support.

Students can vote at approved polling locations from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 20 and 21. I encourage all students to take the remaining time before the election to engage with the parties, to get informed and, most importantly, vote in this election.

Brandon Rosenthal is a UF computer science and engineering senior. He is the Benton Engineering Council president.Birthday wishes

Call 281-422-8302 or email david.bloom@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun.

Happy Birthday WishesSaving Haiti: if a celebrity wont exploit you Oxfam will

Oxfams chief executive Mark Goldring has been talking to the Guardian. The paper says the mood at Oxfam is one akin to a sudden bereavement  much like Haitians felt when 200,000 of them were killed in an earthquake, or worse?

Oxfam staff are close to tears. Goldring hasnt slept for six nights and he looks stricken, were told. Anyone wondering why Goldring chose to speak with the Guardian and not, say the Daily Mail or Times, which broke the story of Oxfams alleged laissez-faire attitude to criminality and sexual exploitation by its staff? This is less interview than PR.

Goldring was justifiably fretting that his words would be wilfully twisted to do Oxfam yet more damage. But here he is in the Guardian, a man in mourning wondering if the inheritance tax and death duties will damage the brand. He complains of being savaged in the media, his words manipulated. No danger of that in the Guardian, which sees good in the simple act of a grown man at the top of powerful multi-million pound organisation  last years income: 408.6 million  talking alone, unchaperoned by press officers  one of the 20 full-time press officers the Times says are on Oxfams books. He is unguarded and candid. The impression I form is of someone telling the truth: if Goldring has been guilty of anything, I think it might be naivety about the vulnerability of almost any organisation in the febrile public mood of distrust.

Its not so much about Oxfam lying and covering up alleged criminality and exploiting the bereft and genuinely bereaved, allowing staffers to leave without a stain on their CVs and thus best able to secure other jobs at other aid organisations, which some did, its about you. Asked why Oxfam lied and covered up immoral behaviour by some of its staff, Goldring offers:

That was wrong. I believe it was done in good faith to try to balance being transparent and protecting Oxfams work. I dont think [Oxfam] wanted to promote a sensation and damage the delivery of [the Haiti] programme. With hindsight, we should have said more. Ive been clear about that since this broke. But if Oxfams business is to help save lives, if your organisation is there to actually help make the world a better place, I can see why people thought this was the right thing to do.

Its you they dont trust, you judgemental sods who give so generously to Oxfam. Its about ring-fencing your giving from people who dont have the best of intentions. It might be about the Haitians, but dont worry about them. Just give. Oxfam will decide what they need.

Goldring adds:

The intensity and the ferocity of the attack makes you wonder, what did we do? We murdered babies in their cots? Certainly, the scale and the intensity of the attacks feels out of proportion to the level of culpability. I struggle to understand it. You think: My God, theres something going on there.

He is then invited to go on the attack. The Guardian leads him to the escape hatch and kicks it open:

Is it that political opponents of international aid  the likes of Jacob Rees-Mogg and Priti Patel  are exploiting Oxfams crisis? He hesitates.

Are leading Tories the problem here? Goldring dismisses the idea out of hand, saying that itd be a sick irony to present Oxfam as the victims of an opportunist, self-serving elite. No, of course not. He says:

Others are better to judge whether thats right or wrong. I dont think its right for Oxfam to say that at the moment, because even that feels self-serving. What Im really concerned about is that this is not used as an approach to attack aid. But it already is. Yes. It is.

Good job its not about first world westerners, the rich, saintly and knowing, riding in to save the hapless, perpetually needy Third Worlders from starvation and poverty by telling them how many babies to have, that Fairtrade is better than GM, that to live ethically is ideal, water is best when it comes not from pipes by from wells dug by Prince William, and if theyre lucky a celebrity coloniser will adopt one of them. Good job its not about the vain and well off controlling the impoverished and using them to show off their own moral goodness. Its not about them. Its all about us. Charity, after all, begins at home

Paul Sorene

Posted: 17th, February 2018 | In: Broadsheets, Key Posts, News Comment | TrackBack | PermalinkThe trial of Sooraj Pancholi, accused of abetting the suicide of actress Jiah Khan, started at a sessions court.

Mumbai: The trial of actor Sooraj Pancholi, accused of abetting the suicide of actress Jiah Khan, started at a sessions court here today.

A source close to Sooraj told DNA, The case was getting delayed each time. Its been almost five years and nothing was progressing. So, the actor and his lawyer Prashant Patil requested the court to frame the charges so that the hearings would begin. Time and again, Rabiya (Khan) has been delaying the whole case. On Wednesday, although Sooraj and his lawyer reached the court for the hearing, neither Rabiya nor her lawyer was present.

If Jiah Khans mother does not turn up for the second hearing too, a bailable warrant will be issued against her.

Sooraj, son of Bollywood couple Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab, has been booked under section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (abetment of suicide).

According to the CBI's charge sheet, the body of Jiah, best known for her performance in the film 'Nishabd' starring Amitabh Bachchan, was found hanging at her residence here on June 3, 2013 by her mother Rabiya Khan.

Jiah had left Sooraj's house, where she had been staying for the previous two days, in the morning, according to her mother.

The CBI alleged that Sooraj hid certain facts and fabricated information when he was questioned.

The agency also said that a three-page unsigned note seized by Mumbai police which earlier probed the case had been written by Jiah, and it narrated her "intimate relationship" with Sooraj and the "physical abuse and mental and physical torture" she faced at his hands.

"The court today asked the prosecution to submit the list of its witnesses so that summons can be issued to them," Sooraj's lawyer Prashant Patil said.

The court then adjourned the hearing to February 21.

Sooraj, who is out on bail, was present in the court today.

He was arrested on June 10, 2013 following Jiah's suicide. The Bombay High Court granted him bail a few days later on July 2.

The high court transferred the case to the CBI in July 2014 on Rabiya Khan's petition which claimed that police were not probing it properly.

However, when the CBI filed a charge sheet against Sooraj for abetment, Rabiya Khan again moved the high court seeking a fresh probe by a special investigation team.

She claimed that the CBI was wrong in concluding that it was a case of suicide and not a homicide. The high court dismissed the petition, finding no merit in the plea.Sunil Deodhar said that the upcoming Tripura elections is more 'CP(M) hatao than Modi lao' sentiments.

Deodhar alleged that Manik Sarkar's rule has only resulted in the poor becoming poorer, 67 per cent of the population holding BPL cards. (Photo: Facebook)

Agartala: The upcoming Assembly elections in Tripura are more about removing someone from power than bringing in somone else, says the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state-in-charge Sunil Deodhar.

52-year-old Deodhar was initially a RSS pracharak who later morphed into a poll strategist for BJP.

He was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign manager in Varanasi during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and shifted to Tripura three years ago to build BJP's base in the state against the ruling Left Front government.

Since then, the BJP's fortune in the state has radically changed, as it went from being a non-existent force to one of the strongest contenders to the Manik Sarkar-led government in the elections scheduled for February 18.

"It is a fact that we are riding on a strong anti-CP(M) wave rather than a pro-BJP wave. It's more of a 'CP(M) hatao sentiment than a Modi lao one. And it's because of an incompetent chief minister, his misrule and bad governance." he said.

Deodhar alleged that Manik Sarkar's rule has only resulted in the poor becoming poorer, 67 per cent of the population holding BPL cards.

"On top of it the ministers are steeped in financial scams. And this Dhritarashtra prefers to keep his eyes closed and is only bothered about his chair. More than 12 lakh people have been looted by chit fund companies in Tripura and the state government is involved in it. That's why people want to remove this government from power," Deodhar told the media.

The BJP has however, not fielded a chief ministerial candidate in these polls.

"It wasn't required," he said, "The people are not interested in a prospective chief minister face. It is like when there was an Indira hatao wave in the country, people weren't too bothered about kisko lao. Once we come to power, the Parliamentary board and the elected MLAs will choose their leader."

It might also be for the fact that it is easier for the BJP now to ride the wave of removing the Left Front, than fielding a chief ministerial candidate strong enough to contend Manik Sarkar's popularity in the state.

Although BJP has not officially fielded a face for the post of chief minister, in all probability, the party's state president Biplab Kumar Deb, who is contesting from the Banamalipur seat in Agartala, will assume the position if BJP wins.

Deb will be taking on Communist Party of India (Marxist) state committee leader Amal Chakraborty in his seat.

"Now, at the final stages, the fight is neck to neck between us and the CPI(M). The collision will be head-on. But I am confident of victory," said Deodhar, when questioned about poll-prospects/

"At least 10 per cent voters are likely cast their votes in favour of the BJP on the day of the polls. They are scared to attend BJP meetings as they fear they might be attacked by CP(M) supporters and their NREGA work would disappear while government employees fear that they might get transferred and their homes could be set on fire. They say that we will do whatever needs to be done at the EVM machine. I am sure that if that swing happens on the day of polls, then we will sweep the state," he added.

When questioned if it was his RSS-background that has made it easier for him to take on another strong cadre-based party like the CPI(M), Deodhar said,"When people ask me how difficult it was for us, I tell them that instead of asking me that question you should go and ask the CPM that they too have never been pitted against a cadre-based organization like us. Kindly ask them, aapko kaisa lag raha hai (how do you feel)."

Deodhar has been developing RSS ideology in the Khasi and Jayntiya hills since 1991 but he prefers his current role as a BJP leader to his previous avatar.

"Amit Shah had entrusted me with the job of ensuring a Communist-mukt Bharat. No matter what the results are, I think I have delivered," he said.

Deodhar has been developing RSS ideology in the Khasi and Jayntiya hills since 1991 when he left home. But he prefers his present disposition of a BJP leader over his previous avatar of a RSS pracharak.Canadian diplomatic sources said Canadas National Security Intelligence Advisor recently visited India and met Indian NSA Ajit Doval.

New Delhi: India on Friday indicated that the activities of radical Sikh pro-Khalistan elements in Canada will be discussed with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, with the ministry of external affairs (MEA) saying that all issues of interest to the two countries would be on the table. The Canadian PM will make an official visit to India from February 17 to 24. Canadian diplomatic sources said Canadas National Security Intelligence Advisor recently visited India and met Indian NSA Ajit Doval ahead of Mr Trudeaus visit.Three JeM terrorists, who carried out the strike, were killed during the gun battle with the Army.

Six army personnel and a civilian were killed in the attack on February 10. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The three heavily-armed Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists who carried out the deadly attack on Sunjuwan military camp in Jammu had infiltrated into Kashmir from Pakistan in June 2017, Army sources on Friday said.

According to preliminary investigation of the Army, the three terrorists were hiding in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir for the last seven months and were looking at carrying out an attack.

Six army personnel and a civilian were killed in the attack on February 10. Three JeM terrorists, who carried out the strike, were killed during the gun battle with the Army.

The JeM terrorists had crossed over to India from Pakistan in June 2017 when infiltration had gone up, the sources said.

They said a detailed investigation is being carried into the Sunjuwan attack and the probe report will be examined by the top echelon of the army.

The sources said immediate steps are being taken to ensure that such attacks do not recur.

The attack on the camp came days after four Army men were killed in Pakistani firing in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Army sources said full freedom has been given to local commanders of the army along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir to effectively retaliate any act of violence by Pakistani troops.

Following the attack on the Sunjuwan military station in Jammu, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman warned Pakistan saying the neighbouring country "will pay for its misadventure".Kapil Sibal accused the Prime Minister's office and the finance ministry of turning a blind eye to the multi-crore bank scam.

New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday held the BJP responsible for the Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam involving jewellery designer Nirav Modi and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of institutionalising "crony capitalism".

Congress leader Kapil Sibal accused the Prime Minister and his government of bringing the economy to its knees, and warned that the country's image would get a beating internationally under him.

He also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that while he was "sleeping" as the country's watchman, thieves were fleeing with the nation's wealth. Quoting the second FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case, the Congress leader said that all Letters of Understanding (LoUs) to the accused were signed in 2017 under the NDA government, which failed to prevent the scam from happening.

Addressing a joint press conference with Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala, Shaktisinh Gohil and Pawan Khera, Sibal sought to know why the Prime Minister refused to divulge details of all those people who accompanied him during his foreign tours. "Is this the kind of 'Ease of Doing Business' PM Modi talks about?" Sibal asked.

"I challenge BJP to come and talk about UPA's governance and their governance. Because of their ill-intentions, they have brought India's economy to its knees," the Congress leader told reporters.

Sibal, a former minister and noted lawyer, accused the Prime Minister's office and the finance ministry of turning a blind eye to the multi-crore bank scam, saying they were very much aware of it. "They were aware of all this. But they turned a blind eye. They were aware that the country was being looted," he alleged.

Sibal also questioned why the HRD Minister and the Social Justice Minister were fielded by the government to defend it on the matter. "What does a HRD Minister have to do with this? Is the minister very admiring of the quality of the human resource of Nirav Modi? What is the Social Justice Minister has to do with this? What has the Law Ministry to do with this scam?" he asked and said neither the finance ministry nor the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has come forward to answer questions.

Sibal also alleged that the market capitalisation of listed companies in the gems and jewellery business is pegged at Rs 41.66 billion, while its gross current debt stands at Rs 94 billion. "This means that the debt is twice the market capitalisation and that is a scam in itself. Who can say that the government did not know this," Sibal asked.

Nirav Modi, 46, a regular feature on the lists of rich and famous Indians since 2013, was booked by the CBI, along with wife, brother and Choksi on January 31, for allegedly cheating the state-run PNB to the tune of Rs 280 crore.

The bank subsequently sent two more complaints to the CBI on Tuesday, saying the scam was worth more than Rs 11,400 crore.

The jewellery designer is understood to be a citizen of the country but his brother Nishal and wife Ami are not Indian nationals. They all left India between January 1 and 6, the CBI had said.Earlier on Saturday, Rouhani met Modi and held delegation-level talks at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

'We want to enhance connectivity... I thank you for helping develop Chabahar port,' Modi said. (Photo: AP)

New Delhi: India and Iran signed nine bilateral agreements and exchanged MOUs in the presence of Iranian President Dr Hassan Rouhani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday.

"Both Iran and India respect each other. Under your excellency, India-Iran ties have strengthened," Modi said at a joint statement while welcoming the Iranian president.

Modi lauded Rouhani's vision for giving access for trade with Afghanistan through Iran's Chabahar port.

We want to enhance connectivity... I thank you for helping develop Chabahar port, Modi said.

The Prime Minister said the two countries wanted to see Afghanistan safe and prosper. "We want to see our neighbours free of terrorism," he added.

President Rouhani in his address, thanked PM Modi for the hospitality shown to him while on his visit to India.

Relations between India and Iran are far beyond trade and diplomatic. Our relations are historical, civilizational, Rouhani said.

"India has strategic relations, especially for transit and energy," he added.

Rouhani asserted that both the countries were determined to combat terrorism and extremism, adding that regional conflicts must be resolved through diplomacy and political initiatives.

Rouhani also hailed the success of the Chabahar port and hoped for successful bilateral ties between India and Iran.

India is helping Iran develop Chabahar Port on the Gulf of Oman for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan, which has refused to provide New Delhi access through a land route.

In 2016, India, Afghanistan, and Iran decided to establish a trade route for land-locked Afghanistan and Central Asian countries. India committed up to USD 500 million for the development of Chabahar along with associated roads and rail lines.

India shipped its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan by sea through Chabahar last October.

Earlier on Saturday, Rouhani met Modi and held delegation-level talks at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

Both leaders held substantive and productive discussion on cooperation in trade and investment, energy, connectivity, defence and security and regional issues, external affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Rouhani began his three-day India visit after his arrival in Hyderabad on Thursday evening. This was his second visit to Hyderabad and the first after assuming charge as the president of Iran.

Also Read: Rouhani visits Qutub Shahi tombs in Hyd, calls for fight against West

Addressing a meeting of religious leaders belonging to different schools of thoughts, Rouhani on Thursday, urged different Muslims sects to stay united and fight the Western forces, and added that the community should put an end to internal differences.

Also read: Rouhani meets Modi, Kovind; connectivity, energy talks on agenda

Rouhani advised the gathering to emphasize more in resolving their issues and strengthening relationships between the Muslim communities. He said Iran wants peace across the world and friendly relations with not only Islamic countries but other countries as well. It believes that there is no military solution to problems.

He said Iran has plan for the fraternity for India. We do not want to have any difference with other countries, he said adding how Iran stood against the nations, and regions, in order to stop war conflict and violence.

Rouhani also addressed a Muslim congregation at the historic Mecca Masjid after performing Friday prayers. He is the first Iranian President to have visited the Mecca Masjid.Rouhani began his three-day India visit after his arrival in Hyderabad on Thursday evening.

India committed up to USD 500 million for the development of Chabahar along with associated roads and rail lines. (Photo: @MEAIndia)

New Delhi: Iranian President Dr Hassan Rouhani met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind on the last day of his three-day visit to India at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Saturday.

Modi will be hosting a lunch for Rouhani on Saturday while Kovind will host a banquet for him.

Connectivity and energy are seen as key items on the agenda for discussions between Rouhani and his Indian hosts.

India is helping Iran develop Chabahar Port on the Gulf of Oman for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan, which has refused to provide New Delhi access through a land route.

In 2016, India, Afghanistan, and Iran decided to establish a trade route for land-locked Afghanistan and Central Asian countries. India committed up to USD 500 million for the development of Chabahar along with associated roads and rail lines.

India shipped its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan by sea through Chabahar last October.

Rouhani began his three-day India visit after his arrival in Hyderabad on Thursday evening. This was his second visit to Hyderabad and the first after assuming charge as the president of Iran.

Also read: Rouhani visits Qutub Shahi tombs in Hyd, calls for fight against West

Addressing a meeting of religious leaders belonging to different schools of thoughts, Rouhani on Thursday, urged different Muslims sects to stay united and fight the Western forces, and added that the community should put an end to internal differences.

Rouhani advised the gathering to emphasize more in resolving their issues and strengthening relationships between the Muslim communities. He said Iran wants peace across the world and friendly relations with not only Islamic countries but other countries as well. It believes that there is no military solution to problems.

He said Iran has plan for the fraternity for India. We do not want to have any difference with other countries, he said adding how Iran stood against the nations, and regions, in order to stop war conflict and violence.

Rouhani also addressed a Muslim congregation at the historic Mecca Masjid after performing Friday prayers. He is the first Iranian President to have visited the Mecca Masjid.

He strongly criticized the Trump administration's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and urged Muslims to support the Palestinian cause.

The Iranian president also lashed out at the United States for imposing a ban on travellers from six largely Muslim countries.

(With agency inputs)The board will also work out the distress formula in case of deficiency in rainfall in a particular year and determine the allocation.

New Delhi: In a huge relief to Tamil Nadu, which is dependent on the whims and fancies of Karnataka to release its share of water, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre to set up the Cauvery Management Board as mandated by the tribunal within six weeks.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices Amitava Roy and A.M. Kanwilkar rejected the Centres stand that the mechanism for implementation of the final award should be left to the discretion of the Union government.

It rejected the Centres contention that the court should not issue any direction by keeping in mind the bar imposed under Article 363 of the Constitution which deals with the restrictions put on courts in interfering in disputes arising out of certain treaties, agreements, etc. The issues in this case have no connection, whatsoever, with the concepts of sovereignty and integrity of India and, therefore, the bar under Article 363 of the Constitution is not attracted, the bench said.

Pointing out that the tribunal itself had framed a scheme for setting up of a Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (to be constituted by the board), the bench said it should be done within six weeks.

The board will also work out the distress formula in case of deficiency in rainfall in a particular year and determine the allocation.

When we say so, we also categorically convey that the need-based monthly release has to be respected. It is hereby made clear that no extension shall be granted for framing of the scheme on any ground, the top court said.

The court noted that tribunal has authorised the Cauvery Management Board/Regulatory Authority to relax the schedule of deliveries and get the reservoirs operated in an integrated manner through the states to minimise any harsh effect of a bad monsoon year in the event of two consecutive distress years.

The Cauvery Management Board was also required to monitor the entire spectrum of monthly availability of storages and rainfall pattern vis-a-vis the schedule of monthly flows to be delivered at Billigundulu/inter-state contact point for a period of 15 years to effect the necessary adjustments in the monthly schedule in consultation with the party (states) and with the help of the Central Water Commission without changing the annual allocation awarded to the parties.The FATF is a global inter-governmental body to combat terror financing.

New Delhi: India on Friday described as suspect the timing of Pakistans recent action of declaring Mumbai terror attack Hafiz Saeed as a terrorist, adding that some countries in the global Financial Action Task Force (FATF) are engaged in a move to put Pakistan in the grey list. Countries are placed in the grey list if they fail to act on assurances given by them to combat terrorism. The FATF is a global inter-governmental body to combat terror financing.

Describing Hafiz Saeed as the prime organiser of the Mumbai terror attacks, the MEA spokesperson said, Timing of such declaration of Hafiz Saeed as a terrorist is very suspect. We have to see whether they are willing to walk the talk and take concrete measures against terrorists and terror outfits that are operating from the soil of Pakistan.

He added, There is a proposal by some countries according to the FATF process to put Pakistan in the grey list. The grey listing happens because the commitment given by Pakistan on action it was supposed to take (against terrorism) has not happened. We have shared our views with other countries in FATF in this regard. We would like to ensure that the Government of Pakistan takes effective measures in letter and spirit to curb terror-financing, to curb raising of funds by UN-proscribed terrorists and other terrorists operating from their soil.

An FATF report last year is believed to have also highlighted that there continue to be certain UNSCR 1267 designated entities (terror entities) in Pakistan that receive and disperse funds without controls being applied by the competent authorities.

The report is understood to have stated, In February 2017, the ICRG requested the Asia Pacific Group (APG) to provide its analysis report on Pakistan. Given the concerns raised in this report that highlighted that there continue to be certain UNSCR 1267 designated entities that receive and disperse funds without controls being applied by the competent authorities, the ICRG recommends further reporting to the ICRG be provided either by the APG or, failing that, directly from Pakistan.Surhita will contest from Gorakhpur and Manish Mishra from Phulpur.

New Delhi: In a blow to Opposition unity in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress has declared its candidates for the March 11 parliamentary byelections to the Gorakhpur and Phulpur constituencies. Surhita will contest from Gorakhpur and Manish Mishra from Phulpur. Gorakphur is the former seat of chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Phulpur is the former constituency of deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad. The seats had fallen vacant when these leaders resigned after becoming legislators.

The Congress decision to name its candidates has put to rest speculation that the Opposition may field a joint candidate for the contests whose results will be declared on March 14. There was a strong buzz that BSP chief Mayawati may contest the Phulpur Lok Sabha election as a joint Opposition candidate. She had resigned from the Rajya Sabha last year alleging that she was not being allowed to speak. Congress insiders claimed early announcement of candidates is a strategy to put pressure on the other two Opposition parties  the SP and the BSP  for having a joint candidate. If all Opposition parties contest the bypolls separately, the BJP will definitely have an edge.

February 20 is the last date of filing nomination papers. So there still are four days for all the Opposition parties to come to a unanimous decision. While scrutiny of papers will be held on February 21, candidates can withdraw from electoral battle till February 23.

Congress nominees Surhita is an old Congress hand from Gorakhpur who had unsuccessfully contested the election for mayor. Mr Mishra is the general secretary in the Uttar Pradesh Congress and belongs to an old Congress family.The police and fire-brigade personnel had to convince the farmer for over an hour before he came down the tree.

A farmer from Bundelkhand threatens to attempt suicide if his loan waiver demand is not met, near Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath's residence in Lucknow. (Photo: PTI)

Lucknow: Hours before the Yogi Adityanath government tabled its second budget in the UP Assembly, a farmer from Lalitpur allegedly tried to hang himself near the chief ministers residence.

The farmer, Ram Raj, accompanied by his son, had climbed a 100-feet-tall tree near 5 Kalidas Marg, which is the official residence of Yogi Adityanath. The farmer wanted to seek Yogis help to waive off his loan of Rs 1.5 lakh.

The police and fire-brigade personnel had to convince the farmer for over an hour before he came down the tree.

The Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh had approved the waiver of farm loans up to Rs 1 lakh last year but Ram Raj apparently did not benefit from the scheme.

Officials, however, have assured him of all possible help. If they do not help, I will come again and commit suicide here, he told reporters.The BJP has never been a major player in Tripura which hitherto saw a battle between Left Front and the Congress.

A total 25,734,13 voters; 13,05,375 male, 12,68,027 female and 11 of the third gender are eligible cast vote on February 18. There are 47,803 new voters in 2018 poll. (Representational Image)

Agartala: The high-decibel campaign ended in Tripura where the BJP, an 'also-ran' till now in the north-eastern state, is making a determined bid to demolish the red bastion of 25 years, with stalwarts like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah leading the charge.

The BJP has never been a major player in Tripura which hitherto saw a battle between Left Front and the Congress. But the Congress campaign has not been aggressive this time with party chief Rahul Gandhi addressing poll rallies only on the last day.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is seeking fifth term from his home constituency of Dhanpur, even stated that the main contest is between CPI(M) and the BJP in the February 18 assembly polls for 60 seats.

The BJP had bagged just 5.70 per cent votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and 1.5 per cent votes in the 2013 Assembly polls.

Seeking to expand its imprint in the North-East, it has forged alliance with Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) and hopes to benefit in 20 tribal seats.

The BJP has already formed governments in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

PM Modi sounded the party's poll bugle in Tripura with two rallies on February 8. He had asked the voters to throw away manik (Manik Sarkar government) and go for HIRA (H for highways, I for Internet way, R for roadways and A for airways).

He returned to campaign again in Tripura on Thursday, a day before the campaign ended at 4 pm on Friday.

Union Finance minister Arun Jaitley had released Vision Document for Tripura.

BJP President Amit Shah addressed many public rallies and organized roadshows. Firebrand Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath also sought votes for the party nominees.

During the campaign rally on January 31 in Agartala, CPI(M) party General Secretary Sitaram Yechuri had said the victory horse of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be stopped in Tripura.

He had also claimed Tripura would be Waterloo for PM Modi.

Though Brinda Karat, former party secretary Prakash Karat, MP Muhammad Selim and West Bengal Left Front Convener Biman Bose chipped in, Manik Sarkar remained the star campaigner.

Sarkar addressed at least 35 rallies for party candidates across the state. He also devoted considerable time on his own seat Dhanpur where he addressed 15 rallies.

The Congress, a principal rival of Left Front all these years, is witnessing a serious challenge from BJP this time.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi visited Tripura on the last day of the campaign on Friday with a rally at Kailashahar.

Gandhi appealed to the people of Tripura to vote for the Congress, saying that unlike the BJP, his party does not make false promises.

Gandhi said neither the CPI(M) nor the BJP pay attention to development and the Congress is the only party which can deliver good governance.

The Congress had secured 36.53 per cent votes in the 2013 Assembly polls and had 10 MLAs. But now it has only two.

Six of them had switched over first to the Trinamool Congress and later to the BJP. One more MLA of the party joined the BJP recently while another one lost his seat to CPI(M) in a by-poll.

In the previous 2013 state poll, 50 seats were won by the Left Front led by CPI(M).

With campaigning ending on Friday evening, all eyes are now riveted on the voting on Sunday.

A total 25,734,13 voters; 13,05,375 male, 12,68,027 female and 11 of the third gender are eligible cast vote on February 18. There are 47,803 new voters in 2018 poll.

There are a total of 307 candidates are contesting the elections.

State Election office said that there are 47 all-women managed polling stations out of total 3214.

In 2013, CPI(M) had polled 48.11 per cent of total votes.

BJP was a marginal player than getting only 1.54 per cent of the total votes.

Out of a total of 60 seats in Tripura, 30 constituencies are general, 20 (Reserved ST) and 10 (Reserved SC).

The term of the 60-member Assembly ends on March 14.

There are 3,214 polling stations, which is a 5.6 per cent increase from the last Assembly elections held in 2013.

Dhanpur constituency in Sipahijala district from where Manik Sarkar is contesting has attracted special attention.

The constituency, bordering Bangladesh, is the home turf of Sarkar. He is looking forward to his fifth straight victory from the seat in the February 18 polls. He is challenged by Congress' Laxmi Nag.

The BJP has fielded its state general secretary Pratima Bhowmick from the seat. This is the second time Bhowmick is pitted against Sarkar. She had fought and lost the elections from this seat way back in 1998.Against a savannah backdrop, actor Lou Naiming, wearing colourful clothes and carrying a tray of fruit on her head.

The skit also stirred unease in China, where hundreds of Internet users expressed their dismay on the Weibo microblogging platform. (Photo: Twitter/thebruhnisher)

Chinas Lunar New Year television extravaganza, watched by hundreds of millions, was hit by online accusations of racism Friday over a sketch in which a Chinese actor appeared made up as an African woman, with large fake buttocks.

So this is how China celebrated #ChineseNewYear... In Blackfacehttps://t.co/ucwQXlzgZr  The Bruhnisher (@thebruhnisher) February 16, 2018

Against a savannah backdrop, actor Lou Naiming, wearing colourful clothes and carrying a tray of fruit on her head, was followed by an actor dressed as a monkey.

With another actor made up as her daughter and drawing in the Chinese presenter on stage, the sketch of comic misunderstandings ends with Lou declaring to applause: I love China! Apparently intended to promote Sino-African friendship and Beijings growing infrastructure investments on the continent, the skit on state television CCTV also featured a group of black dancers wearing grass skirts and feather headdresses alongside actors dressed up as zebras, giraffes and lions.

The act provoked strong reactions from foreign Twitter users, who criticised its racist prejudices and lambasted its use of the Western theatrical practice of blackface to stereotype black people, now widely regarded as offensive.

Twitterati reacted globally to the embarrassing and derogatory skit:

A CCTV Chinese New Year sketch sparks outrage with 800 million viewers as one of the actors performed with black face to show African -Chinese ties. The Chinese actress, along with her pet monkey was screaming, I love China.  silbel21 (@BelenSilvaV21) February 17, 2018

If the you are chilled by the "Chinese New Year blackface" show, just understand that is the level of bigotry that is "open."



Just imagine the level of bigotry that is NOT internationally disclosed.



Hint: Google which side of the Rohingya genocide the Chinese government is on.  Abdul R. Siddiqui (@PakistaniPepper) February 16, 2018

The Chinese govt banned Gigi over the 

row meanwhile they allow millions to watch this https://t.co/eBARQVu9i8  ...... (@2open2day) February 16, 2018

Apparently CCTV thinks this is okay??? It appears to be a Chinese woman with "enhanced" body and blackface doing a caricature of an African woman. #ChineseNewYear #racism pic.twitter.com/JVh0zGOX3o  Song of the Swallow (@SarabiNEventide) February 15, 2018

 there's a thread on Weibo posted by the Gala host (CCTV) interviewing the actors. Comment section went crazy, filled with angry viewers, so CCTV closed the comment section, like what they always do when things go wrong. https://t.co/5iz34V73Mw  Jane Liu (@xinyuActor) February 17, 2018

Its 2018 and people still dont get it! Minorities can be racist too! https://t.co/iLLi0PaIse  mariana (@marianajgzl_) February 16, 2018

Going from the high of #BlackPanther and its success to seeing blackface in a Chinese New Year sketch is a good metaphor for 2018.  Noelle Kelly (@noellekelly7) February 16, 2018

Everyone loves the spring gala, the televised Chinese New Year cultural sensation



Update: We regret to inform you that the Spring Gala did blackface https://t.co/IvDbguVI7o  Rui Zhong (@ruizhong67) February 15, 2018

This sketch from the Chinese New year Gala might be a tad racist it was supposed to promote Chinese-Africa relations but it probably back fired #blackface #ChinaDoesntUnderstandRacism pic.twitter.com/OSXnpPbuF1  David Tyler (@livthedream) February 15, 2018

But the skit also stirred unease in China, where hundreds of Internet users expressed their dismay on the Weibo microblogging platform.

This sketch offends both Africans and Chinese spectators, it was not comical, said one Weibo user.

Another said: I do not see at all the expression of Sino-African friendship, but the racist attitude of an arrogant so-called great power. Completely inappropriate, was another reaction.

Another comment, censored but recorded by the Free Weibo site, quipped that a new Orientalism was emerging where the Chinese engineer replaces the Western missionary in Africa.

Other Chinese internet commenters, on the other hand, defended CCTV: I do not really see anything racist, China does not attach much importance to all this, said one.

The offending performance was part of the comedy sketches for the traditional Lunar New Years Eve extravaganza broadcast by CCTV and watched by hundreds of millions of Chinese.Trump's birth date makes him a "fire dog", but 2018 is an "earth dog" year, a mismatch of elements.

Hong Kong feng shui experts predict what's in store for POTUS, and the newly engaged royal couple. (Photo: AP)

As the Chinese zodiac switches into the Year of the Dog later this week, Hong Kong feng shui experts predict anything but a walk in the park for global leaders.

Born in another dog year, 1946, United States president Donald Trump faces a run of bad luck, according to soothsayers, as his zodiac animal clashes with 2018's canine theme.

Feng shui -- literally meaning "wind-water" -- is influential in many parts of Asia, where people adjust their lives and carefully position items such as a cup of wine or pieces of crystal in offices and homes to maximise their luck and wealth.

The philosophy says that all events are dictated by the varying balances in the five elements that make up the universe: metal, wood, water, fire and earth.

Trump's birth date makes him a "fire dog", but 2018 is an "earth dog" year, a mismatch of elements.

The fire in Trump's own birth chart will foment and affect his health, says feng shui master Thierry Chow, while his words -- the fire element also represents speech -- may bring about "real problems" and tangible consequences.

"The elements are too much fire and too much earth, so that's going to be causing him imbalance in his fortune," Chow told AFP.

Chow uses the "flying star" system to make her predictions based on constellation positions, foreseeing more tensions between the US and North Korea, which is afflicted by the most malevolent number five star.

She also warned of the risk of crossed wires between Trump and China on the thorny issues of trade and the economy.

"The seventh star is falling onto the east side -- the star affects communication, it causes gossip and misunderstanding," says Chow.

'Duty and loyalty'

Feng shui runs through life in Hong Kong, with many people seeking advice from masters before making important life decisions, from picking a wedding date to choosing a new home.

Major companies also employ their own feng shui consultants to dictate interior designs and give investment advice.

Each year, brokerage firm CLSA comes out with its own Feng Shui Index, predicting what the next 12 months holds for the business world.

In 2018, it divined that the internet, utilities and technology sectors would perform with flying colours.

All are categorised as "fire-related" industries, and will do particularly well between May and July, feng shui experts said.

However, with the city's bourse going through a rollercoaster of highs and lows, the brokerage masters advised a cool head to navigate the earth dog market.

"The dog represents duty and loyalty and is a sign of defence and protection," it said in its public predictions.

"Entrepreneurs should stick with their most loyal clients, and investors are advised not to bite off more than they can chew."

Away from politics and finance, Chow predicted a happy wedding for Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who will tie the knot in May.

The earth element represents royalty in the Chinese calendar and combined with the image of a candle associated with May in the traditional almanac the elements are aligned for a day of celebration.

"I think it will be very smooth -- it will bring very good things to the country and good energy to the world," Chow said of the marriage.Two FIRs have been registered against the JNU students for wrongful restraint of two rectors in the administration block on Thursday.

Hundreds of students, led by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU), also picketed outside all the gates of the building and confronted and stopped senior university officials who tried to go out. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Friday registered two FIRs against students of the Jawaraharlal Nehru University, a day after they surrounded the administration block and restricted two senior officials from leaving the building for hours.

Peeved over not being able to meet the Vice Chancellor to discuss issues related to the compulsory attendance order, some students had on Thursday surrounded the JNU's administration block.

Also read: Delhi HC to hear JNUs contempt plea against students

Hundreds of students, led by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU), also picketed outside all the gates of the building and confronted and stopped senior university officials who tried to go out.

Two FIRs have been registered against the JNU students for wrongful restraint of two rectors in the administration block on Thursday, a senior police officer said.

"Based on two separate complaints filed by the officials, two FIRs have been registered with the Vasant Kunj North Police Station," the police officer said.

One more FIR has been filed against students who blocked the road near the administration office, demanding withdrawal of compulsory attendance ruling of the university.Lok Sabha member and city BJP chief Dilip Gandhi told mediapersons that Chindam would be dismissed from the party.

Mumbai: Tension prevailed in the Ahmednagar on Friday after Shiv Sena workers protested against an alleged insult to warrior king Shivaji by the deputy mayor, who is a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member. Sena workers pelted stones at a BJP office near Gandhi Maidan and called a bandh in the city.

According to Sena leader and former MLA Anil Rathod, deputy mayor Shripad Chindam ticked off a municipal corporation employee on Friday morning for not doing his work. When the employee said he was tied up in work related to Shiv Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Shivaji, which falls on February 19, Chindam used insulting language about him, Rathod alleged.

A purported audio clip of the conversation went viral on social media, which was followed by a video circulated on WhatsApp, in which Chindam himself is purportedly seen offering an apology for saying objectionable things about Shivaji unintentionally.

Lok Sabha member and city BJP chief Dilip Gandhi told mediapersons that Chindam would be dismissed from the party. The situation in the city was under control, said inspector Abhay Parmar of Kotwali police station. The Shiv Sena and BJP are part of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra, though relations between the two parties are strained due to the Senas frequest swipes at the latter.According to highly placed sources, the state government is thinking on similar lines.

The Devendra Fadnavis-led state government is mulling over the option of making a budgetary allocation of crop prices at 50 per cent over the Minimum Support Price (MSP), as per the central governments stand on this. The state government will present its budget on March 9. According to sources, officers from the finance ministry and the Chief Ministers Office are working on the proposal.

After losing badly in the by-elections in Rajasthan, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is taking measures to tackle negativity over rural distress. The Union budget declared various schemes for the welfare of farmers. The announcement of 1.5 times price of crops over the MSP was an important part of the strategy to woo farmers. According to highly placed sources, the state government is thinking on similar lines.

There are 16 crops for which the state decides prices. Generally, cotton, soyabean, tur and sugarcane are the politically sensitive crops and their prices set the tone for rural Maharashtra. The state government is thinking of declaring its decision of 1.5 times the MSP phase-wise. The first few crops will be brought under this scheme from the coming budget. As of now, cotton's MSP is Rs 4320, tur's is Rs 5450 and soyabean is Rs 3,050 per quintal. If the state government decides to declare it online, then cotton would go up to Rs 6400, tur to Rs 7,500 and soyabean to Rs 4,500. This hike will be unprecedented and could change the mood of rural Maharashtra.

Sensing the anger in the rural areas, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party are reaching out to every assembly constituency through their Jan Sampark and Hallabol Yatra respectively and are getting a good response from the public.

Vidarbha, Marathwada and North Maharashtra are the main regions which grow cotton, tur and soyabean. Sources confirmed that the state government may come up with scheme for these three crops as it could help it politically.The BJP-led government is busy with advertisements rather than working on the ground, the Congress spokesperson said.

Mumbai: The Congress has criticised the government for favouring a few industrialists by tweaking the industrial policy. The remarks from Congress came after the state government approved the integrated industrial policy, allowing development on green zones, no-development zones and tribal land. The Congress alleged that the government is encouraging crony capitalism but not giving any help to new entrepreneurs.

The government is ready to compromise on buffer zones, eco sensitive land and tribal land for a few industrialists. Will other small entrepreneurs and businessmen get the same benefit? The government made the provision in its industrial policy so that these businessmen would get special favours. This is encouraging crony capitalism, Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant alleged.

He was referring to a latest Cabinet decision on industrial policy. The state government has relaxed the land requirement norms for the integrated township scheme and given permission to purchase denotified land from SEZs, tribal lands, government land and land in eco-sensitive areas after taking legal permissions. It will give an incentive FSI under the integrated township scheme to the builder. A Navi Mumbai integrated township project, which is near the proposed airport, for which denotified SEZ land may be utilised, will benefit from these decisions.

Ahead of the state-organised Magnetic Maharashtra summit, Mr Sawant pointed out that the state ranks 16 on the ease-of-doing-business list. The state government ranks 16th in the country on ease-of-doing business parameters. With this rating, how industries will get attracted? The government claims about Make In India are also false. We do not see any investment and new employment generation in the state.

The BJP-led government is busy with advertisements rather than working on the ground, the Congress spokesperson said.

Mr Sawant also questioned the move to let Wizcraft, a firm that was blacklisted earlier, organise Magnetic Maharashtra. In a programme organised by the same company two years ago, the entire stage of cultural programme was gutted in a fire.CC will not be granted if the builders avoid solar panel installation.

Mumbai: In an attempt to encourage clean energy in Maharashtra, the state government is working on a policy to make it mandatory for builders to have solar panels installed at the rooftop in their projects. For any project after 2020, builders have to integrate solar panel installation in their projects, otherwise the CC (Completion Certificate) will not be granted. In 2017, around 328 buildings, including residential buildings, college institutions and government institutions installed solar panels.

We are working on the legal aspects of the policy as of now. However, we will make it compulsory for builders to install solar panels on the rooftop of their projects after 2020. We are giving the builders due time to plan their projects in accordance with the policy, said a senior official from the state Renewable Energy Department.

The state government is also planning to provide a concession to builders in the initial stages of the implementation of the policy. We have decided to give minimal concession to the builders for the same to encourage them for installing solar panels. However, we are still working on it, added the official.

Solar panel installations on rooftops of residential buildings increased by double last year in Mumbai as compared to 2016, according to Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA). Nearly 218 institutions, including residential societies, charitable trusts and educational and government institutions adopted the solar panel system last year, generating green power of 7773.3 kilowatt power (kwp). During the same period, there were a total of 328 proposals received under the Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Scheme (GCSRT) with green power of 8665.46 kwp.

There has been a significant increase in proposals by housing societies for installing solar panel system last year. It shows that there is more awareness among the people to move towards clean energy, said Vishal Shivtare, General Manager, MEDA-Mumbai division.The actor, who featured in the ad campaign for Nirav Modi jewels, cleared the air regarding his involvement with the latter's brand.

Sidharth Malhotra and Priyanka Chopra in a still from the advertisement for Nirav Modi jewels.

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Sidharth Malhotra, who featured in the ad campaign for Nirav Modi jewels, on Friday said his contract with the latter's company got over a year ago.

"That is something not related to us. I have nothing to say on it," said Sidharth when questioned on the Punjab National Bank fraud case involving the celebrated designer.

The actor's statement comes after PNB suspended 10 of its officials for being involved with Modi in cheating the bank to the tune of Rs.11,400 crore.

Actress Priyanka Chopra's spokesperson on Thursday said the 'Quantico' star was also seeking legal opinions on terminating her contract with the designer.

The Enforcement Directorate has been conducting simultaneous searches and raids at various Nirav Modi and Geetanjali stores across India, the latest being one of his properties in Jaipur city of Rajasthan.What emerges very clearly is that the NDA/BJP government has no policy towards Pakistan whatsoever.

Two back-to-back attacks one in Jammu and the other in Srinagar once again brought the spectre of Pakistan-sponsored terror to the forefront of national consciousness. The assault in Sunjuwan followed by another attack on a CRPF site in Srinagar once again underscored the same grim pattern of terrorists from across the border infiltrating into the bases of our security forces, mowing down innocent people before being neutralised.

Given the fact that India has now been at the receiving end of Pakistan-sponsored terror since 1980, such attacks have become the rule rather than the exception. After the usual round of chest-thumping and self-serving platitudes by ministers that has unfortunately become the staple of every terror attack, it was back to business as usual.

However, this latest attack underscores a forbidding reality. Ever since the NDA/BJP government assumed office in May 2014 there have been 207 major terror incidents in the past 45 months. For the previous 45 months before that from September 2010 to May 2014, the number was 96. In Jammu and Kashmir alone 288 jawans and officers were martyred between June 2014 and February 2018 as compared to 115 for the corresponding period before that. In the two 45-month chunks, 72 civilians died in terror incidents between September 2010 and May 2014, compared to 138 between June 2014 and February 2018.

However, the picture becomes all the more portentous when it comes to ceasefire violations along the International Border and the Line of Control between India and Pakistan. Between September 2010 and May 2014 there were 543 major ceasefire violations. This number has now climbed to 2,555 between June 2014 and February 2018. A bulk of these violations have taken place in the past 13 months alone from January to December 2017 accounting for 881 incidents and another 241 taking place in the past 45 days. The number of officers/jawans killed in ceasefire violations was 19 and the numbers of civilian deaths were four between September 2010 and May 2014 as compared to 62 officers/jawans killed and another 62 civilian deaths on the border between June 2014 and February 2018. All these figures have been compiled from the figures available on the South Asia Terrorism Portal and those put out by the Indian Army press releases and ministry of home affairs.

Joseph Stalin had once notoriously remarked: The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic. Arthur Koestler in an article in the New York Times magazine in 1944 had written in the context of the unfolding horror in Europe that Statistics dont bleed; it is the detail which counts.

The comparison above therefore is not an attempt to be insensitive to the loss of even a single human life but to try and understand the pattern of engagement with Pakistan over the past 45 months.

What emerges very clearly is that the NDA/BJP government has no policy towards Pakistan whatsoever. On May 26, 2014 when the current government was sworn in in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, former Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Nawaz Sharif was an honoured guest. At that point in time everybody had lauded the sagacity of the new government in reaching out to Indias extended neighbourhood. Three months later, the Narendra Modi government called off foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan taking umbrage to Pakistans continuing outreach to the Srinagar-based All Parties Hurriyat Conference. This set in motion a roller coaster in the relationship that continues till today.

In July 2015 both Mr Modi and Mr Sharif tried to put the relationship back on the rails when they met on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Ufa. In fact, the meeting even produced a joint statement. However, even before the ink had dried on the statement, it was consigned to the dustbin of history but not before a high-decibel verbal kabaddi match playing itself out on live television between Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and de-facto foreign minister of Pakistan Sartaj Aziz.

On Christmas of 2015, Mr Modi surprised everybody by making an unannounced and obviously unplanned visit to Lahore. The ostensible purpose was to greet Mr Sharif on his birthday and his granddaughters wedding. However, Mr Modi miscalculated. Such spontaneous gestures do not cut any ice at all with the deep state of Pakistan and within days there was a deadly terrorist attack on the Pathankot airbase and the relationship sank into a deep chill after that.

Though the national security advisers of both the countries have been meeting sporadically, that has not lessened but intensified the terror emanating from Pakistan. This is primarily because the NDA/BJP government has been caught in a trap of its own making.

For 10 long years when they were in the Opposition they repeatedly parroted a mantra that terror and talks cannot go hand in hand. However, after they formed the government they decided to engage with Pakistan but because of the position they had taken for a decade they needed a fig leaf. That came in the form of a new disingenuous formulation that we are only talking to Pakistan about terror.

What the current government did not realise is that a similar anti-terror mechanism that was put in place by the UPA government in September 2006 in Havana had collapsed because of Pakistans chicanery. When the NDA/BJP government resurrected that formulation from its grave they played right into the hands of the Pakistani deep state.

For on one hand the Pakistanis had a communication channel with Indians in place that they so desperately wanted but as the composite/comprehensive/bilateral dialogue was officially off they could just keep on upping the ante of their terror machine and continue to bleed India with a thousand cuts. This is what accounts for the increased casualties on the Indian side in the past 45 months.

By falling between the two proverbial stools the NDA/BJP government has painted itself into a corner from which there is no way out. Either they should have engaged fully with Pakistan or not at all.

Moral of the story: Half-measures do not work.Google removes View Image button: Getty happy, others angry.

The move came when Getty Images complained to the European Commission accusing the tech giant of anti-competitive practices.

Googles implementation to remove the View Image button from their image search results was a welcome move by many in order to get more recognition to the websites that host the photos. Websites that host the images will now get some revenue as users would be taken to the hosting website to get their images viewed.

Google has made it a bit more difficult for people to download the photos from the image search product. This was actually part of a peace deal with photo library giant Getty Images, reported The BBC. The move came when Getty Images complained to the European Commission accusing the tech giant of anti-competitive practices. Google finally acted on this issue and finally stated that they had removed a few features from their Image Search product, which also included the View Image button.

Also read: No more free photos on the Internet: Google

Getty Images was finally pretty happy with the move as they are a photo library service that sells the work of photographers and illustrators to several businesses around the world, which includes newspapers and broadcasters. Their complain to the European Commission claimed that Googles image search feature had made it easy for people to find Getty Images photos and download them without any license or permissions. The View Image button would open the photo and make it very easy for anyone to download it. Though one could not download the images in full resolution and watermarked, Getty complained that people were not visiting the website, which was also a loss to their revenue.

As part of the settlement with Getty Images, Google removed the View Image button so that the user would be forced to visit the hosting page and then take a call to download the image from there. Google said that the new move would help users connect to userful websites.

Google has also removed the search by image button (feature) from their search engine website. This was an easier way of finding larger (higher resolution) copies of the respective images.

Getty Images also stated that Google has agreed to prominently display the images copyright information alongside the results. Google said that these changes were part of the settlement with Getty Images this week. "They are designed to strike a balance between serving user needs and publisher concerns, both stakeholders we value," said Google.

The move came after Getty Images complaint was taken seriously. However, Google has only removed the View Image button from the search image and this does not mean that the user cannot download the images at all. All one needs to do is open the image in a new tab and then download it from there.

Many critics took to the social platform against Googles new move. The BBC reported a Twitter user stating that Googles move was awful, user-unfriendly and degraded the product. "This is a terrible idea... you find an image on Google Images only for the image to be nowhere in sight," said one user on Twitter. "Talk about destroying your own successful service."

Users took Googles Tweet by a storm, with some happy and many complaining. People also started recommending an alternative to Googles Image Search feature.

Alternatives such as DuckDuckGo.com, Bing, Yahoo Image search and startpage.com are some of the said recommended websites to download imaged with ease. One Twitter user also said that he would desert Google search for Bing, while another stated moving on to DuckDuckGo.

One even mentioned that if a user is searching for images, he is searching for images and not looking to connect to a useful website. Another one asked developers to build a Chrome extension.

Getty Images seems to be the only one satisfied with Googles move and said that their concerns are being recognized and they have withdrawn the complaint against Google.

What are your views? Give us your comment below to let others know, especially Google and Getty.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.Other digital payment wallet services broke their silence by leaning on Paytms claim.

Rival digital payments services have pointed out exceptions that have been applied to WhatsApps service.

Since two days, WhatsApp has been dragged into a controversy with regards to the payments service it recently rolled out for beta users in India. WhatsApp was granted a UPI-based payments as a feature that would change the way users use the messaging platform to send and receive money from friends and businesses. However, rival digital payments services have pointed out exceptions that have been applied to WhatsApps service.

Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma took to Twitter to show his concern that WhatsApp was playing an unfair game by skipping essential features that the digital payments services abide by. While other digital payment wallet services broke their silence by leaning on Paytms stand, WhatsApp has not yet commented anything on the matter.

Also read: WhatsApp payments controversy: The complete story

However, yesterday, NPCI released a statement which supports WhatsApp with their new payments service.

Currently, NPCI has given its consent to roll out WhatsApp BHIM UPI beta launch with limited user base of 1 million and low per transaction limit. Four banks will join the multi-bank BHIM UPI model in phases (in the coming weeks) and full feature product shall be released after the beta test is successful. Multi-bank model offer advantages such as transaction load distribution between banks and helps to integrate popular apps easily with BHIM UPI, stated NPCI.

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has been working to facilitate digital payments in the country with globally recognised products like Bharat Interface for Money BHIM - Unified Payments Interface (BHIM UPI). NPCI follows well-defined guidelines for BHIM UPI services with the objective of making the platform(s) interoperable and based on open standards, convenient and secure, offering multiple choices to consumers for rapid adoption for digital payments through banks and payment ecosystem players.

As for now, WhatsApp has released their payments service to select users in beta mode, and on completing the test, the service will be launched to all users with complete compliance with the NPCI guidelines.

Broad principles for interoperability like a) ability to send and receive money through any BHIM UPI ID b) intent and collect call and c) read and generate BHIM / Bharat QR code are required in final BHIM UPI app. BHIM UPI enabled app which fulfils such principles only will be permissible for full scale public launch, stated NPCI.

This means that WhatsApp will be officially allowed to operate the payments service for full scale public only after it fulfils all requirements by the NPCI.

We are still awaiting WhatsApps reply on the matter as to what is the present state of the test and when will they go public with the new service.Mueller alleges that the group posed as Americans and controlled social media accounts that focused on divisive social and political issues.

According to the unsealed indictment the accused conspired -- from 2014 until today -- to interfere 'with the US political and electoral processes, including the presidential election of 2016.' (Photo: AP)

Washington: US Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Friday announced the indictments of 13 Russian nationals and three companies for alleged interference with the 2016 election.

According to the unsealed indictment the accused conspired -- from 2014 until today -- to interfere "with the US political and electoral processes, including the presidential election of 2016."

Mueller alleges that the group posed as Americans and controlled social media accounts that focused on divisive social and political issues.

Under the management of Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, the group reached "significant numbers" of Americans, according to the indictment.

They had a "strategic goal to sow discord in the US political system" and by mid-2016 were supporting Donald Trump's campaign and disparaging Hillary Clinton.

The group was based in Putin's home town of Saint Petersburg, but some of the accused travelled to the United States.

Stops included Nevada, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Louisiana, Texas, Georgia and New York.

An unnamed Texas-based American political operative is said to have instructed them to focus on so-called "purple states" which swing between Republican and Democratic control.

"Hundreds" of people were said to have been involved in the operation, working in shifts and with a budget of millions of dollars.

They allegedly targeted social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

Two of the firms are said to have Russian government contracts.Seven-year-old Zainab Ansari went missing on January 4; on January 8, her body was found in a garbage dump in the city of Kasur.

The verdict was announced by ATC judge Sajjad Ahmed at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. The court also sentenced Imran Ali to life imprisonment and imposed Rs 1 million fine. (Representational Image)

Islamabad: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday handed over four counts of death penalty to accused Imran Ali under section 7 of anti-terrorism act in seven-year-old Zainab Ansaris rape and murder case.

The verdict was announced by ATC judge Sajjad Ahmed at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. The court also sentenced Imran Ali to life imprisonment and imposed Rs 1 million fine.

It is the first time in Pakistans history that a trial was completed in four days with 13-hour-long proceedings daily.

As per the orders of Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar, Punjab Prosecutor General Ahtesham Qadar personally attended all the hearings of the case.

He said the trial in the rape and murder of other seven girls against the suspect is underway as legal requirements have to be fulfilled yet.

Also Read: Pak news anchor goes on air with daughter, protests minor's rape, murder

Seven-year-old Zainab Ansari went missing on January 4 on her way back to home from maternal aunts house. On January 8, her body was found in a garbage dump in the city of Kasur.

She had marks of torture on nose, neck, and other parts of the body and was raped before murder, revealed medical report.

The guardians complained upon return from Saudi Arabia that the police did not cooperate with the relatives, who were looking for the missing minor.

On January 10, protest broke out in the metropolis against the brutal murder of Zainab after rape and demanded to hang the culprit in public. Police officers resorted to aerial firing when violent protesters tried to storm commissioner office, killing two people and injuring three others. The wounded were shifted to the hospital for medical assistance.

Also Read: UN says rape, violence against women in India, Pak heartbreaking

Countless CCTV footages of the surrounding areas were monitored and eventually released where the 7-year-old girl is seen walking with the murderer.

On January 10, Chief Justice Saqib Nisar took suo motu notice of the case, directing to properly investigate it. He maintained that Kasur incident was an embarrassment for the entire country as Zainab was their daughter too.

He insisted that lawyers may stage protest against the brutal killing but should not boycott court proceedings as the litigants will suffer from this.

On February 10, the CJP disposed of the suo moto notice after a challan against Imran was submitted in the court. The apex court also expressed satisfaction on the performance of police.

DNA samples of more than 1150 people were taken among which suspect Imran was also included, however, he left the place by tricking policemen of heart pain.

He was rearrested on January 20 in Kasur after his DNA sample matched with that collected from the body of the victim.

On January 22, accuseds family was taken into custody by rangers for investigation while Punjab CM along with Zainab Ansars parents held press conference, lauding the performance of police department for nabbing the suspect.

A total of 1,764 cases of child abuse were reported across Pakistan in the first six months of 2017, according to Sahil, an organization that works on child protection. In 2016, the total number of reported child abuse cases was 4,139, or around 11 new cases reported per day.by Loula Lahham

Three years after the massacre of the 21 young Copts, a cathedral for the "martyrs of the faith" was built and consecrated in Al Ur, in Upper Egypt. The remains of the victims, found in a cave in Sirte, after DNA testing, will be on display on the ground floor of the building. The words of the martyrs' families.

Cairo (AsiaNews) - It was February 15, 2015: on the shores of the Libyan city of Sirte, members of the so-called Islamic State (Daesh) beheaded 21 young Egyptian Copts in cold blood, filming and publishing their crime in a video with the title : "Message signed with blood, destined for the nation of the Cross".

That same evening, Egypt responded with aerial bombardments of jihadists sites believed responsible for the massacre and the day after the video was broadcast, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sissi visited the Cathedral of Saint Mark in Cairo, home of the Orthodox Coptic patriarchy, to present his condolences to Tawadros II, Pope of the Orthodox Copts.

Seven days of national mourning followed. Subsequently, the families of the victims received a reward and received a monthly pension equal to the salary that those young workers earned, after leaving for work in Libya and supporting their families.

This week, three years after the massacre, the families of the dead remember their children with pain and joy: they now have a cathedral in honour of their children, entitled "Cathedral of the Martyrs of the Faith".

A few days after the massacre, Tawadros II, spiritual head of the Copts of Egypt, decided to enroll the 21 martyrs beheaded by Daesh in the Synaxarium, the sacred historical book of the martyrs of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

The cathedral was built in the small village of Al Ur, the birthplace of the majority of the dead, near the town of Samalut in Upper Egypt, about 245 km south of the Egyptian capital. The altars of the new cathedral were blessed and sanctified on February 14 by local bishop Amba Pavnatius; the first mass was celebrated the following day, February 15th with the presence of the governor of the city and finally, yesterday at the beginning of the Egyptian weekend, the church was opened for the weekly masses.

Meanwhile, the families of the dead still await the results of DNA tests by the Egyptian authorities, after the discovery of the remains of the martyrs in a cave in Sirte (Libya), to receive the relics of their children who are likely to be guarded in glass cases on the ground floor of the cathedral.

The Cathedral of the Martyrs of the Faith was built by a group of engineers of the Egyptian Armed Forces paid for by the government, on an area of 4 thousand square meters, at a cost of about 10 million Egyptian pounds (about 45,700). It was built on two floors: a ground floor, where the remains of the martyrs will be housed, wrapped in velvet fabrics, according to the Coptic tradition, plus a library, a reception room and other rooms for social services will be exhibited. The upper floor instead is a chapel.

They said of the martyrs

Our brothers are in paradise. We are happy for this and we pray for them.

Emad Soliman, brother of the late Magued Soliman

The number of faithful who have arrived here for the inauguration of the cathedral is crazy. It greatly surpasses the number of those who had come three years ago for the funerals of the martyrs. There were also Muslims.

Makine Zaki, father of the late Milad Zaki

I walked with my family for two kilometers in the cold this morning at 5 am to be present at the first mass of the new cathedral. I feel that my brother is always with us and has never left us.

Makati Nagati, brother of the late Luka Nagati, and cousin of the late Essam Baddar

I am happy to see a building in their name, but the pain of our loss is still strong. Sometimes we still look for our young people and they are gone.

Anonymous

It's a day of celebration. Everyone is full of joy and women cry out with joy.

Kaddis Adel, friend of several of the deceased

I can not wait to see the return of the remains of our martyrs, so that we can venerate them in our cathedral.

Amir Nadi, cousin of the late Tawadros Farag

My son left for Libya to improve his financial conditions, to cover the expenses in the creation of his new family and his new home. But he was killed because he was Coptic.

Nached Wilson, father of the late Samuel Nached

The State has kept its promises: it has taken care of the families of the dead and built the cathedral. We let justice take the place of revenge.

Baddar Samir Isaac, father of the late Essam Baddarby Jehan Perera*

Local elections results could reverse the process of national reconciliation. Under President Sirisena, relations between the government and ethnic minorities has improved. Now The danger is [. . .] a vicious cycle in which Sinhalese nationalism in the South feeds and sustains the rise of Tamil nationalism in the North.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  Results from Sri Lankas local elections, which saw former President Mahinda Rajapaksas party win big, will jeopardise the process of reforms and national reconciliation undertaken by the current government with great effort after the end of the civil war.

The victory of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (Sri Lanka People's Front, SLPP) took everyone by surprise. Opposition leaders are now saying President Maithripala Sirisenas popular mandate is at an end.

The situation is critical. The performance of the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance headed by Sirisena's Sri Lanka Freedom Party raises questions about the process of national reconciliation that began with his 2015 presidential election.

Prior to the change of government, relations with ethnic minorities and the international community were in a state of acute deterioration. This situation was largely reversed by the present government.

In the past three years the relationship between the government and ethnic communities improved in a significant manner. Ethnic minority parties became partners of the government either by joining it or by having understanding relationships.

The main frame of the reconciliation process that the government has provided is a combination of constitutional reform and transitional justice.

This has enabled a greater measure of power sharing on the one hand, and the delivery of the commitments made to the UN Human Rights Council on the other hand.

With regard to the latter, the government continues to return land taken over by the military during the civil war, and to amend laws relating to terrorism and enforced disappearances. It also set in place the law for an Office of Missing Persons.

The government was proceeding along these two tracks prior to the announcement of local government elections, albeit slowly. [...] [T]he slow pace of reform resulted in disillusionment to the Tamil people who were the main victims of the war in its last phase. This disillusionment has found its political expression in the political rise at these elections of the Tamil Congress in the North [. . .].

There was hope that once the local government elections were concluded the government would restart the reconciliation process that had been put on hold during the campaign period. However, the results of the election put this recommencement into jeopardy.

The opposition SLPP led by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa campaigned on the theme of the governments betrayal of the national interest to LTTE proxies and to the international community.

This touched a responsive chord in the majority ethnic Sinhalese electorate which turned out in larger numbers to vote for the SLPP. The danger now is that this could set off a vicious cycle in which Sinhalese nationalism in the South feeds and sustains the rise of Tamil nationalism in the North.

Irrespective of changes in the government and opposition, it is in the national interest that the reconciliation process should continue. [. . .] [T]he past three years the governments relationship with the ethnic minorities and with the international community has improved greatly.

In the context of failed reconciliation processes elsewhere in the world, Sri Lanka came to be seen as a model of post-war reconciliation to be strengthened and emulated.

The situation should not be permitted to regress into what it was during the period of the previous government when Sri Lanka was at the receiving end of international condemnation and economic sanctions.

Internally, ethnic minorities saw the government as an oppressor and not as a protector. Avoiding a slide towards a vicious cycle requires that the reconciliation process continue without reversal.

In the present post-election circumstances, in which the governments very survival is at stake, it will be difficult for the government to continue with its present reconciliation process if there is opposition to it.

The landslide victories that the SLPP scored in predominantly Sinhalese areas shows that it is too powerful a political force to be kept out of national decision-making on issues as sensitive and controversial as the ethnic conflict.

This suggests that even as the government struggles for its political survival in the remaining two years of its term of office, it needs to constructively engage with the SLPP on the future of the reconciliation process.

As a first step the government needs to identify and engage with the moderates in the SLPP.

*Christian activist and executive director of the National Peace Council (NPC) of Sri LankaHis story moved his new adoptive family. Every year in China, 900 thousand children are born with disabilities. The number has increased by 70% in the last 20 years. Many end up in orphanages, abandoned by families. In the absence of social support and with the age limit of adoption at 14, some are not adopted at all.

Singapore (AsiaNews / CNA) - Keyuan, an eight-year-old Chinese boy born without ears (photo 1), will spend the first lunar New Year in Singapore, in the company of his new adoptive family. In a Channel NewsAsia documentary about the harsh reality of unwanted disabled Chinese children, his story touched Yap Vong Hin, 60, and his wife Lim Poh Lian, 52 (photo 2), already parents of three teenagers, one of whom they adopted in China 16 years ago.

Little Keyuan officially joined the Yap family on January 29, when the adoption process started in March 2017 ended. He was born in Wuwei, a small Chinese town in the northwestern province of Gansu, and had been abandoned at the entry of an orphanage by his biological parents, a few days after his birth. A Muslim couple in the same city soon agreed to adopt him.

At the age of four, however, Keyuan was not yet able to speak well because of his hearing impairment. So the couple decided to send him to an orphanage in Shanghai who could offer him better assistance. The director of the center, in turn, asked for help from Alenah's Home in Beijing, a specialized reception center for children with special needs. Collected the money needed for a hearing aid, Keyuan was able to learn to speak properly.

Keyuan, now Lucas Yap Keyuan, arrived in Singapore on February 10 with his adoptive parents and was welcomed by the new brothers. In the next few months he will have a new hearing aid system (the one he has been using for years is oudated) and later the doctors will evaluate whether to reconstruct his ears and the ear canal, which would require several surgical procedures.

Every year in China, 900 thousand children are born with disabilities. The number has increased by 70% in the last 20 years. In the absence of social support from the government, many end up in orphanages abandoned by families and without treatment. As a result, the centers that were once full of little girls (abandoned due to the one-child policy in China), are now packed with unwanted disabled children. With the age limit of 14 for adoption imposed by Chinese law, some are not adopted at all and end up living or working in orphanages hosting older children with disabilities.Anim was founded in 2010 to give hope to young Afghans and save the country's musical tradition. The focus on the most disadvantaged children and girls in particular. Between 1996 and 2001 the Taliban banished all forms of music. Founder: such a prestigious award "is not just an honor for me, but a great achievement for the whole country".

Stockholm (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Afghanistan National Institute of Music (Anim) has won the famous Polar 2018 music award in recognition of the way in which this inspiring organization used the power of music to transform the lives of young people ". Together with the institute, the "visionary" founder and director, Ahmad Sarmast, who was returned to Kabul in 2008, was also awarded.

The prize was announced by the awarding committee. The group will be presented together with Metallica on June 14 by the Swedish king Carl XVI Gustaf, at the Stockholm Concert Hall, and will receive a gift of one million Swedish crowns, about 100 thousand euros.

Sarmast founded Anim in 2010 to counter the devastation that the war has inflicted on the country's centuries old musical tradition. In the 1980s the pop music industry and the film industry were growing, enriched by hundreds of bands and a radio orchestra playing Western and Afghan instruments. Silence fell on Afghanistan when the Taliban took power in 1996 and banned music. Anim has created a safe and stimulating environment for students of all sexes, ethnic groups, religious affiliations and socio-economic status. In particular, the institute focuses on disadvantaged children in Afghanistan, including orphans, street vendors and girls.

Interviewed by Billboard, Sarmast commented that he was "honored for this important award, but the most important thing is that for the first time such a prestigious award has arrived in Afghanistan. It is not just an honor for me, but a great result for the whole country ". He then expressed the hope that the prize would sensitize the institute and its mission, namely "rebuilding the lives of Afghan children through musical education".

The award was founded in 1989 by Abba producer Stig Anderson, and previous winners include: Sting, Elton John, Ray Charles, Paul McCartney, Ennio Morricone, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Bruce Springsteen.Out of the blue we received a "more information" request for my wife's Stage 2. Actually I had completely forgotten about it, and now I have about 1 1/2 weeks remaining to submit about five items including the dreaded "evidence."



Any suggestions what I should do? How I should approach this?



The other items I should be able to handle but putting together evidence is going to be a bit of a challenge at this stage. Basically we have been building a business together for the last 2 1/2 years, and that's been our entire life.



We haven't travelled much together, and I lost my phone a couple of months ago which may have had a few pictures in it. I don't think my wife has even used her bank account since I set it up. No kids, no house lol.



Should I be contacting the case officer and explaining? Asking for an extension?Avis Budget Group, Inc. confirmed yesterday it had received notice from SRS Investment Management (SRS), which currently has two representatives on the Avis Budget Group Board of Directors, of SRSs intention to nominate five candidates for election to the Board at the 2018 Annual Meeting. Photo via Raysonho/Wikimedia.





The following is Avis Budget Groups statement in full:



Leonard S. Coleman, lead independent director of Avis Budget Group, said: We have had an ongoing dialogue and a cooperative relationship with SRS over the last two years and welcome the constructive input of all of our stockholders. As SRS knows firsthand through its existing Board representation, the Avis Budget Group Board is highly focused on maximizing stockholder value and has provided effective oversight of the management team as it has successfully led the Company through multiple market cycles and positioned it well for the future. Given SRSs support of the Companys leadership team and strategic plans, as well as its knowledge of the upcoming Board refreshment, we are disappointed that we will be engaged in a costly and distracting proxy fight.



As previously announced, the Board instituted a short-term Stockholder Rights Plan in January to protect unaffiliated stockholders from any efforts by SRS to obtain effective control of Avis Budget Group without paying a control premium or to block a transaction the Board believes is in stockholder interests. As reflected in the terms of the Stockholder Rights Plan, the Board has been and remains open to any and all value maximizing alternatives, and is committed to ensuring that no one stockholder be in a position to prevent any such outcome.



Mr. Coleman concluded: Avis Budget Groups highly qualified Board has an appropriate mix of skills and experiences, in-depth company knowledge, relevant expertise across a wide range of industries, and extensive management experience. Our ongoing Board refreshment process, through which we are identifying director candidates with additive expertise in technology and innovation to replace some retiring directors, will ensure that our Board remains best in class.



Avis Budget Groups Board and management have delivered superior results for stockholders and continue to execute on the Companys winning strategy to drive sustained, profitable growth.



With the Boards oversight, Avis Budget Group has:



 Consistently outperformed its closest public company peer and the broader market over the last five years

 Created a global leader in the rapidly changing vehicle rental and mobility solutions industry through strategic M&A, organic investment and talent acquisition

 Returned over $1.3 billion to stockholders since 2012 by buying back 30% of the Companys outstanding shares, representing over 40% of free cash flow

 Taken decisive action by instituting a plan to offset nearly $300 million of unexpected industry pricing and fleet cost headwinds through aggressive cost-cutting initiatives and fleet management optimization

 Positioned its business for the future by investing in its technology capabilities, including industry-leading mobile applications, enhanced customer experiences, an increasingly connected fleet, telematics, fleet management and pricing analytics, and on-board diagnostics.



The Corporate Governance Committee will review SRSs notice of nomination for compliance with the Companys by-laws, evaluate SRSs nominees and make a recommendation to stockholders that it believes is in their best interests. Avis Budget Group stockholders are not required to take any action at this time.



The Board will present its recommendation regarding director nominees in Avis Budget Group's definitive proxy statement and other materials, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and made available to all stockholders eligible to vote at the 2018 Annual Meeting.



Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is acting as financial advisor to Avis Budget Group, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP is providing legal counsel.Many children go through the terrible twos, wreaking havoc, but when it comes to businesses the two-year mark can be much sweeter. As Cafe SmiHall Ambulance has overcome a lot in its nearly five decades of existence but the challenge it is facing now could be the most substantial in yearsYou have permission to edit this collection.

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is Indias #1 and most trusted website for Banking Jobs. The portal has complete information about all Banking and Insurance Jobs, its latest notifications, from all state and national level jobs, and updates. These exams and jobs are regularly updated as per the official information available. Check thehere.Tampa Police are investigating a shooting that happened near Middleton High School just after dismissal on Feb. 16.

One student hit in leg by ricochet, other grazed on the foot

Middleton placed on lockdown temporarily

Source of gunfire, motive unclear



Investigators said two students were walking home near the intersection of N. 24th St. and E. Curtis Avenue about 3:05 p.m. One of them, a 17-year-old girl, was hit in the leg by what appears to be a ricochet.



The other student, an 18-year-old girl was reportedly grazed in the foot by a bullet. The 17 year old was transported to an area hospital, while the 18 year old was treated on the scene.

Both are seniors at Middleton High School.

"This is a week where everybody is on heightened alert," said Steve Hegarty, Tampa Police PIO. "You know, this obviously is much less serious than some of the things that we've seen."

Police aren't sure where the gunshots came from or what the motive was.

Mayor Bob Buckhorn rushed to the scene as a precaution.

"Immediately my thought was, not now, not in our city, not again," he said.

Michael Reeves lives close to where the shooting happened. He said after Wednesday's shooting in Broward County, he was nervous when he saw all the police activity.

"We don't want that coming here, so if you can see the police officers, they were really out at the schools trying to make sure that everybody understands that safety is more important than anything right now," he said.

The high school was put on lockdown because of the gunfire nearby but the lockdown was lifted a short time later.

Police said all the proper protocols were followed.Plans are moving forward to expand a major road Pasco County, and some aren't happy about it. There is now even legal action.

Change would expand road from Moon Lake Road to U.S. 41

Josh McCart, others hiked five miles Saturday to protest

Cost of the extension is $100 million

PDF: Read letter that protests extension



Officials are looking at extending Ridge Road, which would take it through the Serenova Tract of the Starkey Preserve. It would expand the road from the Moon Lake Road to U.S. 41.

On Saturday, dozens hiked five miles in the preserve to show support for keeping it the way it is.

"We have a lot of issues with them trying to destroy this," said Josh McCart, a member of group Save Serenova.

The group sprung from several local ones, including the Sierra Club, to stop the proposed extension.

That's why McCart helped organize a five-mile hike to show the public what they could be missing.

"Before you lose it, you should know what you have. We wanted the public to be able see it and see the value as is without a road through it," McCart said.

In addition to holding the group hike, several organizers are taking it a step further. The group has hired an environmental attorney, and sent a very detailed letter to the US Army Corps of Engineers showing why they don't want a road here.

So far, he proposed extension has support from the county commission -- especially when it comes to wanting to relieve traffic on State Roads 52 and 54.

"All of the gas and the emissions burning are affecting air quality anyway," Commissioner Jack Mariano said in a December interview. "If you really want to be environmental, to me, the more roads you can build, and alleviate traffic, it improves the quality of life of our citizens, improves air quality."

The Army Corps of Engineers is expected to make a decision on the project in the fall. So far, there is one approved way to do the road, which elevates parts of it slightly in order to protect the environment there.

The estimated cost of the extension is $100 million, to be paid with a combination of local and federal funds.

The project has been in the works for 20 years.